From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Dec 3 14:44:10 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2010 14:44:10 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Dog owners: Be mindful of trapping activity Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E10D8789@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News list subscribers: This Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release is being forwarded as an important reminder for helping keep pets safe while out in Oregon's forests during the holiday season, or if you live in a forested region of the state. Kevin Weeks Oregon Department of Forestry (503) 945-7427 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Contact: Michelle Dennehy (503) 947-6022 / (503) 931-2748 michelle.n.dennehy at state.or.us Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us Fax: (541) 947-6009 For Immediate Release December 3, 2010 Dog owners: Be mindful of trapping activity SALEM, Ore.-With furbearer seasons in full swing as of Dec. 1 and snow creating ideal conditions for trapping certain furbearers, dog owners should be mindful that there could be trapping activity in the woods. Dogs running loose have accidentally been captured in legally-set traps, which can lead to a dog's injury or even death. While such incidents are not common, dog-owners can take some steps to minimize these risks: * Keep your dog on a leash. * Or, keep your dog under your control-don't let it wander off, especially out of sight. * Remember lures and baits used by trappers can attract dogs too (another reason to keep dogs under your control). * Be mindful of where and when trapping activities may occur-on public lands and on private lands by permission. Most trapping seasons and activities occur from November to February because pelts are in prime condition at this time. * Carry the appropriate tools (wire cutter and length of rope) and know how to use them to release your dog from a trap should the need arise. ODFW's backgrounder has more information and links to pages that show how to release a dog from a trap or snare. "Both dogs owners and trappers care greatly about family pets," said Bob Gilman, president, Oregon Trappers Association. "Trappers should also take precautions when setting traps by considering not only if a particular set is legal, but if it could cause problems for others in the outdoors." "While there are very few traps in relation to the expanse of land and dog-trapping incidents are not common, it's still best to be prepared," said Tim Hiller, ODFW furbearer coordinator. Animals that can be legally trapped are bobcats, gray and red foxes, martens, muskrats, mink, raccoons, river otters, beavers, badgers, coyotes, nutria, opossum, skunks and weasels. Most trapping seasons are open Nov. 15-March 15 or year-round, but the majority of trapping occurs in the winter months. Trapping is a highly regulated activity in Oregon and other states. Currently, Oregon has about 700 licensed trappers. Trappers contribute to furbearer management and wildlife research activities. For more information on trapping visit http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/small_game/ ### Dogs and Traps backgrounder: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/docs/dogs_and_trapping.pdf -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Dec 6 13:12:01 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2010 13:12:01 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] ODF suspends 2010 FP Operator awards program Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E10D88F8@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News list members: Peter Daugherty, ODF Private Forests Division acting chief, made the announcement Monday that ODF has suspended the Forest Practices Operator of the Year and Merit Award program for 2010 due to diminished resources within the agency. Kevin Weeks Oregon Department of Forestry (503) 945-7427 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This year has been a year of challenges and tremendous adaption by the staff at ODF, especially in the Private Forests Program. One of the principles we have discussed is how in a smaller organization, there will inevitably be services we can provide, and there will be things ODF can no longer provide. One of the things that ODF will not be able to do is proceed with awarding the Forest Practices Operator of the Year Award and Forest Practices Merit Awards to operators for 2010. ODF will be suspending the award program until further notice. The chief driver behind the decision is the tremendous reduction in staff resources - and especially the 35-40 percent resource reduction within Private Forests - that ODF adapted to in 2010. The reductions and reassignments meant that stewardship foresters were working with landowners and operators on fewer projects, and that the awards program was also trying to compete with other agency objectives for resources to be successful. Field staff also provided some valuable feedback that many operators were going with projects that required less technical engineering and less financial risk in the current season, deferring some more complex operations until markets improve in the next few years. Unfortunately, it is those more complex innovative forest operations that the awards seek to honor each year. For the handful of projects that were submitted by stewardship foresters for the 2010 awards, I am requesting that Districts honor those award nominees with Letters of Commendation for their projects. I am very proud of the role the Operator of the Year award served; it was an opportunity to recognize those forest practices operators that made an above-and-beyond commitment to honoring the intent of the Oregon Forest Practices Act. The decision to suspend the award should not reflect on the forest practices operators of Oregon; it reflects a reality that ODF does not have sufficient resources to provide the staff support needed for the awards program. My thanks to the stewardship foresters who brought forest projects worthy of recognition to our attention for their work, and also a round of thanks to Dave Degenhardt's work on the award until his retirement in 2009, and for the work performed last year by Brad Knotts and Kevin Weeks. Peter Daugherty, Acting Chief, Private Forests Division ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Dec 7 11:11:02 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 11:11:02 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Forest Sustainability Discussion in Medford on December 8 Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E10D8A44@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry News Brief Forest sustainability discussion in Medford on December 8 WHAT: Join the U.S. Forest Service Research Station and the Oregon Department of Forestry for an informal discussion on defining and measuring forest sustainability in Oregon. WHO: U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station and the Oregon Department of Forestry WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, December 8, 2010 WHERE: Adams Room, Jackson County Library Service, Medford Library Branch, 205 South Central Avenue, Medford. View map. WHY: 1) Introduce interested parties in the Southwest Oregon area to sustainable forest management to concepts being used at the state, national, and international scales; the Board of Forestry's strategic plan - the Forestry Program for Oregon; Oregon's Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management - the Board's measuring sticks towards achieving sustainable forests in Oregon; the Roundtable on Sustainable Forests - an open, participant-driven network and a forum for discussion and action; a gathering place for anyone who is interested in Oregon's forests; and, USDA Forest Service research efforts addressing sustainable forestry. 