Stewardship Contracting

The National Forest Foundation is hosting a webinar for partnering organizations to provide an overview, updates, and examples of stewardship contracting.  Stewardship contracting is an important mechanism for getting work done on Forest Service lands.  The webinar will take place on Thursday, July 24th from 2:00-3:30pm EDT (12:00-1:30pm MDT).  Register at www.nff.wildapricot.org/event-1709355 or watch the recording at www.nationalforests.org/conserve/peer/stewardship-authorities.

Learn more about stewardship contracting on federal lands and the upcoming webinar in the NFF’s newsletter. 

Aspen Hills Wildfire Preparedness

Home Address Signs

The Divide Fire Department has green reflective address number signs recommended by the Fire Inspector available.  The fire department provides these signs as a community service, and asks for a $10 donation.  The available signs are one-sided, so order two signs if you need to show your house number on both sides.  Signs can be made vertical or horizontal.  Having fire-resistant, visible address signs is important for responders to locate your home in the event of a wildfire or other emergency.

Aspen Hills neighbors are ordering address signs together, so please contact Tanna Hackney (tanna.hackney@gmail.com) by July 1 if you would like an address sign.

 

Street Signs

Aspen Hills neighbors banned together to prepare for wildfire season by working on street sign installation on Wildfire Preparedness Day!  Street signs are important to help emergency responders navigate neighborhoods during wildfires or other disasters. Thanks to Paul for re-grading entrances, and to Greg, John, Glenn, Curtis, Dana, Rick, and Tanna and her son for installing new street sign bases and helping remove old signs.

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Sign up for the Fire Ecology Institute for Educators

Sign up today for Project Learning Tree’s Fire Ecology Institute for Educators!  This hands-on workshop runs from June 16-20 and is a great opportunity to learn more about wildfire and forest ecology, and how you can engage your students in learning about these important topics.  The workshop will be held in Florissant, CO at The Nature Place, an ideal location for exploring the forest and the impacts of recent wildfires.  The materials and strategies to be presented are appropriate for 3rd-12th grades in formal and non-formal settings, and can easily be integrated into interdisciplinary curriculum.  The cost of $250 for the workshop includes lodging, meals, materials, instruction, and field trips for the week.  Colorado residents may receive a $100 stipend upon completion of the course, and the workshop is eligible for continuing education credits.

The Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) is excited to help sponsor this event in our watershed this year.  Please support this program and gain skills that you can bring back to your classroom!

Find more information at http://coloradoplt.org/workshop/2014-fire-ecology-institute-for-educators/
You can also contact Shawna Crocker, PLT Coordinator, at scrocker@colostate.edu or 303-278-8822 for more information.

 

 

Colorado State Forest Service Accepting Proposals to Protect Private Forestlands

Thinking about a conservation easement?  The Colorado State Forest Service is now accepting proposals.  Completed proposals must be submitted by mail and received no later than 4 p.m. on July 25, 2014, for federal fiscal year 2016 funding.  See the announcement:

FORT COLLINS – The Colorado State Forest Service is now accepting Forest Legacy Program proposals from Colorado landowners. The program authorizes the USDA Forest Service or the CSFS to purchase permanent conservation easements on private forestlands to protect environmentally important areas and prevent those lands from being converted to non-forest uses.

The program provides an opportunity for private landowners to retain ownership and management of their land, while receiving compensation for unrealized development rights.

Forestlands that contain important scenic, cultural, recreation and water resources, including fish and wildlife habitat and other ecological values, and that support traditional forest uses, will receive priority. Landowners who elect to participate in the program are required to follow a stewardship management plan approved by the CSFS. Activities consistent with the management plan, including timber harvesting, grazing, and recreation activities are permitted.

The Colorado State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee will evaluate proposals and recommend to the state forester those proposals that have sufficient merit to forward to the USDA Forest Service. Forwarded proposals will then compete at a regional level; those selected at the regional level will compete nationally for funding.

