April 23, 2021
Carl Struck and Johanne Riddick’s Ponderosa restoration effort in New Mexico has grown into a diverse, robust ecosystem. Recently, Struck and Riddick have been recognized as NACD Soil Health Champions for their work.

“Our initial management goals did not include supporting and increasing soil health,” Struck said. “The condition of the soils came into focus later. We had a nice uneven-age stand, but after looking closely at the soils, we became concerned with biodiversity and ways to support micro-organisms.”

Struck and Riddick purchased Spirit Hill in 1987, not knowing the complete history of the property or how depleted the soils were. Initially, their goal was to restore the 40-acre Ponderosa pine forest, which stands at an elevation of 8,500-feet, southeast of Penasco. Once they started, Struck said, it inadvertently turned into soil health efforts.

Struck will be sharing his practices and acquired knowledge during a New Mexico Tree Farm Spring Field Day on May 15. The event will focus on supporting forest soil health and biodiversity.

Over the past 35 years, as Struck has undertaken different projects on the land, he has discovered intended and unintended results in his methods. Fortunately, the majority of the unintended consequences have been forest and soil enhancing.
Join NACD for the Winds, Water and Wildfires Virtual Summits this May!
 
Conservation districts are uniquely positioned to assist communities with planning and preparedness before, during and after disasters. Our sessions will demonstrate how conservation districts are working together with all community members to conquer the challenges facing private landowners. Registration is free, and you can attend more than one session.

  • West - May 6
  • Southeast - May 11-12
  • Northeast - May 25-26
Collectively, family forest owners maintain 272 million acres, 39 percent of the total forest land in the United States—more than any other ownership group.

The fate of the nation’s forests lies largely in the hands of this diverse group. America's Family Forest Owners is the first of its kind to speak to those 10 million family forest owners.

Visit www.eforester.org/store to order.

Oregon
Project aims to reduce risk of wildfire
The Oregon Department of Forestry is funding gorse removal work in Curry County as part of $5 million granted in January by the Oregon Legislative Emergency Board for reducing wildfire risk across the state.

Some $234,000 of the funding continues work started as a demonstration in 2019, using Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)’s contracted rock scalers to control gorse on steep slopes. ODOT, Curry Soil and Water Conservation District and Oregon State Parks worked together to conduct cut-stump treatment on the gorse north of Brookings along Highway 101 and nearby at Harris Butte in Harris Beach State Park.

“This is shared stewardship in action,” Oregon State Forester Peter Daugherty said. “When we work together, we can treat more acres across ownership boundaries and have a greater impact on fire resiliency in communities and forests throughout the state.”
Illinois
Volunteers plant trees on Earth Day to advance educational forest
Edwardsville Children’s Museum, along with local volunteers, planted a second round of trees in celebration of Earth Day.

Thanks to the support of funders, seedlings were purchased from the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District and include varieties such as Northern Red Oak, Northern Pecan and American Plum.

In March, more than 100 volunteers from the Edwardsville community planted 100 trees to get the Edwardsville Children’s Museum Micro Forest off the ground. This educational and environmental initiative has transformed an empty brownfield site into a two-acre urban forest preserve that will help improve air quality, increase the region’s biodiversity and lower ozone levels.
CALENDAR

June 22-24 – NACD Forestry RPG Summer Meeting l Virtual

July 24-27 – NACD Summer Conservation Forum and Tour l Chicago, Ill.
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