1

 Draft Decision Notice and

Finding of No Significant Impact

for the

Lang Dam Project

USDA Forest Service 

McKenzie River Ranger District Willamette National Forest

Lane County, OR

The project area is in the Elk – McKenzie River, Cougar Creek – South Fork McKenzie River 

(SFMR), Cougar Reservoir - SFMR, and East Fork - SFMR 6th field watersheds. The legal description 

for the project area is: T16S, R4E Sections 23-26 and 35-36; T16S, R5E Sections 19 and 27-35; and 

T17S, R5E Sections 4-5; Willamette Meridian.

Introduction

The purpose and need for the Lang Dam project is to:

1) Provide a sustainable supply of timber products and; 

2) Actively manage stands to improve stand conditions, diversity, density, and structure; and;

3) Manage Riparian Reserves to control stocking and acquire desired vegetation 

characteristics needed to more quickly attain Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives

Commercial harvest in approximately 630 acres of 40-120 year old stands yielding approximately 11 

million board feet of timber. Including skips and harvest, approximately 26 acres are in stands over 80 

years old and 592 acres are in stands under 80 years old. Harvest treatments proposed include thinning

(331 acres), Thinning in Riparian reserves (120 acres), gap creation (39 acres), dominant tree release

(25 acres), and skips (25 acres). Additionally, these treatments will provide timber products in a 

manner that is consistent with the Willamette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, 

as amended by the Northwest Forest Plan in 1994.

The Environmental Assessment (EA) documents the analysis of two alternatives to meet this need.

Decision and Reasons for the Decision

Based upon my review of all alternatives, I have decided to implement Alternative 2.

Alternative 2 will:

 Commercial harvest in approximately 630 acres of 40-120 year old stands. Including skips and 

harvest, approximately 26 acres are in stands over 80 years old and 592 acres are in stands 

under 80 years old. Harvest treatments proposed include thinning, gap creation, dominant tree 

release, and skips.
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 Provide about 11 MMBF of timber products to the local community.

 Promote stand health and vigor on about 592 acres of densely-stocked, managed stands 

through commercial thinning.

 Retain minor tree species on about 592 acres during thinning of young, managed stands.

 Increase diversity and structural complexity on about 592 acres using variable density thinning 

(skips and gaps).

 Access harvest units with approximately 16.3 miles of road maintenance. These activities may 

include brushing, road blading, ditch and culvert cleanout, and spot rock.

 Implement approximately 11.5 miles of road reconstruction. These activities may include road 

rehabilitation, clearing and grubbing, road and ditch rehabilitation, culvert replacement (4 

culverts), surface rock replacement, fill repairs, and waste removal.

 Decommission of 0.3 miles of road and place 3 miles of road into storage.

 Involve about 2.2 miles of temporary road access. Temporary roads would be obliterated after 

the timber sale is completed. All temporary roads would be re-opening previously used, low 

standard, spur roads. 

 Reduce timber sale activity-generated slash by using a variety of treatments such as: grapple 

piling and burning on flatter ground, roadside grapple piling and burning (57 acres), broadcast 

burning (475 acres), burning landing piles, yarding tops attached, chipping/mastication, 

firewood removal, and/or biomass utilization.

Decision Rational

I have decided to implement Alternative 2 because it fully addresses the purpose and need.

Compared to the no-action alternative, Alternative 2 would help improve stand conditions, diversity, 

density and structure with thinning, gaps, and dominant tree release. Thinning the overstocked stands 

would make more growing space and resources available to the remaining trees, resulting in decreased 

tree stress and development towards larger diameter stands. Stand vigor would also be increased as 

released trees develop into larger trees sooner, accelerating the development of some late successional 

characteristics. Tree species, age, and structural diversity would be maintained or enhanced.

Following thinning, competition for light, water, and nutrients would decrease, resulting in trees with 

enough resources to be resilient to drought and other disturbances. The harvest and burn would create 

openings with more extreme environmental conditions. Surviving organisms would include seeds of 

forbs, rootstocks of sprouting shrubs, and individual trees. Structural complexity would occur with the 

aggregate and individual tree retention, down wood creation, and snags from fire-intolerant species. 

Spatial heterogeneity would be achieved through the different patterns of aggregate and individual tree 

retention.

Alternative 2 would result in the treatment of stands in Riparian Reserves that would accelerate the 

ability of Riparian Reserves to provide adequate stream shade, root strength and bank stability, 

sediment filtration and nutrient cycling, large wood supply to waterbodies and floodplains, organic 

matter input, and habitat for riparian-dependent wildlife.
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While concerns were raised during the 30-day EA comment period, scoping, and field trips, they are 

not considered key issues for the purpose of formulating fully developed alternatives. Additionally, 

project design elements were incorporated to reduce effects to resources (see Design Features for the 

Action Alternative, attached to this Decision Notice).

Another action alternative was not developed because it would be very similar to Alternative 2 and 

would not provide much contrast from the impacts of the proposed action; contrast would be provided 

by the no action alternative.

Alternatives Not Considered in Detail (chapter 2.1 of the EA) address points raised by commenters 

and are also discussed in the Response to Comments section of this Decision Notice (DN). Concerns 

such as temporary road building are mitigated in design. Temporary road construction will be 2.2 

miles, and are to be obliterated once the timber sale is complete. In addition, the temporary roads will 

help provide a sustainable supply of timber and improve existing compaction created by old harvest 

units. See the EA Soils section (chapter 3.2) for further detail. 

Alternative 2 meets concerns raised by the public regarding roads and other input and meets 

environmental standards and guidelines. For a complete discussion see the EA, Chapter 3, 

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative.

Alternative 2 Best Management Practices, Design Features and Monitoring

This decision also includes implementation of Design Features and Best Management Practices as 

required by the Clean Water Act and as disclosed in the EA Design Features table (chapter 2.4) or the 

attachment to this EA Design Features table (which is the same). The monitoring items that will be 

implemented include:

Operations: Contract administrators would monitor treatments during implementation to 

ensure contractors are in compliance with their contract. Contract elements monitored would

include harvest specifications, bole damage to residual trees, down wood and snag retention, 

skid trail spacing, and use of designated skid trails. 

Fuels Treatments: The McKenzie River District fire and fuels personnel would monitor fuel 

loading during and following the fuels treatments. Fuels treatment results will offer data to use 

in the future.

National Aquatic Best Management Practice Monitoring: The National Best Management 

Practices Program provides a standard set of core best management practices and consistent 

documentation of the use and effectiveness of the practices. Post-implementation best 

management practices monitoring may include review of aquatic management zones, erosion 

prevention and control measures, cable and ground-based yarding operation effects, and site 

treatment.

Forest Plan Implementation Monitoring: The Forest Supervisor’s staff performs annual 

project monitoring at each Ranger District and compiles the results in the yearly Forest 

Monitoring Report and posts this report on the web. Implementation of treatments from this 

project would be subject to Forest Plan Implementation monitoring. Other implementation 

monitoring elements may include temporary road decommissioning, snag and large down 

wood abundance, and any seeding or planting of vegetation.
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Reforestation: Gaps would be sufficiently stocked within five years. Forest Service Manual 

directs us to conduct first and third year stocking surveys to determine if the site can be 

certified.

