HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-0305 Study Session PACKET CITY OF
4kSHLAND
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
AGENDA
Wednesday, March 5, 2003 at 12:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street
1. Presentation by Forest I_ands Commission.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in
this meeting, please contact the City Administrator's office at (541) 488-6002 (TITphone number
1-800-735-2900). Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable
arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title I).
CITY OF
-ASHLAND
Memo
TO: Mayor & City Council ,\
FROM- Keith E. Woodley, Fire Chief
DEPT: Ashland Fire & Rescue
RE: Council Study Session - 5 March 2003
DATE: February 26, 2003
The City of Ashland has been working for the past six years in planning the restoration of city
owned forest lands. A draft overview of the project, included with this memo, has been
prepared by the Ashland Forest Lands Commission for review by the City Council and
members of the community.
The presentation by the Forest Lands Commission at the March 5, 2003, study session will
help orient Mayor & Council concerning the project plan, and provide an opportunity for
questions and answers. It is anticipated that the issue will then be placed on a future regular
council meeting agenda for discussion.
I will be at a meeting in Portland on March 5, and so will not be able to attend the study
session. I do not envision this creating a problem, as the Forest Lands Commission desires to
present their work directly to the Council themselves and enter into a dialog on the subject.
Ashland Fire & Rescue Tel: 541-482~2770
455 Siskiyou Blvd Fax: 541-488-5318
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800-735-2900
www.ashland.or, us
City Forest Lands
Restoration Project
PHASE II
Prepared for:
The City of Ashland
City Council
Prepared by:
Ashland
Forest Lands
Commission
Frank Betlejewski
Richard Brock
Elizabeth Crosson
Jo Anne Eggers
Stephen Jensen
Anthony Kerwin
Bill Robertson (Chair)
FEBRUARY 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PARTI-GENERALPROPOSAL PAGE
Background .................................................................................................... 3-4
Purpose .......................................................................................................... 4-5
Community Priorities ..................................................................................... 5
Goals .............................................................................................................. 5-6
Guiding Principles ......................................................................................... 6
Project Location: Lower (North) Watershed Area ......................................... 6-7
Project Location: The Winbum Parcel .......................................................... 7-8
Ecological Priorities ....................................................................................... 8-16
Soils and Geology ..................................................................................... 9-10
Botany ....................................................................................................... 10-12
Coarse Woody Material ............................................................................ 12-13
Wildlife ..................................................................................................... 13-14
Forest Disturbances ................................................................................... 14-15
Mistletoe ................................................................................................... 15
Large Trees ............................................................................................... 16
Monitoring ..................................................................................................... 16-18
Economics ...................................................................................................... 18-19
PART II - LONG TERM DESIRED CONDITIONS
LOWER WATERSHED .............................................................................. 20-23
Black Oak / Ponderosa Pine / Douglas-fir Type (Units C and part of U) ...... 20-21
Ponderosa Pine / Douglas-fir Type (Units D, E, F, FI, M2 and P) ................. 21-22
Dry Douglas-fir Type (Units A, B, G, J, K, Q, S, T and part of U) ............... 22-23
Moist Douglas-fir Fir Type (Units L, M3, N, Q and R) ................................ 23
WINBURN PARCEL .................................................................................... 24-26
Ponderosa Pine / Douglas-fir / White Fir Type (Units 1 and 7) .................... 24-25
Douglas-fir-White Fir Type (Units 2; 4, 5 and 6) .......................................... 25
Riparian Transition Forest (Unit 3, 8 and parts of 4, 5 and 6) ....................... 26
REFERENCES .............................................................................................. 27-28
APPENDIX
Glossary ......................................................................................................... 30-34
Management Unit Map ........................................................... . ...................... 35
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II Page 2 of 35
Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
City, Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase Two
Background
The City of Ashland, under the stewardship of the Ashland Forest Lands Commission (AFLC),
has been working for the past six years in planning the restoration of city owned forestlands.
Throughout the city ownership the AFLC has been engaged in cooperative forest health projects
with neighbors and other jurisdictions, both in planning and groundwork. Forestry professionals,
concerned citizens, and environmental groups have guided these projects.
Based on detailed forest inventories and silvicultural assessments, it is clear that the City of
Ashland needs to proceed without delay into a second phase of forest thinning which will involve
removing trees of commercial value.
Much of the city ownership is overstocked due to the suppression of natural fires in the
watershed. In addition, there are areas of old logging slash that were created during past harvest
operations and have been left untreated. While brush and small trees continue to be thinned, this
thinning work has focused on the removal of small, understory trees (less than 7" diameter) that
have been cut and burned on site. This work has reduced ladder fuels and promoted age diversity
in some areas. On occasion, a small number of commercial size trees have been removed to
mitigate hazard tree areas.
Nevertheless, many stands still exist with very high tree densities in larger size classes (greater
than 7" diameter). These dense stands experience increased stress during drought periods. As a
consequence, they are subject to substantial beetle and parasite attack as well as increasing the
fire fuels potential. There are currently many stands with increasing tree mortality.
"The UDSA Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry have been doing annual
aerial tree mortality detection surveys in Oregon since 1951. The Annual Cooperative
Aerial Mortality Survey in the Rogue/Illinois Valleys, SisMyou Foothills, Umpqua
Interior Foothills and Inland SisMyou ecoregions showed dramatic increases in tree
mortality from 2001 to 2002. Sugar pine mortality increased from 144 trees in 2001 to
699 trees in 2002. Increases in ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir mortality were even
greater; 417 trees to 20,986 trees for ponderosa pine and 321 trees to 32,148 trees for
Douglas-fir. "(Goheen and Goheen 2003)
Fire regimes have had a significant role on the Ashland watershed. A fire regime includes fire
frequency, season, intensity, duration and scale (patch size), as well as periodicity and variability.
Fire regime information will help inform our decisions for prioritizing areas for hazardous fuels
treatments, silvicultural treatments, and prescribed fire use.
"Fire has played an integral part in creating the forest environment of the Pacific
Northwest (Agee, 1981), and a particularly significant function in shaping the plant
communities in southwestern Oregon (Atzet and Wheeler 1982). The absence of fire (due
to effective fire suppression) has had a dramatic effect on vegetation composition,
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II Page 3 of 35
Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
density, and structure as well as dead fuel amounts, size and distribution. "(Agee 1981
and Thomas and Wheeler 1982)
Purpose
As stewards of the city forestlands, the Ashland Forest Lands Commission (AFLC) has written
this proposal to direct the continuing restoration work. Our ongoing research and field
observations will help guide the practicing professionals whose work will continue to restore this
community resource.
In addition, we want to inform the community whose watershed lands we are charged with
protecting and restoring. The use of specialized terminology is minimized in this proposal but
cannot and should not be avoided. A comprehensive glossary is included in Appendix A, offering
standard definitions of words commonly used in forestry practice.
The goal of this second phase of the Forest Lands Restoration Project is to restore a level of
resilience and forest health by attaining stand densities that are sustainable over the long term.
This will be done by removal of primarily small and low vigor trees in the understory and middle
canopy.
There will be an associated fire fuels reduction from the thinning resulting in: a) reduced tree
density, b) a shift in species favoring shade intolerant and fire tolerant species, c) an increase in
larger trees with higher, less flammable crowns, and d) reduced potential for future fuel buildup
from tree mortality. This project will treat (burn) existing logging slash and will also treat any
slash created from the project itself.
Many of the trees to be thinned are in a size class that allows for a commercial timber sale. Since
this topic tends to be controversial, we have provided a detailed description of the project to
foster public discussion and review.
There are many areas of moderate to high geologic hazard on the city forestlands. There is a
distinct conflict between the goal of reducing tree density to assure stand health and the necessity
of maintaining enough tree cover to protect slope stability. To date the city has deferred thinning
these areas. Continuing to defer management activity in these areas, however, could lead to
accelerated tree mortality after a drought (as is happening now in some areas). Trees holding the
s0il in place could be lost. As part of this project, treatments will be recommended to help
resolve this inherent conflict. A series of entries for careful treatment may be necessary on these
sites.
In planning this next phase, the AFLC has specified the Desired Future Condition (DFC) of the
various forest stand types on the city ownership. This process has been interdisciplinary and has
considered a wide variety of factors that are essential for the maintenance of a healthy forest
ecosystem. Factors addressed include: adequate water supply, healthy soils, stable slopes,
reduced fire hazard, dead and down woody materials, and the broad category ofbiodiversity
protection which includes managing for existing native animal, plant and fungi species.
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II Page 4 of 35
Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
This document is not intended to address the City of Ashland's ongoing fuels reduction program
involving small non-commercial trees and ground fuels. This proposal also does not include the
details of any prescribed burning that may follow removal of vegetation.
Community Priorities
As stated in the Ashland Forest Plan (adopted by the City Council in May, 1992), it is the
primary goal of the City to "manage the city forest lands in a manner which maintains and
enhances the Ashland Watershed and provides the City of Ashland with a sufficient, high quality
source of water." To attain this goal, the AFLC has embarked on this project with a process that
adheres to high ecological standards.
The lower watershed parcel of the city's ownership intersects the wildand-urban interface. This
crucial zone, where human development meets forested areas, is a high priority for restoration
work. Due to past fire suppression efforts and management activities, some of these areas have
extremely high tree densities. In order to effectively protect the community from catastrophic
fire, it is necessary to accomplish fire fuels reduction in this interface area.
