Jack and Rock Meadows

Transcription

1 Jack Creek and Rock Creek Meadows Fuel Reduction and Meadow Restoration Project Chemult Ranger District Fremont-Winema National Forests Klamath County, Oregon Background Moist and wet meadows and moist and wet forested areas along meadow edges are unique habitats in the Jack Creek and Rock Creek watersheds (about 5% of the Jack Creek watershed area supports these habitats). With a natural disturbance regime, meadows would burn periodically. Fires would consume fallen dead wood along the meadow edges and adjacent uplands. Lodgepole pines encroaching into the meadows would be killed by flame lengths produced by burning grass. Fires would remove accumulated grass and stimulate healthy regrowth of grass, forbs, and shrubs such as willows and bog birch. The fire disturbance factor has been missing since fire suppression began in the early 1900 s. Lodgepole pine trees have been dying and falling along meadow edges and nearby uplands for nearly 100 years. Currently, mortality of mature trees in forested riparian areas ranges from 60 to 90%. Should a fire occur in meadow systems, today s fire behavior would be very different from historical situations because of heavy accumulations of fuels (intermingled tree boles, root wads, branches, and green trees). Fire severity and duration could cause soil damage and loss of important habitat components. Downed trees provide microclimates favoring establishment of lodgepole pine encroachment. Decomposing trees provide microsites higher and drier than surrounding meadow. Downed trees also provide warmer microsites because the trees hold heat from insolation. Meadow plant species composition has shifted and meadows have become smaller in size due to the influence of lodgepole pine encroachment. The grass/forb/shrub component is giving way to lodgepole pines. Dense tree stocking in forested riparian areas and in adjacent uplands threatens health and longevity of existing mature trees due to competitive stress and presence of ladder fuels. Jackstrawed downed trees intermingled with live trees along meadow edges and in forested riparian areas make access for thinning of overstocked tree stands difficult and costly. Proposed Action The Chemult Ranger District proposes to reduce hazardous fuels, thin green trees, and remove encroachment on approximately 990 acres of meadows, forested riparian areas, and adjacent uplands. The objectives for the project are reduced amounts of surface and ladder fuels; increased grass, forb, and shrub productivity; and long term improvement of mature tree habitat. A minor benefit may be improved livestock distribution on the existing cattle allotment through removal of jackstrawed dead trees. Removal of dead lodgepole pines The project areas contain concentrations of dead lodgepole pines ranging in size from saplings to approximately 20 inches in diameter (dbh) with most dead material ranging from 4 to 11 inches 1

2 dbh. Merchantable dead trees will be offered commercially. Estimates indicate approximately 60-70% of the dead trees will be usable as firewood or chips. Recently dead trees may be suitably sound to be sold for sawlogs or house logs. Unutilized material in excess of that needed to meet down woody material requirements will be piled and burned. Piles will be placed in the uplands. In meadows, dead trees too unsound to be transported to landings or pieces of dead trees less than eight feet long will be left in place. Thinning of overstocked green trees Stocking levels and ladder fuels will be reduced with a combination of commercial and noncommercial thinning. Trees 21 inches dbh and larger will not be cut. Trees left after thinning will be spaced approximately feet apart. A majority of trees to be commercially thinned range from 4 inches to 11 inches dbh. Green trees over 7 inches dbh are merchantable as sawlogs, chips, or posts and poles. Green trees from 4-7 inches dbh may be sold as post and poles. Green trees less than 4 inches dbh are generally considered unmerchantable. Currently, stocking of trees less than 4 inches dbh ranges from about trees per acre. Commercial thinning slash in excess of that needed to meet down woody material requirements will be piled and burned in the uplands. Non-commercial thinning slash will be broadcast burned, piled and burned, or lopped and scattered. Thinning will promote development of younger trees into trees suitable for raptor (e.g. great gray owl and goshawk) nesting habitat along meadow edges, in forested riparian areas, and in uplands. Trees favored as nest trees tend to be relatively open-grown with large, strong branches. Cutting of lodgepole pine encroachment Up to four large-diameter, limby, lodgepole pines per acre (if available) may be left in meadows. All other lodgepole pines will be removed. Most encroaching lodgepole pines are seedling and saplings (less than four inches dbh). Fuels from encroachment cutting may be broadcast burned, lopped and scattered, or stacked in small handpiles and burned. Grass, forb, and shrub productivity will be increased by removal of lodgepole pine encroachment. Open meadows provide better habitat diversity. Locations The project includes the following areas: Area Name Cow Camp/ Rider s Camp (Stimson Meadow to Road 88) Crooked Meadow Location Estimated Acres T27S, R10E, sections 9, 10, T26S, R9E, section 24 T26S, R10E, section 19 Dry Meadow T26S, R10E, sections 17,

