Putting America Back to Work
 The
PNW Research Station initiated 11 economic recovery research projects as part
of the 2009 American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The projects addressed major
issues including fire-prone forests, salmon habitat, the values of urban forests,
and climate change. In the first two years after ARRA’s passage, between
250 and 270 people were hired to accomplish this work, with skill sets ranging
from construction to field data collection to high-tech computer modeling.
Each individual recipient of the station’s economic recovery funds has
a compelling story to tell about the impact this funding has had on their economic
well-being, career goals, and personal lives. In return, each has made a significant
contribution to the mission of developing scientific knowledge and tools to
ensure that the Nation’s forest lands and resources are managed wisely
and protected for future generations.
Here are a few facts about the jobs created with the $14,216,000 in economic
recovery funds directed by the PNW Research Station:
- From summer 2009 through
summer 2011, between 250 and 270 people were employed using funds the station
provided to vendors, universities, and
nongovernmental organizations under contracts or grants. At the end of that
period, the station had expended almost 70 percent of its economic recovery
budget, with the remaining funds expected to last an additional two years.
- The
length of employment varied from seasonally to multiple years.
- Many of
the jobs offered training in addition to a paycheck. The on-the-job training
workers received provided unique expertise and skills that can
be applied to future professional scientific careers.
- The station worked with
the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communications to explore
a variety of forms of communication to tell the
economic recovery
story. Multimedia packages developed by students describing many of
the station’s
ARRA accomplishments can be found at http://sciencestories.uoregon.edu/.
Collapse All | Expand
All
 List
of ARRA funded projects in Oregon
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Coyote Creek Gauge Stations Reconstruction Funding: $350,000
This project restored non-functioning stream gauges in the Umpqua
Experimental Forest, where forest stands are planned to undergo treatments
to meet forest health objectives. The region contains high-value
salmon habitat, and information about the effects of forest management
on year-round stream conditions is critical for maintaining habitat
for fish species that have immense economic and cultural values.
The information gained from these restored gauge stations will enable
evaluation of contemporary forest treatments on stream flow. This
project provided employment for around a dozen people.
> Read More
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Pacific Northwest Research Station Road Maintenance
Funding: $83,418 When the ARRA
was enacted, road repairs were needed throughout the PNW Research
Station’s network of research laboratories and experimental
forests to ensure safe access for personnel and the public. Associated
erosion control activities were needed as well, to improve water
quality and ecosystem integrity. This infrastructure and erosion
control improvement project included a variety of improvements, like
bridge replacement, grading and resurfacing roads, maintenance of
parking areas, and correcting drainage issues. For the Oregon portion
of this project, work took place at the Corvallis Forestry Sciences
Laboratory, the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, and the Starkey
Experimental Forest and Range, and was completed in the fall of 2010.
This project generated between 20 and 30 direct jobs.
> Read More
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Prioritize Fuel Treatments by Estimating Restoration
Potential and Understanding the Effects
Funding: $4,022,352
Accumulated fuel on millions of acres of forest land in the western
United States heightens the risk of uncharacteristically severe wildfire.
This project is fast-tracking landscape modeling efforts that will
help identify fuel treatment priority areas, treatment costs, and
opportunities where treatments could pay for themselves without damaging
other resources. Beyond fuels treatments, the models will have wide
application to a number of forest planning and management questions.
This project is scheduled to continue through 2013. At the end of
2011, employment for over 60 individuals had been generated.
> Read More
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Research on Restoring Critical Habitat for Listed Pacific
Salmon
Funding: $1,395,419
Partnerships among premier scientists and natural resource professionals
from a variety of agencies and universities are being used in this
project to address issues critical to the management of Pacific salmonids
and their habitats. Project components include: assessment of watersheds
in southeast Alaska and the interior Columbia basin that are vulnerable
to climate change; identifying key places for habitat restoration;
understanding climate change and fire effects on watershed and fish
habitat; mapping fish habitat in southwest Oregon and northwest California,
and developing a stream chemistry tool for establishing water quality
regulations for timber harvest. This project will continue through
2012. As of the end of 2011, it had provided direct employment for
between 20 and 30 individuals.
