annual report 2012 - alaskaforestry.alaska.gov/assets/pdfs/overview/2012annualreport.pdfthis system...

Alaska Department of Natural ResourcesDivision of Forestry

Annual Report 2012

AlAskA Division of forestry

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry:

• Managesawildlandfireprogramon public,privateandmunicipalland• Encouragesdevelopmentofthetimber industryandforestproductsmarkets• Conductstimbersalesforcommercial use,personaluseandfuelwoods• Protectswaterquality,fishandwildlife habitat,andotherforestvaluesthrough appropriateforestpracticesand administrationofForestResourcesand PracticesAct• ManagestheHainesandTananaValley stateforests,whichcoveratotalof 2.6 million acres• AdministersCommunityForestry, ConservationEducation,ForestHealth andForestStewardshipprograms• Givestechnicalassistancetoowners andmanagersofforestedland.

TheStateForester’sOfficeislocatedin Anchorage.Inaddition,thedivisionhastworegionalofficesandnineareaoffices responsibleforprogramsupportandfieldwork.In2012,theDivisionhad78permanentfull-timeemployees,186permanentpart-timeandseasonalemployees,and12interns.

tAble of Contents

LetterfromtheGovernor ...............................1StateForester’sComments .............................22012AtAGlance .............................................4

ForestResourcesandPractices ......................6 ActivitySummary ....................................6 StatisticsforAdministrative ActivitiesonPrivateLand ....................7 ForestPracticesMonitoring ...................8 BoardofForestry .....................................9

ResourceManagement..................................10 CoastalRegion .......................................10 NorthernRegion ....................................15 Inventory ................................................16 GIS ...........................................................16 Biomass ...................................................17 TimberProgramStatistics ..........8,12,17 AlaskaStateForests ...............................18 ForestHealthProtectionProgram ......19 ForestStewardshipProgram ................28 CommunityForestryProgram ............30

2012YearinPhotos .......................................32

WildlandFireManagement .........................36 2012FireSeason ....................................36 2012FireStatistics ...........................38,40 AlaskaType1Team...............................41 FireTrainingProgram ..........................43 2012VFAGrants ...................................45 NationalFirePlanProjects ...................46 AviationProgram ..................................50 SafetyOfficer ..........................................51 ContemporaryCommunication forCrisisResponse ...........................52 StateLogisticsCenter ............................52 Warehouse ..............................................53

EmployeeRecognition ..................................54

Appendix Division Directory .................................59 OrganizationalChart ............................60 2013Budget ............................................61 2012BudgetActuals ..............................62This publication was released by the Alaska Department of

Natural Resources to provide information about the operations of the Division of Forestry during 2012. This report was printed in Anchorage, AK at a cost of $4.01 per copy. The 2012 Annual Report was produced by the Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry. Cover photograph was taken by Patricia Joyner, Urban and Community Forestry Forester.

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We proudly serve Alaskans through forest management and wildland fire protection

Alaska Division of Forestry 2012 Annual Report – page 2

stAte forester’s Comments

Dear Alaskans,

LastyearIfocusedmycommentsontheimportanceofStateForestsandtheroletheyplayincreatingeconomicactivityandcomplementingthe“gray”infrastructureofourcommunitieswithcorresponding“green”infrastructure.I’dliketocontinuethatdiscussionbytakingacloserlookatsomespecificexamplesofhowStateForestsaredirectlyimprovingourqualityoflifeandhelpingAlaskanscopewithhighenergycosts.

Bynow,IhopethegreatsuccessstoriesofboththeTokandDeltaschools’biomassboilersystemsarewellknown.Theyaresavingtheschooldistrictsmoneyandheatingtheirfacilitieswitharenewableandsustainableenergyresource.IntheDeltafacilitiescase,woodfuelintheformofchipsispro-ducedbyalocalsawmillasaby-productofitsmillingandloghomemanu-facturingprocess.Itdeliversthisfueltoabulkstoragebinwitha“live”floorsemi-trailerthatselfunloadsthechipsintotheon-sitestoragebin.Thisbinthenfeedsthebiomassboilerondemandtocreateanautomatedsystemthatheatstheentireschool.

TheToksystemoperatesinmuchthesameway,butiscurrentlyusingwoodfuelproducedfromahazardfuelreductionprojectthatlowerstheriskofwildlandfireinandaroundthecommunity.Inaddition,theTokboileralsoproduceselectricity,trulythefirstcombinedheatandpower(CHP)woodybiomassboilerinthestate.Bothoftheseprojectshavedemonstratedtheimportanceofhavinganabundantandsecuresupplyoffuelincloseproximitytothecommunity.TheTananaValleyStateForestisoneofthekeyreasonstheseprojectswereabletoproceedfromideastorealprojects.

OnehundredmilesnorthfromDeltaisanotherexampleofabusinessthatwaslocatednearFairbanksbecauseoftheStateForest.SuperiorPelletLLCoperatesawoodpelletmillthatishelpingindividualAlaskansheattheirhomesandbusinessesinthesurroundingareawithacleanburning,densifiedwoodproduct.ThisfuelprovidesanoptiontoroundwoodsystemsandishelpingFairbanksdealwithapersistentproblemwithairqualityduringthewintermonths.

PelletstovesmeetorbeatEPAairqualitystandardsforemissions,especiallytheparticulatestandard(PM2.5)thatmanyolderwoodburningunitsexceed.Thecompanyproducesindividuallybaggedpellets,whicharesoldviaretailoutlets,andrecentlyinitiatedabulkdeliverybusiness.Pelletsaredeliveredtoyourhomeorbusinessbyatruckandstoredinsmallpelletsilosorbinsthataresizedforresidentialuse.Thissystemmakesiteveneasiertooperateapelletstoveandreapthebenefitsofasignificantcostsavingsoverfueloil,supportlocalmanufacturingandusearenewablefuelthatisCO2friendly.

BurningwoodstillproducesCO2,butnew,youngtreesaregrowingtoreplacethetreesusedinthepelletmanufacturingprocessandthesetreesactivelyremoveCO2fromtheatmosphereastheygrow.Someevenarguethatthisisacarbonneutralprocess.Thatassertionstillneedsmorescientificreview,butcertainlythisfuelisabetteroptionthanmanyoftheotherchoicesrelativetotheimpactsofCO2inenergyuse.Pelletsystemsarebeingusedstatewide,fromKetchikantoFairbanksandhaveproventheirreliabilityasaheatingoptiontobeseriouslyconsidered.

Chris Maisch represented the United States at the United Nations meeting in Rome of the Food and Agriculture Organization Committee on Forestry.


AlAskA stAte Foresters

Earl PlaurdeOctober 1959 to June 1968

William Sacheck July 1968 to June 1974

George Hollett July 1974 to June 1976

Theodore Smith July 1976 to April 1982

John Sturgeon May 1982 to June 1986

George Hollett (acting) July 1986 to February 1987

John Galea March 1987 to May 1988

Tom Hawkins (acting) June 1988 to December 1988

Malcolm “Bob” Dick January 1989 to November 1992

Dean Brown (acting) December 1992 to February 1993

Thomas Boutin March 1993 to January 1997

Dean Brown (acting) January 1997 to July 1997

Jeff Jahnke July 1997 to July 2005

Dean Brown (acting) July 2005 to October 2005

John “Chris” Maisch October 2005 to present

TheStateForestscontinuetoprovidecommercialandpersonnelusefuelwood,oftencalled“chunk”woodorroundwoodforuseinwoodstoves.Thisisan importantoptionformanyresidentsandcontinuestobeapopularwayto supplementotherheatingoptionsorastheprimaryheatingsource.Thereissomethingtobesaidforthesatisfactionofcutting,splittingandseasoningyourownfirewood.Itisoftenafamilyactivity,whichgetsyououtintothewoods.Whilenoteasy,itprovidesplentyofopportunityforteachingyourchildrenabouthardwork,planningaheadandbeingself-sufficient,traitsweallvalueasAlaskans.

TheDivisionofForestrycontinuestoproducethesetypesofresultsinbothourForestManagementandWildlandFireManagementprogramsandthatisbe-causeofouremployees.Thisisadiverseorganizationwithmanytalentedpeoplethatworksmart,andhard,everyday.Theyunderstandtheimportanceofwhattheydoandhowtheyconductthemselvesinservicetothestate.I’mpleasedtoworkwiththisgroupofprofessionalsandlookforwardtoanotheractiveandproductiveyearahead.

Sincerely,

ChrisMaischAlaskaStateForester


2012 At A GlAnCe

forest resources

• FinishedfinalreportforGovernor’sAlaskaTimberJobs TaskForceperAdministrativeOrder258;reportmakes 35specificrecommendationsthatspaneightsubstantive areasofthetimbersector. • Sold18,786,000boardfeetoflumberto34Alaskan businesses. • Provideddirectorindirectsupporttoover80woody biomassprojects-thisisimportantworkthatis assistingmanysmall,remotecommunitiesandlarger road-sidecommunitiesthatarestrugglingwithhigh energycostsforspaceheatingandelectricalneeds. • ContinuedtoworkthroughtheStateTongassTeamto providecoordinatedstatecommentstoUSFSinregard tofederaltimbersalesintheTongassNationalForest.

• WorkedwithDepartmentofLawtosupporttheirefforts inappealingthedecisiontoinvalidatetheTongass NationalForestexemptionfromtheRoadlessRulein the9thCircuitCourt.

fire management

• IncooperationwithFederal,State,andlocal governmentagencies,DOFprovidedfiremanagement serviceson153millionacresofFederal,State, municipal,andprivateland.

• Atotalof4,800firefightersincludingState,Federal, local,andemergencyhirepersonnel,weregivenbasic and/oradvancedtraining.

• TheDivisionheldanIntroductoryandAdvanced WildlandFireAcademyinTok,graduating28students intheIntroductoryand34studentintheAdvanced.

• Wildlandfireagenciescooperativelymanaged416 wildlandfiresstatewide,ofwhichDOFdirectly managed269ofthefires,foratotalof286,888acres statewide.

• TheDivisionsuppressed192firesintheCritical ManagementOptionand62firesintheFull ManagementOptionforatotalof25,598.2acresburned andwassuccessfulatcontaining97%offiresat10acres or less.

• Therewere15fires,for628acresburned,inModified andLimitedManagementOptionswhichrepresented 5.6%ofthefireactivityand2.3%oftheStateprotected acreage-modestamountswhencomparedtomore typical years.

• Inearlyspring,thetimeframewhenhumancausedfires aremostfrequent,thenumberofhuman-causedfires (percapita)wasreducedbyhalfviaPreventionProgram measures,suchasburnpermits.

• Thirty-fivelocalfiredepartmentsreceived$221,086in federalgrantmoneytoassistintraining,acquisitions, andemergencypreparedness.

• TheDivision’sefforttoreducethenumberofhuman- causedfiresincluded181firepreventionpresentations thatweregiventoschoolkids,youthorganizations,civic groups,homeowners,andcontractors;theissuanceof 85warningsand6citations;andprosecutioninthree court cases.

• Therewere1,513homeFirewiseassessmentsdelivered bylocalfiredepartmentsasaresultofthegrants administeredbyDOF.

• DOFminimizedstructurelossduetowildlandfiresto sevenstructures,includingoneresidenceandsix outbuildings.

• ThereweresevenCommunityWildfireProtectionPlans updatedorcreatedand739acresofhazardsfuelstreated asaresultoffuelsprojectsdirectedbytheseplans. • ThemostcomplexincidentinAlaskawastheBear CreekFireinthecentralinteriornearClear.Thefire startedonJune24byaseriesoflightningstrikesand wasmanagedbyType1andType2Incident ManagementTeams.Theincidentthreatenednumerous subdivisionsandencompassed8,522acres.

• Therewere1,117overheadordersforinstateandoutof stateassignmentsreceivedbytheStateLogisticsCenter, ofwhich1,079filledbytheAlaskanworkforce.

• TheDivisionassistedLower-48firefightingeffortsby supplyingthreeairtankersandaerialsupervisionfor fourmonths;theresourcesworkedthroughoutthe centralandwesternUnitedStates.

• TheDivisionprovidedhelicoptermodules,overhead support,andcrewsviatheNorthwestCompact agreementtoAlbertaandtheNorthwestTerritories inJuly.


• TwooftheDivision’sPC-7sweresoldandwillbereplacedwithtwinengine turbopropaircraftfortheaerialsupervisionprogram.

• DOFhostedtwocontractcrewswithTananaChiefsandChugachmuitCorporations.

• Therewere55orders(inandout-of-state)forEmergencyFirefighterCrews.The agencycrews(includingHotShot,Type2InitialAttack,andType2)had32instate assignmentsand17out-of-stateassignments.

• Overall,$5,867,139waspaidtoAlaskanEmergencyFirefighters.

• 425vendorswereutilizedinsupportoffirefightingeffortsandrepresented$779,975 inincometothelocaleconomy.

• Inearly-September,DOFfirefightersprovidedassistanceinAnchorageafterasevere windstormblewtreesoverandleftmanyresidentswithoutpowerfordays. FirefightersandequipmentweredispatchedbytheDepartmentofNaturalResources toassistcrewsfromtheMunicipalityofAnchoragewithtreeanddebrisremoval.

• TheAlaskaType1IncidentManagementTeamwasassignedtotheTrinityRidgeFire inIdahofromSeptember2-September15.

• Inmid-September,InteriorAlaskaexperiencedanextraordinaryhigh-windeventthat resultedinnumerouspowerlinefiresandextensiveforest“blowdown.”

• Inlate-September,a10-personDOFIncidentManagementTeamassistedtheMat-Su BoroughandDepartmentofHomelandSecuritywithresponsetofloodingand providedsupportinplanninganddamageassessment.

• InearlyNovember,anewwind-drivenfirestartedinthetundraneartheDillingham airport,burningindryconditions,andrequiredaresponsefromlocal,Stateand Federalcooperators.

• TheAnchorageMat-SuAreareceivedsubstantialwindinlateNovember, continuingintoearlyDecember,whichresultedin17fires.Theeliminationofthe snowcoverresultedinseveralurbaninterfacefires,anevacuation,andmoreacreage burnedthanintheprevioussummermonths.

DOF provided direct or indirect support to over 80 woody biomass projects, assisting many remote communities and larger road-side communities struggling with high energy costs for heating and electrical needs.

The most complex fire incident in Alaska was the Bear Creek Fire in the central interior. The fire was started by a series of lightning strikes. The incident threatened numerous subdivisions and encompassed 8,522 acres.


forest resourCes AnD PrACtiCes

Activity summary

DOFistheleadagencyforimplementationoftheForestResourcesandPracticesAct.Primaryactivitiesincludeco-ordinatinginteragencyreviewofDetailedPlansofOpera-tion(DPOs)foractivitiesonprivate,municipal,andtrustland;fieldinspections,implementationmonitoring,andenforcementactionsontheselands;andincorporatingthestandardsoftheActandregulationsintostatetimbersales.ForestpracticesrelatedworkonfederallandisconductedbytheAlaskaDepartmentofEnvironmentalConserva-tion(DEC)andtheAlaskaDepartmentofFishandGame(ADF&G)HabitatDivisionbasedontheirauthoritiesforwaterqualityandfishhabitatprotection.Overall,FRPAcontinuestobeeffectiveinprotectingwaterqualityandfishhabitat,whileprovidingforcontinuedtimberandfishingindustryopportunities.DOFwasabletosustainadequatefieldpresencethisyeartoensurethattheActisimplement-edproperly.

notifications and inspectionsIn2012,DOFreceivedandreviewed57newDPOsand14renewalsforprivate,municipal,andstatetrustlands.NewDPOscovered27516acresand132milesofroad.TheDi-visionconducted29inspectionsonprivate,municipalandtrustlandand184FRPAinspectionsonstatetimbersales.Thenumberofnewnotificationscontinuesits’downwardtrend;however,theamountofharvestacreageandroadmilesnotifiedin2012arebothslightlyupover2011.Forthetotalofnewplusrenewednotifications,thisyear’stotalisthelowestonrecordsince1991.Itisalsoarecordlowforinspections.

variationsDOFreviewed2variationrequestsin2012fortimberhar-vestwithinriparianbuffersonAfognakIsland.686ofthe724treesrequestedforharvestinginbufferswereapproved.Thenumberofrequestsforsite-specificriparianareavaria-tionscontinuesthedownwardtrend;however,thenumberoftreesrequestedin2012spikedsharplyupward.

enforcementDOFissuednonewnoticesofviolation,directives,orstopworkordersin2012.Thereweretwocarry-overactionsonnoticesofviolationfrompreviousyears.Thisisthethirdstraightyearwithoutanynewdirectives,violations,orstopworkorders.

mass Wasting regulations

DOFissuedpublicnoticeofproposedregulationamend-mentsregardingforestpracticesandmasswastinginDecember,2012.TheproposedregulationsimplementtherecommendationsfromtheLandslideScience&Techni-calCommitteeandtheImplementationGroupthatwereendorsedbytheBoard.CommentsontheregulationsaredueJanuary31,2013.

Theamendmentswould:• Usethenewterm“unstablearea”inthesectionon DPOs(11AAC95.220),andincludeindicatorsfor identifyingunstableareas

• Usetheterm“unstableslope”inallotherBMPsthat previouslyusedtheterms“unstableslope,”“unstableor slide-proneslope,”or“unstableslopeorslide-prone area,”andadefinitionfor“unstableslope”tothe definitionssection(11AAC95.900).Thisappliestothe BMPsonroadconstruction(11AAC95.290),harvest unitplanninganddesign(.340),landings(.345),cable yarding(.360),andtrackedandwheeledharvestsystems (.365) • Addadefinitionfor“unstablefillmaterial”tothe regulatorydefinitionsandusethenewtermintheBMP onbalancingcutsandfillsinroadconstruction (11AAC95.290(b)(2))

• AddanewsubsectiontothecableyardingBMPs (11AAC95.360)requiringthatoperatorsminimize disturbancetosoils,understoryvegetation,stumps,and root systems

• AddanewsubsectiontotheharvestplanningBMPs (11AAC95.340)requiringthatoperatorsconsider techniquessuchaspartialcuts,retentionareas,and helicopterorskylineyardingtominimizedisturbance

• AddtothetrackedandwheeledharvestingBMPs (11ACC95.365)arequirementthatanoperatorprovide noticetoDOFbeforeoperatingtrackedorwheeled equipmentonunstableslopes.


2012 FrPA Activities on PrivAte, MuniciPAl And trust lAnds

Ten-YeAR RecoRd of TimbeR Volume Sold (mbf) Coastal: Coastal: Northern State # Sales Sold Southeast Southcentral Region Total Statewide FY 03 4,145 9,779 4,813 18,737 68 FY 04 8,064 ,957 2,708 11,729 50 FY 05 16,003 4,564 5,594 26,161 76 FY 06 10,777 1,703 12,478 24,959 63 FY 07 24,437 30,110 6,420 60,967 65 FY 08 4,059 4,316 7,163 15,538 67 FY 09 5,597 1,451 11,036 18,084 91 FY 10 4,626 2,460 5,445 12,531 69FY 11 12,865 3,913 7,281 24,053 71FY 12 8,556 1,260 7,739 17,555 50

2012 fRPA AcTiViTieS on PRiVATe, municiPAl, And TRuST lAnd: HARVeST AcReAge in new noTificATionS

2009 2010 2011 2012 SSE 7,752 17,532 5,577 8,373NSE 1,858 1,740 2,241 6,379Mat-Su/SW -- -- -- --Kenai-Kodiak 1,894 7,389 4,684 8,918COASTAL 11,504 26,661 12,502 23,670 Fairbanks -- 168 -- 161Delta -- -- -- --Tok -- -- 2940 3,685Copper R. -- -- 205 --NORTHERN -- 168 3,145 3,846 ToTAl 11,504 26,829 15,647 27,516

numbeR of PeRSonAl uSe PeRmiTS - fiScAl YeAR 09-12

Coastal/ Northern State Southcentral Region TotalFY 09 239 1608 1847FY 10 759 1072 1831FY 11 546 864 1410FY 12 --* --* 1325

* New online system is not region specific.

2012 fRPA AcTiViTieS on PRiVATe, municiPAl, And TRuST lAnd: numbeR of new noTificATionS (dPoS)

2009 2010 2011 2012 SSE 32 61 54 32 NSE 8 8 6 3Mat-Su/SW 0 0 11 --Kenai-Kodiak 6 15 0 13COASTAL 46 84 71 48

Fairbanks 0 1 0 5Delta 0 0 0 0Tok 0 0 4 4Copper R. 0 0 1 0NORTHERN 0 1 5 9

ToTAl 46 85 76 57

Ten-YeAR RecoRd of TimbeR Volume offeRed (mbf)Includes new offerings, reoffers, and sales available over-the-counter

Coastal: Coastal: Northern State # Sales Offered Southeast Southcentral Region Total Statewide FY 03 9,452 12,470 15,027 36,949 105 FY 04 13,564 21,133 7,653 42,350 64 FY 05 21,318 37,929 17,460 76,706 101 FY 06 17,335 37,346 29,233 83,914 93 FY 07 30,945 30,228 21,775 82,948 85 FY 08 10,567 4,316 21,990 36,873 82 FY 09 5,597 1,451 26,666 33,714 104 FY 10 4,626 2,734 23,622 30,982 83FY 11 12,859 3,913 32,856 49,628 96FY 12 8,556 1,260 28,915 38,731 68

TimbeR PRogRAm ReVenue bY fiScAl YeAR (IN THOuSAND DOLLARS)

FY 03 475.9 FY 08 1260.5 FY 04 660.3 FY 09 617.0 FY 05 834.5 FY 10 521.9 FY 06 502.5 FY 11 371.9 FY 07 661.9 FY 12 601.7 Note: Timber program revenue is primarily from timber sales; approx. 2% of the revenue comes from other sources, including log brands, seedlings, retained damages and document fees. units of measurement: Board foot (bf ) = the unit used to measure lumber. One board foot equals one foot square by one inch thickMBF = thousand board feetState Fiscal Year 2012 runs from July 2011 through June 2012.


forest Practices monitoring

Compliance monitoringDuring2012,DOFconductedcompliancemonitoringon100%ofallFRPAandstatetimbersaleinspections.DOFhashadgoodinspectioncoverageonallforestoperationsthroughouttheState.Thescoresheetsandinspectionre-portsshowexcellentcomplianceinallthreeregions.Therehasbeenasteadyimprovementincomplianceoverthelasttenyears,whichhasbeentheproductofregularDOFtrainingsessionsandregularon-siteinspectionswiththeoperators.Mostregulationinfractionshavebeendiscov-eredveryearly,sothattheissuescouldbecorrectedbeforedegradationcouldoccur.

effectiveness monitoringDOFcontinuestoworkwithagenciesandaffectedintereststoprioritizeneweffectivenessresearch,andseekfundingforhighpriorityprojects.Fourteenparticipantsrepresent-ingstateandfederalagenciesandprivateorganizationsinvolvedwithresearchandmonitoringrelatedtoforestpracticesinAlaskametinJuneauonApril19,2012.StaffparticipatedfromDNR,ADF&G,DEC,USForestService,USFish&WildlifeService(USFWS),SealaskaCorporationandMartinEnvironmental.Thegroupreviewedpotentialfundingsourcesfor2012-13,summarized2011compliancemonitoringresultsandeffectivenessmonitoringprojects,anddiscussedeffectivenessmonitoringprioritiesforthecomingyear.Thetoppriorityprojectsfor2012-13arecon-tinuedRoadConditionSurveysontheKenaiPeninsulaandtheTrends&ConditionsofFishHabitatstudy.

Alaska sustainable salmon fund (Akssf)ADF&Greportedthereisuncertaintywithfederalfund-ing.Theamountoffundingisdeclining–from$80millionto$65millionnationally,andnextyearonly$50millionisproposed.Alaska’sshareofthenationalamountisalsodeclining.ADF&Ghasfoursciencepanelsthatsetpriori-tiesforthestatewidepanel.Therewillbeacallforpropos-alsthisAugust-September;perhaps$9millionorlessmay

beavailable,plus$3-4millionleftoverforsimilarprojectsfrom last year.

Newthisyearistheneedtoapplyviaa“prioritizedlist”forprojectsinfourareas:• ESA(ChinooksalmonESA)• HabitatProtectionandRestoration(notmonitoring)to salmonpopulationsusedforsubsistence• Salmonpopulationstatusmonitoring• Habitatprotectionalllands

PastroadconditionsurveyswerepaidforwithAKSSF.However,in2012,theTyonekroadconditionsurveyswerepaidforbytheKenaiPeninsulaBorough(KPB)usingfundsthatoriginatedasSprucebarkbeetlemoney,ofwhichKPBisthepassthroughagency.The2012KenaiPeninsularoadconditionsurveyswerefundedbyAKSSF,howeverthatrequiredamatchwhichcamefromDOFgeneralfundmoniesandtheKPB.

state and Private forestry (usfs) GrantsPartoftheState&PrivateForestry(S&PF)fundingisallocatedthroughacompetitiveprocessandthatAlaskahashadlimitedsuccesswiththisapproach.S&PFprovided$200,000,withaSealaskamatch,tocontinueDougMartin’sworkanddevelopafinalreport.AlaskaalsoreceivedfundingtoprovidetraininginsupportofwoodenergydevelopmentinFortYukon,usinganon-federal50-50match.

road Condition surveysDOF,withtheassistanceofADFG,surveyedcloseto60milesofroadontheKenaiPeninsulaand74milesonthewestsideofCookInletintheTyonekarea.ThesurveyscoveredlandownedbytheState,MentalHealthTrust,University,BoroughandNativecorporations.Mostoftheroadswereingoodshapeandcomplianceoverallwasmet.Thereweresomelow-ratedfishculvertsfoundintheTyo-nekAreaonanoldStateloggingroadbuiltbeforetheFRPAwaspassed.TherewerefournewnominationsontheKenaiandninenewnominationsintheTyonekareatotheAnad-romousWatersCatalog,asaresultofthe2012surveys.

