ORWW Elliott State Forest: 2018 SWOCC Draft Recreation Plan: Recommendations

2018 SWOCC Elliott State Forest Draft Recreation Plan

RECOMMENDATIONS

"2018 SWOCC Elliott State Forest Draft Recreation Plan" Authors, Instructor, and Field Guides, West Fork Millicoma River, Elliott State Forest, April 17, 2018. Photograph by Anne Farrell-Mathews, Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) staff photographer.

Students were asked to develop topical recommendations for maintaining or improving recreational opportunities on the Elliott State Forest for the advantage of the landowner, the Oregon School Trust. These opportunities would focus on legal requirements of net income and/or educational value for Oregon students and interested public.

Consensus Elliott Recommendations: Investment and Income

1) Signage. The Elliott does not have road signs and only one historical marker. Signage is needed for safety, educational, and recreational purposes. (Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12)

2) Maps. Good road and/or trail maps do not exist for the Elliott or for its potential recreational and educational attractions. These could be made and sold for income. (Chapters 1, 2, 5, 7, 9)

3) Improve Roads and Trails. At the time of the field trips the roads were in very poor condition, needing rock, grading, and clearing; trails were overgrown. (Chapters 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

4) Install Campgrounds. Commercial campgrounds could be developed for seasonal recreational and educational uses, including hunting, fishing, sightseeing, harvesting. (Chapters 3, 6, 10, 12)

Potential Elliott Forest Recreational Income

5) User Fees. Recreational users of the Elliott could pay access and parking fees for activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, sightseeing, and harvesting. (Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12)

6) Strategic Logging. Commercial logging could create and maintain scenic vistas, game foraging areas, berry fields, roads, trails, campgrounds, etc. (Chapters 5, 7, 10, 11, 12)

7) Grant Applications. A number of existing sources for installing signage, increasing fish runs, developing wildlife habitat, etc., already exist and can be used. (Chapters 1, 2, 6, 9)

8) Local Business Networks. Existing recreational businesses on the perimeter of the Elliott could benefit by increased forest recreations, map and supply sales, etc. (Chapters 2, 7, 9)

9) Donations. Another potential source of income could be voluntary donations by people or organizations directly using the Elliott or supporting its uses. (Chapters 2, 4, 7, 9, 12)

Other Recommendations

Chapter 2: 1) Forest “zipline” attraction(s).
Chapter 7: 1) Increase hatchery fish runs; 2) improve hatchery visits; 3) conduct fish research.
Chapter 8: 1) Improve fish habitat.
Chapter 9: 1) Limit access to birds during nesting season; 2) conduct bird research.
Chapter 10: 1) Use of herbicides for vegetation management.
Chapter 12: 1) Install commercial communication towers.