On a larger scale, the AFLC is also involved with other city projects within the wildland-urban
interface. The commission's involvement in the interface project is to inform and help initiate
projects on private land as a part of the larger mission to protect the Ashland watershed and
ensure quality drinking water. This second phase of the Forest Lands Restoration Project
coordinates with work done on land managed by the Ashland Parks Commission, the US Forest
Service and private ownership. This project is intended to compliment work already underway.
Goals
· Promote healthy forest stands for the long term through reducing stand densities by thinning
primarily understory and middle canopy trees.
· Maintain structures, features and processes critical to the functioning of mature forests such as
large trees, snags, down logs, multi-layer canopy, soil structure and nutrient recycling.
· Reduce significantly the likelihood of a large scale, high intensity wildfire through activities that
will ultimately restore a disturbance regime that more closely emulates the historic range of
natural disturbance. Although highly variable, these natural disturbances included frequent, low
intensity fires as opposed to infrequent, high intensity fires. This goal will not be accomplished
with a single management action and may take years or decades to complete.
· Minimize the need for continued intervention in the landscape and eventually allow natural fire
cycles and other disturbance events to occur.
· Protect and improve riparian transition zone habitat, specifically those areas where the vegetation
shows a distinctly different plant community compared to the adjacent uplands.
· Increase stability of surface soils by increasing effective ground cover, including coarse woody
debris, mosses, native grasses and low shrubs.
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II Page 5 of 35
Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
· Develop an approach for reducing stand density while protecting slope stability in moderately
sensitive geologic areas (Hazard 2 Zones).
· Encourage and preserve native species diversity on a landscape level.
Guiding Principles
· Wc acknowledge that forest ecosystems are complex and dynamic and that we cannot
understand completely how to manage the interlocking ecological functions of a healthy
watershed. Management activities will bc based on thorough site evaluations by experts in
forest ecology, geology, silviculture, fire ecology, botany, wildlife, soils, and fisheries. In
addition, we will continue to draw from the experience of our own site-work over the past six
years. Monitoring protocols will be continued and broadened to allow for adaptive
management.
· No trees will be removed simply to add value to a timber sale. First and foremost, this project
will be planned to address forest health. Stand density reduction will be ecosystem driven.
What is left behind is more important than what is removed. Timber and other forest
commodities will be generated only as a by-product of restoration activities.
· Proposed treatments are site-specific based on vegetation types. On stable slopes with
southerly aspects, more open stand conditions will be promoted to encourage a more diverse
stand composition (e.g. more pine and black oak). On moister, northerly aspects with steep
slopes, a more closed canopy stand condition (mostly Douglas-fir) will be promoted
emphasizing a full rooting profile to mitigate potential geologic hazards.
· Determination of the trees to be removed shall be determined by the particular Desired Future
Condition (DFC) for that stand including desired stand densities, structures, and
compositions rather than by any specific diameter or age class delineation. The trees to be
removed will mostly be in the age class of 50 -100 years old. This is the age class that has
developed in these stands as a result of fire suppression efforts since 1910.
· Management activities are designed to protect and promote larger diameters / older age
classes of conifers and hardwoods on the city ownership. Exceptions to this principle will be
clearly identified, mapped and explained. Promoting these more mature forests will most
effectively accomplish the goals and guiding principles identified for the city forestlands.
Project Locations
Restoration work will be planned based on location. There are two distinct "landscape locations"
within thc city forcstlands. They each hold different sets of conditions, opportunities and
concerns.
The Lower Watershed Area: This area extends from the upper end of Reeder Reservoir to
Granite Street. It is composed mostly of early to mid-seral conifer-hardwood forest (60-100
years old) and shrub-hardwood communities on moderate to steep slopes. None of these areas
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
have reached late successional conditions. Portions of the area were burned in 1901 and again
in 1910 with the northwest portion burning a third time in 1959. Trees in this area are mostly
8"-22" DBH, but there are some larger trees (24"-30" DBH or larger) that survived the fires.
This area is fairly dry with plant communities described as the Black Oak / Ponderosa Pine /
Douglas Fir type (Unit C and part of Unit U), the Ponderosa Pine / Douglas Fir type (Units D,
E, F, H, M2 and Unit P), the dry Douglas Fir type (Units A, B, G, J, K, Q, S, T and part of
Unit U) and the moist Douglas Fir type (Units L, M3, N, Q and Unit R). The most significant
resource consideration is Ashland Creek and the steep slopes bordering the creek. Critical
municipal infrastructure is in place within this area: the water pipeline, powerline, water
treatment plant, and the access road.
The total area to be thinned under this proposal has not yet been determined. It is expected
that significant portions of this area will not be treated in deference to geologic or slope
stability issues, infrastructure concerns or because additional stand density reduction is not
needed at this time. For instance, much of the area (200 acres) has received an initial stand
density reduction treatment, which focused on understory hardwoods and conifers less than 7
inches DBH. Some of this area needs further thinning of larger trees (greater than 7 inches
DBH).
Approximately 1/3 of the area is zoned as "high hazard" on slope stability scales determining
landslide potential due to the steepness of the terrain and types of soils. As always, these
areas will be treated with utmost care to prevent slope failure. Historically, this has meant no
treatment or minimal treatment. Additional consultation is currently under way to address
specific site concerns and determine appropriate future management actions.
The Winburn Parcel: This area is 160 acres centrally located in the watershed with a
diversity of older forest types including mature stands and stands with late successional or old
growth characteristics that have the potential to develop into old growth stands. It includes
moist north aspects where white fir is common, described as the Douglas Fir / White fir type
(Units 2, 4, 5 and 6), as well as drier south aspects with more ponderosa pine, described as
the Ponderosa Pine / Douglas Fir / White Fir type (Units 1 and 7). The west fork of Ashland
Creek hms through the center of the Winbum Parcel feeding Reeder Reservoir a short
distance downstream.
Important issues to consider on the Winbum Parcel include water quality and quantity,
protection of late succesional characteristics, spotted owl foraging habitat, resident fish
populations, cultural (historical) resources, and slope stability concerns on a significant
Portion of the area.
Stand structure is variable, reflecting the impact of stand-replacing fires, logging, fire
exclusion, and lower intensity fires. Most of the Winbum Parcel was also logged in 1990
through a land exchange between the City of Ashland and a private timber company.
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
The dense understory layer is currently stressing many of the larger trees. Thinning of small
diameter trees (less than 7" DBH) has occurred directly under many of these big overstory
trees in an effort to reduce moisture stress. This work is ongoing.
Much of the Winburn Parcel also has high to very high tree densities in the intermediate size
classes. In order to ensure continued survival of the largest overstory trees, some additional
density reduction is needed. Some of the Winbum Parcel will not be treated in deference to
other resource values or because additional stand density reduction is not needed at this time.
Portions of the Winbum Parcel are relatively intact native forests with little need of
management.
Ecological Priorities
Soils and Geology
Protection and improvement of soils is a central goal on the city forestlands. Healthy soils
support healthy forests. In addition, they act as moisture banks and reduce creek sedimentation.
The soils in the Ashland watershed are well known for their highly erosive and unstable
characteristics. The Forest Service EIS, "Ashland Watershed Protection Project", describes the
soils:
Soils have been classed as having severe and very severe erosion hazard rating
on the steeper slopes because of a combination of factors which include non-
cohesive sandy texture of the soil, general lack of coarse fragments, and steeper
slope gradients. On gentler slopes however, the erosion ratings are moderate.
Topsoils are generally less erosive than subsoils because of the soil organic
matter and root systems that bind the sands together. The subsoils, when exposed,
are highly erosive. Areas in the Watershed where exposed subsoil can be
observed are: on many of the cutbanks of roads transecting the Watershed, bike
trails, recent landslide scars, and over-steepened slopes adjacent to perennial and
intermittent streams. (page Ili-7)
Geologic inventories commissioned by the City of Ashland have mapped many areas of
geologic sensitivity and potential slope failure. Additional detailed assessments are
currently in progress. Slides are a potential risk on most of the steeper slopes. Given these
conditions, extreme care must be taken to avoid soil displacement or compaction. It is
als0 critically important to maintain healthy root zones.
Tree roots are the "twine" that holds the subsoil layers to the hillside. Loss of this rooting layer
due to excessive tree mortality from beetle kill or fire will inevitably lead to slope failure. In all
areas with steep slopes, the tree and shrub densities will be maintained to provide a healthy dense
root layer.
During this density reduction project, log removal will be done with helicopter to minimize
compaction and soil displacement. Maintenance and improvement of effective ground cover to
avoid surface erosion is also critical. The Forest Service standard is to maintain 85% or more soil
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
cover. We have considered four strategies for achieving effective ground cover on the various
sites found in the city forestlands.
Soil Protection Strategies
1. Leave a high quantity of down woody material and maintain a dense tree canopy to favor
mosses. This strategy utilizes woody material of all sizes to stabilize slopes and provide effective
ground cover. Coarse Woody Material (CWM) left on site is high (8-12 logs per acre) in this
strategy. Small wood (under 3 inches diameter) is reduced or removed to reduce fire hazard.
