From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Fri Oct 3 08:06:11 2008 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 08:06:11 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Susan Watkins named to Forestry advisory committee Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B637B37C73@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Susan Watkins named to Forestry advisory committee October 3, 2008 Contact: Kevin Weeks, ODF Agency Affairs (503) 945-7427 McMinnville small woodland owner Susan Watkins has been named to the Committee for Family Forestlands, which advises the Oregon Board of Forestry on issues of concern to family forest landowners. Watkins moved to Oregon following a thirty-year career in municipal law in Washington and California. After Susan and husband Arnie Hollander planted their small forest in Yamhill County in 1994, Susan became a Master Woodland Manager and is responsible for managing her family woodland. Watkins also helped found the Family Forest Project, a public-private initiative that produced the award-winning "Ties to the Land" succession planning program for landowning families. Susan serves on the Board of the Yamhill County Small Woodlands chapter and was an early member of Women Owning Woodlands Network. In 2007, she testified on behalf of small forest owners before the Economy Work Group of Oregon's "Big Look" land-use planning task force. Susan received both her BA and JD from Stanford University. The 10-member Committee for Family Forestlands serves in an advisory role to the Oregon Board of Forestry. The committee's members include family forest landowners, forest industry representatives, environmental community and public members, and staff representing the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State University and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. Watkins was selected for the advisory committee during the Board of Forestry's September meeting in Astoria. More than 4.6 million acres of trees - 15 percent of Oregon's forest land - are actively managed by private small forest and family forest owners. The diversity of forest management approaches ensures that Oregon's forests remain among the state's most valued natural resources. Additional information about the Committee for Family Forestlands is available on the website for the Oregon Department of Forestry, www.oregon.gov/ODF ### On The Web - Ties to the Land : http://www.familybusinessonline.org/resources/ttl/home.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Tue Oct 7 07:11:19 2008 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 07:11:19 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Oregon Forest Resource Trust Advisory Committee to meet October 23 Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B637B37F56@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Oregon Forest Resource Trust Advisory Committee to meet October 23 October 7, 2008 Contact: Kevin Weeks, ODF Agency Affairs (503) 945-7427 The Oregon Forest Resource Trust Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday October 23rd from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, 2600 State Street (Operations Bldg. D - Santiam meeting room) in Salem. The proposed agenda for the meeting includes reports from ODF staff and a committee discussion of funding options for the expanded Cost Share program. The 12-member Oregon Forest Resource Trust Advisory Committee serves in an advisory role to the Oregon Board of Forestry. The membership includes forest landowners and forestry consultants; representatives of the academic and environmental communities; the Oregon Department of Energy, and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. The Oregon Forest Resource Trust is an opportunity to invest in what many consider to be one of Oregon's most underutilized assets: thousands of acres of widely scattered, under-producing forestland. Under-producing lands are lands that once had forests, or are capable of growing forests but currently not occupied by a manageable stand of trees or seedlings. The 1993 Oregon Legislature established the Forest Resource Trust as the first natural-resource investment program of its kind in the country. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and additional assistance for participating in the meeting can be arranged by contacting ODF at least two working days in advance at 503-945-7368. More information about the Forest Resource Trust is available by contacting the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-945-7427. More information about the Forest Resource Trust is available on the Oregon Department of Forestry's web site at: www.forestresourcetrust.oregon.gov ### For questions on the ODF Private Forests News service, contact - Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer ODF Agency Affairs / Private Forests Division (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Fri Oct 24 08:16:22 2008 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:16:22 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Bradbury scheduled to address OWEB conference Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B63B9BF120@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> ODF Private Forests News members- This news release about the upcoming Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board conference is forwarded at OWEB's request. Kevin Weeks ODF Agency Affairs / Private Forests Division (503) 945-7427 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> SECRETARY OF STATE BILL BRADBURY ADDRESSES WATERSHED CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE Posted: October 23rd, 2008 4:23 PM Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury will reflect on Oregon's unique grassroots work to restore watersheds and provide insights into climate change impacts for future efforts. Bradbury serves as keynote speaker at the opening lunch for the 2008 Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board conference November 5-7 in Eugene. The biennial event will feature more than 90 speakers and numerous workshop sessions on the importance of healthy watersheds in a changing climate. Other major workshop topics will include invasive species and restoration project management. Bradbury has delivered more than 140 addresses on climate change since he was trained for the task by former Vice President Al Gore in 2006. He has developed