JOHN DAY, PENDLETON, and BAKER CITY, Ore. – The Blues Intergovernmental Council (BIC) has been formed to help frame the process of developing a new methodology for forest planning for the Wallowa-Whitman, Malheur, and Umatilla National Forests. A series of meetings between County Commissioners and key Forest Service personnel have been held across the Blue Mountain region over the last year to help kickstart a framework for cross-jurisdiction work. With the formation of the BIC, we hope to further expand working relationships with other governmental agencies to create visionary plans that meet the needs of local communities and natural ecosystems in the Blue Mountains area of Oregon and Washington. We are committed to working in unison and upholding legal authorities mandated or held. The BIC will allow more opportunity for all to be kept informed and have input together towards the creation of the Forest Plans for the three forests. We will be working together in a transparent process with the goal of limiting ‘surprises’ at the end.

The Forest Service is an equal opportunity employer. The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.