WV Stewardship Meeting, October 27 Minutes

West Virginia state agencies are facing a significant decline in revenue and what we know is changing every week in a negative way.   Projections of the shortage keep increasing. What does this mean for the WV DOF? We will likely see a cut in general revenue of about 4%. 

 

Approval of Previous Minutes: moved by Mike Teets and seconded by Dave McGill 

 

Forest Stewardship Update: Barb Breshock

The next FSP plan writers workshop will be Nov. 19 workshop in Jackson’s Mill covering new wildlife issues. Annual WVU Extension Service pesticide certification programs will be held in Beckley, Morgantown and Romney in November. Will email these dates to the committee.

Any ideas about how to promote 10-year updates FSP plans are welcome. Will we treat as new plans? Will we digitize maps? Take a new inventory or less intensive inventory? 

Russ stated he thinks inventory data is useful.  Maps now go into SMART (Stewardship Mapping and Reporting Tool) eliminating the digitizing. We are trying to find more efficient ways to get maps into SMART.  Both John and Russ say they are able to email their plans when they are ready to submit, instead of mailing via USPS. They will work with Chuck and Steve Harouff to streamline this process.

Barb M. stated that the change in deer and invasive species impacts have been increasingly apparent in the last 10 years and hence some information about regeneration might be considered in the FSP plans. Randy said that the WV FSP committee determines inventory criteria (size of plots and such), and our plans have a reputation as some of the best in the NE in terms of inventory.

Barb B. and Karen brought up carbon sequestration as new resources elements. New plan elements might also include background information on agroforestry, estate planning, forests of important high conservation/high value forest (environmental, history, social), and whether the property is in the Tree Farm system. Foresters might only need to address these elements if the landowner is interested and include a simple statement or checkbox to indicate if the landowner is not interested.  Conservation Activity Plans (CAP 106) are compatible with FSP plans and have an option for the plan writers to include practices like invasive species control. 

   

According to Russ, one of the worst problems with FSP plans right now is that landowners have to overcome hurdles of filling out their own stewardship applications. Participants are "paralyzed with fear."  Certified foresters should be able to prepare forms. We (foresters) have all the info; the people may not have this information. He is noticing that landowners are receiving the forms and then never hear from them again. 

What are the limits to how much a forester can help on FSP plan applications? Chuck thought the W-9 and tax information may be the biggest problem. Barb B. will consider the limitations in the law regarding the extent we can help potential FSP participants. 

Forest Stewardship training needs: Barb Breshock 

Barb inquired of any new ideas to provide as training to consultants. Karen informed us that agroforestry is a new element and it was discussed. Common practices include silva-pasture and forest farming (maple syrup, ginseng, ramps, shiitakes). Jamie Schuler at WVU teaches maple syrup production and might be a good speaker/trainer.

Forest Legacy Report (mention upcoming monitoring): RANDY [not reported at meeting, but added by John for clarification purposes]

John, Barb B. and Ed Grafton will go do the Forest Legacy monitoring next week.

 

Greatest concerns Island ridge 1, 2 and 3, the grant has extended for six years. [The original due diligence documents for Island Ridge 1, 2, and 3 were submitted to the USFS in November, 2011.  A long string of non-WVDOF caused delays was experienced.]  Report to come. The application for Island ridge 3 was withdrawn because of too much trash [WVDOF could not obtain a commitment from the landowner to conduct the necessary clean up]. Island Ridge 1 & 2 documents signed but not closed yet as there are some fine points preventing that; hoping to close in the next 60 days or the money goes away.  [The Island Ridge 1 & 2 documents for the closing have been signed and the checks have been cut.  As of 10-27-15, we are still waiting to receive the appraisal and appraisal review addendums.  Right now, closing prior to 12/31/15 shouldn’t be a problem.]  

~South branch 2 projects submitted to Legacy fund before deadline but heard back from legacy that it has not yet went in – the USFS later found it was submitted on time, some snafu on their part. [The Draft 2017 South Branch Phase II project brief was submitted to the USFS on 10/16/15.  WVDOF has until 11/20/15 to make edits to the draft project brief. 

John Rowe would like to make sure everyone is on the same page regarding application #17-12. In his application, the applicant requested five conservation easements to consolidate his 10 separate tracts of land. The applicant purchased the 10 tracts of land separately, with separate deeds.]  During the meeting it was not clear that this request for five easements was in the original application, nor that this was for 10 different tracts of land.  An FYI conference call with the FLP subcommittee is recommended.

USDA Forest Service Report: Karen Sykes

This committee is already aware of the new FSP standards and guidelines and about the grants that are currently open. CRP money is coming. Landscape stewardship money was grabbed for fire. Hoping in 2016 that it will be reopened. An information package about non-timber forest products and forestry stewardship plans developed for landowners by the National Agroforestry Center was handed out to group. This will be condensed into a one-pager for the landowners.  The Agroforestry Center might be willing to come to do some presentations about agroforestry.

                  

NRCS  Update:  Barb McWhorter   

NRCS is between fiscal years. They are getting programs ready to be applied in the new fiscal year.

Barb introduced Kyle Aldinger, RCPP Cerulean Warbler coordinator, who is finishing up a project with golden wing warbler for his dissertation. Kyle and others are working on screening tools, ranking tools and wildlife habitat tools. He is the point of contact for Cerulean Warble. Right now, he’s working on outreach to private landowners. There was a recent three-day workshop hosted Division of Forestry, NRCS and bunch of partners. The workshop informed participants about warbler habitat throughout the life stages of a forest and harvesting, how to provide technical and financial support for landowners who want to manage their properties for the warbler, and financial assistance information for foresters to do practices already in place by NRCS. The overall goal of this effort is to get landowners and foresters to work together. A stewardship plan is required to get the funding. Kyle provided a handout titled Enhancing Cerulean Warbler Habitat in the Appalachians: Guide for Foresters.                           

                       

WVU Extension Updates: Dave McGill

The FSP Monitoring Project field visits are complete and the report should be out in the next few weeks. We sampled 26 properties. One was sold.  We are currently doing a WV Welcome Wagon Meet Your Forester workshop evaluation. We are asking whether participants have taken any actions as a result of attending the meeting. The Friends of Firewood project is continuing outreach efforts to promote safe and efficient firewood production. Landscape forest stewardship feasibility is being completed, and a final feasibility report will be sent to Randy in about a month

New Business: 

Russ brought up an excellent educational opportunity — the WV Nursery and Landscaper Association meeting. According to Russ, it’s the best meeting in the state and really compliments the stewardship education program. He encourages all to attend. This year the meeting is on Jan. 22, 2016, in Charleston. 

Jennifer encouraged the state to provide more native plants from their nursery, for example red spruce. She is willing to help advocate getting native plants into production at the state nursery. Randy said that the nursery made a $9,000 profit this past year and 59% went to the state of Ohio. Ohio has closed their nursery.          

 

Committee Member’s updates: 

Jennifer is looking for potential stream restoration sites. She will look at any stream that has an easement. Streams can be on either public or private lands. Can also assist with wetland and drained farmed fields.

Future Meeting: Barb Breshock Jan.19 here in Buckhannon. Barb will book the conference room.

Adjourn

 

[Submitted by:] Barb Breshock, WV DOF