WYOMING STATE FORESTRY DIVISION

Transcription

1 WYOMING STATE FORESTRY DIVISION 2011 Annual Report

2 Table of Contents Wyoming State Forestry Division New Personnel State Trust Lands Forest Utilization Forest Policy Rural Forestry Assistance Living Snow Fence Community Forestry Forest Health Fire Management Best Management Practices Helitack Program FEPP/FFP Programs Fuels Mitigation Wyoming Forestry Conservation Program Wyoming State Forestry Division 5500 Bishop Blvd, Military Bldg Cheyenne, Wyoming lands.state.wy.us/forestry

3 Wyoming State Forestry Division THE FOREST RESOURCE AGENCY OF WYOMING State Forester Bill Crapser The Legislature officially formed the Wyoming State Forestry Division in Under state statute, the State Forester is mandated to have direction of all forest interests and all matters pertaining to forestry within the jurisdiction of the State of Wyoming. The State Forestry Division fulfills this charge by providing two basic programs: State Trust Land Management Assistance Forestry Fire Management State Trust Land Management The Wyoming State Forestry Division is responsible for the management of approximately 263,000 acres of forested trust land scattered around the state. This includes timber management and harvest and managing our state lands for long term forest health and productivity. The Division is also directly responsible for fire protection and suppression on the 3.55 million surface acres of state trust land. Assistance Forestry Wyoming State Forestry Division is also responsible for promotion of good forest management and protection throughout the state on all ownerships, including 2 million acres of private forest land. This includes input, advice, and assistance to private landowners, communities, counties, fire districts, elected state leaders, and federal land management agencies. Some of the Assistance Forestry Program is delivered through the partnership and financial support of the US Forest Service. Fire Management Wyoming State Forestry Division has direct fire protection responsibilities on 3.6 million acres of state trust land and cooperative fire protection responsibilities on an additional 25.5 million acres of land. The Division also provides technical assistance relating to all aspects of fire management to Interagency Cooperators and financial assistance to Wyoming s 23 counties, 54 Fire Districts and 147 fire departments through federal grants and state appropriated dollars. 2

4 Personnel Welcome Brian Ott, Brian is the new Senior Heavy Mechanic at the Forestry Shop. Brian is a Cheyenne native and was previously employed by Capitol Lumber. Brian has a small repair shop in his home and enjoys working on just about anything with wheels. He is also interested in drag racing, circle track racing, building Jeeps & 4-wheeling in the mountains. Spending time with family also keeps him busy. Nick Williams was hired in August 2011 as the new Fire Resource Forester acting as the fuels mitigation program manager. Nick will be primarily working with the National Fire Plan and Community Protection Program competitive grants, awarded from the USDA Forest Service, to conduct wildland fire fuels mitigation treatments on private and state land in communities at risk to wildland fire. Nick is a state-wide resource to WSFD and our cooperators to provide grant management, technical and monitoring support for the federal grants. Nick is also a firefighter to assist WSFD with suppression efforts in the Helitack program as a helicopter crew member and working towards Engine Boss and Field Observer positions. Steve Medvigy is the new hire here in Riverton at the Honor Farm Conservation program. Steve comes from California Forestry with extensive experience in wildland Fire. Steve, and Sandy live in Thermopolis with their 2 boys, they are a welcome addition to State Forestry and the Honor Farm. State Trust Lands Forest Health Best Management Practices Living Snow Fence Community Forestry Wyoming Honor Conservation Program Forest Utilization Forest Policy Rural Forestry Assistance Fuels Mitigation Wildland Fire Management 3

5 State Trust Lands Forested state lands are managed to provide sustainable forests and forest products, quality recreation opportunities, and protection of state trust lands from insects, diseases, and wildfire. Sales of forest products produced over $116,000 in revenue for the trust accounts. Approximately 4.1 million board feet of forest products were harvested from state lands. 643 acres received silvicultural treatment through commercial timber sales and 334 acres receive precommercial thinning. Approximately 6.7 million board feet of commercial forest products were sold for future harvest from 2,307 acres of state lands. Maintaining healthy and productive forests requires ongoing forest management practices including harvesting of mature stands and thinning of young stands. These practices protect the long term value of state trust lands by growing healthy forest stands that provide numerous benefits including forest products, wildlife habitat, clean water, and recreation opportunities. During SFY 2011, 643 acres of mature forests were harvested to establish new forest stands and 334 acres of young forest stands were thinned to promote forest health and long term productivity. State trust land preservation and enhancement funds are an important part of WSFD s management of young forest stands. 4

