United States Department of Agriculture Chaffee Vegetation ...a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic.download.akamai... · United States Department of Agriculture Chaffee

United States Department of Agriculture

Chaffee Vegetation Management Project

Scoping Document

Forest Service Allegheny National Forest

Elk and Forest Counties, Pennsylvania

April 2016

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Cover photo: Solomon’s seal near intersection of State Routes 66 and 948, photo taken by Terry Steffan, Wildlife Biologist

Chaffee Vegetation Management Project – Scoping Document

1

Who is proposing the project? The Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Allegheny National Forest (Forest), is initiating an

environmental analysis for the proposed Chaffee Project pursuant to the National Environmental Policy

Act of 1969.

What are we proposing to do? We are proposing to manage the proposed treatment areas on the Marienville Ranger District to achieve a

diversity of desired forest trees, a healthy and resilient ecosystem, and diminish the risks and

consequences of forest health threats. This project implements the Allegheny National Forest Land and

Resource Management Plan (or Forest Plan) (USDA-FS 2007) (see the Management Direction section).

The project is subject to pre-decisional objection consistent with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of

2012 (P.L. 112-74) as implemented by subparts A and B of 36 CFR Part 218.

Where is the project located? The Chaffee project area includes National Forest System lands in Compartments 704, 714, 715, 716,

832, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 846, 848, and 849. Previous projects within the Chaffee project area include

the James City Categorical Exclusion (CATX), Windy City CATX, Forest Renewal Environmental

Assessment (EA), FY06 Regeneration EA, FY07 Regeneration EA, James Mill EA, McKinley EA,

Mortality I EA, Spring Creek Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), and Eastside FEIS. The

project area is generally located north of Russell City, Pennsylvania. The Tionesta Research Natural Area

lies to the north of the project area and the Kane Experimental Forest to the east of the project area. The

majority of the project area lies within the South Branch Tionesta watershed with small sections in the

Spring Creek and Upper Tionesta Creek watersheds. In all, the Chaffee project area encompasses

approximately 16,680 acres.

When would the project be implemented? A decision on the proposal or an alternative proposal is expected during the winter of 2016/2017. While

initial activities would occur in 1 to 5 years, following the decision, some activities are anticipated to

occur over a 20-year period.

Why here and why now?

Purpose and Need The Allegheny National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) identified desired

vegetation structural distribution for the Forest for the year 2020. As shown in the Forest’s 2008–2013

monitoring report, there is a vegetation structural imbalance across the Forest (USDA-FS 2014, p. 120).

While mid and late structural stages are well-represented and meeting desired conditions, stands in early

structural stages are falling far short of desired conditions. Only 3.8 percent of the Forest exists as early

structural forest in 2015. This amount is less than half of the desired 2020 condition (USDA-FS 2007, p.

19, Errata). This project proposes to help move the overall age class distribution toward the Forest Plan

desired condition.


2

A number of challenges exist for establishing desired tree seedlings on the Allegheny National Forest.

These include dense shade cast by overstory, midstory, and interfering understory vegetation, preferential

browsing by deer, periodic seed crops, and variable seed viability, and in some cases, decline of seed

trees. Desired tree seedlings do not develop in sufficient quantities on the Forest without intensive forest

management. Interfering understory vegetation frequently outcompetes tree seedlings as a result of

decades of selective deer browsing (Horsley, Stout, and deCalesta 2003). Management actions create

suitable conditions for the establishment and development of desired tree seedlings, in order to maintain

important ecological structure, function, and processes.

This project is also needed to address present and potential future decline of American beech, black

cherry, white ash, and eastern hemlock, due to non-native and native insects and diseases and other

factors discussed below. If no action is taken, forest stocking levels may be reduced, which would

potentially result in areas with few seed trees, with forest understories dominated by interfering

vegetation, including thickets of beech, striped maple, and ferns. In some areas, few to no seed trees

would remain. Stands with reduced stocking due to insects and diseases are more vulnerable to damage

from windthrow, storms, and other general injury to tree crowns.

Vegetation management can affect forest health through a variety of overstory and understory treatments.

Declining, mature, or poorly stocked stands can be regenerated to vigorous well-stocked young forest

stands through a combination of timber harvest and reforestation treatments. Managing and regenerating

declining stands now would promote natural regeneration of a diversity of desired trees. It would sustain

healthy, well-stocked forested stands over the long-term. This project is designed to address project area

forest health concerns by regenerating stands before natural regeneration opportunities are further

reduced. Deferring action of these stands would likely increase the difficulty of successfully restocking

them with diverse tree seedlings that would result in a more resilient future forest.

Forest Plan desired conditions include providing a diversity of vegetative structural stages, age classes,

and forest types across the landscape within the context of multiple use management. The purpose of this

project is to sustain a desirable mix of tree species to ensure a healthy, diverse, and resilient forest. The

dominant forest types on the Allegheny National Forest are upland and Allegheny hardwoods, primarily

consisting of black cherry, red maple, black birch, tulip poplar, and white ash. American beech, eastern

hemlock, yellow and sweet birch, and cucumbertree are common associates.

