Managing Dry Forest Northern Spotted Owl Habitat: The Beginnings of a Landscape Approach

Managing Dry Forest Northern Spotted Owl Habitat: The Beginnings of a Landscape Approach

Jerry FranklinNorm Johnson

Lack of action to reduce likelihood of uncharacteristic fire

Forest Service Land Allocation

Klamath Reservation

0 5 10 15 202.5

Miles

£¤97

Crater Lake

UpperKlamathLake

KlamathMarsh

Chiloquin

Klamath Falls

Bonanza

AgencyLake

William

so

n River

Sy

can Rive r

Yamsay Mtn.

Solomon Butte

Saddle Mtn.C

hi loqu in Rid

ge

Calimus Butte

Fuego Mtn.

Bly Mtn.

Wil liamson River

Fort Klamath

Wood Rive

r

Seven M

ile Cr e

e

k

Lost Riv er

Beatty

North Fo rk S

pra

gue Riv e r

South Fork Sprague River

Bly

Swan Lake Po int

SycanMarsh

Sy can Riv erKirk

S p ra

gue Rive r

Four Mile C r eek

Sprague Ri v er

Reservation Boundary

Streams

Highways

Timber Production

Old Growth

Special Management

Upper Williamson Management Area

Special Rec.; Yamsay Mtn.

Developed Recreation

Scenic Management

Research Natural Areas

Timber Production in Matrix (NWFP)

Late Successional Reserves (NWFP)

Sycan Wild and Scenic River

Riparian Areas

Bald Eagle Habitat

Big Game Winter Range

Map 6

º

Habitat Types Acres (thous)

PP/SAGE 16

PP/BTBR 360

MC/SNBR 89

Moist MC 40

LP 118

Total 622

Major goal: Move as much of the forest as possible toward a structurally complex ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forest as rapidly as possible, while recognizing tribal interests in increased habitat for deer and elk and other wildlife and fish and other values.

Components include: 1) large trees, 2) a spatially complex pattern of stand structural units (large tree groves and patches of dense regeneration, 3) coarse wood (snags and down logs), and 4) a well developed understory community of herbs and shrubs.

From: Interforest Report

Harold Weaver scaling logs on Ya Whee Plateau, 1929.

“This stand near Badger Creek, Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Oregon, is typical of vast areas of the ponderosa-pine region, where, as a result of total fire exclusion, dense even-aged stands of Douglas-fir reproduction are monopolizing the ground under the mature ponderosa pine.”

Weaver, Harold. 1943. Fire as an ecological and silvicultural factor in the ponderosa pine region of the Pacific Slope. Jour. Forestry 41:7-15.

“It is obvious that the present policy of attempting complete protection of ponderosa-pine stands from fire raises several very important problems.

If ponderosa-pine is desired on vast areas how, unless fire is employed, can other species such as white fir be prevented from monopolizing the ground?

Even with unlimited funds, personnel, and equipment, can they give reasonable assurance that they can continue to keep such extremely hazardous stands from burning up?”


“The present deplorable and increasingly critical conditions in vast areas of the region are proof that foresters have not solved the silvicultural problems of ponderosa pine, and to continue present policies will further aggravate an already serious situation.

This article represents the author’s views only and is not to be regarded in any way as an expression of the attitude of the Indian Service on the subject discussed.”


Harold Weaver in prescribed burn area, 1958

Historical Fire Regimes for Forested Potential Vegetation Groups

Klamath Reservation

º0 5 10 15 202.5

Miles

£¤97

Crater Lake

UpperKlamathLake

Chiloquin

Klamath Falls

Bonanza

AgencyLake

Wood Riv

e

r

Seven M

ile Cre

e k

Lost Riv er

Four Mile C re

ek

Lethal

Mixed

Nonlethal

Rarely

KlamathMarsh

Source: Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. 1996. http://www.icbemp.gov/spatial/disturbance/

Map 3a


Streams

HighwaysSycanMarsh

Current Fire Regimes for Forested Potential Vegetation Groups

Klamath Reservation

º0 5 10 15 202.5

Miles

£¤97

Crater Lake

UpperKlamathLake

Chiloquin

Klamath Falls

Bonanza

AgencyLake

Wood Riv

e

r

Seven M ile Cre

e k

Lost Riv er

Four Mile C re

ek

Mixed

Nonlethal

Rarely

Lethal

KlamathMarsh

Source: Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. 1996. http://www.icbemp.gov/spatial/disturbance/


Streams

Highways

Map 3b

SycanMarsh

Current Condition by Historical Natural Fire Regime

Klamath Reservation

Map 1


º

0-35 yrs; Condition Class 1



200+ yrs; Condition Class 1



35-100+ yrs; Condition Class 1



Agriculture & Non-Vegetative Areas

Water

Source: Fire Sciences Laboratory, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2001. http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/fuelman/

0 5 10 15 202.5

Miles

Year Acres Tot PP SP WF OS

1910 647 14.4 13.7 .14 .45 .07

% 95 1 3 1

2006 522 .9 8.3 .44 2.0 .84

% 69 4 17 7

Historical comparison of PP/MC

Total volume 2006: 6.26 billionAnnual growth: 95 million (55 pp, 5 sp, 23 wf, 10 lp)

Growth % 1.4 3.0 2.7 3.31910 est from Wilcox and Mezger 1954.

Source Habitat Type

BA<21”-----Per

BA >21”Acre-----

# Trees------

Lake (Mung 1917) PP 30 71 15

Bluejay Springs PP/BT 37 63 15

Wildhorse PP/BT 38 54 13

Metolius (YB) PP/BT 62 14

Pringle (YB) PP/BT 63 15

Mt Scott (1916) PP+MC 9 68 11PP2 OT

Reference Conditions

Source Habitat Type

BA <21”----------Per

BA >21”Acre------- ------

Lamath (Mung 1917)

MC 29 94 15 PP4 OT

Habitat Typesand Inventory Plot Types

Klamath Reservation

º


Streams

Highways

£¤97

0 5 10 15 202.5

Miles

Mixed Conifer/Snowbrush Low Stock

Mixed Conifer/Snowbrush Simplified

Mixed Conifer/Snowbrush Remnant

Mixed Conifer/Snowbrush Complex

Ponderosa Pine/Bitterbrush Low Stock

Ponderosa Pine/Bitterbrush simplified

Ponderosa Pine/Bitterbrush Remnant

Ponderosa Pine/Bitterbrush Complex

Ponderosa Pine/Sagebrush Simplified

Ponderosa Pine/Sagebrush Remnant

Moist Mixed Conifer Simplified

Moist Mixed Conifer Remnant

Moist Mixed Conifer Complex

Lodgepole pine

Other

Map 10

Habitat Type

TotBA

TotBA <21 # >21 # >32

Acres(M)

PP/BTDFCAveComplexRemnantSimplif

70-95881049771

20-3066557069

>125.4127.1.5

>21.1310

3765823070

MCDFCAveComplexRemnant

100-120121150116

30-40818682

>1591510

>3242

912163

Progression of thought on complex (old growth) forest:

1) Leave complex largely along in first 10 years (no commercial entries); focus on simplified stands

2) Allow commercial entry into mixed conifer

3) Allow commercial entry into all complex

4) Make treatments in complex a top priority

.

Habitat Typeswith Complex Forest

Klamath Reservation

º0 5 10 15 202.5

Miles


Streams

Highways

£¤97

Crater Lake

UpperKlamathLake

KlamathMarsh

Chiloquin

Klamath Falls

Bonanza

AgencyLake

Will i

amson River

S

ycan River

Bl y Mtn.

W illiamson Riv er

Wood R

iver

Seve

n Mil e Creek

Lost Riv er

Beatty

North Fo rk Spra gu e R

iver

South F ork Sprague RiverBly

Sycan Marsh

S y can R iverKirk

S

prague R iver

Four Mile C r eek

Sprague Rive r

Habitat Types

Ponderosa pine/bitterbrush

Ponderosa pine/sagebrush

Mixed conifer/snowbrush

White fir

Wet meadow

Dry meadow

Moist shrubland

Dry shrubland

Juniper

Sagebrush

No vegetation

No data

Marginal site and high elevation lodgepole pine

Moist and wet lodgepole pine

Lodgepole pine/bitterbrush

Moist mixed conifer

Map 4

Forest Service Land Allocation

Klamath Reservation

0 5 10 15 202.5

Miles

£¤97

Crater Lake

UpperKlamathLake

KlamathMarsh

Chiloquin

Klamath Falls

Bonanza

AgencyLake

William

so

n River

Sy

can Rive r

Yamsay Mtn.

Solomon Butte

Saddle Mtn.C

hi loqu in Rid

ge

Calimus Butte

Fuego Mtn.

Bly Mtn.

Wil liamson River

Fort Klamath

Wood Rive

r

Seven M

ile Cr e

e

k

Lost Riv er

Beatty

North Fo rk S

pra

gue Riv e r

South Fork Sprague River

Bly

Swan Lake Po int

SycanMarsh

Sy can Riv erKirk

S p ra

gue Rive r

Four Mile C r eek

Sprague Ri v er


Streams

Highways

Timber Production

Old Growth

Special Management

Upper Williamson Management Area

Special Rec.; Yamsay Mtn.

Developed Recreation

Scenic Management

Research Natural Areas

Timber Production in Matrix (NWFP)

Late Successional Reserves (NWFP)


Riparian Areas

Bald Eagle Habitat

Big Game Winter Range

Map 6

º

Proposed Management Emphasis

withManagement Reference Sites

Klamath Reservation

º0 5 10 15 202.5

Miles

£¤97

Crater Lake

UpperKlamathLake

KlamathMarsh

Chiloquin

Klamath Falls

Bonanza

AgencyLake

Wil liamso

n River

Sy can Ri ver

Yamsay Mtn.

Solomon Butte

Saddle Mtn.

Chil oquin Ridg

e

Calimus Butte

Fuego Mtn.

Bly Mtn.

Williamson River

Fort Klamath

Black Hil ls

Boundary Butte

Wood Rive

r

Seven M

ile Cr ee

k

Lost Riv er

Beatty

North Fo rk S

pr

ague Riv e r

South For k Sprague River

Bly

Swan Lake Point

Sycan Marsh

Sy can RiverKirk

S p ra

gue Rive r

Four Mile C r eek

Sprague Ri v er

13 14 96

4

115 17

5

7

316

1211

8

10


Streams

Highways

Reference Area1

Map 7

18

2

Forest Restoration Areas


Bald Eagle Habitat

Riparian Areas

Wet Lodgepole

Marginal Site and High Elevation Lodgepole

Lodgepole Pine/Bitterbrush

Complex Forest

Research Natural Area

Mule Deer Winter Range

Rocky Ford Reserve

Yamsay Mtn. Special Area

Restoration UnitsKlamath Reservation

º0 5 10 15 202.5

Miles

Crater Lake

UpperKlamathLake

AgencyLake


Streams

Highways

Sycan Marsh

1) NSOs and prey need areas of denser forest with shade-tolerant component for NRF habitat. A working hypothesis for these denser areas:

a) Large patches (perhaps 300 acres in size) occupying in aggregate perhaps 30% of landscape

b) Retain on moister, steeper parts of landscape where envir conditions most likely to have encouraged them under natural regime

c) Include limited fuel reduction to improve survival of old growth trees within them

d) These habitat islands can exist and function within a landscape treated to reduce stand density to reduce the potential for large scale stand replacement fire and compet pressure on old trees.

.

2) Key elements of matrix treatmenta) Silvicultural treatments focus on returning

stands to something approaching HRV in basal area and stand structure

b) Start by treating areas around old growth trees

c) Small patches (1-20 acres) of dense forest structure would be retained within the matrix for NSO and to help ensure that shade-tolerant seed source/component is not lost.

3) This restoration strategy (owl islands in a restored matrix) should be planned at the level of large natural landscape units (e.g. 10-20 M acres)

4) Developing a credible adaptive mgt. strategy will be critical both scientifically and politically given the scale of what would be proposed.

Spatially coor treatment blocks to break up fire spread

.

4) South Chiloquin block of Winema NF a good place to start (approx 50,000 acres)

a) Mostly mixed conifer habitat typesb) Little harvest or wildfire in the last decadec) Retains significant old tree legacyd) Has significant fuel loadingse) Has had a few owl activity centersf) Designated as matrix in NWFP, except for designated old growth areas in Forest Plang) Largely roaded h) Contains significant revenues to offset treatment costs

.

South Chiloquin

Klamath Reservation

º0 0.8 1.6 2.4 3.20.4

Miles


Streams

Highways

North Facing

0-10%

11-35%

> 35%

South Chiloquin

Klamath Reservation

º0 0.8 1.6 2.4 3.20.4

Miles


Streams

Highways

North Facing

0-10%

11-35%

> 35%

ONRC Roadless Areas

South Chiloquin

Klamath Reservation

º0 0.8 1.6 2.4 3.20.4

Miles


Streams

Highways

North Facing

0-10%

11-35%

> 35%

ONRC Roadless Areas

Old Growth

1) NSOs and prey need areas of denser forest with shade-tolerant component for NRF habitat. A working hypothesis for these denser areas:

a) Large patches (perhaps 300 acres in size) occupying in aggregate perhaps 30% of landscape

b) Retain on moister, steeper parts of landscape where envir conditions most likely to have encouraged them under natural regime

c) Include limited fuel reduction to improve survival of old growth trees within them

Strategically placed landscape units to break up fire-spread)

.

Documents

Managing Dry Forest Northern Spotted Owl Habitat: The Beginnings of a Landscape Approach