Northeast RSC Update

Thursday, March 10, 2016

  • NE RSC Update

1 – Summary of WFLC and NSC Activity – Brad/Larry

  • The annual IAFC WUI Conference was held March 8-10 in Reno, NV. USDA UnderSecretary and WFLC Co-chair Robert Bonnie gave the key note address. He talked about the Cohesive Strategy and views it as the long term solution to an increasingly complex wildfire challenge. He also spoke about the need and efforts to fix the national fire suppression funding problem which is impeding the work on the longer term goals of creating more resilient landscapes and fire adapted communities.
  • NSC members and regional coordinators participated on a panel presentation on CS at the WUI Conference in Reno on Thursday, 3/10. The panel presented an overview of the current set of WFLC priorities followed by regional examples that illustrated those priorities. The NE presented the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Project in NY and the Barnegat Township Fire Adapted Community Learning Hub in NJ.
  • NSC is proposing to hold 2 face-to-face meetings immediately following the WFLC meetings to be able to work on priority task work, and start work on any new items that emerge from the WFLC meetings.
  • NSC task group status update(from NSC call on 3/2)
  • Large Landscape Collaboration– Pete Anderson reported discussions by this group focused on seeking to mitigate cross-boundary funding issues and looking for opportunities to improve; discussions are occurring about testing funding leverage concepts on 3 pilot landscape projects. Group will seek more clarification of leader’s intent (WFLC) for this priority. Also will focus on short-term deliverables.
  • Environmental Compliance – Robert Cope reported a call was held recently and discussed ideas around creating a website that links what all agencies can share what they are doing regarding how they do business, share best practices, etc. Also could host a blog to increase interaction and share information and solutions.
  • Reducing Risk to Communities–Lynn Decker reported that they will have information on from this group to share on the 4/6 NSC call.
  • Smoke – Mike Zupko: looking for opportunities to build relations with EPA regions (PNW and CA being explored). Looking to sponsor a workshop with research to seek to identify research gaps. Also discussing gaps in reporting and how to fill these data gaps.
  • WFLC proposal for strategic review of 2015 fire season – NSC to propose reviewapproach

Elements to be addressed:

a)Risk-based response - the how, when and where of deployment

b)Cross-boundary mitigation - matching priorities, community engagement, other options for engagement

c)Aviation certification standards - opportunity for consistency

2 – NA Wildfire Risk Reduction RFP –Maureen

  • LANDFIRE coordination group funding opportunity (proposal submitted by Trent Marty (WI)on behalf of the Great Lakes Compact).

3 - NE Communications –Brad/Larry

  • NE RSC networking opportunities updated (see attachment). Please send any additions or changes you are aware of.

ATTACHMENTS:

  1. NE networking opportunities
  • Information Resources
  • New NE RSC website:
  • Website for retrieving NE and National CS documents and reports – go to: (please bookmark it!)
  • Website for all things CS plus NE past NE RSC news updates:
  • FYI – you can follow the Cohesive Wildland Fire Strategy on Facebook

Calendar

* Next RSC call – Thursday, April 14, 2016 – Time: 2:00 pm EDT.

Call in number – 877-915-4208; passcode – 4589189#

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