Forest Tree Mortality in California – FY17 Strategy and Guidance

Executive Summary

This document provides updated guidance for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California Field Offices to address resource concerns resulting from forest tree mortality, especially insect related mortality. Drought combined with bark beetle infestations and other environmental stressors and forest conditions continue to result in widespread, catastrophic levels of forest tree mortality in California. Insect mortality is expanding north in the Sierra Nevada range and affecting Southern California counties. Addressing fire hazard and pest control resource concerns and recovery resulting from these conditions is a top priority for NRCS forestry programs.

To address bark beetle related tree mortality, NRCS provides Technical and Financial Assistance on conifer tree non-industrial private forestlands (NIPF). Financial assistance is provided through the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Forest Tree Mortality Fund Pool. For details, refer to the Program Description. Some highlights are listed below:

For Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17), an initial amount of $4 million of funding is allocated. The EQIP pool application period will begin in November 2016, with application screening and ranking in December 2016.

The Forest Tree Mortality EQIP pool will be expanded in 2017 to include 16 counties: Area 1: Lake County; Area 3: Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and Kern Counties; and Area 4: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties.

Eligibility for the Forest Tree Mortality EQIP pool is limited to non-industrial private conifer forestland. Priority projects are NIPF ownerships with larger parcel sizes that have been severely impacted by bark beetles. The minimum size forestland property is one acre and at least 100 feet wide.

An applicant with more than 20 percent of their conifer forestland property with dead trees will receive priority funding consideration. Land within 100 feet of a permitted structure is not included for incentive payments.

Fire hazard reduction and recovery treatments should focus on removing dead and dying trees, treating slash, reforesting understocked areas, and utilizing wood generated from the project. Primary NRCS Conservation Practice Standards (CPS) to be used include: CPS384 - Woody Residue Treatment; CPS490 - Tree Shrub Site Preparation; and CPS612 - Tree Establishment. CPS666-Forest Stand Improvement is an available practice for live tree thinning concurrent with the dead/dying tree treatment. The primary conservation practice to use when there is substantial tree damage on the property is CPS384 - Woody Residue Treatment, Scenario #6 Catastrophic Restoration. Use CPS500 - Obstruction Removal when there is an extraordinary cost to remove dead trees from the property to a disposal or utilization site.

NRCS supports and encourages projects that concurrently remove larger dead and dying trees that have commercial value for sawlogs and biomass when these treatments contribute to thorough completion of resource objectives. When a project funded through EQIP uses woody materials for commercial purposes, a commercial timber harvesting permit is required from CAL FIRE. It is particularly important for insect mortality projects that treat large dead/dying trees to have thorough evaluation, design, and protection of

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environmental resources. This is due to the potential for environmental damage from treating high volumes of large trees with heavy logging equipment.

Several barriers exist that must be overcome to successfully complete forest insect tree mortality projects. Progress has been made over the last year to address these barriers. This includes:

new contracts for “call-when-needed” Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) for use by NRCS Field Offices,

organization of county level mortality task forces, expanding utilization opportunities via log export, extension of utility contracts for biomass utilization, and PG&E program for treatment of utility related woody debris/dead trees around homes.

Purpose

This document provides guidance for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California Field Offices to address resource concerns resulting from forest tree mortality, especially insect related mortality. It is intended for local California NRCS personnel to promote coordinated and consistent efforts among NRCS staff and partners.

Background

Drought combined with other environmental stressors and forest conditions have resulted in widespread tree mortality in California’s forests. Hundreds of thousands of acres of private and public forestlands in California, both oak woodlands and conifer forests, have been affected by four years drought and bark beetles which proliferated during these conditions.

Significant increases in conifer mortality occurred from 2015 to 2016. In May, 2016, the USFS aerial detection program estimated over 66 million dead trees state-wide, nearly a 50% increase over one year. Even with normal winter precipitation, tree stress and highly elevated levels of native bark beetles are expected to persist through 2017.

The most significant tree mortality remains in the conifer forest areas of the southern sierras between Tuolumne to Kern counties. But the area of significant mortality is expanding north through El Dorado County. The Governor’s proclamation declaring an emergency related to the forest damage was expanded in 2016 to include 10 central Sierra Nevada counties from Placer to Kern. The initial proclamation in October, 2015, included a request to Agricultural Secretary Vilsack for assistance from NRCS in the hazard reduction and forest recovery efforts.

