HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-0921 Council Mtg PacketCouncil Meeting Pkt.
BARBARA CHRISTENSEN
CITY RECORDER
CiTY OF
H ;LAN D
:ImpOrtant: Any citizen attending COUnCil meetings may speak on any item on the agenda, unless it is the
subject of a public hearing Which haS been closed. The Public Forum is the time to sPeak on any subject
not on the printed agenda. If you wish to speak, please fill out the Speaker Request form located near
the entrance to the Council Chambers. The chair will recognize you and inform you as to the amount
of time allotted to you. The time granted will be dependent to some extent on the nature of the item under
discussion, the number of people who wish to be heard, and the length of the agenda.
AGENDA FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
September 21, 2004 -- 7:00 p.m.
Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
Xo
PLEDGE OF ~ALLEGIANCE:
ROLL CALL:
APPROVAL C)F MINUTES: Regular Council Meeting Minutes of September 7, 2004.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS:
1. Mayor's Proclamation of October, 2004 as Disability Employment Awareness Month.
2. Announcement in Memory of Ken Hagen.
CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Minutes of Boards, Commissions and Committees.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: (Testimony limited to 5 minutes per speaker, unless it is the subject of a
Land Use Appeal. All hearings must conclude by 9:30 p.m. or be continued to a subsequent
meeting.)
(None)
PUBLIC FORUM: Business from the audience not included on the agenda. (Total time allowed for
Public Forum is 15 minutes. Speakers are limited to 5 minutes or less, depending o:n the number
of individuals wishing to speak.) -' '
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1. Reading by title only of "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Ashland Reiterating its
Policy of Relating the Expenditure of Monies for Economic and Cultural Development to the
Hotel/Motel (Transient Occupancy) Tax and Repealing Resolution 2004-11 ."
2. Discussion of Request for Proposals for the Development of Affordable Housing above
downtown City-owned Public Parking Lots.
3. Summary of Council Goals for FY 2004-2005 and timeline.
N.EW .A. ND MI~..CEL. LA~EOUS BUSINESS:
1. Ashland Community Wildfire Protection 15ian.;'
2. Designation of Voting Delegate for NLC Meeting.
ORDINANCF!S~ RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS:
(None)
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Xl. OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS/REPORTS FROM COUNCIL LIAISONS:
1. Request from Councilor Cate Hartzell for adoption of"A Resolution Opposing State Initiative
Ballot Measure 37."
Xll. ADJOURNMENT:
REMINDER
. . .
A study session will be held at noon on Wednesday, September
22 in Council'Chambers. Topics'of discussion will include: 1)
Master Planning in Ashland - Approaches to Address City
Council Goals.
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 (TTY phone 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).
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S[iPTI-iMBER 7. 2004
PA(;I~ I of 8
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
September 7, 2004 - 7:00 p.m.
Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor DeBoer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers..
ROLL CALL
Councilor Laws, Amarotico, Hartzell, Jackson, Morrison and Hearn were present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of August 17, 2004 were approved as presented.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS
Proclamation of September 2004 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month was; read aloud by
Councilor Momson.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of Boards, Commissions and Committees.
2. Confirmation of ]Mayor's appointment of Henry Baker to the Historic Commission for a term to
expire April 30, 2;005.
3. Confirmation of Mayor's appointment of Vicki Griesinger to the Airport Commission for a term to
expire April 30, 2005.
4. Confirmation of Mayor's appointment of Melissa Markell to the Public Arts Commissiion for a term
to expire April 30, 2005.
5. City's Investment Report.
Consent Agenda item #5 was pulled for discussion.
Councilor Hearn/Jackson m/s to approve Consent Agenda items #1-4. Voice Vote: all AYES. Motion
passed.
City Recorder Barbara Christensen spoke regarding the City's Investment Report. It was explained that a
portion of the investment funds has been utilized for the completion of capital improvement projects. It was
also noted that the recent financing for AFN is not included in data provided. Mrs. Christensen stated the
portfolio has dwindled slightly due to the lower rate of interest on securities. Councilor Hartzell suggested that
future reports include the influence of trends on the City's investments.
Councilor Hartzel~VIorrison m/s to approve Consent Agenda item #5. Voice Vote: all AYES.
Motion passed.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Public Hearing on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Year Change.
HoUsing Program Specialist Brandon Goldman stated there are three options for the'Council ~Io consider.
1) Shift the beginning of the program year from January 1, 2005 to July 1, 2005;
2) Opt to retain the existing program year (January 1-December 31), which would require the City to
immediately issue: an RFP and only $274,000 of the anticipated $474,000 would be available; or
3) Approve the program year shift but immediately issue an RFP for the $274,000 through the existing
process.
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The Housing Commission recommended Option 3 and Staffrecommended Option 1, however they both agreed
that a shift from the calendar year to the fiscal year is advantageous.
Public Hearing Open: 7:15 p.m.
Rad Welles/381 N. Mountain Ave/Stated there is a property located in Ashland that could be used for
affordable housing, but the City would have to act on this opportunity before January :2005. He voiced his
support for retaining the current schedule so that the proposal for affordable housing could be heard.:
Rachel Whitley/289 Grant St/Stated the Council should seriously consider acting on RVCDC's proposal for
affordable housing this year.
Ron Demele/165 Crocker St/Executive Director of RVCDC/Stated RVCDC has a proposal for affordable
housing that they would like to submit to the City. He explained that they currently have an option on the
property and the funding is in place. If the Council shifted the program to the fiscal year ,calendar, they would
lose their opportunity to act on this affordable housing project which could create 16 new units in Ashland. Mr.
Demele stated the proposed housing would target individuals at 50% of the median income and that the project
is fully sponsored by the Federal Government. Mr. Demele voiced his support for Option//3.
Teresa McCants/375 Kent St/Voiced support for RVCDC's proposal to provide affordable housing in
Ashland.
Floyd Pawlowski/415 Pompadour Dr/RVCDC Board member/Stated the time change for the granting of
CDBG funds would put their proposal in jeopardy. He asked that the Council retain the current funding'
timeline, which would allow RVCDC to present their proposal for affordable housing i:n Ashland.
Public Hearing Closed: 7:23 p.m.
Mr. Goldman clarified that, if the Council wanted to act on Option 3 and move forward with RVCDC's
proposal, the Housing Commission would need to review the proposal in October. The City Council would
then make a review in November, and Staff would complete an environmental review and action plan that
would be submitted to HUD. Mr. Goldman stated that having this process completed by January may be too
optimistic and that it would likely be late January or early February before funds could be awarded. He further
clarified that HUD has a 30-day review period and occasionally a proposal is returned to the City for
corrections and the 30-day period starts anew.
Mr. Goldman stated that RVCDC had agreed with the program year shift, and that their concern regards the
allocation of the 2004 funds. Council discussed the benefits of following through with the already started RFP
process. Mr. Goldman clarified that if the property in question could not be purchased by January, the City
would not lose anything and the funds would be aggregated with the 2005 award.
Councilor Morrison/Hartzell m/s to approve Option #3. Voice Vote: all AYES. Motion passed.
2. Public Hearing and Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing and Ordering the Local Improvements
for the Construction of Improvements to Nevada Street Consisting of Sidewalks, Curb Extension
Planter Areas, Pedestrian Safety Improvements to Intersections, Drainage and Associated
Improvements and Authorizing the City to borrow money and issue and sell Notes for the Purpose
of Providing Interim Financing for the Actual Cost of the Local Improvement'..
Public Works Director Paula Brown declared a potential conflict of interest, stating that :she and her husband
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own the property located at 800 Cambridge Street and 8 l0 Cambridge Street. Ms. Brown noted she was asked
by both a Council member and the City Administrator to assist with this project.
Ms. Brown stated the design presented to the Council would improve traffic and pedestrian sal3sty and would
slow speeds throughout the neighborhood. She explained that the primary goal of this project is to improve
safety and noted the following objectives that were used for the design elements:
· Reduce speed of traffic;
· Encourage unifom~ traffic speed;
· Provide safe and comfortable pedestrian route;
· Provide safe and comfortable bicycle route;.
· Provide safe motorist route;
· Maintain safe and unimpeded emergency access;
· Maintain street function as a neighborhood collector;
· Increase livability ,of the neighborhood (noise, trees, sign, clutter);
· Balance street function, safety and livability; and
· Reduce impact of anticipated traffic increase.
City Engineer Jim Olson explained this process began over 2 years ago when a small group of citizens
approached the Engineering Department with a proposal for sidewalks and traffic calming elements on Nevada
Street. The proposal came forward at the same time the Billings Ranch subdivision was up for approval by the
Planning Commission and concern was raised regarding the increase of traffic generated frown the Billings
development. Mr. Olson stated the assessment district was identified as those lots fronting Newada Street and
included the Billings Ranch subdivision, which was part of the plan of approval for the Billings development.
Mr. Olson displayed tlae initial plan presented to the neighborhood in December 2003 and pointed out the
various elements of the plan. He explained that the initial plan was not well received at lhe December
neighborhood meeting:. A citizen's panel was then formed and met with Staff almost every other week from
December 2003 to May 2004 to create a consensus plan that would be acceptable to the rnajority of the
residents and not just the properties in the assessed district. Mr. Olson stated the culmination of the work of
the citizen panel resulted in seven different plans which were condensed down to three options through the
efforts of the Fire, Public Works, Engineering and Planning staff. All of the elements in the three proposals
were taken directly fro:m the seven plans submitted by the citizens. In May, the three proposals were presented
to the neighborhood and it was narrowed down to one plan. In June, the neighborhood and Staff met once
more and the design before the Council is the result of the June meeting.
Mr. Olson pointed out the various elements of the current proposed plan. Ms. Brown clarified ~Ihat sidewalks
will only be placed on ,one side of the street and stated the proposed bump-outs will be large enough to support
trees.
Public Hearing Open: 8:01 p.m.
Kristie Franks/290 W. Nevada St./Asked the Council to reconsider the inclusion of the bump-out at the
comer of Glendower and Nevada, which would save the Cedar tree and hedge that protects her property from
noise and light. Ms. Franks expressed concern regarding the lack of traffic calming in the plan.
Dian Brandenburg/85 W. Nevada St/Expressed concern with the bump-outs, stating they can cause
difficulties for large w:hicles when passing oncoming motorists. She stated that embedded crosswalks can be
difficult to see and suggested that the City start by installing painted crosswalks.
Christina Lindquist/266 W. Nevada St/Spoke in favor of the LID due to safety issues and submitted a
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handout that noted the safety risks to children under the age of 10.
John Semple/185 Almeda Dr/Stated he attended most of the meetings and noted the positive changes from
the initial plan. He voiced his appreciation that the bump-outs had been toned down, but voiced concern with
the "noisy crosswalks" and suggested instead that some sort of warning devise be placed before the vehicle
reaches the cros. swalk.
Al Bodin/119 Cypress Circle/Noted he frequently bicycles on Nevada Street. Mr. Bodin stated he does not
live within the LID boundary, but would like to be included in the assessment district so that his voice will be
heard. He does not support the proposed bump-outs due to his physical impairments and expressed concern
regarding the number of votes allocated to Mike Peru of the Billings Development. Mr. Bodin Stated he was'
berated by Staff' during the neighborhood meetings and asked that the LID be postponed so that the problems
could be rectified.
Anne Bodin/119 Cypress Circle/Stated the conflict of interest issues had not been resolved and have impeded
acceptable progress. She stated that all of Quiet Village will be affected by this project, but many have been
excluded from the LID and Staff has neglected their opinions and ideas. Ms. Bodin voiced opposition to the
proposed bump-outs, stating they fail to reduce traffic speeds. She stated that her comments along with others
had been verbally denounced by Staff and requested that the Council postpone the formation of the LID so that
a thorough investigation could take place.
Nora Kn°x/276 W. Nevada St/Read aloud a newspaper article about an elderly man who was killed by a
motorist on Nevada Street. Ms. Knox voiced support for the current plan as presented by Staff. She explained
that this project began as a grass roots effort by residents along Nevada Street to improve'their street and it has
turned into a bitter process that has pitted neighbor against neighbor. Ms. Knox stated that instead of allowing
the traffic engineering experts to plan the street improvements, the neighbors took it upon themselves to draw
up the plans and were unwilling to allow outside information from the professionals. She commented on the
speeding problem on Nevada and stated the problem will only increase once the subdivision in completed. Ms.
Knox stated she supports the sidewalks, stamped concrete crosswalks and small bump-outs. She does not like
the lack of traffic calming in the proposal, but is willing to accept the current plan because she would like to
see something done.
John Whitesitt/156 W. Nevada/Commented on his involvement with the citizen's cormnittee and noted that
he was their elected spokesperson. Mr. Whitesitt stated the consensus plan adequately reflects the concerns of
the neighborhood and stated the committee agreed to the proposed plan. He noted that the seven plans were
submitted to Staff because the group was not able to agree on a single plan. Mr. Whitesil~t stated he personally
supports the consensus plan and asked that the Council move quickly for the safety of the residents. He also
asked that the C. ouncil not be swayed by those individuals who are unwilling to compromise.
Jerry Mulloy/183 W. Nevada/Acknowledged that there are safety issues on Nevada Street. Mr. Mulloy stated
the entire Quiel: Village neighborhood should be part of the LID and does not agree with excluding the
residents of the side streets. He expressed disappointment that the developer was given 69 votes, which is
more than the wotes given to the people who currently live on Nevada.
Gall Patton/822 Michelle Ave/Stated she was involved with the citizen's panel and noted comparisons to the
Tolman Creek I,ID. Ms. Patton stated the side street proPerty owners are willing to shoulder some of the cost
burden, but would like for their opinions to be heard as well. She stated that safety is the primary concern for
everyone and noted that emergency crews will have a difficult time navigating a narrower street.
Lyn Horstemeier/920 Cambridge St/Noted her involvement with the citizen's panel. She suggested that the
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plan be "road tested" first to dete~ine the actual effects to each property o~er. She stated tha~t both the City
of Poffiand and Co~allis perfo~ road tests before beginning any cons~otion and ~at the Nevada L~ would
benefit from this son of action.
Renee Swenson/360 W. Nevada St/Stated she is in favor of the LID and is in favor of the consensus plan.
Jim Young/240 W. Nevada St/Acknowledged the work of Staff and his approval of the proposed plan,
although he wished there was more traffic calming. Mr. Young stated there has always been a speed problem
on Nevada and requested that something be done in regards to the safety issues.
Tony Kerwin/350 W. Nevada St/Noted his involvement with the citizen panel. Mr. Kerwin stated the current
plan addresses the issues raised by the neighborhood and asked the Council to move forward and accept the
LID as proposed by Staff.
Linda Vanderlip/325 W. Nevada St/Stated she approves of the assessment district and requested that the
Council approve the proposed plan.
Will Schmidt/85 W. Nevada St/Stated that he is an EMS and noted that any type of street narrowing would
hinder emergency response times. Mr. Schmidt stated that there are other measure that can be taken to calm
traffic and slow speeds; other than bump-outs. He noted that motorists often swerve to avoid the bump-outs,
which could put pedestrians at further risk. Mr. Schmidt stated that there are many children in the Quiet
Village area and supports educational tools for children in regards to traffic safety.
Bryan Holley/324 Liberty St/Stated that he had been following this matter closely even though he does not
live in the neighborhood. He commented that bump-outs might seem like a good idea for pedestrians, but that
they can create issues for emergency vehicles. He also commented on the "Three E's:'Education, Enforcement
and Engineering". Mr. Holley stated if the City enlarged the LID boundary, they could more effectively
educate the neighbOrhood about the speed issues. He stated that the rumble strips would be noisy and that they
don't always work, and that a ladder crosswalk with a white boundary might be more effective',.
Chris Hald/275 Cambridge St/Stated he participated in the community group and voiced opposition to the
LID as presented by Staff. Mr. Hald stated he would like to see painted crosswalks and a sidewalk on the
south side. He also commented that many of the homes on Nevada have multiple Vehicles and the cars parked
along the street create a traffic calming effect.
Paige Morse/746 Cambridge St/Stated she lives on a side street of Nevada and does not understand why side
street property owners are not included in the LID. Ms. Morse voiced opposition to the Billings subdivision
having the majority of the votes. She commented on the rumbling crosswalks and stated that cortscience traffic
calming makes more sense. She stated the sidewalks should be more noticeable and if they do insert rumbling,
it should be placed before the crosswalk. Ms. Morse also noted the safety issues on Laurel Street and
encouraged the Council to look into this street as well.
Joaquin Saloma/368 ~York St/Stated the residents on the side streets should have a vote in regards to the LID
as they also have to travel on Nevada to get to and from their homes.
Tia Hatch/815 Michelle Ave/Statement was read aloud into the record.
Art Bullock/791 Glendower St/Stated that he represented the majority of the Nevada Street property owners.
Mr. Bullock explained that of the 53 properties in the assessment district, 30 of the property owners had signed
a petition objecting to the plan presented by Staff. He explained that the majority of the residents do not
support bump-outs, rumble strips, street narrowing, storm drain relocation and trees in the street. The majority
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does support a south side sidewalk, painted ladder crosswalks and side street stop signs for pedestrians to cross
safely.
Kris Daly/335 W. Nevada St/Stated that it is not fair that Mike Peru was given the right to vote for properties
that do not sit on Nevada Street. He commented that it could be years before the project is complete and feels
that the side streets residents should be allowed to vote on the project.
Bob Armen/375 Oxford St/Stated he supports the opponents of the LID and that there are safety issues with
the bump-outs. Mr. Armen questioned why Council didn't seek ODOT approval of the plans. He also
disagreed with the number of votes given to developer and stated it is an insult to the residents of Quiet
Village.
Public Hearing Closed: 8:55 p.m.
City Engineer Jim Olson clarified that the proposed crosswalks would have parallel lines ipainted on the outside
of the concrete embedment, and that the reflective paint markings would be visible at night. The scored pattern
in the crosswalks would be a two-foot square pattern and would serve as a passive reminder to motorists. It is
not a rumble st~rip, which has scoring at 2 to 3 inch intervals.
Mr. Olson also clarified the Fire Department was involved in the planning process from 'the very beginning to
eliminate any emergency response time concerns.
Public Works Director Paula Brown clarified the plans were not submitted to ODOT because they do not
manage city streets, only freeways and highways. However the design was prepared in concert with the ODOT
requirements, especially in regards to the bicycle and pedestrian elements of the design. Mr. Olson clarified
that ODOT is very supportive of bump-outs, embedded crosswalks and the other traffic calming measures
included in the proposed plan.
Mr. Olson clarified that adjusting the sidewalk around Ms. Frank's residence to save the hedge was an option
and noted that Staff had already planned to save the Cedar tree mentioned.
Ms. Brown clarified that in 6rder to install Sidewalks on both sides of the street, they would have to eliminate
on-street parking. Mr. Olson added that the street is not wide enough to have bike lanes and parking on both
sides.
City Attorney Mike Franell clarified that the petitions submitted by the property owners, who reside within the
LID assessment district, could count as remonstrances. However, with only the voters from the Billings
Development, the 2/3 requirement in favor of the LID is fulfilled. Mr. Frane~l also noted that even with a
100% remonstrance, the City could still move forward with the sidewalk project.
Councilor Morrison/Hartzell m/s to approve Resolution #2004-31. DISCUSSION: Councilor Laws stated
that traffic would increase significantly once the Billings development is complete and stressed the importance
of the Three E's: Engineering, Education and Enforcement. He commented that bump-outs provide the best
means of giving the appearance of a narrow street and reducing traffic speeds, and that the disadvantages of the
bump-outs are outweighed by their advantages.
Councilor Hartzell/Jackson m/s to extend meeting to 10:30 p.m. Voice Vote: all AYES. Motion passed.
Councilor Laws explained that the developer should be included in the LID assessment because their
development would have a strong impact on the area and that they should pay for a substantial part of the
improvements. ]in addition, he explained that Staff had abided by the precedent set by Council, in that those
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properties directly involved with the improvements are the ones that are charged.
Roll Call Vote: Amarotico, Hearn, Hartzell, Morrison, Laws and Jackson, YES. Motion passed.
Mr. Olson clarified that it is against the law to place a bike lane on only one side of the street. The only wayto
install just one lane would be to put a physical barrier between the traffic lanes and the bike lane.
Councilor Morrisonfltartzell m/s approve the 90% plan and to allow Staff consideration in the final
design of the LID to include the suggestions of sidewalks on both sides of the street between Helman
Street and Voris Street, and. to extend the bump out on the Frank property. DISCUSSION: Council
asked that their suggestions not bc 'given special attention over thc Cor/cerns raised by thc residents. Mr.
Francll clarified that passing this motion would allow Staff to assemble thc proposed assessment and move
forward with thc project. Thc next time this would come to Council would bc at thc final assessment hearing
at the completion of thc improvements. Mr. Franell also clarified that once thc public hearing concluded there
is no more opportunity to file a remonstrance. The only opportunity for an appeal is under thc writ of review
process, as stated in the Ashland Municipal Code. Roll Call Vote: Laws, Amarotico, Hartzell, Jackson,
Morrison and Hearn, YES. Motion passed.
PUBLIC FORUM
Leslie Ormanian/4093 Tenino Terrace/Stated he was wrongfully terminated from his position with the City
of Ashland and spoke regarding what he perceives as rampant abuse of the Ashland Fiber Network. Mr.
Ormanian stated computer equipment was given to employees for personal use and noted a lack of proper
records within the AFN department.
· UNFINISHED BUSINESS (None)
NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
1. Ashland Fiber Network Quarterly Report.
Electric and Telecommunciations Director Dick Wanderscheid and Finance Director Lee Tuneberg presented
the AFN Quarterly Report. Mr. Wanderschied pointed out the comparisons in the report regarding revenue
· type between the Old Plan, the 2004 Plan and the Actual. He noted the promotion activities and the planned
targets for acquired accounts. Mr. Wanderscheid stated that Staffwould be revising the format of the Quarterly
Report to better reflect the figures that need to be tracked. He also explained that the plan re, cognizes that
accounts would increas, e with the beginning of the Southem Oregon University school year. Mr. Wandershceid
stated that they had not noticed any resistance to the price increase and that most of the lost accounts are due to
people moving away.
2. Quarterly Financial Report -- April - June, 2004.
Finance Director Lee Tuneberg presented the Quarterly Financial Report. He pointed out items of interest in
his report and commented that the auditors will be arriving soon.
ORDINANCES~ RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS
1. Reading by title only of "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Ashland Reiterating its
Policy of Relating the Expenditure of Monies for Economic and Cultural Development to the
Hotel/Motel (Transient Occupancy)' Tax and Repealing Resolution 2004-11."
Delayed due to time constraints.
OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilor Jackson noted a Living with Wildfire in Ashland Forum on September 9, 2004 at the Community
Center from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. The Forest Lands Commission and Ashland Fire and Rescue will be present to
IS
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speak about thc Coa~nunity Wildfire ?rot¢¢tion ?lan that i~ currently being
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Barbara Christensen, City Recorder Alan DeBoer, Mayor'
PROCLAMATION
The United States of America has prized itself on advancing the civil rights of
individuals and guaranteeing justice and liberty for all. Central to the philosophy of
our democratic form of government are the precepts of equality and individual
dignity, the value of self-reliance and the basic right of all citizens to live full,
independent and productive lives.
In keeping with that tradition, the United States Congress in 1990 enacted the
Americans with Disabilities Act. This landmark legislation prohibits discrirnination
against people with disabilities in employment, public accommodations,
transportation and telecommunications.
· By joint resolution, Congress has designated October of each year as "National
Disability Employment Awareness Month."
The City of Ashland supports this resolution and the spirit as well as the letter of the
law to assure that all citizens with disabilities are fully included in our social,., cultural
and economic mainstream.
,,
People with disabilities represent a large, untapped pool of talent.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council and Mayor, on behalf of the citizens of Ashland,
hereby proclairn October, 2004, as
DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT
AWARENESS MONTH
in Ashland and urge its observance by all of our citizens.
Dated this 21 st day of September, 2004.
Alan DeBoer, Mayor
Barbara Christe, nsen, City Recorder
Office of the Mayor
~tlan ~. DeBoer
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
RE:
MEMORANDUM
September 21, 2004
City Council Members
Mayor Alan DeBoer ~
In Memory of Ken Hagen
Six years ago today, Ashland City Councilor Ken Hagen passed away. I wanted to take
a moment to remind all of us what an extraordinary person Ken was. Despite his
disabilities, he always focused on promoting a healthy environment and encouraged
alternative forms of transportation for everyone.
Ken always dreamed that one day Siskiyou Boulevard would have bike lanes, and if you
travel along Siskiyou Boulevard today you will see that there are bike lanes on both
sides. Bicyclists can now enjoy the safety of the new bike lanes and the beauty of the
recently renovated boulevard. I hope everyone who can is able to' benefit from these
new bike lanes.
Just recently Ashland received a "bronze" designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community
from the League of Oregon Bicyclists. Ken would have been very proud of Ashland and
its endeavor to making Ashland a safe and bike-friendly town.
Ken was an extraordinary person, dedicated to recycling and conserving the earth's
resources. Let's all honor Ken by picking up our trash, recycling as much as we possibly
can, and if we're able to, hop on a bike to get to the other end of town instead of taking
the car.
City of Ashland · 20 East Main Street · Ashland, OR 97520 · (541) 488-6002 · Fax: (541) 488-5311 · Email: awdb@aol.com
ASHLAND AIRPORT COMMISSION
August 2, 2004
MINUTES
MEMBERS PRESENT: CHAIRMAN PAUL ROSTYKUS, BOB SKINNER, FBO, PAUL WESTERMAN,
CLALJDIA STOCKWELU WILLI'AM SKILLMAN, ALAN DEBOER, RICHARD
HENDRICKSON, GOA LOBAUGH
STAFF: PAU/.A BROWN, DAWN LAMB
MEMBERS ABSENT: LINCOLN ZEVE
o
CALL TO ORDER'
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Public Forurn:
10:00 AM
April 6th minutes approved with changes
.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. T-Hangar Update -
Adrc)it has been working steadily. The Street Department will be doing the
paving of the aprons to the doors. The water line is being installed now to fulfill
the requirement for three fire hydrants. Bill Tout informed the commission that
Adroit had approached him for permission to use his hose bib for water. His
faucet is the only one in the area so he gave permission. He asked if another
water source was being considered and Brown commented that the reason
there is not more available water was a conscious choice to avoid runoff into the
streams. The airport has a high fee on it's NPDES permit and the presence of fuel
or other substances from washing the aircraft would be detrimental to the
airport.
DeBoer commented that the construction looks great. Brown said that the
construction was on schedule and on budget. There needs to be a cut off date
established for the pre-paid leases so that Skinner Aviation will know how many
unoccupied hangars will be available to the current renters and the waiting list.
Commission agreed that August 15th will be a soon enough date. Staff will send
a letter to all interested parties to have shown an interest in the pre-paid lease.
Staff will also print out a map for Skinner to fill in with names of prospective
tenants. Commission is hoping to avoid a lag in rents when they become open
and the other hangars are vacant. It was suggested that Skinner require the first
month's payment up front to avoid money flow problems. Skinner will solicit for
eight hangars now since there is only two confirmed pre-paid. Keys and locks
will need to be acquired for the hangars, staff will order them.
..
Action: Staff to order keys and locks, send letter to interested pre-paid persons
with deadline date and make a diagram of the hangars for Skinner.
B.
ALP Master Plan Update-
There has been some conversations regarding the lack of effort by Century West.
Brown has had several conversations with ODA about reassigning the contract.
C:\DOCUME-l\berteauftLOCALS-l\TempVkugust 2 2004.doc i
ODA will remain with Century West who has agreed to making the ALPs a priority.
Brown will keep the Commission informed of the dates of upcoming meetings.
Tentatively we are considering September or October for' public meetings.
C.
AlP Update
LTM was the sole bidder to the construction portion. There bid was considerably
higher than the engineering estimate. The FAA has accepted the bid, but Brown
is considering rebidding next spring to see if we could increase the interest. The
accepted bid excludes Bid Alternate A, which included more paving. Brown
would prefer to have this extra paving done. The cost for' this alternative is
$150,000 and we are not sure where we will' get the money. Brown may be able
to fund it through the annual grant monies if it is applicable. If we were denied
the grant, the City would be out the $150,000. The Alternate B included the
beacon and we did accept that cost. DeBoer opted for rebidding in the spring.
The funding from the state for road construction has been spent for the next five
to ten years. The work that has kept the contractors busy will be starting to wrap
up and they will be searching for other work. Brown woul,d probably rebid in
December for a start date in the spring. One of the issues', is that LTM has the only
FAA approved asphalt in the immediate area. Another company would have to
buy from LTM or start their own batch plant for the duration of the project.
Part of the expenses is the amount of testing that is required by the FAA. It drives
the cost up, but is somewhat unavoidable.
Action: Staff will continue to negotiate with LTM and may decide to rebid the
construction piece in the spring as long as it doesn't affect our Federal funding.
D.
Airport Association & Oregon Air Tour Event
Hamilton reported that everyone was fed pancakes and happiness abounded.
The event was a huge success as the pilots all compared aircraft. Rostykus is
working on flyers for the Airport Association. They are 'interested in doing an
event for the opening of the T-hangars.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Rental Increases for 2005
Since the rates were not adopted last month, there was some concern about
when the new rates should take effect and if they should be retroactive. Skinner
will double check if the billing has gone out or if Mignon has waited for the
outcome of the meeting. Commission decided that if the rate was still at the old
rate that Skinner would not make the difference retroactive.
The new T-hangar rate needs to be set. There is a $5.00 utility charge that needs
to be billed. There will need to be more research by staff on how to charge.
Skinner will not receive 25% of the utility charge. The rate was discussed in the
beginning as $225 per month. DeBoer asked if we had surveyed around the
valley for other hangar costs for comparison. The rate survey from ODA gives a
fairly good representation and we are in the normal range. The small half
hangars at each end of the hangars can be used by helicopters, do we want to
rent them. Brown would like to keep one for storing City items for the airport, but
the other could be rented if someone has a use. The fee should be comparable
to the established T-hangar rates. Commission felt it could be considered a
closed T-hangar.
C:\DOCUME-l~berteauf~LOCALS~l\Temp~ugust 2 2004.doc 2
For the exiting T-hangar rates, a sheet with proposed increases has been
presented. The Commission agreed to increase the hangar costs by $5 but to
leave the tie-down costs as they were. There will be no changE; to the tariff fees
this year either.
There was discussion on the Mobile Service Provider fee. It is currently $100 and
when you are a small company, that's a large expense. Skinner feels the real
reason there aren't more applications for the MSPs is because of the insurance
requirements. The insurance companies charge large amounts: for the coverage
'we require and what we require is not unreasonable.
Inspections still need to be made of the hangars sometime in the near future to
ensure compliance with the lease. Rostykus asked if staff would include the
lease language in the next packet for discussion. The Fire Marshal will need to be
included with the inspections. Skinner will send out a reminder in his mailing to
the tenants that inspections will be up and coming.
Action:
Skillman moved to accept $225 with a $5 monthly utility fee. Second by
Westerman. DeBoer will abstain because of potential conflict.
Bo
Applied Technology Self-Service Pump Warranty
The initial warranty has expired and there are several options for new warranties.
Depending on the cost, the degrees of coverage range from phone service up
to replacement parts.
There are existing challenges with the system that need to be resolved. Applied
Technology has agreed to work on these issues until they are completed at no
cost. Skinner has not received this in writing, only verbally. The .commission
discussed the validity of service warranties. If nothing breaks then it is money
spent, but if something does break they will usually pay 'for themselves.
Action:
Skinner will ask Applied Technology if they will do a 2 year warranty for $2,000
and ~report back to the commission in September. The cost will come out of the
maintenance funds.
Co
TSA Recommendations
The Transportation Security Administration, US Department of Homeland Security
has established an office in Medford. They visited the airport and gave Skinner a
few recommendations on safety matters at the airport. No funding was
mentioned. They made suggestions on signage, fencing and log in /log out
sheets for transient flyers.
Action: Staff will look oVer the report and give a summary to the Commission.
Other:
1.
Broken Tie-Down
Skillman asked if the tie-down chain that has been attached to a bench by a
rope. Could this please be fixed? Staff will look into it.
C:\DOCUME-l~berteauflLOCALS~l\Temp~August 2 2004.doc 3
e
AIRPORT MANAGER REPORT/FBO REPORT/AIRPORT ASSOCIATION:
A. Status of Airport, Financial Report, Review of Safety Reports
There has been gravel complaints out by the Valley Investments hangar. The non-
paved area is being driven through and the gravel track-out has become an issue.
Hamilton would like a chance to bring this up to the Association to see if they would be
willing to help out, like volunteers to sweep or a donation of hot mix to pack the area
down.
6. NEXT MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 7, 10:00 AM
ADJOURN: Meeting adjourned at 11:30 AM
C:\DOCUME-l\ber~teauf~LOCALS-l\TempV~ugust 2 2004.doc 4
CITY OF
-ASHLAND
HISTORIC COMMISSION
Minutes
August 4, 2004
Community Development/Engineering Services Building- 51 Winburn Way-Siskiyou Room
Historic Commissioners Present: Dale Shostrom, Keith Swink, Tom Giordano, Alex Krach, Rob Saladoff,
Terry Skibby, Sam Whitford, and Jay Leighton
Absent Members: None
NOTE: Joanne Krippaehne resigned from the Historic Commission effective July 3'1; 2004
Council Liaison: John Morrison (absent)
High School Liaison: None Appointed
SOU Liaison: None Appointed
Staff Present: Mark Knox, Associate Planner, Billie Boswell, Administration
CALL TO ORDER
At 7:07 p.m., Chairman Dale Shostrom called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Whitford moved to approve the July 7, 2004 minutes as submitted. With a second by Saladoff, the motion was
approved with all voting aye.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Planning Action 2004-100
Conditional Use
80 Wimer Street
Tom & Kathy Petersen
Most members had site visits; none had ex parte contacts.
Knox reported the Petersen application is to-construct an addition to the existing 1970's ranch style house, within
the Historic District, that would exceed the maximum permitted floor area by 12¼%. A detached garage,
connected to the existing house by a breezeway, was built in 2000 with a separation from the existing home of
only five feet, five inches. Knox explained that had the garage been constructed with a six-foot separation, the
requirement for a Conditional Use would not be required. Knox said staff recommended approval, stating the
design was appropriate fora ranch-style house and would accommodate the family's need for additional space.
Giordano asked if the addition was limited to the second story. Knox said there was also a 10-foot bump-out
across the main level on the front, which included a porch to soften and add ambiance to the street view. There
is also a small bump-out on the east elevation.
Skibby inquired and Knox confirmed that the total floor area exceeded the permitted maximum by 12½%
because of the additional garage area, but stayed under the 25% maximum allowed with a conditional use.
Swink asked about the siding material and the applicant stated they planned to use Hardiplank horizontal siding
but were undecided about using a textured or smooth finish. Swink recommended using a. smooth finish.
CiTY L~I-
ASHLAND
Shostrom felt the shutters were not appropriate because they mixed architectural designs. Leighton pointed out
the shutters may not be necessary with the use of horizontal siding. Shostrom was also concerned about the
small scale of the windows on the south elevation of the second story. He felt increasing the window size would
provide more balance and continuity to the second story addition.
As there was no one in the audience who wanted to speak, Shostrom closed the public hearing.
Skibby concluded that the scale and mass of the proposed addition was appropriate and added architectural
interest while remaining under the 25% maximum allowed for a conditional use.
Whitford pointed' out that if the garage had been built seven.inches further away, a conditional use would not be
required. Overall, the addition would result in a much more attractive home.
Swink felt the change to horizontal siding would improve the overall appearance.
Giordano moved to recommend approval of this application with the condition on the use of smooth textured
horizontal siding and enlarging the second story windows on the south elevation to balance out the design.
Leighton seconded the motion and it passed with a unanimous vote.
Planning Action 2004-102
Site Review
832 A Street
Ilene Rubenstein
Most members had site visits; Krach revealed he had ex parte contact with the Rubenstein's architect but felt he
could review the project without bias or conflict.
Knox explained the Rubenstein application is for a Site Review to increase the size and use of an existing two
bedroom, one bathhouse, conversion of the interior of an existing garage and the construction of a new structure
to offer a personal service establishment. The proposal would include five outdoor hot tubs with privacy fencing,
two hydrotherapy tubs, showers, sauna, steam room, and other related amenities. The house will continue to be
oriented toward "A' .,street. A new foundation would be added to the structure and the garage would maintain its
carriage house look. Parking would primarily be off the alley with the addition of three on-site spaces, two on
street parking credits on 7th Street and one on "A" Street. Since the applicant owns the two adjacent properties
to the west, two additional parking spaces would be leased to bring the total to eight parking spaces available.
Knox said staff recommends approval.
Skibby asked what the zoning was for the subject property and Knox confirmed it was zoned E-l, Employment
District, allowing professional and personal service establishments.
The applicant, Ilene Rubenstein and her representative, Chet Meck, detailed the overall plan to the Commission
members.
Giordano commented the plans received were lacking in sufficient graphic detail for the Commission to
understand the materials and dimensions proposed. Questions were raised by several of the commissioners
concerning the siding, trim, windows, fencing and landscaping details.
The applicant explaiined to the Commission the desiqn elements not shown. The Commission felt sufficient
information was giw.~n verbally to warrant approval if'detailed plans could be prepared and presented to the
Review Board.
There was no one in the audience who wished to speak regarding this application.
Ashland Historic Commission Minutes
August 5, 2004
CITY OF .
ASHLAND
Shostrom moved to recommend approval of Planning Application 2004-102 subject to sufficient plan design
elements such as: setback speci§cs; window design on the North and West elevations; sicling design on all
elevations; fascia detail; clarification of skirting detail; and fence design and materials being presented and
approved by the Historic Commission Review Board at their meeting on August 5, 2004. The motion, was
seconded by Krach and passed with all voting aye. (Note: The applicants complied and approval was granted at
the August 5th meeting).
ITEM NOT ON AGENDA
Knox requested an amendment to the Historic Commission Agenda to accommodate a request by Sidney
DeBoer to present an alternate design plan for their project at 234 Vista Street. The Commission agreed.
Knox explained, that the DeBoers were sensitive to the concerns of the Board and other residents on their
original concept plans and after some recent thought were contemplating a revised plan that would 'expand the
existing historical house with an addition much smaller in scale than their previous plan. The proposal showed
increasing the square footage to the maximum of 4061 square feet. They hope the proposed plan maintains the
integrity of the original historic home. Knox emphasized that the DeBoers were only asking t~he Commission to
provide direction and feedback on the new proposal to provide the DeBoers with additional information and allow
them to make a more informed decision.
The DeBoers and their representative, Joanne Krippaehne, presented details of the addition to be added behind
the existing garage and general remodel plans for the rest of home. Mr. DeBoer stated that every attempt was
being made to maintain and enhance the historical details of the original home.
Shostrom asked the DeBoers if the "Big" house would be built if the Condition Use Permit for'this proposal were
approved. Mr. DeBoer said "No".
Whitford and Skibby felt the DeBoers had done a good job with the design and applauded the effort, but that
findings will still be necessary. Shostrom liked the project overall but felt some reservation over the loss of detail
on the east elevation. Mr. DeBoer pointed out that some of the design details on that side were additions not
original to the house. Knox suggested providing photos of the existing house and detail the changes made since
the odginal structure was completed.
Overall, the DeBoers received positive feedback from the Commission along with some minor suggestions. The
Commission also noted that a future application would still be needed when the Conditional Use Permit is
applied for.
OLD BUSINESS
Review Board - Following is the August schedule for the Review Board, which meets every Thursday from 3:00
to at least'3:30 p.m. in the Planning Department:
Aug 12th
Aug 19th
Aug 26th
Sep 2nd
Sep 9th
Skibby, Whitford, Saladoff
Skibby, Swink, Shostrom
Skibby, Swink, Giordano
Skibby, Saladoff, Krach Whitford
Skibby, Leighton, Krach
Ashland Histodc Commission Minutes
August 5, 2004
LITY (.)F
SHLAND
Project Assi.qnments for Planninq Actions
PA #2000-120
PA #2002-100
PA #2003-005
PA #2003-092
PA #2004-017
PA #2004-026
PA #2004-018
PA #2004-043
PA #2004-100
PA #2004-102
485 "A' Street (Steve Hoxmeier)
142 East Main Street (Earthly Goods)
35 S. Second Street (Winchester Inn)
124 Alida Street (Kirt Meyer and Vadim Agakhanov)
364 Hargadine Street (Ken Kolar)
81 Central Avenue (Wes & Lucinda Vail)
322 Pioneer Street (Al & Sandra Carlson)
246 Catalina Drive (Dr. William Rodden)
80 Wimer (Tom & Kathy Petersen)
832 "A" Street (llene Rubenstein)
Shostrom
Leighton
Krach
Giordano
Swink
Krach
Whitford
'Saladoff
Co-Sponsorship with Conservation Commission for Fall Workshop - Agreed to August 15, 2004 meeting.
Memo to Council Re.qarding Authorization for Multiple Listinq Survey for National Reqister of Historic Places;
Possible National Reqister Nomination for Lithia Spdn,qs Property- Decision was made to move forward with the
recommendation to register the property. Knox noted that a memo to the City Council would need to be
prepared by the Planning Director, outlining the Historic Commissions decision and recommendation to use
Histodc Commission budget to fund a consultant to start the process. Knox said he would make arrangements
to schedule the Planning Director to meet with the Historic Review Board on August 19, 2004 at 2:30 p.m. for
discussion.
Brown Baq Lunch Ideas - Old House Fair- Leighton will follow up.
ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA
Election of Officers -. A motion was made by Leighton to re-appoint the Historic Commission officers as follows:
Shostrom will be Chairperson, Vice-Chair will be Skibby, and Krach and Saladoff will share Planning
Commission Liaison and Council Liaison. The motion was seconded by Krach and passed with all voting aye.
Krach recommendecl the Historic Commission be involved with street lighting standards. He will write a letter to
the Public Works Director to initiate a discussion.
Krach asked the cornmissioners if they would be interested in working with a SOU student as a partial participant
in the Historic Commission meetings. The student would be an active member but would not have voting rights.
The commissioners ,agreed and Krach said he would make the arrangements.
Shostrom thanked Mark Knox for his many years of service to the Historic Commission and wished him
continued success in his new job.
ADJOURNMENT
With a motion by Leighton and second by Skibby, it was the unanimous decision of the Commission to adjourn
the meeting at 9:50 p.m.
Ashland Histodc Commission Minutes
August 5, 2004
Bicycle & Pedestrian Commission
August 19th, 2004
Regular Minutes
Roll Call
Members present:
COuncil Liaison:
Staff:
RVTD liaison:
High school liaison:
Chair Lexi Delgado (absent)
Vice Chair Brad Knickerbocker (absent)
David Chapman
John Morrison (late)
Derek Severson, Assistant Planner
Tom Cook, APD Officer
Paige West, RVTD/TDM Planner (absent)
Cory Lescher (absent)
Tracy Bungay Tom Marvin
· Dylan Robbins Jack.Christrnan (late)
Jack Catron (resigned 8/19/04)..
SOU liaison: None assigned
Call to Order
Secretary Robbins called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.
Approval of Minutes July 15~ 2004
Marvin noted that the first paragraph under "New Business" should be moved up to the end of "Rolling Stops &
Walking."
Bungay/Marvin m/s to approve the minutes of July 15, 2004 as amended. Voice vote: All AYES. Motion
passed.
Public Forum
None.
Safe Routes Program Discussion (Scoff Bricker~ BTA and Lynn Mutrie~ ACTS Ore~on}
Mutrie explained the Alliance for Community Traffic Safety (ACTS) and noted that they had awarded a grant to the
City and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) to conduct the Safe Routes Program. She noted that ACTS was
also putting on the Oregon Transportation Safety Conference in Wilsonville from September 22nd to September 24th.
She noted that scholarships were available, and she offered to leave registration materials. She', discussed the
conference format and curriculum.
Bricker provided some background information about the BTA. He noted that they had been conducting Bicycle
Safety Programs in Ashland since 1999, and he added that the program had now expanded to 19 communities in
Oregon. He discussed the fact that spring programs had not been carried out as expected this year, but he added that
additional staffing had been arranged and that they are planning to conduct Walk to School Day programs on
October 6th, with a number of smaller events leading up to that date.
Bricker and Mutrie noted that the grant funds needed to be spent by September 30th. Bricker stated that the BTA
would provide additional funds if needed and he pointed out that Brad Jones, Doug Staples, and 'volunteers may
conduct several events by that time. He explained that Keith Massie might be conducting another helmet give-away,
and that Jones and Staples were coordinating donations. Bricker explained that BTA had received a grant from Nike
to conduct the October 6th events, and would have design and promotion assistance from Nike, in addition to
funding and give-away items.
Bricker stated that he was on hand to gauge commission interest and seek feedback. He pointed out that the BTA
may evolve into funding a program within the community, either through RVTD or possibly a program formulated
with the current BTA instructors. He noted that a website was in progress and that there would be a possibility for
links to individual schools.
2004-0819 Bike Min Page 1 of 2
--
Chapman noted 'that bells were a popular give-away item, and suggested that a helmet fitting be part of the event.
Robbins discussed the need to focus on creating habits, and he noted that both parental fear and the hills in Ashland
serve as barriers to forming the cycling habit. Bricker discussed the idea for a walking schoolbus, and he added that
getting parents involved was a key to the success of the program.
Bricker noted that the BTA was planning a "media school" press event that would get coverage in the Tidings as
well as' placing a half-page ad in the Oregonian. He distributed a sample press kit and explained that it would be
modified for Ashland, and added that there would be stuff kits as well that would include wrist bands, stickers, and
similar items for kids.
Speed Limits
No report.
Spr0cKids Proqram
Mutrie noted that Doug Detwiller who founded the program was a former colleague, and stated that she thought very
highly of him and the program. Robbins discussed the program as a possible focus for the Education and Outreach
subcommittee. Bungay added that it would work well for home schoolers. Robbins suggested looking at
implementation and discussed the possibility of bringing the program to Ashland at a future meeting.
Chapman/Marvin m/s to authorize staff to purchase the SprocKids program materials shown in the packets.
Discussion: It was noted that with shipping, the cost would be $90 and that program funds could be used for
the purchase. Voice vote: All AYES. Motion passed.
JPR Underwriting
Christman stated that he would like to have this item moved to next month's agenda.
Subcommittee Reports
Car Free Day - It was noted that the next meeting of the subcommittee would be at 5:30 on Tuesday the 24th at the
Railroad Park.
Education/Youth Outreach - Robbins noted that he was looking at how much time he had available to pursue
this, and he discussed the need to get the schools to buy-in to the program. Bricker suggested that Julie Ponder, a
teacher at the Middle School, might be a good contact.
Bicycle Friendly Communities Application - Mutrie noted that Andy Clark, the executive director of the
League of American Cyclist's, would be in town soon for Cycle Oregon, and might be available to meet and discuss
potential areas to improve in "going for the gold."
Neighborhood Safety/Safe Routes - Marvin volunteered to join Chapman on this subcommittee. Chapman
noted that they were looking at a neighborhood speed watch and also at mechanisms to pass on neighborhood
complaints. Robbins noted that the mapping projects done by ACTS might be an interesting idea here.
New Business
Members stated that they wished to discuss bicycle parking in the downtown and to look at bike rack designs.
Agenda Items for Next Month
Draft Downtown Plan discussion, bike rack installation and bike rack designs, SprocKids program, and JPR.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Next Meeting: Thursday, September 16th, 2004
2004-0819 Bike Min
- Page 2 of 2
CITY OF
SHLAND
ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
STUDY SESSION
AUGUST 10, 2004
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Russ Chapman called the Ashland Planning Commission Study Session to order at 7:40 p.m. on August 10, 2004 in the Civic
Center Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street, Ashland, Oregon.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
ABSENT MEMBERS:
COUNCIL LIAISON:
HIGH SCHOOL LIAISON:
SOU LIASON:
STAFF PRESENT:
Russ Chapman, Chair
Mike Morris
Kerry KenCairn
John Fields
Marilyn Briggs
Allen Douma
Olena Black
Michael Dawkins
Dave Dotterrer
No absent members
Alex Amarotico, present
None
None
John McLaughlin, Planning Director
Sue Yates, Executive Secretary
II. TOPIC: DISCUSSION OF COUNCIL GOALS AND UPCOMING APPLICATIONS.
COUNCIL GOALS
A Summary of Council Goals for FY 2004-2005 (updated as of July 16, 2004) was included in the Study Session packet. McLaughlin
explained that affordable housing is a goal the Council has set forth. The Council has adopted the Housing Needs Analysis and the
Housing Action Plan. The Planning Commissioners felt the two plans left many unanswered questions and that more statistics and
information are needed to create an accurate picture of the true affordable housing needs in Ashland.
McLaughlin said the purpose of tonight's meeting was to make the Commissioners aware of the Council goals. The Council is saying
we have an affordable housing problem and they want to see something happen. The first thing to do is make land use changes. The
Council has directed the Housing Commission to work on the strategies. The impact to the Planning Commission will be in seeing
any ordinance changes coming forth from the Housing Commission that will contain affordable components. Though it seems we will
never have enough affordable housing, we continue to make strides in helping create affordable housing.
Douma submitted a list of the questions to Staff and the Commissioners he has raised concerning affordable housing.
McLaughlin reiterated that the policy has been set and the direction has been set. If a Planning Commissioner cloes not agree with the
direction, then he/she can personally go to the Housing Commission and Council and ask them to change course. The role of the
Planning Commission is to understand this course.
UPCOMING APPLICATIONS
McLaughlin said within the next several months the Planning Commission would see a couple of annexations coming before them.
One property is on Clay and the other on the north end of Normal Street.
There are downtown projects in the works - the redevelopment of the Copeland property as well as other redevelopment plans.in the
downtown. There has been interest in the higher end market rate housing in the downtown.
A proposal has been made for redevelopment of the Croman property that is still in the early stages.
The Commission will be reviewing some affordable housing projects funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
money.
III. ADJOUORNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
CITY OF
SHLAND
ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 10, 2004
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Russ Chapman called the Ashland Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. on August 10, 2004 in the Civic
Center Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street, Ashland, Oregon.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
ABSENT MEMBERS:
COUNCIL LIAISON:
Russ Chapman, Chair
Mike Morris
Kerry KenCaim
John Fields
Marilyn Briggs
Allen Douma
Olena Black
Michael Dawkins
Dave Dotterrer
No absent members
Alex Amarotico (Council Liaison does not attend Planning Commission meetings in order to avoid
conflict of interest.)
HIGH SCHOOL LIAISON: None
SOU LIASON: None
STAFF PRESENT: John McLaughlin, Planning Director
Sue Yates, Executive Secretary
II. ANNOUNCEMENTS
The regular Planning Commissioner drop-in "Chat" will be held Tuesday, August 24, 2004 from 3:30 to 4:3.0 p.m. at the
Community Development and Engineering Services building located at 51 Winburn Way.
There will be a Planning Commission Study Session on August 24, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. at the Council Chambers, 1175 East
Main Street. The topic will be announced.
McLaughlin announced today is Mark Knox's last day. Knox has been with the City since October of 1993. McLaughlin
listed just a few of Knox's accomplishments and contributions to the City and how much he has appreciated his hard work and
efforts over the years.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES & FINDINGS
In the minutes of the July 13, 2004 meeting under Announcements, the time should read "3:30 to 4:30 p.m." Dotterrer/Morris
m/s to approve the minutes as amended. The minutes were approved by voice vote.
Dotterrer/Black m/s to approve the Findings for PA2004-077, Lithia Arts Guild. The Findings were approved by voice vote.
Conditions 3 and 4 in the Findings for PA2004-075, Burl Brim on Mistletoe Road were amended. Condition 3, the second
sentence shall read: "All street improvements shall be completed for the entire street frontage except for the southern most 175
feet." Delete the next sentence and add: "Remaining improvements will occur with future development phases." Condition 4,
amend: "(except for the southern most 175 feet)" at the end of the first sentence.
Dotterrer/Black m/s to approve the Findings as amended. The Findings were approved by voice vote.
The minutes of the July 27, 2004 Study Session were reviewed and no changes were made.
IV. PUBLIC FORUM - No one came forth to speak.
V. TYPE II PUBLIC HEARINGS - No hearings scheduled for tonight's meeting.
VI. OTHER
Ao
HEARINGS BOARD ASSIGNMENTS
September through December
Mike Morris
Allen Douma
Michael Dawkins
VII. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
AUGUST 10, 20O4
CITY OF
SHLAND
ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
HEARINGS BOARD
MINUTES
AUGUST 10, 2004
I. CALL TO ORDER
Dave Dotterrer called the Ashland Planning Commission Hearings Board to order at 1:35 p.m. on August 10, 2004 in the Civic
Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street, Ashland, Oregon.
Commissioners Present: Dave Dotterrer
-- Marilyn Briggs
Kerry KenCaim
Absent Commissioners: None
Council Liaison: Alex Amarotico (Council Liaison does not attend Planning Commission meetings in order
SOU Liaison:
High School Liaison:
Staff Present:
to avoid conflict of interest.)
None
None
Maria Harris, Associate Planner
Mark Knox, Associate Planner
Derek Severson, Assistant Planner
Sue Yates, Executive Secretary
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES & FINDINGS
Briggs/Dotterrer m/s to approve the Findings for PA2004-0094 were approved.
On page 2 of the of the July 13, 2004 meeting minutes, under Lucy Bashaw's testimony, it should read 'she' not 'he'.
Briggs/Dotterrer m/s to approve the amended minutes.
TYPE I PLANNING ACTIONS
PLANNING ACTION 2004-098
REQUEST FOR A LAND PARTITION TO DIVIDE THE EXISTING PROPERTY LOCATED AT 90 SEVENTH STREET' INTO TWO
PARCELS.
APPLICANT: DAN HELLER
This action was approved.
PLANNING ACTION 2004 099
REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND SITE REVIEW FOR AN APPROXIMATELY 780 SQUARE FOOT ACCESSORY
RESIDENTIAL UNIT (ARU) LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR LEVEL OF THE RESIDENCE BEING CONSTRUCTED AT 835 OAK
STREET. ALSO INCLUDED IS A REQUEST TO MODIFY THE PREVIOUS 3-LOT SUBDIVISION APPROVAL TO REMOVE A 10"
WALNUT AND AN 18" PINE ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 825 OAK STREET.
APPLICANT: CAROLE WHEELDONIDAVID BEAUDOIN
This action was approved.
PLANNING ACTION 2004-100
REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT AN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 80
WlMER STREET AND EXCEED THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED FLOOR AREA FOR A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING WITHIN THE
HISTORIC DISTRICT. THE PROJECT IS SUBJECT TO THE "MAXIMUM HOUSE SIZE" PROVISION DUE TO THE RESIDENCE BEING
SEPARATED FROM THE GARAGE BY A DISTANCE OF FIVE FEET, FIVE INCHES, RATHER THAN SIX FEET AS REQUIRED BY
ORDINANCE.
APPLICANT: TOM & KATHY PETERSEN
This action was approved.
PLANNING ACTION 21:104-101
REQUEST FOR A LAND PARTITION TO DIVIDE THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 91 NURSERY STREET INTO TWO PARCELS AND A
REQUEST FOR AN EXCEPTION TO STREET STANDARDS FOR A CURBSlDE SIDEWALK. ALSO, A REQUEST FOR A TREE
REMOVAL PERMIT TO REMOVE TWO TREES.
APPLICANT: ARCHERD AND DRESNER, LLC
KenCaim stepped do,am for this action due to a conflict of interest.
This action was approved.
III. TYPE II PUBLIC HEARING
PLANNING ACTION 20~04-102
REQUEST FOR SITE REVIEW TO OPERATE A PERSONAL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT INVOLVING THE OPERATION OF A HOT
TUB RENTAL FAClLTIY AND RELATED AMENITIES (I.E. SHOWERS, SAUNA AND STEAM ROOM) AT THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
832 A STREET. IN ADDITION TO TWO INDOOR HYDROTHERAPY TUBS, THE FACILITY WILL OPERATE FIVE OUTDOOR HOT
TUBS WITHIN THE GARDEN AREA OF THE REAR YARD. THE APPLICATION INCLUDES A REQUEST FOR A TREE REMOVAL
PERMO TO REMOVE ()NE TREE.
APPLICANT: ILENE RLIBENSTEIN
Site Visits and Ex Parte Contacts - Site visits were made by all.
STAFF REPORT
Knox reported the application is a permitted use in the E-1 (Employment) zone and subject to the Site Review Chapter because
this is a single family home being converted to a more intense use. The applicant is proposing a personal services establishment
for a hot tub facility. 'There will be five hot tubs in the yard. The administrative office area and storage will be inside the
house. The applicants; are proposing to convert the existing garage into a showerhouse. They are proposing to construct a
small sauna room in the back of the property.
The applicant owns the two adjacent properties. The house is a Contributing resource in our National Register Resource
Inventories. The applicants have already begun restoring the structure, allowed under the current ordinances. The Historic
Commission approved the application for the proposed changes, addition and also the remodeling of the garage. The curb cut
will be replaced, provJ[ding an additional parking space on the street. Last week, the applicants submitted information
requested by the Histe, ric Commission and the Historic Commission Review Board reviewed the submittals and recommended
approval.
The applicants will explain their request for removal of the small tree. The Tree Commission recommended a continuance of
the hearing. Knox read their concerns (in packet). The applicants have submitted a new landscape plan. Nothing has really
changed as far as the layout, but the applicants did address the Tree Commissions' concerns.. Staff has accepted the new
information and instead of requesting a continuance, we are asking the Hearings Board to move the project forward with the
landscape plan to be reviewed by the Tree Commission next month.
Staff had issues with t]he parking. The Land Use Ordinance does not address the parking demands for this type of
establishment. The applicant has provided information from the City of Arcata. The applicant has suggested, based upon her
experience, one space for every two patrons and one employee. Staff concurred.
There are seven Conditions. Knox recommended a Condition 8 stating, "That the applicant submit the revised landscape plan
to the Tree Commission during their September regular meeting."
PUBLIC HEARING
ILENE RUBENSTEIN, 8154 A Street, said there will be a lot of cross usage, a good adjunct to what she has now. She will offer a
discount to those who walk or bike.
Rubenstein said they are removing the almond tree because it is too close to the structure. The New Zealand Tea Tree does not
belong on the list of trees.
BRYAN HOLLEY, 324 Liberty Street, said the Tree Commission did not choose to zero in on with this particular project. It seems
there are larger procedural and order questions the Tree Commission has and that is the reason for the request for the
continuance.
ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
HEARINGS BOARD
MINUTES
AUGUST 10, 2004
The Tree Commission agreed the almond~ tree should be removed. The concerns they have are with the black walnut tree and
the plum tree. He read the information submitted by the applicant addressing the Tree Commission's concerns.
Holley has larger questions personally about procedure and policy (referenced in Chapter 18.72.060 and 18..72.110). Some
landscape professionals have set a standard for landscape plans and tree protection plans. Through their plans and dialogue
with the Tree Commission, it enables the Tree Commission to send forward a recommendation based on all the best
information at the time.
Holley referred to the Tree Ordinance, 18.61.200. In his discussions with Staff, he does not understand how the language can
be so clear, yet it is not matching up to what is happening on the site. He would like Staff to direct the applicants to the
ordinances and make sure they read and understand them. Holley asked that the Planning Conumssion haw~ a discussion about
the Tree CommissiOn still getting landscape submittals that do not meet the standards'set forth in the ordinance. ' '
Holley said the Tree Commission agreed with the applicant's Tree Removal Plan.
KenCairn agrees with Holley on the landscape plans. Having a landscape plan with common names on it is meaningless to
most and doesn't give Staff enough information to know if it is an appropriate plan or not. She did note, however, that the
applicants are not subject to the same Tree Ordinance issues at the same level until they enter into the planning action. Holley
responded this is a gray area. KenCairn said it seems the Tree Commission should recommend to Staff that they follow the
guidelines. Holley said the Tree Commission has been working on a checklist that will go to Planning. Do,tterrer believes it is
less important to the Planning Staff than it is to the applicant. On a fairly simple project, it doesn't seem like it should be so
complicated and one should be able to figure it out on their own.
Holley said there are draft additions to Chapter 18.72 that would helpful. Dotterrer said this project does not seem like that big
a project and should we get to the point where the smaller projects need a professional?
Staff Response - Knox agrees with Holley and the Tree Comrmssion's comments. A checklist would be extremely helpful.
Rebuttal - None
COMMISSIONERS' DISCUSSION AND MOTION
KenCaingBriggs rn/s to approve PA2004-102 with the eight Conditions. Roll Call Vote: Unanimous.
ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 2:25 p.m.
ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
HEARINGS BOARD
MINUTES
AUGUST 10, 2004
CITY OF
SHLAND
ASHLAND PLANNING COMMISSION
STUDY SESSION
MINUTES
AUGUST 24, 2004
I: CALL TO ORDER
Chair Russ Chapman called the Ashland Planning Commission Study Session to order at 7:10 p.m. on
August 24, 2004 in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 Ea'st Main street, Ashland, Oregon.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
ABSENT MEMBERS:
COUNCIL LIAISON:
HIGH SCHOOL LIAISON:
SOU LIASON:
STAFF PRESENT:
Russ Chapman, Chair
Kerry KenCaim
John Fields
Marilyn Briggs
Allen Douma
Olena Black
Michael Dawkins
Dave Dotterrer
John Fields
Alex Amarotico, present
None
None
John McLaughlin, Planning Director
Bill Molnar, Senior Planner
Sue Yates, Executive Secretary
AUDIENCE:
Kate Jackson
Willow Dean
Debbie Miller
Barbara Massey
Joanne Eggers
TOPIC: LOCAL WETLANDS INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT & RIPARIAN CORRIDOR INVENTORY
PRESENTATION: Molnar gave an overview and status of the wetlands inventory and assessment alongwith.
the riparian corridor inventory. He reviewed the work plan that accompanied the packet that went out to
each Commissioner. The goal is to get the Comprehensive Plan and implementing policies adopted by
June 2005.
Kate Jackson is involved with the committee for the Ashland Watershed Project and they will be involved
in the process.
ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjoumed at 9:00 p.m.
Council Communication
CITY OF
SHLAND
Title:
Dept:
Date:
Submitted By:
Approved By:
Public Arts Commission request for remaining TOT funds.
Administration
September 21, 2004
Ann Seltzer, Management Analyst, staff liaison to the Public Art Commission
Gino Grimaldi, City Administrator
Synopsis:
In FY 2004-05 $445,600 of transient occupancy tax was appropriated for Economic and Cultural Development
(ECD) grants. Of that amount, the ECD sub-committee did not allocate $5,925. If not spent, the funds will revert
to the ending fund balance of the general fund.
The Public Arts Commission (PAC) requests that Resolution 2004-11 be modified to allow the PAC to receive
TOT funds and that the remaining $5,925 be dedicated to PAC for the acquisition, installation and maintenance of
public art in Ashland.
The PAC is directed by ordinance "to enhance the cultural and aesthetic quality of life in Ashland..." though no
financial support was provided to enable the commission to implement their work. While the city has a
mechanism in place, the ECD grant process, to provide financial assistance to other organizations that provide
cultural development in Ashland, the process currently prohibits the PAC from receiving any of those funds.
Funds allocated through the ECD grant process enable grant recipients to leverage dollars through other granting
organizations by illustrating support at a local level. Amending the resolution gives the PAC the same
opportunity as other organizations to apply for local support and would enable the PAC to leverage additional
dollars through other granting organizations.
The council formally recognized the importance of public art to the community when it adopted .Ordinance 2890
in November of 2002 and created the Public Arts Commission. The cultural contributions to the community
through public art are no less deserving of financial supPort than other cultural grant recipients.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends supporting the request of the Public Arts Commission by: 1) Modifying Resolution 2004-11 to allow PAC to be a recipient of TOT funds and
2) Allocating $5,925 to the Public Arts Commission for the development of public art in Ashland.
Staff suggests adding subparagraph 'g' under Section 4, in the resolution to read: "Irrespective of sub paragraph
'b', the City of Ashland Public Arts Commission may apply for and receive funds."
Options:
1) Approve modification of the resolution and allocate $5,925 to the PAC.
2) Modify the resolution to allow the PAC to apply for and to receive funds and ask the TOT sub-
committee to meet and bring a recommendation back to the full council regarding the allocation
of the funds to the PAC.
3) Refer the entire issue to the TOT sub-committee.
4) Do not modify the resolution and deny the request for funds.
Fiscal Impact::
Allocating these funds to the PAC will not negatively impact the budget.
Background:
The PAC has initiated numerous activities to call attention to public art and to raise funds for the public art
components of the staircase being construction in Calle Guanjuato. The PAC has developed informational and
fundraising brochures, manned a booth on two different weekends in the Calle as a part of the Lithia Artisan
Market, hosted a neighborhood event at Pilaf Restaurant and continue to conduct face-to-face solicitation of funds
from residents. Invitations to the neighborhood event were designed and printed by the PAC and mailed to all
residents in the Granite Street neighborhood, all businesses on the Plaza and all elected and appointed Officials.
There are three public art components to the Calle Guanajuato staircase: the overlook at the top of the stairs
adjacent to Granite Street, the Arnie Krigel memorial sculpture garden at the mid-point of the staircase and the
staircase railing inserts. Current efforts of the PAC are directed to the overlook component, as it is an integral
piece of the staircase construction and must be completed first.
To date, the PAC has raised approximately $2,000 in non-dedicated funds for public art, which will be used
towards the overlook public art component. An additional $10,500 has been raised and is dedicated to the
memorial sculpture garden and $19,000, which was bequeathed to the city for a memorial honoring the McGee
family.
The PAC has made presentations to the Parks Commission keeping them abreast of the proceedings for the
staircase and has requested funds from the Parks Foundation.
The PAC has been in communication with a number of granting agencies including the Oregon Arts Commission,
the Meyer Memorial Trust, the Collins Foundation and PGE Foundation and has conducted preliminary research
on-line with other agencies at the state and federal level. All encourage the PAC to apply for funds once it can
illustrate financial support from the local government and from individual citizens.
Funds are needed to pay the artist for their work, to pay for the installation of art and in the long term, to pay for
periodic maintenance of the piece.
Section 2 of Resolution 2004-11 lists the goals the Economic and Cultural Development Committee attempts to
meet by granting funds to Economic and Cultural Development grant applicants. It clearly lists items specific to
Economic Development but does not elaborate on Cultural Development. While cultural development is not
defined in the resolution, the PAC believes the acquisition and placement of art is cultural development.
Item 'a' under Section 4, Guidelines and Criteria of the resolution, states that "grantee shall be a 501 (c) non-
profit agency, item 'b' states "grantee shall be a non-governmental agency". The Pubic Arts Commission is an
appointed body of the City of Ashland, which is designated by the IRS as a 501 (c) agency. Specifically it is a
501 (c) 1 as compm'ed to a 501 (c) 3 which is the designation for most non-profits.
From time to time there has been talk about the PAC forming a non-profit. However, the challenges associated
with doing so are daunting at this time. It has been estimated that forming the non-profit would require
approximately 60 hours of legal work. This is an expensive route though it may be possible to solicit pro bono
-work. However, should the non-profit be formed, it would need to raise funds for basic operational support and - .
minimal staffing in addition to raising funds for public art.
Attachments:
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
Letter from Kate Jackson to Council
Letter from Kip Todd, Chair Public Arts Commission
PAC Short Term Goals
DRAFT resolution amending resolution 2004-11 (suggested change appears in bold)
AMC Section 2.17.005
Draft minutes from the May 20 and 21 ECD committee meetings.
PAC Minutes and relevant e-mail correspondence re: funding
Engaging the Community (council study session presentation April 2004) and minutes
Letters of suppoi-t
Attachment I
August 31, 2004
TO'
FROM:
Ashland Mayor and City Council
Councilor Jackson
Subject: Typical funds available to City Commissions
In response to questions at the August 24 Council meeting about financial support for City
Commissions, I contacted the Department Heads for more information.
In general, commissions receive a nominal $750 to cover advertising, printing, mailing and
miscellaneous costs. Bike/Ped, Conservation, Forest Lands, and Traffic Safety show higher
amounts. In all cases, spending varies by year. Many receive substantial department support when
Department Heads approve specific projects that meet City needs. Forest Lands, Housing, Tree, and
Historic Commissions have benefited in this way. The money may or may not show up as a specific
budget item. The responsibility for deciding when, on what, and how to spend money rests with the
Department Head. Here are some examples.
The Conservation Commission has an annual budget line item for $3,850. Last fiscal year, $3,781
were spent.
The Forest Lands Commission has a line item of $1,000 of which $46 was spent last year. However,
since the fuels management work began in the watershed and interface areas, approximately $60,000
to $80,000 per year has been spent from Water Fund income for contract work. These funds were
matched with hundreds of thousands of federal dollars from National Fire Plan Title II grants.
The Traffic Safety Commission has a budget of $4,000, with $1,505 spent in fiscal 2004.
Expenditures are primarily for attendance at conferences or training and for sponsoring local mini-
conferences. Recommended work done on the streets (signs, painting, sidewalk replacement...) is
done with Street Fund money and is a part of the Public Works budget.
Airport Comrnission has a $300 line item, which was not expended in 2004. The Commission
actively helps the City manage the airport. The City acquires grants and matches with local in-kind
and dollars for improvement projects on the grounds of the airport.
Tree Commission shows a budget of $750, and was allowed to spend $1,062 in fiscal 2004. During
the preparation of the Street Tree Guide, $3,000 were appropriated to hire a consultant and to publish
the document..
Historic Commission also lists a $750 line item in the budget. In fiscal 2004, $1,756 were spent. In
past years, grants have been received to support Historic Preservation Week, one in the amount of
$3,000. Staff and volunteer time were considered in-kind match for the grant money.
Housing Commission is listed with $750, of which $180 was spent in fiscal 2004. Two years ago,
Housing Commission recommended the Housing Needs Analysis and Action Plan studies, staff
supported the expenditure and Council approved the $15,000 budget.
Planning Commission used $242.00 of the $750 in fiscal 2004. Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission,
on the other hand, lists a budget of $3,850 of which $843.00 were spent in 2004. Their funds go to
supporting Car Free Day, bike safety programs in the schools, and other activities to promote safe
alternative transportation.
Public Arts Commission
With community-wide fund-raising beginning, and the first project advertised for submittal of
proposals, the Public Arts Commission is entering a more active phase. The Commis. sion has
reported to Council twice: to announce the locations chosen for the first projects, anq to inform
Council and the public about the varied funding sources for public art.
The charge of the group is "to enhance the cultural and aesthetic quality of life 'in Ashland by
actively pursuing the placement of public art in public spaces... ". The staff and comrnissioners
provide plenty of 'in-kind' match for grants. However, in-kind services will not pay for artists' fees
or the installation of public art.
The Public Arts Commission believes the projects it proposes qualify as "cultural development" for
the community. You have seen letters of support for the Commission from a' variety of arts
organization, some who reCeived TOT funds and some who did not. I also believe the PAC request
for funds in the amount remaining from the fiscal 2005 TOT grant budget is a reasonable one. The
amount is not out of line with what other commissions affect in the course of their work. The money
will serve to complete the variety of sources available and allow the City to pursue supporting grants
to augment the local funding.
I hope this perspective on commission funding is informative to you. To me, it illustrates that when
commissions work closely with staff, the Department Heads provide financial support if needed to
further the Commissions' advisory role. As with the other groups, PAC will make recommendations
to staff. Staff, and Council as appropriate, gives approval for expenditures.
Attachment Ill
City of Ashland
Public Arts Commission
August 17; 2004
Dear Mayor m~d Council:
The City of Ashland Public Arts Commission has launched a grassroots fundraising campaign for
public art. These funds will be used to offset the costs associated with public art, including the
· artist/artwork, installation and maintenance. To date, in-kind and cash contributions ranging from
$10 to $1,000 total $2,000.
In addition to fundraising, the commission is finalizing the Request for Proposal for the public art
area at the top of the Granite Street staircase from the Calle, known as the Overlook. Conservative
estimates indicate that $15,000 is needed to complete the project, $3,000 for the artist and $12,000
for materials and installation.
We have been in contact with some of the primary granting organizations in Oregon. All encourage
us to apply for funding once we can illustrate financial support from our local government and
citizenry. To that end, the PAC respectfully requests the City Council allocate the remaining $5,695
from the Cultural and Economic Development Grant funds to the Public Art Commission to be used
towards public: art and to modify the existing Resolution, 2004-11, to allow the. Public Arts
Commission to apply for these grants and/or receive an annual allocation from the TOT for the
purpose of public art.
We would submit to the Council that funds from the TOT fund were intended precisely for this kind
of use. Public art is cultural development and indirectly enhances economic development. Public art
adds an aesthetic element to a community. An aesthetically appealing community is beneficial to
existing businesses and to potential new businesses and is pleasing to residents and visitors alike.
The council formally recognized the important contribution of public art toward the economic and
cultural vitalist of a community when it adopted Ordinance 2890 (codified as AMC 2.17) which
states "...the arts are an important part of the cultural and economic life of the entire community of
Ashland and enrich the participants in the arts as well as those that observe them..."
The PAC is firmly committed to its mission as stated in the ordinance "...to enhance the cultural and
aesthetic quality of life in Ashland by actively pursuing the placement of public art in public
spaces..." The commission has worked extremely hard these past many months and will continue to
seek funds from a variety of sources. An allocation from the Council, especially an annual
commitment to fund Public Art, will assist fundraising efforts tremendously.
Public art is available to everyone 365 days a year in the open air. It does not have a performance
schedule, does not need to sell tickets or to market an event and it is not located behind walls. It is
the most accessible cultural entity possible.
Please help us 'to make public art a reality in Ashland.
Respectfully,
Kip Todd, Chair, Public Arts Commission
The attached is provided for your information.
Attachment II page 2
Examples of funding for public art in other Oregon cities.
City
Population Funding for Public Art
Medford 64,643
$25,000 per year from annual budget plus private donation
Lake Oswego 35,839
$20,000 per year from annual budget plus 1.5% of capital projects
Grant Pass 24,843
Small trust fund from sale of art
West Linn 24,172
$12-$15,000 per year plus 1% of capital projects
Tualitin 23,877
$8,5000 per year plus private fundraising and events
Ashland 20,215
Private donations
Summary of existing funds for public art in Ashland
McGee memorial
$19,000
Amie Krigel Memorial $10,500
Other $2,000
Attachment III
original May 2003
updated April 2004
CITY OF
SHLAND
Short Term Goals
Public Art Commission June 2003. December 2003
The following goals.were developed by the PAC dudng a sedes of workshops held in Apdl and May 2003.. The PAC identified these.
goals to be addressed during the next six months. Other areas of interest by the PAC will be considered after the New Year, in order to
allow the PAC to focus and direct their full attention to the following goals. Requests and interests from the public outside these stated
goals may be heard at anytime, but will not be considered until January 2004.
PUblic Art CommissiOn
AMC' 2.17
Public Arts Commission is to'enhance the cultural and aesthetic quality of life in Ashland by actively pursuing the
~ public access to the arts. The continued vitality of the arts
and
GOALS
1. Explore all Sources of Funding Opportunities
2003-2004 Who Timeline Planned Activities
a) pursue 1.5% of new construction Kip and Ron, Kate Ongoing . D ...... ,o, ,,~ ~,,..o~ ~,o,`` o,,,~ ~``,~,,~ ~,,,,,,,~
b) include as a line item in budget ,~ ..... ,~ ..... ~... *h~* ~, ,,~,~ ,.,,~.,~,. o., done
c) identify local, state and federal sources Complete by · Identify granting agency that might fund art for
d) consider fundraising mid-July '03. Gateway island
e) seek in-kind services . n..,...,.,,~ ........ ~,~,`` ~.,,ag.,, ~,.. ,.., ....... art
f) consider art activities/events o,,a ....... r,.., ,~.~, ``~ .... ' °'~"' done
g) establish trust account mid-August · Prepare and present to City Council for con-
h) consider taxes/licensing sideration 1.5% of new construction/re-
Kip, Ron, Kate mid-September construction for art.
· Prepare request for public funds for art be
Kip, Ron, Kate mid-October included in 2004-2005 budget
2. Explore possibility of placement of.art in Gateway Island
2003-2004 Who Timeline Planned Activities
Ann 'mid-June '03 · ~,.,,,~,.. D.~,,~ ~ ...... ,`` D^r' .,````,;,~,., done
mid-July '03 · Determine and define site constraints, permit
requirements, engineering considerations etc.
first draft of guidelines for acquisition and
Richard mid-August Placement of Public Art on-going
· Work with funding sub-committee on approxi-
mate budget for funding. On-.qoin~
I I I
3. Acquire Public Art for sites designated for the placement of art in Calle Guanajuato
2003-2004 Who Timeline Planned Activities
Ann mid-June · ~n,,i,.. et .... r'_i,-.o ,,, ,~i,,e, i~o,.[, ...... ~t a,qd
around? Wh~.~m~ers if
Sharon, Richard mid-August done
· . Work with the funding ~ub-committee ~o de-
termine possible sources of fun0in~ on-~oin9
4. Write Policies and Procedures
2003-2004 Who Timeline Planned Activities
In order of priority: Bruce, Sharon, Ann,
a) Guidelines for public art on City mid-June ~ir~ .... I~n ~r~,l' ,4r~R' ,E,-, ...... ; .... k,, DAP D,,kli¢
Streets/Rights of Way (Calle, Gateway) ~,,n~"~¢*~,~, ....., ,~a ¢~,,,~,.¢ ,~**,,.,~, ......, ,~¢
b) Guidelines for accepting gifts of a~ mid-July h .... ~- ~.-* a.~ ¢~ ..... ~ .... by P~¢ ~,,~
~I~1~ ,11~ ~,~i~ ,vl 1~11~1, ~ , ~v, , U~llV i ~Vl,~
C) A~is~ Ag~ee~en~Con~ac~ ~id-Augus~ n .... ~ ~ ~ ~ ..... ~ .... s" o~r r~"'
d) ~uidelines ~or a~is~s ~ubmiKing to mid-~ptembe~ ·~,~,~ .... '~ ~*,,,~ ~,~,~ ~,~. ..... ,~.,~..~ .... ~;~" ,~,
'Call~ ~or public a~'
e) ~elecUon Process and ~vie~ P~nel ~id-~ober · in revi~ by ~y ~(~om~y J~u~ry
Each of the above ~tego~ needs to
addre~ ~he ~ollo~i~g:
· Non-site specific a~
· Site specific a~
5. Other
In addition to the goals listed above the following will also be addressed.
