management indicator species (mis) report - part...
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MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 1
Management Indicator Species (MIS) Report - Part II
For the Mt. Hebron Restoration Project
Klamath National Forest Goosenest Ranger District
Male Black-backed woodpecker
Prepared by __ ________ Date: April 16, 2010___ Patricia Johnson
Wildlife Biologist
USDA Forest Service
VMS Enterprise Unit
Reviewed by: _______________________ Date:_____________ Christy Cheyne
Wildlife Biologist
Goosenest Ranger District
Klamath National Forest
Approved by: ____________________ Date: ____________ Laura Allen
District Ranger
Goosenest Ranger District
Klamath National Forest
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 2
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this report is to evaluate and disclose the impacts of the Mt. Hebron Restoration
Project on the Management Indicator Species (MIS) identified in the Klamath National Forest
(NF) Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) (USDA 1995) which was developed under
the 1982 National Forest System Land and Resource Management Planning Rule (1982 Planning
Rule) (36 CFR 219). This report documents the effects of the four alternatives; Proposed Action
(Alternative 2) and the action Alternatives 3 & 4, and No Action (Alternative 1), for the Mt.
Hebron Restoration Project on the habitat of selected MIS. Detailed descriptions of the project
alternatives are found in the Mt. Hebron Restoration Project Environmental Analysis.
Direction Regarding the Analysis of Project-Level Effects on MIS
The Monitoring Requirements in Chapter 5 of the Klamath National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan (LRMP) do not require population monitoring or surveys on any MIS except
for steelhead trout and rainbow trout. For MIS listed on LRMP Page 4-38 to 4-41, project-level
MIS effects analyses are informed by project- and landscape-scale habitat analyses alone.
Project-level effects on MIS are analyzed and disclosed as part of environmental analysis under
the National Environmental Policy Act. This involves examining the impacts of the proposed
project alternatives on MIS habitat by discussing how direct, indirect, and cumulative effects will
change the quantity and/or quality of habitat in the landscape and project area (LRMP Page 4-39).
The LRMP requirements for MIS analyzed for the Mt. Hebron Restoration Project are
summarized in Part I of the MIS Report. Adequately analyzing project effects to MIS, involves
the following steps:
□ Identifying which MIS have habitat that would be either directly or indirectly affected
by the project alternatives; (LRMP Standards and Guidelines (S&G) 8-21 through and
including 8-34). This information is documented in Part I of the MIS Report.
□ Identifying the LRMP forest-level monitoring requirements for this subset of forest
MIS (LRMP Chapter 5, Table 5-1). This information is documented in Part I of the
MIS Report.
□ Analyzing landscape- and project-level effects on habitats for which the MIS was
selected to indicate in the LRMP.
□ Relating project-level impacts on MIS habitat to habitat and population trends for fish
MIS, per the LRMP.
The Management Indicator Species (MIS) Report Parts I and II document application of the
above steps to select and analyze MIS for the Mt. Hebron Restoration Project.
Direction Regarding Monitoring of MIS Population and Habitat Trends at the Forest
Scale
Forest scale monitoring requirements for the Klamath National Forest (KNF) MIS are found in
Table 5-1 of Monitoring Plan by Resource of the LRMP.
Habitat Status and Trend
The requirement to evaluate landscape and project-level impacts to habitat conditions associated
with the Species Associations and related MIS is identified in the LRMP on Page 4-39. Habitat
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 3
monitoring requirements are summarized in the MIS Report Part I. “Habitats” are the vegetation
types (for example, mixed conifer forest) and/or ecosystem components (for example, river and
ponds) and special habitat elements (for example, snags) as identified in the LRMP. “Habitat
status” is the current amount of habitat on the KNF. “Habitat trend” is the direction of change in
the amount of habitat between the time the LRMP was approved and the present. The
methodology for assessing habitat status and trend is
1. Use the GIS vegetation layers to describe the location of habitat for non-fish MIS
within a project area,
2. Determine the distribution of fish MIS species using the KNF GIS layer for fish
distribution,
3. Consider the reason the MIS habitat was selected as an Indicator, and determine
the potential effects to that habitat for which an MIS was selected for.
4. Identify the indicated habitat using habitat relationships data or models in the
LRMP Appendix I and California Wildlife Habitat Relationship (CWHR) System
(CWHR 2005). The CWHR System is considered “a state-of-the-art information
system for California’s wildlife” and provides the most widely used habitat
relationship models for California’s terrestrial vertebrate species (ibid).
5. Detailed information on the habitat relationships for MIS on the KNF and on the
CWHR System can be found in the Klamath National Forest MIS Report Part I.
6. MIS habitat trend is monitored using ecological and vegetation data for the KNF
and stream surveys. These data include spatial ecological and vegetation layers
created from remote-sensing imagery obtained at various points in time, which
are verified using photo-imagery, on-the-ground measurements, and tracking of
events that change vegetation and stream conditions (for example, vegetation
management, floods, and wildland fires).
