From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue May 5 08:32:13 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 08:32:13 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Budget hearings and new analysis available Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B650C61DE8@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News list members: *** Updated information on presentation of Oregon Department of Forestry's budget and public hearing time*** PUBLIC HEARING The public hearing day for the ODF budget before the Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee is Wednesday May 6 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm in Hearing Room 170 of the State Capitol. The Subcommittee has added an additional day of public hearing for the ODF budget on this Thursday, May 7th - same time and hearing room. H-170 is one of the smaller hearing rooms, so the schedule and space will likely be quite full; early arrival is recommended. BUDGET PRESENTATION SCHEDULE ODF's budget presentation to the Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee is scheduled for the following days from 1:00pm to 2:30pm in H-170 State Capitol: Tuesday, May 5th - Following opening remarks by Board of Forestry chair John Blackwell and State Forester Marvin Brown, presentation of the State Forests Division will conclude from Monday's presentation of the State Forests overview. Wednesday, May 6th - Public Testimony Thursday, May 7th Private Forests Division and ODF Agency Administration If you cannot attend hearings in Salem, the hearings are videocast over the Internet at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/listn/ -- then select 170 from the Hearing Rooms list. NEW ANALYSIS CHART AVAILABLE Agency Affairs has developed a chart which shows staff fulltime equivalent (FTE) levels for ODF's Private Forests Division (and the predecessor Forest Practices program) from 1980 to 2009 while comparing key events in the development of Oregon's forest and resource protection rules. The chart also visually expresses what proposed budget reduction levels for staffing within Private Forests would look like in the 10 to 30 percent General Fund budget reduction plans requested by the Legislature. The chart is available at this link -- http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/docs/PFstaffingchartMay09.pdf Additional information about ODF's budget development process is available at: http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/budgetdevelopment.shtml Questions? Please feel free to contact me. Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer / Private Forests Division Oregon Department of Forestry kweeks at odf.state.or.us (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri May 8 09:19:00 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 09:19:00 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Oregon Forest Resource Trust Advisory Committee to meet May 14 Message-ID: <8624F561E5B896439490ED8208D03B0B05A14A82@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Oregon Forest Resource Trust Advisory Committee to meet May 14 May 8, 2009 Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 The Oregon Forest Resource Trust Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, May 14 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, including presentation of a draft marketing and communications strategy for the Trust and a discussion of potential impacts from budget reductions proposed in the 2009-2011 Oregon Department of Forestry budget. 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 provides an opportunity to invest in what many people consider one of Oregon's greatest untapped assets: acres of agricultural, range, pasture and other non-forested lands suitable for planting in forest cover. Planting new forests contribute to managing the impacts of climate change in Oregon. The 1993 Oregon Legislature established the Forest Resource Trust as the first natural-resource investment program of its kind in the country. More information 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 ### Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer / Private Forests Division Oregon Department of Forestry kweeks at odf.state.or.us (503) 945-7427 From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri May 8 10:08:44 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 10:08:44 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Update on NOAA Grant submissions Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B650C62387@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News list members: May 8, 2009 Thanks to the many private landowners who participated in the short-turnaround grant opportunity through NOAA Fisheries that occurred in March. I'd like to provide a brief update on the progress of this funding. In March 2009, ODF learned of an opportunity to apply for stream restoration grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This funding package offered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) was allocated up to $170 million available for projects nationwide. In coordination with OWEB, ODF drafted project proposals in two grant categories: fish passage and fish habitat. ODF's Private Forests Program worked with private landowners to develop project proposals for privately owned forestlands across the state, and the State Forests Program prepared proposals for Oregon's state-owned forests. Almost 250 project submissions were received from private landowners in Oregon. ODF evaluated all of the applications received and submitted a refined list to OWEB, which then forwarded selected projects to NOAA Fisheries for funding consideration. Of the Oregon-requested stream restoration project proposals submitted to NOAA Fisheries, ODF Private Forests requested $4.5 million in fish passage projects and $6.2 million in fish habitat projects. On State Forests Program lands, $1.6 million in fish passage projects were developed and $1.7 million dollars of support was requested for fish habitat projects. NOAA Fisheries expects to publish a list of the grant award recipients during May. When we are advised of which ODF/OWEB projects were