WRANGELL ISLAND PROJECT

Draft Silviculture Resource Report

Greg Roberts Silviculturist

Wrangell Ranger District Tongass National Forest

April 21, 2016

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Table of Contents

I. Introduction...............................................................................................................4

A. Analysis Area...........................................................................................................5

B. Summary of Treatments...........................................................................................5

II. Affected Environment..............................................................................................5

A. Existing Condition...................................................................................................5

B. Project Area Vegetation Description........................................................................6

C. Volume Strata...........................................................................................................6

D. Forest Stand Structure.............................................................................................8

E. Species Composition...............................................................................................9

F. Health and Natural Disturbance...............................................................................9

G. Young Growth and Past Intermediate Treatments.................................................14

III. Desired Condition.................................................................................................15

IV. Environmental Effects..........................................................................................15

A. Silvicultural Systems.............................................................................................16

B. Even-Aged Silvicultural System...........................................................................17

C. Uneven-Aged Silvicultural System.......................................................................18

D. Intermediate Treatments........................................................................................19

E. Analysis Methods..................................................................................................20

F. Incomplete and Unavailable Information.............................................................20

G. Spatial and Temporal Context..............................................................................20

V. Direct and Indirect Effects....................................................................................21

A. Alternative 1 – No Action.....................................................................................25

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B. Alternative 2 – Proposed Action............................................................................25

C. Alternative 3..........................................................................................................27

D. Alternative 4..........................................................................................................27

E. Alternative 5..........................................................................................................28

VI. Past, Current and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Activities..............................28

VII. Cumulative Effects.............................................................................................31

VIII. Compliance........................................................................................................32

A. 2008 Tongass Land Management Plan..................................................................32

B. Forest Service Manuals and Handbook.................................................................32

C. National Forest Management Act..........................................................................32

D. Tongass Timber Reform Act..................................................................................33

E. Design Features......................................................................................................33

F. Monitoring Recommendations...............................................................................33

IX. References...........................................................................................................33

Appendix A Project Unit Pool Forest Health Conditions..........................................34

Appendix B Wrangell Island Visual Priority Travel Routes and Use Areas.............38

Appendix C Maps.....................................................................................................40

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Tables

Table 1 Silvicultural System and Harvest Method by Alternative.............................5

Table 2 Net Volume/Acre by Volume Strata for Islands on the South Tongass.........7

Table 3 Historic and Current Acres of POG and Percent Remaining........................7

Table 4 Project Area NFS Decadal Harvest...............................................................9

Table 5 Existing Condition for Damage Agents in the Project Unit Pool................10

Table 6 Proposed Treatment Acres by Volume Strata within each Alternative........16

Table 7 Direct and Indirect Effects of the Alternatives............................................21

Table 8 Significant Issues and Indicators for Effects on Vegetation........................22

Table 8 Alternative Comparison for Significant Issues..........................................21

Table 9 Proposed Treatment acres by Volume Strata............................................22

Figures Figure 1 NFS Young Growth Acres by Age Class....................................................8

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I. Introduction This report documents the preparation of silvicultural prescriptions for each proposed harvest area within the Wrangell Island Project area, and provides the necessary silvicultural input and vegetative background information necessary for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The purpose and need for this project is to respond to the goals and objectives identified by the Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) to guide timber management to support the local and regional economies of Southeast Alaska, while moving the Wrangell Island Project Area towards the desired future condition for all resources. The underlying need for the Wrangell Island Project comes from the Forest Service’s obligation, subject to applicable law, to seek to provide a supply of timber from the Tongass National Forest that meets market demand annually and for the planning cycle, and to restore and improve forest resources to a condition where they provide increased benefits to society. This project would contribute to the orderly flow of timber to large and small timber purchasers, mill operators, and value-added wood product industries in Southeast Alaska and benefit the local and regional economies of Wrangell and Southeast Alaska while also improving forest resource conditions. This project would help provide a reliable, long-term supply of “bridge” timber that would support local jobs and facilitate the industry transition to a sustainable wood product industry based on young growth management on the Tongass National Forest.

The Forest Service is proposing a multi-year project involving timber harvest and associated road construction. The proposed action includes the harvest of timber from approximately 5,309 acres of forested land. The harvest would produce an estimated 65 million board feet (MMBF) of sawtimber and utility wood that could be made available to industry. Timber harvest would occur with both even-aged (clearcut and clearcut with reserves) and uneven-aged (partial cut) harvest using cable, helicopter and ground-based methods. The timber harvest would require approximately 17 miles of National Forest Road construction, six miles of road reconditioning and approximately 15 miles of temporary road construction. Existing road systems and log transfer facilities would also be used as needed to transport the timber. Integrated restoration opportunities associated with the road system used for harvest would include road maintenance and improvements, invasive species treatments, erosion control, fish passage improvements and fish and wildlife habitat enhancement. All activities would be conducted in a manner conducive to moving resources towards the desired conditions described in the Forest Plan.

The project area has a roaded landscape, tree species composition, and general tree quality that would provide an opportunity for economical timber harvest. Proposed harvest units are primarily Productive Old-Growth (POG) stands where tree growth is generally being offset by decay resulting in decadent stands of timber.

The 2008 Tongass National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (the Forest Plan), in combination with applicable environmental laws and regulations, provide the direction for this project. This report presents the existing and desired conditions for the timber resource affected by this project, and documents unit silvicultural prescriptions. The silvicultural prescriptions describe the treatments proposed to move the project area toward the desired condition within the framework of the Forest Plan Standards & Guidelines (S&Gs), the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), and the Tongass Timber Reform Act (TTRA).

Chapter 3 of the DEIS discusses how each alternative would change the forest structure, species composition and future health by implementing varying levels and combinations of two different silvicultural systems: even-aged (EA) and uneven-aged (UEA) systems.

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A. Analysis Area

The Wrangell Island Project area encompasses all of Wrangell Island. Wrangell Island is just over 113,000 acres. There are 34,955 acres that are considered Suitable and Available for timber harvest. The analysis area consists of Value Comparison Units (VCUs) 4750, 4760, 4770, 4780, 4790, 4800, 5040 and 5050.

B. Summary of Treatments

All stands included in the Record of Decision (ROD) for this project would be altered by silvicultural treatment. The silvicultural systems would implement regeneration methods that would alter the stand structure. The even-aged (EA) system would convert old-growth stand structure to young growth. The uneven-aged (UEA) system would modify the old-growth stand structure while maintaining at least two-thirds of the existing basal area (BA). Both systems are designed to regenerate trees. Clearcutting is an EA prescription that regenerates and maintains a stand with predominantly a single age class. Single Tree Selection (STS) is an UEA prescription that removes single trees or small groups of trees in clumps, somewhat uniformly across the stand.

Table 1 shows the acres affected by alternative for this project and how these acres are proposed for treatment. Alternative 2 is the Proposed Action. This alternative comprises the Unit Pool acres. There are 5,309 acres in the Project Unit Pool.

Table 1 Silvicultural System and Harvest Method by Alternative

Silvicultural System Harvest Method Logging System

Alternatives and Acres

1 2 3 4 5

Even-aged Management

Clearcut Cable/Shovel 0 1713 1633 1725 868

Helicopter 0 0 0 0 0

Clearcut w/Reserves Cable/Shovel 0 68 68 68 68

Helicopter 0 0 0 0 0

Even-aged Total 0 1781 1701 1793 936

Uneven-aged Management

STS (up to 33% removal)

Shovel 0 119 43 134 114

Helicopter 0 3410 1440 1604 2754

Uneven-aged Total 0 3528 1483 1738 2868

Total Acres 0 5309 3184 3531 3804

II. Affected Environment

A. Existing Condition The Project Area is part of the Complex Sedimentary and Volcanics geologic class and is characterized by a wide variety of undivided sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Wrangell Island consists of three ecological subsections: Zimovia Strait Complex, Bell Island Granitics and Eastern Passage Complex (Nowacki, et al. 2001). A mixture of forest types and plant

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communities exists across the area as a function of drainage, aspect, and elevation. Soils are predominantly well-drained and support productive western hemlock and Sitka spruce forests. Soils that are not well-drained are less productive for tree growth and support mixed-conifer forests. Mixed-conifer forests have a higher cedar component. The footslopes and narrow valleys are more poorly drained, and support mostly forested wetlands (Nowacki, et al. 2001).

B. Project Area Vegetation Description

The Project Area consists of a mosaic of coniferous forests in managed and un-managed conditions, interspersed with muskeg, scrubland, and alpine plant communities. The forests are primarily dominated by western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) with a Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) component, and scattered Alaska yellow-cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis) and western redcedar (Thuja plicata). Higher percentages of Sitka spruce are found along streams and other well-drained sites. The understory shrubs are primarily blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), red huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium), and rusty menziesia (Menziesia ferruginea). Many species of vascular plants, lichens, and mosses occur throughout all habitat types. Forested muskeg with a high percentage of Alaska yellow-cedar occurs throughout the project area, especially in the lower elevations. Muskeg areas also support shore pine (Pinus contorta) and mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana). Mountain hemlock is also more prevalent at higher elevations. Red alder (Alnus rubra) is found on disturbed sites such as roadsides, certain harvested stands, and along stream banks.

C. Volume Strata

Volume strata are determined by using the Geographic Information System (GIS) Size Density (SD) layer that is a combination of GIS soils, aspect, and volume class information. The SD layer is used to characterize forest structure and other forest elements. Seven stand structure types have been defined and delineated (FP FEIS 3-141). The seven size density classes can be grouped into 3 volume strata, which are defined below. The SD categories are defined in the FP FEIS on 3-141. Volume classes are defined in the FP FEIS (3-326).

Volume Strata can be used to estimate timber volume for project planning purposes.

High Volume Strata are areas within timber inventory volume classes 5, 6, and 7 that are on non-hydric soils and have a north or south aspect (SD categories 5N, 5S, and 67).

Medium Volume Strata are areas within timber inventory volume class 5 located on hydric soils or areas within timber inventory volume class 4 that are located on non-hydric soils (SD categories 4N, 4S, and 5H).

