A+ Eco-Consultants

First in the phonebook, first in knowledge.

Derek Mercer

Randy Sedlock

Levi Laurion

We will discuss:

• Our Goals and Objectives

• Current Situation and Condition of Camp Sacajawea

• Desired Future Conditions

• Ecosystem Needs Assessment process used

• Recommended feasible management actions

• Effects and Benefit Cost analysis of actions

Emphasis

• Primary

-Wildlife Habitat Unit Values

• Secondary

-Quality sawlog removal for fiber and firewood sales

Goals

• Increase overall mean Habitat Unit Values in Camp Sacajawea

• Remove timber for income through firewood and fiber sales

Objectives

• To increase mean Habitat Unit Values in Camp Sacajawea by 25% in the next 20 years

• To remove 25% of AGS, UGS, and Cull timber exceeding 20 in. DBH for saw-log sales by 2020

• To remove majority of Ironwood trees in Camp Sacajawea

Current Conditions at Camp Sacajawea

• Camp is approximately 400 acres in size located at NE ¼, Sec 2, R274W, T84N, 5PM

• Camp is located on the Des Moines river valley

• Only 170 acres on west side of camp were studied

Current Conditions (continued)

• Terrain of camp is very steep and hilly

• Soil – Hayden – well drained and moderately permeable found on slopes and ridges

• Oak forest that has been overrun by Ironwood trees.

• Very low oak regeneration.

Current Conditions (continued)

• Habitat Unit Values

-Deer and Turkey – 5.5

-Squirrel – 5.5

• Basal Area

-Approximately 81.6 sq.ft/Acre

-Ironwood=18% or 15 sq.ft/Acre

Desired Future Conditions

• Habitat Unit Values

-Deer and Turkey – 7.0

-Squirrel – 6.5

An increase of 25% of previous HUV’s

• Low % of ironwood population

• High % of oak regeneration and existing oaks

Ecosystem Needs Assessment

• Identify issues, concerns, and opportunities

• Develop decision criteria based on goals and objectives developed from previous step

• Collect all data and information needed to create feasible actions

• Assess current conditions

Step I – Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities

• Mid range Habitat Unit Values where high values are possible

• High number of Ironwood trees causing low HUV’s

• Many AGS, UGS, and Cull trees exceeding 20 in. DBH

Step II – Decision Criteria

• First Consider Assumptions

- Capabilities of the ecosystem are limited

- Ethical Standards will be applied

- Risk and Uncertainty will exist

• Criteria and principles

- Humans are considered part of the ecosystem

Criteria and principles (continued)

- Human actions will cause positive effects to the productivity, diversity, and resiliency

- Ethical decisions will be made

- Actions will satisfy camp manager uses and benefit the ecosystem

Step III – Collect needed data

• Systematic sampling was used with regard to finding saw timber and wildlife values

• Approximately 50 points were sampled throughout the forest and projected onto a larger scale

• Considerations used for saw timber- Oak regeneration- Soil samples- Non-oak species

Data Collecting (continued)

• Process of evaluation of wildlife habitat based on “A Handbook for Habitat Evaluation Procedures” provided by the U.S. Department of Interior

• Wildlife Considerations For Tree Squirrels

- Tree Size and Canopy cover

Wildlife considerations for tree squirrels (continued)

• Food diversity

• Shrubs and Herbs available

• Tree Cavities

• Openings in Canopy

• Diversity of non-preferred plant species

Wildlife Considerations for forest game (deer and turkey)• Tree Size and Canopy Closure

• Food Diversity

• Browse Availability

• Vegetative Cover

• Openings in Canopy

• Diversity of Non-preferred plant species

Step IV - Assessment of Current conditions

Percent Tree SpeciesOak

Elm

Maple

Cottonwood

Hickory

Cheery

Basswood

Ash

Hackberry

Aspen

Locust

Ironwood

Feasible Management Actions

• Based on assumptions and decision criteria

• Each action has pros and cons with regard to desired future conditions of saw-timber and wildlife habitat

• Final decision must be made by the managers of Camp. These are simply recommendations

Feasible Management Actions

• Removal of all Ironwoods

• Selective cutting of trees over 20 in. diameter

• Actions such as food plots, maintaining current conditions, and clear-cuts were considered but deemed non-feasible

Effects of Ironwood Removal

• Sawtimber

• Forest Game

• Tree Squirrels

Sawtimber

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 5 10 15 20

Years

Bas

al A

rea

/ Acr

e

Forest Game (Deer and Wild Turkey)

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2

4

6

8

10

0 5 10 15 20

Years beginning at Present (0)

Hab

itat

Un

it V

alu

e

Forest Game (Squirrels)

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0 5 10 15 20

Years

Hab

itat U

nit V

alue

s

Effects of Selective Cutting over 20 in. DBH

• Sawtimber

• Forest Game

• Tree Squirrels

Forest Game (Deer and Wild Turkey)

0123456789

10

0 5 10 15 20

Years beginning at Present (0)

Hab

itat

Un

it V

alu

e

Sawtimber

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 5 10 15 20

Years

Ba

sal

Are

a /

Acr

e

Forest Game (Squirrels)

123456789

10

0 5 10 15 20

Years

Hab

itat U

nit V

alue

s

Benefit / Cost Analysis

Element Year Benefit Cost Net Cost

Ironwood Removal

0 $28/Acre $0 $0

Selective Cutting Over 20 in.

0 $80/Acre $250/Acre -$170/Acre

What We Have Discussed• Our Goals and Objectives

• Current Situation and Condition of Camp Sacajawea

• Desired Future Conditions

• Ecosystem Needs Assessment process used

• Recommended feasible management actions

• Effects and Benefit Cost analysis of actions

Questions?