U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that 30 Oregon counties will receive more than $47.7 million in federal payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) for schools and road maintenance, youth job training, wildfire prevention, watershed restoration and habitat conservation. These funds are allocated from the U.S. Forest Service, with more expected from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) soon.
âThe Secure Rural Schools Act has helped rural communities in Oregon and across the nation to be even better places to live and work,â said Wyden, who co-authored the original SRS law in 2000 and secured three additional years of SRS funding in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. âThis direct investment in Oregon counties will help create opportunities for young Oregonians, generate jobs and economic growth, and promote public safety. These are the types of federal investments I fought for more than two decades ago when SRS originally passed, and that I will keep battling to support rural communities throughout the state.â
âSecure Rural Schools payments are critical for our rural communities here in Oregon and across AmericaâŻbecause theseâŻinvestments provide essential support forâŻour schools, keyâŻinfrastructure projects,âŻpublic safety, andâŻwildfire mitigation efforts,ââŻMerkley said. âThese USFS investments in rural Oregon counties with federal forest lands will help secure the resources they need toâŻstay safe and strong, and Iâll keep fighting to uphold the federal governmentâs promise toâŻcontinue this vital program.ââŻ
The $47.7 million for SRS nationwide provides critical funding for schools, roads, and other municipal services to more than 700 U.S. counties. A portion of U.S. Forest Service funds generated through multi-use activities, such as grazing, timber production, and special use permits supports rural counties with federal forestland to improve the health of forested communities, and can include improving schools and roads, preventing wildfire, stream and watershed restoration, improvement of fish and wildlife habitat, and opportunities for youth training and employment.Â
The county-by-county breakdown for the $47.7 million from the Forest Service in Oregon is as follows:
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USFS Payments
- Baker                        $848,413.48   Â
- Benton                       $107,317.09
- Clackamas                $1,042,555.50
- Coos                         $59,496.69
- Crook                       $1,169,189.57
- Curry                       $1,169,189.57
- Deschutes                 $941,995.57
- Douglas                    $6,669,845.06
- Grant                        $3,629,540.07
- Harney                      $1,356,685.33
- Hood River               $545,725.60
- Jackson                      $1,462,463.54
- Jefferson                    $456,594.85
- Josephine                  $950,157.29
- Klamath                    $6,372,487.62
- Lake                          $2,417,282.25
- Lane                          $7,764,108.96
- Lincoln                      $1,298,614.26
- Linn                          $2,963,361.59
- Malheur                    $9,666.85
- Marion                      $1,052,853.70
- Morrow                     $159,751.08
- Multnomah               $169,228.41
- Polk                           $3,559.62
- Tillamook                  $662,760.56
- Union                        $579,491.73
- Wallowa                    $1,082,694.16
- Wasco                        $779,258.08
- Wheeler                     $580,908.39
- Yamhill                      $158,984.75
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TOTALSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $47,782,384.36