Nautilus Project. Final Environmental Impact Statement. Appendix B. Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy

Transcription

1 Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy

2 This page intentionally left blank. Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 2

3 The following findings are made based on the environmental analysis and the silvicultural prescription for the 35,603 acres on National Forest System (NFS) land in the Nautilus project area. Best Science Findings While conducting my analysis for the I reviewed information from the following sources: Black Hills National Forest FY2007 Monitoring Report (USDA Forest Service 2008) Phase II Amendment FEIS, applicable supporting documents, and applicable literature references (USDA Forest Service 2005a) Applicable research which I believe represents a reasonable cross section of the total range available, including responsible opposing views, sufficient to professionally evaluate the effects of this proposal (see Nautilus Silviculture Report Bibliography) In considering these sources I believe I have considered the best science available to me. Consistency [16 USC 1604(i)]: 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. Table B 1. Suitability summary (Acres) Harvest on Suitable Timber Production (Timber Component 5xx or 6xx) 28,640 acres Harvest Permitted for Multiple Use Objectives (Timber Component 8xx) 5,659 acres Timber harvest is proposed on lands classified as not suited for timber production. Pine removal will occur in hardwood stands where pine has invaded to conserve existing hardwood communities and restore historic hardwood communities (Forest Plan objective 201). Existing meadows and some historic meadows will be restored through the removal of pine from within those sites (Forest Plan objective 205). Identified old growth stands may be treated to adjust stocking. These treatments are being performed to serve multiple use objectives and provide diversity and browse for wildlife and cattle and are not required to meet Culmination of Mean Annual Increment () The following are meadows where pine removal will occur to retain the meadow characteristics: Table B 2. Meadow Enhancement Treatments Stand Number Acres Cover Type Proposed Treatment GRA ME/PCT/Rx GRA ME/PCT/Rx GRA ME/PCT/Rx GRA ME/PCT/Rx GRA ME/PCT/Rx GRA ME/PCT/Rx Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 3

4 GRA ME/PCT/Rx GRA ME/PCT/Rx GRA ME/PCT/Rx GRA ME/PCT/Rx GRA ME/PCT/Rx GRA ME/PCT/Rx GRA ME/PCT/Rx GRA ME/Rx GRA ME/Rx GRA ME/PCT/Rx The following stands have a ponderosa pine cover type where pine removal will occur and the cover type will change to grass. In addition the following stands should have the timber component eliminated. Table B 3. Stands to be Converted from Ponderosa Pine to Grass Cover Type Current Cover Stand Number Acres Type Proposed Treatment TPP ME/PCT/Rx TPP ME/PCT/Rx TPP ME/PCT/Rx TPP ME/PCT/Rx Silvicultural treatments are consistent with the Forest Plan. The proposed treatments in the action alternative comply with the Forest Plan Acceptable Silvicultural Systems (USDA Forest Service 2005c), including the evenaged system of shelterwood harvest and the uneven aged system of selection cutting. Even aged regeneration harvests are appropriate to meet the objectives and requirements of the Forest Plan. Specific desired conditions include a better balance of structural stages, improved age class distribution, and adequate restocking. There are also some stands that would be managed using uneven aged systems. Forest Plan standard 2408a states that both even aged and uneven aged management systems can be used and applied at scales ranging from a few acres to many hundreds of acres (USDA Forest Service 2005c). Prescriptions were developed to achieve Forest Plan Goal 10: Establish and maintain a mosaic of vegetation conditions to reduce occurrences of catastrophic fire, insect, and disease events, and facilitate insect and disease management and firefighting capability (USDA Forest Service 2005c). In addition, they were designed to comply with the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003 (HR 1904) and other National level initiatives and policy that emphasize reducing the probability and occurrence of severe wildfire in fire adapted ecosystems, especially near at risk communities (ARC) and in the wildland urban interface (WUI). Timber Harvest [16 USC 1604(g)(3)(E)] Soil, slope, or other watershed conditions will not be irreversibly damaged (Dempsey 2010, Jons 2010). There is assurance that the lands can be adequately restocked within five years after final regeneration harvest. Adequate stocking is 150 conifer seedlings per acre, assuming no intermediate treatments; where intermediate treatments will be done, 300 conifer seedlings per acre are required. Research and experience indicate the shelterwood method should be the primary regeneration method and is ideally suited and widely applicable in the Black Hills (USDA FS Research Paper RM 124, 6/74). It is a Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 4

