2013 Regional Management Team MeetingBob Ilgenfritz - Data Collection Group Leader:1. A look back at FY 13 &

looking forward to FY 14

2. Forest Service’s safety sharing.

FY 13 budget & FY 13 Field Accomplishments Continuing Resolution thru FY 13 NRS FIA budget reduced 1.1 Million in FY

2013 from FY 2012 level. Significant decrease in discretionary funds Able to maintain a 5 year cycle in FY 13 due

to prepaying data collection agreements in 2012.

Each state in the NRS region has received at least one annual measurement and one annual remeasurement.

FY 14 planning meeting Cycle length - maximize number of subpanels

Reinvest in FIA program areas outside FIA plots.

Carbon –P2+ plots - DWM & understory Veg NWOS – More courthouse/ownership work TPO – Reinstitute Wood Utilization Studies

Lesser commitments: Pilot test support to NRS RWU’s Urban study in Baltimore

FY 14 final plan Cycle length – 7 year or 10 subpanels

Used two year averages of federal plot production 10 year funding to state cooperators

Feds offer to pick up the plot equivalents from a 10 to 7 yr. cycle in coop states – 3 subpanels

Fund ND/KS/NE contracts and SD agreement on 7 year cycle

“Drop” statewide federal data collection contracts Support 2 NRS Research Work Units - Spring

2014 Susan Stout – Allegheny NF research plots Dan Dey – Sinkin experimental forest

Baltimore Urban Study – Summer 2014 Wood Utilization Studies

Wood Utilization StudyLast done in late 1990 in NE and

NCObjective – support/improve

TPO by determining the proportion of harvested timber that is utilized at the mill and what’s left in the woods.

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1000 studies in 6 utilization regions for 24 states. Sample stratified by 8 species groups and 3 product types.

FIA Safety Improvements

1. Check out/check in 2. Safety Engagement

Sessions

FIA Check out / Check In Increased number of plots done solo Greater need to assure safe return from

woods

Satellite phones then answering service

Use of SPOT device to check out/check in

SPOT Features One way satellite communication using

two preset messages: Interim OK message Final OK

Tracking feature “Hands” - Send help button “SOS” or 911 button Devise cost - $100 - $125 each Service – $150/yr. w/tracking; $100/yr.

w/o

FIA Check out / Check In Using Dispatch and SPOT

Program with SPOT has evolved since 2009

Started as check out / check in using SPOT devise only – monitored by supervisors

Learning/Improvements & refinements

FIA Check out / Check In Using Dispatch and SPOT Added SPOT with dedicated dispatcher in

2011.

Added interim safe status checks Provide close dispatch support for LOC

Forest Service Safety Sharing

Safety engagements – applications to state cooperators for FIA and other field projects. MIDAS to capture previous safety

issues/challenges on plot Improved near miss reporting Real time weather radios Verbal conflict resolution Aerosol defense sprays