Attachment_6_UnionHill_Marking_Rx.docx

DRAFT DRAFT May 16, 2014 DRAFT DRAFT

Union Hill Hazardous Fuel Reduction and Ecological Restoration Project Silvicultural Prescriptions and Marking Guidelines

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prescription

1. Variable Density Thinning (VDT) (30% CC) with a 30” DBH Limit

2. Variable Density Thinning (VDT) (40% CC) with a 30” DBH Limit

3. Variable Density Thinning (VDT) (50% CC) with a 30” DBH Limit

4. Variable Density Thinning (VDT) (60% CC) with a 30” DBH Limit

A. Appendix A – Figures

B. Appendix B - Crosswalk

Notes: CC = Canopy Cover; DBH = Diameter at Breast Height; NA = Not Applicable;

CWHR = California Wildlife Habitat Relationship Model

Size Class Density Class 1 – Seedlings (< 1” DBH) NA = (<10% canopy cover) 2 – Saplings (1-6” DBH) S = Sparse (10-24% canopy cover) 3 – Poles (6-11” DBH) P = Open (25-39% canopy cover) 4 - Small Trees (11-24” DBH) M= Moderate (40-59% canopy cover) 5 - Medium to Large Trees (> 24” DBH) D = Dense (> 60% canopy cover) Page

1) Variable Density Thinning (VDT) (30% CC) with a 30” DBH Limit

UNITS

CWHR: 3P, 4P, 4S – No canopy cover requirement, but attempt to retain a minimum of 30% canopy cover averaged within the unit.

S

CWHR: 4M, 4D, 5M, 5D – Retain a minimum of 30% canopy cover averaged within the unit.

Slate Creek:Units 1,5 Diamond Springs: Unit 5

OBJECTIVES AND DESIRED CONDITIONS

1) Strategically place and construct area fuel treatments to interrupt fire spread; reduce fire size, intensity, and severity; and reduce stand densities necessary for healthy forests during drought conditions.

2) Overstory crowns are spaced at a distance that reduces potential for crown fire spread. Canopy base heights are greater than 15 feet. Crowns thinned to meet less than 20 percent probability of crown fire initiation under 90th percentile weather conditions.

3) Surface fuels able to carry no more than 4 feet flame length surface fires (90th percentile weather conditions); fuel loading of fuels less than 3 inch diameter not exceeding 5 tons per acre.

4) Surface and ladder fuels removed to meet less than 20 percent mortality in dominant and codominant trees under 90th percentile weather and fire behavior conditions.

5) Moderately open canopies for mechanical access, prescribed burning and reduction of crown fire potential.

6) Relatively irregular tree spacing, crown density and species mixtures to promote landscape diversity.

7) Prevent or reduce the spread of insects and disease due to overstocking. Remove diseased and suppressed trees.

8) Develop older forest conditions by releasing trees capable of large diameter growth.

AREA OF TREATMENT WITHIN UNIT

Thinning will occur throughout the area delineated on the map.

PRESCRIPTION #1

Stand-wide

1) Retain trees all live trees >30” DBH, except for operability.

2) Retain at least 40% of the existing basal area, generally comprised of the largest trees for the CWHR types 4M, 4D, 5M, 5D, & 6..

3) Canopy Cover: Retain a minimum of 30% canopy cover averaged within the unit.

a) Canopy cover is measured only for trees 6” DBH and greater.

b) Canopy cover should include reductions from gaps in the matrix, skid trails, temporary roads and should not include major roadway canopy cover.

4) Species preference for the residual trees are shade intolerant species where they exist. Preference order is: sugar pine, ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, Douglas-fir, black oak, incense-cedar and true fir. Retain healthy sugar pine >9" DBH (>40% crown, not suppressed) that are visibly free of white pine blister rust where possible.

Merchantable Sawlog-sized trees

5) Cut tree mark variable density thin in the matrix. Sawlog diameter limits for thinning range from 10.0” to 29.9” DBH.

