The Quarterly Bark
VOLUME 17, ISSUE 3 July 2011
By Michael Atkinson By Joe Holmberg, Chair At a recent Lane County tree farm Oregon Tree Farm Committee tour where our host was taking out Linn County Tree Farmer of the Year Most of us are familiar a few loads of logs in a thinning, Tour: Saturday, July 16; 9am-2pm on the with the requirement to several discussion items came up Wolthuis property in the Sweet Home file a Notification of for consideration for a SWO logger area. Henry and Mollie Wolthuis of Sweet Operation with the who has time to maximize log Home are Linn County’s 2011 Tree Farmers Oregon Department of value. The useful items are as of the Year. See Linn County Chapter Forestry. We dutifully follows: follow the law and file (page 11) for more details. Their Tree 1. When looking in a scale book, when completing Farm is located near Sweet Home. From “commercial” projects all of the values published are to Hwy 20 in Sweet Home turn right (south) on the nearest 10 bf. For example, a on our lands like 16’ log with a 6” top diameter is Wiley Creek Drive and go approximately 1 harvesting timber, said to be 20 bf for which you 1/4 miles. The address is 43955 Wiley burning logging debris, would be paid. In reality, it may Creek Drive, and Henry has a new Pebble constructing roads, and only have 18 bf, but this rounds up Springs Tree Farm sign at the front of the applying fertilizers and pesticides. If you are to 20 bf. Meanwhile, a 20’ log with property. Parking will be between the house like me, you checked a 6” top diameter also is said to be and the barn. The tour will begin at the 20 bf, but may have 25 bf, which box 2A on Form 629 picnic grounds. If there are individuals with rounds down to 20 bf. If one that you will be bucked 4’ of firewood off the 20’ difficulty walking, transport will be provided conducting an operation log, one would get paid the same to get them up and down the hill, using the thinking that it covers unless of course the diameter tractor/trailer or a golf cart. Please RSVP the everything. But a casual increased to 7” where one would OSU Benton County Extension office at 541- conversation with Rick Fletcher of OSU and then get paid for 30 bf! 766-6750 no later than July 8th if you are Jim Cathcart of ODF 2. It is helpful to understand what planning on attending. For more information is in your fallen tree before bucking revealed that I also contact Joe Holmberg at 541-259-3963 or it into logs. Delimb first then should consider measure logs as this may allow Henry Wolthuis at 541-367-4764. checking box 2B – you to see parts of the tree that the Application for permit to Logs to Lumber Field Tour: Saturday, log scaler will “throw away” with (Continued on page 3) (Continued on page 2) July 23, 9am-4pm in the Brownsville- Coburg Area. OSU Extension Forester, A Joint Publication of the Steve Bowers, aka, Tree Man and the Benton, Lane, Lincoln & Linn County Flynn’s, who own Custom Cut Lumber in Chapters Coburg are inviting local woodland owners t of the to join them as they demonstrate all the Oregon Small Woodlands (Continued on page 3) Association
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(Continued from page 1) porcupine will not work in the seller’s favor when the log is graded. his pencil for which you will not 4. In small timber, where there may be #3 and #4 saw logs, there may be paid. Examples of this are also be a price differential by grade. A #3 saw log must have a pistol butts, sucker knots, forks, minimum top diameter of 6” and contain a minimum of 50 bf. old snow breaks, etc. Meanwhile, 5. Take care in bucking to not split or slab the logs. Have all ends cut keep in mind that if selling on log flush and flush cut the butt end if the mill wants it that way. Also, don’t scale (not by the ton), long logs forget to leave the required trim allowance on each log. Insufficient trim are more valuable/bf than short will cost you a 2’ length deduction! logs. Bucking a long log into two 6. Enjoy your timber cutting! Falling is a challenge to get the trees on short logs to eliminate a 2’ or 4’ the ground and in one piece. Bucking is a different challenge to deduction may not be a good maximize value of the trees and extract all the volume and value idea. Check your purchase order possible. for what constitutes a long log. 3. Many years ago a friendly log Below is a table extrapolated from a Scribner Log Scale book that scaler advised me to “make your could be useful as a laminated card to carry, also keeping in mind the logs as pretty as you