CHAPTER 5

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Management Direction

Chapter 5 is a compilation of the management direction displayed in the description of the alternatives in Chapter 2 of this FEIS. The information is compiled in Chapter 5 to assist implementation teams in locating applicable management direction for site-specific projects. No new information is presented. When implementing site-specific projects based on the programmatic direction in this FEIS, it is recommended that implementation teams follow the process defined below:

Step 1 - Apply management direction in the appropriate Forest Plan.

Identify applicable Forestwide goals, objectives, standards, and guidelines.
Identify applicable management area standards and guidelines.

Step 2 - Apply management direction in amendments to the Forest Plan.

Identify applicable management direction from the California Spotted Owl Interim Guidelines.

Identify applicable management direction from PACFISH (Lassen National Forest only).

Identify applicable management direction in site-specific amendments to the applicable Land and Resource Management Plan.
Identify applicable management direction from this FEIS.

Management Direction for Wildlife
Involve the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service during the early planning phase of any site-specific project that implements resource management activities to determine if resource management activities could have a potential effect on Federally-listed threatened and endangered species. At a minimum, consult for the following species:

Bald eagle
American peregrine falcon
Valley elderberry longhorn beetle
Shasta crayfish
California red-legged frog
Lahontan cutthroat trout
Northern spotted owl
Slender orcutt grass
Green’s tuctoria
Laynes butterweed

Before silvicultural habitat manipulations in bald eagle wintering, roosting, or nesting habitat complete, in consultation with the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, bald eagle management plans according to direction in the Pacific States Recovery Plan.

When resource management activities occur in the locations shown in Table A - Limited Operating Periods, require the indicated limited operating periods. Regard limited operating periods as a standard mitigation, in lieu of site-specific survey information. Based on site-specific survey information, a Wildlife Biologist may modify the distance, duration, or need for a limited operating period

Table A Limited Operating Periods

SPECIES	LOCATION	LIMITED OPERATING PERIOD
Bald eagle	Within designated territories	November 1 through August 31
Bald eagle	Winter roosts	November 1 through March 1
Peregrine falcon	Within designated territories	February 1 through August 31
California spotted owl	Within ¼ mile of a protected activity center boundary	March 1 through August 31
Goshawk	Within ¼ mile of territory	March 1 through September 15
Marten den	Within ½ mile of known sites	May 1 through August 1
Fisher den	Within ½ mile of known sites	March 1 through July 1
Wolverine den	Within ½ mile of known sites	February 1 through June 1
Sierra Nevada red fox dens	Within ½ mile of known sites	February 1 through July 1
Sandhill crane	Within ½ mile of nesting sites	April 1 through August 1
Great gray owl	Within ½ mile of nesting sites	March 1 through August 31
California red-legged frog	All unsurveyed and all occupied suitable habitat	October 1 through April 15 or after the first frontal system resulting in more than ¼ inch of precipitation, or both. If a dry period of 72 hours or more occurs after the onset of the rainy season, operations may resume.

Management Direction for Noxious Weeds and Invasive Exotic Plants
Using the following guidelines during site-specific planning and implementation, manage National Forest System lands so that management activities do not introduce or spread noxious or invasive exotic weeds:

Inventory: As part of site-specific planning, inventory project areas and adjacent areas (particularly access roads) for noxious and invasive exotic weeds.

Control: If noxious weeds are found in or adjacent to a site-specific project area, evaluate treatment options relative to the risk of weed spread without treatment. Evaluate control methods at the site-specific planning level.

Prevention/Cleaning: Require off-road equipment and vehicles (both Forest Service owned and contracted) used for project implementation to be weed-free. Clean equipment and vehicles of all attached mud, dirt, and plant parts. Use standard timber sale contract clause C6.343 – Cleaning of Equipment in timber sale contracts.

Prevention/Road Construction: Require all earth-moving equipment, gravel, fill, or other materials to be weed-free. Use onsite sand, gravel, rock, or organic matter, where possible. Evaluate road locations for weed risk factors.

Prevention/Revegetation: Use weed-free equipment, mulches, and seed sources. Avoid seeding in areas where revegetation will occur naturally, unless noxious weeds are a concern. Save topsoil from disturbance and put it back to use in onsite revegetation, unless contaminated with noxious weeds.

Prevention/Staging Areas: Do not stage equipment, materials, or crews in noxious weed infested areas where there is risk of spread to areas of low infestation.

Management Direction for Oaks
Where oak is present, retain an average 25 to 35 square feet basal area per acre of oaks over 15 inches diameter at breast height (DBH). Site-specific planning will determine feasibility and specific needs. Retain smaller oaks, if determined to be necessary for future recruitment.

Management Direction for Riparian and Aquatic Areas
Prescribe minimum widths as "interim boundaries" as follows:

300 feet (perennial fish bearing streams and lakes)
150 feet (perennial non-fish bearing streams, ponds, wetlands greater than 1 acre, and lakes)
100 feet (intermittent and ephemeral streams, wetlands less than 1 acre, and landslides)

Other features to include in RHCA determination, (whichever is greatest):

top of inner gorge
100-year floodplain,
outer edge of riparian vegetation
a distance equal to one or two tree heights (depending on the stream type)

Management Direction for Timber Harvest
TM-1: Prohibit scheduled timber harvest, including fuelwood cutting, in Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCA).

TM-2 and TM-3: Allow unscheduled timber harvest salvage operations only if Resource Management Objectives (RMO) are met or a prescription is needed to attain RMO.

Management Direction for Road Management
RF-4 - Require improvement of culverts and stream crossings found to pose a substantial risk to riparian conditions to accommodate at least a 100-year flood, including associated bedload and debris. Base priorities for upgrading on the potential impact and ecological value of the riparian resources affected. Design and construct new stream crossings to accommodate at least a 100-year flood, including associated bedload and debris.

RF-8 - Require a Road Management Plan be developed and carried out that meets the Resource Management Objectives (RMO).

Management Direction for Fire and Fuels
FM-1: Design fuel treatment to meet Resource Management Objectives (RMO), and to minimize disturbance of riparian ground cover and vegetation.

FM-4: Design prescribed burn projects to protect Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCA) from burning. Where riparian ecosystems would be enhanced by prescribed burns, clearly identify the specific objectives and risks.

Management Direction for Watershed Restoration and Habitat Protection
WR-1: A watershed analysis is a prerequisite to planning, implementing, and monitoring all restoration projects.

WR-2: Conduct habitat assessments and surveys for California red-legged frogs in all areas below 5,500 feet in elevation. Within watersheds containing known populations, including French Creek Watershed and Chino Creek Watershed on the Plumas National Forest, implement a 300 foot buffer on all sides of waterways (including ephemeral wetlands). Within all identified California red-legged frog core areas, as identified in the California Red-Legged Frog Recovery Plan, involve the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service in early phases of site-specific project planning that implement resource management activities.

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