Attach 3_Prescription 1 out of 3.pdf

This document is a compilation of Timber Stand Descriptions (TSD) for the Hodge Podge Timber Sale in the PennNorth Ecological Assessment Area, located in Pennsylvania within the Boreal Hardwood/Conifer landscape ecosystem and managed as General Forest land. The sale encompasses multiple stand units (PU #2, PU #6, PU #7, PU #10) with varying acreage and treatment objectives.

The stands targeted for harvest are predominantly white spruce plantations with mixed understory vegetation including balsam fir, aspen, paper birch, and other hardwood species. Harvest methods specified are clearcut with reserves (Activity 4117), with a minimum retention of 6-12 reserve trees per acre to provide future snags, woody debris, wildlife seed sources, and visual diversity. Short-term objectives focus on creating vigorous even-aged stands of white spruce, balsam fir, or white pine communities with species and structural diversity, while long-term objectives target mixed conifer/aspen communities representative of mesic boreal hardwood-conifer ecosystems. Post-harvest treatments include full planting of 800-1,000 trees per acre (primarily balsam fir at 500/acre, white spruce at 200/acre, and white pine at 100/acre) in areas not dominated by dense aspen/poplar natural regeneration. Extensive mitigation requirements address wildlife (Northern Long-eared Bat protection, legacy patches, snag retention), aquatics (riparian management zones with 50-150 foot filter strips depending on slope), soils (erosion control, slash mat placement), and non-native invasive species prevention. Operations are restricted to normal dry periods (typically July 1 – September 15) or when soil is frozen at 4 inches or more depth. Monitoring includes 1-year and 3-year stocking surveys with stand certification criteria of at least 4,000 seedlings per acre of acceptable growing stock, with 5-year surveys for planted stands requiring 400 seedlings per acre certification thresholds.