Northeastern Area Forest Legacy Program (FLP)

The Tract Record
Fourth Quarter FY 2007

2008 Budget Not Yet Finalized
The FY 2008 budget was not finalized by the end of FY 2007. In fact, the conference in which the House and Senate resolve differences between their respective appropriations bills has not occurred. The Forest Service is currently operating under a continuing resolution until mid-November. Without legislative branch direction on how to proceed, the Forest Legacy Program  can carry out only its administrative activities; specific project grants cannot be awarded. In the past, FLP projects have been funded through specific earmarks or through a lump-sum appropriation that funds the national prioritized FLP proposed projects list.

Service Foresters (Re)-Trained to Monitor Conservation Easement
Milford, PA, for a training session on how to monitor conservation easements. The foresters were trained to overcome their tendency to evaluate forest management activities and instead just “observe and record.” Scott Stewart, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry FLP Specialist, designed the lesson plan. Rachel Billingham and Gene Odato of the Pennsylvania Division of Forestry hosted the session. The classroom training covered monitoring theory; the field training offered practice opportunities. The lesson plan will be made available to states so they can give the training locally.

Recently Completed FLP Projects

Wisconsin Vast Forest Carries on for Veneer and Wolves
An 18,513-acre area that connects with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest became a completed FLP project on September 17 when the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources met all FLP standards for transfer of FLP funds to the state. The Wolf River FLP project, which consists of two conservation easements in Langlade County, WI, was acquired by the DNR from Plum Creek Timberlands in 2005 for $9,180,000. Plum Creek manages the property for high-quality forest products, including veneer-quality timber. The DNR, through the conservation easements, ensures that the land continues to provide large forested blocks, which is habitat for gray wolves. The public can continue to enjoy hunting on the property, or hiking along portions of the National Scenic Ice Age Trail. The FLP contributed $3,056,000 to the project; the Wisconsin DNR provided the cost share of $6,124,000.

Indiana Keeps up Indian Creek Current

The current of FLP projects along Indian Creek in Greene County, IN, continued with the Indian Creek 2 tract. This tract is the third in a series of FLP projects totaling 2,300 acres that began with the Indian Creek 1 tract in 2002 and continued with the Indian Creek 3 tract in 2005. The enthusiasm spread by the Indian Creek 1 landowner was the catalyst for the other landowners to apply to the FLP. On September 17, 2007, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources met all FLP standards for reimbursement on the Indian Creek 2 tract easement, which the DNR had acquired in February 2007. The FLP contributed $1,040,000 for the conservation easement on the 1,363-acre property owned by Danzer Forestland that was valued at $1,205,000. A Nature Conservancy contribution of $60,000 and a $105,000 donation through a bargain sale completed the transaction.