Memorandum
Date: December 1, 1995
To: John E. Lowe, Regional Forester
From: Donald R. Knowles, Executive Director
Subject: Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) Review of Olympic National Forest's Micky Fin Salvage Sale in the Quilcene Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) RW 106
Summary
The REO and the Interagency LSR Work Group have reviewed the Micky Fin Salvage Sale. REO also discussed this project with the Research and Monitoring Committee (RMC) and the Forest Service Regional Office Issue Resolution Team (IRT). Based on the REO and LSR Work Group recommendations, and documentation for the proposal provided by Olympic National Forest and the IRT, REO finds that the proposed salvage sale is consistent with the Northwest Forest Plan Record of Decision (ROD) objectives for salvage within LSRs.
Background
The Olympic National Forest proposes to salvage two 8-acre blowdowns in the 60,800-acre Quilcene LSR .
The blowdowns are located adjacent to recently reforested clearcut plantations. Down logs would be removed through existing plantations or the blowdowns using a one-end suspension system. All standing trees and snags would be retained, except those that need to be removed for safe operations. The units would be replanted after salvage is completed. The salvage units are not in a Riparian Reserve and no new roads would be needed for the project.
Documents submitted for review include an LSR assessment, environmental assessment, silvicultural prescription, and a biological evaluation. The REO, RMC, and LSR Work Group also visited the site with the Forest Service.
Rationale for Consistency Finding
The ROD (page C-14) states that "Salvage in disturbed sites of less than 10 acres is not appropriate because small forest openings are an important component of old-growth forests." While the two Micky Fin salvage units are each approximately 8 acres in size, the documentation submitted for the proposal and REO visits to the blowdown sites support a finding that the proposed salvage would be consistent with the objectives for salvage activities in LSRs. REO's consistency finding considered the intent of the 10-acre opening standard within the context of conditions in and adjacent to the two salvage proposals. As noted above, small forest openings are an important component of old-growth forests. Openings in old-growth forests allow light to reach the ground and understory promoting the development of ground cover and vertical structural diversity. These openings directly provide structure in the form of snags and coarse wood within an environment with moderated temperatures and humidity. The 8-acre blowdowns proposed for salvage are, however, adjacent to recent clearcuts that were reforested in 1993. The blowdowns contain substantially less than 40% canopy closure and do not function as small openings or as a component of old-growth stands.
All live trees and snags in the blowdowns will be retained except where they pose a safety hazard. An average of at least 15% ground cover in coarse woody debris (CWD) will be left in all areas based on research specific to CWD and small mammal community needs in the project area. Conversations with Forest staff indicate that almost all of the CWD left on site will exceed 20" diameter. Smaller woody debris will be piled and burned to reduce fire risk except for one pile per acre which will be left as habitat. Large wood in landings from an old timber sale adjacent to the Micky Fin units will be redistributed to CWD deficient areas within the old sale unit. Logs from cull piles at landings for the Micky Fin proposal will be sold for fire wood as CWD needs in the salvage units will be met through the proposed 15% cover retention requirements.
The existing quantity of down wood in the blowdown units will impede natural revegetation and growth of existing small trees. The blow down units would be replanted the second year after salvage, and thinning would occur 15 years after salvage to ensure species diversity and stocking levels in the regenerated stands.
Conclusion
The Micky Fin salvage will not impede the development of late-successional conditions and may accelerate development of late-successional habitat. The environmental assessment for the Micky Fin proposal and this REO consistency finding are site-specific and apply only to the blowdowns proposed for salvage.
cc:
Tom Nygren, USFS
RIEC
566/ly