The Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests are committed to keeping an open dialogue continuing with the communities we serve and as such would like to update you all on our progress in the Blue Mountains Forest Plans revision process. We want to thank many of you for your recent efforts in helping us think through and develop a re-engagement strategy for the communities in the Blue Mountains.

As we announced last month, we have met with a broad spectrum of stakeholders so far this year to discuss the best ways to reengage with folks in the Blues. Through their counsel and advice we are exploring a range of re-engagement activities including community, stakeholder and Forest Service hosted meetings. We want to be clear that these meetings will be open to public; our hope is that these meetings will provide opportunities to discuss and develop ideas that will help us to improve the final Revised Forest Plans, and provide clarity on our final decisions.

As previously announced, this past February, we began asking local organizations, including counties, tribes, members of the public at large and special interest groups, if they would be interested in hosting or participating in public meetings in their communities on issues brought forward through the Draft Environmental Impact Statement comment process. We are working with those who have responded to plan and/or participate in a variety of forums to be announced soon. We welcome additional efforts if there is interest. We are open to meet with the public and any entity interested in discussing the draft.

We heard a strong desire for further discussion around Forest access, back country, wilderness and the pace and scale of restoration, so you can anticipate meetings around these topics, as well as some other more localized issues. We hope to identify some common ground and create solutions. We look forward to these discussions.

It is important to know that while the analysis for the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests will be included in one environmental impact statement, each Forest will have its own unique plan specific to the Forest and their communities.

We want Forest Plans that provide resiliency for our communities in Eastern Oregon and Washington; Plans that support the local economy and the social values of the people who use and depend on them. We also want resiliency in ecosystems that can withstand: drought, floods, wildfire, invasive species, human impacts and have the strength to return to healthy ecosystems in the long run. Our Forest Plans should provide the vision of how to do just that and we will continue to need your help in shaping them.

Please come to a meeting. If you cannot come to a meeting, contact your local Forest Service office with your input. If you are interested in discussing or hosting an engagement event please contact Katy Gray, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Public Affairs Officer, kathrynlgray@fs.fed.us, 541-523-1246.

We look forward to seeing and hearing from you in the coming months as we believe together we can plan for a bright future for our forests.

Steve Beverlin, Kevin Martin and Tom Montoya are forest supervisors for the Malheur NF, Umatilla NF and Wallowa-Whitman NF, respectively.