can.” By this preferred log lengths specified in your Log Purchase Order. You may he meant to cut all limbs flush not increase your paid volume greatly, but for every 10 bf, that could with the log. The “bad be $2 to $6 in your pocket. For every piece left in the firewood pile, impression” that a scaler gets there is more capacity on the log truck for payload. looking at a log that looks like a SCALE BREAKS 16’ 5” = 20 BF 16’ 7” = 30 BF 16’ 8” = 30 BF 16’ 9” = 40 BF 24’ 5” = 30 BF 22’ 7” = 40 BF 20’ 8” = 40 BF 20’ 9” = 50 BF 34’ 5” = 40 BF 28’ 7” = 50 BF 26’ 8” = 50 BF 24’ 9” = 60 BF 32’ 7” = 60 BF 30’ 8” = 60 BF 28’ 9” = 70 BF The 16’ 6” = 20 BF 38’ 7” = 70 BF 32’ 8” = 70 BF 32’ 9” = 90 BF Quarterly 22’ 6” = 30 BF 36’ 8” = 80 BF 34’ 9” = 100 BF 30’ 6” = 40 BF 40’ 8” = 90 BF 38’ 9” = 110 BF Bark 32’ 6” = 50 BF 36’ 6” = 60 BF
A quarterly publication of the Benton, Lane, Lincoln and Linn County Chapters of the Oregon Small Woodlands Association
Editorial headquarters located at 30560 Santiam River Road Lebanon, Oregon 97355 541-451-5322 [email protected]
Letters to the Editor accepted but may be edited for content and length. The views and or opinions herein expressed may not necessarily be the opinion of the Benton, Lane, Lincoln or Linn County members or of the editors.
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(Continued from page 1) Directions to Bowers Tree Farm: (Continued from page 1) steps necessary to make trees into Take Exit 209 from Interstate 5 operate power driven machinery. lumber. The tour will start at 9am and go west on Diamond Hill You naturally think that harvesting at Steve Bowers’ tree farm which Road about ¼ mile. Turn left on and road building and is about 6 miles south of Coburg Road North and travel maintenance involve power driven Brownsville. Steve will cut some south approximately 2.5 miles to machinery but have you thought that mowing roadways and in new trees down and teach you how to the intersection with Priceboro plantations and pruning with do safe and effective tree cutting. Road. Turn left and travel back power equipment to improve your The Flynn’s will then load some across I-5. Stay on Priceboro wood quality is using power driven logs onto a truck and we will follow Road for about 2 miles and watch equipment to accomplish stand them to their sawmill/dry kiln near for Tree Tour signs and driveway improvement? Strike a rock with Coburg where they will on the right. the mower or have a spark from the chainsaw start a fire and you demonstrate how to make logs into Lincoln County Tree Farmer of might be at a loss to explain to lumber, and discuss marketing ODF and/or your local rural fire the Year Tour, Saturday, local wood products. Tentative department that you were plans have the tour starting at 9am August 6 at McKinnie Tree operating power driven equipment and ending about 4pm. Bring your Farm near Waldport. Bill and without a permit which could own lunch. Beverages will be Virginia McKinnie welcome you to mean a lot when assigning provided. The tour is being their award winning Lincoln responsibility for covering suppression costs. The permit to sponsored by the Linn County County tree farm on Saturday, August 6, beginning at 10am. See operate power driven machinery is Small Woodlands Association and totally separate from your Lincoln County Chapter (page the OSU Extension Service. To responsibility to notify ODF of register for the tour or for more 7) for more details. You can forestry operations. It has its information, contact the OSU reach their property by traveling history in fire prevention. Benton County Extension Office at west from Alsea on Hwy 34 According to an ODF fire 541-766-6750. The tour is free and toward Waldport. When you cross specialist, the power driven machinery permit (which is free open to anyone interested. over the Alsea River downstream and requires no additional work on
(Continued on page 4) your part other than checking the box) is required any time you are using power driven machinery on your property. It would come into consideration mainly if you had a fire caused by the machinery, and were not negligent in starting or suppressing the fire. In this case the PDM permit would hold your liability for firefighting costs at no more than $300,000. This landowner for one is going to check both box 2A and 2B the next time I file an ODF Notification. Once you check this box, the PDM is good for the whole calendar year and covers all power equipment you use on your property. Think of it as covering your rear.
