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84-6 DEER HERD COMMITTEE 26 OF 33
4. . -- A� I, tiANAGEMEN'T UNIT GOALS The statewide goals for California deer herds are to restore alxd maintain healthy populations and to provide for high quality, diversifier use of the herds. Whore possible, 1965 populations levels were considered as the restora- tion level to be attained. Neither the Bucks Mountain or MOOt ttown herds can be expected to attain 1965 population levels. The huge amounts of winter range. habitat lost (over 40% and most of it since 1965) precludes that possibil.,tty, and it fs anticipated that further Large scale habitat losses will occur within I 20 years. Even where land is kept open other activities such as reforestation. grazing, etc. will be given priority over wildlife concerns. To maintain present population levels will be difficult considering pceseut land use priorities and trends. Federal (e.g. Sykes Act) and Stat,*, programs for w:tldlife have not been funded, or £undnd monies have been dvertnd elsewhere;. Both State and Federal agencies have had; persoinel cutbacks that have rendered impossible any intensive Wildlife managaimant; increasing workloads and further personnel cuts will aggravate tAta situation. The following are the goals for the Bucks Mountain add Nooretown deer herds: A. Bucks Hounain Hard Goals 1. Maintain a hard population average of at least 4,000 dear. This would be an increaseo£ about 15;.' oven current estimates. Should current estimates prove to be iota, the desired average shale be raised. 2. Maintain a 'minimum fall buck to doe ratio of 20:11)0. 3, Manage habitat and the hard population for a spring fawn ratio of 45 to 55 par 100 does. 4. Have either sex dear hunts on a quota basis to imProve herd conditions as needed when: _4q_ nv a S ti .• can be determined that the ' t � . r„asryfng capacity` of the ra Portions thereof, is exceeded, As boor fad survival n€e, or :may be Che 0"X7 baaia for that datet ,rmnA tion, fawn ratio, dabs occur inlas. than 35'jlo0 two aucceaAfVe years would be used as an carrying �' paci , above �indicu;tor• b• The buck to dos ,ratio is leas than 24:1pO fos Years. two auccpanivc, C* The hard Population "ceeda 4,000 deer, and that. is demand for nue hlantd, a Public S • Avoid a®rioua, deple t.loa, of deer from any portion of 6. �. Haximiae the range. public u,tf Efra tion of the herd to th thi3 hthe extent it does not erdu Interfere wi wall being. MOO retown Herd Coals L Hxcep tt ng the poprJ1,41U04 lavel, thl goals are ehe population goal is 7 acme as abo", daex The This , 60(1 an Increase of 7% above goal would be ad u , esent estimates. Ar a tad upward if current Population eatimataa to by low. prays G Habitat Goals T. Preserve the acre4l$e nacaaaa x'Y, .throughout the winter range, gain Population goals, or 'hi 8 , to pain,. higher Pdpulationa if fe.naibLe. 2. Increase forage quality and quantity throug 3 • Obtain mitigation , bout herd ea. .ran g nacaaaary► to compensate for project im habitat lose ox dej1rad4tion. Pacts causing 4 • Avoid Practiicea Wouljeliminate habitat comoaQn tangos. P to from herd S• 8e.locata or alter atrtictural Infringements which adversQly impact r habitat or deer hr,vr ..or, IV* WIGEMENT PROBLEMS Three significant problems face any attempt to manage a wildlife specios 1) lack of land use control by wildlife management agencies; 2) political con- etrolat outside the agency, which, may be based on emotions and bias rathr 'then logic; 3) a lack of monetary support. Virtually all land within the range of the herds is privately owned, or rjn- trolled by public agencies Which usually give wildlife considerations low priority. Private landowners seldom !Ave any incentives to encourage them LO maintain 'their land for wildlife reacurce benefits. Public Agencioa frequently are mandated through legislative or administrative action to place an emphasis on activities unfavorable for wildlife'. Frequently, management decisions by wildlife management agencies are influenced b outside controls whSch may result in biologically unsound regula- tions and policies. For example, the Board of Superviso= of many counties have a veto power over proposed nntlerloas door ,seasons in their ,counties. It is a rare supervisor which hab any biological expertise; their decisions are usually made on the basis of input from the public Which is often emotional and biased rather than logical. Bud ce and g personnel cuts, usually only at the field and research level, have greatly reduced the ability of Fish and Gomm to respond to existing uorkloado;, Intensive door aanageoent needed to restore deer herds is not possible with theta cuts, and Loss so because of other increasing commitments. The same problem is faced by other federal and state;agancies Which control: land or programs which could be beneficial to wilalfe. Unless there is a more X42- .+ realistic budget acid Per" 'mal distribs:tion field, no effective field management betweea eee`minst ration and the can occur. A• .Herd 8iolo 8y Investigative Needs 1, Additional documentation of herd migrational and seaoonal patterns is needed. uoa 2• Hera composition or aigQ structure data is needed, Reproduction and, recruitment data is not available.,. 4, All mortality Factors F Mwt, 51 Food habits need additional stud y and documentation, 6 information should be Updated. Competition, with domestic aai aildlif® sPeci®eZAls and aon.native (a.g turkays) needs further study, 7. Kaman disturbance of deer behavior need further d doc"'2enta"Ou includi afinitioa and hunting impacts 8 Preferred use areas on all ranges are B. Habitat not completely IMovs. 1• Eaten i ' s Ye amounts of winter ran $v haves been lost or degraded by ru rrA l residential encroachment, 3, Road construction has destroyed and degraded ranges, and largo acroages of 4111 g has increased Poacher access Ca all 3, Fuclwood cutting is causing a c range.. 4, considerable t,ony of $eforestation and brush hardwoods,, �8amant tends to create unproductive for dear, 1*notypic habi , and. most o � tts is Reservoirs then kildlservoirs have 'inundated large fe species, hydroelectric projects amounts of dear habitats and other 6, have resulted in habitat Ff re su loss and de ppreaaion brot� hhas reduced gradationsQ quantity and quality .b re brows* regeneration and permitting brush iotas y tarding succession4 via climak vegetation -43- 7. Small parcel sizes an winter range .compound the inability manipulate habitat. 8 Federp l and state program: s; ich permit habitat improvement projects are frequently poorly funded, and some not at .all. 9. wergraxi ng has Occurred an portions of winter rn e n8 ► and could become s problem on other ranges. C. Utilisation 1• There are conflicting hunter use denands between tiigh and I,*ra a1ti tude hunters. 2. Oversized dear :zonae (e+g• D3) prevent management g On a herdbasis to the detriment of public utilization. 3.,. Biologically sound management decisions are difficult to obtain because of political conatxainta, such as coon tl veto` power over eitbex sax bunting,. 4► Public ignorance of biology' results in a lack of au o AP rt, and fre• quently opposition to,, wildlife and management needs. The public id• generally ignor"t of Fish and Gamed capabilitict and constraints. S• Many hunters feel that door hunting o pportunitiea and quality are steadily deteriorating. D. CO20uaication 16 here is poor distribution r,f' biological information is the Departiment. 2. The public has a poor understanding of Department cons traints, Problems, responsibilities, and operations, -44- 4 E. Law Worc.enant 1. Poachin losses are increasing as the human g ug population expandrj. 2 Valuable patrol time is loot to duties not of a Ina. enforcement nature. 