Chapter 2 – Alternatives, Including the Proposed...

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Chapter 2 – Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action This chapter describes and compares the alternatives considered for the Bachelor Bear project. It includes a description and map of each alternative considered. This section also presents the alternatives in comparative form, sharply defining the differences between each alternative and providing a clear basis for choice among options by the decision maker while also displaying them to the public. Some of the information used to compare the alternatives is based upon the design of the alternative (i.e., helicopter logging versus the use of skid trails) and some of the information is based upon the environmental, social and economic effects of implementing each alternative .

2.1 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study Federal agencies are required by NEPA to rigorously explore and objectively evaluate a reasonable range of alternatives and to briefly discuss the reasons for eliminating any alternatives that were not developed in detail (40 CFR 1502.14).

Extended Season Haul During scoping, comments were received requesting that extended season haul be considered. This alternative would designate units available for extended season and would utilize cable systems only. The acres considered for treatment remain the same as the proposed action for this alternative. This alternative would require additional road construction costs. Because an extended season may be available with timber contract stipulations to protect resources when weather conditions permit, this alternative was not further analyzed.

Commercially Thin Managed Stands Only During scoping it was suggested that not thinning in natural or fire regenerated stands be considered. This alternative would limit commercial thinning harvest activities to previously managed stands. Of the 52 stands proposed for thinning four are fire regenerated. Of those four stands three have been previously managed as evidenced by the stumps throughout the stands, leaving one fire regenerated unmanaged stand. This one fire regenerated unmanaged stand represents 56 of 1783 acres or 3 percent of the total acreage being treated. The stand structure of the fire regenerated stands is also lacking in diversity and needs to be treated to improve stand structure. Therefore this alternative was not further analyzed.

2.2 Alternatives Considered in Detail

Alternative 1 No Action In Alternative 1, current management plans would continue to guide activities in the project area. None of the proposed projects would be implemented. The “No Action” alternative serves as a baseline to compare and describe the differences among action alternatives.

Timber supply objectives would be met with other areas either on the Detroit Ranger District or the Willamette National Forest. Because there are no harvest units in this alternative, no map is provided. Existing site specific management plans and Standards and Guidelines would continue to be the basis for management of the project area. Existing hydrological conditions would

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persist for 20 to 30 years before conditions began to change. Road maintenance activities in the area would occur, although at the current reduced rate due to reduced harvest activities providing less funding for road maintenance along with overall reduced budgets from ongoing federal spending cutbacks. No fuels would be generated from harvest activity and forested stands would continue on a path of natural succession. Fire suppression policies would continue to emphasize fire exclusion from the project area. No new temporary road construction will occur in this alternative.

Alternative 2 Alternative 2, the proposed action, would respond to the purpose and need by harvesting 1783 acres of stands. This alternative is consistent with management direction set forth in the Willamette National Forest Plan. Figure 4 shows the units. Table 3 shows the specific features and types of treatment for each unit in this alternative.

This alternative would:

• Harvest roughly 18.6 MMBF on 1783 acres. • Thin approximately 535 acres in Riparian Reserves • Thin approximately 447 acres in LSR • Create ¼ - ½ acre gaps on 10 acres. • Create large gaps (1-3 acres) on 34 acres. • Implement fuel treatments within harvest units, including underburning, grapple piling and

burning in the units, roadside grapple piling, and the burning of landings. • Reduce hazardous fuels (WUI) on 146 acres. • Implement logging systems including 1015 acres of ground-based yarding, 696 acres of

skyline yarding, and 72 acres of helicopter yarding to achieve management objectives. • Reopen 3.76 miles of temporary spur roads (roads will be closed after use). • Construct 1.9 miles of new temporary spur roads (roads will be closed after use). • Maintain approximately 68 miles of existing system roads. • Reconstruct approximately 57 miles of existing system roads. • Enhance big game habitat (including burning and seeding) on 34 acres. • Implement Road Management Objectives (RMOs) for 2234, 2236 and 2242 road systems,

including storage of 17 miles and decommissioning .32 miles of system roads. • Complete planting and site preparation on 34 acres of created gaps. • Manage rock sources located in the McCoy and Whitewater Rock Sources or other smaller

local pits.

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Figure 4 Alternative 2 Map

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Vegetation

Vegetation management was assessed for1783 acres in the project area and includes commercial thinning, gap creation and areas not treated that are referred to as skips. Commercial thinning would occur at variable densities on approximately 1382 acres. Within the commercial thinning acres 10 acres of ¼ - ½ acre gaps and 34 acres of 2-3 acre gaps would be created. Skips would be retained on approximately 401 acres including riparian reserves and late successional reserves, which are discussed below.

Vegetation treatments are determined by silvicultural prescriptions which include detailed information for each unit and post-harvest conditions. These prescriptions are in the Bachelor Bear analysis file located at the Detroit Ranger District.

Late Successional Reserves

Harvest treatments within the Jefferson Late Successional Reserve include 575 acres of commercial thinning, skips and gaps. Thinning will occur at variable densities on approximately 447 acres. Within the commercial thinning 7.5 acres of ¼ acre gaps will be created. Skips would be retained on approximately 128 acres. All harvest treatment in the Late Successional Reserve is intended to accelerate the development of large trees and improve stand structure to move the LSR past stem exclusion more quickly, developing a multi-layered canopy sooner.