2003-2004 Goals Who Timeline Planned Activities
a) review sign ordinance for possible Inger, Richard mid-July ,,..,-.,,,,,]~'~;~ ...... -,,-,-.-,,,,-,-,;~'"~ ,,,; .... ,.,..,.,.,,,;°~"g .,,..,,,..,,..,.."'r'~ ..... that
change in mural restrictions relate to mura!s. Research ordinances of other
cities re!ated to murals, done
mid-August · Develop proposed changes for review by City
Attorney, Invite City Attorney to PAC meeting
to explain considerations when proposing
changes to an ordinance
mid-October · Prepare draft mural ordinance for review by
City Attorney and eventual presentation to
Council. Review current space including wir-
lng, furniture and layout to determine what ira-
b) develop basic forms to be Used for all provements are possible.
art, including artist contact info, installa- Richard mid-June · Draft form
tion considerations, wei~lht etc.
Attachme, nt IV
DRAFT
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND
REITERATING ITS POLICY OF RELATING THE EXPENDITURE OF
MONIES FOR ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE
HOTEL/MOTEL (Transient Occupancy) TAX AND REPEALING
RESOLUTION 2004-11
THE CITY OF ASHLAND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the city council recognizes that the source of monies for the Economic
and Cultural Development Grant program is the Hotel/Motel Tax.
SECTION 2. The following are the goals which the Economic and Cultural Development
Committee: is attempting to meet by granting money to applicants:
a) Tourism Promotion.
b) Economic Development by:
1) Responding to general inquiries about business in the city;
2) Providing assistance to existing small businesses;
3) Providing technical and financial assistance for the expansion of existing
businesses;
4) Providing technical and financial assistance for the development of new
businesses; or
5) Providing such other services and support to business as the city council may
deem beneficial.
c) Cultural Development.
SECTION 3. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2004/2005, the city council will appropriate thirty-
three and one-third percent (33.3%) of the anticipated Hotel/Motel tax monies for Economic
and Cultural Development. The City of Ashland has determined that as of July 1, 2003,
$186,657 or 14.23% of total Hotel/Motel tax revenues were expended on tourism promotion,
as defined in Chapter 818 of the 2003 Oregon Laws, and will continue to be spent on tourism
promotion increased or decreased annually consistent with the estimated TOT revenues
budgeted.
The amount to be allocated annually to Ashland Chamber of Commerce (COC) and Oregon
Shakespeare Festival (OSF) for promoting tourism per the state definition shall be $80,432
and $110,000, respectively, adjusted each year by the amount of inflation or deflation
established[ in the Budget process. An additional amount of $160,000, adjusted each year by
the amount of inflation or deflation established in the Budget process, will be granted
annually to COC for economic development projects in cooperation with City staff. The
allocations in this paragraph shall sunset after three years.
Any additional amount for tourism required by Chapter 818 shall be allocated to COC, OSF
or other group during the budget process. The remainder of the monies budgeted for these
grants may be allocated to grantees for activities fitting in any of the three categories :set forth
in Section 2 of this Resolution.
By January 31 of each year each recipient of grants under this resolution shall subrnit'a report
to the city council setting forth how the grant funds received were expended in furtherance of
the goals set forth in Section 2.
SECTION 4. The following guidelines and criteria are established for the Economic and
Cultural Development Grants:
a) Grantee shall be a 501 (c) non-profit agency.
b) Grantee shall be a non-governmental agency.
c) Grantee shall promote livability for the citizens of Ashland.
d) The minimum grant proposal will be $1,000.
e) The grant will benefit Ashland in regards to enrichment and activities of an
economic nature.
f) Grantee shall serve the population in Ashland but may encompass other venues in
the Rogue Valley.
g) Irrespective of sub-paragraph 'b', the City of Ashland Public Arts Commission may
apply for and receive funds.
SECTION 5. Resolution 2004-11 is repealed upon passage of this resolution.
SECTION 6. This resolution takes effect upon signing by the mayor.
This resolution was read by title only in accordance with Ashland Municipal Code Section
2.04.090 duly
PASSED and ADOPTED this 19th day of August 2004
SIGNED and APPROVED this 20th day of August 2004:
Reviewed as to form:
Attachment V
AMC 2.17.005 Purpose
The mission of the Public Arts Commission is to enhance the cultural and aesthetic
quality of life in Ashland by actively pursuing the placement of public art in public
spaces and[ serving to preserve and develop public access to the arts. The continued
.vitality of the arts in the City of Ashland is a vital part of the future of the city as well as
of its citizens. The arts are an important part of the cultural and economic life of the
entire community of Ashland and enrich the participants in the 'arts as well as those who
observe them. Several organizations which exist in Ashland are active in the arts and
provide leadership to the community on arts related matters. The creation of a Public Arts
Commission for the City of Ashland will assist those organizations, and other
organizations and individuals, to make arts a more important part of the city's life.
(ORD 2890, added 11/19/02)
Attachment VI
Minutes
Citizens' Budget Committee
05/20/2004
Economic and Cultural Development Grant Presentations
Draft Minutes
May 20, 2004, 7:00pm
Civic Center, Council Chambers, :t:t75 East Main Street
CALL TO ORDER
The Economic and Cultural Development meeting was called to
order at 7:03 p.m. on May 20, 2004, in the Civic Center Council
Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street Ashland, Oregon.
ROLL CALL: Councilor H.artzell, Laws, and Jackson were present.
Budget Committee Members Olsen, Stepahin, Silbiger, and Williams
were present.
STAFF
PRESENT:
LEE TUNEBERG, FINANCE DIRECTOR, BUDGET
OFFICER
CINDY HANKS, PROJECT COORD]:NATOR
BRYN MORRISON, ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY
Williams/Olsen m/s for Silbiger to chair the meeting. All
Ayes.
Lee Tuneberg, Finance Director spoke that $95, 168 will be
allocated and proposed' to set time limit for presentations to 5
minutes. Committee agreed.
PRESENTATIONS: In order of receipt.
Grant Applicant
SOEDC
Grant Requested
$9,ooo
Rob Hambleton spoke to the goal of building the local economy
with producers and buyers. They want to build a campaign and
$6,000 is to continue the creation of material to educate
community, and $3,000 will be for the Siskiyou Sustainable
Cooperative directory. The Committee asked if they will be
sustainable and what the criteria was for the directory. Mr.
Hambleton replied that it would be sustainable and they promote
businesses that want to be economically stable and that pay and
treat employees well. He explained that the Shared Use commercial
kitchen program is more successful in the Ashland area. The
Committee asked about going to the Chamber in Ashland and
Medford fOr support. Mr. Hambleton responded that they already
have started the plan to use networks.
Grant Applicant
Artattack
Grant Requested
$11,200
.]udd Robbins, Nicole [saacson-Hill, spoke regarding the theatre
group. They are flexible to reduce costs to enable choice for peoPle
in the community to go to the theatre. The Committee asked if
they receiived donations and they replied that they do not receive
donations from the businesses that they will offer the reduced
tickets to their employees. The Committee asked if there is a way
that the Chamber or the City would be able to help with filling the
empty seats, if they do not receive all the funds requested. The
Committee asked about the businesses selected to receive the
discounte,d tickets. They responded that all businesses are limited
to ten tickets per night at half price and they will ask for
identification proving they are employees from the downtown area.
Dave Williams, Budget Committee Member stated that he thinks
they should make the discount available to more people.
Grant Applicant
Rogue Valley Symphony
Grant Requested
$13,600
Francis Van Ausdal, Tom O'Rourke explained how the Symphony
will expand their season. They will increase by two concerts at
SOU, and fLrnd raising concerts. They will bus Ashland students to
the full concert in Medford. The Committee asked about the
increasing salaries and it was explained that it was due to the
additional concerts.
Grant Applicant Grant Requested
SOWAC $8,500
Helen Wallace spoke to the function of the organization. She spoke
to the categories of Resolution that the organization fulfills with
grant. They are supported from community, and have to raise the
same amount from non-federal funded agencies to receive federal
grants. She stated that the grant will be a small portion of the total
expense of the classes and that they have changed their name to
the Microenterprise Development Center.
Grant Applicant
Rogue Opera
Grant Requested
$1o,ooo
Lorrie Hall spoke to four programs that the grant will fund. They
will extend season to an eight week season and they hope to
donate more tickets this next year. They also hope to do mentoring
for students. The Committee asked what portion of the grant would
go towards an Ashland program. Ns. Hall responded that the Amahl
production would be the only one. The Committee questioned the
short terms of the Board of Directors, 7 of 11 have been on less
than 2 years. Ms. Hall explained that they did an organizational ·
assessment and reorganized and added several people.
Grant Applicant
Arts Council of Southern Oregon
Grant Requested
$3,000
Lyn Godsey, Steve Preston spoke to the goals of the organization.
Online arts directory will be established with grant and will be for
artists to belong to at the $50 dollar level for only $35. The City
would be subsidizing the artists to be able to join at that level.
They have 50 people or organizations that would receive a $50
membership. They explained that the grant will help with
administrative costs.
Grant Applicant
Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon
Grant Requested
$4,000
Larry Cooper spoke to the function of the organization. They
provide students with a rare opportunity that is usually not
available in small communities. The grant will be used for 3
performances in the off-season to bring tourists in. 70% will be
from Ashland and 30% from elsewhere. The students that
participate are required to be in orchestra in school and the largest
expense is the performance space.
Grant Applicant
Ashland Gallery Association
Grant Requested
$8,000
Mickie McCormic, Jason Couch spoke to the mission of the
association. They spoke to the achievements and the need for
funding. They want to market Ashland as an art destination. The
grant would help to maintain the website and promote it nationally.
One goal is to attract people from 500 miles away and show
Ashland as a total vacation destination.
..
Grant Applicant
Peace House
Grant Requested
$5,ooo
Linda Richards, Kevin Preister would like to promote multi cultural
events. Tlhey have four events with different themes. They would
like to produce brochure to promote Ashland. The events will be
held in Ashland and people will be coming from around the region
and would be promoted toward people that would participate in this
level of peacekeeping. They would only produce pure cultural
programs.
Grant Applicant
Siski~ou singers
Grant Requested
$6,000
Alison Elliot, Lezley Sanders spoke to the history of the
organization. They spoke to the need for funding. The grant will be
for enhancement of website and the production of a CD. They have
discussed raising ticket prices and the fee to participate. They do
not want to have to do that.
Grant Applicant Grant Requested
Ballet Rogue $6,000
Glenn Hill spoke that the City has helped to fund the performances
for the last 17 years. This year they will do 3 performances. They
are asking for 40% of their costs.
Grant Applicant
Southern Oregon Film Society
Grant Requested
$1o,ooo
Tom Olbrich, Darrel Pearce spoke to the festival history. They
spoke to the demographic categories that the festival draws. The
grant will be used to supplement the volunteers and increase staff.
They will use the grant to promote the festival and reach out to
other areas. They are requesting a grant from the Carpenter
Foundation for $17,500.
Grant Applicant
St. Clair Productions
Grant Requested
$5,0oo
Ariella St. Clair, Maureen Hicks spoke to the history of the
prganization. The grant would help with advertising. They have a
grant request with Carpenter and Celebration Foundations. Income
statement will need to include a raffle netted at $600.
Grant Applicant
SOU Native American Studies Program
Grant Requested
Ss,ooo
David West spoke to the history of the academy. He spoke of the
possible use of the grant funds and the theatre programs. They are
working with many other regions to improve schools in cultural
development.
Grant Applicant
Science Works
Grant Requested
$20,000
Christy Hostetler, spoke to the educational programs and the
services they provide. They have expanded their days from two to
five this year. The grant funds will help to market the museum.
Grant Applicant
Southern Oregon Historical Society
Grant Requested
$2,143
Richard Seidman spoke to the use of the grant request. He stated
that they would comply within the City's code requirements for the
signage. The panels would take minimum maintenance and Parks
would be responsible for it.
Grant Applicant
Community Works
Grant Requested
$1o,ooo
Arnie Green spoke that the grant would help in their existing
business. They are trying to diversify their funding due to cutbacks.
They have been donated a candle factory and are working toward
marketing the products. ]~t will cost $35,000 to hire an individual to
research marketing and promotion and would be an employee of
the business.
Grant Applicant
Lithia Arts Guild of Oregon
Grant Requested
$8,000
No Presentation
Grant Applicant
The Green Room of Ashland
Grant Requested
$5,ooo
3osuah Heuertz, Laura Henneman spoke to productions and need
for funds. They feel that they fulfill the categories in the Resolution
for the funds.
Total $149,443
The estimated 2004-2005 budget allocation is $95,000.
PUBLIC 'INPUT None
ALLOCATIONS
Postpone,d until the meeting on May 21, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.
The Finance Department will email the. Committee a spreadsheet of
allocations to complete and return before the Hay 21 meeting. The
Committee made suggestions 'for the next year application form.
AD3OURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bryn Morrison, Administrative Secretary
Finance Department
Minutes
Citizen.,;' Budget Committee
05/21/2004
Economic and Cultural Development Grant Presentations
Draft Minutes
May 21, 2004, 7:00pm
Civic Center, Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street
CALL TO ORDER
The Economic and Cultural Development meeting was called to
order at 7:02 p.m. on Hay 21, 2004, in the Civic Center Council
Chamber,,;, 1175 E. Hain Street Ashland, Oregon.
ROLL CALL: Councilor Hartzell, Laws, and .lackson were present.
Budget Committee Members Olsen, Stepahin, Silbiger, and Williams
were present.
STAFF
PRESENT:
GTNO GR[MALDT, CITY ADMTNTSTRATOR
CTNDY HANKS, PROJECT COORDINATOR
BRYN HORR]:SON, ADMTN[STRATTVE
SECRETARY
PUBLIC INPUT
The Lithia Arts Guild asked to present their grant request.
Laws/Hartzell m/s to allow to present. Debbie Lorray, Jim Young
spoke to the project at Briscoe School. They spoke to the event
that they are requesting funding for. Kate Jackson, Councilor
clarified that they do not have a contract yet with the School
District; they only have an agreement in principle. They will also
need to apply for a conditional use permit. IVls. Jackson also
clarified that the Public Arts Commission has not been involved in
this project. IVlr. Young explained that they talked to three people
on the Commission about it and they showed interest. They
explained that the School district would receive 4% of sales and
they are working on networking support but do not have any
contracts yet. IVls. Jackson feels that the money should be allocated
to the'm'but' if they do 'not Obtain a contract, the funds would come
back to the City. The Committee asked to clarify whom the artists
would be and how would they be chosen. They responded there are
five rooms that will be rented by artists. One space will be a
working space for artists.
Iris. Jackson spoke to the new Resolution for TOT. She spoke to the
change for tourism and the economic and cultural development
emphasis. Don Laws, Councilor doesn't think that they could expect
the change this year due to the grant applications were completed
before the Resolution took place. He sees the need for events that
enhance the City for both residents and tourists. Cate Hartzell,
Councilor hopes by next year that the partnership with the
Chamber grows to help the smaller grantees.
ALLOC/~T]:ON$
Iris. Hartzell proposed looking at the grantees that have been
funded for several years and seeing if they need these funds should
be cut back. The Committee expressed the need to have the
grantees present what they accomplish with the funds that they are
granted from the City from the previous year. Dave Williams,
Budget Committee Member feels that the organizations that
promote the arts are an important part of Ashland and need the
funds. The Committee had concerns regarding the association with
the SOU Native American Academy and the college and voiced that
they support all the multi cultural events that were applied for.
Southern Oregon Historical Society's funding is contingent on the
signage being approved by the Council and meeting the City Code.
Mr. Laws does not support the City funding groups that he sees are
political interest groups as he feels the Peace House is. Ms. Hartzell
suggested not funding the Peace House and asking them to come
back next year and address concerns that they may be for political
interest. The Committee allocated $1,500 for the Ashland Gallery
Association only for the advertising for the directory. The
Committee stated that they did not agree with the program that
Artattack presented and needed funding for and chose not to fund.
'The allocations were made as follows:-
Science Works $12,000
SOWAC 8,500
S.O. Film Society 8,500
Community Works
SOEDC
Rogue Valley Symphony
Rogue Opera
Ashland Gallery Association
Ballet Rogue
Siskiyou Singers
Youth Symphony of Oregon
Lithia Arts Guild of Oregon
St.. Clair Productions
The Green Room
SOU, Native American Studies Program
Southern Oregon Historical Society
Arts Council of Southern Oregon
Peace House
Artattack
7,000
6,500
6,000
6,000
5,000
4,500
4,100
4,000
4,000
4,000
3,000
2,500
2,143
1,500
0
0
Total $ 89,243
This leawes $5,925 unallocated.
Ms. Hartzell proposed to add $2000 to SOEDC and $1000 to the
Southern Oregon Film Society. Mr. Laws did not want to give more
to SOEDC and Ms. ]ackson did not want to give more to Science
Works. Williams/Laws m/s to leave balance in reserve. Hartzell
would like to add $500 to SOEDC.
Williams/3ackson m/s to approve allocations. Williams, Laws,
3ackson, Silbiger, Stepahin, and Olsen, yes. Hartzell, no. Motion
passed 6 to 1.
DISCUSSION
The Committee would like the Finance Department to keep the
bylaws arid 501 c3 and tract within the City and not distribute to
the subcommittee. The Committee would like the Finance
Department to produce a policy for financial reporting. Ray Olsen,
Budget Committee Member would like to raise minimum and be
more specific Of expectations of grantees. Russ Silbiger, Budget
Committee Member would like to see the City have on file the 990
IRS documents of applicants. Ms. Hartzell would like to see the
program budget be more specific for what the funds will go towards
and is not in favor of raising minimum.
AD.1OURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:54 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bryn IVlorrison, Administrative Secretary
Finance Department
End of Document - Back to Top
· .
rage ~ oi >
¢l:lY Ol
~SHLANID
Friday, September 17, 2004
Minutes
Public Arts Commission
08/25/2003
Minutes
Public Art Commission
August 6, 2003
Regular Meeting Minutes
Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way 8:30 a.m.
Attendance
Commissioners Bayard, Jorgensen, Demele, Todd, Krigel, Benson, Jackson
(Council liaison),, Seltzer (staff liaison) were present.
Absent
Dvora, Krigel
Call to Order
Bayard called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.
Approval of minutes.
Minutes for the 3uly 16 meeting were approved.
Agenda Items
Committee Reports
Funding (Demele, Todd, Jackson, Benson)
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~'age z oI 3
The following notes are from Bayard:
Main focus of discussion was around list of potential giving institutions that
Ron compiled, and the possibility of approaching Council about the T.O.T tax
and redistribution of a portion of those funds to the "cultural development"
through public art. Because many foundations look at comprehensive plans to
base their giving on, the necessity for us to continue developing that plan was
made clear. It's possible that someone like the Carpenter Foundation would be
in favor of granting money to hire someone to help us solidify that plan. We
also talked about the possibility of setting up a trust fund for people to make
contributions to.
· .
Bruce will call: Sabra Hoffman (formerly of the Carpenter Found.), to ask
about the feasibility of that grant and who to talk to currently at the
Foundation; and Mary Gardiner of the Schneider Museum to inquire as to their
funding sources. Hoffman said the focus of the Carpenter Foundation is human
services and that the proposal from the PAC would need to very good.
Hoffman is no longer at the Carpenter Foundation, her replacement if Polly
Williams.
The following notes are from Demele:
Before seeking funding support for the arts, local communities usually engage
in a public process to determine the needs and wishes of both creators and
consumers of art in the community. This process can take several months and
usually involves an arts professional and public input. Part of the
comprehensive plan frequently involves a survey of existing public facilities,
spaces, existing works, groups and programs with recommendations of future
support for elements of the arts such as visual, sculptural, dance, theatre,
music, etc. The end result is a comprehensive plan for the development and
support of local arts activity. In Ashland the commission has accomplished an
inventory of local art currently in public spaces, and some in private places.
The commission has determined through an internal planning process that the
first priority of work would be the creation of a public art plan element and
begin its implementation before completing a comprehensive plan. This
element helps determine needs and specific plans for showing, acquiring, and
commissioning public art pieces for Ashland. This plan also addresses the
issues of funding future projects and programs of public art.
There are many potential sources for funding the Arts in Ashland and
specifically, activities generated by the newly created Public Arts Commission.
Public decisions made by the City Council will determine the future direction of
funding Arts activities. For example:
· The City could fund the Arts Directly through the creation of a yearly
allocation for the Commission by the Council. Some sources could be
General fund, bed tax, or meals tax funds.
· The City could help set up a special account to be'overseen by the
commission to place public gift monies for support of arts activities.
Those include family, business, individual, service clubs, etc.
· The City could authorize the commission to seek other public money
such as NEA and Oregon arts commission, and cultural trust monies.
· The City could support the commission to seek private foundation giving.
· The City could legislate funding support such as a local video tax,
http://www.ashland.or.us/PrintContentView.asp?ID= 1325&Agenda=True
9/17/2004
construction % for art set aside and other legislative mechanisms.
Foundation giving
Oregon Arts Giviin9
Autzen
.. Berni
Lamb
Meyer Memorial Trust
Naumes
Spirit Mountain
Ashland Arts Giving
Braemer
Carpenter
Collins
Cow Creek
Ford Family
Jackson
]eld-Wen
McKenzie River
Oregon Community
PGE
Rosenburg
Templeton
Tucker
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rage
Ashland Foundations
Sharkey
Smullen
Tektronix
Thorndike
Tucker
Poficy and Procedures (Dvora, Krigel, Bayard, Seltzer)
Notes from Bayard.
Notes from Arnie and Kip on the draft document were discussed and new
notes created on language and concepts of the Art in Public Places document.
We also discussed the merits of two documents on artists agreements, one
drafted by Paul Nolte and an actual agreement from RACC (Portland). We
thought the one from Portland covered most of the issues that were brought
up in Paul's document, and was also much more inclusive of other concerns
such as maintenance and insurance, it also honored the artist and artist's
work in a way that would be more likely to encourage participation in AIPP
programs.
Sharon is to edit RACC (Portland) document to Ashland-appropriate language.
Arnie to supply info to Bruce on selection panel considerations. Bruce to
incorporate changes on AIPP document and continue distilling info from other
cities.
Gateway Art (Benson, Seltzer)
City Council, at their regular meeting on August 5, approved the request of the
PAC to designate four place holders for public art in the. Gateway area of
Siskiyou Boulevard including:
1) The large circular earth filled space in the triangular portion of the median
plaza.
2) The plant filled space in the bump out on the corner of Gresham and East
Main street.
3) The vertical surface of the retaining wall in front of the Library.
4) The "Welcome to Ashland" sign facing the fire station (#40 on.this
drawing). (Note, the sign is private property and PAC will be speaking directly
with the owners.)
Calle Art (Dvora, Seltzer)
Notes from Dvora
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Next steps for the Calle project:
-- Receiving final drawings from Steve Gies of Parks Dept.
-- Meeting with Jim Young regarding the $3,000 of funding available
-- Drafting a call for artists
We considered 3 possible scenarios for the display:
1. Rotating Gallery: downside is the amount of annual administration and
installation efforts it would take to call for artists and mount a new show each
year or two years. Benefit is that the city doesn't need to fund the purchase
of the artwork and more artists can be displayed.
2. Permanent Installation of Public Art
3. A combinatio~ of permanent and rotating artworks: A permanent medallion
and artwork set into the garden zone. 2 rotating artworks in the walkway zone
(wall niche and pedestal).
· We would Ilike to research the costs of shipping (not necessary if local
artists) and installation. Will $3,000 cover this expense?
· We would Ilike to research limited contracts with artists for rotating art
exhibits. Contact the Grand .]unction Public Art Group.
· We discussed funding issues related to this project and the possibility of
forming a foundation like the Parks Foundation.
I
rage o oi o
Other (Jorgensen)
Jorgensen has been gathering information on murals in other cities.
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C~ITY OF
.ASHLAND
Friday, September 17, 2004
Ii
Minutes
Public Arts Commission
1.0/01./2003
Minutes
Public Art Commission
October 1, 2003
Regular Meeting Minutes
Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way 8:00 a.m.
Attendance
Commissioners Bayard, Benson, Demele, Todd, ]orgensen, Dvora, Jackson
(Council liaison), Seltzer (Staff liaison) were present.
Absent
Guest
·
Alan Oppenheimer
Jim Young
Call to Order
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Bayard called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
Old Business
· Due to apparent glitches in the group e-mail address for Public Arts
Commission, the group was asked to review the e-mail list of all
members and to establish their own group list on their respective
machines rather than relying on the group e-mail address for the group.
· The Comrnission agreed not to continue to meet twice per month as it
has for~eight months. The Commission will now meet once per month on
the third Wednesday of each month at 8:00 a.m. at 51 Winburn Way.
The next meeting is November 19.
· Kate .lackson gave an update on the landscaping plan for the Gresham
Street bump adjacent to Evos. Kate explained that the two trees,
scheduled to be planted, at that location were to mitigate the removal of
trees at the library. While the PAC had previously asked Council to
approve that area as a placeholder for public art and not to plant the
trees, the group agreed to planting the trees, with berm or no berm as
the tree commission recommends. The PAC would like to retain the
option of developing a public art project at that location, possibly as a
"neighborhood gateway" community project that would not interfere
with the trees.
· The Comrnission had a discussion about the McGee IVlemorial gift and
what our parameters are for developing that project. As a result of the
discussion,, a need for a "Donation Direction Form" became clear, so
there can be documentation of expectations and obligations of such
donations.
New Business
Committee updates
· Policies and Procedures. Bayard reported that he needs input from
the commission on chapter IV, Artist/Artwork Criteria, which is
essentially complete. The committee will begin to work on chapter V,
Selection Process. Commissioners are asked to comment on chapter IV
no later th.an October 20.
· Calle Guanjuato. Dvora met with the Parks Commission and asked that
the area oi" the overlook of the Calle project not be concrete but rather
be left "undecided" so that the PAC can incorporate that area into an
artistic overall design to include the "medallion". Parks will open the
bidding process for the Calle project again in the spring in the hopes that
more local contractors will bid. The only bid received in the previous
bidding process was nearly double the budget and submitted by an out
of town contractor. Parks agreed to make appropriate adjustments in the
plans to reflect the PAC request.
· Gateway No report.
· Funding. The committee asked for-guidance on' next steps.
· Murals. No report
Action Items
· Full commission to review chapter IV of Policies and Procedures.
Committee will begin drafting Chapter V.
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· Calle, develop a timeline for the Calle project.
· Gateway, develop a public input timeline for the Gateway project.
· Funding, identify potential gifting organizations that might consider
funding a project such as the Calle because of the international/sister
city element.
· Funding, develop a proposal to request a percentage of the TOT.
· Funding, develop proposal and timeline for McGee Memorial
· Benson, Bayard and Demele to draft a form/questionnaire, a "Donation
Direction Form" to be completed by people wishing to make a monetary
gift as a memorial to the PAC.
Sculpture Garden for.Public Art
Alan Oppenheimer made a brief presentation to the group regarding the
establishment of a Sculpture Garden for Public Art in memory of Arnie Krigel.
Family and friends of Krigel hope to contribute more than $5000 towards such
a space. The PAC agreed to explore ideas on where the space might be located
and the process for incorporating sculpture. Oppenheimer agreed to review
the draft form being developed for people wishing to make a memorial
contribution.
The Commission stated its sadness at the passing of Arnie. He was a delight to
work with, and his input on all matters will be greatly missed.
Committee Meetings
Murals Monday, October 6, 2:15 p.m. upstairs at Bloomsbury
Gateway Wednesday, October 8, 2:15 p.m. upstairs at Bloomsbury
Funding Tuesday, October 14, 8:30 a.m. Evo's
Policies/Procedures Wednesday, October 8, 9:00 a.m. upstairs at Bloomsbury
Next Meetinqs
November 17, 2003
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 a.m.
http ://www. ashland, or. us/PrintContentView, asp?ID= 1382&Agenda=True 9/17/2004
C. ITY 01~
~SHLAN D
Friday, September 17, 2004
Minutes
Public Arts Commission
11/1912003
Minutes
Public Art Commission
November 19, 2003
Regular Meeting Minutes
Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way 8:00 a.m.
Attendance
Commissioners Bayard, Benson, Todd, .lorgensen, Dvora, Wilkerson, Jackson
(Council liaison), Seltzer (Staff liaison) were present.
Absent
Demele
Guest
Alan Oppenheimer
Claudia Rochelle (sp?)
Call to Order
Bayard called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Todd m/s to approve minutes
of October 1. The commission welcomed David Wilkerson, to the group.
Committee Updates
1) Policies and Procedures
http://www, ashland, or. us/PrintC ont entVi ew. asp ?ID= 1610&Agenda=True 9/17/2004
Bayard reported that it appears that the group is in agreement with Chapter
IV, Art in Public Places as he did not receive any changes to the draft.
Action:
· Bayard will begin drafting Chapter V, XXX
2) Gateway Island
No report
3) Calle
Dvora reported that the committee has identified four components to the Calle
Public Art project:
1) The overlook area at Granite Street level at the top of the proposed stairs.
2) Rotating sculpture garden
3) Wall niche for art
4) Stairway hand rail
There was some discussion from the group on whether or not to incorporate
Guanjuato artists in the overall project and/or to invite participation in only
one area of the Calle, such as the overlook area. There was much discussion
on the need for public input. Wilkerson cautioned that before asking for public
input, the commission must be very clear as to what input it is asking of the
Public.
The commission endorsed the identified four components of the project.
Jackson asked for a written proposal from the sub-committee elaborating on
the project and proposed timelines. Dvora passed out her notes from the sub-
committee meeting.
Action:
· Jackson to contact Cultural Affairs liaison in GTO to discuss GTO
involvement.
· Dvora to draft written proposal, clarify the process and develop a
timeline for the overall project including public input.
4) Funding
Bayard reported that the group proposes to request money in t-he 2004-05
budget from the general fund to finance public art specifically the projects
already identified. Jackson explained that a balanced budget must be
presented including existing funds (IVlcGee memorial and proposed
contributions for the Arnie Krigel IVlemorial Sculpture Garden).
Jackson and Seltzer met with Finance Director Lee Tuneberg to discuss the
http ://www. ashland, or. us/PrintContentView, asp ?ID= 1610&Agenda=True 9/17/2004
budget process. Jackson will introduce the idea to council in December and
include it in the ,council goal discussion in January.
Jackson distributed a draft proposal for funding. There was much discussion
about the actual dollar amounts proposed and how they were determined.
Action:
??????
5). Mural
No report.
Action:
· Jorgensen to distribute information to the group.
6) Memorial Giving
Todd presented a draft chapter on Memorial Giving to be included in the
Policies and Procedures guide. There was not time left in the meeting for the
group to review the document. It will be revisited in December.
Action:
· None
Old Business
Dvora recommended the rotating sculpture garden in the Calle be dedicated as
the Arnie Krigel Sculpture Garden. The group agreed with the idea as did Alan
Oppenheimer on behalf of the Krigel family.
Committee Meetings
Murals
Gateway
Funding
Po licies/Proced u res
Memorial Giving
Murals
Next Meetings
December 17, 2003
http ://www.ashland.or.us/PrintContentView.asp?ID= 1610&Agenda=True 9/17/2004
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 a.m.
http://www.ashland.or.us/PrintContentView.asp?ID= 1610&Agenda=Tree 9/17/2004
CITY O£
,ASH LAND
Friday, September 17, 2004
Minutes ..
Public Arts Commission
12/17/2003
Minutes
Public Art Commission
December 17, 2003
Regular Meeting Minutes
Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way 8:00 a.m.
Attendance
Commissioners Bayard, Benson, Todd, 3orgensen, Dvora, Wilkerson, Demele,
~lackson (Council liaison), Seltzer (Staff liaison) were present.
Absent
None
Guest
Alan Oppenheimer
Call to Order
Bayard called thE: meeting to order at 8:10 a.m. Todd motioned to approve
minutes of November 19, seconded by Dvora.
Committee Updates
Recommendations from the sub-committees are for discussion for the full
commission and 'then direction from the full commission.
http://www.ashland.or, us/PrintContentView.asp?iD= 1611 &Agenda=True 9/17/2004
1) Policies and Procedures
Bayard reviewed Chapter V of the Art in Public Places document and explained
that sections E K will be completed at a later date.
2) Mural
]orgensen asked the PAC to review the document on murals that she created.
Todd suggested the document be incorporated into the overall Policies and
Procedures document. Jackson recommended that the subject of murals be
fully discussed at the PAC level.
Two projects have been identified as possible locations for murals: Calle
Guanjuato and the alley side of Q's. Wilkerson and Dvora suggested waiting to
investigate the project until PAC has developed a mural process as any mural
proposal violates the city sign ordinance.
Action: Seltzer to provide historical information on the creation of the sign
ordinance.
3) Funding
There was much discussion on the draft letter/document to submit to council
as an annual report.
Action: .lackson and Bayard to edit and finalize the report and send to Seltzer.
Seltzer will include the report in the packet of materials the council receives in
preperation for Council goal setting.
New Business
Seltzer requested the PAC identify a goal(s) to be submitted to the council for
consideration during goal setting for 2004-05. The commission agreed to
submit the following goals:
1) Allocate funds to complete the Public Art projects at the Gateway and on
the Calle.
2) Allocate funds for the development of a Strategic Plan for Public Art in
Ashland.
Th~ PAC goals will be included in the Council goal setting packet.
Committee Meetings
Murals
Gateway
Funding
Poi icies/Proced u res
http://www.ashland.or.us/PrintContentView.asp?ID= 1611 &Agenda=True 9/17/2004
Memorial Giving
Murals
Next Meetings_
January 21, 2003
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 a.m..
http://www.ashland.or, us/PrintContentView.asp?iD= 1611 &Agenda=Tree 9/17/2004
Ann seltzer - Fwd: Re: proposa from PAC finance subcommittee Page 1 ~
From:
To:
Date:
Subject:
"bruce bayard" <b@babayard.com>
<seltzera@ashland.or.us>, <katejackson@opendoor.com>
9/16/2004 11:16:52 PM
Fwd: Re: proposal from PAC finance subcommittee
*********** BEG IN FO RWARD ED M ESSAG E ***********
On 11/17/2003 at 11:22 AM Kate Jackson <KateJackson@opendoor.com> wrote:
. .
Bruce, Ann and PAC:
I have been reviewing the letter and looking for a clearer way to show
the budget proposal and the project estimates. Would you mind if I
speak with Lee Tuneberg about it? It seemed to me at our subcommittee
meeting that showing the possible matches, or at least
Since we want to ask for substantial $$ (real money), I think it would
be good to include summary descriptions of each project we have going.
I am thinking these would be one paragraph each, perhaps on individual
pages, attached after the lettedmemo. Council and the public need to
be able to visualize and get a grasp on what each project will do, in
order to 'justify' the request.
I Ioo.k forward to the meeting this Wednesday. It seems like a long
time since we met. I hope the majority of members can come. This is
important to me, that the PAC present a request for support from the
Council.
Sincerely,
Kate
Kate Jackson
Ashland City Councilor
20 East Main Street
Ashland OF[ 97520
541-482-2612
katejackson@opendoor.com
On Sunday, November 16, 2003, at 10:40 PM, bruce bayard wrote:
Hello everyone,
Attached is a draft proposal from the finance committee regarding TOT
allocations potentially going to the PAC. We've been going around with
the numbers. These represent the high end of what we've been talking
about. At our next meeting on Wednesday, we will want to agree on the
> final budget proposal so that we can get it sent to the Mayor and
>. Council.
> There should be an agenda coming out on Monday. See you Wednesday.
> <draft tot request.doc>
Bruce, Ann and PAC:
From:
To:
Date:
Subject:
"bruce bayard" <b@babayard.com>
<seltzera@ashland.or.us>, <katejackson@opendoor.com>
9/16/2004 11:18:00 PM
Fwd: Re: grant money and City Charter
******* .... BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE ***********
On 5/23/2004 at 12:34 PM Kate Jackson <KateJackson@opendoor.com> wrote:
Bruce,
great idea!l! Such a simple one too. I will float the idea with Alan
and other councilors.
Here is a question for you. I am working on rousting potential charter
review committee members from the community. The Council decided to
set up an independent ad hoc committee to review the City's charter
this summer. At a minimum, there are out-of-date and no-longer-legal
provisions in our Charter, last amended in 1970. Then there are larger
issues of governance: is it still appropriate to have an independently
elected Parks Commission? Should we have an elected City Recorder? Do
we, as citizens still prefer our strong mayor/city administrator style,
or do we want to change to a weak mayor/strong city manager style.
It has been easy for me to find names of people with many years of
experience and living in Ashland. I wonder if you know of people to
participate from the more youthful ranks who could bring an interest
and understanding of governance with a newer view of society and
community. The Committee will have seven voting and one alternate
citizen members and two former elected officials. It will be appointed
by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council in June, thus begin work in
July.
Application date deadline is this coming Thursday, May 27. An
application forrn with questions is needed and available from the City
Recorder, and Fran Berteau. While there is text information on the
website, I do not see a link for the application form.
Feel free to send this around the email circuit. Anyone interested is
welcome to call me, or other councilors or the mayor to talk about it.
Enjoy our beautiful spring!
Sincerely,
Kate
On Friday, May 21,2004, at 10:10 PM, bruce bayard wrote:
..__Kate, .-.'
> By the way, I was going to ask if there's any way the leftover $ could
> go to the PAC?
> Just a thought.
Attachment VII
CITY OF
-AS H LAN D
DRAFT
Minutes
Public Art Commission
August 20, 2004
Regular Meeting Minutes
51 Winbum Way 8:15 a.m.
Attendance
Commissioners: Wilkerson, Todd (Chair), Bayard; Benson, Young, Longshore
Jackson (Council liaison)
Seltzer, (Staff Liaison)
Absent
None
Guests
Ann DiSalvo, Richard Moeshell
Consent Agenda
Minutes of the July 16 meeting were approved. Bayard motion, Young second.
Report on Council Meeting, August 17, 2004
Todd reported on the council meeting of August 17 and the PAC request for TOT
funding. Todd explained that the request for funding was carded over to the next council
meeting on September 7 and encouraged all commissioners to attend. Jackson suggested
gathering additional letters of support. Bayard will send a letter to Friends of Public Art
asking for letters of support as well as financial assistance.
Pilaf Gathering
Longshore reported on the gathering at Pilaf restaurant and was pleased that residents of
Granite Street attended but was disappointed that other than Parks Commissioner Joanne
Eggers, no other elected or appointed official attended and acknowledged that the
rainstorm may have kept people away. ' .....
Bayard thanked the Lithia Artisans Guild for their $1000 contribution. Todd supports
holding another event some time in the future.
RFP
Bayard explained that the RFP is finished except for a few attachments. It will be posted
on the City's web site in both English and Spanish the last week in August.
Bayard also reported that Hatakai Tile offered to donate tiles for the overlook area. There
was some discussion to clarify the expenses associated with the overlook project.
Wilkerson and Bayard explained that the budget allows for $3,000 for the artist and
$15,000 is; estimated for materials and installation. .
McGee Memorial '
Todd asked Benson to chair the sub-committee for the McGee memorial. Benson agreed
and Longshore volunteered to be on the committee.
New Commission Member
The Mayor will appoint a new Public Arts Commissioner at the council meeting on
September 7. Jackson reviewed some of the applications that have been submitted. She
will meet 'with the Mayor to discuss the various applicants.
Jackson County Cultural Trust Grant Application
Wilkerson motioned to apply for grant money from the JCCT and Bayarad seconded the
motion. Benson offered to fill out the application with input from the committee.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.
-ASHLAND
Public Arts Commission
City Council Study Session
Wednesday, April 7, 2004
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
What Public Art can Contribute
CELEBRATING SUCCESS
Our Accomplishments / Our Vision for the Future
PROJECT ONE: CALLE GUANAJUATO STAIRWAY
A Work in Pr~)gress
PROJECT 'IWO: BOULEVARD GATEWAY
The City's Visual Identity
MAKING IT HAPPEN
Funding Opportunities
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
What Public Art can Contribute
PUBLIC ART...
Child's Play
Environmental Stewardship
Public School Partnership
Celebratioin of Cultural Diversity
Anti-Violence Strategy
Design Solution
Economic Development
Neighborhood Organizing
Community Building
· .
CELEBRATING SUCCESS
Our Accomplishments / Our Vision for the Future
YEAR ONE
Identifying short term and long term goals
Begin Policies and Proceedures Manual draft
Developing working relations with City departments, community partnerships
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES. PROGRAM
B. Intent
II. PROJECT IDENTIFICATION A. Sculpture Projects
B. Mural Projects
.... C. 2-D Installation
D. Multi-Media Installation
III. SITE CRITERIA
A. Site Considerations
1. Traffic Considerations:
2. Pedestrian Considerations:
3. Electrical and Mechanical Considerations
IV. ARTIST / ARTWORK CRITERIA
A. Aesthetics
1. Artist Selection Considerations
2. Design Team Projects Considerations
V. ~;ELECTION PROCESS A. Selection Panel
B. Call for Entdes
VI. FUNDING
VII. ARTIST CONTRACTS
VIII. ACCEPTING GIFTS
IX. MAINTENANCE
X. EDUCATION
XI. DEACCESSION
black -- first draft complete blue = areas yet undeveloped
PROJECT ONE: CALLE GUANAJUATO STAIRWAY
A Work in Progress
MAKING IT HAPPEN
Funding Opportunities
PUBLIC ART CHANCE CARDS:
Neighborhood bake sale raises fUnds for a playground sculpture
to be installed in a local park.
Collect $2500
Involved citizen dies and leaves estate funds for public art.
Collect $50,000
Local business donates funds to establish placement of
public artwork in prominent downtown location.
Collect $25,000
Midsummer Night's Dream Festival opens for 1st annual summer fun.
Proceeds from art sale contribute towards rotating sculpture
garden in the city park.
Collect $5,000
Citizens vote in a General Obligation Bond fund to jump-start
a public art campaign.
Collect $250,000
National Endowment for the Arts grants funding to the City
to support the development of a public art master plan for the city.
Collect $100,000
City approves an annual line item in the city budget for
a public arts fund.
Collect $25,000
Local foundation grants seed money to public arts campaign.
Collect $50,000
Private developers allocate 1% of project costs to install
public art on-site at private, but prominent location.
Collect $25,000
City adopts a Municipal Percent-for-Art Ordinance: 1% of the cost of new
construction or renovation of municipal buildings and public outdoor areas
will be dedicated to the acquisition and installation of public artworks.
Collect $100,000-. ....
Non-profit granting agency awards the City with Public Art
funding for a Gateway project.
Collect $125,000
City's State University builds new library: 1.5% of funding
is allocated to installing public artworks on-site.
Collect $250,000
CII'Y OF
SHLAND
Thursday, September 16, 2004
Minutes
City Council
04/07/2004
ASHLAND CTTY COUNCTL STUDY SESSION
Wednesday, April 7, 2004 at 12:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor DeBoer called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
City Council: Kate 3ackson, John Morrison, Alex Amarotico, Chris Hearn and
Don Laws.
Councilor Hartzell arrived at 12:21 p.m.
Staff: City Administrator Gino Grimaldi, Finance Director Lee Tuneberg, Public
Works Director Paula Brown and Management Analyst Ann Seltzer.
I. Update regarding the Public Art Commission.
Ann Seltzer introduced Public Art Commissioners Bruce Bayard, Richard
Benson, Kip Todd, David Wilkerson, and Tngrid Jorgensen.
Engaging the Community:
It was explained that public art can help to beautify the environment,
memorialize and commemorate, unify, focus, revitalize and serve, and please
and challenge. A slide show was presented showing various examples of public
art, including the memorial in Lithia park, the Plaza statue, the arch over
entrance to SOU, a killer whale coming out of sand box located in multi-
housing units, and various other examples around town.
Celebrating Success:
The Public Arts Commission has set various goals and priorities, including:
· funding for.the placement, of art at. the gateway island and Calle Guanajuato,
the completion of a Policies and Procedures Guide, and establishing working
relationships with various organizations and City departments. It was
explained the first draft of the Policies and Procedures Guide has been
reviewed by City Attorney Paul Nolte, who stated they are off to a great start.
Project One: Calle Guanajuato Stairway
It was explained that the Calle Guanajuato Stairway was a perfect place for
http://www, ashland, or. us/PrintContentView, asp?ID= 1639&Agenda=True 9/16/2004
public art. The Commission has been working with the Parks & Recreation
Department as well as landscape architects to establish public art in this
location. The proposed areas where they would be adding art are located at
the overlook at the top of Granite Street, the Sculpture Garden, the Stairway,
and the Gathering Area. The most immediate project is the overlook, and they
would then move on to the sculpture garden. The theme for the artwork is
"The Celebration of Water", and was conceived by the Lithia Arts Guild. It was
explained that they would like to use art that would tie into our sister city,
Guanajuato. The: Commission will request a call for entries to obtain artwork,
and there will be an established jury that will judge the entries and select the
winner: It was noted they do .have some funding in place, however additional-
funding is necessary to complete the project. The Public Arts Commission.
plans on using tlhis opportunity for funding and awareness to educate the
community about the Commission.
Project Two: Boulevard Gateway
The Commissioner noted the importance of the Boulevard Gateway, stating it
is a major focus of the City of Ashland. It is where the Fire Station, the
Library, and the Boulevard all intersect. The Public Arts Commission has
proposed that fo, ur areas be set aside for public art in this area: 1) the island,
2) the wall located in front of the Library, 3) the Gateway itself, and 4) the
bump-out at Evo's.
I~aking it Happen
The Commissioners handed out 'fake' money with statements written on them
as a way to demonstrate that there are all kinds of ways to raise funds. Some
of those examples included: local foundations granting seed money to the
Public Arts campaign, silent auctions, City approval of an annual line item in
the city budget for a public arts fund, and 1% allocation of private developers
project costs for the installation of public art at a prominent location.
The Commissioners clarified for Council that public art has become a good way
to memorialize passed family members, and they are solidifying the
acceptance of gifts policy in the Policies and Procedures Guide. They also
clarified they are: developing a master plan as a sort of road map to determine
what types of art pieces should go where.
Council questioned the timeline for the Guanajuato Project. It was explained.
that the Parks Department received bids a few weeks ago, and a contractor
has not been selected yet. They are anticipating approximately 8 weeks to
complete the structure. The construction will take place first, and the public
art will be the last thing installed. ]It was noted the Parks Department has left
the overlook unfinished for the Public Arts Commission to complete, lin
addition, to complete the projects they still need to assemble a jury for
judging the artwork, assemble the information packet for the interested
parties, and complete the fund raising.
'Council expressed the need for the Commission to develop-their budget .
information. The commissioner~ clarified they will be working on the
Guanajuato Project first, and should have the final Policies and Procedures
Guide by the end of the year.
:II. Proposed Billings Ranch Gold Course - Effluent Reuse
http ://www.ashland.or. us/PrintContentView, asp?ID= 1639&Agenda=True 9/16/2004
SUPPORT from Justin Lockwood, Artattack Theatre
Ensemble, prior year grant recipient
From :"Justin C. Lockwood"
Sun Aug 15, 2004 9:10:39 PM US/Pacific
To:katejackson@opendoor.com
Subject: Public Arts
. ..
To Whom it May Concern,
We would like to show our support for the Public Arts Commission to be granted the remaining TOT
funds. Ashland is a unique town made up of creative people who appreciate art and culture. ~Ne have
several theaters and galleries, however public art is still an untapped opportunity to beautify and enrich
our community. Funding arts programs of all kinds should be a high priority for the City.
Sincerely,
Nicole Isaacson-Hill and Justin C. Lockwood,
Co-Artistic Director, Artattack Theater Ensemble
SUPPORT from Sharon Dvora
From' Sharon Dvora <<dvoras@sou.edu>
Date: Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:00:08 AM US/Pacific
To: Ann seltzer <<seltzera@ashland.or.us>
Subject: PAC letter of support re:fund allocation
Ann .... I won't be able to attend the City Council meeting tonight,
but wanted to send a letter of support... Sharon Dvora
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing this letter in support of the Public Arts Commission's request to modify Resolution 2004-11 to
allow PAC to be a recipient of TOT funds and to encourage the allocation of the surplus $5,925 from the
Economic and Cultural Development funds to the PAC at this time. By taking these actions, the City will
be setting this new commission off to a great start in successfully creating public art projects in Ashland
that will enhance both the economic and Cultural health of our beautiful town.
Sincerely,
Sharon Dvbra, Art Educator and Community Artist ·
SUPPORT from John Enders, Southern Oregon Historical Society
From: John Enders <director@sohs.org>
Date: Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:01:35 AM US/Pacific
To: "'kateiackson@opendoor.com'" < kateiackson@opendoor.com >
Cc: "'ann@ashland.or. us'" <ann@ashland.or. us>
Subject: City Public Arts Commission
Dear Kate:
As a cultural and educational institution, the Southern Oregon
Historical
Society has long supported and benefited from public funding for
heritage,
arts and culture. ~[t is through such public funding that the arts and
other
cultural activities often are maintained.
!t is my understanding that the City of Ashland will soon consider
providing
a minimum level of funding for the recently established Public Arts
Commissior~'s work. ! support and encourage the city to do so.
Sincerely,
John Enders
Executive Director
Ann seltzer- P'age 1
To:
Date:
"Arnie Green" <agreen@community-works.org>
<seltzera@ashland.or.us>
8/16/2004 7:33:10 AM
I received a call from Kate Jackson over the weekend asking for my support
to use excess TOT funds for the Ashland Arts Commission. I will be in an
all day retreat today and non-stop job interviewing tomorrow so. Could you
tell Kate she has my support and can use my name for what it is worth. I
really appreciated the support and funding I received for the Mission
Candles project and would like very much to spread the wealth. Thank you.
Arnie Green
Executive Director, Community Works
900 East Main St.
Medford, OR 97504
(541) 779-2393 X227
agreen@comm unity-works.org
SCHNEIDER MUSEUM OF ART
Southern Oregon University
August 16, 2004
Ashland City Council
20 EaSt Main Street
Ashland, OR 97520
Dear Council Members,
This letter is written in support of modifying Resolution 2004-11 to allow the Public Arts Commission
(PAC) to receive Transient Occupancy Tax funds, and the remaining $5,925 from this years Economic
and Cultural Development grants. The PAC was formed as a city commission but did not receive
funding or a course of action to be a part of the current funding process. The commission has worked
hard to develop the framework and policies surrounding the issue of public art, and now is an excellent
time for the city to step up and acknowledge their hard work and contributions on this issue. Granting
them the ECD monies would not affect this year's budget, as the money has already been allocated for
the year. Demonstration of financial support by the city to the PAC will strengthen their ability to
move forward to solicit funds from granting agencies and private donations.
The performing arts are well represented in our community and have received funding from city grants
for many years (OSF most prominently). The visual arts tend to be overlooked and less tangible. This
is an opportunity to make a formal commitment to enhance our public spaces. Public art will continue
to define the identtity of our city as well as educate, inspire and create a sense of pride in our citizens.
In response to the economic impact of public art I would recommend reading information supplied by
the Project for Public Spaces organization who has done extensive research on the topic of public art
and its emotional and economic impact on communities. Americans for the Arts is also a good
resource for information. Public art enhances the livability of communities and has been shown to
increase their economic well being. The creation of a Public Arts Commission was the first step in the
process and establishing a means for seeking financial support will help ensure its success. Thank you
for considering this request.
Sincerely,
Mary N. Gardiner
Director -
..
1250 SISKIYOU BOULEVARD / ASHLAND, OREGON 97520
TEL 541-552-6245 / FAX 541-552-8241 / WWW.SOU.EDU/SMA
SUPPORT from Paul Nicholson, OSF</underline>
From: "Fran berteau" <<Fran@ashland.or.us>
Date: Thu Sep 2, 2004 10:28:19 AM US/Pacific
To: <<awdb@aol.com>,<<cehearn@aol.com>, "Barbara christensen"
<<barbarac@ashland.or.us>, "Fran berteau" <<Fran@ashland.or.us>, "Gino
Grimaldi" <<grimaldg@ashland.or.us>, <<cate@mind.net>,
<<donlaws@mind.net>, <<katejackson@opendoor.com>,
<<jmorrison@rvcog.org>, <<alex@standingstonebrewing.com>
Cc: "Ann seltzer" <<seltzera@ashland.or.us>
Subject: Fwd: Ashland Arts Commission
It was requested I forward this message on to the council. Fran
Paul Nicholson <<pauln@osfashland.org>
9/1/2004 2:04:07 PM >>>
Good afternoon Fran. I have been talking with Kate Jackson about the arts
commission and understand that the subject of its funding is to be discussed at the next City Council
meeting. I am not able to be at the meeting, but would like to encourage the Council to find a way of
providing modest support for the commission. Without some level of funding, the commission is, in effect,
toothless. A modest level of funding would clearly enable it to establish itself as a real and positive f6rce
in the community.
Thanks for passing this message on to the Council.
Paul
Paul Nicholson
Executive Director
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
P.O. Box 158
Ashland OR 97520
Ann seltzer - Public art funding. ~'ace 1 ~
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From:
To:
Date:
Subject:
Melissa Markell <markell@opendoor.com>
Ann seltzer <seltzera@ashland.or.us>
9/7/2004 11:20:17 AM
Public art funding.
Hi Ann,
This email is to support funding for Public Arts in Ashland. I
understand that there is a change in the ordinance that needs to be
voted in to allow the Public Arts Commission to apply for grant money.
I support this change whole-heartedly. Public art is a natural for
Ashland. We are a small yet very cultural and artistic community,
however, the city does not show off the talent that resides here. I
fully support allocating unused funds from the TOT and allowing PAC to
apply in the future.
I will make my best effort to attend the City Council meeting on
Tuesday, Sept. 7.
Thank you.
Melissa Markell
The Parking Crisis:
Reasons to Reconsider Sacrificing Parking Growth for Downtown Housing
* The current proposal contains contracidory statements about parking: if the goal is to have people live
close to their workplace, then their cars will remained parked in the downtown vicinity during the day.
However, if they work away from downtown then no argument exists for placing these units downtown. No
study in the demographic target audience explores whether the group have more or less car and parking
needs than any other demographic group.
* According to Parking Turnover Inventory assessment of Aug '02 there was 89% to 91% occupancy in the
entire A2 zone, well beyond the 85% the Downtown Plan says is required for new parking solutions to be
enacted. (Attachment A: Much of the data is still in raw format at the planning department,, so more detailed
analysis of the Pioneer/Lithia Way lot is not available.) New development along Lithia Way has occurred
(including the Jasmine Building nearly directly across from the Lithia Way Pioneer lot) since the study was
done. This has resulted in increased parking demand without increased supply.
* Creation of the lot at Pioneer and Lithia Way is one of the cornerstones of the City of Aslaland Downtown
Plan 1988. It was intended to ameliorate the already chronic parking situation. (Appendix B: I did not in-
clude all of the parking information section of this plan as it represents approximately 1/3 of the entire
document - rather note that it states "it is irresponsible to continue the policy" (C1-D zoning) "when down-
town parking is critically short.")
* The suggested rents in the Council Communication of Sept 21st are higher than any rental listings in the
Daily Tidings on Sept 18th for equivalent units. This raises the question of the affordability of the suggested
units.
* If the lot at Pioneer and Lithia Way were to be developed, the lot would be unusable during the construc-
tion period and since the lot is currently used nearly to capacity these 76 vehicles would be displaced into the
railroad district during that period with disastrous results for B St. Further complicating the problem, you
would have countless construction vehicles needing space as well.
Submitted by: Megan Mitchell
601 N Mountain Ave
Ashland, OR 97520
541-482-3722
Submitted on: Sept. 21, 2004
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Redevelopment
Three large historic buildings will probably see very different and more intense uses in the next twenty
years -- the Masonic Lodge, the Elks lodge, and the Mark Antony Hotel. Other buildings will
undoubtedly redevelop, and conformance with both the city's historic guidelines and the downtown
development criteria should insure that the developments are positive.
The following criteria are adopted with this plan and shall be used as part of the land use approval
process.
Developments on Pedestrian Paths outlined in the Concept Plan should adhere to the following criteria:
· Parking lots adjacent to the pedestrian path are prohibited.
· Pedestrian amenities such as a broad sidewalk, arcades, alcoves, colonnades, porticoes,
awnings, and sidewalk seating should be provided where possible.
· Weather protection on adjacent key pedestrian paths are to be required by all new
developments~
· Windows and other features of interest to pedestrians should be provided adjacent to the
sidewalk. Blank walls adjacent to sidewalks should be avoided.
· Two-story development should be encouraged downtown, with the second stories seeing
commercial, residential, or parking uses.
· Automotive uses such as service stations, auto sales, and tire stores should be discouraged
in the downtown. The city should use its discretionary powers, such as Conditional Use
permits, to discourage or deny such uses.
Parkint, Ordinances
The city currently allows development to occur in the C1-D zone without requiring off-street parking.
Although downtown redevelopment would be impossible without this feature, it is irresponsible to
continue the policy when downtown parking is critically short. Requiring off-street parking for each
development would be either impossible or detrimental to pedestrian flows. It should be made a
conditional use and its appropriateness reviewed.
43
One solution is to set up a funding mechanism allowing increased downtown property values to pay for
new parking and pedestrian developments. Most downtowns use this method balled a tax increment
district. The third phase of this p!an's implementation is to investigate the setting up such a district.
Housing
Although downtown housing was thought to be incompatible with the development of urban centers, in
recent years the value of a downtown resident population has increased. The downtown resident's
round-the-clock eyes and ears reduce crime. Downtown apartments suit many lifestyles--that of the
single person, student, actor, writer and senior. They offer independence from automobiles in a
stimulating urban atmosphere.
DowntOwn housing also provides a profitable use for second and third stories which often stand vacant.
Current ordinance, however, inhibits downtown's use for housing by requiring a conditional use for
residential uses, off-street parking on the site, and by demanding that twenty-five percent of the lot be
landscaped.
Housing should be introduced downtown on upper stories. Allowing it outright and removing off-street
parking requirements encourages owners to rent to travelers and enhances the area's diversity. This will
allow a flexible downtOwn housing pattern and encourage appropriate downtown multi-story develop-
ment.
It should be pointed out that downtown housing and. traveler's accommodations are the only uses that
require off street parking in the current code. This should be changed, as the parking patterns of these
uses usually peak at night, when other parking demand is low, and they do not require as much off street
parking per square foot as many permitted uses.
City Hall
Finally, the.city should officially state that City Hall will remain in its present location for the immediate
future. While as the city grows some functions will have to be relocated, the continued presence of the
municipal government ties it to the downtown, and therefore to the people. With the absence of a city
T-T,, 1 .,I s.k_s, s.l. A Will
u~,,.tuw., there i~ =unte ua.ge, utiat ute downtoWn ...... '
lapse into a tourist amenity. The presence
of a City Hall downtow.n prgvides at least these important, enhancements: it shows a commitment to the
downtown to work together on its problems, reinforces the downtown as the city center, and continues a
tradition begun by the first settlers.
X
INTRODUCTION
is a controlling factor in the
growth of a city. A well-planned transporta-
tion network is essential to the orderly ex-
pansion of a city. As growth usually occurs
~round existing transportation routes, they
must be planned carefully to accommodate
future increases in traffic.
Asa]land is a growing city with ever-increas-
ing transportation demands. The predominant
form of transport for .City residents is the
private automobile. Nearly all trips for
work, social, and recreational purposes in-
volve the use of the auto. As the population
increases, more demands will be placed upon
ii'i!i~iii~-!=!~i.~%he p, resent system and planning must be un-
i~R~r~.aken to.-handle those demands.
~i:ii~i~ii.~!'.This-.~element attempts to provide and encour-
..... : transpor-
all areas
effect on
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!:i;?"i'.~;;.:'i~:ff~ ~a.nning: that has taken place
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1966 Comprehensive Plan
This plan was developed by .the Bureau of
Governmental Research and Service and con- '
rained a circulation element 'dealing with the
future transportation needs of Ashland.
The circulation element dealt with increased
traffic flows by the construction of new collec-
tor and arterial streets and a new freeway
interchange.
While it contained some well thought out poli-
cies, the plan generally suffered from being
too grandiose and did not provide cost-effec-
tive solutions to the expected population
growth. The plan is most useful as an his-
toric reference point.
Bear Creek Area Transportation Study (BCATS)
This comprehensive study provided transporta-
tion information as it existed in 1965 for the
Bear Creek Valley. It included origin-des-
tination studies, as well as future predic-
tions of .traffic flows and transportation
needs, based on the da~a collected in 1965.
As it contained very good base data on
driver behavior and origin-destination infor-
.marion, much of ·tlhe data 'is still applicable
· .
to th~ present situation.
1978 Comprehensive' Plan
This plan was developed by :the Ashland Plan-
ning Department in accordance with the Land
Conservation ' and Development ~ommission' s
goals and guidelines.
A combination.of those two reduCtion measures
would result in a very significant reduction
in pollutant production. All forms of pollu-
tants would be reduced by at least 50%.
In general, stable traffic flows result in
higher fuel efficiency and lower production
of pollutants. Congestion, with the resultant
stop-and-go traffic, results in much lower
fuel efficiency and higher emissions of~ pollu-
tants, especially carbon monoxide.
PARKING
Observations of parking on East Main Street
and the Plaza area downtown show a need
for additional parking spaces. The problem
is more acute during the summer tourist sea-
son. Now that the Shakespearean Festival
is extended to almost a full year, the tourist
season is lengthened, worseni.ng the year-
round parking problem.
On-street parking in the downtown area also
lowers travel speeds and increases traffic con-
gestion. As shoppers become more frustrated
with the traffic and parking situation, they
may 0egin to find alternative shopping areas
more attractive.
The downtown merchants and the Chamber of
Commerce have noted that there is a lack of
parking spaces downtown to accommodate
their employees and customers. They claim
+~. .... l.; ..... ¼1~m ~c m~'~nn th~ dawntown
area uncompetitive as a shopping area.
Traffic congestion downtown is also caused
by the inadequate number of .loading zones,
forcing trucks to use one of the lanes of
TABLE X-5
Downtown Parking Spaces - 1051
Off-street parking - 693
City-owned - 164
Private - 460
Restricted - 69
On-street parking - 358
Downtown fulltimeempioYees - 800
Source: Ashland Chamber of Commerce
Downtown Parking Committee
traffic. The use of alleys for loading could
help this situation. Bus parking around the
Festival and downtown is also a problem due
to the lack of facilities.
Residential areas have little parking prob-
lems. Garages, carports and driveways pro-
vide parking for residents with on-street
parking handling neighborhood visitors.
AIRPORT
In 1963, the City of Ashland purchased the
property where the site of the present airport
is located. In 1968, the airport runway Was
paved and lighted, a small apron was
paved, and an administrative building was
constructed. Since then, the airport has
oeen further upgraded through City and
CITY OF
-ASHLAND
C.ouncil Communication
Discussion of Request for Proposals for the Development of Affordable
Housing above Downtown Public Parking Lots.
Meeting Date: September 21, 2004
Department: Community Development
Contributing Departments: ~
Approval: Gino Grimaldi
· Primary Staff Contact: Brandon Goldman, 552-
2076 goldmanb(~!.ashland.or.us ~
Secondary Staff Contact: John McLaughlin, 552-
2043 mac(~ashland.or.us (~
Statement:
The City's Housing Action Plan identifies downtown parking lots as potential sites fbr affordable
housing projects, utilizing the airspace over the lots. On August 17, 2004, the City Council
reviewed a draft RFP regarding this issue, and raised several areas of concern. The Council
directed Staff to revise the RFP based upon comments raised during the meeting, and to bring
back additional information regarding those concerns.
Background:
See previous Council Communication (attached) and previous meeting minutes (attached).
Below Staffhas provided responses to a number of questions raised by Council at the August
17th discussion of the RFP. Based upon the Council deliberations regarding the development
above downtown parking lots, the proposed RFP would be modified to exclude all but the Lithia
way parking lot as a demonstration project site. The comments provided below are primarily
related to the Lithia Way lot for this reason.
Issue: Downtown Housin~
Second story residential uses were identified as desirable in the 1988 Downtown Plan. The Plan
cites that people who live downtown offer security and a sense of community (pgl 5;). Within the
section on Housing in the Downtown Plan it is stated that
"Housing should be introduced downtown on upper stories. AlloWing it outright and removing
off-street parla'ng requirements encourages owners to rent to travelers and enhances the area's
diversity. This will allow a flexible downtown housing pattern and encourages appropriate
downtown mu. lti-story dev. elopments" (pg. 44). ..
Specifically referencing the development of Lithia Way and Will Dodge Way (alley), the
Downtown Plan recommends creating an intimate atmosphere on Will Dodge Way through the
construction of buildings at least 2 stories in height (pg37). Further the downtown concept plan
on page 28 of the document shows that a new building was planned for the area currently
occupied by the parking lot. Although this site was not originally identified as a location for
parking, its use is clearly beneficial to the downtown businesses, tourists, and residents. Within
the "Parking" section of this memo the issues involved in parking are described in more detail.
Throughout the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan mixed-use development is
encouraged es. pecially when in easy walking distance of transit (pg. 11). Being located on an
existing bus route, the Lithia Way lot is well suited to take advantage of existing transit. Further
the Transportation Element cites that "mixing land uses, housing and jobs, reduces traffic by
locating residences close to shopping, entertainment, and job centers."
Issue: Long-Term Lease/Purchase of Airspace or Reversion back to Ci .ty?
· .
In Paul Nolte's Memo to the Housing CommisSion dated November 17, 2003, five
ownership/lease scenarios are outlined (attached). In evaluating these alternatives the Housing
Commission has indicated support for any mechanism that establishes the ability for the City to
recapture, or retain ownership, of the property at the conclusion of the affordability period.
Should the Council agree, the RFP will specifically state after the term of affordability that the
project will revert in ownership to the City for $1 if the original project involves purchase of the
air-rights.
The other option would be to attempt to maximize the economic return on the property by
leasing or selling the airspace at market or near-market rates. However, this approach would
likely preclude the option of utilizing the site for affordable housing.
~3iven the effort'to minimize project cOStS to Use th6 available lad to subsidize the affordable
housing project, any lease or purchase amount would have to be minimal ($1) to benefit the low-
moderate income households.
Issue: Rental vs. ownership
Council members raised concerns over whether the RFP would solicit for-purchase affordable
housing projects in addition to rental projects. Given the reversion of asset requirement at the
conclusion of affordability period, a for-purchase project would not be feasible. Although the
initial purchas, ers of the units could benefit from the ownership opportunity and recapture some
equity upon resale, the household in the unit(s) at the conclusion of affordability period would be
in a position to sell their investment back to the City for $1, taking a considerable loss.
Essentially a rental development is preferable development for this reason. Additionally City of
Ashland Housing Needs Analysis (adopted 2002) found that the greatest disparity between the
type of housing units needed and the type built since 1998 is for the attached multifarnily
residential (apartments) housing type (Table 4-1). The development of City owned property
provides an opportunity to ensure the needed housing type of apartments is provided.
Issue: Level of affordabiliW,
· .
,.
The draft RFP' indicates that affordable units would have to target households at or below 80%
area median income (AMI). Members of the Council have raised the question as to why not
require proposals benefit only households at or below 60% AMI. To provide actual income
levels for consideration, the current income levels as established by the Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) for the Medford-Ashland metropolitan area are shown below:
CITY OF
-ASHLAND
Income Limits by Family Size: S/year
*For the Medford-Ashland Statistical Area as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development 2004.
Income Level Number of Persons in Family
Category
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8+
Extremely Low Income 10,950 12,500 14,050 15,650 16,900 18,150 19,400 20,650
(30%) .-
60% Income 21,900 25,020 28,140 31,260 33,780 36,240 38,760 41,280
Moderate Income (80% 29,200 33,350 37,500 41,700 45,000 48,350 51,700 55,000
Median)
The City of Ashland Housing Needs Analysis (HNA) found that 3660 of Ashland's 8645
households (42%) qualify as low income (80% area median income-AMI). These households
will not have the ability to purchase housing within Ashland on the open market without
substantial private contributions or government subsidy. Therefore this large segment of
Ashland's population is primarily in the rental market. Depending on the household income
level, the housing costs including utilities should account for no more than 30% of the
household's total income.
Given that rents charged in an affordable housing project are correlated to income level, staff
sees an advantage in prOviding flexibility in the income levels targeted assuming all households
qualify as low-moderate income or extremely low income. In general the rental proceeds from
those households approaching 80% AMI can offset the lesser rents generated from traits targeted
to extremely low-income households. For this reason the Housing Commission recommended
that proposals for developments above downtown parking lots serve households'at or below 80%
AMI. The largest unit gap exists for households earning less than $10,000 a year (page 4-3
HNA), however as the total amount of rent and utilities that can be charged without.over
burdening these households is $250. These rents do not provide enough revenue to pay for the
development and maintenance of the unit without additional subsidy. Should the Council require
the proposals only target households earning less than 60%AMI it is staff's concern that again
the maximum rent per'unit obtained by the developer (approximately $400-550 not including
utilities) may not be sufficient to account for development costs and ongoing management and
long term maintenance. For these reasons staff sees value in establishing a ceiling of 80%AMI
to encourage multiple proposals. At today's income levels, 80% AMI rents approach $550 for a
studio, $640 for a one bedroom, and $794 for a two-bedroom unit. Such affordable rents will
increase over time commensurate with the wage increases (typically 2-3% annually) as compared
to market rate increases in housing costs.
If a developer intends to utilize federal funding, tax credits, or other subsidies to contribute to the
.project, a.percdritage-of the units(or all).could'be requited.to be at i3.r below, the 60%AMI due to'i
the additional subsidy. It is clear given the number of service sector jobs available in Ashland
and the vicinity, many resident employees will be eligible for the units at 80%AMI.
Potential households and wages
A single person earning $14.03 per hour would qualify at 80%AMI and could eam no more than
$10.52 per hour to qualify at 60%AMI.
A two wage earner household could earn cumulative wage of $16.03 per hour ($8.02 each) and
qualify at the 80%AMI mark, but could earn no more than a combined $12.03 per hour to qualify
at 60% AMI.
A household 'with two wage earners and a dependant could earn a cumulative wage of $18.02
($9.01 each) per hour and qualify at the 80%AMI mark, but could earn no more than $13.52 per
hour combined to qualify at 60%.
Given minimum wage is $7.05 per hour, establishing a strict requirement that all units be
restricted to 60%AMI households it could be that the proposed apartments would not likely
accommodate,' households with more than one full time wage earner. Again the flexibility in a
housing product that benefits households up to 80%AMI would allow for a mix of households
and income levels not otherwise possible under the 60% cap.
Issue: Term of affordabiliW
Provided the City regains ownership of the affordable housing project at the conclusion of the
period of affordability, it would be the responsibility of future elected officials to determine the
continued use of the project. The Council and Housing Commission have both deliberated on
what the initial period of.affordability should be, and have discussed a range between 30 and
perpetual affordability. Perpetual affordability, although a admiral g0al poses a number of
logistical problems in establishing a realistic management and maintenance plan for the project,
given at some point the structure's natural life will expire and need to be replaced. For this
reason the pc~.'iod of affordability for affordable housing projects typically ranges between 30 and
60 years.
The intention to provide affordable housing for the longest feasible term possible points to a 60-
year period of affordability. The obvious advantage being the additional 20 years of needed
housing for low-moderate income households. Financing of a project would likely require a
minimum period of the developer's interest in the property to be 30 years for conventional
funding. The advantage of initially establishing a shorter period, such as the 40-year periOd
recommended by the Housing Commission, rests in the fact tha~ after the time period expires, the
City could re-evaluate the community needs and restructure the project accordingly.
For instance, 'were the original project established to benefit households at 80%AMI or
60%AMI, at the conclusion of the period of affordability, the ongoing project could be
restructured to benefit only 30% AMI or special needs populations depending on the most urgent
need the cormmunity at that time is facing. A shorter period of affordability both increases the
viability of the initial project, by reducing long term maintenance/replacement costs attributable
to that project:, while..., allowing more flexibility in the potential re-use of the site. The important
aspect in-this distinction involves the-fact.iha~ the lease, or buy-back provision maihtains. City'
control of the ongoing use.
Were the property to be sold outright or donated to a non-City entity, it would be most
advantageous to maximize the period of affordability (60+ years) as a condition of the sale.
However, with the ability to revisit the use at an interval to be responsive to both the condition of
CITY ~OF
SHLAND
the project and the needs of the community, a shorter yet renewable period of affordability has
some advantage. ,
Issue: Parking
The selected property is located within the Downtown (C-l-D) zone. In all areas within the "D"
Downtown Overlay District, all uses are not required to provide off-street parking ox' loading
· areas, except for hotel, motel, or hostel uses (ALUO 18.35.050). In keeping with the adopted
downtown plan, parking requirements for full time residential uses are not required to provide on
site parking. Within the Draft Downtown Plan developed in 2001 the purpose Of, and priority for,
parking in the Core of downtown is stated as to support and enhance the vitality of the
retail/theater core. With this recommendation it is evident that the existing surface level parking
should remain available for business use and should not be reserved exclusively for :residential
use.
The draft RFP language has been amended to clearly state that the goal is to retain the existing
number of parking spaces or increase the number to off-set the impacts of the housing. Working
under the principle that the available parking downtown can be jointly used by both businesses
and residents at different times during the day and night, the current ordinance aims to encourage
residential uses downtown. Were a for-profit private housing project to be'proposexl within the
C-1-D zone by a private, developer, no parking requirements would apply. For an affordable
housing project 6f the same type, additional parkin~ requirements would place mor6 restrictions
upon affordable housing than the existing code places on non-affordable housing.
Issue: Potential Pro,iect Fundin~
Affordable Housing developments involve a variety of funding sources and often some form of
local, state, or federal subsidy to effectively off set the reduction in rental or sale proceeds from
an affordable unit. Giventhe proposed housing development would target low-moderate
households it would be eligible for competitive HOME funds (HUD Funds allocated through the
State) as part of a competitive award cycle. Projects in the Rogue Valley have been successful in
competing for these State allocated funds over the last eight years bringing between $500,000 to
$900,000 in affordable hOusing assistance to the region annually. The Ashland Cormnunity Land
Trust (ACLT) was successful in 2002 in being awarded over $570,000 in HOME f~mds for the
development of the Garfield Street Parkview apartments. The benefit of these HOME funds is
that unlike Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, HOME dollars can be applied
to construction of the dwellings.
Community Development Block Grant Funds could potentially assist in the project development
by paying all or part of public facility improvements within the right of way necessary to serve
the development. This use is currently being anticipated to assist in the Rogue Valley
.... :Community Development Corporations development of the comer of Siskiyou and Faith by'
contributing $13,800 to contribute to public sidewalks, storm drains, curb and gutter and other
public street improvements.
Tax Credits have also been identified as a potential funding source for the development of
affordable housing above downtown parking lots. The City of Ashland Affordable Housing
Action Plan specifically identifies this funding source for use in developing housing above
downtown parking lots. Tax credits offer direct federal income tax savings to owners of rental
housing developments who are willing to set-aside a 40% of the development's units for
households eaming 60 percent or less of gross area median income. Developers of tax credit
developments typically sell the credits to investors, or are retained by the developer, who is
willing to provide equity capital in return for the economic benefits (including tax credits)
generated by the development. The amount of tax credit an owner receives is determined at the
time the tax credit is allocated by the State. The tax credit amount is based on several factors
including depreciable development costs, type of development (new construction, rehabilitation
or acquisition), percentage of housing.units designated for 10w-income use, the state's evaluation
of the project including need, and development financing.
The local support provided to the project in the form of donation of air-rights or a no-cost ($1)
lease would demonstrate a local commitment to the project that is often a key competitive
advantage for state or federal funding. Additionally, the proposed site is within one of only four
qualified low-.moderate income census tracts within Ashland which would also be favorable
components in an application for HOME funds or Tax Credits. Tax credits are also available on a
non-competitive basis and the development of new affordable housing would be eligible for
these credits. With non-competitive projects the Credits are reduced from 9% to 4% but can still
be a valuable funding component of a proposal.
It is likely a varie, ty of funding sources will be brought to bear. in order to complete the affordable
housing project. Evaluation of the proposals received will include an assessment of the funds
secured, and/or sought by the development team.
Issue: Land Costs
Staffhas done a cursory analysis of the cost to develop second story housing over parking spaces
versus purchasing multi-family zoned land for a housing project. While the estimates are rough,
it appears clear that the costs associated with development over a downtown parking lot (with no
land purchase) are far less than those associated with purchased multi-family zoned land.
Additionally, affordable housing providers have continually cited that the greatest difficulty in
doing affordable housing projects in Ashland is in finding available land. For these reasons staff
believes the development of housing above downtown parking lots is economically feasible even
when considering the added cost of deck construction provided the air-rights are sold or leased
for little or no cost.
Issue: Opportuni .ty Costs
Questions have been raised as to what the potential uses, other than affordable housing that could
· be possible as a revenue-generating use. The zone allows for a wide variety of uses including
· -. yet-ail, offices,' restaurants, housing,'and public.par, king. "The thought.is that..there maY.be. ..
opportunities to sell or lease the property for these alternative uses as a means of generating
income that can be applied to affordable housing projects elsewhere. An accurate determination
of the value for these uses, and the underlying value of the property would require an appraisal to
clearly outline the potential revenue generation.
CITY OF
-ASHLAND
Additional public parking (parking structure) would be difficult given the small size of the parcel
and the land area needed for ramps. Additionally the revenue generation from a public parking
lot would be minimal thus this opportunity is not particularly viable.
The use as retail poses some difficulty in that the retention of the existing parking lot points to
second story commercial. Second story retail is problematic in that street level visibility is
typically a prerequisite for retail. Offices or restaurant use above the parking lot is more feasible,
however with the project costs of airspace lease, parking deck construction, and building
development, the feasibility of such a project decreases. However, only through an appraisal and
offering the airspace for lease would the Council truly find the value of the property.
Related City Policies
The City's adopted Affordable }-lousing Action Plan identifies city-owned surface parking lots in
proximity to downtown as potential affordable housing project sites.
Council Options:
The Council has options in the following areas:
Long-Term Lease/Purchase of Airspace or Reversion back to City
The Council could choose to sell or permanently lease the air rights in perpetuity, or
require that the housing revert to the City at the end of the period of affordability after
leasing/selling the space for a nominal amount.
Rental vs. Ownership
The Council could allow the.potential housing units to be sold to individuals, or only
rented.
Level of Affordability
The Council could set the level of affordability at 60%AMI, 80%AMI, or 100%AMI,
or a combination of these levels.
Term of Affordability
The Council could set the term of affordability at 30 years, 40 years, 60 years, or
perpetual.
Parking
The Council could require that designated parking be required for the new housing
units, or that the housing share the available public parking available downtown.
"' Staff Recommendation: ...................... '-' ..........
