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Wrangell Island Project DRAFT UNIT CARD INTRODUCTION  1 

DRAFT Wrangell Island Project Unit Cards 

Introduction 

The purpose of the unit cards is to document site-specific resource concerns and mitigation measures 

regarding the timber harvest portion of the proposed project. The road cards are intended to serve as 

an implementation and monitoring tool, as described in the Forest Service Handbook (1909.15-2015-1). 

Each unit card represents a timber harvest unit proposed by the Wrangell Island Project based on the 

desired condition defined by the Forest Plan. The unit cards are presented in numerical order and each 

includes a narrative page and a map page, which are described in more detail below. 

Some adjustments to the prescription, logging system or changes to unit boundaries can be expected 

during implementation to better meet specific on-site resource management and protection 

objectives. Adjustments and changes are documented and analyzed in a change analysis prepared by 

an interdisciplinary team considering individual and cumulative effects to ensure that actual 

implementation remains within the scope of the original NEPA decision. The District Ranger will review 

and make a recommendation to the Responsible Official on whether the changes represent a 

substantial change, significant new circumstances, or new information relevant to environmental 

concerns. The Responsible Official will then determine necessary actions based on the Environmental 

Policy and Procedures Handbook (FSH 1909.15, Chapter 10). 

Narrative Page 

Each unit card narrative page contains information used to describe site-specific timber harvest 

activities, unit configuration by alternative, and resource concerns and mitigation measures. 

UNIT CARD HEADER 

Each unit card has a header block with information used to generally describe the unit’s size, location, 

and volume proposed for harvest. Each header block contains the following information: 

Unit Number: A unique three-digit number assigned to identify the unit. 

Alts: Identifies the alternative(s) in which the unit was proposed in the DEIS. 

Total Unit Acres: An estimate of harvest acres within the unit using aerial photos and GIS information. 

Excludes areas within the overall unit boundary that have been set aside to meet standards and guides 

or for other resource concerns. The numbers have been rounded. 

Prescription: The prescription code for the proposed treatment. “CC” indicates clearcut, “UA33” 

indicates uneven-aged harvest with 33 percent retention; “CCR15” indicates clearcut with 15 percent 

reserves. The Silviculture Resource Report provides further description of these terms. 

Net Harvest Vol (MBF): This is the estimated volume in thousand board feet, available for harvest 

in the unit as determined from field estimates and stand examination plots. 

Harvest System: The method by which the timber is planned to be removed from the unit. 

Land Use Designation (LUD): From the Forest Plan, the LUD reflects the desired condition for which 

each area is being managed. In the case of the Wrangell Island Project, the proposed harvest units are 

located within Modified Landscape (ML), Scenic Viewshed (SV) and Timber Production (TM) LUDs. 
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Wrangell Island Project DRAFT UNIT CARD INTRODUCTION  2 

SILVICULTURAL NARRATIVE 

Existing Condition: This is the developmental stage of the physical and temporal distribution of trees 

and other plants in a forested area. Basal Area (BA) is the cross-sectional area of a tree trunk measured 

in square inches, usually at the DBH. On the unit cards, this measurement is in square feet per acre. 

Culmination of mean annual increment (CMAI) describes the age in the growth cycle of a tree or stand at 

which the mean annual increment for height, diameter, basal area or volume, is at a maximum.

Prescriptions: This provides detailed direction about the methods, techniques, timing, and monitoring of 

vegetative treatments. 

Justification for Even-aged Management

Even-aged systems result in the conversion of mature stands to faster-growing stands of a single age by 

removing most merchantable trees in one entry. 

Where this treatment is recommended, it has been determined that it is optimum for the site. Reserve 

areas between openings must be of sufficient size and composition to be managed as a separate stand, 

which is a minimum of 10 acres. 

The following prescriptions can be used to achieve the desired results. 

Clearcut: Essentially all trees in a harvest unit are removed in a single operation that regenerates into a 

single-aged stand. In the Wrangell Island Project area, clearcutting is prescribed to reduce levels of 

mistletoe infections, decay fungi, ensure regeneration desired tree species, and/or to minimize losses to 

and risk of windthrow. Natural regeneration is expected to fully stock the stand with desirable trees by 

year 5. Regeneration monitoring will be done in the fourth year following harvest to certify the stocking 

level. 

