Lost
Prepared for:
Lee Bastian
Regional Parks Manager
Region 2
&
Darcy Yakoweshen
Parks Project Coordinator
Parks Division
Prepared by:
Camas Creek Enterprises, Inc
September 2007
Table of
Contents
Project
Summary................................................................................... 3 .................................................................................................................. 3
Forest
Health Assessment....................................................................... 4
Forest Characterization......................................................................................... 4
Recreational Activity Impacts............................................................................... 5
Natural Impacts on Forest Health –
Natural Impacts on Forest Health –
Natural Impacts on
Hazard Tree Identification.................................................................... 8
Forest Resource Inventory..................................................................... 9
Forest Health Prescription................................................................... 11
Timber Appraisal................................................................................. 16
Exhibits
Exhibit 1 – Map of Lost Creek - West......................................... 20
Exhibit 2 – Map of Lost Creek - East ......................................... 21
Exhibit 3 – Photos ...................................................................... 22
Project Summary
The Park Division of the
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MT FWP) seeks to ‘...provide
diverse recreational opportunities while preserving important historical and
cultural resources’ throughout its 50 State Parks and numerous Fishing Access
Sites. Over 1.65 million people used Montana State Parks for camping, fishing,
boating and other recreational pursuits during 2004. In Region 2, total park visitation increased
by 13% from 2003 to 2004.
The 502 acre
The trees and forests that
grow in Montana State Parks are an important component of affirmative
recreational experiences. Visitor
satisfaction is often increased by the presence of trees that provide beauty,
shade, privacy, and other positive attributes.
These same trees also contribute significant habitat for wildlife
species regularly enjoyed by Park visitors. An over-abundance of dead trees and
the presence of trees unduly threatened by mortality from insects, diseases, windthrow
or man-caused factors pose a threat to recreational values and represent a
potential human safety issue.
The dominant geographic
features of the 502 acre
Forest Characterization – Two hundred and forty eight acres or almost half
(49%) of the State Park consists of coniferous and deciduous forested areas,
some of which cling to the canyon walls and others shade the bottom riparian
areas and campgrounds along Lost Creek. The
major coniferous tree species is Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). Douglas fir (pseudostuga
menziesii, variety glauca) represents
a relatively significant forest component on the drier southerly facing slopes
and also in the forested area above (to the west of)
For the purposes of
describing the forest characteristics of this State Park, it should be noted
that the canyon bottom below Lost Creek Falls (where the developed camp ground
sites are located) primarily consists of Lodgepole pine, with a few scattered
Douglas-fir trees and even fewer Engelmann spruce. In that area most of the Lodegpole pine trees
are dead or dying due to the impact of forest insects described below. For
purposes of clarification, the area in the canyon bottom below
There are also significant
amounts of coniferous trees (primarily Douglas fir with lesser amounts of
Lodgepole pine and some Engelmann spruce) growing on the steep, rocky slopes of
the canyon walls. Patches of dead
Lodgepole pine exist on these rocky slopes, intermingled with Douglas fir.
Recreational Activity Impacts: Overall, recreational activities are having a
minimal impact on forest health. The official camping sites are relatively
devoid of understory trees, grasses and forbs due to typical foot and vehicle
traffic. Soil compaction from vehicles
or camp trailers is not considered to be a source of tree mortality in this
Park.
Natural Impacts on Forest Health – Forest Insects: The effect of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) epidemic is the
major forest health issue in Lost Creek State Park, particularly in areas in
and adjacent to the developed campground sites (below Lost Creek Falls). This native forest insect typically attacks
trees that are not growing vigorously due to old age, crowding, poor growing
conditions, drought or effects of fire.
Lodgepole pine is the most common host tree although the beetle will
also attack Ponderosa pine, which is not present in the Park. On average, the
mountain pine beetle (MPB) has killed 63% of the Lodgepole pine trees in the campground
section or Operating Area of the Park and 50% of the Lodgepole pine trees above
Trees killed by the MPB are
most visible when the needles become red and less apparent once the needles
fall off. For a short time, trees killed by the MPB also may appear as green-needled
trees immediately after the adult beetle begins to bore into previously live
trees. The primary indicator of initial
beetle activity on host trees is the mass of resin (commonly called ‘pitch
tubes’) present on tree bark. Pitch
tubes are the result of tunneling activity by the adult beetle. Boring dust or frass (created by the adult
eating into the tree) in bark crevices and on the ground adjacent to the tree
base is another indication of initial MBP activity. Once a host tree is
attacked the adults create an egg gallery and subsequent larvae feed on the
cambium layer. The initial boring
activity, creation of egg galleries, subsequent feeding by the larvae and
contamination of bluestain fungi introduced by the adult beetles combine to
kill host trees.