The uniformity of second growth forest across the Allegheny National Forest increases vulnerability to

damage from repeated natural stresses and exotic insects and diseases. Beech bark disease1 is an

introduced insect-fungus complex which has resulted in substantial American beech mortality across the

Forest and in the project area. The fungus complex, introduced from Europe, results in the death of

mature American beech trees. Once mortality of mature beech trees occurs, a dense thicket of beech

suckers, or beech brush, is produced. As these suckers are genetically identical to the mature beech that

died from the disease complex, they are also susceptible to the disease and will succumb to the disease

complex in the next couple of decades. The dense regeneration of beech within the understory of infested

stands prevents the establishment of other tree seedlings and creates a virtual monoculture that lacks the

benefits of natural forest biodiversity (Forrester and others. 2003; Hane 2003; Latty and others 2003).

In addition to mortality of beech, the health and abundance of white ash and hemlock is a growing

concern on the Forest. Emerald ash borer2 is responsible for the rapid mortality of millions of ash trees

across their range in the eastern United States, and was detected on the Allegheny National Forest in

1 For information on beech bark disease visit http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/bbd/

2 For information on emerald ash borer visit http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/eab/

http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/bbd/

http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/eab/


3

2013. The project area contains ash trees infested by emerald ash borer. Hemlock woolly adelgid3 was

also confirmed on the Forest in 2013. It is much slower spreading than emerald ash borer, but is expected

to similarly result in high mortality levels to eastern hemlock beginning in the coming decade.

Black cherry crown health has been declining in many areas on the Allegheny National Forest. The

reasons for this decline are not entirely clear, but it is thought that decline is linked to a number of

interacting factors including insect defoliations, other canopy disturbances such as wind events and loss

of American beech trees to beech bark disease, changing soil nutrient status, and potentially changing

climate and weather patterns. Recent monitoring conducted on the Allegheny National Forest identified

increases in black cherry decline and observed mortality on the Allegheny national Forest and on the

Allegheny Plateau (Long and others, personal communication 2015 unpublished; PA Bureau of Forestry

2015 unpublished). Specifically, the proportion of stand dead black cherry stems on 97 intensive forest

health monitoring plots containing black cherry on the Allegheny National Forest has increased from less

than 10 percent in the 1998–2001 measurement cycle to more than 22 percent in the 2014–2015

measurement cycle. Similarly, continuous forest inventory data collected on the Pennsylvania High

Plateau (Allegheny National Forest region) noted an increase from around 3 percent dead black cherry

stems in the 1997–2000 measurement cycle to more than 30 percent in the 2009–2013 measurement

cycle.

Cherry scallop shell moth is a defoliator of black cherry, and occasionally other native cherries. Cherry

scallop shell moth is a native insect to Pennsylvania and the eastern United States. Cherry scallop shell

moth larvae fasten margins of leaves together and form an elongated nest, within which they feed on the

upper tissues of the leaves. Once feeding is complete, the larvae will move on to construct more feeding

nests. Damage to black cherry trees range from a loss of radial growth, partial crown mortality to total

tree mortality, depending upon the severity (percentage of the crown) of the defoliation and the duration

(how many years) of defoliation. In most cases, tree mortality associated with cherry scallop shell moth

combined with other tree stressors, i.e. drought or other defoliators (Allen 1993). Currently the Allegheny

National Forest is in the second year of a cherry scallop shell moth outbreak and each year the outbreak

area has increased in size. As of yet, significant cherry scallop shell moth defoliation has not been

observed in the project area, but the further spread of cherry scallop shell moth and increased defoliation

is likely in 2016. The Forest Service is monitoring cherry scallop shell moth defoliation and associated

effects on overall black cherry crown health.

Sirex woodwasp is an invasive insect that is a strong flier and able to travel long distances. It was

discovered in New York in 2005 and is present on the Allegheny National Forest. Female sirex

woodwasps are attracted to pines that are stressed and in poor health. The female will lay eggs along with

inoculate a wood decay fungus, and inject a toxic mucus into pines. The mucus and the wood decay fungi

usually kill the infected pines. There are about 800 acres of red pine in the project area and most are

proposed to be treated to reduce the potential for mortality from sirex woodwasps in the project area.

Mortality from sirex woodwasps has been low on the Alleghany National Forest because of the past

thinning of red pine stands that reached an over stocked condition.

Red pine is not native to the Allegheny National Forest and most of it was planted across the forest in the

1930s and 1940s. About 2 percent (7,151 acres) of the Allegheny National Forest has a red pine forest

type with less than 1 percent (2,331 acres) of the white pine forest type, which is native to the forest. This

project proposes to shelterwood seed cut several red pine stands and under-plant them with rust resistant

white pine to increase the amount of white pine within the project area and on the forest. Overstory red

pine trees would be left on site until the planted white pine reaches at least 20 feet in height to reduce the

3 For information on hemlock woolly adelgid visit http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/hwa/

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/hwa/


4

effects of the white pine weevil, a native insect. Once the planted white pine are 20 feet tall, most of the

remaining red pine trees would be removed.

Interference from non-native invasive plant species is also a threat to forest health and native plant

communities. Monitoring and controlling the spread of invasive plant species is an important component

of providing a healthy, sustainable forest ecosystem.

Based on field surveys, changes in tree and shrub species diversity is occurring in the project area as a

result of impacts from non-native insects and disease, natural disturbances such as wind and storm events,

and selective deer browsing. Underplanting of white pine is being proposed as a proactive step which

seeks to replace conifer cover that may be lost as a result of eastern hemlock decline. Other wildlife

habitat enhancements being proposed include: promoting a diversity of soft and hard-mast producing

plants across the project through the planting of potential seed sources, providing nesting and roosting

structures where they are lacking (which would benefit species with viability concerns), and providing

escape and concealment cover for a variety of wildlife species where it is lacking through the creation of

brush piles and by felling trees to provide large woody debris on the forest floor.

