Mt. Emily Recreation Area Coalition
View of Mt. Emily
Mt. Emily Photo by Ed Shaul, 2006, Used by Permission
Coalition Acomplishment: Acquired Mt Emily Recreation Area to ensure, for perpetuity, a producer of wildlife, watershed, timber and related natural resources, and a showcase of sustainable resource conservation practices, providing diverse opportunities for public recreation.

Mt. Emily, with its distinctive profile, is the icon of the Grande Ronde Valley.  For generations the mountain's privately-held timberlands (to the left, above) have been made available for public recreation, but in late 2005, it became apparent that this traditional use was at risk.  Boise Cascade was divesting, and the new owner, Forest Capital Partners, thought it's new Mt. Emily holdings might be more valuable as private homesites.  Concerned Union County residents and organizations formed the Mt. Emily Recreation Area Coalition and spent the next three years working to ensure public recreational access to the forest on Mt. Emily, forever.  On October 31st, 2008, FCP's nearly 3700 acres on Mt. Emily was transferred to Union County, and the new Mt. Emily Recreation Area was created. 

What's New

LLC forming to buy trees.  A for-profit LLC is being formed to buy the FCP Trails Unit harvest rights.  Plans are to do some harvest, establish a convervation area, then return to county control.  Investors are needed; contact Mary at mcmcc@uci.net

Comissioners reject LLC Plan.  The Union County commisioners rejected the LLC proposed plan for purchasing the Trials Unit trees.  An alternative scheme is being worked on.

Next Non-motorized Advisory Meeting  will be Thursday, Feb 18th, 6:30 PM in the Commissioner's Room.  Meeting will focus on proposed roads and trails system.  10 min. public comments time starts the meeting.

The Lower Limit of the Management Zone.
Infomation on a useful tool for analyzing desirable stand density, provided to us by Susan Gere.
Non-motorized Advisory Committee Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010.
Meeting at 6:30 PM in the Commissioner's room.  Meeting agenda, previous meeting (1/27/10) notes, trail construction proposal and draft Management Plan, trailheads section.  The associated maps aren't ready but will be available at the meeting.
Opinion Piece: The Mt. Emily Trails Unit Dilemma (PDF document) A fact sheet and discussion of issues related to the Trails Unit tree purchase dilemma.
Proposed Trails Unit Stewardship Plan (Jan. 2010) A Trails Unit Forest Management Plan requested by the Union County commissioners from the group advocating conservation of the Trails unit trees.  (Note: Appendix A and Appendix B are separate documents due to large download size.)  Plan identifies multiple stands within the Trails unit and prescribes differing management treatments based on the unique characteristics of each stand.  Harvest opportunities are identified in some stands, with conservation emphasised in those with more intense recreational use. 
Trails Unit Commissioner's Resolution (Jan. 2010) County Commissioners Resolution in response to Proposed Trails Unit Management Plan and related public comments.
For-profit LLC Questions and AnswersInformation about the for-profit plan to save the Trails unit trees.  In essence a private group (LLC) will buy FCP's harvest rights, do limited harvesting, establish a conservation easement, and return the retained trees to county control with harvest restrictions established.  The expectation is that a reasonable profit can be expected for LLC investors.