FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION (R5)
VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA
R5 FSH 6509.22 - FIRE DAMAGES AND COST
RECOVERY PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 30 - REFORESTATION: ESTIMATING AREA
BURNED INTO A DEFORESTED CONDITION AND THE
COST TO REFOREST
Amendment No.: R5 6509.22-2015-1
Effective Date: 10/2/2015
Duration: This amendment expires 5 years from the effective date unless superseded or
removed earlier.
Approved: Randy Moore, Regional Forester
Date Approved: 9/11/2015
Posting Instructions: Amendments are numbered consecutively by title and calendar year.
Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this amendment. Retain this
transmittal as the first page(s) of this document.
Last Change: 6509.22-2014-01 to Chapter 20
New Document: 6509.22_30, 7 Pages
Superseded Document(s): 6509.22-2010-1, Chapter 30
Digest: Completed 5-year review and converted to a 508 compliant format.
CHAPTER 30 - REFORESTATION: ESTIMATING AREA BURNED INTO A DEFORESTED CONDITION
AND THE COST TO REFOREST
R5 FSH 6509.22 - FIRE DAMAGES AND COST RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Amendment No.:R5 6509.22-2015-1 - Effective Date: 10/2/2015
30 - INTRODUCTION
Upon containment of the fire, it is necessary to determine reasonable estimates of the
reforestation needs and associated costs necessary to return the burned area to appropriate
forest cover. The actual costs incurred during reforestation work may occur over several years.
The specific activities and associated costs may also change over time as a result of changing
conditions. These changing conditions may include reforestation failures, additional overstory
mortality or other unforeseen delays. Nevertheless, this early estimate of reforestation needs
and corresponding estimate of costs are reasonable estimates of the actual needs to reforest
areas that have burned into a deforested condition.
Fires frequently require restoration work that is other than reforestation. This work may include
watershed work that did not qualify as BAER, range vegetation restoration, culvert and ditch
cleaning, added road maintenance, etc. Restoration may also include treatment of invasive
species or measures necessary to restore or protect special areas.
31 - OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this chapter are twofold. The first objective is to describe the methodology for
accurately, rapidly and inexpensively estimating the reforestation needs and costs for the
specific purpose of making an appropriate damage assessment. This is the Forest Service's
best estimate of reasonably foreseeable reforestation costs. The second objective is to provide
examples of other restoration activities and a framework for documenting that work.
32 - RESPONSIBILITY
The Forest Supervisor is responsible for determining the costs of reforestation for damage
assessments. Currently, the Regional Office in consultation with the Forest will provide the data
for determining the costs of reforestation. The Forest Supervisor is responsible for assuring that
data matches field observations.
The Forest will be responsible for determining other required restoration work and associated
costs.
33 - METHODOLOGY
The Regional Office will conduct a five-step process for preparing the reforestation portion of the
Resource Damage Assessment. Following are brief descriptions of the five steps.
33.1 - STEP 1
Obtain a seven class vegetation burn severity GIS layer from the Remote Sensing Application
Center.
33.2 - STEP 2
Run the Region 5 Post-Fire Condition Model (outputs include a map and data table).
33.3 - STEP 3
Apply the standard reforestation assumptions and average cost data applicable at the time of
the fire (see exhibits 01 and 02).
Page 2
CHAPTER 30 - REFORESTATION: ESTIMATING AREA BURNED INTO A DEFORESTED CONDITION
AND THE COST TO REFOREST
R5 FSH 6509.22 - FIRE DAMAGES AND COST RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Amendment No.:R5 6509.22-2015-1 - Effective Date: 10/2/2015
33.3 - Exhibit 01: Standard Reforestation Assumptions
Standard reforestation assumptions for areas burned into a deforested condition:
1.
Hardwood types will recover without planting; they only need to be surveyed for
natural regeneration to confirm recovery.
2.
Closed cone conifer types will recover without planting; they only need to be
surveyed for natural regeneration to confirm recovery.
3.
Coastal conifer/cypress types will recover without planting; they only need to be
surveyed for natural regeneration to confirm recovery.
4.
Pinyon and/or juniper types have insufficient value to justify investments in
reforestation, including natural regeneration surveys.
5.
All other forest types require active reforestation, which includes one site
preparation treatment, one planting treatment, two release treatments and two
survival surveys.
