editors comments and disclaimers intermountain … · intermountain society of american foresters...

Intermountain Society

of American Foresters

NOVEMBER

2014

Editors Comments and Disclaimers This newsletter is posted on our website and sent by e-mail to members with e-mail addresses. Those without e-mail addresses receive by surface mail. This conserves IMSAF operating budgets. I edit for brevity and clarity and take responsibilities for them. Contact me with your concerns, corrections and (better yet) news you wish us to cover. Darrel L. Kenops, [email protected], (208) 884-1076. Thank You, Darrel L. Kenops Newsletters are quarterly, published January, April, July, and October each year. Please submit materials at least 4 weeks in advance.

USU STUDENTS ATTEND 2014 CONVENTION by the USU Forestry Club We would like to thank you for the assistance in sending our forestry club to the SAF convention this year. Your thoughtful donation helped 8 students attend the convention, two of which were offered pathways positions with the forest service. All club members learned valuable information and gained professional experience from their time spent at the conference. Most important the club had so much fun. Thank you again for your kind donation.

Jason Brown, Raychel Skay, Sam Nielsen, Sarah Cross, Chad Wyatt, Lette Benson, Stephanie Merrill, Shanna Chugg

IMSAF Newsletter November

2014

http://www.usu.edu/saf

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF FOREST RESEARCH ORGANIZATION (IUFRO), CANADIAN FORESTY (CIF), SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS(SAF) 2014 CONVENTION SUCCESS AND THANK YOU'S! by Darrel Kenops Intermountain Society of American Foresters and the Utah State University SAF Chapter / Forestry Club were local hosts for this October 2014 international gathering in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Congress takes place in the USA only once every 40 years. IMSAF members funded Utah State University students who attended and served as convention volunteers. USU Students shared their thanks in a letter to IMSAF members the letter above signed by USU SAF Chapter & Forestry Club leaders: Lette Benson, President; Shannalee Huggs, Vice-President; Amberlee Burrows, Treasurer; Jason Brown, Secretary; Sam Nielsen, Historian; and Jim Long, Faculty Advisor. Current and Incoming IMSAF Chairs Tim Beaty and Rick Tholen, respectively, thanked regular and student chapter members for their convention volunteering efforts. Carol Redelsheimer, SAF's Director, Science & Education thanked IMSAF volunteers. Excerpts from Carol's letter

follow. THANK YOU for all your efforts at pulling together on the 2014 SAF/CIF Convention. I know at times it felt discombobulated due to co-location with IUFRO and because of different, sometimes frustrating, contradictory, requests/direction you were receiving from us and IUFRO. . . . appreciate you all sticking together, am grateful for your patience. We've heard overwhelmingly positive feedback on our conference! everything came off splendidly". Excellent registration numbers-SAF & CIF 1310, and UFRO 2512 attending. SAF/CIF had 327 students, higher than normal. Your Foresters Fund tables, what a spread. It looked fabulous and I was very impressed with quality of items.

