Letter from Michelle Calvert (BLM)

Hello,

I am the assigned NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) planner for the Williams IVM Project, proposed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). I sent an email last week to let you know the scoping period for the Williams IVM Project is extended from May 4th to June 15th.

A dry forest restoration presentation will be held at Pacifica (14615 Watergap Road in Williams) on May 21st (Monday) from 6:30pm-8:30pm to provide more background information on how the Williams IVM Project was developed and a chance for those interested to ask questions about this approach.

A field trip is also being offered for June 2nd (Saturday) to review sample marks of 4 units proposed for this project. The sample mark (flagging of vegetation and trees) would provide an example of what the stand would look like after treatment. Those interested could discuss the sample mark with BLM staff in light of the objectives of the project. To attend the field trip, please meet at the Williams Grange at 9 am. The field trip will close at about 3pm. The field trip agenda is attached to this email. (see below)

Please let me know via email or phone if you are interested in attending the field trip so that I may plan accordingly by the morning of May 29th.

What to bring: Please bring a lunch and consider wet weather conditions for clothing. Maps will be provided to travel to the field trip stops. Please use your own vehicle if at all possible for the field trip. If you do not have a vehicle available to you, please let me know so I can plan accordingly.

If you are unable to attend the field trip portion on June 2nd, but are still interested in a field trip, please let me know and the BLM can provide an alternate field trip during the public review of the environmental analysis document in July or August of this year.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Have a great day and thank you for your interest in this project.

Michelle Calvert
Planning and Environmental Coordinator
Grants Pass Resource Area
Medford District Bureau of Land Management
541-471-6505
Email

Williams IVM Project: Public Sample Mark
Field Trip Agenda

June 2, 2012
9am – –3:15pm

9am – –9:30am:– Welcome, Introductions, and Review Scope Field Trip and Ground Rules
9:30am– – 10am:– Caravan to Field Visit Stop #1: Clapboard Gulch, Unit 9-8b
(Density Management/Hazardous Fuel Reduction at 40% canopy closure)
10am – –11am: –Clapboard Gulch, Unit 9-8b Discussion (Stop #1)
1. Review Sample Mark
2. Question & Answer Session
11am– – 11:15am: –Walk to Field Visit Stop #2: Last Part of Clapboard Gulch, Unit 9-8a
11:15am– – 11:45am–: Last Part of Clapboard Gulch, Unit 9-8a Discussion (Stop #2)
1. Review Sample Mark
2. Question & Answer Session
11:45am– – 12:15pm: –Caravan to Field Visit Stop #3: Unit 12-2a (Commercial Thin)
12:15pm – –1:15pm–: Unit 12-2a Discussion (Stop #3)
1. Review Sample Mark
2. Question & Answer Session
1:15pm – 1:45pm: Caravan to Field Stop #4: Panther Ridge, Unit 1-11 (Pine & Oak Restoration)
1:45pm– – 2:45pm: –Panther Ridge, Unit 1-11 Discussion (Stop #4)
1. Review Sample Mark
2. Question & Answer Session
2:45pm– – 3:15pm: Travel back to Williams Grange
 

Meeting in Grants Pass or Medford

Courtesy of KS Wild

Action Alert: BLM to Host Meetings on New Plan Revisions
Do you care about the 2.6 million acres of BLM land in Western Oregon?
Great, so do we! That’s why we’d like to update you on the upcoming process for determining how BLM forests are managed – and ask you to engage by attending an upcoming agency meeting in your area.
The BLM Oregon is initiating a resource management plan revision, which will guide decisions about how 2.6 million acres of BLM-administered lands in west Oregon are to be managed. The BLM is currently accepting comments on their new plan revision and they just announced meetings throughout the state. The scoping comment period is open until July 5th – and we’ll be sure to provide you with lots of tools and resources to contribute to the conversation and make sure your conservation values are expressed in this process.
What is this process about?
According to the BLM, “The plan revisions will determine how the BLM will manage BLM-administered lands in western Oregon to further the recovery of threatened and endangered species, to provide clean water, to restore fire adapted ecosystems, to produce a sustained yield of timber products, and provide for recreation opportunities”.
Why should you participate?
We all enjoy BLM forests and we need to take advantage of opportunities to represent our conservation, recreation, and quality-of-life values in steering agency decisions. Please take an evening to attend a meeting. If you are unable to attend, stay engaged and watch out for more updates from KS Wild on this process and how you can have a say in the future management of BLM forests of western Oregon.

Medford
May 16, 5:30-7pm: BLM Medford District Office, 3040 Biddle Rd.

Grants Pass
May 17, 5:30-7pm: BLM Grants Pass Interagency Office, 2164 NE Spalding Ave.