Interesting press release….

Norbeck Society
P.O. Box 9730

Rapid City, SD 57709

For Immediate Release

Alarming New Report Indicates Unsustainable Logging on Black Hills
National Forest

RAPID CITY (July 10, 2018) – A just-issued United States Department of
Agriculture report, Forests of South Dakota 2017, shows a trend of
depletion of standing merchantable timber on the Black Hills National
Forest.

The 2017 report reveals that for the study period ending in 2017, there
was 10 times the volume of timber harvested compared to net timber
growth on all forest land within South Dakota.  Further, the report
shows that for ponderosa pine (the primary commercial species in the
Black Hills), there was more volume lost to mortality or damage, rot,
etc. than there was volume gained in growth.  The ponderosa pine forest
was dying faster than it was growing primarily due to the mountain pine
beetle infestation.  This trend will diminish as the mountain pine
beetle activity decreases, but it still indicates that there have been
significant impacts to the standing inventory on the forest.  The Black
Hills National Forest needs a chance to recover, and this report shows
that there are serious issues with the sustainability of timber
management on the Forest at the current timber harvest levels.

The Forest Service is required by law to manage the National Forests for
multiple uses and sustained yields of timber. This simply means that
they cannot cut more wood on an annual basis than what grows. This basic
forestry tenet is taught at every Forestry school in the country. The
tool that ensures these sustained yields is known as an Allowable Sale
Quantity (ASQ), and it is used as a ceiling, not a target.  For the
Black Hills, the ASQ was set in the 1997 Forest Plan and was based on a
forest with almost double the current standing inventory.

Since 1997, about one third of the Forest has experienced mortality due
to wildfire and insect infestation.  These impacts alone should amply
indicate that the ASQ from 1997 is no longer valid. In response to a
mountain pine beetle epidemic, logging operations were increased and for
much of the past decade, harvests have been above the ASQ.  Harvests
have not been lowered since that time even though the mountain pine
beetle epidemic was declared over in 2016.
Awkwardly, the Black Hills National Forest is in the process of
approving the Black Hills Resilient Landscapes Project, which calls for
185,000 acres of logging and clears the way for high harvest volumes to
continue. Concerns are growing over the long-term sustainability of the
forest ecosystem and the timber industry it supports.  Further concerns
are for the associated regional tourism industry and the high quality of
life enjoyed by area residents.

During a recent Black Hills Resilient Landscapes Project Objection
Resolution Meeting with the Rocky Mountain Region Deputy Regional
Forester, Jacqueline Buchanan, the Norbeck Society used part of the
allotted time to discuss the depletion trend of the standing inventory
of timber.  Norbeck Society asked that language be added to the final
Record of Decision that would put limits on the amount of acres that
could be released out of the BHRL project each year, so that annual
sales of timber could be tapered down until an ASQ commensurate with
current standing volumes could be determined.

The Objection Response by the Forest Service is an assertion that the
ASQ set in the Forest Plan of 1997 is valid and that they plan to
continue with the high harvest volumes until the Forest Plan is revised,
which could take as long as eight more years.  Despite losing a
significant portion of the forest to several large wildfires and
mountain pine beetle infestations since 1997 the Forest Service
maintains that the ASQ from the 1997 Forest Plan is still valid, and
shows no inclination to make adjustments to annual timber sales.  This
is a cavalier response that ignores the reality of the current
situation.

The Norbeck Society views it as unfortunate that what was supposed to be
a project to promote resilience on the Forest will actually result in
unnecessary and even harmful harvesting of big trees from areas that
essentially pose no threat of insect infestation or catastrophic
wildfire.  In addition to the worry over the viability of the timber
industry in the future, being unwilling to manage for sustained yields
also has serious implications for the balance of uses on the forest and
for the livelihoods and quality of life for people in all walks of life
who depend on the health of the Forest.  A concerned public cannot
accept this.  The Black Hills National Forest is part of a portfolio of
assets owned by every American and it is important that it is managed
for sustainability.

Members of the press or public may wish to see Annual Reports of Forests
of South Dakota from previous years:
https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/fia/data-tools/state-reports/SD/default.asp

Forests of South Dakota 2017 report:
https://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/ru/ru_fs158.pdf

Black Hills Resilient Landscapes Objection Response:
https://data.ecosystem-management.org/objections/displayDoc.php?doc=V1dwS1MyTldjRmhVYWtKb1ZucHNNVmt6Y0hwTlZUVnhWVlJDVDFwNk1Eaz0=

Black Hills Resilient Landscapes Project page:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=49052

Media Contact:
David Miller, Norbeck Society Steering Committee
605-484-0055
[email protected]

An article in the Missoulian summarized on Greenwire:

…

“It’s a pretty good result for the Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists,” plaintiffs’ attorney Paul Turcke said yesterday. “The court declared the agency decision to close the areas unlawful as far as bicycles are concerned. For snowmobiles, not so much” (Rob Chaney, Missoulian, July 2).

Study from Northern Arizona University “found the negative effects of climate change and wildfire, although significant and worrisome, could be mitigated by targeted forest restoration, thus reducing undesirable outcomes for multiple ecosystem services.”

…

“Although this study did not recommend courses of action, there are suggestions for forest managers. Flatley said managers from the U.S. Forest Service and National Parks Service can use the study to help decide whether to allocate limited resources to frequent restoration of smaller areas or less frequent restoration of larger areas.”

FYI, folks. I just received this announcement from the USFS….

• experience working with the government planning processes,
• knowledge and understanding of the various cultures and communities in New Mexico,
• ability to actively participate in diverse team settings;
• demonstrated skill in working toward mutually beneficial solutions to complex issues,
• respect and credibility in local communities; commitment to attending Panel meetings, and
• their contribution to the balance and diversity of the Panel.