Staff recommends that the Council direct staff to modify the RFP to address the following issues:
That the ownership of the units over the parking lot revert to the City at the end of the period
of affordability and that the lease/purchase be only for a nominal amount,
· That the units be designated for rental and not purchase,
· That the level of affordability be 80%AMI at the minimum, but a range of lower incomes is
encouraged,
· That the term of affordability be 40 years, although if the City regains ownership at the end
of the period, a shorter term could also be appropriate,
· That the rmmber of parking spaces on the site be maintained, but that no designated parking
be provided for the housing units.
.' ..
Suggested Motion:
Staff recommends that the Council move to direct staff to revise the RFP as recommended by the
Council, with review by the City Attorney. Staff shall then proceed with the RFP process with
interested development parties.
Attachments:
· Previous Council Communication- 08.17.04
· ' Minutes of Council Meeting - 08.17.04
· Memo from Paul Nolte to Housing Commission
· Revised RFP (minor revisions pending Council action)
Parking Lot RFP History
Nov 4, 2003
City Council reviewed a private proposal by Mr. Alan Sandier to purchase airspace above the Hargadine
Parking Structure to develop a 20 units affordable housing project.
The City Council approved a motion to refer the request of Mr. Sandler to the Housing Commission and
request that the Housing Commission provide a recommendation on the request, or perhaps a
recommendation on the RFP Process.
Nov 19, 2003
·
The Housing Commission was presented with Mr. Sandler's prOposal. The commission voted 3-2 tO
recommend using an RFP process to evaluate development proposals for the Hargadine Structure. The
issue of the RFP process was continued to the January 28th Housing Commission meeting for further
discussion.
January 28, 2004
The agenda item USE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY (SUCH AS PARKING LOTS) FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING was discussed by the Housing Commission. At this meeting a discussion draft was RleP was
presented for the Hargadine Structure. The RFP discussion was continued to the next meeting.
February 25th
The Housing Commission discussed the agenda item Hargadine RFP?RFQ. Due in part to the transition of
new membership onto the Commission the discussion was in part recap on the RFP development. The
Commission reviewed changes in the discussion draft RFP.
March 17th
The Housing Commission discussed the agenda item Hargadine RFP/RFQ. The Commission questioned
the Council's directive and commitment to affordable housing above the parking structure. They postponed
discussion on how to select affordability targets for the target income levels until the April meeting.
April 28th
The Commission made the final determination that the draft RFP be modified to encourage projects that
.have a period of affordability of not less than 40 years under lease or buy back provision, and that
proposals benefiting households earning less than 80 percent of median income be considered.
May 26th
Allan Sandier, presented during Public Forum and said he wanted to withdraw his request to develop the
area above the parking garage on Hargadine Street and switch to developing the Pioneer/Lithia Way
parking lot area for affordable housing. He can satisfy the request for proposal (RFP) with no variations.
This withdrawl was due in large part to concerns over the maximimum floor area and definitions of a story
that could complicate the development above the Hargadine Parking Structure.
The Housing Commission deliberated the development of housing above Pioneer and motioned to
encourage the Council to consider the alternative Sandier has proposed and in the interim Planning Staff
explore in detail the Pioneer/Lithia Way site to make sure it meets all codes. Also, that the Housing
Commission wants to be aware of where the consensus is on the Council of where they want to go with
affordable housing in the downtown.
....
.
June 23rd
Staff presented to the Housing Commission on the development potential, oppommities, and challenges
presented with the Pioneer Lot.
The Housing Commission decided it would be appropriate to respond to a positive manner to the concept
brought to the City by Allan Sandler of using public land to provide an incentive for affordable '.housing.
Further the Commissioner stated the concept [of developing above city parking lots] has merit. "We are in
favor of anything that can be used to promote affordable housing in Ashland, and in particular downtown
the concept of using public parking for leverage".
Council Liaison Jackson said she would like to see the comment Mackin suggested written and make it an
Action Item to the Council. It is a way of giving them a report on what they have asked us to do and will
give people; a chance to comment on that Action Item. The Commission concured.
August 17th- .-
Staff modified the pro_posed RFP to eliminate .the Hargadine Lot from consideration, and included the
Pioneer Lot, Lithia way lot, and Second Street lot as potential sites for affordable housing deVelopments.
The Housing Commission's recommendations to state a period of affordability (40 years), the income
targets (80!% AMI) and a provision for lease or buyback option were incorporated into the Draft RFP.
The City Council reviewed the draft at their regular meeting on August 17th and directed staff to address a
number of concerns and come back to Council with a revised draft.
September' 21
Regular Council with review of the revised RFP and staff response to those concerns outlined by
Councilors on August 17th.
CITY OF
-ASHLAND
Council Communication
· Title:
Dept:
Date:
Submitted By:
Approved By:
Discussion of Request for Proposals for the development of affordable housing
above downtown City owned public parking lots.
Planning Department
August 17, 2004
Brandon Goldman, Housing Program Specialist
John McLaughlin, Director of Community Development
Gino Grimaldi, City Administrator
Synopsis:
Last October, the Housing Commission was directed by the City Council to review a specific proposal
for development of affordable housing above the Hargadine Parking Structure. The Housing
Commission reviewed the proposal presented by Alan Sandler to develop 20 low-income rental units
above the parking structure at their November 19th 2003 meeting. Through discussions at this and
· subsequent meetings, the Housing Commission determined that in lieu of accepting Mr. Sandler's
proposal alone, other proposals should be solicited through an RFp process. Due to complications
related to the maximum building size ordinance for downtown, Mr. Sandler proposed changing his
housing proposal to the Pioneer parking lot (comer of Lithia Way and Pioneer).
The Housing Commission found that the concept of developing housing above public parking lots has
merit, and was supportive of the potential development of affordable housing above the Pioneer Lot, and
other lots within the downtown area, such as the small lot on Lithia Way across from Copeland Lumber,
and the lot on Second Street near the Monet restaurant.
For consideration by the Council, the Commission suggests that the City should include: in an RFP a
period of affordability of not less than 40 years under lease, and perhaps contain a buy-back provision at
the conclusion of the period of affordability. Additionally the Housing Commission recommends that
the proposals should benefit households earning less than 80% of median income.
The City's Housing Action Plan identifies downtown parking lots as potential sites for affordable
housing projects, utilizing the airspace over the lots. For consideration by the Council staffhas
identified three city owned properties that could be potential sites for affordable housing above the
public parking lots. These sites include the Lithia Way lot, the Pioneer Street Lot, and the Second Street
lot. The Lithia Way lot has a potential of approximately 10 units, the Pioneer Street Lot (due to being
outside of the Downtown overlay) has a potenti, al of approximately 1.7 .units, and the Second Street lot
.... has 'a potential of 13 units. 'Due to'size restrictions 'on the parking structure, it.may not be Possible-under.'
the current ordinances to add housing to the top of this building.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Council direct staff to finalize the RFP based upon comments received at the
meeting, and distribute it for only the Lithia Way parking lot at this time (approx. 10 units). This will
allow the staff an opportunity to concentrate the efforts on one parcel within the downtown and work
closely with the ultimate housing provider.
Should the process prove successful, other lots can then utilize the same process.
The Council may also-choose to maintain the public parking lots in their current state and not entertain
any requests for further development at these locations at this time. However, this would tend to run
counter to the Housing Action plan and previous direction from the Council.
The Council may wish to also consider land use amendments which could allow for housing to be
developed over the parking structure, and a greater number of units over the Pioneer parking lot.
Fiscal Impact:
Dependent upon the Council's direction, sale or lease of the air space could result in revenue to the City.
However, the value of the airspace has not been determined for any of the three identified sites. The
City may be requested to provide the air space at a low cost, or no cost, to ensure the viability of an
affordable housing project.
Next Steps: ,
Assuming the Council directs staff to move forward with the RFP, the following represents the next
steps in the process:
l.
.
.
Finalize revisions to RFP based upon Council input from 8/17 meeting, with review by
the City Administrator and City Attorney. (approximately 30-60 days) Early October,
2004
Distribute RFP to housing developers and non-profit housing providers. (45 - 60 days)
Early December, 2004
Staff Review and Recommendation (14 days) Late December, 2004
Housing Commission Review and Recommendation (30 days) Late January, 2005
Council Review and Decision- February., 2005
Attachment:
A draft RFP has been developed to illustrate how proposals could be evaluated. This draft RFP contains
site specific information and maps that describe each of the sites identified including their development
potential. It should be recognized that this document is still in draft form and is subject to further review
by the staffbased upon comments received at the meeting.
developing a subdivision and are now asking the citizens to sacrifice their
land for the golf course's further profit. Mr. Trail stated the greenway area
has a very high habitat value, and this is documented in a book titled "The
Birds of the Rogue Valley". Mr. Trail proposed a possible compromise and
suggested that the Billings group trade a section of their land, located on
the East Side of the creek, for the greenway land on the West Side of the
creek. This would eliminate the need for bridges and other structures to
cross the creek.
Paul Kay/1234.Strawberry Lane/Stated the golf course would be a
beneficial reuse for irrigation of reclaimed wastewater and asked that the
Council carefully check the details of the proposal for possible impacts. Mr.
Kay stated the greenway could become a valuable asset to the City and
could act as a practical buffer from the golf course. Mr. Kay asked that the
Council represent the City's interest in this matter.
Mayor DeBoer stated there could be a benefit to exchanging property as
mentioned and feels that the waste treatment possibilities offer great
potential. Mayor DeBoer stated he is not supportive of giving away the
Community Development Director John IVlcLaughin state s
recommendation is for the Council to direct staff to finalize the RFP and
distribute it for the Lithia Way parking lot.
Housing Program Specialist Brandon Goldman stated there are three
public parking lots that could be utilized to provide affordable housing: the
Lithia lot, the Pioneer lot and the Second St. lot, however Staff is
recommending that the City start with the Lithia lot. Tt was noted that the
Hargadine parking structure is not being considered because the structure
would exceed the maximum permitted floor area and would require an
ordinance amendment. Mr. Goldman stated the Housing Commission is
supportive of utilizing the City's assets for affordable housing and they feel
that an RFP is the best way to solicit responses.
Mayor DeBoer stated he is supportive of starting with the Lithia lot and
mentioned that he is not interested in selling the air space. He
recommended that the parameters be set at 60 years for 60% median
income.
.Tn regards to how staff determined.to use 40 years at.80% median, Mr.
G01dm'~n 'explain'ed that the '80% 'median in'come figure was derived' in an
effort to get a broader flexibility in the types of proposals the City
receives. The 40 year timeframe was determined because the financing
would need to be at least 30 years and at 60 years concerns can arise
from the condition of the facility. Mr. Goldman stated that the Housing
Commission had already discussed using the 60 year timeframe and would
be supportive if that is what the Council decides.
http://ashland.or.us/PrintContentView.asp?ID= 1797&Agenda=True .9/16/04
Comment was made that the City should evaluate their asset and
determine the value of the air space. It was also suggested that the
income frorn the lease could fund the Housing Trust Fund and provide a
steady stream of funding.
Mayor DeBo. er recommends that the RFP be very clear on its terms and
urged the Council to insert strict criteria in the request before allowing
people to submit their proposals. It was noted that the RFP before the
Council is based on the Housing Commissions discussion and had not been
reviewed by' the City's legal department.
OpiniOn was;'expressed that the Council should send the RFP back to the
Housing Commission and take more time to consider the key issues
including: parking, the target income level, and rental units vs. owner
occupied. It was also mentioned that the Council needs to consider
whether they are willing to make a change to the Downtown Design
Standards to accommodate parking.
Mr. McLaughlin stated the Council should be cautious of sending the
parking issue back to the Housing Commission and explained that the
fastest way to get answers would be to send it back to the staff level.
Councilor Morrison/Amarotico m/s for the RFP to be sent back to
staff for their revisions based on the council's discussion and
questions that were raised, and then return the RFP to the council.
DTSCUSSTON: Mr. Goldman clarified that the tax credits were reviewed,
though it was for the Hargadine proposal. Mayor DeBoer restated that he
supports 60 years at 60% median income. Opinion was expressed that the
City is not ready to begin the RFP process and they should first evaluate
their assets. Mr. McLaughlin clarified that the motion is for staff to answer
Council's specific questions and return with a revised RFP, not to perform
an overall analysis of assets and income opportunities as mentioned
during the discussion. Voice Vote: Councilor Laws, Amarotico,
3ackson and Morrison, YES; Councilor Hartzell, NO. Hotion passed
4-1.
Councilor Hartzell/Amarotico m/s to extend meeting until 10:30.
Voice Vote: All AYES. Motion passed.
0
.
Ashland Fiber Network Franchise Renewal.
City Attorney Mike Franell stated AFN had received an initial 5-year
franchise agreement in August 1999 and explained that the agreement
expires at the end of the month. AFN requested that the City renew their
franchise agreement.
Mr. Franell stated the terms of the franchise agreement includes 5% of
the gross revenue from franchise fees and $.75 per subscriber per month
· ..
· . .
for'PEG acce§S fee§:' Mr. 'Ffafiell S'tated'the franchise 'agreement mirrors
the City's agreement with Charter Communications, with a few small
exceptions dealing with the confidentiality of the records. In addition, the
City is not asking AFN to make a payment for the improvement of RVTV
facilities as they did with Charter. Mr. Franell noted one correction to the
franchise agreement: Page 4 Section 1.25, the definition for upstream
should read: ":1.25. Upstream means the carrying of a transmission to the
http ://ashland.or.us/PrintContentView.asp?ID= 1797&Agenda=True 9/16/04
CITY OF
,-ASHLAND
Memo
DATE:' November 17, 2003 '
TO:
Housing Commission
FROM: Paul Nolte
RE:
Alternative Building Scenarios Over Hargadine Parking Structure
The housing commission will soon be studying alternatives and making recommendations to
the city council regarding development of the airspace over the city's Hargadine Parking
Structure for affordable housing. Below is a brief summary of some of the alternatives that
could be considered.
A..Use of the airspace for affordable housing can take several forms:
1. Sale of airspace. Alan Sandier has proposed that the city sell the airspace to him for
the purpose of constructing affordable rental housing units. The units would be required to
remain affordable for 60 years. At the end of 60 years this restriction would end and the owner
at that time could make any use of the property then permitted under land use and other
applicable laws. The city would continue to own the parking structure and the land under the
structure.
2. Condominium sale. One method to sell airspace is to use the Oregon Condominium
Act, ORS Ch. 100. A condominium owner, does not own the land supporting the condominium,
just-the unit itself. Condominium communities may provide shared facilities such as a pool or a
clubhouse, all maintained by the condo association, which takes care of all day-to-day
management tasks and which also sets the rules for the community.
The City of Eugene has utilized this method for developing housing over a city-owned parking
structure. The city owns two units consisting of parking levels and a developer owns two units
consisting of several rental housing units.
3. Sale of airspace with a reversionary clause. The city could sell the airspace to a
.. developer much as described in ei.ther paragraph one or two above, but prov!de that at the end
of certatn length'of t~me '(say'60 years) the property automatically reverts back to oWnership,by ........
the city.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
20 East Main Street
Ashland, OR 97520
www.ashlend.or, us
Tel: (541) 488-5350
Fax: (541) 552-2092
TTY: 800-735-2900
Paul Nolte, City Attomey
Michael W. Franell, Assistant City Attomey
Shadene P. Stephens, Legal Assistant/Claims Mgr.
Jodi Wacenske, Legal Secretary
4. Sale of parking structure to developer with a lease back to city of parking
levels. The city could sell the property upon which the parking structure is located, including
the structure itself. The sale would be on the condition that the developer construct and
maintain affordable housing units and that the developer lease back the Parking levels for use
by the citY.
5. Lease of airspace. Airspace is an interest in property that can be leased as well as
sold. The lease can provide that the lessee is obligated to construct affordable housing units
within the airspace and maintain them as affordable units throughout the lease. The lease can
provide thatupon termination, all of the improvements revert to the lessor.
B. Evaluating the different options.
1. Common elements. In any property ownership where the airspace is owned
separately from the land upon which it sits, the various owners must address the maintenance
and liability of those areas used in common. For the Hargadine Parking Structure,
consideration must be given to the approaches and access to be used by the residents,
including stairways, landings and elevators; the pipes, ducts, wires and utilities necessary for
construction and occupation of the housing; parking requirements for residents (if any); exterior
maintenance requirements, including access to the exterior; structural support for the
additional floor; and the allocation of liability should any common element fail.
These considerations are relatively the same for alternatives A.1,2, 3 and 5 above.
Since the airspace and land would not be in separate ownership in alternative 4 above, many
of these considerations lose their importance. Sale of the parking structure, however, would
require consent from OECDD because of the grant and loan conditions placed on the financing
of the structure.
2. Financing. If any lender is involved, the lender will want to secure the construction
loan with security in the property. Lenders will most likely be more familiar with the
condominium-type development. In the Eugene case, the lender for the residential construction
used the developer's condo_units for security as the city would not allow the city property to be
used .'
Financing under alternative 2 above would most likely be more acceptable to a lender since it
is a concept that has a track record with lenders; financing under alternative 4 would most
likely be the most acceptable to a lender since the developer would own the underlying
property.
Financing under alternative 5 would be possible, but the lender would need strong protection
.... o.f the. le..aseho!d' interest should the deve_lo, per be unable to complete the project or maintain
...... the ability for repayment:- .- .................. ' ' . ..... .., ...........
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
20 East Main Street
Ashland, OR 97520
www.ashland.0r.us
Tel: (541) 488-5350
Fax: (541) 552-2092
TTY: 800-735-2900
Paul Nolte, City Attorney
Michael W. Franell, Assistant City Attomey
Shadene P. Stephens, Legal Assistant/Claims Mgr.
Jodi Wacenske, Legal Secretary
CITY OF
kSHLAND
DRAFT
Request for Proposals and Qualifications
.AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
DOWNTOWN PUBLIC PARKING LOTS
August 17, 2004
. Offered by:
The City of Ashland City Council
& Housing Commission
Submittals due in the Department of Community Development office,
located at 51 Winbum Way, Ashland, OR 97520,
no later than
Questions on Cont~nt'pleaso coatact:.Bi'ahdoh Goldman; Dephrtment.of Com.'_munity.De'v'elapme'nt, .' .
541-552-2076 or goldmanb~ashland.or.us
CITY OF ASHLAND
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS and REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
DOWNTOWN PUBLIC PARKING LOTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
I. PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................ 4-5
Lithia Lot .................................................................................. 5
Pioneer Lot ................................................................................ 5
Second Street Lot ...................................................................... 5
II. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ........... . ............................................................. 6-7
III. PROPOSAL CONTENTS ......................................................................... 8-9
IV. CRYFERIA FOR SELECTION .......................................... . .......................
10=11
V. PROPOSAL EVALUATION & SELECTION .......................................... 12
Application Cover sheet ............................................................ 13
· RFP issuance and submittal guidelines ..................................... 14
Map ' 15
Attachments
The City of Ashland is seeking proposals from affordable housing developers to lease or
purchase the air fights for development above the Lithia Way City owned parking lot
within the downtown. The City is soliciting proposals with the purpose of creating and
managing affordable housing. The City is seeking proposals that would develop and
manage affordable housing with provisions for the City to regain ownership at the
conclusion of the proposed period of affordability. The City Council has further
identified that proposals should aim to provide housing units for a minimum __ year
period, to households earning at or below ~ or less of the area median income.
· .
This Request for Proposals ("RFP") invites proposals from not-for-profit and for-profit
developers to purchase or lease the air rights to a selected property, to oversee
development, and to carry out the development program. The City is seeking a
development proposal that will provide affordable housing for moderate, low, and very-
low income households. Respondents should determine the most realistic and feasible use
for the property, while recognizing the objective of maximizing the use of the site to
address Ashland's affordable housing goals. Additionally the Council has requested that
any proposed development retain, or increase, to the maximum extent feasible the
availability of the public parking component of the site.
Proposals should emphasize economic feasibility, affordability, livability, good design,
sensitivity to adjacent residential uses, responsiveness to Ashland's Downtown Design
Standards and to the historic districts that surround the subject properties.
The City of Ashland intends to select a development team that can demonstrate expertise
in affordable housing development, outline adequate financial capacity, describe a
compelling design concept and program, submit an offer for site-control of the selected
property, and describe how the proposed project will be managed and maintained during
the proposed period of affordability while meeting co.mmunity objectives.
Specifically development proposals are sought that will:
1. Serve as a demonstration project for~the'development of city owned airspace over
parking lots within the vicinity of the Downtown.
2. Support the concept of a high density, mixed-use character within the downtown
3. Provide affordable housing units at a cost and size that addresses the needs of' Ashland
residents and employees.
4. Include a period of affordability (__ years or more) and/or recapture provisions that
addresses the long-term housing needs of the community.
5. Include provisions for the ongoing management and maintenance of the housing
project throughout the period of affordability.
I. PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS
The Lithia Way parking Lot is located within the downtown core and is within a
National Register Historic District. Within the downtown and historic districts specific
design standards apply which can be found in the City's Site Design and Use Standards.
This document is available at the Community Development building at 51 Winbum Way
or online at: http://www.ashland.or.us/Files/Site_Design.pdf
General information on the site is provided below, however appl.icants are encouraged to
consult with the Ashland Planning Department with specific questions Pertaining to their
proposed develoPment.
In any property ownership where the airspace is owned or leased separately from the land
upon which it sits, the various owners must address the maintenance and liability of those
areas used in common. Consideration must be given to the approaches and access to be
used by the residents, including stairways, landings and elevators; the pipes, ducts, wires
and utilities necessary for construction and occupation of the housing; parking needs for
residents and the public; exterior maintenance requirements; and the allocation of liability
should any common element fail.
Lithia Lot
This parking lot sits mid block between Pioneer and First Street on the south side of
Lithia Way. The property, is 7350sq.ft.in size and is located within the Downtown
Commercial zone (C-l-D). At 60 units per acre in this zone the site has the potential for
approximately 10 dwelling units above the existing surface parking.
This site is surrounded on all sides by commercially zoned properties. To the south of the
property there is a paved Public Alley (Will Dodge Way).
Residential Use, as is the case with each of the subject parking lots, is a special permitted
use within the zone. Chapter 18.32.025D of the Ashland Municipal Code outlines the
requirements for such residential use within the C-1-D zone. Within this section of the
Ashland Municipal code it notes that a minimum of 65% of the ground floor must be
used as a permitted or special permitted use. "Public Parking Lots" are listed as a
permitted use and therefore the retention of public parking on the ground floor will
satisfy this standard.
Additionally applicants should recognize that although no parking is required in the C-1-
D zone for residential uses, applicants should consider the parking impacts of their
proposed development. Given the demand for downtown parking reductions in existing
parking are discouraged.
II. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS '
Applicants are cautioned not to make any assumptions as the implied meaning or
intent of any part of the RFP. Applicants should request clarification if needed.
Every request for information on or clarification of the RFP, must be submitted to
Brandon Goldman in writing at least ten days prior to the date set for the deadline
for proposals.
Any prospective applicant who contends that the provisions of this RFP or any
aspect of the procurement process will encourage favoritism in the award of the
contract for services, or substantially diminish competition, must file a written
protest to the RFP at least ten days prior to the date set for the opening of
proposals. Failure to file a protest will be deemed a waiver of any claim by an
applicant that the procurement process violates any Provision Of ORS Chapter
279, the City of Ashland Local Contract Review Bbhrd Rules or the City's
procedures for screening and selection of personal service contractors.
The provisions of this RFP cannot be modified by oral interpretations or
statements. If inquiries or comments by applicants raise issues that require
clarification by the City, or the City decides to revise any part of this RFP,
addenda will be provided by all persons who receive the RFP. Receipt of an
addendum must be acknowledged by signing and returning it with the proposal.
mo
ASHLAND BUSINESS LICENSE
The selected developer must have a current City of Ashland business license
prior to conducting any work in the City of Ashland.
g.
Co
Do
EVALUATION CRITERIA and PROFFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
The selection of the development and m~agement team for the proj eot shall be
based on weighted criteria as cited in Section IV. Standard criteria includes, but
is not limited to; units provided, income aff0rdability targets, period of
affordability, professional experience, references, and schedule.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The development and management team shall perform the work using the
standards of care, skill and diligence normally provided by a professional in the
performance, of such services in respect to similar, work and shall comply with all
applicable codes and standards. The selected developer shall be responsible to
comply with any additional federal or state requirements that may apply to the
project.
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Upon selection of a developer and entering into a contract agreement the
developer shall, at its own expense, at all times during the term of the contract,
maintain in force:
1. A comprehensive general liability policy including coverage
for Co. ntra. ctual liability for .ob.!!g.a. ti0..ns assumed under this contract, ..
'blanket contractual'liability, products and csmi~leted oPeratid//~ and ........
owner's and contractor's protective insurance;
2. A professional errors and omissions liability policy; and
3. A comprehensive automobile liability policy including owned
and non-owned automobiles.
4. The coverage under each liability insurance policy shall be equal to or
greater than the limits for claims made under the Oregon Tort Claims Act with
minimum coverage of $500,000 per occurrence (combined single limit for bodily
injury and property damage claims) or $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury
and $100,000 per occurrence for property damage.
5. Liability coverage shall be provided on an "occ.urrence" basis.
"Claims made" coverage will not be acceptable, except for the coverage reqUired
by subsection 13.1.2.
6. Certificates of insurance acceptable to the City shall be filed with City
prior to the commencement of any work by developer. Each certificate shall
state that coverage afforded under the policy cannot be cancelled or reduced in
coverage cannot be made until at least 30 days prior written notice has been
given to City. A certificate which states merely that the issuing company "will
endeavor to mail" written notice is unacceptable.
Eo
OWNERSHIP OF DOCUMENTS
Final original documents prepared for this project shall be deemed to be owned
by the City of Ashland and shall be delivered to the City at the project close-out.
III. PROPOSAL CONTENTS
The consultant shall submit 10 copies of the proposal for consideration by the City. The
proposal shall address each of the following listed items and shall be organized in
accordance with this section. The proposal shall be less than 20 pages. Please provide
site-plans and conceptual designs on pages no larger than 11" x 17". Submission of
electronic documents will not satisfy the printed material submittal requirements,
however delivery of these computer files is encouraged to allow the City to reproduce
materials.
The consultant's proposal will be evaluated using criteria in section IV. At a minimum,
the proposal shall include the following information:
A. Information about Development entity
1. State the name, address, telephone number, FAX number, e-mail and
primary contact person of the lead organization or firm making the
proposal.
2. If a joint venture or team is submitting the proposal, state this
information for each of the firms and each firm's responsibility for the
completion of the project.
3. Describe the experience of each organization or firm and key personnel.
4. Describe recent and current projects the organization is engaged in,
especially as they relate to building and managing affordable housing.
B. Description of Project 1. Executive Summary
2. Number of units'by size and level of affordability:
Medford-Ashland HUD Income Limits
Income Limits b~/Family Size: S/year
*For the Medford-Ashland Statistical Area as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development 2004.
Income Level Number of Persons in Family
I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8+
Extremely Low 10950 12500 14050 15650 16900 18150 19400 20650
Income (30%
Median)
Low Income 18250 20850 23450 26050 28150 30200 32300 34400
(50% Median)
Moderate 29,20 33350 37500 41700 45000 48350 51700 55000
Income (80% 0
median) - .'- -- :- .- ..
Example: 100 unit project
10 onebedroom units affordable to extremenly low income households (below 30% Area
Median Income); 50 three-bedroom units affordable to very low income households (below
60% of median income); 30 two-bedroom units affordable to low-moderate income
households (60-80% of median income)
3. Proposed period of affordability and anticipated use at the conclusion of the
affordability period.
4. Describe the City and/or other agency approvals necessary for this project.
5. Development plan with timefi'ame for project completion.
6. Provide a pro-forma for the project describing the source and use of funds
for construction and the operating cash flow on the project through the period
under developers ownership/management. Specify any state or federal grants,
tax credits, or other subsidies sought as funding for the proposed project.
7. Property management program for project. Describe how the completed ' '
project will be managed throughout the period of affordability.
8. Describe the anticipated use of the property (including ownership,
maintenance, and management) after the proposed period of affordability has
expired.
· C. References
Provide information on the project team qualifications and experience.
Provide references (names, address, phone numbers, and contact persons) for
similar projects completed or underway.
IV. EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
Each proposal shall be evaluated as to how it addresses the following criteria:
1. PROJECT APPROACH AND VISION
MAX SCORE 50 PTS
This relates to the basic understanding of the requested development. Is
therea clear and concise understanding~of the project objectives based on .
the consultant's proposal?
} Number and type'of units proposed efficiently utilizes space available
} Targets low-moderate income households that are in critical need of
housing.
} Period of affordability
} Plan maximizes public benefit
2. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES & RESOURCES
MAX SCORE 15 PTS
This relates to the organizations capabilities in completing the proposed.
development. The basic question is how well the team's qualifications and
experience relate to the requested services The response should address
the following:
Projects completed within the last five years that best characterize work
quality and cost control.
Management and organizational structure.
Applicant demonstrates ability to secure funding sources proposed
Experience and current duties of key members who will be performing the
work on this project.
Experience as a team on similar or related projects.
Other on going projects.
Readiness to proceed.
3. DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE
MAX SCORE 10 PTS
Provide a realistic development schedule for completion of the project.
} Project Benchmarks are well-defined and realistic
} Contingencies are planned and realistic
o . .
e
PROJECT FUNDING SOURCES
MAX SCORE 20 PTS
The proposal shall include a project pro-forma including identification of
all potential funding sources for the project development. Applicants are
enco'uraged..to .p'rov/d/~ information orr'..any..co.'mp.etitive and/or non~ '-'
competitive Local, State or Federal low-income housing assistance sou~,hi '
for the development. Should any of these funding streams require a
specific period of affordability and/or target income qualifications the
proposal should note those requirements and how they will be monitored
over the period of affordability.
5. REFERENCES
MAX SCORE 5 PTS
List former clients for whom the consultant has performed similar or
comparable services within the past five years. Identify like projects the
developer has complet, ed. Include the name, mailing address and phone
number of their principle representation and a brief description of the
· project.
10
IV. PROPOSAL EVALUATION & SELECTION
A. REVIEW
Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by the Housing Commission for recommendations to be
forwarded to the City Council. The City Council will receive public testimony regarding the
proposals and select the development proposal.
To assist the Housing Commission and City Council in their deliberations each proposal will be
evaluated on the completeness and quality of content as described in the preceding section.
Interviews may be conducted with the top ranking fu'ms if the City deems it necessary.
B. EVALUATION CRITERIA
Each proposal will be judged as a demonstration of the applicants capabilities and understanding
of the type of development requested. Evaluation factors and points will be as follows:
Maximum
Criteria Score
1 Understanding of Project Approach and Vision 50
2 Firm's Capability & Resources 15
3 Development Schedule 10
4 Project Funding Sources 20
5 References 5
Total 100 Points
C. CITY RESERVATION
The City of Ashland reserves the right to waive irregularities or discrepancies in a proposal if the
City determines that the waiver is in the best interest of the City.
D. ADDENDA TO THE RFP
The provisions Of this RFP cannot be modified by oral interpretations or statements. If inquiries ·
or comments by offerors raise issues that require clarification by the City, or the City decides to
revise any part of this RFP, addenda will be provided to all persons known to the contact person
who have received or will subsequently receive the RFP. Receipt of addenda must be
acknowledged by signing and returning it with the proposal.
E. PROTEST
Anyprospective developer Who contends that the provisions of the RFP or any aspect of the
procurement process will encourage favoritism in the award of the contract, or substantially
diminish competition, must file a written protest to the RFP at least ten days prior to the date set
for the opening of proposals. Failure to file a protest will be deemed a waiver of any claim by an
offeror that the procurement process violates any provision of ORS Chapter 279, the City of
Ashland Local Contract Review Board Rules or the City's procedures for screening and selection
of persons to perform personal services.
F. CONTRACT
-The developer.selected hy the.City will be expected to enter, into a writte.n contract w. ith. the Cit. y .
:of Ashland.'Unconditional refusal to accept the contract provisii~n's'pi'oposed by the City without
offering acceptable alternatives may result in disqualification of the offeror or a less favorable
evaluation of its proposal.
11
CITY OF
" - SHLAND
Request for Proposals and Qualifications
DOWNTOWN PUBLIC PARKING LOTS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
Request for Proposal
Application Form
(include as top-sheet of Proposal)
Project Name:
ProjectDeSCription..
Applicant:
Address:
CitY, State& Zip:
Contact Person:
Phone Number:
· Fax Number=.
Email Address:
]2
The City of Ashland requests proposals for the development of affordable housing above
the City owned public parking lots.
Proposals must be received by ., in the City of Ashland Community
Development Office located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, Oregon 97520. (Mailing
address is 20 East Main Street, Ashland OR 97520). Facsimile proposals are NOT
acceptable.
The respondent shall submit 10 copies of the proposal for consideration by the City. The
proposal shall be less than 20 pages. Please provide site-plans and conceptual designs on
pages no larger than 11" x 17". Submission of electronic documents will not satisfy the
printed material submittal requirements, however delivery of these computer files is
encouraged to allow the City to reproduce materials.
Contract award will be based on weighted criteria as cited in the Request for Proposal
document. Standard criteria include, but are not limited to: affordability, number of
units, experience, references, schedule, and cost.
The City of Ashland reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to waive
formalities or to accept any proposal that appears to serve the best interest of the City of
Ashland. Questions regarding this RFP should be directed to Brandon Goldman,.
Housing Program, Department of Community Development at 541-552-2076 or
goldmanb~ashland.or.us
This request for proposals and request for qualifications has been initiated bythe City of
Ashland Housing Commission and approved by the Ashland City Council.
By Order of the City Council
Ashland, Oregon
John Mclaughlin, Director
Dept. Community Development
13
CITY OF
-ASHLAND
Council Communication
Title:
Dept:
Date:
Submitted By:
Summary of Council Goals for FY 200~4-2005 and Timeline.
Administration
September 21, 2004
Gino Grimaldi, City Administrator
Synopsis:
Attached is a summary and timeline of the 2004-2005 Council Goals.
Recommendation:
Council approval of the summary and timeline of the 2004-2005 Council Goals.
Fiscal Impact:
The fiscal impacts of the various goals have been included in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2004-
2005.
Background:
On January 9 and 10, 2004, the Mayor, Council and staff met to develop goals for the next fiscal year
(2004-2005). The City Council reviewed the 2003-2004 goals and considered new goals for the next 24
months. At the City Council meeting of March 2, 2004 council approved the goals and based on the
document entitled 2004-2005 Goals of the City of Ashland, a summary has been prepared which
identifies ihe responsible department and anticipated schedule for addressing these goals.
The approval of the summary and timeline of the 2004-2005 Council Goals establishes the priorities for
the organization over the next two years.
In the Community Development Department, affordable housing continues to be a top priority with the
assignment of a staff person to assist with this effort. There have been some setbacks due to turnover
within the department. Several vacancies have been filled and the Housing Coordinator position will now
be able to move forward with Council Goals related to affordable housing.
Other priorities in the Community Development Department include the development of the riparian
ordinance, completion of the update of the downtown plan, and designing the implementation of an
economic development program based on the comprehensive plan. It is proposed that these Council
goals be completed giving top priority to Work on the riparian ordinance, followed by completion of the'
downtown plan and the economic development program.
It should be noted that two Council Goals assigned to the Community Development Department have
been moved out one year from what was previously present to the Mayor and City Council. They are the
development of an urban forestry plan and master planning for the Railroad Property and the Croman
Property.
The summary and timeline also established priorities for other departments. Please refer to the attached
summary for those priorities.
The proposed summary and timeline also indicates the need for Council Study Sessions regarding several
Council Goals. Council Study Sessions allow the Mayor and City Council provide input and direction in
the early stages of staff work on a Council Goal or at important decision points during the completion of
a Council Goal. Feedback from the Mayor and Council regarding the planned study sessions would assist
staff in establishing a schedule for study sessions.
Attachments:
· Summary of Council Goals for FY 2004-2005.
Summary of Council Goals For FY 2004-2005
And update of schedule as of September 16, 2004
The following goals were developed by the city council during workshops held on January 9 and 10, 2004. The council identified a list of
new goals that should be addressed during the next 18-24 months and a list of goals, which had been previously identified but were to
be continued.
COMMUNITY VALUES STATEMENT
The citizens of Ashland value a City government that helps create an environment within which they are able to live happy and produc-
tive lives. This includes a healthy and sustainable environment; an opportunity to acquire the basic necessities of life; a sound infra.
structure that meets our common needs for transportation, energy, information and communications, health care, water and waste man-
agement; and a variety of social, recreational, business and cultural opportunities.
The citizens want their government to respect our diverse people, natural environment, and rich heritage and culture; and to promote
citizen involvement, initiative, innovation and a strong sense of community.
II.
II1.
IV.
Vi
VI.
VII.
ELEMENTS
Citizen participation and involvement- The City recognizes the value of citizen involvement and the wealth of information and
resources that the citizens of Ashland possess. The City is committed to a high level of communication with the public.
Environmental Resources - Ashland seeks to retain its natural beauty as it continues to grow and further develop. The City
seeks to stdke a balance between urbanization and the natural environment by providing protection for soils, small creeks & wet-
lands, urban forest, clean air and peace & quiet.
Housing- The City has a responsibility to ensure that proper amounts of land are set aside to accommodate the various housing
needs in the City, and that its land development ordinances are broad enough to allow for variation in housing type, cost and den-
sity.
Economic Strategy- The City encourages a variety of economic activities in the City, while continuing to reaffirm the economic
goals of Ashland citizens and existing businesses. Economic development in Ashland should serve the purpose of maintaining
and improving the local quality of life.
Public Services - The City will provide a full range of public services that meet the needs of existing and future citizens. The
City Council values and supports city staff and the work they do on behalf of the community. The City strives to create a produc-
tive work environment for city employees.
Transportation and Transit - To retain Ashland's small-town character while it grows, the City must proactively plan for a trans-
portation system that is integrated into the community and enhances the livability, character and natural environment.
Energy, Air and Water Resources- Ashland seeks to be a regional leader in the areas of energy, air and water conservation.
The City seeks to continue this leadership role in further development of goals, policies and programs that encourage citizens to
conserve natural resources. The City also desires to continue to provide electrical service to consumers at as Iow a cost as pos-
sible.
Parks, Open Space and Aesthetics - Ashland's character is intimately linked to its aesthetic resources, including its vistas,
trees, parks, open space lands, and public art. The City seeks to develop programs that preserve important open space and
parkland, while accommodating continuing urbanization.
IX. Urbanization- The City seeks to ensure an orderly transition of land from rural to urban uses.
X,
Historical Sites and Structures- Ashland seeks to preserve its rich history through the preservation of its historical buildings
and places.
Xl.
Eegional Strategies- Ashland seeks to develop unique partnerships with governments, non-profits and the private sector to en-
sure that regional issues of importance to the City and the region are addressed in a collaborative and effective way.
XlI.
Financial Management - The City will be an accountable and effective steward of the public trust and public re-
sources. The City will provide equitable and efficient services to the public through the efficient use of assets and re-
sources.
Social and Human Services - To ensure that all people in Ashland live in a safe, strong, and caring community, the City seeks to
enhance the quality of life and promote self-reliance, growth and development of people. To these ends, the City will strive to
provide resources and services to meet basic human needs.
GOALS
2004- 2005 Goals Department Timeline Planned Activities
1. Continue to help commissions and Administration/ Ongoing throughout - City Recorder's Office will continue to provide
committees become more effective throughCity Recorder fiscal year. member notebooks to each commis-
resources and training oppodunities; de- sion/committee member (done).
velop training program for commission vol- June '04 · City Recorder's office will work with Legal to
unteers in meeting management, goal set- develop an instructional session on protocol,
ting, group dynamics, and ethics, government standards and practices and any
legal instruction that pertains to each commis-
sion/committee (done).
Oct '04 · Recorder/Legal plan to attend the first meeting
of each commission following new appts.
2. Adopt a process to meet LCDC Goal 1 Comm Dev/Plan- June'04 · Study session with Planning Commission-
Participation goal requirement, ning new Citizen Involvement Committee and pro-
posed citizen outreach process (done).
Sept '04 - Dec '04 · Final Adoption and Implementation.
3. Complete Charter review and update Admin July '04 · Develop work plan and meeting schedule.
process. Sep '04 · Begin regular meetings.
4. Develop Riparian Ordinance. Comm Dev/Plan- July '04 · Complete riparian and wetland inventory
ning (done)
Aug '04 · Planning Commission Study Session (done)
Sept '04 -Feb '05 " Public Involvement/Ordinance drafting.
Mar '05 · Planning Commission public hearing.
May '05 " Ordinance Adoption/Public Hearings.
5. Pursue water quality and temperature Public Works April '04 · Complete SWMP (done April '04)
improvements through an active storm wa- June '04 (ongoing) · Allocated funding and develop projects
ter management program including Jan- Oct '04 · Define and adopt Engineering Standards
bioswales, storm-ceptors, maintenance April- Oct '04 " BMP development and training
programs, tree planting, link to the riparian Jul- Dec '05 (ongoing) - Riparian improvements
zones, erosion control programs and "creek
clean-ups."
6. Develop Urban Forestry Plan. Comm Dev/Plan- Nov- Dec '05 · Joint Study Session and Discussion of project
ning to determine priority for budgeting.
7. Establish a stronger, formalized roleAdministration/FireOctober'04 · Complete the community alternative (CWPP)
for the City in the stewardship of entire Department proposal for wildfire fuels management on
Ashland Watershed. Federal lands in accordance with HFRA
· Pursue ways to speed up forest fuels guidelines.
reduction work in the watershed (mu-
nicipal and federal). June '05 · Create the opportunities for collaboration be-
. Improve the overall management of tween the COA and USFS on the Winburn
the Ashland Watershed by working Parcel through the Ashland Forest Lands Re-
with the Forest Service and continue siliency Project.
efforts to reduce the wildfire threat in
the watershed. June '05 · Initiate the development of objectives and a
· Implement the Ashland Forest Lands work plan for treatments prescribed for the
restoration plan for watershed im- Winburn Parcel.
provement by a) completing Phase II;
and, b) developing Phase III work plan
for restoration work on Winburn Par- Public Works Jun - Oct '04 · Liaison with the Forest Service to determine
cel. their current information on a watershed basis.
· Map water capacity and its sources in Jun - Dec '04 · Identify water ways and define mapping.
the watershed and enhance protection Aug - April '05 · Determine monitoring protocols with Forest
of it. In partnership, implement an en- Service.
hanced monitoring program (begin Spring '05 · Begin monitoring and analysis.
monitoring)
8. Derive a specific list of'04 action items Com Dev/Planning Oct'04 · Develop Implementation Program for Housing
from the Housing Action Plan and Needs Action Plan.
Analysis with reasonable, measurable Nov '04 · Council Study Session regarding Housing
marks of progress. Action Plan.
· Consider the land use changes listed July'04 · Joint Housing Commission/Planning Commis-
in the Housing Action Plan (council to sion Study Session regarding mixed family
approve action steps) zoning and Minirnum Density Amendment
· Adopt strategies to limit allowing sin- (done)
gle-family residential development in Oct '04 · Planning Commission Public Hearing on
mixed-family residential zoning dis- Minimum Density' Amendment.
tricts. Nov '04 · Council adoption of Minimum Density
· Provide in-kind supportto ACLTto Amendment.
further affordable housing for Ashland. Nov/Dec '04 · Planning Commission Hearing - MFR
Jan/Feb '05 · City Council Adoption- MFR
9. Design implementation of local Eco- Comm Oct'04 · Planning Commission Study Session.
nomic Development program, based on Dev/Planning Dec '04 · Council Study Session.
current Comprehensive Plan, Policy 3. Nov '04 - Mar '05 · Prepare Implementation Plan based on input
from Study Session.
Apr-Jun'05 · Adopt program.
10. Continue master planning of large Comm Sept'04 · Study Session with council on approach re-
undeveloped properties. Dev/Planning garding master planning large undeveloped
properties.
Railroad Property:
Mar- Apr '05 · Staff Plan Preparation and Review.
May '05 · Railroad Property study session - review past
planning efforts/plan.
Jun- Jul '05 · Additional public meetings.
Aug '05 · Final Plan Preparation.
Sept - Oct '05 · Adoption of Railroad Property Plan.
Croman Property:
Sept '04 · Council Study Session to discuss approach.
11. Develop planning framework for future Comm Jun '05 · Study Session on area with Planning Com-
development of North Normal area. Dev/Planning mission/neighborhood/citizens.
Aug- Sept'05 · Development of priorities and workplan.
12. Evaluate and create plan for remodelPublic Works Summer '04 " Determine need for assistance from an archi-
of Council Chamber (meet various con- tect (Done)
cerns: seating, sound, design, web ac- Fall/Winter '04 · Architectural review.
cess). Spring '05 · Begin remodel.
13. Enhance revenue and services from Electric July '04 · Implement ,5 initiatives designed to sell addi-
AFN to strengthen its viability, tional service to existing customers (Done)
Aug '04 · Implement 4 initiatives designed to improve
the marketing of AFN (Done)
Sept '04 " Implement 6 initiatives designed to improve
AFN operations.
Oct '04 · Improve financial reporting.
Jan '05 · Implement 5 initiatives designed to obtain new
customers.
14. Enhance water supply and conserva- Public Works
tion by:
· Developing a citywide focus "the right Ongoing · Conservation, water reuse and irrigation.
water for the right use."
· Exploring and potentially developing a Summer'04 - Spring '05 · Need to evaluate the possibility with TID;
three-year plan to improve and extend evaluate costs and implementation process.
our current TID system.
· Negotiating for other water supply April- Dec'04 · Working with TID./BOR and Corps of Engi-
options, neers for future water supply
· Supporting an effluent reuse option for April - Dec '05 · Evaluate reuse options (Billings/TID, etc.)
the WWTP effluent.
· Completing pre-design plan for future Nov'04 " Complete TAP pre-design and take to council
extension of TAP water line, including for review/decisions. Purchase or develop
a priority for conservation, agreements for ROW
15. Develop a five-year plan to identify, Public Works/GIS July/Aug '04 · Identify the various information technology
fund and full integrate all information tech- functions within the organization, determine
nology functions within the organization, their current status, general compatibility and
including upgrades to LaserFiche, GIS, need for integration (Done)
utility billing software, web interface mod- Oct '04 · Identify the changes that will need to be made
ules and more (Invest in and utilize the to allow for integration and the options avail-
most appropriate software to maintain, im- able to accomplish that task.
prove and enhance internal work perform- Dec '04 · Prioritize the integration tasks relative to
ance thereby providing the best possible hardware/software availability and compatibil-
service to Ashland citizens) ity, current needs, available skillsets and ac-
cess requirements.
Jan '05 · City Council study session.
Feb '05 · Develop a funding schedule for implementa-
tion over a five-year period.
16. Complete a communications coverage Fire Department Sept'04 · Contract with Day Wireless Systems to con-
study for fire department radio communica- duct a radio wave strength study (Done)
tions. Oct '04 · Determine need for additional radio re-
. Conduct a radio wave strength and peater/receiver sites.
coverage study. Dec '04 · Identify and purchase necessary radio com-
· Determine need for additional radio munications equipment.
repeater/receiver sites. Jan '05 · Conduct field testing and acceptance tests.
· Identify and purchase necessary radio
communications equipment.
17. Establish a Public Safety Advisory Police/Fire De- Nov '04 · Develop program goals, objectives and iden-
Committee to provide public input on police partments tify key functions for the Public Safety Advi-
and fire issues, sory Committee.
Jan '05 · Advertise for interested citizens to staff the
Committee. Select members.
Feb '05 · Provide orientations.
18. Develop strategy to educate residents Fire & Police De- Oct '04 · Develop the capability to communicate effec-
about City's emergency procedures in thepartments tively with citizens via an AM emergency Advi-
event of wildfire (Fire, Police and Public sory Radio Broadcast System (Done)
Works Departments: evacuate, relocate, Nov '04 · Review Ashland Emergency Evacuation Plan.
shelter, communications with the public). Review Red Cross Shelter Agreements.
19. Improve safety of existing at grade RR Public Works Feb '04 · Complete the evaluation of all at grade cross-
crossings and develop a plan to improve ings (done Feb '04)
the Hersey Street/N. Laurel Street crossing. July '04 - Develop priorities with Council (Study Session
July '04)
Fall '04 - Identify funding sources.
WintedSpring '05' · Design improvements for E. Main & Lau-
rel/Hersey crossings.
FY '06 · Implement improvements.
FY '06 · Evaluate closure and new crossings.
FY '06 · Develop plan for other crossing improvements
('06-08)
20. Improve pedestrian and traffic safety Public Works Feb '06 · Phase I improvements for Wimer and N. Main
based on the 3-Es - Education, Enforce- July '06 · Continue to evaluate long term improvements
merit and Engineering at Wimer Street and (ODOT STIP)
North Main. July '07 · Construction STIP 07/08
21. Measurably improve traffic safety inPublic Works/ Jan '04 · Prioritize specific neighborhoods and evaluate
neighborhoods (Pedestrians, auto, bicycle, Engineering/Traffic traffic volumes and safety (Done)
sidewalks, school zones, speed limits, Safety Comm Spring/Summer '04 · Prepare information on neighborhood evalua-
crosswalk safety), tion techniques for safety improvements and
traffic calming ideas (Done)
Nov '04 · Prepare and distribute brochure on safety
information (education).
Spring '05 · Develop a plan to prioritize and implement
engineering solutions through various pro-
jects.
Spring '06 · Measure results over 12-18 months.
FY 0§/06 (ongoing) · Continue to evaluate long-term improvements.
22. Evaluate TTPC Plan and develop ac- Corn Dev/Public Mar '05 · Mayor reappoints Ad Hoc Transportation
tion plan for items adopted. Works/Planning Committee.
· Explore RVTD service options. April- Jun '05 · Committee Meeting/Project understanding
July '05 · Plan Update/Plan Preparation
Aug '05 · Public Meetings/Plan Adoption.
Dec '05 · Develop priority for continued service and
funding mechanisms.
Feb '06 · Develop priority for expanded service area
and funding mechanisms.
Feb '06 · Gain council approval and funding resources.
Ongoing · Continue to evaluate long-term improvements.
23. Identify and acquire land for transit Comm Spring '05 · Develop need statement.
station. Dev/Planning/ Spring/Summer '0§ · Identify land options.
Public Works Summer '05 · Identify ROW and costs.
SummedFall '05 · Prepare design and evaluate funding options.
Fall '05 · Develop construction schedule.
24. Improve public trail system by develop- Corem Dev/Plan- Ongoing · Coordinate with Parks on Dog Park - North
ing a comprehensive trails master plan ning with Parks Mountain Park Greenway extension.
which addresses minimizing public/private Commission and Mar'04- Jan '05 ,, Identify properties for easements and/or ac-
conflicts. Plan should include the Bear AWTA quisition.
Creek Greenway (Dog Park to Mountain Jan- Jun '05 · Prepare strategy for acquisition of ease-
Ave. Park). (Plan should discuss range of ments/land..
tools to obtain access and ways to estimate
construction costs and costs to obtain
easements)
25. Adopt Dark Sky Ordinance that re- Comm May '05 - Study Session with Planning Commission.
duces light pollution throughout the City on Dev/Planning Jun- Sept '05 · Ordinance Preparation and Public Involve-
public and private property, ment.
Oct- Dec '05 · Ordinance Adoption.
26. Continue to provide information to the Admin/Com Dev (The Planning Division will continue to coordinate
community and foster discussion on growth with Admin/Ann Seltzer on providing information to
and planning issues, with an emphasis on the public on planning issues. The Planning Com-
historic preservation, annexation require- mission has appointed a sub-committee which is
ments, State land use law, infill policy and working on providing additional opportunities for
impacts related to density, rate of growth, information distribution.)
development standards, and processes.
Ongoing · Develop materials about issues for use as
handouts in City racks in Council Chambers,
City Hall and Cornmunity Dev. Lobby and post
same information on City's Web site.
Ongoing - Solicit copy from Historic Comm on historic
properties in Ashland and preservation. In-
clude related copy in City Source.
27. Develop performance measures pro- Finance Jan '05 · Inventory existincj and survey desired meas-
gram for all city departments, ures.
Jan '05 · Evaluate and adopt desired measures that are
"ready."
Jan-March '05 · Develop reporting process (monthly, quarterly,
annual)
Apr-Jun '05 · Establish process for desired measures "not
ready."
July-Oct '05 · Annual follow-up and changes.
28. Review and adjust target fund bal- Finance March '05 ,, Complete review.
ances to respond to current operations.
29. Review and consider strategies in the Admin Nov '04 · Draft charge of Health and Human Services
health and human services plan. committee for council approval.
· Identify and implement no-cost and Jan '05 · Appoint committee.
Iow-cost strategies within the Health
and Human Services Plan in partner-
ship with service providers that aid in
the delivery of services to people most
in need.
30. Complete the update of the downtown Comm Dev. June '04 "' Study Session to discuss process and plan
plan. approach (done).
Sep - Nov '04 · Public Involvement- Community Based Vi-
sion for Downtown.
Oct '04 · Parking Management Issues/Report.
OctJNov '04 · Transportation/Circulation/Parking.
Dec '04 - Jan '05 · Streetscape Appearance and Amenities.
Feb - Mar '05 · Lithia Way Design Issues.
Apr- May '05 · Final Plan preparation/Review
Jun -Aug '05 · Plan Adoption Process.
CITY OF
-ASHLAND
Council Communication
ASHLAND COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN
Meeting Date: September 21, 2004
Department: Ashland Fire & Rescue
Contributing Departments: Public Works
Approval: Gino Grimaldi
Primary Staff Contact: Keith E. Woodley, ~%j/
552-2217, woodleyk~ashland.or.us
Secondary Staff Contact: Chris Chambers, ~.
552-2066, chambersc~ashland.or.us
Statement:
The Ashland Forest Lands Commission, in conjunction with local environmentalists and several
environmental groups, has prepared a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) to submit to
the U.S. Forest Service as a community alternative to the Ashland Forest Resiliency Project. This
plan is now submitted to the City Council for adoption. The Ashland Forest Lands Commission
will meet on Tuesday morning, September 21th, to approve revisions to Chapter 8, which were
completed after submission of the CWPP document to Council. The general direction and
prescriptive philosophy contained in the draft Chapter 8 will hold consistently throughout the
completion of this work for inclusion in the final CWPP. While the latest draft is included with
the Council packet, it is understood that this is an evolving process and the future is likely to
produce additional enhancements to the CWPP.
Background:
This plan constitutes partial completion of City Council goals # 7 (Establish a stronger,
formalized role for the City in the stewardship of entire Ashland Watershed) and # 18 (Develop a
strategy to educate residents about City's emergency procedures in the event of wildfire).
The purpose of the Ashland Forest Resiliency Project is to protect forest ecosystem values at
risk, reduce crown fire potential, and establish forest ecosystem conditions that are :more resilient
to wildland fire events. The USFS Ashland Forest Resiliency Project has been granted status as a
project under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA). Under HFRA, the USFS is required to
evaluate three alternatives, (1) no action, (2) a USFS preferred alternative, and (3) a community
alternative submitted as a "Community Wildfire Protection Plan". The Ashland Forest Lands
Commission, in cooperation with local environmental stewardship groups, has prepared a
"Community Wildfire Protection Plan", or "CWPP", to be evaluated as the third alternative. This
proposal must be submitted by October 1st to the Forest Service.
The CWPP will provide an effective framework for addressing critical components of our
community' s wildfire defense strategy. This framework includes a discussion of the following:
collaboration and community outreach efforts, wildfire risk assessment, fire protection
capabilities and infrastructure protection, evacuation procedures, strategies to reduce
vulnerabilities, fuels reduction, biomass utilization, monitoring and evaluation. The technical
prescriptions will provide the Forest Service with recommendations for fuel treatment strategies
for various landscape units included within the Ashland Forest Resiliency Project in the Ashland
Watershed. The CWPP Committee, under the auspices of the Ashland Forest Lands
Commission, has been working under an exhaustive schedule to complete the document for City
Council review and adoption.
Related City Policies
The 1929 US Forest Service / City of Ashland Memorandum of Understanding (with 1996 /
1999 amendments) provides for City of Ashland participation in any resource activity within the
Ashland Watershed.
Council Options:
Adopt or reject the Ashland Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends adoption.
Suggested Motion:
Motion to adopt the Ashland Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Attachments:
"Ashland Community Wildfire Protection Plan"
Community Wildfire Protection Plan:
Living with Fire in Ashland
Executive Summary
The displacement of Native Americans in the 19th century began an era of change in fire-adapted
forests of the west. Settlement land use practices and the control of naturally occurring wildfire
has altered historic fire cycles. Vegetation has changed from-more open conditions composed of
fire adapted species to dense forests composed of fire intolerant species. The result is increased
risk of large-sCale, high-intensity wildfires that threaten forest ecosystems adapted to lower
intensity fires (Agee, 1993). The municipal water supply and late-successional forest habitat are
at risk due to the increasingly homogenous composition of forests. Also at risk are lives,
property, and infrastructure where development intermixes with forest lands.
The Ashland 'Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)' is the result of community wide fire
protection planning and the compilation of project documents developed by the staff and citizens
of the City of Ashland relative to managing private and public land in and adjacent to the
Ashland Creek Watershed. This plan was compiled in the summer of 2004 in response to the
federal Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA). A key element of this plan addresses
the proposed US Forest Service Ashland Forest Resiliency Project (AFR) in the Upper Bear
Creel~ watershed.
Our c'WPP meets the requirements of HFRX by:
1) proposing alternative locations and methods of treatments on federal land in our watershed,
2) prioritizing fuels.reduction across the landscape,'
3) addressing structural ignition, and
4) working with Oregon Department of Forestry, US Forest Service, and local fire officials
This document goes much further by planning for the safety of life and property in the
wildland/urban interface and by upholding ecological values of the community.
The City of Ashland Forest Lands Commission, in conjunctiOn with local conservation groups,
individual citizens, and city staff has worked for over five months on the details and organization
of this plan. Weekly sub-committee meetings, email threads, a public forum, and a presentation
to the Ashland City Council all took place between May and October of 2004. The effort and
time put forth on this plan has been extraordinary. Even more remarkable has been the
collaboration among this diverse and very able community coalition.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-adrnin~FORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page1
Goals of the plan:
Summarize and review regulations, past plans, community values, and actions as they relate
to wildfire and forest management in our community and watershed.
Present a community vision and plan for restoring resiliency to the forests of the watershed
as allowed under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003.
Analyze issues of community wildfire safety and make recommendations for increasing
communits; wildfire preparedness.
Identify actions to decrease community wildfire hazards.
The Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a living document meant for review and
revision as the needs of the community change over time. The last chapter contains all the Action
Items identified throughout the. plan so specific actions can be tracked. The Action Items include
who is accountable, a timeline, and identification of funding.
Homeowners and decision-makers alike will find the recommendations for wildfire preparedness
outlined in Chapters 5 through 7 and the related documents in the appendix very useful.
Information on Ashland's Wildfire Fuels Reduction Program is contained in Chapter 4.
Chapter 8 contains a detailed proposal developed by community members as an alternative to the'
IdS Forest Service Ashland Forest Resiliency Project. This plan, crafted.by volunteer. ..
professional forest and ecology scientists within our own community, outlines a strategy
addressing the risk of large scale, stand replacing fire in the watershed. The alternative plan is
referred to as the Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative (AFRCA). The AFCRA is
specifically designed to meet the purpose and need statement established by the Ashland Ranger
District as well as the requirements for an alternative as defined in the HFRA.
The wildfire threat to the city of Ashland and our surrounding watershed is manageable if we
work together to address the issues. Local fire agencies are excellent resources for wildfire
information and assistance. It is only through the combination of homeowner actions,
community awareness, and firefighting capabilities that we will reduce wildfire hazard.. All of
these elements are incorporated into the Ashland Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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Page2 F~I
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................
C WPP Plan n lng Process
Understanding the Plan
Chapter 1 Community Setting ..........................................................
Ashland's Geographical and Ecological Setting
Land Ownership Pattern and Plan Boundaries
What is the Wildland Urban Interface?
Ashland Creek Watershed
Chapter 2 Wildfire and Community Involvement: A History, ..............
Ashland Wildfire and Forest Management History
Community Collaboration and Work in the Watershed
Chapter 3 Community Wildfire Hazard Assessment .......................
Ashland's WUI Hazard Assessment and Inventory
Chapter 4 Wildfire Fuels Reduction Program .......................... :...
Wildfire Fuels Reduction Program
Grant Summary
Strategic Approach
Maintenance
Chapter 5 Wildfire Hazard and Risk Regulation: Codes and Acts ..............
Ashland WUI Wildfire Codes
State Regulations -Senate Bill 360
Jackson County
ODF?City Public Use Restrictions During Fii'e Season
Chap?er 6 Infrhs'tructute, Fire R6sponse, and Post-Fire Recovery '.'. .... ' ....:::
Public Utilities and Wildfire- Electrical Utility
Public Utilities and Wildfire- Water Supply
Fire Suppression Capabilities
'Evacuation Plan
Fire Prevention
Post-Fire Recovery
Chapter 7 Homeowner's Guide to Living in the WUI ...........................
Wildfire Preparedness for Homeowners
Links to Home Protection Resources on the Internet
Chapter 8 Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative ................
Introduction '
Purpose and Need
Strategies
Goals
AFRCA April 2004Five Components AFRCA October 2004
Fuel Discontinuity Network Category 1
Category 2 -priorities 2-6 and t0
Category 3
Improving Fire Resiliency and Providing Strategic Connections
Analysis' Issues
PAGs
Historic conditions
Coarse wood
Hardwoods
4
16
17
21
24
27
28
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST1CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 3
Noxious weeds
Soil conservation
Owl activity centers
Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe
Activity fuels
Wildland fire use
Riparian areas
Previously harvested areas
Stand density
Stand structure - Cohorts
.. Species composition
General prescription categories
General Prescriptions
Snags
Down wood
Noxious weeds
Soils
Owl activity centers
Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe
Treating activity fuels
Riparian areas
Cohort 1 retention
Prescription by Plant Association Group
'Oregon White Oak
Ponderosa Pine
Dry Douglas-fir
Moist Douglas-fir
Dry White Fir
" 'lVtoist IJqiite Fir '"
Cool White Fir
Small Diameter Thinning and Surface Fuels Reduction
Previously harvested areas (clearcuts and plantations)
Understory treatments (partial cut areas, shaded fuel breaks)
Specific Management Recommendations
Monitoring
References
Appendix
8.1 Scoping comments for Ashland Forest Resiliency Project with a recommended Community "Third"
Alternative, and Phase I Ashland Community Wildfire Protection Plan
8. 2 Reference Conditions from the Oregon and California Revestment Notes
8.3 John B. Leiberg's 1899 Observations on the Forests and Fire in and around the Ashland Forest
Reserve and the Ashland Creek Watershed.
8.4 Wildland Fire Use
8.5 AFR GIS Data Analysis Grid
8.6 Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative Monitoring Goals
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashtand.or.us
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Page4 F~,~'~
Chapter 9 Outreach and Education Strategies .................................... 147
Past Outreach Efforts
Ashland's WUI Demographic
Multi-Faceted Approach
What is the Goal?
Outreach Principles
Upcoming Opportunities
Media Outlets
Chapter 10 Action Plan Summary .................................................. 150
Literature citations .... . ............................................................. 152
Glossa~_ of Forestry Terms ......................................................... 153
Appendix
Items Available on City Website (www. ashland, or. us) under the Fire and Rescue Homepage
and CWPP. Chapter 8 Appendix is located within the chapter.
1929 Memorandum of Understanding and Addenda
Silviculture Management History
II
City Phase II Outcome
AWSA Recommendations for AWPP
III
IV
City Forestlands Restoration Project: Phase II
V
The Ashland Wildland/Urban Interface Wildfire Management Inventory,
Analysis, and Opportunities VI
Ashland Wildfire Municipal Codes
VII
Protection.from.Wildfire: A Guide for the.Mangement of Wildfire
Risk for Properties Within the Urban-Wildland Fire Zone of Ashland
VIII
City Of Ashland Fire Flows For Wildfires During Peak System
Demand Periods
IX
Ashland Fire & Rescue Wildland Fire Resource Commitments
X
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TrY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~ORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 5
In~oduc~on
Fire in forests has been an integral process in the renewal and diversification of the landscape for
millennia (Agee, 1990). Plants and animals have developed strategies for survival over time
with fire as a frequent visitor. Since European settlement of western North America, our culture
has become less and less adapted to life with fire. We have excluded fire in forests where it is
ecologically desirable, and simultaneously increased the wildfire danger in and around our
communities.
In our local area, well-intentioned efforts to exclude fire in the uninhabited parts of the Ashland
Creek watershed have'had negative effects on the ecol'ogical integrity of low to mid elevation
forests. The development of homes and infrastructure into these forests has put residents,
firefighters, and structures in the path of fire. Research and experience suggest that fire and
humans can co-exist on a landscape if we change cultural misconceptions and put in place proper
planning and precautions.
Ashland's stake in the quality of drinking water derived from Ashland Creek is as clear'as the
water itself. The production and protection of our municipal watershed will continue to drive our
local social, political and ecological thinking far into the future. This Community Wildfire
Protection Plan further reinforces our standing' as active partners in all future decisi0n.s and
management actions proposed and taken in our watershed. The community's work on wildfire
protection and watershed management has been extraordinary in time and dedication. Our desire
to work as a partner in watershed management with the Forest Service is unwavering. The
growth of collaboration and dialogue between city government, the community, and Ashland
Ranger District is essential to successful stewardship of the watershed.
An inherent dichotomy exists within this CWPP; a strong desire to prevent, suppress, and
prepare for fire where it threatens lives and properties opposes the imminent need to restore fire -
as a key ecological process in the long-term health of our watershed. This dichotomy reflects the
public desire to reside safely in a forest landscape that has evolved with frequent fires. In and
near the city, a single goal applies across yards and homes: protect lives and property. Once the
immediate threat to the community is removed, we face more complicated challenges. The
restoration of a natural landscape-scale patch diversity and fire regimes is an outcome few (if
any) managers have accomplished on a watershed scale.. Nevertheless, we are pursuing this end
with respect and humility realizing that the current set of conditions reflects an interruption of
ecological cycles and functions that evolved over hundreds of years.
C WPP Pla n n ing Pro cess
Many components of this plan existed prior to 2004 and were coalesced into this work to satisfy
requirements of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA). The Ashland Ranger
District-Rogue River/Siskiyou National Forest, under the HFRA authority, proposed a project in
the Ashland watershed called the Ashland Forest Resiliency (AFR) and described in a scoping
letter dated February 27th, 2004. This Forest Service letter set in motion the process for the
community and City of Ashland to develop a CWPP, including an alternative to the AFR project,
by April 30, 2004 - a date set by the Forest Service under the HFRA guidelines.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept.admin~FORES'BCWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page6 F~i~'~
A coalition of local government entities, environmental organizations, and individual citizens
assembled in April to begin the process of collaborative development of the CWPP. These
groups included the City of Ashland via the Ashland Forest Lands Commission (a volunteer
commission which advises City Policy on forestland and watershed issues), Headwaters,
Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, and the World Wildlife Fund. The feeling from many
participants was that the process was unduly truncated due to the Forest Service deadline. With
less than three weeks to offer a viable plan to the USFS, public meetings were quick and furious.
Other meetings among coalition members and citizens took place during the month of April
formulating the necessary CWPP elements and the watershed treatment alternative. Meetings of
the Ashland Forest Lands Commission addressed the CWPP on April 14, 22, and 29. All
meetings Were ann6unced in the media and open to the public.
A draft CWPP, complete with recommendations for managing the Ashland Creek watershed,
was submitted on April BOth, 2004 as required. It was determined by the Forest Service to be an
acceptable CWPP, meeting the requirements set out in the HFRA of 2003. However, the Forest
Service did not find sufficient detail in the Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative
(AFRCA) proposal to satisfy planning i'equirements on federal lands.
In a positive move toward collaborative stewardship, the USFS granted an extension until
October 1, 2004 for the community to refine the "community alternative"- by designating the
specific locations, extent, and prescriptions for the thinning to be done in the watershed. Two
committees were then created to accomplish separate tasks: the Tech Group to refine the
community watershed alternative as described above and the CWPP Steering Committee to -
further develop/he, community aspects of the CWPP document related to wildfire planning,
policy, response, and recovery in the inhabited land of the planning area. Each committee met
weekly through the summer to accomplish tasks set forth by the larger group. The Tech Group
obtained data and GIS layers from the Forest Service to aid mapping of the alternative proposal
while developing treatment' prescriptions for specifiC plant communities. The Steering
Committee further developed the community safety aspects of the CWPP while enhancing the
readability of the document. These efforts culminated in September with posting of a draft
CWPP on Sept. 2, a public forum on Sept. 9, and a presentation to the City Council on Sept 21.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng~lept-admin~OREST~WPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page7 Fil~l
Understanding This Document
This plan incorporates many existing documents relating to wildfire in Ashland in an attempt to
create a single resource for citizens, policy makers, and public employees. Because of the
variation in format, language, and subject matter in these auxiliary documents, they are included
in their entirety in the appendix. This approach makes the front end of the actual plan more
readable while establishing a reference source for documents related to wildfire planning and
forest management.
· The text and organization of this plan are meant to guide all citizens, especially those who live in
the highest risk areas. This work is also designed to inform city staff, the' city council and all of
our watershed partners both public and private. The use of specialized terminology is minimized
except in Chapter 8, which necessarily offers a scientifically precise forest management
alternative as part of our community plan.
Action items are identified in each chapter and summarized in Chapter 10 along with proposed
courses of action. Maps referenced in text are displayed on the next page for quick viewing.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES'lSCWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page8 Fi~1
Chapter 1 Ashland's Geographical and Ecological Setting
The City of Ashland, Oregon is situated in the Siskiyou Mountains sixteen miles from the
California' border. The topography in and around Ashland is highly dissected into steep drainages
and narrow ridges. Ashland Creek flows through downtown Ashland and provides drinking
water to the city from Reeder Reservoir, which is located two miles upstream from the city (see
Map 1). Rainfall in Ashland averaged 19.15 inches per year from 1948-1992. The annual range
of precipitation during the same period was 10.22 inches to 30.13 inches (Oregon Climate
Service). Successive years of drought are'not uncommon. Rainfall changes quickly as elevation
increases within the city. Precipitation data is collected at 1750 feet although elevations in the
city range from 1720 to 3560 feet. The Mediterranean climate of Ashland is characterized by hot,
dry summers with the majority of rain falling from October through May each year. Typical
summer winds blow up the Bear Creek valley into Ashland and into the watershed from the
northwest. Past wildfires in Ashland have spread according to this wind pattern.
Vegetation of the Ashland area is diverse and highly dependent upon changes in soils,
topography, and elevation. A detailed discussion of vegetation can be found in Appendix VI:
The Ashland Wildland/Urban Irrterface Wildfire Management Inventory, Analysis, and
Opportunities. The physical, biological, and climatic setting of Ashland is an important
foundation for understanding and managing the wildfire hazard in Ashland and the watershed.
Land Ownership Pattern and Plan Boundaries ..
The 14,921-acre Ashland Creek watershed is composed primarily of land under the jurisdiction
of the USDA Forest Service. The remaining drainage area is a combination of municipal and
private ownership. The City of Ashland and Ashland Parks and Recreation own 780 acres in the
watershed (Map 1).
While the entire watershed holds a high priority for fire protection at this time, the majority of
homes in the interface lie outside the immediate Ashland Creek watershed drainage area. Private
ownership accounts for the vast majority of land in the City wildfire zone. The Ashland Forest
Resiliency Community Alternative (AFRCA) submitted by the community.under the Healthy
Forest Restoration Act covers Forest Service lands both inside and outside the Ashland Creek
watershed.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page9 F~i~'~
Map 1. Ashland Watershed Ownership
.Ash land Watershed
Ownership Pattern
BOundary
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 10
What is the "Wildland Urban Inter(ace"?
The ..Wildland Urban Interface (or !'WUI" as it is often referred to) is defined as a geographical
area where human habitation and their developments intermix with wildland or vegetati;ee fire
fuels. This human deVelopment maY consist 0fboth interface and intermix communities.'
Typically, these communities meet or exceed housing densities of one structure per five acres,
with natural vegetation coverage of at least 50% of the land area. The typical boundaries of a
WUI exist without reference to municipal city limits or urban growth boundaries.
As human habitation extends into areas of natural vegetation, the propensity for large-scale
wildfire increases with the corresponding loss of human life and property. Home construction
within or adjacent to the WUI creates the potential for an increase in fire ignitions of wildland
fuels, or conversely the loss of homes from wildfires burning into developed areas. Experience
has proven that these catastrophic losses do not occur in those areas within the WUI where
wildfire fuels are effectively managed by homeowners. Jack D. Cohen, a research physical
scientist with the USDA Forest Service, has stated, "....home ignitions are not likely unless
flames and firebrand ignitions occur within 40 meters of the structure." Clearly~ the
comprehensive thinning and on, going management, of wildfire fuels in proximity to homes is a
key tool used to prevent loss of homes and lives.
The management of the potential for wildfire within the WUI is of even greater importance when
these'areas are located in or adjacent to municipal watersheds and experience heavy recreational
use. The key to the preservation of water quality and other forest resource values within the
Ashland watershed is contingent upon our ability to manage the geographical distribution and
intensity of wildfires occurring within the watershed. The majority of wildfires which have
burned in the Ashland Watershed during the last century have occurred at lower elevations
within the WUI and have burned into the watershed in response to upslope wind patterns, slope,
aspect and vegetative patterns. Too often we see the public response to major wildland-urban
interface wildfires as being fatalistic in nature, as if no human ability exists to modify these
outcomes. We maintain that the manipulation of wildfire fuel vegetation and the careful
monitoring of the type and distribution of human developments within the WUI can significantly
reduce the threat of wildfire.
The continuity of topography and vegetative characteristics of the lower Ashland Watershed and
adjacent watersheds define the administrative boundaries of the WUI as allowed under the
HFRA. Consideration of these factors, as well as an analysis of possible wildfire behavior lead to
the establishment of the WUI outlined here in the Ashland CWPP. Thus the WUI is defined as a
geographical area that originates along the northern boundary of the existing Urban-Wildland
Fire Zone within the City of Ashland (Ashland Street) and continues upslope to the upper
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 11 F~'~
southern boundaries (ridgetops) of the numerous smaller watersheds which drain through
Ashland (See Map 2 next page).
Defining the WUI as allowed under the HFRA was difficult. There was widespread agreement
regarding the ecological and community protection aspects of the WUI boundary, but a lack of
clarity on the political ramifications of the WUI area. It was impossible for our working group to
anticipate all the future implications of our decision on the location of the WUI, not only for this
particular project, but also for our continued involvement in future restoration projects. Because
the HFRA is a new process and subject to change and interpretation, the community may choose
to redefine the WUI boundary should conflicts with community values or oppo/tunities that
require a different interpretation of the WU.I arise. Recognition of the connectivity between the
City, the WUI and the watershed is paramount. We stress the critical importance of the Ashland
Creek Watershed as our municipal water supply and further stress our dedication to collaborative
watershed management in perpetuity. Any WUI definition cannot compromise these values.
Map 2. Wildland-Urban Interface Zone
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 12 F~,~I
Fire and Water- The Ashland Creek Watershed
As identified in the Ashland Forest Resiliency's (AFR) purpose and need statement (the original
USFS project proposal under HFRA) the potential for large scale, high intensity wildfire in the
Ashland Creek watershed threatens the viability of Ashland's water supply and late-successional
to old-growth forest habitat (U.S. Forest Service, 2004).
A very long partnership exists between the Forest Service and the City of Ashland. This
partnership stretches back to the 1929 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between these
two entities (Appendix I). The MOU declares a partnership between the City and the Forest
Service wherein management actions taken in the watershed can only enhance the delivery of
quality drinking water to the City. Projects such as the Ashland Watershed Protection Project of
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin\FOREST~WPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 13 Fil~li~l
2000 and the City Forestlands Restoration Project: Phase II (2003) have laid a solid foundation
of support for collaborative forest management in Ashland. With purpose and need defined for
more extensive restoration in the lower watershed, we are now embarked on a long road toward a
resilient forest ecosystem. The Ashland Forest Resiliency project and Ashland Forest Resiliency
Community Alternative are the next step and once again the community is offering thoughtful
input for management of its watershed (Chapter 8).
Chapter 2- History of Wildfires and Wildfire Mitigation in Ashland area
"The fiercest timber fire that has ever taken place close to Ashland has been raging along the
hillsides of Ashland Creek Canyon for the past three days, and its work of destruction was only
placed under control last evening."
- Ranger W. Kripke (August 26, 1901 as documented in the 1992 Ashland Forest Plan)
Since European settlement of the area records of wildfires cover many significant events in the
Ashland area:
DATE CAUSE SIZE
Summer, 1901 Unknown Unknown
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GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 14 Fi~1
August 10, 1910 Lightning 4,000 acres
August 1917 Lightning 1,000 acres
Summer 1924 Numerous large fires
August 5, 1959 Arson 4,700 acres
Summer 1967 Abandoned Campfire Unknown
July 16, 1968 Debris Burning
Summer 1969 Abandoned Campfire . Unknown
September 18, 1971 Abandoned Campfire
September.5, 1973 Arson 350 acres
August 19, 1981 Arson
August 19, 1987 Arson 13 acres
September 9, 1988 Arson 60 acres
July, 2003 Lightning 25 acres
The history of wildfire in the area is a strong argument for precautionary measures to protect
lives, homes, and the watershed. Taking this cue, the City of Ashland has a history of mitigation
measures taken to protect residents as well as to minimize the spread and impact of fire in the
wildlands. An accounting of actions taken is located in Silviculture Management History
(Appendix I). This document is a brief accounting of planning, education, and projects
implemented in the Ashland area.
Community Collaboration and Planning Histo~
It is,worth noting~that significant-progress has been made.in the community and on the land. .,
Major planning efforts behind the Ashland Watershed Protection Project (AWPP) on federal land
and City Forestlands Restoration Project: Phase II (municipal land) are a direct result of citizen
input and collaboration amongst community members and federal land managers. Documents
created in these processes Stand as major achievements in public forest planning and
management. Reaching further back notable achievements include the Ashland Forest Plan
(1992), the Hamilton Creek Watershed Coordinated Resource Management Plan (1990), and
various outreach efforts to homeowners. -
The Ashland Watershed Stewardship Alliance (AWSA) played a key role in the AWPP Record
of Decision (2000) signed by Ashland District Ranger Linda Duffy. AWSA came together in
response to the proposed "HazRed" plan put forth by the Forest Service. The group consisted of
diverse stakeholders throughout the community focused on sound watershed management. After
4 years of planning and negotiation, the 1,549-acre project was agreed to and is being
implemented on the ground (Appendix II).