6) For CWHR 4M, 4D, 5M, and 5D stands, retain a minimum of 30% canopy cover averaged within the unit.

7) For CWHR 3P, 4P, and 4S stands, attempt to retain a minimum of 30% canopy cover averaged within the unit.

8) Concentrate on removing diseased, suppressed, intermediate and some codominant trees with crowns underneath and adjacent to healthy larger trees.

9) Leave some deformed (crooks, bends, sweeps), damaged, forked tops, standing culls as wildlife tree and for future snag recruitment.

10) Radial thin around legacy trees - large shade intolerant conifers (PP/ JP & SP >30” DBH)

a) Remove trees within a determined distance from legacy trees (Diameter plus 10 feet; i.e., 30”DBH+10‘= 40’) (Maximum radius = 40 feet)

b) Remove shade tolerant conifers (i.e., white fir, red fir, incense cedar) that have interlocking crowns.

c) Retain healthy codominant and dominant shade-intolerant conifers (sugar pine, ponderosa, and Jeffery pine) in clumps around the legacy trees.

11) Radial thin around larger black oaks (>15”DBH)

a) Remove trees within a determined distance from larger black oaks (Diameter plus 10 feet; i.e., 15”DBH+10‘= 25’) (Maximum radius = 40 feet)

b) Remove overtopping conifers, specifically on southern, south-east and south-west aspects.

c) Retain codominant and dominant shade intolerant conifers on northern aspects.

12) Where feasible and available, leave all black oaks greater than 9" DBH to provide future recruitment of black oaks that is necessary to achieve 25-35 square feet of basal area per acre within the matrix.

PRESCRIPTION #1 continued

13) Residual basal area would vary between stands (Table 1.1) and within stands (i.e., gaps, low-density, and high density areas (see table below). These are guidelines only and will vary throughout the stand depending on species and average tree size. Ultimately, minimum canopy cover averaged across the treatment unit must be achieved.

Table 1.1. Marking Guidelines for CWHR 4 & 5 size class stands and 30 percent canopy cover Basal Area for CWHR 4/5 Stands

Marking Guidelines for Basal Area Retention

Notes: CWHR= California Wildife Habitat Relationship; M = Moderate canopy; D = Dense canopy BT = Before Thin; AT = After Thin; BA = Basal Area

a) Gaps: Gaps are open areas from 1/8 to 1/4 acre in size where basal area may be less than 50 square feet.

b) Low Density Matrix: These areas would be located near the upper slopes and ridge tops and on south and west aspects. For example, basal area would vary from low basal area (i.e., BA=88) to average basal (i.e., BA=125). These areas would consist primarily of dominant, codominant, and some intermediate trees.

c) High Density Matrix: These areas would be located on the lower slopes near the drainages, and from northeast to northwest aspects. Basal areas would range from average basal area (i.e., BA=125) to high density basal area (i.e., BA=163).

d) Retention Areas: These areas are located within control areas and riparian conservation areas (RCAs) where no trees are harvested.

Sub-merchantable biomass trees

14) Retain sub-merchantable trees in openings or gaps in the overstory. In these areas space residual trees or tree clumps approximately 18-22 feet apart to promote irregular spacing.

15) Sub-merchantable material may be treated by biomass removal or follow up hand cut pile and burn, mastication, or underburning treatments.

Snags

16) Leave 4 - 6 large snags (>15” DBH and > 20 feet tall) per acre where available and where safety provides. Snag retention levels would be evaluated on a 10 acre basis and should be clumped and irregularly distributed across the unit.

17) Where snags are not present, retain at least 2 of the largest green trees per acre (where available and averaged on a 10 acre basis for snag recruitment.

a) Use large dominant or codominant trees with desirable wildlife characteristics such as forks, multiple tops, broken tops, bayonet tops, crooks, existing cavities, large basal scars, and/or evidence of rot to meet these objectives.

b) Trees greater than 30 inches DBH could be used to fulfill these retention levels where appropriate wildlife structures are present.

