Huntit Salvage and Reforestation Project CE

Transcription

1 Huntit Salvage and Reforestation Project CE Soils Specialist Report Umatilla National Forest 2016 Walla Walla Ranger District James G. Archuleta 03/30/2016 Name Date James G Archuleta Forest Soil Scientist

2 Project Area Location The Huntit Salvage and Reforestation Project lies in the Cross Canyon-Wenaha subwatershed within the Wenaha watershed. The Wenaha Watershed is part of the Lower Grande Ronde Sub-Basin. Cross Canyon Creek flows into the Wenaha River and then into the Grande Ronde River in Oregon. Legal Location: Township 6N - Ranges 41, 42E Watershed: Wenaha River watershed Cross Canyon-Wenaha subwatershed Mapped Soils within the Project Area Soils develop based on the five soil forming factors of Climate, Time, Organisms (Biology), Topography and Parent Material (Geology). When we look at the Huntit area of the newly mapped Blue Mountain Terrestrial Ecosystem Unit Inventory (TEUI) 1, soils mapped offer a picture of soil development for the area. The soils are defined in taxonomic context, then grouped in commonly occurring Mapping Units (MU) of either, complexes (3 or more series), associations (2 series) or consociation (individual series); to simplify the resulting map. By then evaluating the taxonomic names of these soils, we can determine what kinds of environments developed to express the resulting landscapes we see today. Within the project area we see there are three kinds of soil orders defined by the TEUI; Andisol, and Mollisol. Table 1. Soil orders and developmental conditions within the Huntit area. Soil Order Andisol Mollisol Kinds of Soil Orders found within Huntit Units Developed by Characterizing features High presence of volcanic particles Volcanic deposits on many ecosystem (by percent) types (forest or grass land) Most commonly grassland or forest Fish and Aquatic Life growing on a concave surface When we look at the soil orders present with the Huntit area, the soil orders for this forested environment are Andisol and Mollisol. While it is possible for Mollisol to form under forest, Mollisols typically develop under forest when topography (concave surfaces) 1 Umatilla NF is in unpublished draft

3 allow for organic accumulations to form high base saturation (>50%) in the soil (Brady, 1999). So both the base saturation of these soils and their flat topography tend to indicate the areas Mollisol were formed under a grass dominated ecosystem. Mollisols are recognized most in grassland conditions, which offer organic accumulations from both root and leaf matter. The indication of a grass dominated development for these soils may be an indication of a droughty site; and should be considered for replant to be ion a very wide spacing. The occurrence of Mollisol soil order is mapped within unit 003, but only on the north eastern edge and may not be of significance to implementation or planting criteria. Figure 1. Soil Orders Mapped within the Huntit units. Black lines point to potential landings and show potential skidding directions in each unit. Proposed activities are not expected to accelerate slope instability, based on the TEUI mapping. Within the project the TEUI were also examined for: Soils with low bearing strength (smectitic minerals) Soils with high organic content (histic or folistic characteristics) Wet soils (aquic characteristics)

4 Unit 044 was mapped as having smectitic soils (TEUI); potentially having low bearing strength when wet. This instance of smectitic soil in unit 4 was mapped in the area nearest FS 6217 road had these characteristics (see Figure 1). This mapping should not be considered the only locations of this soil condition, but the mapping in unit 4 represents the highest contiguous concentrations of smectitic soils in a proposed unit. The design criteria for this project will have a recommendation on equipment travel related to this soil condition. Soil Conditions within Project Units The presence of system roads and assumed trails were observed within some of the proposed units (units 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8). Area estimates of Detrimental Soil Condition (DSC) were determined for each unit. Based on these observations and assumed DSC created by activity methods (Ground Based Harvest 10% and Fire 1%). Table 1 DSC within Proposed Activity Units Unit System Road (ft.) Assumed Trail (ft.) Estimated existing DSC acres (FS Road or existing trail) 2 Unit Acres % DSC within activity area % DSC estimated by proposed activity (=existing + proposed) % 11.0% % 11.2% % 12.4% % 11.0% % 11.6% % 11.0% % 17.2% % 11.8% The results in Table 1, shows that the proposed project acres are currently within LRMP Standard and Guidelines (S&Gs) for DSCs and the proposed activities will also remain within S&Gs (<20% DSC). However it is worth mentioning that unit 7 is the closest to exceeding these limits and use of skidding should be judicious. Reuse of existing trails and treeless routes within this stand will help to keep DSC within the projected 17% or less. 2 Road widths are assumed to be 16ft; trail widths are assumed to be 12ft to estimate acres. 3 Ground based activity is estimated to increase DSC by 11%; 10% for harvest 1% for Fuels treatments.