Stocking Levels: Retention trees would meet specifications for thinning, gap creation, 

regeneration to create complex early seral habitat, fall and leave requirements and no-harvest 

buffers.

Other Alternatives Considered

In addition to the selected alternative, I considered one other alternative. A comparison of these 

alternatives can be found below and in the EA in chapter 2.7.

No Action Alternative 1

Under Alternative 1, no actions would take place other than normal administrative, maintenance, and 

protection work. No additional forest products would be available to local markets. Forest stocking, 

species composition, within-stand structural complexity, and between-stand structural complexity 

would remain basically the same. If no action is taken, plantations would continue to become 

overcrowded resulting in trees with reduced vigor and increased mortality. Information in the table 

below is focused on all activities where different levels of effects or outputs can be distinguished 

quantitatively or qualitatively among alternatives. See the EA Vegetation section for full discussion

addressing Alternative 1 effects and the Vegetation summary in Table 1: Summary Comparison of 

How the Alternatives Address the Purpose and Need.

Table 1 Comparison of Alternatives

Proposed Activity Unit of 

Measure Alternative 1 

Purpose –

Need 

Addressed4

Alternative 2

Purpose –

Need 

Addressed4

Timber Harvest Treatments

Thinning outside Riparian 

Reserves Acres 0 - 331 1, 2

Thinning in Riparian Reserves Acres 0 - 120 2, 3

Gaps Acres 0 - 39 1, 2

Dominant Tree Release Acres 0 - 25 1, 2

Skips outside Riparian Reserves Acres 0 - 25 2

Skips in Riparian Reserves Acres 0 - 90 3

Total Acres 0 - 630 1, 2, 3

Estimated Volume MMBF 0 - 11 1

Connected Actions

Post-Harvest Fuels Treatments1 in Timber Harvest Units

Pile and Burn (mechanical 

and/or hand treatments )2 Acres 0 - 57 2
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Proposed Activity Unit of 

Measure Alternative 1 

Purpose –

Need 

Addressed4

Alternative 2

Purpose –

Need 

Addressed4

Post-Harvest Underburn 3 Acres 0 - 475 2

Harvest System

Helicopter Acres 0 - 0 -

Skyline Acres 0 - 199 -

Ground Acres 0 - 333 -

Transportation

New Road Construction Miles 0 - 0 -

Temporary Road Construction Miles 0 - 2.2 -

Roads Maintained Miles 0 - 11.5 -

Road Decommissioning Miles 0 - 0.3 -

Road Storage Miles 0 - 3 -

Stream Culvert Replacement Miles 0 - 4 -

Post-Harvest Planting

Planting in Gaps Acres 0 - ~17 3

Natural Regeneration in Gaps Acres 0 - ~22 3

Alternatives Not Considered in Detail

EA chapter 1.8 discusses comments that were received from the public suggesting alterations to the 

Proposed Action. The following are components of this discussion and, in part, are addressed in the 

preceding Decision Rational.

American Forest Resource Council – Conduct timber harvest in the McLennon Mountain 

Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA).

The Interdisciplinary Team originally considered harvest treatments in a portion of the McLennon 

Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA). As a result of comments received during public scoping 

period, the team decided to eliminate proposed treatments in the IRA.

American Forest Resource Council – The creation of early seral forests in the purpose and need and 

include an analysis of age-class distribution in the document.

Creation of young early seral forests was considered during development of this project. An analysis 

of age distribution for the project area shows a fairly even distribution of age classes and does not 

reflect an outstanding need for the creation of early seral forests at this time. The assessments on the 

ground did show an immediate need for thinning to increase stand health and vigor and to diversify 

stands that are primarily single-storied and very homogenous. A detailed description of the analysis is 

included in draft EA Section 3.1 – Forest Stand and Structure. There would be 64 acres of gap and 

dominant tree release (DTR) creation scattered throughout the harvest acres to help achieve this 
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purpose and need. The project area would be revisited in the future when the creation of regeneration 

forests may be more appropriate. 

Tribal Consultation

Tribal consultation for the Lang Dam project began in August 2014. The McKenzie River Ranger 

District consulted with the Klamath Tribes, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Confederated 

Tribes of Siletz Indians, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. On August 4, 2014 the Tribes 

received a consultation package that included information about the proposed project location, 

proposed actions, and the purpose and need for the project. Additionally the consultation invited the 

Tribes to provide any comments or concerns regarding the proposed project. One comment was 

received from the Warm Springs tribe expressing support of the project as long as cultural sites are 

protected.

Public Involvement and Scoping

Scoping was conducted as part of the analysis process and was underway in 2014. Notice of the 

project proposal started with the 2013 winter Forest Focus quarterly schedule of proposed actions 

(SOPA) located on the Willamette National Forest website: 

http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/willamette/landmanagement/projects

The McKenzie River Ranger District interdisciplinary team listened to all input and addressed as many 

concerns and comments as possible during development of the Environmental Assessment. The 

scoping process for the Lang Dam project is described on page 16 of the EA. Eight letters with 

comments were received during scoping. Response to comments are addressed in the EA Section 1.8 

and associated documents are available in the analysis file at the McKenzie River Ranger District 

office.

Questions on specific topics are briefly discussed and resolved in the EA in Table 2: Concerns or Nonkey Issues Summary and in the resource effects for the proposed action in Chapter 3. In addition, these 

issues were used to clarify and refine the proposed action, including the project design features, and to 

frame the analysis for this project. Such considerations are meeting requirements for snag creation for 

wildlife, timber hauling opportunities throughout the year with resource protection guidelines, and 

creation of complex early seral habitat for wildlife. The comments that suggested the consideration of 

other alternatives are discussed in the above section and EA chapter 2.1 Alternatives Considered But 

Eliminated.

Response to 30-day Comment Request:

The draft EA was released for a 30-day comment period on December 5th, 2016. Two organizations 

submitted written comments: Doug Heiken for Oregon Wild, and Andy Geissler for the American 

Forest Resource Council (AFRC). We are appreciative of the comments received and have considered 

them while reviewing and revising the draft EA. 

The comments received were general recommendations for Forest Service land management and 

suggestions for modifications in future projects. The following are the main comments received and 

our responses to them. Our response to all public comments can be viewed in the Lang Dam Response 

to Comments document in the project file as well as on the project website.
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Oregon Wild

Oregon Wild commented, “As shown in the scientific information cited above, the presence of large 

(>1,000 acre) unroaded areas represents a relevant environmental factor. Even if these areas are not 

eligible for wilderness, they are nonetheless significant and worthy of NEPA disclosure and analysis.”

These unroaded areas are not Wilderness nor or they Inventoried Roadless Areas. There are no forestwide or management area standards specific to unroaded areas in the Willamette Forest Plan or the 

Northwest Forest Plan. Unroaded areas are managed consistent with forest-wide standards and 

guidelines and by designated Forest Plan management area allocations. Effects to the physical and 

biological resources in the Lang Dam project units are disclosed in the applicable resource sections of 

the EA. 

