Conservation       

By protecting birds, we’re also safeguarding the Western hemisphere’s great natural heritage for future generations, preserving our shared quality of life and fostering a healthier environment for us all.

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Policy Issues & Action

No other conservation organization matches the size, reach, scale, influence, diversity, and creative energy of our chapters, nature centers, volunteer leaders, and partners. The Audubon Network

Oregon Transportation Plan

Once finalized and approved, the updated Oregon Transportation Plan will guide the transportation system for the next 20 years. ASC (now MWBA) is one of ten Oregon Audubon chapters that provided comments on the plan. Read the comments here.
Oregon Transportation Plan 2023

Northern Spotted Owl

On August 23 the US Fish and Wildlife Service closed the public comment period on identifying the range of issues they should consider (called scoping) as they begin plans to implement the widespread lethal removal of barred owls on federal lands. This EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) will study the effects of the proposal and those of reasonable alternatives, including taking no action, and within the required review process. Lethal removals at the experimental level have demonstrated some measures of success with a limited hope of extinction within the foreseeable future.
Audubon comments, while first clearly acknowledging ethical concerns of killing members of one species to benefit another, include the need to consider reclassifying these owls as “endangered,” noting that habitat needs for older and larger contiguous suitable landscapes in the long term hold greater importance to species persistence, and that continued monitoring and ongoing external review are needed to assure efficacy of a lethal control program. Those comments also acknowledge that state and private forest land management has an inseparable function in the conservation of this species.

Please feel welcome to contact me on these and other issues you care about.  ~ Jim Fairchild, Conservation Chair   Email

Protections for Greater Sage-grouse

ASC was asked to sign-on to a letter to support greater protections for the Greater Sage-grouse. The current House and Senate bills include solid funding levels for sagebrush ecosystem protections, and good report language directing agencies to protect the sage-grouse and its habitat. However, a rider has been attached that rider has prevented the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from taking action to protect the Greater sage-grouse under the ESA despite continued population declines and habitat loss. The current House and Senate bills do not include the rider, and we want to keep it out of the final bill.

Changing the Name of National Audubon Society

The National Audubon Society members voted to retain the name of the organization. It was a lengthy process to examine its name in light of the personal history of its namesake, John James Audubon. The decision was made taking into consideration many factors, including the complexity of John James Audubon’s legacy and how the decision would impact NAS’s mission to protect birds and the places they need long into the future. The organization will continue its non-partisan commitment to habitat conservation and climate action, its agenda-setting policy work, and community-building efforts to advance its mission. LINK

Changing the Name of ASC
The Audubon Society of Corvallis voted to change the name of our organization to the Mid-Willamette Birding Alliance (MWBA). All checks payble to Audubon Society of Corvallis or ASC will still be accepted for donation, membership, etc.

OSU-MacDonald Dunn Research Forest

Research Forest Plan—Draft Ignores External and Internal Advice

After three years of advisory body meetings and a flurry of public presentations taking comments from many well-informed and often passionate neighbors and community members, Forestry Dean Tom DeLuca was presented just three options for how to go forward with this research forest. The internal Forest Executive Committee (FEC), newly comprised by him after its earlier iteration determined the mission, goals and objectives of the Plan (think of RFK Jr’s wholesale replacement of the HHS National Vaccine Advisory Committee). That Plan was last revised 20 years ago, and abandoned just three years later for more than a decade to derive more revenue from accelerated logging. That draft plan is now available for public comment until July 18th and can be found at 2025 Draft Plan.

After over two years of involvement representing our Chapter interests on the College of Forestry external Stakeholder Advisory Committee, I had to step away from the process as several issues became apparent, and where wildlife and their habitats had taken a back seat.  As the draft plan emerged, my concerns were laid bare. First, any proposed reserve system is now called Late-Successional Forest, and can be “actively managed” at the research forest director’s discretion. Second, although millions of privately-held forest acres are managed for maximal fiber production over minimal time, the College will still replicate what forest industries do very well on their own. Third, the College refused to supply its two advisory bodies with any geographic modeling of how different management practices might occur across its ownership and impact its neighbors. The draft plan does not move towards larger more contiguous forest cover types, critical for a number of species of concern and towards more habitat connectivity while reducing human disturbance across the ownership. Most puzzling to me, the draft plan only suggests that monitoring take place where feasible and affordable, and makes no commitment towards funding any monitoring activity—an acknowledged failure to monitor activities in its 2005 Plan.

Of the 14 management blends the two advisory bodies considered, the Dean has chosen between only varied percentages of older even-aged or uneven-aged management acreages from what his new FEC folks present. Repeated public concern about aquatics, roads, wildlife, and climate change considerations are absent. On this last note, though PNW forests have a globally significant ability to capture and store atmospheric carbon (from the College’s own research), Dean DeLuca argues that Plan area above-ground forest carbon sequestration and storage plays an insignificant role in global warming compared to fossil fuel emissions. Ignoring decades of its own findings, this globally influential forestry research institution is announcing that it’s okay not to do one’s small part to address an existential human problem, and to model such behavior.

