A Publication of the U.S. Forest Service 2001 Your Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests... More than scenery, wilderness hikes, fishing, skiing, scenic drives, campground getaways, mountain biking and river rafting... There’s the work that helps protect the land and serve people—wildfire and pest management, trail maintenance and campground construction, wildlife and fish management... look inside to find out more. FOREST NEWS & INFORMATION elcome to the fourth edition of the areas at mid and lower elevations. In these places, A Note from the Cascade Lookout! I hope you enjoy this nearly 100 years of fire suppression have allowed year’s effort to bring you entertaining dense thickets of fir and pine to grow where wide- Wand informational articles about the Okanogan and spread pine, larch, and fir were once the rule. In Forest Supervisor Wenatchee National Forests. recent years, uncontrollable wildfires have burned in Enhancing forest health and protecting the such areas. District personnel are turning to large national forests and adjacent private lands from the scale thinning projects that leave widely spaced threat of wildfire continue to be a primary focus of larger trees, followed by prescribed fire to reduce our management efforts. This year, we’re getting a fuel buildups. Forest areas near rural communities boost in fire fighting resources as a result of funding have highest priority in these efforts to prevent provided through the National Fire Plan. The Fire destructive wildfires. Plan was developed in response to the devastating Another important forest management emphasis fire season of 2000 that caused significant losses in is providing both quality and diversity in public forest and privately owned resources across the west. recreation activities on these two National Forests. This year, the Okanogan and Wenatchee Forests The Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests have been able to hire an additional 100 fire fighters encompass nearly four million acres of public lands to improve our response to threats from catastrophic in a four-county area of Central Washington, and wildfire due to the extra funding. Nationally, the the opportunities for recreation and other forest Forest Service will fill an additional 3,500 fire uses are unique in the National Forest System. We fighting positions. We appreciate the public’s help in hope the following pages capture some of that careful use of campfires and fire safe practices to diversity of opportunity for your enjoyment. Sonny O’Neal protect these precious resources. At the same time, employees at each of the seven ranger districts on the two forests continue to focus vegetation management efforts on the dry forest n early January the Okanogan and Wenatchee Road Analysis National Forests started the first phase of a Iprocess to analyze the condition and mainte- Underway nance needs of National Forest roads. In this first phase, the forest analyzed the major arterials and by Marge Hutchinson collector roads that are maintained for passenger car South Zone Engineer use. In the future, a second phase will analyze all roads, one drainage at a time. Forest personnel have embarked on Roads Analysis as a first step in the implementation of the Forest Service’s new National Policy. Forest level roads analysis must be completed within 2 years. Allocations for road maintenance have steadily declined nationally, in large part due to declines in timber harvest. The allocation now covers less than 20% of annual maintenance needs. With this in mind, forest managers have developed a process to look at the road system and determine a strategy to design a future road system that can be maintained with expected budgets. The first phase of the process was completed this May. In this phase a forest level team looked at the major arterial and collector roads in each district or sub-basin. Employees on each district will accom- plish the second phase over the next five years. In It is very important to note that this process will the second phase, a district team will analyze ALL NOT recommend seasonal or permanent closures, roads within each drainage, and develop a strategy road relocations or decommissioning. Those kinds for management of the roads within that watershed. of decisions can only be made through the tradi- The second phase will provide background informa- tional process where alternatives are developed, tion for later decision-making processes. public comments are sought, and there is an appeal period. The decision process will occur on a district- by-district, and project-by-project basis after the roads analysis is completed. Public input will be sought during each phase of the Road Analysis and decision-making processes. Interested forest users may contact any Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest office to be placed on the mailing list for the road analysis process. 