frog fire salvage project range specialist...
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Frog Fire Salvage Project
RANGE SPECIALIST REPORT
Prepared by: ___ /s/ Garrett Noles_________________ Date: ___03/15/2016________
Garrett Noles
Rangeland Management Specialist
Prepared for: Big Valley Ranger District
Modoc National Forest
March 2016
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INTRODUCTION
This report addresses the rangeland resource in association with the Frog Fire Salvage Project.
Discussion about the Proposed Action and Alternatives are included in this report in relation to
their effects to the rangeland resource.
ANALYSIS METHODS
The geographic boundary for this analysis is the entire Frog Fire perimeter that overlaps with the
Round Mountain Allotment. The effect of the proposed Frog Fire Salvage Project on the Round
Mountain allotment is assessed. Forage response, permittee access, and livestock distribution will
be used as the general categories to describe the direct, indirect and cumulative effects of the
proposal. All geospatial data used for this analysis is derived from the Modoc National Forest
database in March 2016. A site visit to the proposed Frog Fire Salvage Project area was made on
October 22, 2015 by the assigned Interdisciplinary Team.
The following specific indicators will be used:
Number of salvage harvest acres within the allotment
Number of acres of salvage harvest disturbance by alternative within the affected grazing
allotment
Number of acres of capable/suitable rangeland within salvage units for the allotment
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
The Frog Fire began on July 30, 2015 as a result of a lightning strike on the Modoc National Forest.
The fire was contained on August 8, 2015, the final size of the fire was 4,863 acres. Approximately
4,389 acres of the Frog Fire were inside the Round Mountain Allotment which is 21,701 acres in
size. Map 1in Appendix A represents the Round Mountain Allotment. Approximately 20% of the
allotment acreage was burned by the Frog Fire. The term grazing permit associated with the Round
Mountain Allotment is for domestic sheep use, further described in table 2. Map 2 (Appendix A)
depicts the Frog Fire in relation to the Round Mountain Allotment.
Up to 1,937 acres of salvage logging will occur as part of the proposed Frog Fire Salvage Project;
which may be within or outside the Round Mountain Allotment. Also, 100 percent of the rangeland
within the salvage units is capable range, as shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Allotment Total
Acres
Salvage Harvest
Unit Acres
within
Allotment /
% of Allotment
Capable Acres
within Salvage Units
by Allotment / % of
Units
Round Mtn. 21,701 1,937 / 9% 1,937 /100%
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REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
The Modoc National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (USDA Forest Service 1991)
established Forest management goals. The Livestock Management Strategies for the affected range
allotment, Round Mountain Allotment, can be found in Management Area 41 of the Big Valley
Ranger District; which emphasizes full utilization of available forage and cost effective
management systems. Cost effective management systems include: fencing and water
developments which are designed and applied to obtain relatively uniform livestock distribution
and use of forage to maintain plant vigor (Appendix O, Page O-1). The primary emphasis of
rangeland management prescription 10 is to manage rangeland vegetation, providing for healthy
ecosystems and making forage available for use by livestock, wildlife and wild horse herds
(Management Prescription, Page 4-93). Specifically, with respect to the Frog Fire Salvage Project,
the range management objective is to protect vegetative resources and continue the management
of the Round Mountain Allotment (designated area to graze) in a manner similar to that which had
occurred prior to the Frog Fire.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Range Vegetation
The vegetation characteristics of the Round Mountain Allotment include sagebrush, mountain
mahogany, juniper and pockets of commercial timber species. Predominant commercial timber
species are ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), sugar pine
(Pinus lambertiana) and white fir (Abies concolor). Aspen grow at the base of lava reefs with
perennial bunchgrasses dispersed between shrub and tree canopies. Perennial grass species
include: squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), sandberg blugrass (Poa secunda) and pine reedgrass
(Calamagrostis rubescens). Much of the Round Mountain Allotment may be categorized as
transitory range. Transitory range as defined by Spreitzer 1985 is: forestlands that are suitable for
grazing for a limited time following a complete or partial forest removal. Transitory range scattered
throughout the allotment provides important temporary forage and continues to fluctuate as the
forest canopy opens and closes depending on the level of timber harvest, fuels treatment and
wildfires.
Grazing permit Analysis
The purpose of this project, as described in the purpose and need, detailed in the EA, does not
include analysis or decisions related to permitted livestock grazing. Following 36 C.F.R. § 222.4
(8):
Modify the seasons of use, numbers, kind, and class of livestock allowed or the allotment
to be used under the permit, because of resource condition, or permittee request. One year's
notice will be given of such modification, except in cases of emergency.