2012 coMPliAnce Monitoring suMMAry by region

# Score sheets #BMP Mean Score % of all BMPs State Private/Other Public Ratings for all BMPs rated >4 Region 1 34 24 1292 4.87 98.3Region 2 104 5 771 4.86 97.5Region 3 46 0 623 4.60 93.3

Total 184 29 2686 4.78 97.0

A rating of 5 means the BMP was consistently and effectively implemented where applicable; a rating of 1 means the BMP was rarely implemented where applicable or was implemented ineffectively.


board of forestry

Thenine-memberBoardofForestryadvisesthestateonforestpracticesandprovidesaforumfordiscussionandresolutionofforestresourceissues.Theboardalsoreviewsallpro-posedchangestotheAlaskaForestResourcesandPracticesAct(FRPA)anditsregulations.Boardmembersareappointedbythegovernorforthree-yeartermsandrepresentavarietyofforestry-relatedinterests.Allboardmeetingsincludeanopportunityforpubliccomment.

In2012,theboardheldhearingsinFairbanks,Juneau,andAnchorage,alongwitha teleconferenceinwhichBoardmembersandcitizenscalledinfromeightlocations.KeyissuesbeforetheBoardwere:

• Southeastforestmanagement,includingshortagesintheTongassNationalForest timbersupply;landownershipissuesinvolvingSealaskaCorporation,theMental HealthTrust,andtheUSForestService;litigationonimplementationoftheRoadless RuleinAlaska;andwildliferesearch.• WoodenergyexpansionacrossAlaska,includingAlaskaEnergyAuthorityprojectsfor feasibilityassessment,design,andconstructionofwoodenergyfacilities;proposalsfor woodpowergenerationinTokandFortGreely;woodpelletproductioninNorthPole; andpossiblenewbestmanagementpracticesforbiomassharvesting.• ProposedestablishmentofaSusitnaStateForest.• NationalandstateresponsestoafederalcourtdecisionthatwouldrequireNational PollutionDischargeEliminationSystempermitsforforestroads.• BudgetsandfundingtoimplementtheForestResourcesandPracticesAct.• RecommendationsfromtheAlaskaTimberJobsTaskForceregardingmanagementof federalandstateforestresources,workforcedevelopment,woodproductsinnovation andmarketing,andexpansionoftheStateForestsystem.

TheBoardalsotrackedtheprocesstoamendregulationsformasswastingandforestpractices,referencestoAlaskaCoastalManagementPrograminFRPA,andpublicnoticerequirementsforstatetimbersales.TheDivisionofForestrybriefedtheBoardonforestmanagementandforestplanningonstateland,forestpracticesmonitoringandroadcondi-tionsurveys,andrealignmentofDivisionstaffingtosupportlargebiomassenergyprojects.

InadditiontoregularBoardmeetings,BoardmembersattendedameetingoftheTananaValleyCitizensAdvisoryCommittee,andapublicmeetinghostedbyDOFregardingtheproposedSusitnaStateForest.

2012 boArd oF Forestry

Rob BosworthEnvironmental Organization, Juneau (through June, 2012)

Matthew A. Cronin, Ph.D.Non-governmental Fish or Wildlife Biologist, Anchorage

Jeff FoleyMining Organization, Anchorage

Chris Maisch, ChairState Forester, Fairbanks

Erin McLarronRecreation Organization, Willow

Eric NicholsForest Industry Trade Association,Ketchikan

Wayne NicollsNon-Governmental Forester, Juneau

Chris StarkEnvironmental Organization, Fairbanks (from August, 2012)

Mark VinselCommercial Fishery, Juneau

Ron WolfeNative Corporation, Juneau

Board of Forestry field trip to Alaska Plant Material Center. Left to right: Peggy Hunt, Agronomist PMC; Brian Kleinhenz, SeaAlaska; Jeff Graham, DOF; Chris Maisch, State Forester/Chair; Eric Nichols, BOF; Dave Harris, USFS RIO; Wayne Nicolls, BOF; Erin McLarron, BOF; Matt Cronin, BOF; Jeff Foley, BOF; Jim Schwarber, DOF; Mark Vinsel, BOF; Dean Brown, DOF; Al Edgren, DOF. Photo by Maggie Rogers.


resourCe mAnAGement

Coastal region

timber salesThetimberindustryintheSoutheastcontinuestostruggleduetothelackofashort-termandlong-termtimbersupplycomingfromtheTongassNationalForestandthelackofharvestabletimberonNativecorporationland.TheUSFSischangingtheirtimbermanagementfocustorestorationandsecond-growthmanagement,drasticallyreducingtheamountofold-growthharvesting.Theamountofsecond-growthtimberavailableforharvestisnotsufficientatthistimeforthelocalindustrytoretoolforsecond-growthmanufacturing,otherthanonalimitedbasis.

Fortheshortterm,SealaskaTimberCorporationisproject-ingonetotwoyearsoftimberharvestingremainingontheirlands,andwillhavetostopharvestoperationsuntiltheirremainingentitlementisresolved.

Higherloggingcosts,transportationcosts,andfuelcostsalsomakeitharderforthelocalindustriestocompeteinnationalandworldmarkets.Onlyonemid-sizedmillre-mainsintheSoutheast.ThelocalsmallmillsintheHainesareaarecontinuingattheirnormalrate,providinglocallumber,houselogs,andfirewoodforthecommunity.

TimberharvestoperationscontinueonAfognakandKodiakislands,primarilyharvestingsprucelogsforexport.OntheKenaiPeninsula,thedeadsprucecontinuestodete-riorate,withlimitedornovalueforlumberproductionorchipproduction.ThelocaltimberindustryintheMat-SuandTokcontinuestoproducelumberandthelocalmillsareslowlybuildinghigh-value-addedcapacity.

Thelong-termdemandforStatetimbercontinuestobehighintheCoastalRegionandtheDivisionhasworkedhardtomeetthosedemands.Theremainingmid-sizedmill,VikingLumberinKlawock,purchasedoneStatesalein2011,forapproximately4.5MMBFandpurchasedalargeForestServicesaleforapproximately38MMBF.TheSouthernSoutheastAreaofficecontinuestopreparetimbersalestosupplyvolumefortheVikingmill,alongwithpro-vidingsmallsalesforthelocaloperators.DemandforstatefirewoodishighinSouthcentralAlaskaandinTok.

DuetointerestinalargebiomassprojectinTok,theDivi-sionsubmittedaPreliminaryBestInterestFindingforpub-licreviewandcommentinDecember,2012.Thefindingisfora25-yeartimbersalecontract,providingapproximately35,000tonsoffiberperyearforacogenerationplantinTokfromapproximately1,000acresofstatelandannually.

Thismeansatleastafive-foldincreaseofharvestedacreage,greatlyincreasingtheneedforforestpracticesinspectionsontheselands.

Highfuelpriceshaveincreasedinterestinalternativeenergysources,suchaspelletmills,ethanolplants,andco-generationplants.PrivatesectorcompaniesareexploringpossibilitiesofcommercialoperationsonPrinceofWalesIsland,inHaines,ontheKenaiPeninsula,andintheMat-Suarea.Commercialoperationssuchasthesefocusontotalfibersupply,ratherthanlogvolumeandquality.Thesenewindustrieswouldbenefitthelocalcommunitiesandhelpbuildanintegratedtimberindustry.NewoperationswouldalsoincreasethedemandforStatetimberinareasthathavehadminimalharvestinpastyears.

LocalcommunitiesthroughouttheCoastalRegioncon-tinuetoexplorethefeasibilityofwood-firedfurnacestoheattheirschoolsandofficebuildingsandhelpreducehighheatingcosts.TheCityofCraigcontinuestoheattheircommunityswimmingpoolandtheirschoolwithachip-firedfurnace.TheTokSchoolisheatedwithbiomassandhasalsoproducedsurplusenergyforthelocalpowergrid.TheCityandBoroughofHaineshasalmostcompleteditsfeasibilitystudy,alongwithSitkaandTalkeetna.TheCoastalRegioncontinuestoprovidetechnicalassistanceandexpertisetothesecommunitiesduringtheirstudies.Iftheseprojectsbecomeoperational,therewillbeahighdemandtoprovideStatetimbertofueltheseburners.Demandforfirewoodcontinuestobehighduetoincreasedfuelprices,especiallyontheKenaiPeninsulaandtheMat-Su/Anchoragearea.On-linepermittinghasmadethefire-woodpermittingprocessalittleeasier.Foresterscontinuetolayoutfirewoodareas,basedonlocaldemand.

TheDivisionofForestryreceiveda$600,000CIPtobuildnewaccessroadsforpersonaluseandcommercialfirewoodareas.CommercialfirewoodsalescontinuetoincreaseinalltheareasoftheCoastalRegion,usingtimberthathaslimitedornouseforsawlogmanufacturing.

beach log salvageTheSouthernSoutheastAreaadministerstheBeachLogSalvagelicensingprogram. Thisprogramprovidesavehicleforcommercialoperatorstorecoverlostsaw-logsfromthecoastalwatersofsoutheastAlaskaandrequirescoor-dinationwiththeUSDAForestServiceandotheruppertidelandowners. Thesoutheasternwatersaredividedinto56salvageareas. Pricesfortimberaregoingupandmorepeopleareinquiringaboutsalvageareasnearcommuni-tiesorloggingoperationswheretransportationcostscanbeminimized. In2012,DOFrenewedthreelicensesandissuednonewlicenses;theareaswerelocatedinSouthernSoutheast.


tongass management issuesTheDivisionofForestrycontinueditsinvolvementwiththeUnitedStatesForestService(FS)intheimplementationoftheTongassNationalForestLandandResourceManage-mentPlan.AspartoftheState-TongassTeam,theDivisionprovideslanguageregardingforestmanagementobjectivesandprojecteconomicsforinclusionintheStateofAlaska’sconsolidatedcommentsonvariousFSNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA)docu-ments.UndertheEconomicTimberMemorandumofUnderstandingbetweentheStateandUnitedStateForestService,DOFcontinuestoworkwiththeFSanditscontractorsonthefollowingtimbersaleprojects;WrangellIslandontheWrangellRangerDistrict,BigThorneontheThorneBayRangerDistrict,andSaddleLakesontheKetchikan-MistyFiordsRangerDistrict.VolumeofferedforsalebytheFSincreasedinfederalfiscalyear2012(October2011toSeptember2012)toatotalvolumeof53MMBF.

Involvementinotherprojectsduring2012includedcoordinationofDOFSouthernSoutheastAreatimbersaleswithcomplementaryFSprojects,andthedevelopmentofanadministrativelandtradebetweentheAlaskaMentalHealthTrustandtheUSFS.DOFcontinuedworkingwiththefollowinggroups:theTimberCommitteeofSoutheastCon-ferencewhichistheFederalEconomicDevelopmentDistrictinsoutheast;theGate1andGate3Committees,whicharemadeupofFederal,Stateandprivateindustryemployees.TheGate1CommitteediscussespossibleareasforfuturetimbersaleprojectsandtheGate3committeeworksonmethodstoimprovetheimplementationofForestServicetimbersaleprojects.ForestryprovidedsupporttotheDepartmentofLawonseveral2001Road-lessRuleissuesincludinganappealoftheMay2011AlaskaDistrictCourtrulingontheTongassExemptiontotheRoadlessAreaConservationRule.

InApril,theStateofAlaskasubmittedanAdministrativeAppealtoForrestCole,For-estSupervisoroftheTongassNationalForest,ontheFindingofNoSignificantImpact(FONSI)fortheTwelvemileCreekRestorationProjectEnvironmentalAssessment.Theappealraisedtheconcern,“thatallowingtheuseofoldgrowthandyounggrowthtreesfromadevelopmentLandUseDesignation(LUD)foruseintheconstructofinstreamhabitatstructuresfurthercontributestotheForestService’sinabilitytomeettheirstatu-toryobligationunderSection101oftheTongassTimberReformAct(TTRA),“toseektoprovideasupplyoftimberfromtheTongassNationalForestwhich(1)meetstheannualmarketdemandfortimberfromsuchforestand(2)meetsthemarketdemandfromsuch

High fuel prices have increased interest in alternative energy sources, such as pellet mills, ethanol plants, and co-generation plants.

Private sector companies are exploring possibilities of commercial operations on Prince of Wales Island, in Haines, on the Kenai Peninsula, and in the Mat-Su area. These commercial operations focus on total fiber supply, rather than log volume and quality.

These new industries would benefit the local communities and help build an integrated timber industry.

New operations would also increase the demand for State timber in areas that have had minimal harvest in past years.

Clarence Clark and Steve Joslin on forest practices inspection at Harris River Bridge.


forestforeachplanningcycle.”(16U.S.C.539(d)(a)).AtissuewaswhethertheForestPlanfortheTongassNationalForest,whenrestrictedbycurrentmanagementdirectionsandpoliciesprovidessufficienttimbervolumeforadmin-istrativepurposes(streamrestoration)whilemeetingthestatutoryrequirementsofTTRA.TheadministrativeappealwaswithdrawnwhentheFSagreedtoincludeaforest-levelanalysistodeterminewhetherthecurrentregulatoryframework(i.e.RoadlessAreaConservationRule)providestheForestServicewiththeabilitytocomplywiththeTongassTimberReformAct(TTRA)Section101aspartofthe5yearreviewoftheTongassLandandResourceManagementPlan.

The Working forestWorkingwithrepresentativesofthetimberindustryDOFhelpeddevelopthe“workingforest”concept.A“workingforest”ismanagedbasedonthetriplebottomlinetheoryofbalancingenvironment,communityandeconomy.Whileprovidingessentialecosystemservicessuchascleanwaterandair,aworkingforestdevelopsitsnaturalresourcestoprovidejobswithinlocalcommunitieswhichstabilizesandstrengthensthearea’seconomy.

TheFinalReportoftheGovernor’sTimberJobsTaskforceincludedtheworkingforestconceptasfollows:

Alaska’sfederalandstateforestshavethepotentialtobeamodelofsustainability,includingenvironmental,social,andeconomicobjectives.The“WorkingForest”conceptembracesdiverseandbroadobjectivesrelatedtoutilizingnaturalresources,providingjobs,stimulatinglocal

economies,andsupportingcommunities.Thesebroad objectiveshavethepotentialtounifydiversestakeholders andinterestgroupswhileframingmanyoftheStateofAlaska’sshort-andlong-termgoals.

WorkingForests:• SupportindustriesthatuseAlaska’snaturalresourceson asustained-yieldprinciplebasedonmultiple-use management,consistentwithpublicinterest

• Managetimberresourceproductiononarotational basistoprovideforafully-integratedtimberindustry capableofproducingavarietyofproducts

• Attractprivate-sectorinvestmentthatestablishes businesses,createsjobsandprovidescommunity stability.

DevelopmentoftheworkingforestconceptleadtothecreationofTheWorkingForestGroup;anincorporatedAlaskaentitythatpromotesactivemanagementofforests,collaborationandcommunicationbetweenforestresourceusergroups,andresearchforuseinthedevelopmentofmanagementplansfortheforest.

Chugach national forestInFebruary2012,theChugachNationalForestannouncedthatitwasselectedasoneofeightnationalforestsacrossthecountrytoreviseitsforestplanunderthenewNationalForestSystemPlanningRule.TheforestplanprovidesForestServicestaffdirectionformanagingresourcesandactivitiessuchasrecreation,fishandwildlifehabitat,

tongAss nAtionAl Forest tiMber sAle ProgrAM 2001-2012 (Volumes in MMBF)

Federal Fiscal TTRA Volume Timber Volume Timber Volume Timber Volume Timber VolumeYear Offered Offered Sold Harvested under Contract

2001 119 68 50 48 2832002 110 57 24 34 2962003 151 89 36 51 1932004 153 73 87 46 1492005 143 110 65 50 1042006 143 24 85 43 1112007 116 32 30 19 1142008 99 42 5 28 972009 146 36 10 28 842010 173 46 46 36 982011 110 44 38 33 1052012 127 53 53 21 150Average 133 56 44 36 149


historicandsacredsites,vegetation,mineralexplorationanddevelopment,andtimberontheChugach.Theconstructionofanewforestplan,whichisestimatedtotakeatleastthreeyearstocomplete,willbedoneinthreephases.During2013theForestServicewillconductphaseone,the“assessment”;whichwillidentifyandevaluateexistinginforma-tionaboutecological,economicandsocialconditionsandtrendsrelatedtotheForestandSouthcentralAlaska.Theresultingassessmentreportwillprovideasolidbaseofinfor-mationforphasetwo,draftingtherevisedplananddevelopinganenvironmentalimpactstatementundertheguidelinesoftheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA).PhasethreeisthedevelopmentofamonitoringstrategytoassesshowwellimplementationofprojectsontheChugachmeetsthegoalsandobjectivesoftheplan.

Governor’s timber task forceIn2011,theGovernorappointedanine-memberTaskForcetodeveloprecommendationsformanagingforestlandtofurthereconomicdevelopmentandprovidejobsforAlaskansfromtimberharvest.TheTaskForceissueditsfinalreportinOctober,2012.

Thereportincludes34recommendationsaddressing:• Managementofstate-ownedforestland• AdditionstoexistingStateForests• CreationofnewStateForests• ChangestoStatestatutesorregulationsgoverningtimberharvesting• StatelandacquisitionorexchangesintheTongassNationalForest• AreasofresearchrelatedtouseoftheTongassNationalForestandimpactsonwildlife, demandfortimberintheTongassNationalForest• PossibletimbersalesintheTongassNationalForesttomeetdemand• Currentwoodproductsandpotentialnewproducts/usesoftimbersuppliedbythe TongassNationalForest.

Forstateland,thereportrecommendschangestotimbersalestatutesandregulations,acquisitionoffederallandinSoutheastAlaska,additionalandexpandedstateforests,andaccessdevelopmentandmaintenance.Onfederalland,theTaskForcerecommendsthetransferofsomeTongassNationalForestlandormanagementauthoritytothestatetoincreasethesupplyoffederaltimbersales.TaskForcerecommendationsforresearchandreviewofgamemanagementpoliciesinSoutheast,andwoodproductsdevelopmentwouldaffectbothstateandfederalland.

A “working forest” is managed based on the triple bottom line theory of balancing environment, community and economy. While providing essential ecosystem services such as clean water and air, a working forest develops its natural resources to provide jobs within local communities which stabilizes and strengthens the area’s economy.

Paul Slenkamp measuring a log processor head.


ProposalsforStateForestsincludeamajorexpansiontotheTananaValleyStateForestandnewStateForestsintheSusitnavalley,CopperRiverbasin,Kenai-CookInlet,andIcyBayareas.IfSoutheastlandisacquiredfromtheUSFS,itwouldbeaddedtotheSoutheastStateForest.

TheBoardofForestryheldaspecialmeetingonDecember14,2012toreviewtheTaskForcerecommendations. Followingreview,theBoardunanimouslyendorsedalettertotheGovernorsupportingtheTaskForcereportwiththecaveatthatanychangesinlandownershipandforestmanagementmustcontinuetoprovideadequateprotec-tionforfishhabitatandwaterquality,ensurereforestationofharvestedland,andfullycomplywiththeAlaskaForestResourcesandPracticesAct.

InJanuary,2013,theGovernorintroducedabilltoimple-mentTaskForcerecommendationstoestablisha763,200-acreSusitnaStateForestandbroadenDNRauthoritytooffernegotiatedtimbersales.

roadsIn2012,theAlaskaLegislatureprovidedfundingtoDOFandtotheDepartmentofTransportationandPublic Facilities(DOT)forseveralroadprojectswhichprovideaccessfortimbermanagementactivitiesonbothstateandfederalforestedlands.ThisfundingallowstheDivisionofForestrytocontinueworkingthroughmultiplevenuestoimproveinfrastructure,andprovideasustainableeconomicsupplyoftimberthatmeetsthedemandneedsofthe timberindustryinsoutheastAlaska.

ThisyeartheDivisionreceiveda$2,000,000CIPfortheidentification,planningandconstructionofaccessroadsfortimbersales,primarilyinthesoutheast.Planningworkhasbeenstartedonthreeprojectsinthesoutheast.

Thefirstprojectistheconstructionof2.5milesofnewroadonGravinaIslandnearKetchikan,connectingtwoparcelsoftheSoutheastStateForest.Thisnewroadwillbefortimberharvestingandlongtermforestmanagement.

Thesecondprojectisfortheconstructionofa2milebypassroadaroundthecommunityofEdnaBayonKosiuskoIslandandthedesignandconstructionofaLogTransferFacility(LTF)inEdnaBay.

Thethirdprojectistodevelopshipmoorageandlogstoragesitesthroughoutthesoutheastformovementofharvestedlogs.Tohandleallthesenewroadprojectswehavere-writtenthejobdescriptionforanexistingposi-tiontobecometheroadsprojectmanagerforourfutureroaddevelopmentprojects.Weareexpectingtofillthispositioninthespringof2013.

DOFreceivedadditionalCIPfundingin2011tocon-structroadaccessforfirewoodareas,forbothcom-mercialoperationsandforlocalresidents.NewroadconstructionhasbeencompletedinTokandDeltaforfirewoodaccessandthreeotherroadconstructionprojectsarebeingdevelopedontheKenaiPeninsula,theMat-SuareaandCopperRiver.Additionalfirewoodac-cessprojectswillbeconsideredandfundedin2013.

AtransportationplanisbeingdevelopedintheDivi-siontoaddresstheneedfornewroadconstructionandongoingroadmaintenancefortimberharvestandtimbermanagementinthefuture.EveryAreahasreceivedfundingforongoingroadmaintenanceprojects,primar-ilygrading,brushclearing,andditchcleaning.WorkingwithDOTwearemakingalistofbridgesonloggingroadsinourstateforeststhatwillneedtoberepairedorreplaced.GISroadmapshavebeendevelopedineachArea,showingroadlocations,andwhetherthey’reopenorclosedtothepublic.

roAd Miles notiFied 2009 2010 2011 2012

SSE 30 55 28 15 NSE 0 0 10 16 Mat-Su/SW 0 0 61 64 Kenai-Kodiak 3 66 0 0 COASTAL 33 122 99 95 Fairbanks 0 3 0 6 Delta 0 0 0 0 Tok 0 0 27 31 Copper R. 0 0 1 0 NORTHERN 0 3 28 37 ToTAl 33 124 127 132


northern region

timber salesMaintainingasustainablesupplyoftimberandmeetingtheneedsofboththeforestproductsindustryandthepubliccontinuestobeafocusoftheNorthernRegion.Anincreaseddemandformaterialthathasbeenclassifiedasnon-merchantableintheTokandDeltaAreasispushingthelimitsofavailablestaffintheareaoffices.PersonnelfromCoastalRegionhavesteppeduptohelpalleviatetheworkloadthroughtheformationofLargeProjectManagementTeams.ThisincreasingdemandisduetoprojectproposalsfordevelopmentofwoodenergyfacilitiesintheTananaValley.Young’sTimber,Inc.andAlaskaPowerandTelephoneinTok,andtheUSArmyinstallationatFt.GreelyinDeltaJunction,areconsideringconversiontobiomassfuelsforheatandpowerproduction.

Highfueloilpricescontinuetoinfluencepersonal-useandcommercialfirewoodharveststhroughouttheRegion.TheDivisioncontinuestoprovideinformationtocommunitiesconcerningthebenefitsofburningdry,well-seasonedwoodcomparedtoburningfreshly-harvestedgreenwoodandisworkingwiththeFairbanksNorthStarBoroughinsupportofthe“Split,Stack,Store,andSave”informationalinitiative.ThecitiesofFairbanksandNorthPolecontinuetofacescrutinyfromthefederalEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyforhighlevelsofparticulatematterrelatedtowinterwood-burning.Timbertheftisin-creasinglybecominganissueonbothStateandFairbanksNorthStarBoroughlands.Asaresultofillegalcuttingoflargewhitespruce,theRosieCreekRoadwasclosedtopublicaccessinearlywinter.

FairbanksAreacontinuestoworkwiththeDivisionofMining,Land,andWaterandtheFairbanksNorthStarBoroughtoaccesstimberburntbythe2011HastingsFire.ThePeteSimpsonMemorialRoadwasconstructedasafirelineduringtheHastingFireandthereisanestimated4,864acresofassessableburnttimberwithinUnit4oftheTananaValleyStateForest.Thisincludessprucesawtimber,birch,andaspen.BasedonTananaValleyinventorydata,approximately177,270tonsofwoodcouldbesalvaged.Theroadisnamedinmemoryoflong-timeDOFForesterPeteSimpsonwhohadalastingimpactontheDivision’swildlandfiremanagementprogramandwasactivewithmanycommunityforestryevents.

Thefirstfullyearofoperationofthewood-firedboilerattheDelta/GreelySchoolDistricthasproventobeverysuccessful.Thereremainsastronginterestinwoodenergydevelop-mentthroughouttheInteriorandacontinuedstrongworkingrelationshipwiththelocalcommunitiesandvariedintereststhroughouttheTananaBasiniscriticaltothesuccessoftheseprojects.

TheNorthernRegionreceivedsixnewDetailedPlansofOperationsincalendaryear2012,fouroftheseonFairbanksNorthStarBoroughparcelsdesignedascommercialfirewoodsalesdesignedtohelpalleviatethedemandforfirewoodbythelocalpublicduetothehighcostoffossilfuels.Forestpracticesinspectionsthisyearfocusedprimarilyonstateadministeredtimbersales.ComplianceinspectionsindicatedthatBestManagementPracticeswereimplementedonthesales.

Aseverewindeventinmid-SeptemberknockeddownpocketsoftimberintheTokandDeltaAreasaffectingapproximately30,000acres.Thevolumeoftimbermaterialover-whelmsthecapacityoftheexistingindustry.ThepriorityforharvestsistoimprovesafetyaroundDryCreekandtheNativeVillageofTanacrossbyremovingtheblockagestoaccess.

