Leaving a legacy

By Amber Brocke, NRCS District Conservationist

Clearwater County landowner Gordon Hubbard saw potential on his property located on the south facing slopes of the Clearwater River canyon. “All I had was a bare hillside with a little bit of brush, so I decided I might as well do something with it,” Gordon stated.

And he certainly did do something. In 1999, Gordon began working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to obtain a conservation plan and to receive cost-share to establish trees on his property.

Gordon hoped that by planting trees he could control weeds, add cover to the hillside, and take advantage of land that wasn’t being utilized. He noticed that on the harsh south facing slopes that yellow star thistle did not grow below the canopy of existing trees. He decided that establishing more trees would be a good way to reduce the weed pressure on his property.

Gordon implemented shade cards, utilized a chemical spot treatment for weed control, and also used tree tube protectors to deter wildlife browsing when he planted his seedlings.

Gordon invested much effort to get his trees established, including the annual maintenance of the tree tubes, implementing rodent control, and spot spraying to reduce weed competition.

All of these efforts were essential in allowing Gordon to establish a successful stand of young Ponderosa pine trees. Gordon utilized a number of NRCS programs to eventually plant approximately 20 acres of pines in various locations on his property. He also planted other areas on his own without cost-share assistance.

Each planting site was slightly different, with some sites requiring difficult site preparation in order to remove competition from existing brush species.

Frank Gariglio, Idaho NRCS State Forester, developed the tree planting specifications and provided the technical assistance for Gordon’s plantings.

Gariglio emphasizes the importance of good up-front planning and dedicated maintenance in getting a tree stand established. “You just can’t plant the trees and walk away,” Gariglio stated, “Gordon was able to address a number of risk factors to his planting and overcame them all.”

This is an excellent example of a project that succeeded due to hard work and persistence by the landowner. His vision of the potential of his property allowed him to achieve his desired goal of “leaving a legacy.”

Gordon was also one of the first landowners in the area to take advantage of cost-share assistance programs from the NRCS for forestry practices, where he received financial assistance as well as technical forestry advice which helped him to manage his property.

Applications are available at the Clearwater County NRCS for private forest landowners to apply for cost-share assistance. Landowners can receive assistance to develop a Forest Management Plan as well as cost-share to implement specific forestry practices, including tree planting, pre-commercial thinning, pruning, and others. Please contact NRCS at (208) 476-5313, Ext. 3 for more information on cost-share and technical assistance opportunities. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Gordon Hubbard and Frank Gariglio (l to r), Idaho Natural Resources Conservation Service State Forester, next to the stand of trees planted with cost-share and technical assistance from NRCS.

This is Gordon Hubbard’s stand of trees 12 years ago, after it had been recently planted.

PILT payments to be cut; Clearwater County’s share increases

The Obama Administration announced this week that the annual Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payments for local governments across the country, including those in Idaho, will be cut to meet sequester benchmarks.

Clearwater County has been among those Idaho counties receiving PILT payments each year. This year’s amount came to $556,957, which is $155,861 more than last year.

PILT are federal payments to local governments that help offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable federal lands within their boundaries.

The formula used to compute the payments is contained in the PILT Act and is based on population, receipt sharing payments and the amount of Federal land within an affected county.

The 2013 authorized level is $421.7 million, which was reduced by $21.5 million due to sequestration. After administrative expenses, a total of $399.8 million is allocated for payments to counties.

“Local communities in Idaho are going to feel a significant impact with a cut to their PILT payments,” said Idaho Senator Mike Crapo.

PILT was enacted to provide payments to offset the impact of the presence of federal lands. Nearly 80 percent of Idaho’s counties depend on these funds to help provide for schools, road maintenance, law enforcement and emergency response. These payments are made based on formulas related to revenue and impacts to counties.

In Clearwater County’s case, one of the many factors influencing PILT payments is the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Act, also known as the Craig-Wyden Bill. The SRS amount has been decreasing the last few years, so the county’s PILT payments have gone up as a result.

PILT payments are renewed on a year-to-year basis, so it is difficult to determine whether next year’s payment, if it is given, will be affected by spending cuts.

“We appreciate the money for the Federal land in our county, and hope this obligation is fulfilled into the future,” said Clearwater County Commissioner Don Ebert.

