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Home My WebLink About2000-0306 Small Woodland Services, Inc. Forest & Resource Management Marty Main, President 1305 Butte Falls Hwy. Eagle Point, OR 97524 541/826-5306 March 6, 2000 Keith Woodley City of Ashland 455 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Keith - As per recommendations provided by Fred Way, Ashland Ranger District Wildlife Biologist and seasonal restriction requirements indicated by Oregon Department of Forestry on our Notification of Operations, we quit thinning, bucking, and otherwise running chainsaw on the Winburn parcel as of March 1, 2000. This was done to reduce the likelihood of any disturbance to potential nesting pairs of northern spotted owls in the vicinity. As of March 1, 2000, we were able to conduct stand density reduction activities within a 50-foot radius around 167 dominant overstory conifers in Unit 7 and the northernmost subunit of Unit 1 (see map). The following graph indicates the sizes of overstory conifers that received this treatment by species (this does not include all overstory conifers in these units, as some did not need any treatment at this time). .i:::p6hm<li::::.:.: .............................. '-',' '."... ................................-... ---,'--,' ...........>....:.Pine::......:.:............ . . ................ ....................1........................................... '..ncenseH. ........................... ...."."............... ......:..HH'eedat ..--,.. ..........-. 14 - 19.9 20 - 24.9 25 - 29.9 6 37 44 4 1 3 5 1 1 30 - 34.9 35 - 39.9 40 - 44.9 45 - 49.9 50 - 54.9 26 17 8 1 3 1 1 1 1 11 1 Total 139 3 2 15 2 =167 "Specializing in sound forest management for private, non-industrial small woodland ownerships" Forest Management Plans · Timber Cruising · Reforestation . Thinning & Stand Improvement · Timber Sales/Administration ~.__.. March 6, 2000 / page 2 Thinning around individual overstory conifers tended to be light in this initial treatment in an attempt to minimize shock associated with rapid changes in site and system dynamics. Basal areas around 17 test trees were reduced an average of 13 percent, from an average of 197 square feet per acre to 171 square feet per acre. Future treatments should further reduce stand densities within the next 2 to 7 years once system dynamics stabilize and preferred conifers improve in vigor. This can be accomplished through additional thinning of non-commercial conifers and hardwoods and perhaps removal of smaller commercial poletimber associated with a property-wide timber sale. In this stand density reduction, only non-commercial conifers and hardwoods were removed. Larger hardwoods and/or hardwoods with well established crowns in canopy openings were prioritized for retention. As per recommendations of Fred Way, golden chinquapin and California black oak, although both somewhat rare, were particularly prioritized for retention for their inherent wildlife habitat and species diversity values. Everything else being equal, stand density reduction was higher downslope and downcanyon from preferred leave trees to minimize wildfire spread toward these older overstory conifers. Understory non-commercial conifers and hardwoods located under preferred overstory conifers and acting as potential ladder fuels in a wildfire event were highly prioritized for removal. All snags were retained unless they presented a safety hazard and/or could cause damage to a preferred overstory tree in a wildfire event (Le., were within several feet of a preferred overstory tree) . Resulting slash has been bucked and is currently in the process of being piled and burned, with several small areas already completed. Pile location has been particularly important and accomplished prior to thinning in order to minimize damage to preferred leave trees as well as to prevent holdover fire in snags, downed logs, rotten stumps, etc. Where it occurs, excess logging slash from the 1990 helicopter sale is being included in piling and burning activities to minimize wildfire intensity within the area around preferred overstory leave trees. On February 25, 2000, I met on-site with Fred Way. I had asked Fred to review the density reduction treatments being applied around these large overstory conifers, particularly as regards the potential impacts on resident northern spotted owls. Earlier discussions with Fred had indicated that this treatment, designed to release these highly desirable older trees and improve their vigor and long-term viability, would likely also improve owl habitat, particularly by opening up stands, improving flight paths and accessibility, and subsequently increasing potential foraging habitat, while hopefully helping to retain these important structural components of late successional forests. Fred confirmed during our visit to the treatment area that our predesignated objectives were indeed being met and that the treatments being applied were improving spotted owl habitat. Currently our treatments are only being applied in a 50::!:-foot radius around desired overstory conifers. Fred indicated that expanding the treatment to include most of the entire unit would even further improve spotted owl habitat values. In addition, Fred indicated that retention scattered slash piles, perhaps on an average "'_'''''~~--''-.AA''_____.'+_._'_~_''_'~' ".. .~____...,. ....4__.." March 6, 2000 / page 3 of one every several acres, could additionally improve rodent habitat (particularly dusky-footed woodrats, the primary food source of northern spotted owls) and perhaps subsequently improve carrying capacity of the area for owls. Fred suggested the slash piles be primarily retained in the lower half of the slopes and particularly near drainages/draws-areas of primary utilization by spotted owls. Fortunately, these are also the areas with the least potential for high wildfire ignition, intensity, and rate-of- spread. Slash piles for wildlife habitat were not retained on ridgetop locations and were minimized in the upper slope positions. Retained slash piles were most commonly placed in areas where an abundance of large downed logs, rotten stumps, snags, etc., increased the likelihood of holdover fire during pile burning activities. The remaining slash will be piled and burned in the months to come. Fourteen permanent stand inventory, growth, and yield (Organon) plots were established in this area prior to beginning treatment. Inventory of snags and downed woody debris was completed at the same time. These will provide baseline data with which to assess changes in stand and resource conditions over time. In addition, pre- and post-treatment photos have been taken at a number of locations within the units. Sincerely, 'lnuZf-~ Marty Main Small Woodland SelVices, Inc. cc: Fred Way, Ashland Ranger District Bob Marcu, Oregon Dept. of Forestry -...,..- ---.. --'^ ," , '_.,......~" ,_,_ .." ,0." ,__ _.." ,., .. , 1:1' c n jr,( r C',' I I I, ,',,1 \~" ;-... !=~-t,.... ,I ')'~_'~ .;;.....u; 'J ._~.-.z.-" , .----' _? 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