Memorandum
Date: November 18, 1997
To: Robert W. Williams, Regional Forester, Region 6, Forest Service
From: Donald R. Knowles, Executive Director
Subject: Regional Ecosystem Office Review of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Forestwide Late-Successional Reserve Assessment
Summary
The Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) and the interagency Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) Work Group have reviewed the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Forestwide Late-Successional Reserve Assessment (LSRA). The REO finds that the LSRA, with the assumptions and modifications explained below, provides sufficient framework and context for future projects and activities within the LSR. Future silvicultural activities described in the LSRA (as discussed below) that conform to the LSRA criteria and objectives and are consistent with the Standards and Guidelines (S&Gs) in the Northwest Forest Plan (NFP) are exempt from further project-level REO review. In addition, future salvage activities less than 1,000 acres in size that are described in the document and that conform to the LSRA criteria and objectives and are consistent with the S&Gs in the NFP are exempt from further project-level REO review.
Basis for the Review
Under the S&Gs for the NFP, a management assessment should be prepared for each large LSR (or group of smaller LSRs) before habitat manipulation activities are designed and implemented. As stated in the S&Gs, these assessments are subject to the REO review. The REO review focuses on the following:
1. The review considers whether the assessment contains sufficient information and analysis to provide a framework and context for making future decisions on projects and activities. The eight specific subject areas that an assessment should generally include are found in the NFP (S&Gs, page C-11). The REO may find that the assessment contains sufficient information or may identify topics or areas for which additional information, detail, or clarity is needed. The findings of the review are provided to the agency or agencies submitting the assessment.
2. The review considers potential treatment criteria and treatment areas addressed in the LSRA. When treatment criteria are clearly described and their relationship to achieving desired late-successional conditions are also clear, subsequent projects and activities within the LSR(s) may be exempted from the REO review, provided they are consistent with the LSRA criteria and S&Gs. The REO authority for developing criteria to exempt these actions is found in the S&Gs (pages C-12, C-13, and C-18).
Scope of the Assessment and Description of the Assessment Area
The REO reviewed the LSRA for conformity with the eight subject areas identified in the S&Gs (page C-11). Several initial questions regarding proposed silvicultural, salvage, and risk-reduction treatments were resolved by meetings and conference calls between the work group and staff of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The LSRA was revised to reflect the results of those meetings and conversations and the revised portions of the LSRA were resubmitted by the Forest. The REO finds that the revised LSRA, with the assumptions and modifications discussed below, provides a sufficient framework and context for making future decisions on projects and activities within the LSR.
The LSRA addresses approximately 450,000 acres within eight LSRs and one Managed Late-Successional Area (MLSA) across the entire Forest. Individual reserves range in size from 9,000 to 125,000 acres. All of the LSRs in the Southwest Washington Province occur in this Forest. Plant zones across all LSRs include: silver fir (48% of total LSR acres), western hemlock (41%), grand fir (6%), mountain hemlock (5%), and subalpine fir (>1%). Approximately 25% of the LSRs is in stands >200 years old.
The assessment addresses LSR management at several scales, beginning with a provincial scale, then stepping down to the stand level for proposed treatments. The assessment describes habitat conditions for several wildlife guilds in an attempt to address connectivity within and between LSRs across the forest. The assessment details desired future conditions at several different levels, including a forest-wide scale, by individual LSRs, and for each plant zone. Detailed information on existing condition is presented for each individual LSR.
Assumptions and Clarifications
Members of the work group visited with the assessment team as the LSRA was being developed. The work group visit looked at potential treatment areas. Upon receipt of the assessment for review, work group members held meetings and phone conversations with LSRA team members to clarify portions of the assessment. The Forest submitted an addendum revising portions of the LSRA in response to these meetings and discussions. Additional assumptions and clarifications not found in this addendum or the originally submitted LSRA are noted below.
The LSRA, as originally submitted, proposed silvicultural treatments for the enhancement of late-successional characteristics in stands between 80 and 100 years. However, REO has not made any finding on whether such projects that meet the criteria described in this assessment would meet the purposes of LSRs and the intent of the NFP. Any projects proposing to do non-risk-related silvicultural treatments in stands over 80 years old would, therefore, require review by REO prior to implementation.
Several places in the document discuss projects that may provide enhancement opportunities for elk forage. Any enhancement of elk forage will only be incidental to the project's primary purpose, which is to enhance late-successional conditions.
In Chapter 5.2, Commercial Thinning, under the heading "Treatments Description," reference is made to the portion of the REO memo (Criteria to Exempt Specific Silvicultural Activities in Late-Successional Reserves and Managed Late-Successional Areas dated July 9, 1996) that describes criteria for leaving small openings and heavily thinned patches to increase diversity (viz., Treatment Standard #4). This standard was amended by REO memo (dated September 30, 1996) to modify the size and extent of the patches. REO assumes that this amendment will be incorporated into the treatment criteria for commercial thinnings within this LSR.
In Chapter 5.2, Commercial Thinning, REO assumes that all snags and down wood existing prior to treatment will be retained. Any snags that pose a hazard to safe operations may be felled but will be left on site.
In Chapter 5.4, Treatments to Reduce Fire Risk and Maintain Late-Successional Forest in Gotchen LSR, under "Treatments Description," the Group 6 treatment for fully stocked stands that contain large, old-growth early seral tree species will be applied throughout the Gotchen LSR. Also in this section, activities under the Group 7 treatment within fully stocked stands that contain few or no large, early seral tree species, REO assumes that any existing large early-seral trees will be retained.
In Chapter 5.6, Down Wood Management, Figure 5.1 (Down Wood Decision Tree) is modified as follows: the decision box that reads "Emphasize CWD at >low level" is changed to "Emphasize CWD at >low level." We assume that the CWD levels to be retained in these circumstances will, to the degree possible, equal or exceed those levels identified as "moderate."
In Chapter 5-11, Salvage and Risk Reduction, three treatment situations are described under the section "Refinements to NWFP Salvage Guidelines, Guideline 2." In treatment group 3, which describes possible treatments in laminated root rot and dwarf mistletoe infection centers, REO assumes that conversion of green trees to snags would only occur if reforestation by host or susceptible species is necessary to meet LSR objectives. The following, or similar, edit is suggested to help clarify the intent to this treatment:
In the last sentence under the group 3 treatment description, replace "Where reforestation options are limited," with "Where reforestation of non-host or non-susceptible species will not meet attainment of desired future late-successional conditions, . . . "
Conclusions
Based on the discussion presented in the final LSRA, the REO finds that it provides sufficient framework and context for future projects and activities within the LSR. Silvicultural activities, risk reduction activities, and salvage activities less than 1,000 acres described in the LSRA which are consistent with the S&Gs and the treatment criteria identified in the assessment, as discussed above, are exempted from future project-level REO review. Because of the issues surrounding the management of CWD at the levels proposed in this document, the LSR work group is interested in seeing if a project with these levels meets the work group's expectations. Please inform me when such a project is completed so that the work group may arrange a site visit. I would also appreciate a copy of the revised final LSRA.
cc:
REO, RIEC
Lisa Freedman
Gifford Pinchot NF
1041/ly