Well, alot has taken place in PCFC's busy life!  We apologize for the delay in passing it on to all of you.  Since our great success with the first annual Forest Expo in May (see previous article), we have continued to sharpen our focus on our education programs.

Toni Fairchild, Priest River Lamanna High School's Forestry educator for the past three years, has moved to Utah.  In July, at PCFC's monthly meeting, we invited the new Forestry teacher, Jared Hughes to come and meet the Board and experience our support for these programs.  Jared has been with PRLHS for ten years.  We look forward to working with Jared and all  the students who choose to partake in the exciting field of forestry. 

In July the final report for the Willow Creek erosion study was written.  This study focused on using a wood strand product to reduce the amount of erosion on a decommissioned road in the Willow Creek basin north of Priest Lake.  The 2 year study was done in conjunction with Dr. Randy Foltz of the Rocky Mountain Research Station and Hydrologist, Jill Cobb of the Priest Lake District of the Forest Service.  Wood strands (a material made out of wood and looking much like straw) overwhelmingly out performed the wood chips and wheat straw it was compared to.  The Liz Claiborne/Art Ortenberg Foundation helped in funding this study through PCFC.

More signs of progress include PCFC's new office headquarters.  As of August 15th, PCFC moved across the street from Keyser House to 223 Main Street.  The new spacious office will include many resource materials for anyone who needs them, as well as a conference area for our monthly meetings.  It is important to PCFC that the general public realize this Resource Center is open to all.  By the end of the year, we hope to have window displays centering on our local forest environments.

Also noteworthy is the progress of the Highway 57 Corridor Project.  The Forest Service has put together a maintenance proposal for the highway that would, essentially, clear the right-of-way from about milepost 5 to milepost 40.  The public comment period closed on August 10th.  The FS project leader says the comments were mostly positive.  The scene is now set for the required field work and analysis reports to be completed and for a decision memo to be signed.  With luck, (meaning a low intensity fire season so that FS personnel aren't called out), we could see the project advertised by the end of the year.  This is good news.  PCFC has been facilitating this important safety project since December 2005!

PCFC recently sent out their quarterly newsletter in August with all these updates.  This newsletter is available to anyone who would like to put their name and address on our mailing list.  Get a hold of us at 208-448-0210.

The sun came up in a crystal blue sky and the birds welcomed 100 6th grade students and their 4 teachers, 15 Advanced Forestry students and their teacher and a host of parent chaparones to the Priest River Experimental Forest. The first annual Forest Expo rounded up 32 volunteers who gave everyone a fun, educational and exciting time.

The 10 stations, set up around the forest with festive white canopies, hosted one of ten teams at a time, showing them the different aspects of the forests that surround us. Forest Products had the kids digging around a trough of cedar chips trying to find quarters after they correctly guessed how much that trough of chips is worth.

Tree I.D. had kids pacing through the forest identifying all the major trees of North Idaho. Fish and Wildlife had an aquarium with fish, bird feeders and exciting stories. Forest Recreation had the kids participate in a skit depicting a "good camper" and a "bad camper" ~ complete with trash and a distracting, poorly maintained motorbike. Tree Management and Health had the kids using an increment borer to take core samples from trees.

The Harvesting Demonstration got the kids up close to a Valmet Harvester and Forwarder so they could all experience the high tech equipment being used in our forests.

Papermaking was a big deal with each student producing a piece of real paper embedded with dried flowers, leaves and ferns. The Experimental Forest Museum gave all the students a chance to see the remarkable history of the forest and the gadgets that were used in the past.

Each student also got up close and personal with the weather station which transmits all the weather information for the Priest River area.

The Fire in the Forest station started contained fires to explain the characteristics of fire and then demonstrated a small prescribed fire and put it out with a tanker truck. This was quite the hit.

The day closed out in the group area where Mr. Fulton's Team One was presented with their trophies for winning first place in this year's State Forestry Contest. Way to go!!

PCFC has been inudated with praise and thank you's from all those involved in this wonderful day. But most importantly, PCFC wants to thank the great volunteers and all the groups who donated to this program:

Mike Reynolds Logging, Helping Our Hometown, the Priest River Experimental Forest, and the Bonner County Commissioners.

