Schooner-Rock Restoration Project Silviculture Specialist Report Hebo Ranger District, Siuslaw National Forest Hebo, Oregon

Transcription

1 Schooner-Rock Restoration Project Silviculture Specialist Report Hebo Ranger District, Siuslaw National Forest Hebo, Oregon By: /s/ Wayne J. Patterson 12/14/2016 Wayne J. Patterson, Certified Silviculturist Date AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT INTRODUCTION The Schooner-Rock Restoration Project area is located just to the east of Lincoln City, Oregon. The gross acreage of the project area is approximately 22,597. Approximately 8,920 of those acres are National Forest System lands, administered by the U.S. Forest Service (Figure 1). The project area lies within the Schooner Creek (Drift Creek of the Siletz River) and Rock Creek Watersheds, Oregon Coast Range frontal watersheds flowing directly into the Pacific Ocean. There are no designated wilderness or roadless areas within the project area. 120 acres of the Cascade Head Scenic Research Area lie within the project area on the very northern boundary. Figure 1. Land Ownership in the Project Area Ownership Acres Percent of Project Area Private 12,528 55% National Forest System Lands 8,920 40% Lakes and Rivers 699 3% US Bureau of Land Management 309 1% State of Oregon (not lake or river) 132 1% Lincoln County 8 <1 The 8,920 acres of National Forest lands in the project area are generally covered with dense conifer and hardwood forest. Native conifer tree species include western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and western redcedar (Thuja plicata). Native hardwood tree species include red alder (Alnus rubra) and bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum). Understory vegetation in the project area includes salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), sword fern (Polystichum munitum), vine maple (Acer circinatum) and Vaccinium species. Several medium to large fires burned most of the project area between 1849 and Most of the current natural stands developed after these fires. The area was intensively harvested, generally by clearcutting, starting in the late 1950 s up to the implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan in Swiss needle cast (Phaeocryptopus gäumannii) currently infects much of the Douglas-fir in the project area. This native pathogen infects foliage and slows growth on diseased trees. The current infestation first became noticeable in the early 1990 s in the Oregon Coast Range. Phellinus weirii (laminated root rot), Armillaria, and Schweinitzii root diseases are common throughout the project area, especially in older stands. The Schooner-Rock Restoration Project area contains Devils Lake, plus Schooner and Rock Creeks; so approximately three percent of the project area is covered by water. Few other nonforest cover types, such as meadows or large rock slides, are found on National Forest System lands within the project area. 1

2 FIELD SURVEYS Stand examinations, intensive tree inventories, were conducted on thirteen of the young managed stands (plantations) in the summer One young managed stand was also inventoried in late fall The remaining stands received walk-though exams in 2015 and early 2016, by District Silviculturist, Wayne Patterson. NORTHWEST FOREST PLAN (NWFP) DIRECTION (USDA & USDI, 1994) Northern Oregon Coast Range Adaptive Management Area (AMA) All federally-managed lands located within the project area (9,229 acres) are contained within the Northern Oregon Coast Range AMA. Adaptive Management Areas are landscape-size areas designated to encourage the development and testing of technical and social approaches to achieving desired ecological, economic, and other social objectives. Objective The overall objective for Adaptive Management Areas is to learn how to manage on an ecosystem basis in terms of both technical and social challenges, and in a manner consistent with applicable laws. The emphasis for this area is restoration and maintenance of late-successional forest habitat, consistent with marbled murrelet guidelines. All AMAs are expected to produce forest products as part of their program of activities, consistent with Northwest Forest Plan standards and guidelines. Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) Approximately 8,796 acres (99%) of the National Forest System lands within the project area are designated as Late Successional Reserves. Objective Late-Successional Reserves are to be managed to protect and enhance conditions of latesuccessional and old-growth forest ecosystems, which serve as habitat for late-successional and old-growth related species including the northern spotted owl. These reserves are designed to maintain a functional, interacting, late-successional and old-growth forest ecosystem. Standards and Guidelines There is no harvest allowed in stands over 110-years old. Thinning (non-commercial and commercial) may occur in stands regardless of their origin (e.g., plantations planted after logging or stands naturally regenerated after fire or blowdown) (ROD C-12 & D-15). The purpose of all silvicultural treatments within the LSRs is to benefit the creation and maintenance of latesuccessional forest conditions (ROD C-12). Riparian Reserves 8,387 acres (94% percent) of National Forest System lands in the Schooner-Rock Restoration Project area are designated as Riparian Reserves. Riparian Reserves include lands along streams and ponds, and unstable areas where riparian-dependent resources receive primary emphasis and where special standards and guidelines apply (ROD, B-12). These Riparian Reserves cover most of the lands that are also designated as both the AMA and LSR. Objectives Under the Aquatic Conservation Strategy, Riparian Reserves are used to maintain and restore riparian structures and functions of intermittent streams, confer benefits to riparian-dependent and associated species other than fish, enhance habitat conservation for organisms that are dependent on the transition zone between upslope and riparian areas, improve travel and 2