PRESCRIPTION #1 continued

CONSTRAINTS

1) Perimeter Roadways in Retention and Partial Retention Zones: Mark only cut trees on the unseen side of the tree.

2) Treatment unit as a whole (including skid trails and temporary roads, and ¼ acre gaps, but excluding major roadways) must meet canopy cover requirements listed above after mechanical treatment.

3) Minimize logging damage to residual >30" DBH trees and boundary trees.

4) Mechanical equipment operation is limited to 35% slope.

5) Apply a 100-foot equipment exclusion zone buffer (both sides) seasonal flowing streams.

6) Apply a 150-foot equipment exclusion zone buffer (both sides) for perennial streams.

ADDITIONAL TREATMENTS

1) Units will be whole-tree removal and tractor logged.

2) Follow-up may include underburning after treatment to reduce slash, naturally occurring surface fuels and residual ladder fuels. Piling activity slash and burning piles may occur before the underburn if post-thinning slash levels would not allow fuels officers to meet prescribed fire objectives.

3) For the following units, apply Sporax to stumps 14" in diameter and greater within 150 feet on each of the road to prevent future infection of Heterobasidion root rot:

Peterson Ridge Units: 1, 19, 23, 25 Oak Flat Units: 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 55, 61 Rose Ranch Units: 153, 173, 187, 199, 205

2) Variable Density Thinning (VDT) (40% CC) with a 30” DBH Limit

CWHR: 4M, 4D, 5M, 5D – Retain a minimum of 40% canopy cover averaged within the unit.

Slate Creek: Units: 3, 4

1) Strategically place and construct area fuel treatments to interrupt fire spread; reduce fire size, intensity, and severity; and reduce stand densities necessary for healthy forests during drought conditions.

2) Overstory crowns are spaced at a distance that reduces potential for crown fire spread. Canopy base heights are greater than 15 feet. Crowns thinned to meet less than 20 percent probability of crown fire initiation under 90th percentile weather conditions.

3) Surface fuels able to carry no more than 4 feet flame length surface fires (90th percentile weather conditions); fuel loading of fuels less than 3 inch diameter not exceeding 5 tons per acre.

4) Surface and ladder fuels removed to meet less than 20 percent mortality in dominant and codominant trees under 90th percentile weather and fire behavior conditions.

5) Moderately open canopies for mechanical access, prescribed burning and reduction of crown fire potential.

6) Relatively irregular tree spacing, crown density and species mixtures to promote landscape diversity.

7) Prevent or reduce the spread of insects and disease due to overstocking. Remove diseased and suppressed trees.

PRESCRIPTION #2

1) Retain trees all live trees >30” DBH, except for operability.

2) Retain at least 40% of the existing basal area, generally comprised of the largest trees.

3) Canopy Cover: Retain a minimum of 40% canopy cover averaged within the unit.

a) Canopy cover is measured only for trees 6” DBH and greater.

b) Canopy cover should include reductions from gaps in the matrix, skid trails, temporary roads and should not include major roadway canopy cover.

4) Species preference for the residual trees are shade intolerant species where they exist. Preference order is: sugar pine, ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, Douglas-fir, black oak, incense-cedar and true fir. Retain healthy sugar pine >9" DBH (>40% crown, not suppressed) that are visibly free of white pine blister rust where possible.

Merchantable Sawlog-sized trees

5) Cut tree mark variable density thin in the matrix. Sawlog diameter limits for thinning range from 10.0” to 29.9” DBH.

6) Canopy cover: Retain a minimum of 40% canopy cover averaged within the unit.

7) Concentrate on removing diseased, suppressed, intermediate and some codominant trees with crowns underneath and adjacent to healthy larger trees.

8) Leave some deformed (crooks, bends, sweeps), damaged, forked tops, standing culls as wildlife tree and for future snag recruitment.

