07Jun 2013 by Angie Eldred
June Peer Network Teleconference: All About Biomass Energy

June Peer Network Teleconference: All About Biomass Energy

Resources
    This week, SAWC hosted a Sustainable Southeast Peer Network teleconference call that focused a discussion on biomass energy projects and resources available in the region. Karen Peterson of the UAF Cooperative Extension Service in Thorne Bay provided a wealth of useful information and resources to our community practitioners who are currently working on or interested in beginning renewable energy and biomass projects within their communities.   Some interesting facts from Karen on biomass in our region: * 70-75% of the energy used in the state of AK goes toward heating. Biomass fuels are primarily used for heating purposes * Roughly 50% of every log run through a sawmill becomes wood waste, which in turn can be used as biomass fuel * A logging truck can carry 26 tons…
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06Jun 2013 by Angie Eldred
Funding Opportunity: Tribal Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Deployment Assistance

Funding Opportunity: Tribal Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Deployment Assistance

Events, Trainings & Opportunities
  The deadline to apply for this program is June 20, 2013 The Department of Energy is soliciting applications from Indian Tribes, Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations and Tribal Consortia, to install “community-scale” or “facility-scale” renewable energy and/or energy efficiency energy projects on Indian lands.  The renewable energy and/or energy efficiency projects are intended to provide electricity and/or heating and cooling or efficiency measures for existing tribal buildings, including homes, businesses, community buildings, government buildings, or other tribal facilities.  Projects selected under this Funding Opportunity Announcement are intended to reduce energy costs and increase energy security for Indian Tribes and tribal members.   Click HERE to learn more about this funding opportunity   Funding Opportunity Announcement Number: DE-FOA-0000853  
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06Jun 2013 by Angie Eldred
Funding Opportunity: Alaska Native Fund

Funding Opportunity: Alaska Native Fund

Events, Trainings & Opportunities
  The deadline for Letters of Inquiry for this grant program is July 15, 2013   Alaska Conservation Foundation (ACF), in partnership with an Alaska Native Steering Committee, launched the Alaska Native Fund in 2011 to advance Alaska Native priorities for protecting our land and sustaining our ways of life.  The fund provides an Indigenous framework for impacting critical environmental issues while promoting innovative strategies to strengthen the capacity of Alaska Native organizations and communities. The goals of the Fund are to: 1) Leverage more foundation and donor resources for Alaska Native organizations; 2) Support Alaska Native strategies and solutions on environmental issues; and 3) Build relationships that will grow and strengthen the conservation movement in Alaska. The Alaska Native Fund will provide annual grants to qualifying Alaska Native nonprofit organizations…
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05Jun 2013 by Angie Eldred
Alaska Installed Biomass Systems

Alaska Installed Biomass Systems

Resources
      Alaska installed biomass systems list, provided by Karen Petersen of the UAF Cooperative Extension Service       [gview file="http://alaskawatershedcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/AK.Installed.Biomass.Systems_12.28.2012.docx" save="1"]   Contact Karen Peterson, UAF Cooperative Extension Service Wood biomass, small business development, and rural tourism907-828-3207khpetersen@alaska.edu   
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05Jun 2013 by Angie Eldred
Tongass NF Conservation Strategy Summit

Tongass NF Conservation Strategy Summit

Events, Trainings & Opportunities
  You are invited to the US Forest Service's Tongass National Forest Conservation Strategy Summits taking place in Juneau and Ketchikan. The information provided and format will be the same at each of the one-day meetings.  Ketchikan Summit: Tuesday, June 18 at the Best Western Hotel Sunny Point BallRoom  from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (click to download the Ketchikan agenda) Juneau Summit: Thursday, June 20 at the Centennial Hall, Hickel Room from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (click to download the Juneau agenda)  To register for one of these summits, send a message to comments-alaska-tongass@fs.fed.us with "Summit" as the subject. Specify the session you plan to attend, and provide  your contact information. The goal of each meeting is to introduce the public, private industry, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and other interested parties to the current Old-Growth Habitat Conservation Strategy (adopted in 2008),…
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05Jun 2013 by Angie Eldred
EPA Guide and Online Module for Developing Effective Watershed Plans

EPA Guide and Online Module for Developing Effective Watershed Plans

Resources
    EPA has released a guide to developing watershed plans to restore and protect our waters, which summarizes a 2008 handbook for developing watershed plans to restore and protect our waters, as well as a companion online module, "An Introduction to Watershed Planning."   The guide and module provide a summary of the handbook and also highlight some new watershed-related tools that have been developed since 2008 that can be used for more effective decision-making leading to improved management of our water resources.   Together, the handbook, guide and module provide information on how to incorporate the nine minimum elements from the Clean Water Act section 319 Nonpoint Source Program's funding guidelines into the watershed plan development process.     [button url="http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/upload/watershed_mgmnt_quick_guide.pdf" color="aqua" ]Click here to access the guide[/button]…
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05Jun 2013 by Angie Eldred
Guide to Tongass Young Growth Timber

Guide to Tongass Young Growth Timber

Community Watershed Stewardship, Resources
    Sitka Conservation Society partnered with the Sitka High School Construction Tech program to explore and demonstrate ways that young-growth red alder and Sitka spruce from the Tongass can be used in building and woodworking. This guide book profiles many of these projects and shares practical insights about the quality and performance of local young-growth in a variety of applications. It also discusses basic challenges and opportunities surrounding the eventual U.S. Forest Service transition to young-growth timber harvest on the Tongass, which was announced in 2010. (information composed by Adam Andis, SCS)  View the guidebook below, and check out the Sitka Conservation Society's website for more information!        
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31May 2013 by Angie Eldred
Funding Opportunity: National Urban and Community Forestry Grant

Funding Opportunity: National Urban and Community Forestry Grant

Events, Trainings & Opportunities
    The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC), announces the posting of the U.S. Forest Service FY 2014 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share grant program. This year, there are three grant categories: Making Urban Trees and Forests More Resilient to the Impacts of Natural Disasters and the Long-term Impacts of Climate Change Green Infrastructure Jobs Analysis Utilizing Green Infrastructure to Manage and Mitigate Stormwater to Improve Water Quality Click here to read more about this grant program.   Grant proposals are due June 28,  2013     For more information or assistance, contact: Nancy Stremple, Executive Staff Phone: 202-205-7829 Email: nstremple@fs.fed.us
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22May 2013 by Angie Eldred
Building Strategic Partnerships With the Forest Service

Building Strategic Partnerships With the Forest Service

Resources
One of the services SAWC provides to communities in Southeast Alaska are trainings coordinated to build the capacity of our member groups to complete community based watershed management projects.   Slideshows from all of the trainings SAWC has provided are available on our Slideshare page   You can also access previous trainings on our Trainings and Workshops page The presentation featured below, Building Strategic Partnerships With the Forest Service, has reached over 150 viewers!   Building strategic partnerships with the Forest Service by Angela Coleman from sawc      
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