Appendix A: Vegetation Treatment Descriptions and Unit Specific Design Criteria

Transcription

1 Appendix A: Vegetation Treatment Descriptions and Unit Specific Design Criteria The table below describes the Kabetogama Project proposed vegetation treatments associated with Alternative 2. The treatment codes (listed with the treatment title in the first column below) are associated with each stand included for the proposed alternative. Secondary treatment codes and definitions are shown in Table A-2 and are applied as proposed to the stands in Appendix B-1. Reforestation treatment codes and definitions are shown in Table A-3 and are applied as proposed to the stands in Appendix B-1. The secondary and reforestation treatments are not indicated on the Alternative 2 Map. Table A-4 defines the harvest mitigations that can be found for each unit in Appendix B. Create Young Forest with Harvest Clearcut with Reserves This is an even-aged* management technique commonly used in conifer stands where most trees are cut in the previous stand. Regeneration is achieved by natural seeding, artificial (direct) seeding, planting seedlings, and/or advance reproduction. A varying number of trees or groups of trees are retained to achieve wildlife and tree species diversity goals. *a stand of trees composed of a single age class in which the range of tree ages is usually ±20 percent of rotation Superior National Forest 1 Appendix A

2 Coppice Cut with Reserves This is an even-aged management technique commonly used in hardwood stands where most merchantable trees in a stand are harvested in a single cutting, establishing a young stand. Most regeneration is from stump sprouts or root suckers (natural regeneration). A varying number of trees or groups of trees are retained to achieve wildlife and tree species diversity goals. Seed Tree Cut with Reserves A method of regenerating an even-aged stand that removes trees except those needed for the purposes of seed production. Prepares the seed bed and creates a new age class in an exposed microenvironment. A varying number of trees or groups of trees are retained to achieve wildlife and tree species diversity goals. Superior National Forest 2 Appendix A

3 Maintain and/or Enhance Existing Forest with Harvest Thinning An intermediate harvest treatment designed to reduce stand density of trees primarily to improve growth, enhance forest health, or recover potential mortality. Trees usually harvested in rows, strips, or by using fixed spacing. Types of thinning include: From above. The removal of trees from the dominant and codominant crown classes to favor the best trees of those same crown classes. From below. The removal of trees from the lower crown classes to favor those in the upper crown classes. This is used when the objective is to minimize increases in light reaching the forest floor below the main canopy as well as minimize impacts to crown percent cover of the main canopy. Variable Density Thinning (VDT): Thinning that provides for unthinned areas and heavily thinned patches, along with intermediate levels of thinning and residual density through the bulk of the stand (varying density). The result is much greater spatial variability in stand densities and greater structural complexity. Ecological benefits of VDT include development of large trees, opportunities for release or new establishment of woody and herbaceous species, and creation of spatially variable microclimatic and habitat conditions (Franklin et al. 2007). Superior National Forest 3 Appendix A

4 Shelterwood Prep Cut A method of regenerating an even-aged stand in which a new age class develops beneath the partial shade provided by remaining trees. The remaining trees also serve as seed trees. The sequence of treatment can include three distinct types of cuttings: 1) an optional preparatory harvest (prep cut) to enhance conditions for seed production and/or develop windfirmness, 2) an establishment harvest (seed cut) to prepare the seed bed and to create a new age class, and 3) a removal harvest (final removal cut) to release established regeneration from competition with the overstory trees. Regeneration is usually from natural or artificial seeding or can be supplemented with planted stock. Non-Harvest Treatments Wildlife Oak- Blueberry Oak and/or blueberry habitat improvement which could include release and weeding and/or prescribed fire to open up the canopy to favor oak and/or blueberry species. Returns fire to a fire-dependent system, regenerates oak and blueberry and increases mast production for a variety of wildlife species. Treatment of vegetation could be accomplished using hand motor tools such as brush saws or chainsaws. Superior National Forest 4 Appendix A

5 Release A treatment designed to free young trees from undesirable, competing vegetation. Includes cleaning and weeding which are done in stands not past the sapling stage. In sapling or older stage stands, the treatment is used to release desirable tree species in both harvested and unharvested areas that have been planted/seeded/or have established advanced regeneration. The amount of competing vegetation treated is dependent on tree size. Work can be accomplished using motor hand tools such as brush saws or chainsaws or by hand with herbicide (basal bark, hack-and-squirt, and/or foliar applications). Superior National Forest 5 Appendix A

6 Riparian Riparian treatments are intended to establish and promote long-lived conifers species in hardwood stands along lakes and streams. The treatment would occur in two types of stands generally within the first 100 from the normal waterline. One is in older stands where the overstory trees are dying and are allowing some sunlight to the ground. These stands would not typically have overstory trees killed. The other example is in stands where the overstory is younger and little sunlight reaches the ground. In this case the overstory density would be reduced to allow more sunlight to reach the ground. Both treatments would include brushing the understory to favor desirable species such as white pine or white spruce, which would be planted or of natural origin. The cutting treatment would involve brushsaws for small diameter trees and shrubs (less than 5 inch) and chainsaws for larger diameter trees (5-8 inch diameter). Before After Superior National Forest 6 Appendix A

7 Table A-2: Description of Secondary Treatment Types for the Kabetogama Project Post-harvest Treatments in Young Forest Site Preparation A mechanical treatment that prepares an area for regeneration and reduces competition from brush and undesirable tree species currently on site. The equipment type and operating season depends on the site conditions, such as soil moisture and vegetation present. Regeneration of the stand can be through natural seeding, direct seeding, or planted seedlings. The treatment can be used in stands with low stocking and undesirable regeneration or post-harvest (as secondary treatment). Release A treatment designed to free young trees from undesirable, competing vegetation. Includes cleaning and weeding which are done in stands not past the sapling stage. Competing vegetation is cut or chemically treated within 3-5 feet of desired species. Work can be accomplished using motor hand tools such as brush saws or by hand with herbicide (usually foliar applications at this tree size/age). Superior National Forest 7 Appendix A