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(Continued from page 3) to the home of Donna and Ed Kreusser, 500 NE Avalon Place for a from Tidewater, turn left onto barbecue honoring Jeri as Benton County’s 2011 Tree Farmer of the Canal Creek Road and proceed Year. Charge for the dinner is $5 per person, but you must preregister back along the river for about 2 for it so we can plan for enough food. There will also be some miles to the entrance to the carpooling available from the Benton Extension office at 2:30pm. property. A free barbecue will Please RSVP to the Benton County Extension Service, 541-766-6750 follow the property hike. For more no later than August 12. information contact Jim Reeb with Lincoln County Extension Service, 541-574-6534. By Jim Reeb, OSU Extension Forester So, what is going on with log markets? There seems to be a few, actually quite a few, more log trucks on the highway than over the past Benton County Tree Farmer of few years. Where are those trucks headed? the Year Tour at Jeri O’Brien’s Tree Farm. Friday, August 19, According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, the 2010 harvest was 3pm-8pm, dinner included. Join 3.2 billion board feet, a 17 percent increase from 2009’s historic low of 2.7 billion board feet. A spike in lumber prices and increased log and lumber Master Woodland Manager Jeri exports to China in 2010 drove up log prices by 21 percent, which fueled O’Brien for a tour of her award the uptick in harvests. From 2009 to 2010, harvest numbers increased for winning North Ranch property on every forest land ownership class except for the Bureau of Land Beldon Creek north of Corvallis. Management. Forest industry, which accounted for 68 percent of Oregon’s See Benton County Chapter total 2010 harvest, also recorded the largest gain in harvest, adding 219 million board feet in 2010. This brought the industry total to 2.2 billion (page 9) for more details.The board feet, an 11 percent increase from the 2009 harvest of just below 2 group will convene at 3pm at the billion board feet. North Ranch property for a hike. Jeri has followed many years of Although forest industry accounted for the largest volume increase in harvest from the 2009 numbers, family forestland owners accounted for outstanding stewardship inherited the largest percentage growth in harvest from 2009 to 2010. Family from her parents, Jerry and forestland owners increased their cut by 145 percent, from 93 million Rosemary Nibler, with many years board feet in 2009 to 228 million board feet in 2010. of outstanding woodland Harvest on Oregon state forests in 2010 were 297 million board feet, a management of her own. What (Continued on page 5) you will see is more than 30 years of sustained projects that have made the North Ranch 93 acre property a stewardship showplace. Jeri will talk about the property history and discuss how her parents were buried on the property. Special speakers will discuss tree identification, roads and bridges, riparian management, brush control, thinning, and recreational opportunities. You will not want to miss it. For those unable to hike, transportation around the property will be provided. Following the property hike, the group will drive
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(Continued from page 4) market. According to Pat prices, high market and more to come 26 percent increase over Mertz Esswein, Associate unemployment, and tight through foreclosures the 2009 harvest. The Editor of Kiplinger's credit. Sales fell sharply combined with weak non- US Forest Service also Personal Finance after the home-buyer tax residential construction. increased their cut to 254 magazine (January credit expired. And Resurgence in million board feet, a 32 2011), the lowest “foreclosure-gate” -- legal construction markets percent increase over mortgage interest rates in squabbling about the hinges on a broader economic recovery, but the 2009 harvest. Both almost 60 years, plus process used to repossess many homes - postponed the nation’s economic State and Forest Service affordable homes in cities the sale of many recovery has hit a soft harvest totals for 2010 where buyers had been foreclosed properties. patch. Unless an are the highest since priced out for years, unforeseen return in 2005. With a harvest of should be turning the This reduction in home domestic housing demand 79 million board feet, the housing market around. values has left 23% of occurs, log and lumber Native American tribes’ Since mid-2006, the mortgage borrowers export levels, including to totals are up 14 million median price of an existing underwater, that is, they China, will drive log prices board feet from 2009 - home nationwide fell by 27 owe more on their and timber harvests in the highest they have percent. The median home mortgage than the market 2011 and beyond. A weak been since 2004. price is $177,000, just a value of their home. U.S. dollar makes our little more than what it Unless they come up with products cheaper for other What about 2011 and would have sold for in the difference, an average countries, cheaper to beyond? The U.S. 2003. But the market also of $75,000, they cannot transport, and therefore housing market is still labors under some heavy sell their home. They can has helped with the strong lagging behind where it burdens: a glut of ask their lender for export market. needs to be for a healthy foreclosures that are permission to sell for less domestic log and lumber dragging down