BLM Forest ManagementWinter 2016 ; Publish Proposed RMP/Final EIS . Winter-Spring 2016 : Protest...
Transcript of BLM Forest ManagementWinter 2016 ; Publish Proposed RMP/Final EIS . Winter-Spring 2016 : Protest...
Forest Management
June 16-17, 2015 Analytical Results, Draft RMP/EIS Prepared By: Abe Wheeler
BLM
Resource Managem
ent Plans for Western O
regon
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BLM
Resource Managem
ent Plans for Western O
regon Next Steps
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Date Event April 24, 2015 Release of Draft RMP/EIS April 24-July 23, 2015 Comment Period May-December 2015 Develop and analyze Proposed
RMP/Final EIS Winter 2016 Publish Proposed RMP/Final EIS Winter-Spring 2016 Protest Period, Governor’s
Consistency Review, Resolution Spring 2016 Record of Decision
To submit comments: Interactive Map: www.blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon/interactivemap Email: [email protected] Postal: Draft EIS for Western Oregon P.O. Box 2965 Portland, OR 97204
BLM
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ent Plans for Western O
regon Outline
• Brief Overview of Alternatives – Purpose and Need – Harvest Land Base Size – Intensity of Harvest – Restrictions on Timber Harvest
• Historical Context • Analytical Results
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BLM
Resource Managem
ent Plans for Western O
regon Purpose and Need
• Provide a sustained yield of timber • Contribute to the conservation and recovery of
threatened and endangered species, including – Maintaining a network of large blocks of forest to be
managed for late successional forests – Maintaining older and more structurally complex
multi-layered conifer forests • Provide clean water in watersheds • Restore fire-adapted ecosystems • Provide recreation opportunities • Coordinate management of lands surrounding the
Coquille Forest with the Coquille Tribe
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Draft RMP/EIS pg. xxiii
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regon Moist vs. Dry Forests
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Moist Forest- Coastal/north (Salem, Eugene, Coos Bay) Dry Forest - Interior/south (Roseburg, Medford, Klamath Falls) − Fire Resilience
− Fire Resistance
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• No Action Alternative (as written, not as implemented): – Moderate intensity regeneration harvest (VRH) in the harvest land base
(HLB). – Commercial harvest allowed in reserves for restoration purposes. – Moderate sized harvest land base. – Survey and Manage
Brief Overview of Alternatives NAA
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 32-33 Figure 2-2
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• Alternative A: – High intensity regeneration harvest (Clearcuts) in the HLB, except driest forests. – Small harvest land base. – Non-commercial restoration of young stands in moist forest reserves, forest
resiliency objectives in dry forest reserves – No surveys for marbled murrelets, red tree voles, or site management for northern
spotted owls
Brief Overview of Alternatives: Alt A
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 41 Figure 2-3/Table 2-4
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• Alternative B: – Moderate intensity regeneration harvest (outside NSO CHU)/low intensity
regeneration harvest (inside NSO CHU), except dry forests. – Moderate sized harvest land base – Active restoration in moist forest reserves; forest resiliency objectives in dry
forest reserves – Survey and protect: marbled murrelet (zone 1 only), red tree voles in north
coast distinct population segment.
Brief Overview of Alternatives: Alt B
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 46-47 Figure 2-4/Table 2-5
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Brief Overview of Alternatives: Alt B vs. Sub-Alt B
Sub Alternative B: Protects ALL historically and currently occupied spotted owl sites by reserving necessary habitat.
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 53-54 Figure 2-5/Table 2-6
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 46-47 Figure 2-4/Table 2-5
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• Alternative C: – High intensity regeneration harvest (Clearcuts), except very dry forests. – Moderate sized harvest land base – Active restoration in moist forest reserves; forest resiliency objectives in
very dry forest reserves – Survey and protect: marbled murrelets in stands >120 years old. – Timber salvage directed in Late Successional Reserves (LSR).
Brief Overview of Alternatives: Alt C
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 58-59 Figure 2-6/Table 2-7
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regon
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Brief Overview of Alternatives: Alt C vs. Sub-Alt C
Sub Alternative C: Protects ALL stands ≥ 80 years by reserving them.
AGE
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 58-59 Figure 2-6/Table 2-7
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 65-66 Figure 2-7/Table 2-8
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• Alternative D: – Mostly northern spotted owl-centric Uneven-aged management. – Moderate intensity regeneration harvest (outside NSO CHU), except very dry forests. – Moderate sized harvest land base – Active restoration in moist forest reserves; forest resiliency objectives in very dry forest
reserves – Survey and protect: marbled murrelet (zone 1 and 2), red tree voles in north coast, and
site maintenance for northern spotted owl current and historic sites.
Brief Overview of Alternatives: Alt D
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 70-71 Figure 2-8/Table 2-9
Resulting Mapped Land Use Allocations (LUA)
BLM
Resource Managem
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regon Fire and Fuels Objectives: Common to all Alternatives
• Respond to wildfires in a manner that provides for public and firefighter safety while meeting land management objectives by utilizing the full range of fire management options.