Larger wood is placed in contact with the soil with attention given to side-hill placement (on the
contour) to slow surface movement. This strategy will lead to improvement of the duff layer and
an increase in mosses and shade tolerant herbaceous cover. Mosses can be "seeded" on these
sites where moisture allows. This tactic is especially suited to steep slopes. There is some
concern about increasing fire hazard by leaving high quantities of wood on-site. The material left,
however, will be too large to have much effect on fire intensity or flame length. This large wood
will allow fire to reside (smolder) on the site longer perhaps increasing mop-up and monitoring
time. This approach would also make prescribed burning more difficult.
2. Open tree canopy enough to allow grasses and low shrub layer to develop. Seed with grasses.
This strategy utilizes the natural ground layer vegetation on dry sites where grasses and low
shrub species are an important ecosystem element. On these sites, a relatively quick growth
response can be seen in ground layer vegetation (particularly fi.om hairy honeysuckle) when the
tree canopy is reduced to 40%-50% cover. Grasses (western fescue, California fescue, Idaho
fescue) can be slower to respond on dry sites, so seeding will be needed. The City of Ashland has
been experimenting with native grass seeding and has developed considerable technical
expertise. Dry site mosses can also be "seeded". Under this strategy small woody material (4"-8")
is utilized in the short term for holding surface soil. CWM is maintained at low quantities. These
sites become prime candidates for future prescribed fire. One problem with this strategy is that
non-native species of grass (e.g., dogtail grass) and forbs (e.g., beggars ticks) can quickly invade
following a thinning event, so seeding needs to be timely.
3. Thin to favor black oak and madrone to develop a thick leaf litter layer.
These hardwood species produce and shed a high volume of leaf litter that forms very effective
ground cover directly under the trees. This tactic is suitable for dry sites where more open tree
canopies can be sustained to allow hardwoods to flourish.
4. Leave a dense sapling layer even though larger trees may become stressed and die.
This strategy is a "default" approach that recognizes that a dense stand of small trees and shrubs
can be quite effective in holding soil. There are many negatives to this approach. There is a high
level of fire hazard associated with these stand conditions. This strategy may also lose its
effectiveness over time if complete stand mortality occurs due to moisture stress. It is likely, at
least, that larger overstory trees will die due to beetle attack or moisture stress. These larger trees
are more effective in holding the deeper soil layers. Because of these negatives~ this is not a
strategy that will be used much but it may be effective for the short term and may be the
preferred approach in areas of geologic instability or excessively steep slopes where dense
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
sapling/shrub layers currently occur. Thinning these areas in small steps over several years will
allow the remaining trees to develop the root structure necessary to stabilize soils.
Botany
Lower Watershed
The forests of the Lower Watershed range from the Black Oak / Ponderosa Pine / Douglas Fir
type to the dry Douglas Fir type to the moist Douglas Fir type found in the vicinity of Ashland
Creek types.
The dry forest is a mix of Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine and madrone with some black oak on the
driest sites. The shrub layer is usually dominated by low growing species such as hairy
honeysuckle, snowberry and poison oak but can include taller species like deerbrush, ceanothus
(previously burned sites), whiteleaf manzanita (driest sites) and ocean spray (moist sites). The
grass layer includes perennial bunchgrasses such as California fescue, woodland brome and
western fescue but also the invasive hedgehog dogtail grass.
When tree canopies are dense, the shrub and grass species are relatively sparse. When tree
canopies are reduced, these species increase. The low-growing shrubs and perennial grasses can
be highly valuable for stabilizing soils while not adding significantly to fire hazard. Native
grasses are suitable as a part of a soil cover strategy in some of these dry-site forests, but it is
important to plant seed quickly after thinning to give these species a competitive advantage over
dogtail grass which will quickly occupy any bare soil areas.
Douglas-fir dominates both the dry and moist Douglas Fir types with some madrone and
occasional ponderosa pine. When under a dense tree canopy, the shrub layer in these forests is
usually fairly sparse with snowberry, poison oak and ocean spray common. When the canopy is
open in this type, the high shrub layer (ocean spray, deerbrush, hazel) increases. The combined
densities of these shrubs along with re-sprouting madrone and seedling/sapling Douglas-fir can
increase fire hazard significantly.
Rare plants potentially found in the lower watershed area include the three-toothed horkelia
(Horkelia tridentata), clustered ladies slipper orchid (Cypripediurnfasciculaturn), and mountain
ladies slipper orchid (Cypripediurn montanurn). The area was surveyed in 1997. The horkelia was
found in few locations east of Reeder Reservoir and more recently along the powerline right-of-
way that runs through the area and als0 near Cr0ws0n Reservoir. At both 0fthese latter sites
horkelia appears to benefit by increased light afforded by removing manzanita and, in the ease of
the powerline, trees. The horkelia appears to have adapted over time to the frequent disturbances
that kept the forest canopy relatively open. Maintaining these open canopies on the driest sites
will benefit this species. The ladies slipper orchids have not been found here but they are often
quite difficult to find and occur in small populations (often just a single plant). It is possible that
some may be found on the steeper, moist, north facing slopes. In these habitats it would be best
to maintain the high canopy closure that this and associated species prefer.
Another species of interest identified in the 1997 survey is a moist-site grass, crinkle-awn fescue
(Festuca subuliflora). This species has coastal and northern affinities and is quite rare in the
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
eastern Siskiyous. Management of crinkle-awn fescue is mostly just a matter of maintaining tree
canopy on moist sites.
Noxious weeds are a potential problem in the Lower Watershed. Currently there are populations
of Scotch broom, yellow star thistle, Himalayan blackberry, Palmatian toadflax and English ivy.
Eradication of these invasive and noxious populations is an on-going effort.
The mosses and lichens found here are mostly common species. We have found at least two
species of interest that are regionally rare although locally well represented. These are Bryoria
tortuosa and Dendriscocaulon intricatulurn (yellow horsehair lichen). Both of these species
occur on the driest sites, the Bryoria on large pines and the Dendriscocaulon on black oak,
particularly on trees in the range of 3"-12" DBH. Black oak, in fact, is a host to many lichen
species which do not occur on other substrates in this area suggesting the importance of keeping
black oak where it is found. It is possible that there are some other interesting species in the rock
outcrops and aquatic zones in the area.
There is not much known about the fungi species present in the area as no formal surveys have
been done. Fungi utilize a wide variety of habitat types. To maintain high quality fungal habitat
in moist sites, significant amounts of down wood material should be maintained.
Winbum Parcel
The vegetation in the Winbum area ranges from dry south aspect forest to very moist north
aspect riparian forest. The'higher elevations have white fir as the dominant understory tree on
most sites with Douglas-fir co-dominant on south aspects.
South aspect forests are part of a plant community that only rarely occurs in the Ashland Creek
watershed. In this community, large ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and occasional sugar pine
dominate the overstory. The understory is white fir and Douglas-fir. The shrub and herb layers
are sparse. The large pine is a valuable heritage resource as well as a wildlife resource and should
be protected. This plant community has a number of successional pathways. In the distant past, it
has been open pine forest at times and fairly dense Douglas-fir, but white fir forest at other times.
When open, grasses such as California fescue and perennial herbs such as beargrass
(Xerophyllum tenax) can flourish. In this document, the plant community is described as the
Ponderosa Pine / Douglas Fir / White Fir type.
North aspect forests are white fir associations with Douglas-fir in the overstory and white fir in
the understory. Madrone and sugar pine are also occasionally found. In this document, the plant
community is described as the Douglas Fir / White Fir type. The shrub layer is diverse and
responds vigorously to increased light from an open canopy. Moss cover is often quite dense.
Some of this forest is quite old and has old growth features. Maintenance of a healthy overstory
should be a priority in these stands. The riparian influence zones are wide with an abundance of
salal. This species is quite rare in the eastern Siskiyou Mountains.
Habitat potential exists for several rare plant species including the ladies slipper orchids,
Lemmon's catchfly (Silene lernmonii), Greene's hawkweed (Hieraciurn greenei) and three-leaved
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
horkelia. None of these has been found on the city forestlands but the Lemmon's catchfly has
been found on adjacent Forest SerVice land. All these species, except the orchids, prefer
somewhat open conditions on dry aspects.
There is potential for a rare liverwort (Ptilidium californicum) and a large-tree dependent lichen
(Caliciurn viride) in this area. Douglas-fir trees larger than 24" DBH on northerly aspects have
potential for these two species. There is also potential for rare lichen species in the creek,
particularly Leptogium rivale. There are no rare species likely to be associated with trees under
20" DBH.
As in the Lower Watershed, there is little known about the fungi species that occur here.
Maintenance of an adequate down wood component is important but equally important is
maintenance of landscape diversity so that those species that prefer more open conditions can
have a niche.
Coarse Woody Material (CWM)
The general strategy is to utilize coarse woody material (CWM) to stabilize surface soils,
increase organic content in soils over the long term and provide habitat for the many organisms
that depend on logs in various stages of decay. The volume of CWM retained in this project will
depend on management considerations such as plant community, fire danger, rural interface, and
the potential for insect outbreak. There is data on existing CWM in the Winbum parcel and on
Forest Service land in the watershed.
