UPDATE: Williams Public Forests up for Auction in November!
Williams Community Forest Project’s Goal: We intend to leverage community, conservation, and legal resources to protect and conserve Pipe Fork and as many of the parcels listed in the Nov 14th Josephine County Auction.
What Happened?
On October 2nd, 2024, the Josephine County Commissioners quietly and quickly put up 9 parcels (total of 1800 acres) of county-owned land in Williams for auction to the highest bidder on November 14th, 2024.
The auction includes the 320 acre parcel known as Pipe Fork, which is bundled with another parcel for sale with a reserve of $3.9M.
600 acres – Thompson Creek + Pipe Fork
160 acres – Little Sugarloaf
320 acres – Munger Creek and Cedar Flat
320 acres – Clapboard Gulch
160 acres – Little T
80 acres – Bear Wallow
160 acres – Low Divide
These parcels worth more than $10.4M will be auctioned through sealed bids. This is a land auction, not a timber sale. Many of these parcels are adjacent to private properties owned by community members in Williams. Please reference the online auction materials for more information on the Josephine County parcels, the reserve prices, and how they are marketing these parcels.
Auction Parcel Flip Bookhttps://www.rmnw-auctions.com/105-111-josephine-county-surplus-timberland/
Why Should We Care?
Southern Oregon forests are some of the most diverse forest ecosystems on the planet, and they are dwindling. Despite the historic National Forest Plan Amendment (Executive Order 14072) from the White House, many states and counties continue to sell timber rights and clearcut mature and old growth forests like these for short-sighted financial gains.
Diminished Water Quality and Supply: Clear-cutting is proven to devastate groundwater and surface water sources, impacting water quality and quantity for residents, fishing habitat, and agricultural water rights.
Increased Fire Risk: Without responsible management, deforested areas radiate heat, followed by tree plantations increase the risk of wildfire, threatening our homes, farms, and forests.
Destruction of Wildlife & Hunting Habitats: This valley is rare, as is all of Southern Oregon. Home to deer, salmon, bears, and countless species that make this land rare and special. Losing these habitats would be catastrophic.
Reduction in Property Values and Sustainable Economics: Williams is growing. Many of these parcels are directly adjacent to private property. Quality of life given increase in logging truck traffic, loss of trails, and views caused by clear cutting scars would have direct impacts on our economy.
Pipe Fork forests contain rare Port Orford cedars, rare native fauna and flora, and supplies clean water to our community year round. These lands located on the foothills of Grayback Mountain above Williams are beneficial and vital to the Josephine County communities. These lands provide clean water to irrigate rich farmlands, enhance community livability, support the economy, protect endangered animal habitat (Spotted Owls, Pacific Fishers, Salmon), and generate recreational income like fishing and hiking.
What has already happened?
On October 3rd, Josephine County during their Weekly Business Session, held a public hearing in regards to the “Approval of Order No. 2024-061; In the Matter of Authorization of Sale of County Real Property by Sheriff’s Sale”. Order No. 2024-061 includes 9 Josephine County owned parcels documented in the attached Auction Packet.
Since 2020, WCFP has been trying to protect and conserve Pipe Fork after noticing flagging on Pipe Fork indicating a timber sale. In 2023 Josephine County Commissioners signed a letter of intent to sell Pipe Fork for preservation to The Conservation Fund. A Yellow Book appraisal was done, paid for by the BLM. In 2024, as promised, The Conservation Fund offered Josephine County $2.02M plus $300K raised by the Williams Community to purchase Pipe Fork for preservation. On July 10th, after four years of coordination with The Conservation Fund, the BLM, and negotiations with Josephine County Commissioners, John West and Herman Baertschiger Jr. failed to second a motion to sell Pipe Fork to The Conservation Fund. Now they have chosen to put Pipe Fork up for auction.
What can we do to protect and conserve these lands and water in Williams watershed?
- Participate in the Auction: Any private entity with the resources can bid on these lands. See the Terms and Condition page in the attached Auction Packet for requirements and details.
- Support WCFP in their efforts with other non-profit conservation organizations to enter the auction and submit a bid for one or more of the parcels. Pipe Fork would be the top priority. The Williams community is pursuing vital help from conservation organizations and individuals to purchase the forestlands and save these valuable native forests. We need to retain some of these special places for all people to enjoy and our children to see and experience in the future.
- Attend Upcoming Community Meetings: WCFP will host a Community Meeting on October 24th at 6 PM in the Williams Grange to provide updates regarding any and all of the above conservation approaches.
- Sign the Petition:
https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-auction-of-mature-forests-in-the-williams-community-watershed - Attend Josephine County Commissioner Business Meetings and speak out on how it will impact the community, watersheds, roads, water quality, sound, value of land, livability in Williams.
- Every Wednesday at 9am in the Anne Basker Auditorium in Grants Pass
- Write Letters to the Editor or Articles of your favorite publication.
- Grants Pass Daily Courier
- Website: thedailycourier.com
- Submission: You can submit letters via their website or by contacting them directly at (541) 474-3700.
- Sneak Preview
- Website: SneakPre.com
- Submission: Contact John Kochis – sneakpre@mind.net – 541-479-9738
- Illinois Valley News
- Website: ivnews.com
- Submission: Letters can be sent to the publication at their office in Cave Junction or by calling (541) 592-2541 for submission details.
- Grants Pass Daily Courier
Pipe Fork is a compelling example of lush, mature riparian forest in the Klamath-Siskyou Bioregion of Southern Oregon. Pipe Fork Creek originates from pure-water springs nestled in ancient forest on the east flank of Grayback Mountain, and flows cold and clear and abundantly year-round through a narrow canyon wilderness into the Williams Valley. There it provides generously for farms and homes as well as for rich spawning and nursery grounds vital to chinook and coho salmon.
Designated a Research Natural Area (RNA) of Critical Environmental Concern by the Bureau of Land Management, the upper reaches of Pipe Fork have also been nominated for designation as a Federal Wild and Scenic River. Rare Pacific fishers and martens, spotted owls, elk, bear, and many other animals, as well as numerous species of rare plants, live in the undisturbed forests of the RNA.