United States 

Department of

Agriculture

Forest 

Service

Pacific 

Southwest

Region

R5-MB-258B

Record of Decision

Whisky Ridge Ecological 

Restoration Project

Sierra National Forest Madera 

County, California

View of Whisky Project Looking West from Shuteye Ridge (2012)
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Printed on recycled paper – May, 2013
i

Record of Decision 

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project

Sierra National Forest

Madera County, California

Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service

Cooperating Agencies: Not Applicable

Responsible Official: Dean A. Gould, Forest Supervisor 

1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, California 93611

For Information Contact: Aimee Smith, Project Lead/Rangeland Management Specialist

57003 Road 225, North Fork California 93643 

(559) 877-2218, extension 3151

Abstract: This document records a decision based on the Sierra National Forest Whisky Ridge 

Ecological Restoration Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Information on the 

alternatives considered, justification for the chosen alternative, and details regarding the decision 

and future implementation are discussed. 

The FEIS analyzes three alternatives in detail, including no action (alternative 1), the proposed 

action (Alternative 2) and a third alternative (alternative 3) that was developed in response to 

comments received during scoping. Alternative 2 and 3 would treat 8,263 acres and actions

include a variety of mechanical and hand-thinning treatments and the use of prescribed fire. Other 

restoration actions common to both action alternatives include in-stream channel stabilization, 

livestock water developments (to improve livestock distribution), noxious weed treatments, 

unauthorized OHV route restoration, road maintenance and reconstruction, the construction of 

temporary roads to access project activities, and campground facility improvements that includes 

new toilets and hazardous tree removal. The key difference between Alternative 2 and 3 is the 

size of trees that would be cut and treatment objectives. Alternative 3 limits mechanical and hand 

thinning treatments to 10 inch diameter at breast height (dbh) and its’ emphasis is to meet fuels 

and fire objectives. 

The purpose of the proposal is to promote and maintain ecosystem resilience, sustainability, and 

health through the restoration of key ecological processes while protecting communities in the 

wildland urban interface/intermix (WUI) from wildfire. There is a need to restore and maintain 

forest conditions in the project area to more closely resemble pre-1900s stand structures in order 

to increase resiliency and resistance to expected changes in climate and disturbance regimes. 

There is a need for restoration actions to have multiple resource and social benefits that include

improved forest structure and health, increased quality and quantity of wildlife habitat, improved 

soil, water and riparian habitat function, and enhanced protection of communities and culturally 

significant gathering areas and sites. 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record Of Decision

Introduction

General Location

The project area consists of Federal public lands managed by the Sierra National Forest (Sierra 

NF). The project is located within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and situated adjacent to 

residential areas. Communities surrounding the Whisky Ridge Project include North Fork and 

Bass Lake to the west, Kinsman Flat and Hogue Ranch/Clearwater area to the east, Cascadel 

Woods subdivision to the southwest and Central Camp to the north. The project area is 

approximately 18,285 acres in size and located in the Willow Creek Watershed. Vegetation types 

include ponderosa pine plantations, ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, true fir, and hardwood 

species, as well as areas dominated by brush/shrubs, herbs and grasses (meadows), rock, and 

steep slopes. Figure 1 on the following page displays the general location of the project in relation 

to the city of Fresno, California and the State of California.

Purpose and Need

The purpose and need of this project is to promote and maintain ecosystem resilience, 

sustainability, and health under current, changing and uncertain future environmental conditions 

(such as those driven by climate change and increasing human use) through the restoration of key 

ecological processes (e.g., returning fire to the landscape, restoring watershed function), 

biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and structural heterogeneity. 

The impacts of early 1900s railroad logging and other harvest activities on these federal as well as 

formerly private lands, combined with the exclusion of fire, have altered forest conditions within 

the project area. Stand species composition has shifted from more fire resistant, shade intolerant 

pines to less fire resistant, shade tolerant fir and incense cedar. Prior to these activities, these 

stands were more open comprised of larger diameter pine dominated stands that were less 

susceptible to drought and fire. Frequent low to moderate intensity fires limited understory 

vegetation resulting in more open stand conditions. Decades of fire exclusion has resulted in 

increased fuel ladders and excessive accumulations of down woody material. This has increased 

the fire risk to communities located adjacent to the project area and to culturally significant 

gathering areas and sites.

A key purpose is to restore and maintain forest conditions within proposed treatment areas to 

more closely resemble pre-1900s stand structures. Moving stands towards desired conditions 

would result in forests that are more resilient and resistant to expected changes in climate and 

disturbance regimes. There is a need to reduce stand densities mainly within the lower and midcanopy levels of the treated stands to promote increased growth and vigor, stimulate growth of 

large, insect resistant trees enabling the forest to better withstand predicted fluctuations in 

temperatures and precipitation, attacks from insects and diseases, and the effects of wildfires. 

Some of the predicted results would include acceleration of old forest (pre-1900s vegetation 

characteristics), improvement of stand growth and vigor, more rapid development of larger 

diameter trees resulting from increased growth rates, retention and perpetuation of a greater 

percentage of pines and oaks restoring more diverse stands while reducing the risk to wildfire 

loss. Other benefits include increased vegetation heterogeneity and improved wildlife habitat 

conditions. 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

A key purpose is to treat conifer stands to improve their resiliency to insect attack, diseases, 

wildfire, drought conditions, and increased stress on vegetation due to predicted warmer 

temperatures and longer periods of depleted soil moisture. Stocking levels (stand densities) have 

reached or are reaching density levels where declining growth and vigor is occurring from intertree competition thus increasing potential rates of tree mortality. A reduction in the 

uncharacteristically high percentage of incense cedar and fir needs to occur in order for stands to 

more closely resemble pre-1900s stand structure. There is a need to improve individual tree 

growth to accelerate the development of larger diameter, more resilient trees. Other expected 

benefits include improved soil productivity and hydrologic function (FEIS, page 3 to 7).
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Figure 1. Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Vicinity Map
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Decision and Rationale

Decision

Based on review of the purpose and need, public comments and issues, the forest plan (as 

amended), current policies and regulations, the analysis contained in the FEIS, and the supporting 

information in the project record, my decision is to implement Alternative 2, the proposed action. 

Table 1 displays the actions associated with the decision and provides references to where the 

complete description can be found in Attachment 1. 

Approximately 8,263 acres will have some form of treatment. The remaining acres within the 

18,285-acre project area will have no treatments due to slopes greater than 35 percent, forest plan 

standard and guideline limitations on treatment, or because it was determined that no treatment is 

needed to meet the purpose and need. Areas where follow-up treatments are needed, such as slash 

piling/burning, prescribed understory burning and noxious weed treatments, will be prioritized 

based on proximity to WUI and completed as appropriated dollars became available. Please note, 

many of these treatments occur on the same actual acre. For this reason, the total number of 

treatment acres may appear to exceed the total number of acres noted in table 1. 

Table 1. Summary of Selected Alternative (Alternative 2) Treatments

Alternative 2 Treatments Unit of 

Measure

Total 

Authorized

Location of Treatment 

Descriptions and 

Requirements in 

Attachment 1

Tractor - Fuels and vegetation 

treatments in natural stands and 

conifer plantations (harvest/thin, 

commercial thin and mechanical 

pile)

Acres 2,824

Appendix A, D, E, F

Tractor - Fuels and vegetation 

treatments in natural stands and 

conifer plantations (pre-commercial 

thin and mechanical pile)

Acres 1,881

Appendix A, D, E, F

Handwork – Fuels and vegetation 

treatments 

Acres 200 Appendix A, D, E, F

Mastication - Fuels and vegetation 

treatments

Acres 520 Appendix A, D, E

Fuel break construction and 

maintenance (these acres overlap with 

Tractor treatment acres)

Acres 1,187

Appendix A, D, E, F

Reforestation (acreages are included 

in the acre totals) Acres 150 Appendix A, D, E, F

Meadow restoration (conifer 

encroachment removal) Acres 6 Appendix A, B, E, F

Meadow restoration (physical 

stabilization) Acres 16 Appendix A, B, E, F
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Alternative 2 Treatments Unit of 

Measure

Total 

Authorized

Location of Treatment 

Descriptions and 

Requirements in 

Attachment 1

Meadow restoration (hand and 

mechanical thinning in RMA) Acres 72 Appendix A, B, E, F

Meadow Restoration (off-site 

livestock water development) Each 4 Appendix A, B, E, F

Whisky Falls Campground (hazard 

tree removal and thinning) Acres 4 Appendix A, D

Whisky Falls Campground (bear box 

installation) Each 9 Appendix A, D

Whisky Falls Campground (vault 

toilet replacement) Each 1 Appendix A, D

Cultural resource site enhancement Acres 100 Appendix A, D, F

Noxious weed management Acres 5 Appendix A, B, D, E, F

Sensitive plant habitat enhancement

(Rawson’s flaming trumpet and 

mosses)

Acres 0.6

Appendix A, D, F

Terrestrial wildlife habitat restoration Acres 7,765 Appendix A, D, F

Aquatic wildlife habitat enhancement Miles 2 Appendix A, B, F

Road maintenance Miles 65 Appendix A, C, D, E

Road reconstruction Miles 33 Appendix A, C, D, E

Temporary road construction Miles 5 Appendix A, C, D, E

Road decommission and obliterate Miles 0.2 Appendix A, C, D, E

Restore site productivity to 

unauthorized off-highway vehicle 

routes

Miles 8.8

Appendix A, C, D

Prescribed fire (initial entry) Acres 2,838 Appendix A, D, E, F

Prescribed fire (after structural 

restoration treatments have been 

completed)

Acres 1,776

Appendix A, D, E, F

Total Restoration Acres: 8,263 acres

The vegetation and prescribed fire (including fuelbreak construction) treatment areas, meadow 

and stream restoration actions, road reconstruction and temporary road construction, forest 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

system road and routes to be decommissioned, livestock water construction and campground 

improvement components of this decision are shown on attached maps 1 to 13 in the Record of 

Decision Map Packet found in appendix A.

Design Criteria and Best Management Practices Included in the Decision

Based on site-specific review of the project area, resource specialists identified design criteria to 

reduce potential impacts. My decision requires following specific design features for aquatic and 

meadow restoration as displayed in appendix B. Design features for roads that will be 

constructed, reconstructed and maintained as well as OHV routes that will be restored are located 

in appendix C. All treatments will be implemented in accordance with the design features found 

in appendix D and the best management practices (BMPs) in appendix E. 

Monitoring Included In the Decision

My decision includes implementation of the Monitoring Plan found in Appendix F.

Rationale for the Decision

Meets the Purpose and Need

I find that alternative 2 best meets the purpose and need for the project. The vegetation analysis 

concludes that in the long term (15 to 20 years), vegetation growth and vigor will remain high

from reduced stand densities, heterogeneity will increase as competition is reduced and the 

potential for loss due to insects, diseases, drought will be low (FEIS, table 4). Stand conditions 

will move towards reference conditions. Both wild stands and plantations will make the most 

progress towards increasing the presence of large diameter trees with the estimated range being

20 to 29 inches diameter at breast height (dbh) in wild stands and up to 18 inches dbh in 

plantations. (FEIS, page 58). As forest heterogeneity and forest health increases, biodiversity will 

increase.

The fire analysis concludes that only alternative 2 reduces the predicted mortality from wildfire 

from a range of 0 to 100 percent to a range of 0 to 69 percent. Treatment design, which includes 

strategic placement and attention to defense zones, will modify the intensity and rate of spread of 

wildland fires near communities and across the landscape. Treatments will increase our ability to 

control wildland fires in this area. About 4,620 acres will be within the desired departure 

condition class fire interval 1 (CCFRI 1) and will have surface fire as the expected fire type. This 

will meet the desired condition of returning fire to the landscape and maintaining acres in a 

CCFRI 1 in the long term (FEIS, pages 57, 174 to 194).

The selected alternative meets the need of maintaining or restoring soil productivity and 

hydrologic function. The design of the vegetation treatments will increase coarse woody debris 

and move towards the desired 5 to 20 tons per acre. This will protect and maintain soil 

productivity and increase soil hydrologic function/water retention (FEIS, pages vi, 239-244). The 

decommissioning, reconstruction, and maintenance of system roads and the restoration of OHV

routes will improve watershed condition by reducing hydrologic connectivity , water quality 

impacts from sedimentation, and move the subdrainages toward a more stable and resilient 

condition. In the long term, meadow restoration and off-site livestock water developments will 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

reduce the amount of erosion and impacts on water quality for downstream (FEIS, Chapter 3, 

page 259).

Alternative 2 best meets the need of improving wildlife habitat while reducing potential impacts. 

Over 7,000 acres of habitat will be restored. Heterogeneity and stand diversity will be high and 

old forest linkages (OFL) will be delineated around perennial streams. Higher levels of 

biodiversity will be achieved by retaining groups of large diameter trees with higher basal areas. 

Design measures will maintain habitat connectivity, special habitat elements for terrestrial 

wildlife species, and limit the amount of behavioral disruption during project implementation and 

post-treatment. The design measures were developed through a collaborative process, the Sierra 

Nevada Adaptive Management Project (SNAMP) Integration Team (FEIS, pages 285-286, 291-

292).

This decision will result in short term effects to habitat as canopy closure will be altered on 260 

acres (approximately 3 percent of the treatment area). The projected changes to California 

Wildlife Habitat Relationships (CWHR) may result in short term effects in the way terrestrial 

wildlife species utilize the habitat. Individuals may leave treatment areas during project 

implementation, and will likely rely more heavily on other areas of their home range. There will 

be long term (10 to 15 years) benefits as the canopy cover in the project area convert to higher 

quality habitat, remaining tree crowns grow, and the understory develops. The resulting stands 

will show increased health, growth rate, and resistance to large scale stand replacing wildfire.

Implementing this decision will not result in a trend toward Federal listing or loss of viability for 

Forest Service sensitive species. It will not alter the existing trend in the habitat at the projectlevel, nor will it lead to a change in the distribution or populations of management indicator 

species (MIS) across the Sierra Nevada bioregion (FEIS, page 282 to 328). 

In the long term, the risk of insect and disease will be low, there will be reduced risk of vegetation 

and habitat mortality from fire; and, fire will be returned to the landscape. This directly translates 

into increased resiliency to disturbances, to increased sustainability, and improved forest health 

on over 8,000 acres. I found that alternative 2 best meets the purpose and need by effectively 

using a combination of vegetation, fire and watershed treatments that will improve resiliency and 

function that results in a more sustainable forest (FEIS, page 53 to page 350).

Addresses Environmental, Cultural, and Social Issues and Concerns

My decision authorizes 8,263 acres of treatment designed to increase resiliency and function 

within the Willow Creek Watershed. This decision is the result of a collaborative process that 

began in 1995 when the forest completed the Willow Creek Landscape Analysis. In March of 

2012, an addendum to the landscape analysis was prepared as part of a collaborative planning 

process known as the Willow Creek Planning Collaborative, The addendum outlines community 

values/beliefs, desired conditions and suggested management strategies for the watershed and the 

design of this project largely came from the group’s recommendations. 

Public comments received during scoping and in response to the draft EIS provided additional 

opportunities to consider the design of the project. Public comments included concerns over 

treatments that would cut larger diameter trees (trees greater than 10 inches dbh), actions that 

would increase road impacts, actions that would negatively affect air quality and emissions, 

wildlife habitat and culturally important gathering areas, actions would remove OHV routes that 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

are used and provide connectivity to other designated routes, operating restrictions that would 

hinder removing forest products, and an incomplete social and economic analysis.

Larger Tree Removal (Greater Than 10 Inch DBH)

There was a concern that large trees would be unnecessarily removed. There was a concern that 

cutting larger trees would not decrease fire risk, would increase large tree mortality, would 

decrease heterogeneity, and would negatively impact wildlife habitat. This issue was addressed in 

the draft EIS by the development of alternative 3 and through disclosure in environmental 

consequences. I addressed this issue by requiring additional analysis on post-treatment large trees 

and tree mortality. (FEIS, page 204 to page 218) The fire analysis indicates fire risk will be 

decreased to the greatest extent in alternative 2. The vegetation analysis states that 

stands/aggregations are presently too dense and need thinning to maintain or improve growth and 

vigor and move them towards forest plan goals. Thinning is directed by the forest plan and larger

trees will remain in the stand. Predominant trees (the oldest) will remain. In alternative 2, 

commercial thinning will occur on 15 percent of the project area, leaving 85 percent of the project 

area with the same number of larger trees as present today (FEIS, page 205). Thinning will

remove the felled material from the site thus reducing future fuel loadings. Large tree growth will 

be increased by increasing tree resilience and decreasing tree competition which promotes forest 

health. The vegetation analysis indicates there will be increased heterogeneity and more large 

trees in the long term than would have resulted under the other alternatives (FEIS, table 4).

To address concerns related to Pacific fisher and marten habitat, design features that address 

snags and the retention of large trees will be followed. Snags will be felled only if they meet the 

definition of a danger tree, have the potential to fall across prescribed fire control lines, comprise 

fuel break integrity, and/or pose a threat to firefighter safety during prescribed fire 

implementation. Dense groups of large trees (greater than 30-inch dbh) with touching crowns will 

be retained at the rate of approximately one group per 2.5 to 3.5 acres. Ideally these groups would 

contain “defect” trees, those that have cavity and platform creating defects (mistletoe, rot, fork 

topped, broken limbs and tops) for Pacific fisher denning and resting sites. Within these large tree 

groups, all trees over 20” dbh will be retained. These large tree groups will generally have a 

residual basal area of 240 ft2 or more for mixed conifer and 210 ft2 or more for pine and in many 

instances may reach 300 to 400 ft2 per acre. Retention of these large tree groups with higher basal 

areas and the inclusion of defect trees are designed to maintain the integrity of suitable fisher 

denning and resting sites throughout the treatment units. Non-treated areas within proposed 

treatment units, such as riparian areas and steep slopes, will also provide extensive areas of tree 

group retention as no treatments will be occurring in these areas (FEIS, page 41 to page 44). My 

decision may affect individuals, but are not likely to result in a trend toward Federal listing or loss 

of viability for the Pacific fisher and American marten (FEIS, page 305 and 311).

Public comment to the draft EIS related to wildlife and cavity-nesting snag habitat resulted in the 

modification of Alternative 2. For example, comments from the John Muir Institute resulted in a 

modification of the fire treatments to include pockets of high intensity fire to create pocket of 

contiguous snags for the blackbacked woodpecker and to improve spotted owl foraging habitat. 

Treatments were also modified to include snag-creating treatments such as girdling and/or 

topping of trees where inventory data indicated a deficit of snags in the larger size classes (> than 

15 inch dbh trees) (FEIS, page 20). A summary of the terrestrial wildlife analysis including 

discussion on cavity-nesting wildlife can be found in Chapter 3, Wildlife - Terrestrial section of 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

this document. My reasons for not selecting alternative 3, which would have limited vegetation 

treatments to 10 inch dbh, are further articulated in the next section of this Record of Decision.

Temporary Road Construction Impacts

There was a concern over direct, indirect and cumulative effects from temporary road 

construction. My decision addresses both the existing road system and the temporary roads 

needed to implement the project. The existing road system is currently in poor condition and in 

need of maintenance. In their current state of disrepair, the roads in the project area are increasing 

hydrologic connectivity, contributing to increased sediment input and causing overall watershed 

and water quality degradation. My decision authorizes maintaining and improving 98 miles of 

road to be used for project in a manner that provides for water quality protection by minimizing 

rutting, failures, sidecasting, and blockage of drainage facilities, all of which can cause erosion, 

sedimentation, and deteriorating watershed conditions. While the creation of 5 miles of temporary 

roads could affect watershed condition and function if not implemented properly, my decision 

incorporates conservation measures that will be implemented to control erosion and 

sedimentation. The implementation of design features and BMP’s (Appendix B-E) will avoid or 

minimize potential increases in sediment loads to streams. Over the longer term, potential adverse 

effects on water and soils from project implementation are expected to be minor, and substantially 

less than if wildfire were to occur (FEIS, Chapter 3, pages 219 to 262).

Adverse Impacts to Human Health from Prescribed Fire and Increased CO2 Levels in the 

Atmosphere

This decision incorporates the recommendations from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution 

Control District (District) and the Environmental Protection Agency. In accordance with the 

California Code of Regulations, Title 17, implementation of this decision will require the 

submittal of a Smoke Management Plan (SMP) to the air district of jurisdiction and: 1) receive a 

permit to burn, 2) receive authorization to burn on a given day, and 3) maintain communication 

with the local air district and report on the status of the burn until it is concluded (FEIS, page 75).

I acknowledge that restoration comes at a price, the potential for people to be adversely affected 

by smoke. Communities, State Highways, Class I Airsheds, and recreation sites are considered 

smoke sensitive receptors where smoke and air pollutants can adversely affect public health, 

safety and welfare. Although there are no Class 1 Airsheds in the project area, adjacent areas were 

part of the air quality analysis (FEIS, page 76). These areas could be affected by smoke if weather 

patterns produce a stable air mass and smoke is unable to vent into the upper atmosphere. Since 

PM 2.5, PM10 and ozone are public health hazards, prescribed burns will be planned during periods 

of unstable air, which will allow for proper ventilation of smoke and temperatures less than 95 

degrees. However, since prescribed underburns could last for several days or weeks there is the 

potential for recurring shifts in air masses toward more stable conditions. For this reason, all

prescribed fire activities will be coordinated with the District and will be implemented under 

optimum conditions using best available control measures to prevent smoke concentrations from 

affecting local communities. The environmental consequences associated with the use of 

prescribed fire are disclosed in the FEIS (Chapter 3) on page 82 to page 88.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed de minimus levels for each of the 

criteria pollutants based on an air basins attainment status for each pollutant. For emissions 

occurring in the San Joaquin Valley, the applicable de minimis thresholds are based on the San 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Joaquin Valley’s current attainment status: extreme nonattainment for ozone, nonattainment for 

PM 2.5, and maintenance for CO and PM10. Table 7 in the FEIS (FEIS, page 73) displays the 

applicable de minimis threshold. I find that this project meets the State of California’s General 

Conformity Rule; it does not interfere with the strategies employed to attain national ambient air 

quality standards (NAAQS). The emissions from this project are considered regionally 

insignificant (total emissions are less than 10 percent) of the area’s total emissions inventory for 

PM 2.5, PM10, and NOx. The carbon emissions produced will be 1,131,465 tons which is 9 percent 

less than alternative 1 (no action) (FEIS, page 87 to page 88).

Adverse Effects to Cultural Resources and Native American Gathering Sites 

There are approximately 136 cultural resources and several miles of historic linear resources that 

have the potential to be affected by my decision. All but two of the cultural resource sites and 

features in the project will be protected through the application of Approved Resource Protection 

Measures (ARPMs) of the Regional Programmatic Agreement (USDA 2013) and Region 5 

Hazardous Fuels Protocol or design criteria and thus will have no direct effects. The Sugar Pine 

Lumber Company historic railroad logging system as well as the historic Whisky Falls 

Campground will potentially be adversely affected by project implementation. I have determined 

that the forest will consult with the California Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO) and the 

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to develop Memorandums of Agreement for 

each property in order to mitigate all adverse effects to these cultural resources. 

This decision allows prescribed burning through designated cultural sites to reduce fuel loading 

and prevent future loss of data potential from excessive heat damage and minimize the need for 

suppression actions. Prescribed burning through archaeological sites will be carefully controlled 

and monitored during implementation. I find that with design features and the application of the 

Regional PA and Region 5 Hazardous Fuels Protocol, this decision will have a beneficial effect on 

cultural resources and enhance their character defining attributes (FEIS, page 148 to page 154).

If cultural gathering areas are identified, this decision that includes design criterion 7 for Cultural 

Resources address this concern. If gathering areas are identified to the Sierra NF, the forest will 

coordinate with the tenders of these areas prior to and during project implementation to ensure 

they are properly managed. Another gathering area actively managed on the forest has benefitted 

from hand thinning, brush piling, and underburn treatments that are similar to those approved in 

this decision and has resulted in a significant increase of culturally gathered plants available for 

collection that were previously smothered by thick forest litter and duff. I find that this decision 

will enhance these traditional gathering areas and will benefit the resource through active 

management (FEIS, page 148 to page 154). I find my decision responds to this issue by restoring

and enhancing culturally gathered plant materials. See Chapter 3, Botany and Cultural Resource 

section of the FEIS.

Reconsideration of OHV Routes to Be Restored 

In review of comments received, we found data errors. In addition, comments indicated some of 

the OHV routes proposed for restoration were highly valued to motorized users as they provided 

connectivity to other designated motorized trails. Alternative 2 was modified to reflect these 

comments. This decision will restore approximately 9 miles of OHV routes, a reduction in miles 

from the original proposal.

Implementation Restrictions 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Comments were received from industry questioning the need for the restrictions to operating 

periods. Most timing restrictions are required by the forest plan in order to protect soil and water 

quality and reduce the impact to nesting and breeding wildlife. Upon further review of the limited 

operating periods (LOP), one LOP was removed and one LOP was revised (see FEIS, Appendix 

K).

Social and Economic Impacts

Comments received from industry questioned the lack of history related to the mills in central 

California which have affected the social and economic well-being and sustainability of small 

communities, including those in the project area. The decline in mills was specifically of concern. 

In response to this comment, the economic analysis was revised to include a history of the mills 

and additional information on the economic impacts of the alternatives to better reflect local 

socio-economic concerns. 

Best Available Science 

I find that this analysis was based on the use of the best available science and information. I 

adopted all practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm in the design of this 

project as displayed in appendix A through appendix E of this decision. I included all of the 

project design criteria that I believe are necessary to avoid, minimize, or rectify impacts on 

resources affected by the implementation of this decision. My conclusions are based on a review 

of the record that is based on the use of the best science and information.

The resource sections in Chapter 3 of the FEIS identify the effects analysis methodologies, 

reference scientific sources which informed the analysis, and disclose analysis or data limitations.

Chapter 1 of the EIS discusses our regional efforts since 2006 to work with other Federal and 

State agencies and the University of California to further study the effects of management actions 

related to wildlife (Pacific fisher and California spotted owl), fire and forest health, water quality 

and quantity, and public participation (FEIS, page 2). Using the best available information 

includes knowledge gathered through collaboration. This analysis is largely based on the key 

issues and values the public identified for the Willow Creek watershed (FEIS, page 2 to page 3). 

Opposing views were considered and findings documented in the Response to Public Comments

appendix (FEIS, Appendix K) and in the Chapter 3 resource sections of the FEIS as applicable

(FEIS, page 66 to page 348).

Alternatives Considered in Detail But Not Selected 

In addition to the selected alternative, I considered two other alternatives which are summarized 

below:

Alternative 1 – No Action: This alternative was developed based, in part of, using the 

“Indicators” for the significant issues #2, 3, and 9 where no tree removal, harvesting, mechanical 

and prescribed burning treatments are proposed under this alternative. Under the no action 

alternative, current management plans would continue to guide management of the project area

however no actions would be taken to implement those plans at this time or without additional 

environmental analysis. No restoration treatments would be implemented to accomplish project 

goals.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Alternative 3 – Lower and Limited Mid-level Canopy Treatments, All Treatment Areas: In 

alternative 3, treatment areas would remain the same as in Alternative 2, treatments within these 

areas would include only those needed to reduce the surface and ladder fuels (within the lower 

and limited mid-level canopy levels) to achieve fire and fuels objectives. Under alternative 3 

there would be no additional treatment (i.e. additional thinning in the mid-level canopy) to fully 

address stand density and forest resiliency objectives. This alternative was developed based, in 

part, using the “Indicator” for the significant issue 1 where a higher degree of canopy cover 

would remain after the treatment and stand densities would remain higher because trees over ten 

inches would not be treated under this alternative as in the proposed action.

Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Detailed Study

I also considered four alternatives that were eliminated from detailed study, summarized below. 

Additional detail can be found in Chapter 2 of the FEIS. 

1. An alternative was suggested to use only hand cutting crews and no burning to 

reduce fuels since the smoke from prescribed fire may put human health at risk and 

increase global warming. This issue was not considered in detail and eliminated because 

the use of handwork alone would not meet the purpose and need. The use of handwork 

alone would not achieve the benefits of prescribed fire (e.g. to provide a flush of soil 

nutrients to increase the diversity of plants and invertebrates) nor would it be 

economically feasible.

2. An alternative was suggested that would use only prescribed fire (preferably 

including mixed-intensity effects to recruit large snags for cavity-nesting species) 

and no thinning on the acres proposed for mechanical/commercial thinning. This 

alternative was eliminated from detailed study because the use of prescribed fire alone 

without mechanical thinning will not meet the purpose and need of reducing stand 

densities and shifting the incense cedar and fir component of the stands to bring the pine 

composition back to the historic range of variability and improve resiliency to insect 

attack, disease, wildfire, drought conditions (e.g. potential increased stress on forest 

vegetation due to predicted warmer temperatures and reduced soil moisture due to 

climate change).

3. An alternative was suggested that would “within the acres of forest proposed for 

mechanical/commercial thinning, instead of the live trees over 16” dbh being 

removed, the trees that would otherwise be marked for removal would instead be 

girdled or killed in some other way in order to actively recruit more large snags for 

wildlife, or such trees would be felled to provide large downed log structure for 

small mammals, amphibians, and invertebrates”. This alternative was considered but 

eliminated because implementation will make the project area more susceptible to 

potential impacts from an uncharacteristically severe wildfire (due to heavy fuel loading 

and density). The alternative will not meet the purpose and need to treat conifer stands to 

improve their resiliency to insect attack, diseases, wildfire, drought conditions, and 

increased stress on vegetation (due to predicted warmer temperatures and longer periods 

of depleted soil moisture). Approximately 30 to 70 percent of the trees 10 inches dbh and 

larger that will be removed for density management are in the 16” dbh and larger size 

class.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

4. An alternative based on the recommendations of Cohen. This alternative was 

eliminated because it would not meet the restoration objectives of the purpose and need 

for the project or the fuel reduction objective. Cohen (2008) suggests that most homes are 

not lost as a direct result of flames from high intensity wildfire. However, his studies did 

conclude that some homes were lost directly from flaming fronts, while others suffered 

ignition due to firebrands and spot fires that ignited fuels on and around the homes. So, 

while it is important for homeowners to do their part in making their homes fire safe, that 

is only one half of the fire safe equation. The Forest Service has no control over their 

actions. Since firebrands were identified by Cohen (2008) as a source of ignition of 

homes, reducing the potential for firebrands by the proposed fuel reduction would add 

protection to homes in the project area. Another consideration is firefighter safety in 

protecting structures and public safety in terms of egress from the fire area during a high 

intensity fire.

Public Involvement

Scoping

A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Whisky Ridge

project was published in the Federal Register (vol.77, no. 70, pp. 21,721) on April 11, 2012. The 

notice asked that comments on the proposed action be received no later than 30 days after the 

publication date. The scoping letter was sent on April 13, 2012 to 223 residents within 1.5 mile 

radius of the project area, to members and groups in the Native American community, to publics 

expressing interest in the project, and to other State and Federal agencies (see FEIS, Chapter 4). 

The total mailing list was 579. The project was also listed in the SNF Schedule of Proposed 

Actions (SOPA) beginning in January, 2012. On June 13 & 27, 2012 the Forest Service held 

public field trips to the project area. The scoping letter included an invitation to participate in the 

field trip and a news release announcing the public meeting was published in the Sierra Star (local 

newspaper) on June 14, 2012. The public field trips were attended by over 60 individuals.

There were 10 scoping period respondents, all of whom raised concerns and issues regarding the 

proposed project. All of the responses are in the project record on file at the Bass Lake Ranger 

Station. Using the comments from the public, the interdisciplinary team developed a list of issues 

to address. Some of these issues led to the development of alternative 3. 

On February 22, 2013, the notice of availability (NOA) for the draft EIS was published in the 

Environmental Protection Agency’s section of the Federal Register (vol.78, no. 36, pp. 12,310). 

