WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST

Monitoring &

Evaluation Report

Fiscal Years

1999 and 2000

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest Service

Winema

National

Forest

Forest Management

September 2001

360 degree matched panoramic photographs displaying the situation before (August 17, 2000, top)

and after (July 6, 2001, bottom) vegetation treatment at the Antelope Pilot Project Unit 4, Plot 2.

Note the additional sky visible in the “after” photo. One purpose of this project was to reduce the

fire hazard to a level that would allow managed fire to be safely reintroduced into the timber stand.
KEY FINDINGS

Ecosystem Restoration. Over the last few years, the Klamath Basin has been the focus of extraordinary ecosystem restoration efforts in

agricultural lands, wetlands, forested uplands, and riparian systems. The endangered species, water quality, and water quantity problems,

with their associated agricultural, tribal, and social and economic impacts in this basin has demanded Congressional attention and attracted

millions of dollars for study and active restoration. The Winema National Forest has been and is now cooperating and partnering with the

Klamath Tribes, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department. of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department.

of Forestry, Environmental Protection Agency, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath County, Oregon Department. of Agriculture,

Natural Resources Conservation Service, local communities, and local watershed councils to restore habitats and improve water quality and

quantity throughout the basin. Data collection, large scale wetland restoration, riparian habitat enhancement, and the addressing of point

and non-point source pollution problems are progressing full speed in and around the Winema National Forest.

The Forest’s efforts to improve ecosystem conditions have expanded well beyond the scope envisioned in the Forest Plan. For example, the

Plan included an estimate of ten acres per year of watershed improvement. In the nine years where figures are available, that average has

been nearly 140 acres per year. The level of restoration activities is further revealed in the categories of habitat improvement, range

improvements, and fuels reduction. In addition to the outputs associated with these categories, and listed on the following page, there are

other activities that were not discussed in the Forest Monitoring Plan. In the last five years, we have restored or enhanced an average of

more than four miles a year of fish bearing streams. In 2000, 85 acres of fish bearing lakes were restored or enhanced. The Forest has also

been removing roads from our transportation system and returning those lands to productive forests. In 1999, 16.6 miles of road were

decommissioned and in 2000, 19.1 miles were decommissioned. Over the last five years, we have decommissioned an average of 43 miles

of road each year. We have also replaced road culverts, improved road crossings at meadows, constructed permeable road fills to allow water

passage and placed gravel on roads to reduce erosion.

The Forest is working with the Hatfield Upper Klamath Basin Working Group as that group moves into a planning process that will lead to

the development of a restoration plan for the Upper Klamath Basin. It is not yet known how, or if, that process will lead to projects on

National Forest lands. The Winema National Forest has been a leader in this basin in water quality data collection. In light of high costs and

limited budgets, the Forest has had to defer detailed analysis of some of this data. Our findings do affirm State findings of high water temperatures in some streams during low flow periods which led the State to label some streams as “water quality limited.” Best Management

Practices are being identified and carried into project development. Efforts are under way to better document whether the best management

practices are being properly applied on the ground and having the desired effects. 

Employee Involvement. The Winema's employees have chaired and served on TMDL (total maximum daily load) committees for water

quality limited rivers and lakes. Their leadership and expertise has been provided on multi-thousand acre wetland restoration projects in

the basin and they have worked closely with local watershed councils. The Winema National Forest has been an active participant in the

Hatfield Upper Klamath Basin Working Group, responsible for many of the significant and effective restoration efforts to date. In addition Forest employees provide direct technical assistance to Community Action Teams in Chemult, Chiloquin, Rocky Point, Sprague River,

Bonanza, Midland and Bly.

Implementation of Standards and Guidelines continues to be a focus of Forest monitoring. During 1999 and 2000, the Forest

Management Team and resource specialists examined several areas of the Forest to see whether projects were being implemented in accordance with Forest Plan standards and guidelines. With very few and minor exceptions, appropriate standards and guidelines are being implemented. Additional effort is focussing on whether implementation is having the anticipated effects. As fire is reintroduced into the ecosystem, concerns about its effective application have risen. Monitoring prescribed burning following timber harvest in three units of the Dorf

Timber Sale revealed that fuel loading was reduced as planned, 80% of all snags and large dead/down woody material were retained, 90%

of the remaining trees were retained and ladder fuels were effectively reduced. It is quite expensive to manage fire to achieve these desirable outcomes because it involves the hand work of putting small fire lines around snags and down woody material as well as carefully igniting the fuels to mimic a natural, low-intensity fire.

Threatened, endangered and sensitive species are doing well where there is sufficient information to make an informed judgement.

