CHURCH
UNIVERSAL AND TRIUMPHANT, INC.
ROYAL
TETON RANCH
INTRODUCTION
In January 1999, the leadership of the Church Universal and Triumphant, Inc.
approached me to help assist them in managing their forested lands. In recognition of the dynamics of forest ecosystems and the many
changes occurring to the land and its forests. I was asked to develop
an adaptive forest management plan for Royal Teton Ranch property
("Plan"). By definition
adaptive management is a dynamic approach to forest management in which the
effects of natural events, treatments and decisions are continually monitored
and used along with research results, to modify management on a continuing
basis to ensure that goals and objectives are being met. There is no easy
recipe for the application of sustainable forest management. It must
incorporate approaches that address conditions on the ground at the stand and
landscape levels. I therefore refer to the Society of American Foresters
core value statement on sustainability:
Sustainability as applied to forestry is enhancing human
well-being by using, developing, and protecting resources
at
a rate and in a manner that enables people to meet their
current needs while also providing future generations with
the
means to meet their needs as well; it requires simultaneously
meeting environmental, economic, and community aspirations.
Prior to developing the Plan the leadership and staff first
established goals and objectives for the land.
The goals/objectives reflect concern for forest health and
sustainability. A US Geological Survey, Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quads
(DOQQ), 1994 was obtained. Original roads and streams from 1:100,000
TIGER/Line 1992 data from the US Bureau of the Census were placed on the photo
and additional roads, gates, trails, and property features were supplied by
Forest Resources of Montana & Associates, LLC. Property ownerships
were designated showing the Royal Teton Ranch (RTR) lands purchased by the US
Forest Service (FS) in August of 1999, RTR lands currently offered for
exchange, RTR lands under conservation easement, existing RTR lands not for exchange,
other private ownership, other Gallatin National Forest lands, and National
Forest lands considered for exchange to the RTR. (The Plan was prepared
on the premise that a final land exchange would occur between the FS and the
RTR.)
A data
search by the Montana Natural Heritage Program was requested and their attached
findings reflect the current status of their data collection efforts.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation supplied a map showing
the areas for summer and winter range of the northern
Originally nine management blocks were delineated based on
land formation, soil types, vegetation and existing infrastructure. Data
was gathered to develop a baseline of information on the existing forest within
these areas. Site visits were made with various state and federal
resource professionals along with individuals from area environmental
groups. Issues and concerns were discussed.
In mid July, Bruce Suenram, former Montana State Fire
Marshall and principle consultant for Fire Logistics, Inc. was retained to
provide recommendations regarding fire management planning. Bruce's
report begins with background information and states: "Large fire
activity, since 1988, has indicated that forest conditions in and around the
RTR's land are a high-risk situation, and getting worse. Due to the
observed fuel loads, coupled with the persistent drought cycles in the
After the fire was contained and on-the-ground observations
were made the fire perimeter was delineated on the Orthophoto and designated as
management block 9. Emergency rehabilitation and forest restoration plans
were made and implementation began with streamside management zone (SMZ)
delineations on both the headwaters of Hoppe and
ROYAL TETON RANCH
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
1. To protect the integrity of the
Inner Retreat as a chalice of spiritual light.
2. To maintain
or improve the health, condition and appearance of the forest and reduce the
risk of forest fires.
3. To recognize and address the
impacts of sediment and soil erosion on existing roads and in riparian areas
and streamside management zones.
NARRATIVE
The purpose of this plan is to
establish a baseline of information, and to provide background to make recommendations
based on professional judgment and specialized techniques that will help assist
the RTR to make informed decisions and to help achieve
the identified
goals and objectives.
The recommendations will be proposed treatments designed
with sound science and silviculture to achieve the identified goals and
objectives. Recommendations and
proposed treatments will be reviewed by the authorized RTR
representatives. Those treatments
authorized by RTR representatives in writing will be implemented and approved.
For the purposes of this Plan, management blocks will be
ranked in terms of total tons of forest fuels.
To see an example of fuel loading as it occurs on some portions of the RTR go
to: http://www.tsl.org/AboutUs/MediaItems/ForestMamangementImages.htm
and click on “Image 1: Fuel Loading.”
MANAGEMENT
BLOCK 1
Known as "the Heart of the Inner Retreat" this
area is the centerpiece of the property and protecting the integrity of the
Inner Retreat, (including visual quality) is the highest priority. It
contains the shelters and tent frame and trail system that has served the
membership during past conferences. It is approximately 98 acres in
size.
This area is located on terraces and flood plains.
Elevations range from approximately 6300 to 7000 feet. There are two
distinct soil types, which are: 1.) Typic Cryoborolls and Argic Cryoborolls to
the west of Mol Heron Creek, and 2.) Typic Cryoboralfs and Argic Cryoborolls to
the east of Mol Heron Creek. The dominant slopes have gradients of 0 to
10 percent. (Davis and Shovic, 1982)
To the west of Mol Heron Creek deposits from avalanches on adjacent slopes
occasionally occur in the valleys. Also included in the unit are some
alluvial fans and stream terraces. The soils are subject to flooding
after prolonged, high intensity storms. The soils on the landforms have
high water holding capacity; and the potential for surface runoff is low.
Stratified glacial outwash deposits weathered from granitic rocks, sandstone,
shale, or limestone underlies these soils. (Davis and Shovic, 1982)
The
mountain grassland is dominated by
Big sagebrush/Idaho fescue and
Dissimilar habitat types in the unit include, subalpine fir
habitat types, which are at the higher elevations. Their timber
productivity is greater than that of the major habitat types. Riparian
communities are along perennial streams. Their forage productivity is
greater than that of the major habitat types.
To the east of Mol Heron Creek the vegetation consists of lower subalpine
forest. The soils formed in alluvial or glacial outwash deposits.
Seeps and springs are in depressions and on low terraces. The vegetation
is Englemann spruce, Douglas-fir and aspen forest, with areas of mountain
meadows at the lower elevations. At the higher elevations the forest
understory is a dense mat of shrubs dominated by blue huckleberry and grouse
whortleberry. At the lower elevations it contains snowberry and
ninebark. Near the streams and seeps, it contains baneberry, horsetail,
sweetscented bedstraw, and bluejoint.
Subalpine fir/blue huckleberry and subalpine fir/grouse whortleberry are the
major habitat types at the higher elevations. Subalpine fir and spruce
are the major habitat types on wet soils, along with Douglas-fir and spruce
habitat types in the drier areas at the lower elevations.
Tree ages range from 13 years to 250+ years with the
majority of the management block at approximately 68 years of age. This
area has the sixth highest fuel load with approximately 125,000 tons of forest
fuels for the entire management block.
Tree regeneration is limited and generally occurs as
encroachment on the edge of existing stands within the block. In the
seedling/sapling size class, trees range from 1-inch diameter at breast height
(DBH) to 3.3 inches DBH with their heights ranging from 1 foot to 18
feet.
Trees in size classes greater than saplings (more than 5.5
inches DBH) diameters range from 5.6 inches to 24.6 inches with an average
diameter of 10.7 inches. Tree heights range from 47 feet to 63 feet with
an average height of 48 feet.
This area lies within the foreground, and middle ground as viewed from the
Heart of the Inner Retreat. Recommended silvicultural
treatments are limited to removal of hazard trees or salvage sanitation
treatments for those areas that lay in the visual foreground. Stands that
lay in the visual middle ground, or an aspen stand that is old and dying, may
require group selections with reserve trees, and/or thinning with the removal
of conifer saplings to promote aspen regeneration. Some middle
ground stands may require a variety of treatments such as shelterwood harvests,
group selections, and thinning from above and below. White bark pine
trees and large diameter old growth trees will be favored as leave trees.
Prescribed fires where appropriate would also stimulate aspen regeneration,
reduce fuels, and prepare the site for regeneration.
MANAGEMENT BLOCK 2
This area lies to the south and west of the Heart, directly
above the shelters and includes what is known by the membership as
There are five distinct soil types in this management block. Typic
Cryoborolls and Argic Cryoborolls are extensions from Management Block 1 to the
west of Mol Heron Creek. They occur on slopes with gradients of 0 to 10
percent. (See Management Block 1 for description.)
This management block features the Typic Cryochrepts-Rock outcrop complex,
volcanic substratum. This landform consists of rock outcrops, including
The Argic Cryoborolls-Argic Pachic Cryoborolls complex, glacial drift
substratum, lies on moraines just south of
The Typic Cryoboralfs-Argic Cryoborolls association lies on moraines.
Elevations range from approximately 6500 to 7200 feet. The dominant
slopes have gradients of 5 to 20 percent. The moraines are hummocky
deposits of glacial drift on the bottom of U-shaped valleys and basins.
