Volume 15 Number 3 Summer 2011 Second Annual Biomass Field Day Focuses Upon Utilization With the unmistakable roar of heavy machinery Central to efficient biomass utilization is the use of engines and a cloud of sawdust in the late spring air, machinery that can chip or compress biomass on site, the Second Annual Southern Utah Biomass Field Day reducing transportation costs. Vendors representing began. On June 3 and 4, biomass enthusiasts from 15 eight forestry equipment companies provided U.S. states and Canada attendees with an gathered on a Bureau up-close glimpse of of Land Management biomass harvesting (BLM) mechanical and processing in treatment site south of action. Equipment Beaver, Utah. Federal exhibits included a and state employees, Bobcat skid steer private contractors, with a Fecon BullHog equipment vendors, mulcher, a WoodMizer and university portable sawmill, a researchers convened BioBaler mulcher and on a parcel of pinyon compactor, and many and juniper covered others. land that the BLM had marked for thinning. One highlight of the equipment exhibits This year’s field day was a demonstration of Slash like this can be converted to energy through biomass centered upon the gasification provided utilization. viability of biomass as by the University of an economically feasible and renewable fuel source. Montana’s BioMax biomass generator. Brian Kerns of Many of the two-day event’s speakers spoke about the University of Montana spoke about the potential the need to thin Utah’s pinyon-juniper forests in order to restore ecosystem health and prevent catastrophic INSIDE THIS ISSUE: wildfires. Bob Rummer, a Forest Service research engineer and biomass expert from Auburn, Alabama Forestry Extension Launches New Website spoke about cost-effective uses for mechanically Western Aspen Alliance: a Scientific Network treated trees that can be provided through biomass Pinyon Juniper Paleoecology Revealed utilization. 2 uses for biomass in generating energy. The BioMax’s about encouraging biomass development in Utah. gasification technology creates combustible gasses He maintained that competitively priced electricity, from a woody feedstock. According to Kerns, the plentiful local pinyon-juniper material, and state and BioMax provides federal policies a model of one that support way to convert biomass use are local renewable essential for the resources into development of a useful products, biomass industry in effectively turning the state. Dr. Robin waste into energy. Tausch of the Rocky Mountain Representatives Research Station from the Utah state in Reno, Nevada, government arrived also presented his on day two of research about the field day. Ted the availability Wilson, Governor of juniper and Gary Herbert’s pinyon based upon senior advisor on paleoecological environmental data in the Great matters, spoke Basin. Bob in support of A pinyon nut silviculture tour was held on the Thursday preceding Rummer ended biomass utilization the field day. the evening’s projects throughout presentations with the state. Newly appointed energy policy advisor, a short presentation about a timeline for the feasibility Amanda Smith, also showed support for alternative of biomass use. Rummer cited an example of an energy initiatives. already-running flagship biomass power plant in Port Talbot, Wales. He noted that the future of biomass Members of the Utah Biomass Resources Group was on its way, but it would take time for it to become (UBRG) (see UFN Winter 2011) were present at economically stable. the field day as well. Darren McAvoy, co-chair of UBRG, advocated biomass utilization as a way to A pinyon nut silviculture tour was offered on restore ecosystems. He presented the main goal of June 2 as a precursor to the field day. Twenty-two the UBRG, which is to create a market for biomass participants arrived at a site near Modena, Utah to utilization in Utah. learn about pine nut production in the Great Basin. Commercial pine nut contractors Larry Shurtliff of During a dinner at Eagle Point Resort near Beaver, Blue Coyote Pine Nuts and Jack McMullin gave an biomass experts presented information about the overview of the pine nut industry from the perspective future of biomass utilization in the Intermountain of harvesters. There was also some discussion about West. Daniel Simon, a member of the Board of Native American uses of pine nuts. Directors of the Biomass Power Association, spoke 3 Dr. Robin Tausch shared some of his knowledge on pine nut production. By removing the other trees, the the hybridization of Utah juniper with western juniper favored producers will have more room to grow and from the thousands of years of prevailing winds be more likely to produce a better crop of pine nuts. carrying western Part of the day’s juniper pollen east discussion revolved across the Great around creating Basin to land a ‘Pine Nut on Utah Juniper Protocol’ for other trees. Tausch natural resource also discussed managers to refer Native American to when managing practices of a woodland managing