A number of activities and processes can affect the CWM component and have affected the
current conditions as well as altered the historic conditions of city owned forestlands. Actions
such as mortality salvage can immediately change forest structure by removing the snags and
subsequently changing down log amounts. A more subtle change in the dead wood component of
the Ashland watershed has also occurred. Just as fire exclusion has changed the live tree
composition of the forest, fire exclusion has also had an effect on dead tree composition.
Down logs previously consumed during fires now have a longer residence time as they
decompose rather than burn. This has allowed a higher volume per acre of down logs to
accumulate than would have occurred with a more frequent fire return interval. In addition, the
absence of a fire, that would have fallen dead trees or killed live trees creating snags, has reduced
the natural recruitment of down logs and snags.
While the exact number of snags and down logs appropriate to a particular plant community with
a normal fire return interval is unknown, recent data analyses in southwestern Oregon do show
some patterns. Snags and down logs are not distributed in the same fashion across the landscape.
Snags are distributed in a more uniform pattern. The recommended approach for managing snags
in the Ashland watershed is to concentrate snags in the riparian area to provide habitat in areas
with higher use by wildlife. Snags should be well distributed along the entire length of the
stream. The per acre ratio between riparian area snags and the number of upland snags is
unknown, but a 2 to 1 ratio (2 in the riparian area and 1 in the upland) will be a reasonable
starting point.
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
Down log distributions are more complex. More than 50% of the acres analyzed throughout
southwest Oregon show no large down logs at all. The highest amount of down logs should be
left in riparian areas for the reasons mentioned above for snags. A slightly lower amount could be
left on northerly aspects away from streams: perhaps 67% to 75% of that seen along the streams.
Away from streams, the southerly aspects would have very few down logs. Three out of four
acres would have no down logs at all with the remaining 25% of the southerly aspects having 50
to 75% that seen on the northerly aspects. If only the low end of the size range exists, up to six
logs is acceptable.
Based on this data, the following general recommendations are offered allowing for differences
in specific sites. For example, if a riparian area had six down logs, a northerly aspect acre might
have four, and one out of two southerly aspect acres would have one down log. On steep slopes,
higher quantities will be maintained for slope stability.
Wildlife
One of the goals of this restoration project is to maintain or enhance wildlife habitat. Along with
the primary goals to preserve water quality, maintain forest health and reduce the threat of
catastrophic wildfires, wildlife habitat protection and enhancement will be a priority throughout
this project.
Existing conditions
The lower watershed is dominated by dry site eco-types. This area provides nesting and foraging
habitat for migratory songbirds, woodpeckers, owls and other raptors as well as browse for deer
and smaller herbivores, and habitat for camivores such as raccoons, bobcats and other animals.
The area is not currently inhabited by any threatened or endangered species and does not meet
habitat requirements for the Northern Spotted Owl. Some areas have the potential to meet
nesting, foraging and dispersal habitat requirements for spotted owls, primarily along the riparian
corridor of Ashland Creek.
The Winburn Parcel is composed mainly of mature forests and, except for perhaps a few small
areas, does not meet the definition of old growth. This area provides for dispersal and foraging
habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl and other raptors, but does not currently meet nesting
habitat requirements for the spotted owl. The riparian corridors currently meet dispersal and
foraging needs for forest carnivores and den sites are adequate along Ashland Creek except
where logging or other disturbance has reduced the forest structure to early successional stages.
Goals for Wildlife Enhancement
Density reduction treatments will follow these guidelines to maintain or increase wildlife habitat:
· Efforts will be made to reduce the structural uniformity of tree stands horizontally
across the landscape.
· Treatments will aim to retain ¼ acre to ½ acre or more of untreated, dense stands for
every five to fifteen acres for songbird nesting and foraging habitat. Adequate areas of
untreated vegetation will often be retained for this need because of slope stability
concerns.
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
· Hardwoods, especially Califomia black oak, will be retained and encouraged where
appropriate.
· Existing canopy gaps will be utilized to maintain structural diversity across the
landscape.
· Where possible, a multi-layered canopy will be retained or encouraged. Fuel hazard
and density reduction goals will be weighed with other goals.
· During project layout and tree marking, trees that have indications of nest sites or
cavities >6" diameter will be retained and buffered to reduce impacts to wildlife
viability. Additional logs will be added to the forest floor to provide needed micro-
habitats. Snags will be retained unless they pose a hazard and snag recruitment
(current and future) will be encouraged.
· Should removal of non-commercial trees be inadequate to reduce stand densities to
desired levels, snag creation, as opposed to removal of large trees will be considered
to meet future snag and coarse woody material goals.
· Cutting trees within riparian transition zones (within 100 - 300 feet of streams and
draws) will be minimized providing fuel hazard reduction goals can be met. Within
riparian zones thinning will entail either girdling or retention of downed trees on site
as coarse woody debris unless there is an associated hazard.
· Active fuel management treatments in the Winburn parcel will be restricted between
March 1 st and July 30th to minimize impacts to breeding populations of forest
dwelling species. No cutting or chainsaw use will be allowed after March 1 and no
prescribed bums will be allowed after April 1.
· While recognizing that there will be an affect on terrestrial mollusks, salamanders and
other organisms, activities will minimize the impact on the landscape (i.e. there will
be no tractor logging, and timber removal will be done by helicopter).
Forest Disturbances
Significant changes in disturbance patterns within the last i 50 years have created vegetation
conditions that are much different than occurred prior to European settlement of Southern
Oregon. Changes in vegetation patterns include:
1) increased stand densities and stocking levels
2) increased fuel levels and wildfire prone vegetation types
3) shifts in stand structure and species composition
4) increased likelihood of mortality from insects and disease
5) decreased ecosystem diversity
These vegetation changes have produced a potential for high intensity, large-scale disturbances
particularly from fire and insects. Higher vegetation density and relatively continuous structure,
both horizontally and vertically, have created conditions for a fire to rapidly escalate in
magnitude. It is from this dynamic condition that one of the primary restoration goals emerges: to
reduce fuel levels and restore vegetation to a more discontinuous vegetation complex.
Increased stand density over time has reduced the availability of site resources for individual
trees (e.g. soil moisture, nutrients, and available light). The resulting reduced tree vigor has made
conifers more susceptible to successful attack by various insect agents.
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
Ponderosa pine is susceptible to attack from the westem pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis),
pine engraver beetle (Ips pini) and the red turpentine beetle (Dendroctonus valens) among others.
A separate cadre of beetles, including the Douglas-fir twig weevil (Cylindrocopturisfurnissi),
flatheaded fir borer (Melaniphila drurnrnondi) and the Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus
pseudotsugae) attack Douglas-fir.
Stand density reduction to improve tree vigor is a proven way to reduce the susceptibility of
conifers to insect attack and resulting tree mortality. However, as populations of beetle explode
in certain stands, successful attack on vigorous trees by the host-specific cadre of beetles can
occur. Other less prominent forms of disturbance on the city foresfland include various diseases
(most notably dwarf mistletoe), windthrow, landslides and other slope failures.
It is our intent to use the planned disturbance inherent to a stand density reduction project to
emulate other disturbance forms in creating more desirable vegetative conditions. (This sentence
is confusing to me.)
Mistletoe
Dwarf mistletoe is a parasitic plant that is host specific. Douglas-fir, white fir and pine all have
their own species of dwarf mistletoe associated with them. Mistletoe causes trees to form thick
foliage masses called "brooms". When seeds of dwarf mistletoe mature they are forcibly
projected out into the forest canopy potentially infecting adjacent trees of the same species up to
50 feet from the source tree.
In heavily infected stands, mistletoe can initiate unfavorable stand conditions and development
trajectories (loss of large Douglas-fir and associated structural and habitat values, infection of
younger Douglas-fir and undesirable long-term changes in species composition).
Traditionally, mistletoe trees have been targeted for cutting. Trees that are heavily infected with
Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe are highly flammable and can be wildfire hazards by transporting
low to moderate intensity fire into upper canopy layers thereby increasing crown fire
development, spotting, and wildfire rates-of-spread.
Where mixed tree species occur, isolation can be used to keep dwarf mistletoe from spreading.
However, retention of larger and older infected Douglas-fir for Northern Spotted Owl (and many
other species) nesting habitat, structural diversity and other late-successional values may be more
appropriate particularly for trees with larger brooms on the Winbum Parcel. Wherever possible,
isolation technology should be used where larger infected trees can be retained if few understory
Douglas-fir exist in the immediate vicinity and if the larger trees are surrounded by other non-
host species such as madrone, black oak, pine, or white fir. Another option that will be
considered is snag creation of highly infected trees if two-thirds of the crown is infected.
Removal of dwarf mistletoe infected Douglas-fir in younger (<100 year) understory cohorts
should be a priority in most situations, although some retention can still occur (i.e., in low
topographical positions using isolation technology). Hand removal of mistletoe brooms will be
used as a method as well.
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Ashland Forest [ands Commission February, 2003
Large Trees
In general, the objective is to leave the largest healthiest trees and remove the weakest and
smallest trees. This will primarily include removal of trees in the 50-100 year age class and 6"-
18" diameter size range. However, to meet density reduction objectives, trees of larger size
classes may be considered for removal if a sufficient number of snags and the coarse woody
material components have already been retained. In these cases, individual trees to be removed
that are over 17" DBH will be tracked with explanations for public review. Examples of large
trees considered for removal include:
1. Mid-successional to mature stands with excessive density
Such a stand would have all large trees and the steadily increasing stand density is compromising
vigor and long-term sustainability of the stand as evidenced by high basal areas, very slow
growth rates, weakening crowns, the loss of pine or hardwood species and high levels of in-stand
mortality.
