SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS Western Forester April/May/June 2018 Oregon • Washington State • Inland Empire • Alaska Societies Volume 63 • Number 2 Fire and Fuels Management in the Future: Roles and Challenges

BY JOHN D. BAILEY

Note: The summary from the 2018 Fire Summit Report is abridged and edited by John D. Bailey.

We live with and in unprecedented fuel conditions throughout much of the West; I equate our situation to that of a filled reservoir where the pond is an accu- mulation of biomass poised to be drained. Our land management prac- PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN D. BAILEY tices, for better or for worse, have cre- The 2003 B&B Complex fire one decade later, taken near the crest of the ated this reservoir—a fuel base that is Cascades (and Three Fingered Jack). more contiguous and more homoge- cessful for many decades. Recently, of proactive management to mitigate nous than at any point in history. however, wildfires have changed. We those conditions. Scientists and land Furthermore, greater numbers of have set records for severity in three of managers alike tell us that we need to humans are more closely connected to the past four years, and in eight of the adopt both short- and long-term prac- forests in communities that have an past ten; we have “mega-fires”—com- tices that strategically integrate that extended area of wildland-urban inter- plex fires that burn at least 100,000 management (across all ownership face, and more people seem to have acres. Our society now invests more boundaries) with the reality of fire and deeply held values about the forests time, energy, and resources fighting fires wildfires clearly in mind. Residents of they only rarely visit. Meanwhile, the than we do taking proactive steps to western states cannot expect a future climate is warming and the forests are reduce wildfire severity and foster the free of wildfires any more than resi- becoming drier, making fire seasons resiliency of our forested landscapes. We dents of Florida can count on a future longer and stretching management find ourselves continuously responding free of hurricanes—the difference is resources further. We now live with a to the next emergency rather than act- that we can take proactive steps to fire behavior triangle on steroids: ing on a broader, more strategic view of reduce the severity of wildfires and rugged topography, unprecedented how to coexist with fire and smoke, and minimize their adverse social impacts fuels, and more extreme fire weather. to manage our forested landscapes to over time. But we must be prepared to Suppressing fire has been at the reduce severity when wildfires do occur execute that new strategy with all its heart of our forest management strategy (including the use of fire). component parts. and our profession for a century or This context cries out for solutions more. I “fought” fire for years as an and policies that are adaptable to that 2018 Fire Summit undergraduate student, though some of long-term perspective. It took a centu- Oregon State University sponsored a those years included prescribed burning ry to create the fuel-laden conditions Fire Summit held in Portland, Ore., on as well. And fire suppression was suc- in our forests, and it will take decades (CONTINUED ON PAGE 2)

In This Issue: Fuels Management The report can also now serve as a plat- We were organized into three work- Fire and Fuels form for subsequent dialogue. ing panels corresponding to thematic Management Approximately 30 scientists, land areas aligned with the National (CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE) managers, and forest policy experts Cohesive Wildland Fire Management March 1-2, 2018, at the World Forestry participated in preparatory meetings in Strategy: 1) managing for landscape Center to identify viable forest manage- the weeks leading up to the Summit’s resiliency; 2) promoting fire-adapted ment practices that would help in miti- Day One session. These experts repre- communities; and 3) developing effec- gating the risks and impacts of high- sented relevant areas of expertise, geo- tive wildfire responses. I worked direct- severity fire events. The full report graphical locations, and both public ly with the first panel on resiliency. from the Summit is available at and private ownership interests. They Panels were asked to discuss and then www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/. It was came from five states and British ultimately prepare policy recommen- intended to provide elected officials Columbia, and represented six univer- dations building upon the foundation and policy administrators with recom- sities; seven federal land management of work documented in the Western mended actions that, if taken, would agency offices, departments, or Governors’ Association (WGA) Phase III meaningfully contribute to addressing research units; four private forestland Western Regional Science-Based Risk the increasing challenges facing our management entities; and two city Analysis Report (2012) and the Western fire-prone western forest landscapes. governments. Governors’ National Forest and Rangeland Management Initiative (2017). 503-684-8168 The panels met in person during Day 1-800-783-6818 One the Summit for nine hours of alter- 11825 SW Greenburg Road, Suite 200 nating concurrent and plenary sessions Tigard, OR 97223 designed to frame and finalize recom- www.nwforestryservices.com mendations for the next day. Then, on Day Two, approximately 150 people were convened to hear experts summa- ❑ Professional Forest Management ❑ Appraisals rize the work of each panel, and then participate in extensive, unscripted dis- ❑ Timber Inventories and Cruising ❑ Mapping and GIS cussions with a group of university, state, federal, and private forest policy individuals. The day began with open- ing remarks by Oregon State Senator Western Forester Herman Baertschiger, Jr. (Chair, Fire Society of American Foresters Caucus of the Oregon Legislature) and 4033 S.W. Canyon Rd. • Portland, OR 97221 • 503-224-8046 • Fax 503-226-2515 closed with an address and call to action www.nwoffice.forestry.org/northwest-office/western-forester-archive from Oregon’s Governor, Kate Brown. Editor: Lori Rasor, [email protected] Represented on stage throughout Western Forester is published four times a year by the Oregon, Washington State, the Day Two sessions were forest policy Inland Empire, and Alaska Societies’ SAF Northwest Office executives from the Oregon Depart- ment of Forestry; Montana Department State Society Chairs Northwest SAF Board Members of Natural Resources and Conservation; Oregon: Fran Cafferata Coe, 503-680-7939, District 1: Tom Hanson, Forestry and and Office of Washington State [email protected] Arboriculture Consultant, ArborInfo LLC, Commissioner of Public Lands. They 206-300-9711, [email protected]; Washington State: were joined by leaders of forest policy Paul Wagner, www.ArborInfo.com 360-436-0089, [email protected] programs of the Universities of District 2: Mike Cloughesy, Oregon Forest Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Inland Empire: Phil Aune, 509-464-1409, Resources Institute, 503-329-1014, [email protected] Oregon State, along with a representa- [email protected] tive of private commercial forestlands. Alaska: Jeremy Douse, CF, 907-452-8251, [email protected] These nine were joined by two distin- guished leaders of the U.S. Forest Please send change of address to: Service: Vicki Christiansen, Acting Chief Society of American Foresters, 10100 Laureate Way, Bethesda, MD 20814 of the U.S. Forest Service (who, at the [email protected] time, was Deputy Chief, State and Anyone is at liberty to make fair use of the material in this publication. To reprint or make multiple reproduc- Private Forestry), and James Peña, tions, permission must be obtained from the editor. Proper notice of copyright and credit to the Western Regional Forester, Pacific Northwest Forester must appear on all copies made. Permission is granted to quote from the Western Forester if the customary acknowledgement accompanies the quote. Region, Region 6 (before announcing Other than general editing, the articles appearing in this publication have not been peer reviewed for techni- cal accuracy. The individual authors are primarily responsible for the content and opinions expressed herein. his retirement).

Next Issue: Silviculture

2 WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 The collective remarks of the pan- ters, and participants agreed that suc- sustainable conditions into the future. elists and speakers offered a big-pic- cessful strategies must include ways to Summit panels uniformly noted that ture perspective of the remarkable and manage people as well as trees. If additional investment in risk assess- intertwined context for viewing fire in resourced and provided better access to ments that articulate the unique risk of the West, from the variety of jurisdic- best-in-class data and modeling, there both fire and resulting smoke to the tions, landscapes and vegetation types, is virtual consensus that stakeholders in landscape and populations in each and cultural experiences and expecta- a given locality have the expertise and region is needed. Summit panels also tions. The individuals and entities rep- working relationships to evaluate trade- addressed the need for pre-fire strate- resented there collectively agreed we offs, reach compromises, and make gies that specifically address home (or must do a better job incorporating the strategic and effective wildfire manage- “structure”) ignitions during extreme full range of existing science and local ment decisions that make sense locally wildfire conditions, since these igni- land management expertise into our and across the landscape. Establishing tions are principally driven by ignition policies and decisions. “Fire Adapted Community Coordinator” factors (vulnerabilities) of a home in positions to support planning, imple- relation to its immediate surround- Specific Recommendations from mentation, and resourcing of such ings—the “home ignition zone.” Summit Panels efforts at a relevant, local scale could 4. Address Inequities Associated 1. Expand Strategic Use of serve as a major step in this direction. with Liability for Cross-Boundary Commercial Thinning, Prescribed These individuals would be charged Fires. Fires frequently cross land owner- Fires, and Managed Wildfire as Forest with accelerating improvements in ship boundaries, and in doing so create Management Tools. More partial har- practices, securing technical assistance, questions of legal liability for damages vest/thinning, prescribed fires, and and coordinating access to resources associated with the fire event. The cur- strategic management of wildfires dur- and information across jurisdictions. rent framework for imposing financial ing shoulder seasons needs to be 3. Develop and Implement Cross- responsibility for losses resulting from undertaken to change the probability Boundary “Pre-Fire Response” Plans fires that cross from federal to private and severity of fires during the subse- and Strategies. Effective fire response forests and vice-versa is a flash point quent hot, dry summer seasons. On during the height of wildfire season is that impedes progress in nearly all dis- this topic, panels made two clear highly dependent upon the planning cussions regarding fire prevention and points: 1) that fuel reduction by and coordination efforts that happen suppression efforts. Perceived or actual mechanical thinning is often an essen- well in advance of the fire event itself. liability is thought to be a significant tial part of a prescribed burning and/or Because creating fire-resistant and impediment to expanding the scale of managed wildfire strategy where there resilient landscapes is a long-term prescribed burning on private lands. is an overabundance of fuels; and 2) proposition, panel discussions agreed Summit panels discussed and recog- that “no smoke” in and near fire adapt- that aggressive suppression must cer- nized this legal construct as an obstacle ed communities is simply not realistic. tainly continue. To be most effective, to cohesive and effective pre-attack Smoke management policies must however, that suppression must be planning, strategy development, and reflect this fact if we are to strategically strategic and undertaken in the context suppression. manage the wildfire risks. Participants of accepted goals for re-establishing noted that much work remains if we are (CONTINUED ON PAGE 23) to build the social and political license necessary to support the scale of addi- tional mechanical thinning, prescribed burning, and/or use of managed wild- fire required to effectively reduce the landscape fuel loading and subsequent likelihood of high-severity fires. That said, panelists noted that ongoing research indicates public acceptance may not be playing as big a role in lim- iting the use of prescribed fire as over- abundance of fuels, lack of contractor and market capacity, personal liability rules, and limited burn windows. 2. Improve Coordination Across Jurisdictions and Ownership Boundaries. There is a nearly uniform call for local cross-boundary coordina- tion to more proactively address fire- prone landscapes, and to reassess and tailor the existing framework for fire suppression. Summit panelists, presen-

WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 3 The Klamath-Lake Forest Health Partnership: An Evolving Example of Planning All-Lands Restoration

BY JASON PETTIGREW

eclining forest health, coupled withD severe wildfire, is impacting ecologi- cal, social, and eco- nomic systems across the western United States. As PHOTO COURTESY OF JAKE BARNETT landscapes become less resilient and Juniper thinning projects in eastern Oregon are common to reduce the encroachment of western juniper due mainly to fire exclusion in fire- the consequences impact multiple dependent ecosystems. The juniper piles are burned under favorable smoke values, communities and land man- and fuels conditions and often have many tons per acre of biomass material. agement agencies increasingly seek collaborative approaches to manage across traditional boundaries. The Klamath-Lake Forest Health Partnership (KLFHP) is implementing landscape-scale projects in south cen- tral Oregon that leverage public resources with local capacity for all- lands projects. Despite institutional barriers, the unique combination of partners has enabled KLFHP to garner funding for projects that address multi- ple resource values. The group seeks to proactively create a portfolio of man- agement options rather than allow extreme events to dictate decisions. The complexities faced in Klamath and Lake counties are familiar across the western US—mixed ownerships overlaid on diverse landscapes. These counties face similar economic chal- lenges with undesirable forest health PHOTO COURTESY OF JASON PETTIGREW conditions, controversial water issues, This photo shows the fence line from private land looking onto Forest Service and increasing wildfire risk due to fuel land that is being thinned under the first Good Neighbor Authority timber sale loading and an expanding wildland- in Region 6. urban interface. The counties differ in ent approaches are used in each coun- is the primary disturbance we seek to land ownership—Klamath’s average ty. Large fires with mostly undesirable moderate, and at the same time build nonindustrial owner manages 10 acres, side effects have occurred in both into future management plans. compared to 1,500 acres in Lake counties—Barry Point, Oregon Gulch, A simplified look at the landscape County where ranching is the predom- Winter Rim, Toolbox, and Moccasin KLFHP seeks to evaluate illustrates a inant land use. Landscape manage- Hills are a few that come to mind. In humbling reality where treatment ment needs are similar, though differ- eastern Oregon environments, wildfire efforts on 4.8 million acres (2.3 million acres on the Fremont-Winema National Forest) are outpaced not only by the annual threat of fire (historical fire return intervals average 14 years in many locations), but also by the encroachment of juniper and noxious weeds, as well as progressively over- stocked forest stands. For the past cen- tury, much of this landscape has been

4 WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 devoid of stand altering or mainte- ty to build projects that meet social, has been critical. For example, the nance mechanisms. The Fremont- economic, and ecological restoration Good Neighbor Authority has paved Winema National Forest’s Accelerated goals. To address resource needs that the way for development of a Federal Restoration and Landscape Strategy cross boundaries, the KLFHP model Forest Restoration Program in Oregon, (2014) identifies a need to increase the relies on a shared vision between fed- which allows the Oregon Department pace and scale of restoration–a strate- eral land managers and private of Forestry (ODF) to assist with gy that applies to most forest and landowners, supported by a diverse restoration projects on federal lands. range landowners in the region. funding portfolio. The group regularly Additionally, ODF has a cooperative Landscape-scale conservation that surveys an area of over 4.8 million agreement with the Natural Resources focuses on multiple resource values acres—regardless of ownership—look- Conservation Service that enables and ownerships has become an ing for opportunities to pair federal ODF stewardship foresters to help for- increasingly important management NEPA-ready projects with work on pri- est landowners access Farm Bill pro- concept. While there is no one-size-fits- vately owned land to create projects grams. These tools allow ODF to work all approach, key elements of successful that meet goals of the National with federal and other local partners to projects include broad partnerships Cohesive Strategy. Operational efficien- access funding and create agreements among local, state, and federal organi- cies, focused stand treatments, and in support of a shared local vision for zations, as well as innovative data col- sensible prescriptions become more landscape-scale restoration. lection and targeted outreach strategies evident when ownership barriers are The North Warner Crooked Mud to recruit private landowners. blurred or removed. Watersheds, forest Honey Project expanded a 60,000-acre The Partnership’s overall vision is to types, and focal species such as mule Forest Service treatment project to create a portfolio of management deer and sage grouse habitats become well over 90,000 acres by adding adja- options across the landscape that the operational boundaries we seek to cent private landowners using multi- incorporate landowner needs and operate within rather than tax lots. ple funding sources and technical sup- rebuild the resilience of forest and The ability to move forward with port from several partners. The proj- range ecosystems so that large-scale landscape-scale restoration in ects provide for the removal of com- disturbances like wildfire have net pos- Klamath and Lake counties has been mercial timber, stream restoration itive effects. The group leverages state many years in the making. The align- activities, forage enhancement, and and federal resources with local capaci- ment of state and national priorities (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

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WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 5 removal of encroaching juniper and “Watersheds, forest types, and focal species such as mule deer overstocked non-merchantable conifers. The project includes active and sage grouse habitats become the operational boundaries noxious weed treatment programs, we seek to operate within rather than tax lots.” developing prescribed burn plans, and grazing or forest management restora- —Jason Pettigrew, ODF Stewardship Forester tion work on all ownerships within the project boundaries. trust built through KLFHP has enabled ment should seamlessly transition Project planning at a landscape the group to find innovative solutions from the mechanical to fire use and scale includes identifying high poten- to these institutional barriers. The complement each other; however, this tial areas through analysis of current project funds acquired thus far are is often not the case. Landscape-level fire risk and vegetation inventory, viewed as a stimulus to initiate land- planning takes a comprehensive view development of forest management scape treatments with a strong impe- using all the tools available to us, plans, and working with stakeholders tus to create free market incentives. To applied in the right places at the right to create a shared vision for future continue this work, expand upon time, to create the appropriate resource conditions. Detailed data col- untreated acres, and enable sustain- changes. Land managers and lection and GIS mapping on private able maintenance, there is a critical landowners must be cognizant of the lands provide information for land- need for the development of viable options and make informed decisions. owners and technical specialists to biomass markets. Forest management plans should look discuss long-term management with Other challenges include workforce beyond individual trees. awareness of what is planned on adja- capacity, agency programmatic barri- The Klamath Lake Forest Health cent federal lands. Maintenance plans ers that inhibit collaboration at the Partnership realizes the biggest chal- include wildfire response, landscape local level, and key players who lenge to landscape-level treatments lie maintenance with mechanical and choose not to participate. The align- in our culture, our relationships, and in prescribed fire treatments, and techni- ment of empowered agency employ- ideas that lack forethought. Forest man- cal assistance for private landowners. A ees, the right funding sources, and a agement is a long-term endeavor. forthcoming publication from Oregon locally derived desire to consider all Locally, we have learned that physical State University Extension will docu- lands treatments are necessary for landscapes often heal sooner than ment the processes, relationships, and successful projects. human relationships, though both are story of recent KLFHP projects. Fire has a much larger role as a tool damaged by the same catastrophic Key challenges to large-scale treat- in resource management in eastern wildfires, poor forest management deci- ments include biomass utilization and Oregon than in moister western sions, or other ecological disasters. This developing the institutional capacity Oregon. As a tool, fire is underutilized, lesson suggests project success should needed to support an emerging busi- poorly understood, and generally not be measured by relationships and part- ness model around landscape-scale supported. KLFHP recognizes that few nerships, rather than just acres treated. collaborative projects. The latter has landscapes are ready to receive fire To make a positive difference on a been particularly challenging, but the until mechanical treatment can realign landscape scale we must put the best unique combination of partners and their systems. Forest land manage- interest of the land and its people first, while balancing the ecological con- straints we face. We can only pull so many levers to bring about change, and finding the right combination can be challenging. We seek to create a diverse, resilient landscape that pro- vides multiple values over time. To get there, we have focused on partner- ships that enable us to leverage the resources, relationships, and latest technology to identify shared goals and create management plans that Anyone can see the beauty. balance complex (often competing) Our pecialty is helping preserve your legacy. needs for generations to come. ◆

Jason Pettigrew is a stewardship Land Management | Real Estate Services | Wildlife Management forester for the Oregon Department of Recreational Leases | Technical and Data Services Forestry on the Klamath-Lake District Chehalis 360.740.3757 • Kirkland 425.820.3420 in Klamath Falls. He can be reached at 541-891-7866 or jason.w.pettigrew@ americanforestmanagement.com oregon.gov.

