Environmental Assessment

ALTERNATIVE DESCRIPTION – ALTERNATIVE 2 – PROPOSED ACTION CHAPTER 2
felled trees located away and/or bunched away from the skid trail. Harvesters would be permitted off
designated skid trails to harvest and bunch trees. They would be expected to make a maximum of two (2)
passes on each travel route.
To reduce slash treatment within commercial harvest units, all felled trees would be skidded to the
landing with tops attached. Slash on the landing would be piled and burned. Of the 6,468 acres treated
by commercial and non commercial harvest operations, approximately 5,984 acres of slash would be
treated by lopping and scattering using hand tools including chain saws. No post-harvest slash treatment
would be applied on 338 acres. The 146 acres of regeneration harvest would have the slash tractor piled
and burned.
Burning beneath the tree dripline of residual trees to reduce non-harvest fuels would be accomplished on
1,608 acres. The remaining 3,704 acres of fuel reduction treatments would be underburned.
Thirty-eight (38) acres of regeneration clearcut harvest would be planted after harvest. All planting
would be by hand at an approximate 12 foot by 12 foot (12x12) spacing (300 trees per acre). Planted
seedlings would be protected from animal damage by vexar-type tubing. Incidental site preparation to
clear residual vegetation and/or slash may be required in some areas. Such planting may require localized
site preparation to clear away regenerating vegetation using hand tools.
Planting would occur between the existing researcher’s quarters and Road 2017 to at least partially
replace vegetation lost due to the construction and to screen new facilities from the road. Approximately
one quarter (0.25) acre within the Pine Mountain Observatory permit boundary would be planted with
approximately 160 ponderosa pine seedlings (8x8 foot spacing). It would also provide additional
screening of buildings from the road, reduce light pollution from vehicles, reduce noise from the road,
campground and new parking area, and provide an additional buffer to reduce dust. Planting and site prep
methods and tools would be the same as previously described. The seedlings would be tubed to protect
them from browsing by wildlife.
The 108 regeneration shelterwood harvest acres would be regenerated to lodgepole pine using natural
regeneration with seed provided by the residual overstory trees. If the resulting understory stands did not
meet stocking standards after five (5) years, they would be planted with lodgepole pine seedlings to bring
stocking levels up to required standards. Such planting may require localized site preparation to clear
away regenerating vegetation using hand tools.
Approximately 11 acres of small openings contained within unit H23, a 43 acre proposed commercial
thinning unit, are proposed for planting to improve structural diversity and provide additional future
hiding cover. The openings, created prior to the acquisition of the land by the Forest Service during the
1930s, would be planted with ponderosa pine at a stocking of approximately 300 trees per acre (12x12
foot spacing). Planting and necessary site prep would be as described above. To minimize animal
damage from browsing by wildlife, the seedlings would be protected with vexar-type tubing.
Commercial harvest activity would require the construction of approximately one (1.05) mile of
temporary roads to access units H17, H18, H19, and H42. These roads would be obliterated upon
completion of harvest activities using a tractor pulling a winged subsoiler. Subsoiling would be to a
maximum depth of 24 inches.
Subsoiling would be implemented on approximately 59 acres within vegetation treatment units to reduce
detrimental soil impacts (compaction) associated with harvest acres or to obliterate and decommission
system road segments within those units upon completion of management activities. Seven (7) units;
H02, H07, H19, H36, H38, H40, and H41, are projected to have detrimental soil impacts that exceed 20
2-4