Attachment 5 Prescriptions.pdf

Blue Mile G-Z IRSC Fremont-Winema National Forest

Request for Information Chiloquin Ranger District

Silviculture Prescriptions

Definitions:

Aspen Clump: At least 5 healthy (white bark, green leaves with little to no evidence of disease or damage) live aspen trees at least 5 feet tall. Trees are members of the same clump if they are within 30 feet of at least one other tree in the clump.

Clump: A grouping of at least 2 merchantable trees. Trees are members of the same clump if they are within 20 feet (measured face-to-face) of at least one other tree in the clump.

Individual Tree: A tree that has no other merchantable tree within 20 feet of its bole.

Mature Tree: Tree appearing to be over 150 years old. See Figures 1-3.

Codominant/Dominant tree: Trees that form, or extend above, the general level of the main canopy

(from the Dictionary of Forestry, Society of America Foresters).

Diameter at Stump Height (DSH): Diameter of a tree measured perpendicular to the stem outside of the bark at 4 inches on the uphill side of the tree.

Diameter at Breast Height (DBH): Diameter of a tree measured at 4.5 feet above the ground on the uphill side of the tree.

Drip line:

Healthy Tree: Relative to neighboring trees, healthy trees have fuller, darker green crowns, better form, little to no evidence of bark beetle attack (pitch tubes, large patches of missing bark from bird foraging) and less mistletoe (confined to the lower third of the crown, none on the bole of the tree). Tree should have at least 30 percent crown ratio.

Unhealthy Tree: An unhealthy tree shall generally have some combination of the following characteristics: small crown (less than 30 percent crown ratio), dead top, multiple dead branches in the crown, sparse crown (reduced needle retention giving a tufted appearance), fading coloration of the crown, dwarf mistletoe in upper and middle thirds of the crown, multiple pitch tubes and/or large patches of missing bark.

Suppressed Tree: A tree whose crown is completely overtopped by the crowns of one or more neighboring trees (Dictionary of Forestry, Society of American Foresters). Suppressed trees often have a low crown ratio (less than 30 percent).

Distances are measured slope distance to face of the tree at DSH.

All live conifer trees within the area, including boundary trees, greater than or equal to minimum DBH count towards residual stocking.

These specifications apply only to trees which meet the minimum tree diameters.

Dry Ponderosa Pine/Xeric Pine

End Result: After treatment these areas will have an average stand density of 60 ft2 per acre of basal area for Dry Ponderosa Pine, and 50 ft2 per acre of basal area for Xeric Pine. Areas will also have an increased variability in the structure and spatial arrangement of the residual trees in the form of clumps, openings, and retention patches. The residual area will have an increase in its mean diameter, a reduction in ladder fuels, as well as a shift in composition and structure towards mature trees, fire-adapted conifers, other desirable species, and larger trees.

A basal area factor of 10 will be used to determine stocking compliance.

Residual stocking objectives: Perform these in order; subsequent items do not override any item preceding it:

1. Retain all mature trees, and orange-marked trees marked during clump marking.

2. Retain all trees greater than 26.0” DSH.

3. Cut all trees underneath the drip line or within 25 feet of healthy mature ponderosa pine trees.

4. Within 50 feet of an aspen clump, cut all conifers below 18” diameter stump height (DSH).

5. Dry Ponderosa Pine areas: Thin to a range of 50 to 70 square feet per acre of basal area with an average target of 60 square feet per acre in the area.

6. Xeric Pine areas: Thin to a range of 40 to 60 square feet per acre of basal area with an average target of 50 square feet per acre in the area.

Tree selection objectives:

1. Cut trees shall be selected by thinning from below so that the residual stand will be comprised of healthy dominant and codominant trees. The area should primarily consist of ponderosa pine with other species occurring in small numbers. White fir and lodgepole pine are the least desirable leave trees.

2. 30% of all residual trees should be individual trees. Acceptable individual tree target is 20-40% of residual trees per acre. See Table 1 for an example of how individual trees should be retained.

3. Leave remaining residual trees as clumps consisting of 2 to 4 ponderosa pine, sugar pine, incense cedar, or Douglas-fir trees throughout the unit. See Table 1 for an example of how clumps of trees should be retained.

4. Do not leave trees with one-sided crowns. When two or more trees have developed one-sided crowns due to proximity, either cut or retain all to meet the desired stocking level.

Dry Mixed Conifer

End Result: After treatment these areas will have an average stand density of 70 ft2 per acre of basal area, and increased variability in the structure and spatial arrangement of the residual trees in the form of individual trees, clumps, openings, and retention patches. The residual area will have an increase in its mean diameter, a reduction in ladder fuels, as well as a shift in composition and structure towards mature trees, fire-adapted conifers, other desirable species, and larger trees.

A basal factor of 10 will be used to determine stocking compliance.

Residual stocking objectives: Perform these in order; subsequent items do not override any item preceding it:

1. Retain all mature trees, and orange-marked trees marked during clump marking.

2. Retain all trees greater than 26.0” DSH.

3. Cut all trees underneath the drip line or within 25 feet of healthy mature ponderosa pine trees.

5. Within 50 feet of an aspen clump, cut all conifers below 18” diameter stump height (DSH).

6. Thin to a range of 60-80 square feet per acre of basal area, with an average target of 70 square feet per acre in the area.

