From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue May 3 13:31:29 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 3 May 2011 13:31:29 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] May 10 - Oregon Roundtable on Sustainable Forests Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E5C0386E@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Department of Forestry issued the following news release today: ************************************************************************ Oregon Department of Forestry News Brief Released: May 3, 2011 Oregon Roundtable on Sustainable Forests meets on May 10 WHAT: Engaging Oregonians through collaborative efforts to advance understanding, assessment, and reporting of forest sustainability. The Roundtable is an open, participant-driven network and a forum for discussion and action; a gathering place for anyone who is interested in Oregon's forests - to share information, evaluate and discuss forest conditions and trends, build common ground, and help shape a common understanding and vision for the future of Oregon's forests. During this meeting, the Roundtable will close out initial discussion on the indicator of sustainable forest management that relates to knowledge of sustainable forest management. The Roundtable will also continue discussions on the indicator relating to the ability to measure and report on all Oregon Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management, receive reports from participants on other recent sustainable forestry developments, and identify the next steps for the Roundtable. WHO: The Oregon Roundtable on Sustainable Forests. WHEN: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2011. WHERE: Tillamook Conference Room - Building C, Oregon Department of Forestry, Salem Campus, 2600 State Street, Salem. WHY: The Roundtable creates the opportunity to promote forest resource management in a manner that integrates environmental, economic, and social considerations, using the goals and objectives of the Forestry Program for Oregon and the Oregon Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management as common state frameworks. MORE INFORMATION: More information about the Roundtable, including the May 10 meeting agenda, is available on the Roundtable's website at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/indicators/roundtable.shtml. Contact: David Morman, Oregon Department of Forestry, at 503-945-7413 or dmorman at odf.state.or.us. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed May 4 14:53:21 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 4 May 2011 14:53:21 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Public comment period begins on Elliott State Forest management Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E5C03A67@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS RELEASE Public comment period begins on Elliott State Forest management Proposed plan would take effect in January 2012 For immediate release / Major media distribution May 4, 2011 Contact: Kevin Weeks (ODF) 503-945-7427; kweeks at odf.state.or.us Julie Curtis (DSL) 503-986-5298; julie.curtis at state.or.us The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) invite the public to submit written comments on the 2011 update of the long-range plan for managing the Elliott State Forest. The 95,273-acre state-owned forest is located in the Coast Range between Coos Bay and Reedsport. Ninety-one percent (86,367 acres) of the forest is Common School Fund land, overseen by the State Land Board. The board oversees management of the forest to provide timber revenue for K-12 schools using sound techniques of land management. The proposed forest management plan would replace the current plan adopted by the State Land Board and Board of Forestry in 1994, and go into effect on January 1, 2012, after approval by both boards in the fall. In 1995, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) approved an Elliott State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan, which included a 60-year Incidental Take Permit (ITP) for the northern spotted owl and a 6-year ITP for the marbled murrelet. The murrelet agreement expired in October 2001, and that expiration was the primary driver for revising the forest management plan and HCP. Since 2000, a multi-agency group of foresters and scientists has provided guidance to ODF and DSL on updating the 1994 forest management plan and 1995 HCP. After a decade of planning, the team has been unsuccessful in reaching agreement with the federal government on a revised Elliott HCP. In early 2010, the Land Board and Board of Forestry set December 31, 2011, as the deadline for completing approval of either a revised multi-species HCP, or terminating the 1995 HCP and implementing a "take-avoidance" forest management plan to protect threatened and endangered species within the Elliott State Forest. Forest management plans utilizing a take- avoidance approach are currently being applied on all other state-owned forestland managed by the ODF. The 2011 draft plan uses ODF take-avoidance policies to comply with the federal Endangered Species Act. The draft plan has a range of expected outcomes for three different forest stand types; designates portions of the forest as conservation areas; protects streams; and retains live trees, snags and downed wood to benefit wildlife over time in harvested areas. The 2011 draft plan represents updates from further staff work and in consideration of the public comments received on the 2010 draft plan during the 60 day public comment period in 2010. The public comment period begins May 4 and ends August 1, 2011. It begins the Board of Forestry's rulemaking process on the 2011 draft