Klamath Falls Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan

Klamath Falls Record of Decision

Klamath Falls District Resource Management Plan Table of Contents:

- Tables

- Maps

- Appendices

Forest Condition Restoration
(Forest Health Restoration)

Objectives

Reduce tree mortality and restore the degree of vigor, resiliency, and stability in forest stands which is necessary in order to achieve land use allocation objectives.

Land Use Allocations

There are no specific land use allocations for forest condition restoration. There is the potential for restoration treatment in all allocations. Estimated program acres, potential benefits, and by-products are shown in Table 6 below.

Management Actions/Direction

All Land Use Allocations

Design and implement silvicultural treatments in stands that exhibit deteriorating conditions. Treatments are intended to restore the ability of stands to respond to other management and to reduce the risk of mortality from drought, insects, disease, and wildfire. Treatments will consist of thinning of stands, prescribed fire, forest fertilization, reduction of understory vegetation, reduction of ladder fuels, and restoration of more stable plant communities.

Design forest condition restoration treatments to be consistent with the long-term objectives of the allocation in which the treatment is proposed. Develop treatments in an interdisciplinary manner.

Maintain the natural richness of tree species (conifers and hardwoods).

Develop forest condition restoration treatments at the stand level based on the combination of stand condition and trend, on the functional characteristics of the ecosystem, and on characteristics of the site. Design treatments, as much as possible, to prevent the development of undesirable species composition, species dominance, stand density, or other stand characteristics. Employ the principles of integrated pest management and integrated vegetation management to avoid the need for direct treatments. Use herbicides only as a last resort.

Riparian Reserves

Design and implement forest condition restoration treatments in a manner that contributes to the attainment of Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives.

Late-Successional/District Designated Reserves

Design and implement forest condition restoration treatments if they provide habitat benefits for late-successional associated species or if the effects on such species are negligible.

Prior to the use of prescribed fire as a forest condition restoration treatment, develop an interdisciplinary fire management plan specifying how prescribed fire applications will meet the objectives of the Late-Successional Reserve. Until the plan is approved, proposed activities will be subject to review by the Regional Ecosystem Office. Apply prescribed fire in a manner which retains the needed amount of coarse woody debris as determined through watershed analysis.

Matrix (General Forest Management Area) - West and East Sides

Retain snags within forest condition restoration treatment units at levels sufficient to support species of cavity-nesting birds at 60 percent of potential population levels. Meet the 60 percent minimum throughout the Matrix with per acre requirements met on average areas no larger than 40 acres.

Special Habitats. In project areas containing special wildlife habitats (for example, talus and meadows) maintain 100 to 200 foot buffers around the special habitat. This could be increased, decreased, or manipulated based on site-specific circumstances. Ecologically significant buffers will be determined by interdisciplinary teams.