Clearcut with reserves: Even-aged systems of clearcut with reserves results in most of the trees removed 

in a single operation with some trees retained for purposes other than regeneration. Reserve trees are 

scattered or clumped, and are normally retained throughout a rotation to serve a purpose. Depending 

on the individual unit prescription, 15 percent of the original stand acres will be retained. In the 

Wrangell Island Project area, reserve trees would be retained to reduce visual impact of timber harvest 

and/or to further enhance windfirmness of leave areas (i.e. RAWs, high-hazard soils, visual retention 

patches, etc.). Natural regeneration is expected to fully stock the stand with desirable trees by year 5. 

Regeneration monitoring will be done in the fourth year following harvest to certify the stocking level. 

Uneven-aged Systems 

An uneven-aged system is implemented to maintain high forest cover, regeneration of desirable species, 

and development of trees through a range of diameter or age classes. Prescriptions to obtain this 

structure include single- tree selection. 

Single-tree Selection (STS): This harvest method regenerates and maintains a multi-aged stand structure 

by removing single trees or small groups of trees across age classes, either in clumps or somewhat 

uniformly throughout the stand. The objective of single tree selection (STS) is to maintain visual quality 

and provide wildlife habitat, as well as maintaining a multi-storied stand structure, while still achieving 

economic harvest of timber. Harvest trees are selected to meet the above objectives. Healthy, young 

trees in the intermediate crown class would be a priority for retention to promote economic future 

entries. Older trees with low timber value, but high wildlife value would also be a priority for 

retention. Canopy gaps and disturbance created by harvesting a portion of trees in the stand would 

promote new tree regeneration to facilitate future harvest entries, as well as promote the growth of 

understory plants important for wildlife. 
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Wrangell Island Project DRAFT UNIT CARD INTRODUCTION  3 

Stands proposed for this treatment would remove up to 33 percent of the pre-treatment live basal 

area. Uneven-aged management would allow for selective timber harvest in stands where road 

construction is infeasible, where scenery restrictions apply, or where elevational corridors of old-growth 

structure are desired. The objective of this system is to economically harvest a portion of the stand 

while retaining trees that will be economical to harvest in the next entry, while mitigating other 

resource concerns. The silvicultural prescription would maximize the flexibility of helicopter yarding, 

while retaining a higher percentage of trees that have higher value for wildlife, or small diameter trees 

that would be more economically valuable in the future. 

Natural regeneration is expected to fully stock the stand with desirable trees by year 5. Regeneration 

monitoring will be done in the fourth year following harvest to certify the stocking level. 

Logging Systems/Transportation

This section of the unit card identifies the logging system(s) proposed for the unit in each alternative. 

Log yarding practices are based on slope stability, soil disturbance, economics, silviculture prescriptions, 

channel type, and stream class. For further protection, harvest activities near Class I, Class II, and Class III 

streams require that trees be felled away from the stream buffer and if trees are yarded across Class III 

stream courses, they are fully suspended to minimize the exposure of mineral soil. Trees near Class IV 

streams are felled away from the stream whenever feasible and logging debris introduced into Class IV 

streams is removed. Suspension requirements are used to minimize soil erosion, mass movement, and 

formation of new channels. 

The NFS and temporary roads used for access the unit in each alternative are displayed on the unit card 

maps. Proposed and existing system roads are identified by road numbers. For the Selected Alternative 

in the Record of Decision, the miles and planned locations for the temporary roads to facilitate the 

yarding of each unit will be described in the unit card narratives. 

Because they are designed for, and are not to exceed the duration of harvest activities, temporary roads 

are described in the unit cards and maps. These roads are decommissioned after harvest, which involves 

removing any culverts that were installed, as well as other restoration techniques that encourage 

natural regeneration. While not drivable by motorized vehicles, they may be accessible to nonmotorized users. 

Temporary roads which pose minimal risk to adjacent resources may remain open for a short duration 

(up to two years) for subsistence and firewood gathering activities, at which time the temporary road 

will then be decommissioned. 

