RICHARDS PEAK UNIT PRESCRIPTION 



Sale Name: Richards Peak Unit Number: 4 



Location -Section 16 TWP: 24N RGE: 27W Subd: 



Elevation: 5300 Slope: 40% (15%-60%) Aspect: N 



Habitat type: ABLA/MEFE Acres: 3 1 



Soils: Andic Cryochrepts. Soils are well drained and moderately coarse. Surface layers can be 

 silty and are derived from volcanic ash influenced loess. Subsoils contain 55-90 percent rock 

 fragments. 



Description of existing stand: The unit consists of even-aged stand of Douglas-fir (50%) and 

 western larch (46%). Scattered grand fir, alpine fir and lodgepole pine (4%) are also present. 

 The 100-year-old overstory averages 86 trees per acre with an average d.b.h. of 14 inches. The 

 stocking of the overstory is somewhat clumpy with breaks in the canopy. Tree growth and vigor 

 is constant, with some increasing growth and others declining. The understory is mostly 

 scattered Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine that is clumpy in distribution due to brush competition 

 and closed canopy conditions. Forest health problems are mainly from bark beetles attacking 

 overstory lodgepole pine and scattered western larch infected with dwarf mistletoe. Bark beetle 

 numbers ai'e on the increase due to overstocked stand conditions and past drought. 



Treatment Objectives: 



1. Retain 10-30 trees per acre to provide a seed source for natural regeneration, favoring 

 western larch. 



2. Protect soil productivity by minimizing soil displacement, compaction and erosion, and 

 site producfivity by retaining 10-15 tons of down woody debris and fine fuels per acre after 

 treatment. 



3. Remove shade tolerant species that have encroached upon historic western larch cover 

 types. 



4. Promote regeneration of western larch. 



5. Prescribe bum unit after logging to reduce current fuel loading and prepare a seed bed for 

 natural regeneration. 



Prescribed Treatment: Seed Tree 



Harvest method: Cable logging unit, with small areas that could be harvested with ground 

 based equipment. Harvest method will consist of individual tree selection. Logging will use 

 existing and newly constructed roads. Forest Officer will approve landing locations prior to 

 use. Seed Tree/ Shelterwood harvest will focus on removing suppressed, intermediate, and 

 co-dominant trees that are of poor form and vigor. Leave trees will be marked on a 40 to 50 



