2017 Forest Management Committee Annual Report

MEMORANDUM

Presented at the August 2, 2017 City Council meeting

Date: July 17, 2017

To: Arcata City Council

From: Forest Management Committee (FMC)

Re: Forest Management Committee Annual Report to the Arcata City Council for 2016 Activities

Forest Management Committee

Chair: Michael Furniss Community-based forestry is a participatory approach to forest management that Jack Naylor strengthens communities’ capacity to build vibrant local economies—while protecting Russ Forsburg and enhancing their local forest ecosystems. Yana Valachovic By integrating ecological, social, and economic strategies into cohesive Danny Hagans approaches to forestry issues, community- based approaches give local residents both Dennis Halligan, Vice Chair the opportunity and the responsibility to manage their natural resources effectively and to enjoy the benefits of that Staff Liaison: Mark Andre responsibility. -Aspen Institute

Introduction

The following information is a summary of the various projects and activities that involved the Forest Management Committee (FMC) during 2016. The Committee meets monthly on the second Thursday each month at 7:00 am and also conducts public field trips and evening meetings on occasion.

General

• A timber harvest was completed; 410 thousand-board-feet (MBF) gross scale total was harvested from the Arcata Community Forest (ACF). The harvest was predominantly redwood (90%); and whitewoods (Grad fir/Sitka spruce (10%). Staff planted 5,000 conifer seedlings were planted in the harvested area. • Delivered 11,500 metric tonnes (mT) of forest carbon to various buyers ranging from 1 mT to 5,500 mT transactions. Of that amount, 5,500 mT were newly verified 2015 vintage carbon. • $ 15,200 in local cash contributions were received to apply towards the forest trail and forest expansion efforts. 1 • Purchased 2-acres from Cynthia Forsyth and added it the ACF on the western boundary. The remaining 49 acres of Forsyth are pending finding additional grant funding. An additional funding request was recently submitted. To date the City has $400,000 in grant funds awarded to this project. • Developed additional trail connectivity to the Sunny Brae unit from Panorama Ct. • The Committee continued worked on the Forest Management Plan (FMP) update. This task is ongoing. The recreational Chapter will be the first chapter completed as to date most of the public interest in the FMP pertains to recreational use. • 2- acres of young conifer stands were pre-commercially thinned to improve growth in the JCF. • Continued to work with HSU on a potential 967-acre City/College Forest partnership acquisition in the headwater region of the Jacoby Creek watershed. The City was successful in receiving an additional grant from the resources Agency in the amount of $226,000 to apply towards this project. Staff recently submitted a Proposition 1 grant application that hopefully will complete the funding gap on this $4,540,000 conservation acquisition. • Received a $17,000 Recreational Trails Program grant for a ¼ mile section of the Ridge Trail that should be done this summer. This section connects to the north side of Fickle Hill Road. • The FMC and the Energy Committee held a study session to discuss biomass Energy. It was an opportunity to discuss how the local biomass energy plants utilize wood waste that would otherwise be a waste management issue for the mills. The consensus of the FMC is that the use of local biomass for the Redwood Coast Energy Authority is a positive step. It displaces fossil fuels while providing an import use for excess material that would otherwise be costly for the local lumber mills to absorb. • Two incidences of timber trespass were discovered whereby tree service contractors working for residential parcels cut or topped City trees over the boundary line. $7,000 in compensation was paid by the parties and boundary signage was bolstered. • Provided input on the biomass issue related to the Community Choice energy portfolio. Staff assisted with the Redwood Community Energy Authority RFP proposal ranking. • Sadly, long-term committee member Lowell Diller passed and the committee was pleased that the City Council issued a Resolution in appreciation of Lowell’s service to the City and the forest program. Research and Monitoring • Staff continued to monitor pacific fisher (located now in all forest tracts) northern spotted owls, barred owls and other raptors. Northern spotted owl surveys in particular require a great deal of staff time. This species has persisting in the JCF despite the presence of barred owls.

Roads/Trails/Watershed/Vegetation

2 • Continued development on the Ridge Trail, a recreational trail connecting City- owned properties throughout Arcata (Council Priority). The West End Road trailhead parking areas has been expanded. • Over 17 miles of roads and trails continue to be maintained at a high standard and 800 linear feet of road received rock surface application. The City also rocked and graded ½ mile of the Jacoby Creek canyon road from the rock quarry to the County road. • Several community workdays involving hundreds of volunteer hours helped the City remove invasive plants, build trails and assist with litter cleanup. • Approximately 150 Douglas fir seedlings were planted at the Jacoby Creek rock quarry. The final approval of the reclamation of this quarry is pending. • Several local middle school students once again utilized the ACF for science fair projects related to forest ecology. Education/Interpretation/Recreation

• Staff led one forest practice tours to local college classes and two lectures at Humboldt State University. The annual wildflower/forest ecology walk in the JCF once again had 20 plus attendees. • Staff continued assisting the County of Humboldt with efforts to plan and design the trail system for the County-owned McKay Community Forest. • The committee led a post-harvest field tour in the ACF. • The Committee recommend the City accommodate “slacklining” in selected areas of Redwood Park and the ACF. Slacklining generally is the use of a rope (typically nylon webbing that is flat) that is stretched between two anchor points for a person to balance on and/or perform acrobatic movements. A local group called the Humboldt Slackers provided input to the FMC and Parks & Recreation Committee and staff is expected to release guidelines for this sport that are consistent with resource protection and does not conflict with other recreational activities.

2017/2018 PLANNED ACTIVITIES

The Committee will:

• Lead a Forest Management Committee public walk in the ACF to discuss silviculture and desired future conditions of forest stands in relation to the FMP update. • Conduct a field trip to visit the donated 40-acre Klein/Laforge addition to the JCF • Assist with the development of a “Safe Harbor Agreement” with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. • Provide input on the FMP update and the development of a focused five-year management strategy, budget and revenue plan that provides for adding to the reserve fund. • Continue to be involved in the Non-Industrial Timber Management Plan (NTMP) amendments. 3 • Evaluate and provide advice on potential land acquisitions. Strategic acquisitions improve the City’s ability to effectively manage landscapes and timberland continues to be a good long-term investment. • Strengthen cooperative partnership with Humboldt State University, Redwood Sciences Lab and College of the Redwoods to involve students, faculty and scientists in additional forest research projects,

Current Concepts Shaping Arcata’s Management Ecosystem Management and Restoration Historical Range of Variation - pre-settlement conditions (Redwood NP) provides reference target

Ecological Restoration - structure, function, composition and connectivity

Disturbance Management - fuel reduction, invasive control

Harvest operations 2016 ACF

Timber tress pass on California Street

Timber Trespass off Fickle Hill Road-Sunnybrae tract

HSU students helping out.

Volunteer workday ACF. 6

New ridge Trail Bridge Installed north of Fickle Hill Road.

Key features of Arcata’s program

•The community benefits from resources conserved •Community members support a conservation ethic and take pride in managing land for future generations •Diverse viewpoints are respected and incorporated into the forest plan. A combination of working forests, special management areas, and ecological reserves create a balanced approach.

7 CDFW Proposition 1 Watershed Restoration Grant Program Jacoby Creek Watershed Humboldt State Arcata University Community Forest Conservation strategy

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