Forest Management Plan Addendum - 1999
ADDENDUM TO ORIGINAL 1995 PLAN
on
PROPERTY OF
LARRY ELY and JENNIFER LAWSON
Shelburne, New Hampshire
130 Acres
PREPARED FOR: Larry Ely and Jennifer Lawson
PREPARED BY: Charles H. Baylies
DATE: February 1999
INTRODUCTION
This addendum was made necessary by an ice storm that hit the area in January 1998. Validation of this plan, along with assessment of damage, will qualify the property for SIP cost-share funding to help repair damage caused by the storm. The original plan was written in May 1995 by Sam Stoddard, UNH Extension Forestry educator. This property contains about 130 ± acres and is located in Shelburne, New Hampshire. The property is reached by traveling on North Road about three miles from the junction of Route #2. It is located on the north side of the road. Elevation runs from 740 feet to 1,685 feet at the summit of First Mountain.
This stewardship plan was written for the Stewardship Incentive Program, a cost-shared program, administered by UNH Cooperative Extension and the USDA through Farm Service Agency (FSA). The local FSA office is located in Lancaster, telephone (603) 788-4602; UNH extension telephone is (603) 788-4961.
The major woodland soil types are Monadnock, Berkshire, Colton and various combinations of the above with Tunbridge, Lyman, Hermon, and Peru. A Soils Map is provided and keyed to type descriptions. A Woodlands Management and Productivity Chart and Non-technical Soils Description Report are included in this addendum. These were obtained from the local office of Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), located in Lancaster, telephone (603) 788-4651. NRCS is also the contact agency for advice on skid trail improvement, erosion control, seeding of disturbed soil and wildlife habitat incentive program (WHIP). Safety is important when working on ice-damaged trees. Please read the enclosed fact sheet before doing work in ice-damaged stands.
Stone walls were not encountered while exploring the property. No rare or endangered plant or animal species are known to occur on the property. If you would like to learn more about threatened or endangered species or unique communities, you should contact the NH Natural Heritage Inventory office of the NH Division of Forests and Lands at telephone (603) 271-3623 (for plant species) or the Nongame and Endangered Species Program of the NH Fish and Game Department at telephone (603) 271-2461. Damage was done by the recent ice storm. The land at elevations above 1,500 feet sustained the most serious damage.
STAND 1 - 10 Acres
This stand includes the logging yard used during the harvest done by the previous landowner in the late 1980s. Details of the harvest are provided in the original plan. A truck road to the yard will be used as a driveway to the planned building site in this former yard. It is recommended that advice from NRCS be obtained to best protect the driveway from erosion problems. Seeding of the disturbed soil should also be done to further prevent soil erosion. Trails leading from the yard provide excellent access to the other trails throughout the property. NRCS can also help advise you on best management practices for improving skid trails for recreation and motorized access. Soil is Colton.
STAND 2 - 30 Acres
Ice-storm damage is evident in the northeastern portion of this stand. Ice damage became evident at elevations over 1,000 feet. Bent-over saplings and moderate crown damage (25%-60%) were noted. Skid trails used for the past harvest should be viewed by NRCS to obtain advice for erosion control measures and upgrading access to ice-damaged stands. The area near Stand 3 is noted in the original plan as having erosion damage. A maintenance plan should be developed to insure permanent access and recreational enjoyment of the property. Tree branches and tops, along with bent-over saplings, need to be removed from sections of the trail in the northeast portion of this stand. A portion of the former Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) trail follows the northeast boundary line and is also in need of debris removal. Plans to link onto the former AMC trail system are noted in the original plan. Timber stand improvement (TSI) is advised to improve species composition and stem quality in the regeneration from the previous harvests. About 10 acres of TSI in the south portion of this stand is needed. Funds are currently available through the Forestry Incentive Program (FIP), administered by NRCS. The stewardship incentive program under SIP-3, forest improvement, also provides funds when available for this practice. The Extension Service Forestry educator provides approval for both of these programs. Soils are Monadnock, Tunbridge-Lyman and Berkshire.
STAND 3 - 2 Acres
This small area of wetland should be left undisturbed.
STAND 4 -17 Acres
The original recommendations for this stand should be followed. Some ice damage was noted in the north portion of this stand. Areas where recreational trails are planned will need removal of debris and leaning trees. A wildlife thinning to release mountain ash, red oak and beech while girdling low quality and undesirable species is noted in the original plan. Soils are Monadnock-Hermon, Berkshire and Tunbridge-Lyman.
STAND 5 -17 Acres
This stand was heavily damaged by the ice storm. Live crown damage ranged from 50-100%. The original plan was to manage this stand for wildlife and recreation, as in Stand 4. The trail to the summit of First Mountain is covered with debris from the ice storm which needs to be removed. Wildlife improvement similar to Stand 4 is noted in the original plan. Brush piles could be built with removed debris from the trail clearing to further improve the stated. wildlife goal. Soils are Monadnock-Hermon, Marlow-Tunbridge and Peru.
