From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu Jan 7 09:45:17 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 09:45:17 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] =?windows-1252?q?Oregon=92s_top_loggers_for?= =?windows-1252?q?_2009_honored_by_Forestry_Board?= Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B65D5CAEEB@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Oregon?s top loggers for 2009 honored by Forestry Board January 6, 2010 Contact ? Kevin Weeks, (503) 945-7427 Three Oregon companies with a reputation for professionalism, skill and commitment to protecting natural resources were named as the state?s Forest Practices Operators of the Year for 2009 on Wednesday. The Oregon Board of Forestry honored this past year?s winning operators during the Board's January 6, 2010 meeting. EASTERN OREGON REGION O?Rorke Logging -- John Day Owner Charlie O?Rorke was recognized for a fuels management timber harvest on 200 acres near the Grant County community of Mt. Vernon. The landowner selected O?Rorke based on the logger?s consistent good performance record and willingness to partner with the landowner on planning how trees would be harvested or protected. Careful attention was paid to protection of natural resources, including protecting soil and water on the 200 acre harvest. Trees harvested were sorted into different landing zones based on the end use, whether saw-log, biomass fuel or specialty wood uses. The resulting forest is now well-spaced for resistance to fire, disease, and insect attacks. O?Rorke was also recognized in 1998 as Eastern Oregon?s Forest Practices Operator of the Year. NORTHWEST OREGON REGION Gustafson Logging -- Astoria Gustafson Logging was selected for outstanding work placing large wood in a stream within a Stimson Lumber Company tree farm in Clatsop County. Stimson foresters decided to place 55 large trees in Rock Creek, a branch of the Nehalem River, to promote stream health. Gustafson crews harvested trees on a slope above the creek, then precisely placed each of the 40-foot, several-thousand-pound trees into the stream as an equipment operator relied on a skyline carriage system to ?dead-lift? the logs into the stream. Once equipment operators established a ?rhythm? for the process, logs could be lifted and placed in about 5 minutes, while not disturbing a stand of alders within the stream area. Mark Gustafson, with brothers Clay and Wade, represent the second generation of family ownership for the Astoria logging company, founded by their father Duane Gustafson in 1974. Mark Gustafson and members of his crew may be familiar to fans of the History Channel TV series ?Ax Men? which followed Gustafson Logging for two seasons. SOUTHERN OREGON REGION Dave Brink Logging -- Roseburg David Brink was recognized for the planning and community involvement work that went in to a timber harvest within the city limits of Sutherlin in 2009. Brink held several community meetings with residents of a nearby manufactured home community to discuss the harvest operation with residents and listen to concerns raised by community members. Brink designed a harvest plan which lessened the impacts to residents? daily lives, including starting two hours later during the morning, extensive use of water trucks for dust abatement, road repairs which were not directed by the landowner, and starting harvest at the far end of the unit to help familiarize residents to sounds of cutting as the harvest moved closer to their homes. Community residents reported a high degree of satisfaction with how the harvest resulted. Brink has been involved with forestry in Douglas County for more than three decades, including promoting development of forest biomass energy systems, and serving as an active member of the Douglas County Small Woodlands Association and Associated Oregon Loggers. Four companies were also recognized by the Board for excellence as Merit Award winners for 2009: ? Butch Jurhs Logging in McMinnville ? Hampton Affiliates in Salem ? Precision Timber of Tillamook ? Roseburg Resources based in Roseburg Award recipients were reviewed or selected by Oregon?s Regional Forest Practices Advisory Committees, who evaluate nominees based on an operator?s consistency of positive performance, innovation in project design, relative difficulty of a harvest operation and a commitment to protecting Oregon?s natural resources as a basis for selecting a winner from three regions of the state. In 1971, Oregon became the first U.S. state to enact forest management laws which regulate forest operations and protect natural resources with the passage of the Oregon Forest Practices Act. Additional information about Oregon?s forest management rules is available on the ODF web site, www.oregon.gov/ODF ### Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry (503) 945-7427 From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Jan 12 09:43:51 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:43:51 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Committee for Family Forestlands meets January 20 in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B65EFE0F92@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Committee for Family Forestlands meets January 20 in Salem January 11, 2010 Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 Family forest owners have a voice in Oregon's forest policy development 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 January 20, 2010 at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, 2600 State Street (Operations Building D, Santiam meeting room) in Salem. The agenda for the meeting is scheduled to include reports from ODF staff regarding reductions proposed for the 2009-2011 Oregon Department of Forestry budget, review of current landowner assistance projects and an invitation for discussion with Oregon Board of Forestry chair John Blackwell. 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. 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. 