Population Status and Trend
“Population status” is the current condition of the steelhead trout and rainbow trout. “Population
trend” is the direction of change in that population measure over time. Population monitoring data
are collected and/or compiled at the stream scale rather than the project scale because site
specific monitoring or surveying of a proposed project or activity area is not required” (36 CFR
219.14(f) and the actual treatment areas of an action may not contain streams, but may affect
streams through sediment delivery or flow changes.
LRMP Monitoring Requirements for MIS Selected for Project-Level Analysis
MIS Monitoring Requirements
MIS are animal species identified in the Klamath National Forest (KNF) LRMP, which was
developed under the 1982 National Forest System Land and Resource Management Planning
Rule (1982 Planning Rule) (36 CFR 219). Guidance regarding MIS set forth in the KNF Land
and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) directs Forest Service resource managers to: (1) at the
landscape and project scale, analyze the effects of proposed projects on the habitats of each MIS
listed in LRMP Standards and Guidelines 8-21 through8-34; and (2) assess presence of goshawk
in suitable habitat and determine the number of pairs of northern spotted owls in Late
Successional Reserves, and to conduct implementation monitoring to determine population
trends and relationship to habitat changes for steelhead trout, and rainbow trout.
How MIS Monitoring Requirements are Being Met
Project level assessment of northern spotted owls and goshawks is not required for northern
spotted owl and goshawks as an MIS species per LRMP S&G 8-21 through 8-34. Impacts to
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 4
northern spotted owls are evaluated as a species listed under the Endangered Species Act and the
impacts to goshawks are evaluated as a species designated as Sensitive by the Forest Service.
There are several ways that spotted owl presence on the Forest is being determined: 1) Surveys
have been conducted in LSRs in coordination with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2) Habitat
evaluations have been conducted by USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (in coordination with the
Forest Service Research Station) to predict northern spotted owl presence, 3) Habitat loss and
potential Take throughout the Forest is reported to USDI Fish and Wildlife Service annually, and
4) Monitoring is accomplished through the formal monitoring programs of the Northwest Forest
Plan area. (http://www.reo.gov/monitoring/trends/index.htm and
http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/SNT/noframe/pn172.htm, and
http://www.reo.gov/monitoring/nso/index.htm). The monitoring results can be used to adapt
management practices, as coordinated with the Fish and wildlife Service.
(http://www.fws.gov/news/newsreleases/showNews.cfm?newsId=2E89B871-9B9F-78A7-
9593E1997BB12FD2). Chapter 5 of the LRMP indicates the Standard requiring further action
will be set by the Recovery Plan (which is in development)
Chapter 5 of the LRMP states that goshawk occupancy in suitable habitat will be determined.
Surveys are done at the project level where a potential for impacts (to habitat or noise
disturbance) may be significant. The majority of habitat and survey work is conducted on the
Goosenest Ranger District of the KNF because of the high likelihood of presence. Also, Goshawk
Management Areas have been identified throughout the KNF, with specific a Standards and
Guideline (8-20) to project goshawks. Chapter 5 of the LRMP says that the variation from the
Standard requiring further action will be determined in a Regional Conservation Strategy, which
has not yet been completed. Therefore, there is no standard to measure against. Survey
information has been provided to the US Fish and Wildlife Service for evaluation and
development of a Regional Conservation Strategy.
Population trend data for steelhead trout is collected and consolidated by the KNF in cooperation
with State, tribal, and Federal agency partners such as the California Department of Fish and
Game, Karuk Tribe, USDI Geological Survey, and USDI Fish and Wildlife Service and other
conservation partners such Universities and watershed restoration councils. Fish presence data for
steelhead trout and rainbow trout are collected using a number of direct and indirect methods,
such as stream surveys and fishing results (creel census). The KNF’s MIS monitoring program
for species typically hunted, fished, or trapped (such as steelhead and rainbow trout) was
designed to be implemented in cooperation with California Department of Fish and Game
(CDFG), consistent with direction in the 1982 Planning Rule to monitor forest-level MIS
population trends in cooperation with state fish and wildlife agencies to the extent practicable (36
CFR 219.19(a)(6)). To be biologically meaningful for wide-ranging MIS, presence data are
collected and tracked not only at the forest scale, but also at larger scales, such as range-wide
(range of the northern spotted owl), state, province (Northern California), or important species
management unit (for example, Klamath River Basin). In 2006, available data on steelhead and
rainbow trout were analyzed to determine the population trends of these species.
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 5
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT
Existing Condition of the Project Area
The Tennant Fire was an uncharacteristically intense wildland fire that resulted in severe tree
mortality throughout much of the project area. The vegetation within the project area is composed
mostly of severely burned coniferous forest, including about 30% mixed conifer and 70% eastside
pine types. These conifer stands are interspersed with antelope bitterbrush, manzanita, mountain
mahogany, rabbit brush, and various ceonothus species. The Tennant Fire burned approximately
79% of the forested land into a deforested condition within the fire perimeter.
Table 1: Proportion of the Tennant Fire burned with high to moderate
(H/M) severity
The Proposed Action (Alternative 2)
The Proposed Action is designed to meet the purpose and need of the project. The Proposed
Action will treat approximately 2,051 acres across the project area; acres by treatment (as
described below) do not account for overlapping treatments types.