Alluvial fans and gently sloping flood plains and terraces occur near where
tributary streams enter valleys at lower elevations. Here small ponds,
seeps, springs, and bogs may occur. The landforms have a moderate risk of
landslides and the soils have high water-holding capacity. Runoff is
low. (Davis and Shovic, 1982)
The Argic Cryoborolls-Argic Pachic Cryoborolls complex, glacial drift
substratum. Elevations range from approximately 6400 to 6500 feet.
The dominant slopes range from 45 to 70 percent. These soils are similar
to those two described above. Its identifying feature is an open-grown
forest or dense stands of big sagebrush. (Davis and Shovic, 1982)
The vegetation mix for this management block varies with elevation and aspect.
Scattered areas of dense forest are on north facing slopes with open grown
forests occurring on south, and east facing aspects. Previous harvesting
of insect and disease killed trees on gentle slopes and lower elevations has
removed all of the cavity nesting snags. The
remaining vegetation consists of subalpine forest and scattered areas of
mountain grassland. These forests consist of homogenous and mixed stands
of lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, Englemann spruce, white bark pine and aspen.
Habitat types occurring in this management block are; subalpine fir/whitebark
pine/grouse whortleberry, Idaho fescue/bearded wheatgrass, subalpine fir/blue
huckleberry, subalpine fir/heartleaf arnica, subalpine fir/twinflower,
subalpine fir/bluejoint, and tufted hairgrass/sedge in wet meadows. Big
sagebrush/Idaho fescue and
Tree ages range from 15 years to 280+ years with the
majority of the management block at approximately 130 years of age. There
are approximately 162,000 tons of forest fuels for the entire management block
making it the fifth heaviest fuel loading.
Tree regeneration has occurred to a limited degree within
the block. In the seedling/sapling size class trees
range from 1 foot to 32 feet.
Trees in the pole and larger size classes have diameters
ranging from 5.6 inches to 23.2 inches with an average diameter of 10.3
inches. Tree heights range from 26 feet to 70 feet with an average height
of 49 feet.
This area lies within the foreground, middle ground and background as viewed
from the Heart of the Inner Retreat. Recommended
silvicultural treatments are limited to removal of hazard trees or salvage sanitation
treatments for those areas that lay in the visual foreground. Stands that
lay in the visual middle ground or an aspen stand that is older and dying may
require group selections along with thinning or removal of conifer saplings to
promote aspen regeneration. Some middle ground and background
stands may require a variety of treatments such as shelterwood harvests, group
selections, thinning from above and below. White bark pine trees and
large diameter old growth trees will be favored as leave trees.
Prescribed fires where appropriate would also stimulate aspen regeneration,
reduce fuels and prepare the site for regeneration. All prescribed fire
treatments should be coordinated with neighboring landowners to insure
effective treatments and reduce costs.
MANAGEMENT
BLOCK 3
This area lies to the west of Mol Heron Creek as one drives
up the Mol Heron Creek road. It is approximately 700 acres in size.
There are two main soil types in this management
block. They are Mollic Eutroboralfs-Typic Argiborolls-Rock outcrop
complex, steep, and Typic Cryoborolls and Argic Cryoborolls, terraces and flood
plains. (Davis and Shovic, 1982)
The Mollic Eutroboralfs Typic Argiborolls- Rock outcrop
complex lies on steep mountain slopes. Elevations range from
approximately 6400 to 7200 feet. The dominant slopes are on south facing
aspects and they have gradients of 45 to 70 percent. These slopes are
long and straight or slightly convex. The soils have low water-holding
capacity, and surface runoff occurs when snow melts. These soils are
underlain by a repetitive sequence of lava flows, mudflow breccias, and welded
tuffs. Bedrock varies in weathering resistance. The lava flows are
resistant to weathering. The tuffs weather rapidly. (Davis and
Shovic, 1982)
The vegetation consists of dense Douglas-fir stands on the
north and east facing slopes and open grown Douglas-fir forest on south and
west facing slopes. These stands also have a mix of white bark pine,
limber pine, lodgepole pine and
Habitat types occurring in this unit range from
Douglas-fir/snowberry on the north and east facing slopes of the forested area
to Douglas-fir/Idaho fescue on the south and west facing aspects.
