Fort Valley Ecosystem
Restoration Strategy

Note: Implementation of this strategy is governed by the Environmental Analysis (NEPA) process directed by the US Forest Service. Decisions to implement any or all of the listed activities are made by the Forest Supervisor or District Rangers. Environmental Documents are available from the Coconino National Forest.


The ponderosa pine forests of northern Arizona have been radically altered during the last 120 years by logging, grazing, fire suppression, and increased human population. Changes to the forest have both increased the potential for catastrophic fire and adversely affected many biological processes and aesthetic values. There is a need to restore the forests in the Flagstaff Urban Interface by altering destructive forest trends toward more sustainable conditions.

Changes in our forests include:


The Fort Valley Landscape

The Fort Valley area, on the northwest side of Flagstaff, is National Forest land with large deeded private inholdings, which are mostly developed. It is bordered on the south by Highway 180, on the east near Schultz Creek road, on the north by the Freidlein Prairie Road, and on the west by the Fort Valley Experimental Forest. The Fort Valley area includes private land, the Fort Valley Experimental Forest, and portions of the Coconino National Forest.

Dense ponderosa pine forests dominate the area. There are isolated stands of mixed conifer and aspen interspersed with small parks of primarily native grasses and forbs.

A Vision for the Future

In the near future, the Fort Valley wildlands/urban interface will be a mosaic of open, parklike forests containing scattered timber stands with higher densities, interspersed with natural parks which approximate - although do not duplicate - conditions present before Euro-American settlement. Forests and woodlands will be dominated by open growing clumps of large and/or old trees in a matrix of native bunchgrasses, wildflowers, and shrubs. Parks (meadows) will be dominated by native grasses and wildflowers. Periodic low-intensity fires will maintain open habitats, cycle nutrients, and keep wildland fuel levels low, reducing the hazard of catastrophic crown fires...

In the near future, the greater Flagstaff area will be home to a small but thriving sector of businesses based on the ecologically sustainable utilization of forest products...

In the near future, greater Flagstaff area residents will have a better understanding of what constitutes a healthy ponderosa pine forest ecosystem, and they will support a range of management actions aimed at restoration and maintenance of these forests...
(The complete vision statements are available in the Guide to the Grand Canyon Forests Partnership)


Restoring Ecosystems

A major stumbling block to ecosystem management is the lack of healthy ecosystems to serve as points of comparison. As early as 1934, Aldo Leopold suggested reconstructing "a sample of what we had to begin with". That "sample" for Fort Valley is a time period just prior to Euro-American settlement around 1876. Moreover, people are such an integral part of the forest ecosystem that restoration based purely upon ecology is not practical.

Therefore, the basis of restoration activities at Fort Valley is to emulate "presettlement" conditions as much as possible, while providing for ecologically sustainable social and economic needs.


Many ecosystem changes which have already occurred are permanent (species extinction) or will have long lasting effects (loss of old growth trees, atmospheric carbon dioxide increase, extirpation of predators). Restoration treatments cannot make up for these losses. Urban ecosystems include large human populations which limit restoration activities focusing entirely on biological needs (for example, restoring predators like wolves and grizzly bears). Despite these obstacles, most remaining native species are still likely to benefit from restoration which approximate more natural conditions.


Restoration Objectives at Fort Valley

Restore the Low Intensity, Frequent Fire Regime

Restore Native Plant and Animal Communities

Restore Water Absorption, Infiltration, and Transport

Balance the Needs of People

Fort Valley Restoration Actions

Restoring forests is like restoring an old house. One can only restore so much at once; otherwise, there is no room in which to live, and the house ceases to be a home.

Decades, if not centuries, are required to fully restore the forest health and ecological functions at Fort Valley.

Research shows that some combination of thinning, manual fuel removal, and prescribed burning will be necessary to restore ponderosa pine ecosystems to more natural conditions.

(Show me a map of the restoration thining/burning actions...coming soon)

Restoring Low Intensity, Frequent Fire

Much of Fort Valley is very densely forested with younger trees subject to severe damage or mortality in a wildfire situation. A fire re-introduction study now in its 20th year at Fort Valley has shown that fire alone cannot thin the forest without unacceptable consequences (large areas of complete tree mortality). The same conclusion was drawn by scientists in major studies of the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem of California and the Columbia River Ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest. Therefore, in order to restore low intensity and frequent fire, aggressive thinning is required first. This thinning emphasizes creating conditions that will eventually return the forest to healthier vegetative patterns that existed prior to Euro-American settlement in 1876.