3 dispersal corridors for many terrestrial animals and plants, and provide for greater connectivity of the watershed. The Riparian Reserves also serve as connectivity corridors among the Late- Successional Reserves (ROD B-13). Standards and Guidelines Apply silvicultural practices in Riparian Reserves to control stocking, reestablish and manage stands, and acquire desired vegetation characteristics needed to attain Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives (ROD C-32). The Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives (ROD, B-11) require that management activities be designed to maintain and restore habitats and ecological processes within Riparian Reserves. The emphasis in Riparian Reserves is to thin overstocked Douglas-fir plantations. Apply silvicultural practices for Riparian Reserves to control stocking, reestablish and manage stands, and acquire desired vegetation characteristics needed to attain Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives (ROD C-32). EXISTING CONDITION Most mature natural stands in the project area regenerated following a stand-replacement wildfire in Figure 2 summarizes the current distribution of forest vegetation within the project area based on Geographic Information System (GIS) data and photo interpretation. Figure 2. Current Vegetation Cover Types for National Forest System Lands in the Project Area Cover Type Age Range Acres Percent of National Forest Natural Mature Conifer years 2,802 31% Natural Mature Conifer/Hardwood Mix years 459 5% Young Plantations years 5,625 63% Non-forested N/A 34 <1% Natural Mature Conifer and Conifer/Hardwood Mixed Stands Approximately 36 percent of the National Forest System lands within the project area are covered by mature conifer or mixed conifer and hardwood stands that regenerated naturally following stand-replacement wildfires during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The majority of these natural mature stands are on a trajectory to develop into late-successional habitat consistent with the NWFP objectives. These stands contain large-diameter overstory trees with large, irregular crowns. Shade tolerant tree species (western hemlock, western red cedar, and Sitka spruce) are also present to form a multi-story canopy. The spacing of these trees is variable and understory vegetation is present, scattered throughout the stand. Snag and course woody debris levels are currently low in these stands, due to the history of multiple fires in the project area (USDA Forest Service and USDI BLM, 1998). Young Plantations Plantations account for approximately 5,625 acres (63%) of the National Forest System lands within the project area. Figure 3 displays the distribution of these plantations by year of origin. These plantations were established after clearcutting that started in 1957 and ended in The majority of these plantations are heavily dominated by Douglas-fir or an even-aged mix of Douglas-fir and western hemlock. Tree densities generally range from 200 to 350 trees per acre. 3

4 Figure 3. Forest Service Plantations Year of Origin Percent of Plantations These plantations were established at much higher tree densities than the natural mature stands in the Oregon Coast Range. Additionally, these stands were established and formerly managed to maximize timber yield, so species other than Douglas-fir were removed during early stand establishment. The natural mature stands in the Oregon Coast Range originated following standreplacement wildfires at a much lower initial density of trees and were comprised of a mixture of conifer and hardwood species. DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION The desired future condition for the Schooner-Rock Restoration Project area is a contiguous landscape of habitat for late-successional and old-growth related species including the northern spotted owl. Desired long-term stand characteristics include: approximately 6 to 9 trees per acre with a diameter at breast height (DBH measured at 4.5 feet above ground level) of at least 40 inches presence of shade tolerant tree species such as Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and western red cedar uneven-aged with multiple canopy layers trees with a variety of decadent characteristics, including large limbs, broken tops and cavities presence of understory shrubs and forbs approximately 4 to 6 snags per acre at least 16 feet tall with a DBH of at least 20 inches approximately 3,100 to 4,600 cubic feet per acre of down wood (Spies and Franklin, 1991). ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ANALYSIS Since the overall goal of silviculture is to manage vegetation in the forest environment to achieve desired management goals and objectives, this section displays an overview of the analysis and effects to forest vegetation within the Schooner-Rock Restoration Project area. Alternative 1: No Action No mechanical treatment of forest vegetation would take place under this alternative. However, forest vegetation in the project area would still undergo changes. Direct and Indirect Effects Natural Mature Conifer and Conifer/Hardwood Mixed Stands These stands would likely continue to develop into late-successional habitat. Most of the large trees in these stands would increase in bole size and produce large limbs with deep crowns. Some of the large trees would die and provide high-quality snags and downed wood. Cohorts of shade-tolerant conifers would continue to develop, enhancing the multi-storied canopy. Small scale disturbances, including windthrow, root rot and fire, would produce canopy gaps. Shrubs and hardwoods would likely establish themselves within the increased light of the canopy gaps 4

