Skyline Forest deal taking shape

Skyline Forest is suddenly back in the news, but a lot of work still needs to take place before a "community forest" can actually take shape in the area. At stake is the ownership of more than 45,000 acres of Central Oregon forest land, and most of it is right in Sisters' back yard.

Skyline Forest is an island of private property wholly within the boundaries of Deschutes National Forest, and it extends more than 15 miles from the outskirts of Sisters to the outskirts of Bend. It also comprises as much as nine miles of Cascade slopes and foothills directly to the east of the Three Sisters Mountains.

Under the community forest concept, the publicly held land would be preserved, managed and harvested for the benefit of neighboring communities. Sale of harvested forest products would be used to manage and maintain the forest. Establishment of a permanent community forest would prevent subdivision or indiscriminate land use.

The Deschutes Land Trust would be the likely steward of these proposed public lands. The Trust is only 14 years old but has already preserved thousands of acres in the Deschutes River Basin. If this current proposal for a community forest becomes a reality, the Land Trust will be taking on its biggest responsibility ever.

"We're trying to prepare for any eventuality in order to conserve the (Skyline Forest) property," said the Land Trust's Conservation Director, Brad Nye. "For us, the community forest is a good means of conserving the vast majority of the property. Our view is that it offers a good resolution for the future of that property."

The Oregon House recently passed legislation that could help pave the way for a land deal on the forest. The forest is currently owned by Cascade Timberlands, a holding company set up to receive property of the defunct Crown Pacific Partners. Crown Pacific once held 800,000 acres of timberland in the Pacific Northwest but went bankrupt in 2003. Fidelity National Timber, a subsidiary of Fidelity National Financial, holds a controlling interest in Cascade Timberlands.

Last year, Fidelity offered to donate 28,000 acres to the Land Trust if Fidelity could obtain legislative approval of a planned development on 1,500 acres. That deal eventually fell through, and Fidelity has begun to sell off some of its holdings in Central Oregon, raising the ante since a deal with the Land Trust has yet to be reached.

Among the conditions of the House legislation are provisions that would require sale (at timberland value) of about 30,000 acres of Skyline Forest to "an accredited land trust." For all practical purposes, that means the Deschutes Land Trust. Another 14,000 acres, near Crescent, would go to "a land trust for the purpose of creating community forest land or to a federal or state land management agency."

The House bill would permit Fidelity to retain up to 3,000 acres for development of up to 197 residential and overnight lodging units on 640 or fewer contiguous acres. Other permitted uses might include a restaurant, a small community store, an equestrian facility and other small-scale recreational and basic services. The development would not be permitted to build a golf course; and impact to local wildlife, particularly deer and elk populations, would have to be minimized.

The Oregon Senate has yet to take action on the bill; and, even if the governor signs it, the final decision is still up to Fidelity as to whether or not to accept the deal. So, while there are still a number of hurdles, the process appears to be on the right track. Further, the Land Trust reports that some of the required funding for the timberland purchase may be falling into place.

The Land Trust is not directly involved in the legislative process; but, says Nye, "We're doing everything in our power to conserve as much of that property as we can."

Brad Chalfant, executive director of the Land Trust, is also optimistic about a successful ending to the Skyline Forest story.

Commenting after last week's ceremonial groundbreaking at the Trust's Camp Polk Meadow Preserve (see related story page 7), Chalfant sees a parallel between Camp Polk and Skyline.

"Projects like the acquisition of Camp Polk Meadow Preserve and the re-meandering of Whychus Creek don't happen overnight," he said.

"As I stand in the middle of Camp Polk Meadow, thinking back to 1997 when we began three years of continuous negotiations followed by nearly a decade of planning, fundraising and preparations, I can remember all the times when it looked like we'd never get to this day, that we'd never cross the finish line.

"Skyline Forest is a similar sort of marathon, and I remind myself that we'll only get there if we keep pushing forward. I know we can get there, so long as we have the public's continued support."