Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program – Proposal for 2012 Project Extension
Missouri Pine-Oak Woodland
Restoration Project
Mark Twain National Forest
Eastern Region
May 28, 2021
Research Wildlife Biologist Frank Thompson releasing a brown-headed nuthatch on the Mark Twain National Forest. Photo by Noppadol
Paothong/Missouri Department of Conservation.
1 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
CFLRP Proposal Template for 2012 Project Extensions
Executive Summary
CFLRP Project Name: Missouri Pine-Oak Woodland Restoration Project (MoPWR)
National Forest(s): Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF)
Length of Requested Extension (in years): 5 years
Description of the project area:
The State of Missouri has identified the Ozark Highlands as a Forest Legeacy Area, Priroity
Forest Landscape and a highly ranked conservation opportunity area. Within this area lies the
Current River Hills which encompasses the MoPWR project area. This portion of the Ozarks
landscape contains Missouri’s largest contiguous forest and three nationally designated scenic
riverways. The area has important conservation implications for the longterm survival of forest
and woodland birds and endemic aquatic wildlife.
It harbors a portion of the globe’s largest restorable fire-mediated shortleaf pine-bluestem
ecosystem that covers Missouri and Arkansas. The area is a high priority for land bird species by
Partners in Flight and the Central Hardwoods Joint Venture. The Amerinca Bird Conservancy has
designated the Current River Hills one of many priority BirdScapes in the Western Hemisphere.
Description of the overarching goal for the CFLRP project at the end of the extension:
The collaboratative goal for the MoPWR project is to restore fire-adapted pine and pine-oak
woodlands that are more resilient to anticipated climate changes. A Central Hardwoods Joint
Venture habitat analysis suggested at least 137,000 acres of pine woodland are needed to
reach population and habitat goals for Partners in Flight priority woodland bird species as set
forth in their 2004 land bird conservation plan. Goal 1 of the MTNF Forest Plan is to promote
ecosystem health and sustainability by “Maintaining, enhancing, or restoring site-appropriate
natural communities, including the full range of vegetation composition and structural
conditions.” The Forest Plan specifies restoring six to seven percent of fire-adapted open pine
and pine-oak woodland on Forest lands in the Current River Hills. The objective is the
reestablishment of a mosaic of age and structural classes through mechanical thinning,
prescribed fire, which will work together to approximate the natural range of conditions for
shortleaf pine and pine-oak woodlands.
2 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
The table below shows the core treatment activities the proposed restoration strategy would
emphasize.
Core Treatment Activities
Acres
Emphasis
Restoration and maintenance of open to
Prescribed Fire
57,066 closed pine and pine-oak communities
Intermediate Harvest
4,557
Hardwood Restoration Thin
1,039
Open Woodland Restoration 30 – 90 BA
Open to Close Woodland Thinning. 50 to
Hardwood Thin
474
90 BA
Pine-oak Open Woodland Restoration 30 –
Hardwood-Pine Restoration Thin
1,962
90 BA
Pine Restoration Thin
1,081
Pine Woodland Restoration 30 – 80 BA
Non-Commercial Treatment
9,619
Control of Understory Vegetation
4,464
Open Woodland
Midstory Removal
3,344
Open Woodland
Plant Trees
1,206
Shortleaf Pine
Pre-Commercial Thin
606
Open Woodland
Regeneration Harvest (Even-Aged)
355
Pine Seedtree
175
Shortleaf Pine Recuirtment
Seedtree Removal
180
Salvage Harvest
686
Salvage Harvest
44
Red Oak Salvage
Sanitation Harvest
642
Red Oak Salvage
Protection of Terrestial Natural
Non-Native Invasive Plant Treatments
3,027
Communities
The table below shows the the overall acreage of the landscape, as well as total acres by
ownership.
Acres within
Acres to be
the total CFLRP treated during
Landowner (USFS, BLM, Tribal, Private, State, etc.)
landscape
extension
USFS
126,382
75,310
Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)
120,589
2,500
National Park Service (Ozark NSR)
22,350
6,000
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
6,282
2,500
L.A.D/Pioneer Forest
14,055
7,541
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
786
500
Private Land
154,435
TOTALS:
444,879
94,351
Total number of NEPA ready acres: 75,310; Total number of acres in NEPA process: 0
3 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
Description of the collaborative/partners who will engage in implementing the extension:
Our collaborative is composed of a set of partner agencies and organizations along with
individuals committeed to the conservation of this important landscape. Our collaborative for
this extension is similar to our collaborative for our initial project and consists of the Central
Hardwood Joint Ventures lead by Jane Fitzgerald; Missouri Department of Conservation;
Natural Resource Conservation Service; Northern Research Station; University of Missouri
School of Natural Resources; National Wild Turkey Federation; Oak Woodland and Forest Fire
Consortium and L-A-D Foundation. Other organizations the collaborative engages with include;
National Park Service, Missouri State University, The Nature Conservancey, Pheasant/Quail
Forever, NatureCite and the Scenic Rivers Invasive Species Partnership.
Jane Fritzgerld assists in organizing and facilitating meetings for the collaborative. MDC, and
NRS provide leadership in the BHNH reintroduction efforts and bird monitoring. The Mark
Twain NF, MDC and NatureCite lead vegetative monitoring efforts.
Total amount of CFLRP funding requested: $1,169,532
Acronym List
Please include a brief definition of acronyms used in your proposal.
BHNH
CCS
CHJV
COA
MDC
MoPWR
MTNF
NWTF
SLP
TNC
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Comprehensive Conservation Strategy
Central Hardwood Joint Ventures
Conservation Opportunity Area
Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Pine-Oak Woodland Project
Mark Twain National Forest
National Wild Turkey Federation
Shortleaf Pine
The Nature Conservancy
4 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
Proposal Overview
1. Please provide a map to orient reviewers to your CFLRP landscape. See Attachment A.
The 444,879-acre project boundary was defined based on past and future strategic
commitments by several agencies and conservation groups to restore pine woodlands,
reestablish beneficial natural fire regimes, sustain native biodiversity, and protect communities
from potential severe wildfires on lands within the Current River Hills. The boundary is derived
from a combination of ownership, COA’s, management areas and watershed boundaries.
There are no proposed changes to the CFLRP boundary for this extension. Some changes were
submitted in 2012 to align the boundary to COA, management areas and watershed boundaries
which reflect differences in total acres shown in the original boundary.
2. Briefly describe how the CFLRP project relates to a broader perspective on shared
restoration opportunities and stewardship and why this is a priority landscape for treatment
within that broader perspective? Address connections to tribal, state, and/or regional
strategies as appropriate and how this aligns with your project map.
This portion of the Ozarks landscape contains Missouri’s largest contiguous forest and three
nationally designated scenic riverways. The area has important conservation implications for
the longterm survival of forest interior birds and endemic aquatic wildlife. The Ozark Highlands
are often referred to as the “wood basket” of Missouri and contain over a third of the sawmills
in the State.
It also harbors a portion of the globe’s largest restorable fire-mediated shortleaf pine-bluestem
ecosystem that cover Arkansas and Missouri. The MTNF emphasizes restoration of natural
biological communities in this area. The TNC ranks it high in its Ozark Ecoregional Conservation
Assessment. The state of Missouri identifies the area as a highly ranked Conservation
Opportunity Areas (COA) and as a Priority Forest Landscape in its statewide Comprehensive
Conservation Strategy. The area is a high priority for conservation of national priority land birds
of conservation concern by the CHJV. In addition, a multi-agency group of conservation leaders
in Missouri delineated the Current River woodland landscape as one of the highest priority
conservation objectives in the state.
The MTNF has assisted MDC to facilitate the development of a Comprehensive Conservation
Strategy (CCS) for Missouri. The Strategy will be a combination of opportunities from the State
Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), the Forest Action Plan, Fisheries priorities, and Private Land
Division priorities. The Strategy is intended to help show opportunity areas for MDC, and to
create one document to meet federal reporting requirements for SWAP and the Forest Action
Plan. The Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Project contains the seven COAs identified in the CCS.
In addition, MDC has designated a State Priority Geography (PGs), Mahan’s Creek Watershed
(68 acres) that lies within the CFLRP boundary. Priority geographies are vital COAs with
significant habitat potential that still support a strong landscape enriched with fish and wildlife
resources. PGs are being emphasized for increased conservation effort, partnerships, and
investment to ensure long-term landscape health of their characteristic natural communities.
5 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
Missouri’s CCS focuses on key conservation challenges and opportunities. The framework
embraces landscape-scale conservation, working to enhance, restore, and maintain healthy
natural systems. This approach will increase the resiliency of these systems to potential threats,
increase connectivity among habitat systems, and provide benefits to a broad suite of species,
including, but not limited to those of greatest conservation need.
MDC received a Landscape Scale Retoration grant from the Forest Service State and Private
Foresty in 2020 for the Heart of the Ozarks Landscape Scale Restoration Project. The following
restoration work is being currently being implemented on State and Private lands within the
Current River COAs with this LSR grant; forest stand improvements on glades and woodlands on
1,000 acres; invasive species treatments on 160 miles of transportation corridors; and
numerous Forest Stewardship Plans developed on private lands and additional conservation
practices in the Current River Hills Priority Forest Landscape.
In 2020, the Forest in collaboration with MDC, University of Missouri, Ouachita NF and the NRS
released 45 BHNH into the portions of restored shortleaf pine woodlands within the CFLRP
project area. Restoring brown-headed nuthatches to pine woodlands in the CFLR project area
has national and regional significance. This project is establishing a population BHNH in
Missouri where it has been extirpated for approximately 100 years. This project will establish
the bird in the Missouri Ozark Highlands where it was last seen in the early 1900’s, but more
importantly it will represent the northernmost population in the western part of its range,
which may have important conservation benefits under climate change. The CFLR project area
represents the most suitable area in Missouri to focus restoration efforts because of the
concentration of pine woodlands and ongoing restoration activities. Ultimately, this population
and area may serve as a source for further expansion of BHNH across ownerships in response to
ongoing pine woodland restoration and climate change.
3. Why are you requesting an extension for this period of time?
There are outstanding mechanical vegetative treatments and prescribed fire activities that have
yet to be completed from a NEPA decision authorized in April 2015 for the Fremont-Pineknot
East project area and other NEPA project areas that have not fully been completed (see table in
#8. Readiness to Implement Extension). We are requesting funding primarily for timber marking
contracts, precommercial thinning contracts, tree planting contracts, prescribed fire and
invasive plant treatments. Funding for marking paint, gates for road closures, herbicides and
spraying equipment and miscellaneous supplies is also included.
