Attachment 5 - Timberdoodle Stewardship Specifications.pdf

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION /SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK Timberdoodle Stewardship

C.1 SCOPE

Timberdoodle Stewardship Timber Sale is located on the Bessemer Ranger District. The project area is 97 acres and was determined through field recon and GIS calculations. The marking project involves red pine thinning on

97 acres (PU's 01-07). Sample tree cruising (STR) will be performed utilizing cut tree marking methods within all payment units.

(1) Red Pine COMMERCIAL THINNING (Marking & STR Cruising)

Commercial Thinning

Payment Unit(s): 01-07; 97 Acres

These stands are red pine plantations that were established from the 1930’s to 1980’s. The basal area ranges from 110-240 ft2/ac and range from 10-16” dbh. The stands exhibit signs of good health, but are at the point where growing space will become limited, which can introduce stress decreasing resistance to insect and disease. Some of these stands do not have existing skid trails established and will require skid routes to be marked prior to thinning the stands to the targeted residual basal area. Some stands have mature aspen inclusions that should be regenerated.

Refer to the Marking Guide and Cruise plan for more information and specifications.

(2) SAMPLE TREE CRUISING METHOD

The Sample Tree cruising method (STR) involves measuring a specified proportion (Sample Interval) of trees in the defined sub-population. With this cruising method, every tree included for removal must be visited and marked.

In units where species require “CTM” marking method, two-sided (opposite) marking at breast height with stump marks (18-24” tails) is required. This marking method typically relies working through an order of removal with specific criteria guiding what portion of merchantable-sized trees should be marked for removal. Refer to Marking and Cruise Design for trees to be marked with this marking method.

Note: USFS will mark Payment Unit 08 (ROW).

C.2 LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION: The Timberdoodle Stewardship Timber Sale Marking Contract project area is approximately 10.5 miles southeast of Marenisco, MI. From Marenisco, the sale area is accessed by driving 9.3 miles east on US Highway 2, and an additional 5.3 miles south on FR 7100. From FR 7100 you will reach a central point within the project area at the intersection of CR 527 & FR 7100. The majority of the Payment Units for the

Timberdoodle Stewardship project area are located directly off of CR 527, while also utilizing existing and planned

Forest Service system roads for access.

GO

G-

6820-F

-A 6800-N

Tenderfoot Creek

US DA - APFO; US DA - US FS – RS AC

Tim berdoodle S tewardship Estim ated Acres Contract Map # 21017

Jesse Cox 5/21/2020

0́ 0.08 0.16 0.24 0.320.04 Miles

Tim berdoodle S tewardship Paym ent Units: 97 Acres

R.O.W : 1 Acre Total: 98 Acres

PU Acres 1 10 2 7 3 29 4 21 5 13 6 4 7 13

8 R.O.W 1

Legend NHD Area

NHD Flowline System

C - COUNTY, PARIS H, BOROUGH

NFS R - NATIONAL FORES T S YS TEM ROAD

NOT - NOT NEEDED

UND - UNDETERMINED

Draft PUs

TIMBERDOODLE STEWARDSHIP - CRUISE DESIGN

Sale Number: 21017 Estimated Sale Value: $80,000 Estimated CV Ranges: 20%-55% Cruise Design Analysis Based On: Comparison Cruise of Blue Jay Lake T.S., Short Spurs T.S.

Maximum Sampling Error: 10% Cruise Methods: Sample Tree (STR) [Reference attached Minimum Tree and Piece Utilization Standards, dated 11/02/2015] Total Sale Acres: Contract Marked (Red Pine Thinning 97 Acres)

STRATA 1: Single-Tree Selection: Payment Unit(s): 01-07 (Red Pine Thinning) (98 Acres). Payment Unit 8 [(R.O.W) (1 Dummy Acre)] Cruised and marked by USFS.

