Southport Lumber

08/20/2026

A day in the life of a Southport forestry intern 🌲 From measuring trees to collecting field data, there’s no shortage of hands-on learning in the woods.

08/07/2026

Oregon’s Grasshopper Fire Puts Spotlight on Litigation That Delayed Wildfire Prevention
July 29, 2026

Anti-Forestry Group Collected $55,000 from Taxpayers After Suing to Delay Forest Management

The Grasshopper Fire is burning through forests on Oregon's Mt. Hood National Forest that were identified and prioritized years ago for hazardous fuels reduction through a collaborative effort involving local communities and the U.S. Forest Service. Yet much of that work remains unimplemented after years of litigation and administrative delays.

The project area lies within one of the High Priority Landscapes identified under the Biden Administration's 2022 Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The Wasco County Forest Collaborative worked with the Forest Service to develop the Grasshopper Restoration Project, the 27 Road Fuel Break, and the Hootnanny Project to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest conditions across more than 11,000 acres.

The Grasshopper Restoration Project became the subject of litigation brought by Oregon Wild under the National Environmental Policy Act. The Forest Service ultimately settled the case by removing less than two percent of the proposed treatment area, modifying other treatments, imposing additional restrictions, and paying Oregon Wild $55,000 in attorney fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act.

Commercial thinning was never implemented before the Grasshopper Fire ignited after last week's lightning storms. The fire has now burned through much of the planned project area, destroying more than 25 million board feet of timber identified for removal while threatening the Highland Ditch irrigation system, which supplies water to approximately 3,600 acres of agricultural land.

"Everyone involved understood these forests were at risk and needed treatment," said AFRC President Travis Joseph. "Instead of getting that work done, the projects became tied up in litigation and procedural tactics that prevented timely implementation."

On July 7, just weeks before the fire began, Oregon Wild and WildEarth Guardians served a Notice of Intent to sue over four additional Mt. Hood National Forest projects, including the nearby 27 Road Fuel Break and Hootnanny Project, both now within the fire area.

"This is the epitome of a broken system," Joseph said. "Taxpayers paid an organization to delay a collaboratively developed wildfire prevention project, and before most of that work could be completed, the project area burned. Congress should ask whether taxpayer funded attorney fees are advancing the public interest or simply financing delay and obstruction."

08/07/2026

Wildfire season is here, and we all have a role to play in keeping our forests and communities safe.

07/31/2026

Some days at the office look a little different.

07/20/2026

Some people see stacks of lumber. We see future homes, schools, businesses, and the places where life happens. Every bundle leaving Southport is part of something bigger—a building material people can count on and the foundation for communities across America. We're proud to play a small role in building what comes next.

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

A view we're proud of every day. 🌲🌊 Southport Lumber—where Pacific Northwest timber, marine logistics, and American manufacturing come together on the Oregon Coast.

06/23/2026

Nothing goes to waste. 🌲
At Southport, we believe responsible forestry means making the most of every resource. Residual wood fiber is transformed into valuable products that support jobs, local communities, and a more sustainable future.