3. IAx courts and low bail schedules do not act as deterrents to poa3char;s. 4. Public attitudes toward or knowledge of game laws is frequently poor. 5. Public, aasistauce in apprehending poachers is lima,tad, 6. Tha Fish and Gama code sections on dogs running or harming wildlife need atrangth®aing. V. MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS AND PRES"11PTIONS A. Inventory and Investigation J.. Radio tel6metry and flagging projects shall be continued to further docume,at hard migratim and'aaasoaal use patterns. 2 Hard composition counts will be initiated to determine hard composi- tion, recru Lment, and fawn survival. Whereas winter range counts for the Mooretowu hard should be feasible, summer range counts for the Husks Mountain hard will be made as terrain and access on Winter range is difficult. Aga structure information cannot feasibly be obtained due to the scattered nature of the kill in time and locality,, and -the lack of manpower. Unless such information included femala samples, such information is not applicable to the whole herd. 3.. Raproduction rates may be determined through examination of dear. does during field checks if either sex hunts occur. 4. An. update of food ,habits will be made pending the allotment of fonds. 54 Prior to the introduction o exotic wildlife speciea or significant increased in livestock use, all possible adverse impacts caused by such introductions or increases should be identified. If it is determined that exotic wildlife would complete with deer, such species must not !k -s introduced. Livestock use increases should be based on h bi,ta improvement to mitigate the Increased competition, 6. Nunan dsturbanca impacts on deer may be determined by a. Reference to ;published documents and ongoing studies in the Department. b. Local study of 'human-daer conflicts in arena of residential encroachment on deer range. c. Monitoring the effects of hunting regulations. 7. Preferred deer use areas may be 'better identified by use o€elle' p _C transects, radio telemetry, Forest Service compartman,t analysis, and Land Sant analysis. Recently established Forest Service pallet tra 4, vet.; abo.iid be continued. B, Mortality control 1 Mortality* control..ahall ;be attempted by; $. The ='t gatian necessary to reduce losses caudad by road projects and water projects will be sought through appropriate legal and lic®nsing requirements. Present resources rillermit a limited monitoring ng of road kill and drownings. A partial alleviation of those problems many. occur by way of structural design, structure placement, and the U34 of door exclusion devices. - b+ ' .`notification of disease problems and taking ;all feaaible corrective actions. C. A limited take (by feinting) of responaibl® predators when predation has been demonstrated as the cause suppressed deer pope la tions 4 d• Depredation problems will facrease with the continued human encroachment on door range. Laud use planning that restricts residential growth in good deer range will be recommended to ocal govarncaant. •47 �A H e. Land use restrictions mentioned in the precatling section may help to keep poaching from reacing it's full potential Road closures where passible on public Lands should reduce poaching which Occurs mostly along roads. Also, dog training should be prohibited on summer 'range except during, hunting seasons. This action could reduce fawn stress and poaching losses. f. Habitat improvement programs can reduce weather, disease, predation, and disturbance induced mortality by increasing herd Vigor through better nutrition. C. Habitat 1. Rural residential encroachment impacts on fainter range may be reduced by a,. Supplying local government with available data on deer which illustrates the mead for range protection via land use general Plana.._ b. Assisting local governments in developing plana and policies to Protect . daer range such as in the example given in Appendix 4 Which has been submitted to Butte County. C. Advocating 40 acre minimum parcel sixes on critical deer range, and 20 acro minimums on the remaining rang©, d. Vhen local governments ignore wildlife needs the Fish and Cama must use legal recourse as provided by C`.EpA, Subdivision Hap Act, etc. a, A better established economic value for deer may sway land use decision makers to a More favorable wildlife viewpoint, -48- a,gw 2. Road construction impacts on all ranges can be reduced by: 1*✓ 4e. Recommended measures in C.l. above. b. Installation of undercrossings and fencing on high speed roads transacting migration routes and high use areas. C. Reduce or limit roads to two miles per section. d. Forbidding the use of salt an road beds. e Removing exi:ting roads from meadows, and routing permanent roads '300 yards or more from meadows and riparian areas. f. Ravagetation and' closure of logging roads when regular :maaaga- went use is zdt planned within 10 years. g;. Avoid routing roads through high use dear areas. h. Leave screening vegetation along roads to reduce disturbaneq and poacll:;ag. j 3. Fualwood cutting should be governed by amendments to the Califor I Forest Practices Act Which Would control oak removal on privato Additional funding for the Department of Farastry may bo needed more 'enforcement against wood thieves. On federal lands controlling agencies should insure by policy and enforcement that no area be depleted of hardwoods to the extent ' that Wildlife use is significantly reduced. This should include minimum I tree coverage per acre as recommended in the following section 4. 4. Reforestation impacts can to reduced by - a. Aotantion of hardwoods as prescribed in Appendix 5 a,gw WO crush cou%orol ahould preferably bo limitod to mechanical means. Herbicide applLeations, if used, should be madq from the ground, and, limited to the immediate influence zona of the species to be protected. Co Browse plants should be seeded in forage deficieut areas within three years of tree stocking. Seed sources need to ba. developed. do Leaving islands of existing forage and- cover on 25% of t g4, conversion area. Go Retain high value deer arras and administer them as such. 54 Reservoir and hydroelectric 'project. impacts should be-raduced by a In kindhabitat replacement With acreages of .equivalent value for the life of the project. b. Thorough pra-project study to determine all impacts on deer and implementing appropriate n' ; gntiou measv;reea. 6. Significant habitat improvements through fire une can be obtained by: A. Permitting wildfires to burs up to 40 acres of habitat when that fire poaos no threat to life or high value property. b. Use of, ptasrribod Wtningthrough California's Vgotation Management Prograos and Private Lanais VllJI'I,fo hanagecent progran on private Land. c. Use of praocribod burning for wildlife benefits on public Land's via the .Sikes and V Acts. This method should be utilized for brush management in relation to tire control and reforestation, Mechanical techniques may be feasible when fine is not. �50_� n 7. There is no easy solution to habitat improvement problems caused by small parcel sizes. Adoption of B. .c. above would help. Local government adoption of large Open space and resou'rcd conserva- tion, land use elements in general plans offer the best potential for meaningful habitat improvement. 8. Little or no funding for federal and state habitat improvement pro- grams is a serious limitation, particularly for intermediate and sunnar cange., Only public support for such programs can altar present situation. Agency personnel also need to present a better t,.aha for wildlife needs to federal and state administrations. 9. Habitat can be retained by: a) Retention o.£ public Lands as sur.e. °`• b) Acquiring land through purchase or trade. c) Acquisition of conservation e.agavents. 