> Read More
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Western States—Forests Adapting to and Mitigating
Climate Change Effects
Funding: $788,300
In this project, baseline data on the condition of forests in populated
areas are being gathered in five western states. Results will be
used to evaluate questions about the potential reduction of energy
use due to trees cooling the urban environment, the contribution
of urban trees to carbon sequestration, water management within urban
areas, and quality of life for urban residents. Work will continue
through 2013. By the end of 2011, between 30 and 40 individuals had
been employed on the project.
> Read More
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Summer Employment and Education Opportunities for Youth
Funding: $371,050
This project is creating leadership and learning opportunities for
minority students in middle school to graduate school. The project
includes hiring youth mentors to lead outdoor activities for underprivileged
children and their families, and providing employment to university
students in wide variety of natural resources-related jobs, where
they are exposed to and encouraged to pursue careers in science-related
fields, where they are currently underrepresented. The project will
continue through 2012. At the end of 2011, between 30 and 40 people
had been employed.
> Read More |
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Technology to Manage Fuel Loads and Reduce Tree Mortality Funding: $280,000
This project is field-testing new technology to reduce tree mortality
from bark beetles and sudden oak death. If successful, these treatments
will help reduce the amount of available fuel and lessen the risk
of uncontrollable wildfire and its impacts on nearby communities.
The project is expected to continue through 2015, and has provided
employment for 2 people.
> Read More
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The Impact of Economic
Recovery Funding in Rural Communities
Funding: $100,000
Roughly half of the economic recovery funding provided by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture targeted conservation, forestry,
and rural community development projects. It is important to assess
how these investments actually made a difference in rural areas.
A team of scientists evaluated quantitative and qualitative data
on the social and economic impacts of economic recovery-funded
projects in rural areas with high unemployment and poverty rates,
with a focus on identifying how forest restoration and rural community
development goals can be linked to promote healthy rural communities.
Eight case study areas from California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana,
Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, and Alabama were assessed. The
project was completed in the fall of 2010, generating direct employment
for around 12 people.
> Read More |
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Partners in Oregon
Deschutes National Forest, Siuslaw National Forest, Umpqua National
Forest, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Willamette National Forest,
Oregon Department of Forestry, The Nature Conservancy, Oregon State
University, University of Oregon, Southern Oregon University, Conservation
Biology Institute, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region,
USDI Bureau of Land Management, Bonneville Power Administration,
Douglas County PUD, Wild Salmon Center, Ecotrust, National Science
Foundation, World Forestry Center, Inner City Youth Institute, Boys
and Girls Clubs of Portland, YMCA of Portland |
List
of ARRA funded projects in Washington
|
Energy-Efficient Windows Installed at Olympia Forestry
Sciences Laboratory
Funding: $260,000
This project replaced 150 single-pane, low thermal-rated windows
at the Pacific Northwest Research Station's Olympia Forestry Sciences
Laboratory with new energy-efficient windows, to lower the heating
and cooling cost
of the building while conserving energy. The project was completed
in July 2009, and generated direct employment for about 10 individuals.
> Read More |
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Pacific Northwest Research Station Road Maintenance
Funding: $108,220
When the ARRA was enacted, road repairs were needed throughout
the PNW Research Station’s network of research laboratories
and experimental forests to ensure safe access for personnel and
the public. Associated erosion control activities were needed as
well, to improve water quality and ecosystem integrity. This infrastructure
and erosion control improvement project included a variety of improvements,
like bridge replacement, grading and resurfacing roads, maintenance
of parking areas, and correcting drainage issues. For the Washington
portion of this project, work took place at the Wenatchee Forestry
Sciences Laboratory and the Wind River Experimental Forest, and
was completed in the fall of 2010. Between 20 and 30 people were
directly employed in this project.
