Kurtis Robins District Ranger US Forest Service 138 S Main

Transcription

1 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Fishlake National Forest Fax: (435) S Main, PO Box 129 Loa, UT Phone: (435) File Code: 1950 Date: April 5, 2011 Kurtis Robins District Ranger US Forest Service 138 S Main Dear Concerned Citizen, The is proposing the Teeple Springs Vegetation Treatment project near the Na Gah Flat area. The proposed project is located at the following legal description: T26S R1E sections 21, 22, 23, 27, 14, 15, 11, 10, and 2 in Sevier County and is comprised entirely of National Forest System lands. Total acres proposed for treatment is ~1257 acres, comprised of 670 acres of mixed conifer, 287 acres of spruce fir, and 300 acres of seral aspen. Project area is outside Inventoried Roadless and DRAFT Unroaded/Undeveloped areas. Current Conditions The proposed treatment area ranges in elevation from 8,800 to 10,600 feet. Mixed conifer stands contain Douglas-fir, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and aspen. Productivity is low with Douglas-fir in the low to mid range of the elevational band, Engelmann spruce occupies the area slightly within and above the Douglas-fir elevational band, and aspen and subalpine fir occupy the entire range of elevations. Past activities within the proposed treatment area included timber harvest, prescribed and possibly wildfire. Beetle activity is and has been occurring within and near project area. The beetle activity consists of Douglas-fir (DF) and spruce beetle. Spruce beetle activity was, and still, is at epidemic levels in the Sevenmile area and is now on the Fishlake High Top. Walk-through and data collection identified Engelmann spruce dead or dying in the north, west, and center east within the project boundary. Groups of trees ranging from trees have been killed by the spruce beetle. Epidemic Douglas-fir beetle populations have been ongoing within the Fishlake Basin for a number of years. Insect and disease surveys (2010) show migration of the Fishlake Basin beetle population flowing west around the mountain near Hancock Flat Road. Current Douglas-fir beetle population is within approximately 1-2 miles of the proposed treatment area. In addition, spruce budworm (probable precursor to DF beetle) is within approximately one mile of the proposed treatment area. Stand densities in the spruce/fir and mixed conifer areas are high. Because of insect activity and high stand densities the mixed conifer and spruce/fir are at risk for beetle infestation. Risk of losing species diversity on the landscape is also high because there is little to no regeneration of DF in the understory of some mixed conifer stands. Structural diversity for the proposed project area is lacking. The stands within the proposed project area range from seedling and sapling to mid-aged. Approximately 95% of the total area is in young to midaged forest structure. Lack of structural diversity across the project area increases the risk to insect and disease and is unfavorable habitat for some wildlife. Seral aspen stands comprise 300 acres or ~24 % of the total acres. Most of these stands are at risk to replacement by conifers, particularly subalpine fir. Species diversity will decline if conifers overtake and replace these stands of aspen. Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper

2 Desired Conditions Table 1 outlines the desired conditions for the project area. Table 1- Desired conditions. Desired Conditions Spruce-fir* Mixed Conifer Seral Aspen Entire Project Area 25 % of Maximum Stand feet tall 10% in seedling Density 205 seedlings/acre After 5 years sapling Maintain DF Overstory *SDI describes the degree to which an area is occupied by trees and the intensity by which trees are competing for site resources. 15% in young 20 % in Mid aged Purpose and Need The purpose of the project is to reduce the density of trees and, reduce understory competition in mixed conifer, reduce fuel loading, increase biological diversity that provides more mixed structural and species composition across the project area. The following bullets illustrate the need. Spruce and Douglas-fir (DF) beetle activity in and around project area in conjunction with stand densities greater than 100 basal area (BA) pose a risk to live large trees. There is a need to reduce density and to promote vigorous growth, hence lowering the risk of infestation and promoting more resiliency to the stands. Common stand data shows a lack of DF reproduction in the understory of some stands within the project area. Understory competition from subalpine fir and aspen is preventing natural regeneration of the DF. Close proximity of DF beetle and subsequent loss of DF to beetle infestation and lack of DF reproduction pose a risk to losing DF resulting in a reduction of biodiversity on the landscape. Forest structure within the project area is dominated by the young to mid age classes. Risks to beetle infestation is high. There is a need to diversify stand structure to make stands more resilient to beetle infestation. Conifers have encroached into seral aspen stands. These stands are at risk to replacement by the conifers. Species diversity will be affected if aspen stands are lost. There is a need to remove conifers and promote the regeneration of aspen. Fuel models representative of the area (FM 10) indicate that fuel loading is approximately xx tons per acre. The desired fuel model is 10 with 15 tpa as indicated for desired conditions in the Fishlake Forest Plan If any undocumented Sensitive species are discovered during implementation activities will stop until the forest wildlife biologist can be consulted to make a recommendation on how to proceed. Proposed Action This section and its proceeding paragraphs outline the proposed actions for the project. For clarification, mechanical treatments will be accomplished with a chainsaw and/or a feller buncher and

