RICHARDS PEAK UNIT PRESCRIPTION 



Sale Name: Richards Peak Unit Number: 7 



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



Elevation: 5000 Slope: 50% (30%-70%) Aspect: NE 



Habitat type: ABGR/XETE, ABLA/MEFE Acres: 28 



Soils: Andic Ustochrepts. Soils are deep,well drained and moderately coarse. They have a silty 

 surface derived from volcanic ash influenced loess. Subsoils contain 55-80 percent rock 

 fragments. Soil erosion hazard and sediment delivery efficiency are moderate. 



Description of existing stand: The unit is an even aged stand of Douglas-fir (47%), lodgepole 

 pine (27%), western larch (17%), and alpine fir (6%). The 100-year-old overstory averages 130 

 trees per acre with an average diameter of 1 1 inches. The canopy is fairly homogenous on the 

 east side of the draw that bisects the unit. The west side canopy is more broken and open due to 

 mountain pine beetle mortality in the overstory lodgepole pine. The understory (mostly 

 Douglas-fir and grand fir) is scattered and sparse due to dense canopy (east side) and brushy 

 conditions where the canopy is broken (west side). The unit overall is healthy with minor 

 components of bark beetles in the lodgepole pine and scattered overstory larch infected with 

 dwarf mistletoe. 



Treatment Objectives: 



1 . Retain 1 0-30 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 productivity by retaining 10-15 tons of down woody debris and fine fuels per acre after 

 treatment. 



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

 natural regeneration. 



4. Promote western larch and white pine regeneration by planting a portion of the harvest 

 unit acres. 



Prescribed Treatment: Seed Tree/ Shelterwood 



Harvest method: Cable logging unit. Harvest method will consist of individual tree 

 selection. Logging will use existing and newly constructed logging roads. Forest Officer 

 will approve landing locations prior to harvest. The Seed tree/ Shelterwood treatment will 

 focus on removing the co-dominant, intermediate, suppressed and trees of poor form. 

 Groups of trees that are stagnant and of poor form and vigor will be selected. The best 10- 

 30 trees per acre will be left to provide a seed source for regeneration. The unit will be 