RESOURCE CONCERNS AND RESPONSES 

Riparian Management Areas 

Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines and BMP 12.6 direct the design of riparian management areas 

(RMAs) associated with each stream in the project area. The standards and guidelines prohibit 

programmed commercial timber harvest in RMAs associated with all Class I, Class II, and Class III 

streams, except for right-of-way clearing for road construction. RMAs vary in width from the edge of the 

stream channel according to process group and stream value class. 

Unit card maps show the location of all streams and the associated RMAs. Unit card narratives also 

prescribe the location and width of reasonable assurance of windfirmess (RAW) buffers for protecting 

RMAs, except where windthrow potential is low (BMP 12.6a). 
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Wrangell Island Project DRAFT UNIT CARD INTRODUCTION  4 

Aquatics & Fish 

Streams requiring RAW buffers are noted under the Aquatics & Fish section of the unit cards. The exact 

marking guide for retention for the RAW buffer will be determine during layout. When establishing the 

RAW buffers, look for evidence of past wind events. If trees with windfirm characteristics are present, 

use a RAW buffer width of one site potential tree height. If windfirm trees are not present or there is 

strong evidence of past stand-replacing wind events, then consider two site potential tree heights as a 

maximum width. High-value trees susceptible to windthrow within the RAW buffer may be marked for 

removal if their removal is not expected to appreciably increase the windthrow risk of the remaining 

trees. For Alluvial Fan (AF), Floodplain (FP), High Gradient Contained (HC), Large Contained (LC), 

Moderate Gradient Contained (MC), Moderate Gradient/Mixed Control (MM), and Palustrian (PA) areas, 

manage an appropriate distance beyond the no-harvest zone to provide for a reasonable assurance of 

windfirmness of the RMA. Site-potential tree heights vary according to the channel type as follows: 

AF – 140 feet 

FP - 130 feet 

HC - 120 feet 

LC - 100 feet 

MC - 100 feet 

MM - 120 feet 

PA - 85 feet or less 

Stream Classes and Protection Classes 

Stream classes are also used to define appropriate RMAs and protection measures. Stream classes are 

defined in Table A. 

Table A. Stream Value Classes

Stream Value Class Criteria

Class I

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

high-quality resident fish waters, or habitat above fish migration 

barriers known to be reasonable enhancement opportunities for 

anadromousfish.

Class II

Streams and lakes with resident fish or fish habitat and generally steep 

(6-25 percent or higher) gradient (can also include streams with a 0-6 

percent gradient) where no anadromous fish occur, and otherwise not 

meeting Class I criteria.

Class III

Streams are perennial and intermittent streams that have no fish 

populations or fish habitat, but have sufficient flow or sediment and 

debris transport to directly influence downstream water quality or fish 

habitat capability. For streams less than 30 percent gradient, special care 

is needed to determine if resident fish are present.

Class IV

Other intermittent, ephemeral, and small perennial channels with 

insufficient flow or sediment transport capabilities to have immediate 

influence on downstream water quality or fish habitat capability. Class 

IV streams do not have the characteristics of Class I, II, or III streams and 

have a bankfull width of at least 0.3 meter (1 foot).
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Wrangell Island Project DRAFT UNIT CARD INTRODUCTION  5 

The following protection measures are required in all units containing streams. 

Category A 

Class I and II streams are marked with blue and white striped flagging, and shall be protected by no-cut 

buffers designated by process group in Forest Plan Riparian Standards and Guidelines, and identified 

RMAs in the Aquatic Habitat Management Handbook (Table 1). No commercial timber shall be removed 

from these buffers. Trees identified for harvest shall be felled to avoid no-cut buffers. Prior to any 

operations within a buffer, a Stream Course Protection Plan shall be developed for that buffer (BMP 

13.16). 

Category B 

Class III streams are marked with orange and white striped flagging. These streams shall be protected by 

no-cut buffers within the v-notch. Class IV streams with unstable side-slopes may also be assigned 

Category B protection without buffers. The following are Category B protections: 

• Split yard and directionally fall trees away from Class III and IV streams without buffers (RIP2-

II). 

• Felled trees that inadvertently enter or cross stream courses shall not be bucked or limbed 

until clear of stream courses, unless limbing or bucking would reduce damage to the riparian 

vegetation or stream banks. 

