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ALLEGHENYNATIONAL FOREST

MONITORINGAND EVALUATION REPORT

FOR

FISCAL YEAR 1997

ABSTRACT

This report evaluates the results of monitoring implementation of the Allegheny National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan for Fiscal Year

(FY) 1997. It is the eleventh Monitoring and Evaluation Report since the Forest Plan was approved in 1986.

The objectives of monitoring and evaluating Forest Plan implementation are to determine how well management standards and guidelines have been

applied, and to evaluate the effectiveness of management direction. This report displays monitored items by resource. It also discusses the effects and

effectiveness of Forest Plan management direction by resource.

APPROVAL

I have reviewed and approve the Forest Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Report for FY 97, which was prepared by the Allegheny National Forest

Interdisciplinary Monitoring Team. I amsatisfied that monitoring and evaluation efforts meet the intent of both the Forest Plan (Chapter 5 and Appendix

B) and the National Forest Management Act planning regulations (36 CFR 219).

/s/Donald J. Bright 7/30/98

DONALD J. BRIGHT Date

Acting Forest Supervisor

TABLEOF CONTENTS

PAGE

FOREST PLAN PROGRESS 1

1997 ACTIVITIES, BYMANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE 1

DESIRED FUTURECONDITION 5

EMERGINGISSUES AND PUBLIC CONCERNS 7

FOREST PLAN AMENDMENTS 11

MONITORINGRESULTS, EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 13

IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORINGREVIEWS 13

HERITAGERESOURCES 15

TIMBER 17

FOREST HEALTH 27

WATER QUALITY41

OIL, GAS AND MINERALS 45

HABITAT 49

WILDLIFE 51

FISHERIES 56

WILDERNESS 57

RECREATION 58

ECONOMICS 65
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ROADS 67

LANDS 70

RESEARCHAND ADMINISTRATIVESTUDIES AND ADAPTIVEMANAGEMENT 71

GLOSSARY89

APPENDIX A - FOREST PLAN IMPLEMENTATION SPREADSHEET A-1

APPENDIX B - MONITORINGPLAN FOR FY1998 B-1

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES (cont.)

PAGE

TABLE

1

ACRES OF REFORESTATION ACTIVITIES 3

TABLE

2

ACRES OF HARVESTING ACTIVITIES 3

TABLE

3

REVISED DECADE 2 FOREST PLAN PROJECTIONS 5

TABLE

4

REGENERATION SUCCESS FOR AREAS

HARVESTED 1976 TO 1991 IN MAs 1.0, 3.0, AND 6.1

18

TABLE

5

TRENDS IN REGENERATION SUCCESS 19

TABLE

6

ACRES CERTIFIED AS REGENERATED IN FY 97, BY

FOREST TYPE

19

TABLE

7

ACRES CERTIFIED AS REGENERATED IN FY 97, BY

MANAGEMENT AREA

20

TABLE

8

ACRES CERTIFIED AS REGENERATED IN FY 97, BY

REFORESTATION ACTIVITY

20

TABLE

9

ACRES OF SPRAY AREAS HAVING TREE

SEEDLINGS

21

TABLE

10

ANNUAL TRENDS IN SUCCESSFUL SEEDLING

DEVELOPMENT WHERE AT LEAST TWO YEARS

HAVE ELAPSED SINCE TREATMENT

22

TABLE

11

ACRES OF FINAL HARVEST CUTS SOLD FY 91 - FY

97 IN AREAS TREATED WITH HERBICIDE SINCE

1986

23

TABLE

12

SIZE OF TIMBER SALE FINAL HARVEST UNITS 24

TABLE

13

VOLUME AWARDED TO TIMBER SALE

PURCHASERS

24

TABLE

14

1997 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BY MANAGEMENT

AREA

25
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TABLE

15

PERCENT OF SUGAR MAPLE (ON 30 SAMPLE

PLOTS) WITH MORE THAN TEN PERCENT

DIEBACK

34

TABLE

16

ACRES PLANTED AND TREE SEEDLING SURVIVAL

IN SALVAGE AREAS PLANTED WITH OAK

36

TABLE

17

PERCENT OF 1997 TIMBER HARVEST AREAS

UNDISTURBED/DISTURBED

40

TABLE

18

AVERAGE TURBIDITY (NTU) FROM FOREST ROAD

133

43

TABLE

19

THIRTY-FOUR MONITORED OGM CRITERIA, BY

MANAGEMENT AREA

46

TABLE

20

WELLS DRILLED IN 1997, BY MANAGEMENT AREA 47

TABLE

21

USAGE OF ROCK MATERIALS IN 1997 48

TABLE

22

1997 MINERAL PIT DEVELOPMENT 48

TABLE

23

NUMBER OF MINERAL PITS DEVELOPED 49

TABLE

24

HABITAT ACRES BY AGE CLASS FOR SELECTED

MANAGEMENT AREAS

50

TABLE

25

MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES 52

TABLE

26

WINTER DEER POPULATION PER QUARE MILE OF

FORESTED LAND

52

TABLE

27

ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST DEER PELLET

GROUP TRANSECTS

53

TABLE

28

BLACK BEAR HARVEST SINCE 1986, BY COUNTY 53

TABLE

29

APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF SMALL WHORLED

POGONIA SURVEYS

54

TABLE

30

MANAGEMENT AREA DISTRIBUTION 59

TABLE

31

EXISTING VS. PROPOSED VISUAL QUALITY

OBJECTIVE (VQO)

59

TABLE

32

DEVELOPED AND DISPERSED RECREATION USE

BY RECREATION OPPORTUNITY CLASS

61

TABLE

33

1997 RECREATION USE, BY MANAGEMENT AREA 61

TABLE MILES OF TRAIL CONSTRUCTION (NEW TRAIL 63
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34 MILES)

TABLE

35

MILES OF TRAIL RECONSTRUCTION IN FY 97 63

TABLE

36

1997 COST OF IMPLEMENTATION, PER UNIT 66

TABLE

37

ROAD STATUS, BY MANAGEMENT AREA 68

TABLE

38

ROAD MANAGEMENT BY YEAR 69

TABLE

38

SUMMARY OF NATIONAL FOREST LAND

ADJUSTMENTS

70

FIGURE

1

PEAR THRIPS POPULATIONS ON THE ANF SUGAR

MAPLE MONITORING PLOTS

34

FIGURE

2

CUMULATIVE ANNUAL SUGAR MAPLE

MORTALITY OF DOMINANT AND CODOMINANT

TREES ON THE ANF SUGAR MAPLE MONITORING

PLOTS

35

FIGURE

3

CUMULATIVE ANNUAL SUGAR MAPLE

MORTALITY OF INTERMEDIATE AND SUPPRESSED

TREES ON THE ANF SUGAR MAPLE MONITORING

PLOTS

35

LIST OF PREPARERS

Melissa Conn Forest Accountant

Lois DeMarco Silviculturist/Analyst

Linda Houston Forest Geologist

Don Hoppe Budget Analyst

Rick Kandare Forest Archaeologist

Gary Kell Forest Planner

Lionel Lemery Recreation and Wild and Scenic Rivers Program

Manager

Donna McDonald Planning Assistant

Bill Moriarity Forest Terrestrial Scientist

Brad Nelson Forest Wildlife Biologist

Brent Pence Forest Fisheries Biologist

Dan Salm Transportation Planner

Bob White Forest Silviculturist
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FOREST PLAN PROGRESS

1997 ACTIVITIES, BYMANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE

During the Forest planning process, issues raised by the public were grouped to form the management objectives. Forest Plan direction for the future

was developed to resolve the management objectives. A summary of the actions that were taken in Fiscal Year 97 (October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997)

to address each objective follows.

Providing DevelopedRecreation:

 ̈ Construction continued at Willow Bay during 1997 with the completion of improvements at the boat access and the renovation of the Aspen and Oak

camping loops which included site hardening and electrical hook-ups. Major improvements to Hearts Content Campground were also made which

consisted of replacing old pit toilets with SST's, site hardening and a new main water line to the campground. Renovation of the Rimrock Overlook area

began with the renovation of the existing toilet building. All of these projects improved the accessibility of these recreation areas.

 ̈ Additional projects which resulted in improved accessibility to recreation facilities include:

- adding gravel to paths at the Loleta Day Use area.

- adding gravel on paths to the restroomand hand pumps at Beaver Meadows.

- moving the fee tube and bulletin board at Webb's Ferry to a more accessible location.

 ̈ The Forest Recreation Teamoperated and maintained a developed site capacity of 3,627,450 PAOT-Days ("persons at one time" on the site times the

number of days open) in 1997. Allsites were open for the normal managed season and Tracy Ridge was open for an extended period during deer season

through volunteer efforts.

 ̈ The FY97 recreation concessionaire operations for the ANF were expanded to 30 sites with the award of a special use permit to the Cradle of Forestry in

America Interpretative Association, a new permittee for the ANF. L&L, Inc. continued to operate four sites. CFAIA funded and carried out the

improvement of numerous host sites by installing sewer, water and electrical hookups as part of the concessionaire Special Use Permit on areas which

they operated.

 ̈ Developed recreation use in 1997 remained about the same level as the previous year with 1,430,000 Recreation Visitor Days (RVDs). Poor weather

conditions were a contributing factor again this year.

Providing DispersedRecreation:

 ̈ Trail reconstruction work was completed on 10.8 miles of the Morrison Run Trail. A new footbridge was constructed over a tributary of Chappel Fork on

the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT). This work was in addition to the normal maintenance which occurs each year on the ANF's 644 miles of

trail.

 ̈ A new storage building at the Laurel Mill Trailhead was financed with a grant fromthe Stackpole Foundation and constructed by volunteers.

 ̈ Dispersed campsites along Cherry Run, Westline Ballfield Overflow, MarkhamRun and Tionesta Creek were renovated by hardening sites, revegetating

areas and controlling motor vehicle access to stabilize soils and protect water quality. This should have the effect of improving the recreation experience

in these areas and reducing soilsedimentation.

 ̈ As the ATVtrail condition inventory continues, improvements to the Marienville Bike Trail, including one mile of trail relocation in the Goat Farmarea,

were completed to address identified needs.

 ̈ An assessment and policy review of horse use on the Forest was presented at a public meeting attended by well over 200 people in January. The

meeting resulted in the formation of a volunteer group to help the Forest Service with correcting resource damage caused by horse use.

 ̈ Snowmobile trail improvements were carried out with the completion of the Marienviille Trailhead and completion of improvements to the Kelly Pines

Loop.

 ̈ The Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Allegheny National Wild and Scenic River (W&SR) Management Plan was approved by the Forest

Supervisor and distributed to the public in early 1997.

 ̈ A viewing platformand interpretive display were constructed at the Indian God Rock along the Allegheny W&SR in Venango County. This cooperative

project not only provides an attractive rest stop along a paved rail-trail, it helps protect this important National Register site through education and

interpretation.

 ̈ Dispersed recreation increased by approximately 3 percent to 1,884,000 Recreation Visitor Days due primarily to good hiking weather and a continuing

increase in canoeing, horse use and ATVtrail use.

Timber Management:
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The Forest Plan set the long-termsustained yield and the allowable sale quantity for each decade at 94.5 million board feet (MMBF) per year. The Forest

sold (awarded) 38.7 MMBF of timber in 1997, with a value of $17.0 million. A total of 795.1 MMBF have been sold (awarded) since 1986, a 66.3 MMBF

annual average.

The Forest Plan identified management practices that directly help establish tree seedlings:site preparation for natural regeneration; planting or seeding;

herbicide control of competing understory vegetation; fencing; and aerial fertilization. Table 1 displays the activity amounts estimated in the Forest Plan

for Decades 1 and 2 (beginning in 1986) and the amounts accomplished since 1986.

TABLE 1: ACRES OF REFORESTATION ACTIVITIES

Type of Activity Forest

Plan

20-year

Estimate

1997

Amount

Ave.

Annual

Amount

since

1986

Total

Accomplishments

86-97

% of

Forest

Plan

Estimate

Site Prep 36,000 1,108 1,185 14,225 40

Fertilization 39,000 1,148 956 11,474 29

Fencing 8,000 373 873 10,474 131

Herbicide 38,000 1,638 1,183 14,193 37

Planting/Seeding 4,000 191 119 1,430 36

Since 1986, the following harvesting activities have been completed. They are designed to move the Forest toward the desired future vegetative

condition as specified in the Forest Plan.

TABLE2: ACRES OF HARVESTING ACTIVITIES

Type of

Activity

Forest

Plan

20-year

Estimate

1997

Amount

Ave.

Annual

Amount

since

1986

Total

Accomplishments

86-97

% of

Forest

Plan

Estimate

Final Harvest 67,000 1,296 1,956 23,476 35

Thinning 172,000 1,342 3,768 45,220 26

Selection 6,000 299 517 6,206 103

Shelterwood

Seed/Prep

60,300 1,641 1,314 15,767 26

Wildlife andFish Management

 ̈ Hunting use (167,200 RVDs) decreased (10%) and fishing use (203,200 RVDs) increased 24 percent fromthe previous year.

 ̈ Deer population densities decreased in 1996-97 in Elk, Forest and McKean Counties and increased in Warren County.

 ̈ Black bear harvest levels slightly decreased in 1996. A total of 250 bears were harvested in the four-county area in which the ANF is located. It appears

that this area can sustain a harvest of approximately 250 to 300 bears annually.

 ̈ A total of 38 fishers were released on the ANF in 1997. Four females were radio-collared and tracked to Pennsylvania State University and Frostburg

State University students.

 ̈ Surveys for the Federally-listed endangered small whorled pogonia were conducted on 27,600 acres during 1997. This brings the total survey acreage to

more than 227,261 acres. No small whorled pogonias have been found.

 ̈ Adult walleye and smallmouth bass populations were surveyed in the Allegheny Reservoir in the spring. Walleye numbers are at their highest level

since 1981. The smallmouth bass population continues to increase over levels fromthe previous two years.

 ̈ Yearly monitoring for brook trout on four streams continued in 1997. Brook trout populations rebounded considerably from the low levels in 1996.

Water quality results meet the State's high quality cold-water standards.

 ̈ Structures (porcupine cribs) - A survey of effectiveness of fish habitat improvements in the Allegheny Reservoir indicates that the structures are being

utilized for cover. A higher number of fish were found in areas with these structures than those without structures.
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 ̈ Fine sediment levels were measured for the fifth consecutive year in a streamwithin a timber sale area. Results to date indicate there have not been any

negative effects to the streams.

Soil andWater:

 ̈ Water quality measured on sixstreams indicate they meet State water quality standards. However, one stream had higher than usual readings for four

parameters. Further surveys upstream of the sample location revealed a brine spill. This has been reported to the Pennsylvania Department of

Environmental Protection.

 ̈ The application of limestone to Big Mill Creek was monitored to determine effectiveness. The amount of limestone sand applied was not sufficient to

maintain a pH of 6.0 during runoff events, but did keep it above pH 5.5 and, thus, reduce aluminumtoxicity to fish.

 ̈ A two-year study of road surfacing and runoff water quality characteristics was completed in 1997. The data suggests that sediment concentration and

turbidity were reduced on sections of road surfaced with limestone versus those surfaced with sandstone.

 ̈ A water resource survey was conducted on the Marienville and Rock Gap ATV trails to assess runoff and sediment concerns. The survey identified

several areas for improvement.

 ̈ Transects were run in four timber sale areas to determine soil disturbance fromlogging activity. Timber Sale activity disturbance was 9.2 percent, which

is below the Forest's guidelines of 15 percent. Observed compaction was 1.2 percent.

Private Oil andGas:

 ̈ The new oil and gas projects that were monitored exceeded the handbook standard. Documentation to meet the planning and notification standards of

the Minard Run decision was acceptable. This decision states that at least 60 days in advance of proposed development, the developer will provide the

USDA Forest Service with the following written documentation: proof of ownership; designated Field Representative; a map showing the locations and

dimensions of all facilities; Plan of Operation; Erosion and Sedimentation Plan; and State Drilling Permits. An emphasis on site visit documentation, and

Spill Plan development is necessary.

 ̈ In 1997, 102 wells were drilled on the Allegheny National Forest. This is an increase from68 wells drilled in 1996. No USA-owned wells were plugged by

the Forest Service.

DESIRED FUTURECONDITION

The Forest's definition of Desired Future Condition (DFC) relates to the type, condition, location, and amounts of various facilities, vegetative

conditions, and other aspects of the ecosystem that will be created over the long run (150 years or at "steady state") by implementing specific

Management Area Direction. Projects that are implemented should be integrated with other existing resource opportunities in the area to move us toward

the Desired Future Condition.

The following information attempts to measure the Allegheny's overall progress toward meeting the DFC across all management areas by making the

assumption that there is a relationship between movement toward the DFC and the production of various goods and services estimated in the Forest

Plan.

The Allegheny National Forest is now in the second decade of Forest Plan implementation. The desired future condition at the end of this decade is the

sum of all goods, services, and habitat treatments estimated for both Decades 1 and 2. The amounts given in the Forest Plan for Decade 2 were

predicated on our having accomplished 100 percent of the Decade 1 goals, and we know fromprevious monitoring that this is not the case. Therefore, in

the Table 3, amounts for Decade 2 have been recalculated to reflect Decade 1 accomplishments.

The amounts shown in the "Balance Decade 2 Forest Plan" column would need to be accomplished in the second decade to fully implement the Forest

Plan for Decades 1 and 2. Negative numbers indicate that we have already over-accomplished the Forest Plan estimate for both decades. The information

in Table 3 will be used for various comparisons in this Monitoring Report and in the Forest's 20-year Implementation Spreadsheet (AppendixA).

TABLE3: REVISED DECADE2 FOREST PLAN PROJECTIONS (cont.)

Output/Activity Unit of

Measure

Decade 1

Forest

Plan

Decade 2

Forest

Plan

Sum of

Decades 1

& 2

Forest

Plan

Decade 1

(FY86-95)

Accomplishments

Balance

Decade 2

Forest

Plan

DEVELOPED RECREATION

...Semi-primitive

Motorized

MRVD 370 380 750 583.1 166.9

...Roaded Natural MRVD 4,300 4,710 9,010 4,553.2 4,456.8

...Rural MRVD 4,190 4,320 8,510 4,966.9 3,543.1

DISPERSED RECREATION
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...Semi-primitive/Non-motorized MRVD 300 420 720 335.8 384.2

...Semi-primitive/Motorized MRVD 3,680 3,720 7,400 5,175.7 2,224.3

...Roaded Natural MRVD 4,990 5,250 10,240 8,194.1 2,045.9

WILDERNESS

...Semi-primitive/Non-motorized MRVD 10 16 26 23.0 1.0

TRAIL CONSTRUCTION

...Pedestrian

...Motorized-Winter

...Motorized-Summer

Miles

Miles

Miles

48

11

145

41

11

145

89

22

290

39.3

50.5

70.0

49.7

-28.5

220.0

TIMBER MANAGEMENT

...Hardwood sawtimber MMBF 383 460 843 350.1 492.9

...Hardwood Pulpwood MMBF 562 480 1,042 333.1 708.9

...Hardwood Firewood MMBF 0 0 0 17.1 -17.1

...Total Sell MMBF 945 940 1,885 700.3 1,184.7

...Clearcut Acres 3,300 3,400 6,700 6,925.0 -225

...Shelterwood Seed/prep Acres 29,700 30,600 60,300 12,930.0 47,370

...Shelterwood removal Acres 29,700 30,600 60,300 12,971.0 47,329

...Thinning Acres 94,000 78,000 172,000 40,653.0 131,347

...Selection Cut Acres 6,000 0 6,000 5,573.0 427

...Timber Stand Improvement Acres 8,000 6,000 14,000 855.0 13,145

...Herbicide Acres 20,000 18,000 38,000 11,240.0 26,760

...Fertilization Acres 25,000 14,000 39,000 9,571.0 29,429

...Fencing Acres 4,000 4,000 8,000 9,451.0 -1,451

...Planting Acres 2,000 2,000 4,000 1,096.0 2,904

...Site Prep Acres 18,000 18,000 36,000 11,887.0 24,113

...Release Acres 0 0 0 169.0 -169

ROADS

...Construction

Miles 239 134 373 157.3 215.7

...Reconstruction - Betterment Miles 97 55 152 116.9 35.1

...Reconstruction - Restoration Miles 0 0 0 426.1 -426.1

...Temporary Miles 17 17 34 12.7 21.3

WILDLIFE

...Hunting Use MWUF 1,970 2,200 4,170 2,302.2 1,867.8

...Fishing Use MWUF 1,510 1,720 3,230 1,663.1 1,566.9

...Fish Habitat Impr. Acres N/A N/A 1 149.0 -148

...Wildlife Habitat Impr. Acres 23,720 27,580 51,300 22,273 29,027

...Wildlife Habitat Impr. Structs 60 110 170 2,256.0 -2,086

SOIL/WATER/AIR

...Water/Soil Improvement Acres N/A N/A 0 7,765.5 -7,765.5

The Forest's 20-year Implementation Spreadsheet (Appendix A) compares the total number of goods, services, and habitat treatments estimated in the

Forest Plan for Decades 1 and 2 with the actual accomplishments to date. If the sumof projections for Decades 1 and 2 were spread equally over the 20-

year period, the eleventh year (1996) would show a 55 percent accomplished. The following data on percent actually accomplished indicates resources or

activities that have been over- or under-emphasized at this point in the 20-year planning period. These figures are used as a relative indicator of how

integrated our programhas been and the rate at which we are moving toward the Forest's overall DFC.
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CUMULATIVE FOREST PLAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS

THROUGH FY 97 (PERCENT OF 1986 - 2005 ESTIMATES)

DevelopedRecreation (RVD) Semi-primitive Motorized Use 94.5%

Roaded Natural Use 65.3%

Rural Use 75.1%

DispersedRecreation (RVD) Semi-primitive Non-motorized Use 55.2%

Semi-primitive Motorized Use 91.5%

Roaded Natural Use 100.0%

Wilderness (RVD) Semi-primitive Non-motorized Use 117.3%

Trail Construction Pedestrial Trail (miles) 47.6%

Motorized Winter Trail (miles) 229.5%

Motorized Summer Trail (miles) 24.1%

Timber Management Sell Volume (MBF) 42.1%

(Sawtimber) 47.9%

(Pulpwood) 35.7%

Final Harvest cuts (acres)

(Clearcuts)

(Shelterwood Removals)

35.0%

112.3%

26.5%

Shelterwood Seed/prep (acres) 26.1%

Thinning (acres) 26.3%

Selection Cut (acres) 103.4%

Herbicide Use (acres) 37.4%

Fencing for animal control (acres) 130.9%

Aerial Fertilization (acres) 29.4%

Site Prep (acres) 40.0%

Roads Construction (miles) 44.1%

Reconstruction - betterment (miles) 79.9%

Wildlife/Fish Wildlife Habitat Improvement (acres) 51.6%

Wildlife Habitat Improvement (structures) 1445.3%

EMERGINGISSUES AND PUBLIC CONCERNS
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Most of these issues were previously identified, yet are still relevant. All of these issues may significantly affect the Forest Service's ability to implement

the Allegheny Forest Land Management Plan and could result in future amendments or revisions.

BIOLOGICAL ISSUES

Riparian Area Management: A study of riparian areas continues by vegetation/site inventory of random samples of riparian areas in the ongoing

landtype mapping program. Dr. TomMartin (Pennsylvania State University) and Dr. Charles Williams (Clarion University) continue their partnership with

the Allegheny National Forest to determine the influence of past land use on forest-streamlinkages.

Dr. Williams is also conducting an inventory of exotic plant species found in the Allegheny and River corridors through a partnership agreement. In 1998,

Dr. Williams will inventory Allegheny River Islands, Tionesta Creek and Kinzua Creek corridors for exotic plant species through this partnership. Also in

1998, Dr. Williams will initiate a deer-riparian use study using cameras and monitoring selected browsed plants.

Deer HerdManagement: During the development of the Forest Plan, the overpopulation of deer on the Forest was well recognized by both the Forest

Service and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The Game Commission was increasing antlerless license allocations at a steady rate. Research had

revealed that 87 percent of all clearcuts that had failed to regenerate into a new forest stand could be directly attributed to excessive deer browsing

(Marquis and Brenneman 1981). Game Commission biologists and other researchers had documented the impacts of high deer populations on turkeys

and other wildlife species (Wunz and Hassinger personal communications, Dorio and Marquis 1986, Harrison 1984).

Deer density goals have been set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, but antlerless licenses have not been allocated to move the population toward

the goal. Consequently, the sustainability of many forest resources is at an increased risk.

This led to an agreement between the Game Commission and the Forest Service. The Commission agreed to continue to bring the deer herd population

down, striving to reach a goal of about 19 deer per square mile, Forest-wide. The Forest Service agreed to provide more early succession vegetation,

mainly through timber harvest. By increasing the food supply through the creation of early successional vegetation, and by reducing the population

through increased antlerless allocations, a balance should be reached where deer are in equilibriumwith their habitat.

The intent of managing habitat on the National Forest is to provide habitat to maintain viable populations of all species. This requires managing for a

variety of habitats, managing for unique habitats and managing for specific features that may be needed by a species. Habitat for forest interior species

as well as forest edge species must be provided in a balance that maintains ecological integrity. We believe that the Forest Plan provides sound guidance

for managing all native wildlife species on the Forest, including deer.

EndangeredSpecies: During FY97, new scientific information indicated that the Federally-endangered Indiana bat often utilizes snags and den trees for

roosting in uplands. Prior research indicated that Indiana bats primarily roosted in riparian areas. Based on this new information, the ANF completed a

programmatic Biological Assessment on the existing Forest Plan and entered into informal consultation with the USDI-Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

The FWS responded that implementing the ANF Forest Plan would have "no effect" on the Indiana bat; they also recommended that the ANF conduct

surveys to determine if Indiana bats are present on the Allegheny National Forest. Surveys will be conducted in FY98.

Timber Harvest Capability: In November 1995, we published the Analysis of Timber Harvest ProgramCapability, 1995 - 2005, an assessment of the ANF

timber harvest programcapability for 1995 through 2005. This culminated an intensive monitoring and analysis effort which began in 1991. The analysis

shows the ANF timber harvest capability for 1995 through 2005 is 53.2 MMBF per year.

We began working on the analysis in 1991 because of continuing concerns about the timber harvest capability specified in the Forest Plan. Several

factors were identified that had seriously impacted the availability of timber on the Forest. These include: insect, disease and wind damage that occurred

between 1985 and 1991; a lack of regeneration opportunities; a lack of accurate inventory information; management area mapping errors; riparian area

management concerns (more riparian areas exist than were originally mapped); and FORPLAN spatial allocation limitations. Since changes are still

occurring, the effects on timber availability of insect and disease-caused mortality occurring since 1991 has not been completely evaluated.

The report is an administrative study that reviews the timber resource capability on the Allegheny National Forest. It will be used to guide the level of

annual timber volume offered for sale and for future programbudget proposals. The report findings will not be used at this time to change the Allowable

Sale Quantity (ASQ) in the Forest Plan. Any such needed changes in the ASQ will be addressed during Forest Plan revision.

Forest Health: A variety of insects and diseases are affecting tree health locally. Pear thrips, forest tent caterpillars, gypsy moth, cherry scallop shell

moth, fall cankerworm, elmspanworm, linden looper, beech bark disease complex, maple decline, pine budworm, and ash dieback are of particular concern.

Damage from most of these was observed between 1993 and 1995, and an increasing number of trees are showing symptoms of decline from repeated

impacts by these species. Substantial tree mortality developed suddenly in the summer of 1994 (primarily sugar maple, but white ash, beech, birch and red

maple also suffered in lesser amounts). Some tree decline has continued to develop since then, trees with less heavily-affected crowns have

demonstrated some recovery. Rainfall was abundant during the 1996 growing season, but below normal in 1997. In Warren County, rainfall showed a

deficit of almost 4.7 inches between April 1, 997 and November 9, 1997. Additional recovery may well occur if drought and defoliation are minimal over

the next few years.

In 1993, close to 261,000 acres of National Forest land were moderately to severely defoliated by elm spanworm. This marked the third year of such

defoliation on 7,500 acres, and the second year on 51,800 acres. Very little elm spanworm defoliation occurred in 1994, but close to 18,000 acres were

defoliated by forest tent caterpillar, approximately 54,000 acres were defoliated by cherry scallop shell moth, and slightly more than 1,500 acres were
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affected by pine budworm. In 1995, over 205,000 acres were defoliated by cherry scallop shell moth, with close to 124,000 acres classified as severe. Since

1992, close to 700 acres have been defoliated three times by this insect, 36,600 acres have been defoliated twice, and 238,000 acres have been defoliated

once. Most of the same areas have also been defoliated at least once since 1991 by either elmspanwormor Forest tent caterpillar. In 1996, cherry scallop

shell moths defoliated close to 11,800 acres, with 70 percent of that defoliation classified as moderate to severe. Most of those areas had already been

defoliated at least once since 1993 by cherry scallop shell moth. In 1997, there was no mappable defoliation from any of these insects. The only

detectable ANF defoliation was 1,350 acres in the oak type fromoak leaf tier.

Noticeable tree mortality developed in 1994 on about 89,600 acres from the combined effects of a variety of factors, including repeated defoliation and

two recent droughts. Spray treatment (with Bacillus thuringiensis or B.t.) completed in 1995 limited additional defoliation stress on the surviving trees.

The total impact these multiple stresses have had, and will have in years to come, remains largely unknown. It depends on environmental conditions and

additionalstresses that may develop. If natural events over the next few years place additional stress on the trees, permanent effects on wildlife habitat,

vegetation diversity, recreation, and timber harvest volumes could be severe.

Forest personnel are working on additional analyses to determine management alternatives for many areas having the heaviest mortality. Since mid-1995,

they have completed eight environmental assessments which have looked at site-specific tree mortality and ecosystem sustainability on about 81,232

acres, resulting in over 13,500 acres of treatment. Reforestation of affected sites has been a key issue addressed. The Mortality II Project (one of the eight

EAs mentioned above) included over 5,350 acres of treatment. In October 1997, the Federal District Court in Pittsburgh (PA) enjoined the ANF from

implementing the Mortality II Project. The Court ordered ANF personnel to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) and to revisit certain parts of

the analysis. ANF personnel have initiated the East Side EIS, a project designed to analyze, in part, some of the activities originally included in the

Mortality II EA. We are also working on a long-termstrategy to address these forest health questions.

Tree Seedling Development in UplandHardwoodandNorthern HardwoodForest Types: Data collected in 1992 in Management Area 3 indicates that tree

seedlings of a variety of species are not becoming established beneath the overstory tree canopy of these forest types. Selective deer browsing, dense

interfering plants, and erratic seed production all play a role in limiting seedling development. If this situation continues, forest structure and tree species

composition will be affected. Over the long term, it raises serious questions about tree composition and sustainability in Management Areas where the

Forest Plan direction permits little human intervention to control forest and ground vegetation structure, composition, and development. Trees that die

will not be replaced by similar species or, in many cases, by any species of vigorously-growing tree seedlings that are capable of growing up to replace

them. In 1996, Forest personnel initiated an adaptive management approach designed to help answer questions about how to reforest these kinds of

areas. The study may take from3 to 10 years to complete.

SOCIAL ISSUES

WildandScenic River Management: A Decision Notice was signed by the Forest Supervisor in January 1997 approving the Final Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) and Management Plan for the Allegheny Wild and Scenic River; this decision amended the Forest Plan. A decision was made to not

renew the two Federal Advisory Councils after expiration of member's terms, but instead to pursue a less formal process through a partnership with the

Venango Museumfor public involvement in river management.

During 1997, the ANF participated as a member of the Planning and Oversight Committee of the Clarion River Basin Commission's effort to develop a

basin-wide study for the Clarion River. This study, completed in 1997, was financed by a Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation Grant and includes

management recommendations for not only designated segments but the entire Clarion River basin. The strategy is to cooperate with and support the

CRBC as a means to address issues common to designated W&SR segments of the river and, thus, avoid duplication of effort. Additional study will be

carried out by the Forest Service and cooperators to address issues such as recreational use and land development within the W&SR needing more

detailed management direction than was included in the Clarion River Basin Study.

Deterioration of Developed Recreation Facilities: Recreation facilities developed in the early to mid 1960s around the Allegheny Reservoir and other

facilities around the Forest continue to be in need of rehabilitation due to age. A comprehensive list of recreation capital investment needs has been

developed and prioritized to address this concern. Since the early 1990s, seven recreation sites have been partially or completely upgraded. This need

will continue to be addressed through the capital investment process, aiming towards a more functional, low-maintenance facility. In addition, few of

these facilities and sites fully meet the needs of people with disabilities. Such needs are being addressed during rehabilitation at little additional cost.

Allegheny Snowmobile Loop and Trail System Connectors: There continues to be great interest by snowmobile riders on the Allegheny to add to and

improve the Allegheny Snowmobile Loop (ASL). We continue to work on accomplishing a priority list of trail projects developed at a public meeting in

1996. Over 200% of Forest Plan goals for snowmobile trails for the first two decades has been accomplished. Therefore, problems on the existing trails are

scheduled to be corrected or eliminated before attempts are made to add new connectors, and new connectors will be limited to address the need for

access to necessary services.

Horse Use: Horse use for trail riding has been a very traditional, but generally minor recreation activity on the ANF. However, during the last 10 years,

this use has grown to a dominant use in some locations on the Forest, much of it in the formof guided trail rides. Designated horse trails are not provided

as part of the Forest trailsystem.

In recent years, some areas (streambottoms, crossings, steep slopes, etc.) have been identified with resource damage associated with horse use. Most of

the guided trail riding is now under special use permit and resource problems are being dealt with through the permits. A Forest-wide inventory and

analysis has been conducted and an alternative selected which will keep the existing policy of allowing horse use Forest-wide except for hiking trails and

developed campgrounds. In addition, efforts will be made to involve users to improve trails through user education, self policing and trail relocation.

Formal bridal trails will not be designated, however.
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ATV Trail Management: Forest Plan goals are to provide 350 miles of ATV trails by the end of the second planning decade (2005). Currently, there are

approximately 106 miles (30%) available for use on the Forest. Demand has met or exceeded Forest Plan projections, with ATV use increasing faster than

other recreational uses. Lack of funds to expand the trailsystemand backlog maintenance created by heavy use of existing trails has resulted in resource

damage, safety concerns, and some continuing illegal use.

Before the trailsystem can be expanded, existing trails must be brought up to an acceptable and maintainable condition. Forest personnel are working on

a strategy to address these issues as well as the need for additional ATVtrail miles.

Development of Private Outstanding/Reserved OGM Rights: The United States Government owns only seven percent of the mineral rights under the

surface of the Allegheny National Forest. The remainder are in private ownership. These subsurface owners have the right to develop their mineral

estate. The public has expressed concerns for oil and gas development on the Forest, but is not generally aware of the limitations on Forest Service

authority with regard to these privately-owned minerals.

The Forest Service, the private mineral developer, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are jointly responsible for protection of the surface resources.

The Forest's management objective, as defined by the courts, is to negotiate to the greatest extent possible with individual developers to manage and

protect the surface resources while allowing full development of their mineral rights.

FOREST PLAN AMENDMENTS

Four amendments to the Allegheny National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, numbered 6 through 9, were processed in FY97. A summary

of each follows:

# Date Summary

6 December 19, 1996 Provides direction for fish habitat management, including desired

conditions for cold- and warm-water fish habitat. It also includes

standards and guidelines for improvement and restoration work, and

for coordination of water resources with various land disturbing

activities. The amendment designates four Remote Trout Streams,

and one stream will be added to the State's Wilderness Trout Stream

program. Aquatic species are identified for monitoring.

7 September 4, 1997 Designates a corridor boundary for the Allegheny National Wild and

Scenic River, approves the River Management Plan, and provides

Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines for managing federal lands

within the designated corridor.

8 September 8, 1997 Establishes both general "programmatic" and "site-specific" direction

and guidance for controlling understory vegetation on electric utility

rights-of-way crossing the Allegheny National Forest by following

guidelines established in the EIS for Vegetation Management on

Electric Utility Rights-of-way (May 1997) and its associated Record

of Decision.

9 September 30, 1997 Disposal of a two-acre parcel as the result of a Small Tracts Act

Claim.

MONITORINGRESULTS, EVALUATION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The category of items to be monitored is based on 36 CFR 219.12(k). The objectives of gathering this information is provide an indicator of compliance,

effectiveness, and performance of the Forest Plan direction. Ultimately, the evaluation of this data gives us a measure of our progress towards meeting

the Desired Future Condition (DFC) for each Management Area.

IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORINGREVIEWS

Conduct Interdisciplinary Field Reviews of Projects in Several Management Areas to Determine Application and Effectiveness of Standards and

Guidelines

Method of Measure: Interdisciplinary field review of projects in different Management Areas by the Forest's Leadership Team, the Ecosystems

Management Teamand others.

Monitoring Results: The twofold purpose of these reviews is to determine: 1) if projects are being implemented as planned in their environmental

documents; and 2) if those projects, as implemented, are moving the Management Areas towards their Desired Future Condition (DFC), as outlined in the

Forest Plan. No fewer than four project reviews will be conducted during the year.

In FY97, Forest Plan Monitoring and Implementation Reviews were conducted on projects approved in seven separate environmental documents. Prior
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to each review, NEPA documents were thoroughly reviewed by resource specialists, and a list of site-specific and general Forest planning questions

were developed for use during each review. Resource specialists, Forest Leadership Team, and Ranger District personnel then field reviewed each project

area and gathered technical resource data on the application of existing standards and guidelines and actual environmental effects. This project-specific

data was carried into discussions held during each review.

As part of the review process, follow-up actions may be recommended. Ranger Districts are establishing plans of action to address them.

Loleta Recreation Area Rehabilitation (MA 3.0) - The objectives of this project were to improve accessibility of recreation facilities at Loleta Recreation

Area and enhance the overall recreation experience for visitors using these facilities.

Overall, this project moves the ANF to 3.0. Nearly all of the proposed activities have been implemented; those few that have not yet been implemented

will be considered when funds are available. There was some discussion on whether MA 3.0 is the correct designation for this recreation facility and

other like it on the Forest. This will be addressed during Forest Plan revision.

Mitigation measures were applied and have been effective.

Three follow-up actions were recommended:

1. Determine what is needed in order to maintain accessibility on trails/paths.

2. Place those approved activities not yet completed on the Forest's capital investment listing for pending priority when funding is available.

3. Conduct an economic analysis for similar future projects.

Bradford R.D. Wildlife Projects (MA 3.0 and6.1) - Five separate project areas were reviewed. Activities approved in the EAs covering these projects

were aimed at improving the wildlife resources on the Bradford Ranger District. They included aspen regeneration, creation of turkey wintering areas, and

underplanting in oak mortality areas.

The review teamfound that this project moves the ANF toward meeting Forest Plan goals and objectives and the desired future condition for both MAs

3.0 and 6.1. Mitigation measures were implemented and appear to have been effective.

Follow-up actions include:

1. Remove fences in the Four Mile and Deer Lick turkey wintering areas.

2. Release white pine plantings in the Oak Mortality Underplanting areas.

Southern Border Timber Sale (MA 3.0) - Activities in this project were approved under the Environmental Assessment of Tree Mortality and

Ecosystem Sustainability (June 1995) on the Allegheny National Forest and included timber harvest and reforestation treatments. This document

identified existing and "expected" mortality and noted that adjusted detailed stand prescriptions may be completed for some stands prior to

implementation to account for changes in stand conditions that develop naturally.

Based on stand conditions when the final field surveys were made, timber harvest treatments were deferred in some stands. For a variety of reasons,

some of the areas reviewed (and deferred) did require treatment at the time; those treated appeared to be of high priority. In one area that had been

treated with herbicide, a good deal of tall (15-20') striped maple appeared to have been unaffected by the treatment (spray normally reached to about 12').

Mitigations measures listed in the Forest Plan were applied. In one specific instance, a 600 foot buffer was placed around an active hawk next. Harvest in

this stand was deferred untilsuch time as the nest is not being used.

Implementation of this timber sale moves the Forest toward meeting the goals and objectives and desired future condition of MA 3.0.

Recommended follow-up actions include:

1. Site prep treatment is needed to remove tallstriped maple in one area (see above).

2. Mark all wildlife "leave" trees as part of timber sale marking.

3. Final harvest and reforestation prescriptions should be reviewed in other areas covered by this EA where field conditions changed substantially

following approval of the EA.

ATV Trail Monitoring Review (MA 3.0) - The objectives of this review were to assess whether existing ATV Trails meet Forest Plan standards and

guidelines and if Forest Plan standards and guidelines are adequate to protect soil and water resources. The review teamvisited three ATV trails on the

Forest (Marienville Bike Trail - Duhring area, Marienville ATVTrail - Forest Road 584 area, and Timberline ATVTrail, Forest Road 580 area).

Conclusions reached by the teaminclude: 1) there is no common understanding of construction and maintenance standards for motorized trails; 2) a more

effective monitoring and maintenance plan should be developed to preserve the ATV opportunity on the Forest; 3) specialist input is needed for design

and layout; 4) the Forest should consider charging a fee for ATVtrail use in the next few years (it is felt that most users have indicated a willingness to

pay); 5) illegal use should be better controlled; and 6) there is a need to obtain more information about our trail users.
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The following recommendations were made to address the above conclusions:

1. Review construction and maintenance standards during Forest Plan revision.

2. Evaluate the concept of Intensive Use Areas during Forest Plan revision.

3. Utilize "limits of acceptable change" to monitor impacts to trails.

4. Assess the Forest's ATVsystemusing an interdisciplinary teamapproach beginning in FY98 with highest priority trail.

5. Submit a "fee demo" proposal for charging a user fee.

6. Increase education and information efforts to reduce illegal use.

7. Conduct a survey of trail users to assess expectations, satisfaction, demographics)

HERITAGERESOURCES

Verify that Heritage Resources are being Protected[36 CFR 219.24]

Methodof Measure: Field observations.

Monitoring Results: Earlier attempts at monitoring, such as those conducted in 1990, revealed that "many" of the past cultural resource surveys on the

ANF may have been inadequate and that "damage had occurred inadvertently to archaeologicalsites." One of the 1990 recommendations stated that "all

surveys conducted under earlier contracts should be revisited by in-house personnel to check site locations and correct oversights."

In 1997, a number of selected areas that had been covered by earlier surveys were re-examined and a number of previously-recorded cultural resources

were re-examined (this to test the validity of the previous investigators' methodologies and results as well as to re-examine previously-recorded cultural

resources to determine the adequacy of mitigation measures).

The results of our review showed that, although the majority of the areas that were re-examined appeared to have been adequately surveyed, some of the

previous investigations did indeed miss or overlook potentially significant cultural resources. These results suggest that, whenever possible, selected

areas of high probability within pre-1990 surveyed acres located within newly-proposed project areas be re-examined to test the adequacy of the

previous investigators' methodologies, results, and mitigation measures.

Throughout the year, a select number of previously-recorded cultural resources were checked during the course of our FY 97 cultural resource

investigations. Monitoring revealed that implemented projects were generally designed to avoid impacts to the cultural resources.

In 1997, as in all previous years since 1978, heritage resource specialists on the Forest continued to have problems relocating cultural resources recorded

before 1979. The reasons for this are many but include the following: the sites were recorded simply on the basis of historical documentation, informant

interviews, or folklore; and the site records contain little or no locational and descriptive data and rarely contain a map of their location (or suspected

location). Compounding all of this is the fact that none of the sites recorded before 1979 were ever field verified before being recorded as a cultural

resource site. Field verification of these sites is being accomplished with limited success on a case-by-case basis within watershed analysis areas.

Throughout the year, monitoring efforts were also conducted at the most significant cultural resources on record on the Forest including the Buckaloons

sites, the Elk County earthwork sites, a number of prehistoric rock shelter sites, and a number of historic petroleumcentral power systems. This was done

to assess the nature and degree of damage to these cultural resources caused by vandalism, visitor use, and natural deterioration and to identify and

implement appropriate protective measures.

Our monitoring of the earthwork sites resulted in no humanly-caused degradation of the sites, but effects caused by natural forces (i.e., windthrows)

continue to cause damage to the shallow archaeological deposits. The site protection measures approved for these sites involving removal of the

remaining trees on the sites and establishing a soft vegetation cover to protect the subsurface archaeological deposits could not be accomplished this

year because the warmwinter did not produce the required conditions of frozen ground and snow cover for over-snow horse logging to remove the trees

fromthe sites as stipulated in the contract's management requirements and constraints.

At Buckaloons, monitoring also revealed no evidence of human impacts to the cultural resources; however, uncontrolled/unmanaged vegetation on the

Irvine Flats (known as the "beanfields") continues to adversely affect the subsurface archaeological features in the now overgrown fields. The first steps

to reverse this process were accomplished in 1997. Ten acres of the field were plowed, disked, and replanted with a mixture of cool season grasses to

provide a soft vegetation cover to protect the sites from natural and human causes and also to provide cover and an excellent food source for wildlife.

After plowing and disking and before planting, a systematic controlled archaeological surface collection was conducted. The archaeological work was

accomplished through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Historical and MuseumCommission, the Brokenstraw Valley Area Authority, and Mercyhurst

Archaeological Institute's archaeological field school which, in turn, were assisted by Forest Service Passport in Time volunteers. Over 6,000 artifacts

representing over 6,000 years of human use of this landformwere recovered.

Elsewhere at Buckaloons, additional impacts were noted along Brokenstraw Creek where bank erosion in 1997 claimed and continues to erode the south

bank beginning at approximately the midpoint between the mouth of the creek and the bank erosion is proceeding at an alarming rate of approximately

one meter per year. At least one archaeological cultural feature consisting of a concentration of fire-cracked rock (similar to one excavated nearby that

yielded a radiocarbon date of over three thousand years) was observed in a root wad of a large tree that slumped into Brokenstraw Creek. At the present
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rate, the erosion threatens to destroy an historic sunken road which also may represent one of the few, if any, intact portions of the Brokensrtaw Indian

Trail. Therefore, stabilization of the bank is strongly recommended.

As has been the case in previous years, our monitoring efforts have identified impacts to prehistoric rock shelter sites caused by dispersed recreational

users on the Forest. Archaeological investigations at rock shelter sites within one watershed analysis area were undertaken to assess the nature,

condition, and integrity of the archaeological deposits in order to evaluate the significance of the sites and, if significant, determine whether or not the

impacts had adversely affected the archaeological deposits. These results suggest that monitoring efforts should continue to focus on the most

threatened rock shelter sites on the Forest.

Also, as has been the case in previous years, our monitoring efforts have also identified impacts occurring to historic oil and gas related sites. The

impacts include humanly-caused damage as a result of vandalism as well as the removal of equipment. Naturally-caused damage, such as trees falling

unto powerhouses and damage caused by porcupines, was also noted. A variety of steps are being taken to address this issue, including developing a

partnership with West Virginia University's Institute for the History of Technology and Industrial Archaeology and the Washington, D.C. Office of the

Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record (HABS/HAER) to document and record several potentially historically

significant central power systems.

TIMBER

Application of Silvicultural Guides for Intermediate or Selection Cuts [36 CFR 219.12(k)(2)]

Methodof Measure: Timber sale marking checks were conducted in 1997 by gathering new silvicultural examination plot data for a number of thinnings

and shelterwood seed cuts on active timber sales on all Ranger Districts. This information was used to produce a new SILVAH summary of the stand

characteristics and to determine whether the marking followed the silvicultural prescription and any interdisciplinary modifications approved for the

stand. SILVAH is the computer program developed by the Forest Sciences Laboratory in Irvine to evaluate vegetative data and develop silvicultural

prescriptions.

Monitoring Results: Coordination with other resource uses was good for all stands reviewed. Certified silviculturists prepared or reviewed the

prescriptions.

Marking was reviewed for the following types of harvest activity:

Salvage Harvests

Two-age - Two stands were reviewed, and marking was adequate on both.

Thinnings - Thirteen stands were checked. The results were adequate for all of them.

ShelterwoodSeed- Seven stands were reviewed. Marking was adequate for all of them.

Regular (Non-salvage) Harvests

Thinning - One stand was reviewed. Marking was adequate.

SeedTree - Three stands were reviewed. Marking was adequate.

ShelterwoodSeed- Of the 10 stands reviewed, marking was adequate on seven. Two of the remaining stands were marked too lightly and were remarked

to remove an additional 10 basal area of pole timber. The third stand had been marked too heavily. It was remarked to conformwith the prescription.

Summarize Results of Regeneration/Final Harvest Cuts [CFR 219.12(k)(5i)]

Methodof Measure: By conducting stocking surveys once the final harvest cut is complete.

Monitoring Results:

TABLE4: REGENERATION SUCCESS FOR AREAS

HARVESTED 1976 TO 1992 IN MA 1.0, 3.0 AND 6.1

Type of Regeneration Established

1 Probable

Success

2

Probable

Failure

3

Regular Timber Sales 94% 2% 4%

Final Harvest in 1985

Tornado Swath

95% 3% 2%

Regeneration with No

Salvage Cutting in

86% 12% 2%
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Tornado Swath

4

Oak Mortality Salvage 84% 11% 5%

Selection Cutting

5 31% 14% 55%

1 70% or more of the stocking survey plots have adequate numbers of seedlings present.

2 50% to 69% of the plots have adequate seedling numbers.

3 Less than 50% of the plots have adequate seedling numbers.

4 No surveys have been done in wilderness, Tionesta Scenic Area, savannas, or very steep areas (1,660 acres).

5 Stocking levels for Selection cutting units are based on new stocking survey evaluation guidelines established by the

ANF and NERS in March 1996.

Evaluation of Results: The Regular Timber Sale and Final Harvest in 1985 Tornado Swath categories show high levels of success in establishing

regeneration in areas where more than five years have elapsed since the cutting occurred. We anticipate that additionalseedling development will occur

in the probable success and probable failure categories as time passes and as additional reforestation treatments (area fencing, fill-in planting, etc.) are

employed. The least well-stocked areas will be evaluated for potential use as permanent openings. Approximately 10 percent of the probable failures

reported in the Regular Timber Sale category are old tornado salvage areas.

There is moderate success in establishing seedlings on areas blown down by the 1985 tornado where salvage did not occur. There are no additional

reforestation efforts planned in areas included in the probable failure category. Approximately 1,660 acres blown down by the tornado and not salvaged

were not surveyed. Many of these stands were originally savannah stands which had low overstory tree stocking and understories composed of thick

interference. Limited regeneration response was predictable. Other stands are those located on extremely steep side slopes, which had higher levels of

overstory tree stocking and understories composed of thick interference, which also had an expected limited regeneration response. Reforestation

treatments could be attempted in these areas, however it is highly unlikely that full stocking would ever be achieved. Leaving these areas as they are

does provide important habitat which is otherwise lacking on the Forest. No monitoring was done of the tornado swath in the Hickory Creek Wilderness

Area and Tionesta Scenic Area.

Reforestation success in the oak mortality category has improved (+8%) since last year. Areas will continue to be evaluated for additional reforestation

needs as appropriate.

In 1996, revised guidelines for the prescribing and evaluation of uneven-aged management (UEAM) treatments were developed for the Forest by NERS

and Forest personnel. On the ANF, there is limited success in establishing seedlings following selection cutting. Additional reforestation treatments

(herbicide application, area fencing, etc.) will be considered for stands in the probable success and probable failure categories. The Forest will continue

to examine the effectiveness of UEAM prescriptions as part of the ongoing adaptive management study.

Table 5 summarizes data which has been reported annually since 1990 in this section of the Monitoring Report. It shows the trends for each harvest

category during the eight-year period 1990-1997.

TABLE5: TRENDS IN REGENERATION SUCCESS (AREAS ESTABLISHED) FOR AREAS

HARVESTED SINCE1976 IN MA 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 AND 6.1 AS REPORTED IN THE1990-1997

MONITORINGREPORTS

Type of Regeneration FY

1990

FY

1991

FY

1992

FY

1993

FY

1994

FY

1995

FY

1996

FY

1997

Regular Timber Sales 88% 91% 89% 91% 90% 92% 94% 94%

Final Harvest in 1985 Tornado

Swath

37% 61% 62% 81% 87% 91% 93% 95%

Oak Mortality Salvage 0% 0% 0% 10% 57% 76% 76% 84%

Selection Cutting

1 - - - - - 41%2

22%

2 31%

1 Cutting practice not evaluated FY 90 to FY 94.

2 For 1995, 69 acres (41%) out of the 167 acres cut from 1988 to 1990 had adequate tree seedlings, whereas for 1996, 113 acres (22%) out of

500 acres cut from 1988 to 1991 had developed adequate tree seedlings; for 1997, 217 acres (31%) out of the 693 acres cut from 1988 to

1992 had developed adequate tree seedlings.

The Regular Timber Sale harvest areas have shown a relatively constant level of regeneration success or seedling development during the past eight

years. The tornado swath and oak mortality salvage categories have shown a dramatic increase in establishment during the same time period. It will take

several more years to determine trends for selection cutting.
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Report the Percentage of Successfully Stocked Regeneration Units in the Following Categories: Oak Regeneration Cuts; Shelterwood Seed Cuts;

Units Treatedwith Herbicide; andUnits Fenced[36 CFR 219.12(k)(1)]

Method of Measure: Most of the data came from the vegetation data base. The discussion for Final Harvest Cuts (see preceding section) describes the

overall reforestation success in regeneration units. Historical reforestation activity success rates are difficult to extract from the vegetation data base at

this time. Readily-available information is summarized below by acres rather than percentages.

Monitoring Results: In 1997, 1,345 acres were certified as "established" in regeneration cutting areas. In order for a regeneration unit to qualify for

certification, at least 70 percent of the area must be stocked with tree seedlings taller than 4.5 feet. Tables 6 and 7 show the acres certified by forest type

and by Management Area.

TABLE6: ACRES CERTIFIED AS

REGENERATED IN FY97 BYFOREST TYPE

Timber Type Acres

Northern Red Oak 15

Upland Hardwood 78

Northern Hardwood 224

Allegheny Hardwood 988

Black Birch 9

Red Maple 10

Sugar Maple 21

Total 1,345

TABLE7: ACRES CERTIFIED AS

REGENERATED IN FY97 BY MANAGEMENT

AREA

Management Area Acres

1.0 24

3.0 1,024

6.1 196

6.2 76

6.3 25

Total 1,345

On the Allegheny National Forest, more than one reforestation activity may be required in an area in order to establish tree seedlings. For the 1,345 acres

certified as reforested in FY 97, Table 8 shows the combination of reforestation activities which had occurred on them. This is the second year that any

significant acreage which had been treated with herbicide was certified. It has only been several years since we began to carry out shelterwood removal

cuts on some of them, and it generally takes a minimum of three years following the removal cut before the seedlings exceed 4.5 feet tall, the height

required for certification.

TABLE8: ACRES CERTIFIED AS REGENERATED IN FY97

BYREFORESTATION ACTIVITY

Reforestation Activity Acres

With fertilization and site prep 375

With fertilization 138

With fencing 48

With herbicide and fencing 40

With shelterwood seed cut

1 720

With fencing and site prep 38

With herbicide, fertilization and site prep 83

No reforestation activity required 305

With site prep only 69

With striped maple cutting, site prep, fertilization 16

With herbicide 21

With herbicide, fencing, fertilization 52

With planting, fencing, fertilization 30

With site prep, fencing, planting 2

With herbicide, fertilization 14

With herbicide, site prep 39

With fencing, fertilization 71

With planting, fertilization 4
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Total 1,345

1 Shelterwood seed cuts - These acres are spread throughout the rest of the

reforestation activity categories listed here. Therefore, they should not be

included when adding to get the total acres shown below.

Units Treated with Herbicide

Note: This report has not been updated to include any FY 97 stocking survey data. Other work priorities precluded completion of a detailed

herbicide unit data summary in FY 97. However, Tables 9 to 11 indicate the total acres sprayed in 1997.

The Forest began to implement an herbicide application program on an operational level in 1987. Herbicides are used to remove understory woody and

herbaceous vegetation which interferes with the establishment and growth of tree seedlings. They are used primarily in forested areas to help establish

tree seedlings as part of even-aged management systems (the final harvest would not occur until adequate tree seedlings become established). They

have also been included in stands being managed under uneven-aged systems. The herbicide glyphosate (RoundUp R) was the only herbicide used until

1989. In that year, one district made a test application of the herbicide sulfometuron methyl (OustR ). In March 1991, the Forest Plan was amended to

allow the use of sulfometuron methyl, alone or in combination with the herbicide glyphosate.

Stocking surveys (surveys which measure the kinds and quantities of understory vegetation present) are used to monitor the understory development of

stands following herbicide application. Generally, surveys are taken on an annual basis in stands where treatment has taken place at least two years

earlier. We can evaluate the effectiveness of treatments by looking at the amount of seedling development that has occurred since treatment. The survey

data includes only seedlings that are more than one year old, taller than two inches and have two or more normalsized leaves. Prior to spraying, almost

all of these areas had virtually no seedlings present. The following table displays the most current (1996) survey results for stands treated with

herbicides.

TABLE 9: ACRES OF SPRAY AREAS HAVING TREE SEEDLINGS

1

Year

Sprayed

0-30

2 31-502 51-702 70+2 Final

Harvest

Completed

No

Survey

Respray

Defer &

Unknown

3

Total %

Acres

>50%

Stocked

1987 12 0 13 28 230 0 68 351 77%

1988 59 64 107 63 392 15 144 844 67%

1989 143 41 193 298 856 0 134 1,665 81%

1990 137 47 79 263 706 0 119 1,351 78%

1991 61 16 77 136 298 0 196 784 65%

1992 499 98 233 340 293 153 50 1,666 52%

1993 574 321 169 360 166 45 64 1,669 41%

1994 440 90 128 363 82 217 1 1,459 39%

Subtotal 2,063 677 999 1,851 3,023 430 776 9,819 60%

1995 547 69 59 117 10 674 9 1,485 na

4

1996 52 15 48 104 0 1,096 0 1,315 na

4

1997 1,638 1,638 na

4

Total 2,662 761 1,106 2,072 3,033 3,838 785 14,257 na

4

1 Figure represent the most recent stocking survey taken for a stand.

2 Percent of plots with adequate number of tree seedlings.

3 This category includes areas we were unable to categorize into a stocking category due to data base errors.

4 na = not available. Surveys have not yet been completed.

Evaluation of Herbicide Results: Tables 9 through 11 have not been updated to show any FY97 data, except total acres sprayed.

Through the end of FY 96, stocking surveys have been taken on 10,419 acres of the 12,619 acres treated with an herbicide application between 1987 and

1996. Of the 2,200 acres which have not been surveyed, the majority (1,770 acres) were treated in either 1995 or 1996 and insufficient time has elapsed to

make surveys in these areas worthwhile. There are 430 acres treated prior to 1995 where no surveys are available.
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Historically, we have looked at only the survey results for areas where it has been at least two years since treatment because we know that it takes at

least three to five years for good seedling development to occur. Final harvest cuts were sold on 3,023 acres (31%) of the 9,819 acres that were treated

between 1987 and 1994. We can assume that the stocking level was above 70 percent on these acres at the time of the sell. There are 1,851 acres (19%)

that have more than 70 percent stocked plots. In addition, the 999 acres in the 51-70 percent stocked plot category (or 10 percent of the total 9,819 acres

treated) are well on their way to becoming adequately stocked. This means that a total of 60 percent of the acres treated between 1987 and 1994 have

become or are making good progress towards becoming adequately stocked with tree seedlings. The success rate for areas where at least five years has

elapsed since treatment is much higher (see last column on Table 9), ranging from65 to 81 percent, with an average seedling stocking of 75 percent.

A number of environmental conditions can affect the establishment, survival and development of tree seedlings within the first few years after spraying.

