PROPOSED ACTION Rancheria Forest Restoration Project

Transcription

1 PROPOSED ACTION Rancheria Forest Restoration Project USDA Forest Service Sequoia National Forest Kern River Ranger District P.O. Box Whitney Road Kernville, CA Contact: Penelope Shibley, District Planner May 5, 2011

2

3 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action Introduction The Sequoia National Forest, Kern River Ranger District is proposing the Rancheria Forest Restoration Project (Rancheria Project) to provide ecological restoration and restore resilience to National Forest System (NFS) lands near Alta Sierra in the southern Sierra Nevada. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service has prepared this proposed action in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant federal and state laws and regulations. This public scoping of proposed actions is part of the site-specific environmental analysis for the project. Location The Kern River Ranger District of the Sequoia National Forest is proposing ecological restoration treatments on 5,985 acres of National Forest system lands near Rancheria Road in the Greenhorn Mountains. The project area is approximately six air miles west of Isabella Lake, Kern County, California, in Townships 25, 26, and 27 South and Ranges 31 and 32 East, Mount Diablo Base and Meridian (MDB&M). The Rancheria project as proposed is located primarily along the ridgeline of the Greenhorn Mountains adjacent to Rancheria Road from Shirley Peak to Davis Flat (see Map 1). The project area includes both general second-growth forest areas and pine plantations. Project History The Greenhorn Mountains were extensively logged of large Ponderosa and Jeffrey Pine (Pinus ponderosa and P. jeffreyi) and black oaks (Quercus kelloggii) around the mid- 1800s, in connection with development of local mining, agriculture, tourism and ranching and the town of Bakersfield. Combined with a 100-year policy of fire suppression, the result has been a dense second-growth forest overstocked with trees that are smaller, more uniform and of different species composition than were historically present, leaving habitat at risk of drought, disease and stand-replacing wildfire (see photo 1). The Rancheria project is proposed to be located in the same general area as a previous project, the Sawmill Fuels Reduction Project (Sawmill). Sawmill was originally approved at this site in 2005 but was never implemented. After approval, the Sawmill project was appealed and the approval was reversed, primarily due to concerns over cumulative impacts to wildlife. Rancheria Forest Restoration Project Page 3

4 While located in the same general area, the purpose and need and forest treatment prescriptions for Rancheria will be different from Sawmill. This is, in part, because Forest Service management directives have evolved over time to emphasize ecological restoration for which there is substantial support in recent research in California. In addition, meetings of the Sawmill Project Planning Forum in 2010 provided additional input from stakeholders, representing diverse interest groups such as environmental organizations, local government, wildlife management, air quality, forestry and timber industries, tribal members and landowners. The collaborative process identified many needs, but varied over too large an area to be addressed all as one project or in one NEPA document. However, the Rancheria Project is intended to respond to the concerns of the collaborative by implementing ecological restoration over a significant area, in priority treatment locations. The Rancheria Project footprint has been modified from the previous Sawmill Project to address these additional concerns. Portions of the Greenhorn South Plantations are included in the project treatment area. Also, a number of other current and proposed projects complement the Rancheria project, on nearby federal and private land, including the Red Mountain Plantation Thinning, Ice and Alta Sierra Fuels Reduction projects. The Kern River Valley Fire Safe Council has completed the Alta Sierra Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which identifies Rancheria Road as secondary community escape route. The Fire Safe Council updates this Plan annually, in collaboration with Sequoia National Forest, Kern County, the Bureau of Land Management, and private property owners and lists numerous ongoing and proposed fuels treatment projects in the Alta Sierra area (see Map 2). Existing and Desired Conditions Existing Conditions Second-growth general forests in the Rancheria project area are now overstocked with middle-aged trees and dominated by shade-tolerant white fir (Abies concolor) and incense cedar (Libocedrus decurrens). Although they are native to the area, this species composition is less resilient and less adapted to fire than the pine-black oak dominated forest ecosystem historically found in the area. (While there are giant sequoia trees [Sequoia gigantea] within other areas of the Forest, they are not a dominant species within the project area.) While at one time fire intervals are estimated to have returned to this area every 5-35 years, there has been a history of fire suppression in the area in the last 100 years. In addition, the average size of fire in the southern Sierra Nevada has increased from 750 to 1100 acres in the past decade; and as a result there have been larger patches of infrequent, hotter, uncharacteristically large fire, as compared to historic conditions, which had smaller, more frequent fires. The Fire Regime Condition Class for the project area is listed as class 3, which represents the category most unstable, unsustainable, and susceptible to damage. In addition, the Fire Return Interval Departure (FRID) is extreme, meaning that Rancheria Forest Restoration Project Page 4

