Conservation groups successfully stalled a bid to clear-cut 49 acres of the Oregon Coast Range this week, after a federal judge agreed the logging plan posed a danger to the federally protected marbled murrelet.

U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken issued a preliminary injunction Monday preventing logging on a portion of the Elliott State Forest the state sold to Scott Timber Co., a subsidiary of timber giant Roseburg Forest Products.

The Audubon Society of Portland, the Center for Biological Diversity and Cascadia Wildlands sued in August to stop logging on the property due to the presence of the threatened sea bird. Aiken's injunction means no logging will occur on the 355-acre so-called Benson Ridge slice of the forest until she rules on the overall case, which could be more than a year from now.

But environmental groups involved in the suit praised the move as a key victory in what they're calling a test case for protecting the bird on private property.

Nick Cady, legal director for Eugene-based Cascadia Wildlands, said Aiken's decision has huge implications as state officials consider selling off the 82,500-acre forest to raise money for Oregon schools. The state received a $221 million bid for the forest this month.

The Benson Ridge land was among three chunks of the forest sold in 2014 to timber companies.

Cady said it's historically been impossible to hold companies responsible for violating protections outlined under the federal endangered species act. His organization sees Aiken's ruling as a step forward.

The forest is also home to federally protected coastal coho salmon and northern spotted owl.

"The state represented to these private timber interests that the forest could be logged without legal consequence," Cady said in a statement, "and this ruling establishes that private timber companies can no longer violate federal environmental laws with abandon."

Roseburg Forest Products declined to comment for this story.

"This demonstrates the incredible cynicism that underpins the state's efforts to sell the Elliott off to private timber interests," Bob Sallinger, Audubon's conservation director, said in a statement. "Not only does it put fish and wildlife species at risk and eliminate use for future generations, but it also is predicated on those private timber companies returning to the illegal logging practices that the state was forced to abandon."

The injunction is the latest development this fall involving the Elliott State Forest and marbled murrelet.

State fish and wildlife officials are exploring changing the bird's status from threatened to endangered.

And last week, Gov. Kate Brown asked the Department of State Lands to explore options beyond selling the forest to Lone Rock Timber Resources and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribes of Indians. Brown floated the idea of issuing $100 million in state bonds to keep at least a portion of the forest in public hands.

The State Land Board is expected to meet in February to discuss the Elliott forest again.



-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen