Memorandum
Date: July 7, 1997
To: Robert W. Williams, Regional Forester, Region 6, Forest Service
From: Donald R. Knowles, Executive Director
Subject: Regional Ecosystem Office Review of the Settlement Agreement Alternative Timber Volume (SAAT) Project, Siuslaw National Forest
Summary
The Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) and the interagency Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) Work Group has reviewed the Settlement Agreement Alternative Timber Volume (SAAT) Project. The review focused on that portion of the project that occurs within LSRs. The REO finds the commercial thin portion of the proposed project consistent with the Northwest Forest Plan Record of Decision (ROD). Silviculture treatments in younger stands (noted as "Other Managed Stand Treatments" on page 6 of the SAAT Environmental Assessment) were assumed to meet either exemption criteria as established by REO (REO memo 362, dated April 20, 1995) or to meet project criteria in the Late-Successional Reserve Assessment for the Oregon Coast Province, Southern Portion (for those activities occurring within this LSR).
Background
Most of the SAAT project was originally proposed under the Burnt Ridge timber sale, which was reviewed by REO and found consistent with LSR Standards & Guidelines (S&Gs) (REO memo 743, July 30, 1996). The project was then modified to meet the legal requirements of the September 17, 1996 Settlement agreement (N.W. Forest Council vs. Babbitt & Glickman). The SAAT project will provide 11.3 million board feet of timber, to be removed from habitat that is not suitable for marbled murrelet, nor is capable of becoming murrelet habitat within 25 years, in exchange for returning an equivalent amount of volume to the forest (that is currently marbled murrelet habitat) within a sold timber sale. Typically, volume is not expected to be the primary purpose of projects within LSRs. While the SAAT project was designed to provide volume to meet legal requirements, the project was still designed to meet the objectives of late-successional habitat development.
Project Description
The project will treat 593 acres of 2 to 12 year-old stands; this portion of the project was not reviewed for consistency and assumed to meet existing criteria (see above). The remainder of the silvicultural activities will occur in older stands in two areas of the forest--the Alsea District and the Hebo District. In both areas, canopy closure will exceed 40% post-treatment. All alder and components of defective, intermediate, suppressed, and unique (e.g., forked tops) trees will be retained for diversity. In the Hebo area, this will compose about 1/3 of the residual trees. All existing down wood and snags will be retained.
Alsea District
Thinning from below will occur on 15 acres of a 65 year-old stand within an LSR. The stand has a relatively uniform Douglas-fir layer with scattered larger Douglas-fir trees. The uniform layer will be thinned using varied spacing, with a final retention of 60 trees/acre. The scattered larger trees will not be removed. Heavily thinned patches or openings are not prescribed because of windthrow concerns. Overstory density has resulted in a sparse distribution of understory. Target coarse woody debris (CWD) goals are to create 2 snags/acre, and to recruit 3 trees/acre from the residual stand either through blowdown in the first winter after harvest or by felling trees. In addition, 100 snags will be created in neighboring 50 to 70 year-old stands by inoculating live trees with native fungi. This will help boost CWD levels within the LSR in the treatment area. Shade tolerants will be planted on 70% of the area to a level of 70 trees/acre.
Hebo District
Treatment will occur in 340 acres of the Mt. Hebo plantation and within a naturally regenerated but previously thinned 70 acre stand. In both areas, all western hemlock will be retained, and other native species besides Douglas-fir will be favored in retention. Additionally, an understory of western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and western red cedar will be planted to a density of 70 trees/acre, stressing their placement in openings or gaps.
The Mt. Hebo plantation is 80 to 84 years old and was planted with offsite Douglas-fir stock, as well as non-native conifer and hardwoods. The offsite Douglas-fir typically is shorter and have thinner crowns than trees adapted to the site. In one unit, gaps will be located around existing understory to encourage release. Thinning will be from below, with a varied spacing and a final retention level averaging 65 trees/acre, but ranging from 50 to 75 among the stands. Target CWD goals are to create 2 snags/acre, and to recruit 3 trees/acre from the residual stand either through blowdown in the first winter after harvest or by felling trees.
The naturally regenerated stand was established after the 1910 fire, with an age ranging from 70 to 80 years. The stand was thinned in 1975 to a density of 115 to 140 trees/acre, but canopies have since closed to fully occupy growing space. Thinning will be from below, with a varied spacing and a final retention level of 70 trees/acre. Target CWD goals are to create 2 snags/acre, and to recruit 10 trees/acre from the residual stand either through blowdown in the first winter after harvest or by felling trees.
Rationale for Consistency Finding
All stands proposed for treatment comprise a single species overstory, a single canopy layer, and little to no understory. All growing space is occupied and vertical and horizontal diversity is not expected to occur soon. Treatments are designed to provide late-successional structure in the form of CWD, additional canopy layers, and species diversity. Residual trees, including the offsite stock, are vigorous enough that they are expected to respond to the thinning treatment.
Treatments may be more intensive than what would have been proposed within these stands under the existing LSR Assessments. For example, the CWD prescription process in the LSR Assessment would result in higher levels of CWD retention being prescribed in the proposed stands. However, levels do meet minimum amounts within the range of CWD that would be expected in the coast range. While REO discourages this kind of intensive treatment on a regular basis, the prescription is still designed to meet late-successional characteristics.
Conclusion
Proposed treatments for the SAAT project are consistent with LSR objectives and with standards and guidelines for silvicultural activities in LSRs.
cc:
Arnie Holden, FS
SIU Forest Supervisor
District Rangers--Alsea District and Hebo District
RIEC, REO
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