Antler Salvage - Post-fire Logging Review of Science

Transcription

1 Antler Salvage - Post-fire Logging Review of Science Comments received on the predecisional Environmental Assessment highlight the controversial nature of fire salvage projects. This section attempts to show how the Antler Salvage Project design and analysis has taken into consideration relevant science and opinion papers regarding the potential impacts of post-fire salvage logging. Hutto, R. L The composition of bird communities following stand-replacement fires in northern Rocky Mountain (U.S.A.) conifer forests. Conservation Biology 9: This paper points out the importance of fire as a natural process especially in respect to certain bird species. Antler Salvage will not eliminate future wildfires or change Forest Service policy regarding wildfire management. Hutto recommends that public land managers leave an adequate amount of standing, dead trees after a fire because of the species that depend on that forest element. In the summer of 2006 fire burned 68,693 acres on or adjacent to the Nez Perce National Forest, with about 57,700 acres on the forest. The Black Butte wildfire burned 20,909 acres of the 33,400 fire perimeter with low to high fire severity creating future early seral vegetation on the Nez Perce National Forests. Antler Salvage is the only salvage activity planned within the Black Butte wildfire on Federal lands. Antler Salvage Project follows Hutto s recommendation by only treating approximately.02% of the 33,400 burned area on Federal lands. 57,000 acres would remain untreated (95%). Antler salvage will treat approximately 2% of the Black Butte fire on the Nez Perce National Forest. Within the Antler project area (1042 acres) was burned at various fire severities (high acres; moderate 300; low 341; unburned 1943 acres). Salvage harvest will facilitate stand initiation of early seral stands on approximately 626 burned acres. Approximately 1074 acres of project area has been previously entered by past harvest, and only a small portion will be treated with this salvage. Any area that exceeded forest plan standard for soils was excluded from harvest. Analysis in the Wildlife report considered the amount of area burned by the Black Butte fire, past fires, past harvest and proposed harvest (see project file). Appendix B - Page 1 of 9

2 Lindenmayer, D. B., D. R. Foster, J. F. Franklin, M. L. Hunter, R. F. Noss, F. A. Schmiegelow, D. Perry Salvage harvesting policies after natural disturbance. Science, Vol. 303(27) February This paper discusses the importance of post-disturbance areas as biological legacies, providing habitat for cavity-nesting birds and mammals, insects specifically adapted to post-fire forests, and bryoflora that are closely associated with charred logs. The design of the Antler Salvage takes into consideration the importance of retaining post-fire forest habitat only treating 0.02% of the Black Butte fire by leaving standing, dead or mixed mortality forest and grasslands. Within the project area, approximately 626 acres would be treated and live trees/snags and would be retained as specified in Mitigation Measures: WL-1 (see Environmental Assessment). Project design therefore provides wood products to the regional economy while retaining post-fire habitat for those species that utilize such forests. The paper also discusses negative impacts to forest regeneration due to salvage logging in Southeast Asia. This type of impact is not expected in the Antler Salvage as evidenced by regeneration of past fires directly adjacent to the project area in the Scott fire, as well as throughout the Nez Perce National Forest. The only fire salvage project recently completed on the Nez Perce Forest was the Burnt Flats project in the year 2002, on approximately 800 acres. Much of the cited literature in this paper is specific to Australia, Southeast Asia, and the rain forest, and not specific to the Pacific Northwest, much less the Nez Perce National Forest. The recommendations to plan ahead to maintain some reserves of post-fire habitat and guide the timing and intensity of salvage harvesting are relevant, especially to Forest Plan revisions. Analysis in the Wildlife report considered the amount of area burned by the Black Butte fire, past fires, past harvest and proposed harvest (see project file). Appendix B - Page 2 of 9

