Smoke Signals
March 1993
Page 10
Keeping Up With Forestry's New
By Tracy Olson
If you read the
Land Acquisition story that
ran in last month's Smoke
Signals, you must be aware
that the Tribe controls
9,8 1 1 acres of timber land
which cannot be developed.
Recently, Cliff
Adams, Natural Resource
Manager for the Tribe
agreed to be interviewed,
and commented on some of
the current issues the
Forestry Department is
facing.
First of all, the
Forestry Department
consists of much more than
selling our timber. Said
Cliff, "My staff and I are in
charge of not only
harvesting, but enhancing
tree growth, maintaining
tribal roads, protecting the
land from fire, and
protecting and enhancing
wildlife."
Other Forestry
staff members include Jeff
Kuust, who is responsible
for logging and
transportation, Jeff
Nepstead, who's
responsiblefor
silverculture protection,
Mike Wilson, and
receptionist Connie
Monson. Cliff also explained the difference between
Salvage Sales and Timber Sales. Timber Sales are a
public auction held by the Tribe to sell a part of timber
to be harvested.
"These auctions are usually a competition
between the bigger timber companies," said Cliff. "We
usually have only one or two per year. Right now we are
waiting for the Department of Fish and Wildlife to give
us the green light. Then we'll have another auction."
The Tribe is compelled by law to send the
Department of Fish and Wildlife a BIOLOGICAL
ASSESSMENT of a logging site, which includes fact
about tree growth and animal habitat. The Department
of Fish and Wildlife then sends back a BIOLOGICAL
OPINION that determines whether of not the Tribe can
harvest timber in that particular area, and under what
conditions. Needless to say, the results of these opinions
are very important to the Tribe, considering how timber
sales provides the Tribe with such a large chunk of its
revenue.
Salvage Sales are timber sales designed to help
tribal members get some wood they need for various
reasons. The timber that is sold is usually damaged by
fire, insects, disease, or had been blown down from a
storm. In short, it is timber that the major companies
wouldn't want to buy, but is perfectly useful.
One main project Cliff and the Forestry
Department is working on is the Forest Management
Plan.
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0ie te Aree Ire trucks owned and operated
our timber land from fire during the dry season.
"This plan will go into effect in 1994. It
discusses issues such as environmental alternatives the
Tribe will have to address, and it will give us a projection
of future harvesting capabilities," said Cliff. "It is designed
to map out our forest management techniques until the
year 2,000."
The Tribe has also purchased three fire trucks
located behind the Forestry office buildings, which
allows the Tribe the stop any fires that might ignite on the
reservation lands. It will also help with other neighboring
fires that might occur.
Commented Cliff, "Last summer was really dry.
We had a couple of lighting strikes on the reservation,
but nothing as big as some of the other fires in Oregon."
Some of the Tribe's fire fighter were sent to help
oai with the big blazes last summer. Cliff feels that this
summer too, will be dry.
he and many of the foresters working for the
Tribe have a strong interest in preserving nature and
wildlife.
For example, during a slow period of days at
work, some of the foresters completed wood homes for
the Wood Duck, a bird that lives in the Grand Ronde
area. Apparently, they like to live in the little wood
houses, and the foresters place them about 1 5 feet off of
the ground so they don't get attacked by coyote, etc.
"Afterasnow storm the guys can't do much in the woods,
by the Tribe to protect
Developments
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Wood Duck houses.
studied surveys taken from tribal members which included
their thoughts and ideas about how the land should be
used.
Cliff, too, is firm in his belief. "I dont think we
havetohaveonethingoranother,Hhesaid. "Wecanhave
recreation areas, strong wildlife populations, and still
harvest timber. We can definitely do it all."
so they keep busy with stuff
like this," said Cliff.
But it is little
things like that which make
a big difference in the
quality of wildlife on the
reservation, and how it is
enjoyed by tribal members.
Cliff is working on
blazing trails day use
picnichiking areas for all
tribal members to enjoy.
Parks require plumbingand
sanitation maintenance, but
the recreation sites are
developing rapidly. He is
responsible for maintaining
and preserving those lands
not to be logged as well as
planting baby seedlings an
the lands we do log. Cliff
does admit that there are
some conflicts and
concerns over endangered
species in Oregon versus
the economic position of
the tribe, and our desire to
be self-sufficient. He
acknowledges that the
Grand Ronde Tribe is
diverse in its opinions, like
any other segment of the
population, and he had
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