TheCitizens’AdvisoryCommittee(CAC)oftheTananaValleyStateForestisalmostfullystaffedwith10ofthe12seatsoccupied.TheCACprovidestremendousoutreachtothepublicthroughoutthestatetokeeptheminformedofthechallengesandactivitiesofthe

2012 tAnAnA vAlley stAte Forest citizens’ Advisory coMMittee

Al Pagh, Forest Industry

Brad Cox, Value-Added Processing

Chris Stark, Environmental Interests

Dan Rees, Private Forest user

Tom Malone, Forest Science

Kathy Morgan, Native Community

Vacant, Recreation

Vacant, Tourist Industry

Paul Karczmarczyk, Fish and Wildlife Interests

John (Jack) DiMarchi, Mining Industry

Thomas Nerbonne, Regional Representative – upper Tanana Valley

Jim Sackett, Regional Representative – Lower Tanana Valley


DivisionofForestryintheTananaValley.Withthelong-termbiomassharvestproposalsinthemiddleandupperportionsoftheTananaValley,effectivepubliccommunica-tionsisessential.CACMeetingsareheldthroughouttheyearwiththeexceptionofasummerrecess.

inventoryStatewideinventoryprojectscontinuetoaddressthewoodsupplyneedsofexisting,new,anddevelopingvalue-addedwoodprocessingfacilities.Biomassresourceutilizationisexpandingacrossthestateandforestinventoryprovidesdataonthequantityandlocationofthewoodsupply.Ac-curateinventorydataisimportanttodeterminesustainableharvestrates,evaluateeconomicmetrics,supportinfra-structuredevelopment,andproperlyapplybestmanage-mentpractices.Maintainingup-to-dateforestinventorydatasupportsDNR’smissiontoprovideasustainedyieldofforestproductsanduses.

ProjectsinprogressincludeupdatesoftheTananaValleyandHainesStateForestinventoriesandanewSusitnaVal-leyforestinventory.TheTananaValleyinventoryupdatehasbeenunderwayforseveralyearsandisnowfocusedonassessingwoodlandandreproductionvegetationtypes.Thisinformationwillsupplementdatafromrevisedpo-letimberandsawtimbervegetationtypes.Fieldsamplinginthesetimbertypeswascompletedandthefinalvolumeanalysisisunderway.Someofthistimbermaybesuitableforbiomassutilization.

DOFalsore-measuredpermanentsampleplotsinHaines.TheHainesupdatewillrevisevolumeestimatesforbarkbeetlemortalityandtreegrowth.Agrowthmodelwillbedevelopedfromtheplotdatatomoreaccuratelydeterminesustainedyield.

DOFconductedMat-Suinventoryfieldsamplingin2010.Aninterimreportsummarizesdataonapproximately490,000acresofforestclassifiedlandinthevalley.Subse-quenttothereportDOFdelineatedvegetationtypesonan

additional200,000acresandincorporatedthenewdataintotheDivision’sGeographicInformationSystem.Theremain-ingareaofproposedSuValleystateforestlandswillbeclas-sifiedwhensuitablesatelliteimagerybecomesavailable.TheDivisionreceivedimagerycoveringroughly40,000acresinDecember2012andwillclassifythisareainwinter2013.

InventoryprojectshavealsobeenfundedinpartthroughapartnershipwiththeAlaskaEnergyAuthority.AEAhashelpedfundinventoriestoensurethattheproposalstheyreceiveforwoodenergyprojectsaresustainableoverthelongterm.TheTananabiomassassessmentwhichwasacooperativeeffortbetweenDOFandTananaChiefsCon-ferencewascompletedin2012. TheTananaprojectwasmentionedinthe2011BOFreport.

TheKenaiinventorywasthemostsignificantprojectcom-pletedin2012withAEAfunding. ItprovidesdetailedforestinformationforstatelandsacrosstheKenaiPeninsula.Asfaraskeyresultsgo,anunexpectedresultoccurredwiththeKenaiinventory. Intermsofvolumeperacre(itisthelowestofallstateinventoryregions),itexhibitedthegreatestgrowthratesofalltheareas. Thisisrelatedtothebarkbeetleoutbreakwherethetreesthatsurvivedthebeetlesarequitevigorousandhavebeenreleasedfromcompetition.

GisDOFusesGIStechnologyasatooltoaidinthemanagementofitsresources,inboththeResourceandFirePrograms.TheDivisionoperatesstatewideonalandscapelevel,andsousesthesystemtoaccomplishtwobasicfunctions:1. SpatiallyconveytheDivision’sactionstothepublic, industry,andotherlandmanagers2. Storeanddocumentinformationthatisspatiallylinkedandrelevanttoforestresourcesandwildlandfiremanagement.

Tomeetthesegoals,DOFinitiatedaGISCommitteetosteertheprogramandtomakerecommendationstothedivisionmanagementteam.TheGISCommitteehasputtogetheraGISplanthatmakesrecommendationsontheaccesstosoft-wareanddata,datastructure,andsystemarchitecture.

DOFisapartnerintheDNRwideESRIEnterpriseLicenseAgreement(ELA).ThislicenseagreementallowsanyonethathasneedofGISsoftwaretohavethataccessalongwithtraining.Also,theagreementallowsthedivisiontousethemostcurrentEsriArcGISsoftwaresuite.

ThedivisionisreplacingtheoutdatedForestryGISwebsitewithnewsubject-specificwebmappingapplicationsthatwillbeavailabletothepublicandinternalusers.


InFY12,DOFoffered51saleson4430acresofland.Saleofferingstotaled18.6millionboardfeet.OnesaleavailableintheDeltaareadidnotsell.Ofthesalesoffered,50salestotaling17.5millionboardfeetweresoldon4337acres,andthesesaleswentto40differentAlaskan businesses.

TheSouthernSoutheastAreacontinuestosellitsAnnualAllowableCutwhiletheotherAreasaremeetinglocaldemand.Overall,inthepasttenyears,DOFsold670timbersalestotalingover230millionboardfeet.InFY13,thestatetimbersaleprogramwillfocusonmeetingincreasingdemandfortimbersalesinSouthcentralandInteriorwhilemaintainingtimbersaleactivityinSouthernSoutheasttohelpoffsetuncertainfederaltimbersupply.

biomassDOFissuedapreliminaryBestInterestFinding(BIF)onMay17,2012foranegotiatedlong-termbiomasssalenearTok.ThatfindingwasrescindedbytheStateForesteronSeptember14,2012asitwasclearthattherewascompetitiveinterestinsuchasale.ArevisedpreliminaryBIFforacompetitivelong-termbiomasssalewasissuedonDecember17,2012.

Fy12 tiMber sAles on stAte lAnd

Total Sales Offered Total Sales Sold

Area # Sales Acres Vol. (MBF) # Sales Acres Vol. (MBF)

SSE 4 218 8011 4 218 8011NSE 13 44 545 13 44 545Kenai-Kodiak 5 177 1260 5 177 1260Mat-Su 0 0 0 0 0 0Coastal Total 22 439 9816 22 439 9816

Fairbanks 9 248 1416 9 248 1416Delta 9 161 1718 8 68 642Tok 7 148 4875 7 148 4875Copper River 4 3434 806 4 3434 806Northern Total 29 3991 8815 28 3898 7739

State Total 51 4430 18631 50 4337 17555

Note: some sales are offered in cords or cubic feet rather than board feet. For comparison in this chart, all volumes have been converted to board feet. Therefore, the total volumes are approximate.

Statewide inventory projects continue to address the wood supply needs of existing, new, and developing value-added wood processing facilities. Biomass resource utilization is expanding across the state and forest inventory provides data on the quantity and location of the wood supply. Maintaining up-to-date forest inventory data supports DNR’s mission to provide a sustained yield of forest products and uses.


Alaska state forests

AbouttwopercentofstatelandinAlaskaisintwodesig-natedstateforests.In1982,theAlaskaLegislatureestab-lishedthe286,208-acreHainesStateForestinsoutheastAlaska.Thefollowingyear,thelegislaturecreatedthe1.78million-acreTananaValleyStateForestintheInterior.

Inadditiontothetwodesignatedstateforests,muchofthestate’spublicdomainlandisavailableformultipleuse,includingforestmanagement.DNRmanagesthestateforestsforasustainedyieldofmanyresources.Theprimarypurposeistheproduction,useandreplenishmentoftimberwhileperpetuatingpersonal,commercialandotherbenefi-cial uses ofresourcesthroughmultipleusemanagement.

Stateforestsprovidefishandwildlifehabitat,cleanwater,minerals,andopportunitiesforrecreationandtourism.Themaindifferencebetweenstateforestsandotherareassetasidebythelegislatureisthatstateforestsprovide timberharvestingforcommercialandpersonaluse (AS41.17.200)whileallowingotherbeneficialusesintheforests.

ADNRmanagementplanguidestheuseofeachstatefor-est.Planguidelinesdeterminehowtomanagedifferentusestocomplementeachother.

Haines state forestTheabutmentsonthePorcupineCreekBridgewererebuiltandan80-footmodularsteelbridgewasinstalledreplacinga60-footbridge.Thisgivesthestreamandadditional20feetofclearance.The80-footbridgewastransportedfromIcyBaytoHaineswhentheroadsystemtherewasclosed

out.Theremoved60-footbridgeisbeingstoredforusesomewhereelseontheforest.

southeast state forestIn2010,theLegislaturecreatedtheSoutheastStateForestinsouthernsoutheastAlaska.ThiswastheState’sthirdstateforestandincluded25,291acresoflandin20par-celsonthemainlandandtheislandsofPrinceofWales,Gravina,Hecata,Kosciusko,Revillagigedo,andTuxekan.

In2011,theLegislatureaddedanadditional23,181acrestotheStateForest.TheadditionalparcelsarelocatedonPrinceofWales,Kosciusko,Tuxekan,Suemez,Dall,Revil-lagigedo,Mitkof,Kuiu,Zarembo,andWrangellIslands.

ThelandswerepreviouslydesignatedasGeneralUse,whichallowedforforestryactivitiesbutweresusceptibletochangeofmanagementintentortransfertootherowner-ship,bothofwhichinhibitedlongtermforestmanagement.ByinclusionintotheSoutheastStateForest,thelandscannowbeactivelymanagedforlongtermforestproductivity.

TheDivisionisintheprocessofpreparingaForestManagementPlan,untilthattimetheapplicableareaplanguidelineswillbefollowed.

Tofacilitatethemanagementofthelandsforlongtermfor-estproductivity,592acreswerethinnedin2010,822acreswerethinnedin2011,and424acresin2012(1,838acrestotal)usingfundsreceivedthroughtheAmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentAct.

tanana valley state forestTheTananaValleyStateForests1.8millionacreslayalmostentirelywithintheTananaRiverBasinlocatedintheeast-centralpartoftheAlaskaninterior.Thefor-estextends265miles,fromneartheCanadianbordertoManleyHotSprings.Itvariesinelevationfrom275feetalongtheTananaRivertoover5,000feetintheAlaskaRange.TheTananaRiverflowsfor200milesthroughtheforest.Almost90percentofthestateforest(1.59millionacres)isforested,mostlywithpaperbirch,quakingaspen,balsampoplar,blackspruce,whitespruce,andtamarack.


AbouthalfoftheTananaBasin’sproductiveforestland(1.1millionacres)islocatedwithinthestateforest.About85percentoftheforestiswithin20milesofastatehighway.ACitizens’AdvisoryCommittee,authorizedintheTananaValleyStateForestManage-mentPlan,servesinanadvisorycapacityandprovidesrecommendationstotheDivisionofForestryonforestmanagementissuesontheselandsandisaconduitofinformationbetweentheagencyandthepublic.

Theforestisopentomining,gravelextraction,oilandgasleasing,andgrazing,althoughverylittleisdone.Timberproductionisthemajorcommercialactivity.TheBonanzaCreekExperimentalForest,a12,400-acreareadedicatedtoforestryresearch,isalsolocatedwithinthestateforest.TheTananaValleyStateForestoffersmanyrecreationalopportuni-ties,includinghunting,fishing,trapping,camping,hiking,dogmushing,cross-countryski-ing,wildlifeviewing,snowmachining,goldpanning,boating,andberrypicking.

Aseverewindeventinmid-SeptemberknockeddownpocketsoftimberintheTokandDeltaAreasaffectingapproximately30,000acres.Thedivisionisevaluatingtheextentoftheevent,identifyingconcernsforinsectanddiseaseinfestation,assessingthepotentialforbiomassandtimbersaleswhichareinitiallyexpectedtoexceedmarketdemand,anddevelopingfireresponseplanslocally.

forest Health Protection Program

DOF’scooperativeforestdamagesurveyprogramwiththeU.S.ForestService,FHPstaffisakeycomponentintheforesthealthprotectionstrategyinAlaska,andincludesbothaerialandgroundsurveycomponents.Aerialdetectionsurveysinsoutheast,southcentral,andinteriorAlaskawereprioritizedbyaninformalpre-seasonsurveyofstate,private,andfederalforestusers,andcoverabout25-35%oftheapproximately127millionforestedacresinthestateinagivenyear.Aerialdetectionmappingisanindispensabletoolindocumentingthelocationandextentofmanyactiveforestinsectinfestationsandsomediseasedamage.

Thedamagenumbersrecordedfromtheannualaerialdetectionsurveysserveonlyasasampleofstatewideconditionsandgenerallydonotrepresenttheacresaffectedbypathogens,sincemanyofthemostdestructivediseaseagents(i.e.wooddecayfungi,rootdiseases,dwarfmistletoe,cankerfungi,etc.)arenotvisiblebyaerialsurvey.Additionalinformationregardingforesthealthprovidedbygroundsurveysandmonitoringeffortsisalsoincludedintheannualforesthealthprotectionreport,complementingtheaerialsurveyfindings(refertoInformationsectionattheendofthissection).ForestHealthProtectionstaffalsocontinuallyworkalongsidemanyagencypartnersoninvasiveplantissues,includingroadsideandhigh-impactareasurveys,publicawarenesscampaigns,andgeneraleducationefforts.

2012 Alaska forest Health Protection HighlightsTheForestHealthProtection(FHP)Program(StateandPrivateForestry,USDAForestService),togetherwiththeAlaskaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesDivisionofForestry,conductsanannual,statewideAerialDetectionSurveyacrossalllandownerships.In2012,staffandcooperatorsidentifiedover491,000acresofforestdamagefrominsects,diseases,declinesandselectedabioticagentsonthe28.5millionacressurveyed.Thetotaldamagedacreageisdownby11%from2011levels,anddownsignificantlycomparedto2010.Muchofthechangesince2010isduetosubstantialdecreasesinaspenandwillowleafmininganddefoliation,lessactivitybyspruceaphidinsoutheastAlaska,andreducedacreageofsprucenewly-killedbybarkbeetles.However,defoliatordamagetobirch,cot-tonwoodandotherhardwoodspeciesisescalating.Althoughlessalderdiebackfromalder

The following excerpted narrative text, tables and other graphics describing forest insect and disease activity are a very brief summary of Alaska’s 2012 forest health conditions compiled from a statewide aerial pest detection survey and forest health ground assessments conducted by state and federal forest health staff and other forestry agency cooperators.

An electronic version of the full report will be made available at DOF’s and R10 FHP’s web sites:http://forestry.alaska.gov/insectshttp://www.fs.fed.us/r10/spf/fhp


cankerwasmappedin2012(becausepreviouslyaffectedareaswerenotremapped),thisfungaldiseaseremainsasignificantconcerninsouth-centralandinteriorAlaska.

Theacreageofaerially-detecteddamagereportedhereservesonlyasasampleofstatewideconditionsinastatewith127millionacresofforestedland.Generally,theacre-ageaffectedbypathogensisnotaccuratelyrepresentedbytheaerialsurvey,sincemanyofthemostdestructivediseaseagents(e.g.wooddecayfungi,rootdiseases,anddwarfmistletoe)arenotreadilyvisiblefromtheair.Theaerialdetectionsurveyappendixofthisreportprovidesade-taileddescriptionofsurveymethodsanddatalimitations.Additionalforesthealthinformationisacquiredthroughgroundsurveys,monitoringplots,sitevisits,qualitativeob-servations,andreportsfromforestryprofessionalsandthegeneralpublic.Thisinformationisincludedinthereport,wherepossible,tocomplementtheaerialsurveyfindings.ForestHealthProtectionstaffworkalongsidemanyagencypartnersoninvasiveplantissues,conductingroadsideandurbansurveys,publicawarenesscampaigns,andgeneraloutreachandeducationefforts.

insectsTheamountofinsectdamagedetectedbyaerialsurveyin2012decreasedfrom2011foralder,aspen,willow,andhem-lock.Theaspenleafminer,whichwaspreviouslyrankedasthenumberonepestintermsofacreagedamaged,contin-uedtodecreaseinactivitywitha50%reductioninacreagedetectedfromlastyear.Therewasalso>50%reductionintheacreageofalderdefoliation.Defoliatedacreageforbirch,cot-tonwood,andspruceincreased.Thegreatestamountofdefo-liationoccurredonbirch(177,800acresaffected),abouthalfonbirchtreesandhalfondwarfbirch.Avarietyofinsectscontributedtothisdefoliation,includingseveralgeometridmothspecies,therustytussockmoth,leafrollers,andleafbeetles.ThegreatestamountofbirchdefoliationoccurredontheKenaiandAlaskaPeninsulasandinInteriorAlaska.

Sprucedefoliationfrominsectsanddiseaseincreasedslightlyin2012.However,therewasverylowacreageofsprucemortalityduetolimitedbarkbeetleactivity.Theacreageaffectedbyspruceaphidcontinuestodecrease;an-othercoldwintermaypushthispesttoundetectablelevelsnextyear.AmoderatelysizedoutbreakofsprucebudwormnearNinemileSloughmayindicatethatthepopulationofthisspeciesisonanupwardtrend,butcool,wetweatheroverthenextfewyearsmayhelptocontroltheirpopula-tion.Sprucebeetledamagecontinuestodecreasetothelowestlevelindecades,withlessthan17,000acresdetected.Nonetheless,therewasanincreaseinsprucebeetleactiv-ityinSoutheastAlaska,especiallyonKupreanofIsland.BeyondKupreanof,outbreaksinSoutheastAlaskawerescatteredinpatchesoflessthanahundredacres.

CustomsandborderprotectionisdoinganexcellentjobinterceptingAsiangypsymoth(AGM)topreventitsintroductiontoAlaska.Abulkcarriervesselwasinter-ceptednearKetchikanthatcontainedAGMeggmasses.Theshipwasnotallowedintoportuntilalleggmassesweredestroyed.AGMareanextremelydestructiveforestpest,feedingonover600differentspeciesoftrees,andcouldbedevastatingtotheAlaskanforestsifestablished.

HemlockdefoliationappearstobeincreasinginSoutheastAlaska.LargeareasofdefoliationwerereportedinSeptem-berthatwasnotdetectedduringtheaerialsurvey;groundchecksconfirmedlargepopulationsofhemlocksawfly,aswellasgeometridcaterpillarsandotherLepidopteranspe-cies.Ahemlockfeedinggeometridmoth,Enypiavenata,wasdetecteddefoliatinghemlocksandfirsduringearlysummeracrossthePacificNorthwest.Onapositivenote,manyofthestandsinSoutheastAlaskathatwereheav-ilydefoliatedbysawfliesin2011hadrecoveredin2012.AspeciesofsawflywasalsofoundfeedingonshorepineinSoutheastAlaska.Therehasbeenlittleresearchonpestsofshorepine,sothisisapotentiallynewhostrecord.Speci-menshavebeensenttotheSmithsonianforidentification.

Diseases AprojectfundedbytheUSFSForestHealthMonitoringGrantProgramwasinitiatedin2012toinvestigatetheinsectanddiseaseagentsandhealthstatusofshorepine,alodgepolesubspeciesonpeatlandsitesinsoutheastAlaska.RecentforestInventoryAnalysisdatahasshownthatshorepinewastheonlytreespeciesinAlaskawithasignificantdeclineinbiomass,highlightingcriticalknowledgegapsforthisnon-timberspecies.FHPisinstallinganetworkof50permanentplotsacross5locationsinSoutheast;plotinstal-lationwillbecompletedin2013.Surveysin2012foundthatwesterngallrust,foliagedisease,andbolewound-ingwereimportantdamageagentsofshorepine.Thereisparticularinterestinsecondaryinsectsandfungithatcauseextensivelocalizedmortalityofwesterngallrustinfectedbolesandbranches.DamagetoshorepineobservedfromtheairandgroundnearGustavusandGlacierBayNationalParkmaybecausedbyseverefoliagedisease,andwarrantsfurtherattentionin2013.

AhemlockcankeroutbreakoccurredalongroadsidesandriparianareasofPrinceofWalesIslandin2012.HemlockcankercausesperiodicmortalityandbranchdiebackofwesternhemlockinsoutheastAlaska,butthecausalfungusisunconfirmed.SampleswerecollectedandsenttoGerryAdams(ProfessorEmeritus,UniversityofNebraska)forculturingandgeneticsequencing,whichyieldedthreepo-tentialcankerpathogens:Peziculalivida,Alternariaporri,andCollophorasp.Inoculationtrialswiththesespeciesmaybeinitiatedinspring2013.Ifinoculationsresultin


symptomdevelopmentandthefungicanbereliablyreisolatedfrominfectedtissue,wewillhaveidentifiedthecausalfungusandwillgainvaluableinsightintohemlockcankerepidemiology.

Dwarfmistletoeandstemdecaysarepredominantlydiseasesofoldforestswithlittleannualfluctuation,andplayimportantrolesingap-creation,wildlifehabitat,andecologi-calprocessesincoastalrainforests.Theseimportantdamageagentscannotbemappedthroughaerialsurvey.Hemlockdwarfmistletoeaffects~1MacresofwesternhemlockinsoutheastAlaska.Itsoccurrenceisapparentlylimitedbyclimate,becominguncommonorabsentabove500ftinelevationand59°Nlatitude(Haines,AK)despitethecontinueddistributionofitshost.Recentmodelingeffortsprojectthatbothhemlockanddwarfmistletoewillbe“climatewinners”,withincreasesinsuitablehabitatoverthenextcentury.Stemdecays(heartrots)areprimarydisturbanceagentsinvirtuallyeveryold-growthforestofcoastalAlaska,wheretheycausesubstantiallossesintimbervolume.Instandsmanagedforwildlifeandnon-timberobjectives,silviculturalpracticescanpromotestemdecayforwildlifebenefits.

Moderatetosevereoutbreaksofspruceneedlerust(Chrysomyxaledicola)occurredinmanyregionsofAlaskain2012,includingLakeClarktoKatmaiNationalParks,thewest-ernKenaiPeninsula,andpeatlandsitesacrosssoutheastAlaska.Aeriallydispersedrustsporesfromsprucetreescoatedmilesoflakeandcoastalwatersurfacesandwasheduponshorelinesinheavilyaffectedareas,similartotheeventreportedinKivalina(NWAlaska)in2011.Levelsofdiseasefluctuatesignificantlyfromyeartoyeardependingonthefavor-abilityofweatherconditions.Theaerialsurveydoesnotcoincidewithpeaksymptomdevelopment,andconsiderablyunderestimatesdiseaselevels.

non-infectious DisordersYellow-cedardeclinehasbeenmappedonmorethan400,000acresovertheyearsacrossanextensiveportionofsoutheastAlaska,andthe2012aerialsurveymappedover17,000acresofactiveyellow-cedardecline(reddishdyingtrees).Thisclimate-drivendeclineisassociatedwithfreezinginjurytocedarrootsthatoccurswheresnowpackinearlyspringisinsufficienttoprotectfinerootsfromlate-seasoncoldevents.AcomprehensiveYellow-CedarStrategyisbeingdevelopedincollaborationwiththeRegionalOffice,theNationalForestSystemandothercooperators(expected2013).Thisdocumentwillprovideinfor-mationonyellow-cedarbiologyanddecline,andguidanceonyellow-cedarmanagementforspecificregionsandRangerDistrictsinAlaska.

The amount of insect damage detected by aerial survey in 2012 decreased from 2011 for alder, aspen, willow, and hemlock.

Customs and border protection is doing an excellent job intercepting Asian gypsy moth (AGM) to prevent its introduction to Alaska.

Roger Burnside, entomologist, on IPS beetle study.


SignificantwindthrowoccurredintheInteriorduringamid-Septemberstorm,affectinganestimated1.4millionacresofforestalongtheupperTananaValley.Themostseveredamage(about30,000acreswith>50%downedtrees)occurredbetweenDeltaJunction(LittleSalchaRiver)andTanacross.Thecombinationofwindandheavysnowloadsinwinter2011/2012causedextensivedamagealonga20milestretchoftheSewardHighwayontheKenaiPeninsula,affectingspruce,birchandotherhardwoods.NoincreaseinnorthernspruceengraverhasbeendetectedintrapsinresponsetotheKenaidisturbance.ThesetwoeventsabovewerenotdetectedintheAerialDetectionSurvey;theInterioreventoccurredafterthesurvey,andleafoutobscuredthewindthrowdamageontheKenai.Themajorityofwindthrowdamagedetectedintheaerialsurvey(~6,000acres)wasmappedintheInterior,southofMcKinleyCrossing.

invasive PlantsTheFieldGuidetoAlaskaGrassesbyStoneyWrightoftheAlaskaPlantMaterialCenterandfourcoauthorswascompletedthisyear,andhasalreadyprovenpopularamongAlaska’sresourceprofessionals.FHPsupportensuredthatseveralgrassspeciesthatareinvasiveinAlaskawereincludedinthisguide.

Theinvasivewaterweed,Elodeaspp.hasnowbeenfoundin13lakesorwaterwaysinAlaska.Themostrecentfinds,inSeptember,2012,wereStormyandDanielsLakesontheKenaiPeninsula.ThisyeartheFairbanksCooperativeWeedManagementArea(FCWMA)testedtheuseofasmallsuctiondredgeforremovingElodeafromChenaSlough.InSeptember,theFairbanksSoilandWaterConservationDistricthostedanElodeainformationsessionfortheStateofAlaska,aneventwhichpromptedthestatetodeterminewhichstateagencyhasresponsibilityformanagingthisdamagingaquaticinvasive.

