138 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

3.8 Timber and Vegetation Resources 

The Project Area is a mosaic of coniferous forests interspersed with 

muskeg, scrubland, and alpine plant communities. The forests are 

primarily western hemlock with a Sitka spruce component and 

scattered Alaska yellow-cedar. Higher percentages of Sitka spruce are 

found along streams and other well-drained sites. The understory 

shrubs are blueberry, huckleberry, and rusty menziesia. Many species 

of vascular plants, lichens, and mosses occur throughout all habitat 

types. Forested muskeg with a high percentage of yellow-cedar occurs 

throughout the Project Area especially in the lower elevations. Alder is 

found on disturbed sites such as roadsides, managed stands and along 

stream banks. Muskegs support shore (lodgepole) pine. 

3.8.1.1 Analysis Area 

This section covers the timber and vegetation resource for the Project 

Area (VCUs 399, 400, 402, 421) and the lands immediately adjacent to 

these VCUs. It tiers to information found in the Tongass Land 

Management Plan Revision for the timber resource. TLMP states that 

for the purposes of determining limitations on the scheduling, locating, 

and calculating the size of additional openings, the adjoining area’s 

vegetation would be adequately stocked with desirable tree species 

five feet in height. If not, the adjoining area must be considered as an 

additional part of the proposed opening. Page references include Forest 

Plan FEIS p. 3-248 through 3-307, Appendix B, Modeling and 

Analysis Process, and Appendix G, Silvicultural System (USDA 

Forest Service 1997). 

3.8.1.2 Methods 

During the 2003 and 2004 field seasons, the Petersburg Ranger 

District’s Integrated Resource Inventory Crew collected data in the 

Project Area. Information collected contributed to the development of 

site specific Silvicultural Diagnosis, Logging Systems, and 

Transportation Analysis by timber stand. This analysis included stream 

and wildlife surveys and the identification of soils that have a high 

potential for mass wasting. This information is located in the planning 

record. 

Table 3-51 and Table 3-52 display the species composition by volume 

for productive forest land in the Project Area and the species 

composition in the proposed harvest units for each action alternative. 

3.8.1 

Introduction 
Timber and Vegetation 3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 139 

Table 3-51. Species composition of forest lands in the Kuiu 

Timber Sale Area 

Species Percent Volume 

Western hemlock 82 

Sitka spruce 16 

Alaska yellow-cedar 2 

Western redcedar 0 

Table 3-52. Timber volume (mbf) and species composition proposed for harvest by 

alternative 

Alternative 

Species 

Alt 1 Alt 21 Alt 3 Alt 4 Alt 5 

Sitka spruce N/A 1,988 

(21%) 

3,189 

(20%) 

6,738 

(20%) 

6,009 

(19%) 

Western 

hemlock N/A 7,470 

(78%) 

12,419 

(78%) 

26,025 

(78%) 

24,873 

(79%) 

Alaska yellowcedar N/A 

158 

(2%) 

251 

(2%) 

537 

(2%) 

473 

(2%) 

Western 

redcedar N/A 0 0 0 0 

Total (mbf) N/A 9,617 15,859 33,330 31,354 

1

Percentages do not add up to 100% due to rounding.

National Forest System (NFS) lands are delineated by vegetative 

cover, soil type, and administratively designated land use. This 

classification scheme is intended to show the amount of land that is 

covered by forest vegetation, with further divisions to show the 

amount of forest vegetation capable of commercial timber production. 

Chart 3-3 shows the NFS land classifications in the Project Area. 

3.8.2.1 Non-Productive Forest Land 

Non-productive forest land comprises about 16 percent of the NFS 

land in the Project Area. Non-productive forest land is forested land 

that does not support enough timber volume to meet the criteria for 

productive forest land. 

3.8.2 

Forest Land 

Classification 
3 Environment and Effects

140 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

3.8.2.2 Forested Land 

These lands comprise about 98 percent of the NFS land in the Project 

Area. Forested land is land with at least 10 percent tree cover. Land 

formerly having had such tree cover and is not developed for nonforest use is also forested land. 

3.8.2.3 Non-Forest Land 

Non-forest land comprises about two percent of the NFS land in the 

Project Area. Non-forested land is land that has never supported forest 

and lands formerly forested but now developed for nonforest uses. 