home than they owe (a short Chinese Market sale), or default on their In 2010, 351 million board mortgage. Short sales and feet of Oregon and WEYERHAEUSER foreclosures are the Washington logs were driving force behind exported to China. In the HARDWOODS first quarter of 2011, 145 continued price declines. million board feet of logs Throughout 2010, they were exported, an accounted for about one- increase of 437 % over third of home sales, with the first quarter of 2010. an average price discount Former export log ports of 26 percent. Tacoma, Port Angeles, Astoria and Coos Bay Moody’s Analytics chief reopened due to the economist, Mark Zandi, Chinese market. The estimates the foreclosure Chinese plan to build 10 pipeline holds about four million affordable homes in 2011 and 36 million by million loans that are 2015. Not only do the delinquent by 90 days or Chinese buy Oregon logs more, and he believes that but they also buy Oregon those will eventually be for lumber which in turn helps sale. He estimates that, our local log sales. China given current supply and has become British Pat C - 541-206-4105 demand, it will take two Columbia’s number one years to work through the market for selling lumber. excess inventory of This reduces the amount of lumber exported to the homes. U.S. who has for years The U.S. housing market been the number one market for B.C. lumber. remains depressed – lots But, China has the most of existing houses on the (Continued on page 6)
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(Continued from page 5) also a major log exporter acreage of pine, poplar to India and Korea. Introduction By Jim Reeb, OSU Extension Forester If you are a private forestland owner in Lincoln County, and eucalyptus you are assessed for Oregon Department of Forestry plantations in the world. Canada remains a major As these forests mature, fire protection. You most probably also pay for rural fire there will be less exporter of logs to the district protection. A question that often comes up is: demand for imported U.S. Both Oregon and “Why do I pay twice for fire protection of my property?” logs, lumber and other Washington sawmills Your fire department trains for, and has the equipment forest products. import logs from Canada. for, protecting and fighting structural fires. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) trains for, and has the Other Markets Several countries in equipment for, fighting forest fires. This has been Japan, traditionally the South America, Vietnam, described as your local fire district protecting your largest export market for and Thailand are all home and ODF protecting your back yard. So, just Oregon and Washington becoming major players what does this assessment to ODF buy you? This logs, imported 392 in the international world article by Rod Nichols shows that in case of a large fire, million feet of logs in of logs, lumber, it buys you a significant amount of firefighting 2010, and 87 million feet woodchips and other resources. for the first quarter in unfinished and finished Ready for fire season – whenever it finally 2011. The earthquake wood products. These will compete with us for arrives and tsunami in March of By Rod Nichols, Oregon Department of Forestry this year destroyed about the Chinese, and other, You don’t need to be a weather forecaster to know that 1/3 of Japan’s plywood wood markets. the cool, wet spring has delayed the start of wildfire mills. Sawmills were season. But whenever the fires begin, the Oregon spared but all Due to concerns about Department of Forestry (ODF) will be ready. ODF manufacturers are facing illegal logging, and the enters the season with all of the essential elements in electricity shortages and European Union’s 2012 place: a full complement of fire engines, hand crews, logistical problems. Certification for imported helicopters and air tankers, as well as three specially Northwest plywood wood, more Asian mills trained teams on call to manage large wildfires. plants should see export will purchase sustainably Air attack opportunities as Japan grown Oregon and Among the most visible moving parts of the firefighting rebuilds. China used to Washington hardwoods. force are helicopters. Ranging in size from large, to be a large exporter of As Russia vies for medium, to small, these ships are poised to provide logs and other wood membership in the World close-in support. Equipped with spa-sized water products to Japan but Trade Organization, it will buckets, the “rotary-winged” aircraft (as they are known this has changed due to reduce its export log tariff in firefighter parlance) can steer a flame front away its high domestic that will in turn make its from high-value timber and structures, and in some demand. logs less expensive for instances put out a fire solo without assistance from ground-based firefighters. Nine helicopters will fly the Chinese market. under contract to ODF in 2011. Russia is the largest log and lumber supplier to The world has truly Two heavy air tankers provide added punch to the China but Russian log become one large suppression effort. Each is capable of delivering 3,000 exports have dropped trading market. This gallons of retardant on a fire to slow its advance. These due to a 25% export short synopsis does not converted DC-7 airliners fly low and slow over rugged tariff. This helped create even come close to terrain, dropping their red-dyed liquid on hotspots to the current Washington/ explaining the complexity slow a fire’s spread. This buys time for ground Oregon China log export of this market. But, in the firefighters to arrive on scene and engage the fire market. The second short term, it appears directly. largest log supplier to that we will need to rely Escorting the retardant bombers to their drop sites will China is New Zealand more on an export be a lead plane. This nimble hot rod is tasked with who sells the Chinese market until our domestic guiding the heavy-laden tankers in and out of the housing market both Radiata pine AND swarm of traffic over a fire quickly and safely. Douglas-fir logs and improves. lumber. New Zealand is Rounding out the seven fixed-wing planes under (Continued on page 9) 6 The Quarterly Bark
