July 17, 2023 3:30 a.m.
The Oregon Department of Forestry recently issued an update on forest patrol assessments and the Douglas County Assessor’s Office is providing more information about what the impact will look like for local property owners.
A County release said as required by law, forest patrol assessments are charged to both public and private landowners to help fund wildfire suppression efforts by ODF. Landowners pay a per-acre assessment to help fund wildfire suppression.
For example, a property containing just over four hundred acres within the Douglas Forest Protective Association’s area paid $789.46 last year. This year the property will pay $1,045.03 with the new forest patrol assessment rate.
A comparison chart with more information, and the ODF release are linked at www.541radio.com.
| Land Classification | 2022-23 Charges | 2023-24 Charges |
| Douglas FPA Timber | $2.4815/ac | $3.0715/ac |
| Douglas FPA Grazing | $0.7630/ac | $1.5100/ac |
| Coos FPA Timber | $1.8544/ac | $2.5571/ac |
| Coos FPA Grazing | $1.4020/ac | $1.9506/ac |
| Western Lane Timber | $1.5701/ac | $1.9569/ac |
Those with questions can call ODF at 503-945-7200.