COPWRR - Programs

COPWRR Stakeholders believe that collaborative efforts have the potential to help restore forest ecosystems, reduce wildfire risk, and create economic opportunities. But the initial agreement and trust developed through consensus building around the conference table needs to be regularly re-affirmed by monitoring the results of CROP and the on-the-ground effects of expanded fuel treatment projects. To address this need, the COPWRR Stakeholders established an Ecosystem Monitoring Committee and also created processes to monitor whether CROP has resulted in more small-diameter material being offered and utilized.

The Ecosystem Monitoring Committee identified areas of critical stakeholder concern related to fuel treatments that produce small-diameter material and assessed relevant pre-existing monitoring efforts in the region. The Committee determined that there was a need for more formal and rigorous implementation and effectiveness monitoring for fuel treatment projects involving small diameter material removal and developed a field-based multi-party monitoring process to fill that need. In fall 2006 the process was piloted on the Katalo and Park Fire Projects. The pilot was deemed a success because it helped to build trust and public confidence in fuel treatments that produce small-diameter material and promoted learning and adaptive management through formal evaluation and discussion of past management activities. For copies of the final monitoring review reports use the links below. The next round of field reviews is scheduled for fall 2007 and information about these reviews will be available through this website.

Katalo Project Monitoring Reports Summary      Katalo Project Monitoring Full Reports

Park Fire Monitoring Reports Summary      Park Fire Monitoring Full Reports

Newberry Project Monitoring Reports Summary      Newberry Project Monitoring Full Reports

Green Thin Project Monitoring Reports Summary      Green Thin Project Monitoring Full Reports

Rocky II Project Monitoring Reports Summary      Rocky II Project Monitoring Full Reports

Westside Project Monitoring Reports Summary&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Westside Project Monitoring Full Reports

E. Tumbull Project Monitoring Reports Summary&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp E. Tumbull Project Monitoring Full Reports

Expanding markets for small-diameter material in order to enable more thinning treatments is a central goal of COPWRR. To advance that goal, COPWRR staff provide a variety of assistance services to businesses interested in small-diameter utilization. Some of the assistance services that COPWRR can provide include: analysis of small-diameter material supply; assistance in developing supply chains for material; feasibility analysis for new ventures; support in identifying and applying for federal and state tax credits and other financial incentives; identifying appropriate technical assistance providers for specific enterprises; and networking with other relevant businesses and other stakeholder groups. Every business that COPWRR works with receives customized assistance to meet its specific needs.

JTS Animal Bedding, a Redmond-based company, is an excellent example of a business that COPWRR was able to assist in launching a small-diameter utilization venture. When JTS expressed interest in starting to manufacture animal bedding from small pine logs, COPWRR was able to demonstrate that there would be tens of thousands of tons of ponderosa and lodgepole logs under 9” in diameter that JTS could access from nearby Forest Service and BLM projects. COPWRR staff also connected JTS with several local contractors who are implementing thinning projects who could harvest and deliver small pine logs to JTS’ Redmond facility. Finally, COPWRR was able to help JTS identify and apply for over $250,000 in federal and state incentives to help finance the new whole log shaver system.

The Forest Service and BLM are ultimately responsible for all thinning and restoration treatments that occur on the federal forests that they manage.  But there are opportunities for partners outside of the Forest Service and BLM to assist with planning and implementing on-the-ground projects.  COPWRR Stakeholders are leaping into these opportunities in order to accelerate restoration of local forests.  COPWRR can assist the agencies with:

• Prioritizing where to implement treatments;
• Identifying effective and environmentally sensitive management activities for a site;
• Evaluating ways to implement a project that facilitate removal and utilization of small-diameter material to save on piling and burning costs;
• Coordinating federal land management with management of adjacent land to improve results for all; and
• Assembling needed funding to pay for implementation.

Collaboration around the Prineville BLM District’s Rodman Rim project exemplifies this new trend.  In the winter of 2007, COPWRR and the Juniper Working Group contacted the BLM to try to “add value” to the agency’s plans for work in the Rodman Rim area south of Prineville Reservoir.  The Juniper Working Group had conducted an ecological restoration prioritization analysis to determine where removal of invasive post-settlement juniper could produce benefits for watersheds, sage grouse, and fire-adapted ecosystems.  The Rodman Rim area had ranked as a high priority in this analysis.  In a collaborative effort, the Juniper Working Group and COPWRR staff suggested ways the BLM could implement invasive juniper eradication to achieve restoration objectives and facilitate removal and utilization of juniper material.  To further the project, the Juniper Working Group and COPWRR successfully applied for funds from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to leverage available BLM funding and increase the number of acres both the BLM and private landowners would be able to treat in the Rodman Rim area.

While COPWRR enjoys the support of its members and the various organizations, businesses and interests they represent. Without this community support many of the goals of the organization would be impossible to achieve. COPWRR stakeholders are often involved in efforts to educate the community about the threats of wildfire and related ecological and business concerns. In addition, COPWRR staff can often take an active approach in aiding the community education process.

In the Spring of 2007, COPWRR staff in their capacity facilitating the Juniper Working Group, received an Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grant to prepare education materials regarding the control of western juniper. This effort will ultimately result in a brochure, presentations and a new website all aimed at educating the public about the impacts of juniper expansion and how to address them.

For more information about education efforts by COPWRR stakeholders, please visit our links page.