EWP Fact Sheets

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Open Access
Fire in the heart of the Oregon Cascades: exceptional variability in fire across the western Cascades
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, University of Oregon, 2024-08) Coughlan, Michael R.; Cummings, Tressa; Derr, Kelly M.; Johnson, Bart R.; Johnston, James D. (James Daniel); Lewis, David G. (David Gene), 1965-
Wildland fire is a fundamental forest ecosystem process. However, resilience to wildfires is declining in forests of the western US, in part because of the loss of complex and varied forest structures that can reduce wildfire spread and severity. In the past, Indigenous traditions served the ecological and spiritual needs of human communities and landscapes through land stewardship practices such as cultural burning and selective harvesting of natural resources. We hypothesize that these practices played a critical role in the maintenance of fire regimes and resilience of the forest to catastrophic wildfire and climate change broadly. Displacement and genocide of Indigenous peoples and prohibition of their cultural practices led to the diminishment of cultural burning. This, coupled with fire exclusion and suppression policies by federal and state agencies, has contributed to a decline in forest health and a shift toward less resilient landscapes.
Open Access
Federal Forest Restoration Program update: activities and outcomes
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2024-07) Sullivan-Astor, Kyle; Coughlan, Michael R.; Serio, Naomi; Ellison, Autumn
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Federal Forest Restoration (FFR) Program is pleased to share updates at the mid-point of the 2023-25 biennium. This period has seen significant progress in our ongoing efforts to enhance the resilience of Oregon’s federal forests and support rural economies. The biennial investments in forest collaboratives and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) planning have been awarded, and the program’s activities under the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) are entering a busy summer season. This report shares where the program’s collaboration and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) planning investments are targeted this biennium and shows the accomplished on-the-ground work over time and across the state.
Open Access
Social and economic monitoring for Klamath-Lake Forest Health Partnership : 2023 updates
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, University of Oregon, 2024-03) University of Oregon. Ecosystem Workforce Program
In 2021, Klamath-Lake Forest Health Partnership (KLFHP), together with the Ecosystem Workforce Program (EWP) at the University of Oregon and Lake County Resource Initiative (LCRI) drafted a new plan for the socioeconomic and ecological monitoring of all-lands projects led by the KLFHP. After nearly a decade of monitoring focused on the Lakeview Stewardship Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP), monitoring efforts under the new plan are shifting beyond the CFLRP footprint to include all-lands restoration projects. This factsheet provides an overview of KLFHP’s accomplishments during FY 2023 and an update on socioeconomic monitoring results.
Open Access
Federal Forest Restoration Program update : 2016-2024 activities and outcomes
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, University of Oregon, 2024-01) Sullivan-Astor, Kyle; Coughlan, Michael R.; Serio, Naomi; Ellison, Autumn
Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Federal Forest Restoration (FFR) Program looks forward to playing a role in implementing Oregon’s 20-year Landscape Resiliency Strategy, which has identified over five million acres of forestland as a top priority for treatment due to high wildfire risk, and other ecological and social factors. 57% of these priority geographies are under federal jurisdiction. The FFR Program’s federal partnership and work with forest collaboratives will play a key role in helping realize the strategy. The work of the FFR Program is also guided by the Oregon state law ORS 526.275 which created “…the policy of the state to pursue projects under the [Good Neighbor Authority] that increase timber harvest volume, contribute to job creation, reduce wildfire risks to all lands, improve wildlife habitat and watershed health, and stimulate local economies.” For this biennium, the FFR Program will be releasing four fact sheets roughly every six months containing program updates, activities and outcomes instead of one comprehensive monitoring report released prior to the end of the biennium. After June 30, 2025, the program will publish a comprehensive report that captures all activities within the 2023-25 biennium.
Open Access
Federal Forest Restoration Program use of the Good Neighbor Authority : 2016-2021 activities and outcomes
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2022) Sullivan, Kyle; Coughlan, Michael R.; Kauffman, Marcus
Restoration is a pressing need across Oregon’s forests—over 7 million acres are experiencing declining forest health and are at elevated risk of large and destructive wildfires. Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Federal Forest Restoration Program partners with federal agencies to restore and steward these important lands to enhance and protect the valuable benefits they provide for Oregonians. ODF supports three key elements of restoration: Planning – Implementation – Monitoring, all integral to restoring land in an ecologically sound, scientific manner. This fact sheet summarizes the results of ODF’s efforts to increase the pace, scale and quality of restoration on federal lands in Oregon.
Open Access
Federal Forest Restoration Program update : 2016-2022 activities and outcomes
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2022) Sullivan-Astor, Kyle; Coughlan, Michael R.; Serio, Naomi
Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Federal Forest Restoration (FFR) Program is continuing its work partnering with federal land managers, who manage 60% of Oregon’s forests, to address the 5.6 million acres of Oregon’s forests in need of landscape treatments to reduce threats such as insect, disease, and stand-replacing wildfire, and create economic opportunities and jobs in the natural resources sector. With 65% of the highest risk acres occurring on federal lands, efforts to create landscapes resilient to disturbance must involve federal lands in a meaningful way. This report summarizes the state’s activities to mitigate the effects of severe wildfires and create healthy federal forests in Oregon. The report also fulfills the requirement of ORS 526.276 to report activities and outcomes of ODF’s work on federal forestlands in Oregon.
