The Northwest Forest Plan Area Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) will meet on September 25-27 at Skamania Lodge Riverview Pavilion, 1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way, Stevenson, WA 98648

The FAC meeting will be livestreamed at Northwest Forest Plan Federal Advisory Committee Meeting (hd1live.com). The meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Friday.

Further details regarding the upcoming meeting, including how the public can provide information to the committee is posted on the Forest Service’s regional website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r6/nwfpfac.  The Federal Register meeting announcement can be found here: Federal Register: Northwest Forest Plan Area Advisory Committee.

FAC meetings are open for the public to observe in-person or via live stream.  Additionally, written and oral comments will be accepted, with oral comments taken during a designated portion of the meeting.

Anyone wishing to provide in-person oral comments must pre-register by 11:59 p.m. PST on September 13, 2024. Written public comments will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. PST on September 13, 2024. Comments submitted after this date will be provided by the Forest Service to the Committee, but the Committee may not have adequate time to consider those comments prior to the meeting.

Meeting Purpose

This will be the Federal Advisory Committee’s sixth meeting for members to provide advice and pragmatic recommendations to the Forest Service regarding Northwest Forest Plan updates and recommendations.

What is the Federal Advisory Committee’s role?

The FAC was established by the Secretary of Agriculture as part of ongoing efforts to amend the Northwest Forest Plan. The purpose of the FAC is to bring together diverse perspectives representing the experiences of communities, experts, Tribes, and other interested parties across the Northwest Forest Plan landscape to inform ways that forest management can effectively conserve key resources while considering social, ecological, and economic conditions and needs.

How can I get involved and learn more? 

The Federal Advisory Committee does not replace the public involvement process or the public’s opportunity to engage directly with the Forest Service regarding Northwest Forest Plan amendment efforts during the planning process.  To learn more about the Northwest Forest Plan and future engagement opportunities please visit the Northwest Forest Plan website.

The Northwest Forest Plan covers 24.5 million acres of federally managed lands in western Oregon and Washington and northwestern California. It was established in 1994 to address threats to threatened and endangered species while also contributing to social and economic sustainability in the region. After nearly 30 years, the Northwest Forest Plan needs to be updated to accommodate changed ecological and social conditions.

For future Northwest Forest Plan Amendment updates please sign-up using USDA Forest Service (govdelivery.com).

Additional Background: The Forest Service is required by law to develop plans that guide the long-term management of public lands. The Forest Service will amend the Northwest Forest Plan in accordance with the 2012 Planning Rule, using public input and other public, private, and nonprofit organizations and governments. Land management plans establish priorities and provide strategic direction for how the plan area is to be managed.  

Amendments to this plan will be informed by findings in the Bioregional Assessment and Science Synthesis as well as input from the Federal Advisory Committee and a range of other interested organizations and individuals. This effort builds on the agency’s Northwest Forest Plan work, including information gathers via monitoring, listening sessions and bioregional Assessment.