6 Forest Utilization The purpose of Wyoming s Forest Utilization Program is to facilitate retention, expansion, and creation of forest products businesses that produce value-added forest products from available forest resources. Worked to address long-term land management and wood supply issues in Lincoln and Uinta County. Technical assistance to communities and businesses interested in utilization of woody biomass. Through state trust land forest management, responded to the need for forest products to the supply start-up wood processing facilities in Laramie and Encampment. Provided technical assistance and wood supply information to companies interested in establishing primary wood processing facilities. While operating within Board of Land Commissioners rules, WSFD has attempted to cooperate with new and existing members of the forest products industry to address short and long term wood supply issues to help facilitate the establishment or retention of forest products industry infrastructure. Forest Policy Wyoming State Forestry Division cooperates with federal, state and local governments during planning efforts in order to achieve better management of Wyoming s forest resources. Worked with local cooperators to address long term wood supply and market issues in several parts of Wyoming. Submitted comments and participated in planning for numerous U.S. Forest Service projects. In Wyoming, most commercially productive forest lands are managed by federal government agencies. The current conditions on those forest lands indicate that the management direction needs to change course. Improved management would also provide a more consistent flow of forest related benefits, including forest products to help sustain Wyoming s forest products industry. Roadless policy and the national forest planning rule are key factors influencing the ability to actively manage federal forests. The Forestry Division continues to work with local, state, and federal officials in trying to positively influence forest management in Wyoming. 5

7 Rural Forestry Assistance Assist private landowners in the development of management plans that will meet their overall long-term objectives for their forested property. 521 landowners received technical assistance. 33 Forest Stewardship Plans were provided to private landowners. 3,580 forested acres were placed under management planning. The Program assists private landowners to manage their lands sustainably, thus protecting and improving the health and productivity of private forested land. Managed lands have greater resistance to forest threats such as insects, disease and wildfire. Important resources such as water, air and soil are similarly protected. Enhanced wildlife habitat, aesthetics and recreational opportunities also provide significant quality of life benefits. Timber and other forest products harvested from private lands provide valuable raw materials which sustain, stabilize and diversify local economies. Assistance is provided through workshops, field days, publications, cost-share incentives, site visits and management plan preparation. Living Snow Fence The Wyoming State Forestry Division, Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts and the Wyoming Department of Transportation work together to fund and implement living snow fence projects across the state. Planted 17,580 lineal feet of tree rows in four counties. Taxpayers saved an estimated $208,430 in installation and future maintenance costs when compared to structural barriers. WSFD administers this program via an agreement with WYDOT and in consultation with a statewide steering committee comprised of partners and interested parties. Living Snow Fences enhance State and County efforts to keep roads safe and open during periods of poor winter weather. This is of significant benefit to driver safety, keeps areas accessible to emergency services, allows road based commerce to function with minimal interruption and reduces highway maintenance expenditures. Living Snow fence plantings also provide a more attractive appearance than traditional wood snow fence and enhance wildlife habitat. 6

