Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation ...

Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project
3.17 Economics
Scope of Analysis
The economic analysis focuses on the financial efficiency associated with commercial harvest
treatments within the Rio de los Pinos Analysis Area. The purpose of this analysis is not to
determine if the sales are above or below cost, but rather to compare the financial efficiency of
each alternative. This economic efficiency analysis does not incorporate monetary values for all
known market and non-market benefits and costs.
Assumptions were made in the financial analysis conducted using the software Quick-Silver
(version 5.004.45) concerning the timing of sales, units included in each sale, and sale
preparation times. These assumptions may not be reflective of the final decision on how
preliminary project units will be divided into final timber sales, but rather provides a reasonable
estimate of expected costs and benefits associated with each of the alternatives, relative to each
other.
Specific costs and benefits used in the Quick-Silver economic analysis were based on recently
published bulletins, previous timber sales, specialist input, and/or experience.
Past Actions that have affected the Existing Condition
Past actions that have affected the existing market condition in the Rio de los Pinos Analysis
Area include a history of management actions. The majority of the areas proposed for salvage
harvest were originally harvested in the mid-1950’s under a single tree selection system. Portions
of the southern end of the analysis area were entered into a second time in the mid-1970’s.
These sales contributed to the transportation system that will be used to access the proposed
sales.
Spruce beetle activity has recently increased on the Rio Grande National Forest. Heavy spruce
beetle infestations was first noted in the winter of 2003 in the southern portions of the County
Line Analysis Area, located less than two miles south of the Rio de los Pinos Analysis Area.
Since that time, spruce beetles have progressed northward; heavy infestations were noted in the
southern portion of the Rio de los Pinos Analysis Area during the 2007 field season.
As a result of past harvest activity, stand susceptibility to spruce beetle outbreak was locally
decreased for a period of time compared to areas that were untreated. Based on recent
experience, and current observations, this past treatment will not preclude epidemic beetle
populations that exist outside these stands from entering these stands. Advanced regeneration is
fairly abundant; this is likely a product of past harvest, and will improve project economics by
reducing the number of acres in need of post-treatment planting. Since dead stumpage rates are
not as high as live stumpage rates, the recent spruce beetle activity has degraded the commercial
timber value in the Rio de los Pinos Analysis Area.
Chapter 3 – Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences Page 3-87