HFQLG
Project Evaluation Form
Project Name: Brown’s Ravine Oak Habitat Enhancement DFPZ
Project Type: DFPZ, Commercial Harvest
Forest: Lassen
Ranger District: Almanor
Date: 6 July 2006
Attendance:
Agency – UC Cooperative Extension, Doug McCreary (Blue Oak Researcher), Dustin Flavell, Mike De
Lasaux (Plumas, Sierra County representative)
Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science, Ryan Burnett
Public – Harry Reeves and Linda Blum, Quincy Library Group
Doug Ingram, Ula Reeves
USFS – Al Vasquez (District Ranger), Tom Garcia (Fuels Officer), Lauren Payne (Silviculturist), Jane
Goodwin (Resources Officer), Bobette Jones (Ecologist, Eagle Lake RD), Ken Harris (Timber Sale
Administrator), Mark Williams (Wildlife Biologist), Coye Robbins (Wildlife Biologist), Betsy Harbert
(Biological Technician), Blair Halbrooks (Information Assistant), Duncan Leao (Planning Forester), Kurt
Winchester (HFQLG), Timothy Evans (HFQLG), Colin Dillingham (HFQLG)
Project completed by: Timber Harvest Contract
Date completed: 2005-2006
Type of treatment and acres:
The project objectives were to promote pine as the dominant conifer in conifer/oak woodland stands, and
enhance black oak persistence in these stands. Stands are thinned to reduce the amount of white fir in both
the understory and overstory to provide growing space for desirable pine and black oak, and reduce the
shading of black oak. Some pine and black oak are also thinned to reduce crowding and promote the growth
of desired residual trees. Depending on preexisting stocking levels, residual stands will be comprised of
generally between 30% - 70% black oak (stems per acre) with a total average canopy cover of 40% - 50%
across the stands.
The oak enhancement treatments also provide conditions that meet DFPZ criteria as discussed in Appendix J
of the HFQLG FEIS.
Units 113 and 115C were mechanically thinned from below with specific oak retention guidelines. The
follow up under burns that are planned have not yet been completed.
Project Statistics and Status: The project includes 880 acres of mechanical treatment, 200 acres were
completed in 2005. 120 acres of hand treatment will commence in 2006 with project hand crews.
7.5 mmbf of saw logs, $550,000 in KV and $229,000 SSF funds produced. 10 acres of Aspen Enhancement
project were not reviewed on this field trip.
Resource
Area
Silviculture
Attribute
Objective
Black Oak
Enhancement
Determine effect of
conifer removal and
under burning
within a black oak
woodland habitat on
forest structure.
Retain large (> 30
inch) diameter trees,
return to historical
conditions.
30% - 70% black oak
(stems per acre) with a
total average canopy
cover of 40% - 50%
across the stands.
Monitor wildlife
response to treatment
Residual fine fuel
would not exceed 5
tons/acre (tpa)
EA
Wildlife
Remnant
Large trees in
Unit 115C
Wildlife
Black Oak
associated
wildlife
species and
wildlife
research
opportunities
Fine fuels in
mech harvest
units 113 and
115C
Fuels
Source of
Objective
HFQLG
EA
HFQLG FEIS
Appendix J
Fuels
DFPZ
treatment
Reduce ladder fuels,
reduce aerial fuels
HFQLG FEIS
Appendix J
Soils/
Hydrology/
Fuels
Unit 113
Soil
Compaction
Prevent deleterious
soil compaction and
reduce surface
erosion.
HFQLG FEIS
Heritage/
Botany
No issues
discussed
Degree
Met
Comments
Interim
treatment
(commercial
harvest)
appears
successful
Successful
Pre treatment data
verifies that white fir
dominates landscape.
Post treatment review
indicates change to black
oak, data pending.
Large Ponderosa Pine
(up to 76” dbh) retained
in units.
Plot data
unavailable,
but harvest
treatment
appears
successful.
83 long-term vegetation
and 149 songbird
monitoring plots
established in project
area to monitor
response, data pending.
Interim Rx
has not yet
met
objectives
(8-12 tpa
remain)
Follow-up fuel
treatments are planned
in units to treat surface
fuels and appear
necessary.
