Glass Angel Restoration Project

Transcription

1 U S D A F O R E S T S E R V I C E Glass Angel Restoration Project Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest Naches Ranger District U.S. Highway 12 Naches, WA The Proposal The Naches Ranger District is proposing restoration activities that include vegetation, and road and trail management projects in the Glass Creek and Rattlesnake Creek areas under the plan name of Glass Angel Restoration Project. These activities would be implemented through harvesting mostly mid- and understory trees, thinning and pruning of under- and midstory vegetation in selected stands, treating activity created fuels, and underburning of natural fuels. This project will plan for the utilization of traditionally non-marketable material (slash) as an option for disposing of activity created fuels, but this type of use is dependent on establishment of a local processing infrastructure(s). Biomass utilization such as chipping, Where the Project is Happening The Glass Angel Project Area encompasses 11,395 acres and is broken into two distinct treatment areas located in the Nile and Rattlesnake drainages. Prominent geographic features, Glass Creek and Angel Lake, identify the two areas. Landmarks within the project area include Glass Creek, Nile Creek, Rattlesnake Creek, Angel Lake, Devils Table, and the grinding, or composting, and hauling off-site for use as fuel sources are possible uses. Other methods of disposing of activity created fuels would include prescribed underburning, hand pile and burn, grapple piling and burn, chipping, mastication, and/or commercial firewood removal. Even if the necessary infrastructure for biomass utilization is establish, it is likely that the disposal of excess fuels will be a combination of the methods listed above. This project also seeks to identify and treat existing populations of invasive plants species and Bethel Ridge Road. Forest Roads providing access to the project area include 1600, 1605, 1500, 1503, 1501, and their associated collector and spur roads. Please see the maps on the following page. to reduce the potential for invasive species to spread because of management activities. Key Details: Vicinity & Project Area Maps 2 Purpose of the Project 3 Consistency 3 The Proposed Actions 4 Connected Actions 8 Commenting 9

2 Vicinity & Project Area Maps Page 2 Examine each question in terms of what is ethically and aesthetically right, as well as what is economically expedient. Aldo Leopold

3 Page 3 The Purpose of the Project The purpose of the proposed restoration activities in this project area is to: Restore core components of forest ecosystem (structure, composition, and pattern) Restore focal wildlife species habitat and reduce risk of habitat loss to uncharacteristic wildfire Allow natural processes to function that will provide resilience to uncharacteristic wildfire and climate change Reduce the potential for introduction and spread, and treat established populations of invasive species Make available a transportation system that provides public access for recreation opportunities, is adequate for managing the National Forest, and minimizes adverse resource impacts A public official is there to serve the public and not to run them. Gifford Pinchot Consistency The objectives being developed for the Glass Angel Restoration Project are consistent with recommendations presented in the Northwest Forest Plan, the Wenatchee National Forest Plan, the Naches Mainstem and Wenas Watershed Analysis, the Rattlesnake Creek Watershed Analysis, and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Restoration Strategy. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an environmental analysis is being prepared for this project on the Naches Ranger District. The document will summarize the project purpose and need and will analyze the potential effects of the project on the built and natural environment. Technical studies will be conducted to gather necessary data for the Forest Service to make an informed decision regarding issuance of a permit for the proposed project on federal lands. To accomplish goals and objectives identified for the Glass Angel Project Area, the actions described in the enclosed attachment are being proposed.