Cruise Method: Sample Tree (STR)

Marking Contract Units: 01-07

Sample

Group

Species/Product (Unit) DBH Range Sample

Interval

HS Hardwood/Pulpwood (02) Small 5.0”-10.99” 1:50

HL Hardwood/Pulpwood (02) Large 11.0”+ 1:25

SW Sugar Maple/Sawtimber (01) 11.0”+ 1:5

OW Other Hardwood/Sawtimber (01)* 11.0”+ 1:5

AS Aspen Pulpwood (02) Small 5.0”-11.99” 1:30

AL Aspen Pulpwood (02) Large 12.0”+ 1:50

CW Spruce/Sawtimber (01) 9.0”+ 1:5

CP Mixed Conifer/Pulpwood (02) 5.0”+ 1:50

PP Red & Jack Pine Pulpwood (02) 5.0”+ 1:50

RS Red Pine Sawtimber (01) Small 9.0”-11.99” 1:100

RL Red Pine Sawtimber (01) Large 12.0”+ 1:75

PW White Pine Sawtimber (01) 9.0”+ 1:1

Note: Cruise all Aspen and Balsam Fir as pulpwood. Mixed Conifer pulpwood includes Balsam Fir, White pine, Spruce, Tamarack, Cedar, and Hemlock.

*Other Hardwood Sawtimber includes all Red Maple, Basswood, Black Cherry, Black Ash, White Ash, Yellow Birch & Paper Birch.

A random start should be used for each sample group at the start of marking in each payment unit. Select a random interval that is less than the required sample interval for the first tally in each sample group, thereafter, sample at the specified sample interval.

Maintain an accurate tree count by payment unit for each sample group. Original field records used for tracking tree counts must be with the tally cards or data recorder sheets when each unit is completed. Do not recopy field notes of tree counts or tally cards.

PAYMENT

UNIT #

ESTIMATED

ACRES

FINAL

ACRES**

STRATA FOREST

TYPE

CRUISING

METHOD

CUTTING DESIGNATION

01 10 1 2 STR All CTM

02 7 1 2 STR All CTM

03 29 1 2 STR All CTM

04 21 1 2 STR All CTM

05 13 1 2 STR All CTM

06 4 1 2 STR All CTM

07 13 1 2 STR All CTM

08 R.O.W 1 (Dummy) 1 (Dummy) 1 STR All CTM

Cruise Design Prepared by: Jesse Cox, Forester Date: 5/8/2020

Cruise Design Reviewed by: Paul Dashner, Forest Check Cruiser Date:

Cruise Design Approved by: Paul Tikusis, TMA Date:

MINIMUM TREE AND PIECE UTILIZATION STANDARDS (11/02/2015 revision)

Minimum Tree Specifications

Minimum Piece Specifications

SPECIES PRODUCT DBH (inches) Length (feet)

DIB

(inches)

Minimum Net Scale in % of Gross

Hardwoods (except aspen)

Sawlogs 11.0 8 9.6-11.5 95% 1/

Hardwoods Sawlogs 11.0 8 11.6+ 50% 1/

Softwood Sawlogs 9.0 8 7.6 40

All Species Pulpwood 5.0 8 4.0 70 and reasonably straight 2/

1/ In Timber Sale Contracts, all hardwood sawlogs will use 50% minimum net scale in gross %, due to limitations in TIM.

Cruising will use 95% minimum net scale for small diameter logs (9.6 – 11.5 DIB).

2/ Seventy percent applies to rot, voids, and char. Mechanical type defects such as sweep, crook, spider heart, and ring shake will not be considered.

Reasonably straight - When the true line of a minimum length piece does not deviate more than ½ the inside diameter of the small and plus two inches from a straight line drawn between the centers of the ends of a piece.

The maximum deflection allowed is what will fit in a 20-inch cylinder.

A minimum tree must include at least one piece that meets minimum specifications.

** Product heights are now measured to the nearest foot. All heights are measured in feet from the ground on the high side of the stump.

