Heartwood Hcolagicatr Consulting
1 S-Year Fbrest-Stewardship Woodland Management Plan
E. B. Forysthe National Wildlife Refuge - Reedy Creek Subdivision -
Brick T Ocean Wooded Acres: 349 approx. Block l,ots 109 ls.22.33.28.31.01 194 10 01. l l. 29 195 l, 1.01, 2,3, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.02. 17 t95 I 9 03. 20. 26. 32 m 196 3- l9- l9 01 20 2t 2l (
Preparing Foresters: Applicant Information ; Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC US Fish & Wildlife Service l56l Route 9, Suite 6, P.O. Box 72 Toms River, NJ 08755 800 Great Creek Road Tel. (732) 288-2770 Oceanville NJ 08231 Tel. (609) 6s2-166s
Property Location and Boundaries: Mantoloking and Drum Point Roads, Brick Township, Ocean County, New Jersey
Date Last Revised: July 29,2011 Date Prepared: May 1,2011 Planning Period: January 1*, 2011 - Decembe r 31"t,2025 r=YL <:r ryt- July 29,2011 Forester Signature:
(Michael LaMana, For Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC) Date: Reedy Creek Forest Stewardship Plan - Page 2 of 49 Revised July 29,20LL Period 2011-2025
1. Introduction. Forest Manasement in New Jersev. Forestry is an agricultural pursuit involving the growing and stewardship of trees and forests, using scientifically-based methods and interventions to achieve pre-defined objectives. The values conferred by forests and woodlands are many, and may be preserved or enhanced over a given area or time frame by such non-commercial activities as thinning, planting, protection, weeding and the like. Thus, as practiced in New Jersey and codified by State laws, private- and public-lands forestry is a combination of activities designed to increase and enhance the commodity and non-commodity value of forests and woodlands over long term using interventions that might yield economic and non-economic return.
Unlike some other agricultural endeavors, forestry on both private- and public-lands must address the substantial benefits that the public derives from forests. Landowners proposing forest management activities often are required to address possible impacts of proposed forestry activities on wetlands, riparian areas, quality of surface waters, threatened and endangered species, prevalence of invasive species and so on. As partial compensation for the benefits accrued by the public, many private landowners engaged in forestry in New Jersey receive preferential property tax treatment under the NJ Farmland Assessment Actr.
L l. Forest Fuels Reduction on Public- and Privqte Lands in the New Jersq) Pine Barrens cover types. The unique forest cover types seen today in the New Jersey Pine Barrens region are the product of variety of factors. Local climate, amount and frequency of precipitation, and chemical and physical properties of endemic soils interact dynamically and set the stage on which plants must grow, compete, reproduce and die. This abiotic environment interacts with existing vegetation, available plant-propagules and exogenous, human-derived disturbances resulting in an ever- changing mosaic of plant communities in the New Jersey Pinelands and with perhaps greater frequency than in other areas ofthe state.
While the climate, precipitation and potential seed sources of the Pinelands do not differ profoundly from other areas of the state or Mid-Atlantic region, the general character of the soils differs markedly especially on the Outer Coastal Plain. Here soils tend to be sandier, lower in pH, more drought-prone and lower in many plant nutrients. Differences in these soil factors - especially limitations in available soil moisture - are ultimately responsible for the much of the unique vegetation in the region. Despite the fact that, like the rest of the state, our Pinelands average over 42" of ruin-equivalent per-year, upland plant communities are generally dominated by xerophytic species adapted to establishment, growth and reproduction in drought-prone sites.
One consequence of the feedback between vegetation-types and the abiotic environment that gives iloYl I * rise to them in the Pinelands is a high probability of wildland fires. Indeed, fire is sitefas the *.rr{rf ! primary agent of ecological disturbance in most upland vegetation types in the Pine Barrens. In Ctr upland forests and woodlands dominated 2- and 3-needle lnes e Pinus P. echinsta & P. virginiana), oaks (Quercus spp.), the return for severe might occur oi3O years but these dominant trees could live more than 200 years
t n t'1,2 ?A\i 12 " The frequency of severe wildland fires has been well documented for the New Jersey pinelands cover types. In response to the likelihood and severity of these blazes, the NJ Forest Fire Service was created and mandated to control active fires and mitigate accumulations of fuels on private and public lands.
2. See NJ Farmland Assessment Act of 1964, amended in 1986, Chapter 201, N.J.A.C 18.15.
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N m h. Headquartered approximately I 0 City, the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (hereinafter "F sed of what was once two distinct refuges: Brigantine and Barnegat, established in 39 and I 967 respectively, to provide important wintering habitat for waterfowl, especially black ducks and Atlantic brant3. The Divisions were combined in 1984 under the Edwin B. Forsythe name, in honor of the late conservationist Congressman from New Jersey. The refuge complex covers approximately 47,000 acres in three countie$incJlding-- ic, Burlington, and Ocean.
than 80 percent ofF salt meadow and marsh, interspersed with shallow coves bays. Most of the remainder of the refuge acreage is woodlands dominated by pitch pines, oaks, and white-cedar, wit[ some early-successional fields maintained to provide habitat diversity. More than6,000acresare.MdesignatedasWildernessArea,includingHolgateandLittleBeach, two of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches in New Jersey. These pristine sites provide nesting habitat for threatened piping plovers, black skimmers, least terns and others. Each ing and fall, thousands of water b ythe during their long migrations.
The administering agency of the F US Fish & Wildlife Service (hereinafter, the "Client" or "FWS"), and this agency had outlined a series of comprehensive goals for the refuge in its Comprehensive Conservation Plan (hereinafter, "CCP") (FWS, 2004.) Certain goals and objectives in the CCP included the following:
! Protection and enhancement of threatened and endangered species, as well as habitats of special concern. For example, the CCP emphasized protection and enhancement of swamp pink (Helonias bullata) habitat, as wellas the protection and restoration of habitats for threatened and endangered species that might be restored to Forsythe; Enhanced inventorying and mapping of wildlife and their habitats, development of baseline flora and faunal surveys, and use of these monitoring protocols before and after major habitat management projects. The CCP also desired expanded use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) pursuant to these improvements; a Stated goals of FWS include maintenance and/or restoration of natural ecological communities, and also names "priority habitat types" currently or historically found on the NWR as pine savanna, forested wetland, mixed upland forest and early successional old field and shrub/scrub (CCP, p.7.)
In managing for species of concern, as well as for defined ecological communities, FWS identified certain methods or tools with which to achieve these broader goals in the CCP. Techniques such as trapping of interfering or incompatible wildlife like muskrat (Odantra zibethicus), raccoons (Procyon lotor) and beaver (Castor canadensis), as well the use of prescribed fire in certain vegetation types are incorporated into the goals of the CCP (e.g. see pp. 38-39.) Additionally, the CCP recognized that much of Forsythe is prone to wildland fires upon which much of its ecology depends. For example, upland forest and brush habitats were originally to have been treated with prescribed firea on intervals of between five and l5 years in order to reduce hazardous fuels, structural density of forests and woodlands, and to increase the relative
3. See http://www.fivs.gov/refuges/profi les/index.cfm?id:525 I 0 4. Prescribed fire: The planned use of carefully controlled fire to accomplish predetermined management goals.
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proportion of heath and grass/ forb density, while controlling certain invasive species. This prescribed program 7 fire under the CCP was to have been refined empirically. ?
Due to the emphasis that FWS has placed upon management of wetland and estuarine wildlife, as well as budgetary constraints and changes in State-level regulations, some of the goals outlined in \ . the CCP have not been achieved according to the desired timeline. Accordingly, FWS personnel noted both generally increasing accumulations of fuels in both upland and lo*land pinelands- '{'^-r.),"5r\hun" ",.,\r'-r; 'type fqrgsts, as well as complications associated with the increasing wildland-urban interface (WUt{ over the past few years. FWS is concerned that some forested portions of the Forsythe ",\r.l'lor@'>,- \-' NWR have accumulated unacceptable levels and distribution of fuels, and that these changing forest ?("\ra* .,.f ,!_, - and woodland habitat-types and may be inconsistent with desired ecological stewardship of the land. "-k"\'y FWS also has observed that changed plant community structure may also now pose hazards to {-ntt humans and high-value property via elevating risk of wildland-fire ignition and intensity. g.,LS;,,;.;^- ) I D--5,, /1---L u:-l^^, rtr/;t fnmlrnl 2, Fnncttolow Health Dl^--i-- Duni--t The Reedy Creek subdivision (hereinafter "Reedy Creek") of the Forsythe NWR occurs within the New Jersey Pine Barrens ecosystem, but lies outside of the jurisdictional boundary of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission. Established to a planned residentialdevelopment within the area, Reedy Creek today repre a var mosaic of habitat types that are the obvious t product of historic land uses. For of circa 1930s aerial imagery shows that the YJV""tt* majority of the area was previously cleared for agriculture and likely timber harvesting (see figures). - ' OYt't'i The pattern of vegetation observed today is also consistent with a historic forest stand dynamic influenced by wildland fire and/or timber harvesting. For example, the uppermost and oldest tree **NV' canopy-strata are dominated by highly shade intolerant species such as pitch pine (Pinus rigida), xB'oz \ shortleaf pine (P. echinata) and various oaks species (Quercus spp.) that would have most likely had their start in abandoned agricultural lands or in highly open, burned or harvested forests (see below). 0fq The fire-dominated plant-community succession processes that led to the establishment of the forests and woodlands that we at Reedy Creek today are generally no longer functional. There appears to have nment of agriculture and timber harvesting in the entire area in the mid 20th ce abandonment of farmed lands, an aggressive policy of fire suppression and ew Jersey's wildland fire-prone Pine Barrens cover types. Although well intentioned, the latter has resulted in historically atypicalconcentrations of fuel in southern New Jersey forests that has given rise into the plant succession processes described . The result is atypical habitats as well as extremely hazardous concentrations o see below)' ' Nlujfl- Beginning in the 1960s and accelerating to tt {pr"""nt there has been a dramatic increase in subdivision of private lands around Forsyh/in general, and Reedy Creek in particular, and this has created the WUI that poses concerns and severe challenges to managing the ecological integrity of the Forsythe NWR. Due to the spatially disjunct Refuge ownership, there is now a linear interface of high density residential lands with the Forsythe is mandated to be. This pattem of land ownership occurs in a topographic ituation that has led to a chronic level of trespass, encroachment, illicit use of vehicles, dumping and the like. At Reedy Creek these activities are highly likely to increase the probability of unintentional fire and arson.
Demographic and land use changes over the past 50 years have not been the only things to impinge upon management prerogatives and protocols at Reedy Creek. For example, the state ofNew Jersey has promulgated regulations that will affect proposed management of vegetation at Forsythe, Laws
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such as the Coastal Area Facilities Review Act, the New J Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act, the Flood Hazard Area ControlAct and certain others contain ns that must be addressed when proposing plant community manipulations in regulated Similarly, although FWS is often concerned with Federally-listed species of concern, the New Jersey also attempts to manage populations and habitats for certain species of concern that are not regulated by the Federal government.
In response to these realities, and to the changing forest-and woodland-habitat structures at Reedy Creek, FWS has consulted with NJ Forest Fire Services (hereinafter 'NJFFS") as a source of local expertise in wildland fire management. Due in part to this consultation FWS has decided to investigate the rationale and feasibility for altering forest and woodland stand structure on a portion 0);1, in order to meet several management goals, and to do so in an exploratory and way that might facilitate learning as wellas stakeholder involvement and review. To this end FWS has selected approximately 349 wooded acres within the Reedy Creek Subdivision6 of the Forsythe NWR as a pilot Forest Stewardship Planning project in which to address certain management goals (see below.)
Many forested state lands in the Pine Barrens region that contain forest cover analogous to that of Reedy Creek have long been managed to reduce wildland fuels loads by NJFFS. Under these historical efforts, NJFFS had had a program of controlled burning in forested blocks for ? decades. This labor intensive process was effective at reducing yo ^-l ignition within treated blocks, but lacked a reg larger ecolo forests. Because of this NJFFS has embarked upon w fuels /fire management paradigm for the New Jersey pine barrens forest types.
Unlike the State of New Jersey, FWS has not had a program for strategic management of forest and woodland habitats on its parcels in the state because, in part, the focus of FWS management activities at F have been concentrated on the marsh, estuarine and wildlife resources there. Several factors dictated that management of Forsythe's Reedy Creek forests be undertaken, for example
A) The gradual processes of plant community succession at Reedy Creek has created stratified plant communities that - in the absence of disturbance - are highly unlikely to perpetuate the t' habitat types and species distributions that have characterized the area to date, and; B) Forest stand growth and development has interacted with exclusion of wildland fire, resulting in areas of very high standing fuels biomass, as wellas densely contiguous fuels distributions in the Reedy Creek forests;
C) There has been increasing wildland-urban interface over the past several decades and there now are many homes, improved properties and roads abutting Reedy Creek; D) Correlated with increasing WUI there to be high level of vehicular and other forms of trespass on Reedy Creek that inadvertent wildfire ignition. r,P J. r our.z o€ (\ Co arr o Thus, consistent with these observations and in an effort to reduce the rate of regional fire such as the 1971Manahawkin Burn and the2007 Warren Grove Fire, WS has sought the guidance of a professional forester with local experience in recommending needed habitat x 4
5. NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection, Div. Parks & Forestry, Forest Fire Service h ounty (see o"':lrrr.
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modifi cations or treatments Appendix C.) FWS anticipates that areas treated under this Plan
huj l/ S, 0( i,L'l 1P4{{'P'tr thinning and fire.
In 2010 Heartwood Ecological ConsultingT (hereinafter "HEC") was contracted by FWS to devise a o'Plan") Forest Stewardship Woodland-Management Plan (hereinafter the addressing certain wildland fire fuels- and habitat-management issues for this wooded portion of Reedy Creek.
3. General Goals of this Forest Stewardship Plan. The goals of the FWS under this P ,.nr) Reedy Creek are to decrease the probability and intensity of wildfires in the are{to achieve this while protecting and enhancing the biota of the Forslhe NWR consistent with state laws and the mandate of FWS. Through development and implementation of this Plan, FWS plans to improve, protect and maintain its forests, woodlands and other habitats in conformance with Refuge/CCP goals, with requirements of the federal and state statutes, and with generally accepted best practices
designed to be in conformance with the NJ Pinelands Protection Act and Flood Hazard Area Control I - 4. USFWS Forest stewardship obiectives under this Planra' nl r-' k* ,^o i i ; L2v-,', q) '- u v '1{ru v / f J*(lz't "n . Assess the forest stand structure, as well as risks of wildland fire at the Reedy Creek subdivision; I Protect fallmigratory bird habitat, as well as habitat for species of special concern such as endangered and threatened species; r Enhance migrant habitats in forest stands that may be suboptimal due to, excessive conifer
7. Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC dlb/a Heartwood Ecological Consulting 8. March 2006. NJ Pinelands Commission, Pinelands Forestry Advisory Commiltee,"Recommended Forestry Management Practices Final Report." 9. NJ Farmland Assessment Act of 1964, amended in t 986, Chapter 20 I , NJAC Chapter: I 8. I 5. 10. As codified in"Nl Farmland Assessment - Criteria of a Ll/oodland Management Plan", daled May 19, 2005, and accessed at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/ forest/ WMPChecklist.pdf. Accessed June 10, 2008 I l. Best Management Practices in"NJ Forestry and lletlands Best Practices Manuat', NJ Bur. of Forest Mgt., October, 1995. 12. NJ Freshwater Wetlands Act Rules, NJAC Chapter: 7:7A 13. NJ Flood Hazard Area Control Act rules, NJAC Chapter 13,7:13, amended Nov. 2007 14. See "Balancing Wildfire Control and Forest Ecosystem Health Goals and Objectives for Edwin B. Forsythe NWR [LWR Draft Jan. 2008.], available from USFWS.
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density, lack of understory and excessive canopy closure; I Reduce risk of catastrophic wildland wildfire on the Reedy Creek subdivision and abutting lands; "J* r Assess likely wildfire behavior at the site and possible resistance to control; matrix of ndent stand while reducing the relative abundance of pitch p and encouraging endemic oak species; 7l Reduce the volume, distribution and contiguity of woody fuels in excessively dense stands, as may be needed, and in ways that mimic fire; Z . Establish fuel break and plow-lines to enhance the safety and fany necessary wildland fire control operations and / or prescribed-burning and; 'f / . Develop any needed fuels lhabitat interventions to be consistent with mandates for fuels reduction as may be required by the NJ Forest Fire Service ,1 fr
5. Proiect Area Overview and Resource Characteristics
5.A. Overall Project Area Boundaries. The Reedy Creek Division of Edwin B. Forsythe NWR is located in Brick Township, Ocean County. The approximately 349 acre forest management area in this plan is only a portion of the totalacreage owned by FWS comprising the Reedy Creek subdivision. The project arca is distributed as five (5) disjunct, wooded ownership/treatment areas abutting Adamston Road and Preston Street to the north and northwest, and Havens Cove Road to the southwest. A portion of the project area abuts land owned by the Ocean County Utilities Authority which maintains a wastewater treatment plant there. For the purposes of this plan, the forest management treatment areas terminate at the emergent wetlands vegetation associated with tidal zones of Reedy Creek and Barnegat Bay. The remainder of the areas periphery is surrounded by residential and light commercial development.
All of the disjunct components of the project area are accessible via a combination of paved public roads, numerous dirt trails off of Adamston Road, Havens Cove Road and long pre-existing trails . from surrounding properties. In general, the project area is poorly posted and this appears tobr-. c"r Nrn .kr, ,r*- ,ssocia,ted with illegal dumping, litter, trespassing, and off-road vehicle use. Clear posting of boundaries is recommended to minimize these issues J P 5.B. General Project Area Location & Geographic Context. This proposed forestry project area W is located on the outer coastal plain in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. It lies entirely outside of the / l-tt ttl jurisdictional t".- tt boundary of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission in Brick Townships, in Ocean .- n countv' \",,"2 t)or7 Ck F,rt* "^-t^ Atl f,o f,,o,*3 -*V The overall project area lies over the Kirkwood Cohansey:,]:, aquifer }i^ system, and langes in elevatioh/ \ between zero and 30 feet above sea level. The topography is generally flat and lacks topographic relief but instead slopes gradually into the direction of Reedy Creek and Barnegat Bay. Almost all ofthe acreage in the project area has a reported gradient of2%o or less, and no gradient is reported to exceed 5Yo. The project area occurs in the HUC''-14 sub-watershed of the Metedeconk Neck tributaries (below Heron Island) (see Figure A.2).Thus, the project area drains into the Barnegat Bay (HUC-l l) watershed.
15. HUC: Hydrologic unit code is a watershed compartmentalization and spatial relerence developed by USGS and cited by NJDEP at http://www. state. nj. us/dep/watershedm gVhucmap. htm
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The 5 components of the Reedy Creek project area occur in the vicinity of many similarly wooded parcels, and the forest and woodland cover of the project area is spatially contiguous with these other parcels. There are no significant breaks or discontinuities in the forest stands that straddle the various parcel ownerships.
5.C. Forest Soils & Productivityl6. Woodlot structure, species composition and management are greatly influenced by the physical and chemical attributes of soils that give rise to and support tree groMh. It is therefore important when planning forest management activities to consider the characteristics and capabilities of the various soils present. Five (5) m6rioil types are present on the parcel (see Figures.) Brief descriptions of these soils, their site (irdiceslT and their management implications are:
Appoquinimick- Transquaking- Mispillion complex is a brackish wetland soil underlying the emergent marsh of the estuary. There is no forest cover on this soil and it will not be accessed or impacted by proposed operations.
Atsion sands are grey-colored sands generally associated with locations that are seasonally wet or inundated, such as the edges of wetlands or natural depressions. In most locations these soils are saturated for over 6 months per year, and chemical reduction of iron in the absence of oxygen in those environments gives rise to the coloration observed. Native vegetation fostered on Atsion sands is usually pitch pine with a minor composition of various oaks, while highbush blueberry, sheep laurel and greenbriers are found to create thickets in the understory. Because ofthis hydrologic profile this soil presents obstacles to forest management such as erosion, equipment limitations, re-generation establishment, etc. At the same time, C productivity ofthe soil is generally poor: site index values for pl reportedly 65 and 75 ( /'l Berryland sand is a nearly level, poorly drained soil of depressional areas and broad flats - often near €/- streams or tidal flats. A surface layer ofblackish sand extends to about one foot depth, subtended by a 4" band of grey sand. Beneath this is dark brown loamy sand that, along with the substratum, may extend to over 5 feet in depth. The permeability of Berryland soils is moderately rapid but proximity to water tables usually ameliorates atendency to textural-droughtiness. Seasonal water table is generally at the surface between November and June; some areas may have winter ponding. In summer the water table is usually at a depth of l-2', but may be as deep as 4' in droughts. Organic matter content of the soil is high, natural fertility is low, and Berryland soil is strongly- to extremely-acidic. Runoff is slow with little potential for erosion. Due to limited use for agriculture, most of the soils tend to be wooded in NJ. Although well suited to forest production, gowth of trees is somewhat slow. Under natural succession Berryland soil tends to give rise to lowland forest types dominated by pitch pine, red maple, Atlantic white-cedar, blackgum and associates. Operationally, water table fluctuations limit harvesting to frozen soils in winter or to dry soils in late summer. Site index values of 60 have been reported for pitch pine on this substrate. Lakehurst sand is a deep, moderately well drained soil occurring in depressions and on low divides on the NJ coastal plain. An acidic soil with a pH published range of 3.6 - 5.0, it often gives rise to pitch pine and oaks. Where forest fires have been severe, scrub and black jack oaks tend to dominate. The Lakehurst soils are very low in productivity, and reported site index values are 30 itch pine and 45 for blackgum, and g black and white oaks. Pits, sand, and gravel are areas with characteristics ofsand and gravel extraction in the past. Subsurfbce soils are often exposed.
16. Soils information is derived from the Ocean County Soil Survey USDA, Soi[ Conservation Service, and from the NJDEP GIS Dept. as the online SSURGO information for Ocean County. I 7. Site Index: A standard measure ofthe productivity of woodland soils, 'site index' is here defined as the average height ofdominant or codominant shade-intolerant trees at a reference age ol 50 years. Thus, a soil with site index of 80 will generally have dominant trees 80 feet tall at 50 years of age, other environmental variables notwithstanding.
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Percent of Soils Group Approx acres nmiect ars Appoquinimink-Transquaking-Mispillion complex. 0-l percent slopes 31.0 8.gYo Atsion sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes 10.5 3.0o/o Berryland sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes, rarely flooded 157.1 4s.0% Lakehurst sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes 149.3 42.8o/o Pits, sand and gravel 1.1 0.3o/o Grand'l'otal 349.0 lOOo/o
Table 5.1. Approximate erteil of soils gtoups at Reedy Creek project areu
6. Potential Constraints to Forest-Manasement on the Proiect Area.
6.,4'. Freshwater Wetlands regulated under NJAC 727 A. Based on a review of NJDBP-published wetlands maps, we believe that it is likely that jurisdictional freshwater wetlands occur on the subject property. This notwithstanding, all activities that have been proposed for the forest are normal silvicultural procedures long practiced in the region. Recommendations of this plan have been devised to avoid any change to the flow, circulation and chemical / biological characteristics to any freshwater wetland or State open waters, as well as to minimize any adverse effect upon any aquatic environment.
