Western OTFY: Gail and Gordon Culbertson
What makes them outstanding?
The Culbertson’s both come from families with a long history in natural resources. Gail sums it up well, “we have been people of the land forgenerations”. Gordon worked for Oregon’s wood products industry on private and public forest lands for decades. An advocate for public policy supporting sound forestry, sensible regulation and wise use of resources, Gordon has served on many boards of associations promoting ideals of a productive and healthy forest environment for the future. Semi-retired, Gail and Gordon remain active with advocacy as family forest owners and participating in organizations promoting sustainable forestry and a healthy local community and economy. They do an outstanding job of managing their forests and represent the natural resource community well. Oregon’s changing demographics influence an era of political uncertainty for private forest owners. Gordon and Gail follow state and national policy discussions closely and regularly weigh-in with their County Commission and State Legislature on issues of importance for natural resource management.
Last year, Gordon was planning to testify on an issue important to family forest owners before Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. During planting season, Gordon needed to pick up seedlings before the nursery closed to supply a planting crew the next day. As the Commission hearing ran long Gordon left to pick up the seedlings and Gail testified in his place. Well respected in their community, they make a great team in the management of their property and advocate for Oregon’s family forest owners.
Tree Farmer Story
During their younger years, the Culbertson’s had the good fortune to work and play on large family farms founded before the turn of the 20th century. This experience nurtured an appreciation for their heritage of hard work caring for the land.
Gordon began his woods career in 1973 working as a logger in Lane County Oregon’s coastal mountains. In 1975 he and Gail Hambelton were married. Gordon earned an associate degree in forest technology in 1976 and returned to woods working for a sawmill company. He honed skills as a timber cruiser, log buyer and manager for forestry and logging operations. Gordon served as Vice President of timber operations for two of Western Oregon’s largest independent family-owned forest products companies. In 2007 he joined a consulting firm specializing in global wood raw material analysis.
Gordon and Gail Culbertson formed Whitewater Forests in 2001 and purchased their first tree farm, 43 acres in Douglas County. In 2010, they purchased their second property, Penn Road tree farm, 68 acres, in Lane County. Another 40 acre Lane County forest parcel was added in the fall of 2019. Whitewater Forest lands are managed for long-term forestry investment, sustainably producing high-quality commercial Douglas fir saw timber, while promoting environmental values and family recreational opportunities. Their properties are currently certified under ATFS standards, joining with a group of family forest owners who share their passion for forestry and sustainable forest management. Gordon works with local sawmills and plywood mills whose appreciation for certified logs encourages sponsorship and contribution to events furthering the ATFS cause.
Gordon and Gail Culbertson are proud of their heritage and the sustainable forestry practices they follow on their property. They value continuing education and research, sharing appreciation of forestry with others, and establishing generational family connections to the land. They wish to pass the tradition and appreciation of work and recreation on family land to succeeding generations. Currently, three generations of the family are involved with the tree farm. Son Chris, a Portland-area contractor, has become the alternate representative for Whitewater Forests LLC.
As board members in the Lane County Oregon Small Woodlands Association (OSWA) chapter, members of the Oregon Tree Farm System board and Lane Families for Farms and Forests Culbertson’s encourage forestry in the community. Members of the family engage in outreach and communication with the broader community promoting forestry values. Gordon has long experience as an industrial forest manager and completed Oregon State University’s Extension’s Master Woodland Manager Program. Gordon also manages several hundred acres of forested tracts for other landowners, leveraging his expertise to promote and improve sustainable healthy forest conditions on these properties. Active in the local community, for nearly sixteen years Gail has served as a volunteer with CASA of Lane County, an organization committed as a voice advocating for abused and neglected children.
Raised in Lane County, Culbertson’s’ strongly believe good jobs and strong families go hand in hand. Keeping Oregon’s forests healthy and productive contribute to the livability and wellbeing of the community. They support a rigorous forest practices act and practical science-based regulation allowing production while protecting forest values for future generations. The Culbertson’s collaborate with other forest owners working for positive change. In 2013 Gordon joined with other OSWA members to urge passage of legislation allowing forest owners’ to construct pole buildings on their forested land to store equipment and supplies equipment needed to manage and protect the forest. Upon its passage working with Lane County, the new law allowed Gordon to complete one of the first buildings for forestry purpose allowed in his home county.