Community support requested to move Head Start program to Orofino Elementary

Joe Pippenger, Cynthia Tierney and Bob Vian at the June 5 Orofino Chamber of Commerce meeting spoke in support of moving the Head Start program to the elementary school. A building has been purchased for $15,000. $30,000 needs to be raised before the transition can take place. Grant money will be applied for after we have the $30,000.

This move will benefit the kids by having them in class longer and not on a bus being transported back and forth. The current Headstart location is cramped, and this will provide the necessary space. This move will not cost the school district, but will save them money in transportation and personnel. Very much a win-win for all those involved.

CVH Auxiliary Wine Tasting

Ashley Steinbruecker from Clearwater Valley Hospital announced the CVH Auxiliary Wine Tasting will be June 21 at the Best Western Lodge at River's Edge. Tickets are now available.

Flag pole

Many positive comments have been received about the Chamber’s flag pole project. Finishing touches will be done in the near future.

Maniac Dam Race

Tanna Zywina and Kim Browning reported the Maniac Dam Race has been postponed, and they are awaiting confirmation from the sponsor for the new date.

4th of July

Cheryl Jones is looking for volunteers to help with the Orofino 4th of July celebration. Please call her, as they are short handed.

CCED

Loren Whitten-Kaboth reported that Pierce has three new businesses: Clearwater Fitness, Whymsical Mysteries, and Pioneer Inn. The Deyo Reservoir’s grand opening is June 29. The RFP for CCED for the next three years has been completed; just waiting on the outcome.

New members

Ann Anderson welcomed new Chamber members: Subway and Bald Mtn./Clearwater Ski Club.

Program

Ralph Rau, Deputy Supervisor for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest discussed forest updates along with combined forest information.

The fire personnel number will remain the same as last year. Last year 250,000 acres were burned and so far 600 acres have been burnt as prescribed burns. Based on snow pack and precipitation, the forest service is projecting another bad fire year.

There will be a total of 2,699 miles of trail work done on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest.

The Upper Lochsa Land Exchange is in the appraisal process. This takes awhile, so they don’t expect to hear much on this in the near future.

The Travel Plan for the Clearwater has been signed and is under litigation, but the maps are at the printer.

Mr. Rau provided some reasons why the two forests were combined. The budgets for the forests are down $10-11 million. The combined budget is $30 million. There are 360 current employees which are down from 500+ at the high. The rangers have been decreased from 12-13 to 6.

Manpower and budget efficiency seems to be a driving force. Just a bit of history, the area of districts was originally set up based on how far a forest ranger could ride in a day on a horse. Not sure there is anything better than a horse on some of the Clearwater today!

The lease on the Orofino office is up in 2014. The USFS is working on a lease for the first floor for the North Fork Ranger Station. It would leave 35-40 permanent people here with a few from other departments. It seems the current landowner is interested in looking at this proposal. The folks at the forest level will be going to Kamiah.

A question was asked if the forest was interested in putting travel maps and wood permits on the internet. At some point they would like to accomplish this. It is currently not in the works.

Chamber guests

Janene Leaton, Cynthia Tierney, and Tim Rohr from “Friends of Head Start” were guests at the June 5 Chamber meeting.

Announcements

There will be no Chamber meeting on July 3.

Who ya’ gonna call? 3Rivers Amateur Radio Club Radio Hams!

3Rivers Amateur Radio Club on June 22-23 in Kamiah will host a public demonstration of emergency communications. The event takes place at Fish Creek Campground, approximately 12 miles south of Grangeville.

Despite the Internet, cell phones, email and modern communications, every year whole regions find themselves in the dark. Tornadoes, fires, storms, ice and even the occasional cutting of fiber optic cables leave people without the means to communicate.

In these cases, the one consistent service that has never failed has been Amateur Radio. These radio operators, often called “hams,” provide backup communications for everything from the American Red Cross to FEMA and even for the International Space Station.

3Rivers Amateur Radio Club “hams” will join with thousands of other Amateur Radio operators showing their emergency capabilities the weekend of June 22-23.

Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications during unexpected emergencies in towns across America, including Idaho wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and other events world-wide. When trouble is brewing, Amateur Radio’s people are often the first to provide rescuers with critical information and communications.

On the weekend of June 22-23, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with Idaho, Lewis, and Clearwater County ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about as hams across the USA will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities.

