Performance Details

Department of Natural Resources - Forest Management and Development

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Mission

To provide a sustainable supply of forest resources to Alaskans.

Core Services

• Provide state timber to meet local demand within the limit of sustainable supply.
• Ensure compliance with the Alaska Forest Resources & Practices Act (FRPA) on state, municipal and private lands.

Mission Results

Core Services

A: Provide stable or increasing economic and environmental benefits from the use of trees and forests.  Details > TARGET #1: Provide stable or increasing economic benefit from the use of trees and forests on state land by selling state timber to forty or more Alaskan businesses. TARGET #2: Environmental benefit: 100% of Alaskan waterbodies are in compliance with the Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) impaired waters standards as a result of forest operations conducted on lands administered under the FRPA.

A1: Provide state timber to meet local demand within the limit of sustainable supply.  Details > TARGET #1: Provide Alaskan firms in Southern Southeast Alaska (SSE) with the maximum volume of state timber sustainably available. TARGET #2: Provide Alaskan firms outside of Southern Southeast Alaska with supply that meets demand. A2: Ensure compliance with the Alaska Forest Resources & Practices Act (FRPA) on state, municipal and private lands.  Details > TARGET #1: Operate the Forest Resources and Practices Act program to achieve 100% implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs).

Performance Detail

Target #1: Provide stable or increasing economic benefit from the use of trees and forests on state land by selling state timber to forty or more Alaskan businesses. Methodology: Division of Forestry Analysis of results and challenges: The number of purchasers of state timber sales has returned to historic levels after spiking in 2009 and 2010, two years with many new entrants into the commercial firewood business. Since FY2005, timber sales to mills in Southeast has been a division priority to help offset sharp declines in federal timber sales. Pacific Logging and Lumber of Ketchikan permanently shut its doors in late 2010, due to lack of federal timber supply. State timber supply continues to be critical to the Viking Lumber mill in Klawock, the last remaining mid-sized mill in Southeast. Commercial firewood demand continues at a high level; however, the market has matured and the number of firms participating has decreased. There were 21 new timber sales sold in FY2018 and there are currently more than 50 firms with active timber sale contracts throughout Alaska, mostly smaller fuel wood sellers in the interior.

Target #2: Environmental benefit: 100% of Alaskan waterbodies are in compliance with the Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) impaired waters standards as a result of forest operations conducted on lands administered under the FRPA. Methodology: FRPA data compiled based on Calendar Year Percentage of Waterbodies in Compliance with DEC "Impaired Waters" Standards as a Result of Forest Operations Conducted on Lands Administered Under the Forest Resources and Practices Act Year YTD Total 2017 100% 2016 100% 2015 100% 2014 100% 2013 100% 2012 100% 2011 100% 2010 100% 2009 100% Analysis of results and challenges: The Alaska Forest Resources & Practices Act (FRPA) continues to ensure that forest operations protect water quality and fish habitat. The list of impaired waterbodies identifies waters that do not meet state water quality standards, including standards for beneficial use for fish habitat; no waterbodies are listed as impaired due to operations subject to FRPA standards. Recent science and technical committee reviews and private sector effectiveness monitoring studies reinforce this assessment.

Target #1: Provide Alaskan firms in Southern Southeast Alaska (SSE) with the maximum volume of state timber sustainably available. Analysis of results and challenges: The primary reasons for the low timber volume sold in Southern Southeast (SSE) in 2018 are the following: 1. In FY2016, the legislature reduced the timber sale program in southeast by five positions. Of the remaining four positions, one retired and one resigned and took a private sector position. This left the entire southeast program with only two foresters and an administrative position. 2. The Ketchikan office is both our highest revenue producing office and historically sold 75% of the annual timber volume. 3. After about one year of recruitment, two forester positions in SSE were filled in April 2018. Unfortunately, these two foresters have announced their resignations and one vacated his position the end of September and the other will leave the end of October. The division has started recruitment for these vacancies. 4. Timber sales projects that were planned to be sold in 2016 in SSE were appealed through the public appeal and reconsideration process. These were the division's first appeals in many years. Addressing these appeals and reconsideration requests contributed to delays in offering several sales. The issues have been addressed and the offerings began being made in 2017. 5. Through the state’s first Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) with the Alaska Region of the US Forest Service (USFS), the state prepared and awarded the Kosciusko Timber Sale for 3,000 MBF on the Tongass National Forest during the State’s FY 2018. We also entered into a second GNA with the USFS and offered the Vallenar Timber Sale for 13,475 MBF of State timber and 2,835 MBF of Federal timber which was auctioned off on September 24, 2018. There were no bids and the sale will be reevaluated before being made available Over-The-Counter.

Target #2: Provide Alaskan firms outside of Southern Southeast Alaska with supply that meets demand. Timber Sale Program, Outside Southern Southeast Alaska: Displayed as Thousand Board Feet Offered and Sold per Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Offered Sold FY 2018 3,304 3,304 FY 2017 3,435 3,435 FY 2016 6,672 6,393 FY 2015 16,060 15,027 FY 2014 20,405 20,405 FY 2013 4,272 4,272 FY 2012 10,314 9,238 FY 2011 37,146 11,572 FY 2010 26,830 8,379 FY 2009 28,885 13,255 Analysis of results and challenges: The division is working diligently to maintain a flow of timber to support the existing industry outside Southern Southeast Alaska while it works to grow a biomass industry in Interior Alaska. Additional past volume not offered for sale this fiscal year remains available for purchase over the counter.

Target #1: Operate the Forest Resources and Practices Act program to achieve 100% implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). Methodology: BMP implementation compliance is measured as the percentage of BMPs rated 4 or higher out of a perfect score of 5 in field inspections of forest operations. *FRPA data compiled based on Calendar Year. Forest Resources & Practices Act Program: Displayed as the Rating of Best Management Practices Implementation by Region per Year Year Coastal Southcentral Interior 2017 97% 93% 100% 2016 93% 99% 99% 2015 97% 97% 94% 2014 96% 93% 85% 2013 96% 98% 80% 2012 98% 98% 92% 2011 100% 90% 91% 2010 95% 100% 93% 2009 92% 100% 70% 2008 95% 98% 92% Analysis of results and challenges: Best Management Practices (BMPs) are designed to prevent adverse impacts from forest operations on fish habitat and water quality, and to ensure prompt reforestation following harvest. Compliance with the BMPs is high statewide. Improved scores in the interior reflect improved maintenance of forest roads on the Tanana Valley State Forest. The lower score in southcentral for 2017 is confined to BMP’s addressing road construction and road maintenance. The division uses compliance monitoring results to identify training needs. Training emphasizes specific BMPs with relatively low ratings and targets operators with a history of compliance issues. BMPs for maintenance of active and inactive roads are a current training focus. The increased demand for firewood is likely to result in additional training needs for new operators who are unfamiliar with the Forest Resources & Practices Act.

Current as of November 15, 2018