The Typic Cryoborolls and Argic Cryoborolls, terraces and
flood plains, lie from Mol Heron Creek to just above the Mol Heron Creek
road. This soil type occurs along the entire length of Mol Heron Creek on
its west side and it occurs in both Management Blocks 1 and 2. (See Management
Block 1 for description.)
Tree ages range from 15 to 300+ years with the majority of
the management block at approximately 104 years of age. It is estimated
that there is over 17,000 tons of fuel in the entire management block, which is
the least heaviest fuel loading of all the management
blocks.
Tree regeneration exists in limited niches within the
management block. In the seedling/sapling size class, trees range from
1.5 inches to 3.2 inches DBH. There heights range from 5 to 8 feet.
Trees larger than saplings have a DBH range of 5.6 to 23.5
inches with the average diameter of 11.6 inches. Tree heights range from
33 feet to 62 feet with an average height of 41 feet.
This area is mainly viewed from the Mol Heron Creek road as
one travels to and from the Inner Retreat. The majority of the snags were
removed as firewood from the lower elevations over the past ten to twenty
years. White pine blister rust has infected both the limber and white
bark pine. Douglas-fir beetle is attacking the larger, older Douglas-fir
trees. Recommended silvicultural treatments include shelterwood, seed
tree, and selective harvesting. White bark pine, and limber pine that
appear resistant to blister rust, along with large diameter old growth trees
will be favored as leave trees.
In this management block and in Management Block 4 that lies to the east, the Mol Heron drainage narrows and
contains steep slopes as one approaches the confluence of Hoppe and Mol Heron
creeks. This bottleneck creates a chimney effect and drafts wind up and
down the drainage and side slopes. Continuity of fuels such as shrubs,
low tree branches and limbs heavy with needles and leaves (ladder fuels)
coupled with a continuous tree canopy increase the risk for severe consequences
from fire conditions. Use of prescribed fire in coordination with
neighboring landownership would address fire concerns.
MANAGEMENT
BLOCK 4
This area lies to the east of Mol Heron Creek as you drive
up Mol Heron Creek road from the west side of
In the stream bottoms the soil types are Typic Cryoborolls
and Argic Cryoborolls, terraces and flood plains. (See description in
Management Block 1.)
The dominant soil type in the Management Block is Typic
Cryoboralfs-Argic Cryoborolls association, on moraines. (See description
in Management Block 2.)
There is a small island of soil type Argic Cryoborolls
complex, on structurally controlled slopes. It is located on a ridge
between the stream that feeds
There is also a small portion of soil type Mollic
Cryoboralfs-Argic Cryoborolls association, on structurally controlled steep
slopes, in the northwest corner of Section 12. This area is on a slope
with a southeast facing aspect that is visible from Highway 89. It has
gradients of 45 to 70 percent. These slopes have the same composition as
described in the previous mentioned soil type. (Davis and Shovic,
1982)
Major habitat types are subalpine fir/blue huckleberry,
subalpine fir/grouse whortleberry, subalpine fir/heartleaf arnica, subalpine
fir/whitebark pine/grouse whortleberry at the higher elevations. Douglas-fir/ninebark, and Douglas-fir/snowberry are at the
lower elevations.
The primary component in this
management block is Douglas-fir with Englemann spruce, cottonwood, and aspen in
the riparian zones. Limber pine, white bark pine, Rocky Mountain Juniper
and big sage brush are scattered throughout the area and are on the edges of
meadows.
Tree ages range from approximately 25 to 115 years
old. The management block contains approximately 58,000 tons of forest
fuels and ranks eighth in all of the management blocks.
The forest structure mainly consists of a single story of
Douglas-fir, with only a few small pockets of suppressed regeneration.
Many of these trees have broken and multiple tops, which were probably caused
by a wind and/or snow event years ago. Amillaria root rot fans were
identified in the area along with white bark pine blister rust on the limber
and white bark pine trees.
Tree diameters in size classes greater than saplings range
from 11.5 to 16.9 inches DBH with an average diameter of 11.6 inches.
Tree heights range from 20 feet to 62 feet with an average height of 47 feet.
This area was heavily impacted by the mining operations of
Aldrich years ago. Many structures remain as evidence for this mining and
irrigating activity throughout the site.
This area provides good habitat and security cover for elk,
deer and moose year round. It can be especially important in the winter
for moose if subalpine fir seedlings are present in the understory. The
major streams in the area provide habitat for trout, which may be considered in
implementing treatments.
