Milli Fire Veg/Salvage Analysis

Milli Fire Vegetation United States Resource Department of Agriculture Specialist Report Forest Service Part 1- Milli Fire Overview and Spatial Statistics

Part 2- Milli Salvage, Reforestation and May, 2018 Roadside Maintenance CE Project Areas

Part 3- Milli Silvicultural Implementation Procedures

Sisters Ranger District Deschutes National Forest

Prepared by: William Brendecke Sisters Ranger District Sisters, OR Phone (541) 549-7712

/s/ ___William Brendecke____ Date __5/16/18___ Certified Silviculturist/ Forester

Summary-

The following document is broken up into 3 parts. The first part is an overview of the lightning started Milli Fire that was first observed on August 11th, 2017 and was 100% contained by September 24th, 2017. This first part covers broad-based landscape statistics and provides background and context to Parts 2 and 3. Part 2 covers specific developed recovery projects and project statistics coordinating to the projects and Part 3 covers silvicultural marking guides/ procedures that would be utilized for project implementation. In this way this document serves to provide planning to implementation information

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Tables ...... 4 PART 1- Overview analysis of Milli Fire ...... 7 Milli Fire by Plant Associations ...... 7 Milli Fire among recent past wildfires ...... 7 Milli Fire by Northwest Forest Plan ...... 7 Milli Fire by Deschutes National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan- Management Areas ...... 8 Overview Milli Fire Burn Severity Analysis ...... 8 Patch Size Analysis- RAVG 3 and 4 ...... 11 Milli Fire Landscape Overview of Fire Impacted Dead Tree Areas- Filtration Determination process ...... 12 RAVG and Field Verification Reconnaissance ...... 12 Maximum Extent Volume calculations From Milli Fire ...... 12 Evaluation of Potential Salvage within NWFP Matrix land allocation...... 16 Evaluation of Potential Salvage (outside of NWFP) ...... 19 PART 2- Recovery Projects ...... 21 Milli Area Salvage Silviculture Report ...... 21 Legal Locations ...... 21 Plant Association Grouping ...... 21 Soils ...... 21 Unit Specific Information ...... 22 Salvage Activities ...... 22 Post-sale activities ...... 23 Methodology...... 24 Milli Fire Reforestation Project Summary ...... 25 Legal Locations ...... 25 Plant Association Grouping ...... 26 Soils ...... 26 Planting- (3,952 acres) ...... 28 Natural Regeneration (500 acres) ...... 29 Site-preparation (2,442 acres) ...... 29 Site Preparation w/ planting: ...... 31 Planting and Natural Regeneration w/o Site preparation: ...... 31 Site Preparation for Natural Regeneration: ...... 32 Milli Danger Tree Mitigation Project ...... 33 3

Literature Cited ...... 34

TABLE OF TABLES

Table 1- Plant Association (grouping) within the Milli Fire Boundary ...... 7 Table 2- Overlap* of Milli among recent past wildfires ...... 7 Table 3- Acres and proportions of Milli fire by NWFP and Non-NWFP ...... 8 Table 4- Northwest Forest Plan – land allocations ...... 8 Table 5- Deschutes National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan- Management Areas ...... 8 Table 6- Entire Milli Fire RAVG burn severities ...... 9 Table 7. RAVG severities by plantations within the entire Milli fire area ...... 9 Table 8. RAVG severities among Riparian Reserves and RHCAs ...... 9 Table 9. RAVG 3 and 4 patch size analysis of the Milli Fire...... 11 Table 10- RAVG burn severities with the removal of Wilderness, Private land, Inventoried Roadless, Black Crater Fire ...... 12 Table 11- Total volume and acres by LRMP, NWFP, and PNV (including plantations) ...... 13 Table 12. Total volume and acres by LRMP, NWFP, PNV (Excluding plantations) ...... 14 Table 13. Severity proportions within Matrix ...... 17 Table 14. Severity proportions within Matrix WITHOUT PLANTATIONS ...... 18 Table 15. East of Owl Line AND Deschutes LRMP RAVG information...... 19 Table 16. EAST of OWL Line- Acres by Deschutes LRMP and RAVG severity (no plantations)...... 20 Table 17. Legal locations of salvage units ...... 21 Table 18. Plant association and Plant association (grouped) ...... 21 Table 19. Corresponding Soil Resource Inventory (SRI) land types and acres ...... 21 Table 20. Acres, volumes (Lidar derived), average elevations, slope majority, and aspect majority by units ...... 22 Table 21. Unit specific reforestation information including to-be-planted species and approximate trees per acre.23 Table 22. Planting acres by Deschutes LRMP management areas ...... 28 Table 23. Planting acres by Northwest Forest Plan management areas ...... 29 Table 24. Acres of site preparation by Deschutes Land and Resource Management Plan management area...... 30

Table 25. Acres of site preparation by Northwest Forest Plan allocations...... 30 Table 26. Site preparation with planting by Deschutes LRMP ...... 31 Table 27. Site preparation with planting by NWFP allocations ...... 31 Table 28. Acres of planting priority reforestation ...... 32 Table 29. Planting and natural regeneration without site preparation by Deschutes LRMP ...... 32 Table 30. Site preparation for natural regeneration ...... 33