In2012,FHPpartneredwithCESandtheFairbanksCoop-erativeWeedManagementAreatohostapublicforumonthebirdvetchprobleminFairbanks.Incontrasttoasimilarpublicmeetingonbirdvetchfouryearsagothatwasat-tendedbyonlyfourmembersofthepublic,thismeetingat-tractedfortypeople,indicatingthatmanymorecitizensarerecognizingthethreatofthisinvader.Attendeesdescribedtheireffortstobattleseverebirdvetchinfestationsontheir

ownproperties.Anewpublicationonbirdvetchcontrolwasdistributed,andmanagersdescribedanewprogramtopreventthespreadofbirdvetchintonewsubdivisions. In2012,asignificantnewinfestationofspottedknapweedwasdetectednearHaines,andthelargeinfestationnearSutton(NEofPalmer)waschemicallyandmechanicallytreated.AgrowingcreepingthistleproblemintheAnchor-ageBoroughhasbeentakenonbytheAlaskaDivisionofAgriculture.In2012,FHPsupportallowedtheDivisionofAgriculturetotreatover24acresofinfestedlandacrossapproximately30sites.TheFairbanksSoilandWaterCon-servationDistricttreatedasmallcreepingthistleinfestationfoundattheStevensVillageairportin2011.TreatingthisinfestationwascriticalbecauseitwastheonlydocumentedinfestationnorthoftheAlaskaRange.

selected essays from 2012 Alaska forest Health Protection report

Beetle Response to Recent Wind Events and Other DisturbancesRoger Burnside, Alaska Division of Forestry, AnchorageKen Zogas, R10 USFS Forest Health Protection, Anchorage

Thebarkbeetlesresponsibleforthemajorityofsprucemor-talityinAlaska’sforestsarethesprucebeetle(Dendroctonusrufipennis)andnorthernspruceengraverbeetle(Ipspertur-batus).Thesebeetlescontributepositivelytoforesthealthbyremovingold,slowgrowingmaturetreesortreesweakenedbynaturalorhuman-causeddisturbances.Thesetreesarethepreferredbreedingmaterialforbarkbeetles.Further,barkbeetlescontributetothedecompositionofthesetreesbyboringintothephloemofthetreeboletolaytheireggs,thusprovidinganentrancecourtfordecayfungi.Inahealthyfor-estwithlow,butpersistent,beetlepopulations,barkbeetlesarenotonlycontrolledbynativeparasitesandpredators,butalsobytheslowpaceatwhichtheirpreferredbreedingmate-rialbecomesavailable.However,intheeventofadistur-bancetothisenvironment,thebalancecanbequicklyupset.

Disturbancecantakemanyforms.Naturallyoccurringeventsincludefire,flooding,windstorms,drought,andero-sion,particularlycausedbywaterthatundercutsriverbanksandcausestreestotopple.Human-causeddisturbancecanresultfromloggingwithpoorsanitationpractices,roadorsurveylineconstruction,andlandclearing.Theseactivitiescanproduceanunnaturallylargevolumeofweakenedtreesthatbeetlesrelyonforbreedingmaterial(FigureBlow-down).Barkbeetlesarecapableofrespondingtosuchop-portunitiesveryquickly.Ayearortwoofafteralarge-scaledisturbance,theybeginproducingprogenyinnumberslargeenoughtosuccessfullyattackandkillhealthytrees.


ThesprucebeetleistheprimaryinsectdisturbanceandmortalityagentinSouthcentralandSouthwesternAlaska,andmuchlesssointheInteriorandSoutheastAlaska,mostlyduetotheoverallclimaticconditionsintheseregionsthatareeithertoodry(Interior)ortoowet(Southeast).Theseclimaticextremesarelessthanoptimalforthesprucebeetleandlimitthebeetle’sabilitytoefficientlydispersetonewhosttreesandalsoreducebroodsuccessinthehostwhichlimitsthebeetle’sabilitytoreachacriticalpopulationsizeessen-tialtomass-attackandovercomedefensesystemsofapparentlyhealthyspruce.Histori-cally,mostlargesprucebeetleoutbreaks(i.e.,>1,000acresinsize)haveoriginatedfrommajorstanddisturbances,suchasblowdown,logging,orright-of-wayclearing.Standsus-ceptibilitytosprucebeetleattackisinfluencedbystockingdensity,sinceslowgrowthandmoisturestresspredisposetreestoattack.Stormeventsandtheresultantstembreakageandblowdownofmaturespruceprovidefavorablehabitattoincreasebroodpopulationsforsuccessfulmassattacksofstanding,healthytrees.

StormactivityistypicallymostseverealongthecoastalfrontsofwesternandSouthcentralAlaska,whichcanalsoimpactbroadareasasstormsmoveinland.Disperseddamagefromseasonalstormsprovideamplebroodmaterialtomaintainlow,butsustained,beetlepopula-tionsuntilconditionsarefavorableforthenextlargeoutbreak.InSouthcentralAlaska,highwindeventsareacommonsourceofdisturbanceandhaveresultedinlarge-scale,long-dura-tionoutbreaksofsprucebeetleactivity.Forexample,the1987MallardBaywindevent(severalhundredacresofblowdown)ontheKenaiPeninsulasetthestageforasprucebeetleepidemicthatimpactedthewholeofKachemakBay.Asimilareventinthe1970snearCaribouCreekresultedinanepidemicthatnotonlysweptthroughResurrectionValley,butalsothroughtheBigandLittleIndianValleysandbeyond,intotheKenaiNationalWildlifeRefuge.

WhilewindhasnotbeenconsideredamajordisturbancefactorinInteriorAlaska,climatechangesmaybereversingthistrend.Aseriesofseverewindeventsalongtheup-perTananaValleyinmid-Septemberresultedina70-mile-longswathofstembreakage,blowdownandtippedspruceandhardwoodsovertheregion.Itisestimatedthatcloseto1.4millionforestedacresweredamagedacrosstheregion.Approximately32,000acresofmoderatetoseveredamageisaccessibleandnearcommunitiesalongtheexistingroadsystempresentingtheopportunitytoimplementbarkbeetlemitigationmanagementactivities.Thenorthernspruceengraverisexpectedtocapitalizeontheincreaseinbroodmaterialfromthesestormsduringthenextfewyears,therebyincreasingthechanceofafuture outbreak.

The bark beetles responsible for the majority of spruce mortality in Alaska’s forests are the spruce beetle and northern spruce engraver beetle.

These beetles contribute positively to forest health by removing old, slow growing mature trees or trees weakened by natural or human-caused disturbances.

While wind has not been considered a major disturbance factor in Interior Alaska, climate changes may be reversing this trend. A series of severe wind events along the upper Tanana Val-ley resulted in a 70-mile-long swath of stem breakage, blowdown and tipped spruce and hardwoods over the region. It is estimated that close to 1.4 million forested acres were damaged across the region.

AWFCG: Tami Defries (AFS for Kent Slaughter, Manager); Nathan Lojewski, Chugachmiut; Ron Knowles, USFS; Doug Alexander (Chair), USFWS; Dean Brown, DOF; Mike Burkey, AVCP; Charlie Sink, Chugachmiut; Clinton Northway, Tanana Chiefs; Dan Warthin, NPS. Photo by Maggie Rogers.


Weatheralsoplaysanimportantroleinbeetlepopulationdynamicsfollowingadisturbance.Bothspeciesofbeetlerespondfavorablytowarm,dryweather,particularlyinthespring,whentheirmassdispersalandattackflightsoccur.Cool,wetweathercaneitherpreventthisflightaltogether,orallowittoproceedatsuchaslowpacethatmassattacksarenotpossible.AlargeareaofblowdownonthenorthernKenaiPeninsularesultingfromaseverestormduringthewinterof2011/2012setthestageforapotentialoutbreakofthenorthernspruceengraverorsprucebeetleinthespringof2012.ForestHealthProtectionrespondedbyplacingaseriesofpheromone-baitedmonitoringtrapsthroughoutthearea.Thesetraps,alongwithnumerousgroundchecksoftheareathroughoutthesummer,detectedalmostnobeetleactivity.Itislikelythatoneofthecoolestandwet-testspringsandearlysummersonrecordpreventedmassflightsthatmighthaveledtoanoutbreak.TherecentwindeventsinInteriorAlaskapresentauniqueandchallengingopportunityforForestHealthProtectionandtheDivisionofForestrytodocumentsuccessorfailureofbeetleattacksintheresidual,damagedstandsandtheefficacyofmitiga-tion activities.

Defoliators: Populations Rise and Fall Statewide Rob Progar, USFS Research Entomologist, PNW Research Station, Bend, ORJim Kruse and Nicholas Lisuzzo, USFS Forest Health Protection, Fairbanks

DefoliatinginsectseattheleavesorneedlesofforesttreesandarefoundthroughoutAlaskaonalltreespecies.DefoliatorssignificantlyaffectbothconiferanddeciduoustreesinAlas-kanecosystems,andcancausetreemortalitywithconsecu-tiveyearsofdefoliation.Inmaritimeecosystemsdominatedbyconifers,suchasPrinceWilliamSoundandSoutheastAlaska,defoliatinginsectstendtobemoresignificantagentsofchange.Ifcompletedefoliationofconifersoccursearlyinthesummer,beforebudshavebeenformedforthefollowingyear,treescanbebadlydamagedorevenkilled.

Whendefoliatorpopulationsareepidemic,vastacreagescanbeaffected.Duringanoutbreak,nearlyeverytreeinastandcanbedamagedtovaryingdegrees.Inadditiontotheeffectsonindividualtreephysiology,defoliatorscanalsohaveecologicalandsocioeconomicimpactsonwildlifehabitatandforage,aquaticsystemproductivity,timberandpropertyvalues,forestaestheticsandrecreation.Extensivehillsidesofbrownorreddefoliatedhabitatinthemidstofanoutbreakcanbequitealarming.Fortunately,theeffectisoftenephemeral;thedeadleavesorneedlesdroptothegroundandtheplantsre-foliatelaterintheseasonorduringthefollowingspring.Defoliationcanprovideanumberofecologicalbenefits:larvaerepresentanabundant

foodsourceformanyspeciesofbirdsandotherwildlife;increasedlightpenetrationtotheunderstorycanincreaseherbaceousbrowseforungulates;andleaflitterandlarvalscat inputs create a pulse in soil nutrients.

Defoliatoroutbreakstendtobecyclicandcloselytiedtoweatherconditions.Dramaticincreasesindefoliatorpopu-lationsrequiresynchronybetweenlarvalemergenceandtreebudbreak(foodavailability).Weatherconditionsaffectinsectdevelopment,reproductionanddispersal,aswellashostphenology.Forexample,hightemperatureduringpupationandegg-layingofwesternblack-headedbudwormincreasesthenumberoflarvaethathatchsuccessfully.Intheearly1950s,favorableclimateforbudwormdevelop-mentresultedinmillionsofacresofdefoliatedwesternhemlockinSoutheastAlaska.Outbreaksofspruceaphidarecloselytiedtothesurvivalofoverwinteringadults.Otherspeciesappeartobegeneticallypredisposedtoout-breakinregularcyclesof10to30+years.

ThelastfewsummersmarkedashiftfrominternalleaffeederstoexternalleaffeedersasthemostcommonsourcesofinsectdamageinAlaskanforests.Over280,000acresofexternalfeedingdamagewereobservedonAlaskanhard-woodtreesandshrubs,particularlybirchandalders.Unlikemanyoftheleafminers,whichtendtoattackonlyasinglehostspeciesorgenus,externalleaffeedinginsectsareoftenpolyphagus,feedingonawidevarietyofhosts.Currently,themostactivedefoliatingspeciesbelongtothemothfami-liesGeometridaeandTortricidae.Thespeciesresponsiblefordamagevaryregionally.Themostdestructivegeo-metridsin2012weretheBrucespanworm(Operophterabruceata)inSouthcentralAlaska,thenorthernmarbledcarpetmoth(Dysstromacitrata)inInteriorAlaska,andtheBrucespanwormaswellasthevariablegirdlemoth(Enypiavenata)inSoutheastAlaska.

In2012,aerialdetectionsurveysdocumentedover177,500acresofseveredefoliationofbirchtreesandshrubs.Ap-proximately86,000acresofthisdefoliationwasondwarfbirch(Betulanana,B.glandulosa),and80,000acresonbirchtrees(B.neoalaskana,B.kenaica).Muchofthisactiv-itywasobservedontheKenaiandAlaskaPeninsulas,butwasalsocommonthroughoutInteriorAlaska.Theprimaryinsectsfoundfeedingonbirchtreesandshrubswerethebirchleafroller(Epinotiasolandriana)andrustytussockmoth(OrgyiaAntigua)inInteriorAlaska,andavarietyofgeometridmothsinSouthcentralAlaska.Thecharacteristicyellowingofbirchfoliage,causedbybirchaphidsandotherpiercing-suckinginsects,wasobservedinpocketsscatteredaroundInteriorAlaska(10,000acrestotal).

Severalspeciesofgeometridmothsandsawflieswereabundantonalderin2012.Theincidenceofalderdefoliationremained


high,withabout58,000acresobserved,primarilysouthoftheAlaskaRange.TherustytussockmothcausedscatteredalderdefoliationnorthoftheAlaskaRange.Alloftheseinsectscausepartialtocompletedefoliation;itisverydifficulttodistinguishbetweentheirfeedingpatternsfromtheair.

In2012,13,000acresofdamagetoaspencausedbyexternalleaffeedersweredetectedduringaerialsurveys,mostnotablythelargeaspentortrix.Of27,000totalacresofcot-tonwooddefoliation,leaf-feedingbeetlescaused9,500acresofdamagetocottonwood.Willowdefoliationwasnotedon26,500acres,andtherustytussockmothwasthemostcommoninsectdetectedonwillowingroundchecks.

Aerial Detection surveyEachyearwesurveyapproximately25percentofAlaska’s127millionforestedacres,whichequatestoapproximately5percentoftheforestedlandintheUnitedStates.UnlikesomeregionsintheUnitedStates,wedonotsurvey100percentofAlaska’sforestedlands.Theshortsummers,vastlandarea,airplanerentalcosts,andlimitedtimeframeduringwhichdamagesignaturesarevisibleallrequireastrategytoefficientlycoverthehighestpriorityareasgiventheavailableresources.Thesurveysweconductprovideasamplingoftheforestsviaflighttransects.Duetosurveypriorities,variousclientrequests,knownout-breaks,andanumberoflogisticalconsiderations,someareasarerarelyorneversurveyed,whileotherareasaresurveyedannually.

Priortotheannualstatewideforestconditionssurvey,lettersaredistributedtovariousagenciesandotherlandownerpartnersforsurveynominations,andoursurveyorsusethisandotherinformationtodeterminewhichareasshouldbeprioritized.Areasthathaveseveralyears’worthofdatacollectedaresurveyedannuallytofacilitateanalysisofmulti-yeartrends.Inthisway,generaldamagetrendinformationforthemostsignificant,visiblepestsisassembledandcompiledinthisannualreport.ItisimportanttonotethatformuchofAlaska’sforestedland,theaerialdetectionsurveysprovidetheonlyinforma-tioncollectedonanannualbasis.

insect & Disease informationAlaskaForestHealthSpecialistscanbecontactedasfollows:U.S.ForestService,ForestHealthProtection,http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/spf/fhp/StevePatterson:[email protected]

JohnLundquist,Entomologist(FHPandPNWResearchStation),[email protected];SteveSwenson,BiologicalScienceTechnician,[email protected];LoriWinton,PlantPathologist,[email protected];KennethZogas,BiologicalScienceTechnician,[email protected]

JimKruse,Entomologist,[email protected];NicholasLisuzzo,BiologicalScienceTechnician,[email protected];TriciaWurtz,Ecologist,[email protected]

PaulHennon,PlantPathologist(FHPandPNWResearchStation),[email protected];ElizabethGraham,Entomologist,[email protected];ThomasHeutte,AerialSurveyCoordinator,[email protected];MelindaLamb,BiologicalScienceTechnician,[email protected];RobinMulvey,PlantPathologist,[email protected]

Questions pertaining to overall coordination of DOF’s Statewide Forest Health programs and activities on state and private lands should first be directed to:

State of AlaskaDept. of Natural ResourcesDiv. of Forestry, State Office550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1450Anchorage, AK 99501-3566tel: (907) 269-8463fax: (907) 269-8931


2012 Forest insect And diseAse ActivityForest insect and disease activity detected during aerial surveys in Alaska in 2012 by land ownership1 and agent. All values are in acres2.

Agent National Forest Native Other Federal State & Private Total

Abiotic causes3 1,345 177 2,244 12,023 15,789

Alder defoliation4 1,004 14,089 20,260 23,114 58,467

Alder dieback5 4 2,392 8,965 5,062 16,423

Aspen defoliation4 46 1,255 1,301

Aspen leaf miner 18,272 12,002 38,930 69,204

Betula nana defoliation6 5,292 60,559 20,278 86,129

Birch aphid 966 3,199 6,579 10,744

Birch defoliation6 476 5,838 56,559 18,085 80,958

Black-headed budworm 80 80

Cedar decline (current)7 16,067 294 984 17,346

Conifer defoliation 1,061 1,554 50 68 2,734

Cottonwood defoliation4 2,831 2,740 16,829 4,770 27,169

Hardwood defoliation 123 1,738 0 825 2,687

Hemlock sawfly 5,056 21 64 340 5,480

Large aspen tortrix 6,138 603 5,459 12,199

Porcupine damage 30 30

Shore pine foliar damage 129 60 706 437 1,332

Spruce beetle 1,780 1,518 2,931 2,023 8,252

Spruce broom rust 40 31 17 87

Spruce budworm 85 11,587 1,415 53 13,140

Spruce engraver beetle 1,337 3,427 2,460 7,224

Spruce engraver and

spruce beetle 8 1,324 2,003 1,015 4,342

Spruce needle aphid 796 3 74 873

Spruce needle cast 93 93

Spruce needle rust 32 32

Spruce/larch budmoth 10 10

Willow defoliation4 727 4,471 13,327 8,044 26,569

Willow leafblotch miner 4,263 7,698 9,184 21,145


1 Ownership derived from the 2008 version of Land Status GIS coverage, State of Alaska, DNR/Land records Information Section. State & private lands include: state patented, tentatively approved, or other state-acquired lands, and patented disposed federal lands, municipal lands, or other private parcels.

2 Acre values are only relative to survey transects and do not represent the total possible area affected. Table entries do not include many of the most destruc-tive diseases (e.g., wood decays and dwarf mistletoe), which are not readily detectable in aerial surveys.

3 Damage acres from some types of animals and abiotic agents are also shown in this table. Mapped abiotic damage can include windthrow, snow loading, freezing injury, flooding snow slides and landslides.

4 Significant contributors include alder sawfly, some internal leaf miners, and leaf rollers for the respective host. Acreage affected by aspen leaf miner is listed separately and not included in this total.

5 Alder dieback is the new description used to label alder stem mortality mapped during the survey. Past reports have referred to it as alder canker, but verifica-tion of alder canker requires ground-checks and dieback symptoms are the damage signature observed from the air.

6 Defoliation to birch trees and dwarf birch has been reported separately. “Dwarf birch defoliation” represents defoliation of heath vegetation (dwarf birch, Lab-rador tea and spirea) primarily caused by several external leaf-feeding insects, while birch tree defoliation is caused by a combination of internal and external leaf-feeding insects.

7 Acres represent only areas with actively dying yellow-cedars. More than 400,000 acres of cedar decline have been mapped over the years in Southeast Alaska.

8 Acres on which Northern spruce engraver beetle (Ips perturbatus) and spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) activity occurred in the same stands.

1. Sustained winds from the September 2012 storms along the upper Tanana Valley created massive forest blowdown in several communities along the road system. At Tanacross Native Village (10 mi. west of Tok), 80% of the standing spruce forest was leveled and residual trees are now severely leaning. 2. Deputy Director Dean Brown presents Arbor Day Foundation award to Scout Troop 367 and Cub Pack 367 in Palmer on Arbor Day, May 21 at the Pioneer Home.3. Alaska Community Forest Council members on field trip to Westchester Lagoon in Anchorage. Front row L to R: Jim Smith, Laura Charlton, Francis McLaughlin, Christie Hite, Lisa Moore. Back row: John O’Brien, Brent Hove, David Osborn, Michael Rasy, Pat McArdle, Nickel LaFleur, Don Bertolette, Stephen Nickel. Photo: Patricia Joyner.4. Alaska Community Council Forest Council members look at wind storm damage at Russian Jack Springs Park I Anchorage on 11/9. L to R: Isobel Roy, John O’Brien, Laura Charlton, Lisa Moore, Michael Rasy, Patricia Joyner, Hans Klausner, Monique Anderson, Jim Labau. Photo: Stephen Nickel

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forest stewardship Program

ThepurposeoftheForestStewardshipProgramistoprovideprivatelandownerswithinformationformakingdecisionsaboutforestresources.Attherequestoflandown-ers,DivisionstaffpreparesForestStewardshipplanswhichincludefieldreconnaissanceandthebestavailableforestresourcesinformation.AlaskaNativeCorporationsareprovidedgrantsforresourceprofessionalstoprepareForestStewardshipplans.Limitedfinancialassistanceisavail-ableforimplementationofprojectsconsistentwithForestStewardshipplansandbestmanagementpractices.TheForestStewardshipProgramisafederallyfundedprogramadministeredbytheDivisionofForestry.

2012 Highlights• TwoAlaskaNativeCorporationwereawardedgrantsto beginaForestStewardshipplans,andtwoAlaskaNative CorporationcompletedForestStewardshipPlansfor theirland.

• ForestStewardshipplanswerepreparedforandsigned by22individualAlaskaforestlandowners.

• Wildfirefuelreductionprojectswerecompletedby 30Alaskahomeowners.

• USFScompetitivegrantforriparianforestscompleteda seasonoffieldmeasurementsanddataanalysis.

• Reforestationimprovementworkfocusedon establishmentofbalsampoplarbycuttings,thereby furtheringbiomassenergydevelopment.

Planning by Alaska native Corporations and trustsNativecorporationsandreservationsarethelargestprivatelandownersinAlaska,andprovidinggrantstoAlaskaNa-tiveCorporationsforforestplanningisanimportantpartoftheForestStewardshipProgram.In2012,ForestSteward-shipPlanswerecompletedfortwoANCSACorporations:NativesofKodiakfor16,391forestedacresandOuzinkieNativeCorporationfor33,197forestedacres.Reforesta-tionandpre-commercialthinningweremainobjectivesoftheseplans.ForestStewardshipplanninggrantswereawardedtoOuzinkieNativeCorporationandTheKuskok-winCorporationduringthisperiod.Aggregateamountsfornewplanninggrantswere$89,000and547,382acres.FiveadditionalANCSACorporationplansareinprogress.Standimprovement,forestroadmaintenance,culturalsites,andwildlifehabitatwereimportantelementsoftheplans.Sincetheprogrambeganin1992,atotalof44ForestStewardshipplanswerepreparedandsignedbyANCSACorporations.

Planning by individual landownersForprivatelandsinindividualownership,planswerepre-paredandsignedby22landownerscovering161forestedacres.Sincetheprogrambeganin1992,atotalof799planshavebeenpreparedandsignedcovering44,169forestedacres.ParticipationisgreatestontheKenaiPeninsulawiththeMatanuska-SustinaBoroughandTananaValleyalsohavingmanyparticipants.PrivatelandownerassistanceontheKenaiPeninsulahasbeenaidedbyfundingfromtheKenaiPeninsulaBoroughSpruceBeetleProgram.Themostcommonmanagementobjectiveisreforestationaftersprucebeetlekill.Manyparticipatinglandownershavestronginterestinaestheticsandwildlife.Defensiblespacefromwildfireisagrowingconcern.

Cost-share AssistanceForestStewardshipProgrampersonnelcontinuedtoimplementcomponentsoftheNationalFirePlan(NFP).Cost-sharefundingforpracticeshascomeWildlandUrbanInterface(WUI)fuelsreductiongrantsfromtheWesternStatesFireManagers,andalsotheKenaiPeninsulaBor-ough.Accomplishmentsreportedherearehomeinspec-tions,writtendefensiblespaceplans,andcost-sharegrantagreements.AcrestreatedforfuelsreductionarereportedelsewhereasNFPaccomplishments.In2012,WildlandUrbanInterface(WUI)pass-throughgrantsforfuelsreductionwereapprovedtobeginfor52landowners.Finalinspectionswereperformedfor30landownerspaying$61,124.WUIgrantsareanimportantoutreachmethodforForestStewardship.

forest stewardship Plan monitoringTocomplywithfederalrequirements,monitoringofpastForestStewardshipPlanswascontinued.In2011,Monitor-ingofpastForestStewardshipPlanswasconducted.45plansweremonitoredand82%werejudgedtobeadequate-lyfollowingplan.Foraggregateforestedacreage,98%per-centwereadequatelyfollowingplans.Mosthadperformedoneormorerecommendedmanagementactivitiesontheirproperty.OneAlaskaNativeCorporationplan,GoldbeltInc.,wasmonitoredandfoundtofollowingtheForestStewardshipPlan.ForGoldbeltInc.,substantialforestroadrepairandpre-commercialthinninghadbeencompletedutilizingbothForestLandEnhancementProgram(FLEP)andEnvironmentalQualityIncentivesProgram(EQIP).


