Seeing the Forest

  The Siuslaw National Forest creates a prime environments for it's tree's to thrive. It also creates the perfect timber, which is what the forest used to be mainly used for. Environmentalists fought for reform. In an effort to increase the likelihood of the forests long-term survival the people responsible for it's care had to make some changes. They started by creating a "stakeholder, round table type" of meetings that eventually transformed into one common goal; the restoration of the salmon population within the Siuslaw. The Siuslaw Watershed Council created a place where all stakeholders with interest in the forest, environmentalists and timber companies included, could come to an agreement on the maintenance of the area. This change was so important because of the benefits to both the forest and humans alike.
This change in procedure did a number of different things;
-helped support characteristics of the thriving forest that used to be
-helped prevent destruction caused by storms
-helped create/fix it's aquatic environments for the salmon
-modern logging methods minimize the forest impact
-helps the local economy

I was impressed by the persons involved in these projects at their ability to find a solution that fits everyone's interests.

Raging Fires

1.  Until now, I have always thought of wildfires as something that only negatively affected the things it touches. I understand now that in many ways wildfires were an areas way of "spring cleaning" if you will. I was unaware that many environments produced natural "defenses" that enabled them to thrive off the effect of these fires. In the article, Fighting Fire with Fire, I learned that in the area of Montana that the article used as an example. the species of trees native to the area were naturally more "fire resistant" than the ones that occupy many of the space now that humans have stopped fires completely in the area. Although I still think I consider myself an "alarmist" I now see both sides of the coin. On one side, wildfires have proven to be beneficial and before human involvement, even burned differently and in "patches" which creates a diverse environment. I have to say though, "alarmist's" have a good point in being worried when it comes to environments that are not maintained and highly overgrown because these are the places that are most likely to produce an unstoppable fire.

2. Ecologist, Ryan Haugo, views wildfires as "inevitable and the ultimate contradiction". He believes that fire is a crucial part of our western forests and supports prescribed fire that "benefits people and nature" while working to eliminate "uncharacteristic fires" (another way of saying destructive fires).

3. After reading about the Giant Sequoias and the fire in Yosemite I learned a few new things:
- Giant sequoia's are a fire dependent species and are well adapted to handle burns
- The bark of Giant Sequoia's can grow up to two feet thick which helps insulate them from the fire
-The fire helps eliminate competing plants and provides great fertilizer in the form of ash.

Ready for Wildfire

1. Wildfires are an inevitable risk here in California and are a constant threat to people, animals and natural resources alike. It is your responsibility to be prepared for a wildfire with three simple steps; ready, set, go. Getting ready before a wildfire happens is the vital first step, especially before fire season. Step one is assessing your property for adequate defensible space (the space between your house and the neighboring property). This is the most practical first line of defensive to slow or halt the progress of fire. It is also important to keep surrounding brush and foliage well trimmed and without dead branches or leaves. The second step is set and refers to setting a family action plan in case of a wildfire. This includes planning your escape route (which roads will you take) and where your family will go in case a wildfire were to reach your home. The third step is go. This step means staying informed because emergency personnel may not always be able to warn everyone at once. Be ready to GO prior to evacuations and give your family the best chance of survival. 

2.  Bark beetles are a growing risk to the mortality of trees in California. In times of stress, like extreme drought, trees are unable to fend off bark beetles successfully. Signs of bark beetles include; change in the color of leaves to red or brown in the trees, red coffee ground material at the bottom of the tree, and reddish tubes of sap can alert you to a tree that has unsuccessfully fended off a bark beetle. Homeowners should thin out areas of dense weaker trees on their property in order to help the stronger trees gain access to water and better defend themselves from these pests. 

3.  On the same website, I learned what else a homeowner can do to help themselves during each different season. The spring season focuses mostly on preparing for the wildfire season to come while winter is the best time for cutting dead trees down. This was helpful because I learned that no matter what time of year you can always be working towards being prepared. 

The Secret Life of Mountain Lions

After watching The Secret Life of Mountain Lions, I am truly surprised by what I learned. I had always pictured cougars to be dangerous predators, the ones that would attack you from behind when you were camping or hiking. The video was very effective in changing my mind and helping me to realize how important these cougars are. The rare footage that the video provided was really powerful because it showed a side of these animals that most have probably never seen. I was surprised to see how affectionate these mountain lions were with their young and how attentive. I knew that many big cats leave their young in order to provide food but I never realized how much they interact with each other when they are all together. I couldn't believe the statistic that only 1 in 5 babies will survive in the end. By watching this video I definitely gained a better understanding of these beautiful animals, and frankly more respect for them. As if it's not hard enough being a wild animal in our world today, there are many factors that cougars must overcome. I really hope that more people get a chance to see this video and realize how important it is to save them.

Life Cycle of the Salmon

1. The life cycle of the salmon starts when the parent salmon spawn babies. Once big enough, the fish then partake in out migration, remembering the spot and smell of the place in which they spawned because this is the place they will come back to in the future to breed and die. Once they grow to the appropriate size, due to a change in their kidneys, salmon make the change from fresh water to salt water and head out to the ocean. They instinctually know when it is time to head back to where they started from to reproduce. This involves weeks of struggle going against the current up hundreds of miles of river.

2. I was amazed at learning that salmon go through a change that allows a change from fresh to salt water and that this process was done in the kidneys. Whenever I think of salmon I think of the National Geographic documentaries that show large bears in the middle of these rushing streams catching the salmon by hand. I never knew how much time they spent in the ocean or that most of their adult time there.

3. We should be concerned about these endangered fish species because they are one piece to a much larger puzzle. When the salmon die, it creates insects for their babies to eat, and their dead bodies provide food for other animals. Also, if the salmon were to die off, it's not just because of "overfishing". It would mean that our waterways are so damaged that they cannot support the life of a fish that has been in our water for many many years.  

Silent Streams by Douglas Chadwick

I read the article Silent Streams by Douglas Chadwick. This articles main focus was to introduce the reader to two men who, in an effort to save endangered freshwater fish, run a private hatchery in Knoxville Tennessee committed to sustaining these rare species of fish until their natural habitats are safe and unpolluted again. Chadwick does a good job of bringing to light just how dire this situation is for freshwater species and how most of the pollution damaging these ecosystems is done by humans.
I personally think it is important to know that 39% of freshwater fish species are in danger of extinction. This number is so high! It's also important to know that as humans, are the ones putting harmful chemicals and sediments into the ecosystems were once credited with sustaining so much life. Although freshwater is not the majority of water on Earth, it supports a very diverse population of life.

Composting

I watched this video, on composting and learned the step by step process that goes into the compost creation in the local bay area. To start, the trucks bring all the waste they collect curbside to a location where larger vehicles can take it to the compost facilities. In this case, the trucks are driving from the town of Oakland, or other marin or sonoma county towns, to the town of Novato. When the material from your green waste can arrives at the compost facility they dump the contents into a grinder. Then this newly ground material is piled into compost piles, which need air and water to survive. For 3 to 4 weeks air is pushed into the compost pile maintaining a temperature above 131 degrees Fahrenheit. It cures for about 2 or 3 more months and at the end of that the material is tested for pathogens and heavy metals. The compost is then screened and sold. The one thing that is important to remember if you use your green waste can (and want to aid in the compost making) is to pay attention to what you put in it. Garbage bags are too often wrongly thrown into the green can. Acceptable items include leaves, grass, food, and food soiled paper.