plan, which includes two public hearings. Public hearings on the draft plan are scheduled on July 19 in North Bend and July 20 in Roseburg. July 19, 2011 - North Bend Public Library, 1800 Sherman Avenue, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. July 20, 2011 - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 4192 North Umpqua Highway, Roseburg, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The hearing locations are 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 541-267-1740. Public comments along with staff responses and recommendations will be provided to the Board of Forestry and State Land Board for review prior to final plan approval. The Draft 2011 Elliott State Forest Management Plan is available online: www.oregon.gov/ODF/STATE_FORESTS/elliott.shtml#Forest_Management_Plan Comments may be addressed to the State Forests Planning Specialist, Oregon Department of Forestry, 2600 State Street, OR 97310, sent to ODFStateForestsComments at odf.state.or.us, or via FAX to 503-945-7376. Written comments on the plan must be received by 5:00 pm, August 1, 2011. The Elliott State Forest became Oregon's first state forest when acquired in 1930, named for Francis Elliott, the first State Forester of Oregon. The State Land Board owns its common school lands, while the Oregon Department of Forestry manages the state forest through an agreement with the State Land Board and Department of State Lands. Timber harvest revenues, minus the cost of management, go to the Common School Fund to support the state's 197 K-12 public school districts. The Oregon Department of Forestry manages 821,000 acres of forests in Oregon for the environmental, social and economic benefit of Oregonians. Oregon Department of Forestry www.oregon.gov/ODF/ Common School Fund Backgrounder www.oregon.gov/ODF/AGENCY_AFFAIRS/docs/Common_School_Fund_2011BG.pdf Oregon Department of State Lands www.oregonstatelands.us/ Common School Fund http://www.oregonstatelands.us/DSL/DO/aboutcsf.shtml www.oregonstatelands.us/DSL/DO/aboutcsf.shtml ### Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed May 4 15:56:20 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 4 May 2011 15:56:20 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Oregon Global Warming Commission survey Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E5C03A99@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> This message is forwarded at the request of the Oregon Global Warming Commission... Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 *************************************************************** Dear stakeholders, Please share your perspective on how the state can best prepare to meet the challenges of climate change by taking a new survey at: http://conversation.fuseinsight.com/topic/start/OGWC_Roadmap_3_3_2011/intro?SID=Agency Please respond by May 31! The survey is being led by the Oregon Global Warming Commission, a state commission which is developing a strategy to reduce emissions state-wide by 2020. By taking a few minutes to share your point of view, you will influence discussions at upcoming public workshops and help shape decisions about Oregon's environment for years to come. The OGWC wants the public conversation around climate change to involve as many different Oregonians with as wide a variety of perspectives as possible, given that we share an interest in protecting our state's livability and economic vitality. More information about the OGWC is available at www.keeporegoncool.org , as well as dates and information about upcoming workshops on strategies for reducing emissions. Thank you! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu May 5 11:35:53 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 5 May 2011 11:35:53 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Message from the State Forester Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E5C03BA5@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Private Forests News members: Here is Wednesday?s message from State Forester Doug Decker to Oregon Department of Forestry staff. Kevin Weeks, ODF Agency Affairs Office ******************************************************* Hello. Time for a brief update on news and activities from the last couple of weeks . . . Our big week at the Legislature Over the course of three afternoons last week, we presented the Governor?s Balanced Budget for the Department to the Ways and Means Committee?s Natural Resources Subcommittee. This was an important opportunity to tell a story about the value that Oregonians derive from the dollars they entrust to us. The story line went something like this: ? Forests are integral to Oregon?s character, economy, history and wellbeing. ? Public investment is this resource is critical. ? Recent budget reductions ? although we understand that they?re part of a larger economic context ? have had an impact on our ability to keep forests healthy and working. ? There?s strong support among stakeholders for an ongoing public-private partnership in carrying out our work. Along the way, we highlighted fire prevention and the importance of keeping fires small; our responsibilities in protecting and enhancing natural resources on private lands; our commitment to balance in the management of state-owned forests; and the value of our assistance in urban and community forestry. We touched on the complexities and challenges in each area. And we laid out our accomplishments. I was pleased to give the floor at one point to Shannon Loffelmacher, who described the many hats she wears every day as a stewardship forester in the North Cascade District. Many thanks to Shannon for hanging up those hats for an afternoon to sketch out the real-life business