Crooked Mud Honey Project Wildlife Report Appendix C DecAID Report Wildlife 1 Appendix C-Crooked Mud Honey Project Deadwood Analysis (DecAid) Current Direction Based on “Biological Potential” The goal of management for species richness is to insure that most native wildlife species are maintained in viable numbers and that habitat requirements for all species must be accounted for (Thomas, 1979, p.141). Habitat requirements, including snag and down woody material levels, were described for a vast array of wildlife species using information known at the time in Thomas (1979) and Brown (1985). However, Bull et al. (1997) states current direction for providing wildlife habitat on public forest lands does not reflect the new information available, which suggests that to fully meet the needs of wildlife, additional snags and habitat are required for foraging, denning, nesting, and roosting. Rose et al. (2001) also state that several major lessons have been learned in the period 1979 to 1999 that have tested critical assumptions of earlier management advisory models, including some assumptions used to develop current recommendations in the LRMP Standards and Guidelines. Some assumptions include: Calculation of numbers of snags required by woodpeckers based on assessing their “biological (population) potential” is a flawed technique (Rose et al., 2001). Empirical studies are suggesting that snag numbers in areas used and selected by some wildlife species are far higher than those calculated by this technique (Rose et al., 2001). Numbers and sizes (dbh) of snags used and selected by secondary cavity nesters often exceed those of primary excavators (Rose et al., 2001). This suggests the current direction of managing for 100 percent population levels of primary excavators may not represent the most current knowledge of managing for cavity nesters and that these snag levels, under certain conditions, may not be adequate for some species. DecAID is a culmination of the most recent science and data available. As stated by Rose et al. (2001), DecAID is based on a thorough review of the literature, available research and inventory data, and expert judgment. Information in DecAID will be compared to the current LRMP standards and guidelines for this project. Explanation of the DecAID Version 2.0 Advisory Tool The snag analysis for the Crooked Mud Honey Project was conducted using DecAID Version 2.0. DecAID is an advisory tool developed to help managers evaluate the effects of forest conditions (existing conditions or conditions that would result from proposed activities) on wildlife that use snags and down wood. It is a summary, synthesis, and integration of current scientific knowledge about the sizes and amounts of snags and down wood used by cavity nesting birds in specific vegetation types in the West. DecAID can help managers decide how much snag and down wood of different sizes should be retained to meet wildlife management objectives for a particular project or area (Mellen et al., 2006). The information contained in DecAID is based on published scientific literature, research data, expert judgment, and professional experience. It is primarily a statistical summary of published research data for wildlife presence (mainly cavity-nesting birds) and inventoried forest conditions (Mellen et al., 2006). DecAID presents information on the range of “natural
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Crooked Mud Honey Project Wildlife Report Appendix C DecAID Report
Crooked Mud Honey Project Wildlife Report Appendix C DecAID Report
Wildlife
8
Lodgepole Pine Forest (LP) habitat type 72 acres, Montane Mixed Conifer Forest (MMC) 1,180
acres, and Ponderosa Pine/Douglas-fir Forest (PPDF) 3,386 acres. Because acreage totals were
so small all four habitat types were combined and then analyzed using the EMC forest habitat.
After combining habitat types the total EMC habitat type within the CMH project area was
46,483 acres. The CMH project area is within the Upper and Lower Camas Creek, Middle
Thomas Creek, Lower Cox Creek, Upper and Lower Crooked Creek, Upper and Lower Drake
Creek, Upper and Lower Honey Creek, McDowell Creek and Mud Creek Subwatersheds and,
therefore, it is appropriate to make a comparison to the vegetation inventory data in DecAID.
DecAID was used to compare existing condition to reference conditions for the effects analysis
of this project. The reference of snag and down wood distribution represented by the summary
of forest inventory data from unharvested inventory data in DecAID will be compared with the
project alternatives. It is assumed that, if snag numbers and distribution are similar to reference
conditions, the snag needs of cavity nesting birds would be met within the historic range of
variability.
Eastside Mixed Conifer Powell suggests the following stand structure types as a reference condition (2010):
Table 4: Reference Conditions for the Percentage of the Landscape in the Each Habitat Type
EMC_EBC_Open 50%
EMC_EBC_Small/Medium 15%
EMC_EBC_Large 35%
The following steps were taken in order to compare reference conditions from the vegetative
inventory data in DecAID to existing condition.
