Decision Memo Young Stand Density Management and Conifer Pruning

Transcription

1 Decision Memo Young Stand Density Management and Conifer Pruning USDA Forest Service Willamette National Forest, Middle Fork Ranger District Lane and Douglas Counties, Oregon Background The purpose of young stand density management, or precommercial thinning, is to reduce stand densities to the level that remaining trees can continue growing with relatively vigorous diameter growth, improving stand health and watershed quality, until they are of a commercial size. Other purposes include managing for big game habitat, encouraging early seral vegetative species, and retaining and enhancing natural openings. Past reforestation practices usually involved planting many more trees per acre than are ultimately desired in mature stands to provide for potential mortality, particularly in the earliest years of stand reestablishment. Up to 600 trees per acre (a spacing of eight feet between trees) were typically planted during initial reforestation efforts. In many cases, a considerable amount of natural tree regeneration also occurred. If little morality occurs, without young stand thinning, this density of planting ultimately generates a dense stand of trees with slender stems and low vigor. Such stands can contain over 1000 trees per acre. Stands growing at those densities take an extremely long time to thin themselves, have low vigor, are prone to disease, and are susceptible to physical failure of their stems from wind and/or snow stresses. From a diversity standpoint, such dense stands become very uniform, since they shade the forest floor so thoroughly that understory vegetation, including shade-tolerant conifer species, can be virtually non-existent. There is a need to release conifer saplings in densely crowded previously managed stands that are years old on the average, or approximately feet tall and less than 6 inches in diameter at breast height. Density management in trees of this size helps to develop larger diameter trees sooner than if left unthinned, contributing to habitat development for species dependent on late successional stand characteristics. It also contributes to higher wood volume yields on lands allocated for timber management. There is a need, particularly in certain land allocations such as Late-Successional and Riparian Reserves, to thin stands in this age range in order to maintain species and structural diversity. Conifer pruning refers to the removal of the lower branches of a tree to a specified height. Branches to be pruned may be dead or alive, and the largest dominant trees are selected first for treatment at a specified spacing in the stand. Ideally branches will be pruned just as they start to lose vigor to maximize a tree s growth potential and the amount of knot-free wood that can be created. However, there are some practical limitations relating to how many pruning entries can be made, so most pruning will involve cutting of dead and some live vigorous branches to minimize costs over time. The purpose of pruning is to improve the quality of wood that a tree will grow subsequent to pruning so that future harvest of those trees will generate more value. Knot-free, clear, straight grained lumber is considerably more valuable than wood with knots. Young, relatively small diameter trees such as those generated by commercial thinning of stands from 30 to 80 years of age are generally considered to have a low value, in large part due to the abundance of knots. It is sometimes difficult to sell the trees that need 1

2 to be removed during routine young stand density management at a reasonable price due to the relatively low market value of the wood they contain. There is a need to improve the value of trees that will be harvested in the future by improving the quality of the wood they contain in order to provide more options for future management of these stands. There will be a continuing and increasing premium put on high quality wood in the future as fewer and fewer mature trees with clear lumber are harvested. Pruning is also done to reduce ladder fuels as part of fire prevention planning. Streams in the Staley Creek watershed have been recognized as being deficient in large woody debris (Upper Middle Fork Watershed Action Plan, USDA Forest Service, 2009) and would benefit from an input of woody debris, even if from small diameter trees being thinned. Selected stands within the Staley Creek watershed have been prescribed for thinning treatments for this desired future condition. Remaining trees will grow to larger diameters sooner and will serve as future large wood recruitment sooner for these streams. The Upper Middle Fork Watershed Action Plan, Appendix E, recommends thinning over-stocked second growth stands throughout riparian reserves in Staley Creek watershed. Decision I have decided to implement the Young Stand Density Management and Conifer Pruning project on approximately 5,700 acres of young managed conifer stands, using chainsaws and hand tools. Implementation of this decision will provide the best opportunity to maintain these stands in a healthy, vigorous condition. This decision will cover the young stand density management and conifer pruning programs on the Middle Fork Ranger District over the next five years. The project area is the entire Middle Fork Ranger District, which encompasses a large portion of the Middle Fork of the Willamette River 4th-field watershed. All the stands proposed for treatment are plantations resulting from past regeneration harvest and range in age from approximately 15 to 30 years. Of these acres, about 4,000 acres are in Matrix lands about 1,500 acres are in Late Successional Reserves (LSR), and about 200 acres are Administratively/Congressionally Withdrawn, as defined in the Willamette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) as amended by the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP). About 4,000 acres will be thinned leaving 25 foot no-cut riparian buffers on Class IV streams. Approximately 1,300 acres will be thinned through Class IV stream riparian reserves for watershed restoration within the Staley Creek watershed. About 400 acres will be thinned to improve forest health in pine/grass habitat. For general locations of proposed stands consult map 1. Specific locations of the proposed treatment can be obtained by examination of the project activity list available from the Middle Fork Silviculture department and is a part of the project file. Treatments will include improvements to big game habitat, such as encouraging early seral vegetative species, retaining and enhancing natural openings, variable spacing, and design for diversity including skips and gaps. For conifer pruning, the emphasis is to promote wood value and reduce ladder fuels. Leave tree spacing will vary from 14 by 14 feet to 16 by 16 feet, depending on the site. Riparian buffers of 25 feet each side of the stream will be left on Class IV streams, except in Staley Creek watershed where no buffers will apply. Hand saws will be used for conifer pruning, with pruned tree spacing typically from 22 by 22 feet to 26 by 26 feet. Slash from the thinning operations will be left on the ground to decompose. For general locations of proposed stands consult the attached map. 2

