Summary: The Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) interagency Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) Work Group has concluded its review of the documents provided by the Forest regarding proposed activities in LSRs within the proposed action of Hehe LSR Thin project, Willamette National Forest. The REO, based upon the review by the LSR Work Group, concurs with the Willamette National Forest in its findings of consistency with the Standards and Guidelines (S&Gs) under Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) for the Hehe LSR Thin Project.

Basis for the Review: Silviculture treatments in LSRs are subject to REO review under the NWFP S&Gs (C-12) if they do not meet existing criteria in the LSR Assessment or the exemption criteria for commercial thinning in the REO Memorandum dated July 9, 1996, (Subject: Criteria to Exempt Specific Silvicultural Activities in Late-Successional Reserves and Managed Late-Successional Areas from Regional Ecosystem Office Review).

Background and Project Description: As required by the NWFP S&G (C-12, C-13), the Willamette National Forest prepared a Late-Successional Reserve Assessment (LSRA) for the 66,000 acre Fall Creek LSR. The Fall Creek LSRA (LSR-219) was completed and reviewed by the REO in August 1997. The Hehe LSR Thin Project area covers about 20,726 acres in the central part of the LSR. Approximately 1,503 acres of the commercial thinning requires the cutting of trees that exceed 20-inches d.b.h. in order to achieve the desired effects on stand structure and species diversity for LSR objectives.

The proposed project would commercially thin a total of about 3,800 acres in the next decade. About half of the proposed density management thinning units occur in dense plantations less than 50 years of age; the other half occur in dense plantations between 50-60 years of age. The older managed units include stands that were salvaged after the Hehe Fire in 1951. The treatments would be a mixture of thinning intensities in plantations dispersed across the landscape to provide a range of variation to develop late-successional characteristics both spatially and temporally. In order to achieve the silvicultural objectives for density management, approximately 1,503 acres of stands would benefit from prescriptions resulting in the cutting of trees exceeding 20-inches d.b.h. Trees exceeding 20-inches d.b.h. would be used, where applicable, to meet snag and down wood requirements. Some trees exceeding 20-inches d.b.h. trees are proposed for removal to manage fuel loading levels and to meet tree density objectives.

Review of the Project: The activities reviewed by the LSR Work Group were those submitted for review by the Middle Fork Ranger District, Willamette National Forest. The Work Group reviewed the following:

1. Request for Hehe LSR Thin Project to Exceed the 20-inch d.b.h. Criteria Established in the REO Exemption Criteria (Dated: 1/11/2007).
2. Request for Hehe LSR Thin Project to Exceed the 20-inch d.b.h. Criteria Established in the REO Exemption Criteria (Dated: 12/18/2006).
3. Request for Hehe LSR Thin Project to Exceed the 20-inch d.b.h. Criteria Established in the REO Exemption Criteria (Dated: 11/1/2006).

The Work Group’s review was based on the information within these documents, briefings, and conference calls.

The interagency LSR Work Group review concluded that the proposed treatments in LSRs meet the objectives for managing LSRs. This conclusion was reached in part for the following reasons:

• The proposed treatments would accelerate development of structural conditions found in late-successional forests by:

1. Promoting the development of large bole trees, multi-layered canopies (vertical diversity), and plant diversity (C-12).
2. Maintaining or creating coarse woody material such as snags and logs on the forest floor (C-13).

• The proposed treatments would improve or maintain the growth and health of young stands (C-12).
• The proposed treatments reduce long term buildup of fuel and increase crown spacing to lower the risk of catastrophic wildfire (C-13).
• The proposed treatments protect the interior habitat conditions of late–successional and old-growth forest which serves as habitat for northern spotted owls (C-13).

Conclusion: Based upon the interagency REO LSR Work Group’s review, the REO concurs with the Willamette National Forest’s conclusion that the Hehe LSR Thin Project is consistent with the objectives of the Northwest Forest Plan S&Gs for managing LSRs.

cc:
Dallas Emch, Forest Supervisor, Willamette National Forest
Chip Weber, District Ranger, Willamette National Forest
Phil Mattson, RO
Cal Joyner, RO
LSR Work Group
Gary Marsh, Willamette NF
Neal Forrester, Willamette NF

2258/ShM