Modifications to grazing management on the Round Mountain Allotment as a result of change in
resource condition have been made separately from the proposed action.
Permitted Use
The Chief, Forest Service, shall develop, administer and protect the range resources and permit
and regulate the grazing use of all kinds and classes of livestock on all National Forest System
lands and on other lands under Forest Service control (36 CFR 222.1 a). The Chief, Forest Service,
is authorized to issue permits for livestock grazing and other use by livestock of the National Forest
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System and on other lands under Forest Service control (36 CFR 222.3 c). Use of the allotment is
permitted through the Term Grazing Permit which is issued under these authorities, below is a
description of the allotment and the permitted number and season within the project area. The
Round Mountain Allotment is managed under livestock management strategy C, described as:
“management seeks full utilization of forage available to livestock. Cost effective
management systems and techniques, including fencing and water developments, are
designed and applied to obtain relatively uniform livestock distribution and use of forage
to maintain plan vigor”. (Appendix O-1)
Livestock movement and grazing management is facilitated by utilizing water developments and
herding. Range management practices such as season of use and utilization standards are
implemented through annual operating instructions between the district rangeland management
specialist and the permittee. For the location of the allotment and associated range improvements
(fences, water developments and etc.) within the analysis area: refer to the range map in the project
file. Table 2 summarizes the authorized grazing use on the Round Mountain Allotment:
Table 2: Round Mountain Permitted Use
Allotment
Total Acres
(Private acres)
Permitted Use
Number
(s) Sheep
Season of
Use
Head
Months
AUMS
Round Mtn. 21,701 (99) 1,250 06/01-9/30 5,014 1,504
Burned Area within the Round Mountain Allotment
The District Ranger, District Rangeland Management Specialist and affected livestock permittee
met on January 12, 2016 to discuss necessary changes in livestock management to protect
vegetative resources in the burned portion of the Round Mountain Allotment. Through review of
the unburned portions of the allotment, it was determined that the permittee will be capable of
managing livestock on the 80% unburned portion of the allotment; allowing for the 20% burned
area one full season rest from grazing. Herding, water location and strategic bedding locations
were identified as keys to effectively manage sheep grazing off of the burn area. Further
instructions and livestock rest guidelines will be outlined in the 2016 Annual Operating
Instructions for the affected permittee. If vegetation conditions do not meet desired recovery
standards after one full season of rest, an additional rest period may be negotiated for the 2017
grazing season.
A map developed by the Frog Fire BAER team was utilized to assist in estimating tree mortality
levels and associated acreages impacted for both analysis as well as ground reconnaissance
purposes. Estimates were derived from the August 26, 2015 Rapid Assessment of Vegetation
Change (RAVG) mapping. RAVG maps are generated by utilizing satellites to compare near and
mid infrared reflectance values. Near infrared light is largely reflected by healthy green
vegetation. That means that near infrared bands will be very high in areas of healthy green
vegetation and low in areas where there is little vegetation. Mid infrared light is largely reflected
by rock and bare soil. That means that mid infrared band values will be very high in bare, rocky
areas with little vegetation and low in areas of healthy green vegetation. Imagery collected over a
forest in a pre-fire condition will have very high near infrared band values and very low mid
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infrared band values. Imagery collected over a forest after a fire will have very low near infrared
band values and very high mid infrared band values”
http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/rsac/baer/RAVG.html).
The Estimated Vegetation Mortality Map delineated three categories of vegetation mortality
across the entire fire area.
Low Mortality: <25%
Mixed Mortality: 25-75%
Stand Replacement (High Severity) >75% Mortality
Table 3 provides a summary of the burned acres, salvage unit acres and the acres of capable (the
potential of an area of land to produce accessible, available forage) rangeland within the salvage
units. This table shows that 10% of the total allotment acres were severely burned, 5% were
moderately burned, and 4% were in low severity or unburned categories.
Table 3: Allotments and Pastures within Frog Fire Perimeter
As the total area of the salvage harvest units for Alternative 2 would make up only 9 percent of
the total area of the affected allotment, it is expected that the effect of the action alternatives on
the grazing allotment forage response would be negligible to the affected area.
