Ottawa National Forest United States Monitoring and Department of Agriculture Evaluation Report Forest Service Eastern Region Fiscal Year 2011 August 2012 Caring for the Land and Serving People Citation: USDA Forest Service. 2012. Ottawa National Forest Fiscal Year 2011 Monitoring & Evaluation Report. Ironwood, MI. Short name for citations in documents produced on the Forest – FY11 M&E Report Responsible Official: Chuck Meyers, Regional Forester USDA Forest Service Eastern Region 626 E. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202 For further information contact: Christine Handler – Forest Planner Ottawa National Forest 1209 Rockland Road Ontonagon, MI 49953 Phone: 906-884-2085 x 12 [email protected] The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, status as a parent (in education and training programs and activities), because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or retaliation. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs or activities.) If you require this information in alternative format (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (Voice or TDD). 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TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................................................................... i Introduction and Forest Plan Overview ............................................................................................................................ 1 Purpose and Scope of the Report......................................................................................................................................... 2 Monitoring Program................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Monitoring Activities for FY 2011 ....................................................................................................................................... 3 1: How do actual outputs and services compare to those outputs and services projected in the Forest Plan? ... 6 2: How close are actual costs compared to projected costs? .................................................................................................... 8 4: Are insect and disease population levels compatible with objectives for restoring or maintaining healthy forest conditions? ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 6: Are harvested lands adequately restocked after 5 years? ................................................................................................... 16 18: To what extent is wilderness management contributing to improvement or preservation of wilderness character and values? ............................................................................................................................................................................. 16 23: To what extent are aspen forest type acres being maintained through regeneration activities to meet Forestwide and management area objectives? ............................................................................................................................ 18 29: To what extent is forest management affecting soil quality? ........................................................................................ 21 32: To what extent are the key terrestrial habitat components (e.g., soft mast, hard mast, snags, down woody material, low dense conifer regeneration) being provided? ................................................................................................... 23 33: To what extent is forest management providing ecological conditions to maintain viable populations of native and desired non-native species? ........................................................................................................................................... 25 33a: Plants – To what extent is forest management providing ecological conditions to maintain viable populations of native and desired non-native species? ................................................................................................... 25 33b: Birds - To what extent is forest management providing ecological conditions to maintain viable populations of native and desired non-native species? ................................................................................................... 29 33d: Bobcat - To what extent is forest management providing ecological conditions to maintain viable populations of native and desired non-native species? ................................................................................................... 35 34b: Black-backed Woodpecker and spruce grouse – To what extent is forest management contributing or responding to the conservation of species of viability concern (such as Regional Forester’s Sensitive Species) and moving toward desired habitat conditions for these species? ....................................................................................... 40 34d: Common loon – To what extent is forest management contributing or responding to the conservation of species of viability concern (such as Regional Forester’s Sensitive Species) and moving toward desired habitat conditions? .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 44 36: To what extent is forest management affecting the density of open roads within the Remote Habitat Area, and moving toward the Forest density objective of < 1.0 miles/square mile? ................................................................. 48 FY11 Ottawa NF Monitoring and Evaluation Report Page i 37: To what extent is forest management contributing to the development and maintenance of foraging and denning habitat, and connectivity of habitats for Canada lynx? ........................................................................................... 49 40: To what extent has land ownership adjustment facilitated forest management activities? .............................. 50 44a: To what extent are unneeded roads being decommissioned? ...................................................................................... 51 Additional Monitoring Information................................................................................................................................. 52 Regional Forester’s Sensitive Species (RFSS) List Update ........................................................................................................ 52 Monitoring of Forest Roads and Off-Highway Vehicle Use (OHV)......................................................................................... 52 Future Monitoring Needs .................................................................................................................................................... 53 Preparers................................................................................................................................................................................... 53 Appendix 1 – Schedule for Forest Plan Monitoring and Evaluation ....................................................................... 1 FY11 Ottawa NF Monitoring and Evaluation Report Page ii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Monitoring Items addressed in FY 2011 Monitoring and Evaluation Report ............. 3 Table 2: Wood Volume Sold by Product Type 2006-2011 .................................................................... 6 Table 3: Wood Volume Harvested by Product Type 2006-2011 ....................................................... 7 Table 4: Actual Harvest Acres 2006-2011 Compared to the Forest Plan’s Annual Estimate. 8 Table 5: Unit Costs for Timber Management Projected in the Forest Plan ................................... 9 Table 6: Timber Costs, Volume Sold, and Average Dollars Spent per CCF Sold for 2006- 2012. .............................................................................................................................................................. 10 Table 7: Reforestation and TSI Costs Projected in the Forest Plan ................................................ 11 Table 8: Planting Costs for 2006-2012 Compared to Forest Plan Estimated Costs ................ 11 Table 9: Site Preparation Costs for 2006-2012 Compared to Forest Plan Estimated Costs 12 Table 10: Natural Regeneration Survey Costs for 2006-2012 Compared to Forest Plan Estimated Costs ........................................................................................................................................