Persons conducting silviculture or normal harvesting of forest products from agricultural properties, in accordance with an NJDEP-approved Woodland Management Plan are exempted from the requirement of a freshwater wetlands permit, transition area waiver or open water fill permit under il NJAC 7:7-2.8(b.) and (c.) Assuming that freshwater wetlands do occur on the parcel, we have tQ codified the forestry recommendations of this Plan as follows: gu t' Wetland Best Monagement Practices Checklistts :
l.Landowner name was provided previously; 2.Applicants, address & telephone number was provided previously; 3.Landowner and Applicant are the same; 4.Required Mapping - a. Forest types & approximate acreages indicated in the text and in Figure 1.8 (below) b. Land use classification indicated in Figures (below) c. Soil types, gradient and erodability described Forest Soils & Productivity (below); d. Stream location (if any) is indicated in Figure 1.8 (below); e. Filter and buffer strips (if any) are indicated in FigureA.8(below); f. Proposed harvest areas, loading decks, stream crossings and skid trails (if any) are indicated in Figure A.8 and inthe Suggestions for Managemenl (below); 5. Description of forest products to be harvested under this term of this plan is described in detail inthe Suggestions for Managemenl section for each stand description, while the approximate dates of harvest are described inthe Activity Schedule (below); 6. Regeneration and intermediate management practices for any proposed harvest areas are elaborated in the Suggestions for Managemerl section for each unit (above);
1 8. Best Management Practices as described in "NJ Forestry & Wetlands Best Practices Manual", pages VII-VIII, Items I through f Z* ( anA* tb€ I ' u - o 2011. Heartwood Ecotosicat corrilil- ,*^41"k Reedy Creek Forest Stewardship Plan - Page fc Period 2 7. Because the duration of this plan is for fifteen years, the proposed harvest area will be ck 0b"' marked on the ground at an appropriate tirye prior to onset of wetland harvest, or at the requey._ fNJ DEP; 8. Seed trees (if any) will be marked with ribbon and / or paint prior to commencement of wetlands harvests; 9. Individual BMPs incorporated into harvest recommendations are elaborated in the Suggestions .for Management section in each unit (below); 10. Threatened or endangered species in the area (if any) and likely effects of recommended activities thereupon, were elaborated in the Threatened and Endangered Species section (below); 1. In our opinion, neither the reach and flow of water courses nor the extent and integrity of any wetlands, cannot reasonably be expected to be deleteriously altered by any of the recommended routine and historical forest management activities contained in this plan; extent wetlands has been interpreted from GISre wetlands files currently published by NJ Bur. of GIS20, and cross-checked with NJDEP iMAP. These approximate and reported wetlands areas are indicated inthe Figure 1.5 (below). Be advised that determination of wetlands location and extent is a task that lies explicitly outside of the scope of work embodied by this Plan. We have not performed any wetlands verification or delineation on this parcel, published wetlands location approximations have not been field verified to the best of our knowledge, and we are not aware of any current Letter of Interpretation for this property.
6.8. Riparian Zones regulated under NJAC 7:13. The parcel abuts stream channels associated with regulated watercourses. Review of FEMA flood maps indicated that portions ofthe project area, or those immediately abutting, appear to lie inside of the 100 year flood zone (see Figure A.6.)
Proposed forest management practices on the project area are reaso nably considered as normal property maintenance, exc lud ing c lear-cutting, required of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service under NJSA Title 13. All proposed operations in riparian zones would therefore be exempted under NJAC 7:13-7.Z.(b.)l
We recommend, however, that minimum streamside management zones (SMZs) measuring 50' from edge-of-bank be instituted during all forest management operations. We further recommend that SMZs 100' from edge of bank be implemented where possible, consistent with all other management goals and constraints.
6.C. Threatened and Species. Notwithstanding the overriding eco logical management the CCP by the FWS, New Jersey regulations such as NJAC 7:7Aand NJAC 7:13 requlre Woodland Management Plans incorporate information of known occurrences of 'T & E' species where forest management operations are proposed to occur in freshwater wetlands, transition areas or regulated riparian zones. Thus, a Natural Heritage Program database search was requested from the NJDEP Office of Natural Lands Management to ascertain the likely occurrence of State-listed species of concern on the Reedy Creek project area. Additionally, we have reviewed the analogous Iist of Federally-listed E & T species published by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service2r (see belJw) u[vv Ud, i"ljdr o"r 19. Geographical Information System - a type ofmapping a georeferencing computer software. 20. Accessed for this county at: http://www.state.nj.uvdep/giy on August 18, 20t I 2l . Federally Listed and Candidate Species Occurrences in New Jersey by County and Municipality. FWS, December, 2009.
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inventories were undertaken within each stand type and, to the degree possible, within each disjunct compartment utilizing variable radius plot or "point" sampling (see Wenger 1984, p.396.)
At each of approximately l0 sampling loci in each forested compartment, using a 10-factor basal area gauge, we tallied all trees 4- dbh22 and larger included in the sample points. For each of the living sample trees we recorded the species, trunk diameter as dbh, approximate height and relative canopy position. Co-located with the variable radius plot-center we also tallied the tree regeneration (i.e. trees smaller than 4" dbh) contained within a l/100 acre fixed radius plot. At each plot location we also noted dominant vine and shrub species, invasive plants, significant pests or pathogens and any signs of critical wildlife habitat.
Field data were analyzed with standard methodology (e.g. Avery & Burkhart,2002; USFS, 1980) in order to derive estimates of stand size and age structure, biomass distribution, stand density and groMh rates. Based upon these primary derivations we were then able to infer the likely successional trajectory of the stand types, as well as to evaluate the likely behavior and significance of a severe wildland fire within the stands.
A substantial goal of FWS in contracting this Plan was to develop an assessment of likely wildfre behavior at the site as well as such a fire's resistance to control. Because this project is or is planned to be part of a larger body of work undertaken by Forsythe and FWS, the agency has asked that this _ Lnc fuels assessment incorporate a previously utilized Forest Service standard for such assessments and {ynl"'' fuels modeling. Thereiore, as part of oui analysis we used our observations and estimates to assess ) Wo the wildland fre potentialof the stands using the standard surface-fuel models published by icott &Ap".W Burgan (2005.) Because of our experience in the vicinity, we also chose to examine these data _ V!' jersey "-2. relative to wildland fuels data promulgated by the New F;;.;tFi;" il;i;;"1r." u.i"*.1 iffy[* 8. The Forest Characteristics. Fuels Attributes. Health and Productivitv. The topography of - \u-;-5.''<\ - tt n."Ay Ct""t fo."siJ and woocllarxls is approximately flat, brt t*. rltght to the northeast," south and west. There are many existing access trails or paths" throughout,"rientation especially at the interfaces with the road and with private yards. Considering the abundance of particular species and the goals of FWS, we believe that the forest is most appropriately managed as six (6) major stand types, further divided into fifteen (15) management compartments. The stand types, as wellas certain recommendations for their management, are elaborated as follows:
8.1 Stand Type HWPP-il - Hardwood-pitch pine lowland forest. [Approximately 153.1 acres in two (2) disuete compartments labeled 48 and 4C.J$ee Figure A.8)
22. Dbh. the apparent diameter ofa tree trunk measured at 4.5 feet above the uphill grade. 23. Wildland Fuels Hazard Rating, NJ Forest Fire Service. ATcGIS spatial files available at http.//www.state.nj.uVdep/gis/download.htm
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The HWPP-ll stand type is generally uneven aged and is found in lower topographic positions most readily associated with the Atsion and Berryland soils, local depressions, as well as with hydrologic influence of Reedy Creek tributaries, swales and ditches. Overall, this stand type appears to have originated via natural regeneration from seeds and stump sprouts. Review of aerial imagery from the 1930s shows that much of this area was forested with apparently smaller and more disjunct trees. There are also signs that in the HWPP-ll stand type, forest cover in the 1930s was more open and disjunct in character and disappearance would be consistent with historic timber harvesting, wildland fire, land clearing for pasture use and so on.
Considering the entire Reedy Creek project area, it is our opinion that most of the oldest and largest trees tend to be found in this stand type. Dominant and co-dominant trees comprise most of the stand type, although there still exists a substantial three-dimensional mosaic composed of patches of mature timber interrupted by canopy gaps - filled with either smaller trees or shrubs species - often associated with Pine Barrens cover types.
Individual trees in the dominant and co-dominant crown classes comprise the majority of the entire tree population. Species in these crown classes commonly include red maple (Acer rubrum), pitch pine (Pinus rigida), shortleaf pine (P. echinata), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), black and white oaks (Quercus velutino & Q. alba, respectively) and sassafras (Sassafras albidum.) At lesser frequency large, codominant sweetgum (Liquidambar styracilua), eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), and American holly (Ilex opaca), southern red oak (Q. falcata), chestnut oak (Q. montana) and eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) are encountered. The larger and older trees, therefore, that comprise this stand type mostly are species intolerant of shading and are unlikely to replace themselves under their own canopies - with the exception of red maple and, to a lesser degree, blackgum. These larger trees tend to range between 14" and24"dbh and between 60' and 80' in height. Because of historically opened condition of the stand, many of the trees are branched fairly low, and height to the first branch is often less than 40 feet. Dominant trees appear average about 60-90 years of age and were generally represented by shade intolerant species, pitch and shortleaf pines, as well as certain large oaks in sizes discussed above.
Subtending these larger trees, the intermediate and suppressed canopy classes are generally comprised of the same species but with a greater relative abundance of shade-tolerant holly, blackgum and red maple. There are occasional grey birch (Betula populifolra), shadbush (Amelanchier canadensrs), blackjack oak (Q. marilandica), and ailanthus (Ailanthus altissima). Due to the high water table in the vicinity, the preponderance of these species continues even in areas where more sunlight is striking the ground, to the relative exclusion of the more desirable, historically typical shade intolerant species described above. The shrub and vine understory layer characterizes this stand and becomes impenetrable in certain locations. Generally speaking the shrub layer ranges between 1 foot and 8 feet in height, and in the majority of the stand type is laced into the lower branches of trees by extensive accumulations of vines, fallen branches and pine needles. This has created locations where the forest cover is tight and contiguous in three dimensions and that could allow for rapid spread of wildfire not only horizontally but up into the crowns of trees under certain dry conditions (see below). In drier and more exposed portions there occurs winged sumac (Rhus copallinum), bear oak(Q. ilicifolia), poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), dangleberries (Gaylussacia spp.) and bayberry (Morella pensylvanica). In the moister areas that charactertze the unit, species include greenbrier (Smilax spp.), sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), sheep laurel (K. angustifolia), alder (Alnus serrulata), staggerbush (Lyonia spp.), fetterbush (Leucothoe
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racemosa), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum),partridge berry (Mitchella repens), and lowbush blueberries (e.9. V. pallidum.) Regeneration is generally dense across the site, in spite of locally heavy shading of the surface layers and canopy overlap and intense grazingpresqqg from deer. We estimated that an average acre of the stand type contains between 5,00 and 100Q trees that are sapling and smaller in size. As discussed 'rf'W"e above, however, the preponderilrrce oTthii regeneration is composed of shade tolerant species especially of red maple, blackgum, American holly, with a lesser representation of sweetgum and other hardwoods. Young regeneration of shade intolerant species such as pitch pine and shortleaf pine, as well as most oak species, is restricted to pockets of disturbance such as parallel to roads and in gaps created through natural processes. Forest health and productivity. This stand type appears to be generally "healthy", inasmuch as it is developing along a course of plant succession that is typical for the area. As discussed, the stand type is overall and mid-successional state and the shade intolerant species that characterize the overstory will be supplanted by more shade tolerant species in the absence of disturbance. Additionally, the vegetation is challenged by historic gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) infestation in the area. Gypsy moth infestations reportedly were the subject of controlefforts undertaken by Brick Township in2007 and 2008.
