Logo Department Name Agency Organization Organization Address Information United States Forest Daniel Boone National Forest 761 South Laurel Road Department of Service London Ranger District London, KY 40744 Agriculture 606-864-4163 File Code: 2400 Date: August 28, 2017 Dear Reader: The London District Ranger of the Daniel Boone National Forest is proposing to remove ash trees located on the London Ranger District (LRD) in Laurel and Pulaski Counties, Kentucky inside two Developed Recreation Areas (Bee Rock and Rockcastle) along the Rockcastle River near the communities of Mount Victory and Bald Rock, respectively (see attached maps). Examinations of the trees conducted in 2017 have determined that all ash trees in those areas have been infested by the emerald ash borer and will die. We are proposing to remove the infested trees and adjacent live uninfested/ uninfected trees as determined necessary to control the spread of insects or disease. You are receiving this letter because you have requested to be notified of such proposals on national forest system (NFS) lands where activities are being proposed. The following information is provided to allow you an opportunity to review and comment on this proposal. BACKGROUND The ash tree genus (Fraxinus sp.) in Kentucky compromises an estimated 245 million trees. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB, Figures 1 and 2), Agrilius Planipennis, is a non-native pest of ash trees and was first Figure 1. An Emerald Ash Borer identified in southeast Michigan in 2002. By early 2011, EAB infestations were located in 13 additional states, including Kentucky. The EAB is very aggressive at attacking and killing all ash species (Figure 3). Unfortunately, EAB attacks trees as Figure 3. Damage Caused by an Infestation of Emerald Ash Borer Figure 2. How an Emerald Ash Borer appears in the ash tree small as 1 inch in diameter and it attacks white and green ash trees, which are native to this region. Nearly 100% of the trees attacked eventually die, and it can take 3 to 6 years for them to go from healthy to dead. Through the infestation, it is typical to see a mix of healthy, declining, and dead ash trees. The EAB attacks the crown of mature ash during initial infestation, causing branches within the crown to die first and creating a hazard from falling branches (Figure 4). After ash trees die, they become brittle and fall. Over 80% of dead ash trees are expected to fall within 5 years. 1 1 Kentucky Emerald Ash Borer. University of Kentucky, College of Agricultures. Website accessed 8/18/2017. http://pest.ca.uky.edu/ext/eab/welcomeeab.html Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper
Ash Tree Removal in Bee Rock and Rockcastle Campgrounds 2 U.S. Forest Service and State agencies have been monitoring and detecting new locations of EAB infestations. In 2014, EAB traps were set up at both Bee Rock and Rockcastle. One trap at Bee Rock was positive for EAB at that time, but none were found at Rockcastle, and no ash decline at either site was apparent. The Kentucky Department of Forestry reported newly infested counties in 2016 along the Rockcastle River near Bee Rock and Rockcastle? in Laurel and Pulaski Counties (Figure 5). However, in the spring of 2017, personnel from the DBNF noticed several dying ash trees at Bee Figure 4. Counties in Kentucky Infested by the Emerald Ash Borer Rock, having succumbed to the EAB. Ash trees that have been infested by EAB show signs and symptoms of decline such as branch dieback in the upper crown, new shoots emerging on the tree trunk or crown, woodpecker damage, and bark splits. Approximately a dozen trees at Bee Rock were deemed hazard trees because of their immediate threat to human safety and structures, so these trees were felled using chainsaws and were cut up for firewood for campers using the site. Soon after the hazard trees at Bee Rock were felled, Forest Service personnel performed a hazard tree analysis within each developed recreation area boundary to determine the extent of the EAB infestation. The area of analysis was within 2 ½ horizontal tree lengths from access roads and high risk areas, and generally no more than 200 feet above and below access roads (see Figures 6 and 7 below). Based on an initial assessment by Forest personnel, it is estimated that 90% of ash trees inside both recreation areas are showing signs and symptoms of EAB infestations. An estimated 176 dead and/or dying ash trees were found at Bee Rock, as well as an estimated 45 dead and/or dying ash trees at Rockcastle (Ricardo Suarez and Ronald Rogers, personal communication). Page 2 of 10