Drought can take a heavy toll on seedlings whose roots are shallow. The Forest experienced several droughts during the 1988, 1991 and 1995 growing

seasons. Insect defoliation (cherry scallop shell moth) occurred on 205,000 acres across the Forest in 1995. This defoliator removed the leaves from

overstory trees as well as the understory seedlings. The 1996 growing season was favorable for seedling development. Ferns and grasses may also reinvade the treated areas.

Overall programsuccess can also be looked at by examining the survey results that have been reported in our annual monitoring report for the last five

years. Table 10 displays the trends in seedling development over time by looking at the acres reported in Table 9 in this and prior years' monitoring

reports. Each line displays the total number of acres for that monitoring year where it had been at least two years since treatment, and the number of

acres which were more than 50 percent stocked with seedlings.

TABLE 10: ANNUAL TRENDS IN

SUCCESSFUL SEEDLING DEVELOPMENT

WHERE AT LEAST TWO YEARS HAVE

ELAPSED SINCE TREATMENT

Survey

Year

Acres Treated >50%

Stocked

1991 2,890 891 (31%)

1992 4,221 1,824 (44%)

1993 4,995 3,684 (74%)

1994 6,661 3,964 (60%)

1995 8,360 5,300 (64%)

1996 9,819 5,873 (60%)

1997 not calculated not calculated

The data shows that seedling stocking increased between 1991 and 1993, peaked in 1993, and has leveled off from 1994 through 1996. We believe the

decline from1993 to the leveling off point is due to seedling defoliation in some stands by cherry scallop shell moth and the 1995 drought. Because most

surveys are taken on a two-year schedule, not all stands were surveyed in 1996; therefore, the 1996 monitoring results display the surveys which were

taken over the previous two to three-year time period. The 1996 results do not necessarily display the complete picture of seedling development. We

believe that seedling levels are higher than what is displayed due to the improved growing conditions in the summer of 1996.

The ultimate goal of the herbicide programis to bring seedling counts to a high enough level so that a final harvest cut can occur. In some cases, it is

necessary to include a shelterwood seed cut in this process. From 1991 through 1996, shelterwood seed cuts were sold on 3,516 acres that had been

treated with an herbicide application. These areas had very dense overstory tree canopy that was inhibiting seedling development. The shelterwood

seed cut was designed to remove enough trees so adequate light will reach the forest floor to stimulate tree seedling development and growth. Within

the next few years, adequate seedlings should begin to develop in most of these areas since lighting and conditions for seedling establishment and

growth will be improved.

Table 11 on the following page summarizes the acreage treated with herbicides in past years where seedlings have become successfully established and

where a final harvest cut was sold in the last five years.

The herbicide program plays an important role in the timber harvest program on the Forest. In 1996, 616 acres (27%) of the 2,284 acres of final harvest

cuts sold on the Forest had been treated with an herbicide. This indicates that successfulseedling development in these areas, which relied on herbicide

treatments, contributed substantially to the volume available for harvest in 1996.

TABLE 11: ACRES OF FINAL HARVEST CUTS SOLD IN FY 91

THROUGH 96 IN AREAS TREATED WITH HERBICIDE SINCE

1986

Year FY 91 FY 92 FY 93 FY 94 FY 95 FY 96 Total Total
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of

Treatment

Acres

Sold

Acres

Treated

w/

herbicides

1987 58 0 124 0 0 51 233 351

1988 66 91 65 0 61 62 345 844

1989 24 168 258 218 148 64 880 1,665

1990 9 98 143 0 301 269 820 1,351

1991 42 39 0 37 96 52 266 784

1992 83 31 0 0 134 53 301 1,666

1993 20 0 86 40 0 28 174 1,669

1994 0 0 0 54 0 28 82 1,459

1995 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 1,485

1996 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,315

1997 n/c n/c n/c n/c n/c n/c n/c n/c

Total 302 427 676 349 740 616 3,110 12,619

* Adjusted from acreage shown in 1994 Monitoring Report to account for accomplishment reporting error

n/c = Not calculated

Final harvest cuts have been sold in 3,110 acres where herbicides have been applied. This represents 25 percent of the total number of acres treated with

herbicides to date. A total of 418 acres of selection cutting have also been sold. Stocking survey data indicates that there are 1,851 acres that have

seedling densities high enough to qualify for regeneration cutting. The 999 acres in the 51-70 percent stocked category should soon qualify for a final

harvest cut if favorable seedling growth and development conditions continue.

Summarize Size of Final Harvest Blocks by Management Area [36 CFR 219.12(k)(5iii)]

Methodof Measure: Summarize data fromtimber sale prospectus and appraisal report for each sale.

Monitoring Results:

TABLE 12: SIZE OF TIMBER SALE FINAL

HARVEST UNITS

Mgmt .

Area

Average

Size

1

(Acres)

Minimum

Size

(Acres)

Maximum

Size

(Acres)

MA

Maximum

Size (Ac)

3.0 19 5 55 40

1 - Areas four acres or smaller were excluded from this calculation since many of them are wildlife openings or rights-of-way.

Evaluation of Results: One final harvest unit sold in the Coon Run Salvage Timber Sale exceeded 40 acres (55 acres). The NEPA documentation is

adequate.

Volume of HardwoodSawtimber, Pulpwood, andFirewoodin Timber Sales Awarded

Methodof Measure: Automated Timber Sale Accounting System(TSA) and Timber Activity Control System(TRACS)

Monitoring Results:

TABLE 13: VOLUMES AWARDED

TO TIMBER SALE PURCHASERS

Product FY97

Volume of Sale

(MMBF)

1

FY97

$ Return of

Sale

2

Total

MMBF since

1986

Sawtimber 21.108 16,827,986 403.8

Pulpwood 16.230 143,812 372.3

Fuelwood 1.331 12,305 19.0
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Total 38.669 16,984,103 795.1

1 From TRACS. Includes 0.615 MMBF of additional volume marked in FY 97 in

existing sales.

2 From TSA. Does not include value of 0.615 MMBF additional volume marked

in FY 97 in existing sales.

Evaluation of Results: The total budgeted FY97 target for timber offered for sale was 53.2 million board feet. The actual volume offered for sale was 52.6

million board feet, or 99 percent of the target. The volumes shown in Table 13 are based on "award," which includes those sales for which a valid

contract had been awarded by the end of the fiscal year. Three timber sales sold late in FY 96 did not have a valid executed timber sale contract until the

beginning of FY97. Though they are part of the 53.4 MMBF offered in FY96, they were not counted as awarded until FY97.

The total volume awarded in FY 97 (38.7 MMBF) fell short of the target because 17 timber sales offered in FY 97 were not awarded as a result of the

"Mortality II Project" ruling by the U.S. District Court for Western Pennsylvania.

Units of Accomplishment by MA for the Following Activities

Methodof Measure: Commercial cutting activities are from sales awarded in FY 97. Information taken fromthe Combined Data System(CDS) and Timber

Activity Control System(TRACS) reports.

TABLE 14: 1997 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BYMANAGEMENT AREA

Activity MA

1.0

MA

2.0

MA

3.0

MA

6.1

MA

6.2

MA

6.3

MA

6.4

MA

8.0

MA

9.1

Totals

Hardwood Sawtimber (MMBF) 18.9 .5 1.7 21.1

Hardwood Pulpwood (MMBF) 13.5 .6 2.2 16.3

Hardwood Fuel (MMBF) 1.3 1.3

Final Harvest with Residuals

(Ac.)

1,258 37 1 1,296

Shelterwood Seed (Acres) 1,175 466 1,641

Thinning (Acres) 1,306 1 35 1,342

Selection Cut (Acres) 23 46 230 299

Acres Certified without Site

Prep

177 118 10 305

Timber Stand Improvement

(Ac.)

0

Herbicide (Acres) 20 1,596 22 1,638

Fertilization (Acres) 64 1,068 16 1,148

Fencing (Acres) 8 342 23 373

Planting/Seeding (Acres) 8 152 27 4 191

Site Prep (Acres) 59 1,049 1,108

Release (Acres) 413 57 73 543

Striped Maple Cutting (Acres) 460 460

Evaluation of Results: Final harvest acreage is less than the Forest Plan average because less than the expected amount of advanced regeneration is

being found during site-specific analysis. Timber harvests cannot take place until there is adequate advanced regeneration on the site.
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Timber stand improvement, as specified in the Forest Plan, is implemented to complete the silvicultural prescription only where the optional pulpwood is

not removed in the commercial timber sale. In FY97, all pulpwood was removed in sales, so none of this kind of timber stand improvement was necessary.

The Forest's herbicide program is lower than planned. We began this program in 1987 by treating a relatively small acreage and monitoring those areas

closely to ensure the equipment and technology used were appropriate for the various sites. We soon found we needed to make some adjustments to

ensure effective and efficient control of the target vegetation. New technology now provides for better control of a wider range of species. With the 1991

addition of sulfometuron methyl as a valid treatment technique and a new and better sprayer in 1992, effective control of competing understory

vegetation can now be considered on many more sites.

Fertilization stimulates rapid tree seedling growth so seedlings quickly grow beyond the deer browsing height. Fertilization is a function of past final

harvest cuts. It is completed only in stands that have a high component of black cherry, significant deer pressure and dense enough black cherry

regeneration. It is used to stimulate trees to rapidly grow above the deer browsing height.

Pre-fencing combined with shelterwood cut or herbicide is used to establish advance regeneration quickly and with a greater diversity of tree species. To

accomplish these objectives, the Forest has fenced more acres than were anticipated in the Forest Plan. Fencing has also been used in mortality areas.

Site preparation is necessary when a significant amount of damaged or small diameter, poor-quality stems remain following a final harvest cut. To prevent

interference with new seedling development, they must be cut with a chainsaw.

In 1995, Forest personnel initiated a tree release program in regenerating stands. Desired tree seedlings or saplings sometimes grow more slowly than

other competing vegetation in young, developing forest stands. In order to assure the desired seedling/saplings survive, we release them by cutting

down the taller, competing vegetation.

Striped maple cutting occurs where tall, dense striped maple is interfering with tree seedling establishment and growth. If tree seedlings are abundant

beneath the taller striped maple, hand cutting the striped maple concurrent with the overstory removal may adequately stimulate seedling development. If

tree seedlings are not already present, the striped maple which sprouts from the cut stems will most likely require herbicide treatment to prevent it from

quickly recapturing the site. In the latter case, the striped maple , before cutting, would be taller than our spray equipment can effectively treat. Following

cutting, the stemgenerally sprouts prolifically and is well within the sprayer's effective treatment range (12 to 15 feet).

Suitable AndUnsuitable Lands

There is a requirement in 36 CFR 219.12(k)(5ii) that every 10 years land not suited for timber production shall be evaluated to determine whether it has

become suited. If it is found to be suitable, this land is to be returned to timber production. This category of monitoring will assure that information is

gathered which can be used to determine this suitability.

Methodof Measurement: Determine suitability on a stand-by-stand basis during vegetation examination data collection.

Monitoring Results: Lands designated as not suited for timber production in the Forest Plan (Table C-3) have not become suited during the last 10

years.

In 1992, Forest personnel initiated and completed an intensive data collection effort designed to provide a better description of vegetation and site

characteristics (including suitable and unsuitable lands) on 300,000 acres of Management Area 3. Data was collected on 6,000 plots located 1/4-mile apart.

Analysis of the data indicates additional acres are temporarily not suited for final harvesting until we learn more about reforestation response on themor

develop approved reforestation practices. Because the sample was designed to provide us with a large-scale estimate, we do not have an accurate

inventory of the specific sites. Reliable, site-s pecific data will not be available for several years. Additional details regarding the analysis we have

completed thus far are included in Appendix L of the November 1995 "Analysis of Timber Harvest Program Capability 1995 through 2005" for the

Allegheny National Forest.

FOREST HEALTH

Summarize Significant Changes in Health andVigor of StandConditions [36 CFR 219.12(k)(5iv)]

Methodof Measure: Annually fromvegetation examination, vegetation data, aerial observation, and ground observation.

Monitoring Results: Overall tree health and vigor in the oak forest type is improving from that observed in 1988/89 when tree mortality from the

combined effects of several gypsy moth defoliations and drought was at its peak. Little tree mortality has been identified in the oak type since then.

Such is not the case for the northern hardwood type. Substantial tree mortality developed in 1994, and tree decline continued in 1995, 1996 and 1997.

Since a large portion of the Allegheny hardwood type was defoliated for a second time in 1995 and suffered a severe late-summer drought, ANF

personnel became quite concerned about the health and vigor of the Allegheny hardwood forest type. Fortunately, the 1996 and 1997 growing seasons

were marked by abundant and regular precipitation, ideal conditions to permit some trees to begin to recover. There are, however, a number of forest

health concerns which the abundant rainfall did not ameliorate, including sugar maple decline and beech bark disease impacts. Investigations are

underway to determine some of the factors contributing to sugar maple decline.

Recent (since 1994) Tree Mortality/Decline
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Background: Recent insect and disease impacts on the Allegheny hardwood and northern hardwood forest types have created substantial stress on

trees there. Severe 1988, 1991 and August/September 1995 droughts are also a factor. Over half (260,000 acres) of the Allegheny National Forest was

moderately to severely defoliated in 1993 by several species of forest insects, primarily the elm spanworm. In 1994, over 72,000 acres were defoliated by

forest tent caterpillar and cherry scallop shell moth, and in 1995, the cherry scallop shell moth defoliated cherry on over 205,000 acres. Fortunately in

1996, populations of defoliating insects returned to their normal, non-outbreak levels. The only defoliation which occurred was 11,800 acres from cherry

scallop shell moths. No measurable defoliation occurred in these forest types in 1997.

Prior to 1994, we reported finding increasing amounts of sugar maple dieback, sparse foliage, and tree mortality. In 1994, the new tree mortality we

detected far exceeded that which had occurred in recent years. A substantial part of it appeared to have developed suddenly that year. We believe a

series of environmental stresses caused the mortality, including repeated defoliation and several droughts, though site characteristics may also play a

role. Evaluation of color infrared photos taken in mid-August 1994 showed that 89,565 acres of Management Area 3 had higher levels of tree mortality

(29% of MA 3). Over half of it appeared to be moderate to severe.

Additional mortality occurred in 1995, 1996 and 1997, though it expanded to include black cherry (which has suffered repeated cherry scallop shell moth

defoliations). Both the size of the area affected by tree mortality and the intensity of tree mortality will no doubt increase over the next few years as trees

respond to the multiple stresses that have already occurred. It usually takes several years for the full impact to develop. Adequate soil moisture is

important when trees are recovering from stress. Though rainfall was excellent during the 1996 growing season, rainfall reported for Warren County

between April 1, 1997 and November 9, 1997 showed a deficit of almost 4.7 inches. We plan to continue to assess tree mortality and decline in 1998.

Analysis: Northeast Forest Experiment Station (NEFES) Research Note NE-360, "Characteristics of Declining Forest Stands on the Allegheny National

Forest," published in June 1996, provides the best information currently available regarding the species impacted by the 1994 decline. A summary of

those findings was published in the FY95 Monitoring and Evaluation Report.

Since mid 1995, we have completed eight environmental assessments which have looked at site-specific tree mortality and ecosystem sustainability on

the ANF. Reforestation of affected sites has been a key issue addressed. Those analyses have covered 81,232 acres (through there is some overlap of

the areas examined, and it includes more than just Management Area 3) and have prescribed the following kinds of treatment:

Type of Treatment Acres

Thinning harvests 5,873

Sanitation harvests 12

Clearcuts 606

Shelterwood seed cuts 3,538

Two-aged harvests 635

Selection harvests 356

Shelterwood removal cuts 1,072

Reforestation treatment with no final

harvest

1,420

TOTAL 13,512

We continue to work cooperatively with NERS personnel, Forest Health Protection, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and Pennsylvania State

University on several projects designed to determine some of the causal factors or environmental conditions which have set the stage for tree mortality.

Mortality II EA: In October 1997, the Federal Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, located in Pittsburgh, ordered ANF personnel to revisit

specific facets of the Mortality II analysis (one of the eight environmental assessments mentioned above) and to prepare an Environmental Impact

Statement. The Court enjoined ANF personnel fromimplementing the Mortality II Project. This work is time-sensitive due to the urgency of completing

the harvest before the dead/declining timber loses its value, and due to the need to complete reforestation treatments before field conditions deteriorate

further. The following treatments were included in the Mortality II Project.

Type of Treatment Acres

Thinning 2,440

Two-aged 49

Shelterwood seed cuts 1,891

Overstory removal cuts 395

Selection harvest 356

TOTAL 5,131

* Reforestation treatments 4,363

* Reforestation with no harvest 988

TOTAL 5,351
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* Reforestation treatments include herbicide, fencing, planting and site preparation. More than one treatment may occur on a site.

ANF personnel have initiated the East Side Project Environmental Impact Statement, a project designed to analyze, in part, some of the activities which

were originally included in the Mortality II EA. It also includes activities which were formerly identified in several other project areas.

Color Infrared Digital Aerial Photography

In our continuing interest in improved technologies, we became quite interested in finding an effective and efficient technique for obtaining aerial

photographic coverage which would enhance identification of mortality, particularly individual, high-value, dead trees.

Eastman Kodak Company and USDA-Forest Service (Remote Sensing Applications Center, Salt Lake City, UT) personnel had cooperatively developed

three prototype models of a color infrared camera (still images, not video) which sounded like it would meet our needs. They tested these cameras in 1996

throughout the United States. John Omer, Entomologist with the Forest Health Protection Staff in Morgantown, WV, coordinated trial use of one of these

cameras on the ANF.

While the pictures are being taken, the images are stored digitally on a computer disc in the camera. As soon as each flight is over, the information can be

downloaded to a computer and viewed on the monitor, making it easy to immediately verify the coverage and quality of the photography. Copies of the

photos can be printed on paper with an attached laser printer, though printing does take some time to complete. Field personnel can begin to use the

imagery on fairly short notice, although it should be noted that laser printed photos may be of slightly lower quality than photographic prints.

This technology seems like a promising tool which could assist in National Forest management, particularly as additional technological advances occur.

In 1997, we had considerable difficulty obtaining an airplane on days when weather conditions were appropriate for taking photos. Though we finally

flew one project area in late summer, photographic conditions were less than optimal. A final evaluation will require additional testing.

September 1994 Tornado

In early September 1994, a tornado touched down at a few locations on the Marienville and former Sheffield Ranger Districts. Damage occurred

intermittently along a path that extended for 9.8 miles on the Marienville District and 3.5 miles on the former Sheffield District. The amount of damage

ranged fromminor patches of partial blowdown to patches of complete blowdown in a swath that is 800-900 feet wide. Three environmental documents

were prepared to address salvage and reforestation needs. A total of 545 acres of salvage thinning and 220 acres of salvage clearcut were sold in FY95.

By the end of FY 96, 231 acres of the salvage thinning and 146 acres of the salvage clearcut had been harvested. The remaining 314 acres of salvage

thinning and 74 acres of salvage clearcuts were completed in FY 97. Reforestation work and stocking surveys are either in progress or are scheduled to

be completed at the appropriate time in the regeneration areas.

May 1995 Tornado

In May 1995, a tornado touched down on the former Sheffield Ranger District. Approximately 400 acres of partial to severe blowdown occurred. In FY96,

262 acres of salvage thinning and 18 acres of salvage clearcut were sold. Treatment options for the remaining 120 acres of blowdown were analyzed in FY

96; 20 acres were included in a shelterwood seed cut that was part of the FY97 sale program, and 100 acres of light blowdown in the landscape corridor

were excluded from salvage harvest since it provides dead and down material needed in the landscape corridor. Harvests were completed in these areas

in FY97. Appropriate reforestation work has been prescribed, and tree seedling development will be monitored through stocking surveys.

May 25, 1995 Hail StormDamage

A severe hailstormon May 25, 1995, defoliated 4,880 acres of forest land on the Sheffield unit. Light defoliation occurred on 1,920 acres and moderate to

severe defoliation on 2,960 acres. Almost all of this area was subsequently defoliated again by cherry scallop shell moth in July/August 1995, and all of it

suffered from the 1995 late summer drought. In 1996 and 1997, many of the tree crowns were thin and poorly-developed in the most severely damaged

portion of this area. In 1997, about one-third of the Black cherry on a monitoring plot had crowns with a low vigor class rating. Crown development will

be assessed again in 1999. We are concerned that substantial tree mortality or decline may begin to develop. Management options for this area are being

analyzed as part of the Farnsworth and Duck Eddy-Sheriff Run Projects.

Summarize the Effectiveness of Insect and Disease Control Efforts and Status, as Determined by Forest Health Protection personnel [36 CFR

219.12(k)(5iv)]. Summary will Include a Measure of Mortality Occurring, Especially from Major Outbreaks.

Methods of Measurement:

· Aerialsurvey by Forest Health Protection Staff

· High altitude aerial photography

· Low altitude aerial photography

· Field observations
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Gypsy Moth

No gypsy moth spraying or defoliation occurred in FY 97. Forest Health Protection (FHP) personnel have conducted egg mass surveys and have

prepared an entomological evaluation to assess the defoliation potential for FY 98. They have found that gypsy moth populations have increased

dramatically since last year. The egg masses found were generally large, no parasitic wasps were observed on the egg masses, and very few old egg

masses were found. This indicates that the population is healthy and growing. Populations were highest in the northwestern part of the Forest, although

there was a general increase in gypsy moth egg masses throughout the susceptible forest types within the ANF.

Moderate to severe gypsy moth defoliation is expected to occur on 422 acres in the northwestern part of the Forest. Light to moderate defoliation is

expected to occur surrounding this area and in other areas of the susceptible forest type within the ANF. The fungus Entomophaga maimaiga was found

to be present in cadavers collected from the areas predicted to have moderate to severe defoliation. The impact of this fungus on the gypsy moth

populations will not be known untilspring 1998. No gypsy moth spraying is planned or expected in 1998

Evaluation of Results: Following a gypsy moth population crash, egg mass and caterpillar densities usually remain low for two to five years before they

begin to build again to higher levels. The last observed gypsy moth defoliation on the ANF was reported in the spring of 1993. Each Fall, FHP personnel

will continue to monitor egg mass densities, the indicator used to help assess defoliation potential and possible treatment needs for the coming spring.

Beech Bark Disease Complex

Beech bark disease complexis killing American beech trees on the Allegheny National Forest. The disease begins when beech scale insects infest the

trunk of an American beech tree. The wounds they create are then invaded by fungi (primarily Nectria spp.). Nectria infections result in lower tree quality,

or the resulting cankers may coalesce to girdle and kill the tree.

Two waves of tree infestation or colonization actually occur. The first is the wave of colonization by the scale insect, known as the "Advancing Front".

The second, known as the "Killing Front", occurs as the fungus colonizes the feeding wounds left behind by the advancing scale insects.

Monitoring Results: In 1996, personnel (P. Gundrum, A. Iskra, and M. MacKenzie) from the USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection Staff,

Morgantown, WV, completed a field evaluation of the status of the beech bark disease on the Allegheny National Forest. A report was written to

document the location of the leading edge of both of these fronts.

The last evaluation was completed in 1990. Results showed the "Advancing Front" of the beech scale complex on the ANF was located north of a line

drawn between Warren PA, and the Kane Experimental Forest, covering about 30 percent of the area within the proclamation boundary. Generally beech

scale populations were scattered within the southern portion of this area where about 16 to 18 percent of the beech was dead or affected by the disease

complex. Populations of the disease complexincreased as one moved further north and east. The "Killing Front" was located in the northeastern section

of the Bradford Ranger District, affecting about five percent of the ANF. Within the "Killing Front", about 88 percent of the beech was dead or affected

by the complex. The disease was spreading in a SW direction at about 2.5 miles per year. It was also present at one outlying location (ahead of the

advancing front) in the Heart's Content Scenic Area.

The 1996 resurvey of the ANF revealed that the percentage of the ANF infested with the scale insect ("Advancing Front") had more than doubled from

30 percent to 70 percent of the ANF. The uninfected area is on the southern border of the ANF. Within the same time frame, the "Killing Front" had also

doubled in size, now covering 10 percent of the ANF. The area occupied by the "Killing Front" encompasses only 14 percent of the area occupied by the

scale insect.

Three fungi are involved in killing the trees, two native and one exotic. On the ANF, the scale insect is spreading much faster than the Nectria fungus,

unlike other areas within the Northeastern US. For example, a survey completed in 1996 on the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia revealed

that the "Killing Front" encompasses 70 percent of the area occupied by the scale.

Three permanent beech bark disease monitoring plots (containing 400 trees) on the ANF have been examined annually since 1986. Two plots are located

within the northeast section of the ANF and one more southerly, near Westline.

1996 Survey Results: Combined plot data reveals that 5 percent of the trees on the plots had died by 1991. By 1996, 14 percent were dead. Presently scale

insects are found on 71 percent of the beech trees, down fromthe 87 percent observed in 1991. While the total number of scale infested trees may not be

substantially different between 1991 and 1996, the number of trees classified as moderately to heavily infested differs substantially, dropping from 41

percent in 1991 to 13 percent in 1996. Nectria was initially found on 3 percent of the trees and in 1996 was found on only 1.5 percent of them.

1997 Survey Results: Despite the above-mentioned advance of the beech bark disease scale Cryptococcus fagisuga on the Forest, an increase in the

amount of scale on individual trees has not occurred. Very light to light scale populations observed in past years still occurs within the permanent plots.

However, the percent of beech with any incident of scale increased from71 percent in 1996 to 75 percent in 1997.

Scale density trends may continue to be low due to the very smooth scale resistant bark found on many beech within the survey plots. Additionally, the

northerly climate conditions within this area might attenuate large scale buildup.

Tarry spots, the beech response to the presence of the developing beech bark disease fungus, Nectria coccinea var. faginata, were found on only 27

trees or 7 percent of the total trees in all 3 plots. Nectria sp. fruiting bodies were observed on only two trees at 0.6% percent of the total trees in all three

plots. Asexual fungal fruiting associated with Nectria sp., the fungal hyperparasite, Nematogonum sp., and the secondary scale Xylococculus betulae

was not observed.
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Common trends in disease development on the permanent plots should be compared to other areas of the ANF within the scale advancing zone. This

would determine the validity of predicting disease incidence trend based solely on the permanent plot data.

Evaluation of Results: The beech scale insect continues to advance across the ANF, now covering 2.3 times as much of the proclamation area as it did in

1990. However, the scale insect within the entire advancing front is much less abundant on affected trees than it was in 1990. In recent years the authors

have encountered the Twice-stabbed ladybug feeding on the scales. The authors have also noted after recent hard winters that scale populations on the

ANF appeared to decline to a greater extent than had populations on the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Perhaps biological control

agents and abiotic influences are having a greater impact on disease development in the more northerly Allegheny National Forest.

Recommendations provided in the 1992 ANF Monitoring and Evaluation Report still apply.

Pine Budworm

In 1994, about 1,500 acres of red pine plantation on the Marienville Ranger District became infested with pine budworm. Defoliation was heavy there. In

1995, these trees improved in appearance, developing more green needles in their crowns. They also suffered much less defoliation.

No defoliation occurred in 1996 or 1997. Tree crowns in previously-defoliated areas continued to improve. Though the older foliage remained abnormally

thin, as expected, the new growth appeared to be normal. Forest Health Protection personnel believe one good way to help maintain healthy red pine is to

closely regulate stand density. Thrifty, vigorously-growing trees demonstrate better recovery than do trees growing poorly in dense, over-stocked

conditions.

Pear Thrips and Maple Decline

History in Pennsylvania: The pear thrip is a tiny insect that feeds on the expanding buds of many trees, but of particular importance are sugar maple and

black cherry. It was first observed in Pennsylvania in 1912, feeding in fruit orchards in Erie County. It was not identified as a forest pest until 1979 when,

following heavy defoliation in 1978, it was found to have caused severe leaf damage on an estimated 73,000 acres in Pennsylvania. Recent literature

reports the pear thrips insect serves as a vector for a fungus that enters the thrips-created wound on the leaf and causes necrosis, deformity, and

discoloration of the leaf tissue. Since then the acreage affected has fluctuated from11,000 acres in 1985 to an estimated 1.3 million acres in 1988. Estimates

provided by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, show a state-wide reduction in the affected area to about 500,000 acres in 1989, 186,600 acres in 1990,

and to no mappable acres in 1991 or 1992. In 1993, PA DER estimated over 335,000 acres in Pennsylvania had moderate to severe pear thrips damage,

though the damage was difficult to assess since it was obscured by widespread elmspanworm defoliation. From1994 through 1997, pear thrips damage

has been minimal.

Monitoring Results: Extensive damage to sugar maple frompear thrips occurred on the Forest during FY1989. Approximately 9,600 acres suffered heavy

leaf damage, the highest level of pear thrips damage recorded on the Forest to date. Though some damage was observed in McKean County in 1990, little

mappable damage occurred in 1991, 1992, and 1994 through 1997. In 1993, moderate damage was observed during random ground observations. The

damage was impossible to map due to the widespread elmspanwormdefoliation that occurred.

Pear thrips have been implicated in the decline of sugar maple, but there is no practical control for them at present. Even with the estimates of defoliation,

it is difficult to evaluate the potential short-term and long-term effects due to our poor understanding of how thrips defoliation affects host species.

Pesticides have been used effectively to control pear thrips in orchards, but more information is needed to develop valid control strategies in forested

areas.

In FY90, Forest Health Protection personnel fromMorgantown, WV, established 30 permanent plot clusters on all Ranger Districts to monitor pear thrips

and maple decline. Plots were established within three different types of forested areas, based on the area's management history: no recent harvesting,

thinned, and final harvest with residuals.

Pear thrips trapping has taken place on at least 12 of these sites each year to determine population densities and the threat to sugar maple on the sites.

Figure 1 shows the average number of pear thrips caught per trap from1990 through 1997. Since 1994, the catch has been very low.