4 Page 4 The Proposed Actions Treatments to Restore Vegetation and Habitat Structure, Function, and Pattern and to Insure Resiliency to Uncharacteristic Fire and Climate Change Commercial Harvest Commercial harvest would occur on approximately 649 acres in dry and moist forest stands. Commercial harvest would remove merchantable size material (greater than 7 inches in diameter). This project proposes up to 277 acres of individual tree selection harvest in the dry forest type in the Glass portion of the project area. Three hundred seventy-two acres of the cool moist forest type will be designated for regeneration harvest. This treatment will consist mostly of removing dead trees and trees that are unlikely to grow large enough or live long enough to function as large, old trees, but retaining complex patches. Complex patches are those with more structural and species complexity than the surrounding area. Patch characteristics include large snags, soft down logs, and mistletoe brooms. These patches often provide habitat for important wildlife species such as woodrats and/or flying squirrels which are important prey items for northern spotted owls and raptors. Representation of the current condition; a typical stand in the cool, moist forest type. Representation of the same stand after treatment. A complex patch is portrayed on the right side of the figure. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. Ancient Proverb Approximately 5-6½ million board feet of timber would be removed from the project areas as a result of the harvest treatments specified above. A combination of tractor and skyline logging systems would be used in the project area.

5 Page 5 Non-commercial Thinning Approximately 402 acres of non-commercial (<7 diameter) trees in the cool moist forest type would be thinned (excluding the 124 acres mentioned above). Young managed stands exhibit very different structure than the old forest structures they replaced. Thinning, by fostering development of old forest stand structure, may accelerate development of ecological communities more similar to those found in late successional forests. Fuel Treatment The majority of the Glass Angel project area will be considered for prescribed fire. This would include burning the 649 acres of commercial harvest and up to 513 acres of natural fuels in the Glass portion of the project area, and 6,893 acres of natural fuels in the Angel portion of the project area. Underburning is being proposed to enhance the foundation for composition, structure, and pattern, inherent to the dry forest vegetation type. Underburning will enhance, where they are present, the development of old, large diameter trees that will form the base to establish clumps, complex patches, and gaps within a stand so that effective spatial patterns of habitat and reduced fuel can be maintained over decades. When this pattern and structure is restored at a landscape level, surface fires (either maintenance under burning or natural ignitions) can be used to maintain the desired condition. Conservation is the foresighted utilization, preservation and/or renewal of forests, waters, lands and minerals, for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time. Gifford Pinchot Integrated Invasive Species Management Invasive species prevention and control may occur in areas where project implementation results in soil disturbance (e.g., skid trails, landings, etc.), along travel routes, and in other locations where established weed infestations provide a seed source that could potentially contribute to the further spread of invasive species in the project area. This proposal recommends an integrated and adaptive approach. Management of invasive species would include using one or a combination of prevention and control techniques: Invasive species prevention Invasive species control cultural [seeding, cultivating] mechanical [mowing, clipping] manual [hand pulling, grubbing with hand tools] chemical weed control

6 Page 6 Meadow Restoration Meadows and the niches they create are biodiversity hotspots, in that many animal species, particularly birds and amphibians, use or are dependent upon meadow ecosystems. Montane meadows in the Pacific Northwest, as in much of western North America, have experienced recent and rapid invasion by conifers. Changes in climate and long-term suppression of wildfire likely contribute to the observed replacement of meadow by forest. We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect. This project proposes to: Aldo Leopold Obliterate, rehabilitate, and re-vegetate approximately 0.6 miles of system ORV Trail #697 to restore hydrologic function of montane meadow habitat (T16N,R13E,S24). Construct approximately 1.3 miles of new system ORV Trail and a bridge crossing on a perennial stream (non-fish bearing) to relocate trail #697 around montane meadow habitat. Obliterate, rehabilitate, and re-vegetate approximately 1.8 miles of non -system roads and trails to restore meadow habitat and reduce unauthorized travel routes (T16N,R13E,S23 and 24; T16N,R14E,S18). Construct a bridge crossing at the trail #665 stream ford of Glass Creek to restore streambank stability and improve water quality (T16N,R13E,S24,SW¼). Relocate approximately 150 feet of OHV trail #697 from the floodplain on Nile Creek (T16N,R14E,S16,SW of SW) to restore riparian habitat. Obliterate approximately 0.7 miles of non-system roads to restore floodplain habitat of Rattlesnake Creek (T15N,R14E, S10,N½).

