Cover Art by Stewardship Forester, Paul Clements

Western Lane District experienced a number of challenges during 2010. District staff rose to these challenges and performed well in accomplishing their work. The weak economy continued to influence activi-ties of the District and forest landowners as a whole. Two budget reductions, one in June and one in Septem-ber, impacted the Private Forests and Protection Programs. Some effects of these reductions were reduced Stewardship Forester staffing, a delay in the hiring of seasonal fire fighters and a number of other cost cutting measures.

Stewardship Forester staffing was at the lowest level in Western Lane history. However, aided in part by a weak lumber market and a corresponding reduction in Notifications of Operations, the Stewardship For-esters, through diligent work, were able to keep up with the most critical of their tasks. The many talents of the Stewardship Foresters have been put to use as they worked on other projects funded by grants including fuels reduction, noxious weed abatement and safe harbor agreements for northern spotted owls.

The mild start to fire season allowed us to realize a budget savings by hiring our seasonals two weeks later than usual with no adverse effects. This also meant that our seasonals missed the annual training they receive at fire school. District staff buckled down and put on a fire school of our own which provided our fire fighters the necessary textbook and hands-on training they needed. By the time fire season turned hot and dry they were ready. During my three fire seasons at Western Lane District the Whittaker Creek Fire, which started on August 24th, had the greatest potential to become very large and costly. All District staff– Private Forests, Protection, State Forests and the Administrative staff– did an exceptional job working as a team to keep this fire under 20 acres. Timely and strong responses from landowners, contractors, the BLM, neighbor-ing districts and Salem staff were instrumental in this success and are evidence that our complete and coordi-nated system of wildland fire fighting works!!

Our State Forests staff was very busy during 2010. Managing our forests to create numerous forest structures that will provide many resource benefits over time is always challenging with our intermingled pat-terns of landownership. The renewed focus on improving some of our plantations will show benefits far into the future. In addition, efforts to develop a source of high quality rock on our ownership will help reduce op-erational costs. Even with the weak timber market there remains strong demand for our timber and we have been able to sell timber sales above appraised values.

Last year Tom Soward celebrated 40 years of work for both the Western Lane Forest Protective Association and the Oregon Department of Forestry. Not many people reach this milestone, and this is particularly noteworthy when con-sidering that all 40 years have been spent at Western Lane District. Tom’s knowl-edge of the district and his skill in fire fighting has helped us, through the years, delivering consistent service to our customers. We anticipate Tom will continue working for many more seasons, having a lasting impact on the lives of many more young fire fighters.

Many thanks to our Board of Directors, landowners, neighboring districts, partners and stakeholders, all of whom helped us make 2010 a successful year.

~Sincerely~

Dave Lorenz, District Forester

Forestry Assistance 2

Private Forests 3

State Forests 4

Protection 5

Prevention 6

Fuels Reduction/Org Chart 7

Administration& Personnel 8

Photographs 9

~From the District Forester~

FLORENCE OFFICE VENETA OFFICE

WESTERN LANE DISTRICT

2010 ANNUAL REPORT Page 1

WESTERN LANE DISTRICT

2010 ANNUAL REPORT

CONSERVATION

RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

CREP– ODF is a partner with the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Re-

source Conservation Service (NRCS) in administrating the Con-servation Reserve Enhancement

Program (CREP). The focus of CREP is to establish forested riparian buff-

ers on agricultural land. ODF pro-vides technical input for site prepa-

ration and maintenance of these buffers.

As a result of reduced ODF staffing in other districts, Western Lane

Stewardship Forester, Bob Johnson, is providing field administration of

CREP projects in Linn County (South Cascade District) as well as in Lane

County.

~Forestry Assistance~

INVASIVE WEED

GRANT PROJECT

Western Lane District has taken over the administration of an invasive

weed control grant for non-industrial forest lands in Lane and Linn Coun-ties. Work on this grant is planned

later in 2011.

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Left to Right: Lindsay Reaves, Tom Bauman & Bob Johnson

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Page 2

WESTERN LANE DISTRICT

2010 ANNUAL REPORT

As with other areas, the year started with a reduced workforce to cover the district, and it was not business as usual. Although challenging, the District prioritized and continued to work with landowners and operators on all critical matters.

Including renewals, we received 843 noti-fications in 2010. Although there was a spike in log prices in the spring, it was not sustained. The drop in log prices was evident particularly with small landowners, most of which decided not to operate. Industrial landowners continued to op-erate but had a significant number of operations that remained inactive during the year. The re-duced activity mitigated some of the problems presented by our reduction in staff.

~Private Forests~

Morrell Logging loads up another truck. At year’s end notifications really began picking up!

The Western Lane Private Forests Pro-gram continues to promote and participate in educational and outreach events. In April 2010, Stewardship Forester, Delos Devine, assisted with the Lower Umpqua Schools Tree Plant. The event was first established in 1946 and is the old-est of its kind in the nation. In May 2010, Forest-ers Jim Hall, Bob Johnson, Paul Clements and Delos Devine assisted with “Forest Field Day”, which is part of the Forests Today and Forever program. Both programs are designed to edu-cate students in Forest Stewardship.