of educating landowners, enforcing forest laws, and serving on an incident management team when the call goes out. Her presentation was effective and prompted a good conversation with the committee. The fourth day was reserved for public comment. It was gratifying to see the room filled with diverse stakeholders ? owners of forestlands large and small, members of conservation groups, and a representative from the League of Women Voters of Oregon ? sharing their thoughts about the importance of public investment in forestry. Board of Forestry Chair John Blackwell addressed the subcommittee briefly. His comments provided a fitting capstone, and I?ll come back to them in a moment. In the end, I felt that our messages were well received. Without question, legislators face extremely difficult choices in allocating limited dollars among all of the services that state government provides. We made a strong case for investing some of those dollars in the work that you all do. Adjusting to a changing budget As we await the Legislature?s decisions on the 2011-2013 budget, we continue to work through challenges in the current budget period. During reductions in the past two years or so, we?ve been able to use one-time federal stimulus funds to replace state dollars in some employees? positions. This aligns with one of our guiding principles in budget planning: recognizing the significant value of our employees, and making every effort to minimize impacts on staff as budget conditions change. With the stimulus funds comes a measure of uncertainty. The grants run out at various times ? some as soon as this June 30, some extending into 2013. In some cases, we?ve seen these grants renewed past their expected ending dates. At the executive team level, we?ve formed a group to take a careful look at the federal funding picture, at currently vacant positions, and at the potential for a small number of new positions that we may receive in 2011-2013. We?ll produce a plan to manage these factors, with the greatest possible predictability and the least possible disruption for the employees affected. We?re committed to keeping you all updated, and to making sure that individual employees facing transition have information about their options in the weeks to come. In closing: the long view As I mentioned earlier, Board Chair John Blackwell offered comments following our budget presentation. He described his own experience, working for the Department as a young forester fresh out of college, then returning many years later to lead the Board. He noted that then, as now, we are mission-driven, skilled in our work, and committed to service. It?s our centennial year, a fitting time to reflect on the sense of continuity that John evoked, even as our responsibilities and challenges have changed. We had a great centennial party on the Salem campus in April. As the year goes on, I hope you all have a chance to celebrate this milestone in our history. I appreciate the role each of you plays as that history unfolds. All the best, Doug Decker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri May 6 12:33:07 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 6 May 2011 12:33:07 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] USDA Biomass Crop Assistance Program Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E5C03D5F@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> USDA Biomass Crop Assistance Program deadline is May 27 The USDA Farm Service Agency is accepting applications for approved project areas under the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) through May 27, 2011. Contact the Oregon FSA office to apply for the program. BCAP was created in the 2008 Farm Bill. The program is designed to assist private forestland and agricultural land owners with establishment and production of eligible crops, including woody biomass, in selected project areas for conversion to bioenergy, and the collection, harvest, storage and transportation of eligible material for use in a biomass conversion facility. Total fiscal year 2011 funding nationally for the BCAP program is limited to $112 million. Additional information, including application information, is available on the Farm Service Agency web site: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=ener&topic=bcap Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed May 11 10:02:46 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 10:02:46 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Volunteer opportunities in the Tillamook State Forest during May Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E5D2EAAF@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE Volunteer opportunities in the Tillamook State Forest during May May 11, 2011 News Media Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 -- (program specialists listed for each event will have detailed information about their specific volunteer event) The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has several events planned in May to provide vital maintenance of public facilities and habitat restoration in the 364,000-acre Tillamook State Forest. Members of the public who would like to contribute their time to help keep their largest State Forest accessible to the public are welcome to help out at several projects scheduled for the next couple weeks: Saturday May 14 - two events! 