For additional information or to obtain an application packet, contact Naomi Marcus at 970-491-6303. Applications also are available under the “Funding Assistance” link at http://csfs.colostate.edu.

Completed proposals must be submitted by mail and received no later than 4 p.m. on July 25, 2014, for federal fiscal year 2016 funding.

 

Forest Health Internship

Please share the below announcement with anyone who may be interested in interning with the Coalition for the Upper South Platte as a Forest Health Intern.
Click here to see the announcement document in PDF format.

 

Forest Health Internship with the Coalition for the Upper South Platte

Thank you for your interest in working with CUSP as an intern!  We value your unique perspective and skills and appreciate your personal interest in natural resource management.  We strive to make internship experiences valuable learning opportunities and we are genuinely interested in helping you reach your goals.  The following provides a general outline of the Forest Health Internship, but individual experiences can be modified based on an intern’s skills, interests, and schedule.

Job Title: Forest Health Intern

Job Description: The Forest Health Intern will assist with forest health projects throughout the watershed.  The intern will work with the field crew on wildfire restoration and fuels mitigation projects.  These projects are critically important to mitigate life-threatening post-fire flooding and reduce the risk of devastating wildfires in communities.  Fieldwork will include learning to fell trees with a chainsaw, chipping fuels, hillslope re-vegetation, erosion control projects, collecting GPS data, collecting photo data, contractor oversight, and working with volunteers.  The Forest Health Intern will also spend time with our on-staff Forester and Operations Director to assist with forest project planning, preparing for wildfire on a community-wide level, and implementing forest health projects on private and public lands.  In addition to learning about forest health, the intern will also have a chance to explore other aspects of natural resources management of interest and gain insight into the general operations of a highly collaborative watershed nonprofit.

Learning Goals

  • Interns will understand the challenges of natural resource management and how stakeholders can work together to promote watershed health
  • Interns will gain a deeper understanding of how forest health work is carried out in practice
  • Interns will gain on-the-ground experience doing forest health/wildfire mitigation projects and wildfire restoration projects

Certifications and Trainings

  • Chainsaw operation and safety training
  • Firefighting training and certification
  • Other trainings may also be available during the course of the internship

Expected Work Week: 20-40 hours per week, with some weekends required

Expected Duration: June 2 – August 8 (10 weeks)

Compensation: $12 per hour

Location:  Most work will be based out of our office in Lake George, CO and fieldwork will occur throughout the Upper South Platte Watershed and connecting watersheds.

Supervisor: Jonathan Bruno, Operations Director

Preferred Skills and Qualifications: 

  • Desire to learn more about natural resource management and environmental sciences
  • Coursework and/or experience in natural resource management, forestry, environmental science, or related discipline
  • Ability to work in a physically demanding environment, including hiking up steep slopes, handling a chainsaw, and working in exposed, mountainous areas
  • Organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to adapt to changing situations and evolving project needs
  • Ability to work effectively and professionally as part of a team
  • Access to personal transportation to get to and from CUSP’s office in Lake George

Description of the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP):  The Coalition for the Upper South Platte is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the water quality and ecological health of the Upper South Platte Watershed, through the cooperative efforts of watershed stakeholders, with emphasis placed on community values and economic sustainability.  CUSP collaborates with partners and stakeholders to promote the health of the watershed through projects focused on river and stream restoration, forest health, water quality, habitat and recreation, environmental education, volunteerism, energy, monitoring and assessment, and wildfire restoration and protection. http://uppersouthplatte.org

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To Apply: Please send a cover letter and resume by email to Amy Jacobi, Communications and Education Coordinator, at amy@uppersouthplatte.org by May 1, 2014

Data Tools Webinar Series

The Nature Conservancy’s LANDFIRE Project and the Joint Fire Science Program are teaming up to host a series of webinars focused on how to use data resources to assist with decision-making for landscape projects.  These tools are designed to be usable in both fire and non-fire actives.  Check out the flyer to learn more.

March 20: Assessing Needs

April 23: Customizing Data