One of Gordon and Gail’s passions has been the support of Lane Families for Farms and Forests (LFFF), an all-volunteer local advocacy group whose mission is to bring farmers and foresters together promoting and encouraging a favorable climate for pursuit of family businesses. LFFF efforts include outreach to legislators and the community at large to celebrate Oregon’s history and educate the public about the important contribution to the environment and economy forest and agriculture owners play in Lane County. Frequently they address the Board of County Commissioners meetings supporting local forestry goals. LFFF sponsors several field tours and social get acquainted events annually. Gail and Gordon are very motivated to learn about and preserve local history and its influence on today’s culture and environment. They have researched and documented an in-depth history of their tree farm locale dating back to settlement beginning around 1880. Their Penn Road property has a rich history rooted with early pioneers and forest operators. This property was purchased by a settler in 1893 from the Oregon California Railroad Company. After completion of the Coos Bay rail line in 1916, the Penn sawmill was built adjacent to their property. During the early 1920’s logging from the property supplied the sawmill. In 1937 the mill closed and the surrounding settlement faded into history. The Culbertson’s proudly point out that amongst today’s Douglas fir forest are remnants of the springboard stumps Penn loggers cut by hand. The land is producing logs for them today, just as it did for Penn a century ago.
Managing family forests and learning new techniques is a rewarding activity. An intensive forest management regime was adopted to address specific goals for their property. They strongly believe in high-quality reforestation and enthusiastic care of young forests. Culbertson’s are interested in maintaining accurate forest inventory and growth data. Timber growth plots help to determine stocking and assist developing long-term harvest planning. They have researched forest health issues including Douglas fir root rot incidence and successful management techniques. Eradication of invasive species has been a high priority on their property.
The Culbertson’s strive to manage taking the “long-view”. Their goal is to leave a positive cultural, economic and environmental legacy that will last for generations.
Describe any outreach on behalf of sustainable forestry that the Tree Farmer has done
Gordon and Gail are active members of Lane Families for Farms and Forests. As Vice president he has been involved in developing field tours promoting natural resource education opportunities for elected officials and the community at large. The tours have visited the field to view reforestation, water quality protection standards, fish and wildlife habitat improvement, roadbuilding and harvesting operations and the use of forestry applications of chemicals. They welcome personal tours for media, elected officials, members of the public aswell as other foresters to view their Whitewater tree farms. Gail and Gordon regularly enjoy tours of fellow tree farmer’s properties to meet people and learn from their experiences. Educational seminars on forest practices afford new learning opportunities.
Gordon and Gail have campaigned for and supported forestry friendly political candidates in their local county.
Recognized for his lengthy experience and expertise in timber procurement, harvesting, and the forest products industry, Gordon has presented “timber harvesting and log selling” seminars for several OSU Extension Service Tree Schools. Gordon has also given numerous presentations updating trade conference attendees (Forest Resources Association, Western Forestry, and Conservation Association, Oregon Logging Conference, Western Hardwood Association, Douglas Timber Operators, Timber Measurements Society, Olympic Logging Conference, Oregon Small Woodlands and others) in North American sessions on current affairs of the forest industry. In 2013 and 2015 he was an invited guest speaker updating North American forestry to the audience at “Silva and Metsa Weeks” for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Gordon and Gail have traveled extensively on the international forest industry exchange visits and industry projects in South America, Australasia, Asia and Europe.
For the following areas describe how the landowner's management addresses it
Wood: The three Whitewater tree farms are managed as a single operating entity. A relatively even distribution of age classes allows harvesting 1/5 of merchantable timber each decade on a sustained yield to meet harvest goals.
Their management strategy supports a 50-60 year rotation complemented by commercial thinning to remove inferior stems and encourage the growth of premium quality sawmill and veneer logs.
After a clear-cut harvest, Culbertson’s follows a familiar regime. Post-harvest slash concentrations are piled and burned to facilitate planting. Typically they plant about 400 Douglas fir, Western red cedar or white fir seedlings per acre. Generally, survival has been very good. Plantation maintenance work includes spot herbicide spraying for grass control and manual and chemical control of brush species to reduce competition. They may hand fertilize individual seedlings once or twice. To discourage big game browse until seedlings reach adequate height, they bud cap seedlings and apply animal repellent several times.
In 2018 they reached a milestone, completing pre-commercial thinning on stands planted in 2005-2006 after Whitewater’s first 25-acre harvest on the ouglas County tree farm. The operation reduced stocking to 300 well-spaced trees per acre improving growth and tree quality.
Since 2014, about 26 acres of Whitewater’s young forests have been commercially thinned. Planted in 1990 this stand carried about 325 trees per acre. Thinning from below, the operation reduced stocking to 180-200 trees per acre harvesting about 40 tons per acre of sawlogs and chip saw logs. Thinning will be repeated as stands mature and require further spacing. Much of the terrain is suitable for tractor operation; subsequent commercial thinning returns income from the sale of sawlogs and improves stand conditions. Many crop trees have been pruned to about 8 feet with a power saw. This effort improves stand appearance and accessibility.
Water: Water quality has become a defining policy issue as we all depend on clean water. Protection of water quality and prevention of erosion are high priorities on the Whitewater tree farms. The Penn Road tree farm is located in the headwaters of Wildcat Creek, a 16 mile tributary of the Siuslaw River. The tree farm has fish populated streams with habitat for Salmon and Steelhead trout.