4x4 Trail Project Day @ Browns Camp On Saturday, May 14th the Oregon Department of Forestry will partner with co-host Jolly Jeepers for a day of trail maintenance on a popular four-wheel drive trail in the Browns Camp Off-Highway Vehicle Area. Volunteers should bring hand tools such as shovels, loppers, pruners, hand saws, and rakes. Registration will start at 9:00 AM at Lyda Camp. Turn south at milepost 28 from Oregon Highway 6 onto South Fork Road. Follow South Fork Road 2 for 2.5 miles. Turn RIGHT when the road splits, staying on South Fork Road. Cross the concrete bridge; registration will be by the information board to your left. Project Coordinator: Jahmaal Rebb - ODF Forest Grove Off-Highway Vehicle specialist, 503-359-7463 -- jrebb at odf.state.or.us for more details. Habitat Restoration Project on the Nehalem River The Oregon Hunters Association will be hosting a volunteer work day open to the public focusing on habitat restoration for wildlife that depend on the Nehalem River. The primary objective will be removing scotch broom along a section of the Nehalem River and re-seeding the area to achieve a meadow-style condition that will help wildlife find adequate forage. Volunteers are asked to gather that morning at Ingersol Road, located a quarter-mile north of Reehers Camp near Timber. There will be several signs posted and pink flagging tape will be placed on the route. Main highway access will be from Cochran Road, which is on Timber Road about 3 miles south of the Timber Road intersection on U.S. Highway 26 or about 5 miles north of the Glenwood interchange of Oregon Highway 6. Please contact project coordinator Wayne Brown in advance for a correct lunch count and to get additional details about the work site. Project Coordinator: Wayne Brown - ODF Forest Grove Reforestation Forester, 503-359-7438 -- wbrown at odf.state.or.us for more details. Saturday May 21 Wilson River Trail Spring Maintenance (Horse, Hiker, Mountain Biker) On Saturday, May 21st the Oregon Department of Forestry will host day of trail maintenance on the popular Wilson River Trail. Hand tools will be provided. Volunteers should bring lunch, water, and wear long pants and sturdy shoes. Registration will start at 9:30 AM at the west end of the Tillamook Forest Center parking lot. Keep your eyes open on Oregon Highway 6 between mileposts 22-23 for the Tillamook Forest Center entrance. Project Coordinator: Nathan Seable - ODF Tillamook Recreation Manager, 503-815-7044-- nseable at odf.state.or.us for more details. These three projects will be supervised by ODF staff, and ODF provides tools. Volunteers should bring their own work gloves, eye protection and wear leather boots that come up over the ankles. Personal rain gear is always a good idea for venturing into the Tillamook State Forest. In 2009, the Tillamook State Forest benefitted from almost 13,500 hours of time donated by Oregonians to help maintain and improve public access in their State Forest. There are many ways to get involved and volunteer in the Tillamook State Forest, including the Adopt-a-Trail program, Trail Patrol or Camp Host programs, SOLV Forest Clean-up Day and work parties maintaining both Off-Highway Vehicle trails and non-motorized trails in the forest. Additional information about volunteer opportunities in the Tillamook State Forest can be found at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/tillamookstateforest/volunteerhome.shtml ### Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu May 12 07:50:15 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 12 May 2011 07:50:15 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Call for Projects - Oregon's Forest Legacy Program Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E5D2EC3E@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE Call for Projects - Oregon's Forest Legacy Program May 12, 2011 Contact: Jim Cathcart, 503-945-7493 or Kevin Weeks, 503-945-7427 Project applications are now being accepted for a program that works to protect the future of Oregon's forests by helping landowners assist conservation of forests in areas threatened by risk of ownership fragmentation or development. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) administers the Forest Legacy Program in Oregon. Forest Legacy 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. Letters of Interest nominating projects to be considered for Forest Legacy funding in federal Fiscal Year 2013 may be submitted to ODF until June 17, 2011. Projects determined to meet minimum eligibility requirements will be asked to formally submit application materials by September 2, 2011. Oregon's State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee will review proposals and prioritize the state's projects for funding consideration by the Forest Legacy Program's National Review Panel for final ranking into President Obama's federal FY 2013 budget. If a project is successfully funded by Congress, funds would become available sometime during the October 2012 through September 2013 federal FY 2013 period. 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, land acquisition or land donation -- for private landowners to protect environmentally important working forest areas that are threatened by development, fragmentation and other non-forest uses. A project pre-proposal to assist Oregon evaluators consisting of a nomination letter and a description of the forest property is required. Formal applications will be developed by applicants using the national Forest Legacy Information System (FLIS) to ensure uniformity with project submissions from other states. To be eligible, the private forest lands seeking Forest Legacy Program funding must be within one of 6 Forest Legacy areas identified across Oregon by the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee. Interested applicants should follow the steps as outlined in the FY 2013 Oregon Forest Legacy Program Meeting Application Instructions. Weblink -- http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/privateforests/docs/legacy/OregonLegacyApplicationInstructions.pdf In 2010, Oregon updated its Forest Legacy Program as part of a five-year Resource Strategy developed to meet requirements of the 2008 Farm Bill. The updated program replaces Oregon's 2001 Assessment of Need. 