particular expertise in the effects of climate change on Oregon and the Pacific Northwest and has incorporated many regional images into his slide show. He is also a member of Oregon's Global Warming Advisory Commission, a group preparing recommendations to the Legislature on how Oregon will meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals. Other featured speakers include Russ Hoeflich, Portland, vice president and Oregon director of The Nature Conservancy; Dr. Tim Beechie, Seattle, Watershed Program science coordinator at the NOAA Fisheries Science Center; Julie Daniel, Eugene, executive director of BRING Recycling; and Chad Pregracke, East Moline, IL, president and founder of Living Lands and Waters. The conference will offer a special half-day registration fee for a series of sessions November 6 designed to help natural resources organization managers, volunteers and board members function effectively and work closely with community partners. The theme for the conference is "Working for Healthy Watersheds-Climate Change and Watershed Resilience." The event will be held at the Eugene Hilton and Conference Center. Visit OWEB's Web site for more information and links for conference registration and room reservations: www.oregon.gov/OWEB. The pre-conference registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 27. About the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board OWEB invests in local actions across the state to conserve and restore habitat supporting fish and wildlife. OWEB funding comes from the Oregon Lottery as a result of a citizen initiative in 1998, sales of salmon license plates, federal salmon funds and other sources. The event is funded primarily through Oregon Lottery funds. The Oregon Lottery and numerous other sponsors have allowed the conference to provide scholarships and pay the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to offset the environmental impact of the conference site and related travel. People interested in ride sharing or carpooling to attend the conference may sign up for a free PickupPal account. The conference will track the amount of emissions reduced as a result. Find a link on the conference Web site. FOR CALENDAR OF EVENTS: WATERSHEDS & CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE--The effects of climate change on watersheds will be a major focus of the 2008 Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Conference Nov. 5-7 in Eugene. Registration is now open for the event, which also will feature concentrated workshop series on invasive species, organization management, community engagement and restoration project management. The Oregon Lottery is a primary sponsor. For more information, call 503-986-0178 or visit: www.oregon.gov/OWEB. Carolyn Devine, Communications Coordinator, OWEB (503) 986-0195 Online registration is now open for OWEB's 2008 Conference in Eugene: Working for Healthy Watersheds Climate Change and Watershed Resilience http://www.oregon.gov/OWEB/biennialconference_08.shtml -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Fri Oct 24 08:30:05 2008 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:30:05 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] George Ponte selected as new Central Oregon District Forester Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B63B9BF123@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE For immediate release October 22, 2008 Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, or 08-43 George Ponte, 541-447-5658 George Ponte selected as new Central Oregon District Forester The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has selected George Ponte (say 'pont') to head up its Central Oregon District. Employed by ODF since 1989, Ponte succeeds Travis Medema as District Forester. Medema accepted a staff position in the headquarters office in Salem earlier this year. Since March, Ponte has been gaining on-the-job experience as acting District Forester of the sprawling District that spans 11 counties. During the year prior he served as Assistant to the Eastern Oregon Area Director, helping with oversight of the administrative unit that includes the Central Oregon, Klamath-Lake and Northeast Oregon Districts. The Oregon State University graduate began his career with ODF on the westside as a State Lands Forester administering timber sales and overseeing reforestation in the Coast Range Mountains west of Eugene. In 1993, he was promoted to Forest Practices Forester stationed in Veneta, where he worked closely with private landowners to ensure compliance with the Oregon Forest Practices Act. Three years later, he moved to the east side of the Cascades to fill a similar slot in Prineville. Ponte was promoted to Protection Unit Forester of the Central Oregon District's Prineville-Sisters Unit in 2003. In that position, he built on his firefighting experience by supervising the Unit's initial- and extended-attack organization. In that period, Ponte was also actively involved with implementing the National Fire Plan, and he assisted in the development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans as well as implementation of the Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act. In 2005, a five-month staff assignment to ODF headquarters in Salem provided him experience with legislative issues and biomass energy initiatives. As Central Oregon District Forester, he will administer ODF programs on 2.3 million acres of forestland. Ponte works out of the District office in Prineville. ### For questions or additional information about the ODF Private Forests News service - Kevin Weeks ODF Agency Affairs / Private Forests Division (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Fri Oct 24 09:27:10 2008 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:27:10 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Board of Forestry meets Nov. 6 & 7 Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B63B9BF14B@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE For immediate release Oct. 24, 2008 Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, or 08-44 Dan Postrel, 503-945-7420 Management of state forests tops Board of Forestry agenda The Oregon Board of Forestry will focus on the future of state forests, state involvement in the management of federal forestlands, indicators of sustainable forestry and other topics during a meeting Nov. 6 and 7 in Salem. The two-day