6 WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 Contracted Service Rates for Common Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Approaches in the WUI ects within the Wildland Urban Slash burning can raise concerns BY GARY ELLINGSON, LUKE Interface (WUI). Contracted services among neighbors as well as local fire MACHTOFF, AND ERIC FEMREITE primarily include activities associated and law enforcement agencies. with tree felling and slash disposal. Operators must often mobilize and orthwest Wildfire hazard mitigation projects park equipment on paved streets or Management, completed in the WUI often occur in within residential areas. Noise associat- NInc. (NMI) has pro- settings such as residential subdivi- ed with chainsaws and operation of vided forestry con- sions, rural residential areas, and other mechanical equipment impacts neigh- sulting services since areas within or adjacent to cities and boring properties, thus hours of opera- 1984 throughout the towns. In other words, these projects tion may need to be adjusted accord- inland Northwest. take place where human development ingly. Power lines, lawns, gardens, NMI operates offices intermingles with undeveloped wild- fences, septic tanks, irrigation systems, in Moscow, Idaho; Gary Ellingson land or vegetative fuels that are at vary- and other developments must be pro- Deer Park and ing degrees of risk from wildfire. tected or avoided. Fixed costs, such as Colville, Washington; These projects occur in developed mobilization of equipment, are allocat- and Helena, areas, which has an impact on costs of ed to a smaller project size, which Montana. Over the contracted services. There are often drives up costs on a per acre basis rela- past several decades, neighbors or community associations tive to wildland projects. NMI and many of its involved or impacted by work that Wildfire hazard mitigation projects staff of 35 natural require a higher level of project coordi- resource profession- Luke Machtoff nation to ensure a successful outcome. (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) als have provided wildfire hazard miti- gation services to clients throughout its service area. This article pro- vides a general overview of the range of contracted Eric Femreite services costs that NMI typically encounters when com- pleting wildfire hazard mitigation proj-

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WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 7 Contracted Service Rates for Common Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Approaches in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Approach Applications and Considerations Cost Factors Cost Range (MT, ID, E. WA)

Areas without smoke management issues. Stand density and stem size. $650-$1,300/ac Areas inoperable to mechanical equipment. Topography. Piling is very labor (does not include Material small enough (<6” dia.) to handle by intensive. Burning in WUI may burning) hand and burn well in hand pile. Piles must be require smoke management left on-site at least 3-4 months to dry out coordination and water Labor: $25-$33/hr. properly for good consumption and less smoke. resources. Coordination with local fire and law enforcement Hand thin, hand pile, and agencies during burning. burn

Typically follows mechanical harvest of large Density and size of material. $200-$550/ac trees. Trees greater than 6” dia. are typically Topography, volume of material, (does not include machine felled and processed. Smaller trees rocky ground, density of residual burning or tree may be cut by hand or with mechanical equip- stand. Burning in WUI may felling) ment. Areas without smoke management issues. require smoke management Topography and ground conditions suitable for coordination and water Large excavator operation of mechanical equipment. Larger resources. Coordination with rates: $90-$150/hr. Excavator piling material and heavy fuels are more suited to local fire and law enforcement handling with equipment. Need adequate tree agencies during burning. Small or mini- spacing for larger piles and equipment opera- excavator rates: tion. Piles must be left for at least 3-4 months to $65-$95/hr. dry out properly for good consumption and less smoke. Some coarse woody debris (logs greater than 6”) may be left for wildlife habitat.

Topography and ground conditions suitable for Density and size of material. $450-$1,150/ac mechanical equipment operation. Exposed Topography, volume of material, rocks are undesirable. Useful where burning is rocky ground, density of residual Machine rates not acceptable or desired. Standing and down stand. (excavator or feller material can be masticated. Machine reach will buncher mounted allow for thinning if tree spacing is adequate for mastication head, machine passage. Fire hazard during dry condi- forwarder, etc.): Track-mounted excavator tions due to sparks. Extremely heavy fuel accu- $150-$225/hr. or feller buncher with mulations may result in a residual chip bed. mastication head attachment

Limited to level or moderately sloped topogra- Density and size of material. $450-$1,150/ac phy (0-30% slope). Exposed rocks are undesir- Topography, volume of material, able. More ground disturbance due to frequent rocky ground, density of residual Machine rates turning and multiple passes. Most efficient with stand. (skid steer or smaller diameter material (standing or down). custom mulcher): High level of upper soil disturbance to create a $125-225/hr. very smooth, manicured result. Can operate in Skid steer or tracked tighter space or residential applications with forestry mulching machine rubber tracks.

Restricted to areas close to roads or very flat, Generally, a 2- to 4-person crew $750-$1,650/ac operable ground a 4WD pickup can traverse. pairs well with one chipper when Useful in WUI settings where pile burning is not chipping is underway. Labor: $25-$33/hr. desirable. Eliminates the need to return to proj- ect area for burning. Chipped material is gener- Towable chipper with ally broadcast on-site. Most commercial towable 3-person crew: chippers operated by a labor crew are inefficient Approx. $1,250/day. Hand thin and chip with handling materials larger than 6-8” diameter towable chipper although machine is rated for larger material. Dragging and feeding material to chipper is labor intensive.

8 WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 Contracted Service Rates for Common Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Approaches in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Approach Applications and Considerations Cost Factors Cost Range (MT, ID, E. WA)

Can be used on steeper and inaccessible Generally, 2- to 4-person crew $900-$2,200/ac topography that towable chipper cannot reach. pairs well with one chipper Less restricted by road access. Useful in WUI when chipping is underway. Tracked chipper with settings where pile burning is not desirable. 3-person crew: Eliminates the need to return to project area for $1,500/day. burning. Chipped material is generally broadcast on-site. Some chippers operated by a labor Hand thin and chip with crew are inefficient handling materials larger track-mounted, self- than 8-12” diameter although machine is rated propelled chipper for larger material. Dragging by hand is mini- mized; the chipper comes to the slash.

Logging machinery may be utilized in the WUI There are numerous variables Costs are highly to harvest larger merchantable and non- associated with costing these variable. The logger merchantable diameter trees. In most instances, projects and use of a profession- may work on a the value of merchantable trees does not offset al forester with timber harvesting lump-sum basis, on costs of completing the project if the emphasis experience is required to pre- a per-acre rate, or is on removal of smaller diameter trees. pare a project plan and budget. charge hourly rates Sufficient space is required for for mobilization, Use of mechanical logging log landing and slash piles. mechanical equip- equipment ment, and hauling. often begin with a property assessment cialized equipment in a safe and effi- general cost considerations. conducted by a trained forestry profes- cient manner. The work is often physi- Property owners and foresters are sional. Once the risk is identified, and cally demanding. Bidding jobs, coordi- often surprised at the high costs associ- the property owner agrees that action nating work schedules, managing pay- ated with contracted services. They to mitigate the risk is required, a roll and cash flow, and keeping clients often make the mistake of under-esti- detailed project plan and map outlin- happy are continual challenges. mating costs or comparing costs to ing the migration method and location Most approaches to wildfire mitiga- wildland projects that are generally larg- is prepared. Project plans are generally tion work require significant labor, and er, not as complex, and less intensive required for property owners seeking therefore labor costs have a consider- from a vegetation management per- financial or cost-share assistance. able impact on project costs and bid spective. Property owners generally will Typically, the project plan defines the rates. Labor includes operating equip- require aesthetics to be maintained or standard to which the vegetation must ment, felling and pruning trees, buck- improved on their valuable landscapes. be modified to effectively mitigate the ing and piling slash, and dragging trees We hope the table provides a good start- fire risk. At this point the devil is in the to chippers. Contractors that provide ing point for cost estimation. ◆ details as there are typically several adequate insurance, tools, fuel, train- alternative approaches that can be uti- ing, transportation, and safety equip- Contact any of the authors, all lized to achieve the intended mitiga- ment generally charge between $25-33 foresters for Northwest Management, tion outcome. The project planner per hour or $200-260 per day (8 hours) Inc., for additional information: Gary and/or the property owner will deter- for laborers. Specialized equipment Ellingson, Montana, nwmanageMT@ mine which approach is best suited to used in wildfire hazard mitigation work nmi2.com; Luke Machtoff, eastern the project and obtain cost estimates such as chippers, mulchers, mastica- Washington, [email protected]; from qualified contractors that can tors, and logging equipment take a Eric Femreite, Idaho, femreite@ perform the work with the required beating in forest settings, and mainte- nmi2.com. Gary is an SAF member equipment. Cost quotes from contrac- nance costs of this equipment is typi- and past chair of the Montana SAF. tors are necessary to develop final proj- cally very high. Day rates for mechani- ect budgets and cost estimates. cal equipment usually exceeds $1,000 Contractors that perform wildfire per day. Production rates will vary hazard mitigation work face a chal- widely depending on fuel loading and lenging business environment. Hiring the physical environment. Estimating and retaining workers in a seasonal the cost of contracted services is diffi- business is difficult. Training is cult, but the Table is designed to pro- required for employees to operate spe- vide a starting point and describe some

WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 9 Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire landscape demonstrate due diligence BY AMANDA STAMPER in avoiding adverse impacts to com- munities, often while protecting them anagement of from the adverse impacts of wildfire smoke from using prescribed fire. Mboth wildfires and States regulate smoke produced by prescribed fires has controlled burning differently, ensur- become one of the ing compliance with each state’s biggest challenges implementation of the Clean Air Act. for fire managers in Requirements for prescribed burning recent years. air quality regulatory compliance Controlled burning releases a frac- range from predetermined cut-off tion of wildfire emissions on average, times for ignitions to prevent yet remains highly regulated in many overnight settling of smoke and asso- states, particularly those with large ciated impacts to populated or smoke urban populations. Inundating com- sensitive areas, to relatively little over- munities for longer timeframes and at sight or permitting requirements in higher concentrations than in decades remote areas without fire protection past, wildfires are effectively occupy- and populations likely to be affected ing the air shed, leaving little room for PHOTO COURTESY OF AMANDA STAMPER by air quality issues. Forest fuels and A participant at the Ashland smoke from prescribed fires. agricultural residues are generally Prescribed Fire Training Exchange Mitigation of public health impacts treated differently, just as the smoke in 2016 and 2017. from conservation of natural resources they produce differs considerably. using controlled burning presents lined in Table 1 provide a framework While there are no easy solutions to ongoing and increasing challenges. for ensuring that efforts are made to meeting the often-competing objec- Success depends upon protecting protect the public from smoke tives of maintaining air quality and for- populations from adverse smoke impacts. These practices also provide est and rangeland health, government impacts while ensuring protection of for information to be delivered effec- agencies such as US Forest Service, firefighter and public safety from cata- tively based on the best available sci- Natural Resource Conservation strophic wildfires through active forest ence, enabling both practitioners and Service, and the National Wildfire management, including the use of pre- impacted populations to make Coordinating Group have created scribed fire. informed decisions to protect them- guidance to help practitioners. Basic Just as the weather cannot be con- selves from smoke, whether from wild- smoke management practices out- trolled, wildfires and the smoke they fire or prescribed fire. produce are generally regarded as Table 1. Basic Smoke Management Practices uncontrolled until their behavior is brought within some predefined Basic Smoke Management Benefit Achieved with the When the BSMP is Applied— range. The term controlled burning, Practice (BSMP) BSMP Before/During/After the Burn synonymous with prescribed fire, Evaluate Smoke Dispersion Minimize smoke impacts. Before, During, After implies a degree of control over smoke Conditions and where it is going, despite that unanticipated events such as wind Monitor Effects on Air Quality Awareness of where the Before, During, After shifts may occur. There are expecta- smoke is going and degree it impacts air quality. tions that those applying fire to the Record-Keeping/Maintain a Retain information about the Before, During, After Burn/Smoke Journal weather, burn, and smoke. If air quality problems occur, documentation helps analyze and address air regulatory issues. Communication— Notify neighbors and those Before, During Public Notification potentially impacted by smoke, Providing information about trees and forests especially sensitive receptors. Tom Hanson Consider Emission Reducing emissions can Before, During [email protected] Reduction Techniques reduce downwind impacts. 206 300 9711 Share the Airshed— Coordinate multiple burns in Before, During, After Coordination of Area Burning the area to manage exposure www.arborinfo.com of the public to smoke.

10 WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 Evaluate and anticipate smoke ing further planning and logistics Communicate with and notify dispersion conditions to until air quality conditions improve. authorities, partners, and minimize impacts Monitor smoke impacts on air quality, affected public Develop a smoke management particularly near smoke-sensitive Notify appropriate emergency plan before burning, based on analy- areas, towns, highways, and schools response dispatch centers, air quality sis and evaluation of weather condi- using resources such as field recon- regulators, fire response agencies, and tions most appropriate for meeting naissance and monitoring reports neighbors and citizens of affected both prescribed fire and smoke man- during and after burn. smoke-sensitive areas of anticipated agement objectives. Monitor weather smoke and air quality impacts before Record Basic Smoke conditions and forecasts during the burning. Develop contingency plans Management Practices, fire burn, and compare them to predicted behavior, and fire effects for potential undesirable impacts and and observed to better anticipate notify appropriate agencies of those Document observed weather and potential smoke dispersion. Continue plans in advance. If public transporta- air quality conditions as well as cur- to monitor and compare weather tion is or may be affected, provide rent forecasts, and observe trends forecasts and on-site weather obser- appropriate and timely updates to before burning. Record practices vations after burning to understand affected authorities during the burn, employed during the burn including possible effects of lingering smoke paying heed to smoke impacts from emission reduction techniques such from smoldering fuels. smoldering fuels. as modified ignition patterns, on-site Monitor effects of fire on air weather observations, fire behavior, Utilize emission reduction quality smoke dispersion and impacts, size of techniques Monitor regional air quality condi- area burned, and fuels burned as part Consider available emission reduc- tions and forecasts using online of the prescribed fire burn plan docu- tion techniques before burning, resources such as the National mentation. Retain records, observa- including timing of ignition prior to Weather Service, local air quality tions, and burn plans after burning anticipated precipitation, use of igni- monitoring sites, and EPA AirNow for reference in case of an inquiry, or tion techniques to limit large-diameter before burning. If air quality is pre- in the event of an adverse air quality dicted to be poor, consider postpon- impact. (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 11 fuel consumption, and burn unit design with sub-units for option of easily ceasing ignitions as needed. The recently revised NWCG Smoke Management Guide listed in the resources sidebar provides helpful guidance on emission reduction tech- niques. Document use of techniques employed to reduce emissions during the burn and observed effects. Complete mop-up as quickly as possi- ble and ecologically appropriate, and extinguish smoldering fuels if neces- sary to address any potentially adverse smoke impacts in advance. Collaborate with nearby fire managers to manage smoke emissions PHOTO COURTESY OF AMANDA STAMPER Agencies authorizing burns in Smoke from a prescribed burn for reduction of juniper on the Crooked River many states determine regional emis- National Grassland in 2013. sion loads as part of their permitting processes; however, individual burn regardless of regulatory requirements Establishment and practice of these managers may collaborate to help before burning. Burn managers can approaches can serve as a solid foun- avoid local adverse smoke impacts establish information sharing net- dation for building social license to works with other burn managers to help communities better adapt to liv- coordinate burn days and cooperative- ing with wildland fire, including the Resources for Basic ly reduce acres burned when neces- smoke it produces. ◆ Smoke Management sary to avoid adverse smoke impacts during and after burning. Amanda Stamper, an SAF member, is Practices Oregon/Washington Fire manager for Employing basic smoke manage- The Nature Conservancy in Eugene, USFS-NRCS guide to Basic Smoke ment practices before, during, and Ore. She also serves as chair of the Management Practices (BSMPs) after a prescribed burn should be tai- Oregon Prescribed Fire Council and is https://bit.ly/2EXFgkN lored and adjusted to local factors an SAF Emerald Chapter member. NWS Fire Weather Forecasts including tolerance and sensitivity of Contact Amanda at 541-343-1010 x308 https://bit.ly/2HxVmXW the populations affected, wildfire haz- or [email protected]. ard, and feasibility of alternatives to NWS Fire and Smoke Mapping burning, to name a few. Resources https://bit.ly/2HwClFf TTERBURY CONSULTANTS, INC. EPA AirNow! Air Quality “Professional State-of-the-Art Forestry“ Beaverton, Oregon Observations and Forecasts A https://bit.ly/1eln6uU www.atterbury.com • 503-646-5393 USFS BlueSky Playground Appraisals & Consulting Cruising & Inventory https://bit.ly/2qIoxNn • Harvest Level Projections • Foresters are Highly Trained with Current • Due Diligence Technology NWCG Smoke Management Guide • Timberland Sales • Tract, Stand, & Log Volume, Stocking, & for Prescribed Fire and Wildland • Loan Analysis & Monitoring Statistics Analysis • Wood Supply Studies • Reforestation Fire • Software Support https://bit.ly/2HbJMyi • Database Development GIS Mapping & Analyses Seminars & Training USFS Intro to Prescribed Fire in • Mill, Public, & Large Landowner Locations • Continuing Education Credit Southern Ecosystems • Custom Maps & GIS Data • ArcPad in 1 day https://bit.ly/2vpdgr1 • Overlay process, View & Watershed Analysis • Professional Timber Cruising • 3D Mapping • SuperACE NIFC National Smoke Management • Individual or Group Training Available Resources Software & Products https://bit.ly/2voQBLs • Timber Cruising–SuperACE & Pocket SuperEASY NWCG Smoke Committee (SmoC) • ESRI & MapSmart https://bit.ly/2HdfvTy • Forestry Tools, Rangefinders, BAF Devices, Data Collectors & GPS Units

