tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50630259218542163782024-03-13T12:45:07.724-07:00Wildfire in the WestWestern Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.comBlogger557125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-61725711397823765302019-08-14T18:27:00.002-07:002019-08-14T18:52:22.675-07:00Towards Shared Stewardship - New Agreements between States and Federal Agencies to Manage Public Lands<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">Top left: US Forest Service Regional Forester Glen Casamassa, Oregon State Forester Peter Daugherty, Oregon Governor Kate Brown, USDA Undersecretary Jim Hubbard and Oregon stakeholders at the official signing. Top Right: Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands and US Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen speak about the benefits of shared stewardship at the signing in Washington State. Utah Governor Gary Herbert and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue sign the Utah shared stewardship agreement. Photos: Kate Lighthall, Washington DNR, Utah DNR-FFSL. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oregon is the latest state to enter into a Shared Stewardship agreement with the US Forest Service to collectively set priorities and increase the scope and scale of critical forest treatments that support communities and improve forest conditions. In addition to the Oregon agreement signed this week, in recent months Idaho, Montana, Washington and Utah have signed on to these historical agreements that allow for mutual prioritization and implementation of landscape-scale projects for forest and watershed health, timber values and catastrophic wildfire prevention without the conflict of boundary lines. </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The agreements also allow for the use of new tools and technology such as the Scenario Investment Planning tool that helps land managers assess where investments will have the best outcomes based on specific priorities and achievement rates.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Shared Stewardship approach will be an essential element to achieve common benefits, such as protecting life and property and creating jobs in the wildland urban interface (WUI) as well as in the rural western environment. "The goal," says USDA Undersecretary Jim Hubbard, "is success based on outcomes, not just outputs." </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The agreements are deeply rooted in the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy and its core recommendation that co-management of risk and the collective prioritization of risk, all grounded by sound science, are the necessary steps to changing the perilous wildfire trajectory that our landscapes, communities and firefighters face. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shared Stewardship also builds on a foundation of collaborative work, such as the Joint Chief’s Landscape Restoration Partnership, and the <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.fs.fed.us/restoration/CFLRP/" href="https://www.fs.fed.us/restoration/CFLRP/">Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program</a>. It also builds on authorities created or expanded in the <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2018/03/23/secretary-perdue-applauds-fire-funding-fix-omnibus" href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2018/03/23/secretary-perdue-applauds-fire-funding-fix-omnibus">2018 Omnibus Bill</a> and the 2018 Farm Bill, such as Good Neighbor Authority.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />For more information on Shared Stewardship click <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.fs.fed.us/sites/default/files/toward-shared-stewardship.pdf" href="https://www.fs.fed.us/sites/default/files/toward-shared-stewardship.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Specific agreements:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.idl.idaho.gov/forestry/stewardship/2018-1218-usda-fs-idl-shared-stewardship-final-agreement.pdf">Idaho's Agreement for Shared Stewardship</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/sites/default/files/Montana%20Shared%20Stewardship%20agreement.pdf">Montana's Shared Stewardship - Leaders' Intent</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/sites/default/files/Washington-Shared-Stewardship-MOU-05-08-2019.pdf">Washington's MOU for Shared Stewardship</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/sites/default/files/utah-shared-stewardship-agreement.pdf">Utah's Agreement for Shared Stewardship</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Will post Oregon's agreement as soon as it's available.<br /><br /><br /> </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /> </span>Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-72049130240472994852019-05-01T09:33:00.002-07:002019-05-01T09:37:25.693-07:00Victims Share Insights from Recent Catastrophic Fires at Cohesive Strategy Learning Event<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Top: Rick Stratton sharing value of the Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment. Bottom: Caerleon Safford sharing impacts and lessons learned from Sonoma County's 2017 fires and Jeff Johnson from the Western Association of Fire Chiefs calling the group to action.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over 200 stakeholders from across five counties in Oregon came together on April 18th for a unique Cohesive Strategy learning experience - Can Central Oregon Become Another Paradise? The event kicked off with sobering accounts from four individuals who experienced the 2014/2015 Carlton and Okanagan Complexes in Washington, the 2017 Thomas, the 2017 Tubbs and the 2018 Camp Fires in California . The agenda included a "hard truth" look at what residents and fire professionals wished they knew before the fires that could have helped them better prepare for their individual fire experiences and post fire impacts. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Followed by a large-scale, catastrophic fire simulation, elected officials and representatives from local, state, Tribal and federal fire and land management agencies, law enforcement, emergency management and the department of transportation saw first hand the chaos that ensues when confronted with a fire siege much like the Camp Fire in Paradise, California last year. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Building on the examples earlier in the day and the simulation, participants worked through additional exercises to daylight lessons learned from the event as well as key messages that they feel the public should receive. The day ended with individuals from the audience sharing their "aha" moments from the event and their personal and agency commitments to changing behaviors to avoid these types of large-scale disasters and post fire impacts. Some of those included:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Increasing the focus on hazardous fuels reduction in the 50-100 feet around homes and structures (FireFree, Firewise).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">An increased focus on evacuating early, not waiting for an agency to tell you when to go (Ready, Set, GO!)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Identifying vulnerable populations and planning for how to evacuate them early.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Ensuring all city and county officials on the same page regarding land use planning.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Participation in the new Oregon Cohesive Wildland Fire Strategy organization.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Lobby congressional delegations and state government to take wildfire as seriously as hurricanes.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Increased protections for cell towers and other communications infrastructure including backups. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Locating additional evacuation centers for large-scale evacuations.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Ensuring city and county codes address wildland fire hazards.</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Western Region of the Cohesive Wildland Fire Strategy effort conducts these "Learning Labs" for all levels of stakeholders as a fresh approach to learning valuable lessons about working better together before smoke is in the air to address key issues in communities. To find out more about a hosting a Learning Lab in your area, </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="mailto:westerncohesivestrategy@gmail.com" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">contact our Coordinator Kate Lighthall</a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span></span><br />
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</style>Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-27873434318502636462019-04-30T14:59:00.002-07:002019-04-30T14:59:19.098-07:00Planning the Wildland-Urban Interface <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lV-ke3nY-CA/XMjEHSUGYqI/AAAAAAAAEFY/vqGK4xg6jZAbf5emx8OjiibrDSXSGQEBQCLcBGAs/s1600/PAS-Report-594%2Bcover%2Bphoto.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1360" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lV-ke3nY-CA/XMjEHSUGYqI/AAAAAAAAEFY/vqGK4xg6jZAbf5emx8OjiibrDSXSGQEBQCLcBGAs/s320/PAS-Report-594%2Bcover%2Bphoto.png" width="270" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today, more than one-third of the U.S. population lives in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) — those areas where development mixes with undeveloped wildlands. The attraction of country living and closeness to nature is accelerating growth in the WUI. However, when wildfires strike, the WUI’s mix of buildings with forests and grasslands sets the stage for disaster.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A key issue — and one that planners can influence — is where and how we build our homes. The land-use decisions that planners shape can help build communities that are safer and more resilient to wildfire. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">PAS Report 594, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Planning the Wildland-Urban Interface</em>, offers planners an in-depth introduction to the WUI and wildfire basics, covering challenges, trends, and historical context along with the latest wildfire science. It then moves to solutions, providing a holistic planning framework and practical guidance on how to address WUI and wildfire challenges in plans, policies, and regulations. And it highlights opportunities for collaboration with fire departments, federal and state agencies, and other key stakeholders. Case study examples show how communities across the country are already planning for the WUI.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Download the full report and the executive summary <a href="https://www.planning.org/publications/report/9174069/">here</a>.</span></div>
Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-36173068332511461442019-03-12T20:59:00.002-07:002019-03-12T20:59:49.417-07:00Building Resiliency Post Fire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How does your community recover from severe disaster and build resilience? </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">James Gore, County Supervisor in Sonoma County, California is leading the charge towards building resilient counties following devastating wildfires. The 2017 fires left the Santa Rosa area war-torn and shattered but not defeated. As Supervisor Gore describes in this short video, the county "jumped into action" during and immediately after the fires by rethinking their disaster communications and assisting local communities in organizing to start the rebuilding and recovery process. Watch this short video to see how innovative ideas are being implemented to help this embattled community recover and build resiliency for their future. </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span>Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-87158443827502662622019-03-12T13:16:00.002-07:002019-03-12T13:16:47.258-07:00After Wildfire Guide from New Mexico<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vdo6k_enij8/XIfuRNxKupI/AAAAAAAAEDE/q4n60l5uwoY9Nhic51j8rImdzZZutmfAgCLcBGAs/s1600/NM%2BAfter%2BWildfire%2BGuide%2Bpic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1600" height="246" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vdo6k_enij8/XIfuRNxKupI/AAAAAAAAEDE/q4n60l5uwoY9Nhic51j8rImdzZZutmfAgCLcBGAs/s400/NM%2BAfter%2BWildfire%2BGuide%2Bpic.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As part of our new working group examining the issues around post fire impacts, we are uncovering a variety of methods by which states and communities are addressing these sometimes catastrophic incidents. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In New Mexico, stakeholders have been facing severe post fire impacts and long-term recovery efforts for decades. New Mexico State Forestry, in partnership with a diverse group of stakeholders (listed below), developed and published the <a href="https://afterwildfirenm.org/">After Wildfire Guide</a> to help communities recover after a wildfire. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The guide provides information on how to mobilize communities; local, state and federal resources available to communities and individuals for assistance; and a technical guide with information about pre- and post-fire treatments to address the catastrophic effects of a wildfire on the lands and to prepare for potential flooding. </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Guide continues to be updated as New Mexico encounters new information to assist communities. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Take a look! This can be used as a model for other states and regions seeking solutions to help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from wildfires. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Contributing partners to the development of the After Wildfire Guide include the US Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), New Mexico Association of Counties, New Mexico Forest and Watershed Health Coordinating Group, New Mexico State University, the Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute, New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the US Army Corps of Engineers. </span></span><br />
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Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-77986479964993541242019-03-12T09:57:00.001-07:002019-03-12T10:37:30.034-07:00Three New Cohesive Strategy Working Groups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At our fall 2018 strategic planning meeting, members of the Western Regional Strategy Committee (WRSC) agreed to launch three work groups to address significant issues surfacing across the West. The WRSC is in a unique position as convener, facilitator and influencer that can assist in connecting stakeholders, delivering information, pushing messages and elevating issues to the appropriate levels. These new groups will not take away from our regular attention to all things Cohesive Strategy; they will allow for a deeper dive and specific action by stakeholders around each set of diverse issues. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Post Fire Impacts Working Group</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">As a result of the many conversations occurring around the West regarding post fire impacts and recovery, this group will examine the issues and challenges experienced by stakeholders and determine the appropriate engagement points for the Regional Strategy Committee to facilitate positive moment towards better impact and recovery outcomes. </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The group is currently surveying the wide array of issues, impacts and preparedness solutions in play across the West and will be in attendance at the <a href="https://co-co.org/after-the-flames-workshop-conference/">After the Flames Conference</a> in early April. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At a minimum the group will gather and develop a repository of information from those who are currently investing in preparedness and recovery solutions, and share information with partners and the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC). If you are interested in participating in this working group or including a member of your staff, please contact <a href="mailto:westerncohesivestrategy@gmail.com">Kate Lighthall</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Improving Wildfire Response Working Group</b></span><br />
<span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our charge as a Regional Strategy Committee is to facilitate implementation of the Cohesive Strategy. It's been a fairly easy lift to act as a convener/influencer around the goals of Fire Adapted Communities and Resilient Landscapes. We have only some engagement however around the strategic goal of a Safe and Effective, Risk-Based Wildfire Response. While the nation's wildfire response system is ranked at the top in the world, there are still areas that can benefit from the principles and management options outlined in the Cohesive Strategy. Wildfires continue to kill firefighters each year, threaten communities and landscapes. There are multiple opportunities for risk-based approaches. This group is looking closely at the stressors that are currently inhibiting a safe and effective, risk-based wildfire response. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We know we have to strategize "outside the box" because "business as usual" is leading to significant issues. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've identified a number of issues so far and will be having rich, candid dialogue at the work group level. We are looking forward to trying out some of the solutions and recommendations within our region and elevating specific issues and recommendations to WFLC agencies that can help improve the current response scenarios. Please contact <a href="mailto:westerncohesivestrategy@gmail.com">Kate Lighthall</a> if you or your staff have an interest in working with this group.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><b>Increasing the Use of Prescribed Fire Working Group</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Just the mention of creating this group stirred lots of interest. While prescribed fire is only one of the valuable tools in the resilient landscape toolbox, there is a belief across the region is that it is not used enough or at a scale that can improve resiliency for communities and landscapes. While there are many reasons for this, we believe there are opportunities for learning and engagement among practitioners, communities, air quality professionals, the EPA, and others that can lead to greater understanding and actions towards an increased use of prescribed fire where it is appropriate. As with the other two working groups, this group will collect, store and share information about what's working and what's not at national, regional, state and local levels, communicate appropriate messages and make recommendations for improvements. Please contact <a href="mailto:westerncohesivestrategy@gmail.com">Kate Lighthall</a> if you or your staff have an interest in working with this group. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Stay tuned for progress reports! </span></span><br />
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</style>Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-73813011496442348062019-01-24T19:40:00.006-08:002019-01-24T19:40:52.891-08:00Western Governors and U.S. Department of Agriculture sign MOU for Collaborative Land Management<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Hawai'i Governor David Ige and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue sign the MOU. Photo: WGA</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On December 12, 2018, the Western Governors' Association (WGA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to "establish a framework to allow the Forest Service and WGA to work collaboratively to accomplish mutual goals, further common interests, and effectively respond to the increasing suite of challenges facing western landscapes." This MOU was signed at the WGA 2018 Winter Meeting following Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue's keynote. The MOU was signed by Secretary Perdue, WGA Chair and Governor of Hawaiʻi David Ige, and WGA Vice Chair and Governor of North Dakota Doug Burgum.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“This is an important step in cooperatively addressing land management challenges,” said Governor Ige. “We recognize that no one agency or level of government has the capacity to deal with all of these risks alone. This MOU puts us on a path to working closely on these serious matters.