PART 1- OVERVIEW ANALYSIS OF MILLI FIRE

This part describes fire severity information among various policy, biophysical,

Milli fire perimeter 24,509 acres from 9/6/2017

MILLI FIRE BY PLANT ASSOCIATIONS

Table 1- Plant Association (grouping) within the Milli Fire Boundary

Plant Association Group Acres Percent of total CINDER 129 1% HARDWOOD 23 0% LAVA 67 0% LODGEPOLE PINE DRY 94 0% LODGEPOLE PINE WET 2,604 11% MESIC SHRUB 81 0% MIXED CONIFER DRY 8,606 35% MIXED CONIFER WET 3,758 15% MOUNTAIN HEMLOCK DRY 7,355 30% PONDEROSA PINE DRY 1,416 6% PONDEROSA PINE WET 247 1% ROCK 105 0% WATER 24 0% Total 24,509

MILLI FIRE AMONG RECENT PAST WILDFIRES

Table 2- Overlap* of Milli among recent past wildfires

Milli and past fire overlap Acres of overlap 2006 Black Crater 4,408 2012 Pole Creek 1,160 Total 5,568 *All three of these fires overlap for 73 acres

MILLI FIRE BY NORTHWEST FOREST PLAN

Table 3- Acres and proportions of Milli fire by NWFP and Non-NWFP

Land Management Allocation Acres Percent of total NWFP (broken out further in Table4) 22538 92% Non-NWFP 1,971 8%

Table 4- Northwest Forest Plan – land allocations

Northwest Forest Plan Areas Acres Percent of total Administratively Withdrawn Areas 121 1% Congressionally Reserved 9585 43% Late-successional Reserves 8760 39% Matrix 2701 12% Other ownership (private) 1372 6% NWFP Grand Total 22538

MILLI FIRE BY DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN- MANAGEMENT AREAS

Table 5- Deschutes National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan- Management Areas

Management Area Acres Percent of total Front Country Seen/Unseen 7214 29% General Forest 2948 12% Intensive Recreation 47 0% Old Growth 121 0% Other Ownership (private) 1372 6% Scenic Views 2619 11% Wild, Scenic, Recreation River 604 2% Wilderness 9585 39% Total 24509

OVERVIEW MILLI FIRE BURN SEVERITY ANALYSIS

Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after Wildfire (RAVG)

The Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition after Wildfire (RAVG) program produces data describing post-fire vegetation conditions on National Forest System (NFS) lands for all fires that burn 1,000 acres of forested National Forest System (NFS) lands (500 acres for Regions 8 and 9 as of 2016). Forest Service Regional Silviculturists, Reforestation, and Restoration Specialists primarily use RAVG data to assess and prioritize post-fire vegetation management. A similar change detection process used for the BAER Imagery Support program produces RAVG burn severity products. RAVG uses the Relative Differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (RdNBR), which is derived directly from the dNBR, but is considered more sensitive to vegetation mortality than the dNBR. RAVG is considered an initial assessment, which describes initial vegetation mortality (typically 30 days post-fire containment), but does not capture delayed vegetation mortality. This information forms a starting point in understanding burn severities which are presented at a 30meter raster grid resolution.

The below analyses utilize a 4 class categorization approach based on basal area loss. Class 1 has the lowest burn severities moving to the highest with Class 4. Wildfire stand-replacement areas are those areas with Class 3 and 4. It is important to note that the below frequency tables are cumulative at the Milli Fire Landscape Scale and do not depict individual patch sizes.

Table 6- Entire Milli Fire RAVG burn severities

RAVG Severities Acres Percent of total Class 1 = 0% - < 25% BA loss 5,948 24% Class 2 = 25% - < 50% BA loss 7,031 29% Class 3 = 50% - < 75% BA loss 4,922 20% Class 4 = 75% - 100% BA loss 6,608 27% Grand Total 24,509

Table 7. RAVG severities by plantations within the entire Milli fire area

RAVG Severities Sum of Acres Class 1 = 0% - < 25% BA loss 427 Class 2 = 25% - < 50% BA loss 775 Class 3 = 50% - < 75% BA loss 421 Class 4 = 75% - 100% BA loss 625 Grand Total 2248

Table 8. RAVG severities among Riparian Reserves and RHCAs

RAVG Severities Sum of Acres Class 1 = 0% - < 25% BA loss 403 Class 2 = 25% - < 50% BA loss 268

Class 3 = 50% - < 75% BA loss 187 Class 4 = 75% - 100% BA loss 103 Grand Total 960

PATCH SIZE ANALYSIS- RAVG 3 AND 4

Milli Fire patch sizes ranged from <0.2 acres to 2,690.3 acres with the largest patch sizes located within Wilderness and the reburn of the 2006 Black Crater fire area. Other notable areas with large patches include Inventoried Roadless areas as well areas outside of the Northwest Forest Plan lands that lead to the Wild and Scenic corridor.

Table 9. RAVG 3 and 4 patch size analysis of the Milli Fire.

Patch Size (RAVG 3 and Total Number of patches Proportion of Proportion of patches 4 only) Acres (count) patch-size acres (count) to total number of total of patches

<1 acre 239 628 2% 61% 1-5 acres 350 160 3% 16% 5-20 acres 504 144 5% 14% 20-100 acres 1,110 88 11% 9% 100-500 acres 2,501 9 24% 1% 500-1000 acres 579 1 6% 0% 1000-3000 acres 5,047 2 49% 0% Grand Total 10,330 1,032 100% 100%

MILLI FIRE LANDSCAPE OVERVIEW OF FIRE IMPACTED DEAD TREE AREAS- FILTRATION DETERMINATION PROCESS

An iterative analysis process was utilized that tiered down the burn area by looking at landscape metrics (social, ecological, economical and policy) to determine areas in which Milli post-fire recovery projects may occur and what type of recovery project may occur. In doing so, portions of the burn area were removed from analysis and presented below.