5 scientifically sound method of regeneration for ponderosa pine as described in Agriculture Handbook #445 (revised 12/83) pages 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 (Dempsey 2010, Jons 2010). 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. Proposed systems for the Nautilus project area include shelterwood and uneven aged systems that are acceptable systems under the Forest Plan. Unevenaged systems move toward specific habitat requirements (uneven stand structure). The shelterwood system is proposed on extensive areas in the proposed action. Research (Shepperd 2002) and past experience has shown the shelterwood method to be the most reliable in managing the Black Hills. Even aged Regeneration Harvests [16 USC 1604(g)(3)(F)] Shelterwood regeneration harvests are appropriate to meeting the objectives and requirements of the Forest Plan. Shelterwood overstory removals will be used as specified in the Phase II Amendment FEIS (USDA Forest Service 2005a). An interdisciplinary review was completed and the potential environmental, biological, aesthetic, engineering, and economic impacts were assessed and the cutting methods are consistent with the multiple use objectives of the project area as specified in the Nautilus EIS. Cut blocks, patches, or strips are shaped and blended to the extent practicable with the natural terrain. Harvest will be consistent with the protection of soil, watershed, fish, wildlife, recreation, aesthetic resources, cultural and historic resources, and the regeneration of timber resources. Culmination of Mean Annual Increment [16 USC 1604(m)] Culmination of Mean Annual Increment () occurs when the periodic annual increment exceeds mean annual increment. Determination of The stands or portions of stands receiving shelterwood regeneration harvest treatments have generally reached the. Per the Forest Plan, stands which have reached an age of 120 years have reached. For this project area, stands which have met the requirement are proposed for a seed cut or overstory removal. It should be noted that some of these stands total age is less than 120 years but larger trees within that stand have reached 120 years; therefore, is met in these stands. Silvicultural prescriptions were developed while considering NFMA requirements about the timing of harvests. 16 USC 1604(i) states "stands of trees scheduled to be harvested during the planning period shall generally have reached culmination of mean annual increment of growth". The calculation of is based on the total amount of biomass accumulated in a stand to a specific date divided by age. Because stand age must be known, can only be calculated for even aged or multi aged stands, but not uneven aged stands. is calculated at the stand level, and not on individual trees. Even aged harvests include shelterwood harvests. It is the accepted practice in the forestry profession to apply the standard to the timing of the regeneration step of even aged harvests. For a two step shelterwood, Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 5

6 the determination is made at the seed step, and not the overstory removal step. 16 USC 1604(i) allows cultural practices or stand tending, such as commercial or pre commercial thinning, to occur prior to. It also allows harvest to occur prior to "if it is reasonable to expect that overall multiple use objectives would be better attained." Therefore, it doesn't apply to the clearcuts and seed cuts of conifers in the Black Hills to benefit species, provide diversity, recreation, scenic variety or forage (these exceptions are disclosed and decided upon at the project level). It also doesn't apply for non commercial treatment of hardwoods. Although it is possible to approximate at the planning level (Forest wide) for the purpose of establishing a rotation age, this is not be confused with the stand requirement, which is the only requirement established by law, and which is actually measured/calculated on a stand basis. Because of the complexities of the calculation, can be accurately determined only at the project level. Although not legally required, for the purposes of establishing general rotation ages in Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) simulations, and to assure that the Forest Plan can be implemented, an analysis of approximate ranges of in the Black Hills was made. Although the determination is not straightforward, timber harvests used to implement the Forest Plan will generally be able to meet the legal requirement. Growth curves developed for FVS are not appropriate for determining. The curves include the growth of smaller aged cohorts of the strata. They also do not take into account the volume of trees that have been harvested in previous entries. The age at will vary depending on site quality, forest type, management intensities and utilization standards, but various analyses indicate that it generally will occur for most stands between 80 and 120 years for conifer sawtimber in the Black Hills. Timing of regeneration harvests for stands specified in FVS simulations fall within or exceed this range. An analysis of the truly even aged Stage I plots (4 out of 257 sawtimber and 5 out of 56 pole plots) shows that the varied between 88 and 136 years with an average of 108 years. The silvicultural system most commonly used for ponderosa pine in the Black Hills is the shelterwood system, which is an even aged system and an acceptable system as specified in the Phase II FEIS (USDA Forest Service 2005a). Most of the overstory removal cuts are in multi aged stands or stands that have advanced regeneration. These treatments can also be considered as liberation cuts or stand improvements cuts. The stands in Table B 4 are proposed for regeneration or removal cuts in Alternative B. OSR = Overstory Removal ( met) SC = Seed Cut or Seed Tree Harvest ( met) All stands considered met either the exception to the requirement (multiple use objective) or the requirement for itself. Table B 4. Overstory and Seed Cut Treatments Proposed in Alternative B OSR/SC 75 Meets Requirement OSR/SC/PCT/Rx 80 SS needs SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/HE/PCT/Rx 75 SS needs SC30/ITS/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 6