The City Forestlands Restoration Project: Phase II was also the result of long deliberations
among volunteers on the Ashland Forest Lands Commission. The result was commercial
thinning of 143 acres of municipal forestland to encourage healthy, resilient forest conditions
(See project summary, Appendix III). The document guiding this work is a statement of
community values as well as technical expertise. Hundreds of hours of volunteer time were
spent creating this plan (Appendix IV).
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks~eng\dept-admin~OREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 15
Chapter 3 Community Wildfire Hazard Assessment
Ashland Wildland/Urban Interface Wildfire Management Inventory, Analysis, and
Opportunities
The private and municipally owned forestlands leading from the valley up into the Ashland
Creek watershed and adjacent watersheds constitute the heart of the WUI issue where'homes and
flammable vegetation present a significant risk to lives and watershed values. Major WUI
wildfires in 1959 and 1973 started on private land and burned into the watershed before being
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 16 F~i~1
suppressed. After the creation of the National Fire Plan in 2000 and the subsequent availability
of grant funding for fuels reduction, Ashland developed a WUI management plan. The analysis
and plan were created by Small Woodland Services, Inc., submitted to the City, and approved in
2001. This document provided a key substantive element to the City's case for receipt of
National Fire Plan funding. The Wildfire Inventory, Analysis, and Management document is
presented in its entirety as Appendix V. Elements of this document such as structural ignitability
and fuels reduction are addressed in more detail in subsequent chapters of this plan.
Chapter 4 Wildfire Fuels Reduction Program and National Fire Plan Grants
Grant Summa~_
The vegetation hazard rating system in the Wildfire Management Inventory, Analysis, and
Opportunities document was used to develop a work agenda for National Fire Plan funded fuels
reduction. The first grants were administered by the City Fire Chief, but increasing availability of
funds lead to a grant coordinator position in September of 2002 to handle outreach to
homeowners in the interface zone. The coordinator position is funded by a Jackson County Title
III grant and supplemented by the National Fire Plan.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~WPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 17
Beginning in 2001, Ashland Fire and Rescue pursued National Fire Plan grant funding for
wildland fuels management through the Oregon Department of Forestry. Grants in Federal Fiscal
Year (FFY) 2001 of $8,000 and $30,000 were expended by December of 2002. Another
FFY2001 grant for $242,000 is nearly expended as of April, 2004. During 2003 an award of
$262,500 was signed through the National Fire Plan. The City of Ashland has passed through a
total of $221,000 to administer the fuels reduction program within the City limits. Another grant
in the amount of $250,000 will be available in the fall of 2004.
Table 4.1 summarizes the grants, years, and money available.
Table 4.1 ' '
Grant Fiscal Year 2001 2001 2001 2003 2004
Amount $8,000 $30,000 $242,000 $262,500 $250,000
City Pass-Through $8,000 $30,000 $150,000 $ 33,000 All
Spent in City Limits $8,000 $30,000 $150,000 none N/A
Outside City N/A N/A $ 92,000 $229,500 N/A
Status/Amount Left Spent Spent $ 22,392 $102,394 All
Costs include administration at the State and local level as well as cost share agreements with
landowners for vegetation thinning and disposal a~so~iated with fuels management. Exactly
172.25 acres of thinning has taken place within Ashland's city limits since the program's
inception in 2001. The acreage thinned is spread over 147 properties in the interface zone
ranging from one-tenth acre defensible space to area-wide strategic suppressirn zones. Outside
'of Ashland's city limits, graflt-funded'tre~/fments wer~ bo~'rdinht~d by the Oregon D~partrrient~'bf" '
Forestry in 2002-2003 and then through Ashland Fire and Rescue in 2003-2004. Outside the
City limits there is 575 acres of land thinned or currently in progress.
As of July 2004, the Ashland grant area (Ashland Mine Road to T°lman Creek Road) has
received high priority for grant funding. A FFY2004 grant was signed with the USDA Forest
Service for $250,000. Grant awards are good for five years. Funds should be available in
·
September of 2004. Work will continue in high priority zones around homes, driveways, and
tactical suppression opportunities.
For federal ·fiscal year'2005 Ashland applied on behalf of landowners in the Clayton Creek area,
encompassing 2,500 acres to the south and east of Ashland. National Fire Plan grant
applications were submitted for creation of a hazard map and analysis as well as fuels treatment
funding. Currently, the planning and mapping project is not funded but the fuels reduction
money has received favorable status. Final decisions are made when the federal budget is funded
in winter or early spring.
Strategic Approach
At the outset of this work, the Ashland Fire Chief decided to prioritize the work on defensible
space directly adjacent to homes and neighborhoods along with strategic suppression
opportunities in the urban area. Phase II began work in management priority zones and extreme
hazard areas further from homes. As of spring 2004 many management priorities have been
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 18
accomplished, suppression zones extended, and fuels managed over hundreds of acres of
municipal and private land. The vast majority of the highest priority work in extreme hazard
zones and neighborhoods in the city has now been accomplished and work is taking place in
strategic zones such as ridge tops and areas where fire suppression is likely.
Firefighter safety is another important point as is the ability to stop a fire in the WUI. Landscape
level thinning projects (maintained over time) provide opportunities to stop an advancing fire in
the WUI which would "test" the preparedness of an even greater number of homes. It is
important to recognize that even effective outreach campaigns won't result in 100% response. In
any one neighborhood, a number of homes will remain susceptible to ignition. Limiting home
fire exposure is an important function of landscape suppression opportUnities in the WUI.
Landowners are a key part of the fuels treatment process. On a property by property basis,
landowners learn about fire ecology, vegetation, and wildfire home safety. Fuel treatments are
not mandatory, so each property is approached as a win-win situation where owners are part of
the decision making process. Landowners often cooperate to create a network of thinned areas
connecting their properties.
Maintenance of fuels through time is a key concern. Negative consequences of past fuels
management are alreadY apparent. Invasive weeds such az Scotch broom, Canada'and bull
thistle, Himalayan blackberry, and mullen have invaded fuels management zones within 1 and 2
years post-treatment. There is a need for conifer re-establishment in areas where whiteleaf
manzanita, deer brush, buck brush, insect-killed Douglas-fir, and shrub cover has been removed.-.
Planting of pines in particular will. create desirable tong-term conditions where a heal:thy --.
overstory suppresses understory shrub growth.
The need for maintenance labor and funding will be decreased over time if investments in
planting are made now. Currently there is no money available for follow-up treatments. Future
funding opportunities to pursue include Title II, State Insect and Disease Management funds,
County Title III, and private funding.
Fuels management projects are photographed before and after work is completed. The areas
treated are entered into the City's GIS database for tracking (see Map 2). Each fire season a map
is produced showing managed fuels and opportunities for fire suppression in the WUI zone.
Copies are distributed to the Oregon Department of Forestry, Jackson County Fire District #5,
and the U.S. Forest Service. In order to be effective as a planning and response tool, this map
should remain updated yearly. Inaccurately represented information could create a hazardous
situation for firefighters and homeowners. Map 2 (next page) shows a chronological account of
fuels management projects in the Ashland WUI.
Chapter 4 Action Items:
· Maintain thinned landscapes over time.
· Pursue funding for invasive plant management and native grass seeding
· Maintain Staff position to manage fuels
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin\FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 19
· Maintain yearly map of strategic suppression opportunities
Map 2
Grant projects by year.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks~eng\dept-admin\FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 20
Chapter $ Wildfire Hazard and Risk Regulation: Codes and Acts
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~ub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 21
Each and every homeowner in the Ashland WUI assumes a high degree of risk as well as
responsibility. While the efforts and bravery of local firefighters may save some homes in a
large-scale fire it is unreasonable to rely solely on fire suppression to guarantee home safety.
U.S. Forest Service fire researcher Jack Cohen succinctly states:
"Instead of all pre-suppression and fire protection responsibilities residing with fire agencies,
homeowners should take the principal responsibility for assuring adequately low home
ignitability. The fire services become a community partner providing homeowners with the
technical assistance needed for reducing.home ignitability. "
The potential for loss Of life and destruction 0fproperty is very real in the Ashl'and 'WUI. Loss
of private property and damage to public forestland and parkland are the likely outcomes of a
serious WUI fire event. These common areas also hold significant value for recreation, wildlife
habitat, and spiritual renewal. Responsibility for maintaining a fire-safe landscape on private
land affects not only that property owner but adjacent homes, property, and the common values
on public land as well. The policy of the City is to reduce the potential -for fire to spread from
property to property, causing significant risk to lives and resources. This goal will be pursued
through a combination of education, municipal code, fire codes, and financial incentive (when
possible). Education is seen as the primary means with which to create fire awareness and a
reduction of fire danger. When education fails, regulations will be in place to ensure
compliance. Existing wildfire related codes are summarized below and included in the appendix.
New code adop.tions are listed in the Action Items at the end of the chapter and again in Chapter
10.
Ashland WUI Wildfire Codes
Ashland municipal codes address new construction in wildfire lands as well as weed abatement.
At the county level there are similar requirements for structures in fire-prone areas and the-State
of Oregon has passed requirements for interface homeowners as part of Senate Bill 360. County
residents should consult with Jackson County Planning for current rules and regulations for
developing in wildfire lands. Ashland Municipal Codes dealing with wildfire are included in
their entirety as Appendix V.
As of August 2004, city staff is developing a new code that will regulate residential landscaping.
Recent home fires in Ashland were spread by highly flammable domestic vegetation. In simply
choosing less flammable landscaping, residents can greatly reduce fire hazard around their home.
The new code will regulate landscaping plans for new construction throughout the City to
prevent hazardous situations. Plans to regulate existing structures can be included when the
Oregon Fire Code is adopted in the fall of 2004.
The State of Oregon will adopt the 2004 International Fire on October 1, 2004. For the first time,
part of the adopted Oregon Fire Code will be the International Urban-Wildland Interface Code.
This code has the weight of municipal code and is fully enforceable by local fire officials after
adoption at the local"level. The City of'Ashland is' S'dheduled to adopt the Oregon Fire Code with
local amendments in the fall of 2004. A copy of the Oregon Fire Code can be found at Ashland
Fire and Rescue Station #1.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~OREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 22
Jackson Coun~
Many residents live just outside the City limits under the jurisdiction of Jackson County. A full
lineup of county codes will not be part of this document. County residents are encouraged to
contact the Jackson County Planning Department at (541) 774-6900 for specific regulations
related to wildfire. Jackson County Planning now employs a full-time fire safety inspector for
enforcement of wildfire mitigation codes.
State Regulations-Senate Bill 360
Senate Bill 360 or the Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997 will be in
effect in the fall of 2004. Hundreds of residents in the Ashland WUI will be affected by SB 360.
For details regarding landowner specifications go to the Oregon Department of Forestry's
website at www.odf, state.or.us or call ODF in Central Point at (541) 664-3328.
Public Use Restrictions
The Oregon iDepartment of Forestry (ODF) regulates public and industrial activities in fire-prone
areas of Jackson County.- The City of Ashland adopts these restrictions inside the city limits as
restrictions change throughout the fire season. Please call ODF, Ashland Fire and Rescue, or the
Ashland Fire and Rescue's webpage at http://www.ashland.or.us/Page.asp?NavlD:284 for
specific restrictions.
Fire season restrictions are imposed at various levels as a result of high temperatures, low
humidity, dryness of vegetation, and availability of wildland firefighting resources. The phase-in
is accomplished through prohibitions based on time of day and nature of activity. For example,
the mowing of dry grass may only be permitted'until 1 p.m. under a given level of restriction and
later only permitted until 10 a.m. Examples of activities that are regulated through fire season
restrictions are:
Permitted hours of operation for public chain saw use.
· Permitted hours of operation for non-agricultural mowing of dry grass
· Permitted hours of operation for non-agricultural, non-commercial use of power driven
machinery in areas of flammable vegetation
· Use of explosives
· Welding or cutting of metal
· Any spark emitting operation
· Use of campfire rings in Lithia Park
· Use of vehicles off certain designated roads
· Smoking outside of vehicles in wildland areas
· The use of fireworks or other spark producing devices, containing combustible materials,
is prohibited in high fire risk areas.
· All Outdoor Debris Burning is Prohibited
Fire Danger levels may be established at "Moderate," "High," or "Extreme" levels and are
implemented starting when fire season is declared by ODF.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~ORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 23 F~I
Chapter Action Items
· Adopt Oregon Fire Code in Fall 2004. Include local amendments to regulate flammable
vegetation.
· Write and adopt Firesafe Landscaping Ordinance to regulate plantings around new structures.
Chapter 6 Infrastructure, Fire Response, and Post-Fire Recovery
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~pub-wrks~eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 24
Infrastructure (utilities, roads) and the ability to respond to a wildfire can help or hinder fire
suppression efforts in the WUI. Incident reports from WUI fires such as the California, Oakland
Hills fire of 1992 reveal a critical loss of water pressure during the fire. The following account
was taken from a review of the Oakland Hills fire by Oakland Fire Captain Donald Parker:
Fire units lost water, forcing them to retreat because the supply tanks and
reservoirs were emptied. Loss of water occurred primarily because of:
1. Fire suppression efforts
2. Citizens wetting roofs and vegetation
3. Water service flowing freely in destroyed homes
4. Tanks and reservoirs could not be refilled because of fire-caused
electrical failure
5. Many mutual aid fire engine companies could not connect to Oakland
fire hydrants because they utilize'two-and-one-half- inch hose couplings and
Oakland fire. units use three inch couplings.
The City of Ashland owns and operates the community electric and water utilities. Utility access
may be different for some homeowners in wildfire hazard areas outside the City limits.
Municipal utility ownership is a mixed blessing: local control means higher accountability at the
local level but it also means all funding comes from local taxpayers. All city residents, the
majority of whom do not live in a wildfire hazard zone, must pay for prgposed changes to
infrastructure. Nonetheless, the potential for'inadequate utili.ty infrastructure failure at critical
wildfire times of need remains a~real possibility. · ...... ..
Electric Utilities
A reliable sourCe of electricity is extremely important during'a wildfire emergency for several
reasons:
· Electricity runs booster pumps which supply water to homes, reservoirs and fire hydrants in
Ashland's WUI.
· Rural homes often have wells that rely on municipal.electricity.
Electrical problems during wildfires:
Improperly pruned or unpruned trees can contact power lines and cause a fire. (Please note the
"live wires" are most often those located highest on power poles. Cable TV and phone lines are
not a fire hazard and are often located near tree branches. If there is any doubt, please call the
Electric Utility at 488-5357.)
As the primary conductor heats up .it will.sag 1..ower to some degree
depending on its size, length of the span between p°les,'the type of
conductor it is (aluminum,copper,ACSR,etc).
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 25
· Falling power lines can start new fires and present hazards to residents and firefighters in an
emergency.
During a wildfire, or any fire for that matter, there is the possibility of outages due to the
smoke if it is intense enough. Particles in the smoke can create a cross-phase situation
between two or more conductors running parallel either vertically or horizontally. When this
happens a fuse cutout will blow somewhere on the line or the line can fall to the ground and
remain live.
The poWer poles c~n perfonn like "kindling" due to their high creosote Content. The lines
would be in danger.if the poles were to 'catch fire not only from the smoke and heat but' also
from the potential failure of a pole.
· As with wind, the heat (if intense enough) can cause the conductors to sway or move.
Tree Trimming Near Electrical Lines
Officially, no one may trim a tree if it is within 10' of any conductor of primary voltage unless
he/she is certified to work near or around, electrical conductors. This is not limited to the trunk
of the tre~ itself. If any branch has the capability of ¢oming 'in contact with the conductor then
the person(s) doing the work must be line clearance certified. Call the Electric Department at
488-5357 for help regarding trees and electrical lines.
l/Vttter Utilitie's
The Ashland water supply system may be subject to some of the same failures that Oakland
experienced in the 1992 fire. An analysis of the Ashland water supply system and potential
hazards are de'scribed in Appendix VII: City Of A'shltmd Fire Flows For gS'ldfi)es During Peak'
&;stem Demand Periods. This document summarizes the water supply capacity coming from the
water treatment plant and through the distribution system. The supply capacity is then framed by
the potential for a wildfire during peak"water demand dUring the summer and under drought '
conditions. Even when water supply is not limited there could be delivery shortcomings due to
limited water pressure, compounded by increased demand when residents turn on sprinklers to
wet down rooftops and vegetation.
Firefighting Resources
The quick availability and access of fire suppression resources is extremely important during a
wildfire. Many municipal fire services such as Ashland Fire and Rescue are trained in both
structural protection and wildland fire suppression. The primary need for structural protection
could easily outstrip the capabilities of our local firefighting resources to operate as 'wildland
firefighters.
Residents in the Ashland WUI pay an assessment to the Oregon Department of Forestry for
wildland fire response so that ODF crews can battle the wildland fire itself while the structural
services protect homes. Mutual aid agreements between local agencies provide rapid response in
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 26 F~I
the Ashland area despite the existence of administrative boundaries. Firefighting resources are
described in Appendix VIII: Ashland Fire & Rescue Wildland Fire Resource Commitments.
Evacuation Plan
The City of Ashland has an official evacuation plan for residents in the WUI. It was developed
through a grant from Jackson County combined with City of Ashland funds. The plan addresses
preparation and action items for residents during a wildfire.
Ashland Fire and Rescue maintains an AM broadcast station that' will be used for emergencies.'
Located at 1700 on the AM dial, the message covers all of Ashland and can be updated remotely.
The role of City departments and responsibilities are covered in the evacuation plan. The
evacuation plan and maps will be delivered to homeowners in the WUI and posted on the City's
website before fire season in 2005. Appendix IX: Wildfire Evacuation Plan.
Wildfire Prevention
Wildfire prevention is ongoing at the federal, state, and local level. Most notable is an
agreement between the City and Forest Service to fund the watershed patrol. A patrol officer
drives a designated route through the watershed during fire season to monitor activities. This
program has existed since 1986 when volunteers biked and drove on watershed roads for fire
prevention purposes.
Public vehicle access to the watershed has been closed for a number of years. During times of
severe fire danger all vehicle access to forested areas is restricted. Signs along trails entering the
watershed area remind residents they are entering wildfire areas and urge caution.
..
Post Fire Recovery,
While it is difficult to outline the specifics of a response to a wildfire in the WUI and/or
watershed, it is possible and important to outline guidance that reflects our values and
understanding of the watershed. The community conversation and resulting recommendations on
a post-fire response will be an important future piece to complete for our CWPP and is included
in Chapter 10 as an Action Item.
Chapter Action Items:
· Develop and enforce landscaping ordinance for new and existing structures.
· Evaluate water flow capabilities in WUI neighborhoods under simulated worst-case
conditions. Identify those with potential problems and suggest mitigation measures to Public
Works and property owners.
· Identify electricity infrastructure at risk. Identify mitigation measures and present cost
analysis to Council/residents.
· Educate public about evacuation plan and AM radio station.
· Conduct drills in different neighborhoods each year.
· Develop Post-Fire Recovery Plan for Public Land and Watershed
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 27
Chapter 7 Wildfire Preparedness for Homeowners
Other than loss of life, loss of a home is the most emotionally devastating result of a wildfire.
Despite the tragic loss of hundreds of homes in the Oakland Hills Fire of 1991 and the Los
Angeles County fires in 2003, it is widely recognized by fire experts that home loss is
preventable. Often it is the small things that make or break a home fire loss during a wildfire
event.
No fire department can be expected to prevent all home losses in an urban interface setting.' The
potential for a wildfire to outpace suppression efforts simply means that all homeowners in these
areas accept an inherent level of risk. With this in mind, all residents in Ashland's WUI are
urged to take the proper precautions during fire season each year. Prepare your home as if the
fire department won't be there to protect it. This level of preparation means evaluating your
landscaping, native vegetation, and house construction to determine your home's ignitability.
See Appendix VI: Protection from Wildfire: A Guide for the Management of Wildfire Risk for
Properties Within the Urban-Wildland Fire Zone of Ashland. Please call Ashland Fire and
Rescue for an evaluation of your home or advice on creating a firesafe property 482-2770.
Links to Home Protection Resources on the Internet
·
www.firewise.org -Great all around resource for wildfire news and safety.
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes/FireResPlants.pdf-Firesafe plants .
http://www.ibhs.or~publications/downloads/130.pdf-' Step by step guide
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/hazards/wfie.pdf- Planning for all aspects of fire safety
Chapter 8 Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative (AFRCA)
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 28
This proposal was developed over the summer of 2004 by an informal group of experienced
professional and forestry people from the community of Ashland (Technical Team l), thus
building on many years of community involvement in public land management in the watershed.
Individuals on the technical team have a long history of personal and professional involvement in
these issues.
The development of the alternative was necessarily, slow to initiate, with several months taken up
defining our process and obtaining existing data. This process was heavily influenced by
· conceptual ecological models applied by the technical team in the project area based on
extensive experience and varying degrees of field time in the project area and related systems.
Our work attempted to integrate a whole host'of watershed features into spatially explicit
treatment units with prescriptions for treatment rendered by Plant Association Group. These
features included: the spatial data on vegetation, wildlife, and riparian areas; the digital elevation
models a~nd assessment of landscape position to translate our conceptual models; ecological and
community social values; and informed judgment on environmental sensitivities.
Management discussions and decisions are often subject to deficiencies in data. Our analysis
was based on data that contained gaps, some known errors (e.g. PAG map) and uncertain
accuracy (e.g.,GRS vegetation) that we did not confirm nor correct with our own ground
truthing. We also did not complete an assessment of our assumptions on the resiliency status of
prior treated areas. Nevertheless, we feel that the product of our effort represents an ecologically
and socially sound response to the management opportunity in our watershed.
Our collective-desire is to see this project implemented in. an adaptive management mode.. It.will
be essential to foster and maintain relationships with the community as an integral part of our
proposal, both to advise on monitoring, and in some cases to conduct research necessary for this
iterative approach to be successful (e.g. fire history and stand reconstructions, long term analysis
and modeling of treatment effects, and measuring movement to accomplishing our objectives.).
Introduction
This chapter presents the community alternative (AFCRA) for treatment of forest lands within
the Ashland watershed to retain or improve, ecosystem resiliency (to fire). It is submitted to the
Forest Service (USFS) as an alternative to be analyzed in the Ashland Forest Resiliency Project
(AFRP) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), at a minimum. As a statement of the
community's values and sensitivities, this product would ideally be used with continuing
community involvement to guide a true collaboration with the USFS to develop a proposal that
reflects the best that the agency scientists, analysts, and managers, in combination with the
community Technical Team, have to offer.
i Marty Main, Consulting Forester, City of Ashland (Team leader); Darren Borgias, Southwestem Oregon
Stewardship Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy; Richard Brock, Consulting Botanist; Chris Chambers, Forest
Work Grant Coordinator, City of Ashland; Evan Frost, Consulting Ecologist; Jay Lininger, Conservation Fellow,
University of Montana; Tony Kerwin, Wildlife Biologist, BLM; Frank Betlejewski, Forest
Pathologist/Silviculturalist, USFS; George Badura, Soil Scientist, USFS (retired); Cindy Deacon Williams,
Conservation Director, Headwaters (fish biologist); Diane E, White, Ecologist, USFS; Keith Woodley, Fire Chief,
City of Ashland,
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 29
However, regardless of whether this alternative is selected outright, or it is used as part of a new
proposal that represents an amalgamation of the two proposals, it is essential that city of Ashland
representatives continue working in a substantive role (i.e. not simply advisory) in the final
decision making process. It has been clearly indicated that under HFRA, much of the important
decision making will be made during the implementation phase, in contrast to earlier planning
phases such as this one. For this reason, it is imperative that city representatives, such as the
AFRCA Technical Team, continue working with the USFS in an ongoing and substantive
collaboration.
The stated AFRP Purpose is "to protect values at risk, reduce crown fire potential and Obtain
conditions that are more resilient to wildland fires". The stated Need is "for urgent reduction of
large-scale, high intensity wildland fire in the Upper Bear Analysis Area".
The Community Alternative has taken the purpose and need to mean management implemented
at an appropriate scale in the next 10 years to reduce the potential for, and scale of, stand
replacement fire events while maintaining other resource values. These include water supply and
quality, and late successional species habitat in forests that are influenced by fire over the long
term. This will be accomplished in ways that allow the persistence of species, the full array of
aquatic and terrestrial communities.
AFRCA meets the P.urpose and. Need by creation of more open stand structure and reduction in
vertical continuity (i.e. ladder fuels) in ecological settings most appropriate for-this type of
structure and-treatment. It proposes to reduce the density of stands-by thinning primarily
younger and smaller diameter trees and by use of prescribed fire to create a more fire resilient
landscape, thus maintaining a high level of structural heterogeneity. The AFRCA specifically
meets these objectives with the following strategies:
1. Reducing overall fuels
2. Reducing the density of understory seedlings, saplings and poles to reduce ladder fuels
3. Where appropriate, thinning from below to create more open stand conditions, closer to
historic conditions
4. Proposing prescriptions based on plant association groups (Forest Service AFR EIS
2004),. plant associations (Atzet, et al. 1996) and more local conditions, such as.aspect,.
slope, or soils.
5. Using prescribed fire, where appropriate, to begin reducing the current fuels
The goals of AFRCA extend beyond fire resiliency. It strives to achieve multiple goals by
creating a more fire resilient landscape. The goals are:
1. Restore a level of health and resilience to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems by
promoting forest stand densities, structures, and species compositions that are
sustainable over the long term, and which respond to and simultaneously foster
functional processes that influence forest ecosystems. This approaCh recognizes that a
range of seral conditions is appropriate at any one time in the project area, and that
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
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GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 30 Fi~1
the potential for development and long-term expression of late seral conditions varies
across the landscape.
a. Design management strategies for the project area that foster the structural,
compositional, and functional diversity at all spatial scales inherent in this portion
of the eastern Siskiyou Mountains.
b. Retain late seral condition forests where the site potential is high for sustaining
them long term. In early and mid seral stands on such sites, actively manage
.
stand trajectories to more reliably develop late seral conditions.
c. Manage for habitat connectivity for late successional species in those plant
communities that best support this kind of habitat.
d. Restore stands of open canopied pine and Douglas-fir with abundant veteran
(reserve) trees where the site potential is high for sustaining such systems long
term.
2. Manage the municipal watershed, by encouraging conditions that allow for
continued production of high quality drinking water for the City of Ashland.
3'. Reduce the potential for large-scale high severitY disturbance events, particularl-y
fire events ......
This project is intended to meet the restoration objectives listed above. Stand treatments and
other vegetation manipulations Will be implemented only wher~ needed to facilitate restoration
of ecosystem processes or to reduce immediate threats to homes and human infrastructure. This
ecoregion is typified by fire-driven disturbance. Past management actions have interfered with
important ecological processes in the watershed leading to homogenization and a less dynamic
system. This project is an attempt to make reasoned, prudent and professionally credible
alterations to and manipulations of existing vegetation and fuels in order to promote restoration
of long-term ecosystem function while simultaneously reducing short term, immediate threats to
important community values.
Restoring biological, physical and chemical processes and functions to ensure the long-term
ecological sustainability of the public lands in the watershed is more important to this
community than the output of forest products. As a result, any commodity production derived
from the implementation of this proposal should occur only as a by-product of
management and only when such activities do not impair efforts to meet the goals listed
above.
While this project primarily focuses on initiation of planned disturbances and structural
manipulations of existing vegetation, we emphasize that the long-term goal is to use these efforts
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
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GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORESTXCWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 31 F~I
to facilitate the return of a more dynamic range of functional processes, particularly fire. Where
possible and appropriate, prescribed fire should be introduced immediately to help return fire as
a functional process in the watershed. In the long-term, however, it is anticipated and hoped, that
the actions suggested herein will facilitate a return to conditions where natural disturbance
processes, including fire, can play a more historical role as a basic functional process within the
ecosystem.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 32 F~I
AFRCA, April 30, 2004
The original Community Alternative, dated April, 20042, called for the following actions and
offered constraints on management:
1. Complete a sPatially'exphcit inventOry of vegetation and soil conditions in the Ashland
Watershed. "
2. Focus inventory and treatment on the dry plant association groups (Ponderosa pine, dry
Douglas-fir, moist Douglas-fir, and dry white fir).
3. Establish a Fuel Discontinuity Network (FDN).
a. Identify and use features that currently have a lower crown fire potential. Areas
fitting this classification where referred to as "Category 1".
b. Identify and implement fuel reduction treatments in areas where relatively little
resource investment may be able to create relatively fire resilient stand conditions.
Such lands are referred to as "Category 2".
c. Identify and implement treatments in those areas that occupy a strategic
geographic position in the landscape relative to a and b. These areas are referred
to as. "Category 3".
4: Where landscape-scale fuel reduction is de~ermined to be most strategic (number 3
· .. -.ab0ve), plan-treatments that recognize and. foster natural variability, pose the least risk to.
resource values and facilitate the restoration of fire as a key ecosystem process.
5. Incorporate research and monitoring as essential components of this alternative.
Component 1. Additional observations have been made, but have not satisfied the need for a
reliable inventory across the watershed. We continue to feel Component 1 is extremely
important and foresee it occurring at the implementation stage of the project.
Components 2 through 5 have been addressed in more detail and make up the remainder of this
chapter.
AFRCA, October 1, 2004
Fuel Discontinuity Network
Category 1. Features that are currently fire resilient (Map 8.1).
An examination was made of the mapped vegetation and physical features of the watershed that,
according to our conceptual ecological models, might currently exhibit conditions that support
low crown fire potential. These areas 'included natural openings, meadows,' relatively open'
ridgetops, moist riparian areas typically indicated by perennial streams, fire resilient stands
2 Appendix 8.1.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
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GSpub-wrks~eng\dept-adrnin~FORES~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 33 F~~
characterized by large trees and little or no understory vegetation, and areas where management
has temporarily reduced crown fire potential. These areas make up about 8929 acres of the total
22,286 acres in the project area, the bulk of which are represented within the Riparian Reserves
(Table 8.1). Most of the natural openings are at high elevation, within the Shasta Red Fir and
Mountain Hemlock Plant Association Groups. While important for the high elevation sites, they
contribute little to the desired fuel discontinuity network (that would reduce the potential for
widespread stand replacement fire) at mid and low elevations. While Riparian Reserves and the
riparian habitat they encompass are relatively widespread, some of the forests have dense
understories of seedlings, saplings and poles such that they are more prone to severe fire effects
and therefore less fire-resilient.
This planning effort assumed that the USFS would complete the projects scheduled 'in the
Ashland Watershed Protection Project (AWPP), reportedly about 50% completed at the time of
this writing. Based on examination of the landscape and on our judgment, we assumed that
many of the areas that had been previously treated to reduce fuels, such as the units of the
AWPP, the prescribed broadcast underburns in and around the East Fork of Ashland Creek, and
shaded fuel breaks, would require ongoing periodic maintenance, at a minimum, and these
previously treated areas where re-allocated to Category 2.
Category 2. Features that are "readily" made fire resilient (Map 8.2).
Physical settings and vegetation data were analyzed to identify sites where forest composition
· and .structure should be managed or maintained to restore conditions that increase the potential
for fire resiliency by sustaining relatively low fire intensity and severity in the future. Based on
our conceptual ecological models and judgment, we included in the category areas dominated by
pine species, and settings predominantly upper and middle slope positions, primarily on
southerly and westerly slopes prone to desiccation due to solar and wind exposure, shallower
soils, and overall lower soil moisture retention, These are conditions that are tolerated best
ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir at relatively low density and by hardwoods, particularly oak
species,. Northerly and easterly aspect slopes on ridges and' upper one-third slopes were also
included as a lower priority in this approach. Selected areas mapped in the AFRCA plan
excluded patches where fire resilient, late seral and old growth conditions were likely to occur
based on modeling, with the vegetation data available. Additional. areas will likely be identified.
Sensitive areas prone to landslide hazard, with slopes greater that 65 percent, shallow or sensitive
soils, or within ¼ mile of a spotted owl activity were excluded. There are 8235 acres in this
category, with 3367 acres previously treated, and 863 acres at higher elevation that the technical
committee ultimately decided not to treat in this first iteration of restoration and management.
Priority 2- Pine Dominated Stands. Several types of forest-settings were classified for treatment
within this category to meet goal 1 d -- enhancing the survivorship of large fire-tolerant white
and black oak, ponderosa pine and sugar pine dominated forest stands. These veteran oaks and
pines confer a high degree of stand resilience to fire and a threatened structural element,
provided the understory of seedlings, saplings and poles are not excessively abundant (conditions
that create horizontal and vertical homogeneity in the fuel bed that is conducive to canopy fire).
We mapped stands where pine is the predominant species and that occur on the upper two thirds
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
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G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES'l~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 34 ~1~~
slope positions on any aspect, and placed a high priority on these settings for understory thinning
below and around these reserve trees. The veteran trees in these sites are considered susceptible
to reduced growth and vigor resulting from moisture competition, the latter being amplified
during drought events. Reduced vigor promotes insect and disease mortality, and raises the
urgency to treat these stands.
Priority 3. Areas that had received fuel reduction treatment in the past, were originally grouped
within Category 1, but after further consideration, at least some will be determined to be in
catego.ry 2 because of their current or near-term future need for maintenance to retain conditions
that support low crown fire potential and to satisfy other-stated goals. Treatment may include
follow-up understory slashing, prescribed burning or silvicultural thinning. It is an oversight of
this plan that it did not evaluate the spatial patterns and acreage of priority treatment setting types
and prescriptions described in this plan particularly within the areas previously treated with
prescribed burning by the USFS. A second iteration of the GIS modeling to account for the
acreage of these priority treatment settings within these units is among the updates and
corrections needed to evaluate the full intent of AFRCA.
Priority 4. Southerly and westerly slopes on the upper two-thirds of hillsides and ridges,
typically support open mixed stands of oaks, large Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and sugar pine
often with-a high abundance of seedlings, saplings, poles and younger, mature Douglas-fir and
white fir. Such mixed conifer stands are a high priority for understory thinning below and
around these reserve trees to restore their fire resiliency by improying the survivorship of the
retained trees in a subsequent fire. Currently, moisture competition with the dense understory
raises the urgency to treat these stands..Fuels would be reduced and the density Of the .smaller
trees would be thinned to re-establish more open forest that retained, 'to the extent possible, the
reserve trees of all species within the stand. Historically these settings were prone to relatively
frequent (yet variable) wildfire of low and mixed fire intensity and severity that killed
predominantly young trees, thinning from below, while larger trees more frequently survived.
The intended manual treatments are designed to reestablish horizontal discontinuity in dead and
live fuels, removing the abundance of young recruits that have established and grown in the long
fire-free interval,'
Priority 5. Compared with south and west aspects, moisture stress is less on the northerly and
easterly upper thirds.of the slopes at lower elevations--settings that include Douglas-fir PAGs
and the Dry White Fir PAG. Because of hill slope shading, temperatures are cooler, and
available moisture is typically greater (not included here are stands of the Moist White Fir PAG,
which may occur in the same general slope and aspect, but within draws or on benches where
greater available moisture is retained). These settings have a higher site potential to support a
healthy growth of trees at greater density than slopes facing the afternoon sun, however, not
having developed with recurrent fire during their development, many such stands are found with
excessive stand densities, especially of abundant understory and 2nd cohort trees (defined below)
in the canopy, including some larger diameter cohort 2 trees. These conditions increase the
potential for severe fire effects, and threaten the large reserve trees of Douglas-fir and pine
species of cohort 1 where the~,'})ccur. These same 'trees are threatened by loss of vigor due to
density related issues that increase the potential for more severe effects of insects, fungi, and
parasitic plant populations. In such stands, the objectives can be characterized as reestablishing
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20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
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GSpub-wrks~eng\dept-admin~FORES~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 35 F~I
vertical discontinuity within stand. The treatment prescriptions that cover the range of
conditions are necessarily complex, and the technical team had not resolved the extent, or
conditions under which stands in these settings would be treated, or resolved the prescriptions to
be applied. The need for further assessment and research is strongly indicated in these settings.
Priority 6. The upper one-third of southerly and westerly aspects at higher elevation
predominantly support the Cool White Fir Plant Association Group. Abundant veteran trees of
Shasta red fir, Douglas-fir and pine species occur in such settings, and these historically
conferred fire resilience to such stands, provided the interval between fires was not too extensive.
Good examples can be seen along the road from Four Comers to Bull Gap. Understory and'
can6py encroachment by younger white fir, and the accumulation of down and dead fuels in the
absence of fire increase the potential for stand replacement fire in these stands.
Other stands in these areas are dominated by white fir that developed as dense stands in the
absence of thinning by low intensity fire. While these stands are naturally thinning their ranks to
varied degrees through competition for site resources, (and potentially through insect and fungal
related mortality), a greater probability of fire events burning with intense fire behavior and
severe effects is expected than occurred with more frequent fire. Reducing the density of such
stands will be attempted as a means to reduce potential fire severity and increase the potential for
'developing late seral old growth conditions, and protect watershed values, particularly water
supply. The GIS setting selection process also allowed inclusion of the Moist White Fir PAG
which may. occur in such slop.e positions and aspects, but within draws or on benches where
greater available moisture is retained.
Priority 10. At higher elevations, north and east facing slopes support both the Cool White Fir
and the Moist White Fir Plant Association Groups. Such stands are highly productive, cooler
and more moist, and are less prone to bum. They carry fire less frequently and can support late
successional old growth development with either little understory, or stands-with more open
canopies and understories with abundant understory trees. For this reason such forest settings
are a lower priority for treatment, however, stand densities and the potential for severe
widespread Canopy fire' among stands, and the'spread"of forest pathogens can be a problem that
may be addressed by thinning from below. Late in the process of developing this proposal, the
technical team decided that treatments in this landscape setting would not be included in the
initial phase of the .project ....
Category 3. Strategic connections (geographic, ecological, logistical, and social) (Map 8.3).
This category accounts for many types of settings that may include selection of all plant
association groups up the Cool White Fir PAG (Dry Douglas-fir (which contains inclusions of
Oregon White Oak, Ponderosa Pine PAGS), Moist Douglas-fir, Dry White Fir and Moist White
Fir PAGs). The areas were evaluated for fire hazard based on several factors, including
ecological value at risk, and the social values and hazards associated with the Wildland Urban
Interface (WUI) (Table 8.1). It was felt that treatment was needed on these areas.
...
Priority 1. The highest priority strategic area within the project area is considered the Wildland
Urban Interface because of the hazard of fire in the proximity of homes and other development
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G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-adrnin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 36 F~i~'~
and escape routes. Much of the WUI on federal land has already been treated in AWPP, and the
acreage of treatment settings shown in the table does not include those areas. The GIS analysis
allowed inclusion of Landslide Hazard Zone 2 and slopes up to 75% in the interface to allow for
optimal abatement of fire hazard for the urban values.
Priority 3. Plantations established in earlier timber harvest units are important to the project.
Prescription written promote more open structure.
. Priority 7-- Corridors within 50' of Riparian Area (using Riparian Reserves as a surrogate for
mapping), or ¼ mi of~NSO achvity center and within 200' of any treatments abOve were a mid-
ranked prioritY. These areas take advantage of resiliency managed in nearby treatments and
extend them where possible as a buffer around relatively reserved areas.
Priority 9-- Roadside corridors within 100 feet on either side of roads spanning short distances
between other selected units. Identification of setting for these buffers was further restricted to
the lower elevation Plant Association Groups. These were designed to offer fuel reduction zones
that would be useful in promoting use of prescribed fire and to facilitate wildfire management.
Priority 11--- Northern Spotted Owl 1/4 mi. activity centers in low/mid elevation PAGS were
identified 'for some light touch prescriptions for late successional habitat benefits.
Priority 12---rRiparian Reserves in Lower and Middle elevation PAGS within the vicinity of
other treatments are a low priority for treatment. The team proposes no treatment in riparian
habitat and including a 50 foot buffer, but at-low for treatments available to be determined on a
site by site basis outside of the riparian buffers in areas designated under the Northwest Forest
Plan as Riparian Reserves
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
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G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 37
Table 8.1 Treatment areas by category and priority for Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative.
Treatment areas limited to federal lands in the USFS AFR Project boundary. Categories were defined by the
citizens group in April 2004. Treatment types and priorities were developed by the AFRCA technical committee.
Selected settings exclude primary and secondary Landslide Hazard Zones, riparian areas (approximated by Riparian
Reserves), steep slopes > 65%, or areas within ¼ mile of spotted owl activity centers, unless noted. Treatments
within the McDonald Peak Inventoried Roadless Area are limited to small diameter (< 7" DBH) understory
thinning, handpiling, and prescribed burning. Total new treatments, including within plantations is 9741 acres,
approximately, subject to limitations of data.
Category 1
Existing Fire Resilient Areas
No Treatment
Previously completed USFS
prescr'ibed burns. Resiliency of
these stands depends in part on time
since prior burn and needs to be
determined.
(1135 ac)
Previously completed USFS fuel
breaks. Resiliency depends in part
on time since creation and
maintenance, to be determined.
(278 ac)
Previously completed USFS fuel
management units of the Ashland
Watershed.Protection Plan.
Resiliency of'these stands depends
on time'since cre.ati, gn and
maintenance, to be determined.
(1954 ac)
Riparian Areas (used USFS
riparian reserve as surrogate).
Fire behavior expected to be less
intense in relatively moist, protected
settings with higher potential for
late-seral forest. Some areas treated
in Category 3
(4740 ac)
Fire resilient late seral forests,
with fewer than 50 seedling and
saplings (<7" DBH) per acre. Less
intense fire behavior is expected in
these stands with few ladder fuels,
depending on many factors.
(486 ac)
Natural openings: exposed soil,
rock, prairie, forb/herbaceous, water
(336 ac)
Total Category 1 = 8929
"(Incl. 3367 'ac Categ0ry2 --Prior
treated, and <900 ac in Category 3
Riparian Reserves)
Category 2
("readily" made fire resilient)
Priority 2-- Ponderosa and sugar
pine dominated stands on upper two-
thirds slopes within the dry Douglas-
fir, moist Douglas-fir, dry white fir,
moist white fir, and cool white fir
plant association groups.
(1979 ac)
Priority 3--Maintenance of
previously treated prescribed bUrns
fuel treatments, and shaded fuel
breaks from Category 1.
(3367 ac)
Priority 4--South and west-facing
upper two-thirds slopes within the
lower elevation plant association
groups (dry Douglas-fir, moist
Dougl.as-fir, dry white fir.).
(12i3 ac)
Priority 5--North and East facing
upper one-third slopes within the
lower elevation Plant Association
Groups.
(<402 ac)
Priority 6--- Middle elevation plant
association groups (moist white fir
and c'0ol white fir) on South and West
facing upper one-thirds slopes.
(411 ac)
Priority 10--North and East facing
upper one-third slopes within middle
elevation plant association groups.
(863 ac, not treated)
Total Category 2 = 8235
Total CategorY 2' Treated = 7372'
Total Newly Treated = 4005
Category 3
strategic connections (geographic,
· ecological, logistical, and social)
Priority 1-- Ashland Wildland
Urban Interface. Area defined by the
first major ridge above the city limits
including Clayton Creek to the south,
Wildcat Canyon to the northwest, and
an area around the Reeder reservoir and
water treatment plant. (1196 ac)
PriOrity 3-- Plantations
Young stands established in past
commercial timber harvest units.
(932 ac total, 167 ac not in other
treatment settings)
Priority 7-- C'orridbrS Within 50' of
Riparian Area, or ¼ mi of NSO
activity center and within 200' of any
treatments above.
·
(1529 ac)
· . . ..
Priority 9-- Roadside corridors
within 100' on either side of roads
spanning shol't distances between
other selected units in the lower
elevation Plant Association Groups.
(148 ac)
·
Priority Il--Northern Spotted Owl
1/4 mi. activity centers in low/mid
'PAGS
(<1796 ac)
Priority 12--Riparian Reserves in
Lower and middle elevation Plant
Association Groups in plantations,
and previously logged areas.
(<900 ac)
Total Category 3 = <5736
.... Note: includes part of Riparian
Reserve in Category 3 plantations
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20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
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www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin\FORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 38
Map 8.1. Category 1 lands in the Ashland Watershed analysis area.
AFRCA
CATEGORY ONE
Legend
m . Upper Bear Assessment Area
~_ ~ Ashland C~ty Limits
/J,//~ Older Prescribed Bum Units (Grid 1)
~l~ Older Shaded Fuelbreaks (Grid 2)
AVVPP Unds (Grid 4)
Ripanan Reserves (Grid 5)
I Existing Fire Resilient Older Stands (Grid 6) ~
Existing Openings - Rock. Meadows ~-Ieavily D,sk~rbed Sites (Gnd 7) ~'
Federal £~ership Boundary ~
15Sept2004
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~ub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 39
Map 8.2. Category 2 lands in the Ashland Watershed analysis area.
AFRCA
CATEGORY TWO
Legend
t . Upper Bear Assessment Area
r'_ ~1 Ashland City Lictors
I GRID08 Pnority 2
~ GRID(O Priority 4
· GRIO10 Priority5
~5~<~,'~ GRID11 Priority6
GRID12 Priority ~0
Federal Ownership Boundan/
NTS
/
/
I_~
Ashland '
15Sept2004
%
I
%
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 40 F~I
Map 8.3. Category 3 lands in the Ashland Watershed analysis area.
AFRCA
CATEGORY TWO
Legend
~ ~ Upper Bear Assessment Area
[-_ ~ Ashland C.~y Limits
~ GRID13 City Interface Zone
I GRID14 Plantations
GRID15 USFS Roads - buffered
.-.~. GRID16 Buffers of RR4 NSO & Treatments dipped tp PAG 1-58
· GRID17.1/4 mile buffers of NSO dipped to PAO 1-5,8
: GRIO18 Riparian Reserve clipped to PAG 1-5,8
. Federal Ov~ersh~p Boundary
I
NTS ~ %
-- '
L _[ Ashland
"xl I_l t_.., I x.,,\,~ I
\
_. ;..~-. : ----L--L
-- I
%
!
%
~.5Se~t2oo4
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6(X)6
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES'BCWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 41
Improving Fire Resiliency and Providing Strategic Connections
Analysis Issues
Plant Association Groups (PA Gs)
The Ashland Watershed exhibits an abundance of diversity in vegetation as a result of the
environmental gradient that exists from the lower to the upper elevations. The watershed was
stratified into PAGs (Map 8.1) to facilitate discussion and needs, in the different environments,
to establish or retain ecosystem health. These PAGs are described in the UpPer Bear Assessment
(Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest 2004). They are based on groupings of plant assOciations
that occur in similar environments. We recognized the following PAGs (Map 8.4):
Oregon White Oak
Ponderosa Pine
Dry Douglas-fir
Moist Douglas-fir
Dry White Fir
Moist White Fir
'Cool White Fir
Mountain Hemlock
For the purposes of our analysis we combined ~he Oregon White Oak and Ponderosa Pine within
the Dry Douglas-fir PA-G. Treatments were considered only in the lower.and middle elevation
PAGs, excluding the Mountain Hemlock
Historic Conditions in the Ashland Watershed
Complete knowledge of historic vegetation conditions is difficult to determine. However,
general forest conditions for the Ashland watershed can be inferred from the work of Leiberg
(1900) and can be directly documented from the Oregon and'Califomia(O&C) Revestment
Notes compiled by the General Land Office (circa 1920) (Appendix 8.2). These vegetation
records do not provide a full history of the changes in plant communities within the .Ashland
Watershed, but do provide a '.'snapshot in time" bothin.a general and specific, context for .
vegetation conditions within the Ashland Watershed. The records are from a time prior to when
European Americans influenced many changes in the watershed. By comparing these records
with current conditions, a trends analysis for vegetation change can be developed.
Leiberg described the Ashland Watershed as highly dynamic, with fire "having run throughout
the forest," His limited data points to the presence of few white fir in the watershed, and those
that were present, likely occurred in draws, as he noted around the region. His data point to the
dominant role of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir in the watershed. The Watershed was described
as a highly variable plant community
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G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~ORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 42 F~,,~1
Map 8.4. Plant Association Group (PAG) map used for the Ashland Watershed analysis area.
AFRCA
plant Association Groups
Legend
i m Upper Bear Assessment Area
[-_~ Ashland City Lirmls
PAG 0
PAG 1
PAG 2
PAG 3
PAG 4
PAG 5
= PAG O
Federal Ownership Boundary
NTS
I
"%1
%
~-J Ashland ---~
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Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 43
assemblage. Leiberg observed that most of the watershed showed evidence of having been
burned, but to a limited extent since 1887. He estimated that 12 percent of the township
covering the upper watershed showed evidence of having been "badly burned" ( likely including
moderate and high severity fire effects). Badly burned areas accounted for 18 to 36 percent of
the surrounding townships.
The Revestment Notes, from the Interface Forest showed about 40 percent of the area had some
signs of burning and about 66 percent of the burned area had high severity fire. Late seral
conditions were present on 12 percent of the area and occurred in the Ponderosa pine and white
fir plant series. Pine species'and madrone were very common in this part of the watershed. In '
the Montane Forest (mountain hemlock plant series), 29 percent of the area was late seral.. No
acres were recorded as having burned.
A comparison of current conditions to the historic indicate increasing abundance of white fir,
reduction of pine, increasing density, and the relative absence of fire. Although the strategy of
AFRCA will encourage the functioning of fire and ensuing conditions that trend more toward
historic condition, our strategy is focused primarily on structural manipulations prescribed to
reduce either horizontal or vertical continuity of potential fuels and to reduce the potential for
stand replacement fire in the municipal watershed. Such a strategy will only have a short term
effect if not followed by ongoing active management that includes extensive use of prescribed
fire and prescribed wildland fire use.
Coarse Woody Material (Snags and Down Wood)
Coarse .woody material (OWM) fulfills a number of important ecological functions such as
stabilizing surface soils, increasing organic content in soils over the long term, providing habitat
for the many organisms that depend on snags and down logs in various stages of decay, and
ensuring adequate large woody debris recruitment to meet the ecological needs of aquatic
systems over time. - .......
Past management in the watershed has changed the recruitment and accumulation of snags and
down logs. Mortalitysalvage immediately changed the forest structure by removing, snags and
subsequently changes the recruitment and accumulation of down logs. Fires play a key role in
mediating the recruitment, accumulation and reduction of snags and down logs. With fire
suppression and longer interval between fires, the composition and processes of coarse woody
material changes. Down logs gain a longer residence time as they decompose rather than burn,
increasing their overall abundance, while fewer snags are created and trees downed by fire
(AFLC 2003). At the same time, with increased density in stands, mortality resulting from
drought stress, insects, and disease is increasing by an order of magnitude. How these
conflicting impacts have changed the dynamics of coarse woody material is inadequately
understood. Therefore, this proposal starts with the assumption that all snags and down logs
created with more historic fire regimes serve important ecological roles and therefore should be
retained.
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G:~oub-wrks~er}g\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 44 Fi~'~
Snags
Large snags (over 21 inches dbh) are particularly essential for forest function. At least 96
wildlife species in Oregon and Washington are associated with snags in forests, using snags for
shelter, roosting and hunting. Most species use snags greater than 14 inches dbh (Rose et al.
2001). Ridges, upper thirds of slopes, and riparian areas or lower third of slopes are very
important for late successional dependent species such as fishers and other forest carnivores, as
well as bats. Clusters of snags are especially important and are the focus of a prescription below.
Snags on ridges are essential for bats and whiteheaded Woodpeckers3. Bats are generally thought
to prefer snags near ridge tops for day roosts. Snags taller than the general canopy are thought to
be preferentially used by bats, particularly as maternity roosts with these snags providing the
warm microclimate necessary for rapid fetal and juvenile development. Snags compromise
wildfire suppression activities by increasing the rate of spread of a fire through firebrand
production (spotting) at their tops. They compromise the efficacy of nearby fire control lines by
lofting firebrands over them, creating a significant safety hazard that can limit or prevent
personnel deployment into critical fuel man. agement zones (AWSA 1999). Snags pose similar
problems during prescribed fire, but in some cases, can be more readily accommodated with
preplanning and treatment. The following prescriptions are proposed to provide for bat species
and others that utilize snags while addressing safety concerns. ' · ·
In riparian areas and upslope areas prone to landslide, snags of all size classes contribute the
large woody debris-that is critical to creation and maintenance of stream structure and function.
Recrui-tment.of graded inputs of large woody debris to streams provides important support for..
aquatic ecosystem integrity, impacting physical habitat structure as well as nutrient cycling and
other in-stream processes. Snags in various size classes also are important to the recruitment
pathways of the down coarse materials important to soils.
The general strategy in AFRCA is to conserve snags and down logs by retaining them on site.
When specific management considerations such as proximity to fire control lines, fire manager
safety, application'ofprescribed'fire; rural interface, and'the potential for insect outbreak, trigger
a need to reduce coarse woody material on a site, the material may be removed, provided the
ecological needs for coarse woody material, keyed to characteristics of Plant Association Group
(PAG),- have been satisfied. Specific CWM .treatment strategies that will be incorporated in
treated units are detailed in the prescription section.
Down Wood
As with snags, down logs are important for wildlife and aquatic ecosystem function. In addition,
down coarse woody material is particularly important to maintaining and holding soils in place
throughout the project area. A further discussion of coarse woody materials as they specifically
relate to soil productivity is addressed under the "soils" analysis issue. Consistent with retention
goals for snags, down coarse wood will be retained to support forest function. In this proposal,
down logs can be removed only when ecological requirements have been met and levels
represent those believed to have occurred with more historic fire regimes.
3 The existence or abundance of whiteheaded woodpeckers in the Ashland Watershed is uncertain.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
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GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 45 F~I
In general, this proposal would maintain down logs within the upper one third of the: range for
down logs for that PAG, with more logs retained in riparian areas and on northerly aspects than
on southerly slopes. Where standing green trees are felled to meet habitat objectives, felled trees
will be left in place as needed to meet down log and/or soil objectives.
Hardwoods
Unlike many past forest management projects that tend to encourage conifers, we intend t°
promote ecosystem functioning and the resultant values. Hardwoods are a critical part of the
species mix and may require non-traditional practices to maintain their roles in watershed
protection and ecosystem function. Their role includes increased wildlife habitat, forage
production, and species diversity, and better soil functioning. The hardwoods keep the soil and
site more balanced in plant nutrients by recycling cations (conifers recycle anions). Perhaps
most importantly, slope stability and subsequent watershed values are increased following high
intensity disturbance (i.e. active rooting and stump sprouting) as a result of an appropriate
hardwood mix. This may be our most important issue.
Since hardwoods have the ability to sprout and hold soil after fire, areas with soils concerns
(LHZs) are candidates for places hardwood should be encouraged. -Oregon white oak, California
black oak, Pacific madrone, and golden chinquapin are the primary hardwoods in the project
area, and larger individuals of these species (16 inches DBH and greater) are high priorities for
retention and promotion. Special efforts to maintain hardwoods in developing stands are an
important part-of this proposal. Thinning around those remnant hardwoods is designed to
increase their vigor, particularly since they tend to be shade-intolerant and easily overtopped by
younger developing conifers in many situations. Removal of conifers from around preferred
hardwoods should be dependent on the ability to remove them without damaging the
preferred hardwood. On the other hand, small hardwoods, particularly Pacific madrone, are
believed to have significantly increased in numbers and are generally less desirable for retention
trees, as well as potentially competing significantly with other larger and/or more preferred
'trees. ..
Leiberg (1900) indicates only 5 percent of the total basal area .was made up of oak and madrone
(in T39S, R1E), whereas data from City of Ashland plots indi. cate amounts ranging from 25-'/0
percent, largely in smaller size classes. Revestment Notes show 80 percent (920 acres out of
1,300 acres) of the interface forest had madrone present. Coupled with Lieberg, this indicates
that while madrone was abundant circa 1920, it did not provide much basal area. It was small
diameter, likely initiated after fire events in 1901 and 1910. Designed retention and promotion
of hardwoods may vary by size, PAG, species, and associated vegetation
conditions. Hardwoods of all species are particularly important components of stands and
vegetation on more southerly to westerly aspects in the project area, while Pacific madrone is
important on more northerly aspects on lower and mid elevations..
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GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORESTXCWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 46 Fi~'~
Softs Conservation
The soils within this project area are derived from a granitic batholith and are highly erosive due
to their sandy and easily detached textures. Their nutrient and water holding capacity, which
controls site productivity, is greatly influenced and supplemented by the soil humus in the
topsoil. The key to maintaining and holding these soils in place and to maintaining the needed
soil humus is to maintain proper ground cover. Monitoring has shown that these soils are
severely erodable if left without surface protection in the form of duff/litter (woody material)'and
live plant cover. They also are easily eroded if runoff Water is allowed t6 concefitmte into fills or
gullies on the hill slopes and in drainage ways. Soil erosion rates and the frequency of landslides
are strongly associated with slope steepness. Slopes steeper than 70 percent are 20 times more
likely to fail than slopes between 50 and 70 percent, and are 200 times more likely to fail than
slopes less than 50 percent. Slopes less than 50 percent do not fail very often. Erosion rates on
roads and landings, were 100 times those found on undisturbed areas, while erosion on harvested
areas (clearcuts) was seven times that of undisturbed areas (Amaranthus et al. 1985). From a soil
erosion perspective, slopes 65 percent and greater create major hazards.
Douglas-fir Dwarf Mistletoe
Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe, a native, host specific parasitic plant, is well-established in
Douglas-fir of al. sizes, and is particular}y noticeable in the White Fir PAG and Douglas-fir PAG.
The ecological functions and benefits of dwarf mistletoe have been well documented. In the
Ashland Creek watershed, for example, every northern spotted owl nest occurs in a mistletoe
broom.
The objective is to reduce the overall amount of mistletoe in the watershed, while retaining this
important habitat component where it is most beneficial to late successional species, including
but not limited to the northern spotted owl. ' '
It has been hypothesized that the incidence of dwarf mistletoe has increased as a result of fire
exclusion in the last century, increasing the potential severity of future wildfire.behavior and
accelerating the compositional shift away from Douglas-fir and towards more shade tolerant and
fire intolerant white fir. This has created yet another management conundrum where multiple
important ecosystem-level goals are in conflict as a result of management choices made in the
last 150 years, with the least desirable choice to now do nothing.
Long term stand development trajectories in the presence of this disease suggest a continuing
mortality of large, mature overstory Douglas-fir with the subsequent loss of their critically
important wildlife habitat values. Ongoing infection of younger Douglas-fir in the short term will
continue to limit their lifespan, thereby reducing replacement Douglas-fir in the future and
increase the compositional shift towards white fir. White fir grows in multiple layers and with
higher crown bulk densities, characteristics that further exacerbate potential wildfire behavior.
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Page 47 F~I
In the short term, the abundance of dwarf mistletoe infected large Douglas-fir should continue to
provide nesting habitat (perhaps in excess) as well as continuing to supply coarse woody
material. Dwarf mistletoe brooms for nesting are particularly important and manageable in lower
slope positions, suggesting that greater levels of retention could occur there, while reducing
numbers in higher slope positions where spread of the disease aerially can be greater and wildfire
management goals are more readily compromised.
Perhaps most importantly, a suite of available management options is desired, with the
underlying guideline being that no dwarf mistletoe infected trees with brooms that provide nest
structures for northern spotted owls is removed without a specified justification (i.e. assume the
tree has value for retention first, and onlY removed if an ecolbgical ju§tificati'on suggests'it).
Retention of these critically important wildlife habitat values (including snag recruitments and
ultimately, down logs) in the short term must be weighed with the associated long-term risks of
increased volatility and associated wildfire behavior, species composition shifts, and ongoing
loss of wildlife habitat (and other values) associated with large, live Douglas-fir on a landscape
level. Determining the appropriate levels of removal of dwarf mistletoe infected Douglas-fir will
depend on an accurate inventory of existing levels by location and severity of infection, as well
as a satisfactory delineation of the maximum needed to maintain important wildlife habitat
values (including for other species such as fishers, neo-tropical birds, etc.) on a landscape level,
both short term and long term. '
Treating Activity'Fuels
During stand treatments (understory slashing, pruning, and thinning operations), activity fuels
will be created. Because silvicultural treatments without follow-up slash treatment only
aggravate wildfire potential and behavior, activity fuels will be managed on all units to reduce
subsequent fire behavior. Most commonly, this Will be a type of prescribed fire application, but
there may be some instances where post-treatment fuel loading is light enough that prescribed
fire is not neces.sary, or the site is sensitive to surface erosion would be better protected by not
burning. In the latter case, some other treatment, such as lop and scatter, may be prescribed.
Prescribed broadcast underbuming is the desired style of fuel treatment in the project area (when
feasible), as it can most closely imitate the natural disturbance regime. However, given the
excessive fuel loads, the potential risk of escape, and limited windows.of opportunity when -.
conditions are within prescription, smoke management issues and other-concerns, hand piling
and burning will be the most common treatment. Once initial silvicultural and activity fuel
treatments are completed, it is hoped that prescribed fire will be utilized extensively in a long
term maintenance program, returning low to moderate intensity fire to more of its historic role as
an ecosystem disturbance process.
Wildland Fire Restoration
..
Fire is an key ecological disturbance in forest ecosystems of the Siskiyou Mountains, with
species and communities having evolved with periodic fire disturbances, including some that
depend on fire disturbance for their persistence. It follows that the integrity of the Siskiyou
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
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GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~ORES'BCWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 48 F~I
forests depends on the extent to which land managers allow fire to play its keystone role in the
ecosystem. Forest systems that historically were maintained by frequent, low intensity fire have
declined with fire exclusion. Further, naturally regenerated early successional forests, with their
complex coarse woody structure and non-woody vegetation, may now be the scarcest of all
habitats in the Pacific Northwest due to decades of fire suppression and post-fire salvage logging
(Lindemayer and Franklin (2002).
Recognizing that wildland fire is "a critical natural process [that] must be reintroduced
ecosystem," the 1995 Federal Wildland Fire. Management Policy and Program Review
2001 Review and Update of the Federal Wildland Fire Policy ("Federal Fire Policies")
agencies to shffi aWay from' systematic'fire exclusion and to use prescribed and natural
into the
and the
..
commit
wildland
fire for restoration of fire-adapted ecosystems. Use of management-ignited prescribed fire can
help to sustain ecological functions that have been limited or rendered dormant by fire exclusion,
and it has been used effectively in the restoration and maintenance of wildlife habitat. Because
prescribed fires are typically conducted at relatively low intensity, they do not replicate all of the
ecological functions of lightning-ignited fires that bum in a full range of environmental
conditions. To minimize risk of escape, land managers in the region conduct 'prescribed fires
during the wet season (late fall through spring), yet little is known about the potential detrimental
ecological effects of burning outside of the dry season (see Appendix 8.3 for detailed
discussion):
Dependent on vegetation characteristics, prescribed fire can be the most effective means to
ameliorate wildland fire behavior. The amount, continuity, porosity and' moisture content of
fine and intermediate-sized fuels (less than 3 inches in diameter) influence-the, rate of heat energy
released by the flaming front as well as the rate at which it spreads (Rothermel 1983). The
ability of prescribed fire to consume fine and intermediate fuels smaller than three inches in
diameter is a distinct advantage over other fuel reduction methods. Prescribed fire consumes
dead surface fuels, and, depending on'vegetation conditions and weather parameters prescribed,
can be used to reduce the continuity of both dead and live ladder fuels that may facilitate vertical
movement of fires into thee overstory tree crowns.
Many constraints on the use of prescribed fire tend to limit the area treated on an annual basis.
The risk of escape and the associated liability for losses, along with difficulty in meeting air
quality-standards with smoke from fires are two critical factors. Concern over safety, access, .
control, mop-up, access to adequate work force and other resources add to the complexity of
staging a prescribed fire. While prescribed burning can be cost effective in some settings and
offers certain advantages over manual fuel reductions, its effective use is currently limited to
systems that have low intensity fire regimes. In other settings fire managers typically opt for
pre-treatment of fuels in stands with continuous, abundant fuels and ladder-like structure to
ameliorate the potential fire behavior and increase the probability of successful retention of live
trees. Consideration of longer term benefits, such as savings in future suppression costs and
decreased resource losses, as well as enhanced long-term opportunities to use naturally-ignited
fires for ecosystem restoration could be used to justify the difficulty and cost of using prescribed
fire more in the near term.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/'735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~ORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 49 F~,~'~
Reintroduction of prescribed and naturally ignited fire to the Ashland Creek watershed is critical
to restore forest ecosystems because it supports natural, dynamic interactions between ecosystem
structure and process. Wildland fire offers distinct advantages over other management options in
terms of restoration of landscape structures and spatial patterning, and reflects one of the overall
goals of this project, to restore wildland fire as a natural process in the watershedl The most
appropriate places to implement landscape-scale fire restoration treatments include roadless areas
and large blocks of lightly roaded areas where risks to human life and property are low, such as
the lands outside of the wildland - urban interface in the Ashland Forest Resiliency planning
area,
At this time, the Rogue Riger NatiOnal Forest's Fire Management'Plan (FMP) coverihg the
project area does not provide for use of naturally-ignited fire for resource benefit, or Wildland
Fire Use (WFU). The high probability of stand replacing wildfires was considered inconsistent
with certain objectives, agreements, and standards and guidelines. Yet, the Forest recognizes
that continued exclusion of wildland fire "will lead to increased conifer mortality and increased
risk of.large-scale stand-replacing fires" (USDA 1996, 48). Instead, the current FMP calls for a
Level 1 suppression response to all wildland ignitions regardless of location or environmental
conditions. Since 1960, nearly 75 lightning ignitions in the watershed have been suppressed,
with only four fires that burned more than an acre (1973, 350 acres; 1987, 13 acres; 1988, 60
acres; and 2003, 15 acres) (Upper Bear Assessment, 2003).
In light of the fuels reduction and structural restoration PrOPosed in this plan, a renewed
assessment of the modeled fire behavior' and severity of effects at different times of the year, and
the perception of inconsistencies with other management objectives,, guidelines, and agreements,
could identify opportunities for appropriate implementation of WFU. Managing naturally
ignited fires burning in relatively mild weather conditions, in favorable topographic locations
with pre-planned boundaries could benefit biota directly, conserve financial resources, reduce
fire hazard to workers, reduce the cumulative'impacts of systematic fire-suppressions, and
temper the both the severity of fire and the urgency to suppress fire in the future.
This proposal encourages the Forest Service to update the FMP for the Mt Ashland Late
Successional Reserve, North Zone FMP with appropriate prescriptions, fire management units
and authorization for line officers and incident commanders to use wildland fire and appropriate
fire suppression strategies, as conditions are restored where such actions do not threaten the
critical values held for the watershed. The Ashland Forest Resiliency Project environmental
impact statement is an appropriate planning document to make this change as the fuels and
structural treatments proposed will facilitate such management.
Fire resilience is an elusive concept and iterative management and assessment will be required in
order to determine where along the spectrum of fire resilience systems are at any one time. For
this reason, this proposal offers a relatively modest adjustment of fuels and vegetation, spread
out over space and time, in order to move us more closely to this idealized condition of fire
resilience. It is hoped that the fuel discontinuity network forming the basis for this proposal will
provide the geopgraphic location (organized by plant association groups) of important first .
action.
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G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 50 F~I
It is understood that, at least initially, opportunities for prescribed fire and use of naturally
ignited fire will be limited, such that other forms of vegetation manipulation will be required to
move the project area closer to fire resilience. We view silvicultural and/or structural
manipulations of vegetation as a form of pre-treatment that enhances the opportunities to use
fire. The precise assessment of acres requiring silvicultural manipulations prior to application of
prescribed fire must be determined on the ground on a site-by-site basis.
Noxious Weeds
Invasive nonnative species alter the composition-, structure, and processes where they invade
native systems. Some species are already established in the project area, particularly, hedge hog
dogtail grass (Cynosurus echinatus), scotch broom (Cytisis scoparius), and bull thistle (Circium
vulgate), among others. Weed species may spread by taking advantage of disturbed habitat
adjacent to or in the proximity of existing colonies. Roads and vehicle use can be an important
vector for the spread of weeds. Informing implementation plans with the location and extent of
existing weed colonies, along with control actions prior, during and after treatment can help
avoid spreading them to new areas.
Owl Activity Centers
"Core" areas are described around nest locations used by pairs of Northern Spotted Owl, a
species listed as threatened by the USFWS. These areas, typically containing the key
cdnstituents of the species required habitat, are vital to the successful bre6ding of th6 species.
Habitat connectivity is also considered important for dispersal and migration of owls and other
late successional associated species. The maintenance of late seral or old growth conditions in
riparian areas serve as corridors linking together other areas of preferred habitat as well as
adjoining northerly aspects that often support'such habitat. Management 'activity nearby or
within owl core areas may disturb nesting pairs if conducted during the critical nesting season,
and if not conducted in a sensitive manner, could reduce important habitat components. This
plan intends to maintain effective or improved owl core areas, and to improve the fire resiliency
of such areas.
'Owl "cores" are defined 'at two scales, within 0.25 miles of an activity center (generally a nest
stand) and from 0.25 to 0.5 miles out from the activity center. The first scale is to be managed as
optimal habitat for nesting and foraging, commonly defined as a stand with a high canopy
closure, a complex structure, large snags and trees and a multi-storied canopy. Areas beyond this
will be managed as optimal habitat where it currently exists, and may be further treated to create
a fire-resilient stand, but will retain a minimum of 65 percent canopy closure out to 0.5 miles.
Riparian Areas
Riparian areas are dynamic portions of the landscape shaped both by disturbances characteristic
of upland ecosystems (e.g., fire, windthrow, erosion and landslides) and those unique to stream
systems (e.g., lateral channel erosion, flood and debris flow deposition). Important ecological
functions that must be conserved include storage, processing and delivery of organic materials
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GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 51 F~li~1
into the stream; maintenance of bank stability and shading; delivery of large wood to streams and
to riparian areas; establishment of riparian microclimate; maintenance of water quality
(particularly as it relates to temperature and sediment); provision of wildlife habitat; and
moderation of hydrologic disturbances. Riparian habitat conditions, and as a consequence
aquatic habitat conditions and water quality, are susceptible to degradation by management.
Even fuel reduction treatments may alter the hydrologic function 6f the watershed by
contributing to chronic disturbance, and or elevated rate of disturbance that exceeds the rate of
recovery. These impacts to long-term aquatic ecosystem integrity can be greater than would
result from a wil. dfire burning through the system. Where riparian and aquatic habitat is
degraded, however, management in and around riparian habitat can beused to improve
conditions. "·
As a consequence, those portions of the landscape necessary for protection of riparian function
will not be subjected to ground disturbing activities so as to avoid disruption of riparian
processes and functions. Except for previously harvested areas, where special considerations are
provided below, riparian area protections will include:
· areas dominated by riparian vegetation, We also have added 50 foot no treatment buffers
outside of the areas of riparian vegetation. The buffers won't be treated either.
· lands important to the recruitment pathway of large woody debris (both directly to the
stream as well' as to the riparian area) and sediment, and
· headwater riparian zones.
Previously Harvested Areas
Extensive acreage, yet unmapped or quantified, has been subject to various styles and intensities
of partial cutting. Harvested areas have had a relatively recent disturbance compared to the
watershed as a whole, which has not been disturbed in approximately the last 100 Years. In some
situations, partial cut areas may have greater potential to develop stand structures that resemble
more fire resilient, late seral conditions. Like the effects of low and mixed severity fire, partial
cutting has t° varied degrees, helped create structures and density conditions similar to the
historic forests that were subject to more frequent fires. These areas fall into our Category 2
lands. These thinned areas may confer some degree of current fire resiliency, though
compromised by fuel loads of logging slash and early seral vegetation, and may offer some of
the best opportunities to restore and maintain fire resilient conditions. Such areas are scattered
around the watershed.
Approximately 1,100 acres within the watershed have been clearcut and reestablished as
plantations. Plantations are considered a fire hazard in their current dense condition and threaten
nearby surrounding uncut stands with increased potential for delivery of more intense fire.
However, due to their early seral condition, stand management in plantations could contribute to
rapid development of stand trajectories that encourage development of late seral, fire resilient
conditions, by a combination of no treatment and .multiple thinning regimes within the same unit.
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Page 52
Stand DensiO;
Inventories completed on both City of Ashland and USFS lands indicate that in most situations
stand densities are high to extreme, with relative densities4 of 0.6 to 1.0 (a range that brackets the
beginning stage of competition-related mortality and the theoretical maximum) very common.
These conditions result in increased stress and reduced vigor and growth among the trees of the
stand increasing their susceptibility to the effects of insects, parasites, and fungi. These
conditions result in a disadvantage for shade intolerant, fire tolerant species. In the absence of
fire, and with increasing duration of the fire free period the increasing proportion of the
watershed in this density range increases the potential and concern about a rapid widespread
wave Of insect mediated mortality that will disproportionately affect the oldest cohort of trees
It is suggested that stands within this range be prioritized for treatment in order to improve
retained tree 'vigor, particularly of preferred larger trees of preferred species. Thinning should
primarily be "from below", emulating the type of tree mortality that occurred on an ongoing
basis in former disturbance regimes characterized by frequent, low-to-moderate intensity fire. It
is suggested that in many cases, this thinning should be done in stages to slowly release stands
from the excessive densities that have existed for many years. This strategy has been
successfully employed on City of Ashland lands in the watershed, with staged removal of non-
commercial and commercial size classes determined on a stand-by-stand basis. Coupled with
ensuing slash treatment, this strategy has both improved vegetation (stand) vigor and reduced
wildfire potentials on an area-wide basis. It is also important to retain untreated portions of the
landscape to encourage important structural variation,, wildlife habitat, and other important
yalues; maintaining, and/or promo.ting.heterogeneity of the vegetation thr.oughout the project are
a critical project-level goal.
Stand Structure
Of the three characteristics that traditionally describe forested stands, density, structure, and
composition, structure is the most important of the three affecting fire behavior and severity.
The diverse set of stand structures within the project area makes prescription development to
achieve wildfire management benefits difficult. Nonetheless, in order for this approach to
succeed, existing, desired, and future stand structure must be effectively described in order to
assess the effectiveness of proposed treatments. Description of stand structure can be facilitated
by delineating each of the various sizes/ages/layers of vegetation in a stand, typically referred to
as cohorts. In the project area, combinations of three general cohorts tend to occur as classified
below (AWSA 1999):
Cohort #1 - Older, mature cohort
1. Generally 25 to 50+ inches DBH, 150 to 300+ years
2. Tend to be spatially dispersed, occumng singly or more commonly in small
aggregations, thereby creating a clumpy'horizontal stand structure.
4 Relative Density Index is a method to measure quantitative differences in stand densities.
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3. Were generally initiated and developed in the pre-settlement era when disturbance
patterns were of a more frequent, low to moderate intensity type, creating a greater
diversity of age classes.
4. More common in topographical areas that act as fire refugia such as gentle ridgelines and
riparian areas.
5. The most common species:
Oregon White Oak PAG:. Oregon white oak, Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir
Ponderosa Pine PAG: Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir PAGS: ' Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir
White Fir PAGs: Sugar pine, Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, Shasta red fir
Cohort #2 - Intermediate cohort
1. Generally 10 to 25 inches DBH, 80 to 140 years.
2. Tend to be more spatially and structurally uniform, typical of more even-aged stand
structures.
3. Typically initiated following moderate to high-intensity disturbance, such as the 1901. or
1910 wildfire events.
· . .
4. Not having been thinned by subsequent fire, this cohort often currently is at excessive
stand densities more typical of the stem exclusion stage of stand development, and rapidly
declining in growth and vigor.
5. Common species.
Oregon White Oak PAG: Oregon white oak, Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir
Ponderosa Pine PAG: Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, California black' oak
Douglas-fir PAGs: Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, white fir
White Fir PAGs:Sugar pine, Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, Shasta red fir, white fir
..
Cohort #3 - Younq cohort
1. Generally 1 to 10 inches DBH, 10 to 50 years old.
2. Typical of the stand initiation or understory re-initiation stage of stand
development.
3. Tend to be spatially and structurally uniform (e.g. plantations) typical of
even-aged stands; a younger example of cohort #2.
4. Most noticeable in stands with recent disturbance history
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5. Common species
Oregon White Oak PAG: Oregon white oak, Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir
Ponderosa Pine PAG: Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, California black oak
Douglas-fir PAGs: Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, white fir
White Fir PAGs:Sugar pine, Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, Shasta red fir,
white fir
In all stands and treatments described below, the intention is to pri.'marily leave trees that were
part of the s~'and prior to fire exciusion, the first cohort, and to reduce the abundance Of yoUnger
recruits in the third and second cohorts grown over'the last 80 to 100 years. To maintain
diversity of ages and inclusion of multiple regeneration events, and to ensure ongoing stand
development, it is important that none of the cohorts are completely removed,
Species Composition
Due to fire exclusion in the watershed, tree species composition has shifted. Absence of fire has
provided a competitive advantage for the tree species that are both more shade tolerant and fire
intolerant. These have displaced recruitment of species that are both shade intolerant and fire
tolerant which typically prosper when fires occur more frequently. As a result, white fir is now
more abundant on sites that would have supported Douglas-fir (in White Fir. PAGs) and Douglas-.
fir has moved onto sites where frequent fire favored dominance by pine and occasional oak and
madrone (Oregon White Oak and Ponderosa Pine PAGs). To remedy this change in species
composition, pine and hardwood retention will be favored over Douglas-fir retention, and
Douglas-fir retention will be favored over white fir retention in the Douglas-fir and White Fir
PAGs.
Historically, both white and black oak is thought to have been more abundant throughout the
project area, particularly at low elevation and hot dry aspects.
Without disturbance, black oak is eventually crowded out of the best sites and remains only as
scattered remnants in mixed-conifer forests. It rarely exists as an understory tree, especially
beneath a closed canopy (McDonald 1990). Retention and promotion of tree form black oak is.
an objective for the Ashland watershed. White oak tends to occur in soil and aspect setting with
a lower potential for sustaining conifers. Nevertheless, Douglas-fir has encroached and
overtopped many such oak settings. This plan promotes removing young encroaching conifers
except pine and cedar species from the white oak sites.
A species hierarchy is presented for each PAG, favoring those species that are generally part of
the first cohort and for which recruitment has declined in abundance with changes in disturbance
history over the last 150 years. All of the prescriptions below are designed in part to promote
and maximize retention of Cohort 1 trees throughout the project area. Among the second and
third cohorts, ~he largest {height, DBH, or crowns) trees, and large, liinby trees that developed in
a more open, windy environment will be the priority for retention. Thinning will retain those
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Page 55 r~~
trees best suited to withstand the more open conditions that will result from the thinning and
modified group selections.
Inventoried Roadless Area.
The technical team made assessments and planned management based primarily on ecological
attributes, but adjusted consideration and sensitivities based on social values as well. The team
recognized that treatments in the McDonald Peak Roadless areas raised.unusually strong
concerns for some, and decided to minimize the nature of management there to hand work' on
small diameter und~rstory fuels and Vegetation and use of prescribed fire.