FIGURE1: PEAR THRIPS POPULATIONS ON THEANF SUGAR MAPLEMONITORINGPLOTS

In August 1991 and every year thereafter, each tree on the 30 permanent maple decline plots was evaluated on the basis of crown dieback, leaf dwarfing,

foliage transparency, and foliage discoloration. Each of these decline symptoms was rated in classes of 0-5 percent, 6-10 percent, 11-50 percent, and 51+

percent of the tree crown affected. Results are summarized in the following table.

TABLE15: PERCENT OF SUGAR MAPLE(ON 30 SAMPLEPLOTS) WITHMORETHAN 10 PERCENT DIEBACK

FY 91 FY 92 FY 93 FY 94 FY 95 FY 96 FY 97

Final Harvest 66 77 74 69 81 81 75

Unthinned 24 28 31 32 37 42 43

Thinned 30 32 41 39 39 43 46

Sugar maple dieback has increased in all management types since 1991. The majority of the sugar maples in the thinned and unthinned categories are still

in the 0-10 percent dieback classes. The percent of the trees in these two categories has been similar since 1995, though since 1990 slightly more dieback
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seems to have developed in the unthinned category. The majority of the sugar maples in the final harvest cut category have more than 10 percent

dieback, and this number (75%) decreased slightly fromthe 81 percent reported in FY96.

In 1995, sugar maple mortality data collected from these 30 permanent plot clusters was reviewed by Dr. Robert P. Long, NERS, Delaware, Ohio. The

following is a brief summary of the results updated (by John Omer, USDA-Forest Service, Forest Health Protection, Morgantown, WV) to include 1997

data.

The sugar maple mortality levels observed on the ANF from1990 through 1995 was much higher than the average sugar maple mortality observed from

1989 through 1994 in similar plots located throughout the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada. In fact, the ANF rate was three to four times

higher.

When the ANF plots were established in 1990, initial mortality ranged from1.7 percent to 2.5 percent for allsugar maple trees greater than or equal to 10

cmdbh, for all three management types. By 1995, sugar maple mortality for dominant and codominant trees exceeded 10 percent for all management types

(Figure 2). By 1996, sugar maple mortality reached at least 15 percent. In 1997, it remained slightly lower in the thinned plots (15.4%) than in the uncut

plots (16.6%). Mortality in the clearcut plots is more than double the mortality in the uncut or thinned plots.

FIGURE2: CUMULATIVEANNUAL SUGAR MAPLEMORTALITYOF DOMINANT AND CODOMINANT TREES ON THEANF SUGAR MAPLE

MONITORINGPLOTS

In 1995, mortality within the intermediate and suppressed crown class was more than 14 percent in thinned stands and more than 28 percent in uncut

stands (Figure 3). Mortality in each of these categories increased 4 percent by 1997, to 18 percent in thinned stands and 32 percent in unthinned stands.

(Clearcut with residuals stands had no intermediate or suppressed class.)

FIGURE3: CUMULATIVEANNUAL SUGAR MAPLEMORTALITYOF INTERMEDIATEAND SUPPRESSED TREES ON THEANF SUGAR MAPLE

MONITORINGPLOTS

We are continuing to monitor these plots and to evaluate the data collected to hopefully determine the cause or causes of this mortality and the

differences observed between management types.

Oak Mortality

Monitoring Results: As was reported in 1988 and 1989, significant amounts of oak mortality (10 to 80 percent) were confirmed in the fall of 1988 on about

18,000 acres of the Forest. This oak mortality resulted fromthe combined effects of two major natural events: repeated and extensive moderate or severe

gypsy moth defoliation from1986 to 1988, and a severe drought which occurred in the summer of 1988. These events weakened the oak trees and made

themmore susceptible to attack by two secondary pathogens, the two-lined chestnut borer and the shoestring root rot fungus, which ultimately kill the

trees. No significant additional mortality developed from1989 through 1996.

Reforestation activities, including fencing (area and individual tree), herbicide treatment, and tree planting (seedlings and acorns) have been completed

or are in progress on most of the heavily salvaged areas.

TABLE16: ACRES PLANTED AND TREESEEDLINGSURVIVAL (%) IN SALVAGEAREAS PLANTED WITHOAK*

YEAR PLANTED

Survey

Year

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

1991 76

(98%)

1992 312

(92%)

1993 76

(87%)

251

(96%)

1994 312

(75%)

142

(78%)

1995 251 164
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(87%) (91%)

1996 142

(65%)

145

(80%)

1997 164

(89%)

67

(87%)

* First number is the planted acreage surveyed and the second number (in parentheses) is the average percent survival.

Evaluation of Results: ANF personnel formally check tree seedling survival one and three years after planting. Drought most likely caused trees to die

between 1992 and 1994 on several of the areas planted in 1991, resulting in the low survival rate (75%). The low survival rate for areas planted in 1993

(65%) resulted primarily from competition fromunexpected natural seedlings that developed in two of the areas. The severe drought which occurred in

late summer, 1995, no doubt contributed to the low survival rate (80%) for the areas planted in 1995. Survival rates average better than 87 percent for the

rest of the areas.

Naturalseedlings are beginning to overtop planted seedlings in some of the areas. Where needed, we have begun hand cutting saplings and brush that

are competing with the planted oak or with naturally-occurring oak seedlings/saplings.

Oak Leaf Tier Defoliation

Approximately 1,354 acres of moderate to severe defoliation of the lower crowns of red and black oaks were detected in August 1997 on the ANF. In

contrast, the upper crowns were mostly unaffected. The defoliation was not visible fromthe air and was not detected when it initially occurred. From the

nature of the damage, FHP personnel have determined the oak leaf tier insect as the probable cause.

The oak leaf tier is a small moth whose larvae feed early in the growing season on various tree species in the red oak group. This insect was very

abundant in the Northeastern United States between 1959 and 1962, when abundant populations caused severe defoliation of host trees throughout

Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The oak leaf tier can cause severe damage to foliage of host trees in the Spring,

when newly hatched larvae enter unopened buds and feed on newly-formed leaves. At the highest population densities, the young larvae can destroy

nearly all the buds on a tree. At lower densities, these larvae produce holes in expanding leaves.

Older larvae feed more openly within the protection of webbed and folded leaves, which are "tied" together by silk. Damaged leaves appear tattered, with

only their major veins remaining. Mature larvae drop to the ground on silken threads to pupate in leaf litter by mid June. In late June, adult moth emerge.

Females lay eggs singly on twigs where the bark is rough. These eggs overwinter and hatch in early April of the following year.

No survey procedure exists for determining overwintering egg densities or for predicting future host tree damage. FHP personnel plan to monitor egg

mass densities, larval development and damage in 1998 in the areas where defoliation occurred in 1997. Data collected should be useful in developing a

survey procedure for future years.

ElmSpanworm

Monitoring Results: The FY 94 Monitoring and Evaluation Report provided a detailed account of the elm spanworm life cycle, development and

defoliation history on the ANF. Between 1991 and 1993, close to 333,000 acres were defoliated by elm spanworm(about 21,000 acres of that also included

frost and linden looper defoliation).

There has been little additional defoliation since the 260,000 acres of moderate to severe defoliation that occurred in 1993. Populations crashed in 1994,

and no egg masses were found during surveys conducted in the fall of 1995. The elmspanworm has returned to its normalstatus as a minor component

of the total forest insect population. No defoliation occurred in 1995, 1996 or 1997.

Forest Tent Caterpillar

One of the more significant types of insect damage observed in 1994 during aerial detection survey was 18,080 acres of moderate to severe forest tent

caterpillar defoliation. This was a substantial increase fromthe 4,230 acres observed in 1993.

In 1995, 55,444 acres were treated with B.t. where forest tent caterpillar defoliation was expected to be heavy, unless natural parasites or predators

intervened.

No detectable forest tent caterpillar defoliation occurred in 1995, 1996 or 1997.

Cherry Scallop Shell Moth

Statewide, this insect defoliated close to 229,750 acres in 1994 and over 858,600 acres in 1995. It produced the most significant type of defoliation

observed statewide in either year. In 1996, the area defoliated in Pennsylvania decreased 99 percent from that observed in 1995. In 1997, no acres were

defoliated by this insect in Pennsylvania.

On the ANF, this insect produced the most significant type of defoliation observed in 1995. Defoliation of National Forest land reached 205,400 acres, a

significant increase from the 3,840 acres observed in 1993 and the 54,200 acres observed in 1994. Close to 123,600 acres of the 1995 defoliation was

severe. From1992 to 1995, 666 acres have been defoliated three times by this insect, 35,562 acres twice, and 238,057 acres at least once. Most of the same
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acres have also been defoliated at least once since 1991 by elmspanwormor forest tent caterpillar.

In 1996, cherry scallop shell moth defoliation decreased to 11,800 acres, with over 8,200 acres classified as moderate to severe. Most of these areas had

already been defoliated at least once since 1993 by cherry scallop shell moth. No acres were defoliated in 1997.

This insect defoliates only black cherry trees by webbing leaves into nests and feeding on the upper surfaces. Defoliated black cherry trees may lose

vigor and become susceptible to the peach bark beetle, especially when outbreaks persist for several years and when soils are poorly drained.

Extensive black cherry dieback and mortality have not been documented from local outbreaks that occurred in the 1970s and 80s. FHP and ANF

personnel evaluated the need for and feasibility of spraying selected areas in 1996, including determining whether there are suitable survey techniques,

spray methods and pesticides. Since no insecticide is registered for use against cherry scallop shell moth, FHP and ANF personnel worked together with

Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, Kane Hardwoods and Abbott Laboratory personnel to conduct a trial B.t. treatment on Kane Hardwood property in

July 1995. This trail was partially successful though timing of the spraying (with respect to larval feeding behavior) and adverse weather may have

affected the results.

Cherry scallop shell moths overwinter in the pupal stage in the top few inches of the soil. In 1996, FHP personnel developed survey techniques and

found high pupal counts in several areas. They evaluated the potential for natural controls (primarily parasitism) to reduce the 1996 population. Though

parasitism is difficult to assess ahead of time, preliminary estimates were that populations would collapse in 1996. No spraying occurred in 1996, and

populations did collapse, with the exception of 11,800 acres scattered throughout the western half of the ANF.

FHP personnel will continue to monitor cherry scallop shell moth development.

We are concerned that substantial tree mortality may develop over the next several years on many of these areas. Severe droughts have occurred during

the summers of 1988, 91 and 95. Since 1991, black cherry trees have also suffered some defoliation by other insects. By the end of August 1995, most new

leaves were less than one-half normal size, and tree crown foliage density was substantially less than normal. Some trees did not refoliate at all. The full

effect may not be seen for several years, or it may increase substantially if additional stresses occur within the next three to five years (for more

information, see the following discussion regarding black cherry health).

Black Cherry Health Assessment

An assessment, BLACK CHERRY HEALTH ASSESSMENT - ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST - 1997, was completed by Robert E. Acciavatti,

Entomologist, Forest Health Protection, USDA Forest Service, Morgantown, WV and, Timothy P. Virden, Forest Technician, Ecosystem Management,

Allegheny National Forest, Warren, PA.

The following summarizes crown vigor and dieback data collected in 1995, 1996 and 1997 from864 black cherry trees at seven locations on the ANF. A

similar assessment will be made in August 1999.

Recent natural disturbances on the Allegheny National Forest, especially fromseveral annual defoliations by the cherry scallop moth from 1993 through

1995, were considered a threat to the health of black cherry trees. The severe droughts in 1988, 1991, and late summer 1995, are additional, severe stresses

the trees have suffered.

Field sampling was performed in 1995, 1996 and 1997 to assess the status and trends in health of the black cherry resource of the ANF. The health

assessment was based on black cherry crown vigor and dieback as indicators of tree decline and crown mortality. Forest stands were sampled where

black cherry trees had experienced the highest frequencies of defoliation since 1993. Initially, the assessment included about 600 black cherry trees in five

stands on the Marienville Ranger District, that had either two or three defoliations. In 1996, another 83 black cherry trees on the Bradford Ranger District

were added to the assessment. This latter area had been severely defoliated by a hailstorm in May 1995, and again by cherry scallop shell moth in

July/August 1995. In 1997, a seventh location containing 174 trees on the Bradford Ranger District was added.

Crown vigor: Results based on an assessment of black cherry crown vigor at the end of 1995 growing season indicated that a large majority (85%) of the

black cherry resource on the Allegheny NF was healthy or showed only light decline (vigor classes 1 and 2) despite the recent defoliations and drought.

The remainder of the black cherry resource had worse crown vigor (13% with moderate or severe decline, 2% dead). Furthermore, this health situation

remained virtually unchanged after the 1996 growing season (even though defoliation was absent and precipitation was above normal) and the 1997

growing season. However, from1995 through 1997, there has been a gradual improvement (38% to 62%) in trees classified as healthy (vigor class 1), as

trees showing light decline (vigor class 2) in crown vigor recovered.

The proportion of black cherry trees in the healthiest two crown vigor classes were about the same (84% to 88%) at the end of each growing season

regardless of whether two or three defoliations had occurred.

While these findings represent average conditions, there is variation in the health of the Black cherry resource. Some stands sampled showed little

decline. By contrast, the residual black cherry trees in the most disturbed stand (defoliated, hail damaged) had the lowest proportion (66%) in the

healthiest crown vigor classes at the end of 1996 and 1997 (71%).

Crown Dieback: Results based on crown dieback at the end of the 1996 growing season indicated that the proportion of black cherry trees with 30

percent or greater dieback, was higher after three defoliations (11%) than after two defoliations (7%). Trees with mostly dead crowns doubled in

occurrence (2% to 5%) between the 1995 and 1996 growing seasons. However, nearly all (88%) were poletimber or smallsawlog sized black cherry trees.

Crown dieback data for 1997 has not been summarized.

Recommendations are to continue the assessment, at least through 1999, to determine if the health of the ANF black cherry resource will exhibit a major
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improvement after another growing season free fromdefoliation.

Implement a DetailedSampling Program to Monitoring Soil Productivity Changes to Determine if Cumulative Impacts are within Forest Plan Limits.

Methodof Measure: Actual field observation measurements of activity area covered (activity area is the total area of ground impacted by an activity - all

areas that had observable traffic surface disturbance plus all areas that have been displaced, puddled, eroded, rutted and/or observed compaction).

Monitoring Results:

TABLE17: PERCENT OF 1997 TIMBER HARVEST AREAS

UNDISTURBED/DISTURBED

(Data from 4 Sample Areas - 43 Transects) (cont.)

Visual Condition Class 1997

MA 3.0

1990-1997

Undisturbed Area

1

- Large Rocks 01.7 02.3

- Open 56.7 59.1

- Slash 32.4 24.0

Total Undisturbed (%) 90.8 86.0

Disturbed Area

--Skid Trails (open) 6.1 7.3

(slash) 0.2 0.4

--Displacement 1.7 1.7

--Puddled 0.0 0.1

--Erosion 0.0 0.2

--Observed compaction 9 (three or more

passes or rutting)

1.2 4.3

Total Disturbed (%) 9.2 14.0

Timber Sale Activity Area Covered

2 9.2 14.0

Number of Transects 43 311

Soil Groups Found in Transects (%)

-Group I (well drained) 28 49

-Group II (moderately well drained) 72 44

-Group III (poorly drained) 0 7

1 Large rocks = one foot or larger; open areas = free of large rocks and slash; slash = areas covered by slash.

2 Activity Area = The total area of ground surface impacted by an activity (all areas that had observable traf ic plus all displacements, puddled,

eroded, rutted and/or observed compaction).

Evaluation of Results: This monitoring represents four cutting units on four different timber sales. Sale administration was above average (3.8) for skid

trails and landings (a score of 3 is average/good) for most criteria. One water bar was only trapping water, not diverting it. Areas needing improvement

are compliance with construction standards, with a rating of 2.6. Revegetation rated below average with a 1.7; it could not be determined if seeding had

been done.

Timber sale activity "area disturbed" was very good at 9.2 percent. The Forest Plan states that disturbance should be below 15 percent (FLMP 4-21 to 4-

23). This is 39% better than the standard. Most timber sale activity was from one or two passes of the skidder (6.3%). Observed compaction and

displacement accounted for the serious disturbance (2.9%). Moderately well and poorly drained soils (Soil Group II and Soil Group III) will continued to

be monitored as they are most subject to compaction.

WATER QUALITY

Methodof Monitoring: Three streams on the Forest were monitored for any possible effects fromnearby land management activities. The parameter that

was measured was the level of sediment in the streams in an effort to determine if best management practices are effective. This year was the third year of

baseline monitoring for Arnot Run before land disturbing activities begin, thus there are no results to report. For the two other streams (Lewis Run and a

tributary), monitoring has occurred for five years.

Monitoring Results:
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Average Embeddedness

Year Lewis Run Lewis Run Tributary

1993 16% 16%

1994 14% 11%

1995 12% 14%

1996 14% 11%

1997 12% 12%

Embeddedness is a measure of the percentage of fine material (sand-sized and smaller) in the streambed that embeds, or surrounds, larger particles that

are important to fish and aquatic insect habitat. The lower the percentage, the better the habitat is. Thirty percent is considered the level where impacts to

aquatic species begin to occur. The approved land management activities that have the potential to affect water quality are complete in the Lewis Run

watershed. Prior to hauling of the timber, the road crossing in the upper reach of the Lewis Run tributary site was surfaced with limestone to reduce

sediment runoff. As indicated in the results, the data suggests no significant change in the average embeddedness to date fromany land management

activities that have occurred.

It is recommended to discontinue monitoring on Lewis Run and the tributary. Continue with monitoring the Arnot Run site, as the road reconstruction

and construction has not yet begun.

Management Indicator Species

As part of the monitoring of brook trout, the cold-water management indicator species, water quality is tested. One grab sample was taken fromeach of

the four streams being monitored annually, and taken to a local lab for analysis. A variety of parameters were measured. Also, stream temperature was

measured on a daily basis fromMay to September using an automatic recording thermograph.

Results: Based on the analysis, the water quality of the four streams meet Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) water quality

standards. Based on the results of the thermographs, streamtemperatures are adequate to support cold-water aquatic communities.

It is recommended to continue annual monitoring of these four streams on the Forest.

Routine Surveys

Water quality was assessed in six streams located in areas where possible land management activity is being analyzed. Grab sample(s) were taken from

the streams and analyzed at a local lab.

Results: Results of the analysis indicate that the streams meet DEP water quality standards. However, one stream had four parameters that were

unusually high. While none of the parameters exceeded DEP criteria at the location on the stream where the sample was taken, chloride was within 2 mg/l

of exceeding the State criteria of 150 mg/l. Upon further surveys of water quality with a hand-held conductivity meter (an indirect indicator of chloride)

upstream of the original sample location, it was found that conductivity measurements were extremely high and at levels that are fatal to aquatic life.

Although the State does not have a criteria for conductivity, it was obvious that there was an outside influence. We reported our findings to DEP, who in

turn contacted the oil and gas lease owner. It was found by the State that a brine spill had occurred because of ruptured pipes, causing a leak into the

stream.

It is recommended to continue routine surveys of water quality, primarily in conjunction with Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission fisheries surveys,

and also for use with proposed land-use activities on the Forest.

Big Mill Creek Liming Project

Limestone was applied to Big Mill Creek in April in an attempt to improve the buffering capacity of the stream water. Monitoring was initiated to

determine the effectiveness of the treatment. The objective was to maintain a pH at or above 6.0. Unlike the drought conditions and low flows in 1995,

and the higher rainfall and runoff amounts in 1996, flows appeared to be near normal for 1997.

Results: Of the ten readings taken during two runoff events in April and May (after the treatment), only one reached a pH reading of 6.0. After these first

few measurements, pH readings tended to stay above 6.0 because of normal flow levels, and fewer high runoff events. However, it appears that the

amount of limestone being applied is not sufficient to increase/maintain a pH of 6.0 during early season runoff events, and it was also not sufficient

enough during high flows experienced throughout 1996. However, pH was kept above the 5.5 level, a level in which aluminumbecomes toxic to fish.

The main objective was to maintain a pH at 6.0 or greater. A more realistic goal may be to maintain a pH at or above 5.5. Continue with this program as

long as a willing partner can provide the limestone sand and the application of it to the stream.

Road Surfacing/Runoff Study

A two-year study evaluating different types of surfacing applied to Forest roads and the resulting runoff water quality characteristics was completed in

1997. Specifically, the primary purpose was to assess the limestone surfacing of two roads, and analyze any changes to physical, chemical, and biological

characteristics of streams and runoff. In addition, two other roads were used as controls that were not surfaced with limestone, but were not fully studied

due to funding and time constraints. The main focus of the study was to quantify sediment concentration and yield, which was calculated for both road
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runoff (what was coming directly fromthe roads) and streamwater (what was coming fromthe watershed as a whole). Turbidity (which is the cloudiness

of the water) was also calculated from one of the study roads. The two year study occurred in 1995 and 1996, two contrasting weather years. The year

1995 was a dry year in which many counties in Pennsylvania were declared in a drought condition. In contrast, 1996 saw above normal rainfall amounts,

and was a very wet and cool year. The results displayed in the tables in this section are averages from four storms in the fall of 1995 and five storms in

the fall of 1996. Our scope of the project became limited when we didn't get sufficient storms in 1995 to evaluate a full year of baseline information on

runoff. Thus we limited our post-treatment analysis to the fall of 1996 to be consistent with our sampling in the fall of 1995.

Sedimentation Results: Sediment (referred to in the following table as inorganic suspended solids - ISS) concentration and yield were measured at

selected culverts draining the road surface. Sediment concentration is defined as the amount of sediment in a given volume of water. The following

results show the concentration and yield of sediment in 1995 (pre-treatment) and after treatment in 1996 at five culverts along one of the roads. These

surveys, as mentioned earlier, only occurred in the fall months of each year due to the drought in 1995 and staying consistent with this time frame in

1996. Thus the results are not year-round. There is actually 15 culverts draining the road that eventually lead to the stream, but only the five were

measured because they drained only road runoff, while the remaining 10 drained both road runoff and small adjacent watersheds.

Ave. ISS (concentration

(grams/liter)

Ave. Discharge/storm

(liters/storm)

Ave. yield/storm

(grams)

Culvert 1995 1996 1995 1996 1995 1996

5 0.70 0.14 9,508 63,375 6,656 8,873*

7 0.30 0.09 10,361 33,827 3,108 3,044

9 0.15 0.04 15,028 36,440 2,254 1,458

16 0.11 0.15 27,317 34,923 3,005 5,238

17 0.15 0.13 58,486 63,670 8,773 8,277

* The area drained by culvert 5 doubled in 1996 due to additional road construction (turnout)

The data suggests that sediment concentration was significantly reduced from sections of road that were surfaced with limestone (culverts 5, 7 and 9),

even with significantly higher discharge amounts in 1996. At the section that was not surfaced with limestone, concentration increased at one culvert

and decreased at the other. These were much smaller changes than culverts 5, 7 and 9, presumably because runoff was only slightly higher in 1996 than

in 1995 at culverts 16 and 17.

In addition to ISS, turbidity was measured at the culverts draining the road surface. This was done to determine the cloudiness of the water leaving the

road. The following table displays the results based on the measurement of several runoff events, and is the average of those measurements.

TABLE18: AVERAGETURBIDITY(NTU) FROMFOREST ROAD 133

Culvert Fall 1995 Fall 1996 RoadSurface In 1996

5 1,524 (31) 261 (32) limestone

7 1,695 (37) 215 (33) limestone

9 657 (34) 139 (32) limestone

46 582 (38) 549 (24) sandstone

17 524 (35) 346 (24) sandstone

The number in parenthesis is the number of samples taken. Based on the information collected, the data suggests that the limestone surfacing

significantly reduces turbidity of the water leaving the road surface. Visual observations of other roads surfaced with limestone around the Forest have

witnessed similar results.

The amount of runoff along the limestoned section of road was 242-667% more in 1996, but yet turbidity decreased substantially (Table 18). However,

slight decreases in turbidity were also measured at the two culvert sites that had no limestone surfacing, even though discharge increased 109 and 128

percent. One of the possible explanations for this is that during wet years, road material tends to bind together more readily than when it is dry and loose.

If there is a long period between rain storms, more road material is susceptible to runoff because it is loose and dry. The limestone, because it is much

harder than sandstone, is less susceptible to this breakdown and thus produces less fines. This is evident by the fact that turbidity was lowest at

culverts 16 and 17 in 1995, but was highest in 1996, showing a control by limestone in the treatment sections.

Physical Results: To determine physical changes to stream substrate, embeddedness and percent substrate particle composition were measured. These

measurements were made at six sites in four different streams, including two streams adjacent to limestone surfaced roads, and two used as controls (one

road which surfaced with pit-run and the other road is closed and grass-covered).

Five sites showed high physical habitat quality within riffle habitats. Substrate composition at these five sites was made up of at least 80% gravel and

cobble size material (average embeddedness consistently rated good to excellent at four of these same sites). The one site that did not rate this high was

located along the upper reaches of a limestone surfaced road, and on average was the closest to the road of any sites. The site had poor habitat quality,

and besides being very close to the road, it had the lowest gradient. With a lower gradient, sand and fines tend to settle out a higher rate, and are not as

easily flushed downstream.
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Biological Results: Six sites were surveyed for aquatic insect diversity and abundance. The sites were located on four different streams, including two

treated and two control streams. The drought condition in 1995 resulted in only five of the sites being able to be surveyed because of limited sampling

areas.

The results of the aquatic insect survey showed that, in 1995, the metrics were much lower than in 1996. But the authors of the study could not conclude

that the improvements in the aquatic community in 1996 were a result of the limestone treatment since the drought adversely affected the aquatic

community in 1995. The authors conclusions were that changes in the aquatic insect community were related more to the climatic and seasonal

differences (drought in 1995 and wet year in 1996) at allsites, rather than inorganic pollution.

Where roads and streams are located in close proximity to each other, consideration should be given to the use of limestone, or its equivalent, to

minimize sediment yield and turbidity.

Hoffman FarmTimber Sale

The timber sale is located in the same area as the road study discussed above. During the road study in 1996, a significant increase in sediment yield was

measured near a temporary road during and after a rainstorm. This temporary road was built here many years ago, probably for access to the pipeline

right-of-way, and was now being used to access several timber cutting units (payment units 4, 6, 7, 42), including one of the adaptive management stands

being studied for uneven-age management. The road was surfaced with pit-run material (sandstone). At the end of the temporary road, a skid trail

continues into these cutting units. The first section of the skid trail is the steepest, and is located above two springs. The temporary road leading into the

units parallels a perennial stream, with little to no filtering ability. However, when the road was reshaped, it was insloped away from the stream. Some of

the runoff went into a sediment basin, and some continued downslope into another stream/spring on the other side of the road. One of the requirements

was that the uneven-age stand was to be harvested during the dormant season, requiring the road and skid trails to be used throughout the year.

Results: Sediment yield increased significantly above what was measured previous to the use of the temporary road and the skidding of timber above the

road and springs. The results show that both the stream on the west side of the road and the spring on the east side of the road showed increases in

sediment yield.

An alternate route would have been more desirable to access the cutting units. This may have also resulted in the steeper sections of the skid trails

above the springs being located on less steep terrain. If an alternate route could not have been located, then this temporary road and log landing should

have been surfaced with something other than pit-run material (sandstone). The surfacing material could have been a harder commercial stone. In

addition, the uneven-age stand should have been harvested during the growing season, and not the dormant season. This would have allowed the

steeper sections of the skid trail above the springs to be heavily mulched during the dormant season, when runoff increases, and reduced the use on the

temporary road.

Marienville andRocky GapATV Trail/Water Resource Survey

A survey was conducted at several locations on these two trail systems where the potential for runoff into watercourses (perennial and intermittent

streams, springs, seeps) could occur. The objective was to evaluate the trail at these locations, determine if there was any concern or not, and then to

make recommendations for addressing any concerns.

Results: Several sites on the trailsystems were identified as needing some type of additional work to address runoff and sediment concerns. The sites

were either crossings or where the trail paralleled a stream course. Several of the sites needing sediment control work were maintenance related, while

others were related to the layout of the trail. Some locations could not be mitigated or maintained to prevent a chronic sediment source, and thus were

recommended for relocation. Other locations could have sediment control, but would require more frequent maintenance.

As a result of the survey, work is commencing on addressing the sites identified as runoff and sediment concerns.

The recommendation is to monitor selected sites fromboth trailsystems that are being improved to determine if sediment control is being attained.

OIL, GAS, AND MINERALS (OGM)

Evaluation of OGMActivities to Verify the Effectiveness of Negotiations in Obtaining Industry Compliance with Standards

Methodof Measure: The Allegheny National Forest OGM evaluation form was used. Monitoring was conducted by the Ecosystems Management Team

and representatives fromthe Ranger Districts by numerically scoring each of the 34 criteria for the entire case for 3 cases. Scores ranged from1 to 10 (1 =

poor; 5 = minimumacceptable; 8 = OGM Handbook standard; and 10 = excellent).

Monitoring Results: See Table 19 on next page.

TABLE19: THIRTY-FOUR MONITORED OGMCRITERIA
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BYMANAGEMENT AREA (cont.)

Criteria Average

Rating

FY97

Ave.

Annual

Rating

FYs 86-97

1 -Right to Operate 1 8.7 6.0

2 -Maps 9.3 7.3

3 -Operating Plan 7.3 4.1

4 -Erosion Plan 7.3 6.5

5 -Spill Plan 5.3 4.4

6 -Environmental Analysis 10.0 8.3

7 -Designated Representative 10.0 6.3

8 -Forest Service Inspection 6.3 7.0

9 -Documentation 7.0 7.0

10 -Road Location 8.0 7.9

11 -StreamCrossing NA 7.8

12 -% Road Mile-Grade 10.0 8.5

13 -% Road/Cross-drains 10.0 7.6

14 -Road Clearing Width 9.3 8.3

15 -Road Stabilization 7.0 7.3

16 -Road Management Permit 10.0 7.9

17 -Road Management - % Drains 8.0 8.2

18 -Road Management - Surface 8.0 7.9

19 -Road/ROW Restorations NA 7.2

20 -Timber Output 8.0 7.7

21 -Recreation 8.0 7.8

22 -Fish NA 7.5

23 -Wildlife 8.7 6.7

24 -Visual 8.7 7.6

25 -StreamCondition NA 7.1

26 -Tank/Battery 10.0 7.2

27 -Pipeline/Electric 9.3 7.6

28 -Signs/Gates 8.0 6.4

29 -Timber Utilization 7.7 7.8

30 -Well Sites 10.0 8.0

31 -Litter/Trash 8.7 8.7

32 -Safety 9.3 7.3

33 -Old Wells NA 8.3

34 -Used Equipment 8.3 8.7

Average of 34 Criteria 8.5 7.3

1 - Refers to criterion number on monitoring form - CHART III in Oil/Gas Handbook on monitoring.