9) Radial thin around legacy trees - large shade intolerant conifers (PP/ JP & SP >30” DBH)

a) Remove trees within a determined distance from legacy trees (Diameter plus 10 feet; i.e., 30”DBH+10‘= 40’) (Maximum radius = 40 feet)

b) Remove shade tolerant conifers (i.e., white fir, red fir, incense cedar) that have interlocking crowns.

c) Retain healthy codominant and dominant shade-intolerant conifers (sugar pine, ponderosa, and Jeffery pine) in clumps around the legacy trees.

10) Radial thin around larger black oaks (>15”DBH)

a) Remove trees within a determined distance from larger black oaks (Diameter plus 10 feet; i.e., 15”DBH+10‘= 25’) (Maximum radius = 40 feet)

b) Remove overtopping conifers, specifically on southern, south-east and south-west aspects.

c) Retain codominant and dominant shade intolerant conifers on northern aspects.

11) Where feasible and available, leave all black oaks greater than 9" DBH to provide future recruitment of black oaks that is necessary to achieve 25-35 square feet of basal area per acre within the matrix.

PRESCRIPTION #2 continued

12) Residual basal area would vary between stands (Table 2.1) and within stands (i.e., gaps, low-density, and high density areas (see table below). These are guidelines only and will vary throughout the stand depending on species and average tree size. Ultimately, minimum canopy cover averaged across the treatment unit must be achieved.

Table 2.1. Marking Guidelines for CWHR 4 & 5 size class stands and 40 percent canopy cover Basal Area for CWHR 4/5 Stands

Marking Guidelines for Basal Area Retention

Notes: CWHR= California Wildife Habitat Relationship; M = Moderate canopy; D = Dense canopy

a) Gaps: Gaps are open areas from 1/8 to 1/4 acre in size where basal area may be less than 50 square feet.

b) Low Density Matrix: These areas would be located near the upper slopes and ridge tops and on south and west aspects. For example, basal area would vary from low basal area (i.e., BA=109) to average basal (i.e., BA=156). These areas would consist primarily of dominant, codominant, and some intermediate trees.

c) High Density Matrix: These areas would be located on the lower slopes near the drainages, and from northeast to northwest aspects. Basal areas would range from average basal area (i.e., BA=156) to high density basal area (i.e., BA=203).

d) Retention Areas: These areas are located within control areas and riparian conservation areas (RCAs) where no trees are harvested.

Sub-merchantable biomass trees

13) Retain sub-merchantable trees in openings or gaps in the overstory. In these areas space residual trees or tree clumps approximately 18-22 feet apart to promote irregular spacing..

14) Sub-merchantable material may be treated by biomass removal or follow up hand cut pile and burn, mastication, or underburning treatments.

Snags

15) Leave 4 - 6 large snags (>15” DBH and > 20 feet tall) per acre where available and where safety provides. Snag retention levels would be evaluated on a 10 acre basis and should be clumped and irregularly distributed across the unit.

16) Where snags are not present, retain at least 2 of the largest green trees per acre (where available and averaged on a 10 acre basis) for snag recruitment.

a) Use large dominant or codominant trees with desirable wildlife characteristics such as forks, multiple tops, broken tops, bayonet tops, crooks, existing cavities, large basal scars, and/or evidence of rot to meet these objectives.

b) Trees greater than 30 inches DBH could be used to fulfill these retention levels where appropriate wildlife structures are present.

PRESCRIPTION #2 continued

1) Perimeter Roadways in Retention and Partial Retention Zones: Mark only cut trees on the unseen side of the tree.

2) Treatment unit as a whole (including skid trails and temporary roads, and ¼ acre gaps, but excluding major roadways) must meet canopy cover requirements listed above after mechanical treatment.

3) Minimize logging damage to residual >30" DBH trees and boundary trees.

4) Mechanical equipment operation is limited to 35% slope.

5) Apply a 100-foot equipment exclusion zone buffer (both sides) seasonal flowing streams.

6) Apply a 150-foot equipment exclusion zone buffer (both sides) for perennial streams.