2012 Forest stewArdshiP coMMittee

Val Barberuniversity of Alaska, Palmer

Daniel ConsensteinuSDA Farm Service Agency, Palmer

Tom DearloveKenai Peninsula Borough, Soldotna

Doug BlossomAmerican Tree Farm System, Kenai

Clare DoigForest Industry Representative, Anchorage

Jim DurstAlaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks

Jeff GrahamAlaska Division of Forestry, Palmer

Mike GreenLandowner representative, Fairbanks

George MatzKachemak Conserv. Society, Homer

Dan ParrentuSDA Forest Service, Anchorage

Will PutmanTanana Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks

Dorothy MelambianakisKachemak Heritage Land Trust, Homer

Mitch MichauduSDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Kenai

Phil ShephardGreat Land Trust, Anchorage

Competitive Grant ProjectsIn2011,ForestStewardshipprogramreceivedtwocompetitivegrantsfromUSForestService.ThegranttitledRiparianManagementEvaluationinCoastalWorkingForestshasSealaskaCorporationasprinciplepartnerandDr.DougMartinasprincipleinvestigator.Theprojectwasbeganin1992andevaluatessalmonstreamconditionsbeforeandaftertimberharvestwithstreambuffersasrequiredbytheForestResourcesandPracticesAct.Thecompetitivegrantwilladdtothefieldmeasurementsandprepareacomprehensivere-portoffindings.ThegranttitledProgramDevelopmentforTrainingRuralForestTechni-cianswillhelptrainpersonnelinruralcommunitiesthatworktosupplybiomasstowoodenergysystems.TheinitialtargetcommunityisFortYukonbutothercommunitiesarealsosought.Thetrainingprogramisexpectedasthewoodenergyfacilitynearsoperation.

regeneration, nurseries, and Genetic resourcesRegeneration,Nurseries,andGeneticResources(RNGR)fundingisprovidedbytheUSForestServiceaspartoftheForestStewardshipProgram.RNGRenablesprogressinreforestationandrelatedissues.In2012effortscontinuedtodeveloplowcostregenerationmethodsforwoodenergybiomass.PoplarcuttingswerecollectedandplantedontheWil-lowExperimentalForest.Theresultswereincorporatedintoanemergingenergytechnol-ogyfundproposalsubmittedtoAlaskaEnergyAuthority.

Additional Accomplishments Stewardshipstaffalsoparticipatedinavarietyofpubicinformationeventsofferingfor-estryandlandownerassistanceinformation.EventsincludedpresentationsatCommunityWildfireProtectionPlanmeetings,Firewiseworkshops,SoilandWaterConservationDistrictmeetings,ArborDayevents,Studentpresentations,andfairs.

forest stewardship CommitteeTheDivisionofForestryreceivesguidancefromtheForestStewardshipCommittee.ThecommitteeiscomprisedofrepresentativesfromabroadrangeofAlaskaprivatelandown-erinterests.Areasofdiscussionincludegrantandcost-sharerates,eligibilitycriteria,andForestStewardshipplanrequirements.Thecommitteemettwicein2012.Importanttopicsofconsiderationin2012werewoodenergydevelopmentandforestplanningonprivatelandsincludingreforestation.

Spruce log ‘bundles’ being loaded on the ship Susaki Wing for transport to overseas markets. Jeff Graham, Forest Stewardship program. Ouzinkie Native Corporation Forest Stewardship plan photo by Keith Coulter.


Alaska Community forestry Program

Treesgrowingincommunitiesrequireextracaretobehealthy,beautiful,andsafebuttheyrewardthisattentionwitheconomic,environmental,andsocialbenefits.TheDivisionofForestryhelpscommunitiesmaximizethesebenefitsthrougheffectivemanagement.Thestateprogramcoordinatorandcommunityassistanceforesteroffertech-nical,educational,andfinancialassistancetolocalgovern-ments,stateandfederalagencies,treecareprofessionals,andnonprofitorganizations.ApartnershipwiththeU.S.ForestServiceprovidesfederalfundstoadministerthestate’sprogram.

Supportingcommunityforestryisanimportantandappropriateroleforstategovernmentbecause:• Communityforestsprovideessentialbenefitswecannot livewithout• Ahealthycommunityforestdoesn’thappenbychance; itistheresultofproperplanning,management,and community investment• Healthycommunityforestscanhelpsolvecommunity problems• Communityforestsandruralforestsareconnected; goodmanagementofonehelpstheother.

TheAlaskaCommunityForestCouncilhelpssetpriori-tiesfortheprogramandprovidesexpertiseandadvicetothedivision.The15membersrepresentthediversityofthestateandabroadspectrumofinterestsandexperiences.Membersarealsovaluablepartnersinlocalcommunityforestryefforts.

2012 AccomplishmentsSitka Community Forest ManagementTheCFProgramassistedtheCity&BoroughofSitkatoinventorypublictreesandassessforestresources.DivisionstaffandCommunityForestryConsultants,Inc.trainedcityemployeestoassesstreehealth,condition,andmaintenanceneeds,andenterdataoneachtreeandsiteintothecity’sGeographicInformationSystem.

Theinventoryandassessmentprovidesafoundationfordevelopinglongtermgoalsandwillhelpthecitymakeinformeddecisionsaboutpolicy,management,andbudget-arypriorities.Itestablishesabaselineformeasuringchangeandtheresultsofmanagementstrategiesovertime.Amanagementplanwillbecompletedinearly2013toaddressthreatstoforesthealthandsustainability.Theplanincludesstandardsandguidanceforproperspeciesselec-tion,treeplanting,andcarethatwillhelpthecitymanageitstreesandforestscost-effectively.

Soldotna Community Forest ManagementThedivisionawardeda$2,000granttotheCityofSoldotnauponcompletionofanannualworkplantoimplementits2012managementplanbasedontreeinventorydata.Thecitypurchasedandplantedtreeschosentoincreasethecity’sspeciesdiversitywhichwasidentifiedasahighprior-ityinthemanagementplan.

The Urban Forest of Tomorrow ConferenceTheCommunityForestryProgrampartneredwiththePacificNorthwestChapteroftheInternationalSocietyofArboriculture,theUniversityofAlaskaCooperativeExtensionService,AlaskaCommunityForestCouncil,andtheU.S.ForestServicetoholdatwo-dayconferenceattheUniversityofAlaskaAnchorageinSeptember.Theconfer-encebroughttogetherprofessionalsfromalloverAlaskatodiscusssustainabledevelopment,greeninfrastructureandurbanforestmanagement.Localandout-of-stateexpertsspokeinthemorningsandafternoonfieldtripsanddem-onstrationsgaveparticipantsacloserlookatthebenefitsandchallengesofcommunityforestry.

Arbor Day Foundation Celebration AwardBoyScoutandCubScouttroops367inPalmerreceivedtheArborDayFoundationCelebrationAward.ThiswasthesecondAlaskanorganizationtoreceivetheaward(FairbanksArborDayCommittee2005).TheAlaskaCommunityForestCouncilprovidedtravelassistancetopackleaderDuaneRo-bisonsohecouldreceivetheawardattheArborDayFounda-tion’sLiedLodgeandConferenceCenterinNebraskaCity.

Tok Tree PlantingAnAmericanForestsgrantfunded2,700birchseedlings,grownatRisseGreenhouseinFairbanks,forplantinginTok.DivisionofForestrystaffspenttwodayswithteachersandstudentsinTok,gradesK–8,planting600birchseedlings.

Arbor Day Foundation Director John Rosenow recognizes Palmer Boy Scout Troop 367 and Cub Scout Pack 367 for “representing the spirit of the tree planter’s holiday.” This was one of 16 awards presented at the Lied Confer-ence Center in Nebraska City, Nebraska on April 18. Accepting the award are Scout Master Duane Robison and former Scout Collin Christensen, who is now attending college in Nebraska. The Alaska Community Forest Council funded Mr. Robison’s airfare to Nebraska.


Thebirchwillhelpreforestareaswheresprucehavebeenremovedtolessenthethreatofwildfiretotheschoolandcommunityandfueltheboilerthatsuppliestheschool’sheatandelectricity.Theremainingseedlingswillbeplantedin2013.

EducationTheCommunityForestryProgramprovidedtrainingfor488peoplefrom14communitiesin2012.EducationaleventswereofferedinAnchorage,Soldotna,Sitka,Tok,andonline.ProgramstaffmadepresentationstoAnchorageMasterGardeners,AmericanSocietyofLandscapeArchitects,ProvidenceHospital,UAAgroundscrew,theuniversity’sOppor-tunitiesforLifelongEducationclasses,TokSchoolstudents,localgovernments,agencies,businesses,andotherprofessionals.

Presentationsandtrainingcoveredavarietyoftopicsincludingtreeselection,planting,transplantingandmaintenance;pruninginpublicandcommerciallandscapes;publictreeinventories,management,andannualplanning;planningforandrespondingtostorms;writingspecificationsfortreeplantingandmaintenance;identifyingandmanaginginsectanddiseasepests,anddesigningfortreesincities.

Community Forestry OrganizationsIn2012,212volunteersdonated1,042hoursforcommunityforestryprojectsinAlaska.Citizengroupsaroundthestateorganizedvolunteers,raisedfunds,supportedtreeplant-ingandcare,andofferededucationalprograms.Themostactiveorganizationsare:• AlaskaCommunityForestCouncil • FairbanksArborDayCommittee• JuneauUrbanForestryPartnership • SitkaTreeandLandscapeCommittee• TREErificAnchorage

Tree Cities USA• CityofWasilla • KetchikanGatewayBorough• JointBaseElmendorf-Richardson • EielsonAirForceBase• FortWainwright • City&BoroughofSitka• MunicipalityofAnchorage • City&BoroughofJuneau

Tree Lines USA• ChugachElectricAssociation • GoldenValleyElectricAssociation• MatanuskaElectricAssociation

Tree Campus USA• UniversityofAlaskaAnchorageandUniversityofAlaska

2012 AlAskA coMMunity Forest council

Monique Anderson, Sitka

Don Bertolette, Anchorage

Laura Charlton, Ketchikan

Brent Hove, Anchorage

Hans Klausner, Kodiak

Jim Labau, treasurer, Anchorage

Pat Leary, Anchorage

Nickel LaFleur, Anchorage

Lisa Moore, chair, Sitka

John O’Brien, Fairbanks

David Osborn, Seward

Michael Rasy, secretary, Anchorage

Isobel Roy, Anchorage

Curtis Stigall, Sterling

Stephen Nickel, Community Assistance For-ester, pauses for a photo and interview while training Sitka Parks and Recreation employees to assess tree condition and maintenance needs, prescribe treatments and to enter the information into the city’s new GIS based tree inventory. The training is part of a cooperative agreement between the city and state to com-plete an inventory of publicly owned trees and develop an urban forest management plan that the city can use to efficiently and cost effectively perform maintenance and enhance the community through its trees. Photo by James Poulson, Daily Sitka Sentinel.


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2012 in PHotos

1. Darla Theisen, AICC State Logistics. Photo: Maggie Rogers2. Jaci Toth, Finance Chief3. Sharon Kilbourn-Roesch, Kenai Fire Prevention and Tom Kurth, Fire & Aviation Program Manager. Photo: Maggie Rogers4. Robert Schmoll, Fire Operations Forester; Darla Theisen, AICC State Logistics; Maggie Rogers, PIO; and Tom Kurth, Fire & Aviation Program Manager 5. Robert Schmoll, Fire Operations Forester and Tom Kurth, Fire & Aviation Program Manager. Photo: Maggie Rogers6. Pete Buist, PIO and Rich Baldisaro, Base Camp Manager

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2012 in PHotos

1. Tasha Shields, WFRT Fairbanks Area. Photo: Maggie Rogers2. Tom Kurth, Fire & Aviation Program Manager; Maggie Rogers, PIO and Pete Buist, PIO3. Karen Gordon, Northern Region Admin Officer; Liz Coots, Admin.; Steve Cullander, EFF; Jacquelyn Bailey, NR Accounting Tech. Photo: Maggie Rogers4. Peter Butteri, USFWS SITL and Will Hutto, Kenai-Kodiak Area Office BCMG5. Mark Eliot, Northern Region Forester and Kathryn T. Pyne, Fairbanks Area Forester setting up Tanana Valley Fair booth. Photo: Maggie Rogers


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2012 in PHotos

1. Jim Schwarber, Forest Planner/PIO2. Jeremy Zidek and Maggie Rogers, PIO3. Dispatch Workshop (L to R): Sue Christensen, Martin Maricle, Hilary Shook, Danny Newby. Row 2: Janet Ladd, Barb Bradley, Marcie Ugstad, Marilyn Rodriguez, Diane Campbell, Arturo Frizzera, Maria Wade, Rachel Dunne, Carolyn Nelson, Julie Vorachek, Jodi Bradey, John Gregg, Stephanie Sweetsir, Ann Connor. Row 3: Peter Talus, Jeff Wickett, Rod Thorsen, Chris Olsen, Darla Theisen and Paul Beberg, Allison Buckingham, Bob Dickerson, Steve McCombs, Mike Kendall, Ray Crowe, Anne Burns, Linn Clausen4. Jason Rockvam and Maggie Rogers at Susitna State Forest Meeting5. Ann Nelson, Assistant A.G. and Dalton6. Martin Maricle, Support Forester and Carolyn Nelson, SLC Coordinator at Spring Ops. Photo: Maggie Rogers

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2012 in PHotos

1. Steve Scales, WFRT IV – Kenai-Kodiak; LeAnne Moore, Admin Asst. – Kenai-Kodiak; and Patrick Quince, Kenai-Kodiak2. Danny Newbie, WFDispatcher III, Delta; Al Edgren, Delta Area Forester; and Gary Mullen, Copper River Area Forester3. Kevin Saxby, Superior Court Judge and former Asst. A.G. receiving award from State Forester Chris Maisch. Photo: Maggie Rogers4. Chris Maisch presenting Kathryn “K.T.” Pyne award.5. Tom Dean and Tanker 55 in McGrath. Photo: Dennis Blankenbaker


WilDlAnD fire mAnAGement

2012 fire season

TheDivisionofForestryapproachesthewildlandfiresea-sonwithanextensivetrainingandpreparationagendaforreturningemployees,localcooperators,emergencyhires,legislativeandgovernmentofficials.Thefulltimefirestaffof34employeeslaysouttheschedule,organizeshiring,andplanstheworkloadforthe181seasonalemployees,plusanundeterminednumberofemergencyhires.Divisionstaffworkscooperativelywithlocalvolunteerfiredepartments,theBLMAlaskaFireService,U.S.ForestService,andlargenumbersoftemporaryseasonalworkerstoprepareforthejobofprotectinglives,propertyandthenaturalresourcevaluesofAlaska.Thespringritualcarriesthroughuntilthefireconditionschangeenoughtonolongerpromotewildlandfires.

For2012,thePredictiveServicesbranchlistedthepotentialfireseasonoutlookas“normal”acrossthestate,withtheexceptionof“abovenormal”activityforMayandJuneinportionsoftheupperYukonValleyandthewesternKenaiPeninsula.Thepredictionswerebasedondroughtindicesfromthepreviousseasonandthecontinuingproblemofbeetle-killeddeadanddownedspruce,withathickgrassunderstory,locatedprimarilyontheKenai.ThelongtermweatherforecastsforAlaskahavenotyetprovenaccurateenoughforpre-seasonfirepreparations.Thiswasdemon-stratedagainasthebulkofthefireactivityfor2012wasintheInteriorand,later,asignificantportionofthefiresea-sonresultedfromseveralwindeventswhichledtoextremefireconditionswellintoDecember.

April/mayThe2012AlaskafireSeasonstartedwithawarmanddryApril,burninglessthan12acreswith20firesbytheendofthemonth.AcoolMay,withprecipitationlateinthemonth,slowedAlaska’spaceto200acresburned,whereasin2011nearly140,000acreshadburnedinMay.

JuneIn2011,262,000acresburnedinJune.June2012sawabovenormalprecipitation,particularlyintheInteriorandtheacresburnedbytheendofthemonthtotaled144,000,118,000acresless.TheAlaskaLightningDetectionSystemrecordeddailylightningstrikeswithover23,000strikesforAlaska,roughlytwicethetotalaverage.Alightningbustcombinedwithlowprecipitation,generatednumerousfirestartsinnorthwesternAlaska.TheAlaskaFireServiceGa-lenaZonewasthebusiestduringthefirsttwoweeksofJune.

Anearlyfive-hourlightningbuststartingintheearlyeve-ningofJune23generatednumeroussmokereportsresult-

ingin11firesintheInterior.OnefirenearHealy,theBearCreek#4,whicheventuallygrewtobe8,522acres,requiredtheAlaskaType1IncidentManagementTeam(Kurth)beassignedfromJune25untilJuly7andtransitionedtotheAlaskaType2Team(Allen)forcontainmentoftheincident.Cool,humidweatherassistedinthefire’scontain-mentonJuly5,andthefirewasoutonAugust9.AtBearCreek#4’speaktherewere463personnelassignedinclud-ingtwoType1crews,15Type2crews,fivehelicopters,and147miscellaneousoverhead.

TherewassignificantlightningoccurringinAlaskaduringmostofJunebutcombinedwithassociatedprecipitationtherewaslimitedfireactivity.FireresourcesbegantotakefireassignmentsintheLower-48.

JulyTherainfallforAlaska’sinteriorwasbelownormalforJuly,buttherewasfrequentlightrainthatcameinrepeateddoses(20daysinJulysawrain).Therainfall,pairedwithcoolerthannormaltemperaturesandlittlelightningactivity,stifledwildfirepotential.In2011,bytheendofJuly,over290,000acreshadburnedinAlaska.Forcomparison,bytheendofJulyin2012,alittleover207,000acreswereburned.

ThefirstofthreeDivision-contractedairtankersmovedtotheLower-48inlateJune.Eventually,theremainingtwowentinJulytoassistwithextensivefireactivityinthewesternstates.TheU.S.ForestServicecontinuestohaveairtankershortagesandhasaninterestintheDivision’sairre-sources.DependingonfireseasoninAlaska,theAviationsectionhasbeenabletoassistwiththisneed.

ThefirstgroupoffiveType2crewswentoutonaNationalInteragencyCoordinationCenter(NICC)charterjetonJuly2,followedbyasecondgroupthatdepartedFortWainwrightonJuly4.OnJuly14,twohelicoptermodulesandoneAgencyRepresentativeweredispatchedtoCanada


andworkedtheWentzelFirenearHighLevel,Alberta.FromJuly15-31aten-personshortteamofoperationsandlogisticspersonnelwasassignedtotheNorthwestTerritories.TheywerefollowedbyWhiteMountainType2InitialAttackcrewonJuly23whichstayedthroughAugust3.

AugustIntheInterior,amid-Augustreprieveofwarmdryweathercoincidedwithwindsandcausedvariousfirestobecomemoreactive.TheDryCreekfirewashighlyvisiblefromFairbanksandthesurroundingareaandwasstartedbylightningonJune23.Thefire,locatedontheflatssouthoftheTananaRiver,grewfrom360acresinmid-Julyto40,529acresbytheendofAugustasfireconditionssteadilyimproved.ThicksmokefloatedintoFairbanksfromthe18-22,causingairqualityadvisoriestobeissuedonseveraldays.Rainfall,startingonAugust25,helpedtominimizethesmokeimpactontheFairbanksarea.ThisfirewouldagainreappearinOctober.

MobilizationtotheLower-48continuedwiththreemorecrewmobilizationsinAugust.OnegroupofType2IAcrewsdepartedFortWainwrightonAugust7andtwogroupsofType2crewswentoutonAugust10andagainonthe13th.SomelightningactivitycontinuedinAugustas74strikesoccurredonAugust2.Thiswasfollowedwith14daysofnoactivity,indicatingasubstantialdecreaseinfirestarts,astherewasalimitedamountofinitialattackrequiredandgrowthonexistingfires.

septemberOnthenightofSeptember4,windswithpeakguststo131mphwerereportedintheChugachMountainseastofAnchorage.ThecombinationofthegroundstillbeingsoftandwetfromAugustrainsandtheleavesremainingonthetreescauseddownedtreesandpoweroutagesasfarawayasDeltaJunctionandTokarea.WindgustsinDeltaJunctionpeakedat76mphcausingthreepowerlinefiresandafireinTok.

Twoweekslater,highwindsimpactedTokonceagain.OnSeptember16,localTokandTananacrossresidentsestimatedpeakwindgustsof100mphthroughoutthenightandresultedinsignificantblowdownthatimpactednotonlydeadtrees,buthealthylivingtrees.DeltaArearespondedtotenpowerlinefiresfromSeptember16-19andTokArearespondedtotwo.ThesewindsalsocausedtheDryCreekFireacrosstheTananaRivernearFairbankstoflarebackupandgrowby6,625acres.

Governor Sean Parnell committed forestry personnel to chainsaw work and clearing debris in Municipality of Anchorage waterways to assist in the unprecedented Fall Wind Event in Southcentral Alaska.

L to R: Lori Wierstsema, Tom Greiling and Brian Carver, Mat-Su WFRTs clearing a waterway in Anchorage.

Acres burned by lAndowner

All Fires Fires AcresBIA 4 122.0 BLM 39 51,620.2 BORO 12 4.1 Military 16 61,304.5 NPS 22 76,820.8 NCA 41 38,883.4 Private 148 303.2 State 99 17,772.0 uSFWS 30 40,057.2 uSFS 5 0.5 totAls 416 286,887.9


2012 AlAskA wildFires by AreA And Protection level

state wide totals by Protection level Cause Fires Acres Human 275 33,841.2 Lightning 141 253,046.7 totAls 416 286,887.9

CRITICAL FuLL MODIFIED LIMITED TOTALS Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres 201 2,832.4 84 26,035.0 38 14,736.7 93 243,283.8 416 286,887.9 state Protected Areas CRITICAL FuLL MODIFIED LIMITED TOTALSArea Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres Anch/Mat-Su 63 102.9 6 1.2 0 0 0 0.0 69 104.1Copper River 15 2.1 4 3.3 1 0.1 1 22.0 21 27.5 Delta 30 31.7 8 135.1 1 65.0 1 3.5 40 235.3 Fairbanks 47 34.1 15 8,770.0 2 302.0 3 4.1 67 9,110.2 Haines 1 0.1 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 0.1Kenai/Kodiak 26 15.5 2 1.1 0 0.0 2 0.2 30 16.8 Southwest 0 0.0 14 16,814.3 0 0.0 4 231.0 18 17,045.3 Tok 11 2.0 12 56.9 0 0.0 0 - 23 58.9 totAls 193 188.4 61 25,781.9 4 367.1 11 260.8 269 26,598.2 usdA Forest service- Protected Areas CRITICAL FuLL MODIFIED LIMITED TOTALSArea Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres Chugach N.F. 2 0.2 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 2 0.2 Tongass N.F. 3 0.6 5 0.5 1 0.1 2 0.2 11 1.4 totAls 5 0.8 5 0.5 1 0.1 2 0.2 13 1.6 blM Alaska Fire service -Protected Areas CRITICAL FuLL MODIFIED LIMITED TOTALSArea Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres Galena 1 1.0 8 245.3 28 13,887.4 45 115,347.1 82 129,480.8 Military 0 0 5 1.6 0 0.0 10 61,301.4 15 61,303.0 Tanana 1 2642.1 2 4.5 3 466.1 14 45,865.2 20 48,977.9 upper Yukon 1 0.1 3 1.2 2 16.0 11 20,509.1 17 20,526.4 totAls 3 2,643.2 18 252.6 33 14,369.5 80 243,022.8 134 260,288.1

10 year Averages by Agency and Management option, 2003-2012 AFS STATE uSFSAll Fires Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires AcresCritical 7 13,995 213 2,327 10 3Full 34 84,707 62 65,395 17 1Modified 32 110,986 12 55,267 2 1Limited 92 1,015,545 29 358,610 3 1unplanned 1 33,153 0 0 0 010 yr Av. 166 1,258,386 316 481,599 32 6totAl 10 yeAr AverAge 514 1,739,991


2012 Fire trAining ProgrAM

in-state training (includes Area and Statewide Interagency Training) DOF DOF* Local Gov Fed** EFF Other Type of Course Courses Instructors Students Students Students Students Students HoursIncident Command System 13 16 60 29 64 14 16 322Basic Firefighter 11 33 1 38 4 192 0 440Gap Courses for Fire Depts. 4 4 0 16 44 0 0 80Alaska Crew Boss Academy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Basic Academy 1 8 0 0 0 28 0 96Advanced Firefighter Academy 1 8 1 0 0 33 0 210Fire Management 4 3 20 0 35 23 0 144Dispatch 4 3 10 0 0 5 0 88Aviation 23 28 98 13 67 62 0 347Suppression 38 58 214 49 174 106 11 844Prevention 1 5 15 2 0 5 0 32Fire Investigation 2 5 10 3 3 5 0 46Leadership 4 6 33 4 20 8 0 96Prescribed Fire 1 2 5 0 23 0 0 32Fireline Safety 65 130 138 369 2 690 0 1329Other: (Isuite, IQS, 1st Aid) 9 7 89 2 8 29 0 128HazMats Warehouse 1 1 17 0 0 9 0 24totAls 182 317 711 525 444 1209 27 4234

*#of DOF students includes: PPC, GGC, White Mountain crews, **additional federal students attended AFS sponsored courses Basic Firefighter Training was offered in Tok, Haines, McGrath, Soldotna, Palmer (2), Delta, Fairbanks (3), and Glenallen for Fire Departments, EFF, Federal Cooperators, and DOF.

lower 48 training Type of Course Courses DOF Students EFF Students Hours Fire Management 4 4 0 160 Suppression 13 9 6 520 Prevention/Fire Investigation 1 1 0 40 Dispatch 2 2 2 80 Leadership 3 4 0 120 Aviation 5 8 2 200 Prescribed Fire 0 1 0 0 totAls 28 29 10 1120 Lower 48 courses included: Air Service Manager, Computer Technical Specialist, IA Dispatcher, Supervisory Dispatcher, Fire Management Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Multi Agency Coordination, Leadership in Action, Modular Airborne Firefighter System, National Aerial Firefighter Academy, Fire Prevention Program Planning, S232 Heavy Equipment Boss (SME-Instructor), Communications Technician, GIS, Facilities Unit Leader, Supply Unit Leader, Food Unit Leader, Time Unit Leader, Helibase Manager, Plans Section Chief, Air Operations Branch Director, Incident Business Advisor, Canadian Advanced Fire Behavior, Advanced Incident Management, Complex Incident Management.