Oregon Wild also expressed concern regarding management in riparian reserves favoring species 

diversity over dead wood recruitment.

A field visit to the riparian reserves of the Lang Dam units in which thinning is being recommended 

shows that the current condition of these areas has tightly spaced trees, few snags, and a moderate 

amount of large down wood. Given that the riparian reserves of most of the proposed units are 

previously logged plantations, the current condition of the riparian reserves is not in a natural 

condition. Field review by specialists in fisheries, hydrology and wildlife showed a lack of hardwoods, 

which are present in unlogged nearby riparian reserve areas. Thinning these areas now, while 

providing some input of down wood, and allowing hardwoods to better reestablish, will more rapidly 

allow these riparian reserve areas to restore themselves. Additional down wood of a larger size would 

become available to these riparian areas within about 20 years after thinning. No regeneration harvest 

is planned. The "natural range" of down wood is highly variable across a given landscape. Down 

wood mitigation within some of the outermost thinned portions of riparian reserves has been clarified 

in the final EA and is displayed in Table 5 starting on page 25. Specific areas will have 8 TPA felled 

and left, and 2 snags per acre created.

American Forest Resource Council

Comments from AFRC included recommendations to “consider untreated areas when developing 

treatments for the remaining stands. The recognition that portions of project area will remain in a 

dense condition should encourage the implementation of gaps & heavy thinning areas” and “shift [the 

Forest Service’s] methods for protecting resources from that of firm prescriptive restrictions to one 

that focuses on descriptive end-results [in regards to wet weather haul restrictions].” AFRC also 

expressed appreciation that “the Forest Service is proposing the roads that are needed to access and 

treat as much [of] the project area as possible in an economically feasible way.”

We are incorporating some of the suggestions at this time, such as developing more detailed policies 

and procedures for wet weather haul. Other suggestions will be considered as appropriate for future 

projects.

Northwest Ecosystem Survey Team (NEST)

Information from NEST on Red tree vole nests was submitted to the district wildlife biologist during 

the analysis and comment period. All submitted information was carefully reviewed and verified by 

the wildlife biologist. All active nest sites are being protected as required by Survey and Manage 

guidelines.
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Finding of No Significant Impact

The following is a summary of the project analysis to determine significance, as defined by Forest 

Service Handbook 1909.15_05. “Significant” as used in NEPA requires consideration of both context 

and intensity of the expected project effects. 

Context 

This decision is consistent with similar activities implemented by the Willamette National Forest, 

which lead toward achieving the goals, objectives and requirements identified in the Forest Plan for 

the management areas within the project area, while meeting the purpose and need of the EA. These 

requirements are fully described in the Willamette Land and Resource Management Plan, Chapter IV 

and as amended by the Northwest Forest Plan Record of Decision Standards and Guidelines. 

This project is limited in scope and duration. The Lang Dam project proposed treatment unit area is 

630 acres which equates to:

 Almost 9 percent of the 7,195 project area which lies in the Elk – McKenzie River, Cougar Creek 

– South Fork McKenzie River (SFMR), Cougar Reservoir - SFMR, and East Fork - SFMR 6th 

field watersheds

 0.0008 percent of the 832,000 acres of the McKenzie River Watershed

 0.0012 percent of the approximate 556,412 acres of the McKenzie River Ranger District

 0.0004 percent of the 1.7 million acre Willamette National Forest

The project was designed to minimize environmental effects through project design and the design 

features outlined on pages 27 to 35 of the EA and the Design Features Table attachment to this DN. 

I find that the effects of the project are not significant, as disclosed throughout the Environmental 

Consequences sections of the EA (chapter 3), and will have a negligible effect at the watershed, 

District, and Forest scales. 

Intensity

The following factors were considered to evaluate intensity.

1) Impacts may be both beneficial and adverse. A significant effect may exist even if the Federal 

agency believes that on the whole the effects will be beneficial.

The Environmental Assessment provides sufficient information to determine that this project will not 

have a significant impact, adverse or beneficial, on the land and its natural resources. As described in 

the EA under the Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives section, adverse 

effects and the reasons they are not expected to be significant include:

 Threatened and Endangered, and Sensitive Species and other Wildlife - The action alternative 

would remove or degrade a small amount of young managed forest habitat in the Elk –

McKenzie River, Cougar Creek – South Fork McKenzie River (SFMR), Cougar Reservoir -

SFMR, and East Fork - SFMR 6th field watersheds (<9 percent) and adversely affect species 

that use this habitat. Because there are no other reasonably foreseeable actions that would 

remove young managed forest habitat in the sub-watersheds and because old growth forest 

habitat in the watersheds would not be affected, the action alternative is expected to maintain 

the viability of all wildlife species that utilize this habitat. 
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o Because viability is being maintained at the 6th field sub-watershed, the proposed 

alternative would not contribute to a loss of viability at the larger fifth-field watershed 

or Forest-wide scale. The proposed alternative would create a small amount of early 

seral habitat and benefit species such as elk and some migratory birds that prefer this 

habitat. These benefits would occur at the site-scale, but there would not be 

meaningful benefits to the species at the watershed scale due to the small amount of 

habitat affected. The action alternative may affect northern spotted owls and spotted 

owl habitat but it’s not likely that it would adversely affect them or jeopardize the 

continued existence of the spotted owl. There would be no effect to spotted owl 

critical habitat (EA chapter 3.3).

 Botanical Species - The botany Biological Evaluation determination for sensitive vascular 

plants, lichens, and bryophytes is ‘no impact’. For sensitive fungi it is ‘may impact individuals 

or habitat, but will not likely contribute to a trend towards Federal listing or cause a loss of 

viability to the population or species’. Known sites of botanical Sensitive and Survey and 

Manage species are buffered in the action alternative (EA chapter 3.9).

 Aquatic Resources (Hydrology and Fisheries) - The analysis shows that in the project area 

there are insignificant or discountable effects to aquatics resources, which include stream 

temperature, peak flows, stream sediment, and Management Indicator Species (MIS) of fish. 

(EA chapter 3.12).

o Alternative 2 was evaluated for effects on ESA-listed fish species bull trout, Upper 

Willamette spring Chinook salmon and their designated critical habitat. Potential 

project effects on population, habitat, and non-habitat indicators were evaluated in the 

Biological Assessment (BA). Although some project activities may have minor 

adverse effects at the site scale, the effects to the ESA listed fish and their habitat are 

considered to be either insignificant or discountable. The effects determination is 

described as “May Affect, but not Likely to Adversely Affect (NLAA) Upper 

Willamette spring Chinook salmon, bull trout, and their designated critical habitat.

o This project, including thinning in Riparian Reserves, is consistent with the Aquatic 

Conservation Strategy Objectives (see Appendix C).