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2015

2016

Forest Tree Mortality in California – FY17 Strategy and Guidance

NRCS Role

One of the missions of NRCS is to assist private non industrial forestland owners in protecting and enhancing natural resources through conservation planning and implementation of forestry practices. Such assistance is essential to forestland owners in addressing forest insect tree mortality, as recovery efforts are often complex, costly, have little offsetting income, and yet are necessary to maintain forest health.

NRCS has the ability to address forest health where tree mortality has created resource concerns. Assistance may be through Technical Assistance or Financial Assistance. Assistance includes development of forest management plans and conservation practices such as woody debris removal, reforestation, competing vegetation control, pre-commercial thinning, and erosion control. These practices reduce immediate fire and pest hazards resulting from tree mortality, improve forest resistance and resiliency to disturbance events, and increase watershed values.

Financial Assistance

For Fiscal Year 17, the EQIP Forest Tree Mortality Pool has been reestablished. An initial amount of $4 million of funding is allocated. As in FY16, additional funding may be available based on demand. The complete Tree Mortality Pool information including Program Description, Screening Worksheets and Ranking criteria can be found at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ca/programs/financial/eqip/?cid=nrcseprd440606

Priority Projects: Screening and Ranking - The Forest Tree Mortality Fund Pool prioritizes projects predominantly on the level of mortality, the proximity to other projects, the level of feasible treatment, and the post treatment condition of the residual stand. The Fund Pool is subject to all standard EQIP rules and requirements.

The following is new for FY 17:

Any project with more than 20 percent of the conifer trees dead or dying when assessed over the conifer forestland on the property and located in the Pool’s designated counties will receive priority funding consideration (be a Medium or High Priority on the Screening Worksheet).

Projects are classified as “Medium Priority” projects are those with conservation treatments between 100 and 500 feet from residential structures or property boundaries. Similar to FY16, “High Priority“ are those with conservation treatments extends greater than 500 feet from the landscaped area of residential structures or from the property line of parcels with no structures.

No Treatments within 100 feet of Homes - NRCS recognizes that tree hazard reduction around homes, infrastructure, and roads is collectively a top priority for addressing emergency public safety. However, these locations are not NRCS’s core mission activities. The State Conservationist has determined that 100 feet from homes is not within the scope of a Forest Management Plan nor meets the definition of nonindustrial forestland. Incentive payment cannot be made to for treatments with 100 feet of homes.

A recent PGE program has been established to address dead woody debris around homes. The program will remove utility-related woody material felled on the

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ground, and perhaps other dead woody debris, within 100 feet of homes in 10 counties in the central-southern sierras. https://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/safety/vegmanagement/programs/debris-brochure.pdf

Recommended Practices - Both forest management planning and field silvicultural practices should be included in EQIP projects.

Forest Management Plans - Like all EQIP projects with forestry related practices, a Forest Management Plan must be prepared. See the FMP Technical Bulletin 190-17-01 for the types of approved https://ems-team.usda.gov/sites/NRCS_California/CA%20Bulletins/FY%202017/CA%20Bulletin%20FMP%20190-17-01.pdf

Since expedited emergency recovery actions are necessary for Forest tree Mortality pool projects, staff should prepare more basic conservation plans instead of CAP 106 FMPs. If CAP 106 FMPs are contracted in EQIP, CAP 106 plan contracts may be implemented concurrent to a separate EQIP contract.

A new Tree Mortality FMP (TM FMP) has been created to expedited meeting FMP requirements for EQIP projects with forestry related practices. The TM FMP can be used for any tree mortality project, including insect damage, wildfire, and disease, and is NOT solely for the Forest Tree Mortality pool. The document can be prepared by NRCS Conservation Planners, RPFs, or TSPs. The TM FMP can be found at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ca/technical/landuse/forestry/

Technical Assistance

Field Silvicultural Conservation Practices -Field practices should focus on falling dead trees and (preferably) removing the dead material created by the insect (or fire) damage. The primary conservation practice to use when there is substantial tree damage on the property is Conservation Practice Standard (CPS) 384 -Woody Residue Treatment, Scenario #6 Catastrophic Restoration. Merchandizing /utilizing the forest products generated from the projects is recommended to help offset the landowner costs of removing excess biomass (a commercial forest practice permit is required under these situations, see below). Use CPS 500 - Obstruction Removal when it is necessary to remove dead trees from the property and there is an extraordinary cost associated with disposal off-site.

