Reducing Wildfire Risk and Protecting Our Drinking Water in a Changing Climate

the full blog post is below

Posted by Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service and Mike Connor, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, on July 19, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Cross-posted from the White House Council of Environmental Quality blog:

Americans are all too familiar with the devastation catastrophic wildland fires can wreak on the landscape. Fire takes lives, destroys homes, impacts wildlife, and devastates millions of acres of valuable forests and grasslands every year. But what is lesser known is that these fires also severely damage watersheds—the very lands that provide clean and abundant drinking water for millions of Americans every day.

To address this problem, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell this week announced an historic agreement between the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation to focus on proactively restoring forest lands around important watersheds and preventing costly, destructive wildfires in these areas.

The partnership is included in President Obama’s Climate Action Plan as a means to reduce wildfire risk, protect critical infrastructure, and lessen the impacts of climate change, which include higher risks of large and destructive wildfires. The damage caused to rivers, dams, and irrigation systems after a wildfire can be tremendous. Clearing out the sediment and ash left behind is costing the nation millions of dollars every year, and the impacts of climate change are expected to continue to intensify.  Climate change also exacerbates dry conditions, which can slow the natural recovery time after a wildfire.

Through this Western Watershed Enhancement Partnership, our two federal agencies will begin working with water users on both the local government and private sector level to restore healthy forested watersheds across the West. In cooperation with regional Colorado government agencies, our first effort in this partnership will start in the Upper Colorado Headwaters and Big Thompson watersheds. Our goal is to ensure these important watersheds are kept reliable and clean for the hundreds of thousands of people who depend on them for drinking water, farming and electricity.

Heavy rains after a wildfire caused this heavy sediment deposit (Photo Credit: R. H. Meade, U.S. Geological Survey)

On a national level, our partnership will work to restore forest and watershed health and conduct planning for post-wildfire actions and responses. We will strive to protect municipal and agricultural water supplies and water delivery systems from future threats and we invite cities, towns, and rural communities to partner with us.

As land managing agencies, we share an interest in the long-term sustainability of our Nation’s water supplies. These waters are the life blood for American agriculture, the source of drinking water for millions of Americans, and a key component of healthy local economies. By working cooperatively across agency lines, we can keep our forested and grassland watersheds safe for the millions of Americans and wildlife that depend on these clean and abundant water sources.

Tom Tidwell is the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service.

Mike Connor is the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation.

- See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/07/19/reducing-wildfire-risk-and-protecting-our-drinking-water-in-a-changing-climate/#sthash.fUwI4vrs.dpuf

USDA Explores How Federal Infrastructure Can Support Rural Cultural Strategies

Zigzag etc is a rural community, but more it is a recreational area with lots of local artists.  The following blog posting of USDA suggests that more support for these activities may be available.

The blog entry starts:

"As rural communities search for new and viable economic approaches, it is becoming clear that one core component of many successful rural communities is the presence of vibrant arts and cultural opportunities. Last month I had the opportunity to speak about rural arts initiatives and how USDA Rural Development is engaged with local communities and private foundations to provide awareness of our infrastructure programs and how they can assist in supporting local cultural strategies.

"At the Americans for the Arts annual meeting I had the honor of representing USDA on two panels where our Rural Development programs were part of the mix.  The sessions included discussion of ArtPlace, a consortium of national and regional foundations, and their efforts to support rural communities. Projects in Lanesboro, Minnesota and Ajo, Arizona are recent ArtPlace grantees, and we had the opportunity to explore ways in which USDA’s infrastructure programs might be able to leverage this new boost of philanthropic support as these communities work to demonstrate how cultural development is an essential ingredient for rural communities in the next generation.

- See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/07/19/usda-explores-how-federal-infrastructure-can-support-rural-cultural-strategies/#sthash.DVCwPtf6.dpuf

Rep. DeFazio wins top Democratic position on House Natural Resources Committee

Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio was named by his fellow Democrats to be the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee Thursday after the rival candidate, Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva, withdrew his candidacy.
"I believe that for Oregon this could be really good," said DeFazio, noting that the panel deals with a host of public land issues important to the state, including the contentious issue of managing federal forests in Oregon.
Since Democrats in the House are in the minority, their sway is limited.  But DeFazio said he has a good relationship with the committee's Republican chairman,  Rep. Doc Hastings of Washington.

by Jeff Mapes

rest of the article please link to
http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2013/07/rep_defazio_wins_top_democrati.html#incart_river

Smokey Bear Gives Bear Hugs in New Wildfire Prevention Campaign

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Smokey Bear Gives Bear Hugs in New Wildfire Prevention Campaign

Posted by Kathryn Sosbe, Office of Communication, U.S. Forest Service, on July 16, 2013 at 3:05 PM

Imagine dousing your campfire then getting a big bear hug from Smokey Bear, the iconic symbol of wildfire prevention for nearly 70 years.

That’s the idea behind three videos in a new series of Smokey Bear public service advertisements released July 12, 2013, designed to raise awareness about wildfire prevention. The Smokey Bear campaign is the longest running PSA campaign in U.S. History. The new ads will feature his well-known tagline, “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.” The new twist is the bear hugs.

“As he approaches his seventieth birthday, Smokey remains the country’s renowned and beloved ‘spokesbear’ for fire prevention,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “We are confident that these new PSAs will use ‘bear hugs’ to enlighten a whole new generation of Americans on the critical importance of preventing wildfires.”

