1/ For a further discussion of these chemical herbicides, refer to BLM's Final ES entitled Vegetation Management with Herbicides: Western Oregon 1978 through 1987.

2/ Chemicals are often used in combination, therefore totals shown here will not equate with treatment acreages of Table 1-1.

Proposed decisions of the Jackson-Klamath Management Framework Plan (see Section 1.2.5) are very specific with regard to site preparation. They prohibit aerial spraying within 100 feet of live streams and treating of an entire drainage within a short period of time. Limitations are placed on mechanical scarification based on soil, topography, and proximity to streams. Timing of herbicide treatment is stringently controlled. Weather conditions, humidity and wind, are tightly specified. There is full authority for ordering cessation of operations based on adverse field conditions. Both equipment employed and equipment operators are frequently checked by field project supervisors.

A discussion of specific design features included in herbicide project plans and contracts for application can be found in BLM's Final ES entited Vegetation Management with Herbicides: Western Oregon - 1978 through 1987.

1.3.5 Planting

1.3.5.1 Scope of Treatment

To achieve adequate reforestation within the assumed 4 years following harvest on high intensity lands, harvested areas would be planted with commercial coniferous species within 1 year of the completion of harvesting. Planting stock is nursery grown from seed collected on sites and at elevations similar to the specific project area.

Planting prescriptions would be designed to regenerate a new stand which resembles the harvested stand in species composition. In the Jackson SYU this would require 74 percent Douglas-fir, 21 percent ponderosa pine, and 5 percent white fir. The white fir would be used predominantly in that portion of the SYU which borders the Klamath SYU.

Seedling mix in the Klamath SYU would be 32 percent Douglas-fir, 28 percent white fir, 25 percent ponderosa pine, and 15 percent Shasta red fir. To meet specific site regeneration problems in the SYU, especially on the Dead Indian Plateau, minor amounts of lodgepole pine, Jeffrey pine, western white pine, sugar pine, and incense cedar may be employed. The proposal calls for planting approximately 32,850 acres undergoing shelterwood regeneration cut clearcut.

or

More than 11,000 acres of high intensity lands are presently nonstocked or understocked (minimum acceptable stocking ranges from 245 to 320 seedlings per acre). Adequate reforestation of backlog acreage is an important aspect of the proposal. Project areas in this category would generally require site preparation prior to planting.

Reforestation experience in the JKSYUS shows that adequate stocking of 300 trees per acre cannot always be achieved by the initial planting. An estimated 13,400 acres would require replanting or interplanting during the proposal period.

DESIGN FEATURES INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL

moderate. achieved.

Loss of seedlings during shelterwood final harvest cut is is expected to be Final harvest would not take place until adequate stocking is Normally, the underplanted population would exceed 300 trees Nevertheless, interplanting following final harvest has been considered in generating the 13,400-acre figure for replanting.

per acre.

1.3.5.2 Project Design Features

Primary project design features associated with planting address care of stock prior to planting and methods of tree placement. Each planting area is sampled for adequacy of spacing. Payment adjustment factor is directly tied to quality of planting.

Post-treatment surveys are conducted to determine rate of survival. If inadequate, replanting or interplanting may be undertaken.

1.3.6 Gopher Control

In certain areas of the JKSYUS, pocket gophers have been found to have a major limiting impact on reforestation (Williamson and Minore 1978). Openings created by harvest or wildfire and the successional vegetation that follows function to improve gopher habitat. Thus, gopher densities can be high when seedlings are young and most vulnerable.

1.3.6.1 Scope of Treatment

Gopher control operations are proposed for approximately 9,000 acres (6,500 acres in the Jackson SYU and 2,500 acres in the Klamath SYU). Underground application of strychnine-treated oat bait applied in conjunction with herbicide site preparation is the preferred method. Assuming sufficient kill, baiting would be conducted only once on each area.

1.3.6.2 Project Design Features

Strychnine alkaloid is quite stable and almost insoluable in water. It is odorless, tastes bitter, and is not absorbed through the skin. This pesticide has been approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Intradepartmental Pesticide Working Group and the Interdepartmental Working Group on Pesticides which is responsible to the Council on Environmental Quality (this approval is only of the pesticide, not of the proposed project). Bait is obtained from Animal Damage Control Personnel of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. to application the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is notified.

Prior

The bait would be deposited underground using hand-baiting machines. machines allow the operator to locate the runway and deposit the bait in the

These

same operation. The baits are not removed and, according to Howard Tietjen (personal communication, U.S. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1979), may remain toxic for 30-90 days.

Permanent monitoring plots are established prior to baiting. These plots are checked once a week for 2 weeks following baiting. Thereafter, they are checked every other month for a period of 3 years in conjunction with reforestation surveys.

The following procedures would be required on all treatment areas:

Only personnel licensed by the State of Oregon would handle the
bait. This includes refilling the bait machines.

A licensed applicator would be on the site at all times.

All personnel would be trained in locating active burrows.

All personnel would be trained and be familiar with safety
precautions and hazards of the bait.

Baiting would be done early in the day to facilitate finding
active runways.

Application usually takes place in the fall, but experimental
spring baiting may be tried.

The poisoned bait would be stored in a locked metal box or can
at all times.

All personnel would be required to wear gloves and coveralls
(those handling bait would wear a dust type respirator).
These would be stored in a metal can when not in use.

Any spilled grain (bait) would be immediately buried.

All food would be consumed away from the treated site.

Soap and water would be provided for all personnel.

A minimum 10-foot buffer beyond the high water level would
be left along all bodies of water.

1.3.7 Herbicide Release

Release is the reduction of competition for light, moisture, and nutrients between shrubs or grass and or grass and existing commercial coniferous seedlings. Fast-growing trees, such as red alder red alder or vine maple, overtop and suppress slow-starting conifer seedlings. The degree and type of competition varies

DESIGN FEATURES INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL

with the individual site. On dry sites, grass competes effectively for water, while elsewhere hardwoods grow rapidly enough to shut out essential light and compete for water during the dry summer. In recent years, herbicides have been used effectively to inhibit the growth of competing vegetation, thus increasing available available water, nutrients, and light for suppressed conifers.

1.3.7.1 Scope of Treatment

With reduced competition, the conifers rapidly grow beyond the point where they can be overtopped and further suppressed by surrounding vegetation. When this growth situation is achieved, there would be no further control of competing vegetation. Herbicide release spraying is proposed for an average of 1,190 acres per year of high intensity lands. An estimated 25 acres per year of low intensity lands would be treated during the proposed trial period. (Table 1-9 lists the chemicals to be employed.)

1.3.7.2 Project Design Features

Project design features are the same as for site preparation using herbicides.

Precommercial thinning would be applied to commercial timber stands less than 30 years of age which contain over 400 stems per acre less than 5 inches in diameter. This treatment concentrates available nutrients, moisture and light into those trees which would be the eventual crop for the next harvest.

1.3.8.1 Scope of Treatment

The number of trees per acre removed during precommercial thinning is dependent on the biological productivity of the area and tempered by plans to conduct commercial thinning later. Least productive sites would be thinned more heavily since commercial thinning at a later time is less likely. average spacing is approximately 12 feet by 12 feet, the number of crop trees left may vary between 245 and 320 per acre. Precommercial thinning is planned for an average of 800 acres per year.

1.3.8.2 Project Design Features

Contract specifications or field instructions to BLM crews cover desired spacing of crop trees and criteria of crop tree selection. Seldom are crop trees individually marked although this may be the approach when dealing with a new contractor or crew.