IUFRO Opening

Ceremonies

IUFRO Opening

Ceremonies


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The international student quiz night was well received, everyone was having a grand time, which is the point. It was a truly memorable event, and you should all be very proud of its success. In addition we need to thank IMSAF Communication Chair Doug Page who helped organize Convention field trips. Thank you Doug! IUFRO IN-CONGRESS TOURS THE PANDO CLONE WITH FOCUS ON ASPEN REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY AND GENETICS by Linda Chappell, Fire Ecologist, Dixie & Fishlake National Forests This tour was led by Dr. Karen Mock, Geneticist, Utah State University; Dr. Rick Lindroth, Ecologist, Univ. Wisconsin-Madison; accompanied by Linda and Terry Holsclaw, Silviculturist, Fish Lake National Forest. Wednesday October 8th foresters from around the globe visited the well-known Pando Clone, on Fish Lake National Forest in central Utah. They visited aspen stands in a range of conditions, stages of development, and habitats. Including vistas of the most scenic forested areas of Utah, including views of Capitol Reef National Park, the Henry, the LaSal and Abajo Mountains. They visited the "Pando" an enormous triploid aspen clone extending over 43 hectares and purported to be the world’s largest living organism. Dr’s. Mock and Lindroth discussed the specifics of the aspen tree and interesting genetics work occurring in the Pando clone. Recent genetic work shows that, despite existence of large aspen clones in the western landscapes, clonal diversity is actually quite high within stands and that the larger clones tend to be triploids, bringing novel insights to our understanding of western aspen reproductive ecology and management. Silviculturist Terry Holsclaw led a tour through historic and on-going treatments intended to assist in regeneration in the aspens in Pando. Fire Ecologist Linda Chappell discussed mixed conifer/aspen's need for disturbance and fire ecology of nearby stands, landscapes of Fishlake Basin. See the new Pando video on the Forest Service You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU7sEymeXoA&list=UUNntFUP7qVDy7Rip0yH2ng. IUFRO IN-CONGRESS TOURS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN UTAH by Stan Kitchen, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station I had the distinct honor to help develop and organize tours to central and southern Utah, including two tours to the Wasatch Plateau with the theme of “managing for multiple uses.” I led one and recruited Manti-La Sal National Forest Archeologist Charmaine Thompson to lead the second. Participants from both tours engaged with Jay Humphries, Emery Water Conservancy District and Cody Allred, PacifiCorp, to discuss challenges of managing water for traditional and nontraditional uses in the communities that flank the plateau. Brent Stettler, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, led discussions on managing for wildlife and wildlife habitat needs on public lands. Additional discussions encompassed summer and winter recreational activities,


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underground coal mining and energy development, livestock grazing, forest health and timber harvest. Both tours stopped for a catered hot lunch at the Old Folks Campground located near the center of the 2012 Seeley Fire. Using this setting, Pete Fulé, Northern Arizona University, led a conversation on fire as an ecological force in shaping past, present and future forests of western North America. Daren Olsen and Diane Cote of the Manti-La Sal National Forest then led a practical discussion on the short and longer-term ecological and socio-economic challenges created by this large fire. Although some speakers and stops were shared, each tour offered unique experiences. One stopped at the Schofield Cemetery where town councilman Scott Holman told the story of how international immigrants were recruited as coal miners in the 1800s and how they became an important source of cultural diversity in western settlements. The story was punctuated by the recounting of the May 1900 Winter Quarters mine explosion that killed at least 200 miners, 149 of which were buried nearby. Participants took a few minutes to wander through rows of grave markers, personalizing the disaster that affected every family in this small town. At the time this was the country’s worst mining disaster and it eventually led to calls for better mine safety and treatment of workers nationally. The second tour visited the Utah State University Prehistoric Museum in Price and a high-elevation (2,750 m) excavation site for an early Holocene (9,500 years ago) Columbian mammoth discovery (featured in the museum)―possibly one of the last of its kind. At the end of a long day, Charmaine and I compared notes and happily agreed that both tours had been a success. Questions by participants were thoughtful and engaging and comments by participants and speakers confirmed that the day had been well spent. Many thanks to speakers, student volunteers and Manti-La Sal staff for detailed preparations, especially for the heroic efforts of Bill Broadbear and crew in making ready the campground after a fall storm had rendered it unusable less than a week before. FOLLOWING ARE SEVERAL PHOTOS FROM VARIOUS TOURS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONVENTION.


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2015 NATIONAL SOCIETY OF AMERICAN LEADERS ELECTED, NEW MISSION STATEMENT AND ARTICLES OF INCORPORTATION APPROVED BY SAF MEMBERS by Darrel Kenops Our newly revised Society of American of Foresters Mission Statement better conveys our common understanding of the mission we pursue, day to day in our work. It now states:

The mission of the Society of American Foresters is to advance sustainable management of forest resources through science, education and technology, to enhance the competency of its members; to establish professional excellence; and to use our knowledge, skills and conservation ethic to ensure the continued health, integrity and use of forests to benefit society in perpetuity.

