USFS

(Runtime 1:04)For years, Owen Wickenheiser was a wilderness and climbing ranger, primarily stationed in the Enchantments near Leavenworth Wash. He spent…

The United States Forest Service, under the directive of the United States Department of Agriculture, has announced plans to apply consistent standards to the conservation, restoration and maintenance of old-growth across the country’s national forests.It’s a first of its kind standard that many say is necessary, given threats from climate change and varied management practices.

A new plan from the U.S. Forest Service could bring thousands of new jobs to the North Idaho region.The plan details future land management of the Nez…

More firefighters are needed for wildfires that might crop up in Eastern Washington’s agricultural region, said Democrat Sen. Maria Cantwell during a…

The use of aerial fire retardant to fight wildfires could be further restricted to protect the environment.A handful of groups from western states filed a motion last week to intervene in a lawsuit brought by an Oregon environmental group against the U.S. Forest Service for inadvertently dumping fire retardant into streams.

Lawmakers are allocating over $6 billion this fiscal year to support the Department of the Interior and the United States Forest Service in wildfire response.It’s an increase of 14% from the last year’s funding, and will support wildfire suppression, operations and a new research hub to aid fire management. This fiscal year, the forest service will see an increase of $576 million in available funding for wildfire response.

Climate change is expected to increase drought and wildfire vulnerability in forests across the West. But new research out of Oregon State University shows that some places will fare better than others.