By Jim Reeb, OSU Extension Virginia agree to have By: Joe Steenkolk Forester their operations reviewed We were saddened to hear of Lee’s death. He was a Bill McKinnie and his by a professional forester long time Oregon Small Woodlands Association mother Virginia McKinnie at least every 5 years, member, two- time Lincoln County Tree Farmer of have been chosen 2011 and to manage their the Year, Army Air corps veteran of WW II, business Tree Farmers of the Year property for all resources owner, logger, cattle rancher, respected in his for Lincoln County by the based on their overall community and a loving family man who lived his Oregon Tree Farm goals and objectives. entire life in the Waldport-Tidewater area. System. To help celebrate their County winners are nomination, Bill and chosen each year by a Virginia invite you to tour Status and Prospects for dealing with Swiss Needle volunteer Selection Team their property on Cast disease in the Oregon Coast Range made up of professionals Saturday, August 6th, involved in forest By – William A (Bill) McKinnie, Yaquina Forestry starting at 10:00AM. Services management including Snacks will be provided The annual tour presented by the Swiss Needle Cast those from the Oregon in the morning and lunch Cooperative (SNCC) was held on April 28th in the State University in the afternoon. forests around Hebo, ground zero for the Swiss Extension Service, the Directions: From Oregon Small Woodlands Waldport, East on Hwy Needle Cast epidemic. Association, the 34 for about 7 miles, turn American Tree Farm right just before the Swiss needle cast disease is a native pathogen System, the Oregon Alsea bridge. From affecting only Douglas-fir. It has long existed with Department of Forestry, Philomath, West on Hwy little noticeable negative effect, but has grown to the Society of American 34 for about 54 miles, epidemic levels along the Oregon and Washington Foresters, the turn left just after the Association of Consulting coasts for reasons not clearly understood. Significant Alsea bridge. Look for yellowing and reduced growth began to be Foresters, and industry signs. foresters. increasing noticed in and around Hebo in Tillamook For more information: County by the early 1980’s. By 1995, plantations Following their selection, Jim Reeb, OSU Lincoln were being referred to as having the Tillamook crud, Bill and Virginia are County Extension, 29 SE or Tillamook decline. Severe infection has continued nominated for 2011 nd 2 St., Newport or 541- to expand, fluctuation somewhat from year to year, Oregon Tree Farmer of 574-6534 or but with an overall upward trend. Aerial photos are the Year recognition. To [email protected] be eligible, Bill and du being taken annually in the spring to assess the affected areas. Last year showed the largest Lincoln County Officers
affected area yet, nearly Joe Steere, President 400,000 acres, and this PO Box 8 year is expected to be Grand Ronde, OR 97347 503-879-5717 even worse. Jan Steenkolk Sec/Treas While concentrated 184 Salado Road along the coast, infected Eddyville, OR 97343
areas have been moving Ex-officio member of Budget Committee Jim(Continued Reeb on page 8) (Continued on page 8)
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Lane Small Woodlands Association Board of Directors
By Connie Atkinson Ron Gilson, Pres., [email protected] 541-687-8089 I am quite determined to get information about the Dick Beers, VP., [email protected] Oregon Tree Farm System (OTFS) out to 541-687-1854 landowners and tree farm inspectors. I would like to Maryrae Thomson, Sec., [email protected] assist them in getting everyone involved in OTFS. Mike Atkinson, Treas., [email protected] Being a landowner, trying to keep the land in the Jim Christian, OSWA Rep., family for future generations, is not an easy task, [email protected] especially if one is not prepared for what happens Dave Rankin, Dir., [email protected] with no preparation for land succession. Without Alan Petersen, Dir preparing for the future generation, the land could Gary Jensen, Dir., [email protected] easily be lost to pay inheritance taxes. Bob Parker, an OTFS District Chair Inspector, shared this link sought to better understand the cause of the with me. It is a link to the Ties to the Land program epidemic, and to find solutions for dealing with it. on the Austin Family Business program web site. It is a good start on the intergenerational transfer Many treatments and approaches have been trialed, information. http://www.tiestotheland.org/index.php? but as yet none have produced any solid answers. option=com_content&view=article&id=43&Itemid=11 Areas have been treated with various nutrients, and 1 major and minor soil elements. Efforts continue to be made to identify resistant strains to the fungus.
