PHOTO EXAMPLES.pdf

2021 Spring Site Preparation Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison NF

Exhibit 2-- Page 1 of 7

Photographic Examples

Image 1–Footprint of burned logging slash pile requiring rehabilitation. Notice the collar of woody debris around the ash pit.

Collar is three-feet deep here. Ridgestock Timber Sale, August 31, 2015.

Image 2 -- Example of a thoroughly mixed and dispersed ash pit. Notice that mineral soil and charcoal have been mixed, with charred debris mat broken-up and mixed into the matrix. Large accumulations of slash are scattered. Ridgestock Timber Sale, September 2, 2015.

Exhibit 2-- Page 2 of 7

Image 3 -- This is a road side ash pit example from the Los Pinos area. A ripping and mixing of the charred collar is required.

Scattering of residual debris is sufficient in this case as there is little slash loading in the surrounding areas. September 27, 2016.

Image 4 -- This is an example of a ripped and mixed ash pit. This is what the end result should be, notice the collar has been scattered and the woody debris is mixed into the soil.

Exhibit 2-- Page 3 of 7

Image 5 -- Another example of a burned slash pile ash pit. The road is going to be closed by ripping, slashing, installing drainage, and installing closure berms. Unburned slash and debris can be used to cover the road bed after ripping of the road bed is complete. September 27, 2016.

Image 6 -- This is another slash pile that needs to be ripped and scattered. Piles like this can be treated quickly because not a lot of work needs to be done. September 27, 2016.

Exhibit 2-- Page 4 of 7

Image 9 -- Burned landing slash pile that is in need of rehabilitation. The pile collar and surround slash mat will require breaking up and piling. The woody debris mat is about two-feet deep. Caution is advised, hidden stumps, and other debris may cause damage to the dozer. September 27, 2016.

Image 11 -- Example of the elk sedge sod that is in need of site preparation for tree planting. Notice how thick the grass and sedges are, this would make it difficult for tree planters to hand scalp to access mineral soil in a timely and cost effective manner.

Exhibit 2-- Page 5 of 7

Image 12 -- This is one option for site preparation. The dozer removes the layer of sod to below the roots. Removing the grass and other herbaceous cover from the planting spots reduces vegetative competition with the seedlings. Work completed by an inexperienced equipment operator with a straight-blade dozer. Perfecto Creek, July 21, 2014.

Image 13 -- A second example of site preparation. Here the dozer operator created scalped tree planting spots by rocking the blade from left to right to use the corner of the blade/rake. Big Meadows TS, August 15, 1999.

Exhibit 2-- Page 6 of 7

Image 14 -- An example of a skid trail or cove where a single pass by the dozer between the residual seedlings and saplings would create scalped planting spots. Note that this site is not planned for site preparation for tree planting, it is an example of other areas. July 27, 2016.

Image 15 -- Example of a non-treatment area. The advanced regeneration is desired, and it would be against the goal of reforestation to treat an area that has seedlings and saplings already established. Note that this site is not planned for site preparation for tree planting, it is an example of other areas. July 27, 2016.

Exhibit 2-- Page 7 of 7

Image 16 -- Example of a non-treatment area. The skid trail was well-disturbed during logging with adequate tree planting spots available. The advanced regeneration to the sides of the trail are desirable with planting spots there already occupied by seedlings.

Note that this site is not planned for site preparation for tree planting, it is an example of other areas. July 27, 2016.