> Read More |
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Improve Health and Safety of Communities and Firefighters
Through Forecasting and Managing Smoke From Fires
Funding: $738,000
Smoke from wildfire is a human health hazard, particularly for
those with asthma and other respiratory problems. Timely, accurate
smoke forecasting can reduce these impacts. This project continued
ongoing efforts to deliver accurate smoke forecasts from wild and
prescribed fires, and accelerated delivery of improved tools for
smoke and fire management. Between 20 and 30 individuals were employed
on this project.
> Read More |
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Prioritize Fuel Treatments by Estimating Restoration
Potential and Understanding Their Effects
Funding: $878,781
Accumulated fuel on millions of acres of forest land in the western
United States heightens the risk of uncharacteristically severe
wildfire. This project is fast-tracking landscape modeling efforts
that will help identify fuel treatment priority areas, treatment
costs, and opportunities where treatments could pay for themselves
without damaging other resources. Beyond fuels treatments, the
models will have wide application to a number of forest planning
and management questions. This project is scheduled to continue
through 2013. As of July 2011, about 60% of project funds have
been expended, generating direct employment for over 60
individuals.
> Read More |
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Research on Restoring Critical Habitat for Listed Pacific
Salmon
Funding: $314,581
Partnerships among premier scientists and natural resource professionals
from a variety of agencies and universities are being used in this
project to address issues critical to the management of Pacific
salmonids and their habitats. Project components include: assessment
of watersheds in southeast Alaska and the interior Columbia basin
that are vulnerable to climate change; identifying key places for
habitat restoration; understanding climate change and fire effects
on watershed and fish habitat; mapping fish habitat in southwest
Oregon and northwest California, and developing a stream chemistry
tool for establishing water quality regulations for timber harvest.
This project will continue through 2012. As of November 2010, the
project has expended about half of its funds, and generated direct
employment for over 20 individuals.
> Read More |
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Restore Community Ecosystems While Promoting Green Jobs
in the Puget Sound Area
Funding: $1,341,000
This project focuses on ecosystem restoration in populated areas.
Researchers are evaluating approaches for assessing forest conditions
and ecosystem services, studying restoration and stewardship motivations
and effectiveness, examining the effects of residential location
choice on urban growth and development at the wildland-urban interface,
and investigating how management of non-timber forest products
can be factored into urban planning, stewardship, and restoration.
The information gathered will provide municipalities with information
that will facilitate better planning for green spaces and development
in urbanizing areas. At the end of 2011, this project had generated
jobs for over 40 people.
> Read More |
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Summer Employment and Education Opportunities for Youth
Funding: $170,000
This project is creating leadership and learning opportunities
for students in middle school to graduate school. During the summer,
university student youth mentors lead activities for underprivileged
children and their families, introducing them to National Forests,
and gathering valuable baseline information about the health of
these resources. Students are exposed to and encouraged to pursue
education and jobs in science-related fields, where they are currently
underrepresented. The summer of 2011 saw about 40% of the funds
expended and over a dozen people employed in this project, which
will continue through 2012.
> Read More |
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Partners in Washington
University of Washington, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities,
Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Olympic National Forest, Okanogan-Wenatchee
National Forest, Washington Department of Natural Resources, The
Nature Conservancy, Yakama Nation, Colville Confederated Tribes,
Chelan County Public Utility District, Washington Department of Ecology,
Entiat Watershed Planning Unit, King County, Pierce County, Mountains
to Sound Greenway Trust, Cascade Land Conservancy, Rural Technology
Initiative, Institute for Culture and Ecology, Trust for Public Lands
EarthCorps |
Related Links
USDA Forest Service, ARRA projects
on National Forests in Oregon and Washington
USDA
Forest Service, ARRA
projects occurring nation-wide |