- Removed Wilderness, PVT, IRA, Black Crater Fire

Table 10- RAVG burn severities with the removal of Wilderness, Private land, Inventoried Roadless, Black Crater Fire

RAVG Severities Acres Class 1 = 0% - < 25% BA loss 2,877 Class 2 = 25% - < 50% BA loss 3,439 Class 3 = 50% - < 75% BA loss 1,986 Class 4 = 75% - 100% BA loss 1,979 Grand Total 10281

RAVG AND FIELD VERIFICATION RECONNAISSANCE

Field verification of RAVG data began in September 2017 and continues to this day to ascertain post-wildfire conditions and gauge relevance of RAVG and field observed conditions. Outcomes of this process across the Milli Fire landscape indicated some areas with “no data” likely due to smoke and or clouds and other areas misrepresenting severity levels. RSAC concedes RAVG does not capture delayed mortality (aka 2nd order fire effects). From field surveys, I have 80-90% confidence in RAVG predicted 1st order fire severity ranges.

The process of the RAVG to field verification resulted in specific areas being identified with the highest observed and predicted mortality. Small isolate low severity ranges among larger moderate and high severity areas were encircled due these areas being misrepresented. In addition a buffer was put on moderate areas to more accurately capture delayed mortality. These areas are broken out below in a series of analyses. Riparian Reserves and RHCA’s were also removed from analysis at this stage.

MAXIMUM EXTENT VOLUME CALCULATIONS FROM MILLI FIRE

This maximum extent is presented here for context and is not carried forward to other parts of this document nor does it represent the proposed action for any of the Milli Fire Recovery Projects.

Maximum extent calculations involved utilizing RAVG and field verification to create “zones” where the largest patch sizes outside of Black Crater reburn, Wilderness, private, Riparian Reserves, RHCAs and Inventoried Roadless were located. Upon these “zones” being created the RAVG severity and LiDAR datasets were utilized for Table 11 and 12 values. These patches were overwhelmingly dominated with high and moderate burn severities, all potential volumes were further calibrated with any embedded lower severities pixels in order to reflect the retention that would occur under a salvage operation (leaving live trees implied). In doing so, all RAVG levels (1-4)

– had the midpoint of the mortality ranges (12.5%, 37.5%, 62.5% and 87.5% respectively) selected and were coupled with LiDAR determined estimates for the given acreages. In this way, volumes (using MinVol/acre from Lidar determined estimates) were directly calibrated to RAVG mortality and subsequently adjusted to the given acreages. MinVol/acre was chosen since it is the most conservative for total volume on a given acre. These volumes were then cross-referenced with the NWFP and Deschutes LRMP to provide policy context. Tables 11 and 12 do not reflect any reductions of volume under any further retention strategies.

Table 11- Total volume and acres by LRMP, NWFP, and PNV (including plantations)

Sum of Est_volume Row Labels BD/FT Sum of GIS_ACRES Administratively Withdrawn Areas 47,954 10 Old Growth 47,954 10 MIXED CONIFER DRY 47,954 10 Late-successional Reserves 13,240,456 1,779 Front Country Seen/Unseen 6,437,306 889 LODGEPOLE PINE WET 165,626 25 MIXED CONIFER DRY 1,518,884 208 MIXED CONIFER WET 4,752,797 656 General Forest 3,938,674 524 MIXED CONIFER DRY 3,595,674 451 MIXED CONIFER WET 338,451 72 MOUNTAIN HEMLOCK DRY 4,548 1 Intensive Recreation 943 0 MIXED CONIFER WET 943 0 Scenic Views 2,863,532 367 MIXED CONIFER DRY 1,797,772 262 MIXED CONIFER WET 1,065,761 104 Matrix 6,362,345 1,209 Front Country Seen/Unseen 2,927,479 502 MIXED CONIFER DRY 2,804,831 487 MIXED CONIFER WET 122,649 15 General Forest 2,092,823 375 MIXED CONIFER DRY 1,615,820 308 MIXED CONIFER WET 477,003 67 Scenic Views 1,342,043 332 MIXED CONIFER DRY 1,332,357 331 MIXED CONIFER WET 9,686 1

East of NWFP line 1,903,259 788 Front Country Seen/Unseen 3,083 2 MIXED CONIFER DRY 3,083 2 General Forest 1,179,307 473 MIXED CONIFER DRY 11,769 7 MIXED CONIFER WET 16,551 2 PONDEROSA PINE DRY 1,150,988 464 Scenic Views 566,032 183 MIXED CONIFER DRY 231,505 61 MIXED CONIFER WET 45,522 15 PONDEROSA PINE DRY 289,004 107 Wild, Scenic, Recreation River 154,837 131 PONDEROSA PINE DRY 154,837 131 Grand Total 21,554,013 3,786

Table 12. Total volume and acres by LRMP, NWFP, PNV (Excluding plantations)

