Workshop Proceedings Document
Download the Workshop Proceedings document Summary A wide variety of innovative, efficient restoration practices being utilized on individual National Forests of central and eastern Oregon. The purpose of the Forest Restoration Implementation Efficiencies Workshop was to address the need for peer-to-peer learning opportunities between forest industry, contractors, collaborative groups, and Forest Service staff to utilize…
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Alternative Contracting Methods and Implementation Strategies for Commercial Harvest
AMANDA LINDSAY This presentation discussed the differences, advantages, and disadvantages between timber sale contracting methods such as traditional timber sale, IRTC, IRSC, and the 10-year stewardship. The differences, advantages, and disadvantages between Forest Service mark and using Designation by Prescription, and how these methods of tree selection fit in with the different contracting methods, was... Read Article →
Soil Matters Improving Forest Landscape Planning and Management
TERRY CRAIG Historically soil scientists mapped soil resources and prepared interpretations for resource managers. They were viewed as “the resource specialists” who could describe landscape capability and response to management. As the focus changed to assessments of soil disturbances resulting from forest management, the role of soil scientist became one of assessing past and predicting... Read Article →
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Forest Operations
BOGDAN STRIMBU Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are expected to change the face of forestry as we know it. There are already significant advances in execution of various tasks that are either expensive or resource unfeasible, particularly in areas where access is difficult. This presentation focused on regeneration success, damage, soil compaction, and inventory. Download the... Read Article →
Proactive Riparian Treatments and Clean Water Act Compliance
JASON WILCOX The number of fuels reduction and thinning projects that include riparian area environments is increasing across the Western United States, bringing new challenges to riparian area management. Many of these project treatments are needed to maintain riparian biodiversity and restore valued functions of riparian area environments, while protecting them from catastrophic wildfire, disease... Read Article →
Non-contact Tree Measurement for Harvesting
LUCAS WELLS During this presentation, we reviewed how the use of two lost-cost cameras, opperators are able to measure individual tree location and diameter. This technology can be mounted on forest harvesting machines and used by operators to measure tree diameters remotely. Operators can carry out DxP treatments from within the cab of the machine... Read Article →
Soil Resource Management for Steep Slope Logging
GINA RONE Conserving soil characteristics such as integrity, function, and productivity are always important in logging operations, but soil management is particularly challenging during harvest activities on steeper slopes (>35%). Soil conservation is important for future forest productivity, conservation of hydrologic function, and prevention of erosion, especially on steep slopes and above fish-bearing streams. Specific... Read Article →
Restoring Arizona’s Forests Digital Restoration Guide
NEIL CHAPMAN The Nature Conservancy is working to accelerate the pace and scale of forest restoration within the 2.4 million acre Four Forest Restoration Initiative. Implementation bottlenecks include the low value of small-diameter wood and associated biomass and the tentative social acceptance of large-scale treatments. The Digital Restoration Guide, an integration of existing and emerging... Read Article →
Prescribed Fire at Scale
DANA SKELLY The Malheur National Forest, at the southern edge of the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon, is dominated by forest types which historically had very frequent, low-severity fires. Current research shows a fire return interval of 12-28 years even in moist mixed conifer stands. Dry forest types account for approximately 1 million acres on... Read Article →
Challenges and benefits of using DxP and DxD
MAX HITE This presentation reviewed the challenges and benefits of using DxP and DxD, including results and experiences from the cutter's perscpective. Download the Challenges and Benefits of using DxP and DxD presentation Read Article →
Steep Slope Harvesting with Ground Based Techniques
LEE MILLER The advancement of steep slope harvesting equipment open up new possibility’s in fuel treatments on steeper terrain. Download the Steep Slope Harvesting with Ground Based Techniques presentation Read the Presentation Notes Read Article →
Interaction of Steep Slope Equipment with Soil Resources
BEN LESHCHINSKY Safe and acceptable operation of heavy equipment on steep slopes requires consideration of equipment operative configuration and soil conditions. Operative factors that affect safety are machine orientation and soil disturbance are cable, or “tether” assistance, site soil and moisture conditions, and slope. This presentation took two basic, technical perspectives to evaluate the operation... Read Article →
Managing Slash
DAVE HANNIBAL As a Base Manager for Grayback Forestry Inc., one of the largest private prescribed fire and firefighting firms in the nation, Dave oversees 75-100 Wildland firefighters on national and regional contracts as well as their associated service contract workloads from bases in John Day and Seneca Oregon. An active firefighter in many wildland... Read Article →
Biomass Utilization, Harvesting and Markets
HAN-SUP HAN Emerging biomass conversion technologies, such as mobile biochar or pyrolysis/torrefaction machines, aim to use forest residues left after extracting merchantable timber or fuel reduction thinning operations. The residues generated from these operations typically produce low quality feedstock which may not be suitable for new biomass conversion technologies. In an effort to increase feedstock... Read Article →
A Sale Administrator’s Perspective on Designation Methods
STEVEN ORANGE The Sisters RD has used DxP as a tool for 8 years as well as other harvesting designation methods. There are some efficiencies as well as challenges that DxP presents when designating timber on NFS projects. During his presentation, Steven discussed the pros/cons of using DxP from both the presale and sale administration... Read Article →
Cut-to-Length vs Whole Tree Logging Systems
STEVEN ORANGE The Sisters Ranger District has seen both Cut-to-Length and Whole Trees Skidding on our restoration projects over the years. Steven will provide the pros/cons of each system including production efficiencies as well as environmental considerations. Real-time results and pictures of cutting units that have been harvested from each type will also be shown.... Read Article →
Planning Ground-based Harvest Operations to Limit Soil Impacts
PAUL ADAMS Ground-based operations are a key part of dry forest restoration projects given their relatively reasonable costs and efficiencies. However, such operations can cause undesirable soil compaction and, on steeper slopes, increased risks of soil disturbance and erosion as well as concerns about safety and efficiency. Federal and state agency policies and guidelines include... Read Article →
Avenza Maps with Cut- To-Length Harvesting Systems
MATT MATTIODA Avenza Maps is a mobile map app that allows you to download maps for offline use on iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. Use your device’s built-in GPS to track your location on any map, plot locations, measure distance and area. We explored how the Avenza Maps are changing the face of harvesting,... Read Article →
Packaging Federal Resources for Collaborative Restoration
KAREN HARDIGG Connecting a suite of existing federal programs and tools that can facilitate the implementation of a consistent and predictable program of work that meets conservation objectives and provides economic benefits for rural communities. This presentation included specific examples where community and agency leaders have demonstrated flexibility and opportunities within existing authorities and offer... Read Article →
