Forest Management Plan FOR. Trail West Homeowners Association Rio Hondo Dr., Buena Vista, CO 81211

Transcription

1 Forest Management Plan FOR Trail West Homeowners Association Rio Hondo Dr., Buena Vista, CO NE ¼ of the SE 1/4 Section 9, Township 14, Range 79 W, 6 th P.M. 40 Acres Parcel # Chaffee County, Colorado PREPARED BY Megan Sweeney Colorado State Forest Service 7980 West Highway 50, Salida, CO September 2010 Reviewed and Approved by: District Forester Date 1

2 Table of Contents I. Goals 3 II. General Description 3 III. Inventory 14 IV. Recommendations & Guidelines 19 V. Implementation Schedule 22 Glossary 25 References 27 Appendix A: Field Inventory 28 Appendix B: Dwarf Mistletoe 59 Appendix C: Douglas Fir Tussock Moth 63 Appendix D: Western Spruce Budworm 67 Appendix E: Mountain Pine Beetle 70 Appendix F: Sudden Aspen Decline 75 Appendix G: Fuelbreak Guidelines 80 Appendix H: Wildlife Fact Sheets 89 Appendix I: Soil Description 96 2

3 I. Goals Improve forest health Improve wildlife habitat Produce firewood for residents and for donation II. General Property Description Property: The property is located in Chaffee County, approximately 5 miles west of Buena Vista (Figure 1, Vicinity Map). This vacant land is west of the Trail West subdivision. From the junction of CR 306 and CR 361, drive 1.3 miles on CR 361 to the entrance of Trail West. Continue past the entrance for 0.4 miles and turn left onto Trail West Drive. Drive 1 mile and turn left just before the Young Life gate. Drive 0.1 mile to the 2 trace road across from address Drive this 2-track west for entry to the Trail West 40. There are no fences or gates delineating property boundaries on this property, however the property corners are marked with wooden stakes and their coordinates are as follows: Corner Coordinates: NE corner: N 38 deg ' W 106 deg ' SE corner: N 38 deg ' W 106 deg ' SW corner: N 38 deg ' W 106 deg NW corner: N 38 deg ' W 106 deg ' Elevation ranges from about 9,000 feet on the eastern edge to slightly above 9,200 feet on the western edge of the property. The property is bordered by the San Isabel National Forest to the North, West and South, and shares the Eastern border with the Young Life church camp. Deep Creek is the intermittent stream that runs from the NW corner of the property to the SE, eventually emptying into the pond at the neighboring Young Life property to the east (See Figures 3 and 4). 3

4 Vicinity map 4

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6 Two-track roads on the property are maintained by the HOA and provide access for trucks and other equipment (see Figure 5). These roads are bestsuited for trucks with reasonable clearance and 4-wheel drive, especially in winter conditions. ATV s are not allowed on these roads, except in circumstances approved by the Trail West HOA Board of Directors. Climate: According to Western Regional Climate Center, the Buena Vista area receives on average, inches of annual precipitation per year ( records). There are usually frost-free days per year, and temperatures generally range from below zero to over 80 F. Economics: In recent years, the wood products market in Chaffee County has been small, due to an overabundance wood, a lack of local sawmills, and a weak overall economy. Traditional wood product markets that are still active on a small scale include firewood, posts and poles, and small saw timber. Current and Historical Land Uses: No specific item of known historical interest can be attributed to this property. Significant timber harvesting did occur during the late 1800 s and early 1900 s due to nearby railroad and ranching activities and the towns that grew from these activities. Old wagon roads and old stumps are the most significant artifacts that can be linked to this period. During the 1880 s lettuce was a leading product of Buena Vista area farms. The property was most recently owned by the Young Life camp and the property to the east was owned by Trail West. In 2005 or 2006 the two organizations agreed to swap properties. Since the exchange, the Trail West 40 has been used for firewood cutting and recreation (primarily hiking) by Trail West residents. Trees removed for firewood have been mostly standing dead or down dead aspen and Douglas-fir. The firewood is donated to the mission in Buena Vista or used by Trail West Residents. It is estimated that only about 10% of Trail West residents heat their homes with firewood. 6

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10 A community slash disposal pit and gravel pile (shown at left) sit alongside the road in the southeastern portion of the property. This slash pit is for any and all slash produced in the Trail West subdivision, and the gravel from the pit is stored for use on subdivision roads. Some of the ideas for future use of this property, as expressed by various residents include a horse stable, ATV use, and building hiking trails. Any development on this property will have to be carefully considered and approved by the HOA. Management Units: Management units are designated on Figure 6. These units are based on the location of roads and density of trees because these two factors make the units more accessible to volunteers and good candidates for management. It will be at the discretion of the Trail West HOA as to how to prioritize the management units. If the HOA wants to change these units in any way, please contact CSFS to provide guidance and an updated map. Unit 1: This unit encompasses the southeastern corner of the property. Firewood cutting has been focused in this area for a number of years, removing many dead trees from the landscape. This unit is the closest to the homes of the Trail West subdivision, and should be the first unit to receive focused forest management. There are many pockets of thick Douglas-fir that could benefit from a thinning. The ponderosa pine trees in this unit are infected with dwarf mistletoe, the worst of which should be removed. Consider planting ponderosa pine seedlings in the meadow areas where old ponderosa pine stumps indicate there once was a forest of opengrown, large trees that benefitted from periodic, low-intensity ground fires (as in the image below). Use guidance in the Recommendations section of this plan to determine the scope of forest management in this unit. 10

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12 Unit 2: This unit encompasses the southwestern corner of the property and includes the slash/gravel pile. There are areas of dense Doug-fir and some rather healthy and large ponderosa pine that could benefit from thinning. The unit gradually slopes uphill into the national forest with similar forest type. In order to prevent tree cutting on USFS lands, use care in establishing the property boundary location. Inquire with the USFS regarding any future timber sales or projects on their side of the property to coordinate forest management efforts using the Good Neighbor Authority. Unit 3: This unit encompasses the northern third of the property. The 2-track road in the northwestern corner of the property continues into the national forest. This area is diverse, complete with a small number of Engelmann spruce and lodgepole pine stems in addition to the usual Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and aspen. Preserving this diversity is important in this unit, while thinning to promote the healthiest of trees. The opening in the eastern portion of this unit is home to some large ponderosa pine, which are heavily infected with dwarf mistletoe. Freshly-cut stumps were found in this unit during the inventory, some of which were left too high (see photo below). All harvesting on the property should emphasize the importance of cutting stumps as low to the ground as possible. 12

13 Unit 4: This central meadow area runs the entire length of the property. Tree species include Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and aspen. There are some large, open-grown Douglas-fir and some that are closely-spaced as well. Most of the ponderosa pine have dwarf mistletoe, and there are some seedlings that appear vigorous and disease-free. The aspen in this unit are quite healthy despite high deer and elk pressure, but they could benefit from the elimination of the encroaching Douglas-fir stems. As in the meadow areas in Unit 1, this central area includes many of the same old ponderosa pine stumps. Because so many of the ponderosa pine have heavy dwarf mistletoe infection, it may be necessary to plant ponderosa pine seedlings, leaving at least feet between seedlings. The photo below was taken in the western portion of this central meadow area and shows some of the young seedlings making their way into the meadow. 13

14 Impacts on Neighbors and Surrounding Communities: The long-term impact of forest management to Trail West landowners and the community is positive. Currently, the firewood cut from the property goes to needy families, Trail West residents, and individuals in Buena Vista. Firewood removal helps to remove hazardous fuels from the landscape that would otherwise make wildfire suppression more difficult. Increased thinning along the property boundaries and the roads would help to create fuelbreaks that may prevent or slow-down a running crown fire. By thinning the overcrowded trees, the residual trees would benefit from increased moisture and sunlight, thereby making them more resistant to insects and diseases. In areas where the aspen are being overrun by Douglas-fir, removing the Douglas-fir will help to retain the important aspen component of this diverse ecosystem. III. Inventory Methods: The property was inventoried in its entirety, using a variable plot cruise. Information gathered at each plot included tree species, height and diameter, tree density, type, and level of insect and disease damage, the level of dead fuel loading, number of dead standing trees, percent slope, type of ground vegetation and miscellaneous items. Seedlings and saplings were inventoried using a 1/100 th acre fixed plot (11.78 foot radius) utilizing the same plot centers as the variable plot cruise. Tree volumes were calculated using the U.S. Forest Service s Forest Vegetation Simulator, which is a family of forest growth simulation models. A more detailed summary of the inventory can be found in Appendix A. 14