meeting will be at the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) headquarters, 2600 State. St., in the Administration Building's Tillamook Room. NOVEMBER 6 SESSION: Managing state forests - Beginning at 8 a.m. on Nov. 6, ODF staff will present a progress report on efforts to achieve a balance of social, economic and environmental benefits on the Clatsop and Tillamook State Forests. Last year, the board established nine performance measures as a means to evaluate whether the forests' management plan is achieving an appropriate mix of the three types of benefits. Targets included increasing revenues, generated by timber sales, for local government services in the counties where the forests are located, and increasing the amount of forest expected to grow over time into older, complex structure, providing habitat for certain wildlife species. At the meeting, staff will present options and recommendations for board consideration that would help move toward the various performance measure goals. Staff reports are expected to run from 8-11 a.m., with public comment from 11 a.m. to noon. The afternoon will be devoted to board discussion and deliberation. NOVEMBER 7 SESSION: Topics to be addressed on Nov. 7 include: Poplar plantations - A change in the way some poplar plantations are being managed will soon place them under the regulation of the Oregon Forest Practices Act (FPA). These intensively managed tree stands have previously been exempted from the FPA, since they are typically harvested in a rotation cycle of 12 years or shorter. But a market shift is prompting some growers to extend the rotation, bringing to bear clearcutting restrictions and other FPA rules. The board will consider alternative approaches to regulate older poplar stands under the FPA, which was developed with conventional conifer forests in mind. Landslide rules - Staff will present options for implementing a proposed rule that addresses an intermediate category of landslide risk on forestlands. The permanent rule would replace a temporary rule previously approved by the board that will expire on Jan. 13, 2009. Board of Forestry Strategic Planning, Implementation, and Monitoring -- The board will discuss ways to refine its long-term strategic planning process, which culminates in periodic updates of the Forestry Program for Oregon, the panel's overarching strategy document. The current document was adopted in 2003, and the next version is planned for 2011. Staff will introduce a new web-based platform to provide public access to information on the Oregon Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management. The board will receive a report on five of the 19 indicators, which are designed to measure progress toward sustainability on all forestlands in the state. Four indicators were previously reported on in March. Federal Forestlands Advisory Committee - The Board will discuss public comments on draft guidance that articulates the state's vision for how federal forestlands should be managed to contribute to the sustainability of Oregon's overall forestland base. More than half of Oregon's forests are federally owned. The document prepared by the committee recommends policy changes and new state initiatives that would help restore the health of the federal forests, lower wildfire risk and increase productivity. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services or assistance planning to attend the Nov. 6 & 7 meeting can be arranged by calling the Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office at least 48 hours before the meeting - 503-945-7200, text telephone 503-945-7213 (in Salem). More information on the Board of Forestry can be found on the Web, at www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/. Background information on the agenda items is located under the heading, "Staff reports." ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Fri Oct 31 13:17:18 2008 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:17:18 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Update on 2009-11 ODF Budget planning Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B63B9BF949@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> ODF Private Forests News members -- Chief of the Private Forests Division Jim Paul issued the following message to staff Thursday regarding a $ 6.7 million reduction to the 2009-11 ODF Budget request in light of recent economic events, and requests from the Oregon Department of Administrative Services. It is provided to help communicate the economic situation facing ODF for the coming year, and agency response scenarios for the future. It is the intent of ODF to keep stakeholders informed and seek guidance from stakeholders as budget issues develop during the coming weeks. A two-page summary which explains the current revenue situation is also attached. Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer ODF Agency Affairs / Private Forests Division (503) 945-7427 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi everyone, I wanted to take a moment to update you on our budget situation, and on our planning for the challenges the Department is facing as we look toward the 2009-2011 biennium. As Clark Seely and I mentioned in our last message, state government as a whole is not expected to have enough revenue during the 2009-11 biennium, which begins next July 1, to maintain services and programs at current levels. State agencies have been directed to identify 10 percent reductions in General Fund - essentially state income tax revenue, the funding source over which the state has the greatest control - for 2009-11. As many of you are aware, a General Fund reduction for the Department is most felt in the Fire Protection or Private Forests divisions. Because of the risks involved in reducing initial attack resources, the Executive Team made the difficult choice of focusing the reduction plan on the Private Forests Program. However, these cuts would touch the entire agency - by further limiting our fire militia, for example, and by affecting the way we manage vacancies throughout the Department. At this point - and the situation will change as we move into 2009 - our plan calls for elimination of about 37 staff. There's more detail about the plan at the end of this message, but thought I'd first let you know where we are today in planning for these reductions, and finding opportunities for those whose positions