5 more than five fire cycles have been missed. Fuels build-up is accumulating in the form of dense crown conditions, small diameter trees growing into the overstory, and an increase in dead and down trees. Extensive Jeffrey and ponderosa pine plantations were planted following several large scale, standreplacing fires in the 1970 s and 1980 s. These plantations are even-aged stands with trees per acre. Currently many stands exhibit overstocked conditions with low vigor. Overstocking stresses trees and inhibits growth by creating competition for light, water, and nutrients. Some stands are showing pockets of bark beetle activity and recent tree mortality (see photo 2). Photo 1- Historic open, large forests dominated by large pines, with openings and dense pockets in the Greenhorn Mountains early 1900 s (note size of vehicle compared to trees) Courtesy Kern County Museum-used by permission Photo 2- Extreme fuel loading showing the worst conditions in the Greenhorns today: smaller, denser stands dominated by incense cedar and fir Portions of the Rancheria project are within a Wildland Urban Interface Threat zone, and Rancheria Road has been identified as a Secondary Escape route in the Alta Sierra Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The Rancheria project area represents a key ridgetop location which currently lacks adequate defense lines should a wildfire occur. Rancheria Forest Restoration Project Page 5

6 Other land allocations within the project area include a Condor Roost Area, and California spotted owl and goshawk Protected Activity Centers and associated Home Range Core Areas. The entire area is within the Southern Sierra Fisher Conservation Area. The project area is believed to represent the southernmost range of the Pacific Fisher, a candidate for the endangered species list. These sensitive species habitats are at risk from uncharacteristically large, stand-replacing wildfire. Desired Condition Ecological restoration of forest stands would result in the following conditions, as consistent with the desired conditions provided in the Sequoia National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) as amended by the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment, Record of Decision, (SNFPA ROD 2004): A greater diversity in forest age, density, and stand structure. Forest structure and function would more closely resemble presettlement conditions, with a dominance of large trees with a desired condition of trees per acre. This would include a mosaic of openings, thickets, small trees and seedlings. Restoration treatments would allocate growing space consistent with historical stand structures. Tree species composition will be modified to favor oaks and pines over incense cedar and white fir. Diversity in plant size, type, and density will vary by aspect, slope position, site productivity, tree species, and unusual micro-site conditions. The result will be a lower risk of mortality from drought or pest outbreaks. Modified fuel conditions within the project area would reduce wildfire threat. This includes: o The condition of surface fuels (on the ground flammable material) and ladder fuel (shrubs, brush, and smaller trees that could transfer fire into the canopy of larger trees) would be such that crown fire ignition, if it occurs, will be discontinuous. o The openness and discontinuity of crown fuels, both horizontally and vertically, would result in very low probability of sustained crown fire (SNFPA ROD, page 40). Specifically for this project area this would equate to surface fuels ranging from 5 to 15 tons per acre with increased effectiveness of fire personnel and equipment to control and manage wildfire. o Reduced risk of wildfire to communities with improved safety of escape along Rancheria Road, and safer access for fire personnel and equipment. o Return of historic fire regime where possible, either through prescribed burning or managed wildfire. o Reduced risk to wildlife habitat with reduced risk of uncharacteristically large, standreplacing fires. Improved wildlife habitat. More suitable habitat would be created for resting, roosting, denning and nesting for sensitive, forest-dependent wildlife species, including the Pacific Fisher, Spotted Owl, California Condor and Goshawk. For example, large trees surrounded by multiple story canopy layers would provide cover while small forest openings would improve foraging. Dead Rancheria Forest Restoration Project Page 6

7 trees, both standing and fallen, would meet habitat needs of old-forest-associated species. In this second-growth forest, suitable wildlife habitat is now limited by small size of trees and fragmentation of habitat due to previous large-scale fires and can be improved by restoration of late successional conditions. Purpose and Need There are multiple purposes for this project, with an overall need for ecological restoration to restore a healthy, diverse, forest ecosystem that is resilient to the effects of wildfire, and other threats, and that is environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. More specifically, the project should: Protect people and property from the effects of wildfire. Existing fuel loadings and dense conifer stands within the project area create the potential for uncontrolled wildfire to spread rapidly within the forest, particularly during dry, windy summer conditions. Photo 3. Completed treatment showing an example of one type of ecological restoration accomplished in Alta Sierra within the Ice Project which have been 1) helicopter logged 2) pre-commercially thinned 3) piled and burned, then 4) underburned. Rancheria Road, pictured, is a designated escape route in the Alta Sierra Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Without treatment, hazardous fuels will increase annually, adding to an already high risk for uncharacteristically severe wildfire within the forest. This risk threatens not only the forest ecosystem but Rancheria Forest Restoration Project Page 7

