Minutes of 06/18/09 Meeting 1 Minutes of the May 19, 2009 meeting approved. Moved by Tom L.; 2nd by Norm W. 2 Announcement & Introductions: - Guest: Riley Dopler, GPNF. - New U.S. Forest Service Chief appointed: Tom Tidwell. - Jay McL. reported on the current status of the 'Energy bill' in the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently, the bill may exclude removal of material from “mature trees” for biomass-based energy-generation processes. 3 Riley Dopler reported on the proposed “2009 Mt. Adams and Mount St. Helens Watershed Improvement Activities”: - Overview: - 15,000 acres identified on the basis of characteristics, such as: 1) areas were previously clear-cut; 2) trees are typically 10 – 25 years old; 3) trees are generally tall and small-diameter. - Not all sections of this area are likely to be suitable for purposes of this project. For instance, stand exam work on the Little White Salmon area found 9 of 16 potential stands to be suitable for Riley's project (“some too old, some too young”). - Focus is on the Little White Salmon, Wind River, and Grand Meadows (?) at present. - Expects 3 contracts for 2009 (left over from previous project?). - Bough sales is the only commercial value seen to be likely (Noble Fir and, possibly, White Pine). (Nancy R. said that there may be some material available for pole and biomass markets.) - Timeline for activities is approximately 10 years. - 1,000 acres in 2009; half in Mt. Adams District. - 300+ acres to be accomplished via GPNF funds; 600 via grants (RAC Title II and other). - Doing the NEPA process now to try to justify more funding. - C.E. (Categorical Exclusion) approach excludes mechanical harvest systems due to ground disturbance. This fact eliminates commercial harvest from this project. - Gail F. asked about hazardous fuels reduction. Riley: 15' pullback from road. - Jamie T. asked if hazardous-fuels-reduction funds might be applicable. - Discussion of manual thinning vs. mulcher unit: - Jim M. reported that his experience was that manual ran about $130 – 200 per acre, if conditions are reasonably suitable, while a mulcher costs $450 + per acre. - Spencer asked why the C.E. cannot permit ground disturbance on Matrix land for commercial harvest. - Nancy R. stated that GPNF might pull units with commercial material – including poles and biomass uses – into 70 acre C.E.s, if market supports. - Tom L. asked if more work than pre-commercial thinning is planned, such as noxious weeds removal. Riley: “yes”. - Jamie T. asked if the Collaborative Group can help with this project. Spencer asked if help with stand exams is needed. - Nancy R. said that her staff will discuss and get back to us. 4 Update on Cave/Bear project for 2009: - Jay McL. And Jim W. discussed with Jon Nakae and Nancy R. - Jay's report was sent to this group's e-mail list last week. - Target is to let a stand-exam contract soon; try to accomplish as much as possible this fiscal year. - Lisa M. - priority areas match up fairly well with GP Task Force's sideboard preferences on the 10,000 acres of probable exam areas. - Discussion of age limits of potential harvest/thinning projects. This will be continued via e-mail and will probably be discussed at the next meeting, too. - Spencer suggested that the same subcommittee (Jay, Lisa, Jim W., and Norm W.) continue to work with Jon Nakae and report to the Collaborative Group. - Lisa M. - the Collaborative Group can help to set up for restoration work in 2010. The in-kind portion of the project will start this Summer. - Spencer suggested that the subcommittee design a preliminary list of help needed; then put out a call to this group, and others, in July. 5 Spencer reported on the Bear Creek project. We received $25,000 from the RAC (Title II funds) for fiscal 2010 for a hazardous fuels assessment and possible treatment design work. 6 Sawtooth Huckleberry project: - Mt. Adams Resource (Jay McL.) will help with some of the field work. - Our Collaborative Group may help, too – possibly with monitoring activities. 7 Bruce H. outlined the field trips for our next two meetings: - Developed with help of Jay McL., Lisa M., and Jim W. - 'East-side' – July 16 – see the web-site for time and starting point. - Will include several timber sales, thinning sites, Gotchen, Cold Springs fire area, and Stray Cat. Option will be to visit Mt. Adams Resources in Glenwood. - 'West-side' – Aug. 20. - Mowich, Trout Creek restoration project, PNW Research, Dry Creek stewardship sale, Wind River Mine site. - Jamie T. will send out an e-mail reminder to members for the July 16 meeting/tour. Attendees: Jamie Tolfree, Paul Spencer, Tom Linde, Jay McLaughlin, Jim Mickel, Lisa Moscinski, Nancy Ryke, Jacob Anderson, Norm Ward, Jim White, Bruce Holmson, Terry Tanner, John Forsberg, Ray Thygesen, Gail Fullerton | 