15 Tree Species: The average number of trees per acre for all species (not including seedlings and saplings) is Basal area is a measure of tree density, the average basal area per acre including all species, is 60. Overall, this basal area would indicate an average density, but we know by looking at the aerial photo and by walking the property that the density varies from very sparse in the meadow areas to very dense in the drainages and on the western side of the property that is thick with Douglas-fir stems. The site index, a measure of a sites productivity potential, for Douglas-fir is between 50 and 60, which is low when considering site indices for the greater Rocky Mountain region, but is average for Chaffee County. As illustrated in Table 1, on the following page, Douglas-fir is the dominant tree species on the property, which on average, makes up 74% of the average basal area per acre. Ponderosa pine makes up 17% of the average basal area per acre. Aspen makes 6% of the basal area per acre, and lodge pole pine makes up 2% of the average basal area per acre, and Engelmann spruce makes up 1% of the average basal area per acre. There are an average of 446 seedlings and saplings (trees less than 5.0 inches in diameter at breast height) per acre on the property. Of the inventoried seedlings and saplings, 55% of them were Douglas-fir, 45% were aspen, and 3% were ponderosa pine. Table 1. Species distribution (excluding seedlings and saplings) based on number of trees per acre for all inventoried species at Trail West 40. DF=Douglas-fir, AS=Aspen, PP=ponderosa pine, LP=lodgepole pine. 15

16 Tree characteristics: Table 2, on the following page, illustrates the height distribution of all inventoried standing live and dead trees. The majority of the trees are between 30 and 40 feet tall. A small number of open-grown trees were between 60 and 80+ feet tall, a result of the increased sunlight and moisture received due to a lack of competition from other trees. The diameter distribution table (Table 3, next page) shows that a great majority of the trees are of smaller diameter. Through thinning and selecting for the healthiest trees, this table would see a shift over time, to a greater number of trees in the larger diameter classes. These larger, healthier trees will produce more seed, wildlife habitat, firewood, and aesthetic value. Table 2. Height distribution (excluding seedlings and saplings) per acre for all inventoried species at Trail West

17 Table 3. Diameter class distribution (excluding seedlings and saplings) for all inventoried species at Trail West 40. Other Vegetation: Understory vegetation includes shrubs such as Kinnikinnik (Arctostaphylos uva ursi, shown at right), woods rose (Rosa woodsii), common juniper, (juniperus communis), and currant (Ribes spp.). Various grasses and forbs are present, including mountain muhly (muhlenbergia Montana) and Arizona fescue (festuca arizonica) and many more. Biological Diversity: This property sits in an interesting transition zone between open stands of ponderosa leading up from the valley to the higher elevation spruce-fir-lodgepole forests that dominate the slopes west and above the property. This area is especially important for wildlife habitat. Squirrels, Steller s jays, deer, and turkeys were all observed during the inventory. Other wildlife observed by residents include elk and black bears. Colorado Division of Wildlife Fact Sheets on selected wildlife species can be found in Appendix H. 17