Open Access
OAKRIDGE AIR COMMUNITY INTERVIEWS ON AIR QUALITY AND SMOKE
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2022)
The Oregon communities of Oakridge and Westfir have historically been ranked amongst the top 20 communities in the United States with the worst air quality due to high concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5) from home wood heating (wood stove) and wildfire smoke. We partnered with Oakridge Air, a community-level program funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, that seeks to mitigate health threats from smoke-related poor air quality in Oakridge, to conduct a pilot study. Approach: We conducted interviews with 22 key informants and community leaders from the Oakridge-Westfir community between April and June of 2022. The key informants were purposively chosen for this pilot study because they provided a connection to multiple parts of the Oakridge-Westfir community. We asked respondents questions related to community understanding of air quality information, effective communication sources, community preparedness for smoke events, and smoke-related air quality concerns and behaviors. These pilot data will be used to inform future research about air quality in the community.
Open Access
Considerations for working with social science and scientists in a collaborative setting
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2021) Davis, Emily Jane
Many communities use collaborative processes and groups to pursue common goals. Social science can aid in these processes. For successful application of social science in a collaborative setting, practitioners can benefit from basic understanding of social science is, how it may be conducted, and how to engage with social scientists. It is important to assess the quality and rigor of available social science, its applicability to a collaborative’s interests, and the skills and capacities of potential scientific partners. This fact sheet and its companion were created to assist collaborative groups supported by the High Desert Partnership in Harney County, Oregon.
Open Access
Collaborative processes and connections to community wellbeing
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2021) Davis, Emily Jane
Many communities in the rural western United States seek ecological, economic, and social wellbeing and resilience of their people and landscapes through collaborative groups. Increasingly, these groups have recognized a need to engage with social science to inform the connections between their work and community wellbeing. This requires understanding of collaborative processes, their connection to community wellbeing, and applicable social science approaches. This fact sheet and its companion were created to assist collaborative groups supported by the High Desert Partnership in Harney County, Oregon.
Open Access
Burning without borders : cooperatively managing wildfire risk in northern Colorado
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2020) Cheng, Antony S.
Because wildfires don’t stop at ownership boundaries, managers from governmental and nongovernmental organizations in Northern Colorado are taking steps to pro-actively “co-manage” wildfire risk through the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative (NCFC). For this research project, co-management refers to the collective actions taken by organizations to share the resources, costs, and burdens associated with managing fire risk across a large landscape. We examine factors that facilitated and limited wildfire risk co-management in a case study of the NCFC.
Open Access
Co-managing wildfire suppression in southwestern Utah
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2020) Davis, Emily Jane; McAvoy, Darren J.
In a given area, there are commonly multiple agencies that manage wildfire suppression on different jurisdictions. These agencies can face divergent or even competing missions and mandates, yet must also address the cross-boundary nature of managing wildfire risk. Therefore, how can they more effectively co-manage fire suppression? Co-management in this context refers to communication, coordination, and collaboration between entities for meaningful collective action that shares the resources, costs, and burdens of managing fire risk. We examine factors that facilitated and limited co-management in a case study in southwestern Utah.
Open Access
Factors influencing national forests' use of climate change vulnerability assessment : findings from a pilot study
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2020) Coughlan, Michael R.; Huber-Stearns, Heidi; Schultz, Courtney A.
The USDA Forest Service conducts climate change vulnerability assessments (CCVA) to inform planning and regions, and individual forests have also assessed climate change vulnerabilities for their landscapes and ecosystems, often in support of forest plan revision. National forests have used CCVA to inform forest planning and management in a range of ways, some more comprehensive than others. We designed a pilot survey instrument aimed at exploring social and organizational factors that may influence the degree to which national forests adopt practices or undertake activities related to climate change adaptation.
Open Access
Oregon's Federal Forest Restoration Program : FY 2017-2019 accomplishments
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2020) Santo, Anna; Huber-Stearns, Heidi; Ellison, Autumn; Davis, Emily Jane; White, Eric M.
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Federal Forest Restoration Program (FFRP) is a partnership between the state of Oregon, federal forest managers, and public lands stakeholders to increase forest restoration and economic opportunity on federal forest lands across Oregon. This Fact Sheet is an addendum to previous monitoring reports and shows actual expenditures and select impacts made during the state fiscal years (FY) 2017–2019 biennium.