Evaluation of Results: Overall, total samples (for 34 criteria) averaged 8.5, slightly above the handbook standard of 8.0. Documentation of project

activities is generally good. There is, however, a need for better documentation that verifies when the "Minard Run" requirements are met by the OGM

developer.

An emphasis on Spill Plan development is also necessary.

Estimate the Amount of OGMActivity on the Forest From the Number of Producing Wells, the Number of Wells Drilled, or Other Measure.

Methodof Measure: FromRanger Districts EAs for 1997.

Monitoring Results: There were 102 new wells drilled on Federal lands in 1997. No USA-ownership wells were plugged in FY97.
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TABLE20: WELLS DRILLED IN 1997 BYMANAGEMENT AREA

Management Area # of Wells Drilled

3.0 102

Total 102

Evaluation of Results: The Forest Plan estimates that for the low oil/gas scenario, 86 wells would be developed per year, and for the high scenario, 860

wells.

Status of Lands Available for Exploration andDevelopment of USA-OwnedMinerals

Methodof Measure: By deed search, and maintenance of this list.

Monitoring Results:

MINERAL OWNERSHIP AND STATUS

Status Acres Ownership/

Acres

USA-OWNED MINERALS 34,973

- Withdrawn (Hickory Creek/River Islands

Wilderness

and NationalRecreation Areas

13,960.57

- Mineral ownership only 4,297.00

- Leased 1,035.16

- Available for lease 15,680.23

OUTSTANDING AND RESERVED

OWNERSHIP

478,186

TOTAL ACRES (rounded to nearest whole

acre)

513,159

Forty percent (13,961 acres) of the total USA-owned mineral acreage is not available for exploration and/or development and 60 percent (21,012 acres) is

available. The "available" acreage represents only four percent of the Forest's total land base of 513,161 acres. The subsurface oil/gas rights on the

remaining 478,186 acres are reserved or outstanding.

Cubic Yards of Rock Surfacing Usedfor Contracts, Permits, andFree Use

Methodof Measure: Actual amount included in permits, contracts, and visual observations of pit use.

Monitoring Results:

TABLE21: USAGEOF ROCKMATERIALS IN 1997

Use Cubic Yards Forest Plan

Oil, Gas Minerals (free use) 200 41,000

Forest Service Roads 60,266 103,000

Trails 0 N/A

Permits/Contracts 0 N/A

Total Cubic Yards used in 1997 60,466 144,000

Total (1986 - 1997) 1,806,747 1,584,000

Evaluation of Results: Usage in FY97 is 42 percent of estimated Forest Plan use. Of the total amount used this year, .33 percent was used for oil, gas, and

mineral development (the Forest Plan estimate was 29%). Of the stone used on Forest Service roads, approximately nine percent (5,585 cubic yards) was
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commercialstone that was purchased fromprivate lands.

Mineral Material Pit Management

Monitoring Criteria: (See Table 22)

Monitoring Results:

TABLE22: 1997 MINERAL PIT MANAGEMENT

Monitoring Criterion 1997 FY89-97

Pit plan development 4.3 4.2

Pit addressed in EA 4.7 4.5

Development follows plan 6.5 4.4

Restored, and to landform 6.0 5.1

Present management of stone 7.4 6.3

Wildlife management 6.0 4.5

Visual quality 6.4 5.1

Litter/trash 10.0 8.6

Unused equipment 10.0 9.0

AVERAGECriteria 6.8 5.7

Note: A rating of "8" is the Forest standard (1 is low; 10 is high).

Evaluation of Results: This monitoring expresses project planning and long-termplanning and implementation efforts in managing the results of mineral

materials extraction. More emphasis needs to be placed on the desired future condition, restoration, and opportunities for developing wildlife habitat on

the partially- or fully-exhausted mineral pit and its affected area. Some pit plans were absent.

TABLE23: NUMBER OF MINERAL PITS DEVELOPED (by MA)

MA Total

Closed

Total

Open

Total Pits

1.0 1 1 2

2.0 6 1 7

3.0 161 253 414

5.0 0 0 0

6.1 27 36 63

6.2 7 6 13

6.3 0 0 0

6.4 0 1 1

7.0 0 0 0

8.0 0 0 0

9.1 1 1 2

Totals 203 299 502

HABITAT

Summarize the Following Components of the DesiredFuture Condition by MA: % Opening, % OldGrowth, % Conifer Cover, Acres of Aspen Type,

Age Class Distribution, andAcres of Oak Type

Method of Measure: The following chart lists five variables for determining the diversity of habitat and progress towards the Desired Future Condition

on the Forest.

Habitat Variable Acres Existing %

Forest Habitat

Forest Plan

DFC

1

Conifer 18352 3.6 5-10%

Oak 81557 15.9 18%

Aspen 3978 1.0 2%

Openings 24393 5.0 6%

7445 1.5 16%
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Late Successional

2

1 Desired Future Condition based on vegetation conditions after 15 decades of Forest Plan

implementation (Forest Plan FEIS, p. 4-94)

2 Stands older than 110 years (for this analysis)

Evaluation of Results: This information is based on 512,927 acres of National Forest Land that have been inventoried over the past 20 years. Some

discrepancies exist in the data, and further refinements are continuing. Except for late successional habitats, we are approaching the desired future

condition for the habitat variables. About 102,200 acres are between 90 and 109 years old, so additional acres will be moving into the late successional

habitat in the next 20 years. We should continue to plant conifer and enhance/maintain the existing conifer component throughout the Forest.

TABLE 24: HABITAT ACRES BY AGE CLASS FOR SELECTED

MANAGEMENT AREAS (cont.)

MA Habitat 0-19 20-59 60-89 90-109 110+ No

Age

1

Total

1.0 Conifer 30 347 217 24 0 0 618

Oak 0 0 31 0 0 0 31

Hardwoods

* 779 534 4,984 12 0 0 6,309

Aspen 201 93 149 11 0 0 454

Openings

** 8 0 0 0 0 593 601

2.0 Conifer 0 16 47 41 0 0 104

Oak 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hardwoods 40 209 1,845 1,235 9 0 3,338

Aspen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Openings 0 0 0 0 0 55 55

3.0 Conifer 76 2,854 5,592 1,207 505 78 10,312

Oak 672 956 12,479 7,724 597 268 22,696

Hardwoods 27,356 21,101157,974 52,684 1,831 6,557259,138

Aspen 382 623 950 22 0 23 2,000

Openings 83 174 464 60 0 8,864 9,645

5.0 Conifer 0 64 254 223 0 0 541

Oak 0 0 496 0 0 28 524

Hardwoods 179 80 6,358 220 0 0 6,837

Aspen 0 0 35 0 0 0 35

Openings 0 0 0 0 0 192 192

6.1 Conifer 58 1,504 2,653 1,192 247 34 5,688

Oak 936 790 21,907 9,641 1,369 273 34,943

Hardwoods 3,811 6,072 51,245 14,513 1,656 172 77,469

Aspen 242 542 459 63 0 0 1,306
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Openings 9 0 130 37 0 12,294 12,470

6.2 Conifer 0 12 119 87 0 0 218

Oak 0 67 2,948 622 0 0 3,637

Hardwoods 1,177 1,556 8,107 4,857 12 0 15,709

Aspen 0 23 16 0 0 0 39

Openings 0 22 0 0 0 328 350

6.3 Conifer 0 24 0 0 0 0 24

Oak 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hardwoods 41 75 248 27 0 0 391

Aspen 0 78 65 0 0 0 143

Openings 0 0 0 0 0 497 497

6.4 Conifer 0 42 14 3 113 0 172

Oak 0 0 10,067 1,718 538 5,353 17,676

Hardwoods

* 0 76 1,356 4,822 449 0 6,653

Aspen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Openings

** 0 0 0 0 0 21 21

7.0 Conifer 0 5 22 0 0 0 27

Oak 0 0 646 711 0 0 1,357

Hardwoods

* 0 54 521 58 119 0 752

Aspen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Openings

** 0 0 0 0 0 375 375

8.0 Conifer 0 0 2 0 0 0 2

Oak 0 0 0 47 0 0 47

Hardwoods

* 0 41 9 26 0 0 76

Aspen 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Openings

** 0 0 0 0 0 168 168

9.1 Conifer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Oak 72 1 358 215 0 0 646

Hardwoods

* 27 39 123 123 0 0 312

Aspen 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

Openings

** 0 0 0 0 0 19 19

TOTAL 36,179 38,036292,874 102,201 7,425 36,192512,927

1 No Age Class indicates an uneven-aged stand.

* Hardwoods includes Northern Hardwoods, Allegheny Hardwoods, and Forest Survey Types 72, 76, 79, 81, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, and 89.
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** Openings include low stocked savannahs as described in the Forest Plan.

WILDLIFE

Measure Habitat and Population Trends for Management Indicator, Game, and Threatened and Endangered Species Based on a Specific Wildlife and

Fish Monitoring Guide

and

Obtain Population TrendData for Several Game Species from Pennsylvania Game andPennsylvania Fish andBoat Commissions [36 CFR 219.99]

AppendixB of the Forest Plan identifies the wildlife species to be monitored. These species can be grouped into three categories:

Game Species White-tailed Deer Black Bear

Ruffed Grouse Woodcock

Beaver

Management Indicator Species White-tailed Deer Ruffed Grouse

Woodcock Red-Shouldered Hawk

Magnolia Warbler Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Beaver Pileated Woodpecker

Black-throated Green Warbler Barred Owl

Hermit Thrush Timber Rattlesnake

Great Blue Heron

Federally-ListedThreatenedBald Eagle Small Whorled Pogonia

or EndangeredSpecies Clubshell Mussel Northern Riffleshell Mussel

During the development of the Forest Plan, wildlife species were selected as management indicator species to monitor trends in habitat capability for

themand other associated species with similar habitat requirements.

TABLE25: MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES

Species Habitat Indicator

White-tailed Deer Regenerating Deciduous

American Woodcock Permanent Openings

Regenerating Deciduous

Magnolia Warbler Regenerating Hemlock

Beaver Regenerating Deciduous (aspen)

Black Throated Green

Warbler

Mature Mixed Hemlock -

Deciduous

Hermit Thrush Mature Mixed Hemlock -

Deciduous with dense understory

Barred Owl Old-growth Mixed Hemlock -
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Deciduous

Great Blue Heron Old-growth Mixed Hemlock -

Deciduous

Ruffed Grouse Regenerating Deciduous

Red-shouldered Hawk Mature Deciduous

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Mature Deciduous

Pileated Woodpecker Old-growth Deciduous

Timber Rattlesnake Regenerating Deciduous

White-tailedDeer

Table 26 is a summary of winter deer densities over the past 11 years. These densities are calculated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) based

on deer harvest data and hunter report cards. During the Spring of 1997, Allegheny National Forest personnel completed 12 pellet group transects to

supplement the pellet group monitoring being conducted by the Northeastern Research Station (NERS). These pellet group transects are summarized in

Table 27.

TABLE26: WINTER DEER POPULATION PER SQUAREMILEOF FORESTED LAND

YEAR (Winter Deer Density)

County Density

Goal

86-

87

87-

88

88-

89

89-

90

90-

91

91-

92

92-

93

93-

94

94-

95

95-

96

96-97

Elk 21 31 33 29 30 25 21 22 26 30 29 23

Forest 23 33 36 32 35 31 24 28 29 32 33 29

McKean 20 29 28 26 26 23 22 25 28 26 26 25

Warren 21 30 31 32 32 30 30 31 27 29 27 30

TABLE27: ALLEGHENYNATIONAL FOREST DEER PELLET GROUP TRANSECTS

Transect Deer/square

mile

Hammer Area 6.55

Minister Valley 18.7

Tracey Ridge 9.4

Hickory North 16.6

East Tracy Ridge 8.0

Hickory South 7.5

Millstone West 39.0

Millstone East 11.0

Otter Run 52.0

Bear Creek 3.2

Pine Run 3.8

Grouseland 15.9

Evaluation of Results: The pellet groups transects demonstrate the variability of the deer density across the Forest. This transect data supports the

density figures calculated by the PGC but shows that densities can be much higher and much lower than the average county density. On average, deer

densities across the four-county area declined fromthe 1996 levels but remain above the PGC goals.

Black Bear

TABLE28: BLACKBEAR HARVEST SINCE1986, BYCOUNTY

Average
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County 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 Total

Elk 58 72 74 93 32 131 55 65 37 63 54 734 68

Forest 21 23 50 85 59 29 33 52 16 51 41 460 42

McKean 63 58 134 147 55 90 98 75 36 102 96 954 87

Warren 30 34 42 62 39 46 37 33 28 62 59 472 43

Total 172 187 300 387 185 296 223 225 117 278 250 2,620 238

Evaluation of Results: Bear populations appear to be stable to slightly increasing. After a below-average harvest in 1994, a large harvest occurred in

1995, and a slightly above average harvest in 1996. Statewide, this was the fourth largest harvest on record. Harvests are usually better when there is

snow on the ground and winds are calm. It appears that a harvest of about 250-300 bears annually can be sustained in the four-county area.

RuffedGrouse

No ruffed grouse drumming surveys were completed in 1997 because of the additional monitoring work load associated with the deer pellet group

surveys.

Woodcock

Woodcock singing ground surveys were not conducted during 1997. However, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service singing-ground surveys show a

continuing decrease in woodcock populations throughout the Eastern and Central regions of the United States. Trends for the 1986-96 period were

computed for 363 routes in the Eastern Region and 457 routes in the Central Region. Eastern and Central region breeding population trends declined 3.2

and 3.7% per year, respectively, during this period.

BarredOwls

No barred owl data was collected in 1997.

Small WhorledPogonia

The Small Whorled Pogonia is a Federally-listed endangered plant that occurs near Oil City, fifteen miles west of the Forest boundary, and Port Matilda,

55 miles east of the Forest boundary. In Pennsylvania, it mainly occurs on dry oak sites on benches, saddles, or near the beginning of intermittent

drainages, usually on south or southeast facing slopes. This orchid also occurs in a variety of different habitats from New Hampshire to Georgia. The

following table summarizes the approximate acreage surveyed for Small Whorled Pogonias each fiscal year. No Small Whorled Pogonias have been found

on the Allegheny National Forest.

TABLE29: APPROXIMATEACREAGEOF SMALL WHORLED POGONIA SURVEYS

Year 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Total

Acres

Surveyed

1,000 1,960 2,740 900 24,320 6,509 17,028 36,212 49,880 59,112 27,600 227,261

Evaluation of Results: With more than 227,000 acres surveyed, no Small Whorled Pogonias have been found; however, this species is rare,

inconspicuous, and may not emerge from the ground every year. Historically high deer populations may have had a negative effect on this orchid. An

updated Recovery Plan for this species was issued by the USDA - Fish and Wildlife Service in 1993. After discussions with USDI-Fish and Wildlife

Service biologists, new survey procedures were implemented.

Fishers

A total of 38 fishers were released on the Allegheny National Forest in 1997. Four females were radio-collared and tracked by Pennsylvania

State/Frostburg State University students. Four fishers died (three were highway mortalities, and one was killed by a predator). This project is a

cooperative effort involving the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania State University, Frostburg State University, Pennsylvania Federation of

Sportsmen's Clubs, Northern Allegheny Conservation Association, Beatty Warren Middle School Ecology Club, Pennsylvania Wild Resource

Conservation Fund, National Forest Foundation, Allegheny National Forest and others. Additional fishers will be radio collared and released in 1998.
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GrasslandBreeding BirdSurveys

This was the ninth consecutive year that we monitored grassland breeding birds as part of the Statewide effort. Thirteen grassland-dependent species

believed to be declining in parts of the northeastern United States are being monitored. These include the Ringneck Pheasant, Northern Bobwhite,

Upland Sandpiper, Horned Lark, Dickcissel, Field Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow, Bobolink,

Eastern Meadowlark, and Killdeer.

Evaluation of Results: Results are sent to Pennsylvania Game Commission for analysis. Plans are to continue this monitoring effort for 10 years to

provide some reliable trend information.

Waterfowl/ShorebirdandWetlandPlant Diversity

Beginning in 1996, the Allegheny National Forest and Pennsylvania Game Commission initiated an effort to enhance habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds

by increasing wetland plant diversity on several impoundments across the Forest. The primary method to increase plant diversity is to gradually draw

down the water level in the impoundments and then slowly refill them; however, many of the existing water controlstructures in these impoundments are

old and are constantly being plugged by beavers. So in 1996 we initiated our first pilot project on Cole Run Impoundment. A new beaver-proof water

control structure was installed. In 1997, the water level was gradually lowered and the vegetative and wildlife response was monitored. Two additional

impoundments in the Owls Nest area were fitted with new beaver-proof water controlstructures.

Evaluation of Results: A species-specific evaluation of the vegetative response has not yet been completed. In general, 85-95% of the mud flats

revegetated and included spike rushes, soft rushes, bulrushes, several sedges, grasses, marsh St. Johnswort, cud weed, and several wildflowers.

Vegetation on average was three to eight inches high.

Animal Response

· amphibian populations appeared to remain stable; sighted and heard typical numbers of northern green frogs, bullfrogs, wood frogs, red-spotted newts,

and common snapping turtles.

· possible increase in small mammals.

· recorded tracks of mice, grey fox, coyote, beaver, raccoon, black bear, and white-tailed deer.

· a significant increase in dragonflies was observed (8 - 12 species)

· increase in swamp sparrows (migrants)

· increase in great blue herons and green herons

· observed solitary sandpipers (4 to 6 pairs), spotted sandpipers (2 pair), killdeer (1 pair), Canada geese (4 breeding pair - 29 young), mallards (2 pair),

Lesser Scaup (8 individuals), Lesser Yellowlegs (1 pair), Double Breasted Comorant (1 using islands)

· observed red-shouldered hawks (1 breeding pair), Cooper's hawk, Sharp-shinned hawk, and Broadwing hawk. (Observations by Marienville District

Biologist T. Steffan.)

Two impoundments at Buzzard Swamp are scheduled for installation of new water-control structures in 1998, followed by three impoundments in the

Mead Run/Duck Ponds area in 1999. The National Forest Foundation and Ducks Unlimited are additional partners in this project.

Conifer Planting Success

The Allegheny National Forest has been planting conifers in partially cut and regenerating hardwood forests for several years. In 1996, the Bradford

Ranger District planted more than 5,000 conifer seedlings. Because of the high cost of planting and the critical importance of a successful planting

program, a rigorous monitoring program was developed and implemented by Chris Nowak (Northeastern Research Station, Irvine, PA) in coordination

with Bradford District Biologist Scott Reitz.

Evaluation of Results: Monitoring data was collected in 1997. Additional data will be collected annually. No analysis of data collected has been

completed at this time.

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
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Management Indicator Species

Management indicator species were amended in 1997 as a result of analysis conducted in the Forest Plan amendment for fish habitat management. Brook

trout and smallmouth bass are now ecological indicators, implying that populations that are monitored are those unaffected by such things as stocking

that can artificially influence numbers. Walleye is still a management indicator species, but is listed as a demand species. This means that the population

that is monitored is affected by the stocking of young walleye in order to enhance the number of fish in the population.

Monitoring Results:

Brook Trout: Brook trout is the cold-water management indicator species. Population estimates were made for the seventh year in a row in four different

streams across the Forest. Water levels were normal for this time of year. Population numbers rebounded considerably fromthe devastating floods of the

winter of 1996. More stable spring runoff and good spawning conditions resulted in higher survival rates of young-of-year trout.

Smallmouth bass: Smallmouth bass was selected as the cool-water management indicator species as a result of the completion of the Fisheries

Amendment in 1997. The largest populations on the Forest are in the Allegheny Reservoir, the Allegheny River and the Clarion River. Surveys

conducted in the Allegheny Reservoir resulted in a catch of 7 fish/100 net hours. This is the second highest levelsince our sampling methods changed in

1991. The level is double that of the two previous years.

Walleye: The walleye was changed from a warm-water indicator species to a cool-water indicator species. The population is monitored annually in the

Allegheny Reservoir because of its importance to the recreational fishery.

The walleye population continues to increase. The population level is the highest of any year since we changed our sampling methodology in 1991. Our

catch in 1997 was 53 walleye/100 net hours and is the fourth highest total ever (since surveys began in 1976). The three highest levels occurred between

1979-1981. One of the reasons for the continued increase in population size may be the annual stocking of three million fry. Beginning in 1991, walleye

have been stocked on an annual basis. In 1991, the reservoir received nine million fry, and beginning in 1992, three million have been stocked into the

reservoir annually. The percentage of legalsize fish also increased to their highest levelsince 1991 when this parameter started being reported.

It is recommended that we continue monitoring management indicator species per Forest Plan direction.

Fish Habitat Improvement Projects

Allegheny Reservoir

Several areas of the reservoir have had fish habitat improvement projects implemented the past few years using a recently developed structure designed

by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). The structure is called a porcupine crib and is constructed from52 pieces of 2"x2"x4' wood. In an

effort to determine their effectiveness, one day in August was spent monitoring the structures, as well as control areas where no structures were placed.

The pool elevation at the time of survey was 1323.8', or 4.2' below summer pool elevation.

Many of the structures were placed in 6-10' of water, so as a result more than 50% of the structures were out of the water. We didn't get the kind of

survey we had hoped for, but we were still able to collect some fish. The improved areas that were surveyed included Polly's, Brothwell, and Pigeon Run

bays within Sugar Bay. The controls were Nelse Run bay, and North and South Branches of Hodge Bay.

Monitoring Results:

Cribs Control

Sport fish CPUE* 66/hour 36/hour

Total CPUE 189/hour 178/hour

Biomass sport fish 4.4 lbs./hour 0.9 lbs./hour

Total biomass 5.1 lbs./hour 1.5 lbs./hour

# species 10 8

* CPUE = catch per unit ef ort

We spent less time surveying the cribs (20 minutes) than the control areas (38 minutes), yet documented more fish usage at the crib sites, especially with

sport fish. The control areas were dominated by yearling smallmouth bass, darters, and minnows, while the cribs were dominated by darters, minnows,

and rock bass. The only difference we observed was the collection of bullheads and walleye young at the crib sites. There wasn't much of a difference in

the number of yellow perch collected at either the control or improved sites. We hope for a better survey in the future.

Monitoring the effectiveness of these type of structures, as well as others that are placed into the reservoir, will continue.

WILDERNESS

Monitor "Limits of Acceptable Change" in the Allegheny River Islands andHickory Creek Wildernesses

Methodof Measure: A variety of methods will eventually be used to monitor wilderness, fromtrail logs for recreation use to sampling surveys measuring
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physical conditions. The Wilderness Implementation Schedule indicated trails, campsites, island shorelines, recreation use, biological species,

vegetative/exotic species, and soil erosion categories will be monitored. Before monitoring can begin, a baseline resource condition (present condition)

must be established. Monitoring can begin when the condition inventories are completed.

The campsite condition inventory was started in 1995 and is continuing. A trail log is the basis for monitoring recreation use; it has been in use for

several years. Beginning in 1995, a part-time Wilderness Ranger and other seasonal employees have been patrolling the area observing use and making

personal contracts.

The fisheries and aquatic baseline inventory was started in 1995 and completed in 1997

Monitoring Results: At this point in time, the only category being monitored is recreation use. Based on the number of users signing the trail log, use

increased about sixpercent from1995 to 1996 and another eight percent from1996 to 1997.

The Hickory Creek Wilderness is accommodating a wide variety of users, frombackpackers to day hikers, and individuals to groups. Over half of the use

appears to be by day hikers. Groups size remains small, averaging two or three persons. A few larger groups of 6 to 10 occasionally use the area.

Encounters are very low during the week and moderate on weekends, with the maximum usually being around three of four encounters along the trail.

These numbers are well within standards set up for limited of acceptable change. Larger groups are primarily scout troops and outdoor clubs.

Most people are first-time visitors and are unaware that Hickory Creek and the Allegheny River Islands are "wilderness" or of the implications that go

along with that designation. To address this, a survey of wilderness users was initiated in 1997 in cooperation with the Pennsylvania State University

and will be completed in 1998. The data fromthis survey will help in the development of a wilderness education action plan; work on this action plan was

started in 1997.

The fisheries and aquatic baseline survey assessed water quality, stream macroinvertebrates, fish populations and stream habitat. The results of the

survey helped in the development of guidelines for aquatic management as well as a baseline inventory.

RECREATION

Report the Number of Wildlife/Fish User Days Associatedwith Hunting andFishing Use

Methodof Measure: Annual Recreation Use Report, trends estimated fromcar counts and field observations.

Evaluation of Results: A Recreation Visitor Day (RVD) is 12 hours of recreation use on the Forest. Hunting use decreased an estimated 10 percent from

1996 to 167,200 RVDs. Fishing use increased (24%) from1996 to 203,200 RVDs, due primarily to normal water levels in the Allegheny Reservoir during the

spring/early summer period and ideal weather for spring trout season.

Small game hunting use remained relatively stable, and big game hunting declined, resulting in an overall decrease in hunting use of 10 percent. Warm

temperatures and a lack of snow contributed to poor deer hunting use. National trends indicate the number of persons who participate in hunting and

fishing has declines by 12.3 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively, over the past decade (National Survey on Recreation and The Environment, USDA-FS,

1990).

Visual Quality Objectives, Existing vs. Planned, in at Least These MAs: 3.0, 5.0 and6.1

The Forest Plan requires monitoring of Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) to determine if Forest Plan Management Direction [36 CFR 219,12(k)(2)] within

the Management Areas across the forest is adequate for managing visual quality. This monitoring and summary shall be accomplished at a five year

interval and shall be included in the Forest Plan Monitoring Report published by the EM team.

The FY 92 Monitoring and Evaluation Report summarized the proposed and existing visual quality of nine 2,296-acre quadrants. The FY 97 Monitoring

and Evaluation Report demonstrates areas where existing visual conditions fell below those adopted in the Forest Plan. It also builds on the findings of

the 1992 report with an updated chart comparing the visual condition that is existing to what is proposed. Additional information includes a comparison

of the percentage of acres of the MAs in the sample areas to the percentage of acres of those MAs on the entire Forest.

Method of Measure: The sample areas for this analysis consist of nine 10,000-foot square quadrants used in the 1992 monitoring report. These areas,

representing three percent of the Forest land base, were randomly selected using the Pennsylvania State Coordinate System that covers the ANF.

Management Areas 3, 5, and 6.1 are the most actively managed and are found in at least five of the sample areas. The remaining Management Areas, 2.0,

6.3, 7.0, 8.0, and 9.1, are small or unique with little resource activity. Chart I depicts the Management Area Distribution and demonstrates the similarity

between the percent of Forest management types represented in the sample and the percentage in the total Forest land base.

TABLE30: MANAGEMENT AREA DISTRIBUTION

Mgmt Areas

in Sample

% of Forest

in MA *

Acres of

Sample

% of Sample in

MAs

1.0 2% 417 3%

3.0 61% 6908 49%

5.0 2% 60 <1%
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6.1 25% 3,865 27%

6.2 4% 843 6%

6.4 4% 2,106 15%

Acres 98% 14,199 100%

* Percentages are based on the most recent MA acreage calculations using GIS.

Inventory

The existing visual condition was first evaluated from the vegetative records that are part of the CDS Data Base. This data base has the most complete

records of management since 1990. The activities were placed on the compartment maps to summarize the vegetative changes of each of the nine sample

areas during the last five years. Changes were recorded and a site visit was made, when necessary, to verify changes in visual quality. Since the

Proposed Visual Quality had been mapped for the 1992 Report, the focus of this monitoring is the change in Existing Visual Quality since the last report.

Chart 2 compares the Existing Visual Quality to the desired or Proposed Visual Quality as targeted in the Forest Plan. The acres that are above the double

line fall below the standard and guides in the Forest Plan.

TABLE31: EXISTINGVS. PROPOSED VQO

ProposedAcres of VQO

in Sample Sites

(Basedon Forest Plan)

Existing Acres of VQO

in Sample Sites

(Basedon fieldSurvey/Data Base)

R PR M MM

Retention (R) 3,271 2,979 192

Partial Retention (PR) 3,846 2,773 1,173

Modification (M) 3,283 2,790 493

MaximumModification (MM) 3,799 3,020 182 597

Total Acres 14,199 11562 2,040 597

Evaluation of Results: The existing visual quality in some of the acreages changed since the 1992 monitoring report, however, there was no loss of the

minimum visual quality standards established in the Forest Plan. The two areas that fell below the Forest standard five years ago represent 1% of the

sample and remain below visual quality. The findings in this analysis as in the 1992 report conclude that the standards and guides in the Forest Plan, the

visual analysis process (VMS), and the current mitigation measures are adequate to manage the visual resource.

The 1992 report recommended that areas not meeting Proposed VQO's be identified as rehabilitation projects and submitted for funding in the Forest's

capital investment process. The two areas in the sample were submitted, but they were not given the highest priority. Several other projects, however,

were identified for visual mitigation or improvements and were accomplished during the past five years. Rehabilitation of this type is ongoing and

projects needing mitigation or visual improvements are routinely brought forward at forest project reviews, recreation and district program of work

meetings, and in ID teammeetings for timber projects.