18 Insects & Disease: Dwarf mistletoe (shown in photo below) in the ponderosa pine is prevalent throughout the Trail West 40 and the residential portion of the subdivision as well. This disease is all too common in many residential areas on the outskirts of Buena Vista and can be attributed in part by the long-term exclusion of fire from this ecosystem and the over-crowding of ponderosa pine forests. The only way to eradicate this disease from a stand is to remove all of the trees that are currently infected or to protect young seedlings that are not yet infected by removing neighboring mature trees that do. Pruning of infected branches on trees that are minimally affected can only slow the spread. More information concerning dwarf mistletoe can be found in Appendix B. The Douglas-fir tussock moth and the western spruce budworm are two defoliators that may be found on this property dominated by Douglas-fir. While defoliators don t necessarily kill the trees they affect, severe and repeated defoliation can help weaken trees and make them susceptible to other insects and disease, which can eventually to lead to the tree s death. The best way to prevent large and harmful outbreaks of both of these pests (and many others) is to manage the forest so that the trees have ample sunlight and moisture to defend themselves against these pests. Thinning overcrowded stands is the tool used to create such an ideal environment for growing trees in our arid environment and is a proactive, rather than a reactive approach to forest management. More information concerning the Douglas-fir tussock moth and the western spruce budworm can be found in Appendix C and Appendix E. Fire Hazard: The risk of fire on this property can be classified as moderate to high. Areas of dense Douglas-fir in the understory provides the ladder fuels necessary for a ground fire to reach the crowns of trees. Ground fuels such as grass, fine woody debris, and coarse woody debris vary from low to high amounts, but overall, could certainly carry fire across the property given favorable conditions for fire. The property s proximity to a youth camp, a subdivision, and a vast national forest should be reason enough to reduce the amount of flammable material on this landscape. The network of 2-track roads and the large area cleared for the slash and gravel pile provide some protection from a fast-moving wildfire, but continued thinning and slash removal will make these defenses stronger. The Trail West residents have already been very proactive in reducing hazardous fuels within the 18

19 subdivision, and this enthusiasm and awareness could be a resource for furthering wildfire prevention projects on the Trail West 40. Soils: Please refer to Appendix I for all soil information. Endangered species: No endangered species were found on the property. Archeological sites: No archeological sites were found on the property. Noxious weeds: No noxious weeds were noted on the property. Cultural features: There are two underground water reservoirs located to the north side of the 2-track road that runs along the southern edge of the property. One is in use and holds 10,000 gallons, the other is no longer in use. The slash and gravel pile is labeled as such in Figure 5. There is an old mine shaft on USFS property on the northwestern edge of the property, see Figure 3, there is a mine symbol and the letters ne are visible to the left of this symbol. Trail West HOA leaders will work with the USFS to close this shaft. IV. Recommendations & Guidelines There are endless possibilities for the management of this 40 acre parcel. The 4 areas of emphasis presented here represent management options that will result in increased forest health, aesthetics, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities for Trail West residents. This format allows the Trail West HOA to use adaptive management to ensure a productive and healthy forest for many years to come. Focused Firewood Production: Currently, the firewood removed from the property is gathered primarily from dead trees, both standing and down. While this practice is generous and effective at removing coarse woody debris (fuels) from the landscape, a more focused effort would add value to this hard work. This focused effort should include live trees as well as continuing to harvest the dead. Determine which live trees to cut using the following guidance. Overcrowded stands should be thinned to promote the healthiest stems. Ponderosa pine heavily infested with dwarf mistletoe (generally rated as a 4 or more, see appendix C for instructions on rating dwarf mistletoe infection) should be cut as well. Douglas fir stems that are growing within, or encroaching an aspen stand can be thinned as well. Hiring a forester to mark trees for removal is another good strategy for selecting live trees for removal. By marking these trees, the HOA can easily monitor the progress of a harvest and ensure that only marked trees are removed from the property. It is very important to make sure that anyone marking trees for the HOA is aware of goals and objectives for the firewood harvest and the desired future condition of the property. 19