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Governors possess primary decision-making authority for management of state resources, including many resources on federal lands. Being a ‘good neighbor’ is an essential component in USDA’s work, which is why this MOU is so important,” said Secretary Perdue. “USDA’s Forest Service will work shoulder-to-shoulder with WGA to co-manage risks and identify land management priorities. As authentic collaborators, the states and federal government will improve service to the public by creating more efficient, effective, and long-lasting policy.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Read the</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://westgov.org/images/editor/19-MU-11132001-027_USDA_WGA_signed.pdf" href="http://westgov.org/images/editor/19-MU-11132001-027_USDA_WGA_signed.pdf" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">full agreement here</a></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-31288289102121795742019-01-24T19:18:00.001-08:002019-10-14T18:04:03.618-07:002018 Farm Bill, Executive Order 13855 and DOI Secretarial Order 3372 and their Impact on Implementing the Cohesive Strategy<h2 class="mc-toc-title" style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Fuel breaks work on the Badger Creek Fire in Wyoming. Photo: USFS</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">*updated January 31st to include corrections and the DOI Secretarial Order in response to the Executive Order. </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Just prior to the partial government shutdown, Congress approved and the President signed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, aka the Farm Bill. In December the President also signed Executive Order 13855 - </span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Promoting Active Management of America’s Forests, Rangelands, and Other Federal Lands to Improve Conditions and Reduce Wildfire Risk.</span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> In addition, the Secretary of the Department of the Interior released Secretarial Order 3372 - Reducing Wildfire Risks on Department of the Interior Land through Active Management. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Together, these pieces of legislation and policy will influence the implementation of the Cohesive Strategy across the nation. The following is an overview and non-exhaustive summary of these documents that affect implementation of the Cohesive Strategy.<br /><br /><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-115hr2enr/pdf/BILLS-115hr2enr.pdf" href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-115hr2enr/pdf/BILLS-115hr2enr.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>2018 Farm Bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018</strong></a></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Allows for competitive grants for collaborative, landscape-scale, restoration of priority landscapes on state lands through the State and Private Forestry Landscape Restoration Fund. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Amends the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) to include cross-boundary hazardous fuels reduction projects (both USFS and BLM). Up to $20,000,000 per year can be appropriated for this, through 2023. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hazardous fuels appropriations reduced from $760 million to $660 million through 2023 (both USFS and BLM). If agencies get to keep their full appropriations and avoid fire borrowing, this might be satisfactory. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Establishes the Water Source Protection Program for restoration and protection projects. Speaks directly to the Cohesive Strategy guidance for landscape scale work, across boundaries, where fire touches other resources. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Amends HFRA to allow for the application of “extraordinary circumstances” when using a Categorical Exclusion (USFS only). </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to develop a categorical exclusion for vegetation management activities that protect, restore or improve habitat for greater sage-grouse or mule deer. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Amends the Good Neighbor Authority to include Tribes and Counties – this gives additional stakeholders an opportunity to treat forested and rangeland landscapes around communities.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reauthorizes CFLRP at $80 million through 2023. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Addresses timber innovation including research and development of the use of “mass timber” – a promising idea in the field of biomass utilization. </span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<strong><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-01-07/pdf/2019-00014.pdf" href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-01-07/pdf/2019-00014.pdf" target="_blank">Executive Order 13855 - Promoting Active Management of America’s Forests, Rangelands, and Other Federal Lands to Improve Conditions and Reduce Wildfire Risk</a></strong><br /><br />The E.O. directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior to:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Implement policies to improve forest and rangeland management practices by reducing hazardous fuel loads, mitigating fire risk and ensuring the safety and stability of local communities through active management on forests and rangelands. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prioritize fuel reduction treatments as part of forest and rangeland management activities.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pursue benefits to rural economies by encouraging productive uses of forest by-products.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Collaborate with state, tribal, and counties to create a comprehensive wildfire strategy that prioritizes the highest-risk lands, considers regulatory and economic challenges related to managing DOI and U.S. Forest Service lands and encourages local economic growth through timber and biomass sales.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Establish specific forest and rangeland management objectives. DOI shall establish a goal of treating 750,000 acres for fuels reduction and 500,000 acres to protect water quality and mitigate erosion and flooding risks resulting from forest fires. USDA shall establish a goal of treating 3.5 million acres of USFS land for fuels reduction and 2.2 million acres to address water quality and post-fire erosion and flooding. DOI and USDA are also instructed to offer up for sale 600 million board feet and 3.8 billion board feet of timber. </span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In order to accomplish these objectives, USDA and DOI are instructed to coordinate with other federal agencies and streamline relevant administrative and regulatory processes. This may be done by minimizing the time period for regulatory comments, consultation and administrative review, using all applicable categorical exclusions and developing new categorical exclusions. It's important to note that no funding allocations have been made to address the activities in this Executive Order so accomplishment can be affected positively or negatively depending on appropriations. There are many directions in the Executive Order however that speak to alignment with the Cohesive Strategy in terms of cross-boundary collaboration and reducing fuels on landscapes for healthier, resilient forests and rangelands, and communities.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_gv9jw6AZuP6g_diDAcAUk4Dn5AlLU1N">Secretarial Order 3372 - Reducing Wildfire Risks on Department of the Interior Land through Active Management</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In response to the Executive Order, SO 3372 is intended to enhance the Department of the Interior's management of federal lands to: 1) better protect people, communities, wildlife, habitat and watersheds by actively managing lands to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire; and 2) promote the sustainable recovery of damaged lands. Referencing the Executive Order, the Secretary of the Interior directs the following actions:</span><br />
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<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Include fire management best practices in all land management plans.</span></li>
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<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The plans shall incorporate the principles of active management to facilitate the wildfire prevention, suppression and recovery planning to protect people, communities, landscapes and water quality; and mitigate severe flooding and erosion caused by wildfire. </span></li>
<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bureaus and offices shall collaborate with USDA to identify federal lands with highest catastrophic wildfire risks. </span></li>
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<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coordinate and collaborate with land-managing partners and stakeholders. </span></li>
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<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Identify salvage and log recovery options from lands damaged in the 2017 and 2018 fire seasons, insects or disease.</span></li>
<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Develop performance metrics that better capture the risk reduction benefits of the fire management tools enumerated in the E.O. </span></li>
<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Implement a cooperative strategy to utilize unmanned aerial systems to prevent, suppress and rehabilitate landscapes impacted by wildfire.</span></li>
<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Identify and catalog all NEPA categorical exclusions that address wildfire management to maximize their use and develop new categorical exclusions. </span></li>
<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Consult with USDA and U.S. Department of Commerce to identify and deploy additional resources that streamline Endangered Species Act compliance timelines for wildfire management activities.</span></li>
