'Fire and Watershed Management' is the very timely theme for the Fall 1999 issue of The Networker. This fire season has turned out to be one of the more notable ones in the West - with several large fires still waiting to be doused by fall rains. From the immense range and forest fire of over 700,000 acres near Winnemucca, Nevada, to a small prescribed burn near Redding, California that became uncontrolled and destroyed over 20 houses, this season has had its share of extreme fire events and concomitant media attention.
What scientists, managers, and citizens have learned about fire effects, fire risk reduction, and collaborative solutions are the topics being explored in this turn of the century perspective. Guest editor Robbie Van de Water, hydrologist with the Klamath National Forest in northern California, has had considerable experience in fire rehabilitation efforts as a veteran of the infamous 1987 fire season as well as many other fires. She has performed quite a feat, in her 'spare' moments, to pull together this remarkable collection of original articles by authors from many western states and from diverse state, federal, academic and private industry backgrounds. New research is presented for the first time in several of the articles. The length of this newsletter makes it equivalent to a 'double issue' so members will be getting three instead of four issues this year - but this one should become a collector's item!
The Council's 1999 Field Tour of the Truckee River Watershed in early October was a rewarding event - beautiful autumn weather, excellent speakers, fascinating topics, and great company. Tour coordinator John Cobourn of the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension did an excellent job in putting together this two-day intensive trip, with great assistance from Jim Bergman of the Tahoe National Forest. An article and photographs will elaborate on the details in the next issue of The Networker.
Founded in 1986, WMC is now a teenager at 13 years old. Thanks to historian Clay Brandow for this reminder and perhaps analogy. He was responding to my 'anguish' over trying to sustain (even expand) our membership base. Our nonprofit organization's income is primarily dependent on membership dues and the biennial conference registration fees; our other events essentially break even as we try to keep costs low so more people can participate. Renewal of your membership is very important to us. Board members this year are personally calling those with expired memberships. Please also consider giving a colleague or friend a gift membership - such as for Christmas or their Birthday! Our $20 per year membership dues are still one of the best bargains of the century. Your support not only funds this newsletter but also keeps the only organization alive that is 'dedicated to advancing the art and science of watershed management'.
I can't sign off without calling attention to two dedicated watershedders - Prof. Jeff Mount and Dr. Dennis Pendleton. This photo was to accompany an article in the Spring 'Watershed Management in Academia'' issue, but better late than never. Their smiles reflect the satisfaction of finally getting the U.C. Davis Center for Integrated Watershed Science and Management to become a reality - perseverance does pay!