33.3 - Exhibit 02: Average Cost Data Survival Exams (Net to Forest Allocations)
2005-2009
Acres
Dollars
Unit/ Cost
Angeles
Cleveland
Eldorado
Inyo
Klamath
Lassen
Los Padres
Mendocino
Modoc
Six Rivers
Plumas
San Bernardino
Sequoia
S/T
Sierra
Stanislaus
Tahoe
LTBMU
801
17
5,016
28
3,383
3,061
163
2,340
8,135
2,589
5,671
2,201
10,998
1,657
6,560
3,645
7,207
48
$19,255
$340
$70,809
$500
$50,170
$50,040
$6,960
$61,475
$125,700
$31,714
$88,745
$31,176
$315,433
$73,434
$117,970
$124,638
$96,033
$1,480
$24
$20
$14
$18
$15
$16
$43
$26
$15
$12
$16
$14
$29
$44
$18
$34
$13
$31
33.3 - Exhibit 02: Average Cost Data Site Prep for Planting (Net to Forest Allocations)
2005-2009
Acres
Dollars
Unit/ Cost
Angeles
Cleveland
Eldorado
Inyo
Klamath
Lassen
Los Padres
Mendocino
443
125
0
0
1,463
607
420
711
$187,959
$159,375
$0
$0
$719,460
$132,000
$194,500
$267,550
$424
$1,275
$500
$550
$492
$217
$463
$376
Page 3
CHAPTER 30 - REFORESTATION: ESTIMATING AREA BURNED INTO A DEFORESTED CONDITION
AND THE COST TO REFOREST
R5 FSH 6509.22 - FIRE DAMAGES AND COST RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Amendment No.:R5 6509.22-2015-1 - Effective Date: 10/2/2015
2005-2009
Acres
Dollars
Unit/ Cost
Modoc
Six Rivers
Plumas
San Bernardino
Sequoia
1,052
95
1,303
700
3,819
$137,000
$49,000
$705,800
$1,014,000
$1,882,000
$130
$516
$542
$1,449
$493
S/T
Sierra
343
1,050
$158,700
$336,600
$463
$321
Stanislaus
2,016
$1,178,743
$585
33.3 - Exhibit 03: Average Cost Data for Planting (Net to Forest Allocations)
2005-2009
Acres
Dollars
Unit/ Cost
Angeles
443
$171,621
$387
Cleveland
2
$680
$340
Eldorado
2,104
$925,385
$440
Inyo
0
$0
$400
Klamath
430
$177,721
$413
Lassen
785
$251,331
$320
Los Padres
1,080
$300,500
$278
Mendocino
1,449
$463,280
$320
Modoc
4,241
$1,608,510
$379
Six Rivers
298
$98,000
$329
Plumas
13,695
$5,186,775
$379
San Bernardino
Sequoia
4,902
2,217
$1,845,600
$669,345
$376
$302
S/T
1,524
$693,135
$455
Sierra
1,178
$396,325
$336
Stanislaus
544
$663,000
$455
Tahoe
3,531
$913,149
$259
LTBMU
274
$108,800
$397
33.3 - Exhibit 04: Average Cost Data for Release for Survival (Net to Forest Allocations)
2005-2009
Acres
Dollars
Unit/ Cost
Angeles
Cleveland
Eldorado
Inyo
Klamath
Lassen
Los Padres
Mendocino
3,881
0
4,349
0
577
765
140
1,505
$3,116,280
$0
$1,388,758
$0
$217,450
$351,040
$53,700
$652,674
$803
$500
$319
$400
$377
$459
$384
$434
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CHAPTER 30 - REFORESTATION: ESTIMATING AREA BURNED INTO A DEFORESTED CONDITION
AND THE COST TO REFOREST
R5 FSH 6509.22 - FIRE DAMAGES AND COST RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Amendment No.:R5 6509.22-2015-1 - Effective Date: 10/2/2015
2005-2009
Acres
Dollars
Unit/ Cost
Modoc
Six Rivers
Plumas
San Bernardino
1,616
897
65
500
$633,375
$454,700
$60,710
$172,500
$392
$507
$400
$345
Sequoia
S/T
Sierra
Stanislaus
Tahoe
LTBMU
2,810
649
2,350
3,570
2,762
0
$691,264
$222,485
$694,685
$1,316,169
$1,129,473
$0
$246
$343
$296
$369
$409
$400
33.4 - STEP 4
Field-verify the remote sensing data and document the results and methodology used. The
purpose of this step is to make sure the remote sensing data reflect conditions on the ground. It
is not necessary to re-validate the methodology.
