I disagree with Bill that the DNR forestry is about tree farms.  My wife has a farm near Decorah.  we planted 11 acres of trees.  A 1999 conservation planting was along a stream and is in a govt program.  There is no cropland withing 50 yds of that stream, and we now have an incipient forest that will never tempt a future owner to plow that land.  There are now 30 ft maples and 20 ft walnuts in that planting. We also did  2004 and 2005 planting that had the stated purpose of wildlife enhancement.  We now have 20 ft oaks and 15 ft high junipers and pines on that planting.

For each of these plantings the DNR wrote a plan that suggested the appropriate plantings and their care over the next 5 yrs.  This year the state forester looked at them and said in a 5 yrs he will write a plan for thinning the trees. We will not see a commercial return on timber in our lifetime.  Yes, these plantings were your taxes at work with cost shares for the plantings and some continuing program payments for the streamside trees. 

I don't know what percent of time the state foresters spend on our small scale habitat improvements.  But, they have been quite helpful in our experience.

Lanny Schwartz

William Witt wrote:
[log in to unmask]" type="cite">
Air & Water quality need to stay with DNR.  (Thank you, Sens. Gronstal, Danielson, et al.)Why DNR has a Forestry division, however, is a mystery to me.  As I understand it, DNR's foresters spend 80-plus percent of their effort working with private landowners on timber stand improvement, i.e., enhancing and increasing crop-tree production.  When on public forested land, whether forests, rec areas, or parks, they do the same.  It's all about tree farming.  So why not put the foresters under IDALS?
 
BW

On Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 3:12 PM, laura belin <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
http://www.bleedingheartlan
I posted my take on this appointment here:

http://www.bleedingheartland.com/diary/4883/friend-of-big-ag-gets-number-two-iowa-dnr-job


I see this as another step forward for plan B to give agribusiness control over
the DNR. Plan A (moving the water programs to IDALS) passed the Iowa House but
foundered in the Iowa Senate.


----- Original Message ----
From: Jane Clark <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, July 27, 2011 2:36:08 PM
Subject: Re: Chuck Gipp named deputy DNR director

All I can say is, what next?
Jane Clark

-----Original Message-----
From: Iowa Discussion, Alerts and Announcements
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of laura belin
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 8:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Chuck Gipp named deputy DNR director

Thought this would be of interest to the group. Is it accurate to say Gipp is
respected in environmental circles? I don't remember many good things happening
for the environment when he was Iowa House majority leader (2003 through 2006).

Cheers,

Laurie

http://thegazette.com/2011/07/26/gipp-named-deputy-dnr-director/

Excerpt:

Chuck Gipp
Chuck Gipp, soil conservation administrator for the Iowa Department of
Agriculture and Land Stewardship since 2008, has been named deputy director of
the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Gipp, a lifelong dairy farmer who is respected in both production agriculture
and environmental circles, said he hopes to foster understanding and cooperation
between the two often-opposed groups.
“Both are important to Iowans, and we need to bring both sides together and
strike a sustainable balance,” Gipp, 63, of Decorah, said.
“In Chuck Gipp, we are bringing onboard someone who is not only very dedicated
and knowledgeable about conservation of our natural resources but also a very
talented individual in working with our stakeholders and Legislature,” said DNR
Director Roger Lande.


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