The publication of the NOA initiated the 45-day comment period on the draft EIS. The legal 

notice announcing the availability of the draft EIS for comment was published in the forest’s 

newspaper of record, Fresno Bee, on February 22, 2013. The draft EIS and supporting documents 

(specialist reports) were posted to the forest’s website (

-

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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Tribal Government and Native American Interests

On March 13th, 2012 the Bass Lake District Ranger and staff met with the North Fork Rancheria 

of Mono Indians of California Tribal Council at their US Forest Service quarterly meeting at the 

Tribal Community Center in North Fork, California. Maintaining gathering areas was highlighted 

as a concern. On August 15, 2012, a project overview was presented to Tribal representatives and 

Tribal group representatives at the Sierra NF/Tribal Forum. Participants included the North Fork 

Mono Tribe, Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians, Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi 

Indians, North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, Mono Nation, Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono 

Indians and Table Mountain Rancheria. 

Consultation with tribes, local Native American communities, and other interested parties (to 

identify other cultural values, including contemporary Native American interests) was initiated 

with a scoping letter on April 13, 2012. The letter was sent to members and groups in the Native 

American community. Many members attended the project field trips held on June 13, 2012 and 

June 27, 2012. In addition to this project, many members of the Native American community 

have been involved in the Willow Creek Collaborative effort. The Willow Creek Collaborative 

effort informed the desired conditions and proposed actions for this project. Consultation has 

consisted of meetings, letters, and presentations, and is documented in the project record. One 

concern from the tribal community regarding cultural gathering areas was received. Maintaining 

cultural sites and sustaining cultural gathering areas was incorporated into the purpose and need 

and the selected alternative.

Publication of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement

On February 22, 2013, the notice of availability (NOA) for the draft EIS was published in the 

Environmental Protection Agency’s section of the Federal Register (vol.78, no. 36, pp. 12, 310). 

The publication of the NOA initiated the 45-day comment period on the draft EIS. The legal 

notice announcing the availability of the draft EIS for comment was published in the forest’s 

newspaper of record, Fresno Bee, on February 22, 2013. The draft EIS and supporting documents 

(specialist reports) were posted to the forest’s website (

-
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

explain this delineation in Sec. 1501.7, “...identify and eliminate from detailed study the issues 

which are not significant or which have been covered by prior environmental review (Sec. 

1506.3)”. A list of non-significant issues and reasons regarding their categorization as nonsignificant may be found at Bass Lake Ranger District in North Fork, California in the project 

record.

The Forest Service identified the following significant issues during scoping:

1. The proposed action to remove trees about 10 inches up to 30 inches in diameter would 

not reduce the potential for high-intensity and severity fires. 

This issue was addressed in the draft EIS by the development of Alternative 3 which would not 

cut trees greater than 10 inches. See the alternative 3 description in Chapter 2. A summary of the 

fire/fuels analysis and potential for active crown fire as well as the units of measure used to 

evaluate environmental consequences can be found in Chapter 3, Fire/Fuels section of this 

document. Based on comments from the public, minor corrections to basal area and the number 

of trees were made to the vegetation analysis; and, additional analysis on the potential 

environmental consequences to trees 30 inches and larger (considered leave trees) was provided 

in all alternatives. 

2. The prescribed burning elements of the proposed action may cause smoke that may 

adversely affect human health.

This issue was addressed in the draft EIS through the disclosure of environmental impacts 

related to using prescribed fire (burning). Alternative 1 responds to this issue because no 

prescribed burning is proposed. Alternative 2 and 3 disclose the effects of conducting 

prescribed burning. A summary of the fire/fuels analysis and prescribed burning can be found 

in Chapter 3, Fire/Fuels section of the FEIS.

3. The proposed burning may increase CO2 levels in the atmosphere leading to atmosphere 

warming.

This issue was addressed in the draft EIS through the disclosure of environmental impacts. 

Alternative 1 best responds to this issue because no mechanical or prescribed burning 

treatments were proposed. The potential impact to carbon levels was evaluated in all 

alternatives. A summary of the air quality analysis and CO2 levels can be found in Chapter 3, 

Air Quality section of this document. The environmental consequences were updated in the 

final EIS to reflect comments and recommendations from the San Joaquin Valley Air 

Pollution Control District and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

4. The proposed action would not provide enough high intensity fire for spotted owl 

foraging.

This issue was addressed in the draft EIS by adding several pockets of high intensity 

prescribed burning to alternative 2. See the alternative 2 description in Chapter 2 of this 

document. The environmental consequences associated with this type of treatment in spotted 

owl foraging habitat is summarized in Chapter 3 in the Wildlife - Terrestrial section of the 

FEIS.

5. The proposed action would not provide enough suitable habitat for the sustainability of 

the black-backed woodpecker population.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

This issue was addressed in the draft EIS through the disclosure of environmental 

consequences and through minor modification of alternative 2. All alternatives evaluate the 

effects to habitats and populations trends of management indicator species, including the 

black-backed woodpecker. In addition, the proposed action (alternative 2) was modified from 

initial scoping to include a more specific proposal that responds to this issue by proposing to 

include pockets of high intensity fire to create pocket of contiguous snags. See the alternative

2 description in Chapter 2 of this document for the detailed proposal. A summary of the 

terrestrial wildlife analysis and Black-backed Woodpecker habitat can be found in Chapter 3, 

Wildlife - Terrestrial section of the FEIS.

6. The proposed action may decrease future large snag density potentially resulting in 

adverse impacts to cavity-nesting wildlife species.

This issue was addressed in the draft EIS through the disclosure of environmental 

consequences and through minor modification of alternative 2. All alternatives evaluate the 

effects to habitats and populations trends of management indicator species (MIS), including 

those that rely on a supply of snags and live decadent trees suitable for cavity nesting wildlife 

across a landscape (DEIS, pp. 326-327). The MIS evaluated include the black-backed 

woodpecker, a species noted in public comment. Alternative 2 responds to this issue because 

it includes a proposal for several high intensity burn areas to create pockets of desirable snags 

and burned habitat (for cavity dependent species such as the black-back woodpecker). In 

response to public comment, alternative 2 was modified to include snag-creating treatments 

such as girdling and/or topping of trees where inventory data indicated a deficit of snags in 

the larger size classes (> than 15 inch dbh trees). See the alternative 2 description in Chapter 

2 of this document. A summary of the terrestrial wildlife analysis including discussion on 

cavity-nesting wildlife can be found in Chapter 3, Wildlife - Terrestrial section of the FEIS.

7. The proposed action may decrease vegetation heterogeneity (montane chaparral, snags 

and downed logs) which may reduce native biodiversity.

This issue was addressed in the draft EIS through the disclosure of environmental 

consequences. All alternatives evaluate how heterogeneity across the landscape is affected. 

Alternative 2 responds to this issue because it proposes to promote heterogeneity through 

structural and process restoration treatments. See the alternative 2 description in Chapter 2 of 

this document. A summary of the can be found in Chapter 3, Botany (montane chaparral), 

Wildlife Terrestrial (snags and downed logs), and Fire/Fuels (high severity fire) section of the 

FEIS.

8. The proposed action may adversely affect Native American gathering sites.

This issue was addressed in the draft EIS through the disclosure of environmental 

consequences. All alternatives evaluate how the potential impact to important Native 

American gathering materials. Alternative 2 responds to this issue by proposing to restore and 

enhance culturally gathered plant materials. See the alternative 2 description in Chapter 2 of 

this document. Also, a summary of the botany and cultural resource analysis and native plants 

can be found in Chapter 3, Botany and Cultural Resource section of the FEIS.

9. Removal of mature trees under the proposed action may result in a higher tree mortality 

rate than would occur without the project, reducing future snag recruitment.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

This issue was addressed in the draft EIS through the disclosure of environmental consequences 

and alternative development. The silviculture report discloses the potential for actions to affect 

tree mortality and snag recruitment in all alternatives. Alternative 1 responds to this issue as no 

tree removal would occur. In response to public comment, alternative 3 was developed. In 

alternative 3, no trees greater than 10 inch dbh would be cut. Therefore, no commercial trees 

would be harvested. A summary of the silviculture analysis and tree mortality can be found in 

Chapter 3, Silviculture section of the FEIS.

Changes from Draft EIS to Final EIS

Based on public comment, Forest Service review or additional analysis, changes were made 

between the draft EIS and the final EIS: 

Data Corrections, Additions and Clarifications

• Silviculture: Minor corrections to basal area and the number of trees were made to the 

vegetation analysis; and, additional analysis on the potential environmental consequences 

to trees 30 inches and larger (considered leave trees) was provided in all alternatives (see 

Chapter 3, Silviculture section). No correction or data inclusion resulted in a change in 

silviculture environmental consequences. 

• Wildlife: The wildlife biological evaluation incorporated the new silviculture information 

and corrections related to basal area and large trees and updated the projected habitat 

recovery timeframes. The effects analysis was updated to include new (2012) research for 

the California spotted owl. In addition, based on additional analysis acres of terrestrial 

wildlife habitat restoration in alternative 2 was corrected (increased). 

• Air Quality: The air quality report was updated to incorporate recommendations provided 

by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and Environmental Protection 

Agency.

• Socio-Economics: The economic analysis was updated to provide additional information 

on the history (decline) of sawmills. Additional analysis was conducted on employment 

and direct/indirect jobs and costs and values were updated. Biomass harvest methods and 

costs were added to the analysis. A social environment report that is located in the project 

record was developed to provide additional information on population and demographics 

in the planning area. 

• Cultural Resources: The cultural resources analysis was updated to incorporate the need 

to develop Memorandums of Agreement with SHPO and ACHP to mitigate potential 

adverse effects to the Sugar Pine Lumber Company historic railroad logging system and 

the historic Whisky Falls Campground.

Document Corrections and Edits

• Typographical or formatting errors were corrected and maps were edited or developed to 

better reflect project locations and treatment types.

• In the summary section (DEIS, page iv) objective number 10 was edited to remove any 

inaccurate reference to travel management.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

• Due to Supreme Court ruling the references to the need for National Pollution Discharge 

Elimination System (NPDES) was eliminated from chapter 3, Hydrology/water quality 

report (US Supreme Court 2013).

• Information in other required disclosure section was updated to reflect all permits 

required.

Alternative Modifications

• As a result of additional analysis, the final acres proposed for treatment in alternative 2 

and 3 was reduced from 9,200 to 8,263 acres and the acres of meadows restored was 

corrected. No changes were made to proposed vegetation treatment types or locations as 

presented in the DEIS. However, approximately 1.6 miles of OHV routes were removed 

as a result of public comment. 

• Design Criteria Common to all Action Alternatives: Limited operating period language 

was edited to add clarity on applicable vegetation (green versus old or dead) or deleted.

• A goal (DEIS, page 19) related to restoring unauthorized routes in accordance with the

travel management process was edited to better reflect the intent of the project.

Coordination with State, County, and Municipal Agencies

The Sierra NF requested and received technical advice from the USFWS to address uncertainty 

related to candidate species. Their advice is integrated extensively throughout the terrestrial 

species sections of Chapter 3 as well as in the design criteria for all action alternatives. The 

SHPO, ACHP, and the Forest Service have initiated consultation and are in the process of 

developing MOAs for the project which will fulfill the regulatory requirements for compliance 

with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The forest worked with the San 

Joaquin Pollution Control District and the Environmental Protection Agency (Region 9) and 

included their comments and recommendations into the fuels and air quality analysis. The Madera 

County Board of Supervisors, District 5, participated in scoping field trips. State agencies, 

including the Central Valley Regional Water Control Board, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and 

the California Department of Fish and Game, participated in the scoping field trips. See the 

project record for documentation.

Environmentally Preferred Alternative

The NEPA implementing regulations (Section 1505.2) require that the alternative(s) that best 

promotes national environmental policy as expressed in NEPA, Section 101, be identified in the 

decision as the “environmentally preferable alternative” or alternatives. This is ordinarily “the 

alternative that causes the least damage to the biological and physical environment and best 

protects, preserves, and enhances historical, cultural, and natural resources” (FSH 1909.15, 05).

The environmentally preferable alternative is not necessarily the alternative that would be

implemented, and it does not have to meet the underlying need for the project. It does, however, 

have to cause the least damage to the biological and physical environment and best protect, 

preserve, and enhance historical, cultural, and natural resources.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

I believe alternative 2 is the environmentally preferable alternative. Although this alternative uses 

both non-commercial and commercial methods to treat vegetation in order to move towards 

desired conditions, it provides the most resource benefit in terms of long term resiliency and 

sustainability. In the long term (up to 15 to 20 years), vegetation growth and vigor will remain 

high, heterogeneity will increase and the potential for loss due to insects, diseases, drought will be 

low (FEIS, table 4). In alternative 1 and 3, the converse is expected. 

While both action alternatives included restorative actions for meadows, stream habitats, roads, 

and unauthorized routes, only alternative 2 reduces the predicted mortality from wildfire from 0 

to 100 percent (alternative 1 and 3) to a range of 0 to 69 percent, results in about 4,620 acres 

being within the desired departure condition class fire interval 1 (CCFRI 1) and has surface fire as 

the expected fire type. 

Alternative 3 would result in less impact to hydrology (water quality) from thinning that 

concentrates on ladder and surface fuels within the lower and mid-canopy levels (no commercial). 

However, when compared to alternative 2, neither alternative would exceed the upper threshold 

of concern (14 percent) within subdrainage 504.1004 (FEIS, table 4). Alternative 3 would not 

change California Wildlife Habitat Relations (CWHR) type, size, or density whereas alternative 2 

will alter canopy closure on 260 acres (approximately 3 percent of the treatment area). However, 

more importantly, neither alternative would alter the existing trend in the habitat at the projectlevel, nor would it lead to a change in the distribution of the aforementioned terrestrial MIS 

across the Sierra Nevada bioregion. Alternative 2 provides the most long term stability for visual 

resources (scenic integrity and stability) as it promotes sustainability in attributes that include 

large trees and diverse vegetation (FEIS, table 4).

Findings Required by Law and Regulation

Clean Air Act of 1970

The Clean Air Act of 1970 and its amendments provide for protecting and enhancing the nation’s 

air resources. The air quality report concludes that actions authorized by this decision will not 

cause or contribute to any violation to the air standard for the project area. Federal and State 

ambient air quality standards will not be exceeded as a result of implementing this decision

(FEIS, page 81 to page 87). In accordance with the California Code of Regulations, Title 17, the 

Forest Service will submit a smoke management plan to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution 

Control District (District) and a permit will be obtained authorizing prescribed burning. 

Communications with the District will be maintained as until each burn is concluded. This 

decision complies with the Clean Air Act. 

Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act, as amended, regulates dredging and filling freshwater and coastal wetlands. 

Section 404 (33 USC 1344) of the Clean Water Act prohibits discharging dredged or fill material 

into waters (including wetlands) of the United States without first obtaining a permit from the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Wetlands are regulated in accordance with federal Non

Tidal 

Wetlands Regulations (Sections 401 and 404). Under the Clean Water Act regulations, the Forest 

Service will obtain permits from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board 

(RWQCB). The diversion of water for the four off-site livestock water developments will require 

submittal of a Statement of Water Diversion and Use to the State Water Resources Control Board.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Conservation measures will control erosion and sedimentation and the use of best management 

practices (BMPs) will avoid or minimize potential increases in sediment loads to streams during 

project implementation. Over the long term, potential adverse effects are expected to be minor, 

not exceeding thresholds of concern. The decommissioning, and/or maintenance of system roads 

and the restoration of OHV routes will improve watershed condition by reducing hydrologic 

connectivity , water quality impacts from sedimentation, and move the subdrainages toward a 

more stable and resilient condition (FEIS, Chapter 3, Hydrology/Water Quality, page 255 to page 

256). This decision will improve conditions with respect to sedimentation on State‐listed 

impaired streams (Final EIS, Chapter 3, Water and Soil section). This decision complies with the 

Clean Water Act.

Endangered Species Act of 1973

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 USC 1531 et seq.) requires that any action authorized by 

a Federal agency does not jeopardize the continued existence of a threatened or endangered 

species, or result in the destruction or adverse modification of the critical habitat of such species.

The Forest Service is directed to comply with this Act and has done so through Biological 

Assessments that are used to analyze the effects of the proposed alternatives. These assessments 

and evaluations make determinations on Federally-listed endangered, threatened, candidate and 

proposed species and their habitat. The analysis was conducted in part to determine whether 

formal consultation or conference is required with the United States Department of the Interior, 

Fish and Wildlife Service, pursuant to this Act.

The terrestrial wildlife, aquatic and botanical assessments indicates there are no federally 

threatened or endangered botanical, or aquatic species potentially affected by the project (FEIS, 

pp. 95 to 99, 121 to 122, 286 to 289). The FEIS documents that informal consultation with the US 

Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

amended (16 USC 1531 et seq.), was initiated by the Forest Service on March 27, 2013 for this 

project with the request for technical assistance related to incorporating design features for the 

Pacific fisher, a Candidate species. The selected alternative (which tiers to the biological 

evaluation) incorporates numerous design measures to protect key fisher habitat and incorporates 

five technical assistance recommendations (FEIS, page 291) that were provided by USFWS for 

another Sierra NF restoration project with similar actions (USFWS 2012). The wildlife analysis 

concludes that implementing the selected alternative (alternative 2) will not contribute to 

significant cumulative effects to Pacific fishers or their habitat. This determination is supported 

by recent findings published by both the USFWS and the State of California with regard to fisher 

population viability and habitat sustainability (FEIS, pages 297 to 299, 306 to 311). Regional 

USFS biologists are currently in the process of convening an interagency Fisher Technical Team 

(FTT) to develop the core of the Southern Sierra Fisher Conservation Strategy, designed to be a 

living strategy that can adapt to new research as it is published.

My decision, through the inclusion of design criteria for species covered under this Act, in

consideration of the analysis and determinations contained in Biological Assessments and 

Evaluations for Botanical (J. Clines 2013), Aquatic Wildlife (P. Strand 2013), and Terrestrial 

Wildlife (A. Otto 2013) species, is in compliance with the ESA. Additionally, as there are no 

federally threatened or endangered botanical, terrestrial wildlife or aquatic species potentially 

affected by the project, I find this decision fully complies with Section 7 of the Endangered 

Species Act.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

National Environmental Policy Act

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires Federal agencies to complete detailed 

analyses of proposed actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The 

Act’s requirement to prepare an environmental analysis is designed to provide decision‐makers 

with a detailed accounting of the likely environmental effects of a proposed action prior to 

adoption and to inform the public of (and encourage comments on) such effects. The Final EIS 

analyzes the alternatives and displays the environmental effects in conformance with NEPA 

standards. The procedural requirements of the NEPA have been followed.

National Forest Management Act

The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 

Resources Planning Act of 1974 (RPA) and sets forth the requirements for Land and Resource 

Management Plans (Forest Plans) for the National Forest System. I have included design criteria

as part of my decision to minimize or eliminate significant environmental effects from this 

project. I have included standards and guidelines from the Sierra National Forest Land and 

Resource Management Plan (forest plan) and the Sierra Nevada Framework Plan Amendment 

Record of Decision as amended (USDA-FS 2004b) in the design of this project. 

My decision to select the actions provided by alternative 2 is consistent with forest plan goals and 

objectives, standards and guidelines, as documented in the resource sections in Chapter 3 of the 

FEIS and in “Rationale for My Decision.” I have determined this project complies with this Act. 

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires Federal agencies to 

consider the potential effects of a preferred alternative on historic, architectural, or archaeological 

resources that are eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and to 

afford the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) an opportunity to 

comment. Section 110 of the Act requires Federal agencies to identify, evaluate, inventory, and 

protect NRHP resources on properties they control. Potential impacts to archaeological and 

historic resources have been evaluated in compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA. 

The Pacific Southwestern Region of the Forest Service developed a programmatic agreement 

(PA) with the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) and ACHP in order to more effectively 

and efficiently comply with the NHPA and to better manage cultural resources on National Forest 

System lands in Region 5. This PA spells out standard resource protection measures and 

inventory protocols that are to be utilized for Forest Service undertakings in the region. The PA 

has been utilized to develop treatments under alternative 2 to protect 134 of 136 cultural resource 

sites, as well as enhance Native Californian cultural resources in the project area. Two historic 

resources will require additional consultation, evaluation, and mitigation that falls outside of the 

framework of the PA.

Two cultural resources may be adversely affected by alternative 2, and therefore, cannot be 

addressed under the PA. In order to address the adverse effects to these resources, the SNF will 

follow regulatory guidelines found in 36 CFR 800.4-6. The California SHPO has been consulted 

and concurred with my decision to enter into MOAs to address the potential for adverse effects 

from specific activities approved in the project and to complete remaining evaluations of 

eligibility for the NRHP before implementing portions of this decision.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

The NHPA provides comprehensive direction to Federal agencies to identify, evaluate, treat, 

protect, and manage historic properties. The NHPA expands the NRHP and it establishes the 

ACHP and SHPOs. Section 106 of the NHPA directs all Federal agencies to take into account 

effects of their undertakings (actions, financial support, and authorizations) on properties 

included in or eligible for the National Register. The ACHP’s regulations (36 CFR §800) 

implement Section 106 of the NHPA. Section 110 of the Act sets inventory, nomination, 

protection, and preservation responsibilities for federally owned and administered historic 

properties.

Administrative Review and Appeal Opportunities

This decision is subject to appeal pursuant to 36 CFR 215. In accordance with the April 24, 2006 

order issued by the U. S. District Court for the Missoula Division of the District of Montana in 

Case No. CV 03-119-M-DWM, only those individuals and organizations who provided comments 

during the comment period are eligible to appeal [36 CFR 215.11(a), 1993 version]. 

Appeals must be filed within 45 days from the publication date of the legal notice in the Fresno 

Bee. Notices of appeal must meet the specific content requirements of 36 CFR 215.14. An appeal, 

including attachments, must be filed (regular mail, fax, e-mail, hand-delivery, express delivery, or 

messenger service) with the appropriate Appeal Deciding Officer [36 CFR 215.8] within 45 days 

following the publication date of the legal notice. The publication date of the legal notice is the 

exclusive means for calculating the time period to file an appeal [36 CFR 215.15 (a)]. Those 

wishing to appeal should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other 

source.

Appeals must be submitted to Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, 

CA 94592, (707) 562-8737. Appeals may be submitted by FAX [(707) 562-9091] or by handdelivery to the Regional Office, at the address shown above, during normal business hours 

(Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm). Electronic appeals, in acceptable [plain text (.txt), rich text 

(.rtf) or Word (.doc)] formats, may be submitted to appeals-pacificsouthwest-regionaloffice@fs.fed.us with Subject: Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project.

For electronically mailed appeals, the sender should normally receive an automated electronic 

acknowledgment from the agency as confirmation of receipt. If the sender does not receive an 

automated acknowledgment of the receipt of the appeal, it is the sender’s responsibility to ensure 

timely receipt by other means [36 CFR 215.6(a)(4)(iii)].

Implementation Date

If no appeals are filed within the 45 day appeal period, implementation of the decision may occur 

on, but not before, 5 business days from the close of the appeal filing period. When appeals are 

filed, implementation may occur on, but not before, the 15th business day following the date of 

the last appeal disposition.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Contacts

For additional information concerning this Record of Decision, the Final Environmental Impact 

Statement, or the appeal process please contact:

Aimee Smith, Range Management Specialist and Project Lead

asmith03@fs.fed.us

(559) 877-2218 ext. 3151

57003 Road 225, North Fork, CA 93643

DEAN A. GOULD

Forest Supervisor Date
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Appendix A – Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project 

Selected Alternative Maps

(inserted as a separate file) 
25

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Appendix B – Aquatic and Meadow Restoration

The meadow and riparian areas approved for restoration are listed by number/name in table 2. 

Aquatic wildlife habitat enhancement- Will be completed by installing culverts on roads 7S068 and 

7S076 will be reconstructed to reduce sediment. Eleven meadows within the project area are selected 

for restoration.

Meadow restoration (physical stabilization) -This will be completed by the installation of 

bioengineered log fabric step-falls, which will use locally native vegetation (e.g., logs, sod, Willow, 

sedges, rushes, etc.) to construct the erosion control and stabilization structures. The logs used for 

these stabilization structures will come from encroaching conifers removed from within the meadow 

(up to 12 inch dbh) or understory trees around the periphery of the meadow (up to 10 inch dbh). All 

tree removal will be done by hand and hand log carriers will be used to move the logs to the 

restoration sites. In some cases equipment or supplies may be shuttled into the work areas using 

power wheelbarrows, and since there is a potential for ground disturbance, slash (from the vegetation 

treatments) and/or ply wood, will be placed along the ingress-egress routes to mitigate these impacts.

Meadow restoration (conifer encroachment removal) – This will be completed by hand thinning 

trees up to 12 inch dbh and removed from seven meadows to reduce conifer encroachment and help 

reduce the depletion of ground water. Select cedar and/or fir trees within the project meadows (>12 

inch dbh) may be girdled for snag creation if the area is deemed snag deficient. Conifers will be hand 

thinned within each meadow. Trees less than 6-feet tall will be lopped, scattered and left in place; 

trees greater than 6-feet tall will be bucked in place and the slash left to dry for a minimum of six 

weeks and then piled and burned. If applicable, 4 inch to 10 inch dbh trees will be cut into 8-foot to 

14-foot lengths and moved by hand with log carriers to the edge of the meadow where they will be 

cached for later use in restoration structures. If no conifers are to be used for restoration purposes, 

they will be (depending on size) lopped and scattered, bucked in place, or bucked and moved to the 

meadow edge. 

Meadow restoration (mechanical and hand thinning in Riparian Management Area (RMA) –

This will be completed by mechanical, hand thinning and piling, and prescribed fire. Mechanical and 

hand thinning will occur within a 100 foot RMA around selected meadows adjacent to areas proposed 

for structural restoration (units) to help reduce the depletion of ground water and further address the 

issue of conifer encroachment. Mechanical thinning will occur where treatment units are proposed, 

adjacent to the meadow RMA, in the outer 50’ and as far as the equipment can reach within the inner 

50 feet of the RMA (approximately 0-35 feet of the buffer from the meadow edge will be hand 

thinned where mechanical equipment cannot reach). Slash will have a similar treatment in the RMA, 

as in the adjacent fuel treatment unit, prior to burning. Areas within the meadow RMA where hand 

thinning is conducted will be hand piled and burn where prescribed fire is proposed. Proposed 

treatments in the meadow RMA will follow Wildlife-Silvicultural Prescription (Rx). Mechanical 

equipment will be utilized to thin conifers within the RMA and only where slope gradients are less 

than 15 percent. Mechanical equipment will not be allowed to turn in the meadow buffer and ingress 

and egress of mechanical equipment will be on the same path within the meadow buffer. Any soil 

disturbance will be repaired by hand if necessary. Conifers less than 12 inch dbh will be mechanically

thinned within 50 feet of the meadow boundary where mechanical equipment could reach without 

driving into the inner 50 feet of the meadow boundary. Conifers greater than 12 inch diameter located 

within 50 feet of aspen will be hand thinned using stand treatment Wildlife-Silvicultural Rx and the 

boles and limbs will be lopped and scattered and slash will be jack pot burned.
26

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Meadow restoration (off-site livestock water development) - This will be completed by installing 

four off-site (e.g. located outside riparian area) livestock drinking water developments for cattle 

adjacent to the following meadows within the Haskell Grazing Allotment within the portion of the 

allotment located within Whisky Ridge project area: Beehive Meadow (504M153), Benedict Meadow 

(504M19), China Meadow (504M41), and Peckinpah Meadow (504M29) (Map 12, table 3). Spring 

and/or channel sources of water (identified specifically within each meadow) will be developed with 

a spring box to collect water and will be plumbed to distribute the water to a permanently located 

water trough (e.g. 235 gallon capacity). The diversion of water for the four off-site livestock water 

developments will require submittal of a Statement of Water Diversion and Use to the State Water 

Resources Control Board. The implementation of these water developments will be coordinated with 

Forest Service specialists and will be installed in association with proposed meadow restoration 

activities to minimize trampling impacts to sensitive riparian areas.

Table 2. Summary of Meadows/Riparian Restoration Actions

Meadow 

Number/Name

Identified in Conifer Encroachment Study?Acres of EncroachmentAcres of Thinning in Meadow Buffer Treatment (0-100 feet from meadow boundary)Acres of Physical/Structural Meadow Stabilization Acres of enhancement Rawson’s flaming trumpet habitat?Off-Site Livestock Water Development Proposed?

504M15 Yes .82 7.2 0.0 0.0 No

504M19/

Benedict Meadow

Yes .56

8.6

0.0 0.1 Yes

504M28 No ND 3.0 1.0 0.0 No

504M29/

Peckinpah Meadow

Yes 1.27

12.5

0.0 0.1 Yes

504M37 Yes .37 .9 0.0 0.1 No

504M41/

China Meadow

No ND

7.8

1.5 0.1 Yes

504M59 Yes ND 5.9 3.0 0.1 No

504M60 No ND 6.5 3.75 0.0 No

504M153/

Beehive Meadow

Yes 1.73

7.4

2.65 0.0 Yes

504M167 Yes .77 7.1 0.0 0.0 No

504M312 No ND 5.5 4.0 0.1 No

Totals 6 72 16 0.6 4

*Acres are approximate.

Activities Common to all Meadow Restoration Sites:

• Wildlife and botanical surveys will be conducted prior to any restoration activity to ensure

protection of those resources and compliance with all relevant BMP’s.
27

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

• To ensure ample perching/foraging posts for great gray owls within meadows proposed for 

restoration, the terrestrial biologist will survey areas where encroaching conifers are intended 

for removal, prior to project implementation and may require retention of several young trees 

per meadow acre. Additional conifers with associated shrubs such as azalea and western 

blueberry growing at the base of the bole may also be flagged for retention to provide nesting 

habitat for migratory song birds throughout the meadow. 

• In all cases, native vegetation (e.g., sod) removed during restoration activities will be saved 

and preserved for later planting. These areas will also be planted with native Willows to 

expedite and enhance the stabilization process. Willows will be harvested locally from the 

same meadow(s) or meadows in the same watershed and at the same elevation range.

• Water will be dammed and diverted around the restoration areas during construction. This 

will be done either by pumping the water using a portable fire pump or by gravity draining 

impounded water using a 10inches flexible corrugated pipe. Diverted water will be put back 

into the channel at the bottom of the meadow.

• A watering system will be devised to ensure that newly re-vegetated areas become established 

as soon as possible.

• If rock is used in the restoration structures, it will come from local forest stock piles, if 

necessary measures will be taken to avoid moving noxious weeds from the rock source to the 

meadows. Currently, rock comes from the tunnel talus at Powerhouse 8 off Forest Road 8S03.

• All heavy equipment (if used) will be washed before and after each project to prevent spread 

of noxious weeds and pathogens such as chytrid fungus.

• Refueling of equipment will follow SNFPA-RCO#1-99, which requires that storage of fuel 

and refueling occur at least 100 feet from any riparian area and a spill kit will be required on 

site during implementation).

• Ingress by equipment will occur only when soil moisture conditions are low and the ground 

firm. If equipment does need to enter the meadow, it will only travel and work where the soil 

is relatively dry, and in all cases, 3⁄4inch plywood and/or 1⁄2inch polyethylene tread mats will

be laid down along the equipment route in order to distribute the load more uniformly over 

the meadow surface and mitigate any tread damage that may occur.

• Any ingress routes enlarged and/or created for equipment to access the meadow(s) will be 

obliterated upon completion of the project or properly closed if access to the project area is 

required for maintenance within the first five years after completion.
28

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Appendix C National Forest System Roads and Unauthorized OHV 

Routes

This appendix addresses road maintenance, temporary road construction, reconstruction, 

decommission/obliteration and unauthorized OHV route restoration. Table 3 lists the roads that are 

approved for maintenance and construction treatment in this decision. 

Forest Service Road 8S26D - Forest Service Road 8S26D is causing severe erosional impacts and 

sediment delivery to headwaters of Peckinpah Creek and will be decommissioned and obliterated 

from a point approximately 0.2 miles from the junction with Forest Service Road 8S26 to Forest 

Service Road 8S09. To mitigate the loss of access, a re-route will be constructed from the segment of 

Forest Service Road 8S26D left in place to the 8S26C spur. A 200-foot section Forest Service Road 

8S26 running through the west side of Peckinpah Meadow will be reconstructed using a more 

permeable vented road base or the installation of a series of culverts of sufficient size (18 inches to 24

inches) and number (3 to 5) to accommodate the flow moving across this part of the meadow. 