funded, details will be posted on the ODF Recovery web site -- www.oregon.gov/ODF/recovery/index.shtml Kevin Weeks ODF Agency Affairs (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon May 11 10:36:25 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 10:36:25 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] USDA NRCS funding available for private forestlands Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B650C6252C@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News members: The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service currently has funding available to assist non-industrial forest owners with development of forest management plans -- news release about the program is attached. Landowners or forestry consultants with specific questions should work directly with their local (county) NRCS District Conservationist. FYI Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer / Private Forests Division Oregon Department of Forestry kweeks at odf.state.or.us (503) 945-7427 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> United State Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 900 Portland, OR 97204 www.or.nrcs.usda.gov CONTACT: Todd Peplin, Farm Bill Specialist, Todd.Peplin at or.usda.gov (541) 923- 4358 Funding Available for Conservation Planning on Forest Lands until May 29 Funding is available to private, nonindustrial forest landowners to develop Forest Management Activity Plans in Oregon. This is a special signup under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) open statewide until May 29, 2009. A Forest Management Activity Plan is a site-specific conservation plan prepared by a professional forester. The plan identifies and describes management actions and conservation practices that will help the landowners meet their objectives, maintain production, meet regulatory requirements, and enhance natural resources. Forest Management Activity Plans provide specialized management and conservation strategies that meet NRCS conservation planning standards for USDA programs and help the operator address requirements of cultural resource, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other regulations. After enrolling in EQIP, program participants develop their plans with Technical Service Providers (forestry consultants) who are approved by NRCS. Once the plan is complete, the participant may receive a program payment of up to 75 percent of the estimated cost of plan development. Participants must enroll in EQIP before their Forest Management Activity Plan is developed; payment is not retroactive. Additional information and payment rates can be found on the NRCS Web site at: http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/CAP.html. EQIP is a voluntary program of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Through EQIP, growers and landowners apply for assistance to plan and install measures to protect natural resources on working agricultural and forest lands. Those who enroll into the program receive funding and professional expertise for measures that protect natural resources while ensuring sustainable production. For questions or to submit an application, please contact the local NRCS office listed online at: http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/basindir.html. More information about EQIP is online at: www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EQIP. ### NRCS-Helping people help the land. An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. 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 Wed May 13 08:19:16 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 08:19:16 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Committee for Family Forestlands to meet May 21 Message-ID: <8624F561E5B896439490ED8208D03B0B05A14A8E@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Committee for Family Forestlands to meet May 21 May 13, 2009 Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 The Committee for Family Forestlands will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday May 21, 2009 at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters in Salem, 2600 State Street (Historic State Forester?s Office building, Old Board Room). The public is invited to attend and participate in the advisory committee meeting. Committee members will hear reports from ODF staff regarding issues of concern to family forest landowners in Oregon, and discuss the impacts of proposed 2009-2011 budget reductions for the Oregon Department of Forestry on services to Oregon?s forest landowners. The membership of the Committee includes 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. The 10-member Committee for Family Forestlands serves an advisory role to the Oregon Board of Forestry regarding issues of concern to Oregon?s family-owned forests. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-945-7472. Small-acreage private woodland owners and forest-owning families actively manage 4.7 million acres of Oregon?s forests, about 15 percent of the state?s forest footprint. Additional information about the Committee for Family Forestlands is also available on the Oregon Department of Forestry?s web site at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/CFF/cff.shtml ### From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed May 13 14:47:19 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 14:47:19 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Message from Marvin Brown In-Reply-To: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B650C627E9@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> References: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B650C627E9@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B650D64DA9@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News list members: State Forester Marvin Brown shared this announcement with ODF staff on Wednesday morning regarding the budget situation. Kevin Weeks ODF Agency Affairs Office ________________________________ From: BROWN Marvin D Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 9:35 AM Dear Fellow Employees: I hope everyone can take a few moments to read this. We are still uncertain what