Red Lodge Clearinghouse - Lakeface-Lamb Forest Stewardship Project

Lakeface-Lamb Forest Stewardship Project

Photo courtesy of PRDC

"Initially, I thought it was going to be a nightmare, but I can't believe how easy the project has proceeded. Right now it feels like we're all working together. Once you get on the ground, you see what needs to be done — or it's going to burn."
— Steve Linton, Operations Manager of Tri-Pro Cedar Products and a member of the project's Stewardship Committee.

Original Profile
JANUARY 2005

Location: Priest Lake Ranger District in Idaho Panhandle National Forest, in Bonner County, Idaho

Objective: Fuel reduction in the wildland-urban interface, improved forest condition, wildlife habitat, water quality and recreational facilities, and new employment opportunities for local workers.

History: Forests in the Priest-Pend Oreille region, which attract over a million visitors each year, are at risk of catastrophic fires. At the same time, due to a reduction in the timber harvest, increased mechanization, and plant closures, the region has a surplus of veteran workers and successful contractors. In 1998, the ad hoc Priest-Pend Oreille Forest Stewardship Committee came together to develop a stewardship-contracting proposal for a 7,200-acre parcel of public and private land in the Priest Lake Ranger District in Idaho Panhandle National Forest. The resulting Lakeface-Lamb Forest Stewardship project was one of the 28 pilot projects authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1999. In 2000, the Stewardship Committee affiliated with the Priest River Development Corporation (PRDC). The PRDC was subsequently awarded a seven-year stewardship contract in February 2002. The overall goals of the project are to:

Reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire;
Protect water quality and fish habitat; and
Restore overall health and vigor of forest stands.

The PRDC began implementing project activities through subcontracts in May 2002. At the same time, the Stewardship Committee and the PRDC implemented an innovative "turn-key" request-for-proposal (RFP) process to encourage new business and employment opportunities based, in part, on developing value-added products that utilized material harvested under the stewardship contract. Under the RFP process, new business ventures will be afforded "incubation time" at the PRDC's industrial park, as well as technical assistance from a team of community experts in banking, manufacturing, and marketing. According to project manager Craig Savidge, "It is PRDC's intention to not only add value to local natural resources, but to add value to the local workforce."

Photo courtesy of PRDC

Accomplishments: Thanks to a high level of coordination between the Forest Service and the surrounding communities of Priest Lake, Priest River, and Newport, the Lakeface-Lamb Forest Stewardship project achieved significant results during its first year.

Product material was removed from 16 of the 78 designated harvest units, and more than 100 acres of ground and ladder fuel were piled and burned in order to bring stands into a more fire-resistant state and improve wildlife habitat;
Road improvements, including new ditches and culverts, have been completed to help improve water quality and provide better access for emergency vehicles;
Over twenty miles of roads and 125 acres were treated for noxious weeds;
Accomplished approximately 62% of the mandatory contracted timber harvesting activities; and
Accomplished approximately 25% of the contracted service activities.

Challenges/constraints: The variable conditions in the timber market could combine to create financial and competitive challenges, as has happened in the past. The PRDC also had to absorb the unanticipated expense of hiring a public relations consultant to deal with the intense local, regional, and national attention that the project has attracted. On the bright side, these challenges have served to engage the communities most affected by the project more deeply in the issues confronting their local forests and economies.

Latest Developments
UPDATED: NOVEMBER 2005

"Though the past four and a half years have been full of challenges and frustrations, this has also been one of the most rewarding efforts that I've been part of. Lakeface-Lamb is a success story - for the community, for our volunteer group and for the Forest Service."
— Liz Johnson-Gebhardt, Executive Director, Priest Community Forest Connection (PCFC).

Accomplishments: The mandatory activities required by the stewardship contract included fuel reduction, slashing of ground and ladder fuels, reforestation, fire line construction, burning of harvest slash, leave tree protection prior to prescribed underburning and creation of a fire crew. The Lakeface-Lamb Forest Stewardship Project (LLFSP) also included the following optional activities: building a riparian fence, construction of a recreation hut, ATV trail obliteration, trail construction, pre-commercial thinning, white pine pruning, road maintenance, road obliteration, interpretive signs, culvert replacement, river access construction, roadside brush and slash removal, building a campground toilet, hazardous tree removal, lakeshore road realignment and additional Categorical Exclusion (CE) harvest and fuel reduction units.

Fuel Reduction: Harvesting has been completed over nearly 80 units, covering 1,200 acres and nearly 65,000 tons of material. Hazardous tree removal has been completed.
Burning operations are 90% completed.
26,000 trees have been planted for reforestation efforts.
Approximately $300,000 has been put into road and trail work.
A campground toilet and riparian fence have been constructed. A recreation hut is being built, and River Access and Interpretive Signs are currently up for bidding.
Income to local contractors currently totals $4 million dollars, which will increase as activities continue.
Surveys in completed harvest units on such things as water and soil quality have been conducted by community volunteers and USFS, and should be ongoing for a decade.
As part of habitat restoration efforts, nest boxes for Pileated woodpeckers and flammulated owls were placed in units after they were cleared out to increase pop- ulations. They have had measurable success from their efforts and will continue monitoring over the next several years.
They have conducted yearly classes and field trips for local high school student.

Valmet forwarder operator, James Huling, explains to the Priest River Lamanna High School Forestry class the different log sorts required for different uses in the mills.
Photo courtesy of PCFC

Although a 7-year contract was awarded, the hard work and success of activities mean an early end for the Lakeface-Lamb Project contract (it began February 2002). The official USFS Lakeface-Lamb Stewardship Contract will be closed once activities are completed (probably by the end of 2007). PCFC has obtained 501(c) 3 status so that they can officially hold contracts; and the Priest River Development Corporation (PRDC) and USFS will be officially transferring the contract to them through a Novation Agreement. The transfer should be complete by December of 2006. The PCFC will finish out the contract, as well as continue with restoration efforts after contract activities have been completed.

Lessons learned: Due to the relative newness of stewardship contracting and a whirlwind of rumors that started up as the project got underway, the community did not have the full picture -- and some, it seemed, didn't want to know. Conservationists thought it might become a free-for-all timber extravaganza; while recreationists were worried their trails would be closed. The PRDC, in an effort to develop a much-needed relationship with the community as well as to disseminate the facts, hired a public relations director, Liz Johnson-Gebhardt. Liz reported that although it was a bit of a battle at times, their interactions with the community have progressed into a solid working relationship. Currently, they are not only working on expanding their class and field trip offerings for high school students, but are also seeking funding for a Family Forestry Expo. The latter will be geared mainly towards 5th and 6th graders and their families. These student courses have furthered their connection with the community, as well as allowing for another avenue to disseminate information on forest stewardship efforts.

Although finances have turned out well, due to an extremely low timber market the project was at one time nearly closed down until bonding was put into place as required by the Forest Service. Fortunately, the market took an upswing and had been very good until July 2006, so they have been able to put some money back into the bank. However, without the change in the market, the project may have come to a halt regardless of the importance and necessity of the activities.

Although frustrations and roadblocks have cropped up over the years, the group has worked hard to overcome barriers and enjoy their accomplishments. Liz said that they have been very lucky to not only have a dedicated group of volunteers, but also very low turnover in that group.

For more information see:

Forest Service Video

Priest Community Forest Protection

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Email This

Comments (0) Add Comment

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Write comment

Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 May 2008 )