Fuel Treatments

Fuel treatments that would occur as part of the proposed action include approximately 1730 acres of the following activities to reduce harvest generated slash: underburning, burning gaps, grapple piling and burning, burning landings and removal of tops from the harvest areas. Grapple piling of harvest generated slash would occur on 386 acres, tops of trees would be left attached and yarded out of units on 333 acres, and 414 acres would be underburned. One 7 acre unit would be grapple piled and underburned, 134 acres would have tops of trees left attached and yarded and grapple piled, 365 acres would receive roadside grapple piling and /or grapple piling in the unit. All remaining slash on landings would be piled and burned. Underburning would occur under spring-like conditions where 1000 hour (3-9” diameter) fuel moistures are greater than or equal to 25% to maintain large down wood, soil and duff objectives. Prescribed pile burning would occur during fall and winter months according to limitations established by the Oregon Smoke Management System forecaster. See Table 3 for fuel treatments by unit.

Hazardous fuels treatments will occur on approximately 146 acres outside of the proposed harvest units (Figure 5). These treatments are designed to reduce fuels in the Wildland Urban Interface in Idanha and along Highway 22. These treatments include thinning and pruning of standing vegetation less than7 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH) by hand or machine. The resulting fuels would be hand piled, grapple piled or chipped/mulched.

Wildlife

Forage would be created on 34 acres of large gaps.

Riparian Reserves

Outside of the no harvest buffers 535 acres of riparian reserves would be treated to increase diversity and improve stand health to meet Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objectives (ACSOs). All treatment in Riparian Reserves is intended to improve stand structure to move Riparian

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Reserves past stem exclusion more quickly, developing a multi-layered canopy sooner to restore conditions that benefit riparian dependent species.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) were used in all aspects of project planning to reduce impacts to water quality. Activities were evaluated and designed to align with best management practices including: unit design, stream course protection, landing locations, erosion control, stream crossing design, prescribed fire activities, slope and soil moisture limitations for tractor operations. A full description of BMPs can be found in The General Water Quality Best Management Practices Handbook (1988).

Roads

The proposed action would require the use of 68 miles of the existing forest road system. Work required on the road system would include reconstruction and maintenance (pre-haul, during-haul, and post haul). Road reconstruction activity would include danger tree removal, roadside brushing, slide removal, cleaning of ditches and culverts, culvert replacements or installations, aggregate surfacing placement, road surface blading, road realignment, welded wire wall construction, asphalt striping and asphalt road repairs. Maintenance work would include danger tree removal, roadside brushing, aggregate surfacing placement, ditch maintenance, drainage structure maintenance, snow removal, and surface blading. Treatments would be applied as necessary to facilitate timber hauling. This alternative would utilize 3.76 miles of reconstructed spur roads as temporary roads for this project and create 1.9 miles of new temporary logging spurs. Temporary logging spurs are dirt roads which may need grading, clearing, rock placement or other activities in order to facilitate timber haul. Temporary logging spurs will be closed and revegetated after use. About 17 miles of currently open roads are recommended for storage and 0.32 miles of currently open roads are recommended for decommissioning. Any storage and decommissioning work on roads used for haul routes will be done post timber sale activities.

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Table 3 Alternative 2 Harvest Unit Summary

Unit Stand Ac.

No Harvest Acres (est.)

Harvest Acres (est.)

Thinning Intensity (residual TPA)

Gap Size

In LSR

Riparian Vegetation Emphasis2

Fuels Rx Volume (MBF)

Logging System3

1 65 17 48 80-100 One 2

acre gap

Roadside grapple and burn

763 GB/S

2 70 20 50 80-100 Grapple pile

and burn 780 GB

3 16 1 15 80-100 Yard tops

attached 245 GB/S

4 48 15 33 80-100 Grapple pile

and burn, yard tops attached

495 GB/S

5 69 10 59 80-100 One 3

acre gap

Yard tops attached

955 GB/S

6 37 1 36 80-100 One 3

acre gap and one ½ acre gap

Underburn, leave tops

469 GB/S

7 35 1 34 80-100 Two

2 acre gaps

Underburn 625 GB/S

8 16 6 10 80-100 Yard tops

attached 104 GB/S

9 15 10 5 80-100 Yes Yard tops

attached 45 S

11 35 4 31 80-100 Four

¼ ac. gaps

Yes Underburn 355 GB

12 25 4 21 80-100 Underburn 231 GB

13 35 1 34 80-100 One 2

acre gap

Grapple pile and burn

327 GB

2 over 50% of stand area within Riparian Reserves 3 G = Ground based , S=Skyline, H=Helicopter logging

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Unit Stand Ac.




Gap Size

In LSR



Logging System3

14 21 2 19 40-60/80-

100 Variable density thinning

Yes Grapple pile and burn

198 GB

15 27 3 24 80-100 Four

¼ ac. gaps


227 GB

16 21 5 16 80-100 Yes Grapple pile

and burn 210 GB/S

17 23 7 16 80-100 Yes Underburn 242 GB

18 18 11 7 80-100 Roadside

grapple and burn

90 GB



358 GB/S/H

20 20 5 15 80-100 Grapple pile


240 GB/S

21 33 17 16 80-100 Yard tops

attached 150 S

22 Complex units 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28

279 33 246 40-60/80-100 Variable density thinning

Two ½ ac. gaps, one 2 acre gap and two 3 acre gaps for 9 acres total

Underburn, with some areas of yard tops attached or grapple pile and burn.

2884 GB/S

29 11 1 10 80-100 Underburn 105 GB/S

30 36 6 30 40-100 Yes Roadside

grapple and burn

300 GB/S

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Unit Stand Ac.




Gap Size

In LSR



Logging System3

31 33 10 23 40-100 Yes Roadside

grapple and burn, yard tops attached

363 GB/S


and burn 435 GB/S

33 Complex units 33 and 34

53 10 43 80-100 Eight ¼ ac. gaps for 2 acres total

Yes Grapple pile and burn, yard tops attached

545 GB/S


255 66 189 40-60/80-100 Variable density thinning

Yes Yes Grapple pile and burn ground based, yard tops attached in skyline. Possible underburn all or part of complex.

2344 GB/S

42 29 12 17 80-100 Four

¼ ac. gaps

Yes Yes Roadside grapple and burn

204 S

43 19 2 17 40-60/80-


Yes Roadside grapple and burn

189 S

44 39 10 29 80-100 Four

¼ ac. gaps

Yes Yard tops attached

329 S

45 17 2 15 40-60/80-



157 S

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Unit Stand Ac.




Gap Size

In LSR



Logging System3

46 19 8 11 80-100 Two

¼ ac. gaps

Yes Yes Yard tops attached

125 S

47 34 6 28 40-100 Yes Yes Grapple pile

and burn 370 GB

48 56 2 54 80-100 Two

2 acre gaps

Yard tops attached

1107 H

49 71 22 49 80-100 One 3

acre gap


765 GB/S

50 20 2 18 80-100 One 3

acre gap


331 S

51 65 35 30 40-100 One 2

acre gap and two ½ acre gaps


570 GB/S

52 27 3 24 80-100 Four

¼ ac. gaps

Yes Grapple pile and burn, underburn

279 GB/S

53 8 2 6 80-100 Yard tops

attached 100 S

Total 1783 401 1382 34 acres of 2- 3 acre gaps

10 acres of ¼ to ½ acre gaps for a total of 44 acres

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Table 4 Alternative 2 and 3 Hazardous Fuels Treatments

Fuels Unit Treatment Acres

a Hand Pile / Prune / Burn 16

b PCT 16

c Grapple pile and burn 64

e Whip felling <7” dbh / burn 28

f Hand pile / prune / burn 50’ each side of road 22

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Figure 5 Hazardous Fuels Units Alternatives 2 and 3

Alternative 3

Alternative 3 would respond to the purpose and need by harvesting 1783 acres of stands. This alternative is consistent with management direction set forth in the Willamette National Forest Plan. Figure 6 shows the units. Table 5 shows the specific features and types of treatment for each unit in this alternative. Hazardous fuels treatments are the same as Alternative 2 (see Table 4 above).

This alternative would:

• Harvest roughly 16.6 MMBF on 1633 acres. • Thin approximately 445 acres in Riparian Reserves • Thin approximately 337 acres in LSR • Create ¼ - ½ acre gaps on 10 acres. • Create large gaps (2-3 acres) on 34 acres. • Treat fuels within harvest units, including underburning, grapple piling and burning in the

units, roadside grapple piling, and the burning of landings. • Reduce Hazardous fuels (WUI) on 146 acres. • Logging systems includes 960 acres of ground-based yarding, 601 acres of skyline yarding,

and 72 acres of helicopter yarding. • Reopen 3.76 miles of temporary road spurs. • Maintain approximately 68 miles of existing system roads.

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• Reconstruct approximately 57 miles of existing system roads. • Complete big game habitat enhancements (including burning and seeding) on 34 acres. • Implement Road Management Objectives (RMOs) for 2234, 2236 and 2242 road systems

including storage of 17 miles and decommissioning .32 miles of system roads. • Complete planting and site preparation in 34 acres of created gaps. • Manage rock sources located in the McCoy and Whitewater Rock Sources or other smaller

local pits.

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Figure 6 Alternative 3 Map

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Vegetation

Vegetation management was assessed for1633 acres in the project area and includes commercial thinning, gap creation for wildlife and stand structure and diversity, and areas not treated that are referred to as skips. Thinning would occur at variable densities on approximately 1237 acres. Within the commercial thinning acres 10 acres of ¼ - ½ acre gaps and 34 acres of 2-3 acre gaps would be created. Skips would be retained on approximately 396 acres.

Vegetation treatments are determined by silvicultural prescriptions which include detailed information for each unit and post-harvest conditions. These prescriptions are in the Bachelor Bear analysis file located at the Detroit Ranger District.

