SkiboAppA-EA taylor cmn AMSa123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic... · 2013. 6. 19. ·...

Skibo Project Environmental Assessment

June 2013 A-1 Appendix A

APPENDIX A VEGETATION TREATMENT DESCRIPTIONS AND

UNIT SPECIFIC DESIGN CRITERIA

The table below describes the Skibo Project proposed vegetation treatments associated with Alternative 2. The treatment codes (listed with the treatment title in the first column below) are associated with each stand included for the proposed alternative. Alternative 3 (No Herbicide Use Alternative) is similar to Alternative 2, with the difference of mechanical methods of site preparation and no herbicide application. Secondary treatment codes and definitions are shown in Table A-2 and are applied as proposed to the stands in Appendix B-1. Reforestation treatment codes and definitions are shown in Table A-3 and are applied as proposed to the stands in Appendix B-1. The secondary and reforestation treatments are not indicated on the Alternative 2 Map. Tables A-4 defines the forest type codes used and Table A-5 defines the harvest mitigations that can be found for each unit in Appendix B. Table A-1: Description of Primary Treatment Types for the Skibo Project

Primary Treatment

Description

CCR

Stand Clearcut (with leave trees). An even-aged regeneration or harvest method that removes most trees in the stand producing an exposed microclimate for the development of a new age class in one entry. A minor (less than approximately ten percent of full stocking) live component is retained for reasons other than regeneration.

Coppice cut (with leave trees). A regeneration method in which most trees in the previous stand are cut and most of the regeneration is from sprouts or root suckers. A minor (less than approximately ten percent of full stocking) live component is retained for reasons other than regeneration.

SW

Seed-tree seed cut (with and without leave trees). A type of cut that removes trees except those needed for the purposes of seed production. Prepares the seed bed and creates a new age class in an exposed microenvironment. Additional trees may be retained to provide a minor (less than approximately ten percent of full stocking) live component after the removal cut, for reasons other than regeneration.

TH

Commercial thin, predominately pine and spruce stands. An intermediate harvest with the objective of reducing stand density primarily to improve growth, enhance forest health, and other resources objectives. Treatment can recover potential mortality while producing merchantable material. Thinning includes the following: chemical, crown, free, low, mechanical or row, and selection.

TH-SF Commercial thin, predominately deciduous/balsam fir stands. An intermediate harvest with the objective of reducing stand density primarily to improve growth, enhance forest health, and other resources objectives. Treatment can recover potential mortality while producing merchantable material.

NHR Non-harvest reforestation. Converting a stand back to a forested condition without harvest.

FT Fuels treatment. Fuels thinning. Selective felling of trees and shrubs for non-commercial hazardous fuels reduction purposes only.



Table A-2: Description of Secondary Treatment Types for the Skibo Project Secondary Treatments

Description

SP-MEC-SD Mechanical site preparation. Mechanical manipulation of a site to enhance the success of regeneration on sites that will be seeded, mainly jack pine or black spruce stands.

SP-MEC-N Mechanical site preparation. Mechanical manipulation of a site to enhance the success of regeneration on sites that will be naturally seeded, mainly birch stands.

SP-MEC-P Mechanical site preparation. Mechanical manipulation of a site to enhance the success of regeneration on sites that will be planted.

SP-MEC-HB Herbicide site preparation. Herbicide manipulation of a site to enhance the success of regeneration on sites that will be naturally seeded, mainly birch stands.

SP-BB Burning for site preparation. Manipulation of a site by prescribed burning to enhance the success of regeneration on sites that will be planted or seeded.

BB

Broadcast burning over most of a harvested unit. Prescribed burning activity where fire is applied to most or all of an area within well-defined boundaries for reduction of fuel hazard, as a resource management treatment, or both.

UB

Underburning over most of a mature stand, mainly pine. Prescribed burning activity where fire is applied to most or all of an area within well-defined boundaries for reduction of fuel hazard, as a resource management treatment, or both.

NHRC Non-harvest restoration by crushing for the reduction of fuel hazards.



Table A-3: Description of Reforestation Treatment Types for the Skibo Project Reforestation Treatments

Description

SDBS

Seed black spruce. Scattering or placement of seed more or less evenly over a designated area for establishment of forest stand or tree cover; includes broadcast, partial, full, or aerial seeding with or without site preparation.

SDJP Seed jack pine. Scattering or placement of seed more or less evenly over a designated area for establishment of forest stand or tree cover; includes broadcast, partial, full, or aerial seeding with or without site preparation.

SDJPBS

Seed jack pine and black spruce. Scattering or placement of seed more or less evenly over a designated area for establishment of forest stand or tree cover; includes broadcast, partial, full, or aerial seeding with or without site preparation.

SDJPRP

Seed jack pine and red pine. Scattering or placement of seed more or less evenly over a designated area for establishment of forest stand or tree cover; includes broadcast, partial, full, or aerial seeding with or without site preparation.

FPWP Full plant white pine trees. The establishment or re-establishment of forest cover by planting seedlings with or without site preparation.

UPWP Underplant white pine trees under a canopy. Provide future white pine in stand. DP Diversity plant. Provide diversity in stand.

Table A-4: Forest Type

Forest Type Codes Forest Type

1 Jack Pine

2 Red Pine

3 White Pine

8 White Spruce

11 Balsam-aspen/paper birch

12 Black spruce

16 White spruce – balsam fir

17 Upland black spruce

23 White spruce – balsam fir – aspen



Table A-5 includes descriptions (with codes) of stand-specific implementation practices needed to prepare stands for treatments. This site-specific stand direction is provided where site-specific information can be applied. All Forest Plan Operational Standards and Guidelines (Appendix C) will be considered for each stand and will be implemented if applicable, but may not be specified in the stands in the table of Appendix B-2. For example, during implementation, legacy patch location will depend on the actual size and condition of a stand (G-TM-5) and this information cannot be specified at this time. Table A-5: Stand-specific Implementation Treatment Codes and Definitions for Skibo Project Heritage Resources HR1 Site within unit will have one chain flagged buffer prior to project implementation. HR1, HR2 Site within and adjacent to unit - one chain buffer, also unsurveyed shoreline -

survey needed. HR2 Unsurveyed shoreline will be surveyed prior to project implementation if

recommended by heritage resource staff. Plants and Non-Native resources PLANT1 Rare plant occurrence. See comments for details. PLANT2 Avoid NNIS occurrences, either relocate skid trails, temp roads, landings if use

would be in growing season, OR treat before use in growing season. See comments for details.

Table A-4: Forest Type

Forest Type Codes Forest Type

24 Balsam fir

30 Mixed pines

71 Black ash-American elm/red maple

84 Red maple (dry site)

85 Sugar maple

89 Mixed hardwoods

91 Aspen

92 Paper birch

95 Aspen – white spruce/balsam fir

97 Lowland shrubs

98 Upland brush



Recreation REC1 Motorized trail within/adjacent to unit. Do not use system trails for hauling/

skidding. Minimize trail crossings. Sign trail to warn of harvest/heavy equipment activity. Pile slash/logging debris out of view of trail. Repair damage to trail as it occurs.

REC1/REC2 Shared use, all-season rec. route. Coordinate use of system trails for hauling/skidding. Minimize trail crossings. Sign trail to warn of harvest equipment activity. Pile slash/logging debris out of view of trail. Repair damage to route as it occurs.

REC2 Non-motorized trail within/adjacent to unit. Do not use system trails for hauling/skidding. Minimize trail crossings. Sign trail to warn of harvest equipment activity. Pile slash/logging debris out of view of trail. Repair damage to trail as it occurs.

REC3 Maintain 100ft buffer from edge of cleared area around developed and dispersed campsites. Retain shade trees within buffer area; trim lower branches if within fuel reduction units. Avoid periods of peak rec use.

Soils S1 Harvest ops, temp roads, skid trails limited to frozen ground conditions. No fill in

wetlands. S2 Harvest ops restricted to the dry season or to periods when the ground is frozen.

Suspend operations if excessive rutting occurs. S2/S7 Harvest ops restricted to the dry season or to periods when the ground is frozen.

Suspend operations if excessive rutting occurs. Avoid wetlands (ELT 2,4,5,6) in unit or operate under frozen conditions.

S4 On slopes >18%, confine ops to lower end of slope. Slopes >35%, use equipment and techniques to minimize ops on slopes.

S7 Avoid wetlands (ELT 2,4,5,6) in unit or operate under frozen conditions. Scenery SC1 Near Concern Level 1 road or High Scenic integrity area, follow scenic mitigations.

Follow direction in Appendix C, SKB-SC-1, pg. C-19. SC2 Minimize visual impact of management activities within area seen from water

body, rec access road, trail, or lookout. Use adequate buffers and natural screening between management and recreational areas. Pile slash/logging debris out of view of rec area.

Wildlife WL11 Goshawk post-fledging area. No disturbance during nesting season (March 1 -

August 30). WL12 Wolf den previously located in this stand. Check with Biologist for status. If

active, no disturbance during denning season (April - June). WL2 Stick nest present, maintain 50-foot buffer around stick nests. WL6 Wood turtles may be present. No harvest from May 30 - Oct. 1st. Keep all roads a

minimum of 330 feet from stream channel. Before site prep (mechanical or burning), look for wood turtles and remove from site.



Wetlands WS1 Stream > 5' in width and slope < 5%; no management within a tree length from the

ordinary high water mark of the stream unless for riparian functions. WS3 Stream < 5' in width and slope < 5% = no management within 50' from the side of

stream unless for riparian function. WS5 Lakes and Open Water Wetland with slope < 5%; no management within 100' of

ordinary high water mark unless for riparian function. Season of Operation (Interdisciplinary)

as All season

w Winter (Frozen Ground)

ws Winter or Summer (Dry or Frozen Ground)


June 2013 B-1 Appendix B

APPENDIX B PROPOSED TREATMENTS BY STAND UNIT FOR ALTERNATIVE 2

Table B-1 contains the treatment activities that would occur in each unit under Alternative 2. The treatment columns show the primary, secondary, and reforestation treatment types. If any reforestation activities are needed, it is listed in the reforestation column. This table also identifies the unit number and site-specific design criteria that would be implemented based on Appendix A treatment codes. The design criteria in Appendix C – Operational Standards and Guidelines also apply to all units. Units listed in Table B-1 with a secondary treatment of SP-HB* would have a secondary treatment of SP-MEC-N under Alternative 3.

Table B-1: Proposed Treatment by Stand Unit for Alternative 2

Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code

Alternative 2 Design Criteria

Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS

Recreation Wildlife Wetlands Scenery Soil

Heritage

1 9 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N w S1

2 9 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w S1 3 61 91 CCR BB w S1 4 6 95 CCR SP‐BB SDJPBS ws S7 5 3 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w S1 6 7 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w S1 7 8 11 CCR ws S7 8 9 12 CCR SDBS w REC1 S1 9 11 91 SW SP‐MEC‐P FPWP ws SC1 S7

10 51 2 TH UB ws PLANT2 S2 11 112 2 TH UB w PLANT2 S1




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

12 8 16 TH ws PLANT2 S2 13 15 95 CCR ws S7 14 17 95 CCR w S1 15 12 91 CCR ws S7 16 23 95 CCR w S1 17 31 95 CCR ws S7 18 25 95 CCR ws PLANT2 SC1 S7 19 10 91 CCR SP‐BB SDJP ws PLANT2 SC1 S2 20 35 23 FT NHRC ws PLANT2 REC3 SC S7 21 12 95 CCR ws REC2 S7 22 57 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws REC2 S7

23 20 92 CCR SP‐MEC‐SD SDJP ws REC2 S7

24 26 11 CCR w PLANT2 S1 25 23 1 CCR SP‐BB SDJPBS w S1 26 8 16 CCR SP‐BB SDJPBS w WL6 WS1 SC1 S1 HR2 27 19 95 CCR SP‐BB SDJPBS w WL6 WS1 SC1 S1 HR2 28 20 95 SW SP‐MEC‐P FPWP ws WL6 WS1 SC1 S7 29 26 2 TH ws PLANT2 REC2 S2 30 14 16 TH wr PLANT2 REC1/REC2 S1 31 113 91 CCR w PLANT2 REC2 S1




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

32 61 91 CCR w PLANT2 REC2 SC1 S1 HR2 33 27 92 SW SP‐MEC‐P UPWP w REC1 WS1 SC1 S1 HR2 34 19 91 SW SP‐MEC‐P UPWP w PLANT2 REC1 WS1 SC1 S1 HR2 35 13 16 TH w PLANT2 S1 36 4 2 TH as 37 4 2 TH as 38 5 2 TH ws S2 39 11 2 TH ws S2 40 11 2 TH as 41 7 2 TH ws S2 42 24 2 TH ws S2 43 9 3 TH ws S2 44 122 16 TH ws S7 45 26 2 TH ws PLANT2 S2 46 4 2 TH ws PLANT1 S2 47 65 2 TH w PLANT1 S1 48 30 2 TH ws PLANT2 S2 49 97 2 TH ws PLANT1 S2 50 36 2 TH ws PLANT2 S2 51 28 2 TH ws S2 52 24 3 TH ws WL2 S2




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

53 21 3 TH ws S2 54 11 3 TH ws S2 55 84 1 CCR SP‐BB SDJP ws PLANT2 S2/S7 56 2 91 CCR SP‐BB SDJPRP ws PLANT2 S2 57 11 2 TH UB ws S2 58 10 91 CCR SP‐BB SDJPRP w S1 59 31 2 TH UB ws PLANT2 S7 60 8 91 CCR SP‐BB SDJPRP w S1 61 18 91 CCR SP‐BB SDJPRP w S1 62 1 91 CCR SP‐BB SDJPRP w S1 63 4 2 TH UB w S1 64 13 2 TH UB ws S7 65 20 30 TH UB ws S2 66 33 3 TH UB ws S2 67 15 16 TH UB w S1 68 12 2 TH UB ws S2 69 5 95 CCR SP‐BB SDJPRP w S1 70 14 1 CCR SP‐BB SDJP ws S2 71 13 2 TH UB ws S2 72 11 91 FT UB ws S2 73 13 2 TH UB ws PLANT2 S2 HR1




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

74 5 2 TH UB ws PLANT2 REC1/REC2 SC2 S2 75 2 97 FT UB ws REC1/REC2 SC2 S2 76 15 91 FT ws PLANT2 REC1/REC2 SC2 S2 77 29 2 TH UB ws PLANT2 REC1/REC2 SC2 S7 78 10 16 TH ws S2 79 29 16 TH w S1 80 48 16 TH ws PLANT2 REC1 S2 HR1 81 83 2 TH ws REC1 S2 82 38 2 TH ws REC1 S2 83 19 2 TH ws REC1 S2 84 11 2 TH ws PLANT2 REC1 S2 85 8 2 TH ws REC1 S2 86 10 2 TH ws S2 88 17 3 TH ws S2 89 36 3 TH ws S2 90 8 2 TH ws S7 92 7 2 TH w REC1 S1 93 29 2 TH ws REC1 S7 94 4 16 TH w PLANT2 REC1 S1 95 25 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S7 96 23 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S7




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

97 19 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N w S1 98 13 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N w S1 99 23 95 CCR w S1

100 7 2 TH ws S2 101 41 95 CCR w REC1 S1 103 28 91 CCR ws REC1 S7 104 17 91 CCR ws S7 105 23 91 CCR ws S7 106 28 91 CCR w S1 107 61 91 CCR ws PLANT2 REC1 S2 108 29 71 CCR ws S2 109 14 71 CCR w REC1 S1 110 14 95 CCR w REC1 S1 111 12 1 CCR SP‐MEC‐N ws REC1 S2 112 9 91 CCR ws PLANT2 REC1 S2 113 7 11 CCR ws REC1 S2 114 7 95 CCR ws REC1 WS3 S2 115 3 71 CCR as PLANT2 WS3 116 20 95 CCR w PLANT2 WS3 S1 117 41 71 CCR w S1 118 31 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N w PLANT1 S1




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

119 34 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N w S1 120 41 91 CCR w PLANT2 S1 121 11 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N w S1 122 9 95 CCR w S1 123 12 95 CCR ws S2 124 17 95 CCR w S1 125 14 95 CCR w S1 126 3 95 CCR ws S2 127 33 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w S1 128 20 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w WS3 S1 129 18 11 CCR w WS3 S1 130 11 95 CCR w S1 131 19 11 CCR w S1 132 12 17 CCR ws S7 133 12 95 CCR w S1 134 19 95 CCR w S1 135 31 95 CCR w S1 136 9 91 CCR w S1 137 12 95 CCR w S1 138 44 95 CCR ws S7 139 35 95 CCR w S1




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

140 37 91 CCR w WS3 S1 HR2 141 14 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S2 142 24 91 CCR w S1 143 85 91 CCR w WS3 S1 144 35 16 TH ws S2 145 25 16 TH ws S2 146 22 2 TH ws S2 147 13 12 CCR SDBS w S1 148 4 12 CCR SDBS w S1 149 2 2 TH ws PLANT2 SC1 S2 150 8 95 CCR ws SC1 S7 151 7 12 CCR SDBS w S1 152 4 2 TH ws S7 153 20 2 TH ws S7 154 18 12 CCR SDBS w S1 155 15 2 TH ws S7 156 18 2 TH ws S7 157 8 1 TH ws S7 158 7 2 TH as 159 9 2 TH ws S2 160 35 95 CCR w S1




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

161 6 95 CCR as 162 44 95 CCR w S1 163 19 11 CCR w S1 164 20 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N w S1 165 14 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S2 166 59 95 CCR w S1 167 79 16 TH w S1 168 20 98 NHR ws S2 169 60 91 CCR w S1 170 49 16 CCR w S1 171 18 95 CCR ws S7 172 15 71 CCR w S1 173 9 2 TH w S1 174 7 2 TH ws S2 175 17 2 TH ws S7 176 18 2 TH ws WL11 S2 177 13 2 TH ws PLANT2 WL11 S7 178 3 2 TH as WL11 179 8 2 TH ws S7 180 41 2 TH as WL12 HR2 181 58 95 CCR as




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

182 5 24 CCR w S1 183 12 12 CCR SDBS w S1 184 37 92 CCR SP‐MEC‐N ws S7 185 7 11 CCR w S1 186 3 11 CCR w S1 187 19 11 CCR ws S7 188 13 17 CCR w WS3 S1 189 53 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S7 190 20 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S2 191 34 71 SW SP‐MEC‐N w WS3 S1 192 64 11 CCR w WS3 S1 193 16 92 CCR w S1 194 13 91 CCR w 195 18 89 CCR ws S7 196 83 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S7 197 91 11 CCR w S1 198 21 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S2 199 10 91 CCR ws S7 200 41 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S2 201 24 2 TH ws PLANT2 SC1 S7 202 32 2 TH ws SC1 S7




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

203 16 23 TH ws WS3 S7 204 30 30 TH ws REC2 SC1 S7 205 7 1 CCR w PLANT2 REC2 SC1 S1 206 14 95 CCR ws REC2 S7 207 13 89 CCR ws REC2 S2 208 14 11 CCR w REC2 WL11 S1 209 54 92 CCR ws REC2 WL11 S7 210 43 8 TH ws SC1 S7 211 13 95 TH ws S2 212 42 91 CCR ws S7 213 15 91 CCR ws WS5 SC2 S7 HR2 214 5 95 CCR w S1 215 14 12 CCR SDBS w S1 216 16 91 CCR ws S7 217 15 91 CCR w S1 218 14 91 CCR w S1 219 15 91 CCR w SC2 S1 HR2 220 13 2 TH ws SC2 S2 221 79 1 TH UB ws REC3 WS5 SC2 S7 HR1 222 15 95 SW SP‐MEC‐P FPWP ws REC3 WS5 SC2 S2 223 41 11 SW SP‐HB* ws PLANT2 S2




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

224 67 92 SW SP‐HB* w S1 225 12 92 SW SP‐HB* w S1 226 37 91 CCR ws S7 227 36 92 CCR w S1 228 19 91 CCR ws WS5 SC2 S7 HR2 229 14 85 CCR w SC2 S1 230 28 92 CCR ws WS5 SC2 S7 HR2 231 7 12 CCR SDBS w S1 232 32 91 CCR ws S2 233 38 91 CCR ws WS5 S7 234 17 91 CCR ws S2 235 21 91 CCR w S1 236 35 11 TH‐SF w S1 237 20 11 TH‐SF ws S2 238 15 11 TH‐SF w S1 239 17 11 TH‐SF ws S7 240 5 91 TH‐SF ws S2 241 116 11 TH‐SF w WS3 S1 HR2 242 10 95 CCR ws S2 243 26 91 CCR ws PLANT2 S7 244 18 91 CCR ws PLANT2 S7




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

245 21 11 CCR w S1 246 24 11 CCR ws S7 247 8 71 CCR w S1 248 32 91 CCR ws PLANT2 S7 249 37 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws WS1 S2 HR2 250 74 91 CCR ws WS1 S7 HR1, HR2 251 18 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N as S4 252 20 11 SW SP‐MEC‐N 253 12 91 CCR w S1 254 13 84 CCR SP‐MEC‐N ws S2 255 20 11 CCR SP‐MEC‐N ws S2 256 33 91 CCR ws S7 257 31 91 CCR ws S7 258 9 95 CCR ws S7 259 20 91 CCR ws S7 260 4 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N as 261 23 23 CCR ws WS3 S7 262 8 11 CCR w S1 263 17 11 CCR ws S2 264 18 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S7 265 20 95 CCR w S1




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

266 37 16 TH as 267 17 95 CCR w S1 268 21 91 CCR w S1 269 36 95 CCR w S1 270 9 91 CCR ws S2 271 66 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S2 HR1 272 19 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w WS3 S1 273 82 95 CCR w S1 274 8 17 CCR SP‐BB SDBS ws S7 275 13 91 CCR w S1 276 11 11 CCR ws REC2 WS5 SC2 S7 HR2 277 17 92 CCR ws REC2 S2 278 91 92 CCR w REC2 WS5 SC2 S1 HR1, HR2 279 24 95 CCR w REC2 S1 280 18 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws SC2 S7 281 54 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws SC2 S7 282 25 95 CCR ws S7 283 10 89 CCR ws S2 284 26 91 CCR ws S7 285 5 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S2 286 28 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S7




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

287 10 16 TH ws S2 288 18 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S2 289 5 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w S1 290 11 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w S1 291 8 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S7 292 35 17 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w PLANT1 SC1 S1 293 48 11 CCR w WS3 S1 HR1 294 8 91 CCR w S1 295 31 12 CCR SDBS w S1 296 35 12 CCR SDBS w WS1 S1 297 21 95 CCR w S1 298 32 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S7 299 31 92 CCR ws S7 300 43 95 CCR w WS3 S1 HR2 301 21 95 CCR ws S7 302 3 17 CCR SP‐BB SDBS ws S7 303 33 8 TH as SC1 S7 304 22 8 TH ws SC1 S2 305 41 91 CCR w S1 306 14 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w S1 307 21 1 CCR SP‐BB SDJP w S1




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

308 31 11 CCR ws S7 309 11 8 TH as 310 12 95 CCR as 311 29 8 TH w WS1 S1 312 22 2 TH ws PLANT2 SC1 S2 313 26 11 CCR ws SC1 S7 314 18 11 SW SP‐MEC‐P FPWP ws PLANT2 SC1 S7 315 15 92 CCR ws PLANT2 S2 HR1 316 47 92 NHR SP‐MEC‐N w S1 317 7 11 CCR SP‐BB SDJPBS ws S2 318 24 11 CCR SP‐BB SDJPBS ws S7 319 55 91 CCR ws S7 320 29 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w S1 321 11 91 CCR SP‐BB SDJPBS w S1 322 17 95 CCR ws S2 323 8 98 NHR SP‐MEC‐P FPWP ws S2 324 10 98 NHR SP‐MEC‐P FPWP w S1 325 28 11 CCR SP‐MEC‐N ws S2 326 22 11 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S7 327 48 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N w S1 328 34 11 CCR ws S2




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

329 26 11 CCR ws WS3 S7 330 19 11 CCR w S1 331 17 95 CCR ws S7 332 36 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w WS3 S1 HR2 333 156 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w WS3 S1 HR2 334 22 95 CCR BB ws S7 335 8 11 CCR w S1 HR1 336 18 11 CCR BB w S1 337 11 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws S7 338 17 11 CCR ws S7 339 8 95 CCR ws S7 HR1 340 7 95 CCR ws S7 341 21 95 CCR ws PLANT2 S7 342 6 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N ws PLANT2 S2 343 61 2 TH ws S7 344 7 95 CCR as 345 22 91 CCR as 346 13 92 SW SP‐MEC‐N w S1 347 56 95 CCR ws S2 348 59 2 TH ws PLANT2 S7 349 20 2 TH w REC1 S1




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

350 18 11 TH‐SF ws S7 351 15 11 TH‐SF w PLANT2 REC1 S1 352 30 2 TH ws PLANT2 S7 353 21 11 TH‐SF w REC1 S1 354 5 95 CCR as PLANT2 REC1 355 40 2 TH ws PLANT2 REC1 S7 356 38 2 TH w PLANT2 REC1 S1 357 13 2 TH ws S7 358 22 11 CCR SP‐HB* SDJP ws S7 359 9 2 TH ws REC1 S7 360 13 2 TH ws S7 361 17 2 TH w S1 362 128 12 CCR SP‐BB SDBS w WS1 S1 HR2 363 13 11 CCR BB ws S7 364 12 11 CCR UB ws WS1 S7 HR2 365 20 95 CCR ws S7 366 37 95 CCR w S1 367 23 11 CCR ws S7 368 7 95 CCR w S1 369 19 95 CCR w S1 370 29 11 CCR w PLANT2 S1




Unit Number Acres

Forest Type Code


Primary

Treatment

Secondary Treatm

ent

Reforestation

Season of H

arvest

Plants and

NNIS


Heritage

371 8 11 CCR w PLANT2 S1 372 9 95 CCR w PLANT2 S1 373 5 71 CCR w S1 374 7 12 CCR SDBS w S1 375 12 11 CCR ws WS1 S7 376 11 95 CCR ws PLANT2 WS1 S7 377 13 91 CCR ws PLANT2 S7 378 6 92 SW SP‐HB* ws PLANT2 S2 379 45 95 CCR w PLANT2 S1 380 32 92 SW SP‐HB* ws PLANT2 S7 HR1 381 7 91 CCR w PLANT2 S1 382 13 11 CCR ws S7 383 12 95 CCR ws PLANT2 S7 384 18 95 CCR w S1 385 18 92 SW SP‐HB* ws S2 386 48 11 TH‐SF w S1 387 11 11 TH‐SF w PLANT2 S1 388 32 11 TH‐SF w PLANT2 REC1 S1 389 60 91 NHR SP‐MEC‐N ws PLANT2 SC2 S7 390 71 91 NHR SP‐MEC‐P DP w PLANT2 SC2 S1 391 64 2 TH ws PLANT2 REC3 SC1 S2



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June 2013 C-1 Appendix C

APPENDIX C OPERATIONAL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

Introduction This document lists the Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines, State Best Management Practices, and project recommendations that are routinely employed during harvesting, road work, and prescribed burning operations. The direction in this document is applicable to all proposed actions and would be required during implementation of the proposed management activities for the Skibo Project. Forest Plan operational standards and guidelines are outlined in silvicultural prescriptions, marking plans, cruise plans, and burn plans. Personnel use these practices during on-the-ground work laying out treatment units, administering timber sales, prescribed burning, and reforestation activities. See Forest Plan p. 1-8 for a description of Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines. Some implementation practices (SKB) have been developed specifically for the Skibo Project and are also listed below. The Superior National Forest implements the Minnesota Forest Resources Council (MFRC) Voluntary Site-level Guidelines when managing forest resources. Forest Plan standards and guidelines are intended to provide equal or greater protection than MFRC guidelines. MFRC guidelines may be modified if the proposed change provides equal or greater benefits to forest resources.

Table C-1: Key to Numbering S Standard G Guideline

MFRC Minnesota Forest Resource Council Guidelines SKB Skibo Project AQ Air Quality BM Biomass FW Forest-wide HR Heritage Resources ID Insects, Diseases, and Disturbance Processes

MN Minerals PH Public Health and Hazardous Materials PU Pesticide Use

REC Recreation RTL Trails SC Scenic Resources TM Timber Management TS Transportation Systems WL Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife

WS Watershed Health, Riparian Areas, and Soil Resources

Example of Numbering S-AQ-1

Standard Air Quality

First in a series



Consistency with Minnesota Forest Resources Council (MFRC) Voluntary Site-level Guidelines G-FW-1 The Forest Service will implement the MFRC management guidelines when managing forest resources on the National Forest. These measures are described in Sustaining Minnesota Forest Resources: Voluntary site-level Management Guidelines. (Available at: http://www.frc.state.mn.us/FMgdline/Guidelines.html) Note that not all of the MFRC guidelines are repeated in this document. Air Quality and Smoke Management (AQ) S-AQ-1 Prescribed burning activities on the National Forest will only be conducted if they

comply with requirements of the most current Minnesota Smoke Management Plan.

SKB-AQ-1 Burn plans developed for the implementation of prescribed burn activities will specify which publics will be notified prior to a burn.

Biomass (BM) MFRC-BM-1 Avoid harvest of additional biomass from within RMZ’s over and above the

tops and limbs of trees normally removed in a roundwood harvest under existing timber harvesting guidelines (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg 19).

MFRC-BM-2 Avoid biomass harvesting on organic soils deeper than 24 inches that are ombrotrophic. Ombrotrophic sites typically have more than 90 percent of the basal area in black spruce, with no alder or willow in the understory (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 22). (ELT 5 & 6)

MFRC-BM-3 Avoid biomass harvesting on aspen or hardwood cover types on shallow soils (8 inches or less) over bedrock (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 22). (ELT 18)

MFRC-BM-4 Ensure that landings or on-site areas used to store biomass are in a condition that favors regeneration and growth of native vegetation and trees after use (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 23).

MFRC-BM-5 Avoid additional biomass harvest from erosion-prone sites (e.g., those sites on steep slopes of 35 percent or more) over and above the tops and limbs of trees normally removed in a roundwood harvest under existing timber harvesting guidelines (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 23).

MFRC-BM-6 Avoid re-entry into the general harvest area of a site with a second operation for the purpose of harvesting biomass once regeneration has begun or planting has been completed (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 25).

MFRC-BM-7 If using a re-entry into a previously harvested site: Retain slash piles that show evidence of use by wildlife. Piles left on site for an extended period may be inhabited by species such as Canada lynx, black bears, and other wildlife known to den in slash piles. In addition, consider retaining slash piles that are difficult to access (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 26).

MFRC-BM-8 Leave all snags possible standing in harvest areas. Snags cut for safety reasons should be left where they fall (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 27).



MFRC-BM-9 Retain and limit disturbance to all pre-existing coarse woody debris (except in skid trails or landings) (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 27).

MFRC-BM-10 Avoid biomass harvest in leave tree clumps, except tops and limbs of trees normally removed in a roundwood harvest under existing timber harvesting guidelines (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 28).

MFRC-BM-11 Retain and scatter tops and limbs from 20 percent of trees harvested in the general harvest area (one “average-sized” tree out of every five trees harvested) (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 28).

MFRC-BM-12 If harvesting brush and small tress for biomass associated with a timber harvest, leave 20 percent of this material on the site. This material may be run over or cut, but it should remain on site (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 28).

MFRC-BM-13 For soils with 8–20 inches of soil over bedrock and droughty sands, consider that the recommended retention of one-third or more of fine woody debris on the site benefits soil productivity as well as biodiversity. Fine woody debris should be distributed relatively evenly throughout the site rather than piled (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 29).

MFRC-BM-14 Avoid biomass harvesting in native plant communities listed in (MFRC Guidelines) Appendix J and Appendix 2 (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 19).

MFRC-BM-15 When harvesting understory vegetation for fuel reduction: Retain understory vegetation in several reserve patches that total at least 20 percent of the harvest area (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 23).

MFRC-BM-16 When harvesting understory vegetation for fuel reduction: Retain snags greater than 12 inches DBH and down logs where at least one end is greater than 12 inches in diameter and 6 feet in length. Place emphasis on retaining only larger snags and pre-existing coarse woody debris, because these larger fuels do not contribute as much to the initial speed and flame length of a wildfire (MFRC, Forest Biomass Harvesting, pg. 23).

Watershed Health, Riparian, and Soil Resources (WS)

Watershed Health S-WS-2 Excavated soil material, construction debris, spoils or debris from dredging

projects, and debris and soil moved from upland sites during timber management activity (such as timber harvest, shearing or brush raking) will be deposited or spread out in upland locations. Stabilize soil deposited in this manner with vegetation.

S-WS-3 Salvage and reuse topsoil for site rehabilitation during construction projects or other land use activities. When topsoil is unsuitable for reuse, other methods or tools such as sodding, hydro-seeding, fertilization, or erosion-resistant matting may be used to help rehabilitate disturbed areas.

S-WS-6 Management activities involving heavy equipment crossing (by road, trail, or skid trail) of any stream or drainage ditch, or operations on the immediate shoreline of any lake or open water wetland will be designed and conducted in a way that:



a. Limits the number of crossing locations to the absolute minimum needed to conduct the activity.

b. Maintains or improves channel stability (dimension, pattern and profile) or shoreline stability in the affected or connected waters.

c. Uses filter strips as directed by Forest Plan guideline G-WS-4 and MFRC site level guidelines.

G-WS-1 Restore eroded sites, generally employing natural-appearing stabilization materials. Native species will be used in the restoration of vegetative cover. Non-native annuals may be used as nurse crops to obtain rapid stabilization while slower-growing native species are becoming established. For Riparian Areas as a Whole (Both the Aquatic and Non-aquatic Portions).

Non-Aquatic portion of Riparian Areas

MFRC-WS-1 Filter strips of appropriate widths will be applied to all perennial and intermittent streams, lakes, open water wetlands and seasonal ponds. Filter strip widths are dependent upon the slope of the land between activity and water body:

0-10% slope: 50-foot filter strip 11-20% slope: 70-foot filter strip 21-40% slope: 110-foot filter strip >40% slope: 150-foot filter strip

Filter strips are applied independently of the width of the riparian management zone and except when the recommended 5 percent maximum level of mineral soil exposure is unacceptable for the regeneration of certain desired species:

Limit mineral soils exposure to less than 5 percent, well distributed throughout the filter strip.

Avoid concentrating disturbance in the filter strip, to prevent concentration of flows across the filter strip.

G-WS-4 On slopes averaging 18 percent or steeper, the width of filter strips adjacent to lakes or streams will be either 150 ft. from the ordinary high water mark, 150 ft. from the bankfull elevation, or the width of the entire slope that is adjacent to the water’s edge, whichever is greater.

Exceptions to filter strip guidelines are allowed for projects specifically designed for stream, lakeshore, or wetland restoration.

G-WS-5 In project areas subject to soil or vegetation disturbance, where the landward limit of the functional riparian area has not been site-specifically identified as part of project planning, a default “near bank” and “remainder” riparian management zone width of 100 feet each will generally be used along lakes, open water, wetlands, and streams.

Near-Bank Riparian Management Zone S-WS-9 Within the near-bank zone, harvest trees only to maintain or restore riparian

ecological function.



S-WS-10 Within the near-bank zone, do not deposit debris or spoils from maintenance, construction, or dredging. However, depositing materials for habitat improvement or restoration is allowed.

G-WS-6 Within the near-bank zone, minimize soil disturbance and avoid activities that may destabilize soils or add sediment to the water.

G-WS-7 Within the near-bank zone, minimize mowing or any other activity involving intensive removal of understory vegetation.

Soils

G-WS-8 Follow the limitations on management activities as specified in Table G-WS-8.



Table G-WS-8: Limits on Management Activities Designed to Safeguard Soil Productivity on Superior National Forest. (Mitigations are shown as codes which are listed and explained in Table G-WS-8a. A brief description of each ELT, and principle threats to soil productivity associated with activities on each ELT, is shown in Table G-WS-8b).

Activity/Limitation 1 2 3 4 5** 6 7 8 9 10 11 12** 13 14 15 16 17 18**

Skidding Ax, B A Ax , B A #, A A B, E E

B, E Ax

B, E

#,A, E B

Ax, B,

Ax,B

Ax,B, E

#,Ax, B, E

#, A, E

Landings A A A A #, A A + + -- Ax + -- + Ax Ax #, Ax # --

Whole tree Logging + + + + -- # #, E, F

+, E, F

#, E, F

+#, E, F

-- + + + +, E, F

#, E, F,

#, E, F,

Tracked vehicles (feller buncher etc) Ax A Ax A #, A A + + # + + # + + + + # #, A

Temp roads, trails #, Ax #, A

#, Ax

#, A #, A

#, A + + +

Ax,B + -- + Ax Ax + -- --

Discing Az, B -- Az,B -- -- -- B B --

Az,B B -- B

Az, B Az B -- --

Reforestation + + + + E + E, F + + + E, F E, F + + + E, F

E, F E, F

Machine Planting Ax, B -- Ax,B -- -- --

Ax, B

Ax, B

#, B

Ax,B B -- B

Ax, B

Ax,B B -- --

Bracke scarification and Barrel scarification Az -- Az -- -- -- C, E

C, E # Az

C, E -- C Az Az

C, E

C, E --

Blading, Shearing, Rockraking

Ax, B A

Ax,B A #, A A D, E

D. E

D, E

Ax,D

D, E

#, D, E D

Ax, D

Ax,D

Ax,D, E

-- --

Machine Piling/Bundler Ax A Ax A #, E E E E -- + E #, E, + + + E E #, E

Prescribed Fire + + + + #, E, F, G +E, F,

G

E, F, G

#, E, F, G

+E, F, G

#, E, F, G + + +

E, F, G

E, F, G

#, E, F, G

Use of low psi tires or other equipment with similar integrity

H H H H H H + + + + + -- + + + + H H



Table G-WS-8a: Activity Limit Codes Used in Table G-WS-8

Code Activity Limitation Designed to Protect Soil Productivity

**

No activities are permitted on these ELTs for purposes of timber production. Activities done for salvage, or to achieve other multiple use desired conditions or objectives are strongly discouraged on these ELTs and are subject to any applicable limitations shown elsewhere in this table.

+ Practice permitted on this ELT, subject to any applicable limitations specified elsewhere in this table.

-- Practice not permitted on this ELT.

# Practice is strongly discouraged on this ELT. If undertaken, it is subject to any applicable limitations specified elsewhere in this table.

A Limit activity to frozen soil (frozen to a depth that will support equipment that is being used).

Ax Limit activity to frozen soil (frozen to a depth that will support equipment that is being used) or during normal dry period (generally July 1- Sept 15).

Az Limit activity to normal dry period (generally July 1- Sept 15).

B

On slopes exceeding 18%, confine operations to the lower end of slopes and avoid creating long uninterrupted equipment “paths” that could channel water and erode soil. For slopes that exceed 35%, design for and favor activities that would provide for use of equipment and techniques that minimize operations on these slopes.

C Bracke scarification not allowed when slopes exceed 18%.

D Shearing not allowed on unfrozen ground when slopes exceed 18%, with the exception that it may be permitted during dry conditions if mineral soil is not exposed.

E Retain/return distributed slash or woody debris and, where appropriate, retain stumps and bark on site.

F

Determine long term strategy on these ELTs for soil nutrient and tree nutrient efficiency. Favor maintaining or converting to pine/conifer type within LE vegetation composition by type objectives, and favor vegetation objectives for older growth stages. If existing stand is aspen/birch, favor partial cut & under plant to convert, or leaving more residual basal area when converting.

G Follow G-WS-10.

H Take precautionary measures to minimize soil disturbance when using this equipment on these sites.



G-WS-9 During resource management activities, minimize adverse impacts to soil productivity by striving to have no more than 15 percent of a treatment area in a detrimentally compacted, eroded, rutted, displaced, or severely burned condition.

G-WS-10 When conducting prescribed burns on ELTs 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17, and 18, minimize the loss of forest floor (surface O layer). Provide for one of the following:

a. Igniting burns only when the Canadian Fire Weather Index System Build Up Index (BUI) is 50 or less. (If the BUI system becomes outdated, another predictive model or index system may be used provided it affords a level of organic soil layer protection that is equivalent to a BUI of 50 or less.)

b. Adjustment of ignition timing and firing patterns c. Taking into account vegetation type, topography, number of days since

precipitation, wind, air temperature, humidity, and fuel loadings.

G-WS-11 On Ecological Land Types (ELTs) 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17, and 18, management activities used for vegetation competition control will be designed and conducted in ways that minimize loss of the forest floor (surface O layer and duff layer).

Wetlands

S-WS-11 Activity fuels will not be pushed into windrows that encircle wetlands.

G-WS-12 Use of wetlands under frozen conditions for temporary roads and skid trails will generally be permitted as long as no fill is placed in the wetland. These roads or trails will be blocked to discourage vehicle use under unfrozen conditions.

G-WS-13 Wetland impacts will be avoided whenever possible. Where impacts are unavoidable, minimize and compensate for loss when undertaking projects.

G-WS-14 Avoid felling trees into non-forested wetlands except where done for purposes of habitat restoration.

G-WS-15 Wetlands will be managed to prevent the reduction of their water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and aesthetic values. Management actions will not reduce water quality within a wetland, or upstream or downstream of a wetland, unless restoration of natural conditions is the primary goal of the activity.

MFRC-WS-1 Seasonal ponds and other lowland inclusions provide important habitat for woodland insects, amphibians and other species. Seasonal ponds have an identifiable edge caused by annual flooding and may be identified during dry periods by the lack of forest litter in the depression.

In upland stands, seasonal (vernal) ponds and other small lowland inclusions identified during layout will be protected with a minimum 50 filter strip. This buffer can be used to help meet legacy patch and/or reserve tree needs. If this buffer is not being used to help with legacy patch needs then on sites with wind firm soils limited harvest can occur within this buffer, but a minimum of 80 basal area should be retained (MFRC, General guidelines, pg. 24-28; 73). Care should be taken to keep equipment out of the pond itself.



Insects, Diseases, and Disturbance Processes (ID) G-ID-1 Minimum Impact Management Tactics1 (MIMT) will generally be utilized on

wildland fire suppression and prescribed fire application to reduce adverse fire suppression effects. Considerations shall include both operations and logistical functions.

G-ID-3 Avoid delivery of chemical retardant, foam, additives, or gray water to all surface waters and riparian areas.

SKB-ID-1 Utilize existing natural or man-made barriers, such as drainages, cliffs, streams, roads, and trails instead of constructed firelines for prescribed fire and suppression activities where practical and safe for firefighters and the public. (note this is G-ID-3)

Minerals (MN) D-MN-1 Exploration and development of mineral and mineral material resources is

allowed on national Forest System land, except for federally owned minerals in designated wilderness (BWCAW) and mining Protection Area (MPA)

D-MN-2 Ensure that exploring, developing, and producing mineral material resources are

conducted in an environmentally sound manner so that they may contribute to economic growth and national defense.

S-MN-2 The removal of more than 5,000 cubic yards of mineral materials per year from

any source requires an approved development and reclamation plan. Pesticide Use (PU) MFRC-PU-1 Employ integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.

MFRC-PU-2 Use only pesticides registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

MFRC-PU-3 Read and follow all label directions carefully prior to using any pesticide.

MFRC-PU-4 Maintain current labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

MFRC-PU-5 Evaluate other factors besides effectiveness and cost when selecting among pesticide options.

MFRC-PU-6 Promote protection or growth of mast species and browse.

MFRC-PU-7 Favor band treatment or spot treatment over broadcast treatment.

MFRC-PU-8 Select pesticides, application methods, equipment, and formulations that:

Minimize the potential for pesticide drift

Minimize pesticide residue movement to surface water and ground water MFRC-PU-9 Leave untreated or selectively treated areas adjacent to travel routes and

recreation areas. 1 http://www.wildfirelessons.net/documents/GB_MIST_Guidelines.pdf



MFRC-PU-10 Treat spills properly.

Act quickly

Protect yourself

Control the spill

Contain the spill

Guard the site

Notify the authorities

Clean up the spill MFRC-PU-11 Maintain an adequate spill kit.

MFRC-PU-12 Inspect all containers prior to loading, and ensure that all caps, plugs, and bungs are tightened.

MFRC-PU-13 Exercise care and caution during mixing and loading of pesticides.

MFRC-PU-14 Avoid mixing near wells or where pesticide spills could enter open water or wetlands.

MFRC-PU-15 Mix and load pesticides outside of riparian management zones, filter strips, and other reserve areas.

MFRC-PU-16 Replace pour caps and close bags or other containers immediately after use.

MFRC-PU-17 Provide an air gap between the water source and the mixture surface to prevent backsiphoning.

MFRC-PU-18 Avoid filling pesticide mixing or application equipment directly from surface water unless the equipment contains proper and functioning anti-backsiphoning mechanisms.

MFRC-PU-19 Triple rinse all empty plastic and metal pesticide containers and add the rinse water to the spray solution.

MFRC-PU-20 Ensure that pesticide applicators are properly licensed.

MFRC-PU-21 Protect vegetation that is part of a cultural resource if it will be impacted by herbicide applications.

MFRC-PU-22 Mark the boundaries of the area for treatment.

MFRC-PU-23 Refer to label directions before applying a herbicide.

MFRC-PU-24 Avoid applying pesticides when the likelihood of significant drift exists.

MFRC-PU-25 Use a drift control where appropriate.

MFRC-PU-26 Consider applying pesticides near dawn or dusk, when wind speeds are generally lowest.

MFRC-PU-27 Apply pesticides when wind speeds are 10 mph or less for ground broadcast application.



MFRC-PU-28 Check all application equipment carefully, particularly for leaking hoses and connections and plugged or worn nozzles.

MFRC-PU-29 Calibrate spray equipment periodically to achieve uniform pesticide distribution and rate.

MFRC-PU-30 Employ the lowest reasonable equipment pressure when applying pesticides.

MFRC-PU-31 Mix pesticides in upland areas, where practical.

MFRC-PU-32 Apply pesticides in accordance with the product label.

MFRC-PU-33 Avoid applying pesticides on small wetland inclusions in upland areas.

MFRC-PU-34 Avoid cleaning pesticide application equipment in surface waters.

MFRC-PU-35 Clean equipment in areas where pesticide residues will not enter streams, lakes, wetlands or groundwater.

MFRC-PU-36 Rinse mixing apparatus at least three times.

MFRC-PU-37 Apply rinsate in spray form to the area to be treated.

MFRC-PU-38 Dispose of pesticide wastes and containers according to state and federal laws.

MFRC-PU-39 Rinse all empty plastic and metal pesticide containers three times, and add the rinse water to the spray solution.

MFRC-PU-40 Dispose of the triple-rinsed containers in one of two ways:

By recycling through an approved program.

As ordinary solid waste at a landfill licensed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

SKB-PU-1 All guidelines presented in Forest Service Manual 2150, Pesticide Use Management and Coordination, in Forest Service Handbook 2109.14, Pesticide Use Management and Coordination Handbook, and in the Forest Service Health and Safety Code Handbook chapter 22.1 would be observed.

SKB-PU-2 Weather forecasts will be obtained prior to herbicide treatment. Treatment activities will be halted, if necessary, to prevent runoff during heavy rain events.

SKB-PU-3 Applicators would be trained in safe and proper herbicide application techniques as detailed in the Health and Safety Code Handbook, Job Hazard Analyses, and herbicide labels.

Timber (TM) S-TM-4 Five years after clearcutting or final removals in seed tree or shelterwood harvest,

stands must be adequately restocked. The minimum trees per acres necessary to adequately restock forests after even-aged tree harvest are shown in Table S-TM-4 by forest type group.



Table S-TM-4: Minimum trees per acres at five years of age necessary to adequately restock forests after tree harvest.

Forest Type Group Minimum Trees* per Acres Conifers 400

Northern Hardwoods, Birch, and Ash 1,000

Aspen 4,000 *Any commercial tree species may be included in the minimum

G-TM-4 Allow harvest of white cedar trees (in any forest type) only when re-growth of cedar is likely to be successful or for research purposes.

G-TM-5 In stands 20 acres or larger that were regenerated with clearcuts, retain a minimum of 5 percent of the stand in legacy patches of live trees where no harvest occurs. Wherever possible these should be at least two acres in size. These legacy patches will protect soil organic matter and associated organisms and remaining vegetation will aid in the re-colonization of the adjacent managed area.

G-TM-6 In northern hardwoods forest types, generally maintain a closed canopy (70 percent or greater where possible) of mature forest vegetation in a minimum 200-foot zone surrounding seasonal ponds. Seasonal ponds included in this guideline must typically persist at least six weeks and be free of fish. The area will generally be managed to prevent the soil and water from warming excessively, to prevent erosion, and to provide large woody debris and leaf litter.

MFRC-TM-1 Legacy patches should be no less than one-quarter acre in size (MFRC, Ch. 2, Wildlife Habitat, pg. 44). When locating legacy patches or leave tree clumps consider including important features such as wetland inclusions, seasonal ponds, riparian areas, forested corridors, den trees, cavity trees, trees with stick nests, large mature white pine, rare plant locations and rare native plant communities (MFRC, Timber Harvesting, pg. 35). Patches should be in representative habitats throughout the site (MFRC, Chap. 2, Wildlife Habitat, pg. 43).

MFRC-TM-2 In general, retain a minimum of 6-12 live leave trees per acre to provide present and future benefits including shelter, resting sites, cavities, perches, rest sites, foraging sites, mast, and coarse woody debris. The trees will be at least six inches in diameter and include at least two trees per acre from the largest size classes available on site. A variety of species would be selected for within-stand species and structural diversity. (MFRC, General Guidelines, pg. 75-77).

MFRC-TM-3 Leave trees may be left individually or in clumps ranging from one-quarter acre and larger. Minimal harvest within clumps is acceptable (down to a minimum of 80 BA) as long as the integrity of the clump or key leave trees is not disturbed, and as long as the clump is not doubling as a legacy patch (MFRC, Timber Harvesting, pg. 35).



MFRC-TM-4 Unmerchantable trees, dead standing trees and trees not designated for harvest will be left. The operator will be allowed to fell (and leave in place) a portion of these trees in areas where deemed necessary to facilitate the logging operations, as well as for safety reasons (MFRC, Timber Harvesting, pg. 33).

MFRC-TM-5 “Consider retaining more than the recommended number of leave trees in harvest sites of greater than 100 acres. This practice would better mimic natural disturbances, such as fire and windstorm” (MFRC, Timber harvesting, pg. 40).

Landings (from MFRC Guidelines, p. 26 - 27)

Specify the number and location of landings as part of the harvesting agreement.

Size landings to the minimum required for the acres to be harvested, the equipment likely to be used, and the products to be cut.

Plan roads and landings to occupy no more than one to three percent of the timber harvest area. See Figure TH-8.

Locate landings so that they are:

On upland areas whenever practical. On stable ground. Outside of filter strips or the riparian management zone (RMZ), whichever is

wider, where practical (See General Guidelines: Maintaining Filter Strips (pages 24-28) and General Guidelines: Managing Riparian Areas (pages 29-67).

Away from areas where a cultural resource is present. Avoid landings in locations that will concentrate runoff from surrounding

areas onto the landing. Use an appropriate combination of ditches, water bars, and outsloping to keep the landing area dry.

Avoid locating landings and yarding areas on open water wetlands. Skidding and Skid Trails (from MFRC Guidelines, p. 22)

Locate, design, construct and maintain skid trails to minimize damage to cultural resources or to the residual stand; minimize rutting; maintain surface and subsurface water flows in wetlands; and reduce erosion and sedimentation to protect water quality.

Lay out skid trails to minimize the number of skid trails and site disturbance while also achieving necessary operating efficiency.

If practical and feasible, keep skid trails away from cultural resource areas. Avoid locating skid trails in filter strips and riparian management zones

(RMZs). See General Guidelines: Maintaining Filter Strips and General Guidelines: Managing Riparian Areas.

Avoid construction of skid trails with grades exceeding thirty-five percent. Limit skid trails to no more than ten to fifteen percent of the timber harvest

area. Limit equipment traffic off the skid trails to no more than twenty to thirty percent of the area with no more than one to two passes with heavy equipment. (Small or irregularly shaped units may result in higher percentages



of area occupied by infrastructure.) (See General Guidelines: Designing Operations to Fit Site Conditions, page 20.)

Skid low on a slope or across a slope to minimize erosion. Minimize long, straight skid trails that channel water. If long stretches cannot

be avoided by careful sighting, provide adequate drainage to avoid concentration of surface water flow. Divert water by proper shaping of the trail surface and by using broad-based dips, lead-off ditches or water bars. See Forest Road Construction and Maintenance: Drainage.

Use full-tree skidding rather than tree-length skidding in the vicinity of a cultural resource, if practical and feasible.

Concentrate equipment traffic on skid trails. Maximize the area not impacted by traffic by concentrating equipment movements to common trails. Skidders should always use skid trail routes, rather than the shortest distance, to travel to and from landings.

Concentrate skidding to a set of well-developed skid trails for upland sites with mineral soils.

Avoid concentrating well-developed skid trails on shallow and deep organic soils. Operations on organic soils should only occur when soils are adequately frozen.

Prepare skid trails for anticipated traffic needs to avoid unnecessary maintenance or relocation of trails. Techniques can include packing of snow or ground cover to ensure freezing, placing of slash mats on skid trails prior to skidding, or the use of appropriate wetland road construction methods to provide a stable trail surface.

Maintain skid trails in good repair so that additional skid trails are not required.

Reuse skid trails for thinning operations as trails for future thinnings and final harvest.

If skid trails do not hold up (resulting in excessive rutting or requiring the need to create new skid trails), curtail operations until soils dry out.

Vegetation Management (VG) Vegetation Composition and Structure

S-VG-4 In mature or older red and white pine forest types managed to maintain patch sizes of >100 acres, vegetation management treatments that maintain a sixty percent minimum canopy closure and maintain large diameter trees are allowable.

G-VG-3 In Spatial Zones 1 and 2, in mature and older upland forest types managed to

maintain patch sizes of ≥300 acres, vegetation management treatments are allowable where they maintain a 50% (60% for red and white pine) minimum canopy closure at time of treatment and favor retention of larger and older trees characteristic of the patch.



Terrestrial & Aquatic Wildlife (WL)

Lynx

G-WL-2 Provide for the protection of known active den sites during denning season.

Bald Eagle

S-WL-3 Management activities for the bald eagle will be governed by Northern Lakes States Bald Eagle Recovery Plan: 1983 (From the Northern States Bald Eagle Recovery Plan 1983 –USFWS) Disturbance Buffer Zones for Nest Trees.

1. Primary Zone: 330 feet from the nest. All land use except actions necessary to protect or improve the nest site should be prohibited in this zone. Human entry and low-level aircraft operations should be prohibited during the most critical and moderately critical periods, unless performed in connection with eagle research or management by qualified individuals. Motorized access into this zone should be prohibited. Restrictions on human entry at other times should be addressed in the breeding area management plan considering the types, extents, and durations of proposed or likely activities.

2. Secondary Zone: 660 feet from the nest. Land-use activities that result in significant changes in the landscape, such as clearcutting, land clearing, or major construction, should be prohibited. Actions such as thinning tree stands or maintenance of existing improvements can be permitted, but not during the most critical and moderately critical periods. Human entry and low-level aircraft operations should be prohibited during the most critical period unless performed in connection with necessary eagle research and management by qualified individuals. Roads and trails in this zone should be obliterated, or at least closed during the most and moderately critical periods. Restrictions on human entry at other times should be addressed in the breeding area management plan, considering the types, extents, and durations of proposed or likely activities.

3. Tertiary Zone: ¼ mile from the nest, but may extend up to ½ mile if topography and vegetation permit a direct line of sight from the nest to potential activities at that distance. The configuration of this zone, therefore, may be variable. Some activities are permissible in this zone except during the most critical period. Each breeding area management plan may identify specific hazards that require additional constraints.

Roosting and Potential Nest Trees a) Three or more super-canopy trees (preferably dead or with dead tops) should be identified and preserved within ¼ mile of each nest as roosting and perching sites.

b) In areas identified as potential nesting habitat, there should be at least 4 - 6 over-mature trees of species favored bald eagles for every 320 acres within 1320 feet of a river or lake larger than 40 acres. These trees should be taller than surrounding trees or at the edge of the forest stand, and there should be clear flight paths to them.



Regional Forester Sensitive Species (WL) All Sensitive Species

G-WL-11 Avoid or minimize negative impacts to known occurrences of sensitive species.

Gray Wolf

G-WL-10 Provide for the protection of known active gray wolf den sites during denning season.

Boreal owl

S-WL-6 Prohibit management activities within 300 feet of known nest sites.

G-WL-13 Minimize activities that may disturb nesting pairs during critical nesting season (March 1-June 1).

Great gray owl

G-WL-14 Allow, to the extent practical, only activities that protect, maintain, or enhance site conditions within 660 feet of a known nest site.

G-WL-15 Minimize activities that may disturb nesting pairs during critical nesting season (March 1 - June 1).

Three-toed woodpecker

G-WL-17 Protect known nest sites within a 200-foot radius surrounding nest sites until young have fledged.

G-WL-18 Where ecologically appropriate, retain 6-10 jack pine per acre in even-aged regeneration harvests in mixed conifer stands.

Sensitive Fish, Mollusks, Aquatic Insects

G-WL-19 Protect known sensitive mussel beds.

G-WL-20 Avoid management activities that may change microclimate or microhabitat conditions in steep ravines or on cliffs and talus slopes that are known or are highly likely to harbor sensitive plants.

Sensitive Plants

G-WL-20 Avoid management activities that may change microclimate or microhabitat

Date post:	26-Jan-2021
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