Chapter 5
Consultation
A. Agencies and Organizations Consulted
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Arkansas State Historical Preservation Commission
Arkansas Forestry Commission
School of Forest Resources, University of Arkansas—Monticello
Heartwood
Forest Guardians
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Conway AR
B. Persons Consulted
Complete list is located in the project file
Chapter 6
Literature Cited
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Clingenpeel, J.A. 1993. Herbicide effectiveness monitoring on the Ouachita National
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Clingenpeel, L. Alan. 1989. Above and below storm sampling, BMP effectiveness, 1989 monitoring results. Unpublished document on file at Supervisor's Office, Ouachita National Forest, Hot Springs, AR.
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Heath, D.R., D.A. Saugey, and G.A. Heidt. 1986. Abandoned mine fauna of the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas: Vertebrate taxa. Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science. 40:33-36.
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GLOSSARY
Basal Area—A measurement designation: (a) Of a tree—the cross-sectional area (in square feet) of the trunk at breast height (4.5 feet above the ground). For example, the basal area of a tree 14 inches in diameter breast height (d.b.h.) is about 1 square foot. Basal area = 0.005454 times d.b.h. squared. (b) Of an acre—the sum of basal areas of the individual trees on the area. For example, a well-stocked even-aged pine stand might contain 80 to 120 square feet of basal area per acre, and a well-stocked uneven-aged pine stand might contain 45 to 75 square feet of basal area per acre in merchantable-sized trees.
Beneficial Uses—For the purposes of the Clean Water Act, water pollution can be measured in terms of its effect on “beneficial uses” of the water. These may be a downstream fishery, a municipal water supply, a swimming area, or other direct uses of the water that may be sensitive to pollutants.
Best Management Practices (BMP's)—Practices designed to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act for limiting non-point source pollution. The State Pollution Control and Ecology Commission has designated BMP's for forestry practices in Arkansas.
Biodegradable—An item is biodegradable if it is broken down rapidly in a natural environment by the actions of microorganisms or sunlight.
Biological Evaluation (BE)—The evaluation of a proposed action (in this case a timber sale) in terms of its effects on threatened and endangered species. The Biological Evaluation is written by a professional wildlife biologist.
Broadcast Treatment—A treatment applied over an entire area (cf. herbicide, prescribed burn).
Canopy—The layer of tree crowns in a forest.
Competing Vegetation—Plant species that utilize limited site resources (i.e., sunlight, nutrients, water, and growing space) to the detriment of more desirable crop trees.
Competition Control—Silvicultural treatments to favor one plant species over others.
Cubic Foot—A wood volume measurement containing 1,728 cubic inches, such as would exist in a cube of wood measuring 1 foot on each side. A cubic foot of wood contains about 6 to 10 useable board feet of lumber rather than 12 board feet because some wood is lost as sawdust and shavings during processing.
Cull—A tree or log of merchantable size that has no timber value because of shape, disease or insect damage, or injury.
Cultural Resources—Historic and prehistoric archeological or cultural sites. These are usually artifacts or other physical remains of previous inhabitants, and are protected under the Antiquities Act of 1906, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, and other statutes.
Cumulative Effects—Effects taken in conjunction with all past, present, and future actions of all landowners in the affected area. Some actions may have individually insignificant, but cumulatively significant, effects when taken along with all other activities taken in the area.
Cutting Cycle—The planned time interval between major harvesting operations in a uneven-aged stand. For example, a cutting cycle of 10 years in a stand means a harvest every 10 years.
D.b.h.—Abbreviation for tree diameter at breast height (4.5 feet above the ground).
Diameter—The length of a straight line passing through the center of a tree or a log. Tree diameter is usually measured 4.5 feet above ground level (cf. D.b.h. and Breast Height).
Diversity—The distribution and abundance of different plant and animal communities within a given area. Diversity may be measured in terms of species richness (the number of different species present in a given area), between stand diversity (the mix of habitat types across a geographic area), vertical diversity (the mix of habitat niches provided by layering of the forest canopy), and genetic variability (the mix of genotypes within a given population). Taken together, these measures represent something of a measure of the complexity of the ecosystem as a whole.
Ecosystem—An interacting system of organisms and their environment, including microclimate, vegetation, animals, soil, and microorganisms. The plants and animals of a lake, a marsh, or a given watershed, for example, can be studied as members of an ecosystem.
Endangered Species—Any species of animal or plant that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Endangered species are identified by the Secretary of Interior, and protected in accordance with the 1973 Endangered Species Act.