7 OSR/PCT/Rx 75 Meets Requirement SC30/HE/PCT/Rx 80 SS needs OSR/PCT 80 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/CT40/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement SC30/HE/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs SC30/HE/PCT/Rx 80 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs SC30/ITS/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs OSR/PCT 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 SS needs OSR/HE/PCT 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR 75 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement SC30/HE/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 7

8 SC30/HE/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/ITS/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/SC/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT 100 Meets Requirement OSR/SC/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR 85 Meets Requirement OSR 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC Meets Requirement OSR 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 8

9 OSR/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 105 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 75 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR 80 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/SC/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/ITS/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs OSR/SC/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs SC30/HE/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs SC30/HE/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR 100 Meets Requirement OSR/SC/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 110 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 110 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 9

10 OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/SC/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/HE/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/ITS/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT 85 Meets Requirement OSR/SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/ITS/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 10

11 OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/CT40/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/SC/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/SC/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/SC/HE/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement OSR 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 11

12 OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/PCT 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/SC/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/ITS/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/HE/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/SC/PCT 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/ITS/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/SC/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 12

13 SC30/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement SC30/HE/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 75 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 105 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 13

14 OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs OSR/PCT 85 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 105 SS needs OSR/PCT 85 Meets Requirement SC30/HE/PCT 80 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT 100 SS needs OSR/PCT 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 SS needs OSR/PCT 85 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/CT40/PCT 85 Meets Requirement SC30 80 SS needs SC30/PCT 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement OSR/HE/PCT/Rx 55 Meets Requirement OSR/SC/PCT 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT 100 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT 80 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT 85 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT 85 SS needs OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/SC30/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement OSR/CT60/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement SC30/HE/PCT 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement SC30/PCT 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT 80 Meets Requirement OSR/PCT/Rx 80 Meets Requirement Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B 14

15 OSR/PCT/Rx 85 Meets Requirement Findings prepared and recommended by: Date:Y Findings accepted by: (14. District Ranger (Line Officer Title) Date: 1-091W Discussion and Certification The age at will vary depending on site quality, forest type, management intensities and utilization standards, but various analyses indicate that it generally will occur for most stands between 80 and 120 years for conifer sawtimber in the Black Hills. Timing of regeneration harvests for stands specified in FVS simulations fall within or exceed this range. Using the threshold of 120 years of age for (based on the Forest Plan) there are 161 sites within the suitable timber base that have exceeded that threshold. Many of the sites are multi-storied or patchy containing components (overstory, understory, inclusions etc.) that are individually either below or above 120 year old threshold (). When inventoried these components are all combined and an average age for the stand is computed. Since the age for the stand is an average of the age of each of its components, the stand average may fall above or below the age of each of its components. Although it is difficult to calculate the of the components of a stand, portions receiving regeneration treatments are similar to other even-aged mature stands in the area that are at and therefore have reached. The recommended treatments will remove (or regenerate in the case of inclusions) those components that show similarities with stands known to be at or beyond and manage those components below with intermediate treatments (i.e. pre-commercial thinning, intermediate thinning). I certify the stands receiving harvest treatments that are not exceptions to 16 USC 1604(i) have met the culmination of mean annual increment. Discussions of and exceptions to requirements can be found in the silviculture 'Findings' report or Calculations Table. Amy Haas Vegetation Management Specialist Appendix B Silvicultural Findings of Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policy B-15

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