3 Example of forest worker doing Precommercial Thinning / Young Stand Density Management Forest worker pruning lower limbs from conifer tree 3

4 Reasons for Categorical Exclusion This action is categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or an environmental assessment under direction in the Washington Office Amendment No , effective 9/30/2010, from Forest Service Handbook Environmental Policy and Procedures Handbook, part Chapter 30, Categories of Actions for Which a Project or Case File and Decision Memo are Required. This amendment provides direction related to maintaining a project or case file and preparing a decision memo for routine, proposed actions. This project is covered by categorical exclusion 32.2(6), 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 category further specifies in Part 6ii, that Thinning or brush control to improve growth are examples of activities covered by this category. This category is also cited as 36CFR220.6(e)(6). This categorical exclusion is appropriate in this situation because there are no extraordinary circumstances potentially having effects which may significantly affect the environment. Table 1 displays the presence or absence of extraordinary circumstances and significant effects. Table 1. Evaluation of Extraordinary Circumstances Displays. Extraordinary Circumstances Are they present? Are there significant effects? Federally listed Threatened or Endangered Species (TES) or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species. Northern Spotted Owl - YES Project stands: Refer to Terrestrial Fauna Biological Assessment (BA) and Biological Evaluation (BE) for: Young Stand Density Management ( ), page 3. This project will be no effect due to project design and mitigation measures such as seasonal restrictions in place to ensure no significant effects. Threatened and Endangered Fish Species - YES Negative effects are short term but there will be long term positive effects to stream habitat components such as large woody debris and shade. There will also be positive short term effects from increased small wood in stream channels from the cut trees. This project will likely cause no significant effects to Chinook salmon, bull trout, or their habitats. Sensitive and Survey &Manage Species (NWFP) No known populations of Sensitive or Survey and Manage Plants Low likelyhood of risk to persistence of populations of sensitive plants. Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds. 4

5 Extraordinary Circumstances Are they present? Are there significant effects? Congressionally designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study, or National Recreation areas Inventoried Roadless Areas or potential wilderness areas. Research Natural Areas. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites, and Archaeological sites. Or historic properties or areas. YES Public Involvement and Response to Comments A proposal to manage young stand density named District Stand Density Management, Conifer Pruning, and Pine/Grass Habitat Management in Plantations, was listed in the Willamette National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) since Summer Quarter in July of The name of the project was later changed to District Stand Density Management and Conifer Pruning in the April 2011 SOPA because most of the pine/grass plantation management units were separated out as a separate project. The name of the Decision Memo is Young Stand Density Management and Conifer Pruning. The proposal was provided to the public and other agencies for comment during scoping. A public scoping letter was sent to 13 public contacts on the district mailing list February 13, Other agencies contacted included Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) Scoping comments were received from Bill Richardson, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; David Wiley, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; Doug Heiken, Oregon Wild; and Christopher Yee, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. All replies indicated support for implementing the Young Stand Density Management and Conifer Pruning project. Additional suggestions included emphasis on managing for big game habitat, encourage early seral vegetative species, retain and enhance natural openings, variable spacing and design for diversity including skips and gaps. These suggestions are being included into the Young Stand Density Management and Conifer Pruning project currently. Other suggestions included flagging in wildlife trail locations during project layout so cutters could create them as they work through units. This would become cost prohibitive and there are typically close adjacent areas for travel routes for big game. Volunteer help was also suggested. While this would be greatly appreciated, experience has shown that tree thinning work can be dangerous and extremely arduous. It is best that professional contractors perform the work according to specific OSHA standards and are held to contract production requirements. 5

6 Findings Required by Other Laws This decision is consistent with standards and guidelines from the amended Willamette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, USDA Forest Service (LRMP), 1990, as amended in 1994, 2001 and 2004 as required by the National Forest Management Act. The project was designed in conformance with Forest Plan decisions for young managed stands to maintain vigor and growth using precommercial thinning. The purpose of these silvicultural treatments in LSR is to benefit the creation of latesuccessional forest conditions (Standards and Guidelines for Management of Habitat for Late- Successional and Old-Growth Forest Related Species Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl, C- 12). In matrix where sustained timber production is a goal, precommercial thinning increases yields of timber and is compatible with multiple use objectives and meets soil, water, and wildlife requirements. Finding of Consistency The following are summaries of interdisciplinary specialist reports in the project file. These summaries are included to further define related areas within Table 1, Evaluation of Extraordinary Circumstances, and to substantiate the findings of consistency with various laws, regulations, and direction. Heritage Resources: This project was reviewed and was found to be compliant with 36 CFR 800, The National Historic Preservation Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, Executive Order 11593, the 2004 Programmatic Agreement (PA) between the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region (Region 6), as well as other pertinent Federal and State laws. Fish Species: Riparian vegetation treatment of non-commercial mechanical activities for this project is covered under the 2007 Programmatic Biological Opinions for Aquatic Restoration projects (ARBO). The ARBO covers 19 categories of activities, each with specific design criteria and conservation measures. The action agencies determined that, due to the potential for short-term adverse effects, all of the proposed activity categories were. Likely to Adversely Affect salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). They also determined that the proposed activity categories would adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). Riparian vegetation treatments in the project carry the Likely to Adversely Affect determination but also will have several beneficial effects on listed salmon habitat. Riparian areas will be thinned to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and to promote accelerated growth of remaining trees. Upland areas will also benefit from healthier stands in the riparian reserves. Resident salmonids (rainbow and cutthroat trout) and other aquatic species are Management Indicator Species (MIS) in the Willamette LRMP. Federal projects are required to ensure the viability of MIS when conducting activities on National Forest System land. The NMFS has designated Critical Habitat for 12 Evolutionarily Significant Units of West Coast Salmon and Steelhead in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho (70 FR 52630; effective January 2, 2006). Critical Habitat has been designated for both Upper Willamette River Chinook salmon in areas that the projects occur. However, based on buffers in place from stream networks and no ground disturbance the project will be Not Likely to Adversely Affect Spring Chinook salmon Critical Habitat. As of October, 2010 Critical Habitat for bull trout includes all sections of the Middle Fork Willamette River upstream of the Forest boundary on the Willamette National Forest. The designation also includes Lookout Point Reservoir, Hills Creek Reservoirs and several tributaries of the Middle Fork Willamette River. However, based on no ground disturbance the project will be Not Likely to Adversely Affect bull trout Critical Habitat. 6

7 Soils/Hydrology: The Soil and Hydrology Specialist Report for this project, April 5, 2012 finds this management action maintaining the existing soil and water quality consistent with applicable Soil and Water Standards and Guidelines of the FEIS and the Willamette National Forest Plan. No additional mitigations are proposed for this project. Little or no effect on soil and water resources is expected and no additional mitigations are planned. Botany: Per the April 9, 2012 Botanical Biological Evaluation for this project, no sensitive species populations are know to occur with or adjacent to treatment areas. It is determined that implementation of this project is expected to result in a low likelihood of risk to the persistence of populations of sensitive plants. No weed problems are expected with this activity. Silviculture: The August, 2012 Silvicultural Prescription for this project defines the desired future condition, purpose and need, land management objectives and current vegetation conditions for pre commercial thinning / young stand density management and for conifer pruning. It includes prescriptive activities specific to young stand density management and pruning contract specifications. It also includes prescriptions for riparian reserve management, long term management and managing competing and unwanted vegetation. Prescriptive activities for pruning include species restrictions and branch cutting guidelines. Pruning prescriptions also include riparian reserve management, long term management and timing of treatments. Fuels: The potential for increased fire behavior will be increased in the short term due to increased amounts of fuel on the ground, but steadily decreases over the first five years after thinning as the fine fuels (needles and small twigs) decompose. Mitigation Measures Heritage Resources: No resource protection measures are needed to protect the archaeological or historic values of any site within young stand density management and conifer pruning units. In the event that heritage properties are located during the course of this project, all work in the area of the find will cease and the district archaeologist will be notified. See January 10, 2012 letter in the project file. Wildlife: The following mitigation measure is listed in the Terrestrial Fauna Biological Assessment (BA) and Biological Evaluation (BE) for: Young Stand Density Management and Conifer Pruning ( ), page 3. Specific mitigation measures for the project include seasonal restrictions to prohibit work from March 1 through July 15. This will apply to listed stands in order to prevent disturbance to Northern Spotted Owls during the critical breeding season. These stands are listed in the project file. Implementation Date Implementation of this project will begin during the summer of Appeal Rights This decision is subject to administrative review (appeal) pursuant to 36 CFR Part 215. In light of a recent court ruling (Sequoia ForestKeeper v. Tidwell, 11-cv LJO-DLB (E.D. Cal.)), the Forest Service will provide public notice, comment, and opportunity for administrative appeal for projects and activities 7

8 documented with a Decision Memo (36 CFR 220.6(e)) until new instructions are issued by the Washington Office, or the Agency issues regulations addressing the Court s ruling. Appeals can be submitted in several forms, but must be received by the Forest Supervisor, the Appeal Deciding Officer, within 45 days from the date of publication of notice of this decision in the Register Guard, Eugene, Oregon. The publication date in the Register Guard, newspaper of record for the Willamette National Forest, is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an appeal. Attachments received after the 45 day appeal period will not be considered. Those wishing to appeal this decision should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. Appeals may be: Mailed to: Appeal Deciding Officer, Forest Supervisor; ATTN: Appeals, P.O. Box 10607, Eugene, OR 97401; ed to: appeals-pacificnorthwest-willamette@fs.fed.us. Please put APPEAL and the project name in the subject line. Electronic appeals must be submitted as part of an actual message, or as an attachment in Microsoft Work (.doc), rich text format (.rtf), or portable document format (.pdf) only. E- mails submitted to addresses other than the ones listed above or in formats other than those listed above or containing viruses will be rejected. It is the responsibility of the appellant to confirm receipt of appeals submitted by electronic mail; Delivered to: Willamette National Forest, Supervisor s Office at Springfield Interagency Office, 3106 Pierce Parkway, Suite D, Springfield, OR 97477, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, M-F; or Faxed to: Willamette National Forest, Supervisor s Office, ATTN: APPEALS at (541) The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered appeals are: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Electronic appeals must be submitted in a format such as an message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) to the address above. In cases where no identifiable name is attached to an electronic message, a verification of identity will be required. A scanned signature is one way to provide verification. The notice of appeal must meet the appeal content requirements at 36 CFR Contact Person For additional information concerning this decision or the Forest Service appeal process, contact: Ray Holk, Forestry Technician; Middle Fork Ranger District, Highway 58, Westfir, OR 97492; ; or by at rholk@fs.fed.us. _/s/ Duane F.Bishop DUANE F. BISHOP District Ranger 9/5/2012 Date 8

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10 Table 1: Response to Public Comments Project: Young Stand Density Publication Date End of Comment Period Management and Conifer Pruning July 2, 2012 August 2, 2012 The comments received are herein identified as being a Substantive Comment unless noted otherwise. To meet the definition of being a Substantive Comment, the comment must meet the following: (1) be within the scope of the proposed action (2) be specific to the proposed action, (3) have a direct relationship to the proposed action; and (4) include supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider. Substantive comments were received from 1 participant: Doug Heiken, representing Oregon Wild Comment Submitted By: Date Comment Received Comment Doug Heiken 7/26/12 A great opportunity to set these stands on a more diverse trajectory, and to reintroduce variability and biodiversity into these stands while they are young and plastic. avoid thinning to a uniform density. Apply variable density thinning techniques, including untreated skips and heavily-thinned, structure rich gaps in appropriately sized patches within treated stands. Doug Heiken 7/26/12 We urge the FS to protect pockets of existing diversity such as underrepresented trees (e.g., yew, hardwoods), shrubs, rock outcrops, etc. Doug Heiken 7/26/12 to enhance variability, where stands are already less dense, thin them more. Where they are more dense thin them less. Doug Heiken 7/26/12 another avenue for introducing variability e.g., by treating fuels in many different ways. Responsible Official s Consideration of Substantive Comment The following standard precommercial thinning contract specifications, which will be included in the Decision Memo for this project, include prescriptions for biodiversity and variability with unit spacing from 14 to 16. Skips will include riparian buffers, road side buffers and ¼ to ½ acres leave patches in some units. Gaps will include existing openings and ¼ to ½ acre created openings in some units. 1) In selecting a leave tree there is no specified preferred species. 2) Hardwood species, Pacific yew, and western white pine are not to be cut. 3) Spacing variance of +/- 25% 4) Most stream channels are to have unthinned buffers of 25. Shrubs, hardwood tree species, Pacific yew, and western white pine are not to be cut. Current stand prescriptions are designed to encourage variability and diversity. See response to comments 1 and 2 also. Fuels generated by these treatments are left to natural decomposition. In general, fine fuels deteriorate in about 5 years. Additional slash treatments would be cost prohibitive. 10

11 Doug Heiken 7/26/12 In stands greater 20 years old, consider girdling a portion of the trees and leaving them standing for habitat. In general, we do not precommercial thin stands over 20 years old. 11