Management Indicator Species (MIS) Report - Part II

Transcription

1 Management Indicator Species (MIS) Report - Part II For the Panther Salvage and Reforestation Project Klamath National Forest Happy Camp Ranger District Prepared by Patricia Johnson Wildlife Biologist USDA Forest Service VMS Enterprise Unit Date: May 17, 2010

2 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this report is to evaluate and disclose the impacts of the Panther Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project on the Management Indicator Species (MIS) identified in the Klamath National Forest (NF) Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) (USDA 1995) which was developed under the 1982 National Forest System Land and Resource Management Planning Rule (1982 Planning Rule) (36 CFR 219). This report documents the effects of three alternatives Proposed action (Alternative 2) and Alternative 3, and No Action (Alternative 1), for the Panther Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project on the habitat of selected MIS. Detailed descriptions of the project alternatives are found in the Panther Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project Environmental Analysis. Direction Regarding the Analysis of Project-Level Effects on MIS The Monitoring Requirements in Chapter 5 of the Klamath National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) do not require population monitoring or surveys on any MIS except for steelhead trout and rainbow trout. For MIS listed on LRMP Page 4-38 to 4-41, project-level MIS effects analyses are informed by project- and landscape-scale habitat analyses alone. Project-level effects on MIS are analyzed and disclosed as part of environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act. This involves examining the impacts of the proposed project alternatives on MIS habitat by discussing how direct, indirect, and cumulative effects will change the quantity and/or quality of habitat in the landscape and project area (LRMP Page 4-39). The LRMP requirements for MIS analyzed for the Panther Fire Salvage Project are summarized in Part I of the MIS Report. Adequately analyzing project effects to MIS, involves the following steps: Identifying which MIS have habitat that would be either directly or indirectly affected by the project alternatives; (LRMP Standards and Guidelines (S&G) 8-21 through and including 8-34). This information is documented in Part I of the MIS Report. Identifying the LRMP forest-level monitoring requirements for this subset of forest MIS (LRMP Chapter 5, Table 5-1). This information is documented in Part I of the MIS Report. Analyzing landscape- and project-level effects on habitats for which the MIS was selected to indicate in the LRMP. Relating project-level impacts on MIS habitat to habitat and population trends for fish MIS, per the LRMP. The Management Indicator Species (MIS) Report Parts I and II document application of the above steps to select and analyze MIS for the Panther Fire Salvage Project. Direction Regarding Monitoring of MIS Population and Habitat Trends at the Forest Scale Forest scale monitoring requirements for the Klamath National Forest (KNF) MIS are found in Table 5-1 of Monitoring Plan by Resource of the LRMP. Habitat Status and Trend The requirement to evaluate landscape and project-level impacts to habitat conditions associated with the Species Associations and related MIS is identified in the LRMP on Page Habitat 2

3 monitoring requirements are summarized in the MIS Report Part I. Habitats are the vegetation types (for example, mixed conifer forest) and/or ecosystem components (for example, river and ponds) and special habitat elements (for example, snags) as identified in the LRMP. Habitat status is the current amount of habitat on the KNF. Habitat trend is the direction of change in the amount of habitat between the time the LRMP was approved and the present. The methodology for assessing habitat status and trend is: 1. Use the GIS vegetation layers to describe the location of habitat for non-fish MIS within a project area, 2. Determine the distribution of fish MIS species using the KNF GIS layer for fish distribution, 3. Consider the reason the MIS habitat was selected as an Indicator, and determine the potential effects to that habitat for which an MIS was selected for. 4. Identify the indicated habitat using habitat relationships data or models in the LRMP Appendix I and California Wildlife Habitat Relationship (CWHR) System (CWHR 2005). The CWHR System is considered a state-of-the-art information system for California s wildlife and provides the most widely used habitat relationship models for California s terrestrial vertebrate species (ibid). 5. Detailed information on the habitat relationships for MIS on the KNF and on the CWHR System can be found in the Klamath National Forest MIS Report Part I. 6. MIS habitat trend is monitored using ecological and vegetation data for the KNF and stream surveys. These data include spatial ecological and vegetation layers created from remote-sensing imagery obtained at various points in time, which are verified using photo-imagery, on-the-ground measurements, and tracking of events that change vegetation and stream conditions (for example, vegetation management, floods, and wildland fires). Population Status and Trend Population status is the current condition of the steelhead trout and rainbow trout. Population trend is the direction of change in that population measure over time. Population monitoring data are collected and/or compiled at the stream scale rather than the project scale because site specific monitoring or surveying of a proposed project or activity area is not required (36 CFR (f) and the actual treatment areas of an action may not contain streams, but may affect streams through sediment delivery or flow changes. LRMP Monitoring Requirements for MIS Selected for Project-Level Analysis MIS Monitoring Requirements MIS are animal species identified in the Klamath National Forest (KNF) LRMP, which was developed under the 1982 National Forest System Land and Resource Management Planning Rule (1982 Planning Rule) (36 CFR 219). Guidance regarding MIS set forth in the KNF Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) directs Forest Service resource managers to: (1) at the landscape and project scale, analyze the effects of proposed projects on the habitats of each MIS listed in LRMP Standards and Guidelines 8-21 through8-34; and (2) assess presence of goshawk in suitable habitat and determine the number of pairs of northern spotted owls in Late Successional Reserves, and to conduct implementation monitoring to determine population trends and relationship to habitat changes for steelhead trout, and rainbow trout. How MIS Monitoring Requirements are Being Met Project level assessment of northern spotted owls and goshawks is not required for northern spotted owl and goshawks as an MIS species per LRMP S&G 8-21 through Impacts to 3

4 northern spotted owls are evaluated as a species listed under the Endangered Species Act and the impacts to goshawks are evaluated as a species designated as Sensitive by the Forest Service. There are several ways that spotted owl presence is being determined: 1) Surveys have been conducted in LSRs in coordination with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2) Habitat evaluations have been conducted by USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (in coordination with the Forest Service Research Station) to predict northern spotted owl presence, 3) Habitat loss and potential Take throughout the Forest is reported to USDI Fish and Wildlife Service annually, and 4) Monitoring is accomplished through the formal monitoring programs of the Northwest Forest Plan area. ( and and The monitoring results can be used to adapt management practices, as coordinated with the Fish and wildlife Service. ( Chapter 5 of the LRMP indicates the Standard requiring further action will be set by the Recovery Plan (which is in development) Chapter 5 of the LRMP states that goshawk occupancy in suitable habitat will be determined. Surveys are done at the project level where a potential for impacts (to habitat or noise disturbance) may be significant. The majority of habitat and survey work is conducted on the Goosenest Ranger District of the KNF because of the high likelihood of presence. Also, Goshawk Management Areas have been identified throughout the KNF, with specific a Standards and Guideline (8-20) to project goshawks. Chapter 5 of the LRMP says that the variation from the Standard requiring further action will be determined in a Regional Conservation Strategy, which has not yet been completed. Therefore, there is no standard to measure against. Survey information has been provided to the US Fish and Wildlife Service for evaluation and development of a Regional Conservation Strategy. Population trend data for steelhead trout is collected and consolidated by the KNF in cooperation with State, tribal, and Federal agency partners such as the California Department of Fish and Game, Karuk Tribe, USDI Geological Survey, and USDI Fish and Wildlife Service and other conservation partners such Universities and watershed restoration councils. Fish presence data for steelhead trout and rainbow trout are collected using a number of direct and indirect methods, such as stream surveys and fishing results (creel census). The KNF s MIS monitoring program for species typically hunted, fished, or trapped (such as steelhead and rainbow trout) was designed to be implemented in cooperation with California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), consistent with direction in the 1982 Planning Rule to monitor forest-level MIS population trends in cooperation with state fish and wildlife agencies to the extent practicable (36 CFR (a)(6)). To be biologically meaningful for wide-ranging MIS, presence data are collected and tracked not only at the forest scale, but also at larger scales, such as range-wide (range of the northern spotted owl), state, province (Northern California), or important species management unit (for example, Klamath River Basin). In 2006, available data on steelhead and rainbow trout were analyzed to determine the population trends of these species. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT Project Area Existing Condition The proposed project is located within the Elk Creek watershed. It is generally located south of the community of Happy Camp in Siskiyou County, California within the Klamath National 4

5 Forest. The elevation ranges from 2,500 to 5,000. The habitat is moderately and severely burned mixed conifer forest interspersed with madrone, black oak and manzanita. The Panther Fire started from a lightning storm on July 22, The fire had consumed over 50,000 acres by the fall of The Panther Fire made its final and most intense run on October 1, 2008, burning an additional 13,000 acres before the rains halted its advance. A combination of topography, fuel loading and a major weather event resulted in intense fire activity, causing considerable tree mortality across these additional acres. Portions of the project area that had experienced intense fire behavior during the 2002 Stanza Fire burned again during the Panther Fire. The intensity of the Panther Fire reduced the availability of the conifer seed source to naturally reforest the landscape. The heavy fuel loadings and overhead snag hazards present unsafe work conditions for firefighters and render the project area vulnerable to future intense wildfires. Project Area - Desired Future Condition The desired future condition for the project area is a healthy, mixed conifer forest that provides a diversity of habitat conditions, including areas with and without salvage harvest, areas with full site preparation and planting, and completely untreated areas. Treated areas would have a forest composition and structure more resilient to wildfires approaching or exiting the Marble Mountain Wilderness. The forest composition and structure, as well as reduced fuel loads and snag hazards, in treated areas would also provide for greater firefighter safety in the event of a future wildfire. Purpose and Need for Action The purpose of this project is to (1) facilitate conifer revegetation, (2) provide for public and forest worker safety, and (3) recover economic value from timber lost to the Panther Fire. Alternative 2 - Proposed Action The Happy Camp Ranger District of the Klamath National Forest proposes salvage harvest, fuels treatments, conifer planting and manual release on NFS lands encompassing approximately 214 acres within 12 units. The salvaged trees would be sold as commercial sawtimber. The predominant logging system would be cable. No new system roads would be constructed. Approximately 200 feet of temporary landing access road would be constructed, which would be decommissioned following completion of harvest activities. Fuels treatments within salvage units would include yarding unmerchantable materials (YUM), slashing or hand piling or a combination of the three. The appropriate fuels treatment would be chosen to meet immediate project objectives as well as desired future conditions. Conifer reforestation would follow the fuels treatment activities as needed. Harvest activities are scheduled to begin in 2010 and would likely be completed by 2011; conifer planting would likely be completed by Removal of hazard trees along approximately 12 miles of open Forest roads, followed by treatment of activity and natural fuels, would occur. Total roadside hazard units encompass approximately 322 acres in eight units. All commercial harvest in roadside hazard units would be by tractor endline only, with equipment remaining on the road. Under this alternative, a total of approximately 536 acres would be treated. Project design features are detailed below under Features of the Proposed Action in Chapter 2 of the EA. 5

