Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

The Ashland Forest Resiliency Project The Ashland Forest Resiliency Project (AFR) is a ten-year stewardship project in the City’s municipal watershed that aims to reduce wildfire risk and promote ecosystem resiliency on approximately 7,600 acres of land. The project is a collaborative effort between the Rogue River- Siskiyou National Forest, the City of Ashland, The Nature Conservancy, and the Lomakatsi Restoration Project. AFR focuses on restoring open forest conditions and reintroducing beneficial low-intensity fire to prevent damaging summer wildfires while saving large, old trees and preserving key habitat elements and ecosystem processes. In addition to implementing ecological forestry with workforce training and adaptive monitoring elements, the project includes an education component that has delivered presentations, tours, and field activities to more than 2,500 local students and citizens. AFR has recently expanded its reach to private and municipal lands over a broader 58,000 acre landscape to promote restorative work in ecologically important settings that also increase community wildfire safety. ASHLAND FOREST RESILIENCY STEWARDSHIP PROJECT Work Update Fall/Winter 2016-2017 Thank you from the AFR Partners for your support this past year. We accomplished over 2,000 of acres of thinning and controlled burning for forest health and wildfire safety. Here's what's in store for this season... Forest Restoration Work this Fall and Winter  Lomakatsi's crews are thinning small trees and brush with no impact to recreation.  Rogue River -Siskiyou National Forest led the planning for forest health treatments; then,  Lomakatsi Restoration Project marked trees and these were reviewed by the community.  Helicopters are scheduled for the final phase to remove the marked trees while protecting fragile soils and water quality. For Updates on Trail and Road Closures check Trail Information The Nature Conservancy partnered with breweries across the Northwest including Standing Stone Brewery. Clean water from our forests pours into our breweries! Check out OktoberForest and support our partner The Nature Conservancy . An Ounce of Smoke  Controlled burning reduces the risk of severe wildfire and is the most efficient way to remove brush piles.  Planned burning is necessary to protect our community and achieve a greater goal of reduced summer smoke and impacts of severe wildfire.  With just under 2,500 acres to burn on federal land in AFR plus adjacent private lands; we are working doubly hard to minimize the smoke impact. Minimizing Smoke Careful planning by the AFR partners minimizes unwanted smoke in the community. The partners will provide the public with up -to-date alerts about burning and smoke. Information will be available through a variety of media outlets, including social media. Expect to see smoke on both the West and East side of the watershed. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AFR.Project facebook.com/AFR.Project www.ashlandwatershed.org City of Ashland Forest Division Chris Chambers [email protected] (541) 552 -2066 Lomakatsi Restoration Project Shane Jimerfield [email protected] (541) 488 -0208 Lomakatsi’s crew of Forest Technicians worked throughout the summer to ensure community held values for restoring the Ashland Water- shed are realized on the ground. Photo: Steve Werblow The Role of the Community Here are some actions that everyday Ashland residents and organizations can take to make a difference in addressing climate change. Install rain gardens , rain barrels , or cisterns on your property. Work with the City to learn about options for reducing stormwater runoff and increasing water storage and reuse at your home or business. Be waterwise in your daily household water consumption. Install water-efficient fixtures, take shorter showers, irrigate at night, and otherwise reduce water use. Support habitat protection and restoration . Volunteer at a habitat restoration event, donate to land conservancy or education organizations, and get outside! 88 ASHLAND CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLANNATURAL SYSTEMS88