CLACKAMAS STEWARDSHIP PARTNERS GENERAL MEETING NOTES – SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Notes: Jeff Gerwing

1)Introduction of Jackie Groce new Clackamas District Ranger

2)Project Committee retained receipts recommendations - See summary table of recommendations

In sum, there was $350k potentially available in retained receipts for FY2015 (this is the funding authority for the year). Five project proposals totaling $256k were received and the committee recommends them all for funding. One criterion of evaluation for each project was deciding that it constituted “restoration”.

Discussion points on specific projects:

- Dumpstoppers – Conversation around how cleaning up trash qualifies as “restoration”. 2015 allocation will be spent cleaning up sites that have potential to impact waterways.

- Snags and downed wood creation – Interest in finding mechanisms to do effectiveness monitoring of previous snag creation projects and, perhaps, set up future projects to facilitate monitoring (perhaps actual tree locations could be GPS mapped?). One suggestion was that CSP recommend that future (after 2015) funding for this be dependent on an effectiveness monitoring plan.

- Timber stand improvement – Might there be opportunities for creating early seral habitat here by using wider spacing in the thinning? Answer: Perhaps. Is pre-commercial thinning variable density? Answer: only as an artifact of the selecting of the best leave trees and species, variable density per say is not incorporated into the design. Is this indeed restoration or is this fiber production emphasis that should be funded out of the timber sale program?

- River Island South restoration – This is a stand alone Phase I of a multiyear project. CRBC is working on funding for future phases with multiple funders. CSP may, or may not, be asked to support funding for future phases.

- Fence removal- Fence is left over from a previous 16 acre silvicultural study.

Question: Is retained receipt money that CSP does not recommend allocating to projects lost? Answer: No, although the funding authority might be used up on other projects (eg. Projects that have been recommended in the past that have not yet been implemented) in which case we would need to request additional funding authority for additional projects. Also, adding additional projects after the current request would involve as much work as getting a package of multiple projects approved.

Should CSP rank the current year projects in terms of priority in case “backlog” projects use up a large portion of the FY2015 authority and there isn’t enough money left to complete all of these projects?

Perhaps prioritize projects that have tight work windows or schedules, like in stream work.

Perhaps also prioritize projects with multiple partners (in particular Clackamas County).

DECISION: CSP recommends all projects for funding in the following order of priority (priority was determined by CSP members ranking):

River Island South

Dump stoppers

Snag & downed wood / Timber stand improvement (Tie)

Removal of the fence

3)August 12 Hunter tour debriefing Participants thought it was a good tour.

4) Forest Service updates –

Jackie Groce -Travel management plan / roads analysis update: Public involvement will take place in October. There will also be an Open House on Oct. 22 at the Clackamas River District office.

Bob Gill – Budgets are likely to be flat for the coming year with the exception of NFEW which will be down by $500k.

Glenda is going on temporary assignment to the regional office.

Over 100 fire starts this year mostly from the July lighting storm. Ester creek fire remains active in the Bull of the Woods. Currently this fire is under observation.

Meeting was held to resolve objections from BARK and AFRC to the Grove project. Objection points were not resolved completely. A decision is expected to be issued in the near future.

Budget and Human resources report

Title II funds will continue to pay Bob’s salary through December 2015 at 30 hours per month. Committee is looking for funds to increase Bob’s hours from the current 30 hours.

Request for CSP members do your own printing and rotate bringing snacks so that these costs do not need come out Bob’s wages.

Topics for October Meeting

Jack Williamson – Bull Trout update

Jackie Groce - Presentation on travel analysis

Goat Mountain – where are we on the timeline?

Hunter

Lemiti what is CSP’s position on this project, if any?

Possibly a projects committee meeting prior to CSP meeting in November?

Doodle poll to reschedule November meeting not on Veteran’s Day.