Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group
Forest Recovery Act Pilot Project
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February 2009
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Pacific Southwest
Region
LASSE
Forest Service
Status Report to Congress
Fiscal Year 2008
2
United States
Department of
Agriculture
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DISTRICT, TAHO
Report Preparation & Contact Information
This document was prepared by the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Pilot Project Implementation Team for the
Lassen, Plumas and Tahoe National Forests.
This report will be made available online following finalization. Printed copies or CDs of the document will be
available upon request by contacting the team.
Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group
Implementation Team
Team Leader - Dave Wood
530-283-2050
159 Lawrence St.
P.O. Box 11500
Quincy, CA 95971
www.fs.fed.us/r5/hfqlg
Cover Photos
Clockwise from Top Center: The Toro Defensible Fuel Profile Zone (DFPZ) on the Sierraville Ranger District of the Tahoe National
Forest. Aspen regeneration on the Beckwourth Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest. Quincy Library Group (QLG) members offer feedback to Forest employees during a monitoring field trip on the Feather River Ranger District of the Plumas National
Forest. A group selection unit on the Almanor Ranger District of the Lassen National Forest.
Photos on Inside Cover from Upper Left: Meeting with Forest Service officials and partners regarding watershed health in May 2007.
Plumas Fall Fest booth in October 2006. Industry meeting on Feather River Ranger District on the Plumas National Forest regarding Slapjack stewardship contracts. QLG presentation on meadow restoration during the appropriations field visit in April 2007.
Photo on Introduction Page: Forest Service employees preparing for a monitoring field trip on the Feather River Ranger District of
the Plumas National Forest.
Civil Rights Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of
race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status,
religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income
is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities
who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should
contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800)
795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
2 Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group
Introduction &
Background
The Fiscal Year 2008 (FY08) Herger-Feinstein Quincy
Library Group (HFQLG) Pilot Project Status Report to
Congress is the ninth annual status report required by
Sections 401 (j)(1)(A-G) of the HFQLG Forest Recovery
Act.
This report is a concise summary of the information
required by the act. For more detailed information, the
FY08 HFQLG Monitoring Reports will be available at
www.fs.fed.us/r5/hfqlg. Printed copies of all documents
are also available upon request.
Implementation of the Pilot Project continues to be
affected by litigation and appeals. Court decisions are
pending on cases that have been in litigation for up to four
years. In FY08, approximately 90 percent of all timber
sales or service contracts across the HFQLG Pilot Project
area were stalled due to litigation or appeals. As a result,
volume of both sawlogs and biomass sold declined by 50
percent from FY07 levels.
While implementation of HFQLG projects has been
hampered, forest fires have increased. Pilot Project Forests
experienced a historic fire season in FY08, including
numerous lightning fires that resulted from a storm that
started hundreds of fires across northern California. Fires
affected a variety of planned or completed HFQLG
projects. Recent research has concluded that the Sierra
Nevada has experienced a notable increase in the extent of
high severity fire between 1984 and 2006.
In December 2007, an amendment to the HFQLG Act
extended the Pilot Project. The amendment also directed
the Forest Service to initiate a collaboration process to
consider modifications to the Pilot Project by June 1, 2008
with environmental group plaintiffs and the Quincy Library
Group (QLG). Additionally, the amendment applied
Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) authorities to the
HFQLG Pilot Project.
To begin the HFQLG collaboration, a neutral facilitator
interviewed representatives of the participants to assess
issues and viewpoints. The facilitator noted that their
perspectives differed, but the parties expressed interest in
proceeding with a collaborative process. Based on this
foundation, the parties agreed to begin meeting in FY09 to
discuss possible changes to the Pilot Project.
Continued monitoring efforts are providing effective
feedback to adapt planning and implementation of current
and future projects. For example, soil compaction issues
have been identified and management direction has
been modified in response. Socioeconomic monitoring
continues to track the effects of the Pilot Project on local
economies using a series of indicators. The contribution
of the timber industry to local economies appears to be
decreasing, while other industries, including tourism,
contribute an increasing share. Increased appeals and
litigation following the 2004 Sierra Nevada Forest Plan
Amendment (SNFPA) has affected the amount of timber
available from the Forests.
As directed by Congress, an independent scientific
panel has begun reviewing the Pilot Project. In FY08, this
panel made initial recommendations to the HFQLG forests
on monitoring and the Forests are adjusting the monitoring
program in response.
Background
Congress enacted the HFQLG Forest Recovery Act and
established the Pilot Project in October 1998. The Pilot
Project has been extended twice and is now scheduled to
conclude in September 2012.
The Pilot Project area covers approximately 1.53
million acres in the Lassen and Plumas National Forests
and Sierraville Ranger District of the Tahoe National
Forest. It is designed to implement and demonstrate
the effectiveness of fuels and vegetation management
activities to meet ecologic, economic and fuel reduction
objectives. These activities include shaded fuelbreaks
or Defensible Fuel Profile Zones (DFPZs), group
selection (GS), individual tree selection (ITS) and
riparian management. The Record of Decision and
Final Environmental Impact Statement for Pilot Project
implementation were released in August 1999.
The act identifies a desired condition of an all-aged,
multi-storied, fire-resilient forest that will provide
Status Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2008
3
Introduction &
Background, cont.
a continuous supply of forest products and promote
community stability. Currently, the Pilot Project forests
are accomplishing a variety of projects directed toward this
objective.
Implementation has been subject to a variety of
challenges, including restrictions from previous land and
resource management documents. The Sierra Nevada
Forest Plan Amendment Final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement and Record of Decision, signed in
January 2004, provides a stronger framework for full
implementation of the act, but continues to be subject to
litigation.
Funding
As the HFQLG Pilot Project completes its tenth year of implementation, it has seen fluctuations in funding. However,
as implementation continues to improve and become more efficient, the remaining year-end balances have dropped
significantly.
Allocation & Expenditures, 1999-2008 (millions)
Fiscal
Year
Available
Funding
Indirect
Cost
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Total
$ 8.0
$ 12.2
$ 31.2
$ 26.2
$ 29.6
$ 30.8
$ 31.0
$ 26.2
$ 26.2
$ 25.3
$246.7
$ .0
$ .8
$ 3.1
$ 3.1
$ 3.1
$ 3.1
$ 3.1
$ 3.4
$ 3.1
$ 2.6
$25.4
Note: Numbers have been rounded.
Funding
to
Projects
$ 2.0
$ 6.4
$ 25.1
$ 18.4
$ 20.0
$ 27.0
$ 26.1
$ 22.4
$ 22.8
$ 21.6
$191.8
Total
Expenditures
$ 2.0
$ 7.2
$ 28.2
$ 21.5
$ 23.1
$ 30.1
$ 29.2
$ 25.8
$ 25.9
$ 24.2
$217.2
Year
End
Balance
$ 6.0
$ 5.0
$ 3.0
$ 4.7
$ 6.5
$ .7
$ 1.8
$ .4
$ .3
$ 1.1
$29.5
Not
Returned
to Project
$ .0
$ 5.0
$ 3.0
$ 1.3
$ 1.9
$ .7
$ 1.8
$ .4
$ .3
TBD
$14.4
FY08 project expenditures include:
 Administering and monitoring projects from prior years
 Implementing projects from prior-year planning
 Planning and implementing FY08 projects
 Planning projects for FY09 and beyond
 Responding to appeals
 Responding to litigation
 FY08 expenditures include $800,000 transferred for the national fire suppression effort
Three primary fund codes are used to track project expenditures:

Wildland Fire Hazardous Fuels (WFHF) – Fuels reduction projects (including Defensible Fuel Profile
Zones (DFPZs)) planning, preparation, implementation, monitoring and administration.