our Private Forests and Fire Protection budgets will look like for the next two years. As I?ll discuss below, that outlook depends on decisions we expect the Legislature to be making in the next several weeks. On the other hand, there have been detailed discussions to decide if the State Forest Division can wait for the Private Forest and Fire budgets to be completed by the legislature. The State Forests Division leaders and the Executive Team agree that moving forward with the State Forests Division reduction process is a necessary action. The primary factors in this decision include the latest revenue forecast, current market situation, and the need for the Division to maintain a positive cash flow over the next few years that assures we can meet forest management plan implementation priorities even at a base level. State Forests Division revenues have been significantly impacted by the national economic situation (Division stumpage prices correlate very closely with housing starts in the U.S., which in recent years were around two-million annually and are now at a low of below five-hundred thousand). At the same time, the Division has continued to refine what forest management plan implementation levels are appropriate in order to ensure alignment with forest management plan policy. As a result, implementation plans have been adjusted and at this point there will be a reduction in harvest levels ? specifically in the north coast. State Forests Division revenues from Board of Forestry (BOF) lands have declined by twenty-percent in the current biennium compared to the 2005-2007 biennium. The most recent BOF revenue forecast for 2009-2011 reflects a further decline from the current biennium by over forty-percent. The Division has had to utilize the forest development fund?s standing balance during the current biennium even with the cost reductions that were implemented throughout the current fiscal year. Though it appears the forest development fund balance will not be appropriated for other purposes during the legislative budget process, it is now apparent the Division will need these funds to manage through what is now a more challenging time than previously forecasted. Common School Forest Land (CSLF) revenue forecasts have also been in a decline. Overall impacts create the need for a thirty-percent cost reduction on Board of Forestry lands and about a twenty-percent reduction on CSFL management. Unfortunately, this means that about forty state forests employees will receive layoff notices next week, on Tuesday or Wednesday, which will become effective June 30, 2009. The total reduction is actually 50 permanent and about 30 seasonal positions. Both field and central office staff will be affected. About ten of these positions are currently vacant, but regrettably many are not. Please don?t expect managers to provide any details beforehand. These are very difficult decisions that continue to receive substantial review by staff and area directors. Therefore, no information about specific positions will be valid until affected employees start receiving their notices. Following is the timeline associated with implementing the State Forests budget reductions: Monday ? May 18: A new listing for ?Lay-off Service Dates? by geographic area will be posted on the Department?s Human Resources website Monday. This will allow represented employees with seniority rights to consider what options they wish to choose. An explanation of those options is also on the website, plus important information about employee assistance and services that can be of help. Tuesday & Wednesday ? May 19 & 20: Each affected employee will receive notification in person from their manager. A member of the Human Resources staff will participate in each meeting to make sure everyone understands the procedures and timeframe for identifying preferred options. This is an incredibly hard thing to announce, but everyone should understand that it is just the beginning of a series of events and decisions that will take several more months to reach conclusion. >From this point, any additional employee who receives a lay-off notice when someone exercises their lay-off/bumping rights will also have their own lay-off/bumping rights to exercise. Therefore, the ?Lay-off Service Date? list will have to be regularly updated. May 21 ? June 30: During this period Human Resources staff and appropriate supervisors will be following the layoff procedures while working with affected employees. It is recognized that other sources of revenue/job opportunities may be realized within the agency through the stimulus grants. Coordinating these opportunities in a way that provides some relief for affected employees is an agency priority during this time as well. The State Forests Division will also be coordinating with the Fire Protection Division to find ways to utilize displaced employees during the 2009 fire season. July 1, 2009 will be the first day of implementation of the fiscal year 2010 budget. Layoffs will be in effect and some employees will be shifting to new positions. As we have said before, you are all valued employees. These are challenging times for everyone. Unfortunately, waiting any longer to make reductions increases the budget challenges and would mean even greater reductions to make up the shortfall. This is not a tradeoff we can choose, given it would compromise the Divisions capacity to meet forest management plan goals. Next week we will also be opening statewide recruitments, for Department employees only, who want to be considered for temporary positions that will be funded with federal ?economic recovery? or ?stimulus? dollars. You are probably aware that a significant amount of federal money will likely come to the Department for fuels treatment, restoration, habitat improvement and other work. In addition, both the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have indicated a strong interest in developing cooperative arrangements so that our staff can assist them with their ?stimulus? projects. Using these employment opportunities, we will be actively working to provide other jobs that are focused on administering contracts for federally funded