Kent’s last day was April 30 and the retirement party is this coming Saturday, May 19.  Here are Kent’s reflections on his career and work on the Salmon-Challis National Forest:

The Salmon-Challis National Forest will soon have a new check-in check-out policy and I won’t be here to use it. I’m checking out of the Forest Service and leaving the Salmon-Challis NF for good April 30.

My first full-time job with the outfit started right here in Salmon April 22, 1990. It was like I had died and gone to heaven. I’ve been lucky to spendmy entire career here central Idaho.

My first crack at “public involvement” was for an ill-fated attempt to update the Salmon NF’s outdated travel management plan.  Through the years I have been involved in numerous public involvement projects including: the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Plan, the Salmon-Challis Forests combination, numerous EIS projects, the Central Idaho Resource Advisory Committee, and two rounds  of meeting for the recently and successfully completed Salmon-Challis NF Travel Management Plan.

I’ve been involved in fire information on the Forest for 22 years, including year 2000 when we hosted five Type I teams at one time.  I’m about burned out.

I’ve enjoyed portraying Ora Cockrell, the first Ranger on the Salmon River Forest Reserve, 1905, and hope to continue doing so in retirement. I’ll see you at Custer Days.

This has been the best job I have ever had. I’ve been able to be a part of the management of one of the most beautiful, rugged, chunks of land in the world —Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers. And I’ve been able to work with hundreds of good people who care deeply about the land.

Robin and I will be staying in Salmon and have plans to visit our grandkids in Utah often. We’re planning trips to Capitol Reef, the Uinta Mountains,and the Tetshinsheeni River in Alaska this summer. We’ll have a great time.

From now on my motto will be. Vedo cum fluvium “Go with the flow.”

Thanks, everyone

Kent Fuellenbach, PAO

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Kent Fuellenbach Is Retiring

April 30, 2012

(Working A.M. — Rafting P.M.)

Join Us for a Pot Luck Dinner & Retiree Roast

At the Sacajawea Interpretive Center

60HWY28, Salmon, Idaho

May 19. 2012

5:30 p.m. social hour (BYOB) 6:30 p.m. Dinner and Roast (BYO Stories)

RSVP: to Mardi Rhodes (208-756-5112) or Mary Beth Pederson (208-756-5244)

Bring a dish to share with friends = Thank You.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is extending the deadline for nominations for six open positions on its Coeur d’Alene District Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The Coeur d’Alene RAC consists of members from Boundary, Bonner, Benewah, Kootenai, Shoshone, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Clearwater, Idaho and Adams counties.   

Nominations are due June 4, 2012.

The BLM is looking for a diverse group of people representing industry, environmental organizations, historical and archaeological groups, state and local governments, Indian tribes, and the general public.  Resource Advisory Councils are citizen-based groups that make recommendations to the BLM regarding public land and resource management, including land-use planning, recreation, fire management, livestock grazing, and wild horse and burro herd management.

“Citizen-based recommendations from the Resource Advisory Councils enhance our ability to manage public lands and achieve multiple-use goals,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey. “The people who live, work, and recreate near or on BLM-managed lands deserve a formal voice in the planning process and their input serves as a valuable tool in the decision-making process.”

In its review of candidates, the BLM will evaluate individuals on the basis of their training, education, and knowledge of the council’s geographical area.  

Nominees must complete a nomination form and submit a letter of reference.  Nominees can also submit additional information that speaks to their qualifications.  All nominations will be given full consideration.  Nomination forms are available on-line at http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/res/resource_advisory/coeur_d_alene_district.html

Each RAC consists of 10 to 15 members with an interest in public land management.  Members are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to serve an initial three-year term and may be reappointed to serve additional three-year terms. The diverse membership of each RAC is aimed at achieving a balanced outlook that the BLM needs for its mission, which is to manage the public lands for multiple uses.

A contractor uses an excavator with a masticating head to clear brush from the edge of the Stormy Peak Road. The project was one of a number or road maintenance projects completed using Title II funds.

During the first seven years the RAC had about $126,000 per year to recommend projects. Then in December of 2008 the SRS Act was reapproved and the CIRAC re-chartered for four more years. Changes in the payments to states formula and county appropriation provided much more money for Title II projects.

To say the least.  Indeed, the Central Idaho RAC received more funding in 2009 alone – $1,006,240 – than the cumulative total it had received between 2002 and 2008 of $882,278. The RAC approved $3,724,578 for projects during 2009 through 2012. The funding and the RAC’s authority to recommend projects expired September 30, 2011.

Custer, Lemhi and Butte county fuels reduction projects have provided firewood for needy families.