Ash Tree Removal in Bee Rock and Rockcastle Campgrounds 3 Figure 5. Dieback on an Ash Tree at Bee Rock Figure 6. Dead Ash Tree at Bee Rock. A Forest Health Protection entomologist from the US Forest Service Southern Research Station visited both Bee Rock and Rockcastle on June 12, 2017, and found,...all of the ash trees impacted by EAB. Impact ranged from dead stems to stems with early stages of decline with most trees in the later stages of decline or dead. We did not see any trees that did not express some state of infestation-induced decline (Paul Merten, email, June 15, 2017 2 ). PROPOSED ACTION The proposed action would remove the infested/ infected ash trees within Bee Rock and Rockcastle on the LRD. The project would entail cutting and leaving, or cutting and removing hazard trees (mainly ash trees impacted by EAB) at each site using chainsaws or mechanized equipment. The proposed action may include incidental 3 removal of live or dead trees for landings, skid trails 4, and road clearing. Areas within the developed recreation area boundary that will be evaluated for hazard tree removal include: Roads and trailhead access Parking areas Shelter Signs/bulletin boards Camping areas / tent sites / picnic areas Restrooms / water spigots Cultural Resources Boat Ramps Other constructed features such as bridge access. 2 Merten, Paul. Email to Ricardo Suarez, June 15, 2017. Forest Service Forest Health Protection, Southern Region. Asheville, North Carolina. 2 pp. 3 Incidental: Liable to happen as a consequence of an activity. Tree felling would be limited to cutting only those trees impeding access to or removal of an infested tree 4 Skid trail: a temporary nonstructural pathway used to drag felled trees or logs to an existing road, resulting in some ground disturbance. Page 3 of 10
Ash Tree Removal in Bee Rock and Rockcastle Campgrounds 4 Table 1. Mitigation measures for removal of hazard trees within developed recreation areas. Activity Cut-and-Leave Use of Mechanized Equipment to remove trees Implementation Criteria A. Fell tree and leave in place. Cut-and-Leave is the preferred method for control and suppression of insects and disease in the Riparian Corridor. B. Fell trees and cut into firewood blocks to make available for public use at developed campsites with fire rings. Post prominent signs prohibiting the public from moving the firewood from the recreation areas. A. Outside riparian corridors, equipment would restricted to the road to minimize ground disturbance. A skidder with cable winch would be used on designated cable corridors. B. Yarding 5 of trees to the road (see page 7) would be the preferred method to remove trees. If necessary outside riparian corridors, skid trails would be designated. C. Cleaning equipment would be mandatory prior to moving into area to prevent spread of non-native invasive species. D. Erosion control measures would include using Forest Service Best Management Practices. A Revegetation Plan and Specification would require the use of materials and straw bales that are free of weed seed. E. No log landings would be constructed. F. Incidental tree cutting would be allowed for safety and operational effectiveness. G. No streams would be crossed with equipment or during yarding of trees. H. No temporary roads would be constructed. Diligent efforts would be made to minimize ground disturbance so as to curtail impacts on resources, including the recreation experience. No roads would be constructed or re-constructed. Proposed project areas are accessible by National Forest System paved roads 623, 624, and 626. Depending upon the number of hazard trees identified at site, designated skid trails may be necessary to facilitate removal of trees. The size of the area identified for tree removal along the roads covers approximately 80 acres combined at the two recreation areas. Mechanized equipment would include using chainsaws, a rubber tire skidder with winch capabilities, loader, and log trucks for hauling. The roads used to haul would require no road maintenance outside of what already occurs for the designated recreation areas. No temporary roads, log landings or skid roads would be constructed. Minimal soil disturbance is expected because a skidder with cable winching capabilities would be used to remove trees. Where necessary, skid trails would be used to facilitate the removal of trees except in riparian corridors. Inside riparian corridors, equipment would remain on the road at all times. Any soil disturbance would 5 Yarding: The process of moving logs to a truck using a skidder and a cable. Page 4 of 10
Ash Tree Removal in Bee Rock and Rockcastle Campgrounds 5 be stabilized and re-vegetated using native grasses and/or annual grains. The recreation areas would require temporary closure during project implementation. The project is expected to last approximately three weeks. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION The need for this action is threefold: 1) To control the spread of EAB along the Rockcastle River and its tributaries, 2) To provide for public and Forest Service employee safety, and 3) To protect facilities within Bee Rock and Rockcastle developed recreation areas while maintaining a high quality recreational experience. Developed recreation areas include public access roads, camp sites, picnic tables, boat ramps, restrooms, parking areas, signs, bulletin boards, shelters, trailheads, picnic/day use areas, cultural resources, and interpretive sites. The action would reduce the risk of persons or property from being struck by falling branches and/or trees. When dead and dying trees on the Forest occur in close proximity to areas that experience a high level of public use, the LRD has a responsibility to remove and or otherwise abate the hazard, particularly in areas where people congregate for extended periods of time such as in developed recreation areas. The abatement of these hazardous trees is a high priority for the LRD. The purpose for this action is to comply with the goals and objectives of the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Daniel Boone National Forest (Forest Plan, 2004 6 ): Vegetation Standard DB-VEG 1: Hazard trees (dead or alive) considered to be immediate threat to human safety may be removed anytime. This supersedes all other standards (p. 2-24). 1.E Objective 2.E: Prevent, control, or eradicate populations of non-native invasive species (p. 3-12). 3.A Goal 1: In developed recreation areas, Provide areas that are safe, cost-effective to operate, and meet the target population s needs that are best served on National Forest System lands p. 3-48). Forest Plan Standards and Best Management Practices would be applied throughout the implementation of this project. DECISION TO BE MADE AND RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL The London District Ranger of the Daniel Boone National Forest is the Responsible Official for this proposal. The Responsible Official will decide whether or not to implement the proposed ash tree removal project as developed through internal and external scoping. SCOPING AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Scoping for this project includes public notification of the proposal and a review of the management direction for the area in the Forest Plan, review of the National Forest Management Act, and consultations with Forest Service and other agency resource specialists. This letter is being 6 USDA Forest Service. 2004a. Land and Resource Management Plan for the Daniel Boone National Forest. Southern Region, Daniel Boone National Forest. Winchester, KY. Bulletin R8-MB 117A. 280 pp. Page 5 of 10
Ash Tree Removal in Bee Rock and Rockcastle Campgrounds 6 distributed to individuals and groups who have requested to be notified of new project proposals. Planning documents can be found on the Forest Service web site at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/dbnf/landmanagement/projects. You can help in the planning process by sharing any concerns or information you may have about these proposals. The Forest Service will use your comments to help determine the appropriate scope of environmental analysis. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record and will be available for public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request that a submission be withheld from the public record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act permits such confidentiality. Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that confidentiality is granted in only very limited circumstances. The Forest Service will inform the requester of its decision regarding a request for confidentiality. Where the request is denied, the submission will be returned, and the requester notified that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address. HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS Individuals or organizations wishing to comment are requested to do so by September 22, 2017. Please provide the following information as part of your comments: i Your name and address; ii Title of the proposed action (Ash Tree Removal Project); iii Specific comments on the proposed action, along with supporting reasons that the Responsible Official should consider in reaching a decision; iv Signature or other verification of identity upon request. Written comments can be sent by facsimile to: 606-878-0811, or mailed to: Jason Nedlo, London District Ranger Daniel Boone National Forest 761 South Laurel Road, London, KY 40744 Electronic comments should be in a common digital format and sent to: comments-southern-daniel-boonelondon@fs.fed.us. To ensure that they are considered, hand-delivered comments must be received at the London Ranger Station during normal business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For additional information on the project, please contact Ricardo Suarez at ricardosuarez@fs.fed.us or by calling (606)864-4163. Sincerely, /s/ Beth Christensen for JASON NEDLO District Ranger Enclosures: Maps of proposed project areas. Page 6 of 10
Ash Tree Removal in Bee Rock and Rockcastle Campgrounds 7 Enclosure 1. Bee Rock Proposed Ash Tree Removal Area Page 7 of 10
Ash Tree Removal in Bee Rock and Rockcastle Campgrounds 8 Enclosure 2. Rockcastle Proposed Ash Tree Removal Area Page 8 of 10
Enclosure 3. Bee Rock Campground Facilities Map. Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper
Ash Tree Removal in Bee Rock and Rockcastle Campgrounds 10 Enclosure 4. Rockcastle Campground Facilities Map. Page 10 of 10