Thinning activities result in a landscape mosaic across Fort Valley that is very open to still very dense. These actions are listed from the most aggressive to the least.

Full Restoration Thinning (690 Acres): Occurs only where there are 5 or more yellow pines per acre. Retains only those trees necessary to grow future yellow pine groups. This thinning retains all existing yellow pines and leaves 1-3 trees (mostly large trees, but some smaller ones) per evidence (stumps, logs, snags, stump holes, etc.) of trees that occupied the site at presettlement (circa 1876). Slash (logging debris) is burned. Ecosystem benefits include increased longevity of the ecologically valuable yellow pine, substantial increases in grass and forb habitat, substantial reduction in mortality by fire, increased nutrient cycling, and natural control over establishment of ponderosa pine seedlings.

It is likely that no further tree cutting will be needed in the future at full restoration sites. The sites will require a fire every 3-10 years to maintain low fuel levels and keep pine seedlings from becoming established in excessive amounts. (Also known as the "1.5/3 Prescription")

Modified Restoration Thinning (1,990 Acres): Occurs mainly in young pine stands (trees generally 60-100 years old) where remnant yellow pine groups are absent or minimally present. The emphasis is on rebuilding yellow pine groups present at presettlement by retaining vigorous blackjacks in close proximity to presettlement evidences and allowing them to grow into future yellow pine groups over time. This thinning retains about 4 times the number of trees per historical evidence. Slash is burned. Ecosystem benefits are the same as above. Because the stands with this treatment lack yellow pines, the visual result is a much more open stand than the full restoration treatment.

It is likely that additional thinning will be required in the future (in 10-30 years). These sites will also require a repeated burning every 3-10 years to maintain low fuel levels and keep pine seedlings from becoming established in excessive amounts. (Also known as the "2/4 Prescription").

Prescribed Fire (4,980 Acres): One of the key processes that developed and maintained the open and mature presettlement forest was low intensity, frequent wildfire. Unfortunately from a fire consideration, a pattern of restored and unrestored forest at Fort Valley will remain. In full or modified restored stands, prescribed fire (broadcast burning) will be used to reduce accumulated duff and litter, and control the abundance of pine seedlings. In stands remaining dense, prescribed fire will generally only reduce forest floor fuels and thin some smaller trees. Due to the low tolerance for unwanted fire damage and mortality in the urban interface, and the high number of values (private property, improvements, yellow pines, etc.), it is not practical to allow managed fires to become sufficiently hot to thin medium sized trees. Consequently, there will remain a greater need to suppress fires in or threatening dense stands. Wildfires in open stands can be allowed to burn in a natural fashion more often and with few, if any, unwanted consequences.

Broadcast burning occurs in conditions that minimizes residual tree damage and mortality, smoke, consumption of large snags and downed logs, and impacts to soils, people and animals. Accumulated forest material may be raked away from the tree boles of yellow pines, large snags, and large oaks when it is determined that there is a high probability of mortality or loss. Broadcast burning will occur on approximately 4,300 acres after thinning has occurred, and on approximately 700 acres without thinning.

Restoring Native Plant and Animal Communities


Full and modified restoration and prescribed fire (see above) benefit native plants and animals by creating some of the patterns in which they historically evolved (open forest, frequent fire). Restoration particularly benefits open forest dwelling species. The combination of thinning and prescribed fire strengthens native plant populations whereby they gain a competitive edge over nonnative plants. Having healthy native plant populations is one weapon against nonnative (noxious) plants.

Minimum Restoration Thinning (780 Acres): A reservoir of dense habitat and connecting corridors must be maintained to help other wildlife species make the transition between current forest conditions and the desired old growth forest. Minimum restoration thinning retains dense habitat within an important wildlife corridor to maintain animal migration patterns southwestward from the San Francisco Peaks.

Numerous yellow pines within the wildlife corridor stands are surrounded by young trees posing serious competitive forces, causing rapid mortality of the old growth yellow pines. Minimum restoration removes the smaller, younger trees around existing yellow pine groups, except for 1-2 "replacement" trees for each evidence of a presettlement tree. In this manner, the existing yellow pines are enhanced and the remaining young trees help rebuild the remnant yellow pine group. There will be no thinning around yellow pines that are dying or are a high risk for mortality (allow snag creation process to continue). Yellow pines are enhanced, while a wildlife corridor is left functional.

Retention of Dense Tree Canopy Thinning (530 acres): Another specific wildlife need is to retain rearing habitat for the northern goshawk, a sensitive species with specific requirements in the Coconino National Forest Plan for management within the approximate 600 acre post-family fledging area (PFA). There are portions of three goshawk PFA's within Fort Valley. Until old growth structure abounds once again within the forest, there is a need to sustain the goshawk with current forest tree structures. Simultaneously, there is a need to grow large trees and reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire. An abundance of small trees both stymie tree growth and provide fuel for catastrophic wildfire. This treatment removes small trees while maintaining the required tree canopy in northern goshawk PFA habitat.

Retention of Cover and Movement Corridors Where No Thinning Occurs (2,520 Acres): There are man-made reasons (research areas), other ecological forest types (mixed conifer), and wildlife needs (cover and habitats in short supply or highly important) which dictate no alteration in the current forest density. These sites deferred from any thinning will add to the supply of dense wildlife habitats. Deferred sites maintain rare or transitional wildlife habitats while the restored sites are recovering and moving towards presettlement conditions.

Road and Trail Restoration: Roads did not exist prior to Euro-American settlement, though it is likely numerous trails did. Presettlement populations had undoubtedly much less disturbance impact on wildlife. By contrast, huge centers of people within a partial day's travel to Fort Valley have had tremendous impacts on Fort Valley wildlife. Reduced human encounters with wildlife sensitive to people during wildlife nesting, rearing, and dispersal activities will result in greater species viability.

Roads built for logging over the years have helped create easy access throughout Fort Valley. Though it is unrealistic to restore road and trail densities to presettlement levels, there are opportunities to provide reasonable access for recreational pursuits, while reducing the current impacts to wildlife.

All non-system roads (two-track roads) will be obliterated (about 5.5 miles). Past transportation management (RATM) decisions will be implemented (about 18 miles of road remain to be closed or obliterated to fulfill current RATM decisions). This action results in about 50% of the 50 miles existing road network being closed adding a significant amount of habitat with low levels of potential human disturbance.

The Freidlein Prairie Road and several user created trails converge in an area traditionally used by a pair of Mexican spotted owls for nesting. In order to remove this species from the endangered species list, they must demonstrate reproductive success as a species. A pair of Mexican spotted owls in the vicinity of the Freidlein Prairie Road are being impacted by increased recreational use in the area and are failing in their ability to reproduce. To reduce harassment of the birds during their breeding season, the trail in their vicinity will be moved and camping along the last 1.5 miles of the Freidlein Prairie Road will be prohibited from March 1 to August 31.

Dispersed camping sites (about 25 existing sites) will be designated as "approved" dispersed sites along the Freidlein Prairie Road. Camping along the Freidlein Prairie Road except within the designated sites will be prohibited. These sites are currently well defined and repeatedly used. Due to the sloping conditions along the Freidlein Prairie Road, additional dispersed camping opportunities are still available but somewhat limited. This action will reduce the impacts of dispersed camping to all wildlife in this zone.

Riparian Restoration: Riparian communities consist of water-loving plants and animals where water is present throughout most or all of the year. Historical water sources at Fort Valley were rare and consisted primarily of seeps and springs. Most were developed is some fashion to funnel water into a specific location generally for livestock or agricultural uses. Springs can be restored to allow water to again seep upwards through the soil to produce the year-round wet conditions which form unique plant communities.

Restore Chimney Spring by capping the pipe and removing the earthen tank downstream, thereby reestablishing natural flows. Fence the spring, if needed, to exclude livestock (rarely present) and elk. Work with the Navajo Nation (livestock permittee) to coordinate water uses. Restoration thinning and return of frequent, low intensity fire will likely restore other springs and seeps not currently known or visible. This action provides natural water sources (though in very limited quantities at Fort Valley) for wildlife and microhabitats for riparian associated plants and animals.

Aspen Restoration (25 Acres): Aspen has been lost and continues to decline due to the absence of natural fire, grazing, and ponderosa pine encroachment. Aspen provide significant habitats for wildlife, especially birds.

Aspen stands and aspen inclusions in pine stands totaling about 25 acres will be treated to promote aspen health and perpetuate aspen on the landscape. A combination of ponderosa pine removal, prescribed fire, and fencing will be used to manage aspen stands. Ponderosa pine greater than 24 inches dbh will not be removed from the aspen sites.

Meadow and Grassland Restoration: Biodiversity is maximized when the fulll array of native flora is present. Flourishing native ecosystems are the best tools in reducing the spread and influences from nonnative plants (noxious weeds). Thinning to reduce the number of trees and prescribed fire (broadcast burning to restore frequent, low intensity wildfire) will improve the quantity and quality of native perennial grass species, especially Arizona Fescue and mountain muhly, and reduce the noxious weed, dalmation toadflax. Key plant species for improvement and maintenance are: (Ceanothus fendleri) fendler's ceanothus, (Rosa woodii) wild rose, and (Rebes cereum or aureum) golden or wax currant.