Snags Greater Than 10 Inches dbh - Distribution
Table 5: The distribution histograms from unharvested plots in DecAID shown in Table 5 (figures EMC_ECB_O.inv-14, EMC_ECB_S.inv-14, and EMC_ECB_L.inv14) were referenced to determine the percentage of the landscape in each of the snag density categories for snags >10” dbh.
Habitat
Type/
Structure
Stage
0
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
0-6
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
6-12
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
12-18
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
18+
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
EMC_ECB_O 29% 30% 16% 6% 20%
EMC_ECB_S 15% 25% 17% 18% 26%
EMC_ECB_L 22% 32% 15% 12% 19%
Table 6: The percentage of the landscape in each snag density category for the EMC_ECB_O, EMC_ECB_S, and EMC_ECB_L categories (snags >10 inches dbh) were weighted to match the estimated historical range of variability for the CMH Project Area
Habitat
Type/
Structure Stage
Historic
Range Of
Variability
Percent in
Structure
Weighted
Average of
Percent of
Landscape
with 0
Weighted
Average of
Percent of
Landscape
with 0-6
Weighted
Average of
Percent of
Landscape
with 6-12
Weighted
Average of
Percent of
Landscape
with 12-18
Weighted
Average of
Percent of
Landscape
with >18
Crooked Mud Honey Project Wildlife Report Appendix C DecAID Report
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Stage Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
EMC_ECB_O 50% (29*.5)
14.5
(30*.5)
15.0
(16*.5)
8.0
(6*.5)
3.0
(20*.5)
10
EMC_ECB_S 15% (15*.15)
2.25
(25*.15)
3.75
(17*.15)
2.55
(18*.15)
2.7
(26*.15)
3.9
EMC_ECB_L 35% (22*.35)
7.7
(32*.35)
11.2
(15*.35)
5.25
(12*.35)
4.2
(19*.35)
6.65
Table 7: The total percent of the landscape in each snag density category for snags per acre >10 inches dbh based on the inventory data from DecAID for EMC_ECB Type for the EMC_ECB_S, EMC_ECB_O, and EMC_ECB_L combined
0
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
0-6
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
6-12
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
12-18
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
>18
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
24% 30% 16% 10% 21%
Table 8: The Existing Condition for Snags >10”dbh Based on GNN Data
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
0
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
0-6
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Total Percent of
Landscape with
6-12
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
12-18
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Total Percent of
Landscape with
>18
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
33% 34% 12% 3% 18%
Crooked Mud Honey Project Wildlife Report Appendix C DecAID Report
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Figure 1: Existing Condition for Snag Densities Greater Than 10 Inches dbh Compared to the Reference
Conditions in Decaid.
3334
12
3
18
24
30
16
10
21
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
0 0-6 6-12 12-18 18+
Pe
rce
nt
of
Lan
dsc
ape
Snags per acre
Existing Condition for Snag Densities Greater Than 10 Inches dbh Compared to the Reference Conditions in
DecAID
Current Condition
Reference Condition
Total Snags Greater Than 20 Inches dbh - Distribution
Table 9: The distribution histograms from unharvested plots in DecAID (figures EMC_ECB_O.inv-15, EMC_ECB_S.inv-15, and EMC_ECB_L.inv15) were referenced to determine the percentage of the landscape in each of the snag density categories for snags >20” dbh.