Late Successional Reserves

Harvest treatments within the Jefferson Late Successional Reserve include 446 acres of commercial thinning, skips and gaps. Thinning will occur at variable densities on approximately 337 acres. Within the commercial thinning 6 acres of ¼ acre gaps will be created. Skips would be retained on approximately 109 acres. All thinning in the Late Successional Reserve is intended to accelerate the development of large trees and improve stand structure to move the LSR past stem exclusion more quickly, developing a multi-layered canopy sooner.

Fuel Treatments

Fuel treatments that would occur as part of the proposed action include approximately 1543 acres of the following activities to reduce harvest generated slash: underburning, burning gaps, grapple piling and burning, burning landings and removal of tops from the harvest areas. Grapple piling of harvest generated slash would occur on 361acres, tops of trees would be left attached and yarded out of units on 312 acres, and 402 acres would be underburned. One 7 acre unit would be grapple piled and underburned, 109 acres would have tops of trees left attached and yarded and grapple piled, 352 acres would receive roadside grapple treatment and /or grapple piling within the unit. All remaining slash on landings would be piled and burned. Underburning would occur under spring-like conditions where 1000 hour (3-9” diameter) fuel moistures are greater than or equal to 25% to maintain large down wood, soil and duff objectives. Prescribed pile burning would occur during fall and winter months according to limitations established by the Oregon Smoke Management System forecaster. See Table 3 for fuel treatments by unit.

Hazardous fuels treatments will occur on approximately 146 acres outside of proposed harvest units. These treatments are designed to reduce fuels in the Wildland Urban Interface in Idanha and along Highway 22. These treatments include thinning and pruning of standing vegetation <7 inches DBH by hand or machine. The resulting fuels would be hand piled, grapple piled or chipped/mulched.

Wildlife

Forage would be created on 34 acres of large gaps.

Riparian Reserves

Outside of the no harvest buffers 445 acres of riparian reserves would be thinned to increase diversity and improve stand health to meet Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objectives (ACSOs). All thinning in Riparian Reserves is intended to accelerate the development of large trees and

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improve stand structure to move Riparian Reserves past stem exclusion more quickly, developing a multi-layered canopy sooner.

Best Management Practices (BMP) were used in all aspects of project planning to reduce impacts to water quality. Activities were evaluated and designed to align with best management practices including: unit design, stream course protection, landing locations, erosion control, stream crossing design, prescribed fire activities, slope and soil moisture limitations for tractor operations. A full description of BMPs can be found in The General Water Quality Best Management Practices Handbook (1988).

Roads

The proposed action would require the use of 68 miles of the existing forest road system. Work required on the road system would include reconstruction and maintenance (pre-haul, during-haul, and post haul). Road reconstruction activity would include danger tree removal, roadside brushing, slide removal, cleaning of ditches and culverts, culvert replacements or installations, aggregate surfacing placement, road surface blading, road realignment, welded wire wall construction, asphalt striping and asphalt road repairs. Maintenance work would include danger tree removal, roadside brushing, aggregate surfacing placement, ditch maintenance, drainage structure maintenance, dust abatement, snow removal, and surface blading. Treatments would be applied as necessary to facilitate timber hauling. This alternative would utilize 3.76 miles of reconstructed spur roads as temporary roads for this project. Temporary logging spurs are dirt roads which may need grading, clearing, rock placement or other activities in order to facilitate timber haul. Temporary logging spurs will be closed and revegetated after use. No new temporary logging spurs would be created in this alternative. About 17 miles of currently open roads are recommended for storage and 0.32 miles of currently open roads are recommended for decommissioning. Any storage and decommissioning work on roads used for haul routes will be done post timber sale activities.

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Table 5 Alternative 3 Harvest Unit Summary

Unit Stand Ac.




Gap Size

In LSR



Logging System5

1 65 17 48 80-100 One 2 acre gap


763 GB/S

2 70 20 50 80-100 Grapple pile and burn

780 GB

3 16 1 15 80-100 Yard tops attached

245 GB/S

4 40 15 25 80-100 Grapple pile and burn, yard tops attached

375 GB/S

5 59 10 49 80-100 One 3 acre gap

Yard tops attached

800 GB/S

6 37 1 36 80-100 One 3 acre gap and one ½ acre gap

Underburn, leave tops

469 GB/S

7 35 1 34 80-100 Two 2 acre gaps

Underburn 625 GB/S


104 GB/S

9 15 10 5 80-100 Yes Yard tops attached

45 S

11 35 4 31 80-100 Four ¼ ac. gaps

Yes Underburn 355 GB

12 25 4 21 80-100 Underburn 231 GB

13 35 1 34 80-100 One 2 acre gap

Grapple pile and burn

327 GB

14 21 2 19 40-60/80-100


198 GB

15 27 3 24 80-100 Four ¼ ac. gaps


227 GB

4 over 50% of stand area within Riparian Reserves 5 G = Ground based , S=Skyline, H=Helicopter logging

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Unit Stand Ac.




Gap Size

In LSR



Logging System5

16 11 5 6 80-100 Yes Grapple pile and burn

79 GB/S

17 23 7 16 80-100 Yes Underburn 242 GB

18 18 11 7 80-100 Roadside grapple and burn

90 GB

19 39 14 25 40-60 Yes Grapple pile and burn, yard tops attached

358 GB/S/H

20 20 5 15 80-100 Grapple pile and burn, yard tops attached

240 GB/S


150 S


251 33 218 40-60/80-100

Two ½ ac. gaps, one 2 acre gap and two 3 acre gaps for 9 acres total

Underburn, with some areas of yard tops attached or grapple pile and burn.

