1. 2013 Regional Management Team Meeting Bob Ilgenfritz - Data Collection Group Leader: 1. A look back at FY 13 & looking forward to FY 14 2. Forest Service’s safety sharing.

2. FY 13 budget & FY 13 Field Accomplishments  Continuing Resolution thru FY 13  NRS FIA budget reduced 1.1 Million in FY 2013 from FY 2012 level.  Significant decrease in discretionary funds  Able to maintain a 5 year cycle in FY 13 due to prepaying data collection agreements in 2012.  Each state in the NRS region has received at least one annual measurement and one annual remeasurement.

3. FY 14 planning meeting  Cycle length - maximize number of subpanels  Reinvest in FIA program areas outside FIA plots.  Carbon –P2+ plots - DWM & understory Veg  NWOS – More courthouse/ownership work  TPO – Reinstitute Wood Utilization Studies  Lesser commitments :  Pilot test support to NRS RWU’s  Urban study in Baltimore

4. FY 14 final plan  Cycle length – 7 year or 10 subpanels  Used two year averages of federal plot production  10 year funding to state cooperators  Feds offer to pick up the plot equivalents from a 10 to 7 yr. cycle in coop states – 3 subpanels  Fund ND/KS/NE contracts and SD agreement on 7 year cycle  “Drop” statewide federal data collection contracts  Support 2 NRS Research Work Units - Spring 2014  Susan Stout – Allegheny NF research plots  Dan Dey – Sinkin experimental forest  Baltimore Urban Study – Summer 2014  Wood Utilization Studies

5. Wood Utilization Study  Last done in late 1990 in NE and NC  Objective – support/improve TPO by determining the proportion of harvested timber that is utilized at the mill and what’s left in the woods.

6. 1000 studies in 6 utilization regions for 24 states. Sample stratified by 8 species groups and 3 product types.

7. FIA Safety Improvements 1. Check out/check in 2. Safety Engagement Sessions

8. FIA Check out / Check In  Increased number of plots done solo  Greater need to assure safe return from woods  Satellite phones then answering service  Use of SPOT device to check out/check in

9. SPOT Features  One way satellite communication using two preset messages:  Interim OK message  Final OK  Tracking feature  “Hands” - Send help button  “SOS” or 911 button  Devise cost - $100 - $125 each  Service – $150/yr. w/tracking; $100/yr. w/o

10. FIA Check out / Check In Using Dispatch and SPOT  Program with SPOT has evolved since 2009  Started as check out / check in using SPOT devise only – monitored by supervisors  Learning/Improvements & refinements

11. FIA Check out / Check In Using Dispatch and SPOT  Added SPOT with dedicated dispatcher in 2011.  Added interim safe status checks  Provide close dispatch support for LOC

12. Forest Service Safety Sharing  Safety engagements – applications to state cooperators for FIA and other field projects.  MIDAS to capture previous safety issues/challenges on plot  Improved near miss reporting  Real time weather radios  Verbal conflict resolution  Aerosol defense sprays