This is the first and final chance for community members to submit any comments on the lengthy Draft Plan for the MacDonald-Dunn Research Forest. There will be no public presentation, and all comments must be submitted on or before July 18th. The Final Plan will be adopted without any further outside review. Friends of OSU Old-Growth is actively reviewing the draft plan. To review its concerns please visit https://friendsofosuoldgrowth.org/.

Habitat Conservation Planning for State-Owned Forests – Draft EIS June 1, 2022

Link to Background and Key Points on Western Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan 11/27/2022
The final draft habitat conservation plan EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) for Western Oregon State Forests was endorsed by ASC and twenty other groups. The Oregon Department of Forestry submitted the draft plan to the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services in support of its application for Endangered Species Act (ESA) incidental take permits (ITPs) authorizing otherwise prohibited negative impacts to species that arise incidental to covered activities under ODF’s control, primarily logging and related activities including roads. Link to document

Coffin Butte Landfill Expansion

In 2021 the MWBA Conservation Committee provided formal comment on the impacts on wildlife of the request by Republic Service of Arizona to expand the regional landfill at Coffin Butte. The expansion will allow an unlimited amount of waste annually at the site & will disturb nesting habitat for Great Blue Herons.

In 2025 Republic Services filed a new Conditional Use Permit application that again seeks to expand the landfill. Again, the MWBA provided formal comments, include in the 1961 comments from agencies, NGOs, independent groups, and the public. Only 4 comments were in favor and the rest in opposition. link – Link to Coffin Butte Landfill facts (VNWEQS) facts.

Update on the Status of the Land Use Permit (CUP LU-24-027)

On July 29, 2025, the Planning Commission adopted its decision to deny LU-24-027 (the application to expand Coffin Butte Landfill). Since that time:

• The applicant filed an appeal of the decision on August 12, 2025.
• The applicant also requested and was granted a 60-day extension to the appeals process timeline.
• A new hearing before the Board of Commissioners for testimony will be held on October 22-23 at the Benton County Fairgrounds.
• A new email address, landfillappeals@bentoncountyor.gov, was created to collect public comment/written testimony specifically for the appeal hearing.
• Mar 17: Valley Landfills, Inc. filed notice of intent to appeal the Commissioners’ March 3 denial of expansion to LUBA. Email updates, Coffin Butte facts
  

What changed? The short answer: Not much.

Republic Services did submit additional materials, clearly aimed at countering evidence presented by Valley Neighbors for Environmental Quality and Safety (VNEQS). However, many observers—including independent experts—believe the new documents do not adequately address the fundamental concerns raised. The situation amounts to a “he said, she said” standoff: on one side, a profit-driven out-of-state corporation with a checkered environmental and safety record; on the other, a group of highly capable local residents offering well-documented, technically sound objections.

Once again, Benton County staff appears to have taken the path of least resistance. Recommending approval allows them to stay in the good graces of Republic Services—an approach that avoids difficult questions, bold decisions, or independent leadership. Over time, close working relationships with Republic staff seem to have blurred the lines between public service and corporate convenience. Unfortunately, that’s not in the best interest of Benton County residents.

Key Upcoming Dates:
* Republic Services (RS) appealed denial on Aug 12.
* Community Meetings – Oct 5 (Adair Village) or Oct 8 (Corvallis Public Library)
* Oct 7 at 5 pm – written testimony due for staff report to Commissioners. Can hand in testimony by Oct. 20 by 5 pm to be part of record. If submitting by Oct. 23, must be handed in personally at county office.
Easy testimony guide LINK
* Oct 22-23: 5:30-10 pm public hearing for appeal, Benton Cty Fairgrounds Auditorium 
* See Coffin Butte Facts
* Jan 20 – final testimony and decision Benton County Commissioners

For more details and submission links, visit the Benton County website: https://www.bentoncountyor.gov/coffin-butte-landfill/

Protecting Native Rainforests

Recently passed Oregon legislation will provide greater protections for the Elliott Forest (SB 1546) and for private lands through required revisions to Forest Practices rules (SB 1501). And while ASC refutes the need for continued post-fire logging in complex forests in the Santiam State Forest, or the need to maximize timber revenues for counties in their interpretation of Oregon’s Greatest Permanent Value rule, we will continue to participate in forest planning efforts for the Elliott, state and federal forest lands, and for better-informed management for OSU’s various research forests through direct advocacy, lobbying, and education.