5 and eventually give way to another cohort of conifer regeneration, adding to the multi-storied structure. Openings within the stand that are regularly subjected to disturbances, such flood plains and shallow soil/high wind areas, would continue to be hardwood dominated. Young Plantations Young plantations (currently uniform, single-storied, Douglas-fir or Douglas-fir/western hemlock dominated stands) would be expected to develop along a trajectory that is very different from that of the mature natural conifer stands. These plantations would continue to grow over time, but they would develop differently from existing stands that have achieved latesuccessional characteristics. It is unlikely that the natural mature conifer stands ever contained tree densities as high as these young plantations (Tappeiner et al., 1997). Trees would have less opportunity to express late-successional characteristics due to the high tree density and uniform spacing resulting from past planting and non-commercial thinning. Competition would continue to increase between individual trees for sunlight. Trees would put most of their carbon into height growth to obtain sufficient sunlight. Diameter growth would be slow and self-pruning of individual tree crowns would occur. It would be unlikely that these stands would develop into large-diameter trees with well-developed crowns. The dense canopy of overstory trees would be expected to limit understory vegetation and the establishment of another canopy layer of trees (Chan et al., 2006). The stressed trees would become more susceptible to insects, disease, and windthrow. Mortality would increase as the intermediate and suppressed trees lose their ability to compete and die. These dead trees would increase snags and coarse woody debris, but they would be of small diameter and are expected to decay rapidly. Overall, these stands would be expected to produce more total cubic feet of snags and down wood than stands of lower densities, but this would be comprised of more total pieces with a smaller volume per piece. It is likely that this high number of small volume snags and downed wood never existed during the development of natural conifer stands. Additional effects to deadwood can be found in Appendix G. Growth studies on mature natural conifer stands found that the initial tree density was percent of the density in these young plantations (Tappeiner et al., 1997). Natural disturbance events including windthrow and root disease would be expected to eventually create openings in stands. These openings would allow shade-tolerant species to become established in the understory if there is a nearby seed source, creating additional structure and diversity. As many of these stands have some western hemlock and Sitka spruce in the overstory, these shade tolerant species would be able to occupy the openings. The lack of sufficient shade-tolerant conifer seed sources, especially from existing western red cedar, within the plantations would be expected to preclude establishment and development of diverse mixed conifer stands in many portions of this watershed. Andrews et al. (2005) also confirmed that without silvicultural intervention or natural disturbances, young dense stands ( trees/ac) would be unlikely to develop habitat features supporting spotted owl nesting within 160-year total stand age. Andrews et al. (2005) suggested that heavy thinning at ages 50 and 80 years, followed by tree-planting and additional thinning, would aid in development of forest patches structurally similar to habitat utilized by spotted owl for nest sites. This alternative provides no opportunity to encourage the development of late-successional forest conditions within these stands. Forest Plan objectives would not likely be achieved within these stands until a natural disturbance event re-establishes these stands at a lower tree density that would allow the stands to develop along a trajectory similar to the natural mature conifer stands in the project area. 5

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7 Alternative 2: Proposed Action The primary goal of the proposed action is to treat uniform young managed plantations to maintain or increase growth of the largest trees, maintain or increase tree species diversity, encourage development of a multi-layered canopy, and enhance growth, diversity, and cover of herbaceous material on the forest floor. These plantations range from 31 to 59 years old. The proposed action would accelerate the development of old-growth forest habitat, improve habitat diversity, and provide timber for local economies by commercially thinning approximately 2,368 acres within 49 previously managed, young conifer stands, as follows: o Harvest would include approximately 629 acres of ground-based, 1,697 acres of skyline, and 43 acres of helicopter logging systems. Mechanized equipment is generally utilized on slopes under 35% and skyline systems over 35% slope. Timber harvest is expected to produce approximately 28 MMBF of timber; o All trees that have invaded the 8.5-acre shrub dominated meadow surrounding the Cougar Mountain Repeater site could be removed to maintain it as an effective communications site; o For all other stands, various thinning prescriptions would be prescribed that would leave 40 to 150 trees/acre after commercial thinning and post-harvest snag and down wood creation are completed; o Wildlife habitat and stand structure and composition would be further diversified within the treated stands by creating up to 1-acre gaps, planting portions of stands with conifers or hardwoods, and maintaining un-thinned areas (skips) where appropriate. o Ten units, totaling 460 acres, would be deferred approximately 10 years into the future until specific resource conditions are met. These units are: 18, 19, 24, 32, 33, 37, 46, 47, 48, and 51. o Dead wood habitat for wildlife would be increased in the project area by creating up to ten pieces of dead wood per acre from trees in commercially-thinned plantations. Created dead wood would be a mix of topped or girdled trees that would become snags and felled trees as down wood. Additionally, up to three snags per acre would be created in adjacent mature stands by topping live trees Figure 4 summarizes the proposed vegetation treatments in this alternative. Figure 4. Alternative 2 Vegetation Treatments Type of Treatment Acres Remove all Trees over 7 DBH at Cougar Mountain Repeater site 8.5 Commercial Thin to 150 TPA* 330 Commercial Thin to 50 TPA and Create Transitory Canopy Gaps in Previously Thinned Stands 293 Commercial Thin to 90 to 110 TPA and Create Transitory Canopy Gaps in Young Plantations 1,744 Plant Created Transitory Gaps within Plantations 35 Under-plant Commercially Thinned Plantations 281 Type of Treatment Structures Fall Live Trees to Create Coarse Woody Debris in Plantations Up to 11,840 Top Live Trees to Create Snags in Plantations Up to 12,905 Top Live Trees to Create Snags in Mature Natural Stands Up to 500 *TPA Trees per acre 7