Tree selection objectives:

5. Cut trees shall be selected by thinning from below so that the residual area will be comprised of healthy dominant and codominant trees in a mix of species where available.

The subdivisions should consist of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, sugar pine, and incense cedar. White fir and lodgepole pine are the least desirable leave trees.

6. 30% of all residual trees should be individual trees. Acceptable individual tree target is 20-40% of residual trees per acre. See Table 1 for an example of how individual trees should be retained.

7. Leave remaining residual trees as clumps consisting of 2 to 4 ponderosa pine, sugar pine, incense cedar, or Douglas-fir trees throughout the unit. Healthy white fir trees may be included in clumps. See Table 1 for an example of how clumps of trees should be retained.

8. Do not leave trees with one-sided crowns. When two or more trees have developed one-sided

Fuel Break

End Result: After treatment these areas will have an average stand density of 50 ft2 per acre of basal area, and increased variability in the structure and spatial arrangement of the residual trees in the form of individual trees, clumps, openings, and retention patches. The residual unit will have an increase in its mean diameter, a reduction in ladder fuels, as well as a shift in composition and structure towards mature trees, fire-adapted conifers, other desirable species, and larger trees.

A basal factor of 10 will be used to determine stocking compliance.

Residual stocking objectives: Perform these in order; subsequent items do not override any item preceding it:

3. Retain all mature trees, and orange-marked trees marked during clump marking.

4. Retain all trees greater than 26.0” DSH.

3. Cut all trees underneath the drip line or within 25 feet of healthy mature ponderosa pine trees.

5. Within 50 feet of an aspen clump, cut all conifers below 18” diameter stump height (DSH).

6. Thin to a range of 40-60 square feet per acre of basal area, with an average target of 50 square feet per acre in the area.

Tree selection objectives:

9. Cut trees shall be selected by thinning from below so that the residual stand will be comprised of healthy dominant and codominant trees in a mix of species where available.

The subdivisions should consist of primarily fire tolerant trees such as ponderosa pine, sugar pine, and Douglas-fir. White fir and lodgepole pine are the least desirable leave trees.

10. 30% of all residual trees should be individual trees. Acceptable individual tree target is 20-40% of residual trees per acre. See Table 1 for an example of how individual trees should be retained.

11. Leave remaining residual trees as clumps consisting of 2 to 4 ponderosa pine, sugar pine, incense cedar, or Douglas-fir trees throughout the unit. Healthy white fir trees may be included in clumps. See Table 1 for an example of how clumps of trees should be retained.

12. Do not leave trees with one-sided crowns. When two or more trees have developed one-sided

Non-commercial specifications in combination with commercial work or stand alone non-commercial

Mastication

End Results: Mastication of brush.

Description – Brush will be masticated to ground level unless prevented by natural obstacles so that it does not exceed 12” in height. All existing logs will be left. Trees shall be cut below lowest live limb.

Technical Specifications – Leave all hardwood trees (quaking aspen, serviceberry, willows, etc.).Leave all trees greater than 4.0 inches DBH. Leave all trees with orange paint.

Small Tree Thin:

End Results – Reduce conifer encroachment and competition. Understory will be thinned to reduce density and fuels in the stand. Spatial pattern of residual trees will be variable, with a mixture of individuals and clumps of 2-20 trees. Trees should generally be spaced 15 feet away from mature overstory trees. All western juniper under 150 years old will be cut and skidded to approved landings. Thin conifers greater than or equal to 2” DBH, up to A.2. specifications, to a variable spacing ranging from 10 X 10 to 25 X 25 feet, leaving a mixture of clumps and individuals. Leave trees should be the largest, healthiest trees in the area. Cut trees shall be completely severed below the lowest live limb unless prevented by natural obstacles. Stump shall be cut flat and height shall not exceed 6 inches unless natural obstacles prevent cutting. When thinning follow species preference for retention in descending order: sugar pine, ponderosa pine, incense cedar. Cut all white fir, lodgepole pine and western juniper.

Table 1. Preferences for individual trees and small clumps of trees.

Individual Tree

Single tree – 20 feet away, or more, from others

Small Clump

2 to 4 trees within 20 feet of each other

Created by releasing large and/or mature trees (ponderosa or sugar pine only) where available, or desirable young trees where they are not.

Created by releasing existing large and/or mature trees (ponderosa or sugar pine only) where available or using desirable young trees where they are not.

Figure 1. Visual characteristics for mature ponderosa pine tree greater than 150 years old determination (taken from VanPelt Guide).

Figure 2. Visual characteristics for mature Douglas-fir tree greater than 150 years old determination (taken from VanPelt Guide).

Figure 3. Visual characteristics for mature white fir tree greater than 150 years old determination.

Young or immature trees shall have intact canopies, bark fissures less than 2 inches deep, and numerous fine branches less than 1/16 inch in diameter near the ground.

Mature trees have bark fissures more than 2 inches deep, no fine branches near the ground, and may have multiple tops or extensive mortality in the upper canopy/crown.

Immature White Fir

Mature (>150 yrs) White fir

Crown Condition of older White Fir Trees