3.8.2.4 Productive Forest Land 

These lands comprise about 82 percent of the NFS land in the Project 

Area. Productive forest lands have timber volumes of greater than or 

equal to 8,000 board feet/acre or have the potential to achieve and 

maintain that volume. Productive forest land is capable of producing 

20 cu ft/acre/year of industrial wood or has a site index of 40. 

Productive forest land does not necessarily mean that the stand is 

within the timber base of lands that are available for commercial 

timber harvest. 

National Forest System

Land 

45,746 acres 

 Non-forest Land 

818 acres 

 

Productive Forest 

Land 

37,545 acres 

 

Suitable Forest Land

29,362 acres Unsuitable Forest Land 

8,183 acres 

Harvested Acres

8,654 acres Acres Harvested before 

Forest Plan designations

1,739 acres 

Suitable and Available 

For harvest 

 20,708 acres 

Kuiu Timber Sale Project 

Area 

46,102 acres 

National Forest System 

Land 

45,746 acres

Forest Land

44,928 

Non-productive Forest

Land 

7,383 acres 

Chart 3-3. Forest land classification in the Kuiu Timber Sale Area
Timber and Vegetation 3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 141 

3.8.2.5 Unsuitable Forest Lands 

About 22 percent of the productive forest land in the Project Area is 

classified as unsuitable for timber production. Land on slopes greater 

than 72 percent that have unstable soils and areas within riparian, 

beach and estuary buffers are examples of unsuitable forest lands. 

3.8.2.6 Suitable Forest Land 

About 78 percent of the productive forest land in the Project Area is 

classified as suitable for timber production. Within areas of productive 

forest land some land was removed from the suitable timber base 

(unsuitable forest lands) due to Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines. 

What is left is determined suitable for timber production. Appendix A 

of the Forest Plan describes the process that was used to identify 

suitable forest land. 

3.8.3.1 Volume Strata 

The Forest Plan’s volume strata classification system was used for 

estimating timber volumes and vegetation structure in the Project 

Area. The strata system combines the existing timber inventory 

volume classes with additional information on soils and slope to group 

the strata. These volume strata are grouped as follows: 

High Volume Strata are areas within mapped timber inventory 

volume classes 5, 6, and 7 on non-hydric soils, and on hydric soils 

with slopes greater than 55 percent. Medium Volume Strata are areas 

within mapped timber inventory volume classes 5, 6, and 7 on hydric 

soils with slopes less than or equal to 55 percent and areas within 

mapped timber inventory volume class 4 that are either on non-hydric 

soils, or are on hydric soils with slopes greater than 55 percent. Low 

Volume Strata are areas within mapped timber inventory volume 

class 4 on hydric soils with slopes less than or equal to 55 percent. 

Estimated timber volumes for the Kuiu Timber Sale Area are based on 

stand exams performed in 2003 and 2004 (Tables 3-53 and 3-54). 

Actual timber volume would be determined from a timber cruise prior 

to advertisement of the timber sales offered. 

Table 3-53. Volume strata in the Kuiu Timber Sale Area 

Strata Average 

Vol/Acrea

Productive 

Forest Acres

b

Suitable Acres 

Low 17 mbf 650 454 

Medium 27 mbf 5,211 3,790 

High 44 mbf 21,251 16,082 

3.8.3 

Volume 

Classification 
3 Environment and Effects

142 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Table 3-54. Volume strata acres harvested by alternative 

Strataa

Acres 

in 

Project 

Area 

Alt 1 Alt 2 Alt 3 Alt 4 Alt 5 

High 21,251 0 388 620 1,152 929 

Medium 5,211 0 64 133 183 224 

Low 650 0 18 21 30 30 

a

Does not include non-productive forest acres within Project Area or units

Silvicultural systems are used to manage, harvest, and re-establish 

stands of forest trees for the purpose of meeting management 

objectives. Silvicultural systems have been developed to produce more 

valuable commercial timber at a faster rate, maintain wildlife habitat, 

and either maintain or enhance scenery values. No single silvicultural 

system for a forest stand can be used to achieve all of the desired 

conditions, but a variety of treatments applied over the Project Area 

would result in a mosaic of stands for different uses. Three 

silvicultural systems and three harvest methods were considered for 

the Project Area. Often the proposed treatments are designed to 

emulate natural disturbance. The Forest Plan (Appendix G) provides 

detailed information about the silvicultural systems recommended for 

the Tongass National Forest. 