Wildfires remain one of the most critical environmental issues affecting Americans. Smokey Bear’s campaign has helped to reduce wildfires from 22 million acres annually to an average of 6.9 million acres today. Still, nine out of 10 wildfires nationwide are caused by people, so Smokey Bear’s work remains vitally important.

“These new PSAs celebrate the Smokey Bear that we all know and love, while continuing to empower Americans to act responsibly when recreating outdoors,” said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. “According to our latest research, nearly all Americans are aware of Smokey and his message, and they understand that they have a role to play, but many don’t know exactly what to do. These ads educate audiences about specific steps to properly safeguard against accidental fire and I believe they will be effective. After all, who doesn’t want a hug from Smokey Bear?”

Stay connected to Smokey Bear through the campaign’s website, where you can take a pledge and learn more about wildfire prevention. Smokey Bear also can be followed through his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

- See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/07/16/smokey-bear-gives-bear-hugs-in-new-wildfire-prevention-campaign/#sthash.O24GE42j.dpuf

The misplaced war against Western wildfires

The link in this post is one of the best commentaries I've read about forest fires.  A great read will include some wonderful quotes (and it does).  Take the time to read the whole post.

"The paradox of fire stems from its role as the great shape-shifter of natural processes. The reason is simple: Fire is not a creature or a substance or a geophysical event like a hurricane or an earthquake. It is a biochemical reaction. It synthesizes its surroundings. It takes its character from its context."

"A fire that burns into a community is a disaster, but if we see fire only as a disaster, then we will follow the example of many wildland fire agencies that are adopting urban, all-hazard models in place of traditional land management. This leaves them fighting the fires that break out, rather than managing the settings that sustain those fires."
By:  Stephen J. Pyne, a professor at the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University.

Read more:The misplaced war against Western wildfires - The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_23644084/misplaced-war-against-western-wildfires#ixzz2Z81pMtRC
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
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Forest Service Closes Cloud Cap Road

The Cloud Cap Road (No. 3512) will be closed to all visitors until further notice due to the numerous dead, standing hazard trees that line both sides of the road.

#This closure applies not only to vehicle traffic, but also to foot, bicycle and horse access.

#About 5,000 dead trees will need to be removed before the road can be used in a safe manner. The dead trees are beginning to fall now that several years have passed since the 2008 Gnarl Ridge Fire burned through the area.

#The Gnarl Ridge Fire burned along both sides of the 9-mile-long road which provides vehicle access to the historic Cloud Cap Inn, Tilly Jane and Cloud Cap Campgrounds, Tilly Jane Guard Station, Tilly Jane A-Frame cabin and Cloud Cap Trailhead. The Forest Service is currently developing a hazard tree removal plan to remove trees within striking distance of the road.

#Tilly Jane Trail (#643) remains open. This 3-mile trail provides hiking-only access to the Tilly Jane Campground, Cloud Cap Inn, Cloud Cap Campground and Timberline Trail (#600). Those wishing to access Timberline Trail from this side of the mountain will need to use the Tilly Jane Trailhead located at the closure gate at the bottom of the #3512 road, near Cooper Spur Ski Area.

#Because of the large number of trees this will likely be done with heavy machinery and this may drive the need for environmental analysis and mitigations to insure that natural resources are protected during operations. The cost of the project also needs to be programmed in with other roads maintenance and recreational priorities during the next few budget cycles.

******

For the rest of the article please go to http://www.hoodrivernews.com/news/2013/jul/10/forest-service-closes-cloud-cap-road/

Also thanks to Dale Crockett for posting this article on FB

#

Driven by exports from private forests, timber harvest in Oregon up for third year in a row

Oregon's timber harvest reached 3.75 billion board feet in 2012, continuing a recovery from the crash of the housing market and the depths of the recession. In 2009, loggers cut 2.75 billion board feet, but the harvest has increased each year since.
The increased harvest has been driven by a strong export market and a slight improvement in housing starts, according to a report by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Timber from state and federal forests cannot be exported, but tribal and other privately-held timber can be shipped overseas.

source:  http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/07/timber_harvest_in_oregon_fores.html

and

Timber Harvest on the Rise in Oregon   
7/9/2013
By Jes BurnsOregon's timber harvest is up 36% in three years.  New data from the Oregon Department of Forestry show much of that increase is attributed to private woodland owners deciding to cut their trees after holding out for higher prices.

ODF economist Brandon Kaetzel speculates a pick-up in the US housing market has been a boom for Oregon's timber industry.  More new homes means more demand for Oregon wood.  Small woodland owners increased cuts by more than 14% over the past year, and harvest on Tribal lands increased by 21%.  

Lane, which produces the most timber of any county in the state, saw a significant rise in harvest between 2011 and 2012.  The 11.3% increase was pushed largely by an uptick on private industry and Forest Service lands.

"Lane County made up a third of the total harvest that the Forest Service had for 2012."

But this increase in harvest doesn't necessarily mean the industry is adding jobs, says Kaetzel.  Domestic mills are becoming more efficient, needing fewer warm bodies to operate - and fewer still…

"It takes less [sic] men to work as longshoremen on a port to export logs than it does to operate a mill.  So even though harvests are stable or increasing, if those logs are mostly being exported, which I can't speak to, then that employs less people."  

The new Department of Forestry data only covers harvest rates, not where the wood goes once it's cut. Overall, Oregon forests produced nearly 1 billion board feet more in 2012 than it did in the depths of the recession in 2009.
- See more at: http://klcc.org/Feature.asp?FeatureID=4689#sthash.ALESZoqG.dpuf