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 ODF Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu Jan 21 07:55:40 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:55:40 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Winter days ideal for replanting forests in Oregon Message-ID: <8624F561E5B896439490ED8208D03B0B05A166B6@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Winter days ideal for replanting forests in Oregon January 21, 2010 Contact ? Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 Winter weather and gray days in Oregon keep many of us indoors. However, these conditions are ideal for planting trees, around our homes or to help regenerate Oregon?s forests. Oregon has actively promoted replanting trees as a part of forest management since the Forest Conservation Act of 1941, and a key facet of Oregon?s landmark 1971 Forest Practices Act requires landowners to complete replanting of forests within two years following timber harvest. According to the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, that means between 40 and 50 million tree seedlings are planted every winter and spring in Oregon on forest land owned by families, industrial timber companies or by federal, state and local governments. Oregon law requires reforestation when timber harvesting reduces the number of trees per acre below density levels (also called ?stocking levels?) specified in Oregon Department of Forestry rules. The amount of trees replanted depends on site characteristics and the landowner?s forest management plans, but at minimum 100 to 200 seedlings per acre must be planted to meet reforestation rules. Most Oregon forest landowners opt to plant about 300 to 400 tree seedlings per acre. Reforestation is great for Oregon?s future, as our forests provide a mix of environmental, social and economic benefits. Trees provide recreational opportunities, promote wildlife and provide wood products for consumers. Oregon?s forests also make a positive contribution to our environment in many ways, including providing clean drinking water and absorbing greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The How-To?s of seedling planting: Step One ? Planning ahead Carefully plan, evaluate and prepare your planting site. Consider the condition of the planting site including the soil type, the direction the slope faces (also called aspect), any vegetation present, local wildlife and pests. Site characteristics affect the resources that new trees need for survival and growth, including water, sunlight, temperature and nutrients. Step Two ? Site Preparation Choose an appropriate site preparation method, or combination of methods, for your land. Several methods are available to prepare sites for planting, including mechanical, manual or chemical. Costs for site preparation depend on site conditions, the methods used, existing vegetation and the amount of logging debris left behind from timber harvest. Step Three ? Selecting your tree seedlings Not every tree can grow anywhere in Oregon ? nor should it. Select the proper species and seedling stock-type for your area. Different tree species are adapted to different site conditions, so it?s important to choose seedlings specifically for your seed zone and elevation. This also prevents an unwanted invasive species of tree or plant from potentially causing harm to a local ecosystem. The Oregon Department of Forestry has additional information about selecting tree seedlings, seed zones and finding tree seedling nurseries on the ODF website at http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/privateforests/ Step Four ? Plant a tree?or a thousand Winter is the perfect time for planting. Plant conifer seedlings in western Oregon from January through March. In eastern Oregon ? or higher elevations statewide - plant trees as soon as possible after snow melts and the ground thaws, generally late in March through April. Keep your seedlings cool (34 to 40 degrees F) and moist, and handle them gently at all times. Site conditions will dictate the spacing between trees. In western Oregon, plan on spacing seedlings generally about ten feet apart; for central and eastern Oregon, trees are generally spaced about twelve feet apart. It?s wise to select planting spots in good soil with mineral content that is free of weeds. It may look awkward at first to see 10-12 feet between a seedling and its neighbor; however, think a few decades down the road when the crowns of trees will reach out several feet. Step Five - Tend to the growing tree Most gardeners will tell you plants require maintenance and care. Once tree seedlings are planted, maintenance is needed to ensure their continued survival and growth. New tree seedlings require enough water to thrive, as well as protection from grazing wildlife and from weeds seeking to compete for water, space and nutrients. Maintenance during the first few years of the tree?s life can be accomplished in a number of ways. Under Oregon law, the stand of trees must be ?free to grow? (able to grow above surrounding grasses and brush) within the sixth year of the trees? planting. Additional information about forestry and forest management is available on the ODF website, www.oregon.gov/ODF ### Kevin Weeks Oregon Department of Forestry ODF Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Jan 22 12:32:41 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:32:41 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee meets January 28 in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B65EFE1A49@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee meets January 28 in Salem January 22, 2010 Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will update coordinating committee members on a project to assess Oregon's current forest resources on January 28. The 2010 State of Oregon Statewide Forest Assessment and Resource Strategy is designed to identify Oregon's current forest resources and develop a strategy for integrating federal, state and private forestry programs to address concerns including wildfire, keeping forests working as forests, diversity of forest habitats for fish and wildlife, prevention of invasive species and climate change. The Statewide Forest Assessment will identify high priority areas within Oregon for taking action. The discussion regarding the Forest Assessment Resource Strategy project will occur Thursday January 28, 2010 from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters in Salem, 2600 State Street (Operations Building D, Santiam meeting room) during a meeting of the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee. The coordinating committee will also be updated on the status of Oregon's proposed Forest Legacy Program projects for federal Fiscal Year 2011 funding. Forest Legacy is a federal program that uses conservation easements or public land acquisition to conserve private forest lands in areas where forests may be lost to non-forest uses. The program is administered in Oregon though a partnership between the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Pacific Northwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service. 