In only exceptional
situations do trees attacked by MPB adults survive, especially in epidemic
conditions such as currently present in
The other forest insect
currently affecting western
Natural Impacts on Forest Health – Forest Disease: No parasitic forest diseases, such as Armillaria Root
Disease (the Armillaria group)
cubical & butt rot, or dwarf mistletoe, were impairing forest health at the
time of the
Natural Impacts on Forest Health – Animal Damage: Animal damage affecting forest health, such as widespread
beaver or porcupine activity, was not apparent on
Fuel Ladders
- The term ‘Fuel ladder’ characterizes the degree to which ground fires can
reach the crowns of mature trees. In
many forest conditions, understory trees and low-level dead and green limbs can
provide the ‘fuel ladder’ for ground fire flames to reach the crowns of
overstory trees. In many dry-site
western
Lodgepole pine (which
requires full sunlight to regenerate) typically grows in heavily stocked, dense
stands – as a result very little sunlight reaches the forest floor. In these conditions, lodgepole pine
self-prunes, meaning that low-level dead and green limbs fall off and are minimized
as the trees grow towards maturity. For these reasons, the potential impact of
understory fuel ladders affecting wildfire severity within the areas where
Lodgepole pine is dominant is considered to be low. However, where lodgepole pine is open grown
or less densely-spaced, the branches of those trees are closer to the ground
than in areas where the trees are densely stocked. This condition commonly occurs along roads
(where sunlight reaches below the normal crown area) or in campgrounds (where
other trees are removed to allow spaces for vehicles, tents and trailers). In those situations, low branches can provide
a ladder for a ground fire to burn up into the main crown. This condition is present along the main
access road into the State Park, but is not a factor within individual
campgrounds (most of the low limbs in the campground areas of this Park had
been used for firewood or otherwise sawn or broken off).
Above
Down & Dead Material - As noted in the above Forest Insect section, 63% of
the trees in and adjacent to the campground area (the Operating Area) are
currently dead. This condition,
especially where the dead trees have red needles or no needles, represents a
significant wildfire hazard. Red needles
and no needles is an obvious indicator that the moisture content of those trees
is very low and susceptible to ignition.
These conditions do exist throughout the campground area and also exist
along the main access road through the Park.
Currently there are only small numbers of down trees lying on the forest
floor, a situation that will increase as the dead trees fall.
Crown Density
– Crown density is measured by estimating the percentage which the tree crowns
within a sample plot occupy the space within the sample plot. Typically, 30% crown density is considered
low, and 70% is considered high. Where
crown density is high, the area can be more susceptible to severe wildfire
intensity, including crown fires. Lodgepole pine, the dominant tree species in
and adjacent to the campground area, usually grows in thick stands where the
crowns often touch and occupy most of the available space. That crown density condition was found in the
Park, as crown density averaged 65% except in the plots taken in some of the
previously treated official campground sites, which were more open.
Hazard Tree Identification
Hazardous tree management is
an important responsibility for State Park managers. As documented by the U.S. Park Service Hazard
Tree Guidelines (http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/hazard_tree/pubs/misc/nps.htm)
a hazardous tree “is one that, because of a recognizable mechanical flaw, poses
a threat to people or property’. That document
relates that a hazard tree reduction program should address the areas of
visitor use, landscape management, interpretation and transportation corridors
(such as parking lots, walkways, visitor centers, campsites and picnic grounds).
The hazard tree reduction program is usually not applied to wild or natural
areas.
The most likely source of
hazard trees in
In 2006-early 2007 Park
management successfully removed the existing dead trees in
The forest inventory process
was based on statistical sampling methods designed to capture tree size
variation in order to provide a statistically reliable estimate of tree volume
and other key metrics. Sixteen (16)
field sample plots were randomly distributed within a grid system at the
average rate of one point per 2.5 acres. More commonly, a forest resource
inventory is conducted by sampling one point for every 10 acres – the sample
plot intensity was increased four-fold for this project compared to common
methods. The random sample plot location method ensures the random distribution
of sample plots to eliminate bias in sample point locations.
Field Sample Plots were
located only within the area where forest operations could be physically
conducted, as constrained by slope, presence of rocks or other extremely rough
terrain, ability to access trees due to stream and/or road location and
proximity to the riparian area.
Following the field investigation, the Operating Area acres were
calculated using ortho-rectified color aerial photography and GIS-based
technology. The Operating Area is
estimated to be 39 acres. See attached Maps (Exhibits 1 and 2) depicting the
proposed Operating Area overlaid on the aerial photos and State Park
boundaries.
At each sample point two
plots were established. Tree
measurements used to determine merchantable volume (i.e., diameter at breast
height (dbh) to nearest one inch, total tree height, visual defect) and
stocking density were recorded for each tree species encountered using a 20
factor variable radius plot technique.
This process is often called “prism-cruising”. Merchantable tree volume is calculated using
this data and appropriate timber volume cruising tables. Dead trees were
recorded separately from live trees in order to calculate the ratio of dead
trees to live trees and the volume of dead and live trees.
A 1/100th acre
fixed plot was also established at each sample point. The fixed plot area was analyzed to provide,
(1) Understory information, including the presence or absence of noxious weeds,
types (size & species) of forest regeneration & forest understory, and
(3) Crown density ratios. This data, and other observations, also provided
information regarding fuel ladders, animal damage, forest insect and disease
impacts and hazard tree identification.
Results of
Tree Species –
All trees sampled and measured in the
Operating Area were Lodgepole Pine. Lodgepole
pine was by far the dominant tree species in the Operating Area and throughout
the remainder of
Tree Size –
Tree diameter is measured at the point 4.5 feet above ground level. This measurement point is known as “Diameter
at Breast Height” or DBH and serves as the basis for tree volume
calculations. The average tree diameter
for all trees was 7 inches, with a range of 3” to 19”. The average diameter for trees between 7” and
19” (the commercial-sized trees suitable for sawlogs or other commercial
products) was 10”. Average tree height
was 60 feet.
Total Trees per
Dead Trees per
Tree Volume – The
forest inventory and timber volume calculations indicate there is approximately
238, 545 board feet of commercial-sized timber (7” DBH & greater) in the 39
acre Operating Area. The average volume
per acre (a common metric to determine forest stocking levels and timber
harvest potential) is 6,117 board feet per acre for live and dead trees. However, seventy-nine percent (79%) of
commercially-sized timber were dead, or 187,389 board feet (4,805 board feet
per acre) of dead trees. That finding
relates directly to the number of commercially-sized dead trees per acre (80%
of the commercially-sized trees were dead).
Harvest Volume
-
Expect to harvest
approximately 150,000 board feet of sawlogs as a result of implementing the Lost
Creek Forest Health Plan in the proposed Operating Area, providing that the
entire 39 acre Operating Area can be accessed.
No harvesting is anticipated outside the Operating Area due to terrain
and access constraints.
The following Forest Health
Prescription is prepared based on the above Forest Health Assessment and Forest
Resource Inventory. In most State Park
settings, the typical objectives for a Forest Health Prescription normally
involve individual tree maintenance (removal of small numbers of dead or other
hazard trees) on an as-needed regular basis, possible tree planting to replace
dead trees, maintaining vitality of small trees for privacy between
campgrounds, weed control and other minor activities. More recently, MT FWP has conducted various
forest health improvement projects to remove tree encroachment, improve
wildlife habitat, reduce forest fuels and commercially salvage small amounts of
dead or dying trees.
Seldom has it been necessary
to react to a large scale forest health epidemic such as the Mountain Pine
Beetle attack in and around
Young stands of lodegpole
pine grow in dense conditions (sometimes called dog hair thickets) and often
require pre-commercial thinning investments to grow to merchantable sizes. As the trees in these dense stands mature,
they evolve with shallow root systems and thus are dependent on surrounding
trees to survive high winds without falling over. The species also has thin
bark which makes it especially vulnerable to the effects of wildfire (as
opposed to ponderosa pine, western larch and mature douglas fir, which can all
survive low-intensity ground fires). As
a result of these attributes, lodgepole pine, when managed for commercial
timber purposes, is commonly clearcut to ensure viable regeneration and
minimize wind throw. Selective harvest
regimes are sometimes satisfactory, but selective harvest practices in
lodgepole pine can be very risky in terms of wind throw occurring after harvest
is completed. The above discussion is
presented to explain why forest and park managers often struggle with
appropriate forest management practices when lodgepole pine is involved. Most typically, forest health treatments for
lodgepole are almost by necessity reactionary tactics rather than strategic
decisions.
The unique topography,
terrain, and location of Lost Creek compound the challenges involved in
implementing a suitable Forest Health Prescription for this State Park. As noted, the area accessible for
vehicle-based camping is situated in a relatively narrow canyon floor
surrounded by steep canyon walls. The
proposed Operating Area is located in this part of the canyon floor.
The main access road ends
just below
The scattered patches of dead
Lodgepole pine located on the steep canyon walls bordering both sides of Lost Creek
are also inaccessible for Forest Health Improvement treatments. Removal of the dead Lodgepole pine is not
necessary to maintain satisfactory forest health conditions due to the presence
of Douglas fir and Quaking aspen stands also growing in those areas. These other tree species will expand into
areas where Lodgepole pine has died.
Potential commercial salvage of the dead Lodgepole pine is not
contemplated, as the costs of aerial (helicopter) removal of felled trees would
far exceed the economic value of the logs.
Within the proposed Forest
Health Treatment Area (the 39 acre Operating Area), in the main or lower part
of the Park (where the campgrounds are located) the main road winds up through
the Park and crosses Lost Creek twice, presenting access difficulties. The Operating Area includes patches of dead
Lodgepole pine that should be treated in accordance with this Forest Health
Prescription but are not accessible without crossing Lost Creek or entering the
Streamside Management Zone (SMZ). State
of Montana Streamside Management Zone (SMZ) laws appropriately prevent
operation of equipment within a minimum 50’ exclusion zone and limit the number
of trees that can be removed. Steep rocky areas prevent access to other
operable areas where management could occur.
The operable forest health prescription area may comprise the entire 39
acre area depending on the receipt of an Alternative Practice permit from MT
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).
Forest Health Prescription- Phase One (A): The harvest
and removal of all dead lodgepole pine trees in the Operating Area represents
the most prudent Forest Health Prescription for
Logging System: All actions or changes in a heavily-used
State Park, especially tree cutting, are subject to extreme public scrutiny, as
the potential effects on the ecological balance are compounded by the potential
adverse effects on individual’s recreational enjoyment. Thus, logging activities that involve removal
of up to 80% of the commercial-sized trees (recall that 80% of the
commercial-sized trees are dead) are expected to be performed with minimal
impact on the environment and future public enjoyment of the Park. These activities must be undertaken by a
well-qualified, extremely reputable logging contractor and supervised by a
project manager/forester experienced in the areas of environmental protection,
silviculture, logging equipment capabilities, log transportation, log and other
commercial forest products specifications and markets, log payment systems and
loss control. The entire organization
must be attuned to public safety and realize that expectations for superb
results are very high.
This type of forest health
treatment requires logging equipment. The preferred tree harvesting equipment
for this project cannot be mounted on metal tracks, which would negatively
impact the access road even when the soil is frozen. All equipment must be rubber-tired so that
only rubber tires, and not metal tracks, touch the ground.
Logging System #1 (Preferred) - The preferred type of logging system for this complex
project includes two pieces of logging equipment - a tree harvester combined with
a forwarder, both mounted on rubber tires. This type of system is commonly
known as ‘Cut-to-Length’. The tree
harvester cuts the tree and processes the cut tree into pre-selected log
lengths. The forwarder loads the
processed logs onto its carrier and transports those logs to a site appropriate
for further processing and loading onto a logging truck. The logging truck hauls the logs to
pre-selected purchasers. This type of
logging system has been used successfully on at least one
Logging System #2 (Second Preference) -Logging contractors with the above type of equipment
are in high demand for other forest health projects on private and public
forest land. If logger availability does
not coincide within the time constraints for the
Forest Health Prescription- Phase One (B): Unfortunately,
the implementation of Phase One (A) is not expected to completely resolve the
Forest Health (tree mortality) issues for
Weed control is also
prescribed following implementation of Phase One. Currently, the current presence of noxious
weeds is minimal – weeds were only observed in campground sites, perhaps a
result of soil disturbance caused by previous tree removal projects. It is expected that weed control will be
necessary for one or two years following implementation of Phase One (A) and
may be necessary after Phase One (B) treatments as well.
Timber Appraisal
This commercial timber
appraisal identifies the estimated costs and potential revenues associated with
implementing the above described Forest Health Prescription.
Harvesting Costs - Timber harvesting rates are a function of fixed and
variable costs influenced by production levels.
Typically, loggers generate gross revenue based solely on the amount of
logs harvested and delivered to a purchaser.
Most often, they are paid “by the ton”, which is an agreed upon amount
paid to the logger based on actual tonnage produced. Production levels are influenced
by the amount of time or difficulty involved in producing logs. Qualified loggers estimate production levels
on a “loads per day” or “tons per day” basis and understand their individual
cost structure. For example, an
interested logging contractor will look at the
In the case of implementing
the Lost Creek State Park Forest Health Plan, there is a high level of emphasis
on quality work; including debris clean-up after all the logs are hauled. Plus, this project is somewhat complex due to
the location of the road, stream and campground protection requirements, and
limited operating room in the canyon bottom.
Expect bid rates to range from a possible low of $35 per ton upwards to
$42 per ton. Additionally, the project will generate a relatively small amount
of logs (about 150,000 board feet or approximately 1,000 tons), so total
mobilization costs for equipment transport must be pro-rated against that
amount and added to the per ton bid rate.
Expect about a $3.00 per ton charge to be included in the bid rate to
cover equipment mobilization costs.
Total expected bid rates for logging will likely be between $38 to $45
per ton.
Hauling Costs – Hauling rates are the per ton costs involved in
transporting the processed logs to a purchaser.
For this project, logs are appraised to the nearest purchaser of
sawlogs, which is Sun Mountain Lumber Company in Deer Lodge, a sawmill that
produces stud material and can use lodgepole pine blued or otherwise affected
by MPB. That potential purchaser is
located 31 miles from
Product Values – In many situations, the purchaser that is located
the shortest distance from the harvesting site is most likely to generate the
highest amount of net revenue for the party selling the logs (in this case MT FWP
or its designee will sell the logs). In
some markets, competitors will outbid the closest mill to compensate for the
higher hauling costs. However, in the
present log and lumber market expect the Sun Mountain Lumber Company to pay the
best price, or about $425 per thousand board feet (log scale), per recent
personal communication with
Gross Revenue Estimate – Providing that the commercially-sized logs
developed as a result of implementing the Lost Creek State Park Forest Health
Prescription are sold for a price of $425 per thousand board feet, and that 150
thousand board feet (the estimated harvest volume) of logs are harvested, the
project will generate $63,750 of total gross revenue. The actual total gross revenue will depend
upon the actual price paid for logs at the time of project implementation and
the actual amount of logs harvested. A
loss control and load accounting procedure will be implemented when the project
has begun in order to account for the actual volume of logs harvested during
the project. The actual costs of logging
and log hauling will be deducted from the gross revenue – the mathematical
difference becomes Net Revenue.
Net Revenues -
Note that logging and hauling
rates are based on per ton amounts ((in a range from $45.70 per ton ($38 per
ton for logging & $7.70 for hauling) to $55.25 per ton ($45 per ton for
logging & $10.25 for hauling)) delivered to Sun Mountain Lumber in Deer
Lodge. However, sawlogs are sold based
on the board footage volume as determined by the purchaser – the purchase price
is expected to be $425 per thousand board feet (MBF). Thus, a weight factor must be estimated to
determine the potential net revenue. The
weight factor is a function of log moisture content, log density, top size and
log quality. Expect a weight factor of
about 6.5 tons per MBF for logs from the
Using this weight factor (6.5
tons per MBF), the gross revenue for delivered logs would be $65.38 per ton
($425 per MBF divided by 6.5 tons per MBF).
At the lowest expected bid rates for logging and hauling ($45.70 per
ton), net revenue would be $19.68 per ton or about $128 per MBF. At the highest expected bid rates for logging
and hauling ($55.25 per ton), net revenue would be reduced to $10.13 per ton or
about $65.85 per MBF. Based on
anticipated total log volume of 150 MBF, total net revenues are expected to
range from a high of $19,200 to a potential low of $9,877.
It should be clear from the
above discussions that many factors are involved in these calculations of
expected net revenue. Actual variations
in one or more of these factors may result in net revenue close to zero. To avoid that unexpected situation, it will
be important to recruit several qualified logging contractors to assess the
project and to receive at least two bids, with the potential option of
disregarding all bids if the lowest rates exceed expected revenues. The project manager/forester involved with
implementing the project on behalf of MT FWP needs to ensure complete
transparency throughout the process and tightly monitor the harvesting
operation, cleanup, log quality, verification of accounting and loss control
procedures.
Net revenues will be used for
two purposes. Selective weed spraying
will be necessary for two years following implementation of the Lost Creek
Forest Health Plan. Expected costs for this procedure are $75 per acre (per
recent communications with weed control contractors) and may be needed for up
to 30 acres each year. Total anticipated
maximum cost for weed control is $4,500.
It is also expected that
additional dead tree removals will be necessary in the years following the
initial forest health treatment.
Available remaining net revenues should be retained for these dead tree
removals, if that practice complies with state regulations.