• Debris in stream courses resulting from falling or yarding shall be removed immediately to a 

stable location above high water mark. 

• Existing natural stable debris shall be left undisturbed.

• When ground skidding systems are employed, logs shall be end-lined out of riparian areas. 

• When yarding across streams or the full length of a stream or drainage, logs shall be fully 

suspended (BMP 13.16, RIP2-II). 

Category C 

Class IV streams and all other intermittent, ephemeral, and small perennial channels and V-notches 

designated for soil and water quality protection are marked with green and white striped flagging and 

shall be protected in the following manner: 

• Where practicable, trees shall be felled and yarded away from stream courses. 

• The trees that cannot be felled away from stream courses shall be felled to bridge the stream 

providing these trees will be yarded during the same operating season. 

• Trees felled to bridge stream courses shall be bucked, limbed, and topped clear of the stream 

course and its banks. 

• Debris which restrict natural water flow, adversely affect water quality or have potential for 

debris flow shall be removed to a stable location above high water mark before the yarder 

leaves the unit or upon completion of seasonal logging activities in the unit, whichever comes 

first (BMP 13.16). 

Categories A, B and C 

All stream categories shall implement BMPs 12.6, 12.6a, 13.9, 13.14, 13.16, and Veg-3. In addition to 

road crossings, for all units with shovel logging, equipment crossing of streams must comply with BMP 

13.9 13.16, and Road-7.
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Wrangell Island Project DRAFT UNIT CARD INTRODUCTION  6 

Protection Measures for Temporary Roads 

Temporary roads may introduce sediment and alter hydraulic conditions, particularly in the area of 

stream crossings. Temporary roads crossing steams must comply with the appropriate stream channel 

protection measures (Category A, B or C). In addition the following BMPs may apply: 

BMP 14.14/AqEco-2. Road-7 (Control of In-channel Operations) – Minimize stream channel disturbances 

and related sediment production. 

BMP 13.16/Veg-3 (Stream Channel Protection – Implementation and Enforcement) – To provide the 

site-specific stream protection prescriptions consistent with objectives identified under BMPs 12.6 and 

12.6a. Objectives may include the following: 

• Maintain the natural flow regime.

• Provide for unobstructed passage of storm flows.

• Maintain integrity of the riparian buffer to filter sediment and other pollutants.

• Restore the natural course of any stream that has been diverted as soon as practicable. 

• Maintain natural channel integrity to protect aquatic habitat and other beneficial uses.

• Prevent adverse changes to the natural stream temperature regime.

BMP 14.24/Road-6 (Road Obliteration) – Reduce sediment generated from temporary or short-term 

roads and return the land to production by obliterating roads at the completion of their intended use. 

Cultural Resources 

No identified heritage resources are located in the vicinity of the timber harvest units and proposed 

roads. If any sites are discovered during implementation, activities in the area will cease immediately, 

and the Forest Service will fulfill its consultation requirements as described in Chapter 3 of the EIS. 

Plants: Sensitive and Rare 

Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines directs that adverse impacts of management activities on sensitive 

and rare plant populations be avoided, minimized, or mitigated. When rare or sensitive plant species are 

identified in or near a harvest unit, a Forest Service botanist will assess the potential impacts on 

sensitive/rare plants and if necessary recommend mitigation measures to protect the population. 

Mitigation measures may include, but are not exclusive to, avoiding known sensitive/rare plant 

populations during project activities, directional falling and yarding of trees away from sensitive/rare 

plants, and partial retention of forest structure (25 to 50 percent of the basal area) in the area around 

sensitive/rare plants in forested habitats. Where it is necessary to protect sensitive/rare plant species or 

communities from a proposed harvest, a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan will be implemented, including 

a review of the implementation and effectiveness of conservation actions, and application of adaptive 

management principles. 

Plants: Invasive Species 

To reduce the spread of invasive plants into new areas, this project will implement specific mitigation 

measures described in the Invasive plant section of the EIS. The only action that is specific to an 

individual unit is construction and management of temporary roads. If temporary roads are constructed 

in a unit, the temporary roads will be surveyed for high-priority invasive plants and a treatment plan will 

be developed and implemented prior to road closure. 