Biological control agents on toadflax will be used beginning in 1999 to compliment the ongoing control project on the adjacent A-1 Mountain area, and begin containment of toadflax within the Fort Valley area.

Livestock grazing (currently very limited at Fort Valley) is deferred until there is adequate recovery of the understory to carry fire. Future livestock grazing will be coordinated in such a manner that the residual grass component after grazing is sufficient to be able to carry low intensity fire at frequent intervals.

Through recommendations to the Game and Fish Commission and use of other strategies, elk populations will be managed to meet the understory recovery objectives.

About 5 tons per acre of forest litter will be retained on harvest sites to provide nutrients for recycling and provide micro climates for grasses, shrubs, and forbs. This will also help protect the recovering understory from grazing effects of elk and livestock.

The meadow adjacent to Forest Road 164B is restored by removing and/or ripping the roads, seeding with native seed, and fencing to discourage vehicular use. Large group use and activities not consistent with rehabilitation plans will be discouraged. The meadow is currently bisected by roads and heavily used by camping causing soil compaction and trampling of ground vegetation.

Restoring Water Absorption, Infiltration, and Transport


Full and modified restoration and prescribed fire (see above) all benefit water absorption, infiltration, and transport. Less water is intercepted and evaporated when tree canopies are substantially reduced providing more and prolonged water for runoff into streams. A thick duff layer repels water resulting in greater short term runoff. The removal of thick duff layers by frequent, low intensity fire increases the amount of water absorption in the soil. Additional ground water should revitalize springs, wet areas, and meadows within the watersheds of Fort Valley.

Restored meadows (see above) store and release water more appropriately when they are filled with native plants and are not compacted. A meadow acts as a sponge, slowly absorbing and releasing water. A compacted meadow is like pavement, where water is not absorbed and increases in velocity as it flows across the hard surface. The increased velocity results in gullying which erodes meadows and stream courses.

Road and trail restoration (see above) results in the closure of numerous compacted surfaces that channel water. Once again, compacted surfaces enhance the velocity of water which enhances the erosional capabilities in stream courses. Roads eliminated from stream courses help restore transport functions and reduce erosion.

Balancing the Needs of People


Full and modified restoration and prescribed fire (see above) significantly reduces the threat of catastrophic wildfire to the community of Flagstaff. Both the physical values of homes and property are protected, as well as the spiritual and ecological values in the forest surrounding the community. The protection of homes and private property is a joint responsibility between forest managers and homeowners. Both the City of Flagstaff Fire Department and the Arizona State Land Department are working with homeowners to reduce fire threats and restore forest health. The removal of flammable debris, reducing tree densities, building with nonflammable materials, and being cautious with fire ignition sources are ways homeowners can reduce the catastrophic wildfire threat to their property or the forest. The restoration of low intensity fire allows fire agencies to offer greater protection around private property in case of a wildfire.

Road and trail restoration (see above) reduces human encounters with wildlife sensitive to people during wildlife nesting, rearing, and dispersal activities. This action results in greater animal numbers for people to enjoy. Roads built for logging over the years have helped create easy access throughout Fort Valley. Though it is unrealistic to restore road and trail densities to presettlement levels, there are opportunities to provide reasonable access for recreational pursuits, while reducing the current impacts to wildlife and water quality.

All non-system roads (two-track roads) will be obliterated (about 5.5 miles). Past transportation management (RATM) decisions will be implemented resulting in another 18 miles of road to be closed or obliterated. This action results in about 22 miles of forest road being available for vehicular use, and nearly 6 miles of closed roads being converted to nonvehicular trails. All major access routes including the Freidlein Prairie road remain open.

Numerous trails exist within the Fort Valley Area. Local residents, mountain bikers, horse riders, motorcyclists, and hikers created them. The Forest Service calls these "social trails", and approximately 20 miles of them have been identified. There are no official (system) trails within the Fort Valley block. Many people expressed a desire to help resolve recreation conflicts in the urban interface. A number of local residents and recreation enthusiasts helped formulate the following trail plan:


Establishing Local Entrepenuers: There is mistrust, especially in the environmental community, over the motives for restoration. Quite simply, the restoration at Fort Valley is being driven by ecological goals, not economic ones. Hence, thinned trees become a byproduct with utilization opportunity. The Partnership is developing mechanisms to provide for local businesses which are sustained by the byproducts of restoration activities. For example, the Partnership is working on the development of a log-sort yard that replaces timber sales with post harvest log auctions. The Partnership is also looking at new models of business ownership and structure that would link business viability to the ecological well being of the landscapes they depend on.