 Air Quality - Air quality in Class 1 Airsheds, smoke-sensitive receptor areas and local 

communities would be monitored and project-related smoke emissions would be avoided or 

mitigated through the timing of the burns, seasonality, forecasted transport wind direction, and 

weather (EA chapter 3.11).

 Soils - Anticipated direct effects to the soils resource would be within Willamette National 

Forest standards and guidelines. Recommended suspension requirements would control the 

potential for unacceptable displacement. Compaction would be controlled by designated skid 

or forwarder roads (predesignated and preapproved). Transects indicated that the potential 

ground-based units (or major portions of units) were below to well below the Forest standards 

for existing compaction (EA chapter 3.2).

2) The degree to which the proposed action affects public health or safety.

Considering the remoteness of the project in relation to local and regional population centers and the 

measures taken to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act (EA chapter 3.11), the Clean Water Act as 

discussed in Appendix A page 3, and Design Features and Monitoring including the use of Best 
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Management Practices during implementation (EA chapter 2.4), the likelihood of the project affecting 

the public's health and safety is low.

3) Unique characteristics of the geographic area such as proximity to historic or cultural 

resources, park lands, prime farmlands, wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, or ecologically 

critical areas.

The areas proposed for ground-disturbing activities have been surveyed and evaluated for the presence 

of heritage resources. Areas with historic or cultural resources were avoided, buffered, or otherwise 

protected from the disturbing effects of harvest operations and yet-to-be discovered sites uncovered 

during project implementation will result in suspension of operations until appropriately addressed by 

the district archaeologist (Appendix A, page 1 and concurrence letter from SHPO in the project 

record).

There are no parklands, prime farmlands, or wild and scenic river corridors affected by the Lang Dam

project (Appendix A, pages 5-6).

4) The degree to which the effects on the quality of the human environment are likely to be 

highly controversial.

The degree of controversy, with regard to effects on the quality of the human environment, is limited 

and considered not significant based on comments received during the scoping and the comment 

periods (EA pages 15-16 and Response to Public Comments, Decision Notice). Differing opinions do 

not indicate controversy. 

This project is based on the best available scientific information and site-specific data. The 

methodologies used to estimate the effects disclosed in the Environmental Consequences section of the 

Environmental Assessment are widely used in similar environmental analyses and have been reviewed 

by the research and academic communities. I am not aware of any credible, peer-reviewed scientific 

questioning of the methods used in this analysis, nor its results (EA, Environmental Impacts of the 

Proposed Action and Alternatives, chapter 3).

5) The degree to which the possible effects on the human environment are highly uncertain or 

involve unique or unknown risks.

McKenzie River Ranger District has considerable experience with the types of activities to be 

implemented by this project. Similar types of timber harvest activities, fuel treatments, road work and 

other connected or similar actions have occurred on this district, this forest, and other National Forests. 

Samplings of these projects on this district and this forest have been monitored and have been shown 

to meet the amended Willamette Forest Plan standards and guidelines. In addition, the analysis in this 

document shows no impacts to the human environment that are highly uncertain or involve unique or 

unknown risks that have been identified in Environmental Impacts of the analysis (EA chapter 3).

6) The degree to which the action may establish a precedent for future actions with significant 

effects or represents a decision in principle about a future consideration.

The action is not likely to establish a precedent for future actions with significant effects, because the 

proposed timber harvest project and associated activities have been common, well-established land 

management practices on the McKenzie River Ranger District and the Willamette National Forest. The 

effects of this project are within the standards and guidelines analyzed in the amended Willamette 

Forest Plan and are applicable only to the project area.
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7) Whether the action is related to other actions with individually insignificant but cumulatively 

significant impacts.

The environmental consequences analysis sections of this EA evaluates the effects of past, present and 

reasonably foreseeable actions for the various resources affected by this action. Also, I have reviewed 

for significance EA Appendix D, for Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Activities Relevant to 

the Cumulative Effects Analysis, which describes management activities that have occurred, along 

with ongoing and future actions. I have reviewed the impacts of those past, present, and reasonably 

foreseeable actions described in the Environmental Consequences section of the EA and find that this 

action will not have a significant cumulative impact on the environment. See EA sections on: 

Vegetation (Trees) pages 50 and 51; Botany pages 116, 117, 119 and 120; Wildlife pages 61, 65, 67, 

68, 70, 73, 74, 75, 76, 84, 85, 86, 87 and 89; Aquatic Resources (Hydrology and Fisheries) pages 141, 

142, 144, 149 and 155 Fire and Fuels pages 125, 126; Air Quality page 129; Soils page 55; Economics

pages 161; Recreation, Scenery, Wilderness page 103,104, 114 and 121; Transportation pages 97; and 

Climate Change on pages 157 and 158.

8) The degree to which the action may adversely affect districts, sites, highways, structures, or 

objects listed in the National Register of Historic Places or may cause loss or destruction of 

significant cultural or historical resources.

This action will not cause loss or destruction of significant scientific, cultural, or historical resources. 

An appropriate review has been conducted by this undertaking. Through project re-design, all known 

cultural sites in the Area of Potential Effect (APE) were protected by avoidance, resulting in a 

determination of “No Effect”. Documentation was provided to SHPO and copies were retained on file 

in the Forest and District Heritage files. Because cultural resources would not be affected by this 

action there will be no significant adverse effect on districts, sites, highways, structures, or objects 

listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (see Appendix A, page 1).

9) The degree to which the action may adversely affect an endangered or threatened species or 

its habitat that has been determined to be critical under the Endangered Species Act.

The effects of the various Lang Dam project activities on spotted owls were consulted with US Fish 

and Wildlife Service. Endangered Species Act (ESA) formal consultation with the USFWS for the 

Northern Spotted Owl was completed in the fiscal year 2015 Likely to Adversely Affect (LAA) 

Biological Opinion (FWS reference 01EOFW00-2014-F-0221) signed October 4, 2014.

Endangered Species Act (ESA) informal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for Upper Willamette River spring 

Chinook salmon and Columbia River bull trout was initiated in September 2016 and was completed in

April 2017.

10) Whether the action threatens a violation of Federal, State, or local law or requirements 

imposed for the protection of the environment.

Laws imposed for the protection of the environment provided the framework for the 1990 Willamette 

National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. From the documentation provided in the EA, 

the project file, and Other Findings Required by Law (below), I find that the proposed activities do not 

threaten a violation of Federal, State, or local law imposed for the protection of the environment.
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Finding

After considering the environmental effects described in the EA and specialist reports, I have 

determined that Alternative 2 will not have significant effects on the quality of the human environment 

considering the context and intensity of impacts (40 CFR 1508.27). Thus, an Environmental Impact 

Statement will not be prepared. 

Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations

National Forest Management Act (NFMA)

The National Forest Management Act (NFMA), 1976 - NFMA reorganized, expanded, and otherwise 

amended the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, which called for the 

management of renewable resources on national forest lands. The National Forest Management Act 

requires the Secretary of Agriculture to assess forest lands, develop a management program based on 

multiple-use, sustained-yield principles, and implement a resource management plan for each unit of 

the National Forest System. It is the primary statute governing the administration of national forests

and is implemented through direction in each forest plan.

