HFQLG
Project Evaluation Form
Project Name: Battle DFPZ
Project Type: DFPZ, Commercial Harvest
Forest: Lassen
Ranger District: Almanor Date: 5 Oct 2006
Attendance:
Agency – Frank Stewart, County Forester and Quincy Library Group
Public – Harry Reeves and Linda Blum, Quincy Library Group
USFS – Al Vazquez (District Ranger), Tom Garcia (Fuels Officer), Lauren Payne (Silviculturist), Elaine Gee
(Timber Management Officer), Mark Williams (Wildlife Biologist), Matt Cerney (Fuels Officer), Tami
Alexander (Small Sales Officer), Jeff Withroe (Lassen NF Ecosystem Staff Officer), Kurt Winchester
(HFQLG Team Leader), Linda Kanski (HFQLG Analyst), Colin Dillingham (HFQLG Monitoring
Coordinator), Tamara Schmidt (HFQLG Public Affairs Officer), Molly Fuller (Mt Hough RD Ecosystem
Manager), Nancy Francine (Plumas NF Staff Ecosystem Manager), Paul Stancheff (Assistant Forest
Silviculturist)
Project completed by: Timber Harvest Contract
Date completed: majority of operations summer 2005
Type of treatment and acres: The project consisted of 483 acres of DFPZ treatment, 58% sawlog and 42%
MCP (biomass).
The following fuels treatment objectives were listed in the Battle DFPZ Project Decision Memo to achieve
the DFPZ description discussed on page 5 of Appendix J in the HFQLG FEIS:
Stocking will be retained at generally mid to lower levels of full site occupancy. Stand basal area will
generally range between 150-250 square feet. Typically, a 90-year-old mixed conifer stand of moderate site
quality will average between 175-200 square feet of basal area with an associated canopy cover of
approximately 35-40%. Higher levels of basal area and canopy cover will be retained in DFPZ stands that
fall within northern goshawk Protected Activity Centers (PAC’s). These stands will have upwards of 220250 feet of basal area and canopy cover of approximately 50%. Throughout the DFPZ overstory trees will
be irregularly spaced across the landscape such that canopy fuels will overall be discontinuous. Small
groups of typically 3-6 closely spaced overstory trees will be left to retain structural diversity. Understory
small diameter conifer trees (6 inch DBH or less) will be relatively few and scattered, approximately 50 trees
per acre or less.
Surface fuels of down woody material greater than 12 inches diameter will be retained at 10-15 tons per acre,
where it exists. Small surface fuels 12-inch diameter or less will be retained at no more than 5 tons per acre.
Snags will be retained at 1-4 per acre following the snag retention guidelines for this project. Standing dead
fuels in excess of this will be treated. Trees that are suppressed, are in poor health, or with high levels of
disease will be removed in favor of healthy trees. Pockets of dead and dying trees will be treated as they
occur within the DFPZ where they are in excess of the snag retention guidelines. These will create openings
that will be averaged into overall stocking and canopy cover.
Resource
Area
Attribute
Objective
Marking
guidelines for
prescription B
Overall
effective, a
little high
some units.
Thin stand to
achieve 35-50%
canopy cover
(Decision Memo)
Decision Memo
and Marking
Guidelines for
prescription B
and
prescription C
Met
guidelines,
exceeded
minimum
canopy
requirements.
Marking
Guidelines
Successful
Decision Memo
Successful
Basal area
Silviculture/
Wildlife
Canopy cover
Wildlife
Stand
heterogeneity
Maintain all size
classes and species
in stand
Wildlife
Snag
Management
Maintain 1-4 snags
per acre
Riparian area
management
Maintain 100 foot
buffer on
intermittent
streams
Fuels
DFPZ
treatment
Reduce ladder
fuels and canopy
fuels
Soils
Soil
Compaction
and
disturbance
Prevent
deleterious soil
compaction and
reduce surface
disturbance.
Residual
stand damage
Prevent excess
damage to residual
trees during
harvest
Sale
Administration
Heritage/
Botany
Degree Met
Thin to retain
generally 150-200
square feet basal
area
Silviculture
Riparian
Habitat
Source of
Objective
Decision Memo
HFQLG FEIS
Appendix J
and Decision
Memo
Contract
contract
Yes
Successful
Successful, no
apparent
compaction
observed and
little soil
disturbance.
Successful
Comments
Post-treatment
monitoring in units 72
and 74 had 177 and 231
ft2 basal area,
respectively
Post-treatment
monitoring in units 72
and 74 had 37% and
58% canopy cover
respectively, using
densitometer
Stand contained trees
from saplings to oldgrowth pine and
produced a fire-safe
heterogeneous stand.
Post-treatment
monitoring in units 72
and 74 had 2-3 snags
per acre (> 15” dbh)
respectively
No mechanical
disturbance within
RHCA, only hand
treatment.
Canopy fuels and
ladder fuels greatly
reduced and meet
objectives for effective
DFPZ, follow-up
underburn planned to
treat surface fuels.
Operator was careful
with equipment and
little soil displacement
was observed.
Little residual damage
observed.
No issues
discussed
Shortcomings and Successes: The project was an economic success and produced an effective DFPZ. All
present were pleased with the successful DFPZ implementation.
Retaining 2-3 snags per acre in a stand with this many trees removed is a recognizable accomplishment.
Kudos were given to the district, sale administrator and operator.
Hazard trees identified by CalTrans were included in the project. District Ranger Al Vazquez proposed that
the district would no longer include the removal of hazard trees within HFQLG projects to avoid potential
misunderstandings regarding the objectives for HFQLG projects versus hazard tree removal. Frank Stewart
strongly opposed this proposal because of the potential economic loss of removing the hazard trees and the
increased large wood that would be present in the DFPZ. No decision was finalized.
Follow up actions:
Frank Stewart suggested that the USFS should consider using stewardship contracts in project of this size.
Funds could be used to enhance the adjacent campgrounds or to remove hazards.
District Ranger: _/s/ Alfred G. Vazquez__________________
Date:
November 6, 2006___________