STAND 6 - 25 Acres
This stand is classified as unproductive in current use assessment. It is inaccessible to logging equipment due to steep and rocky terrain in all but the southern portion of the stand. Skid trails in this area, from Stand 2, are in need of erosion control work and seeding. Plans to plot a recreational trail through the southern portion to provide a rock climbing route to the summit will require some debris removal caused by the ice storm in the northern portion of trail. The trail through Stand 5 to Joe's Ledges, just below the summit of First Mountain, provides a spectacular view and travels through the northern portion of this stand. Brush piles made from trail clearing would provide additional wildlife benefits, also a goal in this stand. Soils are mainly Lyman-Tunbridge in the north and Monadnock-Herman in the southwest.
STAND 7 -15 Acres
This stand was heavily damaged by the ice storm with 50-100% live crown damage, mostly to hardwood. It is an important cover type, shown as a deer yard on Fish & Game maps. Hiking trails are planned in this stand that will cause minimal interference to the deer yard. Views to the south are outstanding, including Mt. Washington. Brush piles built from the debris and trees cut to build the trail and improve the views will help improve the wildlife habitat. Release of mountain ash and other wildlife trees and shrubs is advised. Soil is Marlow-Tunbridge.
STAND 8 - 4 Acres
This stand is similar to Stand 7. Ice damage is also heavy in this stand (50-100% of live crowns). Middle Mountain Trail passes through this stand, once used for logging by Boise-Cascade, the northern abutter. An agreement with Boise-Cascade for a right of way should be discussed to provide management access for Stands 7 and 8. Removal of debris from the trail, as well as an old skid road leading into Stand 7, will provide a nice recreational trail to the summit from the north. Soil is Peru.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Clearing the existing recreational trails of trees and brush should be done as soon as possible through cost-sharing (SIP-9). An application for this practice should be submitted immediately. A salvage harvest is not practical and would compromise the objectives in the original plan. It is not recommended. Skid trails in need of erosion control and seeding should be done following advice from NRCS. These trails are important access to the property and existing recreational trails. This work is also covered by cost-sharing and should be applied for (SIP-5). Skid trail in Stands 1, 2, and 4, although not severely damaged by the ice storm, could be upgraded to provide motorized access to the trails in need of debris removal. About 4,500 feet of access trail is in need of improvement in Stands 2 and 4 to provide motorized access to the ice-damaged stands. If approved, cost-sharing is available through the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
It would also be helpful to provide an accurate trail map after the trails are cleared. This could be done using current satellite technology, although it is not covered by cost-share funds.
A wildlife biologist would provide assistance to further add to the recommendations in this addendum. Wildlife projects, such as wildlife shrub planting, would best be done in the spring in some of the open areas where damaged trees are removed along the trails. Regular stewardship funds (SIP-8), when available, provide cost-share for wildlife habitat improvement practices. Another program called WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program), run by NRCS, also provides funds for wildlife improvement practices. The stands with wildlife objectives should be carefully inspected to identify wildlife shrubs or trees. Serviceberry, cherry, hazel, beech, oak, sumac, dogwood and various viburnums should be released. Stands with areas of heavier stocking provide cover for wildlife adjacent to available browse from the previous harvest. Brush piles should be built using brush cleared in the release of wildlife shrubs or trees. Removal of ice-damaged trees will improve aesthetics and provide a base for building brush piles. Build the pile around a raised support like a stump or log. It would be best to build the piles along the edge of the browse areas. New browse will be created from stump sprouts when trees are cut for trail clearing and timber stand improvement and wildlife habitat improvement work are done. Piles increase the aesthetics value while providing den sites for chipmunks, mice, shrews and weasels.
Another potential stewardship project that is currently being offered in the Stewardship Program is the building of trails. Trails in Stands 2, 5, 7 and 8 are in need of clearing, using ice damage funds (SIP-9). It is estimated that a total of one mile of trail is in need of debris removal caused by the ice storm. This practice could be considered after the existing trails are cleared of debris. Before the trails are cleared they should be flagged with the assistance of a forester. This will provide a chance to identify trees to protect or remove and to provide direction to the trail-clearing crew. The cost of the forester's supervision is covered under forest improvement (SIP-3). More trails could be made to connect to the existing ones in Stands 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Layout of the trails should also be flagged with the assistance of a forester. These practices are funded, if approved, by the Extension Forestry educator, and funding granted through the Farm Service Agency process.
ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Stand Program Activity Amount Year To Do
#1 View driveway with NRCS 1999-2000
Follow erosion & seeding advice 1999-2000
#2 SIP-5 View skid trails with NRCS 1999-2000
Develop maintenance plan* 1 mile 1999-2009
FIP & SIP-3 Timber stand improvement* 10 acres 1999-2000
SIP-9 Clear ice damage portion of trails* 1,000 ft. 1999-2000
SIP-9 Develop hiking trails * 2,000 ft. anytime
SIP-3 Forester supervision of trail work* 1999,2000
SIP-3 Forester trail layout & supervision* when needed
#4, 5, 6, SIP-9 Clear ice-damaged portion of trails* 4,500 ft. 1999-2000
7&8 SIP-9 Develop hiking trails * 1 mile anytime
SIP-3 Forester supervision of trail work* 1999-2000
SIP-3 Forester trail layout & supervision* when needed
WHIP Wildlife habitat improvement* 5 acres per year 1999-2009
SIP-8 Wildlife habitat improvement* 5 acres per year 1999-2009
Consult wildlife biologist for plan 1999-2000
* Cost-share possible for these practices depending on availability of funds and subject to approval by administering agency.
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