From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu Oct 4 09:31:15 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2012 09:31:15 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Fire season still in effect Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44A8264A@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE Fire season still in effect Campfires only allowed in designated campgrounds October 2, 2012 Major media distribution Contact: Tom Fields, 503-945-7440, tfields at odf.state.or.us Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us Fall has arrived and summer didn't get the memo. Continued warm weather and the absence of rain have kept fire danger high to extreme throughout Oregon. "We are experiencing conditions far from normal for this time of year," says Oregon Department of Forestry Fire Prevention Coordinator Tom Fields. "The combination of dry, hot weather and exceptionally dry vegetation has created an environment that wildfires will thrive in." Fire managers throughout the region are spreading the word: Proceed with extreme caution when working in or enjoying the outdoors. "We continue to discover and extinguish illegal campfires in several remote areas," Fields said. "In one case, our crews found an escaped campfire left by a hunter two miles from any road." Fields says a different fire escaped its confines and burned more than two acres and cost more than $4,000 to suppress. Persons responsible for illegal campfires will be cited and held liable for fire suppression costs. Public use restrictions, or Regulated Use Closures, remain in effect on all lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Campfires, while only allowed in designated campgrounds, should not be built at all under the current conditions. Backyard burning, smoking and off-road driving remain prohibited. For a complete list of restrictions in specific areas, log on to www.oregon.gov/ODF. The three month period from July through September was the driest on record, dating back to the late 1800s, in most areas of the Willamette Valley. Weather forecasters do not see a change for at least another 10 days to 2 weeks. Fire season will remain in effect until significant precipitation occurs where the threat of a fire starting is close to nil. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Oct 5 08:25:50 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2012 08:25:50 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Fire danger lingers in South Cascade, Western Lane districts Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44A827F3@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release Thursday. Fire danger lingers in South Cascade, Western Lane districts October 4, 2012 Contacts: Greg Wagenblast, 541-726-3588, gwagenblast at odf.state.or.us Link Smith, 541-935-2283, gsmith at odf.state.or.us It's fall but the wildfires keep coming. The 18-acre Buck Mountain Fire near Eugene in late September and a smaller, but high-potential blaze Tuesday evening up the canyon from Sweet Home serve as reminders of the continuing fire danger. South Cascade District Forester Greg Wagenblast asks hunters and other recreationists not to let their guard down. "The humidity is low and we're having dry easterly winds," he said. "These conditions, combined with the cured-out grasses and bone-dry forest fuels, have set the stage for fires." Firefighters were fortunate to stop the Sweet Home fire at small size during the evening when burning conditions had moderated. If it had burned on into the next day, he said, the outcome might have been different. "Right now we're hitting every fire start hard," he said. The dry conditions are just one reason for the aggressive initial attack. The other is reduced fire staffing. Most Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) field districts are currently at 50 to 60 percent of their peak firefighting force, since this late in the season seasonal employees have returned to school or their regular jobs. To cope with this year's unusually late wildfire activity, South Cascade and the neighboring Western Lane District have extended their firefighting helicopter contract into next week. Private forest landowners are well aware of the lingering fire danger, and many have closed their lands to public access. Hunters and other recreationists are advised to check the ODF website for a current list of private land closures, www.oregon.gov/odf/Pages/fire/fire.aspx#Forest_Restrictions___Closures. Another approach is to check with the specific landowner directly for access permission. "Weather forecasters are saying this dry weather will continue into next week," the district forester said. "It's not a typical fall with the rain coming on, so we need to keep following safe practices." The South Cascade District protects more than 1.1 million acres of private and public lands from wildfire within Lane and Linn counties. The Western Lane District protects 750,650 acres in western Lane County. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Oct 8 15:30:18 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2012 15:30:18 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Stewardship Coordinating Committee meets Thursday in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44A82B51@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Department of Forestry issued this news release today. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 8, 2012 Contact: Jim Cathcart 503-945-7493 Cynthia Orlando 503-945-7421 Stewardship Coordinating Committee meets Oct.11 in Salem Oregon?s Stewardship Coordinating Committee advises the State Forester on incentive programs for family forestland owners and meets this coming Thursday, October 11, 2012. The committee ? consisting of state and federal natural resource agency representatives, private forest landowners, consulting foresters, and members of forest industry and conservation organizations ? meets from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this coming Thursday in the Santiam meeting room at Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) headquarters in Salem. The committee advises the State Forester about U.S. Forest Service policies and procedures, including Forest Legacy and Forest Stewardship programs. The focus of Thursday?s meeting is the evaluation and ranking of