8 also surrounding communities, including Alta Sierra and Slick Rock to the north, and Pala Ranches, Wagy Flat, Sawmill and Wofford Heights to the east. In addition, fire personnel are at serious risk due to the lack of fuel breaks or safe access routes. The Kern River Valley Fire Safe Council has prepared the Alta Sierra Community Wildfire Protection Plan (available online at that identifies Rancheria Road as a secondary escape route for the Alta Sierra Community, which is located two miles north of the Rancheria project. The Rancheria project extends seven miles along Rancheria road, and could serve as a fuel break, and provide safety zones, as well as safe egress for occupants of 383 homes in Alta Sierra. It provides key locations for strategic fire control for defense in the event of wildfire or for management of prescribed burns. Photo 4: Example of an area of uncharacteristically severe, stand-replacing fire which resulted in thousands of acres of tree mortality in 2002 on the Kern River Ranger District, fragmenting habitat, burning structures, and costing over 59 million dollars for suppression and rehabilitation (McNally Fire) The Rancheria project is partly within a WUI threat zone and adjoins a number of other fuels reduction projects, such as the partially completed Ice project (see photo 3 and Map 2) The Ice project surrounds Alta Sierra and adjoins the Rancheria project on the north. The Rancheria project can reduce the potential for catastrophic loss of habitat, property or human life. Reduced wildfire hazard can also save federal, state, and local resources needed to suppress wildfire, making staffing and funding available for more productive uses. Protect and enhance ecosystems and wildlife habitat, provide protection from both uncharacteristically Rancheria Forest Restoration Project Page 8

9 severe wildfire, and re-introduce a natural fire regime. The risk of uncharacteristically severe wildfire poses an immediate and imminent threat to the long-term protection of important habitat of wildlife such as Pacific fisher (Martes pennanti) and California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) due to the extreme fuel loadings. For the Pacific fisher, this threat can only be reduced by decreasing the quantity and distribution of fuels (Spencer et al. 2008); these treatments must be analyzed and implemented carefully, as the treatments also modify habitat for these species that are dependent upon mature conifer forests. Initial treatments of mechanical thinning and/or prescribed burning can allow for the safe re-introduction of controlled fire. The multiple benefits include re-establishment of a natural fire regime that can help retain a healthy, resilient and safe forest structure, and provide an economical means of forest management. In addition, watersheds benefit by avoiding the severe erosion and other soil impacts that often follows a severe wildfire. Historical resources and other cultural values, such as traditional native plants, are also at reduced risk. Air quality also benefits from reduced incidence of uncontrolled wildfire. Prepare economical, efficient projects that require the least outside funding to offset costs, and provide support for local economies, while not compromising other values. While the treatment prescriptions will be based be on what is left behind rather than what is taken, some types of excess woody material will be generated by forest thinning activities. Rather than leave these materials to decay or burn, some of these materials should be removed for economic benefit to surrounding communities. Economically efficient projects can treat more acres and have the greatest potential for reducing the effects of uncharacteristic wildfire. Sustainable and cost-effective use of the byproducts of this project should be developed to support local economies as a part of the project as stated in the mission of the Forest Service to support the sustainable, multiple-use management concept as well as rural economic development. Proposed Action The Kern River Ranger District proposes to restore a healthy, diverse, fire-resistant forest structure within the Rancheria project through vegetative treatments that reduce stand densities and fuel loads. Treatment strategies to enhance forest resilience and wildlife habitat and reduce fire severity will be based on the general technical report developed by North et al. (2009) titled An Ecosystem Management Strategy for Sierran Mixed Conifer Forests and its 2010 Addendum. Concepts outlined in the North report are designed to protect life, property, and wildlife habitat from uncharacteristic wildfire. The project seeks to accelerate restoration of late-successional/old forest conditions, using appropriate prescriptions to restore natural stand heterogeneity, including historic tree stand structure and size class distribution and tree species composition. A basic idea is to recognize the various types of structures or micro-sites in the stands and prescribe specific silvicultural treatment to improve them. Outside of them, groups of overstocked conifers should be thinned as needed and as allowed by land management plan direction. While some older stand exam data is available for the project area, additional inventories must still be completed to complete treatment prescriptions. Table 1 shows the approximate acres proposed for each type of treatment. Rancheria Forest Restoration Project Page 9