This decision to commercially harvest timber on 630 acres, construct 2.2 miles of temporary road, and 

accomplish the other proposed actions listed under Alternative 2 in the beginning of this document, is 

consistent with the intent of the 1990 Willamette’s Forest Plan long term goals and objectives listed on 

pages IV-2 to IV-44. 

The project was designed in conformance with Matrix lands which were set aside in the Northwest 

Forest Plan (p. C-39) which amends the Willamette’s Forest Plan, to be areas where most timber 

harvest and other silvicultural activities are conducted (USDA, 1994). Standards and guidelines for the 

matrix are designed to provide for important ecological functions such as dispersal of organisms, 

carryover of some species from one stand to the next, and maintenance of ecologically valuable 

structural components such as down logs, snags, and large trees. In the Northwest Forest Plan (p. B-2), 

the matrix allocation would also add ecological diversity by providing early-successional habitat 

(USDA, 1994). The Willamette National Forest Plan (p. IV-5) goals for timber management are to 

“provide a sustained yield of timber for commercial products”, and to “enhance the amount of timber 

provided in the future through increased growth rates and by reducing the loss from fire, insects, and 

disease” (USDA, 1990).

The project was designed in conformance with Riparian Reserves which are “areas where ripariandependent species receive primary emphasis” (USDA, 1994, p. B-12). The reserves are a component 

of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS) which was developed to restore and maintain the longterm ecological health of the watershed and aquatic ecosystems. 

This decision is also consistent with all applicable Acts and Regulations including: National 

Environmental Policy Act; National Forest Management Act; Final Environmental Impact Statement 

and Record of Decision for the Willamette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan; 

1990 (as amended), Endangered Species Act; Clean Air Act; Federal Water Pollution Control Act 

(Clean Water Act); National Historic Preservation Act; Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act; Executive Orders 11988 and 11990: Floodplains and Wetlands; Executive Order 

12898 - Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations; Executive Order 

13112 (Invasive Species); Executive Order 13186: Migratory Birds; Executive Order 13443: 

Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation; Energy Requirement and Conservation 

Potential; Prime Lands; National Fire Plan; General Water Quality Best Management Practices 

Handbook; Oregon State Best Management Practices (BMPs); Oregon Smoke Management Plan; NW
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

13

Forest Plan Temperature TMDL Implementation Strategy-Evaluation of the Northwest Forest Plan 

Aquatic Conservation Strategy; and the Programmatic Agreement among the USDA, Forest Service 

Pacific Northwest (Region 6), The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Oregon State 

Historic Preservation Officer regarding Cultural Resource Management in the State of Oregon by the 

USDA Forest Service (EA, Appendix D).

Administrative Review Opportunities

The Lang Dam Project is subject to pre-decisional administrative review (objection) pursuant to 36 

CFR Part 218, Subpart B. The 45-day objection period begins the day following publication of notice 

of objection in the Eugene-Register Guard, the newspaper of record.

Only individuals or organizations who submitted specific written comments (36 CFR 218.2) during 

the designated opportunity for public participation (scoping or 30-day comment period) may object 

(36 CFR 218.5). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted specific written 

comments regarding the proposed project and attributed to the objector, unless the issue is based on 

new information that arose after the opportunities for comment. 

 a description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including 

specific issues related to the proposed project; 

 if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically 

violates law, regulation, or policy; 

 suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons for the reviewing 

officer to consider; and 

 a statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments on the 

particular proposed project and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an 

issue that arose after the designated opportunities for comment.

Objections can be submitted in several forms, but must be received by the Forest Supervisor, the 

Objection Deciding Officer, within 45 days from the date of publication of notice of objection in the 

Eugene Register-Guard. The publication date in the Eugene Register-Guard is the exclusive means for 

calculating the time to file an objection. Attachments received after the 45 day objection period will 

not be considered. Those wishing to object to this Draft Decision Notice should not rely upon dates or 

timeframe information provided by any other source.

Objections can be:

 submitted electronically only through the Forest Service online comment system available at: 

https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?Project=41223

Electronic objections must be submitted in a format such as an email message or as an 

attachment in Microsoft Word (.doc) plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or portable 

document format (.pdf) only to the email address above. Comments submitted to addresses 

other than the ones listed or in formats other than those listed or containing viruses will be 

rejected. It is the responsibility of the objector to confirm receipt of objections submitted. In 

cases where no identifiable name is attached to an electronic message, a verification of 

identity will be required. A scanned signature is one way to provide verification; 

 Mailed to: Forest Supervisor, Willamette NF, ATTN: Objections, 3106 Pierce Parkway, Suite D, 

Springfield, OR 97477
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

14

 Delivered to: Springfield Interagency Office at 3106 Pierce Parkway, Suite D, Springfield, OR 

between the hours of 8am and 4:30pm M-F excluding federal holidays; or 

 Faxed to: U.S. Forest Service, Springfield Office, ATTN: OBJECTIONS at (541) 225-6222. The 

office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered objections are: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

IMPLEMENTATION DATE

If no objections are filed within the 45-day time period, implementation of the project may occur on, 

but not before, the 5th business day from the close of the objection filing period. If an objection is 

filed, the reviewing officer must issue a written response to the objector(s) within 45 days of the end of 

the objection-filing period. The responsible official may not issue a Final Decision Notice until the 

reviewing officer has responded in writing to all objections (36 CFR 218.12 (a)).

For more information concerning the Lang Dam Project, contact Dean Schlichting at 541-822-7214

during normal business hours. The environmental documents are available on the Willamette 

National Forest web site at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=41223

Approved by:

Suzanne Schindler Date

McKenzie River District Ranger

Willamette National Forest

Attachments:

 Lang Dam Proposed Actions (Alternative 2) Map

 Design Features for Action Alternative

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations 

and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering 

USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender 

identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 

income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights 

activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). 

Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

15

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, 

large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s 

TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 

(800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a 

letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy 

of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
16
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

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Design Features for Action Alternative

The following design criteria is to ensure compliance with Forest Plan standards and guidelines, laws, 

regulations and other policies.

Objective Design Feature Location

Forest and Stand Structure

1 Meet stocking requirements as 

identified in the National Forest 

Management Act (NFMA) 

planting would be used in 

addition to natural regeneration 

to ensure full stocking

Plant at 15’ x 15’ spacing, or about 194 trees per 

acre. The species mix should contain Douglas-fir, 

western white pine, sugar pine, and western red 

cedar. Stratify the mix with Douglas-fir quantities 

higher in the lower elevations and western red 

cedar higher in the moister sites. Sugar pine and 

western red cedar would vary with sugar pine 

more prominent in warmer drier sites.

Units 50 and 60

2 Maintain structural diversity During presale, protect identified trees with raptor 

nests and those with unusual structure such as 

broken tops.

All harvest units

3 Minimize damage during 

harvest.

Protect residual stand and reserve trees to the 

best extent possible from treatment damage.