Fire department and local government training Type of Course Courses Students Area Level Training 87 471 Basic Firefighter, FLSR, Suppression, Aviation, Leadership, Gap Statewide Training 17 85 ICS, Suppression, Prevention, Fire Investigation, IQS totAls 104 556


SeptembersawtheendoftheAlaska’slightningseason,withlightningoccurringaroundFairbanksonSeptember9.

Inearly-September,DOFfirefightersprovidedassistanceinAnchorageafteraseverewindstormblewtreesoverandleftmanyresidentswithoutpowerfordays.FirefightersandequipmentweredispatchedbytheDepartmentofNaturalResourcestoassistcrewsfromtheMunicipalityofAnchor-agewithtreeanddebrisremoval.

SeptembermobilizationstotheLower48sawfiveType2crewsdepartonSeptember19andfiveon23,makingatotalofsevengroupsthatweresenttotheLower-48.Meanwhile,theAlaskaType1IncidentManagementTeam(ICKurth)wasassignedtotheTrinityRidgeFireinIdahofromSeptember2-September15.AndinlateSeptember,a10-personDOFIncidentManagementTeamassistedtheMat-SuBoroughandDepartmentofHomelandSecuritywithresponsetofloodingandprovidedsupportinplan-ninganddamageassessment.OnSeptember23alatethunderstormoccurredfollowedbyacoldfrontandbriefsnowfall.

october/november/DecemberTheDivisionofForestryhadeightfiresinOctoberfor17.2acres.Thesewerecausedbydebrisburning,campfires,orstructuresburningintothewildlands.

Dillingham,Alaskahadanunexpected16,566acrefirestartingonNovember2.TheSnakeRiverFirestartedintheafternoonwhenasmallremotecontrolledplanecrashedintothetundrathreemilesfromthelocalairport.Thefirequicklygrewtofourmileslongandquarterofamilewideandwasinitiallyreportedtobe1,000acresasastrongwindaidedgrowth.ThelocalvolunteerfiredepartmentwasassistedbyahelicopterdoingbucketdropstoprotectNativeallotments.AshortType3teamleadbyIncidentCommanderTomDeanwasassignedonNovember5.ThefirewascalledoutonNovember9.

Thelastweathereventof2012happenedbetweenNovember29andDecember5.Seventeenhuman-causedfiresoccurredintheMat-Suvalleymainlyduetoalackofsnowpack,presenceofstrongwinds,andlowrelativehumidity.Thefirecausesvariedfromanoverturnedtrailer,aburnbarrel,apowerlineandstructurefiresthatburnedintothewildlands.

Attheactivitypeak,theCedarHillsFireinPalmerrequiredtheevacuationoftheCedarHillssubdivision.InitialattackwasprovidedbyDOF,BLMAlaskaFireService,Mat-SuBorough,PalmerFireDepartment,ChugiakFireDepart-ment,AnchorageFireDepartment,AlaskaStateTroop-ers,PalmerandWasillaPoliceDepartment.Theindicesrecordedatthetimewouldhavebeenconsideredextremefireconditionsduringthepeakoffireseason,withaFineFuelMoistureContent(FFMC)of91.2,InitialSpreadIndex(ISI)of15,andFireWeatherIndex(FWI)of35.9.

2012 wildFires by cAuse

ALL FIRES AFS STATE uSFS Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires Acres Fires AcresArson 0 - 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0Campfire 59 183.2 47 181.7 1 0.1 11 1.4 Children 11 4.0 11 4.0 0 0.0 0 0.0Debris Burning 68 2,695.9 66 53.7 2 2642.2 0 0.0Equipment 19 81.3 18 80.3 1 1.0 0 0.0Fireworks 3 1.6 3 1.6 0 0.0 0 0.0Incendiary 11 10,260.7 3 3.2 8 10,257.5 0 0.0Land Clear 1 0.1 1 0.1 0 0.0 0 0.0Lightning 143 253,047.8 34 9,574.4 109 243,473.4 0 0.0Misc/Other 18 16,663.5 16 16,663.3 0 0.0 2 0.2Powerline 40 15.0 38 13.7 2 1.3 0 0.0Railroad 1 0.5 1 0.5 0 0.0 0 0.0Smoking 2 0.2 2 0.2 0 0.0 0 0.0Structure Fire 18 13.3 16 12.2 2 1.1 0 0.0Trash Burn 1 0.5 1 0.5 0 0.0 0 0.0undetermined 21 3,920.3 12 8.8 9 3911.5 0 0.0Vehicle 0 - 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 TOTALS 416 286,887.9 269 26,598.2 134 260,288.1 13 1.6


The2012Alaskafireseasonfinishedwith416firesfor286,887.9acres.InStateprotectionareastherewere269firesfor26,598.2acres.Atotalof192fireswith188.4acresburnedwereinCritical,62fireswith25,781.9acresburnedwereinFull,15fireswith628acresburnedwereinModifiedandLimitedcombined.TheacreageinStateprotectionrepre-sentedanunusuallysmallamountbasedonhistoricalaverages.

Alaska type 1 team

TheAlaskaTypeIInteragencyIncidentManagementTeamconsistsof56participantsse-lectedfromapoolofover300applicants.Generally,therearesixtraineesandsixmenteesalongwithaselectionofadditionalspecialtypositionstosupplementthesizeandscopeoftheincident.For2012,TomKurth,ChiefofFireandAviationfortheDivision,continuedastheIncidentCommanderfortheteam.

Thefirstassignment,andearliestfortheType1team,wasonSunday,June24th,toColo-radotoassistinescalatingconditionsnearBoulder.Instead,theteamwasdivertedtoaninstatefirewithintheFairbanksArea.TheBearCreekFire#4wasthefourthinaseriesoflightningstrikesintheAnderson/Cleararealocated40milestothesouthwestofFairbanksArea.Thefirethreat-enedtheJuneCreeksubdivision,BearCreeksubdivision,KobeAgriculturesubdivision,ClearSkysubdivision,andeventuallytheRex/AndersonSubdivisiontothenorth.Thesesubdivisionscontainedatotalof150residential,seasonal,andrecreationalhomes.

EarlyintheburnperiodonSunday,June24th,sustainedwindsof30mphbeganpushingthefiretothenorthbeyondthecapabilitiesofinitialattack.ThefiresoonencroachedonsubdivisionspromptingtheDivisionofForestry’sFairbanksAreatoevaluatethepossibil-ityofthefirecontinuingintomoreoftheidentifiedvaluesatrisk.Thefirewasreachingspreadratesof1to3milesanhourandwasestimatedtobe20,000to30,000acresbytheendoftheburnperiod.Areapersonnel,uponvisitingthefirearea,decidedthatadditionalresourceswouldberequired.AWildlandFireDecisionSupportSystem(WFDSS)Docu-mentwasinitiatedandacomplexityanalysisindicatedtheneedforalargeType2orga-nizationorlarger.SincetheAlaskaType1Teamwasonstandbyandactivatedtomoveto

Fairbanks #2 Type II crew on fire assignment.

The 2012 Alaska fire season finished with 416 fires for 286,887.9 acres. In State protection areas there were 269 fires for 26,598.2 acres.

A total of 192 fires with 188.4 acres burned were in Critical, 62 fires with 25,781.9 acres burned were in Full, 15 fires with 628 acres burned were in Modified and Limited combined. The acreage in State protection represented an unusually small amount based on historical averages.

EFF worked 242, 701 hours on fires.

EFF wages in 2012 were $5, 867, 139.13


Denveronaprepositioningorder,itwasdeterminedtobetheclosestforcesandbestalternative.

TheIMT1wasengagedinoperationsuntilJuly1st,whenthefirewastransitionedtoaType2Team.Nostructureswerelost,thefirepeakedat8,522acresand463personnel.FinaldemobilizationthroughtheType2TeamoccurredonJuly6th.

AsecondType1assignmentoccurredonSeptember1stfortheTrinityRidgeFireontheBoiseNationalForestoutsideofIdahoCityincentralIdaho.TheIMTwastomobilizetoanongoing146,000acrefire.Theincidenthad978person-nelincluding20crews,13helicopters,and46engines.TheprimaryobjectivewastoconsolidatetwoType1operationsthatwereinplacewhilecontinuingtomeetsuppressiongoalsandreducetheoverallorganizationalsizeincostcontainment measures.

TheTrinityRidgeFireencompassedalargegeographicareaovertheBoiseandMountainHomeRangerDistricts.TwoType1Teamsweremanagingthefires.TheseteamswerereleasedandtheAlaskaTeamcompletedoverallsuppres-sion,rehabilitation,andmonitoringoversight.After12days,thefirewastransferredtoaType3team.TheType1TeamwasreleasedfromassignmentonSeptember15th,afterreducingtheoveralloperationfroma$1.4million/dayto$300,000/day.

bear Creek fires

OnJune23,2012,severallightning-causedfiresstartedsouthofAnderson,Alaska,westoftheParksHighway.Becausetheareaconsistsofflammableblackspruceandispronetofiresbecomingestablishedandspreadingquickly,theseriesoffiresnamed“BearCreek”hadtremendouspotential.BearCreek#4becamethelargestandeventuallyencompassedtheotherfires.Thesituationposedimmediateconcerntostructuresandtransportationsystemsinthearea.

FairbanksAreaForestry(FAF)quicklymobilizedinitialat-tackresourcesincludinghelitack,smokejumpers,airattack,airtankers,engines,andcrews.FirefightersfromtheAlaskaDivisionofForestry(DOF)andBLMAlaskaFireService(AFS)workedonsite-specificprotection,whilecrewsstartedtobuildfireline.Engineswereusedtoprovidestruc-tureprotectionfornearbysubdivisionsthatwereaccessiblebyroad.AType3organizationfromFAFwasputinplacetomanagethesuppressionresponse.

Inthefirstfewdays,strongwindsandhightemperaturesleadtorapidgrowth.TwoprominentcolumnsofsmokewerevisiblefromFairbanksandabandofdriftsmokewrappeditselfinanarctothesouthandwestoftown.Communitiesclosertothefireexperiencedthesmokycon-ditionsandvisibilitymadeithardforfirepersonneltomapthefire.OnJune24,thewind-drivenfirewasestimatedtobe20,000acres,butthenumberdroppedbyoverhalfthenextdaywhenvisibilityimprovedandthefirewasmoreaccuratelymapped.

Atthetime,theAlaskaType1IncidentManagementTeam(IMT)wasonaprepositionorderforfiresinColoradoandwasmobilizingtostarttravel;theorderchangedquickly.

Advanced group. Wildland Fire Academy 2012.

Wildland Fire Academy basics students.


OnJune25,theType1IMTassumedcontrolofBearCreek#4andadditionalsmallfiresincloseproximity.Atotalof312personnelwereassignedwhentheIMTtookoverincludingDOFandAFSfirefighters,Type2InitialAttackcrews(GannettGlacier,TananaChiefs,andUSFSR10),andEmergencyFirefighter(EFF)crews(Ambler,ArcticVillage,Fairbanks#1,Marshall,Nikolai,andStebbins#2).

TheIncidentCommandPostwaslocatedintheAndersonSchool,nearClearAirForceStation(CAFS).TheIMTworkedcloselywiththeemergencymanagersandCAFSpro-videdshowers,meals,threeactivedutyairmenthatwerefirefighters,amedic,anengine,andothersupportequipment.

ThedayaftertheIMTtookcommand,significantprecipitationreducedthefirebehav-iortocreepingandsmoldering.Thesustainedcooler,wetterweatherpatternallowedthetacticstochangefromindividualstructureprotectiontodirectfirelineconstruction,extinguishinghotspots,andsecuringtheperimeter.Inadditiontothethosealreadylisted,additionalcrewswerebroughton,includingtheChenaandMidnightSunHotshotsandMountainVillage,Delta,UpperTanana#1&#2,andLowerKalskagEFFcrews. ThepeakstaffinglevelwasonJuly1when463personnelwereassigned.ThatwasalsothedaythatthecommandtransferredtoanAlaskaType2IMT.UndertheType2IMTover-sight,personnelandequipmentweredemobilizedandrehabilitationworkbegan.Afterbeingcontainedandcontrolled,thefirewascompletelydemobilizedandputintomonitorstatusonJuly6.Withtheexceptionofafewinteriorsmokes,thefirewasquietwithlittlefireactivityfortheremainderoftheseason.ItwasadministrativelycalledoutonAugust9at8,522acres.

fire training Program

Thedivisionprovidestrainingtomaintainaqualifiedandsafeworkforce,readytore-spondtowildlandfiresandotheremergenciesasneeded.Interagencycoursesareopentostructurefiredepartments,localgovernment,otherstateagencies,emergencyfirefighters,othergeographicareas,andCanadianfireagencies.

national level training (lower 48)ParticipationinLower48trainingofferedbyotherGeographicAreas,theNationalAdvancedFireandResourceInstitute(NAFRI),andtheNationalFireAcademy(NFA),helpedthedivisionmeettheneedforadvancedleveltrainingtoprepareourpersonnelto

Forestry employees and/or participants sponsored by the Division attended the following Lower-48 courses in 2012:

• AirServiceManager • ComputerTechnicalSpecialist/ Communications Technician• InitialAttackDispatcher • HeavyEquipmentBossSME• SupervisoryDispatcher• Multi-AgencyCoordination• FireManagementLeadership• GIS• OrganizationalLeadership• Facilities,Supply,FoodUnit Leader• LeadershipinAction • AdvancedIncident Management• ModularAirborneFirefighter System • TimeUnitLeader/Incident Business Advisor• NationalAerialFirefighter Academy • HelibaseManager/Air Operations Branch Director• FirePreventionProgram Planning • ComplexIncidentManagement (CIMC)• PlansSectionChief • CanadianAdvancedFire Behavior

TCC (Tanana Chiefs) crew on assignment.


serveonAlaska’sIncidentManagementTeams,trainfutureinstructors,andprovideAlaskanswithprofessionalcareeropportunities.

instate trainingThemajorityoftrainingin-stateisprovidedthroughclosecooperationoftheDivisionofForestry,theAlaskaFireService,USForestService,FireDepartments,Localgovernments,andForestryAreaOffices.Asreflectedinthetrainingstatistics,meetingnationalrequirementsforcertificationinIncidentCommandSystem,Suppression,Aviation,Dispatch,Logistics,Leadership,PreventionandWildlandFireInvestigationpositionswasaccomplishedbyconducting2012AlaskaInteragencyTraining.Thistrain-ingisthebackbonefordevelopingqualified,experiencedpersonneltofightfiresbothinandoutofAlaska.Trainingwasprovidedto2,916studentsin2012.Ofthese,18%wereFireDepartments/Localgovernment;24%wereDOF;15%wereFederal;42%wereEmergencyFirefighter,1%Home-landSecurity,AlaskaRailroadandMilitarystudents.

Severalcourseswereofferedtomeetflexplantrainingrequire-ments.TheseincludedDispatch,Suppression,Leadership,FireInvestigationandIncidentCommandSystemcourses.

ThedivisionassistedlocalgovernmentwithusingtheInci-dentQualificationSystem(IQS)totracktrainingandexperi-encerecordsandprintredcardsforpositionscoveredintheoperatingagreements.TheMat-SuBoroughandAnchorageFireDepartmentareusingIQS.

Structuralfiredepartmentsacrossthestateassistthedivi-sioninfiresuppressioninpopulatedareasthroughcoop-erativeagreements.Thesecooperatorsareavaluablesourceoftrained,experiencedfirefighters.Thedivisionofferseveningandweekendcoursestomeetthetrainingneedsofvolunteerfiredepartments.

ForestryalsosupportsnativeCorporationcrewsthroughagreementswiththeTananaChiefsConferenceandChugachmiutCorporation.Supporttothecrewsconsistsofprovidingtraining,issuingredcards,trackingtrainingandexperiencerecords,andassistingwithmobilization.

TheBasicandAdvancedWildlandFirefighterAcademiesheldinTok,Alaskatrained61studentsfromthroughoutAlaska.TheAdvancedWildlandFirefighterAcademyandAlaskaCrewBossAcademyareheldonalternateyears.

TheincreaseinonlinetrainingofferedadditionalICSandAviationcoursestostudents.IncidentCommandSystemtrainingtomeettheNationalResponseFrameworkwascompletedbymanystudents.TheDivisionprovideda

subjectmatterexperttotheNWCGDevelopmentOfficetohelpdevelopthenewHeavyEquipmentBossclass.

Wildland firefighter training Academies

TheAlaskaWildlandFirefighterTrainingAcademiesprovideanintensivelearningenvironmentsimulatingconditionsonewouldencounteronanactualfireassignment;longdays,livingintentsinallweatherconditions,workingtogetherasateam(crew),andevengettingupearlyforphysicaltrain-ing.Besidestheacademiclessonsandfirefightingskills,anessentialelementoftheacademywaspersonalgrowthandtakingresponsibility.Opportunitiesforleadershipandcareerdevelopmentwerewoventhroughout.

CadetsgatheredfromaroundthestateinTok,Alaskaforthe2012Academies.TokAreaForestryhostedthecamp-ingsite,mealswerecontractedwiththeAlaskaGatewaySchoolDistrictandtheUniversityofAlaska/Interior-AleutiansCampus–TokCenterprovidedtheclassroom.StudentscamefromAnchorage,Chevak,Circle,Delta,Em-monak,Fairbanks,Galena,Glennallen,HolyCross,HooperBay,Hughes,LowerKalskag,Kongiganak,ManleyHotSprings,McGrath,MentastaLake,Minto,Newtok,Nikolai,Noatak,NorthPole,Nulato,PilotStation,ScammonBay,StoneyRiver,Tok,Tuluksak,andWasilla.

Adifferentformatwasusedthisyearfortheacademy.Insteadofasingletwenty-onedayacademy,wehadasevendayBasicAcademy,followedbyafourteendayAdvancedAcademy,withtwoseparatesetsofstudents.Alsonewthisyear:theUniversityofAlaskaFairbanksAssistantProfessorTylanMartin(formerlyaFairbanksAreaIATech)servedastheleadinstructor.Bothacademieswerearesoundingsuccess.IntheBasicAcademy,28of29cadetscompletedthecourseearningcertificatesforI-100,I-200,L-180,S-130andS-190;a“RedCard”forNWCGFirefighterType2;andthreecollegecredits.NineoutstandingBasicCadetswereinvitedtocontinuewiththeAdvancedAcademy.Inthe

Basic Wildland Fire Academy. Cindy Forrest-Elkins, second from right.


AdvancedAcademy,all34cadetsgraduated,earningcertificatesforS-131,S-133,S-211,S-212,S-270,S-271,L-280,WildernessFirst-AidandCPR;qualifiedas“A”Fallers;andreceivedeightcollegecredits.ThesecoursesqualifythecadettobeissuedFirefighterType1andHelicopterCrewmemberpositiontaskbooksbytheirhomeunit.

AdvancedAcademygraduationceremoniesfeaturedcongratulatoryandinspirationalad-dressesfromDOFChiefofFireandAviationTomKurth,ViceChancellorBerniceJoseph,UAFCollegeofRuralandCommunityDevelopment,andFireManagementSpecial-istClintonNorthway,TananaChiefsConference.WewouldliketoacknowledgePeterButteri,FMOwithUSFishandWildlifeService,forpurchasingreplacementcampinggearfortheacademyandmuchneededpersonalgearforsomeofthecadets;andClintonNorthwaywithTananaChiefsConferenceforacquiringAcademythemedtee-shirtsandhoodiesforthecadets.At least twenty-three (23) 2012 academy graduates received employment in fire during the 2012 season; several on Alaskan type 2 iA crews.

volunteer fire Assistance Grants to rural Communities

TheVolunteerFireAssistanceprogramprovidesfundstoincreasefirefightersafety,im-provethefirefightingcapabilitiesofruralvolunteerfiredepartments,andenhanceprotec-tioninthewildlandurbaninterface.ThefundscomethroughtheU.S.ForestServiceandareadministeredbytheDivisionofForestry.In2012,theVFAGrantProgramprovided$454,868.70toruralfiredepartments.Thedivisionreceived38requestsforequipment,trainingandpreventionactivitiesandfunded35.

fePP and ffP Activity

SharriSmithleftprocurementforaDeputypositionintheMat-SuBoroughprocurement.ShewasoneoftheprimarymanagersinvolvedwiththeFederalExcessPersonalProperty(FEPP)andtheFireFighterProperty(FFP).TheDivisioncontinuedtosurplusoldandbrokendownFEPPequipmentandprobablyreturnedover30piecesofequipmentin2012.

TheDivisionacquiredsomeTri-MaxCompressedAirFoamSystems(CAFS)compatiblewiththeDivisionHelibaseoperations.TheDivisionacquired6unitsandshippedthemupfromFt.Lewis,Washingtonforabout$2,300.EachnewCAFSunitcostscloseto$10,000andallofthesurplusunitssawlittletonouse.

2013 VFA Grant Program

Fire dept. $ AwardedBear Creek $19,790.10Bethel VFD $14,477.00Butte VFD $20,000.00Caswell Lakes VFD $8,511.92Cooper Landing $10,000.00Eflin Cove VFD $4,740.00Ester VFD $15,830.00Gakona VFD $15,353.12Girdwood VFD $ 3,892.28GlennRich Fire & Rescue $20,000.00Gustavus VFD $8,713.00Haines VFD $3,159.00Hollis VFD $ 11,386.30Houston VFD $18,511.92Huslia $3,707.00Kachemack Emergency Services $19,816.00Kenny Lake $2,000.00Kennicott/McCarthy VFD $20,000.00Klehini Valley VFD $5,223.94Nelchina/ Mendeltna $18,000.00Nenana VFD $4,852.00Ninilchik VFD $19,955.00Palmer Fire & Rescue $19,508.08Petersburg VFD $6,420.00Rural Deltana $19,800.00Seward , City of $12,066.30Sitka VFD $16,894.45Skagway VFD $10,562.40South Tongass VFD $10,734.70Steese Area VFD $20,000.00Strelna VFD $20,000.00Sutton VFD $15,452.60Tri Valley $4,860.00Tok VFD $18,390.00Willow VFD $11,873.51total $454,868.70

Wildland Fire Academy students learning fire investigation techniques.


Thehopefor2013istogetmoreofthesurplusDivisionfiretrucksintothehandsofourcooperatorsandtohavelessrelianceontheoldFEPPequipment.Also,thefiredepart-mentsshouldbeabletotapintoresourcesavailablethroughtheFFPprogram,underwhichtheycanactuallygettitle.

national fire Plan / Wildland urban interface Projects

TheNationalFirePlanwasadoptedin2000toprovidegrantstostates,someonacompetitivebasis,toreducethethreatoffireinwildland/urbaninterfaceareas.Fundsarealsoavailableforwildfirepreventionandeducationprograms,mitigation,capacitybuildingandhomeownerandcommunityassistance.TheDivisionofForestrycon-tinuestoimplementtheNationalFirePlanbysupportingavarietyofeducationalandmitigationprojects,suchprojectsdescribedbelow.

initial Attack fire fightersNationalFirePlanfundingcontinuestoenabletheDivisionofForestrytoretain10permanentseasonalinitialattackfirefightersinPalmer,Fairbanks,Soldotna,Delta,andTok.Thesefirefightersimproveinitialattackcapabilitiesatthestate,localgovernmentandvolunteerfiredepartmentsintheurbaninterfaceareas.Effectiveinitialattackofafirereducesoverallsuppressioncostsandminimizesthreatstoprivateandpublicpropertyfromwildlandfire.

Chugach state Park- nancy lake Hazards fuels reductionIn2012theDivisionofForestrycompletedthehazardfuelreductionworkalongtheNancyLakeParkwayandSouthRollyCampground.ThePioneerPeakHotshotcrew,GannetGlacierTypeIIinitialattackcrew,studentinternsandDivisionofForestrytechnicianscut,thinned,limbedandpiledhazardfuelson57acresofpublicland.UseablefirewoodsizematerialwasmadeavailableforsalvageandutilizationbythePark.Allslashwerepileswereburnedorchipped

eastern Copper river (mcCarthy) Hazardous fuels mitigationAlandowner-costshareprogramforthinninghazardfuelswasimplemented.FortytwohomeownersreceivedFirewisehomeassessmentsandtwolandownerswereabletocompletetheirprojectsbythefallof2012.Throughacommunityprocesssixroadswereprioritizedforthinningtreatmentstocreateshadedfuelbreaksthatreducefirerisk.Atotaloftwomilesofroadsandsevenacresweretreated.Firewiseeducationandoutreachtookplaceonawidescaleandoneononelevel.ThelocalVolunteerFireDepart-

mentwaseducatedonFirewiseprinciplestobetterassistinspreadingtheFirewisemessage.Workwillcontinuetotakeplacein2013.

Glennallen Hazardous fuels reductionOutreachandadvertisementfortheland-ownercostsharehazardfuelprogramwasinitiatedandfortysixhomesreceivedFirewiseassessmentswithonelandownercom-pletingtheirproject.Permitswereobtainedforshadedfuelbreakwork.A50footshadedfuelbreakwascutalongSnowshoeStreetalongtheEast/WesteasementlineaboveTerraceDriveforapproximatelyfiveacres.ForestrycoordinatedwithAhtnaInctodesignandimplementawoodydebrisdisposalsiteforlandownersutilizingthecostshareprogram.ForestryisworkingwithlocalvolunteerfiredepartmentandhomeownerassociationstodevelopaplantoadvertiseboththecostshareprogramandFirewiseprinciplesinGlennallenandsurroundingareas.Workwillcontinueinthespringof2013.

mcGrath City fuel breaksIn2012aCooperativeAgreementbetweenMTNTNativeCorporationandAlaskaDepartmentofNaturalResources,DivisionofForestrywassignedtomutuallycarryoutfireprevention,fuelsmitigationandpre-fireplanningincooperationwiththeCityofMcGrath.Keyprogramareasincludefuelsreduction,restorationoffireadaptedecosys-tems,homeowneractionandpreventionandeducationwithinandsurroundingtheCityofMcGrath.Thiscollabor-ativeeffortprovidedbyMTNTandtheDivisionofForestrywilljointlyfundaWildlandFuelsMitigationSpecialisttoprioritizeareasfortreatmentandrecommendareastoreducestructureignitability.ThisMitigationSpecialistwillbeinplacetobeginworkspringof2013.