There is also an important need to continue our BHNH monitoring and two more years of avian
point counts and vegetation monitoring.
If CFLRP extension funding is not received the pace at which restoration activities will be
implemented would drastically slow down, with some activities not be being accomplished. An
opportunity to connect restored open pine and pine-oak habitat from our 2020-2021 BHNH
release sites in the Pineknot area to pine habitat in the Fremont area would likely not happen in
the foreseeable future. The amount of connected suitable habitat would be limited restricting
the range in which BHNH can expand.
6 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
Prescribed fire treatment would be delayed, thus resulting in an undesirable understory of
dense oak and shrubs thus not maximizing herbaceous response.
Past Performance:
4. Did the CFLRP project meet the goals outlined in the original 2012 (or revised) proposal:
which stated goals were achieved and which were not?
Key CFLRP Lifetime Goal
Performance Measure
Terrestrial habitat
enhanced (acres)
Road decommissioning
(miles)*
Hazardous fuels
treatments in the
wildland-urban interface
(WUI) (acres)
Hazardous fuels
treatments outside the
WUI (acres)
Timber volume sold (ccf)
TMBR-VOL-HVST
Forest vegetation
established or improved
(acres)
Invasive plant species
treatments (acres)
Biomass (green tons –
“BIO-NRG” Agency
performance measure)
Roads improved or
maintained (miles)*
Soil and water resources
protected, maintained, or
improved (acres)
Acres of forestlands
treated using timber sales.
TMBR-SALES-TRT-AC**
Acres covered by
stewardship
contracts/agreements
(STWD-CNTRCT-AGR-AC)
Cumulative CFLRP Lifetime
Goal Accomplishment To Date
(2012-2020)
Percent of CFLRP Lifetime
Goal Accomplished To Date
(2012-2020)
114,169
139% (159,177)
174
11% (18.4)
26,788
278% (74,592)
69,004
109% (75,396)
200,000
111% (222,809)
88,400
36% (5,334 established
26,433 improved)
2,000
274% (5,489)
856,982
7% (57,902)
240
112% (269)
48,870
117% (57,163)
85,364
28% (23,571)
1,895
7 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
* No establishment of permanent roads, the strategy focused on several miles of decommissioned road that were
not reported in databases of record.
**This was incorrectly reported in the lifetime goals. Acres reported were based on NEPA project area instead of
sale area boundaries.
5. To provide context for the table above, briefly describe in what areas the project achieved
stated goals and in what areas work remains. Why?
The MoPWR project has accomplished a total of 23,571 acres of commercial timber harvest,
36,053 acres of silvicultural treatment, 153,850 acres of prescribed fire and has a cumulative
treatment footprint of 138,224 acres since 2012.
There are 59,624 acres that have recieved both mechanical overstory treatments and at least
two prescribed fire treatment that are considered structurally restored. There is also an
additional 7,568 acres that were thinned from the Pineknot, Cane Ridge and Northeast Corner
Project areas prior to the start of the CFLRP that were restored to open woodland conditions
and have since received multiple prescribed fire treatments.
The original MoPWR vision was to treat and essentially restore nearly 115,000 acres of SLP
habitat at a scale that would increase the resilience and diversity of woodland ecosystems and
their associated populations of native plants and animals. The Collaborative believes that the
vision has been accomplished. However, there remains large blocks of pine woodlands that
remain unrestored to open woodland conditions that was identified for treatment in the
original proposal. The reintroduction of BHNH has also presented an opportunity to create
more suitable and connected habitat near release sites.
Other mportant activities that would not be completed or significantly delayed identified in this
proposal include;
•
•
•
•
Treatment of red oak decline
Necessary and required silviculture work such as midstory reduction and tree planting
Treatment of priority invasive plant infestations
Reduction of the amount of prescribed fire treatments and loss of fire return intervals
needed during the restoration phase
The Forest chose to utilize gates to limit access in lieu of total decommissioning and the current
road system is well maintained. In recent years the Forest in partnership with MDC and USDA
APHIS has focused soil and water restoration efforts on feral hog elimination in Missouri. In the
first quarter of 2021 over 3700 hogs were eliminated by the partnership. This past year
scouting and elimination occurred in the Cane Ridge area and we anticipate more elimination
efforts in the MoPWR project area in future years.
At this point the biomass market has not developed in Missouri. In 2020, the Missouri
Department of Conservation was awarded a grant from the the USDA FS Wood Education and
Resource Center to explore utilization options for small-diameter shortleaf pine and to identify
potential markets for resource utilization. A silviculturist from the Forest is on the project team
for this grant.
8 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
As timber sales currently under contract continue to close the Forest anticpates the amount of
vegetation acres improved to increase.
6. Describe the main social, economic, and ecological outcomes of project implementation to
date on the landscape and in the community.
In 2015, to respond to stakeholders’ concerns, the Mark Twain National Forest commissioned
an economic analysis of the project. The Forest collaborated with the University of Missouri,
School of Natural Resources to conduct an study into the “Economic Impacts of the
Implementation of the MoPWR project at the Mark Twain National Forest, 2012-2019.” This
study was a regional economic impact assessment using the model IMPLAN (Impact Analysis for
Planning), based on past and future project implementation activities and projected forest
conditions.
Lands managed under the MoPWR represent about 0.8% of forest land in Missouri, 4% of the
regional nine-county area, and 8% of MTNF land.
About half of the scheduled $20 million allocated for MoPWR activities was conditional based
on funding for the implementation of the Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration project.
The other half includes USDA Forest Service matching funding (such as Knutson-Vandenberg
funding) and non-governmental sources.
Economic and vegetation models suggest that total MoPWR investment and subsequent
implementation activities from 2012 to 2019 are likely to result in impacts to the local economy
(a nine-county region where the project is expected to have its largest impact) as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
Over $44 million in value added
Average of 138 local jobs supported
$34 million in labor income
$9 million in federal and state tax revenues
$2.22 of value added to the nine-county economy for every $1.00 invested.
Applying Learning to the Future:
7. Moving forward, what about your approach will be the same under an extension? What, if
anything, will you change based on lessons learned and/or changed conditions
The Forest will continue to utilize a combination of traditional timber sales contracts,
stewardship contracts and agreements, IDIQ contracts and force account work to implement
restoration activities. Prescribed fire management will continue by adapting to where timber
and silvicultural practices have been completed.
The Forest recognized early that coordination with regards to the timing and sequence of
restoration management activities was critical. We’ve learned that the pace at which we can
progress is limited by completion of elements of restoration work. For example, commercial
harvest units, non-commercial treatment and tree planting impact the timing and sequence of
our prescribed fire treatments. We have developed a sequence of pre-implementation burns,
harvest, burn, silviculture treatments and tree planting followed by a rest period. This has lead
9 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
slower pace at which some elements of our original proposal have been accomplished but is
necessary for proper implementation. We now have areas that are capable of receiving slightly
higher intensity burns and accelerated burn intervals once mechanical restoration work has
been completed.
Readiness to Implement Extension:
8. Describe your readiness to implement the extension.
All the planned activities in this extension request is authorized under the following NEPA
decisions listed in the table below. We plan on approximately four timber sales a year for the
next five years. Midstory and precommercial thinning will occur under an IDIQ or stand alone
contracts. Invasive species treatments will primarily be completed under the Forestwide
Invasive Plant Treatment IDIQ Contract with some treatment completed by Forest Service
employees. All prescribed fire treatments will be completed by the Forest Service.
NEPA
Cane Ridge East Project
Cane Ridge West Project
Cane Ridge Small Tree
Project
Handy Natural
Community Restoration
Project
Van Buren Project
Possum Trot Vegetation
Management Project
Fremont-Pineknot East
Restoration Project
Pineknot
Date of Acres of Treatments
Decision Completed (2012 – 2020)
Prescribed Fire 17,998
Commercial Harvest 2,931
Silv. Treatments 6,011
2008
Invasives Treated 691
Prescribed Fire 12,508
Commercial Harvest 2,718
Silv. Treatments 2,802
2009
Invasives treated 434
Commercial Harvest 182
2017
Silv. Treatments 2,963
Prescribed Fire 40,413
Commercial Harvest 8,894
Silv Treatments 12,269
2009
Invasives treated 564
Commercial Harvest 2,389
Silv. Treatments 2,367
2011
Invasives treated 529
Commercial Harvest 95
Silv. Treatments 279
2011
Invasives treated 224
Prescribed Fire 19,664
Commercial Harvest 5,445
2015
Silviculture Treatments 703
Prescribed Fire 47,132
Commercial Harvest 10
Silv. Treatments 6,773
2003
Invasives treated 293
10 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
Extension Acres Planned
Prescribed Fire 9,041
Prescribed Fire 7,439
Silv. Treatments 568
Prescribed Fire 19,614
Silv. Treatments 617
Silv Treatments 730
Commercial Harvest 370
Silv Treatments 552
Prescribed Fire 20,314
Commercial Harvest 2,918
Silv Treatments 6,374
Prescribed Fire 4,352
Commercial Harvest 999
Silv Treatments 1,535
NEPA
Integrated Non-Native
Invasive Plant Control
Project
Northeast Corner
Forest Health Initative
Date of Acres of Treatments
Decision Completed (2012 – 2020)
2012
Invasive treated 4,429
2004
2018
Extension Acres Planned
3,027 (includes follow up
treatments of previously
treated areas)
Prescribed Fire 659;
Commercial Harvest 1,188
Silv Treatments 1,237
Commercial Harvest 243
Goal 1 of the MTNF 2005 Land and Resource Management Plan is to promote ecosystem health
and sustainability by “Maintaining, enhancing, or restoring site-appropriate natural
communities, including the full range of vegetation composition and structural conditions.” The
Forest Plan specifies restoring six to seven percent of fire-adapted open pine and pine-oak
woodland on Forest lands in the Current River Hills. The majority of the acres of Forest lands
within the MoPWR project area consists of shortleaf pine woodlands. The objective is to
facilitate the reestablishment of a multi-scale mosaic of age and structural classes through
mechanical thinning, prescribed fire, and reintroduction of natural fire and other processes,
which will work together to approximate the natural range of conditions for shortleaf pine and
pine-oak woodlands.