• Actively manage the land to restore and maintain resilience of ecosystems to wildfire and decrease the risk of uncharacteristic large high-intensity/severity wildfires.
• Manage fuels to reduce wildfire hazard, risk, and negative impacts to communities and infrastructure, landscapes, ecosystems, and highly valued resources.
• Build capacity, in partnership with local, State, and Federal stakeholders, to reduce the risks and threats from wildland fire within the communities bordering Federal lands
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regon
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Fire and fuels
Important variables: – size of Harvest Land Base and – timber management type and intensity
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Influence: • Vegetation structure • Fire resilience • Fire resistance
• Fire hazard • Fire risk
While the approach to Fire and Fuels Management is Common to All Alternatives
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regon
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Intensity of Management Land Use Allocation Management Regime Intensity
Ranking
HLB-HITA, High Intensity Timber Area (ALT A and C)
Even-aged Management, Clearcuts, no retention trees, rapid reforestation
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HLB-MITA, Moderate Intensity Timber Area (Alt B and D), GFMA/NGFMA (NAA)
Two-aged Management, Variable-retention regeneration harvest, 5-15% retention VRH, delayed canopy closure in B/ prompt reforestation in D
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HLB-LITA, Low Intensity Timber Area (Alt B), SGFMA/CONN (NAA)
Two-aged Management, Variable-retention regeneration harvest, 15-30% retention VRH, delayed canopy closure, natural regeneration
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HLB-UTA, Uneven-aged Timber Area (Alts A, B, C, and D)
Uneven-aged Management, Selection Harvest,, reduced stand densities, increase fire resiliency/forest health, while producing timber.
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HLB-OHTA, Owl Habitat Timber Area (Alt D)
Uneven-aged Management, Selection Harvest,, promote and maintain owl habitat while producing timber.
3
Reserves, Active Management (Alts A, B, C, and D)
Light to moderate intensity treatments; in moist forests tapering off to zero, in dry forests continuing on a regular cycle.
2
Reserves, Passive Management (All Alternatives)
No Commercial Treatments. Uninterrupted forest successional pathways.
1
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regon
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High intensity Timber Area (HITA) No retention = clearcut
Outside Large Blocks, Inside & Outside Critical Habitat
Management Hypothesis Highest timber production yields. Produces uniform stand conditions. Shorter Rotations, Trend towards 60-90
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regon
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)vest (
Moderate Intensity Timber Area (MITA 5-15% retention = Variable-retention Regeneration Har VRH)
Somewhat equivalent to GFMA/NGFMA in NAA
Outside Large Blocks, Outside Critical Habitat Management Hypothesis: Provides moderate timber production yields. Produces compositionally/structurally complex stand conditions. Longer Rotations, Trend towards 80-140
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Low Intensity Timber Area (LITA) 15-30% Retention = Variable-retention Regeneration Harvest (VRH)
Somewhat equivalent to Connectivity/SGFMA in NAA
Outside Large Blocks, Inside Critical Habitat Management Hypothesis: Provides moderate timber production yields. Produces compositionally/structurally complex stand conditions. Longest Rotations, Trend towards 100-160
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regon
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Uneven-aged Timber Area(UTA) – Fire/drought/insect resiliency focused
Uneven-aged Management: – Lowest long-
term timber yields.
– Creates and maintains complex late successional conditions.
– No rotation age. Variable re-entry cycle.
Visually the approach would look similar in many respects to a complex variable-density thinning
Owl Habitat Timber Area (OHTA) – Owl habitat focused
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Uneven-aged Management
Uneven-aged Timber Area (UTA) Heavier
treatments to reduce stand densities, increase fire resiliency/ forest health and produce wood.
Alts A, B, C, and D
Owl Habitat Timber Area (OHTA) Lighter touch
treatments to restore/ maintain NSO habitat and produce wood.
Alt. D only.