Welcome our newly elected leaders; Clark W. Seely CF, incoming national Vice-President; SAF District 4 National Council representative Jim Thinnes CF. And thanks to Craig Wilcox who ran for SAF District 4 Council seat. Many thanks to our outgoing SAF District representative Johnny Hodges CF for his excellent leadership and work on our behalf. Thanks so much Johnny!!! Currently Snake River SAF Chapter By-laws are being revised. Chair George Bacon has done excellent work on the revisions. Thanks George!


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IMSAF WELCOMES JIM THINNES, INCOMING DISTRICT 4 COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE by Jim Thinnes, Council Representative It is a privilege to serve as your SAF District 4 Board Representative for the next three years. Feel free to contact me at [email protected]. I plan to share SAF National Council information and decisions via e-mail. If there is a better way to reach you let me know. I'm a good listener and willing to share my perspectives.

My forestry experience includes timber sale planning, preparation and administration, reforestation, timber stand improvement, tree improvement, hydrology and fire suppression in Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington and Alaska since 1979. I served as U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Regional Silviculturist for the past 8 years and then retired May, 2014. I believe SAF must advocate for active forest management to achieve thriving forests, essential resources and strong communities! I'll work to help SAF reposition itself as the preferred source of forest management information by culturing my current associations while developing new relationships with government representatives, industry and agency(s) leadership, educators, researchers, students and collaborative groups. 2015 SAF President Bob Alverts asked me to be part of an SAF "mentoring work group. It's essential we help members develop, hone their technical skills while enhancing their social networks. Please share mentoring suggestions you have. Thanks for being a member and supporting SAF, its mission and work! UTAH BIOMASS RESOURCES GROUP LEADING HE WAY IN MOBILE PYROLYSIS! by Darren McAvoy The Utah Biomass Group (UBRG) has been working with Amaron Energy in Salt Lake City, Utah to develop a mobile pyrolysis machine. Pyrolysis occurs when any product containing carbon is heated in the absence of oxygen. The output is three valuable products: bio-oil, biochar and syngas. Bio-oil is similar to crude oil and once refined can be used for heating and steam production. Biochar is essentially charcoal which is useful as a soil amendment for agriculture, or as filtering agent. Syngas is similar to propane and is useful in creating heat that powers the reaction. This pyrolysis process allows previously unused waste wood to be processed into valuable products that have many applications. A mobile pyrolysis unit enables operations to complete pyrolysis production on-site in the woods thereby reducing overall production costs and adding economic value. With funding from the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) the UBRG helped Amaron Energy to convert their existing pyrolysis machine into a


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mobile unit. This first demonstration unit is capable of processing a half-ton of woody biomass a day. May, 2014, Washington Department of Natural Resources Director invited teams across the West to participate in a mobile pyrolysis "cook off" contest with this half-ton unit which won the contest. Amaron Energy was invited back and showed off a newly developed 20 ton production mobile pyrolysis unit on October 22, 23 in Cle Elum, Washington. With this 20 ton mobile prolysis unit, Amaron and UBRG are working with a U.S. Department SUN Grant to research methods for upgrading the bio-oil produced. This 20 ton unit is housed in a 40 foot trailer that can be hauled into the woods. Chipped biomass is fed into one end of this machine, is fast cooked at 400 degrees Celsius for 2 minutes. This process uses a thermochemical reaction to separate the wood chips. Half of the wood burned turns into bio-oil, a quarter of material turns into biochar, and a quarter of wood chips are turned into a syngas used to fire this system. UBRG mobile pyrolysis technology focus is to capture economically useful products while improving forest, woodlands and watershed conditions. The Bureau of Land Management in Utah is treating about 40,000 acres of pinion-juniper woodlands every year for fire hazard reduction. Great Basin pinion-juniper woodlands hold about six tons per acre of woody biomass, essentially waste wood, scattered over 10 million acres in Utah. UBRG's goal is to create valuable resources while creating desirable woodland forest conditions, utilizing woody biomass to offset the costs of fire hazard reduction and wildlife habitat improvement projects. IDAHO FOREST RESTORATION PARTNERS ANNOUNCE THE 2015 “PARTNERS WORKSHIP” IN BOISE, IDAHO by Darrel Kenops The annual Idaho Forest Restoration Partners (IFRP) Workshop will be held in Boise on February 18 & 19, 2015 at the Riverside Hotel, [email protected]. IFRP supports removal and utilization of forest products as by-products of forest restoration. New markets and conversion technologies are needed in order to implement forest restoration at a landscape scale. The IFRP website alerted us to a October 22, 2014 Northern Idaho Biomass Workshop where participants discussed how successful biomass energy systems are designed, managed and explored opportunities for new projects in northern Idaho. Using woody biomass lowers heating costs, enhances forest health and improves rural economies! For more information on this workshop and wood to renewable energy contact Matt Wiggs at 208-332-1670 or [email protected] and/or the Idaho Wood Energy-to-Energy Team at http://energy.idaho.gov/renewableenergy/biomass.htm.


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IDAHO FOREST PRODUCTS WEEK SALUTES WORKING FORESTS-OCTOBER, 2014 EVENTS by Darrel Kenops The Idaho Forest Products Commission partners and staff arranged a very interesting cross section of educational and celebration events to highlight the importance of forests to Idaho and the nation with focus on working forests. Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter and Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa declared in their "Forest Products Week" proclamation underscore important of the States forests. WHERE AS, Idaho's forests are an essential part of the state's history, culture, environment and economy; and WHERE AS, the Idaho forest products industry plays an essential role as a fundamental industry to the state of Idaho, providing for the production of wood and paper products from Idaho forests; and WHEREAS, Idaho's forest sector is one of Idaho's leading trade sectors, contributing $3.5 billion annually to the state's economy, directly employing over 10,500 people, generating $1.8 billion in income and $366.5 in employee compensation; and WHERE AS, sustainable forest management under the Idaho Forest Practices Act provides countless benefits, including clean air and water, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, scenic beauty, local renewable energy, forest products used by Idahoans every day, and employment and tax revenue for local communities, counties and the State of Idaho; and WHERE AS, wood is widely recognized as a renewable, recyclable, durable, versatile, and energy efficient green building material; and WHERE AS, products from sustainably managed forests play a critical role in combating climate change due to the natural process of photosynthesis where trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, release oxygen into the atmosphere and capture carbon, which is stored in wood products for the life of the product. --hereby we proclaim October 19-26, 2014 IDAHO FOREST PRODUCTS WEEK and I urge all people, school districts, community colleges, cities and counties, public and private institutions of higher education, state and local agencies, non-profit and community-based organizations, and private businesses and corporations to observe Idaho Forest Products Industry Week by issuing proclamations and honoring the forest products industry with appropriate ceremonies and activities. Are there such Governors proclamations in Utah, Wyoming and Nevada? If you know of them let your IMSAF newsletter know and send copies to your IMSAF newsletter editor. Maybe we could do something in 2015 in each State from an SAF perspective. The new Tom and Teita Reveley Nursery Facility at the University of Idaho Pitkin Nursery offered tours, educational activities and information on Idaho's forests and forest products industry. This building won the 2014 Best Use of Idaho Wood Award and American Institute of Architects Honor Award. Kurt Pregitzer, University of Idaho University, College of Natural Resources Dean stated "The use of Idaho-specific forest products in our new building is a testament to the diversity of Idaho's forest products industry" He added "This brings the life-cycle of trees full circle – from our seedlings growing in the greenhouses next door, through growth on our University of Idaho Experimental Forest and forests across the state, to construction of an educational building that showcases materials and building techniques."


