Field Operations

Field Operations: Gary Neely, Bob Williamson, Duke Summers, Joe Ward, Steve Rossback

Work continued on the Woody Biomass Utilization Project.  This year marks the end of the grant obligation. The Tribe ground up 1000 tons of stock piled slash to honor our contract with Roseburg Forest Product.  The federal subsidy Biomass Crop Assistance Program “BCAP” that allowed the Tribe to receive payment(s) for the woody biomass sold to Roseburg Forest Products which essentially doubled the income was postponed and changed. The Tribe was deemed ineligible to receive these funds because it does not allow projects from Federal, State or Tribal land. The Tribe will be grinding the entire Sandy Creek wayside stock pile in July. The project has gained the Tribe some valuable data, but the total cost of the program out weighs the revenue by 50%. The current estimate of matching soft budgeted general funds is estimated at around 200K over the past three years.

Equipment and vehicle maintenance commenced through the winter in preparation for the upcoming road construction project to re-habilitate Tarheel Loop Road, Miluk Extension and Upper 4th creek roads.

Tree thinning and right of way clean up continues, dam safety, inspection and maintenance was also performed.