Future Five-year Monitoring

The Visual Management System(VMS) was developed in 1976, and the use of Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs) has been the standard for both Forest

Planning and Project Implementation as well as for the monitoring visual conditions. In the last five years, a new systemthat builds on the VMS has been

introduced. It is called the Scenery Management System(SMS), and it primarily addresses issues that develop at the Forest Plan scale versus the project

scale. Other features of the SMS include the consideration of the human dimension through a constituent analysis and identification of special places

when evaluating the intrinsic scenic values in a landscape. This new SMS, with its changes in terminology, will most likely be incorporated in the next

Forest Plan and in future monitoring reports. In addition, CDS is being integrated with GIS which is becoming the best tool for handling vast amounts of

spacial information. As layers of information create a more complete data base, and people become proficient at querying it, GIS will be the best source

for the data needed in future monitoring.

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, Existing vs. Planned

The FY 95 monitoring concluded that, with the exception of some inconsistencies which existed prior to Forest Plan implementation, the Recreation

Opportunity Spectrumclass objectives are being met or exceeded.

Formal monitoring for ROS is planned for every five years. It will next be done in FY2000.

Recreation Visitor Days by Activity andRecreation Opportunity Spectrum Class by MA

Methodof Measure: Annual Recreation Use Report and Management Attainment Report
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Monitoring Results:

TABLE32: DEVELOPED AND DISPERSED RECREATION USEBYRECREATION OPPORTUNITYCLASS

ThousandRecreation Visitors Days (RVDs)

Recreation Opportunity Class Forest

Plan

Decades 1

& 2

1997 1986-97 % of

Forest

Plan

DevelopedRecreation

... Semi-primitive Motorized (SPM) 750 63 709 95%

... Roaded natural (RN) 9,010 671 5,885 65%

... Rural (R) 8,510 717 6,390 75%

Developed Recreation Total 18,270 1,451 12,984 71%

DispersedRecreation

... Semi-primitive Non-motorized (SPNM) 720 33 398 55%

... Semi-primitive Motorized (SPM) 7,400 802 6,769 92%

... Roaded natural (RN) 10,240 1,028 10,236 100%

Dispersed Recreation Total 18,360 1,863 17,403 95%

Forest-wide Total 36,630 3,314 30,387 83%

TABLE33: 1997 RECREATION USEBYMANAGEMENT AREA

MA 1.0 2.0 3.0 5.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 7.0 8.0 9.0 All

MAs

MRVDs 20.5 21.5 1,232.4 3.9 775.2 29.1 20.4 465.2 716.6 27.1 2.1 3,314

Evaluation of Results: Overall, the FY97 season showed a slight increase in recreation use (approximately two percent above FY96).

Fall tree color was good, however, the color season was fairly short. Winter weather was erratic, with several thaws, and light snow cover. This allowed

for four weeks of snowmobile use (January 16 to February 17), with one thaw during this period. Snow cover was lacking, especially in the valleys, and

trails were generally icy rather than snowy. This resulted in a significant decline in snowmobile use and other snow-based activities on the Forest.

The major factor resulting in the decrease in camping use in 1997 was, once again, weather. Spring was cool and wet through June. This was followed by

a mild, fairly dry summer with good water levels in the reservoirs and rivers. Early camping use was low, but conditions were favorable for hiking and

other day-use activities, as well as camping throughout the summer. Swimming and boating use increased 10 to 12 percent. Picnicking climbed back up to

the 1995 level.

To assess customer services satisfaction, two surveys were completed in 1997. Concessionaire(s) operating campgrounds on the Allegheny National

Forest circulated survey forms and collected comments on recreation experiences. Campers were asked to rate their camping experience, treatment by

campground host and staff, and the condition/cleanliness of facilities. A total of 389 survey forms were received, with ratings of "Good" or "excellent"

noted on 98% of them.

A second survey was conducted by the Forest Service's Washington, D.C. office, with comment cards mailed directly to that office. A total of 148 card

were received fromANF users. The results indicated that 97% of those completing the survey were satisfied with the information services they received

and/or the facilities they used while visiting the ANF. These cards are more heavily weighted to Forest headquarters and Ranger District information

services but are very consistent with concessionaire-collected comments.

Horseback riding continued to increase at a slow rate, and mountain bike use appears to have leveled off from last year. Use of personal watercraft (jet

skis) on both the Allegheny Reservoir and the Allegheny River has also leveled off. Because of favorable water levels and despite a late spring, the

canoeing season was good, which caused a slight increase in small watercraft use on the Forest, and fishing use increased to the 1995 level. Hunting use

on the ANF decreased about 10 percent, reflecting a state-wide trend.

ATVuse continued to show the greatest and most significant increase in use on the Forest. State registration levels were reported "higher than ever."
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Analyzing relationships between ROS classes, no trends or significant shifts have been revealed in the data collected, with possibly the exception of

increasing river use. Most of the changes discussed in the previous paragraphs are spread evenly across ROS classes. There also appear to be no

significant changes in use across Management Areas, again with the possible exception of river areas (MA 6.1) and a slight increase in wilderness use

(MA 5.)

In reviewing the Forest Plan outputs through the 12th year of Plan implementation, we can see that use continues to exceed Forest Plan projections for

Decades 1 and 2 by over 30 percent. Analysis of the data indicates most of the increase continues to be in dispersed use. The activities that are growing

faster than projected include motorized trail use, mountain bike use, foot trail use, horseback riding, driving for pleasure, camping outside of developed

areas, and canoeing. With the addition of the Clarion River in October 1996 as a National Wild and Scenic River and the 86.5 miles in the Allegheny

National Wild and Scenic River, the total of designated river on and adjacent to the ANF is approximately 140 miles. Increased dispersed use along these

waterways is expected to continue due to increased marketing by local tourist promotion agencies, increased public awareness, and interest brought

about by the designations. No facilities or areas are receiving use beyond capacity. The additional use which is above Forest Plan projections does not

produce any significant additional environmental effects beyond those described in the Forest Plan EIS.

Miles of Trail Constructed, by Type andMA

Methodof Measure: Recreation Information Management Summary and Management Attainment Report

Monitoring Results:

TABLE34: MILES OFTRAIL CONSTRUCTION (NewTrail Miles)

Type of Trail MA Forest Plan

Amount

(Decades 1 & 2)

1997 Total to

Date

(86-97)

% of

Forest

Plan

Pedestrian 1.0 0 0

3.0 26 0

5.0 3 0

6.1 38 0

6.2 8 0

6.4 9 0

8.0 5 0

(All MAs) 89 0 42.4 48%

Motorized/Winter 3.0 22 0

(All MAs) 22 0 50.5 230%

Motorized/Summer 1.0 6 0

3.0 240 0

6.1 44 0

(All MAs) 290 0 70 24%

Evaluation of Results: Trail miles did not change in FY97. Pedestrian miles are stillshort of the amount projected in the Forest Plan.

Work done in FY 97 toward major reconditioning of existing trails included miles accomplished on the Morrison Run Trail (pedestrian), Kelly Pines

(motorized/winter), and the Marienville ATVTrail (motorized/summer).

A backlog of reconstruction exists because operation and maintenance funds for Forest trails have not been sufficient to take care of all the needed

maintenance activities. In FY97, the ANF, its partners and volunteers performed what routine maintenance work they could on the 644.6-mile trailsystem.

TABLE35: MILES OFTRAIL RECONSTRUCTION IN FY97

(Reconditioning Existing Trails)
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Type of

Trail

Pedestrian Motor/Winter Motor/Summer Total

# Miles 10.4 0.6 1.0 12.0

Total Recreation Receipts andmanagement Capacity Figures for DevelopedRecreation Sites

Methodof Measure: Recreation Information management Summary and Management Attainment Report

Monitoring Results:

Forest

Service

Concessionaire Total

PAOT

*

Days

11,800 3,615,650 3,627,450

Receipts $130,000 $264,983 $394,983

* Persons at One Time; a measure of capacity

Evaluation of Results: The PAOT-Day figure is a measure of the total amount of develop recreation site capacity the Forest operates and maintains

during the year. This figure is not associated with use; it measures the amount of recreation available for use each year. In other words, even if no one

chose to use a campground, trailhead, etc., this figure would not change because the Forest would still have to operate and maintain the areas open for

use.

The PAOT-Day figure is derived by determining the capacity of a site in terms of how many people it is designed to accommodate multiplied by the

number of days it is expected to be open and available for use. Take, for example, a campsite designed to handle five people at one time (PAOT). If it was

operated and maintained for 100 days, then the PAOT-Day figure would be 500 (5 PAOT x 100 days). The average total figure for the Forest is

approximately 3,600,000 PAOT Days. Occasionally there is a need to close sites for reconstruction or reduce the length of time they are open.

In FY 97, we managed for 3,627,450 PAOT Days. The increase from FY 96 is largely due to placing all developed area, except for the five boat-access

campgrounds, under concessionaire management. This allowed for uninterrupted operations in all areas for the fullseason.

Total receipts for FY97 increased by 11 percent over 1996 to $394,983. More diligent on-site fee collection by concessionaires, additional visitor parking

fees, and rate increases for camping were the primary reasons for increased collections. Recreation fee collections have increased 66 percent since

concessionaire operations began in 1994. Fee collections after major renovations at Twin Lakes (1991), Loleta (1995), and Willow Bay (ongoing) have

increased by 171%, 189% and 41%, respectively.

Status of Recreation Site Construction

Monitoring Results: The following projects were initiated or continued during FY97.

 ̈ Willow Bay: completed rehabilitation of Aspen Loop (Phase III). Work consisted of defining and hardening 51 sites to meet accessibility standards and

the addition of electric hook-ups on 21 sites.

Rehabilitation of the Hemlock Loop was started (Phase IV). This work will consist of hardening all sites, moving and reconstructing four sites, and the

addition of one site; adding electric hook-ups to 10 sites; eliminating one of the two entrances with a cul-de-sac; and constructing three day-use 10-

vehicle parking areas.

 ̈ Hearts Content: Work consisted of replacing the main water line to the day-use area and campground and replacing four old vault toilets with two SSTs.

 ̈ Rimrock: The existing toilet building was renovated to meet SST standards.

 ̈ Landlord Maintenance: As part of special use permit requirements, the concessionaire installed sewer (vault or sewer line), electricity and water to 20

host sites.

ECONOMICS

The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) planning regulations requirement for monitoring this category of information is very specific [36 CFR

219.12(k)(3)] and states that we will monitor "costs associated with carrying out the planned management prescriptions as compared with costs estimated

in the Forest Plan." Carrying out this section of the monitoring program will involve the continued use of management codes for keeping track of costs

by activity.
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Cost per Unit for the Following Activities

Method of Measure: Management codes, Program Accounting Management Attainment Reporting System (PAMARS), Cumulative Accomplishment

Target System(CATS) data, contract records, and engineering reports.

Monitoring Results: (See Table 36 on next page)

Evaluation of Results: Overall, unit costs are in line with previous years, assuming a general inflation rate of two to three percent annually.

With regard to trail construction/reconstruction, costs are a function of the amount of miles constructed/reconstructed, the number of bridges included

in the trail, and the difficulty of environmental conditions encountered. Costs were down for pedestrian trails because most of the work was related to

10.4 miles of reconstruction. This project involved no major bridges and few environmental problems. The pedestrian trail program also included

construction of the Chappel Fork bridge on the North Country Trail. The motorized/summer trail program involved one mile of trail relocation at Goat

Farm, and the winter/motorized programinvolved relocation of .64 mile at Kelly Pines.

Timber stand improvements costs decreased in FY97 to $154/acre. This is the second year we have carried out this type of crop tree release. Costs have

declined because we have a better understanding of what type of work is needed and because the acreage involved has increased, giving us some

additional economy of scale.

The unit cost of fencing is higher because more individual tree fencing was done this FY. The cost of individual tree fencing is more expensive than is

area fencing.

TABLE36: 1997 COST OF IMPLEMENTATION, PER UNIT

Activity Unit

of

Meas.

FY 97

Units

Accomp.

FY 97

Total

Cost

FY 97 Unit

Cost

Forest

Plan

Estimate

FY 96

Unit

Cost

FY 95

Unit

Cost

FY 94

Unit

Cost

FY 93

Unit

Cost

FY 92

Unit

Cost

Trail

Construction/Reconstruction

Mile

... Pedestrian 10.4 $34,722 $3,338 N/A $54,369 $11,734 $13,970 $18,485

... Motorized/Summer 1.0 $29,705 $29,705 $2,782 $116,688 $6,245 N/A $15,931 $27,201

... Motorized/Winter .64 $18,003 $28,129 $97,158 $16,614 N/A $7,935 $3,143

Sale prep to offer MBF 52,632 $2,992,440 $56.86 $10.90 $51.11 $49.64 $34.56 $36.58 $22.92

MCF 8,586 $2,992,440 $348.53 $763.87

Wildlife and Fish Habitat

Improvement

Acre 1,500.6 $453,567 $302.26 $295.27 $197.20 $188.21 $159.19 $150.68

Wildlife and Fish Habitat

Improvement

Struct. 256 $14,546 $56.82 $57.00 $69.86 $66.91 $34.53 $26.62

Site Prep for Natural

Regeneration

Acre 1,568 $162,752 $103.80 $40 $87.50 $63.06 $93.43 $57.18 $53.67

Herbicide Acre 1,638 $264,733 $161.62 $57 $152.89 $134.85 $155.70 $218.38 $318.37
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Aerial Fertilization Acre 1,148 $248,084 $216.10 $244 $196.59 $197.31 $207.80 $138.31 $196.49

Timber Stand Improvement Acre 543 $83,759 $154.25 $60 $172.57 $0 $0 $0 $0

Fencing Acre 373 $226,843 $608.16 $395.79 $344.96 $301.13 $368.86 $359.46

Road Construction Mile 4.2 $166,191 $39,569.29 $46,337 $46,207 $29,765 $36,099 $50,225 $26,475

Road Reconstruction Mile 77.8 $1,419,074 $18,240.03 $26,659 $21,070 $14,229 $13,420 $9,249 $7,854

ROADS

RoadStatus Summary showing the Following Categories:

a. Totalsystemroad miles and density by Management Area (MA).

b. Miles of new construction by MA - no prior existing corridor.

c. Miles of temporary road construction (Forest-wide).

d. Miles of new systemroad constructed by MA on existing, unimproved locations (this is identified as "reconstruction" in the Forest Plan).

e. Resurface road miles and cumulative resurface road miles.

Methodof Measure: By Transportation Planner fromcompleted work.

Evaluation of Results: Road Densities are well within or below the Forest Plan's mile/square mile guidelines (see Table 37). As in past Monitoring

Reports, we have included a column titled road restoration miles (roads that have had minor work completed on them). This work would include culvert

replacement, grading, and replacement of surfacing material. During the development of the Forest Plan, this type of work was included within road

maintenance. However, shortly after the Forest Plan was approved, the national definitions and funding philosophies were changed to include this type

of work within the general category of road reconstruction. To better understand what has occurred on the ground and its relationship to the Forest Plan

projections, we will discuss and display all categories of reconstruction.

The National definition for road reconstruction is found in Forest Service Manual (FSM) 7705.

Road Reconstruction - The investment in construction activity that results in betterment, restoration, or in the realignment of a road as defined in the

following:

Realignment - Investment in construction activity that results in the new location of an existing road or portions thereof.

Betterment - Investment in construction activity that raises the traffic service level of a road or improves its safety or operating efficiency.

Restoration - Investment in construction activity required to rebuild a road to its approved traffic service level.

Road Maintenance - Expenditures in the minor restoration and upkeep of a road necessary to retain the road's approved traffic service level.

The differences in these definitions are one of intention or purpose of the work to be performed, not necessarily the work activities themselves (i.e.,

applying pit run surfacing could be a work activity under realignment, betterment or restoration or even road maintenance). If we are replacing worn out

surfacing or culverts that are corroded through, then the project intent is restoration. If the intention is to improve the road from a Traffic Service Level

(TSL) "D" to a TSL "C", then it is classified as betterment.

In an effort to improve understanding of what is actually happening on the ground, a decision was made to not use the general termroad reconstruction

itself but to explain the subcategories. The subcategories of reconstruction called realignment, betterment, and restoration will be tracked and described
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in all NEPA and monitoring documents.

TABLE37: ROAD STATUS BYMANAGEMENT AREA

Road Temporary Road RoadReconstruction

Construction Construction Betterment Restoration

Mgmt

Area

Total

Miles

Density

(mi/sq

mi)

Forest

Plan

Density

(mi/sq

mi)

Existing

Roads

1997

(miles)

Cumulative

Total (mi)

% of

Forest

Plan

Miles

1997

(miles)

Cumulative

Total (mi)

% of

Forest

Plan

Miles

1997

(miles)

Cumulative

Total (mi)

% of

Forest

Plan

Miles

1997

(miles)

Cumulative

Total (mi)

1.0 8.9 0.8 1 to

3

0.0 0.0 2.3 ~ 0.0 0.0 ~ 0.0 3.1 ~ 0.0 5.3

2.0 13.8 1.5 2 to

4

0.0 0.0 1.0 14.3 0.0 0.0 ~ 0.0 3.4 113.3 0.0 5.5

3.0 878.5 1.7 2 to

4

0.0 4.2 144.5 62.7 0.4 10.3 ~ 3.5 103.1 109.4 67.2 499.4

6.1 177.1 1.1 1 to

3

0.0 0.0 8.4 46.7 0.0 1.0 ~ 0.0 5.5 76.4 3.8 29.0

6.2 34.3 1.1 1.5

to 4

0.0 0.0 7.8 92.9 0.0 1.8 ~ 0.0 3.8 105.6 4.0 8.9

6.3 5.7 3.6 ~ 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ~ 0.0 1.7 ~ 0.0 0.0

6.4 5.3 0.1 ~ 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ~ 0.0 0.0 ~ 0.0 0.0

7.0 11.5 7.2 ~ 0.0 0.0 0.6 ~ 0.0 0.0 ~ 0.0 0.8 ~ 0.0 8.5

8.0 5.0 ~ 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ~ 0.0 0.0 ~ 0.0 4.7

9. 1 1.4 0.9 ~ 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ~ 0.0 0.0 ~ 0.0 0.0

Total 1141.5 1.4 ~ 0.0 4.2 164.6 62.4 0.4 65 3.5 121.4 75.0 561.3

Density - Total miles divided by square miles assigned to that Management Area (Forest Plan, p. 4-55).

Existing Roads - Existing non-system roads added to system minus roads taken of of the system (obliterated) and adjustments for changes due to

improved data.

Cumulative Totals are for FY 86 to present.

% of Forest Plan Miles are calculated by dividing cumulative totals by the total of Decade 1 projected and the pro rata portion of Decade 2

projected that has elapsed.

We have slightly exceeded our Forest Plan estimate for betterment and realignment. We consider this a positive environmental impact, because by doing

so, we have been able to keep the amount of new road construction (which has more impacts to the landforms) at a level significantly less than estimated

in the Forest Plan.

We have also been attempting to minimize new road construction. In some instances, we have been able to perform betterment or realignment, and

thereby eliminate the need for new construction. This is evidenced in the fact that we have only constructed approximately 60 percent of the amount the

Forest Plan estimated projection for new roads.
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Other factors have also contributed to increased road reconstruction - betterment mileages. We have reconstructed several roads primarily to reduce the

potential for erosion and sedimentation fromthose roads. For example, we have improved 5.9 miles of Township Roads, some within 100 feet of perennial

streams. This is good resource management. We have also been increasing the amount of limestone/commercial surfacing on roads in the proximity of

streams to reduce erosion and sedimentation. These roads are included in our reconstruction mileages, even though only portions of the road were

surfaced. These types of projects were not included in the Forest Plan reconstruction estimates.

A review of our records indicated that all of our road reconstruction projects fell within the definitions of either betterment or restoration. Therefore, there

is no column titled realignment in Table 37.

The current status of road management is: 38% open; 25% restricted; and 37% closed. The Forest Plan calls for 20% of the roads to be open; 20%

restricted and 60% closed. As stated in the plan, this is a long termobjective, to be attained within 50 years. At the present rate, it is projected that the

forest will meet this objective in the 50 year time frame. The chart below, Road Management by Year, compares our progression toward meeting this

objective since 1987.

TABLE38: ROAD MANAGEMENT BYYEAR

OPEN RESTRICTED CLOSED TOTAL

Year % Miles % Miles % Miles Miles

1987 63 573.5 24 216.2 14 123.5 913.2

1988 na na na na na na na

1989 58 564.1 22 214.0 20 194.4 972.5

1990 55 550.8 21 210.3 24 240.3 1,001.4

1991 52 542.8 21 219.2 27 281.8 1,043.8

1992 na na na na na na 1,055.7

1993 41 449.8 19 211.5 40 445.5 1,106.8

1994 39 438.4 24 269.3 37 416.3 1,124.0

1995 38 430.6 25 385.2 37 419.6 1,135.4

1996 38 430.6 25 284.6 37 422.1 1,137.3

1997 38 430.6 25 284.6 37 426.3 1,141.5

With OGM

Roads on

System

36 450.3 24 290.5 40 492.2 1,233.0

na - data not available

The Forest Plan emphasizes road management. Our NEPA documents are discussing road management to a greater extent than they have in the past.

This chart demonstrates the significent progress the ANF is making towards the road management guidelines in the Forest Plan.

LAND ADJUSTMENTS

Summary of National Forest LandAdjustments by MA

Methodof Measure: Continuous tabulation of land adjustments.

Monitoring Results:

TABLE39: SUMMARYOF NATIONAL FOREST LAND ADJUSTMENTS

Mgmt

Area

Acres Acquired

in FY97

Acres Disposedof

in FY97

Net Change

since 1986

1.0 0 0 0

2.0 0 0 0

3.0 0 2 +716

5.0 0 0 0
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6.1 0 0 +1,483

6.2 0 0 0

6.3 0 0 0

6.4 0 0 0

7.0 0 0 0

8.0 0 0 + 300

9.1 0 0 0

Totals 0 0 +2,499

Evaluation of Results: In FY97, one adjustment was made to the total land base of the Allegheny National Forest; disposal of two acres of MA 3.0 in

Millstone Township, Elk County, as the result of a Small Tracts Act claim. This adjustment resulted in a decrease of two acres of National Forest land.

RESEARCH, ADMINISTRATIVESTUDIES, AND

ADAPTIVEMANAGEMENT

Research needs were identified in the Forest Plan [36 CFR 219.7(e)]. Since 1986, when implementation of the Forest Plan began, ANF personnel have

followed three paths to accomplish needed research. First, we have worked with scientists to develop formal research studies that will answer our

research needs. Research studies are conducted to advance the frontiers of scientific knowledge and to test hypotheses of broad forest management

interest. Second, we can use administrative studies to test solutions proposed by Research that we believe will work within our boundaries and our

administrative and management framework. Third, when we believe that information already available suggests a probable solution for problems that we

face, but these solutions are accompanied by uncertainty, we can use an adaptive management approach. To us, adaptive management means defining

expected outcomes and designing methods to measure responses to the implementation of proposed solutions, monitoring results with planned

measurements and analyses, learning from the comparisons between expected and actual outcomes, and changing actions and plans according to what

we learn. In the sections that follow, we describe ongoing applications of all three approaches to meeting research needs.

ECOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION AND INVENTORY (EC&I)

This is a cooperative and partnership project between Pennsylvania State University Office for Remote Sensing of Earth Resources (ORSER), Clarion

University Department of Biology, and the Allegheny National Forest (ANF). The objective is to produce ecological land type maps, associated resource

interpretations, and soil/site - vegetation relationship information for project and long-termplanning, and long-termmonitoring.

Status: Field assessment of vegetation - site relationships on ecological mapping units continued this past summer through an agreement with Clarion

University (Dr. Charles Williams) and the ANF. In order to spread the field sampling effort more widely across the Forest, a new approach was taken to

locate sample sites. A series of random sampling points, stratified by mapping units, was generated by the Pennsylvania State University (George

Baumer) using the GIS map of the ANF. Points were located in the field, and forest overstory, herbaceous layer, soils and large woody debris were

quantified in 500m2 plots. A total of 63 randomplots was sampled during summer 1997. Analysis of vegetation and soils data is on-going.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF DEER BROWSING ON RIPARIAN PLANT COMMUNITIES

Past field work conducted by Clarion University (Dr. Charles Williams and students) and the ANF has demonstrated that riparian zones on the ANF

support species-rich plant communities that are compositionally distinct from those of adjacent uplands. Little is known about the impact of deer

browsing on the structure and composition of ANF's rich riparian plant communities.

Through a partnership with Clarion University (Dr. Charles Williams), a pilot study on deer browse impacts to riparian plant communities was initiated

this past summer. A permanent plot systemwas established at each of three riparian sites in the ANF to inventory and assess vegetation for deer browse

damage. In addition, work was begun on assessing the indicator potential of an herbaceous riparian plant, turtlehead (Chelone glabra), for monitoring

the impact of deer browse on riparian plant communities.

Analysis of browsing data is on-going, and browse monitoring and indicator assessment of turtlehead will continue in 1998.

INVENTORY OF ALIEN PLANTS ALONG THE CLARION AND ALLEGHENYRIVERS

An inventory of non-native or alien plants occurring in the riparian zones of the Clarion and Allegheny Rivers of the ANF was conducted this past

summer by Clarion University (Dr. Charles Williams and graduate student Darrin Rubino). The goal of this project was to begin an assessment of the

potential threat of non-native invasive plant species to the structure and function of riparian zones.

Thirty sample points were stratified along each river corridor and inventoried using a time-constrained search method. Both native and non-native plants

were inventoried at each sample point to provide more information on the composition of the riparian flora of these rivers. A total of 252 plant species

was recorded from the riparian zone of the Clarion River, of which 38 species (15.1%) were non-native. Similarly, a total of 255 species was recorded from

the Allegheny River, of which 39 species (15.3%) were non-native.

In total, 590 records of non-native plants were made during the inventory. The majority of non-native species tallied were non-invasive herbaceous

species that are widely naturalized in the eastern United States. However, a small subset of pestiferous non-native species, including multiflora rose

(Rosa multiflora), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum), and

garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), was recorded from one or both rivers. These species may require future management considerations. Several new
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county occurrences for native were also recorded.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISITOR KNOWLEDGE OF "LEAVE-NO-TRACE" MINIMUM-IMPACT PRACTICES AND ATTITUDES

TOWARD SELECTED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

Principal investigators are John J. Confer, Jr., and Alan R. Graefe, Pennsylvania State University; James D. Absher, USDA-Forest Service, Pacific

Southwest Research Station; and Andrea Hille, USDA-Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest.

Social and ecological impacts continue to be a major concern of recreation resource managers (Hammitt & Cole, 1987; Hendee et al., 1990). One

management effort has been an attempt to change visitor behaviors, especially those that tend to cause increased impacts (Manfredo, 1992). A recent

initiative aimed at reducing recreation impacts is the "Leave-No-Trace" (LNT) minimum-impact skills and information program (Cole et al, 1997). This

paper present recent research into visitors' level of perceived "Leave-No-Trace" framework of minimum impact skills and information and their actual

level, as measured by a number of LNT questions. Also visitors' level of LNT knowledge was compared to their support or opposition for selected site

management actions.

This study is part of a larger project to refine the existing theoretical framework and enhance the conceptual understanding of communication,

persuasion and education as management techniques. Further, this project willserve as a case study to demonstrate a methodology to identify the gaps

in visitor knowledge that would tend to reduce the effectiveness of communication and persuasion and provide generalized guidance for the

development of a site-specific information and education plan.

The study site was Hickory Creek Wilderness and Hearts Content Recreation Area in the Allegheny National Forest, located in northwestern

Pennsylvania. The Hickory Creek Wilderness is only of only two congressionally-designed units of National Wilderness Preservation System in

Pennsylvania. Hickory Creek Wilderness, totaling 8,863 acres, contains one designated trail, the Hickory Creek Trail, an 11.2-mile loop trail. Since its

inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System, there have been few public education or information programs developed or implemented.

Additionally, in the contiguous Hearts Content Recreation Area, there is a developed campground, a day-use and picnic area, and a scenic area featuring

an old growth forest with a short, high-standard interpretive trail.

The results of this study indicate that wilderness users tend to have a higher level of LNT knowledge than campers or day-users; however, this level is

lower than managers desire for effective application of LNT as an impact management tool. Overall, users are apt to desire a higher level of site

management than what is consistent with wilderness management principles. This suggests that management need to better informusers of the differing

site management standards for developed recreation versus wilderness areas.

IMPACTS OF GLYPHOSATE AND SULFOMETURON METHYL ON DIVERSITY OF PLANTS AND WILDLIFE IN ALLEGHENY HARDWOODS

This is a cooperative research project between the Allegheny National Forest and the Northeastern Research Station in Irvine, PA. It is scheduled to be

completed in 2005. The principal investigators are Dr. Stephen B. Horsley and Dr. David S. deCalesta.

Problem Statement: The effects of the operational herbicide applications in use on the Allegheny National Forest on wildlife habitat and non-target

organisms need to be better understood. This study will examine the impacts of the herbicides glyphosate and sulfometuron methyl on songbirds, tree

seedling development, non-arborescent vascular plants, small mammals, and amphibians.

Status: After completing herbicide treatments on half of each study site in late summer 1994, a full round of plant and animal measurements was collected

during the spring and summer of 1995. During the '95-'96 winter season, shelterwood seed cuts were conducted in the sixstudy areas with high relative

density to stimulate regeneration development. Small mammal, songbird, and amphibian censuses were performed during the spring and summer of 1996

as were surveys of tree seedlings and non-arborescent vascular plants. The 1997 season was an "off year" for data collection, with no new data

collected.

Preliminary analyses of the data collected through 1996 show two response patterns, one for tree seedlings and another set of similar responses among

the wildlife and herbaceous plant communities. Tree seedling numbers have increased on the herbicide-treated areas of all plots, with substantial

numbers of black cherry, red maple, and birch seedlings at most sites. Numbers of striped maple and beech, which are targets of the herbicide treatment,

have declined significantly. There is little change in seedling numbers on the areas that did not receive herbicide treatments. In the wildlife and

herbaceous plant communities, there are shifts in abundance and reductions in species richness on the herbicide treated areas, with little change on the

areas that did not receive herbicide treatments. For example, hay/scented fern, a target species, is greatly reduced in abundance on the areas that

received herbicide treatment. While some species of wildlife and herbaceous plants were not found after the herbicide treatment on the treated areas of

individual plots, no species that we found prior to treatment disappeared fromthe treated areas on all stands where it occurred--that is, the herbicide did

not eliminate any species of herbaceous plant or wildlife. Some wildlife species, such as ovenbirds, increased in abundance on the sites that received

herbicide treatment, and in some stands, birds associated with early successional forests were heard occasionally in the treated areas only of study

stands.