The watershed groups continued to do good work on the district. OWEB grants were given for projects on the Smith River drainage. The partnership for the Umpqua Rivers contin-ued their hard work on stream restoration pro-jects in the Smith River drainage. Their work in-cludes log and boulder placement in 17 miles of stream using both helicopter and ground equip-ment.

By the end of 2010 we had only one fully funded Stewardship Forester. Forester Delos Devine covered an expanded area consisting of mostly Industrial landowners. Forester Paul Clements concentrated on a reduced coverage area with many non-industrial landowners. Eve-rything considered, it was a safe and successful year, with many landowners appreciative of our efforts to maintain services.

Feller Buncher at work within the District.

Page 3

WESTERN LANE DISTRICT

2010 ANNUAL REPORT

The State Forests Program manages 25,641 acres of forestland within Lane County.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In calendar year 2010, the Western Lane State Forests unit auctioned two timber sales totaling 5.7 million board feet (mmbf) and averaging approximately $330/mbf (thousand board feet). The Two Knobs tim-ber sale totaled 1.5 mmbf of 50-75 year old Douglas-fir on 58 clear cut acres. The Nelson Junction timber sale totaled 4.2 mmbf of 75 year old timber on 45 partial cut acres and 60 clear cut acres. Both

timber sales are located on Board of Forestry land.

This picture was taken in a unit that was

thinned in 1998. Notice the bear den

located ~40’ up in a 48” DBH Douglas-fir.

This picture was taken at the Nelson Junction

thinning site.

~State Forests~

Preparing to burn piles at Chicken

Ridge #2 Sale area

Page 4

WESTERN LANE DISTRICT

2010 ANNUAL REPORT

~Protection From Fire~

2010 Fire Season

Summary

Level WT-1 SL-2

I 86 Days 94 Days II 11 Days 6 Days III 3 Days 0 Days

TOTAL 100 Days

YEAR NUMBER OF

FIRES NUMBER

OF ACRES

2006 72 17.76 2007 70 356.55

2008 47 11.62

2009 44 58.20

2010 14 16.69

Average 49 92.16

P

R

O

T

E C T I ON

Veneta Seasonal Crew

Most notable fire of the sea-son, Whittaker Creek, burned

15 acres on Plum Creek

land.

The Western Lane District provides fire protection for 756,811 acres of private and public forestland in Western Lane and Northern Douglas County. The goal of the program is to minimize the two cost

factors: Fire suppression and loss caused by damage to forest resources. This goal is achieved through cooperation provided to the District by forest landowners, industry, other fire agencies and

the general public.

Western Lane District experienced a relatively mild fire season in 2010 with 14 statistical fires result-ing in 16.6 acres burned. The largest fire was the 15 acre Whittaker Creek Fire, which burned in a one year old harvest unit. The fire started shortly before 2130 on August 24th and suppression ef-

forts contained the fire at 1030 on August 25th. The weather on the 25th was approaching extreme conditions with day time temperatures reaching 95 degrees, North East winds gusted to 26mph, and

a relative humidity of 19%.

Fire Season lasted 100 days beginning July 1st and ending October 8th. Public Regulated Use Re-strictions were imposed on July 24th and terminated on September 18th. Equipment fires were the

lead cause followed by recreational use, smoking related and debris burning fires.

Page 5

WESTERN LANE DISTRICT

2010 ANNUAL REPORT

~FIRE PREVENTION~ Fire Prevention is an important activity for Western Lane District. Records show District employees

made over 20,000 individual or small group contacts and another 100,000 contacts through the use of local media.

The District is an active member of the Lane Fire Prevention Cooperative. We assist the co-op with various fire prevention activities including the Home Show, team teaching, Touch-A-Truck, The Rho-

dodendron Festival, Earth Day, Tree City USA and numerous other local city events.

The Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Prevention Act (or Senate Bill 360) is the newest pro-gram that the District is administering. The program deals with protecting structures by modifying fuels within 30 feet of a structure, removing large concentrations of fuel and establishing standards

for vertical and horizontal clearing issues on residential driveways. Thirty-one thousand letters were sent out for all of Lane County, over 12,000 were in Western Lane District. Also, 265 home inspections

were made to assist landowners in completing the work correctly.

In 2010 Western Lane District staff regulated logging operations, issued burning permits and re-stricted access to forestland during periods of high fire danger. The District issued 867 power driven machinery permits, 114 slash burning permits, 33 fire prevention citations/warnings and 20 waivers.

One hundred three industrial inspections were conducted, as well as 40 campfire inspections.

~Protection from Fire~

Above & Right:

Smokey Bear at an Earth Day event in Veneta.

Doug Firoved took one of the 1000 gallon engines to be a part of the Rhody Day

Parade in Florence.