All harvest units

Fire and Fuels

4 Reduce post-harvest fuels Follow Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines for 

acceptable fuel loading (FW-252). 

Units with slash pile 

creation as well as 

Underburn units

5 Maintain effective ground cover 

and downed wood following 

fuels treatments

Follow Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines for 

prescribed burning (FW-081 and FW-253).

Underburn units

6 Identify management objectives 

from the Forest Plan related to 

fuels, prescription parameters, 

contingency, safety hazards and 

mitigations, and public 

notification prior to and during 

implementation.

Use the nationally approved Interagency 

Prescribed Fire Burn Plan for any activity involving 

prescribed fire.

Units with slash pile 

creation as well as 

Underburn units

7 Maintain forest structure and 

wildlife objectives

Follow burn prescription parameters so overstory 

mortality should be 10 percent or less.

Underburn units

8 Maintain forest structure and 

wildlife objectives

Except machine piles, or when within 200’ of a 

road or private property, up to two unburned slash 

piles per acre should be left for wildlife habitat. 

The average size of piles would be less than 6 

feet tall and between 5 and 7 feet in diameter.

Units with slash pile 

creation

Soils, Watershed and Fisheries
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

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Objective Design Feature Location

9 Reduce compaction and 

undesirable soil damage

Use previously compacted areas whenever 

possible prior to disturbing new areas. Examples 

of previously compacted areas include: existing 

landings, old primary skid roads, legacy haul 

roads, and/or tractor fire lines.

All harvest units

10 Minimize erosion and 

sedimentation

Construction or maintenance of roads would not 

be done when soils are saturated or run-off 

occurs. A stable fill would be constructed across 

all streams when crossed by new temporary roads 

and would be removed following operations.

Approximately 2.2 miles of temporary roads would 

need to be constructed for this project. This would 

also require the construction of three temporary 

stream crossings. These temporary crossings 

would be extensions of the 1900399 road.

Units 70, 80, 90, 100, 

and 110.

11 Minimize erosion and 

sedimentation

Native surfaced roads would be restricted from 

hauling when soils are saturated or run-off occurs.

Entire Project Area

12 Minimize potential impacts to 

fish.

Best Management Practices (BMP’s), including 

placement of sediment barriers, provision of flow 

bypass, and other applicable measures, would be 

included in project design as necessary to control 

off-site movement of sediment.

Entire Project Area

13 Minimize potential impacts to 

fish.

Any project activity, such as culvert replacement,

that must occur in fish-bearing streams would 

comply with Oregon Department of Fish and 

Wildlife (ODFW) seasonal restrictions so that the 

in-stream work would occur July 1st – August 

15th. If a waiver to these dates is required, the 

district fisheries biologist would need to review the 

proposal and seek a waiver from ODFW, NMFS, 

and the USFWS if it is warranted. 

Entire Project Area

14 Prevent sedimentation All haul roads would be maintained in stable 

condition. Wet weather haul would be monitored 

by the Timber Sale Administrator, the District 

Road Manager, Fisheries Biologist, and/or 

Hydrologist. When necessary, haul may be 

suspended during rainfall to prevent off-site 

movement of sediment into drainage courses. 

Haul may also occur when the road surface is 

either covered with a relatively continuous snow 

pack or is frozen. Dust abatement of road surfaces 

would be used if roads become excessively dusty 

during the summer as determined by TSA.

Entire Project Area
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

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Objective Design Feature Location

15 Reduce contamination to aquatic 

areas

If lignin sulfate is used for dust abatement, one 

application would occur during the dry season 

(July/August/September) at a dilution rate of 50

percent lignin sulfate and 50 percent water.

Lignosulfonate would remain on the road surface 

and not go over road edge. During blading, small 

berms could be created or wattles used at stream 

crossings to assist with keeping palliatives on the 

road surface. A 1 foot no-application buffer on the 

edge of gravel would be used if road width allows.

Lignosulfonate would not be applied when raining 

and when possible, a 3 day forecast of clear 

weather would follow application.

Entire Project Area

16 Reduce off-site movement of 

sediment into drainage courses

Ground-based equipment used for yarding, 

processing, fuel treatment, or other project 

activities would operate only when soils are 

relatively dry where water is not pooling. Stop 

work if trenching, or rutting detected. Operations 

would be suspended before rainfall or precipitation 

results in off-site movement of sediment into 

drainage courses.

Snow/frozen soil may be operated on in the 

following conditions:

1. 0 inches of frozen soil−Need at least 18 

inches of settled snow

2. 4 inches of frozen soil−Need at least 9 

inches of settled snow

3. 6 inches of frozen soil−No snow cover 

necessary

Entire Project Area

17 Undesirable soil damage from 

skidding would be avoided 

through skid trail layout and use 

of alternative yarding systems

Ground-based equipment should be limited to 

slopes less than 30 percent. Equipment use may 

be approved on slopes from 30-40 percent on 

short pitches based on site specific conditions.

The upper limit for prebunching is on 45 percent

slopes. All equipment trails need to be prelocated 

and preapproved. Skid trails would be located 

outside drainages, seeps, springs and/or concave 

landforms, which could accumulate and transport 

overland flow and sediment.

Ground-based portions 

of harvest units

18 Reduce compaction directly 

adjacent to stream channels.

Ground based equipment and skid roads should 

not be permitted within 50 feet of all streams (fishbearing to intermittent). These widths are required 

unless a change is approved by the district 

hydrologist or district fish biologist.

Ground based portions 

of harvest units

19 Minimize impacts to stream 

channels.

Full suspension would be required when yarding 

over perennial stream channels. Full suspension 

is preferred over intermittent streams (class 4) 

However, where full suspension is not obtainable, 

partial suspension would be required, and yarding 

would be limited to when the stream is dry. Bump 

logs to protect the stream channel would be 

utilized as appropriate

All harvest units
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

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Objective Design Feature Location

20 Minimize impacts to stream 

channels.

Where cable yarding requires corridors through a 

riparian area, corridors would be laid out to result 

in the least number of trees cut. Trees located in

no-harvest riparian buffers that must be cut to 

facilitate yarding corridors would be felled towards 

the channel (if feasible) and left on site.

Cable yarding portions 

of harvest units

21 Provide adequate drainage and 

avoid unnecessary soil 

disturbance

All skid trails and landings should be water-barred 

to provide adequate drainage. Water bar location 

should occur where local terrain facilitates 

effective drainage of the skid trail or landing while 

avoiding unnecessary soil disturbance. An 

example would be to construct water bars every 

100 feet on slopes less than 15 percent, and every 

50 feet on slopes greater than 15 percent. Water 

bars should be keyed-in to the cut bank and have 

a clear outlet on the downhill side. Where 

available in concentrations, slash can be scattered 

on skyline corridors, skid trails and landings.

All harvest units

22 Reduce compaction Primary skid trails would be sub-soiled to a depth 

of 3-6 inches at the completion of project activities.

Primary skid trails in gaps, as well as all temporary 

roads and landings should be sub-soiled to a 

depth of 18-24 inches or to bedrock.