Stream habitat monitoring found that many streams in the project area lack habitat diversity that would

contribute to improved habitat for aquatic animals and enhanced recreational experiences for anglers.

Pools and slow water habitat are present but lack cover and pools are generally shallow. Also, large wood

monitoring on several streams shows streams lack sufficient large wood to create quality pools, slow

flood flows, or store sediment and organic debris.

How are we proposing to take action?

Proposed Action A silvicultural system is a planned series of treatments by which we establish, grow, manage, and

regenerate a forest stand for a specific purpose. This process includes all practices necessary for

replacement and development of the forest stand.

Even-aged silvicultural systems are being proposed in this project to meet the overall objectives and

desired future condition of management area direction. Under an even-aged silvicultural system, stands

are managed with harvest methods and associated reforestation treatments that regenerate trees of a single

age class at the time of regeneration harvest. In all cases, areas managed using even-aged systems retain

trees that provide ecological function and structure inherited from past ecosystems and important in

recovery of the biological community. Under an uneven-aged silvicultural system, stands are managed

with harvest methods and associated reforestation treatments that regenerate trees of multiple age classes

that have three or more age classes within that stand. Most of the stands that are proposed for an even-

aged or uneven-aged treatments have understory vegetation that interferes with the establishment of new

seedlings; therefore, reforestation treatments are often required to provide adequate conditions for

seedlings to germinate and grow.

The Allegheny National Forest is divided into geographic subdivisions known as compartments and then

further divided into smaller units known as stands. The silvicultural methods and reforestation activities

proposed for this project are summarized in the table below. Successful regeneration of the forested

stands identified in this project typically involves a combination of the proposed treatments implemented

over a six to twenty year time period.


5

Summary of proposed activities

Even-aged Vegetation Management (acres)

Intermediate hardwood thinning 163

Intermediate conifer thinning 136

Non-commercial thinning 153

Shelterwood seed cut (1st entry)/shelterwood removal (2

nd entry) 1337

Delayed shelterwood seed cut (2nd

entry)/shelterwood removal (3rd

entry) 206

White pine restoration (shelterwood seed cut [1st entry]/shelterwood removal [3

rd entry]) 609

Uneven-aged Vegetation Management (acres)

Intermediate thinning to accelerate mature forest conditions 116

Single tree selection (1st entry)/group selection (2

nd entry) 63

Understory Vegetation Treatments (acres)

Herbicide–reforestation 2,231

Site preparation 2,231

Fertilization 548

Fence construction (optional) 2,231

Tree shelter installation 744

Tree planting for species diversity 744

Release for species diversity 3,147

Prescribed burning 609

NNIP species treatments (herbicide and manual) 225

Wildlife Management

Planting (acres) 14

Fencing (acres) 6

Structure installation (number) 40

Brush pile creation (number) 28

Large woody debris (terrestrial) (acres) 128

Watershed Management (miles)

Large wood introductions (place in streams - up to 35 trees/mile) 6.6

Travel Management (miles)

Road construction – new corridor 1.2

Road construction – existing corridor 3.7

Road maintenance 37

High quality (limestone) road surfacing (within 300 feet of a stream) 7.3

Road management change from open to closed (FR285) and move gate to intersection with Township Road T-317 and provide parking in front of gate.

0.1

Road management change from closed to restricted (FR359) 0.5

Four timber harvest treatments are proposed for the project area:

Shelterwood seed cut/shelterwood removal cut is a multiple-step regeneration harvest in which

approximately one-third of the overstory is removed in the initial (shelterwood) seed cut to provide

sunlight on the ground to encourage tree seedling development. After adequate tree seedlings

develop, the shelterwood removal cut follows, in which nearly all of the overstory trees are removed,

allowing full sunlight to reach the established seedlings.


6

White pine restoration is a regeneration harvest in which approximately one-third of the overstory

will be removed in the initial (shelterwood) seed cut to provide partial shade to planted rust resistant

white pine seedlings, which will encourage them to develop without the effects of multiple leaders

from white pine weevil. The overstory will be retained until the understory is at least twenty feet tall

and then the majority of the overstory will be removed, which will allow full sunlight to reach the

established small trees.

Thinning treatments are designed to reduce overcrowding in highly stocked stands, thereby

enhancing the growth and quality of the residual trees. No more than one-third of the trees are

typically removed in a single thinning treatment.

Group selection to restore understory mature forest conditions is designed to accelerate the

transition of even-aged hardwood stands to uneven-aged stands. It normally begins with a single-tree

selection harvest in which approximately 30 to 40 percent of the trees are removed to increase light

levels on the forest floor to promote the establishment of tree seedlings, shrubs, and herbaceous

vegetation. A group-selection harvest is then implemented, typically within 3 to 15 years, to release

the newly established seedlings. Ideally, these treatments should be repeated every 20 to 40 years

until the stand has been converted to a multi-aged condition.

Reforestation Activities

Herbicide treatments remove or reduce undesired understory vegetation in stands contain a dense

ground cover of grasses, fern, beech root suckers and striped maple that interfere with desired tree

seedling establishment and growth. Herbicides approved for use by the Forest Plan, includes

glyphosate in the form of Rodeo® and sulfometuron methyl in the form of Oust®.