8 Direct and Indirect Effects Natural Mature Conifer and Conifer/Hardwood Mixed Stands Creating snags by topping live trees within natural mature conifer stands adjacent to plantations would provide up to an additional 500 snags compared to Alternative 1. These stands lack sufficient snags and course woody debris due to the area s fire history. Creating these snags would provide additional late-successional habitat characteristics within these stands. The created snags would eventually fall and provide coarse woody debris in these stands. Other effects to these stands would likely be similar to the effects in Alternative 1. Young Managed Stands (Plantations) Plantations in the project area were reviewed by the interdisciplinary team to determine the feasibility of restoration treatments. The original stand boundary was used as a starting point for proposed restoration treatments. Stream buffers, hardwood dominated areas, unstable areas, logging equipment limitations or costs, and deferrals for wildlife habitat protection reduced the area being proposed for treatment. A minimum of ten percent of each stand would be unthinned to increase variability in the stand. Additionally, this alternative could remove all merchantable trees on the 8.5-acre Cougar Mountain Repeater site as they are currently, or would be in the near future, interfering with communications. This alternative would commercially thin 2,368 acres (42%) out of the 5,625 acres of young plantations in the project area. Thinning prescriptions would be designed to promote the development of latesuccessional characteristics. As development of large trees is one of the primary objectives, stands would be thinned from below to leave the largest trees. The density of residual trees would vary within the stands but would average approximately 50 to 150 trees per acre depending on the stand (Figure 5). Thinning to 50 trees per acre is prescribed in stands that have been previously thinned and have established some level of windfirmness and in one stand that has a low to moderate risk of windthrow and would be helicopter logged. Windthrow is a serious concern in the project area as we have experienced extensive blowdown in stands thinned ten to fifteen years ago within the project area if we removed more than half of the stand s basal area. In other stands that have not been previously thinned, this alternative proposes to commercially thin to 90 to 150 trees per acre based on existing stand conditions such as density, species composition, and windthrow risk. The objective in these stands is to develop some windfirmness in the stand before thinning the overstory to levels closer to those of natural stands fifteen to thirty years in the future. Some level of blowdown is likely to occur, even with such conservative thinning. However, such blowdown is desirable as it would increase variability in these stands and would add to the overall stand diversity of the project area. 8

9 Figure 5. Young Plantations Treated in Alternative 2 Stand Stand Acres Number of Acres Proposed Residual Trees per Acre Before 9 Snag Creation or Trees Felled for Down Wood per Acre Gap Planting (Acres) Under Planting (Acres) for Thinning Dead Wood Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to In stands that are Douglas-fir dominated, Douglas-fir would be the only species designated for harvesting. In stands that have good mixes of other species in the overstory, but are extremely