<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Consult with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to identify and remove fuels management barriers implemented under the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Conduct an examination and report on the costs and challenges of managing wildfire risks through land management activities.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Inventory local units where the Good Neighbor Authority could help reduce wildfire risks. Use the inventory to develop and start implementing a plan to coordinate with federal agencies, states, tribes, localities and other stakeholders to support infrastructure necessary to maintain healthy forestland, rangeland and watersheds.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Inventory and assess roads that may be beneficial to wildfire, fuels and vegetation management. Develop strategy to maintain roads for these activities.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Utilize active land, vegetation and wildfire management techniques that are supported by best practices and best available science (see SO for list). </span></li>
<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maximize the wildfire management benefits of physical features within landscapes.</span></li>
<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seek and implement expert guidance.</span></li>
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<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Assemble a Department team of planning specialists to lead planning efforts and resource deployment across the Department.</span></li>
<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Establish a FACA board to report of the Secretary on the Executive Order and this Order. The Board should include federal, state, Tribal and local stakeholders.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Click on each title above to view full text of the Bill, the E.O. and the Secretarial Order. </span></div>
Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-87396642266007512262019-01-24T18:53:00.000-08:002019-01-24T18:53:36.257-08:0021st Century Fire Detection is Here<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9sc_wLSwFVE/XEpkwIl1PfI/AAAAAAAAD_c/gRiP76c2F8MmMKiR63QPS-0qkfh2czuBQCLcBGAs/s1600/WildfireALERT%2Bcollage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="576" height="280" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9sc_wLSwFVE/XEpkwIl1PfI/AAAAAAAAD_c/gRiP76c2F8MmMKiR63QPS-0qkfh2czuBQCLcBGAs/s400/WildfireALERT%2Bcollage.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">A collection of screen shots from WildfireALERT and photo of one of the towers where cameras are placed.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">WildfireALERT is a promising new network of fire detection cameras with day and night detection capabilities. Developed by a team of seismologists from University of Oregon, University of Nevada and UC San Diego who developed ShakeALERT, for you guessed it, early detection of earthquakes, the same system can be used for wildfires, floods and other natural hazards. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Using wireless, high-bandwidth IP connectivity, the system can:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">discover, locate and confirm fire ignitions</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">allow for the quick scaling up or down of fire resources</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">monitor fire behavior through containment</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">help evacuations through enhanced situational awareness</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">ensure contained fires are monitored appropriately through their demise</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">interface with predictive fire and weather modeling</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">produce time lapse imagery</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1J1WCxPn_Xs/XEpn9-85pUI/AAAAAAAAD_o/0B8GuSbZYpMGjtOJPBRE8ulyhxhDuBoAwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-24%2Bat%2B5.34.14%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1600" height="227" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1J1WCxPn_Xs/XEpn9-85pUI/AAAAAAAAD_o/0B8GuSbZYpMGjtOJPBRE8ulyhxhDuBoAwCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-24%2Bat%2B5.34.14%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition the network can be:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">accessed by phone, tablet, laptop or desktop </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">accessed securely by fire managers and responders, with direct camera control</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">accessed by the public for situational awareness</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">funded by multiple stakeholders (private sector too!)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">scaled infinitely</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Current installations include AlertTahoe, AlertSDG&E in San Diego County, AlertSoCal, AlertNevada, AlertOregon, AlertIdaho (BLM) with more on the way. The applications are seemingly endless with interest from the private sector such as utilities, high fire risk counties, federal, state and Tribal management agencies and other private stakeholders and communities. This diverse interest also allows for stakeholders to spread the cost of installation and maintenance. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">FYI: the cost of the camera is relatively inexpensive at $2-3,000. The cost to construct a new tower, with power, runs about $75,000. If a camera can be placed on an existing and use its power source, the cost drops dramatically to around $10,000. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpfl1joFcnQ/XEptzHbS4WI/AAAAAAAAD_0/75lYyGBy8lQe0DWPExf7tylR5t1jIDrxACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-24%2Bat%2B6.00.01%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="521" height="264" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpfl1joFcnQ/XEptzHbS4WI/AAAAAAAAD_0/75lYyGBy8lQe0DWPExf7tylR5t1jIDrxACLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-24%2Bat%2B6.00.01%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">21st century fire tower!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The developers indicate that they are researching additional applications such as temporary, rapid response set up to monitor fires or other hazards in places not already covered by cameras. </span></div>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Overall, we are impressed at the potential for improving the wildfire response system. Stay tuned!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For more information contact</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">: Prof. Douglas Toomey, University of Oregon, Earth Sciences. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="mailto:drt@uoregon.edu">drt@uoregon.edu</a></span></div>
Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-38940083257306066392019-01-24T15:10:00.002-08:002019-01-24T15:18:53.776-08:00Deschutes County Addresses Wildfire Risk with Zoning Changes<h2 class="mc-toc-title" style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BahAAWJQ5Z8/XEpB0HSJ39I/AAAAAAAAD_I/Ypl8sCrFyFELfD58s3stqcOql_CqSdqHgCLcBGAs/s1600/Westside%2BTransect%2BZone%2BDeschutes%2BCounty%2BMap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="865" height="247" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BahAAWJQ5Z8/XEpB0HSJ39I/AAAAAAAAD_I/Ypl8sCrFyFELfD58s3stqcOql_CqSdqHgCLcBGAs/s320/Westside%2BTransect%2BZone%2BDeschutes%2BCounty%2BMap.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deschutes County zoning map showing low density zone adjacent to public lands. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">As thousands of people are still trying to figure out their new normals following the Camp and Carr Fires in 2018, many are looking at the commonalities of these unprecedented fires to find ways to prevent these types of tragedies in the future. </span></h2>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Deschutes County in Oregon is routinely confronted by wildland fires that occur on the forested public lands just west of the city of Bend. Living with wildfire in this fire-dependent ecosystem means stakeholders must confront the hard truth that defensible space and home hardening might not be enough to prevent home-to-home ignitions when significant winds are in play as they were on the Carr and Camp Fires.</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">A local advocacy group worked collaboratively with private landowners, county planners and fire specialists to propose rezoning the high-risk area to require fire-resistant building materials for new construction and limit the amount of development there in an effort to reduce the chances that a wildfire will progress into one of Oregon’s fastest growing cities. This is a tough pill to swallow in most communities because cities, counties and planning boards are under pressure to approve new housing developments and increase their tax base. In addition, developers try to fit as many homes into a new subdivision as possible to maximize their investments. </span></h2>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Deschutes County Commissioners however, recognized the overall value to the community and unanimously approved the changes in zoning which will result in 90% fewer homes than were allowed under the previous code. The Cohesive Strategy strongly promotes this type of "co-management of risk" among all stakeholders to help reduce the risk of wildfire and its devastating outcomes. More <a data-cke-saved-href="https://wildfiretoday.com/2019/01/22/oregon-county-changes-zoning-to-require-new-construction-to-be-low-density/" href="https://wildfiretoday.com/2019/01/22/oregon-county-changes-zoning-to-require-new-construction-to-be-low-density/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-45174045956334094032019-01-24T14:38:00.000-08:002019-01-24T14:38:23.527-08:00Biomass Decision May Save Largest Forest Restoration Effort in the Nation<span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The only biomass plant in Arizona. The Novo Power 38 megawatt power plant in Snowflake. <br /> Photo: Karen Warnick, White Mountain Independent.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In late December the Arizona Corporation Commission agreed to require the state’s utilities to buy or produce 90 megawatts of energy annually from biomass — saving the forest restoration industry from collapse. While the final rule is not in the books, the Commission ordered staff to propose a set of rules to create a market for the 1.5 million tons of branches, brush and debris created by thinning 50,000 acres of overgrown forest annually. Part of restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes, as offered by the Cohesive Strategy, is finding ways to expand biomass markets as a way to deal with the non-sawlog material that comes from forest thinning projects. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is also an example of stakeholders and those who carry much of the risk addressing the hard truths of uncomfortable tradeoffs to achieve resiliency on the landscape. There was reluctance among some county officials and staff to take this step because it will increase electric rates and rely on 20-year agreements with the US Forest Service</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> who till now has struggled to find </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">contractors to complete the large-scale work as part of the Four Forests Restoration Initiative (4FRI), the largest restoration effort in the nation. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />In a move that will place some of the responsibility with electricity users, the Commission pointed out that large-scale thinning will likely increase runoff from millions of acres of watershed into the Valley, in a state with a worsening water shortage. Increasing forest restoration efforts will also potentially save billions in wildfire suppression costs and billions in property damage. It will also save lives by reducing deaths from air pollution from wildfires, as well as save the lives of firefighters and residents from megafires. All the while, the biomass industry will provide jobs in hard-pressed rural industries.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We were in a desperate situation,” said Gila County Supervisor Tommie Martin, a leading member of the stakeholders group for the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI). Martin also said Arizona Public Service and other power companies also supported the plan, along with a host of environmental groups, officials from rural counties, logging companies and advocates for economic development.<br /><br />We will be keeping an eye on the final ruling to see if this big step gives the US Forest Service what it needs to enter into the long-term contracts and provide investment security for the development of a 90 megawatt power plant. In the meantime, Navajo County Supervisor Jason Whiting said, “It would appear the commission now understands how much this matters to Arizona and its citizens. A month ago, this was on its deathbed — but through numerous prayers and efforts from concerned citizens, leaders and elected officials we are now moving in the right direction.” Read full article <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.paysonroundup.com/forest_closures_fire_updates/biomass-decision-may-save-forest-restoration-efforts/article_ce671ae9-c047-5c04-9ba7-8dec112b3b56.html" href="https://www.paysonroundup.com/forest_closures_fire_updates/biomass-decision-may-save-forest-restoration-efforts/article_ce671ae9-c047-5c04-9ba7-8dec112b3b56.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span>Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-66875613585289590502018-12-19T14:00:00.004-08:002018-12-19T14:12:03.891-08:00The First Privately Financed Forest Resiliency Bond <div class="card collection-item" data-type="text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a remote corner of the Sierra Nevada, a financial experiment is about to begin. Five thousand acres of the Tahoe National Forest will receive mechanical and prescribed fire treatments but the project won't be paid by the US Forest Service. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead, the roughly $4 million will come from two foundations, an investment firm and an insurance company.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Tahoe project is the first forestry project financed with a "forest-resilience bond" created by the World Resources Institute and Blue Forest Conservation. Blue Forest founders hope to persuade profit-seeking investors to pay for work that reduces the risk of costly wildfires and potentially eases the risk of drought. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the first step, that Blue Forest also hopes will lead to much larger projects costing tens of millions of dollars and covering multiple watersheds in multiple states.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The forest resilience bond works like this: Investors put up the cash to pay for the thinning work. They'll be repaid over time, with interest, by public agencies or other entities that want to see the work done but can't pay for it all at once. In the case of the Tahoe Project, the upfront funding is coming from CSAA Insurance Group, investment firm Calvert Impact Capital, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Betty Moore Foundation. Together, they will lend the money to the National Forest Foundation, which will hire the contractors and manage the forestry work. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The money to repay the bonds will come from annual payments from the Yuba Water Agency and a grant from the CalFire. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the investors, the appeal of the fire bond is more than just a return on investment. Linc Walworth, vice president of investments for CSAA, said the insurance company last year alone had 5,000 wildfire-related claims. "To the extent that we can reduce the risk of fire in California, that's good business for us," he said. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Cohesive Strategy supports this kind of "out-of-the-box" thinking and creative solutions to reducing risk. Read the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fire-bond-20181101-story.html">full article here</a>. </span></div>
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Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-44856238592526929542018-12-19T13:07:00.001-08:002018-12-19T13:07:18.169-08:00Prescribed Fire is a Valuable Tool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wildfire has historically played an important role in the health and structure of Oregon's dry forests. Prescribed fire is a valuable tool used to restore forest health, increase firefighter safety, and better protect nearby human resources in these fire-adapted landscapes. Watch this informative video and share with your audiences. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">The vision for the Cohesive Strategy is to put fires out when needed and use fire where and when you can. </span>Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-52533712410433579322018-10-25T11:46:00.002-07:002018-10-25T11:46:50.165-07:00All-Hands All-Lands Burn Team<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The USDA Forest Service</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">,</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Nature Conservancy’s Rio Grande Water Fund</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and the</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Forest Stewards Guild</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">are working together to increase the use of prescribed fire to protect water sources, wildlife, and forests while reducing wildfire risk. The All Hands All Lands Burn Team (Burn Team) is unique in that it is designed to stand-up a fully qualified team to lead prescribed burns or support others in burning across a variety of land jurisdictions. The practice of prescribed fire promotes ecological health in frequent fire forests, reduces hazardous fuels thereby protecting nearby communities, and reduces the intensity and size of future wildfires.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Forest Stewards Guild will mobilize the Burn Team for prescribed burns this fall, winter, and in the spring of 2019. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“This Burn Team is a culmination of work and partnerships that began over ten years ago to improve forest health, protect nearby communities from wildfire, and to protect watersheds.” says Forest Stewards Guild Southwest Director Eytan Krasilovsky. “We have excellent collaborative restoration partners that are once again coming together to learn and burn together.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The goal of the Burn Team is to get ahead of prescribed fire backlogs on federal, state and tribal lands to support private landowners' use of prescribed fire. The Burn Team increases the capacity of existing efforts and serves as a stand-alone organization that can complete burns with insured and qualified burn bosses. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Find out more about the Burn Team <a href="https://facnm.org/our-projects/all-hands-all-lands-burn-team">here</a>. </span></div>
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Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-72637556058735130852018-10-25T11:35:00.001-07:002018-10-25T11:35:08.201-07:00Planning and Implementing Cross-boundary, Landscape-scale Restoration and Wildfire Risk Reduction Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 37);"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This guide describes the process the Klamath-Lake Forest Partnership (KLFHP) has used to plan and implement cross-boundary restoration projects to achieve improved forest health conditions at large landscapes scales. It is intended as a model other individuals and communities can modify to meet the needs of their local circumstances. The Cohesive Strategy says working collaboratively across boundaries and jurisdictions is necessary to achieve to make meaningful progress towards landscape resiliency. Take a look! </span></span>Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-52390422687988588672018-10-25T11:31:00.001-07:002018-10-25T11:31:12.531-07:00Residents Reducing Wildfire Risk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Check out this recent video from Firewise USA showcasing residents choosing to reduce the risk of wildfire around their home. The Cohesive Strategy promotes wildfire risk reduction at all levels to become more adapted to living with fire - from around individual homes to treatments on broad landscapes - risk reduction is a large piece of the fire adapted communities pie. </span>Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-39833907859796319892018-10-17T13:19:00.003-07:002018-10-17T13:19:48.132-07:00Understanding Good Neighbor Authority<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Cohesive Strategy promotes the use of all the tools in the toolbox to make progress toward resilient landscapes. The Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) is one such tool. The GNA is intended to expand limited federal capacity to implement and plan forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration projects by facilitating partnerships with state agencies. The authority allows a state to perform authorized restoration services on federal land. Additionally, the authority allows a state agency to administer timber sales on federal land, and for a federal agency to use the value of wood products to purchase restoration services, including planning, from state agencies. <br /><br />Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC) recently released their review of the current status of GNA use in six western states to clarify how it's being used and to inform other states and National Forests about approaches that me be appropriate for their local conditions. The report also shares current policy and guidance on GNA and highlights early efforts in the six states. </span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Federal and state agency staff embraced a vision of cross boundary cooperation, and viewed GNA as one ofmany pathways to develop interagency relationships.