The Proposed Action is comprised of four overlapping treatment types; (1) dead tree removal, (2)
reforestation, (3) felling, hand piling and burning, and (4) browse species planting and/or seeding.
Trees will be removed and harvested by whole-tree yarding and ground-based tractor logging
systems. Machine piling will be limited to landing sites. In addition, the Proposed Action
includes the temporary access for treatment along 5.11 miles of system and 4.11 miles of existing
non-system road within the project area. For a detailed description of the proposed activities see
Chapter 2 of the Mt. Hebron Restoration Project Environmental Analysis (EA).
There are 4 alternatives for this project. Alternative 1 is the No Action alternative. Alternative 2
is the Proposed Action. Alternatives 3 and 4 were developed in response to significant issues
raised during public scoping. The action alternatives (2, 3, and 4) all use the same resource
protection measures or Project Design Features (PDFs). Table 2 shows the Comparison of
Alternatives by Treatment.
Acres of tennant fire Acres and % of Tennant
fire burned with h/m
severity
3,191 2,520 = 79%
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 6
Table 2: Comparison of Alternatives (Treatments)
Treatments
Alternative 1
No Action
(acres)
Alternative 2
Proposed
Action
(acres)
Alternative 3
(acres)
Alternative 4
(acres)
Dead tree removal
0 851 830 851
Reforestation 0
2,033
2,033
2,033
Felling, Hand piling, & burning 0
143 167 143
Browse Species Planting and/or
Seeding
0 Less than 50 Less than 300 Less than 50
Subsoiling for planting site
preparation
0 0 0 406
Total Acres of Treatment1
0 3,077 3,330 3,483
Total Acres of Disturbance
within Project Area
2
0 2,051 2,051 2,051
Non-system roads (miles) 0 4.11 miles 4.11 miles 4.11 miles
System roads (miles) 0 5.11 miles 5.11 miles 5.11 miles
Mechanical Treatment in Forest
Plan-designated Riparian
Reserves3
No
Yes
No
Yes
Snag Retention4 Not
Applicable
6-10 snags/ac
≥10” DBH; 8
snags/ac >19”
DBH
≥ 10 snags/ac
≥10” DBH; 10
snags/ac >19”
DBH
3-5 snags/ac
≥10” DBH; 4
snags/ac >19”
DBH
Dead Tree Removal limited to
frozen ground or snow
Not
Applicable
Yes Yes No
1Total Acres of Treatment listed here does not account for overlapping treatment types 2Total Acres of Disturbance within the Project Area accounts for overlapping treatments 3 Forest Plan-designated Riparian Reserves within this project area have been field-verified and were determined to be
Pond Management Zones (PMZs), including intermittent and perennial stock ponds. None of these sites meet the
criteria for Riparian Reserve allocation under Forest Plan guidance, but their treatment has been limited as described in
Alternative 3 and in the watershed project design features for all alternatives. 4For more detail regarding snag retention, see the alternative descriptions and wildlife project design features.
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 7
Table 3: Acres and percentages of the Tennant fire burned with high and moderate (H/M)
severity proposed for treatment with Alternative 2 (Proposed Action)
Alternative 3
This alternative was developed in response to issues brought forward by the public during
scoping. It addresses the disagreements about treatment in Forest Plan-designated Riparian
Reserves and snag retention. Forest Plan-designated Riparian Reserves within this project area
have been field-verified and were determined to be Pond Management Zones (PMZs), including
intermittent and perennial stock ponds. None of these sites meet the criteria for Riparian Reserve
allocation under Forest Plan guidance, but their treatment has been limited as described in
Alternative 3 and in the watershed project design features (PDFs) for all alternatives.
Treatments in Alternative 3 are identical to Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) with the exception of
the differences described below:
• There will be no mechanical tree removal within the PMZs. Treatment in PMZs will
be limited to felling, hand piling, and burning of material less than 10” DBH.
• A minimum of 10 snags per acre greater than or equal to 10” DBH will be retained
by stand; 10 snags per acre of the snags retained will be greater than 19” DBH
where present. Other than the number of snags retained, retention will be in the same
manner as described in Alternative 2 (Proposed Action).
• Browse species (mountain mahogany and antelope bitterbrush) will be planted and/or
seeded on less than 300 acres within Forage and Winter Range Management Areas, in
the same manner as described in the Proposed Action.
Table 4: Acres and % of the Tennant fire burned with high and moderate (H/M) severity
and proposed for treatment with Alternative 3
Acres of
tennant
fire
% of the
tennant
fire
proposed
for tree
removal
Acres and
% of
Tennant
fire
burned
with h/m
severity
Acres and
% of h/m
severity
burn
proposed
for tree
removal
Acres and %
of total
disturbance
Acres and %
of H/M
severity
burned area
proposed for
reforestation
3,191 27% 2,520 = 79% 851 34% of H/M
severity burn
2,051 80%of the H/M severity burn
2,033 = 81%
Acres of
tennant
fire
% of the
tennant
fire
proposed
for tree
removal
Acres and
% of
Tennant
fire burned
with h/m
severity
Acres an d
% of h/m
severity
burn
proposed
for tree
removal
Acres and %
of total
disturbance
Acres and %
of H/M
severity
burned area
proposed for
reforestation
3,191 26% 2,520 = 79% 830 33% of H/M
severity burn
2,051 80%of the H/M severity burn
2,033 = 81%
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 8
Alternative 4
This alternative was developed in response to issues brought forward by the public during
scoping. It addresses the disagreements about snag retention, subsoiling for planting site
preparation, and feasibility of limiting tree removal operations to frozen ground or snow.
