Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3
Precommercial Thinning (PCT) removes understory trees, on this project - less than 5inch
in diameter, to 12’ x 12’ spacing. Precommercial thinning can result in a uniform
appearance of the remaining forest (both in size and spacing) when only smaller trees are
present. When precommercial thinning occurs, screening would be reduced and views
into the forest would be increased. This reduction in the understory would further
increase the emphasis & visibility of the larger diameter trees in the landscape.
Understory grasses and shrubs would be more evident offering seasonal variety of light
and color (when spring flowers are evident). When activities are completed,
precommercial thin treatment methods generally meet a Moderate SIO, however, in this
project where only the 5-inch and less are being treated, a High SIO should be achieved.
Dead Fall (DF) is a mechanical treatment (i.e. - lopping, chipping, crushing, piling and
burning, mastication, etc.) of existing dead & down trees that were killed by MPB
activity. The treatment reduces the height of the material to within 18-24 inches of the
ground. No standing live or dead trees would be cut as part of this treatment. The
objective of this treatment is to reduce the dead fuels within these stands, thus reducing
the potential for a wildfire to move into the crowns. By moving the aerial slash / fuels to
the ground, fire risk is also reduced. The existing condition of a forest of dead trees is
not appreciated by the general public, and is perceived to have a Low Scenic Integrity.
This treatment would not change that Scenic Integrity level, but it would help the stand
achieve a higher level of Scenic Integrity sooner.
Fuel Break (FB) is a treatment to thin the forest adjacent to private land, or other areas,
to reduce fire hazard. Fuel break treatment would be in narrow strips, up to 300 feet,
along the edge of private land boundaries. Trees up to 9” dbh would be cut to a residual
tree spacing of 24’ x 24’. Residual slash would either be piled for burning, or include
mastication of slash rather than piling and burning. The result is a an open park-like
setting, that normally meets a High SIO, when viewed from private land and other areas.
Prescribed Burning – Sending fire across the landscape - within a designated boundary -
in a controlled manner is beneficial to the Scenic resource by removing dead plant
material and slash, while stimulating plants, shrubs & hardwoods. This new growth
normally increases visual diversity and fall color in the landscape. Once the area is
burned, ash and blackened tree bark are clearly evident across the landscape. Normally,
these burn marks are no longer visible once new grasses and other vegetation grow up the
following spring. However, there is always the potential for the fire to flare up - due to
un-expected wind or a microsite of drier material – that can create negative visual
impacts. Under burning can meet a range from High to Low SIO, depending upon burn
intensity. Most burns conducted on this Forest meet a High SIO 1-2 year after the
burning is completed and the red-colored, fire-killed, needles drop off the trees and
would meet standard 4104.
Cumulative Effects
The spatial boundary for analyzing cumulative effects is primarily that of the planning
area. This identified area is the landscape that is evident in the foreground and middle
ground from the main travel routes, with particular attention to recreation facilities,
recreation trails, and the community of Custer (due to viewer’s stationary position or
slower pace while moving through the landscape).
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