10 dense, single-storied stands; a mix of species would be left. This would allow for natural seeding of shade tolerant species as the stand is opened and more light reaches the ground. It is likely that these plantations would develop on a different successional pathway than the mature natural stands in the project area (Tappeiner et al., 1997). There is strong scientific support for active management of these dense plantations. For example, in their notes to the Regional Ecosystem Office as a result of their meeting on January 18, 2001, the Science Findings Evaluation Group indicated very strong support for active management (thinning, selective thinning, and possible under-planting) in young, dense forest stands (Franklin 2001). Jerry Franklin, professor at the University of Washington, who specializes in old-growth forest ecology, supports thinning at different densities so that variable pathways can be established (Franklin pers. Comm. 2001). Thus, they are not currently on a trajectory to meet the NWFP objectives of restoring and maintaining late-successional forest habitat. Not all studies agree on whether, or not, old growth can develop from these dense plantations within the next 160 years without some sort of thinning treatment. Winters (2000) conducted a study in the Washington Cascades that suggests that old-growth stands there were developed from high conifer densities. However, this study is based on a single stand with no replications and contradicts the findings of all other studies conducted in coastal forests. The preponderance of the best available scientific evidence demonstrates the need for thinning dense managed stands in order to achieve conditions favorable for developing old growth upland and riparian forest characteristics and increasing habitat diversity. In some stands commercial thinning treatments would include canopy gap creation to increase structural diversity of the stands where windthrow is not a high risk. One-acre canopy gaps would be created in up to five percent of each stand with a low to moderate risk of windthrow. The one-acre gaps on northerly facing slopes would not retain any live trees, as seedling growth is already slow. Slower seedling growth is resulting in increased seedling mortality due to deer and elk browsing and rubbing. One-acre gaps on southerly facing slopes would retain up to seven trees, some of which would be topped for snag creation. Additionally, half-acre canopy gaps would be created in approximately five percent of each stand that has a low to moderate risk of windthrow. As light is limited in these stands due to the height of trees surrounding the gap, no live trees would be retained in the half-acre gaps. This would encourage growth of forbs, grasses, shrubs, and any planted seedlings. These canopy gaps would be placed to emphasize Douglas-fir trees that exhibit deep crowns and large, persistent limbs. Where these stands contain few mature western red cedar, western hemlock, or Sitka spruce to serve as seed sources; a mixture of these species may be planted. Some gaps would be left unplanted to encourage early-seral understory plant development. It is expected that the early seral habitat would be temporary due to rapid crown expansion from Douglas-fir following thinning treatments (Chan et al., 2006). However, the presence of Swiss needle cast in these stands may slow canopy growth, prolonging gap persistence. The Assessment Report for Federal Lands in and Adjacent to Oregon Coast Province (USDA USDI 1995) identified that managed stands, including those in Late-Successional and Riparian reserves, are too densely stocked to represent the full range of natural conditions for the Coast Range and that thinning is needed to reduce stocking and accelerate development of latesuccessional forest characteristics. The creation of half to one-acre gaps in these stands appears to be important in the development of some late successional forest characteristics. According to Cahn et al (2006) thinning to low densities, the creation of small gaps, and underplanting in Oregon Coast Range forests accelerates development of multi-layered stand conditions characteristic of old-growth forest habitat. That report concluded that in areas such as the west 10

11 slope of the central and northern Oregon Coast Range, light availability is a principal driver in many of the processes that lead to increasing stand diversity and complexity. Bailey and Tappeiner (1998) concluded that thinning young Douglas-fir stands appears to set young stands on a trajectory towards achieving overstory and understory attributes similar to those in oldgrowth stands by promoting the development of understory tree species and tall- and low-shrub species. Forest management can also promote biocomplexity (Carey et al & Carey Thinning influences all forest structuring processes, including decadence and development of spatial heterogeneity. Thinning along with under-planting can restore tree species diversity and accelerate multi-layered canopy development (Carey 2003). Many other studies also indicate that active management, including thinning and under-planting, is needed to restore degraded ecosystems and enhance biologically diverse and complex forests (Curtis and Carey 1996; Lindenmayer and Franklin 2002, Carey 2003). The thinning treatments would be expected to redirect the developmental trajectory of the treated stands in a way that would better meet the objective of producing late successional habitat under the Northwest Forest Plan. The residual stand density would be expected to allow individual trees to better develop characteristics associated with late-successional habitat (Chan et al., 2006). These characteristics include large diameter boles, deep crowns, and large diameter limbs (Poage and Tappeiner, 2002). Thinning would also allow more light to the forest floor. This additional light would be expected to facilitate the development of a multi-species, multi-storied structure by allowing natural and artificial regeneration to develop (Dodson et al., 2012). Thinning and gap creation would also provide the light conditions needed to establish a more diverse assortment of shrubs, forbs and grasses within the stand. As identified above, approximately half of the created gaps would not be planted to allow shrubs, forbs, and grasses to persist in the stand for a longer time. Lichens and bryophytes are very important components of Northwest Forests. They function in nutrient cycling (including cyanolichens that fix nitrogen), provide nesting material for birds and mammals, habitat for arthropods, food for mollusks, and contribute to biodiversity (Maser et al. 1985; Pike 1978; Pike et al. 1972; Pypker et al. 2006). Petterson et al. (1995) found that forest bird diversity was related to epiphytic lichen diversity in older forests, due to the variety of food insects living in the lichens. Because even-aged stands lack the complex structure of old-growth forests, lichen and bryophyte diversity is low (Lesica et al.1991; McCune 1993). Creating gaps to promote forest diversity in young, even-aged stands benefits lichen and bryophyte diversity, as well as the diversity of many other forest organisms (Root et al. 2010; Muir et al. 2002). Chan et al. (2006) determined that availability of natural light is a major factor in many of the processes that foster the development of stand diversity and complexity. Thinning, especially to low densities (30 to 60 trees per acre) or creation of small gaps, increased understory plant diversity. Chan et al. concluded that thinning to low densities and under-planting has the potential to accelerate development of multi-layered stands characteristic of old-growth Douglasfir forests and that stands originally thinned to 60 trees per acre likely would need thinning again to maintain high understory plant diversity and to maintain rapid growth of understory trees. On October 14, 2006, Andrew Carey (Emeritus Scientist, Ecosystem Processes Research Program, Pacific Northwest Research Station, US Forest Service) and Tom Spies (Research Ecologist and Team Leader, Landscape and Ecosystems Team, Pacific Northwest Research Station, US Forest Service) reviewed some plantations that were commercially thinned on the Siuslaw National Forest. Both scientists supported the Forest s approach to managing stands, 11