When woody material is left in the forest, shredding/mastication of the materials is a preferred treatment. Piling and burning is an alternative, but incurs undesired environmental effects from smoke and fire escape risks.

When thinning overstocked, live, forest stands is a needed to address the long term cause of high levels of insect related tree mortality, avoid (when possible) tree thinning during the growing season. Timing of live tree harvesting, treatment of green tree slash resulting from logging operations, and minimizing damage to live trees are important to reducing further spread of insects. Examples of Forest Tree Mortality EQIP treatment scenarios are contained in Appendix 1.

Identification and Treatment of Dead and Dying trees: Conservation practices include treating both dead and dying trees. While dead trees are

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obvious, identification of dying trees requires assessment and judgement. For trees with green foliage, condition of needles (color, length, density), dead branches, and presence of multiple insect boring holes in the mid to lower bole portion of the tree indicates the tree is under stress and being attacked by bark beetle and should be removed. For fire damaged trees, amount of dead foliage in the crown, portion of the cambium of the tree that is undamaged, and bole scorch height are all factors related to assessing whether a tree will die. Several documents can be found to help aid in dying tree identification: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ca/technical/landuse/forestry/

State Forestry regulations (14 CCR 1052 (b)) allow for removal of live, undamaged trees nearby to trees which are dead and dying due to bark beetles. Except for planned live tree thinning, we do not recommend cutting live, healthy trees, with no sign of beetle attacks, particularly those with greater than 50% live crown (over half the tree foliage has healthy living foliage).

Treatments and Selling Large Dead/Dying Trees from EQIP Projects - NRCS supports tree mortality projects that cut/remove and commercialize (sell, barter, trade) any size dead or dying tree when there is an environmental benefit attained by the treatment. This includes larger dead/dying trees sold for sawlogs or low value wood sold for biomass chips for heat and power generation. Treatment of large dead trees helps ensure resources concerns are fully addressed by removing excess fire hazard debris. Additionally, removal of the dead trees, regardless of size, in one operation/entry minimizes environmental impacts related to repeated entry into the forest, and improves cost effectiveness of projects. There is no reduction in the EQIP payment made to the landowner due to selling, bartering or trading the value of dead/dying trees treated under an EQIP contract when there is an environmental benefit attained from the treatment.

Commercial timber harvesting in the State of California is regulated by CAL FIRE under Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Chapter 4, and Section 895 et seq., commonly known as the California Forest Practice Rules. When forest debris from an EQIP project is sold for commercial purposes, a commercial timber harvesting permit must be obtained in advance of any EQIP contract award. Types of commercial harvesting permits are summarized at http://www.readyforwildfire.org/Dead_Tree_Removal . This will ensure harvesting operations with heavy equipment are conducted consistent with the timber harvest regulations of the State and appropriate environmental protection practices are in place.Environmental Protections and Best Management Practices -- Like all NRCS field projects, evaluation, design, and protection of environmental resources associated with forest insect mortality projects are essential and required. Of particular concern for forest insect tree mortality projects are:

Slash treatment – erosion and smoke emissions from brush piling/burning; conversely, excess, untreated fuels are a fire hazard;

Roads, landings and skid trails – erosion control concerns on steeper, more erodible soils. Install water bars and locate landings/disposal areas away from creeks and seasonal drainages.

Wildlife habitat -- retain a level of snags and down logs which will contribute to habitat. Avoid when possible, logging operations during bird breeding seasons. Refer to Tech Note –Biology-CA-23 Conservation Measures to Reduce Impacts to Nesting Migratory Bird, for more information. https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/CA/TN_Biology-CA-23_(12-15).pdf

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Streams and seasonal drainage crossings -- These location poses the greatest risk for erosion issues and damage from heavy equipment to riparian habitats. Ensure there is heavy equipment exclusion zones around ephemeral and perennial streams.

Archeological sites - ensure sites are identified and avoided. Spread of insect infestation - lop and scatter infested debris to encourage drying. Avoid piling of

slash when possible to discourage insect broods. Target lop and scatter depth to maximum 12 inches depth. Preferred treatment is mastication/chipping of slash to a maximum depth of three inches.

Related Tree Mortality Issues

Need for professional forestry staff to service forest tree mortality recovery projects - We recognize the lack of professional forestry staff in the Forest Tree Mortality Fund Pool areas needed to service planning, field practice implementation, and support interagency coordination efforts. Currently Matt McNicol, NRCS Area 3 Forester in Sonora, is the primary NRCS Staff for assisting with projects. Is time is limited due to the overwhelming demands of both insect and wildfire recovery projects in Area 3. Evan Smith, Grass Valley Service Center, is the forestry contact for Nevada County.