A full round of data collection on herbaceous plants, seedlings, wildlife habitat, songbirds, small mammals, and amphibians will be conducted in 1998,

supported by a grant fromthe USDA NAPIAP program.

Publications in 1997:

deCalesta, D. S.; Horsley, S.B.; Ristau, T.E.; Ordiway, L. D.; Smithbauer, J.E. 1997. Impact of herbicide application on forest flora and fauna in

northwestern Pennsylvania. The Wildl. Soc. Ann. Conf. 4:92 (abstract).

Ristau, Todd Eugene. 1997. Variation in non-arborescent vascular species diversity during the growing season in Allegheny hardwoods. Pennsylvania
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State University: M.S. Thesis. 123 p.

IMPACTS OF WHITE-TAILED DEER BROWSING ON FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

This study is being conducted cooperatively by the Northeastern Research Station, Irvine, PA; Allegheny National Forest; State University of New

York, Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF); and the National Biological Service (NBS).

Principal investigators are Dr. Susan Stout and Dr. David S. deCalesta, NERS; Dr. William Porter and Dr. Richard Lawrence, SUNY-ESF; and Dr. Brian

Underwood, NBS.

Problem Statement: Herbivory by white-tailed deer has been shown to influence the diversity and sustainability of forest ecosystems.

Status: There were several advances in this research in 1997. Dr. David S. deCalesta's paper on the relationship between deer overabundance and

ecosystemmanagement was included in a book on deer overabundance published by the Smithsonian Press. Drs. deCalesta and Stout published a paper

in a special issue of the Wildlife Society Bulletin that introduced two important concepts that have emerged fromthis research: relative deer density and

biodiversity carrying capacity. The concept of relative deer density suggests that the impact of deer on a particular ecosystem is a function not only of

their absolute density in that system, but also of the amount of forage in the landscapes of that system. Biodiversity carrying capacity is lower than both

classical ecological, or nutrition-limited, carrying capacity and cultural carrying capacity. It is the carrying capacity that sustains particularly vulnerable

elements of biodiversity, such as shrubs and herbaceous plants that spend their entire life cycle within the reach of browsing by white-tailed deer.

Publications in 1997:

deCalesta, David S. 1997. Deer and ecosystem management. In: McShea, WilliamJ.; Underwood, H. Brian; Rappole, John H. comps., eds. The science of

overabundance: deer ecology and population management. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press: 267-278.

deCalesta, D. S. 1997. Deer, ecosystemdamage, and sustaining forest resources. Pages 29-37, in B. L. Gardiner (ed.). Proc. Conf. Deer as public goods and

public nuisance. Issues and policy options in Maryland. College Park. 106 pp.

deCalesta, D. S. 1997. Wildlife sustainability. Pages 15-21, in J. Finley (ed.). Forest sustainability, what's it all about? Proc. Conf. Pennsylvania State Univ.

Forest Resources Issues. University Park, PA. 121pp.

deCalesta, David S.; Stout, Susan L. 1997. Relative deer density and sustainability: a conceptual framework for integrating deer management with

ecosystemmanagement. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 25(2): 252-258.

Healy, William M.; deCalesta, David S.; Stout, Susan L. 1997. A research perspective on white-tailed deer overabundance in the northeastern United

States. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 25(2): 252-258.

McGuinness, Barbara J. 1996. [Re]generation gaps: impacts of white-tailed deer on forest resources. Journal of the Pennsylvania Alliance for

Environmental Education 4(3):5-6.

McGuinness, Barbara J.; deCalesta, David. 1996. White-tailed deer alter diversity of songbirds and their habitat in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Birds 10(2): 55-56.

SNAG AND LOG MANAGEMENT IN MIXED SPECIES HARDWOOD FORESTS ON THE ALLEGHENY PLATEAU

This administrative study is being conducted by Dr. Christopher A. Nowak, Research Forester, and Dr. David S. deCalesta, Research Wildlife Biologist,

Northeastern Research Station, Warren, PA, and Scott Reitz, Wildlife Biologist, and Stan Kobielski, Silviculturist, Bradford Ranger District, Allegheny

National Forest, Bradford, PA. It is scheduled to be completed in 2006.

Problem statement: Most managed second-growth forests have relatively low amounts of both snags and logs compared to unmanaged second-growth

or true old-growth forests. Research already completed has documented the amounts of snags and logs found in true old growth in the Allegheny

National Forest region, and research completed elsewhere has shown that cultural creation of those elements where they are missing can enhance

habitat. This may enhance the functions and values of a stand by providing habitat for many wildlife communities. This study will test the local

applicability of these existing research results and ensure optional local use of them. Few guidelines currently exist to direct snag and log management in

Allegheny Plateau forests.

Objectives: 1) to determine which snag creation method is locally most effective, 2) to determine when cultured snags and logs become useful; by what

wildlife; for how long, and 3) determine if the pattern of snag and log creation elicits different responses in wildlife communities. The study is being

conducted in two stands, each with two 10 acre areas of scattered, cultured snags and logs and 10 acres of untreated area. Snags were created by

girdling.

Status: Pretreatment data were collected during the spring and summer of 1995, including live and dead vegetation structure, site characteristics, small

mammals, songbirds, and amphibians. Treatments were applied during the winter of 1995-1996. A follow-up treatment of live trees to create more snags

will be done during the winter of 1998-1999. The first post-treatment measurements were collected during the spring and summer of 1996. The second

post-treatment measurement of wildlife communities and associated habitat will be collected during the summer of 1998.
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Publications in 1997:

Nelson, B., C. Nowak, S. Reitz, D. deCalesta, and S. Wingate. 1997. Communicating old-growth forest management on the Allegheny National Forest. P.

85-89 In: Proc. Nat. Silv. Workshop, U.S.D.A. For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-238.

DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF OLD-GROWTH ON THE ALLEGHENY PLATEAU

This research study is being conducted by Dr. Christopher A. Nowak, Research Forester, and Dr. David S. deCalesta, Research Wildlife Biologist,

Northeastern Research Station, Warren, PA.

Problem Statement: General definitions for old-growth forest exist for the Eastern U.S., but preservation, restoration, and maintenance activities for oldgrowth requires forest cover type and locale-specific definitions.

Objectives: 1) to characterize forest structure and wildlife communities in the true old-growth hemlock-beech forests in the Tionesta Scenic and Research

Natural Areas and 2) compare the forest attributes and functions of true old-growth with unmanaged and managed second-growth. The study is being

conducted in 15 stands, of which 7 are in Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas and the rest scattered throughout the ANF.

Status: The study plan was formulated in June 1993. Field work was completed in spring 1994. Preliminary analysis of data regarding forest structure

(with emphasis on coarse woody debris) and specific wildlife communities (songbirds, small mammals, and amphibians) has been completed. Differences

in vegetation and wildlife have been found among stands as a function of stand age and management (unmanaged vs. managed). Publications are being

written that will define old-growth hemlock-beech on the Allegheny Plateau. Deer density has been quantified across the Tionesta Area for each of the

last three years, and has generally been between 40-45 deer per square mile.

Data on fungal communities were collected in a pilot study conducted during the summer and fall of 1997. Four unmanaged second growth stands and

two old-growth stands were surveyed. Dr. Erica Frank, a volunteer for the Allegheny National Forest, conducted the surveys along with Dr. Nowak and

Todd Ristau of the Northeastern Research Station. Dr. Frank identified the fungi. During the surveys, on average, a total of 60 species of fungi were

found in the old growth stands and a total of 37 species were found in the second growth stands. Thirty five of the species found in the old-growth were

not found during the forays in second-growth stands. While these 35 species are likely not unique to old-growth, their presence is indicative of the rich,

complexmicrohabitats found in the Tionesta old-growth. Additional work is planned.

Preliminary analysis of songbird studies conducted across a chronosequence of stands including some old-growth stands illuminates the importance of

specific habitat components within the old-growth forests found on the Allegheny Plateau. For example, blackburnian warblers are found in their highest

abundance on one study site within the Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Area, which has a very high proportion of its basal area in eastern

hemlock. The second highest abundance of blackburnian warblers was found in a managed second growth stand that also has a very high proportion of

its basal area in eastern hemlock. Relationships such as this have led to increased use of restoration plantings of hemlock and white-pine in many

management sites on the Allegheny National Forest.

ECOSYSTEM RESPONSE TO INTENSIFIED CUTTING WITHIN A FOREST COMPARTMENT

This administrative study is being conducted by Pam Valentine, Wildlife Biologist, Lois DeMarco, Silviculturist, Allegheny National Forest, Dr. Susan

Stout, Research Forester, and JimRedding, Forester, Northeastern Research Station, Warren, PA. It is scheduled for completion in 2003.

Problem Statement: Understanding deer-forest interactions is critical to sustaining Allegheny Plateau forests. Research has shown that the population

of deer has an effect on the understory vegetation that develops following different management treatments. The scale at which deer population

dynamics respond to plant communities is of the order of square kilometers or square miles, while plant communities respond at a much smaller scale to

local disturbances and deer impact. One of the critical elements of ecosystemmanagement is understanding interactions that cross scales.

Objectives: 1) to test the effect of additional cutting on development of advance regeneration (tree seedlings) stocking in final removal cuts and in

stands left uncut; 2) to test the impact of this sequence of cutting on species composition and diversity of the tree regeneration (research work linked

with this study will look at effects on herbaceous plant and songbird communities.)

Status: The second round of cutting within the Porter's Prize Project Area was completed in 1997. Regeneration and herbaceous plant surveys were

conducted in the area in 1997, and regeneration surveys will also be conducted during 1998. In 1997, the seven stands that received shelterwood removal

cuts during the period from 1994 through 1997 were 80 percent stocked with small regeneration, using the criteria for moderate deer impact. For these

stands, this was an increase of about 53 percent since the first round of data collection in 1988. Neither fern nor striped maple and beech posed an

apparent threat to the development of this regeneration. An average of 39 species of plants were found in each of these stands during the spring, timed

meander survey in 1997.

Two stands that had been clearcut in 1989 were monitored in 1997, and regeneration stocking in these stands averaged 77 percent, up from 16 percent

before treatment. In two uncut stands monitored in 1997, regeneration stocking averaged 43 percent, up from 11 percent prior to entry into the

compartment. Thus, data collected in this administrative study continues to suggest that intensified cutting within a compartment can reduce the impact

of deer on regeneration development.

Deer density in the Porter's Prize Project Area was monitored in the spring of 1997 using a pellet-group technique. The density estimated through this
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procedure was 23.3 deer per square mile.

OPERATIONAL TESTS OF UNEVEN-AGE SILVICULTURE IN MANAGEMENT AREA 2.0

This administrative study is being conducted by Marian Keegan, Forester, Ridgway Ranger District, Allegheny National Forest, and Dr. Susan Stout,

Research Forester, Northeastern Research Station, Warren, PA, and is scheduled for completion in 2002.

Problem Statement: Implementation of uneven-age silviculture on the Allegheny National Forest faces many challenges. These are the impact of deer

browsing on development of new age classes of trees, insect and disease problems in sugar maple, limited establishment and survival of eastern hemlock

seedlings, the competitive influence of dense understories of fern, grass, American beech root suckers, and striped maple, and the advancing front of the

beech bark disease complex. Yet the Forest Plan calls for practicing uneven-age silviculture throughout Management Area 2.0. Previous research has

shown that uneven-age treatments in Allegheny hardwoods lead to the establishment of sparse and unsatisfactory regeneration where interfering plants

are present. Other research has led to the development of techniques which effectively remove this interfering vegetation. The Allegheny National Forest

needs to make a formal test of the results of uneven-age silvicultural treatments and reforestation practices on an operational basis.

Objectives: To test the conditions that result from using reforestation activities to help initiate the transition to uneven-aged management on the

Hoffman Farmproject area, Ridgway Ranger District, ANF.

Status: Pretreatment measurements on all study areas were completed in the spring and summer of 1995. Treatments on two of the five study stands--

those with a high percentage of overstory basal area in hemlock--were completed during the winter of 1995-1996, and data were collected during the

summer of 1997 to characterize regeneration, herbaceous plant communities, songbirds, and amphibians.

The 1997 data show that in the 1997 growing season, after treatment, the two stands with a high proportion of hemlock in the overstory have virtually no

regeneration, very little fern cover, and little striped maple or beech in the understory. A mean of 35 herbaceous species were found using the timed

meander technique on these plots. There were no detectable differences among the different treatments in terms of plant composition during the summer

of 1997.

Data were also collected during 1997 in the remaining three study stands, those with mixed, predominantly hardwood species composition in the

overstory. This was the season after group selection harvests were completed, but before herbicide treatment of ferns and beech. These data show a low

level of regeneration stocking, averaging 32%, and a high level of fern cover. Across the three stands, an average of 45% of the regeneration sample

plots had at least 30% coverage by hay-scented and New York fern. The mean number of herbaceous species detected by the timed meander technique

in these stands was 32. Herbicide treatments in one-third of each of these stands were completed during the late summer of 1997, after the data were

collected.

A 1997 pellet group survey resulted in an estimate of the local deer density as eightt deer per square mile.

During 1998, measurements of herbaceous plant community diversity, regeneration, songbirds, and amphibians will be collected in the mixed composition

stands, as the first measurements after the herbicide treatments have been completed.

PIN CHERRYEFFECTS ON ALLEGHENY HARDWOOD STAND DEVELOPMENT

This study is being conducted by Dr. Stephen B. Horsley and Todd Ristau, Northeastern Research Station, Warren, PA. It is scheduled to be completed

in 1997.

Problem statement: Pin cherry is an important pioneer species found throughout the northern hardwood forest region. Its seed can persist in forest

floors for fifty or more years, and germinates in response to disturbance, such as during stand regeneration. When such disturbances occur in areas of

low deer impact, like inside fences or where deer densities are locally low, pin cherry can interfere with the survival of longer lived species, especially

those intolerant of shade. This study is intended to determine the effects of different levels of pin cherry density on stand development patterns and

processes.

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to 1) describe the similarities and differences among stand development patterns in stands that originate

with high vs. low densities of pin cherry; and 2) identify levels of pin cherry density that interfere with the survival of longer-lived species.

Status: Using data from three previously established long-term studies, we have shown the patterns of development in stands with high vs. low pin

cherry densities in stands established as long as 70 years ago. We have identified threshold densities of pin cherry that interfere with the survival of

longer-lived species when those trees are of seedling origin and when those trees include trees of stump sprout origin. Manuscripts submitted for

publication in 1998 will close this study.

SUGAR MAPLE HEALTH

Two research thrusts are being made in this problemarea. One focuses on the role of soil nutrition on health, growth and vigor of sugar maple trees and

regeneration and has two parts:

Part 1 investigates the impact of forest liming on sugar maple vigor and regeneration (Lime study). This is a joint study of the Pennsylvania Department

of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry and the Northeastern Research Station. Principal investigators include Paul Lilja, Dr. Tom

Hall, and Dr. Barry Towers for the Bureau of Forestry, and Dr. Stephen Horsley (Warren, PA) and Dr. Robert Long (Delaware, OH) for the Northeastern

Research Station. Additional research collaborators include: Dr. Phil Wargo (NERS, Hamden CT), Dr. Dave DeWalle (Penn State), Dr. Carolyn McQuattie

(NERS, Delaware OH), Dr. TomPauley (Marshal Univ.).
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Part 2 investigates the distribution of calcium and magnesium along topographic gradients in northwestern Pennsylvania and southwestern New York

(Gradient study). This is a collaborative study between the Northeastern Research Station, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural

Resources, the Allegheny National Forest, International Paper Co., the New York Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and private

landowners. Principle investigators include Dr. Stephen Horsley (Warren PA), Dr. Robert Long (Delaware OH), Dr. Scott Bailey (Hubbard Brook NH), Dr.

Phil Wargo (Hamden CT) for the Northeastern Research Station, Dr. Tom Hall for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,

and Dr. Dave DeWalle for Penn State University.

The second thrust uses remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS study) to pinpoint the amount and location of sugar maple mortality

across northern Pennsylvania, including the Allegheny National Forest, and to correlate the mortality with many hypothesized causal factors. Principal

investigators for this study are Dr. Susan Stout of the Northeastern Research Station, Warren, PA, and Dr. Gary Petersen of the Pennsylvania State

University.

Problem Statement: Since the late 1970s, sugar maple across the northern tier of Pennsylvania has been suffering from a decline syndrome. Droughts,

insect defoliations, disease organisms, forest management, atmospheric pollutants, and soils are all hypothesized contributors to this decline. A better

understanding of the ecological mechanisms associated with the decline, and of its extent, is needed.

Objectives: The objectives of the two research thrusts are: 1) to understand the causes of maple decline and 2) to document the extent of sugar maple

mortality across the northern tier of Pennsylvania using remote sensing and geographic information systems data. Objectives for the two parts of thrust

1 are: Lime study- to understand the impact of lime on health, growth, vigor and nutrition of sugar maple. Gradient study- to determine the distribution of

calciumand magnesiumwith topographic position on glaciated and unglaciated sites.

Status: Analysis of the Lime study data has shown that addition of lime had significant impacts on sugar maple, but had no effect on black cherry or

American beech; lime increased sugar maple crown vigor, survival, diameter and basal area growth, flower and seed crop production, numbers and

survival of sugar maple seedlings. Analysis of sugar maple foliage showed that calcium and magnesium were at deficiency levels in unlimed trees, but

were well within the sufficiency range for limed trees. Conclusions based on foliar data were supported by analysis of soil and soil leachate chemistry

data. A full manuscript describing these results was published in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research in 1997. Studies of the impact of lime on

Armillaria root rot fungus, localization of calcium, magnesium, aluminum and manganese in roots and leaves of sugar maple seedlings and the impact of

lime on amphibian population were begun in 1996, but results are not yet available.

Five Gradient study sites were established in 1995 and an additional 14 sites in 1996. Foliage samples collected in August 1995 fromthese nineteen sites

suggest that magnesiumand calciumare lower at upslope than at downslope topographic positions on unglaciated sites. There were no important trends

between soil nutrients and topographic position on glaciated sites. On sites with low levels of foliar magnesium, significant stresses, especially two or

more moderate or severe defoliations within the last decade, seems to be sufficient to cause sugar maple decline. Data concerning the distribution of

nutrients within the landscape taken fromfoliar chemistry analyses are supported by soil leachate chemistry data taken at the sites.

Publications

Lime study

Long, Robert P.; Horsley, Stephen B.; Lilja, Paul R. 1997. Impact of forest liming on growth and crown vigor of sugar maple and associated hardwoods.

Canadian Journal of Forest Research 27:1560-1573.

Gradient study

Horsley, S. B.; Long, R. P. 1997. Sugar maple foliage chemistry in relation to slope position and glaciation on the Allegheny Plateau. In: Supplement to

Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America: 1997 annual meeting; 1997 August 10-14; Albuquerque, NM. Ecological Society of America: 111. Abstract.

Long, Robert P.; Horsley, Stephen B. 1997. Sugar maple health and mortality in relation to slope position and glaciation on the Allegheny Plateau. . In:

Supplement to Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America: 1997 annual meeting; 1997 August 10-14; Albuquerque, NM. Ecological Society of America:

134. Abstract.

EFFECTS OF GYPSY MOTH EGG MASS DENSITIES ON SHELTERWOOD AND SEED TREE CUTS ON THE ALLEGHENY NATIONAL

FOREST

This research study is being conducted by Dr. Rose-Marie Muzika, Research Ecologist, Dr. Kurt Gottschalk, Project Leader, and David Feicht, Forester,

Northeast Forest Experiment Station, Morgantown, WV. It is scheduled to be completed in 2000.

Problem Statement: As a result of repeated gypsy moth defoliation, drought, and the action of secondary organisms, significant acreages on the ANF

have developed substantial tree mortality. Increasing acreages have very low (overstory) stocking with valuable trees that are highly susceptible to

defoliation. Are these stands with low residual stocking at higher risk of defoliation with lower densities of gypsy moth egg masses than are currently

used as spray thresholds?

Objectives:
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1. To evaluate the susceptibility of shelterwood seed cut areas to defoliation where egg mass densities are low.

2. To evaluate the effects of expected defoliation on vulnerability to mortality of residual trees in regeneration cuts.

3. To evaluate tree regeneration response under various residualstocking levels as well as the effects of gypsy moth defoliation of tree seedlings.

Status: Study areas were established in 1991 on the ANF and State Game Lands 29. Egg mass density data was collected through 1993.

Evaluation of susceptibility (Objective 1) and vulnerability of residual trees (Objective 2) was discontinued in 1994 due to the treatment of all study plots

on the ANF with B.t. The B.t. treatments were necessary to minimize potential mortality of planted oak seedlings fromexpected gypsy moth defoliation.

Replanting costs would be high. This B.t. treatment compromised the several years of gypsy moth population data that were being monitored in these

shelterwoods. No further overstory data collection is planned at this time.

Tree regeneration (seedling) response (Objective 3) was re-measured annually between 1991 and 1995. The next scheduled re-measurement will be in the

year 2000. Tree seedling development data is still important due to the timely bumper acorn crop in 1990. Through the end of 1995, the number of oak

seedlings greater than one foot tall has gradually increased inside the fenced shelterwoods to around 1,200/acre, while the number has declined in the

unfenced shelterwoods, and no oak larger than one foot tall was recorded in 1995 in the control (fully stocked) stands. This same pattern holds true for

black cherry and other commercial hardwoods (birch, red maple, etc.) in these stands.

REGENERATING NORTHERN RED OAK ON THE ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST USING TREE SHELTERS

Principal Investigators: Thomas M. Schuler, Research Forester, Northeastern Research Station, Parsons, WV, with cooperation from Bob White,

Silviculturist, Allegheny National Forest, Warren, PA and Andrea Hille, Forester, Bradford Ranger District, Bradford, PA. This research study is

scheduled for completion in 2010.

Problem Statement: Regeneration of northern red oak on good to excellent growing sites is a common problem throughout the eastern and central

United States. Natural regeneration methods are still being tested and depend on existing natural seedlings of sufficient size and quantity to be

successful. Adequate natural stocking of this advanced regeneration is an uncommon situation in many of today's forests. A possible alternative to

natural regeneration is the use of plastic tree shelters in conjunction with a planted seedling. This is a method that has been widely adopted on the

Allegheny, Monongahela and other eastern National Forests. However, detailed silvicultural prescriptions regarding the use of tree shelters have not

been tested, and information about the long-termresults does not exist.

Objectives: Many environmental variables could influence the success or failure of regenerating a stand with the use of tree shelters. Some of those

discussed which are relevant to the conditions on the ANF include the use of herbicides to control competing vegetation, tube height and color, stake

material, the use of nets on top of the shelter, competing species and height of competing vegetation, the use of fencing to prevent or reduce deer

browsing of the natural regeneration, site quality or land type association, age of planting stock, quality of planting stock, planting technique, month

planted, species planted, and density of residual overstory. Initially, given the restrictions of time and money, it was clear that the study would have to

focus on one or two explanatory variables of greatest interest.

After evaluation, it was decided to initially investigate only the role of residual overstory density and competing understory density on the height

growth and survival of northern red oak seedlings planted in white shelters. Study sites would incorporate existing operational efforts by the ANF staff

and not establish any new experimentalsites.

Status: Study sites were established in May 1995, and initial measurements were taken on 400 trees from different stands. Residual basal area of the

overstory trees ranged froman average of 14.5 to 62.8 square feet per acre.

Height of the sheltered seedlings and height and species composition of the competing vegetation were measured again in May 1996 and May 1997. In

July 1996, 14 trees were minimally released to prevent overtopping by competing vegetation. In 1997, 12 trees were released in the same manner, and 8

were released for the second year. The release procedure was experimental and only removed the branches that were overtopping the sheltered tree,

leaving the majority of the competing vegetation. In 1997, some plots were difficult to re-measure because brass tags and flagging were missing.

First year observations suggested that growth rates declined as overstory basal area increased. Following the second and third years of measurements, it

was possible to measure the growth, and the results correspond with initial observations (see table on next page). The two stands with the highest

residual overstory basal area (i.e., about 60 square feet per acre) exhibited a sheltered seedling growth rate of about 0.5 feet in the 1995 growing season

and 0.35 feet in the 1996 growing season; whereas the two stands with lower levels of basal area (i.e., about 15 and 31 square feet, respectively) had an

average growth rate of just over 1.0 foot during 1995 and 0.65 foot in 1996.
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In the two stands with lower basal area, by 1996, about half of the surviving seedlings have emerged from the top of the shelter. Many of the seedlings

reached the top of the shelter with the nets still intact. The nets are used to prevent birds fromentering the shelter and becoming entrapped. This almost

always caused a serious deformity in the stemof the sheltered seedling. Many of these were clipped back below the deformity to prevent future problems

associated with poor form. Our observations clearly indicate the need for net removal before the stem grows tall enough to contact the net. Nets with

larger openings in the fabric reduced the chances of deformity, but some still occurred.

While growth rates are significantly related to the residual overstory density, much of the variation in growth rates can not be explained by this variable

alone. Among the multitude of other potentially significant explanatory variables, it appears that the competing vegetation is going to play an

increasingly important role in determining sheltered seedling survival and growth. The stand with the lowest level of residual overstory density is

dominated by red maple regeneration which has been heavily browsed but has grown above browse height in some areas of the stand. Competing

vegetation in the other stand with relatively open conditions is characterized by a much more diverse array of species, including grasses, ferns, shrubs,

and some tree species. The height growth of this suite of species appears to be much less of a threat to the continued survival of the sheltered oaks than

in the stand dominated by red maple. Browsing has undoubtedly had a major effect on the natural regeneration in both stands and has actually benefited

the sheltered oaks by slowing the growth of the competing vegetation.

The interaction between sheltered seedling growth, residual overstory density, and competing understory vegetation is an important aspect of this

study. Past efforts have shown that sheltered seedlings demonstrate the greatest growth rates in fullsunlight. The drawback to this is that so does the

competing vegetation. Our objective is to establish the desired species in the newly created stand following overstory removal. It is our desire to find a

level of stocking that favors sheltered seedling development while minimizing the competition from natural regeneration of undesirable species.

Continued monitoring and analysis of these stands may provide some important insights into this complexproblem.

STAND LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS OF ANF STUDYSITES AND SHELTERED

SEEDLINGS USINGMEASUREMENTS TAKEN IN MAY1997

ID Basal

Area

1

(sqft/ac)

Date of

Origin

2

Survival Height

May

1995

(feet)

Height

May

1996

(feet)

Height

May

1997

(feet)

Sample

Size

Remarks

411-1 62.8 1991 73% 3.1 3.6 3.9 100 by aspen

411-2 14.5 1992 98% 4.3 5.3 6.0 100 behind gate

424-3 31.8 1991 79% 3.9 5.0 5.6 100 spring

424-4 59.4 1993 63% 1.5 2.1 2.5 100 oil tank

1 - Stand average residual overstory basal areas as measured in May 1995.

2 - Planted prior to the onset of the growing season in the year specified.

USING AN ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT APPROACH TO ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATED TO TREE SEEDLING DEVELOPMENT IN OAK,

UPLAND HARDWOOD, AND NORTHERN HARDWOOD FOREST TYPES

Development of an adaptive management strategy to regenerate stands having a low black cherry seed source has been a cooperative venture between

the Ecosystem Management Team of the Allegheny National Forest and scientists at the Northeastern Research Station (NERS) in Irvine, PA. Primary

responsibility lies with Lois DeMarco and Bob White on the ANF and with Dr. Susan Stout and Dr. Stephen Horsley at NEFES. District silviculturists

Stan Kobielski and Steve Wingate are responsible for recommending specific sites to include in the study and ensuring that prescribed treatments occur.

Problem Statement: As reported in the 1995 Monitoring and Evaluation Report, the Forest is concerned about the mixof tree species and the low number

of seedlings of species other than black cherry and black birch which are developing in these forest types. Selective browsing by white-tailed deer, dense

interfering plants, and erratic seed production all play a role in limiting seedling development. Strategies are needed to regenerate other species. In

response to this situation, the Forest has initiated an adaptive management approach to find answers to management questions related to seedling

development and composition in regenerating stands.

Adaptive management is a process which allows existing and evolving research findings to be blended with applied management actions. By carefully

monitoring preliminary results and being flexible in applying subsequent actions, successful management objectives can be attained while furthering

overall knowledge. By placing a strong emphasis on understanding the starting conditions, the series of management actions or environmental events

which take place, and the response to actions and events, we will be able to generate an increased understanding of patterns and levels of seedling

development.

Objectives: Our objectives for this adaptive management strategy are the following: 1) to develop full stocking of advance regeneration of a variety of

species appropriate to each forest type, and 2) to make final harvests in stands of each forest type which have good advance regeneration and achieve

fullstocking and establishment of a variety of appropriate species.

Status: Three work plans were developed in 1996 to address the needs of the different forest types. Progress on each is described in the following

paragraphs.

The Oak Type
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The first step in developing an adaptive management approach for the oak type was to determine under what conditions, if any, had successful oak

regeneration become established during the last 25 years. Field visits were made to stands which had been regenerated since the early 1970's. While we

do not have data which describes the conditions which existed at the time of treatment, and in some cases do not have a complete picture of stand

treatment history, we did find that oak seedlings have been successfully established in some stands. The following is a summary of what we have

observed.

 ̈ Oak seedlings were established on some sites through natural regeneration processes. Most of the cases followed some kind of catastrophic event

such as tornado, wildfire, or tree mortality associated with severe drought and insect defoliation.

 ̈ Some of these stands are in areas where low levels of deer impact exist (i.e., adjacent to farmland, high levels of 0-20 year age class, etc.).