Recreation 

Recreation resource-specific requirements are discussed in unit card narratives as necessary. 
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Wrangell Island Project DRAFT UNIT CARD INTRODUCTION  7 

Scenery 

The following Scenic Integrity Objectives (SIOs) from the Forest Plan provide standards for management 

based on the landscape’s scenic characteristics and public viewing concern. The units have been 

designed to meet the following conditions: 

High: Changes in the landscape are not visually evident to the average forest visitor. 

Moderate: Changes in the landscape may be evident to the casual observer but appear as natural 

occurrences when contrasted with the appearance of the surrounding landscape. 

Low: Changes in the landscape appear very evident but incorporate natural patterns of form, line, color, 

and texture when contrasted with the appearance of the surrounding landscape. 

Very Low: Changes in the landscape appear highly evident and may visually dominate the surrounding 

landscape, yet when viewed in the background distance these activities appear to be a natural 

occurrence. 

Soils and Wetlands 

Harvest units are designed to minimize resource impacts and to meet Forest Plan standards and 

guidelines. Specific practices include avoiding steep unstable terrain, using appropriate yarding systems, 

partial harvest prescriptions, and suspension requirements. 

Factors influencing unit design are areas designated as unsuitable for harvest due to very high landslide 

potential, slopes steeper than 72 percent, and unstable drainages. Some units include areas with slopes 

greater than 72 percent, these were are determined to be suitable for harvest with a minimum of partial 

or full suspension yarding or helicopter yarding with a partial harvest prescription. 

Shovel yarding should follow BMPs 12.5, 13.2 and 13.9 and National Core BMPs Plan-2, Veg-2, and Veg4. Specifically, shovel operators should avoid non-forested areas to prevent rutting. Slopes over 25 

percent gradient may not be suitable for shovel yarding under some soil moisture conditions. Prior to 

shovels operating on land steeper than 35%, an on-site review should be conducted, identifying suitable 

trails; a site rehabilitation plan will be developed to immediately remediate soil impacts. Avoid track 

slippage and rutting. Ruts will not exceed 12 inches. 

Temporary road crossing wetlands are noted in the unit cards. Where wetlands cannot be avoided the 

road foot print will be minimized, and roads will be constructed to meet 33 CFR 323 guidelines and 

State-approved BMPs. 

Wildlife 

Bald eagle nest protection requirements are now found in 50 CFR Part 22.26. Permits allowing “take” in 

accordance with the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act would have to be obtained if disturbance to 

nesting bald eagles would occur. The required distances to avoid disturbance to nesting eagles (March 1 

through August 31) are as follows: 

• Avoid clearcutting or removal of overstory trees within 330 feet (100 meters) of both active 

and alternate nests at any time (same as MOU). 

• Avoid timber harvesting operations, including road construction and chain saw and yarding 

operations, during the nesting season within 660 feet (200 meters) of the nest. 

• Avoid construction of log transfer facilities and in-water log storage areas within 330 feet (100 

meters) of active and alternate nests. 
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Wrangell Island Project DRAFT UNIT CARD INTRODUCTION  8 

• Avoid operating helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft within 1,000 feet (305 meters) of the nest 

during the breeding season, except where eagles have demonstrated tolerance for such 

activity. 

• Avoid blasting and other activities that produce extremely loud noises within 1/2 mile of nests 

(or within 1 mile in open areas). 

All units comply with required Forest Plan Wildlife Standards and Guidelines. Any nests/animals dens 

discovered at any time will be reported to the District Biologist and receive the necessary Standard and 

Guideline applications. 

Goshawks: The Forest Plan requires a 100-acre buffer on known active goshawk nests. One goshawk 

nest was discovered in the project area in 2012, and the appropriate buffer has been applied. 

Sitka black-tailed deer: Uneven-aged harvest will help maintain such as cover and travel corridors. 

Where practical, elevational corridors are planned to facilitate movement of deer across the landscape. 

Best Management Practices 

Each unit card discloses resource-specific requirements concerning Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines 

and best management practices (BMPs) for implementation of a given resource. Some BMPs are 

implemented through the location and design of harvest units and temporary roads; others are 

translated into timber harvest and road contract provisions to ensure implementation. The final design 

criteria for all timber harvest units and associated logging methods will meet the National Core BMPs. 