3 Donato, D. C., J. B. Fontaine, J. L. Campbell, W. D. Robinson, J. B. Kauffman, and B. E. Law Post-wildfire logging hinders regeneration and increases fire risk. Science Express. This paper discusses the effects of salvage logging on regeneration of trees after the Biscuit Fire in Oregon, and concludes that post-fire logging may conflict with ecosystem recovery goals. The paper notes that the Biscuit Fire area has a history of regeneration problems. Conversely, the Antler Salvage area has no such history. Much of the area that was burnt in the Scott fire had been recently certified just prior to the fire. The adjacent other past harvest had been harvested and had good regenerated within the last 30 years. Post-fire natural regeneration may be impacted by subsequent salvage harvesting; however post-fire regeneration on the Nez Perce National Forest is typically so dense as to create stagnant pole timber stands in the future in the absence of thinning or other intermediate disturbance process. A reduction in the quantity or density of post-fire regeneration would not necessarily result in failing to meet regeneration objectives on the Nez Perce National Forest. The vegetation section of the project file discusses the desire for planting Whitebark pine (a species in decline) in the project area. DellaSala, D., J. R. Karr, T. Schoennagel, D. Perry, R. Noss, D. Lindenmayer, R. Beschta, R. Hutto, M. Swanson, J. Evans Post-fire logging debate ignores many issues. Science, Vol. 314(6) October 2006, pp This paper asserts that post-fire logging is not restoration, and salvage of overstory trees may cause negative impacts due to the loss of specialized habitat or biological legacies. Antler Salvage proposed action takes into consideration the need to retain a portion of the post-fire environment for those species that utilize such habitat and to retain biological legacies in a portion of the Black Butte fire area. Within the Black Butte Fire area, 33,400 acres were burned (Environmental Assessment). Antler salvage will treat approximately 2% of the Black Butte fire on the Nez Perce National Forest. Approximately 72% of the post-fire project area that had been previously unharvested will be retained as post-fire habitat reserves. This area will more than adequately maintain post-fire habitat as biological legacies and provide habitat fore species that utilize it. In addition, Antler Salvage project is not designed to restore the project area after fire. The project is designed to capture the economic value of dead and dying trees in a portion of the project area. Analysis in the Wildlife report considered the amount of area burned by the Black Butte fire, past fires, past harvest and proposed harvest (see project file). Appendix B - Page 3 of 9

4 USDA Forest Service. 2000a. Environmental effects of postfire logging: literature review and annotated bibliography. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-486. Wenatchee, WA. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. This paper summarizes the debate over post-fire salvage and restoration. It also provides a bibliography and review of the limited relevant science on the subject available in The authors conclude We are confident that most major studies published in the primary literature are presented here, and from this it is clear that information on the environmental effects of postfire logging is scanty at best. Some of the papers reviewed point to the need to retain at least portions of the post-fire environment and use caution to minimize impacts to post-fire soils and watersheds. This project will only treat 0.2 % of the Black Butte fire area. Antler Salvage project is designed to address these concerns and scientific uncertainties by harvesting a portion of the fire-killed trees, retaining 98% of the project area as post-fire habitat reserves, and utilizing design features to protect soil and water during the salvage process. Beschta, R., C. Frissell, R. Gresswell, R. Hauer, J. Karr, G. W. Minshall, D. Perry, J. Rhodes Wildfire and salvage logging: recommendations for ecologically sound postfire salvage management and other post-fire treatments on federal lands in the west. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. The authors of this paper, based on considerable academic experience, provide their opinions on the issue of burned area recovery and make general recommendations and principals under which any post-fire management, in their view, should be considered. This paper is not focused on specific ecological, social or economic characteristics of the Antler Salvage project area or specific goals or objectives of the Nez Perce National Forest Plan. An interdisciplinary team was assigned to determine specific actions to take in response to the Black Butte wildfire and presented the environmental effects analysis of Antler Salvage project to the Line Officer. These effects are summarized in the Environmental Assessment. This team represented resource specialists, including a wildlife biologist, fish biologist, hydrology and soils experts, silviculturist, and many others. These specialists are familiar with the project area and its resources and have a great deal of experience on the Nez Perce National Forest dealing with natural resource management. The team included specific design features and mitigation measures to protect resources in the project area from unacceptable levels of impact during the proposed salvage activities. These include use of skyline systems on steep ground, limiting skidding to designated trails only, implementation of BMP s, buffering streams with riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCA s) as directed by PACFISH, and many others. A full description of the project design criteria and mitigation measures are listed in the Chapter 2 of the Environmental Assessment. The potential for impacts on sensitive sites was an important consideration in planning Antler Salvage. Federal laws and regulations and the Nez Perce National Forest Plan provide authoritative direction to ensure that management activities on these sites do not result in unacceptable impacts to resource values. The design of this project meets regulatory requirements and is sensitive to Beschta et al. (1995) concerns about the ecologic vulnerability to logging damage of some burned landscapes. Appendix B - Page 4 of 9

