Howdy Neighbor Tour - Chandler Family Ranch
August 13,2011

The Chandler Family Ranch opened their property for a Howdy Neighbor Tour on August 13, 2011. About 65 people attended to see the various aspects of small woodland management practiced by the Chandler Family. Attendees met at the family campground to sign in and get a brief orientation. Afterwards, everyone split into three groups and headed off to their designated meeting places.

Forest and Timber Management

Attendees drove up behind the meeting place to view past and recent logging. From the lookout, attendees could see the history of several areas that had been high-graded, logged, replanted and released in small patches over the last 30 years, including:

• (1986): Most of the area was fully stocked with white or doug fir age 50 to 60, with about 10 to 15 acres of grassland, approximately 6 acres of merchantable alder and 8 acres that had been in the early 1980's.
• 1990-95: Small patches high-graded, not replanted.
• 1997: Northwest corner, approximately 22 ac., logged and replanted.
• 2000: Two pieces, 23 acres and 5 acres, logged and partially replanted.
• 2001/2: Small patches high-graded, not replanted.
• 2006: Chemical release of 22 acres planted in 1997/98 (funding assistance through 2003 ODF/USDA Pacific Coast Demonstration Area Grant).
• 2006/7: Chemical site preparation and replanting/interplanting of areas that had been logged but not replanted (funding assistance through ODF Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP)).
• 2010: All unplanted areas logged (including areas that had been previously high-graded) cut, approximately 55 acres. Not yet replanted (due to inability to get tree stock last winter.
• 2010: Road improvements including the installation of 6 culverts following the summer logging (funding assistance through NRCS).

Oak Savannah Restoration

The Chandler Family Ranch recently restored 35 acres of oak savannah with assistance from the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Acess & Habitat program and the Coos Forest Protective Service. Justin Rotter, who assisted on the restoration project, gave an overview of the steps that were taken to restore the savannah:

• Chemical treatment of large brush and hardwoods, excluding myrtle, madrone and selective large ash as they are native to this type of habitat in the area (unlike the Willamette Valley).
• Removal of treated hardwoods and encroaching fir (regardless of size). Wood was saved for either firewood or for making boards in the family's small mill.
• Initial ground burn of most of the acreage with the assistance and oversight of CFPA. Some portions were not included in the first burn because there was too much chance of the fire spreading
• Second burn after fire season was over, covering the remaining areas. Several spots with slash piles that weren't fully burn in the first burn were burned again.
• 3,000 oak seedlings planted (approximately 100 per acre).

Stream Restoration - Big Wood Placement

Over lunch, those interested took a small hike down to the confluence of Dement and School Line creeks to view a large project was undertaken in 2003/2004 to restore those creeks where they pass through the Chandler Family ranch.

The Coquille Watershed, in conjunction with ODF and ODFW, developed a plan to place large wood and boulders instream at 22 different locations over about a mile of waterway. Funding secured by the Coquille Watershed came from a number of different sources, including ODFW, BLM and others. ODFW did the plan and Coquille Watershed contracted with Blue Ridge Timber for the restoration work. The Chandler Ranch provided some of the wood that was placed and BLM provided some as well.

Since that time the ODFW has been monitoring the fish, particularly the salmon. All fish species have increased substantially since the work was done.

Family Woodlands Management and Succession Planning

The Chandler Family Ranch, LLC is owned and managed by 8 women, aged 16 to 76 spanning three generations and all descendants of the original homesteaders. Marie Gale, owner and current Operations Manager, spoke to the group about how they manage their woodlands, the philosophy behind their relationships and how decisions are made. Elizabeth Gale, Marie's daughter and also an owner, participated in the discussion and answered questions pertaining to how the "younger" owners are involved.

It was a lively discussion, particularly centering around how to keep all of the owners engaged and involved.