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 twenty 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 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 twenty or more Alaskan businesses. Methodology: Division of Forestry Analysis of results and challenges: The number of purchasers of state timber sales has been steadily declining for well over a decade. It is expected that the number of purchasers going forward will remain in the range of 20-30 firms. In Southeast the number of firms purchasing state timber sales has declined dramatically due to the population out-migration from the City and Borough of Haines, and the closing of the mid-size sawmills in Wrangell, Petersburg and Ketchikan that relied on federal timber to sustain their operations. Without the three mid-size sawmills operating many of the small sawmills also went out of business. Commercial sawlog demand in Southcentral and the Interior remains steady; however, the commercial firewood market has shrunk and consequently the number of firms participating has decreased. There were 31 new timber sales sold to 25 Alaskan firms in FY2019 and there are currently 29 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 Year Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 YTD Total Quarter 6 Quarter 7 2018 0 0 0 0 100% 0 0 2017 0 0 0 0 100% 0 0 2016 0 0 0 0 100% 0 0 2015 0 0 0 0 100% 0 0 2014 0 0 0 0 100% 0 0 2013 0 0 0 0 100% 0 0 2012 0 0 0 0 100% 0 0 2011 0 0 0 0 100% 0 0 2010 0 0 0 0 100% 0 0 2009 0 0 0 0 100% 0 0 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.

Target #1: Provide Alaskan firms in Southern Southeast Alaska with the maximum volume of state timber sustainably available. Analysis of results and challenges: Year 2019 saw significant increases in volume sold with the State’s Vallenar Bay and Coffman Cove timber sales. Additionally, Forestry sold two timber sales on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Island under the Good Neighbor Authority program. The Ketchikan office continues to experience staffing challenges as a result of 2016 reductions and challenges with attracting qualified foresters to the region. Notable milestones and challenges are as follows: 1. Through the state’s first Good Neighbor agreement with the Alaska Region of the USFS, the state prepared and awarded the Kosciusko timber sale for 30,008 MBF on the Tongass National Forest during the State Fiscal Year 2018. 2. Forestry also entered into a second GNA with the USFS and offered the Vallenar Timber Sale for 13,475 MBF of state timber combined with 2,835 MBF of federal timber. It was offered on September 24, 2018 however there were no bids. The sale was reevaluated and made available over-the-counter. ALCAN Timber from Ketchikan then purchased the sale. 3. The Ketchikan office continues to be our highest revenue producing office, selling 84% of the annual timber volume. 4. Forestry reclassified two Forester II positions in Ketchikan to Forester I/II flex positions as a workforce development measure. These positions have had high turnover rates and are hard to fill. 5. There are six timber sales on state land currently under development. The Ketchikan office continues to leverage contractor and industry partnerships to assist in sale development.

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 2019 2,551 2,551 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 continues to work on supporting, developing new opportunities, and maintaining the flow of timber to support the existing industry outside Southern Southeast Alaska. The saw log demand remains stable while the firewood and biomass industry in Interior Alaska has shrunken slightly due to lower oil prices. Although the biomass mills in North Pole and Tok continue to produce wood pellets and pellet logs and distribute their products though-out Alaska. The Fairbanks-Delta office is our highest revenue and volume producing office outside of Southern Southeast Alaska and historically provides 70% or more of timber in the interior. Past volume offered in previous fiscal years but not sold will remain for sale over the counter at each area office. Spruce Beetle kill in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley has flooded local markets and decreased local demand for commercial firewood sales.

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 four or higher out of a perfect score of five 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 2018 93% 93% 85% 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: 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. Decreased scores in the interior reflect record rains in the summer of 2018 which damaged forest roads in the Tanana Valley State Forest. The lower score in southcentral for 2017 is confined to BMPs 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.

Current as of December 23, 2019