Forest
Policies Part 2 of 2: The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors has taken an aggressive
stance on the management of our National Forests for forest health, reduced fuel loads and
the creation of more jobs in the woods. Recently, the Board held a workshop to share
information.
Sustainable Forest Action Coalition: Siskiyou County is a
member of the Sustainable Forest Action Coalition (SFAC.) This group has representatives
from 19 California forest counties, including County government, individual County Supervisors,
chambers of commerce, unions, businesses and non-profit organizations. (Amador, Butte,
Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Inyo, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer,
Plumas, Tehama, Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity, Tuolumne and Yuba.) Leadership is primarily
with County representatives.
The group has worked with Region 5 U.S. Forest Service leadership on
a variety of topics, including: 1) Travel Management Plan issues; 2) Retention of
coordination language in the new Forest Service Planning Rule; 3) Rate structures and the
CA PUC to support biomass energy utilization; 4) The inclusion of a robust social and
economic impact analysis in Forest Service planning; 5) The national and Regional budget
as relates to timber management and the reduction of hazardous fuels; and 6) Timber sales
vs. stewardship contracts. (Is the emphasis on stewardship contracting coming at the
expense of a timber harvest program? Can stewardship contracts be expanded to 15-20 years
and can a portion be used to replace lost timber receipts for our schools and roads?)
One industry representative and three County representatives, (myself
included,) meet with Region 5 leadership on at least a quarterly basis. SFAC at large
meets less frequently. The Congressional representatives for our areas meet with us and
Region 5 leadership on a bi-annual basis.
“Sierra Cascade Dialog”:
New U.S. Forest planning processes will start at the bottom of the Sierras and work its
way up. A team will work on the plans and several forests may come under one plan. For the
past two years, Region 5 has been holding “Sierra Cascade Dialog” sessions in Sacramento
to gather input for their process. Topics have included many of the concepts in the new
planning rule, such as collaboration and adaptive management. I presented on a panel
regarding economic impacts last year.
Networking: Through my work
with the Southern Oregon Clean Energy Alliance, I have been able to network with many
Commissioners in Oregon. I have also done outreach and connected with key Commissioners in
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Arizona and Colorado on forest and public lands
issues. In March, the House Sub-committee on National Parks,
Forests and Public Lands United States House of Representatives held an oversight field
hearing on the "Explosion of Federal Regulations Threatening Jobs and Economic
Survival in the West" in Elko, NV. We were invited to submit written testimony.
The
County submitted a statement on our issues with the Klamath National Forest and Shasta
Trinity National Forest Travel Management Plans. I submitted testimony on the impact of
forest policies on our local economy and communities. I also documented how most of these
policies were not authorized in Congressional statute, but were imposed by Presidential
directive and reflected unratified international agreements: http://westinstenv.org/sosf/2012/03/21/a-voice-for-local-government-in-our-national-forests/
I have received positive feedback from many professional foresters
and scientists regarding my testimony. I have been told
that Oregon scientists at Corvallis will be organizing field trips for
leaders to showcase research on the effects of long term active management on forest stand
development. There have also been several excellent articles and dialogues from scientists
and foresters on forest management that have been published in Evergreen Magazine. http://evergreenmagazine.com/index.html
Bicycle Tourism: The EGG (Economic Growth Group) has organized a two day
conference on “How to make Siskiyou County the Cycling and Trails Capitol of the
West.” This will take off from the Bicycle Tourism conference held last fall and will
cover: 1) Developing infrastructure - great trails and bikeways; 2) How to help local
businesses provide services and benefit from visiting cyclists; 3) How to market Siskiyou County;
4) How to create a bicyle-0friendly travel destination. For more information contact: siskiyouegg@gmail.com
Armed Forces Day (Correction): I have received a correction to my column about the
May 19 Siskiyou County Armed Forces Day at the Yreka fairgrounds. The walk/run event
sponsored by the Siskiyou Striders will be held at 9 a.m. Breakfast is from 8-10 a.m.,
entertainment from 9-11 a.m. and the resource fair will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
when the event ends. A special appreciation ceremony will be held from 11-noon, followed
by lunch from noon until 1 p.m.
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