OFRI's new TV ads reach out to Oregonians who value the phrase "reuse, reduce, recycle."

"It's no surprise," one of the ads says about Oregon, "that we have a fourth 'R': replant."

"We know we need to remind people that replanting after harvest is required by law, and that the law includes protections for fish, wildlife and water resources in working forests," says Dave Kvamme, OFRI's director of communications. "If we don't, people forget - especially those living in urban areas."

And that's a key audience: city dwellers in the 18-to-34 age range, as well as the state's newcomers. The two 30-second spots began airing Feb. 11, and will appear through June in the Medford, Klamath Falls, Eugene and Portland markets.

OFRI runs TV ads every year, but our educational spots had not been seen outside the metro area since before the recession. Although Bend wasn't included in this year's ad buy, OFRI hopes to be back on the air there next year.

Watch this year's ads on YouTube.

On April 18, scientists will present findings to fellow scientists as well as forest managers from a landmark 10-year study that examines the effects of contemporary logging practices on watershed health.

"This is the first time we'll see an overall analysis of the Hinkle Creek study," says Mike Cloughesy, OFRI's director of forestry. The initial conclusion is that land managers are taking good care of fish, wildlife and water resources."

The Hinkle Creek Paired Watershed Study was conducted from 2001 to 2011 in the Cascade foothills near Roseburg, and analysis of the study data will continue for several years.

The initial findings will be presented at the Watersheds Research Cooperative conference, April 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at LaSells Stewart Center on the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis.

The conference, designed for scientists and land managers, will also provide updates on two other ongoing watershed studies: the Trask research in northwest Oregon and the Alsea study in the central coast area. Data collection for both continues until 2015.

The conference is sponsored by OFRI, WRC and the Oregon State University College of Forestry. The papers being presented in Corvallis will be published in a special issue of the journal Forest Science.

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Two Oregon building projects were recognized recently by WoodWorks as 2013 US Wood Design Award winners. The recognition took place at WoodWorks' Wood Solutions Fair, held in February at the Washington Convention Center in Seattle and attended by nearly 600 architects and engineers.

According to Adrian Blocker, president and CEO of WoodWorks, more than 90 submissions from across the country vied for awards in eight categories. "The winners truly exemplify wood's versatility and the variety of ways wood products can be used to create outstanding architecture," Blocker said.

Oregon firms winning the awards:

Institutional Wood Design: Central Oregon Community College Science Center, Bend - architect, Yost Grube Hall Architecture, Portland; engineer, KPFF Consulting Engineers, Portland.

Interior Beauty of Wood: University of Oregon Ford Alumni Center, Eugene - architect, Opsis Architecture, Portland; engineer, Haris Engineering, Overland Park, Kan.

Photos of the winning projects are available on the WoodWorks website along with a wide range of technical and educational resources for design and building professionals.