5 We agree there is seldom an ecologic need for rapid intervention into a burned landscape. However, as stated above, the reason for logging soon is to recover as much wood product value as possible realizing that the value of fire-killed timber declines rapidly. It is well understood that logging can lead to increased erosion, loss of down wood, and other resource damage. However, the extent to which these effects occur depends upon a variety of factors such as specific site conditions, logging methods used, the extent of these activities, and their duration. In other words, not all logging has the same impact. The project proposal is designed to avoid or mitigate potential impacts of logging on this burned area. The following characteristics of the project proposal are responsive to the recommendations from Beschta and others (1995): Only about 0.2% of the total area burned is proposed for salvage logging on Federal Lands. Only 16% of the project area is proposed for salvage logging. The proposed temporary roads and landings would be decommissioned including recontouring following completion of logging. Best Management Practices will be used on all timber harvest and road management activities. BMPs will be monitored. Snags will be retain to meet forest plan standards (Mitigation Measures WL-1) tons per acre of course woody debris (CWD) will be retained except where less CWD exists. Other protective and restorative design features and mitigation are listed in the Environmental Assessment (EA) and predecisional EA you received. McIver and Star (2000) have reviewed available published literature on the effects of postfire logging operations. The few complete studies on watershed response suggest that effects depend on specific features of burned stands and the harvest methods used. The next three paragraphs summarize their findings. Stand characteristics that influence watershed response to logging include intensity of the burn, slope, and soil texture and composition. Erosion tended to be accelerated by increases in both burn intensity and slope angle. An important contributor to erosion was the combination of intense fire and coarse soils, because soil hydrophobic layers form most easily under these conditions. In general, erosion rates on logged areas were higher than unlogged control areas, although in some studies the woody residue from logging provided a mitigating effect. A main determinant of postfire erosion rates was logging method. Tractor skidding over bare ground created the highest percentage of soil disturbance (36%), followed by cable skidding (32%), tractor skidding over snow (9.9%), skyline (2.8%), and helicopter (0.7%). In general, disturbance from various logging systems in burned areas parallels that seen in unburned stands. Sediment yields from postfire logging were relatively short term in several studies (3 to 4 years to return to pretreatment levels), but elevated sediment levels were apparent for longer terms on some sites. McIver and Star (2000) felt literature on postfire logging effects was very limited. Many studies have not been replicated, discouraging the application of results beyond specific sites and conditions. Whether Appendix B - Page 5 of 9

6 local operations produce the effects seen in published studies depends on site and fire characteristics, manner of implementation, and mitigation effectiveness. Harvest effects of the proposed alternatives are expected to follow those seen in various published studies of burned and unburned area logging. Ground based logging is proposed for about 184 acres that are far beyond Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas as defined by Forest Plan Amendment 20. Implementation of the project proposal complies with the National Forest Management Act requirement to insure that timber will be harvested from National Forest System lands only where soil, slope, or other watershed conditions will not be irreversibly damaged. The project proposal is consistent with the Nez Perce Forest Plan standards for soil and watershed protection, and will not irreversibly damage soil, slope or watershed conditions. It also complies with Nez Perce Forest Plan standards to limit detrimental soil compaction to less than 20% of an activity area. Appendix B - Page 6 of 9