The Forest Plan (Appendix A) identifies the desired characteristics for restoration of shortleaf
pine woodlands consistent with meeting structural character. Nearly all of the MoPWR project
area is in Management Prescription 1.1, which emphasizes restoration of the full range of age
class conditions representative of shortleaf pine-oak woodlands, including old growth. Activities
are to be distributed across the landscape to emulate historical vegetation patterns and
quantities of natural communities, as well as the full range of age classes within those natural
communities.
The opportunity to secure significant levels of funding for accelerating shortleaf pine and pineoak restoration through the CFLRP Program, with its emphasis on partnerships and
collaboration, provided a renewed incentive for land-managing agencies and organizations with
a focus on natural community restoration of shortleaf systems in the Interior Highlands to come
together. A subcommittee consisting of community ecologists from multiple agencies in both
states was tasked with developing a set of desired future conditions for pine-bluestem and
pine-oak communities. In more recent years, the partnership has continued to meet
periodically to communicate successes and challenges and consider new needs and
opportunities to keep pine restoration moving forward. This effort was also further supported
by the Region-wide Shortleaf Pine Initiative.
Economic, Social, and Ecological Context:
9. Briefly describe the ecological, social and economic conditions in and around this landscape
and highlight any important changes since the 2012 proposal.
To respond to stakeholders’ concerns, the Mark Twain National Forest commissioned an
economic analysis of the project. The results showed that the $20 million investment spanning
11 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
2012 to 2019 is expected to support 138 jobs annually and generate an eight-year total of $34
million in labor income. Moreover, there would be an additional $10 million in value added as
workers spent wages on food, entertainment, fuel, housing and other items that would help the
expenditures on forest management to ripple through the local economy (Song and Aguilar
2015). The net result was approximately $2.20 of local economic activity for every dollar
invested in the project.
The following table are some key economic indicators for the nine county area that is
influenced by the CFLRP project (National Forest Socioeconomic Indicators, Populations at Risk
and National Forest Socioeconomic Indicators, as reported in Headwaters Economics’ Economic
Profile System (headwaterseconomics.org/eps)
Counties included are; Shannon, Oregon, Ripley, Carter, Reynolds,
Wayne, Butler, Texas, Wright
Population, 2019
Percent of Population Non-White (all other races)
Unemployment rate, 2019
Percent of Families Below Poverty
Per capita income, 2019
Government % of employment, 2019
Total Private Timber Sector Employment, 2018
Timber % of private employment, 2018
Federal Land % total land ownership
Forest Service % Land
PILT
Forest Service Payments
Combined
Area
143,273
17.6%
5%
9.6%
33,034
15%
32,992
4%
16%
15%
1,286,641
1,463,781
There are two fire sheds identified in the project area that are ranked in the top 10 for Region
9. The fire sheds are ranked on wildfire transmission and the potential to mitigate exposure and
risk to the community. There are also other lower ranked fire sheds in the project area as well.
A climate change vulnerability assessment for the Central Hardwoods Region, including a entire
portion the CFLRP poject, was published (Brandt et al. 2014). Climate models project that
temperatures will increase in the Central Hardwoods Region over the next century. More
winter precipitation and more intense rain events are projected to lead to increased
streamflow and increased risk for severe flooding in Missouri by mid-century.
The vulnerability assessment summarized projected climate-induced impacts over the next
century on selected tree species or species groups based on three forest impact models. In
summary, the models show increase habitat suitability for shortleaf pine and a decrease in
habitation suitability of scarlet and black oak for the Missouri Ozarks.
Of the nine community types assessed, mesic upland forests were considered to be the most
vulnerable and dry-mesic forests were considered moderately vulnerable. Fire-adapted
communities such as woodlands, savannas, and glades were considered less vulnerable because
they have more drought and heat-adapted species and are better able to withstand large-scale
disturbances.
12 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
Changes in habitat suitability for many bird species of interest in the project area have also
been modeled under a range of climate change scenarios. A few species, Bachman’s sparrow
and brown-headed nuthatch, are projected to benefit from projected changes in climate in the
area. Bird species that are projected to be negetatively impacted by climate change include:
red-headed woodpecker, blue-winged warbler, summer tanager, eastern wood-pewee, orchard
oriole and eastern towhee.
The complete Central Hardwoods ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report
from the Central Hardwoods Climate Change Response Framework project assessment can be
found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/45430
Mark Twain staff considered a peer-reviewed menu of climate change adaptation strategies
and approaches in the Forest Adaptation Resources document to help overcome climate
change-related challenges and capitalize on opportunities. A number of adaptation strategies
were selected from the menu that would help reduce vulnerability to climate change in the
area while capitalizing on opportunities:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Restore fire to fire-adapted systems
Alter forest structure or composition to reduce risk or severity of wildfire
Maintain or improve ability of forests to resist pests and pathogens
Favor or restore native species that are expected to be better adapted to future
conditions
Prevent the introduction and establishment of invasive plant species
Emphasize drought and heat tolerant species and populations
This adaptive strategies to climate change is highlighted as a demonstration site on the
Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, Climate Change Response Framework website
and can be found at: https://climateframework.org/adapt/demonstration-projects/mark-twainnational-forest-fremont-pineknot-east-restoration-project
Modeling of managed and unmanaged habitat demonstrated that effects of restoration on
focal species were positive and presented evidence to support landscape conservation design.
Restoration scenarios increased habitat for most species relative to the baseline scenario. Focal
species of birds responded favorably to restoration scenarios or were unaffected. As a result,
restoration scenarios generally reduced risk of declines for focal wildlife under climate change
and urbanization, compared to baseline projections. (Bonnot, Thomas W,. et al. 2019)
The MoPWR contains the following vegetation types from the U.S. National Vegetation
Classification Hierarchy Explorer that are of primary emphasis for restoration.
The project area is comprised mainly of the Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest & Woodland Group with
the Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine - Oak Woodland Alliance with the following associations:
•
•
•
•
•
CEGL002393 Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine - Oak Dry Woodland Association
CEGL002394 Shortleaf Pine - Oak Dry-Mesic Woodland Association
CEGL002400 Interior Highlands Shortleaf Pine / Blueberry Forest Association
CEGL002401 Interior Highlands Shortleaf Pine - Black Oak Forest Association
CEGL002402 Interior Highland Shortleaf Pine Woodland Association
13 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
•
•
•
CEGL004444 Ouachita Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest Association
CEGL007489 Interior Highlands Dry-Mesic Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest Association
CEGL007815 Ouachita Shortleaf Pine Savanna Association
The most serious invasive species locally are sericea lespedeza, beefstake, callery pear, spotted
knapweed and Japanese stiltgrass. These are pervasive along roadsides throughout the project
area and are poised to spread throughout Ozark woodlands in the absence of the highly
competitive and resilient grass-forb groundcover associated with higher-quality restored pine
and oak woodlands. Since 2012, CFLRP funding has allowed the Forest to completed 3,146 acres
of invasive plant inventory and treated 5,489 acres. Extension funding will be used to treat
3,027 acres. As mentioned above feral hogs are also a concern and the Forest in partnership
with MDC and USDA APHIS is trying to elinminate them from the Landscape.
There three federally listed species withing the project area and include Indiana Bats, Gray Bat
and Ozark Hellbender. In general the woodland restoration work benefits foraging habitat for
bats and improves watershed conditions for Ozark Hellbenders.
There are two priority watersheds within the CFLRP project area; Big Barren Creek (26,321
acres) and Headwaters of Big Barren Creek (26,321 acres). Both have a watershed condition
rating of 1 – Functioning. Water Quality is Functioning at Risk due to past land management
practices and current agricultural practices.
Forest Service system roads are well maintained and in good condition in large part to CFLRP
funding. No new roads have been been built or are planned to be built under this extension.
The Forest has utilized gates to limit access in lieu of total decommissioning. Many of the roads
are maintained by County governments.
Fire Regime Condition Class consists of Fire Regime 1 Condition Classes 2 and 3. As of 2008,
approximately 74,647 acres were in Condition Class 2 and 167,316 acres were in Class 3. The
Forest is waiting for the new LANDFIRE data to become available. Surface fuels (Timber litter 6
and 8) consist of broadleaf and pine litter with a 0 -35 year fire return interval. Fire Severity is
generally low-severity fires replacing less than 25% of the dominant overstory vegetation, but
can include mixed-severity fires that replace up to 75% of the overstory.
Proposed Extension and Treatments:
10. Briefly describe the desired ecological conditions for the landscape, and the rationale for
these conditions.
Prior to European settlement, the Current River and Cane Ridge Pineries consisted of mosaic
open to closed pine or pine-oak dominated canopies over large expanses of well-drained rolling
to dissected uplands, with minimal subcanopy and shrub development. ground layer consisted
of a diverse perennial herbaceous forbs and graminoid species. These pineries require frequent,
low-intensity, primarily dormant-season fire events to maintain the open structure and
facilitate pine regeneration.
The desired condition at the end of the extension is restoration of an additional 15,217 acres of
pine and pine-oak woodlands. Restoration would be accomplished by timber harvest and non-
14 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
commercial thinning activities to create open and closed woodland habitat. The desired
condition will follow the guidelines identified in the 2005 Mark Twain National Forest Forest
Plan as outlined in Table A.1 for Management Areas 1.1 and 1.2 (see table below). An
additional, 57,066 acres would be restored and maintained through the use of prescribed fire.
This will meet the Forest Plan goal of re-establishing the role of fire in the natural communities
of the Ozarks by emulating the historic fire regime while reducing hazardous fuels.
Natural
Community
%
Type
canopy
Open
Woodland
Closed
woodland
Aspect, slope,
BA
roughness
Southwest facing to
upper ridges;
gentle to steep;
gentle plains and
30 - 50 30 - 50
hills
Some upper ridges
to base of northfacing slopes;
gentle to steep;
50 – 80 50 - 90 hills and breaks
Ground organic % ground
Shrub layer
layer
cover
Grass, sedge
Dense; mostly and forb cover;
scattered oaks
little
60 – 80%
and various
accumulated
Grasses
shrubs
leaf litter
dominant
sparse; mostly
Shallow leaf
scattered oak
litter; mixed
and various grasses, sedges
shrubs
and herbs
80 – 100%
Hazardous fuel treatments (prescribed fire or mechanical treatments) will occur on 72,283
acres through prescribed fire and mechanical treatments thus creating and maintaining open
and closed woodland conditions
Prescribed fire will be conducted on 57,066 acres. All prescribed fire units in MoPWR have a 3
to 5 year fire return interval emulating the historical fire regime of the Ozarks.