Shelterwood, group selections, and selective harvests
(accompanied by prescribed fires) are recommended silvicultural
treatments. These treatments should be scheduled over time to maintain
adequate security cover while reducing the risk of wildland fire.
MANAGEMENT
BLOCK 5
This area lies southeast of Mol Heron Creek between Hoppe
Creek and
There are four distinct soil types in this management
block. The first two are Typic Cryoborolls-Argic Cryoborolls and Typic
Cryoboralfs-Argic Cryoborolls. These are located along the stream bottom of Mol
Heron Creek. (See description in Management Block 1.)
The third is Typic Cryoboralfs-Argic Cryoborolls
association, which lies on moraines and covers approximately half of the upper
management block. (See description in management Block 2.)
The fourth is Aquic Cryoboralfs-Typic Cryoboralfs complex,
landslides. These soils lay on the lower portion of the management block
just above Mol Heron Creek. They formed in material deposited by
landslides. It is material weathered from interbedded shale, mudstone,
siltstone and some sandstone. Elevations range from approximately 6400 to
8000 feet. The dominant slopes have gradients of 5 to 20 percent.
The landslides are hummocky land surfaces characterized by a regular pattern of
mounds and depressions. Indicators of movement, such as large cracks, leaning
trees, slip scars, and lobate-shaped deposits are present. Seeps,
springs, and small ponds are in some depressions. About 40 to 60 percent
of these areas are subject to further landslides. The soils on the
landforms have high water-holding capacity. The deranged drainage system
diverts runoff into ponds and bogs. Included in these areas are some
structurally controlled sandstone ridges, which are more stable than
landslides. (Davis and Shovic, 1982)
Except
for the stream bottom, encroachment into several small meadows,
and a few isolated pockets of suppressed trees there is little or no vigorous
regeneration throughout the management block. It can be characterized as
a single storied stand with a closed canopy dotted with old growth Douglas-fir.
The primary component in this area is Douglas-fir with remnants of Englemann
spruce, subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, and aspen.
Tree ages range from 100 to 275+ years old. The
entire management block is estimated to have over 125,000 tons of forest fuels
and ranks seventh in fuel loading.
Trees in the primary component range from 10.8 inches DBH
to 34.6 inches DBH with an average DBH of 12.8 inches.
This area is in the visual fore ground and middle ground
when viewing if from the Mol Heron Creek road, and is in the visual middle
ground and back ground when viewing it from the Inner Retreat.
Recommended silvicultural treatments include a three-step shelterwood harvest
with reserve old growth, group selections with reserves, and single tree selection.
Efforts to regenerate aspen stands within the management block can be
accomplished with harvesting and prescribed fire.
MANAGEMENT
BLOCK 6
This
block lies just above the Heart and right below
There are two soil types in this area. There is a small
To see an example of how fragile
soils give way to a slip scar on the slopes below Maitreya’s Mountain as viewed from the Heart
go to:
http://www.tsl.org/AboutUs/MediaItems/ForestMamangementImages.htm and click on “Image 2: Slip Scar.”
The majority of the area is Aquic
Cryoboralfs-Typic Cryoboralfs complex, landslides. (See description in
Management Block 5.)
The lower portion is multistoried with Englemann spruce and
Douglas-fir as the primary component and subalpine fir mixed throughout. There
are also several pockets of aspen in the area. It is located in the
visual foreground when looking up from the Heart. Several small streams
dissect this area and, with the soils being soft and fragile, the ground is
prone to slips and failures. There are several landslides or slumps
located above the Heart.
The bench above the Heart is accessed
by an existing road system known as the "slash pile" road. This
bench area was harvested approximately 80 years ago and the logs were milled on
site. The slabs from the sawed logs were left in large piles throughout
this area.
Above the slash pile road and north of Maitreyas Mountain
Trail is a dense stand of the above mentioned tree species.
This entire management block lies in
a very sensitive area and wildfire is a major concern. Fire exclusion has
changed the fuel quantities and arrangements. Steep
slopes, and a continuous tree canopy above the Heart and below Maitreya's
This area has the forth-highest fuel loading of all the
management blocks. It has approximately 210,000 tons of forest
fuels. Tree age's range from 15 to 275+ years old with
the average age being 104 years.
Trees in the seedling/sapling size class range from 1 to 3
inches in DBH and are 1 to 13 feet in height. The larger trees range from
5.5 inches to 34.6 inches in diameter with an average of approximately 9.5
inches DBH.