Right:

Smokey holds hands with Logan Sim-mons at an open house

event held at Lane County Fire District

#1 in Veneta

Page 6

WESTERN LANE DISTRICT

2010 ANNUAL REPORT

SOUTH EUGENE FUELS GRANT

Western Lane District continues to work on a fuels reduction grant located in the South Hills area of Eugene. The primary focus of this grant has been to both educate and help landowners achieve de-fensible space around their homes in this 50,000 acre area. At years end, mailings had been sent to all the tax lots in the area, giving everyone the opportunity for an onsite meeting at their proper-ties. In addition to defensible space, we have also funded fuel reduction projects such as non-commercial thinning and pruning. At the end of 2010, projects have either been completed or funds committed to 316 acres.

FUTURE GRANTS

Two other grant projects have been awarded within the district in order to expand these fire prevention efforts into other areas outlying Eugene. These ar-eas also have concentrations of homes in the wildland-urban interface. The new grants will tie together the fire prevention efforts in the populated areas of the district west and south of Eugene.

~Fuels Reduction Program~

~District Organization~

Right: Fuels Mastication Project in the South Eugene

Fuels Grant Area.

Page 7

WESTERN LANE DISTRICT

2010 ANNUAL REPORT

Front Row (L to R): Link Smith, Jim Hall, Ashley Probst, Chet Behling, Bob Johnson, Jason Hayzlett

Middle Row (L to R): Brandy Simmons, Phil Hunter, Andrea Lively, Paul Clements, Kyle Tripp, Dan Menk, Ole Buch

Back Row (L to R): Doug Firoved, Dave Lorenz, Ray Huff, Delos Devine, Tom Soward

Not Pictured: Matt Flock

Western Lane did not have any retirements, resignations, promotions or transfers during calendar year 2010.

In August, Matt Flock was selected to fill the Forest Officer position vacated by Joy Corl-iss in 2009. While the position is still con-sidered permanent, it was only approved for funding for 7 months, making Matt our only long-term seasonal FO. Matt has worked previous fire seasons as a Seasonal Forest Officer for Western Lane and, most recently, as a Fire Planning Forester with South Cascade District.

SERVICE AWARDS Earned in 2010

Tom Soward, 40 years

Delos Devine, 20 years

Kyle Tripp, 10 years

Earned in 2009 (not mentioned in 2009 )

Ray Huff, 5 years

~Administration & Personnel~

Page 8

WESTERN LANE DISTRICT

2010 ANNUAL REPORT

~Western Lane Events~

Western Lane held their own version of fire school. Ashley & Paul served up great fix-ins’. Andrea enjoys them.

Jason & Delos practice their CPR skills.

Dave demonstrates how to put out a fire.

Above: Chet, Matt, Kyle, Doug & Ray unload seedlings. Below: Kyle & Dan take lunch after a morning planting.

Ole & Chet evaluate the effectiveness of pre-vious reforestation practices at the Haynes Head Timber Sale.

Left: Delos, 20 years, presented by Link.

Right: Kyle, 10 years, presented by Matt

Bottom Left:

Bob Johnson took the Admin Staff to see an active yard-

ing operation (across canyon)

Top left:

Ashley & Andrea.

Right: Brandy

Page 9

Western Lane

Forest Protective Association

Members Atkinson Territory, LLC Martha Bronson Coast Range Conifers, LLC Davidson Industries, Inc. Giustina Land & Timber Ray Gregory Koozer Brothers, LLC Lane County Board of Commissioners Thomas A. Lawler Lone Rock Timber Company Plum Creek Timberlands, LP Riensche Venture Rosboro LLC Roseburg Resources Craig Royce Seneca Jones Timber Company Darrel Spiesschaert Starker Forests, Inc. Swanson Brothers Lumber Swanson Group 3-M Tree Farm Woolley Enterprises, Inc. Weyerhaeuser Co.

Officers:

President: Michael Tucker, Giustina Land & Timber

Vice President:: Dave Cramsey, Roseburg Resources

Secretary/Treasurer: Dale Claassen, Swanson Group Directors Mike Atkinson—Atkinson Territory LLC

Willie Bronson—Weyerhaeuser Company

Sara Leiman—Coast Range Conifers, LLC

John Buss—Davidson Ind.

Toby Eck—Rosboro LLC

Mike Emmons—Seneca Jones Timber Company

Don Irons—Plum Creek Timberlands

Advisory Directors

Dave Reed—Bureau of Land Management

Mary Ellen Holly—Keep Oregon Green Association

Mike Dykzeul—Oregon Forest Industries Council

Dan Shults—Oregon Department of Forestry, SOA

Aaron Schneider—US Forest Service

VENETA HEADQUARTERS

87950 Territorial Road Veneta, OR 97487

(541) 935-2283 Fax: (541) 935-0731

FLORENCE UNIT 2660 Kingwood Street

PO Box 460

Florence, OR 97439 (541) 997-8713

Fax: (541) 997-3737