2006 Performance and Accountability Report

Success Story Journal

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, is proud of its tradition of on-the-ground decision-making, guided by a common strategic direction. Our Strategic Plans, which are updated periodically, establish goals and performance measures to guide our work and evaluate our progress. Our progress in meeting those goals is documented in our annual Performance and Accountability Report.

What ultimately counts, however, is how we accomplish our mission—“to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.” Mission success depends partly on finding new ways of doing business, including community-based solutions and working in partnership with others.

In these pages you will read about dozens of innovative, outstanding efforts in fiscal year 2006 accomplished by agency employees at districts, forests, labs, and research stations across the country.

These “success stories” are just a sample of the countless ways in which the people of the Forest Service made progress, on the ground, toward achieving the six important goals on which we have focused under the current Strategic Plan. Collectively the stories also illustrate our successful steps this year toward achieving our overall mission.

Just click on the story titles for full stories and photographs.

The 2006 Journal contains a number of documents that are provided in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The free Acrobat Reader® software allows you to view and print Adobe PDF files. If you need help accessing these PDF documents, please contact Susan Dreiband at 703-605-4491 or sdreiband@fs.fed.us for assistance.

Goal 1—Reduce the risk from catastrophic wildland fire Outcome – Reduced risk to communities and the environment from catastrophic wildland fire by improving the health of the Nation’s forests and grasslands
Birds and Burns Network: Assessing Fire Effects On Sensitive Wildlife Species	Pacific Northwest Region (R6)
Consume 3: Improved Models Help Managers Understand Fuel Consumption	Pacific Northwest Research Station
Historical Context: Fire History Patterns Improve the Precision Of Fire Management Plans	Rocky Mountain Research Station
Idaho’s Fire Prevention Grant Program a Huge Success	Northern Region (R1), Intermountain Region (R4), and State & Private Forestry
LIDAR: A New Technology To Monitor Smoke Plumes	Rocky Mountain Research Station
New Study Offers Insight For Protecting Rainforest	International institute of Tropical Forestry
Power Of Partnerships: Shawnee National Forest Prescribed Fire Program Grows	Eastern Region (R9)
Predicting Fuel Risk Across Boundaries: The Border Lakes Partnership	Northern Research Station
Producing Quality Lumber and Pulp From Forest Thinnings	Forest Products Laboratory
Storm Response: Reducing Wildfire Risk Following Hurricane Rita	Southern Region (R8)
Synthesizing Scientific Information: New Decision Support Tools For Fire and Fuels Project Managers	Rocky Mountain Research Station

Goal 2—Reduce the impacts from invasive species Outcome – Improve the health of the Nation’s forests and grasslands by reducing the impacts from invasive species.
Community Connections: Controlling Invasive Plants On Prince Of Wales Island	Alaska Region (R10)
Creating New Tools For the Fight Against Emerald Ash Borer	Northern Research Station
Earthworms As Invasive Species	International Institute of Tropical Forestry
Partners Begin To Inventory and Control Invasive Plants	Eastern Region (R9)
Protecting the Washoe Tribe’s Valued Resource	Northern Region (R1), Intermountain Region (R4), State & Private Forestry
Invasive Species In Mountain Streams	Rocky Mountain Research Station
Mapping the Spread Of Tamarisk	Pacific Northwest Research Station
New Map For Sudden Oak Death Detection	Northern Research Station
Treatments Help Reduce Invasives In Cottonwood Forests Of the Middle Rio Grande	Rocky Mountain Research Station
Using Native Species: The Right Seed For the Need	Pacific Northwest Region (R6)