2271 GB/S

29 7 1 6 80-100

Underburn 63 GB/S

31 33 10 23 40-100 Yes Roadside grapple and burn, yard tops attached

363 GB/S

32 44 15 29 40-100 Yes Grapple pile and burn

435 GB/S

33 Complex units 33 and 34

39 10 29 80-100 Eight ¼ ac. gaps for 2 acres total

Yes Grapple pile and burn, yard tops attached

377 GB/S

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Unit Stand Ac.




Gap Size

In LSR



Logging System5


224 67 157 40-60/80-100

Yes Yes Grapple pile and burn ground based, yard tops attached in skyline. Possible underburn all or part of complex.

1960 GB

42 29 12 17 80-100 Four ¼ ac. gaps

Yes Yes Roadside grapple and burn

204 S

43 10 2 8 40-60/80-100

Yes Roadside grapple and burn

89 S

44 39 10 29 80-100 Four ¼ ac. gaps


329 S

45 17 2 15 40-60/80-100


157 S

46 19 8 11 80-100 Two ¼ ac. gaps

Yes Yes Yard tops attached

125 S

47 34 6 28 40-100 Yes Yes Grapple pile and burn

370 GB

48 56 2 54 80-100 Two 2 acre gaps

Yard tops attached

1107 H

49 71 22 49 80-100 One 3 acre gap


765 GB/S

50 20 2 18 80-100 One 3 acre gap


331 S

51 65 35 30 40-100 One 2 acre gap and two ½ acre gaps


570 GB/S

52 27 3 24 80-100 Four ¼ ac. gaps

Yes Grapple pile and burn, underburn

279 GB/S

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Unit Stand Ac.




Gap Size

In LSR



Logging System5


100 S

Totals 1633 396 1237 34 acres of 2- 3 acre gaps 10 acres of ¼ to ½ acre gaps for a total of 44 acres

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2.3 Design Elements Common to All Alternatives The following design elements have been built into the design of all action alternatives to ensure compliance with Forest Plan standards and guidelines, laws, regulations and other policies. In response to public comments on the proposal, design elements were developed to ease some of the potential impacts the action alternatives may cause. The design elements may be applied to both of the action alternatives. Design elements for the Bachelor Bear project are described in Table 6 below.

Table 6 Design Elements Common to Alternatives 2 and 3

Unit # Design Element Restriction Dates

Multiple Resources All Legacy trees should be retained and included in the thinning

spacing. If legacy trees are determined by the Forest Service to be a safety hazard during timber harvest, they shall be felled and left in place. Legacy trees are defined as trees left from the previous stands that are typically larger than the remaining trees. In this project area legacy trees are defined as all trees >30” DBH.

All units within the LSR

Individual trees exceeding 20 inches DBH shall not be harvested except for the purpose of creating openings, providing other habitat structure such as down logs, elimination of a hazard from a standing danger tree, or cutting yarding corridors. Where trees larger than 20 inches dbh are cut, they will be left in place to contribute toward coarse woody debris.

Botany All Prior to and after harvest, survey to locate invasive weed

populations and remove them where possible in harvest units and along adjacent roads.

All Attempt to eradicate all forest listed “New Invader” and “Potential Invader” species under “Early Detention, Rapid Response” by removing, controlling and monitoring.

All Pressure wash road construction and logging equipment prior to entering the sale area.

All Obtain gravel for road and landing construction and reconstruction from a weed-free rock source.

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All Minimize areas of soil disturbance during all harvest activities including spur road construction and re-opening, road reconstruction, fuels treatment, landings, etc. Seed all heavily disturbed areas with native species, including landings and subsoiled skid roads to reduce weed establishment.

All Berm to prevent vehicle access and seed (with native seed) any new temporary roads and re-opened roads to reduce disturbance and non-native seed introduction due to vehicular traffic.

All Protect Special habitats (SHabs), including but not limited to seeps, rock outcrops and rock gardens, caves, and meadows, in accordance with the Forest Plan and the Special Habitat Management Guide. Protection measures include:

• Directional falling away from special habitats • Avoiding placement of equipment, landings, skyline

corridors, and designated skid roads through special habitats

• No ground disturbing activities in dry rock outcrops • Special habitats discovered during layout will be brought

forward for a field review by the district botanist. Needed buffers will be implemented to protect the resource.

All All gaps should be at least 80 feet from all roads including temporary roads and landings to avoid the spread of invasive species.

13, 27, 41 Pond buffers- 100 feet no harvest with additional 100 feet no gaps. Ponds greater than 1 acre including all outer edges of riparian vegetation, to the extent of seasonally saturated soil or to the extent of unstable and potentially unstable areas, should be buffered 200 feet no harvest with additional 100 feet no gap buffer.

4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 42, 46, 47, 51, 52

Wetland Special Habitats (SHabs) -100 feet no harvest buffer with additional 100 feet no gaps buffer. District Botanist is available for consultation.