12 including variable spacing of residual trees, maintaining or improving species diversity (especially hardwoods), creating snags and down wood, managing riparian areas, managing skips/clumps (no-cut areas), and creating gaps in the canopy (to increase early seral habitat component). Currently most suppression mortality is resulting in snags that are less than ten inches diameter at breast height (DBH feet above ground level). These snags would decay rapidly and soon fall, becoming down wood. The thinning treatments would decrease the amount of suppression mortality and small deadwood in the treated stands (Dodson et al, 2012). Following commercial thinning up to ten trees per acre would be felled and left on site as down wood or topped to create a mix of live, broken topped trees and snags. Mechanical creation of snags and down wood would provide a slightly larger deadwood component to the stands that is currently missing. Created snags and down wood would be from the residual stand, likely 12 to 24 inches DBH. Thus these treatments would improve forest structure immediately and provide sources of fungi inoculation and moisture retention for a while, as the residual trees in the stand grow to sizes that would provide large snags and down wood in the future. A minimum of ten percent of each stand would be in skips, unthinned areas that increase variability within the stand. These areas would continue to provide small diameter snags and down wood. The proposed thinning would reduce canopy density and increase light to the forest floor, which would be expected to regenerate a new cohort of small trees (Dodson et al, 2012). This new cohort of trees would provide small deadwood in the future. Thinning would be expected to increase diameter in residual trees (Marshall et al., 1992). These residual trees would be expected to eventually die and produce large-diameter snags and down wood, more characteristic of late-successional stands. Additional effects to deadwood can be found in Appendix G. Figure 6 displays stand conditions prior to and following all vegetation treatments. 12

13 Figure 6. Treated Stand Conditions Before and After Treatment in Alternative 2. Stand Current Tree Per Acre* Post- Treatment Trees Per Current Average Diameter* Post- Treatment Average Current Square Feet of Basal Area Post-Treatment Square Feet of Basal Area Per Acre* Acre* Diameter* Per Acre* n/a 160 n/a *Includes trees 7 DBH and larger 13

14 A minimum of ten percent of each stand would be in skips, unthinned areas that increase variability within the stand. These areas would continue to provide small diameter snags and down wood. The proposed thinning below 70 trees per acre would reduce canopy density and increase light to the forest floor, which would be expected to regenerate a new cohort of small trees (Dodson et al, 2012). This new cohort of trees would provide small deadwood in the future. Thinning would be expected to increase diameter in residual trees (Marshall et al., 1992). These residual trees would be expected to eventually die and produce large-diameter snags and down wood, more characteristic of late-successional stands. Additional effects to deadwood can be found in Appendix D. Thirteen stands and portions of three other stands, totaling 638 acres, in the vicinity of active or potential northern spotted owl sites within the project area would be deferred from treatment during this entry. They were identified by the Wildlife Biologist as having the potential to serve as next best habitat within degraded owl nest core areas, provide flying squirrel and other small mammal habitat that could serve as a food source for owls, or serve as travel corridors for owls between good habitat areas. Portions of two stands, totaling 61 acres, would not be treated due to high costs associated with the lack of road access and low volumes that make helicopter logging in-feasible. Two stands and a portion of four other stands, totaling 399 acres, would not be treated as they were recently commercially thinned and have not grown enough to be economically viable for the next commercial thinning, yet. Additionally, 43 very young stands totaling 1,395 acres would not be treated under this alternative because the trees are not large enough for commercial thinning. Effects to these young plantations (2,493 acres) and the 764 acres of plantations in buffers, or areas that harvest equipment would not be able to reach, would likely be similar to Alternative 1. SUMMARY The preponderance of the best available scientific evidence demonstrates the need for thinning dense managed stands in order to achieve conditions favorable for developing old growth upland and riparian forest characteristics and increasing habitat diversity. Alternative 2 best meets the purpose and need for the Schooner-Rock Project by accelerating development of old-growth and late-successional habitat characteristics such as large trees with large branches in the lower canopy. It also improves habitat diversity by encouraging establishment of shade tolerant species in the understory, and hardwoods, forbs, shrubs, and grasses scattered through the stand. These are both objectives of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy and improve the quality of aquatic habitat in the Riparian Reserves, while producing timber revenue that can help fund further ecosystem restoration activities. The silvicultural prescriptions associated with this project have also been reviewed for consistency with the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 and the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA). More specifics can be found in the silviculture specialist report. Figure 7 compares each alternative. No stands would be treated to help achieve Northwest Forest Plan Objectives in Alternative 1. Approximately 42 percent of the young plantations in the project area would be treated to help achieve Northwest Forest Plan objectives in Alternative 2. The majority of plantations left untreated in Alternative 2 are either not large enough for a commercial treatment, have been proposed for wildlife deferral to support owl prey species, or are not economically feasible due to access problems, or were recently thinned and have not grown enough to support thinning again, yet. 14