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"It’s a fitting tribute to Idaho's forest industry heritage and a window to our sustainable future" added Betty Minus, Director, Idaho Forest Products Commission. Check Idaho Forest Products Commission website to learn more http://www.idahoforests.org. UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SAF CHAPTER AND FORESTRY CLUB OFF AND RUNNING IN 2014 by Darrel Kenops One could be left breathless when you see the range of USU SAF and Forestry Club activities completed and/or underway. In addition to helping us at IUFRO/SAF/CIF Convention, to hosting our annual IMSAF spring membership meeting, see what they've been up to! 1) September 3rd annual opening social includes free food, very popular, learn about volunteer opportunities, earn one credit for Fee's Wild 2000 Class; 2) September 25, first fireside chat with guest speaker Darren McAvoy, USU Forestry Extension and learn what you can do with a degree in forestry and there is free pizza; 3) November 1st, bring warm, dry clothes, boots and join us at Daniel Forest to learn practical field exercises from different majors, free food people! 4) November 15th Student "Christmas Tree Cut", pick out your own tree for free, learn about tree harvesting , meet Morgan Mendenhall, a State of Utah forester, experience with hand and chainsaws; AND FREE FOOD! Hey Lette, Shanna, Amberlee, Jason, Sam and Jim thank for your leadership and volunteer work with your student and faculty colleagues. You have worked in many ways to achieve forestry, natural resources experience for our IMSAF Members! REPEAT PHOTOGRAPY STUDY AVAILABLE FOR UTAH’S HENRY MOUNTAINS A new repeat-photography study has recently been made available: Long Term Vegetation Change in Utah's Henry Mountains: A Study in Repeat Photography The document is available at the following location: http://www.usu.edu/saf/Kay-HenryMtn-RepeatPhotoStudy.pdf. Over 600 historic photo points were field located and current photos taken of the same scene, giving a visual depiction of landscape changes that have occurred between the two images. The study published 126 of the scenes. Also included is the author’s summary and analysis of change. From the author’s abstract: “In general, grasslands, sagebrush and aspen have declined, while blackbrush, mountain brush, pinyon-juniper, and conifers increased. Utah’s rangelands are generally in much better condition today than they were during the early 1900s because plant cover has increased and soil erosion has declined.”


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2014 MEETING SCHEDULE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

DATE SUBJECT / SPEAKER LOCATION / TIME

Second Tuesday of Each Month

Snake River Chapter Breakfast Meetings 6:30am, Riverside Motel,

2900 W Chinden Blvd, Boise

Intermountain Society Officers (2014) Intermountain Society

Snake River Chapter Officers Chair Tim Beaty Chair George Bacon Past Chair John Roberts Past Chair Rick Tholen Chair Elect Rick Tholen Chair Elect vacant Policy Chair Rick Tholen Policy Chair Darrell Kenops Secretary Treasurer Walt Rogers Secretary / Treasurer John Riling CFE Contact vacant Program / Education Chair Rick Tholen Meetings/Program Chair

vacant Nevada Chapter Officers

Awards Chair G. Lynn Sprague Past Chair Roland Shaw Membership Chair Rod Brevig Utah State University Student Officers Science Chair Jim Long (2014-15 School Year) Communications Chair Doug Page USU Student Webpage link

Newsletter Editor Darrel Kenops President Lette Benson Web Manager Doug Page Vice-President Shanalee Chugg

Utah Chapter Officers Treasurer Amberlee Burrows

Chair Nelson Gonzalez-Sullow

Secretary Jason Brown

position? Ted Shaefer Faculty Representative Jim Long Secretary-Treasurer Bill Branham

Thank you for being a member

We sincerely appreciate you and your support of the forestry and natural resources profession.

Your involvement in this community is genuinely valued. And during this special time of year, we think it's important to express our gratitude.

Best wishes for a safe and plentiful Thanksgiving from the family at SAF.

editors comments and disclaimers intermountain … · intermountain society of american foresters...

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