National Forest Timber Management (NFTM) – Timber sale planning, preparation and administration.

National Forest Vegetation and Watershed (NFVW) – Forest health improvement, watershed and riparian restoration project planning, preparation and implementation.
4 Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group
Funding, cont.
FY08 Pilot Project Expenditures (millions)
Forest/Unit
WFHF
NFTM
NFVW
Lassen
$ 4.830
$1.113
$2.114
Plumas
$ 6.466
$2.112
$ .325
Tahoe
$ 2.041
$ .158
$ .126
HFQLG Implementation Team
$ 1.500
Total
$14.837
$3.383
$2.565
12% Indirect Cost
Fire Transfer
Remaining Balance
Total FY08 Budget
-
Total
$ 8.057
$ 8.903
$ 2.325
$ 1.500
$20.785
$ 2.620
$ .800
$ 1.100
$25.305
Indirect costs are expenses for general administration support, office space, rental agreements, communications and
other expenses, which are not to exceed 12 percent of the annual HFQLG budget.
Revenue & Resource Accomplishments
To help monitor the effects of the Pilot Project and the level of accomplishment, the HFQLG act requires a report of the
revenue, expenditures and timber management activities between 1992 and 1997 for the National Forests in the Pilot
Project area.
This information provides a valuable perspective on the activities and accomplishments of the Pilot Project, as well as
an opportunity to compare historic and current figures.
Sawlog volume is measured in hundred cubic feet (CCF). A standard log truck hauls approximately 10 CCF per load.
Biomass is also measured in CCF and a standard chip truck hauls approximately 10 CCF per load.
Historic Revenue, Expenditures and Timber Activity for the HFQLG Pilot Project Area
Fiscal
Year
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Average
Revenue
(millions)
Expenditure
(millions)
Regeneration
(Acres)
Site
Prep
(Acres)
$67.187
$34.408
$44.501
$52.873
$24.590
$24.465
$41.337
$25.856
$18.194
$17.376
$22.596
$20.490
$22.207
$21.120
8,634
7,853
8,206
7,531
9,063
15,591
9,480
6,176
5,264
4,667
2,363
3,321
3,321
4,202
Timber
Stand
Improvement
(Acres)
10,045
10,600
8,740
13,866
15,062
22,646
13,493
Sawlog
Vol.
Offered
(CCF)
426,000
424,000
375,000
555,200
374,200
383,000
422,900
Sawlog
Vol. Sold &
Awarded
(CCF)
329,400
535,200
332,600
316,400
242,600
353,400
351,600
Total Area
Harvested
(Acres)
55,689
70,885
57,922
47,317
38,917
32,223
50,492
For FY99 through FY06, sawlog and biomass volume were reported as accomplished once a project was offered.
In FY07 the agency’s reporting of accomplishment shifted from timber offered to timber sold. Litigation and appeals,
including continuous National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis adjustments due to ongoing court decisions,
had a direct effect on FY08 revenue and accomplishments, with several planned FY08 projects tied up in court. Market
conditions also affected sawlog and biomass values.
Status Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2008
5
Accomplishments, cont.
Revenue, Expenditures and Timber Management for HFQLG Pilot Project
Fiscal
Year
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Total
Average
Revenue
(millions)
Expenditures
(millions)
$ .000
$ .020
$ .140
$ .989
$ .960
$ 1.958
$ 2.914
$ 4.613
$ 2.048
$ .885
$14.520
$ 1.453
Number
of
Projects
$ 1.943
$ 7.182
$ 28.267
$ 21.557
$ 23.100
$ 30.100
$ 29.200
$ 25.800
$ 25.866
$ 25.305
$218.3
$ 21.832
1
10
34
33
28
55
37
23
33
34
288
29
Sawlog
Vol.
Offered/
Sold
(CCF)
4,785
44,422
88,802
37,168
41,418
203,012
143,373
14,625
57,904
28,134
663,652
66,323
Biomass
Vol.
Offered/
Sold
(CCF)
Sawlog &
Biomass Vol.
Removed (CCF)
4,278
64,517
143,117
31,354
44,402
198,204
129,814
25,132
68,818
30,850
740,486
74,141
0
5,754
33,151
99,163
61,810
61,792
222,770
191,875
82,368
58,993
817,676
82,622
In addition to tracking accomplishment through sawlog and biomass volume, the Pilot Project is also tracking the
number of acres receiving fuels reduction treatments.
The focus of timber management on the National Forests in the Pilot Project area changed with passage of the act.
Instead of traditional elements like regeneration, site preparation and timber stand improvement, the Pilot Project reports
on different treatments, including:
Defensible Fuel Profile Zone (DFPZ) construction
Group Selection (GS)
Individual Tree Selection (ITS)
Riparian Restoration is also an important part of the HFQLG Pilot Project. It includes meadow restoration and
enhancement, stream channel improvement, road relocation, road closure, slope stabilization and aspen enhancement.
In FY08, there were 14 projects restoring 375 acres. Approximately 22 miles of road and three stream crossings were
eliminated, while three stream crossings were restored.
Acres Accomplished
Fiscal
Year
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Total
DFPZ
GS
ITS
640
7,215
41,197
16,651
24,442
36,635
21,073
8,503
14,427
10,137
180,920
0
200
1,836
1,258
0
1,738
1,792
6
405
0
7,235
172
772
528
395
44
80
2,327
0
1,235
739
6,292
Riparian
Restoration
0
81
945
838
537
603
836
159
306
375
4,680
Total
812
8,268
44,506
19,142
25,023
39,056
26,028
8,668
16,373
11,251
199,127
Most projects, though reported as accomplished, have contracts that extend for several years. Actual project work
may not begin until the next operating season. Thus, the number of acres treated on the ground each year through the
6 Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group
Accomplishments, cont.
activities of harvest, prescribed fire and riparian restoration work varies and is not the same as the acres reported as
accomplished annually.
Acres Treated
Fiscal
Year
DFPZ
(Mechanical)
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Total
0
366
5,109
18,235
4,244
12,211
14,722
23,336
10,160
12,260
100,643
DFPZ
(Fire)
GS
0
0
1,453
3,725
9,816
7,015
7,325
6,611
2,653
7,380
45,978
0
0
17
486
498
47
1,379
275
978
356
4,036
ITS
0
64
256
785
762
682
0
0
0
10
2,559
Total Acres
Treated
0
430
6,835
23,231
15,320
19,955
23,426
30,222
13,790
19,683
152,892
FY09 Program of Work
The FY09 enacted budget is estimated to be approximately
$23.7 million. This estimate includes a proportionate
funding reduction in alignment with the Pacific Southwest
Region reduction. The following activities are planned in
FY09:

Number of Projects: 49

Sawlog Vol. (CCF):

Biomass Vol. (CCF):

DFPZ Acres:
15,424

GS Acres:
2,605

ITS Acres:
1,450
Activities planned for FY09 include:

Administering current contracts

Implementation of vegetation projects planned in previous years and riparian
management projects

Environmental analysis for proposed projects
226,096
85,958

Riparian Restoration Acres:

Total Planned Acres:
20,136
657

Out-year data collection and planning

Continuing collaboration process as required by the latest act extension

Implementation of HFQLG projects under HFRA authorities

Follow-up on recommendations from the Scientific Review Panel

Responding to ongoing litigation
Status Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2008
7
Socioeconomic
Monitoring
The socioeconomic
monitoring reports the
“economic benefits to local
communities achieved by the
implementation of the pilot
project” since the project
began in 1999. The analysis
uses the most recent data
available. In some cases,
data for 2008 is not yet available.
Entering Quincy
Pilot Project Area Employment
Total Payroll Jobs: The 2004 closure of Sierra Pacific
Industries’ sawmill in Susanville was the major cause
of a 3.7 percent drop in payroll jobs in the Pilot Project
area in 2005. However, total payroll jobs have increased
approximately 2.5 percent from the Pilot Project’s
initiation in 1999 to 2006. Data for 2007 will be released
in 2009.
Forest Products Industry Job Impacts: The Pilot
Project is not offsetting the downturn in the forest products
industry within the Pilot Project area.
Since implementation of the Pilot Project in 1999, total
forest product industry jobs have decreased 24.5 percent.
During this period, implemention of the Pilot Project
has not reached the level predicted in the 1999 HFQLG
Environmental Impact Statement.
Tourism Industry Job Impacts: The number of
tourism jobs has generally grown throughout the Pilot
Project area since 2000. Job growth in the tourism sector
has outpaced the growth in the forest products industry
sector. Prior to 1999, the ratio of jobs between the two
sectors was approximately one-to-one. This means for
each job in the forest products sector, there was at least one
job in the tourism sector. In 2001, the balance began to
tip toward the tourism sector. In 2006, there were 2.2 jobs
in the tourism sector for every job in the forest products
sector. This indicates less reliance on the forest products
industry in the local economy.
The number of tourism jobs varies significantly
among communities. Tourism jobs are highly seasonal
and the wages are lower than those in the forest products
industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(2007), the average annual wage for workers in the tourism
Downtown Susanville
industry across the nation is approximately $21,000. This
is significantly lower than the $34,350 annual wage for
workers in the forest products industry, and provides less
ability for a worker to support a family.
Transient occupancy tax (TOT) data suggests that
the Pilot Project has not negatively impacted the tourism
sector. Accommodation revenue has been stable in most
communities in the Pilot Project area, ranging from $20 to
$23 million regionwide.
Local Business Environment
Downtown Sierraville
8 Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group
Establishments by Age: There is a downward trend in the
number of business establishments in the younger age
classes (0-15 years old) since 1998. The change between
1998 and 2007 was as follows: firms 0-5 years old (-39
percent); firms 6-15 years old (-26 percent) and firms 15+
years old (+42 percent). The increase since 1998 in the
number of businesses open for more than 15 years seems to
demonstrate that older businesses are enduring.
Nonemployer Establishments: The number of
nonemployer establishments (businesses with no paid
employees) has surpassed pre-project implementation
levels. New data will be available in mid-2009 to gauge
effects in 2007.
Retail Business Activity: Growth of taxable sales
transactions outperformed the rest of California in 2006
in Plumas County and the cities of Portola and Loyalton.
Sierra Pacific Industries log deck in Quincy
Taxable sales in Lassen and Sierra counties and in
Susanville grew more slowly than the rest of the state in
2006. Lingering effects from the 2004 sawmill closure
may be the major cause in Susanville and Lassen County.
HFQLG Contract & Sales Activity
Service Contracts: In FY08, approximately 89.6 percent
of contract value has been awarded to local businesses.
This is the highest share for local contractors since the
beginning of the Pilot Project.
Overall, (FY00-FY08), approximately 65 percent of
contract value has been awarded to local contractors (Pilot
Project area 23.9 percent plus Remainder of Sierra Cascade
Contracting Area 41.2 percent).
Timber Sales: In FY08, approximately 90 percent
of all timber sales or service contracts across the HFQLG
Pilot Project Area were stalled due to appeals or litigation.
As a result, the volume of sawlogs and biomass sold
declined by over 50 percent from 2007. The Forest
Service is working collaboratively with the public in an
effort to move projects forward.
Timber & Biomass Removal: The value of sawlogs
and biomass removed in the HFQLG Pilot Project
area decreased in FY08. The total value removed was
$717,000 in sawlog and $168,000 in biomass.
The total volumes of sawlog and biomass removed in
HFQLG projects decreased to 31,608 hundred cubic feet
(CCF) sawlog and 35,930 CCF biomass. Approximately
70 percent of sawlog volume and 69 percent of biomass
was removed from the Lassen National Forest, with the
remainder
removed
from the
Plumas.
No values
were
attributed
to the
Tahoe
National Logging truck near Quincy
Forest.
Biomass Electricity Generation: Electric power
generation from biomass declined in all Pilot Project area
communities except Bieber and Loyalton in 2006. The
volume of biomass removed under HFQLG contracts
declined by 46 percent in FY06 and declined 66 percent
in FY07, forcing facilities to expand their “fuel circles”
to obtain biomass from distant locales. High diesel fuel
prices increased the costs of harvesting, processing and
transporting biomass for the power plants. California
Energy Commission data for FY08 activity will be
available in 2009.
Forest Products Industry Roster Survey
In a November 2008 telephone survey of the Forest
Product Industry, most survey respondents indicated that
the level of economic activity generated by the National
Forests in the Pilot Project area decreased in 2008.
Continuing a multi-year trend, respondents stated that they
continued to shift their activities from public to private
lands.
Status Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2008
9
Environmental
Monitoring &
Effects
A key part of the HFQLG Pilot Project is monitoring the
effects of the variety of treatments being implemented.
The monitoring effort tracks adverse and beneficial
impacts to the range of ecosystems in the Pilot Project
area and recommends mitigation actions. As directed by
Congress, in FY08 an independent scientific review panel
organized by the Pinchot Institute reviewed and made
recommendations on the monitoring program. The Forests
will be making adjustments to the program in response.
Following are the monitoring results for FY08:
Habitat Concerns
The HFQLG Record of Decision requires that suitable
habitat for old forest-dependent and aquatic/ripariandependent species not be reduced by more than 10 percent
of levels originally measured in 1999 within three specific
old forest vegetation types, totaling 186,394 acres across
the Pilot Project. A cumulative total of reductions in habitat
is tracked to monitor this. To date, 3,744 acres (2 percent)
have, or will have, a reduction based on projects with
a signed Record of Decision. For comparison, wildfire
through 2007 reduced an additional 24,074 acres (12.9
percent). Data for losses sustained during the 2008 fire
season is not yet available. It will be included in the FY09
Report to Congress.
A treated timber stand on the Almanor Ranger District of the
Lassen National Forest.
