Amendment to decrease Acres - MARKING AND CRUISING

Added: Dec 28, 2017 1:47 pm Modified: Feb 08, 2018 4:18 pmTrack Changes USDA Forest Service
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
1755 Cleveland Highway, Gainesville GA 30501

Due Feb 13, 2018 COB 4:30pm
Amendment to Decrease Acres

Marking and Cruising  (379 Acres) 

Project: Stanfordville East Timber Marking and Cruising.
               (RCW Habitat Improvement Project)
-accordance with the attached statement of work.

467
02/15/2018 thru 06/30/2018
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C-1 DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The Standfordville East Timber Sale is planned to be implemented as an Integrated Resource Timber Contract with embedded service work projects. This cruise plan includes an estimated 379 +/- acres of thinning intended to move project area stands from their current overstocked condition towards the desired condition for RCW habitat. Individual cut tree marking (CTM) is planned for 337 +/- acres in eight (8) units. These areas will receive a 100% tally with sample trees using the Sample Tree (STR) cruise method. Individual leave tree marking (LTM) is planned for 42 +/- acres in two (2) units and will be prism cruised and sampled using the point count measure (PCM) cruise method.

The Contractor's personnel assigned cruising duties shall be qualified cruisers meeting Region 8 Forest Service standards. This qualification process generally takes two days. One day to work through a self-study guide followed by a written test and one day to field measure a set of trees and then to compare them against predetermined measurements for those same trees.

If Contractor's personnel have been previously certified as Region 8 Forest Service Qualified Cruisers, such documentation must be provided to the Forest Service. In such cases, individuals will only need to complete the field measurements test prior to starting work.

C-2 PROJECT LOCATION

The Project is located in Compartments 142, 144 and 145 of the Oconee Ranger District, 7+/- miles from Eatonton, in Putnam County, Georgia. Unit boundaries have been mapped and designated. All Unit boundaries are painted with orange paint (three stripes on perimeter trees)

The slopes in the cutting units range from gentle to moderately steep, 0 to 30%. Access to the area is excellent.

C-3 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

A. Marking/Cruising Guides:

Cut Tree Marking (CTM) - Units 02, 04, 07, 08, 09, and 11 (234 acres):

Cut Tree Marking with sample tree (STR) cruise for thinning.

Designate trees for cutting (CTM) to achieve a residual target basal area (BA) of 60 ft2/acre (+/- 5 BA). Hardwood and pine trees are included in the thinning. Residual trees are to be of the best available form and quality and with the following preferences: shortleaf pine sawtimber trees followed by loblolly pine sawtimber are to be the favored species outside of riparian and upland hardwood areas.

Mast producing hardwood sawtimber shall be the secondary residual species, in the absence of pine sawtimber. White oak is the first priority, post oak second, red oak and other hard mast producing hardwood species will follow. Soft mast hardwood sawtimber residual species shall be selected in the absence of the above species. Pine and hardwood pulpwood will be considered in the residual basal area in the absence of saw timber sized trees. Dogwood trees will not be marked for cutting.

A more detailed silvicultural prescription with unit specific marking guidelines for species preferences will be provided to contract crew prior to starting work.

Cut Tree Marking (CTM) - Units 01 and 06 (103 acres):

Cut Tree Marking with sample tree cruising for shelterwood regeneration.

Designate trees for cutting (CTM) to achieve a residual target basal area (BA) of 40 ft2/acre (+/- 5 BA). Select the highest quality and best formed trees available as residual trees with the following preferences: shortleaf pine sawtimber followed by loblolly pine sawtimber are to be favored; mast producing hardwoods are secondary in the absence of pine sawtimber. Pine and hardwood pulpwood will be considered in the residual basal area in the absence of saw timber sized trees.

Dogwood trees will not be marked for cutting.

A more detailed silvicultural prescription with unit specific marking guidelines for species preferences will be provided to contract crew prior to starting work.

Cut tree marking guidelines:
Cut trees shall be designated with Forest Service supplied tree marking tracer paint.

CTM colors for individual units is provided in the Marking and Unit Data Table below, and include either blue, yellow or green paint colors.

Paint shall be applied at two locations on the tree:
(1) At about eye level with a painted stripe/slash measuring at least one inch wide across the face of the bole.
(2) At ground level below stump height on the downhill side. Any buildup of pine straw or other material at the base of the tree or which will interfere with the stump mark will need to be cleared out of the way to get to ground level. Stump marks are to be placed inside any flutes at the base of the tree or in bark fissures at ground level. Two spots are required on the stump of each saw timber tree; only one spot is required for pulpwood trees.

Leave Tree Marking (LTM) - Units 03 and 10 (42 acres)

Leave Tree Marking (LTM) with Point Count Measure (PCM) cruising for thinning.

LTM with PCM cruising will be performed in 2 phases or passes through the units.

Phase 1: Designate leave trees (LTM). LTM shall reduce tree density in these areas to an average basal area (BA) of 60 ft2 (+/- 5 BA) per acre. Hardwood and pine trees are included in the thinning. Residual trees are to be of the best available form and quality and selected based on the following preferences: shortleaf pine sawtimber followed by loblolly pine sawtimber are to be the favored species with hard mast producing hardwood sawtimber trees as secondary. Pine and hardwood pulpwood will be considered in the residual basal area in the absence of saw timber sized trees.

A more detailed silvicultural prescription with unit specific marking guidelines for species preferences will be provided to contract crew prior to starting work.

No Forest Service Tracer Paint will be used for designating cut trees.

Leave tree marking guidelines:
Leave trees shall be designated with Forest Service supplied tree marking tracer paint.

Paint shall be applied at two locations on the tree:
(1) At about eye level with an orange painted band measuring two inches in width encircling the tree (visible from 360°).
(2) At ground level below stump height on the downhill side. Any buildup of pine straw or other material at the base of the tree or which will interfere with the stump mark will need to be cleared out of the way to get to ground level. Stump marks are to be placed inside any flutes at the base of the tree or in bark fissures at ground level. Two spots are required on the stump of each saw timber tree; only one spot is required for pulpwood trees.

Phase 2: During the second phase or pass through the area, crew shall establish plots at provided coordinates and use the PCM cruise method with a 20 BAF prism to determine "CUT" tree volumes. Detail cruising instructions for this method are provided in the Cruise and Sampling Methods section below.