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CORVALLIS - Two public meetings and an online survey are being planned by the College of Forestry at Oregon State University to gain input on a planned update of the McDonald-Dunn Forest Plan.

The 11,400-acre McDonald-Dunn Research Forest lies on the western edge of the Willamette Valley, just north of Corvallis. It is managed for student education and scientific research on three distinct forest management themes - even-aged, two-storied and uneven-aged - to allow teachers and researchers to observe side-by-side comparisons of different forestry approaches. The forests also have an important public recreation component, with more than 100,000 visits per year by area residents.

The last major update to the forest management plan for this area was done in 1993, and the College of Forestry intends to revisit that plan and change it as necessary, officials say.

Hal Salwasser, dean of the College of Forestry, and members of a planning team will be present at the upcoming meetings to outline strategies being considered in the plan update.

"We want to obtain public input and seek creative ideas in this plan revision process," said Rick Fletcher, an Extension forester and College of Forestry professor who is helping coordinate the planning effort. "We hope people interested in the future uses and management of McDonald-Dunn Research Forest will be able to attend one of the meetings or otherwise give us feedback via the website."

The two public forums to discuss the plan are Thursday, March 11, at 7 p.m. at the Forestry Club Cabin in Peavy Arboretum; and Tuesday, March 16, at 7 p.m. at the Corvallis Library, public meeting room.

A web link will also soon be operational at www.cof.orst.edu/resfor/ that will provide more detailed information about the planning process and will allow McDonald-Dunn users to complete an online survey.

More information about the meetings or planning process can also be obtained by contacting Rick Fletcher, (541) 766-3554; Becky Johnson, (541) 737-4192; or David Lysne, (541) 737-4452.