All ground based units,

All temporary roads

23 Prevent sedimentation All areas of exposed soil, such as landings, skid 

trails, decommissioned roads, and cut and fill 

slopes associated with road construction or 

maintenance would be seeded with native 

grasses, or weed free mulch unless agreed to 

otherwise.

All harvest units

24 Prevent sedimentation Sub-soiling, scarification, and water barring may 

be limited or suspended on feller buncher/ 

processor/ forwarder roads when the skid road is 

sufficiently covered with slash to form an effective 

mat to minimize compaction and erosion.

All harvest units

25 Reduce soil disturbance and the 

risk of erosion in Riparian 

Reserves

Firelines for underburning would not be 

constructed in Riparian Reserves. Fire would only 

be allowed to back into the no fuels treatment

buffers identified in the Riparian Reserve 

treatments tables.

All harvest units

26 Reestablish hydrologic and 

geologic processes

Temporary roads would be made hydrologically 

stable and decommissioned after completion of 

project activities. Decommissioning of temporary 

roads may include all of the following: removal of 

any added rock, blocking the entrance, removal of 

culverts, out-sloping the road surface, pulling back 

displaced material onto the road way, installation 

of water bars, re-vegetation of the road prism, and 

sub-soiling of compacted surfaces.

All harvest units

27 Protect key riparian features and 

integrity

All existing down wood would be retained in

Riparian Reserves to maintain aquatic objectives.

All harvest units
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

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Objective Design Feature Location

28 Ensure sufficient water flow in 

streams

Water sources used by project operations would 

be reconstructed or maintained as necessary to 

protect stream bank stability, riparian vegetation, 

and water quality. Water used for fire treatments 

and dust abatement would be drafted from various 

water sources outside of Listed Fish Habitat. At all 

drafting locations, 90 percent of stream flow would 

be maintained to reduce risk to aquatic species 

and water quality.

Entire project area

29 Protect and enhance riparian 

features

Riparian Reserve treatments and buffers (see 

Table 4)

All harvest

Wildlife

30 Provide downed wood and 

emulate residual material seen 

following wildfire

All existing down logs regardless of decay class 

would be retained on site

All Harvest Units

31 Provide downed wood and 

emulate material seen following 

a natural disturbance

Up to 3 trees per acre of the residual trees may be 

cut to enhance downed wood in decay classes 1 

and 21. Tree diameters would be of the average 

size merchantable trees in the unit. Full tree 

lengths are preferred. TSOs would work with 

purchasers to minimize disturbance of existing 

down wood See Table 7 for unit specific 

recommendations.

All Harvest Units

32 Provide a visual screen along 

heavily travelled roads to reduce 

impacts to elk, deer and other 

wildlife.

Where operable, limit skid trails entering roads 

and skyline corridors to a spacing of no less than 

200 feet along roads. In 50 feet, directionally fall 

away from the road to protect the nonmerchantable trees and brushy hiding cover.

Units adjacent to 

Forest Service roads 

1900399 (Units 100, 

110, 120, 130),

1900408 (Units 20, 30, 

40, 50, 140), 1900410 

(Unit 151), 1900411 

(Units 151, 160, 170)

33 Maintain high quality early seral 

habitat conditions

Minimize planting of created gaps over 0.2 miles 

from a road.

All Thinning Units

34 Enhance snag levels in the 

landscape

Up to 4 trees per acre, of the average size in the 

unit, may be used for snag creation after harvest 

with site specific recommendation by the district 

wildlife biologist. See Table 6 for unit specific 

recommendations.

All Thinning Units

35 Provide snags and emulate 

effects of mortality following fire

and to provide downed wood in 

the landscape

Retain existing snags where possible, except 

those needed to be fallen for safety or operational 

purposes. Those cut during operations should 

remain as down wood. Danger trees felled during 

operations would be left on site for large woody 

material.

All Harvest Units

36 Reduce impacts to bats During layout, look for snags and trees that have 

cavities or sloughing bark that could be used as 

natal or roost sites by bats. If these are found, 

retain them, where possible, by incorporating them 

into skips or leave trees.

All Harvest Units
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

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Objective Design Feature Location

37 Reduce disturbance to nesting 

birds and during popular hunting 

periods

Snag creation activities would have seasonal 

restrictions applied as needed with a separate 

Biological Evaluation completed shortly before 

implementation. Implementation would not occur 

during the Cascade Elk Rifle season.

All harvest units with 

snag and/or large 

down wood placement 

and/ or enhancement

See Error! Reference 

source not found. & 

Error! Reference 

source not found..

38 Reduce disturbance to nesting 

birds

When possible, conduct prescribed burning during 

the fall when conditions allow.

Units with underburn

39 Reduce disturbance during 

nesting season of cavity nesters

Conduct roadside hazard felling outside the critical 

seasonal restriction period for cavity nesters which 

is from April 1-June 30. This may be waived on a 

case-by-case basis if the trees to be felled are of 

small diameters and do not show signs of nesting 

use.

All roadside hazard 

tree maintenance

40 Minimize effects to species of 

concern

If previously undocumented goshawk or other 

raptor nests are found during layout or sale 

administration, project modifications including 

contract modifications to remove acreage would 

be made as needed to protect the nest site and 

reduce harm to birds.

All Harvest Units

41 Maintain Johnson’s Hairstreak 

(butterfly) habitat

Mark for retention any identified western hemlock 

trees which contain dwarf mistletoe

All Harvest Units

42 Protect habitat for the Crater 

Lake Tightcoil

Prevent ground/habitat disturbance within 10 

meters (~30 feet) of perennially wet areas during 

project activities.

All Harvest Units

43 Minimize potential conflict 

between hunters and contractors

A seasonal operating restriction would restrict all 

operations behind closed gates during the 

Cascade Elk Rifle season, which is typically the 

third week of October. All non-emergency vehicle 

traffic would be restricted on gated closed roads 

beginning the Friday before that week through the 

end of the following Friday.

All Harvest Units

44 Protect any discovered 

Threatened, Endangered, or 

Sensitive (TES) species

If TES wildlife species are found in future field 

work or during activities associated with this 

project, and potential for adverse effects exists, 

project modifications would be pursued. All 

contracts would include provisions to provide 

required protection measures in the event of TES 

species discovery.

All Harvest Units

Botany

45 Reduce the introduction/spread 

of weeds

All road construction and logging equipment shall 

be cleaned prior to working in the area.

Entire project area
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

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Objective Design Feature Location

46 Reduce the introduction/spread 

of weeds

Equipment should work in non-infested areas and 

then move to infested areas (USFS would provide 

map). If the purchaser elects to move from an 

infested area to a non-infested area, equipment 

shall be washed prior to leaving the infested area.

All harvest units

47 Reduce the introduction/spread 

of weeds

Clean fill (soil or rock free of slash and debris) 

would be used for construction of temporary 

roads. Sources of rock and fill material needs to 

be free of invasive plants. Rock quarries that may 

be used would be surveyed for invasive plants 

prior to use. If invasive plants are found, they 

would be treated as necessary prior to use.