Ephemeral Stream—A stream that flows only during very short periods during and immediately after periods of rainfall.
Erosion—Movement of exposed soil, usually by water. Agricultural and forestry practices that expose bare soil may increase erosion.
Even-aged Stand—A stand of trees that are about the same age (usually a range of 20% of rotation age). An even-aged stand may be naturally or artificially regenerated. Reproduction Cutting Methods that result in even-aged stands include: clearcuts, seedtree cuts, and shelterwood cuts.
Even-aged Silviculture—A silvicultural system that involves periodic harvesting of all trees on part of the forest at one time or in several cuttings over a short time with the objective of producing stands containing trees all the same or nearly the same age.
Fauna—The animal life of a particular area.
Floodplain—Lands along inland rivers and streams that are subject to periodic flooding. Lowland and flat benches along water courses that flood, on the average, at least once every 100 years.
Flora—The vegetation of a particular area.
Forage—Edible vegetation (leaves and stems) consumed by wildlife and/or livestock.
Forest Plan—The governing plan for an entire national forest. The Forest Plan sets out management goals, objectives, standards, and guidelines for each management area. Forest Plans are developed under the regulations governing the National Forest Management Act of 1976. The Amended Forest Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Ouachita National Forest were issued in 1990.
Forest Type—The predominant species composition of the forest canopy trees. Forest type describes the dominant vegetation of the site, and may also be used as a proxy for a number of other characteristics of the ecosystem (e.g. frequency of fire, moisture regime, soil). In a pine forest type, at least 70% of the upper canopy is occupied by pine trees, though many hardwoods are often present in the midstory and understory.
Ground Cover—That proportion of a sample area occupied or overtopped by various vegetative components. A measure of ground cover is often obtained by ocular estimation.
Group Selection—A method of regenerating uneven-aged stands in which trees are removed and new age classes are established in small groups. The maximum width of openings can vary depending on shade tolerance of the species, but is approximately twice the height of mature trees in the stand.
Habitat—The combination of food, water, shelter, and cover needed by a particular wildlife species.
Hardwoods—A term describing broadleaf trees such as oaks, maples, ashes, and elms. The term does not necessarily refer to the hardness of the wood. Leaves are usually deciduous, but may be persistent on some species such as American holly.
Herbaceous Vegetation—Nonwoody species of plants (i.e., forbs, grasses, semiwoody plants, and vines) that normally die back to the ground in winter.
Herbicides—Chemicals applied to undesirable plants to control competition and provide better conditions for the development of seedlings. Herbicides applied on the Ouachita National Forest are biodegradable and low in toxicity. Most are derived from plant hormones, and act to suppress growth or cause of leaf loss.
Inject—To pierce a tree's bark and release a small, measured amount of herbicide into the cambium.
Intermittent Stream—A stream that dries up during periods of low rainfall, flowing only during the wetter part of the year.
Log Landing—An area where logs are piled after cutting. From this area, they are loaded onto trucks for transportation to the sawmill. Landings are also referred to as decks.
Log Rule—A table of values that gives estimated board foot contents for logs of various diameters and lengths. The three log rules most used in the United States are the International 1/4-inch, Scribner, and Doyle. Doyle is the most common log rule in the South and is the legal rule in many southern states.
MBF—(Thousand Board Feet) - A unit of measure of sawtimber volume, either as logs, or after conversion to lumber.
Management Area—An area of national forest system land identified in the Forest Plan as having distinct management objectives. Activities in each management area are governed by specific standards and guidelines set forth in the Forest Plan. Examples include the lands surrounding Lake Ouachita, road and trail corridors, riparian areas, and suitable timberlands.
Management Indicator Species (MIS)—A plant or animal species selected to represent a particular ecological niche because of its habitat needs. Managers select indicator species from a wide range of habitat niches to assess the impacts of logging or other activities on wildlife.
Mast—The fruit of oak, hickory, beech, and similar trees, and the seeds of pines. Mast is a principal food for many species of wildlife.
Maximum Diameter—The largest d.b.h. targeted for retention in the residual stand.
Merchantable Size—Although variable across local markets, this silvicultural guide accepts standing trees that are ³3.6 inches in d.b.h. or logs that are >4 inches in diameter at the small end.
Midstory—Trees that occupy an intermediate position in the forest between the dominant trees of the canopy and the lower shrubs and trees of the understory. Midstory trees are often species adapted to low light conditions, and may also be suppressed and poorly formed.
National Forests—Public lands administered and managed by the USDA Forest Service for multiple use.