33.5 - STEP 5
Compile the Reforestation Needs Assessment Report.
34 - THE REFORESTATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT
The Reforestation Needs Assessment Report includes the summary of the results of the
analysis and describes the methodology used to determine the number of acres burned into a
deforested condition. It includes exhibits 01 through 05 below, the rationale and validation for
the mapping procedure and the post-fire condition map.
34 - Exhibit 01: Table 1. Estimate of Reforestation Costs on the XYZ Complex (example)
Standard Direct Per Acre
Treatment Costs
$540 Site Preparation
$375 Planting
$422 Release
$20 Survival Survey
$20 Natural Regeneration
Survey
TOTAL REFORESTATION COST
ESTIMATE
XYZ Complex Treatment
Acreage (nearest thousand)
20,000
20,000
40,000
40,000
0
Cost Estimate
$10,800,000
$7,500,000
$16,880,000
$800,000
$0
$35,980,000
34 - Exhibit 02: Table 2. Summary of Vegetation (Treatments Not Permitted) Conditions
after the XYZ Fire
Vegetation Type
Deforested Forest Land
Fir
Pine
Page 5
Forest Land That
Remains Forested
Total Within Fire
Perimeter
CHAPTER 30 - REFORESTATION: ESTIMATING AREA BURNED INTO A DEFORESTED CONDITION
AND THE COST TO REFOREST
R5 FSH 6509.22 - FIRE DAMAGES AND COST RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Amendment No.:R5 6509.22-2015-1 - Effective Date: 10/2/2015
Vegetation Type
Deforested Forest Land
Mixed Conifer
Forest Land That
Remains Forested
Total Within Fire
Perimeter
Hardwood
Sub-Total
Shrub/Non-Forest
Other Ownership
Total
34 - Exhibit 03: Table 3. Summary of Vegetation (Treatments Permitted STEEP GROUND
(> 30% SLOPE )) Conditions after the XYZ Fire
Vegetation Type
Deforested Forest Land
Fir
Pine
Mixed Conifer
Forest Land that
Remains Forested
Total Within Fire
Perimeter
Hardwood
Sub-Total
Shrub/Non-Forest
Other Ownership
Total
34 - Exhibit 04: Table 4. Summary of Vegetation (Treatments Permitted FLAT GROUND (<
30% SLOPE)) Conditions after the XYZ Fire
Vegetation Type
Deforested Forest Land
Forest Land that
Remains Forested
Total Within Fire
Perimeter
Fir
Pine
Mixed Conifer
Hardwood
Sub-Total
Shrub/Non-Forest
Other Ownership
Totals
34 - Exhibit 05: Table 5. Summary of Vegetation Conditions by Vegetation Type after the
XYZ Fire (Sum of Tables 2-4)
Vegetation Type
Fir
Pine
Summary of Vegetation Conditions
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CHAPTER 30 - REFORESTATION: ESTIMATING AREA BURNED INTO A DEFORESTED CONDITION
AND THE COST TO REFOREST
R5 FSH 6509.22 - FIRE DAMAGES AND COST RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Amendment No.:R5 6509.22-2015-1 - Effective Date: 10/2/2015
Mixed Conifer
Hardwood
Sub-Total
Shrub/Non-Forest
Other Ownership
Total
35 - OTHER RESTORATION
Any additional restoration work should be described in a narrative and costs should be
summarized in table form similar to exhibit 01 below.
35 - Exhibit 01: Table 3. Summary of Non-Reforestation Restoration Costs (example)
Activity
Watershed Restoration (headcut repair)
Supplemental Road Maintenance (5 years)
Invasive Species Treatment
Range Vegetation Restoration (bitterbrush
replanting and protection)
Sensitive Plant Rehabilitation
Total
Estimated Cost
$240,580
$180,000
$85,000
$220,000
$25,000
$750,580
36 - DOCUMENTATION AND RECORDKEEPING
Following are the documentation and record keeping guidelines for chapter 30:
(Note: refer to chapter 20 for a brief explanation of the Record and Appendix)
1.
Estimate of Reforestation Costs (Body of the Damage Assessment Report)
2.
Reforestation Report (Record)
3.
Estimate of other Restoration Costs (Body of the Resource Damage Assessment
Report)
4.
Basis for other Restoration Costs (Appendix)
5.
5 Photographic Documentation of All Restoration Needs (Record)
Page 7