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 in Eugene's Wild Iris Ridge. The Forest Legacy program has also been awarded $4,000,000 to Oregon for acquisition of a conservation easement for the Skyline Forest near Bend. The Deschutes Land Trust is the lead conservation partner for this project. A conservation easement is a legal restriction placed on a piece of property to protect a specific resource, or several resources, such as a working forest. By stripping off certain property rights to the property - such as development rights - conservation easements can be used to keep forestlands for forestry purposes in perpetuity for enjoyment by future generations. The land stays in private ownership and owners retain those private property rights consistent with forestry purposes and the many forest resources values to be conserved. For more information about the Oregon's Forest Legacy Program go to http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/privateforests/ForestLegacy.shtml, or contact Jim Cathcart, Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-945-7493 or email, jcathcart at odf.state.or.us. ### Forest Legacy Program Meeting Application Instructions www.oregon.gov/ODF/privateforests/docs/legacy/OregonLegacyApplicationInstructions.pdf State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee www.oregon.gov/ODF/RESOURCE_PLANNING/sfscc.shtml Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon May 16 10:59:43 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 10:59:43 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Committee for Family Forestlands meets May 24 in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E5D2F10F@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE Committee for Family Forestlands meets May 24 in Salem May 16, 2011 Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 The Committee for Family Forestlands advises the Oregon Board of Forestry and the State Forester on ways to improve the vitality of Oregon's family forestlands, evaluate the impact of forest policy and regulatory changes on family forest owners, and expand opportunities for landowners to manage and market their timber, forest product and other economic resources. The next meeting of the Committee for Family Forestlands is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday May 24, 2011 at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters in Salem, 2600 State Street - Operations Building D, Santiam meeting room. The agenda for the meeting is under development. Thirteen positions, seven voting members and six seats in non-voting roles, form the Committee. Voting members include family forest owners, an environmental community representative, a representative of Oregon's forest products industry and a citizen-at-large representing the public. Representatives of the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State University, Oregon Small Woodlands Association, forestry-related industry associations and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute serve in a non-voting capacity. 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. 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 Committee is available on ODF's web site: www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/CFF/cff.shtml ### 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 Wed May 18 11:38:50 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 11:38:50 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Ready for fire season - whenever it finally arrives Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E5D2F5E0@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE Ready for fire season - whenever it finally arrives For immediate release Major Media Distribution May 18, 2011 Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us You don't need to be a weather forecaster to know that the cool, wet spring has delayed the start of wildfire season. But whenever the fires begin, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will be ready. ODF enters the season with all of the essential elements in place: a full complement of fire engines, hand crews, helicopters and air tankers, as well as three specially trained teams on call to manage large wildfires. Air attack Among the most visible moving parts of the firefighting force are helicopters. Ranging in size from large, to medium, to small, these ships are poised to provide close-in support. Equipped with spa-sized water buckets, the "rotary-winged" aircraft (as they are known in firefighter parlance) can steer a flame front away from high-value timber and structures, and in some instances put out a fire solo without assistance from ground-based firefighters. Nine helicopters will fly under contract to ODF in 2011. Two heavy air tankers provide added punch to the suppression effort. Each is capable of delivering 3,000 gallons of retardant on a fire to slow its advance. These converted DC-7 airliners fly low and slow over rugged terrain, dropping their red-dyed liquid on hotspots to slow a fire's spread. This buys time for ground firefighters to arrive on scene and engage the fire directly. Escorting the retardant bombers to their drop sites will be a lead plane. This nimble hot rod is tasked with guiding the heavy-laden tankers in and out of the swarm of traffic over a fire quickly and safely. Rounding out the seven fixed-wing planes under contract to ODF for the season are four small aircraft assigned to fire detection and to serve as