From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Jul 7 13:10:15 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 13:10:15 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Forestry Department begins work on statewide forest assessment plan; meeting announced Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B653DB57EA@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Forestry Department begins work on statewide forest assessment plan; meeting announced July 7, 2009 Contact: Kevin Weeks, (503) 945-7427 The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is beginning work on a project to assess Oregon's current forest resources and is seeking public involvement in the process during a meeting in July. The 2010 State of Oregon Statewide Forest Assessment and Resource Strategy is designed to identify Oregon's current forest resources, develop a strategy for managing forests that are identified as priority areas in the state, and report on the effectiveness of how federal funding was used to address those priorities. The Forest Assessment and Resource Strategy plan is crucial for meeting 2008 Farm Bill requirements for federal cooperative programs. In addition, the document will serve as a cornerstone for the Oregon Board of Forestry's 2011 update of the Forestry Program for Oregon and determine future priorities for ODF's operating programs. The plan is being developed by ODF's Stewardship Coordinating Committee. The Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday July 14, 2009 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at ODF's headquarters, 2600 State Street (Operations Building D - Santiam meeting room) in Salem. Public members are welcome to attend the meeting. The key themes of the 2010 Forest Assessment are: * Conserve Working Forest Lands * Protect Forests from Harm * Enhance Public Benefits from Trees and Forests The 2008 Farm Bill passed by Congress contained an amendment to the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act which required states receiving Farm Bill funding perform the assessment study by mid-2010, with updates at five-year increments after that. The Farm Bill funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture which in turn provides funding for many ODF services through the U.S. Forest Service's State and Private Forestry Program. One-half of Oregon's 61 million acres are forested, with 60 percent of Oregon's forests under federal ownership, 35 percent privately-owned while state, tribal or local government ownership accounts for the remaining five percent. Oregon's forests are among one of the state's most valued resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic and social benefits Additional information about the Oregon Department of Forestry is available on ODF's web site, www.oregon.gov/ODF ### Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer / Agency Affairs Office Oregon Department of Forestry (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Jul 8 10:56:45 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 10:56:45 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Forest Legacy Program now accepting applications Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B653DB5942@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Forest Legacy Program now accepting applications July 8, 2009 Contact: Diane Partridge, 541-963-3168 or Kevin Weeks, 503-945-7427 #09-25 Applications are now being accepted for a program seeking to protect the future of Oregon's forests by helping landowners acquire easements to assist conservation of forests in areas threatened by risk of fragmentation or development. The Forest Legacy Program, administered locally by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), is a national cooperative forestry program of the U.S. Forest Service that seeks to conserve private forest lands in areas where forests may be lost to non-forest uses, to help protect forest resources, and enhance community forest conservation partnerships. "We're focusing our efforts on areas in Oregon that face immediate threats to conversion to non-forest uses," said Diane Partridge, ODF's Forest Legacy Program coordinator. "These are large areas of private forest land that face the possibility of development within the next decade, and where the consequences could be great in terms of losses to the ecological, social and economic benefits we enjoy from Oregon's forests." The Forest Legacy Program is designed to support state and community efforts to keep forestland viable, and keeping working forests as forests. The voluntary program provides financial incentives -- using conservation easements or land acquisition -- for private landowners to protect environmentally important working forest areas (those that provide forest products, water, fish and wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities) that are threatened by development, fragmentation and other non-forest uses. People interested in submitting proposed projects for federal Fiscal Year 2011 funding should contact ODF and submit projects prior to September 25, 2009 for consideration. Applications for the Forest Legacy Program, guidelines and additional program information are available on the ODF website, www.oregon.gov/ODF. Oregon welcomed its first Forest Legacy Program project in September 2007 when the City of Eugene worked with a private landowner to preserve over 25 acres of oak habitat called South Eugene Hills Phase One in Eugene's Wild Iris Ridge. During 2008-2009, the Forest Legacy program also awarded $1,500,000 to the Deschutes Land Trust to acquire a conservation easement for the Skyline Forest near Bend. A conservation easement is a legal restriction placed on a piece of property to protect a specific resource, or several resources. Conservation easements protect land for enjoyment by future generations while allowing owners to retain many private property rights and to live on and use their land, at the same time potentially providing the landowner with incentive or tax benefits. For more information about the program, contact Diane Partridge, ODF Forest Legacy Program Coordinator at 541-963-3168 or dpartridge at odf.state.or.us. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Jul 10 17:23:42 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:23:42 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] ODF Agency Budget Implementation and Next Steps Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B653E5247E@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News service members: Information from the ODF Leadership Team regarding implementing the 2009-11 Budget. ________________________________ From: SEELY Clark W Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 3:10 PM Hi everyone?we wanted to give you another update on our where we are in implementing budget reductions for the 2009-2011 biennium, which began July 1. As we?ve mentioned in past messages, due to declining revenues in State Forests ? the result of falling timber prices ? we felt we needed to go ahead with planned layoffs there. Those layoffs, and the related changes resulting from the bumping process, were effective on July 1. Unfortunately, we have more layoffs ahead as we implement the agency budget that received final Legislative approval before the 2009 session ended on June 29. These are focused in Private Forests, which is experiencing a major General Fund reduction. This week, the executive team decided on the schedule for delivering those layoff notices. In Salem, the affected employees will receive their notices on Tuesday, July 14. Employees in the Southern Oregon Area will receive notices on July 15, and in the Northwest Oregon Area on July 16. In the Eastern Oregon Area, the dates are August 3 in the Northeast Oregon District, August 4 in the Central Oregon District, and August 18 in the Klamath-Lake District. The effective date for all the layoffs will be September 18. Layoffs often mean difficult decisions for employees and their families, and we want to make sure we have an opportunity to go over the specific options for each affected employee. So, as we did with the State Forests layoffs, we?ll deliver and discuss each notice in person, with a supervisor and someone from Human Resources present. The details of the layoff process, and the options available to employees through bumping, are specified in our union contract. One of the contract provisions is that bumping occurs within the geographic area in which an affected employee works ? Salem, the Northwest or Southern Oregon Areas, and, in the Eastern Oregon Area, each district. During the week of July 20, Human Resources will begin its review of the options that employees have chosen. Regrettably, this will mean that more of our colleagues will be leaving the agency. Others will exercise bumping rights, which likely will mean more displacements, and changes in work duties across the agency. Because the bumping process is largely driven by seniority, we have continued our approach of issuing initial layoff notices to employees with the least seniority wherever possible, to minimize subsequent displacement. Stimulus planning, other activities continuing We?re continuing to work aggressively to obtain federal stimulus dollars, which we believe will provide opportunities ? many of them involving administering fuels reduction projects ? for some employees affected by the layoffs. We will soon be sending a separate message about our growing efforts in that regard, including more effectively securing and managing grant dollars and other outside funds generally. In the coming months, we will also continue our plans to restructure our agency to most effectively accomplish our mission with the reduced resources we have. In particular, this will likely mean some significant changes in the structure and function of our Private Forests Program. In closing These continue to be the most challenging of times. The loss of staff ? our most valuable asset ? and the personal effects of layoffs on employees and their families, are unfortunate. So is the loss of service, commitment and expertise that make this agency such an asset to the state. We are doing all we can to alleviate these consequences through our management of the layoff process, aggressive pursuit of stimulus dollars, and cost-saving measures. However, we will continue to face these difficulties through this economic downturn, doing the best we can to serve our customers with the resources available. Once again, we thank you for the great work you do ? especially in the face of such uncertainty and change. As always, please feel free to speak with your supervisor or a member of the executive team if you have questions. Best regards, Paul Bell, Nancy Hirsch, Chief Associate State Forester State Forests Division Jim Paul, Chief Clark Seely, Chief Private Forests Division Administrative Services Division From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu Jul 16 06:52:43 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:52:43 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] New OFRI report on watersheds Message-ID: <8624F561E5B896439490ED8208D03B0B05A14AFF@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News members: Forwarding this news release on behalf of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry (503) 945-7427 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> News Release July 14, 2009 For Immediate Release Contact: Dave Kvamme, OFRI ? 