Memorandum
Date: June 6, 1997
To: Robert W. Williams, Regional Forester, Region 6, Forest Service
Elaine Y. Zielinski, State Director, Bureau of Land Management OR/WA
From: Donald R. Knowles, Executive Director
Subject: Regional Ecosystem Office Review of the Oregon Coast Province (Southern Portion) Late-Successional Reserve (RO267 & RO268) Assessment
Summary
The Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) and the interagency Late-Successional Reserve Work Group have reviewed the Oregon Coast Province (Southern Portion) Late-Successional Reserve Assessment (LSRA). The REO finds that the LSRA, as supplemented by an April 22 LSRA revision document, provides a sufficient framework and context for future projects and activities within the LSR. Future silvicultural activities described in the supplemented LSRA (as discussed below) that meet its criteria and objectives and that are consistent with the Standards and Guidelines (S&Gs) in the Northwest Forest Plan (NFP) are exempted from subsequent 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 NFP 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 in light of the eight subject areas identified in the NFP S&Gs (page C-11) and sought additional information regarding seven subject areas. Supplemental information was submitted to the REO on April 22. The REO finds the LSRA, as amended, provides a sufficient framework and context for making future decisions on projects and activities within the LSR.
The LSRA addresses two large LSRs on BLM and National Forest System lands totaling 546,252 acres, plus references 4 additional 100-acre LSRs. These LSRs are in the southern half of the Oregon Coast Province. This assessment considers the LSR in the context of surrounding LSRs, including LSR connectivity across the Willamette Valley to the east.
Review of the Assessment
The REO reviewed the assessment's description of the process to be used, and elements to be included in the desired future conditions (DFC), current conditions, objectives, treatment criteria, possible treatments, and identified projects including the location of forest types to which they may be applied. The assessment provides a clear framework for designing future actions. The descriptions of current conditions, disturbance processes, and successional pathways were particularly illustrative in providing a framework for future interdisciplinary teams to identify specific management needs and prescriptions.
Projects meeting the criteria in the REO memoranda "REO Review Exemption Criteria" (dated April 20, 1995) and "Criteria to Exempt Specific Silvicultural Activities in Late-Successional Reserves and Managed Late-Successional Areas from Regional Ecosystem Office Review" (July 9, 1996 and amended September 30) continue to be exempted from the REO review. In addition, silvicultural activities described on, and consistent with the criteria listed on, Table 7 (as supplemented by April 22, 1997 documentation) and consistent with NFP S&Gs are exempt from subsequent project-level REO review. These activities include precommercial thinning, commercial thinning, salvage, conifer recruitment in Riparian Reserves, treating certain Phellinus risk, snag recruitment, soil improvement, and conversion of inappropriate species. Other risk treatments, such as those for Douglas-fir bark beetle risk, and treatments not meeting criteria described within the LSRA, remain subject to REO review.
The REO is working with the Research and Monitoring Committee to ensure that projects within LSRs, including projects exempted from the REO review, are considered in the development of the effectiveness, implementation, and validation monitoring programs. We also expect the local units to continue their long-standing partnership with key researchers regarding management of late-successional stands, particularly in the area of young-stand management.
Conclusions
Based on documentation found in the LSRA, the REO finds that the LSRA provides a sufficient framework and context for future projects and activities within the LSR. As identified above, silvicultural activities and specific projects identified in amended Table 7 and further described in the LSRA which are consistent with the NFP S&Gs and the treatment criteria identified in the assessment are exempted from project-level REO review.
cc:
REO, RIEC
Arnie Holden, R-6
Karen Bennett, Siuslaw NF
Jim Furnish, Siuslaw Forest Supervisor
Van Manning, Salem District Manager
Ed Shepard, Coos Bay District Manager
Judy Nelson, Eugene District Manager
Cary Osterhaus, Roseburg District Manager
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