Final Environmental Impact Statement

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Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 Late Succession Total acres of late succession are expected to be reduced in this alternative due to MPB caused mortality. Approximately ten acres of late succession (SS5) are projected to remain within the project area at year 2018 (Allen 2011). The remaining SS4A and SS4B stands could eventually grow into SS5; however this would take several decades or longer to achieve. With the current MPB infestation it is highly likely that the development of SS5 would be delayed due to an increase in MPB caused tree mortality. Hardwoods Aspen would benefit from the mountain pine beetle-caused mortality of overstory ponderosa pine, which decreases competition for sunlight and nutrients. However, ponderosa pine less than 3” dbh would escape mortality and remain to compete with quaking aspen. The pine would eventually shade out the aspen within the subsequent 50 years. Increased sunlight warming the ground would immediately stimulate aspen regeneration through root suckering, expanding existing clones outward a distance up to 1 to 1.5 tree heights (Shepperd & Battaglia 2002). The flush of new aspen suckers increases browsing damage, however, the large amount of ponderosa pine snags falling down mitigate the browsing pressure by physically blocking deer and elk from the suckers. This alternative would move toward Forest Objective 201. Spruce This alternative would not have any direct effects on spruce. Indirectly spruce may increase in time due to dense canopy conditions (stands not affected by MPB) and fire suppression. Dense mixed conifer stands would likely lose the ponderosa pine component to MPB caused mortality. The loss of ponderosa pine could affect the structure of spruce stands by increasing wind-throw (spruce are highly susceptible to wind throw), coarse woody debris, and subsequent ladder fuels. . Meadows Meadow sites in the project area would continue to experience encroachment from ponderosa pine. The ponderosa pine encroaching on meadow sites is either not large enough or dense enough to experience heavy mountain pine beetle-caused mortality. Meadows are not expected to increase as their extent is limited by soil characteristics. This alternative would not impact achievement of Objective 205. Alternative 2 Cover Types The proposed action includes 126 acres of hardwood conversion. These stands were identified as past aspen sites which had been encroached by pine over time. This treatment would result in an increase of 126 acres in aspen and a corresponding decrease in ponderosa pine cover types. No other changes to cover types are anticipated in the proposed action. 42
Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 Ponderosa Pine Effects to pine structural stages from vegetation treatments would be expected to move away from the Forest Objectives for structural stages by management area, but not as much as in Alternative 1. Conifer sites treated to SS3A and SS4A or those already in SS3A or SS4A can be expected to survive the MPB infestation and grow into SS3B and SS4B within 20 to 30 years. This alternative would create more SS4A than Alternative 1, but would also retain more dense stands and mature stands as SS3C, 4B, 4C and 5 (Table 26). Table 26. Pine Structural Stages by Alternative within the Vestal Project Area 2011 Existing 2018 Alt 1 2018 Alt 1 2018 Alt 2 2018 Alt 2 Percent Structural 2011 Stage Acres Percent Acres Percent Acres 1 87
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Final Environmental Impact Statement

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