Memorandum
Date: April 24, 1996
To: Robert W. Williams, Acting Regional Forester, Region 6, Forest Service
From: Donald R. Knowles, Executive Director
Subject: Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) Review of Siskiyou National Forest's Nickel Blow and M&M Salvage Sales Within the Northwest Coast Late-Successional Reserve
Summary
The REO and the interagency Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) Work Group have reviewed the above two project proposals. The proposals were also reviewed by the Forest Service's Region 6 Regional Office Issue Resolution Team (IRT) and found to be consistent with the Northwest Forest Plan (NFP) Record of Decision (ROD). The REO finds these proposals consistent with the ROD objectives for salvage within LSRs.
Background
The 1995 winter and 1996 spring storms resulted in significant windthrow damage to trees in the 146,000-acre Northwest Coast LSR. The Nickel Blow and M&M salvage proposals within the LSR would remove a portion of windthrown trees from 15- and 11-acre windthrown patches. Logs would be removed by mobile skyline harvesting from existing roads. The primary purpose of the proposals is to remove logs that are in excess of the coarse woody debris (CWD) requirements for late-successional and old-growth habitat associated species, consistent with levels identified in the Southwest Oregon LSR Assessment.
Documents submitted to the REO for review include the Nickel Blow and M&M salvage proposals, decision memoranda, biological evaluations, silvicultural prescriptions, a watershed analysis, and other supporting technical analyses and documents. A comprehensive LSR assessment for the Siskiyou National Forest's LSRs, including the Northwest Coast LSR, has previously been submitted to, and reviewed by, the REO.
Rationale for Consistency Finding
The ROD (page C-14) states that: "Salvage in disturbed sites of fewer than 10 acres is not appropriate because small openings are an important component of old-growth forests." Both the Nickel Blow and the M&M blowdowns are greater than 10 acres in size. Canopy closure on the two sales is less than 40 percent. There will be no road construction or major reconstruction. All standing live trees and snags will be retained, and the project areas will be replanted with late-successional species representative of the plant associations found on the project sites. The amount of CWD retained will average 12 pieces per acre and be at least 20 inches in diameter and 20 feet or greater in length. Based on conversations with the Forest, it is our understanding that logs greater than 20 feet in length will not count as multiple logs toward the requirement of 12 pieces per acre. The project is consistent with the treatment criteria in the LSR assessment.
Conclusion
Based on review of the proposed activities, supporting documentation, and conversations with the Forest Service, the REO finds the two Siskiyou National Forest salvage proposals consistent with LSR standards and guidelines. The proposed treatments will not impede development of desired late-successional characteristics.
cc:
Tom Nygren, USFS; RIEC Members
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