10. Reduction of overgrazing on printer range will be attempted by vtork ng rich local agricultural commissioners And farm advisors. Soil Conservation Sery es iiavolvemant may be halyfu1., 11. Public agencies will be urged, to remove recreational facilities and buildings out of and away from meadows. -51- U. Utilization L. Some hunters in Zone D3 consider the low dear populations to be the result of e3xceasive hunter pressure on winter range, They have advo- cated severe hunter quotas, season or zone sp'lita, and ahortened sea- sons (closing in mid-Octobar) as solutions to the .alleged problem. These proposals have no biological basis. There is little or no reason to believe hunting has had a significant impact on deer. The above proposals would -irtually eliminate Lou altitude deer hunting -aa the subject harda do not reach winter range until Late Octoberi To resolve these dif;fera;nces, the following altaraativos should be coni idered r a. A split season (two halves) with hunters reatrictad to a choice: of only one half to hunt. b. A zone split as recommended in Section 2 below. i. Continue hunter number restrictions. Such actions should not be arbitrarily established on public guesswork, but ou a biological basin. 2. Por management on a herd basis as is necessary, to obtain aanagemout li9als, these two herds should be placed in a separate hunting zone utilizing the boundary between the 1looratown and Dounieville h+er,s, and include postio113 of the Sloan hard if it Ls consistent with Sluat hard goals. -52- n 3. The 'veto power of Hoarda of Supervisors over hunting regulations must be revoked so that wildlife management will ftee of prejudices. caused by emotion and ,personal bias. 4. Hunter opportunities and huntingquality can bp quali e increased or improved by: a Use of antleress deer hunting when herd levels can sustain ouch. hunting without significant populaticm, reduction. b. Hunter access on private land should be increased by providing inc.antives to landowners through access fees privets lands management, tax breaks, and reduction of accident Liability. The Private Lands Wildlife Management Program ofi-trs the seer- tunity to provide private land access. 8 Gommunicaticu 1. Public ignorance of wildlife biology and Department capabilities and constraints could be reduced bye a. Department sponsored seminars throughout the elate in coopera- tion with other agencies, b Improved use of publicinformation officers within the Department. ca Hore frequent use of the news media by field personnel, d. gcalogy courses in public schools, x The Department crust require a full report after the completion of biological studies (e.g., radio telemetry). All reports aunt. be circulated within the Department, and made available to other l" interested parties in order that all may benefit by Cho findings of the studies. F. Lax Enforcement 1. Public pressure (County Supervisors) ate.) can be sought oto ,rod lax courts into a more favorable attitude toward fish and game Laws. 2. Patrol time can bo increased by placing some permit (especially 1600 Section) respoasibi Uties into other functions. The reserve w&.rden program could be axp.anded 3. Possible means of deterring poachers aret a. Seek l;egis"tion to increase fines to a minimum mandatory of $1,500 which would approximate the economic value of deer. b Forfeiture-of poaching equipment, especially guns. c. tncreasod ]ail sentences. Vii, Public aducatioa in regard to the need for wildlife protecrt' p should' be expanded, Regulations should be mad© more comprehensibla. 5. Public assistance can baa increased by: a. Expand Caltip to a 24 Lhour a,' day, 7 day a week toll free phone contact with the Department. b. *distribution of violation report cards such as provided by the :lutte County Fish and Gage Commission. ,te 6. Fish and Game laws should permit: m. Deutruction of any uncontrolled dogs harassing any wildlife species on public lend. On pr,•vate land uncontrolled dogs should bre ;destroyed for harassing wildlife except for depredating species. b. Dog owners should hsva to compensate for any wildlife losses. G. Review and Update1 Objective: Hsirata n this pplan such that the information and racommenda- �� r Via:, tion are currant and meet $pacific immediate and long-term needs in the ° hard unit. 1. Annually review the plass and update as is appropriatq Input into the raviaw will be obtained from Department personnel including unit and regional g personnel, thO Plumas and Lassen National gorests, ,and 4 interested publics. girvast, hard composition, and 'rangy status informaCioafail: be maintainad And added to the plan, in addition to new information derived frOrj special studies. 2. As a vehicle of public input into the plan a questionnaire should be formulated and distributed to hunters, to Local aportsctens groups, and to other interested publ, �.s. w55r VI. ALTERNATIVES Some alternatives, to this plan exist. They are currently infeazibla because of legis"ldtiVe mandate, land use priorities, lack of funding, or Conan( irreversible adverse impacts on the range, A Status Quo There is little management presently, and most of it ,directed toward regu- lation of use. The lack of a. managacent plan giving policy direction toward goals, and current political and funding restraints provide n haphazard approach to deer management. The legislative mandate would not be fulfilled. Without a committment, to protecting deer herds, ,and With inconsistent management, deer population trends can be expected to decline. Habitat loss And dsterioration would continue to the point of irreversibility. Public dissatisfaction would increase to the extent that Department credibility may cease, B. Habitat and population Increase to 1965 Levels If this alternative could be obtained despite habitat losses and human population increases) major land use changes Would have to occur.. Wild- life needs would have to receive top priority. Extensive conversions of forest, rural, And grazing land to price deer habitat Would have to occur. L-trga budgets for habitat improvement programs, studies, and additional personnel would have to be available. t V11 REFERENCES Ashcraft, G. C. 1976. poor Propagation Units and, Population Centers. North Kings Dear Hard Cooperative Management projecrt. CaliforcxCe Ceps. North Fish and Gaye. Browning, B., R. W. Schulanberg, and o. Brunetti. 1973, Flat Study. California Department of Fish and Game. Fed.Rail Aid toaWildlif`eoer Rest. Proj. W52 -R. Wildlife Management Administrative Report X773-1. Fowler, G. S., and R. B. Wagner. 1982.. Plan. California Department of Fishxandhe BGamolue Caayon Dear Herd Mngeacnt Longhurst, W. M., A. S. Laopold, and R. F. Dasmann. 1952. A Survey. of California Deer Herds. Their Ranges and Management Problems. California Department of Fish and Game Bulletin 464 136 pp. Neal, D. L. 1981. Faun Mortality in the North Kings Doer Ford: Some Preliminary Results. Cal -Neva Wildlife Transactions. Ramsey, T. E. 1981. Bastara Tahama Doer Herd Plan. California-Dapartmant of Fish and Game, Siparek, J. 1983- Yolla Bolly Daae Herd Management Plan, California Department of Fish and Game. S illott '��.a p n 1984. Values of Deer and Elk on the Caribou National Forests. Food Thought. The Habitat Exproris, No. 845 Jul y 1984. Manage apt Staff. Intermountain Region, U.S. Forest Service. wildlife Wallmo, o. C., ad. 1981. Mule And Black -tailed Deer 'of North America, University of Nebraska Pro'sa. 554 pp. -57- Appendix l MOORETOWN DEER HERD TELEMETRY STUDY PROGRESS REPORT Obj ective To provide up-to-date documentation of hard boundaries and migratory movements. Recent planning efforts by :Federal, State, and ]vocal agencies involved in :land use Considerations have expressed a need for recent docucentation on local deer herds in order that they may make appropriate decisions in regard to wildlife. The same need has been recognized in deer herd management plans being prepared by the Department. Procedures Winter range door trapping (utilizing clovertraps) was initiated in February and December. 