This annual event, called "Field Day" is the climax of the week-long "Amateur Radio Week" sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and backyards around the country.

Their slogan, "When All Else Fails, Ham Radio Works” is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 35,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year's event.

Blue Cross of Idaho launches website explaining upcoming health insurance reforms

With the launch of the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange on the horizon, Blue Cross of Idaho developed GetCoveredIdaho.com to help all Idahoans get clear answers on Affordable Care Act requirements and reforms. The Affordable Care Act will impact families and individuals differently, and the new educational website includes a simple tool to calculate subsidy eligibility and other information to help families and individuals prepare for the October 1, 2013 open enrollment period.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll revealed that 42 percent of Americans are unaware that the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, and another 20 percent think it was repealed or never passed.

“GetCoveredIdaho.com offers Idahoans clear and simple information about the coming changes in the health insurance industry and the Affordable Care Act,” said David Jeppesen, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing with Blue Cross of Idaho. “We want to provide a resource for our friends and neighbors, and help them find the information they need to prepare for the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange launch in October.”

Starting on Jan. 1, 2014, nearly all Americans are required to have health insurance or pay a penalty. Idaho’s new Health Insurance Exchange will offer individuals and families a way to obtain health insurance coverage. Some will be eligible for a federal health insurance subsidy to cover some or all of the monthly premium cost.

GetCoveredIdaho.com also provides free education resources for community organizations to share with their membership. Materials can be downloaded directly from the website, or hard copies may be ordered free of charge.

“Individuals and families can enter minimal information in the subsidy calculator and get an instant estimate of their monthly subsidy eligibility,” Jeppesen said. “We are excited to be a resource for our partners and community organizations across Idaho.”

Please visit GetCoveredIdaho.com to get answers, learn how you can pay less, and get prepared for the open enrollment period.

Dworshak Reservoir almost full; July 4 outdoor fun awaits visitors

Dworshak Reservoir will likely reach full pool elevation next week, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water managers announced today.

A below-normal snow pack throughout the Clearwater sub-Basin challenged water managers to balance the need to maintain space in the reservoir for any unexpected water inflows with the desire to have the reservoir close to full pool (1,600 feet in elevation) in time for the July 4 holiday weekend, said Steve Hall, reservoir manager for the Corps’ Walla Walla District.

Hall and other Corps water experts conducted an observation flight on Friday to visually confirm how much snow-covered area remained in the basin, and came back with good news for Dworshak holiday visitors: only about five percent of the area was still covered by snow, allowing water managers to continue safely filling the reservoir.

“The reservoir is about two feet shy of full, and conditions are great right now for outdoor water recreation,” said Hall.

Hall said Corps water managers plan to maintain full pool at Dworshak Reservoir through July 8, subject to downstream needs to maintain healthy river temperatures for outmigrating ESA-listed fish species. Tuesday morning, June 4, water temperatures at Lower Granite Lock and Dam on the Snake River were at about 50 degrees – approximately 18 degrees cooler than the maximum temperature considered healthy for fish (68 degrees).

Dworshak Dam and Reservoir offers a variety of outdoor summer fun opportunities during the July 4 holiday – boating, camping water sports, swimming, fishing, hiking and more. Dworshak Dam’s Visitor Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tours are offered daily at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. All tours begin at the Visitor Center.

All campgrounds, mini-camps and boat ramps are open for use, said Paul Pence, Dworshak natural resources manager.

Dent Acres campground, group camp, and picnic shelter is reservable for the summer recreation season. To make reservations, call 1-877-444-6777, or go online to www.recreation.gov. Reservations are not required, but are recommended if you want to be guaranteed a particular spot during your camping trip, said Pence. In addition, the reserving of mini-camp sites along the Dworshak Reservoir shoreline is prohibited. Early placement of camping equipment at mini-camp sites in an attempt to save a spot for the weekend can result in the removal of the camping equipment or a citation if personal gear is left unattended for an extended period.

The Corps invites visitors to come use the recreation facilities at Dworshak Dam and Reservoir, but it's important to enjoy the reservoir safely by taking the following precautions:

· Changing weather conditions can create unsafe situations on open water. Know the weather and have a float plan.

· Keep life jackets on children while on or around the water. Don’t let small children out of your sight.

