Memorandum
Date: December 4, 1995
To: G. Lynn Sprague, Regional Forester
From: Donald R. Knowles, Executive Director
Subject: Regional Ecosystem Office Review of Shasta-Trinity National Forest's Spanky Dee Salvage Sale in the South Fork Mountain Late-Successional Reserve #RC-330
Summary
The Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) and the interagency Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) Work Group have reviewed the Spanky Dee salvage proposal. Also, this proposal was reviewed by the Forest Service Regional Office Issue Resolution Team (IRT) and found to be consistent with the Northwest Forest Plan Record of Decision (ROD). The REO finds that the proposed salvage sale is consistent with the ROD objectives for salvage within LSRs.
Background
The Spanky subwatershed of the South Fork Mountain LSR is a mosaic of clearcut and late- successional stands with some scattered pockets of mature stands. Extensive clearcutting has occurred on both Federal and private lands in the general project vicinity. A 13-acre and a 3-acre pocket blowdown occurred in late-successional white fir stands in the South Fork Mountain LSR adjacent to 3-year old plantations planted after clearcutting. The blowndown trees average almost 27" dbh and 113' tall. Canopy closure in the 13-acre pocket is well below 40%, while the 3-acre pocket has canopy closure over 40%. The proposed salvage would remove 132 of a total of 340 windthrown trees from these blowdown pockets within the South Fork Mountain LSR.
There are no Riparian Reserve or unstable soils in the relatively flat project area (0 - 20% slope). A paved road runs adjacent to the blowdowns. Tractor yarding would be used to remove wood using existing roads. No green trees or snags would be removed. An average of seven and a half windthrown trees would be retained per acre to meet coarse woody debris (CWD) needs. Operations-generated slash would be piled and burned in the fall within 100' of the paved Forest Service road. Slash further than 100' from the road would be lopped and scattered.
Rationale for Consistency Findings
Salvage within the 3-acre blowdown pocket would not normally be appropriate within the LSR, given the 10-acre opening salvage guideline and existing canopy closure of over 40%. However, the proposed treatments, within the context of existing conditions within the LSR, are consistent with the ROD. Within the Klamath Province, where the salvage units are located, the ROD (p. C-15) anticipated that some salvage which does not meet all of the salvage guidelines would be allowed when it is essential to reduce the future risk of fire or insect damage to late-successional forest conditions. The Spanky Dee proposal will reduce fire risk associated with current fuel levels.
The proposed salvage will leave all live trees, standing dead and damaged trees, and snags. Post salvage CWD in the salvage units will range from 5 to 10 logs per acre with retained logs averaging 27" in diameter and 113' long. CWD levels in undisturbed late-successional stands adjacent to the blowdowns range from 3 to 5 logs per acre. The blowdowns are bordered by 3-year plantations and do not function as small openings within an intact late-successional system.
Although the canopy closure in the 3-acre blowdown is greater than 40%, the proposed treatments reduce fuels that put at risk unique, late-successional white fir stands east of the blowdowns. There have been 23 recorded fires in the watershed since 1911. The paved road adjacent to the blowdowns is heavily traveled and cannot be closed to reduce the potential for ignitions. The number of logs salvaged and slash treatments are concentrated in the blowdown areas near the road. The documentation for the proposal includes a fire behavior model which demonstrates the benefits of proposed treatments in decreasing the potential rate of fire spread, fire intensity, and flame length. The fuel treatments will significantly enhance fire suppressability and reduce the likelihood of crown fire spread to nearby late-successional white fir stands.
Conclusion
The Spanky Dee proposal will not impede the development of late-successional conditions and reduces the fire risk to late-successional stands.
cc: Tom Nygren, Steve Clauson