10 Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group
Forest Structure
In 2008, treated stand structure monitoring (TSSM) data for
one year post-treatment (post-1 year) was collected on 48
treatment units. TSSM data for five years post-treatment
(post-5 year) was collected on one unit. Following is a
comparison of pre-treatment to post-1 year data.
Canopy cover decreased appreciably from an average
near 50 percent to 35 percent, consistent with canopy
reduction objectives to reduce fuel hazards. The average
tree diameter increased from 13 inches to 16 inches, which
is consistent with thinning from below and retaining
proportionately more large trees. There was no change in
large tree data, indicating large trees were retained. The
number of saplings decreased appreciably from an average
near 175 trees per acre, to 50 trees per acre. Stand basal
area, a measure of stand density, decreased by roughly 27
percent. This basal area decrease is within typical ranges
of silviculture “intermediate” thinning and indicates fairly
light thinning. The average crown base height (distance to
the lowest live branches) was raised from 9 feet to 14 feet,
consistent with general fuels and fire behavior goals. Shrub
cover did not appreciably change, and while herbaceous
cover increased slightly, the increase averaged less than 10
percent. Large down wood (downed logs greater-than or
equal to 20 inches diameter) decreased appreciably from
an average near 4 tons per acre to 1 ton per acre. Snags
also decreased from an average of near 4 snags per acre to
2 snags per acre. Total down woody fuels (1, 10, 100 and
1,000 hour fuels) decreased appreciably from an average
near 14 tons per acre to 8 tons per acre.
As there was only one unit for post-5 year data
collection, analysis is premature and was not conducted this
year.
This preliminary analysis indicates that post-1 year
conditions reflect general fuels objectives of reduced
surface and ladder fuels, raised average crown base and
reduced canopy density. Stand conditions appear to meet
general silviculture objectives of retaining overstory trees
while reducing stand density to provide growing space for
residual trees. Wildlife habitat elements including large
snags (greater than 15 inches DBH) and large down wood
have both appreciably decreased and may warrant further
review and adaptive management.
Best Management Practices
As indicated by this year’s
monitoring results, Best
Management Practices
(BMPs) continue to be
an effective method for
protecting and preserving
water on National
Forests. The prescription,
application, and monitoring
of these practices should
be continued across the
HFQLG Pilot Project area.
HFQLG BMPs are
specified for stream courses,
skid trails, landings, road
drainage, stream crossings,
road decommissioning and
Willows next to a pond on a
prescribed fire.
meadow restoration project.
The target goal is to
achieve 100 percent in BMP
implementation and 90 percent or better in effectiveness.
Overall, these goals were met in 2008. Over 90 percent of
project BMPs were implemented properly and functioned
effectively. BMP categories that need improvement
are location of skid trails (100 percent implemented but
only 85 percent effective), road drainage (72 percent
implemented, 85 percent effective), stream crossings
(85 percent implemented, 85 percent effective) and road
decommissioning (95 percent implemented, 85 percent
effective).
General recommendations include:
 Strive to achieve 100 percent implementation and at least 90 percent effectiveness for all BMPs.
 Build upon 2008 success for BMPs associated with prescribed fire and landings.
 Construct skid trails on soils with a low erosion hazard rating and on shallow slopes.
 Install more frequent drainage on skid trails that must be located on steep slopes.
 Continue to designate Streamside Management Zones (SMZs) for prescribed fire and all timber sale activities.
 Maintain proper drainage on all roads, which includes the maintenance of culverts and ditches.
 Stabilize erodible (unstable) areas, where roads are located.
 Identify unstable areas and drainage problems associated with roads during the NEPA process.
 Ensure barriers for road decommissioning projects are suitable for the type of vehicles likely to be used on decommissioned roads.
Soil Monitoring
In response to the statistical analysis of previous soil
monitoring data conducted in 2007, all treatment units
monitored in 2008 had 200 sample points, as opposed
to the 60 sample points in thinning units and 21 sample
points in group selection units as done previously, to
increase precision of the data. Because the increase in
sample units was relatively small (eight harvest units), new
statistical analyses were not completed.
Soil Porosity
Soil compaction (loss of soil porosity) has been
viewed as a major factor affecting soil productivity.
Compacted soil has lower water infiltration rates, can have
higher or lower water holding capacity (depending on soil
texture), and increases in soil strength that can restrict root
growth.
Two of the eight units monitored were above the
threshold for compaction (15 percent of the harvest area
with high compaction). However, both units were also
over threshold before treatment. This is consistent with
previous monitoring results, which suggest that units
exceeding the compaction threshold after treatment had
pre-existing “legacy” compaction from past management
prior to HFQLG treatment.
The comparisons of pre- and post-treatment sampling
continue to indicate that the overall trend seems to be that
harvest operations can add some compaction to the treated
area. The amount of compaction added is influenced by
the silvicultural prescription, the location of trees to be
removed, the soil type, the soil moisture at time of harvest
and the kinds of logging equipment used. This year’s data
also continues to indicate that the incremental increase of
one thinning or group selection treatment does not by itself
Status Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2008
11
Monitoring, cont.
exceed the standards and guidelines. The highest increase
this year was in the Meadow Valley 389 group selection
unit, which went from 0 percent compacted pre-treatment
to 13 percent compacted post-treatment. This is still below
the 15 percent threshold.
Significance of the Findings for Soil
Porosity (Compaction)
Recent findings on compaction effects on total biomass
productivity (soil productivity) indicate that for soils
with texture classes grouped into “sandy” (coarse sandy
loams or sandier), declines in total biomass productivity
do not follow increases in compaction. On soils grouped
as “loamy”, compaction did not appear to significantly
decrease or increase total biomass productivity. On soils
grouped as “clayey” (such as clay loams or more clay),
total biomass productivity declined with compaction.
Soil textures monitored in 2008 on all eight units
would be classed as “loamy”. None were classified as
“clayey”. So in regard to overall significance, it appears
that although some units do not meet the 15 percent
standard for compaction, a decrease in soil productivity
(total biomass productivity) would not be expected.
Soil Ground Cover
All eight units met Region 5 Soil Quality Standards
for Effective Soil Cover. Only one unit (Meadow Valley
389) failed to meet the 50 percent standard for fine organic
matter with 45 percent.
Large Woody Material (Down Logs)
Three of the eight units met the standard of at least
three logs per acre. Six of the units showed an increase in
large woody material. The other two stayed the same after
treatment.
Adaptive Management Response
Finding: Prior to treatment, legacy compaction
(pre-HFQLG) is commonly above threshold levels in
both group selection and thinning units. There is also a
statistical trend toward increased compaction effects in
12 Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group
group selection units after treatment. About one-half of
group selection units did not meet the 50 percent soil cover
standard post-treatment. Post-treatment large woody material
standards were only met in 18 percent of group selection
