Archie Briggs Canyon Scope of Work_ Attachment A.pdf

Scope of Work

Archie Briggs Canyon Forest Health Project

Objectives:

The forest health project in Archie Briggs Canyon Natural Area, a City of Bend Area of Special Interest (ASI), aims to enhance ecological resilience by addressing overstocked tree densities. By reducing the number of overstocked ponderosa pine trees and removing most western juniper trees, the project seeks to create a stand that is more resilient to both fire and pests. Trees eight inches in diameter at breast height (DBH) and under will be marked with blue paint to be cut and piled. Piles will be burned the following Fall/Winter, weather conditions permitting. The ponderosa pine and Western juniper over eight inches in DBH that are marked will be cut and removed, creating better spacing to increase stand vigor.

For long-term health, the overall goal is to reduce the basal area per square foot an acre to

50. By implementing these strategies, the project aims to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and improve forest health, benefiting both the environment and the surrounding communities.

Unit Description:

Archie Briggs Canyon Natural Area is primarily located between Mount Washington Drive and the Deschutes River Trail (DRT), with a small 2-acre section below the DRT in the bend of the canyon (see project map). The canyon includes terrain steeper than 25 degrees in some areas. The east side of the canyon is predominantly ponderosa pine with some encroaching western juniper. The west side of the canyon is predominantly western junipers. The two acres below the DRT is primarily ponderosa pine. The DRT is the project’s main access with parking for several vehicles at the base of the main canyon.

3444 NW Mt. Washington Dr.

1580 NW Wild Rye Cir.

Bend, Oregon 97703 Approx. 15 acres

City of Bend Tax Lots:

• 171219AC01800

• 171219AC01700

• 171219AC03100

• 171219AB00800

• 1712190000300 – please review project map for two-acre location.

Project Description:

Main project area:

1. Trees 8" DBH and under will be marked to cut prior to project. Cut and low-stump all western juniper, ensuring no green or living branches remain on stumps. Low-stump all ponderosa pine. Pile all slash according to the pile construction and location guidelines in preparation for burning.

2. Cut and remove all marked trees over ≥8” DBH. Pile limbs and tops ≥8” DBH for burning. Haul all bole wood off-site, including that from standing dead trees.

Fuel break adjacent to neighboring properties:

1. Masticate or cut and pile all brush over 12” tall within a 40-foot buffer along the outer perimeter of the unit.

2. Limb all standing trees so that branches are six feet above ground level. All limbed branches will be put into piles to burn.

Hand pile construction:

The contractor shall ensure piles:

1. are a minimum of six-feet in diameter by five-feet in height, and a maximum of eight-feet in diameter by eight-feet in height (measured from the uphill side).

2. contain a core of kindling placed on the downhill side which consists of not less than two-cubic-feet of small sized slash (small branches between one-fourth and one-half inch in diameter and/or small branches with needles attached).

3. are compact; compaction of the piles shall be done by aligning the material as much as possible and placing heavier material on top; slash that causes large air spaces shall be cut or crushed to eliminate air pockets; compaction shall be considered satisfactory if the pile size, after seven-days after construction, meets or exceeds the minimum pile size specification

4. contain all material within the general contour of the pile, any material extending more than 18-inches beyond the general perimeter of the pile shall be trimmed and placed back into the pile.

5. are constructed in a manner that prevents material from rolling downhill during burning.

Hand pile locations:

The contractor shall ensure piles are:

1. constructed within the project area (unit boundary);

2. a minimum of 10 feet apart and evenly dispersed throughout the project area as much as practical.

3. a minimum of 15 feet from the drip line of any live trees and a minimum of 30- feet from any remaining, uncut, old growth Western juniper.

4. a minimum of 30 feet from any fence or property line; and

5. a minimum of 20 feet from any road or designated trail.

6. The contractor shall ensure piles are not: made in roads, drainage, canal, or barrow ditches, meadows, green lines of streams, or within channel bottoms without the district’s prior approval.

7. It may be necessary for the Contractor to drag slash further than 20 to 30 feet so that all piles meet the minimum pile size and location specifications as defined in this section.

8. In the event conditions make it impractical to locate piles so that damage to the remaining live trees cannot be avoided, Contractor shall clear a space to pile material.

Pile Burning

1. Per pile cure conditions (approximately 1-2 years after initial forest health and fuels reduction project, but not to exceed 3 years), Contractor will conduct burn operations for the District.

2. Contractor will provide safety plan, equipment, and personnel on the ground for operations to occur.

3. The District will provide support and collaboration for press releases, Contact Information:

Joe Mauti, BPRD Natural Resources Supervisor 541-213-5631 Cell Joem@bendparksandrec.org

Project Map