THANKS! And join us next year.

For those of you who have been following the designing of PCFC's Forest Exposition for the Priest River 6th graders, we are only a month away from this exciting day long field trip!  On April 19th we will be holding an orientation meeting (and chili lunch) for all of our partners and volunteers.  The lunch will be held at the Experimental Forest conference room.  We will discuss the stations, the station schedule and the set-up of the Expo the day before.  Then we will break into small groups so that the station leaders can figure out their props and learning materials.  We are always needing more volunteers, so feel free to join us.  Give Liz a call at 208-448-0210.

The Priest Community Forest Connection (PCFC) has been gathering the pieces necessary to create a Forest Exposition for the Priest River Elementary (PRE) 6th graders for months and those pieces are starting to fit together.  After an exciting meeting with Bob Denner at the Priest River Experimental Forest (PREF) last Fall and with the four 6th grade teachers at PRE, the date for the Forest Expo was set: May 15th, 2008.

PCFC has been recruiting volunteers for the daylong Expo all winter and that list is starting to become impressive.  But that work is not yet over.  We have 12 teams of students, each needing "team leaders".  There are 9 Expo stations, all of which need volunteers to teach and involve the students.  There are logistics needing volunteers, such as bag lunches, transportation, games and entertainment at the Expo.  This sounds tempting, doesn't it?

A workbook has been created by PCFC for the teachers to engage the students in their awesome forest heritage.  This workbook will be used for several weeks before the Expo.  The classroom lessons include: Tree Indentification, Forest Management/Forest Products, Fire in the Forest, Forest Wildlife and Fisheries and Forest Recreation.  The Idaho Forest Products Commission has graciously offered to provide learning kiosks, tree I.D. pamphlets and pencils and bookmarkers.  But we are still looking for help in providing team hats and the workbooks for the students and help for providing lunches and transportation.

Nine stations will be set up for the students at the Priest River Experimental Forest: Tree Identification, Forest Management/Forest Products, Fire in the Forest, Forest Wildlife and Fisheries, Forest Recreation, the PREF Weather Station, PREF History, a tree harvesting demonstration, and if it is practical a local timber mill tour.

A rather energetic program?  You bet!  There's lots to know and lots to share when it comes to our forests.  PCFC is thrilled to have this challenge and opportunity along with so many partners to benefit our 6th grade students.  Join us!  Give the PCFC office a call ~ 208-448-0210 or e-mail executive director Liz at lizjg35@hotmail.com.

On June 24th, with much ado, Priest Community Forest Connection hosted a Lakeface-Lamb party at the all new Reynold's Creek Recreation Area. Brat, burgers and alot of laughter took place as nearly 50 people celebrated the success of the Lakeface-Lamb Stewardship Project.

Forest Service personnel (Norgy Asleson came all the way from Helena, MT!), past and present PCFC members and a number of the sub-contractors who have participated in the project brought delicious food and reminisced about the magnitude of the project and the ups and downs that have taken place. But the focus of the afternoon was to enjoy the relationships that have formed and will no doubt continue.

PCFC would like to thank everyone who has helped us make the Lakeface-Lamb project such a success. Our communities have benefitted from all of your efforts and that is unmatchable.

AND check out the "100 Years of Logging in Priest River" mural that's currently being put on the retaining wall along Highway 2 in Priest River. Very exciting! Congradulations Priest River Chamber of Commerce. (You can view the whole mural at www.priestriver.org/mural.)

PCFC has helped the Rocky Mountain Research Lab (RMRL) in Moscow, ID secure funds from Red Lodge Clearinghouse to finish a study on the use of wood strands to reduce erosion.  Dr. Randy Foltz of the RMRL and Jill Cobb, hydrologist with the Priest Lake District of the Forest Service (FS), developed a two part study on the use of wood strands.  This study is called the "Willow Creek Restoration Project."

