State, federal and local officials tour Utah forest management projects

SALT LAKE CITY– Today state, federal and local officials visited forest management projects to see how Utah’s land managers are proactively addressing the wildfire crisis. Gov. Spencer Cox hosted Deputy Chief Chris French and Intermountain Regional Forester Mary Farnsworth with the U.S. Forest Service; Regional Conservationist Astor Boozer and State Conservationist Emily Fife with the Natural Resource Conservation Service; Legislators; …

Utah Companies Receive Wood Innovation Funding from Forest Service

SALT LAKE – The USDA Forest Service has awarded $475,000 to two Utah-based organizations through the Wood Innovation Funding Opportunity. Last Chance Lumber Sawmill will use the grant funding to retool its existing setup, and the University of Utah will use the funding for research on the safety of mass timber buildings. “It’s exciting to see increased federal investment in …

Twin Peaks Handcrew Honored for Heroic Actions on the 2022 Moose Fire

SALT LAKE CITY – The Twin Peaks Handcrew were honored with the USDA Secretary’s Act of Valor Award and the Intermountain Regional Foresters Award today for their role in the Moose Fire Aircraft Response Group and for their willingness to risk personal injury in an attempt to perform lifesaving actions during a disaster response. “It is an honor to see …

2022 Invasive Phragmites Management Success on Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake

SALT LAKE CITY – The ongoing work of controlling the spread and mitigating the impact of an invasive plant species, Phragmites australis, on the shoreline of Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake continued to see success in 2022.   This year a total of 6,312 acres of phragmites-infested shoreline were treated around Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake by the Division …

2022 Fire Program Awards Handed Out at Annual Meeting

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands honored a Fire Warden of the Year and a Cooperator of the Year from the state of Utah.  These awards are given to groups or individuals that have been an integral part of the wildfire suppression efforts within the state during the calendar year.  Fire Warden of …

2022 State Forester’s Stewardship Awards Announced

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands honored two individuals with forestry stewardship awards as a part of the 2022 Utah Association of Conservation Districts.  Matthew Zierenberg was honored with the Forest Stewardship Achievement Award. The Mark Blake Family received the Forest Landowner of the Year.  Forest Stewardship Achievement Award – Matthew Zierenberg, Wasatch …