5 The design criteria for this project will have a recommendation on equipment travel related to this soil condition. Huntit Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project-Best Management Practices The practices that the Forest Service uses to maintain soil quality are called Best Management Practices (BMPs). The goal of BMP use is to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts to meet soil quality objectives. These BMPs are also used to help ensure that the soil resource can be harvested in a sustainable manner. The 2012 National Core BMP technical guide is located at pdf (project file). Project Description The purpose and need for the Huntit Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project is to salvage fire-killed and fire-injured trees resulting from the Grizzly Bear Complex fire. Burning at varying intensities, the Grizzly Fire resulted in creating a mosaic of low, moderate, and high tree mortality. Similarly the Soil Burn Severity of the Grizzly Fire burned in a mosaic pattern (USDA , 2015). Approximately 313 acres of potentially salvageable ground have been identified. Fire-killed and fire-injured trees would be removed on approximately 250 acres within the project area. Should the tree be within 150 feet of a road that is maintenance level 2 or 3, and meets the danger tree guidelines, it would be removed for public and employee safety reasons. All harvest units would be yarded by conventional logging systems. Existing landings and/or constructed landings will be used. Danger trees which could affect these landings will be removed. There will not be a need to construct any new system roads for this project. Existing system roads will be used and maintained for material hauling and access to the project. Old skid trails will be used in conjunction with temporary roads during the skidding process. If temporary roads are used for this project, they would be obliterated after their use (LRMP Umatilla NF). Project Effects The 2015 Grizzly fire burned over 83,000 acres on the Walla Walla and Pomeroy Ranger Districts (USDA , 2015). Most of those acres are within the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. Of the area outside of the Wilderness is where the Huntit Savage and Reforestation project area is proposed.

6 Table 2 Resource Indicators and Measures for Huntit Units Resource Element Resource Indicator Measure Acres 1. Soil Stability Soil Mass Wasting No active areas identified Soil Productivity Erosion Activity unit acres modeled >0.03t/ac Water quantity Sediment Activity units that may produce >0.03t/ac Detrimental Soil Conditions (DSC) Change or absence in vegetation growth Total Disturbance 37.9 Soil Stability (Mass Movement) The presence of inherent soil instability which may be accelerated by proposed activates were not detected. It is therefore assumed this project will not contribute to slope failures. Soil Productivity (Erosion) The presence of conditions that might reduce soil productivity from erosion were evaluated in the Grizzly Fire BAER project (USDA ). Extremely low erosion rates (0.08t/ac) were modeled. Thus with appropriate BMPs (Table 2) implemented this erosion rate should remain within this expected effect. It is therefore assumed this project will not contribute to soil productivity losses from erosion (Bustos et al 2011, Robichaud et al 2000, Reeves et al, 2011 McIver et al 2000 and Forest Service 2012). There can be reductions to soil productivity from harvest activities related to compaction and displacement, but that discussion will be in the Detrimental Soil Conditions (DSC) section to follow. Water Quality (Sediment) The mechanism to produce sediment is the portion of erosion that is transported into waterways or water bodies. This portion is never equal to the erosion produced, since some portion of erosion will fall out and stabilize before reaching a waterway or water body. So since the rates of erosion are expected to be very low, the potential for activities to produce sediment are even lower (Robichaud et al 2000). It is therefore assumed this project will not contribute elevated amounts of sediment from the non-road surfaces within units. The evaluation of road surfaces is within the hydrology section. Detrimental Soil Conditions (Change in Vegetation)

7 Since this project will be implemented with ground based activities, there will be some increase to Detrimental Soil Conditions (DSC). Depending upon the equipment used and mitigations during implementation DSC will impacted soils; influencing vegetation growth and vigor within that equipment footprint (Arocena 2000, Amaranthus et al 1996, Bulmer et al 2010, Bustos et al 2011 and Archuleta et al 2008) This change will take place mostly in association with the overlap of legacy trails and proposed skidding. Within the proposed planning area there are human created trails that measure approximately 3.4 acres of assumed trail (or 4.46 miles). Actual mileage of DSC is dependent upon the amount of skidding trails and legacy DSC overlap. It is estimated that 12.1% of the area will be impacted by both past and proposed effects. Soil mass movement was not identified in the area or as a risk that should play a role in any of the proposed activity units, therefore, it is assumed that mass movement will not influence the proposed alternative in the recent past, nor will it play a role in this alternative or the foreseeable future. Even with the additional acres of DSC from the effects of skidding, with current and expected levels of DSC, this alternative does not exceed 20% DSC criteria (LRMP). Summary of Effects to Soil Resource Indicators and Measures While there is a measureable effect to direct, indirect or cumulative effects for the soil resource in the Huntit Project. These effects are within current forest Standards and Guidelines for the Umatilla NF (LRMP, 1990). This project may proceed with the following BMPs and project design criteria. Soil - Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Project Design Criteria Table 3 BMPs and Project Design Criteria SL1 Label Measure Timber Sale Contract? Design and locate skid trails and skidding operations to minimize soil disturbance to the extent practicable. Designate skid trails to the extent practicable to limit site disturbance. Locate skid trails outside of the RHCA to the extent practicable. Locate skid trails to avoid concentrating runoff and provide breaks in grade. Limit the grade of constructed skid trails on geologically LRMP S&Gs, PACFISH S&Gs and Eastside Screens? BMP National Core Technical Guide (2012)? Yes Forest Plan p Veg-4, p. 134 Veg-8, p. 138

