Private Landowner Forest Management Workshops

DAYTON -- Private forest landowners are invited to participate in a series of forest management workshops to be held at the Columbia Fire District 3 meeting room (206 West Main, Dayton). Workshops will take place on Saturday, April 26 and Saturday, May 31 from 9 a.m. to noon. A brief field trip will follow each workshop.

"Maintaining and Enhancing your Forest's Health" is the topic of the April 26 workshop. Forest professionals Steve McConnell and Mike Johnson will help landowners identify threats to the health of forest stands, including insects, diseases and indicators of climate change.

The May 31 workshop, "Thinning and Pruning your Forests," will be a hands-on class in understanding why managing the stocking level of private forests is important to long-term forest health. McConnell and Johnson have extensive experience in applying thinning and pruning techniques in SE Washington forests. Financial assistance programs available to private landowners will also be discussed.

Registration for both workshops is coordinated through through WSU Extension/ Spokane, Steve Mc- Connell at (509) 477-2048 or smconnell@spokanecounty.org. The workshops are sponsored by WSU Extension/ Spokane, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Blue Mountain

Resource Conservation and Development Council and Columbia County private forest landowners.

Direct any questions to Lisa Naylor at Blue Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council, at (509) 337-8968 or lisa.naylor@rocketmail.com.