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Successful use of GNA required strong partnerships between state and federal agencies.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Project activities varied, but most projects were focused on vegetation management.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">States learned from each other, decreasing the time required to start using the new authority.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most states entered into projects with completed NEPA analysis.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most states required up-front funding to start projects using GNA.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some states anticipated the possibility of “self-sustaining” programs that use the value of timber to pay for future sale administration, contract planning, and restoration work. State and federal partners also developed agree- ment structures that can accommodate ongoing programs of work beyond a single project.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The role of collaboration with non-agency partners is not mandated by statute and remains uncertain. All states reported informing collaboratives of GNA projects to some extent.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Interviewees, including federal employees, reported some resistance to utilizing the new authority among federalagency staff.</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It remains to be seen if GNA projects are additive to baseline accomplishments and outputs, with some interviewees stating that GNA will help federal agencies meet rising timber volume and restoration targets.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Use of GNA in each state context is still evolving and may necessarily look different across various states and ecosystems.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">State agency staff capacity cannot increase immediately. State agencies seem to need certainty in the availability of work in order to hire new staff to accomplish GNA projects.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The role of forest collaboratives in GNA projects will be determined on a voluntary basis by individual states, as there is no requirement to collaborate in the statute. None of the states we examined have formalized a process for collaborative engagement.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Although interim federal directives state that use of program income must be determined up front in the agreement, in practice, state and federal agencies refined how they use program income over time and how partners provided input on these decisions.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Agreements can last ten years at most, which poses a problem for the long term use of program income and the development of sustained state involvement.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">GNA is still a relatively new tool and will continue to evolve as different states find creative ways to make use of it in local contexts.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/562e839ee4b0332955e8143d/t/5bb64dde7817f799e3355fed/1538674144568/RVC+GNA+2018_web_.pdf">The full report can be found here</a>. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-83305356582550718342018-10-17T12:21:00.000-07:002018-10-17T12:21:14.610-07:00Wildfire and the Wildlife that Needs It<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ecologist Frank Lake describes the importance of fire on the landscape in northern California. Photo: Nick Fisher, OPB. Ecologists Paul Hessburg and Bill Gaines search for woodpeckers in the footprint of a previous fire on Freezeout Ridge in Washington State. Moose in a meadow. Photos: Kevin Freeny, OPB. </span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not all wildfire is a force of destruction. Many of our favorite plants and animals have evolved to depend on it. This short video from Oregon Public Broadcasting takes us from the forests of eastern Washington to those in northern California to highlight the benefit of wildland fire to plants, animals and indigenous peoples. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Regular, low-intensity fires keep forest and meadow habitats diverse and thriving for multiple species. Smoke keeps streams cooler by reflecting the sun's heat which provides the perfect habitat for salmon. Local Tribes depend on the food and cultural resources provided by these fires. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Take a moment to watch this video to see the positive impact fire has on our landscapes, wildlife and communities. See the <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.opb.org/news/article/northwest-plants-animals-wildfire-help/" href="https://www.opb.org/news/article/northwest-plants-animals-wildfire-help/" target="_blank">full article here</a>. Click <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.opb.org/television/video/final-wildlife-wildfire/" href="https://www.opb.org/television/video/final-wildlife-wildfire/" target="_blank">here to watch the video</a>. </span></div>
Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-46983423631268825882018-10-17T11:38:00.001-07:002018-10-17T11:38:20.366-07:00 Vicki Christiansen Named 19th Chief of USDA Forest Service.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Chief of the USDA Forest Service Vicki Christiansen. Photo: USDA Forest Service. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced on October 10th that Vicki Christiansen will serve as the 19th Chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service. Christiansen has been serving as Interim Chief since March of this year. Following the announcement, Secretary Perdue issued the following statement:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“As a former wildland firefighter and fire manager, Chief Christiansen knows what’s needed to restore our forests and put them back to work for the taxpayers. With seven years at the Forest Service and 30 years with the states of Arizona and Washington, Vicki’s professional experience makes me confident that she will thrive in this role and hit the ground running.” Read the <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2018/10/10/secretary-perdue-announces-vicki-christiansen-new-forest-service" href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2018/10/10/secretary-perdue-announces-vicki-christiansen-new-forest-service" target="_blank">full release here</a>. </span><br />
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Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-16182445870007400642018-10-17T09:47:00.002-07:002018-10-17T09:47:13.438-07:00Alaska's Team Rubicon - Mission Complete<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" scrolling="no" src="https://www.ktuu.com/templates/2015_Sub_Video_Share?contentObj=494760211" style="max-width: 100%;" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recently Alaska's Team Rubicon partnered with the Anchorage Fire Department to sharpen their sawyer skills and help prevent wildfires. About 30 civilian and veteran members of Team Rubicon came together to learn how to use chainsaws safely and effectively while removing trees that are potentially dangerous during a wildfire. The mitigation effort helped to protect the Eagle River neighborhood from a spreading future fire by removing the hazardous fuels near homes and thinning the overly dense stand of black spruce.</span></div>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Cohesive Strategy supports the efforts of Team Rubicon across the West to engage local citizens and veterans in increasing the capacity to address wildfire issues on the landscape.</span></div>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the full story, <a href="https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Mission-Complete-Team-Rubicon-finishes-first-wildfire-mitigation-operation-494760211.html">click here</a>. </span></div>
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Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-18923987815562912552018-08-17T12:56:00.001-07:002018-08-17T12:56:46.878-07:00USDA Announces New Strategy to Improve Forest Conditions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service announced yesterday the concept of an outcome-based investment strategy that responds to the urgent national crisis of growing challenges including catastrophic wildfires, invasive species, droughts, degraded watersheds, and epidemics of forest insects and disease. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite huge advances in collaborative efforts across the US to achieve ecological, social, and economic gains, they are not always coordinated across boundaries and at the scale needed to achieve lasting outcomes across broad landscapes. The Forest Service and its partners have limited budgetary resources; even pooled, cannot begin to treat all of the landscapes in need. The belief that individual landowners and land managers can and should shoulder all responsibility for disturbance-related risks within their jurisdictions is outdated. The risk is at scales now that are simply too great. C</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">atastrophic wildfires and the corresponding loss of lives, homes, natural resources and other values have continued to grow. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(89, 89, 89); color: #595959; font-family: ArialNarrow; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A new report titled </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/sites/default/files/toward-shared-stewardship.pdf">Toward Shared Stewardship across Landscapes: An Outcome-based investment Strategy</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">outlines the Forest Service plans to work more closely with states and Tribes to identify landscape-scale priorities for targeted treatments in areas with the highest payoffs. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Cohesive Strategy is prominently featured in the new strategy concept as a foundation for working with partners and stakeholders to effectively co-manage risk across broad landscapes. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The challenges before us require a new approach,” said Interim Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen. “This year Congress has given us new opportunities to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with state leaders to identify land management priorities that include mitigating wildfire risks. We will use all the tools available to us to reduce hazardous fuels, including mechanical treatments, prescribed fire, and unplanned fire in the right place at the right time, to mitigate them.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A key component of the new strategy is to prioritize investment decisions on forest treatments in direct coordination with states and Tribes using the most advanced science tools. Targeted investments are needed at the level of shared landscapes, including partner contributions of resources. </span><br />
