Oregon forest dense stand of Douglas Fir. Photo by Oregon Caves - National Forest Service / Flickr (use permitted with attribution).
Official State Soil of Oregon
Oregon designated Jory soil as the official state soil in 2011. Named after Jory Hill in Marion County, Oregon, Jory soils are deep, well-drained soils that formed in the foothills surrounding the Willamette Valley. Jory soils exist on over 300,000 acres in western Oregon. All State Soils
Jory soils are productive forest soils supporting forest vegetation (largely Douglas fir and Oregon white oak). Many forested areas have been cleared and are now being used to grow crops, including Christmas trees, berries, filberts (hazelnuts), sweet corn, wheat, and many varieties of grass seed. Jory soils are also suitable for grapes (used in the expanding wine industry). As the Willamette Valley becomes more urban, more pressure results to develop areas of the Jory soils.
House Concurrent Resolution 3 Oregon Laws 2011
WHEREAS soils produce food and fiber, recycle water, support lush forests, yield bountiful grain and nut harvests, provide range forage, sustain wildlife and foster urban development; and
WHEREAS the State of Oregon and its citizens benefit from a rich and diverse soil resource that sustains agricultural, range, forestry and urban economies; and
WHEREAS public awareness of Oregon’s soil resource promotes land stewardship and soil conservation, which benefit future generations; and
WHEREAS Oregon has many unique soils due to interactions of complex geology, varied climates and diverse biota; and
WHEREAS the various soils provide color, texture and patterns to Oregon’s landscape; and
WHEREAS Jory soil is easily distinguishable by its strikingly red color on stable foothills; and
WHEREAS Jory soil exhibits distinctive characteristics and features that illustrate soil formation, conservation and management; and
WHEREAS Jory soil is representative of Oregon’s diverse and unique soil resource; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:
That we, the members of the Seventy-sixth Legislative Assembly, designate Jory soil as the official soil of the State of Oregon.