1. Conifers – measure total height (to the tip) in feet and the cruise program will calculate the 4” cut-off.

2. Hardwoods (includes Aspen) – measure the height in feet to the 4” top.

3. Sawtimber – cut-off point or “stoppers” will follow our regular practices. Measure sawtimber height in feet. Secondary product height will be measured as described in item 1 or 2 depending on the species.

4. Default dib’s are already built into the equations;

pulpwood = 4.0” sawtimber = 9.6” (hardwood) = 7.6” (mixed conifers, pine)

5. On trees with a broken, dead, or deformed top, record the height to the point where the 4” top or the tip would have been if the tree were still growing normally, then record defect to account for the missing volume.

ONF-2400-2

3/1/07 Version

OTTAWA NATIONAL FOREST

SILVICULTURAL PRESCRIPTION / MARKING GUIDES

STAND INFORMATION

PU -

Ranger District

Comp- Stand Acres MA LTA ELTP Habitat Type

Cover Type LSC

Year of

Origin Size

Density SI BA 1-02 232/51 10 3.1a 9 313 PO, FI 95 500 1983 3 68

232/14 3.1a 9 319C ATD, ATD-Athyr 2 500 1938 9 70 120

2-02 232/62 10 3.1a 9 319C ATD, ATD-Athyr 2 500 1938 9 70 170

3-02 232/44 30 3.1a 9 319C ATD, ATD-Athyr 2 500 1937 9 70 160 254/03 9 319C ATD, ATD-Athyr 2 500 1938 9 70 100

4-02 254/02 20 3.1a 9 319B ATD, ATD-Athyr 2 500 1938 9 71 100

9 306B TMV

254/01 9 319B ATD, ATD-Athyr 2 500 1938 8 62 120

5-02 254/05 15 3.1a 9 319B ATD, ATD-Athyr 2 500 1938 8 65 125

6-02 232/18 5 3.1a 9 322C TM, ATD-Athyr 2 500 1944 9 65 210

7-02 232/40 15 3.1a 9 306C TMV, TMC 2 500 1962 6 60 225

8-02 254/22 5 3.1a 2 39C AVO, ATD 2 500 1938 9 65 220

STAND DESCRIPTION

These stands are red pine plantations that were established from the 1930’s to 1980’s. The basal area ranges from 110-240 ft2/ac and range from 10-16” dbh. The stands exhibit signs of good health, but are at the point where growing space will become limited, which can introduce stress decreasing resistance to insect and disease. Some of these stands do not have existing skid trails established and will require skid routes to be marked prior to thinning the stands to the targeted residual basal area. Some stands have mature aspen inclusions that should be regenerated.

DESIRED CONDITION

The desired future condition is to promote healthy, vigorous, and resilient red pine that are fully utilizing the site and putting growth on the best quality stems. Eventually, the expectation is that the plantations would develop big trees faster, over time, and have more of a heterogeneous structure and composition. Aspen inclusions will be growing vigorously and free of competing vegetation.

SHORT AND LONG TERM OBJECTIVES

Thin red pine to achieve the desired spacing as described in the Marking Guide.

Retain healthy white pine, hemlock, cedar, oak and elm.

Maintain and protect ecological processes and functions in and around riparian areas where they occur within the sale area.

Promote and maintain red pine to maintain the health and vigor of the plantations.

Regenerate aspen inclusions to provide species diversity within the plantations.

NEPA DECISION DOCUMENT: Pomeroy VMP TIMBER SALE: Timberdoodle PU: see table

REMARKS

There are scattered, small, poorly drained pockets, seeps, steep slopes, perched water tables, or shallow bedrock areas; do not designate any trees for removal in these areas.

Skid trails must be marked prior to marking to the target basal area, many stands do not have skid trails established. The contractor will work with the COR to determine the location of skid trails.

There are pockets of aspen that will be treated as aspen inclusions, the goal will be to regenerate the aspen within these pockets to add diversity within the pine plantations.