Habitat
Type/
Structure
Stage
0
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
0-2
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
2-4
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
4-6
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
6+
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
EMC_ECB_O 53% 22% 10% 5% 10%
EMC_ECB_S 31% 18% 17% 13% 21%
EMC_ECB_L 32% 8% 19% 14% 27%
Table 10: The percentage of the landscape in each snag density category for the EMC_ECB_O, EMC_ECB_S, and EMC_ECB _L categories (snags >20 inches dbh) were weighted to match the estimated historical range of variability for the Crooked Mud Honey Project Area
Habitat
Type/
Structure Stage
Historic
Range Of
Variability
Percent in
Structure
Stage
Weighted
Average of
Percent of
Landscape
with 0
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Weighted
Average of
Percent of
Landscape
with 0-2
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Weighted
Average of
Percent of
Landscape
with 2-4
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Weighted
Average of
Percent of
Landscape
with 4-6
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Weighted
Average of
Percent of
Landscape
with >6
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
EMC_ECB_O 50% (53*.5)
26.5
(22*.5)
11.0
(10*.5)
5.0
(5*.5)
2.5
(10*.5)
5.0
EMC_ECB_SM 15% (31*.15)
4.65
(18*.15)
2.7
(17*.15)
2.55
(13*.15)
1.95
(21*.15)
3.15
EMC_ECB_L 35% (32*.35)
11.2
(8*.35)
2.8
(19*.35)
6.65
(14*.35)
4.9
(27*.35)
9.45
Crooked Mud Honey Project Wildlife Report Appendix C DecAID Report
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Table 11: The total percent of the landscape in each snag density category for snags per acre >20 inches dbh based on the inventory data from DecAID for EMC_ECB Type for the EMC_ECB_S, EMC_ECB_O, and EMC_ECB_L combined
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
0
Snags/acre
>10” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
0-2
Snags/acre
>20” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
2-4
Snags/acre
>20” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
4-6
Snags/acre
>20” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
>6
Snags/acre
>20” dbh
42% 17% 14% 9% 8%
Table 12: The Existing Condition for Snags >20”dbh Based on GNN Data
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
0
Snags/acre
>20” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
0-2
Snags/acre
>20” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
2-4
Snags/acre
>20” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
4-6
Snags/acre
>20” dbh
Total
Percent of
Landscape
with
>6
Snags/acre
>20” dbh
46% 26% 5% 13% 10%
Figure 2: Existing Condition for snag Densities Greater Than 20 Inches dbh Compared to the Reference
Conditions in Decaid
GNN Data
Crooked Mud Honey Project Wildlife Report Appendix C DecAID Report
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Table 13 below displays snag information contained in the Gradient Nearest Neighbor data set.
GNN contains data averaged over many stand types and conditions. The larger the scale that this
data is used, the more accurate it becomes for particular vegetation type. This data indicates that
we exceed Forest Plan standards related to snag densities.
Table 13: GNN snag data for the Fremont-Winema National Forest by EMC vegetation type
Number of Snags EMC Snags per Acre
> 12 cm (4.7 in.) DBH 18.3
> 25 cm (9.8 in.) DBH 6.6
> 50 cm (19.7 in.) DBH 1.5
DecAID Snag Diameter Information
Table 14 below displays the average snag diameter used by cavity excavator species by tolerance
level and forest habitat type taken from DecAID. Generally speaking higher tolerance levels
provide for a greater percentage of the individuals within a population.
Table 14: Snag diameter information by tolerance levels for selected wildlife species from DecAID Tables EMC_L.sp-17, EMC_S.sp-17.
Forest Wildlife Habitat Type EMC Mixed Conifer
Species
30% t.l.
snag
DBH (in)
50% t.l.
snag
DBH (in)
80% t.l.
snag
DBH (in)
BBWP-Black-backed Woodpecker 8.8 12.0 16.7
HAWO-Hairy Woodpecker 10.5 16.3 25.2
NOFL-Northern Flicker 17.7 22.2 30.6
PCE-Primary Cavity Excavators 16.8 23.1 33.3
PIWO-Pileated Woodpecker 25.2 29.5 36.0
WHWO-White-headed Woodpecker 20.8 26.7 35.9
WISA-Williamson’s Sapsucker 20.2 26.2 34.6
Data Source within DecAID Table EMC_L.sp-17 and
EMC_S.sp-17. (numbers in these tables are the same)
When Table 14 above is compared with Tables 5-12 above and Figures 1-2, it shows that the
project area is providing snag diameters that could be used by these wildlife species. Generally
speaking higher tolerance levels provide for a greater percentage of the individuals within a
population.
Snag Density Information
Densities of snags are also important for determining level of habitat provided. Table 15 below
was compiled with information from DecAID (version 2.0) Tables EMC_S/L.sp-22. This table
contains synthesized data for wildlife use of snag densities from various studies for the Eastside
Mixed Forest Conifer Wildlife Habitat Type and Small/medium Trees and Larger Trees
Structural Condition Classes.
Interpreting Table 15 below indicates for the four cavity excavator species with data available
generally shows that increasing the snag diameter reduces the number of snags per acre needed
to accommodate the same percentage of the population.
Crooked Mud Honey Project Wildlife Report Appendix C DecAID Report
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Table 15: Synthesized snag density information by tolerance levels for selected wildlife species from DecAID Tables EMC_S/L.sp-22.
no data no data no data 14.9 30.1 49.3 3.5 7.8 18.4
WHWO-White-
headed Woodpecker
Table EMC_S/L.sp-22
only
0.8 3.0 6.2 0.3 1.9 4.3 0 1.5 3.8
WISA-Williamson’s
Sapsucker
no data no data no data 14.0 28.4 49.7 3.3 8.6 16.6
In summary, snag densities were compared with Figures 1-2. The following species are
currently being provided for at the tolerance levels indicated. The CMH project area has pockets
of bug kill including 1377 acres of lodgepole that will be retained on the landscape. Retention
areas, no cut areas, single tree retention areas will also provide smaller dbh conifers in dense
patches required by species above.
Crooked Mud Honey Project Wildlife Report Appendix C DecAID Report
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Snag Summary for CMH Project Area Harvest prescriptions within the CMH project area call for thinning from below, variable density
spacing, and skip/gap techniques. These prescriptions will be followed with prescribed fire. The
effect of this on these stands is that there will be a mosaic of stand densities across the landscape,
and these stands would be within the historical range of variability, and therefore, should
continue to allow the natural processes that create snags to function. Also, the design criteria to
retain 15-20% of each treatment unit will leave areas of these stands above the insect threshold.
Additionally, no treatment areas will be dispersed across the CMH project area. Ponderosa pine
trees >21” will also not be harvested within the project area. Within the Eastside mixed conifer
vegetation community there has been a shift from the larger tree structural stage to small/medium
structural stages. This shift is the result from past harvest practices, and fire suppression. In
areas of past clear cuts and salvage logging, snag density is likely less than what would have
occurred historically.
The overall affect is that without recent snag survey data, it is difficult to quantify statistically
what is there right now. However, it appears based on GNN data snag information available that
the project area is close to reference conditions and Forest Plan standards (white paper from the
Forest identifying 4 snags/acre). Past logging practices and fire suppression have moved current
conditions above/below reference conditions in some categories. The proposed action and time
will move current conditions back toward historic snag reference conditions.
Down Wood Summary CMH Project Area
Definition of “down wood percent cover”, as used in DecAID:
DecAID includes data on down wood, a habitat component used by many wildlife species.
DecAID uses “down wood percent cover” to measure the presence of down wood on a given
acre. “Down wood percent cover” means within a given area, the percentage of the ground that
is covered with down wood at least 4.9 inches dbh on the small end and at least 3.3 feet long.
Wood in any decay class is included in the measurement as long as it meets the size criteria.
This way of measuring down wood was used in DecAID because it best describes the abundance
of down wood as it relates to wildlife use (Mellen et al., 2006). “Down wood percent cover” is
one of the most precise and efficient means of recording amounts of down wood, and is the
measure most commonly used in research studies that investigate wildlife use of down wood. As
an illustration of how this measure is applied, one acre exhibiting 0.9 percent down wood cover
might contain:
One 30-inch dbh ponderosa pine down tree 100-feet long
One 20-inch dbh ponderosa pine down tree 80-feet long
One 15-inch dbh ponderosa pine down trees 60-feet long
Two 10-inch dbh ponderosa pine down trees 40-feet long
or, that same acre could also exhibit 0.9 percent down wood cover with one of the groups below:
4.0 - 20-inch dbh ponderosa pine down trees 80-feet long OR
6.7 - 15-inch dbh ponderosa pine down trees 60-feet long OR
16.7 - 10-inch dbh ponderosa pine down trees 40-feet long.
Crooked Mud Honey Project Wildlife Report Appendix C DecAID Report
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DecAID provides information on American marten, the woodpeckers as a group and ants upon
which several species forage. The following table is information from DecAID Table
EMC_L.sp-21. This table is the result of synthesized data for wildlife use of down wood sizes
(diameter) for denning, resting, ant colonies, foraging and occupied sites from studies for the
various habitat types.
Table 16: Synthesized Data For Wildlife Use of Down Wood Sizes From Various Studies By Forest Type, Small and Large Structure Size and Tolerance Level From DecAID.
Habitat Type EMC Mixed Conifer
Species
30% t.l.
Down Wood
Dia. (in)
50% t.l.
Down Wood
Dia. (in)
80% t.l.
Down Wood
Dia. (in)
AMMA-American Marten 20.7 26.1 33.2
LANT-Large ant species 7.4 10.3 14.8
SANT-Small ant species 7.5 10.3 14.6
WOPE-Wood peckers 8.0 11.2 16.0
The last piece of information needed to evaluate the habitat is the density of down wood. Again
DecAID is used to describe habitat needs of species for which information is available. Table 17
information below is from DecAID table EMC_S/L.sp-24.
Table 17: Synthesized Data For Wildlife Use of Down Wood Densities From Various Studies By Forest Type, Small and Large Structure Size and Tolerance Level From DecAID.
Habitat Type EMC Mixed Conifer (> 5.9” Dia.)
Species 30 %t.l.
Down Wood
Cover (%)
30 %t.l.
Down Wood
Cover (%)
30 %t.l.
Down Wood
Cover (%)
BBWO-Black-backed
woodpecker
4.7 13.0 25.1
PIPO-Pileated woodpecker 4.0 4.5 5.1
Down Wood Summary for the Proposed Project Area
Due to a lack of quantifiable data, it is not known how much down wood is present within the
CMH project area, and therefore, unknown what tolerance levels are being provided for. Areas
of past clear cuts, salvage and overstory removal are likely not providing much down wood;
however, due to fire exclusion and limited prescribed burning, much of the area should be
providing down wood levels towards the upper end or above what has occurred historically.
While data was not available for down wood percent cover and wildlife use, other projects on
this Forest have looked at the vegetation inventory information for down wood percent cover,
and it appears within the Eastside mixed conifer stands it appears to be on the high side of what
would have been on the ground historically with a frequent fire return interval. Most likely this is
from high densities of conifer per acre and fire suppression. Also historically, it is likely that the
higher density areas of down wood were part of the shifting mosaic across the landscape that
resulted from insects or fire killing small patches of trees.
The Crooked Mud Honey project will not specifically target snags for removal. The overall
project design is to reduce the density of understory green trees on National Forest lands.
Hazard trees alongside roads and landings (likely within 100 feet) could be removed; however,
Crooked Mud Honey Project Wildlife Report Appendix C DecAID Report
Wildlife
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hazard trees that are felled in the interior of units would be retained to contribute to down wood,
and decrease the incentive to cut them.
The requirement to maintain felled hazard trees inside of units as down wood would help assure
that it is being provided for across the landscape. However, by re-introducing fire into these
stands, some of this would be consumed. As prescribed fire use is continued over time, the area
would be expected to provide down wood consistent with HRV levels, and also at levels
consistent with what the stand is capable of providing.
Continuation of Ecological Processes
The Silviculturist identified that many of the open stands are mainly past clear cuts, a technique
which the Forest does not currently practice. Past clear cuts that were reforested are moving
towards the small/medium structural stage, these stands will thin and in 10-20 years should
provide snags and down wood. Areas that were historically more open habitats are becoming
closed canopy. This is reducing vegetation diversity across the landscape. Removing
encroachment conifer will move sage steppe, meadows , mahogany stands and aspen habitats
back to historical conditions.
The CMH project is retaining existing snags (except hazard trees), and future snags are being
provided for by retention of stocked stands, 15-20% of each unit will be retained, and not
treating approximately 5,986 acres within the project boundary.
The CMH project is retaining existing down wood, and future down wood is being provided for
by retention of existing snags, and maintaining tree stocking levels within or at the high end of
the historical range of variability.
It is assumed that if snag numbers and distribution and down wood size and distribution are
similar to “natural” conditions, that we would be meeting the snag needs of cavity nesting birds
under the historic range of variability. Areas of past management activities (past harvest) are
likely deficient in snags. Therefore, stands that are currently stocked with commercial size trees
would likely be needed to meet snag dependent species requirements across the subsheds. This
is consistent with the proposed projects requirements to retain existing snags except where they
pose a safety issue.
References
Brown, James K., Elizabeth D. Reinhardt, and Kylie A. Kramer. 2003. Coarse woody debris:
Managing benefits and fire hazard in the recovering forest. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS_GTR-105.
Ogden UT. USDA, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 16p.
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr105.pdf
Bull, Evelyn L., Catherine G. Parks, and Torolf R. Torgersen. 1997. Trees and Logs Important to
Wildlife in the Interior Columbia River Basin. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-391. Portland, OR:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 55p.
Mellen, Kim, Bruce G Marcot, Janet L. Ohmann, Karen L. Waddell, Elizabeth A. Willhite,
Bruce B. Hostetler, Susan A. Livingston, Catherine Ogden, and Tina Dreisbach. 2006. The