General Prescription Cateqories
The overall objective of the prescriptions proposed is to maintain and restore diversity-
structural, compositional, and functional - at all spatial scales. Each of the prescriptions is
intended to serve as a starting point for the PAG. Prior to any implementation, an inventory of
existing conditions is necessary for each operational unit. Site-specific data is necessary to
develop individual unit prescriptions. .-
Suggested prescriptions in this proposal include Forest Se .rvice proposed Ashland Forest
Resiliency prescriptions 1, 4, 6, 7 through 14, and i 9.
General Prescriptions by Analysis Issue Across all Units
Snag Retention and Removal
Surveys will be conducted during implementation to identify where snags are deficient. In such
circumstances, select trees of the set not intended for live tree retention may be retained as snags
in lieu of removal during thinning. Snag creation can include blasting the tops, girdling,
inoculation with fungi or trees with heavy mistletoe may be left for future snag retention.
If snags are determined to be in excess of the targeted maximums, they may be removed.
Snag levels on lower slopes will be retained within the upper one third of the range tbr snags for
that PAG as described in the 2003 Upper Bear Ecosystem Assessment. Greater retention on
lower slopes will help offset reductions required in areas that are a high priority for wildfire
control such as ridge tops and other strategic locations.
Along ridges and upper slopes, snag levels will be retained at current levels (i.e. no additional
snags will be. created) unless their retention will create a wildfire control hazard. Snags that
5 Modified group selection creates growing space around desired reserve trees by removing less desirable trees at a
distance which is a function of the crown radius of the reserve tree.
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Page 56 Fil~l
increase fire hazard will be felled and left on site unless that, in turn, increases wildfire hazard.
Snags should be retained as high as possible on slopes.
Snags that extend above the primary canopy, but do not extend above the level of the ridgeline
will be priorities for retention.
Areas around clusters of three or more snags are a priority for understory vegetation slashing and
pruning. Activity fuels will be hand piled and burned to reduce the potential for ignition around
..snag clusters.
-..
DOwn Wood
Maintain down wood within the upper one third of the range for down logs for that PAG, with
emphasis on greater abundance of wood retained in riparian areas and on northerly aspects (2/3
of total retained) than on southerly slopes (1/3 of total retained).
Where standing green trees are felled to meet habitat objectives, felled trees will be left in place
as needed to meet down wood and/or soil objectives.
Noxious Weeds
A list of target species of concern will be developed. Phor to treatment, Invasive weeds will be
mapped, and entered into a G. IS database. Treatment of noxious .weed.populations is required.
within 250 feet of treatment prior to new disturbance. Treatment plans will prescribe entry
routes to avoid weed patches. Vehicle and equipment will be washed prior to entering project
areas after any use in other areas with potential for supporting invasive weeds. Post-treatment
monitoring is required to detect the spread of existing or invasion of new noxious weed
populations. A spreading or a new population shall be treated so it can be controlled or
eliminated.
In areas prone to weed invasion, a seed mix of native species will be sown where ground
disturbance took place during management activities. Site specific species will be determined
and local collections will be made to meet seeding.needs.
Soil Conservation
Given the highly erosive nature of the soils in the project area, the following general
prescriptions will be imposed (to ensure long-term soil productivity is maintained) on any
vegetative treatment.
Machinery use such as tracked and rubber tired equipment can be detrimental on these soil units
except on existing road~vays without site specific mitigation measures' designed to protect the
soil productivity and water resources. Their use may be mitigated and some potential mitigation
opportunities are:
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Page 57 F~I
,
Slopes less than or equal to 20 percent should be the upper limit for ground based
equipment on these types of soils.
Slopes below 20 percent could have one or more of the following mitigation
measures depending on site specific conditions:
a. Use of skid pans.
b. Skid on the contour.
c. Remove blades from equipment so that no dozing occurs.
d. Line to a designated skid trail w/extra coarse woody or large woody debris
placed on the trail after operation. Do not water-bar.
e.. Other opportunities may occur depending on'site-specific conditions.
Hand piling of slash intended to be burned will be minimized under the canopy (drip line) of
standing green trees to protect feeder roots within the topsoil and important soil humus.
No treatments will occur on steep slopes where site-specific conditions indicate slope instability
exists. Steep slopes are defined as 65 percent or greater in the Ashland watershed due to the
nature and characteristics of the soils and terrain.
If treatment on a steep slope would otherwise be considered necessary to restore ecological
integrity or protect homes, a site specific ration'ale must be developed to justify any treatment on
that site and must incorporate measures to protect soil productivity, water quality and address
erosion and slope stability concerns. Such rational and mitigations fro treatments proposed for
steep slopes, up to 75 percent, will be developed by geologists in the case of slope stability
concerns or soil ~cientists in the caKe.of soil-productivity and erosion concerns. Areas cleared of
50 percent of its vegetation that occurs about 100 feet on the contour or perpendicular to the
slope are areas of additional landslide concern.
Although site-specific tailoring of prescriptions during implementation is necessary, there are
eight soil/landtypes within the project area that require the following different prescriptions.
Specific Soil Prescriptions
Group 1 - Soil Landtypes 890 and 88
These units have soil depth, erosion and slopes concerns. Soil/Landtype Unit 80 includes units
that occur on smooth to slightly dissected slopes that range 45 to 80 plus percent. Soil/Landtype
Unit 88 includes units that occur as colluvial deposits on steep to very steep, midslope postions
below rock outcrops and sharp ridges. Slopes range from 50 to 80 plus percent.
On the slopes greater than 65 percent there will be no treatment. Where treatment is determined
necessary on areas with slopes below 65 percent, coarse woody material in the size category of 6
inches plus must be left and felled on the contour with surface contact and randomly on over 10
percent of the area treated. This prescription also will require the maintenance of duff and litter
and/or fine woody material (less than 1 inch) over 70 percent of the area treated. Hand-piling
slash (material greater than 1 inch) can occur, if piles are kept to 10 percent of the areas or less of
the area treated. This may require treatments and hand piling and burning to take place in more
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than one season or require piles be fed from adjacent piles during active burning. The objective
is to prevent the removal of soil humus and duff which is key to the maintenance of the soils
productivity and surface stability.
Group 2 - Soil/Landtypes 82, 85 and 89
These units have soil depth, erosion and slope plus dissection concerns. Soil/Landtype Unit 82
includes units that are slightly to moderately dissected slopes ranging from 60 to 80 percent.
Soil/Landtype Unit 85 includes units that occur on short, steep slightly to moderately dissected
· slopes of 35 to 70 Percent. Soil/Landtype Unit 89 includes units that are highly dissected on
steep to very steep straight side slopes with slopes ranging from 50 to 80 plus percent.
On the slopes greater than 65 percent there will be no treatment. Treatments in these units on
slopes below 65 percent will require leaving coarse woody material in the size category of 6
inches plus felling on the contour with surface contact and randomly over 15+ percent of the area
treated. This also will require the maintenance of duff and litter and/or fine woody material (less
than 1 inch) over 85 percent of the treated area. Hand-piling slash (material greater than 1 inch)
can occur if piles are kept to 5 percent of the area or less. This may require treatments and hand
piling and burning to take place in more than one season or require piles be fed from adjacent
piles during active burning.
Group 3 - Soil/Landtypes 81 and 86
· These units have erosion concerns. Soil/Landtype Unit 81 includes units that are very deep on
toe slopes of 20 to 40 percent. Soil/Landtype Unit 86 includes units that occur on smooth gently
sloping rounded surfaces, toe slopes, and slope wash deposits with slopes from 15 to 35 percent.
Leave coarse woody material in the size category of 6 inches plus and fell on the contour with
surface contact and randomly over 5 percent of the area treated. This also will require the
maintenance of duff and litter and/or fine woody material (less than 1 inch) over 75 percent of
the''area treated, Hand-piling slash can occur if kept to 20 percent of the treatment area or less.
Group 4 - Soil/Landtypes 83 and 84
· .
These units have soil depth and erosion concerns. Soil/Landtype Unit 83 includes units that are
relatively shallow but occur on smooth to gentle and rounded ridges with slopes of 10 to 35
percent. Rock outcrops can be common. Soil/Landtype Unit 84 includes units that are similar to
Unit 83, however they are slightly deeper soils and occur on mid and lower slopes. Slopes range
from 10 to 35 percent.
Leave coarse woody material in the size category of 6 inches plus and fell on the contour with
surface contact and randomly over 5 percent of the area treated. This also will require the
maintenance of duff and litter and/or fine woody material (less than 1 inch) over 80 percent of
the area treated. Hand-piling slash 6an occur if kept to 15 percent 6f'the treatment area or less.
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Group 5 - Soil/Landtypes 92 and 94
These are Riparian and wetland areas. Soil/Landtype Unit 92 includes units that consist of Alder
glades and rare riparian areas. Soil/Landtype Unit 94 includes units that are perennial wet
meadows and marshlands.
Because of the risk to long-term soil productivity and water quality, these riparian units will
receive no treatment.
Group 6- Soil/Landtypes 52 .and 55
These units have soil depth, erosion and commonly wetness concerns. Soil/Landtype Unit 52
includes units that are associated with rounded, gentle to moderately steep, smooth, glacial
depositional surfaces with slopes ranging from 15 to 45 percent. Soil/Landtype Unit 55 includes
units that are associated with flat to gently sloping surfaces associated with glacial trough
bottoms and slopes ranging from 10 to 40 percent. Wet areas are common within this unit due to
the compacted till material underlying the soil.
Leave coarse woody material in the size category of 6 inches plus and fell on the contour with
surface contact and randomly over 5 percent of the area treated. This also will require the
maintenance of duff and litter and/or fine woody material (less than 1 inch) over 70 percent of
the area treated. Hand-piling slash can occur if kept to 20 percent of the treatment area or less.
Machinery cannot be allowed on this unit due to internal and external dr. ainage conditions.
Group 7- Soil/Landtypes 53 and 54 .- ..
These units have soil depth, erosion and slope shape concerns. Soil/Landtype Unit 53 includes
units that occur on compacted bedrock/till material and occur on smooth sideslope glacial
depositional surfaces associated with steep, concave cirque basins and headwall areas. Slopes
range from 45 to 70 percent. Soil/Landtype Unit 54 includes units that occur on compacted
bedrock/till material and occur on moderately to highly dissected and very steep glacial trough
Walls of 60 to 90 percent slopes. These units are subject to' landsliding and require geologic input
to the prescriptions.
Slopes greater than 65 percent will receive no treatment. This .basically eliminates any activity on.
Unit 54 due to the small areas of slopes less than 65 percent. Any areas treated within Unit 53
and the rest of Unit 54 will use the prescription for Group 2.
Group 8 - Soil/Landtypes 93 and 95.
These miscellaneous landtypes have various concerns due to erosion, soil depth, slope steepness,
etc. Soil/Landtype Unit 93 includes units that consist of Rock outcrops and associated talus
fields. The will receive no treatment. Soil/Landtype Unit 95 includes units that are seasonally dry
meadows and.scabland. They are unforested and support grasses, forbs and/or shrubs.
· .
Treatment on areas within this unit will need to be designed after determining site specific needs
due to the various physical conditions that occur, such as slopes, aspects and positions that they
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can occur on. Maintenance of ground cover is extremely important due to the erosive nature of
the soils occurring here as well as their very shallow depths. Unit 95 conditions often are the
result of past management actions that did not address the soil erosion hazard, and as a result, the
soils were severely eroded.
As was indicated above, within all eight Soil/Landtypes protection of long-term soil productivity
is dependent upon site-specific tailoring of prescriptions.
Complex Soil/Landtype map units that occur within this area are listed below with their major
components. When these complexes are encountered in the field they need to be separated into
the individual units for prescription accuracy.
Map % Unit % Unit % Unit
unit no. no. no.
no.
800 60% 80 40% 92
802 60% 80 40% 82
804 60% 80 40% 54
815 50% 81 50% 55
820 60% 82 40% 80
822 40% 82 40.O/o80 20% 92
828 60% 82 40% 88
829' 60% 82" '40% 89
843 40% 80 40% 54 20% 93
888 50% 80 50% 88
892 60% 89 40% 82
898 50% 89 50% '88
Owl Activity Centers
Treatments within 0.25 miles of owl activity centers will be highly limited unless undergrowth is
considered excessive for foraging owls. This situation exists where undergrowth inhibits owls
from accessing ground-dwelling prey species over 50 percent or more of any particular stand of
40 acres or more. In all cases, at least 25 - 35 percent of a unit will remain untreated to provide
habitat for prey species. Treatments will concentrate on small diameter shrub and tree species
that preclude meeting the 50 percent target.
Treat only ladder fuels within approximately 0.25 miles around known nest sites (approximately
125 acres per site).
·
From 0.25 to approximately 0.5 miles from known nest sites (approximately 377 acres per site)
modified group selection around retention pine and hardwoods is a potential treatment in upland
areas and on slopes with southern exposures. However, retain an average of at least 65percent
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canopy cover within currently suitable habitat, particularly along riparian corridors and on north
slopes.
Treat only ladder fuels within approximately 0.25 miles around known nest sites (approximately
125 acres per site).
From 0.25 to approximately 0.5 miles from known nest sites (approximately 377 acres per site)
modified group selection around retention pine and hardwoods is a potential treatment in upland
areas and on slopes with southern exposures. However, retain an average of at least 65 percent
canopy cover within currently suitable habitat, particularly alOng riparian corridors and on north
slopes. In areas without retention, pine or hardWOod, high pruning, slaSh'ing,' light understory
thinning, and a prescribed fire treatment are recommended. Where appropriate, and only where
necessary to meet ecological objectives, general PAG prescriptions can be employed. As the
strict "core" areas (activity center out to 0.5 miles) may be somewhat dissected by ridges that
support less suitable habitat, retention of suitable habitat is a priority for lower slopes and
riparian areas and less of a priority in areas that historically supported more open and less
suitable habitat.
Canopy may be retained in any canopy layer above 20 feet in height and can be composed of any
conifer or hardwood species. Within area~ that would provide for connectivity 'between nest
sites, such as northerly aspects and riparian corridors, retain an average of at least 65 percent
canopy and retain other habitat characteristics generally considered to be .important for .spotted
owls. Retain a multi-storied canopy where it is available.
Douglas-fir Dwarf Mistletoe
Pruning of lower limbs, although inconclusive as to its effectiveness in Douglas-fir to date, may
be used experimentally to try to limit spread of the parasite. A shifting mosaic of small openings,
each with associated horizontal discontinuity of fuels, can be incorporated into a long term
landscape level wildfire management strategy on an area-wide basis, with the long-term
objective of utilizing prescribed fire in such situations to return this important functional process
to these sites. Where infected overstory Douglas-fir are prioritized for retention, retaining other
species (pines, incense cedar, hardwoods, and less desirably,, white fir) within the immediate
vicinity of the infected tree(s) can be utilized, as a way to limit spread. In younger stands,
uninfected Douglas-fir should be promoted through thinning, while white fir and infected
Douglas-fir can be prioritized for removal. In some situations, retaining a low infection of dwarf
mistletoe (dwarf mistletoe rating of 1-2) may be appropriate and even earmarked for long-term
nest and habitat replacement trees.
Treating Activity Fuels
The type 0i~'presC'hbed 'fire applicati°n is a' ftirictic~n of ~0ad a~c'esd. Th~re'ai-e' aPpr0xim'at~ly 39'
miles of road in the Ashland watershed. Areas within 1,000 feet of a road (downhill side) and
with a consistent aspect are candidates for broadcast underburning. This is estimated at
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approximately 4,700 acres. Site conditions may permit underbuming on units further than 1,000
feet from roads. Areas without road access should have activity fuels less than 6 inches in
diameter hand piled and the piles burned. The actual extent of broadcast burning as a tool to
treat activity fuels will be determined at the implementation phase of the project. Conditions
may permit underburning on units further than 1,000 feet from roads. Areas without road access
should have activity fuels less than 6 inches in diameter hand piled and the piles burned. The
actual extent of broadcast burning as a tool to treat activity fuels will be determined at the
implementation phase of the project.
Hand-piling slash (material greater than 1 inch) can occur, to the'extent that piles do not exceed 5.
to 20 percent of the area (Appendix 8.1). This may require hand piling and burning to take place
in more than one season or piles fed from adjacent piles during active burning.) The objective
here is to limit the area where soil humus and duff are removed, a key to maintaining soil
productivity and surface stability.
Riparian Areas
Riparian areas will commonly have a moist plant association in proximity to the creek and drier
plant associations upslope. The moist plant community along the creek will be a no treatment
area of variable width. The no treatment area will have an additional 50- foot no-treatment
buffer. Above the no treatment area, treatments will gradually increase in intensity so that they
will receive the same treatments as northerly aspects for that PAG provided th~ area is within a
prioritized seleeted setting. Restoration treatments could be planed in riparian habitats within
existing plantations and previously harvested areas where restoration is necessary to address
problems associated with the former timber harvest.
Inventoried Roadless Area.
Management in the McDonald Peak Inventoried Roadless Area will be limited to hand work on
small diameter understory fuels and vegetation and use of prescribed fire in this project.
Cohort 1 Retention
Maximizing Retention of Cohort 1 Trees
This prescription is designed to try to promote and maximize retention of Cohort 1 trees
throughout the project area. This project proposes to reduce fuels and the density of the smaller
trees. Cohorts 2 and 3 would be thinned to re-establish more open forest that retained to the
extent possible the reserve trees of all species within the oldest age cohort in the stand. In some
.ca..s,.es,.i.t may be that some Cohort 2 trees are-found to be more preferred than associated Cohort 1
trees. In those' cases, which should be n/~e, a map 'indiCating l'o'~afibn'with an'associated writfen ·
rationale for removal of the Cohort 1 tree should be recorded and easily verified on-the-ground.
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Around Cohort 1 trees identified for retention, stand density reduction will be employed to
improve vigor of the identified tree, reduce susceptibility to attack from bark beetles and/or
disease, and reduce the potential for damage from wildfire and/or prescribed fire- that is, to
maximize their potential for retention long-term. Stand density reduction should focus on
smaller Cohort 2 and 3 trees first within the immediate vicinity of the retained Cohort 1 tree and
out to a radius equal to 2 crown radii. Complete tree and/or vegetation removal within this
crown radii is not the intention; rather, an overall reduction in stand basal area not to exceed 50
percent of existing basal areas, or a specified basal area target (100 square feet per acre in
Ponderosa Pine and Douglas-fir PAGs; 150 square feet per acre in White Fir PAGs), whichever
.
is greater. Density and spacing of trees left after stand.density reduction can be Ordered,
clumped, or Yariable, ideally, with vegetation and tree removal greatest in downhill directions (or '
in the direction of expected spread in a wildfire event). Ladder fuels within the crown radius of
the preferred Cohort 1 tree are also a priority for removal. In the treatment area around the
preferred Cohort 1 tree, retention of the most vigorous Cohort 1 or 2 trees is desired to reach
target basal areas, with pines particularly preferred.
100 Feet of Basal Area
Number of
Tree Feet of
Trees / 100
Diameter in Basal Area /
Feet Basal
Inches Tree
Area
..
20- 2..2. 45
30 4.9 20
40 8.7 11
50 13.6 7
60 19.6 5
150 Feet of Basal Area
Tree Feet of Number of
Trees / 150
Diameter in Basal Area /
Feet Basal
Inches Tree
Area
20 2.2 68
30 4.9 30
40 8.7 17
50 13.6 11
60 19.6 7
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Prescriptions by Plant Association Group
This plan considers the Plant Association Group the key determiner of the proposed prescription
and prescriptions are therefore described by PAG. The implementation of prescriptions across
treatment setting types (Category/priority) must identify and map the PAG, because the
treatment setting types contain a mix of plant association groups in most cases. The general
guidelines are provided here, meant to apply in most situations. Stand level inventory should be
used to identify site specific prescriptions during the implementation phase. Individual site
differences may suggest s. light prescription changes during the implementation phase to more
accurately reflect the inherent heterogeneity of site conditions Within and among the treatment
units arrayed across 'the watershed.
Oregon White Oak PAG
Oregon white oak- Hedgehog do.qtail plant association
This plant association may be in a resilient condition that represents Category 1, but most stands
to be treated occur as inclusions within the Dry Douglas-fir PAG in the maps we used for
delineating selected treatment areas, and most will likely need to be treated.
Remove all conifers and other vegetation around reserve pine and hardwood spec!es (modified
group'selectioni. 'There v~ill be cases where trees-of the same sPecies are growing closely
together and-. functioning as one tree.. Whero this occurs the clump will bb treated as a single tree
and be a priority for retention.
During selection of trees to thin, reserve white oak and black oak greater than 8 inches DBH.
Reserve madrone greater than 16 inches DBH: Reserve ponderosa pine with live crown ratiOs
greater than 25 percent. Remove Douglas-fir within four crown radii of reserve trees if this can
be done without damaging the reserved tree. In larger, remnant oaks (> 12 inches dbh), removal
of competing oaks in two crown radii is desired, if this can be accomplished without damaging
the oak to be retained.
Exception 1: Some pines or large hardwoods with a live crown.ratio less than 15 percent
will have Douglas-fir removed within 2 crown radii. These trees are candidates for
future snag recruitment if additional snags are perceived to be needed in the future.
Exception 2: Douglas-fir greater than 16 inches DBH, representing individuals that may
be part of Cohort 1 in this setting, with greater than a 40 percent live crown ratio will be
retained.
· Other vegetation greater than 1 inch in diameter at 1 foot above ground level will be severed
"(slashed). St~ub'spedies and residual'Douglas'-fir Will b~ slashed except ih thosb ar'ea's retained
for habitat considerations. Retain pine less than 7 inches dbh. To maintain structural, species,
age class and habitat diversity, occasional untreated patches of various size up to 5 percent of the
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 65 F~~
area can be retained in those areas that do not compromise wildfire management goals and/or
potential future application of prescribed fire. Spacing guidelines will be developed on a site
specific basis at the time of implementation.
Treat existing fuels and activity fuels with a broadcast bum wherever possible. If a 'broadcast
bum is not possible, hand pile and burn. In broadcast burn areas, use ignition pattern that reduces
flame intensity near smaller hardwoods and pine. Do not hand pile (where possible) within 10
feet of retained hardwoods and pines.
Restore nat'i've grass comPonent. Blue wild rye and California fescue recommended.
.-
· .
A second vegetation treatment may be needed within 5 years.
Ponderosa Pine PAG
Ponderosa pine - Douglas-fir plant association
Desired relative density: 0.2 to 0.4
This plant association may be in a resilient conditidn that represents Category 1, but. most stands
are in a Category 2 condition, . with stands to be treated.occurring' as inclusions within the Dry
Douglas-fir PAG in the maps we used for delineating selected treatment areas. This PAG is a
valuable part of the Category 2 priorities in our fuel discontinuity network. Maintenance of the
veteran pine and opening and re-establishing horizontal discontinuity of tree crowns is desired.
Reserve white oak and black oak greater than 8 inches DBH. Reserve madrone greater than 16
inches dbh. Reserve pine species and incense cedar with live crown ratios greater than 25
percent. Remove Douglas-fir within four crown radii of reserve trees, if this can be done without
damaging the reserved tree.
Exception 1: Some pines or large hardwoods with a live crown ratio less than 15 Percent
will have Douglas-fir removed within 2 crown radii if a future need for snags is
perceived.
Exception 2: Douglas-fir with greater than 40 percent live crown ratio will be retained.
Slash shrub species and residual Douglas-fir except in those areas retained for habitat
considerations. Retain pine less than 7 inches dbh. To maintain structural, species, age class and
habitat diversity, occasional untreated patches of various size up to 5 percent of the area can be
retained in those areas that do not compromise wildfire management goals and/or successful .
·" ..... application of'pr'es~rib~d fil:e. 'Spacihg guidelineS Will be develoPed or/a Site-specific'basis at the
time of implementation.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~OREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 66 F~I
Treat existing fuels and activity fuels with a broadcast bum wherever possible. If a broadcast
burn is not possible, hand pile and burn. In broadcast bum areas, use ignition pattern that reduces
flame intensity near smaller hardwoods and pine. Do not hand pile (where possible) within 10
feet of retained hardwoods and pines.
Restore native grass component. Blue wild rye and California rescue recommended.
In areas where shrubs are not desired, a second vegetation treatment may be needed within 5
years.
; . .
Dry Douglas-fir PAG
Douglas-fir-Incense cedar/Piper's Oregongrape plant association
Douglas-fir-Ponderosa Pine/Poison oak plant association
Douglas-fir/Dry shrub plant association
1. Southerly and Westerly Aspects
Desired relative density: 0.3 to 0.5
This PAG is an important part of Our fuel discontinuity network, extensively represented in high
priority treatment ~eitin. gs of Category 2 (priority 4). Maintenance of the reserve pine and.
Douglas-fir in these stands, and opening and re-establishing horizontal discontinuity of tree
crowns is desired.
Reserve black oak greater than 8' inches DBH, and ponderosa and sugar pine, incense cedar with
live crown ratios greater than 25 percent. Douglas-fir with crown ratios over 30 percent are also
reserved. Remove Douglas-fir within three crown radii of reserve trees if this can be done
without damaging the reserved tree.
Exception 1' Some sugar pine, incense cedar, or large hardwoods with a live crown ratio
less than 15 percent will have Douglas-fir and white fir removed within 1 crown radius if
a future need for snags is perceived. These trees are candidates for future snag
recruitment.
Exception 2' Douglas-fir greater than 16 inches DBH, representing individuals that may
be part of Cohort 1 in this setting, with greater than a 40 percent live crown ratio will be
retained.
When thinning Douglas-fir, thin from below. Spacing for leave trees will be the result of
............ analy,sis.of stand data collected in thefield from individual units. Thin to retain trees, with the
best live crown ratios' ~hat'wi'll moSt rapidly o~CupY thb ~ite, an'd grdwing in microsit~§ that may
confer a degree of protection from a ground fire. There will be cases where trees of the same
species are growing closely together and functioning as one tree. Where this occurs the clump
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng~lept-admin~FORES'BCWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 67 Fi~li~~
will be treated as a single tree and be a priority for retention. Clumping of leave trees is
permitted as long as canopy closure exceeds 40 percent on south slopes.
Slash shrubs, white fir, and other residual conifers except in those areas retained for habitat
considerations. Retain unthinned patches (up to 5 percent of the area) in areas where they will
not preclude meeting prescribed burning operations or in places where wildfire suppression
objectives would be compromised. Recommended areas for shrub retention are areas that are to
be handpiled and burned or the lower portion of broadcast burn areas.
2. Nortl~erly Aspects
Desired relative density: 0.4 to 0.6
Thinning in stages may be particularly appropriate in this PAG which is a primary component of
the priority 5 treatment setting. Dense stands have good vertical discontinuity and wildfire
management benefits if they can be i-etained without significant density and bark beetle
mortality.
Hardwoods, pine and cedar will be treated as described above for southerly aspects. When
thinning Douglas-fir, trees in cohorts 3 and 2 will be prioritized for removal.
3. All Aspects
-.
Retain pine less than 8 inches dbh. Slash other vegetation less than 7 inches dbh.
Treat existing fuels and activity fuels with a broadcast bum wherever possible. If a broadcast
bum is not possible, hand pile and burn. InbrOadcast buTM areas, use ignition pattern, that reduces ·
flame intensity near smaller hardwoods and pine. Do not hand pile (where possible) within 10
feet of retained hardwoods and pines.
Restore native grass component. California fescue, meadow fescue, western fescue and rough
bluegrass are recommended.
Moist Douglas-fir PAG
Douglas-fir-White fir plant association
Douglas-fir-white fiflCreepin.q snowberry plant association
Douglas-fir-Canyon liveoak/Poisonoak plant association
Plant associations in this PAG follow a moisture gradient from dry to warm and can be identified
with a field inventory at implementation: ..... .....
..
· .
Douglas-fir-white fir/Creeping snowberry plant association
Douglas-fir-Canyon liveoak/Poisonoak plant association
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20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
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GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES'l-XCWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 68 Fi~~
Recommended treatments are the same as for the dry Douglas-fir PAG. Douglas-fir is a priority
for retention over white fir.
Douglas-fir-White fir plant association
This plant association can be identified by the presence of incense cedar and golden chinquapin
as understory trees.
1. Southerly Aspects
Desired relative density: 0.3 to 0.5
Reserve golden chinquapin and other hardwoods, except madrone, greater than 8 inches dbh.
Madrone greater than 16 inches dbh is reserved. Sugar pine, ponderosa pine, and incense cedar
with live crown ratios greater than 25 percent also reserved. Remove Douglas-fir and white fir
within two crown radii of reserve trees if this can be done Without damaging the reserved tree.
Exception 1' Some pines or large hardwoods with a live crown ratio less than 15 percent
will have Douglas-fir and white fir removed within 1 crown radius. These trees are
candidates for future snag recruitment if additional snags are perceived to be needed in
the future.
·
·
· .Exception 2: Douglas-fir greater than 16 inehes DBH, representing individuals that may
be part of Cohort 1 in this setting, with greater than a 40 percent live crown ratio will be
retained.
Slash shrubs, white fir, and other residual conifers except in .those areas retained for habitat
considerations. Retain unthinned patches (not greater up to 5 percent of the area) in areas where
they will not preclude meeting prescribed burning operations or in places where wildfire
suppression objectives would be compromised. Recommended areas for shrub retention are
areas that are to be handpiled and burned or the lower portion of broadcast bum areas.
2. Northerly aspects
Desired relative density: 0.4 to 0.6
Hardwoods, pine and cedar will be treated as described above for southerly aspects. When
thinning Douglas-fir or white fir, trees in cohort 3 and 2 will be prioritized for removal.
3. All Aspects
Retain pine less than 8 inches dbh. Retain madrone greater than 16 inches dbh. Slash other
vegetation less than 7 inches dbh. Treat existing fuels and activity fuels with a broadcast bum
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~OREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 69 F~~
wherever possible. If a broadcast burn is not possible, hand pile and bum. In broadcast burn
areas, use ignition pattern that reduces flame intensity near smaller hardwoods and pine. Do not
hand pile (where possible) within 10 feet of retained hardwoods and pines.
Dry White fir PAG
White fir-Douglas-fir/Baldhip rose plant association
White fir/Creeping snowberry plant association
·
·
This plant association can be identified by the presence of large overstory pine and Douglas-fir,
and golden chinquapin as an understory tree. Forests in this plant association have a higher
potential than warmer and dryer PAGs to support habitat for late-successional dependent species
such as the spotted owl and retain this habitat over time.
These forests were also more likely to experience patches of high. severity fire events.
Manage for higher site occupancy by Douglas-fir compared with white fir unless precluded by
mistletoe considerations.
Retention of large hardwoods other than chinquapin will become more difficult in higher
elevations due to snow load.
. .
1. Southerly Aspects
Desired relative density: 0.3 to 0.6 (0.3 in areas of higher wildfire management priority or to
promote pines). ..
Reserve golden chinquapin greater than 8 inches dbh. Sugar pine, ponderosa pine, with live
crown ratios greater than 25 percent also reserved. Remove Douglas-fir and white fir within two
crown radii of reserve trees if this can be done without damaging the reserved tree.
Exception 1'. Some pines or large hardwoods .with a live crown ratio less than 15percent.
will have Douglas-fir and white fir removed within 1 crown radius. These trees are
candidates for future snag recruitment if additional snags are perceived to be :needed in
the future.
Exception 2' Douglas-fir greater than 16 inches DBH, representing individuals that may
be part of Cohort 1 in this setting, with greater than a 40 percent live crown ratio will be
retained.
Slash shrubs, white fir, and other residual conifers except in those areas retained for habitat
"considemt'i°ns. P(et~in Un~hinned p'~tChes ~ip to 5 percent Of the are~)' ih 'are/ts Where'the~, will '
not preclude meeting prescribed burning operations or in places where wildfire suppression
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks~eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 70 F~,~'~
objectives would be compromised. Recommended areas for shrub retention are areas that are to
be handpiled and burned or the lower portion of broadcast burn areas.
2. Northerly Aspects
Desired relative density: 0.4 to 0.6
Hardwoods, pine and cedar will be treated as described above for southerly aspects. When
thinning Douglas-fir-or white fir, trees' in cohort 3 and 2 Will be prioritized for removal.
3. All Aspects
Retain pine less than 8 inches dbh. Retain madrone greater than 16 inches dbh. Slash other
· vegetation less than 7 inches dbh. Broadcast burn wherever possible. If a broadcast bum is not
possible, hand pile and burn. In broadcast bum areas, do not light near smaller hardwoods
hardwoods and pine. Do not hand pile (where possible) within 10 feet of retained hardwoods
and pines.
·
Moist White fir PAG
· ..
White fir-Incense cedar/Western starflower plant association
White fir/Dwarf Oregongrape plant association
White fir/Dwarf Oregon~ape/Westem twinflower plant association
These forests were more likely to experience at least patches of high severity fire events. Forests
in this PAG have the potential to support habitat for late-successional dependent species such as
the spotted owl and retain this habitat over time. Forests in this-PAG also have the potential for a
high severity fire event.
Retention of large hardwoods other than chinquapin will become more difficult in higher
elevations due to snow load.
1. Southerly Aspects
Desired relative density 0.3 to 0.6
Reserve black oak and white oak greater than 8 inches DBH and sugar pine and incense cedar
with live crown ratios greater than 25 percent. Remove Douglas-fir and white fir within 2 crown
.radii of these trees if it can be done without damaging the .retention tree.
.
Exception 1: Some sugar pine, incense cedar, or large hardwoods with a live crown ratio
less than 15 percent will have Douglas-fir and white fir removed within 1 crown radius.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~OREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 71 F~'~
These trees are candidates for future snag recruitment if additional snags are iperceived to
be needed in the future.
Exception 2: Douglas-fir greater than 16 inches DBH, representing individuals that may
be part of Cohort 1 in this setting, with greater than a 40 percent live crown ratio will be
retained.
2. Northerly As. pect. s
Desired relative density 0.4 'to 0.7 . -
Hardwoods, pine and cedar will be treated as described above for southerly aspects. When
thinning Douglas-fir or white fir, trees in cohort 3 and 2 will be prioritized for removal.
3. All Aspects
Retain uncut patches of shrubs (up to 5 percent of the area) where they will not preclude meeting
prescribed burning operations or in places where wildfire suppression objectives would be
compromised. Pacific yew is reserved. Areas containing Pacific yew and Pacific dogwood are
candidates for no treatment. Areas that are to be handpiled and burned would be favored for
shrub retention or. the l'ower porti~)n oi~broadcast bum areas. "
Retain incense cedar and pine less than 8 inches dbh. Slash other vegetation less than 7 inches
dbh. In broadcast burn areas, do not light near smaller hardwoods and pine. Do not hand pile or
light near Pacific yew. Do not hand pile (where possible) within 10 feet of retained hardwoods
and pines. Broadcast burn where road access permits; otherwise hand pile and bum the piles.
Cool White Fir PAG
White fir-Shasta red fid. Common prince's pine-Threeleaf anemone plant association
Desired relative density: 0.4 to 0.7
This plant association can be characterized by the beginning emergence of Shasta Red Fir as an
integral part of existing stands, particularly as an overstory species. Shasta Red Fir is more
tolerant of frequent, low-to-moderate intensity fire than its primary vegetation associate in this
PAG, white fir, due to characteristics such as thicker bark, elevated foliage, large size, greater
longevity and increased resistance to root disease common in these plant associations.
..
· .
· ..
"The'absence $'f-fi~:e has'dompromi'sed the 10ng'term viability'ff l'afg~'0~vCrstor5, Shasta'Red Fir
and occasional large sugar and ponderosa pines that occur on upper south and west slopes. Plot
data suggests that over twice as many trees per acre (largely white fir) occur in this PAG as in
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
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G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~OREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 72 F~,~I
any other PAG in the project area. Retention of large hardwoods other than chinquapin will
become more difficult in higher elevations due to snow load. South and west aspects and
ridgelines in this PAG, designated priority 6 in the treatment grid, are the highest priority for
treatment. Northerly aspects in this PAG were relegated to priority 10.
1. All Aspects
Reserve golden .chinquapin greater than 8 inches dbh and Shasta red fir and pine with live crown
'ratios greater than 25 percent.-Remove Douglas-fir and white fir within 2 crown radii of these
trees if this can be accomplished without/damaging the retention tree.
Spacing for thinning will be determined on a site-specific basis at the time of implementation.
Shasta red fir, pines and Douglas-fir are priorities for retention over white fir.
Exception 1' Some sugar pine, incense cedar, or large hardwoods with a live crown ratio
less than 15 percent will have Douglas-fir and white fir removed within 1 crown radius.
These trees are candidates for future snag recruitment if additional snags are perceived to
be needed in the future.
Exception 2: Douglas-fir greater than 16 inches DBH, representing individuals that may
be part of Cohort 1 in this setting, with greater than a 40 percent live crown ratio will be
retained.
Understory thinning should be heaviest on the downhill side of preferred overstory Shasta red fir
and pines in order to minimize impacts during a wildfire event. Retain uncut patches of shrubs
(up to 5 percent of the area) where they will not preclude meeting prescribed burning operations
or in places where wildfire suppression Objectives would be compromised. Pacific yew is
reserved. Areas containing Pacific yew and Pacific dogwood are candidates for no treatment.
Areas that are to be handpiled and burned would be favored for shrub retention or the lower
portion of broadcast bum areas.
Retain Shasta red fir, incense cedar, and pine less than 8 inches dbh: Slash other vegetation less
than 7 inches dbh. In broadcast bum areas, do not light near smaller hardwoods and pine. Do
not hand pile or light near Pacific yew. Do not hand pile (where possible) within 10 feet of
retained hardwoods and pines. Broadcast bum where road access permits, otherwise hand pile
and burn the piles.
Small Diameter Thinning and Surface Fuels Reduction
Previously Harvested Areas (Clearcuts and plantations)..
Plantations, priority 3 among the treatment settings, were considered strategic areas to thin
within Category 3. Individual project areas should be subdivided into four units, each
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20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORESTXCWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 73 F~'~
representing a variation in spacing: 30 percent regular spacing, 30 percent wide spacing, 30
percent variable spacing, and 10 percent no treatment. Each will have to be flagged on the
ground.
Regular spacing will thin conifers on a 15-foot by 15-foot spacing and hardwoods on a 20-foot
by 20-foot spacing. Criteria for hardwood spacing will be as follows:
Sprouting hardwood stumps with more than 3 sprouts shall be cut back to three sprouts. Criteria
· ~ for selecting which. 3 sprouts to leave shall be prioritized as follows:
..
1." Largest'diameters at2 feet above ground level. ·
2. Best-formed, straightest, and with the best developed crowns.
3. Originates closest to ground level.
Wide spacing will thin conifers on 30 by 30 foot spacing and hardwoods on 40 by 40 foot
spacing. Wide spacings ideally should be placed on the gentler/more stable slope locations.
Other treatments will be as listed for regular spacing. Hand pile and burn all activity fuels.
Any vigorous pine (ponderosa or sugar) or hardwoods greater than 12 inches dbh will have all
vegetation within their drip lines slashed. Vigorous pine is defined as pine with at least 30
percent live crown ratio. Vigorous hardwoods are those with a minimum of 25 percent live
crown ratio.
All other vegetation greater than 1 'inch in diameter at 1 foot above ground level will be slashed,
piled, and the piles burned.
Understor¥ Treatments (partial cut areas, including shaded fuel breaks)
Understory cohorts will be retained where they occur as a result of a canopy gap. Treatments
will be the same as listed for young stand management. Where understory cohorts are not
associated with a canopy gap, ladder fuels will be removed over time and burned as per soils
recommendations. Many of these areas currently have wildfire management benefits and are
listed as high priority for treatment.
Specific Management Recommendations
Either trees to be removed or trees to be taken will be marked on the ground.
The no-treatment areas in the Riparian Reserve will be flagged, posted, and painted.
............ - 'Preferred retain trees'of any species,' are're~erved'contmcttralty. A damage etat~se, for-these trees -.
should be made part of the timber sale contract.
The Ashland Watershed Protection Project should be completed.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin\FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 74
Monitoring
We feel that monitoring is of the utmost importance. Adaptive management is the only strategy
that makes sense for this watershed.
Some preliminary thoughts on monitoring are included as Appendix 8.4. Much more effort will
be incorporated into the monitoring plan, and a final plan will be developed over the next few
months.
References
Amaranthus, Michael P., Raymond M. Rice, Nicholas R. Barr, and Robert Ziemer, 1985.
Logging and Forest Roads Related to Increased Debris Slides in Southwest Oregon,
Journal of Forestry, April 1985 pages 229-233.
Ashland Forest Lands Commission 2003, City Forest Lands Restoration Project Phase II, 36 p.
Ashland Watershed Stewardship Alliance 1999. Draft Comment and Proposal for the Ashland
watershed Protection Project, 114p.
.. Lindenmayer, D.B. and J.F. Franklin: 2002. Conserving Forest Biodiversity: A Comprehensive..
Multiscale Approach. Island Press. Washington, D.C.
McDonald, Philip M. 1990. California Black Oak: in Silvics of North America. Volume 2
Hardwoods. Agriculture Handbook 654 Washington DC: U.S. Department of
Agriculture. Pages 661 -671.
Rothermel, R.C. 1983. How to Predict the Spread and Intensity of Forest and Range Fires.
USDA For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-143. Ogden, UT.
..
USDA Forest Service. 1996. Mount Ashland Late-Successional Reserve Assessment. Rogue
Rivet' and Klamath National Forests. Medford, OR, and Yreka, CA.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
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G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 75 F~~
Appendix
Appendix 8.1
CITY OF
4kSHLAND
April 30, 2004
Linda Duffy, District Ranger
Ashland Ranger District
645 Washington Street
Ashland, Oregon 97520
RE:
Scoping comments for Ashland Forest Resiliency Project with a recommended
Community "Third" Alternative, and Phase I Ashland Community Wildfire
Protection Plan
..
Dear Ms. Duffy: -
The Ashland Forest Lands Commission and the undersigned organizations and
individuals submit the following scoping comments for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National
Forest's proposed Environmental Impact Statementfor the Ashland Forest Resiliency Project
(AFR). As part of our comments, we offer an alternative that we urge you to accept for
consideration and analysis as a third alternative.
Each of us are vitally interested in land management decisions on National Forest System
lands administered by the Forest Service, particularly those locatedwithin the Upper Bear
Assessment area.. We are pleased that the agency has decided to prepare an. Environmental
Impact Statement rather than relying on an Environmental Assessment on this proposed action.
We concur with the Forest Service's determination that both the scale and scope of the potential
impacts of this proposal constitute a major federal action that is likely to significantly affect the
quality of the human environment.
The City of Ashland would like to be more closely involved in the planning, decision
making and implementation of management activities in the Ashland Watershed. The City has
clearly shown its ability to act collaboratively and produce sound professional outcomes on the
ground. Our recent experience with. the City Forest.. Lands Restoration Project.- Phase.2
· pmdused a 3'r6j$ct that is l~o[h'ecol0gi~afly sound and eC6nomf~all'y efficient'.' The City has' a' '
long history of committed public involvement in forest land issues and this is reflected in the
significant professional expertise within its paid staff, volunteers, and committed citizens. A
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488.-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~OREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 76
revitalized arrangement between the City and the Forest Service is needed that integrates this
reality in a way that can improve forest management in the watershed, build social capital, foster
a sense of responsibility and ownership within the community, and enhance workable
connections with a sometimes distant federal land manager.
Fuel reduction considerations in the Ashland Watershed must address many interrelated
issues. The naturally high levels of variation in forest conditions, the elevated and reduced fire
hazard due to successional dynamics and past management actions, increased ignition sources,
critical wildlife habitats and other biodiversity considerations, the imperative to protect water
quality,-and the uncertain effects of various management actions are all .important. In
recognition of th'ese entwined factors, we believe the-conceptual alternative outlined below offers
a scientifically sound basis for meeting the AFR purpose and need.
Our recommended "third" alternative was developed in a collaborative process involving
the Ashland Forest Lands Commission, City of Ashland, Headwaters, Klamath-Siskiyou
Wildland Center, Ashland Watershed Stewardship Alliance, World Wildlife Fund, as well as
independent local consultants. We drew upon the understanding developed during past
community collaborations.
This proposal meets the stated Purpose and Need of-the Ashland Forest Resiliency
Project. The stated Need is "for urgent reduction of large-scale, high intensity wildland fire in
the Upper Bear Analysis Area." The stated Purpose "...is to protect values at risk, reduce crown
fire potential and obtain conditions that are more resilient to wildland fires."
,
This proposal meets the Purpose and Need by creation of more open stand structure and
reduction in 'vertical continuity (i.e. ladder fuels) in areas most appropriate (based on plant
associations) for this type of treatment. It proposes stand density reduction to create a more fire
resilient landscape while maintaining a high level of structural heterogeneity across the
landscape.
'Our proposal offers a different approach to restoring fire in the project area - the
establishment of fire resistant patches to restore landscape-scale resiliency. Implementation of
our recommended management approach would result in an immediate reduction in the risk of
large-scale, high intensity wildland fire in the project area. Our proposal tackles head-on the
landscape homogenization of fuels that has resulted fi.om past management activities. Its
underlying design concept is restoration of heterogeneity in the watershed.
We propose to reestablish landscape-scale habitat patchiness through a "fuel
discontinuity network" (FDN), rather than creation of swaths that pass through a mix of stand
conditions and plant associations (i.e., DFPZs). We believe this strategy will offer significantly
more positive ecological benefits than would the proposal outlined in your scoping notice. The
estimated acreage and locations to be treated pursuant to our proposal easily can be
approximated with access, to Forest Service proprietary GIS data.(.see attachment A). However, a.
cor/iplete spafihli~ expli~i't ihg~r/t0/'y'; aR' disbti§sed'bel0w; Will be n'e~cess~i'y for dex/61opm¢fi't of.
an implementation plan.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES'i'~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 77
The legal time constraints imposed by the current process, while well-intentioned, have
made the proper compilation of this community proposal a challenge. Even though there may be
an element or two that is deficient, there has been an outstanding level of good science and
dutiful hard work by some very able members of our community. We would hope that this
unprecedented collaboration would not be negated by some minor process requirement.
Recommendation for a Third Alternative
ComPlete a spatially explicit.inventory of vegetation and soil conditions in the
Ashland Watershed. "
First and foremost, ecologically sound planning in the Ashland Watershed requires a
much better site-specific inventory of vegetation, potential fuels, and soil conditions than
currently is available. We believe a spatially explicit inventory must be conducted before an
informed proposal can be placed on the ground. It is not necessary to do an intensive inventory
with fixed plots. Air photo interpretation can identify similar stand types and a walk-through
inventory with trained personnel would be sufficient for characterizing each polygon. Critical
data to be collected include plant association, stand structure, relative density, species
composition by canopy class, basal area, shrub and herbaceous cover, as well as anthropogenic
ignition sources ~sueh as roads, homes, trails, campgrounds, etc).
Completion of this inventory need not preclude timely implementation of this project. A
prelimihary time estimate foi' this wm:k is roughly 140 field day equivalents and an6ther 70 day
equivalents for analysis and development of GIS layers. This equates to approximately' 12 work.
months. A crew of four qualified individuals could accomplish the fieldwork this summer (June,
July, and August), complete the office work by the end of October, and the detailed design for
on-the-ground treatments could be completed by the end of this year. Implementation could
begin in early 2005.' Ground truthing is essential for this. project.' Data obtained from satellite
imagery and aerial photos are not sufficiently accurate, unless coupled with a walk-through
inventory.
II.
Focus inventory and treatment on the dry plant associations (ponderosa pine, dry
Douglas fir, and dry white fir series)
The Ashland watershed includes a diverse array of vegetation types and stand conditions.
Some areas currently are outside the natural range of variability in terms of fuel loadings, stand
structures and other forest attributes, whereas others have changed relatively little. However, fire
regimes in the region have not been shown to have a central tendency, so condition class
concepts are questionable. In general, the drier plant associations - those in the ponderosa pine
and dry Douglas-fir series - should be the first priority for inventory and treatment. 'These sites
are most at risk from high severity fire, and therefore are the highest priority for strategic fuels
reduction work.
"' ...."' 'ihgen[oi:~/arid/inalysis described in item I ('ab6ve) also Should'cover the more productive
moist plant associations (white fir series) located at middle elevations (approximately 3,000 to
5,000 feet elevation). While treatment priorities should be heavily weighted toward areas within
·
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 78 F~I
dry plant associations, particular circumstances may warrant immediate action in strategic
locations in the moist forest types as well. For example, where remnant stands of large/old fire-
resistant pines are found to be at high risk of loss to fire or insects, attempting to control these
disturbances may become a high priority. Work may be necessary in moist plant associations
determined to be outside natural variability range, however careful planning is critical and must
recognize that mesic plant associations, naturally are dense and adapted to a different fire regime.
Last, our proposal would focus work within the Ashland Municipal Watershed before moving
into other areas covered in the 2003 Upper Bear Assessment. The Ashland Municipal Watershed
is the priority.
..
· .
·
III. Establish a Fuel Discontinuity Network (FDN)
While compartmentalization may be an appropriate conceptual approach for fire hazard
reduction in 'the Ashland Watershed, we believe it should be based to the greatest extent possible
on natural landscape and vegetative features rather than artificially engineered linear swaths that
pass through a mix of stand conditions and plant associations. This approach would take
advantage of the existing heterogeneity in the watershed, and where necessary, create additional
discontinuity in fuels (both horizontally and vertically) to establish a fuel discontinuity network
(FDN) and thereby reduce landscape-scale fire hazard. Such an approach would achieve
variability in fuel density across the landscape while treating the least number of acres necessary
in order to address the purpose and need effectively. In establishing the FDN, we propose a
d..esign using the following principles:
lo
Identify and use all features that currently have lower potential i~or.crown fire as the initial
starting or anchor points for compartmentalizing fuels in the watershed. This may include
natural openings, meadows, relatively open ridgetops, moist riparian areas, and areas where
management has temporarily reduced crown fire potential. These areas would serve as the
cornerstone for re-establishing more landscape-level patchiness in fuels and vegetation
conditions, assuming adequate maintenance occurs.
.
Identify and implement fuel reduction treatments in those areas .where relatively little
resource investment may be able to create relatively fire-resistant stand conditions. This
may include low-productivity sites with relatively little encroachment of small trees, dry
. plant associations on south and west aspects, open stands dominated by large conifers or
hardwoods. Targeting initial work, as needed, in these areas will maximize the area to be
treated with available funds and personnel, and thereby provide the greatest opportunity to
quickly reduce fuels and restore ecosystem function at larger spatial scales.
3. Identify and implement treatments in those areas that occupy a strategic geographic position
in the landscape relative to # 1 and #2 sites, and/or are in close proximity to areas of high
resource value that are at high risk of loss due to disturbance processes (e.g., sensitive
species locations, key wildlife habitats, areas determined by risk assessment to have high
ignition potential, etc.) Strategic selection of these areas to include in the fire-resistant
.... netv~°~:k of'phtChbs'is based. bn their ab'ility tO disprd~ortidflatel'~'influ'rncb'wildfir6 spread or"
the risk of losing key resource values to fire or other disturbance. Included in these areas are
excessively dense stands that are at high risk of insect-related mortality. Density reduction
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks~eng\dept-admin~FORES'l'~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 79 Fil~l
through thinning of intermediate and suppressed trees that act as ladder fuels can build stand
resistance while increasing vertical discontinuity of fuels.
The outcome of strategically prioritizing fuel reduction work in these areas would be a
network of fire-resistant patches in dry and moist plant associations that provide fuel
discontinuities across the project area, thereby reducing the landscape risk of crown fire without
imposing undue risk to currently important habitats and remaining high-integrity areas.
IV.
Where landscape-scale fuel reduction is determined to be most strategic (i.e., those
sites identified pursuant to. III, above), plan treatments that recognize and foster
'natural variability, pose the least risk to resource values and facilitate the
restoration of fire as a key ecosystem process.
Both thinning and prescribed fire are potentially legitimate tools for fuels reduction -
each has its own set of risks, limitations, and benefits. While thinning may be successfully used
to reduce potential fire hazard at the stand level, it cannot replicate many of the important
ecological effects of fire. Where it 'can be emplOyed with acceptable levels of risk, prescribed
fire should be considered the preferred tool in creating more fire-resilient stand conditions.
Furthermore, fire prescriptions should be designed to maximize ecological benefits and should
be sensitive to soils resources (e.g., broadcast burning over approaches that concentrate effects
on soils, and fall burning to reduce the impact on ground layer species critical to soil retention).
Careful use of seasonal opportunities during which weather conditions precludes the possibility
of crown' fire can expand the'options f6r us~ of fire as a primary treatment. However, we believe
that many areas Will need thinning Or other.fuel treatment befor.e fire safely.can be .introduced..
Once some fuels reduction further reduces the risk of crown fire, then prescribed fire should be
used to maintain more fire-resilient conditions across the landscape.
Decisions about the use of mechanical treatments must be based on site-specific
conditions and weighed against the potential for short-term impacts and the long-term likelihood
of accomplishing overall objectives. It is clear, however, that mechanical treatments will be
most appropriate in areas where: 1) reintroduction of fire is infeasible or likely to be detrimental,
and 2) the risks of adverse environmental impacts associated with mechanical treatment are
relatively low. Within these areas, we suggest the following as a basis for this alternative:
Focus on removal of small, suppressed and intermediate trees, particularly of shade
tolerant species that have become more abundant as a result of fire suppression and
past logging. Tree removal should be based on the twin goals of reducing the
likelihood of crown fires and opening prescription windows such that fire
subsequently can be more safely applied.
Protect large and old trees. This could be achieved by managing for higher stand
occupancy by pine species, hardwoods and large Douglas-fir. These important
lega.eies are disappearing rapidly from the landscape.and are biologically valuable
from a k, arie~y o'f l~er~pective~. ' Stand density reduction With subsequent'slash ..........
treatment around healthy large pines should be a high priority, particularly below 5000
feet elevation.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept.adrnin\FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 80 F~~
In those areas where thinning or other fuels reduction (e.g., broadcast burning,
chipping, pile burning) are desired, create more open stand structures in those forest
types and topographic settings where such conditions would be expected under a
natural disturbance regime (e.g., dry plant associations on south and west aspects,
upper third slope positions and other low productivity sites) so as to contribute to the
landscape-scale restoration of habitat heterogeneity in the watershed.
Vertical discontinuity should be enco. uraged through light thinning-from-below of
intermediate and suppressed trees. To maxi-mize effects on reducing crown fire
potential, 'understory treatment should focus on reducing high rates of surface heating.
Manage for naturally high levels of heterogeneity by tailoring prescriptions to
different plant associations. Tree density, species composition and other key attributes
range widely between different forest types and even within associations. This natural
variation should be recognized and incorporated in. to development of prescriptions.
No single prescription or treatment should be applied widely in a uniform fashion.
Snag and down log numbers need additional analysis. The current proposal says the
Forest Plan will be followed'. The Northwest Forest Plan objectives for the Klamath
Province still officially are set at 120 feet of down wood per acre, everywhere, all the
time. Snag .and down log numbers are not constant across plant.communities; rather,
they are a function-of site productivity and the disturbance regime. They are different
in di-fferent plant series. The target numbers must reflect this ecological reality,.the
needs of specific indicator species, and the important contribution made by coarse
woody material to maintenance of soil stability.
Balance' the goal of more open forest structures with the protection of existing late-
seral forests. For example, late-seral stands in the drier plant associations most likely
will not have high canopy closures as they will be dominated by pine and hardwoods.
Whereas, forests in more productive plant associations will have high canopy closures.
Reduce fuels generated as a result of mechanical treatments. Surface fuels should be
-reduced with prescribed fire, pile burning, and chipping rather than machine crushing
or piling (which are more likely to result in adverse effects).
Protect and enhance soil resources by employing low-impact silvicultural systems.
Standards should be implemented that avoid compaction, and maintain soil cover and
organics through the use of down logs. Prevent invasion of exotic species by ensuring
equipment does not introduce seed to the site. Achieving these goals should be given
serious consideration as a core part of the planning of treatments.
. · .Pro. tect ecol.ogical[y'sensi.tive,.areas, including.areas .with highly erosi.ve..oruCst..able'
soils, steep slopes, riparian areas and rare/unique communities. These sites are more
likely to be adversely affected by mechanical treatments and often are local hotspots
for biodiversity.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 81 F~I
V. Incorporate research and monitoring as essential components of this alternative.
There are substantial areas of uncertainty - both in theory and practice - surrounding the
restoration of fire-adapted ecosystems and reduction in crown fire potential. We have a great
deal to learn about the ecological effects of various restoration treatments and how they can be
most effectively implemented to produce desired outcomes. Thus, well-designed multiparty
monitoring programs [pursuant to HFRA section 102(g)(5)] should be built into this proposal so
that we can learn as we go. Quantitative monitoring should be ongoing to assess project layout
and impfementafi°n and ev. aluate treatment effects across a variety of different stand types
(similar to how the City has discussed' "landscape units" in its planning).
While much can be gained from a well-designed program of monitoring, some basic
research also is critically important. Research programs should be developed to study the
effectiveness of fuels reduction treatments. Where possible, projects should be designed as
experiments with replicates and controls to test alternative hypotheses. New understanding
resulting from these efforts should then be used to adjust subsequent restoration activities,
enabling an adaptive management approach. Our proposal would take advantage of the Ashland
Research Natural Area as an excellent opportunity to monitor experimental and ecologically
sensitive forest management strategies designed to restore more fire resistance and resiliency.
To maximize the opportunities for such research it may be necessary to update the RNA plan.
in addition, it is critical thai thee Forest Service elevate priority for action in this project fo
the highest level. This means is it critical that the project receive priority in terms ot' funding not
only for implementation, but also for the inventory, research and monitoring necessary to ensure
that the implementation plan effectively provides for ecologically sound, rapid action to restore
fire resiliency to the watershed.
Relationship to Community Wildfire Protection Plan
With passage of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, there is guidance from Congress to -
local communities regarding development of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
The community of Ashland has been working collaboratively for years to develop community
consensus on fuel hazard reduction in the Ashland Watershed.
The City of Ashland's commitment to forest health and wildfire safety is well
documented. Since 1994, 'the City's Water Fund has been used to pay for fuels reduction on 600
acres of municipal watershed lands. Please see the timeline within our Phase I Ashland CWPP
(attachment B) to review the history of wildfire management and collaboration amongst the
community and agencies.
Most recently, in 2002, the City contracted out and received a wildfire hazard analysis for
over 2,600 private and municipal acres ofwildland urban interface. This report and ~nap have
· ' ' beeffused'to cisnduct ah extensive'fuels redhCtiOr/'pr6gram'. T6 dale 3/shland has been awarded - i.. · .
$542,000 of National Fire Plan grant funds through the Oregon Department of Forestry. In 2002,
the City was awarded a two-year grant from Jackson County of Secure Rural Schools and
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin\FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 82
Community Self Determination Act Title III funds. Using this award, a Forest Work Grant
Coordinator position is operated through Ashland Fire and Rescue and tasked with grant
coordination, fuels reduction, and community fire planning. The Coordinator implements the
priorities established in the Interface Management Plan, oversees grant administration and
fundraising, and conducts homeowner education in the wildland-urban interface. Over 150 acres
across 133 properties have been treated inside the city limits with the cooperation of local
residents, Ashland Parks Department, and the City.
The Ashland Watershed Stewardship Alliance, a group of community stakeholders,
formed during the NEPA process for the Forest Service's Ashland Watershed Protection Project.
and provided the impetus for the establishment of a City-sponsored tnteragency Watershed --
Coordinator's Group in 2001. This group meets at least quarterly for the purpose of
communication and coordination of management efforts and long-term fire planning for the
entire watershed.
Given the Forest Service's action to place the Ashland Forest Resiliency project under
HFRA'and its requirement for a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), the City of
Ashland has taken steps to combine our work and modify format to ensure compliance with
CWPP structure. The Phase I Ashland CWPP contains the documents and work produced
collaboratively in Ashland primarily addressing private and municipal .ownership in the
Wildland-Ur'ban Interface. The City used the work of the California Fire Safe Council, regional
planning efforts (Trinity County Fire Plan, Applegate Partnership) and the Preparing a
Communi~_ Wildfire Protection Plan Handbook in Creating the Phase I Ashland CWPP.
·
Included in our Phase I Ashland CWPP is the alternative approach suggested herein for
consideration as a "third" alternative in the Ashland Forest Resiliency Project (AFR)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement. This element of our CWPP is essential to
refining the definition of the Wildland-Urban Interface based on ecosystem
characteristics and outlines our community's desired management strategy for federal
lands in the AFR project area.
The Ashland Forest Lands Commission, working collaboratively with other entities in the
community, anticipates finalization of the CWPP in July/August 2004. Formal approval of the
Plan by the City of Ashland, Jackson County, Ashland Fire Department, and Oregon Department
of Forestry will be sought in August. County level government is identified in HFRA as a key
jurisdiction for community fire planning. We anticipate merging our efforts in Ashland with a
future county-wide planning effort, however Jackson County is in the early stages of establishing
the organizational infrastructure to formulate a county-wide CWPP. Therefore, the city and
community of Ashland have sole responsibility for creation of the CWPP. Because the timeline
for completion of our CWPP nearly mirrors the Forest Service timeline for the Ashland Forest
Resiliency Project, it is our belief that any benefits to the community that would accrue to the
City of Ashland for possessing a CWPP should be granted to our community.
""" ' '- W~'appr'eciate ti~e Opportunity'to'provide sboping ·comrn'ents'°n the Ashland'Fo/est .....
Resiliency Project. The Healthy Forest Restoration Act directs the agency to consider an
additional altemative if it is proposed during scoping [section 104(c)(1)(C)(i)], meets the purpose
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 83
and need [Pursuant to section 104(c)(1)(C)(ii), and if the proposed action does not iInplement the
recommendations regarding general location and basic treatment methods contained in an "at
risk" community's community wildfire protection plan. Our recommendation is being offered as
part of scoping. We believe it meets the urgent need to reduce the risk of large-scale, high
intensity wildland fires while protecting values at risk.
Finally, section 104(f) of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act encourages meaningful
public participation and directs the agency to facilitate collaboration. This section of the law
specifically mentions local governments, community-based groups, and other interested persons,
among Others. The group that developed our recOmmended alternative involved members Of
these entities. We hope that the Forest Service will allow-fine-tuning work to continue on our
proposal. The groups of individuals who collaborated on this proposal, including in particular the
members of the Ashland Forest Lands Commission, are proud of the consensus we were able to
develop and are available to provide further input to the Forest Service in the ensuing decision-
making process.
Sincerely,
Stephen Jensen
Chair
Ashland For~stlands Commission
Cate Hartzell
City Councilor
City of Ashland
Signing on behalf of:
Frank Betlejewski
Richard Brock
JoAnne Eggers
Anthony Kerwin · ·.
Bill Robertson
Diane White
Members
Ashland Forest Land Commission
Keith Woodley
Fire Chief
Ashland Fire & Rescue
Cindy Deacon Williams
Conservation Director
Headwaters
Joseph Vaile
Campaign Coordinator
Klamath-Siskiyou Wildland Center
John DeVilbiss Ashland Watershed
Stewardship Alliance
Dominick DellaSala
Klamath-Siskiyou Regional Program Director
World Wildlife Fund
Attachment A. Mapping The Community Alternative
· . ~
The'follovCifig outline' ~an be dsed'to develop a spati'al reptes~rttati'on 'of this community ....
alternative for analysis purposes. Of course, a fully detailed map cannot be rendered until
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES'lSCWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 84 Fi~'~
after an accurate inventory of the watershed (Step 1 of this Alternative) is completed (as
is also true of the Forest Service Proposed Alternative). The GIS layers needed are:
· Plant association (currently only a coarse "Plant Association Group" layer is
available, so it will have to suffice)
· Digital Ortho Quads
· Aspect and Elevation
· Stand Structure
· · Spotted Owl-Core areas and habitat features · -
· Other Element OccUlTenCes
· Geo Hazard Zones
.
,
o
°
Identify areas that currently have low potential for carrying fire. These
become "anchor points" for the "Fuel Discontinuity Network".
Identify areas with naturally occurring low stand density where relatively
little resource investment may be able to create relatively fire-resistant
stand conditions. These will most likely be low-productivity sites, dry
plant associations on south and west aspects, and open stands dominated
by large conifers or hardwoods. These are priority fuel reduction
treatment.
Stratify by PAG; White Oak, Dry Douglas-Fir, Ponderosa Pine and Dry
White Fir form one strata; Moist Douglas-Fir, Moist White Fir form a- -
second; Cool White Fir and Hemlock form a third strata. In the
Community Alternative, as inventory is completed, plant associhtions
would be used rather than the more coarse PAG's.
In the dry PAG on south and west aspects there is a high likelihood that
stand density reduction would be warranted to create more open stand
structures in those forest types where such conditions would be expected
under a natural disturbance regime. Large pines (and other species) would
be maintained through density reduction as well as excessively, dense
stands that are at high risk of insect-related mortality. In addition many of
these areas occupy a strategic geographic position in the landscape relative
to other nearby Fuel Discontinuity Zones. Stand density reduction with
around healthy large pines should be a high priority below 5000 feet
elevation.
5. In the dry PAG's on north and east aspects there is a moderate likelihood
of stand density reduction being prescribed. Priority would be given to
areas that 1) are in close proximity to areas of high resource value that are
at high risk of loss due to disturbance processes or 2) have excessively
dense stands that are at high risk of insect-related mortality, or 3) occupy a
strategic geographic position in the landscape relative to other nearby Fuel
Discontinuity.Zones.
6.-' I-n-the.moist PAGS on all aspects-there i-s.a lower likelihood, of stand ' - -.-
density reduction being prescribed. Treatment would occur in areas similar
to in 5.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 85 F~i~1
7. In the high elevation PAG's very little stand density reduction would
Occur.
Appendix 8.2
REFERENCE CONDITIONS'FROM THE OREGON AND CALIFORNIA
REVESTMENT NOTES.
The attached table presents a summary of the data collected during inventories of railroad
lands that would be revested to the United States. Summary descriptions of the
conditions are offered below.
Reference Condition In The Interface Forest (Circa 1920)
Area inventoried total 1300 acres, including: 39S- 1E-7 - 80 acres, 39S-1 E- 17 - 120 acres,
39S-1E-19 - 600 acres, 39S-1E-21 - 460 acres, 39S-1E-29- 40 acres. These tracts were
inventoried in 1916 and 1917 except for 39-1E-29 which was inventoried in 1921.
Vegetation and management:
Review of the data show that 66% (860 acres) of the surveyed tracts were in the Douglas-
fir series of plant associations 31% White fir (400 acres), and 3% Ponderosa pine (40
acres). Late Seral conditions (greater than 10,000 board feet/acre)'occurred on 112% (160
acres), 9% (120 acres) in the white fir series, and 3% (40 acres) in the Ponderosa pine
series. The Dominant tree species were Pacific madrone is listed on 80% of the parcels -
920 acres, sugar or ponderosa pine also occurs on 80% of the parcels - 920 aCres. Sugar
or ponderosa pine are the first or second most common species on 57% of the parcels;
680 acres. Pine species and madrone were very common in this part of the watershed.
Timber was harvested on 160 acres in section 21, and the conditions on 93% (1100 acres)
of the tracts were recommended for grazing
Wildfire:
Fire evidence included 40% (480 acres) reported burned, comprised of 30% (360) acres
in the white fir series, and 10% (120) acres in the Douglas-fir series.
Most of the acreage, 60% (720 acres) had no signs of a recent burn. No 40 acre iparcels
..'~as. repo .rt¢.d..as .~compl.e. tely des..trgyed by.' fi.r~e. Some portion always remained unburned
although it could be small; in one instance 38 ac~'es burned: anal' only'2 acres'Wei:e
untouched. Where fire did occur, 2/3s of the time it was stand destroying.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 86 FA'~
Reference Condition In The Montane Forest (Circa 1920)
Two parcels were inventoried in Montane forest areas in 1920:40S-1E-19 - 120
acres, and 40S- 1E-21 - 160 acres,
Vegetation and management:
Review of the data show that 71% (200 acres) was in the Mountain Hemlock ireferr~d to
in the notes as "Larch"), while 29% (80'acres) occurred as Open Glades. Late Seral
conditions (greater than 10,000 board feet/acre) occurred on 29% (80 acres). The
Dominant and single tree species reported was mountain hemlock.
All 160 acres listed in section 21 had Christmas trees sold from them, and the reports
recommended for grazing for the entire acreage inventoried (280 acres).
Wildfire:
No ac~:es were recorded as burned, however, the ridgetops were generally open and 6 Of
the 7 parcels were completely or partially open glades.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 87
GENERAL LAND OFFICE O & C REVESTMENT NOTES FOR TRACT IN THE
ASHLAND WATERSHED.
Legal Survey Volume / Volume % NSO Series Burned Human Remarks
Date Acre by Species Habitat Presence
(MBF)
39S-IE-7
SWNE 10/9/16 0.3 100% DF NO DF NO NO A lot ofmadrone and
(small) buckbrush; good
grazing --
NWNE 10/9/16 0.1 160% DF NO DF NO' NO A lot ofmadrohe and '
(small) buckbmsh; good
grazing
39S-IE-17
NWSW 10/8/16 6.0 79% DF, NO DF NO NO A lot ofmadrone and
21% PP buckbrush; very good
(small) grazing
SWNW 10/8/16 0.5 100% DF NO DF NO A farm, 15 Madrone, buckbrush,
(small) ac peaches, DF
fenced with
roads
NWNW 10/8/16 0 - NO - NO Road A lot of madrone, good
grazing
395-1E-19
SESE 9/4/17 22.2 62% DF, YES WF NO Abandoned steep
23% WF, cabin
11% PP,'
4% SP
,
44% WF, YES, 10 Covered ~vith madrone,.
42% DF, ac, buckbrush, high
NWSE 10/7/16 7.0 NO WF NO
7% SP, 7% north intensity fire, good
PP (small) side grazing
60% DF,
26% WF, YES, 23 ' Covered with madrone,
NESE 10/7/16 6.3 10% PP, NO WF ac, west Road buckbrush, high
4% SP side intensity fire, good
(small) grazing
71% DF, · Abandoned Ridgetop, $2.50/ac, for
SESW 9/4/17 8.7 29% PP, NO DF NO goat grazing, $6.50 for
cordwood cabin
cordwood
Trail to the Ridgetop, $2.50/ac for
SWSW 9/4/17 13.8 100% PP YES PP NO
east . goats
A little madrone and
41% WF, YES, 8
buckbrush, timber not
NWSW 10/7/16 5.6 36% DF, NO WF ac, east
' 23% PP Side badly burnt, good
grazing
87% DF, $2.50/ac for goats,
NESW 9/5/17 18.8 YES WF NO NO
13% WF steep, rocky, brushy
63% DF, YES, 20 Main ridge, madrone
SENW 10/8/16 2.3 37% WF NO WF ac, west Trail and buckbrush, high
(small) side intensity fire
45% DF, A lot ofmadrone,
SWNW 10/8/16 3.5 37% WF, NO WF YES, 38 NO "sweet" (black?) oak,
.... 18% PP ac high -intensity fire,-
(small) ......... : '" ........ gb6d gr'~zing
40% DF, YES, 24 A lot of madrone and
NWNW I 0/8/I 6 4.5 38% WF, NO WF ac, east NO buckbrush, "sweet" oak,
22% PP side high intensity fire,
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
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Page 88
(small) good grazing
72% DF, YES, 8 A lot of madrone and
NENW 10/8/16 10.7 18% PP, YES WF ac, Trail buckbrush, high
10% WF southwe
intensity fire, ridgetop,
st corner
48% DF, YES, 2
Good grazing, dbh avg:
21% SP, ac,
SENE 10/8/16 8.8 19% WF, NO WF southeas NO PP 30", WF 28", SP
24", DF 24"
12% PP t corner
57% PP, YES, 10 A lot ofmadrone and
26% SP, ac, buckbrush, high
SWNE 10/8/16 ' 7.2 NO DF · NO
17% DF southeas intensity fire, good
.
(small) t corner grazing
61% DF, A lot ofmadrone and
YES, 25 buckbrush, good
NWNE 10/8/16 5.0 33% WF, NO WF ac in NO
5% PP, 1% grazing, high intensity
SP (small) center fire
55% DF, A lot ofmadrone and
NENE 10/8/16 6.5 35% WF, NO WF NO NO buckbrush, good
10% PP
(sinall) grazing
39-1E-21
SESE, 5/26/17 3.3 92% PP' NO DF NO NO Poor soil, brushy,
W 1/2 8% DF primarily grazing
50% PP, Rocky, poor soil,
SWSE 5/26/17 4.0 NO DF NO NO brushy, primarily
50% DF grazing
· ' Phone to ·
75% DF, powerhous Madrone, buckbrush, '
NWSE · 10/6/16 2.6 25% PP · NO- - DF NO .- e at manzanita, white
(small) Ashland oak(?), grazing land,
creek.
100% DF Road on Madrone, buckbrush,
NESE 10/6/16 3.8 NO DF NO
(small) creek manzanita,
YES,
61% DF, 2ac on Past Ridgetop, grazing,
SESW 10/6/16 6.5 39% PP NO DF the harvest, madrone, manzanita,
(small) north road buckbrush,
line
YES, 12
65% PP,
ac on the Grazing, madrone,
NESW 10/6/16 1.9 35% DF NO DF Road
(small) south manzanita, buckbrush
.. side
Road,
phone line, Grazing, madrone,
SENW 10/6/16 2.3 100% DF NO DF NO DF and PP buckbrush, manzanita,
(small) felled for
white oak?
harvest
USFS
86% DF, Phone line Grazing, madrone,
N ENW 10/6/16 3.1 14% PP NO DF NO to power buckbrush, manzanita,
(small) plant white oak?
Grazing, madrone,
SENE 10/6/16 4.2 100% DF NO DF NO Road buckbrush, manzanita,
... (small) · - white oak? .
· .. . .. .. . .............. : ...... Ro-ad; :' .................
' Grazing, madrone,
SWNE 10/6/16 4.9 96% DF, NO DF NO phone line buckbrush, manzanita,
4% PP to power white oak?
plant
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
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www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks~eng\dept-admin~OREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 89
86% DF, Road,
timber Grazing, madrone,
NWN E 10/6/16 5.5 ! 4% PP NO DF NO buckbrush, manzanita,
(small) harvest, DF
and PP white oak?
83% PP, Road,
NENE 10/6/16 5.4 17% DF NO DF NO timber Grazing, madrone,
(small) harvest, DF lnanzanita
and PP
39S-1E-29
SWNW 11/27/2 56% PP,
' 1 I..0 44% DF NO DF NO ..NO Grazing, brushy.
40S-1E-19
,. Fair ~razing land, rock
100% cliffs on S side of tract,
NWNE 10/9/20 15.0 Larch (Mt. YES MH NO Trail in SE open glades on NW side
hemlock) comer
of trail along ridge, logs
24" ~ butt, 5 logs/tree
SWNE 10/9/20 0 - NO NO Trail in Rock cliffs, open
NW comer glades, on summit
10/10/2 100% Fair grazing land, rock
NENW 0 4.4 Larch (Mt. NO MH NO NO cliffs open glade W
hemlock) side, timber E side
40S-1E-21
NENE 10/13/2 100% Fair grazing land, open
0 8.2 Larch (Mt. NO MH NO Xmas tree glades, surface rock,
hemlock) selling area logs 24" ~ butt, 4 logs/
tree
10/13/2 100%
Xmas tree "Open glades, logs 24"
NWNE : 0. 10.0 Larch (Mt. YES MH NO
s.elling area @ butt, 5 logs/tree
hemlock). . -
NENW 10/14/2 100% Fair grazing land 3 logs
0 1.8 Larch (Mt. NO MH NO Xmas tree 24" ~ butt, 4 logs/tree
hemlock) selling area months/year,
NwNw 10/14/2 Xmas tree Top of Mt. Ashland, N
0 0 - NO - NO side reforesting to Scrub
selling area "larch", S half open
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
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Page 90
Appendix 8.3
Appendix 8.3
John B. Leiber.q's 1899 Observations on the Forests and Fire in
and around the Ashland Forest Reserve and the Ashland Creek
Watershed.
CoThe Nature
SAVING THE LAST GREAT PLACES ON EARTH
by Darren Borqias M.S., Southwest Oreqon
Stewardship Ecologist, The Nature
Conservancy, September 2004
Submitted to the Ashland Fire Resiliency
Community Alternative Technical Committee.
Ecosystem management and the restoration of long term ecological viability in natural systems
can be informed by reference to historic observations of past conditions in those systems. Such
assessments are especial.ly critical in systems that have been impacted by management over time'
and for which natural processes are believed to have been altered (Noss 1985). Such records
/'e'veal how ecosystems have been expressed, providing a valhable perspective on the bhckground
range of natural variability and suggest part of the potential range of future expressions for that
system. Historic observations of the forests and forest processes in and around the Ashland
watershed reveal the type and magnitude of changes that have occurred in the structure,
composition, and functioning Of the forests there that have followed roughly 100 years of'
management that emphasized wildfire suppression.
Forest Conditions in Western Oregon and the Rogue Basin During Euro-American
Settlement and Later
Early observatiOns of the region, from just prior to settlement tO 50 years after, document the
prevalence of fire that influence the pattern of grassland, savanna, woodland and forest on the
landscape. Lightning commonly strikes the upland areas to ignite fire on an annual basis. The
historic areas burned by wildfire likely depended on daily weather conditions, particularly fuel
moisture (humidity) and wind, and the pattern of previous bums that modified fuel loading and
fuelbed structure. Aboriginal burning conducted for numerous reasons greatly increased the
prevalence of fire. Multiple purposes for aboriginal buming are documented (LaLand 2002). In
1830, David Douglas observed multiple aboriginal bums in the Willamette and Umpqua Valleys
which were said by his Indian interpreters to be set to improve hunting by creating isolated green
.islands in which game would, congregate (Davies 1980)..The overland party, of the United States
Exploring E~pedition Ye~orted observing nu'mero~'s '-fi'ms while traversing-the-'interior valleys-
between the Columbia River and the San Francisco Bay late in the summer of 1841 (Wilkes 1849).
Their notes reported "Scorched prairies", "charred forest", "air thick with smoke", and colunms
observed in the distance on numerous days. Hurrying through the Rogue Valley in September, afraid
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20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6(X)6
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Page 91 F~I
of the notoriously hostile Takelma Indians, the party camped in burned prairie and then climbed out
of the valley the next morning. Ascending the grade toward the Siskiyou Pass, they observed "an old
squaw" igniting grass and brush using a large fire brand. Concentrating on her effort, she did not
notice the group of forty men on horseback until they were almost upon her.
