Stewardship Contracting on the Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District USDA Forest Service Medicine Bow...

Stewardship Contracting on the Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger

District

USDA Forest Service

Medicine Bow – Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin

National Grassland

Battle StewardshipBattle Stewardship

Sierra Madre Community InformationSierra Madre Community Information Contains over 100 summer cabins scattered Contains over 100 summer cabins scattered

throughout patented mineral in holdings.throughout patented mineral in holdings. New subdivisions underway throughout the New subdivisions underway throughout the

area.area. Completely surrounded by National Forest Completely surrounded by National Forest

System Lands.System Lands. Areas around homes not conducive for Areas around homes not conducive for

standard commercial timber sales.standard commercial timber sales.

PURPOSE AND NEEDPURPOSE AND NEED

Need for a reduction in forest fuels in the Battle Need for a reduction in forest fuels in the Battle wildland-urban interface areas to reduce wildland-urban interface areas to reduce exiting wildfire hazard to area private land and exiting wildfire hazard to area private land and structures that are adjacent to National Forest structures that are adjacent to National Forest lands.lands.

To maintain and promote disturbance To maintain and promote disturbance dependent plant communities.dependent plant communities.

To improve area forest health and resiliency.To improve area forest health and resiliency.

Reduce Fuels in Wildland-Urban Interface

Maintain and Promote Disturbance Dependent Species

Improve Forest Health and Resiliency

TreatmentsTreatments

Broadcast Burning – Non Forested: 1,758 Broadcast Burning – Non Forested: 1,758 acresacres

Understory Removal: 44 acresUnderstory Removal: 44 acres Fir Removal: 177 acresFir Removal: 177 acres Aspen Enhancement: 492 acresAspen Enhancement: 492 acres Christmas Tree Area: 919 acresChristmas Tree Area: 919 acres Spruce Beetle Treatments: 1,110 acresSpruce Beetle Treatments: 1,110 acres Sanitation Salvage: 44 acresSanitation Salvage: 44 acres

Contracting IssuesContracting Issues

Integrated Resource Service Contract is Integrated Resource Service Contract is a new item for most COs/CORs and a new item for most COs/CORs and there is a degree of discomfort.there is a degree of discomfort.

Competition or No CompetitionCompetition or No Competition Administration – interface between timber Administration – interface between timber

sale administration, contracting and sale administration, contracting and accounting.accounting.

Dealing with product accountability.Dealing with product accountability.

RecommendationsRecommendations

Product and Operational FlexibilityProduct and Operational Flexibility Large geographic areasLarge geographic areas Design projects to fit existing Design projects to fit existing

infrastructureinfrastructure CreativityCreativity

RecommendationsRecommendations

View stewardship authorities as a new View stewardship authorities as a new way of getting work done…not a different way of getting work done…not a different name for the same old thingname for the same old thing

Consider non-traditional groups for Consider non-traditional groups for service contracts or agreements (TNC, service contracts or agreements (TNC, landowners, conservation districts, landowners, conservation districts, community economic development community economic development groups, etc)groups, etc)

Consider risk or lack thereofConsider risk or lack thereof

PerceptionsPerceptions

Stewardship projects DO require Stewardship projects DO require Environmental Analysis (NEPA)Environmental Analysis (NEPA)

Stewardship projects DO NOT replace Stewardship projects DO NOT replace the competitive timber sale programthe competitive timber sale program

Stewardship IS a great new way to Stewardship IS a great new way to partner with businesses, local partner with businesses, local governments, and other organizations!governments, and other organizations!

““My vision for the My vision for the future of the Forest future of the Forest Service is a reliance Service is a reliance on partnerships...”on partnerships...”

Dale Robertson – Former Chief, Dale Robertson – Former Chief, U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest Service