Similarly, certain black oaks display a high density of oak-gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea), funher stressing oaks on the parcel. Many of the black oaks / scarlet oaks have basal and trunk swellings likely correlated with decay of the interiors by fungi such as Grifolafrondosa, Laetiporus sulphureus, and Gonodermo spp. Infection with wood decay fungi is often a secondary result of primary stressors such as the insect infestations discussed above. Insect infestations, however, are not the only form of primary stress that can induce mortality through fungal infections: we have observed that the regional summer droughts of 2008 and 2010 have been a primary factor in exacerbating mortality in the central and southern New Jersey area. In addition, excessive crowding and stand density are also observed to contribute to physiological stress and enhanced mortality of tree species in Pine Barrens cover types, and this is especially true where tree species at issue are intolerant of shading. For example, southern pine beetle (Denroctonus frontalis) has been causing severe tree mortality - and concomitant wildland fire hazards - in Pine Barrens stand types in the southern parts of the state. As is true of gall wasps
infesting oaks, the southern beetle preferent ia I ly attacks p i ne trees stre ssedffEB3lV- S
Thus, based upon the insect & pathogen situation, soils information and historic prevalence of wildland fires, disturbance via insect outbreak and/or wildland fire seem most likely to alter future stand succession productivity in some unforeseen way in the coming decades. We expect that the oaks in the woodland (especially the black oaks) will be challenged by bacterial leaf scorch over the term of this plan. Growth rates2a of dominant pitch pines, ranging between 80 and 100 years of age, averaged l.s%o - 2.0%. Timber & biomass attributes. Considering the variegated size distribution and patchy density of this stand type, we estimate that it is marginally well stocked at 80%o-85Yo of theoretical optimum for net per-acre rate of growth. The stand density as basal area was calculated as 100-1 15 ft21 acre, accounted for by an average of 180-200 trees-per-acrc (see Table 8.1). While scattered larger trees might provide approximately 1500-2300 board feet of lower-quality sawtimber, the volume recoverable in the stand is probably not economically viable as a sawtimber harvest. Conversely, a fuelwood or whole-tree chip harvest could occur as we estimate that Stand 1 contains an average of
24. Schneider's Growth Rate formula is used for all statements of productivity L 61r*,1'A O 2011. Heartwood Ecological Consulting Reedy Creek Forest Stewardship Plan - Page 14 of 49 Revised July 29,2011 Period 2011-2025
28-33 cords of salable biomass, per acre. Assuming a conservative growth rate of 1.5%, in the absence of a catastrophic loss to fre or pests the HWPP-ll stand type can reasonably be expected to accrete wood fiber at the rate of % - 1 cord/acre per year on a sustainable basis, assuming present stocking levels.
Summarv Stand Table & Diameter Class Distribution Diam. Cla3r ffiswffifrWwwwreeTres"p-w ffiffi*flmImm@ Mean tees pr acr{ O 33 48 33 30 18.7 13.3 4.0 5.t 1.1 0.6 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 p", 0.6 Mean ccds "".{ o.o 2.1 3.2 5.0 5.4 6.'l 2.8 5.0 't.1 0.9 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 BF vdms per 8cri 474 401 877 272 't 8:t 0 't17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Table 8.1 Stqnd & stocking tablefor sland lype Hardwood-pitch pine lowlund (compartments 48 und 4C aggregated)
Ecological attributes and plant community succession. Because ofthe seasonally high water table, relatively poor agricultural nature of the soils and difficulty in accessing the timber, we believe that the HWPP-ll stand type has had the longest continuous forest coverage of the entire Reedy Creek project area. As discussed, this is corroborated by 1930s aerial imagery. As such, while the majority of trees in the dominant and codominant canopy classes are of shade intolerant species that likely had their genesis in an open field or disturbance from wildland hre or timber harvest, there are a substantial number of relatively shade tolerant trees in these upper strata. From this we infer that ^\, the entire stand is at a mid-successional stage of plant community development. The intentional r . t.,{S- exclusion of fire as a source of exogenous disturbance has accelerated the rate with which relatively Vr,* ,r/T r7 shade tolerant (albeit fire susceptible) species have come to dominate the tree population here. This notwithstanding, the hydric soils and near-surface hydrology that underlie this stand type have 134h!:; .VI' " 'act cqf ' given rise to a patchy, mosaic of tree distributions as discussed above. In places, the tree population
these settings the stand type is unlikely to progress through to a textbook, homogenous stand of shade tolerant species. Instead, we believe it likely that micro-disturbances such as tree fall, flooding, drought, and canopy gaps induced by pathogens and insect infestation are likely to maintain some level of shade intolerant species absent disturbance from wildland fire.
Because of the nature of the soils that underlie this stand type, we believe that it is unlikely that a ,?ffi source of ignition there is likely to be the source of the regional wildland fire because the duft herbaceous and shrub layers are generally too moist for too long to carry and transfer heat and flame. These same conditions have obviously led to the accumulation of substantial amounts of biomass in both the tree and shrub strata. Thus, the conditions that augur against a high probability of wildland fire ignition have also caused biomass and fuels to accumulate to such a level that, were such a fire to begin in a dry year, it is likely to result in a catastrophic stand replacement. Depending upon the intensity of such a fre, regeneration of the site is likely to be heavily biased by a preponderance of shortleaf and pitch pines.
Fuel models and evaluation of wildfire hazards. As described above, the HWPP-ll stand type, as well as most of the Reedy Creek project area, is dominated by a dense timber overstory subtended by smaller stature trees and a dense-to-patchy shrub layer. Canopy cover is generally contiguous in three dimensions although gaps do occur as described. Therefore, in the event of the surface fire - i.e. a fire that has yet to ascend into the crowns of the trees - it is likely that the shrub/vine/smaller tree strata are likely to be the primary carrier fuels before such a fire 'ocrowns" into the upper tree strata in a major conflagration. Because of this, and the relative absence of grasses but with a preponderance of shrub species, we believe that the HWPP-ll stand type is most appropriately interpreted using the "timber-understory-2" or "TU2" fuels model described in Scott and Burgan. ,,") Y
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In the event of a surface fre in aTU2 plant community, the rate of spread is predicted to be moderate while the flame length is predicted to be low, assuming certain standard conditions2s. Thus, based upon this we estimate that the surface fuels in this stand type are likely to have a flame length of approximately 4 feet, and will have an average rate of spread of approximately 18 chains (or about 1200 feet) per hour. Stated plainly, this interpretation of the models is, in our professional opinion, a 1, estimation of the likely behavior of the surface fuels in the event of an ignitio this stand type. Additionally, the Scott & Burgan models do not direct acco and hydrology except indirectly via dependency of the models upon fuels moisture content. It is our funher professionalopinion, therefore, that the rapidly changing and drought prone nature of some of the soils upon which the stand type occurs may not be adequately reflected in the relatively benign Fuels Hazard Adjective Class rating. t?
For example, when we examined the New Jersey Forest Fire Service asse wildland fuels hazard classes, we found that the stand type encompasses portions that range 'low'and 'extremely hazardous' fuels in the opinion of NJFFS. Part of the discrepancy between NJFSS and Scott & Burgan lies in an apples to oranges comparison: NJFFS assigned their hazard class ratings based upon the fires attribute of the totality of a stand, and didn't focus upon or differentiate the surface fuels that are the subject of Scott & Burgan.
8.2 Stand Type PP/HW-ll - Pitch-pine hardwood lowland forest. [Approximately I l5 acres in four (1) discrete compartments labeled 1, 28, 3C and 4AJ This pine-dominated stand type is a functional mirror of the previous. Generally associated with areas that appear to have been cleared for agriculture or heavily cut over in the 1930s, the PP/HW-ll stand type occurs both on upland Lakehurst, as well as low-land Berryland and Atsion soils. The dominant and codominant crown classes are comprised of all the same species described for the previous stand type, but with a greater relative abundance of pitch pine and shortleaf pine. Here, portions of the stand type approximate a more even aged condition-that is dominant trees appear to be within 20o/o or 30% of the same age. As was true for the hardwood-pitch pine lowlands, the oldest trees here are approximate 70 to 80 years old, and no cored tree exceeded 86 years in total age. These observations are consistent with the 1930s aerials. The tree most common in the dominant and codominant canopy position is pitch pine, which alone comprised more than 60Yo of all species tallied in sampling. In concert with shortleaf pine, eastern redcedar and widely scattered Atlantic white-cedar, conifers accounted for nearly 70o/o of all trees sampled. The remainder of trees is dominated by hardwoods such as white oak, black oak, red maple, blackgum, poplar, sweetgum and sassafras. Dominant and codominant individuals generally range between 16" and28" dbh, and between 60' and 80'* in height. As was true of the previous stand type, these taller trees are shadowing smaller, younger trees generally comprised of the same species but with a much lesser representation of the shade intolerant @s.EvenontheLakehurstandAtsionsandsoils,thelargepinesthathave characterized the area for the past 70 years are not being re-recruited but instead are being replaced by shade intolerant to marginally shade intolerant species such as red maple, blackgum, American holly and others as described above. Throughout the stand are found widely scattered mulberry (Morus spp.), ailanthus, and a few river birches (Betula nigra) in the moister transitions. These
25. Fuels behavior for all models under Scott in Burgan's comparisons assumed that the dead fuel moisture content is low, that the live fuels are 2/3'd cured, that there is a 5 mph mid-flame wind speed, and that the fire is occurring on zero slope topography.
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suppressed intermediate trees generally range between 8" and 12" dbh, and between 30 and 50 feet in height.
The shrub and vine strata are somewhat more variable than described for the hardwood-pitch pine lowlands, and in this stand type is represented by species with more upland affinities, as well as those common to wetlands. For example, there is a greater preponderance of Gaylussacia frondosa ,ffN and G. baccata in areas that are slightiy more open,ls well as a more common occurrence of bayberry, poison ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, occasional wisteria (lilisterio chinensis) and Virginia creeper. The density and contiguity of the shrub layer ranges between open and easily passable and nearly impenetrable. In many places the shrub layer is continuous with lower branches of understory trees.
Regeneration is as described for the previous stand, including the relative absence of the shade intolerant pines that are dominating the present overstory. Regeneration density ranged pn average between 750 and 1500 sapling and smaller sized trees per acre. As was true of the previous unit, 6:-- deer pressurq.upon the regeneration is severe and is reasonably likely to alter the population ratios in lletf'a { -W;rtrthose species that deer find less palatable. Forest health and productivity. The 'health' of the stand type is generally good, and is generally as described for the hardwood-pitch pine lowlands (above). The same challenges to this species exist in this stand, but because of the present abundance of pitch and shortleaf pines, the relative effect of deciduous-tree pests and pathogens will be less deleterious. Conversely, the relatively high and crowding of the pitch and shortleaf pines is highly likely to induce distress and that was discussed above as a potential progenitor of insect and pathogen attack, Also ibed previously, it appears that the greatest threat to the maintenance of the stand is the absence of disturbance creating opportunities for regeneration in the establishment of shade intolerant species that characterize the overstory today. The growth rate of dominant and super dominant pitch pines was analogous to that described previously, and did not exceed 1.9% in this stand type for trees in excess of 18" dbh. Timber & biomass attributes. The stand density (basal area) calculated for different compartments within this stand type is ranging between lO5 ftzlacre and approximately 125 ft21 acre, accounted for in' by between 200-250 trees-per-acrc (see Table 8.2.) Therefore, overall, we interpret that stand type is ,d ['f -- over-stocked at betwee n 90Yo-l 00%o , notwithstanding the negative ramifications of excessively t6)ii;7 as described above. From this stand type we believe that the larger trees might provide approximately 2500-3500 board feet of lower-quality sawtimber, especially from larger l!''"lY pines and low-quality hardwoods. We further estimate that a biomass or whole-tree chip harvest could yield an average of 30-35 cords (45-50 tons) per acre. Assuming a conservative growth rate of 1.5Yo, in the absence of a catastrophic loss to fire or pests the pitch pine-hardwood lowland stand type can reasonably be expected to accrete wood fiber at the rate of approximately Yz-l cord/acre per year on a sustainable basis, assuming present stocking levels.
Strmmary Stand Table &Diameter Class Distribution Diam. Clasl ffirearcxwffi[xffitrl$itillllififfiffiffi sgffiffiE Hqffirsffi Meantes p"r""rI O 117 37 27 26 19.5 15.5 1.1 2.0 0.4 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
i4€an ccds p". ac.{ O.O 2.0 1.9 2.6 4.3 5.6 7.1 3.1 2.O 0.5 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 BF volme Fr acrr 1239 414 386 1(l0 3t2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Table 8.2a Stand & stocking tablefor sland type Pitch pine/hardwood lowland (compartment I)
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strmmary Stand Table &Diamets Class Distribution [)iam, Cla3! re rere ffire rcffi ffi ffi {twffi}frffi ffi ffi ffi$www m ffimffi Mffi Mean trces p"r O 59 37 32 30 13.0 15.5 8.2 2.0 1.2 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ""r{ p". Jrlean ctrds "".{ 0.0 1.0 1.9 3.1 5.0 3.E 7.1 5.7 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 BF volme por acr( 1173 E25 386 29s 2U 0 128 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Table 8.2b. Stand & stocking tablefor stand type Pitch pine/hardwood lowland (compartments 28 & 3C, aggregoled)
Summary Stand Table & Diameter Class Distribution Eliam, Oasl Wffiiffiffi ffiIw}UwwffiffiilffiFffiffiffiffiffiWT"@WwryEry MeantB6 p"r""r{ O 88 45 38 32 13.0 16.3 10-2 1.1 0.8 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Meancqds p..acr{ O.O 1.5 2.3 3.7 5.3 3.8 7.5 7.O 4.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
BF volume per acrr '1108 1015 772 2U 101 103 0 131 0 0 0 0 0 0 Table 8.2c. Stand & stocking toblefor stand type Pikh pindhardwood lowland (compartment 4A)
Ecological attributes and plant community succession. The principles and trends described for the previous stand type hold here as well. Much of the dominant and codominant canopy strata is comprised of shade intolerant pines that range between 60 and 90 years old, interspersed with scattered shade intolerant oaks and certain other hardwoods. Within this contiguous overstory are stands of shade tolerant (albeit more-fire susceptible) broadleaved species such as American holly, red maple, blackgum, and various hardwoods. In some places declining yet suppressed eastern redcedars are still living. While portions of the stand occur on the more drought-prone, less hydric Lakehurst soils, other portions of the stand type occur over the more hydric Atsion and Berryland soils. It is on these more moist substrates that the conversion to shade tolerant hardwoods appears to be proceeding at a faster rate. Because portions of the stand type do occur on drier soils, there is a concomitantly higher probability of ignition simply due to the more rapid drying of surface fuels.