1980 at Sunset Hill in Butta County. Additional trapping, occurred at Fields Ridge in February 1982. These locations are on PlUmas N, F. lands is tie upper 'portion of winter range. Six radio telemetry units ware Available £or placement upon adult does. All deer trapped were ear-itagged with "yellow T-1ok and aluminium ear tags. Most information gathered was through monitoring 'radio telematry units by air and ground. No visual sightings of other marked' deer have been received except for one buck which was taken by a hunter near trap site during the hunting season after the buck's capture, A mcjor portion of the project's personnel effort was supplied by Plumas Ha, biologists, ,ort Robachar and Bea Andarson, of the WdLte Ranger District. They were essentially responsible for the trapping and did considerable telemetry ground monitoring .t6. 4. ,a Appendix l MOORETOWN DEER HERD TELEMETRY STUDY PROGRESS REPORT Obj ective To provide up-to-date documentation of hard boundaries and migratory movements. Recent planning efforts by :Federal, State, and ]vocal agencies involved in :land use Considerations have expressed a need for recent docucentation on local deer herds in order that they may make appropriate decisions in regard to wildlife. The same need has been recognized in deer herd management plans being prepared by the Department. Procedures Winter range door trapping (utilizing clovertraps) was initiated in February and December. 1980 at Sunset Hill in Butta County. Additional trapping, occurred at Fields Ridge in February 1982. These locations are on PlUmas N, F. lands is tie upper 'portion of winter range. Six radio telemetry units ware Available £or placement upon adult does. All deer trapped were ear-itagged with "yellow T-1ok and aluminium ear tags. Most information gathered was through monitoring 'radio telematry units by air and ground. No visual sightings of other marked' deer have been received except for one buck which was taken by a hunter near trap site during the hunting season after the buck's capture, A mcjor portion of the project's personnel effort was supplied by Plumas Ha, biologists, ,ort Robachar and Bea Andarson, of the WdLte Ranger District. They were essentially responsible for the trapping and did considerable telemetry ground monitoring .t6. Trapping and telemetry equipment and aircraft for aerial monitoring were supplied by the Department. Rea1i'l to Trap lines near Sunset Hill ware run in, February and December 1980; only three deter wera caught each season. Eight deer were caught on Fields Rid$e in February 1982. The attached tagging form gives specific information. A. lour capture ,success rate was experienced each season. Most of the problem wad fair, we= weather during the trapping periods. One doe in a trap was turned loose by a YACC erect when they found a trap with the doe in it. Six of 114 dear caught vera adult dons. Five of the six proved to be migra- tory. The sixth doe (doe 9) could not be found subsequent to capture and. Was probably a poaching victim near trap site. Doe 10 disappeared after reaching eummor range in June 1980 (another poaching victim?). Doe 3 was taken by a poacher in hovewbar 1982 on winter range shortly after returning from summor range. Her cut radio collar was found in. Clipper Hills the following flay. Monitored movements (see attached map) ascertained migratory routes already determined by spot kill saps and field obso vations. Some movements (does 3 and 10) from a major ridge system to another shoe again that not all dear migrate along just one redge system. n One holdingarea was detected on Mooreville Ridge when doe 3 made tog spring and fall delays. Doe 4 Appears to be another example of a fast migrator that does not utilize a holding area. n b t Doe 5 was found 'dead (cause undetermined) at the 'base of Sly Crack Dam on Juno 11, 1982. She had been in that area since May 4 and died about :Tune 6. Spring migration ccovement'began in late April and early May in 1982 and was about two creeks later in 1983. Timing correlates with drying :tip of winter range. The two weak delay in 1983 was anticipated as ;the roping was stetter and cooler than in 1982. Similar timing has been observed in the coore northerly East Tehama herd. Fall migration began late September to chid -October. Several rain storms in lute September,, early October 1982 appeared to have little affect on deer movement. Doe 4 did come down a little ;faster than she went Up which is the reverse of most dear observed so far. Does 2 and 4 did not return to within a half vile oxe trapsitc (.for the 1982-83 winter) but regained, two to three miles ;further upridge It is likely that the snow and cold of 1981-83 bad pushed these dear to the trap site area; however, they may have attracted .to new growth vegetation in the tree plantations where they wintered ,in 1982-83. Recommended Action Project completion will depend upon the life of the radio telemetry units. Trapping 'efforts may continue through the 1984-85 Weather.j if various conditions prevent an earlier completion. Vin'ter range trapping day occur in ;1983-84 as part of a study to determine residential encroachment; impacts on migratory deer. Such trapping will be the result of a need tO supply specific; up -toy -date information to county planners,, W� Snaring on summer range will be attempted, possibly in October 1983. Suzm;i,er range deer capture is desirable as all deer are migratory, abatter dispersiorx on winter range is probable, and summer range boundaries can be batter determined ,by a greeter snaring dispersion. Other capture techniques may be tried if equipment is available. Capture nets may be effective on minter range. Darr guns or net launchers would be helpful on summer range as deer habits and deux:ties render snaring difficult. KIR I X61- , County Butt Species Deer Including, Tag. eros. Trapping Sites A Sunset_Hil1 C B Fields Bidg D Tag Antlers Live No. Sex R L Ae Wt. Date Trs ad Trap Site T -Lok Freq. Other No. Channel Idem. Remarkrs 1641 F A 2-13-80 A5 Yellow 159.420 187 9 1642 F` F 2-14-80A2 188 retrap A3 12.24.80 1643 F i " A6 189 159.435 10 i 1769 MF 35 12-24.80 Al Yellow 231 1770 M 1 1 Y 73 12-24-80 Yellow 232 ., 1771 'M l1 Y 75 r11 , 31-80 A5 Yellow 233 1647 15Yellow F 56 1-28-82 B1 210 1685 F A 95 2-02-82 B2 Yellow 191 159.315 2 1,649 F A 73 192 159.360 5 1.650 F 1701 F A 18159.330 Y 58 B6 193 194 159.330 3 1'►02 F' A big ► B8159.345 195 4 1703 F X 96 2-'05-82 B5 Ye 11f w 209 ' 1704 h F 42 2-09.92 B3 209: -62Y - ,.63.0 Appendix 2 'HERD COMPOSITION COUNTY COMPARISON 1957-PRESE14T BLUE. CANYON AND PACIFIC DEER HBRS)S FALL Fawna :100 SPRING Year Bueka:100 Female; Female .BCDH�► PDH BCDH Sample Si^e F�='no:1Q0 Female --- ------ _" PDH BCDH --�-- PDH BCDH .Sam 2a Size' .957-58 47 33 r. PDH BCDH PDH 63 77�. 130.. 144 1958-59 46 36 108. *,ra _... 18,3 � 86 91 156 483 60 1959-60 47 3fi 56 - 148 3;38 159 . 97 87 ,286 1960-61 4556 48 - 266 62 5!i 139' 314 1961-62 42 28 59 -� 43 _-369 531 234 190 45 I962-63 23 4147 42 304 344 36 Y83 167 55 49 196346 27 200 251 .. 76 134 94 1964-65,.; .- - - 300 t -�- 332• 1965-66,1;., .., 43 Mw. 57 _ 1$.6 .» 59 -, 154 1965-67 -4 23 - - 64 --- 165 ,p 50 --- 347 -68 -- 46 ° 59 ... 125 ,... 87 --- 179 L968-64 18 28 76 ... 38 - 115 78 .178 124 65 48 1969-70 -. 24 271 370 ... 90 »e 90 1910-71 30 35 53 -" 66 --- 244 67 104 111 �1 66 1971-72 16 33• 41 272 238 59 119 185 1972-73" 21 31 40 43 .:;... 150: 43 L17 191 1973-74 — 26 �- 48 _-- 438. .�.. 55 --- .174. 1974-75 - :.. 30 50 -•- I88 -" 61 �. 252 1975-76 .• 37 85 60 _�- 186 _ - ._,. 133 1976-77 20 ,aa 56 *gra$ :104 70 "-• 183 �*�* 1977-7821 .,► 58 227 1978--79 28 *�►, 58 ***,e --»�* 1979-80 .;» 149. **�* ?2 **** 168 tax t*�r� *&CDH w=yayrCottaCy Blue Canpon Dyer taken Herd; Pacific Deer Hard. Late, capsid@red ***Count laireliabTe. Lion 4.Iken. ****D4ta not available at rine of wrjtia& ,.63.0 APPENDIX 3 , BUCKS PLANT CQ20q ». IMMAIN AND H00 UNITIES RETOWN DEER HERD MANACENEMT -tMITS A. Blue Oak. - S+wanna;h Trees Blue oak -Shruba - Harcus dou lash 8utkl+ruah . Grasses Fortis Cea cunestus ~-----.... A` eua SP, Bur clave. B tied° hispidEa Bromus B• Di8ser pine - 0ak ;-= aP. r_13ea Digger pine Blue oak Canyon live oak -uarcu� c. aole is Interior live oak6.