From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Aug 1 14:17:32 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2012 14:17:32 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Oregon's Forest Biomass Working Group releases draft strategy Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B448DCF5B@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Department of Energy today issued this news release on behalf of the Forest Biomass Working Group... FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 1, 2012 2012-45 CONTACT: Lisa Joyce, 503-378-6510 Cliff Voliva, 503-378-3637 In Oregon 1-800-221-8035 Oregon's Forest Biomass Working Group releases draft strategy SALEM - Oregon's Forest Biomass Working Group on Tuesday released a draft Forest Biomass Strategy that lays out a practical approach to developing the state's forest biomass industry. The draft strategy, which will be open for comment through September 30, focuses on market development and foundational actions needed to grow the industry. Effective use of forest biomass provides for forest health, economic benefits and energy independence. The draft strategy recommends four market development initiatives and other actions that will help build a successful and sustainable forest biomass industry. The four market development initiatives are: 1. Biomass Thermal: heating or cooling with advanced biomass thermal systems. 2. Distributed Generation: the generation of heat and electricity at existing wood product facilities. 3. Existing Markets: expanding opportunities for landscape bark, shavings, bedding, and other commercial products. 4. Emerging Markets: commercializing and developing biofuels, biochar, cellulosic ethanol and other developing markets. More than 40 stakeholder groups representing forestland managers, conservation interests, industry representatives, governmental entities and others developed the strategy. The strategy is online for review on the Oregon Department of Energy website at: http://cms.oregon.gov/energy/RENEW/Biomass/Pages/forest_biomass_working_group.aspx For more information about the working group or the draft strategy, please contact Matt Krumenauer at 503-378-6043. About Oregon's Forest Biomass Working Group: The FBWG comprises a wide range of stakeholders from the private, public and non-profit sectors that work to advance sustainable biomass utilization in Oregon. Participation in the FBWG is open to anyone interested in contributing to this end. The FBWG is a statewide forum for information sharing, problem solving, and knowledge creation about forest biomass. The group provides education, strategic recommendations, and advice to state agencies, policy makers, the biomass industry and other stakeholders. The FBWG operates under the basic premise that biomass utilization is a unique opportunity that can provide a myriad of benefits to the state, our forests, and our citizens. Forest biomass that is harvested and utilized in a ecologically and economically sustainable manner can help accomplish important goals for Oregon: * Increase the health and resiliency of Oregon's forests, * Reduce wildfire threats to communities and restore Oregon's forest to reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire, * Improve air quality, * Diversify and strengthen rural economies, * Provide renewable energy and bio-based products, and * Maintain the existing forest products industry and support job growth and retention in Oregon. ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY: The Oregon Department of Energy provides tax credits, grants, loans, technical assistance and energy information for home owners, businesses, manufacturers, farms, ranches, schools and governments. Oregon Department of Energy Main Office 625 Marion Street N.E. Salem, OR 97301-3737 Phone: 503-378-4040 Toll-free in Oregon: 1-800-221-8035 Fax: 503-373-7806 Website: www.oregon.gov/ENERGY -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Aug 3 15:29:21 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2012 15:29:21 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Water and Soak Trees Deeply During Warm Spells Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B448DD2A3@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Department of Forestry issued this news release today. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Major Media Distribution August 3, 2012 Contacts: Cynthia Orlando 503-945-7421 Kristin Ramstad 503-945-7390 Paul Ries 503-945-7391 Water and soak trees deeply during warm spells Weather reports are calling for triple digits in some parts of the state this weekend, but even prior to that forecast, signs of tree stress caused by lack of water were already observable in some Oregon communities. Seems like a good time to remember that when temperatures in Oregon get warm and stay warm, it can take a toll on trees as well as people. The Oregon Department of Forestry suggests a few tips for keeping your trees healthy during times of heat stress. "Summer temperatures can be hard on trees, especially landscape trees in our urban areas," said Paul Ries, an urban forester with the Oregon Department of Forestry. "Warm weather and prolonged drought can make trees more susceptible to insect and disease problems," adds Ries. Symptoms of drought One of the first signs that a deciduous tree - i.e., a tree that loses its leaves in the winter - needs water is that its leaves begin to look dull. More advanced symptoms of needing water are yellowing or browning of leaves, wilting, and curling at the edges. Leaves may develop a scorched