10 Approximate Emphasis Area* Treatments Product Removal Acres 160 Chaparral To be determined 1200 ER Burn 280 ER Hand/Burn 30 ER Mech/Burn Biomass 700 Fisher Mech/Burn Timber/Biomass 300 Goshawk Hand/Burn 950 Owl Burn 75 Owl Hand/Burn 60 Owl Mech/Burn Timber/Biomass 1080 Plantation Burn 100 Plantation Hand/Burn 100 Plantation Mech/Burn Biomass 950 Plantation Mech/Hand/Burn Biomass 5985 TOTAL ACRES * Burn= prescribed burning ER = Ecological Restoration areas Fisher= Southern Sierra Fisher Conservation Area Goshawk= Goshawk protected activity center or home range core area Hand= Hand thinning but no mechanized equipment Mech= used of mechanized equipment Owl= Spotted Owl protected activity center or home range core area Plantation= existing tree plantations Careful thinning of some areas can enhance growth of remaining trees. However, not all areas are in need of thinning. Some already have appropriate densities and species composition. Some are simply inaccessible due to steep slopes. Some areas are too close to sensitive wildlife and should be avoided. Following are the some examples of conditions that would benefit from treatment in the project area and basic approaches to treatment: Large single or small groups (3 5 trees) of pine Retain the large individual or small group of trees and improve access to site resources (water, sun) by removing small and intermediate size trees of all species except black oak that are under or mostly under the crowns. Large single or small group (3 5 trees) of healthy and vigorous black oak - Retain the large individual or small group of trees and improve access to site resources by removing trees of all Rancheria Forest Restoration Project Page 10

11 species and sizes as allowed by land management plan direction that are influencing the vigor of the black oak. This approach will result in some large trees of other species, usually incense cedar, being retained in the group of black oak. Large snags The treatment should be to retain the large snag and remove nearby ground and ladder fuels that would likely carry fire into it. Varying snag and log retention levels across the project area while meeting land management plan standards in the project in total is encouraged by North, Pacific fisher rest sites- Protect these sites which often consist of clumps of dense trees with large snags (conifer snags with diameters greater than 35 inches at breast height or oak snags with diameters greater than 25 inches), legacy trees, or suitable large rest structures. A rest structure is typically a large, older legacy tree with large branches or a tree greater than 20 inches at breast height with a deformation that provides rest platforms. Higher value rest sites are found near water. Large single black oaks that are declining in healthy and vigor Allow the large black oak to continue to decline by leaving the over-topping conifers and the trees under or mostly under the crown. Such large decadent trees can provide excellent wildlife habitat. Small groups (3 7 trees) of intermediate pine or healthy white fir The treatment should be to retain and accentuate the group by removing trees of smaller size of all species except black oak that are under or mostly under the crowns of the trees being retained. Accentuate means to emphasize retention of several trees in a group that are about the same height and diameter (so likely the same age) over shorter and smaller trees in the group. Old openings created by past logging, insect induced tree mortality or very small fires - The strategy of tree-species-specific-prescriptions in North, 2009 and the 2010 Addendum emphasize that pines are present in much lower densities in current forests compared with historical conditions. This finding leads to the need to retain single or small groups of pine as described previously and to search for other opportunities to increase the proportion of pine in stands. For example, old openings of at least a quarter acre are now often occupied by incense cedar saplings. Since cedar is abundant in the Rancheria Project, these seedlings could be removed and openings replanted with pine, which prefers sunny open areas. Outside the key structures or micro-sites, groups of overstocked conifers should be thinned as allowed by land management plan direction, giving preference to retaining the diameter classes that stand exam data shows are underrepresented. As discussed in North, 2009, diameter distributions in active-fire forest vary but often have nearly equal numbers in all diameter classes. For example, when the majority of trees in a stand are between inches, some in this size class could be removed to make room for more trees in the larger (23 +)and smaller (16 and under) tree classes. As trees get larger, there are usually fewer per acre. Grouping and analyzing each diameter class (e.g. within a 6-inch diameter range) is a way to measure how well stands mirror historic conditions, and what types of thinning can result in the desired distribution, as discussed in North, Some areas might be in need of multiple, sequential treatments. This might require thinning of some forest stands using mechanical equipment, followed by hand thinning of smaller trees. A combination of hand piling, followed by lopping, chipping, burning, and/or biomass removal might then occur within accessible Rancheria Forest Restoration Project Page 11

12 areas. The final treatment, if appropriate, would be prescribed under-burning. Prescribed burning would occur when weather and fuel conditions are appropriate to meet the objectives and prescriptions. Fire managers would select areas to be burned that optimize natural smoke dispersion and minimize local exposure to adverse smoke impacts. Burning would be accomplished over the next 10 years. Prescribed burning will be designed to be adjacent to other treatments in order to maximize the effectiveness of fuels reduction and create a mosaic of forest openings. Stand exams, either new or supplemental, will need to be completed for the entire project area before targeted acres and specific treatment prescriptions can be identified for the proposed action. This information will be included in draft environmental documents. Special consideration should be given to sensitive habitats as described below: 1. California Spotted Owl and Northern Goshawks Protected Activity Centers (PACs) a. Existing Condition: Dense thickets of small and medium sized trees, high proportion of fir and cedar, high risk of large, stand-replacing fir; ground and surface fuel loads tons per acre. b. Desired Condition: More large trees, 2-3 canopy layers, many large snags and downed logs, ground and surface fuel loads 10 to 15 tons per acre. c. Proposed Action: Irregular thinning of understories followed by prescribed burning. Prescribed burning in these areas are more likely to create patches of high intensity fire. Gaps created by fire will encourage faster development of larger trees surrounding openings and increase levels of snags and down woody debris in focal areas for mature forest wildlife. 2. Fisher Conservation Area a. Existing Condition: Dense thickets of small and medium sized trees dominated by fir and cedar; high risk of large, stand-replacing fires. b. Desired Condition: More large trees, mixed canopy cover, recruit more pine and oak while retaining dense fisher habitat, ground and surface fuel loads 10 to 15 tons per acre. c. Proposed Action: Create small gaps in midslope forests, resulting in a heterogeneous landscape; remove or girdle small and intermediate sized trees and brush, girdled trees to leave as snags; prescribed burning with the creation of some fire-created small gaps; retain canopy of 40% where existing; elsewhere design treatment to increase canopy by 2% per decade; heavier thinning along roads and ridgelines to accelerate development of larger trees and move a portion of the area toward pre-1865 conditions. These areas are of lower value for den/rest sites for spotted owls and fisher and may be of value as reduced fuel zones for anchoring prescribed fire, controlling wildfire or allowing fire to be managed for resource benefit. In addition, some screening should be preserved along roadways to provide cover for deer, which is especially important during hunting season. Rancheria Forest Restoration Project Page 12

13 Management Direction Numerous Forest Service management and legal directives apply to the development of the Rancheria Project. A few are included here. The Region 5 Ecological Restoration: Leadership Intent identifies the mission of the Forest Service as to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the Nation s forests to meet the needs of present and future generations. It is our intent to establish a regional policy for ecological restoration. (p.1). It states that this will require an environmental restoration program of unprecedented scale to reverse current trends. Forest Service Manual (FSM) interim directive 2020 defines Ecological Restoration as: The process of assisting the recovery of resilience and adaptive capacity of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed. Restoration focuses on establishing the composition, structure, pattern, and ecological processes necessary to make terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems sustainable, resilient, and healthy under current and future conditions. This path is in alignment with the USDA Forest Service Strategic Plan FY , which provides goals for managing and sustaining the nation s natural resources to restore ecosystem health, reduce damage from large, high-intensity wildfires, and provide sustainable sources of forest products from rural economies. The Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (SNFPA 2004) identifies a number of strategies needed to restore natural forest conditions and improve ecosystem health. These goals should be applied landscapewide as well as at the project level within the Sequoia National Forest, Kern River Ranger District. Sequoia National Forest managers are charged with the responsibilities of assuring future viability of forest resources, wildlife habitat, aesthetic and watershed values, and protecting adjoining private land. Decision Framework The decision to be made is whether to implement a proposed action, a modified action or to take no action at this time. This analysis will result in an EA with Decision Notice/FONSI. This decision will be made by the District Ranger. The decision will be subject to notice, comment, and appeal provisions pursuant to 36 CFR 215. Once tree stand exams are completed, the ID Team will finalized a proposed action, produce an analysis of alternatives and effects using the common data (acres and description of treatment) supplied by the ID Team Leader. The analysis will focus on the significant issues and will discuss direct, indirect and cumulative effects. Each analysis report will identify any thresholds of significance. Each analysis report will need to contain findings of consistency with the LRMP, revised SNFPA (SEIS) and other forest policy and direction. Rancheria Forest Restoration Project Page 13