Treatments in Alternative 4 are identical to Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) with the exception of
the differences described below:
• A minimum of 3-5 snags per acre greater than or equal to 10” DBH will be retained
by stand; 4 snags per acre of the snags retained will be greater than 19” DBH where
present. Other than the number of snags retained, retention will be in the same manner
as described in Alternative 2 (Proposed Action).
• Subsoiling will be considered on 406 acres (approximately 20% of project area) for
planting site preparation as follows:
o Subsoiling will be limited to portions of the project area designated for dead tree
removal, elevations greater than 5,000 ft., and slopes of less than 20%.
o Within treated areas (406 acres), subsoiling will take place along contours and
will treat approximately 50% of the surface, by skipping every other pass along
the contour.
o Subsoiling will only take place where surface rock content (cobbles and stones)
does not exceed 35%.
o Subsoiling will not take place within the foreground view (within 350’) of
Highway 97.
• Dead tree removal will not be limited to frozen ground or snow, but will follow Best
Management Practices (BMPs) and Wet Weather Operations (WWOs) to meet Soil
Quality Analysis Standards (SQAS).
Table 5: Acres and % of the Tennant fire burned with high and moderate (H/M) severity
and proposed for treatment with Alternative 4
Acres of
tennant
fire
% of the
tennant
fire
proposed
for tree
removal
Acres and
% of
Tennant
fire
burned
with h/m
severity
Acres and
% of h/m
severity
burn
proposed
for tree
removal
Acres and %
of total
disturbance
Acres and % of
H/M severity
burned area
proposed for
reforestation
3,191 27% 2,520 = 79% 851 33% of H/M
severity burn
2,051 80%of the H/M severity burn
2,033 = 81%
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 9
SELECTION OF PROJECT-LEVEL MIS
Management Indicator Species (MIS) for the KNF are identified in the LRMP S&G 8-21 through
8-34. A review was conducted using the MIS Report Part I - Project Level Assessment Checklist
to determine: 1) if the project is within the range of any MIS, 2) if habitat for which the species is
an indicator is present within or adjacent to the proposed treatment areas, and 3) if there are
potential direct, indirect or cumulative effects on habitat components.
The following associations and MIS will not be discussed further because the habitats for which
these species were selected are not in or adjacent to the project area as documented in the Mt.
Hebron Restoration project MIS Project Level Assessment Part I. Therefore, the project will not
directly or indirectly affect the habitat for these species and will, therefore, have no impact on
forest-level habitat or population trends for these species:
Hardwood Species Association Acorn woodpecker
Western gray squirrel
River/Stream Species Association
Rainbow trout
Steelhead
Tailed frog
Cascades frog
American dipper
Northern water shrew
Long-tailed vole
Marsh/Lake/Pond Species Association
Northern red-legged frog
Western pond turtle
Grassland/Shrub-Steppe Species Association Pronghorn
Montane vole
Loggerhead shrike
Swainson’s hawk
Sage thrasher
Burrowing owl
Mature Ponderosa Pine Species Association (Eastside Pine) Flammulated owl
White-headed woodpecker
Pinyon jay
The following species associations and MIS were selected for analysis for the Mt. Hebron
Restoration Project due to the presence of suitable habitat that may be impacted by the project
activities, as described in the Mt. Hebron Restoration MIS Project Level Assessment Part I.
Species associations and MIS associated with habitats that may be affected by project activities
are analyzed below.
Snag Association Black Backed Woodpecker
White-headed woodpecker
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 10
Downy woodpecker
Red breasted sapsucker
Hairy woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker
Vaux's swift
The MIS snag dependent species association will be discussed as a group because the snag habitat
within the analysis area is the result of high intensity wildfire and the recently burned and/or
killed trees are not typical snag habitat. The cavity nesting, snag associated MIS species that
would be impacted by the proposed project have interdependent and complex life cycles, many of
which rely specifically on this habitat type (i.e. black-backed woodpecker) with habitat needs that
focus almost exclusively on snags and burned trees for both foraging and nesting.
Klamath National Forest – Forest Plan Standards & Guides for selected MIS
Species Associations (Guilds/Management Indicator Species, Assemblages)
8-21 Use Species Associations listed below, the most current research information, Wildlife
Habitat Capability Models or Wildlife Habitat Relationships Models to assess landscape and
project-level impacts to habitat conditions. Develop and update these species associations and
models based on local information and new research information.
Snag Association:
Downy woodpecker, Red breasted sapsucker, Hairy woodpecker, Black Backed
Woodpecker, White-headed woodpecker, Pileated woodpecker, Vaux's swift
8-22 Assess the availability of snags within each landscape. Provide for an average of 5 snags
per acre, in a variety of size and decay classes, within each landscape. These snags need not be
equally distributed. The actual number of snags to be maintained in areas managed for timber
production may vary from 2 to 5, depending on the amount of snags available within the
surrounding landscape and the desired future condition of that landscape.
