C04_12363N26Q4181Attachment5_Project Design Criteria.pdf

Fremont-Winema National Forest Attachment 5: Project Design Criteria

Attachment 5: Project Design Criteria for Corral G-Z IRSC

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Table of Contents

Aquatic Resources Botany and Invasive Plants

Heritage Hydrology and Soils

Fuels Range

Recreation and Scenic Quality Roads Management

Wildlife

Aquatic Resources Objective Design Feature(s) Applicable

Proposed Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Maintain and not hinder attainment of Riparian Management Objectives for large wood, pools, and water temperature

Small tree thinning may occur within the RHCAs on streams, that are not designated critical habitat for bull trout, if treatment prescriptions do not retard or prevent attainment of riparian management objectives.

All thinning activities within RHCAs

Fremont-Winema National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) as amended by INFISH Standards and Guidelines; INFISH (p.

A-7, TM-1b)

Protection of habitats and fish species life stages

Any instream work activities would be limited to the ODFW in-water work window. Should work need to occur outside this window, the zone fish biologist would submit a waiver to ODFW.

Aquatic restoration activities in perennial streams

ODFW Guidelines for Timing of In-water Work to Protect Fish & Wildlife Resources

Minimize potential sediment inputs to streams, allows for proper functioning riparian and floodplains

• Minimize roads and landings in RHCAs.

• No temporary road crossings of perennial streams.

• No ground disturbing equipment within 100 feet of perennial streams and within 50 feet of intermittent or seasonally flowing streams.

All activities using ground-based mechanized equipment near streams

LRMP as amended by INFISH Standards and Guidelines; INFISH (pp.

A-7, RF-2b, TM-1b, A-8, RF-2e)

Maintain and not hinder attainment of Riparian Management Objectives for large wood, pools, and water temperature

No cutting of conifer greater than 10-inch diameter at breast height (DBH) in perennial stream RHCAs, except for juniper and lodgepole pine. Juniper not exhibiting old growth characteristics would be removed where applicable, regardless of proximity to perennial streams. Lodgepole greater than 10-inch DBH and less than 21-inch DBH may be removed where they are not the primary source of shade to a stream.

All thinning activities within perennial stream RHCAs

LRMP as amended by INFISH Standards and Guidelines; INFISH (p.

A-7, TM1b)

Minimize potential sediment inputs to streams, allows for proper functioning riparian and floodplains

• Within RHCAs mechanical treatment (cutting, piling, skidding, mastication), pile burning and under burning may occur outside of the Equipment Exclusion Zones (EEZ), except in streams designated critical habitat for bull trout.

• Within the RHCAs EEZ (stream buffer), non-mechanical treatment (hand thinning, hand piling), pile burning, and under burning may occur. Bull trout streams would follow ARBO II PDCs listed below.

All thinning activities within RHCAs

LRMP as amended by INFISH Standards and Guidelines; INFISH (p.

A-7, TM1b)

Minimize impacts to fish and aquatic habitats

Locate water drafting sites to avoid impacts to fish resources and stream flows.

All activities requiring water drafting in the project area

LRMP as amended by INFISH Standards and Guidelines; INFISH pp.

(A-12, RA-5)

Proposed Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Minimize damage to riparian soils and vegetation

• No slash piles or burning within 50 feet of any perennial stream.

• Fire lines shall not be constructed within RHCAs.

Prescribed fire activities near perennial streams

INFISH standards and guidelines FM-1 and FM- 4, (p. A-11)

Minimize effects to bull trout or designated critical habitat

Prescribed Fire: Low and Moderate Severity Burns

• Experienced fuels specialists, silviculturists, fisheries biologist, and hydrologists shall be involved in designing prescribed burn treatments.

• Prescriptions would focus on restoring the plant species composition and structure that would occur under natural fire regimes.

• Burn plans are required for each action and shall include, but not be limited to the following: a description of existing and desired future fire classifications, existing and target stand structure and species composition (including basis for target conditions); other ecological objectives, type, severity, area, and timing of proposed burn;

and measures to prevent destruction of vegetation providing shade and other ecological functions important to fish habitat.

• Low-severity burns would be used except where the objective is to restore deciduous trees, as describe below (“Moderate-severity burns…”) with a goal of creating a mosaic pattern of burned and unburned landscape. Low severity burns are characterized by the following: Low soil heating or light ground char occurs where litter is scorched, charred, or consumed, but the duff is left largely intact. Large wood (LW) accumulation is partially consumed or charred. Mineral soil is not changed. Minimal numbers of trees, typically pole/saplings, would be killed.

