Wednesday, 23 September 2020
FSC Certificate Holder Spotlight: City of Astoria
By: Aubrey McCormick
Forest management for water quality and quantity is of utmost importance for the Astoria Watershed, a city-owned property spanning 3,700 acres, 12 miles east of Astoria, Oregon. Public Works Director Jeff Harrington described management processes to me on site, and they are quite impressive. City managers take great pride in protecting the watershed, which provides potable drinking water to their citizens while supporting a diversity of native plants and other species. Many watersheds are privately owned, requiring municipalities to negotiate with forest managers harvesting their own lands with little consideration for the impacts on local water supplies. By contrast, Astoria owns its forested watershed.
The City has never placed a priority on maximizing economic returns from management, instead focusing on smaller harvests, mainly thinning designed to improve water quality standards. Everything they do is centered on protecting the water supply, including restrictions on hunting and other recreational uses.
In 2013, after completing a forest inventory, the City became FSC certified. FSC certification supports their management goals, with the auditing process offering a chance to evaluate current practices. When you enter the forest, the City of Astoria uses signage to remind visitors that it is a carefully managed forest bearing FSC certification, distinguishing it from other forests around it.
Annual harvest volume is approximately 100 MBF, with carbon storage estimated at 238,920 tons. In 2016 and 2017, the City sold approximately $2 million in carbon credits, with the option to sell more this year.
To learn more, please see the City of Astoria Forest Management Plan and the City of Astoria website: https://www.astoria.or.us/dept/Public_Works.