971-673-2948 New OFRI report examines impacts of timber harvest on watersheds PORTLAND, Ore. ? The Oregon Forest Resources Institute has published a special report that provides an update on three new paired watershed studies in the state that may eventually influence forest management practices in Oregon. The last such study, now more than 35-years old, changed timber harvest in Oregon forever. While it?s unknown whether the three new paired watershed studies underway in Oregon?s Hinkle, Trask and Alsea basins will have the same radical effect on timber management, it?s certain they will inform policymaking for years to come. The last systematic paired watershed study examining impacts of forest harvest practices in Oregon occurred on the Alsea River in the Coast Range east of Tillamook between 1959 and 1973. Its findings informed development of the 1971 Oregon Forest Practices Act, the nation?s first state forest act. Though the Oregon act has been amended several times since its inception, systematic inquiry such as the original Alsea study has not been undertaken again until recently. Harvesting techniques have changed considerably since then and the new studies ? one of which again looks at the original Alsea River study site ? are gathering extensive baseline data and examining impacts when a portion of the study site is harvested and another is left as a control area. ?It is unprecedented that three such studies are underway at the same time,? said Arne Skaugset, associate professor at Oregon State University College of Forestry and director of the Watersheds Research Cooperative. ?The scope, which encompasses both the Coast Range and the Cascades, combined with more detailed data as a result of modern scientific equipment, should yield scientific results that will be very useful to forest managers and policymakers.? OFRI?s 18-page special report, Watershed Science at Work in Oregon?s Forests, is available as a hard copy or as a download from oregonforests.org. # # # The Watershed Research Cooperative designs and conducts field-based research to study the effects of contemporary forest practices on fish and other aquatic organisms, along with water quality and quantity. The cooperative is a collaboration of a diverse group of individuals, companies, organizations and agencies, coordinated through the Oregon State University College of Forestry. OFRI is a member of the cooperative and is responsible for communications and outreach. From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu Jul 16 09:26:39 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:26:39 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Forestry Board to tour SW Ore research area and meet 7-30, 31 In-Reply-To: <8CD18C5BD70D6F4BB2B636295905299C7732CC94@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> References: <8CD18C5BD70D6F4BB2B636295905299C7732CC94@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B653E52490@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE For immediate release Distribution: Major Media July 16, 2009 Contacts: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425 or 09-26 Dan Postrel, 503-945-7420 Forestry Board to tour southwest Oregon research area and meet, July 30 and 31 The Oregon Board of Forestry will tour a state-of-the-art forest research project northeast of Roseburg on July 30, and will hold a business meeting, including a discussion about issues facing family forestland owners, the following day in Sutherlin. The public is welcome at both events. Board of Forestry tour, Thursday, July 30 The board will tour the Hinkle Creek paired watershed study site from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Paired watershed studies involve comparing two similar watersheds in the same locale, one in which timber harvest, road-building or other forest management activities occur, and one in which such activities don?t occur. The Hinkle Creek study, which is investigating the effects of contemporary forest practices on water quality, fisheries and aquatic habitat, is the first paired watershed study in Oregon located completely on private forestlands. Members of the public wishing to join the board are asked to provide their own lunch and transportation. The meeting place, in Sutherlin, is at the old Ray?s Foodliner parking lot west of I-5, which is off exit 136, west on West Central Avenue, then north on Dakota Street. Board of Forestry meeting, Friday, July 31 Meeting highlights include: * Receiving the annual report of the Committee for Family Forestlands, an advisory panel to the board. Committee chair Craig Shinn and member Gary Springer will discuss the group?s accomplishments, challenges posed by Department of Forestry budget cuts, and key issues for family forestland owners. At a time of growing pressure to convert family forestlands to other uses, keeping these lands as forests is the committee?s priority issue. * Receiving reports on the department?s 2009-11 budget and resulting reductions, and on bills approved during the 2009 legislative session. * Administrative rulemaking governing competitive solicitation for certain firefighting and fire prevention activities. On March 23, 2009, the Board adopted a temporary rule, and a subsequent rule-making hearing regarding the proposed permanent rule was held in Salem on June 15. The Board will consider the report of the hearings officer for final rule adoption. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Umpqua Golf Resort, 1919 Recreation Lane, in Sutherlin. It is open to the public, and comments will be received on forestry-related items not included on the agenda during a public comment period shortly after the meeting begins. Members of the public wishing to comment on specific agenda items will have an opportunity to address the board during the time scheduled for each item. The only exception to this will be the agenda item on permanent rule-making, since the Board can only consider those comments that were received by a previously established public comment deadline. Accommodations for people with disabilities and special materials, services, or assistance 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). Executive Session Following the public meeting, the board will meet in closed executive session to discuss real property (real estate) transactions. More information on the Board of Forestry can be found at www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD. Background information on the agenda items is available through the ?2009 Meeting Schedule? link. ### Questions about the Private Forests News service? Contact: Kevin Weeks Oregon Department of Forestry (503) 945-7427 From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu Jul 16 13:55:42 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:55:42 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Governor statement on WOPR Reversal by Interior Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B653E52495@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News members: Here is Governor Kulongoski's statement regarding the Interior Dept announcement Thursday to not implement forest legislation enacted by the Bush administration, including WOPR. FYI - Kevin Weeks Oregon Department of Forestry >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Statement by Governor Kulongoski on Western Oregon Plan Revisions Reversal Obama Administration reverses Bush approval of the WOPR, will address governor?s concerns of endangered species and climate change (Salem) ? ?I applaud Secretary Salazar?s decision today to withdraw the Bush Administration?s decision to implement the Western Oregon Plan Revisions (WOPR). ?My concerns with the WOPR relating to endangered species, protection of wilderness areas and the lack of clear forest management strategies t h at fight global warming went unaddressed by the previous administration. ?Today?s decision by the Obama Administration means that instead of years of litigation that only fuel conflict with the timber industry and environmental interests, we can go back to the plan, address the outstanding concerns, and develop a fair, balanced and effective forest management plan that protects the economic, social and environmental values of these forest lands and the communities that depend on them ? and can gain the support of all Oregonians. ?I have offered my commitment to assist in completing the plan to the Secretary personally and have stressed to him that it is imperative we continue to work together to secure the adoption and implementation of a final management plan for the Oregon & California (O&C) lands that can be implemented free of legal challenges to assure healthy forests, sustainable harvests and rural economic stability. ?Much good work has gone into the plan already and the revisions the Secretary has ordered will go a long way to achieve our collective goal of a healthy forest and a healthy economy.? From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Jul 17 15:24:46 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:24:46 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Water trees deeply when high temps hit Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B653EFCE2B@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Dept. of Forestry NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Major Media Distribution July 17, 2009 09- 27 Contact: Paul D. Ries 503.945.7391 Cynthia Orlando 503-945-7421 Water trees deeply when high temperatures hit When temperatures in Oregon soar into the 90's or triple digits, it can take a toll on trees as well as people. This is especially true if, in conjunction with high temperatures, there's been little recent rainfall. The Oregon Department of Forestry suggests a few tips for keeping your trees healthy during times of heat stress. "High summer temperatures can be hard on trees, especially the landscape trees in our urban areas," said Paul Ries, an urban forester with the Oregon Department of Forestry. "Hot weather and prolonged drought can make trees more susceptible to insect and disease problems," adds Ries. Symptoms of drought One of the first signs that a deciduous tree (i.e., trees that lose their leaves in the winter) needs water is that its leaves begin to look dull. Advanced symptoms of needing water are yellowing of leaves, wilting, and curling at the edges. Leaves may also develop a scorched or burned look - turning brown on outside edges, or between leaf veins. Leaves may also appear smaller than usual, drop prematurely, or turn brown, but remain on the tree. Evergreen needles may turn yellow, red, purple or brown. Watering tips During prolonged dry periods with higher temperatures, remember the amount of water required to keep a lawn green is not enough for a tree. Given the benefits and longevity of trees, trees should be given higher watering priority over lawns. If trees are only provided with shallow water, every day, they're probably only getting a fraction of what they need. Watering trees for short periods