3 Area Name Johnson Meadow (includes East Johnson) Location T27S, R9E, sections 1, 11, 12 T27S, R10E, section 6 Estimated Acres 140 Middle Jack T27S, R10E, sections 19, 20, 29, Parker Meadow (including Little Spring branch) T27S, R10E, sections 10, Russell s Roost T26S, R9E, section Sproats Meadow T26S, R10E, sections 27, 28, 33, Tail Meadow T26S, R9E, section 25 T26S, R10E, section Wilshire Meadow T26S, R9E, section 24, Decision and Rationale for Categorical Exclusion I have decided to approve the project as described above. The project will meet the objectives for reduced amounts of surface and ladder fuels; increased grass, forb, and shrub productivity; and long term improvement of mature tree habitat. The removal of dead lodgepole pines and thinning of overstocked green trees fall within Category 10 of Section 31.2, FSH : Hazardous fuels reduction activities using prescribed fire, not to exceed 4,500 acres, and mechanical methods for crushing, piling, thinning, pruning, cutting, chipping, mulching, and mowing not to exceed 1,000 acres. The project area is in Fire Regime Group II, Condition Class 3 and outside the wildland-urban interface. The project is not in wilderness. The project will not require the use of herbicides or pesticides or the construction of new permanent roads or other new permanent infrastructure. The cutting of lodgepole pine encroachment and thinning of overstocked green trees fall within Category 6 of Section 31.2, FSH : Timber stand and/or wildlife habitat improvement activities which do not include the use of herbicides or do not require more than one mile of low standard road construction. This project was designed to be consistent with the Winema National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) as amended, and the final environmental impact statement documenting analysis for the Plan. Applicable Forest Plan standards and guidelines for resource protection will be followed during implementation. Environmental analysis and past experience indicate effects of implementing these activities will be of limited context and intensity. There are no extraordinary circumstances in relation to the following resource conditions: Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species. Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds. 3

4 Congressionally designated areas, such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas. Inventoried roadless areas. Research natural areas. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites. Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas. Because no extraordinary circumstances exist that might cause these activities to have significant effects, the activities may be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement. This project is proposed in collaboration with the Fremont-Winema Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC recommended thinning and encroachment removal for Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act Title II funding. Public Involvement Public involvement began with the Winter edition of the Winema National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA). Maps, background material, and information about proposed activities in Big Jack Planning Area were mailed to 64 individuals, organizations, and agencies in May Southern Oregon Timber Industries Association commented that proposed activities seemed reasonable and required for sound stewardship of the area. No other comments were received as a result of the mailing. The Klamath Tribes were consulted according to the Memorandum of Agreement between the Tribes and the Forest Service. Consultation included Tribal participation in an Interdisciplinary Team Meeting in February 2002, and mailing of maps and other information to the Tribes in May The Tribes expressed no concerns regarding hazardous fuels reduction. In May 2004, representatives of the Forest Service and the Antelope Allotment permittee representative met to discuss projects to improve livestock distribution and resource protection. On August 17, 2004, members of the Upper Williamson Catchment Group and others toured a sampling of the project. The group noted that meadows play an important role in water storage and late summer water release in the basin. They expressed support for the project. Organizations represented during the tour were Klamath Basin Ecosystem Foundation, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service s Ecosystem Restoration Office and Upper Klamath Marsh Refuge, Oregon State University Extension, Upper Klamath Basin Watershed Council, Oregon Department of Forestry, Fremont-Winema Resource Advisory Committee, and Ore-Cal Resource Conservation and Development. Additional scoping occurred in March Information was sent to the District mailing list. Comments were also solicited by posting the projects on the Fremont - Winema National Forests Website. A legal notice in the December 1, 2005 edition of the Klamath Falls Herald and News announced a 30-day comment period. The notice provided instructions for individuals and organizations wishing to comment on the project and to be eligible to appeal the subsequent decision. Letters with comment filing instructions and project information were sent to twentynine individuals and organizations. The Oregon Natural Resources Council (ONRC) commented during the 30-day period. Appendix A responds to ONRC s comments. 4

5 Findings A Biological Evaluation (BE) for threatened, endangered, or sensitive animal species was completed September 30, The biological evaluation found: - No effect to any threatened species or critical habitat. - No impact to candidate species or its habitat except Oregon spotted frog. The project may impact individual spotted frogs or habitat but will not likely contribute to a trend toward federal listing or loss of viability to the population or species. - No impact to sensitive species or habitat. An addendum to the BE for mollusk species was completed January 9, The addendum found that activities may impact individuals or habitat but will not likely contribute to a trend toward federal listing or loss of viability to populations or species. A Biological Evaluation for threatened, endangered, or sensitive plant species was completed October 7, The BE found there would be no impact to sensitive plant species because either there was no habitat in the project area or none were found. The project complies with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Section 106 SHPO consultation was completed under Programmatic Agreement among the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region (Region 6), The Advisory Council of Historic Preservation, and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Officer regarding Cultural Resources management on National Forests in the State of Oregon, revised June 2004 pursuant to Forest Archaeologist review and approval dated November 2, A SHPO determination of effect (no effect finding) for a portion of Dry Meadow was documented on August 8, Appeal Opportunities and Implementation This decision is subject to the September 16, 2005, order issued by the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Case No. CIV F JKS. The order made certain categorical exclusions subject to notice, comment, and appeal under 36 CFR 215 rules. The 30-day comment period for this project ended on January 3, Only parties providing substantive comments during the comment period are eligible to appeal this decision. Comments were received from Oregon Natural Resources Council during the comment period. If no appeal is filed within the 45-day time period, implementation of the decision may begin on, but not before, the 5 th business day following the close of the appeal-filing period. For additional information contact Jayne Goodwin, Chemult Ranger District, P.O. Box 150, Chemult, OR 97731, phone or jlgoodwin@fs.fed.us. Approval /s/ Raymond F. Romero RAYMOND F. ROMERO District Ranger Jan. 30, 2006 Date 5

6 ONRC Comment Appendix A Comments Received during 30-day Comment Period ONRC does not agree that removing large diameter down logs will reduce fuel loads. These large logs provide good and unique habitat and do not pose nearly the fire risk as smaller diameter material. Response As described in the introduction section of the decision memo, down logs combined with dense stocking of green trees contribute to accumulations of fuels that pose risk of damaging fire. Access for thinning to remove ladder fuels and improve mature tree habitat is impeded by the presence of the dead material. Many of the downed logs are smaller diameter material (4 to 11 inches). Meadows are unique habitats. Fallen dead wood provides microsites along meadow edges that encourage encroachment thus reducing the size of these unique habitats. ONRC Comment Will you sell the large logs as a commercial timber sale? We strongly urge you to use the logs in restoration elsewhere in the forest. Response As described in the proposed action section of the decision memo, merchantable dead trees would be offered commercially. Estimates indicate approximately 60-70% of the dead trees would be merchantable as firewood or chips. Recently dead trees may be suitably sound to be sold for sawlogs or house logs. Dead trees are not needed for restoration projects because there are no planned projects requiring dead trees within or near this proposed project. Because of the abundance of dead trees, they can easily be found onsite for any future projects that may require dead trees. Typically, dead lodgepole pine trees are too small for most stream restoration projects and are not cost-effective to transport. 1 ONRC Comment and also remove the necessity to cut live green trees for use as restoration logs. Response Live trees are typically used for channel restoration projects in small intermittent and ephemeral stream channels such as those in Jack Creek and Rock Creek watersheds. Live trees with small branches intact provide fuzzy dams that slow water velocity, accumulate sediment, and create sites where sedges and other riparian vegetation can become established. Live trees with root wads attached can be securely placed in channels. For example, live trees were specified for Rakes Meadow Headcut Repair (2002) and Round Meadow Restoration Project (2003). 2 1 Communication from Neil Anderson, Fisheries Biologist, Fremont-Winema National Forests 2 Rakes Meadow and Round Meadow projects were designed by Mike McNamara, former Hydrologist, Fremont- Winema National Forests. 1