ADDITIONAL TREATMENTS

1) Units will be whole-tree removal and tractor logged.

2) Follow-up may include underburning after treatment to reduce slash, naturally occurring surface fuels and residual ladder fuels. Piling activity slash and burning piles may occur before the underburn if post-thinning slash levels would not allow fuels officers to meet prescribed fire objectives.

3) For the following units, apply Sporax to stumps 14" in diameter and greater within 150 feet on each of the road to prevent future infection of Heterobasidion root rot:

Peterson Ridge Units: 7, 9 Oak Flat Units: 67, 71, 75 Rose Ranch Units: 149, 151, 179, 185, 233, 267

3) Variable Density Thinning (VDT) (50% CC) with a 30” DBH Limit

CWHR: 4M, 4D, 5M, 5D, 6D – Retain a minimum of 50% canopy cover averaged within the unit.

Slate Creek: Unit 2 Diamond Springs: Units 6,7,8,9,10,11

1) Strategically place and construct area fuel treatments to interrupt fire spread; reduce fire size, intensity, and severity; and reduce stand densities necessary for healthy forests during drought conditions.

2) Overstory crowns are spaced at a distance that reduces potential for crown fire spread. Canopy base heights are greater than 15 feet. Crowns thinned to meet less than 20 percent probability of crown fire initiation under 90th percentile weather conditions.

3) Surface fuels able to carry no more than 4 feet flame length surface fires (90th percentile weather conditions); fuel loading of fuels less than 3 inch diameter not exceeding 5 tons per acre.

4) Surface and ladder fuels removed to meet less than 20 percent mortality in dominant and codominant trees under 90th percentile weather and fire behavior conditions.

5) Moderately open canopies for mechanical access, prescribed burning and reduction of crown fire potential.

6) Relatively irregular tree spacing, crown density and species mixtures to promote landscape diversity.

7) Prevent or reduce the spread of insects and disease due to overstocking. Remove diseased and suppressed trees.

PRESCRIPTION #3

1) Retain trees all live trees >30.0” DBH, except for operability.

2) Retain at least 40% of the existing basal area, generally comprised of the largest trees.

3) Canopy Cover: Retain a minimum of 50% canopy cover averaged within the unit.

a) Canopy cover is measured only for trees 6” DBH and greater.

b) Canopy cover should include reductions from gaps in the matrix, skid trails, temporary roads and should not include major roadway canopy cover.

4) Species preference for the residual trees are shade intolerant species where they exist. Preference order is: sugar pine, ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, Douglas-fir, black oak, incense-cedar and true fir. Retain healthy sugar pine >9" DBH (>40% crown, not suppressed) that are visibly free of white pine blister rust where possible.

Merchantable Sawlog-sized trees

5) Cut tree mark variable density thin in the matrix. Sawlog diameter limits for thinning range from 10.0” to 29.9” DBH.

6) Canopy Cover: Retain a minimum of 50% canopy cover averaged within the unit

7) Concentrate on removing diseased, suppressed, intermediate and some codominant trees with crowns underneath and adjacent to healthy larger trees.

8) Leave some deformed (crooks, bends, sweeps), damaged, forked tops, standing culls as wildlife tree and for future snag recruitment.

9) Radial thin around legacy trees - large shade intolerant conifers (PP/ JP & SP >30” DBH)

a) Remove trees within a determined distance from legacy trees (Diameter plus 10 feet; i.e., 30”DBH+10‘= 40’) (Maximum radius = 40 feet)

b) Remove shade tolerant conifers (i.e., white fir, red fir, incense cedar) that have interlocking crowns.

c) Retain healthy codominant and dominant shade-intolerant conifers (sugar pine, ponderosa, and Jeffery pine) in clumps around the legacy trees.

10) Radial thin around larger black oaks (>15”DBH)

a) Remove trees within a determined distance from larger black oaks (Diameter plus 10 feet; i.e., 15”DBH+10‘= 25’) (Maximum radius = 40 feet)

b) Remove overtopping conifers, specifically on southern, south-east and south-west aspects.

c) Retain codominant and dominant shade intolerant conifers on northern aspects.

