Land Management

• Forest Health
• Forest Inventory
• Prescribed Burning
• Harvest
• Log Marketing
• Pre-Commercial Thinning
• Range Management
• Wildlife Habitat Management
• Reforestation
• Fire Hazard Reduction
• Regulatory Assistance
• Cost Share Program Assistance

Walk in the Woods

No two acres of forestland are the same. Forests are comprised of many complex habitats for numerous living organisms in all different stages of life. Accompanied with terrain, climate, and local weather, these complexities affect the trees in positive and negative ways. When forests are left unmanaged, or unattended from their natural disturbances (such as small fires), undesired consequences occur, often brought on by insects and disease, resulting in dead and dying trees. A healthy forest is resilient to change, biologically diverse, able to provide a sustained habitat for vegetation, wildlife, and humans.

When landowners take a walk in the woods with an NMI forester, positive and negative forest health issues that currently exist on their property are identified. As areas of question arise, no solution or opportunity is left unrecognized.

Site Visit with a Forester

An NMI forester will make an onsite visit with a landowner to look at the status of their forest, and more importantly to learn the values and objectives the landowner has for their property. A thorough visual assessment can show forest health issues and tree growth potential as well. Items an NMI forester looks for during an onsite visit include:

• Tree Species/Age
• Unhealthy vegetation
• Streams and Wetlands
• Soil Type
• Wildlife
• Property Boundaries
• Existing Roads/Trails
• Forest History (Fire, Logging, Grazing)
• Terrain

With the above listed assessed and integrated with landowner values and objectives, an NMI forester can prioritize methods of enhancing a forest to its full potential value for the landowner. Some of these methods may include; pre-commercial thinning (PCT), brush removal, or a commercial tree selection thinning. NMI is in position to assist landowners in high quality forest management, and will bring your forest to its highest value. Thank you for your consideration.

Forest Health

Forest Health Assessments

A healthy forest is resilient to change, biologically diverse, able to provide a sustained habitat for vegetation, wildlife, and humans. The ability of a forest ecosystem to remain productive and stable over time is dependent on many factors. When a forester assesses the overall forest health, these factors must be taken into consideration for the specific sit. These factors include, but are not limited to, the occurrence and distribution of insects and disease causing organisms, that the trees to have adequate light, water, nutrients, and space to grow, and the ability to support not only tree growth, but other natural vegetation and wildlife. Forest health is not only affected by natural elements, but also human factors such as harvesting.

Insects

Insect outbreaks can have a devastating effect on the overall forest health, but with proper silviculture practices, these effects can be minimized or eliminated. Eliminating impacts to individual trees is nearly impossible, but minimizing their scope and impact throughout a forest area is achievable. Such insects include; pine bark beetles, pine engraver beetles, Douglas-fir beetle, and fir engraver beetles. Northwest Management, Inc. professionals are trained to recognize these outbreaks at early stages of development and understand the conditions these outbreaks may occur in. With this knowledge, foresters can implement silvicultural prescription tailored towards these outbreaks.

Diseases

Diseases can have a devastating effect on the overall forest health. Several forest health agents common to the region are dwarf mistletoe, western gall rust, root diseases, and stem decay. Eliminating impacts to individual trees is nearly impossible, but minimizing their scope and impact throughout a forest area is achievable. If an outbreak does occur, timber may be able to be salvaged if harvested during the early stages. Northwest Management Inc. professionals are experienced in identifying diseases common to the region and implementing silvicultural practices associated with these diseases.

Risk Assessment/Trends

Risk assessments are implemented to measure and track forest conditions. An assessment is designed to determine the status, changes, and trends in indicators of forest conditions. Through the use of ground plots and surveys, Northwest Management, Inc. assesses forest health issues that affect the sustainability of forest ecosystems by analyzing indicators within the ecosystem. Analyzing historic and present trends can reduce the risk of catastrophic events such as insect and disease outbreaks. Risk assessments are crucial for maintaining a healthy forest and for the sustainability of the forest ecosystem.

Back to Top

Forest Inventory

Since its inception, Northwest Management Inc. has provided on-the-ground timber cruising and inventory services. NMI’s objective is to consistently complete inventory projects on time while meeting contract specifications. Our clients include federal and state agencies, Timber Investment Management Organizations and other industrial timberland owners as well as large and small non-industrial private landowners. NMI utilizes state of the art technology for field data collection, processing and management, and professional presentation to our clients. On average, NMI is responsible for establishing 40,000 to 50,000 inventory plots each year in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. Our goal is to provide accurate and reliable data in a timely manner, which allows our clients to make well-informed management decisions on their forested ownership.

Inventory Cruising Services Include:

• Inventory Establishment and Update
• Third Party Cruising
• Log Stock Analysis and Merchandising
• Management Planning Assessment
• Trespass Cruising
• Growth and Yield Analysis
• Audit and Check Cruising

 Back to Top

Prescribed Burning

Northwest Management, Inc. manages and implements a fuels reduction program utilizing prescribed fire on 6,000 to 10,000 acres of forestlands each year. This program includes broadcast and under-burning. All burning activities are coordinated with air quality management officials in the various air sheds. Our burning program has been implemented in Idaho, Washington, Montana, Wyoming and other states.

Fuels Reduction

• Fuels reduction can be accomplished with broadcast and under-burning. The objectives and amount of fuels on the ground will determine which method best fits the land.
• NMI develops Burn Plans for all broadcast or under-burning units to meet all state laws, environmental constraints, and to meet desired objectives.

NMI provides highly trained staff to determine fuel loading, layout and location and types of fire lines (cat, excavator, or hand), location of water sources, access, etc. to write a broadcast burn prescription to carry out the task in the most efficient and effective manor and to reach the desired objectives.

• Burn Activity Plan Implementation
  • NMI will monitor the units to determine when in prescription
  • NMI will carry out the burn prescription within the guidelines of the burn plan and smoke management
  • NMI provides highly trained personnel and necessary equipment to carry out and complete the project
• Types of Ignition
  • Hand Ignition
  • Helicopter Terra Torch
  • Sphere Dispenser
  • ATV/Terra Torch
    • During any broadcast burning event, one or a combination of all ignition types can be used to perform the assigned task in the most efficient and effective manor
    • NMI provides DOT certified and inspected batch-mixing plants for Heli-torch burning
• Holding and Patrolling
  • NMI monitors and holds units for a period of time following the completion of ignition specified within the burn plan.
  • NMI provides type 3, 4, and 6 engines and qualified personnel to perform this task.
    • All engines and equipment has been inspected and approved by DOT and USFS annually.
    • Engines
    • 3000 gallon Kenworth Water Tender
    • 2500 gallon Military 6X6
    • 1250 gallon Military 6X6
    • 1200 gallon Type 3 International
    • 850 gallon Type 3 International
    • 500 gallon Type 5 Ford F550
    • 3 Slip Tanks
    • 3 to 5 (20 person) labor crews available

Roadside Pile Burning

• Low impact equipment
  • NMI provides 6x6 ATVs to access piles under wet conditions without road damage.  This provides for low maintenance of roads when burning under ideal conditions.
  • NMI provides flamethrowers, which have the necessary heat for ignition of wet fuels.

Wildlife Habitat and Fire

NMI has the personnel and equipment to assess and perform wildlife management burns. NMI has been a supporting cast to the USFS, State, and BLM within several states to meet the desired objectives.

Back to Top

Harvest

Ensuring that a safe and efficient logging operation takes place, extensive planning is done, taking road requirements, harvesting equipment, and silvicultural prescription into account. Road requirements must take existing roads, roads to be constructed, and log deck landings, into the plan so they may properly accommodate log trucks and logging equipment. Silivicultural prescriptions and terrain commonly dictate which logging equipment and machinery is necessary, which leads to determining which logging contractor is best suited for the job. Steep ground requires the use of a line machine, conversely tractors and cat machines are used on flatter ground. The silvicultural prescription determines the amount of timber that will be removed, therefore affecting the length of time and amount of man power that would be required. After all this is taken into consideration, the harvest plan can be designed.

Payload Analysis

A payload, which is the stumpage value for every log load as it leaves a timber sale, can be broken down in a small number of ways. The most common would be stumpage value of species, by board foot. This is determined when log truck loads reach the delivery point (the mill) and every single log is removed and board feet are calculated (scaled) on a 100% scale. The other method is determined by the weight of the load, also referred to as “tonnage”, as the landowner is paid by the pound for the logs delivered to the purchaser. Whichever method is used, it is meticulously analyzed by Northwest Management, Inc. foresters and staff so all parties involved in the harvest are fully aware of their revenue.

Click here more details on Harvest and Timber Sale Services we provide.

Back to Top

Log Marketing

Northwest Management, Inc. (NMI) for the past 25 years has developed an effective log marketing system that provides our clients with the highest net return for their forest products. NMI will combine multiple timber sales into one package which can reduce harvesting and transportation cost, increase the total sale volume producing the highest prices paid for logs.

NMI provides Log Marketing services separately, or as part of our timber sale services. A timber sale will be advertised on a delivered log basis. A map and description of the sale area will be sent to qualified, interested mills for bid. Northwest Management, Inc. will lump several timber sales in the general vicinity into one sale package. This makes an attractive sale package that benefits the clients involved.

Each mill will have two to three weeks to inspect the sale and deliver a bid with a specified cash deposit to Northwest Management, Inc. by a set closing date. The bid opening is held at the Northwest Management, Inc. office and the landowners are encouraged to attend. Bids are opened and then tabulated. Based on the price bid and the hauling cost from the sale area to each mill, a recommendation is made to the landowner. If the delivered log price and anticipated stumpage rate is acceptable to the client, Log Purchase Agreements are signed with the successful purchaser(s) for the specified price and time period.

Since 1982, Northwest Management, Inc. has documented delivered log prices in the Inland Northwest. We began producing a quarterly Newsletter, Inland Northwest Market Report, in 1998 which contains the Log Market Report for Eastern Washington, North Idaho and Montana and various natural resource articles.

Visit our Market Report page to view our current Newsletter and the many articles contained in past Market Report Newsletters.

Back to Top 

Pre-Commercial Thinning

Northwest Management Inc. provides contract administration of pre-commercial thinning to landowners as part of the overall forest management plan to be implemented. The overall goal of pre-commercial thinning is to redistribute the total fiber growth of the stand to fewer trees of higher quality, thereby increasing the value of usable fiber. Pre-commercial thinning is the cutting of small non-commercial trees to make room for the preferred future crop tree. Generally, trees 5 to 20 feet in height are ready for a pre-commercial thinning. Trees have generally exhibited dominance by this size and age, which makes it easier for the thinner to select the superior tree to leave. In areas where the preferred species are not present, the best quality trees of any species would be retained. Thinning should follow a spacing guideline of 10 to 15 feet depending on the size of the trees. In areas where the trees are younger/smaller, tighter spacing of the residual trees is applied.

 Back to Top

Range Management

Northwest Management, Inc. prepares range resource management plans and vegetation surveys for many clients throughout the west. We has been involved in many projects over the past 20 years that required vegetation mapping, range inventory and data collection as well as the reporting, planning and execution of these range management projects.

Northwest Management, Inc. completes vegetation-mapping inventories on up to 800,000 acres annually. This includes complete species lists, sensitive plant inventories, invasive weed inventories, life form and strata inventories, plant community classification and soil and substrate classification.

NMI annually inventories 100,000 to 200,000 acres of forest and rangeland in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Montana. This includes updated trend analysis, stand exams, CFI plots and FIA plots. Approximately 98% of all of this field data is collected on CMT electronic data recorder, Allegro or Archer field PC’s with windows mobile 5.0 operating systems.

All plot and point locations are documented using GPS units. A considerable amount of time is spent on each ownership viewing and interpreting aerial photography, determining acreage with an area planimeter, GPS locating, mapping and data entry.

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve Vegetation Mapping
(Range Sample Project)

Northwest Management, Inc., managed the project, database, Field data collection and prepared the report for the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. During May-July 2006, NMI collected field data information for the 753,222 acres across the monument and preserve.

NAIP imagery was utilized for the delineation of the vegetative signatures for Craters of the Moon. The resolution of the photography allowed us to identify unique features and the associated vegetative signatures necessary to identify sampling points. A target of 3 Vegetation Plots and 1 Observation Point were identified as the minimum number of data points for each dominant plant association found in the monument and preserve.

Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument Vegetation Mapping
(Range Sample Project) 

Northwest Management, Inc., managed field data collection, database and collected data for the Hageman Fossil Beds National Monument. During June-July 2006, NMI collected field data information for the 4,351 acres across the monument.

NAIP imagery was utilized for the delineation of the vegetative signatures for Hageman Fossil Beds National Monument. The resolution of the photography allowed us to identify unique features and the associated vegetative signatures necessary to identify sampling points. A target of 3 Vegetation Plots and 1 Observation Point were identified as the minimum number of data points for each dominant plant association found in the monument and preserve.
A total of 60 Vegetation Plots and 24 Observation Points were placed across the monument and preserve.

State of Wyoming
Kate’s Basin Burned Area Resource Management Plan
(Range Sample Project)

Northwest Management, Inc., prepared a Multi-Resource Management Plan for the Kate’s Basin Burned Area in central Wyoming. This plan included an inventory on the rangeland vegetation and condition and trend analysis. This plan was for over 166,000 acres near Thermopolis on the Wind River Reservation involving over 3000 vegetative plots in the sagebrush steppe.

Range Management Data Collection and Methods

• NMI uses ERSI’s ArcGIS 9.0 software as a GIS platform to manage data for these projects. All of the data files created with this software are fully compatible with ESRI’s ArcVIEW software and provides to our clients all meta data in FGDC (or similar) compliant format.
• All GIS coverage is in UTM NAD83 projections unless otherwise specified. All GIS and GPS data sets collected or generated by the contractor meet National Map Accuracy Standards (NMAS) for 1:24000 scale +/- 40 feet.
• Data Management – Northwest Management, Inc. has extensive experience managing large-scale projects of this type through the management of the project utilizing Microsoft Access databases. All information is managed in digital form in a database.
• Electronic data is transferred directly from the data recorders (NMI will create data dictionaries as needed) into a Job Specific database. Any additional field data not recorded electronically will be entered into the database where all information is managed for the project. Separate databases are established when necessary.
• NMI has extensive experience creating, managing and utilizing databases. All inventory data collected by Northwest Management is managed in a database structure. NMI currently manages inventory data on more then 24,000 plots in approximately 75 databases with linkages created for seamless transfer of GIS and GPS spatial data.

Rangeland Principle Investigator:

John Erixson, Range Ecologist, is responsible for the monitoring of the range condition and trend on rangelands for private non-industrial and industrial clients. Mr. Erixson became a partner of Northwest Management, Inc. in 2004. Mr. Erixson has done sensitive plant surveys, worked with private landowners to implement grazing systems, and has written grazing management plans. He makes recommendations to landowners for improving animal distribution and improving the overall range condition. Mr. Erixson writes prescribed burn plans that meets prescription and move the property toward the desired plant community.

 Back to Top

Wildlife Habitat Management

Northwest Management, Inc. has a staff with over 30 years experience in all areas of wildlife management, habitat and population management.
Northwest Management, Inc. considers wildlife needs in almost all forms of land management activities from planning to operational. Wildlife management is based on the goals of the landowner and the wildlife species of interest to them. We will evaluate wildlife habitat through a variety of qualitative and/or quantitative methods depending on the scope and extent of the project. Based on the evaluation, we will incorporate into the project specific wildlife habitat improvement actions, such as seeding and planting of desirable plant species, thinning overstocked forests, and prescribed fire to remove decadent shrubs and trees. Additional services are available to enhance the use of lands by wildlife and their enjoyment by the landowner. 

Back to Top
 

Reforestation

There are many answers to the question of how to establish seedlings successfully. Every answer is a piece of the puzzle. Whether your project includes tree replacement following wildfire, post harvest interplanting, cropland afforestation, wildlife habitat establishment, or planting for erosion control, NMI has the reforestation specialists to plan and implement your project.

NMI professionals are familiar with cost-share programs that help landowners offset the costs associated with all portions of the reforestation project. From EQIP and WHIP to CRP and FLEP, these programs are designed to help landowners with the cost of their project and NMI is your gateway to the information required to access the cost-share dollars.
NMI has full Reforestation Services, we can plan and implement your total project or we can help you achieve success by providing any of the following “pieces” to your puzzle.

• Seedling Acquisition
  • Grow orders (2 years out)
    • Local nurseries first
    • Have utilized nurseries in Idaho, Washington, Montana, California and B.C. Canada
  • Speculation trees (present year)
    • Extra trees the nurseries above have grown that match your site
• Site-Preparation
  • Chemical (Licensed Applicators)
    • Pre-planting spot, strip, or roadcast herbicide application
    • Post-planting spot herbicide application
  • Mechanical
    • Excavator piling
    • Dozer with brush rake piling
    • Mulching head applications
• Planting
  • Crew acquisition
    • Hoedad, shovel, dibble, auger
  • Contracts and administration
    • Controls the direction and completion of your project
• Seedling Protection
  • Tubes
    • Vexar - mesh
    • Tubes - solid
  • Bud caps
  • Repellents
  • Yearly maintenance

If you require reforestation services, please contact Northwest Management, Inc. and one of our highly qualified professionals will assist you with details of your project, and prepare a cost and time estimate.

Back to Top

Fire Hazard Reduction

Northwest Management, Inc. (NMI) has been involved with all aspects of slash hazard reduction ranging from the small homeowner size lot to large scale drainage projects for large timberland owners. NMI reduces the slash hazard by chipping, broadcast burning, and under-burning. NMI complies with all state regulatory laws in order to get the desired results and meet landowner objectives.

Cost-share for Fire Hazard Reduction

Northwest Management, Inc. has contacts for various cost-share programs within different states that help the private landowner with slash reduction whether it be from chipping, under-burning or broadcast burning.

Defensible Space Planning and Implementation

NMI has been involved in several fuel treatment projects:

• Our staff has been involved with FireSafe Spokane, since its inception. Fire Safe Spokane treated over 2,500 homes in northeastern Washington. We participated in FireSafe through project layout on-site inspection and costing of projects. We completed over 500 home-site evaluations for FireSafe Spokane.
  
• Northwest Management, Inc., has been involved with the Tri-County Working Group in Helena, Montana, since 2001. Our staff has written and implemented over 200 home defensible space projects as well as miles of road side treatment areas.
  
• Northwest Management, Inc. has been involved working with Teton County DES to set up and implement projects in Teton County. We work with the local coordinator to set up and implement projects.
  
• Since 2004, Northwest Management, Inc has been involved with the West Central Highlands RC&D HFT project in the vicinity of Garden Valley, Idaho. Our staff has written and implemented over 200 home defensible space plans and implanted the projects. NMI has participated with the RC&D and homeowner associations to hold public meetings, contact individual landowners, prepare plans, bid projects, assign contractors to implement plans, and provide follow up quality control and assurance.

Back to Top

Regulatory Assistance

When a forest operation begins, all states, and some counties, have specific rules and regulations that must be applied. States that have similar topography and landscapes have similar basic rules. Differences often occur in the details, vocabulary, and application/notification processes. For example, wetlands and streamside riparian areas always require some sort of protection buffer, but the size of buffer per size of water area will depend on which state, or area of the state the operation takes place. Due to vast coverage over many western states, Northwest Management, Inc. foresters are fully aware of all regulations and how they differentiate from region to region, and state to state. Moreover, Northwest Management, Inc. foresters can easily contact state foresters who specialize in regulations, for any unique situations on a landowner’s property.

Forest Practice Applications

State forest practice rules have been set up for the protection and sustainability of natural resources, and are applied to logging, road building, reforestation, riparian protection, and other forest operations. A state’s forest regulations apply to private, industrial, and public forestlands. Some states, such as Washington, have applications that must be reviewed by state foresters before a forest activity may begin. Other states, such as Idaho and Montana, only require notifying a state forestry office just before an operation begins. Some rules are particular to one state, for example; Idaho requires slash compliance (slash must be burned or hauled away) before a timber sale may be considered completed, and failure to comply imposes fines and penalties. All states audit and monitor a landowner’s forest practices as operations take place.

Back to Top

Cost Share Program

Activities such as brush removal and pre-commercial thinning can enhance a landowner’s property by reducing wildfire risk and improving wildlife habitat. Operations like these can be costly. Fortunately, many state, federal, and some non-profit organizations offer financial assistance and grants to ensure landowners can actively enhance and manage their property. Typically these grants are made available to landowners through cost share applications. Many of Northwest Management, Inc. clients have utilized and benefited greatly from cost-sharing projects, as Northwest Management, Inc. foresters are continually monitoring and inquiring of grant money availabilities.

Back to Top