units and 62 percent of thinning units. Group selection units
showed a trend of large down wood loss.
Management Response: Forest Supervisors from
each of the three forests signed a letter in May 2008 with
recommended techniques for meeting standards and
guidelines for soil and large woody material. This letter was
sent to personnel on all three forests to improve soil porosity,
soil cover and large wood management.
Botany
Sensitive Plant Protection
Out of the 16 threatened and endangered species (TES)
protection/control areas monitored in 2008, 13 (81 percent)
were protected as planned. The minimum level of protection
considered successful would be to have 90 percent of control
areas protected as planned. Therefore, this objective was
not met. Two of 10 sites on the Mt Hough Ranger District
were not protected, and one of five sites on the Beckwourth
Ranger District wasn’t protected. Control areas were mapped
and flagged, but problems with protection occurred during
implementation. There is still room for improvement, so
continued improved communication between botanists and
sale administrators is needed. There is still improvement
needed in tracking the flagging of control areas and in the
quality of marking control areas.
Noxious Weed Treatment
There were 27 sites with weeds evaluated in 2008.
Management recommendations (weed treatment or
avoidance) were applied during implementation on 24 (89
percent) of the 27 occurrences. Recommendations were
not applied on the other three sites. Although medusahead
(Taeniatherum caput-medusae) is a noxious weed, there
are currently no effective eradication methods for large
infestations of this species, and large infestations are not
being treated. Flag and avoidance is used to prevent the
spread of medusahead into HFQLG project areas. However,
in two units monitored, medusahead was not flagged, and
the occurrence appears to have expanded since HFQLG
treatment. On the Lassen National Forest, six of nine
Klamathweed (Hypericum perforatum) populations seem to
have been eliminated with hand pulling treatment.
Equipment Cleaning Documentation
The HFQLG forests have generally been successful
in implementing the contract specifications of equipment
cleaning. Equipment cleaning documentation was received
for nearly all of the projects reviewed. However, no
equipment cleaning documentation was found for the
Young Pine Project on the Almanor Ranger District, the
Deep Red Project on the Hat Creek Ranger District or the
Leftover Timber Sale Project on the Sierraville Ranger
District.
There were two landings on the Sierraville Ranger
District found to have new musk thistle populations
after the landings were tilled to reduce compaction. The
equipment used to till the landings was not washed, so it
may have been a source for the weeds. However, this same
piece of equipment was also used on a third interior landing
(away from other vectors of seed dispersal) and it did not
have a new musk thistle infestation. The weed seeds may
thus have come from other vectors, such as forest visitor
vehicles.
Sensitive Plant Response to Treatment
Preliminary monitoring data suggests that Quincy
lupine can tolerate group selection treatment activities.
The presence of Quincy lupine within the treatment plot
suggests that this species is tolerant of high levels of soil
disturbance and forest removal.
Percent cover of closed-lip Penstemon (Penstemon
personatus) following mechanical thinning and group
selection treatments had little change. The fact that the two
group selection treatments had closed-lip Penstemon one
year after treatment in densities relatively similar to pretreatment conditions is remarkable.
From the data collected on Follett’s wild mint
(Monardella follettii) in 2008, it is difficult to state with
certainty the effects of group selection treatments on the
abundance of this species. The presence of Follett’s wild
mint individuals within the treatment plots suggests that
the species is able to tolerate a fair amount of disturbance.
Follett’s wild mint plants were found (albeit in much lower
abundance) in areas that were scraped of almost all of
the duff and vegetation (i.e., skid trails) and under woody
debris.
No new occurrences of TES plant species were found
in 69 monitored units.
Noxious Weed Response to Treatment
Aggressive action prior to and through project
implementation has generally been successful in
eradicating small populations of noxious weeds, as well
as in preventing new occurrences. Less success has been
realized in larger populations or species more difficult
to eradicate. These efforts appear to be limiting noxious
weed spread on the Lassen, Plumas and Tahoe National
Forests. Additional efforts are needed particularly with
Medusahead, Dalmatian toadflax, musk thistle and yellow
starthistle.
Sixteen of 69 units monitored had substantial
new populations of invasive species one to five years
after treatment, and populations seem to expand once
established. Neither cheat grass nor bull thistle are
currently designated as noxious species on either the
federal or California noxious weed lists. However, both
species are highly invasive and potentially threaten
ecosystem health and function.
Fire/Fuels and Air Quality
Closed-lipped penstemon monitoring transect on the Mount
Hough Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest.
In FY08 there were 5,173 acres of underburning and 2,380
acres of slash pile burning implemented across the Pilot
Project. There were no reported violations of Smoke
Management Plans, no impacts to Class I Airsheds, no
reported violations of air quality standards and no formal
smoke complaints. The absence of violations
Status Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2008
13
Monitoring, cont.
or complaints can be explained by coordination and
communication of prescribed burn activities between
ranger districts, air districts and the public. This included
extensive public contact, including phone calls, press
releases, door-to-door visits, and public information booths
set up near burn project sites to directly answer questions
and address concerns from the public.
Findings indicate that regionwide fire severity seems
to be increasing in all vegetation types. Recent large, high
severity fires in the Pilot Project Area (Stream, Boulder,
Antelope Complex and Moonlight) lend support to these
findings. On June 20-21, 2008, Northern California
experienced an unprecedented lightning event. Over 5,000
lightning strikes were recorded resulting in over 1,000 fire
starts. Many of these starts grew rapidly to 100 acres or
more. Some, such as the Peterson Fire (which occurred
on the Hat Creek Ranger District of the Lassen National
Forest) burned into fuel treatments and firefighters were
able to take advantage of the reduced fire behavior to
help contain the fire. Local fire managers estimated that
without the Pittville Defensible Fuel Profile Zone (DFPZ)
the Peterson Fire would have been at least 1,000 acres
larger. Another example of fuels treatment effectiveness
occurred in July of 2008 when the Rich Fire burned into
the Kingsbury-Rush DFPZ. The fuel treatments altered
the fire behavior, enabling the fire to be contained at 6,112
acres rather than an estimated 12,000 to 20,000 acres.
Detailed post-fire measurements have been completed
on the Peterson Fire. Scorch height, char height, percent
crown scorch and tree mortality were all significantly
lower within the Pittville DFPZ than in adjacent untreated
areas. Portions of the Pittville DFPZ that were treated with
both thinning and underburning experienced lower fire
severity during the Peterson Fire than areas of the Pittville
DFPZ that had been treated by thinning only. Distance
from the boundary between the Pittville DFPZ and the
untreated area was the strongest predictor of tree mortality.
Trees within the Pittville DFPZ that were further from the
adjacent untreated area were more likely to survive six
weeks post-fire.
14 Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group
For the Rich fire, fire severity maps, field observations
and discussions with on-the-ground fire personnel indicated