Silvicultural
treatments include shelterwood harvests with reserves, group selections with
reserves, and single tree selection. Tree thinning from above and below
(along with tree planting with species such as aspen) would help stabilize
slopes, provide wildlife habitat, and add to the aesthetics.
MANAGEMENT BLOCK 7
This area lies southeast of
Three distinct soil types occur in
this management block. In the southeast corner of Section 1 there is a
small strip of Mollic Cryoboralfs-Argic Cryoborolls association, on
structurally controlled steep slopes. (See description in Management
Block 4.) This area is visible from Highway 89.
There is a small
A small sliver of Typic Cryoborolls
and Argic Cryoborolls, terraces and flood plains, exist in the northeast corner
of Section 1. (See description in Management Block 1.)
The majority of the management block consists of Typic
Cryoboralfs-Argic Cryorolls association, on moraines. (See description in
Management Block 2.)
This area is similar to Management Block 4. Its
primary tree component is Douglas-fir with some Englemann spruce, limber pine,
Treatments in this management block must be consistent with
the Conservation Easement.
Shelterwood harvests with reserve trees, group selections
with reserve trees, and single tree selection (accompanied by prescribed fire
treatments) for the enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat are recommended
silvicultural treatments. Prior to any harvesting or prescribed fire
treatments a qualified natural resource manager must submit a plan for approval
by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Inc.
MANAGEMENT BLOCK 8
This area lies
in a narrow band from
There are 3 soil types in this management block. At
the upper elevations there is Typic Cryoboralfs-Mollic Cryoboralfs complex, on
structurally controlled slopes. It ranges in elevation from approximately
7600 to 8400 feet. Its dominant slopes have gradients of 10 to 45
percent. The structurally controlled slopes have ridges that are
underlain by sandstone and swales or benches that are underlain by shale,
siltstone, or mudstone. Slope and relief are strongly affected by the dip
of the underlying bedrock. Seeps and springs are in some swales and on
some benches. About 20 to 40 percent of the area is subject to
landslides. The soils in this area have high water-holding capacity, and
the potential for surface runoff is low. (Davis and Shovic, 1982)
Mollic Cryoboralfs-Typic Cryoboralfs complex, on steep
slopes, lies from the saddle behind
Aquic Cryoboralfs-Typic Cryoboralfs complex, on landslides,
is the remaining soil type. It is located below the soil type south of
the
The habitat types in this management block include
subalpine fir/blue huckleberry, subalpine fir/grouse whortleberry, subalpine
fir/twinflower, subalpine fir/heartleaf arnica, subalpine fir/pinegrass,
subalpine/fir beargrass, and Douglas-fir/blue huckleberry at the lower
elevations. Subalpine fir/whitebark pine/grouse whortleberry is the major
habitat type at the higher elevations.
Trees range in age from 25 to 275+ years old.
Diameters in the seedling/sapling size classes are between 2 and 4 inches with
heights of about 15 to 30 feet. Larger size class diameters range from 6
inches to trees greater that 31 inches. Their heights range from 48 to 87
feet tall with the average height being approximately 60 feet. Block 8 has
the second heaviest fuel loading of all the management blocks with over 291,000
tons of forest fuels.
This area has evidence of past mining activity. Four-wheel drive roads
lead to a strategic point that overlooks the middle and upper portions of the
Mol Heron Creek watershed. This point could serve as a future deployment
area and safety zone in the event of wildfires or prescribed fire.
Shelterwood harvests, group selection harvests with reserve trees, single tree
selection, and intermediate thinning from above and below tree crowns will
allow for the reduction of fuels. Prescribed fire may be used as a tool
to reduce fuel loads and to improve wildlife habitat.
MANAGEMENT BLOCK 9
This management block is the result of the Little Joe Fire,
which occurred in August of 2001. It is approximately 254 acres in size.
There are three main soil types in this management
block. Typic Cryochrepts-Rock outcrop complex, volcanic
substratum. (See description in Management Block
2.) Mollic Cryoboralfs-Argic Cryoborolls association,
on structurally controlled steep slopes. (See description in
Management Block 4.) Mollic Cryoboralfs-Typic
Cryoboralfs complex, on steep slopes. (See description
in Management Block 8.)