Sum of Est_volume Row Labels BD/FT Sum of GIS_ACRES Administratively Withdrawn Areas 47,954 10 Old Growth 47,954 10 MIXED CONIFER DRY 47,954 10 Late-successional Reserves 12,586,888 1,523 Front Country Seen/Unseen 5,951,795 698 LODGEPOLE PINE WET 158,926 20 MIXED CONIFER DRY 1,409,283 161 MIXED CONIFER WET 4,383,586 517 General Forest 3,896,233 503 MIXED CONIFER DRY 3,555,392 431 MIXED CONIFER WET 336,293 71 MOUNTAIN HEMLOCK DRY 4,548 1 Intensive Recreation 943 0 MIXED CONIFER WET 943 0 Scenic Views 2,737,917 323 MIXED CONIFER DRY 1,686,452 227

MIXED CONIFER WET 1,051,465 96 Matrix 5,791,637 890 Front Country Seen/Unseen 2,740,209 416 MIXED CONIFER DRY 2,618,615 402 MIXED CONIFER WET 121,594 15 General Forest 1,771,574 189 MIXED CONIFER DRY 1,369,791 153 MIXED CONIFER WET 401,783 36 Scenic Views 1,279,854 284 MIXED CONIFER DRY 1,270,899 284 MIXED CONIFER WET 8,956 1 East of NWFP line 1,722,813 605 Front Country Seen/Unseen 3,083 2 MIXED CONIFER DRY 3,083 2 General Forest 1,069,156 363 MIXED CONIFER DRY 9,854 5 MIXED CONIFER WET 16,551 2 PONDEROSA PINE DRY 1,042,752 356 Scenic Views 507,286 130 MIXED CONIFER DRY 215,498 51 MIXED CONIFER WET 42,305 13 PONDEROSA PINE DRY 249,482 66 Wild, Scenic, Recreation River 143,289 111 PONDEROSA PINE DRY 143,289 111 Grand Total 20,149,293 3,028

No Riparian Reserves Maintains Only Matrix snags across (NWFP) landscape

Dominated by medium to Does not impact green large trees thin program

Dominated by mod/high Forest Direction severity

Ground Small area reconnaisance salvage 250 Regional Direction- i.e. (RAVG CE awarded FY18 verification) (Units)

Figure 1. Internal and external factors utilized to provide context to the eventual tiered down approach to a potential salvage recovery project.

TIERED DOWN EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL SALVAGE WITHIN NWFP MATRIX LAND ALLOCATION

This analysis was conducted to determine what burn severities and acres thereof resulted from the Milli Fire within just the NWFP Matrix land allocation. This analysis differs from the “Maximum Extent analysis” in that it captures all the severity ranges in Matrix only and not just the hottest most concentrated patches.

Figure 2. Visual representation of salvage units within "Matrix" land allocation from the NWFP.

Table 13. Severity proportions within “Matrix” from the NWFP.

RAVG severities Sum Acres Proportion 0-25% mortality 1143 42% 25-50% mortality 718 27% 50-75% mortality 286 11% 75-100% mortality 554 21% Total 2701 100%

To further refine realistic locations where “salvage” might occur any recent plantations were removed and are presented in Figure 3 and Table 14. Plantations were removed due to some economical assumptions about based on market value and volume/acre rates.

Figure 3. Visual representation of "Matrix" land allocation and salvage units WITHOUT PLANTATIONS.

Table 14. Severity proportions within Matrix WITHOUT PLANTATIONS

gridcode Sum_Acres Proportion 0-25% mortality 1101 48% 25-50% mortality 594 26% 50-75% mortality 210 9% 75-100% mortality 413 18%

2317 100% 18

TIERED DOWN EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL SALVAGE (OUTSIDE OF NWFP)

Table 15. East of Owl Line AND Deschutes LRMP RAVG information

Row Labels Sum of Acres Front Country Seen/Unseen 42 2% 0-25% mortality 27 1% 25-50% mortality 16 1% General Forest 804 41% 0-25% mortality 259 13% 25-50% mortality 194 10% 50-75% mortality 117 6% 75-100% mortality 233 12% Scenic Views 527 27% 0-25% mortality 245 12% 25-50% mortality 157 8% 50-75% mortality 82 4% 75-100% mortality 43 2% Wild, Scenic, Recreation River 607 31% 0-25% mortality 255 13% 25-50% mortality 168 8% 50-75% mortality 75 4% 75-100% mortality 109 6%

Grand Total 1979

Table 16. EAST of OWL Line- Acres by Deschutes LRMP and RAVG severity (no plantations).

Row Labels Sum of Acres Proportions Front Country Seen/Unseen 39 2% 0-25% mortality 25 2% 25-50% mortality 14 1% General Forest 661 40% 0-25% mortality 236 14% 25-50% mortality 165 10% 50-75% mortality 95 6% 75-100% mortality 165 10% Scenic Views 400 24% 0-25% mortality 194 12% 25-50% mortality 121 7% 50-75% mortality 57 3% 75-100% mortality 27 2% Wild, Scenic, Recreation River 562 34% 0-25% mortality 242 15% 25-50% mortality 154 9% 50-75% mortality 67 4% 75-100% mortality 98 6%

Grand Total 1662

PART 2- RECOVERY PROJECTS

Part 2 covers three separate recovery projects that includes a 249 acre salvage project, a reforestation project and a roadside maintenance project.