Recovery of the bald eagle population has been successful. Research indicates that productivity of eagles in the Klamath Basin is the highest in the state and recovery population goals have been exceeded. Thirty-four active eagle nests were found in 2000. Spotted owl populations are at the anticipated levels in Late Successional Reserves on the Klamath Ranger District with stable population levels of about 95 to

100 birds. Late Successional Reserves on the Chemult and Chiloquin Districts contain inadequate or marginal owl habitat and are not expected to provide for continued spotted owl populations. Lynx hair capture surveys and camera surveys failed to find lynx on the Forest. Camera

surveys did not find wolverine. In general, sensitive plants have not been monitored for a long enough period to establish trends. A number of forest activities in the ongoing and planning stages were analyzed for effects to Lost River and shortnosed suckers. Activities are being

designed for some level of improvement (upward trend) in habitat condition for listed suckers (e.g. reduced sediment yield, improved water

quality or discharges). Biological assessments on on-going activities and recovery projects are being implemented for bull trout.
ACCOMPLISHMENT OF OUTPUTS AND SERVICES

Monitoring Item Plan 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 % Completed

Allowable Sale Quantity

MMCF/Year 19.4 15.8 2.0 21.5 2.0 6.2 8.4 4.9 0.5 6.8 2.9 37% 

Timber Sale

Program Quantity

MMCF/Year 34.7 23.7 8.8 31.8 2.9 6.7 13.1 6.9 2.2 7.9 3.2 31% 

MMBF/Year 166.8 119.2 49.0 158.6 16.3 33.5 68.0 35.3 11.1 41.0 16.5 33% 

Dead Lodgepole Sold

MMCF/Year 11.5 6.1 6.3 9.9 0.9 2.4 5.4 1.9 1.4 0.5 0.7 31% 

MMBF/Year 40.2 30.8 36.5 48.7 4.2 12.6 27.1 9.9 7.5 2.6 3.4 46%

Ponderosa Pine Sold

MMCF/Year 8.8 6.0 1.5 18.1 0.9 2.3 4.9 1.2 0.4 1.0 0.0 41% 

MMBF/Year 53.9 30.2 7.7 91.3 4.4 11.6 26.6 5.7 2.0 5.1 0.2 34% 

Silvicultural Treatments

(Ac/Year)

Commercial Thins 2,700 2,300 0 200 549 2,688 3,337 5,012 119 5,738 3,022 85%

Overstory Removal 1,600 900 200 200 162 0 0 0 0 0 0 9% 

Regeneration Harvest 500 200 100 0 1,285 1,054 3,530 0 0 0 0 123% 

Selection Harvest 8,400 7,400 800 2,500 619 2,851 5,576 228 862 1,708 2,162 29% 

Salvage Cut - Lodgepole 13,700 6,700 6,300 100 0 975 8,290 2,209 1,672 518 305 20% 

Reforestation (Acres/Year) 6,400 7,833 6,590 9,204 10,137 8,951 5,821 4,408 3,626 1,883 1,795 94%

Timber Stand Improve

(Acres/Year) 14,400 6,660 7,265 8,644 8,181 6,032 8,930 2,704 3,734 2,713 2,533 40%

Fuel Treatment 27,600 30,961 23,286 14,236 25,469 9,497 10,233 10,833 6,865 7,779 9,742 54%

Road Construct/Reconstr

(Miles/Year)

Forest Road Program 22 2.0 2.3 2.0 2.7 6.7 0.4 2.2 9.4 11.9 13.2 24% 

Timber Purchaser Roads 31 27.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.8 6.4 0 4.4 0 13% 

Total Road System (Miles) 5,517 6,200 6,200 6,208 6,208 6,208 6,208 6,298 6,136 6,118 6,099 110% 

Road Access Mgmt (Miles)

Open For Use - 4,932 5,030 5,106 4,938 4,938 4,938 5,028 4,866 4,848 4,829 Not Projected

Closed to Use - 1,268 1,170 1,102 1,270 1,270 1,270 1,270 1,270 1,270 1,270 Not Projected

Road Access Type (Miles)

Passenger Car 510 490 490 483 483 483 483 483 483 482 482 95% 

High Clearance Vehicle 2,120 2,376 2,376 2,361 2,360 2,360 2,360 2,425 2,379 2,379 2,379 112%

Intermittent Access 2,887 3,345 3,345 3,365 3,365 3,365 3,365 3,390 3,274 3,257 3,238 112%

Developed Rec Construct

(PAOT) 695 90 140 80 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 45%

Trail Constrc/Reconst (Mi) 124 1.0 15.0 4.1 7.5 0.1 49.5 0 0.25 1.0 0.1 63% 

Permitted Livestock (AUM) 13,000 13,000 13,000 14,418 10,102 6,090 5,361 7,000 7,780 11,232 10,750 76%

Range Improvements No value

Structures - 11 5 6 0 10 8 3 2 0 0 established in

Acres - 2 13 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 the Forest Plan