Road 7S34 and Meadow 504M60 - The stream crossing at Forest Service Road 7S34 and Meadow 

504M60 will have a 36 inches to 48 inches bottomless arch culvert installed to accommodate runoff 

and prevent further degradation of the channel banks. Two un-engineered drain points which are 

hydrologically connected to the meadow will be either relocated with rolling dips or water bars to 

channel water back onto the forest floor and away from the meadow or any nearby creeks or the drain 

points will be armored with Media Luna rip rap dissipation structures at their outlets to disperse water 

back into overland flow. Forest Service Road 7S34 (where it crosses at the head of a small meadow) 

will be rebuilt with a crushed rock low water crossing to accommodate the high soil moisture and 

runoff. Other improvements and maintenance on roads) within the project include the installation of 

culverts, rolling dips, waterbars; aggregate surfacing where soil erosion is evident; riprap at outlets of 

culverts, dips, and waterbars where needed; minor clearing and widening to a twelve-foot road width 

for equipment access; aggregate placement on steep slopes, especially in streamside management 

zones; and replacement of damaged or missing road signs. Best Management Practices (BMPs) 

developed for road maintenance and reconstruction activities will be incorporated into the design of

the project and will follow the Sierra National Forest Land Management Plan (SNF-LMP) Standards 

and Guidelines, as amended.

Forest Service Road 7S08 - A historic rock trestle crossing the headwaters of Whisky Creek failed 

and collapsed sometime in the past severing through-access on Forest Service Road 7S08 between 

Forest Service Road 8S09 to the west and 8S70 to the southeast. Although standard vehicles cannot 

cross at this point, OHV’s can negotiate the steep (>50%) embankments into and across the creek. 

OHV ingress into the creek has denuded the embankments of all vegetation causing severe slope 

instabilities and accelerated erosion. Excessive sedimentation (aggradation) is occurring in the creek 

due to the adjacent hill slope erosion as well as direct impacts to the channel banks from OHV tread 

damage. Aggradation in this part of the stream channel is increasing the width-to-depth ratio (i.e., 

over-widening the channel), which is causing increased near bank shear stress and an increase in bank 

erosion rates beyond the range of natural variability. The erosion and increased sediment input is 

directly and adversely affecting the aquatic function (e.g. pool habitat) at and downstream of this 

location. In order to improve and restore degraded aquatic features (e.g., meadows, streams, and 

riparian areas) several restoration solutions are included in this decision:

• Reclassification of a segment of Forest Service Road 7S08 (from the junction of designated OHV 

trail 23E283 to designated OHV trail 23E293 (7S08B) to Maintenance Level 1,
29

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

• Blockage of approximate 0.5 miles (by gate or other barrier) of 7S08 at the junction of designated 

OHV trail 23E283 JG5 and the junction of designated trail 23E293 (JSM607S08B) to prevent 

public access,

• Stabilization of embankments by seeding with native vegetation, placement of fine mesh coir 

erosion control blanket on the slopes, covering the slopes with certified weed-free mulch, and 

installing jute-straw wattles on-contour every five feet in elevation, and, 

• Stabilization of channel banks by re-vegetating with live Willow staves, Willow revetments 

and/or Willow brush mattresses as needed.
30

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Table 3. Road Maintenance, Reconstruction and Temporary Road Construction

ROAD EXISTING PROJECT PROPOSED WORK

Number

Segment

NameFunc ClassMtc LevelSurfaceSpeedWidth ClosureMtc LevelSurfaceWidthSpeedVehicleDesign VehicleCritical. ClosureNew Const.Reconst.Maint.AbatementDust Remarks

1 2 3 2 4 4 3 5 5 5 6

4S81 1 Minarets Rd A 4 P D-25 4 P D-25 S S 6.0

4S81 2 Minarets Rd A 4 P D-25 4 P D-25 S S 7.5

7S02 3 Rock Creek C 2 N 12-5 G 3 N 12-5 T L G 0.9 W

7S02I 1 Rock Creek I L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.4 W

7S02K 1 Rock Creek K L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 1.0 W

7S04 1 Browns Mdw L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 1.5 1.5 W

7S07 3 Fish Creek C 2 N 12-5 G 3 N 12-5 T L G 2.3 W

7S07 4 Fish Creek C 2 N 12-5 G 3 N 12-5 T L G 2.8 W

7S07B 1 Fish Creek B L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 1.2 1.2 W

7S07E 1 Fish Creek E L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.3 W

7S07F 1 Fish Creek F L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 1.4 W

7S07I 1 Fish Creek I L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.3 W

7S07J 1 Fish Creek J L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.4 0.4 W

7S07L 1 Fish Creek L L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.5 W

1) A Arterial 2) N Native 3) B Barrier 4) L Lowboy 5) Show to 6) W Water

 C Collector A Aggregate G Gate T Log Truck nearest L Lignin

 L Local E Spot Rock E Gate Elsewhere Y Yarder 0.1 mile O Oil

 P Pavement S Sign S Sedan S Salts

 N Snow>6” E Engine
31

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

ROAD EXISTING PROJECT PROPOSED WORK

Number

Segment

NameFunc ClassMtc LevelSurfaceSpeedWidth ClosureMtc LevelSurfaceWidthSpeedVehicleDesign VehicleCritical. ClosureNew Const.Reconst.Maint.AbatementDust Remarks

1 2 3 2 4 4 3 5 5 5 6

7S08 1 Nine Line L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 1.0 W

7S34 1 Whisky Ridge L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 3.0 W

7S37 1 Owl L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 1.0 1.0 W

7S43Y 1 Whisky Falls 

CG L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.1 W

7S68 1 Pierce Mill L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 3.1 3.1 W

7S68A 1 Pierce Mill A L 1 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.2 0.2 W

7S76 1 Ellis Meadow L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 2.3 W

7S76A 1 Ellis Mdw A L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.1 0.1 W

7S94 1 Seven Rocks L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 4.5 4.5 W

7S94A 1 Powder Can L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 1.7 W

7S94B 1 Edge Spur L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.3 W

7S96Y 1 Whites Cabin L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.9 W

7S96YA 1 Whites Cabin A L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.3 W

7S96YB 1 Whites Cabin B L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.1 W

7S96YD 1 Whites Cabin D L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.2 W

7S507 1 Coder L 2 N 12-5 E 3 N 12-5 T L E 0.8 0.8 W

1) A Arterial 2) N Native 3) B Barrier 4) L Lowboy 5) Show to 6) W Water

 C Collector A Aggregate G Gate T Log Truck nearest L Lignin

 L Local E Spot Rock E Gate Elsewhere Y Yarder 0.1 mile O Oil

 P Pavement S Sign S Sedan S Salts

 E Engine
32

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Table 4 and Table 5 display road maintenance and reconstruction that is incorporated into this 

decision. Table 6 displays the OHV routes on which site productivity will be restored.

Approximately 29 miles native surface roads were surveyed and evaluated for degree of hydrologic 

connectivity and stream crossing bypass potential between the road network and the drainage 

network. Table 4 shows the key problem areas by road, identifies the problem and includes repair 

solution for both hydrologic connectivity and stream crossing bypass potential that are approved in 

this decision. Many, if not all, of the hydrologic connectivity and stream crossing bypass problems 

will be eliminated with proper road maintenance, upgrades to maintenance standards and/or the 

installation and/or relocation of rolling dips and/or water-bars.

Table 4. Hydrologically Connected Drain Points Along Native Surface Level 2 Roads in the 

Whisky Ridge project area

Road 

Name

Drainage 

Structure

Discharge 

to

Nature of 

Problem Suggested Fix

UTM 11 N 

Locations

Easting/Northing

7S34

NonEngineered Meadow

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284902 4131387

7S34

NonEngineered Meadow

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284902 4131389

7S34

NonEngineered Meadow

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284821 4131412

7S34

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284949 4131419

7S34

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284715 4131446

7S34

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284224 4131181

7S34

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain

point 284680 4131455

7S34

NonEngineered Meadow

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 285944 4131131

7S34 Osd Meadow

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of Osd.

285968 4131138

7S34 Waterbar Meadow

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Relocate Waterbar

286191 4131216

7S34 Non- Meadow Excess Install rolling dip(s) and/or 286405 4131291
33

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Road 

Name

Drainage 

Structure

Discharge 

to

Nature of 

Problem Suggested Fix

UTM 11 N 

Locations

Easting/Northing

Engineered Sediment 

Transport

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point

7S68

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 281870 4131029

7S68

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 282130 4131688

7S76

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284544 4126162

7S76

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284414 4126309

7S76

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284619 4126601

7S76

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284873 4127310

7S76

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284923 4127693

7S76

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284932 4127765

7S76 Rolling Dip Meadow

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 284934 4127813

7S83E

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 280513 4133498

7S83E

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 280508 4133526

7S83E

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 280495 4133551

7S94

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 281390 4131288

7S94 Osd Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 281103 4131458
34

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Road 

Name

Drainage 

Structure

Discharge 

to

Nature of 

Problem Suggested Fix

UTM 11 N 

Locations

Easting/Northing

Transport point

7S94

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 281400 4131255

7S94 Osd Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 281044 4130494

7S94

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 280497 4131476

7S94

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 280556 4131583

7S94B

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 280957 4128451

7S94B

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 280991 4128379

7S96

NonEngineered Meadow

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 281977 4127647

7S96 Waterbar Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 282073 4127736

7S96 Waterbar Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 282116 4127799

7S96 Waterbar Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 282136 4127823

7S96 Waterbar Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 282157 4127843

7S96 Waterbar Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 282167 4127871

7S96 Waterbar Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 282185 4127895

7S96 Waterbar Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 282220 4127921
35

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Road 

Name

Drainage 

Structure

Discharge 

to

Nature of 

Problem Suggested Fix

UTM 11 N 

Locations

Easting/Northing

7S96 Waterbar Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 282245 4127937

7S96YC

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 282796 4128675

8S26 Rolling Dip Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 281787 4127992

8S26

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 281812 4128048

8S26 Waterbar Stream

Waterbar 

Eroded

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 281824 4128068

8S26

NonEngineered Meadow

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 281619 4127348

8S26

NonEngineered Meadow

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 281583 4127254

8S26 Osd Stream Needs Osd

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 281836 4128069

8S26

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Sediment 

Transport

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 281656 4127453

8s65

NonEngineered Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 283332 4127669

6S065B

NonEngineered GullyFill-bank 

Slump Raise Road Bed 283300 4127639

7S002 Other Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream

Install rolling dip(s) and/or 

water bar(s) upslope of drain 

point 283812 4134476

7S002 Rolling Dip Stream

Excess 

Runoff to 

Stream Install Waterbar 283794 4134494

7S002 Rolling Dip Stream

Stream 

Impacts Clean Ditch 283789 4134502

7S007

NonEngineered StreamMeadow 

Impacts Install Osd Cattle Presence 284356 4123831

7S007 Rolling Dip Stream None Rolling Dip Good Condition 284373 4123831
36

Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Road 

Name

Drainage 

Structure

Discharge 

to

Nature of 

Problem Suggested Fix

UTM 11 N 

Locations

Easting/Northing

7S007

NonEngineered StreamMeadow 

Impacts Install Osd Cattle Presence 284364 4123834

7S007 Rolling Dip Stream None Rolling Dip Good Condition 284523 4124772

7S007

NonEngineered StreamStream 

Impacts Install Osd 284508 4124801

7S007 Osd Stream Other Repair Osd 283386 4126527

8S065A

NonEngineered MeadowMeadow 

Impacts

Install Water Bar Before 

Meadow 283215 4127700

8S065B

NonEngineered StreamStream 

Impacts

Install Water Bar Before 

stream 283327 4127667

8S065B

NonEngineered MeadowMeadow 

Impacts

Install Water Bar Before 

Meadow 283372 4127691

8S070 Rolling Dip Gully

Stream 

Impacts Repair Rolling Dip 284584 4128320

8S070 Other Meadow

Meadow 

Impacts

Clean Ditch Install Multiple 

Cross Drains 283833 4128605

8S070

NonEngineered MeadowMeadow 

Impacts

Clean Ditch Install Multiple 

Cross Drains 283834 4128654

8S070 Rolling Dip Gully

Stream 

Impacts Repair Rolling Dip 283830 4128908

8S070

NonEngineered StreamFill-bank 

Slump Install Osd 283645 4129483

8S070 Waterbar Gully Gullying Repair Water Bar 285413 4128340

“Non-Engineered” refers to drainage points where water is flowing off the road at random points 

where there is no structure to channel the water off the road. “Osd” refers to an Over-side Drain, 

which is typically a galvanized metal gutter built into the downslope side of the road prism.

Table 5. Selected Alternative Culvert Installment and Maintenance

Road Name Culvert 

Condition

Suggested Fix UTM 11 N 

Locations

Easting/Northing

8S070 1/4 Plugged Replace With Longer Culvert Clean Ditch 283834 4128654

8S070 Clear Possible Flow/Piping Under Culvert 283834 4128884

8S070 Na Install Culvert 284986 4128155

7S002 3/4 Plugged Clean Culvert and In-board Ditch 283800 4134484

7S007L Fully Plugged Inlet Buried 283453 4126904

8S065B Na Install Culvert(S) and Add Aggregate 283337 4127669
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Road Name Culvert 

Condition

Suggested Fix UTM 11 N 

Locations

Easting/Northing

8S070 1/2 Plugged Clean Culvert 283728 4128348

7S94 1/2 Plugged Clean Culvert 280560 4131594

7S02 1/2 Plugged Clean Culvert 283310 4134730

7S76 1/2 Plugged

Large Headcut Upstream Of Culvert. Stabilize 

headcut and clean culvert. 284540 4126158

7S76 1/2 Plugged Excess Sediment In Channel Downstream 284759 4126909

7S76 1/2 Plugged Clean Culvert 284869 4127321

7S94 1/4 Plugged

Bypass Potential due to under-sized culvert. 

Clean or up size culvert to 24” 280816 4131443

7S76 1/4 Plugged Clean Culvert 284410 4126315

7S96 3/4 Plugged Clean Culvert 281687 4127531

7S68 3/4 Plugged

Plugged Culvert Diverts Water Across Road 

And Gullies Down Fill Slope. Clean or 

Replace Culvert. 281886 4130981

7S96YC Crushed Replace with 24” Culvert. 282798 4128675

7S08 Fully Plugged

Small Wooden (“Historic”) Box Culvert.

Needs to be replaced with a modern CMP 

Steel 24”-36” Culvert 283548 4131013

8S26 Fully Plugged Clean or Replace Culvert 281835 4128081
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Table 6. Selected Alternative OHV Routes To Be Restored

Route Type Route ID Miles

Tread width of 50 Inches AE-19z 0.056

BP117 0.073

BP143 0.229

JG6z 0.045

JG65 0.036

JG91 0.076

JM-7z 0.034

Tread width of 24 - 50 

Inches

BP47 0.686

BP140 0.334

JG7z 0.071

JG8z 0.097

JG42 0.023

JG48 0.280

JG60 0.262

JG142 0.085

JG144 0.112

JG147 0.128

JM-5z 0.031

JM-8z 0.096

JSM3 0.130

JSM55 0.424

JSM66 0.441

JSM69 0.077

Tread width of 24 Inches JG4 0.064

JG6 0.026

JG12 0.794

JG64 0.284

JM-17 0.502

JSM62 1.515

Undefined tread width PUB-08 0.520

PUB-13 0.598

PUB-15 0.242

PUB-16 0.209

PUB-17 0.231
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Appendix D – Alternative 2 Treatment Design and Design Criteria

Treatment Design 

The following narrative provides additional detail on treatments relative to meeting project goals: 

Maintain or improve growth and vigor of pine, mixed conifer, and fir stands, as well as conifer 

plantations through density management to increase resiliency by beginning the process of 

returning treatment areas to conditions more closely resembling those present prior to the early 

1900s. A key purpose of the project is to enhance heterogeneity in forest stand structure at both the 

stand and landscape scale. This goal will be accomplished using a combination of precommercial 

(less than 10 inches dbh) and commercial (10 inches to less than 30 inches dbh) thinning of conifers 

utilizing mechanized equipment and hand thinning, dozer piling and prescribed burning treatments. 

Vegetation treatments will include commercially thinning-from-below pine, mixed conifer and fir 

stands. Understory vegetation will be precommercially thinned where needed.

Precommercially thin by hand or masticate densely stocked conifer aggregations/stands and release 

from brush competition will be conducted in the treatment areas. Thinning will reduce stand densities 

mainly within the lower and mid-canopy levels of the treated stands. Thinning treatments will

increase the percentage and perpetuation of shade intolerant pines and oaks by reducing the number 

of competing incense cedar and fir.

Prescriptions for treatment areas will follow the principles outlined in the PSW-GTR-220 (North, et 

al. 2009) and PSW-GTR-237 (North, ed., 2012) including the removal of overrepresented shadetolerant conifers mainly in the lower and mid-level canopy to provide discontinuity in fuels along 

both the horizontal and vertical fuel profile and increasing forest resilience. Stand densities will be 

varied based on aggregation of species composition and natural site conditions. Thinning will move 

stand structures towards the ecological restoration goals of restoring stand structures more consistent 

with that present prior to the 1900s. The treatment prescriptions are covered in the Chapter 3, Forest 

Vegetation/Silviculture section. Slash concentrations within commercially and precommercially 

thinned stands will be treated with a combination of tractor or hand piling and burning or mastication.

Allow for the reintroduction of fire as a process restoration tool. This goal will be accomplished by 

jackpot (spot), understory, broadcast, and/or pile burning to reduce natural and remaining activitygenerated fuels. In some treatment areas prescribed fire will be the only restoration tool used to 

reduce natural fuels and connect other treatments together across steep or broken terrain that would 

not be treated with other methods. These treatment areas will generally utilize geographic boundaries 

(e.g. roads, creeks and meadows) and topographic features (e.g. ridges). 

Initiate restoration of key terrestrial wildlife structures and improve wildlife habitat by maintaining 

and restoring key components that are utilized for shelter, reproduction sites, resting or food 

sources. Snags, coarse woody debris (CWD), oaks, and large diameter trees are some of the essential 

habitat components in the Sierra Nevada that are used by a wide variety of vertebrates and 

invertebrates for shelter, hiding cover, denning, nesting, resting areas and food sources. Approved 

methods used to restore these habitat components will include precise scattered snag creation by 

girdling or topping trees, using prescribed fire—including high intensity fire—to create pockets of 

contiguous snags, and by felling and leaving trees as downed logs to increase availability of 

CWD. CWD and snag-creating treatments will be implemented under the direction and design of the 

wildlife biologist and the silviculturist within the Whisky Ridge project treatment areas.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Course Woody Debris (CWD): Where Common Stand Exam (CSE) inventory data shows that CWD 

is deficit at a landscape scale, trees 16 inch to 26 inch will be cut and left on the ground to increase 

tons/acre of CWD to desirable levels of 5-20 tons/acre. Approved methods to achieve this desired 

level of CWD also include recruitment of CWD through prescribed burning treatments that will 

create some snags, which will eventually contribute to CWD levels. 

Oaks: Growth and vigor of oaks will be promoted, where needed, by clearing overtopping conifers.

Snags: Where common stand exam (CSE) inventory data shows a deficit of snags in the larger size 

classes (>15inch dbh), trees 16 inch to 26 inch will be identified for snag-creating treatments such as 

girdling and/or topping. Ideally, a mix of species of 4 per acres (S&G #11) will be identified for such 

treatments including ponderosa pine, incense cedar, sugar pine, and white fir. CSE inventory data will

be utilized to determine the relative abundance of each tree species and snag-creating treatments will

be implemented according to species abundance within the stand.

High Intensity Fire: A total of 22 prescribed burning units are approved for the Whisky Ridge 

project. Within the boundary of two of these prescribed burn units (as vegetative and topographic 

conditions allow), a smaller area of 5-10 acres has been identified for high-severity prescribed fire 

activity. These high intensity surface burn areas (appendix A, map 2) are located in Unit Rx310 

(seven acres), and Unit Rx306 (ten acres). This element was added (in response to comments on the 

draft EIS) as part of the selected alternative as a means of creating pockets of desirable snags and 

burned habitat for species such as the black-backed woodpecker that utilize recently burned areas for 

foraging habitat. This treatment will help contribute greater numbers of snags across the landscape 

level and create a mosaic of multi-seral stage habitats throughout the Willow Creek watershed. Please 

note, map 2 uses the term high severity. The intent of the project is to apply high intensity surface fire.

Construct new fuelbreaks and maintain existing fuelbreaks. This goal will be accomplished through 

thinning, mastication, piling and/or burning.

Treat ladder and crown fuels (live and dead) to modify wildland fire spread and fire intensity levels.

This goal will be accomplished by thinning of precommercial and commercial conifers, masticating 

and/or dozer piling and burning of dead and downed fuels. When needed prescribed fire will be 

utilized within treatment areas as a tool to reduce natural and activity-generated fuels through pile 

burning understory and/or broadcast burning. Fuels treatments within the WUI and strategically 

placed landscape area treatments (SPLATS) will be accomplished to modify intensity and rate of 

spread of wildland fires near communities and across the landscape.

Integrated weed management will be used to prevent and control infestations of noxious weeds and 

invasive non-native plants. This goal will be accomplished by hand pulling and/or prescribed burning 

of noxious weed patches: Prior to or during flowering: bull thistle, Klamath weed, woolly mullein, 

and any other high-priority noxious weeds that appear in the project area prior to stand and meadow 

restoration treatments will be treated by non-chemical treatments. This work will continue for at least 

5 years, as seeds of these species are present in the soil and the seed bank must be exhausted. Areas 

infested with noxious weeds where mechanized equipment will be used will be flagged for avoidance 

to prevent spread of seeds and contaminated soil to clean areas. If burning can be done at the proper 

time to control noxious weeds, and weeds are present in units planned for burning, weed control will

be accomplished through burning in addition to hand-pulling.

Restore production and enhance vitality of culturally gathered plant material through vegetation 

management activities. This goal will be accomplished by improving vegetation structure with 

prescribed burning treatments and meadow restoration.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Protect the historic values and characteristics of archaeological and historical cultural resources 

and improve their integrity by reducing fuels within prehistoric and historic cultural resource sites.

This goal will be accomplished by hand thinning and piling, followed with prescribed burning and 

mechanical treatments. In coordination with the district archaeologist, this decision will treat 

approximately 100 acres of dead and down fuels and vegetation within cultural resource sites, 

according to the unit prescriptions. 

For prehistoric and historic cultural resources with heavy fuel loading, treatment measures by way of 

hand thinning brush and understory will utilize chainsaws to thin fuels. Brush will be piled for future 

burning outside site boundaries in prehistoric sites. Piles can be placed within historic sites, away 

from features, if there are no wooden components. Pile locations will be determined through 

coordination with the district archaeologist, and where necessary, hand lines will be constructed 

around piles to contain fire.

For prehistoric cultural resources with heavy fuel loading, treatment measures by way of lowintensity burning through the cultural resource site may occur. Handlines will be constructed outside 

site boundaries where necessary to control direction of the fire, and will be done in coordination with 

the district archaeologist and fuels personnel. Underburning will only occur in cultural resource sites 

with a potential for a low intensity fire focused on cleaning out the understory.

For prehistoric and historic cultural resources with heavy fuel loading, thinning of forest stands may 

occur through mechanical treatment. Should identified tree stands within cultural resources need to be 

thinned in order to meet forest stand health requirements, those trees that can be reached from outside 

the boundary of a prehistoric site by a feller-buncher will be cut and removed without disturbing the 

ground. In coordination with the district archaeologist, mechanical equipment may enter an historic 

site to reach trees to be cut in areas with no observed cultural deposits or features.

Improve aquatic habitat and restore degraded meadow (e.g. meadows, streams, and riparian 

areas). This goal will be accomplished by reducing encroaching conifers by thinning (within meadow 

and buffer treatments on meadow periphery), pile and understory burning along meadow edges and 

stabilizing areas of accelerated erosion with structures where necessary. The selected alternative was 

designed to improve, enhance or completely restore the hydrologic function of degraded meadow 

systems such that water storage and residence time is maximized, increasing annual water availability 

to riparian-aquatic systems, wildlife, and livestock. Restoration of meadows within the project area 

includes physical repair and stabilization of degraded areas, noxious weeds control (hand pulling), 

reducing unauthorized route impacts, reducing National Forest System (NFS) roads impacts, and

improving livestock distribution through development of off-site water. Please refer to Appendices B, 

C and E for details related to this portion of the proposal.

Identify, improve, and maintain National Forest System Roads (NFSR) needed for the project and 

address NFSR identified for potential decommissioning or reconstruction. This goal will be 

accomplished by installing culverts, water barring, obliterating and rerouting short portion of FS 

roads. Segments of FS road will be re-classified to Maintenance Level 1. This will be completed by 

blockage (by gate or other barrier), seeding with native vegetation and erosion control. See appendix 

C and D for additional information.

Restore to site productivity unauthorized off-highway vehicle (OHV) routes previously identified in 

the Sierra National Forest Motorized Travel Management Plan (2010). This goal will be 

accomplished by barricading, sub soiling, water barring, and/or distributing downed logs to 

decommission routes and/or restore to site productivity (e.g. begin to return to natural conditions). 

Approved treatments include; 1) barricade and sign both ends of the trail to prevent OHV riders from 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

using the trail; 2) subsoil the track to de-compact the soils and allow regeneration of native 

vegetation; 3) construct adequate water bars to prevent surface erosion; and 4) distribute downed trees 

that are available in the surrounding forest. The OHV routes that will be decommissioned are found in 

appendix D.

Minimize resource impacts and improve facilities at Whisky Falls Campground. This goal will be 

accomplished through thinning and hazard tree removal as needed within the campground boundary, 

installing bear boxes using hand tools and replacing existing vault toilets. Missing or damaged 

barriers used to restrict vehicle access to prevent resource impacts will be replaced at each of the nine 

campsites. Bear boxes will be installed at each of the nine campsites using hand tools. A pad 

approximately 4 inches to 8 inches in depth by 2 feet wide and 6 feet in length will be dug at each 

location to level the surface for a permanent concrete pad where the bear boxes will rest. This 

decision includes the decommissioning of the current wooden two seat vault toilet and replacement, at 

the existing toilet location, with a new Sweet Smelling Toilet (SST) housing a two seat vault toilet. 

Minimal clearance of vegetation will be required to accommodate the new vault toilet foundation 

which will cover approximately 6 feet x 11 feet square feet. About 2,640 linear feet of wooden 

parking barriers in their existing locations will be replaced to prevent unauthorized vehicle use from 

degrading campsites and to create designated parking areas. This decision allows for vegetation 

treatments within the Whisky Falls Campground to meet density management and public safety 

objectives through thinning and hazard tree removal as needed.

Manage scenery for the highest quality in areas significant to recreation and as seen from key 

viewing points from which the public views the landscape and are most sensitive to visual change.

This goal will be accomplished through piling, burning and stump cutting in areas that detract from 

valued scenic areas significant to recreation key viewing points (e.g., burn piles, landings, fuelbreaks, 

temporary roads, and cut stumps). This decision allows for treating areas to minimize ecosystem 

stressors (e.g., wildland fire, insect outbreaks), and dense vegetative conditions (e.g., excessively 

dense and even-aged stands) that will detract from the valued scenic character by implementing 

LRMP Standards and Guidelines (scenic integrity and scenic stability).

Design Criteria

The design criteria listed below are included in and are an integral part of the selected alternative. 

They direct the design of treatment areas and treatment types and must be followed during 

implementation. They were considered when analyzing the direct, indirect and cumulative effects of 

the selected alternative and have been incorporated to minimize potential environmental impacts of 

the management actions. As listed, they are a subset of the management direction provided in the 

Sierra NF Forest Plan (USDA 1992) as amended by the 2004 SNFPA ROD (USDA 2004b), the 2007 

Sierra NF MIS plan amendment (which added standard and guidelines (S&G)), Forest Service 

Manuals and Handbooks; and best management practices. The design criteria are also based on past 

implementation experience; the best available science and/or to address significant issues. Also see 

the best management practices (Appendix F) that are incorporated into this decision. 

Air Quality

The following are Best Available Control Measures (BACMs) for prescribed fire as required under 

Section 190 of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 and mechanical treatments. The U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency developed implementation strategies and BACMs for areas that are 

designated serious non-attainment for criteria pollutants. Specific techniques to reduce emissions 

include the following:
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

1. Employ commonly used reduction techniques such as burning units after harvest before 

new live fuels appear; burning in the springtime prior to “green-up,” burning when 1,000-

hour fuels (woody debris larger than 3 inches in diameter) moistures are high, and 

burning when the duff is wet (after fall precipitation, or during winter and spring).

2. Employ avoidance techniques such as burning on cloudy days when the plume and 

residual smoke cannot be seen, burning during periods of atmospheric instability for 

better smoke dispersal, and burning during periods of low visitor use.

3. Employ techniques to optimize flaming combustion, including burning piled fuels rather 

than broadcast burning, reducing the amount of soil in piles, and employing rapid ignition 

to create a high intensity fire.

4. Ensure that all activities conform to the State Implementation Plan (SIP)

5. Conduct a full conformity analysis, as required by the Clean Air Act and the SIP to assess 

whether the proposed action produces less than de minimus emissions. 

6. Where possible maximize removal of surface fuels loads by mechanical means such as 

dozer spot piling prior to understory burning to reduce emissions. 

7. Work closely and coordinate with the SJVAPCD to minimize air quality and smoke 

impacts locally and regionally. Coordinate on air quality related press releases.

8. Mobile and stationary source controls: Reduce use, trips and unnecessary idling from 

heavy equipment. Maintain and tune engines per manufacturer’s specifications to perform 

at California Air Resources Board and/or EPA certification. 

9. Prohibit any tampering with engines and require continuing adherence to manufacturer’s 

recommendations.

10. If practicable, lease new, clean equipment meeting the most stringent of applicable 

Federal or State standards.

11. Utilize EPA-registered particulate traps and other appropriate controls where suitable to 

reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter and other pollutants. 

12. Administrative controls: Identify all commitments to reduce emissions and incorporate 

these reductions into the air quality analysis to reflect additional air quality improvements 

that would result from adopting specific air quality measures.

13. Identify where implementation of mitigation measures is rejected based on economic 

infeasibility.

14. Prepare an inventory of all equipment prior to work and identify the suitability of add on 

emission controls for each piece of equipment. 

Aquatics Wildlife

In addition to the Forest Service standards and guidelines previously detailed that will be applicable 

to the Whisky Project. The following design measures will be implemented to aquatic/riparian 

habitat:
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

1. Streamside Management Zones (USDA - Forest Service 1992 (S&G 33 and 71); USDA 

Forest Service 2000 (BMP 1-8)) are mapped in the Project Hydrology Report. Class I SMZs 

are within or adjacent to treatment areas: H-147, H-501, H-502, H-505, M-402, M-403, M404, RX-302, RX-305, RX-307, RX-308, RX-311, RX-313, RX-314, RX-317, RX-318, RX319, RX-321, T-112, T-114, T-121, T-122, T-124, T-126, T-130, T-131, T-132, T-137, T-138, 

T-141, T-142, T-145, T-149, and T-152. Activities within Class I streams are identified under 

the Old Forest Linkage Prescription under Terrestrial Wildlife (100 foot zone). 

• No heavy equipment will enter the Class I SMZ (100 feet).

• Hand treatments of non-merchantable trees could be implemented within the outer 50 

feet of the Class I SMZ, although piled material should not be left within 50 feet. 

2. Specific to western pond turtle: Class I occupied (USDA - Forest Service 1992 (Forest wide 

goal and objective 9, S&G 40): Known sites in the aquatic analysis area. Habitat in units M406, T-100, and T-101 will apply the Old Forage Linkage prescription. 

• Project activities will occur between June 15th and October 1st

. 

3. Special Aquatic Features (USDA - Forest Service 2004 (S&G 91): Do not allow heavy 

mechanical equipment within 100 feet of meadows or other special aquatic features, except 

for meadows identified for restoration (heavy mechanical equipment limited to 50 feet from 

meadow edge). Includes treatment areas: H-502, M-400, RX-301, RX-303, RX-305, RX-306, 

RX-307, RX-308, RX-310, RX-311, RX-312, RX-314, RX-316, RX-317, RX-318, RX-319, 

T-105, T-107, T-108, T-109, T-112, T-113, T-114, T-122, T-124, T-125, T-126, T-133, T-135, T136, T-137, T-138, T-139, T-140, T-141, T-142, T-143, T-151, T-152, T-153, and T-157.