a stand with the primary of trees for pine goal of pine nut production. He nut production. described ancient Reduced fire sites where the hazard and an trees had been increase in plant thinned to the diversity and point where the wildlife habitat are remaining trees secondary benefits remained in an Pinyon-juniper woodlands at the Nevershine Hollow site were of the removal almost steady state treated to reduce fuel buildup and regenerate sagebrush habitat. treatment. of open woodland. This site is next to I-15 south of Beaver. The tour continued by Rose Wiarda, through a stand of recently treated pinyon and juniper. Extension Forestry Intern, with Darren McAvoy The treatment involved removal of many of the trees and leaving the trees with the greatest potential for USU Forestry Extension Launches New Website New look, same trustworthy and objective content! The Utah State University Forestry Extension has launched a new website. The site’s new address is forestry.usu.edu. A reminder: Make sure to change your bookmarks to direct to the new site! 4 The Western Aspen Alliance: A Network for Sharing Science Since 2008, the Western Aspen Alliance (WAA) has As an example of what the WAA does, it has been been actively engaging difficult aspen issues around actively engaged for the last two years with the the western U.S. and Canada, but many in Utah Utah Forest Restoration Working Group (UFRWG) aren’t aware that this resource is centered so close developing a set of “Guidelines” for aspen restoration to home. The Alliance is housed at USU, as a formal on National Forest lands throughout Utah. The partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the collaborative process of the UFRWG has involved Bureau of Land Management, though our network focusing on solutions — as opposed to getting hung of scientists, managers and conservationists spans up on disagreements — for aspen sustainability many state, federal and private institutions. Its goal derived from often opposing interest groups. is to facilitate cooperative The UFRWG research and has now moved disseminate state- from developing of-the-science guidelines to aspen information implementing to interested restoration managers, practices on the researchers, the Ashley, Fishlake, public and other and Dixie National entities. Forests. State and private interests, Current advances which are also in aspen genetics, members of interactions this group, may with wildlife, use advances understanding of developed through historic conditions this process to and relations to a monitor, improve changing climate Members of the Utah Forest Restoration Working Group discuss or maintain their make it imperative appropriate responses to conifer overtopping in seral aspen on the respective aspen that contemporary Dixie National Forest, Utah. forests. One key land managers stay to success of the abreast of dynamic changes in the aspen sciences. UFRWG’s first major initiative, aspen restoration, But many practitioners say they are too busy to stay has been the involvement of the WAA in the form informed about research in aspen, much less the of bringing relevant, objective aspen science to the other topics important to fulfilling their duties. The discussion. WAA was formed to increase the accessibility of this information by offering a number of venues for In addition to consultation in ongoing land attaining current science in this field. management issues, the WAA provides assistance in organizing field workshops and conferences. It has actively supported and participated in the 5 annual Restoring the West Conference at Utah is free. Members can remain tuned into the latest State University for the past several years. Field science and aspen-related events by joining our presentations have been given in Utah, Colorado, mailing list. Additionally, a quarterly newsletter, Idaho, Montana, and Arizona. Of course, addressing Tremblings, is emailed to each WAA member. Just aspen conditions on the ground is the best way go to our homepage and click on the “Become a to communicate with those who are charged with Member” box to take advantage of this internationally resolving issues such as excessive browsing of renowned resource that’s located right here in Utah. sprouts, diminished fire cycles and rapid overstory For more information about the Western Aspen die-offs. Alliance, visit its website: www.western-aspen- alliance.org The WAA also offers online consultation, the richest aspen bibliographic database in the world, featuring The Utah Forest Restoration Working Group’s over 7,000 records and a newly created “expertise Guidelines are available here: www.western-aspen- database” where members may query leading alliance.org/pdf/AspenRestoration.pdf scientists about particular disciplinary problems in regard to their own locales. by Paul C. Rogers, WAA Director The best thing about the WAA is that membership These two photos, taken at the same location, document one example of the extensive road damage from this year’s run-off in northern Utah.