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 503-945-7368. The 2008 Farm Bill passed by Congress contained an amendment to the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act requiring states that receive Farm Bill funding perform the forest assessment study by mid-2010, with updates at five-year increments after that. States are also required to report on the effectiveness of how federal funding was used in priority regions. The Farm Bill funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which in turn provides funding for many ODF services in urban and community forestry, forest health protection, forest stewardship and state fire assistance through the U.S. Forest Service's State and Private Forestry Program. 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. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Jan 26 09:18:11 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:18:11 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] J.E. Schroeder Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B65F103B8C@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry staff has been advised that J.E. Schroeder, who served as State Forester from 1965 until his retirement in 1979, passed away January 22nd at the age of 95. "Ed" Schroeder was instrumental in replanting efforts for the Tillamook Burn while serving as an ODF employee. Schroeder was appointed as Oregon's eighth State Forester in 1965. Under Schroeder's leadership, Oregon launched several efforts aimed at conservation and long-range management of forests, including implementing the nation's first statewide forest management laws when the Forest Practices Act was passed in 1971. Schroeder oversaw the dedication of the Tillamook State Forest in 1973 and formal recognition of the Sun Pass State Forest in the late 1970's. During Schroeder's tenure the Forestry Program for Oregon, which serves as the Oregon Board of Forestry's central policy guidance plan, was introduced to guide long-range forest policy planning for the state. To honor Schroeder's commitment to replanting Oregon's forests, including the devastated Tillamook Burn area in northwest Oregon, in 1980 the Board of Forestry named ODF's tree seed orchard near St. Paul as the J.E. Schroeder Tree Seed Orchard in honor of Schroeder. Following retirement, Schroeder lived near Salem and is survived by numerous family members. A graveside service is planned for Thursday January 28 at Restlawn Memorial Gardens, Salem; funeral arrangements are coordinated by Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service in Salem. Kevin Weeks ODF Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Jan 26 09:49:42 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:49:42 -0800 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Oregon's state-owned forests topic of Forestry Board meeting Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B65F103B9D@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Dept. of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Jan. 26, 2010 Contact: Jeff Foreman, 503-945-7506 Oregon's state-owned forests topic of Forestry Board meeting February 10. The Board of Forestry on Wednesday, Feb. 10, will decide whether to approve a new state forest near Gilchrist and weigh in on future management of the Elliott State Forest between Coos Bay and Reedsport. The meeting in Salem at the Oregon Department of Forestry's headquarters will begin at 8 a.m. Time for public comments is scheduled. Forestry's office is at 2600 State St. A report on recent public discussions about the "great permanent value" administrative rule also will be presented to the board. A public advisory committee is studying this rule, a standard to be used to manage state forests for broad benefits. The committee also is looking at the administrative rule for developing forest management plans. The group was established to provide a wide range of input on these rules. The board is expected to decide in the spring what rule concepts to move forward toward specific rule language. Gaining board approval to acquire about 43,000 acres of forest land near Gilchrist in northern Klamath County represents one of the final stages of an administrative process to establish a new state forest, the first one in more than 60 years. Lottery bonds totaling $15 million are being used to fund the purchase. The Oregon Legislature approved the use of lottery dollars for this purpose during its 2009 session. Acquisition has been strongly supported by the local community and the Klamath County Board of Commissioners. Conserving the lands for forest values is the reason ODF sought to purchase the property east of Highway 97. The lands are at risk of being fragmented and sold separately for uses other than forestry. Also on the agenda, the board is expected to make a decision on a management pathway for the Elliott State Forest. This action follows a similar decision by the State Land Board Feb. 9. ODF and the Department of State Lands will recommend an alternative to the long-sought federal habitat conservation plan (HCP) to protect threatened and endangered species on the Elliott. Delays in a multi-year process with the federal agencies triggered the alternative planning, which may be necessary if current efforts to achieve an HCP are not met under expected timelines. For more information, contact Jeff Foreman at 503-945-7506. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: