Regional Ecosystem Office
333 SW 1st
P.O. Box 3623
Portland, Oregon 97208-3623
Phone: 503-808-2165 FAX: 503-808-2163
 

              Memorandum

Date:     August 21, 1997

To:         Elaine Y. Zielinski, State Director, Oregon/Washington, Bureau of Land Management

From:     Donald R. Knowles, Executive Director

Subject:  Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) Review of Medford District Wildcat Thinning Project within LSR RO223

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 Resource Area staff, the REO finds the proposed project consistent with the Record of Decision (ROD) objectives for activities within LSRs.

Background

The Wildcat Thinning Project is designed to commercially thin 470 acres within LSR RO223 for enhancing development of late-successional conditions and furthering the Aquatic Conservation Strategy. The REO is reviewing the LSR assessment. Since planning for the Wildcat Thinning Project was occurring simultaneously with, and often independently of review and revision of the LSR Assessment, the two documents are not consistent in every detail. Consequently, the thinning project has been reviewed separately. Also, recent conversations with ID team members have conveyed changes to the project proposal. The following description is intended to portray our current understanding of the project; if any part of this project characterization is not correct, please contact Gary S. Sims at 503-808-2174. The project, as revised, includes the following:

• Commercially thinning 470 acres of trees less than 80 years of age.
• Stand densities currently vary from 250 to 340 trees per acre and post-treatment conditions will vary from 100 to 340 trees per acre.
• In the portions of the unit where thinning would be heavier, dropping the canopy to near 50% closure, the stands are expected to achieve greater than 70% canopy closure in approximately 20 years.
• The removal of logs on all units will be by helicopter (as contrasted with the possible cable yarding in unit #6, as described in the EA).
• The thinning that will occur within the Riparian Reserves is supported by a Watershed Analysis recommendation and is designed to further the achievement of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy. The outer portions of the Riparian Reserves will be treated the same as the surrounding LSR prescription. In some areas, selected trees will be dropped into the stream channel to provide aquatic habitat complexity currently lacking.
• The stands include both natural and some previously lightly thinned stands, with varying amounts of coarse woody debris (CWD). Most of the CWD is described as older decay classes. Therefore, the thinning presents an immediate opportunity to create more younger decay class CWD, through felling and leaving conifers smaller than 20 inches dbh in selected areas.
• There is an opportunity to increase the number of snags.
• Slash from the timber harvest will be treated by handpiling and lop and scatter; some handpiles will be burned.
• For thinning units expected to occur within spotted owl home ranges, the procedures of Appendix D of the LSR Assessment were used to prepare the thinning prescription.
• The "known sites database" has been reviewed to verify that the management actions will not occur at known locations of Survey and Manage species.
• A small meadow in the LSR will be treated by removal of small diameter conifers which are encroaching.

Rationale for Consistency Finding

The Proposed Wildcat Thinning Project is primarily designed to benefit late-successional forest conditions, and will also benefit the Aquatic Conservation Strategy of the Northwest Forest Plan. The silvicultural aspects of the Wildcat Thinning Project were designed to follow the exemption criteria for commercial thinning in LSRs, as described in the July 9, 1996, REO memo and its amendment. For example, thinning at variable densities is proposed to provide structural diversity and to maintain the tree species diversity currently found in the LSR. The proposal will increase the number of snags and amount of CWD. The thinning is proposed for trees younger than 80 years old. The thinning prescription is carefully described for each harvest unit.

In following the guidance of the REO memo, this project would not have been subject to REO review. However, because the LSR Assessment has not been finalized, reviewing the project is appropriate for REO. In reviewing the Wildcat Thinning Project, the REO considered the LSR Assessment (which is currently being reviewed), the project environmental assessment, the silvicultural prescription, and the 1994 Draft Middle and Upper Cow Creek Watershed Analyses. In addition, District staff were contacted by phone as questions arose. These telephone discussions resulted in minor changes to the project and clarifications; these changes are described in the previous project description.

This LSR lies in an area which is important to the overall function of the Northwest Forest Plan--it is key to the creation and maintenance of ecological connectivity across a wide area of checkerboard ownership. As the LSR Assessment describes, the Federal land (particularly the BLM-managed portion) is currently in less-than-desirable condition to serve a role of late-successional connectivity. The Wildcat Project is intended to address part of the concerns within this LSR.

Conclusion

The REO finds the Wildcat Thinning Project, as described in this memo, consistent with LSR standards and guidelines. The finding is based on review of the supporting documentation and conversations with District staff. The majority of proposed treatments will enhance development of late-successional conditions within LSR RO223 and the remainder of the treatments will further other aspects of the Northwest Forest Plan.

Arnie Holden, FS
RIEC Members
REO
Medford District

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