Manual site preparation is used when mid-story trees and brush cast shade that interferes with the

development of tree seedlings. Chainsaws or brush saws would be used to remove or reduce

competing vegetation by felling mid-story non-preferred species in order to increase sunlight levels to

the forest floor.

Fertilization is used to accelerate the growth of natural seedling regeneration. It is used after the final

harvest cut is complete, and normally only on unfenced stands that are more susceptible to deer

browsing. Fertilization generally involves the aerial or ground application of nutrients on existing

seedlings, usually during the month of May or June.

Where deer browsing impacts are high, area fencing and/or tree shelters are installed and maintained

to exclude deer and reduce browsing on desired seedlings. It promotes tree seedling growth and

understory plant diversity. Fences and tree shelters are removed when objectives have been met.

Tree planting is prescribed in areas where planned natural regeneration has failed, or where it is

desirable to supplement natural tree seedling establishment in order to improve species diversity.

Prescribed burning may be used to reduce the duff layer in red pine stands to prepare the site for

planting or natural seedling establishment.

Release involves the non-commercial, manual cutting of tall-growing woody vegetation that

interferes with the growth and survival of desired tree seedlings, saplings, or shrubs in young stands

(age class 20 years or less). Release promotes tree species diversity


7

Acronyms and abbreviations used in proposed silvicultural treatments table below Objective

Grn = Green (emphasis on standing live trees) Salv = Salvage (emphasis on salvage dying, diseased, or dead trees) Cat = Catastrophic (emphasis on regenerating a stand with less than 40 percent relative density of healthy trees) TSI = Timber Stand Improvement activates (TSI activities include release) Refor = Reforestation (reforestation activities – including herbicide, site preparation, fertilizer, fencing, and planting; no timber harvesting)

Silvicultural Treatments (1

st Entry, 2

nd Entry, 3

rd Entry)

Thin Intermediate Thin STS Single Tree Selection GS Group Selection SWC Shelterwood Seed Cut SWR Shelterwood Removal NCT Non-Commercial Thin CTR. Release for Species Diversity

Note: The six-digit stand number listed in this table consists of the compartment number (first three digits) and the stand number (last three digits). For example, stand 636001 is stand 1 in compartment 636.


8

Proposed silvicultural treatments

Compartment -Stand

MA Acres Objective 1

st

Entry 2nd

Entry 3rd

Entry Herbicide

Site Prep

Fertilize Fence Tree

Shelter Plant Release

PrescribeBurn

704-002 3 27 Grn SWC 0 SWR 27 27 0 27 27 27 27 27

704-003 3 35 Grn SWC 0 SWR 35 35 0 35 35 35 35 35

704-007 3 12 Grn NCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

704-009 3 16 Grn SWC SWR 0 16 16 0 16 1 1 16 0

704-010 3 39 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

704-011 3 23 Grn SWC 0 SWR 23 23 0 23 23 23 23 23

704-012 3 19 Grn SWC SWR 0 19 19 0 19 1 1 19 0

714-004 3 10 Grn SWC SWR 0 10 10 0 10 1 1 10 0

714-006 3 9 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

714-007 3 20 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

714-008 3 5 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0

714-010 3 18 Grn SWC SWR 0 18 18 0 18 1 1 18 0

714-016 3 31 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

714-017 3 18 Grn SWC SWR 0 18 18 0 18 2 2 18 0

714-018 3 12 Grn SWC 0 SWR 12 12 0 12 12 12 12 12

714-020 3 13 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

714-021 3 18 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0

714-027 3 3 Grn SWC 0 SWR 3 3 0 3 3 3 3 3

714-028 3 42 Grn SWC 0 SWR 42 42 0 42 42 42 42 42

714-029 3 14 Grn SWC SWR 0 14 14 0 14 1 1 14 0

714-031 3 6 Grn SWC 0 SWR 6 6 0 6 6 6 6 6

714-032 3 21 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 0

714-033 3 39 Grn 0 SWC SWR 39 39 0 39 3 3 39 0

714-034 3 32 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

714-039 3 5 Grn SWC 0 SWR 5 5 0 5 5 5 5 5

714-040 3 17 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

714-042 3 32 Grn SWC SWR 0 32 32 0 32 2 2 32 0

714-044 3 5 Grn SWC 0 SWR 5 5 0 5 5 5 5 5


9

Compartment -Stand


st

Entry 2nd

Entry 3rd

Entry Herbicide

Site Prep



PrescribeBurn

714-046 3 31 Grn 0 SWC SWR 31 31 0 31 2 2 31 0

714-047 3 14 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

714-053 3 11 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

714-054 3 39 Grn SWC SWR 0 39 39 0 39 2 2 39 0

714-056 3 16 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0

714-057 3 4 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0

714-062 3 34 Grn SWC SWR 0 34 34 0 34 2 2 34 0

715-001 3 23 Grn SWC 0 SWR 23 23 0 23 23 23 23 23

715-002 3 35 Grn SWC 0 SWR 35 35 0 35 35 35 35 35

715-003 3 30 Grn SWC 0 SWR 30 30 0 30 30 30 30 30

715-005 3 34 Grn NCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

715-011 3 12 Grn SWC 0 SWR 12 12 0 12 12 12 12 12

715-012 3 14 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

715-023 3 22 Grn SWC 0 SWR 22 22 0 22 22 22 22 22

715-029 3 13 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

715-030 3 36 Grn SWC SWR 0 36 36 36 36 2 2 36 0

715-032 3 24 Grn SWC 0 SWR 24 24 0 24 24 24 24 24

715-033 3 17 Grn SWC 0 SWR 17 17 0 17 17 17 17 17

715-034 3 5 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0

715-036 3 8 Grn SWC SWR 0 8 8 0 8 1 1 8 0

715-037 3 40 Grn SWC 0 SWR 40 40 0 40 40 40 40 40

715-038 3 12 Grn NCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

715-042 3 12 Refor Refor 0 0 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 0