The range of ecological parameters desired for respective natural communities may take 15 to
25 years for ground cover and more than 100 years for the composition and structure of
respective canopy characteristics. However, immediate response from reduced canopy cover
and the application of prescribed fire are observed within a few years including an increase in
herbaceous understory resulting in increased species richness and native cover. Therefore
ecosystem function and integrity will improve within 10 years of treatment.
The response to restoration treatments is dependent on several factors including: 1) Past land
use history; 2) duration of high stocking rates and canopy cover density and 3) fire history and
climate.
Ecological Restoration Strategy
11. Focusing on the key issues you described in the Ecological Context section above, what is
your strategy for moving towards desired conditions to address these issues.
Please refer to Attachment B for a planned table of treatments. Our strategy is to complete four
timber sale a year for the next five years and accomplish approximately 20,000 acres of
15 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
prescribed fire a year. The majority of these two activities are designed to restore pine and
pine-oak communities to a mosaic of open to closed woodlands of 30 to 90 basal area which
contribute toward restoring structure and composition of older woodland stands. We will
continue to protect these restored communities from invasive species by treating 3,027 acres
of inventoried non-native invasive plant species. An estimated 14 task orders under the Forestwide IDIQ are planned to accomplish these treatments in the next five years.
As demonstrated at numerous restoration sites across the Ozarks the result of opening up
overstory canopy and the application of prescribed fire results in a diverse understory of forbs
and gaminods.
As described previously this strategy fits within the State’s Comprehensive Conservation
Strategy along with various partners goals such as the CHJV and NWTF along with National
Forests in Arkansas.
Wildfire Risk Reduction
12. Describe your strategy for reducing long-term uncharacteristic wildfire risk.
This area historically evolved under the influence of natural and human caused fires. Under
such conditions fire resistant species such as native warm season grasses and forbs occurred in
greater abundance. Stocking rates were much lower with far greater spacing between
dominant trees. Our overall approach is to change condition class by reducing fuel loading
through several burn entries while extended the boundaries where it seems feasible. We will
increase our efforts to collaboratively treat across boundaries and aid adjacent landowners
with fuel reduction and ecosystem restoration. Changing the fuel bed to more of a fine fuel will
lower the potential for high severity wildfires.
Future climate model suggest that fire season will be longer, hotter, and drier. As we continue a
shift to a more fire dependent landscape it will result in a landscape that is more sustainable
and wildfire tolerant. Increasing adaptation and resiliency of natural systems and human
communities to unplanned wildfire by reducing heavy fuel levels across the landscape to a
lower level will reduce the severity unplanned ignitions.
As identified in Attachment B, the majority of hazardous fuel treatments come from prescribed
fire. All mechanical overstory and midstory treatment are considered a secondary fuel
treatment. Forest Plan Management areas 1.1 and 1.2 have a primary goal of restoring the
ecological role of fire in natural communities with the desired condition of prescribed fire
emulating historical fire regimes, creating variable patterns of vegetation structure and
abundance that meet habitat needs for associated wildlife.
Currently natural unplanned ignitions can be used on this landscape for resource benefit.
Suppression actions will be determined by the overall management prescriptions of each
treatment unit in the project area.
There are two fire sheds identified in the project area that rank in the Top 10 in Region 9. The
fire sheds are ranked on wildfire transmission and the potential to mitigate exposure and risk to
the community. There are also other lower ranked fire sheds in the project area as well.
16 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
Treating stands that have higher level downed dead fuels will cause a reduction in containment
issues, snags (safety) and higher fireline intensity. Converting the fuel bed to a grass/forb
component will ease control and timing of containment. Prescribed fire units will help with the
access (preexisting lines and burn boundaries) when wildfires occur, and create fuel breaks.
Fires that occur on this landscape rarely go into a weeklong operational periods, so the majority
of the cost would occur on the initial start day.
Within the MoPWR project area, there are Wyden agreements with 29 private landowners and
additional collaborative partners to treat adjacent lands for the mitigation of unwanted wildfire
conditions and restore a contiguous landscape. Thereby, creating a more manageable
landscape when it comes to burning, ecosystem restoration and wildfire suppression across
boundaries. This also helps protect private landowner’s property and their natural resources.
The Forest has been more aggressive with outreach efforts to local communities, schools, and
agencies with the emphasis on prescribe fire, ecosystem restoration, and wildfire prevention.
The Forest uses Wyden agreements to engage partners and private landowners and work
across boundaries. This allows us to help treat unwanted fuel conditions on adjacent lands in
conjunction with our efforts on federal lands. There is one signed CWPP for Shannon County
and the Forest is working on developing additional CWPP with other counties.
Benefits to Local Communities:
13. Given the economic and social conditions described above, what are the economic and
social goals and desired outcomes of your extension?
Since 2013 – 2020, there has been 134 contracts totaling over $8 million dollars for invasive
species treatments, timber making, tree planting, timber stand improvement and road
maintenance and improvement work associated with restoration and management activities in
the MoPWR project area. The vast majority of this contract work went to local contractors
either in the eight county area or to contracting firms within the state. The economic and social
goal is to continue to maximize the amount of contracts available to local timber, wood product
and natural resource management companies.
14. What is your strategy to move towards desired social and economic conditions under this
extension?
Timber harvest on 5,597 acres and estimated volume of 51,111 ccf will provide jobs and wood
products to local saw mills. Approximately four timber sale contracts will be awarded each year.
Approximately 12,646 acres of silviculture and invasive plant treatments will go into a variety of
different contracts that will generate jobs and income for local communities.
In addition, this restored landscape provides numerous ecosystem services to the local
communities such as: enhanced hunting opportunities, improved recreational pursuits such as
bird watching and dispersed camping, improved watershed conditions and biodiversity.
Utilization of Forest Restoration Byproducts:
15. Briefly describe your strategy to-date for utilization of forest restoration byproducts,
The first decade of the project allowed the MTNF to accelerate restoration treatments
throughout the approximately 126,000 acres of National Forest System lands within the CLFR
17 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
area. The CFLR project has increased the timber volume sold in this area by approximately 11
million board feet (MMBF) per year. The existing market for sawtimber (trees 11 inches DBH or
greater) was the primary driver in allowing this expansion of harvest through commercial
timber sales. The strategy has been to use hardwood sawtimber to help attract purchasers
while also including some less desirable softwood and smaller diameter products. Including
mixed products and species within commercial sales has allowed the removal of a portion of
undesirable products, but in more limited quantities than available.
The largest challenge continues to be a poor market for topwood, roundwood (trees 5 to 9
inches DBH), and trees too small to be considered roundwood (trees 2 to 5 inches DBH). Limited
markets existed at the beginning of the project and no new markets have emerged over the last
decade. The paper mill in Wickliffe, Kentucky which is approximately 110 miles from the project
area closed for a five year period and recently reopened at the end of 2019. There is optimism
that this may increase the market demand for clean chip material. Pellet mills and charcoal
plants in the area have remained active and continue to use sawdust and mill waste for their
raw material.
Product value received from commercial harvest has increased as the amount of volume
harvested increased. Markets conditions were favorable over the most of the project period
and the product value harvested to date has totaled over $15.8 million. The majority of those
funds have been retained and used to complete restoration projects within the CFLR area. A
portion of the product value has been used to treat areas with unmarketable small diameter
products from 2 to 9 inches DBH.
16. Briefly highlight your approach moving forward, including any changes to your strategy
for utilization of forest restoration byproducts under the extension.
Please refer to Attachment C. Moving forward hardwood sawtimber will likely remain the
primary marketable product. The strategy will continue to focus on utilizing existing markets
while increasing the use of expanded authorities and partnerships. Increasing stewardship
contracting and agreements with partners will allow for creative solutions to accomplish
additional restoration work while leveraging funds. Stewardship contracting tools allow for the
tradeoff of product value and can be used in the treatment of small diameter material (trees 2
to 9 inches DBH) directly.
Another approach currently underway is exploring opportunities to increase utilization of
softwood products. In 2020, State and Private Forestry initiated an agreement with the MDC to
study the utilization for Short Leaf Pine in the state. The MTNF is partnering in that study.
Outcomes from the study will help determine if there are opportunities where additional
markets could develop and what investments may be needed to grow this potential market.
This extension will maintain the delivery of raw materials to an existing forest products market
and maintain the economic benefit to local communities. Song and Aguilar (2014) stated that,
“Net impacts of the MTNF-CFLRP, after taking into consideration activities likely to take place
even if the project were not executed, were estimated at 84 jobs, with a total of $21 million of
labor income. The labor income is part of the $28 million of value added from a total of $101
million output value.” It is expected that this level of economic benefit will continue or increase
18 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
under an extension because as more harvest is completed and more receipts are generated the
additional follow up restoration treatments will accelerate.
The MTNF has multiple bidders on most sales and often receives significant bid premiums.
Since the CFLR project began the Forest has noticed an increase in the number of bidders on
commercial sales. A ‘no-bid’ sale occurs infrequently and when this occurs the sales are
repackaged and resold in the same year.
Collaboration:
17. Describe how the CFLRP project meaningfully collaborated with multiple diverse interests
in a transparent and nonexclusive way to date.
In August of 2009, conservation leaders representing Central Hardwoods Joint Venture, Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service,
Missouri Department of Conservation, and Missouri Department of Natural Resources
convened to prioritize the restoration of woodland landscape ecosystems in Missouri. This
influential collaborative group determined by consensus that the core area of the pine-oak
woodland ecosystem targeted in this proposal was the group’s top priority. This was also driven
by the 2005 Forest Plan which emphasized pine-oak woodland restoration efforts in the Current
River Pinery portion of the Forest. In 2012 the Missouri Pine-Oak Woodland Restoration efforts
began with robust effort in monitoring the effects of restoration efforts to focal bird species.
Some Congressional Representatives had concerned that prescribed fire was causing damage to
the forest and its wildlife. Members of Missouri’s congressional delegation subsequently
requested a hold on utilizing CFLRP funding for prescribed fire activities until such time an
economic, watershed study was completed. The studies were completed by the collaborative
and shared with congressional staff. No concerns have been raised since. Here is an link to how
our collaborative used science to inform land management decisions and debate
https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/56471.