of time encourages shallow rooting, which can lead to future health problems for the tree. To make sure your tree gets the water it needs, saturate the soil within the drip line - that's the circle that could be drawn on the soil around the tree directly under the tips of its outermost branches. Using a regular hose or a soaker hose, water deeply and slowly - slowly is important, so the water doesn't run-off. For conifers, water 3' - 5' beyond the drip line on all sides of the tree. Also, if you have a choice, water during the cooler part of the day for all trees. Another way to water trees slowly is to put a 1/8" nail hole in the bottom (near the edge) of a five gallon bucket. Fill the bucket with water, and leave the slowly leaking bucket under the canopy of the tree. Do this twice or three times per tree moving the bucket each time. Other tips: mulch can help Using mulch is a helpful way to care for trees in hot or dry climates, since mulch helps the soil below trees retain moisture and stay cool. Mulch can be made of bark, wood chips, leaves and evergreen needles. Apply mulch within the drip line, at a depth of four inches, leaving a six-inch space between the mulch and tree trunk. Do not plant annual flowers or other groundcovers under the canopy of your tree. Remove lawn and replace it with a ring of mulch. Any plants below a tree's canopy compete with the tree's roots for moisture and, since they are often closer to the surface than the tree's roots, will get any limited water before the tree does. Lastly, do you know what kinds of trees surround your home or business? Some trees, especially fruit trees, need extra water in a heat spell, whereas trees adapted to drier climates - like elms and pines - need far less irrigation than other species. Tree care - always a good investment Trees and forests enhance quality of life in many ways, including by providing wildlife habitat, shade, wood and other products, raising property values, and providing clean, healthy streams. Remember that proper tree care - including deep watering of trees during hot summer months - pays big dividends in the long run. ~ ~ ~ For more information about trees and tree care: http://www.pnwisa.org http://www.isa-arbor.com/consumer/consumer.html About urban forestry: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/URBAN_FORESTS/urban_forests.shtml http://www.oregoncommunitytrees.org # # # -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Jul 21 11:39:22 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:39:22 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Draft Safe Harbor Agreement released for public review Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B653EFD150@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Joint Statement US Fish & Wildlife Service -- Lee Folliard, FWS: 503-231-6179 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service -- Jill Rees, NRCS: 503-414-3273 Oregon Department of Forestry -- Kevin Weeks, ODF: 503-945-7427 July 21, 2009 DRAFT SAFE HARBOR AGREEMENT RELEASED FOR PUBLIC REVIEW Promotes Conservation Projects for the Northern Spotted Owl in Oregon The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today opened a 30-day public comment period on a draft Safe Harbor Agreement and associated 50-year permit for the enhancement of the survival of the threatened northern spotted owl. The agreement and permit are designed to encourage forest restoration efforts on private land that will help recover the species. Notice of the documents' availability was published in today's Federal Register, and comments must be received by close-of-business August 20, 2009. "We see this as an innovative combination of agency capabilities coming together to do something very positive for private forest landowners and northern spotted owls," said Paul Henson, state supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Oregon. "Oregon values innovative approaches for balancing the environmental, economic and social benefits of our forests," said Jim Paul, chief of the Oregon Department of Forestry's Private Forests Division. "Safe Harbor is a voluntary approach forest landowners can opt for to meet the objectives of the Endangered Species Act for protecting owl habitat while also meeting their land management goals. This is our first effort at providing this type of assurance through Stewardship Agreements. If this proves of value to landowners we may have the opportunity to apply a similar approach to other species in the future." "This is a unique, incentive-based approach to conservation of a federally listed species. The effort will further species recovery while allowing forest landowners to continue earning a profit from their working lands," explained Ron Alvarado, state conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Safe Harbor Agreement and associated permit cover the range of the spotted owl in Oregon and were developed in partnership by Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). ODF will hold the permit and enroll landowners with the assistance of the Fish and Wildlife Service. NRCS' Healthy Forest Reserve Program (HFRP), a voluntary, working lands conservation program under the 2008 Farm Bill, will be implemented with the Safe Harbor Agreement for eligible applicants. The focus of HFRP in Oregon is to help landowners improve habitat for the threatened northern spotted owl on lands managed under sustainable forest practices. Landowners who elect to participate in HFRP will be able to enroll in the Safe Harbor Agreement. Safe Harbor Agreements are designed to benefit federally listed endangered and threatened