• Moderate-severity burns are permitted only where needed to invigorate decadent aspen stands, willows, and other native deciduous species and may be targeted in no more than 20% of the area within RHCAs or Riparian Reserves /6th field HUC/year. Such burns shall be contained within the observable historical boundaries of the aspen stand, willow site, other deciduous species, and associated meadows; additional area outside of the “historical boundaries” may be added to create controllable burn boundaries. Moderate severity burns are characterized by the following:

Moderate soil heating or moderate ground char occurs where the litter on forest sites is consumed

Prescribed fire activities within 300 feet of streams occupied by bull trout or streams designated as bull trout critical habitat

ESA Section 7 compliance under the Aquatic Restoration Biological Opinion (ARBO II), (pp. 47-48)

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s) and the duff is deeply charred or consumed, but the underlying mineral soil surface is not visibly altered. Light colored ash is present. LW is mostly consumed, except for logs, which are deeply charred.

• Fire lines would be limited to five feet in width, constructed with erosion control structures, such as water bars, and restored to pre-project conditions before the winter following the controlled fire. To the extent possible, do not remove vegetation providing stream shade or other ecological functions that are important to streams.

• Ignition can occur anywhere within the Riparian Reserve and RHCAs area as long as project design criteria are met.

• Avoid water withdrawals from fish bearing streams whenever possible. Water drafting must take no more than 10% of the stream flow and must not dewater the channel to the point of isolating fish. Pump intakes shall have fish screens consistent with NMFS fish screening criteria (NMFS 2011e).

Minimize effects to bull trout or designated critical habitat

Small tree thinning associated with Moderate-severity burns:

• Small tree thinning and slash removal is allowed only as required to adjust fuel loads to implement a moderate-severity burn to promote growth of deciduous trees and shrubs, such as aspen, cottonwood, willow, other deciduous species, and associated meadows.

• To protect legacy trees, thinning from below is allowed. If conifers are even-aged pole, sapling, or mid-seral with no legacy trees, thin existing trees to the degree necessary to promote a moderate-severity burn.

• No slash burning is allowed within 30 feet of any stream or within the distance allowed by project PDC, whichever is greater. To the extent possible, avoid creating hydrophobic soils when burning slash. Slash piles should be far enough away from the stream channel so any sediment resulting from this action would be unlikely to reach any stream.

• Apply PDC in National Fire Plan salmonid criteria (USDI-Bureau of Land Management 2005b) for limits on mortality to residual overstory vegetation.

All thinning activities within 300 feet of streams occupied by bull trout or streams designated as bull trout critical habitat

ESA Section 7 compliance under the Aquatic Restoration Biological Opinion (ARBO II), (pp. 47-48)

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

• Only hand equipment—chain saws, axes, Pulaski’s, etc.—may be used for felling.

• Where livestock or wildlife grazing could be a threat to restoration of aspen, cottonwood, willow, alder, and other deciduous vegetation and an immediate moderate-severity burn would consume large amounts of felled trees, consider delaying the burn and leaving felled trees in place to create grazing barriers to help assure plant growth.

• If in an existing grazing allotment, projects in this category shall be accompanied by livestock grazing practices that promote the attainment of moderate severity burn objectives.

Botany and Invasive Plants Objective Design Feature(s) Applicable

Proposed Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Sensitive and LSOC Plant Mitigations Protect sensitive and local species of concern habitats

• Notify the Eastside Botanist at least 30 days prior to any off-road equipment operating within the project area to ensure all sensitive plant sites are properly flagged for avoidance and/or incorporated into leave areas.

• If occupied habitat for any species on the Region 6 Sensitive Plant List is discovered, report the sighting to the Eastside Botanist. The site would be reviewed on the ground and appropriate mitigations for the species (such as flagging for avoidance and/or incorporating into leave areas) would be developed to ensure species viability.

• If a site cannot be completely avoided, the Eastside Botanist would be consulted on the placement of temporary roads, landings, skid trails, or fire line and placement of piles for burning and be located to avoid sensitive plants to the extent possible.

All proposed activities

Direction to maintain species viability as set forth in the Fremont National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) and FSM 2600.

Protect sensitive and local species of concern habitats

Reforestation activities would not be permitted within 100 feet of any newly discovered occupied habitat for any sensitive plant species or local species of concern (with the exception of whitebark pine).

All reforestation activities

Direction to maintain species viability as set forth in the LRMP and

FSM 2600.

Reduce the Spread and Introduction of Invasive Plant Species Reduce the spread and introduction

• Actions conducted or authorized by written permit by the Forest Service that would operate outside the limits of the road prism (including

All proposed activities

Standards from the Fremont-Winema National Forest’s

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s) of invasive plant species public works and service contracts), require the cleaning of all heavy equipment (bulldozers, skidders, graders, backhoes, dump trucks, etc.)

prior to entering National Forest System Lands.

This does not apply to initial attack of wildland fires, and other emergency situations where cleaning would delay response time.

• Conduct road blading, brushing, and ditch cleaning in areas with high concentrations of invasive plants in consultation with the Contract Officer Representative or District Botanist, incorporate invasive plant prevention practices as appropriate.

• Inspect active gravel, fill, sand stockpiles, quarry sites, and borrow material for invasive plants before use and transport. Treat or require treatment of infested sources before any use of pit material. Use only gravel, fill, sand, and rock that is judged to be weed free by the Contract Officer Representative or District Botanist.