MARKING GUIDE:

Name of Treatment - Commercial Thinning

Residual BA/Ac – See Below

Acres - See attached cover sheet

Thin the red pine down to a basal area no lower than 90-100 FT2/AC, but do not remove greater than 40% of the initial BA (leaving the lower basal area when trees are smaller (12-14”) and leaving a higher basal area where residual dbh is closer to 16”). This will mean that some areas will have residual basal area higher than the prescribed residual. All high risk maple, fir, and pine should be harvested as well as all mature aspen and spruce. This may result in aspen/spruce/fir clear cut inclusions within the plantation, I would expect the clearcut acres to total less than 2.

Order of Removal:

1. Ensure skid trails are established, if not, install skid trails for current and future harvests.

2. Retain most non-red pine species in areas where densities are high – accept some poor quality; this will contribute to structural/habitat diversity objectives for the stand.

3. Remove all aspen/balsam/fir greater than 8”.

4. Mark all high risk trees and poor vigor; consider marking most red pine with crown decline as low vigor.

5. Thin from below; work towards the development of co-dominant and dominant trees by removing the competing smaller diameter and suppressed trees.

6. If density still above desired then mark stems within the small and larger sawtimber category that exhibit sweep, crook and forks within the merchantable bole.

7. If density still above desired then mark trees to improve the relative spacing; reference table below for general guidelines.

Spacing Guideline

AVE DBH OBSERVED SPACING

12” 10 14” 12 16” 14

Crop Tree Characteristics:

1. Live Crown Ratio >30%.

2. Dominant or co-dominant trees w/ good crown vigor and stem quality

3. Low risk of mortality or failure [e.g. main stem breakage].

Aspen Inclusions:

Clearcut the mature aspen clones and retain healthy white pine, hemlock, cedar, oak and elm as Leave Trees.

The oak and elm need to have adjacent trees retained to maintain the micro site surrounding the targeted reserve tree, this may include high risk aspen. Trees to be retained are 5.0 inches or larger and on average have a residual basal area that does not exceed 5 ft2/ac. The objective for retaining these species is to add species and structural diversity to the stand while not limiting successful aspen regeneration and future productivity. Oak and elm should be retained as a group of trees to protect from dieback. Lone white pine, hemlock and cedar can be left as lone trees.

DESIGN CRITERIA AND MITIGATION MEASURES

Highlighted Design Criteria, see NEPA for all of the criteria

Cull trees should be left for wildlife, do not remove trees with little or no value unless they pose a safety hazard (A1). If cull trees need to be marked the silviculturist should be notified to look at the risk.

If any stick nests are found (A1) the wildlife biologist should be consulted.

Reserve snags and den trees according to Forest Plan guidelines (p. 2-32); focus on retaining trees with features beneficial to the NLEB such as shaggy bark and cavities. (A1) If any archaeological sites are located during layout or implementation the Archaeologist should be consulted.

Designate skid trails to direct activities outside of riparian corridors as quickly as possible, minimize the number of skid trails within riparian corridors, and to avoid steep slopes (18% and greater) within the riparian corridors to avoid sedimentation and impacts on riparian function.

Avoid skidding in draws so as to avoid equipment traffic in areas that concentrate runoff and overland flow, thereby reducing erosion risk.

In areas identified with a VQO of Partial Retention (County Road Gog-525), special road and landing designs will be followed. When feasible, this includes locating landings at least 400 feet from the road.

When this is not feasible, access roads to the landings should be angled or curved to screen the landing from view unless safety or resource concerns dictate otherwise.

POST HARVEST TREATMENTS

FACTS Code Name of Treatment Prescription None

ACTIVITIES SUMMARY

Year Facts Activity Code Description 2022 4220 Commercial Thinning

Prepared by: Christopher R. Boroski

Reviewed by:

Reviewed by:

Approved by: Michael Strieter

Title: District Silviculturist

Title:

Title:

Title: Certified Silviculturist

Date: 05/05/2020

Date:

Date:

Date: 05/05/2020