Memorandum
Date: August 23, 1995
To: John E. Lowe, Regional Forester
From: Donald R. Knowles, Executive Director
Subject: Ames-Wood and Galahad Integrated Resource Projects within the Lower Cispus Late-Successional Reserve
SUMMARY
The Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) and the Interagency Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) Work Group have reviewed the Ames-Wood and Galahad timber sale proposals within the Lower Cispus LSR. Based on the REO review, the LSR Work Group Recommendation, and discussions with field staff regarding the projects, the REO finds these proposals to be consistent with the Standards and Guidelines (S&Gs) identified in the Record of Decision for the Northwest Forest Plan. The proposals' objective is to accelerate development of late-successional structural characteristics within the LSR.
BACKGROUND
The Ames-Wood and Galahad proposals are located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest within the Cispus River watershed. The southern half of the Lower Cispus LSR is composed of 20% mature and old-growth stands, 20% young plantations (<45 years old), and 60% immature stands (70-80 years old). The northern half of the Lower Cispus LSR is 55% mature and old-growth stands, 40-45% young plantations, and 5% recently burned stands. Both the Galahad and Ames-Wood timber sales are in the northern half.
The project proposals involve commercial thinning in 7 units totaling 215 acres. The proposed commercial thinning varies from 98 trees per acre to 134 trees per acre. The thinning would occur in 35- to 40-years old Douglas-fir stands that average 10" to 11.7" dbh. These stands have been precommercially thinned. Present stocking levels range from 200 to 300 trees per acre with 90-100% canopy closure. These stands also contain some shade-tolerant hardwoods and seedlings and pole-sized western red cedar and western hemlock, which will not be harvested but will be protected where possible. In addition, there are eight precommercial thinning plots distributed in the 7 units. There is no proposed road construction associated with the proposal or any activity planned in Riparian Reserves.
Documents submitted for review include the environmental assessments for both projects, including proposed silvicultural prescriptions and amendments, the biological evaluation, and the initial LSR assessment. Staff from the FS Region 6 and the LSR workgroup had follow-up discussions with field staff regarding the level of coarse woody debris that would naturally be found in similar unentered stands in the Forest.
RATIONALE FOR CONSISTENCY FINDING
The Ames-Wood and Galahad proposals include measures which address the various elements of the LSR's objectives. The proposals include silvicultural practices to accelerate the development of overstocked young plantations into stands with late-successional characteristics, such as multi-species and multi-layered assemblages of trees, moderate to high levels of large logs and snags, moderate to high canopy closure, moderate to high numbers of trees with physical imperfections, such as cavities, broken tops, and large deformed limbs, and moderate to high accumulations of fungi, lichens and bryophytes.
The largest and healthiest trees will be retained in the 7 units. Trees with physical imperfections which add to the structural diversity of the area will also be retained. The thinning will increase growth rates such that a 21" tree diameter will be reached in 25 years within stands that are treated versus 40 years in unthinned stands. The commercial thinning will create stands with 70% canopy closure, while favoring protection of the hardwood and western red cedar and hemlock components. Thinning should accelerate understory growth that will be beneficial to small mammal use and future northern spotted owl foraging. The elimination of the 1/4 - 1/2 acre Phellinus fungal pockets will create a number of small pockets scattered across the units. The proposed retention of 240-lineal feet per acre of coarse woody debris is consistent with adjacent natural stands. Proposed retention of as many snags as possible, through the marking of leave trees adjacent to snags, will benefit cavity nesting birds and mammals.
The units which will be thinned are dissected by numerous unthinned Riparian Reserves, buffers surrounding Accipiter spp. nests, permanent study plots, visual buffers, and eight variably thinned precommercial thinned plots. This combination of prescriptions will create a wide range of stand conditions with attendant late-successional habitat values.
CONCLUSION
Based on review of the silvicultural treatments, supporting documentation, and conversations with FS field personnel, the REO finds the Ames-Wood and Galahad projects consistent with the LSR S&Gs and objectives.
cc:
Forest Supervisor, GIP
T.Nygren
J.Ulbrich
REO Reps
RIEC
271/ly