6 Alternative 3 Roadside Hazard Tree Removal and Fuels Treatment Only Alternative 3 includes roadside hazard tree removal and fuels treatments along and within 200 feet of approximately 12 miles of Forest roads in the project area. Total hazard tree removal units encompass approximately 393 acres in eight units. No new system or temporary roads would be constructed. No salvage harvest or conifer planting would occur. Harvest activities are scheduled to begin in 2010 and would likely be completed by 2011; associated fuels treatment would also likely be completed by Hazard trees would be felled along and within 200 feet of Forest Roads 15N03, 15N03A, and 15N06 within the project area. The Klamath National Forest Hazard Tree policy would be followed; it includes specific criteria for the identification of hazard trees. Hazard trees in excess of ecological needs (see Chapter 2 of the EA for more detail) would be removed and sold as commercial timber. Treatment of activity and natural fuels would follow hazard tree removal. All proposed roadside hazard tree removal and any yarding of fuels would be by tractor endline only, with equipment remaining on the road. Under this alternative, a total of approximately 393 acres would be treated. Project design features are detailed under Features of Alternative 3 in Chapter 2 of the EA. SELECTION OF PROJECT-LEVEL MIS Management Indicator Species (MIS) for the KNF are identified in the LRMP S&G 8-21 through A review was conducted using the MIS Report Part I - Project Level Assessment Checklist to determine: 1) if the project is within the range of any MIS, 2) if habitat for which the species is an indicator is present within or adjacent to the proposed treatment areas, and 3) if there are potential direct, indirect or cumulative effects on habitat components. The following associations and MIS will not be discussed further because the habitats for which these species were selected are not in or adjacent to the project area as documented in the Panther Fire Salvage and Reforestation MIS Project Level Assessment Part I. Therefore, the project will not directly or indirectly affect the habitat for these species and will, therefore, have no impact on forest-level habitat or population trends for these species: Hardwood Species Association Acorn woodpecker Western gray squirrel River/Stream Species Association Rainbow trout Steelhead Tailed frog Cascades frog American dipper Northern water shrew Long-tailed vole Marsh/Lake/Pond Species Association Northern red-legged frog 6

7 Western pond turtle Grassland/Shrub-Steppe Species Association Pronghorn Montane vole Loggerhead shrike Swainson s hawk Sage thrasher Burrowing owl Mature Ponderosa Pine Species Association (Eastside Pine) Flammulated owl White-headed woodpecker Pinyon jay The following species associations and MIS were selected for analysis for the Panther Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project due to the presence of suitable habitat that may be impacted by the project activities, as described in the MIS Project Level Assessment Part I. Species associations and MIS associated with habitats that may be affected by project activities are analyzed below. Snag Association Black Backed Woodpecker White-headed woodpecker Downy woodpecker Red breasted sapsucker Hairy woodpecker Pileated woodpecker Vaux's swift Klamath National Forest Forest Plan Standards & Guides for selected MIS Species Associations (Guilds/Management Indicator Species, Assemblages) 8-21 Use Species Associations listed below, the most current research information, Wildlife Habitat Capability Models or Wildlife Habitat Relationships Models to assess landscape and project-level impacts to habitat conditions. Develop and update these species associations and models based on local information and new research information. Snag Association Downy woodpecker, Red breasted sapsucker, Hairy woodpecker, Black Backed Woodpecker, White-headed woodpecker, Pileated woodpecker, Vaux's swift 8-22 Assess the availability of snags within each landscape. Provide for an average of 5 snags per acre, in a variety of size and decay classes, within each landscape. These snags need not be equally distributed. The actual number of snags to be maintained in areas managed for timber production may vary from 2 to 5, depending on the amount of snags available within the surrounding landscape and the desired future condition of that landscape Maintain snag densities through the full timber rotation by providing green replacement trees to become snags of adequate size when existing snags fall. The size of snags and green trees 7

8 to be retained within a given managed stand should be greater than the average diameter of the stand Retain snags and replacement snags in clumps when possible. Consider the susceptibility of snags to windthrow and site preparation activities. Designated wildlife trees should be protected from woodcutting and Forest management activities Retain snags with the largest DBH as they tend to last longer and make the best wildlife habitat. Use Tables 4-4 and 4-5 as guidelines in ecosystem analysis and project-level planning. The relative numbers of hard and soft snags in various size classes show the habitat needs of the different cavity-association Forest wildlife species. The number of snags on a given acre will vary, depending on the site and on the number of snags within the landscape. LRMP Table 4-4. Numbers of Snags Required per 100 acres to Support "Good" Quality Habitat for Primary Cavity-Association Species. ( ) = Number of Snags per 100 acres Snag diameter Total snags by General snag decay stage (DBH) diameter class Hard (2-3) Soft (4-5) 11+ Downy (16) (16) 15+ Red Breasted/Black Backed (45) Hairy/White Hd. (225) (270) 20+ Vaux's swift (200+) (200+) 24+ Pileated (14) (14) Total snags: (500) LRMP Table 4-5. Green Tree Retention for Future Snags (to be provided in a range of the above DBH classes) High capability Moderate capability Low capability > 5 per acre 2-5 per acre < 2 per acre PROJECT DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS and EFFECTIVENESS RATIONALE KNF Forest Plan Standards and Guides 8-21, 8-22, 8-23, 8-24, 8-25 will be exceeded with the snag retention guidelines within the Project Design Specifications. Additional Design Specifications are in place for the proposed project. Only those specifications that were directly pertinent to this MIS evaluation are listed below. For all other Project Design Features designed for the Panther Fire Salvage and Reforestation Project see Chapter 2 of the EA. SNAG RETENTION o Retain all pre-existing larger snags (>14 dbh). If these must be felled, then leave on landscape as downed wood. 8

9 Retention of large snags created by insect, disease or lightening strike that existed prior to the fire is of increased biological importance as these are biological legacies and will continue to provide a wide variety of habitat needs for a wide variety of species (Saab et al 2002). o Retain the largest snags in clumps or groups, situated around live trees if possible Leave groups would be distributed throughout harvest units and consist of the largest snags available, situated with large, live trees if possible. Snags or dying trees that contain cat faces, broken or forked tops, hollows or cavities would be first priority for retention. Retaining denser clumps of large snags would promote the longer-term persistence of suitable snags as nesting habitat for cavity-nesting birds (Russell 2006). Snags in large burned areas have greater exposure to wind, causing them to fall at high rates. Haggard and Gaines (2001) found that treatments with snags distributed in clumps and individually dispersed had the highest abundance and species richness of cavity nesting species. Saab and Dudley (1998) found in their study that all bird species selected nest sites with higher tree densities than that measured at random sites, and cavity nesters as a group selected clumps of snags rather than snags that were retained in uniform, evenly-spaced distributions. o Retain a minimum of snags per acre The total number of snags per acre required within each harvest unit may be captured within leave groups. Leave groups may contain the total number of snags retained for an individual harvest unit, represented as a percentage of the overall area rather than on a snag per acre basis. These snags would be retained as groupings within harvest units, rather than distributed individually on each acre within the unit. It is important to note that while these guidelines would be applied to harvest units they would likely vary throughout the project area, depending on the burn pattern and severity, and on the locations of unburned patches and trees. In addition, only burned trees that meet the criteria for mortality (see Chapter 2 for a description of Mortality Guidelines) would be selected for removal. This may also result in additional remaining snags within the project area. The remaining burned areas of the forest that would not be treated would provide abundant snags along the perimeter of the project area and the forested areas beyond. Snag guidelines for this project exceed those described in the KNF Forest Plan for cavity nesting species due to the complexity of the life cycles of the species that rely specifically on post fire habitat type such as the black-backed woodpecker. Current research done specifically on post fire habitat in the time since the Forest Plan was written shows a need for a higher number of snags retained per acre (Hutto and Gallo 2006, Hutto 2006, Saab and Dudley 1998, Saab et al 2007, Saab et al 2008, Kotliar et al 2002). The snag guidelines within the Forest Plan were designed for green tree forests, primarily in mature or old growth stands, and the species associated with these. Birds in burned forests have very different habitat needs that focus almost exclusively on snags and burned trees for both foraging and nesting. 9

10 The KNF Forest Plan calls for the use of the most current research information to assess projectlevel impacts to habitat conditions (LRMP , , , ). Currently, research shows that impacts to this species association from salvage logging would not be alleviated with snag retention guidelines in the Forest Plan developed using green tree forests. Black-backed woodpeckers are considered habitat specialists, relying heavily on post-fire conditions (particularly moderate to severely burned coniferous forests), and are therefore most susceptible to reductions in this specific habitat type. Other species such as the hairy, downy and white-headed woodpecker and the mountain bluebird (which uses cavities excavated in previous years by the black-backed woodpecker) have strong, but not exclusive, associations with this habitat type. Project specifications designed around those species that are most dependent on post-fire conditions would likely also reduce impacts to other species occurring in that habitat type. o Select for snags with broken tops as first priority Many studies have found that broken top snags are the most frequently used type of snag for nesting of multiple species of cavity excavators (Hutto l995, Saab and Dudley 1998, Haggard and Gaines 2001). A broken top provides an avenue for heart rotting fungi which makes the snag more suitable for cavity excavation. Broken top trees are especially important in burns because they provide nest sites for the first few years following a high intensity fire when other trees are not as easily excavated due to case-hardening (Saab and Dudley 1998). ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE The proposed project is located within Elk Creek 5 th Field watershed. The habitat is mixed conifer forest interspersed with madrone, black oak and manzanita, burned with a mostly high and moderate severity. Only those areas that are accessible by road, without steep slopes, are accessible using existing landings, and require very minimal temporary road construction were considered for the project. This totaled 214 acres, within 12 units, proposed for salvage harvest with the remaining 7, Use Species Associations listed below, the most current research information, Wildlife Habitat Capability Models or Wildlife Habitat Relationships Models to assess landscape and project-level impacts to habitat conditions. Develop and update these species associations and models based on local information and new research information Where catastrophic events cause extremely heavy tree losses, consider an appropriate range of management alternatives to meet varying levels of resource protection and commodity outputs. All salvage and sanitation operations shall maintain the required standing dead and CWD specified in the standards and guidelines, if available Flammulated owls and white-headed woodpeckers are associated with mature ponderosa pine, whether in pure stands or as a component of mixed conifer forests. Pygmy nuthatches and brown creepers depend on loose bark of large diameter live and dead ponderosa pine for nest sites and foraging habitat. Where these species occur outside designated habitat for the northern spotted owl and RRs, maintain adequate number of large snags, particularly ponderosa pine, and large green tree replacements for future snags within the 2 species' ranges in appropriate forest types within the protection buffers. Where feasible, leave snags and replacement trees in clumps to increase avian use and reduce blowdown. If snag requirements cannot be met, then harvest must not take place Provision of snags for other cavity-nesting species, including primary cavity-nesters, must be added to the requirements for the white-headed woodpecker. 10

11 acres of moderate to high severity burn left unharvested. Hazard tree removal is proposed for 322 acres alongside 12 miles of forest roads. Areas proposed for salvage harvest and hazard tree removal represent a very small portion (2.7% and 4.1% respectively) of the high and moderate severity burned area that resulted from the Panther fire (Table 2; Figure 1). Total acres of Elk Creek 5 th field watershed 60,767 Acres burned in high to moderate severity 7,846 Acres of watershed unburned 51,185 Acres burned with high to moderate severity NOT proposed for harvest 7,632 (97.3% of high/mod. burn) Acres burned proposed for harvest 214 (2.7% of the high/mod. burn) Figure 1: Acres of Elk Creek 5 th field watershed affected by the Panther Fire Salvage and Reforestation project Proposed Action. Table 1: Acres and percentages of fire-affected area in Elk Creek Watershed. Total acres of Elk Creek watershed Acres of watershed burned with high or % of watershed burned in high or moderate acres of watershed burned in low severity % of watershed burned in low severity moderate severity severity 60,767 7,846 13% 1,736 3% Table 2: Acres and percentages of fire-affected area proposed for treatment with Alternative 2. Acres proposed for salvage harvest % of watershed burned with % of fire- affected area in watershed Acres high or moderate severity proposed for harvest proposed for roadside hazard tree removal % of fire- affected area in watershed proposed for hazard tree removal % 2.7% % 11