Habitat Improvement

T&E Species

Structures - 0 45 0 0 25 2 3 3 0 0 No value

Acres - 115 130 25 299 172 175 43 60 75 971 established

Other Species in the

Structures - 2,834 516 255 549 1,533 1,020 1,233 1,041 501 0 Forest Plan

Acres - 320 2,618 979 2,624 3,379 3,870 653 278 1004 1,673

Watershed Improvements

Structures - NA NA NA 2 13 0 9 0 0 0 No set value

Acres 10 72 9 NA 107 292 290 32 180 153 100 1235%
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability,

political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-

9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The Forest's timber program includes vegetation management projects designed to restore sustainable forest conditions and watershed

health in landscapes where risk of catastrophic fire or insect loss is high. These projects combine both non-commercial and commercial

means. Some of them use timber sales and provide commercial products which will help sustain local communities economically, though

this is not their primary purpose. These projects are designed to sustain old growth conditions; protect spotted owl habitat connectivity

between Late Successional Reserves and Crater Lake National Park; rehabilitate meadows, hardwoods, and riparian habitats; reduce the risks

of fire, tussock moth, budworm, and root rots; and allow the reintroduction of fire's function in the system. These projects also include road

closures, obliteration, and relocation. After ten years, less than 40% of planned timber harvest has occurred. Several factors caused this.

They include continuing appeals and litigation over virtually every timber management project that is proposed. The Eastside Screen amendments (Forest Plan Amendments 7 and 8) limited the types of trees that can be harvested, but did not adjust the allowable sale quantity for

the Forest accordingly. The low levels of timber harvest continue to have adverse effects upon mule deer habitats that are losing the critical forage component. This situation continues to depress economic activity in the area and compounds problems with other floundering

sectors. The Winema National Forest is scheduled to begin development of a Forest Plan revision in 2006. The revision process will readdress the relationships between timber management, wildlife habitat, and socio-economics, as recommended over the last several years

by the Forest’s interdisciplinary team. 

Wildlife populations are being affected by habitat changes. As noted above, the lack of timber harvest activity, or fire, blow-down or other

natural disturbances is allowing cover to continue to increase thus continuing the reduction in forage for mule deer and possibly adversely

affecting mule deer populations. The limited amount of direct habitat improvements that have been funded have had a marginal affect, if

any, on deer populations. Elk populations, on the other hand, require different types of habitat and continue to grow with sufficient forage

in wet meadows and on private agricultural lands. With shifts from younger to older forest habitats and less edge condition, wildlife species

are beginning to shift to those favored by the new habitat conditions.

Forest health concerns have shifted from lodgepole pine beetle problems on the north end of the Forest, which has been well controlled, to

mortality on the south end of the Forest. The western pine beetle together with mountain pine beetle caused mortality in large ponderosa

pine trees used by Bald Eagles for nesting and roosting near Upper Klamath Lake. Tree mortality due to fir engraver beetle was high, but

has declined on South Chiloquin and on Klamath District. Stress on fir trees was compounded by the drought of prior years. Ground examinations indicate that some areas had the white fir nearly eliminated from the stand. While mortality has declined with wetter weather, the

dead vegetation remains. The implications for fire hazard and wildlife habitat are considerable. Timber management activities are now

being developed to address these issues.

Outputs of goods and services shows, numerically, what the Forest has produced in comparison to what was planned. The table on page

3 reveals that the Forest has produced well below planned levels in all categories that involve ground disturbing work, except reforestation

and watershed improvements. This highlights the major emphasis on ecosystem restoration. The timber related outputs are low for the reasons discussed above. The recreation related outputs are generally low due to insufficient funding to do the planned work. Permitted livestock use is low due to low demand from potential permittees.

From the social and economic aspect, Forest Service activities have been well below planned levels, thus the associated activity in the local

economy has been much less than originally anticipated. This translates to a unemployment rate still well above the national and state averages and payments to the county that have created significant difficulties in budgeting for roads and schools. The “Secure Rural Schools

and Community self-Determination Act of 2000” has now eliminated the linkage between National Forest receipts and payments to the

states. Thus, National Forest activities no longer directly affect county budgets. In future years the payments will be used, in part, for

ecosystem restoration activities which should provide increased economic activity. Sectors of the economy other than those directly affected by Forest Service programs have displayed mixed performance. The Winema National Forest has facilitated the development of strong

cooperative efforts among Federal, state and local governments and private sector organizations (both non-profit and for-profit) to . A key

component of this is the technical assistance provided to Community Action Teams across Klamath County. The aim has been to build basic

infrastructure, enhance the area’s attractiveness and directly recruit new business. Efforts are generally focusing on tourism, new forest

products (e.g. juniper), agriculture, light industrial and telecommunications oriented businesses.

For more information about forest monitoring see: www.fs.fed.us/r6/winema/management/monitoring.shtml