Regional Ecosystem Office
333 SW 1st
P.O. Box 3623
Portland, Oregon 97208-3623
Phone: 503-326-6265 FAX: 503-326-6282
 

              Memorandum

Date:     June 6, 1997

To:         Robert W. Williams, Region 6, Forest Service

From:     Donald R. Knowles, Executive Director

Subject:  Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) Review of Siuslaw National Forest ID Thinning Project within LSR RO267

Summary

The REO and the interagency Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) Work Group have reviewed the above project proposal. Based on the review of the documentation and discussion with Forest staff, the REO finds the proposed project consistent with the Record of Decision (ROD) objectives for activities within LSRs.

Background

The ID Thinning Project would commercially thin 522 acres within LSR RO267 for the purpose of enhancing development of late-successional conditions. The assessment for the Oregon Coast Province (Southern portion) LSRs, recently reviewed by the REO, provides the context for projects and activities within the LSR where the ID Thin is proposed. Since planning for the ID Thinning Project was occurring simultaneously with, and to some degree independently of completion of the LSRA, the two documents are not consistent in every detail. Consequently the thinning project has been reviewed separately. Facets of the thinning project include:

• Commercially thinning 522 acres of trees 25 to 35 years old to stand densities varying from 70 to approximately 112 trees per acre, including three 10-acre treatments proposed by the Pacific Northwest Research Station (Corvallis, Oregon) to test the effects of three thinning strategies on stands affected by laminated root rot.
• Felling 10 trees per acre to provide coarse woody debris (CWD).
• Creation of 2.5 snags per acre within treatment units.
• Creation of 178 snags from live trees (by tree topping in a manner so as not to kill the tree) in mature stands adjacent to thinning units.
• Underplanting 104 acres of treated stands.

Rationale for Consistency Finding

In reviewing the ID Thin Proposal, the REO considered the project environmental assessment, the Wildlife Habitat Analysis/Biological Evaluation, the silvicultural prescription, and a worksheet comparing the proposed project with the commercial thinning exemption criteria provided by the REO (letter July 26, 1996). In addition, Forest staff was contacted by phone as questions arose.

The Proposed ID Thinning Project is designed to benefit late-successional forest conditions. Thinning at variable densities is proposed to provide structural diversity. Unthinned patches will be left. The proposal provides snags and CWD at this entry and allows for a future entry to create additional snags and CWD when trees are larger and the resulting snags and CWD will be longer lasting. All thinning is proposed in stands substantially younger than 80 years old.

It is assumed by the REO that any future activities in stands left untreated by this project will be designed consistent with the criteria found in the Oregon Coast Province (Southern portion) Late-Successional Reserve Assessment.

Conclusion

Based on review of the proposed activities, supporting documentation, and conversations with Forest staff, the REO finds the ID Thinning Project as described in this finding consistent with LSR standards and guidelines. The proposed treatments will enhance development of late-successional conditions within the treated area.

cc:
Arnie Holden, USFS
James Furnish, Siuslaw NF
RIEC, REO

941/ly