Successful
Successful,
no
compaction
observed.
No fuels
concerns
with Rx.
Aerial fuels and ladder
fuels greatly reduced and
meet objectives for
effective DFPZ
Operator took logging
slash out from landing
and deposited along skid
trails. Landing piles
were chipped and spread
out over landing. Fuels
officer not concerned
with limited slash on
skid trails.
Shortcomings and Successes: Adaptive Management strategy was well received by researches, Quincy Library
Group representatives and Forest Service Representatives. The project was an economic success and produced
an effective DFPZ.
Follow up actions: Continued monitoring and treatment.
District Ranger: __Alfred G. Vasquez____________ Date: 7-17-06____
Vegetation Monitoring
of the Browns Ravine Oak
Habitat Enhancement
Project
Questions:
1. What is the effect of conifer removal and prescribed underburning treatment within a mixed conifer
black oak woodland habitat on forest structure.
2. How have ecological services and functions changed following the prescribed treatments.
Objectives:
♦
Monitor the response of California black oak recruitment and productivity to conifer removal
treatment and/or prescribed underburning.
♦
Evaluate the response of understory herbaceous and shrub communities to conifer removal and/
or prescribed underburning.
♦
Measure the change in forest structure and tree species composition to conifer removal
treatment and/or prescribed underburning.
Summary of Methods: We Established a total of 83 long-term monitoring plots throughout the project
area; 44 within mechanical treatments, 6 in hand thinned treatments, and 33 control plots.
Response Variables:
♦
Tree size class distribution, density, canopy cover, crown class, and species composition.
♦
Cover estimates for understory functional groups.
♦
Shrub cover estimates and species composition.
♦
Seedling species composition, density, and size class.
Summary of Pre Treatment Data: *Data is summarized from a subset of surveyed plots. The pre treatment plot data verifies the management concerns that White fir dominates the landscape
while shade intolerant species are becoming a minority. White fir is the dominant species, it dominates
all crown dominance classes except the Open Grown designation, and has the highest number of trees
within all of the dbh size class categories. This data illustrates a forest currently in a climax condition
where multiple generations of shade tolerant White fir exist throughout the landscape. (see Figures)
In contrast the CA Black oak community, having the second highest species composition, represents only
14% of the overall species within the project area (see Figure 1). In addition it represents the highest
percentage of trees within the Open Grown crown class. This suggests that oaks are competing better in
open growing conditions where more sunlight is available. Black oak is represented within the other
crown class categories but in low percentages in comparison to the percent White fir. An indication that
Black oak may not be successfully replacing themselves on the landscape is reflected in Figure 3, where
the majority of Black oak are within the 6-11 dbh size class category.
Species Abundance within 23 plots surveyed in 2004
6%
4%
11%
14%
65%
White Fir
CA Black Oak
Ponderosa/Jeffery Pine
Sugar Pine
Incense Cedar
Figure 1: Species Abundance illustrating the White fir dominated
project area.
Species Abundance by DBH Size Class
White Fir
350
CA Black Oak
Ponderosa/Jeffery Pine
300
Sugar Pine
Incense Cedar
Numbe
250
200
150
100
50
0
1-5.9
6-10.9
11-17.9
18-23.9
24-29.5
DBH Size Class
Figure 2: Species Abundance by dbh size class within 23 surveyed plots.
>30
Species Composition by Structure
(defined using FIA Crown Class for 23 plots)
90%
80%
70%
Percentag
60%
50%
40%
White Fir
30%
CA Black Oak
Ponderosa/Jeffery Pine
20%
Sugar Pine
10%
Incense Cedar
0%
Dominant
Codominant
Intermediate
Overtopped
OpenGrown
Dead
Remnant
Crown Class
Fure 3: Structure illustrated by Crown classification. Method uses amount of sunlight available to an individual tree.
Planned Monitoring Effort:
1. Underburning treatment; Investigate understory vegetation response.
2. Oak productivity through catkin or acorn response.
3. Collection and Analysis of post treatment plot data.
Additional District Wide Oak Monitoring:
1. Baseline Black oak distribution inventory through District wide assessments and aerial photography.