air attack platforms. Their duties include taking to the air following a thunderstorm to search of lightning-ignited fires, and circling a large blaze to report its behavior to fire managers on the ground. Firefighting crews In a photo of a fire hand crew at work, sometimes only the hairstyles help narrow the time frame. The work of ground firefighters has remained largely unchanged for decades. With shovels, Pulaskis and other tools, they dig and scrape fire lines across rugged terrain to contain the advancing flames. Under an interagency contract, ODF expects to have available 150 or more 20-person, private contract fire crews this season. These crews will be dispatched as needed to large fires on private, state and federal forestlands throughout the Pacific Northwest. Outside the peak period of wildfire activity in this region, these resources are occasionally dispatched to other states. In a long-standing arrangement with the Oregon Department of Corrections, ODF trains and fields 10-person inmate fire crews to perform initial attack on newly reported fires. Drawn from correctional facilities across the state, these crews also see action on large, extended attack fires. Corrections has made available 24 inmate firefighting crews and 10 camp/kitchen crews this season. A reunion of sorts takes place each spring at ODF district offices when training commences for fire engine crews. Many of these seasonal firefighters return each year to serve as ODF's first responders to reports of fire. The engine crews run on new fire starts and engage them quickly. In most summers they meet or exceed the department's policy objective to put out 97 percent of all fires at 10 acres or smaller. Forest industry help Though Oregon's forest products industry is much smaller today than during the post-World War II timber boom, it is still a key partner to ODF in fire protection. The industrial landowners maintain a formidable firefighting force that includes trained woods workers, heavy equipment ranging from bulldozers to fire engines, and helicopters. These resources are a critical component in Oregon's fire protection system. Fire intelligence Like the modern military, ODF wildfire managers rely on a rapid flow of information to operate effectively. Automated weather stations deployed in forested areas throughout the state transmit a constant stream of weather data. Department meteorologists analyze the information, collate it with satellite data and calculate fire danger throughout Oregon on a daily basis. When severe weather such as dry lightning is forecast, fire managers may order "move-ups" of aircraft, fire engines and crews to areas likely to be affected. These additional resources help local forces put out the scores of new fires ignited by lightning strikes before they can grow into major incidents. Along with high-technology aids such as the satellite-based Lightning Tracker system (which pinpoints ground strikes in real time) and automated smoke-detection cameras, foresters also rely on basic field tests. Examining forest vegetation from grass to trees provides a reliable index of fuel moisture, a critical factor in how a fire will behave and its rate of spread. Learning to live with fire Regardless of how the 2011 wildfire season plays out, Oregonians can take steps now to lessen the impact on their lives and property. Creating "defensible space" around one's home - such as limbing trees, trimming shrubs and cleaning tree litter from roofs - can greatly improve the chances of a home surviving a wildfire. Listen to Smokey Bear While lightning often ignites the largest wildfires, human carelessness accounts for 69 percent of all fire starts on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands. Backyard debris burning, equipment use and campfires left unattended appear near the top of the list of wildfire causes every year. Increased wildfire prevention awareness can bring down the incidence of these "people fires" and free up resources to battle Nature-spawned fires. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu May 19 11:14:51 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 19 May 2011 11:14:51 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Forest Biomass Work Group meets May 26 in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E5D2F766@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS BRIEF Forest Biomass Work Group meets May 26 in Salem May 19, 2011 Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 A workgroup of representatives from state government, forest industries, renewable energy development and the environmental community will meet in Salem on May 26 to discuss the role of Oregon's forests in providing energy production from wood. The Forest Biomass Work Group will meet on Thursday May 26 at 10:00 a.m. in the Administration Building (Tillamook meeting room) of the Oregon Department of Forestry campus, 2600 State Street in Salem. The tentative agenda for the meeting includes reports from Work Group teams regarding carbon neutrality of forest biomass, potential incentives for developing forest biomass energy facilities and discussion about the Work Group's charter for future direction on projects. Issue updates from state and federal agencies serving on the Work Group are scheduled, as is an overview of wood boiler rulemaking processes at the state and federal level. Members of the public are invited to 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) 945-7427. 