It's a big win for the proposed Skyline Forest near Bend. The Oregon House voted 31 to 28 Tuesday to pass a bill which will create the largest community forest in the nation of more than 32-thousand acres west of Bend. Deschutes Land Trust Executive Director.

Brad Chalfant says “It's the scenic view when you look west from Bend, Tumalo, Redmond, all the way over to Sisters. It's the scenic view that has made so many people fall in love with Central Oregon.  Chalfant says the governor indicates he will sign the bill covering almost a hundred square miles.

It will allow a development rights trade allowing intensive development in a small area with most of the land dedicated as forest. The plan is to manage for recreation, conservation, and limited logging. Now that the legislative hurdle is cleared, the next step is to raise up to $12-Million dollars to purchase the forest land from a private timber company, Fidelity National Timber Resources. The land will be eventually managed by the Deschutes Land Trust.