The Oregon Forest Practices Act allows flexibility for landowners cooperatively seeking solutions that protect water resources. One of the accomplishments they identify with pride is the cooperative effort to implement an “alternate plan” on a tributary of Wildcat Creek. In conjunction with their local Department of Forestry Stewardship Forester, this approach buffered a fish-bearing stream during harvest. The plan afforded surplus shade and potential for down logs to contribute to future aquatic health while supporting an economic timber harvest.
Oregon’s coast range mountains are subject to the heavy seasonal rainfall. The Penn Road tree farm will receive 60-70 inches of rainfall annually. Access roads are maintained jointly under an easement with the Bonneville Power Administration. Road surface maintenance, drainage, erosion control, and vegetation control are ongoing efforts to protect water quality during periods of run-off. The main roads have drainage structures and crushed gravel surfacing allowing all-season use without creating excessive sedimentation. Gordon Culbertson keeps in regular contact with the Siuslaw Watershed Council, a local group committed to the health of the Siuslaw River. He follows Council activities and is interested and aware of their projects and priorities.
Wildlife including threatened and endangered species: There is a variety of wildlife on the Culbertson’s tree farms. Black-tail deer, Roosevelt elk, black bear, coyote, and bobcat all share a home on the tree farm. In the stream habitat areas, amphibians and anadromous fish are present seasonally. The Penn Tree farm has been a particularly good rearing habitat for deer. Young fawns, sometimes twins, are sheltered in the thinned stands where they seek to cover. Gordon and Gail are partial to songbirds. Upon the advice from a wildlife biologist, they follow management practices to encourage bird habitation. They have promoted favorable vegetation habitat species for food sources and placed bird boxes around the lower end of the tree farm. The nesting boxes are now used regularly and appear to have improved populations.
Big game browse has been a concern in getting a 2011 plantation established. This was particularly a problem during the first two growing seasons. Use of bud caps and several applications of big game repellent were successful tools to get the young trees above browse height. Hardwoods are retained when they aren’t competing with designated commercial trees. Sometimes hardwoods are killed using herbicides, the snags remain standing for wildlife habitat.
During logging operations, large woody debris and certain snags have been left on-site to encourage habitat for wildlife, insects, fungi, and plants. Live and dead large standing trees are present along the riparian zone. In collaboration with a consulting biologist, Culbertson’s agreed upon the creation of bio dens. These are artificial structures of cull logs and slash are constructed to simulate and create habitat.
Recreation and Aesthetics including special sites:
Owning forestland affords the Culbertson family recreational experiences. A special recreation site on the tree farm is the historic homestead located near the old sawmill site. At the old “Phillips house” site two very large black walnut trees shade a small picnic ground in summer. It is a pleasant spot admired by all who sit, relax and listen to the leaves rustle in the breeze. Long ago residents planted Coastal redwoods near the homestead, these mature trees add to the unique setting. The Penn Road property is a family gathering spot for picnics and outdoor fun. There is a picnic table, fire pit, and swings for the kids. An outhouse was installed several years ago to make the picnic ground more hospitable. The family has developed a series of hiking trails and bridges crossing the stream. Each trail is named and signboards mark the path. Gordon and Gail’s family enjoy visiting and capturing memories of lazy summer days along the stream. Sometimes a slow-moving freight train will rumble by, carrying lumber to distant markets via the Port of Coos Bay Railroad.
Each of the young grandchildren has planted seedlings of their own. They tend and watch how the trees grow while learning about forestry. The family wishes to pass the tradition and appreciation of work and recreation on family land to succeeding generations. Currently, three generations of the family along with many friends meet and recreate here. Several friends have joined them for a birthday party at the “tree farm”. The Penn Road community is close-knit and the Culbertson’s allow nearby neighbors to hike on their property. Good friends and better tree farm security are benefits to this arrangement.
Describe other forestry programs or organizations in which the Tree Farmer participates
Gordon and Gail are active members of the Oregon Small Woodlands Association (OSWA), Lane County and Douglas County Chapters. When recognized as Oregon’s 2019 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year, they became members of the Oregon Tree Farm System board. Gordon has served on many forest industry boards of directors since the late 1970’s. Currently he serves as Vice President of Lane Families for Farms and Forests, he is a Board member and past Chair of Keep Oregon Green, current Board member for Friends of Paul Bunyan Foundation, he is a Past President (2006) of the Oregon Logging Conference, member of the Emerald Chapter of Society of American Foresters (SAF) and member of the Douglas Timber Operators. Gordon was selected the first chairman of the newly established American Forest Resource Council in 1999-2000. Gordon serves on the Lane County Small Woodlands Chapter Board and is an active member of OSWA’s Governmental Advisory Committee.
He represents Lane Families for Farms and Forests with the Springfield, Oregon Chamber of Commerce, Government Issues Committee. Gordon is also a member of the McKenzie River Stewardship Group. He represents commercial forestry and small woodland owner interests for implementation of stewardship projects in the McKenzie River Valley on US National Forest lands.