Low Volume Strata are areas within timber inventory volume class 4 that are located on hydric soils (SD category 4H).

The SD layer assigns net sawlog and utility volume (MBF/acre) for islands on the south end of the Tongass. These volume levels are displayed in Table 2 by volstrata.

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Table 2. Net Volume/Acre by Volume Strata for Islands on the South Tongass

Volume Strata Net Sawlog and Utility (MBF/Acre)

Low 15.7

Medium 23.6

High 34.4

Average 24.5

Assuming a 45 percent deduction from the Gross Volume/Acre estimate for the Wrangell Island Project unit pool, the Net Volume/Acre estimate is 18.7 MBF/Acre. The Gross Volume estimates were computed in the Field Sampled Vegetation (FSVeg) program and historical cruise information and local knowledge were used to set the deduction amount (defect) of 45 percent to estimate the Net Volume/Acre.

Historically, there were about 60,000 acres of Productive Old Growth (POG) on NFS Lands on Wrangell Island. About 88 percent of this POG exists presently following timber harvest that began in the 1950’s. Since the 1950’s, about 6,805 acres of NFS land within the project area have been converted to young growth and 434 acres have been partially harvested but still consist of mostly old-growth structure.

Table 3 shows the historic and current condition of the old growth NFS Lands on Wrangell Island. Table 3. Historic and Current Acres of POG and Percent Remaining on Wrangell Island.

Wrangell Island Historic

NFS Lands

Existing NFS

Lands

% Remaining

NFS Lands

Historic Acres

All Lands

Existing Acres All Lands

% Remaining All Lands

All POG 59,478 52,405 88 66,165 56,045 85

High Volume POG 26,554 19,351 73 31,072 21,063 68

POG ≤800’ elevation 26,384 22,164 84 32,629 25,391 78

High-POG ≤800’ elevation 13,493 9,261 69 17,734 10,724 60

High-POG ≤1500’ elevation 23, 882 16,943 71 28,401 18, 655 66

POG ≤1500’ elevation 47, 871 41, 060 86 54,554 44, 697 82

Medium Volume POG 21,098 21,218 22,293 22,173

Low Volume POG 11,827 11,836 12,799 12, 809

Large Tree POG-SD67 -- 2,117 -- -- 2, 557 --

Unproductive Forest -- 24,186 -- -- 24, 678 --

Forested muskeg -- 25,799 -- -- 26,944 --

Non-forest -- 2,447 -- -- 12,223 -- Source: GIS; * - It is assumed that the majority of all historic harvest was high volume POG.

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Table 4 on page 9 shows the breakout of harvest by decade. These previously harvested acres now support young growth trees at varying levels of productivity, related to the soil productivity of the site. Young growth stand ages correspond to the date of harvest of the previous stand. The young growth stands are typically pre-commercially thinned (PCT) between age 15 and 25, depending on the site productivity and the onset of the stem-exclusion stage of development. Most of the NFS young growth in the project area is less than 40 years old, an age too young for commercial opportunity in today’s available markets for the region. Commercial opportunity for young growth trees is closer to age 70. Young growth that is age 15 to 60 is described as Type (2): (P-SE-H) Poletimber in the Tongass Young Growth Management Strategy’s Common Representative Site Types (Overview to the Management Guidelines for Timber Intensification, Riparian, and Wildlife emphasis treatments).

Prior to age 70, most of these young growth stands would not carry enough merchantable wood to make commercial thinning economically feasible, as most of the merchantable trees would be the trees retained in the thinning treatment. Before 70 years of age, the trees normally targeted for removal are still too small to be of commercial value based upon current markets.

Stands that have been pre-commercially thinned tend to display stable stand characteristics with sturdier boles and healthy crowns. These stands will be potentially available for a commercial thin at a younger age, and will be more stable against high wind events that may occur following a commercial thinning treatment that opens up the stand. Trees have been conditioned to withstand high winds.

Figure 1 shows the approximate ages of the NFS young growth by acres within the project area.

Figure 1 NFS Young Growth Acres by Age Class

The first timber harvests recorded within the project area occurred in 1953 and 1954. The majority of these harvests consisted of only removing select trees from certain areas, typically along the shoreline. These partial harvests occurred along the beach at several locations, including Fool’s Inlet, Earl West Cove and near Turn Island. Industrial-scale logging on Wrangell

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

50 40 30 20 10 < 10

Youn

g G

row

th A

cres

Young Growth Age (Years Old)

Age of NFS Young Growth in Project Area

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Island that included road construction began in the 1960’s and has continued at varying levels to the present.

Table 4 Project Area NFS Decadal Harvest

Harvest Period NFS Clearcut Acres

NFS Partial Cut Acres

NFS Total Harvest Acres

1950’s 0 160 160 1960’s 444 0 444 1970’s 359 0 359 1980’s 2834 0 2834 1990’s 2559 64 2623 2000’s 210 84 294 2010’s 399 126 525 Total 6805 434 7239

Source: FACTS

D. Forest Stand Structure

Forest stand structure is defined as the horizontal and vertical distribution of components including the height, diameter, crown layers, and stems of trees, shrubs, herbaceous understory, snags, and down woody debris (Helms 1998). All units in this project proposed for harvest have an old-growth stand structure. Old-growth structure varies depending on habitat type but generally contains large trees over 150 years in age, multi-layered canopies, and moderate shrub understory. Coarse, woody debris typically is abundant on the forest floor as large, decaying logs. Some whole trees may lay horizontally – uprooted by windthrow.

E. Species Composition

Vegetation series are the hierarchy in a classification system that classifies the vegetation by dominant overstory species. All seven vegetation series contained within the Preliminary Forest Plant Associations developed by Pawuk and Kissinger exist in the project area (Preliminary Forest Plant Associations of the Stikine Area, Tongass National Forest, 1989). The seven series include the western hemlock series, western hemlock-Alaska yellow-cedar series, Sitka spruce series, mixed-conifer series, mountain hemlock series, shore pine series and the western hemlock-western redcedar series. Western hemlock with a vaccinium understory is the most prevalent forest plant association in the project area.

Most of the proposed harvest areas are a mosaic of two or more vegetation series. The project area contains all seven forested conifer series that are commonly found throughout Southeast Alaska. These conifer species are grouped by the dominant overstory species and are as follows: Sitka spruce; western hemlock; mountain hemlock; western hemlock-Alaska yellow-cedar; western hemlock-western redcedar; mixed-conifer; and shore pine series. Western hemlock, western hemlock-Alaska yellow-cedar, western hemlock-western redcedar, and mixed-conifer are the major series. The Sitka spruce series, mountain hemlock series, and shore pine series are also represented, but to a lesser degree.

On the Tongass, Alaska yellow-cedar and western redcedar are found in mixed-conifer stands, usually as a component of the more shade tolerant western hemlock type. These cedars are

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typically found in the lower volume class strata as they are out-competed by western hemlock on higher productivity sites.

Plant associations are a type of vegetation classification system based on the climax plant community. Stands within a specified plant association are comprised of vegetation with similar species composition and abundance. Plant associations can be used to predict site response of the vegetation to changes caused by management practices.

The project tree species composition includes: western hemlock (56 percent), Sitka spruce (11 percent), Alaska yellow-cedar (17 percent), mountain hemlock (8 percent), western redcedar (8 percent), shore pine and red alder (each less than 1 percent). These percentages are based on live tree basal area (BA) in the project unit pool for all diameters, generated from stand exam data stored in the National Field Sampled Vegetation Database (FSVEG).

F. Health and Natural Disturbances

Various natural phenomena affect the life cycle of forest trees, which experience damage, decay, and eventual mortality. Table 1 shows the occurrence and relative severity of current damage, and potential damage in the case of windthrow hazard, for each of the major damaging agents in the project unit pool. A complete list of stand conditions by unit is included in Appendix A. All units in the unit pool received at least a moderate rating in at least one of the four damaging agents shown in Table 5.

Table 5 Existing Condition for Damage Agents in the Project Unit Pool

Severity Rating High Moderate Low

Percent of Unit Pool Acres by Rating

Dwarf Mistletoe 13 35 52

Decay Fungi 27 52 21

Windthrow Hazard Rating

18

79

3

Yellow-cedar Decline

12

28

60

Primary Source: Common Stand Exams

Dwarf Mistletoe The occurrence of dwarf mistletoe in late successional western hemlock stands is widespread throughout Southeast Alaska, and was recorded in many of the proposed harvest areas in the project area. Dwarf mistletoe is apparently limited by climate (elevation and latitude), becoming uncommon or absent above 500 feet in elevation and 59º N latitude (Haines, AK). (FS-R10-FHP. 2015. Forest Health Conditions in Alaska 2015). It often produces cankerous swellings at the point of infection of limbs or main stems. It reduces the vigor and growth rate of infected

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trees and reduces the quality of timber. Heavily infected western hemlock trees have branch proliferations (called “witches’ brooms”), bole deformities, reduced height and radial growth, less desirable wood characteristics, and a greater likelihood of heart decay, top kill, and death. These symptoms are all potential problems in stands managed for wood production. Growth loss in heavily infested stands can reach 40 percent or more (Holsten et al. 2009, pg 140). The Wrangell Island Project proposes to partially harvest some stands with high mistletoe ratings to mitigate the effects of even-aged harvest on wildlife, scenery and watershed resources. Some wildlife species prefer mistletoe-infected trees for nesting.

The majority of unit pool acres rated low for the occurrence of dwarf mistletoe. Fifty-two percent of acres in the unit pool were issued a “low” severity rating, 35 percent were given a “moderate” severity rating, and 13 percent of acres in the unit pool were issued a “high” severity rating. A “low” rating was given when mistletoe was absent or only seen occasionally, and where present, was rated less than 3, according to the Hawksworth mistletoe rating system (Hawksworth 1977). Units that rated low for dwarf mistletoe typically had a heavy cedar component. A “moderate” rating was given to units when about half of the western hemlock trees observed in the unit had mistletoe infestation ratings of 3 or less. A “high” rating was given when most hemlock trees were infected with a rating higher than 3.