Table B lists the BMPs that shall be applied as necessary in the project area, as specified in the Forest 

Plan and in the National Core BMP Technical Guide (2012). BMPs 12.6, 12.6a, 13.14, 13.16, and 13.9, 

and National Core BMPs AqEco-2 and 4, Plan-2 and 3, Road-7, and Veg-2 and Veg-3 shall be 

implemented for all stream protection categories noted in the unit cards. Not all BMPs apply to every 

situation; protections are noted for site-specific conditions in the unit and road cards where 

appropriate. 

Table B. Region 10 BMP and National Core BMP Crosswalk 

R10 Soil and 

Water 

Conservation 

Handbook

National Core Best Management Practice

BMP 12.5 Plan 2 and 3, AqEco-2 and 4 

(Wetland Identification, 

Evaluation and Protection)

To identify wetland functions and value, and provide 

appropriate protection measures designed to avoid 

adverse hydrologic impacts.

BMP 12.6 Plan 2 and 3, AqEco-2 and 4, 

Road-7, Veg-3 (Riparian Area 

Designation and Protection)

To identify riparian areas and their associated 

management activities.

BMP 12.6a Plan-3, Veg-3 (Buffer Design 

and Layout)

To design streamside buffers to meet objectives 

defined during the implementation of BMP 12.6.

BMP 12.17 AqEco-4, Veg-2 (Revegetation 

of Disturbed Areas)

To provide ground cover to minimize soil erosion.

BMP 13.2 Veg-1 and 8 (Timber Harvest 

Unit Design)

To incorporate site-specific soil and water resource 

considerations into integrated timber harvest unit 

design criteria.
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Wrangell Island Project DRAFT UNIT CARD INTRODUCTION  9 

R10 Soil and 

Water 

Conservation 

Handbook

National Core Best Management Practice

BMP 13.5 Veg-1, 2, and 5 (Identification 

and Avoidance of Unstable 

Areas)

To avoid triggering mass movements and resultant 

erosion and sedimentation by excluding unstable 

areas from timber harvest.

BMP 13.9 Veg-2, 4, 5, and 7 

(Determining Guidelines for 

Yarding Operations)

To select appropriate yarding systems and 

guidelines for protecting soil and water resources.

BMP 13.14 Veg-2 (Erosion Prevention and 

Control)

To assure that the required erosion control work is 

completed before unit acceptance.

BMP 13.16 Veg-3 (Stream Channel 

Protection – Implementation 

and Enforcement)

To provide the site-specific stream protection 

prescriptions consistent with objectives identified 

under BMPs 12.6 and 12.6a. Objectives may include 

the following:

• Maintain the natural flow regime.

• Provide for unobstructed passage of storm 

flows.

• Maintain integrity of the riparian buffer to filter 

sediment and other pollutants.

• Restore the natural course of any stream that 

has been diverted as soon as practicable.

• Maintain natural channel integrity to protect 

aquatic habitat and other beneficial uses.

• Prevent adverse changes to the natural stream 

temperature regime.

BMP 14.1 Road-1 (Transportation 

Planning)

To assure soil and water resources are considered in 

transportation planning activities.

BMP 14.2 Road-2, 4, and 11 (Location of 

Transportation Facilities)

To assure water resources protection measures are 

considered when locating roads and trails.

BMP 14.3 Road-2 and 3 (Design of 

Transportation Facilities)

To incorporate site-specific soil and water resource 

protection measures into the design of roads and 

trails.

BMP 14.5 Road-3, AqEco-2 (Road and 

Trail Erosion Control Plan)

Develop erosion control plans for road or trail 

projects to minimize or mitigate erosion 

sedimentation and resulting water quality 

degradation prior to the initiation of construction 

and maintenance activities. Ensure compliance 

through effective contract administration and timely 

implementation of erosion control measures.
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Wrangell Island Project DRAFT UNIT CARD INTRODUCTION  10

R10 Soil and 

Water 

Conservation 

Handbook

National Core Best Management Practice

BMP 14.6 AqEco-2, Road-3 (Timing 

Restrictions for Construction 

Activities)

Minimize erosion potential by restricting the 

operating schedule and conducting operations 

during lower risk periods.

BMP 14.7 Road-3 (Measures to Minimize 

Mass Failures)

Minimize the chance and extent of road-related 

mass failures, including landslides and embankment 

slumps.

BMP 14.8 Road-3, 6, and 10 (Measures 

to Minimize Surface Erosion)

Minimize the erosion from cutslopes, fillslopes, and 

the road surface, and consequently reduce the risk 

of sediment production.

BMP 14.9 Road-3, 6, and 10 (Drainage 

Control to Minimize Erosion 

and Sedimentation)

Minimize the erosive effects of concentrated water 

flows from transportation facilities and the resulting 

degradation of water quality through proper design 

and construction of drainage control systems.

BMP 14.10 Road-3 and 7 (Pioneer Road 

Construction)

Minimize sediment production associated with 

pioneer road construction.

BMP 14.11 AqEco-2, Road-3 and 7 (Timely 

Erosion Control Measures for 

Incomplete Projects)

Minimize erosion of and sedimentation from 

disturbed ground on incomplete projects by 

completing erosion control work prior to seasonal or 

extended shutdowns.

BMP 14.12 Road-3 and 7 (Control of 

Excavation and Sidecast 

Material)

Minimize sedimentation from unconsolidated 

excavated and sidecast material caused by road 

construction, reconstruction, or maintenance.

BMP 14.14 AqEco-2, Road-7 (Control of 

In-channel Operations)

Minimize stream channel disturbances and related 

sediment production.

BMP 14.15 AqEco-2, Road-7 (Diversion of 

Flows Around Construction 

Sites)

Identify and implement diversion and de-watering 

requirements at construction sites to protect water 

quality and downstream uses.

BMP 14.17 AqEco-2, Road-7 (Bridge and 

Culvert Design and 

Installation)

Minimize adverse impacts on water quality, stream 

courses, and fisheries resources from the installation 

of bridges, culverts, or other stream crossings.

BMP 14.18 Min-8 (Minerals Site 

Reclamation)

To minimize sediment from borrow pits, gravel 

sources, and quarries, and to limit channel 

disturbance from gravel sources permitted for 

development within floodplains. 

BMP 14.20 Road-6 (Road Maintenance) Maintain all roads in a manner which provides for 

soil and water resources protection by minimizing 

rutting, road prism failures, sidecasting, and 

blockage of drainage facilities.
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Wrangell Island Project DRAFT UNIT CARD INTRODUCTION  11

R10 Soil and 

Water 

Conservation 

Handbook

National Core Best Management Practice

BMP 14.22 Road-6 (Access and Travel 

Management)

Control access and manage road use to reduce the 

risk of erosion and sedimentation from road surface 

disturbance especially during the higher risk periods 

associated with high runoff and spring thaw 

conditions.

BMP 14.24 Road-6 (Road Obliteration) Reduce sediment generated from temporary or 

short-term roads and return the land to production 

by obliterating roads at the completion of their 

intended use. The crosswalk between National Core 

BMPs and Region 10 BMPs and their objectives is 

included in Appendix C of the FEIS.

More on Best Management Practices 

Log yarding practices are based on slope stability, soil disturbance, and stream class. Additional 

measures are taken to protect streams from possible disturbance associated with tree falling and 

yarding according to BMP 13.16. Timber contract provisions guide tree falling and yarding near stream 

courses. Trees near Class IV streams are felled away from the stream whenever feasible and logging 

debris introduced into Class IV streams is removed. Suspension requirements are used to minimize soil 

erosion, mass movement, and formation of new channels (BMP 13.9). 

Temporary roads and associated erosion control, including decommissioning practices, are subject to 

timber sale contract provisions (BMP 13.14, 13.16, 14.7, 14.18). 

Map Page 

Each unit card map page uses legend items to provide a visual reference for narrative descriptions of 

timber harvest activities, unit configurations by alternative, and resource concerns and mitigation 

measures. Descriptions of the legend items used are as follows: 

Proposed Harvest: The displayed unit represents the maximum size for any alternative. Each unit is 

divided into unit settings where a unique logging method or silvicultural prescription is identified. The 

locations of unit boundaries are estimated and some unit settings are geographically separate. 