MILLI AREA SALVAGE PROJECT- SECTION

LEGAL LOCATIONS Table 17. Legal locations of salvage units Township Range Section number 15 S 9 E 27 15 S 9 E 6 15 S 9 E 33 15 S 9 E 34 15 S 9 E 28

PLANT ASSOCIATION GROUPING Table 18. Plant association and Plant association (grouped) Type Sum of Acres MIXED CONIFER DRY 218 CWC2-13 177 CWS1-15 42 MIXED CONIFER WET 31 CWC2-12 31 Grand Total 249

SOILS Table 19. Corresponding Soil Resource Inventory (SRI) land types and acres Suitability for Major overstory Potential for Limitations to SRI number Acres Site Index timber species regeneration regeneration management 80-100 ABCO, PSME, High to Some sites with high 28 37 PIPO, 45-55 Moderate PIPO, PIMO moderate gopher populations ABCO Moderate to Brush and sedges 65 30 75-95 PIPO PIPO, ABCO, PICO High high competition Droughtiness, brush 66 150 65-85 PIPO PIPO High Moderate competition

67 32 75-95 PIPO PIPO, ABCO High High Brush competition Grand Total 249

Landtypes within the units occur on gentle to moderately sloping benches or toeslopes of buttes. These soils are well- to excessively-drained with rapid infiltration. Depth to bedrock is from 40-50in. Soil damage resulting from ground-based harvest operations (at least partial suspension with rubber tracked equipment) is expected to be low with soil displacement expected in operation skid trails.

UNIT SPECIFIC INFORMATION Table 20. Acres, volumes (Lidar derived), average elevations, slope majority, and aspect majority by units Unit Number Acres Board Feet Avg. Majority Majority Elevation (ft) Slope (%) Aspect 1 19 181,136 4,163 7 71 2 9 148,970 4,097 11 63 3 20 157,377 4,227 16 96 4 30 281,533 4,374 10 116 5 22 242,692 4,384 19 121 6 23 246,608 4,763 19 123 7 19 212,658 5,057 21 88 8 4 45,984 4,912 15 182 9 6 78,005 4,890 22 73 10 10 66,239 4,313 11 86 11 3 9,751 4,357 9 88 12 24 413,628 4,324 12 64 13 9 180,618 4,324 12 64 14 14 167,528 4,232 14 80 15 29 386,783 4,949 15 144 16 2 14,947 4,937 17 164 17 5 59,587 4,432 10 112 Grand Total 249 2,894,042 Avg. 4,519 Avg. 14 Avg. 101

SALVAGE ACTIVITIES Harvesting would consist of fire killed trees (all sizes) and those with predictive mortality based on Thies et al. 2008 or Scott et al. 2002, Scott and Schmitt 2006). All trees (all sizes) with predictive survival would be maintained. Lidar based volumes estimates are included in Table 4 and is sensitive to coordinating predictive basal area loss (i.e. RAVG severity classes). Retention of fire killed trees would occur within all units based on their ability to persist

22 into the future. Generally, these are species select ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and white fir would be unit by unit specific

POST-SALE ACTIVITIES

REFORESTATION Due to absence of nearby contributing seed trees and legal requirements, artificial reforestation would be conducted within all units and funded through CWKV or other program dollars. Planted species will consist of early- to mid-seral coniferous species that can be supported by site specific abiotic and biotic conditions. Table 5 presents planned unit specific coniferous species and proportions for planting. Seed zone 675 or other appropriate seed zones (with acceptable suitability) will be utilized for seed sourcing. Certification of reforestation will be obtained whence pertinent thresholds (100-130 TPA) are met and are expected within 5 years from the time of planting. The planting of these particular acres are covered under the “Milli Reforestation Project” see below for more information.

ANIMAL DAMAGE CONTROL (ADC) In order to meet regeneration goals, ADC may be employed to deter browsing and help limit mortality to planted seedlings. ADC would consist of features that provide a physical barrier to browse (ex. tubing) or act as a repellent (ex. putrefied egg solids).

Table 21. Unit specific reforestation information including to-be-planted species and approximate trees per acre.

Avg. Reforestation species and Majority Majority Trees per acre to be Unit Number Acres Elevation approximate planting Slope (%) Aspect planted (TPA) (ft) proportion* PIPO (40 %), PIMO (20%), LAOC 1 19 4,163 7 71 (20 %), PSME (20%) PIPO (40 %), PIMO (20%), LAOC 2 9 4,097 11 63 (20 %), PSME (20%) 3 20 4,227 16 96 PIPO (80%), PSME (20%) 4 30 4,374 10 116 PIPO (80%), PSME (20%) 5 22 4,384 19 121 PIPO (80%), PSME (20%) 200TPA- focusing on 6 23 4,763 19 123 PIPO (80%), PSME (20%) a variable planting 7 19 5,057 21 88 PIPO (60 %), PSME (40%) framework that takes advantage of 8 4 4,912 15 182 PIPO (80%), PSME (20%) microsites and areas 9 6 4,890 22 73 PIPO (60 %), PSME (40%) that tend to have the most amount of 10 10 4,313 11 86 PIPO (80%), PSME (20%) afternoon shade. 11 3 4,357 9 88 PIPO (80%), PSME (20%) PIPO (40 %), PIMO (20%), LAOC 12 24 4,324 12 64 (20 %), PSME (20%) PIPO (40 %), PIMO (20%), LAOC 13 9 4,324 12 64 (20 %), PSME (20%) 14 14 4,232 14 80 PIPO (80%), PSME (20%) 15 29 4,949 15 144 PIPO (80%), PSME (20%)

16 2 4,937 17 164 PIPO (80%), PSME (20%) PIPO (40 %), PIMO (20%), LAOC 17 5 4,432 10 112 (20 %), PSME (20%) Grand Total 249 Avg. 4,519 Avg. 14 Avg. 101 *PIPO=ponderosa pine, PSME= Douglas-fir, PIMO= western white pine, LAOC- western larch

METHODOLOGY Unit determination was a continuation, but refined version of that described under Part 1 above, which began first with a process of ground verification of Milli fire RAVG data across all areas (outside of Wilderness and Roadless) to determine accuracy of reported severity ranking. In most cases first order fire effect severities were well represented by the RAVG dataset.

MILLI FIRE REFORESTATION PROJECT SECTION

LEGAL LOCATIONS TOWNSHIP RANGE SECTION NUMBER 14 S 9 E 31 14 S 8 E 36 15 S 8 E 1 15 S 8 E 2 15 S 8 E 3 15 S 9 E 5 15 S 9 E 6 15 S 8 E 9 15 S 8 E 10 15 S 8 E 15 15 S 8 E 16 15 S 9 E 18 15 S 9 E 19 15 S 9 E 20 15 S 8 E 21 15 S 9 E 21 15 S 9 E 22 15 S 8 E 24 15 S 9 E 25 15 S 9 E 26 15 S 9 E 27 15 S 9 E 28 15 S 9 E 29 15 S 9 E 30 15 S 10 E 31 15 S 9 E 31 15 S 9 E 32 15 S 9 E 33 15 S 9 E 34 15 S 9 E 35 15 S 9 E 36 15 S 8 E 37 15 S 8 E 38 15 S 8 E 45

PLANT ASSOCIATION GROUPING Type Sum of Acres LODGEPOLE PINE DRY 11 CLG3-11 10 CLXX-XX 1 LODGEPOLE PINE WET 118 CLG4-11 48 CLG4-12 67 CLM3-12 3 MESIC SHRUB 0 SW29-11 0 MIXED CONIFER DRY 2,098 CWC2-11 88 CWC2-13 1023 CWS1-12 46 CWS1-15 851 CWXX-XX 90 MIXED CONIFER WET 977 CDS6-14 43 CWC2-12 218 CWS1-13 682 CWS9-11 34 MOUNTAIN HEMLOCK DRY 82 CMG2 2 CMS1-11 80 PONDEROSA PINE DRY 665 CPS2-13 303 CPS2-17 362 Grand Total 3,952

SOILS SRI Acres Site Index Major overstory Suitability for Potential for Limitations to regeneration number species timber regeneration management 8 102 Variable PIEN, PICO, ABCO, Low to Moderate Shallow depth to PIPO, PSME moderate watertable on some sites, (wetness) local stoniness, periodic flooding 10 4 Variable PIPO, ABCO Low Low to Steep slopes some moderate droughty aspects

11 89 Very low Varies with unsuited Low Stoniness elevation, PIPO, ABCO or TSME 12 57 Very low TSME, Abies, PICO Very low (low Low Harsh climatic conditions, productivity) high elevations 17 101 20-30 PICO PICO, Abies, TSME Very low (low Low Harsh climate, low productivity) productivity 19 107 30-40 PICO PICO, ABCO Low to Low to High gopher populations moderate moderate are often present, droughtiness 21 35 70-85 PIPO PIPO Low to Moderate Steep slopes, exposed moderate aspects 22 158 75-95 PIPO, 45- ABCO, PSME, PIPO Moderate High Steep slopes, brush 55 ABCO (steep slopes) competition 23 56 45-55 ABCO, 90- ABCO, PSME Moderate High Steep slopes, loose soil 110 PSME (steep slopes) 28 461 80-100 PIPO, 45- ABCO, PSME, PIPO, Moderate High to Some sites with high 55 ABCO PIMO moderate gopher populations 29 145 80-100 PIPO, 45- PIPO,ABCO High High to Competition with grasses, 60 ABCO moderate locally high gopher populations 32 328 65-85 PIPO PIPO High to High Brush competition and moderate droughty soils 37 8 60-85 PIPO PIPO High to Moderate to Droughty conditions moderate high especially at lower elev. limits 64 269 70-85 PIPO PIPO High to Moderate Brush competition moderate 65 489 75-95 PIPO PIPO, ABCO, PICO High Moderate to Brush and sedges high competition 66 614 65-85 PIPO PIPO High Moderate Droughtiness, brush competition 67 475 75-95 PIPO PIPO, ABCO High High Brush competition 68 1 65-85 PIPO PIPO Low to Moderate Steep slopes with a south moderate aspect, droughtiness, brush comp. 69 332 75-95 PIPO ABCO, PIPO, PSME, Low to High to Brush competition PICO moderate moderate 85 7 Low TSME, Abies Very low (high Low Harsh climate, high elevations) elevations, low fertility 6H 62 40-45 ABCO, 35- ABCO, PICO, PIPO Moderate Moderate Sedge competition, 45 PICO gophers Grand 3900* Total * Remaining 52 acres are within SRI code 1 (13 acres),4 (24 acres) ,9 (15 acres) and contain inclusions of lava and/or cinder or portions of alpine meadow. In all cases lava, meadows, or cinder would be attempt to be planted.

Project Size: Planting 3,952 acres, Site Preparation 2,442 acres

LRMP and NWFP Land Allocations: See tables below

PLANTING- (3,952 ACRES) Due to absence of nearby contributing seed trees (high and moderate burn severity implied), planting would be conducted on up to 3,952 acres. Tree species consist of early- to mid-seral coniferous species that are locally sourced and that can be supported by site specific abiotic and biotic conditions. Planting would help accelerate recolonization of desirable trees species that were present prior to the fire and those that will endure long-term. Planted tree species would include ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and western larch (Larix occidentalis). In addition, planting is also chosen on a subset of these acres (at higher elevations) to introduce rust-resistant western white (Pinus monticola) and white bark pine (Pinus albicaulis). A major threat to high elevation white pines and their ecosystems is (Cronartium ribicola) that causes the disease white pine blister rust. Planting of rust-resistant western white pine has become the dominant approach for western white pine restoration (Fins et al. 2001, Nuenschwander et al. 1999). In addition to coniferous species, planting would include locally sourced riparian shrubs and may include willows (Salix spp.), red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), mountain alder (Alnus incana) and others. Planting would occur by hand using; shovels, hoe dads or augers with a variable density spacing focusing on microsites and other site-specific cues that would favor long-term survival. Physical protection measures may be utilized in areas with high browse pressures that limit survival of planted stock. These 3,952 acres represent maximum extent for planting. Further evaluation and stand by stand diagnoses would occur to determine necessity of artificial reforestation.

Table 22. Planting acres by Deschutes LRMP management areas

Sum of Row Labels Acres M11 1 Intensive Recreation 1 M15 1 Old Growth 1 M17 147 Whychus Creek - Scenic Segment 147 M18 1549 Front Country Seen 791 Front Country Unseen 758 M8 1149 General Forest 1149 M9 1105 Scenic View Partial Retention Foreground 430 Scenic View Partial Retention Middleground 205 Scenic View Retention Foreground 469 Grand Total 3952

Table 23. Planting acres by Northwest Forest Plan management areas

Row Labels Sum of Acres Administratively Withdrawn Areas 1 Late-successional Reserves 2203 Matrix 991 Grand Total 3195

NATURAL REGENERATION (500 ACRES) Consists of areas with mixed to low severity burn severity and areas with high severity that are generally less than 10 acres. Due to size and/or burn severity, natural regeneration is expected and would be influenced by surviving overstory and in-situ seed mast timing. Standard regeneration survey methods will be utilized to determine regeneration success overtime and identify regeneration meets management direction. These 500 acres for natural regeneration represent minimum extent and would be influenced by acres that have a changed call from planting upon stand by stand silvicultural diagnoses.

SITE-PREPARATION (2,442 ACRES) Site preparation is a widely used method to facilitate the establishment of a desirable stand of trees. Site preparation activities remove or reduce competing vegetation, reduce or remove unwanted trees and logging debris, and/or prepare the soil to promote the growth and survival of desired tree species. The primary objective is to have an area suitable for natural regeneration or planting and establishing a new stand of trees. Site preparation prescriptions are based on a stand by stand basis that evaluates existing competition, debris on the site, and soil. Areas that have been severely damaged by ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes or wildfires that have lost the majority of their desirable vegetation are prime candidates for site preparation prior to reforestation.

Site-preparation employed here would consist of mechanical ground-based or hand-operated equipment to cut and remove, cut and masticate or cut and hand pile small fire killed trees up to 12” diameter breast height (DBH). Twenty percent of fire killed trees below 12”DBH would be retained on site and dispersed across the given area to provide for black backed woodpecker habitat in the short-term and for soil organic matter in the medium to long- term. Natural breakage, tops and limbs from operation activities would also be left on site for soil organic matter. In addition, all living and all fire killed trees above 12” DBH would be retained across all areas. In order to meet visual quality objectives within the Wild and Scenic (Scenic portion) management area, retention levels may be elevated above (from those stated above) in order meet Scenic quality objectives for that area. Site preparation activities would be limited to fall and leave within any associated riparian areas. Where ground-based equipment is utilized, felled material may be brought to a designated landing for biomass utilization.

The areas with the proposed site preparation can be categorized broadly into 4 categories within the Milli post-fire landscape:

1) High to mixed severity former plantations arising from past regeneration cuts (967 acres). a. These were harvested from 1981-1994 2) High severity replanted fire area near Whychus Canyon (187 acres) (resembles an even-aged plantation). 3) Mixed severity stands with abundant dead understory and surviving overstory component (321 acres).

4) High severity stands with abundant dead understory without a surviving overstory component (966 acres).

Table 24. Acres of site preparation by Deschutes Land and Resource Management Plan management area.

Row Labels Sum of Acres M17 124 Whychus Creek - Scenic Segment 124 M18 866 Front Country Seen 548 Front Country Unseen 318 M8 949 General Forest 949 M9 502 Scenic View Partial Retention Foreground 323 Scenic View Partial Retention Middleground 74 Scenic View Retention Foreground 105 Grand Total 2442

Table 25. Acres of site preparation by Northwest Forest Plan allocations.

Row Labels Sum of Acres Late-successional Reserves 1125 Matrix 644 Grand Total 1770

SITE PREPARATION W/ PLANTING:

Table 26. Site preparation with planting by Deschutes LRMP

Acres

M17 121

Whychus Creek - Scenic Segment 121

M18 790

Front Country Seen 486

Front Country Unseen 304

M8 886

General Forest 886

M9 323

Scenic View Partial Retention Foreground 185

Scenic View Partial Retention Middleground 63

Scenic View Retention Foreground 74

Grand Total 2121

Table 27. Site preparation with planting by NWFP allocations

Acres

Late-successional Reserves 1070

Matrix 583

Grand Total 1653

PLANTING AND NATURAL REGENERATION W/O SITE PREPARATION:

Due to the substantial proportion of overlap between the 2017 Milli fire and 2006 Black Crater fire and the subsequent interacting fire behavior and current post-fire conditions, these areas would be the quickest to reforest and/or monitor (natural regeneration implied) and not require site preparation. In many locations, the past plantings (post Black Crater 2006) and standing and down wood were burned through and consumed in whole. The fire in these areas has effected soil productivity, soil erosion potential and hydrologic function (See Milli BAER report). Reforestation in these areas will hasten reestablishment of conifer species prior to the anticipated brush response.

1ST PRIORITY Reforestation of areas with high soil burn severity within the Black crater and Milli reburn areas without site preparation (877 acres). These areas have been identified through BAER as high soil burn severity that are also hydrologically connected to Trout Creek. This reburn area lost much of it’s formally planted trees and generally lacks any surviving overstory and snags. Down wood offer little utility due to reduced size, abundance, distribution and nature of charred wood bole segments.

Table 28. Acres of planting priority reforestation

ACRES

M11 3

Intensive Recreation 3

M18 874

Front Country Seen/Unseen 874

Grand Total 877* *All of these acres are within NWFP Late Successional Reserve allocation.

Table 29. Planting and natural regeneration without site preparation by Deschutes LRMP

Acres

Planting 2169

Front Country Seen/Unseen 1352

General Forest 235

Intensive Recreation 3

Old Growth 0

Scenic Views 555

Wild, Scenic, Recreation River 23

Natural regeneration 288

Front Country Seen/Unseen 200

General Forest 36

Intensive Recreation 1

Scenic Views 51

Grand Total 2457

SITE PREPARATION FOR NATURAL REGENERATION: Site preparation for natural regeneration is proposed in areas that had mixed severity fire effects where there is abundant fire killed understory that would inhibit long term recruitment of natural regeneration. Treatment would

32 follow site preparation activities as described above, but since there is an element of a nearby seed contributing overstory and/or the areas are relatively small in since (i.e. >10 acres) planting in not prescribed.

Table 30. Site preparation for natural regeneration

Acres

M17 3

Whychus Creek - Scenic Segment 3

M18 76

Front Country Seen 62

Front Country Unseen 14

M8 63

General Forest 63

M9 179

Scenic View Partial Retention Foreground 138

Scenic View Partial Retention Middleground 11

Scenic View Retention Foreground 30

Grand Total 321

MILLI DANGER TREE MITIGATION PROJECT

The Milli roadside danger project within Milli fire consists of mitigating “danger trees” utilizing the “Field Guide for Danger-Tree Identification and Response along Forest Roads and Work Sites in Oregon and Washington 2016.” In addition to mitigation (i.e. falling), tree removal would occur in order to remove roadside accumulations of down wood. Removal would be consistent with Deschutes LRMP and/or Northwest Forest Plan standards and guidelines. In implementing the danger tree aspect of this project individual trees would be assessed using the rating system described in the Danger tree field guide with likely and imminent trees selected for danger tree mitigation and removal. The results of this implementation, would create a sinuous and intermittent pockets and/or zones were the likely and intermittent trees would be applied and other no cut (pass through) areas were these rated trees do not exist.

LITERATURE CITED

Scott, D.W., Schmit, C.L., Spiegel, L.H., 2002. Factors Affecting Survival of Fire Injured Trees: A Rating System For Determining Relative Probability of Survival of Conifers in the Blue and Wallowa Mountains. USDA Forest Service – Blue Mountains Pest Management Service Center, BMPMSC-03-01.

Scott, D.W., Schmitt, C.L., 2006. Factors Affecting Survival of Fire Injured Trees: A Rating System for Determining Relative Probability of Survival of Conifers in the Blue and Wallowa Mountains Amendment 2. USDA Forest Service – Blue Mountains Pest Management Service Center, BMPMSC-03-01 Amend. 2.

Thies, W.G., Westlind, D.J., Loewen, M., Brenner, G., 2006. Prediction of delayed mortality of fire-damaged ponderosa pine following prescribed fires in eastern Oregon, USA. Int. J. Wildland Fire 15, 19–29.

Thies, Walter G.; Westlind, Douglas J.; Loewen, Mark; Brenner, Greg. 2008. A field guide to predict delayed mortality of fire-damaged ponderosa pine: application and validation of the Malheur model. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW- GTR-769. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 16 p.

Thies, W.G., Westlind, D.J., 2012. Validating the Malheur model for predicting ponderosa pine post-fire mortality using 24 fires in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Int. J. Wildland Fire 21 (572), 582.