Decay Fungi Approximately one-third of the old-growth timber volume in Southeast Alaska is defective, largely due to stem decay (FS-R10-FHP. 2015. Forest Health Conditions in Alaska 2015). Heart and root-rotting fungi in trees can weaken the support structures, thereby leading to breakage. As the broken portion of the tree falls to the forest floor, it may wound adjacent trees and lead to eventual infection of the damaged trees. This is a continual process in old-growth forests in Southeast Alaska and contributes to diversity in stand structure.

Decay-causing fungi are present in all stands within the project area. Twenty-one percent of the unit pool acres rated “low” for the occurrence of decay fungi (a “low” rating was given if less than 30 percent of the trees sampled in a given stand recorded stem decay), 52 percent of the unit pool acres rated “moderate” (30 to 50 percent of the trees sampled in a given stand recorded stem decay), and 27 percent of the unit pool acres rated “high” (more than 50 percent of the trees sampled in the stand recorded stem decay).

Wind Disturbance The major natural disturbance agent to timber stands in Southeast Alaska is wind, also referred to as windthrow. Wind influences stand structure and development, including beneficial effects, such as exposure of mineral soil and mixing of soil associated with uprooted trees, which favors the regeneration of Sitka spruce and cedar, and the creation of ecologically beneficial large woody material.

Wind disturbance occurs over a continuum dependent on topographic features (Nowacki and Kramer 1998, p.1-8). Old-growth structure stands develop through a process called gap dynamics, whereby small openings in the forest canopy, created by trees falling or dying, are colonized by shrubs, and eventually conifers. Some gaps are created by wind disturbance, in the form of uprooted trees and stem breakage. Over time, a multi-layered stand develops via gap dynamics. In areas where wind disturbance promotes gap dynamics, stands may reach a certain degree of stability with respect to wind.

In the Wrangell Island project area, evidence of high wind disturbance was generally found in areas with topographical exposure, aspect to prevailing SE wind direction, or adjacent managed

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stands. The amount of existing windthrow in a stand is an important indicator of windthrow hazard. Certain characteristics are indicators of windthrow hazard for individual trees as well as for the stand as a whole. These characteristics and the stand’s windthrow history were used to evaluate the windthrow hazard for each stand (Stathers R. J., Rollerson T.P. and Mitchell S. J., 1994 p.15-17).

Characteristics that predispose individual trees to wind damage include the following:

Height/diameter ratio: A height/diameter (H/D) ratio greater than 80 is considered vulnerable to windthrow for most species, particularly if surrounding trees that were buffering wind are removed.

Size of crown: A large crown relative to a tree’s rooting structure may predispose that tree to windthrow. This is especially true when a stand is opened up due to logging or natural occurrence.

Rooting depth: Shallow soils inhibiting root growth decrease a tree’s ability to withstand the force of high winds.

Degree of exposure: Open-grown trees are generally more windfirm than trees that have developed in a closed canopy stand.

Root and stem decay: Root decay weakens a tree’s support structure, whereas stem decay may create vulnerability to breakage.

Lean: Leaning trees have a greater disposition to windthrow due to increased gravitational stresses.

Seedbed: Trees established on old logs or the upturned roots of old wind-felled trees can develop stilted roots. As the rooting structure decays, the tree is left with exposed roots. Trees with stilted roots tend to be less windfirm.

Species: Generally, western hemlock, mountain hemlock, and Sitka spruce are less windfirm than Western redcedar and Alaska yellow-cedar.

Characteristics that predispose stands of trees to wind damage include the following:

Stand age: Old-growth stands (at or near successional climax) are less windfirm than young growth stands.

Stand density: Dense stands on productive sites are more susceptible to wind damage, especially when opened through harvesting or natural occurrence. Open-grown stands on less productive sites will generally develop individual tree characteristics that tend to reduce windthrow potential.

Species composition: Hemlock and spruce stands tend to be more susceptible.

Topography and aspect: Areas exposed to southerly storm winds are generally more susceptible. Topography and aspect sometimes combine to accelerate winds, thereby leaving stands more predisposed to wind damage (Stathers R. J., Rollerson T.P. and Mitchell S. J. 1994).

Eighteen percent of the unit pool acres rated “high” for windthrow, while79 percent of the unit pool acres rated “moderate”. Stands that rated moderate have factors that contribute to poor tree anchorage with low wind force, moderate resistance to overturning and moderate wind force, or

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good resistance to overturning and high wind force. Three percent of the unit pool acres are well-sheltered with little evidence of past wind damage. These units rated “low” for windthrow.

Many stands within the project area contain streams that require protection. These streams are Class I, II and III streams. Forest Plan (FP) S&G’s provide for the protection of riparian buffers on all fish-bearing (Class I and II) and Class III streams through designation of Riparian Management Areas (RMA).

Yellow-cedar Decline Yellow-cedar decline functions as a classic forest decline and has become a leading example of the impact of climate change on a forest ecosystem. The term forest decline refers to situations in which a complex of interacting abiotic and biotic factors leads to widespread tree death, usually over an extended period of time. It can be difficult to determine the mechanism of decline, and the causes of many forest declines throughout the world remain unresolved (FS-R10-FHP. 2015. Forest Health Conditions in Alaska 2015).

Yellow-cedar decline is linked to climate change. Yellow-cedar trees are killed by freezing injury to fine roots where there is insufficient snowpack to insulate them from lethal cold temperatures (< -5°C, 23°F). Since yellow-cedar is a long-lived tree, many affected yellow-cedar forests established under the colder, more favorable climate of the Little Ice Age (1400-1850). An abnormal rate of yellow-cedar mortality began around 1900, spiked in the 1970s and 1980s, and continues today. On wet sites, where yellow-cedar faces less competition from western hemlock and Sitka spruce and is more abundant, yellow-cedar trees with shallow fine roots are particularly vulnerable to freezing injury. Research into root and foliar cold tolerance has shown that yellow-cedar roots are more vulnerable to this type of injury than associated conifers. Impacted forests tend to have mixtures of old dead, recently dead, dying, and living trees, indicating the progressive nature of tree death. From the time crown symptoms appear, it often takes 10 to 15 years for trees to die, making it difficult to associate observations from aerial surveys to weather events in particular years. Yellow-cedar is extraordinarily decay resistant and tree often remain standing for 80 to 100 years after death. (FS-R10-FHP. 2015. Forest Health Conditions in Alaska 2015).

Forest Health Protection (FHP) and colleagues from the Forest Service Alaska Regional Office and National Forest System have developed a comprehensive conservation strategy for yellow-cedar in Southeast Alaska to account for yellow-cedar decline. In four sections and multiple appendices, this report, A Climate Adaptation Strategy for Conservation and Management of Yellow-cedar in Alaska (Hennon, et al 2016), focuses on what is known about: the ecology, cultural and commercial values, taxonomy, and silvics of the tree; the mechanism and risk factors of yellow-cedar decline; guidance and opportunities for the active management of yellow-cedar; the development of models to spatially display and estimate the distribution of yellow-cedar and the risk factors for decline now and into the future; and the current and projected future status of yellow-cedar in 33 management zones in Alaska. The report is available for download at: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr917.pdf

Yellow-cedar decline has affected over a half million cumulative acres in Southeast Alaska. The large acreage of standing dead yellow-cedar trees (snags), the high value of yellow-cedar wood, and its long-term retention of wood properties suggest promising opportunities for salvage. The Tongass National Forest has partnered with the Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center and the University of Alaska Southeast to conduct economic feasibility studies of yellow-cedar salvage. In some settings, salvage recovery of yellow-cedar snags may yield valuable wood products and economic, social and ecological benefits. Yellow-cedar snags could supply local mills with

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valuable timber and potentially offset harvests in healthy, old-growth yellow-cedar stands (FS-R10-FHP. 2015. Forest Health Conditions in Alaska 2015).

FHP conducted aerial surveys and mapped 11,259 National Forest acres of yellow-cedar decline and 1,697 acres of State and Private acres of yellow-cedar decline on Wrangell Island. Aerial mapping and stand exam data indicate that 12 percent of the unit pool acreage rated high for yellow-cedar decline. Twenty-eight percent rated moderate and 60 percent rated low. Units were rated based on the percentage of the unit affected by yellow-cedar decline. Units with greater than 66 percent of the area affected were rated as high; units with 33 to 66 percent affected were rated as moderate, and units with some decline (but less than 33 percent) were rated as low.

G. Young Growth Stands and Past Intermediate Treatments:

Thinning

Thinning improves conditions for timber production. About 4,000 acres of NFS young growth within the project area has been pre-commercially thinned. Pre-commercial thinning (PCT) removes excess trees from over-stocked stands. Thinning improves growing conditions for crop trees by reducing competition for resources, such as light, nutrients, water and space. The best growing, vigorous trees are selected as crop trees, along with species preference to decrease the overall composition of western hemlock, which typically has a greater composition than other species. Western hemlock is a less valuable species for lumber. Thinning is also used to promote species diversity, which benefits wildlife and increases the stand's resiliency to biotic and abiotic stressors. Alaska yellow-cedar is often the first preferred crop-tree species in thinning prescriptions. This helps promote the slower growing tree by removing faster growing trees that compete for the growing space, nutrients, water and light. By preferencing species other than hemlock as the crop trees, the timber value of a stand may be increased and the biodiversity is increased. PCT can be used to achieve various residual stand densities depending on the overall resource objectives. PCT is a treatment which not only redistributes stand growth on selected stems, but also delays canopy closure (stem exclusion) and extends the time that forage is available for wildlife species. PCT is a common intermediate silvicultural treatment employed in young growth stands on the Tongass.

Pruning Pruning can benefit wildlife by improving growing conditions for understory vegetation. Pruning increases the amount of light reaching the forest floor, particularly side-lighting from the lower angle of sunlight found in northern latitudes. Pruning can increase the value of the first log in a tree by removing branches that create knots that lower log grade. Epicormic branching sometimes occurs on Sitka spruce stems following pruning. There appears to be genetic variation within the species in regards to epicormic branching on Sitka spruce following pruning. There may also be degrees of epicormic branching as it relates to amount of light reaching the stem. Hemlock and cedar species do not exhibit epicormic branching as spruce do. More study is needed to better understand the effects and benefits of pruning young growth on the Tongass. There are on-going studies, such as TWYGS, and other pruning treatments should be monitored over time, that will offer more information. To date, only an incidental amount of pruning has been implemented in the project area, primarily to improve line of sight conditions around road curves.

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III. Desired Condition The desired condition for these stands is determined by the Land Use Designation (LUD) established by the Forest Plan.

Timber Production (TM) LUD Desired Condition

Suitable timber lands are managed for the production of sawtimber and other wood products on an even-flow, long-term sustained yield basis; the timber yield produced contributes to a Forest-wide sustained yield. An extensive road system provides access for timber management activities, recreation, and other public and administrative uses. Management activities dominate most seen areas. Forest stands are in a balanced mix of age classes from young stands to trees of harvestable age, often in areas of 40 to 100 acres. Recreation opportunities are available and a variety of wildlife habitats that are predominantly in the early to middle successional stages are present (Forest Plan, pg 3-116).

Modified Landscape (ML) LUD Desired Condition

Management activities in the visual foreground of popular travel routes and use areas will be subordinate to the characteristic landscape, but may dominate the landscape in the middle and background distance zones. Within the foreground, openings resulting from timber harvest are typically small and affect only a small percentage of the seen area at any one time. A variety of successional stages provide a range of wildlife habitat conditions. A yield of timber is produced which contributes to a Forest-wide sustained yield.

Appendix B of this report identifies Visual Priority Routes (VPRs) and Use Areas in the project area or those that may be affected by the project. There are 13 VPRs and 5 Saltwater Use Area that may be affected by this project. Within the ML LUD, Scenic Integrity Objectives (SIOs) of Moderate must be applied in the foreground distance zone and Low applied in the middleground and background distance zones, as seen from the VPRs and Use Areas. The Very Low SIO is applied to all other areas.

Scenic Viewshed (SV) LUD Desired Condition

In areas managed under the Scenic Viewshed LUD, forest visitors, recreationists, and others using identified popular travel routes and use areas will view a natural-appearing landscape (refer to Appendix F of the Forest Plan). Management activities in the foreground will not be evident to the casual observer. Activities in the middleground and background will be subordinate to the characteristic landscape. Areas topographically screened from Visual Priority Travel Routes and Use Areas may be heavily modified. Within these viewsheds, even-aged timber harvest units are typically small and affect only a small percentage of the seen area. At any given point in time, roads, facilities, and other structures are either not visually evident or are subordinate to the landscape. A variety of successional stages providing wildlife habitat occur, although late successional stages predominate. Recreation and tourism opportunities in a range of settings are available. In the areas managed for High or Moderate Scenic Integrity Objectives, timber yields will generally be obtained through the use of small openings or uneven-aged systems.

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Old-Growth Habitat (OG) LUD Desired Condition

Management objectives in this LUD allow existing natural or previously harvested early seral conifer stands to evolve naturally to old-growth forest habitats. This project does not propose any silvicultural treatments in the Old-Growth Habitat LUD.

IV. Environmental Effects The silvicultural effects analysis area for the Wrangell Island Project is VCUs 4750, 4760, 4770, 4780, 4790, 4800, 5040 and 5050. This area includes all the National Forest System (NFS) land on Wrangell Island.

Direct, indirect, and cumulative effects for vegetation resources are estimated using quantifiable measures or indicators for actual effects, as appropriate. The level (magnitude and intensity) of effects are also assessed in terms of how widespread the effect is likely to be and how long it is likely to last. The effects of timber harvest on forest vegetation vary by silvicultural prescription and the amount of acres harvested by prescription. The following provides a discussion of effects related to the various components of the vegetation resource including stand structure, forest health and productivity, regeneration and species composition, and windthrow risk. The following table shows the Volume Strata acres affected by Alternative.

Table 6 Proposed Treatment Acres by Volume Strata within each Alternative

Alternative Volume Strata Acres

High Medium Low Unclassified* Total Alternative 1 0 0 0 0 0

Alternative 2 2275 1479 837 718 5309

Alternative 3 1406 825 528 425 3184

Alternative 4 1615 877 552 486 3530

Alternative 5 1655 1048 599 501 3803

Source: GIS*Unclassified is coded as “N” which = Non-productive forest land in the SDM GIS layer; however, these acres represent gaps in information or inaccuracies and therefore will be categorized for this document as Unclassified.

A. Silvicultural Systems

Silvicultural systems are used to manage, harvest, and re-establish stands of forest trees for the purpose of meeting pre-determined objectives. Silvicultural prescriptions for each silvicultural system have been developed to meet specific objectives such as increasing the volume of commercially valuable timber in less time, maintaining or improving wildlife and fish habitat, and either maintaining or enhancing scenery values. No single silvicultural system for a forest stand can be used to achieve all the desired combinations of amenities and products. Instead, a variety of treatments applied over an area results in a mosaic of stands for different uses. Management actions, through timber harvest and/or other treatments such as thinning or pruning, alter the existing stand condition.

The Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines and USDA Forest Service Manual 2400 (Timber Management) provide detailed information about the silvicultural systems recommended for the Tongass. Uneven-aged management results in a stand of younger trees interspersed with older trees that are distributed either in clumps or more evenly across the stand. Even-aged management results in the conversion of mature stands to faster growing stands of a single age.

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The post-harvest conditions of the forest stand for all systems are dependent upon the existing plant community, the site productivity, any retained canopy structure, and advanced regeneration. Post-harvest stocking surveys monitor the mix of species that regenerate. Species composition is monitored to ensure that the mix of species reflects that which would be expected at that site.

The Wrangell Island Project area analysis used two silvicultural systems (Even-aged and Uneven-aged) to best achieve management objectives. Management objectives identified by the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) include:

• Retention of old-growth structure for wildlife • Favorable timber sale economics • Protection of soils, watershed, wildlife habitat, and scenery characteristics • Maximizing wood-fiber production

• Achieving the FP LUD Desired Condition while adhering to S&G's

Silvicultural treatments are proposed to meet management objectives. The following criteria were used to develop appropriate treatments:

FP LUD Desired Condition and S & G requirements.

Operational Feasibility (possible logging systems)

Timber Appraisal Estimates

Stand Conditions (disease and decay)

Windthrow Hazard Rating

Complete silvicultural prescriptions will be written for stands selected for harvest in the ROD. For stands using an even-aged system, the detailed prescription will be for the length of the rotation. These prescriptions provide guidance for treatments following the proposed timber harvest for this project, and may include subsequent entries, thinning, and pruning. Uneven-aged prescriptions will be written for the first entry only and future entries (cutting cycles) would be planned for 40 to 60 years following each entry.

Some stands may contain streams that require protection. RMAs are designed to protect riparian zone interactions between streams, floodplains, riparian wetlands and uplands (Paustian 2004). RMA widths are mapped in GIS according to Process Group by stream segment (see Unit Card narrative in Appendix B in the EIS), and riparian area delineated by soil types and wetland plant communities (Paustian 2004). Class I and Class II streams are fish-bearing streams or contain habitat that has fish-bearing potential. These fish-bearing streams require a 100-foot no-cut buffer, according to the Tongass Timber Reform Act (TTRA). Class III streams are typically deeply-incised and generate significant water flows, particularly during peak periods of precipitation, or snow-melt run off. Class III streams have potential for washouts, particularly with accumulated logging slash. Class III streams are typically buffered at the slope break and logging across these streams is prohibited. To protect the streams and the stream buffers, sometimes an additional no-cut buffer is needed to protect against wind. This is recognized as a Reasonable Assurance of Windfirmness (RAW) buffer. The need for a RAW buffer, the size of a RAW buffer, and whether some trees may still be removed within a RAW buffer would be determined by an inter-disciplinary process at time of implementation. The inter-disciplinary

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team (IDT) that would determine the unit-specific RAW would be made up of at least an aquatics specialist, silviculturist and layout forester. Factors to consider for RAW layout are aspect and topography, particularly the stream buffer orientation to the prevailing wind. Stand characteristics and individual tree characteristics listed above would also be considered for firmness to wind. Dennis Landwehr’s Reasonable Assurance of Windfirmness Guidelines Version 2.0 will be used to assist the RAW IDT. See the unit cards for specific units that contain streams that may require a RAW.

B. Even-aged Silvicultural System

The objectives of this system include growing the stand to maximize wood-fiber production in the shortest timeframe and to provide favorable timber sale economics and logging feasibility. Natural regeneration in these stands is expected to be abundant, and would represent the original species composition with trees of a single age.

Clearcutting This prescription removes all or the majority of the merchantable trees in a stand. Clearcutting produces a site that becomes fully exposed for the development of a new age class.

Clearcutting with Reserves This prescription involves retaining approximately 15 percent of the stand’s basal area, either in single trees or small groups. This method mimics the effects of natural windthrow events, and is generally used to meet scenery or wildlife needs in areas where timber production is the primary goal (FP 3-328). There are Visual Priority Routes (VPRs) in the project area and proposed harvest units adjacent to these VPRs. Some trees would be retained (reserves) to lessen the impact of clearcutting to the scenery resource.

Another instance where reserve trees might occur inside the boundary of an even-aged clearcut harvest area is where wind-firming is prescribed by specialists during unit layout. Maintaining a reasonable assurance of windfirmness (Wind-firming or RAW), would typically be applied to unit edges or stream and visual buffers that are determined to be at risk for wind damage after harvest. These would generally be the edges of harvest units or stream buffers that have high exposure to southeast storm winds. Specific locations where wind-firming is applied will vary depending on the topography (exposure) and aspect of the buffer within the unit.

Justification for Clearcutting Clearcutting is prescribed for all units where there are no other conflicting resource issues to preclude or minimize the occurrence of potentially adverse impacts from hemlock dwarf mistletoe, other insect and disease infestations, logging system damage, and windthrow. This system will also minimize windthrow potential in the residual stands. Finally, clearcutting maximizes the use of conventional yarding systems (cable and shovel), which maintains the potential for an economic timber sale offering.

C. Uneven-aged Silvicultural System

This system regenerates and maintains a multi-aged stand structure by removing a portion of the trees across age classes. The objective of uneven-aged silvicultural systems is to maintain a stand with trees of three or more distinct age classes, either intimately mixed or in small groups. Uneven-aged systems usually involve more intensive management than even-aged systems. The remaining structure provides wildlife habitat and minimizes the effect on the scenery resource.

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Under the uneven-aged silvicultural system proposed for this project, approximately 67 percent of the stand’s pre-treatment live basal area would be retained. The next entry into these stands would be planned for 40-60 years after the initial harvest, when additional basal area would again be removed from each stand in groups or as individual trees.

Single Tree Selection This harvest method regenerates and maintains a multi-aged stand structure by removing single trees or small groups of trees across age classes, either in clumps or somewhat uniformly throughout the stand. The objective of single tree selection (STS) is to maintain visual quality and provide wildlife habitat, as well as maintaining a multi-storied stand structure, while still achieving economic harvest of timber. Harvest trees are selected to meet the above objectives. Healthy, young trees in the intermediate crown class would be a priority for retention to promote economic future entries. Older trees with low timber value, but high wildlife value would also be a priority for retention. Canopy gaps and disturbance created by harvesting a portion of trees in the stand would promote new tree regeneration to facilitate future harvest entries, as well as promote the growth of understory plants important for wildlife.

Stands proposed for this treatment would remove up to 33 percent of the pre-treatment live basal area. Uneven-aged management would allow for selective timber harvest in stands where road construction is infeasible, where scenery restrictions apply, or where elevational corridors of old-growth structure are desired. The objective of this system is to economically harvest a portion of the stand while retaining trees that will be economical to harvest in the next entry, while mitigating other resource concerns. The silvicultural prescription would maximize the flexibility of helicopter yarding, while retaining a higher percentage of trees that have higher value for wildlife, or small diameter trees that would be more economically valuable in the future.

Uneven-aged silvicultural systems usually involve more intensive management than even-aged systems. There is no final rotation age associated with this system, as periodic entries are designed to maintain multiple age and diameter classes.

D. Intermediate Treatments

Following timber harvest using even-aged and uneven-aged regeneration methods, the managed stand goes through distinctive developmental stages. Removal of the forest overstory alters the site conditions that influence density and species composition of the understory vegetation. Natural regeneration restocks the harvested areas with conifer seedlings. The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) mandates that areas must be reforested within five full growing seasons following harvest. The minimum required trees per R10 FSH 2409.17, is 300 trees per acre. This is monitored with regeneration stocking surveys and certification of successful reforestation. Different components dominate the stand at different stages, and the overall forest structure changes as the new stand develops. The level of change depends on the type of silvicultural treatment applied, as well as subsequent treatments applied during stand development.

An even-aged system treatment schedule would include a pre-commercial thinning when inter-tree competition is acute and tree growth slows and crowns shade-out understory plants. Pre-commercial thinning concentrates growth on fewer stems. Tree growth improves and after several decades on a productive site, crowns again begin to close in. At this time, trees typically have reached merchantable size. An intermediate treatment such as a crown thinning could be commercially viable. Growth on residual trees would improve and conditions for maintaining

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understory vegetation for wildlife would be enhanced. The stand would be scheduled for a rotational harvest at Culmination of Mean Annual Increment (CMAI) which would be between 80 and 120 years stand age, depending on site productivity.

Characteristics such as tree height, diameter, and overall stand productivity vary according to site productivity. However, young growth stands typically show less variability in tree diameter and height than the old-growth stands they are replacing. Young growth timber ranges in size from seedlings to saplings, pole-timber and to the larger saw-timber. Currently about 19 percent of the mapped Suitable and Available NFS Forest Land in the project area is young growth timber. Management of these harvested acres would improve stand conditions for future timber production. Young-growth even-aged stands are candidates for thinning and pruning.

Uneven-aged management would not include planned intermediate treatments. The planned treatments (cutting cycles) would be continued STS prescriptions at 40 to 60 year intervals.

E. Analysis Methods

Initial project area information was obtained from the Tongass National Forest GIS library, aerial photos, and the Forest Service Activity Tracking System database (FACTS). The majority of the inventory data of the project area was collected during the 2010 field season using the Common Stand Exam (CSE) protocol with an inventory plot intensity of one plot per ten acres. Some existing stand exam data was available and some walk-through exams were also used to supplement the project inventory. This data was then summarized using the Natural Resource Information System (NRIS): Field Sampled Vegetation program (FSVeg). This information is available in the Project Record. Supplemental stand data will be collected for stands that include an uneven-aged prescription using the Single Tree Selection method in at least one of the project alternatives. This data will be stand specific and collected at a higher intensity level (1 plot per 2 acres). This higher intensity data collection is necessary to obtain a better understanding of the stand’s condition and greater accuracy of the existing live basal area by species in order to set the basal area removal amounts by species with confidence to meet the prescription objectives.

The information gathered by the combined inventories is used to diagnose existing stand condition, including stand characteristics, basal area and species composition, stand structure, regeneration, windthrow potential and disease and decay severity. Slope stability and logging system feasibility for each stand was also assessed.

F. Incomplete and Unavailable Information Baseline data are relatively complete for old-growth and young growth stands, and sufficient information exists to describe the current condition of the project area. The ability to actually predict changes in response to this project for old-growth is relatively good because predictions are based on decades of timber management in the area. Sufficient information exists for the analysis area to provide a credible evaluation and comparison of the magnitude and extent of likely effects of the proposed action and the alternatives for this project.

G. Spatial and Temporal Context for Effects Analysis The effects analysis area used is National Forest System (NFS) land on Wrangell Island, as silvicultural treatments planned for this project are restricted to these areas. The analysis area for cumulative effects is the same. The temporal context for the effects analysis is based on a multi-year project. 10 years would be a reasonable timeframe for this project. This project would convert varying acres of old-growth to young growth, contributing to the transition of a young

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growth-based timber program beyond a 10-year timeframe, however, analyzing effects that far into the future regarding the young growth transition has many speculative variables.

V. Direct and Indirect Effects The table below displays the direct and indirect effects of the project alternatives.

Table 7 Direct and Indirect Effects of the Alternatives

Alt 1 No Action

Alt 2 Proposed

Action

Alt 3 Alt 4 Alt 5

Direct Effects Harvest timber From (acres)

0 5309 3184 3531 3804

System Road Construction

(miles)

0

17

16

16

13

Temporary Road

Construction (miles)

0

13

13

16

8

Sawtimber Made Available (MMBF)

0 58 43 45 38

Utility Volume Made Available

(MMBF)

0

7

6

6

5

Old-Growth Structure

Conversion to Even-Aged

Young Growth (acres)

0

1781

1701

1793

936

Old-Growth Structure

Managed with UEA System

(acres)

0

3528

1483

1738

2868

Indirect Effects with current Export Policy Estimated Direct

Income Generated

$0 $12,849,273 $9,568,401 $10,087,890 $8,450,821

Estimated Total Jobs

0 252 187 198 166

The following issues were identified as significant and were used to develop alternatives for the project: • Timber Supply and Economics • Wildlife Habitat and Subsistence Use • Scenery • Access Management

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The silvicultural effects (effects to vegetation) related to the significant issues are displayed in Table 8 below.

Table 8 Significant Issues and Indicators for Effects on Vegetation

Significant Issues Issue Indicators

Timber Supply and Economics Stand productivity, regeneration potential, species composition, stand stability, forest health

Wildlife Habitat and Subsistence Use

Regeneration potential, understory development, species composition, stand stability, stand structure, forest health, habitat value

Scenery Regeneration potential, understory development, stand structure, stand stability, forest health

Access Management Stand productivity, regeneration potential, species composition, stand stability, forest health

The effects on vegetation (Issue Indicators) are the result of the silvicultural prescription. Even-aged prescriptions are designed to increase stand productivity, maximize regeneration potential, maintain or improve species composition, reduce wind hazard risk and maintain or improve forest health. Uneven-aged prescriptions are designed to maintain at least three age classes of trees, maintain or improve the wildlife habitat value, maintain or improve the aesthetic value, maintain or improve the conifer regeneration potential and understory vegetation and maintain or improve stand structure (multi-storied).

Table 9 below shows the alternatives comparison by significant issue and issue indicator. The silvicultural prescriptions are a surrogate for the issue indicators.

Table 9 Alternative Comparison for Significant Issues and Effects on Vegetation

Significant Issue

Issue Indicator(s)

Alt 1

Alt 2

Alt 3

Alt 4

Alt 5

Acres

Timber Supply & Economics

Even-aged Prescription Acres

0

1781

1701

1793

936

Wildlife Habitat and Subsistence

Use

Uneven-aged Prescription Acres

0

3528

1483

1738

2868

Scenery Uneven-aged Prescription Acres

0

3528

1483

1738

2868

Access Management

Even-aged Prescription Acres

0

1781

1701

1793

936

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Issue 1: Timber Supply and Economics

Acres treated with EA management

The significant issue of timber supply and economics for this project across alternatives can be compared by the acres of harvest by prescription and by the volume of sawlog and utility by species (Net MBF) harvested. Acres treated with EA prescriptions would contribute more to timber supply and economics. All action alternatives would generate revenue and create jobs for the community of Wrangell and the region. Table 7 on page 21 describes the estimated direct income and total number of jobs that would be generated, based on Region 10’s Financial Analysis Spreadsheet Tool-Residual Value (FAST-R) and current timber export policy. Alternative 2 contributes the most volume (Table 7). Generally, even-aged management by clearcut method with ground-based equipment is the most economical way to harvest timber, followed by cable-yarding with a clearcut prescription. Uneven-aged management by helicopter has much higher logging costs and yields less volume by area due to partial harvest prescriptions. Alternatives 3 and 4 would harvest about half of the total acreage with the EA system by clearcut method while alternative 2, the proposed action, would harvest about one-third of the acreage with EA management. Alternative 5 would harvest about one-quarter of the total alternative acreage with the EA system by clearcut. Effects on vegetation related to the issue of timber supply and economics include increasing stand productivity through even-aged management. The even-aged prescription would include intermediate treatment(s) following initial harvest to improve growth and vigor to reach a commercial size, or rotation age in less time. The regeneration potential of conifers is greater using an even-aged prescription. The more shade intolerant species, like Alaska yellow-cedar and Sitka spruce can become established as new cohorts and favored as preferred species in subsequent intermediate treatments. These species have a higher lumber value, increasing the stand’s overall economic value over time. Improved tree growth and higher timber value species preference through even-aged management contribute to timber supply and economics.