The roles of crowding and shading in the successional trend within this stand type are as described above. We observed that most of the stand type has achieved 100% or more crown closure, but in places this crown closure has been attenuated somewhat by loss of oaks to insects and pathogens. We believe that the density of pitch pine is too great for the species to continue to dominate the stand structure. Rather we believe it likely that decreased vigor associated with shading and crowding is likely to accelerate the replacement of dominant pitch pine in this stand type well in advance of the potential longevity of the species. This is especially so if stand-modifying or stand-replacing wildland fire is excluded from the plant community dynamic here. Fuel models and evaluation of wildfire hazards. As was true of the previous stand type, the pitch pine/hardwood lowland stand type is also charactertzed by a generally b layer that ranges between l' and 6' deep. Due to the competition for sunlight from overstory, the density of the shrub and vine strata are not quite as great as previous stand type. This notwithstanding it is shrubs and vines - often interlacing with saplings and lower branches of trees - that will comprise the primary surface fuel under ignition of a wildland fire. As such, we believe that in the hierarchy of Scott and Burgan the fuel model most likely to account for existing conditions is 'timber-understory-two' or TU2 model as described above (see Table 10.1.) As was also true of the previous stand type, the PP/HW-ll compartments on the Reedy Creek project area have been described by the NJFFS as containing'low-hazard' to 'extremely-hazardous' crown fuel types.
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8.3 Stand Type PPSTO-uI: Pitch-pine / shrub- and tree oak - upland. [Approximately 6 aues in one (l) discrete compartment labeled jBJ
This single, rectangular unit almost certainly derives from a released field or pasture that is visible is an early successional block in the 1930s aerial photographs. As was true of the previous unit, this single compartment represents an even aged and relatively undisturbed forest overwhelmingly dominated by pitch pines approximately 80 years of age. Apart from these pitch pines are also scattered shortleaf pine, as well as a fair number of white oak, black oak, scarlet oak (Q. coccinea), chestnut oak, southern red oak, blackgum, sassafras, sweetgum, black cherry and occasionalpoplars. Trees in these upper crown classes generally range between 14" and24" dbh, and between 55 and 75
higher growth rate observed here may be a function of the slightly drier soils, as well as a slightly less intense levelof crowding at this stage of ecological succession.
Timber & biomass attributes. Stand basal area ranged between 95-105 ft21 acre and was accounted for by between 150-175 trees-per-acre (see Table 8.3.) Therefore, overall, we interpret that stand lso between 80-85% of optimum stocking for timber growth. Thus, the stand type approximately 1500-2500 board feet of lower-quality sawtimber, especially from larger pines, while a biomass or whole-tree chip harvest could yield an average of 25-30 cords (35- 45 tons) per acre. Assuming a conservative groMh rute of 2.0Yo, this stand type can reasonably be expected to accrete wood fiber at about Yz cordlacre per year, assuming present stocking levels and growth rates.
Summa ry Stand Table & Diameter Class Distribution Diam. Clasl ffiffi ffi ffiffilltfl *96 ry.r,qil w ffi]ffie$[i|{re ffiIffi Mean teee per acr{ O 12 3tl 5t 30 14.5 't 6.3 6.3 2.1 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Mean cdd3 p, O.O 0.2 1.7 4.9 5.0 4.2 7.5 1.4 2.1 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0_0 "".{ 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 BF volme per acrr 1250 634 402 83 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Table 8.3. Stand & stocking tablefor stand type Pitch pine/shrub & tree oak upland (compartment 38)
Ecological attributes and plant communiQr succession. As described for Stand type PPiHW-ll.
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Fuel models and evaluation of wildfire hazards. While the biomass, height and fuels depth represented by the shrub layer in this small compartment are not as great as in the analogous stratum in the previous stand types, we believe that the "timber understory 2" lTU2 fuel model most appropriately represents the surface fuels that would contribute to spread of a wildfire in this unit. As discussed, the understory and shrub layer reaches greater biomass, height and extent in the moister portions of the woodlot and would represent a greater probability of crowning into the relatively tight and contiguous pine canopies of the dominant trees. The NJFFS indicates that this oextremely single compartment stand type is comprised of hazardous' crown fuels based upon their ranking system.
8.4 Stand Type OP-ul: Oak-pine - upland. [Approximately 36 aues in two (2) disuete compartment labeled 2A and 3A.J These two disjunct compartments occur entirely on relatively droughty Lakehurst soils in the north and west of the project area. The plant community structure in the two separate compartments differs in terms of size and age, but in both dominant and codominant trees are most often represented by white oak, black oak, scarlet oak, chestnut oak, pitch pine shortleaf pine, sassafras, and black cherry, along with scattered blackgum and red maple. Also common to both compartments of this stand type is a fairly recent decline in mortality of numerous individual oaks due to the insect, pathogen and climatic conditions cited for loss of oaks and other stand types. That is, there is ample evidence of lingering affects of gypsy moth outbreak, opportunistic infestation by \ r _ gall wasps, and general decline that appears to have been enhanced by drought. Also as des,qlbed lilrtut" ,-,\.for oaks and other stand types, many declining oaks show signs of infestation by priniary and t secondary wood decay fungi as described above. I i ilq ti''' I Because of the spoffed crown conditions and crown closures associated with sporadic loss of dominant oaks, there has recently been an uptick in the establishment or growth rates of intermediate and suppressed trees, as well as what appears to be increasing rates of establishment of natural regeneration. Generally speaking in this stand the intermediate and suppressed crown classes are comprised of the same species found in the overstory, albeit with a greater component of red maple, sassafras and black cherry. In compartment2A (closest to Preston Street) dominant and codominant trees are fairly large, and appear to range between 12" and 26" dbh, and between 65 and 80 feet in height. Generally uneven aged, this compartment is open in character either because of the endemic spacing or, more likely, due to the accelerated mortality as described above. Review of aerial imagery shows that this compartment was partially wooded back in the 1930s, while the area closer to Preston Street was used as an agricultural field. Co-mingling with the large oaks here are a few very large pitch pine and shortleaf pine that are functionally "legacy trees26", and these large shade intolerant individuals range between I 8 and 26" dbh. It appears that the affenuation of competition via oak mortality has increased the light resources available to these trees, and many of them appear to be in good condition. Intermediate and suppressed trees generally range between 8" and 12" dbh and to 50' in height. Vc 4(\ti in this are heavily dominated by species such as ' .jr:l.t^2t - leberries (Gaylussacia lowbush blueberries, Japanese honeysuckle, bayberry, creeper and others. There is scattered Greenbrier especially in the /r!",F .,
26. Legacy tree: A tree that has achieved advanced size and age, and which is significantly larger and older than the average trees in a stand. These are \'{,i;!t' treesthathaveoltensurviveddisturbancessuchastimberharvest,fire,floodingandpestoutbreaks. Alsocommonlyreferredtoas"wolftrees".
@ 2011. Heartwood Ecological Consulting Reedy Creek Forest Stewardship Plan - Revised July 29,20LL moister perimeter of the unit, and overall shrub layer ranges betweenl' and 4' in heig low vine load.
Regeneration is good and we estimate that there are greater than 1000 individuals, sa younger, on average acre here.
Compartment 3,A, conversely, is nominally even aged in age-distribution, and abuts Adamston Road to the north. The compartment seems to have been most recently maintained as an open pasture or perhaps as a more recent clear-cut. The dominant and codominant trees in this rectangular compartment are generally much smaller-ranging between 10" and 16" dbh, while a few legacy individuals that may have represented shade trees in the pasture are slightly larger. Considered overall, chestnut oak, black oak, scarlet oak and white oaks comprise the overwhelming majority of individuals in this compartment. Asso le, blackgum, black cherry, aspen, and a very chestnut2T (Castoneo from the scattered super dominant, legacy trees, on average codominant oaks are between 40 and 60 years old. The majority of the oaks growing here possess multiple stems, and this conformation is consistent with much of the tree population being the result of trunk sprouts emerging from cleared land or land that was severely burned. Because of the small size, open character and young age of the forest there is no obvious intermediate and suppressed crown classes apart from more, smaller oaks.
The shrub layer in compartment 34. is dominated by low growing huckleberries and blueberries, and the shrub layer generally does not exceed two feet in height, but is spatially continuous across the
is slightly smaller at approximately 145-165 trees-per-acr.e (see Table 8.1a), while stem count in the smaller trees of compartment 3A was approximately 170-190 trees-per-acre (see Table 5.{b.). Overall, we interpret that stand type (aggregated) is under-stocked at betwe en 7 0-7 5oh of optimum stocking for timber growth. Compartment 2,{ could 2000-2500 board feet of lower-quality sawtimber, or an average of 25-30 cords (35-45 tons) per acre of biomass. The smaller trees in Compartment 3,{ might yield 20-25 cords (30-35 tons) per acre of
27. Note this American chestnut tree measured more than l2" dbh and exceeds 40 feet in height. It is infected with chestnut blight fungus, but uponthemorpholoryofthecankersitislikelythatthefungusitselfmaybehypovirulent,orthatthetreemightberesistant. Thistreeis reproductive aged, and should be monitored as an especially important ecological and genetic resource.
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biomass. Assuming a conservative growth rate of 1.5o , this stand type can reasonably be expected to accrete wood fiber at aboutYz cord/acre per year, at present stocking levels.
Summary Stand Table & Diameter Class Distribution Diam. Clas ffi re ffi w ffiwKffi ffifiHsffi ffiifrffi ffiffi ffiffi ffi ffi Mean tE6 r, O 22 /t5 38 21 13.0 6.5 9.5 3.6 1.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ""r{ Mean cqds p"r r"rd O.O 0./t 2.3 3.7 3.5 3.8 3.0 6.6 3.5 2-O 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 BF volme per !c( 522 952 676 399 2U 0 0 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 Table 8.1u Stand & stocking tablefor stand type Oak-pine - (compartment 2A)
Su mma ry Sta nd Tab le & Oiameter Class Distri bution fram. Oa5! w ffi{i}eW}Wffi reffi ffi ffitffi ffi ffi ffiH ffi ffi ffirffi ffi f,firy MaantG$ p".""r{ O 37 37 36 33 't5.2 15.5 3.2 0.5 0.0 0,0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Mean qtrds p".""r{ o.o 0.6 1.9 3.5 5.5 1.1 7.1 2.2 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 BF volme Fr acrl 't173 317 97 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Table 8.4b. Stand & stocking tablefor stand type Oak-pine - (compartment 3A)
Ecological attributes and plant community succession. Because this stand type occurs on the most drought prone Lakehurst soils, and because ofthe relative absence of shading conifers in the overstory, plant succession and disturbance processes of this oak pine stand type are atypical of the Reedy Creek project area. More prone to dramatic oscillations in the level of sunlight striking the shrub layer, the deciduous trees that dominate the unit themselves have been disturbed due to insect and pathogen outbreaks as described above for the other stand types. This is reasonably likely to result in a different sort of plant community development than in the surrounding, mesic-soil stand types. For example, we believe it is reasonably likely that sequential or cyclical outbreaks of gypsy moth will continue to perturb the stand structure by accelerating turnover of the oaks. Because the unit has not been burned, and there is a fairly dense and contiguous shrub layer, it becomes unlikely for pitch and shortleaf pines to regenerate here. This is almost certain to result in a wide variety of broadleaved trees capturing the unit and, over time, we predict that in the absence of prescribed-or wildland-fire, shade tolerant species such as holly and blackgum will come to populate these stands at the moist periphery, while an mixture of oaks and other hardwoods are likely to remain in flux throughout the drier portions of the stand type. In the absence of fire, or mechanical disturbance, we do not believe that native pines will establish in these units in significant numbers, regardless of the fact that the site is ideal for these - the duff and low shrub layers are generally impenetrable to such fragile seedlings.
