JOIN SEPTEMBER FOREST TOUR

DAYTON - On Thursday, September 2, federal forest entomologists, a state forest health specialist, a state fireregulations forester and NRCS Washington State Forester will join private forest landowners and local NRCS Soil Conservationist and Blue Mountain RCD Coordinator on a timber tour through Columbia and western GarfieldCounties.

The purpose of the field visit is to examine individual trees and timber stands struggling to survive following cata­strophic fires in 2005 and 2006. Many trees were not direct­ly affected by the fires, but secondary effects; bark beetles and several forest diseases are making their way through local timber stands creating havoc for forest landowners. U.S. Forest Service entomologists Lia Speigel and Craig Schmidtt will combine over 50 years of resource knowl­edge to help land owners determine the causes of tree stress and mortality. Forest Health Coordinator, Mike Johnson and Aaron Schmidt, Fire Regulations Forester, both of the DNR, will offer landowners ways to manage their forest land to minimize future insect and disease attacks. Schmidt will share proven methods used to protect homes and prop­erty from future fires by managing forest resources. Utiliz­ing opportunities to recover the economic value of wood will also be addressed.

The agenda includes visits to local, private forest land­owners whose properties are experiencing health and growth issues. Lunch is a brown bag affair provided by the Blue Mountain RCD Council and local merchants. Please bring your own water.

Forest landowners in Columbia and western Garfieldcounty locations who have concerns about their forestland should contact Debbie Fortner, NRCS soil conservationist via email at debbie.fortner@wa.usda.gov to be included on this tour.