DNR Inspection for FLEP

DNR Forester Bart Ausland visited our property yesterday to inspect work we performed under our Forestland Enhancement Program (FLEP) cost-share agreement that will expire on June 30.

He said the thinning and pruning we've done all look good, in line with the specifications for those practices. He told us what additional work we need to complete before we can receive the full amount of the agreement.

Washington's Department of Natural Resources was hit by a state budget crisis a couple of years ago, and most of the Stewardship Forester positions were eliminated. That put small forest landowners at a disadvantage. We rely on those experts for guidance.

Thankfully, some people at DNR still find the time to perform the services of a Stewardship Forester. Among those services is the administration of FLEP, in which federal funds are distributed by state agencies. (This is somewhat akin to how ARRA energy stimulus funds were administered by State Energy Programs.)

FLEP supports landowners who want to manage healthy stands and prevent destructive forest fires, but are faced with the harsh economic realities of small parcels and sub-merchantable trees. FLEP pays 50%, up to a modest limit per acre, of the cost of pre-commercial thinning, pruning, and slash disposal.