7 Page 7 Transportation System A roads analysis will be conducted as part of this project. The purpose of the roads analysis is to identify current and future needs of the forest road system, and to make recommendations for possible closure and/or decommissioning of any roads that may be redundant, are causing resource damage, or are excess to the needs of the National Forest System. This project proposes the construction of a low-water crossing where Forest Road 1605 crosses Nile Creek. The original crossing was destroyed during a high-water event in 1996, and has been crossed since with an unimproved ford. The Glass Angel project also proposes to Close (reduce to Maintenance Level 1) up to 4.42 miles of Forest Service system road. This does not include roads in the project area that are already Maintenance Level 1. Also proposed is the Decommissioning of 5.22 miles of Forest Service system road. Roads Proposed for Closure (reduce to Maintenance Level 1) (0.68 miles) (0.93 miles) (0.87 miles) (0.41 miles) (0.29 miles) (1.24 miles) Roads Proposed for Decommissioning (1.2 miles) (0.33 miles) (0.62 miles) (1.01 miles) (0.29 miles) (0.12 miles) (1.02 miles) (0.4 miles) (0.23 miles)

8 Page 8 Connected Actions The following actions are directly associated with the proposed actions mentioned above and will be considered in the Glass Angel analysis process. a. Approximately 3.0 miles of new temporary road will be constructed to facilitate timber harvest operations. Unless we practice conservation, those who come after us will have to pay the price of misery, degradation, and failure for the progress and prosperity of our day. b. Approximately 2.8 miles of previously used temporary roads may be constructed to facilitate timber harvest operations. Approximately 2 miles (part of the 2.8 miles identified in this section) of System Trail 697 would be closed during timber harvest operations and used as a haul road. The trail would be rehabbed and returned to the trail system after harvest operations are completed. c. Thinning, incidental to (caused by) prescribed fire. Prescribed fire will likely result in passive-to-active torching of small, medium, and large diameter trees. As size class increases, the proportion of trees in that size class that will torch will decrease. Gifford Pinchot d. Installation of erosion control structures, vegetation and grass seeding in areas vulnerable to erosion (e.g., firelines, skid roads, and landings). These areas may be fertilized as necessary to reestablish vegetation. e. Planting of fire resilient, drought tolerant, and disease resistant tree species in regeneration harvest areas. f. Combinations of ripping, sub-soiling, and/or scarifying of compacted soil on skid roads and landings in proposed timber harvest areas to reduce soil compaction and prepare seedbeds for vegetative planting. g. Abatement of road dust using either water or other dust suppression materials. h. Construction of hand fireline prior to underburning of either natural or activity created fuels. i. Commercial and/or personal use firewood cutting may be allowed where compatible with other resource objectives and management direction. j. Transporting biomass off-site for the production of biofuels and/or bioenergy.

9 Page 9 The planning process for the Glass Angel Restoration Project is currently underway. The proposed actions presented here represent the interdisciplinary team s initial proposal to address specific issues in the project area. Your personal knowledge of this area can help the interdisciplinary team identify additional issues and opportunities not previously defined. In addition, your comments can provide the input necessary to develop alternative proposals that address these issues. Specific comments are of the greatest value to the alternative development process. Receipt of comments by October 31, 2010 would be most helpful, although comments received anytime during the analysis period will be accepted and given consideration. These comments would become part of the public record for this project. Please be aware that unless you request that this information not be disclosed and provide an adequate reason, it will become public record. The Deciding Officer may develop additional action alternatives for consideration following the receipt of public comments. It is anticipated that alternative development will be completed during October An Environmental Analysis is scheduled to be ready for public review by January 10, A decision for the Glass Angel Project is expected before March 1, Additional information about this project, including a detailed Project Description, can be obtained by contacting Jim Bailey at (509) , Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Public support of acts affecting the public is IRENE L. DAVIDSON District Ranger absolutely required. Gifford Pinchot How to Comment Please address all comments to: Irene Davidson, District Ranger Naches Ranger District Highway 12 Naches, WA Or your comments to: comments-pacificnorthwest-wenatchee-naches@fs.fed.us