2. Large conifers in suppressed or intermediate crown classes under more dominant and
vigorous overstory conifers
Removal of these trees can improve vigor of adjacent large overstory conifers particularly
overstory pine species and hardwoods. In some cases, clumps of three or more large trees are
growing in close proximity and removal of one or several could be considered, especially if those
removed are considerable smaller than those retained (e.g. one 24 inch DBH pine is removed
while three 36 inch pines are retained.) In general, clumps of the same species will be considered
as single trees provided additional stand density reduction is completed around them.
3. Hazard Trees along roads or near structures
4. Dead or Dying Trees
Individual trees may be considered for removal (if snag and CWM needs have been met) in order
to minimize the spread of rapidly expanding insect or disease populations.
Monitoring
"Monitoring could be defined as simply obtaining accurate information and maintaining a long
term record of it. The monitoring of our watershed entails a purposeful and systematic
observation and documentation of its landscape, its inhabitants, it perturbations over recent times
and what management has worked and not worked." (AWSA, 1999).
Monitoring is an ongoing part of the restoration on city forestlands. It is expected that over time
there will be changes in understory vegetation and tree growth. The effects of the density
reduction, prescribed fire, or other silvicultural treatments need to be monitored to evaluate their
effectiveness. Currently our consulting forester is responsible for monitoring. He has established
sites and methodology for the monitoring process. Ideally, over time, an agreement with
Southem Oregon University could incorporate monitoring work into projects and research
curriculum for students at nominal cost to the city.
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
The monitoring plan is designed specifically to:
1) track ecosystem elements that are likely to change as a result of the stand density
reduction; these include tree vigor, ground layer vegetation, species composition, and soil
cover.
2) compare effects of treatments at different locations
3) ensure that the desired effects are produced
4) provide feedback on the effectiveness of our actions so we can respond in the future to
make better management decisions (adaptive management)
The Four Phases of Monitoring:
1) Inventory or Baseline Monitoring: to provide an initial assessment of species distribution and
environmental conditions.
2) Implementation Monitoring: to determine if the activity is accomplished as planned.
3) Effectiveness Monitoring: to determine if an activity achieved the stated goals or objectives.
4) Validation Monitoring: to determine if the assumptions and models used in developing a
management plan are correct.
Implementation of each phase of monitoring includes:
1) Inventory Monitoring
The city has conducted an inventory of many ecosystem elements including the establishment of
many permanent forest monitoring plots. Baseline data has been collected on tree vigor and
density, snag development, coarse woody material, perennial vegetation cover, and soil (ground
cover). Photos were taken at each plot center and then mapped using a Global Positioning
System (GPS). A thorough geologic hazards inventory has been completed and a more refined
inventory is currently under way on a portion of the ownership. In addition, a rare plant species
inventory has been conducted. The Forest Service in the vicinity of the Winbum Parcel has
monitored spotted owl activity. A stand-by-stand assessment has been prepared (Main 1996,
1998) as well as a detailed timber cruise (Main 2000). Inventory has not yet been done for
songbird populations, mosses, lichens, fungi or invertebrates. We do not anticipate that this
project will have significant direct impacts on these species and we are not conducting such
inventories for this project.
2) Implementation Monitoring
There will be stages of review for interested parties to assess the progress of the project relative
to the stated goals. Periodic public tours will be offered during the layout and marking stage to
review tree marking. Additional tours will be conducted after the thinning.
Trees over 17" DBH that are proposed for removal will be tracked. One or more field tours will
be scheduled to review these sites.
Existing permanent forest inventory plots will be re-measured the first spring/summer after
density management and prescribed fire treatments are completed. This will include at least one
photo point taken at each plot for a permanent visual record.
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
3) Effectiveness Monitoring
Tree vigor is a very important gauge of effectiveness of the density management effort. This is
most easily represented as diameter growth rate in rings-per-inch acquired through increment
boring. Forest inventory plots will be re-visited, probably at five-year intervals to measure this.
Soil cover has been inventoried using a standard transect method at each of the long term
monitoring plots. Some of these plots are in stands that will be included in this phase of density
management while others are not. Repeat monitoring will be done periodically to determine
changes.
Ground layer vegetation has been inventoried in 1/5th acre plots at each forest inventory plot
with major perennial species cover estimated in percent total cover. This will be repeated at 5-
year intervals to determine changes.
Bark beetle activity will be monitored systematically as needed. Quantitative data is available at
the permanent forest plots.
4) Validation Monitoring
We are just beginning to implement this phase. What we learn fi.om what we have done will be
key to our adaptive management strategies.
Economics
As previously stated in Goals and Guiding Principles, the philosophical foundation of this
restoration proposal is promotion of forest health on the city forestlands.
Given this, there has been a conscious deferment of any detailed discussion of financial factors
that typically influence resource management proposals. In our process, we have looked at the
economics in the "big picture" with the financial aspects being just one part of the economic
matrix. Our values have placed the highest priority on ecosystem services. Ecosystem services
associated with an ecologically healthy watershed would include: drinking water supply, flood
control protection, soil and slope stability, erosion control, water infiltration, recreation, wildlife
habitat and maintenance of soil fertility.
During this early stage of planning, economic and financial factors have been deferred while
watershed and forest health values have been prioritized. During the upcoming detailed planning
stage over the next few months, economic and the underlying financial costs will be assessed.
We realize that as the data comes in and the project moves forward, the financial considerations
will become more apparent. We cannot know what these are now and it is our hope that the
finances will fall in place with the other values that we have prioritized in the overall economic
evaluation.
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
Note that due to the sensitive soils and steep slopes in the Ashland watershed, tree removal is
proposed to be accomplished using helicopters except possibly in a few locations near roads.
Main (1996) summarizes the economics of helicopter yarding.
"Unfortunately, achieving silvicultural objectives can be very expensive when helicopters
are the intended harvest system. In this management area, the small size of the logs
suggested for removal, the scattered nature of these logs, the low volumes per acre, and the
low total volume all combine to suggest quite high helicopter logging costs, perhaps to the
point of superceding log value."
Projected costs include
Cost of planning, sale implementation
· Cost of layout/marking of trees
· Cost of cutting and removal of trees
· Cost of slash burning and placement of remaining logs in contact with the ground
· Cost of mitigation measures such as bark beetle protection
Potential Sources of funding for the project include:
· Normal Operating Budget
· National Fire Plan Funding
· Regional Advisory Committee Grant
Project revenue
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
PART II - DESCRIPTIONS, LONG TERM DESIRED CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS
Desired Future Conditions (DFC) are being used to develop guidelines for stand density
reduction. This section describes the long-term goals for each vegetation type on both the lower
watershed and the Winbum Parcel. In most cases, long-term stewardship will be required to see
these stands arrive at a DFC. This cannot usually be achieved with one management effort. We
anticipate multiple entries may be needed to reach management objectives. Throughout the
watershed, a drought cycle combined with a large beetle infestation could considerably alter the
number of live trees. The treatments being proposed in this project are intended to take the steps
necessary to give the best possibility for development of the DFC's.
To clarify our landscape descriptions, areas are classified by different vegetation types: four in
the Lower Watershed and three on the Winbum Parcel. Landscape units that are composed of
these vegetation types are designated with a letter or number (consistent with the Draft Interface
Landscape Unit Map). These descriptors are similar to the Plant Association Groups used by the
Forest Service. A brief overview of the vegetation type is presented followed by a description of
the Desired Future Condition (DFC).
Lower Watershed
The rolling topographic variation in this area provides a range of habitat conditions, which allows
for a natural diversity of forest structures and species composition. Southerly aspects have
historically supported fairy open forests of ponderosa pine, sugar pine, black oak, white oak,
madrone and Douglas-fir. It is probable that moister, cooler northerly aspects have been more
variable depending on fire frequency, sometimes supporting dense Douglas-fir while at other
times having more open forests with high amounts of pine and madrone.
The Lower Watershed is divided into six units based on vegetation types and stand conditions.
The Lower Watershed will be managed to bring the vegetation more toward the natural range of
variability of conditions that occurred prior to the era of control of all wild fires. Our intent is to
encourage more open stand conditions that will make control of fires in the wildland-urban
interface easier while restoring more natural stand conditions.
Black Oak / Ponderosa Pine / Douglas-fir Type (Landscape Units C and part of U)
This type occurs on mid-slope and ridgeline positions with a south or west aspect. Currently
these areas are dominated by whiteleafmanzanita, poison oak with scattered madrone, ponderosa
pine and black oak. All of the acreage of this type is in early seral condition. On the drier
portions, trees grow very slowly. Slopes are stable on these management units. There is a
considerable amount of this type elsewhere in the Ashland wildland-urban interface zone
(including Lithia Park) but only three stands within the area are being considered in this project.