- California buckeye -4- 4 laurel - California AesculUa californi,;a Ca t1m e Co Chaparral Shrub; (Vint.. Rau e) hanzanit& Mountain whitethorr Deerbrush, Snowbush - Ceanotbus velutinus Western chokeCh�;y -- P- _..._. Bitfiercher -- i..,inana Huckleberry oa-* emmrgi".,nata - Siera chin cercus vaccinitol3a quapin Castanopsis sem _ P�u a C, Black Oak Woodland S --h-- rubs Hanaanita Arc'toatan Buck bru ah------,...;.;ir Zoa 3P. Western Sedbud Nauntoin „ca occident lis --.- �ahogany - Cercoca us Scrub oak - u,a,_r..c_u,_a rj bet uloldea Poison oak d d— o�aa "— California coff mberr�"ba. Y Rh&mua calia T- r- ea Black ualt u4"rcus kale fin_ Tanoak hithocar ue Madrona - deasiflora Y� live oak Arbutus Manziea`" i'" l""--- Big leaf Maple - Incense Cedar`'�,iboce""" d" --r dcurranr� hountain dop Acer mscrophYilun Pondaroaa pine - guood - C--° .u° g44Y p .rob' a '."" Douglas ftr paeudCor T. APPENDIX 3 .(CONTINUED) Blau om 4C E762dlaad (Continued) Shrubs Daerbvvsh Leo.uftor: =<ean:It�us -- Ceaaothus lea�aonii Poison oak -�----.- California -01—, cof'feeborzy - R��ua califo'Inicn , E • Moam�,ai.n Maic low Q. armee ` Grasses and Forbs 4Ji 11>t�v -' Salix sp e Eaua Alda,; 111'sp„ cyp4Taceac Lodl;apole ne - Pinus aurrarana -""--------+c.....e Juncaceae C rAm i as e F. Rip,';,jrian De 1duoum Trees 'Shrubs- Willow Al&ir Blackberry - Rubus vitifolius Qa ag aspen - t P Po plea ranuioidan SiACiG Wild grape - VVi.tis cali"" Ifo COtCrzalioOd » P. tr C oC's _ Fro N ,e cont cottonwood = P. fremontii Cal :fbrnia sycamore - VI&T-nus racemosa BfU loaf mmple ta C. Hixdd Conifer Trees Shrubs St►gar pine a Vitus lambertiana Pol,,deroda pine Deerbruoh White fir au Abies concolor Mountain vhitethorn bdtttlas fir Iacer�se cedar "atern aerviceberr Goosebe Y Amelanchier r Y iii ba alnifolia Black oak Manxanita H. Red Cir Trees Red fir - Abies magnifica -"' Whi 61 ti r - �...� Hanrani to Jeffrey pine - pinus121-fre Western rey-i Cooaeberry vhi to pial "': P. aoa a Lodgepole Noubtain tthi to thorn pine -65» APPENDIX. 3 (CONTINUED) - ... I. Loagepole Pian Trees Shrubs Lodgepole pine Manzanita Vestern white`pine Gooaeberry Red fir Western aerviceberry J4 Jeffrey Pine Trees Shrubs Jaffrey pine Mountain Whitethorn Lodgcpole pine Snowbush White fir Man ani to Red fir Western aervicebeM Black oak Sierra chinquapin Hucklebarsy' oar r iK Ponderosa Pine Trees Shrubd Ponderosa pingo Manzanita Incense Cedar auckbrudh Black oak Lemon ceanothus Porion oak -66- J ,."Pcndix 4 .J MIGRATORY 'DEER STUDY PANEL REPORT B(P,= COUNTY' INTRODUCTION Three separate e migratory deer herds are found is the eastern Foothill mountains of Butte County; the East, Tehama, Bucks Mountain, and Hooratown deer herdo, While some sumer and intermediate ranges are found in the County, the mck joy ity Of than deer habitat is winter range. Dear herds migrate each falx ,,,z= their au=er ranges in the Tehama, Plunas, and eastern Butte Counties to their winter range in Butte County. During mild weather deer usually linger at, the nigher elevations of their winter range until forced down b r Y the: first major scow store to their "critical" winter range. Deer generally remain concentrated on the critical v Ltor ranges until early Apr,,, perserving ;the stresses and hardr!aJps of winter. Higrat-Ory doer have used tb,eir summer and winter rang,s in the past with little disturbance from hytaan activity and development. However, this Situation, has changed in; recent years.. Subdivisions have encroached and are continuing an accelerating ratto encroach into deer ranges at R, in particular; the hinter range. Subdivision and developed parcel divisions allose land use changes Which result in a permanent 1063 of dear habitat. Forage and cover plants are eliminated. Disturbance` from aditai traffic, and domestic dogs inc'reasa. Poaching problems generally increaae along with increased public use as a result of improved road access and subdivisions in the door range, „ Ar. ii A r”` �a 4,a '0 Loss of dear ran ns g particularly winter range, to development: has become a; major problem threatolling the Welfare. Of migratory of the Sierradeer along the western- laiope y , Daerface further hardships in the future un2aaa planning. efforts are expanded to identify important deer ranges and control and di development to loss sensitive areas, reel ENVIRONMENTAL 'LAtis Several lass app,1Y to proposed subdivisions in deer ran es 1) the Subdivision lie g Some of these ;ares, p Act, 2} the California Environe�ental 3) AB U21 of 2977 and 4 Quality Act (CEQA) I Plan. the Butte county .Land Use Element of the General Subdivision ma_Act Section 66474(e) of the Act states, "A legislative body shall denY Approval a °f a. city or county Of s ContaCivri ma pi or a parcel map for kbic.h a tentative ,rsa p was, not required, if it 'makes any of the. following findings: (a) that the. design of the subdivision or the proposed improvements are 2 substantial environmental damage likely to cause g or substantially and avoidably injure fish. or wildlife or their habitat." California Environmental uAlit Act (CE A) CEQA guidelines require an Environmental Impact Report (ExR projects having) be prepared for a significant adverse impact upon the environment, Section ISO91 of the guide2inea identify the findings under _u hick n public agency may (or may not) approve a project having one or mora significant adv that are identified in an ETitcrse effe;s + -68» ABn!521 (Sep_tember 1977) This bili declares it to be the policy of the legislature to'encoura8 a the conservation, res-toration, maintenance, and utilization of California's deer. populations. The bill further provides a legislative: mandato to the Department Of Fish and Gads to develop plans to manage deer herds. The objectives of these plans are the restoration and maintenance of healthy door herds in the wild state and to provide for high quality and diversified use of deer in California. But Countv Laand Use Element of the General Plan The Land Use Ele©ent's policy toward dear is to ''regulate davgiopment in identified winter ranger to facilitate the survival of deer hordnee, DEER STUDY PANEL In, August of 1983, the Butte County Board of Supervisors created a Deer Study Panel rz. study the problem of development encroachment into the migratory dear herds' ranges, The panel cotloists of representatives from tho 'Department of Fish and Game (DFG), Butte County Fish and Game Co=mission, Butte County Planning Department, an independent planning profeasiona , a private engineer, environmental consultant, and a private landowner. Tho panel's responsibility was to study ways to minimize the impact of development on Migratorar deer and to maintain the population levels of these migratory animals. - The following briefly outlines the deer panel's goals, program., and recommendations -69 I. GOALS • To provide pro,taction to migratory dear in nutto County againat significant adverse impacts from subdivision davelopment. - To identify important migratory door habitats To develop a General Plan Land Use Elemont policy and implementation procedure, to ,achieve those goals. PAOGRAHS A. Develop overlay constraint !saps on Dear herd information map's (e g., summer range,, minter rang*, migration corridors, etc.). parcel sizes averaging five acres or Lens; six to 20 Acres, and 21 scree or greater. General plan designations Kith its existing minimum acreage size and oxisting toning. Identified transportation 'corridorsi other constraint maps_ be developed to identify buildable areas (e,g.) slope, soil depth, stream sothack, atc.).' *Task to ba accomplished. -70- B. The Department of, Fish and Game's (DF'G) specific tasks are the following.: Identify dear migration "windows" through selected transportation corridors. This will be providad to the County Planning Department in the summer of 1988 Update their