Snoqualmie Pass Adaptive Management Area Research and Monitoring

Last updated: 16 November 1999

With the origin of the Snoqualmie Pass AMA, the Forest initially had to complete the comprehensive plan as directed by the record of decision for the FSEIS on Management of Habitat for Late-Successional and Old-Growth Forest Related Species Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl (NWFP).  Now that the plan has been approved, projects have been resumed within the AMA.  The majority of the area surrounding the AMA is Late-Succession Reserve and has facilitated the opportunity to conduct learning activities. Examples include thinning to accelerate development of late-succession habitat, riparian improvement projects to meet the aquatic conservation strategy objectives and road systems improvements associated with watershed restoration.

Title: I-90 Land Exchange

Project description and objective:  This land exchange will facilitate the development of connectivity corridors of late-successional forest across the landscape.  It is the result of studies that determined the impacts of the existing checkerboard landscape ownership patterns and resulting industry management objectives when reviewing connective corridors and their value in providing connectivity of late-successional forest across the AMA landscape for a wide range of species.
Location:  Lands involved are on the Wenatchee, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie and Gifford Pinchot National Forests.   
Status:  NEPA scoping began in 1997, completion with title transfer is expected in the spring of 2000.

Title: The Summit at Snoqualmie Master Development Plan

Project description and objective:  This is a proposal to upgrade ski area facilities while meeting the intent of the Snoqualmie Pass AMA Plan.  The alternative selected in the EIS will determine the exact measures that will be implemented.  The items that are being considered include; 1. Reducing the number of ski trails from the original proposal to meet the objectives of maintaining and enhancing late-successional habitat, 2. Removing or reducing the traditional cleared ski runs in some areas and replacing with gladed (tree skiing) runs where tree spacing would allow adequate clearing for skiers and would meet the needs of old growth dependent species, 3. Reduce the width of existing cleared ski runs so that they will provide skier access, but minimize effects to habitat, and 4. Relocate terminals for chairlifts to areas that would have less or no impacts to riparian areas and would help meet the aquatic conservation strategy objectives.  A specific learning objective of this proposal is determine if the developed recreation area can be managed in a manner that is neutral or beneficial to late-successional dependent species while still providing for a viable facility meeting user expectations.  
Location:  Snoqualmie Pass off of I-90, approximately 50 miles east of Seattle, WA.  
Status:  Work resumed in 1998 after being suspended since 1994 while waiting for the completion of the Snoqualmie Pass AMA Plan.

Title: Level 3 Fiber Optic Project

Project description and objective: This project was proposed by Level 3 Communications, LLC.  To meet the objectives of the Snoqualmie Pass AMA and adjoining lands covered by the NWFP, the implementation required replacement of all culverts to meet the 100 year flood requirement and surfacing to reduce sediment into streams.  Monitoring will determine the effectiveness of these actions during the life of the project.  The learning objective is to help determine what management practices can be used to restore and enhance riparian systems in the AMA.  
Location:  I-90 Corridor in the vicinity of Snoqualmie Pass  
Status:  Project was started in the fall of 1998 with an estimated completion of installation in the summer of 2000.

Title: Cle Elum Valley Sanitation

Project description and objective: The project is designed to improve sanitation conditions around Lake Cle Elum and tributaries to the lake.  Monitoring determined the growing problem and community support directed the need to take corrective action.  
The area was established as an overnight fee demo area with the fee collections providing for san-i-cans, enforcement, and monitoring (including user surveys).  The primary learning objectives of this project are; 1) to determine if the quality of outdoor recreation be maintained or improved while accommodating increasing use and conservation of the late-successional and aquatic resources, and 2) to determine if managers can accurately predict visitor behavior in order to better communicate the needs and requirements of resource protection on public lands.  After the first year the project has been successful with positive comments from users and reduced waste and domestic garbage.
Location:  Cle Elum Watershed  
Status:  Public meetings were held during the winter of 1998-1999 with implementation during the summer of 1999.  This program will continue indefinitely.

Title: Other Forest Products Monitoring

Project description and objective: Non-timber forest products have been harvested to varying degrees throughout the AMA.  Because of the growing demand for these products a monitoring program was established to determine acceptable levels of harvest for the various products.   The learning objective of this ongoing project is to determine if the AMA standards and guidelines are adequate for the protection of these products and to determine if new management can be instituted for sustainable collection where harvest is determined to be excessive.
Location: Throughout the AMA  
Status:  Ongoing

Title: Keechelus Thin

Project description and objective: This commercial thinning proposal is designed to setup comparison plots for comparative studies of managed timber stands.  These initial plots will be in previously harvested stands.  A learning objective of this project is to determine what accepted and experimental silvicultural practices can be used in eastside AMA moist forests primarily to maintain or accelerate the development of compositional and structural attributes of late-successional forests within the AMA.
Location: Yakima River Watershed
Status: Survey work began in 1999.

Title: Kachess Vegetation Management Plan

Project description and objective: The objective of this proposal is to determine how to manage vegetation in a heavily used campground while meeting the objectives of the AMA and the needs to the forest user.  The learning objective being test by this project is to determine if we can manage developed recreation sites in a manner that is neutral or beneficial to late-successional forest and aquatic systems while still providing a quality recreation experience.
Location:  Kachess Campground on Lake Kachess
Status:  This project was started in 1994 but suspended until the Snoqualmie Pass AMA Plan was adopted.  A decision is expected in the spring of 2000.