Invasive Species Prevention Practices (USDA Forest Service, 2005; USDA Forest Service, 2011)

Whitebark Pine Mitigations Reduce impacts to whitebark pine associated with small and large tree thinning, fuel break and control line construction, slash piling fuels treatment, broadcast burning

(A1-H1) Pre-implementation surveys for whitebark pine would be required when activities overlap with suitable and optimal modeled habitats. Surveys are not needed if the local botanist has site knowledge that whitebark pine would not occur there (documentation of the rationale would be required).

Surveys are also not required in project areas overlapping with modeled marginal or unsuitable habitat, unless previous field observations (or knowledge from a botanist or silviculturist) suggest that there is the potential for whitebark pine to occur.

(A2-H2) During field surveys, whitebark pine of all age classes would be documented. Saplings and mature whitebark pine found would be marked in the field for avoidance. Marking would be done in a manner that does not cause damage to the tree or introduce disease (e.g., flagged). Additionally, concentrated pockets of whitebark pine seedlings (that total at least 10% of all seedlings in the project area) should also be marked in the field and avoided.

All proposed activities

U.S Department of the Interior (USFWS).

Whitebark Pine Consultation Programmatic Biological Opinion (BO), Project Design Criteria, A1, D1, E1, G1, H1 (A1-H1); A2, D2, E2, G2, H2 (A2-H2)

Reduce impacts to whitebark pine associated with small and large

(A3, D3) Avoid timber cutting or ground disturbing activities that may damage or kill known whitebark pine individuals of all age classes.

All proposed activities

WBP BO Appendix A:

Project Design Criteria, A3, D3; A4, D4

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s) tree thinning, fuel break construction (A4, D4) Avoid ground disturbance within 33 feet of the drip line (or the bole depending on which is greater) for mature whitebark pine trees and 16 feet for whitebark pine saplings.

Reduce impacts to whitebark pine associated with small and large tree thinning

(A5) Felling of non-whitebark pine conifer species would be done in a manner to avoid damage to all live whitebark pine. Because it is difficult to distinguish western white pines from whitebark pine at the seedling and sapling stages, damage to all five-needled seedlings and saplings should be avoided.

(A6) In areas of high potential for windthrow, the silvicultural prescription would be written to feather into the stand and minimize potential for blow-down to mature whitebark in the stand. In some cases, it may be necessary to retain additional basal area to increase resilience to wind events.

All thinning activities

WBP BO, Appendix A:

Project Design Criteria, A5-A6

Reduce impacts to whitebark pine associated with harvest operations (fell and leave, yarding, hauling, landings)

(C1) Existing skid trails and landings would be used to the maximum extent possible.

(C2) Botanists and/or silviculturists would be consulted on the placement of skid trails and landings to avoid live, mature whitebark pine trees and minimize impacts to seedlings and saplings.

All large tree thinning activities

WBP BO, Appendix A:

Project Design Criteria, C1-C2

Reduce impacts to whitebark pine associated with piling of slash for fuels treatments

(E3) Botanists or silviculturists would also be consulted on the placement of burn piles to ensure no live, mature whitebark pine trees are impacted and minimize impacts to seedlings and saplings.

(E4) Fuel piles would be arranged to avoid scorching whitebark pine in the vicinity. Piles would be placed on seedlings and saplings of competing tree species, such as lodgepole pine and subalpine fir, where practical.

(E5) When hand piling, slash would be piled at least 33 feet away from the drip line (or the bole depending on which is greater) of mature whitebark pine trees. Slash would be piled at least 16 feet from saplings. Seedlings would be avoided when possible.

(E6) When machine piling, slash would be piled at least 50 feet away from the drip line (or the bole depending on which is greater) of mature whitebark pine trees. Slash would be piled at least 20 feet from saplings. Seedlings would be avoided when possible.

All thinning activities

WBP BO, Appendix A:

E3-E6

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Reduce impacts to whitebark pine associated with the construction of control lines for fuels treatments

(G3) Botanists or Silviculturists would be consulted on the placement of control lines to ensure no live, mature whitebark pine trees are impacted and minimize impacts to seedlings and saplings.

All prescribed fire activities

WBP BO, Appendix A:

Project Design Criteria, G3

Reduce impacts to whitebark pine associated with broadcast burning

(H3) Broadcast burning would not be conducted in stands with elite (rust-resistant) trees.

(H4) Remove all other (non-whitebark pine) conifers less than 7-inch DBH, dead woody material, and surface fuels capable of scorching the crown and charring the bole from within 30 feet of reproductively mature whitebark pine along with reducing competition/ladder fuels near smaller sapling and pole sized whitebark pine.

(H5) When deep (i.e., greater than 1 inch) litter and duff is present, rake the litter and duff away from within 3 feet of the drip line (or the bole depending on which is greater) of reproductively mature whitebark pine to minimize fire intensity around the bole. Minimize disturbance to the mineral soil layer when raking (do not rake deeper than is necessary to remove the litter and duff). If broadcast burning, raking should be done at least 3 months prior to burning, to minimize damage to near surface roots. If not possible, then complete the raking as soon as possible to allow the most amount of time to pass before ignition.