that areas which had been treated with combinations of
underburning, mastication or commercial thinning had
overall lower flame lengths and reduced fire severity
than untreated areas. Low intensity fire behavior in these
fuel treatments facilitated safe and effective suppression
activities.
Wildlife
In 2005, the Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research
Station (PSW) published a study that found an apparent
gap in marten occurrences between Lassen National Park
and the Sierraville Ranger District of the Tahoe National
Forest. The conclusion was based on surveys conducted in
the area in the summers of 2000 and 2001. The results of
these surveys were used to build a model to predict marten
occurrence in the southern Cascades of California. The
model used vegetation information and administrative
boundaries to predict occurrence, and indicated a lower
probability of marten occurring in many areas of the Lassen
National Forest due to lower habitat values (relatively small
amounts of moderate to high quality denning and resting
habitat).
These two reports are in opposition to findings from
protocol surveys completed over the last decade on the
Lassen National Forest (marten have been generally absent
from the Plumas National Forest except within the Lakes
Basin area). Importantly, the Lassen National Forest
surveys were largely conducted in the winter using cameras
and the PSW surveys were in the summers using track
plates and cameras. The discrepancy between the results
of the Lassen National Forest and PSW surveys has made
the analysis of project effects on marten problematic. The
analysis can either recognize that a major portion of the
HFQLG Pilot Project Area is currently predicted to have a
low probability of marten occurrence or assume that, if the
model had included the Lassen National Forest’s survey
data, much of the HFQLG area may have a higher predicted
value.
To resolve the discrepancy, an experiment was initiated
in 2007 for two purposes: 1) to test the null hypothesis that
there is no seasonal difference in marten detection rates and
2) a means to test the predictive occurrence model and
make refinements if necessary. The experiment used the
same survey grids and the same survey device (cameras)
and protocol during each season (winter and summer), to
control for and eliminate the original differences between
the PSW and Lasssen National Forest surveys. Areas
chosen for surveys included the areas where Lassen
An American marten on a trap in the Lassen National Forest.
National Forest surveys had previously found marten but
where predicted occurrence was low under the model.
Ideally the results would help determine whether martens
have the same probability of detection each season, despite
different patterns of occupancy for each season. It will
ultimately be important to know whether martens that
are detected on survey grids in winter, but not summer,
are territory-holding individuals or dispersers. Of equal
interest is the utility of the current predictive model. Both
PSW and the HFQLG Project Area would mutually benefit
by carrying out monitoring that would 1) discern the
current status of marten within the Pilot Project Area, 2)
provide information that would refine the predictive model
and 3) address the connectivity issues as discussed in the
HFQLG Final Environmental Impact Statement and the
subsequent monitoring plan.
The study design consisted of three grids within areas
where marten had been detected during local surveys. One
grid overlapped with Lassen Volcanic National Park to
sample areas where the model predicted marten occurrence.
Each grid consisted of 20 baited camera stations
approximately 1 mile apart. The grids were set up across
the Almanor and part of the Eagle Lake Ranger Districts.
One grid extended from the Lassen Volcanic National Park
to the town of Mineral, California. The second grid was
centered around Swain Mountain, overlapping both the
Almanor and Eagle Lake Ranger Districts on the Lassen
National Forest, and the third grid was centered around
Humboldt Peak on the Almanor Ranger District. The
study design required two seasons of surveys to determine
status. Each grid was sampled once in the summer and
once in the winter, with two of the grids sampled again
the following summer. The following table displays the
number of camera stations where marten were detected
by season (the actual number of martens detected was
unknown).
Lassen
National
Park
Swain
Humboldt
Peak
Summer 2007
4
1
1
Winter 2007-08
10
12
13
Summer 2008
---
2
0
Using a software program called PRESENCE, the
pattern of detection (i.e., detection histories) at each
camera station was analyzed to determine if there was a
seasonal variation in detecting martens that were present.
Despite the seasonal difference in number of camera
stations with detections, the detection histories did not
reveal a statistically different probability of detecting
martens in summer versus winter. Importantly, however,
PRESENCE can only analyze the pattern of detections of
martens that were detected at least once. It is, of course,
unknown whether there are a subset of individuals that
are not detected at all and whether this subset differs
by season. Given this assumption, the findings support
the conclusion that martens that are detected during the
winter are not detected during the summer, either because
they do not survive there to be detected or because they
are present, but not attracted to bait or lure. Additional
research, using a radio-collared sample of animals, is the
only way to distinguish these possibilities.
Local biologists remain convinced that the seasonal
difference is due to the failure of martens to be attracted to
bait during the summer, rather than seasonal changes
Status Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2008
15
Monitoring, cont.
in demographics or residency. Local biologists have long
believed that marten are disproportionately attracted to
bait stations in the winter when food sources are scarce.
PRESENCE, the analysis model, assumes that all martens
in the study area are detected at least once. If they
are, then PRESENCE is capable of detecting seasonal
differences in detection probability. There is evidence
in other studies to support the conclusion of seasonal
variation in food that would explain the seasonal variation
in marten detections. In 2007 a researcher found not only
seasonal variations but also variations in prey selections
according to sex. In a study conducted in the early 1990s
within the Swain grid, marten were not only found within
the Swain study area (an area within the reported gap)
but reproduction was also recorded. Finally, there have
been numerous anecdotal reports of marten during the
summer within the area identified as a gap in distribution.
Songbirds
Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science
(PRBO) has been conducting songbird monitoring in the
northern Sierra Nevada since 1997. Here results from
monitoring efforts of forest management activities within
the Herger Feinstein Quincy Library Group Project Area
are summarized from 2007-2008.
The effects of aspen enhancement treatments on the
avian community continued to be monitored by PRBO
in 2008. The results show that treated aspen stands
support greater total abundance of birds and abundance of
Mountain Bluebird, Chipping Sparrow, and Red-breasted
Sapsucker, three focal species that are also species of
conservation concern. Each of these three species was
significantly more abundant in treated aspen stands than
either untreated aspen stands or coniferous forest. The
results also highlight the relative importance of aspen
habitat to the avian community in a conifer dominated
landscape.
The Brown’s Ravine Pine-Oak Enhancement DFPZ
Project on the Almanor Ranger District of the Lassen
National Forest continued to be monitored. The short-term
16 Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group
response of a suite of pine-oak focal species to treatments
implemented in 2005 and 2006 was investigated. Results
suggest there was little effect thus far of treatments on
a suite of focal bird species, overall avian diversity, and
species richness. The only metric that showed an effect
was total bird abundance, which increased moderately after
sites were treated. Continued monitoring of this project is
necessary to determine the effects of treatment on pine-oak
associated bird species after the vegetation has had more
time to respond to treatments.
Landscape level habitat models for a suite of breeding
bird species in the Plumas-Lassen study area were
developed. Maximum entropy (MaxEnt), a powerful
new modeling technique, was used to predict species
distributions at a landscape scale to model the habitat
suitability for a suite of breeding bird species across this
large landscape. The results suggest the importance of
habitat and stand structure heterogeneity to a number of
landbird species, including those associated with mature
forest. The maps derived from this modeling are ideal
tools for use by managers planning projects in the PlumasLassen Study Area.
Watershed Condition
Of the 194 HFQLG watersheds and 2.256 million HFQLG
watershed acres represented in the monitoring pool, road
density analysis information exists from 110 HFQLG
watersheds, totaling 1.002 million acres (44.4 percent).
The data covers only the project-level, subwatershed
analysis areas, which totaled 788,000 acres. For these
788,000 acres, the predicted post-project road density (2.88
miles per square mile) is 3 percent lower than the analyzed
pre-project condition (2.97 miles per square mile). Of the
215 subwatersheds analyzed, most (131 subwatersheds)
indicated that road density would not change as a result of
project activities.
The analyses for 52 subwatersheds indicated decreases
in road density. Many of the HFQLG project-level
decisions include some obliteration of Forest system and
nonsystem roads. These obliterations account for the postproject change in road density. The majority of these road
obliterations have already occurred. Obliterations are often
supplemented with partnership funding, including
California State Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) restoration
grant dollars.
While reported near-stream road density information is
used from within HFQLG watersheds that cover 511,000
acres, the data covers only the project level, subwatershed
analysis areas, which totaled 308,000 acres. For these
308,000 acres, the predicted post-project near-stream road
density (3.42 miles per square mile) is 5.5 percent lower
than the analyzed pre-project condition (3.62 miles per
square mile).
Equivalent Roaded Acre (ERA) data are available
for 1.220 million acres of watersheds in which HFQLG
activities have occurred. Over these watersheds, the
predicted post-project ERA total is 28 percent higher
than the pre-project cumulative total. When expressed as
percentages of the individual watershed areas, the median
post-project ERA is 6 percent, well below the thresholds of
concern used for analyzing project cumulative watershed
effects.
Road-stream crossing data was available for 571,000
acres. The predicted number of road-stream crossings
(3,051) is 1.8 percent lower than the analyzed pre-project
condition (3,108 crossings). As with the road density
results, the road obliterations planned in HFQLG projectlevel decisions account for the post-project change in the
number of road-stream crossings. The majority of these
near-stream road obliterations have already occurred.
Stream Condition Inventory
Comparisons of reaches monitored before and after
implementation of HFQLG projects indicate a lack of
adverse impacts. Seven post-project treatments were
monitored in 2008 (Domingo, 3rd Water, Willow (Colby),
Panther, Summit, 4th Water and Pine Creeks). These
treatments did not result in statistically significant
differences in in-channel sediment conditions. Shade was
significantly decreased (as expected) by an aspen treatment
adjacent to Pine Creek.
Panther Creek was monitored again in 2008 to assess
a watershed improvement project (road decommissioning,
and stream crossing rehabilitation). Implementation of
this project apparently resulted in a statistically significant
decrease in the percentage of pool tail fine sediment.
Moonlight Creek, West Branch Lights Creek and
Lone Rock Creek were monitored to assess effects of the
Moonlight Fire that occurred in 2007. Pre-fire data was
available for Moonlight Creek. Comparison with post-fire
data found significant differences in pool tail fine sediment
and shade, likely due to the large portion of the watershed
and stream side zones which burned at high severity.
West Branch Lights Creek data suggested high in-channel
sediment and low shade relative to other transport streams.
Within year variability of attributes measured was
quite low for all attributes measured, except for bank
stability, which has been shown to have the greatest
amount of difference between paired samples.
Between year variability between reference streams
was low for most attributes in most of the ten streams
where repeat measurements were taken in 2008. Two
notable exceptions were pool tail fine sediment and shade
measurements from Rock Creek on the Lassen National
Forest. Pool tail fine sediment was significantly lower,
while shade was significantly higher in 2008 when
compared to 2007.
California Spotted Owl Monitoring
Knowledge regarding the effects of fuels and vegetation
management on California spotted owls (CSO) and
their habitat is a primary information need in addressing
conservation and management objectives in Sierra Nevada
forests. Specific research objectives of the CSO module are
identified and described in the Plumas-Lassen Study Plan.
Current information on the distribution and density of
CSOs across the HFQLG study area is required to provide
the data necessary to build predictive habitat models and
provide baseline population information against which we
will assess post-treatment changes in CSO populations and
habitat. Continued monitoring in the Lassen Demographic
Study Area is critical for estimating CSO population trends
and status. The focus in 2008 was to conduct landscape
inventories of CSO distribution and abundance, and
continue banding to provide the required demographic
data and baseline information to meet the objectives of
research objectives one through four. Efforts were made to
monitor the pair and reproductive status of each owl, and
to capture, uniquely color-mark and collect blood samples
Status Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2008
17
Monitoring, cont.
from each individual owl. Capture and color-marking are
necessary to estimate survival and population trend, and to
assess exposure to West Nile Virus. All barred and hybrid
barred-spotted owls encountered in the study area were
also recorded and synthesized to all existing barred owl
records for the northern Sierra Nevada.
The 2008 work also provided the first opportunities
to conduct case studies within the Plumas Lassen
Administrative Study to assess the distribution and
abundance of CSOs across a landscape that had been fully
treated (Meadow Valley Project Area – MVPA) and across
a landscape that has experienced high severity wildfire
(Moonlight-Antelope Complex Fire Area – MACFA).
CSO Numbers, Reproductive Success, Density and
Population Trends
A total of 72 territorial CSO sites were documented in
2008 across the study area. This total consisted of 52
confirmed pairs, nine unconfirmed pairs and 11 territorial
single CSOs. Ten pairs successfully reproduced in 2008
(16 percent of confirmed/unconfirmed pairs). A total of 17
fledged young were documented in 2008 (1.70 young per
successful nest). Across the five years of the study, CSO
reproduction has been highest in 2004 and 2007 in terms of
the percent of CSO pairs that successfully reproduced, and
to lesser degrees in terms of the number of young fledged
per successful nest. Approximately 50 percent of CSO
pairs successfully reproduced in 2004 and 2007 while only
14 to 18 percent were successful in 2005, 2006 and 2008.
Annual CSO reproduction is known to vary with both
spring weather and variation in prey numbers.
California spotted owl reproduction on the Plumas and
Year
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Lassen National Forests 2004-2007
Percent of confirmed/
Young fledged per
unconfirmed pairs with
successful nest
successful nests
49.4%
1.68
17.7%
1.47
13.8%
1.50
55.4%
1.81
16.4%
1.70
18 Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group
The crude density of CSOs was estimated based on
the number of territorial owls detected across nine survey
areas during 2008 surveys at the Survey Area spatial scales.
The estimated crude density across the overall study area
in 2008 was 0.067 territorial owls/km². Overall study area
crude densities are not directly comparable across years
because different total areas were surveyed in each year.
However, crude density estimates within individual survey
areas indicate similar densities and numbers of territorial
sites (pair sites plus territorial single sites) between 20042008 for the survey areas on the Plumas National Forest,
while numbers appear to have declined somewhat on the
Lassen survey areas between 2005-2008.
Mean estimated population change (lambda) for
California spotted owls on four study areas in the
southern cascades and Sierra Nevada, 1990-2005
Study Area
Lassen National
Forest
Sierra National
Forest
Sequoia-King
Canyon National
Park
Eldorado
National Forest
95%
Confidence
Interval
Lambda
Standard
Error
0.973
0.014
0.946-1.001
0.992
0.013
0.966-1.018
1.006
0.031
0.947-1.068
1.007
0.029
0.952-1.066
In January 2006, a meta-analysis by Jennifer Blakesley
and others was conducted to estimate CSO population
trends and to assess population status in response to a
petition submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
to list the CSO under the Endangered Species Act.
Data collected between 1990 and 2005 from four CSO
demographic studies across the Sierra Nevada and southern
Cascades, including the Lassen Demographic Study Area,
were analyzed as part of the meta-analysis workshop.
Across the four study areas, results indicated that the
Lassen Study CSO population exhibited the strongest
evidence for a population decline between 1990 and
2005. Mean population change (lambda) for the Lassen
Demographic Study was 0.973, with 95 percent confidence
limits ranging from 0.946-1.001. (Lambda values greater
than one indicate increasing populations, while lambda
values less than one indicate decreasing populations.)
Vegetation Sampling – Nest Plots
Vegetation plot
sampling was
conducted at a total
of 80 CSO territories
from 2005 through
2007 for development
of CSO habitat
models that can be
used as adaptive
management planning
tools. Habitat models
A California spotted owl
are currently being
evaluated that can be
used to assess projected changes in CSO nesting habitat
suitability under varying fuels and vegetation treatment
scenarios.
Banding, Blood Sampling, West Nile Virus Monitoring
Forty-seven owls were captured and banded in 2008.
Blood samples were collected from 21 individuals in 2008
and have not been analyzed to date. None of the 154
individual samples tested at the University of California,
Davis for West Nile Virus antibodies tested positive from
2004-2007.
Barred and Sparred (spotted-barred hybrid)
Distributional Records
Barred owls have been linked to the continuing decline
of the northern spotted owl and are considered a primary
threat. They are likely to present a similar threat to the
California spotted owl. The barred owl, a recent invader in
the region, was first reported in 1989.
Three barred owls and four sparred owls were detected
during 2008 surveys within the study area. The synthesis
and update of barred-sparred owl records through 2008
based on Forest Service and California Department of Fish
and Game databases indicates that there are a minimum of
54 individual site records across the Sierra Nevada. This
includes 18 records that have been documented within the
HFQLG intensively surveyed study area and 38 records
across the broader HFQLG Project Area. The pattern
of records suggests that barred-sparred owls have been
increasing in the northern Sierra Nevada between 1989 and
2008.
Meadow Valley Project Area and
Moonlight-Antelope Complex Fire Area
Case Studies
The MVPA is the first area within the Plumas Lassen
Administrative Study where full implementation of
HFQLG treatments has occurred. Annual monitoring of
CSOs between 2004-2008 suggests that CSO numbers
have been fairly stable across the survey period with the
number of pairs ranging between six and nine across years.
There has not been an apparent decline in the number
of territorial CSO sites in the first year following full
implementation of treatments across the MVPA landscape.
While the overall number of territorial CSO sites across
the MVPA landscape appears stable at this time, treatments
may be associated with the movement of two territorial
sites within the landscape. Detailed information on the
spatial locations, timing, and effects on the post-treatment
vegetation are needed to more fully explore the effects
of treatments on CSOs. Further, continued monitoring is
necessary to assess the longterm responses of CSOs to
treatments that may not be apparent from the acute, shortterm response observed in 2008.
The MACFA landscape encompassed approximately
88,000 acres that burned in 2007. These high-severity
fires resulted in significant change to the vegetation, with
suitable CSO habitat decreasing from 70.1 percent of the
pre-fire landscape to 5.8 percent in the post-fire landscape.
Twenty-three CSO Protected Activity Centers (PACS)
(300 acre management areas) were located in the pre-fire
landscape, but it is unknown what proportion of these
PACs was actually occupied by CSOs in 2007. In the 2008
surveys, a single pair of territorial CSOs was documented
within the 88,000 acres, plus ten detections of single,
apparently non-territorial, male CSOs spread out across the
area. These initial results suggest that these high-severity
fires have had negative effects on CSO numbers and
habitat. Surveys to be conducted in 2009 are necessary to
confirm these patterns.
Status Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2008
19
Herger - Feinstein Quincy Library Group
FY99 Through FY08 Vegetation Management Accomplishments
!
C a l i f o r n i a
McArthur
!
!
Fall River Mills
Burney
N e v a d a
Bieber
!
Eagle
Lake
!
Viola
La s se n Vo l ca n i c
National P ark
!
Susanville
Chester
Janesville
Westwood
!
!
!
Honey
Lake
Lake
Almanor
Milford
!
Greenville
!
Crescent Mills
!
Taylorsville
!
Quincy
!
Beckwourth
!
!
Graeagle
Portola
!
Loyalton
!
Sierraville
Downieville
Lake
Orovill e
Oroville !
!
Challenge !
Sierra City
!
!
Camptonville
!
HFQLG Extent Boundary
Truckee
HFQLG Accomplishments - 2008
!
HFQLG Accomplishments - 1999 to 2007
Nevada City
!
HFQLG SEIS DFPZ Network
HFQLG Deferred
HFQLG OffBase
±
National Forest
National Forest Wilderness
Lake
Ta h o e
Highways
0
10
20
30 Miles
02FEB2009
by Ralph Martinez
Plumas National Forest
Herger - Feinstein Quincy Library Group
FY99 Through FY08 Riparian Restoration Accomplishments
!
C a l i f o r n i a
McArthur
!
!
Fall River Mills
Burney
!
N e v a d a
Bieber
!
!
Eagle
Lake
!
!
!
!
!
!
! !!
!! !
!
!
!
Viola
La s se n Vo l ca n i c
National P ark
!
!
!
Susanville
!
!
!!
Chester
!
!
Janesville
Westwood
!
!
!
!
!
Lake
Almanor
!
!
!
Honey
Lake
!
Milford
!
!
!
!
!
Greenville
!
!
!
Crescent Mills
!
!
!! !!
!
!
Taylorsville
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!!
!
!
Quincy
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!!
!
Beckwourth
!
!
!
!
!
!!
!
Portola
Graeagle
!
!
!
!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!!
! !
Loyalton
!
!
!
!
!
Sierraville
!
Downieville
Lake
Orovill e
Oroville !
!
!
Sierra City
!
!
!
!
! !
!
!
!
Challenge !
Camptonville
!
Truckee
HFQLG Extent Boundary
!
HFQLG Accomplishments - 2008
Nevada City
!
HFQLG Accomplishments - 1999 to 2007
HFQLG Deferred
HFQLG OffBase
±
National Forest
National Forest Wilderness
Lake
Ta h o e
Highways
0
10
20
30 Miles
02FEB2009
by Ralph Martinez
Plumas National Forest
Plumas & Lassen National Forests
Sierraville Ranger District, Tahoe National Forest
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region — February 2009