8-23 Maintain snag densities through the full timber rotation by providing green replacement
trees to become snags of adequate size when existing snags fall. The size of snags and green trees
to be retained within a given managed stand should be greater than the average diameter of the
stand.
8-24 Retain snags and replacement snags in clumps when possible. Consider the susceptibility of
snags to windthrow and site preparation activities. Designated wildlife trees should be protected
from woodcutting and Forest management activities.
8-25 Retain snags with the largest DBH as they tend to last longer and make the best wildlife
habitat.
Use Tables 4-4 and 4-5 as guidelines in ecosystem analysis and project-level planning. The
relative numbers of hard and soft snags in various size classes show the habitat needs of the
different cavity-association Forest wildlife species. The number of snags on a given acre will
vary, depending on the site and on the number of snags within the landscape.
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 11
LRMP Table 4-4. Numbers of Snags Required per 100 acres to Support "Good" Quality
Habitat for Primary Cavity-Association Species. ( ) = Number of Snags per 100 acres
Snag diameter
(DBH) General snag decay stage
Total snags by
diameter class
Hard (2-3) Soft (4-5) 11+ Downy (16) (16)
15+ Red Breasted/Black-Backed (45) Hairy/White Hd. (225) (270)
20+ Vaux's swift (200+) (200+)
24+ Pileated (14) (14)
Total snags: (500)
LRMP Table 4-5. Green Tree Retention for Future Snags (to be provided in a range of the above DBH
classes)
High capability Moderate capability Low capability
> 5 per acre 2 - 5 per acre < 2 per acre
PROJECT DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS and EFFECTIVENESS RATIONALE
KNF Forest Plan Standards and Guides 8-21, 8-22, 8-23, 8-24, 8-25 will be exceeded with the snag retention
guidelines within the Project Design Specifications.
Additional Design Specifications are in place for the proposed project. Only those
specifications that were directly pertinent to this evaluation are listed below. For all other
Project Design Features designed for the Mt. Hebron Restoration project see Chapter 2 of
the EA.
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 12
SNAG RETENTION
o Retain all pre-existing larger snags (>14”dbh). If these must be felled, then
leave on landscape whole as downed wood.
Retention of large snags created by insect, disease or lightening strike that existed prior to the
fire is of increased biological importance as these are biological legacies and will continue to
provide a variety of habitat needs for a wide range of species.
o Retain the largest snags in clumps or groups, situated around live trees if
possible.
Leave groups would be distributed throughout harvest units and consist of the largest
snags available, situated with large, live trees if possible. Snags or dying trees that
contain cat faces, broken or forked tops, hollows or cavities would be first priority
for retention. The total number of snags per acre required within each harvest unit
may be captured within leave groups. Leave groups may contain the total number of
snags retained for an individual harvest unit, represented as a percentage of the
overall area rather than on a snag per acre basis. These snags would be retained as
groupings within harvest units, rather than distributed individually on each acre
within the unit.
Retaining denser clumps of large snags would promote the longer-term persistence of suitable
snags as nesting habitat for cavity-nesting birds (Russell 2006). Snags in large burned areas
have greater exposure to wind, causing them to fall at high rates. Haggard and Gaines (2001)
found that treatments with snags distributed in clumps and individually dispersed had the highest
abundance and species richness of cavity nesting species. Saab and Dudley (1998) found in their
study that all bird species selected nest sites with higher tree densities than that measured at
random sites, and cavity nesters as a group selected clumps of snags rather than snags that were
retained in uniform, evenly-spaced distributions.
o Prioritize snags with broken tops retention
Many studies have found that broken top snags are the most frequently used type of snag for
nesting for multiple species of cavity excavators (Hutto l995, Saab and Dudley 1998, Haggard
and Gaines 2001). A broken top provides an avenue for heart rotting fungi which makes the snag
more suitable for cavity excavation. Broken top trees are especially important in burns because
they provide nest sites for the first few years following a high intensity fire when other trees are
not as easily excavated due to case-hardening (Saab and Dudley 1998).
o Overall snag retention
Treatments
Alternative 1
No Action
(acres)
Alternative 2
Proposed
Action
(acres)
Alternative 3
(acres)
Alternative 4
(acres)
Snag Retention Not
Applicable
6-10 snags/ac
≥10” DBH; 8
snags/ac >19”
DBH
≥ 10 snags/ac
≥10” DBH;
10 snags/ac
>19” DBH
3-5 snags/ac
≥10” DBH; 4
snags/ac >19”
DBH
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 13
It is important to note that while these guidelines would be applied to harvest units they would
likely vary throughout the project area, depending on the burn pattern and severity, and on the
locations of unburned patches and trees.
In addition, only burned trees that meet the criteria for mortality (see Chapter 2 for a description
of Mortality Guidelines) would be selected for removal, leaving many trees that may die but do
not meet these criteria within the units. This may also result in additional remaining snags,
above required levels, within the project area. The remaining burned areas of the forest that
would not be treated would provide abundant snags along the perimeter of the project area and
the forested areas beyond.
ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE
The vegetation within the project area is composed mostly of severely burned coniferous forest,
including about 30% mixed conifer and 70% eastside pine types. These conifer stands are
interspersed with antelope bitterbrush, manzanita, mountain mahogany, rabbit brush, and various
ceonothus species. The project area is contained within the Butte Creek 5th field watershed
(118,684 acres).
The majority (79%) of the Tennant fire burned with moderate or high severity across
approximately 3,191 acres. Areas proposed for tree removal represent 33% of the high and
moderate severity burned areas (Tables 6 & 7). Other treatments proposed for the burned area
(i.e. reforestation, browse planting, fuels treatments) cover approximately 2,051 acres or 64% of
the burned area.
Table 6 - Acres burned with the Tennant Fire within the 5
th field watershed
Total acres
of Butte
Creek 5th
field
watershed
Acres Acres Acres Acres burned
with Tennant
fire – all
severities
AcresAcresAcresAcres burned
with Tennant
fire with highighighigh h h h
or moderateor moderateor moderateor moderate
severity
% % % % of Tennant
fire burned
with high or high or high or high or
moderatemoderatemoderatemoderate
severity
% % % % of
watershed
burned in high high high high
or moderateor moderateor moderateor moderate
severity
118,684 3,191 2,520 79% 2.1%
Table 7 - Area affected by proposed tree removal (Proposed Action)
Methodology The project area burned with variable intensity and severity of impacts, ranging from severe,
stand-replacing intensity to low intensity, with the majority of the area falling into the moderate
and high severity categories (see above). Fire severity mapping is generated for the Burned Area
Total Acres
proposed for
harvest
% of high to moderate % of high to moderate % of high to moderate % of high to moderate
severity burned areaseverity burned areaseverity burned areaseverity burned area
proposed for harvest
% of total % of total % of total % of total
watershedwatershedwatershedwatershed
proposed for
harvest
851 36% .7%
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 14
Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) team and is used to target areas for rehabilitation. Fire
severity levels are mapped according to the following definitions of low burn severity, moderate
burn severity, and high burn severity. Fire severity is mapped using remote sensing (satellite) and
aerial photography and is provided soon after the fire is controlled. The definitions provided
below from Parsons et al. (2003) include other indicators that are valuable in determining fire
effects to vegetation and habitat (see Burn Severity Classification discussion below). Fire
severity classifications were reviewed in the field to determine how the fire effects to vegetation
correlated with effects to soil condition. Safford (2007) surveyed areas where BAER soil severity
maps had identified moderate burn severity and found that actual impacts to the vegetation were
total overstory and vegetative mortality, indicating that grouping the two severity categories for
analysis of impacts to habitat is an appropriate methodology.
Burn Severity Classification - as used for Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER)
Low burn severity. Low soil heating or light ground char occurs; minerals in soil are not
changed; leaf litter may be charred or partially consumed, and the surface of the duff may be
lightly charred with the original forms of surface materials. Indicators including very small
diameter (<1/4 inch) foliage and twigs are consumed but some small twigs may remain.
Generally, foliage may be yellow and above-ground portions of vegetation may be consumed, but
root masses are intact.
Moderate burn severity. Moderate soil heating with moderate ground char; soil structure is
usually not altered and decreased infiltration due to fire-induced water repellency may be
observed. Litter and duff are deeply charred or consumed and shallow light colored ash layer and
burned shoots and rhizomes are usually present. Indicators including understory foliage and
twigs (¼ to ¾ inch) are consumed; rotten wood and larger diameter woody debris are deeply
charred or partially consumed. In forested ecosystems, brown needles or leaves may remain (but
not always) on overstory trees.
High burn severity. High soil heating, or deep ground char occurs. Duff is completely
consumed soil structure is often destroyed due to consumption of organic matter. Top layer of
mineral soil may be changed in color (but not always) and layer below may be blackened from
charring of organic matter in the soil. All or most organic matter is removed and essentially all
plant parts in the duff layer are consumed. Indicators such as large fuels >3/4 inch including
major stems and trunks are consumed or heavily charred. In forested ecosystems, generally no
leaves or needles remain on standing trees.
Overall available habitat
Spatial bounding for this analysis is the total available habitat for post-fire dependent snag
associated species within the 5th field watershed. Available habitat is defined for the purposes of
this analysis as coniferous forest burned within 5 years of the Tennant fire, with high to moderate
intensity, within the Butte Creek 5th field watershed. Temporal bounding was deemed
appropriate for this analysis because after 5 years, the primary cavity nesting bird species
composition changes in response to the life cycle of the wood boring beetles they prey upon
(Hutto 2006, Kotliar 2002). Species composition also changes in response to the loss of foraging
and nesting structures as snags fall. Forest canopies become more open, providing more suitable
foraging conditions for aerial insect foragers. The definition of available habitat was spatially
bounded by the 5th field watershed because it is a large enough area to capture all past wildfires
that may be within close enough proximity to the Tennant fire as to be used by post-fire
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 15
associated MIS species occupying the project area. In addition, watershed boundaries provide
logical on the ground boundaries and known acre figures from which to base a comparison
between burned and unburned habitat for the purposes of the analysis.