· Check the serviceability of your boat.

· Ensure proper fitting, accessible and serviceable life vests are available for each occupant on your boat. Better yet, wear them.

· Before proceeding at higher speeds, familiarize yourself with the area you will be boating as there may be floating woody debris or rocks, stumps and shallow areas not visible from the surface.

· When boating on the reservoir, please use caution because lake levels can change quickly – anchor your boat in water deep enough to avoid beaching and leave enough slack in your anchorline to avoid sinking should lake levels fluctuate up or down.

· Campfires should be made using established fire rings only.

For more information regarding water levels, facilities access or recreation, call the Dworshak Dam Visitor Center at 208-476-1255.

Orofino City Council news

There were no corrections or objections of the old Minutes presented for the City Council Meeting held May 14. Following the approval of the Minutes, Bills/Claims and Payroll ending May 18, 2013, attention was directed to Orofino’s coverage in the latest CEDA Newsletter.

Committee reports from the past week largely pertained to review and discussion of each committee’s individual budget proposals. Salaries, Benefits. Operations and Capital Purchases were reviewed. It was noted in each committee that a 2.5% COLA is included in each of the reports.

Administrator Rick Laam asked that his report be referred to the Executive Session. Treasurer Pam McGuffie had no reports.

Building official

Todd Perry reported that results from the ITD traffic study concerning the new CVHC clinic on Hwy. 7 were to be discussed in the near future.

Other news included the wheelchair accessible corners installed in front of Valley Motor Parts and near Hanson’s Garage were both in compliance with ADA rules. Perry also explained that the city’s noxious weed ordinance was placed in the legal section of the Clearwater Tribune notifying the community to cut or clear any noxious weed or rank vegetation from their property. The notice gives property owners 10 days to comply. Any property owner found to be in violation will have another 10 days after site has been posted to respond. Should it be necessary for the city to clear or cut, the owners will be charged for the services.

Perry also provided an update on the house fire on Cedar St. Family members wish to inspect the property before demolition of the house begins. It is expected to take place in the near future.

Public Works

John Barton reported that crews have been out performing routine maintenance in the parks, sweeping streets downtown, filling potholes.

A notice appeared in the Clearwater Tribune The city will be taking bids for paving streets in the Riverside area. The bid opens June 18, and is projected to be completed Aug. 19. There is approximately 7,000 lineal feet of streets to pave.

Police

Chief of Police, Jeff Wilson reported on the bomb threat discovered at the high school that afternoon, pleased with the way the students and staff evacuated the building and the manner that law enforcement responded and cleared the scene for the awards ceremony planned that evening.

Wilson also commented on the rash of recent minor thefts, the disappearance of lawn ornaments in particular. It is now believed that three suspects were found to be connected with the thefts, as some of the items have been recovered.

Chief Wilson also gave a brief update on Orofino’s new K-9. Testo, and Officer/handler Mike Shore will attend a training seminar in Lewiston this week to complete the dual certification process for tracking down narcotics and as well as a patrol dog.

It was discovered that Lewiston recently purchased a dually certified K-9, and that Lewis County also has one. For future training sessions it is possible that by having the three dogs in such close proximity, that training may be easier and perhaps more affordable. Chief Wilson closed by reminding the Council that graduation night, is June 7, traffic will be heavier on Hwy. 7 and extra patrol will be out to make sure everyone gets home safely.

Water/Wastewater

Mike Martin reported to the Council that the mold situation was ongoing but has certainly improved with the help of a lot of bleach.

Martin also noted that in the past week lots of grease has been coming through the sewer system. He asked for restaurants to be more vigilant in properly disposing grease/oil.

Liquivision Diving Company contacted Martin to inform him that they would be doing other work in the area. It would be to the city’s advantage to have the same company clean and inspect the tank on Adams Rd and the one on Canada Hill.

Cleaning and inspection of both tanks would cost the city $2,800. By scheduling the appointment while the company is in the area the city would save $450. Another benefit is that Liquivision doesn’t have to drain the tanks to clean them. A motion was made and seconded, the Council approved cleaning and inspection of the tanks.

Fire

Mike Lee informed the Council that electrical work was rendered and insulation added to Station 2 on Riverside. Otherwise, business was as usual.

An Executive Session was held and the council meeting was adjourned.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for June 11.