Wood strands look like uniform sticks (about 1/4 inch wide) that vary in length (between 2 and 7 inches).  When these sticks are used to cover soil, they tend to interlock with one another, helping to reduce erosion of unstable soils.  Other materials that are traditionally used include hay or straw.  Wood strands have three clear advantages: 1) they do not carry noxious weeds; 2) they are available when certified weed-free straw/hay is not; 3) there is a possibility to produce and market this product locally out of currently under used forest materials.

The first year of this project study did show that wood strands are holding at 70% of their original effectiveness, whereas straw drops to 60% effectiveness.  The purpose of this second year of research will show the longevity and effectiveness of wood strands compared to traditional materials and compared to nothing being used for erosion control at all.

PCFC is excited about this new partnership with RMRL and the FS.  We hope to find that this product will be recommended for future use in many different restoration projects.  It could help local forests, local businesses and local contractors. 

We'll try and post some photos of the Willow Creek Restoration Project as we monitor it over the summer.  We'll also make sure we post the results of this study at the end of the year.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Priest Community Forest Connection is soliciting proposals from qualified contractors for some road construction and some road obliteration and conversion to trail work on the Priest Lake Ranger District, Priest Lake, Idaho. Interested bidders may obtain a bidder’s packet by contacting Steve Gibson, Project Manager, at 509.447.5916.  The RFP's are also posted on our website at www.communityforests.com.   (Click on "subcontractors.")   Proposals are due in the PCFC office no later than 1 PM, April 9, 2007.

PCFC celebrated the Lakeface-Lamb contract transfer at their monthly meeting on February 7th.  As the official prime contractor on this Forest Stewardship Project, PCFC has broken away from their longtime partner, the Priest River Development Corporation.  PRDC's financial support and highly respected stability helped form the foundation that PCFC will build off of for years to come.  PCFC is immensely grateful for the opportunity that PRDC gave us. 

Operation Plan 2007 was reviewed and okayed at the February meeting as well.  It will be a busy year with the Lakeface-Lamb project.  The goal is that we will wrap things up by the end of 2007.  Included in this year's activities:

~ timber harvesting on an additional 58 acres

~ road maintenance, obliteration and realignment        

~ the completion of the Recreation Shelter

~ slashing and piling of hazardous fuels 

~ burning 

~ tree planting 

~ the construction of a River Access 

~ the creation and installation of Interpretive Signs

Some of these activities are out for bid.  For further information, please contact the PCFC office @ 208-448-0210.

On top of all those exciting activities, PCFC is helping to facilitate the designing of a project known as the 57 Corridor Project.  This will involve the clearing of the right-of-way along State Highway 57 between Priest River and Priest Lake.  The removal of brush and trees along the highway will greatly improve visibility, the melting of ice and snow, and help to reduce traffic accidents.

Another project in the works is the development of a Family Forestry Expo for area youngsters and their families.  Stay tuned for updates on that exciting venture.

And as always, please contact us with ideas, suggestions and any information you feel would be helpful to our goal of hands-on, community-based solutions to our interdependent social, ecological and economic issues.  Thanks!

 UPDATES ~

The Priest Community Forest Connection (PCFC) and the Lamanna Law Firm have completed the necessary paperwork the Forest Service requires to transfer the Lakeface-Lamb Forest Stewardship contract.  Once this is approved, PRDC will no longer be listed as the prime contractor.  The PCFC will take full responsibility for the remainder of the contract.  The PCFC Board of Directors have been dealing with the day-to-day activities of the stewardship contract since May of 2002.  This transfer is taking place to benefit PCFC’s goals for the community and local forests by promoting beneficial forest projects in our region.  This enables local contractors to perform the work.  With the transfer of the Lakeface-Lamb contract, PCFC will gain recognition as well as a reputation for accomplishing successful activities, helping them to acquire future projects.

LAKEFACE-LAMB

 2006 IS A GREAT SUCCESS 

It’s been a very busy summer and Fall for the Lakeface-Lamb project.  After bringing Steve Gibson onboard, he and Liz Johnson-Gebhardt have shared the job of coordinating, implementing and inspecting a number of diverse activities. 

