FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Truce In The Woods Leads To National Award For Conservation Work

Two Chiefs' Award Also A Win For Local Communities, Watershed

After years of collaboration and hard work, the Clackamas Stewardship Partners (CSP) were honored this month with the Two Chiefs' Partnership Award.

After years of collaboration and hard work, the Clackamas Stewardship Partners (CSP) were honored this month with the Two Chiefs' Partnership Award. The recognition comes jointly from U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Gail Kimbell and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Arlen Lancaster. The Clackamas Stewardship Partners were singled out for their "outstanding partnerships in forest conservation work."

The CSP are a consortium of conservation groups, elected officials and local, state and federal government agencies that have come together to find innovative solutions to benefit the ecology and economy of the Clackamas Basin.

Cheryl McGinnis, of the Clackamas River Basin Council, believes "The diversity of the Clackamas Stewardship Partners (CSP) draws on expertise from several interest groups and has proven beneficial to the ecology and economy of the Clackamas River basin. The CSP members are committed to restoring vital refuge habitat for salmon and wildlife which in turn benefits the local economy as well."

"It's rare that such a wide variety of interests can all sit down and find common ground," said Erik Fernandez, participating in the stewardship group for the conservation organization Oregon Wild. "The Clackamas Stewardship Partners are an example of how we can restore our forests and protect clean drinking water and salmon habitat."

In the three years since the group first met, management practices in the area have undergone a sea change. Using stewardship contracting authorities, CSP prioritizes, identifies and designs restoration projects to recommend to the Clackamas River District of the Mt. Hood National Forest. CSP has taken a leadership role in transforming an atmosphere of polarization and distrust to an environment where common-ground solutions are not only developed, but are also implemented.

Bark, the Portland-based conservation group known for its outspoken opposition of Forest Service management of Mt. Hood National Forest, is pleased with the results of working with the agency, "It is exciting to be working together to accomplish shared goals. The partners are bringing salmon back to the Clackamas River, protecting Oregonian's drinking water, and planning for future demands on the watershed," says Alex P. Brown, Executive Director.

The Two Chiefs' Partnership Awards, begun last year by Chief Lancaster and then-Forest Chief Dale Bosworth, recognize outstanding partnerships in forest conservation work among Conservation Districts, State Foresters, the Forest Service, and NRCS. Four other partnerships across the country were also recognized this year.

Each participating agency and organization will receive a special plaque to recognize their work.

Clackamas Stewardship Partners:
Oregon Wild: Erik Fernandez, 503.283.6343 x202
Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District
Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners
Portland State University
Clackamas River Basin Council: Cheryl McGinnis 503.558.0550
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oregon State Office
NW Oregon Resource Conservation and Development Council
Bark: Alex P. Brown, 503.331.0374
Gifford Pinchot Task Force
Northwest Forest Conservancy
Clackamas River Ranger District, Mt. Hood National Forest
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
USDA Forest Service, Portland Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest Research Station

###