Projects other than thinning (road and trail work, meadow and riparian restoration, noxious weed control, etc.) should also receive interest from available local businesses.

Demonstration and Research Thinning Units (700 acres): Due to the experimental nature of restoration thinning, there is a need to formulate prescriptions, implement them, inspect the results, and apply lessons learned on the next unit in relatively quick order. In addition, there are other restoration philosophies that are worth demonstrating and researching. Most importantly, the public (and resource managers) needs to see the various prescriptions implemented on the ground to be able to give feedback on restoration thinning. A series of small units testing philosophies and adaptations are part of the initial thinning effort at Fort Valley.

An approximate 400 acre block (4 units of 100 acres each) will demonstrate four different thinning prescriptions in a side by side comparison (the presettlement restoration approach, an uneven-age approach, an environmental group's (Southwest Forest Alliance) approach, and a blend of each of the three. An approximate 300 acre block (6 units about 50 acres each) will test the above prescriptions in a heavy dwarf mistletoe infestation. Instead of a blend prescription, this block will contain one aimed specifically at treating dwarf mistletoe in addition to a block studying prescribed fire only (in absence of mechanical thinning) and a control block.

All the blocks have a standardized grid of research plots in order to compare data across this and other studies. Studies on the ecological, social and economic implications of restoration are detailed in the Research Plan for Fort Valley. (Link to this coming soon...)

Implementing and reviewing the demonstration units minimizes the risk of prematurely focusing on a single prescription or philosophy. This action recognizes the complexity of ecosystems and allows development of restoration principles and guidelines to maintain that complexity.

Private Land (2,000 Acres): Due to the large private inholding at Fort Valley, the coordination of restoration work across land ownerships is important. Many people feel strong ties to National Forest land directly adjacent to their own land. Cooperation and compromise are necessary between private land owners and the National Forest to gain greater acceptance of forest restoration.

The Partnership provides information and support for private land owners. There are a number of small businesses that do thinning work, and various consultants that provide planning and thinning advice. The City of Flagstaff and the State Land Department also have thinning and burning programs for the private land owner. The Americorps Program and the city of Flagstaff fuels and fire reduction crew provides some limited manpower on private land. Treatments on private land are tied to the success of market and business development for federal ownership in Fort Valley. As markets for small pine material improves, the cost to private land owners should decrease.

Expense Summary: The economic reality of restoring today's dense, young growth forest is that not enough money is generated from the sale of restoration byproducts to fund restoration activities. While entreprenuerial development will help defray costs by adding value to small diameter timber, some restoration will be funded by the taxpayer.

The following table summarizes the anticipated restoration costs for 7,000 acres of Fort Valley.

Activity

Total Cost

General Planning and Environmental Documentation

150,000

Thinning*

800,000

Slash Treatment/Inital Burning (Restoration)

750,000

Miscellaneous Restoration Activities

200,000

Support (Contract Admin., Overhead)

200,000

 

 

Total

$2,100,000

*Cost expected to decline as the small diameter market is developed.

Linkages to Larger Scale Ecosystems


Interactions among the biological and physical components of ecosystems and environmental conditions occur at various spatial and temporal (time) scales. Small ecosystems are nested within larger ones, individuals occur within communities, and various functions are nested within one another. By examining time and spatial scales at higher and lower levels than a particular ecosystem under study, interrelationships among ecological processes are understood better.

The order of ecological scale for Fort Valley is:

Rock, log, tree, etc.
Spring, tree group, etc.
stand, meadow, tree stand (unit or stand)
Subdrainage or logical block of land (Fort Valley)
Major drainage (Flagstaff/Lake Mary Ecosystem)
Landscape (Coconino National Forest)
Subregion (Southwest Pine Forests)
Ecoregion (Ponderosa Pine Forests)


Fort Valley (9,000 acres) lies within the Flagstaff/Lake Mary Ecosystem (300,000 acres). Efforts are currently underway to update the abiotic and biotic processes for the Flagstaff/Lake Mary ecosystem, which represent the linkages between Fort Valley and the next higher level ecosystem. The Coconino National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1987) and amendments (Forest Plan) defines the direction for managing this forest. As such, it represents the analysis which studied the temporal and spatial scales one or more levels higher than the Flagstaff/Lake Mary Ecosystem. National planning regulations used by the Forest Plan study team provided linkages to landscapes, subregions, and even ecoregions.

Fort Valley Restoration Strategy 01/11/2000

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