I came across a comment by Konnor Kirkpatrick in Facebook that caught my attention regarding the Clean Forest Project. I have often wondered why our beautiful forest areas in our region keep deteriorating and perhaps this might explain part of it. Maybe Kirkpatrick can add his thoughts to this and correct any misinformation I might have written.
Program Origins
- Clean Forest Project (nonprofit)
- Started: mid-2000s
- Purpose: Volunteer-led cleanup of illegal dumping and trash on public and forest lands in Josephine County and surrounding areas.
- Status: Continues to exist, operating independently without stable county funding.
- Clean Forest Initiative (county program)
- Started: mid- to late-2000s
- Purpose: County-supported coordination of forest and illegal dump cleanups.
- Funding: Federal Secure Rural Schools (Title II) funds and county solid waste funds.
- Function: Provided structure, equipment, disposal funding, and coordination beyond what volunteers could do alone.
Why the County Program Ended
- Around 2015, Secure Rural Schools (Title II) funding ended.
- The county did not replace the funding.
- The end of the logging Industry took many critical programs.
- The Clean Forest Initiative was removed from the county budget.
- No permanent county-led replacement program was created.
- Cleanup responsibility shifted to nonprofits, volunteers, and limited ad hoc efforts.
What Happened Afterward
- Illegal dumping on forest and rural lands continued and increased.
- The county relied on:
- Small solid waste grants
- Limited cleanup efforts
- Complaint-driven responses
- There was no centralized, long-term cleanup program.
John West’s Role
- 2024: Commissioner John West publicly acknowledged that the Clean Forest Initiative ended years ago.
- He stated the county lost an effective tool for addressing illegal dumping.
- West expressed interest in restoring a Clean Forest–type effort using solid waste funds.
- As of now, no permanent county program has been reinstated.
Konnor Kirkpatrick’s Role
- 2024–2025: The county discussed using a contractor-based approach to address cleanup needs.
- Konnor Kirkpatrick’s name appeared in county discussions as part of a potential agreement.
- This approach represents outsourcing cleanup work rather than rebuilding a county-run Clean Forest Initiative.
- The effort has been discussed but has not resulted in a full, permanent replacement program.
Bottom Line
- The county Clean Forest Initiative (mid-2000s–2015) was effective but ended due to lost funding.
- The nonprofit Clean Forest Project continues but cannot replace a county program.
- John West has acknowledged the gap and discussed reviving cleanup efforts.
- Konnor Kirkpatrick’s involvement reflects a short-term or contract-based approach, not a full program restart.
