Lawmakers are about to convene a legislative session that鈥檚 expected to tackle Oregon鈥檚 critical wildfire funding issues. And forestry officials are scrambling to finalize two major overhauls to .
But for many, state forester Cal Mukumoto鈥檚 resignation didn鈥檛 come as a surprise, even for Mukumoto himself.
鈥淲ithout the confidence of the Legislature and the governor鈥檚 office, I think it didn鈥檛 leave me many options but to resign,鈥� Mukumoto said.
The Oregon Department of Forestry, which the state forester oversees, has made headlines over multiple controversies in recent months. During last year鈥檚 historically expensive wildfire season 鈥� when 1.9 million acres burned, racking up $350 million in costs 鈥� the department ran out of cash before it could pay contractors who worked the fires. Lawmakers had to hold a to fast-track $218 million to the department so it could pay its debts.
A month later, reported the department was sending 20 employees to a training at a luxury resort in Bend 鈥� while the department was embroiled in at least two workplace conduct investigations, also reported by
鈥淏ad press is bad press,鈥� Mukumoto said. 鈥淲e need to move forward and get support from the Legislature and the governor鈥檚 office behind this department.鈥�
Mukumoto wouldn鈥檛 confirm if Gov. Tina Kotek鈥檚 office asked him to resign.
Kotek鈥檚 office declined an interview request, instead offering a written statement: 鈥淥regonians deserve strong leadership to chart a proactive path to protect our state鈥檚 forests for the benefit of healthy ecosystems, thriving communities and a strong economy.鈥�
Mukumoto鈥檚 resignation is effective Jan. 23. The Board of Forestry is expected to work with Kotek鈥檚 office to recruit candidates, then the board will have a final say in who gets to take the helm. It鈥檚 likely to be a months-long process.
In the meantime, Kate Skinner, currently the interim deputy state forester and longtime Tillamook district forester, will take over as acting state forester.
鈥楬e鈥檚 had a target on his back ever since鈥�
Mukumoto in 2021 after the departure of Peter Daugherty 鈥� who after losing state lawmakers' confidence over the forestry department鈥檚 financial insolvency.
The state forester has long been a highly political role, juggling policy input from Oregon鈥檚 robust timber industry, timber-dependent counties and environmental advocates.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing about the job that is easy,鈥� said Board of Forestry chair Jim Kelly.
The Oregon Department of Forestry manages 745,000 acres of forestland, deciding which areas can be logged and determining rules for protecting vulnerable species. The agency is also charged with fighting fires on of forests that are mostly privately owned.
As Kelly sees it, Mukumoto鈥檚 political career as state forester took a nosedive after he voiced support for a that will usher in protections for endangered species on state lands.
鈥淔or the folks that were not pleased with that decision 鈥� which there were a lot 鈥� he鈥檚 had a target on his back ever since,鈥� Kelly said.
The western state lands habitat conservation plan is expected to substantially decrease logging 鈥� as much as 40% in some areas 鈥� which will result in revenue losses for the Oregon Department of Forestry and the counties that receive a share of logging taxes.
鈥淚t was a difficult pill to swallow, especially when the counties were under the impression that we would maintain a harvest level that would still be fiscally productive for us,鈥� said Clatsop County Commissioner Courtney Bangs. 鈥淎nd then to watch the department not be responsible with fiscal or budgetary issues.鈥�
Some Republican leaders celebrated Mukumoto鈥檚 departure.
鈥淲ith today鈥檚 resignation, we have a chance to reset,鈥� Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham of The Dalles said in a statement. 鈥淥regon needs an agency that prioritizes its mission and uses resources wisely to keep communities safe and forests healthy.鈥�
Multiple people who worked alongside Mukumoto described him as amiable and easy to get along with. Still, some said he could have been a more hands-on leader.
鈥淗e was very passive,鈥� said Bob Van Dyk, who was a member of the Board of Forestry until his term ended last week.
Mukumoto and Kelly disagreed with Van Dyk鈥檚 assessment 鈥� noting that Mukumoto voiced his support of the state habitat conservation plan when he didn鈥檛 have to. Mukumoto said he also initiated the investigations into workplace conduct, but added that 鈥渢here鈥檚 no real substantiation for a lot of those accusations.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檒l still continue to work for equality. We鈥檒l still work for inclusion and diversity within the Oregon Department of Forestry,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I think we have the staff to make sure that it continues.鈥�
Some blame Kotek for lackluster direction on forest policy
For the most part, the governor has steered away from getting heavily involved in Oregon鈥檚 complex natural resources policies, as she鈥檚 focused mostly on housing.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see her as fully engaged with natural resources as she is with her housing agenda,鈥� said Clatsop County鈥檚 Bangs, adding that she hopes recent events lead to 鈥渟ome strong engagement in natural resources.鈥�
Some conservationists said they would like to see Kotek take a clearer stance on environmental policies.
鈥淭he governor has tried to put environmental policy on the back burner,鈥� said Steve Pedery, conservation director of the nonprofit Oregon Wild. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think Kotek has much of an environmental agenda at all.鈥�
Pedery and others hope that the forestry department鈥檚 recent struggles inspire Kotek to get more involved, particularly when it comes to electing a new state forester.
鈥淚t would be great if the governor stepped in and pushed for someone more forward-thinking,鈥� said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity. 鈥淪omeone who really wants to change the funding structure and wants to see the forests better managed.鈥�
