Tim Roide, BLM Fire Officer photo by Annie Dean
Considering the weather our meeting on 03-jan-2017 at Turtle Rock Park was well attended with 14 members of the public and agencies present. Those that attended are worthy of the Snowshoe Thompson and John Muir awards for defying the elements. There was a good presentation by Tim Roide, BLM Fire Officer on the BLM’s fuels reduction projects in Alpine County and their problems and successes. Coreen Francis, BLM Forester for Nevada and California, discussed the reforestation of the Airport Fire and the importance of getting diseased trees horizontal, ie cutting them down. Not only does it remove a hazard, it also seems to stop the spread of the bark beetles. Carson District Ranger Irene Davidson and gave a thorough talk on how the Forest Service manages the NEPA (National Environment Policy Act). We learned how collaborative groups such as the ABC can actively participate, not just comment after the fact on decisions made by the Forest Service.
The USFS Carson Ranger District gave an update on the Markleeville Fuels Reduction Project. The contractor should be moving in his equipment after these storms pass and if all goes well might be able to start work in February. The California Air Quality Control Officers’ Assoc. has issued a policy paper on biomass-to-bioenergy which is available here. At the moment biomass-to-bioenergy is a leading solution to solving forest health and air quality problems, but more research into future alternatives should be done.
The next meeting is set for Tuesday February 7th at 6:00 pm at Turtle Rock Park and will feature a presentation by Saving the West, a Truckee coalition working to create a small wood industry to restore ecological function to western forests. There will also be a robust discussion on forming Working Groups to collaborate with the Forest Service on their West Carson project and to promote a local preference for contracting. The March meeting is scheduled for Tuesday March 7th at 6:00 pm at Turtle Rock Park and will feature Forest Service personnel involved in developing biomass-to-bioenergy.
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The Alpine Biomass Committee is supported by a grant from the National Forest Foundation with funds coming from Region 5 of the U.S. Forest Service. This organization is an equal opportunity provider.
Alpine Biomass Collaborative 