Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $9.3 Million to Support Working Forestlands in Oregon

Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $9.3 Million to Support Working Forestlands in Oregon

Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is awarding $3.75 million to Lostine Forest in Wallowa County and $5.56 million to Madrone Ridge Forest in Jackson County.

The Senators secured this federal funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior-Environment Appropriations Act through the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the Forest Legacy Program. These Oregon projects will help conserve nearly 12,000 acres of working forestland, improve wildfire resilience, protect fish and wildlife habitat, and expand public recreation opportunities.

"Oregon's forests must be conserved to ensure our lands remain healthy, well-managed, and accessible to Tribes, rural communities, visitors, and future generations," said Merkley, who serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the U.S. Forest Service. "I've long championed the Forest Legacy Program to support vital efforts like the Lostine Forest and Madrone Ridge Forest projects, and I will keep pushing the federal government to do its part in protecting healthy, resilient forests across Oregon and the nation."

"Preserving our beautiful outdoor spaces is practically in the DNA of every Oregonian, and the federal government needs to mirror this stewardship," said Wyden. "This federal award to conserve Lostine and Madrone Ridge will support wildfire prevention, protect ecosystems and ensure everyone can enjoy Oregon's scenic working forests. I will continue to advocate for more projects like these to support public access and forest management across Oregon."

Through its Forest Legacy Program, the USFS partners with states, Tribes, and local organizations to conserve privately owned working forestlands through conservation easements and land acquisitions. These two awards in Oregon are part of a larger $80 million investment provided by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior-Environment Appropriations Act to support 15 projects conserving more than 34,000 acres of working forests in 11 states.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund provides $900 million annually for federal land acquisition and financial assistance to states. These funds are critical for improving recreational access to our public lands, protecting iconic landscapes, delivering grants to states and local governments to create and protect urban parks, open spaces and working forests, and providing farmers and ranchers with easements which allow them to continue to steward their privately-owned lands while simultaneously investing in conservation for the benefit of future generations.

"The Madrone Ridge Forest and Lostine Forest projects receiving Forest Legacy Program funding is an important step in protecting forestland by ensuring strong landscape resiliency through active forest management and long-term stewardship while creating new recreational opportunities for the public. ODF appreciates the continued support from Senators Merkley and Wyden for the Forest Legacy Program," said Christina Helige, Forest Legacy Program Administrator, Oregon Department of Forestry.

"The Lostine Forest conservation easement is a tremendous win for the people, wildlife, and working forests of Wallowa County. We are deeply grateful for the support of Senators Merkley and Wyden and to the Forest Legacy Program for making this possible," said Bettina von Hagen, CEO of EFM Investments and Advisory. "This funding will permanently protect 9,772 acres of irreplaceable forest while ensuring continued public access, supporting local timber jobs, and safeguarding habitat for bull trout, steelhead, and gray wolf - species that the Nez Perce Tribe and local communities have long fought to protect. EFM, on behalf of the Sauvage family, is proud to be a steward of these lands and committed to managing them for the benefit of this landscape and the people who depend on it for generations to come."

"As the Mayor of Wallowa and our city's Fire Chief, as well as the Rural Fire Chief for this region, I am in total support of the protection and forest management that needs to be done in the Lostine Forest," said Gary Hulse, Mayor of the City of Wallowa.

"This is really wonderful, exciting news for Wallowa County residents, especially people living in and around the towns of Lostine and Wallowa at high risk from lightning-caused wildfires originating in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area," said Michael Eng, Community Member, Lostine Canyon Firewise. "In addition to improved protection from wildfire, there are so many other additional significant benefits to the public, tribes, the regional economy, wildlife and the habitat they rely on."

"It's in Ashland's best interest to see continued forest restoration and wildfire fuels management that protect the municipal water supply and our community from wildfire. We're grateful that Madrone Ridge is a Forest Legacy Program priority, and for the expressed support of Senators Merkley and Wyden," said Chris Chambers, Forestry Officer at Ashland Fire and Rescue.

"Conserving Madrone Ridge is a rare opportunity to strengthen protections for Ashland's drinking water, reduce wildfire risk, expand public access and conserve some of the extraordinary biodiversity of the Klamath-Siskiyou and the Rogue River basin. We are grateful for the strong support this project received from the community, Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, the city of Ashland and the Forest Legacy program, which funded the property's conveyance to the city and secured its lasting protection," said Nelson Mathews, President, Western Rivers Conservancy.

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