3 prescribed fire will be accomplished with drip torch and/or helicopter. Sanitation entails the removal of live trees that are infested with the spruce beetle. Salvage is the removal of dead trees. The accompanying map outlines the areas of these actions. Access to the project area will be accomplished via SR 25, Forest Roads; FR352, FR1729, FR057, Forest Trail 180, and Administrative roads 1617 and No changes to road classifications is proposed as part of this action; however, roads may be maintained or improved to meet existing classification standards to facilitate implementation. In addition to these roads, a temporary road approximately 2 miles long will be built to facilitate proposed actions. Upon completion of the project, temporary roads will be decommissioned and removed from service using a variety of treatments as described in Forest Service Handbook (FSH ) This may include waterbarring, ripping, removal of fill and culverts, dragging slash across road surface and reseeding disturbed areas. It is being proposed to use prescribed fire on 222 acres of mixed conifer to remove the understory of aspen and subalpine fir and prep the site for natural regeneration of DF. Monitoring will follow treatment to ensure natural DF regeneration meets the Fishlake National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) minimum seedlings per acre of 205. If standard is not met within 5 years, planting will occur. It is being proposed to use either prescribed fire or timber harvest to regenerate 300 acres of seral aspen. After treatment monitoring will occur to ensure after 5 years there are between stems per acre at 6 feet height over 70% of the treated area. It is being proposed to mechanically thin 589 acres of mixed conifer to reduce density and diversify stand structure. Slash from mechanical treatment will be treated with either lop and scatter and/or piling and burning. It is being proposed to mechanically thin 145 acres of spruce-fir. Sanitation and salvage is the primary focus to remove those trees dead or infested by the spruce beetle. Slash from mechanical treatment will be treated with either lop and scatter and/or piling and burning. Design Features Implementation will not occur between October 1 through March 1 within any Post Fledgling Areas (PFA) for any identified goshawk within the project area. Implementation will occur outside of critical elk and deer reproduction periods. Fencing may occur for aspen protection if monitoring indicates aspen regeneration is not meeting desired conditions due to ungulate browsing. Leave trees, live or dead, that contain nesting cavities. Leave snags in clumps where available. Number of snags left will follow the Fishlake LRMP of 300 snags/100 acres. Burning of slash piles will only occur when snow has accumulated on site. Implementation of the prescribed fire will occur in late fall or preceding a winter weather event.

4 Forest Plan Consistency This project is expected to meet the general Forest-wide standards and guidelines of the Fishlake National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. This project will occur within Management Prescription Areas 3C Management Direction for Fishlake Mountain, 6B Livestock Grazing, and 7A Wood Fiber Production and Utilization. Provide wood fiber while maintaining or improving other resource values. Fishlake LRMP, Forest Direction Goals, page IV- 4. Integrate aspen management into timber management program to perpetuate the species and improve aspen quality. Fishlake LRMP, Forest Direction Goals, page IV- 4. Improve timber age class distribution and maintain species diversity. Fishlake LRMP, Forest Direction Goals, page IV- 4. Maintain structural diversity of vegetation on management areas dominated by forested ecosystems. Fishlake LRMP, General Direction, page IV- 11. Manage tree stands using both commercial and noncommercial methods. Enhance visual quality, diversity, and insect and disease control. Fishlake LRMP, Management Prescription 3C, page IV 84d. Maintain and manage forested inclusions to provide a high level of forage production, wildlife habitat, and diversity. Fishlake LRMP, Management Prescription 6B, page IV-112. The area will have a mosaic of fully stocked stands that follow natural patterns and avoid straight lines and geometric shapes. Fishlake LRMP, Management Prescription 7A, page IV Request for Comments Your comments are being requested to help identify key issues, develop alternatives and/or mitigation measures, and analyze effects of the proposed action. Please be as specific as possible in expressing your comments so they can be effectively addressed. Comments received, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record for this project and will be available for public inspection. Comments should be sent to Fishlake National Forest, Attn: Terry Holsclaw, Teeple Springs Vegetation Treatment Project Team Leader, 138 South Main, Loa, Utah, or comments-intermtnfishlake-loa@fs.fed.us. Although your comments are always welcome, comments received by April 28, 2011 will be most helpful. For more information about this proposal, please contact Terry Holsclaw, 138 South Main, Loa, Utah, 84747, phone: (435) Kurtis Robins District Ranger

5 Fishlake National Forest Vicinity UV 352 Fillmore ( Richfield ( ( Marysvale ( Beaver Project Location ( Loa ( Teasdale UV 2574 UV 1617 UV 057 UV 1729 UV 352 UV 2182 UV 2180 UV 352 Teeple Springs Vegetation Treatment Project Fishlake National Forest Miles Prepared By - Jenneka Knight Date - 03/29/2011 Location - C:/Workspace/TeepleSprings/MXDs/TeepleSprings_Treatments.mxd Legend Teeple Springs Project Boundary - 1,257 Acres Treatment Type Mechanical Thinning Acres Prescribed Fire Acres Prescribed Fire or Timber Harvest Acres Sanitation and Salvage Acres Temporary Road Roads and Trails Dirt Road, Suitable for Passenger Car Road, Not Maintained for Passenger Car Trails Open to Vehicles 50" of Less in Width Non-Motorized Trails Administrative Road Figure 1- Proposed Action.

6 Teeple Springs Vegetation Treatment Project Inventoried Roadless Areas / Unroaded & Undeveloped Fishlake National Forest Miles Prepared By - Jenneka Knight Date - 03/29/2011 Location - C:/Workspace/TeepleSprings/MXDs/TeepleSpringsIRA_UUD.mxd Legend Teeple Springs Project Boundary - 1,257 Acres Draft - Unroaded and Undeveloped Areas Inventoried Roadless Areas Roads and Trails Dirt Road, Suitable for Passenger Car Road, Not Maintained for Passenger Car Trails Open to Vehicles 50" of Less in Width Non-Motorized Trails Figure 2- Draft Unroaded and Undeveloped and Inventoried Roadless.