Back to the winning inventory team!
The other inventory team was, well, more conversational.
This conk is evidence of decay on this tree. In fact, many of the trees in this forest are very old, and undergoing natural decay. Soon some tops may break and the forest will start to develop old-growth structure.
Now we've left the BLM forest and are giving a final go at the clinometer before we head back to the classroom.
John is coaching participants in the use of a spreadsheet to analyze their inventory data. This is one of many ways in which SATI demonstrated possible links between field and computer activities.
On the last segment of our Tuesday class, Amy Amoroso, Director of Natural Resources for the Cow Creek tribe, discussed the Cow Creek's activities and goals related to Alder-Jordan Creek watershed restoration. The Cow Creeks want to bring anadromous fish back to the watershed, and have already begun restoration planning and implementation along two miles of Jordan Creek.
Now it's Wednesday, and we're meeting in the Alder-Jordan Creek watershed on a landing used by Swanson-Superior Lumber. Alan Baumann, US Forest Service forester, is leading a discussion on multiple management objectives and strategies among various owners on the watershed. Also joining is Alan James of the Bureau of Land Management.
Now we're heading up the Swanson-Superior tract to get a better view of things.
We cross Alder Creek, which in this location has a healthy flow.
The culvert may need to be modified, however, to allow for fish passage.
Now we're up the hill a ways, with a view overlooking the BLM forest we inventoried yesterday in the distance. Alan and Alan (!) begin their discussion of how and for what sorts of objectives the forests around here are managed.
…and up and up we go! These participants will be fit as fiddles by the end of the week.
Now we're in the BLM Roseburg District Office, and Al James is talking about how BLM does terrestrial inventory using proprietary EcoSurvey software.
After the EcoSurvey demo, participants learn about the online GIS of the Alder-Jordan Creek watershed, which ACCF has developed in conjunction with the BLM.
They then give a go at two introductory online tutorials linking the online GIS with learning about the watershed. Looks like the tutorials, developed by students at UC Santa Barbara, get high marks by these teachers!