projects, for at least some of the employees who will be affected by lay-offs. We don?t yet know how many opportunities this will provide, but we will need to know soon whether employees want to be considered. In terms of the Private Forests and Fire Protection Divisions, the legislative budget process has not yet yielded any clear picture, and probably won?t until late this month or next. I think everyone is aware that additional positions in the Department could be lost because of potential budget cuts in these two programs. Obviously, we can?t deal with that possibility until we have final budget decisions. In addition, we are evaluating what reductions will be necessary in agency administrative services to align with cutbacks in the rest of the Department. The May Revenue Forecast will be released this Friday, May 15th. I am certain there will be much media coverage around what is said. Once the forecast is known, the Legislature will start to quickly make decisions about funding for all state programs. To that end, I think we have positioned ourselves as well as we possibly can. The Department?s budget hearings with the Natural Resources Ways and Means Sub-Committee concluded late last week. Division Chiefs and involved stakeholders did an outstanding job communicating the importance of our programs and the negative impacts that could result from significant budget cuts. Industrial landowners, non-industrial landowners, environmental groups and residents from all corners of the State weighed in on our behalf. I know they were willing to do this because of the excellent work that all of you accomplish everyday. Know that we are expending every possible effort so that you can continue to provide such great service to the people of the State??and, please take care. Marvin Brown From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri May 15 10:29:06 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 10:29:06 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] May 22 deadline approaching for Board issue scan Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B650D64DB4@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> A reminder about the Oregon Board of Forestry?s biennial issue scan: Comment deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2009 Greetings - The biennial issue scan provides an opportunity for the public to help shape the Board?s agenda and priorities for the coming two years. Accordingly, the Board is seeking comments about the most important forest-related issues in Oregon, and about how those issues should shape the Board?s work. As Board Chair John Blackwell noted in launching the 2009 issue scan, thoughtful planning and priority-setting are more important than ever in challenging economic times such as these. You can find more information about the issue scan, and submit your comments electronically, on the Department of Forestry Web site, at http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/index.shtml#2009_Board_of_Forestry_Issue_Scan Thanks very much. Dan Postrel Agency Affairs Director Oregon Department of Forestry (503) 945-7420 www.oregon.gov/odf From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon May 18 09:52:28 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 09:52:28 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Oregon Invasive Weed Awareness Week Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B650DE3FB3@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News members: Take a moment to consider the role Oregon's private landowners serve in the battle controlling the spread of invasive plant species within our state. Governor Kulongoski has declared May 17-23 as Oregon Invasive Weed Awareness Week. An invasive species is a non-native species of plant, animal or organism whose introduction can cause economic or environmental harm, or poses harm to human health. Native species refers to those plant species originally living, growing, or produced in an ecosystem within their historic range. Once established, the economic impacts from invasive species become dramatic. Scotch broom was once thought to be an attractive roadside plant; however by 2000 almost $45 million of economic losses or costs in Oregon could be attributed to the small yellow flower. Effective invasive species management requires intervention at several stages: * Prevention * Early detection * Eradication * Control and management * Restoration * Public education The Oregon Department of Forestry contributes to the control of invasive species in several ways - Forestry Program for Oregon In developing the 2003 Forestry Program for Oregon, the Oregon Board of Forestry recognized that invasive species could detract from achieving sustainability in forest management in Oregon. Invasive species strategies are included in the Board's Strategic Plan. Insect and Disease Monitoring ODF Private Forests staff monitor Oregon's forests from the air and at ground level to detect the presence of invasive plants and insects, and begin treatment early when the spread of invasive species can be contained. Protecting State Forestlands ODF has an active program to prevent and control invasive plants on ODF-managed state forestlands. Protecting Private Forestlands ODF stewardship foresters assist forest landowners in identifying, preventing, and controlling invasive plants. Oregon Invasive Species Council ODF gained a seat on the state's coordination council in 2008. The Council, created by the legislature in 2002, creates a forum for state agencies, local governments, universities, industries and other groups involved in invasive species management to coordinate their management efforts into the Oregon Invasive Species Action Plan. Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds The mission of the Oregon Plan is to restore native fish populations and the aquatic systems that support them to productive and sustainable levels. ODF has been a partner with landowners on the Plan since its inception. Additional information is available about invasive species on the Oregon Department of Forestry web site: Information about forest health management http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/privateforests/fhInvasives.shtml Additional information for landowners about noxious weed control http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/privateforests/IncentivesWeed.shtml The Oregon Invasive Species Council web site: www.oregoninvasiveshotline.org Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer / Private Forests Division Oregon Department of Forestry kweeks at odf.state.or.us (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu May 21 10:15:04 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 10:15:04 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] June 3 Forestry Board meeting Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B650D64DC7@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. For immediate release Major media distribution May 21, 2009 Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, or 09-18 Dan Postrel, 503-945-7420 State Forests focus of June 3 Forestry Board meeting Management of Oregon?s state-owned forests, including a recommendation that could increase timber harvests over recent averages, will head the agenda when the Board of Forestry meets June 3 in Salem. Highlight items that will be addressed at the meeting include: * State forests policy recommendations ? Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) staff will propose rule changes to revise the forest management plan (FMP) to allow a different balance of economic, environmental and social benefits. Changing the goal for older forest types from 40-60 percent to 30-50 percent would result in an increase in harvests of about 7-12 percent over what was averaged from 2002 to 2006. The recommendation also establishes draft species of concern strategy as ODF?s approach to managing habitats, replacing the draft habitat conservation plan now in place. * Species of concern evaluation ? ODF staff will present evaluation findings about how habitats for fish and wildlife species of concern in the northwestern Oregon state forests would fare under two different management approaches. (?Species of concern? are those fish, birds, mammals and amphibians ? including threatened, endangered and sensitive species ? most likely to be impacted by changes in their habitat.) ODF and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife estimated trends in habitats for a list of 40 species of fish, birds, mammals and amphibians under the existing approach as compared to an alternative management regime under review by the board. * State forests? performance measures ? The board will discuss a report that evaluates how each of the management approaches described above would affect achievement of a set of performance measures for the northwestern state forests. The board has established nine performance measures to gauge the performance of the Northwestern Oregon State Forests Management Plan (FMP) in providing a balance of social, economic and environmental benefits. * Biennial budget update ? The board will receive an update on the biennial budget process for ODF. * Private Forests Program issue paper ? The board will discuss a draft issue paper on current and emerging challenges to privately owned forestlands. The document addresses a number of concerns, with particular attention to the ongoing trend toward conversion of Oregon?s private forest to other uses, and alternative funding mechanisms for the Private Forests Program. * District fire protection budgets ? The board will consider for approval the fiscal year 2010 district fire protection budgets. These budgets fund the day-to-day wildland firefighting response conducted by the ODF field districts and fire protection associations. * Mary Rellergert Forestry Education Award - The annual Mary Rellergert Forestry Education Award will be presented to outstanding forest educators selected for their contributions to forestry education over the past year. The award winners will briefly profile their work for the Board. Mary Rellergert served as the department?s education coordinator on the Tillamook State Forest, establishing a forestry education outreach that has reached thousands of students. She passed away in 2004. * Board of Forestry performance evaluation ? The board will conduct its annual performance self-evaluation during the meeting. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. in the Tillamook Room ? Administration Building (C), at Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, 2600 State St., in Salem. The meeting is open to the public, and comments will be received on forestry-related items not included in the agenda during a public comment period shortly after 8 a.m. Members of the public wishing to comment on specific agenda items will have opportunity to address the board during the time each item is scheduled. 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). 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. ### ODF Private Forests News service - Kevin Weeks ODF Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri May 22 11:18:22 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 11:18:22 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Oregon Legislature Ways and Means Co-Chairs Budget Information Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B650DE45D2@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News list members: ODF Private Forests Division chief Jim Paul sent this message Thursday to Private Forests staff to explain information communicated in this week's release of the Ways & Means Co-Chairs recommended budget, and to offer some analysis for what budget reductions may mean to Private Forests' staffing levels. Please let me know if you have questions. Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer / Private Forests Division Oregon Department of Forestry (503) 945-7427 ________________________________ From: PAUL Jim T Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 4:35 PM Subject: Oregon Legislature Ways and Means Co-Chairs Budget Information I know some of you have seen the note below from Clark Seely providing an overview of the legislative budget information distributed on Monday, and I wanted to take this opportunity to provide you with some further details specific to Private Forests and what may be in store for us in the near future, as budget decisions are made. Keep in mind Monday marked just the beginning of the final phase of the budget process. As Clark communicates in the email below, "It is not the final decision on all budget elements, but rather the starting point for final decisions, and work still will continue on many fronts with planning, analysis and consideration of impacts and trade-offs." At this time, our budget is still 'unfinished', and negotiations between legislators continue around the issue of how the costs of the program will be shared between landowner's contributions (harvest tax) and the state's general fund. Having said that, the General Fund reduction levels identified in the Co-Chairs' recommended budget equate to the 15% reduction plan that ODF submitted to the Legislature earlier in the session, when we were asked to prepare reduction plans up to a 30% level. At this point, we do not know if the reduction proposed for Private Forests at a 15% level is the reduction we'll need to implement in the end, but the number of options available to us has narrowed, and where we do end up may not differ substantially from this level. The legislative negotiations towards our final budget may take weeks, and we still cannot predict how long it will take for decisions to be made. At the executive level, we continue to analyze the situation, and evaluate the impacts of reductions in various portions of the program. There was an error in the numbers of "positions" affected by the general fund reduction identified in the Co-Chairs' budget for the Private Forests portion. It erroneously cites 10; the correct number is 25. We have contacted the Legislative Fiscal Office and informed them of the error. I know we are in uncharted waters for the Private Forests program and ODF, where we cannot recall a time when the economy, and our necessary response, has been 'this bad'. I appreciate all of your efforts as we do our best to cope with the gravity of everything we are working through right now as a program and an agency. In the face of unprecedented impacts, it is difficult at times to keep moving forward, and to think-as we must-of the future of the Private Forests program and the important work we do. The executive team feels these same concerns and uncertainty, and my thoughts go out to all of you during these tough times. Peter and I will continue to keep you all informed in the coming weeks as the budget process comes to closure, providing updates either within the program or through the All Forestry messages. As always, please contact Peter or myself if you have questions or concerns. Jim Paul Private Forests Division Chief ________________________________ Hi everyone. The Oregon Legislature's Ways and Means Co-Chairs (Senator Carter and Representative Buckley) released their 2009-11 recommended biennial budget framework yesterday at a 3:00 p.m. press conference. The Co-Chairs budget release follows the Friday release of the May 2009 economic and revenue forecast, and will provide the overall structure for the completion of Oregon's 2009-11 budget. In summary, the framework addresses both the final shortfall in General Fund/Lottery Fund resources for the close of this biennium (2007-09), and the overall approach for dealing with the forecasted revenue shortfalls for 2009-11. At the high level, the overall state budget gap for General Fund and Lottery Fund for 2007-09 and 2009-11 is now $4.2 billion, of which $4.1 is General Fund. To close this gap, the framework proposes to use federal stimulus funds, state "rainy day" funds, reductions to some state government service charges, new state revenues, and budget reductions. The budget reductions and/or fund shifts total approximately $2 billion, or about half of the gap. Across the total 2009-11 General Fund/Lottery Fund current service level budget, the reductions/fund shifts represent a 12.4% reduction. The framework does leave some state reserve funds remaining and does propose a $170 million ending balance, but these two items really represent a contingency if state revenues decline further once we are in the biennium. For the Department, the proposed budget includes three major actions related to General Fund - first, an agency General Fund reduction of $6.7 million, which represents 15% of our total current service level, and according to our proposed reduction plan, would come from the Private Forests program. The second item is a shifting of funding in the Fire Protection program from the current 50/50% General Fund/Landowner Assessments for basic fire protection to a 45/55% ratio, and also a sharing of the Fire Program's proportion of agency administration in that same 45/55 ratio. The third item is retention of the Governor's proposed funding of the Fire Season Severity funds in an Emergency Board Special Purpose Appropriation at the level proposed in the Governor's budget. While the release of the Co-Chairs framework does provide more clarity about legislative priorities and use of resources, it is not the final decision on all budget elements, but rather the starting point for final decisions, and work still will continue on plans, analysis and consideration of impacts and trade-offs. We will continue to work through various plans and analysis too, and respond to questions and inquires as needed. As decisions get closer and we have some settling of our situation, we'll keep you posted on progress and decisions. In the meantime, please contact me if you have questions at this point or need additional information, and please share this information with your employees and stakeholders. The Co-Chairs recommended budget document (as a PDF file) can be found on the legislative website at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/budget/2009_11Co_ChairRecommendedBudget.pdf Thanks, Clark _____________________________ Clark W. Seely, CF Associate State Forester Oregon Department of Forestry 2600 State Street Salem, OR 97310-0340 Phone: 503-945-7203 Cell: 503-559-5807 FAX: 503-945-7212 email: cseely at odf.state.or.us WEB: www.odf.state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu May 28 08:42:55 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 08:42:55 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Smoke Management Advisory Committee to meet June 11 Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B650D64DD1@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Smoke Management Advisory Committee to meet June 11 May 27, 2009 WHAT ? A five-member committee tasked with advising the Oregon Department of Forestry on the state's Smoke Management Plan will receive an update on the implementation of recently enacted changes to the plan, which regulates prescribed burning on private, state and federal forestland to minimize the impact on air quality. WHO ? By Oregon statute, the committee includes representatives of industrial and non-industrial forest landowners, Oregon State University Extension, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. WHEN ? 