12 Impacts from the Panther fire within the Elk Creek Watershed were variable, with 13% of the watershed burned in high to moderate severity, 3% burned in low severity, and 84% unburned. Alternative 2 would salvage harvest burned trees on 214 acres, or 2.7 percent of the area within the Elk Creek drainage burned with high to moderate severity by the October run of the Panther fire (7,486ac). Roadside hazard tree removal would occur on 322 acres, or 4.1 percent of the same fire-affected area. Much of the area left untreated is within wilderness and late successional reserve land allocations where a lack of access will likely preclude any further disturbance to the post-fire habitat in the area. Methodology The MIS for snag dependent species association will be discussed as a group because the snag habitat within the analysis area is the result of high intensity wildfire and these recently burned and/or killed trees are not typical snag habitat. The cavity nesting, snag dependent MIS species that would be impacted by the proposed project have interdependent and complex life cycles that rely specifically on this habitat type, in particular the black-backed woodpecker with habitat needs that focus almost exclusively on snags and burned trees for both foraging and nesting. The project area burned with variable intensity and severity of impacts, ranging from severe, stand-replacing intensity to low intensity, with the majority of the area falling into the moderate and high severity categories (see above). Fire severity mapping is generated for the Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) team and is used to target areas for rehabilitation. Fire severity levels are mapped according to the following definitions of low burn severity, moderate burn severity, and high burn severity. Fire severity is mapped using remote sensing (satellite) and aerial photography and is provided soon after the fire is controlled. The definitions provided below from Parsons et al. (2003) include other indicators that are valuable in determining fire effects to vegetation and habitat (see Burn Severity Classification discussion below). Fire severity classifications were reviewed in the field to determine how the fire effects to vegetation correlated with effects to soil condition. Safford (2007) surveyed areas where BAER soil severity maps had identified moderate burn severity and found that actual impacts to the vegetation were total overstory and vegetative mortality, indicating that grouping the two severity categories for analysis of impacts to habitat is an appropriate methodology. Burn Severity Classification - as used for Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) Low burn severity. Low soil heating or light ground char occurs; minerals in soil are not changed; leaf litter may be charred or partially consumed, and the surface of the duff may be lightly charred with the original forms of surface materials. Indicators including very small diameter (<1/4 inch) foliage and twigs are consumed but some small twigs may remain. Generally, foliage may be yellow and above-ground portions of vegetation may be consumed, but root masses are intact. Moderate burn severity. Moderate soil heating with moderate ground char; soil structure is usually not altered and decreased infiltration due to fire-induced water repellency may be observed. Litter and duff are deeply charred or consumed and shallow light colored ash layer and burned shoots and rhizomes are usually present. Indicators including understory foliage and twigs (¼ to ¾ inch) are consumed; rotten wood and larger diameter woody debris are deeply charred or partially consumed. In forested ecosystems, brown needles or leaves may remain (but not always) on overstory trees. 12

13 High burn severity. High soil heating, or deep ground char occurs. Duff is completely consumed soil structure is often destroyed due to consumption of organic matter. Top layer of mineral soil may be changed in color (but not always) and layer below may be blackened from charring of organic matter in the soil. All or most organic matter is removed and essentially all plant parts in the duff layer are consumed. Indicators such as large fuels >3/4 inch including major stems and trunks are consumed or heavily charred. In forested ecosystems, generally no leaves or needles remain on standing trees. Overall available habitat Total available habitat for post fire dependent snag associated species is defined for the purposes of this analysis as coniferous forest burned within 5 years of the current proposed project with high to moderate intensity, within the Elk Creek 5 th field watershed and throughout the Happy Camp district. After 5 years the primary cavity nesting bird species composition changes in response to the life cycle of the wood boring beetles they prey upon (Hutto 2006, Kotliar 2002). Species composition also changes in response to the loss of foraging and nesting structures as snags fall. Forest canopies become more open, providing more suitable foraging conditions for aerial insect foragers. This definition was spatially bounded by the Happy Camp district boundary due to the way in which individual wildfire acreages and burned severities are tracked, and by the 5 th field watershed in order to provide known acre figures from which to base a comparison for the purposes of the analysis. Table 3. Overall available post fire, snag associated habitat across the Happy Camp Ranger District. Acres burned with moderate to high burn intensity on the Happy Camp district of the Klamath NF within 5 years of the Panther fire. Year of Wildfire Wildfire name 2006 Titus 3,026 Acres burned with moderate to high burn intensity 2007 Elk 3,822 Complex 2008 Panther 24, Siskiyou- Blue 18,642 Total: 49,692 DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS PROPOSED ACTION (ALTERNATIVE 2) Tree Removal (Harvest Units and Hazard Tree Removal) Tree removal would occur on 214 acres and 12 units. Hazard tree removal and fuels treatment along approximately 12 miles of road encompassing approximately 322 acres within eight units. 13