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The concept of an outcome-based investment strategy is ground in assessing risks and tradeoffs. Co-managing fire risk means learning together about firesheds and landscapes around communities, watersheds and other values and choosing the risk reduction strategies with the highest rate of return on investments. The key is to bring stakeholders together to learn about the particular fire risks they face, examine the options for managing them and decide what actions to take. Convening and planning at multiple scales will be crucial. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The report highlights Scenario Investment Planning based on a new data-driven tool that gives the wildland fire community the ability to manage fire risk across broad landscapes. It will allow for shared stewardship among stakeholders so they can make cross-boundary investments to increase the scope and scale of reducing fire risk and improving forest conditions in way never done before. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(</span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://wildfireinthewest.blogspot.com/2018/08/can-moneyball-fix-how-west-manages.html" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">See our article on this cutting edge risk assessment</a><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> t</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">hat can be used to make these important decisions).</span><br />
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These concepts are not new to the Cohesive Strategy which makes three key assumptions that underlie meaningful reduction in risk:</span><br />
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<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prioritization of investment and use of resources - existing resources are used more efficiently, perhaps requiring reallocation of resources across agencies, areas or programs. </span></li>
<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Acceptance of increased short-term risk - wildland fire is used as a tool, which carries inherent risks that must be considered in the short-term to achieve longer-term benefits.</span></li>
<li><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Greater collective investment - all who have a stake in the fire outcomes share the costs and level of effort necessary to redeem responsibilities for reducing risks.</span></li>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Through shared stewardship, the Forest Service, States, Tribes and other partners have unprecedented opportunities to co-manage fire risk and achieve positive outcomes at the most appropriate scales. The keys will be working with partners to convene stakeholders for planning at fireshed and landscape scales, using scenario investment planning as a tool for assessing risk, evaluating tradeoffs and managing risk through targeted investments in areas with the highest payoffs. The Forest Service envisions outcomes that include resilient fire adapted landscapes, flourishing fire adapted human communities and fewer responder injuries and deaths. </span><br /><br />
<span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The report is a beginning, a recognized opportunity for reducing fire risk and improving forest conditions by enhancing the entire wildland fire system. Fully developing and deploying the concept will take time. It will be up to the partners and stakeholders, working together to decide what the strategy looks like on the ground and what tools to use. We need shared approaches, the report contends, at the scale of the challenges we face, using shared resources and the right kinds of investments in the right places. The wildland fire system can be improved by joining with partners and stakeholders to make smart choices about where we work and investments that can truly make a difference at an all-lands scale. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAOC/bulletins/20670fb">Read full press release here</a>. <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/sites/default/files/toward-shared-stewardship.pdf">Read the full report here</a>.</span>Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-72460953885683590712018-08-15T11:26:00.002-07:002018-08-17T13:06:34.003-07:00Can "Moneyball" Fix How the West Manages Wildfire?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3F613xm9QYI/W3Rc_RhyqlI/AAAAAAAAD2Q/_OB0j3MzvbAEoVLlpKoUXlUe-5QjuF5eQCLcBGAs/s1600/risk-map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="687" height="385" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3F613xm9QYI/W3Rc_RhyqlI/AAAAAAAAD2Q/_OB0j3MzvbAEoVLlpKoUXlUe-5QjuF5eQCLcBGAs/s400/risk-map.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a sobering look back at the last five decades of fire management, author Tony Schick outlines the conundrums facing fire managers today and asks, can '<a href="https://www.nwpb.org/2018/07/16/can-moneyball-fix-how-the-west-manages-wildfire/">Moneyball' fix how the west manages wildfires</a>? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The history and science is clear - fires on the landscape in the right place, at the right time, can deliver a wealth of benefits including improved forest resiliency and health, and reduced fuel buildup in forests that contribute to larger, more destructive fires. The problem is people. More homes, water sources and infrastructure in historically fire-prone environments have contributed to the ongoing decisions to actively suppress most fires (over 99% of all fires last year). Socially and politically, the decisions to manage a fire for the benefits it provides to the landscape and the community, are not supported. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When a fire burns a long time, envelops cities in smoke, threatens people and homes, decision-makers take heat from politicians and the public over why they weren't stopped sooner. This, says Schick, results in a <span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">destructive</span> feedback loop that leads to worsening fire outcomes. </span><br />
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The uncertainty and societal pressure lead many fire managers to being risk-averse and thinking that suppression is the safest decision," said Dave Calkin, economist and research forester with the US Forest Service. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fire managers are in a ridiculously tough spot here. If we are going to make meaningful progress towards more resilient landscapes, fire adapted communities and a safer, more effective wildfire response, we must address the hard truth of risk and be willing to take some short-term risk for the long-term gain.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">US Forest Service researchers are now sharing a cutting-edge, wildfire risk assessment that can bring data-driven decision-making to wildland fire management. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The researchers call their work 'Moneyball for fire,' referencing the 2003 book chronicling the Oakland Athletics' attempt to outsmart richer baseball teams by using advanced statistics.</span><br />
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> "Pick your spots to re-introduce burning and maybe that 100,000 acre megafire won't seem so devastating," said Matt Thompson, who along with Calkin, authors much of the Forest Service's work on the subject. </span><br />
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Those extreme events are still going to happen. But maybe if we capitalize more when things are moderate, we can at least dampen their impact," Thompson added. This will require a tolerance for risk and a willingness to trust the process - something the Cohesive Strategy insists is required to make meaningful progress towards more resilient landscapes and fire adapted communities. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The risk assessments of Oregon and Washington (seen in the map above) are the broadest use of these wildfire analytics so far. Fire managers can now use it to target fuels treatments and help prioritize where to put resources. Soon, Calkin's team will match that effort with calculations of where suppression efforts are likeliest to succeed. They can then design the ideal response to a fire depending on when and where it happens. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This scenario investment planning tool will help fire managers make the tough decisions about when and where to appropriately use prescribed and unplanned fire. Their use will also help build a greater tolerance for risk and a willingness to accept short-term risks to break the harmful feedback loop and reduce the potential of future megafires. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">During fire season the Forest Service will be experimenting with on-call analytic teams to provide relevant risk data to assist incident commanders in their decision-making. We'll be watching to see the results. Stay tuned. </span><br />
