Over 40 people came to the stewardship contracting and woody biomass utilization workshop at the Heritage Ag Complex in Tulare recently. About one third of the audience came from Sierra and Sequoia National Forests with representatives from local industry and the community also in attendance. 

[Left to right] Discussing the handling of mill waste (residuals), chips and bark, processed bark, urban wood waste with power plant in background

The presentations for the Sierra Solutions conference are now online on the Sierra Business Council website.  They are in PDF format. 

The biomass utilization session was titled "Old School Fuels: Linking Forest Health and Regional Prosperity".  The three speakers started with the resource base, introduced stewardship contracting as a tool, moved on to an analysis of logical biomass utilization pathways and then focused on the Fuels for Schools program. 

Forest biomass looking for a market in Inyo National Forest near Mammoth

We had a great discusion with the audience on a number of issues. Thanks for the active participation - it really added value to the afternoon!

I left with some new contacts and a numebr of potential project concepts for the Eastside of the Sierra.

We are currently planning a number of new workshops for Spring 2009.  One will be in the Southern Sierra (West slope) and another in Paradise (near Chico).  Watch this space for more information. 

Sierra Business Council will be holding it’s annual conference, Sierra Solutions, in Mammoth Lakes October 3-4 2008. The Biomass Utilization and Stewardship Contracting Track will be held on Friday October 3rd from 1:30-3:45.

The following topics will be explored:
- Biomass Utilization Opportunities: Potential markets and technologies for value added products
- Stewardship Contracting: As a land management mechanism highlighting the collaborative processes
- Biomass as a Renewable Energy for Institutional Heating: With fuel types, combustion, pay back period and economics of the system, and operations methodology

Speakers Include:
- Gareth Mayhead, Center for Forestry, UC Berkeley
- Marcus Kauffman, Resource Innovations University of Oregon
- Dave Atkins, US Forest Service/Fuels for Schools, Montana
- Betony Jones, Sierra Business Council

You can attend this track for only $10 (if you wish to have lunch the cost is $26). Please contact Leah Seagraves at Sierra Business Council to register (tel: 530-582-4800 or e-mail). If you would like to explore attending the entire conference which extends through October 3rd and 4th highlighting solution-based tools and opportunities for ensuring vibrant Sierra Communities, Landscapes and Local Economies, please see the SBC website: www.sbcouncil.org
 

Here are the links to the workshops that were held in 2007

Eureka Workshop.  December 6-7 2007.   Presentations available here.  A slideshow of the workshop highlights is also available.

"From Feedstock to Product" Workshop, September 19-20 2007, Weed, California. Presentations available here.   

San Bernardino Woody Biomass Workshop, July 31-August 1 2007. Presentations available here.   

Weed workshop session

Southern CA field tour