4, 20, 24, 43 and any unit containing

Buffer small seeps (greater than 5 meters square) and all springs with 50 foot no cut / no ground disturbance buffer.

16 100 foot no cut, no ground disturbance buffer from false brome site. Consult with District Botanist for location.

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Wildlife 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32

Post-treatment monitoring will be conducted to determine if snag creation needs to occur in order to maintain snags at adequate levels. If snag levels fall below the recommended level of two snags per acre, snags will be created.

11, 17, 35-38, 43-47, 49, 52

To protect bald eagles, no operations, including spring burning, 1/1 - 8/30. Seasonal restrictions may be adjusted by District Ranger in mid-May if surveys are conducted to identify use patterns and nesting site locations.

1/1-8/30

12 To protect Northern spotted owls all harvest related activities including road building are prohibited from March 1 – July 15.

3/1-9/30

7, 11, 12,14, 15, 33,34,47,50

To avoid disruption of nesting spotted owls underburning and slash burning are prohibited from March 1 – July 15.

7 To avoid disruption of nesting spotted owls temporary road construction is prohibited from March 1 – July 15.

31 Rock source blasting is prohibited from March 1 – July 15. 1, 2 To protect American peregrine falcon a seasonal restriction on all

harvest related activities in units and associated landings will protect the known nesting site from potential disturbance. The seasonal restriction period for harvest activities is from January 15 – July 31.

1/15-7/31

All To protect pristiloma, 33 foot (10 meter) no disturbance buffer from all perennially wet areas.

8,9,16,17,35, 36,37,38,39, 40,49,50,51

To protect big game a winter range closure restricting all operations, including snow plowing, from December 1 to April 15.

12/1-4/15

33,34,41,42, 43

No snow plowing. 12/1-4/15

11, 12, 52 Harvest operations restriction to protect big game from December 1 to April 15.

12/1-4/15

All During harvesting any trees felled for safety reasons would be left on site providing large DWD.

Recreation and Visuals All Road Management Objectives for traffic to Highway 22 requires

weekend and holiday haul restrictions between Memorial and Labor Day Weekends. No hauling on Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor day holidays. Purchaser shall post “truck traffic” signs to warn travelers.

All Close temporary roads to traffic and rehabilitate to limit scenic disturbance and undesirable recreation use.

47, 53 Rehabilitate all landings for visual quality and to prevent site from becoming a new dispersed site. All logging debris at landings, pullout and existing dispersed sites will be cleaned up. Naturalize landing by replanting and seeding, remove slash and logging debris. Place natural obstacles such as down wood and rock in a natural arrangement to prevent creation of new dispersed sites where they don’t presently exist.

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Hazardous fuels units a, b, c, e, f

Slash, slash piles and landing debris should be cleaned up through fuel reduction methods including final chunking and /or scattering of residual burn piles. “Preferred slash disposal methods in the Retention and Foreground zones include chip/remove, truckload remove, hand pile/burn” (S&G MA-llf-10) to ease visual impacts on the land. Priority for slash treatment is in Retention zones first and “should be completed as soon as project is completed” (S&G FW-066). Use topography and natural screening for pile placement to reduce visibility of piles and burn scars. Avoid placing piles too close to trees and other desirable vegetation to prevent scorching, damage and loss of vegetation in Retention zones. Piles should be set back at least 35 feet to the extent practical from road to enchance/protect frontage greenery and screening. Clean up all landing zones and rehabilitate those in Retention zones. Slash treatment and landing cleanup may require end hauling of debris including cull decks, root wads and flush cut stumps to location approved by visual coordinator.

47, 53 Minimize to the greatest extent possible any disturbance to the immediate foreground as a result of ground based impacts of landings and skid trails along Highway 22. Strategies to rehab impacts if they occur include:

• Rip and scarify spurs/skid trails • Plant sapling sized trees in large openings visible from

Highway 22 • End haul all stumps or scatter to approved locations, do

not use as traffic control barriers • Fall and skid trees in immediate foreground to limit

damage to understory vegetation Landings and pullout in units along Highway 22 shall be coordinated with and located in consultation with the recreation/visual specialist.

16 Skyline corridors should be place to minimize homogenous structure of the corridors, e.g. they should not all run in the same direction when viewed from the highway.

All pertinent units

Purchaser shall post “truck traffic ahead” signs to warn travelers coming from either direction.

All pertinent units

Purchaser shall sign expected traffic delays as appropriate.

All All mixed-use, level 2 roads used for log/commercial haul will be signed to indicate commercial hauling is occurring.

Fuels and Air Quality All Conduct fuel burning to meet air quality requirements specified

by the state of Oregon Smoke Management Plan. During burning season

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40


Soils 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 26, 35, 36, 46

Retain 20-40 percent of the existing duff.

17, 18, 21, 24, 25, 28, 37, 40, 45, 47


1, 4, 5, 8, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33, 38, 39, 41, 44, 52


31, 48, 49, 51


9, 34, 42, 43, 50, 53


All Ground-based equipment should operate in the dry season. This measure may be waived by the District Ranger if dry conditions exist outside this season. Unclassified or temporary roads used outside the standard operating season, may need to be rocked, snow covered, or frozen to reduce the potential for erosion.

