ax03228i.aw

File Code:

1350-2/6540

Date:

January 13, 2004
   
   

Dear Southwest Idaho RAC Member:

Its time to reconvene and push forward into the new year. I have enclosed the agenda for the January meeting of the RAC. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2004, starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program Building (ICRMP), 3100 South Vista Avenue, Boise. A working lunch is planned, with lunch and beverage provided to RAC members. You can bring a brown bag lunch if you prefer.

You can be reimbursed for travel expenses associated with the meeting, including mileage. In order to be reimbursed you will need to provide the following documentation (this can be turned in at the meeting):

  • Start/end times of travel,
  • Mileage to/from the meeting, and
  • Lodging receipt

If you have any questions, please contact me at (208) 634-0400, or via e-mail at "rswick@fs.fed.us". Thanks again for your participation on the RAC.

Sincerely,

 

/s/ Randy Swick

    

RANDALL G. SWICK

Designated Federal Officer

Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee

enclosures

Cc:

Dick Smith, Boise NF

Suzanne Rainville, Boise NF

Mark Madrid, Payette NF

Andy Brunelle, Capitol City Coord - Idaho

Dave Olson, Boise NF

Linda Steinhaus, Boise NF

Boyd Hartwig, Payette NF

Leadership Team, Boise NF

Leadership Team, Payette NF

 

 

 

Idaho Congressional Delegations

County Commissioners and Clerks

Maggie Mahoney, IAC

Project sponsors

Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee Meeting

AGENDA

January 21, 2004

Meeting location: Idaho Counties Risk Management Program Building

3100 South Vista Avenue, Boise

 

10:30 AM Welcome, Meeting Objectives, and Agenda Review

(Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson)

10:45 AM Review and Approval of 11-19-03 Meeting Minutes (D), Review and Approval of RAC Expenses (D), RAC Funding Balance Update, and Project Log Update. (Randy Swick, DFO)

11:00 AM Selection of RAC Chairperson for 2004

(Phil Davis RAC Chair person; Randy Swick, DFO)

11:15 AM Review of Project Proposals – Proposal Form Part 1 (D) and Part 2 (D)

(Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson; Randy Swick, DFO)
    1. Deadwood Thin (#04004) – Gabe Dumm, Lowman Ranger District

12:00 PM Working Lunch (Lunch will be provided for RAC members).

12:15 PM Lunch Presentation: Follow up on completed RAC Projects – Tom Hass, Cascade Ranger District and Russ Manwaring, West Central Highlands RC&D

1:00 PM Review of Project Proposals – Proposal Form Part 2 (D)

(Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson; Randy Swick, DFO)
    1. East Fork Ditch Company Fish Screen - Modification (#02035) – Russ Manwaring, West Central Highlands RC&D

1:15 PM Public Forum

(Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson)
    1. Comments and questions from the public to the committee
    2. Attendance at NFCSC Annual Convention – National RAC Training
    3. Completion of RAC Survey

1:45 PM Review of Project Proposals – Proposal Form Part 1 (D)
(Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson; Randy Swick, DFO)
    1. Garden Valley Leafy Spurge Control (#04005) – Steve Spafford, Emmett Ranger District (Melissa Yenko presenting)
    2. High Valley Beaver Pond Restoration (#04006) – Steve Spafford, Emmett Ranger District (Melissa Yenko presenting)

 

2:30 PM Review of Project Proposals – Proposal Form Part 1 (D) and Part 2 (D)
(Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson; Randy Swick, DFO)
    1. Third Fork Culvert Replacement (#04007) – Melissa Yenko, Emmett Ranger District

3:15 PM Decisions to Recommend Projects (DR)

(Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson)

3:30 PM Future Meeting Dates and Location

(Phil Davis, RAC Chairperson; Randy Swick, DFO)

    1. Update on North Central Idaho RAC proposal on Main Salmon River Road Project

3:45 PM Meeting Adjourned

(D) = Decision requiring quorum and simple majority for approval.

(DR) = Decision requiring quorum and majority of each Sub Group for approval.

Proposed Project Synopsis January 21, 2004 SW Idaho RAC Meeting

Deadwood Thin (#04004) – Gabe Dumm, Lowman Ranger District

Total Project Cost: $55,312

Title II Request: $20,608

10. Statement of Project Purpose and Expected Outcomes [Sec. 203(b)(1), and (b)(5)]:

The purpose of this project is to improve forest health and reduce the risk of damage/destruction from wildfire to the Deadwood Administrative Site by thinning/mulching 84 acres of adjacent stands that have dense crown spacing and an undesirable species mix. The project contributes to forest health by decreasing trees per acre (increasing resistance and resilience to insects and disease), and by selecting lodgepole pine for removal, thereby favoring desirable fire resistant tree species for this area. The project will reduce the chances that a fire will move into and through the tree canopy (crown fire) which will make the fire easier and safer to control, reduce impacts associated with severe wildfire to soil and water quality, and protect the buildings and improvements, maintenance and operational capabilities to the dam, and the personnel at the Deadwood Administrative Site.

Additional positive outcomes include local employment opportunities through a contractor who does the thinning/mulching, and improvement of the working relationship between the Bureau of Reclamation, US Forest Service, and public.

11. Project Description: This area consists of cabins, sheds, fuel tanks, a workshop, pump houses, and associated infrastructure owned by both the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Reclamation. Deadwood Dam and the Deadwood Reservoir are adjacent to the site. The Bureau of Reclamation completed NEPA (Categorical Exclusion) requirements and requested the work to be done by the Forest Service to protect the site. Forty acres are already scheduled for mulching with US Forest Service funds. The remaining 44 acres are within the original project boundary, but require this additional funding to complete. This project is a joint effort between the Bureau of Reclamation and the US Forest Service.