All harvest units

48 Reduce the introduction/spread 

of weeds

Gaps would be placed to avoid infested areas. 

Botany would work with pre-sale during project 

implementation. 

All harvest units with 

gap creation

49 Reduce the introduction of 

weeds

Use weed -free rock for all road construction and 

maintenance

Entire project area

50 Reduce area for weeds to 

germinate

Minimize soil disturbance (minimize fireline 

construction, reuse old skid roads) to meet project 

objectives.

All harvest units

51 Reduce the introduction of 

weeds

Disturbed areas (culverts, road shoulders, 

closed/obliterated roads, landings, skid trails) 

should be re-vegetated with weed free native seed 

to compete with invasive plants as soon as 

possible. Weed free mulch would be used if 

necessary. Monitor sites and reseed or replant as 

necessary.

Entire project area

52 Reduce the introduction of 

weeds

Roads to be closed or decommissioned would be 

treated for invasive plants prior to closing.

Entire project area

53 Protect known special habitats Buffers identified in the Botany and Invasive 

Plants Section 3.9 would be implemented. Presale 

would work with the district botanist.

20, 30, 60, 70, 80, 90, 

100, 110, 120, 150, 

160, 170, 180

54 Reduce the potential for spread 

of invasive plants.

One or a combination of Integrated Pest 

Management practices (i.e. manual, mechanical, 

chemical, mulch) would be used to treat invasive 

plant species found in the project area. Existing 

infestations should be treated prior to project 

implementation to minimize seed spread. 

All harvest units

Roads

55 Protect against sediment Best Management Practices (BMPs), including 

placement of sediment barriers, provision of flow 

bypass, and other applicable measures, would be 

included as necessary to control off-site 

movement of sediment.

Entire project area

56 Protect against sediment For any perennial stream crossing culvert 

replacement, a specific dewatering plan shall be 

included with the contract design provisions.

Entire project area
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

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Objective Design Feature Location

57 Protect against sediment All road reopening, reconstruction and temporary 

road building would occur when soils are relatively 

dry to avoid potential surface erosion of exposed 

soil.

Entire project area

58 Protect against sediment All temporary roads shall be made hydrologically 

stable if not being used for extended periods of 

wet weather.

Entire project area

59 Protect against sediment Apply rock surfacing to all native surfaced roads 

prior to wet season which is identified as between 

November 1 and May 31. Aggregate depth on 

temporary roads should not exceed 4 inches. 

Temporary spurs that have had rock applied shall 

be subsoiled to a depth of 20 inches upon 

completion of project.

Entire project area

60 Protect against sediment On segments of decommissioned roads in 

between fill removals, either build waterbars to 

divert surface drainage or de-compact the road 

surface to a depth of 18-24” to ensure infiltration of 

surface runoff.

Entire project area

61 Protect road infrastructure All required road maintenance would be 

completed prior to project implementation without 

an agreement signed by the contracting officer.

Entire project area

62 Protect road infrastructure At the completion of harvest and associated 

activities, reopened roads shall be closed (stored)

and new temporary roads shall be 

decommissioned. Closed roads and 

decommissioned roads shall be placed in a 

hydrologically stable condition and closed to 

vehicle travel to reduce potential for surface 

erosion and sedimentation.

Entire project area

Heritage Resources

63 Protect previously unidentified 

heritage resources

Project activities planned outside of the area 

defined in the heritage resource inventory schema 

must be coordinated with the Zone Archaeologist 

prior to initiation.

Entire project area

64 Protect previously unidentified 

heritage resources

If cultural resources are encountered during the 

course of this project, earth-disturbing activities in 

the vicinity of the find must be suspended, in 

accordance with federal regulations, and the Zone 

Archaeologist notified to evaluate the discovery 

and recommend subsequent courses of action.

This action would be included in all project 

contracts.

Entire project area

65 Protect previously unidentified 

heritage resources

Changes to current unit configuration would 

require coordination with the Zone Archeologist to 

protect known or unknown heritage resources.

All harvest units
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

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Objective Design Feature Location

66 Protect previously identified 

heritage resources

All National Register of Historic Places eligible and 

potentially eligible sites must be avoided during all 

project activities. Presale crew(s), road 

engineer(s), and the FMO/AFMO must coordinate 

with the Zone Archaeologist to ensure protection 

of the known cultural sites: 06180100747

See: Zone 

Archaeologist

Scenic Quality

67 Minimize visual impacts Low or flush cut stumps at an angle facing away 

within 100ft. of trails and recreation sites. .Tree 

marking on trees within 100ft. of trails and 

recreation sites would be on the side of trees 

facing away from these recreation assets. Timber 

sale boundary markers would be removed within 

100ft. of trails and recreation sites such as parking 

areas and trail heads after harvest activities have 

concluded.

Units 190, and 220.

Recreation

68 Protect Trail Recreation specialist would identify anchor trees 

that are integral to trail stability and mark these as 

leave trees adjacent to trails.

Units 190, 220 

adjacent to trails 3309, 

3321 and 3506

69 Inform the Public Postings would be provided to recreation 

specialists as soon as possible prior to harvest 

activity.

Units 190, 220 

adjacent to trails 3309, 

3321 and 3506

70 Maintain Public Access Trails that would be affected by harvest activity 

would be open to public use after 5PM (1700hrs) 

on week days and would remain accessible at all 

times on weekends and holidays. During the 

months of August and September trails would 

remain open to public use at all times. No haul is 

allowed on weekends.

All trails affected by 

harvest activity

71 Protect Trail Integrate recreation specialist during layout phase 

to mark leave trees along trail to maximize canopy 

cover over trail and minimize sunlight penetration 

into trail corridor. This would help reduce the 

amount of seasonal vegetation growth and 

associated maintenance to keep trails clear.

Units 190, 220 

adjacent to trails 3309, 

3321 and 3506

72 Protect Trail Gaps upslope of trails would be placed at least 

200 feet away from trails. A Recreation specialist 

would be integrated into design and layout to 

determine best location for gaps downslope of 

trails.

Units 190, 220 

adjacent to trails 3309, 

3321 and 3506

73 Protect Trail One end log suspension would be used to reduce 

impact to trail tread for skidding that takes place 

over trails. Skidding corridors would be at least 

150ft apart.

All trails affected by 

harvest activity

Air Quality
Lang Dam Draft Decision Notice

26

Objective Design Feature Location

74 Monitor and control air quality in 

communities and Class 1 

Airsheds

Follow Oregon Smoke Management Plan and 

Forest Plan Standard and Guides

All harvest units

75 Approve burning of units/piles 

given current fuels and weather

conditions and monitor smoke 

during prescribed burn/pile burn

Survey fuels for estimate of particulate matter and 

obtain approval from ODF Smoke Management 

Forecaster.

All harvest units

Transmission Lines

76 Protect improvements of 

cooperators

Project activities in the vicinity of transmission 

lines and their access facilities would be 

coordinated with the BPA.

Entire project area