The stands will have relatively open tree spacing (25-45% canopy closure) to allow for
development of a healthy grass layer (Idaho fescue, California fescue), which is native to these
sites. Pine will be a major component along with black oak and madrone. Small openings will be
common. Manzanita will be present but maintained at low density. Repeated entries will be
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
needed to reduce the amount ofmanzanita that grows on the site. A long-term goal is maintaining
an average of one large snag per acre. These stands will take the role that they historically have
had of prov/ding breaks in the forest canopy to slow wildfire. The stands of this type on city
ownership have already been treated (most of the manzanita removed, pine planted on a wide
spacing) and are on a trajectory toward this DFC except that there is a general lack of grass layer
(planting needed). There is a serious threat of invasion from dogtail grass and yellow star thistle
in this type of stand, therefore any soil disturbance needs to be quickly seeded with native
species.
Fuels: A horizontally discontinuous fuel profile is maintained by limiting the shrub layer and
allowing for a variety of habitat niches for grasses and herbaceous plants. These units offer
opportunities for limited prescribed burning.
Ground Cover Strategy: Encourage grass and herbaceous cover. Utilize small diameter down
woody material.
Ponderosa Pine / Douglas-fir Type (Landscape Units D, E, F, H, M2 and P)
This is the dominant type on the south and west aspects in the Lower Watershed. These sites are
dry but with soils deep enough to support a healthy, though fairly open, mixed species tree
canopy with ponderosa pine, sugar pine, Douglas-fir, madrone, incense cedar and black oak.
These areas are intermediate (what?) between pine types and Douglas-fir types and historically
have supported both. High frequency-low intensity fire regimes would have favored pine and
large hardwoods while relatively fire-free periods have favored Douglas-fir and dense stands of
smaller hardwoods. Hence, these are good areas to manage for pine, oak and madrone but also
can be managed to support moderate densities of Douglas-fir. The ground layer vegetation is
currently sparse with scattered grasses (western rescue and California rescue) and low shrubs
(honeysuckle, poison oak). These species increase in cover when the canopy is opened up
through thinning or tree mortality. Dense shrub layers (manzanita, deerbrush ceanothus) can
develop in early seral conditions, particularly following fire.
These stands are very susceptible to beetle attack due to excessive stand densities exacerbated by
the relatively shallow soils with low moisture holding capacity. Surveys done this fall indicate a
dramatically increasing tree mortality from the current wave of bark beetles. Douglas-fir snags
are common (Main 2002 and Goheen and Goheen 2003).
The goal in these stands is to have a mix of tree species with healthy individuals of ponderosa
pine, sugar pine and black oak especially favored. A mix of species is the best strategy for
ensuring that trees remain dominant on the site while also maintaining diversity. There will be
within-stand variation with some fairly dense small stands of Douglas-fir and some rather open
areas with pine oak and madrone. Tree spacing will be moderate (30-55% canopy closure). The
more-open areas will allow for development of a stable ground layer including a grass
component (California fescue), a low shrub component and shade intolerant herbaceous species.
Maintenance will be needed to keep manzanita and other tall shrubs at relatively low levels.
Areas with denser tree canopies will have relatively sparse ground layers with more shade-
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
tolerant herbaceous species and dry-site mosses. There will be relatively few large downed logs.
The goal will be to maintain 3 to 4 large (>17" DBH) snags per acre.
Slopes are mostly stable in this type but become steep near draws (60%-80%) and prone to
slides. Steep slopes will be managed more for Douglas-fir (denser spacing) with healthy
madrone, black oak and pine left where they occur. It is expected that snag development will be
greater on these sites and CWM will be managed at a higher level.
Fuels: In this type, a horizontally discontinuous fuel profile is maintained in both the canopy and
in the ground layer. Where pine and black oak are dominant, tree spacing will be greater and the
ground layer vegetation may increase. Where Douglas-fir is dominant, tree spacing will be less
and the ground layer less developed. These units would be good opportunities to implement
limited prescribed burning in the future.
Ground Cover Strategy: encourage grasses, low shrub layer (such as hairy honeysuckle) and
hardwoods. Utilize small woody material (4"- 10") to cover soils until vegetation layer develops.
On steep slopes utilize higher levels of CWM and more dense tree cover.
Dry Douglas-fir Type (Landscape Units A, B, G, J, K, Q, S, T, parts of U)
This type occurs on north and east aspects and the lower one-third of some south slopes.
Douglas-fir dominates this Landscape Unit with smaller mounts ofmadrone, ponderosa pine,
and black oak. Currently most stands are even-aged with very high stand densities of relatively
small-diameter trees. Early seral stages include high covers of shrubs such as deerbrush
ceanothus, poison oak, honeysuckle, snowberry, and clumps of young madrone. Many areas are
steep with slope stability concerns.
The goal for these stands is to have moderate tree spacing (40%-60% average canopy closure)
with the emphasis on maintaining as much root holding capacity as possible. Shade tolerant
herbaceous ground species will be dominant in the ground layer while minimizing the
development of shrubby species by maintaining relatively high canopy closure. Douglas-fir will
be favored with healthy pine, madrone and black oak left where they occur as dominants or co-
dominants. On stable sites, particularly on dry micro-sites, a more open canopy will be
maintained to favor pines, madrone and black oak. There will be a moderate to high level of
CWM developed over time. The long-term goal will be to maintain 4 large (>17" DBH) snags
per acre though there are currently few trees in this larger size class. A significant amount of
maintenance may be needed to manage the shrub layer in the more open parts of these Landscape
Units.
On steep slopes (>60% slope), a more cautious approach will be taken with soil stability being
the over-riding concern. A large percentage of these areas are likely to be left un-thinned or with
only small diameter suppressed trees cut due to the risk of slope failure. Where tree density is
high, girdling for snag creation or felling and leaving will be given primary consideration. As a
result, snag density and CWM density will be high.
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
These stands are very susceptible to beetle attack due to the high tree densities and limited soil
moisture capacity. Without thinning, there is an increasing likelihood that patches of trees will
die. Options for reaching DFC improve with elevation and decreased moisture stress.
Fuels: In this type, vertical discontinuity (few fuel ladders) is more important than horizontal
discontinuity during the mid-seral stages. Maintaining enough canopy to discourage understory
and shrub development is important. There will be a relatively high amount of CWM but this
should not add significantly to fire hazard.
Ground Cover Strategy: Utilize relatively high CWM and moderately dense tree cover. Where
canopy is sparser, encourage low shrub and herbaceous cover.
Moist Douglas-fir Type (Part of Landscape Units L, M3, N, Q and R)
This type occurs on very steep northerly aspects in the southern half of the Lower Watershed. It
is adjacent to, and includes portions of, the riparian transition zones. Douglas- fir is dominant
with some madrone and ponderosa pine present (but at a competitive disadvantage). Stands are
currently very dense with a high potential for tree mortality. Some of the larger tree sizes (20"-
30"DBH) can be found on these units. Slope stability is usually a central issue.
The goal for these stands is to have a high level of canopy closure (50-70%). Douglas-fir will be
favored but madrone and other species may be important in areas where Douglas-fir dwarf
mistletoe is a factor. Higher levels of stand density may be appropriate where slope stability is a
concern. These units have the best potential (compared to other stands in the Lower Watershed)
for attaining late-successional characteristics at some point in the furore given the comparatively
higher moisture levels in the soils. The number of large down logs will be high to allow for full
development of the soil and to help with slope stability. The goal is to maintain 4 large (>17"
DBH) snags per acre.
Ground Cover Strategy: Utilize CWM and moderately dense tree cover.
Riparian Transition Zones: The areas upslope from creeks and draws that have riparian indicator
plant species have an integral place in the landscape as critical moisture-holding zones important
for water production and plant and animal species habitat. These are the areas that will have the
highest snag and CWM concentrations. Care will be taken to keep ladder fuels and fine ground
fuels minimized to reduce fire hazard while emphasizing the large wood component.
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Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
Winburn Parcel
The Winburn Parcel is at mid-elevation with a high degree of variability in forest stand structure
and species composition. The moderate elevation and generally deeper soils has allowed these
forests to develop differently than the Lower Watershed. Large trees are common, as are the
other important elements that make older forests unique, including large snags, large logs and
canopy diversity. Current conditions are variable, but many areas have a distinct two or three
layered stand structure with large trees standing above the intermediate and underStory trees. In
many areas, a high stand density of small and intermediate trees creates stress in the larger trees.
The goal in the Winbum Parcel is to protect and encourage mature and old growth stand
characteristics as well as to enhance habitat for old growth dependent species. This will entail the
usual small tree (<7"dbh) thinning and, in much of the area, additional thinning of intermediate
and suppressed trees.
There are three general forest types in the Winbum parcel: 1) the Pine-White Fir type, 2) the
Douglas-fir-White Fir type and, 3) the Riparian Transition Zone Forest.
Ponderosa Pine / Douglas-fir / White Fir Type (Management Units 1 and 7)
This forest type is on a southerly aspect with slopes ranging from gentle to very steep.
These stands are characterized by three primary cohorts (age classes): 1) 150+ year old, large
ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and scattered sugar pine and incense cedar; 2) 80-100 year old
(predominantly 6-14" dbh) Douglas-fir, white fir and Pacific madrone; and 3) a younger cohort
of ¼"-5"dbh seedlings and saplings. There is a mosaic of two basic structure types present in this
stand described mostly by the amount of cohort 1 (large trees). In some areas these big trees form
impressive patches while in other areas they are mostly lacking and the 80-100 year old cohort
(cohort 2) is then the key feature. Stand densities are variable with patches of high density
interspersed with canopy gaps of early seral vegetation (as a result of the 1990 logging
operations).
