Summary: The Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) interagency Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) Work Group has concluded its review of the documents provided by the Deschutes National Forest regarding proposed activities in LSRs within the Black Crater Fire Timber Salvage project, Deschutes National Forest. The REO, based upon the review by the LSR Work Group, concurs with the Deschutes National Forest in its findings of consistency with the Standards and Guidelines (S&Gs) under Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) for the Black Crater Fire Timber Salvage Project.

Basis for the Review: Silviculture, risk reduction and salvage treatments in LSRs are subject to REO review under the NWFP S&Gs (C-12 - C-15).

Background and Project Description: As required by the NWFP S&G (C-11), the Deschutes National Forest prepared a Late-successional Reserve Assessment (LSRA) for the 14,919-acre Whychus LSR. The Whychus LSRA was completed and reviewed by the REO in 2002. The Black Crater Fire burned approximately 4,827 acres of National Forest land in the summer of 2006. Approximately 2,470 of the burned acres were in the LSR, which is about 16.6 percent of the total LSR area (14,919 acres). The proposed action represents approximately 4 percent of National Forest acreage burned in the Black Crater fire and about 1.4 percent of the Whychus LSR.

All LSR treatments are designed to meet LSR objectives and promote the development of late-successional conditions in LSR acres burned in the fire.

Review of the Project: The activities reviewed by the LSR Work Group were those proposed in LSRs under Proposed Action of the Decision Memo: Black Crater Fire Timber Salvage Project. The Work Group reviewed Proposed Action of the Decision Memo, and other documents provided by the Deschutes National Forest, including:

1. Black Crater Fire Timber Salvage Project, Review of NWFP Late Successional Reserve S&Gs for Salvage Sales.
2. Black Crater Fire Timber Salvage Project: Draft Marking Guides, November 11, 2006.
3. Black Crater Fire Salvage Snag Strategy, October 23, 2006.

The Work Group’s review was based on the information within these documents, briefings, and conference calls.

The interagency LSR Work Group review concluded that the proposed treatments in LSRs meet the objectives for managing LSRs. This conclusion was reached in part for the following reasons:

• A combination of local and provincial information and references was used to determine levels and distribution of dead wood within salvage units (C-13 through C-15). Dead wood retention levels in LSR treatment units meet or exceed guidelines specified in the Whychus LSRA.
• Guidelines for dead wood retention leave the most persistent size classes and species; the species composition of the largest dead wood would approximate the original stand (C-14, C-15). The DECAID tool was considered in the analysis.
• Approximately 2,272 acres (92 percent) of the Black Crater Fire acres within the fire perimeter in LSR would remain in an unsalvaged post-fire condition.
• On approximately 198 acres, the trees to be salvaged include dead trees of species other than ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir, along with low-probability of survival white fir and lodgepole pine. Low-probability of survival trees and prescribed snag levels will be left to meet LSRA guidelines for retention of large snags and to provide structural characteristics suitable for associated species. (C-14).
• No coarse woody debris existing prior to the fire would be removed. Within salvage units, coarse woody debris levels are consistent with that described by plant association group (fire climax) in the Whychus LSRA. (C-14, C-15)
• Reforestation treatments will increase the restoration rate of late-successional forest habitat by planting trees of desirable species in areas with scarce or absent seed sources. Without such treatments, it is projected that desired stand characteristics for late-successional conditions would not develop or be significantly retarded, with respect to species composition, stocking levels, and ability to sustain low-intensity fires.
• Salvage would only occur in openings greater than 10 acres, and in areas with less than 40 percent canopy closure (C-14).
• There are no proposed treatment units within suitable northern spotted owl habitat or late- successional forests. The proposed action will not result in the degradation of suitable northern spotted owl habitat or other late-successional conditions (C-13).
• All of the LSR treatments recommended for this project are designed to meet LSR objectives and promote the development of late-successional conditions in LSR acres burned in the fire (C-14).

Conclusion: Based upon the interagency REO LSR Work Group’s review and conclusions, the REO concurs with the Deschutes National Forest’s conclusion that salvage activities proposed in the Black Crater Fire Timber Salvage Project are consistent with the Northwest Forest Plan.

cc: Bill Anthony, District Ranger

Lisa Freedman, FS

Cal Joyner, FS

LSR Work Group