Moonlight Basin Community Area Forest Management Plan May, 28 2015 Jim Cancroft 1417 Orange Avenue Helena, MT 59624 (406) 442-7555 [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose of Plan ........................................................................................................................... 1 Property Location ......................................................................................................................... 1 Legal Description of Subject Lands ............................................................................................ 1 Moonlight Basin Community Area Location Map .................................................................... 2 Property Description .................................................................................................................... 3 Topography ................................................................................................................................. 3 Surrounding Land Use ................................................................................................................ 3 Weather ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Aerial Photograph ......................................................................................................................... 4 Topographic Map.......................................................................................................................... 5 Forest Management Goals ........................................................................................................... 6 Goals Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 6 Goals 1 and 2: Improve and Maintain Forest Health and Maintain Forest Diversity. ................ 6 Goal 3: Promote a Fire-Tolerant Forest and Reduce the Risk of a Catastrophic Wildfire ......... 7 Goals 4 and 5: Improve and Maintain Wildlife Habitat and Provide Secure Wildlife Travel Corridors ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Goal 6 Reduce abundance of noxious weeds and minimize their spread ................................... 8 Goal 7 Increase Recreational opportunities throughout Moonlight Basin ................................. 8 Primary Forest Health Issues within Moonlight Basin ............................................................. 8 Risk of Catastrophic Wildfire ..................................................................................................... 8 Western Spruce Budworm/Douglas-fir Bark Beetle .................................................................. 9 Tree Overcrowding ..................................................................................................................... 9 Additional Forest Insects and Diseases ...................................................................................... 9 Soils............................................................................................................................................... 10 Soils Map. ................................................................................................................................. 11 Forest Types ................................................................................................................................ 13 Moonlight Basin Community Area Forest Types ..................................................................... 14 Young Subalpine Mix Forest Type ........................................................................................... 15 Description ............................................................................................................................ 15 Desired Future Condition ..................................................................................................... 15 Management Recommendation’s .......................................................................................... 16 Reduce Overcrowding ........................................................................................................... 16 Wildfire Hazard Mitigation................................................................................................... 16 Maintain or Improve Wildlife Habitat .................................................................................. 17 Moonlight Basin Community Area Forest Management Plan Northwest Management, Inc. -i- Mature Douglas-Fir Mix Forest Type ....................................................................................... 18 Description ............................................................................................................................ 18 Desired Future Condition ..................................................................................................... 19 Management Recommendation’s .......................................................................................... 19 Control Western Spruce Budworm. ...................................................................................... 19 Control Douglas-fir Bark beetle. .......................................................................................... 20 Reduce Overstocking ............................................................................................................ 20 Wildfire Hazard Mitigation................................................................................................... 21 Maintain or Improve Wildlife Habitat .................................................................................. 21 Mature Subalpine Conifer Mix.................................................................................................. 22 Desired Future Condition ..................................................................................................... 22 Management Recommendation’s .......................................................................................... 23 Reduce Overcrowding ........................................................................................................... 23 Wildfire Hazard Mitigation................................................................................................... 23 Maintain and Improve Wildlife Habitat ................................................................................ 23 Mature High Elevation Mixed Conifer Forest Type ............................................................... 24 Desired Future Condition ..................................................................................................... 25 Management Recommendation’s .......................................................................................... 25 Forest Health Improvement .................................................................................................. 25 Wildfire Mitigation................................................................................................................ 25 Maintain or Improve Wildlife Habitat .................................................................................. 25 Silvicultural Approaches to Forest Management .................................................................... 26 Purpose and Scope .................................................................................................................... 26 Understanding Forest Succession ............................................................................................. 26 Uneven-Aged Management ...................................................................................................... 27 Limitations ............................................................................................................................ 27 Even-Aged Forest Management ............................................................................................... 28 Limitations ............................................................................................................................ 29 Description of Recommended Forest Management Practices .................................................. 29 Tree Thinning ........................................................................................................................ 29 Common Thinning Methods ..................................................................................................... 31 Low thinning ......................................................................................................................... 31 Crown thinning ..................................................................................................................... 31 Selection thinning.................................................................................................................. 31 Monitoring ................................................................................................................................ 32 Wild Fire Hazard Management ................................................................................................. 32 Fire Behavior Basics ................................................................................................................. 32 Survivable Space ......................................................................................................................