Attachment-5_Amendment_0001_Hazardous_Fuel_0001.pdf

Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Habitat Enhancement on Klamath Marsh NWR – Amendment to Description of Work

September 6, 2022

Areas of Conifer Encroachment into Historic Meadows

• Remove all trees <12” dbh (except aspen) to an average crown to crown spacing of 15’ across the project area. This will allow for clumps and gaps throughout the project area.

• Remove brush and areas of dense fuel loading (jackpots) that will act as ladder fuels.

• Approximately 15% of the project area will be left for habitat retention and wildlife cover.

Retention clumps shall not exceed 1.5 acres. This will be negotiated once the project is awarded.

• No trees >12” dbh will be removed unless they pose as safety concern to those working in the area.

• No snags 8” dbh or greater shall be cut.

• Limb leave trees to a height of 6’ or greater.

• No downed material >16” in diameter will be mowed, masticated, or piled. Limbs acting as ladder fuels will be removed from these logs.

• Species preference will be aspen, ponderosa, lodgepole, juniper.

• Vegetation can be masticated or piled in openings. Piles shall not exceed 15’ in diameter and 12’ in height. Piles will be built with fine material (limbs, needles, brush) on bottom and heavier material (large limbs and boles) on top.

Areas of Aspen

• Clear all conifers <14” dbh within aspen stands.

• Clear all conifers <14” dbh within 30’ of aspen stands.

• No snags 8” dbh or greater shall be cut.

• Vegetation can be masticated or piled in openings. Piles shall not exceed 15’ in diameter and 12’ in height. Piles will be built with fine material (limbs, needles, brush) on bottom and heavier material (large limbs and boles) on top.

Activity Constraints

• For areas within ½ mile of an active bald eagle nest, treatment will occur outside the nesting season of January 1 – August 15.

• For areas designated as calving and fawning for mule deer and elk, treatment will not occur between May 15 – July 15.

• Mechanical equipment will be excluded within 100’ of surface water source. Frozen ground conditions may reduce this exclusion zone.

• Manual or hand thinning may be necessary is sensitive meadow areas or aspen stands.

• In pine stands, at least 15% of the area will be retained as clumps or thickets. Minor thinning and limbing may occur within these areas.

• Sensitive cultural areas may have site specific precautions and constraints.

Questions for Klamath Marsh NWR Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Habitat Enhancement Project

1. The prescription states “No downed material >16” in diameter will be mowed, masticated, or piled.” Does that mean the contractor must grind the ends of logs that are less than 16” dbh?

No, if a log on the ground is greater than 16” at any point, then the entire log can remain untouched. Any limbs can be masticated/cut off so that the limbs do not exist as ladder fuels. If the log is laying in a way that prevents equipment from progressing, a section of the log can be cut so that equipment may pass through.

2. What is the acceptable length of boles left on the ground?

Cut trees must be masticated or piled. There is no minimum or maximum length for existing downed logs that are 16” or greater at dbh.

3. Will there be any leave islands or habitat retention areas?

Yes, the prescription will be amended to reflect a 15% wildlife retention area across the entire project area (see prescription amendment).

4. Is there a species preference for leave trees?

Yes, as per prescription aspen will take preference above all other species. In areas where aspen is not present, ponderosa will be the preferred leave tree species, followed by lodgepole, and then juniper (least desirable).

5. What is to be done with snags?

No snags 8” dbh or greater will be cut. Snags less than 8” dbh will be treated as live trees and masticated or cut (see prescription amendment).

6. What is the acceptable height for masticated material?

Masticated material depth (chips) will 5” or less from ground level. Unless obstructed by rocks, stumps and cut brush will be between 1-6”, and equipment heads/implements are to remain above the ground, and not grind into the soil.