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 Tue May 31 10:43:53 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 31 May 2011 10:43:53 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] June 2011 volunteer opportunities in the Tillamook State Forest Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E5D8E9A3@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Department of Forestry issued this news release today- June 2011 volunteer opportunities in the Tillamook State Forest May 31, 2011 News Media Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 -- (program specialists listed for each event will have detailed information about their specific volunteer event) The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has events planned during June to provide vital maintenance of public resources in the 364,000-acre Tillamook State Forest. Members of the public who would like to contribute their time to help keep their largest State Forest accessible for recreation are welcome to help out at several projects scheduled for the next few weeks: Saturday June 11 Motorcycle & ATV Trail Project Day in the Tillamook District Volunteers will be installing concrete grid blocks on trail tread approaches leading to a new 24-foot Off-Highway Vehicle trail bridge recently donated by the Oregon Motorcycle Riders Association (OMRA). OMRA obtained an Oregon State Parks ATV Grant to fund purchase of the materials, acquired Tillamook County permits and supervised the contractor responsible for construction of these two new trail bridges to ODF standards. OMRA volunteer labor provided the match requirement for the grant. We will be installing volunteer-donated concrete grid blocks to harden the trail approaches at this bridge; hardening those approaches will help prevent potential stream sedimentation caused by the bridge trail tread leading to the bridges and protect the bridge deck thresholds from wear. Volunteers with quads and the proper racks or tie-downs are welcome to assist with transporting grid blocks from the trail head to the bridge site. The necessary hand tools to perform that work will be provided by the ODF. ODF personnel will also assist with transportation of the grid blocks to the bridge site as necessary and supervise proper installation. The worksite is within walking distance (a quarter-mile) from the trail head, and volunteers are welcome to use their motorcycles or quads to reach the work site. Volunteers are asked to gather and park at the Smith Homestead Trailhead lot, just east of the Tillamook Forest Center on Oregon Highway 6, between 8:30 and 9:00 that morning to register for the project. Project Coordinator: Dave Hiatt - ODF Tillamook Off-Highway Vehicle specialist, 503-815-7024 -- dhiatt at odf.state.or.us for more details. Assistance provided by OMRA - http://www.omraoffroad.com/ Saturday June 18 Step Creek Trail Construction (Horse, Hiker, Mountain Biker) On Saturday, June 18th, the Oregon Department of Forestry will host a day of trail maintenance on the Step Creek Trail connector segment in the Reehers Camp area. Hand tools will be provided. Volunteers should bring lunch, water, and wear long pants and sturdy shoes. Registration will start at 9:30 AM at the Reehers Camp Trailhead. Turn SOUTH off of Oregon Highway 26 at the Timber Junction (milepost 38) or NORTH off of Oregon Highway 6 at the Timber Junction (milepost 38.5). Follow the Timber Highway to Cochran Road. Turn WEST onto Cochran Road. Follow Cochran Road for 2.5 miles to the Reehers Camp Trailhead on the Left. Project Coordinator: Roger Warren - ODF Forest Grove Recreation Specialist, 503-359.7466-- rwarren at odf.state.or.us for more details. These projects will be supervised by ODF staff, and ODF provides tools. Volunteers should bring their own work gloves, eye protection and wear leather boots that come up over the ankles. Personal rain gear is always a good idea for venturing into the Tillamook State Forest. In 2010, the Tillamook State Forest benefitted from more than 9,000 hours of time donated by Oregonians to help maintain and improve public access in their State Forest. There are many ways to get involved and volunteer in the Tillamook State Forest, including the Adopt-a-Trail program, Trail Patrol or Camp Host programs, SOLV Forest Clean-up Day and work parties maintaining both Off-Highway Vehicle trails and non-motorized trails in the forest. Additional information about volunteer opportunities in the Tillamook State Forest can be found at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/tillamookstateforest/volunteerhome.shtml ### Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue May 31 15:45:13 2011 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 31 May 2011 15:45:13 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] District fire budgets on Forestry Board's June 8 agenda Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E5D8EAE6@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. District fire protection budgets on Board of Forestry's June 8 agenda May 31, 2011 For immediate release Contact: Rod Nichols Oregon Department of Forestry 503-945-7425 The Oregon Board of Forestry will consider approval of yearly budgets for the state's 12 wildfire protection districts at its June 8 meeting in Salem. The budgets, a combination of state funds and assessments paid by owners of forest and grazing lands, total about $40.7 million, a 4 percent increase from current levels. The new budgets are for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011. The department protects about 16 million forested acres, most of them privately owned, from fire. The board meeting, scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., will be held by telephone conference call. Members of the public who would like to listen are welcome in the Tillamook Room of the Oregon Department of Forestry's Salem headquarters, at 2600 State St. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: