Forest Stewardship begins with a forest planAs a landowner, a forest management/stewardship plan helps you to optimize a mix of conservation benefits, including timber, wildlife habitat, recreation, aesthetic value, and many others, by providing a working guide for you now and well into the future. A good forest management/stewardship plan combines both the geographic and natural characteristics of your woodlot with your conservation goals and objectives to produce a set of forest management recommendations.
Request AssistanceIf you are interested in learning more, contact one of our Stewardship Foresters: Mark Mead at 360-427-9436 ext. 101 or email mmead@masoncd.org Margaret Kreder at 360-427-9436 ext. 102 or email mkreder@masoncd.org You can also complete our Landowner Questionnaire which will allow our foresters to better understand your property and management needs. |
Our Forestry ServicesMason Conservation District's foresters are here to support you in stewarding your forested land. We provide free, non-regulatory and no obligation technical planning services including:
We can also assist you in finding the answers to a wide variety of forestry questions you may have, including:
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This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J22301 through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
Additional Resources
Federal Funding Assistance for Forest Landowners |
Tax Incentive Program for Forest Landowners |
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United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service is a federal agency with field offices located throughout Washington state to assist in voluntary conservation on rural lands. NRCS offers many voluntary programs to eligible landowners and agricultural producers to provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner. Through these programs, the agency approves contracts to provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns or opportunities to help save energy, improve soil, water, plant, air, animal and related resources on agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides eligible forest landowners who have an approved forest plan an opportunity to access funding assistance to help implement certain approved forest management practices on their property. If you are interested in this opportunity and wish to learn more if your property and management practices may be eligible for EQIP, contact the NRCS Forester who serves Mason County residents - Robin Buckingham - by calling the Olympia NRCS Field Office phone at (360) 704-7740 and requesting to speak with Robin.
Mason County's closest USDA NRCS field office is in Olympia:
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In Washington State lands designated as forest/timbered land or open space will have lower tax value and lower taxes than other land use classifications. Mason County and Thurston County encourage the continued use of forested lands as open space and/or working forest and provide for a change in land use designation. A Forest Stewardship Plan can aide in a change to your land use designation.
A Guide to Washington State Department of Revenue Designated Forest Land https://www.co.mason.wa.us/forms/assessor/designated-forest-guide.pdf Information on tax exemptions can be found below. In Mason County Mason County Assessor’s Office has the forms to file here: https://www.co.mason.wa.us/forms/assessor/ The definition for properties which qualify for a reduced assessment based upon the use of the property as Open Space, Farm & Agricultural, or Designated Forest Land: https://www.co.mason.wa.us/forms/assessor/open-space-guide.pdf Mason County’s Application for Designated Forest Land Parcels: https://www.co.mason.wa.us/forms/assessor/designated-forest-same-app.pdf In Thurston County For Thurston County’s Application for Timber Land Classification: https://www.co.thurston.wa.us/assessor/relief-classifications.html Thurston County Open Space Tax Program Owners of five specific classifications of properties may apply for a reduction of their County property taxes in exchange for maintaining their land in a rural, undeveloped state: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/planning/Pages/incentives-open-space-tax.aspx |
WSU EXT. FORESTRY
WSU Extension Forestry
Washington State University Extension's Puget Sound Forest Stewardship Program has a host of fantastic forestry education and landowner resources. To read an overview of the programs and services of the WSU Extension Forestry Program, click here.
Mason Cd is often asked: Who can I get to assist me in developing a forest management plan if Mason Conservation District staff are unavailable? WSU Extension Forestry has developed and maintains a "Forester & Silvicultural Contractor Directory" for landowners in the Puget Sound region. A consulting forester provides professional forest management services to landowners, while a silvicultural contractor provides the labor and equipment to perform forest management tasks, including site preparation, tree planting, vegetation control, pre-commercial thinning, slash disposal, etc. This searchable online directory is state-wide in scope and up-to-date. You can hire a consulting forester to help you develop your forest management plan.
Here are some additional resources worth exploring:
Washington State University Extension's Puget Sound Forest Stewardship Program has a host of fantastic forestry education and landowner resources. To read an overview of the programs and services of the WSU Extension Forestry Program, click here.
Mason Cd is often asked: Who can I get to assist me in developing a forest management plan if Mason Conservation District staff are unavailable? WSU Extension Forestry has developed and maintains a "Forester & Silvicultural Contractor Directory" for landowners in the Puget Sound region. A consulting forester provides professional forest management services to landowners, while a silvicultural contractor provides the labor and equipment to perform forest management tasks, including site preparation, tree planting, vegetation control, pre-commercial thinning, slash disposal, etc. This searchable online directory is state-wide in scope and up-to-date. You can hire a consulting forester to help you develop your forest management plan.
Here are some additional resources worth exploring:
- Visit the WSU Extension Forestry homepage at forestry.wsu.edu
- WSU Forestry has online learning opportunities through their website as well as the WSU Extension Forestry Youtube Channel.
- Sign up for the WSU Extension Puget Sound Forest Stewardship E-Newsletter
FOREST STEWARDSHIP RESOURCES
If you are looking for a consulting forester, logger, reforestation expert, or another forestry professional to assist you with the management of your forest, consider searching the WSU Extension Forestry Consulting Directory. Click here to learn more.
Introduction to Forest Ecology & Stewardship
Forest Management for TIMBER
Forest Management for WILDLIFE
Forest Management for WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION
Introduction to Forest Ecology & Stewardship
- Forest Ecology in Washington
- Backyard Forestry in Western Washington
- Stewardship Handbook for Family Forest Owners
- Assessing Forest Health
- WSU Extension Forestry Resources Library by Topic
Forest Management for TIMBER
- Silviculture for Washington Family Forests
- Guidelines for Precommercial Thinning of Douglas Fir
- Thinning: An Important Timber Management Tool
- Forest Practices Illustrated Guide
- Hardwood Management Resources
- Management Options for Declining Red Alder Forests
- Planting Forest Seedlings
- WA Dept. of Revenue Designated Forest Land Program
- WA Dept. of Revenue Guidelines for Timber Plan
Forest Management for WILDLIFE
- WDFW Living with Wildlife Resources
- Westside Douglas Fir Forests & Wildlife
- Diversifying Forest Structure to Promote Wildlife Biodiversity
Forest Management for WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION
Wildlife Habitat in your forest: informational resources
Here is a list of websites that will help forest landowners manage wildlife and create habitat for wildlife on their land.
Woodland Fish and Wildlife
Articles on topics relevant to small forest owners. Ongoing.
woodlandfishandwildlife.com
Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife
“Living with Wildlife” – And excellent set of articles and How To on most questions regarding various species and how to get along with them, or deal with problems.
https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living
Oregon Forest Resources Institute
“Know Your Forests” – A good summary of the species and habitats that we share with Oregon. (And no, Washington doesn’t have a similar organization).
https://oregonforests.org/content/wildlife-variety
Bat Conservation International
Great information on bats in general and conservation. Information includes instructions on building bat boxes and how to take care of bats when they are in contact with people.
https://www.batcon.org/
Extension Forestry | Washington State University
Archives of Forest Stewardship Notes
forestry.wsu.edu
Washington Dept of Natural Resources
Small Forest Landowner Office – SFLO News archives
https://www.dnr.wa.gov/sflo
If you have more questions regarding wildlife issues on your land please contact:
Ken Bevis - DNR Stewardship Wildlife Biologist
Ken.Bevis@dnr.wa.gov (360) 489-4802
Additional Wildlife Resources
Your forest goals
Your Forest – Your Goals
The My Land Plan website was created for forest landowners just like you to help them stay on task with their forest plan and uphold their forest goals. This site can help you with questions regarding the forest planning process and timing as well as information on wildlife, economics, estate planning and forest health. The My Land Plan website can be a useful tool, but it's recommended that you still receive assistance from a Stewardship Forester to start your plan.
Once your plan is established, you can share all the information you input with your forester via the website as well. The Stewardship Forester can review the planning document and make suggestions as well as adapt the information to state and federal program forms to help find funding for your plan. It's important to note that this is a helpful tool, but not a replacement for forestry assistance.
This site contains a wealth of information, it is free and it is available 24 hours a day to answer many of your forest planning questions.
You can go to this site and start your plan today:
https://mylandplan.org/
Here are video’s that will help you with the site:
https://mylandplan.org/video/how-add-property
https://mylandplan.org/video/add-features-and-points-interest
https://mylandplan.org/video/adding-goal-and-activities
The My Land Plan website was created for forest landowners just like you to help them stay on task with their forest plan and uphold their forest goals. This site can help you with questions regarding the forest planning process and timing as well as information on wildlife, economics, estate planning and forest health. The My Land Plan website can be a useful tool, but it's recommended that you still receive assistance from a Stewardship Forester to start your plan.
Once your plan is established, you can share all the information you input with your forester via the website as well. The Stewardship Forester can review the planning document and make suggestions as well as adapt the information to state and federal program forms to help find funding for your plan. It's important to note that this is a helpful tool, but not a replacement for forestry assistance.
This site contains a wealth of information, it is free and it is available 24 hours a day to answer many of your forest planning questions.
You can go to this site and start your plan today:
https://mylandplan.org/
Here are video’s that will help you with the site:
https://mylandplan.org/video/how-add-property
https://mylandplan.org/video/add-features-and-points-interest
https://mylandplan.org/video/adding-goal-and-activities
Ecotrust Forest Planner
The Ecotrust Forest Planner can be another great tool, especially if you are interested in commercial harvest use of your forested land. This tool provides visual management scenarios and details how certain decisions can affect your forest. With the Forest Planner, you can:
The Ecotrust Forest Planner can be another great tool, especially if you are interested in commercial harvest use of your forested land. This tool provides visual management scenarios and details how certain decisions can affect your forest. With the Forest Planner, you can:
- Map your land and the forest stands and management units on your property.
- Define the details of the trees on your property
- Create custom management scenarios
- Compare management scenarios
- Store and manage property data
WA Dept. of natural resources
WA Dept. of Natural Resources
Washington State Department of Natural Resources maintains a Small Forest Landowner Office where they seek to provide you and other family forest owners with technical and financial assistance that helps you meet your objectives for your lands.
Here are some additional resources worth exploring:
Washington State Department of Natural Resources maintains a Small Forest Landowner Office where they seek to provide you and other family forest owners with technical and financial assistance that helps you meet your objectives for your lands.
Here are some additional resources worth exploring:
- Visit the WA DNR Small Forest Landowner Office homepage at https://www.dnr.wa.gov/sflo
- Forest Stewardship & Technical Assistance Foresters are available for consultation by phone, email, and, if you own 10 or more acres, through an in-person site visit - contact information by region can be found here
- You can learn about DNR financial assistance programs by clicking here
- If you have questions about timber management and harvest, you can learn more at DNR's Technical Assistance page here
- To learn more about the forest practices permitting process, click here or read the abbreviated Forest Practices Illustrated Guide designed to help forest owners, loggers, and others better understand Washington State Forest Practices Rules and how they protect fish, water, wildlife, state, and municipal capital improvements and other public resources.
- Check out DNR's Forest Health Resources page