Dry Season (May – October)

All Open temporary roads should be storm proofed if they have to sit through extended periods of wet weather.

All Ground-based equipment is usually limited to side slopes less than 30%, unless otherwise directed by Forest Service personnel, in order to reduce soil disturbance.

All Ground-based skidding equipment shall stay on designated skid trails. Ground-based skid trails would be pre-designated and pre-approved before use. The Locate Tractor Skid Road (LTSR) provision would be included in the timber sale contract. Skid trails should not exceed 15 feet in width, and the objective is to maintain a 10 to 12 foot width throughout the length. Where practical the skidder, cat, or processor/forwarder should travel on slash to reduce off site soil erosion and lessen soil compaction.

8, 9, 19, 20, 24, 27, 42, 43, 53.

No prebunching.

All At the completion of harvest activities, limbs and woody debris should be placed on exposed soil where practical to reduce off site erosion.

All Trees not designated for harvest in riparian buffers that need to be cut to facilitate harvest operations should be dropped into the stream if possible to aid in woody debris recruitment.

All Avoid disturbance to existing large down woody debris concentrations as is practical.

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All At the completion of harvest activities, tractor skid trails should be water barred and scarified as needed. Waterbars should have a clear outlet on the downhill side.

All Where possible, skid trails and landings should be sub-soiled in order to reduce compaction and return the site to near original productivity. Subsoiling needs to be considered in light of the potential for root pruning, damage to existing regeneration, and the increased amount of soil disturbance.

Hydrology 4-7, 9 13-15,18-21, 25,26,29-24,39-42,49

A no cut riparian buffer of 50 feet on both sides of perennial, Class III streams are prescribed to minimize sediment delivery to streams and reduce the potential for temperature increases. Buffers are measured out from the trees growing nearest to the stream not from the edge of the water or stream bed.

1-4, 17, 25, 30, 33, 36, 41, 42, 44, 47, 50

A no cut riparian buffer of 25 feet on both sides of the intermittent, Class IV streams are prescribed to minimize sediment delivery to streams. Buffers are measured out from the trees growing nearest to the stream not from the edge of the water or stream bed.

All Equipment is prohibited within 50 feet from all streams. All Pre-bunched log piles should be at least 50 feet from ephemeral

swales and all stream channels. Any crossings with feller-bunchers should be perpendicular to ephemeral swales and channels.

Objective Best Management Practices All Continue recovery of

downstream riparian, channel and water quality conditions.

Design units to insure channel bank stability, and provide adequate buffers to reduce sediment inputs and minimize peak flow effects (BMP T-2; T-7; T-8; T-12). Boundaries are placed in such a manner to avoid compromising bank stability

All Maintain or improve the quality of water for domestic and fisheries users.

Designate riparian management units and specific prescriptions for each individual unit adjacent to stream courses requiring protection (BMP; T-7).

All Maintain natural filtration of surface, overland flow, through post sale activities.

Establish appropriate riparian management units to ensure maintenance of established buffers, filter strips (BMP T-7; T-8; F-2; F-3).

All Maintain or improve channel bank stability.

Establish riparian management units that include channel bank areas and / or establish marking prescriptions that prevent any tree attributing to bank stability from being marked (BMP T-2; T-6; T-7; T-8).

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Fisheries 17, 19 100 foot buffer on all fish bearing streams. 8, 11, 16, 17, 35, 36, 37, 38, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 51

100 foot buffer on all perennial non-fish bearing streams within 1 mile of listed fish habitat.

All All haul roads will be maintained in stable condition. The objectives are to maintain water quality and fish habitat. Wet weather haul would be monitored by the Timber Sale Administrator, District Road Manager, Fish Biologist, and/or Hydrologist. When necessary, haul may be suspended during rainfall or when road surface is excessively wet to prevent sedimentation. Wet weather hauling may also be allowed when the road surface is either covered with a continuous snowpack or frozen although haul would be suspended during freeze/thaw periods.

All Construction, reconstruction and/or maintenance of roads should not be done when soils are saturated or runoff occurs.

All Activities occurring in perennial streams should comply with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) seasonal restrictions on in-stream work activities

All Erosion control measures would be implemented within 50 feet of streams as soon as possible after soils have been disturbed.

All Best Management Practices (BMP’s), including placement of barriers (to reduce sediment input to streams), provision of flow bypass, and other applicable measures, would be included in project design as necessary to control sediment. (See Hydrology section Chapter 3.7)

All Any tree or part of tree felled within no harvest buffers must be left where felled.

Roads All Aggregate surfacing must be durable rock (AASHTO T210). No

more than 15% fines (#200 sieve).

All All disturbed sites related to reconstruction and or maintenance such as waste area sites and culvert replacements will require erosion control methods.

All Newly installed culverts will meet 100 year flow (Q100) on perennial streams.

All All work done to or on a road will be consistent with the Road Management Objective for that road.

48 Right of Way Authorizations and/or Land Use Agreements with the State of Oregon required to provide legal access will be obtained prior to harvest activities.