The Kuiu Timber Sale Project Area analysis used a variety of 

silvicultural systems tailored to site-specific objectives. The objectives 

include: 

• Retain stand legacy or old-growth characteristics to maintain 

biodiversity, 

• Provide for positive economic return and reasonable logging 

feasibility, 

• Provide a reasonable assurance of windfirm riparian buffers where 

there is significant windthrow risk, 

• Protect the soil, watershed, wildlife habitat, and scenery 

characteristics of the Project Area, and 

• Produce wood-fiber for human use. 

A complete silvicultural prescription for the entire length of the 

rotation has been written for each stand selected for harvest. These 

prescriptions provide guidance for treatments following the proposed 

timber harvest for this project, including subsequent entries, thinning, 

3.8.4 

Silvicultural 

Systems 
Timber and Vegetation 3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 143 

and pruning. The systems considered for the Kuiu Timber Sale are 

even-aged, two-aged, and uneven-aged systems, and are described 

below. 

3.8.4.1 Even-aged Systems 

All merchantable trees would 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 develop into a predominately singleaged stand. Where this treatment is recommended the created openings 

would not exceed 100 acres. The regeneration system chosen to 

achieve this treatment is clearcutting (the cutting of all the trees in one 

harvest entry, producing a fully exposed microsite for the development 

of a new age class). 

The desired future condition is an even-aged stand of the same species 

composition as the original stand that mimics the results of a large 

naturally-occurring wind event. Except for reserve trees, all trees 

greater than nine inches diameter-at-breast-height (DBH) would be 

harvested in the cable and shovel units. Natural regeneration is 

expected to be abundant. 

3.8.4.2 Two-aged System - Clearcut with Reserves 

This system is designed to maintain and develop a stand with two age 

classes. Objectives of this prescription are to: (1) retain trees for scenic 

values, (2) retain wildlife habitat, and (3) retain structural diversity and 

a biological legacy. 

The desired future condition is a two-aged stand of the same species 

composition as the original stand. Natural regeneration is expected to 

be abundant. These stands would not be reentered until the next 

rotation in approximately 100 years. 

Stands proposed for this system would retain a minimum of 50 percent 

of the pre-treatment basal area. Merchantable trees (trees greater than 

9 inches in diameter) would be harvested in patches or as individual 

trees. Reserves or clumps would be distributed somewhat evenly 

across the harvest unit or stand. 

3.8.4.3 Uneven-aged System - Group Selection 

This system develops and maintains a stand with trees of three or more 

distinct age (size) classes, either intimately mixed or in small groups. 

Objectives of this prescription are to: (1) retain trees for scenic values, 

(2) retain wildlife habitat, and (3) retain structural diversity and a 

biological legacy. 

The desired future condition is a stand with three or more distinct size 

classes resulting in an uneven-aged stand. Natural regeneration is 

expected to be abundant. 
3 Environment and Effects

144 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Stands proposed for this system would retain a minimum of 50 percent 

of the pre-treatment basal area. Merchantable trees (trees greater than 

9 inches in diameter) would be harvested in small groups 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 would regenerate, creating a group of trees with a 

uniform age and height. These openings may be thinned. This would 

create a stand of three or more distinct size classes in small groups, 

resulting in an uneven-aged stand. 

The next entry into these stands would be in approximately 75 years 

when 25 percent of the stands’ basal area would be removed in groups 

or as single trees. 

3.8.4.4 Uneven-aged System - Single Tree Selection 

Stands proposed for this system would retain a minimum of 50 percent 

of the pre-treatment basal area. Objectives of this prescription are to: 

(1) retain structural diversity and a biological legacy, and (2) retain 

scenic values. 

The desired future condition is a stand with three or more distinct size 

classes. Natural regeneration is expected to be abundant. 

Stands that receive this treatment would develop and maintain a multiaged structure through the removal of some trees in various size 

classes distributed across the stand. Trees to be harvested would be 

selected using 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 

would maintain or create a stand of three or more distinct size classes 

distributed throughout the stand, resulting in an uneven-aged stand. 