15 Figure 7. Comparison of Alternatives Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Acres of Young Plantations Treated 0 2,368* Acres of Young Plantations Deferred 5,625 3,257 Acres Planted in Created Transitory Gaps within Plantations 0 35 Acres Under-planted within Commercially Thinned Plantations Live Plantation Trees Topped to Create Snags or Felled to be Left as 0 Up to 23,680 Down Wood Live Trees Topped to Create Snags in Mature Natural Stands 0 Up to 500 *49 stands are proposed for treatment. They total 3,086 acres. Only 2,368 acres would be treated. The remaining 718 acres are in buffers, untreated skips, or areas that are not economically feasible due to tree size or density, or logging equipment limitations. CUMULATIVE EFFECTS The temporal boundary considered for this cumulative effects analysis is from 1970 to Most vegetation management resulting in recent changes occurred after The vegetation management activities resulting from this analysis should be completed by The project area is the spatial boundary for this cumulative effects analysis. Alternative 1: No Action Natural Mature Conifer and Conifer/Hardwood Mixed Stands No activities are proposed for alternative 1, therefore there would be no direct, indirect, or cumulative effects to natural mature conifer and conifer/hardwood mixed stands Young Managed Stands (Plantations) No activities are proposed for alternative 1, therefore there would be no direct, indirect, or cumulative effects. Plantations on State and BLM lands within the project area are expected to be managed for a range of forest structures. These plantations are expected to provide a range of young, simple structures to more mature, complex structures. Plantations on private industrial lands in the project area are expected to be managed on short rotations providing young, simple structures. Plantations along the western edge of the National Forest are likely to be clearcut in the next ten to fifteen years. These clearcuts would be on the windward side of the National Forest stands and would likely result in blowdown of trees along the edge of the National Forest. The extent of such blowdown cannot be predicted at this time due to many factors that effect when timber harvests and major wind storms occur. Alternative 2: Proposed Action Natural Mature Conifer and Conifer/Hardwood Mixed Stands Creating up to 500 snags in the mature conifer stands adjacent to young managed plantations would increase large snags and, eventually as they fell, large down wood on the forest floor. Young Managed Stands (Plantations) Over time the treated young plantations on the national forest are expected to develop stand characteristics similar to the natural mature conifer stands. These stands would still not be old enough nor have large enough trees needed to integrate into the mature natural conifer stands, forming large contiguous areas of late-successional forest habitat. However, following treatment these stands are expected to be on a trajectory that is more likely to obtain late-successional forest characteristics within the foreseeable future. 15

16 Under Alternative 2, there is potential for cumulative effects because the effects of adjacent landowner stand management could overlap in time or space with the effects of the Schooner Rock proposed vegetation management activities. Plantations on private industrial lands in the project area are expected to be managed on short rotations providing young, simple structures. Plantations along the edges of the National Forest are likely to be clearcut in the next ten to fifteen years. Many of these clearcuts would be on the windward side of the National Forest stands and would likely result in blowdown of trees along the edge of the National Forest. The extent of such blowdown cannot be predicted at this time due to many factors that effect when timber harvests and major rain events and wind storms occur. However, thinning of the National Forest stands three to five years prior to clearcuts is likely to help them develop some windfirmness and reduce the likelihood of the entire stand blowing down. If clearcutting occurs within three years after thinning, the National Forest stands are likely to experience extensive blowdown throughout the stand, further delaying development of late-successional forest characteristics in the project area. Since management of Bureau of Land Management stands is also guided by the Northwest Forest Plan, treatment of those stands could further speed development of large blocks of latesuccessional habitat within the vicinity of this project. Two recent thinning projects have been completed south of the Salmon River, adjacent to this project area. Minski Thin treated 315 acres to the northeast and east of the Schooner-Rock Project area. Morton Thin treated 367 acres north of the project area. Both commercially thinned young, managed stands to enhance the development of late-successional forest habitat. Over time these projects should develop into large, contiguous blocks of late-successional habitat at the landscape scale. PAST AND REASONABLY FORSEEABLE ACTIONS Past Actions Figure 7. Past Actions within the Project Boundary. Years Type of Activity Acres Project Name Comments Even-age Regeneration Harvesting 3,014 Numerous Timber Sales Sold on NFS Lands in Project Area Establishment of Douglas-fir plantations 3,014 Numerous NFS Lands in Project Area Non-Commercial Thinning 2,227 Numerous NFS Lands in Project Area Commercial Thinning 588 Schooner Sails, Rottweiler, Key Horse, Odell, & 6 Timber Sales Sold on NFS Lands in Project Area Windjammer Thinning Timber Sales Riparian Planting 5 Schooner Creek Riparian Planting Schooner Creek near the South Fork Even-aged Forest Management Unknown on Private Lands Forest Management on State Unknown Lands Forest Management on BLM Lands Unknown 16