Of great importance is the burning of nearly 200 acres of slash that was left from harvest activities.  During the summer, PRDC and the FS came to an agreement to have the FS take back an additional 192 acres.  A 4200 ft. Riparian Fence was built along Lamb Creek on the Austin Raines ranch to prevent cattle from entering the water.  Clearing and grubbing, grading and gravel improvements were made on roads 1344, 1345, 1395, 313, 310, and the Lakeshore Road (237).  A new vault toilet was installed at the old CCC group camping area at Reynolds Creek.  And one of the most exciting activities taking place is the construction of the long awaited RECREATION SHELTER!  

Note: This is known to the Forest Service as the Warming Hut, but due to the design, which seems much more summer suitable, it has been lovingly renamed by the public.

 In 2007, we'll show play by play photos of the Recreation Hut's construction and an expose on PARADYCE BUILDERS, LLC.

At eight o’clock in the morning, it’s a bit unusual to have over 30 high school students buzzing with energy and enthusiasm. And on Friday, the 13^th at that! But the Priest River Lamanna High School Forestry class not only exhibited energy and enthusiasm, they boarded their bus prepared with impressive knowledge and headed north to the Priest Lake Information Center.

Greeted by Forest Service Forester, Jennifer Costich-Thompson and accompanied by educator-extraordinaire, Toni Fairchild, the students embarked on the first leg of their fieldtrip: the use of forestry instruments and the identification of tree, shrub and weed species.

Costich-Thompson demonstrated how to use a DBH (diameter-at-breast-height) and distance measuring tape, a clinometer (to measure the height of trees) and a increment borer (which exposes growth rings to show the age, growth ratio and health of trees). Many of the students stepped up and used the instruments.

Then down the Chipmunk Falls trail they all headed, Tree Species Handbooks and student-created recording booklets in hand. Costich-Thompson pointed out the major tree, shrub and weed species of this area, giving the common and latin names and the intricate distinctions of each species. The students then backtracked the trail, finding sporadic flagging throughout the forest. The flagging was tied to trees and plants that the students then identified in their booklets. And they did really well.

Back onto the bus for a well-deserved lunch. The students were then joined by Forest Service Fisheries Biologist, Matt Fairchild. He came equipped with waders, specimen vials and a large screen. On their way to the Dickensheet Campground on the Priest River, Ms. Fairchild reminded the students of their classroom discussions concerning the close relationship between healthy forests, soils and water.

Though there was some reluctance and a bit of whining, each student, in teams of 2, suited up in waders and entered a shallow portion of the river. By rustling up the streambed with their feet, upstream from the catch-net, the teams of students caught a large variety of specimens that they deposited into lab trays. This included minnows which were immediately released. Each team picked through their lab trays and filled vials with bugs, algae, even aquatic egg sacks, to take back to the classroom for examination under microscopes and careful documentation.

This is the 3^rd round of Forestry classes that have headed out for an extraordinary learning experience since 2005. With the amazing efforts of Instructor Toni Fairchild, along with support from the Priest Community Forest Connection and the Priest Lake Ranger District of the Forest Service, this forestry program has grown from one class per year to 4 classes per year. And the PRLHS Forestry Team is ranking high in the State Forestry Contest as well, proving that hard work and fun do add up to success.

The Priest Community Forest Connection had somehwat of a summer hiatus ~ albeit involuntary.  The Lakeface-Lamb project went through an unexpeted personnel change. Our Board of Directors assigned Jeff Connolly and Liz Johnson-Gebhardt as Interim Project Managers for the months of June, July and August.

At the end of July, Steve Gibson of Four Seasons Forestry (Newport, WA), was hired as the Lkfc-Lb Project Manager.  He will oversee the remainder of the roadwork, fuels reduction work and the burning activities coming up this Fall.

There are other activities in the works as well.  The building of a Recreation Hut will be taking place near Reynolds Creek at the group camping area.  (A new, ultra modern toilet was installed there this past summer as part of the Lkfc-Lb project.)  Also in the works is the River Access for fishing, rafting, kayaking, etc., just below the Outlet Dam on the Priest River.  The Interpretive and Information Signs are still in the works and should be installed by early Spring.