(H6) When using aerial ignition techniques where mature whitebark pine trees might be present, the most accurate tools practically available would be used.

(H7) Implement pre-burning treatments around mature whitebark pine to minimize fire effects and potential for consumption by fire. This could be raking or pulling back of surface and ladder fuels under individual mature whitebark pine.

Coordination between the Botanist and/or Silviculturist and Prescribed Fire Specialist is necessary.

(H8) All burn plans should be reviewed by botanists/silviculturists for areas that contain whitebark pine.

All prescribed fire activities

WBP BO, Appendix A:

H3 - H9

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

(H9) If there are WBP Programmatic BA Special Treatment Areas (see vegetation management PDCs) within the footprint of the area to be broadcast burned, there would not be active lighting within 50 feet.

Reduce impacts to whitebark pine of managing hazard/danger trees

(N1) To the extent possible, felling of hazard/danger trees would be done such that live whitebark pine (of all size classes) would not be damaged or killed.

All activities WBP BO, Appendix A:

Project Design Criteria, N1

Reduce impacts to whitebark pine associated with transportation management activities

(O1) Maintenance would stay within existing disturbance footprints wherever possible.

(O2) Activities would avoid removing mature whitebark pine trees where possible and instead focus on pruning trees to acceptable heights to maintain cone bearing branches to allow for continued seed production. However, if greater than 50% of a tree’s crown is pruned, mitigation planting is required due to the severity of effects. Saplings and seedlings would be avoided to the extent possible during transportation system management activities.

(O3) If using heavy equipment in whitebark pine stands cannot be avoided, equipment would be used sparingly and would be cleaned before entering and leaving work sites to prevent the spread of invasive species, pathogens, and pests.

(O4) Felling of non whitebark pine conifer species would be done in a manner to avoid damage to all live, mature whitebark pine. Damage from felling to five-needled seedlings and saplings would be avoided to the extent possible.

(O5) Botanists or Silviculturists would be consulted to avoid impacts to live, mature whitebark pine trees and minimize impacts to seedlings and saplings.

(O6) Minimize ground disturbance from heavy equipment within whitebark pine stands (particularly within 33 feet of plus, elite, and phenotypically blister rust resistant mature trees) to protect the roots and soil to the extent possible.

All road management activities

WBP BO, Appendix A:

O1-O8

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

(O7) When constructing temporary roads, avoid routes through whitebark pine habitat. If routes must be placed in whitebark pine habitat, minimize the damage and removal of all age whitebark pine classes to the greatest extent possible.

(O8) Where possible, avoid reopening closed Level 1 roads for temporary use that have ingrowth of whitebark pine.

Heritage Objective Design Feature(s) Applicable

Proposed Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Reduce potential for adverse effects to historic properties

• The Zone or Forest Archaeologist must review proposed ground disturbing activities for potential effects to heritage resources prior to implementation; consult with interested Tribes and the State Historic Preservation Officer to ensure avoidance of adverse effects.

• Flag-and-avoid or avoid all heritage resources through project redesign of proposed ground disturbing activities with a 30-meter (100 foot) buffer around each property.

• Exclude prescribed fire from historic sites and prehistoric rock stack sites. Techniques may include: hand line, wet line, or mechanized equipment. Mechanized equipment requires prior consultation with the Zone or Forest Archaeologist.

• Unanticipated Discovery – If previously unidentified heritage resources are discovered during implementation, suspend work until the Zone or Forest Archaeologist develops mitigation measures.

All proposed activities

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA, 1966, as amended (Public Law 89-665; 16 U.S.C. 470- 470w-6))

R6/SHPO/Advisory Council PA, Stipulation

III B

FSH 2309.12, Ch.

40.14a

2005 MOA with the Klamath Tribes

FSM 2364.13

Reduce “island effect” and heavy fuel loads on heritage resources to reduce wildfire intensity

• Where possible, use over-snow logging within known heritage resources boundaries.

• Where possible, use logging equipment with boom to reach in and extract logs from within flagged heritage resources boundaries.

• Low intensity prescribed fire may occur on prehistoric sites, except rock stack sites, as long as measures are taken to ensure fire intensity stays low. This may include the removal by hand of

All large tree thinning and prescribed fire activities

“Island effect” introduces susceptibility to looting and destruction during a wildfire. Effects would be in perpetuity.

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s) heavy fuels and the use of: water, foam, or gel; or removal of forest debris via a leaf blower.

Reduce potential destruction from fire

• Remove hazard trees and/or limb trees around historic structures to reduce ladder fuels during prescribed fire.

• During prescribed fire, protect culturally modified trees (arborglyph or cambium/peeled trees) by removing fuels from the base of the tree at a minimum distance of three feet.

All prescribed fire activities

Destruction of a nonrenewable resource.

Effects would be in perpetuity.