20 Promoting Aspen and Ponderosa Pine: Douglas-fir is a shade-tolerant species that is thriving on this property. It has been able to grow under the canopies of the other tree species on the property, notably aspen and ponderosa pine, tilting the species composition scales in its favor. Preserving and promoting the other species on the property will help to maintain valuable biodiversity that provides important resiliency to insect, disease, and fire disturbances. An aspen stand regenerates in response to disturbances such as fire, windthrow, or harvesting. These disturbances stimulate sucker growth and the next aspen forest begins to emerge. In order to maintain the stands of aspen, the Douglas-fir needs to be removed, as well as any diseased or dying aspen trees. Monitor the regeneration in these stands. Deer and elk will eat aspen sprouts and in extreme cases will need to be excluded from the site so that the stand can regenerate. Increased Fire Protection: The roads on the property provide a good starting point for creating fuelbreaks and reducing the amount of continuous crown fuels that could carry a running crown fire. Fuelbreaks also help to keep fires small and allow fire suppression professionals and equipment to more safely access the area and help protect the subdivision. The fuelbreaks should be at least 150 feet wide on both sides of the 2-track road, and this width should increase as slope increases. The minimum space between the edges of tree crowns should be 10 feet. Well-planned fuelbreaks can actually increase forest aesthetics by removing excess stems, diseased or dying trees, and by increasing visibility and sight distance. Please refer to Appendix G for more specific information on creating fuelbreaks, and it is recommended that a forester be consulted when marking trees or laying-out the project. Increased Recreation: These 40 acres are open to residents for hiking, birdwatching, etc., but there are no formal trails or trailheads. Creating primitive trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding could provide a valuable opportunity for residents to enjoy these activities close to home. Building a small network of well thought-out trails is well within the capabilities of an enthusiastic group of residents. There is a wealth of trail building information on the internet that can guide a trail building committee in the design of such a network. Some of these links are listed below Slash Disposal: The three main options for dealing with residual slash after any forest management activities are as follows: 20

21 Lop & Scatter: This is the least expensive option of the three. Leaving this organic matter on the forest floor to decompose can be very beneficial to the soil and forest floor in the longterm, however, our arid, high desert environment makes decomposition an extremely slow process. Excessive slash on the forest floor can be detrimental to the aesthetics of a forest, especially to hikers, bikers, etc. Pile & Burn: This method of slash disposal can be very effective given the piles are well-constructed and placed, good winter snow cover, proper resources available to manage the burning piles, and permits/approval from the county is attained. Fresh slash piles should cure for a year before burning to reduce the amount of smoke produced when burning. Chipping: This is the most expensive option for slash disposal/dispersal. While chipping is indeed labor intensive, it allows for the organic matter to remain on the forest floor and contribute to soil development, or the chips can be piled and used by residents for landscape purposes. Aesthetically it s more appealing than small branches and sticks remaining on the forest floor. The CSFS chipping fee (as of Dec. 2010) is $ per hour with a 3 person crew, or $ per hour with a 2 person crew. This fee is applied only for those hours that the chipper is in operation (doesn t include travel time). 21

22 VI. Implementation Schedule & Accomplishment Record Ten Year General Work Plan To achieve the owner s objectives, the activities established in this work plan should be followed. The activities presented below are general guides to when activities should be laid-out and completed, for specific guidance as to what types of management are taking place (i.e. building trail, creating fuelbreaks, etc.) the Trail West HOA must decide on which area of emphasis is most important and desirable to the community. It is recognized that unforeseen circumstances, or changes in land use or goals may dictate adjustments to the work plan. Good documentation of all accomplishments will help in each year s planning process and can be used to communicate the value of sustainable forest management to members of the Trail West community. Activity Completion Date Designate person(s) or committee to track accomplishments ASAP Recommended timeline for completing management units: Unit Unit Unit Unit Check for mountain pine beetles, treat accordingly Annually by May Ponderosa pine seedling planting Mid-April, Lay-out annual project area Mark trees for removal Schedule work days and timeline for project Establish photo points, take before pictures Complete annual project Complete slash treatment/wood removal Take after photos of project area Document accomplishments & volunteer hours Annually by June Annually by June Annually by June Annually by June Annually by October Annually by October Annually by November Annually by November Update management plan, perform new inventory