Historical accounts in the region depict the earliest changes in the structure and extent of' vegetation
resulting from the curtailment of Native American burning. The Wilkes Expedition noted the role of
fire in keeping down undergrowth and the rapidity with which the undergrowth became established
where settlers precluded fires. The effect of precluding fires was also observed by General Joseph
Lane, Who commanded Fort Lane near Lower Table Rock during the 1850's (Walling 1884).
Looking back only thirty years al~er iris assignment there, Lane noteS?
The hilltops now covered by dense thickets of manzanita, madrone or evergreen
brush were then devoid of bushes and trees because of the Indian habit of burning
over the surface to remove obstructions to their seed and acorn gathering.
The fire history of the Rogue Valley appears to have been important in impeding succession to more
dense stands of vegetation. The background fire regime, mediated by both meteorological and pre-
Columbian anthropogenic ignition maintained the pattern of grasslands, woodland, chaparral, and
forest of the Rogue River Basin (Franklin and Dyrness 1988, Wright and Bailey 1982).
Forest Conditions in 1899
· ...
The United State Geological Survey (USGS) reported in 1900 on a systematic, Township by
Township, inventory of the forest resources within the newly established Ashland Forest Reserve
that included the Ashland Creek watershed (Leiberg 1900). John B. Leiberg (1853 - 1913), was a
botanist and forester whose career with the federal government spanned many .of the western
States6. Leiberg's notes were published in a lengthy, detailed inventory and assessment of the
condition of the forests in the Ashland and Cascade Forest Reserves. His 290 page report
provides a valuable, .detailed and a comprehensive account of vegetation in southwestern Oregon
at the turn of the century. The document describes the forests across the region and then'provides
a township by township accounting of the forest composition and condition. He also described at
length and in numerous points throughout the document the prevalence of fire and its effects on
forests. I have selected excerpts from his report, .providing emphasis on certain points with bold
typeface, underline, and sometimes both, and commented separately on his observations.
Leiberg provided a somewhat more detailed set of observations specifically for the Ashland
Watershed within the Ashland Forest Reserve, because of its important designation as a municipal
water supply. He points out that while the
The forest consists of stands of alpine-hemlock, red-fir, and yellow pine types.
The alpine-hemlock type occurs on the summit of the peak, and is composed
almost wholly of noble fir. The others have the ordinary composition of their
.......... rdspective types, els. dwhere. ......
6http://www.oregonflora.org/ofn/v6n2/Leiberg.html
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20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
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Page 92
Fires have marked most of the forest, but have not burned in the reserve within
the last ten or twelve years to any great extent, except on the summit of the range,
at the base of the peak, where the timber on 300 or 400 acres has been almost
totally destroyed.
The mill timber in the reserve is of good quality, except in the eastern
portion, where fires, years ago, badly seared the most of it. It is generally
d!fficult of access for logging operations. But whether easy or difficult of access,
it is. obvious that the maintenance of the Ashland Creek water volume is
prohibitive to lumbering operations in the reserve.
The areal and timber estimates are as follows:
Forested and other areas in Ashland Forest Reserve, Oregon.
Acres.
Area forested- 20, 000
Area naturally non forested - 1,700
Area deforested by fires .of. modern date - 300
To understand the "ordinary composition" of the .forests in 1899, is important to review .how
Leiberg described the regional vegetation in general, specific types and subtypes, as well as his
observations on the-ongoing and changing processes for those forest. -L¢iberg classified the
forests by three major climatic zones, the semi-add, subhumid, and humid. He associated the
Ponderosa Pine Type with what he called the "semi-add" region, an area generally below 3000'
in elevation but extending up to 4000' on the southwest slopes of Grizzly Peak, and to 4800' on
similar slopes of the .Applegate Valley. His observations of forest conditions led him to believe
that the semi-add conditions were expanding, advancing northward, hypothesizing that the cause
was climatic change.
... these have their origin in the relief of the 'country, and possibly in slow climatic
changes taking place over the entire western slope of the Cascades and
connecting ranges along the coast. They are permanently semiarid, and, if the
climatic hypothesis be true, they are gradually enlarging their area.
Leiberg's. "subhumid region" accounted for most of the Region and the Ashland Forest Reserve,
ranging from 3000 to 6000 feet but starting higher on southwest facing slopes as noted above. In
contrast to the semi-add ponderosa pine, forests of subhumid region were "moderately heavy to
dense" stands dominated by Douglas-fir (referred to as "red fir" by Leiberg). For the higher
elevations, Leiberg, described the "alpine hemlock" (mountain hemlock) forests of the Humid
Region.
Ponderosa Pine Forests
Ponderosa pine type forests' c'overed 'nearly 24°/'0 Of the tZ0rested acreage west of the Cascades'in
the Cascade and Ashland Forest Reserves. Leiberg pointed out that while the ponderosa pine had
a capacitly to occur at elevations between 1,300 and 6,000 feet, that the species reached "its best
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Page 93 F~'~
development" between 4,000 and 5,500 feet." He classified and described six subtypes 'within the
Ponderosa Pine forest.
Leiberg described the open nature of the Ponderosa Pine Type, particularly the paucity of
seedlings and saplings, and distinguished the pine forests west of the Cascade divide from those
on the east for having greater abundance and variety of understory species and having a greater
abundance of Douglas fir mixed in.
The yellow-pine type west of.the Cascades, as already remarked, averages a
sinai, let perc. entage of yellow pine in i.t& composition than is the Case east of the
range. Rarely is it as high as 70, more often it is 60, and more frequently it falls
below the standard here considered as representing the type(
The aspect of the type is that of an open forest with a minimum of undergrowth
and seedling or sapling growth. The forest on the eastern side of the Cascades is
more conspicuous in this respect than the forest on the western, owing to less
variety in the frutescent'flora of the former and, in general, to a smaller
precipitation. But the open character of the yellow-pine type O f forest anywhere
in the region examined is due to frequently repeated_fores(fires more than to
other cause
Leiberg described six subtypes for the Ponderosa Pine Type forests. The prevalence of madrone
and oak .stands around the.lower fringes of the Ponderosa Pine Type, were associated with the
"semi-arid" conditions of the interior valley, much as is found today, including parts of the
Ashland area and the Ashland Creek Watershed, · Four P6nderosa,Pin'e Subtypes dominated by
either Douglas-fir or white fir or a combination occurred in areas extending into the "sub-humid"
conditions at higher elevation. These occurred in small stands situated in hollows, depressions,
and north slopes, their location and extent dependant only on the requisite soil moisture, and
bearing no evident relationship to surrounding seed trees..
SUBTYPES WEST OF THE CASCADES
The madrona rarely forms groups by itself. Usually it is scattered thrOughout
otherwise nearly pure stands of yellow pine, where it forms a sort .of
undergrowth...
The two species of oak peculiar to the region often constitute the larger
percentage of arborescent growth on the lower areas of the yellow-pine forest.
They form open growths, sometimes with a great deal of underbrush composed ,of
(Ceanothus cuneatus and other ceanothi, service berry, hawthorn, and the like; ,at
other times the oak stands are entirely free of undergrowth of any sort .... At
higher elevations with greater ratios of precipitation and soil moisture they run
from 40 to 60 per cent oak, the balance consisting of pine and fir or of madrona
and other species of broad-leaved trees.
Th'e .'subtypes formed by .aggregat. ibns .of... red [Dotlgl-aszfir] and :white fir. are more ....... "
common and characteristic than any of the others. They are scattered almos't
7 Leiberg set the standard for inclusion in his types at 50% of the stands trees greater than 4" DBH.
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everywhere throughout the stands of the type. They are never singly of large
extent~ from a half acre to one acre being an average si~e. The ratios in which
the species occur are greatly varied, but the following proportions predominate
in the majority of instances:
Proportion of species forming yellow-pine subtypes.
Percen¢.
]. 2.
Red fir 60 Red fir --
14~bite fir 35 White fir
Ye. llow pine 5
5O
5O
3. 4.
Red fir 35 Red fir
White fir 45 White fir
Yellow pine - 20
8O
20
· .
The subtypes occur~ as a rule~ in or along hollows or depressions in the general
level~ on northern slopes~ or on low inequalities of the ground~ in short~ where
the required degree of soil moisture exists. Neither the presence nor absence nor
relative abundance of seed trees of the species on adjacent areas has any
influence upon the formation of these subtypes or aggregations. Nor do the
tolerance ratios of the different elements that compose them operate in any way
to change their composition between the sapling and the veteran stage.
Of the other elements which constitute the yellow-pine type the most prominent
are the sugar pine and the incense cedar. They rarely form any considerable
groups or aggregations together or singly, being found mostly as scattered trees
among the other species ....
For the Ponderosa Pine Type he observed a paucity of duff and litter on the forest floor and its
relationship to the prevalence of fire:
7he forest floor in the type is covered with a thin layer of humus, consisting
entirely of decaying pine needles, or it is entirely bare. The latter condition is
very prevalent east of the Cascades, where large areas are annually overrun by
fire. But even on the western side of the range, where the humus covering is most
conspicuous, it is never more than a fraction of an inch in thickness, lust enough
to supp!F the requisite material for the spread o f forest fires.
Douglas Fir Forests
8 Proportions based on abundance of trees > 4" DBH.
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Leiberg described the Douglas-fir type, ranging from 3,800' to 6,200' and finding its best growth
at 4000 to 5800 feet in elevation. He determined that Douglas-fir forests occupied 58% of the
forested acreage west of the Cascades. He noted the extremely varied and diverse composition of
the forest, incorporating species from the ponderosa pine forests below and the subalpine species
at higher elevation. Leiberg did not recognize a forest type for white fir.
The red-fir [Douglas-fir] type is never a pure type here. In not a single place in
the entire region were as much as 200 acres carrying a pure growth of red fir
found in'-one body. While the red-fir component, often overwhelmingly
.outnumbers all the other elements in any particular stand there always is a
sufficient quantity of the other species present to make'the admixtUre.
conspicuous .... Along and between the 5,300- and 5,900-foot contours the red fir
predominates. Below these lines are _found greater quantities of the species
characteristic of the yellow-pine type, while above occur species more or less
closely identified with the alpine-hemlock type.
Along the lower and middle limits of the red-fir type are seen the effects oft,he
semiarid and subhumid conditions advancing through the yellow-pine type in a
diminished density of stands and smaller dimensions of the trees. There is in
con.s, equence a broad belt of red-fir type lying adjacent to the yellow pine which
naturally could not produce a forest of any but a medium density.
....As exhibiting the composition of the red-fir type at lower elevations, or where
humidity cohditions appr. oach 'those which determine the yellow-pine type, 'the
following may be taken as representative:
Composition of forest in T40S., R 1 W, Oregon [Upper Applegate and Upper W.
Fork of Ashland Creek].
Percent
Yellow pine 25
Sugar pin e 5
Red fir 55
I4Gite fir -. 5
Incense cedar ' 2
Oak and madrona 8
Note: the description above includes a portion of the upper elevations within the West
Fork of Ashland Creek. Of particular interest is the very low proportion of white fir, a
species that currently overwhelms the composition on a stems per acre basis in many
stands.
The percentage of red fir in stands of the type varies from 50 per cent,
which here is considered the lowest ratio for stands representative of the
..;typ. e;.to .75 and in sdme Cases to .85 per..cen, t. A characteristic...sta..n.d., and.
one which is typical of much of the red-fir forests of the reqion,: Contains
about 60 per cent of red fir, the balance beinq made up of varying ratios
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of white fir, sugar pine, yellow pine, and occasional trees of incense
cedar.
While many contemporary foresters and ecologists in the west point to the influx of Douglas-fir
and true firs into ponderosa pine types, including such forests within the Ashland Watershed, at
the turn of the century, Leiberg observed the opposite dynamic in the Douglas-fir forests of the
Ashland and Cascade Forest Reserves--ponderosa pine advancing under Douglas fir. The cause
of this shift may have been the relatively dryer and warmer conditions following the "little ice
age", or, conceivably, a period of increased use of fire by the Native Americans just prior to. his
obServations. Such shifts have been recently documented by Paleo-ecologists studying pollen
deposits in lake sediments.
... The tendency of the red-fir type here is always toward added or greater ratios
of the species requiring less moisture for their growth. In other words,
t]iroughout the region examined west of the Cascades there is every-where a
clearly marked extension of the Yellow-pine type elements into the areas of the
red-fir type, where they are slowly but surely supplanting the species that need a
high degree of soil and atmospheric humidity with species which require a
smaller ratio of these factors of growth.
· .
I should say that the red-fir spe'cies is, on the whole, assuming minor
proportions in the general composition of the type, giving way chiefly to
increasing percentages of yellow pine.and white fir. The change is slow and
gradual, but is steadily progressing, at least on areas of low elevation along the
· upper limits of the yellow-pine type,
Leiberg also commented on the structure of Douglas fir forest he observed--relatively densely
stocked c, ompared to other forest types, yet shrubs of many species filled the understory beneath
the canopy. Compared to the ponderosa pine forests, humus and 'litter were more abundant.
In the red-fir type the forests in these regions reach their maximum density. This
holds good for the mature timber as well as for the seedling and sapling growth.
The type never has the open aspect which characterizes stands belonging to the
yellow-pine type. Except on areas where heavy stands of mature timber
effectually shade the ground there is a good undergrowth of many species of
· shrubs.
Humus and litter in stands of the type are moderately abundant. On ground
where fires have not run for one hundred to two hundred years humus covers the
Jbrest floor to a depth which varies from .3 to 5 inches. The litter consists of
broken trees and branches. It is enormously increased in quantity when a fire,
even of low intensity, sweeps through the forest.
Leiberg 'was cognizant of the numerous varied stand compositions, and dynamics within stands
due to the variable effects of fire and the site potential determined by the moisture available.
...... L. eib~rg.'S perception was .li .mi.ted in part. by..his' cla~sifi.c'atio, n.. w ..hi. ch Conta.ine.d. a very. brqad.
Douglas-fir type and only a white fir subtype within it. Within Douglas fir stands, Lieberg
attributed reproduction dominated by white fir events to disturbance by relatively more severe
fire. He believed that white fir that was established in such events "dwindled" over time,
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eventually giving way to Douglas fir. Leiberg did not recognize the role of low or moderate-
severity fire in mediating this transition to Douglas fir.
The lesser groupings of the species which form the general red-fir type are very
numerous, but mostlF of small areal extent in an,}; one locali.O;. The most
common subtype in our region is one in which white fir .forms the chief
component. In every case the ascendancy of this species can be traced to the
effect of. forest fires.
..
Where fires have ravaged9 the stands, the red fir will come again as the primary
and principal seedling growth, provided the fire was one of low or moderate
intensity. Where the stands have been totally destroyed or the destruction
amounts to 75 per cent and upward red fir may come as the Chief growth if the
local seepage is sufficient to maintain the requisite degree of soil humidity.
The stands of the white-fir subtype furnish in their numbers, extent, and ratios of
composition unfailingly guides for the estimation of the extent and age of fires in
the red-fir type before the advent of the white man.
It is rare, however, t.o find the white-fir stands maintaining their numerical
superiority into maturity. It is more often th~ case that a white-fir stand or
reforestation which starts in the seedling stage with a ratio of 70 to 80 per cent
has dwindled by the time it has reached a well-advanced sapling stage to a ratio
of 20 to 35per cent of white fir, the balance being red firprincipally.
· . . ..
Leiberg described the occurrence of ponderosa pine subtypes within the Douglas-fir
Type, largely considered successional expressions that would give way to Douglas fir.
He also describes the relatively minor role of sugar pine widely spread through the type.
The yellow pine occasionally forms stands and becomes a subtype. We may
consider it a subtype on the grounds that on the areas here in view it is a
temporary reforestation afier fires, and while the particular stand may grow to. a
sort of "immature" maturity it will not reProduce itself in a preponderating ratio.
Subtypes consisting of l0 to 80 per cent yellow pine surrounded with dense red-
fir growths on the same level are found in many places. Good examples occur in
the massive, veteran red-fir growths in the Rogue River Vallev... Here yellow-
pine reforestations have reached maturity, are in at state of decay, and are
gradually being replaced by red fir, which advances from the surrounding'forest
to close the gap.
Sugar pine occurred throughout the Douglas-fir Type, but at low abundance.
The sugar pine never forms stands of pure growth, nor does it ever exist among
other groups in preponderating or large ratios. It is a tree that, whatever may
ha.ve been., the case in past times, is now decidedly deficient in reproductive
..
..
. ..
9 His bias against fire is evident in the statement where he described fires having "ravaged" but
recognized that fires occurred with a range of low, moderate, and high severity.
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Page 98
capacity in this region. It therefore exists as scattered trees among the mass of
red fir and other species of that type.
Again, Leiberg described a very broad Douglas-fir type that extended to and included
species typically associated with more subalpine settings. He included both the western
white pine found at higher elevation, its few and declining numbers, and also some noble
fir stands within the Douglas-fir type. Stands where the predominance of noble fir was
greater, Leiberg ascribed as a subtype to the Alpine Hemlock Type.
..
The white pine rarely occurs in' sufficient numbers to form stands distinguishable
as subtypes. It is mostly found scattered throughout mixtures of red and white fir
in the middle and upper areas of the red-fir type .... It is an open question
wi~ether the species is maintaining its present general ratio in the forests of red-
fit' type in the region .... Its reproductive capacity here is certainly poor. The
number of veterans and standards throughout the forest is greater than the
sapling growth of the species.
Tile noble fir is plentiful in numerous localities along the upper areas occupied
by the red-fir type .... More frequently the percentages of the different species
stand as follows: Red fir, 25 per cent; white fir, 20 per cent; noble fir, 55 per
cent.
Ecological Processes of Fire and SuccesSion
Leiberg commented on the successional processes of the forests--the transitions in composition
he observed, attributing them to the variable influence of fire and change in soil moisture due to
historic -variation in climatic conditions. He described the multiple successional pathways he
observed for the development of the forests. His observations provide a basis f6r considering a
wider ran,ge of forest stand development trajectories than typically accounted for by modem
ecologists.
The numerical status of a species in the early stages of growth is determined in
this region by its environments as regards shade, and by the multitudinous
'modifications and departures, from the composition of the original growth on
areas undergoing reforestations afier fires.
While Douglas fir was the numerical dominant, providing a greater percentage of the forest trees
in the region west of the Cascades, he considered ponderosa pine the "superior" species because
of its ability to endure and survive fire-- what some refer to as fire resiliency. Note that here he
emphasized survival of small trees in the "oft-repeated" sweeping fires.
The cause lies entirely in the ofi-repeated forest fires which sweep through these
wooded areas. The s.eedli.ngs and young trees possessing the greatest fire
resistance .survive,. the. others die. In..its.c~pacity to. .endure .fi. re 'and SurVive 'the
yellow pine is greatly the superior of all the other conifers in this region.
Leiberg described a dynamic forest that rapidly changed through time.
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[Thc subtypes of forest] ... frequently change, sometimes two or three times in a
generation. Forest fires are fertile causes for inducing such rapid changes. ;But
even when left undisturbed a subtype rarely persists in any particular locality fgr
more than 250 or $00 years.
He described the fire mediated dynamics of forests at lower elevations, particularly encroachment
of Douglas fir into ponderosa pine and the opposite.
... West of. the Cascades the yellow-pine traCts in some places barely hold their
own. Along their upper and higher limits there is occa3ionall~; a decided
tendency toward a larger proportion o fred fir [Douglas-fir] as the coming forest.
There are cases observable in many localities along the upper limits of tile
yellow-pine type where stands of red fir are slowly replacing yellow pine. These
are not due to extensions of red-fir areas, but are merely cases in which the red
fir is again asserting its supremacy on tracts whence it was driven by forest fires
long ago.
In the middle elevations of it. s .range EeHowpine is: often_found to have supplanted
tracts of nearl): pure red-fir stands. This sh(fting about is due chiefll; to fore'st
fires. On areas where yellow pine has replaced red fir there has been a de~rease
in the ratio of soil. humidity, necessary to the maintenance of the red-fir
preponderance. The same .condition has existed along the upper limits of the type
where now red fir shows a' coming ascendancy over the yellow-pine element, due
to a return to higher soil-moisture ratios.
Patterns in Fire Intensity and Extent
Under a section referred to as "AMOUNT AND DISTRIBUTION OF COMMERCIALLY
VALUABLE TIMBER", Leiberg describes at length the effects of fire in the region, concerned as
he was about the use of the resource. Despite his bias against fire, he Provided a geat deal of
insight into the ecological functioning of fire. He document.ed fire evidence in every township to
varied degrees. He interpreted the evidence of fire and provided some insight into the fire
history. His observations led him to believe, that-fires .prior to settlement- were typically smaller.
than during the settlement era, and less frequent.
EXTENT OF FIRES-- 'Fires have widely ravaged the region examined. There is
not a single forested township either on the west side or on the east side of the
range in which the timber is not more or less fire marked.
TIME OF FIRES-- ...But, on the other hand, the great diversity in the age of
such stands as show clearly their origin as reforestations after fires, proves that
the fires during the Indian occupancy were not of such frequent occurrence nor
ofsuch magnitude as t. hey have.been sinc. e the .advent.'.of the w..hi, te man ....
The fires were more numerous and devastated much larger areas in the early
days of the settlements than they have done in later years. Much the larger
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percentage of what may be classed as modern burns date back twenty-five to
forty years. As time has passed, the frequency of forest fires in the region has
much diminished.
Along with decreased incidence of intentional and negligent ignition, and outright suppression, he
emphasized the role that previous fires played in moderating fuel accumulation which controlled
extent and the intensity and severity of future fires. He did not directly account for the
contribution of understory vegetation and small trees as ladder fuels.
This [decreased incidence and extent of fires after early settlement] is owing to a
w~riety of causes, chief of which are the numerous fire breaks cau'sed b.}, the
earlier burns; the gradual extinction of the game and consequent diminished
number of hunting parties and lessened risk from unextinguished campfires; the
acquisition of valuable timber claims by private parties throughout the heavily
forested sections and the measure of protection, prompted by self-interest,
bestowed on their property and incidentally on adjoining areas, and, lastly, the
'destruction of the humus layer, the chief factor in the spread of forest fires in
this region~ b.F the earlier conflagrations and the insufficient accumulations of
this material since then to support hot~ large~ and destructive fires.
Leiberg noted that evidence of burning in the region prior to settlement indicated ~mall fires, and
cited an example of a large fire at 5000 acres. Leiberg was unlikely to be able to discern if some
.of the small fires may have been small patches, severely burned, within a matrix of low severity
fire on a larger scale. Benefiting from first-hand local knowledge about fire behavior and fuels,-
t. he Native Americans may have been able to intentionally control to some degree'thd extent of
fires, but that control was likely largely predicated upon use of previously burned area.
Ire age of the burns chargeable to the era of Indian occupancy can not in most
cases be traced back more than one hundred .and fifty years. Between that time
and the time of the white man's ascendency (sic), or, between the years 1750 and
1855, small and circumscribed fires evidently were of frequent occurrence. There
were some large ones. Thus, in T. 37 S., R, 5 E., occurs a growth of white fir
nearly 75 percent pure covering between 4, 000 and 5, 000 acres.
Larger, more recent post settlement fires were documented. Leiberg sited a bumed area covering
nearly. 59,000 -acres in seven, townships (t 61-,280-acres in total) north, of .Mount. McGloughlin
("Mount. Pitt"). A burned area of 60,000 acres was documented east of the Cascades that showed
the remains of lodgepole stands that followed burned and killed ponderosa pine forests. Fire
intensity and severity were variable.
Much of the region under examination is composed of high subalpine regions
which naturally carry light stands of timber. Extensive fires have devastated them
at various times. Reforestations of all ages and differing in composition cover
them .... In other placesfires have destroyed a certain percentage of the forest.
The damage may vary from 10 to 60 per cent or higher. The destruction has not
been. all in one place' or. body.'. The ~r'.e. h~.s .run .th'r..ou. gh.th.e fpres, t fo.r m. !les',.
burning a tree or a group of trees here and there.
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Page 101
Reforestations afier fires at middle elevations on the western slopes of the
Cascades... are extremely varied and complex.
Post-Fire Forest Development
Leiberg described forests in the Cascades that were much like forest currently found in
parts of the Ashland Watershed. Areas with veteran Douglas fir, sugar pine, and
ponderosa pine with the understory reproduction dominated by white fir.. .
Fires in the mixed growth or in timber stands where the red fir l~redomina~es are
frequently followed by great masses of white-fir seedlings, which develop into
heavy and dense forest stands, and occupy the ground for a century or more. An
example of this kind occurs in T. 37 S., It. 5 E. We here have a forest composed
almost wholly of white fir, in the midst of which rise here and there huge veterans
of red fir 400 to 500years old. The white fir is a reforestation, a hundred years
old, following a burn which destroyed a mixed growth in which red fir largely
predominated. Notwithstanding the fact that large numbers of seed trees of re, d
fir escaped destruction, this species was quite unable again to occupy the ground
as the first forest gro. wth after the fire.
Leiberg emphasized that forest regeneration following fires depended most importantly
on soil moisture characteristics of the site. He did not distinguish how the eventual
su6cess of a reproductive event might be affected by subsequent low intensity fires.
·
The tendency of all reforestations afier fires in the humid and subhumlid forest
types is to form pure-growth stands of the species naturally occurring in the
region, the condition or ratio of soil humidity, an ever-varying factor,
determining the particular species.' 'The abundance or scarcity of seed trees and
the degree of tolerance possessed by the various species are factors of trifling
importance.
· .
Soil erosion following fire was observed by Leiberg, but he considered it not Very cons ficuous
except in the pumice soils of the Cascades.
The effects of forest fires in their relation to the accelerated transfer of soil.and
rock debris from higher to lower levels are noticeable everywhere throughout the
region, but are not very conspicuous outside the pumice-covered areas [in the
Cascades].
It is perhaps noteworthy that Leiberg generally did not observe or notice signs of disease,
pathogens, or parasitic plants among the forests, except for a few incidental comments on
trees with rotten cores in some instances (white fir, cedar, oak) induced by fire sears and
scars.
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Page 102
Observations Specific to the Townships Covering the Ashland Creek Watershed
Leiberg provided general descriptions of the setting and forest character on a large scale for each
Township in the Forest Reserve. His notes reveal that much of the forest had already been
partially logged, and that most areas had been burned to varying degrees.
The first township description covers the area centered on the current City of Ashland up to the
confluence of the East and West Forks of Ashland Creek (figure 1). His summary of the
composition of the forests is compiled in Table 1.
TO WNSHIP 39 SOUTH, RANGE '1 EAST.
The extreme western portions of this township consist of low, sparsely timbered
slopes, with heavier stands in the ravines; the central portions comprise
agricultural and grazing lands while the eastern mainly include semiarid, rocky,
nonforested slopes [below Grizzly Peak]. The forest is of poor quality
throughout. Since the first settlement of the region [Ashland] it has been culled
and burned repeatedly. Private homings have conserved some of the better
portions. In general the timber is of little commercial value.
TOWNSHIP 39 SOUTH, RANGE 1 WEST.
This township comprises steep rocky slopes, drain, ing partly into Applegate
Creek, p'ar'tly into Bear Creek. Originally of good proportion, the forest has been'
culled during many years and stripped of its.best timber, only a trace remaining.
Fires have wrought great havoc and have transformed many of the slopes into
great brush heaps with thin lines of half-dead trees in their midst.
In the next township, centered on Mt Ashland, the importance of ponderosa.pine and sugar pine
and the lack of a mention for white fir for the upper Ashland Watershed is remarkable, given the
prevalence of white fir there now. His map for the range of white fir points to lower elevation
positions for the species (Figure 2) and the wide ranging distribution of ponderosa pine in .the
Watershed (Figure 3).
70WNSHIP.40 SOUTH, RANGE t EAST.
Iris township consists chiefly of high rocky combs and ridges culminating in
Siskiyou Peak [Mt Ashland]. It forms the larger portion of the Ashland Forest
Reserve [including most of the upper Ashland Watershed]. Along the higher
slopes the forest occurs in scattered stands, largely composed of noble fir. The
lower areas bear good stands of yellow and sugar pine. The red fir is mostly of
small growth. Fires have run throughout the forest in the township. The summit
of the ridge near Siskiyou Peak has been burned to the extent of 75 per cent
within the last two or three years. Although a forest reserve for the purpose of
supplying, thE.town. Of A'shland. with pure .w.'at.~r, .she. e.p.'iar, d p~'.rmit, te..d to gt:az..e 6n. '..
t,he high slopes, defiling th'e water.
TOWNSHIP 40 SOUTH, RANGE 1 WEST.
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This township consists of high slopes and summits of the Siskiyou Range. The
highest slopes are largely nonforested, either bare, rocky expanses or grasay
glades predominating [south slopes Wagner Butte]. The lower elevations bear
moderately heavy stands of fair quality. The forest is seared by fire in all of its
parts, and is generally difficult of access. A portion of the township forms part of
the Ashland Forest Reserve [Upper West Fork of Ashland Creek].
The table provides clear portrayal-of the minimal rote of tree species in the-fbrest within and
surrounding the Ashland Creek Watershed during the 1899 inventorY. Ponderosa pine dominated
in the watershed from the forks of the Ashland Creek downstream. Douglas fir was secondarY in
importance. At higher elevation, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine and noble fir dominated in the
upper settings above the confluence of the forks and over the summit. Sugar pine played an
important role in the forests at the time. The table clearly portrays the minor role played, by white
fir in any of the forests in the townships covering the Ashland Watershed. These conditions are
notably different from what is observed today, with white fir the prevalent species in terms of
trees per acre over much of the watershed at middle elevations.
Altered Fire Regime
The background fire regime has been altered in terms of the characteristic fire intensity, duration,
periodicity, and scale, and .the severity of effects on vegetation. A significant proportion of the
landscape at' low and middle elevations historically had greater Capacity to support aftd a larger
expression of relatively-"open'", complex,' mixed-conifer stands dominated by large fire-tolerant
ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. These systems were maintained by a fire regime characterized
by relatively frequent low intensity/severity fire with small patch inclusions of moderate and
severe effects. Overlapping and interacting with this background disturbance were more random
events' with larger expression of severe effects mediated by climatic events and feedback with
variation in the low intensity fire frequency. With recurrent low severity fire, seedlings and
saplings were periodically killed, and recruitment of individual trees and clumps was metered out
over decades or centuries to create multi-age stands. Variation in the interval between fires, and
in the intensity and severity of fires, contributed to the patch dynamics and complexity' Within and.
among stands.
Currently, most ignitions 'of fire are extinguished quickly after they cover a small anm. Slow
moving and less intense fire, typically backing down hill or up wind, or burning in the relatively
moist end of the weather spectrum are the most easily suppressed and the potential acreage they
could influence, untrammeled, is truncated. Fire breaks such as roads, ditches, and other
development augment suppression efforts to reduce the overall scope of lower intensity bums.
Shortly after Euro-American settlement, in the relative absence of frequent low intensity fire, and
followed by increasingly effective suppression of moderate severity fire into the late decades of
the 20th CenturY, stand densities and fuels generally increased. In the absence of recurrent fire in
low and middle elevations, entire cohorts of young recruits grew up with their density without
thinning by.'...fire ..... Relatively shade,toleraht §peci'es followed.i'n. ~om~. setti.ngs..'-:--',D.Quglas fir of"'
white fir, in natural succession, increasing the landscape expression ~)f mid-seral closed Canopy"
stands, changing the diversity of structures, species, and fire behavior within stands and among
stands across the landscape at various scales. Increased density of retained regeneration increases
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Page 104
the intensity and severity of fires, depending on the age and structure of recruits within the stand.
Compared to fuel beds regularly reduced by recurrent fire, forest stand with dense tree
reproduction lower the threshold of weather conditions necessary to generate severe effects.
Landscapes with greater continuity of such fuelbeds contribute to the potential for extensive
spread of flaming fronts with severe effects generated under severe fire weather (e.g. Hayman,
Rodeo-Chedeski, Biscuit, et al.) . The ground covered by such intense, fast moving fire fronts
with more severe effects has arguably increased in area within and among fire events due to the
accumulation and continuity of potential dead and live fuel within and among stands.
..
ConCern has been raised in particular about the ability to retain intact late-successional habitats
and large, old stands of fire-maintained pine forests whicl~ have already been reduCed through a
150-year history of timber harvest, especially in the lower and middle elevations.
Conclusion
John Leiberg's 1899 assessment of the Forest Reserves in southern Oregon, including the
Ashland Creek watershed, reveals the highly dynamic forests occupying the landscape at the
time. The: development and condition of forests depended on the recurring and variable influence
of fire to mediate recruitment events and subsequent differential survival of individual trees based
in the species' relative tolerance to later fires. Leiberg highlighted the pervasive role of fire in
forests across the landscape, yet also how the spread of individual fires were reduced where
wildfire encountered areas burned earlier. He noted how the fuel accumulated and changed fire
behavior after only several decades, and that the size of fire events varied with the patterns in the
frequency of fire for the region. The highly varied and dynamic forest development for this
region was mediated by a fire regime that combined the .effects of frequent fir6 of .low intensity
and more randomly occurring mixed and high severity fire events.
His observations bring to light the dramatic changes in the composition and functioning of the
forests that have occurred in the last 100 years. Specifically for the Ashland Creek Watershed, the
presence of relatively open ponderosa pine was greater in extent and abundance, and white fir
was remarkably lower in abundance at the turn of the last century. Leiberg's detailed and
comprehensive observations on forests and .fire provide the basis for managers and society to
open wider their concepts of forest development to include multiple pathways and a wide range
of potential for this landscape.
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Page 105
Townships Covering the Ashland Watershed
Township watrline sections ~ uprbearbdy_spcs
usfs_roadsCLIP_spcs ........ cit¥1ine
. .
...... . · . .. . ~ . ....
Figure 1' Townships covering the Ashland Watershed
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Figure 2. Part of Southern Or.egon Showing the Distribution of White Fir.(green s. hading).. From
Leiberg, 1.90.0, USGS., 21St Annual Report, plate LXXX. 'Siskiyou Peak was the ~'ormer name of
·
Mt Ashland.
Figure 3. Part of Southern Oregon Showing the Distribution of Ponderosa Pine (in tan shadding),
and Whitebark Pine (green shading). From Leiberg, 1900, USGS, 21 st Annual Report, plate
LXXXII. Siskiyou Peak was the former name of Mt Ashland.
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Page 107 F~'~
_~ ao~e ~. ~umma~ or forest inventory statistics from Leiber~ (190[0 for the Toss.ps cove~ ~e Asked C~eek Watershed ~d he.by.
Forested 8t~d Composi~on ~e~eent of~ees >4") by species
No~ %~y" Foist
Fo~s~ Foist b~d B~d Logged c~d Po~msa ~ Do~ ~e~e ~ ~ Nob~
T~ ~ ~sc~ ~s ~s ~s ~ ~s
~3~1 ~ 1 ~J~ 4J00 2200 12 J00 0 23 l 0 30 2 J J 30
above ~ sou~ o~e~ ~e
Mt Asked
~0~ l J000 see no~e see ~ote
395R1E
Asked W~tershed ~Om m te~ ~t te~
the forks of~s~d Creek
no~ over Be~ C~eek
~SR1W 170~ 6000 6200
Wa~er B~tte, Upper
Appleg~te
192~ 3~00 4300 22 I~00 65 ~ 2 45 0.5 9.5 3
Applegate ~ve~ V~ey
172~ iS00 3100 18 172~ 4J 70 8 20 2
398R1W
Midge Be~ Ct. sou~ into
~e Upper Apple~ate
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Page 108 FA'~
Literature Cited
Davies, J. 1980. Douglas of the Forests: The North American Journals of David Douglas.
University of Washington Press, Seattle.
Franklin, J. F., and C. T. Dymess 1988. Natural Vegetation of Oregon and Washington. Oregon
State University Press, Corvallis Oregon.
LaLande:
Lane, J. ][884. History of Southern Oregon. Portland, oR, A.G.'Walling, editor, p. 316, 334.
Leiberg, J.B. 1900. Cascade Range and Ashland Forest Reserves and adjacent regions, in United
States Geological Survey, 21 st Annual Report, 1899 - 1900 Part 5, Forest Reserves, pp
211-498.
Noss, Re:ed F. 1985. On characterizing presettlement vegetation: How and why. Natural Areas
Journal v. 5 (1) pp. 11.
Walling A. G. 1884. History of Southern Oregon. A. G. Walling, Portland, OR, p. 316, 334.
Wilkes, C. 1849. Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition during the years 1838,
1.839, 1840, 1841, 1842. Volume V pages 215-250.
Wright, H.A. and A.W. Bailey, 1982. Fire Ecology: United States and southern Canada. A
Wiley Interscience publication, New York. 501 pp.
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Page 109
APPENDIX 8.4
WILDLAND FIRE RESTORATION
Submitted to the AFRCA technical team by Jay Lininger, Conservation Fellow,
University of Montana
Wildland fire is critical to ecosystem function
Fire is an essential natural disturbance in 'forest ecosystems of the Siskiyou Mountains
(Agee 1993, Atzet and Wheeler 1982, Frost and Sweeny 2000, Taylor and Skinner 1998).
Indigenous species and communities evolved with periodic fire disturbances, and the life
history characteristics of some require fire for persistence (Sawyer et al. 1977, Martin
1997). It follows that biodiversity conservation in Siskiyou forests depends on the extent
to which land managers allow natural fire to play its keystone role in the ecosystem
(Hardy and Arno 1996). Further, Lindemayer and Franklin (2002) observe that naturally
regenerated and maintained early-successional forests, with their richness of coarse
woody structure and non-woody vegetation, may now be the scarcest of all habitats in the
Pacific Northwest due to many decades of fire suppression and post-fire salvage logging.
Federal,policy demands wildland fire use for ecosystem .restoration
..
Recognizing that Wildland fire is "a critical natural process [that] must-be reintroduced
into the ecosystem," the 1995 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and Program
Review and the 2001 Review and Update of the Federal Wildland Fire Policy ("Federal
Fire Policies") commit agencies to shift away from systematic fire exclusion and to use
prescribed and natural wildland fire for restoration of fire-adapted ecosystems (IWG
2001). The change in policy to use fire for resource benefits, and Congressional
authorization to use suppression funds to manage wildland fire without attacking it, have
resulted in more lightning-ignited fires burning on national forest land in the Sierra
Nevada, the Rocky Mountains and elsewhere.
.... '- Manage.ment-ignited prescribed fire can sustain ecological functions with trade.-offs
Use of management-ignited prescribed fire can help to sustain ecological functions that
have been limited or rendered dormant by fire exclusion, and it has been used effectively
in the restoration and maintenance of wildlife habitat (Arno 2000, McMahon and
deCalesta 1990). Use of prescribed fire should vary in frequency and scope of
application depending on the natural role of fire on specific portions of the landscape
(USDI 1.998).
P. resc..ribed Ore probably cannot replicate all of the ecological. function, s of lig!?.tning? ...
ignited fires that bum in a full range ~f'enq~ir0nn~'en~al'conditions. Federal land managers
in the Siskiyou Mountains typically ignite prescribed fires during the wet season (late fall
through spring) to minimize smoke production and risk of escape (Chandler 2002). It is
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GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~OREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
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o.
hypothesized that, in many cases, wet season burning can negatively affect plants and
microorganisms due to more efficient heat conductivity deeper into soil layers than would
occur in the dry season (Agee 1993).
A key problem with use of prescribed fire during the wet season is its incompatibility
with the natural life histories of indigenous plants. Research has shown that moistening
seed of chaparral plants that are not hard-seeded (i.e. species other than Ceanothus and
most legumes) causes them to completely lose their heat tolerance .(Sweeney .1956,
Parker and Roger 1988). These seeds take up'moisture seasonally, and as they dry out in
summer, they bec6me tolerant of high levels of heating. Seed's are likely to be especially
vulnerable to burning after soils have been moistened in fall, but before fuel moisture has
risen appreciably, because considerable heat could still be generated by fire at this time.
Thus, burning under these conditions is likely to produce unnaturally high seed mortality
and result in artificially low seedling emergence (Parker and Roger 1988). This would
have adverse, long-term impacts in stands lacking resprouting species.
On the other hand, if soils are very moist at the time of fire, and fireline intensity' is low,
little soil heating will occur (DeBano et al. 1979). In this situation, hard-seeded :species
may not receive sufficient heat shock to germinate,' resulting in a similar scenario-of high
seed mortality and low seedling emergence. Thus, wet season burning in areas
dominated by non-sprouting shrubs (Arctostaphylo. s viscida,. Ceanothus integerrimus, C.
velutinus and C. prostratus) may have poor regeneration of shrubs and other fire-
recruiting species. ?opulations will be reduced as a result,-and seed banks will be.
depleted. These species are not likely to be resilient to these effects (Odion 2002).
Another factor that can contribute to reduced post-bum shrub recruitment is spring
burning followed by rainfall sufficient to induce germination of surviving seeds.
Seedlings that establish from such late germination have been found to have greater
mortality during their initial summer (Moreno and Oechel 1993).
Furthermore, burned areas of poor shrub regeneration will be more prone to invasion by
yellow star thistle, cheat grass or other annual grasses. The fine fuel of these annual
grasses can carry fire and-allow for a rebum before shrubs begin to produce seeds.(Odion
2002). Mortality of young resprouts can occur during such short-return fire events, and
shrubs may become too depleted to resprout again. Thus, successive, short-rotation (< 5
years apart) fires can largely eliminate chaparral (Zedler et al. 1983). The shallow-rooted
and quickly curing grass and weed vegetation that replaces chaparral under such type
conversion will ignite more easily over a longer portion of the year, spread fire more
rapidly, make slopes vulnerable to a future regime of more frequent fire and disturbances
related to reduced slope stability in the absence of deep rooted shrubs.
'prescr. ib.e. d fire effec, tively reduce.s' fire hazard....
Prescribed fire is by far the most effective means to calm wildland fire behavior, but
other fuel reduction methods including tree cutting are more widely used (USDI 1998).
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
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Page 111
Stephens (1998) characterizes application of prescribed fire as "the most effective
treatment for reducing fire behavior in mixed conifer ecosystems." Computer
simulations run by Stephens (1998) and van Wagtendonk (1996) show significant
reductions in fire heat energy, output and rate of spread following prescribed fire.
The amount, continuity, porosity and moisture content of fine and intermediate-sized
fuels (< 3 inches in diameter) influence the heat energy released by the flaming front as
well as the rate at which it spreads (Rothermel 1983). The ability of prescribed fire to
consume fine and 'intermediate fuels smaller than three inches in diameter is a unique
advantage over other fuel r~duction methods that focus on larger,' less flammable fuels.
Prescribed fire consumes dead surface fuels and reduces the continuity of both dead and
live ladder fuels that may facilitate vertical movement of fires from the ground into tree
crowns (Carey and Schumann 2003, Graham et al. 2004).
Prescribed fire is practical and cost-effective
Use of prescribed fire may be a viable fuels treatment option on terrain where steepness
or accessibility might limit mechanical treatments (Chandler 2002, Weatherspoon 1996).
Existing roads ofteh Can be useful as control lines along with other natural and managed
landscape features.
Prescribed bbrhing costs Significantly less than other fuel redu'ction treatments. Average
investments of $300 per acre may be adequate to bum several hundred acres at a time, -
even on topographically complex landscapes such as the Ashland Creek watershed
(Chandler 2002). Depending on the size of bum units, distance from the nearest road,
and topographic complexity, service contract costs in the Ashland Creek watershed have
ranged from $32.96/acre to $63'4.48/acre. This does not include the preparation of bum
plans, which can range from $360.50/acre to $772.50/acre (Betlejewski 2004). Financial
costs increase if pre-treatment is required to reduce ladder fuels and enhance worker
safety. In contrast, Operating costs for mechanical fuel treatments typically start at $800
per acre and can reach $2,100 per acre on challenging terrain (USDA 2001).
The financial benefits of fire-hazard reduction using prescribed fire also can be measured
by savings in future suppression costs and decreased resource losses (Cleaves and Brodie
1990). Fuel modifications resulting from prescribed fire can reduce wildland fire impacts
and make future control efforts or burning operations less dangerous and expensive.
Constraints on use of prescribed fire
Several factors including risk of escape, air quality and sensitive habitats complicate the
use of prescribed fire:
· .
.... o.
:' 'Risk O f;scape ...... ' .........................
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Initial bums in forests with high fuel loading may pose a risk of escape, especially if
inexperienced planners and crews implement them. In areas where surface and ladder
fuel loading is high, some form of pre-treatment may be necessary to create desired forest
structure and in mm facilitate safer fire use (Brown 2000). Manual fuel reduction
treatments including pile-and-bum and ladder fuel pruning can effectively prepare a site
for burning without significantly impacting soils or wildlife habitat (Graham et al. 2004,
Keyes and O'Hara 2002).
· Air quality restrictions
Air quality regulations and public resistance can seriously limit the use of fire for
ecological restoration (Shelby and Speaker 1990). Cooperation between air quality
regulators, land managers and the public is essential if fire is to be viably used as a
management tool. It will be necessary for land managers educate the public about the
benefits of using prescribed fire to reduce fuel loadings and wildfire hazard, with its
attendant benefits of decreased suppression costs and smoke emissions.
· Sensitive habitats
If prescribed fire is a preferred means of restoring fire-adapted fores, t ecosystems where
use of naturally-ignited fires is not an option, success may require sequential entries'
before desired conditions are realized, especially in dense stands with heavy fuel loads
(Weatherspoon 1996). Several workers recommend staggered bum treatments over five-
to-eight years (e.g., Agee et al. 2000, DellaSala et al. 1995). However, depletion of
multi-layered forest structure can degrade habitat for associated species like northern
spotted owl and northern'goshawk. Prescribed fire therefore should not be implemented
in sensitive habitats over wide areas in the same vicinity over a single decade (Agee
1993). Rather, bums should be conducted under conditions where important structural
habit'at elements, such as larger 01d trees, can be protected (Agee and Huff 1986).
Periodic monitoring should follow burning treatments to determine whether restoration
goals have been met and when such activities should cease or be repeated (DellaSala et
al: 1995).. · ' .........
Fire management planning is critical to use wildland fire for resource benefit
The Federal Fire Policies require development of fire management plans (FMP) covering
every acre of federal land with flammable vegetation. FMPs offer the strategic
framework for the full range of fire management actions including hazardous fuel
reduction and forest restoration, use of wildland fire, as well as fire prevention campaigns
and fire suppression incidents. The primary barrier to use of naturally-ignited fire is the
.l[agk of..an approyed FMP. that'proyi..de'sl for it. Without such prgyis, iqns, plans, req.uire. -
land managers to aggressively attack every" fi[e"t0 minimize its size. A lack of- "'
interagency planning across political boundaries also hampers the use of fire acre. ss
landscapes (USGAO 2001).
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
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GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~OREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 113 F~i~'~
Over the ridge from the Ashland Creek watershed, the FMP for the Klamath National
Forest portion of the Mount Ashland Late-Successional Reserve ("South Zone FMP")
permits the use of naturally-ignited wildland fires and modified suppression strategies
under prescribed conditions stating, "the importance of an ecosystem response to fire is
the intensity of the fire, not the area covered" (USDA 1996a, 73). This is consistent with
the Federal Fire Policies.
In contrast, within the Ashland Creek waiershed, the FMP ~ovefing the'RogUe River ·
National Forest'portion Of the LSR' ("North Zone FMP") mandates a Level 1 suppression
response to all wildland ignitions regardless of location or environmental conditions
(USDA 1996a, D-22 to D-24). This is despite the plan's recognition that continued
exclusion of wildland fire from the ecosystem "will lead to increased conifer mortality
and increased risk of large-scale stand-replacing fires" (USDA 1996a, 48). This is not
· consistent with the Federal Fire Policies because reintroduction of natural fire process to
the lands, cape is precluded.
The social demand for a municipal water supply from the Ashland Creek watershed
obviously accounts for the difference between the two plans. Indeed, the Forest Service
states that it cannot let natural fires bum in the North Zone of the Mount Ashland LSR
because
40 to 90 years-of live and 'dead.vegetation build up-(due to missed fire..¢yoles ....
and !fire suppression activity) has created a situation with a high probability of a
wildfire escaping management suppression capabilities, which would likely
result in stand replacing wildfire... The use of [fire] under current conditions,
with the high probability of stand replacing wildfires, would be inconsistent
with Late-Successional Reserve objectives of the Northwest Forest Plan, and
with the Cooperative Agreement between the Forest Service and the City of
Ashland for the protection of water quality (USDA 2003, pp. 3-33 to 3-35).
The Forest Service confines itself in a circular and self-reinforcing paradox in which fire
exclusion is the only-acceptable option because the effects of fire exclusion have.made
fire exclusion the only acceptable option. Watershed planning must recognize the
significant and long-term costs of fire suppression, and strive to minimize the range of
indirect and cumulative environmental impacts that result from it. Systematic fire
exclusion puts the Ashland Creek watershed at severe risk of chemical and sediment
pollution during required fire suppression operations (Backer et al. 2004) and prolonged
susceptibility to very intense fires (USDA 1996a).
This proposal encourages the Forest Service to update its North Zone Mount
· Ashland LSR Fire. Ma.nage.mgn.t.,Plan to empower. !ine` ~f.t,,lc. ers and incident
' 'C~mmanders to use wildland fires along with appropriate fire Suppression ~tr'ategies
in specified weather conditions and topographic settings. Fire Suppression should be
tempered by opportunities for reintroduction of fire in mild weather conditions and
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
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G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 114 F,~,~'~
favorable topographic locations when use of natural ignitions can benefit biota, conserve
financial resources and protect worker safety. The Ashland Forest Resiliency
environmental impact statement (EIS) is an appropriate planning document: to
make this change.
Wildland fire use restores key ecosystem functions
Uncontrolled wildland .fires offer distinct advantages to the restoration of landscape
structures altered by fire suppression because no other management option .mimiCs the
spatial patterning Of natural' fire effects (Baker 1994,' i 989). Reintroduction of fire is
critical to restore forest ecosystems because it supports natural, dynamic interactions
between ecosystem structure and process (Kaufmann 2004, Mclver and Starr 2001). Fire
should be reintroduced at a landscape scale, thereby allowing natural ecological processes
to shape ecosystem structure and composition over time. The most appropriate places to
implement landscape-scale fire restoration treatments include roadless areas and large
blocks of lightly roaded areas where risks to human life and property are low (DellaSala
and Frost 2001). In the Ashland Forest Resiliency planning area, this would include all
lands outside of the wildland-urban interface where intermix settlements do not exist.
The relatively short period of effective fire suppression in the Siskiyou Mountains
('~50 years) and the similarity of fire severity patterns in recent wildland fire
events compared to historical events argue for wider u~se of naturally-ignited fires. ·
in less-than-extreme weather, conditions (DellaSala. and Frost 2001, Frost. and
Sweeny 2000, Odion et al. 2004, Taylor and Skinner 1998). The Klamath NF
concluded that most of the Dillon LSR met standards as functioning late-
successional habitat after the 1994 Dillon Creek fire, suggesting that wildland fire
use is compatible with biodiversity Conservation (USDA 1996b).
Wildland fire use promotes safety and conserves financial resources
Use of naturally-ignited wildland fire to benefit resources and ~tccompli~h ecosystem
management objectives promotes worker and public safety, and it conserves limited
financial resources that otherwise could be devoted to large and inefficient suppression
OPerations. The Report language in the 'FY 2005 Senate Interior Appropriations bill on
hazardous fuels includes the following statement, which supports this proposal to amend
the North Zone FMP:
As a further method of reducing costs, the Committee strongly believes that
the Forest Service should complete Fire Management Plans as quickly as
possible, as provided in the agencies' Federal Wildland Fire Management
Policy (1995). Fire Management Plans provide guidance on use of prescribed
fire and other treatments, and response to naturally-ignited wildfires, taking
ir~to acc. ount the safety.of n.e '.arby comm.u, ni_t!es,, and..ec.o!ogical considerations.
In particular, the Committee believes the Agency shOuld~ where apPropriate,
include Wildland Fire Use (management of naturally-ignited fires) in Plans,
and implement Plans in a way that utilizes Wildland Fire Use, consistent with
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
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G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~ORES%CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 115
safety and other concerns. The Committee recognizes that Wildland Fire Use
often costs much less per acre than suppression, and may have significant
forest health benefits. 'Agencies should also coordinate across Agency
boundaries in developing Fire Management Plans, using the interagency Fire
Program Analysis system.
REFERENCES
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Agee, J.K., B. Bahro, M.A. Finney, P.N. Omi, D.B. Sapsis, C.N. Skinner, J.W. van
Wagtendonk and C.P. Weatherspoon. 2000. The use of fuelbreaks in landscape ·
fire management. Forest Ecology and Management 127: 55-66.
Agee,. J.iK., and M.H. Huff. 1986. Structure and process goals for vegetation in
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Arno, S.F. 2000.' Fire in westem forest'ecosystems. Pp."97-120 in: J.Ki Brown and'J.K.
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..... - .....a'ctivities-on natural c0mmunitiesl .~.onservatioh Biology 18: 9)7,946." . ......... . .... . .........
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Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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Betlejewski, F. Personal communication. September 14. Ashland Forest Lands
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Brown, R. 2000. Thinning, Fire and Forest Restoration.' A Science,Based Approach f. or
National Forests in the Interior Northwest. Defenders of Wildlife.'. Washington,
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Bunnell, D.L. 1995. Prescribed natural fire planning considerations: negotiating
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Fuel Treatments: The Status of our Knowledge. National Community Forestry
Center Southwest R~gion Working Paper #2. Unpubl.
Chambers, M.S. and E.A. Duncan. 1995. Prescribed natural, fire and air quality:
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and R'.H. Wakimoto (tech. coords.). Proc. Syrup..Fire in Wilderness and P'ark .... '.
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Management Medford District. Medford, OR.
Cleaves, D.A. and J.D. Brodie. 1990. Economic analysis of prescribed burning.
Pp. 271-282 in J.D. Walstad; S.R. Radosevich, and D.'V. Sandberg (eds.).
Natural and Prescribed Fire in Pacific Northwest Forests. Oregon ,State
Univ. Press. Corvallis, OR.
DeBano, L. F., R. M. Rice and C. E. Conrad. 1979. Soil Heating in Chaparral Fires:
Effects on Soil Properties, Plant Nutrients, Erosion and Runoff. USDA For. Serv.
Res. Pap. PSW-145. Albany, CA.
Deeming, J.E. 1990. Effects of prescribed fire on wildfire occurrence and severity. Pp.
95-104 in: J.D. Walstad, S.R. Radosevich, and D.V. Sandberg (eds.). Natural and
Prescribed Fire in Pacific Northwest Forests. Oregon State Univ. Press.
Corvallis, OR.
. .
· .
..... D llaSaia, D.A. arid E'. Frost." 2601.' An' ec01c~gicaily based ~trai'egy i'or fire and 'thels '
management in national forest roadless areas. Fire Management Today 61(3): 12-
23.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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DellaSala, D.A., D.M. Olson, S.E. Barth, S.L. Crane and S.A. Primm. 1995. Forest
health: moving beyond rhetoric to restore healthy landscapes in the inland
northwest. Wildlife Society Bulletin 23' 346-356.
Franklin, J.F., T.A. Spies, R. Van Pelt, A.B. Carey, D.A. Thornburgh and others. 2002.
Disturbances and structural development of natural forest ecosystems with
silvicultural implications, using Douglas-fir forests as an example. Forest .
Ecology and Management 155" 399-423.
Frost, E.J. and R. Sweeny. 2000. Fire Regimes, Fire History and Forest Conditions in
the Klamath-Siskiyou Region: An Overview and Synthesis of Knowledge. Unpubl.
report to World Wildlife Fund, Ashland, OR.
Graham, R.T., S. McCaffrey and T.B. Jain (tech. eds.). 2004. Science Basis for.
Changing Forest Structure to Modify Wildfire Behavior and Severity. USDA For.
Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-120. Ft. Collins, CO.
Hardy, C.C. and S.F.' Arno (eds). 1996. The Use of Fire in Forest Res'toration.' USDA
For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-341. Ogden, UT.
Interagency Working Group (IWG) 2001. Review and Update of the Federal"Wildland
Fire Management Policy and Program Review. Boise, ID. ..
Kaufmann, J.B. 2004. Death rides the forest: perceptions of fire, land use, and
ecological restoration in western forests. Conservation Biology 18' 878-882.
1990. Ecological relationships of vegetation and fire in Pacific Northwest
fi>rests. Pp. 39-52 in J.D. Walstad, S.R. Radosevich and D.V. Sandberg (eds.).
Natural and Prescribed Fire in Pacific Northwest Forests. Oregon State Univ.
Press. Corvallis, OR.
· Keyes, C.R. and K.L.O.'Hara: 2002. Quantifyir[g stand targets for.silvicultural
prevention of crown fires. Western Journal App. Forestry 17:101-109.
Lindenmayer, D.B. and J.F. Franklin. 2002. Conserving Forest Biodiversity: A
Comprehensive Multiscale Approach. Island Press. Washington, D.C.
Martin, R.'E. 1997. Fire as an integral component of Siskiyou ecology. Pp. 86-89 in: E.
Jules and B. Snitkin (eds.). Proc. Conf on Siskiyou Ecology, May 30-June 1'
Kerby, OR. Siskiyou Regional Education Project. Cave Junction, OR.
.'. ...
M~trtin, RiE. 'and' D.B. sapsisl "1'99'~. Fires a~"agehts:'°fbi'°diver~ity: l~0di~ersitY
promotes biodiversity. Pp. 150-157 in H.M. Kemer (ed.). Proc. Symp. on
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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Biodiversity of Northwestern California. Santa Rosa, CA: 28-31 Oct. 1991. Ctr.
Wildland Res. Rep. No. 29. Univ. of California, Berkeley.
McIver, J. and L. Starr. 2001. Restoration of degraded lands in the interior Columbia
River basin: passive vs. active approaches. Forest Ecology and Management 153:
15-28.
McMahon, T.E. and D.S. deCalesta... 1990. Effects of fire on fish and wildlife.
Pp. 233,252 in J.D. Walstad, S.R.. Radosevich,-and D.V. Sandberg (eds.).
Natural and Prescribed Fire in Pacific' NorthweSt Forests. Oregon.State
Univ. Press. Corvallis, OR.
Odion, D.C. 2002. Chaparral and other shrub vegetation. Input to World Wildlife Fund
Comment on Draft Resource Management Plan for the Cascade-Siskiyou
National Monument. Unpubl.
Odion, D.C., E.J. Frost, J.R. Strittholt, H. Jiang, D.A. DellaSala and M.A. Moritz. 2004.
Patterns of fire severity and forest conditions in the western Klamath Mountains,
northwestern California. Conservation Biology 18: 927-936. "
Parker V. T., and C. Rogers. 1988. Chaparral Burns and Management: Influence of Soil
Moisture at the Time of a Prescribed Chaparral Burn on the Response of the Native
Vegetation'from the Seed Bank. California Department of Fish and Game:.
Sacramento, CA.
Parsons, D.J. and P.B. Landres. 1998. Restoring natural fire to wilderness: how are
we doing? Pp. 366-373 in: T.L. Pruden and L.A. Brennan (eds.). Fire in
ecosystem management: Shifting the paradigm from suppression to
prescription- Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conf. Proc., No. 20. Tall Timbers
Res. Sta. Tallahassee, FL.
Rothermel, R.C. 1983. How to Predict the Spread and Intensity of Forest and Range
Fires. USDA-For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-143. Ogden; UT. - -
Ryan, K. ~2003. Personal communication. September 24. USFS Fire Sciences Lab.
Missoula, MT.
Sawyer, J.O., D.A. Thornburgh and J.R. Griffin. 1977. Mixed evergreen forest. Pp.
359-381 in: M.G. Barbour and J. Major (eds.). Terrestrial Fegetation of
California. John Wiley and Sons. New York.
· She!by,..B: and R.W.. Speaker. 1990. Public-attitudes and'perceptions about prescribed
burning. Pp. ~'5%260 in: J.D. W~lstfid,'S.R. Ra~lo~ex~i'ch, and D'.Vi S'andberg" '
(eds.). Natural and Prescribed Fire in Pacific Northwest Forests. Oregon State
Univ. Press. Corvallis, OR.
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20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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Stephens,, S.L. 1998. Evaluation of the effects of silvicultural and fuels treatments on
potential fire behavior in Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forests. Forest Ecology
and Management 105: 21-35.
Sweeney, J. R. 1956. Responses of vegetation to fire. University of California
Publications in Botany 28:143-250.
Taylor, A.H. and C.N: Skinner. 1998. Fire histow and landscape dynamics.in a iate-.
successional reserve, Klamath Mountains, Ca!ifomia, USA. F~rest Ecology and
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USDA Forest Service. 2003. Upper Bear Ecosystem Assessment. Rogue River National
Forest. Medford, OR.
2001. Ashland Watershed Protection Project Final Envi'ronmental Impact
Statement. Rogue River National Forest. Medford, OR.
1996a.'" Mount Ashland'Late-Successional Rese'rve Assessment. Rogue River and
Klamath National Forests. Medford, OR, and Yreka, CA.
li 996b. Dillon Late-Successional Reserve ASsessment. Klamath National Forest.
· Yreka, CA. · .......
USDI Bureau of Land Management. 1998. Fire Management Plan. Medford
District. Medford, OR.
US General Accounting Office (GAO). 2001. The National Fire Plan: Federal
Agencies Are Not Organized to Effectively and Efficiently Implement the Plan.
Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, Committee
on Resources, House of Representatives. GAO-01-1022T. Washington, D.C.
July 31.
van Wagtendonk, J.W. 1996. Use of a deterministic fire growth model to test fuel
treatments. In: Status of the Sierra Nevada: Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project,
Final Report to Congress, Vol. II, Assessment summaries and management
strategies. Ctr. Wildland Res., Univ. of California, Davis.
Weatherspoon, C.P. 1996. Fire-silviculture relationships in Sierra forests. In: Status of
the Sierra Nevada: Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project, Final Report to Congress,
Yol. II, Assessment summaries and management strategies. Ctr. Wildland Res.,
Univ. of California, Davis. ' ....
. - . . .- .~ . ,. . ............ . ....... . .- ...... ~
. .
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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Appendix 8.5 AFR GIS Data Analysis grid
Cate_~orv 1 Category 2 Category $
Fire Resilient Easily Made Fire Resilient Geographically, Ecologically, Logisticall
[suppression] & Politically Strategic Connec
Within Public Lands (USFS) [21639.49 Acres] Within Public Lands (USFS) [21639.49 Acres]
Grid No / Description Grid No / Description Grid No / Description
Total Acres Data Source Total Acres Data Source Total Acres Data Source
I Prior Treatment 8 Pine (Predominant sp) buffered 30M 13 City Interface Zone
Prjor.'underbufi~s PAG 1,2,3,4,5,8 PAG 1,2,3,4,5,8
1135.36 "treatment need TBD'' i 97'9.04 Upper 2/3 slopes 1196.18 Any slope
Not (stun of Category l ) Any'aspect ......
Not LHZ I or2 Not (sum of Category 1) exce
Not >65% allow RR4
Not spotted owls Not (sum of Category 2)
Not LHZ 1 (allow LHZ 2)
Not >75%
Not spotted owls
[WUI1 wui-l.shp 1419.33 a(
[WU12 wui-2.shp 2213.46 a(
[WUI3 wui-3.shp 3838.95 a{
grid l_priorunderburn.shp grid8 dvine, shp grid l 3.shp
2 Prior Treatment 9 PAG 1,2,3,8 14 Plantations~lanaged
Fuel break Upper 2/3 intellect S&W slopes Salne exclusions as above
277.63 - "treatment need TB D" 1213.19 Not (sum of Category 1 ) 166.89 Less Grid 13
Not LHZ I or 2
Not >65%
Not spotted owls
Not Grid8 [gridl4_managed 1159.14 a
·
' grid2_fuelbreak, shp grid9.shp gridl4.sh?
4 .Awpp alt6 10 PAG. 1.,2,3.,8 .. .. 1.5 . .. USFS Roads buffered 100'
Upper 1/3 intersect N&E slopes PAG 1,2,~,8
1954.46 401.83 Not (sum of Category 1) 147.65 Not (sum of Category 1)
Not LHZ 1 or 2 Not (stun of Category 2)
Not >65% Not (sum of Category 3 abow
Not spotted owls
Not Grid8
Not Grid9
grid4_awpp.shp grid l O u 1 ne.shp srid l 5.sh?
5 Riparian Areas+ 50' 11 PAG 4,5 16 Corridors
(RR4 as surrogate) Upper 1/3 intersect S&W slopes Intersect 200' buffer of ripari~
4739.61 410.67 Not (sum of Category 1 )' 1529.47 areas +50' (RR4 as surrogate'~
Not LHZ I or 2 ¼ mile buffer around ¼ mile
Not >65% with 200' buffer of all treatm<
Not spotted owls Not (sum of Category 1)
.. Not Grid8 Not (sum of Category 2)
Noi Grid9 Not (sum of Category 3 abow
Not Grid I 0 Clipped to PAG 1,2,3,4,5,8
gridll ul 45. shp
gridS_rr4, shp
Clipped2Pag_Gri(
shp
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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6
485.80
7.
335.91
Serai Stage 6 & 7
TPA ! & 2 combined < 50
>= 5 Acres contiguous
grid6_seral7, shp
Natural op~ning.s:
exposed ~oii, rock, prairie,
forb/herbac, water
grid 7_naturalopen.shp
12
863.31
PAG 4,5
Upper 1/3 intersect N&E slopes
Not (sum of Category 1)
Not LHZ I or 2
Not >65%
Not spotted owls
Not Ghd8
Not Grid9
Not Grid 10
Not Grid l 1
grid l 2. shp
17
1795.76
18
<900
¼ ~nile NSO buffet3
Clipped to PAG 1,2,3,4,5,8
Clipped2Pag_Ow/
Riparian Areas prbviously log
Clipped to PAG 1,2,3,4,5,8
· .
Clip?ed2Pag RR4. shp
8928.77 ~-- Individual Layer Totals 4868.04 ,-- Individual Layer Totals <5736 ~- Individual Layer Totals
8924.06
~- Unioned Layer Totals
Category l tota!.shp
4868.0
4
<-- Unioned Layer
Totals
Category2total. shp
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~OREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
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Appendix 8.6: Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative Monitoring
Monitoring is a key aspect of project implementation and understanding. The AFCRA
process stands to benefit greatly from lessons learned during and after implementation of
the Ashland Watershed Protection Project. We urge the Forest Service to devote and
seek out funding to implement the monitoring plan in the AWPP Record of Decision. To
the degree that the City and community can partner to accomplish this, we are willing.
The AWPP can serve as a living laboratory for learning given that the ecological
.conditions are replicated in many spots where the AFCRA proposes treatments. 'This
information will be invaluable 'to decision-making-and implementation of the larger
project.
It is imperative that efforts not be duplicated during implementation and monitoring of
the AFR/AFRCA project, regardless of the plan selected. Data gathering and ground
truthing done during the preparation and implementation phases of AFR or AFRCA
should contribute in some way toward monitoring at a later date.
This monitoring section is largely taken from the Ashland Watershed Protection iProject
final document. It has been modified to reflect the' Ashland Forest Resiliency
Community Alternative project. Thanks to all persons who contributed to the AWPP and
AFCRA monit, oring efforts.
An important addition to monitoring under this project-is an inclusion of ecological- trend-
monitoring by the Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO). The Klamath Bird Observatory will
integrate an Ashland Watershed ecological monitoring effects project with its region-
wide Joint Fire Sciences research and monitoring program. This effort will: 1) rneet the
Healthy Forests Initiative and Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) requirements to
monitor the results of authorized hazardous-fuels reduction projects by establishing a
collaborative multiparty monitoring, evaluation, and accountability process to assess the
positive'and/or negatiVe ecol6gical effects of fuel-reduction projects; and 2) contribute to
HFRA reporting requirements by providing an evaluation of and recommendations for
the project goals as they relate to National Fire Plan and National Bird
'Conservation Plan objectives. The KBO has received approval for-partial funding of this.
project from the Rogue-Umpqua RAC for FFY2005.
Modifications were also made to the soils monitoring section. Soils monitoring is an
extremely important yet often overlooked phase of project implementation.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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I. INTRODUCTION
Monitoring, the periodic measurement or observation of a process or action, must be an
integral part of land management. Monitoring to assess the effects of human generated
actions and natural events such as flood, epidemic, fire, and wind, allows for
development of land use practices that are more compatible with conservation of
biodiversity and attainment of forest.health. Conversely, management practices that
threaten health and biodiversity can be altered, or. curtailed. This process of closely
linking managemen~ planning with monitoring is an important aspect of Adaptive
Management.
The overall goal for the management of the Ashland Creek Watershed is to continue to
provide high quality drinking water for the City of Ashland, and to maintain large areas
of late-successional habitat by creating a landscape that is relatively resistant to large-
scale stand replacing wildfires. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
includes .analysis and disclosure of the proposal to manage vegetation within the Upper
Bear area and addresses the underlying Purpose and Need for the Forest Service action.
This Monitoring Plan is developed as an iterative tobl for assessing whether watershed
management is achieving its overall goals and objectives of achieving watershed health.
..
This plan establishes monitoring objectives and protocol for implementation,
baseline, effectiveness, validatibn,' and trend monitoring. ·
Implementation monitoring will track the project through layout, contract
preparation, during and immediately following project implementation, to ensure that
it is implemented as planned. This asks, "Did we do what we said we were going to
do as'. outlined in the Record of Decision (ROD)?"
Baseline monitoring will be carried out in conjunction with effectiveness
monitoring. Baseline data will be collected prior to project implementation to
characterize the existing conditions specifically for comparison to post project
conditions and will provide a basis for effectiveness monitoring.' "' '~'
._
Effectiveness monitoring will determine if the project activities were effective in
achieving the stated goals and objectives based on comparison of pre (baseline) and
post project conditions. Effectiveness monitoring asks, "Was the result of the project
as we had planned?"
Validation monitoring determines if certain assumptions and data used in the
development of this project were valid.
Trend monitoring is designed to detect changes OVer time, and is ~seful for
assessing how management activities occurring throughout the watershed are
affecting (positively or adversely) landscape or watershed scale processes.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 124
The lessons learned from monitoring and data collection will be useful for modifying
project plans to better meet watershed goals and objectives. If monitoring indicates laws,
regulations, standards or critical objectives are not being met, the project will be modified
as necessary and appropriate.
Another important concept incorporated into this Monitoring Plan .is .natural resource
education opportunities for interested commUnity members, students, and educators. It is
anticipated that as monitoring is conducted, opportunities will be available for volunteer
participation in data collection and analysis, communication of results, and continued
development of monitoring goals and objectives. Field trips, presentations, and
workshops will be scheduled to communicate progress and project monitoring results.
Progress and results will also be made available through newsletter updates and posted on
the Rogue River National Forest Intemet website (www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue).
II. IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING
Implementation monitoring asks the question, did we implement the project as
outlined in the ROD, including consistency with land allocations guiding the
implementation of management activities in the Project Area? The following specific
egaluati6h qud§'tions will be dsed to corhplete implementation monitoring:
Evaluation Questions
1) Were treatments'implemented according to design criteria including appropriate
mitigation measures and management constraints outlined in the Record of Decision and
associated listing of Mitigation Measures and Management Requirements? If
implementation deviated from design criteria and mitigation measures, dOcument: how
and why implementation deviated and whether the desired objectives as documented in
the FEIS were achieved.
2) Were fire hazard reduction treatments implemented according to treatment
prescription, treatment method, and as scheduled in the Record of Decision?
How many acres were planned for
implementation by treatment method, by fiscal
year?
[] How many acres were treated by treatment
.... method, by fisc/tl year'.9 . . ' i ................ ·
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin\FORES'lSCWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 125
Approach
Table 1 will be used to track important checkpoints, comments, accomplishments and
needs based on the Community Involvement Strategy identified in the Record of
Decision (ROD page 11). This includes items such as field trips, workshops,
de.velopment.of silvicultural prescriptions, marking guides, unit.layout, tree. marking,
and contract implementation.
Table -1. Implementation Tracking Chart- Community
Involvement Strategy
Conduct meetings with various groups and neighborhoods upon request tO discuss ..
the Decision, address concerns and questions, and identify opportunities for
continued involvement through implementation.
i3omplete public notification as various aspects of the project are to begin.
Scheduled workshop/meetings to present and-discuss implementation and .; ., :.
effectiveness monitoring plans.
Make the Implementation Monitoring Chart available on RRNF Internet website.
Schedule and conduct field reviews for representative units when manual and/or
underburning treatments have been'completed.
Notify public with results of monitoring for pre project as well as post project
conditions.
Schedule and conduct monitoring workshop for volunteers; identified units for
volunteer monitoring.
__
Schedule and conduct volunteer days in selected units for community participation
in-data coltection-for-monito/ing. .- · · .... ..
Schedule and conduct volunteer days for community participation in manual fire
hazard reduction treatments.
Schedule and conduct volunteer work days for demarking trees previously marked
within units dropped from mechanical treatments.
Make final prescriptions available prior to the implementation of tree marking in
units planned for mechanical treatments.
Notify public when tree marking is complete; opportunities will be announced for
field review (either scheduled field trips or self guided review).
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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Page 126
III. EFFECTIVENESS MONITORING
Effectiveness monitoring will determine if the project activities were effective :in
achieving the stated goals and objectives based on comparison of pre (baseline) and post
project conditions, Effectiveness m6nitoring.asl~s, was the result of the project as we had
planned? Effectiveness monitoring is closely tied to Baseline monitoring. Baseline data
will be collected prior to project implementation to characterize the existing conditions
specifically for comparison to post project conditions and will provide a basis for
effectiveness monitoring.
A. Maintenance and Development of Forest Resiliency
Introduction
Across the'landscape the Ashland Watershed has missed 3 to 9 fire cycles as a result of
fire exclusion. The effects are varied according to aspect, slope position and elevation.
In the drier, sites, vegetation has changed from more open conditions, composed of fire-
adapted species, to dense overstocked forest stands with an' increase in shade-tolerant
and fire-intolerant species. Ri'parian areas hav. e changed the least but can be problematic ....
especially in uplands. Continuous horizontal and vertical vegetation in dense stands can
act as fuel ladders allowing wildfire to spread from th~ forest floor to the canopies of
trees. Inter-tree competition for moisture and nutrients causes forested stands to self-
thin leading to an increase in dead and down fuel loads. The chance for a large-scale
high severity wildfire has increased dramatically since effective fire suppression began
as structure and composition of watershed vegetation has changed from more open to
very dense forest conditions.
The Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative outlines management strategies
for reducing, fire hazard in Upper Bear Creek and: reducing the.threat of !arge.-.scale high
severity wildfire for the purpose of safeguarding the quality and quantity of water
delivered from Ashland's Municipal Watershed, as well as for managing long-term late-
successional and old-growth forest environments.
The goal of the AFRCA project is to return the forest to a more resilient state where the
re-introduction of fire as an ecosystem process is possible through restoration of
landscape-scale fuel discontinuity according to ecological site conditions. The
discontinuity of understory fuels and overstory density are seen as a way to control fire
intensity.and spread as well .as provide .logistical opportunities for fire use .....
It is strategic to maintain the presence of fire-adapted species throughout the watershed.
The management of forest composition to maintain higher proportions of fire adapted
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 127
and/or fire resistant species such as ponderosa pine, sugar pine, incense cedar, Pacific
madrone, black oak and Douglas-fir would contribute to a forest that would be relatively
resilient to fire. The maintenance of species that quickly take over a site after fire is
important as well. These species tend to hold the soil and stabilize the site, and inhibit
the colonization of non-native species.
Another important factor in management of vegetation for creating and maintaining a
fire safe/fire resilient forest is the extent and arrangement of fuels in the Watershed on
· a landscape baSis. It is important to manage vegetation in areas that would provide the
greatest protection given the high fire risk (high values and high probability of fire
ignition).
Evaluation Questions
1) Have Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative fire hazard reduction
activities reduced the potential large-scale, high-intensity disturbance?
[] Were surfaCe fu~ls reduced, as measured bY change in tons per acre of
downed woody debris by diameter class (0 to 2.9 inch, and 3 inches plus)?
'Were ladder fuels reduced and crown base heights increased, as measured by
change' in percent cover of understory vegetation (small conifers and · ·
shrubs), and change in crown base heightmthe distance from ground level to
the lower branches of the trees forming the main canopy of the forest stand?
(change in crown base height measured for permanent plots only).
2) Have Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative fire hazard reduction
activities; reduced the potential for crown fire spread?
[] 'Were crown fuels reduced as measured by change in basal area and percent
cover of trees forming the main forest canopy?
[] Are forest stand conditions composed of fire-adapted and fire resistant species
being maintained or encouraged as a result of Ashland Forest Resiliency
Community Alternative project activities?
What is the change in proportions of fire adapted/resistant tree species in
fbrest stands treated, specifically ponderosa pine, sugar pine, incense cedar,
and Douglas-fir, Pacific madrone and black oak?
What is.th~. 'chonge in. proport..ions. 9f'.fire' adapt.ed'shrub and' herbaceous"..
species, specifically native species characterized as rapid colonizers '
tbllowing disturbance, species that dampen fire effects (higher moisture
content and lower volatile oils)?
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 128
Some of the resilient species that are fire adapted and quickly sprout, seed. or
germinate in response to fire are: Pinus ponderosa, Pinus lambertiana, Ceanothus
integerrimus, Ceanothus prostrates, Arbutus menziesii, Quercus kelloggi,
Calocedrus decurrens, Arctostaphylos patula, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Rhus
diversiloba, Ceanothus velutinus , Arctostaphylos viscida.
Are fire hazard reduction treatments maintaining or improving tree vigor
within forest stands treated, as measured by increase in diameter growth
and maintenance or increase in crown ratios (portion of the tree with
live crown). .. " "
At the landscape scale, is fire hazard being reduced in the highest risk areas and
areas that would provide the greatest protection for high value resources?
How many acres and what proportion of moderate, high, and extreme fire risk
areas were treated?
Approach
· .
The Natural Resources Information System Field Sampled Vegetation (FSVeg) l~Iod'ule
is a database, data collection system, and set of reporting tools. It is designed to
implement corporate data standards and p'mmote effective sharing of Field Sampled
Vegetation.information,-which includes.data about cover, fuels, .trees, and unders.to, ry
layers. Vegetation examinations' using the Common Stand Exam (CSE) protocols and
field procedures described in the Common Stand Exam Field Guide for Region 6, version
1.4.1 will be used to populate the database and conduct baseline and effectiveness
monitoring. These protocols are consistent with the FSVeg database attribute stm~tdards.