Compliance Checks and Monitoring
To ensure management direction as outlined in the Annual Operating Instructions (AOI - annual
management instructions to the permittee) are followed, range management staff will conduct
allotment inspections throughout the grazing season. Allotment resource condition monitoring
takes place throughout the grazing season. This frequent monitoring allows for adjustments to the
instructions, if necessary, as a response to a change in resource conditions. End-of-season
monitoring is conducted across the district as a measure of compliance with the allowable forage
use standards and is also an indicator of successful management. Allotment inspections, resource
condition and end of season monitoring will be conducted on the allotments/pastures included in
the analysis area at the end of the 2016 grazing season.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
Direct and Indirect Effects
All Alternatives
The effects of the fire on the allotment will require modifying grazing management off of the burn
area until the forage vegetation has recovered. The total capable range acres within the maximum
salvage acres alternative are 1,937 acres. The effect of the Frog Fire Salvage Project in addition
Allotment
Total
Allotment
Acres
%
Allotment
Acres
within
Frog Fire
Salvage
Unit
Acres
Capable
Range Acres
within
Salvage
Area
Allotment Acres by Burn Severity
*Stand Replacing Mixed Low
Round Mtn. 21,701 20% 1,937 1,937 2,271 1165 953
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to the effects of the frog fire on the forage response and the management of the allotment would
be relatively small.
Regardless of the alternative chosen, an increase in transitory range is expected as a result from a
decrease in canopy cover and early seral conditions in forested plant communities post fire. This
availability would be from a combination of existing forage plants becoming more palatable post-
fire and new plants become established.
No Action - Alternative 1
Forage Response
This alternative would result in an increase of grass, forb and shrub production and a subsequent
increase in available forage in areas directly affected by the fire. Often the first post-fire vegetation
to appear are shrubs that sprout from surviving rootstocks, to a varying degree the earliest plant
community reflects the pre-fire understory vegetation regarding species composition (Walker,
Johnson, Fecko, and Johnson 2013). The severity of the burn would largely affect the degree to
which individual species respond. It is anticipated that the Frog Fire would function to enhance
the understory vegetation relative to plant vigor, productivity, and diversity and consequently
result in an increase in forage and browse available for grazing by permitted livestock within the
allotment. Also there would be a slight increase in production in non-forested plant communities
post fire. This increase would be due to an opening in canopy cover where tree mortality has
occurred, in areas where conifers were encroaching into non-forested plant communities, or where
shrub cover and decadent plant material has been removed.
Over time (5 -15 years), the forest understory and non-forest vegetation would develop towards a
mature condition. Continued reduction in the intensity and spectral quality of the light below the
canopy would suppress understory growth and survival of intolerant species (Freyman 1968).
Shade tolerant species would out-compete less shade tolerant forest community species. Over
time, trees would dominate, resulting in the associated shrubs, herbs and grasses becoming less
abundant due to the corresponding increase in canopy cover and associated increased shading
(Naumburg and DeWald 1999). Downed fire-impacted material (snags and debris) would
contribute further to an increase in cover and associated shading. Correspondingly, understory
productivity (forage production) and diversity would also decline (Moir 1966).
There would be no reduction in post-fire forage vegetation recovery from salvage harvest activities
as there would be no soil disturbance or mechanical damage to regenerating plants. However, this
alternative would make the least amount of transitory range available. This would be mainly
because livestock distribution caused by the accumulation of dead down trees associated with no
commercial salvage (discussed further below) would be limited. Access to the increased
production expected in non-forested plant communities could be diminished because of dead and
down tree accumulation. No mitigation measures would be required specific to this alternative.
Permittee Access and Livestock Distribution
The No Action Alternative would have no initial effect on permittee access and would provide
current road access to the allotment. Over time (5-15 years), as snags fall and material accumulates
on the ground, implementation of the No Action Alternative would result in disruption of livestock
distribution and grazing patterns. According to research performed by McIver and Ottmar (2007),
in post-fire unlogged areas 10% of the standing dead trees fell within three years. Areas that are
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currently open due to the Frog Fire burning natural barriers would, as a result of no salvage harvest,
begin to exhibit accumulations of down dead trees which could restrict access to watering locations
or grazing areas. An increase in effort on the part of the permittee could be required to manage
the allotment with the accumulation of down trees. As danger trees begin to fall and make roads
unsafe, roads would be closed, which would force the permittee to drive sheep for longer distances
to access bedding, water and shipping locations. Natural regeneration would occur as described
under Forage Response above.
Alternatives 2 - Proposed Action Alternatives
Forage Response
Alternative 2 proposes various amounts of mechanical removal of forested overstory in areas that
sustained moderate to high levels of tree mortality (generally greater than 75 percent mortality).
The direct effects of removing the fire-impacted overstory would be: 1) a further decrease in shade
and a corresponding increase in the intensity of direct sunlight reaching the forest understory
compared to pre-fire conditions, 2) reduction in the amount of debris that would ultimately
accumulate on the forest floor, and 3) mechanical damage to regenerating plants and creating
additional soil disturbance with the potential of soil erosion and soil compaction, contributing to
an increase in vegetation recovery time and a delay in forage production. The relatively small
effect of each of these factors is discussed in more detail below.
