CWSF Newsletter | January 2023

Organizational Highlights

Executive Director Transition

The Council of Western State Foresters (CWSF) and Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) Executive Director Laura Schweitzer has announced she will be departing CWSF/WFLC to join the USDA Forest Service as a Deputy Regional Forester in Region 6 (Pacific Northwest). Laura’s last day with CWSF/WFLC will be March 2, 2023. 


Over the past five and a half years, Laura has diligently served the CWSF and WFLC members and led the organization to exciting new levels. Please join us in thanking Laura for her commitment to the CWSF/WFLC members and staff, and for all she has done to advance forestry in the West. While Laura will be greatly missed, we are grateful she will remain a friend in western forestry!

 

The CWSF Executive Committee has initiated the search process for a new Executive Director. Learn more and view the position description. Applications will be accepted until February 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time.

2023 CWSF/WFLC Spring Meeting

The 2023 CWSF and WFLC Spring Meeting will take place in Boise, Idaho, from Tuesday, May 16, at 8:00 a.m. to Thursday, May 18, at 5:00 p.m.

Please contact Patricia Payne if you have any questions.

Photo: Boise CVB

2023 Committee Meeting Schedule

The CWSF and WFLC committee and task force members are looking forward to being in person for their annual meetings after several years of virtual meetings. The 2023 meetings will be held on the following dates:


  • The Western State Fire Managers Committee held a meeting in conjunction with the NASF Fire Chiefs, Managers, and Supervisors (CMS) on January 12-13, 2023, and will continue the annual meeting virtually on February 16.  
  • The Forest Products Committee will meet in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 14-15. 
  • The Western Urban and Community Forestry Committee will meet in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 11-13.  
  • The Good Neighbor Authority Task Force will meet outside of Seattle, Washington, June 20-22. 
  • The Pacific Island Forestry Committee is tentatively planning on meeting in Kona, Hawaii, December 1-2. 


Committee members are made up of state program managers and subject matter experts, along with federal program managers. Please contact Laura Wagner for information about CWSF and WFLC committees.

Competitive Grants Timeline Update

The fiscal year (FY) 2022 Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program is officially closed. The timeline for the second cycle of applications has yet to be determined and will be announced once finalized. For more information, visit the CWSF CWDG webpage or the USDA Forest Service CWDG webpage


If you have any CWDG questions, please contact Halie Miyazawa.


The FY 2023 Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Competitive Grant Program is now officially closed. Applications were evaluated during the scoring period which ended on December 16, 2022. Recommendations are currently being reviewed by the WFLC Executive Board. For more information, visit the WFLC LSR webpage.


The FY 2023 Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Grant Program opened for applications on October 5, 2022, and closed on January 17, 2023. Evaluation of applications will begin following the in-person scorer training held in Denver January 24-25 and will conclude March 1. For more information, visit the CWSF WUI webpage


If you have any LSR or WUI questions, please contact John Smith.

Policy Update

This month's policy update highlights FY 2023 appropriations crossing the finish line through the passage of an omnibus spending package and USDA's announcement to address the wildfire crisis in the western U.S.

Newsletter buttons _17_.png

Meet a Forester

Jennifer Eberlien


This month, we are pleased to feature Jennifer Eberlien, Regional Forester for the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region.


We invite you to meet Jennifer!

News and Notes from Our Members and Partners

Member and Partner Updates

  • Arizona: Tom Torres is the new Director of the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, replacing David Tenney.
  • Western Governors’ Association: The Western Governors’ Association announced the hiring of its sixth Executive Director, Jack Waldorf.  
  • Wyoming: Following Bill Crapser’s retirement, Governor Mark Gordon announced the appointment of Kelly Norris as Interim State Forester. 

Job Opportunities

Looking for a job opportunity in forestry? Find your next position in western forestry on the CWSF job blog.


If you would like to submit a job posting, please email Patricia Payne

Meetings Calendar

See the calendar of meetings and events hosted by CWSF/WFLC and partner organizations.

Questions, comments, feedback? Please contact us!
Linkedin  Twitter