Region 1 Resource Advisor Training

Region 1 Resource Advisor TrainingAquatic and Terrestrial Invasives

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Part 1Aquatic Resources

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TES Aquatic Species• Bull Trout – threatened species, present in

MT and ID west of the divide• Steelhead – threatened species, present in

most of ID; not present in MT• Chinook Salmon – threatened or

endangered in most of ID, sensitive species in some parts of ID• Coho/Sockeye Salmon – threatened or

endangered in some parts of ID•Westslope cutthroat trout – sensitive

species on forests in MT and ID3

TES Aquatic Species – Habitat Needs (“the 4 C’s”)•Cold water•Clean stream bottoms•Complex hiding cover (i.e. large wood and pools)•Connected (i.e. no barriers)

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TES Aquatic Species - Legal Requirements•Endangered Species Act- consultation requirements vary- Some forests have programmatic

agreements with regulatory agencies, some don’t-Onus is on the unit fish biologist to

check on suppression activities and determine if consultation is needed 5

TES Aquatic Species - Legal Requirements• Forest Plan Standards in INFISH and

PACFISH- FM-1 = protect the 4 C’s and minimize

disturbance to riparian areas- FM-2 = locate camps and other centers for

suppression activities outside of RHCAs- FM-3 = avoid delivering retardant to water

bodies6

What in the #$% are RHCAs?

•Riparian Habitat Conservation Area- Fancy term for a riparian buffer-Designated by INFISH/PACFISH-Width varies by type of water body (300’,

150’, 100’)- 300’ is the most commonly used RHCA

width and the one the READ should keep in mind when assessing suppression activities

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Which commonly used suppression activities pose the most risk to aquatics?1. Machine fire line (highest)2. Re-opening closed roads with machinery3. Retardant drops4. Brushing/fuel breaks5. Hand fire line 6. Helicopter bucket dipping7. Water drafting/pumps8. Hazard tree felling9. Camps, helibases, helispots, drop points10. Structure protection (lowest)

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Machine Fire Lines risk is sediment• Don’t build it if you don’t have to• Use combo of feller buncher & excavator instead of

bulldozers• Stay out of RHCAs• Stay on slopes < 35%• Tip the blade and only disturb the minimal amount of

soil necessary (i.e. shouldn’t be creating cut and fills)• The mitigations listed above are often a fallacy -

always keep a really close eye on the heavy equipment!! 9

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Re-opening Closed Roads with Heavy Machinery main risk is sediment, lesser risk is shade

• Similar effects as dozer line construction• Avoid scraping the road prism to bare soil

and side-casting the dirt• Avoid creating berms along the shoulders

with rolled up, embedded sod mats• Protect the shade at stream crossings and

along road segments that closely parallel streams 11

Retardant Drops main risk is water quality and toxins• Retardant is highly toxic to aquatic life• National direction is to not drop within 300 feet

of any stream or water body – fire managers should have GIS maps of avoidance areas for each forest• READ should field verify compliance with the 300

foot restriction on all drops – drift and splatter do occur, and not every water body is mapped• Keep the local fish biologist informed if you find

any indications of non-compliance 12

Brushing & Fuel Breaks main risk is shade

• Protect the shade at stream crossings and along road segments that closely parallel streams•Watch out for bored saws and rural fire

departments• Don’t let the chips pile up too high!

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Hand Fire Lines risk is sediment• Try to avoid building hand lines in RHCAs•Don’t tie the line directly into the water

line• Scrape as little as needed•Water bar during construction•Recontour, seed, fertilize, and slash all

hand lines after use; highest priority are the sections in RHCAs 15

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Helicopter Bucket Dipping main risk is mortality of fish and invasives, lesser risk is water quality• Install a heli-well or portable tank instead

of dipping directly out of water bodies•Avoid dipping from water bodies that

contain TES aquatic species• The home unit should have a GIS map

that shows where dipping is prohibited and allowed – make sure that is being followed 17

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Water Drafting & Pumps main risk is water quality and toxins; lesser risk is fish barriers• All intakes properly screened • 3/32” mesh vs. 1/8” mesh• USFS pumps/engines/tenders have 3/32” strainers

– non USFS equipment frequently has no screens or awareness of screening• Pumps must have proper spill containment

mitigations• Check for creation of fish barriers• After use, naturalize site and tear apart any rock

diversion structures in streams 20

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Hazard Tree Felling risk is habitat complexity and shade

•Avoid felling hazard trees in RHCAs•When felling in RHCAs cannot be

avoided, directionally fell the hazard trees towards or into the water body and leave on site

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Camps, Helibases, Helispots, Drop Points, Safety Zones risks are sediment and shade

•Avoid locating in RHCAs (INFISH/PACFISH standard FM-2)•Exemptions may be granted for

sites that pose minimal risk to aquatics•Has not been much of an issue on

the Bitterroot NF 24

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Structure Protection risks are sediment and shade

•Avoid clearing riparian vegetation•Avoid significant ground

disturbance•Has not been much of an issue on

the Bitterroot NF for aquatics

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Part 2Invasive Species

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Aquatic and Terrestrial

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Aquatic invaders of highest concern

•Eurasian Watermilfoil•Zebra and Quagga mussels•New Zealand mudsnails

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Terrestrial invaders of highest concern

•Plants classified as noxious weeds

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How do aquatic invasions occur? Equipment transfers infected water, plants, debris, or mud from one water body to another

•Helicopters•Heli-wells and portable tanks •Engines and tenders•Pumps, hoses, and screens•Any kind of water craft 36

Aquatic invader mitigations

• Inspect, clean, and sanitize all equipment that contacts water at arrival and demob – must be clean and dry!!•Avoid known infestations – all non-

tested private ponds are suspect•Avoid drafting mud, sediment, and

aquatic plants•Avoid transferring water from one water

body to another37

How do terrestrial invasions occur?

•Vehicles and heavy machinery•People and their gear•Cargo nets

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Terrestrial invader mitigations •Pressure wash all vehicles at arrival and

demob•Avoid locating camps, helibases, drop

points, and staging areas in infestated areas (if possible, locate in weed free areas)• Expose the least amount of mineral soil

possible during line construction•Use weed free seed and monitor•Ask crews to check their clothing/gear 39

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