Goal 3—Provide outdoor recreational opportunities Outcome – Provide high-quality outdoor recreational opportunities on forests and grasslands, while sustaining natural resources, to help meet the Nation’s recreational demands.
Defining Wilderness Character, At Last	Rocky Mountain Research Station
Innovative Products Will Improve Accessibility For Recreation	Missoula Technology and Development Center
New Displays Of Tlingit Culture Enhance Petersburg Totem Park Raven Came The Raven Pole	Alaska Region (R10)
Operation Frozen Timber: Making the Backcountry (and the Country) Safer	Pacific Northwest Region (R6)
People On the Move: Implications Of “Amenity Migration” For Sustaining Natural Resources	Northern Research Station
RIDE 4 KEEPS: A Campaign To Keep Off-Highway Vehicle Use Safe, Legal, and On Trails	Southern Region (R8)
Swimming In Mountain Streams	International Institute of Tropical Forestry
Tailored To Fit: Renovated Picnic Area Meets Community Needs	Pacific Southwest Research Station
Taking Back the Valley: New Campground Reflects Community Values	Pacific Northwest Region (R6)

Goal 4—Help meet energy resource needs Outcome – Consider opportunities for energy development and the supporting infrastructure on forests and grasslands to help meet the Nation’s energy needs.
Blackfoot Tribe Receives Fuels For Schools Grant	Northern Region (R1), Intermountain Region (R4), State & Private Forestry
Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative Based On Forest Service Research	Pacific Northwest Research Station
Dakota Minerals Program Generates Record Bids	Northern Region (R1)
Fuel For Boilers, Not For Wildland Fire: Meeting Energy Needs While Reducing Fire Risk	Eastern Region (R9)
Fuel For Schools and Beyond: Nevada Project Heats Up With Trash Slash	Northern Region (R1), Intermountain Region (R4), and State & Private Forestry
Southern Region Administers Extensive Energy Program	Southern Region (R8)
Warm Springs Agreement Kicks Into Action	Pacific Northwest Region (R6)

Goal 5—Improve watershed condition Outcome – Increase the area of forest and grassland watersheds in fully functional and productive condition.
Doe Run Mining Site Clean-up Completed	Northern Region (R1)
Environmental Quality Improves With Careful and Timely Bridge Replacement	Southern Region (R8)
Evaluating Effects Of Acid Rain On Vegetation, Soils, and Water Quality	Northern Research Station
Forest Service Biologists Solve Black Oystercatcher Mystery	Alaska Region (R10)
Fungi Help Control Erosion	International Institute of Tropical Forestry
Genetics Research Provides New Insights For Salmon Habitat Restoration and Conservation	Rocky Mountain Research Station
Genetic Sampling Technique Helps In Study Of Sensitive Species	Rocky Mountain Research Station
Lime Treatment Restores Wilderness River	Southern Region (R8)
Researchers Take Hurricane In Stride To Document Fish Community Changes	Southern Research Station
Restoring the Flow: Fubar Restoration Project Brings Salmon Home	Alaska Region (R10)
Resurrecting Resurrection Creek	Alaska Region (R10)

Goal 6—Conduct mission-related work in addition to that which supports the agency goals Outcome – Improve the productivity and efficiency of other mission-related work and support programs.
Acquisition Of Theodore Roosevelt’s Historical Ranch Protects Ecologically Unique Land	Northern Region (R1)
Advances In Threat Assessment: Major Conference Pulls It All Together	Eastern and Western Wildland Environmental Threats Centers
Characterizing Forest Change Using Satellite Imagery	Rocky Mountain Research Station
Estate Thomas: Integrating Research, Recreation, and Education	International Institute of Tropical Forestry
Heroic Interagency Hurricane Response Demonstrates Effective Collaboration	Southern Region (R8)
Northern Research Station Created	Northern Research Station
Ottawa Timber Sales Hit the Web	Eastern Region (R9)
Perfecting Workforce Skills: SALHI Training Improves Timber Sales In Southern Region	Southern Region (R8)
Sustainable Resource House: Building Understanding, Building a Home	Forest Products Laboratory
Three-Dimensional Engineered Fiberboard: Creating New Possibilities For Sustainable Forest Products	Forest Products Laboratory
What Will It Look Like? New Software Helps Foster Stewardship Practices	Southern Research Station

2006 Performance and Accountability Report

Success Story Journal

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