The best answer to date is to convert to other (Continued from page 7) east at a pace of about 2 miles a year on average. species. Western hemlock is the most commonly Affected areas are being identified in as far east as used alternative in this zone. Western redcedar is a western Benton County, SW Polk, and into Western popular alternative, but is subject to heavy browse Columbia County. damage when small by deer and elk. Sitka spruce is used in some cases, but most private growers are In the most heavily affected stands, while mortality reluctant to put much focus on this because of the is rare, growth Douglas-fir trees is severely heavy damage caused by the tip weevil that causes impacted. Trees may only retain the most recent most trees to develop multiple tops with much years growth of needles, while in healthy stands it is reduced potential market value. Red alder remains a common to have 4 and 5 years. More commonly, possible alternative, but landowners need to growth is significantly reduced. In young plantations understand that stand yields with be significantly 10 to 30 year old, volume growth is found to be lower. Starker Forests have been experimenting with reduced 23 to 52%. A visual sense in the most some non-native species which may have heavily infected stands would have led me to guess possibilities – yet to be clearly defined. These include a much worse affect on growth. coastal redwood, Alaska yellow cedar and root-rot resistant Port-Orford-cedar. These species all The Swiss Needle Cast Coop was created in 1997 produce high value wood, and appear not to be a at Oregon State University, in a partnership with favorite browse species such as the local cedar. state, federal and large private forest owners contributing its funding. The coop has actively
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Benton County Officers President Wayne Phillips 541-752-7900 . [email protected]
Secretary Verlyne Phillips 541-752-7900 [email protected]
Program Greg Vollmer 541-929- 5198 Join us for a stimulating afternoon tour with Master Woodland Director [email protected]
Manager Jerri O’Brien on her family farm, located near Starker Treasurer Greg Palmer 541-424-3332 and MacDonald-Dunn Forests in Lewisburg. The tour will kick- [email protected] off with a history of her 93 acre tree-farm with past developments and future planning. Also, she will talk about her Member Dir. Mike Albrecht 541-752-4667 [email protected] parents’ grave-site on her property. The tour will continue with a tree ID led by Rick Fletcher as well as discussions focusing Tree Farm Donna Kreusser 541-743-3055 on her riparian area, road maintenance and bridge repair. Contest [email protected]
Then, we’ll move on to analyzing a very difficult clear-cut and Education Dir. Rita Adams 541-752-3324 [email protected] replanting project where brush control has been an ongoing problem. Web Site Coor. Peggy Krause 541-758-3374 [email protected] Finally, there will be a discussion conducted by her son, Jay on the development of recreational trails for hikers and bicyclists, OSWA Liaison Marsha Carr 541- 424-3882 Director [email protected] consistent with the O’Brien’s philosophy for a ‘good-neighbor policy.’ Her daughter Leslie will chime in to discuss future Ex-Officio Rick Fletcher 541-766-6750 plans. Director [email protected]
The tour will begin promptly at 3:00 pm followed by a supper at Member-at-large Karen Fleck Harding the Kreusser property. The cost will be $5.00 per person. [email protected] Please RSVP for the supper as well as for carpooling options Forest Deputy Jeff Wilcox at the OSU Extension office- (541) 766-6750 before August Voice Mail 541-766-6858, Emergency pager 541 11th. -507-0420, Cellular phone 541-740-5313
Directions to tour from Corvallis: Take 99 W north and then a left on Lewisburg Rd. at the Texaco Station. Go past Highland to Sulfur Springs Rd (at the triangle). Turn rt, and go 2.7 (Continued from page 6) miles. Make a sharp rt. onto Soap Creek rd. Go 1/10th mile to contract to ODF for the season are four Belden Creek Rd (where a sign will be). Proceed 0.3 mile to small aircraft assigned to fire detection and 2nd house on the rt. to serve as air attack platforms. Their duties include taking to the air following a Directions to Kreussers: Retrace steps to the Texaco thunderstorm to search for lightning-ignited Station. Continue east on Lewisburg Rd., crossing 99W fires, and circling a large blaze to report its where it becomes Granger and go 0.6 mi. Turn left onto behavior to fire managers on the ground. Pettibone and go 0.7 mi.; turn left on Avalon Dr. and go 0.5 Firefighting crews mi.; turn left on Avalon Pl. and go 0.2 mi. to the end of the cul In a photo of a fire hand crew at work, de sac. The mailbox, “500” is at the end. Continue on down the sometimes only the hairstyles help narrow road past the barn to the house. the time frame. The work of ground firefighters has remained largely unchanged For further info contact Donna Kreusser at (541) 745-3053 or e for decades. With shovels, Pulaskis and -mail [email protected] other tools, they dig and scrape fire lines (Continued on page 11)