This area had the third highest fuel loading of all the
management blocks with approximately 242,000 tons of forest fuel. The
majority of forest in this management block endured
severe fire while the eastern, northern and western edges received a lesser
degree of under burn and spot fires. The fire burned especially hot in
the headwaters of
To see an example of the Little
Joe Fire as seen from Edwin Johnson's camp just below the arch go to: http://www.tsl.org/AboutUs/MediaItems/ForestMamangementImages.htm
and click on “Image 3: Smoke.”
Emergency rehab, restoration, and salvage recommendations
were prepared. The immediate recommendations call for closing the area to
unauthorized personnel and eliminating livestock grazing for a minimum of one
year. After one year the site can be re-evaluated and recommendations
made to best fit the recovery of the site. The implementation of short
and long-term active weed management is called for. This includes the
removal of existing noxious weeds, monitoring of the site, and treating future
infestations. The streamside management zones (SMZ) were delineated on
both the headwaters of Hoppe and
To see and example of burned
trees around Little
Existing roads were used heavily
during the fire with many segments excavated with a dozer blade and all vegetation
removed. Much of this disturbance occurred on four-wheel drive roads with
grades exceeding 40 percent and road surfaces out sloped with no drain
dips. The probability of erosion and sediment infiltrating streams is
high. It is recommended that the road be relocated to access the area for
salvage and rehab fire lines. This relocation would serve the ranch as a
long-term strategic fire deployment access. It would replace unsafe, poor
quality roads that are currently causing erosion and allowing sediment to enter
the streams. Its relocation would be guided under the context of
To see an
example of the burn at the headwaters of Hoppe Creek go to: http://www.tsl.org/AboutUs/MediaItems/ForestMamangementImages.htm
and click on “Image 5: Headwaters
Burn.”
Salvage of burned timber is
recommended where fire occurred. SMZ's, where the majority of the burned
trees should be left (to provide structure and recruitment of downed woody material),
are exceptions. Wildlife snags may be left throughout the burned area for
cavity nesters and for forest structure.
Edges of the fire where under burning occurred may be dealt with on a
single tree selection. Slash from these
trees may be used in erosion control and fire line/road rehab. The
salvage area may be monitored for natural regeneration.
To see an
example of the under burn along the edge of the Little Joe Fire go to: http://www.tsl.org/AboutUs/MediaItems/ForestMamangementImages.htm
and click on “Image 6: Under
Burn.”
To see an example of burned
trees on the Royal Teton Ranch go to: http://www.tsl.org/AboutUs/MediaItems/ForestMamangementImages.htm
and click on “Image 7: Burned Trees.”
References
Davis, Carl E., Henry F. Shovic,
1984. Soil Survey of
United States Department of Agriculture,
Conservation Service. In Cooperation with the
Station.
Fisher,
William C., Anne F. Bradley, 1987. Fire Ecology of
Habitat Types.
Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-223.
Gruell,
George E. Fire and vegetative trends in the
From 1871-1982 photographs. Gen.
Tech. Rep. INT-158.
Department of Agriculture,
Experiment Station; 1983. 117p.
Planning Criteria for Timber Harvest Areas Considered for Exchange.
Recovery Zone, 1996.
Helms, John A., editor. The Dictionary of Forestry, 1998.
p. cm., ISBN 0-93970-73-2
Pfister,
Robert D.; Kolvalchik, Bernard L.; Arno, Stephen F.; Presby,
Habitat types of
Department of Agriculture,
Experiment Station; 1977.174p.
Rocky
Mountain Elk Foundation, Deed of Conservation Easement Royal Teton Ranch -
Devil's Slide Area, 1999.
Smith,
Jane-Kapler, James K. Brown, L. Jack Lyon, Mark H. Huff, Robert G. Hooper,
Edmund
S. Telfer, David Scott Schreiner, 2000. Wildland Fire in Ecosystems:
effects of fire on fauna. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol.1.
Dan
Pittman, CFâ/ACF
Dan
Pittman is the owner of Forest Resources of Montana & Associates,
LLC. Mr. Pittman offers forestry and natural resource consulting services
to non-industrial private landowners, non-governmental organizations, industry
and government.
Mr. Pittman
holds a degree in forest management from the
Dan
was the Eastern Montana Forester of the Year in 1993, the first Certified
Foresterâ in
Dan's
experience includes twelve years as a consulting forester, five years in public
forestry, and seven years in ranch management. He is a past state
chairman of the Montana Society of American Foresters and the Society's