14 The Klamath National Forest Hazard Tree policy (USDA Forest Service 2005) would be followed in the identification and disposition of hazard trees. Black-backed woodpeckers are considered habitat specialists, relying heavily on post-fire conditions (particularly moderate to severely burned coniferous forests), and are therefore most susceptible to reductions in this specific habitat type. The strength of the association of black backed woodpeckers with postfire snag conditions makes it a useful indicator for wildlife associated with this habitat (Hutto 1995). Other species such as the hairy, downy and whiteheaded woodpecker (and the mountain bluebird, which is not an MIS but uses cavities excavated in previous years by black-backed woodpeckers) have strong, but not exclusive, associations with this habitat type. Conifer stands that have burned with moderate or severe intensity are a distinct type of habitat and have a distinct set of species that rely on it. Those species can be divided into either primary cavity nesters or secondary cavity nesters, or into categories defined by the type of food item foraged upon such as wood/bark foragers or aerial (insect) foragers. For species that forage for wood boring beetles, the window of opportunity is short, due to the 2-3 year life cycle of most wood boring beetles (Haggard and Gaines 2001). The importance of recently burned forests to breeding cavity-nesting birds is well known (Hutto 1995, Saab 2008, Russell 2006). Densities of cavity nesters in burned forests change with time since the initial fire (Saab 2007). Species that obtain their insect prey from wood, such as blackbacked woodpeckers, rapidly colonize postfire forests and then experience population declines as time since fire increases, likely due to declines in bark and wood-boring beetles (Saab 2007). Postfire salvage logging removes snags that provide breeding, roosting, and foraging habitat for many species (Kotliar 2002, Hutto and Gallo 2006). Studies indicate that wood and bark foraging species favor unlogged burned forests due to greater foraging opportunities in areas with high snag densities, whereas some aerial insectivores and other open-space foragers can use partially logged postfire forests due to more open space for aerial foraging maneuvers (Saab and Dudley 1998, Haggard and Gaines 2001, Saab 2002). Prey availability and predation pressure also differ between salvage-logged and unlogged areas and may influence the overall use of these areas (Saab 2007). Snag abundance is a limiting factor for primary cavity excavators because they excavate a nest cavity each year (Haggard and Gaines 2001). Primary cavity excavators are important members of forest ecosystems because the cavities they excavate may be used by secondary cavity nesters, including bats, American marten, many owl species, and other birds and because they influence insect numbers. Saab and Dudley (1998) found species such as black backed and hairy woodpeckers to be most abundant in stands with a high density of snags. Species that are considered to be more habitat generalists, and are also more abundant throughout their range, were found to be more abundant in the stands with the lower snag densities. Species that are associated with open-canopy stands, such as Vaux s swift, downy woodpecker, and western bluebird may benefit from postfire logging in dense stands where it would take years for the snags to fall on their own to create open conditions (Saab 2002) though these species are not nearly as restricted to post fire habitat and commonly occur in naturally open, unburned, conifer forests as well. Salvage logging influences densities or relative abundances of cavity nesting and some noncavity nesting birds (Cahall 2007, Hutto 2006). Maintaining unsalvaged areas in burned forests 14

15 will provide habitat for species of birds negatively influenced by salvage logging (Cahall 2007, Saab and Dudley 1998, Dudley 2005). Retaining large snags after salvage logging will provide foraging habitat for woodpeckers (Cahall 2007). Much of the area burned by the Panther fire and left untreated is within wilderness and LSR land allocations where a lack of access will preclude any further disturbance to the post fire habitat in the area. It is important to emphasize the proportion of area proposed for salvage logging in relation to the overall burned area, and the overall availability of this habitat type, specifically areas that burned in high and moderate severity that will not be treated. Within the entire burned area of the Elk Creek watershed, there were 7,846 acres burned in high or moderately high severity with the October run of the Panther fire, with 214 acres (2.7%) of this proposed for harvest and 322 acres (4.1%) is proposed for individual hazard tree removal along roadsides. Postfire timber harvest can compound the original impacts to the habitat from the fire, whether they are negative or positive (Hutto 1995, Hutto and Gallo 2006, Caton 1996, Saab and Dudley 1998, Hanson 2008). Removing burned trees/snags from 2.7 percent of the fire-affected area in the 5 th field watershed and 0.4% of the fire-affected area on the District may have some effect on individuals, but the small area affected likely will have no impact on populations or population trends across the larger area. The threshold at which postfire removal of trees, in addition to firecaused mortality, has no limiting effects on overall availability of post fire habitat is unknown (Saab and Dudley 1998, Saab 2002, Hutto 2006) but is unlikely to be met by the proposed project due to the abundance of severely burned habitat that will remain untreated. Planting Planting a mix of coniferous species within severely burned areas of the Panther fire would likely have no immediate direct or indirect impacts to the MIS species listed above. Plantations are long term investments that take many years to materialize into seral stages or habitat types usable by any of the species listed above. Habitat elements needed for nesting by these species would not be achieved for at least 40 to 50 years if growing conditions are favorable. Fuels Treatments Fuels treatments would consist of brush cutting and removal, and may include the removal of small diameter trees (<4 dbh) in areas where appropriate within the hazard tree removal units. Because this activity would not affect the fire killed trees in the units, the post fire habitat would not be impacted. Therefore, no direct effects are expected from this activity. Brush and fuels removal may be indirectly beneficial in that it may reduce the likelihood of fire starts along the roadsides, and thereby prevent the re-burn and potential loss of post fire habitat. CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ALTERNATIVE 2 The spatial and temporal bounding for this analysis is the same as described above for the bounds of the direct and indirect effects analysis of the MIS snag association. Current baseline conditions in the analysis area are a result of wildfire and past logging practices. There are no additional actions proposed for the analysis area that would further degrade or remove post fire snag habitat as described above in the reasonably foreseeable future. There is no commercial logging planned in the analysis area. Potential future actions in the analysis area include conifer 15