species by giving landowners assurances that additional future restrictions will not be imposed by the Fish and Wildlife Service on their land as a result of their voluntary conservation actions. In other words; landowners won't be punished for creating good habitat for endangered or threatened species through their management. To date, nearly three million acres of land have been enrolled in Safe Harbor Agreements nationwide, benefiting a variety of listed species. The Healthy Forest Reserve Program has been implemented in eight states across the nation, with Oregon added in 2009. This fiscal year, the Oregon NRCS has $1.7 million for the program. Funding will be used to purchase permanent easements and conduct restoration activities on private working forests that are managed to benefit spotted owls. The Safe Harbor Agreement will provide regulatory assurances to landowners who develop suitable habitat through HFRP. Copies of the draft Safe Harbor Agreement and associated 50-year permit may be obtained by contacting Lee Folliard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2600 S.E. 98th Ave., Suite 100, Portland, Oregon 97266; facsimile 503-231-6195; or by making an appointment to view the documents at the above address during normal business hours. The office phone number is 503-231-6179. The documents may also be viewed on the Internet through www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/species/. Written comments should be submitted to State Supervisor, Fish and Wildlife Service, 2600 S.E. 98th Ave., Suite 100, Portland, Oregon 97266, or by facsimile 503-231-6195. Comments should include the name and address of the person commenting, and refer to the "Oregon Spotted Owl Programmatic SHA." # # # The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov Frequently Asked Questions How Do Safe Harbor Agreements Work? In a Safe Harbor Agreement, the landowner agrees to maintain, create, restore or improve habitat for endangered or threatened species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working with the landowner, will establish a baseline condition for each covered species (the spotted owl in this case). Proposed actions must be expected to result in a net conservation benefit to be eligible for enrollment in a Safe Harbor Agreement. The landowner may then incidentally take listed species, generally at the end of the agreement term, as long as baseline conditions are maintained. Who Can Get One? Any non-federal landowner can be a party to a Safe Harbor Agreement. These agreements are often between the landowner and the Fish and Wildlife Service or between the Fish and Wildlife Service and other stakeholders (such as state natural resource agencies, tribal governments, local governments, conservation organizations and businesses) who work directly with landowners. In this case, the FWS proposes to issue a permit to the Oregon Department of Forestry and they, in turn, will assist landowners who wish to participate. How long does it take to develop a Safe Harbor Agreement? Many Safe Harbor Agreements can be developed within a few months. More complex Safe Harbor Agreements will take longer, depending on the species' ecology, size of the project, number of parties to the agreement, and funding available for the program. The programmatic nature of this Safe Harbor Agreement provides a framework that allows for a quicker, streamlined approach to facilitate landowner participation and enrollment. What if I sell or transfer ownership of my land? Does the Safe Harbor Agreement go with the sale? If you sell or give away your enrolled lands, we will honor the agreement, providing the new owner signs the original agreement or a new mutually agreeable one. Can Safe Harbor Agreements be Renewed? Yes, agreements generally can be renewed for as long as the landowner wishes and as long as the landowner follows the terms of the agreement. What are the assurances? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide assurances that, when the Safe Harbor Agreement ends, the participating landowner may use the property in any otherwise legal manner that doesn't move it below baseline conditions determined at the onset of the Agreement. These assurances operate with the enrolled lands and are valid for as long as the participant is complying with the Safe Harbor Agreement and associated permit. In return for the participant's efforts, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will authorize incidental take through the section 10 (a)(1)(A) process of the Endangered Species Act. This permit would allow participants to incidentally take individual listed species or modify habitat to return covered species levels and habitat conditions to those agreed upon as baseline. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Jul 28 13:03:49 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:03:49 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Oregon's timber harvests plummet toward historic low Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B653F85116@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Oregon's timber harvests plummet toward historic low FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 28, 2009 Contact: Gary Lettman, 503-945-7408 09-29 Oregon's timber harvests continued to decline in 2008, with a total harvest of 3.44 billion board feet. The total cut decreased nine percent from the 2007 harvest volume of 3.80 billion board feet. "These are the lowest harvest levels we have seen in Oregon since the recession-based lows of 2001," said Gary Lettman, Oregon Department of Forestry forest economist. "That harvest was