United States Department of Agriculture White Mountain National Forest 2017 A Year of Service Forest Service January 2018 Sustain Our Nation’s Forests ■ White Mountain NF foresters marked trees along the Twin Mtn. power line corridor for clearing by Eversource. This powerline is critical to maintain power for Bretton Woods. Sustain Our Nation’s Forests ■ A Forester’s view through a Relaskop (forester’s tool used to measure stand basal area, tree height, and diameter) of timber at Jones timber sale in Landaff, NH this past summer. Sustain Our Nation’s Forests ■ As part of a New England cooperative effort to collect and permanently store rare plant seeds, Forest Botanist Dan Sperduto collected Prairie Goldenrod on Holts Ledge to send to a storage facility at the New England Wildflower Society. Sustain Our Nation’s Forests ■ Botany staff treated Japanese knotweed a nonnative invasive species at Campton Pond in Campton, NH to restore excellent wildlife and pollinator habitat. Sustain Our Nation’s Forests ■ In collaboration with Kezar Lake Watershed Association White Mountain NF biologists monitored long term brook trout abundance in Great Brook, within the Albany South integrated resource area in Stoneham, Maine. Sustain Our Nation’s Forests ■ The Youth Conservation crew (YCC) repaired water bars on the Welch-Dickey trail to fix a drainage issue that was causing the parking lot to flood. Sustain Our Nation’s Forests ■ In October, the 72-acre Dilly Fire was managed by an interagency command system comprised of the US Forest Service, State of NH Division of Forests and Lands and the town of Woodstock Fire Dept. Sustain Our Nation’s Forests ■ In Fall 2016, the Covered Bridge Fire in Albany, NH burned over 300 acres. Monitoring continued for several days after the event to monitor smoldering leaf litter. Sustain Our Nation’s Forests ■ In The ‘Halloween’ storm brought damaging winds and heavy rain to NH and the White Mountain NF causing upwards of $3 million worth of damage across the forest. Many roads, trails, facilities and recreation sites were closed due to flooding and hazardous conditions. Deliver Benefits to the Public ■ Dolly Copp campground restoration construction continued in Big Meadow, with the installation of new waterline and road reconstruction in the south half of the campground. Deliver Benefits to the Public ■ New toilets were set in place with cranes in Dolly Copp Campground. Deliver Benefits to the Public ■ As part of an ongoing effort to reduce bear-human interactions, the Pemigewasset Developed Recreation staff installed bear boxes in the Hancock campground. Deliver Benefits to the Public ■ Marianne Leberman along with several employees led Interlakes Elementary School children in their quest to become Jr. Rangers and discover job opportunities in the Forest Service. Deliver Benefits to the Public ■ Jr. Rangers, after completing Jr. Ranger book were sworn in at the visitor centers across the forest. Deliver Benefits to the Public ■ A ceremony was held to celebrate the long-term conservation of 175 acres, previously owned by Dartmouth College. With assistance from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and private donors, the land was conveyed to the National Park Service, and added to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The parcel will then be conveyed to the White Mountain NF as the local land managers of the Appalachian Trail in NH. Deliver Benefits to the Public ■ In January, over 80 stakeholders from diverse interest groups including business, tourism, recreation, government, nonprofit, and forestry participated in the Stakeholder Collaboration Summit. Participants role-played stakeholders from different sectors in a board game customized for the White Mountains region and based on recreation use of the Forest. Deliver Benefits to the Public ■ Over 100 volunteers attended the annual Trailhead Steward training at White Mountain NF headquarters in Campton, NH. This program encourages outdoor safety and conservation in the White Mountains by interacting with hikers, backpackers and climbers at trailheads and in the backcountry to promote responsible enjoyment and protection of public land. Deliver Benefits to the Public ■ Over 30 Granite State Ambassadors (GSA) participated in the annual White Mountain NF certification training. The focus of the tour was high visitor use at recreation sites in the White Mountain NF & across the state. The day ended at Crawford Path where several GSA’s were awarded a White Mountain NF certification pin. Apply Knowledge Globally ■ A group of foresters from China visited in early spring and were interested in learning more about forestry, recreation, climate change, road construction, NH culture and history. They toured several timber sales, and reviewed prescriptions and harvest objectives. During a stop at a decommissioned portion of the Tunnel Stream road that had washed out during Tropical Storm Irene, they discussed the challenges of forest management and road construction and maintenance in light of climate change and increased precipitation events in NH. Apply Knowledge Globally ■ The White Mountain NF hosted a group from Vietnam to share information about the opportunities and challenges of public-private partnerships in the US and in Southeast Asia. Apply Knowledge Globally ■ The White Mountain NF announced a new interactive Story Map, designed to give the public new ways to learn about the Forest. This digital application allows the visitor to zoom to an area of interest and click to dig deeper into topics of choice. ■ On this site, visitors can compare different types of forestry and wildlife habitat management techniques through photos of implementation on the ground. They can also watch the vegetation in a harvest unit grow over time through aerial photos, providing a variety of wildlife habitats and food opportunities. ■ Web link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/whitemountain/home Excel as a High-Performing Agency ■ The White Mountain NF was honored to host a visit from Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and the swearing in ceremony of the new chief of the Forest Service, Tony Tooke. Excel as a High-Performing Agency ■ Visitor Information Specialist, Chase Ciechon received a certificate of completion for his participation in the Leadership Mount Washington Valley program. This network for developing professionals emphasizes service, collaboration and the existence of synergistic opportunities to share new ideas and fresh perspectives to help enhance the quality of life in the Mount Washington Valley community. Excel as a High-Performing Agency ■ Home Depot Volunteers painted and landscaped the CCC-built Bartlett Lodge in the Bartlett Experimental Forest. The lodge served as temporary housing for the Veterans Conservation Corps, a program that exposes transitioning veterans to conservation careers with the US Forest Service and other land management agencies. Excel as a High-Performing Agency ■ White Mountain NF student wildlife interns assisted with bird surveys to record species that favor high elevation. Excel as a High-Performing Agency ■ During the Annual Saw Refresher and Crosscut training classes, the Androscoggin Ranger District Trail Crew demonstrated how to safely fell trees. Excel as a High-Performing Agency ■ Volunteer roving caretakers helped maintain day use area sites on the Pemigewasset Ranger District..