11) Where feasible and available, leave all black oaks greater than 9" DBH to provide future recruitment of black oaks that is necessary to achieve 25-35 square feet of basal area per acre within the matrix.

PRESCRIPTION #3 continued

12) Residual basal area would vary between stands (Table 3.1) and within stands (i.e., gaps, low-density, and high density areas (see table below). These are guidelines only and will vary throughout the stand depending on species and average tree size. Ultimately, minimum canopy cover averaged across the treatment unit must be achieved.

Table 3.1. Marking Guidelines for CWHR 4 & 5 size class stands and 50 percent canopy cover Basal Area for CWHR 4/5 Stands

Marking Guidelines for Basal Area Retention

Notes: CWHR= California Wildife Habitat Relationship; M = Moderate canopy; D = Dense canopy

a) Gaps: Gaps are open areas from 1/8 to 1/4 acre in size where basal area may be less than 50 square feet.

b) Low Density Matrix: These areas would be located near the upper slopes and ridge tops and on south and west aspects. For example, basal area would vary from low basal area (i.e., BA=132) to average basal (i.e., BA=189). These areas would consist primarily of dominant, codominant, and some intermediate trees.

c) High Density Matrix: These areas would be located on the lower slopes near the drainages, and from northeast to northwest aspects. Basal areas would range from average basal area (i.e., BA=189) to high density basal area (i.e., BA=246).

d) Retention Areas: These areas are located within control areas and riparian conservation areas (RCAs) where no trees are harvested.

Sub-merchantable biomass trees

13) Retain sub-merchantable trees in openings or gaps in the overstory. In these areas space residual trees or tree clumps approximately 18-22 feet apart to promote irregular spacing.

14) Sub-merchantable material may be treated by biomass removal or follow up hand cut pile and burn, mastication, or underburning treatments.

Snags

15) Leave 4 - 6 large snags (>15” DBH and > 20 feet tall) per acre where available and where safety provides. Snag retention levels would be evaluated on a 10 acre basis and should be clumped and irregularly distributed across the unit.

16) Where snags are not present, retain at least 2 of the largest green trees per acre (where available and averaged on a 10 acre basis) for snag recruitment.

a) Use Large dominant or codominant trees with desirable wildlife characteristics such as forks, multiple tops, broken tops, bayonet tops, crooks, existing cavities, large basal scars, and/or evidence of rot to meet these objectives.

b) Trees greater than 30 inches DBH could be used to fulfill these retention levels where appropriate wildlife structures are present.

PRESCRIPTION #3 continued

1) Perimeter Roadways in Retention and Partial Retention Zones: Mark only cut trees on the unseen side of the tree.

2) Treatment unit as a whole (including skid trails and temporary roads, and ¼ acre gaps, but excluding major roadways) must meet canopy cover requirements listed above after mechanical treatment.

3) Minimize logging damage to residual >30" DBH trees and boundary trees.

4) Mechanical equipment operation is limited to 35% slope.

2) Follow-up may include underburning after treatment to reduce slash, naturally occurring surface fuels and residual ladder fuels. Piling activity slash and burning piles may occur before the underburn if post-thinning slash levels would not allow fuels officers to meet prescribed fire objectives.

3) For the following units, apply Sporax to stumps 14" in diameter and greater within 150 feet on each of the road to prevent future infection of Heterobasidion root rot:

Peterson Ridge Units: 5, 11, 13, 27, 33 Oak Flat Units: 65, 69 Rose Ranch Units: 85, 111, 117, 135, 137, 141, 155, 157, 165, 172, 203, 219, 235, 243, 251 Diamond Hill Units: 301, 303, 305, 307, 315, 319, 331, 333

4) Variable Density Thinning (VDT) (60% CC) with a 30” DBH Limit

CWHR: 4D, 5D – Retain a minimum of 60% canopy cover averaged within the unit.