migratory deer herd range maps at toast once ovary five years to ,facilitate any future amendments to the Wand Use Element. and Natural Resources Element of tha,Butte County General Plan. C Develop mitigation 'cmasuras to protect migratory -dear. TII RECONMENDATIONS A. IN AR DESIGNATED AMS ADJACENT TO IDENTMED TRANSPORTAT'7:0N COORRMORS' (sea Table I): 1. Establish a psriaater .fence design criteria. On parcels greater than five acres in migratory deer range, the perimeter fence. is limited to barbed vire (unless a special use permit is acquired). To allow passage of deer, the fence should bn constructed of five strands or less of barbed wird the bottom and top wire be a minimum of 16 :inches and a maximum 48 inches above the ground. -'71- 2. Create a dear habitat improvement fund by establishing A one time fee for allowing development of loan minimumparcal than 40 scree Giza 'in critical summer and winter range and • 20 Acre minimum parcel size in non critical summer and winter range. The fee ($45/acre in critical summer and. winter range and $25/acra in noncritical aummor and cutter range) would ba paid by the landowners utya buildi n they apply, for a permit.. The sand would he to improve deer habitat alacwhera in the County as mitigation for development Impacts .along dgsi txa Ced p _ eat g transportation Corridors', Altera.ative to fee structure; Acres �...�., Fee/Acre 0-10 $ 45 10.01 - 20 $25 2041 -, 39.99 $15 40+ No fee 3• Adopt ettachud Appendix ''A" as ,a county dog control ordinance. 4, The Board of Supervisors should determine Which following scenarios they to .lcment yah onu of the Lm p to allow cluster development within the AR designation aroan alo identified transportation the transports"tion corridors (TC)-.. Scenario "A" Allow development of sxisting parcela to a density lcss than a 40 acre minimum in winter range if '010 14ndowner(a) along A. the TC can combine with a landovaer(s) of AR lands within the critical winter range outside the TC who Ware willing to transfer their develo ment rights to p g the Tc. 2.n this manner, if both parties were ,in agreement, the lands along the TC ;should ba developed into a cluster concept limited by . other coastrainta (e.g., alcpe, soil parme,abili:Y' soil stability, etc.). AA designated 'aads within the critical winter rangy that are not located along the -TC would be left undisturbed in perpetuity. This alternative would allow an equal aharia.g Of the economic gains through devalopcent alongathe TC. Scenario "e" Allow dovelopment of AR designated lands along the TC to lass than 40 acres minimum on critical au=dr and winter range and 20 acre minimum on non-critical au=er and winter range. Development along the "'C voUld be as described in Scenario "A". AR designated landa not along a TC wouldbe limited to 40 acres minimum oa ciajor migration corridors, holding areae, critical summer and Winter ranges and 20 acre miniQums on non-critical summer and winter range. The landowners would not shote in. the economic benefits of development along the SCC. -73- TABLE I DEER STUDY IDEWTZFI D t TRANSFORATION 'CORRIDORS IN AGRICULTURAL RESIDENTIAL DESIGNATIONS OF TILE BUTTE COUNTY GENERAL PLAN Cohaaent Road Richardson Springs Riad Highway 70 Highway 32 Honcy Run Road Skyway (To Inskip) NGAI Road Clark Road Pcntz Road Concow Roam Big Bend Rand Chcrokee Road Oro-Quirioy Higtzm►ay Bald Rock Road Forbastowa Road (but Mot Lowdr Stringtowa Cad Lumpki Roads Fortiastova Road) Black Bart Read Swedes Flat Road - including Hurlatou- LaPorta Road Suedes Flat Road Upham Road Hurleton Road 5. The Department of Fish and GameDpd ( will identify dear migrat;i!m "►andoWa" through the TC wahere ♦ P xcelrr Will remain at least 40 acres minimum in critical winter range and 20 acres in Winter range to allow doer movement to occur. B• IN AR DESIGNATED LANDS WITHIN PlIGRATORY DEER RANGES ADJACENT TO THE TC: THAT ARE NOT 1. MaiutAin either Ith4 exist ing Parcel siva or a 40 acrd minimum in critical summer and Winter ranges, major migration corr;::doxs, holding areas, and 20 acre minimum on aon�critical ducmuer and winter ranges. 2 Encoura ~ $e landowners to transfer tha;r development rights to scrag within the above mnmtionedTC areas (see Section III.A.4;. ) if Scenario "A► is selected, 3. Establish Peril2ater fence design criteria {ase Section IV.A.1.). 4. Adopt Appendix ''A`'' as the dog control ordinance, C, bN LA:tDS WITHIN MIGRATORY DEER RANGES OTHER THAN THOSE DESIGNATED AS AR IN THE GENERAL PLAN.- maintain LAN.Mainta3,n existing Gaueral Plan dost gnq aoaa and existing minimum parcel sizes. 5i. Establish.a 'perimeter fence design criteria t.= (see Section. 3 Enforca Appendix "An as the County dog control ordizanco D,, THE FOLLOWING POLICIES SHOULD BE 'INCORPORATED INTO T HE iAttD USE ELMMUT OF THE GENERAL PLAN, Polia On ©igrutorp dear range landat maintain the existing Gaooral. PUn; Land Use designation© and minimum parCel sizes. Except on, Ag ,dnsi gnated lands adjacent to idautifiad transportation corridors, no parcel: division and development Of lmua than 40 acres �aini�aum p in major migration corridors, critical sumer and sinter rangm and 20 kcrea minimum fn noncritical summGr and winter 'raptge ++ill be allowed, 'Regulate dorelo Qq p ..nt in identified dear range to faci.:itata tha survi"I of tho deer herd. Encourage the transfer of de"lopment 'rights if Scena;-;►o "All is selected for LmPlementation (mea Section IIZ.A 4.) -76- Y gRECOHHENDED MEATATION FOR SUBDI.`lISIONS WITHIN MIGRATORY DEER RANGES. Ratain existing General Plan dusignationa and minimum parcel sizes. • Incorporates appropriate a tigatiian moasurea ,in Covenant's Conditions and Rastrictioas (CC and Rs) s: Incorporate appropriate mitigation maasuras as conditions of buildi.ng_pnrmit Approval. r Inc' .,,.a orporate appropriate mitigation mesasuras a conditions of Laud division approval. • A county ovdina►nca be created to require a special use permit fot this construction of all woven Faire (4.g. -f cyclon® ho&Viro, otc. .parimater fenceseQ prArcaln greater than £ vo acres in migratory dear'rangso Establish an ordinance. (Appondi:c "A") which is Gifoctive in controlling dogs n migratotiy doer ranges. Rdquire Wilding dnvolopees along the It Establish a doer habitat £un,d by collecting a fen for davelopmeent $1ithin designated tr&llsportatiou corridors (see Sactioa 'LII.A.�.) -7y» • The County should appo?,,dt an ad hoc committee or fund a a Ludy to develop constraint map overlays along the identified transportation corridors to identiEy buildable areas (e.g., slope, soil depth, soil permeability, soil stability, stream setbacks, etc). SUMMARY Protection provided through the above mitigation measures to migratory door is accoapliahad without any proposed changes to t]ae land use designations of the exis'tiag 'Land Use $lemeat of the General 'PI n. Since the above mitigation maaou,rea Tit s sc allow controlled' devalopm*nt to occur adjacent to selected. transportation corridors doer habitat will be Lost along these -areas. areas. This places greater importance upon the remaining deer habitat to sustain the bards. iaplamentatiOU of the above mitigation measures will; 1) limit intense development to areas ad,jacant to transport,btion corridors on Land designated an q' AR in the General Plan, and 2 create a fund to be used for habitat improvement P4ojeact,b cm critical deer ranges to improve the quality of the Habitat. These sites erauld be determined by the Department of Fish and Gage working %n close cooperation with the Butte County Fish and Game Commission, In developing the above reco=endations, assumptions were made that mitigation measures "III.b," and "YII.C." could ba achieved. Any deviations from out aasumptions would result in unaanaged lana development that would be incoasist- not with the Subdivia,ion Map Act, the existing, g, Liind Use glement policy of the General Plan, and U10 axis'tiiug California Legislature policy (At 1521 of 1977). 