Decision Memo Young Stand Density Management and Conifer Pruning

Transcription

1 Decision Memo Young Stand Density Management and Conifer Pruning Purpose and Need USDA Forest Service Middle Fork Ranger District Willamette National Forest Lane and Douglas Counties, OR T17S-T25S and R2E-R6E, Willamette Meridian The purpose of this project is to improve or enhance the health, resilience and productivity of selected young conifer plantation stands within the Middle Fork Ranger District through stand density management and conifer pruning. Approximately 4,700 acres across the District have been identified as overstocked plantation stands and stands that could benefit from brush release or pruning for optimal growth, stand health, promotion of late-successional characteristics, watershed quality, and to favor desired species such as pine and oak, along with native forbs and grasses. There is a need to release conifers in densely crowded managed stands that average years old and less than 7 inches in diameter at breast height (dbh). Past reforestation practices typically involved planting many more trees per acre than are ultimately desired in mature stands to insure full stocking was accomplished. Up to 600 trees per acre were typically planted during initial reforestation efforts. In some cases, a considerable amount of natural tree regeneration also occurred. If little mortality 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 1,000 trees per acre. Stands growing at those densities take a long time to thin themselves, have lower vigor, are more susceptible to disease and insects as well as wind and snow damage. From a diversity standpoint, such dense stands become very uniform, since they shade the forest floor and limit the amount of understory vegetation. Stand density management helps to develop larger diameter trees and provide light to the forest floor for understory development. Conifer pruning also promotes wood quality, improves health, and reduces ladder fuels. Pruning high value tree species, such as Douglas-fir, improves the future quality of wood by removing branches in the lower portion of the tree to develop knot free wood in the future. Pruning when the trees are small and rapidly growing can keep the knotty core small and allow rapid growth of knot-free layers resulting in higher future log grades and potentially higher economic returns. Pruning white pine and sugar pine trees in young plantations can reduce the incidence of white pine blister rust. This non-native disease infects these trees primarily through the lower branches and causes significant mortality in the Pacific Northwest. Pruning of the lower branches in plantations also removes ladder fuels and can reduce the risk of fire reaching into the crowns causing mortality. 1

2 Proposed Action The Middle Fork Ranger District proposes to precommercially thin, release and/or prune approximately 4,700 acres of young conifer plantations over the next five years. These plantations are located throughout the District in the following 5 th field watersheds: Fall Creek North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River Salmon Creek Salt Creek Hills Creek Hills Creek Reservoir Middle Fork Willamette River Headwaters Middle Fork Willamette River All stands are proposed for precommerical thinning, release and conifer pruning. Depending upon specific stand conditions, however, all three treatments may not be needed or warranted. Some stands have little vegetation and brush release is not needed and some stands have already been precommercially thinned and only pruning will be completed. In stands proposed for stand density management, trees less than 7 diameter at breast height will be precommercially thinned with a variable spacing averaging 14 to 16 feet leaving about 168 to 228 trees per acre. Vegetation within six feet of the leave trees and greater than two thirds the height of the tree will be cut. All other vegetation is retained. In stands proposed for pruning, trees will be pruned from 75 to 300 trees per acre in a stand with spacing ranging from 12 to 24 feet, depending upon stand age and available funding. Pruning will remove dead and live branches from the lower portion of the tree retaining at least 60% of the existing green crown. Pruning height will depend upon the age and height of the trees in the stand with a maximum pruning height of 26 feet from the tree base. Tools to be used will include chainsaws and hand pruning saws. There will be no ground disturbance associated with this proposed action. Design Features/Criteria There will be a 25 foot no-cut buffer on each side of all streams in stands outside of the Staley Creek subwatershed within the Headwaters Middle Fork Willamette River watershed. Streams in this subwatershed have been recognized as being deficient in large woody debris and would benefit from an input of woody debris, even if from small diameter trees being thinned. The Upper Middle Fork Watershed Action Plan (USDA Forest Service 2009) recommends thinning over-stocked second growth stands throughout the Riparian Reserves in the Staley Creek subwatershed. All created slash will be left on site. A foot no-cut buffer along all open roads to avoid slash adjacent to roads there will be. Work will not be done during seasonal restrictions or during Industrial Fire Precaution Level high fire danger periods. Activities in stands within Late Successional Reserves will follow Regional Ecosystem Office exemption criteria (REO Memo 362) by including skips and gaps up to ¼ acre in size as well as creating dominant tree release areas. 2