Stan
d De
nsity
Time in Decades
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48% 51% 52%
47%
56% 55%
22%
84% 83% 86%
83% 86% 85%
98%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
NoAction
LSR
Alt. A LSR Alt. B LSR Sub. BLSR
Alt. C LSR Sub. CLSR
Alt. DHLB-
OHTA
Ow
l Hab
itat L
UAs
Mat
ure
Mul
ti-ca
nopy
or S
truc
tura
lly-c
ompl
ex (%
)
2013 2223
Strongly Selected For by NSO
Analytical Results: Proportion of owl habitat management areas achieving
Mature Multiple Canopy or Structurally Complex status
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 254; Figure 3-68
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Resource Managem
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110,272
6,155
117,064
70,664
9,554 10,490
44,831
286
69,967
1,248
1,255 121,447
111,770
1,169
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
Avai
labl
e Ea
rly S
eral
Acr
es
Alternative
Early-seral without Structural LegaciesEarly-seral with Structural Legacies Without Structural Legacies
With Structural Legacies
Alt B = 31,000 acres regen/decade (3.8X) Alt C = 84,000 acres regen/decade (1.6X)
Analytical Results: Abundance and complexity of early seral stage
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 252-253; Figure 3-67
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regon
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No Action
Alt. A
Alt. B
Sub. B Alt. C
Sub. C
Alt. D
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
2013 2023 2033 2043 2053 2063 2113 2213
Harv
est L
and
Base
Mat
ure
or S
truc
tura
lly-
Com
plex
(%)
Year
No Action Alt. A Alt. B Sub. B
Analytical Results: Three patterns of Structural Stage Progression in the Harvest Land Base
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 250-251; Figure 3-65
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regon
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Analytical Results: Intensity of Management; contribution to ASQ timber harvest
917
719 686
447
280
556
332
455
209 124
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
HITA Even-agedManagement
No Action HLBTwo-aged
Management
MITA/LITA Two-aged
Management
UTA FireResiliency
Uneven-agedManagement
OHTA NSOHabitat Uneven-
agedManagement
Tim
ber P
rodu
ctio
n Ra
te
(Boa
rd F
eet p
er A
cre
per Y
ear)
Coastal/North Interior/South
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 263-265; Figure 3-72
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Resource Managem
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regon
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Analytical Results: BLM timber harvest, historical context
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
1942
1947
1952
1957
1962
1967
1972
1977
1982
1987
1992
1997
2002
2007
2012
BLM
Tim
ber S
ales
(Mill
ion
Boar
d Fe
et)
Year
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 237-238; Figure 3-58
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regon
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Analytical Results: BLM timber harvest, historical context
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 Sol
d Ti
mbe
r Vol
ume
(Mill
ion
Boar
d Fe
et)
Fiscal Year
HLB (ASQ) Regeneration Harvest HLB (ASQ) ThinningReserve (Non-ASQ) Thinning 1995 Declared ASQAverage of Total Volume Sold Average ASQ Volume Sold
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 269-270; Figure 3-73
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Resource Managem
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regon
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Analytical Results: Total Harvest (ASQ + Non-ASQ)
277 234 234
120
486
332
176
122
15 97
98
69
67
4
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Tota
l Tim
ber H
arve
st (M
BF)
ASQ Non-ASQ
Average of total timber volume sold (1995-2012) = 167
400 249 332 218 555 399 180
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 270-271; Figure 3-74
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Resource Managem
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regon
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Analytical Results: Restrictions on timber harvest in the harvest land base
Alternative Marbled Murrelet
Red Tree Vole
Northern Spotted Owl
Site Management Survey and Manage Totals
No Action 4 47* - Unknown 51*
Alt. A - - - - - Alt. B 6 6 - - 12 Sub. B 6 6 115 - 127 Alt. C 2 - - - 2 Sub. C - - - - - Alt. D 29 4 57 - 90
*Timber volume reduction due to predicted RTV site management was not deducted in the final expression of projected no action alternative ASQ.
Example: Alt D 176+90 =266
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 265-267; Table 3-62
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Resource Managem
ent Plans for Western O
regon
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Analytical Results: Non-ASQ harvest flow; coastal/north vs. interior/south.
Alternative B example
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
2023 2033 2043 2053 2063 2113 2213Non
-ASQ
Acr
es T
reat
ed/D
ecad
e
Non-ASQ Acres Treated
0
20
40
60
80
2023 2033 2043 2053 2063 2113 2213
Non
-ASQ
Vol
ume
Harv
este
d (M
BF)
Non-ASQ Volume Harvested
Coastal/North Interior/South
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 273-274; Table 3-65
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ent Plans for Western O
regon
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Analytical Results: Harvested acres by harvest type
42,200
83,691
58,454
110,570 15,315
71,700 59,369
45,748
73,013
14,901
26,757
68,580
42,147
45,403 34,063
103,059
43,932
30,711
17,379
19,957
2,539
884 (Salvage)
2,642
1,498
3,587
2,308
1,640
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
No Action Alt. A Alt. B Sub. B Alt. C Sub. C Alt. D
Harv
est P
er D
ecad
e (A
cres
) Av
erag
e of
firs
t tw
o de
cade
s
Clearcut Commercial Thinning Selection VRH Salvage
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 277; Figure 3-75
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Resource Managem
ent Plans for Western O
regon
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Natural Hazardous Fuel Treatments
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Non-commercial natural hazardous fuel treatment acres by treatment type and BLM district/field office(2003-2012)
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regon
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Analytical Results: Acres vs Volume; coastal/north vs interior/south
9,332
3,941
8,035
6,300
9,230 9,295
6,836 6,372
4,575
9,329
5,739
8,613
7,489 7,120
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
No Action Alt. A Alt. B Sub. B Alt. C Sub. C Alt. D
Acre
s/Ye
ar
230
179 218
155
391
300
123 165
67 109
58
163
93 57
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
No Action Alt. A Alt. B Sub. B Alt. C Sub. C Alt. D
Volu
me
MM
BF/
Year
Coastal/North Interior/South
Draft RMP/EIS pg. 278-279; Figure 3-77 and 3- 78
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Questions?