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recorded 2011 as the second weather, but the way people wettest and the third coolest helped each other out during and spring on record. You can blame after them. Neighbors supplied it on La Nina, but however you food, shelter, and comfort. I’m explain it, this spring has been sure you have similar stories. cool and damp. The forecasters Also, I got to thinking that the “Everybody talks about the weather, but say that the summer weather is natural world is an unpredictable nobody does anything about it”. Charles likely to be “about typical”. I leave thing. No matter how you apply Warner to the reader to guess what that the statistics, you are never quite By Tim Otis means. Anyway, on my walks ready and it always seems to I took a philosophy class at Oregon back and forth to class, I had time surprise you. State University this spring titled to think about both the weather “Ethics and Climate Change”. The and climate. Our climatologist Bioregionalism, the class discussions covered a wide friend George Taylor once told unpredictability of weather, the range of topics, and made me stop me the definitions of these terms. human desire to help our and reconsider how to live my life. “Climate is what you think will neighbors - all these thoughts, One of the topics was happen, weather is what actually swirling in a mental storm, have “bioregionalism” This is a view of the happens.” started to settle. Here is what I world centered on a naturally-defined have decided: we don’t need to region or area, setting up your life in Looking back over the last 50 wait for a natural disaster to work a way that understands and supports years, there have been some wild together with our neighbors, or the climate, water, soil, plants, weather events that “actually help each other out. Our small animals and people that immediately happened” in Oregon: The group in Linn County is already surround you. It was an intriguing Columbus Day wind storm in connected to the land, we just idea, and I needed time to digest it. 1962; the floods of 1964 and need to continue to learn how to One economic choice I made at the 1996; the Biscuit fire in 2002 that support and be connected to each beginning of the class was to not burned half a million acres. There other. Whatever the weather, purchase a parking permit, so I was have been quite a few weather together, we can handle it. Go for relegated to searching through the events that, honestly, have a walk in the woods this week, neighborhood for a spot to park, and amazed me. It’s interesting that and think about how we can make walking the half-mile or so to campus. what I remember most about that happen. If you are lucky, it Nearly every walk was in the rain, these events not primarily the won’t be raining. with only my thoughts for company. Linn County Officers By the time you read this, however, President Tim Otis 541-466-5426 [email protected] 1st Vice Pres Mike Barsotti 503-859-2993 [email protected] summer will officially be here. Most of 2nd Vice Pres Mary Brendle 541-367-2845 [email protected] us would say it’s about time. The Secretary Jonathan Christie 503-394-3192 [email protected] official word from the Oregon Climate Treasurer Shirley Holmberg 541-259-3963 [email protected] Service is that the spring of 2011 has Past Pres Dave Bateman 503-394-2051 [email protected] Director Roy Stutzman 503-394-3177 been “off by about a month”. April Director Jim Merzenich 503-246-4202 [email protected] was like a typical March, May like a Director Ed Landis 541-929-2234 [email protected] typical April, and June is shaping up Standing Committees like a typical May. The weather Tree Farm/Yr Joe Holmberg 541-259-3963 [email protected] Education Fay Sallee 541-451-5322 [email protected] station at the Portland Airport Scholarships Katie Kohl 541-451-1734 [email protected]
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By Sherm Sallee property that has enough cool The May 19th tree farm tour to Ed water to support a good trout and Jim Merzenich’s property near population. The Merzenich’s obtain By Joe Holmberg Brownsville took place on one of their trout stock from the Bentz’s Henry and Mollie Wolthuis of hatchery near Scio. The kids and Sweet Home are Linn County’s adults really enjoyed watching the 2011 Tree Farmers of the Year. trout being fed. They have placed Wolthuis, translated from the several bluebird houses around the Dutch means “Little House in the Woods”. Consequently, it seems natural that they feel drawn to owning woodlands and managing them like do their own home. Henry and Mollie actively manage their 120 acre Wiley Creek tree