Fuel models and evaluation of wildfire hazards. Once again, it is our professional opinion that the biomass, height and fuels depth represented by the shrub layer in this stand type is most reasonably approximated with the "timber understory 2" lTU2 fuel model assigned to all of the forested units to this point. Once again, the surface fuels that would contribute to spread of a wildfire in this unit occur in the understory and shrub layer. While the architecture of the surface fuels were generally low and open, there are patches where these surface fuels reach into the lower canopy strata. The NJFFS indicates that this stand type contains relatively nonhazardous as well as extremely hazardous fuels based upon their ranking system. (See Figure A.7)
8.5 Stand Type HW-EW: Hardwood woodland-emergent wetland. [Approximately 35 acres in four (4) discrete compartments labeled 4D, 48, 4G and 5.J This disjunct stand type occurs generally in the lowest, wettest and most tidally influenced portions of the entire project area, and occurs exclusively upon wetlands soils. The tree cover here is
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generally sparse in three dimensions, and the mean distance between individualtrees is generally quite large. Distribution of dominant and codominant trees is clumped, and areas of open- architecture woodland are separated by clearings in which common reeds (Phragmites spp.) and other wetland (woody and non-woody) perennial plants are found. Tree species encountered include red maple, serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), blackgum, eastern redcedar, sweetgum, eastern cottonwood, sassafras, black cherry and occasional oaks, American elm (Ulmus americana), willow and American holly. Very sporadically Atlantic white-cedars are found away from brackish water here.
Dominant and codominant trees generally do not exceed 40 to 45 feet in height over most of this unit, but certain super dominant trees are found that range to 24 inch dbh and 75 feet in height. Crown closure is only partial and we estimate that approximately 50% of the area in this stand type is composed of shrub, vines and emergent wetland species. In areas, dense thickets comprised of poison ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, Asiatic bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), with sporadic pussy willow (5. babylonica), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), marsh elder (Ivafrutescens), groundsel (Baccharis halimifolia) and others occur. The moister margins of these units grade into low-growing wetland / salt marsh vegetation that characterizes the Barnegat Bay tidal zone.
Forest health and productivity. The trees and woody shrubs in much of the HW-EW stand type appear to be slow growing, and this is almost certainly due to soil and hydrologic factors such as saturation, flooding and salinity. The open areas associated with stand edges and interface with areas of shrub- and emergent wetlands create a tremendous amount of edge for migrants, and because of this we believe that these small units are structurally important habitat. In this regard the , g.owth rates of the dominant hardwoods and redcedars (approximately L5-1.8%) is not the best \L \ metric of stand 'health' here: The rate by which the unit may lose or increase the edge attributes is. , ,y. -u0 There is an excessive presence of vines here. While many of these provide good food resources for /\tJ ,\*V., migrants, some of them (such as non-native, invasive species Asiatic bittersweet and Japanese U,1g(.$' honeysuckle) are not desirable ecosystem components. t . ,A in Timber & biomass attributes. Stand basal area was calculated ranged between 50-60 ft21 acre and [,V rru' was accounted for by between 120-150 trees-per-acre (see Table 8.5.) Therefore, overall, we " (' interpret that stand type is understocked for timber production at 5}Yoor less of optimum. Thus, the stand type might provide approximately 500-1000 board feet of lower-quality sawtimber, while a biomass harvest could yield an average of 1 2- l5 cords, per acre. Assuming a conservative growth rate of 2.0Yo, this stand type can reasonably be expected to accrete wood fiber at about l/3 cord-per- acre per year, assuming present stocking levels and growth rates.
Summary $and Table & Diameter Class Distribution Dhm Cb{ ffiwsffiffifi iiban ter pracr{ 0 lo 48 33 8 4.9 4.4 0.6 2.3 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
t €ancdds pracr{ O.O o.7 2.1 3.2 '1.1 1.1 2.0 0.t[ 2.3 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
BF rclum Fracft 237 58 /|39 272 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Table 8.5. Stand & stocking tablefor stand type Hll/-EW (compartments 4D, 1E, rc A. 5 )
Fuel models and evaluation of wildfire hazards. Unlike the previous stand types, we believe that the behavior of surface fuels in the event of wildland fire in the Hardwood - emergent wetland stand type is best approximated by the 'timber-understory3' or TU3 fuel model (Scott & Burgan, 2003.) Because of the relatively wide spacing of individual trees, and the spacing of trees by relatively large areas that are dominated by shrubs, grasses and or persistent perennials, we believe that the carrier fuels in the event of an ignition would be slightly more 'flashy' thflis true olsurface fuels on the \l\ \J^ @ 2011. Heartwood Ecological Consulting 0t\" ,\ Reedy Creek Forest Stewardship Plan - Page 23 of 49 Revised July 29,20LL Period 2011-2025 project area. As discussed, both inside of an adjacent to this stand type, there are areas where contiguous latter fuels between the shrub and vine layer into the lower canopies of the trees are present.
In the event of a surface fre in a TU3 plant community, the rate of spread is predicted to be moderate while the flame length is predicted to be low, assuming certain standard conditions. Thus, based upon this we estimate that the surface fuels in this stand type are likely to have a flame length of approximately 7-8 feet, and will have an average rate of spread of approximately 25 chains (or about 1600 feet) per hour. NJFFS indicates that low- and highly-hazardous crown fuels occur in this stand type.
8.6 Stand Type Riparian: Mixed riparian woodland. [Approximately 3.2 acres, disjunct.J This stand type is comprised of iated with a couple of small creeks, and created ditches. In these I are found most white-cedars in the project area, 4^-, and because ofthe topography and hydrology these areas may represent opportunities for Atlantic white-cedar restoration or enhancement. At minimum these areas should be considered as targets for conservation of local white-cedar genome. Co-occurring with these Atlantic white-cedars are a mixture of sweetgum, blackgum, red maple , gray birch, poplars, occasional pines and eastern red cedar. Dominant and codominant trees generally are small in this unit because they have been recently disturbed, with trunk diameters ranging between 6" and 12" dbh and to 80 feet in height. Because these bands of vegetation are narrow there is no understory due to edge effects. We estimate that overall these dense nalrow stands contained between 500 and 800 trees per acre, and are densely overstocked with trees that would form a contiguous ladder of fuels in the event of wildland fire. Vine species such as greenbrier, bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle and poison ivy are common. j'lj Shrub species include those listed for stand type 'HW-pp-ll', as well as occasional multiflora rose. tp Apart from the dense crowding, the stand is progressing in a fashion typical of the type. Yu 9. General Conclusions and Inferences from Forest Assessments. .i.
9.1 Forest Ecosystem Health -
A. Landscape disturbance processes that gave rise to the forests and woodlands Reedy Creek are no longer functional. Wildland fire has been excluded or suppressed, the area longer is home to agricultural fields, and there has been no forest harvesting at Reedy Creek decades. As such, opportunities for primary succession and regeneration of shade into species are \ functionally non-existent. This is especially so where plant species or require soil J { or duffdisturbance. Thus, in orderto meet the stated objectives (see Section interventions will need to be severe and disturbing enough to facilitate ration of shade !t intolerant hardwoods such as white, black, southern red and chestnut B. As discussed, much of the project area is underlain by fairly rich and fairly hydric soils such as x Berryland and Atsion series. While there is a preponderance of pines in many of the stand types, h the presence of these shade intolerant and disturbance-dependent species is an artifact of historic land uses and disturbances. For the reasons discussed above, the pitch and shortleaf pine are generally not replacing themselves in any of the stand types, and almost certainly will become a minority canopy species absent natural disturbance (generally fire) or management intervention. w),, C. The soils on the site are highly amenable to establishment and maintenance of both conifers and many hardwoods, as AS lac fires are Under fire-dominated regimes, pitch and shortleaf pines shrub o would be expected inate, especially considering the seeds sources in the area. Under a fre exclusion , fre susceptible hardwoods such
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/\r{z Reedy Creek Forest Stewardship Plan - Page24 of 49 Revised July 29,2011 Period 2011-2025
as black gum, sweetgum, red maple, sassafras and American holly are highly likely to become a functional climax forest type on most of the Reedy Creek project area. These hardwood species are marginally-to extremely tolerant of shading, and appear to be more efficient users of the abundant soil moisture found at depth than are the pitch and shortleaf pines that dominate the site presently.
D. The senescence of numerous large trees has been discussed, and this is especially evident with certain oaks that have succumbed to the combined effects of drought stress, insects and pathogens. In the moister portions of the woodland, however, the loss of dominant and super dominant pitch pine has begun and is reasonably expected to accelerate over the coming decades. It is our professional opinion that the native pines growing on the moister soils are being outcompeted by the more efficient hardwoods. At the same time density-induced shading is reducing their photosynthetic output, further tipping this balance in favor of competing broadleaves. Thus, substantial volumes of pines are not expected to persist on the project area in the absence of fire or artificial density reductions that favor the conifers.
E. For many of these reasons, oaks may also not represent the dominant canopy species over the coming decades in the absence of fire, mechanical thinning or other management interventions. Notwithstanding the unpredictability of gypsy moth and oak gallwasp outbreaks, we observed that regeneration of oaks is uncommon due to the existing stand densities, browsing pressure from a large deer population and heavy competition for sunlight from the dense and generally continuous canopy strata. The generally dense vine, shrub and herbaceous layers are likely contributors to this lack of acorn germination. F. Additionally, and analogous to the situation described for the overstory pitch and shortleaf pines, on the moister Appoquinimick, Atsion and Berryland soils, many of the upland oak species (i.e. black, chestnut, scarlet and southern red) are unlikely to be effective competitors for site resources in the face of rapid groMh often achieved by blackgum, sweetgum and red maple. It is our professional opinion that most oak species will achieve more efficient and rapid growth then these lowland hardwoods only on the more droughty Lakehurst series, or and locally drier micro sites, without the aid of mechanical intervention or thinning. G. Excluding the HW-EW stand type, most of the remaining project area does not meet FWS
)( For the actual goals of FWS, however, optimal stand density is much, much less than that for timber production. For example, FWS siteljptimal canopy closure at 50%o or less in upland oak stands (see below.) ,i{c+ / H. There are a few areas where Atlantic white-cedar occurs, but even here they are sporadic. These areas could be the focus of small-scale restoration efforts, especially considering that this is near tne norttrern coastai eiteni of thdipEdrcoin New Jersey and that conservation oi local genotypes of this species would be good ecological stewardship. At minimum, these conifers should be preserved and - where feasible - enhanced by selective mechanical removal or girdling of competing, adjacent hardwoods.
I. Invasive species are ubiquitous throughout the project area, but these exist at a fairly low level overall. The presence of these species, in our professional opinion, seems to be increasing incrementally. For example, the general appearance and distribution of Japanese honeysuckle,
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ailanthus, Chinese wisteria and Asiatic bittersweet are consistent with long-term establishment, relatively low rate of growth because of competition for sunlight, and ever-increasing radial spread. Based upon our experience in Pine Barrens cover types, we are most alarmed by the presence of Asiatic bittersweet as this vine is functionally unique to Pine Barrens forest ecology: Bittersweet photosynthesizes at low light levels, has a long growing season, is a prolific seeder and bears fruit early, is highly attractive to wildlife especially certain migratory birds and - most importantly - is able to ascend, capture and overtake fully mature trees given enough time. Once Asiatic bittersweet is established in an area, it is exceedingly difficult to control and changes the functional ecology of the plant community. Because this vine can accumulate enormous amounts of surface area it tends to overload tree trunks and branches with more ice and snow than tree trunks and branches are genetically programmed to handle, and this results in tree failures that creates a gap-phase ecology that often results in wide stands of bittersweet that precludes establishment and capture of the site by desirable tree species. J. The present level and relative abundance of invasive species likely related to the population of whitetail deer on the parcel. Typical of Pine Barrens soils, the net productivity of plant biomass at Reedy Creek does foster the rich forage found on more fertile soils. The effects of deer browse on soils such as those at the Reedy Creek project area tend to exert a more profound detriment to forest regeneration, especially of preferred species such as the white oak group. Thus, deer herbivory upon desirable woody plants at Reedy Creek appears to result not only in direct removal of these plants from the local plant community, but enables invasives of lesser forage value to capture empty soil / solar niches, biasing the local seed bank toward greater invasive abundance. We recommend, therefore, that deer population be maintained at a level compatible with the productivity of the plant communities at Reedy Creek, as well as with agency management goals, objectives and constraints.