7 Beschta, R., J. Rhodes, J. B. Kauffman, R. Gresswell, G. W. Minshall, J. Karr, D. Perry, F. R. Hauer, C. Frissell Postfire management on forested public lands of the western united states. Conservation Biology, Vol. 18, No. 4, August 2004, pp This second report by Beschta and others discusses the adaptation of forests in the western United States to fire and the potential vulnerabilities of post-fire ecosystems to further disturbance. The authors go on to recommend post-fire restoration strategies. This paper discusses the subject matter in general terms and at a regional scale, and is not specific to the Antler Salvage Project. Antler Salvage project proposed action is not a restoration strategy for a fire-ravaged ecosystem. Fire is a natural process on the landscapes of the Nez Perce National Forests. Post-fire rehabilitation efforts were addressed during the Burned Area Emergency Rehab (BAER) response, and included laying fire lines back to natural slope and distributing logs and limbs across to disperse flows of water naturally; replacement of undersized culverts on fire area roads; seeding of exposed soil with native or approved non-native species; and other activities to reduce the impact of fire suppression activities on the landscape (BAER report in project file). The Nez Perce National Forest also has a social landscape including timber dependant economies. It is appropriate in this ecological and social landscape to salvage a portion of the fire-killed timber in a manner that protects resource values, while leaving a portion to provide habitat and processes that naturally occur after fire. Antler Salvage does this through salvaging only 16% of the project area and leaving 98% of the fire area for postfire reserves on Federal lands. Design features and mitigation measures are described in EA and throughout the effects analysis reports. These measures protect soil, water, guard against weed infestations and much more. Temporary roads and landings will be decommissioned. The Forest is balancing the need to improve watershed conditions in and downstream of the project area with the potential for economic recovery of burned timber. Karr, J., J. Rhodes, G. Minshall, F. Hauer, R. Beschta, C. Frissell, D. Perry The Effects of Posfire Salvage Logging on Aquatic Ecosystems in the American West. BioScience 54: This reference makes recommendations for post-fire salvage logging based on other papers, such as Beschta et al 1994, with a focus on possible impacts to aquatic ecosystems from post-fire logging. The Interdisciplinary Team assigned to the project listed specific design features and mitigation measures to protect resources including aquatic ecosystems. Antler Salvage project area has no fish-bearing streams. Implementation of the Antler Salvage will include use of PACFISH RHCA buffers, and will result in improvements to roads in the project area. Appendix B - Page 7 of 9

8 Burned trees will be retained over the majority (98% of Federal lands) of the Black Butte fire area in habitat reserves. Burned trees will also be retain over 84% of the Antler Salvage project area. Soil disturbance in the project area has been minimized and meets Forest Plan soil quality standards. No Inventoried Roadless Areas exist within the project area. Areas with steep slopes would be logged using skyline yarding systems. Temporary roads constructed to access harvest units would be decommissioned after harvesting is completed. Thus, Antler Salvage proposed action considers concerns raised in the Karr paper, and reduces these impacts to the extent practical while salvaging timber on a small portion of the Black Butte fire area. Hutto, R Post-fire logging is bad for forests and wildlife. Guest column by Dr. Richard L. Hutto. Seattle Times, Thursday, December 8, This opinion piece was created in response to proposed legislation to speed fire salvage. The response to the Hutto paper above is also responsive to the points made in this paper. Karr, J Nature doesn t benefit from logging fire-damaged lands. Guest column by James R. Karr. Tacoma News Tribune, December 6, Many of the issues raised by this opinion piece are addressed above. In addition, Antler Salvage project does not propose to restore the fire area. The project proposes to capture the economic value of dying trees on a small portion of the burned area on the Nez Perce National Forest. Ingalsbee, T Collateral Damage: The environmental effects of firefighting. The 2002 Biscuit Fire Suppression Actions and Impacts. Western Fire Ecology Center and American Lands Alliance, May This paper discusses the impacts of fire fighting in the context of the Biscuit Fire in southwest Oregon. These impacts are reviewed from the context of environmental impacts without consideration for public or firefighter safety. This view is not one the Forest Service can afford to take. While consideration and minimization of environmental impacts is important in fire fighting, ultimately public safety and potential loss of life and property determine interagency response to any fire. The Black Butte Fire suppression effort implemented important environmental protection measures such as rehabilitating fire lines with erosion control measures such as water barring and placement of woody debris to disperse overland flow. Safety zones were similarly rehabilitated by the fire team. Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) is the process of analyzing the post-fire suppression situation in terms of resource impacts, and completing necessary rehabilitation as soon as possible. The complete description of Black Butte Fire BAER activities is included in the project file. Such rehabilitation measures have been used and monitored for effectiveness for many years throughout the Region and have been shown to be effective. The Bitterroot National Forest Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Report for Fiscal Year 2004 (pages 89-91) Appendix B - Page 8 of 9

9 describes verbally and through photographs the effectiveness of fire line rehabilitation. The Black Butte Fire rehabilitation efforts are highly likely to be similarly successful. Cumulative effects of the fire suppression activity, the rehabilitation effort, and the proposed timber harvest have been considered in the effects analysis and are displayed in each resource section and in the cumulative section of the project file. Appendix B - Page 9 of 9