16 planting and incidental forest visitor activities such as hunting, hiking, wood cutting, and camping (see Table 5 of the Wildlife BE/BA for a detailed list of Past, Present and Future Foreseeable Actions in the analysis area). None of these would have further, additive impacts to habitat for snag associated species described above. DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS ALTERNATIVE 3 Hazard Tree Removal and Fuels Treatments Only This alternative includes roadside hazard tree removal and fuels treatments along and within 200 feet of approximately 12 miles of Forest roads in the Project Area. Approximately 393 acres would be treated. No salvage or conifer planting would occur under this alternative. In areas that were proposed for salvage under Alternative 2, hazard trees would be removed and fuel treatments implemented within 200 feet of open roads. Under Alternative 3, no tree planting would occur in the areas proposed for salvage under Alternative 2. The effect to the area of not being planted with follow-up release treatments is that sprouting hardwoods and highly competitive brush would quickly occupy most of the ground in areas proposed for treatment under Alternative 2. Roadside fuels treatment would further reduce fuels, and the treatments combined would provide some increase in the probability that natural regeneration or existing and future planted trees would survive future fires (see project Silviculture Report for more detail). Because the overall suitability of the habitat for post-fire snag associated MIS is directly related to the number of available snags in post-fire habitat, it would follow that the more snags retained, the more habitat is available. As discussed above, salvage harvest has impacts on the suitability of post-fire habitat for snag associated species. The impacts from the proposed project under this alternative would be an increase in the availability of the post-fire habitat for the MIS species category selected above. It is unknown how this increase in snag retention by a lack of harvest units would affect the species using the habitat. In general, an increase in the quantity and/or quality of habitat can suggest a subsequent increase in overall habitat capability. However, it is difficult to establish to what extent this may apply to the Panther Fire Salvage and Reforestation project area because the number of individuals and the overall species composition in the project area is unknown. CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ALTERNATIVE 3 The spatial and temporal bounding for this analysis is the same as described above for the bounds of the direct and indirect effects analysis of the MIS snag association. Current baseline conditions in the analysis area are a result of wildfire and past logging practices. There are no additional actions proposed for the analysis area that would further degrade or remove post fire snag habitat as described above in the reasonably foreseeable future. There is no commercial logging planned in the analysis area. Potential future actions in the analysis area include conifer planting and incidental forest visitor activities such as hunting, hiking, wood cutting, and camping (see Table 5 of the Wildlife BE/BA for a detailed list of Past, Present and Future Foreseeable Actions in the analysis area). None of these would have further, additive impacts to habitat for snag associated species described above. 16

17 DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE There are no direct or indirect effects expected from the No Action Alternative because no treatments would occur that would remove or modify post-fire snag habitat. 17

18 REFERENCES Cahall, R.E. and J.P. Hayes Influences of postfire salvage logging on forest birds in the Eastern Cascades, Oregon. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. Caton E Effects of Fire and Salvage Logging on a Cavity-Nesting Bird Community. Fire and Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest: Recent Research on Fire and Wildlife-- Session A; Spokane, WA. 78. Dixon, R. D., and V. Saab Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus). In A. Poole and F. Gill [EDS.], The birds of North America, No. 509., Philadelphia, PA. Dudley, J.G. and Saab, V Field protocol for monitoring cavity nesting birds. USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station. RP 44. Dudley, J.G Home range size and foraging habitat of black-backed woodpeckers. MS Thesis. Boise State University. 76pp. Haggard, M. and W. L. Gaines Effects of Stand-Replacement fire and Salvage Logging on a Cavity-Nesting Bird Community in Eastern Cascades Washington. Northwest Science Vol.75., No. 4 Hanson, C. T. and M.P. North Post fire woodpecker foraging in salvage-logged and unlogged forests of the Sierra Nevada. The Condor 110(4): Hoyt, J.S. and S. J. Hannon Habitat associations of Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers in the boreal forest of Alberta. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 32: Hutto RL Composition of Bird Communities Following Stand-Replacement Fires in Northern Rocky Mountain Conifer Forests. Conservation Biology 9: Hutto, R.L. and Gallo, S.M Effects of post fire salvage logging on cavity nesting birds. The Condor 108: Hutto, R.L Toward meaningful snag guidelines for post fire salvage logging in North American conifer forests. Conservation Biology Volume 20, No. 4, Kotliar, N.B., Hejl, S., Hutto, R.L., Saab, V.A., Melcher, C.P., McFadzen, M.E Effects of fire and post-fire salvage logging on avian communities in conifer dominated forests of the western United States. Studies in Avian Biology. 25:49-64 Russell, R.E., V. Saab, J. Dudley, and J. J.Rotella Snag longevity in relation to wildfire and postfire salvage logging. Forest Ecology and Management 232: Saab, V., R.E. Russell, J. Dudley Nest-site selection by cavity-nesting birds in relation to postfire salvage logging. Forest Ecology and Management 257 (2009) Saab, V., R.E. Russell, J. Dudley Nest densities of cavity nesting birds in relation to postfire salvage logging and time since wildfire. The Condor 109:

19 Saab, V., Brannon, R. Dudley, J. Vanderzanden, D. Johnson, V. and H. Lachowski Selection of fire created snags at two spatial scales by cavity nesting birds. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR Saab, V. and J. Dudley Responses of cavity nesting birds to stand replacement fire and salvage logging in Ponderosa pine/douglas fir forests. USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station RP 11. USDA Forest Service Klamath National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. Klamath National Forest, Yreka, California. 19