3 No activities including chainsaw use should occur in unit during critical breeding period for northern spotted owls (March 1 July 15). No activities including chainsaw use should occur in units , , and during the breeding period for peregrine falcons (January 1 August 15). Scoping and Public Involvement - Interested and Affected Agencies, Organizations, and Persons Contacted This action was originally listed as a proposal on the Willamette National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) on April, 2016 and has been updated periodically during the analysis ( Twenty two groups and individuals were mailed the scoping form. Comments on the proposed action were accepted from June 6 through June 21, No comments were received. During internal scoping, Ranger District resource specialists raised no issues and found no significant effects on the human environment in relation to implementing this proposed action. All supporting documentation is located in the project file available at the Middle Fork Ranger District. Tribal Consultation Tribal organizations were consulted early regarding this proposal on May Letters, s, and phone calls were sent to Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, The Klamath Tribe and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. No responses were received. 3

4 Categorical Exclusion Criteria I find that this project is within a category of actions established by the Chief of the Forest Service that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment, and can be categorically excluded from documentation in an EA or EIS. The project fits under 36 CFR 220.6(e) (6), Timber stand and/or wildlife habitat improvement activities that do not include the use of herbicides or do not require more than one mile of low standard road construction. and a review is made to determine there are no extraordinary circumstances related to the proposed action. The Young Stand Density Management and Conifer Pruning can be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or environmental assessment (EA) provided that no extraordinary circumstances exist. Table1 outlines the resource conditions that must be considered in determining whether extraordinary circumstances related to the proposed action warrant further analysis and documentation. During development of the proposed action, a team of resource specialists determined whether or not any of the resource conditions were present and the degree of the potential effects on the listed resource. Table 1: Evaluation of Extraordinary Circumstances Related to the Proposed Action Extraordinary Circumstance to be Evaluated Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species Present? (Yes or No) Y Degree of Potential Effect Wildlife: According to the BE prepared 9/9/2016 and a letter of concurrence received from USFW on 8/12/2016. (FWS Reference 01EOFW ) Listed/Proposed T and E species - Northern Spotted Owl (T) Habitat modification: No effect (NE) Designated/Proposed Critical habitat - Critical Habitat: May effect, not likely to adversely affect (NLAA) Disturbance/Disruption: May effect, not likely to adversely affect (NLAA) FS Sensitive species Peregrine Falcon: May impact but not likely to contribute to a trend toward Federal listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species. (MAII) Fisheries: According to a district analysis received on 11/2/2016: 4

5 Table 1: Evaluation of Extraordinary Circumstances Related to the Proposed Action Extraordinary Circumstance to be Evaluated Present? (Yes or No) Degree of Potential Effect ESA species: No Effect on bull trout, spring Chinook salmon, or their designated critical habitat. Sensitive Species: No impact to Pacific lamprey, California floater, Olympia Pebblesnail or the two caddisflies found on the Regional Forester s Sensitive Species List. Botany: According to a district analysis receive on 8/25/2016, due to the project design there will be no effects to the following species in the categories of Vascular, Non-vascular, and Fungi. Floodplains, wetlands, or No None present in the project area. municipal watersheds Congressionally designated areas No None present in the project area. such as wilderness, wilderness study areas or national recreation areas Inventoried Roadless Areas or No None present in the project area. potential wilderness areas Research Natural Areas No None present in the project area. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites Yes None: no ground disturbing activities or prescribed burning will occur. Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas Yes None: no ground disturbing activities or prescribed burning will occur. Based on the information in the table above, I find that no extraordinary circumstances exist for this project that would warrant further analysis and documentation in an EA or EIS. Decision and Rationale for Decision Based on my review of the information presented in this document and the supporting documents in the project record, I have decided to implement the proposed action as described above. Through past experience and review of similar projects, I have concluded that this project is not a major Federal action. It will have limited context and intensity (40 CFR ), individually or cumulatively, to the biological, physical, social, or economic components of the human environment. It does not pose a violation of Federal, State, or local law requirements imposed for the protection of the environment. 5