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Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-67722377698888284222018-07-08T11:13:00.001-07:002018-07-08T11:13:44.912-07:00New Tool Allows Oregon Residents and Land Managers to Track Current Wildfire Risk<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cd5v31VXRHk/W0JRfgpAUoI/AAAAAAAADzo/FZuHzccxlw4sCoG945casRVrPIYh6rYaQCLcBGAs/s1600/Tool%2BODF.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="762" height="310" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cd5v31VXRHk/W0JRfgpAUoI/AAAAAAAADzo/FZuHzccxlw4sCoG945casRVrPIYh6rYaQCLcBGAs/s400/Tool%2BODF.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Oregon Explorer. Photo: Oregon Department of Forestry</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Oregon Department of Forestry recently released the Advanced Oregon Wildfire Risk Explorer, a new tool that allows residents to track current wildfire risk to their exact location anywhere in the state. The tool uses a variety of data including historical wildfire data, local vegetation and weather. It offers resources as well. Residents can generate a report specific to their address that shows how much defensible space should be cleared around their homes, wildfire history and local contacts for more information. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The tool is also intended to provide a data-based risk assessment for planners and forest managers as they prepared for where wildfires are predicted to grow more intense. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Cohesive Strategy strongly supports the use of science and technology to help stakeholders achieve landscape resiliency goals, fire adapted communities and a safer, more effective wildfire response.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><a href="http://tools.oregonexplorer.info/OE_HtmlViewer/Index.html?viewer=wildfireplanning">Test drive the new tool here</a>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/index.ssf/2018/05/new_tool_allows_oregon_residen.html">Read the full article here</a>. </span></span><br />
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Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-36012719958267227602018-07-08T10:47:00.002-07:002018-07-09T10:02:46.750-07:00The True Costs of Wildland Fire - Updated 7-9-18<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N4uJdwc59yM/Wz5O153fTXI/AAAAAAAADzQ/WbaezGD9mp8JWXuuR8NPpHe25cT413jRgCLcBGAs/s1600/lost%2Beverything%2Btubbs%2Bfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N4uJdwc59yM/Wz5O153fTXI/AAAAAAAADzQ/WbaezGD9mp8JWXuuR8NPpHe25cT413jRgCLcBGAs/s400/lost%2Beverything%2Btubbs%2Bfire.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Tubbs Fire aftermath. Photo: San Francisco Chronicle</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To "live with wildland fire" is at the core of the Cohesive Strategy vision. But to understand what that truly means for us in the West's fire prone environments, we must understand the full impacts and costs of wildland fire. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">State and federal agencies routinely capture costs and impacts in terms of dollars spent, houses and acres burned and sadly, lives lost. We now know however, that the true costs of wildland fire go far beyond those measurements.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Headwaters Economics approached this issue in their recent study of the <i>Full Community Costs of Wildfire</i>. In summary, the report suggests:</span><br />
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<li><span style="text-indent: -1em;">Almost half of the full community costs of wildfire are paid for at the local level, including homeowners, businesses, and government agencies.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -1em;">Many of these costs are due to long-term damages to community and environmental services, such as landscape rehabilitation, lost business and tax revenues, and property and infrastructure repairs.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -1em;">By comparison, our analysis suggests suppression costs comprise around nine percent of total wildfire costs. The remaining costs include short-term expenses, or those costs occurring within the first six months—and long-term damages accruing during many months and years following a wildfire.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -1em;">Communities at risk to wildfires can reduce wildfire impacts and associated costs through land use planning.</span></li>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-au9cmTw9sfg/Wz5yzYv-IRI/AAAAAAAADzc/Dui1kwTBy8gQkwMGbyWFe4wjAEGK338zwCLcBGAs/s1600/Cost%2Bof%2Bwildfire%2Bgraphs%2BHeadwaters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="456" height="336" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-au9cmTw9sfg/Wz5yzYv-IRI/AAAAAAAADzc/Dui1kwTBy8gQkwMGbyWFe4wjAEGK338zwCLcBGAs/s640/Cost%2Bof%2Bwildfire%2Bgraphs%2BHeadwaters.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://headwaterseconomics.org/wp-content/uploads/full-wildfire-costs-report.pdf" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Review the Headwaters Economics full report here</a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released their review, <i>Costs and Losses of Wildfire</i>, in November 2017. This report enumerates all possible costs of wildfire management and wildfire-related losses as well as the economic burden of wildfire for the United States. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The review includes an assessment of costs associated with:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">preparedness </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">mitigation</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">fuels management</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">suppression</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">legal and incarceration costs</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">research and development</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">deaths and injuries</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">psychological impacts</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">evacuation</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">structure loss</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">timber loss</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">burned area rehab</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">housing market loss</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">tax base loss</span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.1215.pdf">Read the full NIST review here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In April 2010, the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition and Council of Western State Foresters produced a report, <i>The True Cost of Wildfire in the Western US</i>. Using data from case studies of large fires in the 2000s, the report concludes that a range of total wildfire costs are anywhere from 2 to 30 times greater than the reported suppression costs. The report also makes recommendations for continued investment in active forest management, a fire funding fix, and development and implementation of the Cohesive Strategy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/plans/collab_forestry/files/TrueCostOfWilfire.pdf">Read the full WFLC/CWSF report here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">These reports can be used to help stakeholders better mitigate potential losses and budget for the true costs of fire to avoid the painful trade-offs between fire mitigation and fire suppression. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Update 7-9-18:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since we first published this blog piece, Bob Zybach contacted us to share some work on this issue that he and others completed for the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center in 2009. <a href="http://one-page checklist is intended to make initial estimates of total fire costs, and to ultimately be used in conjunction with a more comprehensive ledger for better tracking costs and losses over time.">Take a look here</a>. It includes a one-page check list that is intended to make initial estimates of total fire costs, and to ultimately be used in conjunction with a more comprehensive ledger for better tracking costs and losses over time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: TTFF59D0C0t00; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063025921854216378.post-47779038424073584992018-07-05T09:59:00.000-07:002018-07-05T09:59:59.755-07:002018 Cohesive Strategy Workshop a Huge Success<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-51q8l-fS-2U/Ww3Dl1MKL9I/AAAAAAAADxk/LkyZDOx4PHQDwE2Ja-XMX39L4oEwTzA5QCLcBGAs/s1600/collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="336" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-51q8l-fS-2U/Ww3Dl1MKL9I/AAAAAAAADxk/LkyZDOx4PHQDwE2Ja-XMX39L4oEwTzA5QCLcBGAs/s640/collage.png" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Second pic: Joe Stutler moderating a panel of State Foresters - Dave Celino, Massachusetts; Darryl Jones, South Carolina, Peter Daugherty, Oregon; Jeff Whitney, Arizona. Third row: George Geissler relating the national Cohesive Strategy focus from the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC). John Ruhs, NIFC Fire Direction for the BLM. Fourth row: the three regional coordinators for the Cohesive Strategy effort - Larry Mastic (NE), Gary Wood (SE) and Kate Lighthall (W). Photos: Kate Lighthall. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over 170 practitioners ranging from national, regional and state leaders to on-the-ground practitioners from across the United States gathered in Reno, NV March 26-29 for a shared learning experience centered around implementation of the Cohesive Strategy. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The goal of the workshop was to provide a innovative, interactive, learning environment where people can learn from the experiences of others - in terms of success as well as barriers to achievement. With Micro-Talks, hands-on sessions, panel discussions, and an inspiring wrap up from John Ruhs, NIFC Fire Director for the Bureau of Land Management, the Workshop exceeded all our expectations. The program and presentations are archived <a data-cke-saved-href="https://tinyurl.com/y7t7s3cd" href="https://tinyurl.com/y7t7s3cd" target="_blank">here</a>. We are looking forward to #CohesiveStrategy2019! Stay tuned for details! More photos and information from the Workshop here. </span>Western Cohesive Fire Strategyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09007729792616323360noreply@blogger.com0