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, June 11 WHERE ? Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, Santiam Room - Building D, 2600 State St., Salem. MORE INFO ? Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/fire.shtml#Smoke_Management ### From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu May 28 09:38:32 2009 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 09:38:32 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Wildfire season 2009: Expectations, preparations Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B650D64DD3@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. For immediate release Major media distribution May 28, 2009 Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425 09-19 Wildfire season 2009: Expectations, preparations When asked to characterize the upcoming wildfire season, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) fire managers are likely to fall back on Nobel physicist Niels Bohr?s maxim, ?Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future.? That?s not to say they don?t try. There are dozens of scientific indicators to pore over prior to the summer ? weather trends (El Nino/La Nina), snowpack levels, forest fuel moisture content, et al. But the most critical factor in the equation plays out real-time: the weather during fire season. If dry lightning occurs in a broad swath across the state, expect to see large wildfires. These thunderstorms bearing little or no moisture can produce hundreds of fire starts in a few hours and temporarily overwhelm Oregon?s fire protection system. These natural firestorms further confound wildfire managers in being difficult to forecast. Developing thunderstorm systems show up clearly on meteorological instruments, but whether they?ll be dry or wet when they reach Oregon is often a guessing game. With that considerable disclaimer, current conditions suggest that the state will experience an average to slightly worse-than-average wildfire season in 2009. Statewide, the weather forecast is for below-average rainfall in June, with a drier-than-average July and August likely to follow. Snow melt is currently about average, which tends to limit fire activity at higher altitudes early in the summer. Within the state, the southeastern region is a special concern, as it is currently in drought. Besides the below-average rainfall, this area of Oregon that lies roughly south of a line from Klamath Falls to Ontario can also expect above-average temperatures this summer. Finally, conventional forecasting logic says that the summer after a La Nina dissipates, the weather tends to be drier and warmer than average. Firefighting forces ODF plans to go into the 2009 season with a firefighting force that includes the standard complement of fire engines, hand firefighting crews, heavy air tankers and helicopters. Fire engine crews are the early responders, running on new reports of fire and seeking to put out 94 percent or more of them at 10 acres or smaller. Hand crews are called in to build fire lines around a blaze and to mop up afterward to prevent rekindling. These include 10-person inmate crews recruited from state correctional facilities and trained by ODF, and 20-person private contract crews. Air attack comes in the form of leased heavy tanker airplanes and helicopters of all sizes. Though expensive to operate, firefighting aircraft prevent many high-potential fires from growing into major incidents. Firefighting partners In Oregon, wildland fire protection is much too big of a challenge for a single agency or department to take on alone. While the Oregon Department of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, rural fire departments and other state, local and federal fire agencies have their respective jurisdictions, cooperation is second nature. A longstanding ?closest-forces? agreement provides for rapid initial attack on new fires by whichever agency?s firefighting resources can get there the quickest. Billings and reimbursements are sorted out later. Preventing wildfires About two-thirds of the wildfires annually in Oregon are started by people. In recent years, debris burns that escape control have emerged as the No. 1 cause. The common scenario: A homeowner stacks up yard waste in a pile or burn barrel, ignites it, and then leaves to do something else for a few minutes. Sparks carry into dry vegetation, and the sedate little burn becomes a raging wildfire. These are the fires we can all help prevent. Debris burning safety advice can be found on the ODF website, www.oregon.gov/ODF/safedebrisburning.shtml. The Keep Oregon Green Association also offers burning tips at: www.keeporegongreen.org. When a dry lightning event is forecast, ODF fire managers may concentrate firefighting personnel and equipment in areas likely to be affected. These ?move-ups? of aircraft, fire engines and crews help local forces suppress the wave of lightning ignitions so that no neglected starts can grow into major fires. Fire managers weigh many factors before ordering a move-up due to the high cost. Remote automated weather stations deployed across the state provide satellite telemetry of weather data, key information used by ODF meteorologists to calculate fire danger throughout Oregon and support fire analysis work. ###