6 The action that I have selected falls within a category established by the Forest Service that normally does not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment and no extraordinary circumstances exist that would cause the proposed action to have any significant environmental effects. Therefore this action is excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, so neither will be prepared. Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations This decision is consistent with the amended Willamette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. The project was designed in conformance with the following Forest wide Standards and Guidelines: FW-184, FW-185, FW-191, FW-192. I find that this project complies with all laws, regulations and policies regarding stand improvement activities. The table below outlines the major laws, regulations and policies with respect to stand improvement activities and displays how this project complies with those laws. Table 2: Compliance with Other Laws, Regulations, and Policies Year Enacted Title Summary How applied in this project 1897 Organic Act This Law is the foundation for multiple use and Forest Service management of National Forest System Lands 1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA) Creates the environmental impact statement (EIS) and environmental assessment (EA) as instruments of environmental policy. Requires public participation. Council on Environmental Quality regulations allow federal agencies to exclude certain categories of actions from documentation in EA or EIS. Provides broad protection for species of fish, wildlife and plants that are listed as threatened or endangered in the U.S. or elsewhere. Provisions are made for listing species, as well as for recovery plans and the designation of critical habitat for listed species. The Act outlines procedures for federal agencies to follow when taking actions that may jeopardize listed species, and contains exceptions and exemptions. Implementation of this project follows direction in this law for the Forest Service to manage National Forest System Lands. Scoping was conducted as required by NEPA. This project follows FSH Chapter 30 requirements for categorically excludable activities. The project is in compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Applicable procedures were followed with respect to threatened and/or endangered species. This project was submitted for consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service as part of the Willamette Planning Province FY 2017/2018 Biological Assessment of NLAA Projects with the Potential to Modify the Habitat or Critical Habitat of Northern Spotted Owls and Oregon Spotted Frogs (U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management 2016.) A letter of concurrence was received on August 12,

7 Table 2: Compliance with Other Laws, Regulations, and Policies Year Enacted 1976 National Forest Management Act (NFMA) 1990 Willamette National Forest Plan 1994 Northwest Forest Plan Title Summary How applied in this project Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to assess forest lands, develop a management program based on multipleuse, sustained-yield principles, and implement a resource management plan for each unit of the National Forest System. It is the primary statute governing the administration of national forests. The Forest Plan guides all natural resource management activities and established standards and guidelines for the Willamette National Forest. The Northwest Forest Plan provides Standards and Guidelines (S&Gs) that would produce timber products while protecting and managing impacted species. (FWS Reference 01EOFW ) This project was developed in full compliance with NFMA via compliance with the Willamette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan 1990, as amended. The project follows appropriate standards and guidelines and management direction for the Management Allocations in the project area. Meets the guidelines in the plan FW-184, FW-185, FW-191, FW-192. This project will enhance future timber production and has been evaluated by resource specialists according to the requirements of the NWFP (Table 1.) Administrative Review (Appeal) Opportunities Effective March 5, 2014, the Forest Service will no longer offer notice, comment and appeal opportunities for categorically excluded projects pursuant to 36 CFR Part 215. On February 7, 2014, the President signed into law the Agricultural Act of 2014, Pub. L. No (i.e., Farm Bill). Section 8006(a) of the 2014 Farm Bill repealed the Appeals Reform Act, Pub. L. No , 106 Stat (1992). Section 8006(b) directs that the pre-decisional objection process established in Section 428 of division E of the Consolidated Appropriation Act of2012, Pub. L. No , shall not be applicable to categorically excluded projects or activities. The Forest Service will continue to offer public involvement opportunities for categorically excluded projects as provided for in the agency's NEPA Procedures, see 36 CFR (d) (SOPA) and 36 CFR 220.4(e) and 220.6(c) (scoping). Comments received on the proposed action will be reviewed and considered prior to making a final decision; however, the project is not subject to appeal. Implementation Date and Conditions Related to Implementation Plans are to implement this project in early 2017, dependent upon funding. Ongoing implementation will occur through 2021 as funding is available. Contact Information For further information, please contact Leslie Elliot, District Silviculturist, at the Middle Fork Ranger District, Highway 58, Westfir, OR 97492, (541)

8 Approved by: /s/ Duane F. Bishop 02/13/2017 DECIDING OFFICIAL Date District Ranger Middle Fork Ranger District Willamette National Forest The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C , or call (800) (voice) or (202) (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 8