Removing trees throughout the stand would retain a continuous large 

tree canopy following harvest. The residual stand would have 

structural diversity that would provide wildlife habitat and maintain 

scenic quality. Damage to the residual trees and lower commercial 

stand productivity is an acceptable resource tradeoff to achieve these 

goals. The next entry into these stands would be in approximately 75 

years when 25 percent of the stands’ basal area would be removed in 

patches or as single trees. 

Silvicultural prescriptions for the Kuiu Timber Sale were developed by 

a silviculturist to meet the objectives identified by the interdisciplinary 

planning team. The objectives for the proposed timber harvest units 

include: (1) timber sale economics, (2) future timber production, (3) 

3.8.5 

Silvicultural 

Prescriptions 
Timber and Vegetation 3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 145 

wildlife habitat, (4) soil stability, (5) scenic viewshed, (6) watershed 

stream channel stability, and (7) minimizing logging system damage to 

residual trees. 

Prescriptions for the even-aged and two-aged management systems 

cover the entire rotation to provide guidance for intermediate 

treatments that may follow the harvests, including thinning and 

pruning. Prescriptions for the uneven-aged management system 

include the next entry into the stand in approximately 75 years (see the 

discussion in the previous section). However, the prescriptions are 

subject to change if the management direction changes, such as 

through Forest Plan amendments or a new Forest Plan. Table 3-55 

displays the silvicultural prescriptions and yarding systems proposed 

for the Kuiu Timber Sale Area alternatives. Additional information on 

these project-specific prescriptions may be found in the introduction to 

the unit cards in Appendix B. 

Table 3-55. Acresa of silvicultural prescriptions by alternative 

Silvicultural 

System 

Yarding 

System Alt 2 Alt 3 Alt 4 Alt 5 

Even-aged Management 

Shovel 10 12 119 149 

Clearcut 

Cable 187 397 906 1059 

Total acres even-aged management 197 409 1,025 1,208 

Uneven-aged Management 

Single Tree Helicopter 0 0 148 0 

Selection, 50% 

BA retention Cable 87 72 45 0 

Group Selection, 

50% BA retention Cable 19 19 41 0 

Total acres uneven-aged 

management 106 91 234 0 

Two-aged Management 

Clearcut with Cable 102 263 100 0 

reserves 50% BA 

retention Shovel 73 23 28 0 

Total acres two-aged management 175 286 128 0 

a

Acres are gross acres and include the entire unit size and not actual acres harvested within the units.
3 Environment and Effects

146 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

3.8.6.1 Wind Disturbance 

Wind is the major disturbing influence within the Project Area. Most 

of the south-aspect stands have evidence of periodic windthrow events 

where openings were created in which successive generations of trees, 

shrubs, and forbs were established. The most noticeable windthrow 

that has occurred in the Project Area to date is around the edges of old 

southeast facing clearcut units along road 6413. 

Regarding windthrow in riparian buffers, the 2005 Tongass 

Monitoring and Evaluation Report states that buffers on south facing 

slopes were more prone to increased windthrow. Windthrow in 

riparian buffers on slopes other than those oriented to the south, 

however, was negligible. 

3.8.6.2 Yellow-cedar Decline 

The Project Area has a low incidence of cedar decline in the proposed 

timber harvest units. Yellow-cedar may be salvaged from the stands. 

3.8.6.3 Dwarf Mistletoe 

Dwarf mistletoe reduces the vigor and growth rate of hemlock and 

often produces a low quality of timber (Ruth and Harris 1979). 

Cankerous swellings often occur at the point of infection on limbs and 

main stems. These cankers offer an entrance for wood-destroying 

fungi, which can lead to heart rot. 

The occurrence of dwarf mistletoe is relatively light within the Project 

Area. 

3.8.6.4 Decay Fungi 

Wood decay fungi play an important role in the structure and function 

of coastal old-growth forests where fire and wind disturbance are 

uncommon. In addition to creating canopy gaps and wildlife habitat, 

decay fungi play an important role in nutrient cycling. The importance 

of wood decay fungi in young managed stands is less well understood. 

There is evidence of decay fungi throughout the Project Area. 

Approximately one third of the old-growth timber volume is defective 

in Southeast Alaska old-growth stands (USDA Forest Service 2003a). 

Although decay develops slowly, the longevity of individual trees 

allows ample time for significant amounts of decay to develop. 

The structure of the forest would be affected by timber harvest. The 

effects would vary by the silvicultural prescription and the number of 

acres harvested. Partial harvest would maintain old-growth forest, but 

with fewer trees. The distribution of the trees would vary depending on 

the prescription. Removal of trees in patches would result in small 

openings that would develop into second-growth forest. Removal of 

trees dispersed throughout the stand would result in old trees 

3.8.6 

Forest Health 

and Natural 

Disturbance 

3.8.7 

Direct and 

Indirect 

Effects 
Timber and Vegetation 3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 147 

interspersed with regeneration of young trees. Forest health concerns, 

including the removal of trees with disease, or that face imminent 

mortality, can be used as factors determining which trees to harvest. 

Clearcut harvest would result in the creation of primarily secondgrowth stands with or without older residual trees. 

None of the proposed alternatives are expected to have an adverse 

effect on the quantity or composition of cedar, or any other tree 

species, in the future. If regeneration surveys indicate that natural 

cedar regeneration is inadequate, cedar would be planted to ensure 

adequate stocking is maintained as described in the silvicultural 

prescription. Since both western redcedar and Alaska yellow-cedar are 

shade intolerant, overstory removal of hemlock could release cedar if 

advanced regeneration is present. Thinning of second-growth stands 

typically benefits cedar. 

The proposed closure of NFS roads after the proposed harvest has the 

potential to increase the cost of future entries in the stands managed 

under uneven-aged silvicultural systems and could increase the cost or 

preclude intermediate treatments. 

3.8.7.1 Alternative 1 

Vegetation and forest health would not be affected by management 

activities. Tree growth and mortality would continue to progress 

naturally. 

These stands would not contribute volume to the forest-wide sustained 

yield at this time as specified in the desired condition but may be 

available at a later date. Other forest lands with land use designations 

that allow timber harvest would need to meet the objective of 

providing timber for public consumption to meet market demand. 

Stand growth and productivity would not be improved as 

recommended in the objectives for the LUD. 

3.8.7.2 Alternative 2 

In this alternative 197 acres would be converted to even-aged 

management. Forest health and commercial productivity would be 

improved by removing dwarf mistletoe infected trees and trees 

infected by disease, and by creating younger, faster-growing forests. 

Approximately 106 acres would be managed in an uneven-aged 

system by removing a maximum of 50 percent of the basal area in 

groups 1⁄4-acre to one acre in size on 19 acres and by removing a 

maximum of 50 percent of the basal area in individual trees dispersed 

throughout the stands on 87 acres. These stands would be harvested a 

second time in approximately 75 years. This second harvest would 

remove approximately 25 percent of the basal area. These stands 

would retain some of the old-growth characteristics of the forest (older 
3 Environment and Effects

148 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

trees, wider variation in tree sizes and spacing, decadent trees, multiple 

canopy layers), but would also result in a forest with a lower net 

commercial volume. 

An additional 174 acres would be harvested in a two-aged 

management system by harvesting a maximum of 50 percent of the 

basal area in patches and individual trees. These stands would not be 

re-entered for harvest until the end of the rotation (approximately 100 

years). These stands would retain the structural diversity and 

biological legacy of the forest (older trees, wider variation in tree sizes 

and spacing, decadent trees, multiple canopy layers), but the resulting 

forest would have a lower net commercial volume. 

Of the action alternatives, this alternative would impact the fewest 

acres and harvest the least volume. 

3.8.7.3 Alternative 3 

In this alternative, 409 acres would be converted to even-aged 

management. Forest health and commercial productivity would be 

improved by creating younger, faster-growing forests. 

Approximately 91 acres would be managed in an uneven-aged system 

by removing a maximum of 50 percent of the basal area in groups 1⁄4 to 

1 acre in size on 19 acres, and by removing a maximum of 50 percent 

of the basal area in individual trees dispersed throughout the stand on 

72 acres. These stands would receive a second harvest in 

approximately 75 years, which would remove approximately 25 

percent of the basal area. These stands would retain some of the oldgrowth characteristics of the forests (older trees, wider variation in tree 

sizes and spacing, decadent trees, multiple canopy layers), but would 

result in a forest with a lower net commercial volume. 

An additional 286 acres would be harvested in a two-aged 

management system by harvesting a maximum of 50 percent of the 

basal area in patches and individual trees. These stands would not be 

entered for harvest again until the end of the rotation (approximately 

100 years). These stands would retain structural diversity and 

biological legacy (older trees, wider variation in tree sizes and spacing, 

decadent trees, multiple canopy layers), but the resulting forest would 

have a lower net commercial volume. 

This alternative would impact the second lowest number of acres 

among the action alternatives and would harvest the second lowest 

volume of the proposed action alternatives. 

3.8.7.4 Alternative 4 

In this alternative, 1,025 acres would be converted to even-aged 

management. Forest health and commercial productivity would be 
Timber and Vegetation 3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 149 

improved by removing dwarf mistletoe infected trees and trees 

infected by disease, thereby creating younger, faster-growing forests. 

Approximately 234 acres would be managed in an uneven-aged 

system by removing a maximum of 50 percent of the basal area in 

groups 1⁄4-acre to one acre in size on 41 acres and by removing a 

maximum of 50 percent of the basal area in individual trees dispersed 

throughout the stand on 193 acres. These stands would receive a 

second harvest in approximately 75 years. This second harvest would 

remove approximately 25 percent of the basal area. These stands 

would retain some of the old-growth characteristics of the forest (older 

trees, wider variation in tree sizes and spacing, decadent trees, multiple 

canopy layers) but would result in a forest with a lower next 

commercial value. 

An additional 128 acres would be harvested in a two-aged 

management system by harvesting a maximum of 50 percent of the 

basal area in patches and individual trees. These stands would not be 

re-entered for harvest for the rotation of the stand (approximately 100 

years). These stands would retain structural diversity and biological 

legacy (older trees, wider variation in tree sizes and spacing, decadent 

trees, multiple canopy layers), but the resulting forest would have a 

lower net commercial volume. 

This alternative would provide the greatest volume and impact the 

greatest number of acres of the action alternatives. 

3.8.7.5 Alternative 5 

In this alternative 1,208 acres would be converted to an even-aged 

forest. Forest health and productivity would be improved by removing 

dwarf mistletoe infected trees and trees infected by disease, and by 

creating younger, faster-growing forests. 

All the stands proposed for harvest in this alternative would mimic the 

results of a large, naturally-occurring wind event with the stands 

converted to even-aged stands. No structural diversity, biological 

legacy, or old-growth characteristics would remain in the stand other 

than the reserve trees retained to meet site-specific resource objectives. 

Natural regeneration is expected to contribute to the stand being fully 

stocked with seedlings within three years of the regeneration harvest. 

This alternative would impact the second largest number of acres 

among the action alternatives proposed in the Project Area and is the 

most economical. It is the only alternative that proposes even-aged 

management by clearcutting for all proposed harvest units. 

In addition to the Kuiu Timber Sale EIS there is 482 acres of potential 

timber harvest available in the Project Area analyzed in the Crane and 

Rowan Mountain Timber Sales EIS. 

3.8.8 

Cumulative 

Effects 
3 Environment and Effects

150 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Within the Kuiu Timber Sale Area, the catalog of past events 

documents that past harvesting has resulted in the conversion of 

10,393 acres of old-growth forest to second-growth forest. 

Approximately 8,654 acres of these lands are on forested land within 

the suitable timber base (Table 3-56). The remaining 1,739 acres were 

harvested before Forest Plan land use designations were assigned and 

generally fall within what are now recognized as riparian reserves and 

beach fringe areas and are now designated by the Forest Plan as 

unsuitable for timber harvest. Thinning of second-growth or 

conversion to uneven-aged management may occur. All of the 

proposed harvest units with an uneven-aged management prescription 

have subsequent entries planned. 

Table 3-56. Cumulative acres of timber harvest by alternative 

29,362 acres of suitable forest 

land Alt. 1 Alt. 2 Alt. 3 Alt. 4 Alt. 5 

Acres of harvest units 

proposed for this project 0 478 786 1,387 1,208 

% of suitable forest acres 

proposed for this project 0 2 3 5 4 

Acres of previous harvest on 

suitable forest 8,654 acres 

Acres of reasonably 

foreseeable future harvest in 

the Project Area 

482 acres 

% Cumulative harvest of 

suitable forest 31 33 34 36 35