Delineate (or stratify) forest stands within units so that stands sampled have
fairly uniform stand characteristics. Select stands representative of the various
stand types, elevations, and aspect for establishing permanent plots, to allow
long-term (10 to 20 years) monitoring from the same vantage point. For all
stands.collect, data pre...and pos.ttreatment.
....
Use a nested plot sample design to collect variable plot data for trees 5 inches
diameter and larger (intensive plot exam design); collect fixed plot (1/100'h acre)
data for trees less than 5 inches diameter and at least 6 inches in height; and
Ih
collect data for 1/5 acre fixed plot estimating percent cover by species, life form
(woody tree, woody shrub, forbs, grasses), and vegetation layer (lowest, mid, or
highest level). Use Forest Simulator Model for analyzing data collected.
'C0ndue.t photo .monitoring as a minimum for permanent.plots. Protocol to
be further developed based on' Draft Photo' P$int MOnltoring Handbobk
(Hall 2000), and Draft Ground Based Photographic Monitoring (Hall
1999).
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~cORES~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 129
At each stand exam plot location, install one or two 50-foot transects according to
protocol outlined in Handbook for Inventorying Downed Woody Material, USDA
Forest Service General Technical Report INT-16 (Brown 1974). An average of 10 to
12 transects are needed for each stand.
Data Analysis and Storage
Vegetation data will be stored in the Natural Resources Information System 'Field
Sampled Vegetation (FSVeg) is a database. 'Data will be analyzed using the vegetation
simulation module. Coarse woody material (fuels) data will be stored and analyzed
using an Excel spreadsheet program developed for use with Brown's Protocol and/or
using the Common Stand Exam Program.
B. Soil Conditions
Introduction
The Prdjedt Area has been rated as severe to"Very severe soil erosion potential on steeper
slopes and moderate potential on gentler slopes (Badura and Jahn 1977). These are
qualitative terms describing the degree of surface soil erosion that could take place during
intense storm events if the mineral soil is exposed (not protected by duff or ground
vegetation). For the AFRCA project it Will be essential to establish,definitions'of
"steeper" and "gentler" slopes. Of equal importance is the erosion rating hazard for each
vegetative condition.
Detrimen'tal soil conditions can be expected to occur as a result of implementing the
Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative project. The degree, extent, and
duration of resultant detrimental soil conditions within each activity area influence the
magnitude of productivity loss associated with any alternative. Degree refers to the
magnitude of change in soil properties such as increase in bulk density or decrease in
macroporosity and the depth to which those changes occur. Extent refers to the area
affected by such changes. Duration refers-to the length-of time such.changes may
persist on a site. We need to establish a duration which is acceptable given site
conditions. This will differ in each soil/landtype condition taking into account the
potential cumulative effects of future projects and upslope activities.
'The Pacific Northwest Region (Region 6 or R6) has developed several policy standards
for permitted amounts of detrimental soil conditions within activity areas. The policy
standards are contained in Forest Service Manual 2500 - R6 Supplement, 2500-98-1 and
'inclt~de clefini'tio .ns for what' con. stitutes soil damage and. how. t9 ass.es.s'soil quality
cOnditions and trends. These are not targets, but maximums that should not be hit if ai all
possible.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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Page 130 F~~
Standards stated in the R6 Supplement direct that the area resulting in detrimental soil
conditions from new management activities will not exceed 20 percent of an activity area
(a treatment unit) which includes the permanent transportation system. The Rogue River
National Forest Plan has set more restrictive standards for soil compaction and surface
erosion directing that no more than 10 percent of an activity area will be compacted,
puddle, severely burned, or displaced upon completion of a management activity, and a
maximum of 20 percent considering previous management activities. R6 soil quality
standards classify an increase in bulk density of more than 15 percent at 4 to 12 inch soil
depths as detrimental soil compaction.
- .
Activities that can produce detrimentally burned soils include wildfires and all types
of prescribed fire (swamper burning, hand pile and burning, and prescribed
underbuming. Swamper bums, handpiling and burning, and burning logs in prescribed
underbums create small, unconnected areas of exposed and burned soils. The bum pile
areas are generally less than 100 square feet, and by R6 soil quality standards, not
considered large enough to be classified as detrimentally disturbed. For the purposes of
the AFRCA, we need to define bum pile standards for each unit and soil type. Factors
such as overall square footage, slope, and bum pile location are as important as an
overall area li.mit. In presdribed underbuming units, soils can be detrimentally burned
beneath hotspots (places where fire burned at higher intensities due to the higher
accumulation of fuels).or smoldering coarse woody debris. Regional soil quality
standards consider soils to be detrimentally burned when the mineral soil surface, has
been significantly changed in color (oxidized to a reddish color); and the next one-half
inch is blackened from organic matter charring by heat conducted through the top layer
on an area greater than 100 square feet and a width of 5 feet. Soils with portions of a
duff/litter layer intact have not been heated to the extent that is classified as
detrimentally burned. Again, area wide determination of soil impact is important.
Severely burned areas should not take up more than 10% of the unit area to maintain site
quality.
Detrimental surface erosion has been defined in the R6 soil quality standards as the
visual evidence of surface loss in areas greater than 100 square feet; the presence,' of rills
or gullies; and/or water quality-degradation from.~sediment or nutrient enrichment..The ....
standards go further by stating that to meet acceptable levels of soil loss and soil
management objectives, the minimum percent effective ground cover following
cessation of any soil-disturbing activity should be 60 to 90 percent on very high livery
severe) erosion hazard class soils and 45 to 60 percent for moderate erosion hazard
classes the first year after disturbance. After the second year, the effective ground cover
should be 75 to 90 percent for soils with very high erosion ratings and 40 to 60 percent
for moderate ratings. For this project, the standards for minimum effective ground
cover is 85 percent as stated in the Rogue River National Forest Plan.
· . . . .... . . .
· . . .
Pi-escrib~d underbumings can inCrease the amount of eXposed minerhl soil; 'h0'weVer, the .
degree and extensiveness of soil exposure are governed by several factors: the amount
and type of fuels; characteristics of the fire; and the fuel, duff, and soil moisture contents
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~OREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 131
at the time of the fire. Duff moisture content, especially that in the lower one-half of the
duff, is the most important determinant of duff consumption (Sandburg 1980). In a series
of underbuming experiments under stands of Douglas-fir in Western Oregon and
Washington, Sandburg found that the moisture content of the duff layer and large wood
at the tirne of the prescribed burn correlated well to the amount of mineral soil exposed
after the fire. The relationship he found was the higher the duff and fuel moistures, the
less mineral soil was exposed. Fuel managers use this relationship to determine when and
how to burn a site to maintain a prescribed amount of duff cover. Presence of soil
moisture can further reduce the-amount of bare soi'l exposed'(Frandsen and Ryan 1986).
Impacts to soils can be minimized through project design and mitigation measures,
which are documented in the Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative project
FEIS and Attachment B of the Record of Decision.
Evaluation Questions
1) How effective was project design including mitigation measures in minimizing soil
impacts .and meeting Regional and Forest Standards and Guidelines for soil protection.
What is the increase in area of detrimental soil compaction within units
treated with ground-based yarding systems, and what proportion of the
treatment uriit-are soils detrimentally compacted? What is the overall :'
impacted area including compaction, severely burned, or displaced?
[] Is 85 percent effective soil cover being maintained in treatment units?
[] What percent of the treatment areas resulted in detrimentally burned soil
conditions?
Approach
To assess the changes in soil cover resulting from project activities, install a 100-foot
transect along with each vegetation exam plot, collect the following data:
Bare Soil: For each 10-foot interval, measure the amount of bare soil encountered
beneath
the tape, measure the extent in feet to the nearest 1/10.
Bare Rock: For each 1 O-foot interval, measure the amount of bare rock encountered
· "beneath ' " ~ .......... ' .'.' ":'
. .
the tape, measure ti~e in feet to the nearest 1/10.
Litter Only Cover: For each 1 O-foot interval, measure the amount of litter
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 132
only cover encountered beneath the tape, measure the extent in feet to the
nearest 1 / 10.
Live Vegetation Cover: For each 1 O-foot interval, measure the amount of live
vegetation
encountered beneath the tape. Only include vegetation with dense mat forming
characteristics with soil contact (mosses, ground covers, low mat forming woody
shrubs).
Measure.. the extent of l~.ve vegetation in feet to the nearest 1/10..
· .
Duff Cover: For each 1 O-foot interval, measure the amount Of duff cover' encOuntered
beneath the tape, measure the extent in feet to the nearest 1/10.
Duff Depth/Litter Depth: At each 1 O-foot interval, measure the duff depth (from top
of
mineral soil to bottom of litter cover) and litter depth (from top of duff to top of litter)
to the
nearest 1 / 10 inch.
Burned soil: For each 10-foot interval, measure the amount of burned soil
encountered
beneath the tape, measure the extent to the nearest 1/10.
Additionally; Prescribed Fire Plans, also referred-to as Burn Plans, must be completed
prior to a planned fire ignition and approved by the District Ranger. Prescribed [:ire Plans
guide the implementation based on site-specific unit conditions (including fuel moisture
and weather conditions) at the time of planned ignition and will incorporate Mitigation
Measures from ROD Attachment B, Table B - 2 for soil protection. Prescribed fire plans
also provide for pre- and post-bum evaluation to monitor if the bum was carried out as
planned and its effectiveness at meeting resource objectives. The Prescribed Fire Plan is
an important tool for ensuring that project goals and objectives are met in a safe and
carefully controlled manner. Forest Service Manual (FSM) 5140 provides direction for
Bum Plan preparation.
· .. . . .
·
Data Storage and Analysis
Data collected for soil conditions will be stored and analyzed using Excel spreadsheet
program. Prescribed fire plans provide a more informal ocular estimate of pre and post
project conditions and will be stored as text documents electronically and hard copy.
C. Water Quality, Hydrologic Function, and' Aquatic Resources -.
Introduction
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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The greatest concern for impacting water quality, hydrologic function, and aquatic habitat
is associated with accelerating erosion and sedimentation to streams. Ground disturbing
activities associated with planned fire hazard reduction activities will increase the
potential for surface erosion and sediment production during and for 1 to 2 years
following implementation. The potential for increased sedimentation will taper off once
ground cover and vegetation is reestablished. Monitoring described above under Soil
Conditions will determine the effectiveness of project design in maintaining protective
soil cov.er.
'mitigatiqn measures (ROD Attachment B, Table' B-2) are required during p~'oject
implementation to avoid impacts altogether or minimize potential impacts to watei- '
quality, hydrologic function and aquatic resources. Implementation monitoring
described above will track the implementation of mitigation measures, while this
section is designed for monitoring the site-specific effectiveness of mitigation as it is
implemented. Trend monitoring described below will use a water condition indicator
and channel morphology indicator to evaluate over time how w. atershed management
is affecting water quality, hydrologic function and aquatic resources.
Evaluation'Questions and APproach
In conjmaction with site visits by contract administrators and resource specialists,
conduct iphoto monitoring to document on site application of mitigation measures.
Orghnize filing system'on district for storing of photo series along with other,
information (reports, field notes, etc.)
D. Late-Successional Reserve Integrity
Introduction
Late-Successional Reserves are designated as areas to be managed to protect and enhance
late-successional and old-growth forest ecosystems. A network of Late-Successional
Reserves are designated across the range of. the northern spotted.owl to maintain long- -
term connectivity of late-successional and old-growth forest ecosystems, which serve as
habitat (including migratory and dispersal) for late-successional and old-growth forest
related species. The Northwest Forest Plan recognizes the need to manage disturbance
risks in the Oregon and California Klamath Province. Silvicultural systems proposed in
reserves for the objectives of reducing their susceptibility to stand replacing fires may be
appropriate. "Compartmentalized landscape units of reduced fuel allow safe access for
fire suppression crews and provide strategic locations for efficient and effective fire
suppression. Stands are manipulated to reduce continuity of canopies, boles are pruned on
residual tfee~, .and significant q'.uantities Of iind:erStolry fuels are remo. ved." (USDA/USDI,
1994 p. B7-B8). Many of these treatments may reduce the quality of habitat for late-
successional organisms, and a balanced approach to reduce the risk of fire while
protecting larger areas of fire-prone late-successional forest must be sought
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 134 F~I
(USDA/USDI, 1994 p. B7-B8).
As required by the Northwest Forest Plan, a Late-Successional Reserve Assessment
(LSRA), including a Fire Management Plan, was completed prior to planning for'
vegetation manipulation activities within the Mt. Ashland Late-Successional Reserve.
Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) review of the LSRA was completed and documented
in a September 30, 1996 memo (FEIS, Appendix B), exempting this project from further
REO project .level review. The Mt. Ashland LSRA documents desired conditions, for
compo§itional and structural characteristics for the Mt. Ashland Late SUccessional
Reserve (USDA f996 p. 15).
While vegetation management activities authorized under the Ashland Forest
Resiliency Community Alternative project for the purpose of hazardous fuels reduction
may reduce the quality of late successional habitat, it is anticipated that overall forest
structure and composition will be maintained within the ranges identified in LSRA
desired composition and structural characteristics. Monitoring is needed to determine
how effective project design criteria are in developing or maintaining desired habitat
characteristics.
Evaluation Questions
1). What is the change in structural and compositional forest
stand characteristics, as determined by the following
analysis indicators?
[] Average tree diameter in forest stands treated;
[] Percent cover of vegetation by forest layer (forest floor,
understory, and overstory), by species;
[]' Number'of snagS'per acre by sPecies, dlameter class,'
height, and decay class;
[] Basal area per acre (the measure of the number of
square feet occupied by tree stems);
[] Coarse woody material as measured by tons per acre and
pieces per 'acre in specific Size' and decay classes.' .....
Approach
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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The approach detailed under section III, A, Maintenance and Development of a Fire Safe
Forest uses the Common Stand Exam (CSE) protocols and field procedures described in
the Common Stand Exam Field Guide for Region 6, version 1.4.1. Transects according to
protocol outlined in Handbook for Inventorying Downed Woody Material, USDA Forest
Service General Technical Report INT-16 (Brown 1974) are being collected to provide
data on coarse woody material.
[] Complete analysis of.pre ..and post project vegetation data to determine changes in
" vegetation composition and structure (including snags).
[] Complete analysis of coarse woody material transect data (pre and post project
conditions) to determine changes in levels of coarse woody material.
Data Analysis and Storage
Vegetation data will be stored in the Natural Resources Information System Field
Sampled Vegetation (FSVeg) is a database: Data Will be analyzed using the
vegetation simulation module.
Coarse woody material .(fuels) data will be stored and analyzed using an Excel
spt6adsheet pro'gram de~,elOped -for' use vcith Brown's Protocol and/or using the
Common Stand Exam Program.
E. Non-native plant Management
Introduction
Non-native plants are a serious concern in the watershed, especially where ground ~
. disturbance will create ample opportunities for non-native introduction and
establishment. Non-natives have had extremely negative effects on grassland ecosystems,
changing fire frequency and species composition (Brooks et al, 2004).
· MATTHEW L. BROOKS,
dtdy 2004 / Vol. 54 No. 7 · BioScience 679
Evaluation Questions ......... ,
·
1.) Has the presence and extent of noxious weeds increased
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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Page 136 F~~
due to the implementation activities?
[] Map extent of all noxious weed populations and monitor
# of individuals, reproducing individuals.
-NI Propose mitigation measures for all known and new
·
·
populations. MonitOr population trends after treatments:
..
Approach
Map invasive weeds and enter population locations and descriptions into a GIS database.
Treatment of noxious weed populations is required within 250 feet of treatment prior to
new disturbance. Plan entry routes to avoid weed patches. Routinely require vehicle and
equipment washing for contractors working in the watershed. Post-treatment monitoring
is required to detect the spread of existing or invasion of new noxious weed populations.
A spreading or a new population shall be treated so it can be controlled or eliminated.
..
Literature Cited
BROOKS, MATTHEW L. et al. BioScience Vol. 54 No. 7 July 2004.
IV. VALIDATION MONITORING
Validation monitoring is designed to determine if certain assumptions and data
used in the development of the project are valid, or if they need adjustment for
goal attainment.
A; Delayed Bark Beetle Mortality in Ponderosa and Sugar Pine
Introduction
Some amount of delayed bark beetle caused mortality of large ponderosa and sugar pine
can be expected as a result of prescribed underburning. In the absence of fire, substantial
mounds of d.ecomposed needles and exfoliated bark scales (bark chip mounds) develop
arouhd the bhses'.of pine frees.'The Width and delSth of these.barklchip mounds inicrease '
with time since the last fire, and tend to be the greatest around the larger trees. When fire
is prescribed for stands where older pines are present, the duff layers around the bases of
the trees can smolder. If high temperatures are maintained for a long time around the base
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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Page 137 F~I
of the trees, considerable amounts of cambium at the root collar can be killed. This can be
particularly damaging if prolonged heating coincides with active cambial growth. Many
large pines also produce fine rootlets that grow into duff layers; these can be killed or
damaged when the duff layer bums. Investigators have found that some pines injured as
a result of smoldering duff piles die two to four years after the bum due to western pine
beetle, mountain pine beetle, red turpentine beetle, and/or pine engraver infestation
(Flanagan 1996, Harrington and Sackett 1992, Ryan 1990, Ryan and Frandsen 1991,
Swezy antd Agee .1990, Thomas and Agee 1986.) ....
.. · ..
·
Existing rest'arch literature on delayed pine mortality indicates that pine losses
associated with prescribed fire are lowest where the fire duration is as short as possible
and duff ]mounds are as wet as possible at the time when the fire occurs. Research
examining the timing of spring bums in May through June, report 10 to 38 percent
delayed pine mortality. Other investigations suggest that raking bark chip mounds away
from the base of pines two years prior to prescribed underbuming may reduce adverse
effects of underbuming on large pines.
Evaluation Questions
[] What is the rate of mortality of large ponderosa, and sugar pine in stands
treated with prescribed underbuming?
..
[] How does the mortality rate compare to untreated stands (control).
Does raking 2 years prior to prescribed underbuming noticeably reduce the
rate of large pine mortality resulting from underbuming and subsequent bark
beetle activity?
Approach
Establish' plots within selected sample of prescribed underbuming units; include .. · --
treatment units with various combinations of treatment methods (mechanical
treatments, prescribed underbuming only, manual treatment followed by prescribed
underburning, etc.), at various elevations and aspects.
For comparison, establish plots in untreated areas as controls. Track bark beetle
infestation over the next 20 years. A proportion of pines will be selected for raking, to
remove extra fuel from base of pines for protecting the fine roots. Raking will be
conducted 2 years prior to underbuming.
The'Southwest Oregon Forest Insect and Disease Service Center will prepare, an' '
establishment report detailing the approach and Objectives for monitoring delayed bark
beetle mortality, and will begin installation of plots in spring 2001.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland, or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 138
B. Effect Of Douglas-Fir Dwarf Mistletoe Infection On Survival Of
Douglas-Fir Trees Following Prescribed Underburning.
Introduction
Dwarf mistletoe infection increases ladder fuels in the crowns of infected trees and the
concentration of ground fuels around the base, .resulting in more severe fire behavior
(Hawksworth and Wiens '1996). ReSearch in southwestern ponderosa pine has shown th~it.
heavily infected trees had lower probability of survivhl after btirning than healthy, trees'
(Harrington and Hawksworth 1990). Similar observations have been reported for
mistletoe-infected Douglas-fir (Alexander and Hawksworth 1975), but there is little if
any data available to quantify the relationship between Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe
infection levels and survival following prescribed burning.
Evaluation Questions
[] ' Is there a difference in the rate of survival after underburning among uninfected
and
infected Douglas-fir trees?
[] Does the severity of infection affect survival?
[] Does the.height above the ground of the lowest mistletoe broom affect survival?
[] Does the fuel load immediately around infected trees affect survival?
Approach
After mechanical treatments are. completed, establish permanent plots in Unks .9 and B.
Sample Douglas-fir trees in a variety of diameter classes and the following four
infection levels:
-uninfected (DMR 0),
-lightly infected (DMR 1-2),
-moderately infected (DMR 3-4) and
-heavily infected (DMR 5-6).
Coll'eet data on'fuel load and"height above th.e ground ofthe lowest'-mistletoe broom. --
Compare survival after burning among the infectiOn l'eVels.
Southwest Oregon Forest Insect and Disease Service Center will prepare a monitoring
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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plan and install plots beginning in Fall 2001.
V. TREND MONITORING
Trend monitoring is.designed to detect changes'over time, and is useful for asSessing
how management activities occurring throughout the watershed are affecting (positively
or adversely) landscape or watershed scale processes.
A. Water Quality and Hydrologic Function
Introduction
The.Ashland Watershed is important to,the City of Ashland as the prim.ary source of its
municipal water supply, and is an important source of cold water'feeding downstream
aquatic habitat. Therefore the maintenance of water quality and hydrologic function are
important considerations in the management of the Watershed. Trend monitoring is
.useful for. detecti.ng changes. in overall watershed co. nditions, which influence water
quality and hydrologic function.
Evaluation Questions and Approach
The Rogue River National Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Framework (Forest
Monitoring Framework) outlines Key Questions, Approach, and Methodology for
monitoring water condition and stream morphology as indicators of the health of
aquatic systems (physical and chemical) (USDA 1997). Conduct monitoring in the
Ashland Watershed according to approach an.d. methodology outlined in the Forest
'M6nit°ring=F~-amework and'the Water Quality Monitoring Handbook prepared i~/'"
conjunction with the Forest Monitoring Framework.
Install three recording rain gauges within the Ashland Creek Watershed, one on the
East Fork, one on the West Fork, and the third atop Hosler Dam. Re-install the East
and West Fork Ashland Creek gauging stations
Data AnalYSiS a. nd Storage ....... . ...........
.. ..
Gauging: stations and data storage would be maintained by USGS. Data previously
collected is available real-time and located on the USGS Intemet website:
http ://water.usgs. gov/usa/nwis/nwisman? site_no= 14353000 (West Fork)
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.,or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-adrnin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 140
http://water.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/nwisman?site_no: 14353500 (East Fork).
B. Late-Successional Reserve Integrity
Introduction
The Mt. Ashland Late-Successional Reserve is part of a network of Late-Successional
Reserves designated across the ra..nge of the northern spotted owl. The overall objective o'-f-
the Late-Successional Reserve network is' t0 maintain long-term connectivity of late-
successional and old-growth forest ecosystems, which serve as habitat (including
migratory and dispersal) for late-successional and old-growth forest related species.
The overall goals and objectives identified in the Mt. Ashland Late-Successional
Reserve Assessment is to develop and maintain a range of late-successional fores, t
conditions based on local site capabilities and fire. regime of southwest Oregon and
northern California.
Forest conditions should include a diversity of habitat types including early successional,
open canopy forest, hardwood forests, and non-forested areas to provide for a'diversity of'
plant and animal species. The spatial distribution of late-successional and old-growth
habitat would exist in a manner ensuring connectivity and late successional ecosystems
across the Late-Successional Reserve. Landscapes are resilient to disturbances such as
fire, insects, disease and are relatively resistant .to large ~cale disturbances that could
potentially impact connectivity within the Mt. Ashland LSR as well as connectivity to the
Late-Successional Reserve Network.
Evaluation Questions and Approach
Landscape-scale monitoring of the watershed, or landscape level trends in
proportion and distribution of successional stages will be evaluated using aerial
photography and satellite imagery post project, and periodically over time; at i 0-
year intervals or fottowin-g major'disturbance events.'- --
Annual Regional Aerial Detection Surveys will be used to monitor trends in insect and
disease outbreaks over time.
Ecology plots monitored by the Area Ecology Program, provide an opportunity to
measure the effects and trends over time, of management activities in the Waterslned.
Plots established and inventoried (1975-85) provide information on plant species
composition, structure, and landscape pattern. To date, only a decade of time separation
is' established, which is' not enough to provide trend data. More time series data is
'needed to determine change and' evhluate the cause of change as it is detected.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin\FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 141
C. Aquatic Habitat
Introduction
East and West Forks of Ashland Creek provide good examples of pristine salmonid
habitat, protected as a Municipal Watershed (MA-22 - Restricted Watershed) for the City
of Ashland, and managed as Late-Successional Reserve under the Northwest Forest Plan.
The streams are important analog sites used.t.0 compare with stream channel conditions in
other str¢:ams ~of similar-geom0rphology in the Siskiyou Mountains. The Riparian
Reserves contain a high' percentage df mature and l'ate-successional conifer forest,
providing an excellent long-term supply of large wood to the stream channels and
numerous benefits to riparian-dependent species.
East and West Forks of Ashland Creek, and their tributaries, are steep and highly
dissected drainages. The main channels of the two forks are predominantly "B 1, B2"
stream types (2-4% gradient) (Rosgen 1994) and valley types of colluvial and bedrock
canyons 'with inclusions of alluviated canyons (Frissel 1986). This geomorphology results
in numerous pocket pools created by boulder and bedrock substrate and occasional large
wood material. These 13ocket pools Pr6vide excellent microh~/bitat for fish rearing.
Fish surveys completed in East and West Forks of Ashland Creeks revealed a healthy
population (each pool surveyed containing 1 to 2 adults with all age classes present) of
cutthroat and rainbow trout exists within both forks (USDA 1990, 1998). Tributaries to
the E'as~' anal WeSt Forks of Ashland Creek are primarily "Al" stream types (> 4%
gradient), and valley types of colluvial and bedrock canyons. The combination of steep
gradients and low stream flows in these tributaries do create habitat capable of supporting
fish populations. Descriptions of the stream channel types and canyon types can be
reviewed in the 1995 Bear Watershed Analysis.
A field review of stream conditions following the 1997 New Year's Day flood revealed
that some large wood had been flushed through the stream. Nevertheless, the habitat
appeared[ to be in good condition and comparable to pre-flood conditions. Excellent
water te~nperatures contribute to optimal habitat conditions for fish. During the summer
of I994 (record drought), high stream temperatures were 64~4 degrees Fahrenheitin
East Fork of Ashland Creek. Maximum seven-day average high stream temperature for
1993-1995 and 1997 (no data for 1996) were 60.8, 64.4, 52.3, and 60.2 degrees
Fahrenheit, respectively.
The stream channels within the East and West Forks of Ashland Creek and their
tributaries can accumulate high amounts of fines (fine sediment embedded in bottom of
stream channel) due to unstable and highly erodible granitic terrain (see Geology and
Soils). Following the 1997 New Year's Day Flood, some bank erosion was evident.
Mhch .o.'f the sediment was flUshed' throughout the Ashland' Watershed and deposited into
Reeder Reservoir.
USFS and BLM contracted macroinvertebrate surveys during 1994-5 in West and East
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
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Forks of Ashland Creek with Bob Wisseman, Aquatic Biology Associates, Inc.
Wisseman stated, "The East and West Forks of Ashland Creek above the reservoiir can
serve as reference sites for the region, and more specifically for granitic watersheds in the
area. These can also be classified as old-growth control sites, though there has been some
logging/roading activity in the Watershed in the past." In his 1995 report, Wisseman
describes high quality habitat conditions: "What this site, and a hand full of others in SW
Oregon, demonstrates; is that a granitic watershed, where stream channels are naturally
storing and transporting, high amounts of coarse, granitic sand,, can display and maintain
very high biotic integrity". ..-
Reeder Reservoir serves as a rearing area for large trout. These fish are unable to
spawn or migrate up the East and West Forks of Ashland Creek due to small
constructed sediment ponds at the mouth of each creek, which prevent fish passage.
Fish within Reeder Reservoir are also prevented from migrating downstream due to
the presence of Hosler Dam, except during past flushing of the reservoir. Unnamed
tributaries, which flow into Reeder Reservoir, serve as spawning areas for fish that
reside in the reservoir.
Upper A§hland Creek, frOm Hosler Dam t6 City of Ashland Water Treatment' Plant, hai
poor habitat conditions due to dewatering of the stream for municipal water purposes.
Few fish exist in this stream segment (USDA 2000). A segment of upper Ashlanq Creek
from the City of Ashland Water Treatment Plant to Granite Street Reservoir, provides fair
habitat'for resident fish populations and contains the highest qualitS,.fish habitat within
mainstem Ashland Creek. Stream and valley types are similar to East and West Forks of
Ashland Creek ("B 1, B2" stream type, colluvial/bedrock canyons). A road accessing the
treatment plant is located adjacent to upper Ashland Creek and encroaches upon the
stream channel and' its floodplain. Road encroachment in most segments of the stream
decreases sinuosity, which effects habitat diversity and quality, important for winter
rearing. A moderate population (less adults than expected, age classes not well-
represented) of rainbow and cutthroat-trout were surveyed in this-segment.
Numerous pocket pools with a few high quality pools were present. The pools were
created by the large boulders and bedrock substrate, large wood was lacking. Corttinual
activities'asso'ciated with road maintenance, will inhibit the function of this stream .,- ,
segment in the future.
The four unnamed tributaries in this segment of Ashland Creek have low or nonexistent
stream flow, lack pool habitat, and are too steep to support fish populations. The
tributaries are similar to tributaries of East and West Forks of Ashland Creek stream and
valley types ("A 1" stream type, colluvial/bedrock canyons). In addition, fish passage is
blocked by impassable culverts located at road crossings (non-system road leading to
City of Ashland Water Treatment Plant) of these tributaries (ODFW 1999).
Trend monitoring is designed to detect changes in aquatic'habitat conditiOns and fish
presence and absence over time, and can be used as one indicator of overall watershed
condition.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin~FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 143 r,~1
Evaluation Questions and Approach
In addition to the water quality parameters described above, the aquatic and riparian
parameters to be measured are listed below. These parameters are indicators, utilized for
baseline data and reveal upward or downward trends in stream conditions and fish
habitat.
The high priority monitoring parameters to be measured pre-, po~t-project, and every
. .
5 to 10 years are:
Pebble counts
Macroinvertebrate assemblages and abundance (biological integhty)
Fiish habitat in the East and West Forks of Ashland Creek, and below Reeder
Reservoir (including down woody material).
Fish presence and absence by establishing two permanent sites on the East and
West Fork of Ashland Creek.
Monitoring aqt~atic habitat and fish presence and absence has been ongoing in
Ashland Creek Watershed, more intensively since the early 1990s.
Data' Storage 'and AnalYsis
Data is stored in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Region 6 Forest Service
Stream Survey database (in process of converting to Oracle database)~ Excel
spreadsheets, and hardcopy format (on file at the Ashland Ranger Station).
Analysis of individual data sets is conducted under contract or by Forest aquatic
biologists as data is collected. Overall-analysis and synthesis of data will occur
periodically and likely in association with watershed analysis updates.
D. Avian Monitoring through Klamath Bird Observatory
We will use a Before and After Control and Impact (BACI) study design to
monitoring the ecological effects of planned commercial thinning and fuel reduction
activities. A minimum of 50 independent monitoring
· ~thtions will be"es'[ablighed in association with each'treatment type and in
untreated control sites. 1-2 years of pre-treatment baseline data Will be
collected (depending on project and timber sale timelines) and 3-5 years of
post treatment effectiveness monitoring data. Standard bird and habitat
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-adminXFOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 144
survey techniques will be used to determine the ecological effects of
treatments.
To contribute to KBO efforts to monitor long-term trends throughout the
region it is recommended that intensive constant effort demographic
monitoring mist netting station be established to provide landscape level
trends in bird population size and annual productivity.
Please contact:
John Alexander, Executive Director
Klamath Bird Observatory
Email: j da@KlamathBird, org
Phone: (541) 201-0866
REFERENCES
o
ih
Agee, James K. 1996. "The Influence of Forest Structure on Fire Behavior." ! 7
Forest Vegetation Management Conference; 52-68 pp.
Alexander, Martin E. and F.G. Hawksworth. 1975. Wildland fires and dwarf mistletoes:
A literature review of ecology and prescribed burning. USDA Forest Service:, GTR-
RM-14. 12 pp.
Badura, George and Philip Jahn. 1977. Soil Resource Inventory for the Rogue River
National'Forest.-Medford, Oregon. ·
Brown, James K. 1974. Handbook for Inventorying Downed Woody Material. USDA
Forest Service General Technical Report INT-16. Intermountain Forest and range
Experiment Station. Ogden, Utah
Flanagan, P. 1996. "Survival of Fire-Injured Conifers. Fire Management Notes, 56:13-16
PP.
Frandsen, William and Kevin C. Ryan. 1986. Soil moisture reduces-below ground heat
flux and soil'temPeratUres under a burning fuel pile. Canadian dournal of Forest
Research. 16' 244-248 pp.
Public Wod(s Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
G:~oub-wrks\eng\dept-admin\FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 145
Frissel, Christopher A. 1986. Classification of Stream Habitat and Watershed Systems in
South: Coastal Oregon and an Assessment of Land Use Impacts. Oregon Department
of Fis, h and Wildlife. Portland, Oregon.
Hall, Fredrick C. 1999. Ground-Based Photographic Monitoring DRAFT. Natural
Resource Unit - Pacific Northwest Region. USDA Forest Service. Portland,
Oregon
· ..
Hall', Fredrick C. 2000. Photo Point Monitoring H'andb'ook DRAFT. Natural Resource
"Unit- Pacific Northwest RegiOn. USDA Forest Service. Portland, Oregon
Hamngton, Michael G. and F.G. Hawksworth. 1990. Interactions of fire and dwarf
mistletoe on mortality of southwestern ponderosa pine. In: Krammes, J.S., Tech.
coord. Effects of fire management of southwestern natural resources, Proceedings
of a symposium. November 1517, 1988, Tucson, AZ. USDA Forest Service, GTR-
RM-191: 2234-240.
Harrington, M.G., and S.S. Sackett. 1992. "Past and present fire influences on
southwestern ponderosa pine. old-growth". Old-growth forests of Southwest and
Rocky Mountain Region. Workshop, Portal, AZ. pp. 44-50.
Hawksworth, Frank G. and D. Wien~. 1996. Dwarf mistletoes: Biology,
p'athology and systematics. USD-A Forest Service, 'Agriculture Handbook
#709. 410 pp.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 1999. Aquatic survey data, on file at the
Ashland Ranger District.
Rosgen, Dave. 1994. Applied Fluvial Geomorphology. Unpublished course manual.
Wildland Hydrology Consultants. Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Ryan, K. Ci 1990. "Predicting Prescribed Fire Effects on Trees in the Interior West." M.E.
Alexander, F.F. Bisgrove technical advisors The Art and Science of Fire
Management. 'Proceedings' of the First Interior. West Fire Council Annual Meeting.
Forestry Canada, Northern Forestry Centre. 148-162 pp.
Ryan, K.C. and W.H. Frandsen. 1991. "Basal Injury from Smoldering Fires in
Mature Pinus Ponderosa." International Journal of Wildland Fire. 1' pp. 107-
118.
Sandberg, David. 1980. Duff Reduction by Prescribed Underburning in Douglas Fir.
PNW Research Paper MW-272. Portland, Oregon.
Swezy, D.M. and J.K. Agee. 1990. "Prescribed'Fire Effects on Fine ROot and Tree
Mortality in Old-Growth Ponderosa Pine." Canadian Journal of Forest Research.
·
21' 626-634 pp.
Public Work.,; Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main St=reet Fax: 541-/488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland..or.us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-adrnin\FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 146
Thomas, T.L. and J.K. Agee. 1986. "Prescribed Fire Effects on Mixed Forest Structure
at Crater Lake, Oregon." Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 16:1082-1087 pp.
USDA Forest Service. 1990. Rogue River National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan. Medford, Oregon.
USDA Forest Service. 1991. Forest Service Manual 5140 -Prescribed Fire. 12/16/91
..
USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management. 1994. The Recordof
Decision for'Amendments to Forest service and Bureau of Land Managemerzt
Planning Documents Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl. Portland,
Oregon.
USDA Forest Service. 1995. The Bear Watershed Analysis. Ashland Ranger District.
Ashland, Oregon.
USDA Forest Service. 1996. The Mt. Ashland Late-Successional Reserve Assessment.
Ashland Ranger District. Ashland, Oregon.
·
..
USDA Forest Service. 1997. Ecosystem Monitoring Framework. Rogue River National
For.est. Medford, Oregon.
USDA Forest Service. 1998. Forest Service Manual. Title 2520 -' Watershed
Protection and Management. R-6 Supplement No. 2500.98-1; August 24, 1998.
USDA Forest Service. 2000. Version 1.4.1. Common Stand Exam Field Guidefi~r
Region 6. Portland, Oregon. August '23.
USDA Forest service. 2001. Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Ashland
· ~. Watershed Protection Project..Ashland Oregon.
USDA Forest service. 2001. Record of Decision for the Ashland Watershed Protection
Project. Ashland Oregon.
.. ..
USDA Forest Service. 1900 and 1998. Fish survey data, on file at the Ashland Ranger
District.
USDA Forest Service. 2000. Aquatic survey data, on file at the Ashland Ranger District.
Wisseman, Bob. 1995. Benthic Invertebrate Biomonitoring in the Rogue River National
Forest, Oregon. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Ashland Ranger District. Aquatic
Biology Associates, Inc. Corvallis, Oregon.
Public Works Tel: 541/488-5587
20 E. Main Street Fax: 5414488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800/735-2900
www.ashland.or, us
GSpub-wrks\eng\dept-admin\FOREST~CWPP 9 20 04 Final.doc
Page 147
Chapter 9 Community Outreach and Education
Although progress has been made in community wildfire education, judging the effectiveness of
past and present outreach efforts is difficult. As previously mentioned, fire departments are an
effective partner in home protection. They possess a great deal of information that homeowners
can use to safeguard their homes. Cementing this mutual responsibility is critical in alleviating
the false perception that local suppression efforts alone will save all lives and homes. Creating a
community c, ulture of homeowner education and individual homeowner preemptive action
:remains the ultimate goal for local outreach. .. ..
..
.
'Past Outreach Efforts
.
Year
Outreach Activity
Door to door dissemination of information in WUI
1976,1977,1992,1993
1999 Public Meeting At SOU. Sponsored by Chamber of Commerce
2001 Public Forum
2003 Addition of WUI maps and text to city website
2003 Watershed Disturbance Ecology Symposium at SOU
2004
' ~3r~going
Wildfire Homeshow at Ashland Armory
Wildfire Safety message in utility billing
Ashland's WUI Demographic
·
The Ashlancl'WUI' dbmmunity is' difficult to thrget in a single educ~iti6rial effort. Independent
homes (old and new) mixed with newer subdivisions create a potluck of attitudes, organization,
incomes, and relationships. This is further complicated by absentee owners who maintain rental
properties in the WUI.
All of these homes and properties in the interface are connected by complex landscape features
and wildland fuels. This diversity of landscape as well as the variety of property ownership
· requires a multi-faceted approach to. education and outreach..
Multi-_faceted Approach
· ..
There is no "silver bullet" that will motivate everyone to become fire-safe. Past efforts have
generated awareness among owner/residents but no single effort has been uniformly successful.
Each outreach generates interest and action in a portion of the audience.
Within organized subdivisions there are opportunities to develop sustained programs with the
help of the homeowners' associations. This has proven to be an important tool to leverage
blocks of homeowners in a significant portion of the Ashland WUI.
"W:haJ~is the Goal?:"'
There are two associated goals for outreach: 1) the message itself, and 2) effective delivery of the
message.
Fire Safety Goals in the Ashland WUI
Page i 48 of ! 57
1. Ensure safety of citizens and firefighters A. Implement evacuation planning/signage
B. Maintain safe evacuation routes
C. Enforce regulations related to wildfire safety
D. Maintain highly trained and well-equipped firefighters
2. Minimize ignitability of structures
A. Advertise home inspection program (SB360 Assessor).
B..Create and enforce firesafe landscaping ordinance -
3. Decrease wildfire spread potential and severity across landscape A. Continue Fuels Reduction Grant Program
B. Fund City position when grants aren't available
C. Maintain Water Funds for City lands management
Outreach Principles
1. Diversify message delivery through multiple media outlets
21 Maintain efforts through established channels '"'
3. Use opportunities wisely. Focus on home-site safety
4. Target organized homeowner's associations
5. Make message clear and easy to accomplish
·
. .
'..
Upcoming Opportunities
The CitY Wildfire Evacuation Plan will be ready for introduction to the public in the fall of 2004.
Aided by'a Jackson County Title III grant, an opportunity 'exists for significant Outreach to
interface residents. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program operated by
Ashland Fire and Rescue is a good source of volunteers. CERT volunteers are Ashland residents
trained by AF&R staff to aid in emergencies. As residents of the WUI zone themselves, they are
good resources and enjoy being active in their neighborhoods. With grant funds available there
may also be an employee paid to canvass neighborhoods in the evenings and weekends.
.
· . -. .
.. .. ... . .
·
The City of Ashland sponsors home tours for various reasons' resource conservation, gardens,
solar energy, etc. The Tree Commission suggested developing an Ashland Wildfire Safety Tour.
The tour would focus on positive examples of brush thinning, appropriate landscaping, and home
maintenance. Often, people don't have a positive mental image of fire safety. The Objective is to
show how a firesafe home can be attractive and functional.
The Oregon Department of Forestry will be sending out letters to residents in the WUI regarding
Senate Bill 360 (described in Chapter 5). Under this bill there is an opportunity for the local fire
..... "' department to hfive a certified assessor to help local residents-comply.with the.regulations. This,
would be an advantage in Ashlahd So that'local issues can be addressed.
Ashland Fire and Rescue was awarded a Title III grant for watershed education in 2003-2004.
Part of this grant will be used to create a wildfire ecology interpretive trail. The trail will begin
Page 149 of 157
on Ashland Loop Road along the Alice in Wonderland trail and connect to the BTI trail down to
Glenview Drive and upper Lithia Park. The signs will be installed in the Fall of 2004.
Action Items:
" 1 Implement outreach for the-evacuation, plan. Utilize CERT volunteers or paid
'employee fo dis'tribute information.
2,,Sponsor wildfire home safety tour in Spring of 2005. Contact residents whose
homes provide good examples.
3. Provide a certified assessor from AF&R for compliance with Oregon Senate Bill
360.
.. 4. Complete fire ecology interpretive trail. Advertise location to public.
Page 150 ofl57
Chapter 10 Summary of Action Items: Where Do We Go Now?
This list of Action Items summarizes actions recommended for continued fire preparedness. This
will be useful to citizens, the Ashland Forest Lands Commission, City Staff, and City Council for
tracking the utility of this plan.
Action Items and Plan:
i inplement outr.e, ach for the evacuation plan. [itilizc C iiRT voluntccr~ ~>r paid cl~t~loycc
Fire (~hicf5 Expected Completibn' Spring of ~()(~5'. l:tmding: Title 11[ ami (:ily
Sponsor wildfire home safety tour in spring of 20115. '[our of ho~ncs with good defensible
space, fire-resistant landscaping, and fire safe construction.
Responsible Party: Chris Chambers, Forest Work Grant Coordinator. Expected (iompletion:
Spring 2005 and yearly after that. Funding: Small amount may help to advertise.
Provide a certified Oregon Senate Bill 360 assessor ti'om Ashland Fire & Rescue.
ant., ODF. Expectcq (~ompletlon: Fall/Winter ~()()4 or when
Responsiblc Party: CityofAshl 1'~ ~ ~ ' ~
'class at ODF.is given'fbi-' Cet~i}~caticm. ' .... ..: .'-
[:unding: Title III (already acquircq) if Grant Coordinator position is utilized.
Complete fire ecology interpretive trail. Finish and install signs along Alice in
Wond'erland/BTI trails. Advertisa location to publia.. ResponsiJo[e party;. Forest Work Grant
Coordinator, City contract forester. Expectcd Completion: Fall 2004. Funding: Title 111
Watershed Education funds (already acquired).
l)evelop and enforce firesafe landscapi~g ordinance l~br new and existing
structures. Responsible party: Ashland Fire and Rescue staff: Expected
COlnpletion' Fall 2004. Funding: City funds.
·
.
Adopt International Fire Code (Oregou Fire Code) in the fall/winter of20()4, include
local amendments, to regulate flammable vegetation around homes. Responsible ]?arty:
Ashland Fire and Rescue.. Expected,completion:-Fall o}' W.m-ter of 2004-20.05.
Evaluate water flow capabilities in WU I neighborhoods under simulated worst-case fire
conditions. Identify those with potential problems and suggest mitigation nlcasurcs to
Public Works and property owners. Expected (7omplction: Study could be done in 2005.
Unknown timeline for mitigation (if any) Rcspol~siblc Party: City Stall5 l:unding: City t:hnds
to study capabilities and idcntif~ problem areas, t-Sxplorc t~nds fi)r possiblo mitigation
mcasurcs.
ldentify'elettrici~ infr.aslr~ucture· at- risk during ~a, ildfire.- -'Identify.mitigation measures-
and present cost analgsis'to Council/residentsl Responsibi~ Party: Ashland PubliX'Worlds
Department. Expected completion: Analysis done by end of 2005. Unknown tbr any
proposed mitigation. Funding: City budget for analysis. Mitigation funds dependent Upon
cost and scope.
Page 151 of 157
Conduct ~viltlfi,'e evacuation drills in differcnl neighl)orhoods each year.
Responsible Party: Ashland Fire and Rescue. Completion: Plans arc in the works to test thc
evacuation plan in thc Spring of 2005. Each area in thc WUI could bc evacuated over time
during a drill. Funding: '['itlc 11I fi)r 2005, city.' l'unds or Title III in tbliowing years.
Maintain grant-funded thinning I)rojects o,,'¢r lime. This includes control of
species (Scotch Broom) and native grass seeding. Implement cost-share Scotch
pulling in key areas.. Rcspo.osiblc Party: Fox'est W{)rk (h'ant Coordinator. Coml, lcti()n Date:
Oneoin,,- }:undi~l,,:' l'itlc Ill fi)r stat'i' ti{nc, l>ossi~'~lc t~nctin(, t~)r WOl'k i~clciclcs ~l'itlc II.
Maintain Stall' position to manage X¥'UI fuels reduction, interface with federal agencies,
and promote wildfire home safety. Responsible party: City Council, City Administrator.
Complelion Date: When grants arc unavailable t:br position fimding. Funding: City budget.
ongoing grants through ~Fitle III, National Fire Plan.
· Maintain yearly map of strategic fire SUl~pression opportunities. Responsible Party:
Forest Work Grant Coordinator. Completion' updated yearly. Funding:. Title I!1 for stat!f
· :' -time. "
Semi-yea,'ly Monitoring of the CWPP. Responsible Party: Ashland Forest Lands
Commission. Review document and Action Plan twice a year to monitor progress and make
recommendal~ions: " -' · ·
Develop a post fire management plan. Responsible l>arty:
Page ! 52 of 157
Literature Citations
Agee, James K. The Historical Role of Fire in Pacific Northwest Forests in Walstadt et. al.
Natural and Prescribed Fire in Pacific Northwest Forests, 1990. pp 25-38.
Agee, James K. Fire Ecology of Pacific Northwest Forests. Washington, D.C.: Island Press,
1993.
Cohen, Jack D. Reducing the Wildland Fire Threat to Homes: Where and How Much? USDA
Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR- 173.1999.
· .
Cohen, J. D. 2000. Preventing disaster: home ignitability in the Wildland-Urban
Interface. Journal of Forestry. 98 15-21.
Parker, Donald R. The Oakland-Berkeley Hills Fire: An Overview By Oakland Office of Fire
Services. 1992.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. Upper Bear Analysis. 2003.
United States Department Of Agricul'ture F6rest 'Service: Ashland Forest Resiliency Scoping
Letter. File Code 1950-12620. February 27, 2004.
Page 153 of 157
Glossary of Forestry Terms
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.
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
result.
Coarse Woody Material: Portion of tree that has fallen or been cut and left in the woods. Pieces
are at least 1.6 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-frees on t~-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 0f
dominant and co-dominant trees, free from physical restrictions from above, but
quite crowded from the sides.
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 d. iametei' of a t~ee 4:-5 feet, above the gro~and 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.
154
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 Sea~on: 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 fbrest 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.
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 of low 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 of the 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 five 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 ~tb be sold to a mill. ..
Moni'toring: the process of coilectinginf0rmation tO ex)aluate if objectives and expected resuits'
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.
155
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 of large 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.
Overstory: 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 or PAG: 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 underburning: involves the controlled application of fire to understory vegetation
and downed 'woody material when fuel moisture, soil moisture, and weather and atmospheric
conditions allow for the fire to be confined to a predetermined area and intensity to achieve the
planned resource objectives. (USDA, 2001)
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.
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 I~umbers 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.
156
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.
157
PUBLIC COMMENTS AS OF
SEPTEMBER 16, 2004
TO BE INCLUDED THE APPENDIX:
SUMMARY OF WRITTEN AND VERBAL COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
LIVING WITH WILDFIRE IN ASHLAND:
A Forum on Prevention and Response
september 9, 2004, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, Ashland Community Center
There were approximately 40 attendees and 10 commissioners, staff, consultants, etc. Six
written comments sheets were received - below is a summary:
Tracy Bungay, 334 Bridge St, Ashland OR 97520, 488-7884, stinky~mind.net does not live in
the WUI and would like to stay informed.
Suggestions: "Boil it down- stop muddling- say it like it is- show us the difference between
this and the FS alternative. Frustrating forum. Blah, blah."
Disagrees: "I disagree with the loopholes, no strong limits are stated in the draft, impose limits.
No roadless area logging, no large diameter trees."
/IFRCA comments:"An explanation of the benefits of more fuel breaks in the watershed. The
probability of the ski expansion and this project both occurring and their combined impacts.
Lack of limits. Monitoring." Wonders, "how will monitoring become a reality?" She came to the
forum concerned "for the watershed, removal of large trees and the lack of information in the
draft." She found it interesting "the lack of concerned citizens attending- a full room, but not
many folks not directly connected to projects and agencies." She suggested presenting the FS
alternative for public information and comparison.
B Carey, 27 North Main, 482-6670 lives in the WUI and would like to stay informed.
"I live in downtown Ashland and observed the cut in the watershed surrounding Lithia Park this
last spring and saw the larger pines and Doug Firs cut down and the madrone and oaks left. This
left an open canopy and dried undergrowth. I feel the old and large trees should be left."
Disagrees: "That the old growth be untouched to support the wild life and undergrowth which
would support watershed. I disagree with any timber harvest which is proven not to lessen
wildfires, but: actually causes fire." She would like "scientific proof that timber harvests create
healthy forest that reduce wildfires."
AFRCA comments: "Leave forest canopy, leave old growth which supports wildlife and lush
undergrowth which creates watersheds." "If they are thinking of using the Parks cut last spring as
a model, that does not leave enough canopy for lush undergrowth that would create watershed."
"Preserving water supply for the generations to come" is her motivation for attending. She found
the slide show the most interesting part of the forum.
Patrick Schubert, skarlathl 8~yahoo.com
"I support the aspects about making your own home fire-safe."
AFRCA comments: Important issues include: "riparian areas, impact on flora and fauna,
effectiveness of treatment vs. the previously stated issues." "Is there a need for this?" Concerns
that may not have been addressed include: "buffers for spotted owls seemed really small, more
ground-truthing, with the riparian areas combined with natural fire resistant areas, plus previous
fire treatment work. "Is this really necessary?" "Will there be a maximum diameter limit on trees
that are removed?" "Is the project being paid for by sale of the cut wood?"
Motivation for attending: "I was deeply disgusted with the Forest Service's plan (8 miles of
clearcuts, no diameter limits, etc.) He did not own/live in the WUI and asked us to "use your best
judgment."
Anonymous
"I think all of the general public needs to know that you are planning to log roadless areas and
there are no diameter limits."
Savel Sabol, save1234~aol.com lives in the WUI and would like to stay informed.
AFRCA comments: "Effects of logging/cutting on wildlife and forest health" "The fact that these
'fire barriers' will need to be maintained year after year (to keep growth down) (is the forest
service prepared to invest in this after the initial money is made off the logging?)"
"A serious commitment to protest wild places" motivated him to attend the forum."
.Edgar Morton, 2799 Siskiyou By, does not own/live in the WUI.
AFRCA comments: "Diameter limits, stay out of roadless areas, fuel reduction only in wild-urban
interface, no new roads."
Written notes from the Q & A portion of the meeting:
Q: How much of AFRCA was on the ground planning versus modeling?
A: Modeling is okay for on the ground planning, but implementation must be done by an
interdisciplinary group on the ground (ground truthing).
Q: Why isn't there a diameter limit?
A: The Technical Group used age structured "cohort" versus "diameter limit."
Q: The Forest Service hasn't completed the Ashland Watershed Protection Project that remOves
small diameter trees. Why another logging project? Why do all prescriptions lead to logging?
A: AWPP is 50% complete. The philosophy is that coarse woody material will be left: in place
and only the excess will be removed. In AFRCA the vast majority of removed trees will be small
diameter.
Comment: nature, don't fight it! (From a soft-spoken elderly women talking about
treating her private property.)
Q: Collateral damage comes from any work on the ground so why do it?
Recommendations on Post-Fire Response and Practices
While is difficult to outline the specifics of a response to a wildfire in the watershed, it is possible and
important to outline guidance that reflects our values and understanding of the watershed. The
recommendations presented by Beschta, et al, in March 1995 in "Wildfire and Salvage Logging" are
perhaps the best document for those purposes and are quoted below. These scientific
recommendations were revised by Wayne Minshall and reiterated in a paper published in
Conservation Biology (2004).
1. Salvage logging should be prohibited in sensit/ve areas. Beschta lists the loll'owing situations as
examples that seem keenly appropriate to the Ashland watershed:
· In severely burned areas (areas with litter destruction)
, On erosive sites
· On fragile soils
· In roadless areas
· in r/parian areas
· On steep slopes
· Any' site where accelerated erosion is possible
2. "On podions of the post-fire landscape determined to be suitable for salvage logging, limitations
aimed at maintaining species and natural recovery processes should apply.
Dead trees (particularly large trees) have multiple ecological roles in the recovering landscape
including providing habitat for a variety of species, and functioning as an important element in
biological and-physical processes (Thomas 1979). In view of these roles, salvage logging must:
· Leave at least 75% (Minshali) of standing dead trees in each diameter class;
· Leave all trees greater than 20 inches dbh or older than 150 years;
· Generally leave all live trees."
3. "Building new' roads in the burned landscape should be prohibited."
4. Active reseeding and replanting should be conducted only under limited conditions." "If warranted,
artificial regeneration should use only species and seed sources native to the site, and should be
done in such a way that recovery of native plants or animals in unhampered."
5. "Structural post-fire restoration is generally to 'be discouraged.·
6. "Post-fire management requires reassessment of existing management."
Eric Navickas
Comments regarding Ashland Forest Resiliency Community Alternative
In, 1990 the Forest Service completed and released a decision for management in
the Rogue River National Forest referred to as the Rogue River Forest Plan. The plan
documented proposed timber yield from the McDonald Peak Roadless Area, the
unroaded area at the top of the watershed. The alternative chosen stated that in the first
decade the roadless area would yield 2.5 million board feet of timber and in subsequent
decades 4 million board feet. (Exhibit A)
During the Clinton years the area remained unlogged due to decreased timber
extraction from public lands. Under Clinton's Northwest Forest Plan of 1993 the area was
defined as Late Successional Reserve (LSR) or areas set aside to protect Northwest
Spotted Owl habitat. However, one of the loopholes of the Northwest Forest Plan was
that it allowed logging into an LSR if it was done for Fuels Reduction.
In order to meet the timber yields proposed 14 years ago under the Rogue River
Forest Plan, the Forest Service, under the Bush Administration, is exploiting this
loophole to extract timber from areas that would otherwise be protected. The tactic is
very effective as a means to meet industry demands for public timber due the general fear
of fire among citizens and the general ignorance of the realities of what is actually being
done on the ground.
The City came to this conclusion in the early eighties in a summary presentation
to the EPA regarding management of the Ashland Creek Watershed when they stated,
"The City of Ashland agrees with the need for a fire management program in the Ashland
Watershed and is confident that a number of alternatives exist that are compatible with
municipal watershed protection, however the Forest Service has appeared at times to
justify a number of intensive activities within the Watershed in the name of fire
management." The City continued by fully describing their position and stating that they
would only support underburning. (Exhibit B) The 1979 statement from Al Alsing the
former Director of Public Works is even dearer, he states, "1. The City's position is that
logging should be eliminated from the watershed and the Forest Service has not agreed to
this appn~aeh to managing the watershed. 2. The City does not agree with salvage and
sanitation logging an the Forest service continues to discuss this as an alternative."
(Exhibit C)
The issue again came to the forefront of controversy in the late nineties when the
Forest Service proposed the Hazred Timber Sale. They were proposing to remove another
three to five million board feet of timber in the name of fuels reduction. The issue was
especially controversial because the Forest Service has just complete a massive sale in
1992 when they remove 8 million board feet for fuels reduction or about 2000 log trucks.
The areas treated were generally high-graded for the best timber as it is difficult to find a
stump less than three feet in diameter with many as large as six feet. The Hazred project,
eventually renamed the Ashland Watershed ProteCtion Project was heavily debated and
eventually a decision was released that remove all commercial logging from the Ashland
Creek Watershed and placed a strict 1T' limit on logging proposed outside of the Ashland
Creek drainage. The proposal, however, also included extensive noncommercial work in
the watershed consisting of hand-pile and burn projects and the use of prescribed fire.
The community and the City administration applauded the proposal. Keith Woodley was
quoted in the Daily Tidings stating, "I support Linda's decision, it seems appropriate
given the sentiments of the public and the input the Forest Service has received. I applaud
their willingness to work with broad and sometimes divisive public senfiments."(Exhibit
What is most disturbing about this current proposal is the fact that the
noncommercial work from the Ashland Watershed Protection Project has neover been
completed. According to Bob Shoemaker, the project manager, about 25-30~ of that
work has been completed but according to Linda Duffy about 50% of the project :is
complete. Regardless, the Forest Service has shown complete negligence with regard to
really protecting homes and the watershed. This project should have been done this year
and at best estimate half of it has been completed. The Forest Service has instead invested
in expensive analysis to promote this current logging project and the Ski Ashland
exp~sion.
The Forest Lands Commission team is now presenting an alternative to the Forest
Service's proposal. The proposal presents goals of protecting Late Successional habitat
much like the Forest Service however ultimately restricts nothing, they propose no
diameter limit and imply that helicopter log~'ng will take place into the roadless area.
The document they have presented relies heavily on John Leiberg's 1900 analysis of the
watershed and adjacent lands. I find this especially fxustrating, as this document has
always been used as an argument for the protection of the watershed from logging, as he
states clearly, "But whether easy or difficult of access, it is obvious that maintenance of
the Ashland Creek water volume is prohibitive to lumbering operations in the
reserve."(Exhibit E) In 1910, when the City petitioned Congress to permanently protect
the watershed they relied heavily on this document. Mr. Leiberg and Ashland's founding
citizens would be rolling in their graves if they knew this was now being used as a tool to
justify logging.
It is up to the Council to have clarity on this issue, to not get caught up in the fear
tactics or the attempts to complicate the .issue by using esoteric silvicultural analysis. The
City has made clear statements in the past. Look back to Al Alsing's Statement, "The
City's position is that logging should be eliminated from the watershed and the Forest
Service has not agreed to this approach to managing the watershed." The City had seen
the results of mismanagement of the watershed and the tendency to exploit fire
management as a means to extract timber in the form of massive sediment loads to our
reservoir. Is the Council willing to repeat history and allow this to take place again.
The most responsible choice for the Council would be to restrict logging and
require only noncommercial fuels management. However, the Council must at least give
some respect to history and place some finn restrictions on this project. We need .at least
a 1T' diameter limit, a firm demand that no logging is allowed into the roadless area at
the top of the watershed, a restriction on any further road building and a requirement that
the noncommercial work proposed under the Ashland Watershed Protection Project is
completed before any logging begins.
This is a moderate position that is clear and understandable. The Forest Lands
team has offered enough complicated nonsense to confuse the most astute observer and
yet said nothing. This is our municipal watershed we need clear restrictions.
06146 - McDONALD PEAK
Table C-24
TIMBER OUTPUT (MMCF)
A B E (3 K
Decade I 0,47 1,68 0,00 0,00 0,47
Decade 2 1,12 2,61 0,00 0,00 0,73
Decade 3 1,12 2,61 0,00 0.00. 0,73
Decade 4 1,12 2,61 0,00 0.00 0,73
Decade 5 1,12 2.61 0,00 0,00 0,73
Altematives A, B, and K program harvest in all
decades. In decade one, harvest level for altema-
fives ^ and K is 2.5 MMBF; Alternative B is 9 MMBF.
Subsequent decade harvest levels are: Alternative
A - 6 MMBF; Alternative B - 14 MMBF; and Altema-
tive K - 4 MMBF. Alternatives E and G have no
programmed harvest
Roads
Road construction parallels programmed timber
harvest and is a reflection of developmental needs
as roadless areas are entered by the various alter-
natives. Table C-25 shows the miles of mad con-
struction needed to accomplish management goals
for the first two decades and also for the planning
horizon.
Table C-25
ROAD CONSTRUCTION (MILES)
A B E G K
Decades 1 &2 5,5 13,0 0,0 0,0 5,5
All Decades 11,1 16,3 0,0 0,0 7,4
The first two decades of road construction is great-
est in Alternative B because of'timber volumes har-
vested. The miles of proposed road construction in
all decades reflects the harvest volumes pro-
grammed for the planning horizon.
C - 38
Rogue River National Forest - FEIS - Appendices
FIRE MANAGE~fENT
The City of Ashland agrees with...the need for a fire management program in
the Ashland Watershed and is confident that a number of alternatives exist
that are compatible with municipal watershed protection, however the Forest
Service has appeared at times to be inclined to justify a number of inten-
sive activities within the Watershed in the name of fire management. The
basic fire management conclusions of the 1977 JMM study are summarized
below:
1. The history of fires and fire management in the Rogue River N.F.
indicates that the major problem fires were man-caused and
that natural fires were generally suppressed in a short time.
·
·
2. There is a high potential for increased erosion due to an
intense fire in the watershed. However, there is research
information available that demonstrates that wildfire in
unlogged watersheds can result in significantly less erosion
and sediment movement t----hah wildfire (whether man-caused or
natural) in a logged watershed.
3. High levels of human activity such as that associated with
logging or extensive over-night camping could be expected to
increase the likelihood of a large man-caused fire.
4. Fire management involving intensive observation and quick
response in suppressing all fires is the most appropriate
program for the Ashland watershed.
5. Although tt~e physical removal of fuel from the watershed
would present certain benefits, the extensive logging
activities r.equired to do this effectively would present
far more hazards and potential for loss than for benefit.
Prescribed burning for fuel reduction may present oppor-
tunities if the air quality impacts are minimized[.
ASHLAND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES
It is the City of Ashland's position that the most important management
objective for the Ashland Creek Watershed should be to maintain and protect
the municipal water facilities and water quality currently depended upon by
the City. Although the Forest Service has implied that this is the case,
many of their actions and statements point in a different d~rection. For
example, in discussing the Forest Service policy regarding water quality
for municipal watersheds, the Forest Service stated (USFS 1980 in a memo-
randum to the City of Ashland): '
"Basically, we have the responsibility for providing raw water
that is capable of meeting standards in the Safe Drinking Water
Act (PL 93-523) after treatment. The treatment of the water to
1. No grazing within the watershed.
2. No expamsion of the Ashland ski area without a DEIS.
3. Recreation.activities~such as skiing, fishing,·.hunting and hiking
would[ continue under present constraints with no ORV use or over-
night camping.
4. Fire protection ~actice~·weuld dontinue. ·
·
5. Mtni~ml road maintenance of certain roads.
6. Certain types of restoration for the~road.~ystem.
7. Fuel break construction of selected breaks.
It is pointed out that these are somewhat minor concessions. On the
other hand the areas of~dnagre~ment,'whi~h axe summarized-aS.~foll°ws,·
represent the majorfactors 'contributing to the degradation' of the Ashland.
watershed, the interference with the City of Ashland's water supply system
and eventual impairment of downstream fisheries habitat, irrigation facil
ities and recreation potential.
i. The City's position is that logging should be eliminated from
the watershed and the Forest Mervice "has not agreed to this
· ~ approach to managing the watershed'.'.
2. The City does not agree with salvage and sanitation logging
and the Forest. Service continues to discuss this as an alternative.
3. It is~ the City's position that no more roads should be built·
within the watershed and most of the current roads should be
"put to bed" except for minimal custodial· and fire protection
uses. 'We feel that the available information and analyses
support this position. The Forest Service states that "this
option should be kept open". .
4. The ,City has strongly recommended that the watershed be withdrawn
from mineral entry in view of the enormous impact that even mini-
mal ,exploration activities could have on our facilities-and the
downstream waters. The Forest Service acknowledges that little~
if any, mineral potential exists in the watershed but states that
"the Forest Service while .recognizing that a withdrawal of Ashland
watershed per se to preserve ~ watershed's water quality would
have tremendous effects on the mining industry nationwide".
5. There is some disagreement between the Forest Service and the
City concerning the.type of fire management necessary for the
watershed. We feel that our app=oach of minimizing human
activities within the watershed and maximizing fire 'obser- '
ration and quick control is not only the mos.t logical but
; backed up by the history of fires within the Rogue River area.
In summary, it is the City of Ashland's opinion that we are presentiy
operating on a program which·represents the most cost effective and an-
vironmentally sound solution to the City's water supply problems and the
problems with downstream fisheries, water quality, irrigation systems
and recreation. We-do not disagree with the 'co·ntention that much needs
to be done in the Bear Creek basin to ·restore and emhance, the water resource
values which have been lost. However.~. we feel that befor-e.~ a-capital and
energy intensive program is recommended, definite' progress should be fmade
-3-
:i[ii~;DUffY" knpo~ed, a 17-inch diameter or.
! :~i:'~ater.limit on cutting of the
trees 'in
. .
·
· '-' '- ;'. ,"::.-:i.: S~/ving Southern Oregon' Since 1876 · Ashland, Oregon · May 31, 2001 · 50 Cents
it · ; · .,.-
.
fOre:st plan saluted
F0r~St Service land
l~ger than
'.'that:COUld be.-.cut ff
,.!:they. threaten WOrker
isafe~ ' -
· The: de~ibn also
deferred: .ahy.: logging
~.:. ~ the-controverSial
":"Winburn Ridge par-
-eel, home to' many of
ii: ,the: .'... ,:' ;,Watershed's
?:;l~gest:tre,eS. ,' . .
~ tbtal, the plan
........... .calls for logging .on
~ the intbrfa6e area,'manually
tr~g':L129 acres,Prescribed burning
on 273 acres and follow-up maintenance
un,lc?burning.oh i,152 acres.
"The plan is a departure from a 1999
proposal to log trees of unlimited diam-
eter on 452 acres, manually treat 32
acres, manually treat or conduct pre-
scribed burns on 87
acres and conduct
prescribed burns on
778 acres.
Woodley said tim
new plan represents
a good start for reduc-
ing flammable vege-
tation in the Water-
shed, now choked
'l=nn~rs with trees and brUSh
'-==~-: 'aRer 90 years of fire
' s~PpreSsion efforts, although the overall
Strategy may need to be adjusted if fire
risk is not reduced enough.
"I want to take a second look at con-
ditions after the treatment is adminis-
tered. But anything is a benefit. Nothing
has pretty much been done on many of
the areas. This is going to substantially
reduce the wildfire risk up front. If we
need to change course, we can do that,"
he said.
DesPite the tree diameter limit, Eric
Navickas of Ashland Creek First! said
he cannot support the plan because of
the logging component. He said wildfire
risk can be reduced adequately and ero-
sion minimized by hand-cuffing vegeta-
tion, piling the material and burning it
along with prescribed burning over ar-
eas of land.
"I've always felt the project can be
done without a timber sale," he said.
"I'm prepared to~fle--mo.~peal over
that." /"~ .
~e.~e WATERSHE~age 2
~.] CASCADF~ I~ANGE AI~D ASHL2~i~D RE~ERVF~S.
473
Creek one-half mile es.st of the town of Ashland. In addition to
supplying water to this town, it furnishes irrigation for a number of
fruit ranches, supplies motive power to one sawmill and one electric-
light plant located above thc town, one gristmill, one woollen mill,
and g 5-stamp quartz mill located in the city,, besides water for a
cyanide reduction Plant. It serves also in part as the .tpwn sewer.
All in all, the stream is very important to the town.
The reserve contains no proper agricultural lands; the summits of
the lo~ spurs in the eastern areas might possibly be utilized for
orchard purposes if cleared. Most if not the entire area is gold bear-
int. (~uartz ledges occur in many places on the slopes of Siskivou
Peak and placer deposits exist, in all probability, near the head of'the
creeks. :No mining is carried on inside the. reserve area. The sumruit
and slopes of Siskiyou :Peak and the high northern 3'fount.Wagner spur
are grassy in many places. Sheep range here., or did the year before
l~t. True, most of~ their runs had been on the slopes shedding Water
into Appleg~te Creek and Klamath River, but some had left their
marks on the Ashland side. If the purity and stabilitj~ of the water
volume in Ashland Creek is worthy of cohsideration, the prohibition
Of sheep grazing within the reserve area'should be absolute. 'A band
of sheep confined to such a limited tract as the grazing area in Ashland
I~e~rve soon makes the ground reek with most pestiferous exhala-
tions,which can not but find their way into the running ~ater.
The :forest consists of stands of alpine-hem]~ock, red-fir, and yellow-
pine thq~es. The alpine-hemlock type occurs, on the summit of
peak, and is composed almost wholly, of noble fir. The others ha~;e
the ordina, ry composition of thei~ respective types elsewhere.
Fires have marked most of the forest, but have not burned in the
reserve within the last ten or twelve rears to any great extent, except
on the summit of the range; at the' ba~e of the p~ak, where the timber
on 300 or 400 acres has been almost totally destroyed.
The mill timber in the reserve is of good quality, except in the east-
ern portion, where fires, years ago, badly seared the most of it. It is
genel~Ily ditqcult of access for logging operations. But whether easy
or di~cult of ncc. ess, it is obvious that the maint~.nance of the Ashland
Creek water volume is prohibitive to lumbering operations in the
r~serve.
The areal and timber estimates are as follows:
~orctted and otl~.r areat in .4t ~Idand Fare. st ~e,~rt~, Oregon..
Area forested ............................................................ 20, 000
Area naturally nonforesied ......... ~ ..................................... 1,700
Area deforested by fires of modern date ...................................
i' I_Chr!~ Ch_ambers- Re: AFR ;~rd,, ,a,l!ernative
.... . --
II ..- , i iii I I IIl,~, I
From: "Dennis Odion" <dennisodion@charter. net>
To: "Dominick" <dellasal@wwfks.org>, <joseph@kswild.org>, <Touchstonejo@aol.com>,
"geobad2" <geobad2@msn.com>, <Juniper@mind. net>, <crisis@ziplip.com>, <fbetleje@aol.com>,
<efrost@siskiyou.org>, <dewhite01@earthlink. net>, <dborgias@intemetcds.com>,
<chamberc@ashland.or. us>, <akerwin@jeffnet. org>, <mmain3@earthlink. net>, <cate@mind.net>, "Cindy
Deacon Williams" <cindy@headwaters.org>
Date: 9/12/04 2:03:02 PM
Subject: Re: AFR 3rd alternative
-.
from: Dennis Odion
're: proposed logging and other vegetation manipulations in the Ashland Watershed
Here are the ,comments I promised to send regarding the logging and other prescriptions proposed in
Chapter 8 of.the Ashland Community Wildfire Protection Plan. I have also attached my previous
comments on~ behalf of the Native Plant Society opposing fuelbreakJfuel discontinuity approaches
submitted to the Forest Service last April 30th. 'The letter asks the Forest Service to consider an
alternative focusing on increased attention to the home ingnition zone and wildland urban interface (literal
sense), so that wildfires could be better be accomodated.
I also have aalso provided a few Specific comments attached to the CWPP AFRCA 9-9 document, which !
have not had time to look at in detail.
Let me preface my comments here by saying that the plans that have been developed to improve
preparedness within the Community for inevitable large wildfire are outstanding features of the overall
Wildfire Protection Plan. Preventing home loss in a wildfire event, and ensuri, ng an uninterrupted water
supply by planning for sedimentation impacts on Reeder Reservoir that will occur regardless of logging
and vegetation manipulation are of utmost practical concem. Thus, my support an alternative that
focusses available resources entirely on these concerns.
in addition, I am still unclear about whether there will be diameter limits in tl~e City's proposal like there are
in the Forest Service's proposal. The newspaper said the Plan opposed diameter limits because old trees
may have small diameters. This is entirely irrelevant to the idea that large trees should be protected from
logging by having diameter limits, and no other reasons explanations were put forth (economics are not
cited or analyzed). Failure to protect large trees would lead'to opposition from conservation interests. At
the present time, approval of a large logging project without regulations on the size of trees that can be cut
could, by precedent, threaten a large extent of the Sierra Nevada Mountains with such unregulated
logging. The the framework developed through years of public-process that had been in place to protects
these forests from such activities is currently being dismantled. Substantial efforts by natural resource
conservation and ethics groups are being employed to prevent the dismantling of the Sierra Framework. I
have cced.a couple of folks involved in these efforts because of their interest in the Ashland HFRA project.
Comments
1. Opposite claims at the public meeting and in writings, Sugar pine is a fire sensitive species, at least in
management burns (i.e safe season). It is comparable to white fir in terms of mortality (Stephens and
Finney 2002). Language needs to be changed that discusses priorities for logging fire sensitive trees to
'prevent contradiction and confusion (i.e. fire sensitive species are targeted for cutting, but sugar pine is
said to be a p~iority for not cutting).
2. Similarly, available science is not used in discussing past fire regime. The claim that the watershed
used to burn."every 5-12. years" (made at the public'headng, little or no qualification elsewhere) .is.. ·
questionable, especially since Agee found no record of presuppression fire for a period of about 100 years
at a location in the central/eastern Siskiyous, and Taylor and Skinner found that 75 years went by without
fire along a ridge south of there. Moreover, these studies used an approach that is unsuited to addressing
the question of maximum fire free periods in the landscape because areas less affected by surface fires
are avoided. This is akin to sampling human height and avoiding tall people. The average height will be
i Chds Chambers - Re: AFR 3r(~ alternative
II ii i i iiii ii I ii I
i i I ..................... iH ii ii iii i I
,,,,Page 21
too low to represent the whole population. Further, the fire free pedod prior to the first scar on the tree
(the tree odgin to first scar interval) is ignored, because it is indeterminable. This period is generally
estimated to be substantially longer than scar to scar intervals. For these reasons, it is difficult to conclude
what maximum fire free periods have been in recent centuries and whether we have "missed fire cycles."
"Missed fire cycles'.' is also misleading because it generally refers to the interval between stand-replacing
fire in a given location.
In order to better characterize the influence of fire in recent history, there is a need to look at the frequency
of surface fire and the frequency of stand-replacing fire separately in a given area. Until we.better
understand what the frequency of both types of fire has been in throughout the Watershed, we cannot
assess the extent to which there is a current shortage of area affected bY each type compared to the
recent past. In the absence of such information, a scientifically-based description of the degree to which
fire effects have been excluded from the Watershed must assert clearly that data are lacking and that
estimates of fire regitnes in the recent past are based on uncalibrated estimates of surface fire. frequency
from surrounding areas. ·
The use of reference conditions from previous centuries, when the vegetation and fire regime were
controlled by a different climate than exists now, needs to be justified as well. There is no explanation for
the presumption that it is realistic to maintain Little Ice Age vegetation by the set of logging and vegetation
manipulations proposed.
3. The best available science' is also not used i~ describing the forests of the Watershed and what they
may have looked like. The idea that they are supposed to be "open" forests is refuted by Wadng's studies
on the overstory leaf area. In the watershed and nearby areas, leaf area (it is a function of climate and
water realations) greatly exceeds forests of the Rockies and Eastern US and other more or less closed
forests (VVadng 1969, etc). It is not clear what Leiberg meant by "open" (probably in comparison with the
remarkably lush forests.of the western Cascades), howevei', in the broader sense "open forest" "generally
means wide spacing 'between tree crowns, such as the savanna likeforests of the Southwest.Desert.
Mountains, or the open forests of Serpentine lowlands of the Illinois River region. If ali the trees that have
established in the Ashland Watershed since VVWII~ when suppression became effective, were to be cut at
!ow elevations, the forests would still not resemble "open" forests. The document is also missing a
description of the natural Vegetation of dry sites Iow elevations as chaparral (Defling 1961), and the
implications of converting this natural vegetation to a man-made vegetation type.
4. Similarly, use available science to describe fuel dynamics for forests that are not open. Fuel build up
concepts that come from formerly open ponderosa pine forests in add regions of the West should not be
presumed to apply Without any empirical evidence that they do. Foliar fuels should also not be presumed
to increase, as the. leaf area in forests reaches a steady state eady in succession (Gder and Running
1977). This is a fundamental ecophysiological property of forest vegetation which the plan contradicts
(see attached comments). It is important to recognize that foliage reaches a steady state because foliar
fuels ddve crown fires, and this project is based on the premeise that the potential for crown fires has
greatly increased. The amount of crown fire in all the contemporary wildfire acreage in the forest types in
the Watershed is about 12 percent, which is similar to estimates of their presettlement fire severity
proportions (Taylor and Skinner 1998). What is the empirical'basis for presumptions that crown fire
potential has greatly increased? There is talk about so called "ladder fuels." These are small shade
tolerant trees which fire is said to spread upward through like the mythical dngs of a ladder. However, no
data are presented demonstrating the extent to which shaded trees possess sufficient foliage to. spread
fire (0.037 kg/cubic meter, Scott and Reinhardt 2001). Moreover, describing crown fire behavior as
dependent upon fuel "ladders" is misleading. The forest canopy, like all potential fuel, will ignite only when
vaporized. ThiS requires preheating. Once the vaporized fuel is present it will ignite from a mere spark.
The amount of. heat impinging on the forest-canopy determines this,-which is a function of the total heat
released in the understory and from adjacent tree canopies. Shade suppessed trees that are capable of
burning may still not release enough heat to effect vaporization of the forest overst0ry. CroWn fire in our
region is a function of severe weather the vaporization is accomplished through the combined effects of
high starting temperatures for fuel, little moisture to prevent their heating, advection of heat by wind and
the bending of flames to direct heat from one tree crown to the other.
Chris Cham - Re: AFR 3rd altemative
ii ii i i I I
,, Page 3~!
5. I mentioned at the meeting that the collateral damage from logging and the benefits from logging need
to be weighedto produce a more scientific assessment of whether the logging is justified for the goals
specified. Collateral damage to soils as a result of selective logging (thinning) is described in an attached
legal declaration. This needs to be considered more thoroughly. An even bigger concern may be the
unavoidable spread of exotic species (i.e. fuelbreaks have been shown to be exotic species "highways,"
see previous letter). In addition, research has shown that Phytophthoras, which Cause sudden oak death
and other forest diseases, are dispersed by human foot traffic. There are also studies that document how
bull thistle, etc. invade pile-burned areas. Once again, there is a need to use existing science and to
provide realistic expectations of collateral damage to ecosystems.
6. Similarly, existing science needs to be used to assess the benefits the City and Forest Service perceive
from the proposed logging. 'Selective logging, unregulated by diameter limits, may open forests and
increase fire severity by favoring the growth of pyrogenic shrubs (Show and Kotok 1924). Preventing this
would be require expensive and destructive maintenance. The Plan does not describe how vegetation
could be suppressed .following logging treatments, nor the collateral damage of suppression activities. The
Plan presumes that we can cut our way out of having fire prone Vegetation in the Watershed. Even
understory thinning is generally ineffective in influencing wildfire severity because' fires that escape
suppression are weather-driven and these are really the only fires that are relevant (see attached literature
review on thinning effects on wildfires).
· 'The percieved benefits of prescribed burning need to be assessed as well. Prescribed burning during safe
conditions when plant moisture is high does not necessarily mimic wildfire, nor reduce fuel. It can create
more fuel because plants are sensitive to heat at this time and are more easily killed (Swezy and Agee
1991, Odion and Davis 2000). Such burning was tried extensively in Siskiyou Co., the Klamath NF, etc. in
the early 1900's and abandoned after it was found to ca.use .forest attrition (see Show and Kotok (1924)
manifesto on the history of "light burning" practices in MediL climate regions), and descriptions by Aldo
Leopold (1920). They explain how openings in Medit. climate forests (i.e. water availability and need are
directly out of phase) caused by buming (as with logging) are accompanied by increased growth of
shrubs, which have a self-reinforcing relationship with relatively severe fire.
The collateral damage of treatments is guaranteed. The probability that they could reduce stand-replacing
tire, even if they were highly effective, is exceptionally Iow. The amount of free burning in the Watershed
since fire suppression is low;, it will take roughly 300 years for most of the Watershed to burn naturally at
this rate. Moreover, there has only been talk of increasing the effectiveness of fire suppression, not
allowing for more wildfire. Meanwhile, the amount of stand-replacing fire in al! the contemporary wildfire
acreage in the forest types in the Watershed is about'12 percenL The probability.that a given stand will
experience st. and-replacing fire in a given year is therefore on the order of 300 * 0.12, or almost 1 in
3,000, which is likely much lower than in the pasL Morever, as described above, the treatments proposed
are not likelY to decrease fire severity.
The treatmedts have also been said to be justified as beneficial restoration. A basic tenant of ecological
restoration is that creation of form without function does not constitute ecological restoration (Kauffman
2004). Another basic tenant of ecological restoration is that eliminating the cause(s) of degradation is the
first step in the restoration process. The causes of degradation in the Watershed are past logging and fire
suppression. 'Therefore, ecological restoration in the Watershed can be achieved only when logging is
eliminated and.tire is allowed to occur with the relative severity and patterns that would occur under
current climate (Kauffman 2004). As described in.the previous paragraph, stand-replacement is likely
lower than in the past due to lack of tire and because the amount of high severity tire that occurs in'
contemporary burns is modest. So; attempting to eliminate stand-replacement/stand-regenerating fire
events is not really restoration. Ecological restoration would also specifically target the areas most cleady .
altered from past conditions (i.e. logged areas). But this principle of restoration is not being employed.
The scale of prescribed burns is also far too small to accomplish tire restoration, and it cannot change
significantly due to inveterate liability constraints. Small bums do not restore landscape structure (Baker
1994). Although they may be consistent with other goals, the fire containment and other suppression
· approaches sought for the Watershed are essentially the opposite of ecological restoration.
Chris Chambers - Rei ,,,AFR 3rd altemative
..Page 4 !
7. A pre-conceived strategy of using fuel discontinuities in remote areas to suppress fire may increase the
risk to tirefighters. This is particularly important to consider since the fuelbreaks/discontinuities proposed
in the Plan are not designed based on safety considerations. Would there be liability concerns?
8. Finally, a response to the email about snags below. The idea that snags and wood need to be
eliminated due to fire hazard is the basis for salvage logging projects such as the Biscuit. Snags and
coarse wood do not contribute to flaming tire behavior. They bum by smoldering after the passage of the
flame front, which is driven by the combustion.of tine.fuel, or foliage in the case of crown'fire. 'The
"hazard" that is associated with snags and large wood relates to the fact that 'the smoldering can be
prolonged. When a tire'is contained, the presence of still smoldering snags and large wood along the tire
line can result in sparks crossing the fire containment line and causing a spot fire. The issue is that the
presence of smoldering snags/wood along a containment line means "mop-up" time for suppression
crews. Snags can also fall down in the midst of smoldering if they are rotten enough.. Otherwise, snags
and coarse wood, especially large diameter, are desirable because of their importance to wildlife,
fishedes, etc.
In conclUsion, preparing the Community for the inevitable occurrence of a large wildfire, will make us
better able tO accommodate this natural process, which will benefit ecological goals. Approaches that aim
to further suppress fire effects that have already been suppressed are at odds with restoration of these
processes. Where these approaches involve logging and conversion of, natural vegetation, ecological
impacts of these activities may be .considerable. The forestry/silvicultural management approach outlined
in Chap. 8 does not adequately take into account these impacts, nor does it use available science to
support its many implicit presumptions. Therefore it is not adequate from a scientific perspective. The
City should request the Forest Service to evaluate a science based alternative that does not promote fire
suppression.appr.oaches as a mean's of dealing w.'~. the problem of lack of. tire, or the goals of the City
and the Forest Service should bechanged to be consistent with the actions (i.e.'eliminate natural fire
effects.).
That is "ail" for now. Thanks for inviting me to comment and for yOur continued commitment to improving
this project.
Dennis'
Dennis C. Odion
Vegetation Ecologist
Institute for Computational Earth Systems Science
University of California, Santa Babara -
website: http://www, icess, ucsb. ed u/-den niso/
References Cited
Agee, J.K. 1991a. Fire history along an elevational gradient in the Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon. Northwest
Science 65: 188~199.
Baker, W.L. 1994. Restoration of landscape structure altered by fire suppression. Conservation Biology
8(3): 763-769.
Detling, L.E. 1961. The chaparral formation of southwestern Oregon, with considerations of its post-glacial
history. Ecology 42: 348-357.
Frost, E. J. and R. Sweeney. 2000. Fire regimes, fire history, and forest conditions in the
Chris Chambers - Re: AFR 3rd altemativ.,e
II ~JLJ II II.1 L II
Klamath-Siskiyou region: an overview and synthesis of knowledge. Report prepared for World Wildlife
Fund.
Grier, C.C. and S.W. Running. 1977. Leaf area of mature northwestern coniferous forests: relation to site
water balance. Ecology 58: 893-899.
· Kauffman, J. B. 2004. Death Rides the Forest: Perceptions of Fire, Land Use, and Ecological Restoration
of Western Forests. Conservation Biology 18: 878-882.
· .
Leopold, A. 1920. "Piute Forestry" vs. forest fire prevention. Southwestern Magazine· 2:12-13.
Odion, D.C., and F.W. Davis. 2000. Fire, soil heating, and the formation of vegetation patterns in
chaparral. Ecological Monographs 70: 149-169.
Scott, J: H. and Reinhardt, E.D. 2001. Assessing crown fire potential by linking models of surface and
crown fire. U.S. Forest Service report.
Show, S. B., and E. I. Kotok. 1924. The role of fire in California pine forests. U.S. Department of
Agriculture Bulletin 1294.
Stephens, S.I,. and M.A. Finney. 2002. Prescribed fire mortality Of Sierra Nevada mixed conifer tree
species: effects of crown damage and forest floor combustion. Forest Ecology and Management 162
(2002) 261-271
................. Stephenson, N. L. 1999. Reference conditions for giant Sequoia restoration, structure, process, and
precision. Ecological Applications 9: 1250-1263.
Swezy, D. M. and J. K. Agee. 1991. Prescribed fire effects on fine root and tree mortality in old growth
ponderosa pine. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 21: 626-634.
Wadng, R. 1969. Forest plants of the eastern Siskiyous: Their environmental and vegetational distribution.
Northwest Science 43: 1-17.
:
Westman, W. E. 2004. Measuring the inertia and resilience of ecosystems. Bioscience 28: 705-710.
Wills, R. D., and J. D. Stuart. 1994. Fire history and stand development of a Douglas-fir/hardwood forest in
northern California. Northwest Science 68:205-212.
..... Odginal Message .....
From: Cindy Deacon Williams
To: cate@mind.net; Tony & Janet
Cc: mmain3@earthlink, net; akerwin@jeffnet.org; chamberc@ashland.or, us;
dborgias@intemetcds.com; dewhite01@earthlink, net; efrost@siskiyou.org; fbetleje@aol.com;
crisis@ziplip, com; Juniper@mind;net; geobad2; Touchstonejo@aol.com; joseph@kswild.org;
Dominick; dennisodion@charter, net; tonya@headwaters, org
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 3:28 PM
Subject: Re: AFR 3rd alternative
· Tony-
The stuff in bold caps were the remaining items I didn't have an easy edit suggestion to resolve...i.e., the
things I thought the Tech Team still needed to tackle. I'm still trying to think about how to define
unacceptable, but still haven't come up with a coherent thought. Thanks for your feedback on owl core
areas...it's Clearly something we'll need to talk about next week. I'm increasingly hopeful'we'll be able to
I'Chris~ - Chambers - Re: AFR 3rd alternative
III I I II I IIII I "1
,. Page" 6 f
resolve the remaining issues and put together a good product for City Council consideration, ll'm also
willing (and able) to devote time beyond our Tech Team meeting to help get the final document ready.
FYI, My edits were made in Track Changes, but they were so extensive I clicked off the feature that
displayed them on screen so that I could follow what I was doing. If you want to see what edits I
suggested, open the document, then go to tools, click track changes, click highlight changes, then click
highlight changes on screen. That will display the whole gory mess.
Cindy Deacon Williams
Conservation Director
Headwaters
541-482-4459
www. headwaters.org
Headwaters Mission: To conserve, protect and restore forest ecosystems, clean water and biological
diversity in the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion.
--- Odginal Message .....
From: Tony & Janet
To: Cindy Dea~n Williams; cate@mind.net
Cc: mmain3@earthlink, net; akerwin@jeffnet, org; chamberc@ashland.or, us;
dborgias@intemetcds.com; dewhite01@earthlink, net; efrost@siskiyou.org; fbetleje@aol.corn;
crisis~,ziplip.com; Juniper@mind. net; geobad2; Touchstonejo@aol.com; joseph@kswild.org;
Dominick; dennisodion@charter, net; tonya@headwaters.org
Sent: Fdday, September 10, 2004 11:51 AM
Subject: Re: AFR 3rd altemative.
Thank you Cindy for your input.
! Want to respond to a couple of your suggested edits. I am assuming that just the stuff in bold caps is
your input.
·
RE: snag/coarse wood removal:, unacceptably increases wildfire hazard. NOTE: NEED TO DEFINE
UNACCEPTABLE. I agree. I'm hoping you have a suggestion, as that seems pretty hard to define. !
don't have a suggestion at hand.
RE: Treatment in owl core areas. Because of the lack of fire in these areas, I feel that some owl core
areas may have a heavy understory that may be hampering owl movement and foraging. The proposal is
for treatment on only understory vegetation while retaining relatively high acreages of untreated areas. I
may have missed something, but there should be coverage of untreated areas within owl cores of
approximately 20 to 30% untreated..The thinning can add to resiliency to fire, but the untreated areas are
important to maintain prey populations.
I had thought we had discussed the oak/pine restoration and also feel that these should not be a pdority
treatment in owl cores. I think that if they do occur within 1/2 mile of activity centers as you climb toward
the ddges, that we could do some treatment, but it should not be a priority. 'Maybe sticking with the "high
pruning, slashing, light understory thinning, and a prescribed fire treatment are recommended" would work
for this. Also recall the minimum 60% canopy - NOTE: I feel that the 60%. is pretty marginal within the
home range of owls. I don't think we will impact canopy heavily if we stick to non-commercial material
.within these areas, or aHeast the 0.25 mile range. . .
I agree with your discussion about'using ecological parameters rather than land allocation as the entire
premise of our alternative is. supposed to revolve around ecological "needs." I don't think we can
completely avoid speaking to land allocations, but we do need to be sensitive to this topic.
Chris Chambers - Re: AFR 3rd alternative -
IIII I I IIIII 'ill I 1~'1 I ' I11 III i I I
,Pa~ge 71
Cheers,
Tony
At 06:30 PM 9/9/2004 -0700, Cindy Deacon Williams wrote:
Cate-
You asked for an update on where Headwaters stood on the collaborative effort to develop details
fleshing out the 3rd alternative that we worked to develop with the AFLC and other environmental groups
within the community. 'Bottom line: I'm worded, but still stubbornly optimistic.
Last week Marty asked if I'd be willing to provide actual language, rather than just comments, on the
draft prescriptions, i volunteered to work on it over Labor Day weekend. Because of the holiday, Diane
was unable to get the draft to me until Monday. I did spend a significant amount of time on Monday and
all day Tuesday working on a revision of the Monday draft. Attached are my re-write suggestions. I
understand from talking to Marry today that some/many(?) of the problems I identified have been resolved
and the current draft has been corrected to deal with them. ! haven't seen it yet, but will be at tonight's
meeting with my fingers crossed!
The rewritten language that I offered addresses several specific problems in the Monday draft that I
believe must to be remedied so as to be consistent with agreements reached in Tech Team discussions
as well as to be consistent with the.conceptual approach we outlined odginallyin scoping. Specifically the
draft language I received on Monday: ..
a.. Had an "attitude" problem, consistently talking about natural disturbances as catastrophes that
cause the loss of natural resources. This is untrue from an ecological perspective and unnecessarily .
divisive from a collaborative perspective.
b.. Did not incorporate the soil conservation information provided by George Badura following the
August 21st all day Tech Team meeting at which we all concurred in the decision to include it. Not only
that. but some of the draft prescriptions included in the Monday draft conflict with the prescriptions needed
to protect so~l productivity.
c.. Prescribed cutting a "donut" around leave trees. We talked extensively about the concept and
decided not to take that approach. The Monday draft P,x still called for "removing all conifers and other
vegetation around reserve pine and hardwood species."
d.. Included the (10 + 20)/2 formula to guide thinning that we had decided not to use.
e.. Didn't reflect the decision we made thai. all cohort 1 trees would be retained,
f.. Didn't reflect the decision to retain 150 sq ft basal area in more productive PAGs.
g.. Was not integrated within the.framework of our original "3rd alternative" as laid out in our scop!ng
letter. That is, the category 1, 2, and 3 discontinuity network. I assume the version ultimately submitted' to
the AFLC will embed the Rx document, as corrected, within the conceptual framework we outlined in our
jointly signed scoping letter.
That.last point is going to be quite a chore. When doing so, it means rather than grouping
recommended prescriptions into the fobr categories delineated in the draft P,X write-up I received on
Monday, it will, need to be organized by the category 1, 2, and 3 areas discussed in our scoping letter [i.e.,
it will need to shift organizationally from grouping by 1. Late-Successional Reserves - Density Reduction,
2. Small Diameter Thinning and Surface Fuel Reduction - All Areas, 3. Riparian Reserve - Density
Reduction, and. 4. No Treatment to grouping'by category 1-areas already providing "fire resiliency"..benefits
(e.g., rocky outcrops, riparian/wetland areas, old-growth stands, etc.), category 2- areas where a little work
provides big benefits, and category 3-areas being treated for strategic reasons (e.g., the zones in
immediate proximity to the community, etc.)].
As I mentioned earlier, I haven't seen the version that will be presented tonight and don't know the
'|Chris~-- Chambers - Re: AFR 3rd alternative
I IIII I I
P ,a,~le,81
extent to which these concerns were resolved. At this point if faced with a choice between th(; FS
proposal and the draft I saw on Monday, Headwaters would have to support the FS proposal and actively
oppose the Monday draft alternative. I have told Marty that I am seriously worried, but still fully committed
· to reaching a happier solution. To that end, I have volunteered my time to work with Marry next week
(and, I assume, the rest of the Tech Team) on the redraft to be done in response to tonight's public
comments. I've got my fingers crossed and am still hopeful...our discussions have gone well, but I don't
believe the written draft. I saw Monday reflect the great strides we've made in developing our ideas and
reaching consensus.
Cindy Deacon Williams
Conservation Director
Headwaters-
541-482-4459
www. headwaters.org
Headwaters Mission: To conserve, protect and restore forest ecosystems, clean water and 'biological
· diversity in the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion;
CC:
"Lawrence, Niel" <nlawrence@nrdc. org>, "chadhanson" <chadhanson@nccn.net>
SISKIYOU CttAP UEP
Native Plant Society of Oregon
Dedicated to the enjoyment, conservation, and study
or Oregon'~ native vegetation
Linda Duffy
District Ranger
Rogue River National Forests
Ashland Ranger District
Ashland,. OR. 97520-1402
28 April 2004
RE: Ashland' Forest "Resiliency" Project.
·
Dear Linda,
................... ! ara writing.on behalf the Siskiyou Chapter'of the Native'Plant Society of Oregon with
over 100 members in southwestern Oregon. The Native Plant Society of Oregon is
dedicated to the enjoyment, conservation and study of Oregon's native plant life. We
hike in the Watershed and enjoY the natural beauty, native plant life and the remoteness.
I am writing express concerns about the proposed fuelbreak construction throughout the
Ashland 'Watershed described in your 27 FebrUary scooping letter, and to propose an
alternative to consider along with the one you have outlined. The large footprint of
human disturbance the project would create in the Watershed is a concern from the
perspective of the integrity of native plant habitat. There would be impacts .to native
vegetation that need to be more fully appreciated. Moreover, the evidence that these
detrimental impacts would be offset, by any beneficial ones (excluding timber revenues)
is uncon,~Sncing. I address these issue briefly before suggesting an alternative.
Thinning large areas of the watershed and then revisiting them every few years to treat
understory regrowth would be largo scale ecosystem manipulation that has considerable
biological impacts. In particular, forestry practices can spread exotic plants and diseases
into remote areas where they can spread. That is why fuelbreaks have been termed
"invasion highways." In addition, ten percent of the forest floor is baked during the pile
burning operations that accompany thinning, eliminating seeds, amphibians, fungi, etc.
Research has shown that exotic species readily invade these sites because the native seeds
are killed. At lower elevations Scotch broom is dispersed.to and quickly establishes .in
areas where small trees and native shrubs are cut and soils are disturbed. Consequently
there are :infestations in previously treated areas around Ashland. Brooms are a big threat
to our biodiversity because.they can eventually grow into virtual monocultures that are
not utilized by wildlife. In addition, emerging, exotic forest diseases caused by
Phytophthora are now present in SW Oregon, including sudden oak death. These
diseases are easily spread by tree cutting and priming activitites. Exotics species pose the
biggest threat to the health of the Ashland Watershed currently. Thus, the ecological
costs of thinning a Watershed-Wide network of fuel breaks appear particularly high.
The landscape mosaic of vegetation in the Watershed has likely become more
homogenous because forest patches of different age and size classes have converged over
time without fire, resulting in considerably fewer patches of early seral vegetation,
natural conifer regeneration, and snag forest habitat. These features contribute
disproportionately to biodiversity. Therefore, reducing.the processes that lead to these
features by eliminat'mg patchy crown fire would be detrimental to bi0d.iversity.
Resiliency, defined in the ecological literatur&'as the capacity to remm following severe
disturbance (crown fire) back to the predisturbance state (the natural process of
reforestation), would be reduced.
These potential impacts must be weighed against potential benefits. With high severity
fire occurring on an average of 15 percent of the landscape burned in modem fires in our.
region, there is only potential for eliminating an average of 150 acres of high severity fire
for each 1,000 acres treated. However, because thinning in our closed forests can
stimulate the'growth cfa more combustible understory fuel array, it can be futile as a
means of reducing high severity fire. If the heated areas are not maintained, shrub growth'
could increase fire severity. In addition, it is a principle of physics that reducing the bulk
density of potential fuel increases the rate of fire spread. Colonization of the areas by
annual grasses .a~.d.o.ther flashy fuel kept out bydeep shade could also Occur. Thus, the
thinned areas are not likely'to have a net beneficial effect on overall fire hazard or 'tO be.
safe or useful for firefighters. The ecological costs of this project appear to greatly.
outweigh the non-economic benefits.
The Forest Service.has a difficult task in addressing the question of how to best.manage
fire in the Ashland Watershed. If the question is mixed-with the question of how and
where to harvest timber, it becomes even more difficult. Since the only action alternative
being considered is based on timber harvest this appears to be one of the goals of the
project. From the standpoint of protecting and maintaining our botanical resources, we
would like to see the Forest Service explicitly evaluate both fire and timber goals in their
analysis. A critical impact to make apparent to the public is how the timber harvest fi.om
the preferred alternative affects' the Forest Service' economically so that those in the
public who desire resource protection can assess the degree to which this may influence
decisions. This issue has been raised by the Forest Service Employees for Environmental
Ethics, who reported that the revenue the Siskiyou National Forest would gain from the
preferred Biscuit Fire Logging alternative is about 60 million dollars. This should have
been part of the analYSis of impacts.
·
In considering fire goals, an altematix;e that involves simply using fire deserves serious
consideration. There will be issues of safety associated with any fire in the Watershed,
but it is neither ecologically desirable'nor feasible for fire to be.eliminated. So these · ·
issues are not unique to this alternative. We encourage the Forest Service to work
creatively to reduce the threat of home ignition from fire brands by treating the home
ignition zone. This is needed prior to any future fire occurrence in the Watershed
anyway. In addition, 'controlling for weather has more potential to influence fire behavior
and safety than controlling for fuel, because fuel treatments are so difficult to maintain.
Burning could occur in late season in mild weather. Some may argue that fire would be
too severe, but the behavior of fires in the region under mild weather indicates that this
would not be true. In addition, it would be desirable from the standpoints of fuel
consumption and the restoration of landscape patchiness for fire not to be too
inconsequential. Otherwise, the problem of exclusion of fire as a process in the
Watershed would remain.
To ensmre that management is scientifically sound, it would be desirable to have an
independent review of a Forest Service intehm decision regarding this alternative and.the
issues raised above with regard to their existing action alternative. Moreover, it is vital
that outside'experts in the combustion physics of crown fire, vegetation science, and
landscape disturbance processes conduct such a review. There is a lot of criticism of
Healthy Forest Initiative approaches outside of agencies and the forestry discipline, both
of which, have interests in promoting the Initiative. Please consider this request. -
Thank you for providing the opportunity at the scoping phase of this project for public
input.
Sincerely,
Dennis C. Odion
Conservation Chair
Siskiyou Chapter
Native Plant Society of Oregon
670 Morton St.
Ashland, OR. 97520
· el Reduction' soil & bi'oloa'~.'"~_al" ....... irnn~f-,~ ~a'" e- ~-"'~
From:
Date:
Subject:
impacts]
"Dennis. Odion" <dennisodion@charter. net>
9/12/04 11:25:44 AM
Fw: Fw: Declaration of Jonathan Rhoades regarding 'Fuel Reduction' soil & biological
> >Attached is the declaration I mentioned in today's Regional Planning
> >Director's conference call. The case is Fdends of the Clearwater,
> >Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Idaho Sporting Congress, and the E(~ology
> >Center v. D. Robert Lohn NOAH regarding the Meadow Face Stewardship Pilot
> >Project on the Nez Perce National Forest.: This declaration of Jonathan
> >Rhodes is of interest because it challenges many of the fundamental
> >premises of the purpose and need for our fuel projects and it's similar
in
> >many aspects to the Beschta paper. It is likely that Rhode's work will
> >surface as an issue similar to the way the Beschta paper surfaced.. Some
of
> >the claims made by Rhodes are:
>>
> > The negative effects of logging on soils are far more negative and.
> > persistent than the effects of fire.
> .> Logging and fuel treatments are unlikely to reduce the adverse
effects
> > of.fire on watersheds and aquatic resources.
> > Logging and fuel treatments are unlikely to reduce fire impacts due
to
> > their transient effects and a Iow probability of high severity fire.
> > Many of the forest types that will be thinned or logged do not hav~
> > conditions altered by fire suppression and are not in need of
treatment.
> > He also raises issues about the removal of larger trees and sediment
and
> > peak flow monitoring.
>>
> >Rhodes is one of the co-authors of the Beschta paper.
>>
> >1 just wanted to give you a head's up - we don't want to be Caught off
> >guard like many were with the Beschta paper.
> >(See attached file: PI. Ex. 6 Rhodes Declaration.pdf)
:>>
> >Julia Riber
> >Acting Director, Ecosystem Assessment & Planning
> >Northern Region
> >Ph: 406-329-3453
> >Fax: 406-329-3411
> >jdber@fs.fed.us ...... ~ ... ...
Modifying WildFire Behavior-
The Effectiveness of Fuel Treatments
The Status of Our Knowledge
By Henry Carey and Martha Schumann
A publication of the National Community Forestry Center
Southwest Region Working Paper #2 - April 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXEClYrIVE SUMMARy ................................................................................. i
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1
Terminology ................................................................. ~ ....... ~ ................ ',,,2
METHODOLOGY ............ : ................................. ~ ....... ~...,, ...... : ...... ~..~ ....... i ......... 4
Observations ............................................................................................ 4
Case Studies ' · ............................................ 5
Simulation Models ...................................................................................
EmPirical Studies ..................................................................................... 5
OVERVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ................................ ' ................................ 6
Prescribed Burning .................................................................................... 6
" Mechanical Thinning ................................................................................ 8
Mechanical Thinning and Burning .......................................................... 10
-7-: ......................... ' .................... Cbmmercial Timber Harvest .................................................................... 12
SUMMARY ............................... ~ ............................................................. 13
Prescribed Burning .................................................................................... 13
Mechanical Thinning ................................................................................ 13
Mechanical Thinning and Burning ........................ , ......... · ......................... 14
Commercial Timber Harvest .................................................................... 14
CONCLUSION .......... i ......................................................................................... 14'
Research Needs ................................................ ; ....................................... 15
LITERATURE- CITED .............. : ................ .- ...................
·
Acknowledgements
We deeply appreciate the time and. insight our reviewers provided in commenting on earlier
drafts of this paper. Their input greatly improved the paper. Specifically, we would like to
thank the following individuals who reviewed the manuscript:
Ross Gorte, Ph.D, Congressional Research Service, Washington, D.C.
Tim Ingalsbee, Ph.D. Western Fire Ecology Center, Eugene, Oregon.
Roger Kennedy, former Director, USDA National Park Service. ..
Erik Martinson, Research Associate, Colorado State University WESTFItLE Center.
Jolie Pollet, Fire Ecologist, Wasatch-Cache and lJinta National Forests, Utah.
Melissa Savage, Ph.D., Ecologist, Four Comers Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexie0.
~" .............. Todd Schulke, Policy Analyst, Center for Biological Diversity, Tucson, Arizona.
Thomas Sisk, Ph.D. Ecologist, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona.
Authors
Mr. Carey is the executive director of the.Forest Trust. He also serves as the lead principal.
investigator for the National Community Forestry Research Center. Earlier in his career, he
worked as a forest scientist with the John Muir Institute where he conducted research on
timber harvest scheduling and on the relationship between timber product flows and
community stability and welfare. He received his master's in forestry from Colorado State
University in 1975.
Ms. Schumann received her B.A. in Biology. from Amherst College in 1995. She received her
M.S. in Forestry from the University of Maine in 1999. She has worked at the Forest Trust
for the past three and a half years where she is a research associate, working with the
Southwest Community Forestry Research Center, Community Forestry, and Forest
Protection programs.
INTRODUCTION
In recent years the public has become deeply concerned about-the potential for severe forest'
fire. Of particular concern is the possibility 9fwildfires in the wildland-urban interface - an
area where homes and other human development intermix With wildland vegetation. Forest
managers, however, are also concerned about fire in the forest area outside 'of this zone of
human habitation because of the long rate of recovery after a stand-replacing event.
A 1995 publication by American Forests helped to crystallize this concern (Clark and
Sampson 1995). The authors reflect widespread opinion in describing todaY's wildfires as
"hotter, more lethal to vegetation, more damaging to topsoils, and exceptionally dangerous to
human settlements and property." In 1998, Feary and Neuenschwander echoed that "a billion
dollar disaster is waiting to happen somewhere."
The regional press across the country has followed in raising public concern about wildfires.
In the Southwest, for example, the Taos News described forests all over New Mexico as
.......... -"Prime for devastating wildfires fueled by heavy undergrowth and thick stands of small
trees': (Matlock 1998). An article titled "Fiery Forecast" discussed the fear that 1999 would
be one of the most dangerous fire seasons ever because'low moisture levels would mm
forests into "tinder-dry infernos" (Lezon 1999).
The increase in fuel.loads in the forests is attributed largely to the Forest Service's policy of
intensive timber production, resulting in dense regeneration, and of wildfire suppression
(Covington and Moore 1994; Arno 1996; Arno et al. 1997; US GAO 1999). Overgrazing also
contributed to an interruption of the normal fire reg'.mae (Savage and Swetnam 1990). Prior to
European settlement, frequent surface fires occurred in the Iow elevation· pine forest at
intervals of 5 to 30 years (Baisan and Swetnam 1997; Covington and Moore 1994; Swetnam
and Dieterich 1985; Weaver 1951). In some areas, fires created large, park-like and open
stands (Biswell 1972; Cooper 1960; COvington and Moore 1994). Intensive grazing that
changed the surface fuel structure, coupled with aggressive wildfire suppression altered the
bum pattern (Savage and Swetman 1990). Without frequent fires, dense understories of
shrubs and conifers have developed (Anderson and Brown 1988; Arno 1996; Kolb et al.
1998; Romme 2000a). As a result of.the build up of fuels, the Forest Service estimates 39
million acres on national forests of the interior West are at high risk of catastrophic fire (US
GAO 1999).
To address the problem of catastrophic fire, managers throughout the West are developing
vegeta.tign treatments to reduce fuels. The rationale behind fuel reduction is the logical
expectation that Wildfire behavior will be altered in'wiy~ that Would assist sui~Press'ioff
efforts (Covington and Sackett 1984, 1990; Harrington and Sackett '1990; Sackett et al.
1996). Many land managers advocate reducing the quantity of fuel in all size classes mid
forest types even though high fuel loads are a natural component of"stand replacement fire"
ecosystems such as lodgepole pine, jack pine and aspen. Specific goals of fuel treatments are
to decrease wildfire severity, reduce rate'of spread, decrease fire intensity and flame length,
and make., controleasier and less costly (Anderson and Brown 1988; Deeming 1990; van
Wagtendonk 1996).
A project on the Carson National Forest, for example, proposed to mechanically thin trees
less than i2 inches'in diameter, leaving approximately, 100-1'50 treesper acre (USDA 2000).
In the municipal watershed on the outskirts of Santa Fe, NM, the Forest Service-proposed to
reduce e~opy cover to 3040 % by thinning trees less than 16 inches in diameter, leaving
50-100 trees per acre (USDA 2001). Both of these projects also included prescribed burning.
Burning, under appropriate conditions, is recommended to reduce rue! loadings, thin the
stand, remove ladder fuels, and raise the canopy level (Harrington 1981).
The public is in strong support of fuel reduction treatments. In the. example given above,
public comment on proposed thinning and prescribed burning in the Santa Fe Watershed
indicated that approximately a third of the respondents were supportive of the project (USDA
2001). However, many other people brought forward concerns about the treatments,
including a desire for further, research to support such decisions. In addition, uncertainties
about the safety of prescribed fire arising from the Cerro Grande fire in Los Alamos, New
Mexico have encouraged managers to reevaluate fuel reduction approaches.
....... ~i'-fiis paper reviews published research on the relationship between fuel reduction treatments
and wildfire behavior, specifically the incidence 6f 6rown fire. This paper assesses existing
research on hazardous fuel treatments in relation to the effectiveness of these treatments in
changing wildfire behavior. This analysis focuses on ponderosa pine - a "fire adapted" forest
type where periodic, Iow-intensity fires were the ecological norm in presettlement times.
Nonetheless, studies in other forest types are reviewed if the research provides useful
information on the fuel treatment/fire behavior relationship.
Research from pine forests in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic region are not be discussed in
this paper. For these regions, a number of case studies and empirical ~tudies evaluate the
effectiveness of prescribed burning in reducing wildfire size and cost (Curnming .1.964;
Helms 1979; Outcalt and Wade 1999; Davis and Cooper 1963; Moore et al. 1955; Martin
1988; Koehler 1992). " "
Terminology
Terminology is important to the purposes of this paper because of the complexity of concepts
used to describe fire and fuel treatments. The public has become familiar with terms like
catastrophic fire, fire hazard, fire intensity, fire severity and fire spread. The definition of
some of these terms is unclear, in part because they are subjective. For example, catastrophic
fire can be defined from three different perspectives: economic (the cost of damage), social
.(how .it is viewed by the public): .and ecological (biological effects of the fire). The press may
d'efiiae a x3iidfi~e as catastrophic frofia a social viewp0int'whereaS:an eeol°i~isi might pereei3'~
a similar fire as an expected occurrence in a stand-repl0cing ecosystem, such as lodgepole
pine. For the purposes of this paper, we will use Covington and Moore's (1994) definition of
catastrophic fire as a fire that kills a majority of the trees in the canopy in the ponderosa pine
type or in any dry forest that was, in presettlement times, subject to frequent surface fires.
Wildfire hazard is a rating defined by the kind, arrangement, volume, condition, and location
of fuels (Clar and Chatten 1966; Deeming 1990). The hazard rating refleetSthe susceptibility
of a forest to ignition, potential wildfire behavior and severity, and the potential difficulty of
suppression (Deeming 1990). Hazard ratings are g6nerally based on the subjectix/e judgment~
of-managers (Sampson et al. 2000).
Fireline intensity is the energy released per unit length of fireline per unit of time (i.e.,
BTU/ft./sec.), a physical parameter that is related to flame length (Alexander 1983). Fireline
intensity must be distinguished from fire severity..Fire severity is an ecological parameter
that loosely reflects the effects of fire (Agee 1996). A narrower definition of fire severity is a
measure of the heat transmitted into litter, duff, and soil layers, and the plant structures
within them (Neuensehwander et al. 2000). Finally, fire spread relates to velocity, measured
by a unit of distance per unit of time (Rothermel and Deeming 1980).
Wildland fire behavior is a function of fuels, weather and topography (Rotherme1.1983). The
behavior of wildland fire varies by the quality and quantity of fuel under differing weather
and slope conditions. Topography and weather play an important role in determining ftre
behavior (Bessie and Johnson 1995). For example, steep slopes or high winds may make fuel
i:ixtu'dtibn eff0rts'ineffe~tive. Ndh~flael'es~"~i/i'~-topo'~ph~i'hnd' ~ve~ihh'6~ ~hm0t"be'inan'aged, ......
most fire hazard reduction efforts focus on modifying the fuel'load.
Generally, fuels are described by whether they are dead or live and by their position under
ground, on the surface or in the air (Clar and Chatten 1966). Surface fuels are important
because a Surface fire can raise crown fuels to ignition temperatures through convective heat
transfer, a phenomenon fa-st observed.by van Wagner (1977). Examples of dead surface fuels
include dead grass, shrubs, and woody debris. Dead aerial fuels consist primarily of dead
trees and dead branches in live trees. Examples of live. surface fuels are grass and shrubs.
Live aerial fuels include suppressed trees and the foliage of dominant trees. A measure of
aerial fuels is crown bulk density. Crown bulk density is the mass of crown fuel, including
needles, fine twigs, etc., per unit of crown volume (Agee et al. 2000). Crown fuels are..
important to consider because they are necessary to sustain a crown fire (van Wagner 1977).
Crown bulk density is a measure, however, that is relatively difficult to calculate and ils
unfamiliar to many foresters.
Several fuel characteristics are important in determining fire l~ehavior. Moisture content
influences the extent to which fuel is flammable (Biswell 1989). CompaCtness of fuel
particles and their size regulate tWo important elements of the combustion process, the:
transfer of heat and the itvailability of oxygen to the fuel (Clar and Chatten 1966). The
continuity of fuel particles affects fire spread (Biswell 1989; Martin et al. 1989; Harrington
and Sackett 1992). The vertical ar[.angement of fuel in relation to tree crowns also influences
fire spread. Contiguous vertical fuels are often referred io as ladder fuei~' (Clar and chatten
1966). Some shrub species-are exceptionally volatile and contribute to crown fire by
functioning as ladder fuels (Martin et al. 1988; Harrington and Sackett 1990).
METHODOLOGY
Over the past two years, we reviewed more than 250 papers related to fuels treatment and fire
behavior in western forests. The majority of the literature came from two sources. One is
literature published by the USDA Forest Service. These documents include reports fi'om
research stations and laboratories, as well as proceedings from conferences. The other source
consists of papers published in Peer-reviewed and non-peer-revieWed journals.
Papers were compiled using several strategies. A broad literature review of fire-related
research was conducted using search engines for academic journals at the University of New
Mexico library. Topics ranging from fire history to fire ecology and behavior were included
in this search. U.S. Forest Service field staff provided suggestions for useful articles, as did
colleagues engaged in similar work. In addition, many organizations such as the Grand
Canyon Forest Partnership, have compiled bibliographies to support their work. Using this
iterative approach, when it became apparent that no "new" articles turned up, our search
appeared to have been comprehensive.
&
We found a wide range of scientific rigor in the studies reviewed, making an evaluation of
the research difficult. To assist the reader, we therefore structured our review of the literature
into four general groupings: observations, case studies, mathematical models and empirical
studies. Articles recounting observatio.ns are generally based on the authors' personal
......... ~xperienee andtYPlcaliy do not inclUde data ab°utWeather conditions or fUel loads. Case
studies provide data about a treatment or area but are not replicated and are not experimental
in nature. Literature describing simulation models ranges from theoretical projections of fire
behavior to studies testing the utility of models in the context of specific data. Finally,
empirical studies describe research that includes a testable hypothesis, replication and
supporting data.
Observations
Observation-based reports are generally not included in a rigorous review of scientific
literature. However, this category includes the greatest number of papers on the effectiveness
of fuel treatments. In that they communicate the experiences of forest managers and fire
'fighters, observations can provide a starting point from Which to begin thinking about the ·
effectiveness of fuel treatments.
Observations often do not recount the context of the observed event. For example, an account
of a fire droPping from tree crowns to the ground-may not include information about the pre-
fire stand structure, treatment history, or weather conditions. Observations also have the
potential to be selective and biased and often do not provide adequate information to
understand the complex variables involved in determining wildfu'e behavior.
Case Studies
· :
Case studies generally investigate fuel treatments and the observed effects of treatments on
wildfire at a single site. Such case studies usually do not provide information on the fuel
complex prior to wildfire occurrence and thus fall between observation and empirical
research in terms of rigor..
Simulation Models
Due tO their destructive nature, studies involving the ignition of actual forest fires are
impractical. As an alternative to studies that are' field based, many scientists use Computer
simulation modelS with climatic, fuel load and forest structure variables to better understand
fire behavior and fire effects. Scientists use such models to predict fire behavior, including
fire growth, spotting, and crowning.
Models can provide an effective way to assess the potential effects of management ma fzre
behavior, but need tO be verified using field research. Several studies illustrate the limitations
of models. Some models only consider dead and down woody fuels and litter or live surface
fuels, but do not address crown fuels (Andrews 1986; Miller 2000). In this case, the model'
cannot simulate crown fire, nor the transition bom surface fire to crown fire (Miller 2000).
Furthermore, simulation studies are limited by the ability of current models to predict
extreme'fire behavior (Finney 1998).
An inherent limitation of models lies in their restricted capacity to represent the great
variation within natural forests, even within a relatively well-defined class such as an even-
aged, Single-sPeCieS'stand. Such variation places a practical limit on the degree of accuracy
of models when Used on the Imidscape level (van wagner 1993). Ideally the whole fuel
complex would be included in a model (Andrews and Williams 1998). In addition, the
development of models incorporating non-uniform fuels and spotting has been identified as a
research priority (Rothermel 1988). Reinhardt and Ryan (1998) cautioned that models should
not be used to provide general conclusions about fuel treatments, although they may be
useful in comparing specific alternatives on a single site.
Empirical Studies
Scientific studies based upon measurements that portray or reconstruct fuel conditions both
before and after wildfire provide the best insight as to.the effectiveness of treatment'in
modifying fire behaVior. Such measurements allow the researcher to' develop statistical '
correlations between specific fuel characteristics, treatments and wildfire behavior. In
addition, such studies provide a clear basis for comparing treatments and for communicating
the scientific basis for fuel treatments to the public.
OVERVIEW OF THE LITERATURE -
The following section is organized according to the various fuel reduction practices identified
· by research s¢ienti, sts .and forest managers for the po. nderos,3, pine type...Treatments used in
other forest types are noted specifically. Prescribed burning has been utilized as an effecfi3e
way to reduce fuel loads (Biswell et al. 1973). Researchers have suggested that mechanical
thinning which leaves the large trees in the forest will reduce fire severity (Agee 1996;
Covington et al. 1997). Understory fuel treatments, such as piling and burning slash, also
reduce fuel loads. A combination of strategies may be the most effective fuel treatment
(Agee et al. 2000; Covington et al. 1997; van Wagtendonk 1996). Most recently, a number of
policy makers have suggested that commercial logging would represent the most cost
effective method to reduce fuel loads (Bush 2002; USDA Forest Service 2002; Little 2002).
Prescribed Burning
. .
Prescribed burning has a long history of use, initially by Native Americans, and later by land
managers who recognized the need for regular fire in. some ecosystems. Prescribed fire can
be used to reduce dead and down fuels, live surface fuels and dead and live' canopy fuels. The
extent to which fu~ls are reduced depends on the characteristics of the fire and the fuels.
While studies have sho .wn that prescribed fire is effective in reducing fuel levels (Gaines et
al. 1958; Sacker and Haase 1998; Harrington 1981), examining the relationship between
.prescribed burning and subsequent fire behavior is more complicated.
Observations
..--
Recorded observations generally describe the effects of prior burning on subsequent
wildfires. Biswell et al. (1973) described the 1963 Penrod Butte wildfire in Arizona. The
wildfire, which covered 2,300 acres before being contained, started on one of the worst fire
~'-'-days of the'year. In' areas where fuels had'been treated by controlled burning in 1956." and
1961, the fire burned on the stirface and the majority of dominant and co-dominant poles
survived. Where there had been no controlled burning, the wildfire crowned and caused
almost total destruction of trees. Another example is provided by the Star Gulch fire in the
Boise National Forest. The fire burned into Cottonwood Creek, an area previously treated
twice with prescribed fire (Barbouletos et al. 1998). A majority of trees in the treated areas
appeared to have survived, whereas many trees in untreated areas did not. Saveland and
Bunting (1988) described ponderosa pine communities in the Selway-Bi'tterroot Wilderness
in north~central Idaho where natural ignitions were allowed to bum.. Although measurements
were not taken,.the rate of spread.and intensity of wildfires in 1986 and 1987 appeared to be
reduced when entering areas previously burned by a low intensity wildfire in 1979.
Case Studies ' ' '" ' "
Case studies conducted on the Fort Apache Reservation in Arizona and the Colville
Reservation in Washington document the effect of prescribed burning on subsequent wildfire
hazard. Prescribed burning on both reservations was used repeatedly. Weaver reported that,
in areas where controlled bums have occurred, the size and associated costs °fwildf'ires were
reduced (Weaver 1955, 1957a, 1957b). However, Weaver does not describe how the "cost of
damages" 'was quantified. Kallander (1969), in another study on the Fort Apache
Reservation, compared wildfires on a non-treated area with wildfires after controlled burning
treatmem. He f0ma. d a 60% reduction in the sjz.e.o.fwildf[res on .tr .eate.d areas...0n 28.,.500
acres controlled bUrned in 1956, subsequent wildfires averaged about one-fourteenth as large
as fires on the untreated acres. Unfortunately, size is a poor measure of wildfire effects.
Similarly, results of controlled burning on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington
showed a 90% reduction in the number of acres burned by subsequent wildfires and a 94%
reduction in damage (Weaver 1957a). Martin et al. 09118) describe the Kelsey Butte site. A
wildfire occurred 6 years after treatment, spreading to plots outside of the area that was
prescription burned. In the unburned plots, crowns torched, resulting in nearly 100%
mortality. Within the perimeter of the prescribed bum, the wildfire remained a surface fire.
. .
Other case studies suggest that.prescribed fire, if. applied only once, is not adequate or .
effective for reducing the density or .fuels (Ffolliot et al. 1977; Harrington and Sacketl 1990).
Therefore, hazard reduction can be seen as a continual process that cannot be accomplished
by a single treatment.
.Simulation Models
Simulation models appear to have been used principally in forest types other than ponderosa
pine. Reinhardt and Ryan (1998) linked a mathematical model of stand structure with models·
of fire behavior to compare the effect of prescribed burning with a control. Model results
· suggested that prescribed burning would reduce fire intensity, as quantified by flame length.
A study by Johnson et al. (1998) simulated wildfire occurrence and effects in mixed conifer
in the Sierra Nevada. The simulation suggested that prescribed burning could significantly
lower the risk of high-severity fire. Van Wagtendonk (I 996), assessing treatments in mixed
......... -cOnifer forests using'F~TE,-'a-fire--growth'simulati-on model;"suggested'that-p~e-se-fibed .......
fire might· be the most effective treatment for reducing a fire's rate of spread, fireline
intensity, flame length, and heat per unit area. Stephens (1998), also using FARSITE,
suggested that a prescribed bum could reduce subsequent fireline intensities, heat-per-unit
area, rate of spread, area burned and scorch height in a Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest. A
study in a giant sequoia-mixed conifer forest used the Rothermel fire model to show that
prescribed burning resulted in a reduced potential for crown f~re (Kilgore and Sando 1975).
Empirical Studies
An empirical study conducted by Wagle and Eakle (1979) compared the effects of a
prescribed bum treatment with an unburned control on the Carrizo-Bibecue wildfire. The
· study, demonstrated that a controlled-bum one year prior to the advent of wildfire effectively
reduced the impacts on a ponderosa pine forest overstory. One limitation of this study is that.
· the controlled bum occurred only one year prior to the wildfire. Therefore, results support
only the short-term effects of prescribed burning. Foxx (I 996) studied areas that had
experienced previous low intensity wildfires within the perimeter of the 1977 La Mesa Fire
in Bandelier National Monument. Plots examined after the La Mesa fire showed that areas
burned 1 and 17 years before suffered less damage to crowns than areas that had been burned
40 and 84 years before (Foxx 1996).
A retrospective study by Pollet and Omi (2002) in ponderosa pine on the Kootenai National
Forest in Montana qu~ntitatively examined fire Severity in a prescribed bum versus a ex>ntt01
after the Webb Fire burned through both areas. Fire severity was rated with consideration of
both canopy damage and depth of ground char. Canopy damage was classified by describing
crown scorch and consumption. Ground char depth was classified by examining needle litter,
duffand woody debris condition, the color and texture of the soil and the amount of mineral
soil exposure. The stand treated with prescribed fire had lower fire severity ratings than the
untreated stand. The lower ratings were attributed to differences in density and tree size.
Mechanical Thinning
Because of the inherent risk and lack of control involved in using prescribed fire as-a
management tool, many foresters advocate mechanical thinning to reduce fuel loads.
Thinning is used primarily to reduce the continuity of aerial fuels and crown bulk density. In
general, thinning from below (removing the smallest trees) is assumed to be more effective at
altering fire behavior than thinning ~om above (removing the largest trees). The hypothesis
underlying the use of mechanical thinning is that the lack of continuity of vertical and
horizontal aerial fuels will reduce the likelihood of sustained crown fire. While researchers
can quantify fuel reduction resulting fi.om .thinning (Kalabokidis and Omi 1998; Wakimoto et
al. 1988), the utility of mechanical fuel reduction for mitigating severe wildfires is not easily
evaluated in quantitative terms (Scott 1998; Poller and Omi 2002; van Wagtendonk 1996).
Assessing the effectiveness of mechanical thinning is complicated by the introduction of
surface fuels that result from thinning activities. Without proper treatment, live, aerial fuels
are converted by-thinning into dead, surface fuels. A number of authors suggest that, when
........ ~laSh'iSn0t removed Or treated adequateIy, the' ~sUlting fuel comPleX increases the
probability °fa more intense, damaging, and extensive wildf~e (Wilson and Dell 1971;
Maxwell and Ward 1976; Anderson 1982; Kalabokidis and Omi 1998). Fire hazards
associated with'thinning residues can extend for many years, varying by tree species (Olson.
and Fahnestock 1955).
Observations
Field observations have recorded the effect of thinning on fire behavior. Agee (1996)
describes the 1994 Tyee fires in the Wenatehee National Forest, in which crown fires in
unthinned stands dropped .to the ground when they reached adjacent thinned stands. Ful6 and
Covington (!996) describe an event that occurred during the Trick fire Of 1993, northwest of
'Flagstaff, Arizona. Ahigh-intengity crown fire pas'sed'aeross a thinning demonstration area,
killing all trees in a densely-spaced s .t~nd, but causing only an incomplete surface bumin a
stand with more open spacing. Other observations, however, suggest thinning may have little
or no effect on crown fire behavior. For example, a fire west of Flagstaff, Arizona was
observed to jump a 300 foot fuel break and burn though the crowns of a previously thinned
stand (F.orest Trust 1999). Similarly, areas that had been mechanically thinned near Denver
were observed to be transformed into "...a ghost forest, silent and blackened, devoid of
liVing trees" by the Hayman fire of 2002 (Purdy 2002).
_.,Case S .tudies
Agee (1996) provided a single case study of the effect of mechanical thinning in a ponderosa
pine/Douglas fir forest. Crown fire on the 1994 Wenatchee fire in Washington State was
evaluated. In areas where a comparison was possible, crown fires in unthinned stands were
observed to drop to the ground when they reached thinned stands. In this study, the threshold
for crown ~ulk' density was calculated to be 0.10 kg/m3, with crown f'tre more likely above
this threshold and surface fire more likely when density fell below this limit.
Simulation Models
· Mathematical models have been used extensively to assess the effects of mechanical'thinning
on simulated wildfires (Graham et al. 1999). Stephens (1998) Used FARS1TE to investigate
the impact of salvage or group selection with slash:reduction in a Sierra Nevada mixed-
conifer forest. Results of this simulation predicted that mechanical treatments could reduce
ftreline intensities, heat per unit area, rate of spread, area burned, and scorch height.
Simulations conducted by van Wagtendonk (1996), also using FARSITE, analyzed the effect
· of a 50% removal of the overstory. This simulation indicated that average heat per unit area
might be slightly less in the treated area and that crowning might not occur. However, in this
simulation, rate of spread, fireline intensity, and flame length increased by comparison with
the control, because surface fuels were drier.
·
Scott (1998) linked models of surface ftre behavior (Albini 1976; Rothermel' 1972), crown
fire rate of spread (Rothermel 1991) and crown fire initiation (van Wagner 1977) to identify
the environmental conditions that lead to crown fire activity. Scott then sin;3.ulated fire
15eli~i~i6i~ui-tl~6 p~oiid~?6~ii ]sin/~' ~t~"t~6i~ing-dilTei~tit ~etitnien~!' 1)'ls'~hl-~r'6a r~dU~ed ...........
to. 100 fl2/acre, thinned from below;' 2) basal area reduced to 75 ft2/aere, thinned from above;
and 3) basal area reduced to 75 K2/aere, thinned from below. In this simulation, all three
treatments appeared to restrict the potential for crown fire spread by reducing crown bulk
density.
By contrast~ Graves and Neuensehwander (1999) observed contradictory results from a
simulation in ponderosa pine using three models. They observed that "[h]igh crown bulk
densities, by themselves, did not support crown fire. Likewise, stands opened up from
thinning to reduce crown bulk density did not necessarily have less tree mortality"
(op. cit.: 166). These authors found these results "surprising," indicating that the model
predicted an outcome that contradicts common assumptions.
Graves and Neuenschwander (1999) did observe in their simulation that treatment of ladder
fuels, however, helped to reduce scorch height and fireline intensity. These findings are
consistent with those of Scott (1998), cited above. The results of his simulation indicated that
thinning from below.resulted in stands that were less prone to crown fire ignition because the -
average height of tree crowns was raised.
Finally, the positive impact of reducing ladder fuels is also supported by the results of
Reinhardt and Ryan (1998) who linked a model projecting stand dynamics with fire behavior
and effects models.tO .eomP.ar.e' the. .resul.ts of a low thinning (trees up to 8 inches) with an
Unthinn~d'e6ntrol. In this simulation, thinning appeared to 'reduce flame length'~ (Reinliari~t
and Ryan 1998).
As noteA above, mechanical thinning results in large amounts of slash that must be reduced
.... before hazardous fuel treatments can be considered complete. Models have been used to
· investigate the effect of slash from thinning on fire behavior. Kalabokidis and Omi (1998),
using BEHAVE, evaluated three thinning and slash disposal treatments on two lodgepole
pine stands: thinning with whole tree removal, thinning with stem removal and lopping and
scattering:, and thinning with stem removal and hand piling and burning. On average,
' thinnin~ reduced tree density to between 300 and 400 trees/hectare. Results of the model
suggested that a failure to implement slash treatments could contribute to accelerated fire .
spread and difficulty of control.
Empirical Studies
This survey turned up only one empirical study examining how thinning alone affects fire
severity. Pollet and Omi (2002) examined one study site treated by whole tree thinning in
1989 and 1990. Slash residues'were effectively removed fi.om the site. When a subsequent
wildfire burned through this site, the treated plots exhibited lower fire severity ratings and
less crown scorch than the untreated plots.
Mechanical Thinning and Burning
A'combination of thinning and prescribed burning has been recommended as a tool to restore
156~id~'~osa'i~iii~ 'f0i'ests and reddce-ftr~' risk '(Fiedle~' 1996; Fiedlef et al. '1998). 'However,
research on the combination of treatments is not' well documented in the literature.
Observations
Few recorded observations of the effect of thinning and burning on fire behavior were found.
Barbouletos et al. (1998) provided one account of a wildfire in the Boise National Forest.
The Tiger Creek area had been thinned and prescription burned prior to the 1992 Foothills
fire. When the fire hit the Tiger Creek area, it changed fi.om a crown fire to a surface fire.
Case Studies
Weaver (1957b) described using stand 'improvement and prescribed burning to reduce fuels
in a second growth, ponderosa pine stand on the Klamath Indian Reservation in southern
Oregon. Smaller, suppressed trees were thinned, residual tries, pruned, and slash piled and
burned. After this treatment, prescribed burns were conducted annually. While Weaver did
not provide quantitative data, he reported a reduction in fire hazard: In support of this
conclusion, Weaver describes a wildfire that occurred 15 years after the initial treatment that
was easily controlled.
Simulation Models
· 19lod~is have b6en used'to'ev~iluate the 6ffie&ey of thinning and burning treatments. Johnson .
et al. (1998), using a simulation model, suggested that prescribed fire and timber harvest
reduced the likelihood of high-severity fire better than prescribed' fire alone. Stephens (1998)
10
used FARSITE to model the effect of thinning followed by prescribed burning in a Sierra
Nevada mixed-conifer forest. Modeling a subsequent wildfire, these treatments were
predicted to reduce fireline intensities, heat per unit area, rate of spread, area burned, and
scorch height. ,In this study, the greatest fireline intensities were predicted when slash was not
treated.
Ful6 et al. (2001) evaluated a combination of thinning and prescribed fire using NeXUs. The
percent of croWn burned and rate of spread was-predicted to be reduced in each of the four
treatment blocks. The predicted "type" of fire (surface, passive crown fire or active {:rom
fire) did not change after treatment except in one block where an active crown' fire was
predicted prior to treatment and a passive fare post treatment. The results of this treatment
appear anomalous in that the positive effects did not correlate with density of standing aerial
fuels expressed either as crown bulk density or as basal area. In fact, in this block, crown
bulk density was 147% higher than in the next most dense treated block and basal area was
55% higher. Ful6 et al. (2001) suggested that this. treatment was predicted to be successful in
preventing a crown fire because it raised the crown base height.
Simulations conducted by van Wagtendonk(1996) projected that a 50% canopy reduction
with slash removal and prescribed burning would reduce the size and intensity of subsequent
fires. In this simulation, scattering the cut and lopped fuels on the surface, rather than
removing the slash entirely, had the apparent result of causing fares to spread rapidly, burn
intensi~l~','Sp0t'ahead6fflieinaM"f~re'and move into the cro~s. '-'
Empirical Studies
The authors found only one study that systematically and quantitatively examined fire
severity in treated versus untreated ponderosa pine stands (Pellet and Omi 2002). Two sites,
where the Hochderffer and Tyee wildfires later occurred, received some type of mechanical
tree removal in the 1970s, followed by prescribed burning 13 to 25 years later. After the two
wildfires occurred, .several variables describing residual stand density, basal area, and.
average diameter of trees on the plot were measured. At the Tyee site, Pellet and Omi (2002)
found a high correlation between tree density and fire severity rating. However, at the
Hochderffer site, there was a lack of significant correlation between fire severity and the
measures of Stand density. 'Fire severity did vary significantly, however, between'treated and
untreated sites. Thus,. the study suggested that something other than stand density, such as
fuel moisture, contributed to the differences in fire severity.
Commercial Timber Harvest
As noted above, some policymakers have suggested that commercial logging could be used
to reduce the incidence of canopy fire (Bush 2002; USDA Forest Service 2002; Little 2002).
Observations and Case Studies
We did not fred any reports of observations or case studies that address the hypothesis that
commercial logging could be used to modify fire behavior to reduce crowning.
11
Simulation Models
Most studies of the interaction between commercial harvest and fire behavior focus on the
detrimental impacts of slash residues. A study by Benson (1982) in mature lodgepolc pine
compared four harvesting and logging residue treatments. The model predicted the potential
for extreme fire behavior in areas where residues were not treated. Wakimoto et al. (1988),
using the fire model BEHAVE, in a ponderosa pine/Douglas fir foi'est, suggested that all six
alternative'slash-treatments could provide a significant reduction in -the potential for extreme
fire behavior follOWing logging.
In a Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest, Stephens (1998) used FARSITE to investigate the
interaction between slash from logging and fire behavior. When silvicultural treatments were
conducted without reducing slash, the simulated fire behavior appeared more extreme than in
the area that had not been harvested at all.
We found a single study involving simulation that evaluated the effect of canopy reductions ·
resulting fi'om .commercial timber harvest (Jones and Chew 1999). This study, however,
simulated, vegetation development and not fire behavior.
.E. mpirical Studies' '
....... W~ did not find any'empirical ~udies'that evaluated commercial harvesting as 'a means of
altering fire behavior. Numerous empirical studies, however, have investigated fire behavior
in slash following logging. A study by Vihanek and 0ttmar (1993) provides evidence of
severe post-wildfire effects in areas where slash was lef~ compared to areas where slash was
treated by' broadcast burning. A study by Weatherspoon and Skinner (I 995) quantifies fire
damage to ponderosa pine and Douglas fir tree crowns in stands that had been commercially
harvested.. Sites where treatments included complete slash removal had lower fire severity,
defined by scorch or consumption of tree crowns, than stands with no slash treatment.
Significantly, this study found that uncut stands suffered the least damage fi.om wildfure. The
high damage ratings for the cut, versus the uncut, stands were attributed to the added fuels,
the altered microclimate, and the fact that the harvest removed large rather than small trees
(Weatherspoon and Skinner 1995). These results are similar to an empirical study by
Lindemnuth (1962)i Liiidenmuth described ffmre crowning in a recently cut ponderosa pine
· stand by contrast to areas where logging had occurred at a significantly earlier time. He
attributed the,crowning that occurred in the recently cut stand to slash. These studies suggest
that slash :resulting from logging is a key factor in predicting subsequent fire risk and that
removal of large diameter trees alone may 'contribute to increased fire severity.
S~Y
.T~a..e following s.u...mmary Pr9Vides a brief overview of what can ..be concl .u. ded about fuel
reduction .and fire behavior from the studies that were reviewed. Although we have included
'reports of observations in this study to this point, such reports are generally not considered
12
sufticiemly rigorous to be included in a review of the literature. Therefore, we have :not
included reports of observations in the following summary.
Prescribed Burning
We found substantial literature on the use of prescribed fire to alter wildfire behavior. A
number of case Studies (Weaver 1957a; Martin et al. 1988) describe this treatment as
reducing subsequent wildfire damage (including crown scorch and tree kill). Other studies in
this class found that the use of prescribed fire helped to reduce the area burned by subsequent
wildfires, although size was recognized as a poor measure of wildfire effect (Kallander 1969;
Weaver 1955, 1957a, 1957b).
A number of studies using simulation models suggested that prescribed burning could reduce
flame length, fireline intensity, rate of spread and heat generated per unit area (Kilgore and
Sando 1975; van Wagtendonk 1996; Johnson et al. 1998; Reinhardt and Ryan 1998; Stephens
1998).
SignifieantIy, we also discovered several empirical studies of the effectiveness of prescribed
fire in altering wildfire behavior. These studies report reduced crown scorch and tree
mortality as a result of treatments using prescribed fire (Wagle and Ealde 1979; Foxx 1996).
One study reported a reduction in fire severity in more general terms (Poller and Omi 2002).
Mechanical Thinning
We found a limited range of papers on the effects of mechanical thinning on wildfire
behavior. We were able to fred only a single case study linking the effects of mechanical
thinning to wildfire damage (Agee 1996). This study indicated that thinning which
specifically reduced crown bulk density restricted the occurrence of crown fire..
The most extensive research involved mathematical simulation of the impact of mechanical
thinning on wildfire behavior. However, the results of this research appeared highly variable.
Three studies suggested that mechanical thinning could reduce incidence of crowning or area
burned (van Wagtendonk 1996; Scott 1998; Stephens 1998). Several other.studies suggested
that mechanical tliinning would reduce s~rch ~eight and fireline intensity (Reinhardt and'
Ryan 1998; Stephens 1998; Graves and Neuensehwander 1999). Studies by Scott (1998) and
Graves and Neuenschwander (1999), however, produced inconsistent results for fireline
intensity, rate of spread and flame length. In some eases, thinning prior fo wildfire simulation
redUced the severity of these variables and, in other cases, thinning appeared to exacerbate
these factors depending, in part, on the treatment of the resulting slash.
The single empirical .study we were able to find on the effects of mechanical thinning
indicated that fire severity was reduced on only one out of several study sites (Poller and Omi
~002). .. . . ..
.... .. .-
13
Mechanical Thinning and Burning
A limited number of studies address the effectiveness of a combination of thinning and
burning in moderating wildfire behavior. We found only one case study and one empirical
study. The ease study suggested that the ease of controlling wildfire improved al[er treatment
(Weaver 1957b), The single empirical study found that fire severity and crown scorch was
reduced a~r treatment on one site but on another site, this effect could not be linked
statistically to reductions in tree density (Pellet and Omi 2002).
The results produced by computer simulation were not consistent. Two of the simulation
studies suggested that the area burned and fireline intensity could be reduced by this
combination of treatments (Johnson et al. 1998; Stephens 1998). However, one study
suggested that fire spread, intensity and occurrence of spotting and crowning would increase
after treatment . (-van Wagtendonk 1996).
Commercial Timber Harvest
· The research community h~s not addressed commercial logging as a method for ieducing
wildland fuels. Most of the research on logging and fire behavior focuses on the build-up of
fuel that results from harvest and on methods for treating slash. We found a single simulation
study wh_i.ch tou.ehed on the impacts Of commercial. harvest 0.n..fu'..e behavior- We did not fred
any reports of observations, case studies or empirical on research this topic. The absence of
literature may result from the' fact that commercial logging focuses on large diameter trees
which do '.not contribute significantly to fire risk.
CONCLUSION
.i
Although the assertion is frequently made that reducing tree density can reduce wildfire
hazard, the scientific literature provides tenuous support for this hypothesis. This review
indicates that the specifies of how prescriptions are to be carried out and the effectiveness of
these treatments in ehang~g wildfire behavior are not supported by a significant consensus
of scientific research at this point in time. This conclusion is supported bY the work of other
researchers. ' ·
Deeming (1990), suggested ~e do not know whether proposed treatments will be effective in
reducing the size, intensity, or severity of wildfires. A report prepared for Congress stated:
"We do not presume that there is a broad scientific consensus surrounding appropriate
methods or techniques for dealing with fuel build-up or agreement on the size of areas where,
and the time frames when, such methods or techniques should be applied" (US GAO
1999:56). A research report by Omi and Martinson (2002:1) stated: "Evidence of fuel
treatment efficacy for reducing Wildfire damages is largely restricted to anecdotal
· observations.and simulations." .... . ........
The knowledge needed to carry out prescribed fire activities with any level of sophistication
is severely limited because research has historically focused on fire suppression (Paysen et al.
14
1998). Other scientists acknowledged there ii little objective data concerning effective
combinations of prescribed fire and different silvicultural techniques (Harrington and Sackett
1990; van Wagtendonk 1996). Jim Mclver, a research scientist undertaking a five year.study
of alternative fuel treatment strategies stated: "At this point, information needed to answer
this question is anecdotal or completely absent" (Sonnet 2002). Omi and Martinson (2002:3),
in a comprehensive overview of the literature concluded that only a "spattering" of studies
published since the 1950s report that fire se~;e3ity Was r~duced in areas where.fuels had been
previously treated: "Very little work has been done that would fit into the scope of our
research, i.e., wildfire severity vadates measured and compared between untreated areas on
non-commercial fuel reduction areas such that an hypothesis regarding treatment efficacy
may be statistically tested."
Given the lack of scientific research, it is not surprising that forest managers ·also appear to
'lack adequate infOrmation concerning appropriate fuel reduction treatments. In a letter, a
regional forest manager stated: "Regarding your question about different thinning
prescriptions demonstrating relative effectiveness in reducing the intensity of spread of
crown fire, I don't know of any [studies]" (Personal Communication 2000).
~,
In sum, the notion that mechanical thinning, or a combination ofthirming and prescribed fire,
reduces the incidence of catastrophic fire needs to be viewed as a working hypothesis and
needs to be tested through experimentation and site-specific evidence. The proposal that
commer~i~il'lisg'g-ii/~'~ii¥i~-6itfiYe'tli~"i/i~id~fi-~. 'b-f ~iifiiS~yT-ff~' a-~'i~6iii-15I~t~l?' U/at~t~'d in ...................
the scientific literature.
Research Needs
Covington (1996) suggested that systematic field research, in combination with synthesis
bom existing knowledge is needed to provide a sound scientific basis for evaluating and
designing ecosystem management projects. Some efforts to provide such research have
already begun in the Lick Creek area of the Bitterroot National Forest, Montana. Thirty-three
research units of several acres each have been established (Arno et al. 1995). Researchers are
testing different harvest treatments that leave the majority of oVerstory pines, followed by
bum and no bum treatments. Another such.study, the Fire and Fire Surrogates project, is
being implemented across the Country. This national' netw6rk of eleven longZterm teseareli
sites will quantify the consequences and tradeoffs of alternative fire and fire surrogate
treatments (Weatherspoon and Mclver 2000). This research will be experimental, in that
differences among sites will be statistically ,tested and holds much promise in building a body
of knowledge to guide forest' management.
Finally, scientists recognize that large scale prescribed burning and mechanical thinning are
still experimental and may yet reveal unanticipated effects on biodiversity, wildlife
populations and ecosystem function (Romme 2000b; Tiedemann et al. 2000). Few long-term
s.tudie.s, docu. men.t.the.effect of such treatm, ents over t~.e.and across .the. lan.dq., cape.
In 2000, in response to the scale of summer Wildfires, our nation embarked on an emergency
$1.6 billion program to reduce fuels on millions of acres. The total commitment approaches
15
25% of federal land management funding. The western governors program calls for
sustaining this level of investment over the next ten years. Based on the findings of this
paper, a comparable investment must also be made in primary and applied research to
provide a credible scientific basis for the design, implementation and evaluation of
alternative treatments before they are applied on a landscape scale.
16
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26
Executive Summaw.
This paper assesses existing research on the effectiveness of hazardous fuel reduction in
changing wildfire behavior. Over two years, we reviewed more than 250 papers that
evaluat.ed three types of fuel treatment in relation to fire behavior in western forests -
prescribed fire, mechanical thinning, and a combination of thinning and burning. We also
surveyed the literature to evaluate recent suggestions by policy makers that commercial
logging can be used to treat dense forest fuels.
This assessment focused on ponderosa pine - a "fee adapted" forest type where periodic,
low-intensity fires were the ecological norm 'in presettlement times. Nonetheless, studies in
other forest types were reviewed if the research provided useful information on the
relationship between fuel treatments and fire behavior.
Findings:
· Although'the assertion is frequently made that simply reducing tree. density can reduce
wildfire hazard, the scientific literature provides tenuous support for this hypothesis.
The literature leaves little doubt, however, that fuel treatments can modify fire behavior.
Thus, factors other than tree density, such as the distance from the ground to the base
of-the tree crown, surface vegetation and dead materihl~ Play a key rolK~Research- has not
yet fully developed the. relationship among these factors in changing fire behavior.
The specifics of how treatments are to be carried out and the relative effectiveness of
alternative prescriptions in changing wildfire behavior are not supported by a significant
consensus of scientific research at this point in time..
Substantial evidence supports the effectiveness of prescribed fire, a treatment that
addresses all of the factors mentioned above. Significantly, several empirical studies
demonstrated the effectiveness of prescribed fire in altering wildfire behavior.
By contrast, we found a limited number of papers on the effects of mechanical thinning
alone on wildfire behavior. The most extensive research involved mathematical
simulation of the impact of mechanical thinning o~ wildfire behaviOr. However, the
results of this research are highly variable.
A more limited number of studies addressed the effectiveness of a combination of
thinning and burning in moderating wildfire behavior. The impacts varied, depending
on the treatment of thinning slash prior to burning. Again, crown base height appeared as
important a factor as tree density. The research community is still building a scientific
basis for this combination of treatments.
· The proposal that commercial logging can reduce the incidence of canopy fire was
untested in the scientific literature. Commercial logging focuses on large diameter trees
and does not address crown base height- the branches, seedlings and saplings which
contribute so significantly to the "ladder effect" in wildfire behavior.
Much of the research on the effectiveness of fuel treatments uses dramatically different
methodology, making a comparison of results difficult. To provide a basis for analysis,
we structured our review of the literature into four general groupings: observations, case
studies, simulation models and empirical studies. Empirical studies provide the strongest
basis for evaluating treatments whereas personal observations are the least reliable.
We found the fewest studies in the most reliable class - empirical research. We found
the greatest number of studies in the least reliable class of research - reports of personal
observation. Several other reviews of the literature confirm this finding, sthting that the
evidence of the efticaey of fuel treatment for reducing wildfire damage is largely
anecdotal. .~
The results of simulation studies are highly variable, in terms of such factors as fire
spread, intensity and the occurrence of spotting and crowning.
· Scientists recognize that large scale prescribed burning and mechanical thinning are still
experimental and may yet reveal unanticipated effects on biodiversity, wildlife
· populations and ecosystem function.
'Recommendations:
Systematic field research, in combination with synthesis' from existing knowledge, is
needed to provide a sound scientific basis for evaluating and designing fuel reduction
treatments.
The notion that mechanical thinning, or a combination of thinning and prescribed fire,
reduces the incidence of catastrophic fire should be viewed as a working hypothesis.
Specific combinations of treatments need to bt tested through experimentation using site-
and weather-specific data.
Priority should be given to locating fuel treatments in areas that include a well- "
constructed, experimentally driven design, so that agencies can optimize their ability to
learn, providing a higher return on future investment.
In 2000, our nation embarked on an emergency $1.6 billion program to reduce fuels on
millions of acres. The Western Governors Association calls for sustaining this level of
investment over the next ten years. Based on the findings of this paper, a comparable
investment must also be made in primary and applied research to provide a credible,
scientific basis for the design, implementation and evaluation of alternative treatments.
CITY OF
SHLAND
Council Communication
Title:
Dept:
Date:
Submitted By:
Designation of Voting Delegate for NLC meeting
Administration ]t]~
September 21,200~////
Gino Grimaldi /~
Synopsis:
Thc City of Ashland is a member of the National League of Cities. The annual meeting for the National
League of Cities will be held from November 30 - December 4, 2004 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Under thc
Bylaws of the National League of Cities, the City of Ashland will be entitled to cast one vote at the Annual
Business Meeting, held on December 4. Voting by proxy is not permitted. During mid-November, thc
National League of Cities will mail a special edition summarizing proposed National Municipal Policy
amendments and proposed resolutions, which will be voted on at the annual meeting.
Fiscal Impact:
Cost for a council member to attend the meeting will be registration fees, the cost of airfare, hotel room and
meals for the time spent in Indianapolis.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends that if council chooses to send a member to the meeting, one voting delegate who has
interest in traveling to the meeting is selected, plus an alternate.
Background Information:
The City of Ashland has been a member of the National League of Cities for the past six years.
Attachments:
None.
Request from Councilor Cate Hartzell
A Resolution Opposing State Initiative Ballot Measure 37
Attachments: · Complete Ballot Title and Estimate of Financial Impact
· Explanatory Statement
RESOLUTION NO. 2002-
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING STATE INITIATIVE
BALLOT MEASURE 37
Recitals:
A. Cities support existing federal and state constitutional provisions to compensate
property owners for their loss when a taking occurs; and
B. Cities believe that they should' have the authority to balance the rights of property
owners and the rights of residents if required to go beyond current federal and state
constitutional requirements to compensate property owners for a loss when a taking
occurs; and
C. Measure 37 creates significant costs for claims assessment; including ownership
research, costs of an appraisal that makes multiple value determinations, staff reports,
assessments of impacts to neighbors, assessments of collateral impacts to existing
infrastructure investments, legal assistance and additional public hearings; and
D. Measure 37 could create a loss of property tax revenue to cities by having
neighboring property owners demanding a reduction of their assessed values if an
unplanned development were allowed next to their property; and
. ·
E. Measure 37 would undermine local zoning authority; and
F. Measure 37 provides an alternate waiver provision that would increase infrastructure
costs when a city waived a regulation that puts additional unplanned capacity on public
facilities, transportation system improvements, curbs, sidewalks, open space
requirements, parks; and
G. Measure 37 would create substantial potential takings liability beyond the state and
federal constitution that would include issues such as: wetlands, fish and wildlife
habitat, buffer zones, access denials, recharge areas, flood plains, geologically
hazardous areas, shorelines, open spaces, view corridors, environmentally sensitive
areas; and actions such as denying permits, re-zones, subdivisions and variances;
THE CITY OF ASHLAND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. We oppose the passage of Measure 37; and
SECTION 2. We encourage residents to study the Measure and its impacts and vote
against this as a strategy for addressing land use concerns raised by its proponents
.. SECTION 3..This resolution takes effect.upon signing by.the Mayor.
-o
1- Reso re Measure 37G:\legal\PAUL\FORMS~resolution form.wpd
This resolution was read by title only in accordance with Ashland Municipal Code
{}2.04.090 duly PASSED and ADOPTED this day of ,2004.
Barbara Christensen, City Recorder
SIGNED and APPROVED this
day of ,2004.
Alan W. DeBoer, Mayor
"(/~ichael{ W'. F~-~ n ~11
2- Reso re Measure 37GNegal\PAUL\FORMS\resolution form.wpd
Proposed by Initiative Petition
MEASURE 37
GOVERNMENTS MUST PAY OWNERS, OR FORGO ENFORCEMENT, WHEN
CERTAIN LAND USE RESTRICTIONS REDUCE PROPERTY VALUE
RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: "Yes" vote requires that governments' pay owners, or forgo
enforcement by repealing, changing, not applying restrictions, when certain land use
restrictions reduce owners' property value.
RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: "No" vote rejects requiring that governments pay owners or forgo
enforcement by repealing, changing, not applying restrictions, when certain land use
restrictions reduce property value.
SUMMARY: Currently, Oregon Constitution requires government(s) to pay owner "just
compensation" when condemning private property or taking it by other action, including laws
precluding all substantial beneficial or economically viable use. Measure enacts statute
requiring that when state, city, county, metropolitan service district enacts or enforces land use
regulation that restricts use of private real property or interest thereon, government must pay
owner reduction in fair market value of affected property interest, or forgo enforcement.
Governments may repeal, change, or not apply restrictions in lieu of payment; if compensation
not timely paid, owner not subject to restrictions. Applies to restrictions enacted after "family
member" (defined) acquired property. Creates civil right of action including attorney fees.
Provides no new revenue source for payments. Certain exceptions. Other provisions.
'ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The measure would require state administrative expenditures to respond to claims for
compensation of between $18 million and $44 million per year.
The measure may require compensation to landowners. The amount of state expenditures
needed to pay claims for compensation cannot be determined.
There is no financial effect on state revenues.
-The me~sure would require local government administrative expenditures to respond to claims
for compensatior~ of between 346 million and $300 million per year.
The measure may require compensation to landowners. The amount of local government
expenditures needed to pay claims for compensation cannot be determined.
The effect o:f the measure on local government revenues cannot be determined.
November 2, 2004 General Election
Ballot Measure 37
Explanatory Statement:
Ballot Measure 37 adds a new statute to ORS chapter 197. As specified in the measure, the owner
of private real property is entitled to receive just compensation when a land use regulation is enacted after
the owner or a family member became the owner of the property if the regulation restricts the use of the
property and reduces its fair market value.
If a property owner proves that a land use regulation restricts the use of the owner's property, and
reduces its value then the government responsible for the regulation will have a choice: pay the owner of
the property an amount equal to the reduction in value or modify, change or not apply the regulation to
the owner's property.
The measure allows the state, county, city or metropolitan service district to adopt procedures for
processing claims for compensation, but prohibits those procedures from being treated as a prerequisite to
the filing of a claim in circuit court.
The measure does not apply to commonly and historically recognized public nuisances, public
health and safety regulations, regulations required to comply with federal law, and regulations restricting
or prohibiting the use of a property for the purpose of selling pornography or performing nude (lancing.
The measure specifies that compensation is due if the regulation remains in force 180 days after
the owner makes written demand for compensation. After that time, the present owner may file', an action
in the circuit court in the county in which the property is located. The measure also specifies that the
present owner is entitled to reasonable attorney fees, expenses, costs and other disbursements reasonably
incurred to collect compensation.
The measure provides no new revenue source for payments, if any, required under this measure.
The measure defines several terms that are used in the statute including "family member"' which is
defined as wife, husband, son, daughter, mother, father, brother, brother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, son-
in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, stepparent, stepchild,
grandparent, or grandchild of the owner of the property, an estate of any of the foregoing family
members, or a legal entity owned by any one or combination of these family members or the owner of the
property.