 ̈ Oak seedlings have become successfully established by planting and protecting stems with tree shelters.

 ̈ It was evident in some of the older (10-25 year old) stands that oak had been established early on in the life of the stand, however it had become or was

becoming over-topped by faster growing species such as red maple, black birch and black cherry. Tree mortality was occurring, thereby removing some

of the oak component fromthese stands. This is occurring in stands regenerated both through natural and artificial regeneration methods.

Based on these observations, we intend to implement a series of regeneration treatments in oak stands focusing on the following:

 ̈ Overstory tree stocking needs to be lowered sufficiently to allow adequate light to reach the forest floor for seedling establishment to occur.

 ̈ Seedbed preparation could include herbicide application or prescribed burning to remove vegetation which competes with developing oak seedlings.

 ̈ Continued monitoring following the removal cut will be needed to ensure the retention of oak as the stand develops. Release treatments (mechanical,

manual or prescribed burn) will be applied to see what works best under a variety of conditions.

Stand selection has taken place in the Wolf/Pigeon and Grunder/Morrison project areas. Implementation could begin in 1998. The Wolf/Pigeon timber

sale has been sold. NEPA analysis is in progress for the Grunder/Morrison Project.

The Upland Hardwood Type

Working with scientists at the NERS, Irvine, PA, the Forest developed an action plan which outlines a series of regeneration prescriptions which will be

applied in upland hardwood stands which have low stocking of black cherry. It is believed that deer impact, light quality and the length of time needed

for seedlings to develop are the three most critical factors which must be considered in regeneration prescriptions for upland hardwood stands. The

purpose of this phase of adaptive management will be to determine the ranges and combinations of tree harvest and/or reforestation treatments which

will encourage the development of red maple seedlings. Stand selection is complete in the South Branch Willow Creek and the North Fork Chapel Creek

project areas. Stand selection is under way in the Brush Creek and Rocket John Project areas. Implementation could begin in 1998 or 1999.

The Northern Hardwood Type

The action plan for the northern hardwood type included revising regeneration standards for uneven-aged management treatments and the completion of

a formal analysis of regeneration success in selected stands where uneven-aged prescriptions have been implemented.

Forest managers on the Allegheny plateau have questioned the viability of uneven-age silvicultural systems (UEA) for many years because of the

regeneration challenges associated with these systems: long periods of exposure to deer browsing and widespread difficulty in regenerating eastern

hemlock and sugar maple. Since 1986, the Allegheny National Forest has been applying UEA prescriptions in areas where multiple resource objectives

precluded the use of even-age silvicultural systems and to comply with the 1986 Allegheny National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. In

1996, Forest personnel undertook a project to assess these areas to determine if modifications in prescription application are needed, and to complement

emerging results fromthe Hoffman Farmadministrative study.

During the summer of 1996, field data were collected in 35 stands totaling 749 of the 2,027 acres that received UEA silvicultural treatments between 1988

and 1994. In the 1996 Monitoring and Evaluation Report, we reported the survey results, indicating that uneven-aged treatment success has been limited.

We continue to review regenertion standards and local site-specific results, paying particular attention to standards used elsewhere in the Northeast.

Another report should be available in 1999.

Implementation and monitoring has continued to occur in both the Hoffman Farm and Porter's Prize Administrative Study areas. Both of these studies are

expected to contribute to developing strategies for treating northern hardwood stands. In 1999, we will use a similar process as was used in the oak type

to determine under what conditions successful northern hardwood regeneration has occurred. We then plan to develop a treatment strategy for this

forest type.

USE OF STAND AND LANDSCAPE HABITAT COMPONENTS TO PREDICT WILDLIFE COMMUNITYCOMPOSITION: A PILOT STUDY

This is a cooperative research project between the Allegheny National Forest and the Northeastern Research Station in Irvine, PA. It is scheduled to be

completed in 1999. The principal investigator is Dr. David S. deCalesta.

Problem Statement: Managing to sustain diverse wildlife communities requires census of these populations to determine diversity status. It is too labor-
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intensive and expensive to census wildlife communities including over 250 species within forested landscapes. A habitat characterization procedure

developed by Helene Cleveland, former forester on the Allegheny National Forest, details how to characterize wildlife habitat using vegetation data

routinely collected in silvicultural descriptions within stands and use this information to predict composition of associated wildlife communities.

Validation of this model by scientists at the Warren Laboratory revealed considerable errors of commission (model predicts species that do not occur on

stands) and of omission (model fails to predict species that commonly occur on stands). A pilot study was undertaken in 1994 to provide empirical data

for development of a data-based habitat characterization model that reliably predicts presence/absence and high abundance of individual wildlife species

within stands.

Status: Wildlife communities (songbirds, small mammals, amphibians) and wildlife habitat were sampled on 18 stands including old-growth (3), managed

even-aged 2nd growth (10), and managed uneven-aged second growth (5) prior to 1997. Six early succession stands were included for analysis in 1997,

and 6 sapling/pole stands were added in 1998. All data are being entered into a wildlife habitat component/wildlife species matrix; analysis to identify

habitat components (and associated threshold values) is underway.

Publications in 1997:

deCalesta, D. S., L. D. Ordiway, and J. E. Smithbauer. 1997. Characterizing forest vegetation structure and composition to predict faunal community

composition. Ecol. Soc. Amer. Annu. Conf. 78:78. (abstr.).

ONGOINGRESEARCHPROJECTS IN THETIONESTA SCENIC AND RESEARCHNATURAL AREAS

The following is a listing of numerous on-going research projects currently underway in the Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas and a brief

description of each:

UNDERSTORY VEGETATION CHANGES IN A VIRGIN FOREST. C. Nowak, USDA-Forest Service. 1942 to present. A periodic survey of 21

permanent milacres, understory vegetation.

THE ROLE OF HISTORY AND PATCH DYNAMICS IN THE REVEGETATION OF A CATASTROPHIC WINDTHROW IN AN OLD-GROWTH

BEECH-HEMLOCK FOREST. C. Peterson, University of Georgia; S. Pickett, Rutgers University. 1985 to present. A periodic survey of permanent

milacres for vegetation in the Scenic Area's 1985 tornado swath.

INFLUENCE OF FOREST INSECT DEFOLIATORS ON STREAM SOLUTE CHEMISTRY. G. Lewis, Cornell University. 1993 to present. A periodic

survey of West Fork Run chemistry, before and after an irruption of elmspanworm.

CHARACTERIZATION OF OLD-GROWTH ON THE ALLEGHENY PLATEAU. C. Nowak and D. deCalesta, USDA-Forest Service. 1993 to present.

Survey of live and dead vegetation, songbirds (three summers), small mammals (one summer), and deer density (three winters) across a chronosequence

of seven stands, including three true-old-growth stands.

AMPHIBIAN COMMUNITIES IN A CHRONOSEQUENCE OF FOREST STANDS ON THE TIONESTA SCENIC AND RESEARCH NATURAL

AREAS. D. deCalesta, USDA-Forest Service; P. Dalby, Clarion University of Pennsylvania. 1995 to present. One summer survey of amphibians across

chronosequence of seven stands, including three true-old-growth stands.

DENDROCHRONOLOGY OF TIONESTA RNA ACROSS A LANDSCAPE GRADIENT. C. Ruffner and M. Abrams, Pennsylvania State University.

1996 to present. Ring analysis of trees in old-growth stands located on different topographic positions.

FOREST RECOVERY FROM CATASTROPHIC WINDTHROW. C. Peterson, University of Georgia. 1996 to present. Periodic survey of permanent

plots for vegetation in the Research Natural Area's 1994 tornado swath.

FUNGI, LICHEN AND NON-ARBORESCENT PLANT COMMUNITIES IN HEMLOCK-HARDWOOD OLD-GROWTH. E. Frank, retired, Rutgers

University; C. Nowak, USDA-Forest Service. 1997. One summer survey of fungi, lichen and non-arborescent plant communities in three old-growth

stands in the Tionesta Areas.

MONITORING PLANT AND ANIMAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE TIONESTA AREAS. B. Nelson, C. Nowak and D. deCalesta, USDA-Forest

Service. 1997 to 2007. A periodic survey of songbirds and vegetation, including songbird habitat, in and around the Tionesta Areas, including the

corridor.

GLOSSARY

ANF Allegheny National Forest

ASQ Allowable Sale Quantity. The quantity of timber that can be sold from the

Forest on an annual basis.

ATV All-terrain vehicle.

BA Basal Area.

CATS Cumulative Accomplishments Tracking System. A Forest Service reporting

system.
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CDS Combined Data System. A forest Service reporting system.

CFR Code of Federal Regulations.

DBH Diameter at breast height. A tree measurement -- an estimated 44 feet from

the ground.

DER Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources.

DFC Desired Future Condition.

EA Environmental Assessment. A document that describes the environmental

analysis for a proposed project to comply with the National Environmental

Protection Act.

FEIS Final Environmental Impact Statement.

FHP Forest Health Protection.

FR Forest Service Road.

FSM Forest Service Manual.

FY Fiscal Year.

MA Management Area.

MBF Thousand Board Feet (of timber).

MMBF Million Board Feet (of timber).

NERS Northeastern Research Station (formerly Northeast Forest Experiment

Station)

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act passed in 1980.

NFMA National Forest Management Act passed in 1976.

NRA National Recreation Area.

OGM Oil, Gas and Minerals.

pH A scale for measuring acidity and alkalinity.

PL Public Law.

PAOT Persons-At-One-Time. A measure of recreation capacity. The number of

persons-at-one-time that a recreation facility can accommodate.

PAMARS ProgramAccounting and Management Reporting System.

RIM Recreation Information Management. A Forest Service recreation use

reporting system.

RN Roaded natural recreation experience.

ROS Recreation Opportunity Spectrum. A system of classifying the range of

recreational experiences, opportunities and settings available on a given

area of land.

ROS CLASSES Wilderness - managed to preserve naturalness and solitude. Timber

harvests, road construction and mining activities are generally prohibited.

Semi-primitive (motorized and non-motorized) - largely unmodified natural

environments that contain at least 2,500 non-roaded acres. These areas

provide good to moderate opportunity for isolation and may be managed

for either motorized or non-motorized recreation uses.

Roaded Natural - managed for only moderate resource utilization and
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presence of people. These areas include less that 2,500 acres of non-roaded

forest and allow for both social interaction and moderate isolation.

Rural - areas characterized by a substantially-modified natural environment

where sights and sounds of people are evident.

Urban - areas characterized by high social interaction and significant

modification of the natural environment such as city parks.

Developed - managed as small, distinctly-defined areas where facilities are

provided for concentrated public use, such as campgrounds, picnicking

and swimming.

ROW Right of Way.

RVD Recreation Visitor Day. Measures 12 hours of recreation use on the Forest.

SILVAH Computer simulation model used for silvicultural examinations.

SOIL GROUP II Moderately drained soils.

SOIL GROUP III Poorly drained soils.

SPM Semi-primitive motorized recreation experience.

SPNM Semi-primitive non-motorized recreation experience.

SR State Road.

TRACS Timber Activity Control System. A Forest Service timber use reporting

system.

TSI Timber stand improvement.

TSLC&D Traffic Service Level. Describes a design standard for a road. Traffic Service

Level D roads are the lowest standard Forest Systemroads.

USDA United States Department of Agriculture.

YOY Young-of-Year.

VQO Visual Quality Objective. Refers to the quality of a landscape.

APPENDIX A

FIRST AND SECOND DECADE

FOREST PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

FIRST AND SECOND DECADEFOREST PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

SUM OF BALANCE %

UNIT OF

DECADE

1

DECADE

2

DEC 1 &

2

FY 86-95

DECADE

2

ACCOMPL COMPLETE

ACTIVITY MEASURE

PLAN

AMT

PLAN

AMT

PLAN

AMT

ACCOMPL

PLAN

AMT.

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 TO DATE TO DATE

DEVELOPED REC

...Semi-primitive

Motorized MRVD 370 380 750 583.1 166.9 62.3 63 708.4 94.5%

...Roaded Natural MRVD 4,300 4,710 9,010 4,553.2 4,456.8 661.2 671 5,885.4 65.3%

...Rural MRVD 4,190 4,320 8,510 4,966.9 3,543.1 706.6 717 6,390.5 75.1%
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DISPERSED REC

...Semi-primitive/Nonmotorized MRVD 300 420 720 335.8 384.2 28.7 33 397.5 55.2%

...Semiprimitive/Motorized MRVD 3,680 3,720 7,400 5,175.7 2,224.3 791.1 802 6,768.8 91.5%

...Roaded Natural MRVD 4,990 5,250 10,240 8,194.1 2,045.9 1,013.7 1,028 10,235.8 100.0%

WILDERNESS

...Semi-primitive/Nonmotorized MRVD 10 16 26 23 1 3.6 3.9 30.5 117.3%

TRAIL

CONSTRUCTION

...Pedestrian Miles 48 41 89 39.3 49.7 3.1 0 42.4 47.6%

...Motorized-Winter Miles 11 11 22 50.5 0 0 0 50.5 229.5%

...Motorized-Summer Miles 145 145 290 70 220 0 0 70 24.1%

TIMBER

MANAGEMENT

...Hardwood Sawtimber MMBF 383 460 843 350.1 492.9 32.6 20.9 403.6 47.9%

...Hardwood Pulpwood MMBF 562 480 1,042 333.1 708.9 23 16.0 372.1 35.7%

...Hardwood Firewood MMBF 0 0 0 17.1 0 0.6 1.2 18.9 N/A

...Total Sell MMBF 945 940 1,885 700.3 1,184.7 55.6 38.1 794 42.1%

...Clearcuts Acres 3,300 3,400 6,700 6,925 0 420 177 7,522 112.3%

...Shelterwood Seed/Prep Acres 29,700 30,600 60,300 12,930 47,370 1,196 1,641 15,767 26.1%

...Shelterwood Removal Acres 29,700 30,600 60,300 12,971 47,329 1,864 1,119 15,954 26.5%

...Thinning Acres 94,000 78,000 172,000 40,653 131,347 3,225 1,342 45,220 26.3%

...Selection Cuts Acres 6,000 0 6,000 5,573 427 334 299 6,206 103.4%

...Timber Stand

Improvement

Acres 8,000 6,000 14,000 855 13,145 0 0 855 6.1%

...Herbicide Acres 20,000 18,000 38,000 11,240 26,760 1,315 1,638 14,193 37.4%

...Fertilization Acres 25,000 14,000 39,000 9,571 29,429 755 1,148 11,474 29.4%

...Fencing Acres 4,000 4,000 8,000 9,451 0 650 373 10,474 130.9%

...Planting Acres 2,000 2,000 4,000 1,096 2,904 143 191 1,430 35.8%

...Site Prep Acres 18,000 18,000 36,000 11,887 24,113 1,230 1,108 14,225 39.5%

...Release Acres 0 0 0 169 0 261 543 973 N/A

ROADS

...Construction Miles 239.0 134.0 373.0 158.1 214.9 2.3 4.2 164.6 44.1%

...Reconstruction -

Betterment Miles 97.0 55.0 152.0 116.9 35.1 1.0 3.5 121.4 79.9%
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...Reconstruction -

Restoration

Miles 0.0 0.0 0.0 424.7 0.0 61.6 75.0 561.3 ~~

...Temporary Miles 17.0 17.0 34.0 12.7 21.3 0.0 0.4 13.1 38.5%

WILDLIFE

...Hunting Use MRVD 1,970 2,200 4,170 2,302.2 1,867.8 181.7 167.2 2,651.1 63.6%

...Fishing Use MRVD 1,510 1,720 3,230 1,663.1 1,566.9 164.3 203.2 2,030.6 62.9%

...Fish Habitat

Improvement

Acres N/A N/A 1 149 0 22 44 215 N/A

...Wildlife Habitat

Improvement

Acres 23,720 27,580 51,300 22,273 29,027 2,204 2,003 26,480 51.6%

...Wildlife Habitat

Improvement

Struct 60 110 170 2,256 0 119 82 2,457 1445.3%

SOIL/WATER/AIR

Water/Soil Improvement Acres N/A N/A 0 7,765.5 0 41.7 14 7,821.2 N/A

APPENDIX B

ALLEGHENYNATIONAL FOREST

MONITORINGPLAN

FOR FY1998

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this Monitoring Plan is to provide a framework for observing and recording the results of implementing the Allegheny National Forest

(ANF) Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). Chapter 5 of the Forest Plan includes a discussion about the basic requirements and

standards for monitoring, and AppendixB translates these requirements into the details of a general monitoring plan.

To implement this Monitoring Plan, specific steps and actions must be identified, organized and assigned to Districts and/or Supervisor's Office Teams

through the Annual Program of Work. This document provides the necessary detail for implementing the Monitoring Plan and identifies the individual

items to be measured. This information will be used annually to evaluate progress toward meeting the direction in the Forest Plan.

This Monitoring Plan consists of two parts. The first part lists the items that will be monitored. It makes up the framework for a monitoring program for

the decade.

The second part specifically explains how the monitoring tasks and responsibilities are assigned and carried out in the Annual Program of Work. This

part of the monitoring programcan be changed fromyear to year in response to variations in budgets, accomplishments or the previous year's evaluation

report.

The emphasis of this plan is on monitoring Forest Plan activities. The Forest Service currently monitors a number of activities on a routine basis through

timber sale administration, service contract administration, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance reviews, supervisory reviews, and

Regional Office management reviews. Such monitoring will continue to occur and will not be addressed within this document.

CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION TO BEMONITORED

Items to be monitored are organized into seven categories which address definite monitoring requirements. These categories are:

1. Compliance with Standards and Guidelines

2. Verification of Effects

3. Quantitative Measure of Outputs and Performance

4. Costs

5. Emerging Issues

6. Suitable and Unsuitable Lands
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7. Land Adjustments

All the monitoring requirements in the 1976 National Forest Management Act (NFMA) regulations and those specific to the ANF's Forest Plan are

included in one of these seven categories. They are described in detail in Chapter IV.

PHILOSOPHYAND ASSUMPTIONS

Monitoring is a year-round process and is required by the Forest Plan. Monitoring is accounted for in the annual program of work. The Ecosystems

Management Team has over all responsibility for monitoring and does conduct monitoring. Districts and other SO Teams also have responsibility for

assigned items. All ANF associates have ownership in monitoring, because monitoring tells us how well we are implementing the Forest Plan.

Items to be monitored are based on needs identified in the Forest Plan (Appendix B, pp. B1-B5) or as identified by evaluation of previous years'

monitoring results.

Monitoring the Forest Plan consists of: 1) monitoring specific items by the assigned persons/teams; 2) evaluating results by the ID Team; 3) compiling

the report; and 4) acting on recommendations frompast years' monitoring evaluations.

There is an expectation throughout the Forest Service's Eastern Region that management reviews will be conducted by an interdisciplinary team to

ensure that integrated resource management direction is being carried out. The ANF has adopted this emphasis for Forest Plan monitoring wherever

appropriate. As a result, many of the items will be monitored using Interdisciplinary Teamreviews.

The ANF already has many systems for gathering and tracking information to monitor its programs; this is especially true for accomplishments and

costs. However, compliance with direction and regulations and effects of management practices on resources are also monitored. Because there is not

likely to be a significant increase in personnel or budgets for monitoring and because these traditional methods have worked well in the past, existing

monitoring systems were included in this Monitoring Plan as much as possible to minimize costs. In this way, any additional funding for monitoring can

be directed toward items in the Forest Plan that have not traditionally been measured.

Monitoring will be performed on a sample basis, which will assure that the widest possible range of projects is checked in a cost-effective manner.

OBJECTIVES OF MONITORING

Compliance With Standards And Guidelines

In this category, items to be monitored are based on Code of Federal Regulation 36 (CFR) 219.12(k). The objective of gathering this information is to

provide data for evaluating how closely Forest-wide standards and guidelines and those for each Management Area (MA) in the Forest Plan have been

applied. Ultimately, the evaluation of this data will provide the Forest with a measure of progress towards meeting the Desired Future Condition (DFC) of

each MA.

Verification Of Effects

The emphasis in this category is to gather information that will be used to determine if the effects estimated in the Forest Plan are occurring. It will

provide a measure of whether the standards and guidelines are working.

This category is based on 36 CFR 219.12(k)(2) and is closely associated with the previous "Compliance" category.

Quantitative Measure Of Outputs And Performance

This category of monitoring is based on 36 CFR 219.12(k)(1) and will be used to measure how well objectives for outputs and services are being met.

Information gathered will provide quantifiable measurements of completed practices and activities, as well as a gauge of Forest progress toward the DFC

described for each Management Area.

Because outputs and practices have been traditionally monitored, most of the systems for gathering and organizing this data already exist.

Costs

The CFR for this category (36 CFR 219.12(k)(3)) specifically requires monitoring "costs associated with carrying out the planned management

prescriptions as compared with costs estimated in the Forest Plan." This requirement is also included as a Region 9 IRM expectation.

Carrying out this section of the monitoring plan will involve the continued use of management codes for keeping track of costs by activity.

Emerging Issues

36 CFR 219.7(f) requires a consideration of "the effects of National Forest management on land, resources, and communities adjacent to or near the

National Forest being planned and the effects upon National Forest management of activities on nearby lands managed by other Federal or other

government agencies or under the jurisdiction of local governments."

This means that emerging issues resulting fromForest management or from other government agencies' actions will be monitored. These are issues that

apply to National Forest land or have the potential to affect National Forest management goals or objectives.
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Suitable And Unsuitable Lands

As required in 36 CFR 219.12(k)(5ii), lands identified as unsuitable for timber production will be reexamined for timber production suitability every 10

years. A determination of suitability will result in a return of these lands to timber production. Annual monitoring of acreage will assure that relevant

information is gathered for this determination.

Land Adjustments

Land acquisition and exchange can have direct effects on meeting Forest Plan objectives. The potential exists for a major land adjustment to add or

subtract acres fromcertain Management Areas.

The objective of monitoring land adjustments is to provide a basis for redistributing acres to Management Areas after an adjustment. The Forest goal is

to minimize the negative effect or maximize the positive effect of land adjustment on meeting Forest Plan direction.

REPORTS TO BEPUBLISHED

The Forest produces two publications, the "Annual Report to the Public" (Annual Report) and the technical "Monitoring and Evaluation Report" (M&E

Report), each having different objectives and audiences.

The Annual Report is published to inform, educate and involve the public on Forest Plan implementation. It may also include:

· Offering outreach to the public on future projects.

· Highlighting areas the Leadership Teamwould like to emphasize.

· Involving the public and partners in the development of the Annual Report to the public.

· Developing other objectives for special or one time projects.

The Supervisor's Office Ecosystems Management (EM) Team is responsible for determining what is to be monitored, with assistance from District

Planning/Design Teams. Resource Specialists on the EM Team may do the actual monitoring. Members of the Ecosystems Management Team will

author, edit and publish the Monitoring and Evaluation Report.

The Information Management Team is responsible for providing accurate numbers from the Forest data bases. The Information Management Team will

also write, edit and publish the Annual Report.

The Annual Report and the Monitoring and Evaluation Report will be issued separately. Items fromthe M&EReport mentioned in the Annual Report will

be incorporated by reference only.

ACTION PLAN FOR FOREST PLAN MONITORING

INTRODUCTION

The following action items will be used to monitor the progress made in implementing the Forest Plan during FY 1998 and will remain in effect unless

modified according to recommendations in future Monitoring and Evaluation Reports. This monitoring will continue to be supplemented by quality

control reviews that are an on-going part of all operations on the Forest.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Ecosystems Management Team has overall responsibility for developing measurement standards and monitoring the progress being made in

implementing the Forest Plan. This Teamtakes the lead in developing and organizing the annual Forest Plan monitoring programfor the following year.

Each of the following action items is assigned to one or more individuals who are responsible for completing the item and reporting the results to the

Ecosystems Management Team.

MONITORING ACTION PLAN

Subject

Area

Monitoring Criteria Responsible

Person(s)/Team *

Economics Report Costs per Unit for the Following Activities:

a. Trail construction by type

b. Timber sale preparation

c. Wildlife Improvement acres :

Accountant,

Program Analyst,

Resource Specialist

(IR)
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Shrub and tree planting, prune and release, opening

creation, seeding, and Aspen regeneration (noncommercial)

d. Wildlife structures

e. Site Preparation (natural)

f. Herbicide understory

g. Fertilization

h. Timber stand improvement

i. Fencing

j. Road construction

k. Road reconstruction

Emerging

Issues

Emerging Issues and Public Concerns. L.Team

Forest

Health

Implement a Detailed Sampling Programto Monitor Soil

Productivity Changes to Determine if Cumulative

Impacts are Within Forest Plan Limits.

Terrestrial Scientist

(EM)

Forest

Health

Summarize Significant Changes in Health and

Vigor of Stand Conditions.

Forest Silviculturist

(EM), Resource

Specialist (IR)

Forest

Health

Summarize the Effectiveness of Insect and

Disease Control efforts and Status as

Determined by Forest Health Protection Staff.

Summary WillInclude a Measure of Mortality

Occurring, Especially from Major Outbreaks.

Forest Silviculturist

(EM), Forest Health

Protection

Heritage

Resources

Verify that Heritage Resources are Being

Protected.

Forest Archaeologist

(EM)

Impl./Mon.

Reviews

Conduct Interdisciplinary Field Reviews of

Projects in Several Management Areas to

Determine Application and Effectiveness of

Standards and Guidelines.

ID Team (EM),

L.Team

Lands Summary of National Forest Land Adjustments

by MA.

Forester - Lands

(OPS)

OGM Cubic Yards of Rock Surfacing Used for Contracts,

Permits, and Free Use.

Materials Engineer

(OPS), Forest

Geologist (EM)

* L.TEAM

ID Team

IR

EM

OPS

RD

- Forest Leadership Team

- Interdisciplinary Team

- Information Resources Team

- Ecosystems Management Team

- Operations Team

- Ranger District
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OGM Estimate the Level of OGM Development

Activity on the Forest.

Forest Geologist

(EM)

OGM Evaluation of OGM Activities to Verify the

Effectiveness of Negotiations in Obtaining

Industry Compliance with Standards.

Terrestrial Scientist

(EM), Forest

Geologist (EM)

OGM Summarize the Status of Lands Available for

Exploration and Development of USA Minerals.

Forest Geologist

(EM)

Recreation Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, Existing Vs. Planned Recreation Program

Manager (EM)

Recreation Miles of TrailConstructed by Type and MA. Resource Specialist

(IR), Forester (OPS)

Recreation Report the Number of WFUDs Associated with

Hunting (Big Game, Small Game, and Non-Game

Species) and Fishing Use.

Resource Specialist (IR),

Forest Biologist (EM),

District Biologists

Recreation RVDs by Activity Type and ROS Class by

Management Area (MA).

Resource Specialist

(IR)

Recreation TotalRecreation Receipts ($) and Occupancy

Figures (PAOTs) for Developed Recreation

Sites.

Resource Specialist

(IR), Accountant (IR)

Recreation Visual Quality Objectives, Existing Vs. Planned in at

least these MA's: 3.0, 5.0 and 6.1.

Landscape Architect

(EM)

Recreation Status of Recreation Site Construction Recreation Program

Mgr. (EM), Facilities

Eng. (OPS)

Roads Road Status Summary with the Following Categories:

a. Totalsystemroad miles by MA

b. Total road systemdensity by MA

c. Miles of new road constructed by MA.

d. Miles of temporary road constructed Forest-wide by

MA.

e. Miles of road constructed by MA on existing,

unimproved locations. (called "reconstruction in the

Forest Plan).

f. Roads that have been resurfaced by MA.

Civil Engineer (OPS),

Transportation

Planner (EM), Sale

Administrators (RDs)

Timber Application of Silvicultural Guides for

Intermediate or Selection Cuts.

Forester - Timber

(OPS), Forest

Silviculturist (EM),

District Silviculturists

Timber Summarize Size of Final Harvest Blocks by MA. Resource Specialist

(IR)

Timber Summarize Results of Final Harvest Cuts. Forest Silviculturist

(EM), District

Silviculturists

Timber Report the Percentage of Successfully Stocked

Regeneration Units in the Following Categories: Oak

Regeneration Cuts, Shelterwood Seed Cuts, Units

Forest Silviculturist

(EM), Resource
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Treated with Herbicide, and Units Fenced. Specialist (IR)

Timber Summarize the Following Components of the Desired

Future Condition by MA:

a. Percent opening Percent old growth

b. Percent Conifer Cover

c. Acres of Aspen Type

d. Age class distribution

e. Acres of oak type

Forest Biologist

(EM), Resource

Specialist (IR)

Timber Volume of Hardwood Sawtimber, Pulpwood,

and Firewood Sold.

Resource Specialist

(IR)

Timber Suitable and Unsuitable Lands. Forest Silviculturist

(EM), Resource

Specialist (IR)

Various Units of Accomplishment by MA for the Following

Activities (by unit of measure):

a. Final harvest - clearcuts (Acres)

b. Final harvest - shelterwood (Acres)

c. Shelterwood prep (Acres)

d. Selection (Acres)

e. Thinning (Acres)

f. Timber stand improvement (Acres)

g. Herbicide treatments (Acres)

h. Fertilization (Acres)

i. Fencing (Acres)

j. Planting (Acres)

k. Site preparation (Acres)

l. Wildlife habitat improvement (Acres)

m. Wildlife habitat improvement (Structures)

n. Cultural resource surveys (Total Acres)

o. Oil/Gas wells developed (Each)

p. Mineral Materials pits developed (Each)

Resource Specialist

(IR)

Wilderness Monitor "Limits of Acceptable Change" in the

Islands and Hickory Creek Wilderness Areas.

District Ranger,

Bradford

Wildlife/

Fisheries

Measure Habitat and Population Trends for

Management Indicator, Threatened and

Endangered, and Game Species Based on a

Specific Fish and Wildlife Monitoring Guide.

and

Forest Biologist

(EM), District

Biologists (RDs),

Fisheries Biologist

(EM)
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Obtain Population Trend Data for Several Fish

and Wildlife Species from Pennsylvania Game

and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commissions.