With the proposed actions, the forest canopy would be open and there would be an increase in light
that reaches the ground. Green tree research indicates that the removal of the forest component of
dry forest ecosystems results in the stimulation of the associated understory component (Clary and
Folliot 1966, Carleton and Maycock 1981, Host 1988, Lieffers and Stadt 1994, Agee 1994c, Riegel
et al 1995, Griffith 1996, Ricard and Messier 1996, Naumburg and DeWald 1999). In general, the
research indicates that productivity of understory vegetation is inversely related to tree density and
directly proportional to the amount of solar radiation that reaches the understory vegetation. The
indirect effect of increased plant productivity is an increase in forage and browse that is available
for grazing by livestock. Within the salvage harvested areas with the absence of large woody
debris, forage would be more readily available over a longer time period compared to the non-
salvage harvested areas that would limit livestock access and forage availability as the snags fall
and accumulate on the ground. Conversely, in non-salvage harvested post-fire forest
environments, down snags and coarse wood provide protection for establishing seedlings by
providing shade, trapping water, and protecting seedlings from wind and cold.
The effect of the action alternatives on forage vegetation recovery would be negligible compared
to the no action alternative; however the action alternative would create corridors for better access
to and distribution through the transitory range within the burned area (further discussed under
Permittee Access and Livestock Distribution below). There would be a net long-term improvement
to the range forage resource with the implementation of the action alternatives.
The direct effect of mechanical damage to regenerating plants and soil by salvage logging and the
indirect effect on vegetation recovery and forage production would be very small in relation to the
total amount of forage base currently available within the allotment.
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Permittee Access and Livestock Distribution
Salvage harvest activities would likely have very limited direct effect on livestock distribution as
the timing of the salvage harvest would likely start before vegetation recovery on the burned
portion of the allotment has been reached. If any of the activity occurs during the scheduled
grazing periods, between June and the end of September, activity noise or vehicle haul traffic may
temporarily require sheep to avoid the immediate area. The accumulation of down woody material
would be minimized within stock trails, and within areas of traditional sheep movement.
Coordination between the Range Specialist, Sale Administrator, and grazing permittee would
occur to help prevent any conflicts.
All Action Alternatives would have no effect on permittee access to the affected grazing allotment.
All alternatives would re-close roads that were or would be opened for the purposes of
implementing this project. Many roads currently existing within the allotment (including some
closed roads) provide permittee access.
An increase in transitory range would result in increased livestock distribution through natural
movement of the animals. With salvage harvest, a more open structure in forested vegetation
communities would develop and improve livestock distribution. The relative increase in transitory
range would be small but would have the potential to relieve livestock grazing pressure from
historical pre-fire use areas, mainly non-forested plant communities.
The effects of proposed reforestation on the grazing allotments would have a minimal effect on
livestock distribution for the allotment. The permittee would be made aware of current
reforestation efforts through the annual operating instructions and an added protection would be
to use bedding areas and water sources away from reforestation areas.
Summary of Direct and Indirect Effects
The Frog Fire burned approximately 20 percent of the total area of the Round Mountain Allotment.
The total area of the salvage units for the proposed action would make up only 9 percent of the
total allotment acreage. Relative to the effect of the Frog Fire on the affected allotment, the effects
of the Frog Fire Salvage Project would be very small.
Cumulative Effects – Proposed action and No action Alternatives
The following activities will have a cumulative effect on the rangeland resource and will be
considered in this cumulative effects analysis: fire suppression facilities, timber harvest, road
construction and maintenance, prescribed burning, other wildfires, BAER activities, range
recovery measures, invasive plant treatments, and dispersed recreation. The geographic boundary
for this cumulative effects analysis is the entire Frog Fire burned area including the entire area of
the Round Mountain Allotment. The temporal boundary is the period of time when the activities
associated with this project area occurring from the early 1900s to 2016 when activities would be
complete. Because effects on soils are localized, this cumulative effects analysis is limited to the
immediate area surrounding the actual units.
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Past Actions
Frog Fire suppression activities in 2015 involved construction of dozer line, and hand line with
many created clearings for drop points, safety zones, staging areas, and helispots. These areas may
be re-seeded with a seed mix or have shrub seedlings planted for weed competition and soil
stabilization in 2016. There is a potential that these clearings would be beneficial to sheep
movement and facilitate grazing distribution; conversely these clearings, when re-seeded, may
attract sheep to use these areas before the areas have completely healed. Since the sheep are with
a herder at all times, re-seeded areas could easily be avoided as long as the herder is made aware
of sensitive recovery areas up front in order to avoid these areas before sheep are in the vicinity.