8 Community Forestry The state program fosters partnerships between government agencies, businesses, and civic organizations to promote and improve community forests throughout the State. Program assistance includes tree selection, management plans, tree care workshops, and grants for tree planting and local program development. In 2011 Community Forestry cost share grants were awarded to 14 communities and organizations for tree planting and community forestry program development. Since the inception of this program, grants totaling over $1 million have been awarded to over 100 communities and organizations. The federal funds have been matched with over $2 million in cash and in-kind contributions and have resulted in the planting of thousands of trees in Wyoming cities and towns. Continued financial and technical support was provided to Wyoming Project Learning Tree for K-12 youth education. Over 130 people representing various agencies and organizations attended the Northern Rockies Tree School. The popular two day conference is sponsored by the State Forestry Agencies of Wyoming and Montana. An additional 25 local training sessions during the year addressed community forest management, conservation education, and tree care for over 1000 citizens. Comprehensive GIS based tree inventories and management plans were prepared for the cities of Sheridan and Kaycee. Follow up planning sessions with tree boards, park commissions and city councils lead to increased funding and a greater emphasis on proactive community forest management. Nationally recognized Tree City USA certification was awarded to a record 45 cities and towns that are actively managing their publically owned trees. State Forestry Division staff has maintained regular communications with these communities through newsletters, training, and through partnerships with Wyoming Association of Municipalities, Wyoming Planning Association, and Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts. In 2011, Wyoming State Forestry continued as a major sponsor of the Wyoming Small Acreage Issues Team. WSFD was represented on the statewide steering committee and foresters contributed several articles for the organizations Barnyards and Backyards quarterly magazine. The articles and several YouTube videos regarding forestry issues in Wyoming are posted on the teams website at The Small Acreage Issues Team also conducted over a dozen workshops, some with topics addressing Mountain Pine Beetle, Firewise Landscaping, and various community forestry and agroforestry related topics. Recent studies in Wyoming by the Center for Urban Forest Research determined that on average for every dollar spent on planting and caring for trees residents receive $2.09 in benefits. 7

9 Forest Health Fire Management Invasive insects and diseases, catastrophic wildland fires, population growth, development, drought, global climate change, and other societal and ecological demands placed on our nation s forests have riveted wide scale attention to Forest Health. A forest that has the capacity across its landscape for continual renewal and recovery from a wide range of disturbances while meeting current and future needs of people for desired levels of values, uses, products, and services is considered a healthy forest. Invasive species surveys conducted in eight counties. Forest Health management guidelines and technical and cost-share assistance extended to private forest landowners. Educational seminars presented to County Weed and Pest Districts, UW Cooperative Extension offices, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, and private and commercial chemical applicators. Conducted aerial reconnaissance surveys to identify Forest Health trends on private forestlands and state trust forested lands. Continued monitoring of bark beetle trends on private, state trust and federal properties. Wyoming State Forestry Division has direct fire protection responsibilities on 3.6 million acres of state trust land and cooperative fire protection responsibilities on an additional 25.5 million acres of land. The Division also provides technical assistance relating to all aspects of fire management to Interagency Cooperators and financial assistance to Wyoming s 23 counties, 54 Fire Districts and 147 fire departments through federal grants and state appropriated dollars. There were 355 fires that burned 92,948 acres of state and private land in Wyoming in 2011; 98% of the fires were contained within the first burning period. Eight fires qualified for Emergency Fire Suppression Account Assistance in Classes were offed with 2,475 students. Issued 2,180 Red Cards. Stand Restoration treatments completed on 488 acres of state trust forested lands. 8

10 Best Management Practices In Wyoming, approximately percent of the population relies on surface water collected from forested watersheds for their sole source of domestic and public water supply. Best Management Practices are key in protecting water quality, forest soils, wildlife, minerals, recreation, forage and timber across Wyoming. BMPs are voluntary and represent preferred ways to manage forest land that conserve and protect water quality during forest management activities. BMPs are intended for all forest lands, including non-industrial private, forest industry, state-owned and federal forests. In 2011 Wyoming State Forestry Division facilitated the organization of the 2011 Wyoming Forestry BMP Audits. This has been an ongoing program since 1999 with past audits being conducted in 2000/2001, 2004, and In 2011 five newly harvested sites and one previously audited site were selected from federal, state, and private land with live or active water courses. Each site was evaluated on the application and effectiveness of seventy BMPs using the field audit rating guide criteria. The draft 2011 BMP audit report was completed in January, 2012 and copies were sent to all agencies involved in the audit. The results of the BMP Audit report show that timber sale operators in Wyoming met or exceeded the BMP s 85 percent of the time for all ownership groups with State Land timber sales receiving the highest overall rating. The benefits of continuing the BMP audits are as follows: Quality of Wyoming s surface and ground water is protected during timber harvest operations. Avoidance of a regulatory permitting process that would be a burden to Wyoming forested landowners. Soil resources are protected during timber harvest operations. 9