4. Applicable to all SMZs:

• To protect bank stability, do not cut stream bank trees (trees with drip line extending 

to or over edge of stream bank). 

• Do not cut any tree located within a channel.

• When lighting piles, start burn from one end only to allow escape route for any 

species inhabiting piles.

• No prescribed fire lighting into SMZs, but fire can creep into zone.

5. For water drafting (USDA Forest Service 2000 (BMP 2-21), use a screened intake device and 

pumps with low entry velocity to minimize removal of aquatic species, including juvenile 

fish, amphibian egg masses and tadpoles, from aquatic habitats. A hydrologist or aquatic 

biologist would approve water-drafting sites.

6. The following Best management Practices (BMPs) (USDA Forest Service 1983, 2002, 2012) 

requirements are designed to address the watershed management concerns. All applicable 

water quality BMP’s will be implemented. A list of BMP’s used within the Whisky project is 

as follows (See project Hydrology Report: Stone 2012 for details): 

1.1 Timber Sale Planning Process 

1.2 Timber Harvest Unit Design 

1.4 Use of Sale Area Maps and /or Project Maps for Designating Water Quality Protection 

Needs

1.5 Limiting Operating Period of Timber Sale Activities 

1.8, 1.19 Streamside Management Zone Designation, Streamcourse and Aquatic Protection 

1.9 Determining Tractor Loggable Ground 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

1.10 Tractor Skidding Design 

1.12, 1.16 Log Landing Location, Log Landing Erosion Control 

1.13, 1.17 Erosion Prevention and Control Measures During Timber Sale Operations, 

Erosion Control on Skid Trails, and Fuels Treatments 

1.18 Meadow Protection During Timber Harvesting 

1.20 Erosion Control Structure Maintenance 

2.2 General Guidelines for the Location and Design of Roads and Erosion Control Plan 

2.3 Timing of Construction Activities 

2.5 Road Slope Stabilization Construction Practices 

2.7 Control of Road Drainage 

2.8 Constraints Related to Pioneer Road Construction 

2.11 Control of Sidecast Material During Construction and Maintenance 

2.13 Control of Construction and Maintenance Activities Adjacent to SMZ’s 

6.2 and 6.3 Consideration of Water Quality in Formulating Fire Prescriptions and Protection 

of Water Quality from Prescribed Burning Effects

Botany

Revegetation and Seeding using Native Plants

Any seeding for erosion control or any other purpose would use locally native plant species approved 

by the Forest Botanist or the Assistant Forest Botanist as outlined in the Region 5 Native Plant Policy 

(USDA Forest Service 1994).

Forest Service Sensitive Plants

SNF 1992 LRMP S&G #s 67 and 68, SNFPA 2004 ROD S&G # 125.

1. Flagging for sensitive plant avoidance will be done using white and lime-glo flags tied 

together.

2. Stretches of stream identified as Essential Habitat for Rawson’s flaming trumpet (Collomia 

rawsoniana) (SNF 1992 LRMP, S&G # 33) will have a Riparian Management Area of 150’ 

rather than the usual 100’ SMZ where no heavy equipment is permitted (see hydrology design 

criteria). Essential Habitat includes reaches of Whisky, Gertrude, Owl, Roush, Peckinpah, and 

Browns creeks (see Botany BA/BE). However, the RMA of 150’ may be reduced to 100’ by 

the forest botanist in treatment units where there is no flaming trumpet present in the outer 

50’.

3. Any Rawson’s flaming trumpet populations outside of SMZs, RMAs, or proposed meadow 

periphery treatments related to flaming trumpet enhancement and meadow restoration will be 

flagged for avoidance with a 50’ buffer unless a different approach is approved by the forest 

botanist.

4. In areas where Rawson’s flaming trumpet grows at the meadow periphery and mastication 

treatments are proposed, flaming trumpet will be flagged for avoidance prior to mastication 

work and the contractor will be made aware of the areas to be avoided.

5. The Kellogg’s lewisia (Lewisia kelloggii) populations on the open granitic and/or gravelly 

areas between plantation units 228 and 236 and south of unit 236 will be flagged for 

avoidance. The gravel and rock areas will not be driven through for project implementation 

(except on existing system roads) nor used for parking of vehicles, heavy equipment nor used 

as log landings.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

6. Open, rocky / gravelly habitat in RX burn units 306, 307, and 308 will either be surveyed for 

Kellogg’s lewisia and Yosemite lewisia (L. disepala) prior to implementation so that any 

plants present can be flagged for avoidance, or the absence of plants can be documented. If 

surveys have not been conducted, areas where vehicles used to conduct the prescribed 

burning can park and drive will be limited to previously disturbed areas to the extent practical 

to ensure that habitat for these rare plants is not damaged, and dormant plants are not killed 

by vehicles or equipment.

7. An equipment buffer of 100 feet will be flagged around the population of the extremely rare 

brook pocket-moss (Fissidens aphelotaxifolius) on Owl Creek upstream of Road 7S08 to 

prevent any disturbance to the stream habitat or any degradation of the surrounding uplands 

that might affect the stream.

8. Known Forest Service Sensitive plants in meadows and fens to be restored will be flagged for 

avoidance (e.g. Bolander’s bruchia, Bruchia bolanderi in China Meadow), other meadows 

will be surveyed for Forest Service Sensitive mosses and vascular plants prior to 

commencement of meadow restoration work and any Sensitive Plants would be flagged 

(USDA FS 2004, S&G 125). The exception will be in areas where trees are being thinned at 

meadow peripheries to enhance Rawson’s flaming trumpet.

9. Road crossings with streams containing the veined water lichen (Peltigera gowardii) 

occurring within 50 feet of the road will not be used for drafting of water (e.g. Browns, Owl, 

Whisky Creeks).

10. The short leafed hulsea (Hulsea brevifolia) occurrence at the south edge of Rx Burn unit 309 

along Road 7S02 will be flagged for avoidance. Burning during the dormant period for this 

plant (fall) will be acceptable but ground disturbance by vehicles and heavy equipment must 

be avoided.

Noxious Weeds

SNFPA 2004 ROD S&G # 38 and 39; USDA Forest Service FSM 2900, Timber Sale Contract Clause 

B.6.35.

1. All heavy equipment used for implementing the project will be washed before arriving on site 

to remove soil and seeds of noxious weeds.

2. Noxious weeds within the parts of the project area proposed for treatments and along access 

roads will be hand-pulled prior to treatments as time and funding allows; but infestations 

would be flagged for avoidance whether or not they have been hand-pulled first (to ensure 

that the contaminated soil is not spread by tires if vehicles or equipment park or drive on 

infested sites). Flagging will be bright orange with the words “noxious weeds” in black.

3. Any erosion control material used for meadow restoration or road reconstruction must be 

noxious weed free: Either certified weed free or inspected by the Forest Botanist prior to 

purchase from a local source (e.g. hay and straw

4. Any fill or gravel material used for road reconstruction or armoring of roads must be free of 

noxious weed seeds. This may require certification by the forest botanist or another 

professional knowledgeable about BMPs regarding weed spread via mineral materials (CalIPC, 2012)
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Cultural Resources 

Cultural resources will be protected through implementation of Approved Resource Protection 

Measures found in the Regional Programmatic Agreement (PA) 2013, the primary protection measure 

being avoidance for all project activities, including resource design criteria. 

The following design criteria are applicable to the Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project:

1. All cultural resource sites within treatment areas and proposed project activities will be 

delineated prior to implementation.

2. The district archaeologist will approve landings, borrow sources, and temporary roads prior 

to project implementation, as needed.

3. Harvest activities of potential hazard trees within and immediately surrounding the Whisky 

Falls Campground will avoid historic campground features and be implemented in 

accordance with Approved Resource Protection Measures found in the Regional PA 2013.

4. All repairs/replacements to campground, recreation (i.e., trails), and special use facilities, if 

damaged during project implementation (see design features for Recreation, Lands, Special 

Uses), will need to be approved by the district archaeologist prior to repair/replacement and 

may require consultation with the SHPO prior to repair/replacement.

5. The district archaeologist will be consulted for movement of equipment across and repair of 

designated trails (see design features for Recreation, Lands, Special Uses), prior to project 

implementation and subsequent repair, and may require consultation with the SHPO prior to 

implementation. 

6. There may be cultural resource sites within or surrounding Watershed Improvement Needs

sites. If they are currently eligible or unevaluated for inclusion on the National Register of 

Historic Places, they must be treated as eligible. To mitigate the potential adverse effect, a 

determination of eligibility will be conducted for these sites and any adverse effects mitigated 

prior to project implementation. 

7. Treatment of gathering areas, if identified, will be coordinated with the district archaeologist 

prior to treatment implementation.

8. Road maintenance and reconstruction activities on historic railroad grades converted to FS 

system roads will be reviewed and approved by the district archaeologist prior to contract 

preparation and will comply with the following:

a. Brush disposal piles generated during roadside clearing will not be piled within 

archaeological sites or within or near features of historical sites;

b. Equipment will not park or drive on railroad features (e.g., berms, through-cuts) nor turn 

around outside existing turn-outs on system roads;

c. No widening of existing road templates;

d. All blading will remain within existing road prism;

e. Equipment will not cut into side banks or berms;

f. Through-cut feature will remain intact and will not be cut off at either end. Bladed 

material will be pushed past the feature and then off the road;

g. No placing lead-off ditches through berms, through-cuts, or other features;

h. When cleaning culverts or drainages, existing headwalls will not be impacted. Drainage 

structures will be accessed only where there are no existing railroad features;
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

i. Any existing features that require work will be re-built with in-kind material and design.

Should any adverse effects to the historic railroad system be anticipated, the Sierra NF will follow 

number 11 below.

9. In addition, where the proposed action is to reduce fuel loading and fuel ladders within 

prehistoric and historic sites, the cultural resources will not be managed under the above 

referenced measures. Instead the following design criteria will be followed in order to address 

the purpose and need, and comply with applicable regulation and policy.

10. For prehistoric and historic cultural sites with heavy fuel loading, treatment measures by way 

of hand thinning brush and understory will utilize chainsaws to thin fuels. Brush will be piled 

for future burning outside site boundaries in prehistoric sites. Piles may be placed within 

historic sites where there are no wooden components and away from features. Pile locations 

will be delineated through coordination with the district archaeologist and, where necessary, 

hand lines will be constructed around piles to contain fire.

11. For prehistoric cultural sites with heavy fuel loading, treatment measures by way of lowintensity burning through cultural sites may occur. Handlines will be constructed outside site 

boundaries where necessary to control direction of the fire. This will be done in coordination 

with the district archaeologist and fuels personnel. Underburning will only occur in sites with 

a potential for a low intensity fire focused on cleaning out the understory.

12. For prehistoric and historic cultural sites with heavy fuel loading, thinning of forest stands 

may occur through mechanical treatment. Should identified tree stands need to be thinned in 

order to meet forest stand health requirements, those trees that can be reached from the site 

edge by a feller-buncher will be cut and removed from prehistoric sites without disturbing the 

ground. Mechanical equipment may enter historic sites to reach trees to be cut in areas with 

no observed cultural deposits or features in coordination with the district archaeologist.

13. An archaeologist will monitor all fuel reduction activities within and around cultural resource 

sites during implementation. An archaeological monitoring report will be required for each 

activity.

Engineering/Transportation

1. Perform road maintenance, reconstruction, and new road construction activities to support 

project access needs in accordance with the standards and guidelines established in the forest 

plan, Forest Service Handbook 7709 and 6709, as well as the Bass Lake Ranger District 

Hazard Tree guidance (BLRD Hazard Tree EA 2006).

2. Maintain all National Forest System roads to standards established in the forest plan. Insure 

drainage structures are functional and stable to prevent potential resource damage and 

degradation of water quality (S&G #78, #79, #124, #206 and BMP’s). This will be 

accomplished through road reconstruction activities and project road maintenance plans.

3. Perform a final field review of project roads to determine reconstruction needs prior to 

project activities. Where economically feasible, place aggregate on existing native surface 

roads located in areas with high and very high soil erosion hazard ratings (S&G #129). Field 

reviews will be scheduled with the hydrologist, archeologist and timber management officer.

4. Close all temporary roads required for unit access upon completion of use; remove all 

culverts, rip and ditch landings, construct waterbars, block the entrance with a log and dirt 

berm, and disguise the entrance with brush to discourage additional traffic. 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

5. Roadways will be managed for safe passage by road users. This will include the management 

of hazards associated with roadside vegetation, including the identification and mitigation of 

danger (hazard) trees. A danger tree, as defined in Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 7709.59, 

Chapter 40, is a standing tree (live or dead) that presents a hazard to people due to conditions 

such as, but not limited to, deterioration or physical damage to the root system, trunk, stem, 

or limbs and the direction of lean of the tree (FSH 6709.11, Glossary). Selection criteria 

guidelines for the marking and removal of danger trees will be tiered to the BLRD Hazard

Tree Environmental Assessment, (USDA 2006a).

6. Water may be available for dust abatement during project activities; however, water will not 

be drafted from creeks if the stream flow is less than 1.5 cubic feet per second. Other methods 

of dust abatement such as trip restrictions, speed reductions, or approved dust oil will be 

considered as an alternative to using water. Disposal of clearing slash will be by pile and burn 

or chipping. Stumps may be treated by scattering beyond the toe-of-fill and below the road 

surface. When feasible, roads will be out sloped to reduce concentrations of water and soil 

erosion.

Fire and Fuels 

Design Features and Mitigation Measures

SNFPA ROD (USDA 2004b) S&G #1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 addresses fuels treatments. S&G #1, 2, 3, 4, and 

5 implementation criteria include: 

The utilization of prescribed fire to maintain appropriate levels of surface and ladder fuels to meet fire 

and fuels objectives will be conducted in; RX 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 

312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320 and 321 after structural restoration treatments have been 

completed. RX 300 and 312, portions areas of RX 301, 304, 306, 311, and 313 underburning will be 

the initial treatment. Other prescribed fire treatment areas and units needed to treat other resource 

needs are identified in the selected alternative. To reduce the potential impacts (fire effects) that may 

occur with the implementation of prescribed fire, the following criteria will be considered in the areas 

where prescribed fire will be used:

1. Prescribed fire areas will be considered where there are larger residual trees (of size less 

susceptible to fire damage) with light fuel loadings, and/or areas where conifer reproduction 

is not being used for re-generation of openings.

2. Prescribed fire will be conducted as outlined in a burn plan, to minimize effects to trees 

during active growing period and within Spotted owl, Goshawks, and Pacific fisher denning 

habitat areas.

3. The best available control measures (BACMs) for prescribed fire will be done as required 

under Section 190 of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990.

4. Prescribed fire will be used during the late fall, winter, late spring or early summer, to 

minimize effects to trees during active growing period and within Pacific fisher denning 

habitat areas.

5. Each resource specialty will be involved in review of and finalizing the prescribed burn 

prescription in the prescribed burn plan to ensure the modeled fire effects will meet their 

resource objective or will not create conditions that are outside of the guidelines from the 

SNFPA ROD (USDA 2004b) Standards and Guides. 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

For the post-harvest slash reduction needs the following criteria will be utilized to reduce and break 

up continuous concentrations. 

1. Following the completion of timber harvest each area will be inspected by field visits to 

prioritize the need for slash treatments.

2. A plan for any spot piling will be completed after all post-harvest precommercial ladder fuel 

thinning to minimize extra equipment entries over the landscape.

Treatments will reduce surface fuels, ladder fuels, and some aerial fuels (to meet the purpose and 

need of reducing stand densities to restore forest structure and composition towards heterogeneity and 

biodiversity, and reduce the potential for uncharacteristically severe wildfire). This will occur through 

the use of mechanical methods as well as management ignited fire in the form of prescribed fires such 

as pile burning, and understory burning. Prescribed fire will be applied to the project area for three 

purposes: 1) as a final “cleaning” after vegetation management treatments have been completed to 

further reduce 1, 10 and 100 hour fuels (those fuels that have the greatest influence on fire spread); 2) 

to maintain the lower levels of the 1, 10, and 100 hour fuels; and, 3) to reintroduce the fire element 

back into a fire dependent ecosystem.

The utilization of prescribed fire only as a form of restoration treatment will be conducted in 

treatment areas identified as “Rx” units (Rx300 thru 321, a total of 21 units). These units will have (as 

needed) at least two prescribe fire entries within the lifespan of the project. Utilization of prescribed 

fire after structural restoration treatments have been completed will be conducted within these 

treatment areas to maintain appropriate levels of surface and ladder fuels to meet fire and fuels 

objectives. These units may include pile burning, understory burning or a combination of both. To 

reduce the potential impacts (fire effects) that may occur with the implementation of prescribed fire, 

the following criteria will be considered in the areas where prescribed fire would be used:

Removal of woody biomass (harvest generated slash from landings and precommercial sized trees) 

for energy production may (is approved to) be utilized as a potential fuel removal method. If this 

treatment option becomes available the benefits will be as follows: Reduced costs for piling and 

burning of fuels, increased burning efficiency at biomass plant will reduce smoke and greenhouse gas 

emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO2

)

. The amount of carbon dioide (CO2) emitted during the 

burning process is typically 90 percent ess than when burning fossil fuel (USDA Forest Service Wood 

Products Lab 2004). This method has been analyzed in this report and will have no effects. Table 7

displays the post thinning treatments for removing natural and activity created fuels. 

Table 7. Acres of Post thinning Fuels Treatment

Hand Pile/ 

Burn Pile

Tractor Pile/ 

Burn Pile

Understory 

Burn Only

Mastication 

Only

Fuelbreak (New 

Construction 

/Maintenance )

Selected 

Alternative 200 2728 2838 520 433 / 601 = 1034 Total

Forest Vegetation/Silviculture

1. When the sap is running (prior to August 1st), fir bark is much more easily dislodged. To 

minimize damage to the residual stand, extra precautions will be needed during mechanical 

operations taking place in well stocked stands heavy to fir (over 50 percent) prior to August 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

1st. The district silviculturist will determine which stands are well stocked and heavy to fir 

during the thinning layout phase. Sale administration will coordinate with the silviculturist to 

ensure minimal stand damage.

2. Based on SNFPA ROD (USDA 2004b) S&Gs for mechanical treatments, as well as design 

criteria, silvicultural prescriptions will be written utilizing thinning from below techniques 

with basal area levels for stand species composition.

3. To minimize the threat of insect attack, all green pine logs created as a part of harvest 

operations will be removed from the sale areas as either logs or biomass material within 6 

weeks of creation. Unutilized green pine material will not be concentrated but spread to dry 

quickly or chipped and spread. Green pine logs greater than 3 inches in diameter that are 

created between June1st and October 30th and left in the stand will not exceed 8 feet in length.

4. Commercial thinning operations taking place before June 1st or after October 30 th in pine 

stands will require additional measures to minimize creation of pine slash concentrations. 

Additional bucking of slash may be needed to minimize creation of favorable insect breeding 

habitat. Any green pine logs greater than 3 inches in diameter created after October 30th or 

before June 1st left in the stand will not exceed 4 feet in length. Precommercial thinning of 

pine stands will not take place before July 1st or after October 30th each year. (Schultz 

1987)(Flowers 2007)(Murray 2012)

5. Where whole tree yarding is utilized, careful consideration must be given to the protection of 

the residual trees from damage. Rub trees (previously designated for removal) and/or rub 

logs will be retained where needed to minimize damage. These will then be removed upon 

completion of yarding. Skid trails will be as straight as possible and approved prior to 

skidding. Landing size will be kept to a minimum especially in areas where additional trees 

must be felled to create landings. To minimize landing size, logs/biomass will be removed as 

quickly as feasible from landings during skidding operations and not allowed to accumulate. 

6. During post-sale treatments, 15 to 20 percent of the understory growth will be retained within 

plantations and wild stands in pockets approximately 1/10 acre in size. When determining 

understory pockets to be retained, understory pockets around oaks, groupings of larger 

diameter trees, steep slopes, draws, etc. within treatment units will be included. Understory 

pockets will not be retained in locations where they would jeopardize the effectiveness of 

planned fuels treatments. 

7. To minimize damage to the residual stand, such as loss of canopy and hiding cover and 

reproduction needed to maintain stand structure and down logs, initial underburning in T 

stands will only be undertaken during the spring when duff and down log moisture content is 

high and before actively growing trees become susceptible to excessive damage. Where 

concentrations of existing and/or created slash are present, spot piling may be needed prior to 

burning. The silviculturist and fuels representative will coordinate underburning areas prior to 

undertaking underburning.

8. To minimize the potential for regeneration of brush species, masticated brushfields will not 

be burned unless coordination with the silviculturist has been completed.

9. To minimize damage to the residual stand and loss of plantation financial investment, 

underburning will be excluded from the following plantations located within approved 

underburn treatment areas unless the silviculturist determines underburning in a given 

plantation is acceptable:

• Plantation 236 in Rx309
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

• Plantation 237 in Rx310

• Plantation 231 in Rx308

• Plantations 224, 225, and 226 in Rx307

• Plantation 223 in Rx306

• Plantation 214 and 216 in Rx304

• Plantations 240, 241, 242 in Rx311

• Plantations 238, 239, 244, 249, 250, 252, and 253 in Rx312

• Plantations 208, 204, 205, 203, 202, and 201 in Rx303

• Plantation 263 in Rx318

10. To minimize damage to the residual stand during slash piling, tractor size will be limited to a 

D-5 or smaller size tractor.

Geology/Soils

1. Maintain a 100 foot wide buffer of 90 percent soil cover below rock outcrops that have the 

potential to generate runoff into management activity areas and cause erosion in areas 

disturbed by mechanical operations. These areas include those mapped out as potential rock 

outcrop sites and any areas 1⁄4 acre or larger. (FSM 2500 – Watershed and Air Management, 

Chapter 2550 – Soil Management):

a. Treatment units with potential rock outcrop greater than 10% of their total area include 

T100, T101, T105, T107, T108, T112, T113, T118, T119, T123, T125, T127, T134, T138, 

T139, T140, T143, T146, T148, T149, T150, T152, T153, T156, T157, T158 and T160.

2. Conduct mechanical equipment operations (mechanical thinning and biomass removal 

equipment, log skidders and tractor-piling operations) when the soil is sufficiently dry in the 

top 12 inches to prevent unacceptable loss of soil porosity (soil compaction). “Maintain 90% 

of the soil porosity over 85% of an activity area (stand) found under natural conditions.” 

(FSM 2500 – Watershed and Air Management, Chapter 2550 – Soil Management)

3. Subsoil and water bar skid roads and trails in areas where soil compaction exceeds 15% of a 

treatment area. (FSM 2500 – Watershed and Air Management, Chapter 2550 – Soil 

Management)

b. 2% of the pre-treatment soil transects showed soil compaction

4. Except for mastication, limit mechanical operations, where sustained slopes exceed 35%, 

except where supported by on-the-ground interdisciplinary team evaluation. (LRMP S&G 

125)

c. Treatment units with some areas above 35% include T101, T102, T105, T109, T110, 

T111, T112, T113, T116, T128, T130, T132, T133, T142, T144 and T149. 

5. Maintain 50% soil cover over all treatment areas. Where shrub species predominate, attempt 

crushing prior to piling to create small woody fragments left scattered over the site for soil 

cover and erosion protection. (LRMP S&G #130)

d. Pre-treatment average soil cover was at 97%

6. Maintain at least five well-distributed logs per acre as large woody debris (LWD) 

representing the range of decomposition classes. (SNFPA ROD S&G 10)
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

e. Pre-treatment average for the project area was 17.10 pieces of LWD per acre

7. Provide for road surface stabilization (gravel) on roads over 5% grade that are located on 

sensitive soils and are affecting soil productivity and/or water quality. Sensitive soils include; 

Auberry, Holland and Ultic Haploxeralfs soil families. (SNF- LRMP S&G #129).

f. Roads located on sensitive soils requiring potential road surface stabilization include 

8S27, 8S27B, 8S27C, 8S27D, 8S09 to the junction with 7S07 and 8S09A.

8. Limit tractor piling in those watersheds where CWEs are a concern and use a grapple piler, 

especially on slopes >25%. (LRMP S&G 120).

g. Treatment units with a CWE concern in subdrainage 504.1002 include; T112, T113 & 

T114.

9. Limit mastication treatments to slopes that are 50% or less. 

h. Limit soil displacement and reduce the risk of soil erosion by smoothing or water barring 

the ruts or trenches, exceeding 6 inches in depth and 25 feet in length on slopes 

exceeding 35%.

i. Limit mastication operations to time periods where soils are sufficiently dry to prevent 

rutting and/or compaction by a single pass of the equipment.

j. Treatment units with some areas above 35%, include M400, M401, M402, M403, M404

& M406

OHV Route Restoration

Those routes selected for route decommissioning within the Whisky project area will have one or 

more of the following five design measures/mitigation measures: 

1. No action

2. Barricade and sign both ends of the trail to present use.

3. Subsoil the track to de-compact the soil and allow regeneration of native vegetation.

4. Construct adequate water bars to prevent surface erosion.

5. Distribute down trees that are available in surrounding forest on route surface.

Hydrology - Meadows

Design Criteria for Meadow Periphery Buffer Treatments:

1. Mechanical thinning will occur within the 100-foot meadow Riparian Management Area 

(RMA) around selected meadows adjacent to areas proposed for structural restoration (units). 

Treatments within the meadow RMA will follow wildlife-silvicultural prescriptions, 

including:

2. Mechanical equipment will be allowed in the outer 50’ of the 100’ meadow buffer where 

slope gradients are less than 15%.

3. Mechanical equipment, except for masticators moving over their own slash, will not be 

allowed to turn in the meadow buffer. Ingress and egress of mechanical equipment, except 

masticators, will be on the same path within the 100’ meadow buffer.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

4. Soil disturbance in the RMA that is greater than or equal to 10 feet long and six inches deep 

in top soil (as opposed to litter or duff) will be immediately rehabilitated by hand restored to 

replace soil and provide a minimum of 50% ground cover.

a. Hand thin trees <12” diameter in inner meadow buffer where mechanical equipment 

cannot reach.

b. Masticators will be allowed to track and turn in the outer 75’ of the 100’ buffer if:

c. Masticators are moving over their own slash

d. Masticators are working on slopes less than 15%. Slopes exceeding 15% will require 

review by the district hydrologist, fisheries biologist, or soil scientist.

5. Mechanical thinning will occur where treatment units are proposed, adjacent to the meadow 

RMA, in the outer 50’ and as far as the equipment can reach within the inner 50’of the RMA 

(see Meadow Implementation Plan). Slash will have a similar treatment in the RMA, as in 

the adjacent fuel treatment unit, prior to burning. Areas within the meadow RMA where 

hand thinning is conducted will be hand piled and burn where prescribed fire will occur.

6. In areas where aspen are located within the meadow RMA, conifers greater than 12 inch 

diameter located within 50 feet of aspen will be hand thinned using stand treatment wildlifesilvcultural prescription, and the boles and limbs will be lopped and scattered and slash will

be jack pot burned. Fencing will be constructed around the aspen stand to eliminate cattle 

grazing of aspen seedlings.

Design Criteria Common to all Meadow Treatments and Restoration:

1. Wildlife and botanical surveys will be conducted prior to any restoration activity to ensure 

protection of those resources and compliance with all relevant BMP’s. 

2. To ensure ample perching/foraging posts for great gray owls within meadows proposed for 

restoration, the terrestrial biologist will survey areas where encroaching conifers are intended 

for removal, prior to project implementation and may require retention of several young trees 

per meadow acre. Additional conifers with associated shrubs such as azalea and vaccinium 

growing at the base of the bole may also be flagged for retention to provide nesting habitat 

for migratory song birds throughout the meadow. 

3. No trees greater than 12” dbh will be felled and all conifer removal will be done by hand.

4. Selected cedar and/or fir trees within the project meadows (>12 inch dbh) may be girdled for 

snag creation if the area is deemed snag deficient.

5. Trees less than 6-feet tall would be cut and left in place; trees greater than 6-feet tall will be 

bucked and limbed in place and the slash left to dry for a minimum of six weeks and then 

piled and burned if not used for restoration. 

6. In all cases, native herbaceous vegetation (e.g., sod) removed during restoration activities will

be saved and preserved for later planting. 

7. Where appropriate, restoration sites will be planted with native willows to expedite and 

enhance the soil stabilization process. Willows will be harvested locally from the same 

meadow(s) or meadows in the same watershed and at the same elevation range.

8. Water will be dammed and diverted around the restoration areas during construction. This 

will be done either by pumping the water using a portable fire pump or by gravity draining 

impounded water using a 10inches flexible corrugated pipe. Diverted water will be put back 

into the channel at the bottom of the meadow.
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

9. A watering system will be devised to ensure that newly re-vegetated areas become established 

as soon as possible.

10. If rock is used in the restoration structures, it will come from local forest stock piles. 

Currently rock comes from the tunnel talus at Powerhouse 8 off Forest Road 8S03.

11. All heavy equipment (if used) will be washed before and after each project.

12. Refueling of equipment would follow SNFPA-RCO#1-99, which requires that storage of fuel 

and refueling occur at least 100 feet from any riparian area (spill kit required onsite during 

implementation).

13. Ingress by equipment will occur only when soil moisture conditions are low and the ground 

firm. If equipment does need to enter the meadow, it will only travel and work where the soil 

is relatively dry, and in all cases, 3⁄4-inch plywood and/or 1⁄2-inch polyethylene tread mats will

be laid down along the equipment route in order to distribute the load more uniformly over 

the meadow surface and mitigate any tread damage that may occur.

14. Any ingress routes enlarged and/or created for equipment to access the meadow(s) will be 

obliterated upon completion of the project or properly closed if access to the project area is 

required for maintenance within the first five years after completion.

15. As appropriate, meadow restoration sites will have a livestock exclosure for three to five 

growing seasons to ensure vegetative recovery and prevent damage to the restoration 

structures. 

Prescribed Fire: 

1. For the SMZ’s defined, a minimum protective ground cover of 50% will be established and 

continuously maintained from October 15th to June 15th of each year consisting of any 

combination of living plants, litter, slash, and duff.

• Living plants must be at least 5 feet high to qualify as protective ground cover.

• Litter and/or slash must be at least 2 inches deep and made up of material 4 inches or less 

in diameter to qualify as protective ground cover.

• Duff or humus must be 2 inches deep to qualify as protective ground cover.

• The 50% ground cover will be determined by using a series of random 100 point 

transects.

2. Where ground cover is less than the required 50% minimum, treatment will be applied to 

increase the protective efficiency of the SMZ/RCA to minimum standards. Treatments may 

include the establishment of living plants, introduction of litter, slash, or other treatments as 

prescribed by the district hydrologist or fisheries biologist. 

3. Prescribed burning within SMZ/RCA may be implemented as follows: hand piling and 

burning, jackpot burning, and/or broadcast burning provided that the ground cover is not 

reduced more than 50%. If the protective ground cover is reduced more than 50%, then 

protective mitigation measures will have to be employed under the guidance of the district 

hydrologist or fisheries biologist.

4. Treatment in prescribed burn units will avoid direct lighting for prescribed fire within riparian 

vegetation and or within 5 feet of the edge of stream channel; prescribed fires may back into 

riparian vegetation areas. 

5. Living woody, riparian vegetation will not be deliberately killed, destroyed or removed. 

Riparian vegetation includes but is not limited to the following species:
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

• Maples (Acer spp)

• Alders (Alnus spp)

• Dogwoods (Cornus spp)

• Poplars, cottonwoods, aspens (Populus spp)

• Oaks (Quercus spp)

6. Enough streamside shading will be maintained so as not to adversely affect the existing 

temperature regimes (confer with the aquatic and fisheries program biologist for more 

information and guidance for shading requirements).

Stream Crossings:

The greatest potential to affect the hydrologic connectivity of streams and aquatic habitat exists at 

stream crossings. To minimize the potential for project-related effects on hydrologic connectivity, 

existing crossings will be used whenever possible. In the event that it is necessary to construct a 

temporary crossing, the methods used for construction will be selected to avoid or minimize 

detrimental soil and vegetation disturbance and to maintain hydrologic connectivity between 

upstream and downstream features. All temporary crossings will be removed following the 

completion of project-related activities and will be treated as necessary to restore to pre-project 

conditions (final approval of treatment to pre-project conditions would be done by the timber sale 

administrator after consultation with the district hydrologist and/or forest fisheries biologist). 

Implementation of the activity-specific BMP’s (Appendix F) will further ensure that hydrologic 

connectivity in streams and special aquatic features not be adversely affected by this decision.

Hydrology – Water Quality

Forest policy and regulations to protect water quality and ensure watershed health are detailed by Best 

Management Practices (BMP’s) described in the FSM 2509.22 - Soil and Water Conservation 

Handbook Chapter 10 - Water Quality Management Handbook, (USDA, 2011), the Riparian 

Conservation Objective Standards and Guides as set forth in the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan 

Amendment (USDA, 2004), and the Sierra National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan 

(USDA, 1991). General project BMPs with their correspondence design measures are listed in 

Appendix E.

Soil and Water conservation Practices Handbook, Sierra National Forest Supplement No.1, 

(FSH2509.22) provides standards for the establishment and management of Streamside Management 

Zones (SMZ’s). Included is the incorporation of RMA’s and their functional/hierarchical relationship 

to SMZ’s (All stream courses in the project area would be protected and assigned SMZ’s. The stream 

courses mapped on the project area Maps provide information for development of watercourse 

protection measures such as: 

1. Skidding will be designed in a manner to skid logs away from the drainages and cross 

drainages at designated locations. 

2. Skidding will not occur across perennial creeks, and limited treatment can occur in streams 

with riparian vegetation.

3. Any project generated material that will cause obstruction of storm flows will be removed. 

4. All channels have SMZ’s, which are equipment exclusion zones. Materials may be end-lined 

out of this zone. 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

5. Perennial streams will have a minimum SMZ of 100 feet; seasonally flowing/intermittent 

streams will have a minimum SMZ of 50-75 feet and ephemeral channels will have a 

minimum SMZ of 25 feet based on field investigations. The chart below provides a summary 

of SMZ by Stream Class (table 8).

6. Treatment in prescribed burn units will avoid direct lighting for prescribed fire within riparian 

vegetation and or within the SMZ of stream channel; prescribed fires may back into riparian 

vegetation areas or SMZ’s.

7. Within RCAs reduce as much as possible ground disturbing impacts (i.e., soil compaction, 

vegetation disturbance, etc.).

8. Best Management Practices Evaluation Program form T01 will be utilized to evaluate 

implementation on those units with SMZ’s and other aquatic protection requirements.

Most units have avoided crossing stream channels. The exception is 4th order ephemeral draws. All 

treatments will be laid out to utilize designated and/or existing crossings. 

Table 8. Summary of SMZ by Stream Class

Stream 

Class

Minimum 

Ground Cover 

Density (%)

SMZ Width 

(feet)

30% Slope

SMZ Width 

(feet)

40% Slope

SMZ Width 

(feet)

50% Slope

SMZ Width 

(feet)

60% Slope

SMZ Width

(feet)

70% Slope

I 50 100 130 160 190 220

II 50 75 105 135 165 195

III 50 50 80 110 140 170

IV 50 25 45 65 85 105

V 50 0 0 0 0 0

Ground disturbance from mechanized equipment in Tractor Units (T) 112, 113, 114 will be minimized 

due to sensitive watershed conditions. Harvest methodologies will employ a “light-on-the-land” 

approach such as CTL, feller-buncher, whole tree yarding, and grapple piling.

Lands and Special Uses

A number of the approved activities may affect areas under special use permit. Special use permits 

located within the project area are identified in the Lands and Recreation Specialist Report. The 

district lands officer will work with permit holders to ensure authorized special use permit sites are 

clearly identified and visible during project implementation. The following design criteria will allow 

the Forest Service to meet commitments specified in special use permits:

1. Prior to project implementation, the district lands officer will notify permit holders, in 

writing, of Forest Service activities planned for implementation near their improvements. 

2. The district lands officer will ask permit holders to identify on the ground location(s) of their 

authorized improvements and/or special use permits sites so they are clearly visible during 

project implementation. As agreed upon with managers responsible for implementation, 

permit holders may identify their improvements by using a combination of flagging and 

surveying stakes. Permit holders will be encouraged to print their name and contact phone 

numbers on the flagging/stakes with indelible ink that is capable of lasting several years. 
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3. Improvements (roads, utilities, etc.) authorized under special use permit that are damaged by 

contractors, operators or force account crews during project activities will be repaired by the 

contractors, operators or force account to pre-project conditions.

4. All improvements under special use permit, such as utility corridors, will be crossed at 

designated crossings to avoid damage.

5. The sale administrator will notify the district lands officer as soon as possible if apiary sites 

will be needed for project activities (i.e. landings). Permit holder will be notified in writing, 

by the district lands officer, as soon as possible if an apiary site is needed for project 

activities. Upon notification, an alternative temporary apiary site may be proposed by the 

Forest Service to the permit holder, if possible. 

6. If an apiary site will be used for project activities, the site will be cleared of project debris and 

brought back to pre-project condition.

Range

The rangeland management specialist will coordinate with the contracting officer and/or sale 

administrator regarding the timing of vegetation management activities (e.g. fuel break and 

mastication contract work) that will be conducted in the approved treatments areas adjacent to the 

stockdrive, which starts at FR8S041 to FR8S027 to FR8S027C and includes Route Numbers 23E297 

and 23E272 up towards Mormon Hill ending at the junction of Route Number 23E272 and 

FR7S007F. The stockdrive includes the following proposed treatment areas: T105, T111, T112, 270, 

271 and M405). This coordination is necessary to avoid conflicts with the permitted use of this area 

under term grazing permit. The stockdrive is used to move cattle from the Castle Peak Allotment up 

to the Haskell Allotment in early July and for gathering in mid-late September.

Recreation 

Developed Campgrounds

The Forest Service operates 1 developed campground, Whisky Falls, in the project area; 

In Whisky Falls campground: 

1. To avoid conflicts with Forest visitors, a quarter-mile limited operating period (LOP) on 

harvest activities will be established around the Developed Campground during peak season 

months from May 1st through September 30th for the affected areas.

2. Outside the LOP and contingent upon the safety of the public, developed campgrounds will

be fully accessible to the public on weekends.

3. Stump cuts will be flush cut to ground and treated with borax.

4. Slash or fuels treatment will be timely and completed to ensure the developed campground is 

clear of accumulated slash, limbs and cut logs, (i.e. removed, piled, burned and/or chipped).

5. Any damage to developed campground structures such as fire rings, tables, bulletin boards, 

site barriers as a result of project activities will be repaired or replaced immediately, to preproject condition.

6. The location of landings and staging areas for project equipment with in developed 

campgrounds will be in coordination with district recreation staff.

Dispersed Camping 
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Several heavily used, popular dispersed recreation sites are included within the project area, but will

not be limited to any prescribed treatment. All of which are accessible along Forest Service system 

roads. 

1. During project activities, access to dispersed camping areas and/or dispersed use areas that 

are on designated roads or designated trails will continue contingent upon the safety of the 

Forest visitor. 

Off Highway Vehicles (OHV) designated Concentrated Use Areas (CUAs)

There are two designated OHV CUAs within the project area. They are the Whisky Staging (2.3 

acres) and Gertrude E and W Parking (.19 acres). 

1. Area boundaries will be delineated on the ground by recreation OHV staff using orange/black 

striped flagging and/or brown fiberglass carsonite posts. 

2. The designated CUAs will not be used for landings or staging of equipment.

3. Public safety will be the priority.

4. Vegetation treatment near boundaries will maintain desired visual and recreational 

characteristics; screening foreground to site, with a natural appearing state.

Designated Motorized Trails 

1. Some designated motorized trails in the project area may be used on an “as needed” basis for 

timber operations i.e skidding, hauling, or moving equipment. Coordination with recreation 

OHV staff prior to timber harvesting activities is necessary. Note: All designated motorized 

trails are marked with a brown fiberglass carsonite post with decals showing trail number, 

skill level and vehicle type markers are posted at the beginning and end of the trail. 

2. If necessary, movement of equipment across designated trail will be only at a right angle to 

trail, only at selected areas of the designated trail and upon consultation with Recreation 

OHV Staff.

3. If “gouging” or berms occur as a result of moving equipment across a designated trail, trail 

will immediately be repaired to ensure the safe passage of the forest visitor and brought up to 

Forest Service motorized trail standards.

4. A clearing limit of 3 feet (from each side of a designated trail) will be established. (FSH 

2309.18 Trails Management Handbook) 

5. Designated trails will be kept clear of any debris or forest material, burned or otherwise. This 

includes material with-in trail clearing limits.

6. Directional felling and yarding away from designated trails is required.

7. During project activities, access to the designated trails will continue contingent upon the 

safety of the Forest visitor.

8. A as a result of project activities, any damage to designated trails or associated trail head 

facilities, such as trail treads, bulletin boards, or barriers will immediately be repaired or 

replaced to pre-project condition.

Terrestrial Wildlife

Specific Management Provisions
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Forest Service requirements for managing Federally Listed and Forest Service Sensitive species and 

their habitats are defined in the following documents.

• National Forest Management Act (NFMA) 

• Forest Service Manual and Handbooks (FSM/FSH-2670) 

• Endangered Species Act (ESA)

• (LRMP) as amended by (2004 SNFPA)

In addition to the LRMP standards and guidelines, the following management actions will help 

maintain and/or enhance important Pacific fisher and American marten habitat for the selected 

alternative. These measures include information from the 2008 Conservation Biology Institute 

Document “Baseline Evaluation of Fisher Habitat and Population Status and Effects of Fires and 

Fuels Management on Fishers In the Southern Sierra Nevada, Final Report to USDA Forest Service 

Pacific Southwest Region” (Spencer et al 2008); “An Ecosystem Management Strategy for Sierran 

Mixed-Conifer Forests” (North et al 2009); and Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Study 

Integration Team discussions, fieldtrips to the project area, as well as Land Allocations.

1. Maintain highest canopy cover possible to meet the prescription within stands, aim for 60%

immediately post-harvest.

2. Thinning will not remove any trees larger than 30-inch dbh unless they are a direct hazard as 

defined below in number 4. (SNFPA ROD, pg. 50).

3. Protect all suitable fisher denning habitat with a (LOP) restricting vegetation management 

activities from March 15 through June 15. This LOP will protect reproductively active fisher 

and young that may be present in the project area from treatment actions during their denning 

and early rearing periods. 

4. Snags will be felled only if they meet the definition of a danger tree, have the potential to fall 

across prescribed fire control lines, comprise fuel break integrity, and/or pose a threat to 

firefighter safety during prescribed fire implementation. Both OSHA 29 CFR 1910.266(c) 

and FSH 6709.11, glossary define a “danger tree” as “A standing tree that presents a hazard 

to employees due to conditions such as, but not limited to, deterioration or physical damage 

to the root system, trunk, stem or limbs, and the direction and lean of the tree.” Down logs 

created as a result of snag felling would remain in the stand where needed to meet down log 

requirements of S&G #10. Snags may be felled within designated fuel breaks where they 

threaten the integrity of the fuel break, but will adhere to S&G #11 by retaining four of the 

largest dbh snags per acre. Snags not meeting these criteria will d remain as standing snags 

within the project area.

5. Retain dense groups of larger trees (greater than 30-inch dbh) with touching crowns at the 

rate of approximately one group per 2.5 to 3.5 acres. Ideally these groups will contain 

“defect” trees, those that have cavity and platform creating defects (mistletoe, rot, fork 

topped, broken limbs and tops) for pacific fisher denning and resting sites. Within these large 

tree groups, all trees over 20” dbh will be retained. These large tree groups will generally 

have a residual basal area of 240 ft2 or more for mixed conifer and 210 ft2 or more for pine 

and in many instances may reach 300 to 400 ft2 per acre. Retention of these large tree groups 

with higher basal areas and the inclusion of defect trees are designed to maintain the integrity 

of suitable fisher denning and resting sites throughout the treatment units. Non-treated areas 

within proposed treatment units, such as riparian areas and steep slopes, will also provide 

extensive areas of tree group retention as no treatments will be occurring in these areas.
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6. In certain incidences, small (five to ten acre) pockets or inclusions of decadent, high quality, 

dense fisher/spotted owl habitat that are identified in the field during project layout may be 

dropped from commercial treatment upon field review by the district biologist. A number of 

predominant trees are often observed within these types of inclusions, which may be remnant 

old forest pockets not previously logged during the extensive railroad logging that occurred 

on the district throughout the turn of the century. Due to the high habitat value present in 

these stands, and in accordance with Standard and Guideline #90 from the SNFPA ROD, this 

unique habitat inclusion may be removed from the treatment unit and will not be available for 

commercial entry.

7. Conifers with structural decadence, and/or the potential to become future snags, will be 

retained throughout the non-treatment areas of the project area. To maintain decadent stand 

characteristics within the treatment units, conifers >16”inches dbh with structural decadence 

and/or the potential to become future snags will be identified for retention within the 

treatment areas. Standard and Guideline #11 provides direction for retention of these 

structural elements. Within treatment units, conifers with the greatest existing or potential for 

structural decadence would be retained at an average of 1 every 100 feet. Conifers will be 

selected using the following characteristics listed in order of priority: evidence of known or 

potential cavities; broken top; conks or other heart-rot indicators; mistletoe or other abnormal 

witches broom formation or other diseased or insect damaged trees; teakettle branches;

forked top; or broken large branches. 

8. Black oaks will be retained throughout the project area. Within the treatment areas, conifers 

will be removed that overtop black oaks 10 inches dbh and larger, or that otherwise restrict 

sunlight from reaching them (e.g. from the south and west) now or within 15 years following 

treatment. The amount of conifer removal will be limited by the overall basal area thinning 

prescription thresholds. Conifer canopy gaps created through this process not only help 

promote and retain the vigor of black oaks, but also create habitat heterogeneity. A different 

treatment method will be applied to older, decadent oaks within the treatment units. These 

older oaks, generally with visible cavities, represent potential fisher and owl denning or 

nesting sites. Hiding cover such as shrubs, small trees, and down woody material will be 

retained around these cavitary oaks. These oak retention areas will be protected with a buffer 

area 35 feet from the bole, or to the dripline, whichever is greater, where no thinning or fuels 

treatments will occur. 

9. Promote diversity in pine plantation treatment areas larger than 5 acres by creating 1/10 acre 

openings associated with young black oaks between 4” and 12” dbh, where present, on an 

average of 1 for every 5 acres to encourage diameter growth of the oak through increased 

sunlight, release the oak from competition, and encourage future stand heterogeneity. To 

achieve this, Ponderosa and Jeffrey pine trees within pine plantations will be removed from a 

180° swath on the Southern aspect around crowded young black oaks for a 50 foot radius. 

Species diversity will be increased by selecting vigorous conifer species other than ponderosa 

and Jeffrey pine for retention during thinning where present. Hardwoods are not planned for 

removal. (S&G #3; #26).

10. Shrub and understory diversity will be retained throughout the project area. Understory 

vegetation would be maintained in Old Forest Linkages associated with riparian areas (cooler, 

moister sites—RMAs); black oak buffer zones; as well as areas where no treatment will be 

conducted such as heritage resource sites, botanical areas, slopes >35%, and rocky areas. Tree 

species associated with riparian areas, such as dogwoods, alders, and Willows are not planned 

for removal. Post sale treatments will retain pockets of understory growth spread throughout 

the treatment units so that 15-20 percent of the total understory growth will be maintained in 
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1/10 acre pockets within plantation and wild stand treatment units. This will preserve stand 

diversity while decreasing the threat posed by ladder fuels. 

11. The district biologist will be notified immediately if a nest or den of any TESCP species is 

discovered within or adjacent to a treatment area so that proper protection measures can be 

identified and implemented.

12. Temporary roads and skid trails necessary for project implementation will be 

decommissioned according to the USDA Forest Service (BMP) 2-26 (USDA 2000).

13. Standards and Guidelines 28 and 29 provide guidance for developing and maintaining 

adequate habitat connectivity within riparian areas. Recent studies (Spencer 2008, North et al.

2009) have also shown that fisher utilize riparian areas as travel corridors between high 

quality habitat. To provide for this habitat connectivity, design criteria have been developed 

to incorporate and expand upon established riparian area management zones; i.e. Streamside 

Management Zones (SMZ) and Riparian Management Areas (RMA) associated with 

perennial streams (Class I). The forest wildlife biologists have termed these zones (OFL). 

They incorporate and expand upon the measures required for SMZs and RMAs. OFLs consist 

of buffers measuring 300 feet total on either side of perennial streams. Design criteria for 

these Old Forest Linkages are detailed in table 9 and figure 1.

Table 9. Riparian Area Management Zones

*Distance from perennial stream is measured and applied to each side of the stream from bank-full 

left and bank-full right.

Distance from 

Perennial Stream* 

Vegetation Management Activities 

Allowed within zone Zone Designation

0-50 feet No activities allowed SMZ/RMA/OFL

50-100 feet

No ground disturbing equipment allowed 

into area (dozers, skidders, etc.) Activities 

allowed include hand-felling of trees smaller 

than 12”inches dbh, pile-burning, and 

equipment reach-in with boom arm. Canopy 

cover is to remain ≥60%.

SMZ/RMA/OFL

100-150 feet

Mechanical entry is allowed. Trees ≤12” dbh 

may be removed for fire and fuels reduction 

purposes by equipment. Canopy cover is to 

remain ≥60%.

OFL

150-300 feet

Mechanical entry is allowed. Thinning from 

below would occur. Canopy cover is to 

remain ≥60%.

OFL
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Figure 1: Associated Bounds and Treatments within Old Forest Linkages

Visual Resource

These scenery design features include:

1. Control lines will follow natural contours whenever possible. Underburning operations within 

view of designated motorized trails, FS Roads 08S09 and 08S70, Whisky Falls Campground, 

dispersed camping and use areas including Camp 5, and Whisky Staging and Gertrude E and 

W Parking designated concentrated use areas (CUAs) will be low-intensity to minimize the 

amount of overstory mortality and tree scorching. Islands of unburned vegetation will be 

retained in some areas to create mosaic vegetative patterns, increase visual interest and attract 

wildlife. The edges of the islands will be irregularly shaped, feathered and undulated to create 

a near-natural appearance. 

2. Thin, pile, and burn precommercial thinning slash concentrations within view (up to 150-feet) 

of FS Roads 08S09 and 08S70, Whisky Falls Campground, dispersed camping and use areas 

including Camp 5, and Whisky Staging and Gertrude E and W Parking CUAs prior to 

underburning to reduce understory fuels and mitigate visual disturbances of the prescribed 

fire. 

3. Upon completion of the underburning treatments, the district fuels specialist will consult the 

landscape architect to select remaining dead trees/shrubs to be cut within view (up to 150-

feet) from designated motorized trails (only from sensitive viewing points along motorized 

trails that will be determined in the field by the landscape architect), FS Roads 08S09 and 

08S70, Whisky Falls Campground, dispersed camping and use areas including Camp 5, and 

Whisky Staging and Gertrude E and W Parking CUAs. Efforts will be made to cut, pile, and 

burn these dead trees/shrubs slash concentrations within one year after completion of 

underburning treatments or as soon as possible. 

4. Tree stumps that are within view (up to 150-feet) of FS Roads 08S09 and 08S70, Whisky 

Falls Campground, dispersed camping and use areas including Camp 5, and Whisky Staging 

and Gertrude E and W Parking CUAs will be cut as low to the ground as site conditions (e.g., 

terrain, rock outcroppings) allow but will not to exceed 6-inch heights from the uphill side. 

5. Burn piles within view (up to 150-feet) of designated motorized trails, FS Roads 08S09 and 

08S70, Whisky Falls Campground, dispersed camping and use areas including Camp 5, and 

Whisky Staging and Gertrude E and W Parking CUAs will burn with more than 90 percent 

consumption. If 90 percent consumption is not reached (and the remaining fuels still meet the 

fuels objectives), the remnant slash will be scattered. Efforts will be made to burn these piles 
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within three years or as soon as possible during low-use recreation season to reduce impacts 

to forest visitors. Avoid burn piles within Whisky Falls Campground, dispersed camping and 

use areas including Camp 5, and Whisky Staging and Gertrude E and W Parking CUAs, 

unless approved by the sales administrator after consultation with the landscape architect. 

6. Landings within view (up to 150-feet) of designated motorized trails, FS Roads 08S09 and 

08S70, Whisky Falls Campground, dispersed camping and use areas including Camp 5, and 

Whisky Staging and Gertrude E and W Parking CUAs will be restricted to occur within 

existing openings whenever possible and landing sizes would be minimized. The edges of the 

landings will be irregularly shaped, feathered and undulated to create a near-natural 

appearance and mimic the natural openings in the surrounding landscape. Efforts will be 

made to burn the landing piles within three years or as soon as possible during low-use 

recreation season to reduce impacts to forest visitors. Avoid landing piles within Whisky Falls 

Campground, dispersed camping and use areas including Camp 5, and Whisky Staging and 

Gertrude E and W Parking CUAs, unless approved by the sales administrator after 

consultation with the landscape architect. Upon completion, landings will be cleaned-up and 

restored using BMPs such as BMP 1.12 Log Landing Locations and BMP 1.16 Log Landing 

Erosion Protection and Control.

7. Where possible, in those areas where skid trails and/or fuel break lines are within view from 

designated motorized trails, FS Roads 08S09 and 08S70, Whisky Falls Campground, 

dispersed camping and use areas including Camp 5, and Whisky Staging and Gertrude E and 

W Parking CUAs, the skid trails and/or fuel break lines would be covered with slash to 

minimize visual impacts. The following BMPs associated with skid trails, BMP 1.10 Tractor 

Skidding Design and BMP 1.17 Erosion Control of Skid Trails will be applied.

8. Within view (up to 150-feet) of designated motorized trails, FS Roads 08S09 and 08S70, 

Whisky Falls Campground, dispersed camping and use areas including Camp 5, and Whisky 

Staging and Gertrude E and W Parking CUAs, previously constructed temporary roads will

be re-opened whenever possible. Temporary roads will be constructed in a manner that 

closely duplicates the existing contour lines, with a minimum degree of landform alteration 

limiting the amount of earthwork. Excessive cut and fill slopes for road construction will be 

avoided. Straight linear road construction, rock outcrops, and/or sensitive areas will be 

avoided. Upon completion, where the road access is no longer necessary to implement the 

project, the temporary roads will be restored using BMPs such as BMP 2.2 General 

Guidelines for the Location and Design of Roads and BMP 2.7 Road Decommissioning. The 

temporary roads will be closed with naturally-shaped earth mounds, native boulders, or logs 

to discourage use.
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Appendix E – Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Water 

Quality Protection 

(From R5 FSH 2509.22 Soils and Water Conservation Handbook, Chapter 10 – Water Quality

Management Handbook, USDA Forest Service, 2011)

Timber Management Activities

The following are the BMPs for the control of nonpoint source pollution associated with timber 

management activities. The line officer on each administrative subunit is responsible for fully 

implementing the directives that provide for water-quality protection and improvement during 

timber harvest and management activities.

Earth scientists and other trained and qualified individuals are available to work with the timber 

management work force to provide technical assistance in identifying beneficial uses, the most 

recent state-of-the-art water-quality control, methods and techniques, and evaluation of results.

BMP 1.1 - Timber Sale Planning Process

Objective: To incorporate water-quality and hydrologic considerations into the timber sale 

planning process.

Explanation: The interdisciplinary team will address potential water-quality problems and 

provide for administrative controls, corrective treatments, and preventive measures. As warranted, 

a qualified specialist will define and quantify the potential changes to water quality and instream 

beneficial uses. 

The result is an environmental document and sale contract(s). These documents describe methods 

to prevent unacceptable effects to water quality during and following sale layout and logging 

operations. They document mitigation measures to ameliorate, and/or preclude adverse effects for 

those treated areas. Silvicultural treatment is excluded from environmentally sensitive areas 

where adverse environmental effects from the activity cannot be mitigated to conform to Federal, 

State, and local water-quality standards.

Implementation: Earth scientists or other trained and qualified individuals participate in the 

environmental documentation process to evaluate onsite watershed characteristics and potential 

environmental consequences of the proposed timber harvest and related activities. They design 

the timber sale to include site-specific prescriptions for each area of water-quality concern. The 

resulting contract would include those provisions set forth in the environmental document to meet 

water-quality protection objectives. 

BMP 1.4 - Using Sale Area Maps and/or Project Maps for Designating WaterQuality Protection Needs

Objective: To ensure recognition and protection of areas related to water-quality protection 

delineated on a sale-area map or a project map. 
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Explanation: This is an administrative and preventative practice. The following are examples of 

water-quality protection features that pre-sale foresters will designate on the sale area map or 

project map, thereby ensuring their incorporation as timber sale contract requirements:

1. Location of streamcourses and riparian zones to be protected, including the width of the 

protection zone required for each stream

2. Wetlands (meadows, lakes, springs, and so forth) to be protected

3. Boundaries of harvest units

4. Specified roads

5. Roads where log hauling is prohibited, or restricted

6. Structural improvement

7. Area of different skidding and/or yarding method application

8. Sources of rock for road work, riprapping, and borrow materials

9. Water sources that are available for purchasers' use

10. Other features that are required by contract provisions

11. Site preparation/fuel treatment

Implementation: The interdisciplinary team will identify and delineate these and other features 

on maps, as part of the environmental documentation process. The Sale Preparation Forester will

include them on the sale area map at the time of contract preparation. The sale administrator and 

the purchaser will review these areas on the ground before commencing harvest.

BMP 1.5 - Limiting the Operating Period of Timber Sale Activities

Objective: To ensure that the purchasers conduct their operations, including, erosion-control 

work, road maintenance, and so forth, in a timely manner, within the time specified in the timber 

sale contract.

Explanation: Contract provision C6.3, “Plan of Operation” is required in all timber sale 

contracts. This provision states that the purchaser must submit a general plan of operation which 

will set forth planned periods for, and methods of road construction, timber harvesting, 

completion of slash disposal, erosion-control work, and other contractual requirements. Forest 

Service written approval of the Plan of Operation is prerequisite to commencement of the 

purchaser's operation. Contract clause B6.31, “Operation Schedule,” requires that the purchaser 

provide an annual schedule of anticipated activities such as road maintenance and erosion-control 

work until the sale is closed. Contract clause C6.313, “Limited Operating Period,” will be used in 

a contract to limit the purchaser's operation to specified periods when adverse environmental 

effects are unlikely. Contract provision B6.6 can be used to close down operations due to the 

rainy season, high water, and other adverse operating conditions, to protect resources.

Implementation: During the timber sale planning process, the interdisciplinary team will identify 

and recommend limited operating periods. The Sale Preparation Forester prepares the contract to 
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include clause C6.313. Provisions B6.3, B6.31, and C6.3 are all mandatory provisions of the 

timber sale contract. Provision C6.3 is mandatory only for sales over a 2.year contract period. The 

purchaser must submit a general plan and annual plans to the Forest Service. The purchaser may 

commence operations only after written Forest Service approval of the general plan under C6.3.

BMP 1.8 - Streamside Management Zone Designation

Objective: To designate a zone along riparian areas, streams, and wetlands that will minimize 

potential for adverse effects from adjacent management activities. Management activities within 

these zones are designed to improve riparian values.

Explanation: As a preventive measure, roads, skid trails, landings, and other timber-harvesting 

facilities will be kept at a prescribed distance from designated stream courses.

Factors such as stream class, channel aspect, channel stability, sideslope steepness, and slope 

stability will be considered in determining the limitations on activities within the width of

streamside management zones (SMZ). Aquatic and riparian habitat, beneficial riparian zone 

functions, their condition and their estimated response to the proposed timber sale will also 

evaluated in determining the need for and width of the streamside management zones.

The SMZ will be a zone of total exclusion of activity, or a zone of closely managed activity as 

described in the “Glossary of Terms.” It is a zone that acts as an effective filter and absorptive 

zone for sediment; maintains shade; protects aquatic and terrestrial riparian habitats; protects 

channel and streambanks; and promotes floodplain stability.

Implementation: Identify the streamside management zone requirements during the 

environmental documentation process. Each forest's LRMP identifies specific measures to protect 

these zones. As a minimum, forest requirements must be identified and implemented. The timber 

sale project is designed to include site-specific prescriptions for preventing sedimentation and 

other stream damage from logging debris. The timber sale contract will be designed to ensure 

retention of streamside vegetation and improve the condition and beneficial functions of the 

riparian area.

As appropriate, water-quality monitoring is identified in the environmental document. The 

Timber Sale Preparation Forester is responsible for including the zones in the timber sale contract 

and on the sale area map as identified by the environmental document. The sale administrator is 

responsible for contract compliance during harvest operations.

BMP 1.9 - Determining Tractor-loggable Ground

Objective: To minimize erosion and sedimentation resulting from ground disturbance of tractor 

logging systems.

Explanation: This preventative practice is intended to minimize accelerated soil erosion and 

sedimentation, and water-quality degradation. To determine tractor-loggable ground, consider 

physical site characteristics such as steepness of slopes, landslide prone areas, and soil properties. 

The EHR is one method. For example, where the post-tractor logging EHR is predicted to be 

“moderate,” an onsite evaluation is conducted to determine the need for erosion-control measures. 

Where the post-tractor logging EHR is predicted to be ”high,” or “very high,” erosion-control 
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measures are required to reduce the risk of accelerated erosion. Avoid tractor logging where the 

predicted, post-logging erosion hazard cannot be reduced to either “low” or “moderate.”

Implementation: A trained and qualified Forest Service employee will evaluate the EHR during 

the on-the-ground planning phase of the timber sale. This work is done within each sale area by 

evaluating representative sites. The resulting EHRs are considered during the selection of logging 

methods and silvicultural prescriptions, of erosion-control measures to reduce risk, and in 

determining the intensity of and controls for land-disturbing activities.

Interpretations of the considerations are described in the environmental document. Provisions in 

the timber sale contract specify the areas, determined by the EHR, upon which tractors can 

operate.

BMP 1.10 - Tractor Skidding Design

Objective: By designing skidding patterns to best fit the terrain, the volume, velocity, 

concentration, and direction of runoff water can be controlled in a manner that would minimize 

erosion and sedimentation.

Explanation: This is a preventative practice. Watershed factors considered include slope, soil 

stability, exposure, SMZs, meadows, and other factors that may affect the surface water runoff 

and sediment yield potential of the land. The careful control of skidding patterns serves to avoid 

onsite and downstream channel instability, build-up of destructive runoff flows, and erosion in 

sensitive watershed areas such as meadows and SMZs.

Methods for protecting water quality while utilizing tractor skid trail systems are:

1. End-Lining. This method involves winching the log directly out of the sensitive areas (such as 

SMZs and meadows) with a cable operated from outside the sensitive area. In this manner, logs 

can be removed from the sensitive areas, while avoiding encroachment by heavy equipment and 

associated adverse environmental effects.

2. Felling to the Lead. This method involves felling trees toward a predetermined skid pattern. 

This procedure facilitates an uncomplicated approach of the tractor operating between the log and 

the skid trail. Soil disturbance and compaction are consequently lessened, and residual stand and 

site damage is minimized.

3. Specialized Equipment Access. Specialized equipment (harvesters, feller bunchers) having low 

ground pressures can move in and out of selected SMZs without turning and leaving disturbed 

ground.

Implementation: For skid trail design, sensitive areas will be identified and evaluated in the 

environmental documentation process during the timber sale planning process. When needed to 

protect water quality, prescriptions must be included in the basic TSC by the use of special 

contract provisions (C-clauses). The sale administrator then executes the prescription on the 

ground by locating the skid trails with the timber purchaser, or by agreeing to the purchaser's 

proposed locations prior to construction. Guidelines for skid trail locations are referenced in the 

sale administrator Handbook, and will be in the environmental documentation and the timber sale 

contract. 

BMP 1.12 - Log Landing Location
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Objective: To locate new landings or reuse old landings in such a way as to avoid watershed 

impacts and associated water-quality degradation.

Explanation: This practice is both administrative and preventive. The location of and clearing 

limits for log landings are commonly evaluated by the interdisciplinary team, and are agreed to by 

the sale administrator and purchaser prior to construction. The following criteria will be used by 

the sale administrator in evaluating landings:

1. The cleared or excavated size of landings will not exceed that needed for safe and efficient 

skidding and loading operations. Trees considered dangerous will be removed around landings to 

meet the safety requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

2. To the extent feasible, select landing locations that involve the least amount of excavation and 

the least erosion potential, and are well outside of the SMZ.

3. Where feasible, locate landings near ridges away from headwater swales in areas that will

allow skidding without crossing channels, violating the SMZ, or causing direct deposit of soil and 

debris to the stream.

4. Locate landings where the least number of skid roads will be required, and sidecast can be 

stabilized without entering drainages, or affecting other sensitive areas.

5. Position landings such that the skid road approach will be as nearly level as feasible, to 

promote safety, and protect the soil from erosion.

6. Keep to a minimum the number of skid trails entering a landing.

7. Avoid excessive fills associated with landings constructed on old landslide benches. Do not 

change the mass balance to point to destabilize the landslide.

8. Construct stable landing fills or improve existing landings by using appropriate compaction 

and drainage specifications. Engineered fills will be needed under certain conditions.

Implementation: The sale administrator must agree to landing locations proposed by the 

purchaser or their representatives. Relying on interdiscipliinary team input and the stated criteria, 

the sale administrator can negotiate to select mutually acceptable landing locations—other than 

those identified in the NEPA document. To be an acceptable landing, it must meet the above 

criteria. Should agreement not be reached, the decision of the Forest Service will prevail within 

contract limitations.

BMP 1.13 - Erosion Prevention and Control Measures during Timber Sale Operations

Objective: To ensure that the purchasers' operations will be conducted reasonably to minimize 

soil erosion.

Explanation: Timber is purchased by individuals or companies who either harvest the timber 

themselves, or sub-contract to other parties. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that purchasers 

and their sub-contractors understand and adhere to water-quality BMP prescriptions formulated 

during the timber sale planning process. This is accomplished by setting forth the purchaser's 

responsibilities in the timber sale contract, and holding the purchaser accountable for actions of 

their sub-contractor.
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Implementation: Equipment will not be operated when ground conditions are such that excessive 

damage would result. The kinds and intensity of control work required of the purchaser will be 

adjusted to ground and weather conditions, with emphasis on the need to control overland runoff, 

erosion, and sedimentation. Erosion-control work required by the contract will be kept current. At 

certain times of the year this means daily, if precipitation is likely, or at least weekly when 

precipitation is predicted for the weekend.

If the purchaser fails to perform seasonal erosion-control work prior to any seasonal period of 

precipitation, or runoff, the Forest Service may temporarily assume responsibility, complete the 

work, and use any unencumbered deposits as payment for the work.

BMP 1.16 - Log Landing Erosion Control

Objective: To reduce the impacts of erosion and subsequent sedimentation associated with log 

landings by use of mitigating measures.

Explanation: This practice uses administrative, preventive, and corrective controls to meet the 

objective. The Sale Planning Forester and sale administrator assess the need for stabilization, with 

the assistance of earth scientists as needed.

Implementation: Timber sale contract requirements provide for erosion prevention and control 

measures on all landings. The Timber Sale Preparation Forester will include provisions in the 

timber sale contract for landings to have proper drainage. After landings have served the 

purchaser's purpose, the purchaser will ditch, or slope the landings, and may be required to rip or 

subsoil and make provisions for revegetation to permit the drainage and dispersion of water. 

Erosion-prevention measures such as waterbars will be constructed to divert water away from 

landings.

Other provisions may include aggregate surfacing; scarifying; smoothing and sloping; 

construction of drainage ditches; spreading slash; covering with mulch or wood chips; or 

applying straw mulch. Prevent road drainage from reaching landings. Unless agreed otherwise, 

cut and fill banks around landings will be reshaped to stabilize the area.

The specific work needed on each landing will depend on the actual onsite conditions. The sale 

administrator is responsible for ensuring that this practice is properly implemented on the ground. 

The sale administrator will agree upon the location and size of log landings proposed by the 

purchaser before clearing and construction begins. 

BMP 1.17 - Erosion Control on Skid Trails

Objective: To protect water quality by minimizing erosion and sedimentation derived from skid 

trails.

Explanation: This practice uses preventive controls to reach the objective.

The timber sale contract requires the installation of erosion-control measures on skid trails, tractor 

roads, and temporary roads. Normally, the work involves constructing cross ditches and waterspreading ditches. Other methods such as backblading will be agreed to in lieu of cross drains. 

Grass seeding or other erosion-control and compaction remediation measures may also be 

required by a “C” provision, which will be added to the timber sale contract. Areas to be treated 
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are shown on the sale area map legend. During the life of the contract, these areas are designated 

on the ground annually as logging and temporary access construction progresses.

Implementation: Locations of all erosion-control measures are designated and agreed to on the 

ground by the sale administrator. The sale administrator handbook section on Skid Trails and 

Firelines contains guidelines for spacing of cross drains, construction techniques, and cross drain 

heights. The sale administrator will use these guidelines on the ground to identify site-specific 

preventive work that is required of the purchaser. The purchaser is obligated to complete and 

maintain erosion-control work specified in contract provisions during the life of the contract.

BMP 1.18 - Meadow Protection during Timber Harvesting

Objective: To avoid damage to the ground cover, soil, and the hydrologic function of meadows.

Explanation: This is an administrative and preventive action. The interdisciplinary team has 

identified these sensitive environments during the scoping and onsite evaluation portion of the 

environmental document preparation process. As a minimum, meadow protection requirements 

contained in the forest LRMP must be identified and implemented. Trained and qualified Forest 

Service employees will assess these areas. Protection zones and tree directional felling are 

prescribed according to site conditions and within guidelines provided by the Forest Service 

directive system and the LRMP guidelines.

The timber sale contract prohibits unauthorized operation of vehicular or skidding equipment in 

meadows or in protection zones designated on sale area maps and marked on the ground. 

Vehicular or skidding equipment is not to be used on meadows except when specifically approved 

by the sale administrator. Where feasible, directional felling will be used to avoid felling trees 

into meadows. Unless otherwise agreed, trees felled into meadows will be removed by end-lining, 

slash removed, and resulting disturbance will be repaired where necessary to protect vegetative 

cover, soil, and water quality.

Implementation: The concerns and requirements will be set forth in the timber sale contract 

requirements for sale areas with meadow land. The contract may also specify that a purchaser is 

subject to liquidated damage charges each time equipment enters a designated meadow. The 

purchaser will repair damage to these designated areas and/or their associated protection zones in 

a timely manner, as agreed to by the sale administrator.

The purchaser will repair damage to a streamcourse, or SMZs caused by unauthorized purchasers' 

operations in a timely and agreed-upon manner.

BMP 1.19 - Streamcourse and Aquatic Protection

1. Objectives:

a. To conduct management actions within these areas in a manner that maintains or 

improves riparian and aquatic values.

b. To provide unobstructed passage of stormflows.

c. To control sediment and other pollutants entering streamcourses.
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d. To restore the natural course of any stream as soon as practicable, where diversion of 

the stream has resulted from timber management activities.

Explanation: This management practice uses administrative, preventive, and corrective measures 

to meet the objectives.

Streams within proposed timber sale areas are surveyed and protection zones are prescribed 

during the timber sale planning process. The interdisciplinary team has formulated streamprotection requirements, and these have been included in the prescription in this decision 

document. The requirements are then included in the timber sale contract and identified on the 

sale area map.

2. The following principles are fundamental to protecting streamcourses:

a. The sale administrator must agree to location and method of streamcourse crossings 

prior to construction. This is done at the same time as agreements are made with the 

purchaser or purchaser’s representative for the locations of landings, skid trails, tractor 

roads, and temporary roads.

b. All damage to a streamcourse, including damage to banks and channels, will be 

repaired to the extent practicable.

c. All sale-generated debris is removed from streamcourses, unless otherwise agreed to by 

the sale administrator, and in an agreed-upon manner that will cause the least disturbance.

d. Limit, or exclude equipment use in designated SMZs. Widths of SMZ and restrictions 

pertaining to equipment use are defined by onsite project investigation and are included 

in the timber sale contract. The Forest Service identifies these areas on the sale area map 

prior to advertising. Boundaries of zones will be modified by agreement between the 

contractor and sale administrator, to compensate for unforeseen operation conditions.

e. Methods for protecting water quality while utilizing tractor skid trail design in 

streamcourse areas where harvest is approved include: 1) end lining, 2) felling to the lead, 

and 3) utilizing specialized equipment with low ground pressure such as a feller buncher 

harvester. Permit equipment to enter streamside areas only at locations agreed to by the 

sale administrator and the purchaser.

f. Water bars and other erosion-control structures will be located so as to disperse 

concentrated flows and filter out suspended sediments prior to entry into streamcourse.

g. Material from temporary road and skid trail streamcourse crossings is removed and 

streambanks restored to the extent practicable.

h. In cable log yarding operations, logs will be fully airborne within the SMZ, when 

required by the timber sale contract.

i. Special slash-treatment site-preparation activities will be prescribed in sensitive areas to 

facilitate slash disposal without use of mechanized equipment.

Implementation: The sale administrator works with the purchaser's representative to ensure that 

the timber sale contract clauses covering the above items are carried out on the ground. 
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Specialists can be called upon to help the sale administrator with decisions. In the event the 

purchaser causes debris to enter streamcourses in amounts which may adversely affect the natural 

flow of the stream, water quality, or fishery resource, the purchaser will remove such debris as 

soon as practicable, but not to exceed 48 hours, and in an agreed-upon manner that will cause the 

least disturbance to streamcourses. 

BMP 1.20 - Erosion-control Structure Maintenance

Objective: To ensure that constructed erosion-control structures are stabilized and working.

Explanation: Erosion-control structures are only effective when they are in good repair and 

function as designed. Once the erosion-control structures are constructed, there is a possibility 

that they may not become adequately effective, or they would become damaged from subsequent 

harvest activities. It is necessary to provide follow-up inspection and structural maintenance to 

avoid these problems and ensure adequate erosion control.

Implementation: During the period of the timber sale contract, the purchaser would provide 

maintenance of soil erosion-control structures constructed by the purchaser until they become 

stabilized, but not for more than one year after their construction. After one year, accomplish 

needed erosion-control maintenance work using other funding sources under timber sale contract 

provisions B6.6 and B6.66.

The Forest Service may agree to perform such structure maintenance under timber sale contract 

provision B4.225 (Cooperative Deposits), if requested by the purchaser, subject to agreement on 

rates. If the purchaser fails to do seasonal maintenance work, the Forest Service may assume 

responsibility and charge the purchaser accordingly.

BMP 1.21 - Acceptance of Timber Sale Erosion-control Measures before Sale Closure

Objective: To ensure the adequacy of required erosion-control work on timber sales.

Explanation: The effectiveness of soil erosion prevention and control measures is determined by 

the conditions found after sale areas have been exposed for one, or more years to the elements. 

The evaluation is to ensure that erosion-control treatments are in good repair and functioning as 

designed before releasing the purchaser from the contract responsibility.

Although a careful check is required before a timber sale is closed to ensure that planned erosion 

work has been completed to the standard prescribed, the erosion prevention work done in 

previous years must also be inspected during the life of the timber sale. These inspections would

help determine whether the planned work was adequate, if maintenance work is needed, the 

practicability of the various treatments used, and the necessity for modifying present standards, or 

procedures.

Implementation: “Acceptable” erosion control means only minor deviation from established 

objectives, provided no major, or lasting damage is caused to soil, or water. Sale administrators 

would not accept erosion-control measures that fail to meet these criteria. Specific requirements 

for erosion control are included in each timber sale contract and the sale administrator handbook.

BMP 1.22 - Slash Treatment in Sensitive Areas
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Objective: To maintain or improve water quality by protecting sensitive areas from degradation 

which would likely result from using mechanized equipment for slash disposal.

Explanation: Special slash treatment site preparation will be prescribed in sensitive areas to 

facilitate slash disposal without use of mechanized equipment. Meadows, wetlands, SMZs, and 

landslide areas are typically sensitive areas where equipment use is normally prohibited. Slashtreatment and site-preparation methods are specified in environmental documents, where 

applicable, for each cut unit in project and contract documents such as a timber sale contract, 

project map, or sale area map.

Implementation: An assessment of the sale area will be made in the timber sale planning 

process. Sensitive areas requiring protection are identified. Assessment results will be 

documented in the environmental document, and identified in the timber sale contract and on the 

sale area map. The sale administrator, contract inspector, or Forest Service specialist will inspect 

the treatment for correct and satisfactory slash disposal accomplishment.

Road Management Activities

The purpose of this set of BMPs is to control nonpoint source pollution that may occur as a result 

of road (and motorized trail) management activities on NFS lands in the Pacific Southwest 

Region. Activities associated with road (and motorized trail) management include travel route 

planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, reconstruction, storage, and 

decommissioning.

Considering the proportion of the landscape that they occupy, roads are a prevalent cause of 

hydrologic and geomorphic process alteration on NFS lands. Highly compacted road surfaces 

generate infiltration-excess overland flow, even during small precipitation events. In addition, cut 

slopes can intercept transient hillslope groundwater (that is, subsurface stormflow) when the 

height of the cut slope exceeds the depth to the water table. This runoff is laterally redistributed 

and often concentrated along inside ditches or the running surface, where it is discharged to 

hillslopes below the road or trail prism or routed directly into streams. These hydrologic process 

and pathway alterations largely drive the water-quality impacts associated with roads. 

When roads and associated drainage-control features contribute flow directly to a natural 

waterbody, they become part of the drainage network and are said to be hydrologically connected. 

These drainage systems may further increase hydrologic connectivity if they deteriorate because 

of use, weather, or inadequate maintenance. Drainage facilities may be inadequate after wildfires 

or extreme precipitation events, due to increased surface runoff, loss of vegetative cover, and 

stream bulking, and can increase the length of road hydrologically connected to the stream 

network. Furthermore, many slope disturbances are spatially linked to the road network, and 

roads are often the pathway for transporting pollutants from these other types of disturbances (for 

example, dispersed recreation). Hydrologically disconnecting roads is a fundamental practice for 

eliminating chronic water-quality impacts from roads and other disturbances.

Location and design strongly influence the risk and degree of road and trail impacts on water, 

aquatic and riparian resources, as can maintenance practices. Roads located adjacent to unstable 

slopes, streams, lakes, wetlands, springs, and other waters are particularly susceptible to causing 

adverse impacts. Proper road and trail design, construction, maintenance, and operation can 

reduce impacts to natural hydrogeomorphic functions and water resources. 
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Stream crossings are the most frequent location of adverse road and trail impacts to water, 

aquatic, and riparian resources. Road surfaces typically drain toward crossings, so the likelihood 

of connectivity of road surface with channels is greatest. Crossings comprised of fine-grained 

native materials may erode and deliver sediment to channels. Culverts may be inadequately sized 

to properly pass flow, bedload and debris and, due to size and/or gradient, may present barriers to 

fish and aquatic organism movement. Crossings also present the risk of catastrophic failure if 

flood flows exceed crossing capacity. In such cases the crossing fill may be lost. In the worst case 

scenario, crossing failure results in diversion of flows from the channel onto the adjacent 

roadway. For these reasons, management activities conducted at crossings are vitally important to 

water, aquatic, and riparian resources, and are emphasized in the BMPs that follow.

The following BMPs are to be applied as needed to prevent adverse impacts of road management 

activities on water, aquatic, and riparian resources to the extent possible. BMPs range from 

suggested practices to prohibitions, as required by Forest Service directives.

Section 404 permits, so named because they were created under section 404 of the Clean Water 

Act, are required for discharges of dredged or fill materials to waters of the United States, 

including wetlands. They are administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Section 401 

Water Quality Certifications are completed for section 404 permits and any other permit issued by 

a Federal agency for a project with potential to affect water quality. In California, Regional Water 

Boards administer section 401 Water Quality Certifications. Each section 404 permit needs a 

section 401 Water Quality Certification UNLESS the section 404 permit is obtained under a 

nationwide permit that has a “blanket” Water Quality Certification. 

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits may also be required. Forest 

Service engineers and hydrologists would work together during the permitting process.

BMP 2.2 - General Guidelines for the Location and Design of Roads

Objective: Locate roads to minimize problems and risks to water; aquatic, and riparian resources. 

Incorporate measures that prevent or reduce impacts, through design for construction, 

reconstruction, and other route system improvements.

Explanation: A road’s location and design may have long term effects on water quality, 

construction and maintenance costs, safety, and other public resources. Road location and design 

control hydrologic connectivity—the degree that road runoff and sediment are linked to the 

stream channel network. The extent of hydrologic connectivity, along with the magnitude and 

frequency of road erosion, drives road-related water-quality impacts. 

Roads are located according to standards and specifications to meet their use objectives, while 

protecting other resources. Well-defined project objectives are necessary to locate and design 

roads that would best address environmental and resources issues, as well as safety and traffic 

requirements. 

Designs of new roads and upgrades to existing roads consider ways to reduce impacts to 

beneficial uses of water. Management needs have changed considerably since most NFS roads 

were constructed. Influences of roads on aquatic and riparian resources are recognized and 

considered. Road maintenance budgets and opportunities have diminished. Designs for 

improvements to existing roads significantly reduce or eliminate impacts to beneficial uses of 

water. Drainage features and surfacing are among elements often considered for change. 
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Improvements to the road system are made on a priority basis that considers road and resource 

condition, beneficial uses at risk, and cost. 

In addition, some situations may require adherence to special conditions associated with Clean 

Water Act permits for water quality certification (401), stormwater (402), and discharge of dredge 

and fill material (404). State and local entities may also provide guidance and regulations such as 

a Forest Practices Act or a Stream Alteration Act. Forest plans often contain direction on location 

of roads relative to streams, wetlands, and unstable landforms.

The risk from road management activities can be managed by using the appropriate techniques 

for road location and design from the following list, and adapted as needed to local site 

conditions. 

Implementation: Implementation considers new road location, relocation, and design only. 

Construction, reconstruction, maintenance, decommissioning, and erosion control are covered in 

subsequent BMPs.

Location:

1. Avoid locating new roads where water-quality risks outweigh beneficial uses.

2. Locate roads to fit the terrain, limit the need for excavation, and prevent damage to 

improvements and resources.

3. Avoid sensitive areas such as riparian areas, wetlands, meadows, bogs, fens, inner gorges, 

overly steep slopes, and unstable landforms to the extent practicable. If such areas cannot be 

avoided: 

a. Use bridges or raised prisms with diffuse drainage to sustain flow patterns 

b. Set crossing bottoms at natural levels of channel beds and wet meadow surfaces 

c. Avoid actions that may dewater or reduce water budgets in wetlands. Consider 

compensatory mitigation or mitigation banking. 

4. Locate roads outside SMZs whenever possible, with a minimum of number of crossings and 

connections between the road and streams. 

5. Relocate existing routes or segments that are in high-risk locations, including the SMZ, to the 

extent practicable. 

6. Relocate roads that are causing uncontrollable adverse effects to beneficial uses of water, with 

commensurate decommissioning of high-risk roads. 

7. Consider potential for generation of waste material in location of roads, and need for access to 

appropriate disposal areas. Waste or spoil may not be placed within SMZs, on slopes greater than 

60 percent, on unstable slopes, or in areas subject to converging runoff.

8. Locate roads in an interdisciplinary manner with a hydrologist, soils scientist, and geologist, if 

necessary.
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9. Final road location drives design features, assuring protection of water quality. Incorporate 

modeling as necessary to assist with design of road segments displaying higher erosion potential.

Design:

1. Design roads to balance cuts and fills or use full bench construction where stable fill 

construction is not possible. 

a. Consider full bench construction or mechanically stabilized fills on unstable slopes or 

slopes greater than 60 percent.

b. Ensure design addresses method to stabilize constructed fill slopes, including key ways 

where fill slopes exceed 3 feet in height at the hinge point.

c. Do not design to discharge runoff on to unstable landforms, such as hollows.

2. Design road surfaces to dissipate intercepted water in a uniform manner along the road by 

outsloping, insloping with drains, or crowning with drains, subject to site soil characteristics to 

prevent the discharge of sediment to surface waters.

3. Design to reduce the hydrologic connectivity of the road segment or network.

4. Limit occurrence of connectivity areas to water crossings only, if possible.

5. Choose low-maintenance designs (for example, outsloping and rolling the grade) for roads that 

may be subject to minimal use or would be put in storage.

6. Follow general principles of stormwater and erosion control related to roads including 

permanent and temporary controls that: 

a. Minimize soil compaction (except as needed to achieve compaction standards on road 

prism) and bare ground coverage.

b. Separate exposed bare ground from surface waters. Incorporate vegetation or slash 

over exposed fill slopes.

c. Design stable road prisms and stream crossings. 

d. Use geotextiles when necessary to avoid mixing aggregate with subgrade and 

subsequent rutting of road.

7. Employ treatments that control stormwater and erosion at the source through the use of smallscale treatments distributed throughout the road prism. 

8. Design properly spaced cross drains to provide maximum filter distance and to limit hydrologic 

connectivity between the road and water resource where practicable. 

9 Design subsurface dispersion measures and cross drains as necessary to capture and disperse 

expected flows contributed by locally Willow groundwater and road surfaces. 
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10. Design energy dissipaters, apron, downspouts, gabions, flumes, oversize drains and debris 

racks, culvert and cross drain inlets and outlets, where needed to prevent erosion and discharge of 

sediment to surface waters. Do not discharge runoff on to unstable surfaces.

11. Design stable ditch configuration that does not erode, yet does not fail during mechanical 

maintenance activity

12. Carefully consider impacts vs. benefits of berm in the control of runoff. Avoid berms except 

where needed to facilitate drainage patterns without adverse impact to water quality.

13. Design spot surface treatments to areas that are sensitive, erodible, subject to high seasonal 

water tables, or would be heavily traveled. 

14. For roads located within the SMZ where adequate buffer zone does not exist, design for 

aggregate or paved surface. Design for a floodplain surface to slow water velocities and minimize 

erosion by flood flows (energy dissipation).

15. Generally use the minimum road standards for grade and alignment (width, turning radius, 

maximum slope) to accommodate the design vehicle and traffic mix and volume.

16. Consider maintenance requirements in road design. 

17. For roads to be reconstructed, incorporate design features to reduce or eliminate identified 

water-quality impacts.

Crossings:

1. Design both temporary and system roads to limit the number of surface-water crossings 

necessary to meet planned activity objectives and safety requirements.

2. When necessary to cross streams, find optimal places for road-stream crossings. If possible 

avoid:

a. Areas requiring steep road approaches.

b. Crossing braided or migrating stream channels.

c. Flat stream gradient immediately downstream of steep stream gradients.

d. Areas requiring deep fills.

e. Areas immediately downstream of unstable slopes or landforms.

3. Design crossing approaches so road surfaces and drainage features have minimum hydrologic 

connectivity with channels.

4. Design diversion potential dips at existing crossings where there is a risk of flow diversion or 

where crossing fills are higher than approaches. Consider hardened fills commensurate with fill 

height. Consult with hydrologist. 

5. Design stream-crossing structures to provide the most resource protection consistent with 

facility needs, legal obligations, and cost considerations. 
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6. Provide for desired passage of aquatic and terrestrial organisms, debris, and bedload as well as 

flow. 

a. Size crossings for the 100-year flood event, plus associated debris and sediment, or 

greater.

b. Design for stream simulation if feasible in consultation with hydrologists and fisheries 

biologists.

7. Consider using culvert arrays, perched culverts and/or permeable fills in meadow environments 

or areas with naturally high water tables to encourage meadow function.

BMP 2.3 - Road Construction and Reconstruction 

Objective: Minimize erosion and sediment delivery from roads during road construction or 

reconstruction, and their related activities.

Explanation: During road construction and reconstruction activities, vegetation and ground 

cover are removed, often exposing both the surface and subsurface soil to erosion. Temporary and 

long term erosion-control measures are necessary to reduce erosion and maintain overall slope 

stability. These erosion-control measures may include vegetative and structural techniques to 

ensure the area’s long term stability. The risk from road construction and reconstruction activities 

can be managed by using the appropriate techniques from the following list adapted as needed to 

local site conditions.

Implementation: Enforcement of the techniques is the responsibility of the inspector and 

contracting officer’s representative for public works contracts, the inspector and engineering 

representative for timber sale roads, and the permit administrator for roads constructed or 

reconstructed under administrative operations (that is, Road Use Permit, Special Use Permit, and 

so forth). If roads are constructed or reconstructed by force account crews, the project manager 

and foreman are responsible for adherence to project drawings, specifications, and erosion control 

plan.

1. Implement the approved erosion control plan that covers all disturbed areas, including borrow 

areas and stockpiles used during road management activities (see BMP 2.13- Erosion Control 

Plan). Include the forest’s wet weather operations standards (WWOS). 

2. Maintain erosion-control measures to function effectively throughout the project area during 

road construction and reconstruction, and in accordance with the approved erosion control plan 

(see BMP 2.13- Erosion Control Plan).

3. Set the minimum construction limits needed for the project and confine disturbance to that 

area.

4. Locate and designate waste areas before operations begin. 

a. Deposit and stabilize excess and unsuitable materials only is designated sites.

b. Do not place such materials on slopes with a high risk of mass failure, in areas subject 

to overland flow (for example, convergent areas subject to saturation overland flow), or 

within the SMZ. 
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c. Provide adequate surface drainage and erosion protection at disposal sites. 

d. Comply with BMP 2.5 - Water Source Development and Utilization.

5. Comply with BMP 2.11 - Equipment Refueling and Servicing.

6. Do not permit sidecasting within the SMZ. Prevent excavated materials from entering water 

ways or SMZs. 

7. Develop and follow blasting plans to move materials when necessary. 

a. To the extent possible, restrict blasting in sensitive areas and those sites with high 

landslide potential. 

b. Restrict blasting after intense storms when soils are saturated. 

c. Prevent damage from fly rock and overshot by not overloading shots, installing 

blasting mats, or avoiding setting charges through variable rock strata.

8. Schedule operations when rain, runoff, wet soils, snowmelt or frost melt are less likely. Follow 

seasonal restrictions of the forest’s WWOS, and notification protocols, as outlined in an approved 

erosion control plan.

a. Optimally, schedule construction during dry periods, while still adhering to other 

seasonal restrictions (wildlife breeding, spawning, fire activity levels, and so forth), 

consistent with local ordinances.

b. Stabilize project area during normal operating season when the National Weather 

Service predicts a 30 percent or greater chance of precipitation, such as localized 

thunderstorm or approaching frontal system.

c. Keep erosion-control measures sufficiently effective during ground disturbance to 

allow rapid closure when weather conditions deteriorate.

d. Complete all necessary stabilization measures prior to predicted precipitation that 

could result in surface runoff. 

9. To the extent possible, construct new stream crossings when streams are dry or when stream 

flow is at its lowest. Install sediment controls.

10. Comply with BMP 2.8- Stream Crossings.

11. Limit operation of equipment when ground conditions could result in excessive rutting, soil 

compaction (except on the road prism or other surface to be compacted), or runoff of sediments 

directly to streams.

12. On slopes greater than 40 percent, the organic layer of the soil would be removed prior to fill 

placement, according to project specifications.

13. Waste organic material, such as uprooted stumps, cull logs, accumulations of limbs and 

branches, and unmerchantable trees, would not be buried in logging road or landing fills. Dispose 
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of waste organic material according to project specifications, in locations designated for waste 

disposal. Assure compliance with the project erosion control plan.

14. Construct fills and keyways according to design drawings and specifications, not exceeding 

specified lift thickness and moisture content. Ensure un-compacted materials are prevented from 

leaving disturbance limits.

15. Stabilize all disturbed areas with mulch, erosion fabric, vegetation, rock, large organic 

materials, engineered structures, or other stabilization measures according to the Erosion Control 

Plan, and project specifications and drawings for permanent controls (that is, crib walls, gabions, 

riprap placement, and so forth).

16. Scatter construction-generated slash on disturbed areas to help control erosion.

a. Ensure ground contact between slash and disturbed slopes.

b. Windrow slash at the base of fill slopes to reduce sedimentation.

c. Ensure that windrows are placed along the contour and that there is ground contact 

between slash and disturbed slope.

17. Remove large limbs and cull logs to designated sites outside the SMZ or relocate within the 

SMZ to meet aquatic resource management objectives.

18. Monitor contractor’s plans and operations to assure contractor does not open up more ground 

than can be substantially completed before expected winter shutdowns, unless erosion-control 

measures are implemented.

19. If snow/rainy season operations are proposed, specifications for snow/ice depth or soil 

operability conditions must be described. Include these specifications in the erosion control plan 

(see BMP 2.13- Erosion Control Plans).

20. Install erosion-control measures on incomplete roads prior to precipitation events or the start 

of the winter period (November 16 through March 31) and in accordance with the approved 

erosion control plan:

a. Remove ineffective temporary culverts, culvert plugs, diversion dams, or elevated 

stream crossings, leaving a channel at least as wide as before construction and as close to 

the original grade as possible.

b. Install temporary culverts, side drains, cross drains, diversion ditches, energy 

dissipaters, dips, sediment basins, berms, dikes, debris racks, pipe risers, or other

facilities needed to control erosion.

c. Remove debris, obstructions, and spoil material from channels, floodplains, and 

riparian areas.

d. Do not leave project areas for the winter with remedial measures incomplete.

e. Plant vegetation, mulch, and amendments, or provide other protective cover for 

exposed soil surfaces.
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21. When pioneer roads are necessary:

a. Confine construction of pioneer roads to the planned roadway limits unless otherwise 

specified or approved.

b. Locate and construct pioneering roads to prevent undercutting of the designated final 

cut slope.

c. Avoid deposition of materials outside the designated roadway limits.

d. Dewater live streams where crossed by pioneer roads with appropriate diversion 

devices.

e. Accommodate drainage with adequate temporary crossings.

BMP 2.4 - Road Maintenance and Operations

Objective: To ensure water-quality protection by providing adequate and appropriate 

maintenance and by controlling road use and operations. 

Explanation: Appropriate maintenance and control of road use and operations can protect water 

quality, aquatic and riparian resources, and capital investments. Maintenance needs and 

operational controls are informed by periodic inventory and assessment that determine road 

condition and the potential impacts the road has on water quality. 

Properly designed and maintained road surfaces and drainage systems can reduce adverse effects 

to water resources by facilitating natural hydrologic function. Roads and drainage systems 

normally deteriorate because of traffic, weather, and effects of maintenance. In addition, roads 

occasionally become saturated by new groundwater springs and seeps after a wildfire or 

unusually wet periods. Many such conditions can be corrected by timely maintenance. However, 

while routine maintenance may be needed to ensure the road performs as designed, it can also be 

a source of soil disturbance and therefore, sediment production. In particular, the grading of 

inside ditches and road surfaces can significantly increase sediment production rates. Less 

aggressive maintenance may be desired to minimize disturbance of stable sites.

Road management objectives include the level and type of maintenance that a road is expected to 

receive. Assigned road maintenance levels vary from 1 to 5, and are directly linked to the 

operational objectives for the road. Maintenance Level 1 is assigned to roads closed to all 

motorized vehicles for a year or more; they should be left in a stable condition, and by definition, 

require less maintenance. Maintenance Levels 4 and 5 are assigned to roads that are typically 

double-lane, aggregate-surfaced or paved, and passenger vehicle traffic is “encouraged.” They are 

well maintained to provide a moderate to high degree of user comfort and convenience. 

Operational objectives and activities are also defined by the road management objectives, and 

depend upon the amount of maintenance a road is expected to receive. Road operations also 

include permit, contract, and agreement administration, control of seasonal use, sustaining roads 

in closed status and revising maintenance levels and seasonal closures, as needed. Road closures 

and restrictions are necessary because many forest roads are designed for dry-season use. Most 

local roads are not surfaced, while others have some surfacing or spot stabilization. Roads 

without stabilized surfaces or adequate base can be damaged by use during wet periods or by 

loads heavier than the road was designed to convey. 
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Road maintenance plans are implemented through contract, cooperators, force account, and active 

timber sale or other authorized activities. Contract, timber sale, and other authorized or permitted 

operations are bound by specifications and drawings. BMPs are incorporated as specifications, 

contract or sale clauses, operating plan requirements, permit clauses, and are often 

shown in the drawings. The contracting officer’s representative is responsible for assuring 

compliance by contractors; engineering representative, TSA, or FSR assures compliance by 

cooperator, purchaser or permitted operator. Project manager and crew supervisor assures 

compliance for force account work. Optimally, the forest hydrologist works with the forest 

quality assurance personnel to determine if approved maintenance tasks are completed with 

minimal resource impacts. Adjustments to future maintenance plans and methods are considered 

when previous methods do not provide the needed protection to water quality.

Risk from road maintenance activities can be managed by using the appropriate techniques from 

the following list adapted as needed to local site conditions.

Implementation

Inspection:

1. Periodically inspect system travel routes to assess condition and linkage to water quality. This 

information assists in setting maintenance and improvement priorities.

a. Provide training to the engineering personnel performing condition surveys to 

successfully identify and assess linkage to water quality.

b. Conduct condition surveys jointly with engineering and hydrology personnel, to more 

accurately assess potential of road to impact water quality.

c. Prioritize inspections to roads at high risk of failure, followed by road segments that 

are hydrologically connected to the stream network, to reduce risk of diversions and 

cascading failures.

d. Identify diversion potential on roads, and prioritize for treatment.

2. Inspect drainage structures and runoff patterns after major storm events and snowmelt, and 

perform any necessary maintenance. Major storm events include all storm events for which the 

National Weather Service issues a local flood watch, advisory, or warning.

a. Determine the extent of hydrologic connectivity during and/or just after major storm 

events, including the connectivity of disturbed areas directly adjacent to the road 

network. Use this information to prioritize and plan improvements to road drainage.

b. Immediately clean out, repair or reconstruct waterbars, inside ditches, culverts, and 

other features that are not functioning in order to hydrologically disconnect roads from 

surface waters and prevent discharges of sediment and other pollutants to water bodies.

3. Regularly inspect roads during all operations.

4. Keep roads closed to public use, but open for administrative use, in hydrologically functional 

condition. If waterbars are breached, forest personnel would promptly repair them.
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5. Encourage field personnel of all disciplines to observe road deterioration or damage 

commensurate with travel to field activities, and report to engineering, for immediate action, if 

necessary.

a. Restrict operations if impact or imminent threat of impact to water quality is occurring.

b. Consider restricting operations if road damage such as surface displacement or active 

rutting is occurring.

Maintenance Planning:

1. Incorporate the forest’s Wet Weather Operations Standards and notification protocols in 

maintenance and operations.

2. Develop and implement an erosion control plan commensurate with the complexity and scale, 

and duration of the activity. See BMP 2.13.

3. Develop and implement annual maintenance plans that prioritize road maintenance work for 

the forest or district.

a. Include roads identified as needing maintenance from field condition surveys, and 

roads identified through roads analysis and travel analysis that negatively impact water 

quality.

b. Determine method of accomplishment (contract, force account, permit, and 

cooperative) and define responsibilities and maintenance timing in the plan.

4. Planning for emergency interim/temporary erosion controls to protect water quality is 

considered for roads that may require immediate maintenance, but are beyond capability of 

annual maintenance plan.

5. Identify roads with potential to improve water quality by modifying road prism and drainage 

patterns through maintenance operations.

a. Analyze roads in an interdisciplinary manner to identify other impacts that may occur 

due to changes in road prism or drainage patterns. Consider local conditions and site 

characteristics.

b. Implement diversion potential method per Forest Service Publication 9777.1814PSDTDC Diversion Potential at Road-Stream Crossings.

c. Consider user safety and protection of other forest resources.

d. Provide training and reference materials for forest road managers, road maintenance 

operators, and road maintenance contract preparation personnel to work with hydrologists 

in identifying appropriate roads for revised maintenance procedures.

6. Evaluate road management objectives when an inspection indicates road design is not meeting 

current transportation and/or resource needs. Road management objectives support forest LRMP 

prescriptions. 

Maintenance Activities:
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1. Maintain road surfaces to dissipate intercepted water in a uniform manner along the road by 

outsloping with rolling dips, insloping with drains, or crowning with drains. Where feasible and 

consistent with protecting public safety, utilize outsloping and rolling the grade (rolling dips) as 

the primary drainage technique.

2. Adjust surface drainage structures to minimize hydrologic connectivity by:

a. Discharging road runoff to areas of high infiltration and high surface roughness.

b. Armoring drainage facility outlet as energy dissipater and to prevent gully initiation. 

c. Increasing the number drainage facilities with SMZs.

3. Clean ditches and drainage structure inlets only as often as needed to keep them functioning. 

Prevent unnecessary or excessive vegetation disturbance and removal on features such as swales, 

ditches, shoulders, and cut and fill slopes.

4. Minimize diversion potential by installing diversion prevention dips that can accommodate 

overtopping runoff.

a. Place diversion prevention dips downslope of crossing, rather than directly over the 

crossing fill, and in a location that minimizes fill loss in the event of overtopping.

b. Armor diversion prevention dips when the expected volume of fill loss is significant.

5. Address risk and consequence of future failure at the site when repairing road failures. Use 

vegetation, rock, and other native materials to help stabilize failure zones.

6. Maintain road surface drainage by removing berms, unless specifically designated otherwise.

7. Install and preserve markers to identify and protect drainage structures that can be damaged 

during maintenance activities (that is, culverts, subdrains, and so forth)

8. When grading roads or cleaning drainage structure inlets and ditches, avoid undercutting the 

toe of the cut slope.

9. Grade road surfaces in accordance with road management objectives and assigned maintenance 

level. Grade only as needed to maintain a stable running surface and adequate surface drainage.

10. Accompany grading of hydrologically connected road surfaces and inside ditches with erosion 

and sediment control installation.

11. Identify additional road maintenance measures to protect and maintain water; aquatic, and 

riparian resources including: surfacing and resurfacing, outsloping, dips and cross drains, 

armoring of ditches, spot rocking, replacing culverts, and installing new drainage features.

12. Effectively maintain roads in storage to eliminate all motorized vehicle use. Maintain physical 

closure devices, if present, to be safe and effective. For roads where physical closure methods are 

not feasible, install signing to inform of road closure.

13. Enforce pre-haul maintenance, maintenance during haul, and post haul maintenance (putting 

the road back in storage) specifications when maintenance level 1 roads are opened for use on 
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commercial resource management projects. Require the commercial operator to leave roads in a 

satisfactory condition when project is completed.

14. Opened for use on commercial resource management projects. Require the commercial 

operator to leave roads in a satisfactory condition when project is completed.

Operations:

1. Restrict or prohibit road use during periods when such use would likely damage the roadway 

surface or road drainage features are identified through Travel Analysis and Travel Management, 

and implement through enforcement of motor vehicle use map. Changes in road management are 

supported by appropriate analysis. Follow the forest’s WWOS. See BMP 2.13.

2. Require users to obtain permit(s) when proposed operations involve use of roads by vehicles 

larger than the design vehicle, or beyond typical operation period or season of use (that is, timber 

purchasers, mining operations, oversize vehicle movement, and so forth. Conditions of the 

permitted use may require:

a. Strengthening the road surface by adding rock, dust palliatives, pavement, or armor, 

particularly in areas where surfaces are vulnerable to movement such as corners and steep 

sections.

b. Considering short term road surface stabilization by dust abatement methods, such as 

watering.

c. Upgrading drainage structures.

d. Restricting use to low-ground-pressure vehicles or frozen ground conditions.

e. Strengthening the road base if roads are tending to rut.

f. Using a base course of rock and/or geotextile fabric to provide subsurface stability.

g. Intensifying maintenance to handle the traffic without creating excessive erosion and 

damage to the road surface.

h. Repairing damage to road and forest resources associated with use by permittee.

i. Restoring the road to original standard of features, such as restoring waterbars.

3. To the extent possible, ensure drainage features are fully capable of preventing pollutant 

discharges to surface waters before the start of the local winter season (such as November 16 to 

March 31) or before the start of runoff-inducing precipitation events.

4. Permits to oversize or overweight loads require that damage by such loads be repaired by the 

permit holder. Damage includes impacts to water quality.

5. Cooperative maintenance agreements follow Forest Service direction for use, maintenance, 

repairs, and responsibilities.

6. Roads under easement are subject to terms of conditions for operation and maintenance.
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BMP 2.5 - Water Source Development and Utilization 

Objective: To supply water for road construction, maintenance, dust abatement, fire protection, 

and other management activities, while protecting and maintaining water quality.

Explanation: Water source development is needed to supply water for road construction and 

maintenance, dust control, and fire control. In-stream water drafting can substantially affect water 

flow and/or configuration of the bed, bank, or channel of streams. Aquatic species present could 

be at risk due to rapid changes or sustained reductions in flow, reduced dissolved oxygen, and/or 

increased water temperature. Exposed surfaces of water holes or other developments could erode 

and discharge sediment back into the waterway. In addition to direct hydrogeomorphic (forming 

and shaping landform by water) disruption to the channel and subsequent impacts to aquatic 

species, water-quality impacts can occur from road approaches that access the water drafting site. 

Many water drafting sites have steep approaches and in the absence of adequate drainage or 

surfacing, these approaches can become chronic sources of sediment and runoff to the channel. 

Water trucks often leak oil, and sometimes fuel, onto drafting pads, becoming a source of 

petroleum product contamination to surface waters.

Regular monitoring of water supply developments, during construction and use, and enforcement 

of contract and sale clauses, specifications, and restrictions is the responsibility of inspectors, 

contracting officer representatives, engineering representatives, sale administrators, and force 

account crew foreman.

Implementation

Location and Development:

Critical to the effectiveness of this practice is the coordination of engineering representatives, 

hydrologists, fishery biologists, and permit and sale administrators. Locate existing 

developments, or proposed streams, and evaluate for feasibility of use; determine scope and scale 

of environmental risks; select techniques for mitigating disturbance to water quality; and compare 

with the economics of development and use:

1. Water sources designed for permanent installation, such as piped diversions to off-site storage, 

are preferred over temporary, short term-use developments.

2. If off-site storage is not an option then the following locations would be considered.

a. Locations where flowing side channels rather than the main thread of the channel can 

be used for drafting.

b. Areas with existing pools that can be partially blocked, rather than in-channel 

excavation are preferred.

c. Sites where road approaches can be hydrologically disconnected from streams.

d. Sites where the drafting pad can be placed above the bankfull elevation of the channel 

with little or no excavation and/or fill placement.

3. Develop and implement Erosion Control Plan for water supply site construction and use.
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4. Follow the forest’s wet weather operations standards and guidelines. See BMP 2.13.

5. Excavation of streambed or bank materials for approaches, drafting pads, and water drafting 

intakes are subject to local or regional restrictions on ground-disturbing activities.

a. Excavations should not occur during peak runoff season.

b. Federally listed threatened and endangered species, sensitive (including State-listed) 

species, management Indicator species, and aquatic organisms of interest may impose 

further restrictions.

c. Other restrictions such as spawning season may be applicable

6. Basins will not be constructed at culvert inlets for the purpose of developing a waterhole, as 

these can exacerbate plugging of the culvert.

7. Access approaches are located as close to perpendicular as possible to prevent stream bank 

excavation.

8. Access approaches are stabilized with appropriate materials, depending on expected life and 

use frequency of the developed water source.

9. Fish-bearing streams that are temporarily dammed to create a drafting pool will provide fish 

passage for all life stages of fish.

10. Temporary dams will be removed when operations are complete.

11. Removal will be done gradually so that released impoundments do not discharge sediment 

into the streamflow.

12. When diverting water from streams, bypass flows will be maintained that ensure continuous 

surface flow in downstream reaches, and keep habitat in downstream reaches in good condition.

Drafting Operations:

1. For fish-bearing streams, the water drafting rate should not exceed 350 gallons per minute for 

streamflow greater than or equal to 4.0 cubic feet per second (cfs).

2. Below 4.0 cfs, drafting rates should not exceed 20 percent of surface flows.

3. Water drafting should cease when bypass surface flows drop below 1.5 cfs.

4. For non-fish-bearing streams, the water drafting rate should not exceed 350 gallons per minute 

for stream flow greater than or equal to 2.0 cfs.

5. Drafting rate should not exceed 50 percent of surface flow for non-fish-bearing streams.

6. Water drafting should cease from non-fish-bearing streams when bypass surface flow drops 

below 10 gallons per minute.

7. Intakes, for trucks and tanks, will be placed parallel to the flow of water and screened, with 

opening size consistent with the protection of aquatic species of interest.
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8. Drafting from gravity-fed storage tanks will utilize the following

9. Water storage tanks will be fitted with properly sized pipes designed to cleanly return the tank 

overflow to the source stream.

10. Outflow pipes will be sized to fully contain the tank overflow and prevent it from overflowing 

onto the drafting pad or road surface.

11. Water storage tank return pipes at the water outfall area will be armored to prevent erosion of 

the streambed, bank, or channel.

12. At the end of drafting operations, intake screens will be removed and drafting pipes plugged, 

capped, or otherwise blocked or removed from the active channel to terminate water drafting 

during the winter season.

13. Trucks directly drafting from the channel will utilize the following practices.

14. Water drafting by more than one truck will not occur simultaneously 

Approaches and Drafting Pads:

1. Road approaches and drafting pads will be treated to prevent sediment production and delivery 

to a watercourse or waterhole.

2. Road approaches will be armored as necessary from the end of the approach nearest a stream 

for a minimum of 50 feet, or to the nearest drainage structure (for example, waterbar or rolling 

dip) or point where road drainage does not drain toward the stream.

3. Areas subject to high flood events will be armored to prevent erosion and sediment delivery to 

water courses.

4. Where overflow runoff from water trucks or storage tanks may enter the stream, effective 

erosion control devices will be installed (for example, gravel berms or waterbars).

5. All water-drafting vehicles would be checked daily and will be repaired as necessary to prevent 

leaks of petroleum products from entering SMZs.

6. Water-drafting vehicles will contain petroleum-absorbent pads, which are placed under 

vehicles before drafting.

7. Water-drafting vehicles will contain petroleum spill kits. Dispose of absorbent pads according 

to the Hazardous Response Plan.

BMP 2.7 - Road Decommissioning

Objective: Stabilize, restore, and vegetate unneeded roads to a more natural state as necessary to 

protect and enhance NFS lands, resources, and water quality. The end result is that the 

decommissioned road would not represent a significant impact to water quality by:

1. Reducing erosion from road surfaces and slopes and related sedimentation of streams;

2. Reducing risk of mass failures and subsequent impact on water quality;
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3. Restoring natural surface and subsurface drainage patterns;

4. Restoring stream channels at road crossings and where roads run adjacent to channels.

Explanation: Roads no longer needed are identified during transportation planning activities (see 

description of Travel Management subpart A in BMP 2.1) at the forest, watershed or project level. 

The unneeded road may be decommissioned, or converted to a trail or other use as appropriate. 

Temporary roads constructed for a specific short term purpose (for example, ski area 

development, minerals exploration, or vegetation extraction) are decommissioned at the 

completion of their intended use, and vegetation reestablished within 10 years. 

Road decommissioning terminates the use of the road as a road, and as such, treatments can range 

from simply blocking the road entrance, to totally eliminating the road prism and structures, and 

restoring the land to original contours. Treatment method is carefully chosen to minimize 

negative impacts to water quality, reestablish vegetation, and restore ecological processes. More 

aggressive techniques may include greater and longer term risks to water quality through 

exposure of larger disrupted soil surfaces. Road decommissioning can be accomplished by using 

the appropriate techniques from the following list adapted as needed to local site conditions. 

Implementation: 

1. Engineering and hydrology personnel conduct field review of road selected for 

decommissioning to determine site characteristics: aspect, soil type(s), topography, surrounding 

vegetation, proximity to water sources, and so forth.

2. Optimize treatments that will achieve long term watershed protection goals on individual roads 

to stretch the available funds for road decommissioning over as many miles as practicable.

3. Weigh benefits and costs of treatments against alternative of placing road in storage and costs 

for continuing to maintain for hydrologic functionality. See BMP 2.1.

4. Prepare and implement an approved erosion and sediment control plan for both temporary and 

long term recovery of the site as specified.

5. Outslope road by pulling back unstable or perched fill. Remove berms.

6. Restore stream courses and floodplains where feasible, to natural grade and configuration.

7. Remove drainage structures determined as necessary to protect water quality:

8. Re-contour disturbed fill material, and compact minimally to allow filtration.

9. Re-contour the road surface cut and fill slopes to restore natural hillslope topography where 

specified.

10. De-compact areas with stable fill but reduced infiltration and productivity.

11. Haul excess fill to stable disposal areas outside of the SMZ.

12. Provide effective soil cover (such as mulch, woody debris, rock, vegetation, blankets) to 

exposed soil surfaces for both short- and long term recovery.
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13. Revegetate disturbed areas, particularly at or near stream crossings.

14. Block vehicle access to prevent motorized traffic, in conjunction with signing, publication, 

and enforcement of the forest’s motor vehicle use map. 

BMP 2.8 - Stream Crossings

Objective: Minimize water, aquatic and riparian resource disturbances and related sediment 

production when constructing, reconstructing, or maintaining temporary and permanent water 

crossings.

Explanation: Stream crossings present the highest risk to water quality associated with roads. 

Forest management activities often occur in areas that require surface waters to be crossed. 

Depending on the activity type and duration, crossings may be needed permanently or 

temporarily. Permanent crossings are designed to meet applicable standards while also protecting 

water, aquatic, and riparian resources.

Examples of crossings include culverts, bridges, arched pipes, low water crossings, fords, vented 

fords, and permeable fills. Crossing materials and construction would vary, based on the type of 

access required and volume of use expected. Optimally, crossings should be designed and 

installed to provide passage for the flow of water plus anticipated sediment and debris, provide 

for desired aquatic organism passage, and minimize disturbance to the surface and Willow

groundwater resources. Sizing is based on a weighed balance between providing for larger storm 

events, and cost feasibility, while still meeting other resource objectives. 

Construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of a water crossing usually requires heavy 

equipment to be in and near streams, lakes, and other aquatic habitats to install or remove 

culverts, fords and bridges and their associated fills, abutments, piles, and cribbing. Such 

disturbance near the waterbody can increase the potential for accelerated erosion and 

sedimentation from destabilization of streambanks or shorelines, vegetation and ground cover 

removal, and soil exposure or compaction. In addition, heavy equipment has potential for 

contamination of the surface water from vehicle fluids. 

Permits may be required for in-stream work associated with stream crossing construction and 

maintenance projects. There are specific requirements for such projects under the Clean Water 

Act and implementing regulations. State and local entities may also provide guidance and 

regulations.

The risk from construction, reconstruction or maintenance of stream crossings can be managed by 

using the appropriate techniques from the following list adapted as needed to local site 

conditions.

Implementation:

Enforcement of the techniques is the responsibility of the inspector and contracting officer’s 

representative for public works contracts, the inspector and engineering representative for timber 

sale roads, and the permit administrator for stream crossings constructed or reconstructed under 

administrative operations (for example, Road Use Permit, Special Use Permit). If stream 

crossings are constructed, reconstructed, or maintained by force account crews, the project 

manager and foreman are responsible for adherence to project drawings, specifications, and 
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Erosion Control Plan. The forest hydrologist works in conjunction with engineering and 

administrative personnel to provide additional monitoring and evaluation during implementation, 

as needed.

Location and Design:

1. Locate roads in an interdisciplinary manner with a hydrologist, soils scientist, and geologist if 

necessary.

2. Plan and locate surface water crossings to limit the number and extent required to service the 

activity.

3. Design the stream crossing to pass the 100-year flood flow plus associated sediment and 

debris; armor to withstand design flows and to provide desired passage of fish and other aquatic 

organisms.

4. Locate and design crossings to minimize disturbance to the waterbody.

5. Use structures appropriate to the site conditions and traffic levels:

a. Favor bridges, bottomless arches, or buried pipe-arches for those streams with 

identifiable floodplains and elevated road prisms, instead of pipe culverts.

b. Place bridge and arch footings below the scour depth for the 100-year flood flow plus 

the appropriate factor of safety.

c. Favor armored fords for those streams where vehicle traffic is either seasonal or 

temporary, or the ford design maintains the channel pattern, profile and dimension.

d. For perennial streams, use vented fords, so that the crossing can pass low flows.

6. See BMP BMP 2.2: General Guidelines for the Location and Design of Roads, for further 

guidance.

Construction and reconstruction - permanent and temporary crossings:

1. Implement the approved erosion control plan that covers all disturbed areas, including borrow 

areas, stockpiles, stream diversions, etc. used during stream crossing construction or 

reconstruction (see BMP 2.13- Erosion Control Plan).

a. Use temporary filters, berms, barriers, conveyances or other materials to collect 

sediment and prevent it from entering surface waters.

b. Set the minimum construction limits needed for the project and confine disturbance to 

within this area. 

2. Accurately establish and preserve vertical control through design invert and outlet elevations 

on site for each crossing, to assure that the constructed stream-crossing structure will perform as 

intended, and promote effective drainage without damage or impact to water, aquatic, or riparian 

resources.
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3. Accurately establish and preserve horizontal alignment for each stream-crossing structure, to 

assure that flows do not erode stream banks or shoreline.

4. Install stream crossings according to project design specifications and drawings. Design should 

sustain bankfull dimensions of width, depth and slope, and maintain streambed and bank 

resiliency.

5. Minimize streambank and riparian area excavation during construction:

a. Stabilize adjacent areas disturbed during construction using surface cover (mulch), 

retaining structures, and or mechanical stabilization materials.

b. Keep excavated materials out of channels, floodplains, wetlands, and lakes.

c. Install silt fences or other sediment- and debris-retention barriers between the water 

body and construction material stockpiles and wastes.

6. Bypass roads for use during construction are considered temporary roads, and are subject to the 

all relevant BMPs. Decommissioning and stabilization of the bypass roads are inherent in the 

project plan.

7. Ensure imported fill materials meet project specifications, and are free of toxins and invasive 

aquatic or riparian species.

8. To the extent possible, conduct operations during the least critical periods for water and aquatic 

resources: when streams are dry; during low-water conditions; in compliance with spawning and 

breeding season restrictions.

9. Divert or dewater stream flow for all live streams or standing waterbodies during crossing 

installation and invasive maintenance:

a. Return clean flows to channel or water body downstream of the activity.

b. Restore flows to their natural stream course as soon as possible after construction or 

prior to seasonal closures.

c. Install downstream collection basins, retention facilities, or filtering systems as needed 

to capture and retain turbid water.

d. Remove collected sediment as needed to maintain their design capacity during the life 

of the project. 

10. Construct diversion prevention dips to accommodate overtopping of runoff if diversion 

potential exists, when shown on project drawings and specifications. Locate diversion prevention 

dips downslope of the crossing rather than directly over crossing fill; if designed, armor diversion 

prevention dips based on soil characteristics and potential risk.

11. Install cross drains (for example, rolling dips; waterbars) to hydrologically disconnect the 

road above the crossing and to dissipate concentrated flows.

12. Remove all project debris from the water body in a manner that will cause the least 

disturbance.
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13. Dispose of unsuitable material in approved waste areas outside of the SMZ.

14. Clean equipment used for instream work prior to entering the water body:

a. Remove external oil, grease, dirt and mud from the equipment and repair leaks prior to 

arriving at the project site.

b. Inspect all equipment before unloading at site.

c. Inspect equipment daily for leaks or accumulations of grease, and correct identified 

problems before entering streams or areas that drain directly to waterbodies.

d. Remove all dirt and plant parts to ensure that noxious weeds and aquatic invasive 

species are not brought to the site.

15. Fuel and service equipment used for in-stream or riparian work (including chainsaws and 

other hand power tools) only in designated areas (see BMP 2.10).

16. Fully suspend logs, pipes, posts and other transported materials when crossing waterbodies 

and SMZs.

17. Restore the original surface of the streambed, lake bottom, or wetland upon completing the 

crossing construction or maintenance. Construct the surface of the streambed according to project 

specifications and drawings for aquatic passage projects. Stockpile materials by strata or as 

indicated by specified design criteria when extensive dredging or excavation of these substrates is 

required.

18. Stabilize streambanks, shorelines, cut and fill slopes, turnouts, and other disturbed areas 

adjacent to the water resource following crossing installation or maintenance:

a. Use riprap or rock, wood, vegetation, and other native materials as appropriate.

b. Install riprap or other slope protection to prevent erosion from water movement.

c. Size rock slope protection for the 100-year flood flow.

d. Use appropriate construction techniques (keying in riprap) and underlayments (filter 

blankets or other geotextile) to prevent undermining.

e. Ensure stone used for riprap is free of weakly structured rock, soil, organic material, 

and other material not resistant to erosive water action.

f. Place stable materials below drainage outlets on erodible soils to dissipate energy.

19. Provide effective soil cover (mulch, woody debris, rock, vegetation, blankets) on exposed soil 

surfaces for both short- and long term recovery.

20. Revegetate disturbed areas.

21. Stabilize temporary crossings that must remain in place during high-runoff seasons.
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22. Remove temporary crossings and restore the waterbody profile and substrate when the need 

for the crossing no longer exists.

Maintenance:

1. Implement the approved erosion control plan that covers all disturbed areas, including borrow 

areas, stockpiles, stream diversions used during stream-crossing maintenance and culvert cleaning 

(see BMP 2.13- Erosion Control Plan). Use temporary filters, berms, 

2. Install barriers, conveyances, or other materials to collect sediment and prevent it from entering 

surface waters.

3. Remove all project debris from the stream or creek in a manner that would cause the least 

disturbance.

4. Dispose of unsuitable material in approved waste areas outside of the SMZ.

5. Clean equipment used for instream work prior to entering the stream/creek.

a. Remove external oil, grease, dirt and mud from the equipment, and repair leaks prior to 

arriving at the project site.

b. Inspect all equipment before unloading at site.

c. Inspect equipment daily for leaks or accumulations of grease, and correct identified 

problems before entering streams or areas that drain directly to waterbodies.

d. Remove all dirt and plant parts to ensure that noxious weeds and aquatic invasive 

species are not brought to the site.

6. Fuel and service equipment used for in-stream or riparian work (including chainsaws and other 

hand power tools) only in designated areas (see BMP 2.10).

7. Maintain and remove buildup of sediment and debris in diversion prevention dips, rolling dips, 

and waterbars to ensure they are functioning properly, and do not contribute to the hydrological 

connectivity of the road.

8. Ensure that inside ditches are maintained properly, and are relieved at regular intervals to 

eliminate hydrological connectivity. See BMP 2.4, Road Maintenance and Operations.

BMP 2.11 - Equipment Refueling and Servicing

Objective: Prevent fuels, lubricants, cleaners, and other harmful materials from discharging into 

nearby surface waters or infiltrating through soils to contaminate groundwater resources.

Explanation: Many activities require the use and maintenance of petroleum-powered equipment 

in the field: vegetation harvest and regeneration; road, trail, and facility construction, 

reconstruction, and maintenance. The activities often employ equipment that uses or contains 

gasoline, diesel, oil, grease, hydraulic fluids, antifreeze, coolants, cleaning agents, and/or 

pesticides. These petroleum and chemical products may pose a risk to surface water and 

groundwater during refueling and servicing the equipment.
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Sale administrators, contracting officer’s representatives, engineering representatives, inspectors, 

permit administrators, and force account crew supervisors are responsible for enforcing 

requirements of equipment fueling and servicing activities. They can manage the risk from fuel 

and chemical spills during equipment refueling or servicing by using the appropriate techniques 

from the following list adapted as needed to local site conditions. 

Implementation:

1. Plan for appropriate equipment refueling and servicing sites during project planning and 

design.

2. Allow temporary refueling and servicing only at approved locations, which are well away from 

water or riparian resources.

3. Develop or use existing fuel and chemical management plans (for example, spill prevention 

control and countermeasures (SPCC), spill response plan, emergency response plan) when 

developing the management prescription for refueling and servicing sites.

4. Locate, design, construct, and maintain petroleum and chemical delivery and storage facilities 

consistent with local, State and Federal regulations.

5. Install contour berms and trenches around vehicle service and refueling areas, chemical storage 

and use areas, and waste dumps to fully contain spills.

6. Use liners as needed to prevent seepage to groundwater.

7. Provide training for all personnel handling fuels and chemicals in their proper use, handling, 

storage, and disposal.

8. Avoid spilling fuels, lubricants, cleaners, and other chemicals during handling and transporting.

9. Prohibit excess chemicals or wastes from being stored or accumulated in the project area. 

10. Remove service residues, waste oil, and other materials from NFS land and properly dispose 

them following completion of the project.

11. Clean up and dispose of spilled materials according to specified requirements in the 

appropriate guiding document.

12. Report spills and initiate appropriate clean-up action in accordance with applicable State and 

Federal laws, rules and regulations. The forest hazardous materials coordinator’s name and phone 

number would be available to Forest Service personnel who administer or manage activities 

utilizing petroleum-powered equipment.

13. Remove contaminated soil and other material from NFS lands and dispose of this material in 

a manner according to controlling regulations.

14. Prepare a certified SPCC Plan for each facility, including mobile and portable facilities that 

have oil storage capacity of at least 1,320 gallons in containers 55 gallons or greater. 

a. Install or construct the containment features or countermeasures called for in the SPCC 

Plan to ensure that spilled oil does not reach groundwater or surface water.
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b. Ensure that each SPCC Plan includes a spill contingency plan at each facility that is 

unable to provide secondary spill containment.

c. Ensure that clean-up of spills and leaking tanks complies with Federal, State and local 

regulations and requirements.

15. Prepare a contingency plan when quantities of petroleum products are capable of violating 

Basin Plan water-quality objectives.

16. Section H clauses for Public Works Construction include a standard clause for Spill Plan 

when project or activity includes oil or oil products storage exceeding 1,320 gallons, or a single 

container exceeding 660 gallons. Section H clauses also require designation of contractor’s key 

personnel, including authorized on-site representative and phone number(s).

BMP 2.13 - Erosion Control Plan

Objective: Effectively limit and mitigate erosion and sedimentation from any ground-disturbing 

activities, through planning prior to commencement of project activity, and through project 

management and administration during project implementation. 

1. Provide seamless transition between planning-level (NEPA) mitigation descriptions and on-theground implementation of erosion-control measures tailored to site conditions. 

2. Ensure that all disturbance-related mitigation requirements and provisions for field revisions or 

modifications are accurately captured in one comprehensive document for each project or 

activity.

3. Activities include, but are not limited to: timber sale harvest; facility site, road, bridge, trail and 

appurtenance construction, reconstruction, and maintenance; watershed improvement; road and 

trail decommissioning; legacy site restoration, administratively permitted activities; and 

vegetation and fuels management activities.

4. Comply with overarching area plans, such as Northwest Forest Plan and Sierra Nevada 

Framework Plan Amendment. 

Explanation: Ground-disturbing activities can result in erosion and sedimentation. By effectively 

planning for erosion control, sedimentation can be controlled or prevented. Engineering and 

hydrology personnel jointly develop mitigation recommendations and preliminary BMPs using an 

interdisciplinary team during the project planning process and environmental analysis phase. 

Erosion control plans are not be confused with design features whose primary objective is to 

provide or improve water quality, such as a bridge; reinforced earth retaining wall; or 

landscaping. The long term mitigation objectives are typically described in the NEPA document 

for the project, and then refined in project drawings and specifications as design features. Short 

term mitigation measures to prevent erosion and sedimentation are described in detail in the 

project’s erosion control plan. 

Project mitigations are conceptually described in NEPA analyses but are typically generic. 

Detailed mitigation measures are based on site-specific surveys, conditions, and characteristics, 

and are developed in the project design phase. They are ultimately displayed in the project 

document’s design documents (specifications and drawings) based on site-specific surveys, 

conditions, and characteristics. Furthermore, field personnel have the responsibility to make 
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refinements or additional recommendations to adjust to actual current and predicted future 

conditions. 

This flexibility is a necessary and desirable component of project implementation, but must 

ultimately result in implementation of requirements to protect soil and water quality. To ensure 

that all required and relevant mitigation measures are documented and implemented, an 

environmental control plan will be prepared to complement design (design addresses required 

mitigations specified in NEPA documents), site-specific prescriptions, and amended to include 

changes made in the field. Detailed and accurate environmental control plan will allow Forest 

Service and Water Board staff to conduct efficient, meaningful inspections of ground-disturbing 

projects, and will provide a needed check to ensure that mitigation measures for addressing 

impacts from the activities are accurately communicated to field staff.

Implementation: Ground-disturbing activities will be exempt from the requirement to prepare an 

erosion control plan under any of the four exemption categories below:

1. Area-based - less than 50 square feet in riparian area; less than 10,000 square feet in a nonriparian area;

2. Activity-based - activities conducted under a categorical exclusion with no wheeled or tracked 

equipment, or included under North Coast Regional or State waiver Category A;

3. Site-condition criteria - project locations that are: outside of riparian areas and on soils with 

high infiltration rates (more than 2 inches per hour) and on slopes less than 15 percent.

4. Flexibility criteria - any activity approved by the forest hydrologist with documentation 

explaining the rationale for the exemption.

BMP checklists would be prepared for all projects (see section 16) even if an erosion control plan 

is not necessary.

Erosion control plans for any ground-disturbing activity not meeting the exemption categories 

above will be reviewed and recommended by the forest hydrologist, and approved and signed by

the District Ranger. The hydrologist’s recommendation and signature indicates that all mitigation 

measures prescribed in environmental documents and project plans, or resource specialist's 

recommendations are included on the environmental control plan. The Forest Supervisor will 

approve and sign the environmental control plan for forestwide ground-disturbing activities, such 

as annual road maintenance.

All forests will develop wet weather operations standards (WWOS). The purpose of the WWOS 

is to provide guidance with the end result of preventing significant adverse impacts to water 

quality from wet weather operations on NFTS roads and trails. Such operations may include 

winter hauling, fuelwood gathering, public access for hunting or Christmas tree cutting, 

administrative access on closed roads for springtime burning of slash piles, reforestation 

activities, snow plowing, or other ground disturbance outside normal operating season. WWOS 

must include notification protocols for informing resource specialists (hydrologists, biologists, 

soil scientists) as well as line officers prior to initiation or continuation of a project or activity into 

wet weather season.
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Project field operations cannot begin until the District Ranger approves and signs the plan. The 

erosion control plan will be kept on site during project activity and made available for review 

upon request of a representative of the Water Board or any local storm water management agency 

which receives the storm water discharge. The erosion control plan will be amended if there is a 

change in control practices, site conditions, or BMPs that may result in less water-quality 

protection than specified in the project's environmental document, project plan, accepted erosion 

control plan, or permit/waiver. The amendment must include: name of person requesting the 

change; a description of the change, including revised BMPs or control practices to mitigate the 

effects of the change; and why the change is needed. 

Even the best erosion and sediment control plan cannot cover the specifics of each situation that 

would arise on a site during the life of a project. All parties involved in the project have a role and 

responsibility to ensure the activity complies with the goals or intent of the erosion control plan at 

all times. All temporary erosion and sediment control practices must be maintained and repaired 

as needed to assure continued performance of their intended function. 

Erosion Control Plan Contents

1. Erosion and Sediment Control will include:

a. List of anticipated ground-disturbing actions associated with the project (for example, 

stream diversion; exposed cut slopes; stripped and stockpiled topsoil; water source 

development or use)

b. Checklist which includes mitigation measures required by project NEPA, and in some 

cases CEQA documents, requirements to meet BMPs, project plans, specifications, and 

permits, if any. The selection of erosion and sedimentation control measures will be based 

on assessments of site conditions and how storm events may contribute to erosion. 

Control measures will be selected from the references provided in the On-Line Library at 

the end of section 12, or will be of equivalent effectiveness as the measures described in 

those reference.

c. Illustrations of control practices designed to prevent erosion and sedimentation. 

Illustrations must show construction and installation details for control practices, and 

must be included in the erosion control plan. (for example, California Stormwater Quality 

Association BMP standard specifications CASQA at http://www.cabmphandbooks.com, 

or Caltrans Stormwater and Water Pollution Control guides at 

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/construc/stormwater/stormwater1.htm)

d. Map/drawing(s) showing soil or water buffer zones, RCAs, RCHAs, SMZs or other 

soil or water protection areas to be protected from project activities. Project boundary 

extends beyond disturbance limits. 

e. A description of the color and/or pattern of flagging or marking for soil or water buffer 

zones, RCAs, RCHAs, SMZs or other soil or water protection areas for each unit. 

f. Relevant sections from the forest’s WWOS that apply to activity/activities. The WWOS 

will provide guidance to prevent significant adverse impacts to water quality from wet 

weather operations on NFTS roads and trails.
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i. Forest motor vehicle use map will be used to determine seasonal closures for all NFTS 

routes that are not under permit or for administrative use only.

(1) A storm preparedness plan that describes additional control practices to be implemented when 

the National Weather Service predicts a 50 percent or greater chance of precipitation. 

(2) A winterization plan that describes additional control practices to be implemented to stabilize 

the site during periods of seasonal inactivity. The dates vary by locality, and may be determined 

by the individual RWQCB (for example, October 15 through May 1). “Winterized” means that 

the site is stabilized to prevent soil movement permanently if project activities are complete, or 

temporarily in a manner which would remain effective until end of the stabilization period. 

(3) If winter activity, including over-snow operation is proposed, specifications for snow/ice 

depth or soil operability conditions must be described.

g. Control practices to reduce the tracking of sediment onto paved roads. These roads will

be inspected and cleaned as necessary.

h. Control practices to reduce wind erosion and control dust.

i. A proposed sequential schedule to implement erosion and sediment control measures, in 

addition to the general construction schedule. 

j. Location information, including directions to access the project area. Include a scaled 

map, with road names/numbers.

k. Contact information of project personnel, including name and cell phone number (that 

is, sale administrator, contracting officer’s representative, project manager, project 

supervisor, contractor, site superintendent, hydrologist, permit administrator and so forth)

2. Maps requirements: Maps must be clear, legible, and of a scale such that depicted features are 

readily discernible. For example, sale area maps may be used to satisfy the mapping requirements 

outlined in b.ii, below, if they meet this intent.

a. As a means of determining BMPs and erosion control measures, a topographic map 

should be in the project file. The map should extend beyond the boundaries of the project 

site, showing the project site boundaries, and surface and subsurface water bodies 

(ephemeral and intermittent waters, springs, wells, and wetlands) that could be at risk of 

water-quality impacts from project activities.

b. For timber harvest activities, unit-specific map(s) will be scaled no smaller than 1 inch 

equals 1,000 feet (1:12,000). For all other activities, maps will be scaled to provide 

legible interpretation of requirements shown above. All maps will include:

(1) Specific locations of storm water structures and controls used during project activities. 

(2) Erosion hazard ratings for each unit, specified down to 20 acres if different EHRs exist within 

each unit.

(3) Locations of existing and proposed haul roads, watercourse crossings, skid trails, and 

landings. 
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(4) Locations of post-project storm water structures and controls.

(5) Equipment access, storage, and service areas. 

3. Diversion of Live Streams: If the project involves stream diversions for crossing construction, 

the erosion control plan must include detailed plans for these activities, including storm 

contingencies. See BMP 2.8 - Stream Crossings.

4. Non-Storm Water Management: The erosion control plan will include provisions which 

eliminate or reduce the discharge of materials other than storm water to the storm sewer system 

and/or receiving waters. Such provisions will ensure that discharged materials will not have an 

adverse effect on receiving waters. Materials other than storm water that are discharged will be 

listed, along with the estimated quantity of the discharged material.

5. Waste Management and Disposal: The erosion control plan will describe waste management 

and disposal practices to be used at the project site. All wastes (including equipment and 

maintenance waste) removed from the site for disposal will be disposed of in a manner that is in 

compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances. Include plan for 

project-specific activities that produce waste products, such as concrete truck/chute/pump 

washout, equipment servicing, equipment washing, and so forth.

6. Maintenance, Inspection, and Repair: The erosion control plan will include inspection, 

maintenance and repair procedures to ensure that all pollution-control devices identified in the 

erosion control plan are maintained in good and effective condition and are promptly repaired or 

restored. A qualified person will be assigned the responsibility to conduct inspections. The name 

and telephone number of that person will be listed in the erosion control plan. A tracking and 

follow-up procedure will be described to ensure that all inspections are done by trained personnel 

and that adequate response and corrective actions have been taken in response to the inspection. 

This procedure may be in the form of a written checklist, with inspections signed and dated. 

Photo documentation is encouraged.

7. Other Plans: This erosion control plan may incorporate, by reference, the appropriate elements 

of other plans required by local, State, or Federal agencies. A copy of any requirements 

incorporated by reference would be kept in the project file.

8. Post-Project Storm Water Management: The erosion control plan will describe the storm water 

control structures and management practices that will be implemented to minimize pollutants in 

storm water discharges after project activity phases have been completed at the site. It will also 

specify controls to be removed from the activity site(s) and methods for their removal. The 

discharger must consider site-specific factors and seasonal conditions when designing the control 

practices that will function after the project is complete.

9. Preparer: The erosion control plan will include the title and signature of the person responsible 

for preparation of the erosion control plan, the date of initial preparation, and the person and date 

responsible for any amendments to the erosion control plan.

10. Template: The Forest Service will develop sample templates for erosion control plans based 

on activity type. Complexity of the template will be commensurate with the degree of risk to 

impact water quality by the activity.
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Fire Suppression and Fuels Management

Emergency fire suppression rehabilitation activities on NFS lands are conducted to reduce erosion 

and the loss of soil productivity, degradation of water quality, and threats to life and property both 

onsite, and off site. Suppression activities include fireline construction, construction of temporary 

access roads, back-firing operations, and aerial or ground application of short term and long term

fire retardants.

Water quality objectives are weighed along with the need for rapid suppression during the 

development of fire attack plans. Objectives of the fire-suppression program are to preclude 

catastrophic watershed damage and rehabilitate suppression-related damage.

An interdisciplinary team will conduct a burned area rehabilitation survey on all fires exceeding 

300 acres to assess actual fire damages. The District Ranger may request that an interdisciplinary 

team perform a survey for smaller fires where significant resource damage has, or could occur.

An emergency rehabilitation proposal must be submitted to the Regional Office, Ecosystem 

Conservation Staff for approval and funding, no later than 3 days after the fire is controlled. 

Rehabilitation work is accomplished both by the Forest Service force account crews and through 

contracts.

Fuels management activities are intended to reduce the size, cost, and damage from wildfire. Fuel 

biomass is altered by changing fuel type, creating fuel breaks, or by reducing or altering fuels 

over extensive areas.

Fuels management is also concerned with controlling dead biomass such as cull logs and slash. 

These materials will be rearranged, removed, or burned to reduce fuel loading.

The following BMPs are for the control of nonpoint source pollution associated with fire 

suppression and fuels management activities. Each BMP is based on the administrative directives 

that guide and direct the Forest Service permitting and administering fire suppression and fuels 

management activities on NFS land.

The line officer on each administrative subunit is responsible for fully implementing the 

directives that require water-quality protection and improvement during fire suppression and fuels 

management activities. The directives provide details on methods and techniques to effectively 

incorporate water-quality controls into each phase of the fire suppression and fuels management 

program.

Trained and qualified earth scientists, and other professional employees, are available to assist the 

fire suppression and fuels management work force identify beneficial uses and the most recent 

state-of-the-art water-quality control methods and techniques, and to help evaluate results.

BMP 6.2 - Consideration of Water Quality in Formulating Fire Prescriptions

Objective: To provide for water-quality protection while achieving the management objectives 

through the use of prescribed fire. 

Explanation: Prescription elements will include, but not be limited to, such factors as fire 

weather, slope, aspect, soil moisture, and fuel moisture. These elements influence the fire 

intensity and thus have a direct effect on whether a desired ground cover remains after burning, 
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and whether a water-repellent layer is formed. The prescription will include at the watershed- and 

subwatershed-scale the optimum and maximum burn block size, aggregate burned area, 

acceptable disturbance for contiguous and aggregate length for the riparian/SMZ; and expected 

fire return intervals and maximum expected area covered by water-repellant soils.

Implementation: Field investigations will be conducted as required to identify site-specific 

conditions, which may affect the prescription. Both the optimum and allowable limits for the burn 

to ensure water-quality protection will be established prior to preparation of the burn plan. An 

interdisciplinary team will assess the prescription elements and the optimum and maximum 

acceptable disturbance, and the fire management officer or fuel management specialist will

prepare the fire prescription. The fire prescription will be reviewed by the interdisciplinary team 

and approved by the appropriate line officer.

BMP 6.3 - Protection of Water Quality from Prescribed Burning Effects

Objective: To maintain soil productivity; minimize erosion; and minimize ash, sediment, 

nutrients, and debris from entering water bodies.

Explanation: Some of the techniques used to prevent water-quality degradation are:

1. Constructing water bars in fire lines,

2. Reducing fuel loading in drainage channels,

3. Maintaining the integrity of the SMZ within the limits of the burn plan,

4. Planning prescribed fires for burn intensities so that when water-repellant soils are formed, 

they are within the limits and at locations described in the burn plan, and

5. Retaining or re-establishing ground cover as needed to keep erosion of the burned site within 

the limits of the burn plan.

Implementation: Forest Service and other crews will be used to prepare the units for burning. 

This will include, but not be limited to, water barring firelines, reducing fuel concentrations, and 

moving fuel to designated disposal and burning areas.

The interdisciplinary team will identify the SMZ and soils with high risk of becoming waterrepellant as part of project planning.

BMP 6.4 - Minimizing Watershed Damage from Fire-suppression Efforts

Objective: To avoid watershed damage in excess of that already caused by the wildfire.

Explanation: Avoid heavy equipment operation on fragile soils and steep slopes whenever 

possible.

Major project fires will utilize a Resource Advisor to assist the Incident Commander in protecting 

resource values during the suppression effort. National fire management policies provide in part 

that a wildland fire situation analysis will be prepared for all fires where containment of the fire is 

not expected prior to the second burning period. The analysis will be prepared by a line officer 

with Incident Management Team input. Watershed considerations must be part of the analysis.
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Implementation: A Resource Advisor will be assigned by the Forest Supervisor and work for the 

Incident Management Team, specifically for the Planning Section chief. An earth scientist will be 

available to identify fragile soils and unstable areas, and will be assigned to the fire as a Resource 

Advisor.

BMP 6.5 - Repair or Stabilization of Fire-suppression-related Watershed Damage

Objective: To stabilize all areas that has had their erosion potential significantly increased, or 

their drainage pattern altered by suppression-related activities.

Explanation: Treatments for fire-suppression damages include, but are not limited to, installing 

water bars and other drainage diversions in fire roads, firelines, and other cleared areas; seeding, 

planting and fertilizing to provide vegetative cover; spreading slash, or mulch to protect bare soil; 

repairing damaged road drainage facilities; clearing stream channels or structures and removing 

debris deposited by suppression activities which can have adverse life, property, and 

environmental impacts.

Implementation: This work will be done by the fire fighting forces either as a part of the 

suppression effort, or before personnel and equipment are released from the fire lines. The 

incident commander will be responsible, under the direction of the local line officer, for repair of 

suppression-related resource damage.

BMP 6.6 - Emergency Rehabilitation of Watersheds Following Wildfires

1. Objective: To minimize as far as practicable:

a. Loss of soil and onsite productivity;

b. Overland flow, channel obstruction, and instability; and

c. Threats to life and property, both on-site and off-site.

Explanation: Emergency rehabilitation is a corrective measure that involves a variety of 

treatments. 

2. Treatments may include, but are not limited to:

a. Providing a protective soil cover, prior to the rainy season, such as seeding, mulching, 

or installing log erosion barriers;

b. Installing log or straw bale check dams;

c. Clearing hazardous debris from stream channels; and

d. Constructing trash racks, channel-stabilization structures, and debris-retention 

structures.

Treatments are selected on the basis of onsite values, downstream values, probability of 

successful implementation, social, and environmental considerations, and cost as compared to 

benefits.
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Implementation: Burned-area surveys will be made promptly on all burned over areas to 

determine if watershed emergency rehabilitation treatment is needed. Burned-area surveys of all 

class E (300 acres) and larger fires will be conducted by an interdisciplinary team. Team members 

normally include a hydrologist, a soil scientist, and representatives of other disciplines, as needed.

The burned-area survey and proposed rehabilitation treatment measures will be transmitted to the 

Regional Office, within 3 days of control of the fire for approval. Upon approval of the 

rehabilitation project, a project supervisor and restoration team will begin work with the objective 

of project completion before damaging storms occur. Rehabilitation projects will be evaluated 

following major storms and runoff events, and at least annually until the watershed is stabilized. 

The evaluation will determine the effectiveness of the rehabilitation measures and indicate if 

follow-up actions are warranted.

Stream Crossing Design Measures

Traditionally, live stream crossings for skid trails or temporary roads, were constructed by 

excavating the crossing, placing a culvert in the stream, and filling around the pipe with fill dirt. 

When the project was complete, the culvert and fill dirt were removed, usually with the bulldozer. 

This practice caused excessive sediment input into the stream, along with much disturbance of the 

stream banks. Rehabilitation work consisted of placing waterbars on each bank of the stream 

along with grass-seed and straw. The grass-seed/straw combo was placed from stream bank to the 

first waterbar ditch, on each bank, depending on slope gradient.

Cut-to-Length (CTL) machines changed the way operations were conducted in the woods. The 

harvester/tree processor establishes their route of travel (forwarding trails) through the unit. The 

harvester cuts trees down, delimbs and produces logs along these trails, all the while leaving the 

resulting limbs and tree tops (slash) in the trails as a “slash mat” for ground cover. The forwarder 

follows the harvester, driving over the “slash mat” to pick up the logs and returns to the landing. 

This procedure works well when abundant material is available in the stands (see figure 2 to 

figure 4). 

The placement and removal of the log fill is accomplished with the harvester, which can grasp the 

processed logs with its cutting-head, feed wheels and limb knives. This allows the logs to be 

lifted into and out of position, much like a crane or boom. This not only reduces or eliminates the 

amount of soil disturbance and stream sediment loading, but the amount of the disturbed area is 

greatly reduced.

For perennial streams, a minimum of an 18” culvert should be used with the slash and small logs 

(4-8” dbh) to build the crossing. Culvert sizing should be such that a 25 year flood event could 

pass with no static head development upstream of the culvert. It will be best to consult the district 

hydrologist and roads engineer for proper watershed analysis and culvert sizing prior to 

construction. 
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Inspection of the channel before and after the construction of the crossing will need to be done by 

the district hydrologist to determine if any restoration is required. Any stream disturbance will

have to be restored to pre-disturbance conditions. No fill material (i.e., soil) should be used in the 

crossing.

Figure 2. Development of a Stream Crossing Design Measure
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Figure 3. Stream crossing condition after design measure is removed

Figure 4. Stream crossing condition after design measure is removed
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Restoration Methodology: Vertical Instabilities

Vertical instabilities such as headcuts can be arrested in place and inhibited from further 

headward propagation into a meadow or watershed, which would mitigate further erosion, but do 

little to restore the water table to its previous elevation. A restoration method known as “plugand-pond” (which plugs the channel downstream of the headcut and eventually backwaters the 

headcut) has been employed with great success in some meadows. Plug-and-Pond is effective at 

preventing erosion and restoring the ground water table in highly incised and degraded meadows; 

however, this method is only effective in low-gradient meadows (< 2 percent). Most of the 

meadows in the project area have gradients over 4 percent, and thus are not suitable candidates 

for plug-and-pond. As such, design structures such as rock step pools or log-and-fabric step-falls 

will be the most effective means by which to mitigate further erosion of a headcut. 

Rock Step-Pool 

Rock step-pools mimic natural channels that have gradients greater than 10% (e.g., Rosgen “A” 

channels), and are designed to dissipate energy by preventing water from obtaining excess 

velocity. This design is employed if the height of the drop (i.e., headcut) is greater than the 

bankfull channel depth (figure 5). 

Materials would include appropriately sized rock (i.e., D84 or greater based on reference reach 

characteristics of nearby A or B channels), jute fabric, and local native vegetation (sod, native 

Willow, etc.). Traditional use of impervious geotextile material in headcut repair is not 

recommended because it prevents re-vegetation and stabilization of the rock and also has a 

tendency to channel overland and base flow behind the facing rock, further eroding the head and 

sidewalls of the headcut. WIN site condition data collected in the summer of 2009 showed most 

restoration structures utilizing this type of geotextile material had failed; the WIN sites that had 

successfully withstood large flood events used large rock, no geotextile fabric, and had 

completely re-vegetated. In lieu of non-porous geotextile material, coarse jute fabric is 

recommended where the substrate is non-cohesive and easily erodible. This type of jute will hold 

moisture; allow plants to take root and provide mulch, prevent most fines for washing away, and 

would eventually biodegrade. In highly cohesive clay-rich soils, no fabric is recommended; 

proper sizing and placement of rock and re-vegetation will be effective at preventing further 

erosion. 

Rock step pools will require quarry rock to be transported and cached near the restoration site 

(unless there is sufficient loose rock in situ) and hauled to the site via power wheel barrow. This 

has the potential to cause temporary surface disturbance. Slash (from the vegetation treatments), 

ply wood, and/or weed cloth will be placed along ingress-egress routes to mitigate these impacts. 
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Figure 5. Step-pools built into two narrow headcuts at the toe of Summit Meadow, Sierra 

National Forest

Log-and-Fabric Step-Falls

If accessibility to a restoration site has the potential for significant ground disturbance (i.e., 

requires closed roads to be re-opened, or results in excessive length of rock haul routes through 

meadows, etc.), then materials in situ can be used. Since part of each restoration design will

include the removal of encroaching conifers like lodgepole pine, small logs (4” - 10” dbh) will be 

readily available. These can be used to build a log-and-fabric step falls for headcut restoration. 

These structures have been found to be effective in wet meadow environments where the wood is 

submerged and abundant vegetation has become established to hold the lip of the headwall (figure 

6). Materials will include logs cut to length (4” to 10” dbh), jute fabric, stakes, 2” fencing staples, 

smooth fencing wire, and native sod clumps and Willow.

Figure 6. Log-and Fabric Step-Falls used for headcut mitigation, Johnson Meadow, Sierra

National Forest
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

Rock Arch Dam, Filter Dam, and Weir Grade-Control Structures

For knick points or grade control along a channel reach, a rock arch structure can provide a stepfalls scour pool function, and when installed in series, can be used to check velocity and dissipate 

energy along straightened stream reaches. A filter dam is used to raise the bed of a gully by 

trapping suspended load, and some wash load in the interstices of the larger rock. Like rock arc 

and filter dams, weirs provide grade control and can be constructed of a variety of materials. 

Sod Plugs

Water typically moves through meadows as sheet flow, swale flow, or channelized flow in stable 

E channels. Changes in peak flow from increased hydrologic connectivity in the watershed can 

concentrate flow in meadows, causing the incision of swales, existing natural channels, and cow 

trails. Elevating channel grade in incised natural channels will increase the chance of typical 

spring runoff reaching the floodplain (i.e., meadow) surface. This would promote localized 

ground water mounding and the overall elevation of the water table in the meadow. This can be 

achieved by filling in small (<2’x2’) incised channels with native sod plugs (figure 7).

Figure 7. Photos of a native sod plug (left side: Photo A, right side: Photo B)

Photos of a native sod plug being used to increase channel grade in a slightly incised meadow 

stream (figure 7). Photo A is a typical plug (10”x10”x16”) wrapped in jute netting, which is 

anchored at the riffle crest within the channel (Photo B). The plug is placed at the riffle crest to 

augment the riffle elevation and hence water elevation. In time, sediment will accumulate 

upstream of the plug thereby raising grade and lessening the degree of incision. The plug hole is 

filled with other native plants and mulch, which stabilizes the hole until the sod grows back in.

Vanes, Cross-Vanes and J-Hooks

In order to stabilize denuded unstable channel banks, it is often necessary to reduce the near bank 

shear stress to allow for vegetative recovery, in addition to other bank stabilization efforts. This is 

especially true for the outside of meander bends where shear stress is highest. There are many instream structures that provide bank protection, and the designs specified here use both rock and in 

situ wood material. Many of these restoration structures are also used in the induced meandering 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

method of channel restoration (described below). Vanes act as deflectors and can divert high 

velocity flow away from a cutbank or the outside of a meander bend. The vane functions by 

moving the zone of maximum velocity outward from the bank, protecting the adjacent bank and 

creating a point bar, but producing erosion on the opposite bank. Vanes can be constructed from a 

variety of materials, with post-vane design being the most adaptable to applications in a forest or 

near a meadow. Cross-Vanes decrease near bank shear stress and concentrate flow into the 

thalweg. Cross-Vanes are multifunctional in that they provide grade control, reduce bank erosion, 

create a stable width-to-depth ratio, maintain sediment transport capacity, and sediment 

competence. Like Cross-Vanes, J-Hooks serve the same purpose, but are typically employed for 

only one channel bank, usually on the outside of a meander bend
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record Of Decision

Appendix F – Monitoring Plan

Air Quality

As part of prescribed fire implementation, burn bosses will make observations on a regular basis 

of the smoke conditions that are being created by implementation. These include the travel 

direction and dispersion quality of smoke such as smoke settling into smoke sensitive areas and 

continued or potential for visibility degradation especially across main travel routes. When 

possible, lighting techniques and/or burn operations will be changed to minimize the continuance 

of these impacts. 

As part of the Prescribed Fire Burn Plan, the public will be informed of planned prescribed fire 

implementation via local newspaper and/or in some cases personal communications. At the 

minimum, the news release will include planned dates, location of the burn and contact numbers 

for information.

Aquatic Wildlife – See Hydrology 

Botany 

Post project: Monitor the sensitive plant occurrences within the project area to assess their 

presence and condition. Monitor for three to five years to ascertain that the noxious weeds have 

been eradicated successfully.

Cultural Resources

Monitoring will be necessary to ensure that identified protection measures are effective (Regional 

PA 2013, Appendix E 1.5 and Region 5 Hazardous Fuels Protocol Appendix H) and that the 

selected treatment measures have had no adverse effect to cultural resources. An archaeological 

monitoring report will be required for each activity. Monitoring will occur during implementation 

of treatments within cultural resource sites. Monitoring will occur post-implementation to assess 

potential effects from increased access to, and visibility of, cultural resources as a result of 

mechanical treatments, prescribed burning operations, recreational activities and from potential 

unauthorized motorized use on linear cultural resource sites. Monitoring will occur within 1 year 

post-project implementation to assess short term effects and then at intervals of once every three 

years for twenty years to assess long term effects.

Fire/Fuels 

Monitoring of the conditions following initial treatments will be completed to determine if 

additional treatments are needed to meet fire and fuels objectives. Particular attention will be 

given to those treatment areas associated with strategically-placed landscape area treatments 

(SPLATs) and defense fire protection zones (DFPZs) surrounding the identified communities, as 

these are the priority areas within the project for follow-up treatments to reduce surface fuels, if 

needed.
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Geology/Soils

Monitoring of soil conditions will be conducted on a selection of activity areas to determine if 

soil standards and guidelines (S&Gs) and soil management objectives are being met. Ten soil 

transects have been established in the project area to determine existing soil conditions. Two of 

these soil transects will be repeated after treatment is implemented. 

Monitoring will be accomplished in accordance with the National Forest Soil Disturbance 

Monitoring Protocol (USDA Forest Service 2009). Soil monitoring will be conducted along 

transects according to the protocol after the proposed treatments. Soil monitoring will be 

designed to determine the extent of detrimental soil compaction from mechanical treatments. Soil 

cover will be determined from both mechanical treatment and prescribed fire. After 

implementation of the selected alternative treatments (alternative 2), pre-treatment soil transects 

will be re-established in activity areas and post-treatment soil transects will be repeated along the 

same transect that were established for the pre-treatment soil transect. Timing for conducting 

post-treatment soil transects is important to determine soil cover after prescribed fire, especially 

soil cover condition going into the following winter.

Monitoring of meadows will consist of establishing photo monitoring points that will record the 

extent of existing conifer encroachment. Photos will be taken initially before treatment and every 

three years for 15 years.

Additional monitoring of the decommissioned OHV routes will determine the effectiveness of the 

decommissioning and closure of these routes. The routes chosen for monitoring will be the most 

detrimentally impacted routes discovered during conditions assessments. Monitoring will be 

conducted using the same protocol as the original field assessment, the GYR OHV Monitoring 

Protocol.

Hydrology/Water Quality

A re-survey of the 2012 Whisky Creek Stream Condition Inventory (SCI) plot (located at UTM 

NAD83 11N, Easting 0283253, Northing 4127781) will be done five years after project 

implementation to determine watershed condition. The purpose of the SCI protocol is to collect 

intensive and repeatable data from stream reaches to document existing stream condition and 

make reliable comparisons over time within or between stream reaches. SCI is designed to assess 

effectiveness of management actions on streams in managed watersheds (non-reference streams), 

as well as to document stream conditions over time in watersheds with little or no past 

management or that have recovered from historic management effects. 

Prior to any meadow stabilization work, a Bank Erosion Hazard Index(BEHI)/Near Bank Shear 

Stress (NBS) evaluation will be conducted on channel banks and headcuts to quantify the existing 

erosion rates and sediment volumes entering the watershed. This will allow for a quantitative 

assessment of sediment reduction in the watershed as a result of the meadow restoration work.

Range 

Establishment of an additional monitoring plot at Beehive Meadow (#504M153) including aspen 

regeneration monitoring will be in order to assess meadow ecological status and trend, determine 

the effectiveness of meadow restoration and detect changes to water (depth to water table), soil 

(rooting depths) and vegetation (percent of late successional plant species). The long term 
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Whisky Ridge Ecological Restoration Project Record of Decision

rangeland condition monitoring plots located in Benedict Meadow (#504M19), Browns Meadow 

(#504M162) and Lower Browns Meadow (#504M164) will be re-read on a five year interval as 

part of the Region 5 Long Term Rangeland Condition and Trend Monitoring Project.

Terrestrial Wildlife

Post-project and during implementation: Monitor currently active California spotted owl and

northern goshawk protected activity centers (PACs) within the project area to assess annual 

occupancy and breeding status. Monitor for three to five years post implementation to ascertain 

changes in PAC occupancy status from pre- to post-project. Monitoring of fisher and high quality 

fisher habitat within the project area is being conducted by the (SNAMP) fisher team.1 The Sierra 

Nevada Forests Management Indicator Species (SNF MIS) Amendment (USDA Forest Service 

2007a) identifies bioregional scale habitat and/or population monitoring for the Management 

Indicator Species for ten National Forests, including the Sierra NF. Habitat and/or distribution 

population monitoring for all MIS is conducted at the Sierra Nevada scale. Refer to the 2010 

SNF Bioregional MIS Report (USDA Forest Service 2010a) for details by habitat and MIS.

Visual Resource

Landscape Architect will conduct field reviews and photographs from key viewing points to 

determine compliance with forest plan visual quality objectives (VQOs), determine if desired 

conditions are achieved, and identify if any new visual disturbances are present. The monitory 

recommendations are based on three types of monitoring specified in the Landscape Aesthetics, A 

Handbook for Scenery Management. Agriculture Handbook 701: implementation, effectiveness, 

and validation (USDA 1995): 

• Implementation monitoring determines whether the standards and guidelines (e.g., design 

features, forest plan VQOs) were followed. Some agencies call it “compliance” 

monitoring... or said another way “Did we do what we said we would do” (USDA 1995). 

• Effectiveness monitoring determines if application of the management plan is achieved or 

is headed in the right direction to achieve the desired conditions... in other words did the 

management practice or activity do what was intended. Did the standards and guides 

function as intended or were they not effective (USDA 1995). 

• Validation monitoring determines if new information exists which alters the validity of 

the assumptions upon which the plan was based (USDA 1995).

 1 More information regarding SNAMP can be found on-line at http://snamp.cnr.berkeley.edu/). Status and 

trend monitoring for fisher and American marten was initiated in 2002 by the SNFPA Carnivore 

Monitoring Program. The monitoring objective is to be able to detect a 20 percent decline in population 

abundance and habitat (USDA Forest Service 2006).