To augment staffing needs, several agreements are underway with NRCS and RCD partners to provide, share and assign new RCD forestry staff specifically for insect damage recovery. Conservation Technical Assistance Agreements are in the final stages with RCDs to secure professional forestry staff in Placer, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Madera, and Tulare Counties.

Forestry staff capacity is also being built through registration of new forestry TSPs to assist landowners in delivering EQIP. New TSPs in Trinity County, Nevada County, and in Southern California are in final stages. We recommend the use of forestry TSPs in your areas to assist NRCS needs for FMPs and other EQIP contract design, installation oversight and checkout certification actions (Practices 911 to 913). A list of forestry TSPs can be found at: https://techreg.sc.egov.usda.gov/CustLocateTSP.aspx

Most recently, NRCS has entered into an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) state-wide contract for “call-when-needed” Registered Professional Foresters for use by NRCS Field Offices. NRCS has contracted with two professional forestry consulting firms that are on call to assist in all locations in the Forest Tree Mortality Pool. Contact State Forester Chris Zimny to use this service.

Tree mortality mapping cooperation - NRCS works with other entities (CAL FIRE, OES, and USFS) to cooperatively create insect mortality maps that highlight insect damage areas by ownership/administrative boundaries. Maps of insect mortality area are critical tools needed to help identify and prioritize treatment areas. NRCS focus will be on mapping of mortality areas on NIPF, the associated parcel information for these areas, and the locations where other treatments have been completed or planned. The information will be used to support outreach to landowners for recovery opportunities. This type of information is also needed for reporting to support any new funding requests. For more local maps and GIS information, please contact Bruce Nielsen at the NRCS State Office.

Excellent examples of mapping of damage are products created by the Governor’s Task Force on Dead and Dying Trees (CAL FIRE

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Tree Mortality Viewer

Forest Tree Mortality in California – FY17 Strategy and Guidance

GIS staff). Web maps show “High Hazard Areas”, the tree mortality areas near roads, critical infrastructure, and within 1000 ft. of communities. They display trends in insect mortality statewide. http://egis.fire.ca.gov/TreeMortalityViewer/

Broad characterizations of mortality maps are regularly produced by the USFS and can be viewed at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/forest-grasslandhealth/?cid=stelprd3836640

Public outreach opportunities - NRCS understands that coordinated outreach to affected landowners is critical to successful recovery operations. Field Office staff should continue work with local interagency frameworks (such as the Mariposa Tree Mortality Task Force) to communicate with landowners and provide the TA and FA that will lead to recovery. Planning and participating in public workshops are a key component to successful outreach.

Participation in the Interagency Governor’s Task Force on Dead and Dying trees - NRCS staff from the State Office (Luana Kiger) has been assigned to represent NRCS on the Governor’s Task Force. The Task Force meets periodically and addresses coordinated interagency efforts for forest insect tree mortality recovery. http://www.fire.ca.gov/treetaskforce/

Barriers to accomplishment - Several barriers exist that must be overcome to successfully complete forest insect tree mortality projects. For example, years of decline in the forest industry in California have resulted in significant shortages of professional foresters, contract loggers and forest products utilization facilities. This is particularly true in the southern Sierra Nevada forests and in southern California. Overcoming these barrier is essential to successful, cost effective completion of the tree mortality recovery projects. Staff should work with local partners and the State/Area forestry staff to find opportunities for these difficult situations.

Lack of organized local task forces to lead local solutions - Organized local tree mortality forces are an essential part of the solution for successful implementation of projects. These organizations bring public agency and citizens together; provide a voice for local needs through political channels; provide resources to assess, plan and execute, projects; and establish priorities and improve coordination. Counties that are well organized are likely to get attention, build economies of scale, and receive funding. Good examples of local organized groups are found in Tuolumne County and Mariposa County. http://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/index.aspx?NID=966

Few Logging contractors and Registered Professional Foresters -- Some counties have very few logging contractors and the equipment needed to service potential projects. Similarly Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) are scarce. RPFs are needed when commercial forestry operations are being conducted by landowners, but also can be valuable to NRCS in guiding clients through the EQIP process. The loggers, tree service companies, and RPFs that are left are often in great demand or overwhelmed by requests for tree mortality work. Local staff should become aware of the logging contractors, arborists, and RPFs in their area, investigate their availability, and provide a list of contactors to potential clients. A list of RPFs can be found at: http://bofdata.fire.ca.gov/professional_foresters_registration/locate_a_rpf_or_crm_/registered_professional_forester/rpf_consulting_list.pdf

A list of logging contractor (Licensed Timber Operators) can be found at: http://www.fire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/downloads/LTO/Valid_LTO_List.pdf

Few wood disposal sites - Removing the dead, often insect infested trees from the property is an important practice to address fire hazard and pest reduction resource concerns. When wood utilization options (hauling wood to forest product mills, biomass plants, or export locations) are not available, development

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of community wood disposal sites is an option being considered by some counties. This option is complex with limitations such as site size, zoning restrictions, and disposal site upgrade costs (fences, power, water etc.). It will be essential to work with local task forces to secure such sites. An alternative to removal is pile burning the excess material, but this is not preferable due to air quality and fire hazard concerns.

A disposal alternative is contractors who provide mobile aerobic “air curtain” burning. These on-site machines are best used for small sized debris disposal (slash, not logs). They burn the slash with very low emissions and ash waste is left on the site. There is only one contactor in the southern Sierras with this technology (http://www.purfire.net/)

Few or distant wood utilization facilities or biomass plants - Removal and delivery of forest products such as sawlogs and biomass are a valuable commodity to help offset costs of the recovery projects and dispose of otherwise hazardous woody materials. Broad economic factors and utility markets have resulted in fewer and further facilities that will accept the tree mortality forest products. In the southern sierra, there are only two sawmills Sierra Products Industry in Standard, Tuolumne County, and Sierra Forest Industries in Terra Bella, Tulare County. While several biomass plants are found from Chinese Camp in Tuolumne County to Bakersfield, these plants routinely do not accept biomass and local contact must be made to determine their availability.

Recent progress has been made in expanding utilization opportunities via log export and extension of utility contracts for biomass utilization. Recent state legislation has resulted in extending contracts for some biomass plants. Rio Bravo in Rocklin, Placer County, is now excepting biomass material. Also, log export sort yards are found in Willits, Mendocino County.

A map of the processing facilities in the state can be found at: http://ucanr.edu/sites/WoodyBiomass/files/212812.pdf

More Bark Beetle Information - http://www.readyforwildfire.org/Bark_Beetles_Risk

Appendix 1: Forest Tree Mortality - Treatment ScenariosOverview: These are examples of practice and costs to be used for EQIP projects funded by the Forest Tree Mortality Fund Pool. They are designed for conifer forest insect tree mortality projects in the southern sierras. The examples vary by project size, level of mortality, included practices, inclusion/exclusion of hauling wood material off site.

Example: Small project with low level tree mortality.

Project description: This is for small projects with less than 5 acres and low volume or number of trees to be removed (less than 2 MBF or 5 green tons /acre, 2-5 dead trees per acre). There is no reforestation and no log removal off site. For the practice cost allowance below, all material is lop and scattered. Larger logs are left in the woods.

Practice NamePractice Number Cost unit Cost/Ac. Notes

Woody Residue Treatment 384 $235 acre $235 Option 5 Forest Slash

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Treatment Heavy

Total cost/Ac. $235

Cost based on 2016 Regular RatesMBF - Thousand Board Feet = 1000 1"x12"x12" boards that can be milled from a tree. One 24 " diameter breast height ponderosa pine tree 120 ft. tall = 1 MBFOne log truck load of logs is 5 MBF

Example: low level of insect tree mortality; < 2 MBF /ac (a few dead trees/acre)

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Forest Tree Mortality in California – FY17 Strategy and Guidance

Example: Medium size project; medium number of dead trees.

Project description: 5-20 ac project; med - high volume mortality (10 - 15 MBF/acre or 40 green tons/ac of cull, 10 to 30 dead trees per acre.); treat smaller slash on site; deck cull logs on-site. Considering hauling any merchantable logs to mill.

Practice NamePractice Number Cost unit Cost /Ac. Notes

Woody Residue Treatment 384 $ 589.62 acre $589.62

Scenario 6 Restoration /Conservation Treatment Following Catastrophic Events

Total cost/Ac. $ 590

Cost based on 2016 Regular Rates40 green tons/ac of cull is equivalent to 2 chip vans of green chips.

Example: Moderate to high level of insect tree mortality; 10-15 MBF /ac; some active insect activity; some merchantable sawlogs.

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Forest Tree Mortality in California – FY17 Strategy and Guidance

Example: High mortality; extraordinary off site hauling cost for cull logs/biomass

Project Description: 20 ac. project or greater; High volume mortality (greater than 15 MBF/acre sawlog or 60 green tons/ac cull or biomass chips, 30 to 100 dead trees per acre); Treat smaller slash on site; remove and dispose cull logs or chips with extraordinary haul distances. Harvesting and hazard complexity related to wildland urban interface setting.

Practice NamePractice Number Cost unit Cost /Ac. Notes

Obstruction Removal 500 $736 acre $736

Scenario for removal of trees less than 6"DBH for cull log/chip removal offsite

Woody Residue Treatment 384 $589.62 acre $589.62

Scenario 6: restoration/conservation treatment following catastrophic events, for slash treatment and log decking.

Total cost/Ac. $1326

Cost based on 2016 Regular RatesPractice 500 haul cost calculation: hauling woody debris is based $90/hr. hauling cost. For a 5 hr. round trip haul, cost is $450 per truck load (20 green tons). With 60 green ton/ac, total hauling cost = $1350/ac. Practice 500 Scenario 1 payment rate for disposal of trees < 6 inches is $736/ac. Scenario #2 Disposal of trees > 6 inches $1480/ac. Use of higher rate can be justified when higher woody debris levels are present.

Example: High level of insect tree mortality; >15 MBF /ac, 75% conifer tree mortality; some active insect activity; some merchantable sawlogs. Complex (expensive) urban interface setting.

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Example: REFORESTATION/TREE MORTALITY - Moderate tree mortality and site prep and reforestation of understock areas.

Project Description: 20 ac. Moderate level of mortality (less than 10 MBF/acre saw log or 40 green ton/ac. cull or biomass chips, equating to 10 to 20 trees per acre dead); treat slash on site; deck or leave large logs in forest; site prep and reforestation on deforested areas greater than 1-2 acres in continuous size.

For this type project use Forest Stand Improvement 666, Scenario #10, Wildfire and Forest Health Large Stem, for the tree thinning.

Use Tree Shrub Site Preparation 490, Scenario #2, Mechanical Shredding, Heavy Vegetation, and Tree Shrub Establishment 612, Scenario #3, Reforestation > 1 acre.

Use 490 instead 384 Scenario 6 to complete treatment of dead tree slash and site prep, has these two are similar practices and both are not needed.

Example: THINNING/ TREE MORTALITY - Moderate tree mortality and tree thinning of live overstocked forest stands

Project Description: 20 ac. Low to Moderate volume mortality (less than 10 MBF/acre saw log or 40 green ton/ac. cull or biomass chips, 5- 20 dead trees per acre); treat slash on site; deck or leave large logs in forest; understory thin overstocked live trees to create “one crown-width” distance/space between trees.

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For this type project use Forest Stand Improvement 666, Scenario #10, Wildfire and Forest Health Large Stem, for the tree thinning. Use Practice 384 Woody Residue Treatment Scenario #5 (if there is low levels of dead trees) or Scenario # 6 (for high levels of dead trees).

Note: When thinning overstocked, live, forest stands is a needed, avoid (when possible) tree thinning during the growing season. Timing of live tree harvesting, treatment of green tree slash resulting from logging operations, and minimizing damage to live trees are important to reducing further spread of insects.

Appendix 2: Forest Tree Mortality EQIP - Explanation of intent and interaction with commercial timber operations

A combination of management and environmental factors has led to an extensive conifer mortality event throughout the state of California with the highest rates of mortality in the Sierra Nevada and Traverse Ranges. The increased mortality is a major concern for the damaging effects of catastrophic wildfire on soil, water, air, wildlife, and human resources. The NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program is addressing these concerns through the Forest Tree Mortality Fund Pool.

The Forest Tree Mortality Fund Pool:

The Forest Tree Mortality Fund Pool prioritizes projects predominantly on the level of mortality, the proximity to other projects, the level of feasible treatment, and the condition the residual stand will be left in. The Fund Pool is subject to all standard EQIP rules and requirements.

How it is Different from Regular EQIP Forestry Fund Pools:

The fundamental difference in the Forest Tree Mortality Fund Pool is that it allows for commercial timber operations, as regulated under the Forest Practice Rules (California Code of Regulations, Title 14), to occur at the same time as the EQIP contract work, whereas under normal EQIP forestry fund pools contract work is not allowed to occur until commercial timber operations are complete and the first letter of completion is issued by Cal Fire.

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Example of low levels of insect tree mortality; <5 deadtrees /ac, intermingled with overstocked forest stands needing thinning. Example of post-harvest understory thinning.

Forest Tree Mortality in California – FY17 Strategy and Guidance

The other major difference is the use of Conservation Practice 384, Woody Residue Treatment, Scenario 6; Restoration/Conservation Treatment Following Catastrophic Events. This scenario is designed for handling large size and volumes of slash and woody debris from catastrophic events like this or other scenarios such as Sudden Oak Death outbreaks, stand replacing wildfire, etc. The reason the projects are allowed/ encouraged during timber operations is much of the same equipment used to handle the woody residue is used to harvest and transport commercial forest products.

How Woody Residue is defined in This Catastrophic Event:

While our thinning practices are limited to pre-commercial size classes (generally 10” diameter at 4.5 feet) insect killed trees of all sizes quickly lose commercial viability due to rapid fiber break down, secondary pests such as borers, and decay organisms. At this point, when they are no longer a “commercial tree”, they are woody residue contributing to fuel loading and increased fire severity. There are many factors influencing log markets available to land owners in Area 3 but generally speaking, poor market conditions have suppressed prices and made salvage operations for average ownerships uneconomical. Leaving this material in the forest has an obvious negative effect on the severity of wildfire and it associated impacts.

How EQIP and Commercial Timber Operations Interact:

The definition of Commercial Timber Operations is found in Public Resource Code and the applicable provisions to the projects associated with salvage logging in the mortality areas is:

"Commercial purposes" includes the cutting or removal of trees that are processed into logs, lumber, or other wood products and offered for sale, barter, exchange, or trade,

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For simplicity, regarding EQIP Forest Tree Mortality Projects, this divides operations in to two scenarios:

1. Logs/Biomass chips leave the project area = Commercial 2. Logs remain on the project area = Non-Commercial

In either situation, NRCS encourages and prioritizes projects that will remove the excess1 logs/slash/residues from the treatment areas. Removal is an applicable treatment under the 384 Woody Residue Treatment Practice Payment Scenario #6. In both removal and non-removal situations (where logs cannot be shipped to a facility or disposal area) all slash/ tops/ non-commercial material under 8 inches in diameter must be treated by chipping, shredding, or piling and burning under the 384 scenario #6.

In commercial operations, where saw logs or chip logs are being shipped to a facility or disposal area, a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) will need to file the appropriate permit with Cal Fire.

Advising Applicants on How to Proceed:

The best solution for forest health and hazard reduction relating to the mortality event is salvage logging if it is economically viable. The first step to determining this is for the land owner to contact an RPF or log buyer. If your county has a Tree Mortality Task Force or similar organization established they may have a list of foresters posted, otherwise county rosters can be found here: http://bofdata.fire.ca.gov/professional_foresters_registration/locate_a_rpf_or_crm_/

Advise the land owner that removing material from the property, whether or not it is being sold, SHOULD have a commercial permit from Cal Fire associated with it to avoid any confusion of the intent of the project.

Advise the land owner that whether or not material will be removed from the site (commercial vs. non-commercial) it is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED that a Licensed Timber Operator (LTO) or someone with working knowledge of the applicable laws be hired to perform the work associated with handling large dead trees. LTO rosters are located here: http://www.fire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/resource_mgt_forestpractice_ltos

During the resource inventory discuss other documented resource concerns such as needs for competing vegetation control, pre-commercial thinning, reforestation, etc. which could be addressed while treating woody residue caused by the mortality event. Only removing dead trees will have minimal effect on localized fire behavior if other fuel sources are not addressed. Just as with regular EQIP, we are prioritizing projects where the residual stands are resilient to future fire, drought and pest outbreaks.

1 Excess logs/slash/residues -- Not all woody debris needs to be removed or treated from the project site. Removal of the materials that are needed to address the resource concerns (usually fire hazard reduction and pest spread.) are termed excess logs/slash/debris. Some of the logs/slash/residues should be retained on the site in the form of slash on the ground (for erosion control and soil health) and large down logs and standing dead snags (for wildlife.)

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