Lake County All Lands Restoration Initiative Mini FIP's
Project Description
With NWFHP Phase 1 and 2 complete, the next project awarded was The Lake County All Lands Restoration Initiative Mini Focused Investment Partnership (LCALRI Mini FIP). Which focused on the North Warner and Thomas Creek areas located adjacent to each other. In lieu of submitting a full Focused Investment Partnership grant due to decreases in Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) budgets from COVID-19 impacts to our economy, we decreased our original geographic range while still hoping to maintain the forward momentum of forest health improvements through a mini FIP which echoes all the same goals and objectives as the FIP but at a much smaller scale. The original FIP total area covers 402,400 acres, this mini FIP covers about 278,633 acres near the communities of Lakeview and Valley Falls. This project area includes high concentrations of old legacy ponderosa pine forests; and habitat for priority species.
Project Partners
Lake County Umbrella Watershed Council, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Klamath Lake Forest Health Partnership, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State University Extension, United States Forest Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Lake County Cooperative Weed Management Area, Lake County Resource Initiative
Project Status
Outreach took place beginning in April 2021 as the project manager reached out to approximately 25 different property owners within the project boundary. Efforts included, phone calls, and in-person meetings to explain the scope of the project and the unique opportunity for property owners to improve their land and reach their restoration goals and objectives. By early summer 2021, 14 landowners confirmed their interest in future restoration work on their land and engaged in landowner agreements, mapping and hiring contractors.
- The LCALRI Mini FIP Phase 1 has been completed, and we are now focused on the LCALRI Mini FIP Phase 2. Details below reflect accomplishments of Phase 1.
- The original goal of Objective 1 was to treat 666 acres of small tree thinning and slash treatment, we accomplished 711.1 acres.
- The original goal of Objective 2 was to treat 100 acres of aspen/meadow restoration through conifer removal and slash treatment, accomplished 109.4 acres
- The original goal of Objective 3 was to develop a noxious weed management plan, completed see below for full document.
- The original goal of Objective 4 was to engage with private landowners to increase public knowledge and understanding of dry forest restoration principles and restoration techniques, while building public support for increased use of fire as an essential restoration tool through outreach, engagement, and applied fire. This was accomplished through one-on-one landowner meetings, social media (website, Facebook, Instagram), workshops, newsletters, our annual gatherings and annual reports.
- The original goal of Objective 5 was to adopt a robust monitoring plan, we actually created our own, see below for full document.
- The original goal of Objective 6 was to engage key partners to plan, implement, evaluate, adjust and institutionalize adaptive management in the project area. We have done this through continued evaluation of methods and continued engagement of partners for ongoing project planning and additional grant applications.
The LCUWC was awarded the Lake County All Lands Restoration Initiative Mini FIP phase 2. Treatments are ongoing, with 323.3 acres cut and piled so far. The LCUWC has submitted an application for the Lake County All Lands Restoration Initiative Focused Investment Partnership grant (pending results this spring 2024).