forestwise: a story of a working stimulus project

ForestWise, LLC: 

ForestWise, LLC Improving land and forests for a quarter century… A story of a working stimulus project North Lake Watershed Initiative Presents Funded by an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act sub-grant www.forestwise.net

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PROBLEM: Dense and over-crowded forests that lead to poor forest health and the endangerment of watersheds and wildlife habitat. Poor forest health promotes increased risk of catastrophic wildfire, disease, and insect devastation in forests that leads to the destruction of our water supplies!

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SOLUTION: The U.S. Forest Service received $1.3 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to create and retain jobs associated with forest restoration, hazardous fuels reduction, construction and maintenance of facilities, trails and roads, and green energy projects on national forests, state, tribal, and private lands. The U.S. Forest Service awarded the Colorado State Forest Service more than $10.7 million to create and retain forestry-related jobs affiliated with projects in Colorado. Zele Ranch, Aguilar, CO

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What did the forest service do with the funding? The CSFS DID NOT use the funding to hire more government workers and put forth projects on their own. Instead, they made this money available for project ideas from the people and businesses of Colorado. Because of this ARRA funding, ForestWise , on the brink of closing its doors, was granted a second chance. Bar NI Ranch, Stonewall, CO

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The North Lake Watershed Initiative Project The North Lake watershed, responsible for the water supply of Trinidad, CO and all the ranchers and communities along the Purgatoire River, is too dense to remain healthy. 2. ForestWise , along with support from the community, assembled a project to thin trees in and around this area. 3. The Colorado State Forest Service recognized the need for this project and awarded ForestWise $1,083,500 to accomplish the goal.

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What exactly did these ARRA tax dollars buy? ForestWise requirements: 1. To create and retain jobs for 13+ workers over 22 months 2. To thin 780 acres of forested land 3. To secure forested land across multiple landowners for project work 4. To market small and medium diameter wood products 5. To acquire fuel and oil to complete the project 6. To stabilize ForestWise for the continuation of forest restoration work without government funding. Aiello Ranch, Stonewall, CO

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North Lake Watershed Area Participating Landowners: Bosque del Oso State Wildlife Area Mountain Shadow Falls Ranch Budd Ranch Aiello Ranch Bar NI Ranch Zele Ranch These landowners offered up their forests asking nothing in return except for improved forest health and wildlife habitat on their property.

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Why did ForestWise need government funding to do this project ? Unlike traditional logging, a forest restoration project removes mostly small and medium diameter trees. These trees typically have little to no market value, and therefore, a forest restoration project cannot normally pay for itself. How can we make forest restoration projects continue without government or state funding assistance? Aiello Ranch, Stonewall, CO

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Plethora of proactively-minded private forest landowners Active involvement from our local forest service and other agencies keeps us informed Equipment we have used for 3 generations is solid Constantly devise innovative ways to sell small wood Recipe for the successful continuation of forest management projects without funding assistance:

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Back to the North Lake Watershed Project Bosque del Oso State Wildlife Area, Trinidad, CO What are the project results and benefits so far? Well let’s take a look…

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Treatment Areas & Forest Accomplishments 250 Acres Thinned 3,159 Green Tons Removed Bosque Del Oso State Wildlife Area 28 Acres Thinned 1,512 Green Tons Removed Mountain Shadow Falls Ranch 38 Acres Thinned 1,134 Green Tons Removed Budd Ranch 102 Acres Thinned 972 Green Tons Removed Bar NI Ranch 98 Acres Thinned 1,404 Green Tons Removed Aiello Ranch 85 Acres Thinned 486 Green Tons Removed Zele Ranch – IN PROGRESS

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What happens with all this unmarketable wood? More than 8,500 green tons removed so far???

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Through our partnership to supply Silver Dollar Shavings, we work to market the unmarketable… …our animal bedding product…

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…made from wood shavings! …and our erosion log product… This product helps prevent against erosion that results on land that has suffered from catastrophic fire, construction, or other types of ground impacts to filter and protect water. Certified Weed Free by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture! “ Woodles ”

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The North Lake Watershed project has benefitted the land, what else has it done? Direct Economic Beneficiaries Indirect Economic Beneficiaries 1. Paid 13+ ForestWise workers over $780,000 in wages. 2. Paid more than $250,000 to local fuel and oil companies. 3. Paid more than $15,000 to local certified forester for prof . services. 4. Paid more than $15,000 to local subcontractors for prof . services. 5. Paid more than $10,000 to local ranchers for equipment and lodging. 6. Paid for erosion log testing at TTI at Texas A&M University. 7. Paid for wood sales travel. Supported partner mill incl. 7+ workers and shipping companies. 2. Supported local fuel co. workers & suppliers. 3. Supported local county economy. 4. Supported the development of the small wood market for products such As erosion logs, shavings, posts, poles, firewood, and biomass. This ARRA funding DID go to the PEOPLE! Within 5 years, ForestWise can return these stimulus funds through the economic benefit of its continued operations, employed workers, and tax dollars!

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What does this all mean? If we can successfully market our products made from small trees, then it IS POSSIBLE to continue forest restoration activity with little to no federal or state funding assistance. Zele Ranch, Aguilar, CO

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Aiello Ranch, Stonewall, CO Aiello Ranch, Stonewall, CO Aiello Ranch, Stonewall, CO Bosque Del Oso State Wildlife Area Bosque Del Oso State Wildlife Area Bosque Del Oso State Wildlife Area Zele Ranch, Aguilar, CO Zele Ranch, Aguilar, CO Bosque Del Oso State Wildlife Area Bar NI Ranch, Stonewall, CO Budd Ranch, Aguilar, CO The people of ForestWise

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The success of the North Lake project is not possible without the support of our partners: Colorado State Forest Service Colorado Division of Wildlife The Nature Conservancy City of Trinidad, CO ForestWise extends a special thanks to: Bar NI Ranch Zele Ranch Aiello Ranch Budd Ranch Forest Stewardship Concepts MSF Ranch Las Animas County Duran Oil Co. Natural Resources Conservation Service Culebra Range Community Coalition International Bank Stonewall Fire Protection District Silver Dollar Shavings Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation The United States taxpayers & President Obama The U.S. Forest Service Trinidad-Las Animas County Economic Development, Inc.