9.2 Wildfire Management & Habitat Modification - K. In most of the 349 acre project area, soils are moist enough that there appears to be relatively rapid turnover of the duff layer. In most areas duff and leaf litter appeared to be approximately I year old in autumn of 2010. Similarly, the soils moisture and humidity of the site produce fairly rapid decomposition of large woody fuels where these have good soil contact.
L. In most of the compartments, there is a dense understory, i.e. a high density of small diameter trees, and in places this layer interlaces with dense shrubs and vines to create both a high per- acre density of potential fuels and a ladder of small fuels into the canopy strata. M. As discussed, most of the stands are overstocked considering FWS ecological stewardship goals, but as is common in Pine Barrens forests it is the moister, and less ignition prone stand types that carry the largest biomass of fuels. Stand types such as pitch pine-hardwood lowland, hardwood lowland and riparian strips are unlikely to burn in most years because they maintain higher soil and wood moisture contents. In such as in the large biomass of fuels there . in compartments 1,28,3 and 4 dry out to result in severe flre-hazards. As discussed, in the project area. N. Conversely, upland stand types at Reedy Creek - the minority of the project area - are much more likely to burn, will tend to burn more quickly, and will tend to be hazardous in more years and for longer each year, on average. By happenstance much of these more hazardous fuels types occur near roads and residential deve to both the risk ofand consequences of ignition and fire. These 21^, also home to much-used trails.
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O. There is a long existing network of foot trails that also subject to consistent ATV trespass. Thus, ;n.iBI'b in addition to uses as sources of fre-ignition, illicit ATV use addressed are to be que the other hand, ingress to the site is q?r')l,r' needed not only for management activities, ingress for emergency equipment if a ld, wildland fire were to occur. P. Based upon this, and considering the stated goals of FWS, we believe that a series of fuels reduction and / or habitat manipulation warranted if viable fall migrant bird habitat is to be maintained at Reedy reduced wildland fire hazards and preservation of T & E species.
10. General Recommendations. Specific Manasement Stratesies and l5-Year Treatment Schedule.
In our professional opinion habitat management and mitigation of wildland fire risks must address the geographic context of Reedy Creek, and cannot be approached looking 'inward' only to the Refuge proper. Areas of similar habitats near the project are similarly fragmented and insular, such as Cattus Island park, the campus of Ocean County College, the Goose Run public lands in Toms River Township, and the wooded portions of Lakewood Industrial Park. These fragmented woodlands are like to me dominated by shade-tolerant species over time because lack of n are defau of their owners at this time. Thus, we believe regional value dependent species As discussed, mid1900's via landscape processes development since that time has no successional forest. Apart from the outbreaks, there are no disturbances that are likely to maintain or regenerate the overstory species that characterize Reedy Creek today. Such stand-disturbances intentionally replicated (or approximated) by management intervention if shade-intolerant species are to regenerate. 10.1 General recommendation. We believe that most of the compartments in the Reedy Creek project area will require thinning or other habitat alterations in order to meet the goals of reduced risk of catastrophic wildfire, enhanced fall migrant habitat and preservation of habitats for threatened and endangered species. Left untreated, we believe that portions of the certain to be severely disturbed by wildland fire in the coming decades, succession is likely to alter stand composition in favor of less desired s ;=:=i ) Additionally, because of the changes to the landscape surrounding F or no intervention management policy would be and may neglige nt risk
10.2 Specific management strategies. upon the various fuels characterizations reviewed, as well as our experience in working with these cover types in this region, we believe that all of the compartments on the Reedy Creek project area contain low-and moderate-risk fuels classes when considered from an ignition or fire-carrying perspective. As discussed above, however, all of these pine-containing fuels types occur with relatively high biomass, and are growing on soils that can dry rapidly to create extreme risks of catastrophic wildland fire given an ignition source and under the right ":; " {'o t f,';;;;,1^,rt, ffiffii^:,'."mlu'^i {k* 1r ,14 u/ .tiPK t/ (iz :(2 \ "'t .U Page27 of 49 Reedy Creek Forest Stewardship Plan - u/ Revised July 29,20LL Period 2011-2025
erod&09 epr&8 (ft)
HW-PP-Il 49&{ Lou Low.Very Hilh Moderatel l07l I 87 80-85% 15.3 PP-HW-ll 2B&3C low Low-Exrem€ Moderatel tool 19 90-95o/o 14.8 PP-HW-ll 1&4A low Low-Extreine Moderatel tzzl 248 9Gtju/o I 3.3 OP-ul 2A [,ow LoW-Extrelne Moderatel 941 162 7 0-75o/o 16.4 OP-ul 3A low 178 70-7s% 15.6 PP-STO 3B [-ow Mdder.rExtr Modemtel to:l 179 80-85% 15.6 HW-EW 4D,4F,, rc & 5 Moderate Low- V. Hieh Moderatel sol 142 <50o/n t 7.5 Rip Rip low Low Lord lool soo lC0Yo+ 9.3
Table 10.1. Summary offuels afrributes and classificolionsfor all comparlments on the Reedy Creek project areu Pursuant to the goals of FWS in these moderate wildfire risks stands we recommend a variety of silvicultural prescriptions that are designed maintain and restore the forest cover types present in 2-QLA. and do so in a way that will enhance critical habitats while reducing the risk and severity of a wildland fire (See Table 10.2.)
Presription Target
Irrg.t Mcu Targ.l Mcsn Target Meu Trryet Pct Stand Typc Proposcd Prcscription Bsrl A16 Tr€c sp.dn8 frcc/Ac stclitrg Gq.ft./.c) (fr)
HW-PP-ll 48& Mech. ftin fiom below/ gap oedion 80 120 6s-70% l9.l PP-HW-ll 2B& Mech. ftin fiom below/ gap oeation 70 100 6045o/o 209 PP-HW-ll t&4 Mech. ftin fom below/ gap oeation 80 90 60-6s% 22.0 OP-ul 2 Mech. ftin from beloq RxB-l5 60 100 50-600/o 209 3 Mech. hin from below; RxB-l5 55 120 5040% I 9.1 PP-S Mech. trin from below; gap creation: RxB-7 70 120 60-70% I 9.1 HW 4E,4G & lnvasive spp. control 56 142 <50Yo 17.5 EE Whitecedar resto ration 1a na na Table 10.2. Summary of silviculturul prescriptions and target metrics for the Reeb) Creek project arcs2&.
By stand type, these silvicultural treatment recommendations are elaborated as follows: ' Hardwood - pitch pine lowlands. compartments 48 & 4C: These two compartments comprise the majority of the project area, and are largely synonymous with the public's experience of Forsythe in this area. These compartments contain a wide variety of hardwood species co-
gaps. As part of this we below" - that is preferentially removing ones, and in so doing removing approximately 25o/o of the current basal area in these compartments. Because more smalltrees will need to be u removed to achieve a certain basal area reduction, we recommend that greater than25o/o of trees 4" dbh and greater be removed.
28. RxB-7 and RxB-l5: Prescribed fire used to confol herbaceous and shrubby strata on a recurrence interval of7- and l5-years, respectively. 29. Mechanical free thinning: A form of forest thinning that removes trees to control spacing and favor desired trees using a combination of criteria without exclusive regard for crown class or exaction distance from nearest retained neighboring trees.
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We recommend retention of large, vigorously growing oaks, sassafras, black cherry, blackgum and other mast or berry producing species. Similarly, large and vigorous pitch pine and shortleaf pine should be retained especially where crowding by neighbors can be reduced through thinning. Trees that show signs of decay or storm damage should be retained as potential wildlife resources wherever this is feasible. Defective trees or hazardous trees near pedestrian walking paths should be removed to enhance safety of users and workers. We recommend that species such as red maple and sweetgum be culled while retaining species such as persimmon, any hickories, and all Atlantic white-cedar. Harvest operations should be conducted during winter when the ground is frozen in order to avoid problematic conflicts with phenology of threatened and endangered species. Alternatively, the harvest may be conducted during a dry summer if harvest areas are satisfactorily surveyed for presence of species such as bog turtle (see below.) As discussed, access for harvest operations is reasonably obtainable from existing trails and sand roads, and we recommend the use of tracked harvest machinery to the extent possible in order to reduce rutting and excessive damage to the low-lying areas of these compartments. It is been our experience that the use of such equipment, combined with the scarifying action of tree tops being dragged results in enough soil disturbance that adequate germination opportunities are presented for small seeded species such as pines, sweetgum, cottonwood and the like. Therefore, we recommend no drum chopping or other site preparation is part of the silvicultural treatment. Proposed harvest on 153 acres of this stand type should yield between 2000 and 2500 tons of biomass (i.e. wood chips) under a whole-tree harvest protocol. Slash management would not be necessary.
Following harvest we recommend that all treated areas be monitored at least twice a year in order to verify that invasive, early successional plants have not established on the site to a problematic level, and that adequate regeneration of desirable species is being achieved. We do not recommend prescribed burning in these units in order to achieve the management objectives outlined above. Pitch pine-hardwood lowlands. compartments 28 & 3C and compartments I & 44: the objectives and methods of treatment in this stand type mirror those described for the preceding stand type, except that a greater proportion of pines can be acceptably retained post-treatment. Portions of these four compartments occur very close to residential development; one is heavily used by the public in their enjoyment of Forsythe. As such, we believe that public perception of
1 the management interventions proposed will be important in determining the management course d to be pursued here. For example, compartment 4,{ is the portion of Reedy Creek that most users will identify with their visit experience, yet this area will need fairly substantial manipulation in order to meet the goals outlined by FWS. As above, we recommend a continuation of the mechanical free thinning harvest protocol in all four compartments of this stand type, but implemented in more spatially discontinuous and canopy-gap creating way. The challenge in this stand type will be to find adequate reproductive- aged oaks and other undesirable hardwoods upon which to center thinning and gap creation. We anticipate that the volume of pine will be removed from the unit would exceed that derived from miscellaneous hardwoods. We strongly recommend preferential harvest from below of smaller diameter blackgum, holly, sweetgum and red maple, while retaining larger and more vigorous dominant and codominant trees. As above, recommend that this harvest proceed asymmetrically across the stand type, resource value and structural heterogeneity of the depressional canopy gaps created by structure. mlarL-7 O 2011. Heartwood Ecological Consulting Reedy Creek Forest Stewardship Plan - Page29 of 49 Revised July 29,2011 Period 2011-2025
In areas where there are dense, contiguous groves of shade intolerant hollies, we recommend that these discrete patches be retained in various locations in order to provide varied wildlife resources and habitat. In some of these dense holly-pockets, we recommend removal of most of the overstory trees regardless of their species and quality in order to increase berry-set and vigor of the hollies. For other holly pockets, overstory conifers and hardwoods should be retained to create and foster specific understory holly habitat reportedly favored by certain species of wildlife. Harvest timing, equipment and protocol should otherwise mirror that described for the HW-PP-ll stand type. We've estimated that the proposed harvest on these I l5 acres might yield between 1800 and 2200 tons of mixed, albeit pine-biased biomass. Again, we recommend conducting all of these operations in a frozen winter, but we recognize that these are operationally difficult to plan on and that a dry-summer harvest may be required. In any regard, FWS has the in-house expertise to assure that any proposed harvest operations will be consistent with possible {/w, /, q6z*_ also less likely occurring .r-r*- t /f7 above, we do not recommend the use of prescribed fire in this stand type, at this time. €e.*L,^-- Because much of these four compartments occur on relatively moist soils, we believe that the disruption and expense of attempting prescribed burning would yield no substantial benefits. We further recommend that this premise be re-examined upon completion of the mechanical free thinning/gap creation harvest, and all treated areas should be monitored at least biannually for prevalence of invasive species and to determine establishment of desired regeneration. Oak pine upland's. compartments 2A and 3A: Occurring predominantly on more drought prone, Pine Barrens type soils, these two small units represent the easiest opportunity to expand the prevalence, vigor, and wildlife benefit associated with oak dominated upland's at Reedy Creek. As discussed, both stands have suffered recent mortality because of biotic an abiotic agents, and standing dead or debilitated trees are evident.
In order to reduce the risk of wildland fire while expanding the usefulness of the oak cover, here we are recommending a mechanical free thinning followed by prescribed fire postharvest then again at seven-year intervals. In these compartments we recommend a preferential removal of blackgum, sassafras, red maple, holly, and all but the largest pines. Reduce basal area to 50-60 sq.ft. /acre, on average, and retain single stemmed oaks at the expense of multiple stemmed stump sprouts to increase the percentage of healthy, strong trees in the compartment. Because this stand is generally open and less heavily stocked than others on the project area, we anticipate that only 400-500 tons of biomass may result from this harvest operation on 36 acres. Using the same mechanical harvesting methods described above, we recommend that discrete harvesting trails be established and adhered to in order to minimize damage to retained trees. Following the whole tree harvest we recommend that these units receive a light prescribed burning to reduce or "re-set" the shrub layer, and to discourage non-oak seedlings. Because much of the Reedy Creek project area is dominated by a fairly dense low-growing shrub layer, the open, park like effect of this burning treatment provide diversity of resources in v We reco treatment poss repeated, l5 harvest in order to determine if the shrub layer might be rejuvenated or recaptured from dense seedlings at that time. Pitch pine-and shrub & tree oak. compartment 38. Because this unit occurs at the interface of upland and more mesic soil types the understory of this homogeneous pine stand contains species
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indicative both of upland and low areas. Analogous to the oak pine uplands, this small stand encompassing only six (6) acres that is regionally unique in approximating a xeric pine monoculture and, as such, should be maintained through management.
As described for the oak pine covered type, we recommend a contiguous mechanical free thinning and prescribed fire regime here that will be designed to maintain and enhance the vigor of the existing pitch and shortleaf pines, while providing regeneration opportunities for a new crop. Because this stand is so small and relatively unique, we believe that it should be maintained as an island within a larger matrix of management described for the other compartments.
Here we are recommending mechanical thinning from below with a strong focus on canopy-gap creation. We recommend retention of approximately 70 ft.z of basal area and of nominally 120 trees per acre, on average. Retain the best quality and most vigorously growing pitch pines and remove competing neighbors even if they are trees in dominant or codominant crown classes. Preferentially remove competing hardwoods especially blackgum, sassafras, cherry, red maple and holly. Sporadic oaks may be retained in the overstory.
The mechanical harvest should proceed as described above, and following the whole tree removalwe recommend that l-2' of slash may be left on the ground to facilitate a fairly hot, localized prescribed fire treatment. We recommend that the stand be retreated every seven years thereafter or until management goals and objectives for the unit change. ' Hardwoods - emergent wetland, compartment 5. These disjunct units equate to approximately 35 acres, and we do not recommend that they receive any mechanical tree-harvesting treatments under this plan. As is true for many riparian or estuarine forests, the cyclically high water table and saturated soils have resulted in an mixture of trees, shrubs, forbs, vines and grasses. We are concerned, however, about the relative abundance and apparent rate ofspread ofinvasive species such as multiflora rose, Asiatic bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle and certain others. Because of this we recommend that this unit be treated with a mechanical or mechanical / herbicide driven invasive species control program intended to reduce the relative abundance of woody invasive species and Phragmites. Because many of these species are dispersed by the migrating birds, the project would need to be ongoing and may be prohibitively costly in funds and manpower. ' Riparian corridors. The small narrow areas may provide opportunities for maintenance and enhancement of Atlantic white-cedar populations within the span of Forsythe. Reedy Creek is near the northeast extension of the species range. As such, preservation of endemic populations of Atlantic white-cedar is a worthwhile goal of ecological stewardship and should be considered. Under this plan we recommend that competing hardwoods and vines simply be mechanically removed in order to preserve and enhance the growth of the white-cedars and reserve them as seed sources for future active management that might seek to expand and reestablish the range of this riparian species at Reedy Creek.
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10.3 Fifteen-year treatment schedule.
Stand Year Timing Units t-' Recommended Activity Priority Tvoe A 20tr Spring Ail Ail Preoare nely'ten-#ar Forest Stewardshio Plan High Anv Any AI Ail IMark propeMoundaries as needed Hieh IVIark proposedharvest areas, as well as individ.ral trees-to-cut if Any Any Alt All requested bv NJFS for review in advance ofany harvest
Complete a demonstration plot on between five and twenty (5-20) acres of the proposed mechanical free thinning of dead, dying, diseased, defective, compding ard / or hazardous trees to the As needed described in Section 10 of this Plan. We recommend based upon frameters wildlife ,2Br 3C, rbmoving resulting wood-fiber from the parcel in order to reduce 201 1. 4A,48 wildland fire hazards andto facilitate habitat managernent goals as Modemb 20t4 site and/or tbscribed.. It is possible thd selling derived waste-wood from mnditi 4C trrinning operations may help achieve the income required to offset and expenses of management; weeds and vines co Control with mechanical removal only. Fell no trees with signs of stick or cavity nests, tr signs ofactive use; restrict activities to existing trails and roads tothe extent possible.
l, 28,3C, PP/HW Evaluate effects and results of the demonstration plot, and develop 2012. 4A,48 Any and/or amuritoring report to assist with future Plan implanattdion Modemh 2015 Hw/PP and/or 4C decisions.
As needed based upon wildlife Based upon evaulation of demonstration plot ard other agency- 20r3. phenolory, Ail Ail specific considerations, consider implentation of the remainder l-ow 2025 site of condition s *re Plan recommendations. and other constraints
Assess status ofthe treded acreages relative to Objectives and 2025 NA Ail AII Goals in dris Plar. Conduct new forest resource inventory if High needed. Revise and re-submit Forest Stewardship Plan.
Tuble 10.3. Recommended oclivily timeline
11. Potential Imoacts to Threatened and Endansered Snecies. The NJDEP-ONLM indicated that three (3) Federally- or State-listed E & T species (black skimmer, black-crowned night heron and least tern) have been reported to occur on or within 1 mile of the project area. FWS further indicates that one (l) additional species (bog turtle) is known from this municipality, albeit not reported by ONLM to be known to occur Reedy Creek. Likely 'T & E' species-interactions with the professional forestry recommendations designed into this Plan, are elaborated as follows: ' Black skimmer and least tern: Habitats reasonably interpretable as 'critical' to survival of these species does not occur on the parcel.
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. Bog turtle: Breeding or other habitats reasonably interpretable as 'critical' to survival of these species does not occur on the parcel. Therefore we expect no interaction between the recommendations provided herein and habitat for these species. . Black-crowned night heron: Breeding or other habitats reasonably interpretable as 'critical' to survival of these species likely occurs on the parcel. Therefore we expect no interaction between the recommendations provided herein and habitat for these species. Summarizing all the preceding, it is our professional opinion representation that all silvicultural interventions described in this plan have been designed to avoid irreversible adverse impacts on habitats that are criticalto the survival of any of these threatened or endangered animal and / or plant species. Therefore, the recommendations in this Plan conform to requirements elaborated in NJAC 7:7 A and NJAC 7: l3 were these regulations to govern any of the activities proposed herein.
12. Description of Other Forest Stewardshin PIan Elements and Issues.
Aesthetics. The project area is an attractive part of the outer coastal plain region. By implementing the management recommendations described above we expect that the reduction of poor-quality trees, increased structural complexity and increased level of forest-regeneration will enhance a regionally appropriate appearance of the woodland.
Access, Trails and Roads. The access points, trails and lanes in this project area are all pre-existing and long-established. No new permanent roads are proposed at this time, but maintenance of the woodland trail and temporary forestry access road system should be an ongoing project in the stewardship program. Such trails and roads in this project area are long established and should provide easy access to most areas of the Client's woodlot, thereby aiding the implementation of silviculturaltreatments and avoiding deleterious effects on wildlife. All such trails and roads should be maintained to avoid excessive erosion, rutting or accumulation of standing water.
Soil and Water-Quality Protection. This project area is well vegetated, has no serious erosion problems at this time, nor are any expected if management recommendations are properly executed. The Client will take proactive steps to reduce what little erosion might occur on the trail system with the use of water diversion bars, matting and other structures and practices as needed. The Client is aware of potential impacts of management to the soil structure and vegetation, and understands that woodland entry should wait untildrier or frozen times of the year as consistent with other management goals. The maintenance of appropriate soil-disturbance buffers should be in accordance with applicable statutes and best practices recommendations during the entire term of this plan.
Other Wildlife. As discussed, a major goal of the Client is to enhance the habitat for many species of wildlife. As discussed, the recommendations contained in this plan are designed to mimic natural disturbances that led to the forest stand types seen on the project area today. These recommendations are reasonably expected to result in the same sorts of plant communities over time and improvethe various wildlife habitats on the project area.
Timber & Harvest. At this time timber and cordwood production are not stated goals of FWS Clients' stewardship per se, but we recommend that commodity value of forest products generated be used to offset costs of management. Forestry activities undertaken during this planning term should, in the long run, increase the economic value of the timber resource by providing for younger and faster growing trees; by enhancing species diversity and by decreasing the chance that they will
@ 2011. Heartwood Ecological Consulting Reedy Creek Forest Stewardship Plan - Page 33 of 49 Revised July 29,201t Period 2011-2025 be inadvertently lost in wildland fires. All harvest and silvicultural interventions will be low- intensity and mechanical and shall be based on exiting trails. No substantial ground disturbance, road-building or upheaval is planned.
Cultural resources. No substantial soil disturbance such as drum chopping, disking, road construction, excavation or bulldozing is proposed anywhere on the property pursuant to the terms of this Plan. Therefore we have taken measures to ensure that cultural resources as might be present on the property will not be destroyed. t lu.] e,=wL-z -r i Lq o) Z{l Easements and Deed Restrictions. We I be e nc umbere d by c o n se rv at io, i*r"}:;:* iT:[:I:.,r'"'l ffi : #l' contained herein is consistent with"*.""M any land management restrictions pursuant to any such agreements.
Carbon Sequestration. Generally speaking, forest management endeavors in New Jersey are carbon neutral because carbon-fixation and -sequestration equilibrate with natural carbon respiration and turnover at about the 50th year of stand development3o. Thus, proposed silvicultural interventions recommended in this plan are reasonably expected to improve composition, reduce density and promote tree growth-rates on the parcel and is therefore reasonably expected promote the sequestration of carbon through accelerated accumulation of tree biomass over the near term
Municipal, County and Other Regulations. This Plan has been prepared in order to devise and codify natural resource management activities consistent with regulations presently promulgated by the State of New Jersey referenced at NJAC 7:7A, NJAC 7:13 and NJAC 18:15. The Plan must be approved by the NJ DEP before it can be considered consistent with all of those State regulations. Additionally, HEC does not represent or warrant that operations recommended in this Plan are consistent with any other regulations including, but not necessarily limited to, municipal ordinances or county regulations. All persons conducting forest management operations are urged to verify that such operations are consistent with all local regulations, as well as those promulgated by the State of New Jersey.
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30. R. Lathrop, Ph.D., Rutgers University, presentationtoNJ Div. - Soc. AM. For., Dec.,2009.
O 2011, Heartwood Ecological Consulting Reedy Creek Forest Stewardship Plan - Page 34 of 49 Revised July 29,20LL Period 2011-2025 AppendixA,: Figures
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Figure A.I. Approximale location [blue iconJ of project atea (Data source: Bing Maps.)
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Creek Forest Area
Figure A.2. General HUC-ll subwdenhed position, project area in yellott (Data source: NJ DEP and NJ Bur. GIS.)
O 2011, Heartwood Ecological Consulting