Diamond Springs: Units 12, 13

1) Strategically place and construct area fuel treatments to interrupt fire spread; reduce fire size, intensity, and severity; and reduce stand densities necessary for healthy forests during drought conditions.

2) Overstory crowns are spaced at a distance that reduces potential for crown fire spread. Canopy base heights are greater than 15 feet. Crowns thinned to meet less than 20 percent probability of crown fire initiation under 90th percentile weather conditions.

3) Surface fuels able to carry no more than 4 feet flame length surface fires (90th percentile weather conditions); fuel loading of fuels less than 3 inch diameter not exceeding 5 tons per acre.

4) Surface and ladder fuels removed to meet less than 20 percent mortality in dominant and codominant trees under 90th percentile weather and fire behavior conditions.

5) Moderately open canopies for mechanical access, prescribed burning and reduction of crown fire potential.

6) Relatively irregular tree spacing, crown density and species mixtures to promote landscape diversity.

7) Prevent or reduce the spread of insects and disease due to overstocking. Remove diseased and suppressed trees.

PRESCRIPTION #4

1) Retain trees all live trees >30.0” DBH, except for operability.

2) Retain at least 40% of the existing basal area, generally comprised of the largest trees.

3) Canopy Cover: Retain a minimum of 60% canopy cover averaged within the unit.

a) Canopy cover is measured only for trees 6” DBH and greater.

b) Canopy cover should include reductions from gaps in the matrix, skid trails, temporary roads and should not include major roadway canopy cover.

4) Species preference for the residual trees are shade intolerant species where they exist. Preference order is: sugar pine, ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, Douglas-fir, black oak, incense-cedar and true fir. Retain healthy sugar pine >9" DBH (>40% crown, not suppressed) that are visibly free of white pine blister rust where possible.

Merchantable Sawlog-sized trees

5) Cut tree mark variable density thin in the matrix. Sawlog diameter limits for thinning range from 10.0” to 29.9” DBH.

6) Canopy Cover: Retain a minimum of 60% canopy cover averaged within the unit

7) Concentrate on removing diseased, suppressed, intermediate and some codominant trees with crowns underneath and adjacent to healthy larger trees.

8) Leave some deformed (crooks, bends, sweeps), damaged, forked tops, standing culls as wildlife tree and for future snag recruitment.

9) Radial thin around legacy trees - large shade intolerant conifers (PP/ JP & SP >30” DBH)

d) Remove trees within a determined distance from legacy trees (Diameter plus 10 feet; i.e., 30”DBH+10‘= 40’) (Maximum radius = 40 feet)

e) Remove shade tolerant conifers (i.e., white fir, red fir, incense cedar) that have interlocking crowns.

f) Retain healthy codominant and dominant shade-intolerant conifers (sugar pine, ponderosa, and Jeffery pine) in clumps around the legacy trees.

10) Radial thin around larger black oaks (>15”DBH)

d) Remove trees within a determined distance from larger black oaks (Diameter plus 10 feet; i.e., 15”DBH+10‘= 25’) (Maximum radius = 40 feet)

e) Remove overtopping conifers, specifically on southern, south-east and south-west aspects.

f) Retain codominant and dominant shade intolerant conifers on northern aspects.

11) Where feasible and available, leave all black oaks greater than 9" DBH to provide future recruitment of black oaks that is necessary to achieve 25-35 square feet of basal area per acre within the matrix.

12) Residual basal area would vary between stands (Table 4.1) and within stands (i.e., gaps, low-density, and high density areas (see table below). These are guidelines only and will vary throughout the stand depending on species and average tree size. Ultimately, minimum canopy cover averaged across the treatment unit must be achieved.

