BOISE FOREST COALITION MEETING NOTES

MARCH 7, 2013

Recorded by Larry Hauder and Bob Rainville

MEETING OBJECTIVES

1.  To discuss a tentative schedule for the Coalition’s development of recommendations for resources in West Emmett

2.  To reach agreement on a consensus-based decision-making process.

3.  To prepare fishery and watershed management recommendations for West Emmett.

PARTICIPANTS

Art Beal WCH RC&D

Chad Baconrind US Forest Service

Dave Romero US Forest Service

David Dudley Ola Resident

John Riling US Forest Service

Ken Postma Representative Valley County Commissioners

Kurt Fesenmyer Trout Unlimited

ML Smith US Forest Service

Morris Huffman Perma Matrix

Ray Ingram Emmett ATV

Renee Kehler Emmett Ranger District

Richard Newton Emmett Ranger District

Rick Ward Idaho Dept. Fish and Game

Robbin Schindele Back Country Horsemen of Idaho

Scott Perryman Southwest Idaho Mountain Biking Association

Sharon Pratt West Central Highlands RC&D

Sheryl Stelling West Central Highlands RC&D

BOISE FOREST COALITION’S SCHEDULE

Coalition members agreed on the following time table for their West Emmett analysis.

March Fish/Water Quality

April Commercial Thinning/Timber Production

May Vegetation Management

June Forest Fuels Management

July Wildlife Management

August Dispersed Camping

September Trails

October/November Road Access Management

There was considerable discussion with District Ranger Richard Newton regarding forest stand data collection in 2013 and 2014. In light of limited Forest Service resources, consensus agreement was reached to divide the area into south and north zones. The south zone includes the Upper Little Squaw Creek watershed surrounding High Valley and the east side of the Lower Little Squaw Creek watershed. Stand inventory data already exists for some of this area. The remaining data will be collected in 2013 so that an Environmental Analysis can begin in 2014.

Stand information for the north zone (Second Fork Squaw Creek, Third Fork Squaw Creek and Tripod Creek-North Fork Payette watersheds) would be collected in 2014 for use in a project planning analysis that will begin after the south zone analysis.

CONSENSUS-BASED DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

Coalition members approved the Boise Forest Coalition Guidance for Participation Alternatives and Consensus Decision-Making proposal with the following modifications. The revised guidance is attached.

·  The provision that limited organizations to only one vote regardless of the number of their members who qualified as Voting Members was eliminated.

·  A person representing an organization that meets the criteria for voting may have one proxy vote.

Members agreed that the Idaho Fish and Game would be considered as a voting member of this coalition.

WEST EMMETT FISH AND WATERSHED RECOMMENDATIONS

Chad Baconrind reviewed information presented at the last meeting on West Emmett’s fish and water resources and their management needs.

Coalition members reached consensus agreements on the following recommendations.

1.  Fish and water quality improvement work should be prioritized with the highest priority being given to projects that will benefit bull trout habitat and those where the greatest benefit can be achieved at the least cost.

2.  Reduce sediment runoff from Renwick, West Mountain Trail Heads.

3.  Reduce sediment from dispersed camping and ATV trails on Main Squaw Creek.

4.  Correct fish passage barriers. Priorities for removal listed in order of importance are:

o  Cold Springs Creek

o  Pole Creek

5.  Use engineered solutions for road restoration first before considering road obliteration.

6.  Fence off riparian areas where livestock have adverse impact. Strategically place salt blocks to reduce elk damage to fences.

7.  Use vegetation treatments to enhance riparian areas as needed.

The Coalition requested that the following information be provided at a future meeting.

·  A mapping layer displaying roads within the bull trout habitat areas.

·  The locations of high sediment sources impacting bull trout habitat.

·  Graphite information.

·  Seeding recommendations for road retention sites.

·  Is large wood limited in the streams? Where does this limitation occur?

·  GPS locations of trailheads in need of restoration. Robbin Schindele will take the lead in providing this information.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting is scheduled for April 4, 2013. This meeting will begin at

9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.

Coalition members requested that a large reference map be located on a center table to assist them in finding the location of specific geographic areas being discussed.

ATTACHMENT A: BOISE FOREST COALITON GUIDENCE FOR

PARTICPATION ALTERNATIVES AND CONSENSUS DECISION-MAKING

OBJECTIVES

  1. To provide the Forest Service with consensus-based recommendationsfor prospective projects. All efforts will be made by members of the Coalition to obtain consensus. If alternative decision methods are needed, the Coalition has failed in this foundational objective. Issue resolution measures outside the bounds of consensus will only be taken in extenuating circumstances. For these extreme circumstances, resolution processes outlined below will be adopted.
  1. To implement issue resolution processes that will (a) promote high levels of trust among Coalition’s members, (b) demonstrate high levels of Coalition integrity, and (c) develop respect for Coalition recommendations with the Forest Service, elected officials, and public stakeholders.

3.  To be an organization that is inclusive and open to a diversity of perspectives.

STEPS IN THE CONSENSUS DECISION PROCESS

  1. All meeting participants, except Advisors, can vote in the initial assessment of consensus and participate in efforts to reach consensus.
  1. If initial efforts to reach consensus fail, a fall back decision process will be adopted in which only Voting Members (defined below) can participate in reaching consensus.
  1. If consensus is not achieved among Coalition members, a subcommittee composed of opposing or differing interests and an unbiased moderator will be formed to explore alternative means to reach consensus.
  1. If the subcommittee reaches consensus, they will present their proposed solution to members of the Coalition.
  1. If the subcommittee fails to reach consensus, they will:
  1. Prepare a written a description of considered alternatives, irresolvable differences, and specific reasons for support and opposition.
  2. Discuss their differences before the Coalition.
  1. The Coalition will try to find consensus based upon the subcommittee’s work.
  1. If consensus is not achieved, the perspectives of each of the Voting Members will be presented. The Coalition’s input and will disclose:
  1. Alternatives considered,
  2. Points of agreement and conflict,
  3. Organizations/individuals supporting and opposing each alternative.

COALITION ALTERNATIVES FOR PARTICIPATION

The Coalition will strive to have all interest groups at the table.

  1. Advisors are personnel from state or federal agencies who may assist the Coalition with their knowledge of natural resource conditions.
  1. Interested Parties are participants who:
  1. Have an interest in the project area (i.e. West Emmett) or in the Coalition’s activities
  2. Do not attend meetings regularly

Interested parties are invited to participate in initial efforts to reach consensus.

  1. Coalition Members are individuals who attend meetings and participate in consensus voting assessments. They are considered Voting Members if they:
  1. Attend at least 50% of meetings (including those meetings focused on resources other than their particular interest)
  2. Commit to the Coalition’s mission
  3. Promote consensus-based decisions

A representative of an organization who is standing in for an organization member who meets the 50% requirement may participate as a Voting Member.

RELATED POINTS

  1. These guidelines can only be changed through a consensus-based decision made by Voting Members of the Coalition.
  2. If consensus cannot be met on the future direction of the Coalition, the Steering Committee can decide to dissolve the Coalition.

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