Western fairbanks Hazardous fuels reductionShearbladingbeganinFebruaryof2012andwascomplet-edbymidMarch.Twounits(#3and4),totaling254acres,wereshearbladedintheGoldstreamValley.ThisareaischaracterizedbycontinuousstandsofBlackSpruce.Treat-mentunitswereplacedonstatelandadjacenttosubdivi-sionsthatareoutsideofanymunicipalfireserviceareas.TheFairbanksNorthstarBoroughCommunityWildfireProtectionPlan(PhaseII,2009)identifiedthesesubdivi-sionsasbeingathighriskofwildfire.

WorkcontinuedonthefuelbreaklocatedonstatelandadjacenttotheMcCloudSubdivision.TheMcCloudsubdivisionisoutsideofanymunicipalfireserviceareas.TheFairbanksNorthstarBoroughCommunityWildfireProtectionPlan(PhaseII,2009)identifiedthissubdivisionasbeingathighriskofwildfire.


Forestrypersonnelusedchainsawstowidenanarea(approximately5acres)adjacenttohomes.ItwascharacterizedbysteepslopeandcontinuousBlackSpruce.SlashpilescreatedduringtheHastingsFire(2011)werecleanedupinordertofacilitatepileburningoperations.ForestrypersonnelbeganburningslashpilesinOctober.Twentyacres(ap-proximately1500piles)ofBlackSpruceslashwasburned.

fairbanks slash burningInJulyof2012,ForestrypersonnelandequipmentbeganfieldworkintheHardingLakefuelstreatments.Administrativeduties,includingobtainingsmokepermit,prepar-ingaburnplan,andpreparingprogressreportsforthelandmanagerswerecompleted.Unitboundariesandaccessrouteswerefurtherclearedofvegetationusingtheagencies’bulldozer/operator(fundedbythelocalAreaoperatingbudget).Theseimprovementsweremadeinordertofacilitatesafeslashburningoperationsandreducethepotentialofescapedfire.

SlashburningbeganinOctoberfollowinganactivefallfireseasonandaraineventthatincreasedfuelmoisturesanddecreasedtheriskofescapedfire.Twentyacresofwind-rowedBlackSprucewasburnedonstateandboroughownedland.Tenacresofhandpiles(~500piles)wereburnedonUniversityofAlaskaland.

kenai firewise education and Assessments for Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) & kenai fall firewise Thesetwoprojectscametocompletionin2012.TheFirewiseEducationandAssessmentsforCWPPsprogramconducted201individualhomeassessments.Anestimated60,000residentswerecontactedthroughmeetings,presentations,fairs,parades,videodistribu-tion,radiocoverage,monthlyinfo-torialsinPeninsulanewspapers,programadvertise-ments,cooperatingfiredepartmentsandotheragencies.TheKenaiFallFirewiseprogramencouragesfuelreductioninthefallinsteadofthespring.TheeducationprojectbeginsannuallywithmediaannouncementsinJulytoinformresidentsofFirewisetechniquesandthedebris/slashpickupprogramthatraninAugustandSeptembereachyear.Fourteenprivatecontractorsandbusinessesvolunteeredaportionoftheequipmentand

White Mountain Type II crew with detailed technicians on assignment. Photo: Frank Gilbert.

The Kenai Fall Firewise program encourages fuel reduction in the fall instead of the spring.

The education project began annually with media announcements in July to inform residents of Firewise techniques and the debris/slash pickup program that ran in August and September each year.


operatortimeforbrushpickupandslashdisposal.Muchoftheslashwasutilizedforfillsites.Localresidentscutandthinnedtheirproperties.ThenationallyrecognizedCohoeFirewiseCommunitymanagedthegateonaslashsitecon-tributedbyAlaskaDepartmentofTransportation.

DOTalsohelpedrepiletheaccumulatedmaterialinthefall.AnotherlocallandownerdonatedafillsitefordisposalofstumpssothattheCohoeslashsitewouldn’tfillupwithbulky,hardtoburnstumpmaterial.ThelocalKPBSolidWasteDepartmentprovidedfeewaiversatthelandfillfordisposalofslashfromtheFireWiseprogramatboththeSoldotnaandHomerfacilities.BesidesacashmatchtotheFirewiseSlashPickupProgram,theSpruceBarkBeetleMitigationProgram’scontributionincludedpaymentforadisposalsiteonFunnyRiverRoadwheremanyresidentsareactiveintheFireWiseprogrambecauseofrecentfiresinthearea. An estimated twenty six communites were assisted with hazard fuels mitgation through this program.

fire! in Alaska WorkshopsDuringtheseworkshopseducatorslearnandpracticekeyconceptsoffireecology,firebehavior,riskfactorsandparticipateintwohomeassessments.TheFireinAlaskaworkshopsblendUSFishandWildlifeServicecurricula(RoleofFire)withUSForestServicecurriculum(Firewise)withDivisionofForestryadaptations.TheworkshopsaresponsoredbytheDivisionofForestry;buthostedbyindi-vidualschooldistrictsatcentrallocationswhereeducatorsgather.Eachteacherthenreturnstohisorherhomesiteandteachesthecurriculumtotheirstudents.Fivework-shopswereheldin2012inthecommunitiesofSoldotna,Fairbanks,FortYukon,Palmer,andEagleRiver.Atotalofthirty-nineeducatorsattendedtheworkshops.nearly 1000 educators have completed the course in Alaska and demand continues to remain high.

new Projects Awarded national fire Plan funding in Cy 2012: $1,271,865

Mat-Su Hazard Fuel Mitigation- Butte Recreational Trails & West Lakes: $300,000Workincludescreationof110acresofshadedfuelsbreakson2sitesandtheinstallationofFirewiseEducationalkiosks.ButteRecreationTrails:50acresofshadedfuelsbreakswillbeconstructedalongover12milesofmulti-userecreationtrailsthatrunthroughbothMatSuBoroughandStateofAlaskamanagedlands.Theprojectwillprovidea200footshadedfuelsbreakseparatingprivatelandsandthepublicusearea.Treatmentspecificationsincludecut,pile&burnallstandingdead&downspruceandlimbupalllivetreesto8ft.Ashadedfuelbreakisthebestmodeltoinhibitgrowthofcalamagrostis.Allfuelsbreakswillbecompletedbyhandcrewstomaintainaestheticvalueaswellasprovide

apracticalfuelsbreak.WestLakesPublicLands:60acresofshadedfuelsbreaksthatwillbeconstructedonbothState&MatSuBoroughmanagedlandwithinandaroundthecommunityofWestLakes.Thetractsofpubliclandsareadjacenttoprivatelands.Fueltypesinthisareaareconducivetowildlandfires.Hand-felledtreescreateshadedfuelbreaksthatwillseparateat-riskresidencesfromlargetractsoftheforestedlandsthatarecommonlyusedforrecreationandpronetohumancausedfirestarts.Usablefirewoodwillbeofferedfreetothepublicatbothprojectsites.Eachprojectsitewillhave3Firewiseeduca-tionalkiosksinstalledusingvolunteerlaborfromtheBoyScoutsofAmerica.

Fairbanks North Star Borough Fuels Reduction Phase III: $300,000TheFairbanksNorthStarHazardousFuelsReductionProjectPhaseIIIwillreducehazardousfuelson80+acresandprovidepreventioneducationtoapproximately5,000residentslivingintheWildlandUrbanInterface.TheCommunityWildfireProtectionPlanPhase1(exposuremodel)andPhaseII(actiontasks)havebeensuccessfullycompletedintheFairbanksNorthStarBorough.PhaseIIIwilltreat80+acreswithinthesesubdivisions:Gilmore(20acres),Goldstream(20acres)&Nordale(40+acres).Workincludes:Conductingatleast3publicinformationmeetingsabouttheproject.PublicmeetingswillincludepresentationsatroadservicecommitteemeetingsanddistributionofFirewisematerials.Constructionofshadedfuelbreaksadjacenttoprivateproperty,homes,andinfra-structureandincludesthinning,brushclearing,pruning,andpileburning.Theobjectiveistobreakuphazardfuelsinsuchawaytolessenacrownfireanditsthreattopublic,firefightersafetyandpropertydamage.Cuttreeswillbestackedandmadeavailablefreetothepublicforfirewood.

Thefuelreductionproject,effectivefor30-40yearsintheborealforest,willserveasavisualreminderscontinu-allyreinforcingandeducatinglandownerslivingintheWUI.TheprojectpromotessafetymessagesandreinforcesFirewiseprinciplesinsubdivisionsinprojectareasreach-ing5,000residents.EducationalmaterialssuchasFirewiseLandscaping,“FirewiseinAlaska”booklets,andFirePrevention/Safetybrochureswillbedistributedatpublicmeetings&communityevents(fairs,parades,picnicsetc).SeasonalPSAsandlocalmediawillhelpcarrythemessageforward.

West Kenai Hazard Fuels Mitigation: $200,000Hazardousfuelswillberemovedfromatleast200acresofhighorextremeriskparcelsdeterminedbylocalCommu-nityWildfireProtectionPlans.Fuelsintheprojectareaarepredominantlyspruceandmixedhardwoods.Themajor-ityofthespruceisdeadstandinglargediametertimber.


Forestthinning,removalofdying&standingdeadspruce&pruningladderfuelswillmitigatecrownspreadwhengrassfuelsareignited.Allfuelremovalwillbecompletedbyhandincludinghaulingslashfromthesite,chippingorburninginplaceifsuitablecondi-tionsexist.Handtreatmentsarethepreferredmethodoftreatment;mechanicalequip-mentwouldbelimitedbyslopestability,access,andtheproximitytosurfacewaters.Workwilltakeplacein2013and2014fromAugustthroughOctober.100acreswillbecomplet-edeachfall.Itisestimatedthat150cordsoffirewoodwillbeproducedeachyear.Whenpractical,firewoodwillbemadefree&availableforpublicuse.Theresultingforestwillhaveatargetcrownspacingof10feet.Themajorityofthebirchtreesinthegeneralareaareinpoorcondition.Inanefforttoenhancebirchreproduction&encouragetransitiontoahardwooddominatedstand,deterioratingbirchwillberemovedtopromotestumpsproutingregeneration.

TwointerpretivesignswillbedevelopedandlocatedwithintheprojectareatoeducatethepublicinFirewiseprinciplesandtheprojectobjectiveofhazardfuelremovaltoreducefirerisk.OtherformsofeducationwillincludethedistributionofFirewisepamphletsinthecommunityandfacetofacepublicencountersonlocation.Additionally,educationalinformationregardingFirewiseconceptsandprojectobjectiveswillbepostedattheCityofKenai,KenaiFireDepartment,andDivisionofForestrySoldotnaOffice.

Statewide Prevention, Safe Burning & Firewise Principles Outreach: $171,865TheprojectwillcreatestatewidePublicServiceAnnouncements(PSAs)includingTVandradio,acomprehensiveAlaskaFirewisewebpageandoverarchingsocialmediacampaign.WorkincludesPlanning/assessmentofexistingoutreach-DOFpersonnelwillworkwithcooperatorstocatalogexistingPSAsandidentifygapsinmessagingandevaluatehow/whereAKFirewiseprinciplesandinformationaresharedonlinetothenstoryboardanindepth,interagencyappropriatepage.

Statewideinformationandeducationtargetingprevention,safeburning,andFirewisewillbeaccomplishedthroughadualapproach;aminimumof3PSAsforTVandtheDOFYoutubeChannel),aminimumof5radioandprintandaDOF-hostedinteragencyFire-

The Fairbanks North Star Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project Phase III will reduce hazardous fuels on 80+ acres and provide prevention education to approximately 5,000 residents living in the Wildland urban Interface.

The fuel reduction project, effective for 30-40 years in the boreal forest, will serve as a visual reminder; continually reinforcing and educating landowners living in the WuI. Project promotes safety message and reinforces Firewise principles in subdivisions in project area reaching 5,000 residents.

Helitack manager bringing in a copter ready for a medical evacuation on a fire.


wisewebpagecontainingin-depthinformationabouttheexistingFirewiseAlaskacampaignandtiestolocalFirewisecampaigns,suchastheFirewiseforAllSeasons,andpres-entsa“one-stop-shop”forAlaskaFirewiseinformation.

PSAmessagedeliverywillbethroughpaidprimetimeairtimeforbothTVandradioPSAs,securingspacefordis-play/printadsandinsertsinpublications(online/printandusingDOFsocialmediasitestopostPSAs).Newsreleases,inclusionoflinkonvariousgraphics/products,&socialmediawilldirectpeopletotheFirewisewebpage.ScopeofworkdirectlytiestoaStateAssessment&ResourceStrategygoalofusingmoderntechnologytoexpandoutreach.

Mentasta Village Defensible Space/Safe Passage Phase I: $300,000TheCommunityWildfireProtectionPlan(CWPP)identi-fiesprioritiesandencouragesFirewisepracticesforresi-dents/landownersandvisitors.Theprojecttreats100acres&includesa300’widehazardousfuelbreakonallsidesofthecommunitywithanadditionallargeclearingof500’neartheballfieldtoserveasasafetyzoneandhelispot/stagingarea.Permitsandauthorizationswillbeobtainedpriortoprojectworkfromlandownerspertainingtore-quirementsandrestrictionsoflanduse.

InZone1(0-25feetstartingfromtheedgeoftheroad),alltreeswillberemovedbyhandfellingand/orbyaFellerBuncher.Thiswillremoveinmanycasesalltreesbetweentheroadandpowerlines.InZone2(25upto100feet),deciduoustreeswillbespaced,mostvolatilesprucetreeswillberemovedleavingafewscatteredhealthysprucetreeswithminimumtreecrownspacingof20’x20’.Ladderfuelsupto5’willberemovedonallremainingsprucetreesinthezone.Treeswillbedirectionalfelledandbunched,whichisproductiveandcosteffective.BunchedtreeswillbeskiddedwithaLogGrappleSkidder,loadedwithGrappleTrailer,anddeckedand/orhauledtoMentastaVillage.TheDivi-sionofForestrywillmanageandsupervisetheproject.Acontracthandcrewwillperformallthelabor.

Theslashandgroundfuelswillberemovedandtakentothevillage,usingacombinationofqualitydirectionalhandfellingandbunching,andmechanizedequipmentforskid-dingandloadingwillensureasafe,efficient,highproduc-tivityoperationwithlowcostandminimaldisturbance.Thisprojectwillhavecompleteutilizationofthematerialforbiomasstoheatapublicschool.Thisprojecthashighpublicacceptanceandwillserveasateachableexampleforthiscommunityandothers.

Aviation Program

2012wasabusyyearfortheaviationstaff.TrainingwasahighprioritywiththetrainingofDennisBlankenbaker,andRandyWeberintheAirAttack/LogisticalandLeadPilotposition.ChiefPilot,DougBurtsdidagreat,safeandveryprofessionaljob!CandySimmonscontinuestobethegluethatholdsouradministrativerequirementstogether.SteveEdwardsandWesWalker,asalways,dothebestofmainte-nance,thanksfortheexcellentandprofessionaljob!

TheDivisioncontinuedtheASM/LeadPlaneprogramtoin-cludethecontinuedtrainingof2Leadplanepilots.ThiswasaccomplishedwithonePilatusPC-7andoneleasedTurbineCommander690aircraft.AFederalExcessPropertyProgramDHC-2Beaver,andtheleasedCommander500S,providedlogisticalsupportandATGStraining.Theseaircrafttotaled350flighthours.WesuccessfullysoldbothPC-7aircraftandarefillingourRFPwithtwoTurbineCommanders.

Thisfireseasonwasthefifthyearofafiveyearcontractfor2oftheConvair580,type2airtankerssuppliedbyConairofAbbotsford,BC.OnewasbasedinPalmerandtheotherattheLaddArmyAirBaseinFairbanks.Withatremen-dousamountofhelpfromtheInteragencyAirTankerBoard,ConairandtheDepartmentofInterior,AviationManagementDirectorate,theConvair580wasgivenfullapprovalbytheAirTankerBoard.ThisallowedourStatecontractedairtankerstobeusedonfederallyprotectedlands.Theseairtankersflew127flighthoursanddroppedover492,000gallonsofretardantinAlaska.

TheDivisionreleasedtheseairtankersinmidJuly,andaspartofourcontract,bothairtankersandadditionalConvair580wasorderedbytheUSForestServicefordutyinthelower48.Throughcontractextensions,theyremainedondutyuntilthemiddleofOctober.

EvergreenHelicoptersprovidedthreelongtermcontractedtype2helicopters,locatedinPalmer,FairbanksandDelta.RogersHelicoptersprovidedatype2helicopterinTok,ERAhelicoptersinKenai,andTemscohelicoptersinMcGrath.TheserotorcraftprovidedplatformsforbothIAHelitack,andlogisticalsupport.Totalflighthourswere619hours.

TheNorthwestCompactwasputintousewithgreateffect,aBritishColumbia“RAPAttack”helicopterwereusedtohelpsupporttheTokarea.AgainthisyearbothCommand-ers,the690and500ShrikewereorderedbytheUSForestServiceforLeadPlane/ASMdutyinMontana,Wyoming,Idaho,SouthDakotaandColoradotillmidOctoberandAirAttackdutyinSouthDakota,Idaho,MontanaandWyomingfor45days,respectively.


safety officer

ThisyearwecontinuedtobuildupontheDivisionofForestrysafetyculture.Asinthepast,AreaOfficeswerevisitedandmanydifferentsafetyclassesweredelivered.ThisincludedtheannualOSHASAFE,PoweredIndustrialTruck,AllTerrainVehicle,andDe-fensiveDrivingmodules.Twenty-twoclasseswereconductedandatotalof354personnelattendedthesetrainingopportunities.Additionally,theDOFSafetyOfficerassistedwiththeAlaskaFireMedicOrientationanddeliveryof:S-230/231,Crew/EngineBoss;&S-260,InteragencyBusinessManagementclasses.

ThiswasthethirdyearfortheDOFEmergencyVehicleOperatordrivinghistoryreviewprogram.Overonehundreddrivingrecordswereexamined;threeoftheapplicantsweredenieddrivingprivilegesuntiltheyrenewedtheirexpired/revokedlicense.Additionally,twelvewarningswereissuedadvisingofimpendingexpiration/pointsaccumulation.

Anothernoteworthyactivity–theDOFSafetyOfficerwasinvitedtomakeapresentationattheInternationalAssociationofWildlandFireSafetySummitinSydney,Australia.ThissummitbroughtwildlandfiresafetyprofessionalsfromAustralia,Canada,China,France,NewZealand,Nigeria,Thailand,andtheUnitedStates.ThisdescriptionofhowthewildlandfireagenciesoftheUnitedStateshaveprogressedfromconductingastandardaccidentinvestigationtoexaminingallpotentialcausalfactors,publishingafacilitativelearninganalysiswaswellreceivedbytheaudience.Learningwaystointerruptachainofeventsleadinguptoanaccident,withoutassessingblame,wasanewconcepttomanyofthisinattendanceandthepresenterreceivedaccoladesforthedelivery.

Safetyisateameffortandworkingtogethertorecognizeourcoworkerswhentheygoaboveandbeyond,especiallywhensafetyisinvolved,isanotherwaytopromoteourespritdecorp.TheDOFSafetyChallengeCoinisawaytorecognizeourcolleagues.DuringtheFallFireReviewinFairbanks,aSilverDOFChallengeCoinwaspresentedtoMar-tinMaricleforhisworkdevelopingandimplementingtheOnLineApplicationSystem(OLAS).AsaresultofhisworkDOFisbetterabletoattractmorevendorswithbetterequipment,trackinspectionsandcontractorperformanceevaluations.

This year we continued to build upon the Division of Forestry safety culture. As in the past, Area Offices were visited and many different safety classes were delivered.

Twenty-two classes were conducted and a total of 354 personnel attended these training opportunities.

Fairbanks AreaTop row L/R: Tasha Shields, Colin MacDonald and Bob Zimmerman in the helicopter.

Second row standing L/R: Avi Shalom, Josh Turnbow, Kevin Meany, Kevin King, Brandon Simmons, Christian Blankenship, Trevor Fulton, Tom Lesatz, Nils Bergan (pilot), Arturo Frizzera, Tim Soliday, Kelsa Shilanski, Mike Goyette, Karis Berrian, Cynthia Beatus and Brian Young.

Third row kneeling L/R: Kaleb Maniaci, Zane Brown, Gordon Amundson, Kathryn Pyne, Eugene Lee, and Cameron Winfrey.

Photo: Ed Sanford.


Anotherspecialacknowledgement,intheformofalaserengravedbirchplaque,wenttoKenaiKodiakAreaTechni-cians.Duringthelasttwoyears,thesededicatedemployeeshaveworkedontheremovalofhazardousbeetlekilltreeswithintheKenaiPeninsulaBorough.Workinginallkindsofweatherandconditions,theseprofessionalshaveworkedmorethan5600hourswithZEROinjuries.

Eachofthesepeopleexemplifywhatdoingitrightisallabout: “making it safe – every task – every time”.

Contemporary Communications for Crisis response

Socialmediaprovidesnon-traditionalwaysfortheDivisionofForestry(DOF)toshareinformationandvisualsandengagewithanonlinecommunityofpublicandmedia.

TheDOFTwitter,Facebook,andYouTubepagescontainvarioushighlightsaboutprograms,events,andactivities,anddirectpeopletowebsitecontent.Inemergency/wild-landfiresituations,theTwitterandFacebookpagespointthepublicandmediatowebsiteswheretime-sensitiveinformationisupdated,providethetimeframesforwhennewinformationwillbereleased,andestablishconnectionstothePublicInformationOfficers(PIO)inthefield.

TheAlaskaVirtualOperationsSupportTeam(AKVOST)“VirtualOperationsSupportTeams(VOST)asappliedtoemergencymanagementanddisasterrecoveryisanefforttomakeuseofnewcommunicationtechnologiesandsocialmediatoolssothatateamoftrustedagentscanlendsup-portviatheinternettothoseon-sitewhomayotherwisebeoverwhelmedbythevolumeofdatageneratedduringadisaster.VOSTeams(VOST)areactivatedtoperformspecificfunctionsinsupportofaffectedorganizations&jurisdictions.EachVOSThasaTeamLeaderthatreportsdirectlytotheaffectedorganization/jurisdiction.”~http://vosg.us/history/

Thissummer,theDOFInformationOfficepartneredwiththeAlaskaType1IncidentManagementTeam(IMT)toestablishtheAlaska“VirtualOperationsSupportTeam(VOST).”TheVOSTconceptwascreatedbytheemergencymanagementcommunityandisbeingdevelopedonalocal,national,andinternationalscale.ThewildlandfireVOSTconcepthasnopublicpresence;itisabackgroundsupportmechanism.TheVOSTworksunderthedirectionofthePIOstoposttheinformationthatisgeneratedbytheinci-dentmanagementorganizationonline.AprimaryVOSTroleisto“listen”bymonitoringwhatisbeingsaidonlineabouttheincidentbythepublicandmedia;whatis“heard”maythenwarrantbeingsharedwithandaddressedbythePIOs.

Alaska’sType1IMTVOSTwasactivatedforthefirsttimeinAlaskaontheBearCreek#4FireattheendofJune.WeatherconditionsmoderatedthefirebehaviorandtheslowerpaceprovidedopportunityforthePIOsandVOSTmemberstostreamlinetheirprocessforinteraction.Thein-cidentalsogavethePIOsthetimetointroducetheconcepttoothermembersoftheIMT.TheAKType1IMTVOSTwasactivatedonceagaininearlySeptemberwhentheIMTwasassignedtotheTrinityRidgeFireinIdaho.

Inacknowledgementoftheever-changingandemergentwaysthatinformationcanbeshared,DOFwillcontinuetoexploresocialmediaopportunitiesforcommunication.

Socialmediadoesnoteliminatetraditionalmeansofinformationsharing,butexpandstheopportunitytogetamessageoutandfurtherdiversifiesandtheaudiencethatmay receive it.

state logistics Center

TheStateLogisticsCenter(SLC)wasfullystaffedthrough-outthe2012fireseasonforthefirsttimeinthreeyears.TheAlaskanfireseasonwasratherbenignbuttheSLCwaskeptbusyduringthesupportoftheBearCreek4fire.SLCwasextremelybusyinsupportofLower48mobilizations.SLChelpedcoordinatecrewmovementwiththeAlaskaInter-agencyCoordinationCenter(AICC).SLCwasinvolvedinhelpingmobilizenumerousagencypersonneland

Fueling a chainsaw. Proper maintenance and safety is a priority.


EmergencyFireFightersfromJulyintoOctober.SinceitwasarelativelyslowAlaskanfireseasonSLCdidnothavetoexpandtoanoff-sitelocation.TheGroundSupportManagerpositionswerekeptbusyinsupportoftheBearCreek4fire.TheNorthernTransportationUnitoperatedoutoftheRandySmithMiddleSchoolandthisturnedouttobeacosteffectivelocationthatprovidedexpandability,betterac-cess,andgreaterefficiencies.

TherewererelativelylownumbersofLower48overheadbroughtintothestateandcon-sequentlytheDivisionofForestrydidnotneedtoestablishamobilizationcenterattheUniversity.

Warehouse

In2012,whichwaswellbelowaverage,theStateFireWarehouseissued$2.2Millioninsuppliesandequipmenttoin-stateincidents.Morethanhalfofthat,$1.2Million,wastotheBearCreekcomplexoffires.

InadditiontoStatefiresthewarehousesystemalsosupportedtheLower48Cachesystemwithjustover$1,000,000insuppliesandsupportedtheSeptemberSeverestormresponseoutofPalmer.WesupportedtheCanadianfirefightingeffortwith2personnel.Allbutoneofour19warehouseandshopemployeeswentonoutsideassignmentsforatotalof68personweeks.