48 REFERENCES 1 Responsibilities of Department o p. p f Fish and, Game, Local Agencies, Property Ovadra (prepared by hike Evans). 2. Article entitled "Converting Chaparral to Grassland Increases Soil Fertility". 3. Article entitled "Evaluating the profitability of Brush Management and, Oak Tre w Thinning for Raange Improvemaant". 4 Latter from Department of Fish and Games dated February 10, 1983 pertaining to Areas of Special BiologicalImportance and mtgratury dear herds. 3. Letter from Department of 'Fi,h and Games dated ,January 6, 1983 dealing with ni',giratory doer in the Butte County foothills. 6, Minutes from the December 21, 1982 meeting of the Board of Supervisors motion, on item 4.10 about the 40 acre minimum parcel aise recommended by the State Dapartmut of Fish wind Gems; 7. Letter from Department of Pish and Game dated March 30. 1982 regarding the c,`3ng0 in racom:md dations from 20 to 40 acrd minimum parcels in important deer vineer rangds. 8. Assembly Bill No. 1521 of 1577. 9, .Subdivision Nap Act as *wended January 10 1984. Section 66474. 10, Excerpt from Land Use Element of Botta County General Plan, October 1979. 11. Excerpt from Opaia Space Eldment of Butte County General Plan, 1973. 12. Unified Sp�r:C•.men of D2X Wormatiou 13. Existing County Dog Otgiannco; Division 14 Of food and Agricultural Code j €tegulation and Licensing of Doga. -79- r n M v APPENDICES A. Proposed Revised Br,tte County Dog Ordinan,�e H. Letter from Department of 7ish and cane, dated February 24, 1984, about December 1983 a gr tory door hard maps. C. Articles cutitlerd "What is Deer habitat and Haw Can It be Managed?" and "Feeding Strategy of Dear" - hau.douta Eroia Dear Haru Management Series held is ;Chico on F'ebrusry 8j 13, and 15, 1984, D. Letter from Departzent of Fish and Gasae dated March 29, 1983 addressing migrc,.:ory deer bord minter range losses to, residential dovalopment. in Butte County. E. Letter from Department of Fish and Gates dated January 31, 1483 concesrsiing the th,rea migratory dear herds which utilize ;Butte Couuty, rhunting zonas, lictuto per zona, deer take pot year, dear harvest and dear populations par herd. F ltatural Habitat Combining District, Lawson County; moans used, to address residential development vithia recogniz-%d Wildlife areas. LIM APPENDIX "A" PROPOSED REVISED BUT'T'E COUNTY DOG O11GINANCL, 112. The provisions of this ordinance shall apply to the unincorporated, undeveloped, or very low density residential areas in the foothills and mountains east of Highway 99 (sea Exhibit available at Butte County Planning Department, 7 County Center Drive, Oroville, for speciliic locations where ordinance ar,plies). 113. In ,any instance in which a dors or dogs is/are observed killing, wounding, or pursuing doer, except as noted in Section 114, the portion observing this action may kill the dog(s) if they are on their own property, have the permission of the landowner, or are on public Lands (e.g. U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, etc,,). 114. The provisions of Sections 112 and 113 shall not apply to -any of the following; A4 Any area within they corporate limits of, any city, oil, within any developed rural or residential area with lot sizes of Tess than throe acres. b. Any dogs being used for the purpose of lawful training or minting. during proscribed dog training or hunting ae.Nsons. Q. Dogs in the immediate presence and under direct control; of the owner. The dog must be in close proximity to the owner and the owner must demonstrate affective contol of the dog. 115 The provisions of this act do not provide a legal reason for unauthorized. trespass. Offcndiag dagw may be shot only by persons with a right or premission to bo on the property. All incidents occurriug under this provision, vhether or not the offending dog or dogs aro shot, must be rdportod to local law enfarcoment officials including Dapartcient of Fish and Game pdrsonnal =81ov, Appendix 5 HARDWOOD RETENTION PRESCRIPTION Prescriptions and recommendations prepared by; Gary Benson, Regional. Ecology Program; Bill Laudenalayer, Fish and Wildlife Msmit. Staff; Cary Hartman, Forest Wildlife Biologist; all located at Tahoe National. Forest, tfevada City, California. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING HARDWOOD RETENTION IN AREAS WHERE TIMBER PRODUCTION IS THE PRIMARY RESOURGt DIRECTION. 1. Recommendations concerning hardwood stand density and bpotial distribution for wildlife utilization. Hardwoods appear to be more effectively utilized by wildlife when they are maintained as aggregations, atands;, inclusions in stands or stringers rather than air scattered individual troas in ,a timber stand, It Would be. preferable to emphasize the growth and management of hardwaods as 8g g m re a;tions such ga- the example (Draft. Silvicultural :Practices Fiend book) of one htsrdwood aggregation of 25 ft2 of basal area in one portion of a_:5 acre unit (or 200 ft2 of basal area per 40 acres - Forest Service Manual x405.14.5), Research wont indicata4 that more benefits (Wildlife, incremental growth of hardwoods, fualwood production) are attained from hardwoods if they are mAintained as aggrega�--iona with, stand densities greater than So ft2 of r basal area per acres (Tappeiner and Mditdald 1979•,' KcDonald, et al; publication due in 1983) Z. Raco=endat,ons for fruit (or hard mast) and forage production in hardwood aggregations, A N \I— Mmture hardwoods do provide food and cover For many wildlife opecies. Food is provided by the immature stages of oak through browse ( twigs, stems, leaves) of the seadl ags and saplings. The mature stages of oak provide hard mast (acorns) and hollows for dens. Little iaforneation is available regarding- 1) the age at which various hardwoods are mature enough to. produce fruit or mash in quantities large enough to contribute to the diet of wildlife species, or 2) the age at which the hardwoods become decadent and begin a steady decline in fruit production. The following provides information about some _hardwoods is the Sierra Nevada and the Central V41167 of California for which data is available. Naturally occurring California black oak (Quercus ke11�oRRit-) stasty to p .educe acorn in moderate quantities at approximately 30 years, although noticeable Acorn production has been reported for black oak iiprouts that. were 20-25 years old. The age at which acorn production declines in i California black oak is uncertain, however it apparently occurs some time after 300 years of age (McDonald, 1969). Blue oak ( arcus dougglass^ii) produces moderate accounts of acorns by 60 years of age however the age of decline in acorn production is not known. The time of initial sexed crop production for other California oaks, such as valley oak (c.,lobata), Oregon white oak (0, garryana), canyon live oak (o.ch ao1.�) , interior live oak (a uisl� iizenii), etc. is not kuowrn (McDonald per,,, eocmm); Tanoak probably reaches a moderate level of acorn production at approk. 