Given this general mosaic, and the desire to keep the 150+ year old cohort trees alive and
vigorous, we envision two primary stand management zones within this area. These can be
described as a "pine management zone" where stand densities will be lower to favor the survival
of the older cohort pines and a "Douglas-fir-white fir management zone" where densities are
higher.
In the pine management zones, the older cohort trees will be retained and cohort 2 trees will be
thinned making a more open intermediate canopy layer. Thus, it is expected that these zones will
develop a vigorous grass/forb layer. The fir management areas will likely look similar to how
they are presently except with fewer and larger trees. In general, the density reduction will be less
in the fir management zones.
There will be a moderate amount of CWM (2-6 logs per acre) and an average of 4 large snags per
acre. The ground layer will vary from high cover of grasses and herbaceous plants in open areas
to more sparse in more densely forested areas.
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II Page 24 of 35
Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
These areas will be mosaics of open canopy ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir stands and denser
Douglas-fir dominated areas. The more open areas will occur where there are currently large
overstory pines present. The more dense stands are mid-layer trees, mostly Douglas-fir and white
fir. Canopy closure in the more open areas will be 30% to 35% while in the more dense areas
will remain relatively high at 60% to 70%. Relative densities will be 0.3 to 0.35 and 0.4 to 0.5
respectively. There will be a moderate amount of CWM (up to 6 logs per acre) and an average of
4 large snags per acre. The ground layer will vary from high cover of grasses and herbaceous
species in open areas to more sparse in the more densely forested areas.
Steep slopes and draws will be part of the denser forested portion of the mosaic with high canopy
cover and higher levels of CWM.
Douglas-fir-White Fir Type (Management Units 2, 4, 5 and 6)
This forest type occurs on north, east or west aspects, mostly on steep to very steep slopes.
Typically Douglas-fir is dominant in the overstory with occasional ponderosa or sugar pine. White
fir occurs in the shady understory with Douglas-fir in open spots. Madrone is found on the drier
sites. Over time (without fire disturbance) the tendency is for white fir to dominate. Under natural
fire regimes, however, Douglas-fir remains dominant. These stands are currently highly variable
with patches of large trees and scattered individual large trees. Some are multi-aged stands with a
high degree of canopy diversity and patchiness and complex stand density characteristics. Some
stands have even-aged 80-100 year old canopies with obvious high-density related stress.
These are moist, productive forests capable of developing into classic old growth if given enough
time without severe disturbance. The strategy for these forests is to carefully and conservatively
thin intermediate and understory trees to protect existing old growth. This will take the
development of a variety of strategies to address the stand diversity. In some stands, there is a need
for fairly significant thinning of co-dominate intermediate sized trees to avoid the potential of
losing many overstory trees. It is likely that some trees over 17" DBH will be cut. These goals,
however, are conservative in nature. The proposed thinning will not reduce the late successional
characteristics highly encouraged in the Winbum Parcel.
Though there will be a high level of variability in these units, in general, canopy closure will range
from 60% to 70% or more with a mixed age of trees. CWM will be at high levels (up to 8-10 logs
per acre as per coarse wood soil strategy). Large snags will be present to meet 100% of cavity-
nesting bird needs (3-6 per acre). In areas that currently have uniform even aged canopies there will
be an increase in structural diversity. For the most part, Douglas-fir will be the dominant overstory
species, but where healthy (vigorous crown) pine and madrone occur on stable slope locations,
there will be a lower stand density to ensure their survival.
Ground cover will be variable depending on canopy closure. Where large trees are dominant and
overall density relatively light, the shrub and herb layers are expected to be well developed. Where
younger trees are dominant and canopy denser, the shrub and herb layers will continue to be
relatively sparse and dominated by herbaceous species.
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II Page 25 of 35
Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
Riparian Transition Forest (Management Units 3, 8 and lower slope portions of units 4, 5 and 6)
The riparian zones (adjacent to creeks) and riparian transition forest (upslope but heavily
influenced by the riparian zones) are extremely important in the Winbum Parcel both
ecologically and as a water source for the City of Ashland. These are mostly healthy functioning
ecosystems with well-established riparian vegetation though much of the riparian corridor is
currently lacking in large downed woody material. The riparian transition forest is variable
including many large trees and many patches of relatively even-aged 80-100 year old trees. The
shrub layer is unique with the occurrence of salal, which is very rare in the eastem Siskiyou
Mountains. Slopes are variable, including some gentle floodplain type areas and some very steep
unstable slopes.
The goal for these forests is to encourage high canopy closure (70%+), and encourage further
development of old growth characteristics.
An increase in large downed woody material would increase the diversity along the creeks further
enhancing the provision of quality water for the city of Ashland. Large snag density would be from
4 to 6 per acre. CWM would be 8-12 per acre.
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II Page 26 of 35
Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
REFERENCE
Agee, J.K. "Fire Effects on Pacific Northwest Forests: Flora, Fuels, and Fauna." Northwest
Forest Fire Council Proceedings: pp. 54-66. Northwest Forest Fire Council, Portland, OR.
1981.
Atzet, Thomas A. and David L. Wheeler. "Historical And Ecological Perspectives On Fire
Activity In The Klamath Geological Province Of The Rogue River And Siskiyou National
Forests". u.s. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Siskiyou National Forest, P.o. Box
440, Grants Pass, OR 97526. 1982.
Ashland Ranger District. Ashland Interface Fire Hazard Reduction Environmental Assessment.
1998.
Ashland Ranger District. Ashland Interface Fire Hazard Reduction Draft Environmental
Assessment. 1999.
AsWand Ranger District. Bear Watershed Analysis. 1995.
Ashland Ranger District. Final Environmental Impact Statement Ashland Creek Watershed
Project. 2001.
AsWand Watershed Stewardship Alliance. A Draft Comment and Proposal for the Ashland
Ranger District and interested citizens in response to the Ashland Watershed Protection Project
Draft Environmental Impact Statement. 1999.
Goheen and Goheen. Applegator. May/June, 2003.
Hannon, Nan and Clayton G. Lebow. An Inventory, Historic Documentation, and Assessment of
Cultural Resources At Lithia Springs and Winburn Camp. 1987.
Hicks, B. G. Landslide Mapping for City of Ashland Forest Lands Within the Ashland Creek
Watershed. 1997.
LaLande, Jeff. Rogue River National Forest. Archaeological Inventory and Evaluation Report:
Site 35-JA-168 (RR-797). 1983.
Main, Marty. A Preliminary Assessment of Forest and Resource Management Priorities on City
of Ashland Owned Lands. Developed for the City of Ashland by Small Woodland
Services, Inc. 1995.
Main, Marty. A Preliminary Overview of the Winburn Parcel. Developed for the City of Ashland
by Small Woodland Services, Inc. 1999
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II
AsWand Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
Page 27 of 35
~~.,....,-_.,
Main, Marty. A Silvicultural Prescriptionfor High Priority Forest Management Areas.
Developed for the City of Ashland by Small Woodland Services, Inc. 1996.
Main, Marty. City of Ashland Forest Lands. Developed for the City of Ashland by Small
Woodland Services, Inc. 1998.
Main, Marty. Native Grass Establishment - Project #2. n.d.
Main, Marty. Permanent Inventory Plot Establishment Protocols, City of Ashland Forest Lands.
Developed for the City of Ashland by Small Woodland Services, Inc. 2000.
Main, Marty. Silvicultural Prescriptions for Additional Forest Management Areas - An Update.
Developed for the City of Ashland by Small Woodland Services, Inc. 1998.
Main, Marty. Silvicultural Update: Potential Forest Management Activities. Developed for the
City of Ashland by Small Woodland Services, Inc. 2000.
Main, Marty. The Ashland Wildland/Urban Interface Wildfire Management Inventory, Analysis,
and Opportunities. Developed for the City of Ashland by Small Woodland Services, Inc.
2002
Main, Marty. Timber Cruise Report City of Ashland Ownership. Developed for the City of
Ashland by Small Woodland Services, Inc. n.d.
Main, Marty. Unit Descriptions and Prescriptions Units G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V.
Developed for the City of Ashland by Small Woodland Services, Inc. 1998.
Rolle, Wayne. 1997 Botanical Survey, City of Ashland Lands in the Ashland Creek Watershed.
1997.
Siskiyou Research Group. Ashland Creek 2000 Level II Stream Survey Report. 2001.
Siskiyou Research Group. Ashland Creek Stream Survey (Bear Creek to Reeder Reservoir).
2000.
Thomas, Harold A. and Hopkins, Howard G. Twenty Years Ago - The Ashland Fire.
Timberlines, volume 23, September 1979.
Todt, Donn. Pre-Settlement Vegetation ofLithia Park. 1994.
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II
Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
Page 28 of35
1Wi""""''''O'''' __..,
Appendix
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II
Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
r'..-.'
Page 29 005
GLOSSARY
Age class: A classification of trees of a certain range of ages.
Aspect: The direction in which any piece of land faces.
