Fuels Reduction and Wildlife Habitat Restoration in a Late Successional

Reserve

Klamath National Forest, Goosenest Ranger District

BackgroundBackground

► Goosenest LSR Goosenest LSR Project conception Project conception early 1990searly 1990s

► Habitat for listed Habitat for listed species declining species declining rapidly rapidly

► Conflicts with Conflicts with Critical Habitat RxCritical Habitat Rx

► Collaboration with Collaboration with local FWS biologistslocal FWS biologists

Project objectivesProject objectives

►Reduce fuel ladder and ground fuelsReduce fuel ladder and ground fuels► Increase growth of large treesIncrease growth of large trees►Develop large limb structure and long Develop large limb structure and long

crownscrowns►Variable density stockingVariable density stocking►Decrease relative amount of white firDecrease relative amount of white fir►Reduce density related mortalityReduce density related mortality►Develop and maintain habitatDevelop and maintain habitat

Can’t meet all objectives in each Can’t meet all objectives in each standstand

Before Rx

After Rx

Take Take advantage advantage

of of opportunitiopportuniti

eses

Annosis Annosis pocketspockets

Examples of implementation Examples of implementation issuesissues

1)1) Implementing prescriptions in northern Implementing prescriptions in northern spotted owl habitat -1174 acresspotted owl habitat -1174 acres

2)2) Helicopter logging slash creation-450 acresHelicopter logging slash creation-450 acres

ImplementationImplementationNorthern Spotted Owl HabitatNorthern Spotted Owl Habitat

► Inherent conflicts in fuels reduction, forest health and Inherent conflicts in fuels reduction, forest health and wildlife habitat retentionwildlife habitat retention

► Collaboration between FWS, fuels specialists, wildlife Collaboration between FWS, fuels specialists, wildlife biologists, silviculturists, and environmental groupsbiologists, silviculturists, and environmental groups

Dry Forest vs Owl HabitatDry Forest vs Owl Habitat

► Conflicting resource Conflicting resource objectives objectives Reducing stand Reducing stand

density for tree vigor density for tree vigor and growthand growth

Maintaining owl Maintaining owl habitat structurehabitat structure

Short term vs long termShort term vs long term

► Difficult to apply Rx Difficult to apply Rx meeting all meeting all objectivesobjectives

► Units with conflict Units with conflict averaged 100 acresaveraged 100 acres

► Variability in Rx Variability in Rx essential essential

Bald Eagle/NSO HabitatBald Eagle/NSO HabitatHelicopter UnitsHelicopter Units

Before logging-high levels of coarse woody debrisBefore logging-high levels of coarse woody debris

Snags above Klamath NF Snags above Klamath NF Standard and Guidelines Standard and Guidelines

OSHA GuidelinesOSHA Guidelines► OSHA requires snag removal before helicopter OSHA requires snag removal before helicopter

logging to protect employees from snags logging to protect employees from snags

Dead legacy trees in eagle nest stand

Planned prescribed fir Planned prescribed fir nightmarenightmare

Helicopter slash-post logging

Helicopter generated slash

Post Treatment of NE LSR Helicopter Logging Slash.

Pre Treatment of NE LSR Helicopter Logging Slash.

Photo Point

5

Photo Point

5

Pre treatment slash

Post piling

Before logging, after and post pilingBefore logging, after and post pilingBefore After logging

After piling

Nest core area-hand treatment Nest core area-hand treatment onlyonly38 acres

Pre Post

Goshawk Habitat UnitGoshawk Habitat Unit261 acres261 acres

SuccessSuccess