October 30, 2023: Legislation allowed the creation of the largest research forest in Oregon, with OSU College of Forestry managing what is now the Department of State Land ownership, under supervision by a governor-appointed Elliott Forest Authority. The 800+ page forest management plan released on October 8th for public comment has been extended to November 8th. Recent significant changes concern both the conservation community and College scientists. Planning delays have created an extremely compressed time frame for public comment, in part because under that legislation the entire scheme expires if the Plan and its accompanying federal HCP+incidental take permit are not finalized before 2024. ASC (now MWBA) plans to endorse comments by the conservation community.

Old Peak Road Logging – Corvallis Watershed

ASC signed a letter with other groups to urgently recommend that the City of Corvallis immediately suspend all logging and forestry-related activities in the city-owned portion of the Corvallis Municipal Watershed. Our members represent many hundreds of Corvallis citizens and area residents who, along with all their community, rely on the remarkably clean and dependable water supply from its Rock Creek watershed on the east slopes of Marys Peak. This community expects the City to act to minimize our contribution to the worsening climate. And it requires the City to engage its community in governance, rather than in direct contravention of applicable state rules.

October 30, 2023: Yes, drier and warmer summers can reduce summer water supplies, but older intact forests, even without a summer snowpack, moderate stream flows by storing and then releasing more water through longer periods of drought. The cyclical growing and harvesting of trees, used by the Siuslaw National Forest and the City of Corvallis in the Rock Creek watershed, still practice forestry to produce wood and revenue not water or biodiversity. This must be replaced by management focused on producing the highest quality water at the lowest cost, rather than the most water regardless of treatment cost. This transition would restore lost biodiversity and begin decreasing the city’s significant carbon footprint.

Climate Change and Northwest Forests

Corvallis, Lincoln City, and Salem Audubon chapters join others in requesting State Forestry to do a deep dive into fully incorporating the Oregon Climate Change & Carbon Plan into Northwestern State Forest Management Planning.  Link

Critically Important Saline Lakes

Lake Abert and other western saline lakes are critically important to Wilson’s Phalaropes, Eared Grebes, American Avocets, and Snowy Plovers. Both human resource demands and climate change are accelerating the loss of these habitats and bird populations. Will Oregon take a leadership role in protecting Lake Abert after decades of neglect? Audubon entities join others in requesting our Governor to take action.

Unfortunately, water levels in Lake Abert once again reached critically low levels in 2021 following a similar occurrence during the 2014-2016 timeframe. To protect and restore this vitally important ecosystem in Oregon’s high desert, we request the Governor and state agencies take actions suggested in the letter.  Link

Future Wind Development off the Oregon Coast

In response to a letter from the Bureau of Ocean Management (BOEM) requesting specific information about concerns with future siting of wind energy development projects off the Oregon Coast, ASC and 18 partners provided specific recommendations, outstanding concerns, and further recommendations.

“Floating offshore wind (FOSW) energy presents Oregon with an option in the transition away from polluting fossil fuels. It represents an opportunity to address the immense and urgentc hallenges posed by our climate crisis, which is already impacting marine life. However, the West Coast’s renowned California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME), with its rich upwelling waters, is a crucially important natural resource with significant cultural, ecological, and economic values that must be carefully considered through all phases of siting, design, operation, and eventual decommissioning of any industrial energy development projects.”

October 30, 2023: ASC has endorsed an extensive comment being finalized by conservation, fishery, and tribal groups to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and will also make that final comment available on our website.
Letter to Commission

Resources for Corvallis Watershed Management

Friends of the Corvallis Watershed hope to provide background information at this website, public testimony, and scientific literature supporting greater protection for the area. It is often logged to provide revenue for water infrastructure improvements, the latest revenue demand of $170 million dollars for a renovated water collection and treatment plant on Rock Creek on the east slopes of Marys Peak. The website is a work in progress. https://www.friendsofthewatershed.org/
Members of the Public Works Watershed Operational Advisory Committee have been tasked by City Council to update the current forest management plan. What is missing from the current plan? Forest carbon, mitigation or adaptation in the face of climate change, and sustaining a now dwindling summer water supply.
Task Force meetings are currently scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of each month, held at 500 SW Madison, 5pm at the Madison Avenue Meeting Room. The first 30 minutes of each meetings is set to allow public testimony, virtually or in person.

October 11, 2023: “Friends of the Watershed” continues to pressure the City Council to reclaim its authority to determine policy from the Public Works Dept., and are in discussion with journalists interested in telling the story of municipal water supplies across the Oregon Coast Range.  Jim Fairchild is still unable to recover $355 of ASC (now MWBA) conservation program funds used to pay for revenue data it didn’t ask for, or to convince Corvallis to apply that amount to what has now been clearly agreed to provide, at an estimated $510. Without response of further assistance by the Oregon Public Records Advocate, Todd Albert, I will have to provide documentation and file an appeal with our Benton District Attorney, both on the fee confiscation and the refusal by Corvallis to provide any explanation for not granting any fee waiver or reduction.