Open Access
Federal Forest Restoration Program use of the Good Neighbor Authority : 2016-2020 activities and outcomes
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2020) Sullivan, Kyle; Santo, Anna; Huber-Stearns, Heidi; Ellison, Autumn
The Federal Forest Restoration Program (FFRP)—administered by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)—has been using Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) since 2016 to complete restoration activities on lands managed by the USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. The Oregon Legislature House Bill 4118 in 2018 established a state priority to pursue GNA projects that increase timber harvest volume, create jobs, reduce wildfire risks, improve wildlife habitat and watershed health, and stimulate local economies. This fact sheet is an update to prior years reporting of select outcomes from GNA activities administered by ODF from 2016 to 2020. The information reported here is in support of an effort by ODF to summarize outcomes from all projects pursued under GNA agreements in Oregon. Additional information on FFRP work can be found in prior year’s reports.
Open Access
Letting nature do the work : managing wildfires for resource objectives in New Mexico
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2019) Huber-Stearns, Heidi; Davis, Emily Jane; Evans, Alexander M.; Caggiano, Michael
In millions of acres of fire-adapted landscapes across the West, the need for forest restoration and wildfire mitigation outpaces capacity to respond, posing risks to homes, communities, and forest health. Land managers are increasingly looking for tools to help address these risks. One approach is to manage naturally ignited wildfires at appropriate intensities and severities to reduce fuel loads and improve forest health. This fact sheet describes managing naturally ignited wildfires for resource objectives and how multiple public, private and nongovernmental entities are working on wildfire mitigation, pre-planning, and suppression in northern New Mexico to foster the necessary conditions for this approach.
Open Access
Iconic places of the US Forest Service : Browns Canyon National Monument
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2019) Ellison, Autumn; Miller, James
The U.S. Forest Service manages specially-designated areas and national monuments, protected either by Congressional legislation or by the President via proclamation under the authority of the Antiquities Act. These areas have been designated for their special characteristics and the unique opportunities they offer. They were protected in perpetuity for a range of ecological and social benefits such as scenic beauty, recreation opportunities, wildlife habitat, and watershed protection. The intent and management objectives for each are distinct and unique. This fact sheet provides an overview of the Browns Canyon National Monument, based on interviews with Forest Service personnel and partnership organizations that work together to manage the area.
Open Access
Oregon's Federal Forest Restoration Program : FY 2014-2019 cumulative accomplishments
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2019) Santo, Anna; Huber-Stearns, Heidi; Ellison, Autumn; Rhodewalt, Amelia; Davis, Emily Jane
The Federal Forest Restoration Program (FFRP) is a partnership between the state of Oregon, federal forest managers, and public lands stakeholders to increase forest restoration and economic opportunity on federal forest lands across Oregon. This Fact Sheet shows cumulative investments and select impacts made over the six years of the program.
Open Access
Collaborative capacity and outcomes from Oregon's Federal Forest Restoration Program
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2019) Davis, Emily Jane; Santo, Anna; White, Eric M.
Over the past two decades, numerous federal forest collaboratives have emerged in the state of Oregon. Although they generally do not possess any formal decision-making authority, their efforts are considered important in building social agreement for programs of work on federal forestlands. This study analyzed the use and outcomes of the State of Oregon’s investments in these forest collaborative groups through Collaborative Capacity Grants made by the Federal Forest Restoration Program from state fiscal years 2014-2019. Investments were made with the expectation that collaborative groups would increase the pace, scale, and quality of federal forest restoration; and there is a need to understand results from supporting these groups. We examined several types of outcomes from these grants, including collaborative capacity to foster accelerated restoration, acreages and types of activities planned and implemented with collaborative input, economic impacts, and effects of grants on organizational capacity.
Open Access
Iconic places of the US Forest Service : Mt. Pleasant National Scenic Area
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2019) Miller, James; Ellison, Autumn
The U.S. Forest Service manages specially-designated areas and national monuments, protected either by Congressional legislation or by the President via proclamation under the authority of the Antiquities Act. These areas have been designated for their special characteristics and the unique opportunities they offer. They were protected in perpetuity for a range of ecological and social benefits such as scenic beauty, recreation opportunities, wildlife habitat, and watershed protection. The intent and management objectives for each are distinct and unique. This fact sheet provides an overview of the Mt. Pleasant National Scenic Area, based on interviews with USFS personnel and partnership organizations that work together to manage the area.
Open Access
Boots on the ground, boots around the table : managing rangeland wildfire risk in Oregon and Idaho
(Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, 2019) Davis, Emily Jane
The rangelands of southeastern Oregon and southern Idaho have experienced increasingly large wildfires that threaten multiple values and can exceed Bureau of Land Management (BLM) response capacity. There has been interest in expanding suppression capabilities through the creation of rangeland fire protection associations (RFPAs), volunteer groups of landowners trained and authorized to respond to wildfires. Another key strategy has been the collaborative development of proactive mitigation measures to reduce the risk of large wildfires. This fact sheet examines how the multiple entities involved in rangeland wildfire mitigation and suppression are coordinating their actions and addressing shared risks through case studies of Harney County, Oregon and Owyhee County, Idaho.