The only available post-fire habitat within the analysis area is within the area burned by the
Tennant Fire. There are no other wildfires in the last 5 years in the watershed. The proposed
project would affect the post-fire habitat on 830 to 851 acres of the total available habitat, leaving
the majority of the post-fire habitat created by the Tennant Fire unharvested.
DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS
OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ON PROJECT-LEVEL MIS
MIS CATEGORY: SNAG ASSOCIATION
_____________________________________________________________________
Black-backed woodpeckers are considered habitat specialists, relying heavily on post-fire
conditions (particularly moderate to severely burned coniferous forests), and are therefore most
susceptible to reductions in this specific habitat type. The strength of the association of black-
backed woodpeckers with post-fire snag conditions makes it a useful indicator for wildlife
associated with this habitat (Hutto 1995). Other species such as the hairy, downy and white-
headed woodpecker (and the mountain bluebird, which is not an MIS but uses cavities excavated
in previous years by black-backed woodpeckers) have strong, but not exclusive, associations with
this habitat type.
Conifer stands that have burned with moderate or severe intensity are a distinct type of habitat
and have a distinct set of species that rely on it. Those species can be divided into either primary
cavity nesters or secondary cavity nesters, or into categories defined by the type of food item
foraged upon such as wood/bark foragers or aerial (insect) foragers. For species that forage for
wood boring beetles, the window of opportunity is short, due to the 2-3 year life cycle of most
wood boring beetles (Haggard and Gaines 2001).
The importance of recently burned forests to breeding cavity-nesting birds is well known (Hutto
1995, Saab 2008, Russell 2006). Densities of cavity nesters in burned forests change with time
since the initial fire (Saab 2007). Species that obtain their insect prey from wood, such as black-
backed woodpeckers, rapidly colonize post-fire forests and then experience population declines as
time since fire increases, likely due to declines in bark and wood-boring beetles (Saab 2007).
Post-fire salvage logging removes snags that provide breeding, roosting, and foraging habitat for
many species (Kotliar 2002, Hutto and Gallo 2006). Studies indicate that wood and bark foraging
species favor unlogged burned forests due to greater foraging opportunities in areas with high
snag densities, whereas some aerial insectivores and other open-space foragers can use partially
logged post-fire forests due to more open space for aerial foraging maneuvers (Saab and Dudley
1998, Haggard and Gaines 2001, Saab 2002). Prey availability and predation pressure also differ
between salvage-logged and unlogged areas and may influence the overall use of these areas
(Saab 2007).
Snag abundance is a limiting factor for primary cavity excavators because they excavate a nest
cavity each year (Haggard and Gaines 2001). Primary cavity excavators are important members
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 16
of forest ecosystems because the cavities they excavate may be used by secondary cavity nesters,
including bats, American marten, many owl species, and other birds and because they influence
insect numbers.
Saab and Dudley (1998) found species such as black-backed and hairy woodpeckers to be most
abundant in stands with a high density of snags. Species that are considered to be more habitat
generalists, and are also more abundant throughout their range, were found to be more abundant
in the stands with the lower snag densities. Species that are associated with open-canopy stands,
such as Vaux’s swift, downy woodpecker, and western bluebird may benefit from post-fire
logging in dense stands where it would take years for the snags to fall on their own to create open
conditions (Saab 2002) though these species are not nearly as restricted to post-fire habitat and
commonly occur in naturally open, unburned, conifer forests as well.
Salvage logging influences densities or relative abundances of cavity nesting and some non-
cavity nesting birds (Cahall 2007, Hutto 2006). Maintaining unsalvaged areas in burned forests
will provide habitat for species of birds negatively influenced by salvage logging (Cahall 2007,
Saab and Dudley 1998, Dudley 2005). Retaining large snags after salvage logging will provide
foraging habitat for multiple species of woodpecker (Cahall 2007).
It is important to emphasize the proportion of area proposed for tree removal in relation to the
overall burned area, and the overall availability of this habitat type, specifically areas that burned
in high and moderate severity that will not be treated (see Tables 6 & 7 above). Within the entire
burned area of the Tennant Fire, there were 2,520 acres burned in high or moderately high
severity with 851 acres (34%) of this proposed for harvest with the Proposed Action. The
remaining 1,669 acres of post-fire habitat will provide snag habitat for species associated with
this habitat type.
Post-fire timber harvest can compound the original impacts to the habitat from the fire, whether
they are negative or positive (Hutto 1995, Hutto and Gallo 2006, Saab and Dudley 1998, Hanson
2008). Removing burned trees/snags from 34 percent of a large wildfire may impact the
availability of this habitat within the watershed. However, the retention of groups of snags that
contain the largest of the available snags in addition to all pre-existing snags will help to maintain
the suitability of the habitat within the areas that have tree removal and retain many of the
important post-fire habitat characteristics.
Actions proposed with the Mt. Hebron Restoration project that would affect habitat for the snag
association species selected for this MIS analysis would be those that impact the availability and
suitability of the habitat within the project area. The only proposed activity that falls into this
category is tree removal. The remaining activities (reforestation, subsoiling, browse planting,
fuels treatments) are not pertinent to this MIS habitat analysis because they do not affect habitat
suitability or availability; nor would the season of operation.