or burned look, turning brown on outside edges, or between leaf veins. Leaves may also appear smaller than usual, drop prematurely, or turn brown but remain on the tree. Evergreen needles may turn yellow, red, purple or brown. Watering do's and don'ts Given their benefits and longevity, trees should be given higher watering priority over lawns. If trees are only provided with shallow water every day, they're probably only getting a fraction of what they need. And, watering trees for short periods of time encourages shallow rooting, which can lead to future health problems for the tree. To make sure your tree gets the water it needs, saturate the soil within the drip line - that's the circle that could be drawn on the soil around the tree directly under the tips of its outermost branches. Using a regular hose or a soaker hose, water deeply and slowly - slowly is important, so the water doesn't run-off. To make sure it gets enough water, keep moving the hose around different areas under the tree. For conifers, water 3' - 5' beyond the drip line on all sides of the tree. Also, if you have a choice, water during the cooler part of the day for all trees. Another way to water trees slowly is to put a nail hole in the bottom (near the edge) of a five gallon bucket. Fill the bucket with water, and leave the slowly leaking bucket under the canopy of the tree. Do this twice or three times per tree, moving the bucket each time. Other tips: use mulch Using mulch is a good way to care for trees in warm weather, since mulch helps the soil below trees retain moisture and stay cool. Remove lawn and replace it with a ring of mulch. Mulch can be made of bark, wood chips, leaves and evergreen needles. Apply mulch within the drip line, at a depth of four inches, leaving a six-inch space between the mulch and tree trunk. Mulch will also help discourage weeds. Don't plant annual flowers or other groundcovers under the canopy of your tree. Any plants below a tree's canopy compete with the tree's roots for moisture and nutrients. Tree care: always a good investment Trees and forests enhance quality of life in many ways, providing shade, wildlife habitat, wood and other products, raising property values, and providing clean, healthy streams. Proper tree care - including deep watering of trees during hot summer and warm fall months - pays big dividends in the long run. For more information about trees and tree care: http://www.isa-arbor.com/ http://www.treesaregood.com/ ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Aug 7 19:53:40 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2012 19:53:40 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] NW Oregon increases fire safety precautions Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B448DD739@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE NW Oregon increases fire safety precautions August 7, 2012 News media contact - Kevin Weeks, 503-945-7427 Continued warm, dry weather has prompted the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to increase fire safety restrictions in the Northwest Oregon Fire Protection District, and to caution recreationists to be careful with fire on and around state, private, and BLM forestlands. ODF's Northwest Oregon Fire Protection District - which includes Clatsop County, Columbia County, Tillamook County, western Washington County and the northwest portion of Yamhill County bordered by Hwy 47 and Hwy 18 - will be implementing Regulated Use Closure safety requirements on Wednesday August 8 at 1:00 a.m. Effective August 8, in areas of these counties under ODF fire protection: 1. Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles driving on improved roads. 2. Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at designated locations. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed. 3. Chainsaw use is prohibited. 4. Use of motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all terrain vehicles, is prohibited, except on improved roads. Under current conditions, this restriction is waived for designated OHV trails in the Jordan Creek Basin, Rogers Basin, Trask Basin, Diamond Mill OHV Area, Nicolai Mountain OHV area, and in the BLM Nestucca Motorcycle Trail Area. 5. Possession of basic firefighting equipment - one shovel and one gallon of water or a 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher -- is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads and driveways. 6. Use of fireworks is prohibited. 7. Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited. 8. Use of exploding targets is prohibited The State Forester or an authorized representative may, in writing, approve a modification or waiver of these requirements. For additional information about fire conditions in NW Oregon, you can contact a local ODF office near you- Forest Grove 503-357-2191 Astoria 503-325-7215 Tillamook 503-842-2545 Columbia City 503-397-2636 Current fire safety restriction information for areas under ODF protection is available on the web at: www.oregon.gov/odf/pages/fire/precautionlevel.aspx At this time of year, fire conditions and public use regulations are subject to change on short notice. To obtain the most current information prior to going into the woods, contact the nearest Oregon Department of Forestry office. A list of the offices can be found at: www.oregon.gov/odf. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Aug 27 15:48:06 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:48:06 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Seasonal road restrictions announced for hunters in Tillamook State Forest Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44992465@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. Seasonal road restrictions announced for hunters in Tillamook State Forest For Immediate News Release NW Media Distribution August 27, 2012 Gary Baker (503)842-2545 Herman Biederbeck (503) 842-2741 The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will resume road restrictions this fall in the western part of the Tillamook State Forest to improve deer and elk escapement during hunting season. Some roads will be closed to motorized use during the general archery and rifle hunting seasons in September, October and November. Selected roads in the Trask, Wilson and Nehalem River areas will be gated and signed. Controlled access during the three-month period is designed to reduce hunting pressure in these areas. Three additional areas - McPherson timber sale spur, Fall Creek Ridge Road, and Eagle Hill spur - will be closed to motorized vehicles. Hunters and other recreational users are welcome to access the gated areas by foot, mountain bike, horse or other non-motorized means. ODF is partnering with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Tillamook Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association in this program. The partnership has been in place over five years now and the location of gates changes year to year based on access needs, stand conditions and operations. Motorized access by ODF staff or contractors working in those areas may occur on occasion. Maps of the road management areas are available at the Tillamook ODF office located at 5005 Third St., Tillamook and at the Tillamook District's Website at: www.oregon.gov/odf/pages/field/tillamook/abouttillamook.aspx. Once at this link go to "Recreation" section of the information. If you have questions about the road management program, contact Gary Baker at the Tillamook ODF office, 503-842-2545, or Herman Biederbeck at the Tillamook ODFW office, 503-842-2741. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Aug 29 10:15:09 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:15:09 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Fire season update, opinion polling report, on Forestry Board's 9-5 agenda Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B4499272D@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. Fire season update, opinion polling report, on Forestry Board's Sept. 5 agenda Aug. 29, 2012 Major media distribution Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us Dan Postrel, 503-945-7420, dpostrel at odf.state.or.us A wildfire season update and a review of Oregonians' forest-related opinions, values and concerns are among items on the agenda for the state Board of Forestry's Sept. 5 meeting in Salem. Agenda highlights: Wildfire season update - Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) staff will report on the 2012 wildfire season to date and discuss the outlook for the remainder of the season. ODF provides fire protection on about 16 million acres, just over half of the state's forest landbase. Public values and opinions on forests - Rebecca Ball of DHM Research and ODF staff will present polling information about Oregonians' forest-related values, and forest issues of top concern to Oregonians. The information is one of a series of reports the Board will receive in advance of an October workshop during which it will readjust priorities and work plans. The preparatory data will also include a report on a suite of indicators used to help determine whether Oregon's forests are being managed sustainably. Forest assessment project - Staff will introduce the board to the Forest Assessment Project, a joint effort between ODF and Oregon State University. The project examines trends in the geographic distribution of forest vegetation, with attention to range shifts in tree species in the context of climate change, management, and other factors. Forest Practices monitoring, audit, and efficiency review update - Staff will update the Board on forest monitoring projects, and on key initiatives related to the Oregon Forest Practices Act (FPA). The FPA, a cornerstone of natural resource protection in Oregon forests, requires post-harvest reforestation, streamside buffers and other measures. ODF's current budget, approved by the 2011 Legislature, restored capacity, lost during previous budget reductions, in the agency's Private Forests Division. The budget also directed ODF to hire an independent contractor to audit FPA compliance rates, and to contract with an independent third party to assess and make recommendations for improvements in implementing the FPA. State government in a time of change - Michael Jordan, Oregon's chief operating officer, will address the board on improvements to the state's budget development process and efforts to improve the function and effectiveness of state government. Meeting time and location The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the Tillamook Room, Building C, at ODF headquarters, 2600 State St., in Salem. More information More information on the Board of Forestry can be found at: www.oregonforestry.gov. Background information on the Sept. 5 meeting, including staff reports, is available through the 2012 "Meeting Schedules" link on the website. Special needs Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services or assistance can be arranged by calling the department's Public Affairs Office at least 48 hours before the meeting, 503-945-7200, text telephone 503-945-7213. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: