Appendix B 

Activity Cards 
Appendix B 

Table of Contents 

Introduction to Appendix B.............................................................................. 1 

Unit Card Header Information......................................................................... 1 

Harvest Treatments ........................................................................................ 2 

Resource Concerns and Responses .............................................................. 4 

Unit Cards ..................................................................................................... 11 

Road Cards................................................................................................... 95 

Road Management Objectives...................................................................... 97 
Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Appendix B • 1 

Introduction to Appendix B 

Activity cards are used to explain site-specific proposed activities and 

any resource concerns and responses. These activities include timber 

harvest units and proposed and existing roads needed for timber 

harvest. Both narratives and maps showing site-specific information 

are provided. 

The introduction to Appendix B is followed by a narrative card and a 

map for each proposed harvest unit. These units are in numerical 

order. Not every unit is in each alternative. The maps show all 

proposed adjacent units whether or not they are in the same 

alternatives. Figure B-1 shows all the units as they lie in the project 

area. 

The last section of this Appendix lists existing and proposed NFS 

roads used for the alternatives. It describes the current conditions and 

management objectives, and proposed road management objective 

changes. The Introduction to the Road Cards explains the terminology 

used for the Road Management Objective narrative. A map is included 

that shows all the roads and their desired future management. 

Unit Card Header Information 

Each unit card has a header block with information used to generally 

describe the stand’s size, location, and volume proposed for harvest. 

Each header block contains the following information: 

Unit Number: This is the number assigned to the unit block during 

the Logging Systems and Transportation Analysis development. 

Unit Acres: This is an estimate of total acres within the unit using 

aerial photos and GIS information. 

Alternatives: This identifies the alternative(s) in which the unit is 

proposed. 

Aerial Photo: This is the identification number of the most recent 

aerial photograph taken during 1998-99. 
Unit Cards 

2 • Appendix B Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Land Use Designation (LUD): Land Use Designation is a defined 

area of land, identified by the Forest Plan, to which specific 

management direction is applied. All proposed units are in the Timber 

Production LUD. 

Net Timber Volume: This is an estimated volume in thousand board 

feet to be harvested. This was derived from field estimates and the 

stand exam program. A cruise will be done during implementation to 

determine an accurate volume before the timber is sold. 

TM Compartment and Stand: This identifier is used for tracking 

purposes from planning through implementation and future treatments. 

Volume Strata Acres: This is the approximate number of acres 

broken out by volume strata. Three volume strata (high, medium, and 

low) are recognized in the Forest Plan and explained in the Timber and 

Vegetation section of Chapter 3. 

Existing Stand Condition: This is the developmental stage of the 

physical and temporal distribution of trees and other plants in a 

forested area. 

Silvicultural Prescription: This provides information about the 

methods, techniques, timing, and monitoring of vegetative treatments. 

The detailed silvicultural prescription is in the planning record. 

Logging Method/Transportation: This identifies the method of 

logging in the unit and the transportation used. 

Harvest Treatments 

Silvicultural prescriptions include these unit cards plus the sale layout 

and marking guidelines that would be completed for each of the timber 

harvest units that are included in the Kuiu Timber Sale Area Record of 

Decision. Minor changes can be expected during implementation to 

better meet on-site resource management and protection objectives. 

Minor adjustments to unit boundaries are also likely during final 

layout for the purpose of improving logging system efficiency or for 

site conditions. 

All merchantable trees will be harvested. The objectives of this system 

are to create a fast-growing stand of trees to maximize wood fiber 

production, favorable timber sale harvest economics and logging 

feasibility. These stands would regenerate into a mostly single-aged 

stand. 

This system regenerates and maintains a stand with two age classes by 

removing trees in clumps or as individual trees. Reserves or clumps 

would be distributed somewhat evenly across the harvest unit or stand, 

and away from the unit boundary. The resulting stand may be twoEven-aged 

Management, 

Clearcut 

Two-aged 

Management 
Unit Cards 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Appendix B • 3 

aged or trend toward the uneven-aged condition as a consequence of 

both an extended period of regeneration establishment and retention of 

reserve trees that may represent one or more age classes. Two-aged 

management regimes can produce stands of greater structural diversity 

than even-aged management. These stands would not be reentered for 

harvest until the next rotation in approximately 100 years. 

This system regenerates and maintains a multi-aged structure by 

removing some trees in all size classes either singly, in small groups, 

or in strips. Uneven-aged management maintains or creates a stand 

with trees of three or more distinct age (size) classes, either intimately 

mixed or in small groups. This remaining structure provides wildlife 

habitat and reduces visual impacts. The next entry into these stands 

would be in approximately 75 years, when approximately 25 percent 

of the stand’s pre-harvest basal area would be removed in patches or in 

single trees. 

Group Selection 

Stands proposed for this prescription would have approximately 50 

percent of the area remaining uncut after harvest. Merchantable trees 

(trees greater than 9 inches in diameter) would be harvested in small 

patches to form a mosaic of irregularly shaped openings within the 

stand. Smaller trees may be left in this area if the larger trees can be 

safely removed. Each group harvested would consist of a mixture of 

tree sizes. Each harvested opening will regenerate, creating a patch of 

trees with a uniform age and height. These openings may be thinned. 

This will create a stand of three or more distinct size classes in small 

groups, resulting in an uneven-aged stand. 

Single Tree Selection 

Stands proposed for this prescription would have approximately 50 

percent of the basal area of the trees remaining after harvest. This will 

regenerate and maintain a multi-aged structure by removing some trees 

in various size classes distributed across the stand. Trees to be 

harvested would be selected using a criterion such as species, diameter 

limits or spacing. A range of diameters, or everything above or below 

a certain diameter limit, may define the trees selected for harvest. 

Different diameters may be used for different species. The resulting 

stand may have small openings plus individual trees harvested 

throughout the stand. This will maintain or create a stand of three or 

more distinct size classes distributed throughout the stand, resulting in 

an uneven-aged stand. 

Uneven-aged 

Management 
Unit Cards 

4 • Appendix B Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Resource Concerns and Responses 

In the Kuiu Timber Sale Area, most of the economic, wildlife, and 

watershed concerns are mitigated with the silvicultural system. Other 

resource concerns, such as soils, scenery, and fisheries, are mitigated 

by unit design and adherence to Forest Plan standards and guidelines 

and Best Management Practices (BMPs). 

Riparian Management Areas 

Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines and BMP 12.6 direct the design 

of Riparian Management Areas (RMAs) associated with each stream 

in the Project Area. The Standards and Guidelines prohibit 

programmed commercial timber harvest in RMAs associated with all 

Class I, Class II, and most Class III streams, except for right-of-way 

clearing for road construction. 

RMAs vary in width from the edge of the stream channel according to 

process group (Table B-1) and stream value class (Table B-2). All 

Class I and Class II streams are protected from commercial timber 

harvest within a minimum horizontal distance of 100 feet from the 

bankfull margins. Depending on the channel type, RMA widths can be 

up to 140 feet wide on either side of some Class I, Class II, and Class 

III streams. RMAs adjacent to Class III streams are protected from 

commercial timber harvest, except along palustrine channel types. 

RMA widths on Class III streams are extended to the side-slope break 

(top of the V-notch). 

Unit card maps show the location of all streams, numbered for 

reference, and the associated RMAs. RMA widths for each Class I, 

Class II, and Class III stream are described in the unit card narratives. 

Windthrow concerns within riparian buffers are addressed in the unit 

card narratives. Riparian buffers on south facing slopes in units with a 

prescription other than uneven-aged management by single tree 

selection would be protected by retaining additional trees adjacent to 

the buffers. In units with a two-aged, clearcut with reserves or unevenaged, group selection prescription, some of the retention would be 

along the riparian buffers. In units with uneven-aged, single tree 

selection prescriptions, the distribution of trees across the unit would 

help protect the buffers. In units with an even-aged prescription, the 

windthrow prone buffers would be protected by feathering the edge for 

a distance of 50 horizontal feet where trees are less than 16 inches 

DBH. Those trees than cannot be felled away from the buffer, would 

be retained. 

Log yarding practices are based on slope stability, soil disturbance, 

channel type, and stream class. Additional measures are taken to 
Unit Cards 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Appendix B • 5 

protect RMAs from possible disturbance associated with tree felling 

and yarding. Harvest activities near Class I, Class II, and Class III 

streams require that trees be felled away from the stream and that trees 

yarded across or along stream courses be fully suspended to minimize 

the exposure of mineral soil. Trees near Class IV streams are felled 

away from the stream whenever feasible and logging debris introduced 

into Class IV streams is removed. Class IV streams are treated as part 

of the hillside, under slope stability standards and guidelines. The 

objective is to minimize soil erosion, mass movement, and formation 

of new channels. 

Best Management Practices 

The following Best Management Practices (BMPs) would be applied 

in order to protect water quality in the project area as specified in the 

Forest Plan (pages C-1 to C-3). The BMPs are cited on the Unit Cards 

and Road Cards where appropriate. Not all BMPs apply to every 

situation. 

BMP 12.6 (Riparian Area Designation and Protection) – To 

identify riparian areas and their associated management activities. 

BMP 12.6a (Buffer Design and Layout) – To design streamside 

buffers to meet objectives defined during the implementation of BMP 

12.6. 

BMP 12.17 (Revegetation of Disturbed Areas) – To provide ground 

cover to minimize soil erosion. 

BMP 13.5 (Identification and Avoidance of Unstable Areas) – To 

avoid triggering mass movements and resultant erosion and 

sedimentation by excluding unstable areas from timber harvest. 

BMP 13.9 (Determining Guidelines for Yarding Operations) – To 

select appropriate yarding systems and guidelines for protecting soil 

and water resources. 

BMP 13.16 (Stream Channel Protection – Implementation and 

Enforcement) – To provide the site-specific stream protection 

prescriptions consistent with objectives identified under BMPs 12.6 

and 12.6a. Objectives may include the following: 

• Maintain the natural flow regime. 

• Provide for unobstructed passage of storm flows. 

• Maintain integrity of the riparian buffer to filter sediment and 

other pollutants. 

• Restore the natural course of any stream that has been diverted 

as soon as practicable. 
Unit Cards 

6 • Appendix B Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

• Maintain natural channel integrity to protect aquatic habitat and 

other beneficial uses. 

• Prevent adverse changes to the natural stream temperature 

regime. 

BMP 14.1 (Transportation Planning) – To assure soil and water 

resources are considered in transportation planning activities. 

BMP 14.2 (Location of Transportation Facilities) – To assure water 

resources protection measures are considered when locating roads and 

trails. 

BMP 14.3 (Design of Transportation Facilities) – To incorporate 

site-specific soil and water resource protection measures into the 

design of roads and trails. 

BMP 14.5 (Road and Trail Erosion Control Plan) – Develop 

erosion control plans for road or trail projects to minimize or mitigate 

erosion sedimentation and resulting water quality degradation prior to 

the initiation of construction and maintenance activities. Ensure 

compliance through effective contract administration and timely 

implementation of erosion control measures. 

BMP 14.6 (Timing Restrictions for Construction Activities) – 

Minimize erosion potential by restricting the operating schedule and 

conducting operations during lower risk periods. 

BMP 14.7 (Measures to Minimize Mass Failures) – Minimize the 

chance and extent of road-related mass failures, including landslides 

and embankment slumps. 

BMP 14.8 (Measures to Minimize Surface Erosion) – Minimize the 

erosion from cutslopes, fillslopes, and the road surface, and 

consequently reduce the risk of sediment production. 

BMP 14.9 (Drainage Control to Minimize Erosion and 

Sedimentation) – Minimize the erosive effects of concentrated water 

flows from transportation facilities and the resulting degradation of 

water quality through proper design and construction of drainage 

control systems. 

BMP 14.10 (Pioneer Road Construction) – Minimize sediment 

production associated with pioneer road construction. 

BMP 14.11 (Timely Erosion Control Measures for Incomplete 

Projects) – Minimize erosion of and sedimentation from disturbed 

ground on incomplete projects by completing erosion control work 

prior to seasonal or extended shutdowns. 
Unit Cards 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Appendix B • 7 

BMP 14.12 (Control of Excavation and Sidecast Material) – 

Minimize sedimentation from unconsolidated excavated and sidecast 

material caused by road construction, reconstruction, or maintenance. 

BMP 14.14 (Control of In-channel Operations) – Minimize stream 

channel disturbances and related sediment production. 

BMP 14.15 (Diversion of Flows Around Construction Sites) – 

Identify and implement diversion and de-watering requirements at 

construction sites to protect water quality and downstream uses. 

BMP 14.17 (Bridge and Culvert Design and Installation) – 

Minimize adverse impacts on water quality, stream courses, and 

fisheries resources from the installation of bridges, culverts, or other 

stream crossings. 

BMP 14.20 (Road Maintenance) – Maintain all roads in a manner 

which provides for soil and water resources protection by minimizing 

rutting, road prism failures, sidecasting, and blockage of drainage 

facilities. 

BMP 14.22 (Access and Travel Management) – Control access and 

manage road use to reduce the risk of erosion and sedimentation from 

road surface disturbance especially during the higher risk periods 

associated with high runoff and spring thaw conditions. 

Process Groups and Channel Types 

The Tongass National Forest defines stream channel types according 

to the Channel Type User Guide (USDA Forest Service 1992), the 

foundation upon which aquatic habitat management prescriptions are 

developed. Channel types are defined within the context of fluvial 

process groups that describe the interrelationship between watershed 

runoff, landform relief, geology, and glacial or tidal influences on 

fluvial erosion and deposition processes. Individual channel type 

classifications are defined by physical attributes such as channel 

gradient, channel width, channel pattern, stream bank incision and 

containment. Table B-1 shows the Forest Plan codes used on the unit 

card narratives. See the Forest Plan, Figure D-1 (page D-4) for a visual 

representation of the typical distribution of channel process groups. 

Each unit card summarizes the protection for a particular unit. Only 

the channel types found in proposed timber harvest units are listed.
8 • Appendix B Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Table B-1. Channel Types in or adjacent to proposed harvest 

units 

Process Group Channel 

Type Code Channel Type Description 

HC2 Shallowly to Moderately 

Incised Footslope Channel 

HC3 Deeply Incised Upper Valley 

Channel 

HC5 Shallowly Incised Very High 

Gradient Channel 

High Gradient 

Contained 

HC6 Deeply Incised Mountain 

Slope Channel 

Moderate Gradient 

Contained MC2 

Moderate Width and Incision 

Contained Channel 

MM1 Narrow Mixed Control 

Moderate Gradient Channel 

Mixed Control 

MM2 Moderate Width Mixed 

Control Channel 

Table B-2. Stream Value Classes 

Stream 

Value 

Class 

Criteria 

Class I 

Streams and lakes with anadromous or adfluvial fish or fish habitat; or high 

quality resident fish waters, or habitat above fish migration barriers known to 

be reasonable enhancement opportunities for anadromous fish. 

Class II 

Streams and lakes with resident fish or fish habitat and generally steep (6-25 

percent or higher) gradient (can also include streams with a 0-6 percent 

gradient) where no anadromous fish occur, and otherwise not meeting Class I 

criteria. 

Class III 

Streams are perennial and intermittent streams that have no fish populations or 

fish habitat, but have sufficient flow or sediment and debris transport to 

directly influence downstream water quality or fish habitat capability. For 

streams less than 30 percent gradient, special care is needed to determine if 

resident fish are present. 

Class IV 

Other intermittent, ephemeral, and small perennial channels with insufficient 

flow or sediment transport capabilities to have immediate influence on 

downstream water quality or fish habitat capability. Class IV streams do not 

have the characteristics of Class I, II, or III streams and have a bankfull width 

of at least 0.3 meter (1 foot). 
46090

6441

46092

64026409

6415

46420

46

1

0

1

6425

641

0

6402

6411

6413

64

1

8

6402

46096

6401

6415

6402

6407

6415

503

109b

209

207

211

418

402

404

405

103d1

03c

101

504

112

3023

03

305

3083

07

205

204

208b

208a

208

210

212

111

401

417

412

410

409

403

414

4164

15

6402

6415

6425

6413

6416

6410

46096

46420

6409

6427

6401

6428

644

1

64

1

8

6448

6411

6407

6436

6444

6414

6415

Saginaw Bay

Security Bay

LegendU

nitPool

Non-NationalForest

Lakes/Saltwater

ProjectAreaBoundary

ExistingOpenRoads

StreamValueClassI&II

±

c:/workspace/kuiu_roaded/feis/plots/feis_plots/fb_1unit_pool.mxd 07-09-07 EP

KuiuTimberSale

FigureB-1

UnitPool

109

46021

00.250.511.52

Miles
 

10 • Appendix B Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

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