Final Environmental Impact Statement

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Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 Forest Plan guideline 5606 pertains to the achievement of SIOs following management actions. This guideline specifically notes that SIOs are to be achieved following the completion of a project, which includes all various aspects such as seeding, road closures, pile burning and rehabilitation, etc. The Vestal project includes not only vegetation treatments, but also prescribed burning, road closures, and other design features (refer to Appendix B). Alternative 2 would meet guideline 5606 to achieve SIOs within the stated timeframes following completion of the project. How well commercial treatments blend into the characteristic landscape, and meet the SIO, is based upon the slope, aspect, and vegetation remaining on the site. Reducing soil disturbance, uneven spacing of the trees remaining in the landscape, and cleaning up the slash (branches and tree tops left when trees are commercially removed from the forest) to natural levels, can result in an appearance that is in harmony with the landscape character, often resulting in a higher SIO being achieved. Commercial Thin (CT60 and CT50) - Thinning and reducing the overall density of ponderosa pine vegetation can lead to the amount of grasses, forbs, shrubs, and hardwoods increasing in the landscape. This could increase the variety of colors evident now, and in the future, across the landscape. Thinning trees to an even spacing can result in a managed, unnatural appearance. In stands where there is a mixture of tree sizes, including the understory, random spacing and clumps of remaining trees can help maintain an appearance in character with the landscape and improve the SIO rating. Would generally meet a Moderate to High SIO, depending on the residual large tree component, understory and hardwoods present. Overstory Removals (OR) result in an open area with seedlings scattered across the opening. Some large trees may remain for wildlife. In the Foreground, the lack of a forest canopy and the seedlings across the forest floor would be the most evident. In the Middleground & Background the form, or shape, of the unit would be most evident in the winter months when snow is present on the ground, creating a strong contrast from the darker surrounding forest. These units have the greatest potential to appear out of scale and character with natural vegetative patterns. Overstory Removal treatments generally meet a Low SIO. A Moderate SIO can be achieved if the size of the unit does not exceed the natural openings by more than 10%, otherwise it would likely meet a Low SIO. Shelterwood Seedcut (SWSC) is an even-aged regeneration treatment which retains the most desirable seed trees. This treatment results in an open stand with scattered larger trees - approximately 30-50 commercial-sized trees per acre (basal area of 30-50 ft²/ac is the objective), with few to no understory trees. Due to the wide spacing and no understory, this treatment results in a heavily managed appearance. A Low SIO can be met if there are a variety of tree sizes remaining throughout the treatment unit. Group Shelterwood (GSH) - A GSH prescription may include all phases of a shelterwood system such as a commercial thin, seedcut or overstory removal and includes POL. The overall density of these stands would be no more than 60 ft 2 /acre. The final appearance within in each stand would likely contain a range from large open areas with seedlings and saplings, to thin overstory stand with limited understory. This treatment method generally meets a Low to Moderate SIO. 140
Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 Free Selection (FS) treatment would result in reduced tree densities while maintaining groups of large trees and hardwoods. This would make the color and characteristics of larger trees and hardwoods more visible in the landscape, particularly in the foreground. This treatment would reduce susceptibility of stands to MPB infestation by reducing overall basal area within sites, which in turn would provide the conditions that can enhance stand diversity. This treatment reduces overall density of the site to 80 ft 2 /ac basal areas by interspersing dense groups of trees with openings. Stand densities would vary from 30 - 90 ft 2 /ac BA. Lower basal area would likely meet a Low SIO. Higher basal area, i.e. 60 BA would likely meet a Moderate SIO; while 60 BA with hardwoods present, and 80 BA areas would likely meet a High SIO. Variable Density Thinning (VDT) thinning of ponderosa pine to reduce the overall quantity of trees on the site to a basal area average of 60. The remaining trees would be varied in density (spacing) - where some areas are tightly spaced and other areas they are widely spaced. The variety in residual tree spacing is what makes the difference as to how natural these treatments appear. Due to the variety it creates, that mimic natural vegetative patterns, this treatment should meet a Moderate to High SIO. Sanitation (Sani) treatment removes trees currently infested with mountain pine beetle. The visual effect is totally dependent upon the amount of MPB activity present. The results of this treatment cannot be projected due to the unknown level of MPB activity. When then treatment is in an area with high level of MPB activity, a Low SIO would likely be achieved. When then treatment is in an area with limited level of MPB activity, a High SIO can be achieved. Products Other Than Logs Thinning (POL) removes 6 to 9-inch diameter trees and would open up views into the Forest, as the spacing of the trees would range from 18 to 22 feet. This treatment often leaves a moderate level of vegetation debris on the forest floor, reducing grasses and shrubs, and dominating Foreground views. Once the slash is cleaned up, this treatment should meet a Moderate SIO. In the Middleground and Background, large diameter trees should be more dominant in this landscape also resulting in a Moderate to High SIO. Pine Encroachment (PE) This treatment would remove all pine from meadow sites. Generally, there are few trees in these areas to be treated, and their removal still maintains a natural appearing condition, and meets a High SIO. In Foreground views, where there are concentrations of trees to be removed, the remaining stumps are still evident, lowering the scenic integrity to a Moderate level for the first 5 years. Hardwood Conversion (HC) and Hardwood Restoration (HR) These treatments remove all pine from mixed conifer / hardwood stands (HC) or ‘pure’ hardwood stands (HR) to maintain or increase hardwoods. Pine under 9” DBH would be ‘hinged’ then left on the site. Hinging adds a large horizontal component that can detract from the landscape when being viewed in Foreground settings. Once the needles fall off the hinged trees, this treatment should meet a Moderate SIO when viewed in the Foreground, and a High SIO when viewed in the Middleground & Background. Short term (less than 10 years) this treatment should result in a High SIO being achieved, as the treated areas would be filled with hardwoods that would provide additional color to the landscape (spring and fall). 141
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Final Environmental Impact Statement

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