12 WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 Interior can now award 20-year stew- Omnibus Bill Delivers Fire Funding ardship contracts, or agreements in areas where the majority of federal Fix, New Fuels Reduction Tools lands are in Fire Regime Groups I, II, or III. It permits agencies to give a prefer- migration of non-fire funding to the ence to contractors that would, as part BY NICK SMITH fire programs at the beginning of each of a contract, promote an innovative fiscal year. use of forest products, including cross- he Consolidated Importantly, the new budget cap laminated timber. The legislation also Appropriations doesn’t come into effect until FY 2020. includes fixes to address the cancella- TAct of 2018, also For FY 2018 and 2019, the bill provides tion ceiling excess value, as well as the known as the $1.946 billion in fire suppression fund- annual reporting issues associated with “omnibus” bill, deliv- ing, to be allocated to the Department stewardship contracting. ered a number of of Interior and the Forest Service. If The bill also requires mapping with- legislative victories this funding, which is $500 million in two years of wildfire risks to inform for federal forest above the current 10-year average, evaluations of wildfire risk, prioritize management. Notably, the bipartisan proves insufficient, the Congress will fuels management needs, and show forestry package gives federal agencies have to provide additional emergency potential for wildfire that could be dif- additional funding and new policy spending. ficult for suppression resources to con- tools to support fuels reduction work In addition to the budget fix, the tain and that could cause ignitions to on public lands. $1.2 trillion omnibus increases wild- structures. Finally, the omnibus bill Chief among these victories is a fire-related programs by nearly $550 provides a long-sought improvement solution to federal “fire borrowing” million, including an $80 million to the federal Good Neighbor Authority that has hamstrung federal land man- increase to the Forest Service’s (GNA) law that allows state agencies to agement agencies for many years. The Hazardous Fuels line item. In total, work with the Forest Service to imple- process for setting federal wildfire hazardous fuels and fire accounts total ment projects on forests in need of budgeting at the 10-year average of $3.3 billion out of the $5.9 billion total treatment. Specifically, it permits GNA suppression costs has failed to keep (55 percent) for the Forest Service. projects to include reconstruction, pace with larger and increasingly The omnibus bill includes several repair, or restoration of National Forest severe fires. Whenever the agency forest management policy reforms. System roads. exhausts its firefighting budget for the This includes a new 3,000-acre Overall, the forestry package in the fiscal year, it is forced to redirect Categorical Exclusion (CE) under the omnibus bill is a major accomplish- money from non-fire programs Healthy Forests Restoration Act ment. It will help federal agencies including those for fuels reduction. (HFRA) for Forest Service “Wildfire improve management of federally- The Society of American Foresters, Resilience” projects. The CE must use owned forests, reduce fuel loads, and the conservation community, forest a collaborative process, consider best mitigate the risks of catastrophic products industry, and other stakehold- available science, and maximize reten- fires. ers have long advocated for a solution ◆ tion of old-growth and large trees. to fire borrowing. Some have proposed Projects must be located within land- Nick Smith is a member of the Portland simply allowing agencies to access scapes designated under the Farm Bill Chapter of the Oregon Society of emergency disaster funds when sup- as of March 23, 2018. Projects may also American Foresters. He is executive pression funds are exhausted, but the be within the Wildland Urban director of Healthy Forests, Healthy idea has faced resistance from key Interface, or within Condition Class 2 Communities, which advocates for members of Congress. After four years or 3, or Fire Regime Groups I, II, or III active forest management on publicly- of negotiations a compromise was that contain very high wildfire hazard owned forests. He can be reached at finally reached, though the solution is potential. Before using this CE, the [email protected]. nuanced and comes with a few caveats. Forest Service is required to apply its According to the Federal Forest “extraordinary circumstances” regula- Resource Coalition, the omnibus tion to ensure no significant effects. includes a new fire suppression fund- The omnibus also reforms vegeta- ing mechanism that will adjust federal Norm Michaels tion management around power lines spending caps to accommodate fire- and establishes new HFRA categories Forestry LLC fighting needs. The legislation pro- for fuel breaks and fire breaks. Under vides a new “disaster cap allocation” Forest management to HFRA, these projects are eligible for for wildfires starting in Fiscal Year (FY) meet your goals expedited procedures including 2020 at $2.25 billion, which increases • Management Plans • Reforestation action/no-action analysis and a waiver • Timber inventory • Timber cruising to $2.95 billion in FY 2027. In addition, of the administrative objection process. Over 40 years managing forests in the legislation freezes the wildfire sup- Oregon and Washington Further, the omnibus bill amends pression line item at the Forest Service federal stewardship contracting. The 541-822-3528 at the FY 2015 level to stop the slow [email protected] Departments of Agriculture and

WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 13 When Fire Threatened, John Engelien and His Forest Were Ready through and BY JIM GERSBACH formed the per- fect ladder fuel oes thinning to carry fire up and pruning into the tree trees help reduce the D canopy. John risk of catastrophic knew something fire on forested should be done property? If you ask and turned to woodland owner his local Oregon John Engelien of Department of Polk County, Oregon, the answer is a Forestry (ODF) resounding yes. John almost certainly office in Dallas. saved forest on his property a few ODF has an years ago by treating 30 acres of Oregon-wide Douglas-firs to make the grove more agreement with resilient to wildfire. the federal John’s family has owned the grove Natural and another 70 acres of forested land Resources northwest of Dallas, Ore., since the Conservation 1930s. John was born on the land and PHOTO COURTESY OF OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY Service to pro- inherited it in 1985. He and his father Landowner John Engelien points out to Unit Forester Jeff vide technical before him staggered the harvesting of Classen of the Oregon Department of Forestry how high up assistance to he limbed his Douglas-fir trees. Removing lower limbs kept Douglas-fir and some Willamette owners of non- a 2013 wildfire from climbing into the canopy, preventing a Valley ponderosa pine to keep the land industrial more intense crown fire. a patchwork of differently aged stands. forestland look- One hill was harvested around 2000 ODF stewardship forester visits the ing to improve their forest stands. ODF and replanted with Douglas-fir. After a property to certify that the work was stewardship foresters can help dozen years the planted area was done according to the plan. Land- landowners inventory what’s on their choked with tall grass and invasive owners include the certification in property and develop a treatment brush typical of western Oregon— their application to receive reimburse- plan. Once a plan is created, the Scot’s broom and blackberries. The 20’ ment through the NRCS’s Environ- landowners can hire out the work, do to 40’ tall Douglas-firs had limbs near- mental Quality Improvement Program. it themselves, or do some and hire out ly to the ground. The dead lower limbs EQIP has been available to owners of the rest. made it difficult for John to walk nonindustrial forestlands since the After the work is completed, the 2008 federal Farm Bill. Oregon is a big state with more than 30 million acres of forestland. NRCS prioritizes different parts of the state to meet certain strategic goals, such as reducing the risk of wildfire in We provide practical solutions for wildlife a watershed a community depends on and other natural resource management. for drinking water. Reimbursement is Our goal is to provide you with the highest set at a fixed rate per acre based on level of service and the most effective which treatment was done. So far in solution to any natural resource concern. fiscal year 2017-18, 174 Oregon WE SPECIALIZE IN: landowners are slated to receive $6.3 • Developing wildlife programs for million in reimbursements for volun- forest certification including SFI tary forest conservation work on and American Tree Farm System 13,547 acres. • Wildlife Surveys John worked with ODF to create his • GIS Services forest stewardship plan. With plan in hand, he then hired a crew and set to www.cafferataconsulting.com work in early 2013. Over four months [email protected] • 503-680-7939 they cut down brush and used chain-

14 WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 saws to cut off limbs 6 to 8 control line. feet from the ground. Using a Within an hour of the fire’s technique called lop and start ODF obtained the help scatter, they spread the limbs of a Weyerhaeuser helicopter. widely over the ground rather Years earlier John had dug a than in tall piles. When the pond on his property to have work was finished in April, water to fight wildfire. The the grove looked like a well- pilot dropped bucket loads groomed park. ODF certified from the pond onto the now the work and John applied for slower-moving fire. The coor- and received partial reim- dinated attack allowed fire- bursement through the EQIP fighters on the ground to program. build and secure control John completed the work lines. They corralled the fire on his property just in time. shortly after dark. Mop up The summer of 2013 was continued for five days. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN ENGELIEN dry in Oregon. The state had Invasive Scot’s broom and other brush created a fire haz- “Without the pruning its driest July on record, get- ard on John Engelien’s property west of Salem, Oregon. and brush control, it’s likely ting only 7% of average pre- This potentially endangered his stand of Douglas-fir. Under the fire would have engulfed cipitation that month. When the EQIP program he removed the brush in 2013, which all 30 acres of that grove and fires started, dry fuels readi- helped reduce the intensity of a wildfire that spread onto well beyond,” said Classen. his property later that same year. ly burned, even in the “Because of the work done, Willamette Valley. Oregon the fire penetrated only onto saw more state-protected land seven acres. Trees along the burn that summer than at any grove’s edge, facing an time since the last of the four onslaught from the most Tillamook Burn fires in 1951. intense flames, died. In the By August, nine large wildfires grove’s interior, where flame were burning from one end of intensity diminished, most the state to the other. trees survived. In the last half of that “The work John did in month, John was harvesting 2010 made it possible for straw when he noticed smoke fire fighters to stop the fire on a nearby hill. Sparks from and save nearby forestland,” equipment being operated said Classen. “It’s a great on a nearby property had set example of how landowners grass and brush on fire. can protect their own and

Flames were racing east PHOTO COURTESY OF OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY surrounding land.” toward his Douglas-firs, Removing lower limbs and scattering the downed wood For more information fanned by steady winds. helped western Oregon landowner John Engelien keep a about Oregon’s Strategic Responding to the fire wildfire low to the ground so that it was easier for fire- Approach to Conservation, alert, the Oregon Department fighters to control. visit www.or.nrcs.usda.gov or of Forestry’s Dallas Unit quickly sent was scattered and low on the ground. contact your local NRCS field office. ◆ fire engines and a bulldozer. They were “It just kind of died down and transi- soon joined by engines from local fire tioned into a lower-intensity ground Jim Gersbach is a Public Affairs special- departments worried about the fire fire,” remembered Classen. ist for Oregon Department of Forestry spreading to nearby farms and homes. With trees’ lower limbs removed, in Salem. He can be reached at 503- ODF’s Dallas Unit Manager Jeff flames could lick at the trunks but 945-7425 or [email protected]. Classen recalls the day as warm, dry, couldn’t climb into the canopy. This and windy. “The wind was blowing a made it safer and easier for firefighters steady 10 to 15 miles an hour with to beat down the flames and create a gusts over 20, pushing flames as high as 20 to 30 feet through the tall brush and some young trees. If the fire got FOREST RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY into the tree canopy, it was almost cer- SAF Accredited • http://cocc.edu/programs/forestry tain to run through the forest out of Ron Boldenow, Ph.D., C.F., Forestry Rebecca Franklin, Ph.D., Dendrochronology control.” Bret Michalski, M.S., Wildlife Science That didn’t happen. Once the fire E-mail: [email protected] (541) 383-7756 reached John’s recently treated proper- CENTRAL OREGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE Bend, Oregon ty, there was less fuel and most of it

WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 15 “Busy Work” for Engine Crews Save Camp Wooten from Catastrophic School Fire was saved from a destructive wildfire BY LISA NAYLOR Creek in the Tucannon Valley. Weather that started less than five miles from conditions were hot and dry with very the facility on contracted Washington amp Wooten low humidity. A tree had fallen over a Department of Fish and Wildlife Environmental powerline and started the fire—a (WDFW) lands in early August 2005. CLearning Center, product of nature at the worst possible On Friday, August 5, 2005, a three- a gem of the time of the year. person hand crew was working clear- Washington State The crew tried in vain to extinguish ing brush at Camp Wooten when a Park (WSP) system the fire, but excess tinder dry fuels and local citizen reported a fire to the in southeast winds were no match for the crew. The Washington State, engine crew to which they responded School Fire erupted, severely burning to a mile from the camp near School the upper Tucannon Valley with Camp Wooten clearly in its destructive path. The fire burned over 51,000 acres before being contained. Fortunately, due to the fuel reduc- tion actions and on-going fuel reduc- tion maintenance of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), WSP, and WDFW in the years preceding the School Fire, the camp was saved and continues to be one of the most popular (and profitable) learning centers in the state. In 2000, SE Area DNR Fuels Manager Len Riggin applied for scarce funds for fuel reduction projects. His goal was to “keep his two crews busy” during the summer wildfire season as fire crews were on stand-by, ready to respond to calls for firefighters and suppression equipment in the region. The grant from the National Fire Plan (USDA Forest Service) targeted Camp Wooten in Columbia County and Field Springs State Park in Asotin County. Riggin’s office was awarded 12th Annual $60,000 to complete fuel reduction in Oregon SAF Golf Tournament the two state park facilities. The only hitch was the work was to be complet- Friday, July 20, 2018 ed by contractors and not to be used Lots of for fire suppression activities. Join the Oregon Society of Prizes & Contests! American Foresters at * HOPKINS FORESTRY Trysting Tree Golf Course Forest Managers performing herbicide Catered Lunch application, young stand management, in Corvallis, Oregon, for a harvest management, contract compliance, golf tournament to benefit included after inventories, and forestry/natural resources education the OSAF Foundation. the tournament 4 http://www.oregon.forestry.org/content/osaf-golf-tournament FORESTR ESTMGR FOR REGISTRATION AND/OR DONATIONS, CONTACT: Dick & Paula Hopkins 360-492-5441 Jessica Fitzmorris at 541-990-7264 or [email protected] [email protected]

16 WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 PHOTO COURTESY OF WASHINGTON STATE DNR PHOTO COURTESY OF WASHINGTON STATE DNR Land adjacent to Camp Wooten before fuel reduction Camp Wooten area after the School Fire. The fire was activities. devastating and the area is slowly coming back. Not a person to be stymied by con- structures were wrapped in plastic–not Remaining chipped material was tract requirements, Riggin and his the entire structure, but it helped pre- burned in piles during the early spring crew worked closely with WDFW and vent airflow and embers from lodging or after group use in the fall. These WSP to create defensible space around under them. maintenance activities continue today. camp structures, create fuel breaks, Furthermore, the DNR recom- Former Camp Manager Tim Fuller and thin and prune residual trees. mended additional trees be removed, worked with a nonprofit in the Tri- Timing of the fuel reduction work which was initially discouraged by Cities area developing signage to inter- was critical to avoid conflicts with WSP, but user groups applauded the pret the School Fire and actions taken clients, user groups to the camp, and move as clients could more easily be by WSP and firefighters to protect the routine camp maintenance activities. seen by adult leaders adjacent to camp facility. Fuller passed away from can- The projects started in the fall of 2000, facilities and in and around the prop- cer a few short years after the event, continued through 2001, and were erty. The Field Springs State Park fuel but his legacy and love for Camp completed prior to the state biennium reduction was completed using con- Wooten lives on. ◆ budget deadline in late June 2002. The tractors, but at much higher cost with DNR reviewed the work with WSP and far fewer acres treated. Lisa Naylor is a forester with the Blue WDFW and determined additional Following the fire, the DNR facilitat- Mountain Resource Conservation and work was needed, including the instal- ed the removal of brush material using Development Council, with offices in lation of a shaded fuel break. a chipper treating brush, chipped and Waitsburg,Wash. Lisa serves as the Shaded fuel breaks were 100’ wide, spread to areas requiring coverage Inland Empire SAF treasurer and can with 20’ tree spacing, and limbed to 3’. such as the archery range and foot- be reached at lisa.naylor@ All trees under 8” DBH were removed paths in and around the camp. rocketmail.com. and later pruned to 6’. The shaded fuel break began at the camp north entrance along the access road and around Defensible Space in Action Donnie Lake to the toe of the slopes surrounding the camp. Clearance around buildings was at least 30’ and 15’ above the rooftops. During the School Fire, open space voids around

LORENZ FORESTRY CHUCK LORENZ, CF 1770 Forest Management Planning & Operations, Inventory, Valuation for over 40 years PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA NAYLOR This is the author’s house that survived the catastrophic Columbia Complex Fire that took place a year after the School Fire and burned 360-951-0117 109,259 acres near Dayton, Wash. The photo, taken on August 22, 2016, [email protected] shows the value of defensible space.

WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 17 was the extension forester for Oregon State Janis; grandchildren Melissa, Tony, University where he helped local landown- Christine and John; great-grandchildren, ers in the management of their properties. Jaida and Avery; brother, Allen; and many He also participated in the school’s forestry nieces and nephews. program; Ralph retired in 2002. He was preceded in death by his father, We Remember The Duddles family has roots in Willard; his mother, Esther; and his broth- Oregon’s history dating from the 1800s. ers, Ronald and Glenn. Ralph’s grandfather, Thomas Duddles, trav- Charitable contributions can be made Ralph Duddles eled from Michigan along the Oregon Trail to the scholarship fund at his Alma Mater 1940-2018 to a land grant homestead on the coastal Michigan Technical University at Ralph Edward Duddles passed away range near Seaside. They labored several www.mtu.edu/giving. If possible, please Feb. 23, 2018, in Coos Bay. Ralph and years clearing land and raising a family. specify scholarships for forestry students. ◆ Carolyn Louis Steinmetz were married The family documents and letters from this December 1958 in their home state of period will be donated to the Oregon State Michigan, and in 2008, they were proud to University historical archives. celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Ralph and Carolyn fulfilled their life- in Coos Bay. Ralph started his forestry long dreams of traveling to Europe and WSSAF Foundation studies at Michigan Technical University Australia. His passions at home included Names 2018 where his son Jeffrey John was born in camping, fishing, and hunting. As a father, 1962. The family moved to Seattle, Wash., grandfather, and friend, he invited all to Scholarship Students to continue his studies at the University of join in learning, and enjoying the beauty The Washington State Society of Washington where his second son Donald and bounty of nature. American Foresters (WSSAF) Edward was born. Ralph’s life was not a poem, but a seg- Foundation continues to award Ralph’s career as a forest practices ment of the movie, “A River Runs Through forester led to assignments up and down It.” Ralph would want us all to find our scholarships to community college the west coast, with stops in California, role and join the cast; pun intended. and university students excited Washington, and Oregon. The family Ralph is survived by wife, Carolyn; about pursuing careers in forestry. moved in 1985 to Coos Bay, where Ralph sons, Jeffrey and Donald; daughter-in-law Since 2011, the Foundation has awarded scholarships totaling $22,000 to 19 bright and worthy Connecting Forest Landowners with students. Seedlings, Services and Contractors Scholarships for the upcoming academic year of 2018-2019 are being awarded to Sarah Bukhart DISCOVER Our Interactive Website ($1,000), Chad Horky ($1,500), and www.forestseedlingnetwork.com Mari Knutson ($1,500). Sarah is in her first year at Grays Harbor BUY/SELL SEEDLINGS • FIND VENDOR SERVICES & CONTRACTORS • VALUABLE RESOURCES College. Her goal is to pursue a career in silviculture research. Chad, an Army vet, is a fourth-year student enrolled in the Bachelor of Applied Science degree program at Seedling Nursery Since 1974 Green River College. Mari has a BS degree in Botany. She is now pur- We bring experience with owners that care about their product and customers. suing a BS degree in Natural Resources and Land Management. Approximately 10 million seedlings in annual production All scholarship recipients are 1 container site (plugs), 2 bareroot/transplant sites (p+1, 1+1) active SAF student members. Thanks to the generosity of Contract growing and spec seedlings for forestry and Christmas tree production WSSAF members and timberland and forest products companies, LET US GROW YOUR SEEDLINGS the Foundation’s year-end fund balance has grown to $54,000. David Gerdes Mike Gerdes To help additional students off- [email protected] set the rising cost of their forestry education, the Foundation is seek- FORESTERS • NURSERYMAN • SEEDSMAN ing the continued support of WSSAF members. Donations can be made to WSSAF, c/o Chuck Lorenz, Treasurer, PO Box 4031, SILP.O. BoxVASEED 118 • Roy,WA 98580 COMP • (253) 843-2246ANY Tumwater, WA 98501. ◆ “Serving Many of the Reforestation Needs of the World From This Location Since 1889”