715-043 3 4 Refor Refor 0 0 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 0

715-049 3 7 Grn SWC 0 SWR 7 7 0 7 7 7 7 7

715-054 3 5 Grn SWC SWR 0 5 5 5 5 3 3 5 0

715-055 3 8 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

715-064 3 9 Grn SWC 0 SWR 9 9 0 9 9 9 9 9

716-003 3 43 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 43 0

716-004 3 40 Grn SWC SWR 0 40 40 0 40 10 10 40 0


10

Compartment -Stand


st

Entry 2nd

Entry 3rd

Entry Herbicide

Site Prep



PrescribeBurn

716-009 3 25 Grn 0 SWC SWR 25 25 25 25 4 4 25 0

716-014 3 20 Grn SWC 0 SWR 20 20 0 20 20 20 20 20

716-015 3 32 Grn SWC SWR 0 32 32 0 32 2 2 32 0

716-017 3 14 Grn SWC 0 SWR 14 14 0 14 14 14 14 14

716-018 3 33 Grn SWC SWR 0 33 33 0 33 2 2 33 0

716-019 3 29 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

716-020 3 33 Grn SWC SWR 0 33 33 0 33 2 2 33 0

716-023 3 23 Grn SWC SWR 0 23 23 0 23 1 1 23 0

716-024 3 6 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0

716-026 3 15 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0

716-029 3 7 Grn SWC 0 SWR 7 7 0 7 7 7 7 7

716-030 3 10 Grn SWC 0 SWR 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 10