are at risk. 1) What ODF is doing right now. Retaining ODF personnel, our greatest asset in serving the public, will be the top priority. This may mean transferring people among divisions or from one location or set of duties to another, holding positions vacant during this biennium to provide flexibility later, and other measures. Although the reductions aren't scheduled to go into effect until July 1, we can begin doing some of these things right away. This week, we rolled out the following specific actions to begin addressing the possibility of reductions: * Wherever we can, we will work to have vacant positions available to provide options for employees whose positions must be eliminated. However, this requires some administrative balancing, as positions may be lost from ODF's roster if they remain vacant for a long time. * Starting right away, we will work to fill vacant Natural Resources Specialist 1 and 2 positions as limited duration or developmental positions through next June 30. * We will work with stewardship foresters and others in positions that are 'at risk' to consider seeking promotions within ODF, transfers, or other ODF positions that depend less on General Funds, where this would be a good fit for the employee and the Department. The planning team (the three Area Directors, the Division Chiefs, Associate State Forester Clark Seely, and Human Resources Director Jeanne Davis) is meeting regularly to fully develop and implement the plan. 2) Spending conservatively, now and in the future. At this point, it appears that our funding is adequate in Private Forests and across the agency for the current biennium, although release of the next statewide revenue forecast on November 19 will be an opportunity for the Department of Administrative Services and the Governor to re-evaluate. In any case, we must continue to spend wisely and conservatively, as economic conditions allow. Knowing that things may yet change this current biennium, we need to do what is necessary to continue getting our jobs done. This includes moving forward, for now, with essential training activities. 3) We need to keep in close communication about the future. At this point we can't say with certainty what the economic downturn will mean for ODF. Much depends on how the economy fares and on decisions that the Governor and the Legislature will make to allocate available revenue across all state services. What we can do is plan for the future, as much as we're able to anticipate it, while continuing to provide important services to Oregonians and getting the job done. This will require the need to be responsive to potential changes in the road ahead. To help you be aware of any changes as we move on down the road, the Executive Team is committed to keeping you informed on a regular basis. We'll continue to send these kinds of messages every two or three weeks (more often if new information becomes available) and to discuss the situation with employees and stakeholders. 4) What the reduction plan means for Private Forests - and a new vision. Earlier in this message, I mentioned that I would provide some more details about the current reduction plan for the 2009-11 biennium, beginning next July 1. Here are some particulars as we know them today, with the understanding that things will change between now and July 1. As currently envisioned, the plan: * Reduces the Private Forests budget by $6.7 million (roughly one-quarter) once matching funds tied to the General Fund dollars are factored in. * Eliminates funding for eight Salem Private Forests staff and 23 stewardship foresters in the field. Six additional staff positions in specialized roles based in the field would also be eliminated. When analyzing potential reductions, we have made every effort to retain headquarter staff positions necessary for supporting policy direction changes and field operations, while ensuring capacity in the field to serve landowners. * Reduces overall field and headquarters staffing in the Private Forests Program by 32 percent - back to levels of the late 1980s. * Eliminates the Department's formal involvement with the Oregon Plan, recovery planning for salmon and other aquatic species, the state Invasive Species Council, the Pesticide Stewardship Partnership, and other interagency activities. While program goals and objectives would continue to indirectly support Oregon Plan and recovery efforts, there would no longer be dedicated funding available for these purposes. Together, these measures would reduce our ability to administer the Forest Practices Act and may require statutory and/or rule changes. In fact, as we move through this reduction phase, it is essential that we craft a vision that clearly expresses what we strive to accomplish for Oregonians with the Private Forest resources and reduced capacity available to us, and how we can succeed in realizing that vision. In other words, the program needs to have a clear vision of the future, and the confidence that we have the means and ability to achieve it. There will be further discussion about this, internally and externally, as we move forward. 5) The next steps. These are difficult and unsettling times. Important mileposts ahead of us may change our plans: the November 4 election, with several ballot measures that may affect state finances; the November 19 state government revenue forecast; the release of the Governor's Recommended Budget on December 1; and decisions during the 2009 Legislative session, which begins January 12 and is expected to run about six months, until the start of the 2009-11 biennium. The Executive Team is committed to keeping you up to date as events unfold. We will do this through regular messages such as these, along with discussions at staff meetings and, as things become clearer, with individual employees. We've weathered difficult budget periods before, and, together, will do so again. I appreciate your continued hard work and dedication, particularly in such uncertain times. My sincere thanks for all you do. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact your District Forester, Area Director, Program Director/Deputy Chief, myself, or any of us on the Executive Team. Jim Paul Private Forests Division Chief -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 2009-11 ODF GF Reduction Summary.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 38933 bytes Desc: 2009-11 ODF GF Reduction Summary.pdf URL: