Randell C Miller, Central Coast RD – ODNRA, Siuslaw NF, rcmiller@fs.fed.us

The encompassing goal of my work for the Forest Service (FS) is to Support the FS Mission by integrating its wildlife goals with its other goals

1) supporting recovery of threatened or endangered species and…

Marbled murreletOregon silverspot butterfly

Northern spotted owl

2) supporting at least viable populations of all native and desired non-native species (FSM 2602)

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Northern spotted owl

Ruffed grouse

Roosevelt elkNorthern flicker

Western pond turtle

Oregon Silverspot butterfly

Seral Stage

Historic Natural range of

variability in Oregon

Coast Range

Existing amount of FS land in a

typical 40-50,000 acre watershed

Difference between

existing and historic

abundance

Early – grass, forb, shrub, sapling, pole

(<30 years old)

12-29% 4% 8 – 25% less than historic

levels

Young (30-80 years old)

15-31% 56%25-41% more than historic

levels

Mature (80-200 years old)

12-28% 36%8-24% more than historic

levels

Old Growth (>200 years old)

29-52% 4%25-48% less than historic

levels

•We have four species threatened We have four species threatened with extinction because of these with extinction because of these conditionsconditions

The Siuslaw National Forest has three threatened wildlife species affected by low amounts of these habitats; two are associated with old growth forest and one is associated with native coastal meadows Oregon

silverspot butterflyMarbled murrelet

Northern spotted owl

Rufus hummingbird: forb and shrub nectar plants

Pacific slope flycatcher: deciduous hardwoods

Orange crowned warbler: deciduous shrubs & trees

Western bluebird: early seral with snags

I can propose projects, but I need more than general goals.

I need measurable stand-scale goals that can be used for treatment prescriptions.

97% of areas where forest management occurs on Central Coast RD – ODNRA is allocated to older forest management

97% of areas where forest management occurs on Central Coast RD – ODNRA is allocated to older forest management

Old growth has really big live and dead trees, but how many?

What else is important in old growth forest habitat?

Can I do anything about early seral habitats while restoring old growth forest habitat?

Pawn Trail old growth

Pawn Trail old growth

Old growth forest: Pawn Trail (trees greater than 300 years old)

Old growth forest; Camp Creek

Camp Creek old growth: ~8 tpa in overstory

Forty year old plantation thinned to 60-80 tpa

Mature: ~20 tpa

Old growth: 3-8 tpa

OVER STORY Trees per acre (tpa)

30tpa 199217 tpa

2009

40 tpa 2009

Planted 1963. Commercially thinned about 1995 to about 40 tpa, meadow created, and underburned.

Desired condition for old growth forest is about 10 overstory conifer trees per acre (tpa), large dead wood, about 4-19 large hardwood tpa, and diverse understory (grasses, forbs, shrubs, young trees)

Enough overstory conifers and hardwoods trees to make it to old growth condition

Large limb and cavity development Other considerations

Protect nesting northern spotted owls, marbled murrelets, and bald eagles.

Thin stands less than 80 years old, and retain at least 40% canopy cover.

trees greater than 50” dbh with large cavities or large limbs

Flying squirrel: big leaf maple, mycorrhizal fungi, and tree cavities

Woodrat: shrubs and hardwood trees Other species eaten by northern spotted owls

that are associated with early seral habitat: cottontail rabbit, chipmunk, certain voles

Canopies close when…• 60 Douglas-fir per acre are about 20-25” dbh• 40 Douglas-fir are 30-35” dbh • 13 Douglas-fir are about 90” dbh

Maintain viability of fish and plant species Provide diverse opportunities for esthetic,

consumptive, and scientific uses of fish, wildlife, and plants (FSM 2602).

Protect water quality…(FSM 2522.02). Protect cultural and heritage resources (FSM

2361). Develop safe, cost-effective fire

management activities …(FSM 5102). Provide economic, especially timber, as well

as recreation opportunities for people (FSM 2411.02, 2302, and 2602).

Treat stands less than 80 years old Keep at least 40% canopy cover in majority

of stands Promote development of

Large conifer and hardwood trees Large tree cavities, snags, and down wood Grasses, forbs, and shrubs

Create down wood and snags Produce economically viable timber sales Use some funds from sale of timber to

create dead wood, maintain meadows, improve water quality, and implement other restoration projects

Prescription 1 – heavy thinning

Prescription 2 – moderate thinning

Prescription 3 – light thinning

Prescription 4—Release individual conifer trees

Prescription 5—Release clumps of conifer trees

Prescription 6—Release Oregon big-leaf maple

Prescription 7—Create canopy gaps that are

¼ - 1 acre in size.

Prescription 8—Create meadows Late Successional

Reserve: 1/8- to 1-acre meadows

Matrix: not limited to less than 1 acre in size

Prescription 9—Underburn and or seed with native grasses or forbs

Prescription 10 – Create down wood, snags, and promote cavity development in live trees. Concentrate dead

wood in clumps