8 Table A-3: Description of Reforestation and Planting Treatment Types for the Kabetogama Project Reforestation Treatment Description Photo Example Natural Regeneration Regeneration established after harvest through a naturallyoccurring process such as seeding, sprouting, or suckering. Diversity Planting Planting long-lived conifer species in addition to natural regeneration after a regeneration harvest. This planting method increases within-stand diversity by utilizing natural regeneration along with the desired planted species. Diversity planting density ranges from trees per acre. The new forest type is the species being regenerated naturally, not the species being interplanted. Superior National Forest 8 Appendix A

9 Table A-3: Description of Reforestation and Planting Treatment Types for the Kabetogama Project Reforestation Treatment Description Photo Example Conversion, Planting and/or Seeding Conversion of a forest type usually occurs in stands established after a clearcut with reserves harvest (see definition above). Regeneration is achieved by natural seeding, artificial (direct) seeding, and/or planting seedings. Trees are planted at 400 to 800 seedlings per acre to establish a young cohort of desired species. The planted trees are the dominant regeneration on the site and are the new forest type. Seeding rate vary by species and is done by fixed wing aircraft or helicopters. Sources: Forest Service Activity Tracking System (FACTS) - Definitions and Business Rules, and Natural Disturbance and Stand Development Principles for Ecological Forestry (Franklin et al 2007) Superior National Forest 9 Appendix A

10 Table A-4 includes descriptions (with codes) of stand-specific implementation practices needed to prepare stands for treatments. This site-specific stand direction is provided where site-specific information can be applied. All Forest Plan Operational Standards and Guidelines (Appendix C) will be considered for each stand and will be implemented if applicable, but may not be specified in the stands in the table of Appendix B-2. For example, during implementation, legacy patch location will depend on the actual size and condition of a stand (G-TM-5) and this information cannot be specified at this time. Table A-4: Stand-specific Implementation Mitigation Codes and Definitions for Kabetogama Project Heritage Resources HR1 Site within unit will have one chain flagged buffer prior to project implementation. HR2 Unsurveyed shoreline will be surveyed prior to project implementation if recommended by heritage resource staff. Plants and Non-Native Resources PLANT2 Recreation REC1 Soils S1 S2 S3 S7 S9 Scenery SC1 Timber TM2 Wildlife RT-BE RT-BO Avoid NNIS occurrences, either relocate skid trails, temp roads, landings if use would be in growing season, OR treat before use in growing season. See Comments for details. Snowmobile trail within or adjacent to unit, check season of harvest. Harvest ops, temp roads, skid trails limited to frozen ground conditions. No fill in wetlands. Harvest ops restricted to the dry season or to periods when the ground is frozen. Suspend operation if excessive rutting occurs. Retain/return distributed slash or woody debris, stumps and bark on site. Avoid wetlands (ELT 2, 4, 5, 6) in unit or operate under frozen conditions. When conducting a prescribed burn, minimize the loss of forest floor. See G-WS-10 in the Forest Plan. Near Concern Level 1 road or High Scenic integrity area, follow scenic mitigations. During layout and design of timber sales reserve areas will be tracked and calculated to ensure that the maximum harvested acres will not exceed 1,000 acres. In harvest units within ¼ mile of lakes and streams suitable for bald eagle foraging, all super-canopy red and white pine trees should be retained where possible. Units adjacent to large lowland areas would generally have reserve areas/trees concentrated along the wetland boundary (within 200 yards) to Environmental Assessment 10 Appendix A

11 Table A-4: Stand-specific Implementation Mitigation Codes and Definitions for Kabetogama Project maintain potential nesting trees for boreal owl. Retain large (>12 inch) aspen capable of producing nesting cavities. RT-NG In conifer thinning stands, maintain deciduous trees, especially aspen where possible. RT-OSF If harvesting within the remainder zone of conifer units, maintain 10-20% canopy cover for quality olive-sided flycatcher habitat where possible. RT-PA In mature and older upland forest types managed to maintain patch sizes 300 or more acres, maintain 50% (60% for red and white pine) canopy closure at time of treatment and favor retention of larger and older trees characteristic of the patch. RT-TTW In even-aged jack pine and upland mixed conifer regeneration harvests, retain 6-10 jack pine per acre either scattered or in clumps to provide foraging habitat for three-toed woodpeckers. Jack pine reserve trees can count towards the leave tree requirement. Watershed Health and Riparian Resources WS1 Filter strip: On slopes near water resources (lakes, wetlands, streams) apply filter strips guidelines as noted in OSGs ( ). Avoid removal of long-lived conifers. WS2 Small-feature riparian zone: intermittent/first streams and small lakes and wetlands (<1ac) manage a riparian zone of 50 (half tree length) as directed in OSGs, MFRC guidelines and Forest Plan. WS3 Medium-sized feature riparian zone: second/third order streams and medium-sized lakes and wetlands (1-3ac) manage a riparian zone of 100 (one tree length) as directed in OSGs, MFRC guidelines and Forest Plan. WS4 Large-feature riparian zone: large/fourth order streams and large lakes and wetlands (>3ac) manage a riparian zone of 150 (1.5 x tree length) as directed in OSGs, MFRC guidelines and Forest Plan. Season of Operation (Interdisciplinary) as All Seasons w Winter (Frozen Ground) ws Winter or Summer (Dry or Frozen Ground) Environmental Assessment 11 Appendix A