2) Discuss possible linkages between these sustainable forestry initiatives and forest resource issues, policies, planning, management, practices, research, and monitoring in southwest Oregon. 3) Discuss how private forest landowners, state and federal agencies, local governments, tribal governments, non-governmental organizations can promote collaborative conversations on the meaning and implementation of sustainable forest management at a landscape scale. Presenters/moderators: Sue Willits, Assistant Station Director, Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, and David Morman, Forest Resources Planning Program Director, Oregon Department of Forestry. MORE INFORMATION/CONTACT: David Morman, Oregon Department of Forestry, at 503-945-7413 or dmorman at odf.state.or.us. Visit: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/fpfo2011.shtml http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/indicators -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Dec 8 09:17:42 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2010 09:17:42 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Public comment period open on Rock Creek Canyon stewardship agreement Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E10D8B65@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Public comment period open on Rock Creek Canyon stewardship agreement December 8, 2010 Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945?7427 [A PDF version of the draft stewardship agreement is available on the ODF web site at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/newsroom/newsreleases/2010/sundstromagreement.shtml ] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY REQUEST FOR COMMENTS PROPOSED STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENT FOR ROCK CREEK CANYON PROPERTY LANE COUNTY, OREGON Published in the Eugene Register-Guard PUBLISHING DATE: December 8, 2010 COMMENTS DUE: December 30, 2010 by 5:00 p.m. PROJECT LOCATION: 93246 Bassonett Road in Deadwood, Oregon. PROPOSAL: Pursuant to Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 527.423, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is proposing to adopt a Stewardship Agreement for the Rock Creek Canyon, Inc. forest property. The Stewardship Agreement shall serve as Certificate of Inclusion in the Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement for Northern Spotted Owl habitat. HIGHLIGHTS: This Stewardship Agreement is intended to permit Rock Creek Canyon, Inc. to operate a 113-acre forest tract under habitat conservation goals identified in the landowner?s forest management plan. This Stewardship Agreement provides the opportunity for the landowner to participate in the Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement for Northern Spotted Owl habitat authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Approval of the Agreement further allows the landowner to participate in the NRCS Healthy Forests Reserve Program. ODF agrees to audit forest operations conducted by the landowners for compliance with Oregon Forest Practices Act standards every three years. HOW TO COMMENT: The project file may be reviewed by appointment at ODF?s Western Lane District office. To schedule an appointment to review the file, please contact: Oregon Department of Forestry, Western Lane District 87950 Territorial Highway Veneta, Oregon 97487 (541) 935-2283 Written comments should be received by December 30, 2010 and sent to Marganne Allen, ODF Private Forests Division, 2600 State Street, Salem Oregon 97310. THE NEXT STEP: ODF will consider all public comments received within the public comment period before making a final decision regarding approval of the draft Stewardship Agreement. /s/ Peter Daugherty, Acting Chief of ODF Private Forests Division Salem, Oregon ### Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office / Salem (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Dec 10 15:43:11 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:43:11 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Committee for Family Forestlands meets December 15 in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E10D8F4B@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Committee for Family Forestlands meets December 15 in Salem December 10, 2010 Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 Family forest and small-acreage woodland owners provide stewardship to 15 percent of Oregon's forests, about 4.7 million acres. These landowners have a voice in shaping a vision for Oregon's forests through the 10-member Committee for Family Forestlands, which serves an advisory role to the Oregon Board of Forestry regarding issues of concern to Oregon's family-owned forests. The Committee for Family Forestlands will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday December 15 at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters in Salem, 2600 State Street (Operations Building D, Sun Pass meeting room). The agenda for the meeting is under development. Members of the public are invited to attend and participate in the meeting. The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-945-7502. 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. 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 ODF Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Dec 13 15:45:01 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:45:01 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Notice - Forestry Board Executive Sessions Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E113D103@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry PUBLIC NOTICE OF EXECUTIVE SESSIONS (ORS 192.660) News Release from: Oregon Dept. of Forestry FORESTRY BOARD TO HOLD EXEC SESSIONS 12-15, 12-20 Posted: December 13th, 2010 3:29 PM WHAT - On Dec. 15, the Oregon Board of Forestry will hold an executive session for the purpose of conferring with legal counsel relating to litigation. The board holds such sessions from time to time to discuss various ongoing legal cases. On Dec. 20, the board will hold an unrelated executive session to consider the employment of a chief executive officer (State Forester). The board will review applications. The recruiting announcement for the State Forester position closed on Dec. 12. By law, no decisions will be made in the executive sessions. The sessions are closed to the public, but members of the