Previous Harvest: These units are predominantly even-aged young-growth tree stands that were 

initiated following the year of harvest, which is labeled. A few previously harvested units were 

helicopter yarded and mature trees remained for uneven-aged management. These units are included 

for even-aged management in an alternative identified by this project. 

Riparian Management Areas: These are displayed as no-cut buffers surrounding streams and other 

waterbodies. Except for identified stream crossings, all project activities are designed to avoid these 

areas. Locations are estimated using a GIS corporate data based on field-gathered information and 

forest plan direction. 

Non-NFS Land: Wherever this project proposes the use of roads or other facilities that are under State 

of Alaska jurisdiction, legally documented rights-of-way agreements and permits will be procured in 
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Wrangell Island Project DRAFT UNIT CARD INTRODUCTION  12

cooperation with the Mental Health Land Trust Authority and the Department of Natural Resources, 

Division of Forestry, prior to harvest implementation. 

Stream Classes I-IV: These four stream class designations are used by the forest plan to describe stream 

course protections and minimal no-cut buffers. These are primarily based on presence or absence of 

fish, fish type, and stream morphology. 

100-foot Contours: Useful for estimating one hundred foot elevations and can be used in conjunction 

with scale bar to estimate slope (100’contour/100’horitontal distance = 100% slope). 

Nests: One symbol is used to reference the location of bird nesting concerns and mitigation described 

on the narrative page. Birds of concern may include eagle, goshawk, murrelet, hawk, and heron. 

Plants: One symbol is used to reference the location of plant concerns and mitigation described on the 

narrative page. Plants of concern may include rare, threatened, endangered, and invasive species. 

Roads: The existing NFS, newly-constructed NFS, and temporary roads are displayed to show the 

maximum length for any alternative. Each road is divided into segments where design configurations 

vary for at least one alternative. The locations of all newly constructed roads are estimated using a GIS 

corporate data based on field-gathered information and forest plan direction. 
DRAFT

Document Path: T:\FS\NFS\Tongass\Project\WRD\WrangellIslandEIS\GIS\MapProducts\DEIS\UnitCards\UnitCardLegend.mxd Date: 4/25/2016

Wrangell Island Project

Unit Card Map Legend

Proposed Harvest Units

Riparian Mangement Area

Young Growth

Non National Forest

Salt Water

Lakes

# Eagle Nests

!. Goshawk Nests

Y Sensitive Plants

k Rare Plants

Open Roads

Closed Roads

Reconditioned Roads

Proposed NFS Roads

Proposed Temporary Roads

Other Public Roads

! Stream Class I

! ! Stream Class II

! ! ! ! ! ! Stream Class III

! ! ! ! Stream Class IV

100ft Contour

Map Disclaimer

This map is intended to depict physical features as they generally appear on the ground and may not be used to

determine title, ownership, legal boundaries, legal jurisdiction, including jurisdiction over roads or trails, or access

restrictions that may be in place on either public or private land. Obtain permission before entering private lands,

and check with appropriate government offices for restrictions that may apply to public lands. Lands, roads and

trails within the boundaries of the National Forest may be subject to restrictions on motor vehicle use. Obtain a

Motor Vehicle Use Map, or inquire at the local Forest Service Office for motor vehicle access information. Natural

hazards may or may not be depicted on the map, and land users should exercise due caution. This map is not

suitable for navigational use.

Data Disclaimer

The USDA Forest Service makes no warranty, expressed or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and

fitness for a particular purpose, nor assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, reliability,

completeness or utility of these geospatial data, or for the improper or incorrect use of these geospatial data. These

geospatial data and related maps or graphics are not legal documents and are not intended to be used as such. The

data and maps may not be used to determine title, ownership, legal descriptions or boundaries, legal jurisdiction, or

restrictions that may be in place on either public or private land. Natural hazards may or may not be depicted on the

data and maps, and land users should exercise due caution. The data are dynamic and may change over time. The

user is responsible to verify the limitations of the geospatial data and to use the data accordingly.

This legend applies to all of the Wrangell Island Project Unit Card Maps.

Not all legend items will necessarily appear on all maps.

Disclaimer