Therefore, the pertinent issue for the effects analysis to MIS snag association habitat is tree
removal.
Alternative 1 (No action)
There are no direct or indirect effects expected from the No Action Alternative because no
treatments would occur that would remove or modify post-fire snag habitat.
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 17
Alternative 2 (Proposed Action)
While all alternatives have tree removal proposed, the difference between these alternatives that
is pertinent to this analysis is the number of snags to be retained within tree removal units. The
manner in which the snags are retained will be the same across all action alternatives (i.e. retained
in clumps, situated around live trees where possible, focused on trees with defect and forked tops
and the retention of all pre-existing snags). Alternative 2 would retain 6-10 snags per acre ≥10”
DBH and 8 snags/ac >19” DBH (where available) throughout the tree removal units.
Because the overall suitability of the habitat for post-fire snag associated MIS is directly related
to the number of available snags in post-fire habitat, it would follow that the more snags retained,
the more habitat is available. As discussed above, salvage harvest has impacts on the suitability
of post-fire habitat for snag associated species. Areas that are harvested may decrease in
suitability for some species, but not for all. No unit will be left completely devoid of snags, and
so should not be considered as habitat lost. Instead, the resulting stand may provide habitat for
aerial foragers (such as downy woodpeckers) that require more open areas between snags, rather
than wood/bark foragers (such as black-backed woodpeckers) that require more available
foraging substrate i.e. snags or dying trees. However, all of the MIS species in this analysis
require a relatively large number of snags within the post-fire habitat. It is a matter of the overall
proportion of snags within the stand that dictates for which species it is the most suitable. In
units where tree removal is proposed, an increase in the number of snags retained would have a
subsequent increase in the suitability of the stand as post-fire snag habitat.
The threshold at which removal of fire-killed trees has no limiting effects on overall availability
of post-fire habitat and the species associated with it, is unknown (Saab and Dudley 1998, Saab
2002, Hutto 2006). The abundance of severely burned habitat that will remain untreated and the
project’s snag retention design features will alleviate much of the impact from tree removal
within the project area.
Alternative 3 The differences between this alternative and the Proposed Action that are pertinent to this MIS
analysis are that this alternative raises the minimum number of snags to be retained to ≥ 10
snags/ac ≥10” DBH and 10 snags/ac >19” DBH and reduces the total number of acres proposed
for tree removal. Other than these differences, the proposed activities are essentially the same,
including the Project Design Features and LOPs, as described above for the Proposed Action.
Because the overall suitability of the habitat for post-fire snag associated MIS is directly related
to the number of available snags in post-fire habitat, it would follow that the more snags retained,
the more habitat is available. As discussed above, salvage harvest has impacts on the suitability
of post-fire habitat for snag associated species. The impacts from the proposed project under this
alternative would be an increase in the availability of the post-fire habitat for the MIS species
category selected above. It is unknown how this increase in snag retention and decrease in acres
harvested would affect the species using the habitat. In general, an increase in the quantity and/or
quality of habitat can suggest a subsequent increase in overall habitat capability. However, it is
difficult to establish to what extent this may apply to the Mt. Hebron project area because the
number of individuals and the overall species composition in the project area is unknown.
Alternative 4
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 18
The difference between this alternative and the Proposed Action that is pertinent to this MIS
analysis is that this alternative reduces the minimum number of snags to be retained in areas
where tree removal is planned to 3-5 snags/ac ≥10” DBH and 4 snags/ac >19” DBH. Other than
this difference, effects from the activities proposed are the same, including the Project Design
Features and LOPs, as described above for the Proposed Action.
As discussed above, the overall suitability of post-fire habitat is directly related to the number of
available snags, and the more snags retained, the more habitat is available. The impacts from the
proposed project under this alternative would be a decrease in the availability of the post-fire
habitat for the MIS species category selected above. It is unknown how this decrease in snag
retention would affect the species using the habitat. In general, a decrease in the quantity and/or
quality of habitat can suggest a subsequent decrease in overall habitat capability. However, it is
difficult to establish to what extent this may apply to the Mt. Hebron project area because the
number of individuals and the overall species composition in the project area is unknown.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
Alternatives 2, 3, and 4
The spatial and temporal bounding for this analysis is the same as described above for the bounds
of the direct and indirect effects analysis of the MIS snag association.
The untreated areas within Tennant fire would not receive any additional treatment in the
foreseeable future that would have additive impacts to MIS habitat. Private lands in the analysis
area with Timber Harvest Plans are outside of post-fire snag habitat. Federal activities planned
for national forest lands are described in Appendix C of the Environmental Analysis. These
activities would not affect or remove post-fire snag habitat.
MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 19
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Rocky Mountain Research Station. RP 44.
Dudley, J.G. 2005. Home range size and foraging habitat of black-backed woodpeckers. MS
Thesis. Boise State University. 76pp.
Haggard, M. and W. L. Gaines. 2001. Effects of Stand-Replacement fire and Salvage Logging on
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MIS Report Part II Mt. Hebron Restoration Project 20
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