Forest Legacy propoals for the Fiscal Year 2014 funding cycle. The Forest Legacy Program addresses privately-owned forestlands that face threats to conversion to non-forest use by urbanization, rural residential development, parcelization (the breaking up of large forestland tracts of single ownership into smaller tracts with multiple owners) and other development pressures. Forest Legacy provides funds for the purchase of development rights to eligible private forestlands through conservation easement, or, fee-title acquisition into public ownership. Not more than 3 proposals will be recommended, totaling $10 million or less in Forest Legacy Program fund request. Forest Legacy proposals are being recommended to the State Forester for submittal to the Forest Legacy National Review Panel. The Stewardship Coordinating Committee also serves as the forestry subcommittee to the Oregon Technical Advisory Committee (OTAC), advising both the USDA Farm Services Agency and USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service on federal farm and forestry assistance programs. Public invited Members of the public are invited to attend and participate. 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. More information: Additional information about the Stewardship Coordinating Committee: www.oregon.gov/odf/privateforests/pages/stewardshipcoordinatingcommittee.aspx Information about the Forest Legacy Program: www.oregon.gov/ODF/privateforests/pages/forestlegacy.aspx ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Oct 10 08:25:09 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:25:09 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] County adv group for forestry to meet 10-19, Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44AD4946@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE County advisory group for forestry to meet October 19, Salem Oct. 9, 2012 Major media distribution Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us Kevin Weeks, 503-945-7427, kweeks at odf.state.or.us A group of county commissioners representing Oregon counties that in the past deeded forestland to the state for management will meet on Friday, Oct. 19, in Salem. Highlight items on the agenda include: * State Forest implementation plans - phasing in of timber harvest levels on the Astoria and Forest Grove districts ? WALT (Woods Accounting and Log Tracking) project update * Legal update - marbled murrelet lawsuit, NEDC vs. Decker The meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters in the Santiam Room - Building D, 2600 State St., in Salem. FTLAC meetings are open to the public, and an opportunity for public comment will be provided around 10 a.m. The FTLAC is a legally mandated committee of county commissioners representing counties that deeded lands to the state. The committee advises the Board of Forestry on matters where counties may have a responsibility related to forestland managed by ODF. Planning and policy decisions made by the board and department can affect revenues received by the counties with forest trust lands managed by ODF, which are located in the Tillamook State Forest and elsewhere. Counties depend on revenue generated from management activities on these lands. The revenue is used primarily for local schools and also helps fund county government and local taxing districts. FTLAC is made up of seven members that represent the 15 counties that have state forest land within their county boundaries. The 15 trust counties include: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Douglas, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk, Tillamook and Washington. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Oct 10 11:41:57 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:41:57 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] State Forests Advisory Committee meets October 25 in Forest Grove Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44AD4A17@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY - News Release State Forests Advisory Committee meets October 25 in Forest Grove For immediate release: October 10, 2012 Contact: Kevin Weeks 503-945-7427 An advisory group to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will review a range of topics on management of state-owned forests in Northwest Oregon during an October 25 meeting in Forest Grove. The State Forests Advisory Committee (SFAC) will meet at the Forest Grove Community Auditorium, 1915 Main Street from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The proposed agenda for the Committee includes presentations and updates from ODF staff about the development of high-value conservation areas within the forest land management classification system for state forestlands, the long-term financial stability of ODF's State Forests Division, post-timber sale trail restoration status, reporting accomplishments and performance for state forests, and updates on Board of Forestry work plans. Members of the public are invited to attend and participate in the meeting. A public comment period is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. 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 ODF at 503-945-7427. ODF's State Forests Advisory Committee consists of representatives from the general public and from timber, environmental and recreational groups. The committee provides a forum to discuss issues, opportunities and concerns, and to offer advice and guidance to ODF on the implementation of the Northwest Oregon State Forests Management Plan. The plan provides guidance for managing 616,000 acres within the Tillamook, Clatsop and Santiam state forests, and several scattered state-owned forest tracts in Benton, Polk, Lincoln and Lane counties. It calls for active management of the forestlands for a balanced mix of economic, environmental and social benefits. ODF manages about 821,000 acres of forestland, in six large state forests and numerous small forest tracts in 15 counties. On most of the lands, two-thirds of the revenue generated from timber sales goes to the counties that deeded these lands to the state, being divided between the county's local taxing districts, the county school fund and the county government general fund. ODF retains the remaining third to manage the forestlands and protect them from fire. The remaining acreage, primarily in the Elliott State Forest near Reedsport, was granted to Oregon at statehood, and by constitutional mandate is managed to maximize revenue to the state's Common School Fund, consistent with sound stewardship. ODF manages these lands under contract with the State Land Board. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu Oct 11 14:01:18 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:01:18 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] As wildfire season winds down, let the burning begin Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44AD4CB9@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. As wildfire season winds down, let the burning begin October 11, 2012 Major media distribution Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us Wildfire season is winding down, so let the burning begin. During the fall, many Oregon forest owners use fire to remove logging slash from their lands. This creates space for tree planting and controls competing vegetation. By preventing the build-up of this woody debris, prescribed burning also reduces the threat of damaging wildfires. Oregon's Smoke Management Plan enables landowners to use this important forest management tool while minimizing the intrusion of smoke into populated areas. "We're really concerned about the fuels that are going to be burned," said Nick Yonker, Oregon Department of Forestry's meteorology manager, "as well as expected wind and weather conditions, and proximity to populated areas we're trying to protect." During the prescribed burning season, staff meteorologists monitor weather and wind conditions hourly to gauge the optimum timing for burns to occur. When a burning request comes in, they search for a window in time when the smoke is likely to rise up and away from nearby communities. Before okaying a burn, they also consider cumulative impacts. If several area landowners want to burn, ODF may stagger the permits to limit the quantity of smoke. In western Oregon where native Douglas-fir is the most commercially desirable tree species, prescribed burning boosts replanting success. Shade-intolerant Douglas-fir seedlings need lots of sunlight so that they can thrive and eventually overtop surrounding vegetation. In 2011, prescribed forest burns were conducted on 161,154 acres. The 10-year average is 154,163 acres burned annually. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Oct 16 08:54:11 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:54:11 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Forestry Board focuses on planning, operational processes at Oct. 24 workshop Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44AD51E4@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. Forestry Board focuses on planning, operational processes at Oct. 24 workshop October 16, 2012 Contact: Kevin Weeks, 503-945-7427, kweeks at odf.state.or.us Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us The Oregon Board of Forestry will discuss ways to simplify and refine its planning and operating processes during an annual workshop on Oct. 24. The session will focus on the board's transition to a new, streamlined set of work plans. The new plans focus on the Oregon Department of Forestry's key businesses: wildfire protection; managing state-owned forests; protecting resources and promoting sound stewardship on private forestlands; and administration. A separate work plan is being crafted to address emerging and overarching issues. Several plans that are outdated or completed are being closed out. At the workshop, the board and department staff will also discuss operational matters such as agenda development, the format of meeting minutes, and the 2013 meeting calendar. The workshop, which is open to the public, will be in the Orchid Room at the Oregon Garden Resort, 895 W. Main St., in Silverton. It is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. An executive session, closed to the public, to discuss litigation is scheduled for 1-2:30 p.m. Oregon law provides for closed sessions for this purpose and other limited topics. [ORS 992.660(h)] No decisions will be made during the workshop or executive session, and the workshop format does not include a public comment period. The Board of Forestry consists of seven citizens nominated by the governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. Board functions include appointing the state forester, providing broad oversight of the Department of Forestry, adopting rules governing timber harvest and other practices on state and private forestland, and promoting sustainable management of Oregon's 30 million-acre forestland base. For more information about the board, visit www.oregonforestry.gov. Agenda materials for the Oct. 24 meeting are available through the 2012 "Meeting Schedules" link. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Oct 17 08:58:42 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 08:58:42 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Smoke mgmt committee meets Oct. 24, Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44AD549B@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. Smoke management committee meets Oct. 24, Salem Oct. 17, 2012 Major media distribution Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us The Smoke Management Review committee will discuss and vote on several topics concerning prescribed forest burning when it meets on Wednesday, Oct. 24, in Salem. Items slated for discussion include: Special Protection Zones, the audit program, and compliance and enforcement. Items slated for voting on include: Large burn smoke monitoring, burn plan timelines, and complaint procedures. Subcommittee reports will be given on: * Covering burn piles with polyethylene * Tracking of burning alternatives * Smoke data system improvements The committee includes representatives of the public, federal agencies, the forest industry, air quality regulators and small woodland owners. The members are knowledgeable about smoke management issues and Oregon's Smoke Management plan. The Oregon departments of Environmental Quality and Forestry provide staff support to the committee. Two periods have been scheduled to receive public comments - 10:30 a.m. and 1:50 p.m. After timber harvest, forest landowners may reduce the risk of wildfire through controlled or "prescribed" burning of unmarketable