A rubber track driven mulcher will be used to thin small diameter trees on 22 acres and chip and spread the fuel once its on the ground. The mulcher is a safe alternative to burning when current stand conditions make prescribed burning dangerous and unpredictable and/or when nearby buildings or other resources would be put at unnecessary risk. The process leaves coarse woody debris and all nutrients on site contributing to soil quality.

An additional 22 acres will be thinned by a local fire crew with chainsaws. The slash will be lopped below 24" and scattered to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations. Slash may be hand piled on some portions of the unit if fuel buildup appears to be a problem. This area is too steep for the mulcher to work safely.

______________________________

 

Garden Valley Leafy Spurge Control (#04005) – Steve Spafford, Emmett Ranger District

Total Project Cost: $55,000

Title II Request: FY’04 $21,000

FY’05 $17,000

FY’06 $12,000

10. Statement of Project Purpose and Expected Outcomes [Sec. 203(b)(1), and (b)(5)]:

The purpose of the project is to reduce and/or eliminate the noxious weed leafy spurge in the Garden Valley area. Leafy spurge currently infests approximately 200 acres within a 4000 acre affected area. The area is important deer and elk winter range. The area drains immediately into the South Fork of the Payette River, making this infestation a potential source for infesting the entire Payette River drainage downstream.

11. Project Description:

Leafy spurge currently infests approximately 200 acres within a 4000 acre affected area. The area is important deer and elk winter range. The area drains immediately into the South Fork of the Payette River, making this infestation a potential source for infesting the entire Payette River drainage downstream. The areas infested are mostly within a tree plantation planted after the Charter Mountain fire of 1965. Much of the area is now brushed in and leafy spurge is mixed in with the brush, making it very difficult to find and control. The Forest Service has been working on this infestation for more than 10 years with limited resources, and limited success. This assistance is being requested to help the Forest Service identify and reduce the problem to a manageable level.

Controlling and/or eliminating leafy spurge in this area will require four separate functions. Firstly, the infestations need to be re-mapped, using GPS machines to get good locations. The weeds were mapped in the 1980s, but since then some of the spot infestations have been controlled and new ones have popped up elsewhere. A good, accurate map showing current locations is essential in deciding where to expend our efforts. This could be done by a contract crew, or Forest Service personnel.

Secondly, the areas not identified as insectaries for development of biocontrols need to be treated with herbicide. This also could be accomplished with a contract crew or Forest Service personnel and would continue throughout the growing season.

Additional biocontrols need to be brought into the area. Aproximately 10,000 Apthona spp. Flea beetles were brought to the Wash Creek area in 2003. These insects were gathered in the Arco/Lost River area by Forest Service personnel. More need to be brought in to help establish the insectary. Also, other insects have proven effective elsewhere and it would help to gather or purchase them to get them established in this area. Experience has shown that a combination of biocontrols are usually much more effective than one genus or species, especially when different sites on the plant are attacked by the different kinds of insects. Some of those that would be beneficial to this include the Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth, the red headed leafy spurge stem borer, and the leafy spurge tip gall midge. This effort would include gathering of insects by Forest Service personnel or purchasing the insects. Release of the insects and monitoring of the insectaries would be done by Forest Service personnel.

 

Finally, monitoring is necessary in order to ensure the most successful methods are being utilized and efforts are effective.

Mapping $4,000

Treatment $10,000

Biocontrol development $4,000

Monitoring $3,000

_______________________________

High Valley Beaver Pond Restoration (#04006) – Steve Spafford, Emmett Ranger District

Total Project Cost: $53,000 (May be revised prior to meeting.)

Title II Request: $50,000

10. Statement of Project Purpose and Expected Outcomes [Sec. 203(b)(1), and (b)(5)]:

The purpose of this project is to restore a degraded riparian area. The riparian meadow has been de-watered as a result of a down cut stream channel. Poorly designed road construction, in addition to grazing, caused the stream to cut down. The intent is to repair the road situation, bring the water table back to it’s natural level, and restore the riparian vegetation to the meadow. It will result in improved riparian habitat, reduced sediment production.

11. Project Description:

Just south of the High Valley Guard Station there are two long, wet meadows that come together and form a small unnamed stream which eventually drains into Little Squaw Creek. Beaver formed a pond in one, and possibly both of the meadows. Forest road #643 bisects the meadow and was built incorrectly. A ditch was dug to de-water the meadow underneath the road and run it into the stream and culvert. The culvert was placed too low. The result is the meadow below the road has been almost completely de-watered and the riparian vegetation has died. Furthermore, the low culvert resulted in an incised, deepened channel, which has de-watered the meadow, both above and below the road.

This proposal would replace the existing culvert at the correct depth, fill in the drain ditch, place French drain or drain pipes under the roadway as necessary, and place loads of rock into the stream about every 40 feet to bring the water table back up to its appropriate level. Denuded or weed infested sites would be planted with nursery stock and/or seeded. The stream would be fenced with a log worm fence to provide streambank protection from both livestock and recreationists. This project will improve riparian habitat and watershed conditions, and reduce sediment production.

_______________________________

Third Fork Culvert Replacement (#04007) – Melissa Yenko, Emmett Ranger District

Total Project Cost: $120,000

Title II Request: $70,000

10. Statement of Project Purpose and Expected Outcomes [Sec. 203(b)(1), and (b)(5)]:

 

11. Project Description: