Kreist Creek Project Proposal

Transcription

1 Kreist Creek Project Proposal WHERE IS IT? The Kreist Creek project is located on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District in the upper northeastern corner of Boundary County, Idaho. The planning area is approximately 11,000 acres in size and is bordered by Ruby Mountain to the northeast, Deer Ridge to the east, and the Moyie River to the south and west 1. A vicinity map of this area is attached at the end of this letter. WHY IS THIS AREA BEING CONSIDERED? This project lies within the lower Kootenai River watershed where the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative (KVRI) Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Proposal (CFLRP) identified the need for holistic ecological restoration across all lands; further information regarding this CFLRP can be found on the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho s website 2. This proposal builds on our collaboration with KVRI and their restoration activities accomplished on lands throughout the lower Kootenai River watershed. In addition, the Kreist proposal supports the CFLRP goals of watershed and ecosystem health, wildfire use and protection, recreation and public access, and economic sustainability for local communities. Landscapes have changed across the North Zone of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests from historic conditions due to major losses of long-lived seral species (ponderosa pine, western larch, and western white pine). Forests within these landscapes (including the Kreist project) are dominated by late seral species of grand fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar that are shade tolerant, drought/fire intolerant species; and short lived early seral species of lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir that are approaching the end of their life span. These landscapes are the most heavily altered from historic conditions and contain the greatest need and opportunity for landscape forest vegetation restoration. Large, high severity fires burned within the project area in the 1870 s and late 1890 s. The fires burned severely, essentially clearing the landscape and allowing for the widespread regeneration of lodgepole pine. Lodgepole pine is an aggressive pioneer tree species with the capability of abundant seed production followed by rapid juvenile growth, giving it an advantage to perpetuate after fires. The fires during these two decades alone burned a majority of the project area. Lodgepole pine stands in northern Idaho start to decline in health and become increasingly susceptible to insect and disease at 80 to 100 years of age. The lodgepole pine within the Kreist Creek landscapes has reached maturity and approximately 25% of the landscape is currently considered moderate to high hazard 3 for mountain pine beetle attack. In addition to an increased susceptibility to mountain pine beetle attack, over-mature lodgepole pine stands have a high susceptibility to windthrow which contributes to an increase in fuel load and consequently an increase in fire hazard. Combined with increased mountain pine beetle activity, these factors could contribute to a lethal fire with the potential to spread to connected landscapes adjacent to the Kreist planning area. 1 The legal description for this area is: T64N, R2E, Sections 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, 36; T64N, R3E, Sections 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 30, 31, 32; T63N, R2E, Sections 1, 2, 11, 12; T64N, R3E, Sections 5, 6, 7, Boise Meridian Hazard is defined as the ability of a stand to support a growing population of mountain pine beetles (Randall and Tensmeyer 1999). 1

2 Across the West, aspen stands are in a widespread state of decline that seems to be accelerating. Aspen stands begin to deteriorate when large trees grow old in the absence of disturbance, especially fire, and begin to die and break off in windstorms. This creates gaps within the grove, but without appropriate conditions little or no sprouting will occur to replace the declining overstory trees. Additionally, because of the lack of fire, aspen is often out-competed and replaced by conifer tree species. In the past century, the Kreist Creek project landscape has changed, primarily because of human influences such as fire suppression, and introduction of white pine blister rust. As a result, forests in this area have become dominated by Douglas-fir and true firs which are susceptible to root disease and Douglas-fir beetle activity. Consequently, forests in this area have become dense and overloaded with flammable debris and tree species more susceptible to disease, and insect infestations have become more common. Initial field reconnaissance in the Kreist Creek area of interest identified a need to maintain or improve the vegetation resource and the overall resilience of the watershed to insects, disease and wildfire disturbances as well as improve stream habitat/structure and road conditions, and reduce weed infestations throughout the planning area. Corresponding with these needs are opportunities to improve aquatic health by replacing culverts, improving fish passage, and restoring streambank and instream aquatic habitat within the planning area. This project is within the wildland urban interface (WUI); private lands are adjacent to and within the area of interest. There is some opportunity for prescribed burning to reduce hazardous fuels; however the majority of the Kreist Creek landscape evolved with high and mixed severity fires. The vegetation treatments that would move the landscape toward its desired condition would likely be accomplished mechanically, primarily through commercial timber harvest and prescribed burning. Streams within the planning area are generally functioning properly and are supporting beneficial uses and fisheries resources. However, there are a few locations in the planning area where sediment delivery to streams is elevated due to erosion from aging road prisms and ditches. Impacts of sedimentation on salmonids and their habitat can include loss of beneficial spawning habitat, reduced incubation success, loss of summer and winter rearing habitat, and impacts to important food sources. Additionally, field reviews identified stream crossings that were either undersized, potentially resulting in blocked culverts that could lead to road failure, or were placed in a manner that is preventing upstream fish passage to beneficial aquatic habitat. Substantial noxious weed populations (particularly hawkweed species, as well as knapweed and St. Johnswort) are located within the Kreist Creek planning area. There are a number of ways that these increased weed populations could impact the Kreist landscape, particularly soil productivity, native plant and animal species and communities, and wildlife and aquatic resources. Noxious weeds are also well-established along many of the areas roads and trails. Heavy infestations were observed along Forest road 2517A & B; while moderate infestations were found elsewhere. As part of any project, we review the transportation needs of the area and identify an ecologically and fiscally sustainable minimum road system that meets resource management and public access needs. This is our opportunity to make the planning road system, ecologically sustainable and fiscally affordable. The landscape of the Kreist project can be seen from the Moyie River Road (County road 34) as well as the Snyder Guard Station and Deer Ridge lookout. Some of the proposed harvest 2

3 treatments for this project are located within foreground and middleground as viewed from these areas The general setting of the planning area is natural appearing, yet evidence of human activities such as highways, timber harvest, roads, developed campsites, etc. predominate. Important Goals and Actions we want to accomplish for Kreist planning area: 1. Maintain and improve forest landscape resiliency by providing for tree species, stocking levels, and landscape patterns that better resist insects and disease. Provide for tree species, stocking levels, and landscape patterns that reduce the risk of insect and disease occurrences. Reduce the acreage of mature and over-mature lodgepole pine stands that are considered high-risk for mountain pine beetle attacks Increase the acreage of stands where western white pine is a significant component Regenerate and expand aspen clones where they currently exist 2. Promote forest conditions that reduce fire hazard on National Forest System lands and aid fire suppression efforts to reduce the potential impacts of wildfire to private lands within and adjacent to the project area. Reduce surface fuels and crown densities to create a low-intensity and severity fire environment. Remove small trees in dry forest stands that were historically formed and maintained by fire. 3. Maintain and improve aquatic habitat. Repair or improve drainage along roads where interactions between roads and surface water exists. Improve fisheries passage through roads using natural channel design. 4. Contain or control existing noxious weed populations along road and trail systems in the Kreist Creek project area, and reduce the potential of new weed infestations into the area. Pre-treat weed populations along trails and roads (including haul routes, temporary roads, landings, unused roads, and roads proposed for storage or decommissioning) within the project planning area using accepted herbicides and weed management practices. Provide follow-up weed treatments (contractor/forest Service) in the area to keep existing weed populations and potential new weed invaders in check. 5. Examine the road and trail systems to determine long-term transportation and resource needs. 6. Maintain the scenic integrity and sustainability of areas adjacent to County road 34 to reflect healthy, resilient vegetation conditions. Create vegetation openings and patterns that emulate natural disturbance processes. Modify existing geometrically shaped openings to better mimic those created by natural disturbances. Increase the species diversity and age classes of existing vegetation. 7. Provide opportunities to utilize forest products and provide economic opportunity through restoration and road maintenance work. 3

4 Background Information Lands within the planning area have a long history of motorized and non-motorized recreational use. They include a wide range of natural and developed settings within an hour of Bonners Ferry, Idaho as well as both Creston, and Cranbrook, BC. Recreational activities range from car camping, cabin rental, huckleberry picking, hunting and fishing, to horseback, motorcycle and mountain bike trail riding, white water rafting, and day hikes. There is an established trail network within the planning area (trails #35, #205, #350 and #277) that is used by hikers, mountain bikers, horse back, and motorcycle user groups. Trail #35 (Ruby Ridge trail) has been designated as part of the larger Pacific Northwest Trail system. The Pacific Northwest Trail was congressionally designated in Recreational use within the planning area, until recently, had been primarily of local interest and now has wide range appeal and recognition. The majority of the project is located in the Mission-Moyie BORZ (Bears Outside Recovery Zone). BORZ are areas immediately adjacent to a grizzly bear recovery zone where grizzly bear occupancy has been documented on a recurring basis. Management direction in BORZ is geared toward ensuring no increases in road miles (open or restricted) and limiting disturbance. The northeastern portion of the project is also in the Deer-Skin LAU (Lynx Analysis Unit) and is designated lynx critical habitat. Management direction in LAUs and critical habitat is geared toward retaining mature, multi-story habitat and providing sufficient snowshoe hare habitat. The planning area also contains habitat for other sensitive or management indicator species (MIS) such as flammulated owl and northern goshawk (two known active territories). The proposed vegetation management lies within the following Forest Plan Management Areas: Management Area (MA)-1, which is managed by the Idaho Panhandle National Forests to provide for long-term growth and production of commercially valuable wood products. MA-2 - which is managed by the Idaho Panhandle National Forests to maintain and enhance identified grizzly bear habitat. It is classified as suitable for timber production and allows for timber production with timber harvest to improve or maintain grizzly bear habitat MA-4 which is managed by the Idaho Panhandle National Forests to provide winter forage to support existing and projected big game populations through scheduled timber harvest and permanent forage areas. MA-9 - Goals are to maintain and protect existing improvements, resource productivity potential and within minimum investments. WHAT ARE WE PROPOSING TO DO? At this phase of the project, we currently have identified more than 2,800 acres that need treatment, but based on internal scoping and integration of other resource management objectives our current proposal has been reduced to approximately 2,300 acres. As we collect public comments and conduct further analysis within the planning area, the treatments and treatment areas may change. Refer to the attached project map for unit locations and Appendix for unit specific treatments. The proposed action would include approximately 2,300 acres of silvicultural treatments that would be designed to help meet the goals and actions stated previously (see summary table for all 4

5 proposed activities). The following treatments would involve the removal of commercially valuable wood products (all acres are approximate): Even-aged management (1,023 acres seed tree with reserves, 78 acres shelterwood with reserves, and 186 acres of shelterwood/burn) following treatment the remaining canopy in these stands would result in harvest areas larger than 40 acres in size. Uneven-aged management (407 acres group selection) following treatment the canopy closure in these stands would remain fairly high with only scattered openings. Intermediate treatments (27 acres commercial thin and 24 acres of improvement cut) these stands would have a more closed canopy than regeneration harvest (even-aged silvicultural systems) following project activities. Treatments involving commercial timber harvest would be accomplished through a combination of ground-based logging systems (i.e. skidders and hand-felling or mechanical harvesting equipment), skyline yarding, and helicopter yarding. These treatments would trend the timber stands towards historical species composition and stocking levels, generally leaving the largest trees available of the desired species mix. All treatments will be designed with local factors in mind to account for the enhancement of visuals and scenic integrity. Even-aged regeneration harvesting would be focused in stands where mature and over-mature lodgepole is considered a high-risk for mountain pine beetle attacks. Group selection prescriptions would include about 60 acres of treatments in dry forest old growth. Treatments would be designed to restore the historic integrity of this type of old growth through retention of all ponderosa pine, western larch, and Douglas-fir, larger than 20 inches dbh and other large diameter trees that are contributing to the old growth character of the stand. Focusing on removing smaller diameter trees would free up more water and nutrients to the remaining large trees while reducing the risk of catastrophic fire in this stand. The following treatments would not involve the removal of commercial wood products and would not require ground-disturbing equipment (acres are approximate): Regenerate approximately 207 acres of aspen stands, through prescribed burn (and/or conifer slashing) only the intent would be to kill encroaching conifer trees competing with aspen stands and reinvigorate existing, mature aspen. Precommercial thinning on 362 acres. Slash created as a result of vegetation treatments that is not needed on site to meet soil management objectives would be underburned, grapple piled or whole tree yarded. Piling equipment would be restricted to existing skid trails or would operate on slash mats in all units to 5 Definitions of Silviculture Prescriptions Seed Tree with Reserves Designed to regenerate and maintain a stand with two age classes by removing most trees except for a small number of widely dispersed trees that will be retained for seed production and to produce a new age class. Large diameter western larch and white pine will be retained in the overstory where they exist. No future overstory removals would be conducted. Shelterwood with Reserves Designed to create twostoried stands featuring retention of large-diameter ponderosa pine, western larch and white pine in the overstory and regeneration of these same species in the understory. No future overstory removals would be conducted. Commercial Thin/Improvement cutting/group Selection Treatments would reduce stand density by removing smaller trees from the lower crown classes and favoring the development of the biggest and best quality trees to improve the health and vigor of the residual stands. Sanitation and group selection would occur in areas where small pockets (generally less than three acres) of insect and disease occur. Pre commercial thinning Treatments would be designed to remove less desirable trees to improve the composition and quality of the residual stand. Trees are too small to be commercial sawlog material.

6 prevent exceeding soil compaction and disturbance standards. Prescribed burning (piles as well as underburning) would be conducted at times and under conditions that would minimize or prevent accumulation of smoke to such degree as necessary to meet State and Federal ambient air quality standards. The interdisciplinary team (IDT) working on this project has conducted a Transportation Analysis (TAP) for the Kreist Creek planning area. The goal of the TAP was to identify problem areas associated with roads and determine corrective actions to mitigate impacts to resources and achieve a maintainable system of roads that serves the agency and public needs. The TAP developed recommendations from each resource area for every road segment within the watershed. After completing this analysis the IDT is recommending that approximately one mile of existing roads be decommissioned, another approximately.45 mile should be designated for storage and.3 miles be changed to open seasonal (see summary table for specific road segments). Decommissioned roads are those the IDT recommended were not needed to meet multiple resource objectives and would no longer be managed as part of the District s transportation system. Stored roads are those still needed to meet long-term management objectives, but stored in the short-term. An example of a stored road would be where the existing drainage systems, posing the greatest potential to cause stream damage, would be removed rendering the road impassable and hydrologically inert in the short-term. However, the road would remain on the District s transportation system to meet other resource objectives in the future. The proposed action also includes road reconstruction, which covers approximately 23 miles of road within the project area. Road Definitions of Road Actions reconstruction is Routine Road maintenance - Maintenance entails performing necessary defined in this work to keep the road at objective driving standards. Maintenance activities include grading the travelway, resurfacing, cleaning ditches and proposal as minor culverts, and improving drainage relief features like waterbars. road improvements Road reconstruction Consists of the repairing of specific sections of road beyond routine back to its original maintenance level. Actions under this may include maintenance on repairing drainage structures, and removing excess vegetation on the road existing road systems bed. such as culvert Decommissioning Consists of activities that results in the stabilization and replacement or restoration of unneeded roads to a more natural state. Decommissioning may entail one or more of the following: full or partial recontouring of the removing wellestablished potential to cause damage to the stream, and recontouring stream road prism, installing waterbars, removing culverts that have the greatest vegetation. Routine crossings. maintenance is the Storage - Results in the stabilization or restoration of roads to a more natural ongoing upkeep of a state until the road is again needed to accomplish management activities. Storage may include one or more of the treatments described under road necessary to decommissioning. The road would be effectively blocked by earthen retain the road to the barrier while in storage or have the 1st recontoured. Culverts approved road would be pulled. Roads put into storage remain on the forest transportation management objective system. and would occur on approximately 12 miles of road within the planning area. This includes blading, brushing, and dust abatement and would be performed throughout the project area as necessary during project implementation. As recommended by the IDT and required by CFLRP, no new permanent roads would be constructed. However, approximately ½ mile of temporary road would be constructed to access unit #25 (see map). The temporary road would be obliterated following use. In summary, the proposed action would result in a net reduction of approximately 1.74 miles of existing system roads. 6

7 Please review the following table which displays the proposed actions. Please refer to the attached project map that identifies the units and roads that are included in this project. Table 1. Summary of Proposed Activities Vegetation Treatments Acres Seed Tree with reserves 1,023 Group Selection 407 Shelterwood with reserves 78 Shelterwood-burn 186 Improvement cut 24 Commercial Thin 27 Prescribed burn 207 Precommercial thin 362 TOTAL 2,314 Harvest Treatment Acres Tractor 1,146 Skyline 656 Helicopter 150 TOTAL 1,952 Fuel Treatment Acres Underburn 1,286 Grapple pile 396 Whole tree yard 27 Whole tree yard/underburn 120 Underburn/grapple pile 150 TOTAL 1,952 Transportation/Roads Existing miles Proposed miles Road Maintenance 12 Road Reconstruction 23 Temporary road construction Decommissioning. Total change Forest road Forest road 2517C Storage Forest road 2517C Open Seasonal Forest road 211E Open Year Closed Year

8 Design Features and Mitigation Measures We have developed a list of design features and mitigation that we are currently considering for this project and have posted this list on our IPNF web site at They are also available upon request. This list may change depending on the comments we receive during this comment period or based on further analysis of the proposed alternatives. Design features would be applied during project implementation. The purpose of these measures is to completely avoid, or to the fullest extent possible minimize the potential for adverse effects to specific resources. Mitigation must be applied during project implementation. Mitigation measures are actions required to lessen unavoidable impacts resulting from implementation of a certain action. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU It is important that you tell us your ideas or concerns, along with supporting reasons, about the project so we can consider them during our project planning and environmental analysis process. A Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team comprised of employees with different resource specialties, along with the KVRI collaborative, has identified potential resource issues that may need to be addressed in the development of the proposal. Once the proposal is finalized, we will focus on the environmental, social and economic issues to analyze in the environmental document. The issues we address in our planning process, and the degree to which we address them, is partially dependent upon the input you provide us. Helping us identify potential issues is one of the most important ways you can become involved with the project. Some of the issues that we anticipate analyzing in this project include the potential effects to: Crown fire potential Forest ecosystem health, resilience and diversity Scenic quality Wildlife species and their habitat Roads systems and access for fire suppression, recreation and vegetation management Noxious weeds Rare plants Aquatic habitat The responsible official for this project and the decision is Mary Farnsworth, Forest Supervisor for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. We encourage you to provide feedback on our proposal. Please use the enclosed form, call, or send us an . Please group your comments by resource issue so they can be readily identified, tracked, and incorporated into the project design. We will be using the comments to develop alternatives, design additional resource protection measures, and analyze the potential effects of the proposed actions in an Environmental Assessment. To be eligible to submit an objection to this project, individuals and entities must provide the following during this comment period: (1) Name, address, telephone number, and organization 8

9 represented, if any; (2) Title of the document on which the comments are being submitted; (3) Specific facts and supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider; and (4) Signature(s). Address comments to: Mary Farnsworth, Forest Supervisor; Attn: Kreist Creek Project, Bonners Ferry Ranger District, by mail to 6286 Main Street, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805; by phone to (208) ; by facsimile to (208) ; or hand-deliver between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Comments may also be submitted electronically to the following address: comments-northern-idpanhandlebonners-ferry@fs.fed.us in one of the following formats: Microsoft Word, Word Perfect or as an RTF file. Additional information is available from assistant project leader Nancy Kertis at the Sandpoint or Bonners Ferry Ranger District offices. Written, facsimile, hand-delivered, oral, or electronic comments will be accepted for 30 calendar days following the date of publication of the legal notice in the Coeur d Alene Press. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period for this proposal. You should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. You must submit specific written comments relating to this project in response to this mailing in order to be eligible to participate in the administrative review process (36 CFR ). Specific comments should be within the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and include comment rationale for the Responsible Official to consider. Only those who submit timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project during this public comment period are eligible to file an objection. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names, addresses, addresses and phone numbers of those who comment, will be placed in the project file and considered part of the public record. This letter along with proposed design criteria and mitigation are available for down load from the IPNF website at A comment form has been enclosed for your convenience. Feel free to use the form, write us a letter, call, or visit. Your comments are important. The sooner we receive your input, the easier it is to design a project that includes your ideas. 9

10 Appendix KREIST CREEK PROJECT UNIT SUMMARY TABLE UNIT RX LOGSYS FUELS PCC PCC (BEFORE) (AFTER) ACRES 1 ST T GP ST T GP GS T GP ST T UB ST S UB ST S UB ST T GP ST T GP ST S UB ST T UB IC S UB ST T GP GS S WTY/UB ST T UB ST S UB ST S UB ST S UB ST T UB SW S UB ST S UB GS S UB GS T UB ST T GP ST S UB ST S UB ST T UB ST T UB ST T GP ST T GP ST T GP ST T UB ST T UB ST T UB a ST S UB SW/B T UB SW T GP ST S UB SW T GP CT S WTY SW/B T UB Burn NA UB a ST T UB a GS S WTY/UB

11 UNIT RX LOGSYS FUELS PCC PCC (BEFORE) (AFTER) ACRES 3b GS H UB/GP a ST S UB a ST H UB/GP PCT N/A N/A TOTAL KEY ST Seed Tree UB Underburn IC Improvement Cut GP Grapple Pile GS Group Select WTY Whole Tree yard SW Whole Tree Shelterwood WTY/UB yard/underburn SW/B Underburn/grapple Shelterwood/Burn UB/GP pile CT Commercial Thin T Tractor PCT Burn PCC (Before) PCC (After) Precommercial Thin S Skyline Prescribed burn only H Helicopter Percent Canopy Cover Before Harvest Percent Canopy Cover After Harvest 11