8 SL2 SL3 SL4 SL5 SL6 SL7 SL8 unstable, saturated, highly erodible, or easily compacted soils. Avoid long runs on steep slopes Where smetitic soils are present provide 100 % effective ground cover at the close of activities. (unit 4) Ground based harvest equipment will not be permitted on native surface trails and temporary roads when soils reach field capacity (heightened moisture content), as described in the Forest Plan, or if ruts greater than 6 inches occur. Haul will only be permitted on dry or frozen roads. Within harvest units, no heavy equipment will leave designated roads or trails, to limit potential detrimental soil disturbance. Grapple piling equipment off roads or designated trials: equipment will be required to travel over slash being piled, and/or utilize designated trails. Conduct machine piling of slash in such a manner to leave topsoil in place and to avoid displacing soil into piles. All temporary roads (legacy or new) are used for this project they would be rehabilitated (obliterated). To allow infiltration of water these roads will be either scarified or subsoiled (depth dependent) and slash will be placed over the treated surface. Expected results will be described in contract clause CT6.6# (Erosion Control) Locate landings to minimize the number of required skid roads. Re-use existing landings where their location is compatible with management objectives and water quality protection Use of Harvester/Forwarder should be avoided in this proposal. Yes Forest Plan p. 4-77, Water SG s; Forest Plan p. 4-80, Soil Productivity SG s; PACFISH RF-2, C5, p. C11 Veg-4, p. 134 Veg-8, p. 138 Yes N/A Veg-8, p. 138 Yes N/A Veg-8, p. 138 Yes N/A Veg-8, p. 139 Yes Forest Plan p.4-86 Transportation Goal Road-1, p.107 Road-5, p.114 Road-6, p.116 Yes N/A Veg-6, p References Amaranthus M.P., Page-Dumroese, D., Harvey, A., Cazares, E. and Bednar, L.F Soil Compaction and Organic Matter Affect Conifer Seedling Nonmycorrhizal and Ectomycorrhial Root Tip Abundance and Diversity. PNW-RP-494. Archuleta, J Temporary Road and Landing obliteration within Skyline Logging Units. In proceedings of: THE INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN LOGGING AND 13TH PACIFIC NORTHWEST SKYLINE SYMPOSIUM, At Corvallis, OR, Volume: 1 Archuleta JG, Baxter ES Subsoiling promotes native plant establishment on compacted forest sites. Native Plants Journal 9(2): Arocena, J. M. "Cations in Solution from Forest Soils Subjected to Forest Floor Removal and Compaction Treatments." <i>forest Ecology and Management</i> (2000): Web. Brady, N. C., and R. R. Weil. "The nature and properties of soil 12th ed." (1999). Figure 3.4

9 Bulmer, C.E. and Simpson, D.G Soil Compaction Reduced the Growth of Lodgepole Pine and Douglas-fir Seedlings in Raised Beds after Two Growing Seasons. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. 74: doi: /sssaj Bustos, O and A. Egan 2011 A Comparison of Soil Compaction Associated with Four Ground- Based Harvesting Systems. NORTH. J. APPL. FOR. 28(4) 2011 Forest Service, National best management practices for water quality management on national forest system lands, volume 1: National core BMP guide. 164p. Mciver, J.D. and L. Starr, Environmental effects of post-fire logging: Literature review and annotated bibliography. Gen.Tech. Report PNW-GTR-486. Portland, OR: Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 78p. Neary, D.G., Ryan, K.C., Deban, L. F., Wildland fire in ecosystems: Effects of fire on soils and water. Gen. Tech. Report RMRS-GTR-42-vol4, Ogden, UT: Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 250p. Reeves, Derrick; Page-Dumroese, Deborah; Coleman, Mark Detrimental soil disturbance associated with timber harvest systems on National Forests in the Northern Region. Res. Pap. RMRS-RP-89 Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 12 p. Robichaud P.R., Beyers, J.L., and Neary, D.G Evaluating the Effectiveness of Postfire Rehabilitation Treatments. RMRS-GTR-63. LRMP -USDA, Forest Service Umatilla National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision. USDA , 2015 GRIZZLY FIRE REPORT, Post-fire funding request.