also 3.44 billion board feet and only a fraction of a percent lower than this year's levels. Preliminary data for 2009 project harvest levels will drop even further - to approximately 3 billion board feet." The drop in harvested volume came primarily from a continued decrease in harvests by private forestland owners. A 9 percent, or 247 million board feet, decrease in volume from forest industry land owners was accompanied by a 35 percent decline in harvests on non-industrial private forestlands, which declined from an overall harvest of 240 million board feet in 2007 to 156 million board feet in 2008 - a 63 percent decrease since 2006. Federal harvests remained at historically low levels, accounting for only 9 percent of the total harvest. State harvests increased marginally, from 276 million board feet in 2007 to 278 million board feet in 2008, due to wood salvaged in 2008 from the storm in early December 2007. The falling timber harvests have environmental and economic repercussions for Oregonians. Mills closing and lower lumber and wood products employment have hit rural communities hard, and contributed to the current statewide unemployment rate of 12.2 percent. Sixteen percent of Oregon's lumber and plywood mills have closed since 2005 and few remain in many rural areas. "Only nine sawmills remain in operation in all of eastern Oregon," said Lettman. "This reduction in lumber and plywood mills across Oregon also means there are less mill residuals available for biomass energy and paper products, and less industry infrastructure remaining to complete much-needed forest restoration work." Harvests decreased in all western Oregon counties except for Clatsop, Jackson, Multnomah and Tillamook; resulting in the nearly 9 percent harvest decrease in the region. Lane County remains the highest producer of timber in Oregon; however the 432 million board feet harvested in 2008 is a 14 percent decrease from the 2007 harvest of 504 million board feet. Clatsop County was second, increasing their harvest to 420 million board feet due to storm-damaged trees. Douglas and Coos counties were third and fourth; with 416 and 282 million board feet respectively. Harvest levels in eastern Oregon also significantly diminished; with the exceptions of Baker, Deschutes, Jefferson, Lake and Umatilla counties. Klamath county remains the highest timber producer, despite a nearly 40 percent reduction in harvests since 2007. For more information, please contact Gary Lettman, Principal Forest Economist, at 503-945-7408 or glettman at odf.state.or.us This information and more is available in the recently-released Oregon Department of Forestry 2008 Annual Timber Harvest Report - a compilation of statewide data pertaining to timber harvests. The 2008 report, as well as previous annual reports, is available online on the department's website at www.oregon.gov/ODF/STATE_FORESTS/FRP/annual_Reports.shtml ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Jul 31 10:51:14 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:51:14 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Forestry Dept awarded $6.4 million to reduce wildfire hazards Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B653E524BD@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. For immediate release Major media distribution July 31, 2009 Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425 09-30 Forestry Department awarded $6.4 million to reduce wildfire hazards The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has received $6.4 million in federal grants to lessen wildfire hazards on private and state forestlands. They include a $3.9 million project to reduce forest fuels on private lands, and a $2.5 million project for similar work on the state-owned forests. The grants are being provided by the USDA Forest Service through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). ODF will contract out much of the fuel-reduction work to local businesses. The funding will create jobs to thin overly dense tree stands, remove brush, and process the resulting woody material. $3.9 million for hazardous fuel reduction on private forestlands Under the $3.9 million ARRA grant, ODF will focus on forested areas in seven Oregon counties at high risk of damaging wildfires. * Jackson, Josephine counties ? 1,610 acres will be treated to reduce hazardous fuel loading and restore ecosystems to more natural wildfire regimes * Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson counties ? 893 acres will be treated * Linn, Lane counties ? 590 acres will be treated ODF will couple the fuels work with a public awareness campaign to educate homeowners on how they can manage their property and structures to reduce vulnerability to wildfire. $2.5 million for hazardous fuel reduction on state-owned forestlands While focused on reducing wildfire hazards on state-owned forestlands, the $2.5 million ARRA grant will also benefit adjacent communities by lessening the risk of a fire spreading to private lands. * Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Marion, Linn and Tillamook counties ? 3,894 acres of state forestlands will be treated to reduce hazardous fuel loading. When ODF receives the federal grant dollars, the various projects will be put out to public bid. On-the-ground work could start as early as this fall after wildfire danger has abated. Once fuel-treatment work begins, it will be possible to calculate the number of jobs created by the ARRA grants. ### EDITOR/NEWS DIRECTOR please note: Additional information on the projects described above can be obtained from: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us.