tree residue commonly known as slash. This removes potential fuel for a wildfire. It also prepares the logged site for replanting by releasing nutrients and removing vegetation that would otherwise compete with the young trees. Department of Forestry meteorologists monitor weather conditions throughout spring and fall as they coordinate hundreds of burning requests from private and public forest landowners. This oversight helps minimize smoke intrusions into communities. Management of forest fuels through prescribed burning greatly reduces the risk of large wildfires that can pump thousands of tons of carbon into the atmosphere. More information on the Smoke Management plan can be found on the web, www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/fire.shtml#Smoke_Management_Information The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the Santiam Room of Building D at Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, 2600 State St., in Salem. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services or assistance may 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: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Oct 19 13:33:32 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:33:32 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Central Ore District to end fire season Oct. 20 Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44657EBA@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. Central Ore District to end fire season Oct. 20 October 19, 2012 Contact: George Ponte, 541-447-5658 ext 231, gponte at odf.state.or.us The Central Oregon District of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) announced that wildfire season will end on Saturday, Oct.20. The district previously ended Regulated-Use restrictions on Oct. 16. This means that all industrial and non-industrial fire prevention restrictions will be lifted as of the 20th. ?Despite the long and very dry conditions we experienced this summer and fall, the number of human caused fires was well below average,? said District Forester George Ponte. ?We want to thank the public for their help in preventing these fires.? Open burning is now permitted in some areas. Residential burning is regulated by local rural and municipal fire departments. Homeowners should contact them prior to burning to learn about local restrictions. The burning of logging slash and other forest materials is regulated by ODF, and a burn permit is required year-round. Contact the local ODF office for more information. Ponte emphasized that people still need to be extremely careful with any open burning and that burning should not be done in windy conditions. Also, he cautioned that no fire should be left unattended. The Central Oregon District provides wildland fire protection on 2.2 million acres of private and non-federal public lands in Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, Hood River, Wasco, Wheeler, Grant, Harney, Gilliam and Morrow Counties. ### From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Oct 24 06:28:02 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 06:28:02 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Eastern Oregon Regional Forest Practices Committee meets November 6 in John Day Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44B1E5F6@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Department of Forestry issued this news release today... Eastern Oregon Regional Forest Practices Committee meets November 6 in John Day October 24, 2012 Contact: Kevin Weeks, ODF Public Affairs, (503) 945-7427 The Eastern Oregon Regional Forest Practices Committee has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, November 6 at the Oregon Department of Forestry's John Day Unit office, 415 Patterson Bridge Road in John Day. The meeting is tentatively scheduled to run from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a public comment period scheduled at the start of the meeting. The proposed agenda for the meeting focuses on the presentation of projects nominated for consideration as 2012 Forest Practices Operator of the Year for eastern Oregon. Regional Forest Practices Committees are panels of citizens - mandated under Oregon law - that advise the Oregon Board of Forestry on current forestry issues and forest management approaches. Three Regional Forest Practices Committees, serving the Northwest, Southwest and Eastern regions of the state, were created within the Oregon Forest Practices Act in 1971. Under Oregon law, the committees are comprised of citizens qualified by education or experience in natural resource management. A majority of Regional Forest Practices Committees members are private forest landowners, their representatives or persons regularly engaged in forest operations. Members of the public may attend 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 ODF's Regional Forest Practices Committees is available on the Oregon Department of Forestry's web site: www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/RFPC/rfpc.shtml ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Oct 24 08:44:13 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 08:44:13 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Forestry Board to consider fire protection, tour eastside forestlands Nov 7-8 Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44657EBE@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. Forestry Board to consider fire protection, tour eastside forestlands Nov. 7-8 October 24, 2012 Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us Wildfire protection ? including proposed system reforms, evolving national policies, and a recap of the 2012 fire season ? will be the focus of the state Board of Forestry?s Nov. 7 meeting in John Day. The board will also continue its work to refine stream-protection rules under Oregon?s Forest Practices Act, and to adjust its land classification system for state-owned forests to more clearly indicate which lands are currently managed with an emphasis on conservation values. The board also plans a community social the evening of Nov. 7, and a field tour Nov. 8 for a first-hand look at challenges and opportunities in public and privately owned eastside forests. All events are open to the public. The board meeting is scheduled for 9 a. [The entire original message is not included]