Hydrology and Soils Objective Design Feature(s) Applicable

Proposed Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Maintain and protect soil productivity

Maintain and protect soil productivity by not exceeding detrimental soil conditions on more than 20% of an activity area (including permanent transportation system). Based on implementation calculations, this standard would be met.

All project activities

R6 2500-98-1

Fremont National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) (p. 80)

Minimize impacts in riparian and sensitive areas

• Ephemeral: no skid trails, landings, or roads would be constructed in ephemeral bottoms; if necessary, stream crossings would be at right angles, be kept at a minimum, and only occur when soils are dry. Use brush or corduroy (rows of logs or limbs) to minimize disturbance. All such crossings must be completely rehabilitated by the end of the season of use.

• Intermittent: mechanical equipment travel would be excluded within 50-foot buffer; trees may be hand-felled or can be removed with an extending boom for restoration activities.

• Perennial: mechanical equipment travel would be excluded within a 100-foot buffer; trees may be hand-felled or can be removed with an extending boom for restoration activities.

a. Do not skid or drag logs through vernal ponds or spring seeps.

b. Fall and leave intact non-commercial trees where practical to increase floodplain roughness in RHCAs. Do not jackstraw felled material except where used to protect aspen regeneration. Where cut trees are in excess to the needs for floodplain

All project activities

LRMP (pp. 199-204)

Best Management Practices (BMP) T-2, 7, 8, 11, 17 INFISH Attachment A,

(p. 18)

INFISH TM-1, (p. A-7)

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s) roughness, cut material would be lopped and scattered in the RHCAs.

c. Do not create mechanical piles with 50 feet or hand piles within 20 feet of intermittent, perennial streams, and springs.

• Strive for a low soil severity burn during prescribed burning.

Maintain organic material and coarse woody debris for long-term site productivity

Maintain fine organic matter and effective ground cover; leave ~5 to 10 t/ac of coarse woody material after an activity. Lower amounts of coarse woody debris may apply for some locations, such as near main roads, to reduce fuels in high risk areas.

All thinning activities

LRMP (p. 81)

Protect sensitive soils (e.g., meadows, wetlands, springs, seeps, floodplains, scablands, etc.)

Restrictions for mechanical operations and fuel treatments apply to sensitive soils (e.g., meadows, wetlands, floodplains, scablands; see Soils Table).

If additional sensitive areas are found in inclusions of soils not listed as sensitive, they would be treated similarly. Added site specific resource protection measures may also be identified during the pre-sale and implementation process based on local conditions. A soil scientist and/or hydrologist would be consulted during layout. On sensitive soils, the following restrictions apply:

• Limit treatments to conifer encroachment removal; aspen restoration and site enhancement.

• Utilize hand treatments whenever possible and avoid or limit the use of mechanical equipment, ignition of burn piles, other major surface-disturbing activities, or when rutting/displacement is apparent.

• Block skid trails to prohibit motorized vehicle use upon completion of riparian thinning activities.

• Use of mechanical equipment in scabrock flats is prohibited due to soil characteristics and difficulties with restoration and mitigation, unless subsequently approved for use by the Sale Administrator with soil and water specialist concurrence.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities in riparian areas or sensitive soils

LRMP (pp. 199-201)

BMP T-8, 17

Reestablish soil and hydrologic function

• All temporary roads would be built to a low standard, used only for a short duration, and would be decommissioned after completion of project activities.

All temporary roads activities

LRMP (p. 84)

BMP R-7, 23

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

• Decommissioning of temporary roads include, as applicable: blocking entrance, removal of culverts, out-sloping the road surface, pulling back displaced material onto the road way, installation of water bars, re-vegetation of the road prism, or sub-soiling of compacted surfaces.

Avoid soil damage from skidding through skid trail layout

Ground-based equipment would be limited to slopes ≤35%. Equipment use may be approved on slopes from 35-40% on short pitches up to 200 feet based on site specific conditions and must not exceed 10% of the treatment activity area.

All mechanical

LRMP (pp. 73, 83)

Fremont Soil Resource Inventory (SRI) (pp.

242-251)

BMP T-9

Maintain land and slope stability

• Avoid acceleration of natural landslide rates by matching management activities to site capability.

• Exclude construction of temporary roads in landslide prone terrain.

• Identify potential landslide hazards on sale area maps and maintain associated road ditches in hazard areas to drain freely and remain unobstructed by sediment or slash.

All large tree thinning and temp road activities containing landslide prone terrain or features

R6 2500-98-1

LRMP (p. 85)

Reduce soil damage under different weather conditions

Ground-based equipment used for yarding, processing, fuels treatment, or other project activities would operate only where water is not puddling/rutting to a depth of 6 inches over 100 feet (3 inches in sensitive soils) or when soils are relatively dry. Dry soils are defined when soil moisture is ≤15% or when soil moisture by feel and appearance does not allow for a consolidated ball to be formed and hold together under repeated tosses.

