Regional Peer Learning Workshop: Accelerated Landscape Restoration Siuslaw Stewardship Model and Collaborative Engagement

Overview Siuslaw National Forest and Stewardship (STWD) Program Introduction Partners and Collaboration STWD Process Monitoring Recommendations and Conclusions

Siuslaw National Forest General Information Northwest Forest Plan Restoration, Recreation, and Partnerships

Stewardship on the Siuslaw Began as a pilot project in First STWD project began and the first STWD group formed Siuslaw NF sought community participation Local and regional partners joined the effort

Siuslaw STWD Program Currently the are 4 STWD Groups – Siuslaw, Alsea, Marys Peak, and Hebo – Working on developing a 5th group in Smith River/Oregon Dunes

Stewardship Contracting Objective The general purpose of stewardship contracting is to achieve land management goals for National Forest System lands while meeting local and rural community needs. FSH Chapter 60.2 – The intent of stewardship contracting is to accomplish resource management with a focus on restoration. FSH Chapter 60.3

Siuslaw STWD Program Goals Address whole watershed health Use timber value to fund restoration Promote stable local economy Increase efficiency and effectiveness Form strong community partnership

Siuslaw Approach Promote the sustainable use and enhancement of natural resources Contribute to a stable local economy Seek inclusive, balanced, and diverse participation Ensure accountability and transparency Build trust and encourage learning Monitor outcomes and disseminate results

Whole Basin Focus Ecosystem restoration: – ridgetop to ridgetop – headwaters to the ocean Endangered species recovery: the law and the landscape Community health and involvement: people and “ownership”

What are STWD Groups? Stewardship Groups are a collection of individuals and organizations from the local area that are working with the Siuslaw National Forest to promote forest resource restoration and enhancement that meets the needs of local communities. Stewardship Groups help plan, evaluate and monitor stewardship projects on public and private lands. The Groups also help evaluate and prioritize proposals for future funding with stewardship funds.

Collaboration and Partnership STWD Groups meet monthly and also attend field trips Annual Joint and Round Table Meetings Outreach and Education

Integrated Resource Timber Contract (IRTC) The value of goods exceeds the value of services Trading Goods for Services The Siuslaw generates about $1 million dollars in retained receipts per year

How it works PLANNING EA/EIS IRTC Integrated Resource Timber Contract Off Forest Restoration Projects ~ 40% Retained Receipts On Forest Restoration Projects (FS) ~ 60% Stewardship group input (optional) Stewardship group input Stewardship group input

Off Forest Projects Wyden Authority Public Law , section 323 as amended by Public Law , Section 434 Projects located on non-National Forest lands are funded through Stewardship using Wyden Authority. Projects utilizing Wyden authority must provide resource benefits to National Forest System lands.

The Project Approval Process Project Development Stewardship Groups, Partners, Landowners and Forest Service Technical Review Panel Off Forest Projects only Project Proposals IRTC, Off Forest and On Forest Retained Receipt Projects Regional Forester Approval Prioritize and Recommend Projects Stewardship Groups prioritize Off Forest Projects, Ranger District prioritizes FS Retained Receipt Projects Stewardship Round Table Representatives from each Stewardship Group, Project leveling, budget - final recommendation for Off Forest Projects Siuslaw Stewardship BOD Forest Supervisor Recommendation About a nine month process for On Forest and Off Forest retained receipt projects

On Forest STWD Projects IRTC – Commercial Thinning – Wildlife Habitat Improvement – Road Decommissioning and Maintenance – Invasive Species Treatment – Underplanting Retained Receipts Projects – Snowy Plover Habitat enhancement and predator control – Meadow Habitat Enhancement/Restoration – Riparian Habitat Restoration – Invasive Species Treatment – Aquatic Organism Passage

Stewardship Restoration Projects - Private lands Types of projects: – Instream Habitat – Riparian Enhancement – Wetland Restoration – Aquatic Organisms Passage – Invasive Plant Control – Wildlife Habitat Improvement

STWD Monitoring Multi-party Monitoring STWD Group Monitoring – Process to Implementation/Treatment Monitoring – Field Trips ecological and economic impacts of the projects Forest Monitoring – Annual to BMP

Monitoring Continued Annual Monitoring Report at Joint Meeting (Integrated Resource Management) – Biophysical Accomplishments IRTC, On Forest, Off Forest Project Accomplishments – Economic Impacts – Implementation Monitoring Photo Points, Stand Treatment, Starting Snags/Down Wood – Stakeholder Field Trips Program Monitoring (Cascade Pacific RC&D) – STWD report of accomplishment over longer time periods Cascade Pacific RC&D Website

Recommendations and Conclusion Support projects important to community or STWD group that might not be priority for Forest – Easy to say no but that doesn’t build trust Developing and maintaining partnerships and collaboration require a significant and continuous investment of time and resources – Pays for itself multiple times over in the long run Engage the STWD groups in collaboration throughout the process

Questions?