J-2 HagadoreFrassRxSummary.pdf

SILVICULTURE SUMMARY PRESCRIPTION Subitem No. 2-1 through 2-6 Acres: 84 Acres: 84 Acres Light Slashing and Excavator Piling Seed Task Oder Number 2 Task Order Name: Kootenai Fuels Reduction Unit Name: Hagadore Frass Units 8, 33, 34A, 34B, 38, and 39B

Location – Approx. 13.5 miles south east of Eureka, MT.

Legal – T34N, R25W, sec 4, 5 & 9, and T35N, R25W, sec 32 & 33 Approx Elevation – 3450-3600 Average Stand Age - 110-140 years Average Slope – 5-25% Average Tree Height – 80-120 +/- feet Average Aspect – West

Harvest operations may be ongoing in the area at the time of solicitation of this Task Order. Please be aware of all traffic, do not interfere with harvest operations and be courteous to other contractors.

SLASHING PRESCRIPTION:

• Cut all poor quality trees less than 7” DBH. Trees considered poor quality are those with less than 40% live crown ratio, boles that are not straight, trees that have been damaged through harvest activities, trees with broken or split tops, or trees under the drip line of an overstory leave tree.

• Where they exist, well-formed sapling and pole-sized trees with 40% crown ratios and straight boles may be retained as individual trees or in small clumps or patches.

• If selecting patches of standing small diameter trees to retain, choose clumps of trees that are mostly free of both natural and harvest related ground fuel accumulations and that have been maintained in an undamaged condition following harvest activities.

• In Unit 38, some patches of tree regeneration is present in group openings from prior silviculture treatment. These patches will be identified on the ground prior to slashing activities. No slashing or excavator piling activities shall occur in these pre-identified areas within Unit 38.

• Buck thinning slash at 10’ lengths to facilitate excavator piling.

• Buck pre-existing downed wood <8” diameter into 10’ lengths for excavator piling.

• Do not cut snags or hardwoods. Snags shall be defined as all standing dead trees of any species greater than 10” DBH and 20’ tall or taller.

• Trees designated for removal shall be cut below the lowest live limb, except when prevented by natural obstacles. All live limbs below the cutting point shall be removed. Trees shall be completely severed from the stump. Stumps shall be cut at or below 6 inches above ground level on the uphill side and shall be cut horizontally, not slanted.

• Designated cut trees shall be felled away from unit boundaries or roads. Any trees falling on such areas shall be removed. All thinning slash shall be placed on or near the ground surface, so that it is not leaning against or suspended by an uncut tree, stump, log, or any obstacle.

EXCAVATOR PILE: Excavator piling shall be completed on in accordance with the specifications from the R1R4 Mechanical Fuels Treatment IDIQ. Acceptable equipment for excavator piling is an excavator equipped with a bucket and a thumb approved by the Contracting Officer. Other equipment may be approved in writing by the Forest Service. This work may occur on slopes up to 35% and on rocky terrain.

• Excavator Piling shall include piling of all slash concentrations generated by harvest and thinning activities and natural accumulations of fuels within the unit boundary. A slash concentration is defined as an area where the amount of slash in a 50-foot radius area or smaller, is sufficient to build a pile that meets contract specifications. Piles shall be constructed to facilitate full consumption when they are burned. A range of 5-10 tons per acre of course woody debris shall be retained on the ground and scattered as much as practical throughout the unit for nutrient cycling and microsite purposes. Material to be left as course woody debris will be relatively free of limbs and needles, and be >4 inch diameter at the small end and at least 3 feet in length.

• Piles shall be located outside of residual/leave tree driplines, in openings or areas of low tree densities. Piles shall be kept as far away from designated leave trees as feasible--a minimum of 15 feet where possible, or as mutually agreed to by the Contractor and the Government, to minimize damage to residual trees when the piles are burned. Piles shall be located at least 10 feet from unit boundaries. At the discretion of the Contracting Officer, isolated areas of light slash densities within an excavator pile unit may be scattered and not piled, if the amount of slash within a 50-foot radius is not sufficient to build a pile that meets contract specifications.

• Piles shall be constructed no more than 12 feet in diameter, and no less than 8 feet in height (tall and compact, not sprawling is desired), shall be constructed compact and free of dirt and duff, shall have a good base to prevent the pile from toppling and shall not be made on down logs, rotten stumps or rocks. Material shall be piled in a parallel configuration, similar to pencils in a box.

Once a pile meets the maximum diameter and minimum height; slash may be added vertically on the edge of a pile to prevent the pile from toppling. All objects which extend more than 2 feet in any direction from the pile profile shall be cut off and returned to the pile. No stumps shall be placed in piles.

• All slash piling shall be conducted in such a manner as to allow operations without damaging residual trees. All standing trees shall be retained in an undamaged condition. Placement of piles shall be in such a manner so as to not damage road surfaces or road drainage structures. No slash shall be left within 5 feet of culverts, nor on trails, roads or fill-slope after piling.

All Other Considerations

(1) Minimize damage to the leave tree boles.

(2) Any tree designated for retention that poses a safety hazard may be felled by the contractor without prior approval of the Forest Service. All such hazard trees felled to provide for safe work conditions will remain adjacent to the stump.

(3) Leave all snags standing unless they create a hazard. Snags shall be defined as all standing dead trees of any species greater than 10” DBH and 20’ tall or taller.

(4) Timing Requirement - Piling may be conducted when the soil moisture is less than 18% or on frozen ground.

(5) No work shall be conducted on this Item from April 1st through June 15th.

(6) Prior to project implementation any equipment used within the piling unit boundary shall be weed washed and inspected.

(7) No timber products may be hauled from contract area under this Task Order.

(8) Protect all survey monuments.

(9) Road damage as a result of the Contractors operations shall be repaired by the contractor at no expense to the government.

(10) Harvest operations may be ongoing in the area at the time of solicitation of this Task Order. Please be aware of all traffic, do not interfere with harvest operations, and be courteous to other contractors.