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Heritage Resources All All NRHP eligible sites and potentially eligible sites must be

avoided during all project activities. Under the Bachelor Bear Project timber sale, fire and roads activities this includes cultural sites 06180400001, -124, -243, -244, - 245, -424, -996, and -1002). Pre-Sale and Timber Sale Officer must work with the archaeologist to insure protection of these sites.

All Changes to the current unit configurations and/or the addition of any new units, will require consultation with the District Archaeologist in order to protect known and unknown heritage resources.

All Project activities planned outside of the area defined in the cultural resource inventory schema must be coordinated with the district archaeologist prior to initiation. This includes the establishment of new harvest and helicopter landings, guy-line equipment anchors, slash burning, removal of roadside danger trees, and ripping or subsoiling of skid trails and roads.

All Although no other surface or subsurface evidence of cultural resources was found in the proposed project, there remains the possibility that buried prehistoric or historic cultural resources are present and could be uncovered during project activities. If cultural resources are encountered during the course of this project, earth-disturbing activities in the vicinity of the find should be suspended, in accordance with federal regulations, and the zone archaeologist notified to evaluate the discovery and recommend subsequent courses of action. Therefore, the contract clause outlining the procedures to follow in the event cultural resources are discovered during timber sale operations must be included in all project prospecti and contracts.

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2.4 Comparison of Alternatives Table 7 Comparison of Alternative

Management Activity Units Alt 1 Alt 2 Alt 3

Vegetation

Treatment Acres Acres 0 1783 1633

Commercial Thinning (estimated)6 Acres 0 1382 1237

Commercial Thinning in LSR (estimated)

Acres 0 447 337

Commercial Thinning in Riparian Reserve (estimated)

Acres 0 535 445

Skips and Buffers (estimated) Acres 401 396

Small (1/4 - 1/2 acre gaps) Acres 0 10 10

Large (2 - 3 acre gaps) Acres 0 34 34

Estimated Timber Volume MMBF 0 18.6 16.6

Logging Systems

Ground-based Harvest Acres 0 1015 960

Skyline Harvest Acres 0 696 606

Helicopter Harvest Acres 0 72 72

Fire & Fuels

Hazardous Fuels Treatments Acres 0 146 146

Grapple Pile and Burn Acres 0 386 361

Underburning Acres 0 414 402

Leave Tops Attached Acres 0 333 312

Roadside Grapple Acres 0 276 263

Grapple Pile and Underburn Acres 0 7 7

Leave Tops Attached and Grapple Acres 0 134 109

Total Fuel Management Acres 0 1730 1543

Wildlife

Year Round Wildlife Habitat Values (Boulder, Log Tom, McCoy, Minto, Mt. Bruno, Rainbow, Slide BGEA7)

Size and Spacing of Forage (HEs) (Min Desired Rating = 0.40)

Existing Habitat Effectiveness Value

0.78 Boulder 0.81 Log Tom 0.88 McCoy 0.67 Minto 0.88 M Bruno 0.89 Rainbow 0.88 Slide

• will provide additional forage for 10-15 years until the canopy closes in thinning units


6 Gap acres included in total thinning acres. 7 Existing habitat effectiveness values are shown. Treatment would not measurably change model values. Explanation of anticipated effects is provided by treatment type.

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Cover (HEc) (Min Desired Rating = 0.40)


Forage (HEf) (Min Desired Rating = 0.40)


Road Density (HEr) (Min Desired Rating = 0.40)


Overall (HEI) (Min Desired Rating = 0.40)


Year Round Wildlife Habitat Values (Dry, Mary’s BGEA8)

Size and Spacing of Forage (HEs) (Min Desired Rating = 0.50)

Existing Habitat Effectiveness Value

0.66 Dry 0.65 Mary’s



Cover (HEc) (Min Desired Rating = 0.50)


Forage (HEf) (Min Desired Rating = 0.50)


Road Density (HEr) (Min Desired Rating = 0.50)


Overall (HEI) (Min Desired Rating = 0.50)


8 Existing habitat effectiveness values are shown. Treatment would not measurably change model values. Explanation of anticipated effects is provided by treatment type.

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Hydrology & Fisheries

Changes in Risk of Altered Peak Flows (Aggregate Recovery Percentage) NOTE: Midpoint represents a minimum safe level of vegetative recovery to prevent substantial alteration of peak flow regimes as a result of management activities. Current values are 5 points above midpoint

% Change in ARP above the midpoint value

0 <3% <3%

Probability of measurable negative effects occurring in occupied fish habitat

NA zero zero zero

Engineering (Roads)

Road Reconstruction and Maintenance

Miles 0 57 57

New Temp. Road Construction Miles 0 1.9 0.0

System Roads placed in storage Miles 0 17 17

System Roads decommissioned Miles 0 0.32 0.32

Economic Analysis

Discounted Costs $ 0 $959,360 $866,474

Discounted Revenues $ 0 $4,258,442 $3,868,964

Net Present Value $ 0 $3,299,081 $3,002,489

Benefit/Cost Ratio (gross value/ associated costs)

$ 0 4.44 4.47

Key Issues Identified for the Project

New Temporary Roads Miles 0 1.9 0.0

Chapter 2 – Alternatives, Including the Proposed...

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