With the success of the Lkfc-Lb project, as well as the successes of the Priest Community Forest Connection, Priest River Development Corporation ~ the present prime contractor of the Lkfc-Lb contract ~ is in the midst of transferring the contract to the PCFC.  this should enable the group to continue their work with forest projects that benefit our local communities and forests. 

Any questions?  Let us know!  And we will do our best to be in better contact with all of you from now on.

With 95 degrees predicted, the Priest River Lamanna High School Forestry class wasn't overly enthused for a field trip to Angelo Nacarrato's property. But educator Toni Fairchild and PCFC Director Liz Johnson-Gebhardt got the students on the bus and they made the 5 mile trip north of Priest River. The group trekked up a dusty trail and found a Valmet harvester and forwarder at work and suddenly everyone's enthusiasm blossomed.

Mike Reynolds, owner and chief boss of MRL, taught the students how the state-of-the-art harvester operates, the costs of operation, the amount of training an operator needs and how much a job running one of these machines pays. The students asked questions about how it's decided which tree will be cut and why they leave certain trees. They each climed into the cab of the harvester and were awed at the size of the machine, the comfort of the operator's chair, the stereo (of course), and how there are 5 computers that help the harvester run efficiently.

James Huling, MRL forwarder operator, showed the students how the forwarder collects the harvested timber and separates the logs according to quality: pulp, hew wood and saw logs. He explained the differences of those qualities and how those "log sorts" help us to use every part of the tree to the fullest.

PCFC would like to congradulate the PRLHS Forestry class on their very impressive performance at the Idaho State Forestry Contest on May 11th. Way to go!

The Priest Community Forest Connection has been busy with projects, proposals, field trips and the Priest River Lamanna High School Forestry class.

On April 12th at our annual meeting, the Board and general membership hired Liz Johnson-Gebhardt as the Executive Director for next year.  She has been acting director since April 2005.

On April 17th, PCFC president, Cliff Ackerman, vice-president, Jeff Connolly and Johnson-Gebhardt helped to facilitate a field trip with various entities to discuss the proposed Highway 57 Corridor project.  This project focuses on clearing the right-of-way easement along the highway and thinning the zone beyond the easement of hazard trees in order to improve public safety.  Dense growth right up to the pavement leaves downed trees in the traffic lanes, prevents travelers from seeing wildlife, and slows the thawing of frost, ice and snow ~ all of which greatly affects the safety of travelers.

The field trip participants included representatives from the Idaho Panhandle National Forest and the Regional Office of the Forest Service, the Idaho Transportion Department, the Idaho Department of Lands, the Bonner County BONFIRE program, a Pend Oreille Valley Fiber contract manager and PCFC members.  A great deal of brainstorming and discussion took place during a half dozen stops along the highway.  The ITD will write up their basic criteria for right-of-way clearing and maintenance, the FS will set forth forest work concepts and priority areas and the IDL and BONFIRE will attempt to incorporate private landowners into the project.  PCFC will continue to facilitate the mechanics of putting this project together and may participate in the project's implementation.

On another note: PCFC members Connolly, Johnson-Gebhardt and Steve Linton travelled to Portland, Oregon onApril 18th to attend a three day National Forest Foundation workshop.  NFF granted PCFC $15,000 in 2005 to "start-up" their group.  The workshop concentrated on Board and membership development, fundraising, public outreach and developing and/or maintaining a working relationship with the Forest Service.

And even more exciting!  The Priest River Lamanna High School Forestry Class made its second foray into the forest on April 25th to practice using compasses and orienteering.  This group of 17 students and educator, Toni Fairchild, are an enthusiastic, hardworking, fun group.  PCFC is honored to be out there helping them.

Coming up?  PCFC will head out to some local private property on May 10th (as part of their monthly meeting) to see if it will work as the site location for our proposed Forestry Expo.