news media may attend, under provisions of ORS 192.660. WHO - The members of the Oregon Board of Forestry. WHEN - The Wednesday, Dec. 15, executive session will begin at 3:30 p.m. The Monday, Dec. 20, executive session will begin at 2 p.m. WHERE - Both executive sessions will be held in the Tillamook Room, Building C, Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, 2600 State St., in Salem. Some of the board members may participate by telephone conference. A speakerphone will be available in the Tillamook Room for members of the news media to listen to the meeting. MORE INFO - More information about the Board of Forestry can be found on the board's website, www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/index.shtml. Contact Info: Rod Nichols Oregon Department of Forestry 503-945-7425 office rnichols at odf.state.or.us. From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Dec 27 07:29:06 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2010 07:29:06 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Forestry Board to meet Jan. 5 in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E113DEAD@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release Thursday. Forestry Board to meet Jan. 5 in Salem For immediate release Major media distribution Dec. 22, 2010 Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us Dan Postrel, 503-945-7420, dpostrel at odf.state.or.us Management of state-owned forests, regulation of water quality, and discussion of how the Oregon Department of Forestry could be most efficiently organized to protect forest resources are on the agenda for the Board of Forestry's Jan. 5 meeting. The Board will consider a revised work plan for state forest management activities during 2011. The plan lays out a path to achieve the board's overarching objective for the state forests: to provide a practical demonstration of forest management that contributes to the board's statewide goals for economic, social and environmental sustainability. The board will also receive a review, conducted by the state Institute for Natural Resources, of the ways in which the department applies science to its management of state forests in northwestern Oregon. The Department of Forestry oversees about 848,000 acres of forest - 3 percent of Oregon's total forestland - in six state forests and various scattered tracts. Other agenda items include: Possible consolidation of forest protection services - Staff will update the board on a proposal to merge two department divisions - one focused on fire protection, the other on protection of a range of resources, primarily on private forestland. Protection of Oregon's forests requires aggressive fire protection and diligent prevention efforts. In addition, science-based forest practices laws and effective technical help to landowners are necessary to promote improvement in forest health and assure retention of healthy, working forests. State budget shortfalls have drastically reduced the number of field personnel assigned to resource protection and landowner consultation. The department is evaluating whether transition to an integrated Forest Protection Division would enhance efficiency, while maintaining the department's commitment to fire protection and forest practices regulations. Forest ecosystem services markets - The board will receive a report from the Oregon Sustainability Board on potential markets for forest ecosystem services, which include clean air, safe drinking water, and habitat for fish and wildlife. The 2009 legislature directed the sustainability board to recommend ways of developing ecosystem services markets. In such markets, those who benefit from the services compensate the landowners who provide them, based on how the providers protect, restore or maintain the ecological values that produce the services. Water quality regulation - The board will discuss its role and responsibilities regarding water quality in relation to the state Environmental Quality Commission (EQC). The commission sets overall water quality standards for the state, and the Board of Forestry is charged with ensuring that forest practices meet those standards on state and private forestlands. This ongoing discussion seeks to clarify the unique cooperative relationship between the board and the EQC provided for in the state laws that ensure water quality protection on forestland. State Forester recruitment - Staff will provide a progress report on recruitment of a new state forester. The application period closed on Dec. 12. An online survey that sought the public's opinions and ideas on desired qualifications for the state forester job elicited more than 400 responses. The new state forester will succeed Marvin Brown, who resigned last October. The board meeting will be held at 8 a.m. at Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters in the Tillamook Room, Building C, 2600 State St., in Salem. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services or assistance can be arranged by calling the department's Agency Affairs Office at least 48 hours before the meeting, 503-945-7200, text telephone 503-945-7213. More information on the Board of Forestry can be found at: www.oregonforestry.gov. Background information on the Jan. 5 meeting agenda items is available through the 2011 "Meeting Schedules" link on the website. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Dec 28 11:33:59 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:33:59 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Smoke Mgmt Committee to meet Jan. 6 in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E113E04C@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this media news brief today. Smoke Management Advisory Committee to meet Jan. 6, Salem Dec. 28, 2010 WHAT - A five-member committee tasked with advising the Oregon Department of Forestry on the state's Smoke Management Plan will work through an agenda that includes the following items: * Summary of 2010 forest prescribed burning activity * Best burn strategies, matrix understanding * Tonnage reporting, alternatives to burning, biomassing * Prescribed burning east of the Cascades * Smoke intrusion complaint system * 2010 smoke intrusion summary * Spring burning, furlough days * Wildfire and multiple-use objectives * Technology update: Sonic Detection and Ranging (SODAR), data system * Program funding status * Implementation plan: Field coordinator decision, public education, future work/priorities * Regional Haze Plan Public comments will be received at 2:15 p.m. WHO - By Oregon statute, the Smoke Management Advisory Committee includes representatives of industrial and non-industrial forest landowners, the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and the general public. WHEN - 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011 WHERE - Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, Building D - Santiam Room, 2600 State St., Salem. MORE INFO - Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us, www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/fire.shtml#Smoke_Management ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: