Members Present: Janet Hutchison, Gayle Casselman, Tom Casselman, Slater Turner, Cameron Scott, Austin Tschida, Mark Mabol, Frank Porfily, Jenna Deibel, Scott McFarland, Kevin Keown, Vickie Dunaway, Mary Opperman, Dawn Alexander, Cynthia Harper.
Agenda Overview: Introductions were made. Minutes were shared and corrected. Tom made a motion to approve the corrected minutes, Vickie 2nd the motion. Minutes were approved with corrections.
Janet mentioned that the Operations Manual had a few things that needed to be discussed: Need to add Riparian Zones of Agreement to the Operations Manual.
Financials- Mary shared that payments were made to Dawn Alexander, McLean Bookkeeping Services, NewUnknown (Website developer), and Tara Chapman. Questions about the charges from McLean bookkeeping were asked. Janet, Mary, and Cameron will meet to discuss our questions with the Foundation.
Confronting the Wildfire Crisis- Crooked River Grassland Presentation: Wildfire Crisis Strategy – what it is and how we are involved with it in the Grassland. A strategy for protecting communities and improving resilience in America’s Forests. It was kicked off Jan. 2022 and is a 10-year plan. Strategically placed treatments- identified 250 high-risk fire sheds. Increase by 20 million acres of federal lands, 30 million acres on other lands (federal and private lands are included). Bipartisan Infrastructure law (BIL) 1.4 billion dollars and 1.8 billion dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Crooked River Grassland was part of the original 10 landscapes. In 2023 added 11 more landscapes. Goal: substantially reduce wildfire risk across the landscape. Includes entire Grassland and Deschutes National Forest for Central Oregon. Objectives: Increase fuel reduction treatments, treat areas holistically, foster community culture to increase awareness and understanding, maintain and improve partnership with DCFP, local groups, state and federal agencies, and support “home hardening”.
Juniper cutting/burning on eastside is happening this year. Grassland- divided into 4 project areas. Lower Bridge – 1st area; Central – 2nd area which will be more complex as it includes Crooked River Ranch and Lake Billy Chinook, Three Rivers; Gray Butte – 3rd area which has lots of recreation development, grazing and infrastructures in this area and the 4th area is East Side of Hwy. 97.
Prioritization framework: Tier 1 is people/places. Tier 2 are natural resources.
Efforts to get the word out and engage/educate the public: Trivia nights, coaster pad/pamphlets.
Also meeting with BLM about work they are doing. Coordinating efforts.
The Wildfire Crisis Strategy is a landscape effort lead by Kristen McBride. Kevin and Slater are part of her team and they meet every 2 weeks. Lots of coordinated work and reports.
Vickie asked what our group could do to help: Important to have this information, understand what we are doing and tell what is going on.
Monitoring/Outreach: Vickie called OSU and was given Amanda Brackets number. They are excited to re-monument Wolf Creek. Could be a good field trip opportunity once worked on.
All Hands/All Brands Event will be held June 21-23, 2024, at Sugar Creek. Vickie will be going to the event and camping.
Vickie went over the Dry Forest recommendations and said that when the Eastside screens are done then should go back over and include climate change. Kevin and Vickie will work on Mill Creek pre-treatment riparian monitoring work and get aquatic folks involved.
Forest Service Updates: Kevin- Wildfires Crisis Strategy is the highest priority. Team looking at 2nd project action.
Accelerated Tree Mortality- We have been working on it. We are in the Stage of discussing priority areas PODs. Strategies and planning projects.
Completion on Heritage survey will roll out in Sept.
Mill Creek Project- finalizing the decision right now, will be out by the end of this month. The North Fork Crooked River- comments will go out by early March.
Six old fires FS will be replanting.
Scott- Watershed work- went out to Clarno Nursery, to get trees to conduct lots of planting in Williams Prairie. Rob Tanner is working on another planting project this summer.
Funding Opportunities: Janet announced that we did get the OWEB grant- $58,273.00.
TASS grant was very competitive, 12-14 proposals. Funded 11 of them. We did not get this one.
Climate Change funded TASS grant that Vernita submitted was awarded, we will work with her on that one.
Facilitator Discussion: Want to put a priority on getting a facilitator this year. Brainstorm some people that could be interested. Vickie will get in contact with Jean Nelson Dean. Oregon Solutions group might be an avenue to pursue. Cameron will keep us in mind as they go through the process of hiring a DCFP.
Prescribed Fire/Strategy Plan Subcommittee: Tom- had a brief meeting a couple of weeks ago. Mostly a catch-up meeting, shared a document of how we will manage things, who will do what work.
Update on Operations Manual: Members need to sign the signature page to the operations policy that they have read the manual. Those were passed out at the meeting.
Sustainable NW: Tom- No meeting, no report.
Elections in February: John Shelk, Mary Opperman, Jenna Deibel are all running to be on our Executive Committee. Tom made a motion to approve all three of the members. Frank 2nd the motion. Motion passed. We also need to look for a chairman and a vice chairman for the executive committee at the end of this year/ first of 2025. We also need a representative from the county.
New Member Discussion: Be thinking of potential members. Kevin will check with Crooked River Watershed Council. Vickie has the mailing list for the Old Smokies and she will reach out to them. Cameron will check with Central Oregon Landwatch. Austin mentioned ONDA, and he will reach out to them, they are one of the most active partners with BLM.
General Sharing: Check out the website. Let us know of any suggestions.
Mary made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Vickie 2nd the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 3:59 pm.
