June 2016What problems/opportunities/needs are there with forest management? Development of the purpose of and need for action. July 2016What tools are available to address the problems? Review trade-offs and effectiveness of treatment options and field trip. August 2016Where is treatment needed? Discussion of possible treatment areas Fall Day Scoping Period Solicit comments from the public on the proposed action. Late winter 2017 Environmental Assessment Comment Period Solicit comments from the public on the environmental analysis. Spring 2017Draft Decision Objection period for individuals who commented on the project. Summer 2017 Final Decision Begin implementation.

Lack of disturbance in the ecosystem has reduced the resiliency, productivity and health of the forest. Without fire playing its historical role as a disturbance agent, young, vigorous forest has decreased across the project area. Disturbance is needed to regenerate species such as aspen, birch or jack pine and to create young forest habitat for wildlife species. Additionally, there is a need to increase the amount of fire-adapted species such as red and white pine where historically they were present.

The hazardous fuels in the Shokoshoe Project Area threaten public and firefighter safety. The dying aspen and birch coupled with an increase in balsam fir in the forest has increased the fuel loads and fire hazard. There is a high probability there will be a large wildfire in this area in the future because fire is a natural part of this ecosystem. Given the large number of residents, visitors and businesses in the area and probability of a wildfire in this area in the future, there is a need to improve public and firefighter safety by reducing hazardous fuels.

Moose populations have substantially decreased across Northern Minnesota and given the multiple stressors moose face, high quality habitat is needed to support moose populations. The Shokoshoe Project Area is a prime moose area, supporting a higher moose population than many other areas on the forest. Habitat features such as young forest for foraging and conifer for thermal cover are needed in the area to support healthy moose populations.

Provide sustainable timber products Improve health and productivity in red pine and white spruce plantations Maintain or increase longer lived species in riparian areas Manage for the minimum road system

Clearcuts with Reserves Most mature trees are harvested Small groups or scattered individual trees are reserved Forest floor is opened up for regeneration of a new stand of trees Harvested trees provide timber products

Some units are treated in the winter to protect wet soils

Thinning removes the least amount of trees Shelter wood and Seed Tree harvests open up the forest floor

Mechanical equipment mimic disturbance that would have burned the understory Removes brush and aggressive species such as aspen Reduces fuel loadings Provides more area for planting and seeding Meets other resource objectives

Some units are treated in the winter to protect wet soils

Release and weed Pre-c0mmercial thinning Underplanting

Surface Fuels: Vegetative material on the forest floor. Where fire initiates. For a fire to initiate, fuels have to be present and dry enough. Smaller diameter fuels with wind create fast moving fires. The more fuels on the ground, the more intensely a fire will burn. Larger diameter materials add to fire intensity. Ladder Fuels: Live or dead vegetative material in the understory of a forest. When ignited, allows fire to burn into the overstory of the forest. Canopy has to be low enough to the ground for fire to burn into them. Trees have to be close enough together to spread fire from tree to tree. Wind with tight spaces trees increase the potential for fire to spread to the canopy. Crown Fuels: The canopy of the overstory. Canopy has to be tight enough and ladder fuels have to be present for fire to carry into the crowns. With wind and dry conditions, fire can carry through the crowns of conifer species.

Treats surface and ladder fuels. Does not remove shade tolerate species seed source.

Treats ladder fuels and some surface fuels. Does not remove seed source for shade tolerant species. Used primarily: Smaller treatment areas. Where visuals are a concerns (i.e. campground). Where other species of concern could be impacted (i.e. pine plantation).

Used where: Other objectives can be achieved (i.e. moose habitat, removal of commercial timber). Prescribed fire would be difficult to implement (i.e. wetter soils). Prescribed fire would have a high risk component (i.e. crown fire potential near values at risk). Treats ladder and crown fuels. Near values at risk, can use piling and burning to treat surface fuels.

Prescribed Burning Removes surface and ladder fuels. Removes lower branches on overstory trees. Removes seed sources for shade tolerant species that become ladder fuels. Thickens up the bark. Prepares a seed bed to allow for regeneration. Used primarily in locations where mechanical treatments are not feasible or where fire as an ecological component is lacking.

Home survivability: Treatment of vegetation in the immediate zone around infrastructure is the most important factor in minimizing damage during a fire event. Landscape Treatments: Strategic placement of fuel treatment areas, specifically designed to interrupt primary fire spread pathways, will reduce the size and effects of large fires. Jack D. CohenJack D. Cohen, Research Physical Fire Scientist, USDA Forest Service, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory.

Populus tremuloidesAcer spicatum Corylus cornuta Salix spp.

…to enhance what’s already there. Stimulate brush growth through fire and mechanical treatments Promote and protect existing thermal cover Reserve / leave tree design in larger opening Planting long-lived conifers At the stand level: species diversity and complex structure Shearing & mechanical site prep Partial harvests At the landscape level: range of natural variability in habitats and age classes Clearcuts with reserves Prescribed fire Natural fire

The scenic environment within the Superior National Forest is variable Landscapes with high scenic quality display little or no evidence of management activities Landscapes with low scenic quality wherein evidence of management activities dominate The Forest Service uses a systematic approach to scenery management called the “Scenery Management System”

In moderate and high scenic integrity objective areas vegetation management that is visible from travel ways, recreation sites, and lakes with access: Enhances views, creates vistas, and features natural openings Retains canopies over travel routes Encourages vegetative diversity and seasonal color contrast Enhances big tree appearance

Harvesting Reforestation

We want to hear from you what areas are particularly scenic within the project area