The collaborative reflects diverse interests and perspectives from bird conservation, shortleaf
pine restoration, habitat for wildlife game species to forest products. The common interest is
centered around the restoration of Missouri largest continuous block of shortleaf pine and pine
oak communities. The CHJV Coordinator led the development of the original MoPWR
collaborative, as well as an ongoing regional partnership, the Interior Highlands Shortleaf Pine
Restoration Initiative (IHSPRI), to foster communication among three Collaborative Forest
Landscape Restoration Partnerships in the Interior Highlands region. The collaborative has had
several meetings to share monitoring and studies that have been completed with its members.
In early 2016 federally recognized Tribes were contacted to determine interest in partnering to
achieve broader restoration efforts. While maintaining a strong interest in restoration efforts
on the Forests, they stated that they had no interest in collaborative efforts until improvements
were made to the Mark Twain heritage program and consultation processes.
Since then, the Forest has worked directly with the Tribes to resolve those issues, culminating
in a Section 106 Programmatic Agreement signed by the Forest, State, and Tribes in 2019. This
has removed barriers to collaboration on the CLFRP project. In 2020, a Participating Agreement
19 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
was signed with the Shawnee Tribe, creating a framework for collaboration whereby Tribal
Resource Crews can assist with surveys and on the ground activities. In 2021, an agreement
was signed with the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee, creating a similar collaborative
framework. The Forest is currently working with that Tribe to develop a Tribal Chainsaw crew,
to assist with vegetation management projects within the CFLRP project area. The Forest is
supported by the Eastern Region in this effort, and Regional funds have been identified to
support development of a pilot-program that will support completion of the CFLRP, as well as
benefit Tribal interests. The pilot program consists of peer-to-peer training and other
knowledge transfer efforts. The program aims to enroll and empower additional Tribes and NFS
units and will be based on the Tribal Resource Crew initiative developed in partnership with the
Mark Twain National Forest.
18. Describe how lessons learned will inform collaboration under an extension.
See Attachments D and E and response to question seven. The CHJV, MDC and NRS were
involved with development of the BHNH and bird monitoring strategies for the 5 year
extension.
Multi‐party Monitoring:
19. Describe the multiparty monitoring process in place to track progress towards stated
goals and promote adaptive management.
In collaboration with the NRS, MDC, University of Missouri, School of Natural Resources and
CHJV, we surveyed abundances of breeding birds by conducting diurnal point counts at 250
points in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2020. We surveyed abundances of Chuck-will’s-widow and
Eastern Whip-poor-will by nocturnal point counts at 385 points in 2014 and 2015. We
monitored nest success of six focal species at 462 nests in 2014 and 2015. We related
abundance and nest success to management (thinning and burning) and woodland composition
and structure.
In 2020, 46 brown-headed nuthatches were releases in the CFLRP area in an effort to restore a
population there. For the first 30 days following the release 25 of the birds were monitored by
radio-tracking to monitor survival and movements post-release. Longer term monitoring was
implemented that consists of monthly resighting surveys at 65 points in the area to monitor
longer term survival and habitat occupancy. From April through June nesting effort and success
will be monitored. Monitoring efforts during April documented a successfully nesting pair. Here
is link published in the Missouri Conservationist on the success of this effort:
https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-partners-bring-squeak-back-missouri-through-brownheaded-nuthatch-reintroduction
The bird monitoring directly relates abundances to management activities and resulting
woodland composition and structure and can be used to inform management decisions. Results
to date have demonstrated positive benefits of woodland restoration to these species.
Bird monitoring results have been published in two peer-reviewed journal articles and can be
found at the following links; Roach, Melissa C. et al 2019 and Roach, Melissa C. et al. 2018.
20 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
All bird monitoring will address the Core CFLRP Monitoring Questions and Indicators of “What
are the specific effects of restoration treatments on focal species and species at risk habitat
across the CFLR Project Area?”
Due to public concerns that prescribed burning was negatively impacting water quality through
increased soil erosion while increasing flood frequency due to the removal of leaf litter and
ground vegetation cover, the MTNF partnered with Missouri State University’s Ozark
Environmental and Water Resources Institute (OEWRI) to conduct monitoring studies which
assessed soil, sediment, channel, and flooding conditions to better understand the effects of
forest management on water quality and flooding. The 2015, 2016 and 2018 monitoring
showed no clear negative effects of prescribed burning. Overall, results of the monitoring
studies support the conclusion that prescribed fire does not negatively affect soil and
vegetation characteristics that effect runoff rates. In some cases, burned areas had soil organic
matter and bulk density values that should result in higher rates of infiltration than unburned
forest soils. Results of this monitoring study can be found at:
https://oewri.missouristate.edu/big-barren-creek-watershed-monitoring.htm
In regards to local residents concerns regarding flooding in the Big Barren watershed as a result
of MTNF management activities. OEWRI completed a study that analyzed the historical rainfall
in the Big Barren Creek Watershed from 1955-2015. From 2005-2014, total annual rainfall
increased about 7% over the previous 20 years (1985-2004). These data suggest over the last 10
years the Big Barren Creek watershed has experienced a relatively wet period compared to the
previous 50 years. Analysis of the 60 year rainfall record in 5-year intervals shows that high
magnitude rainfall events appear to be occurring more frequently over the last decade. Intense
rainfall events have increased in frequency over the past decade as shown in other studies in
the Midwest. It is highly probable that more intense storms and climate change in general is
contributing to the hydrologic problems observed in the Big Barren Creek watershed including
the increased frequency of flooding. Results of this study can be found at
https://oewri.missouristate.edu/Assets/OEWRI/Final_Report_2016_BigBarrenCreek_Rainfall.pd
f.
As a result of public concerns over prescribed fire activities and the effects this may have on air
quality, the Forest has initiated additional smoke monitoring efforts that started in the spring of
2016. The Region purchased two E-Samplers for the Forest to be utilized at sensitive receptor
sites of selected prescribed burns based on smoke modeling by the Regional Air Quality
Specialist. In addition, fixed visual smoke monitoring cameras will be placed in the key location
(e.g. tower sites) within the project area. There have been no significant impacts to sensitive
receptor sites as a result of prescribed fire activities within the CFLRP project area. The
completed smoke monitoring assessments are available to the public.
Vegetation monitoring, under an agreement with NatureCite, was completed for the Pineknot
and Cane Ridge sites. This included data analyses and interpretations of Floristic Quality
Assessment (FQA) metrics at the site-level and for each treatment regime (No Treatment, Burn
Only, Thin Only, Thin and Burn). All treatment plots showed an increase in native cover since
thinning and prescribed fire activities began. Burn Only and Thin and Burn treatments had an
increase in richness from 2000 to 2014 for the Pineknot site with slight increases in Mean C
21 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
(mean average of conservative species present) and a decline in 2005 and then an increase in
2015 for thin and burn sites. The Cane Ridge site showed an increase in native cover across all
treatment sites and a decrease in species richness. None of these changes were statistically
significant. Plot-by-plot comparisons will be needed to better understand the behavior of
floristic quality across these sites. Evaluation of this monitoring effort has identified shortcomings in our monitoring efforts at the landscape level and has resulted in the development of
the Community Health Index as described in the following section.
20. If, and how, will the multi-party monitoring strategy be adapted for the extension?
The NRS, MDC, University of Missouri School of Natural Resources, and CHJV propose to work
with the MTNF to extend the songbird, nightjar, and brown-headed nuthatch monitoring to
understand the longer-term effects of restoration efforts.
Brown-headed nuthatch monitoring will occur annually in years 1-5. We will conduct occupancy
surveys at the 65 previously monitored grid points and consider extending the spatial extent of
the survey if there is evidence the birds have spread over a broader area. Surveys will be
conducted in February, March, and April in years 1-5 to monitor the status of the reintroduced
population and refine habitat suitability models. Partner’s will meet in year one to determine
the interest of another reintroduction effort at a new site within the CFLRP boundaries.
Night jar surveys will be conducted in years 2 and 3. We will re-survey the previously monitored
385 points but will add an additional component to survey nocturnal flying insects, the primary
prey of night jars. Restoration activities appear to benefit nightjars, but management can also
affect insect abundances, and in turn nightjars. Nocturnal insects are the primary prey for bats
as well. Nocturnal insects will be monitored with light traps at a sample of nightjar survey
points.
Avian point counts will be conducted from May - July of year three at the same 250 points
surveyed in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2020. This additional survey effort will allow us to determine
the cumulative effects of restoration activities over a 10 year period. In addition to counting
birds we will measure overstory, understory, and ground cover structure at all points as
previously completed in 2014 and 2020. Abundances of 16 focal species will be analyzed for
trends over time and related to management activities and vegetation structure in the vicinity
of the points.
To meet the Common Monitoring Statigy core CFLRP indicator ecological departure metric, the
Collaborative plans to implement Community Health Index (CHI) monitoring. Years in
development, this strategy includes cooperation and implementation across multiple land
ownerships. The MDC, USFS Eastern Region, NatureServe, and NatureCITE (a local NGO) are the
primary partners. The NRS and NRCS are also interested partners in this endeavor. During FY 21,
the Eastern Regional Office and MTNF will further develop partnerships with other Southern
Tier National Forests, namely the Wayne, Shawnee, and Hoosier. Ultimately, these four
National Forests, in cooperation with R9 and state partners, will further develop and
standardize the CHI method allowing shared databases, analysis, and trend tracking within and
among these participating National Forests.
22 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
CHI protocol will be developed and applied to groupings of Ecological Landtypes (ELT) that have
similar environmental characteristics. The protocols focus on identification of stand-level
ecological health indicators (i.e., structure and composition) specific to each ELT group.
Documented items include the presence of characteristic and conservative plant and wildlife
species, canopy cover, proportion of hardwoods vs. shortleaf pine in the stand, stand stocking,
large tree retention, pine and oak regeneration and recruitment, and presence of degrading
factors . Historic compositional and structural characteristics will be used as references to
assess current conditions and degree of vegetation departure. Once data has been collected for
a given stand, it will be assigned scores and, when summed, given a conversation rank. This
ranking is tested against all other areas sampled, and as the dataset grows, so does the
accuracy of the individual rankings.
The CHI model was developed to support future adaptive management decisions related to
prescribed fire and mechanical vegetation treatments. By pooling stand-level rankings within
ELT Groups, CHI provides a indicator of ecological health with increasing confidence as the
number of stands increase. Since the method is site-specific at the stand scale, relationship to
both short-term management decisions (such as a given prescribed fire) as well as long-term
trajectory of the site can be established. The quick results allow land managers to make
informed decisions within a dynamic landscape.
