Wallowa
Whitman Forest
Collaborative
Nils D. Christoffersen
Wallowa Resources
2,392,508 acres
3 states
10 counties
bordered by the
Umatilla and
Malheur NFs
Elevation varies from
9,985 to 875 feet
Four ranger districts,
one national
recreation area, and
four wilderness areas
Origins
 Various
collaborative efforts at county
levels, including 17 year effort in Wallowa
County
 Three NE Oregon Counties extended the
initial invitation to explore value in larger
forest level collaborative.
 First meeting 7 June 2012. 48 participants
from 29 different stakeholders. Agreed on
value to form and proceed.
Collaborative Purpose
To improve the social, economic, and
ecological resiliency of the WallowaWhitman National Forest and local
communities through collaboration by a
diverse group of stakeholders.
Structure
 WR

Project Manager – Fiscal Agent
NFF and DFZ funds
 SNW
Facilitator
 10 Member Operating Committee





State and County
Forest products
Environmental groups
OSU Extension
Local community and private landowners
Participants in W-W Forest Collaborative
(June 2012-June 2013)
Participants
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
June 7
2012
Sept 6 2012
Oct 25
2012
Jan 23 2013 March 5
2013
March 27
2013
April 24
2013
May 22
2013
June 26
2013
Collaborative has met 9 times including its formative meeting
Average of 37.4 participants per meeting (337 participant days)
Also held one field trip in fall 2012 – Lower Joseph Creek
Second field trip scheduled this week – East Face Project
Accomplishments



Building collaborative relationship amongst stakeholders.
Operations Manual Approved – 22 Signatories to date
General findings and recommendations for restoration of
the Lower Joseph Creek Watershed Approved.



Initiated stand level confirmation of implementation
opportunities



5th HUC Integrated Resource Assessment
Recommendations across resource areas
Completed 3,000 acres – confirmed 2,515 acres
Initiating work on new project in Whitman District (Baker
County) – potential pilot partnership with ODF, ODFW and
Comprehensive Wildfire Strategy
Secured funds for Year 2 staffing.
Year 2 Targets




Expand and maintain diverse collaborative
membership
Complete NEPA for Lower Joseph Creek Projects
Advance work on East Face Project
Explore opportunities for Landscape Learning


Model effects of different management scenarios
on wildlife and fish habitat, fire regime condition
classes, stand treatments in identified biophysical
groups – moisture/temperature regimes, and riparian
areas.
Explore opportunities for coordination and
efficiency in staffing / facilitation with other Blue
Mountain Collaboratives.
Lower Joseph Creek –
Warm/Dry Biophysical
Wallowa Fire Zone - Wildfire Occurrence 1955-2007
Acres Burnt and Total Cost of Suppression
140,000.0
120,000.0
100,000.0
Average Annual Fire
Suppression Cost
1986-2007: $6.7 million per year
80,000.0
60,000.0
40,000.0
20,000.0
0.0
1955 1957 1959 1961 1963 1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007
731,541 acres burnt since 1955; 680,705 acres (93%) have burnt since 1986.
$144 million spent in suppression since 1970; $140 million (97%) spent since 1986
Haypen 3 stewardship contract
Biomass – (1.0”-4.9”)
23% of cut trees per acre.
Pulp fiber – (5.0”-6.9”)
33% of cut trees per acre.
Integrated Biomass Campus
Lower Joseph Creek Cool / Dry Biophysical
Lower Joe Integration
 Forests
and Fuels
 Range
 Wildlife
 Riparian
and Fisheries
 Roads and Recreation
 Cultural
 Social and Economic