Fire Prevention Workshop: Alan Martin, statewide fire training; Paul Pellegrini, Kenai-Kodiak Area; Greg Arkle, EFF; Bryan Collison, Matsu Area; Doug Albrecht, Mat-Su statewide prevention; Gary Hopkins, EFF Fairbanks Area; Lori Wiertsema, Matsu Prevention; Sharon Kilbourne, Kenai-Kodiak; Mike Trimmer, Copper River; Bruce Swaim, (retired) Delta; John Graft, USFW Tok.

Photo Maggie Rogers.

Social media provides non-traditional ways for the Division of Forestry (DOF) to share information and visuals and engage with an on-line community of public and media.

DOF PagesFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/AK.Forestry

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ak_forestry

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/alaskad-nrdof

Additional VOST Information: http://vosg.us/

For more information, contact [email protected], (907)-356-5511

Northwest Compact Meeting at AlyeskaL to R: Robert Schmoll, Albert Kassel, Washington DNR, Darla Theisen, DOF, State Logistics Coordinator AICC, Jim Newton, Idaho DNR, Doug Grafe, Oregon DNR, John Monzie, Montana DNR, John Brewer, Alberta; Mike Sparks, Yukon Territories, Leo Gillich, British Columbia; missing from photo is Steve Roberts, Saskatchewan and Frank Lepine, NW Territories.


emPloyee reCoGnition

norm mcDonald - 15 years

NormstartedhiscareerinwildlandfirewiththeDivi-sionofForestryasacrewmemberontheAlaskaInterncrewin1989.EarlythatseasonthecrewwasdeployedtotheGooberMountainFireinGlennallen.Afterhisfirstfire,Normwashooked.Normspentthenextsixseasonsworkingontheinterncrewasacrewmember,squadboss,andeventuallyasthecrewforeman.DuringthattimehewasalsothecrewbossfortheMat-SuCrewandworkedonenginesandhelitackasanEFF.

In1995NormhashiredasaTechIIoutofwhatwasthentheBigLakeoffice.Normspenttheeightseasonsworkingonhelitackandengines.In2002,NormwashiredattheHelitackFormanTechIVfortheMat-SuArea.DuringtheMillersreachtrialNormwasassignedtotheStatesdefenseteamasaStateRepresentativeandwitness.Normspenttwomonthsinthecourtroomduringthetrial.In2006NormacceptedwhatwassupposedtobeashorttermactingpositionastheMat-SuArea’sFMO.Fouryearslater,heassumedfullresponsibilityastheArea’sFMO.

AstheMat-SuAreaFMONormhasworkedondevelop-ingtwopermanentStateFireCrews,bothGannettGlacierandPioneerPeak.NormhasbeenamemberoftheEngineCommittee,theAlaskaCrewCommittee,andtheMat-SuFireChiefsAssociation.

Whennotatwork,Normisanactivemember(retired)oftheMat-SuMaulersRugbyClubandenjoysskiingwithhisdaughter,fishing,huntingandhikingwithhisfriendsandfamily.

steve elwell - 15 years

StevestartedwithStateemploymentin1997astheAvia-tionSupervisorfortheDepartmentofPublicSafety.HeoversawtheStateTroopersfleetof46aircraftand50pilotsforsixandahalfyears.IntheWinterof2004,thenChiefofFireandAviation,JoeStam,recruitedStevetofillthesamepositionwithintheDivisionofForestry.StevecametoForestryinFebruary2004andduringthenext9monthsexperiencedthebusiestFireSeasononrecord,trulya“trialbyfire.” Stevehasoverseenthetransitionintheaviationsectionthatnowbringssixmediumhelicopters(Type2)totheDivi-sion,evolutiontoallturbinepowered,Federallyapprovedairtankers,saleoftheDivision’sPilatusPC-7LeadPlaneaircraft,andtheacquisitionandownershipoftheDivi-sion’snewestLeadPlaneaircraft,twoturbinepoweredTwinCommanders.StevecontinuestopromoteandmaintaintheAviationstaff ’scontinuedoutstandingsafetyrecordofzeroaccidentsorincidents. SteveisalsoinvolvedbothNationallyandInternation-allywithWildlandFireAviationAssociations.HeistheAssociationofStateForestersStaterepresentativetotheInteragencyAirtankerBoardandwasrecentlynominatedtotheHelicopterAssociationInternational(HAI)Govern-mentServicesCommittee,andontheFirePilotaccredita-tionworkinggroup.SteveisalsotheStateofAlaska,FireandAviationrepresentativetotheCanadianAirTankerSafetyBoard. Steveisalsoarated20,000hourAirlineTransportPilotinbothfixed-wingandrotor-wingaircraft,Certifiedmulti-engine,InstrumentFlightInstructorinbothfixed-wingandrotor-wing,andhasaAirframe&PowerPlantmechanicsratingwithInspectionAuthorization.


blair Acheson - 15 years

AftergraduatingfromHighSchoolin1968,BlairworkedtwoyearsfortheCaliforniaDivisionofForestry(CDF)inBeaumont,CAandoneyearasafiremaninSanDiegoCounty.AfterbeingdraftedintotheArmy,heservedontheFireDepartmentatFt.Wainwright.Afterhisdischarge,BlairworkedfortheCDFforanotheryearandthenspenttwoyearsworkingatafactoryinMaryland.

FromMarylandhemadehiswaybacktoAlaska,wherehelivedasubsistencelife-styleforseveralyearsandalsoattendedUAFintermittently.Intheearlytomid80sheworkedasanEFFinFairbanksaswellaspoundingnailsandcontinuinghiseducation.Afternumerousdegreechangesandatotalof250credits,hereceivedaB.S.inNaturalResourcesManagementontheAgricultureoptionin1986.In1989hewashiredasaTechIIIattheStateNurserywhereheworkeduntilitsdemisein1991.HetransferredtoVCRAasaDispatcherandlaterswitchedovertoEngineBosswherehecontinuestoday.Betweenfightingfires,you’lloftenfindBlairtendingtothetreeseed-lingshegrowsatthestation.

Diane Campbell – 15 years

DianestartedherstateservicewithAlaskaDepartmentofFishandGameinDillinghamAlaskaasatechnician.ThemajorityofherearlyyearswerespentwithCommFishcollectingtestfishingandescapementdataforherringandsalmonstocks.Duringthecommfish“off-season”Dianecouldbefoundassistingwithwildlifeandsportfishprojectsthroughoutthestate.Sherememberswellwhencomputersfirstmadetheirappearancefordataanalysisandmappinginthebiologyfield.Intheearly1990’sDianetransferredtoapositionwithCommFishintheSoldotnaofficewheresheremaineduntilleavingStateserviceforfamilyreasons.In2008DianereturnedtoStateserviceacceptingapositionwiththeDivisionofForestryasaWildlandFireDispatcherattheKenai/Kodiakareaoffice.Shehascompletedmul-tiplefireassignmentsinAlaskaandOregonoverthepastfiveyearsandislookingforwardtowhateverchallengesthefuturewillbring.


kathryn “kt” Pyne – 15 years of service

KTtookarathercircuitousroutethroughhercareertohercurrentpositionastheFairbanksAreaForester.HercareerinnaturalresourcesbeganwiththeBLMwheresheworkedasaLandLawExaminerandcompletedathreeyearcom-mitmentundertheFireFamiliarizationProgram.Inthecourseofcompletingherresponsibilitiesunderthatpro-gramKTattendeddispatchtrainingandshesoonthereafteracceptedadispatchassignmenttoFairbanksAreaworkingforSueClark.FollowingthatassignmentshetransferredinBLMtoaseasonalpositionatAlaskaFireServiceworkinganIAdeskatAICC.InhersparetimeKTcompletedherBSinBiologyandcontinuedwithherMastersDegree.AllthisontopofherVeterinaryTechnicianAssociate’sDegree.

AftercompletingherMastersDegreeinNaturalResourceManagementatUAFin1996KTacceptedafulltimesea-sonaldispatchpositionatDeltaForestry.ShortlythereaftershetransferredtoSouthwestAreawheresheworkedforthreeseasons.FairbanksAreaFMOTomKurthhiredKTastheLeadDispatchforFairbanksAreaandfromthereshecontinuedtoascendtheladder,servingastheStewardshipForesterintheinterior,thestatewideCommunicationsForester,andnowastheFairbanksAreaForestersinceAugustof2011.InherbrieftenureastheAreaForestershehasprovidedsolidleadershipandhasbuiltastrongteamthatspansthefunctionalareasofresponsibilityintheof-fice.KTcontinuestoavailherselftoopportunitiestobothprofessionalandpersonalgrowthandwillgraduatefromLeadershipFairbanksinMaywiththeclassof2013.ItiswidelyrecognizedthatKT’spotentialislimitedonlybyheropportunity.


Arturo frizerra – 15 years of service

Inthe70’sArturocametoAlaskafromNewYorktoclimbMoose’Tooth.Howeverduetoweather,heneverclimbedtheMountain.HemethiswifewhowasattendingtheUAFTheater Department.

Earlyinhiscareer,Arturowasinshowbusiness.Hegradu-atedfromNewYork’sSchoolofMotionPictureProduction.Withshowbusiness,hetraveledtheworldfromfilminginVietnamduringthewar,totouringwithMiriamMakebaperforminginEuropeandAfrica.ArturoalsoworkedforVanMorrison,andJudyCollins.Hewasanassistantpro-ducerforthefirstWoodstock.

In1972ArturoenrolledattheUniversityofFairbanksinTheater,andlaterchangedhismajortoAnthropology.ForthreeyearsArturoworkedasastudentanthropologyinternwiththeNationalParkServiceonthe14HLANILCAproj-ects.AnotherprojectwasanArcheologicalresearchfortheHaulRoad,whereresearchersliterallywalkedfromtheYukonRiverCrossingtoColdfoot.

ArturowashiredonasEmergencyFireFighter(EFF)forFairbanksArea.ArturoworkedforUpperYukonZoneattheCentral,Alaskaoffice.HewaslaterpromotedtothedetectionspecialistpositionforUpperYukonandTananaZone.AfterworkingwithAFS,ArturoworkedwithDivi-sionofForestryastheResourceTechnicianII.ArturoisnowtheFairbanksAreaDispatchcoordinator

WhenArturoisnotworking,helovesteachingfencing.HehasworkedwithUSOlympicCoachSebastianDosSantosandfellowAlaskanWayneJohnson.

Inaddition,theFrizzeras’havetakentogrowingPeonies.Thisistheplantation’sthirdgrowingseason.Nextyear,theplantsshouldbeproducingflowersforsale.


Douglas Albrecht - 20 years

Douglasfollowedinhisfather’sfootstepsbyleavingNe-braskaatanearlyagetoexploreTheGreatLand.AftertwoyearsofwrestlingattheUniversityofNebraskawhilework-ingtowardsadegreeinnaturalresources,DouglaslefttheMidwestfortheruggedmountainsofAlaska.

DouglasworkedasaloggerinTalkeetnaforafewyearspriortocompletingForestryschoolatAVTECin1990.DouglasbeganhiscareerwiththeDOFasaninterninSoldotnain1991.ThefollowingyearLonGreenoughofBigLakehiredhimasaForestTechnician2.Inadditiontohiseducation,Douglasspenttheprevious6years(1986-1992)protectinghiscountryintheUSAFANGinFireCrashRescue.

BigLakeForestrymovedtoTRC(TrunkRoadCenter),andthentothePalmerairportin2000.DouglashasbeeninvolvedwiththePalmerhelibase,thenfocusedhiseffortsinHelitackOperations.

In2004DouglastransferredoutofOperationstoMat-SuPrevention.In2006DouglaswaspromotedtoRegionalFireTrainingandPreventionOfficerasaForester1.

Currently,Douglasisusinghisexpertiseinstrategic planningtocreateandimplementastatewidePreventionplanwhichwillstreamlinetheoperationsprocesstobestsupportthoseofficersinthefieldandhasdevelopeda trainingcourseforpreventionofficers.HeisalsoutilizingtheFireEducationprogramandwillcompletehis EmergencyServicesdegreeatUniversityofAlaska Fairbanks.TodateheholdstherankofWildfireResourceTechnician5asStatewidePreventionandTrainingOfficerfor Alaska Division of Forestry.

Arlene Weber-sword – 20 years

ArlenefirstbeganworkingfortheDivisionofForestryin1985astheLogisticsTechnicianinMcGrath.PriortoheremploymentwithForestrysheworkedforBLMandtheAlaskaFireServiceonasuppressioncrewandindispatch.In1995ArleneacceptedthepositionasForestry’s CommunicationsandTechnicalSystemsCoordinatorandservedinthatcapacityforsevenyears. AsForestry’sFireStaffOfficersince2002,ArlenecoordinatesobtainingandtheadministrationoffederalStateFireAssistance, VolunteerFireAssistance,AmericanRecoveryand ReinvestmentActandWesternWUICompetitivegrantfunding aswellasprovidinggeneralstaffsupporttothefireprogram.

ArlenehasservedonnumerouscommitteesovertheyearsincludingtheAlaskaWildlandFireCoordinatingGroup’sPreventionandEducationCommittee,Weather CommitteeandFuelscommittee. Arlenewasthefireprogram’srepresentativeforthedevelopmentofAlaska’s2010StateAssessmentofForestResourcesandStrategyandForestActionPlan.Arlenesupportsthefireprogram duringperiodsofheavyfireactivityprimarilybyassistingtheStateCoordinatorattheAlaskaInteragency CoordinationCenterinFairbanks.

ArleneresidesinGirdwoodwithherfamilyandenjoysreading,painting,drawingandiceskating.


sue Christensen – retirement

SueChristensenbeganworkingfirein1975asanEFFforfouryearsattheBLMwarehouseandthenworkedforBLMTraining1978-1979.SuestartedinApril1979atFairbanksAreaForestryasaForestryTechnician,sheretiredJune2011after32yearsofservice.SuewasthefirstwomantobehiredatFASForestry.ShebeganworkinpreventionasalookoutontheBirchHilllookouttower,thelastyearthetowerwasstaffed.

SueworkedinsuppressionasanEngineandHelitackcrewleader.SheworkedseveralyearsintheFairbankswarehouse.

In1987SuetransferredtoDispatchatFAS.In1990shebecametheLeadDispatcherandLogisticsCoordinatorforFAS.In1996shetransferredtoAICCastheStateIntelligenceCoordinator.In2001SueacceptedtheAlaskaInteragencyCoordinationCenterIntelligenceCoordinatorposition.

SueservedontheAlaskaT2TeamsasaFinanceSectionChiefsince1988.ShehashadmanyassignmentsasaCrewAdministrativeRepresentativewhenthecrewsaremobilizedtotheLower48andshehasbeenassignedasaSupervisory/SupportDispatcherandnumerousfinanceassignments.

Since1988,SuehastaughtnumerousIncidentBusinessManagementclassesfortheStateofAlaska,theUniversityofAlaska,andtheinteragencycommunity.Sueiscontinu-ingherteachingcareerinFireBusinessManagementforUAF,DOF,andAFS.Sueenjoysreading,gardening,takingcruises,anddrivinghersportscar.

WelookforwardtoworkingagainwithSueonanyassign-mentsshechoosestotake.


frank Cole - retirement

FrankColeretiredaftermanyyearsofservice.HestartedwiththeDivisionofForestryinAprilof1979andretiredinNovemberof2012.FrankwasonthefirsthelitackcrewwiththeDivisionofForestryandheworkedinseveraljobs(foresttechnician,dispatcher,intelligencecoordinator,firebehaviorspecialist).FrankretiredastheStateLogisticsCenterAssistantmanagerandheservedastheactingSLCmanagerformostof2011.Frankrespondedtomanyfireassignmentsthroughouthiscareer,inAlaska,andalloverthecountry.

Frankwasmeticulousinhisfirebehaviorworkandhepro-videdaccurateinformationandadvicetoAreapersonnelduringthefireseason.SomeofhisworkwasinstrumentalintheMillersReachcase.

Frankplanstospendmoretimewithhisfamilyandpur-suingotherinterestshehasputasideforhismanyyearsworkingwiththestate.


Division of forestry DireCtoryState Forester’s Office550WestSeventhAvenue,Suite1450Anchorage,Alaska99501-3566269-8463fax:269-8931

State Forester“John“”Chris””Maisch,451-2666”

Deputy State ForesterDeanBrown,269-8476

Admin. Services ManagerKeriHubbard,269-8477

Chief of Fire and AviationTomKurth,451-2675

Forest Resources Program Mgr.JimEleazer,269-8473

Forest PlanningJimSchwarber,451-2704

Community Forestry ProgramPatriciaJoyner,269-8465

Forest Health & Protection(InsectsandDisease)RogerBurnside,269-8460

Forest Stewardship Program(LandownerAssistance)101AirportRoadPalmer,Alaska99645JeffGraham,761-6309fax:761-6201

State Fire OperationsP.O.Box35005Ft.Wainwright,Alaska99703356-5850fax:356-5855RobertSchmoll,OperationsForester

Logistics:356-5645Intelligence:356-5674AirAttack:356-5852Training,Anchorage:269-8441AICCCoordinator:356-5682

State Fire Support3700AirportWayFairbanks,Alaska99709-4699451-2608fax:451-2690MartinMaricle,FireSupportForester

Aviation Program101AirportRoadPalmer,Alaska99645761-6271Fax:761-6273SteveElwell,AviationMgr.

NORtHERN REgiONNorthern Region Office3700AirportWayFairbanks,Alaska99709-4699451-2660fax:451-2690MarkEliot,RegionalForesterStateLogistics:451-2680AviationMgmt:451-2691StateCommunications:451-2810

Fairbanks Area Office451-2600fax:458-6895K.T.Pyne,AreaForesterFireline:451-2626FireOps.Fax:451-2633Reception:451-2660Logistics:451-2680AviationMgmt.:451-2691

Delta Area OfficeP.O.Box1149DeltaJunction,Alaska99737(Mi.267.5RichardsonHwy.)895-4225fax:895-2125AlEdgren,AreaForesterFireline:895-4227

tok Area OfficeBox10(Mile123.9TokCutoff)Tok,Alaska99780883-1400fax:883-5135JeffHermanns,AreaForesterFireline:883-3473

Valdez/Copper River Area OfficeP.O.Box185Glennallen,Alaska99588(Mi.110RichardsonHwy.)822-5534fax:822-8600GaryMullen,AreaForester

COAStAl REgiONCoastal Region Office2417TongassAve.Ste213Ketchikan,Alaska99901225-3070fax:247-3070MichaelCurran,RegionalForester

Coastal Region Office Palmer Office101AirportRoadPalmer,Alaska99645Reception761-6289Dispatch:761-6220AviationMgmt.:761-6229

Mat-Su/Southwest Area Office761-6301Fax761-6319KenBullman,AreaForesterFireline:761-6311BurnPermit:761-6338

Mcgrath Field Office (Seasonal)Box130McGrath,Alaska99627524-3010fax:524-3932FireManagementOfficer:VacantFireline:524-3366

Kenai-Kodiak Area Office42499SterlingHighwaySoldotna,Alaska99669(Mi.92.5SterlingHwy.)260-4200fax:260-4205HansRinke,AreaForesterFireline:260-3473BurnPermit:260-4269Dispatch:260-4232

Northern Southeast Area OfficeP.O.Box263(GatewayBuilding)Haines,Alaska99827766-2120fax:766-3225RoyJosephson,AreaForester

Southern Southeast Area Office2417TongassAvenue,Suite213Ketchikan,Alaska99901225-3070fax:247-3070PatPalkovic,AreaForester


Admin Ops Manager

Keri Hubbard

Northern Region AdministrationKaren Gordon

Coastal Region Administration

Erin Adkins

State Forester/Director

Chris Maisch

Coastal Region Forester

Mike Curran

Mat-Su AreaKen Bullman

Kenai/Kodiak AreaHans Rinke

Northern SE AreaRoy Josephson

Southern SE AreaPat Palkovic

Deputy DirectorDean Brown

Chief of Fire & AviationTom Kurth

Aviation SupervisorSteve Elwell

Fire Operations Forester

Robert Schmoll

Safety OfficerRocky Ansell

Statewide Logistics & WarehouseMartin Maricle

Training & Fire Prevention

Cindy Forrest-Elkins

Fire Staff OfficerArlene Weber-Sword

Forest Resources Program Manager

Jim Eleazer

Forest PlannerJames Schwarber

Forest HealthRoger Burnside

Forest StewardshipJeff Graham

Community ForestryPatricia Joyner

Northern Region Forester

Mark Eliot

Delta AreaAl Edgren

Fairbanks AreaK.T. Pyne

Tok AreaJeff Hermanns

Valdez/Copper River Area

Gary Mullen

Board of Forestry

Information OfficerMaggie Rogers

Division of forestry orGAniZAtionAl CHArt


2013 budget NOTE: Dollar figures are in thousands (e.g., $40.5 is $40,500.00) FOREST MGMT FuNDING SOuRCES & DEVELOPMENT FIRE PREPAREDNESS FIRE ACTIVITY TOTALS General Funds $3,800.6 $16,894.5 $6,663.3 $27,358.4Federal Funds $1,209.6 $1,653.6 $11,960.4 $14,823.6Capital Improvement Receipts (Fed, GF, & SDPR) $304.3 $897.4 0 $1,201.7Interagency Receipts $488.1 $392.5 0 $880.6Timber Receipts $842.1 0 0 $842.1Other (SDPR) $55.0 0 $1,500.0 $1,555.0totAls $6,699.7 $19,838.0 $20,123.7 $46,661.4 POSITIONS Permanent Full-Time 45 33 0 33 Permanent Part-Time/Seasonal 5 186 0 186 Non-Permanent 13 0 0 0 Forest MAnAgeMent & develoPMent coMPonent RENEWABLE RESOuRCE DEVELOPMENT & SALES COASTAL REGION NORTHERN REGION STATEWIDE TOTALSBoard of Forestry 0 0 $18.0 $18.0Forest Practices $599.1 0 $70.8 $669.9Forest Management $1,189.3 $1,405.9 $670.2 $3,265.3Anchorage School District Interns $52.6 0 0 $52.6Interagency Receipts 0 0 $488.1 $488.1Stat. Desig. Program Receipts (SDPR) 0 0 $55.0 $55.0Federal Cooperative Forestry Assistance 0 0 $1,209.6 $1,209.6Capital Improvement Receipts (Other) 0 0 $304.3 $304.3Subtotals $1,841.0 $1,405.9 $2,816.0 $6,062.8Director’s Office 0 0 $636.9 $636.9coMPonent totAls $1,841.0 $1,405.9 $3,452.9 $6,699.7 Fire suPPression PrePAredness coMPonent COASTAL REGION NORTHERN REGION STATEWIDE TOTALSPreparedness $3,798.1 $3,344.6 $9,751.9 $16,894.5Interagency Receipts 0 0 $392.5 $392.5Federal Cooperative Forestry Assistance 0 0 $1,653.6 $1,653.6Capital Improvement Receipts (Other) 0 0 $897.4 $897.4coMPonent totAls $3,798.1 $3,344.6 $12,695.4 $19,838.0


2012 ActuAls NOTE: Dollar figures are in thousands (e.g., $40.5 is $40,500.00) FOREST MGMT FuNDING SOuRCES & DEVELOPMENT FIRE PREPAREDNESS FIRE ACTIVITY TOTALS General Funds $3,788.4 $16,273.9 $14,274.7 $34,337.0Federal Funds $875.7 $954.9 $12,651.3 $14,481.9Capital Improvement Receipts (Fed, GF, & SDPR) $308.3 1,418.2 0 $1,726.5Interagency Receipts $673.8 $372.3 $47.9 $1,094.0Timber Receipts $147.7 0 0 $147.7Other (SDPR) $8.7 0 $52.7 $61.4totAls $5,802.6 $19,019.3 $27,026.6 $51,848.5 POSITIONSPermanent Full-Time 45 33 0 78 Permanent Part-Time /Seasonal 5 186 0 191 Interns 13 0 0 13 Forest MAnAgeMent & develoPMent coMPonent RENEWABLE RESOuRCE DEVELOPMENT & SALES COASTAL REGION NORTHERN REGION STATEWIDE TOTALSBoard of Forestry 0 0 $25.1 $25.1Forest Practices $621.6 0 $91.8 $713.4Forest Management $1,022.8 $1,266.1 $385.5 $2,674.4Anchorage School District Interns $36.2 0 0 $36.2Interagency Receipts $47.1 $23.6 $603.1 $673.8Stat. Desig. Program Receipts 2.7 6.0 0 $8.7 (SDPR) Federal Cooperative Forestry Assistance 0 0 $875.7 $875.7Capital Improvement Receipts (Other) $188.8 $89.6 $29.9 $308.3Subtotals $1,919.2 $1,385.3 $2,011.1 $5,315.6Director’s Office 0 0 $486.9 $486.9coMPonent totAls $1,919.2 $1,385.3 $2,498.0 $5,802.6 Fire suPPression PrePAredness coMPonent COASTAL REGION NORTHERN REGION STATEWIDE TOTALSPreparedness $4,004.7 $4,106.6 $8,162.6 $16,273.9Interagency Receipts $57.4 $83.6 $231.3 $372.3Federal Cooperative Initial Attack $106.0 $149.2 $699.7 $954.9Capital Improvement Receipts (Other) $100.1 $210.6 $1,107.5 $1,418.2coMPonent totAls $4,268.2 $4,550.0 $10,201.1 $19,019.3

The mission of the Division of Forestry is to proudly serve Alaskans through forest management and wildland fire protection.

Alaska Department of

NATURALRESOURCES

1. Snake River fire in Dillingham. Photo Tom Dean.2. STC helilogging on Dall Island. Photo Nan Floyd.3. Bear Creek #4 fire. Photo Matt Snyder.4. Salcha hazard controlled burn.

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annual report 2012 - alaskaforestry.alaska.gov/assets/pdfs/overview/2012annualreport.pdfthis system...

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