Basal area: The cross-sectional area of tree boles in a forested area as measured at the diameter
at breast height (dbh).
Biological Diversity: The variety of living organisms considered at all levels of organization,
including the genetic, species, and higher taxonomic levels, and the variety of habitats and
ecosystems, as well as the processes occurring therein.
Board foot: A unit of measurement represented by a board one foot long, one foot wide, and one
inch thick. Also, a standard way of measuring volume of standing trees, logs, or lumber, usually
expressed in thousand board feet, or mbf.
Bole: The main stem or trunk of a tree.
Canopy: The more or less continuous cover of branches and foliage formed collectively by
adjacent trees and other woody species in a forest stand. Where significant height differences
occur between trees within a stand, formation of a multiple canopy (multi-layered) condition can
resul t.
Coarse Woody Material: Portion oftree that has fallen or been cut and left in the woods. Pieces
are at least 16 inches in diameter (small end) and at least 16 feet long.
Cohort: A group of trees developing after a single disturbance, commonly consisting of trees of
similar age, although it can include a considerable range of tree ages of seedling or sprout origin
and trees that predate the disturbance.
Crown Class: A class of tree based on crown position relative to the crowns of adjacent trees.
Dominant: Crowns extend above the general level of crown cover of others of the
same stratum and are not physically restricted from above, although possibly
somewhat crowded by other trees on the sides.
Co-dominant: Crowns form a general level of crown stratum and are not
physically restricted from above, but are more or less crowded by other trees from
the sides.
Intermediate: Trees are shorter, but their crowns extend into the general level of
dominant and co-dominant trees, free from physical restrictions from above, but
quite crowded from the sides.
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II
Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
Page 30 of35
_."u__
Suppressed: Also known as overtopped. Crowns are entirely below the general
level of dominant and co-dominant trees and are physically restricted from
immediately above.
Crown fire: Fire that advances through the tops of trees.
Defensible fuel reduction zones: Areas of modified and reduced fuels that extend beyond fuel
breaks to include a larger area of decreased fuels. These would include managed stands with
reduced amounts, continuities, and/or distributions of fuels that would provide additional zones
of opportunity for controlling wildfire.
Density management: Cutting of trees for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to:
accelerating tree growth, improved forest health, to open the forest canopy, promotion of wildlife
and/or to accelerate the attainment of old growth characteristics if maintenance or restoration of
biological diversity is the objective.
Diameter at breast height (dbh): The diameter of a tree 4.5 feet above the ground on the uphill
side of the tree.
Down, dead woody fuels: Dead twigs, branches, stems, and boles of trees and shrugs that have
fallen and lie on or near the ground.
Eco-type: A more or less homogeneous natural community type which occupies specific niches
in the landscape. More or less synonymous with "landscape unit," but landscape units often will
sub-divide an eco-type (often based on steepness of slope).
Fire hazard: The kind, volume, condition, arrangement, and location of fuels and vegetation that
creates an increased threat of ignition, rate of spread, and resistance to control of wildfire.
Fire regime: The characteristic frequency, extent, intensity and seasonality of fires within an
ecosystem.
Fire risk: The chance of various ignition sources, either lightning or human-caused, causing a
fire.
Fire season: The period of time, usually during the summer and fall, when there are drier
conditions and higher temperatures, and restrictions and rules designed to minimize forest fire
risks are put into effect.
Fire severity: Measures the effect of fire on an ecosystem, especially the effect on plants. Fires
are commonly classed as low, medium, and high.
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II
AsWand Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
Page 31 of35
Fire weather conditions: The state of the atmosphere within 5 to 10 miles of the earth's surface
indicated by measures of temperature, pressure, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, visibility,
clouds, and precipitation. The potential for fire weather conditions to influence fire behavior is
generally described in terms oflow to extreme.
Forest Health: The ability of forest ecosystems to remain productive, resilient, and stable over
time and to withstand the effects of periodic natural or human-caused stresses such as drought,
insect attack, disease, climatic changes, fire, flood, resource management practices and resource
demands.
Fuel continuity: A qualitative description ofthe distribution of fuel both horizontally and
vertically. Continuous fuels readily support fire spread. The larger the fuel discontinuity, the
greater the fire intensity required for fire spread.
Fuelbreak: A strip of land in which vegetation has been manipulated such that fires burning into
one are more easily controlled.
Ladder fuels: Flammable vegetation that provides vertical continuity between the surface fuels
and tree crowns.
Landscape unit: A defined area of land with relatively consistent topography and vegetation.
Log Decomposition Class - Any of fi ve stages of deterioration of logs in the forest; stages range
from essentially sound (class 1) to almost total decomposition (class 5).
Lop and scatter: A method of slash treatment in which slash is cut into smaller pieces and
spread out to decrease fuel accumulations so that it lies closer to the ground to increase
decomposition rate.
Mature Stand: Traditionally defined as a discrete stand of trees for which the annual net rate of
growth has peaked. Stands are generally greater than 80-100 years old and less than 180-200
years old. Stand age, diameter of dominant trees, and stand structure at maturity vary by forest
cover types and local site conditions. Mature stands generally contain trees with a smaller
average diameter, less age class variation, and less structural complexity than old-growth stands
of the same forest type.
Merchantable timber: Trees large enough to be sold to a mill.
Monitoring: the process of collecting information to evaluate if objectives and expected results
of a management plan are being realized or if implementation is proceeding as planned.
Mycorrhizae association: Symbiosis between particular species of fungi and the roots of
vascular plants.
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II
AsWand Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
Page 32 of 35
.........~....,.. ,._,~,
Old-Growth Forest: A forest stand usually at least 180-220 years old and typically suggesting
the following characteristics: moderate to high canopy closure; a multilayered, multispecies
canopy dominated by large overstory trees; high incidence oflarge trees, some with broken tops
and other indications of old and decaying wood (decadence); numerous large snags; and heavy
accumulations of wood, including large logs on the ground.
Overs tory: The uppermost canopy layer in a stand.
Plant association: A group of plant communities which share the same set of dominant species
and usually grow in a specific range of habitat conditions. There can be significant variation
between sites and there is a great deal of variation at different successional pathways, vegetation
trends and management opportunities.
Plant community: An area of vegetation in which the same set of species is present in all layers
(tree, shrub, herb/grass, moss, and lichen)
Plant series: a group of plant associations that share a common feature of favoring development
of particular tree species that will become dominant over time if the forest matures without
disturbance.
Prescribed burning: The professional application of fire to specific areas of a forest under
specific conditions of weather, fuel conditions, moisture, time of day, and season resulting in a
pre-designated fire intensity and rate-of-spread to achieve specific objectives such as fuel hazard
reduction, enhancing wildlife habitat and plant species.
Relative Density Index: The ratio of the actual stand density to the maximum stand density
attainable in a stand. Used as a way to measure quantitative differences between stand densities.
Measured on a scale between 0 and 1.00.
Release: A term used to indicate the increased growth that occurs in a tree or stand of trees
following stand density reduction.
Restoration Ecology: The study of theoretical principles and applications in population and
community ecology aimed to restore and rehabilitate highly disturbed or degraded ecosystems to
their more natural states.
Riparian area: A geographic area (150-300') influenced by an aquatic component and adjacent
upland areas.
Silviculture: The art and science guiding the establishment, growth, composition, health and
quality of vegetation in forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs and values of
landowners and society on a sustainable basis.
Site productivity: The capacity of an area of land to produce carbon-based life forms.
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II
Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
Page 33 of 35
<Y-"
Slash: Tree tops, branches, bark, and other typically non-merchantable debris left after forest
management activities.
Snag - Any standing dead or partially-dead, tree at least sixteen inches in diameter at breast
height (dbh) and at least sixteen feet tall.
Stand (Tree Stand) - An aggregation of trees occupying a specific area and sufficiently uniform
in composition, age, arrangement, and condition so that it is distinguishable from the forest in
adjoining areas.
Stand Density - An expression of the number and size of trees on a forest site. May be expressed
in terms of numbers of trees per acre, basal area, stand density index, or relative density index.
Stand Density Index - A measure of stand density independent of site quality and age. From the
stand density index, an approximate number of trees, of a chosen diameter, capable of being
supported on an acre can be determined.
Stocking level: The number of trees in any given area expressed as trees/acre.
Succession: The process through which vegetation develops over time as one community of
plants replaces another; often described in terms of stages.
Swamper burning: A method of burning in which slash is thrown onto a burning pile.
Thinning from below: The cutting of non-dominant trees in a stand, usually in order to give
more site resources to the dominant trees or to reduce ladder fuels.
Tree vigor: A measure, either subjective or quantitative, of the relative health of an individual
tree.
Understory: The vegetation layer between the canopy and the forest floor, including forbs,
shrubs, smaller trees, and other low-lying vegetation.
Wildland/urban interface: A geographic area in which the urban and/or suburban setting is
juxtaposed and transitionally grades into the wildland environment.
City Forest Lands Restoration Project: Phase II
Ashland Forest Lands Commission February, 2003
Page 34 of35
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MANAGEMENT UNITS
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. 54 ~andotyLimts
C 11
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'. H .
J 7
I( 33 --
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M 21
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Q :zs UNIIS ACRES
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y U 4 "
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0 0.125 0.25 Total 486 Tola' 1liO
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