17 Reasonably Foreseeable Actions Figure 8. Ongoing and Reasonably Foreseeable Activities within the Project Boundary. Activity Description Commercial Harvest Even-aged Forest Management on adjacent Private Lands Commercial Harvest Forest Management on BLM Lands Non-commercial thinning Approximately 588 acres of Forest Service lands in the project area are predicted to thinning between 2020 and SILVICULTURAL FINDINGS OF COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND POLICY The Schooner-Rock Restoration Project environmental analysis and silvicultural prescription are consistent with the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 and the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA) as follows: Timber Harvest [36 CFR 219.8(e)]: 1. Timber harvest would occur on lands suited for timber production or would occur in areas where timber harvest is permitted and is necessary to help achieve other resource management objectives; and Timber harvest is required in all harvested areas to improve habitat for latesuccessional and old-growth related species consistent with the Forest Plan as amended by the Northwest Forest Plan. 2. Silvicultural treatments are consistent with the Forest Plan. Commercial thinning and under-burning treatments are consistent with management direction to improve habitat for late-successional and old-growth related species consistent with the Forest Plan as amended by the Northwest Forest Plan. Multiple Use and Sustained Yield [NFMA Sec. 6(e)(1)]:... all forested lands in the National Forest System shall be maintained in appropriate forest cover with species of trees, degree of stocking, rate of growth, and conditions of stand designed to secure the maximum benefits of multiple use sustained yield management in accordance with land management plans. Silvicultural prescriptions for the Schooner-Rock Restoration Project are designed to improve species mix, maintain the appropriate degree of stocking, increase growth rates on the residual trees, and enhance development of late successional forest characteristics in accordance with the Siuslaw National Forest Land Management Plan.... provide for multiple use and sustained yield of products and services obtained therefrom... and in particular, include coordination of outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, wildlife and fish, and wilderness.... Silvicultural prescriptions for this project are designed to accelerate the development of late successional forest habitat for wildlife and fish, while providing forest products to support local communities. Prescriptions were coordinated with outdoor recreation, timber, botany, watershed, wildlife, and fish programs to provide for multiple use. Timber Harvest [16 U.S.C (g)(3)(e)]: 1. Soil, slope, or other watershed conditions will not be irreversibly damaged; 17

18 See the Schooner-Rock Restoration Project Hydrology and Soils specialist reports. 2. There is assurance that the lands can be adequately restocked within five years after final regeneration harvest. This project does not cut any trees to achieve timber production objectives and is exempt from the five year regeneration requirement. Silvicultural prescriptions for this project would not add to the reforestation backlog. 3. Streams, streambanks, shorelines, lakes, wetlands, and other bodies of water are protected from detrimental changes in water temperatures, blockages of water courses, and deposits of sediment where harvests are likely to seriously and adversely affect water conditions or fish habitat. See the Schooner-Rock Restoration Project Hydrology and Fisheries specialist reports. 4. The harvesting system to be used was not selected primarily because it will give the greatest dollar return or the greatest unit output of timber. Schooner-Rock Restoration Project harvest systems were selected to meet commercial thinning objectives while protecting wildlife and fish habitat, and water quality see Logging Systems Analysis; Wildlife, Fisheries, and Hydrology and Soils specialists reports; and Roads Analysis. Even-aged Regeneration Harvests [16 U.S.C (g)(3)(f)]: No even-aged regeneration harvests are prescribed for this project. Culmination of Mean Annual Increment [16 U.S.C (m)]: 1. Stands of trees harvested have generally reached the culmination of mean annual increment of growth (CMAI). This project is exempt from this requirement as harvesting is done for wildlife habitat [16 U.S.C (m) (2)] 18