farm with harvesting, planting, fertilizing, pruning and thinning occurring since 2005. As with many small woodland owners, economics is not always the main driver when making our rare sunny and warm spring management decisions. When days. The turnout and enthusiasm asked why he has done of the participants was outstanding. something to his forest, Henry Nearly 50 people were in will respond “it just looks good” attendance. We had a walking tour or “it should happen”. of several of the areas that Jim and property and are seeing successful Ed have been working on. They Henry and Mollie are opening results with an increased bluebird are rehabilitating much of the area population. Jim and Ed have their Tree Farm for a public tour into native oak savanna. It has on July 16. The tour will begin at planted several acres of ponderosa been a labor of love getting rid of pine as well as Douglas-fir where 9am and feature an active the blackberries and fighting other mechanical harvester thinning the conditions permit. They have invasive species. They even were put in a lot of time, effort and funds operation and a wagon tour of able to perform a prescribed burn the property. A barbecue lunch to make the property productive to reduce the danger of a wildfire. and a show place in Linn County. will be provided. Come and see how one family has integrated There is a large pond on the recreation into a managed forest. Their Tree Farm is These crews will be dispatched as needed to large fires on private, state located 2 miles up Wiley Creek and federal forestlands throughout the Pacific Northwest. Outside the Drive south of Highway 20 just peak period of wildfire activity in this region, these resources are past Whiskey Butte Drive (43955 occasionally dispatched to other states. Wiley Creek Drive). In a long-standing arrangement with the Oregon Department of Corrections, ODF trains and fields 10-person inmate fire crews to (Continued from page 9) perform initial attack on newly reported fires. Drawn from correctional across rugged terrain to contain facilities across the state, these crews also see action on large, the advancing flames. extended attack fires. Corrections has made available 24 inmate firefighting crews and 10 camp/kitchen crews this season. Under an interagency contract, ODF expects to have available A reunion of sorts takes place each spring at ODF district offices when 150 or more 20-person, private training commences for fire engine crews. Many of these seasonal contract fire crews this season. (Continued on page 12) 11 Benton Co. Small Woodlands Association 1849 NW Ninth Street PRESORTED STANDARD Corvallis Oregon 97330-2144 US POSTAGE PAID CORVALLIS OR PERMIT N0. 26
(Continued from page 11) 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 THE RULES: Each Benton, Lane, Lincoln & than during the post-World War II timber boom, it is still a key Linn Chapter non-business member is allowed partner to ODF in fire protection. The industrial landowners one advertisement per year without charge. maintain a formidable firefighting force that includes trained Ads for this column are limited to 50 words, including complete address and zip code. The woods workers, heavy equipment ranging from bulldozers to fire Quarterly Bark will carry paid advertisements engines, and helicopters. These resources are a critical in the classified column. Paid classified component in Oregon’s fire protection system. advertisements, as well as free ads will be Learning to live with fire handled directly by the Editor. Send your ad Regardless of how the 2011 wildfire season plays out, before the publication deadlines of March 1, Oregonians can take steps now to lessen the impact on their lives June 1, September 1, and December 1 to and property. Creating “defensible space” around one’s home - Sherm Sallee, 30560 Santiam River Road, such as limbing trees, trimming shrubs and cleaning tree litter Lebanon, OR 97355. The Quarterly Bark and from roofs - can greatly improve the chances of a home surviving the Benton, Lane, Lincoln & Linn County a wildfire. Chapters of OSWA assumes no responsibility Listen to Smokey Bear for the contents of the advertisement. We also While lightning often ignites the largest wildfires, human reserve the right to refuse any ad. carelessness accounts for 69 percent of all fire starts on Oregon Rates: for paid advertising: $5.00 for the first 25 words and $0.15 for every Department of Forestry-protected lands. Backyard debris burning, additional word, not to exceed a total of 50 equipment use and campfires left unattended appear near the top words. A word is everything that is preceded of the list of wildfire causes every year. Increased wildfire and followed by a space. prevention awareness can bring down the incidence of these “people fires” and free up resources to battle Nature-spawned fires.
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