January 10, 2025 3:40 a.m. 

State Forester Cal Mukumoto has announced his resignation.

Mukumoto, who also serves as director of the Oregon Department of Forestry, said the resignation will take effect at 5:00 p.m. on January 23rd.

Jim Kelly, chair of the Board of Forestry, announced the move during a meeting on Thursday. Prior to his appointment in October 2021, Mukumoto was a longtime forester and businessman from Coos Bay.

Mukumoto’s exit comes after ODF had a record-breaking wildfire season, with 1.9 million acres of land burned, making it the most expensive fire season in state history.

Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham of The Dalles and Senator Lynn Findley of Vale issued statements late Thursday, saying that change for the agency is long overdue. Findley said, ‘ODF needs fresh leadership to fix its problems and get back to serving Oregonians”. Bonham said, “ODF’s leadership struggled to manage the basics, leaving hardworking contractors waiting for payment and taxpayers footing the bill”.

House Republican Leader Christine Drazan of Canby also weighed in saying, “Oregon needs a strong, visionary leader who will address the department’s budgetary woes with urgency, maintain an open line of communication with the legislature, and work collaboratively with local, state and federal leaders to prevent catastrophic wildfires”.

An ODF release said while the Board of Forestry works through an open recruitment process for the position, Kate Skinner will be the acting state forester. Skinner has been with ODF since 1995 and has served as the district forester for the Tillamook District since 2014. Since August 2024, Skinner has been the interim Deputy State Forester.