HFQLG Project Evaluation Form Project Name: 44 Hog 02 Defensible Fuel Profile Zone (DFPZ) Project Type: Fuel Reduction project implemented to create a Defensible Fuel Profile Zone and simultaneously incorporate forest health objectives by restoring mixed conifer and eastside pine communities. Forest: Lassen NF, Eagle Lake Ranger District Date: 10 August 2010 Attendance: 11 people Public - Frank Stewart, Counties Forester and Quincy Library Group (QLG); Mike Yost, QLG; Harmen Lyzeng, Milford Resident and member of Republican Central Committee. Agency – Tim Holabird, Congressman Tom McClintock’s office. USFS –Linda Wrenn-Johnson, Forest Service Representative; Dominic Cesmat, Linda Tiffin, Lassen NF Receptionist; Michael Green, Lassen NF Civil Rights Officer; David Wood, HFQLG Implementation Team Leader; Colin Dillingham, HFQLG Monitoring Team Leader; and Jeff Watson, HFQLG Management Analyst. Project Objectives Reduce ladder fuels by thinning from below with an emphasis of retaining the healthiest, largest conifers in the stand. Provide for firefighter safety and produce a healthier better functioning ecosystem. Connect with other existing DFPZ’s, 44 Long DFPZ, 44 Hog 03 DFPZ, Pegleg DFPZ and Bizz DFPZ to create a DFPZ network. DFPZ width is approximately ¼ to ½ mile. Project Status Project completed by Franklin Logging between January 2008 and February 2010. Photo point of 44 Hog 02 DFPZ illustrating the pre-treatment and post-treatment conditions of the stand. The forest thinning project improved forest health and created an effective location to fight wildfires. 44 Hog 02 DFPZ and the adjacent completed DFPZ network. Future planned projects, such as Minnow DFPZ, will help to fill in the incomplete portions of the DFPZ network. 44 Hog 02 Project monitoring review Resource Attribute Objective Area Silviculture mixed conifer forest Silviculture Eastside Pine forest Source of Objective Degree Met Stand Density Reduce Stand Density to improve Forest Health Silviculture Prescription Mostly Stand Density Reduce Stand Density to improve Forest Health Silviculture Prescription Yes Wildlife Snags Retain 3 snags to meet wildlife objectives where available HFQLG FEIS Yes Fuels Ladder Fuels Remove ladder fuels HFQLG FEIS, Appendix J Yes Fuels Surface Fuels Reduce ladder fuels HFQLG FEIS, Appendix J No, planned future treatment Soils Compaction Do not compact soil Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines Yes Site Protection Prevent potential impacts to historic Railroad Grade location EA Yes Archeology Comments 2001 Framework limited ability to prescribe thinning in all portions of stand to correct stand density In Unit 517, the 2001 Framework allowed thinning to fully achieve objectives. Where available, snags were protected through harvest. Whole tree yarding chipped and removed smaller diameter trees. Follow-up treatment necessary to complete DFPZ effectiveness All harvest operations occurred over 2-4 feet of snow which prevented any soil compaction. Control Area for railroad grade adequately protected, no equipment entered site. Discussion of 44 Hog 02 DFPZ (post-treatment): 44 Hog 02 DFPZ, Unit 70 – Linda Wrenn described the mixed conifer forest prescription that was implemented in this Defensible Fuel Profile Zone (DFPZ). The site was harvested during the winter over snow. This protected soils from mechanical equipment impacts and protected vegetation. The prescription was written under 2001 Framework objectives and the stand was not thinned as heavily as silviculturists would have otherwise prescribed for Forest Health. Firefighters feel the prescription here is sufficient to meet the 4 foot flame length objective of HFQLG Appendix J. Wildlife Habitat Retained – The prescription called for protecting up to 3 snags per acre where available. This snag, heavily used by woodpeckers for foraging, was protected in the harvest unit. 44 Hog 02 DFPZ, Unit 70 – Ladder fuel objectives were met because the majority of the small diameter trees with low limbs were removed through whole tree yarding as part of the biomass harvest project. Without biomass removal, the material would have been left on site and burning the material would have created much smoke. Follow-up surface fuel treatment will be necessary to complete this DFPZ. 44 Hog 02Unit 517 – The 2001 Framework does not require a dense canopy retention in eastside pine habitats. Because this stand was of composed on mostly smaller diameter trees, the silviculture prescription was not severely hampered by the 2001 Framework guidelines. Archeological Site Protection – This historic railroad grade ran through the DFPZ. The site was protected with a no-treatment buffer and sale administrators and contractors worked together to successfully prevent unwanted impacts to the site. Large Pines Retained – A few larger pine trees were present in the stand and were retained by prescription. Dominic Cesmat described potential problems of conducting future underburns in sites where deep duff has accumulated at the base of these pines after 100 or more years of fire suppression. Careful burning or avoidance of the deep duff will be necessary to prevent killing the pines during any future prescribed fires. Logging over Snow – Frank Stewart, Counties Forester & QLG member discusses with the group how deep the snow was during harvest activities. The deep snow allowed the operator to work through the winter and simultaneously protect the soils at this site. Follow up actions: Complete surface fuel treatments (pile burning and underburning) in 44 Hog 02 Defensible Fuel Profile Zone (DFPZ). Notes prepared by: HFQLG Monitoring Team Leader: /s/ Colin Dillingham Date: Aug 10, 2010 Appendix 1 – Field Trip Handout 44 HOG 02 DFPZ General overview of the Sale: Sale prepared: Total acres harvested: Sawtimber volume harvested: Biomass volume harvested: Harvested value: Harvesting dates: June 2005 500 10441 GT 8377 GT $48,927 January 15, 2008 - February 25, 2010 Objectives of the timber sale: Reduce ladder fuels by thinning from below with an emphasis of retaining the healthiest, largest conifers in the stand. In addition provide for firefighter safety and produce a healthier better functioning ecosystem. Connection of other DFPZ’s, 44 Long DFPZ, 44 Hog 03 DFPZ, Pegleg DFPZ and Bizz DFPZ. DFPZ width is approximately ¼ to ½ mile. Sale design: Leave tree mark in yellow paint. Leave islands marked in yellow paint. 25% of the stands were to be left untreated as directed by the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment 2001. 10% of the acres were delineated within the forested acres and 15% were delineated in rock outcroppings, meadows, or arch sites. Primary zone is from the road edge to 200 feet. Secondary zone is 200’ to 1320’. Removal consisted of trees 3 to 20” DBH. Desired BA in the mixed conifer is approximately 120-150 sq ft. and in the ponderosa pine is approximately 100-120 sq ft. Crown closure approximately 35% - 60% Designate 3 of the largest snags/acre, 15” and greater where available as wildlife trees within the secondary zone. Goshawk Protected Activity Center is located north side of Pegleg Mt. Mechanically harvested utilizing whole tree yarding. Post harvest treatment will be underburning. This sale was sold with a mix of 55% sawtimber and 45 % biomass. This Purchaser chose to make sawlogs out of the larger biomass trees and changed the mix to 60% sawtimber and 40% biomass. The sale was harvested using tracked feller bunchers and three wheelers and skidded with rubber tired skidders. Harvesting took place during the winter months with approximately 2-4 feet of snow. There was no harvesting within the ephemeral streams as they all had buffer zones of 100 feet.