Walter Dunn, Program Manager Collaborative Forest Restoration/Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes Forest Service Cooperative & International Forestry, Southwestern Region p: 505-842-3425 c: 505-301-1291 f: 505-842-3165 [email protected] 333 Broadway Blvd., SE Albuquerque, NM 87102 www.fs.fed.us Caring for the land and serving people

FYI, just received this….

Good afternoon!

On June 26, the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest Research Stations will be hosting a science forum to share key findings of the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) science synthesis. The synthesis will inform the revision of land management plans for 17 national forests in western Washington, western Oregon, and northern California within the NWFP area. The Plan amended land management plans in 1994 to protect threatened and endangered species associated with late successional and old-growth forest habitats while still contributing to social and economic sustainability.

The synthesis is posted to https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/research/science-synthesis/index.shtml.

Northwest Forest Plan Science Synthesis – Science Forum

The forum will include a series of short presentations on the report’s key findings, followed by a question-and-answer session. This is not a public listening session about forest plan revisions; rather, it is an opportunity to learn about recent findings from the science synthesis.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland

Multnomah/Holladay Rooms

1000 NE Multnomah Street, Portland, Oregon 97232

If you’re unable to attend in person, there will be an option for remote participation via Webcast. To register to attend either in person or remotely, visit https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/research/science-synthesis/index.shtml.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Becky Gravenmier at [email protected] or (503) 808-2851. We hope you’ll join us either in person or virtually on June 26!

The Trump administration’s upcoming government reorganization plan could shake up the Interior Department, a longtime goal for bureaucratic tinkerers as well as for big visionaries whose ideas sometimes fizzle out.

While details remain secret, the possibilities are both intriguing to contemplate and challenging to implement.

One perennial reorganization idea is to have Interior absorb the Forest Service, reclaiming the public lands agency from the Agriculture Department. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has already mused about the notion and related possibilities.

Full article here. Our fellow NCFP blogger Andy Stahl is quoted.

Liability for damages from wildfires is a big issue in California, where utilities PG&E Corp. and Edison International face lawsuits related to fires that were started by powerlines

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-24/pg-e-edison-surge-as-california-amends-a-bill-on-wildfires

Could the Forest Service or BLM be held liable for fires that start on federal land and spread to private property?

Oregon law states that:

2017 ORS 477.092
Liability for destruction of property by wildfire

(2) A person is not liable in a civil action for injury to or destruction of property arising out of a wildfire, except to the extent evidence demonstrates that:

(a) An action or inaction of the person constituted negligence or a higher degree of fault; and

(b) The action or inaction caused or contributed to the cause of the wildfire or caused or contributed to the spreading of the wildfire. [emphasis added]

According to the state, “Oregon’s Defensible Space Law enlists the aid of property owners to better protect their homes and firefighters during encroaching wildfires. The law requires property owners to reduce excess vegetation, which may fuel a fire, around homes and other structures. In some cases, it is also necessary to create fuel breaks along property lines and roadsides.” [emphasis added]

I don’t know that this would apply to the Chetco Bar Fire in southwest Oregon, but in some cases, one might make the case that a failure to take action to reduce the chances of wildfire spreading across property lines (fuels reduction, etc.) might have “contributed to the spreading of the wildfire.”

I was surprised to see this in Sierra, the magazine of the Sierra Club:

Cutting Trees to Save the Birds: How managing Maine’s “baby bird factory” can save eastern songbirds

“Gallo [a wildlife biologist] explains that healthy forests include a variety of vegetation. A dense understory allows birds to hide from predators, while open-and-closed canopies fit the different needs of many bird species. Standing dead wood provides cavities for nesting and attracts insects that birds feed on, while gaps in the trees mimic natural disturbances, allowing seedlings to sprout. “

This isn’t directly related to federal forest management, but if the Sierra Club is touting active forest management on private lands, maybe they’ll come around to accepting work on federal lands.

“The Forest Stewards Guild is now working to adapt and bring bird-centered forest programs to Rhode Island and North Carolina, said Amanda Mahaffey, the Northeast region director. They’re also looking to the Great Lakes states and Oregon. “

From the Sierra Club…. It’s take on several bills that would modify the ESA.

A press release from the RMEF. I haven’t found the 9th’s decison yet….

Note that “RMEF maintains litigation reform is necessary….”

May 30, 2018

Court Rules in Favor of Active Forest Management

MISSOULA, Mont.—The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied claims by several environmental groups and ruled in favor of a habitat management project in southwestern Montana.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and several other partners filed an amicus brief in support of the U.S. Forest Service and several other federal agencies.

“We have seen environmental groups file frivolous litigation time and time again seeking to thwart efforts designed at improving wildlife habitat and overall forest health. That is the case here,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “We appreciate the court’s ruling and look forward to the implementation of this needed habitat stewardship work.”

The East Deer Lodge Valley Landscape Restoration Management project is a landscape project in the Pintler Ranger District on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest designed to improve forest health and reduce sedimentation in the headwaters of the Clark Fork River.

The vast majority of lodgepole pine trees in this immediate area are dead. Many of them are already on the ground. Without forest management treatment in the near future, the forest floor will be covered with combustible material that will also impede the growth of shrubs and grasses needed by elk, deer and other wildlife.

The project calls for the removal of pine beetle-killed timber, forest thinning to reduce conifer encroachment and other treatments on riparian areas to protect and improve watersheds that will enhance both fish and wildlife habitat.

“RMEF maintains litigation reform is necessary in order to allow agencies tasked with managing our forests the ability to implement active forest management that is so badly needed all across elk country,” added Henning.