23 Accomplishment Record YEAR ACTIVITY $ COST Hours 23

24 Accomp. map 24

25 Glossary Aspect: a position facing a particular direction. Usually expressed as a compass direction in degrees or cardinal directions Basal Area (BA): 1. The cross-sectional area of a single stem, including the bark, measured at breast height (4.5 ft or 1.37 m above the ground). 2. The cross-sectional area of all stems of a species or all stems in a stand measured at breast height and expressed per unit of land area Diameter at Breast Height (dbh): the diameter of the stem of a tree measured at breast height (4.5 ft or 1.37 m from the ground). On sloping ground the measure is taken from the uphill side Fixed Plot Cruise: Also known as plot sampling. Plots of a set size used to sample a particular population Fuelbreak: a generally wide (60 to 1,000 ft) strip of land on which native vegetation has been permanently modified so that a fire burning into it can be more readily controlled Ladder Fuels: vegetative growth under the tree canopy providing the necessary fuel for a ground fire to move into the tree crown Lop-and-scatter: a hand method of removing the upward-extending branches from tops of felled trees to keep slash low to the ground, to increase rate of decomposition, lower fire hazard, or as a pretreatment prior to burning Sapling: a tree with a diameter at breast height between one inch and 4.9 inches Seedling: a tree with a height of at least 6 inches and a diameter at breast height of less than one inch. Site index: a species-specific measure of actual or potential forest productivity (site quality, usually for even-aged stands), expressed in the terms of the average height of trees included in a specified stand component (defined as a certain number of dominants, co-dominants, or the largest and tallest trees per unit area) at a specified index or base age. Note-site index is used as an indicator of site quality Slash: the residue e.g., treetops and branches, left on the ground after logging or accumulating as a result of storm, fire, girdling, or delimbing 25

26 Slope: a measure of change in surface value over distance, expressed in degrees or as a percentage Species: the main category of taxonomic classification into which genera are subdivided, comprising a group of similar interbreeding individuals sharing a common morphology, physiology, and reproductive process note 1. There is generally a sterility barrier between species, or at least reduced fertility in interspecific hybrids note 2. The species is the basic unit of taxonomy on which the binomial system has been established; the lower taxonomic hierarchy is species, sub species, variety, and forma Snag: a standing, generally unmerchantable dead tree from which the leaves and the majority of branches have fallen Stand: a contiguous group of trees sufficiently uniform in age-class distribution, composition, and structure, and growing on a site of sufficiently uniform quality, to be a distinguishable unit Thinning: a cultural treatment made to reduce stand density of trees primarily to improve growth, enhance forest health, or recover potential mortality Variable plot cruising: also known as point sampling. A type of forest sampling in which the sample is selected with a probability proportional to tree size -note 1. The variable plot size is proportional to the size of the tree being sampled -note 2. An angle device (prism) is used to project a constant angle, and all trees wider than that angle are tallied 26

27 References Colorado Division of Wildlife. Dictionary of Forestry, The. The Society of American Foresters, Jacobi, W.R., and Swift, C.E. Dwarf Mistletoe Management. Cooperative Extension, Colorado State University, Koski, R.D., Jacobi, W.R., Swift, C.E. Mistletoes in Colorado Conifers. No Larrabee, Rassman & Lynch. Forester s Field Handbook, Cooperative Extension, Colorado State University, Leatherman, D.A., Aguayo, I., and Mehall, T.M., Mountain Pine Beetle. Cooperative Extension, Colorado State University, Western Regional Climate Center. USDA Forest Service. Soil and Ecological Land Unit Survey, Draft April 27, *All photos on the preceding pages taken by Megan Sweeney during the inventory. 27

28 Appendix A: Field Inventory *The following pages include all output tables from the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) that was used to run the data from the inventory. The first series of data was run with the seedlings and saplings (all trees inventoried that were less than 5.0 inches in DBH) and the second series of data was run excluding the seedlings and saplings. The data was grown for 10 years using the simulator, without any management taking place. 28

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59 Appendix B: Dwarf Mistletoe Management The above 6-class mistletoe rating system was used to rate the mistletoe infection on the property. A rating of 1-2 is considered slight, 3-4 moderate, 5-6 heavy. Follow the instructions in the illustration above, to monitor the dwarf mistletoe activity on your property. It is especially important to monitor the young trees in the years after pruning to determine if the pruning was successful. 59

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63 Appendix C: Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth 63

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67 Appendix D: Western Spruce Budworm 67

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70 Appendix E: Mountain Pine Beetle 70

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75 Appendix F: Sudden Aspen Decline 75

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80 Appendix G: Fuelbreak Guidelines 80

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89 Appendix H: Wildlife Fact Sheets 89

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96 Appendix I: Soil Description 96