Table 4.1. Marking Guidelines for CWHR 4 & 5 size class stands and 60 percent canopy cover Basal Area for CWHR 4/5 Stands

Marking Guidelines for Basal Area Retention

Notes: CWHR= California Wildife Habitat Relationship; M = Moderate canopy; D = Dense canopy

a) Gaps: Gaps are open areas from 1/8 to 1/4 acre in size where basal area may be less than 50 square feet.

b) Low Density Matrix: These areas would be located near the upper slopes and ridge tops and on south and west aspects. For example, basal area would vary from low basal area (i.e., BA=144) to average basal (i.e., BA=206). These areas would consist primarily of dominant, codominant, and some intermediate trees.

c) High Density Matrix: These areas would be located on the lower slopes near the drainages, and on north and east aspects. Basal areas would range from average basal area (i.e., BA=206) to high density basal area (i.e., BA=268).

d) Retention Areas: These areas are located within control areas and riparian conservation areas (RCAs) where no trees are harvested.

Sub-merchantable biomass trees

13) Retain sub-merchantable trees in openings or gaps in the overstory. In these areas space residual trees or tree clumps approximately 18-22 feet apart to promote irregular spacing.

14) Sub-merchantable material may be treated by follow up hand cut pile and burn, hand cut grapple pile and burn, mastication, or underburning treatments.

Snags

15) Leave 4 - 6 large snags (>15” DBH and >20 feet tall) per acre where available and where safety provides. Snag retention levels would be evaluated on a 10 acre basis and should be clumped and irregularly distributed across the unit.

16) Where snags are not present, retain at least 2 of the largest green trees per acre (where available and averaged on a 10 acre basis) for snag recruitment

a) Use large dominant or codominant trees with desirable wildlife characteristics such as forks, multiple tops, broken tops, bayonet tops, crooks, existing cavities, large basal scars, and/or evidence of rot to meet these objectives.

b) Trees greater than 30 inches DBH could be used to fulfill these retention levels where appropriate wildlife structures are present.

PRESCRIPTION #4 Continued

1) Perimeter Roadways in Retention and Partial Retention Zones: Mark only cut trees on the unseen side of the tree.

2) Treatment unit as a whole (including skid trails and temporary roads, and ¼ acre gaps, but excluding major roadways) must meet canopy cover requirements listed above after mechanical treatment.

3) Minimize logging damage to residual >30" DBH trees and boundary trees.

4) Mechanical equipment operation is limited to 35% slope.

2) Follow-up may include underburning after treatment to reduce slash, naturally occurring surface fuels and residual ladder fuels. Piling activity slash and burning piles may occur before the underburn if post-thinning slash levels would not allow fuels officers to meet prescribed fire objectives.

3) For the following units, apply Sporax to stumps 14" in diameter and greater within 150 feet on each of the road to prevent future infection of Heterobasidion root rot:

Rose Ranch Units: 239, 259 Diamond Hill Units: 293. 299. 311, 313

APPENDIX A. FIGURES

Figure 1. Averaging canopy cover within a treatment unit that is within a spotted owl home range core area (HRCA) and outside the HRCA. The averaged canopy cover for the treated HRCA meets 50 percent. The averaged canopy cover for outside the HRCA meets 40 percent.

APPENDIX B. CROSSWALK40 foot radius radius Schematic for radial release (DBH” + 10 Feet) = Radius 30” dbh SP WF 26” dbh IC 22” dbh BO 12”dbh IC 10”dbh 30” DBH + 10 feet = 40 foot radius radius radius

· Radial release corresponds to tree DBH” + 10 feet up to a maximum of 40 feet.

· Oaks greater than 9 inches dbh would be retained

· Remove shade tolerant conifers (i.e., white fir, red fir, incense cedar) that have interlocking crowns.

· Retain healthy codominant and dominant shade-intolerant conifers (sugar pine, ponderosa, and Jeffery pine) in clumps around the legacy trees.

· For black oaks, remove overtopping conifers, specifically on southern, south-east and south-west aspects.

Figure 4. Schematic for radial release

Union Hill (Peterson Ridge)

Union Hill (Diamond Springs)

Union Hill (Diamond Springs) ROADSIDE HAZARD

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