Welcome to the Forest Service - Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air & Rare Plants program web site. We cover a wide variety of topics and we are located across the nation. Our staff provides support and coordination to the public and the agency regions, forests and districts.

This web site will give you a taste of our diversity and is designed for our various customers. We laid things out by topic with multiple paths to each topic.

If you want to understand our administrative layout select the "staff" link on the left hand navigations. The search engine takes you through the whole agency, not just our staff pages. If you want to find specific staffs, you need to add the word "staff" to the search. Or try "advanced" searches once you have done your initial search. You are also welcome to contact any of our staff or web site administrator directly.

Our official staff acronym is WFW. You may also see WFWARP on some of our pages or in communication with staff members.

WFW Newsletter - Monthly ::
FEBRUARY POSTED

THANK YOU PARTNERS!

To all our Partners -- Thank you for your hard work

• implementing these conservation projects;
• planning future projects;
• developing partnerships; and
• reporting your accomplishments and opportunities.

The Partnership Report, the Find a Photo library, and WFRP-MS, available on the internet, would not be possible without our partners' work. These tools and products will help accomplish more conservation work, and focus more effectively on work where several partners - and potential partners - share objectives.

The Deputy Chief of the National Forest System is officially announcing the availability of these three internet tools/products for use by both partners and the general public in this downloadable letter. This letter is being shared directly with our partners through our national, regional, forest and district program leaders and biologists.

Partner Letter:
Thank You - 3 Tools/Products Announcement

PDF 48.8 KB
Word DOC 53.5 KB

Climate Change

FS Climate Change Resource Center
Information and Tools

FS Climate Change, Water and Kids
Emphasis Comments by FS Chief

Mule Deer Conservation Award Congratulations to Nate Yorgason, Devin Johnson, Ron Rodriguez, and Tyler Hoyle, of the Dixie National Forest, on receiving the 7th annual Mule Deer Conservation Award!

The 7th annual Mule Deer Conservation Award was presented by Mr. Brian Ferebee, Forest Supervisor of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, at the Mule Deer Foundation annual convention, February 6, 2009, in Salt Lake City, as part of the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo. Nate Yorgason, Devin Johnson, Ron Rodriguez, and Tyler Johnson were recognized for their collaborative work with the Mule Deer Foundation and numerous other partners toward the conservation of mule deer and black tail deer on the Dixie National Forest, located in south-central Utah.

Their work consisted of a suite of projects targeting important winter, summer, and transition range in the southern portions of Utah. These projects were designed to improve upon degraded mule deer habitat conditions across a broad landscape and over a variety of land ownerships. Specific treatment areas were located on the Cedar City and Pine Valley Ranger Districts, near the towns of Irontown, Pine Valley, Panguitch, Paragonah, Enterprise, and Pinto. The strategy behind the series of projects in these areas focused on decreasing Pinyon pine/juniper regeneration in old anchor-chained areas and creating quality deer habitat over a wide range of deer habitats on public lands, both Forest Service and BLM. These projects included numerous components which addressed different needs related to enhancing habitat including:

• Pinyon pine/juniper removal
• Reseeding/seeding of native vegetation
• Sagebrush treatments
• Water/wetland developments
• Monitoring to assess effectiveness of and improve upon treatment
  

In total, almost 14,000 acres of mule deer habitat have been enhanced using these methods, a total that has been matched on adjacent BLM lands as part of the larger cooperative efforts.

Congratulations Nate, Devin, Ron, and Tyler!

Dirt - The Movie

Appreciate the value of SOIL! Check out "Dirt - the Movie". Narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis.
A story with Heart and Soil. "Dirt! The Movie uncovers the surprising ways we can repair our relationship with dirt and create new possibilities for all life on earth. You may never look at the ground beneath your feet quite the same." Featured at Sundance Festival.

Award Winners:

• 2008/7th annual Mule Deer Conservation Award: Dixie NF - Nate Yorgason, Devin Johnson, Ron Rodriguez, and Tyler Johnson
• 2008 USDA Secretary's Honor Award - Kids in the Woods Inter-Deputy Team (KIW-Team); Rhonda Stewart and Rick Henderson from the WFW staff were on the team.
• 2007 Wagon Wheel Gap Hydrologist Award: Mark Story, Forest Hydrologist, Water & Air Program Leader, Gallatin NF - Northern Region (R1)
• 2008 Aquatic Awards: more information...
• 2008 National Field Soil Scientist Award: Debora Page-Dumroese, Thomas Rice and Ann Abbott
• Answer the Call 2008 - Outstanding Volunteer Award: Jay Cox, Patoka Hills (IN) Chapter of Quail Unlimited
• Answer the Call 2008: Gary Rotta, Plumas NF
• Answer the Call 2008 - PNW Partnership Recognition: Dave Zalunardo, USFS Pacific Northwest Regional Representative
• FS - BLM Conservation Leadership Partner Award 2008: National Wild Turkey Federation
• Jack Adams Award 2008: Norm Weiland
• Lloyd Swift Senior Award 2008: Tom L. Darden
• Elk Country Award 2007 - Land Protection: Dakota Prairie Grasslands for Elkhorn Ranch Project
• Elk Country Award 2007 Recipient - Individual Achievement: Jeff Bohler
• Mule Deer Conservation: Steve Blatt
• 2006 Wagon Wheel Gap Awards: Greg Bevenger, Al Todd, and Mike Furniss

More information...

Dig It
The Smithsonian's Dig It - Secrets of Soil is a big success. Not coming to Washington DC before 2010? Visit it online.
More information...