All large tree thinning activities with ground-based equipment

R6 2500-98-1

LRMP (p. 80)

Fuels

Proposed Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Prevent exceedance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Conduct prescribed burning under atmospheric conditions that promote smoke dispersion after consultation with ODF smoke management forecast.

All prescribed burn activities

Federal Clean Air Act

Range Objective Design Feature(s) Applicable

Proposed Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Protect range improvement structures

• Avoid damage to and reduce potential for destruction of range improvement structures (i.e. -fences, cattleguards, water troughs).

• If damage to improvement structures occurs as a result of project activities (cut wire, damaged posts, gates, rock jacks, etc.), damage would be repaired immediately and communicated to the District Range specialist.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

36 CFR 261.9(a), FAR 52.236-9

Recreation and Scenic Quality Objective Design Feature(s) Applicable

Proposed Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Maintain scenic viewsheds and visual quality objectives

All Scenic Road Corridors, Highway 140, FS Roads 34 and 3870:

• Incorporate the Standards and Guidelines to

Foreground Retention-Middle-ground Partial Retention found on pages 153-158 of the Fremont National Forest LRMP into all prescriptions encompassing Management Area 6A.

• Incorporate the Standards and Guidelines specific to Foreground Partial Retention-Middle-ground Modification found on pages 153-158 of the Fremont National Forest LRMP into all prescriptions encompassing Management Area 6B.

Management Area 6 – Visual Corridors:

• Ensure slash piles are treated (burned, scattered, or removed) within five years of placement to ensure visual contrast impacts remain short term.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

Fremont Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) MA6 (pp.

153-158)

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

• Attempt to conceal/obscure landings from view along visual corridors as best as possible within the immediate foreground (150 feet).

• Flush cut all stumps (as best as possible) within 200 yards of developed recreation sites (campgrounds, day-use areas, trailheads, etc.).

Ensure health and safety of public and ensure visual quality

Management Area 13: Developed Recreation:

• No slash piles within 100 feet of recreational infrastructure (structures, picnic areas, etc.).

• Treatments should occur in off season whenever possible (Typically between Oct 15 and April 15).

Consult with the District Recreation Specialist for proposed activities during the recreation season.

All thinning activities

LRMP MA13 (pp.113, 188-194)

Roads Management

Proposed Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Existing Maintenance Level 1 (ML1) Roads

Whether open and in use prior to the project or reopened for project activities, Level 1 roads require adequate closures to prevent use after project activities are complete. Interior portions of roads should be stabilized and drained. At all intersections with open roads, ML1 roads must be sufficiently blocked/treated to prevent vehicular access.

Treatments should occur for sight distance or 500 feet (whichever is less). Full obliteration of sight distance/500 feet is the preferred/recommended treatment but may not be operationally or economically feasible in all cases. Roads should be reclosed as soon as possible after project activities have been completed. While in use, access by the public should be discouraged with signage or temporary barriers.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

FSH 7709.59 Ch. 60

FSM 7734

Temporary Roads (includes existing decommission roads)

Full obliteration along the entirety of the road prism is preferred/recommended. If full obliteration is not operationally or economically feasible, temporary roads must be sufficiently blocked/treated to prevent vehicular access at all intersections with open roads.

Interior portions of roads should be stabilized and drained. Treatments should occur for sight distance or 500 feet (whichever is less). Roads should be obliterated/treated as soon as possible after project activities have been completed. While in use, access by the public should be discouraged with signage or temporary barriers.

All large tree thinning activities

FSH 7709.59 Ch. 60

FSM 7734

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Use of Non-System Roads

Non-system roads used for project implementation should be treated as temporary roads.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

FSH 7709.59 Ch. 60

FSM 7734

Implementation Plans

Routes to be closed/obliterated that are needed for timber/fuels access should be identified as associated with a treatment unit in implementation plans and burn plans to ensure outyear follow-up.

Needed road closures and decommissioning should also be tracked in KV plans (where applicable) and in subsoiling tracking spreadsheets to ensure best and most efficient use of resources, equipment, and time.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

FSH 7709.59 Ch. 60

FSM 7734

Timing of Road Management Activities

Route closures and obliterations should be completed as soon as possible after project activities are done, ideally prior to or concurrent with implementation of timber/fuels activities. If implementation occurs over a long period of time (more than 3 years) public use on routes that are not Level 2 roads or above should be discouraged with signage or temporary barriers.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

FSH 7709.59 Ch. 60

FSM 7734

Road Gates/Barriers

Retain forest structure (standing live or dead trees, downed wood, root wads, rocks, high stumps, etc.)

directly adjacent to road gates/barriers to ensure they are effective at preventing road access post-project implementation

All tree thinning and prescribed fire activities

FSH 7709.59 Ch. 60

FSM 7734

Full Obliteration of Travelway

Activities would include subsoiling for decompaction and surface cover. Barrier construction may also be needed to ensure effectiveness. Routes that have been fully obliterated should not be passable by any 4WD passenger vehicle or ATV and should be discouraging to dirt bike and mountain bike use.