18 WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 Calendar of Events

Western Forest Economists annual Road Surfacing, Oct. 10-11, Springfield, 2019 PNW Leadership Conference, meeting, June 3-5, Olympia, WA. Contact: OR. Contact: WFCA. hosted by Oregon SAF, Feb. 1-2, www.westernforesteconomist.org. McMenamins Edgefield, Troutdale, OR. The Hagenstein Lectures, Oct. 14, Contact: Meghan Tuttle, meghan.tuttle@ Firewise Educational Community World Forestry Center, Portland, OR. weyerhaeuser.com, www.forestry.org, and June 5, World Forestry Center, Event, Contact: Rick Zenn, 503-488-2103, click on Leadership Conference icon. Discovery Museum, Portland, OR. Contact: [email protected], www.hagenstein- World Forestry Center. lectures.org. 2019 Oregon SAF annual meeting, CESCL: Certified Erosion and April 17-19, Boulder Falls Inn, Lebanon, Sediment Control Lead Training, Visualizing and Analyzing OR. Contact: Jeremy Felty, jeremy.felty@ June 5-6, Renton, WA. Contact: NWETC. Environmental Data with R, oregonstate.edu. Oct. 16-17, Issaquah, WA. Contact: NWETC. CESCL: Erosion and Sediment Control Lead Training 2-Day in Oregon, Cultivating Talent: Workforce June 12-13, Salem, OR. Contact: NWETC. Strategies in the Forest and Contact Information Oct. 25, Make Money Manage Hardwood, Natural Resource Sectors, World Forestry Center, Portland, OR. NWETC: Northwest Environmental WHC Annual Symposium, June 14, Puyallup, WA. Contact: http://wahard- Contact: Rick Zenn, 503-488-2103, Training Center, 1445 NW Mall St., Suite woodscomm.com, 360-835-1700, [email protected]. 4, Issaquah, WA 98027, 425-270-3274, [email protected]. nwetc.org. PNW Forest Vegetation World Forestry Center: Western Mensurationists annual Management Conference, Dec. 4-5, 4033 SW meeting, June 17-19, Flagstaff, AZ. Wilsonville, OR. Contact: WFCA. Canyon Rd., Portland, OR 97221, Contact: WFCA. www.worldforestry.org/event Applied Early Stand Silviculture in Northwest Seed Orchard Managers WFCA: Western Forestry and the Inland Northwest Conference, and BC Seed Orchard Association Dec. 12-13, Spokane, WA. Contact: WFCA. Conservation Association, 4033 SW Joint Annual Meeting, June 19-20, Canyon Rd., Portland, OR 97221, 503- Penticton, BC. Contact: BC Seed Orchard 226-4562, [email protected], Association, fgcouncil.bc.ca/bcsoa Applied Early Stand Silviculture in www.westernforestry.org. or WFCA. the Inland Northwest Conference, Dec. 12-13, Spokane, WA. Contact: WFCA. Send calendar items to the editor at Oregon Small Woodlands [email protected]. Association annual meeting, June 28-30, Springfield, OR. Contact: OSWA, www.oswa.org, 503-588-1813, [email protected]. Certifiably Proud of the Washington When Small is Big II/2018, July 18, Cheatham Hall, World Forestry Center, Tree Farm Program Portland, OR. Contact: World Forestry Center.

12th Annual OSAF Golf Tournament, July 20, Trysting Tree Golf Course, Corvallis, www.greencrow.com OR. Contact: Jessica Fitzmorris, jessica.fizt- [email protected], www.oregon.forestry. org/content/12th-annual-osaf-golf-tour- nament.

2018 WFI International Fellowship Program—Forestry Lightning Talks, September 13, Cheatham Hall, World Forestry Center, Portland, OR. Contact: World Forestry Center.

The Forest Products Forum, Sept. 25, World Forestry Center, Portland, OR. Contact: https://www.wwotf.org/.

Who Will Own the Forest 14? Sept. 25- 27, World Forestry Center, Portland, OR. Contact: https://www.wwotf.org/.

2018 SAF National Convention, Oct. 3-7, Portland, OR. Contact: www.eforester.org/safconvention.

WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 19 Oregon Forestry to be Showcased at Convention

BY TAMARA CUSHING

n October, foresters from aIround the country will head to Portland for a week of educa- tion and fellowship. The Society of American Foresters will hold the annual National Convention October 3-7 at the Oregon Convention Center. This annual event is an opportunity to highlight forestry in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. If you have never attended a national SAF convention, this is a great year to attend your first one! Approximately PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH ZYTKIEWICZ, FOCAL FLAME PHOTOGRAPHY, www.focalflame.com Don’t forget your credit card—proceeds from the silent auction supports 1,500 foresters attend from around the forestry education and science. country, and among those in attendance are around 400 students rep- resenting the future of our profession! What can you expect at this year’s convention? There will be educational sessions spanning the full range of topics in forestry including silvi- culture, economics, urban forestry, biomet- PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH ZYTKIEWICZ, FOCAL FLAME PHOTOGRAPHY, www.focalflame.com rics, and much more! An intense Quiz Bowl moment. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH ZYTKIEWICZ, The theme for this year’s FOCAL FLAME PHOTOGRAPHY, www.focalflame.com and tech companies, as well as the uni- Bid often and bid high! Join in the convention is Forest Policy and Science- versities, US Forest Service, and organi- fun at the SAF raffle and silent Management Interactions, so you can zations like Tree Farm and Forest auction at the national convention. expect to see that theme running History Society (just to name a few of WSSAF member John Walkowiak through the plenary sessions and tours. will sell you a few tickets. the MANY exhibitors). Also in the In addition to the classroom-style exhibit hall is the SAF raffle and silent needed for registration. We all know first educational sessions, we have a great auction. There are always great items to impressions are everything, so bring slate of tours to show foresters all the bid on such as hard-to-find books, your enthusiasm. If you would like to great work that is being done in wood bowls, beautiful photos, trips, volunteer, contact Ron Boldenow Oregon and the PNW. Tours were tools, and jewelry. And your dollars go ([email protected]) or Ryan Gordon assembled to appeal to everyone to support the Foresters’ Fund and Kurt ([email protected]). including those of us who live and Gottschalk Science Fund. You’ll keep hearing more about the work in Oregon’s beautiful forests. Oregon SAF has been working on convention as we get closer. If you No one should miss the student plans for this convention with staff from have any thoughts or questions about quiz bowl where teams from 32 of the the national office. Pretty soon you will the convention, let me know. I hope to forestry programs around the country see requests for items for the silent auc- see many of you at the convention. ◆ will square off in a battle of forestry tion or for volunteers to help during knowledge. It is a very impressive convention. The heavy lifting for a con- Tamara Cushing is general chair of the show of expertise by these future pro- vention is really the volunteers on site. 2018 SAF National Convention. She fessionals. We will need friendly faces to help with can be reached at tamara.cushing@ The real hub of activity at the con- the SAF raffles and auction (both selling oregonstate.edu. vention is the exhibit hall. We will have tickets and helping with the winning exhibitors from equipment companies tickets). Friendly volunteers will be

20 WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 High School Forestry Programs Expand in Oregon lished in 2001 to support high school and refurbishing a tractor and chipper. BY DICK POWELL forestry programs in Oregon. Under its After review, the $10,902 available for charter, the fund can have sub-funds distribution was approved for grant regon is one of to support specific areas of interest. requests for high schools from Amity, only several ONREF consists of the Main fund (to Brookings Harbor Christian, Butte sOtates in the country support forestry education throughout Falls Charter School, Neah-Kah-Nie, that offers forestry as Oregon); Pleasant Hill Sub-fund (to and Philomath. a part of their high support forestry education at Pleasant Since its inception, ONREF has school curricula. For Hill High School); and the Terry Selby contributed over $100,000 toward high a time, there were Memorial Sub-fund (to support school forestry programs and benefit- about 20 schools in forestry education in Benton County ed over 8,000 students. The grants Oregon with a strong forestry program high schools). A third sub-fund, the have helped fund the purchase of aeri- that operated under the umbrella of Oregon Society of American Foresters al drones, small sawmills, chain saws, the former Associated Oregon Forestry (OSAF) Sub-fund, was started in 2008 chippers, forestry tools and instru- Clubs (AOFC). However, these pro- because foresters are interested in ments, greenhouses, and a whole host grams dwindled to only three or four high school forestry education of other equipment and supplies. as schools faced serious funding chal- throughout the state. The last few years, an OSAF mem- lenges, and believing all students ONREF is a “field of interest” fund ber has gone to each community to would attend college, focused on mak- administered by the Oregon Communi- award the recipients of ONREF grants ing students college-ready. Schools ty Foundation (OCF). The Oregon in a public setting. This outreach is to and communities have come to realize Natural Resources Education Fund let school superintendents, school that many students do not go on to Association (ONREFA) manages the principals, school boards, and com- college and many of those who do go growth and direction of the fund, evalu- munity members know that forestry is to college never graduate. ates grant requests, and provides advice alive and well in Oregon—we support Many of these high school forestry to OCF on distributions. ONREFA forestry education and we are willing students typically spend part of their membership includes a Board of to put our money where our mouth is! school day in the woods, which helps Directors and two sub-fund advisors for ONREF has received significant them stay in school, and upon gradua- each of the three sub-funds. Of the 12 financial contributions from many tion, gives them marketable skills. directors and sub-fund advisors, nine within the forest community interest- Consequently, a renewed interest in are OSAF members. Of the remaining ed in promoting forestry education in career and technical programs and three advisors, one represents the Oregon. Each year, the OSAF Executive forestry is coming back into Oregon’s Oregon Department of Education; Committee puts out a year-end fund- schools. another is a school superintendent; and raising letter that, among other things, High school forestry programs have the third is a former science teacher. suggests contributing to ONREF. A grown to 20 schools (including some This group evaluates each grant request recent $10,000 contribution to ONREF in Oregon’s largest cities including against criteria including teacher quali- came from the estate of a small wood- Portland and Eugene) that are certified fications and training, advisory com- land owner. by the Oregon Department of mittees, and program accreditation. For more information on how to Education as a “program of study;” Grants are awarded to those that pass contribute to ONREF, please contact another 16 schools are working toward this review process. Sara Brandt, Senior Philanthropic a forestry program that will meet advisor, at the Oregon Community Oregon’s program of study standards. ONREF Funding Levels as of Foundation, 541-431-7099, or any Additionally, there are another 26 March 14, 2018 ONREF board members: Pete Sikora schools that offer some forestry class- ([email protected]), Julie Woodward es. The teachers of these programs reg- ONREF Main Fund $43,650 ([email protected]), Jim Rombach ularly attend the professional develop- Pleasant Hill Sub-fund $83,675 ([email protected]), Steve Cafferata ment opportunities offered by the Terry Selby Memorial Sub-fund $37,273 ([email protected]), Jennifer Beathe Oregon Forest Resources Institute. ([email protected]), Jim Eleven schools have joined the Future Oregon SAF Sub-fund $80,384 James ([email protected]), Natural Resources Leaders (similar to Total $244,982 Tim Keith ([email protected]), or FFA and the replacement for AOFC) to When ONREFA board met in March Dick Powell. coordinate local skills competitions, as ◆ to consider the grant requests from six well as the state championship contest schools, we had $11,598 in requests for Dick Powell serves as co-chair of and to provide statewide leadership things including common forestry Oregon’s ONREF Sub-Fund, along with opportunities for students. tools; ventilating a greenhouse for Tim Keith. Dick can be reached at The Oregon Natural Resources growing native plants; starting a new [email protected]. Education Fund (ONREF) was estab- forestry program; wildlife cameras;

WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 21 some trickledown effects on private and 5) support protection funding landowners. As a next step, by June, requests from ODF. The full testimony ODFW scientists must complete sur- can be found at www.oregon.forestry. vival guidelines, which identify critical org/oregon/policy/general. Contact: habitat sites and determine if current Mark Buckbee, OSAF Policy co-chair, suitable habitat management protocols [email protected]. Policy Scoreboard are sufficient. The full OSAF testimony can be found at www.oregon.forestry. Lane County Spray Ban Initiative Editor’s Note: To keep SAF members org/oregon/policy/general. Contact: Voided by Court; Herbicide Issue informed of state society policy activities, Mark Buckbee, OSAF Policy co-chair, Persists. Following the success of a Policy Scoreboard is a regular feature in the [email protected]. 2017 ballot initiative that bans aerial Western Forester. The intent is to provide a spraying in nearby Lincoln County, anti- brief explanation of the policy activity—you Oregon Legislators Create spray activists in Lane County collected are encouraged to follow up with the listed Wildfire Caucus. After the damaging thousands of signatures for a similar contact person for detailed information. 2017 wildfire season in Oregon burned local measure, enough to secure a place 700,000 acres with a suppression cost of on the May 2018 county ballot. However, Oregon Uplists Marbled Murrelet. $340 million, a new bipartisan, bicam- in early March a Lane County Circuit The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commis- eral Wildfire Caucus was formed by Court Judge ruled that the measure can’t sion met on February 9, 2018, in Oregon state legislators. The caucus is be put to a vote because it covers multi- Portland to decide whether to “uplist” led by Senators Betsy Johnson (D- ple issues and thus violates Oregon’s the marbled murrelet (MAMU). The Scappoose) and Herman Baertschiger “separate vote requirement.” At the time murrelet had been listed as Threatened (R-Grants Pass). A letter from Oregon of this writing, although the court deci- under Oregon’s Endangered Species Act SAF was sent to the caucus leaders, vol- sion gives little or no chance for the since 1995. Multiple entities presented unteering its considerable expertise in measure to appear on the May ballot, written and/or oral testimony on the the fields of fuel and fire management. supporters plan to file an appeal, and if proposal to the commission. Oregon OSAF member Dan Shults, retired ODF that fails, they could pursue a modified SAF submitted written testimony pre- Southern Area director, was invited to version for the November ballot. pared by Chair Fran Cafferata Coe and speak to the caucus. In his testimony, Because herbicide use on forestlands OSAF Wildlife Society Liaison Jenniffer Shults outlined SAFs national position is an ongoing, serious public issue in Bakke. In brief, the OSAF testimony statement on Wildland Fire Management. Oregon, the recent update and revision asked the commission to make their From there he presented a list of recom- of OSAF’s position statement “Using decision on the best current scientific mendations including: 1) encourage Herbicides on Forestlands in Oregon” evidence, including a finding of stable federal legislators to reform the existing provides an important resource as populations along most of the Oregon federal wildfire and hazardous fuel questions and concerns arise from coast, and the presence of substantial budgeting approach; 2) support ODF interested citizens and public leaders. suitable, but unoccupied, habitat for efforts to work cooperatively with the For example, prior to the Lane court MAMU. The commission decided on a Forest Service to accomplish land man- decision, OSAF leaders used the new 4-2 vote to uplist MAMU to Endangered agement objectives under the Good position statement to help draft status. While the full effect of the listing Neighbor Authority Master Agreement; responses that would provide local citi- on forest management is yet to be 3) encourage federal line officers to be zens with a professional perspective on determined, some forest managers more aggressive in initial attack; 4) use herbicide use in forestry, based on cur- express concern that there will likely be wildfire to accomplish habitat objec- rent science and experience. All OSAF further restrictions on harvesting on tives only when and where risks to state members are invited to review the State of Oregon forestlands throughout and locally protected lands is minimal; expanded discussion and environmen- the Oregon Coast Range and ultimately tal references in the revised position (www.oregon.forestry.org/oregon/poli- cy/general), and similarly use this material when communicating with policy makers and the interested public about this unique and important issue. Contact: Mark Buckbee, OSAF Policy co-chair, [email protected].

Forest Restoration Collaboratives Meeting Draws Crowd. Nearly 200 agency professionals, industry and con- servationists representatives, and com- munity volunteers from Montana, Idaho, and Washington gathered in Coeur d’Alene on March 20-21 to discuss how to bring together different perspectives to enhance forest health and resiliency.

22 WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 From NEPA reform to sustaining collab- Governors Association, the Summit orative efforts, participants shared ideas Fire and Fuels itself was designed to develop action- and brainstormed ways to keep the Management able findings for consideration by elect- momentum going. This meeting was (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3) ed officials and policy makers. That goal supported by a Foresters’ Fund grant. 5. Invest in Data Mapping, Risk was largely, but not entirely, accom- Visit https://bit.ly/2jg1EO7 for more Assessment, and Applied Research That plished by the complete set of recom- information. Contact: Dennis Becker, Directly Supports Cross-Boundary mendations contained in the report— [email protected]. Management and Suppression. Panels this article is a heavily abridged version. identified the need for significant The next step will be to present the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) investment in applied research and panel’s work in multiple forums so that The Idaho Department gains speed. information tools targeted to directly it can be folded into the work of a stag- of Lands plans to increase the pace of gering number of different initiatives Good Neighbor Authority projects in support pre-fire response planning, occurring around the West. The OSU 2018. Agreements are in place on four wildland fire management, and sup- national forests in Idaho with 11 active pression efforts. Consensus existed College of Forestry has committed to GNA projects. Timber harvesting has across panels, speakers, and in remarks work with our partners from each of the begun on two timber sales in the Nez by audience members that the level of states to ensure that individuals from Perce-Clearwater National Forests, the current investment to better inform and the science panels can be available for proceeds of which are being used to support our collective efforts on public follow-up presentations if requested. plan 10 additional projects. The Idaho and private lands is inadequate and Contact the author if you are interested. State Legislature recently approved illogical considering the breadth and Change is never easy for individuals, funding for eight new forester positions magnitude of the economic, social, and societies, or professions. I feel that this to expedite GNA planning and imple- ecological impacts of the current fire time and this issue, however, is ripe for mentation. Contact: Dennis Becker, reality. This is not another simple call for our profession going forward. Foresters [email protected]. more research; we need to establish a are uniquely prepared to critically think structure to link, coordinate, and incent and solve land management problems Family Forestry Study in Idaho. cross-disciplinary research efforts of dif- over large spatial areas and lengthy About eight percent of forestland in ferent public and private entities across time spans—it is what we do. The solu- Idaho is family owned spread across western states to provide credible, rele- tions to our wildfire problem, rooted in approximately 1.7 million acres (or 56 vant, and timely information in support unprecedented fuel conditions and percent of all privately-owned forest of planning, management, and sup- overcharged fire seasons, are in our land). Up to one third of that land may pression efforts. Given the magnitude of view. Active land management that sees change hands in the next five years the challenges faced, information silos and treats our forested landscapes as according to a recent study of family must end, and proposals for coordinat- fuels (in addition to all the other things forest owners in Idaho. The study that are our forests) will be our path (www.uidaho.edu/cnr/policy-analysis- ing and leveraging institutional knowl- forward. Let’s get to work. group) conducted by the University of edge and expertise merit immediate ◆ Idaho Policy Analysis Group in conjunc- attention and resources. John D. Bailey is Maybelle Clarke tion with the Idaho Department of The Challenges Lands and University of Idaho MacDonald Professor of Teaching The Summit event and subsequent Extension, surveyed Idaho’s family for- Excellence, Silviculture and Fire report was neither the start nor the end est owners to understand management Management, OSU College of Forestry, trends and behaviors. The study found of stakeholder engagement that is criti- Corvallis, Ore. He can be reached at that of the nearly 36,000 Idaho family cal to the future of the fire-prone west- 541-737-1497 or john.bailey@oregon- forest owners, 60 percent or more have ern landscape. Intending to build on state.edu. John is an active SAF member. engaged in active management, includ- 2012 and 2017 initiatives of the Western ing improving wildlife habitat, reducing wildfire risks, harvesting trees, and other actions. Based on the findings, study recommendations are provided for local government and agencies, including building on networks among landowners, families, and neighbors in helping to manage family forests; designing extension programs that focus on improving forest health; and targeting programs to new owners that may have less experience managing forests. Contact: Dennis Becker, [email protected]. ◆

WESTERN FORESTER ◆ APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018 23 WesternSOCIETY OF AMERICANForester FORESTERS Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE 4033 S.W. Canyon Road PAID Portland, Oregon 97221 PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 16

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