Fremont-Winema reports strong timber production, warns of staffing shortfalls

Deputy Forest Supervisor Ben Goodin reported to the Lake County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 30 that the Fremont-Winema National Forest ranked third nationally in timber production this year and was the regional leader in forest fuel-reduction activities.

Goodin said the forestfuel-reduction program includes prescribed burns, burning slash piles, logging and thinning and that reforestation of recent fire areas is a priority. He told commissioners the forest operates under a ten-year reforestation plan and has met this yeartargets. "We completed our goal for the year," Goodin said.

Commissioners pressed him on capacity to manage smaller timber sales. Commissioner Mark Albertson asked whether small timber sales were still being conducted; Goodin said the Forest Service currently lacks staff to administer small sales and that the timber sale administrator position had been vacant for more than four years. He said overall staffing was running at about 50% of typical capacity and identified roughly a dozen priority vacancies. Goodin added the federal hiring freeze was expected to end Oct. 15, which he hoped would allow some positions to be filled.

Why it matters: county officials and local logging interests watch Forest Service staffing and sale capacity closely because those factors affect local timber markets, road use and planning for reforestation and fuel-reduction work.

Whatcomes next: Goodin described staffing and operational plans but offered no firm dates for filling vacancies; commissioners said they have contacted regional Forest Service leadership and legislators about local supervisory appointments.