All large tree thinning activities

FSH 7709.59 Ch. 60

FSM 7734

Subsoiling for Decompaction

Subsoiling would occur to a minimum depth of 18 inches (maximum 24 inches), except where the Forest Service agrees to lesser depths. Soil shall be decompacted to the full depth, while preventing mixing or plowing. Surface disturbance of organics and vegetation, where present, would be minimized.

Once treated, the decompacted soil is slightly lifted and well-fractured rather than plowed, mixed, or displaced. Treated areas shall span the entire length of the road and the total width of the compacted ground surface. Subsurface rocks should not be pulled to the surface and large supportive roots should also not be severed. Ground that cannot be effectively treated due to subsurface rock should be scarified to the extent possible, typically with the

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s) surface roughened and broken to a depth of 4-6 inches. The distance between subsoiler shank passes shall typically not exceed 24 inches. Subsoiling should not occur when the ground is frozen.

Subsoiling should not occur when roads are wet, there should be no standing water on the road surface and free water should be completely drained from the soil profile.

Surface Cover Available roadside material (such as downed wood, slash, and root wads) shall be placed on the treated areas in conjunction with subsoiling to achieve a target effective ground cover of at least 50% by area. Where adequate material is not available to achieve 50% cover, at least one piece of roadside material per 20 linear feet of travelway distance is expected. The roadside material may include standing green trees under 7 inches DBH within 25 feet of the roads edge to achieve the desired surface coverage should other identified material not be available. Subsoiling and material placement shall be completed in one pass or in a way that would prevent compacting or displacing the treated area.

Small avoidance areas may be flagged on the ground where all soil disturbance would not be allowed, placement of surface cover may still be required within avoidance areas.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

FSH 7709.59 Ch. 60

FSM 7734

Barrier Construction

Some routes may require barrier construction at some/all intersections with open roads to ensure effectiveness. Barriers may extend beyond the road width if open conditions provide access around a road-width barrier. Barriers may be constructed from onsite boulders or other natural materials, paced a maximum of 2 feet apart and partially buried and backfilled (minimum quarter depth) to discourage easy removal. To mimic a natural appearance, barriers would not be constructed in an even, symmetrical pattern. Barriers may be placed in a scattered pattern down the entry portion of a closed route (within approximately 100 feet) and may be supported with additional dep mixing of soil and additional surface cover placement beyond the limitations for the subsoiling/surface placement treatments.

All tree thinning and prescribed fire activities

Wildlife

Proposed Action(s) Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Protect any discovered Threatened, Endangered, or Sensitive (TES) Species

Should any proposed or listed endangered, threatened, or sensitive species be found during project activities within, adjacent to, or near enough that activities could be a disturbance, activities would be halted until their effects could be determined and their significance assessed.

All thinning and prescribed burn activities, or any disturbing human activity near known breeding areas

Fremont National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) (pp. 108-109)

Bald and Golden Eagle Reduce disturbance during roosting and nesting season of bald and golden eagle

Restriction of disturbing human activities within ¼ mile of active bald and golden eagle nests from January 1 – August 31. Restrictions may be waived if nesting or reproductive success surveys reveal eagles are not nesting or no young are present that year.

All thinning and prescribed burn activities, or any disturbing human activity near known breeding or winter roost areas

LRMP (pp. 109 & 135)

Fremont National Forest Bald Eagle Management Plan (BEMP) (1981) (pp. 14, 75-76)

The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act; 16 U.S.C.

668-668c)

Minimize effects to nesting and roosting bald eagles

Prescribed fire in bald eagle areas would take place outside of nesting (March 1 – July 31) and roosting (November 1 – May 1) season if fire activities and smoke would affect nesting or roosting eagles, and only if objectives for treatment benefit bald eagle habitat.

All prescribed burn activities

LMRP (pp. 109 & 135)

Fremont BEMP (1981);

(pp. 14, 75-76)

The Eagle Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668c)

Improve future bald eagle nesting habitat

To develop future nest trees, emphasize retaining individual young healthy trees within openings to promote and expedite the development of large trees with large limbs.

All thinning activities

LMRP (pp. 109 & 135)

Fremont BEMP (1981);

(pp. 14, 75-76)

Enhance bald eagle nest stand, roosting, and Fremont LRMP Bald Eagle Management Area

(BEMA; MA2)

habitat

Nest stands, winter roosts, and BEMAs would be treated to maintain and promote the development of suitable nest and roost trees for bald eagles.

Treatments for ponderosa pine and mixed conifer stand types include retention areas, openings, small tree thinning, prescribed fire, and/or large tree thinning with prescriptions designed to meet specific habitat needs as described in the Proposed Action, rather than traditional descriptions of even or uneven- aged management systems.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

LMRP (pp. 109 & 135- 136)

Fremont BEMP (1981);

(pp. 14, 75-76)

Protect desirable bald eagle nesting and roosting habitat features and create stand heterogeneity

No snags would be felled within designated BEMAs or Use Areas. Treatment areas with snags posing a safety hazard would be avoided to preserve snags for perching, roosting, and nesting.