The RAC works closely with the Forest Service to recommend and approve projects that will benefit forest health, fish, wildlife, soils, watersheds and other resources; maintain roads, trails and other infrastructure; and control noxious weeds. A number of these projects put young people to work in the woods. RAC projects must be located on National Forest System Lands in Custer, Lemhi or Butte counties or on other nearby lands for the projects to benefit the resources on the National Forests. Projects can be completed by Forest Service personnel, through partnership agreements or by open-bid contracting with individuals and corporations.

Central Idaho RAC

The CRAC members are:

Group A; Bruce Cole, Bert Doughty, Jerry Hamilton, Doug Westfall, Bart Wojciechowski,

Group B; Dick Hauff, Dan Mulick, Gary Power, Richard Smith, Hadley Roberts, and

Group C; Wayne Butts, Bob Cope (CIRAC Chair), Earl Skeen, Mike England, and Mark Stauffer.

Sarah Baker, Gary Gadwa and Alan Howe are alternative members who are available to fill vacancies if a RAC position becomes vacant.

Adena was one of the founders of the Blue Ribbon Coalition.  You can read their tribute to her at this link.  Her obituary is published here.

In addition to being on the Eastern Idaho RAC, Adena also was appointed to the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee (RACNAC), and advised the Forest Service on the state roadless rule petitions for Idaho and Colorado, and she participated in the RACNAC deliberations and advice on the Idaho Roadless Rule that was adopted in 2008.

Two 4-person crews are sought for this summer, one based out of New Meadows Ranger District, and one based out of Council Ranger District.  The Council Ranger District crew will have a start date of June 11and work until August 3.  The New Meadows crew will have a start date of June 18 and work until August 10.  The YCC program is partially funded by the S.W. Idaho Resource Advisory Council.  Students are chosen by a random drawing and will be notified by the end of April if they have been selected.  Both crews work an eight-week program.  It’s important to note that YCC is a “nonresidential program,” meaning participants reside at their homes and commute daily to the New Meadows or Council Ranger District for transportation to the work site.

This is a great opportunity to work in the outdoors.  YCC employees will have the opportunity to work on the Payette National Forest and obtain valuable experience working in the outdoors.  Crew members will also learn about natural resource management.  The emphasis will be on hands-on learning experiences through participation in a variety of work projects that benefit the forest.  Environmental education with Ranger District specialists conducting in-the-field learning sessions will be included as part of the work experience.  Work assignments may include campground maintenance and renovation, trail building, planting, archeology projects, fisheries and wildlife projects.

Selected youth will be paid $9.74 an hour and work a 40-hour week.  Each selected applicant must provide work boots, proper work clothes, backpack, and their own lunches.  Applicants must be prepared for hard physical work in an outdoor environment under potential adverse weather conditions and rough terrain.  Applicants will need to provide their own daily transportation to the New Meadows and Council Ranger District offices.  For any questions on the 2011 YCC program please contact Payette National Forest Recreation Program Manager Jane Cropp at (208)634-0757.

This project was funded by the North Central Idaho Resource Advisory Committee under the Secure Rural Schools Act and includes an interpretive sign and the brochure.

Many thanks to Roger Inghram, Back Country Horsemen, who volunteered his time to build the frame and will place the sign at the site.

Landscape Architect trainee Morai Helfen, Cindy Schacher and RAC coordinator Laura Smith of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest worked on this project together.  We think both the public and our employees will find it an interesting and enjoyable read.  If you get a chance, take a drive to Florence this summer and bring along the brochure and get a feel for the history of the area.

North Central Idaho RAC member Dennis Baird commented, “I have followed this project with great care. The results, both at Florence and in the new brochure, are really first class and offer a much broader look at cultural history than is normally the case. Nice work on everybody’s part,” said Baird.

Starting in 2011 the Forest began targeting these heavy musk thistle populations in both Madison and Bonneville Counties.  The majority of the infestation (60%) is in Madison County with the remainder of the infestation in Bonneville County. Title II funds will be distributed to the project with approximately 60% of the funds used in Madison County and 40% used in Bonneville County.

The project focuses on treating musk thistle in the project area with herbicides. Other noxious weeds encountered in the project area will also be treated. Many of these infestations are located away from roads and ATV trails and will require the crew to hike long distances or use livestock to access the weed patches. Infestations near roads and motorized ATV trails will be treated with a spray truck, ATVs and backpack sprayers.

The goals of this project are to keep noxious weeds from spreading into areas that are currently weed free and to contain or reduce existing populations of noxious weeds and to discover any new noxious weeds that may be trying to become established. The objective of this project was to treat all of the known noxious weed infestations in the project area during the 2011 field season (approximately 250 acres).   

The Palisades Ranger District used a crew of 4 people to treat weeds on this project.  One of the crew members was hired through the YCC program and the other three were Forest Service seasonal employees.  In addition to the regular crew a spray day was held in conjunction with the Henry’s Fork and Upper Snake River CWMAs.  On July 27a crew of 25 people worked on this project spraying with backpack sprayers or packing herbicide on Mules to backpack sprayers.  The crew consisted of people from three counties, Idaho Fish and Game, the BLM and additional Forest Service personnel.

573 acres were inventoried and spot treated where weeds were found. 

Spot treatments included:

115 acres Musk Thistle

50 acres Canada Thistle

45 acres Hounds Tongue

5 acres Leafy Spurge

5 acres Spotted Knapweed

The James Ranch airstrip on the main Salmon River was treated for noxious weeds.

Airstrip and Private Land Buffer

In 2009, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness CWMA initiated a weed treatment program on the private and Forest Service airstrips along the main stem Salmon River.  Agreements were established with seven private airstrip owners.  The agreements provided for contracts to complete the initial weed treatments with the land owners taking responsibility afterwards.  These contract efforts were completed in 2009 and 2010.  In 2011, emphasis was shifted to the Selway River drainage where four airstrips need assistance.  Agreements are currently being developed for the Running Creek and North Star private air strips which have been getting some treatment by the involved owners.  Inventory data for the Selway Lodge air strip shows it being clean and having no need for assistance!  The Montana Conservation Core assisted with treating the Moose Creek and Shearer Forest Service airstrips in 2011.  The Moose Creek air strip had also been treated in 2010 with other funds.  Plans include treating all four air strips in 2012 with the remaining funds.   Afterwards, they should all be in an maintenance mode.

Back Country New Invaders

The Red River District Recreation crews did not utilize any of the available funds in 2011.  Inventory efforts were instead completed in 2011 to help delineate those trails and camp sites most deserving in an attempt to keep the relatively clean weed free areas clean of noxious weeds.  Plans to treat those weeds and use the remaining balance on other trails will be emphasized in 2012.

Rachel Winston at the Forest Service Slate Creek yellowstar thistle bio control monitoring transect.

Bio-Control

In 2009, Idaho County Weed Control, in conjunction with the RAC, US Forest Service, USDI BLM, and MIA Consulting, initiated a biocontrol monitoring program to determine the effectiveness of numerous releases that have occurred throughout north central Idaho since 1979. Four weed systems were monitored utilizing the Standardized Impact Monitoring Protocol. These efforts were repeated and expanded in 2010 and 2011. A total of 57 permanent monitoring sites spanning seven weed species were visited throughout the 2011 growing season. For Dalmatian toadflax, insects appear to be contributing alone or in combination with favorable spring weather to the weed’s control at 11 sites, have no impact at two others, and more time is needed to draw conclusions at one final site. In the spotted knapweed system, insects have likely been a major contributor in the weed’s control at one site, they may be slightly effective at another site, and appear to be ineffective at all others, though more time is needed for sites where agents were released as recently as 2009.

For leafy spurge, insects have been the only consistent form of weed control at two sites, and they have effectively reduced the weed to small, relic populations. In the yellow starthistle biocontrol system, several years of biological control have not impacted the weed significantly; yellow starthistle is still the dominant species at all sites monitored. Three additional weed monitoring systems (field bindweed, houndstongue, and whitetop) are pre-release systems only. Sites were established on these weeds in 2010 and monitored again in 2011 for the purpose of gaining baseline data prior to the anticipated future approval and release of new biocontrol agents. Finally in 2011, a more intensive study was initiated on the spotted knapweed biocontrol system in order to identify trends in establishment, abundance, and efficacy of insects in the Clearwater Basin of Idaho County where biocontrol has been one of the widest forms of control utilized against spotted knapweed for the past three decades. Results from this study are still being analyzed.

Interface Areas

The RAC interface area project includes road weed treatment of USFS property connected to Idaho County, and interface areas of private property adjoining USFS property.  Nearly 750 miles of key road networks within the Salmon River, South Fork Clearwater, and Selway River Drainages have been monitored and treated to insure noxious weed growth is deterred.  These applications have been spot-spray, in nature, unless large infestations were reported. Two local, start-up businesses have benefited from this work.  They collect inventory data, treat the infested sites, record their treatment, and evaluate the work at a later time. This RAC project continues to be extremely important in keeping weeds on the public land from infesting private land, and vice versa. 

New Invaders

The RAC New Invader project is intended to provide funding to attack plants that are new to the county or parts of the county.  This funding provides labor to visit the sites of these new invading species a minimum of three times during the current growing season, and not allow that plant to reproduce.  In a county as large as Idaho County this is a difficult assignment.  However, crews have visited over 2500 sites to insure the plants were not reproducing.  During these visits, a new weed was recorded for Idaho County, viper’s bugloss.  This plant infested about 40 acres at its time of discovery.  All acres were treated with RAC funding, and repeat visits and treatments were made.  It is critical to land health, to continue to eradicate new invaders.