Region 1 Resource Advisor Training Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasives 1
Feb 25, 2016
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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