Operational safety snags can be placed in

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

LMRP (pp. 109 & 135)

Fremont BEMP (1981);

(pp. 14, 75-76)

Proposed Action(s)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s) retention areas, also contributing to stand heterogeneity. The Eagle Act (16

U.S.C. 668-668c) Protect desirable bald eagle nesting and roosting habitat features in stands previously affected by wildfire

Retain all large (>18-inch DBH) pine and fir remaining in wildfire altered nest stands. Recruit future large pine as stated in the PDC above with the objective to “Enhance bald eagle… habitat.”

Large fir can be removed only where there are sufficient large pine remaining or where they are in direct competition with large pine. Retain all large pine snags in nesting and roosting areas as stated above. Emphasis in these areas is thinning to reduce future wildfire danger while retaining both current and future nest trees.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

LMRP (pp. 109 & 135)

Fremont BEMP (1981);

(pp. 14, 75-76)

The Eagle Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668c)

Protect golden eagle nesting and roosting habitat

• Establish a management zone of at least two acres around nest sites, maintaining vegetational and structural character of the site.

• Maintain at least one alternate nesting area of two acres, with vegetational and structural characteristics of the original nest site, in the most suitable habitat available, and within ¼ mile of the existing nest site.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

LRMP (p. 106)

Maintain perching and roosting sites for golden eagle

Within ¼ mile of the management zone, maintain at least three perching/roosting sites consisting of three to six overmature trees and snags. Trees should be as close to the nest management zone as possible.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

LRMP (p. 106)

Northern Goshawk Reduce disturbance to nesting northern goshawks

Restriction on disturbing human activities within ¼ mile of active and historic (five years) nest sites throughout implementation of the project from March 1 – August 31.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities, or any disturbing human activity near known breeding areas

LRMP (pp. 106-108)

Regional Forester’s Forest Plan Amendment #2 (pp. 13-14)

Protect goshawk nest core areas and maintain and improve post fledgling area habitat

• If a new goshawk nest is discovered during activities, all activities would cease within a minimum of 30 acres surrounding the nest and a zone wildlife biologist would be contacted. If a new goshawk territory is discovered, a 30 acre no-treatment area around the nest would be identified and a 400-acre PFA (post fledgling area) would be delineated, as outlined in the Eastside Screens.

• Within the 400-acre PFA, thinning treatments would require a minimum of 25% retention areas that are a minimum of 0.25 acres.

Retention areas would emphasize retaining

All thinning and prescribed fire activities, or any disturbing human activity near known breeding areas

LRMP (pp. 106-108)

Regional Forester’s

#2 (pp. 13-14)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s) dense patches of medium to large conifer as well as snags and snag clumps for prey species. For areas of the PFA receiving treatment around the nest core, prescriptions for the 75 acres surrounding the nest stand would be designed with thinning from below or basal area limit harvests that maintain high canopy cover with understory re-initiation and/or understory stem exclusion to reduce fire risk around the nest stand.

Other Raptors Reduce disturbance during nesting season of raptors

Restriction of disturbing human activities within ¼ mile of active raptor nests from March 1 – July

30. Active raptor nests found in project areas would be left standing with at least 4 adjacent large trees for cover and perches. All known nest sites would be assumed active yearly until June 1.

A wildlife biologist would be consulted to determine protection measures for raptor nests discovered during implementation.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities, or any disturbing human activity near known breeding areas

LRMP (pp. 106-108)

Reduce disturbance to nesting osprey

Restriction of disturbing human activities within ¼ mile of nest sites from April 1 – August 1.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities, or any disturbing human activity near known breeding areas

LRMP (p. 107)

Protect osprey nesting habitat

Establish a management zone around nest sites based on individual character of the site as well as the management activity proposed for the area.

Maintain the vegetational and structural character of the site.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

LRMP (p. 107)

Maintain osprey foraging habitat

Maintain key trees or snags used as hunting/feeding perches or roosts.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities in vicinity of large waterbodies or perennial streams

LRMP (p. 107)

Maintain great gray owl nesting and foraging habitat

Buffer areas around meadows in the vicinity of nest sites should be retained where possible.

Buffers should be a minimum of 600 feet wide.

Retain 1 buffer for every mile of meadow edge for large meadows, and at least 50% of the forested edge for small meadows.

All thinning and prescribed fire activities

LRMP (p. 108)

Protect great gray owl nesting and foraging habitat

• Establish and maintain a management zone of at least 600 feet in diameter from the nest site.

Management zones can be larger to include tree cover to the edge of the nearest meadow.

• Maintain key trees and snags in meadows as foraging perches.

All thinning and prescribed fire

LRMP (pp. 108)

Regulation(s)/ Justification(s)

Gray Wolf Reduce disturbance to breeding gray wolves

If an active den or rendezvous site is located within the vicinity of the project, project activities would be suspended during the period of use (April 1 – July 15) to avoid human disturbance of the site.