Past activities within the analysis area include grazing, wildfire, timber sales, fuels reduction
projects, wildfire suppression and road maintenance. Several prescribed burns have recently
occurred within the analysis areas that have continued to contribute to or maintain additional
transitory forage. Wildfires, such as Quaking and Scarface, have contributed to additional
transitory range by removing the over story and allowing sunlight to increase the understory.
Present and On-going Actions
Livestock grazing, fire suppression and road maintenance are present or on-going actions in the
project area. In response to changes in resource conditions caused by the Frog Fire, livestock
grazing systems will be modified or grazing will be delayed where needed on the Round Mountain
Allotment. When standards are met that indicate sufficient vegetation recovery has occurred (Post
Fire Vegetation objectives), the management of the allotment will return to that of the pre-fire
grazing systems. Modifications to permitted use will be made and specific fire recovery measures
will be in place before grazing continues on burned portions of the allotment affected by the Frog
Fire.
Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions
Reasonably foreseeable future management activities may include timber management, road
maintenance, livestock grazing, prescribed fire and tree planting and re-seeding within the analysis
area.
Treatments would use existing landings where possible in order to utilize previously compacted
sites. Skid trail patterns would be designed to minimize soil disturbance and compaction. Proper
drainage on these features would reduce the potential for water concentration and runoff. Water
barring and slashing of skid trails and landings would reduce the potential for sedimentation and
erosion; even though the topography in the project area is relatively flat posing minimal erosion
potential. As time passes, forage availability would be reduced proportional to tree canopy closure.
Shade tolerant species would out-compete less shade tolerant species. If seedlings are successful
in competing for resources, canopy closure will begin to have an effect on the understory
vegetation over time. As predicted from growth of similar stands near the Frog Fire and referencing
Technical Bulletin #630 (Meyer, 1938), it will take approximately 30 years for planted tree
seedlings to reach a diameter at breast height (dbh) of 3 inches. It is expected that forbs, grasses,
and shrubs would naturally revegetate areas that are not planted with tree seedlings.
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Conclusion
The cumulative effect of the Frog Fire and associated suppression activities will temporally reduce
the availably of forage due to the loss of vegetation and fire suppression activities. However, the
Frog Fire suppression activities, under normal climatic conditions and with the proposed
revegetation plan, will be re-vegetated and the fire damaged vegetation will recover, resulting in a
long term increase in forage production within the transitory range.
Implementing the proposed action will insure the most rapid recovery of burned area vegetation
resulting in a shorter period of grazing deferment. The cumulative effect of timber sales, grazing
and revegetation treatments will maintain or improve the range forage resource by reducing
invasive plant competitions and maintaining a more open forest canopy.
In summary, the effects of past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions would contribute
to a short term decrease in the production and availability of the range forage resource. However,
actions proposed in the Frog Fire Salvage project would further open the canopy and increase
forage production, providing for better livestock distribution with a net benefit to the range forage
resource.
Appendix A
Map 1
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Map 2
Literature Cited
Freyman, S. 1968. Spectral Distribution of Light in Forest of the Douglas fir Zone of Southern
British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 48(3): 326-328.
McIver J. and Ottmar R. 2007. Fuel mass and Stand Structure after Post-Fire Logging of a
Severely Burned Ponderosa Pine Forest in Northeastern Oregon. Forest Ecology and
Management, 238: 268-279.
Meyer, Walter H. 1938. Yield of even-aged stand of ponderosa pine. U.S.D.A., Washington,
D.C. Tech. Bull. No. 630, October, 1939.
Moir W. 1966. Influence of Ponderosa Pine on Herbaceous Vegetation. Ecology, 47(6), 1045-
1048.
Naumburg and DeWald 1999. Relationship between Pinus Ponderosa Forest Structure, Light
Characteristics, and Understory Graminoid Species Presence and Abundance. Forest
Ecology and Management, 124, 205-215.
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Spreitzer, Patricia N. 1985. Transitory Range: A New Frontier. Rangelands, 7(1): 33-34.
Walker R., Fecko R., Johnson D., and Miller W. 2013. Wildfire Effects on Understory
Vegetation, Natural Regeneration, and Forest Floor fuels in a Sierran Mixed Conifer Stand.
Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 32(5): 456-494.
USDA Forest Service 1991. Modoc National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.