biomass.forestguild.org - 1038 WMSP - Los Burros Ecosystem Management Area, AZ

Los Burros Ecosystem Management Area

Navajo County, AZ
Case study submitted by Gary Snider, School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University.

Project ID: 1038

1. Name - WMSP - Los Burros Ecosystem Management Area

The Los Burros Ecosystem Management Area consists of approximately 24,000 acres on the eastern side of the Lakeside Ranger District near the communities of Pinetop-Lakeside and McNary. The area is divided north to south by Forest Road 224, which runs between the communities of Vernon and McNary. This road is designated as a “wildfire escape route” that, together with buffer areas surrounding local communities, comprises a wildland urban interface (WUI). Non-WUI zones account for about 75% of the total area. The area lies on a volcanic plain punctuated by numerous cinder cones. Ponderosa pine is the dominant forest type. In response to Healthy Forests Restoration Act, a group of local communities, fire departments, and federal agencies produced a Community Wildfire Protect Plan (CWPP). The CWPP identified “catastrophic wildland fire” as the major threat to local communities, people, and wildlife habitats. The main goals of this project are to reduce hazardous fuels, reduce road densities (and associated erosion and stream sedimentation), and restore old-growth conditions. The number of acres for which National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis has been completed far exceeds the number of acres for which treatment funding is available.

Links

Main White Mountain Stewardship Project Case Study

	2	Land Ownership US Forest Service
	3	Location Apache County, Arizona
	4	Forest Type Ponderosa pine
	Context
	5	Is this project a part of a landscape plan? Yes
	6	In a Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)? 25% WUI -- 75% non-WUI
	7	Acreage treated 17,505
	8	Type of contract Stewardship contract; Timber sale
	9	Funding source Timber fund
	10	Collaborators and partners Forest Service, community-based groups (e.g. Natural Resources Working Group), state agencies (e.g. AZ Game & Fish), local governments, timber products industry, and conservation/environmental organizations
	11	Project start date 2006
	12	Project completion date 2009
	Treatment Goals
	13	Restoration, watershed or habitat improvement
	14	Reduce fuel load
	15	Fire break
	16
	17
	Treatment Specifics
	18	Primary treatment objective Fire Hazard Reduction and improve forest health
	19	How does biomass removal fit with other objectives? Necessary
	20	Treatment description Thin & remove < 16" dbh ponderosa pine, <40% slopes
	21	Description of contractors
	22	Travel distance for contractors 5-35miles
	23	Type of equipment used
	24	Treatment of residual slash if any Lop/scatter, pile, burn.
	25	Treatment cost per acre $250-$1000
	26	Trucking costs
	Utilization
	27	Products from project Sawtimber, posts, poles, pallet, pellets, firewood, chips
	28	Price for products
	29	Date of Sale
	30	Did biomass markets exist previous to project? No
	31	Type of utilization
	32	How well did the woody biomass match the utilization options? Well
	33	Distance to utilization 5-50 miles
	Treatment guidelines, targets, limitations
	34	Diameter limit 9" dbh in MSO PACs, 16" in all other areas thinned
	35	Basal area reduction Varies: Reduce to 40-60BA in WUI areas. 40-100 outside WUI
	36	Crown coverage
	37	Fuel loading
	38	Retention guidelines
	39	Treatment of snags and downed logs
	40	Soil impacts
	41	Other ecological impacts monitored
	Pre Treatment
	42	Fuel load Mostly FRC Class 3
	43	Stem density (stems/ac) Area consists of dense, pole-sized trees
	44	Basal area (ft2/ac) 0-20 (3%); 21-40 (0%); 41-60 (3%); 61-80 (5%); 81-100 (7%); 101-120 (6%); 121+ (76%)
	45	Canopy closure (%)
	46	Height to live crown base
	47	Snags and downed woody material
	48	Size class distribution VSS 1 (4%); 2 (15%); 3 (46%); 4 (25%); 5 (7%); 6 (3%)
	49	Tree species composition Ponderosa pine w/ small amount of MC, aspen, and oak (90%); 10% , piñon - juniper
	50	Presence/absence of invasive species
	51	Soil and other ecological data Basalt (mostly cinder); moderate to severe erosion hazard
	Post Treatment
	52	Fuel load
	53	Stem density (stems/ac)
	54	Basal area (ft2/ac)
	55	Canopy closure (%)
	56	Height to live crown base
	57	Snags and downed woody material
	58	Size class distribution
	59	Tree species composition
	60	Presence/absence of invasive species
	61	Soil and other ecological data

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