Natural Stand—A stand resulting from natural seedfall or sprouting.
Overtopped—Trees with crowns entirely below the general level of the crown cover or below competing vegetation and that receive no direct sunlight either from above or from the sides.
Prescribed Burn—The controlled use of fire to achieve forest management objectives. Prescribed fire can be used to prepare seedbeds for natural pine regeneration, reduce hazardous fuel levels, control unwanted vegetation, improve visibility, and improve wildlife habitat.
q (quotient) Factor—The ratio of the number of trees in any given diameter class to the number in the next larger or smaller diameter class. For example, the q would be 1.2 if there were 12 trees in the 15-inch d.b.h. class and 10 trees in the 16-inch d.b.h. class.
Reforestation—Planting or natural regeneration that reestablishes new seedlings to replace those cut during logging.
Regeneration—See Reproduction
Release—(a) A treatment designed to free young trees from undesirable, usually overtopping, competing vegetation. (b) Cuttings made to regulate the species composition and improve the quality of very young stands.
Reproduction—(a) Young trees that will grow to become the older trees of the future forest. (b) The process of forest replacement or renewal, which may be artificial (by direct seedling or planting) or natural (from sprouting or natural seeding).
Reproduction Cutting Method—Techniques used to harvest crop trees either in a single cut (clearcut), or a series of partial cuts (i.e., group selection, seedtree, shelterwood, single-tree selection) while facilitating the regeneration of forest stands.
Reversed J-Shaped Distribution—A d.b.h.-class distribution whereby the number of trees declines as d.b.h. increases (cf. q factor).
Riparian Area—The zone alongside a stream, lake, or pond that is directly influenced by water. Riparian ecosystems are characterized by a unique and sensitive mix of plants and animals.
Runoff—Water that leaves an area through streamflow or ground water flow. Runoff is often expressed, like rainfall, in terms of area-inches, the amount of water it would take to cover the affected watershed one inch deep.
Salvage Cut—Harvesting dead trees or those in danger of being killed by natural causes (insect, disease, flooding, etc.,) to save their economic value.
Sapling—A small tree, usually between 0.6 and 3.5 inches d.b.h.
Sawlog—A log large enough to be sawed into lumber.
Sedimentation—Soil and rock material transported by, suspended in, or deposited by water. Sedimentation is one of the primary ways in which non-point activities such as forest management practices influence water quality.
Seed Tree—An even-aged method of logging in which most of the trees are removed in one entry, leaving a few larger trees to provide a seed source for natural regeneration.
Seedcrop—Quantity of seeds produced and dispersed by a plant species. Loblolly and shortleaf pine seeds are dispersed from October through February, with peak seedfall in November throughout the Southeastern U.S.
Seedling—A tree, usually less than 0.6 inch in d.b.h., that has grown from a seed.
Selection Method—Harvesting individual trees or small groups of trees at periodic intervals (usually 5 to 15 years) based on their physical condition, size, age, or degree of maturity. The goal is to produce an uneven-aged stand. (cf. Group Selection, Single-tree Selection, Uneven- aged Forest Management, Uneven-aged Silvicultural System).
Seral Stage—A successional vegetative stage representing a unique habitat for wildlife. Early seral stage habitat includes forest openings, field, clearcuts, and young plantations. Later seral stage habitat includes mature and overmature forest.
Shade Tolerance—A tree's capacity to develop and grow in the shade of, and in competition with, other trees.
Shelterwood—An even-aged method of logging in which the timber is removed in two or more stages, with large trees of 30-40 square feet basal area per acre providing seed for natural regeneration, shelter for developing seedlings, and a fairly visually continuous canopy.
Silviculture—The art, science, and practice of establishing, tending, and reproducing forest stands of desired characteristics.
Single-tree Selection—A method of logging in which trees are cut individually over an entire stand, according to a target distribution of size classes. This method of cutting produces an uneven-aged stand with trees in a wide variety of ages and sizes, and is best suited to trees that grow well in a somewhat shaded environment.
Site—(a) A tract of land with reasonably uniform soil and climatic conditions. (b) A land area with the capacity to produce a particular stand or other vegetation because of biological, climatic, and soil factors.
Site Index (S.I.)—A measure of forest site quality based on the average height (in feet) of the taller (never suppressed) trees of a species at a specified age (usually 50 years for natural stands). A site index of 95 means that the expected height of the tallest trees at an index age of 50 years would be 95 feet on a particular area of land. Site index is usually an approximation in uneven-aged stands because the taller trees were probably overtopped during the regeneration phase. In this publication, the subjective site quality classes for loblolly-shortleaf pines at 50 years are as follows: good sites (>85 S.I.), medium sites (65-85 S.I.), and poor sites (<65 S.I.).
Site Preparation—Preparing an area of land for planting, direct seeding, or natural reproduction by clearing, chemical vegetation control, manual vegetation control, burning, disking, bedding, windrowing, raking, or combination of these treatments.
Skidding—Dragging logs from where they are cut to a convenient landing where they can be loaded for transportation to a sawmill. In the Ouachita Mountains, skidding is usually done with a mechanical skidder (a machine like a large tractor).
Softwoods—A term describing trees belonging to the order Confierales, usually evergreen, cone bearing, and with needles or scale like leaves such as pines, spruces, firs, and cedars (cf. Hardwoods).
Stand—A contiguous group of trees sufficiently uniform in size-class distribution and species composition, and growing on a site of uniform quality to be a distinguishable unit. Examples: Sawtimber stand—A stand with most trees large enough in diameter (usually ³10 inches d.b.h.) to be sawed into lumber. Residual stand—The stand remaining after a partial harvest. Old-field stand—A stand on land once used for agricultural crops or for pasture.
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)—The state agency charged with enforcement of the National Historic Preservation Act. Before actions are taken that may affect cultural resources, SHPO is provided an opportunity to comment on the potential impact on areas eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Succession—The replacement of one plant community by another until ecological stability (climax forest) is achieved. For example, an abandoned farm, if left to nature, would gradually go through different stages of vegetative cover and finally reach the climax forest stage after 100 or more years (cf. Climax Forest).
Thinning—Generally, a partial harvest in an immature stand to reduce the number of trees per acre and encourage the remaining trees to grow faster and produce higher quality wood (cf. Pre-commercial Thinning).
Threatened Species—An animal or plant species that is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future through all or a significant portion of its range, and that is listed in the Federal Register as a threatened species.
Timber Sale—The sale of government timber to loggers or wood products manufacturers, generally by competitive bidding. Timber is sold on national forest system land under the provisions of a timber sale contract, which governs the rights and obligations of the purchaser and the Forest Service. The land itself is not leased or sold.
Uneven-aged Stand—A stand composed of three or more age classes. A balanced uneven-aged stand consists of three or more age classes that are spaced at uniform intervals from reproduction to mature trees. Irregular uneven-aged stands do not contain all the age classes necessary to ensure that trees will reach maturity at short intervals indefinitely.
Uneven-aged Silvicultural System—The manipulation of a stand for a continuous high-forest cover, recurring regeneration of desirable species, and the orderly growth and development of trees through a range of age or diameter classes to provide a sustained yield of forest resources and values.
Uneven-aged Forest Management—A forest management system that involves frequent partial cuttings with the objective of producing uneven-aged stands.
Vegetation Management—Any treatment designed to manipulate vegetation to achieve management objectives. Examples include site preparation, release, wildlife stand improvement, and prescribed fire. Vegetation management may be carried out with hand tools, fire, grazing animals, bulldozers and other mechanical equipment, or herbicides.
Viewshed—The scenery as viewed from a particular point or facility (e.g. a scenic road, campground, or recreational lake).
Visual Quality—The composition of terrain, topography, water, and vegetation that determines the appearance of an area to forest visitors.
Visual Quality Objective (VQO)—Forest Service landscape architects have identified visual quality objectives for each area of the national forest. These are a function of the sensitivity of an area to visual impacts - whether it is visible from highways, hiking trails, or recreational facilities. Each VQO is associated with a set of mitigation measures in the Forest Plan designed to minimize the impact of management activities on recreational visitors.
Water Yield—The runoff from a watershed, including flow from streams and ground water.
Watershed—The entire area that contributes water to a stream or drainage.
Wetland—Land where the soil is frequently or continuously saturated by water, giving rise to unique soils and water dependent plant and animal communities.
Wildlife Opening—An opening in the forest canopy seeded and planted with grasses and shrubs favored by wildlife. These openings may be temporary (planted once, and then allowed to grow back into forest) or permanent (maintained periodically), and provide important habitat for many species of wildlife.
Wildlife Stand Improvement (WSI)—Manipulation of vegetation to improve wildlife habitat. In overstory WSI, the overstory trees are thinned to increase development of tree crowns and production of mast. Midstory WSI treatments remove midstory trees to open up the forest floor and encourage production of wildlife forage.