The BLM is revising its Resource Management Plans (RMPs) for roughly 2.5 million acres of public lands across western Oregon. The Northwestern and Coastal Oregon Resource Management Plan and Southwestern Oregon Resource Management Plan will be amended in order to increase forest production and sustained yield.
These updated plans would replace the current 2016 management plans and guide how these lands are used for years to come. This is currently the scoping phase where the BLM is accepting comments guiding the process of this revision and nominations for new ACEC and future management of the planning area.
The proposal applies to BLM lands across western Oregon, including areas managed under the Oregon & California (O&C) Lands Act. These lands are some of the most productive timberlands in the country and are widely used for recreation, including motorized access. The Oregon & California (O&C) Lands Act of 1937 is a federal law that governs how certain public lands in western Oregon are managed.
Originally, these lands were granted to railroad companies to help build infrastructure, but after the companies failed to meet their obligations, the lands were returned to federal ownership. The O&C Act requires that these lands be managed for:
- Permanent forest production (timber harvest)
- Sustained yield (a continuous, renewable supply of timber)
- Support for local counties, which receive a share of timber revenues
In short, the O&C Act establishes that these lands are meant to be actively managed working forests, not set aside exclusively for preservation.
Purpose of the Revision
According to the BLM, the purpose of this RMP revision is to:
Increase sustained yield of timber harvest to better align with historically higher production levels on O&C lands, while contributing to one of the principal uses identified in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA)—meeting “the Nation’s need for domestic sources of timber and fiber.”
In short, the agency is looking to significantly increase timber production on these lands compared to current levels. This represents a potential major shift in how these lands are managed, with more emphasis on production and active use.
Why This Matters to BRC Members
For BlueRibbon Coalition members, this plan is also about access.
As timber production and forest management activities increase:
- Road systems will be maintained, expanded, or reconfigured
- Access decisions will directly impact motorized recreation
- Travel management could either open or restrict opportunities
Without clear direction, increased management activity does not automatically mean increased public access. In fact, poorly designed plans can lead to more closures and restricted use. BlueRibbon Coalition is actively engaging in this process and advocating for an Enhanced Access Alternative.
To truly meet the stated purpose and need of this plan—and to comply with the intent of the EXPLORE Act—the BLM must:
- Ensure robust, sustainable public access across these lands
- Maintain and expand road and trail systems that support multiple uses
- Recognize that active management requires active access
Increased access is not optional—it is essential. Access is the infrastructure that makes multiple-use management possible. Comments are accepted through March 23, 2026. Make your voice heard to the BLM using the form below.