Issue 2: Wildlife Habitat and Subsistence Use

Acres treated with UEA management The alternative comparison for this issue can be analyzed by measuring the acres with UEA prescriptions. Uneven-aged management would contribute a greater value to wildlife habitat and subsistence than even-aged management. Retained structure and old-growth like characteristics contribute cover, nesting, snow-intercept, travel corridors and certain foods critical to many wildlife species, including deer. Table 9 above shows that Alternative 5 proposes the greatest proportion of acres using UEA management (2,868 acres, or 75%). Effects on vegetation related to the issue of wildlife habitat and subsistence include retaining old growth structure through uneven-aged management. Productive Old Growth (POG) has higher wildlife habitat and subsistence value than newly created

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young growth. Old growth characteristics include large, decadent trees with cavities used by many wildlife species for nesting and cover. Snags offer perching for raptors and food for certain bird species. Forested canopies offer snow intercept in winter that allow deer access to evergreen forbs. Contiguous forest cover are used as travel corridors for wildlife. Issue 3: Scenery

Acres treated with UEA management

The viewshed analysis for this project has assigned Scenic Integrity Objectives (SIO’s) to stands and the silvicultural prescriptions have been developed to meet the SIO's. UEA prescriptions would minimize effects to the scenery resource. Effects on vegetation include potentially reduced regeneration potential due to limited light and soil disturbance. Limited light will favor shade tolerant species, mainly western hemlock. Less soil disturbance will also favor hemlock regeneration. Partial harvest will also result in less understory enhancement (than clearcutting). Stand structure would be altered but multiple stories, or layers would be maintained and promoted. Gaps in the canopy will increase light in areas to promote a new conifer cohort and understory development. Removing single trees, or small groups of trees across the stand would not increase the stand’s susceptibility to windthrow. Stands infected with dwarf mistletoe would continue to be infected at similar levels.

Effects on vegetation to the issue of scenery include retaining 67 percent of the existing live basal area through uneven-aged prescriptions. This 33 percent basal area removal would hardly be noticeable to the casual observer. Partial harvest prescriptions would remove single trees or small groups of trees and would not create significant areas exposed to wind that may be created with larger even-aged prescription openings. The partial harvest prescriptions would not remedy stands infected with hemlock dwarf mistletoe. The levels of disease would continue at present levels.

Issue 4: Access Management Acres treated with EA management

The different silviculture systems for this project (Even-aged and Uneven-aged) offer a very different planned series of treatments to tend, harvest and re-establish the stand of trees. Road access is essential for ground-based or cable-yarding systems. Maintaining the road for future treatments to meet management objectives should be considered and will likely provide more opportunities and make economic sense to facilitate a transition to young growth management. Table 9 shows that Alternative 4 proposes the greatest contribution to the issue of access management since EA prescriptions are closely associated with road construction and open road maintenance. However, Alternatives 2 and 3 have similar amounts of acreage proposed for EA management. Effects on vegetation related to the issue of access management include increasing stand productivity through EA management versus relatively lower productivity and a different value emphasis (wildlife and scenery) with UEA management. The EA prescription would include

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intermediate treatment(s) following initial harvest to improve growth and vigor to reach a commercial size, or rotation age in less time. The regeneration potential of conifers is greater using an EA prescription. The more shade intolerant species, like Alaska yellow-cedar and Sitka spruce can become established as new cohorts and favored as preferred species in subsequent intermediate treatments. These species have a higher lumber value, increasing the stand’s overall economic value over time. Improved tree growth and higher timber value species preference through EA management would result with road access. A. Alternative 1 - No Action Direct Effects

Under the No Action Alternative, no new timber harvesting for this project would occur. There would be no direct effects to forest structure, forest health and productivity, regeneration and species composition, and risk of windthrow. No Action would result in leaving 88 percent of the historic NFS POG intact and 100 percent of the existing NFS POG unaffected.

Indirect Effects The indirect effects of the No Action Alternative include leaving the project area as a mixture of forest types and plant communities with varying levels of soil drainage. The forested areas would be primarily dominated by western hemlock. There would be no increase in stand productivity for stands included in this project. There would continue to be high levels of wood decay. Disease infection would continue at similar levels. The existing amount of young growth acreage would not increase. There would not be any new young growth contribution to the Forest’s transition from an industry based on old growth to an industry based primarily on young growth. All stands included in this project would remain as old growth structure. The species composition of the project stands would not be altered by any significant measure. Western hemlock would continue to comprise about 60 percent of the species composition of the project stands. Forest health would continue on its current course and natural disturbances would be expected to occur at least as frequently as have occurred in the recent past. The common damage agents, including hemlock dwarf mistletoe, decay fungi, windthrow and yellow-cedar decline would persist at current levels. Effects of climate change could exacerbate current damage agent levels. Any yellow-cedar salvage recovery opportunities would not be realized with the No Action Alternative.

B. Alternative 2 – The Proposed Action

Direct Effects Alternative 2 is the proposed action for this project. This alternative provides a supply of timber using silvicultural systems utilizing treatment methods with sound prescriptions that are sustainable over time. This alternative would use a mixture of even-aged (EA) regeneration methods to convert old-growth structure to young growth and an uneven-aged (UEA) regeneration method to harvest a portion of the trees while maintaining old-growth structure.

Alternative 2 converts 1,781 acres of old growth to young growth with EA prescriptions. This amounts to a 3 percent reduction in NFS POG acres on Wrangell Island – leaving 85 percent of

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the historic NFS POG intact. Alternative 2 would implement partial harvest with UEA prescriptions on 3,528 acres. The total amount of treated acres in this alternative is 5,309 acres. The treatment acres for this alternative amounts to 10 percent of the existing NFS POG on Wrangell Island.

The EA system removes all trees, or nearly all trees, in a single harvest. The direct effects include changing old-growth structure (multi-layered) to young growth structure (single layer). Forest health effects of EA management include reducing hemlock dwarf mistletoe, decay and wind hazard risk. Stands that have yellow-cedar decline offer salvage recovery opportunities. Harvesting stands with EA management at different time intervals across the landscape creates a mosaic of different structures (age classes) at the landscape, or watershed level. EA management favors less shade-tolerant species, like Sitka spruce and Alaska yellow-cedar and PCT can further promote species other than western hemlock. The EA system directly creates relatively homogenous, single-aged stands.

The UEA system used in this project retains at least two-thirds of the live pre-treatment basal area. This system will alter the old-growth structure by removing single trees or groups of trees throughout the stand (up to 33 % BA removal). Small openings would be created. The UEA system would lead to little direct change to the wildlife habitat and subsistence resource or the scenery resource. Wildlife habitat would be maintained by retaining old-growth structure and this retained structure minimizes the effect to scenery.

Indirect Effects EA Prescriptions: Changes to forest structure with a conversion of old growth to young growth would benefit certain wildlife species that prefer new forage, such as deer. Wildlife species that prefer even-aged young growth, such as certain bird species for nesting, would also benefit. Forest health would be improved and diseases like hemlock dwarf mistletoe and stem decay would be greatly reduced. Salvage recovery of yellow-cedar in decline would get a valuable wood source to market. Stand productivity would be increased with EA management. Slow growing stands of decadent, mature trees beyond CMAI would be replaced by healthy, faster growing, vigorous young trees in even-aged managed stands. Conventional logging systems used with EA management can churn soils promoting Sitka spruce regeneration. Sitka spruce is considered a disturbance-driven species and favors soil mixing and mineral soils. Less shade tolerant species, like Sitka spruce and Alaska yellow-cedar would be promoted with EA prescriptions. The benefits associated with a mosaic of structures (age classes) across a watershed or landscape would be realized. Benefits include wildlife species diversity associated with plant species diversity.

Following harvest, even-aged young growth stands will undergo stand structural stages of development. If left untended, these stages are Stand initiation stage. After a disturbance, new individuals and species continue to appear for several years. Stem exclusion stage. After several years, new individuals do not appear and some of the existing ones die. The surviving ones grow larger and express differences in height and diameter; first one species and then another may appear to dominate the stand.

Understory reinitiation stage. Later, forest floor herbs and shrubs and advanced regeneration appear and survive in the understory, although they grow very little.

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Old-growth stage. Much later, overstory trees die in an irregular fashion, and some of the understory trees begin growing to the overstory.

Intermediate treatments, such as PCT, can manipulate these stages, particularly the stem exclusion stage, to improve growth and vigor of select trees to reach commercial size or rotation age sooner.

UEA Prescriptions: The UEA prescriptions would create openings by removing single trees and small groups of trees. Larger openings (up to 2 acres) would improve conditions for regeneration, particularly for those species less shade tolerant, more than smaller openings would. Growing conditions for understory vegetation would also be improved by opening the overstory canopy to allow more light to the forest floor. Certain wildlife species would benefit from openings created with UEA prescriptions and other species would benefit from maintaining two-thirds canopy cover. Old-growth structure would benefit deer by intercepting snow and maintaining elevational corridors of habitat.

C. Alternative 3

Direct Effects Alternative 3 converts 1,701 acres of old growth to young growth with EA prescriptions. This amounts to a 3 percent reduction in NFS POG acres on Wrangell Island – leaving 85 percent of the historic NFS POG intact. Alternative 3 would implement partial harvest with UEA prescriptions on 1,483 acres. The total amount of treated acres in this alternative is 3,184 acres. The treatment acres for this alternative amounts to 6 percent of the existing NFS POG on Wrangell Island.