716-032 3 31 Grn SWC SWR 0 31 31 0 31 2 2 31 0

832-016 2.2 32 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

832-021 2.2 16 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

832-030 2.2 36 Grn STS GS 0 36 36 36 36 2 2 36 0

832-031 3 36 Grn 0 SWC SWR 36 36 0 36 2 2 36 0

832-037 3 17 Grn SWC SWR 0 17 17 17 17 1 1 17 0

832-038 3 13 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0

832-039 3 9 Grn SWC SWR 0 9 9 0 9 1 1 9 0

841-003 3 27 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 0

841-009 3 31 Grn NCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

841-012 3 32 Grn SWC SWR 0 32 32 32 32 2 2 32 0

841-018 3 22 Grn SWC SWR 0 22 22 0 22 1 1 22 0

841-019 3 3 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

841-020 3 45 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 0

841-022 3 11 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0

841-024 3 28 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 0

841-026 3 19 Grn SWC SWR 0 19 19 0 19 1 1 19 0

841-027 3 16 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0


11

Compartment -Stand


st

Entry 2nd

Entry 3rd

Entry Herbicide

Site Prep



Prescribe Burn

841-029 3 16 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0

841-032 3 30 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 0

841-036 3 5 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0

841-039 3 22 Grn NCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

841-044 3 17 Grn SWC SWR 0 17 17 0 17 1 1 17 0

841-045 3 20 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0

841-049 3 14 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0

841-056 3 4 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0

841-062 3 5 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0

841-065 3 5 Grn SWC SWR 0 5 5 0 5 1 1 5 0

842-002 3 24 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 0

842-004 3 32 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 32 0

842-006 3 28 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 0

842-007 3 36 Grn SWC SWR 0 36 36 36 36 2 2 36 0

842-008 3 40 Grn SWC SWR 0 40 40 40 40 3 3 40 0

842-010 3 34 Grn SWC SWR 0 34 34 0 34 2 2 34 0

842-017 3 25 Grn SWC SWR 0 25 25 0 25 1 1 25 0

842-019 3 26 Grn SWC 0 SWR 26 26 0 26 26 26 26 26

842-023 3 17 Grn SWC SWR 0 17 17 0 17 1 1 17 0

842-027 3 15 Grn NCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

842-028 3 27 Grn SWC SWR 0 27 27 0 27 2 2 27 0

842-035 3 8 Grn SWC SWR 0 8 8 0 8 1 1 8 0

842-045 3 40 Grn SWC SWR 0 40 40 40 40 3 3 40 0

842-060 3 6 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0

842-067 3 19 Grn 0 SWC SWR 19 19 19 19 1 1 19 0

842-084 3 14 Grn SWC SWR 0 14 14 0 14 1 1 14 0

842-098 3 14 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0

842-099 3 19 Grn 0 SWC SWR 19 19 19 19 1 1 19 0

842-101 3 8 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0

842-104 3 33 Grn SWC SWR 0 33 33 0 33 2 2 33 0


12

Compartment -Stand


st

Entry 2nd

Entry 3rd

Entry Herbicide

Site Prep



PrescribeBurn

843-004 3 40 Grn SWC SWR 0 40 40 40 40 3 3 40 0

843-005 3 43 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 43 0

843-017 3 36 Grn SWC SWR 0 36 36 36 36 3 3 36 0

843-021 3 28 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 0

843-022 3 39 Grn SWC SWR 0 39 39 0 39 2 2 39 0

843-030 3 24 Grn SWC SWR 0 24 24 24 24 2 2 24 0

843-031 3 33 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 0

843-044 3 21 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 0

843-046 3 10 Grn SWC SWR 0 10 10 10 10 1 1 10 0

843-054 3 38 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38 0

843-059 3 12 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0

843-075 3 11 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0

843-079 3 32 Grn SWC SWR 0 32 32 0 32 2 2 32 0

844-001 2.2 6 Cat SWC 0 SWR 6 6 0 6 6 6 6 6

844-009 2.2 36 Grn SWC 0 SWR 36 36 0 36 36 36 36 36

844-010 2.2 12 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

844-011 3 22 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 0

844-018 3 25 Sal SWC SWR 0 25 25 0 25 1 1 25 0

844-036 3 17 Grn SWC SWR 0 17 17 0 17 1 1 17 0

844-043 2.2 20 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

844-050 2.2 4 Grn SWC 0 SWR 4 4 0 4 4 4 4 4

844-053 2.2 7 Grn NCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

844-054 2.2 7 Grn NCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

844-067 3 37 Grn SWC SWR 0 37 37 0 37 2 2 37 0

844-074 3 37 Grn SWC SWR 0 37 37 37 37 3 3 37 0

845-009 3 41 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 41 0

845-010 3 28 Grn SWC 0 SWR 28 28 0 28 28 28 28 28

845-016 3 35 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 0

845-017 3 47 Grn SWC 0 SWR 47 47 0 47 47 47 47 47

845-023 3 37 Grn 0 SWC SWR 37 37 0 37 2 2 37 0


13

Compartment -Stand


st

Entry 2nd

Entry 3rd

Entry Herbicide

Site Prep



PrescribeBurn

845-025 3 13 Grn SWC SWR 0 13 13 0 13 1 1 13 0

845-029 3 43 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 43 0

845-031 3 35 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

845-036 3 11 Grn SWC SWR 0 11 11 0 11 1 1 11 0

845-037 2.2 22 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

845-038 3 26 Grn SWC SWR 0 26 26 0 26 2 2 26 0

845-039 3 15 Grn SWC 0 SWR 15 15 0 15 15 15 15 15

845-041 3 12 Grn SWC 0 SWR 12 12 0 12 12 12 12 12

845-048 3 3 Grn SWC 0 SWR 3 3 0 3 3 3 3 3

845-054 3 27 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

846-028 3 4 Grn SWC 0 SWR 4 4 0 4 4 4 4 4

848-004 3 17 Grn SWC SWR 0 17 17 0 17 1 1 17 0

848-005 3 40 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 0

848-032 3 20 Grn SWC SWR 0 20 20 0 20 1 1 20 0

848-047 2.2 14 Grn STS GS 0 14 14 14 14 1 1 14 0

848-050 2.2 13 Grn STS GS 0 13 13 13 13 1 1 13 0

848-059 3 11 Grn SWC SWR 0 11 11 0 11 1 1 11 0

848-065 2.2 14 Grn Thin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

848-074 3 21 Grn SWC SWR 0 21 21 0 21 1 1 21 0

848-083 2.2 4 Grn SWC SWR 0 4 4 4 4 1 1 4 0

849-003 3 38 Cat SWC SWR 0 38 38 38 38 3 3 38 0

849-005 3 49 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 49 0

849-011 3 18 TSI CTR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0

849-013 3 11 Grn SWC SWR 0 11 11 11 11 1 1 11 0

849-017 3 32 Grn SWC SWR 0 32 32 0 32 3 3 32 0


14

Wildlife Habitat Improvements

The project area is capable of supporting a diverse assortment of soft and hard mast producing

trees and shrubs. Efforts will focus on establishing mid-story and understory hard and soft mast-

producing species in suitable areas for wildlife species that utilize mast. This activity supplements

reforestation treatments by establishing trees and shrubs that are desirable to wildlife. These

plantings will not try to convert sites to a different vegetation type but ultimately establish seed-

sources that would help these species to become established and flourish without further

intervention.

Planting 14 acres with native mast-producing trees and shrubs is proposed to provide future

forage and cover for a variety of wildlife species.

Installing fencing, cribs, or tree shelters is being proposed for 6 acres to protect planted trees

and shrubs from deer browsing.

Installing 40 wildlife structures (man-made) is proposed to provide nesting and roosting

opportunities for cavity dwellers and other wildlife.

Constructing 28 brush piles is proposed across the project area. Field surveys conducted in the project area revealed a general lack of structure on the forest floor aside from widely-scattered windthrown trees and large boulders. These brush piles would increase the amount of escape and concealment cover for a variety of wildlife species in forested stands which, aside from the dense fern cover in summer, lack ground cover conducive to wildlife concealment on the forest floor.

Creating terrestrial large woody debris by felling 7 to 10 large trees per acre in 5 red pine stands, totally 128 acres, is proposed to provide habitat for a variety of wildlife species including salamanders, small mammals (for escape and concealment cover), and ruffed grouse (for drumming logs).


15

Proposed wildlife habitat improvements

Stand Plant

(acres) Fence (acres)

Install Structures (number)

Brush Piles (number)

Terrestrial Large Woody Debris

(acres)

704010 - - 1 - -

704011 - - 2 - -

715002 - - - - 33

715023 - - - - 23

716003 - - - 5 -

716014 - - 2 - -

716020 - - 3 - -

832015 - - 1 - -

841010 - - 6 - -

841030 - - 3 - -

841039 - - 2 - -

841045 - - - 3 -

841065 1 1 - - -

841068 - - 2 - -

842008 1 1 - - -

842013 - - 2 - -

842019 - - - - 26

842045 3 - - - -

842054 - - 3 - -

842096 - - 5 - -

842110 1 - - - -

843005 1 1 5 - -

843013 1 - - - -

843021 - - - 4 -

843072 1 - - - -

843074 1 - - - -

843077 1 - 1 - -

844009 2 2 - - -

844010 - - 1 - -

845017 - - 1 - 47

845029 - - - 5 -

848005 - - - 5 -

848050 1 1 - - -

849005 - - - 6 -

Aquatic Habitat Treatments

Aquatic habitat treatments: This project proposes to fell up to 35 trees per mile (438 trees) into

streams and onto floodplains. By doing so, stream processes and large wood functions such as

creating pools, adding protective cover, trapping and sorting of spawning gravel can be restored

or improved. Trees would be felled within the riparian area, but at least 10 feet from the channel,

where trees are needed for bank stability or cover and would only occur where large woody

debris is lacking and trees are available to be felled without reducing stream shading. Trees will

be placed at locations which would help stabilize eroding banks, improve pool habitat, and


16

improve aquatic habitat. Trees will be of sufficient size and positioned so they are stable in the

stream and floodplain.

Proposed aquatic habitat treatments locations (see Map 4)

Stream Name Large Wood Additions (miles)

Bogus Run 1.7

Unnamed tributary to Bogus Run 1.0

Coon Run 0.9

Eldridge Run 0.2

Martin Run 1.4

Unnamed tributary to Martin Run 0.3

South Branch Tionesta 0.7

Wolf Run 4.2

Unnamed tributary to Wolf Run 2.1

Total 12.5

Non-native Invasive Plant Treatments Sixteen (16) NNIP species of concern for the Allegheny National Forest have been documented

along roads, streams, and within select stands and stone pits in the project area. Non-native

invasive plant treatment would occur on up to 225 acres throughout the project area using a

combination of manual, mechanical, and herbicide treatments. Manual treatment could include

pulling, digging, or hand-roughing.

Mechanical treatment would include brush-cutting, mowing, or removal by motorized equipment.

Herbicide treatment would include the use of glyphosate, sulfometuron methyl, or both, and

would be applied in accordance with Forest Plan standards and guidelines.

These combinations of treatments could occur several times during a growing season, or over a

period of several years until the infestations have been effectively treated. Due to the nature of

non-native invasive plants, additional infestations and species from the Allegheny National Forest

Invasive Plant Species of Concern list could be treated if found within the project area, consistent

with applicable Forest Plan direction.

Transportation Management The Chaffee Project Area contains approximately 186 miles of roads – 46.0 miles of National

Forest System (NFS) roads, 42.0 miles of State and Township roads, 96.0 miles of Non-NFS

roads. The NFS roads are managed for public motor vehicle use as follows: 24.0 miles are open

year round, 7.0 miles are seasonally restricted, and 15.0 miles are closed year around. The

Chaffee Project Area has approximately 9.0 miles of mixed use roads (roads being used as both

roads and trails; 6.0 miles of Forest Roads, 2.4 of Municipal Roads and 0.7 of non-system roads).

Management of the transportation system within the project area is needed to facilitate stands

proposed for vegetation management over the life of the project. Approximately 4.9 miles of

roads are proposed to be added to the Forest Service transportation system. Approximately 3.9

miles are existing non-system roads (not municipal or part of the National Forest Service Road

[NFSR system]) and approximately 1.0 miles are proposed for new road construction utilizing


17

new corridors. High quality (limestone) road surfacing (7.3 miles) is proposed in areas adjacent or

in close proximity to stream courses to reduce the risk of sedimentation.

The transportation system activities prescribed for this project are summarized in tables below

and displayed in Map 3.

Proposed road construction

Location Length (miles)

Road Management Remarks

FR327-2B 0.2 Closed New corridor

FR664B 0.1 Closed New corridor

FR748 0.7 Closed New corridor

FR751 Extension 0.1 Closed New corridor

FR753 0.1 Closed New corridor

FR109 0.1 Closed Existing corridor



FR327-2B 0.1 Closed Existing corridor



FR353A 0.1 Closed Existing corridor

FR353B 0.2 Closed Existing corridor

FR443AA 0.2 Closed Existing corridor

FR465 Extension 0.2 Closed Existing corridor


FR632B 0.2 Closed Existing corridor




Proposed road management changes


Proposed Road Management

Change Remarks

FR285 0.1 Closed

Currently open; Move gate to intersection with T-317 (providing off-road parking); Proposed change to closed to protect resources.

FR359 0.5 Restricted Currently closed; Proposed change to restricted to provide access for hunting.


18

Proposed high quality (limestone) road surfacing


FR133 0.1

FR148 0.7

FR152 1.9

FR152B 0.4

FR195 1.7

FR198 0.1

FR223 0.1

FR285 0.1

FR326 0.2

FR327-2 0.3

FR346 0.1

FR359 0.1

FR367 0.1

FR443 0.1

FR664 0.2

FR749 0.7

FR752 0.2

FR752A 0.1

FR758 0.1

How does the project implement the Forest Plan?

Management Direction The Forest Plan provides a programmatic framework regarding allocation of National Forest

System lands and the measures necessary to protect resources. It describes how the Allegheny

National Forest should be managed and what resources should be provided by these lands now

and into the future. The Forest Plan provides a vision (USDA-FS 2007, pp. 7–16) that includes …

Proposed activities are consistent with management direction in the Forest Plan. Specifically, the

proposed action addresses the following Forest Plan goals and objectives (USDA-FS 2007, pp.

12–21):

Develop and enhance the seedling, shrub, and herbaceous diversity to improve structural

conditions (USDA-FS 2007, pp. 14, 19, A-1, A-2, and A-14). Provide a diversity of

vegetation patterns across the landscape that represents well distributed habitats, a range of

forest age classes and vegetative stages, a variety of healthy functioning vegetation layers,

moderate to well-stocked forest cover, and the variety of vegetation species or forest types

necessary to achieve multiple resource objectives and sustain ecosystem health (USDA-FS

2007, p. 14).


19

Continue to implement and monitor a range of silvicultural and reforestation practices in

order to be responsive to emerging issues and regenerate stands to a diversity of tree

seedlings of good quality, form, and health (USDA-FS 2007, p. 14).

Improve the overall health and sustainability of Allegheny National Forest ecosystems by

reducing understory dominance of native invasive species such as beech brush, ferns, grass

and striped maple, and non-native invasive species on 3,000 to 6,200 acres annually. Do this

through direct treatments: site preparation, herbicide application, scarification, mechanical

treatment, or fencing to encourage greater species diversity with a wider variety of

herbaceous and woody plants or tree seedlings (USDA-FS 2007, p. 21).

Provide a long-term, sustainable supply of large wood from riparian corridors to streams for

aquatic habitat diversity; with an objective of 75 to 380 pieces per stream mile (USDA-FS

2007, p. 11).

Provide a safe, efficient and economical transportation system that is responsive to public and

administrative needs, while having minimal adverse effects on the natural forest ecosystem

(USDA-FS 2007, p.16).

Limit the further introduction and spread of non-native invasive plants and conserve forest

resources in a manner that presents the least hazard to humans and maintains and restores

forest resources (USDA-FS 2007, p.13).

Provide a sustainable flow of commercial timber products that will contribute to the local and

regional economy, contribute to the annual forest-wide allowable sale quantity, and maintain

10 to 12 percent of MA 3.0 in early structural habitat (0 to 20 years old) over time (USDA-FS

2007, pp. 8, 14, and 113).

Management Area Direction Lands managed by the Allegheny National Forest are assigned a management area designation.

This designation identified the suitable uses, desired conditions, and standards and guidelines for

forest management. The project includes the following management areas:

Management Area 2.2 –Late Structural Linkages emphasize older, late structural forests that

link relatively large areas of older forests (core areas) across the landscape. Vegetation

management is directed to restoring late structural forest conditions with an emphasis on

sustaining forest structure and forest continuity. Management Area direction is provided on pages

109-112 of the Allegheny Forest Plan.

Management Area 3.0 –Even-aged Management emphasizes even-aged management to

provide a forest that is a mix of predominantly shade intolerant and mid-tolerant hardwood stands

of various ages and associated understories and habitat for a diversity of plant and animal species.

Management Area direction can be found on pages 113-115 of the Forest Plan.

The acres within each management area (MA) in the Chaffee Project are listed in the table below.


20

Acre distribution in project area

Management Area Acres

2.2 – Late Structural Linkages 3,070

3.0 – Even-aged Management 10,058

Private lands 3,552

Total 16,680

References Cited Forrester, J.A., G.G. McGee, and M.J.Mitchell. 2003. Effects of beech bark disease on

aboveground biomass and species composition in a mature northern hardwood forest,

1985 to 2000. J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 130: 70–78.

Hane, E.N. 2003. Indirect effects of beech bark disease on sugar maple seedling survival.

Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 33: 806-813.

Horsley, Stephen B., Susan L. Stout, and David S. deCalesta. 2003. White-tailed deer impact on

the vegetation dynamics of a northern hardwood forest. USDA Forest Service

Northeastern Research Station, Warren, Pennsylvania 16365

Latty, E.F., C.D. Canham, and P.L. Marks. Beech bark disease in northern hardwood forests: the

importance of nitrogen dynamics and forest history for disease severity. Can. J. Forest.

Res., 33 (2003), pp. 257–268.

Long, R., A. Hille, A. Stottlemyer, and R. Turcotte. FHM Evaluation Monitoring Progress Report

FY2015: Evaluating and monitoring black cherry health trends in response to multi-year

stressors in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Unpublished (September 2015), 4 pp.

Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry. Continuous Forest Inventory, PA BOF Resources, Volume 2,

Issue 1: Black Cherry. Unpublished (2015), 4 pp.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2007. Allegheny National Forest Land and

Resource Management Plan and Record of Decision. Warren, PA.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2014. Allegheny National Forest FY 2008 – FY

2013 Monitoring and Evaluation Report. Warren, PA: USDA Forest Service, Allegheny

National Forest. 294 pp.

Documents

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