CFLRP MONITORING Pike & San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands 2013 FIELD TRIP September 13, 2013 Front Range Round Table
FIELD TRIP AGENDA 2 STOP 1. Messenger Gulch 2: Review a post-treatment ponderosa pine site. Clumpiness was a component of the prescriptions. STOP 2. Long John Project: Review a post-treatment ponderosa pine & dry mixed conifer site that included “clumpy” demo areas. STOP 3. Catamount 1: Review a post-treatment dry mixed conifer & mesic mixed conifer site to look at openings and variable residual density. STOP 4. Upper Monument Creek Project: Review an untreated ponderosa pine, dry mixed conifer, & mesic mixed conifers sites to discuss openings and wildlife objectives.
FIELD TRIP AGENDA 3
4 STOP #1 – MESSENGER GULCH 2 Post Treatment variable spacing “clumpy” in ponderosa pine.
STOP #1 – MESSENGER GULCH 2 5 PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS 425 total acres (mix of mechanical and hand treatments). Treatment in mechanized was designed to achieve “clumpy” residual conditions and serve as a demo treatment area. RX: Retain square feet of live basal area. Cut, spruce and Douglas-fir first. Within stand density should be highly variable, ranging from 10 – 80 sq. ft. of basal area.
STOP #2 LONG JOHN 6 Leave Tree marking Ponderosa Pine Site
Target residual Basal Area is 40–60 sq. ft. Vary residual basal area within a 20–80 sq. ft. range. Favor removal of Douglas-fir and spruce. Retain legacy trees. Remove live conifers within aspen clones where feasible. Retain legacy trees. 7 RX GUIDELINES STOP #2 LONG JOHN RESULTS (Sale Admin Inspection) Residual BA for Entire Project = 52 sq. ft. Variation at the plot level = sq. ft.
STOP #2 LONG JOHN PRE & POST TREATMENT: DRY MIXED CONIFER SITE 8
STOP #2 LONG JOHN PRE & POST TREATMENT: ASPEN ENHANCEMENT 9
STOP #3 CATAMOUNT 1 10 Openings on north aspects.
STOP #3 CATAMOUNT 1 PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS 351 total acres (mix of mechanical and hand treatments) IMPLEMENTATION Establish Groups /Clumps of trees and Openings Opening primarily located on north facing aspects ½ to 2 acres in size; centered on/adjacent to: insect and disease pockets, aspen pockets; where five needle and ponderosa pine regeneration will be enhanced. 11
STOP #4 – UPPER MONUMENT CREEK RESTORATION INITIATIVE PROJECT 12 Major Forest Vegetation of the Project Area: BIOPHYSICAL SETTINGACRES Ponderosa Pine/Douglas-fir Woodland 20,472 Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest & Woodland 18,681 Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest & Woodland 15,656 Lodgepole Pine Forest 2,361 Gambel Oak-Mixed Montane Shrubland 2,142 59,312
STOP #4 – UPPER MONUMENT CREEK PROJECT 13 South facing aspect, ponderosa pine site: Consideration for opening expansion/treatment of conifer encroachment.
STOP #4 – UPPER MONUMENT CREEK PROJECT 14 West facing aspect, dry mixed conifer site: Consideration for opening expansion/expansion of aspen.