MT ADAMS RESOURCE STEWARDS

MT. ADAMS COMMUNITY FOREST AND WORKING LANDS CONSERVATION THE MT. ADAMS COMMUNITY FOREST PROJECT IS FOCUSED ON CONSERVING WORKING FORESTS IN THE REGION BY ACQUIRING PRIORITY LANDS FOR LOCALLY-BASED, NON-PROFIT OWNERSHIP. 2024-25 CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON EFFORTS TOWARD ADDITIONAL LAND PURCHASES, THOUGH NO ADDITIONAL LAND PURCHASES WERE COMPLETED DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR. MANAGEMENT OF EXISTING COMMUNITY FOREST PROPERTIES OCCURRED FOCUSED ON RESTORING FOREST HEALTH, REDUCING WILDFIRE RISK AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. APPROXIMATELY 90 ACRES WERE THINNED FOR FOREST HEALTH AND 120 ACRES WERE BURNED VIA CONTROLLED BURNS TO REDUCE FUELS AND IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT.

COLLABORATIVE LAND STEWARDSHIP AND FIRE ADAPTED COMMUNITIES WORK OCCURS ACROSS VARIOUS PROJECTS LED BY MT. ADAMS RESOURCE STEWARDS, TO INCLUDE: STEWARDSHIP CREW AND FIRE ADAPTED COMMUNITIES WE CONTINUED OUR STEWARDSHIP FIELD CREW PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH AREA LAND MANAGERS AND HOME OWNERS TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS TO IMPROVE FOREST HEALTH, REDUCE WILDFIRE DANGER TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ENHANCE HABITAT. APPROXIMATELY 15 PEOPLE WERE EMPLOYED ON 2024-25 PROJECTS INCLUDED MULTIPLE DEFENSIBLE SPACE/WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION PROJECTS, MORE THAN A DOZEN PRESCRIBED BURNS, FIVE NONCOMMERCIAL THINNINGS, TWO TREE PLANTING PROJECTS, AND FOUR HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.SOUTH GIFFORD PINCHOT COLLABORATIVE GROUP AND CAPACITY SUPPORT FOR FEDERAL LANDS MANAGEMENT WE SERVE AS FISCAL SPONSORS AND ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH GIFFORD PINCHOT COLLABORATIVE GROUP THAT WORKS WITH THE US FOREST SERVICE TO PLAN PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND RURAL COMMUNITY WELLBEING. OUR STAFF ALSO WORK WITH THE USFS TO SUPPORT THEM WHEN CAPACITY GAPS EMERGE AND DURING THIS TIME PERIOD MT. ADAMS RESOURCE STEWARDS EMPLOYED TWO TECHNICIANS THAT SUPPORT A FOREST SERVICE PRESALES CREW WITH FIELD PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES.COOPERATIVE LAND STEWARDSHIP ON WILDLIFE REFUGE AND OTHER LANDS THE ADMINISTRATION OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BY COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO MANAGEFORESTLANDS ON A NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IS ANOTHER MAJOR FOCUS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE 2024-25 INVOLVED ONE FOREST TREATMENT ACROSS APPROXIMATELY 25 ACRES, AND MONITORING EFFORTS OF PAST AND FUTURE EFFORTS WERE MAINTAINED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. THESE EFFORTS ARE ALSO EXTENDED TO SMALL FOREST LAND OWNERS AND LAND CONSERVANCIES TO PROVIDE THEM SUPPORT TO MANAGE THEIR FORESTS FOR MULTIPLE VALUES, INCLUDING BROADER SOCIETAL BENEFITS SUCH AS IMPROVED WILDLIFE HABITAT AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. WORK OCCURRED WITH THE YAKAMA NATION DURING THIS TIME PERIOD TO IMPLEMENT WATERSHED RESTORATION EFFORTS BY CONSTRUCTING BEAVER DAM ANALOGUES IN TWO DISTINCT WATERSHEDS.