Indirect Effects The indirect effects to vegetation are essentially the same for all action alternatives. These effects are basically in varying proportions related to the silvicultural prescription. The indirect effects for EA and UEA prescriptions are described in detail in the proposed action.

D. Alternative 4

Direct Effects Alternative 4 converts 1,793 acres of old growth to young growth with EA prescriptions. This amounts to a 3 percent reduction in NFS POG acres on Wrangell Island – leaving 85 percent of the historic NFS POG intact. Alternative 3 would implement partial harvest with UEA prescriptions on 1.738 acres. The total amount of treated acres in this alternative is 3,531 acres. The treatment acres for this alternative amounts to 7 percent of the existing NFS POG on Wrangell Island.

Indirect Effects

The indirect effects to vegetation are essentially the same for all action alternatives. These effects are basically in varying proportions related to the silvicultural prescription. The indirect effects for EA and UEA prescriptions are described in detail in the proposed action.

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E. Alternative 5 Direct Effects

Alternative 5 converts 936 acres of old growth to young growth with EA prescriptions. This amounts to a 1 percent reduction in NFS POG acres on Wrangell Island – leaving 87 percent of the historic NFS POG intact. Alternative 5 would implement partial harvest with UEA prescriptions on 2,868 acres. The total amount of treated acres in this alternative is 3,804 acres. The treatment acres for this alternative amounts to 7 percent of the existing NFS POG on Wrangell Island.

Indirect Effects

The indirect effects to vegetation are essentially the same for all action alternatives. These effects are basically in varying proportions related to the silvicultural prescription. The indirect effects for EA and UEA prescriptions are described in detail in the proposed action.

VI. Past, Current and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions This section provides a summary of past, current, and reasonably foreseeable future actions within the project area which could contribute to the cumulative effects on silviculture from the Wrangell Island Project. In this analysis, reasonably foreseeable future actions are those with some published plan of action. If resources are affected by these activities, they are discussed in the individual resource sections of this chapter.

Timber Harvest

Timber harvest has occurred on approximately 7,200 acres of National Forest land within the analysis area, beginning in the 1950s, with just over 6,800 of those acres harvested by clearcut. These areas have regenerated into vigorous, predominately even-aged timber stands.

Road Systems

There are approximately 100 miles of existing National Forest System roads within the analysis area. Of these, approximately 90 miles are open to the public for motorized travel. There are an estimated 34 miles of road in other land ownerships within the analysis area. This includes roads managed by the Alaska Department of Transportation, City and Borough of Wrangell, Alaska Mental Health Trust, and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (Division of Forestry). The Alaska Mental Health Trust and the Division of Forestry both manage their roads as Closed (as defined by the Alaska Forest Resources and Practices Act).

Utility Corridors

The Tyee electrical transmission line which provides power to Wrangell and Petersburg traverses the analysis area for approximately 25.9 miles. The vegetation within the approximately 150-foot-wide corridor underneath the transmission line is regularly maintained where necessary, including where it is in close proximity to the ground and trees are present. The transmission line and corridor are visually evident in the landscape.

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US Forest Service

Roadside EA

The Roadside EA makes available up to 500 MBF of fuelwood and sawtimber per year as commercial salvage harvest of dead, dying, or blown down fuelwood and sawtimber from natural disturbance, and the minor harvest of green fuelwood and green sawtimber, depending on demand from the public and local operators. The first Micro-sale from the Roadside EA was sold in 2012 and in each subsequent year since an average of 4 Microsales a year have been sold. Each year an average of 20 net mbf from an average of 2 acres have been harvested. The Wrangell Island EIS contains areas that coincide with the Micro-sale EA. While the EIS could potentially harvest areas that could be harvested by the EA the EIS also may allow for more harvest by potential small operators.

Pre-commercial Thinning

Approximately 4,000 acres have been thinned since the 1970s with an additional 1,250 acres anticipated over the next ten years. Pre-commercial thinning provides beneficial effects such as increased tree growth and vigor and also increases deer forage and defers the stem exclusion phase of stand development by reducing stocking levels. The stem exclusion phase is a closed canopy that blocks-out sunlight and effectively eliminates the understory that is valuable to wildlife, especially deer. Pre-commercial thinning can advance a timber stand toward old growth structure in less time. The thinning also increases the composition of cedars and spruce in the stands which increases tree species diversity.

Alaska Mental Health Trust (AMHT)

Alaska Mental Health Trust manages its land with an objective to produce revenue for the trust. Within the study area, AHMT has harvested, leased, or sold much of its land. The remaining land is slated to produce revenue at some point in the future. There is an annual land sale program for AMHT lands on Wrangell Island. The amount of land for sale is not determined until the offering is publicized. Subdivision lots and small sized parcels offered to the highest qualified bidder through a competitive land sale.

Some Wrangell Island Project Alternatives will require authorization to use or cross AMHT lands to access National Forest timber.

Alaska Mental Health Trust Timber Sales

Most of the AHMT land which was feasible to harvest was harvested in the 1990s along the Zimovia Highway. The most recent harvest (104 acres) occurred in 2014.

Alaska Mental Health Trust Proposed Land Exchange

On June 30, 2015, an Agreement to Initiate (ATI) was signed for a land exchange between the Forest Service AMHT for multiple parcels across the Tongass National Forest. This proposal includes 1,105 acres of AMHT land within the analysis area to be transferred to the Forest Service. Newly acquired Forest Service land would be managed under the same Land Use Designation as adjacent National Forest land, which in this case would be the Scenic Viewshed Land Use Designation.

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Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR)

Southeast Alaska State Forest Plan

On February 29, 2016, the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources adopted the Southeast State Forest Management Plan. The plan will guide long-term active management of these forest lands and identifies the policies that will be followed. The establishment of the state forest is for timber management while also allowing other beneficial uses of public land and resources.

Division of Forestry, Five-year Schedule of Timber Sales (CY 2015-2019)

Earl West Cove Area timber sale is located on the eastern coast of Wrangell Island. The timber sale is an estimated total volume of 12.5 MMBF of harvest from approximately 700 acres. An estimated 5.0 miles of road could be constructed for access in the harvest areas. The sale will be wholly on Southeast State Forest lands, it is currently scheduled for harvest in the 2019 calendar year.

State Entitlement Land Selection from the Tongass National Forest

The State of Alaska is still in the process of completing its entitlement selections from the Tongass National Forest, under Section 6(a) of the Alaska Statehood Act of 1959. The State has identified the 16,683 acre Thoms Creek parcel, near Thoms Lake/Thoms Place on Wrangell Island for selection (Sec. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 T65S R85E and Sec. 29, 30, 32 T65S R86E). The State has assigned Priority “C” ranking or a very low priority for conveyance ranking for this parcel but it continues to be State selected lands for the foreseeable future. No timber harvest or road building is proposed within the Thoms Creek selection.

Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT)

The State of Alaska has identified corridors considered essential for future transportation and utility systems. Many of these corridors are only conceptual at this time. One of these conceptual corridors is within the analysis area and is an extension of the Zimovia Highway to a proposed ferry terminal in Fools Inlet. There is no recommendation for the route in either the near-term (10 year) or long-term (20 year) plan, according to the ADOT Draft 2014 Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan.

City and Borough of Wrangell

The City and Borough of Wrangell is in the initial stages of planning development of the currently undeveloped 140 acre Institute Property near the 5-mile marker on Zimovia Highway for housing, health care and educational facilities. This property abuts the National Forest.

The City and Borough of Wrangell have expressed interest in pursuing ownership and development of the privately owned former saw mill site, for industrial purposes, possibly including a timber processing facility. There are no firm proposals at this time.

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VII. Cumulative Effects The project area contains approximately 6,800 acres of young growth stands on NFS lands, originating from clearcutting. Approximately 434 acres of NFS lands have been harvested by uneven-aged systems using the Single Tree Selection (STS) method. For Alternative 1, there would be no change in the young growth acreage that is suitable and available for future harvesting in the project area, and therefore no cumulative effects.

All previously harvested stands, with the exception of units harvested within the last three years, have been certified as regenerated. There are 922 acres that will be surveyed for regeneration over the next four years. These harvested stands are expected to be adequately regenerated.

From 1979 through 2015, about 4,000 acres of young growth has been pre-commercially thinned on NFS land in the project area to reduce stocking and improve tree growth and vigor.

The AMHTA proposed land exchange includes old-growth and young growth acreage in the three development LUDs in the project area, as well as Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs). A land exchange would decrease the amount of Tongass NF suitable and available forest land in the project area.

VIII. Compliance with Forest Plan and Other Relevant Laws, Regulations, Policies and Plans Management activities on National Forest System (NFS) lands are required to comply with the Forest Plan, as well as Federal and State laws. Relevant standards and regulations intended to protect timber economic impacts are addressed in the following subsections.

A. 2008 Tongass National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan

The Forest Plan is the governing document for management activities that take place within the Tongass National Forest (TNF). It consists of three parts that work together to facilitate the development of management activities. These parts include: forest goals and desired conditions for resources; the management prescriptions for each of the 19 LUDs; and the Forest Plan S&Gs, which apply to all or most areas of the TNF and provide for the protection and management of forest resources.

In the LUDs where land-disturbing activities are proposed, the Timber Production (TM), Modified Landscape (ML), and Scenic Viewshed (SV) LUD-specific S&Gs apply. Of particular relevance to timber and silviculture are the sections on Timber. In addition, there are Forest Plan S&Gs that apply and provide for resource protection across the TNF, and these include a major section on Timber Forest Plan S&Gs.

B. Forest Service Manuals and Handbooks

Forest Service Manual 2400 Timber Management, Chapter 2470 Silvicultural Practices, as updated August 13, 2004.

Forest Service Handbook 2409.17 Silvicultural Practices and 2409.26.d_2012-2 Silvicultural Examination and Prescription.

C. National Forest Management Act (NFMA)

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The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) requires the Secretary of Agriculture to identify lands not suited for timber production due to physical and other pertinent factors. NFMA also includes consideration of economic factors in the identification of suitable lands.

D. Tongass Timber Reform Act (TTRA)

Among many other topics, the Tongass Timber Reform Act (TTRA) of 1990 includes Section 101, which amended Section 705(a) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) to read as follows:

Subject to appropriations, other applicable law, and the requirements of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-558), except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the Secretary shall, to the extent consistent with providing for the multiple use and sustained yield of all renewable forest resources, seek to provide a supply of timber from the Tongass National Forest which (1) meets the annual market demand for timber from such forest and (2) meets the market demand from such forest for each planning cycle, 16 U.S.C. 539 (d) (a).

Although NFMA includes consideration of economic factors in the identification of suitable lands, TTRA exempts economic considerations as a requirement for identifying suitable lands on the Forest.

E. Design Features All of the action alternatives are designed to provide a supply of timber using silvicultural systems utilizing treatment methods with sound prescriptions that are sustainable over time.

All Action Alternatives are designed to follow the 2008 Forest Plan LUD Objectives and Desired Conditions and adhere to the 2008 Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines.

F. Monitoring Recommendations Treated stands would be monitored by conducting regeneration stocking surveys as required by the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) within five growing seasons post-harvest.

Surveys of stands treated with the Single Tree Selection method of uneven-aged management should be conducted to verify that 33% of the existing basal area was removed.

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VIII. References FS-R10-FHP. 2013 Forest Health Conditions in Alaska 2012; Anchorage, Alaska. U.S. Forest

Service Alaska Region. Publication R10-PR-32. 89 Pages

FS-R10-FHP. 2014 Forest Health Conditions in Alaska 2013. Anchorage, Alaska. USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region. Publication R10-PR-035. 81 Pages

FS-R10-FHP. 2015 Forest Health Conditions in Alaska 2015. Anchorage, Alaska. USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region. Publication R10-PR-38. 78 Pages

Hawksworth, F.G. 1977. The 6-class dwarf mistletoe rating system. General Technical Report RM-48. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station 7 p.

Helms, John A. 1998. The Dictionary of Forestry

Hennon, Paul E., McKenzie, Carol M., D’Amore, David V., Wittwer, Dustin T., Mulvey, Robin L., Lamb, Melinda S., Biles, Frances E., Cronn, Rich C., A Climate Adaptation Strategy for Conservation and Management of Yellow-Cedar in Alaska; http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr917.pdf

Holsten, E. Hennon, P, Trummer, L. Kruse, J. Schultz, M. Lundquist, J. Insects and Diseases of Alaskan Forests R10-TP-140 2009

Landwehr, Dennis J. 2007, Reasonable Assurance of Windfirmness Guidelines Version 2.0

Nowacki, Gregory J.; Shephard, M.; Krosse, P.; Pawuk, W.; Fisher, G.; Baichtal, J.; Brew, D.; Kissinger, E. and Brock T. 2001 Ecological Subsections of Southeast Alaska and Neighboring Areas of Canada

Nowacki, Gregory J. and Kramer, Marc G. 1998. The Effects of Wind Disturbance on Temperate Rain Forest Structure and Dynamics of Southeast Alaska

Paustian, S. 2004. Development and Implementation of a Riparian Conservation Strategy for the Tongass National Forest. Paper presented at the American Water Resources Association Conference: Riparian Ecosystems and Buffers: Multi-scale Structure, Function and Management, June 28-30, 2004, Olympic Valley, CA 6pp.

Pawuk, William and Kissinger, Everett 1989. Preliminary Forest Plant Association of the Stikine Area, Tongass National Forest.

Stathers R. J., Rollerson T.P. and Mitchell S. J. 1994; Windthrow Handbook for British Columbia Forests

US Forest Service white paper Tongass Young Growth Management Strategy 2014

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Appendix A Table 1 Project Unit Pool Forest Health Conditions

Unit # Mistletoe Decay Wind Hazard

AYC Decline

503 low moderate moderate low 504 moderate moderate moderate low 505 low moderate moderate moderate 506 low low moderate low 507 low high moderate high 509 moderate moderate high low 512 low moderate high low 513 low low high low 515 low moderate high low 516 low low high low 517 low low moderate low 519 moderate low moderate low 521 moderate high moderate low 523 moderate moderate low moderate 524 moderate high high low 526 moderate moderate moderate low 527 low low moderate low 528 low low moderate low 529 low low moderate low 530 low low moderate low 531 low low moderate low 534 low moderate high low 535 moderate moderate moderate low 543 low low moderate moderate 547 low moderate moderate low 548 moderate low moderate moderate 550 low high moderate moderate 551 low high moderate low 552 low high moderate high 553 moderate high moderate low 554 moderate moderate moderate low 555 low high moderate low 556 low high moderate moderate 557 low moderate moderate moderate 558 low moderate moderate moderate 560 low high moderate low

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Unit # Mistletoe Decay Wind Hazard

AYC Decline

561 low high moderate low 562 moderate high moderate moderate 563 low moderate moderate moderate 564 high high moderate low 565 moderate high moderate low 566 low low high moderate 567 low low moderate low 569 moderate high moderate high 572 low high moderate low 574 low moderate moderate moderate 575 high moderate high moderate 576 low moderate moderate low 577 high high moderate low 578 low moderate moderate moderate 579 low moderate moderate low 580 low high moderate moderate 602 moderate moderate moderate low 603 moderate low moderate high 604 low low moderate low 605 high high moderate low 606 low low moderate low 607 low low moderate low 608 low low moderate low 609 moderate moderate low low 610 low low moderate low 612 low moderate moderate moderate 616 low moderate moderate moderate 619 moderate high moderate high 620 low high moderate high 622 low moderate moderate low 623 low moderate moderate low 624 low moderate moderate low 638 low high moderate high 642 low low moderate low 649 moderate high moderate low 650 low high moderate low 656 low low moderate low 657 low low moderate low 658 low moderate moderate low 659 low low moderate low

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Unit # Mistletoe Decay Wind Hazard

AYC Decline

665 high high high low 666 low high moderate moderate 667 low moderate moderate low 672 low low moderate low 677 low low moderate low 678 low moderate moderate low 682 low high high low 690 low low high moderate 701 low moderate moderate moderate 704 high moderate moderate moderate 705 low moderate moderate high 710 high moderate high moderate 711 low moderate moderate moderate 713 high high moderate moderate 714 high high moderate high 715 low moderate moderate moderate 716 low moderate high high 717 high high high low 720 low moderate moderate low 721 low moderate moderate high 722 low low moderate moderate 723 low high moderate low 724 low high moderate moderate 725 low high high low 728 moderate high moderate low 731 low low moderate low 733 low high moderate high 736 low high moderate high 799 moderate moderate moderate high 803 high high low low 804 low high moderate moderate 805 moderate moderate high moderate 806 moderate high moderate high 807 high high moderate low 808 low high moderate low 811 moderate moderate high moderate 812 moderate moderate high moderate 814 moderate moderate moderate moderate 815 high low moderate high 816 low moderate moderate moderate

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Unit # Mistletoe Decay Wind Hazard

AYC Decline

817 low high low low 818 low low moderate moderate 820 low low moderate high 825 low high low low 827 high high moderate low 828 moderate moderate moderate high 830 low high moderate moderate 833 moderate moderate moderate low 834 low low moderate moderate 835 low high moderate moderate 836 low low moderate low 837 low low moderate low 846 moderate moderate moderate high 848 low moderate low moderate 849 low moderate moderate moderate 850 low moderate moderate high 852 moderate moderate moderate high 854 low moderate moderate high 855 moderate moderate moderate moderate 856 low moderate low high 864 low high moderate moderate 865 low moderate low low 866 high moderate low low 874 low moderate moderate moderate 875 low high moderate low 879 low low moderate low 955 moderate moderate moderate low 956 moderate moderate high low 957 moderate moderate high low 958 moderate low high low 959 moderate moderate moderate low 960 high moderate moderate moderate 961 moderate moderate moderate low 962 low high low low 964 low low moderate low 965 high moderate high low 966 moderate low high low 967 moderate moderate moderate low 968 moderate moderate moderate low 969 moderate moderate moderate low

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Unit # Mistletoe Decay Wind Hazard

AYC Decline

970 moderate moderate moderate low 972 moderate moderate moderate low

Appendix B Table 1 Wrangell Island Visual Priority Travel Routes and Use Areas

– As Listed in Forest Plan, Appendix F

Visual Priority Travel Route or Use Area Travel Routes – Large Vessels

• Sumner Strait Travel Routes – Small Vessels

• Blake Channel • Zimovia Strait • Eastern Passage • Fools Inlet

Public Use Roads • McCormick to Earl West #6265 • Big Hallow (Middle Ridge) #50060 • Zimovia Hwy: Wrg to McCormick

(FH#16) • Nemo-Skip Loop #6267 • Fools Inlet #6270 • Thoms Creek Crossing • Long Lake Access #6271 • Salamander Rd to Salamander Creek

State Marine Parks • Thoms Place

Saltwater Use Areas • Nemo Point to Pats Creek • The Bluffs • Fools Inlet • Earl West • Point Highfield

Dispersed Recreation Areas • Middle Ridge • Fools Inlet • Earl West • Long Lake • Little Thoms Lake • Thoms Lake

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• Thoms Creek • Salamander Ridge Trailhead • Highbush Lake

Communities • Wrangell

Forest Service Cabins • Middle Ridge Cabin

Developed Recreation Sites • Thoms Creek Crossing • Earl West • Upper Salamander • Lower Salamander • Rainbow Falls Viewing Platforms • Long Lake Roadside • Pond Shelter • Yunshookuh • Anita Bay Overlook • Turn Island • Long Lake Shelter • Highbush Lake • North Wrangell Shelter • Nemo Host Site • Three Sisters • Highline • Shoemaker Bay Overlook Shelter

Trails • Long Lake #574 • Salamander Ridge #520 • North Wrangell #500 • Nemo Saltwater #424 • Rainbow Falls #536 • Institute Creek #537 • Thoms Lake #575

Boat Anchorages • Thoms Place • Fools Inlet • Zimovia Strait

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Appendix C

Alternative Maps

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