2 ■ C ASCADE LOOKOUT he year 2000 was a memorable one for The purpose of natural fuels reduction projects is wildland firefighters across the nation. Over to return fire behavior to a more manageable level. An Ounce of T7 million acres burned, approximately three Reducing ground fuel lowers fire intensity, allowing times the ten-year average. Hundreds of homes firefighters to more directly attack a fire, and Prevention… were destroyed and lives were lost. increases the success of aerial resources such as air For the past several years, the Okanogan and tankers and helicopters. Thinning small trees and by Jim Bailey Wenatchee National Forests have been working to pruning larger trees will reduce the “ladder” fuels a Fire/Fuels Planner reduce natural fuels and protect local communities fire would use to climb into the canopy of larger Naches Ranger District from catastrophic wildfire. Land managers have trees, and allow heat produced by a fire to vent out used tools such as tree thinning and pruning and of the canopy. prescribed burning to create areas of healthier, more It is important to fire resistant forests. Now, attention to the devastat- remember that these ing 2000 fire season has resulted in an increase of projects will not funding to implement more projects on a larger scale. decrease the number This funding will allow the forests to continue of fires. Firefighters focusing on fuels treatment in our dry, east Cascade have no control over forests. These ‘dry forests’ are located at low and lightning, and mid-elevations and south facing slopes and are despite their best dominated by ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, sage, prevention efforts, and bitterbrush. Historically, these areas once saw humans will con- fire every seven to fifteen years. Now, as a result of tinue to cause wildfire suppression, areas that have gone for wildfires. These decades without burning have an unnatural build-up projects are designed of fuels. And these happen to be found where more to give firefighters a and more of us are choosing to locate our homes. greater and safer Frequent wildfires once moved quickly through chance of success at the forest, clearing the forest of debris. Less fre- controlling the fires quent fires have allowed fuels to build up, which has that do start, and at resulted in fire that can destroy mature timber and a lower suppression browse plants that would have easily withstood a cost. light fire. In addition, these fires can be almost impossible to control. ey, join in and have fun at the Wenatchee Here’s just a sample of the fun… River Salmon Festival’s 11th birthday! The Wenatchee HVisitors get a hug from the biggest live Visitors can savor the flavor of fresh smoked salmon in the world from mascots Frank and salmon, and enjoy exploring the Native River Salmon Francis Fish. They bring smiles to young and old American encampment, complete with alike with their welcome to the festival. It’s going to teepees! be “Fun in 2001” during the action packed days of Festival nd rd September 22 and 23 , 2001. Colorful Chalk Art drawings are created on the spot by local artists. Back by popular demand, Reptile Man, Scott Petersen, will fascinate his audience with a hands-on introduction to his scaly friends. The nationally recognized mariachi band, Mariachi Huenachi will perform on stage. Visitors will enjoy the edu-tainment, delicious foods, arts & crafts, and still find time to explore the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery’s spacious grounds. Each year more than 10,000 visitors join in this fun-filled event, which is actually four jam-packed days, with the first two days focusing on education This is the place where visitors are entertained of thousands of school children. The weekend while they learn about the natural resources around program includes entertainment, food, arts and us. This year there’s an international flavor to the crafts, and is open to everyone. We look forward to festival as forty 5th-grade students from Russia, seeing you there! Japan and Canada participate in the festival. In Salmon Festival is hosted by the U.S.D.A. Forest addition, there will be a special emphasis on recre- Service and hatchery personnel from the U.S. Fish ation and visitors will learn first hand about the and Wildlife Service. They are supported by dozens of mystery of salmon returning to northwest rivers. cooperating agencies, organizations, and volunteers. It’s fun to stroll the festival grounds while Join us beside the sparkling Icicle River just enjoying the sunshine and the impressive moun- outside the beautiful Bavarian village of tain backdrop. The festival still retains its “down Leavenworth, Washington. For more information, home” feeling, even though it has received national call Festival Headquarters at (509) 548-6662 or go recognition. fish our website at www.salmonfest.org C ASCADE LOOKOUT ■ 3 FOREST NEWS & INFORMATION espect the River is a multi-faceted pro- Campsite Visits Can a River Get a gram begun in 1994 on the Methow From Memorial Day through hunting season, R Valley Ranger District to improve habitat campsite stewards visit camping areas in both for endangered salmon while reducing the impact of ranger districts.