11 Helitack The Wyoming State Helitack has been involved in emergency services since It is staffed as an exclusive use helicopter for fire suppression and other emergencies throughout the State of Wyoming. Wildfire suppression makes up approximately 90% of the missions. Mobilized to 19 fires on state, private, tribal, and federal lands in 10 counties. Utilized 19 HECM detailers from two Counties, WSFD, BLM, CSFS and USFS-MBNF. Hazard fuel treatments at the Duncan Ranch Helibase. Fuels reduction projects on Casper Mountain. Assisted Fremont County on the Lander Flood. Assisted Albany and Fremont counties with search and rescue missions. The Wyoming Helitack provides the state with rapid initial attack response, which reduces the chances of large, expensive and catastrophic fires, providing a low cost aviation resource to local fire departments and other government agencies. FEPP/FFP Utilizing FEPP/FFP equipment and parts, Wyoming State Forestry Division remanufactures and paints ex-military trucks, and builds fire packages for the vehicles. These trucks and other equipment are deployed to Wyoming counties. WSFD also provides field service, training, and parts to maintain this fleet of fire suppression equipment. Completed mandatory FEPP inventory certification of 395 of Federal Excess Personal Property valued at $12,004, pieces of FEPP property were disposed of through GSA Auctions in Newcastle and Cheyenne. Acquired $2.3 in FFP equipment and property. Drafted FFP agreement with cooperators and sent out to all cooperators. Ordered $260, worth of firefighting equipment through GSA to cooperators. WSFD ensures that the fire departments around the state have the necessary equipment to fight fires. WSFD mechanic shop provides a full-scale overhaul of the military vehicle. 10

12 Fuels Mitigation This program is responsible for coordinating the National Fire Plan (NFP), interagency wildfire prevention, education and mitigation program. The National Fire Plan program provides technical and financial aid to those areas identified as being at risk communities in the Wildland Urban Interface. This is a cooperative program involving federal, state and local entities in an effort to minimize the risk and loss from wildland fire to those who live in the urban wildland areas in Wyoming. Ten county-wide NFP projects were funded in 2011 for a total of $934,156 for program implementation and costshare to landowners. Lincoln and Teton Counties were awarded $391,000 through the Community Protection Program Grant for fuels reduction treatment on private lands adjacent to U.S. National Forest lands. 20 county-wide Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) have been completed covering 87% of the communities identified as being at risk to wildland fire. Fremont County completed a substantial revision of their CWPP in 2011 to add to their commitment of wildfire protection. Weston, Albany and Converse Counties were awarded $410,000 through the Community Protection Program Grant for fuels reduction treatment on private lands adjacent to U.S. National Forest lands. Firewise (Defensible Space) workshops were held in 15 counties across the state. Three new county project coordinators were hired and trained to implement fuels mitigation projects in Laramie, Park and Sublette Counties. Nick Williams was hired in August 2011 as the new state-wide fuels mitigation program manager for Wyoming State Forestry Division to provide grant management, technical and monitoring support to the Division and cooperators. 11

13 Conservation Program The Wyoming State Forestry Division and the Wyoming Department of Corrections have combined efforts and resources in the development and support of a Wyoming Forestry Conservation Camp. The program s projects are under the supervision and control of State Forestry personnel. Projects include forest management, fire suppression and control, and community service projects for federal, state, county and city governmental entities. General maintenance work at the State Fairgrounds in Douglas. Adopt-A-Highway participation. This included two sections of highway in Weston County and four sections of highway in Fremont County. Over 11,750 hours in Flood Assistance for the Saratoga, Hyattville, and Manderson Communities. Playground, park, & baseball field maintenance for the City of Riverton. General maintenance work at Boysen State Park. Removal of noxious weeds on state land in Niobrara County. Fire suppression assistance on 37 wildland fires in 8 counties in Wyoming and one county in South Dakota. These fires burned over 52,400 acres. Assisted with the successful completion of one prescribed burn. Tree maintenance for Central Wyoming College s Field Station. Mountain Pine Beetle and hazardous tree removal at Keyhole State Park. Shade protector construction continued for cooperating agencies. Work continued on the removal of Mountain Pine Beetle infested trees on State, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management forested lands. Thinning and fuel treatments on five state sections. 12

14 WYOMING STATE FORESTRY DIVISION Please check our website for the following programs lands.state.wy.us/forestry