The Forestry class made a trip north from Priest River to Chipmunk Falls for an on-site experience. Educator, Toni Fairchild, Forest Service Forester, Jennifer Costich-Thompson, and PCFC Director Liz Johnson-Gebhardt accompanied fourteen students while they spent 4 1/2 hours traipsing in the rain and through the snow learning about trees, shrubs, and noxious weeds species. After an extensive, hands-on tutorial with Ms. Costich-Thompson and a lunch in the warm school bus, the students went back out into the field with assigned partners. Their exercise was to identify all the trees, shrubs and weed species that had been previously flagged. Using their classroom experience and their notes, the students went back through the forest, examined each species and filled in their required lists.

After that exercise was completed, the students learned about the tools a forester uses. They took a sample core from a Douglas-fir with a tree borer. They were mesmerized to see the growth patterns ~ when the tree grew well and when it went through times of stress. Some of the students even experimented with a clinometer which is used to measure tree height.

In the future, the PCFC will help the Forestry Class with more field trips. They will receive hands-on experience with compasses and will cruise a stand of timber. Another trip will involve more intensive noxious weed education. Also, they will visit a site where modern harvester/forwarder, cut-to-length machinery will be working.

Below, Forester Jennifer Costich-Thompson (closest to tree) helps local students understand the complexities of tree growth.

The Priest Community Forest Connection held their monthly meeting on March 8th at the Keyser House in Priest River, ID.

Guest speakers from the Priest Lake Ranger District of the Forest Service were on hand to present and discuss the future LAKEVIEW-REEDER FUELS REDUCTION PROJECT.  This project will take place on 31,000 acres between Kalispell Bay, Hanna Flats and the Bismark Mtn. area in the south, to Indian Mtn., Granite Mtn., and the Copper Bay area to the north.  There are several different possble treatments to help reduce the hazardous fuels plagueing this area. Jennifer Costich-Thompson and District Ranger, Kathy Murphy explained the project and answered extensive questions.  This project is currently in the scoping period and the Priest Lake District is welcoming questions and comments from the public.  CONTACT project leader, Dave Cobb: dcobb@fs.fed.us or at 208-443-6854.

                   Get the information!  Get involved!

UPDATE ON THE HIGHWAY 57 CORRIDOR PROJECT

PCFC members Jeff Connolly, Cliff Ackerman and Liz Johnson-Gebhardt met with Idaho Transportation Department representatives, Shannon Thornton and Monty Russell, on March 3rd.  These folks bounced around preliminary ideas, listed concerns and issues, and established a positive,"let's go forward" atmosphere.  PCFC members will now meet with Priest Lake District personnel (on March 15th) to get their input.  A joint meeting will be scheduled in the near future.

The PCFC has changed their monthly meeting night to the Wednesday (instead of the Tuesday) that falls between the 4th and the 12th of each month.  This month's meeting is on Wednesday, March 8th @ 6 pm.  We meet in the upstairs conference room at Keyser House, 301 Montgomery St., Priest River.

On the agenda so far this month:

     ~ The USFS Lakeview-Reeder project (Dave Cobb)

     ~ P.R. Lamanna High School Forestry class (Toni Fairchild)

     ~ The Hwy. 57 Corridor fuels reduction project (Jeff, Cliff, Liz)

     ~ Strategic Planning 2006 update (Board of Directors & members)

There are a number of projects the Priest Community Forest Connection is looking forward to working on this year.  At this time we are working with the Priest River Lamanna High School Science department, helping them acquire needed equipment and supplies for the Forestry class.  In the making is a small number of summer mini-courses that will be open to the general public and may count as school credits for students.  The courses have not been developed yet, but will include a number of natural resource topics and will consist of classroom and in-the-field time.

Another potential project is to do some clearing in the right-of-way along Highway 57 from Priest River to Priest Lake.  With miles and miles of dead and dying trees, there is a dangerous hazard from falling trees at all times of the year, but especially during the winter when we receive heavy snows.  Because of the overstocked forest and the fact that the trees grow right up to the highway shoulder, there tend to be a lot of accidents with wildlife.  The thick overstory decreases the sunlight onto the road and so there is a build-up of ice and frost making driving treacherous.  And then there is the awful noxious weed issue that needs to have attention.  The PCFC will work with the Idaho Transportation Department, with the Forest Service and with private landowners to put together a collaborative project to take care of some of these concerns. 

And there's more to come!  Stay tuned ...