We feel the CHI method is both rigorous and unbiased. Since the CHI method was developed
with partner agencies and organizations that actively manage land resources, both National
Forest System (NFS) and non-NFS properties will be included. In addition, during the testing
phase, a range of known “reference” sites having different management histories will be
included, thus providing a range to assess current conditions against.
All data will be collected, analyzed, and shared with participating stakeholders. A Regional
corporate database is in the process of being developed to support this effort.
Unit Capacity:
21. Describe the unit capacity for implementing this extension and why your unit is ready for
this scale of investment.
See attachment G.
The District Rangers, District resource staff and resource specialists at the Supervisor Office
have been the key personnel in implementation of the MoPWR project. The MTNF’s
NNIS/botany program manger serves as the Forest’s MoPWR coordinator. Bird monitoring
efforts have been led by the Northern Research Station, Missouri Department of Conservation,
and the University of Missouri with assistance from Forest and District Wildlife Staff. Vegetation
monitoring has been led by the ecology and botany staff of the MTNF. We do not foresee any
changes to our organization structure at this time.
The Forest uses force account work and IDIQ contracts for timber marking, vegetation
management work and NNIS work. The use of IDIQ’s allows us to quickly and efficiently put
together task orders and receive competitive bids. We have also used agreements to leverage
funds in the project area. Lastly, we use various authorities such as stewardship, KV and salvage
to utilize timber revenues within the project area.
23 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
Typically, unit cost decreases as the number of acres contracted increase. Recently, the Forest
has seen increases in our vegetation management contracts (planting, timber stand
improvement, midstory etc.). It is unclear if this is a result of manpower shortages for
contractors related to work visas or COVID concerns. Beyond this we have seen typical cost of
living type increases, but nothing substantial.
At the conclusion of the CFLRP funding the Forest would continue to emphasize the goals of the
Forest Plan for managing restored open and closed pine and pine-oak woodlands. The
woodland communities, which would not have occurred without CFLRP funding would be
maintained using prescribed fire every 3 to 5 years. In light of the current budget situation
continuation of vegetation treatments and monitoring would likely continue at a much slower
pace. Please see response to 23.
Project Funding:
Describe the funding plan for this proposal.
Please refer to Attachment F. The Forest has put together a reasonable extension proposal that
will allow us to complete priority work in MoPWR area focusing on timber sales, prescribed fire
and NNIS treatments.
22. Referencing Attachment F, describe the federal and non‐federal investments anticipated
within the landscape during the extension.
Overall, the past year has been difficult for state agencies and NGOs as revenues have
decreased. In spite of that significant non-federal investments to restoration of pine and pineoak communities will be accomplished on State lands managed by MDC and lands owned and
managed by L-A-D Foundartion (Pioneer Forest).
23. How has/will the CFLRP project and unit(s) adapt work under Budget Modernization?
Budget modernizations efforts have been challenging. The MTNF had an exit strategy from
CFLRP of building up our salvage account and utilizing those dollars to fund staff and priority
work across the Forest. At the same time this would free up some appropriated funds to
continue work in the MoPWR project area. Because of regional shortfalls in salary and expense
(S&E) accounts the Forest was asked to utilize more trust funds to cover S&E this year. The
Forest is revisiting the exit strategy and the reduction of overhead rates for salvage and KV
should help in future years. We also plan to utilize stewardship retained receipts from timber
sales to accomplish more priority work. Overall, because of budget modernization we are
adapting our exit strategy and the funding requested in this proposal will allow the Forest to
make a smooth transition.
24. Why is the estimated Multi‐party Monitoring budget appropriate for the scale of the
project extension?
As mentioned above there were concerns raised by local citizens and Congressional staff at the
inception of the MoPWR project and while we have addressed those concerns we believe it is
imperative to continue with a strong monitoring program to demonstrate the success of the
project. We are requesting $115,000 to cover essential monitoring to finish our avian bird
24 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
monitoring, nightjar surveys, BHNH reintroduction monitoring and Community Health Index
assessment of our restoration treatments and how they have improved the function and
integrity of the ecosystem. Monitoring will cover the entire CFLRP project area and represents
less than 10% of the total extension request.
Attachments – templates posted on the CFLRP website
ATTACHMENT A: Project map. Follow the instructions to complete your project map.
ATTACHMENT B: Planned Treatments. Use the Excel template on the CFLRP website to submit
your planned treatments.
ATTACHMENT C: Utilization of Forest Restoration Byproducts. Use the Excel template on the
CFLRP website to submit this information.
ATTACHMENT D: Collaborative membership. Use the template on the CFLRP website to submit
this information.
ATTACHMENT E: Letter of commitment developed and signed by all collaborative members
ATTACHMENT F: Project funding. Use the Excel template on the CFLRP website to submit your
planned project funding.
ATTACHMENT G: Letter of commitment signed by Forest leadership, indicating understanding
and commitment to meeting the eligibility requirements of CFLRP, as described in the CFLRP
instructions document.
25 - Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project
Collaborative Forest Landscape
Restoration Program Project Area
Mark Twain National Forest
Salem Ranger
District
Fredericktown
Ranger District
MDC
NPS
19
LAD
67
TNC
60
Poplar Bluff
Ranger District
Doniphan /
Eleven Point
Ranger District
160
63
Legend
Missouri
Jefferson
City
Springfield
Saint
Louis
Collaborative Forest Landscape
Restoration Program Project Area
Major Road
Mark Twain National
Forest Boundary
USDA Forest Service
owned lands
National Park Service
Ozark Scenic Riverways
Boundary
Missouri Department
of Conservation Land
Nature Conservancy Land
L-A-D Foundation
0
5
10
Miles
The USDA Forest Service uses the most current and complete
data available. GIS data and product accuracy may vary. Using
GIS products for purposes other than those for which they
were intended may yield inaccurate or misleading results.
The USDA Forest Service reserves the right to correct, update,
modify, or replace GIS products without notification.
5/11/2021
Priority Geography & Terrestrial Conservation
Opportunity Areas identified by the 2015
update to Missouri's State Wildlife Action Plan
Mark Twain National Forest
Salem Ranger
District
Fredericktown
Ranger District
MDC
NPS
19
LAD
67
TNC
Poplar Bluff
Ranger District
60
Doniphan /
Eleven Point
Ranger District
160
63
Legend
Missouri
Jefferson
City
Springfield
Saint
Louis
Collaborative Forest
Landscape Restoration
Program Project Area
Priority Geography
Terrestrial
Conservation
Opportunity Area
Major Road
Mark Twain National
Forest Boundary
USDA Forest Service
owned lands
National Park Service
Ozark Scenic Riverways
Boundary
Missouri Department
of Conservation Land
Nature Conservancy
Land
L-A-D Foundation
0
5
10
Miles
The USDA Forest Service uses the most current and complete
data available. GIS data and product accuracy may vary. Using
GIS products for purposes other than those for which they
were intended may yield inaccurate or misleading results.
The USDA Forest Service reserves the right to correct, update,
modify, or replace GIS products without notification.
3/30/2021
Proposed Mechanical Treatment and Non-Forest Service
Controlled Burn within the Collaborative Forest
Landscape Restoration Program Project Area
Mark Twain National Forest
Salem Ranger
District
Fredericktown
Ranger District
MDC
NPS
19
LAD
67
TNC
Poplar Bluff
Ranger District
60
Doniphan /
Eleven Point
Ranger District
160
63
Legend
Missouri
Jefferson
City
Springfield
Saint
Louis
Collaborative Forest
Landscape Restoration
Program Project Area
Proposed Mechanical
Treatment
Non-Forest Service
Controlled Burn
Major Road
Mark Twain National
Forest Boundary
Missouri Department
of Conservation Land
National Park Service
Ozark Scenic Riverways
Boundary
L-A-D Foundation
USDA Forest Service
owned lands
Nature Conservancy
Land
0
5
10
Miles
The USDA Forest Service uses the most current and complete
data available. GIS data and product accuracy may vary. Using
GIS products for purposes other than those for which they
were intended may yield inaccurate or misleading results.
The USDA Forest Service reserves the right to correct, update,
modify, or replace GIS products without notification.
5/11/2021
ATTACHMENT B
CFLRP proposals are not expected to include ALL of the core treatment types below in their strategy - highlight those treatments that are core to your stated treatment objectives. Note that there are
options to use "other" in this table.
Estimated treatments should include all planned treatments in the proposed CFLR landscape, regardless of landownership type. Provide an estimate of the % you expect to occur on NFS lands
in column J, and list the other landownership types where you expect treatments to occur, if applicable, in column K.
Core Restoration Treatment Types
Hazardous Fuels Reduction (total of acres below)
Subset of hazardous fuels treatments: Mechanical Thinning (acres)
Subset of hazardous fuels treatments: Prescribed Fire (acres)
Subset of hazardous fuels treatments: Other (acres)
Wildfire Risk Mitigation Outcomes - Total acres treated to mitigate wildfire risk
Please provide additional background
information for the prompts as needed
HVRA assessment and the National WUI 2000
Subset of Wildfire Risk Mitigation Outcomes - Acres within the WUI Layer
Invasive Species Management (acres)
place holder. TBD
Native Pest Management (acres)
Road Decommissioning (miles)
Road Maintenance and Improvement (miles)
Road Reconstruction (miles)
Trail Reconstruction (miles)
Wildlife Habitat Restoration (acres)
Crossing Improvements (number)
In-Stream Fisheries Improvement (miles)
Lake Habitat Improvement (acres)
Riparian Area Improvements (acres)
Soil and Watershed resources enhanced or maintained (acres)
Priority watersheds moved to improved condition class (number)
Stand Improvement (acres)
Reforestation and revegetation (acres)
Estimate % ground based, steep-slope (cable
and tether logging) and helicopter
Timber Harvest (acres)**
Rangeland Vegetation Improvement (acres)
Abandoned Mine Reclamation/Remediation
Other
Other
*Assume funding requested for Year 1 will be allocated in Fiscal Year 2022
**Note that timber volume produced from the treatment is estimated in a separate attachment - Attachment C.
Year 1*
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Years 5-10
TOTAL
Key treatment objectives
For each item, indicate whether
the expected output is the same
as the original proposal, or if it
has been adjusted (given
Estimated % accomplished Other landownership types (other
changed conditions or lessons
on NFS lands (across all
federal, tribal, state, private, etc.) where learned) to meet broader CFLRP
years)
treatments will occur
proposal objectives.
2,832
15,175
203
18,210
3,228
12,134
1,050
16,413
3,966
12,420
950
34,623
3,295
1,907
460
5,662
1,895
15,430
315
17,639
15,217
57,066
2,978
75,261
11,992
406
10,231
2,109
10,879
1,995
3,464
918
11,572
626
48,138
6,054 Invasive species control
38
5
NPS, State Lands, LAD/Pioneer Forest, Private
Original
landsgoal
18,007
15,363
33,370
5,202
17,324
72,282 Open woodland habitat
57
NPS, State Lands, LAD/Pioneer Forest, Private
Original
landsgoal
9,122
2
1,160
161
9,091
2
1,943
424
1,198
2
3,076
261
1,580
2
2,274
223
2,780
2
1,166
136
1,672
1,286
890
1,021
728
23,771
2
9,619
1,206
fuels reduction, open woodland management
fuels reduction, open woodland management
fuels reduction, open woodland management
fuels reduction
12
45
2
60
Priority watershed acres accomplished part of Watershed
Action Plans.
19
Watershed health
Open/closed woodland condition
8
Midstory/Understory reduction for open/closed woodland management, pine
1 planting.
5,597 Reduce stocking, Red oak salvage, open/closed woodland management
4
State Lands, LAD/Pioneer Forest
NPS, State Lands, LAD/Pioneer Forest
Original goal
Original goal
Original goal
NPS, State Lands, LAD/Pioneer Forest
Original goal
Original goal
Original goal
Original goal
State Lands, LAD/Pioneer Forest
Original goal
For items that have been
adjusted from the original
proposal, (briefly) why have
they been adjusted?
Column L dropdown list options:
Original goal
Adjusted goal
CFLRP Proposal Attachment C: Utilization of Forest Restoration Byproducts
*Note that acres treated includes all acres treated within the CFLRP boundary. However, the projected annual harvested volume is only for NFS lands.
Fiscal Year
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031 (max years
under extension)
TOTALS:
Estimate of acres awarded
annually that will generate
restoration byproducts
1,672
1,286
890
1,021
728
Total projected annual harvested
volume (ccf) from NFS lands
15,277
11,738
8,124
9,325
6,647
Expected percentage commercially
utilized* from NFS lands
100
100
100
100
100
5,597
51,111
500
75%
60% of FS land will be treated
25%
8% of other lands will be treated
Estimated % of TOTAL acres
accomplished on NFS lands:
Estimated % of TOTAL acres
accomplished on other
landownerships within the
CFLRP boundary:
*Commercially utilized refers to the volume you expect to sell across all product classes (sawtimber, biomass, firewood, etc.)
*Include volume that is expected as a result of being selected for CFLRP. Do not include volume for sales that are already awarded if the work would have happened without CFLRP.
ATTACHMENT D
Forest Service staff
representative(s) working with
collaborative: (Please provide
list of key staff):
Organizational Affiliation
(if applicable)
Was this person
involved in proposal
development?
Primary Issue
Category
Second Issue Category
Third Issue
Category
If "other," briefly
describe
Dan Dey, Research Forester
US Forest Service,
Northern Research Station
Yes
Fire Ecology
Fire Management
Other
silviculture
Frank Thompson, Wildlife
Ecologist
US Forest Service,
Northern Research Station
Yes
Wildlife
Community Development
Fire Ecology
Mike Stambaugh, Associate
Oak Woodland and Forest
Research Professor, Consortium
Fire Consortium
Lead
No
Fire Ecology
Fire Management
Other
Megan Buchanan, Resource
Missouri Department of
Science Field Station Supervisor Conservation
Yes
State
Research
Other
Missouri Department of
Conservation
Yes
State
Other
Other
Landscape Ecology
L.A.D. Foundation
No
Environmental
Fire Management
Other
Private Land
Conservation
No
Wildlife
Forest Products
No
Environmental
Watershed
Other
Private Land
Conservation
Collaborative
Member/Partner Name
Norman Murray, Natural
Resources Planning Section
Chief
Neal Humke, Land Stewardship
Coordinator
John Burk, NWTF State Biologist
Joe Alley, State Forester
National Wild Turkey
Federation
Natural Resource
Conservtion Service
Science Delivery
Date:
12 May 2021
Subject:
Missouri Pine-Oak Woodland Restoration Project
To:
Advisory Panel for the Cooperative Forest Landscape Restoration Proposals
Dear Panel:
Please accept this letter of strong commitment to the Missouri Pine-Oak Woodland Restoration Project
(MoPWR) on behalf of the agencies and organizations listed below. We unanimously support this
proposal and are excited to continue to be a part of this important restoration initiative.
We have made significant progress over the last decade in our work to restore rare natural
communities, and the associated plant and animal species, on the MoPWR landscape, including the
reintroduction of a long-extirpated species, the brown-headed nuthatch; highlights of our individual
contributions are summarized below. Our commitment to working together to restore pine-oak
woodlands at landscapes scales remains strong.
The large acreage gains we can continue to make in the Current River Hills ecoregion are very much
bolstered by the restoration work on the Mark Twain National Forest, and additional funds to advance
that work for five more years will be of significant help to all of us.
We, therefore, whole-heartedly support the Missouri Pine-Oak Woodland proposal to extend the
funding from the Collaborative Landscape Restoration Program for an additional five years. If you have
any questions, feel free to reach out to Jane Fitzgerald (jfitzgerald@abcbirds.org) as a primary contact
for the group of agencies and organizations below. Thank you for your consideration.
/s/ Jane Fitzgerald
Vice President and
Central Hardwoods Joint Venture Coordinator
American Bird Conservancy
/s/ Mark Gudlin
Management Board Chair
Central Hardwoods Joint Venture
/s/ Susan Flader
President
L-A-D Foundation
/s/ Sara Parker Pauley
Director
Missouri Department of Conservation
/s/ Jared McJunkin
Director of Conservation Operations,
Central Region
National Wild Turkey Federation
/s/ Michael Stambaugh
Chair
Oak Woodlands and Forests Fire Consortium
/s/ Scott Edwards
State Conservationist
USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
/s/ Daniel Dey
Project Leader
Northern Research Station
U.S.D.A. Forest Service
The Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project (MoPWR), now in its final year of the
original funding agreement, has greatly benefitted from the contributions of a diverse set of
partner agencies and organizations, whose individual contributions are listed below:
Central Hardwoods Joint Venture (CHJV): The CHJV is itself a partnership of state and federal
agencies and non-governmental organizations whose purpose is to develop and implement,
through conservation partnerships, science-based conservation measures to secure bird
populations in the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region. The CHJV supports pine and
oak woodland restoration as a means to attaining high-quality habitat for several bird species of
conservation concern. The CHJV Coordinator led the development of the original MoPWR
collaborative, as well as an ongoing regional partnership, the Interior Highlands Shortleaf Pine
Restoration Initiative (IHSPRI), to foster communication among three Collaborative Forest
Landscape Restoration Partnerships in the Interior Highlands region. Regular participants in the
IHSPRI represent nineteen agencies and organizations throughout the region. Meeting agendas
have included reports from each forest on progress toward their restoration goals, research
updates, and reports from subcommittees tasked with developing communication materials and
desired future conditions for shortleaf pine natural communities native to the Interior Highlands.
Meetings will resume after covid-19 restorations are fully lifted.
L-A-D Foundation (Pioneer Forest): Pioneer Forest, with just over 144,000 acres, is a privatelyowned Ozark working forest that models sustainable forestry in the Central Hardwoods
region. Pioneer Forest land managed for the recovery and maintenance of shortleaf pine in the
MoPWR footprint contributes to the overall goals of the MoPWR project. A 2013 Wildlife
Conservation Society Climate Adaptation Fund grant enabled the successful startup of a
prescribed fire crew to meet ecological goals. Since 2012 the L-A-D Foundation has
accomplished 5,980 acres of prescribed fire and 1,250 acres of woodland thinning and cedar
removal from glade communities as well as develop working fire management partnerships with
area agencies.
Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC): MDC manages over 125,000 acres of land within
the footprint of the MoPWR landscape. Where suitable, MDC’s management focuses on
enhancing and restoring shortleaf pine and pine-oak communities, to complement the
enhancement and restoration objectives of the Mark Twain National Forest. MDC staff have and
continue to play a lead role in the brown-headed nuthatch reintroduction effort that took place in
2020 and is also planned for 2021. The species is dependent upon open pine and pine-oak
woodland and was extirpated from Missouri in the early to mid-1900s as a result of habitat loss
from the extensive logging of the shortleaf pinery following widespread European immigration
in the late 1800s. MDC has completed approximately 30,306 acres of prescribed fire and 7,672
acres of woodland and glade management since 2012 within the MoPWR project area.
National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF): The NWTF has contributed greatly in helping the
Forest achieve restoration goals by assisting the Forest in the completion of the Cane Ridge and
Handy Stewardship agreements within the MoPWR project area. They have also been
instrumental in collaborating on the Four Rivers Stewardship proposal which will provide
addition stewardship contracting opportunities soon.
Natural Resources Conservation Service: NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to
landowners to address Resource Concerns on private land, including forestland. The 2015 –
2017 Missouri Ozark Highlands Restoration Partnership Joint Chiefs Project added to our overall
effort to restore natural communities across the MoPWR project area. Within the Joint Chiefs
footprint as a whole, NRCS worked with private landowners in 27 counties, and 85 forest
management plans were developed. A range of conservation practices including forest stand
improvement, invasive species removal, prescribed burning, and habitat restoration were
implemented. These practices helped reduce wildfire threats and soil erosion while improving
forest health and habitat integrity within the MoPWR boundary and/or the Current River
watershed. In addition, the Joint Chiefs Project allowed funding for the Forest Service and NRCS
to support the creation of a National Wild Turkey Federation Forester position to collaborate
with landowners and partners and assist with Stewardship efforts on the Forest.
The Oak Woodlands and Forests Fire Consortium: The Fire Consortium developed fire ecology
workshops aimed to deliver fire science to interested landowners and members of the general
public. Three workshops were held in 2018 and two in 2019; both had indoor presentations and
in-the-field discussions, and were organized in partnership with The Nature Conservancy,
National Wild Turkey Federation, Missouri Department of Conservation, Mark Twain National
Forest, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Over 90 individuals attended the
events, and collectively manage more than 10,000 acres of private land. The consortium also led
the development of interpretive signs and self-guided driving tours in both of the major
landscapes where shortleaf pine-oak restoration work is ongoing MoPWR.
The University of Missouri, Columbia, and U.S.D.A. Forest Service Research Station (Forest
Service Research): Dr. Frank Thompson, a research wildlife ecologist at Forest Service
Research, along with a graduate student and University colleagues, have played critical roles in
the monitoring and evaluation of the response of bird species of conservation concern to pine and
pine-oak woodland restoration efforts on the Mark Twain, Ozark and Ouachita National Forests.
Two peer-reviewed publications showing largely positive responses of those species have been
published to date, and another will be ready for submission soon. Forest Service Research and
University of Missouri scientists also modeled the habitat suitability of the restored woodlands to
assess whether enough high-quality habitat was available to support a viable population of
brown-headed nuthatches, and whether populations in the Ouachita Mountain of Arkansas were
robust enough to take birds from for translocation to Missouri.
Forest Service and University research foresters also are conducting research related to changes
in forest composition as a result of the restoration activities, centered primarily on the restoration
efforts on the Mark Twain. On-going research focuses on regeneration ecology of shortleaf pine,
including competitive interactions with other species and effects of prescribed burning on
regeneration success. This research will provide information on the optimal timing to release
shortleaf pine trees from competition, leading to better, more efficient management practices. In
particular, managers are interested in refining the application of prescribed burning to favor
shortleaf pine by determining how long after planting to wait before introducing prescribed fire.
ATTACHMENT F
Complete the table below and respond to the question at the bottom of the tab. Enter in data for the number of years requested for the extension (up to 10). Assume a full or nealry full Fiscal Year
for Year 1. NOTE: The totals below should reflect your best estimates at this point in time. In selected, you will have the opportunity to fine-tune the funding plan.
Fiscal Year 1
Disretionary/Program Funding Planned
Salary and Expense Funding Planned*
Partner fund contributions on NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on NFS lands
$25,000
Goods for Services or Revenue from GNA to be applied within CFLRP
landscape
$148,211
$266,800
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for NFS lands
$148,211
$291,800
$180,366
CFLRP Funding Request
Total CFLRP funding for NFS lands
N/A (CFLN for disretionary/program expenses only)
$180,366
Partner fund contributions on non-NFS lands
$76,000
Partner in-kind contributions on non-NFS lands
$30,000
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for non-NFS lands
$106,000
$0
Fiscal Year 2
Partner fund contributions on NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on NFS lands
Goods for Services or Revenue from GNA to be applied within CFLRP
landscape
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for NFS lands
CFLRP Funding Request
Total CFLRP funding for NFS lands
Partner fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on non-NFS lands
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for non-NFS lands
Disretionary/Program Funding Planned
Salary and Expense Funding Planned
$106,000
$0
Fiscal Year 3
Partner fund contributions on NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on NFS lands
Goods for Services or Revenue from GNA to be applied within CFLRP
landscape
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for NFS lands
CFLRP Funding Request
Total CFLRP funding for NFS lands
Partner fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on non-NFS lands
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for non-NFS lands
Disretionary/Program Funding Planned
Salary and Expense Funding Planned
$106,000
$0
Fiscal Year 4
Partner fund contributions on NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on NFS lands
Goods for Services or Revenue from GNA to be applied within CFLRP
landscape
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for NFS lands
CFLRP Funding Request
Total CFLRP funding for NFS lands
Partner fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on non-NFS lands
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for non-NFS lands
Disretionary/Program Funding Planned
Salary and Expense Funding Planned
$106,000
$0
Fiscal Year 5
Partner fund contributions on NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on NFS lands
Goods for Services or Revenue from GNA to be applied within CFLRP
landscape
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for NFS lands
CFLRP Funding Request
Total CFLRP funding for NFS lands
Partner fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on non-NFS lands
Disretionary/Program Funding Planned
Salary and Expense Funding Planned
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on non-NFS lands
$25,000
$251,345
$251,345
$333,677
$333,677
$76,000
$30,000
$272,136
$297,136
N/A (CFLN for disretionary/program expenses only)
$25,000
$390,279
$390,279
$323,260
$323,260
$76,000
$30,000
$277,579
$302,579
N/A (CFLN for disretionary/program expenses only)
$25,000
$288,688
$288,688
$167,416
$167,416
$76,000
$30,000
$283,130
$308,130
N/A (CFLN for disretionary/program expenses only)
$25,000
$151,041
$151,041
$164,813
$164,813
$76,000
$30,000
$288,793
$313,793
N/A (CFLN for disretionary/program expenses only)
Total non-CFLRP funding for non-NFS lands
$106,000
$0
Fiscal Year 6
Partner fund contributions on NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on NFS lands
Goods for Services or Revenue from GNA to be applied within CFLRP
landscape
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for NFS lands
CFLRP Funding Request
Total CFLRP funding for NFS lands
Partner fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on non-NFS lands
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for non-NFS lands
Disretionary/Program Funding Planned
Salary and Expense Funding Planned
$0
$0
$0
N/A (CFLN for disretionary/program expenses only)
$0
#VALUE!
Fiscal Year 7
Partner fund contributions on NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on NFS lands
Goods for Services or Revenue from GNA to be applied within CFLRP
landscape
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for NFS lands
CFLRP Funding Request
Total CFLRP funding for NFS lands
Partner fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on non-NFS lands
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for non-NFS lands
Disretionary/Program Funding Planned
Salary and Expense Funding Planned
$0
$0
$0
N/A (CFLN for disretionary/program expenses only)
$0
#VALUE!
Fiscal Year 8
Partner fund contributions on NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on NFS lands
Goods for Services or Revenue from GNA to be applied within CFLRP
landscape
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for NFS lands
CFLRP Funding Request
Total CFLRP funding for NFS lands
Partner fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on non-NFS lands
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for non-NFS lands
Disretionary/Program Funding Planned
Salary and Expense Funding Planned
$0
$0
$0
N/A (CFLN for disretionary/program expenses only)
$0
$0
Fiscal Year 9
Partner fund contributions on NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on NFS lands
Goods for Services or Revenue from GNA to be applied within CFLRP
landscape
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for NFS lands
CFLRP Funding Request
Total CFLRP funding for NFS lands
Partner fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on non-NFS lands
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for non-NFS lands
Disretionary/Program Funding Planned
Salary and Expense Funding Planned
$0
$0
$0
N/A (CFLN for disretionary/program expenses only)
$0
$0
Fiscal Year 10
Partner fund contributions on NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on NFS lands
Goods for Services or Revenue from GNA to be applied within CFLRP
landscape
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for NFS lands
CFLRP Funding Request
Total CFLRP funding for NFS lands
Partner fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Partner in-kind contributions on non-NFS lands
USFS Appropriated, Perm, and Trust fund contributions on non-NFS lands
Total non-CFLRP funding for non-NFS lands
Disretionary/Program Funding Planned
Salary and Expense Funding Planned
$0
$0
$0
N/A (CFLN for disretionary/program expenses only)
$0
$0
*NOTE: Under the Agency's budget modernization effort beginning in FY21, funding for Salary and Expenses (S&E) will be covered by the
S&E accounts held at the Regions - including funding a CFLRP Project Coordiantor, a key role for CFLRP implementation. CFLN can no
longer cover Salary and Expense items.
Please provide an estimate of any funding needed for NEPA and environmental compliance in support of the CFLRP Project. You may
copy/paste the response to the Tier 1 template and/or elaborate with additional details as needed. NOTE: CFLN can only be used for
implementation and monitoring (not planning).
No additional funding is needed for NEPA or Environmental
Compliance.
United States
Department of
Agriculture
Forest
Service
Mark Twain National Forest
401 Fairgrounds Road
Rolla, MO 65401
(573) 364-4621 FAX (573) 364-6844
File Code:
Date:
TO:
SUBJECT:
1930; 2400; 2500
March 25, 2021
CFLRP Advisory Committee
Mark Twain National Forest CFLRP Extension
Dear CFLRP Advisory Committee:
Speaking on behalf of the entire Leadership Team of the Mark Twain National Forest, I would
like to express our commitment to the funding extension proposal for the Missouri Pine-Oak
Woodlands Restoration Project.
Since 2012, this project has been front and center to meeting the Forest Plan goal of restoring
Missouri’s natural communities, especially shortleaf pine habitats. This effort would not be
possible without support from our collaborative partners. It has developed around the
conservation efforts of one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the State of Missouri.
This ten-year project has contributed significantly to our local communities by providing jobs
and income related to the States timber and forestry industry through timber sales and other
vegetation management contracts. It has also gone a long way to reducing hazardous fuels while
also emulating the historical fire regime of the Missouri Ozarks.
This proposal also aligns with the Mark Twain National Forest’s Five-year Strategic Plan
particularly two of our goal areas. The first being, Success through Collaboration; Leverage
capacity to sustain our communities and fulfill our mission and the second, Stewardship of Our
Natural Resources; Lead conservation of natural resources in the Ozarks. While the enclosed
proposal documents the success of our original proposal within the Missouri Pine-Oak
Woodlands landscape, it has also provided us the opportunity, by utilizing timber sale revenues,
to increase the pace and scale of restoration across not just it the Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands
Restoration Project area, but across the Forest. Since 2012, we have almost doubled our annual
timber volume sold and prescribed burning acres.
We are also especially proud that the result of all the hard work in the CFLR landscape has
culminated in the reintroduction of the Brown-headed nuthatch which was extirpated from
Missouri approximately 100 years ago (https://www.audubon.org/magazine/winter-2020/brownheaded-nuthatches-are-back-ozarks-first). This achievement was even seen in BBC Wildlife
Magazine’s 50 Reason’s to be Cheerful in 2021! With that being said, there is still work to be
done.
As Forest Supervisor of the Mark Twain National Forest, I am aware of the eligibility,
implementation, and monitoring requirements for the Collaborative Forest Landscape
Restoration Program (CFLRP), as described in the CFLRP proposal instructions document.
America’s Working Forests - Caring Every Day in Every Way
Printed on Recycled Paper
CFLRP Advisory Committee
2
Prior CFLRP evaluations have highlighted the importance of leadership intent and support for
CFLRP strategy implementation and a commitment to continued collaboration through project
implementation and monitoring.
My signature below reflects the Mark Twain National Forest’s support for, and commitment to,
the CFLRP project as outlined in the proposal.
Sincerely,
SHERRI K. SCHWENKE
Forest Supervisor
Enclosure
America’s Working Forests - Caring Every Day in Every Way
Printed on Recycled Paper