40 years of age and probably declines after 200 years. Although tanoak acorns. are not praferrad by dear; elk, bear) 'etc.,; they appear to be fully Utilized,, thus tanoak acorns 'nay provide an important component of the winter +food supply for deer and bear as well as other wildlife species. -83- Pacific madrone (Arb� manr.ieaaii;) begins to produce barries or fruit) at about 60 years of',age Find these berries aro a very important' food source for birds,, ag. bank-tailed piaaous (Columba 'fasciata), mule dear (Odocoiaus hamionus), and dusky-footed wood rats (Nftotomm ruscipes) Pacific madrone will produce heavy berry crops up to 160 y(t,.rs :%f age but fruit production is uncertain after that time (McDonald and Olson, in press). if th a management objective is to maintain maximum or near -maximum ;£suit (acorn) production in hardwood aggrngations ;onsisting of black oaks tanoak. and madrona, it is suggested that rhaaa haxdvood stands be ce8ene„ated at ages ranging from 160 to 250 yemrs. If thesis hardwood stands are to be regenerated through resp"routingz then regeneration should occur at an age when resprouting can still be vigorous. There is an indication that black oaks become indaopAbla of vigorous reaprouting by 200 years of age (Boss, at al., 1478). Tho age at which tanoak and madrone are no longer capable of resprouting is not knovap however 200 years of sge is a suggested intarmediate value for the harvest age. Individual oak trees ase quite variable in their acorn production Soma trees are conaistant producerswhereas other Bio not 'Produdo acorn$ even , A good yeats. It is important to select good acro praduceri to manage in the aggregation4 galactic of those trees datura aaough to produce acorns should be done f:om late July to early September when the acott. crop is most evident (falter C Graves, pars. coria.). X84.. ry h Age/diamostar at breast height (d.b.h.) relationships for bardwoods are not very clear but I am providing soca general guidelines for black oak, tanoak and nadrone derived from Phil McDonald's work on thinned hardwood stands on good sites at the Challenge Exparimental Forest in the northarn Sierra Navads. I have alSO added some information on canyon lives oak based oa an a,dministrativa Mtudy on the Tahoe National Forest: (Escano and Yamanaka., 1973). I separated the d.b.h. ranges for the different npocies on the. basis of the density of the stands. An arbitrary level of 60% canopy cover was salected to separate open stands from denaa.standa. Th i.s level was selected on ahs basis of what represac ted a reasonable separation point by ' field workers. Theta general guidelines may be useful to estimate thu age )f individual M. hardwood trees Without having to cora them. u D.B.H. Range (in inches) D.B.H. Range tin inches) for 80 yr. old treat for 200 yr. old treses Speciesdenaa s wand open stand dense stand' open stand Calif. Black Oslo 4 9 10 14 -_ 20 30 Canyon Lire Oak _,. 6 - j -- 12 15 ranoak 6 10 11 - 14 12 - 15 Pacific iadrote 4 7 7 ^ C 14 - 10 Dense stand greater than; 60% canopy coVer Open stand less than 60 X canopy cover I R4=120ndmtions for oakimiiidg fuelwood production in California black oak aggregations as the primary objective with acntu product,t r. for wildlife as the secondary objective. -g5» a The following information is based on ' black oak but may be useful For application to other Oaks and tanoak. a. Seedling regeneration recommendations. Oak seedling estaiishment may possibly be enhanced by pZoo�in' disci g or n$ the ground Uv,e�„ mature productive 041,sti when acarus ars. falling to the ground or by scheduling the harvesting of decadent productive Oaks shortly after acorn tall. In either case, disturbance of surface ma the .soil. y result in burial of scams and improved conditions for seed garMinat.ion and 'seedling iastablishment from the acorns (McDonald, pets. cacm. i b. Sprout re8eneration recommendations. Many of the oaks, tsnoak and macron© will resproot vigorous ly harvest which provides for ample sprout rageneration' A light ffire in also be used to stimulate oak fire can tanoak and oadroae stump sprouting. Tanoak, California black oak and several other oak $ edea susce tibl�t to p are, p heart rots which can develop into a severs problem in Pof hardwood stands. The follow ag prescri tion these L7a'+ P developed for south-west Oregon and northern Caj,iforu a hardwoods as P Y be utilized to reduce this problem. "One means for virtually eliminating heart rot in yrung hdrdcr,od stndds in Oregon and. Ca,liforni4 is to leave a stump lass thact 8 inches inti practice that promotQ8 s routi 1, a p ng From the root crown, Sprouts from root crowns have an extramaiy low incidtnoa of rat bridgingfrom stump to pith of sprout. Stool sprouts, Which. arise At or near the top of Y$6W Fa higher stumps, almost always are rotten and, also are auseeptible to breakage by wtad sad scow"° (NcDonald, at a,c*., publication due in 1983). C. Thinning operation recommendations in yowag hardwood stands. Thinning operations in immature oak or it=ature tanoak aggregations should result in maximum incremental growth. Thinning of natural black oak stands should be done when sprouts and seedlings are 30-50 feat tall or whezt the stand exceeds 123 ft2 of basal area/acre. Treas growing in clumps (sprouts originating £rota the name hardwood _root - crown) 'usually Should be raduced to no more than 4 sprouts/root ctown (xappaiaer and McDonald, 1979). Reducing the sprouts to one sprout/root crown may result in a sptreading branch pa t tp..rn of that sprout but if maximum incremental growth is to ba emphasited 4 aprottta should remain because the incremental growth of each sprout is "Proxitastely the "me to ooa sprout'/VOct, crown (HeDonald;, 1979). Two precautionary notes for thianitgj operations in black oak: 1) thinning of sprouts that are 1-3 years old will result in vigorous additional sprouting,, how4:var little resprouting. occurs if the sprouts to be thinned ars at le4ist 4 years old (MCDonald, 1978), and 2) if the 4+ year-old sprouts ,are thianad down to 1-4 sprouts per, root crown, some willsuffer from sun,gcald and forking,. The level Of aunacald damage increases significantly an the basal area is reduced below 8o ft2/acre. Unthinned blank oak and madrone sprouts of similar age do not sufior from sunscald and Only #rota minor am6unts of forks. �g7e Thinning operations usually result in increased production of fruit and can enhance reproduction. The thinning operations Jv. young black oak, tanoak and madroad aggregations (1.10, 10-80 year-olA-tands) should emphasize trees of seed origin "instead of trees frogi stump sprouts due to observations that seed origin trees tend to have straighter boles and goteutially.will bear fruit at an earlier age (Tappeiner and McDonald', 1979). If the hardwood aggregations ars bnir,3 maintained primarily for wildlifs than the hardwood trees (ospacially oaks and tanoaka) older than 200 years should be haarvestsd because mast produc- tion may start to doclina after this age and heart tot becomes inct L-.- ingly significant at 110-120 years for black oaks in natural stands, d. Slash disposal and burning recommendations for hardwood stands. Most of the hardwoods and especially the oaks arra easily damaged by intense fire. Consequently great caution should be exercised tithau fire is to ba employed for managing undergrowth vegetation or reducing hfiavy fuel loads under hardwood stands (Bons, at al:, 1918)4 McDonald, est al:, publication due in '1983, makes the following Tecommendations regarding fire in hardwood stands; "Once a hardwnc,,4 "stands has 'boan clearcut, slash disposal by broadcast burning preen tee root crown sprouts by removing accuaulati,ons of. slash from aroung the root crowas and by killing above -ground portions of stumps. 'Slash in partially -cut hardwood stands should be lopped and scattered or piled. prescribed burning is not recommended, The bark of most hardwood species provides li,t'tl: insulation frot Eire. Cambium is killed easily by small amounts of radiative Meat, and long vertical bole wounds are COMmon 41ter Eire", -88- SPECIFIC HARDWOOD MENTION PRESCRIPTION FOR KEY DEER WINTER EA NGEAREA CENTRAL SIERRA WITH POSSIBLE APPLICATION IN THE NORTH COASTAL OF F THECALIFORNIA. 'phis prescription refers to the following' 'hardwood species unless otherwise specified California black oak ( uercus kelii) tanoak (Y.i.thopus deasiflorus.), and Pacific cadroua (Arbutus menziesii), 1• imp_ basis Hardwood sr)ec es for Ka Deer uintar Ran Q, The oa;kad especially California black oak are to be em hc► V" as p._aiaed due to their broerse (eardling,, saplings and " youngtree stagas) and production Of hard 'feat (acorns) which is of VG V7 high value for daer,. turkey, wild gig, aquirr®ls, stc. Tan,elk, wild. osk aeozna ar® not Utilized sc) .this is also sin iaporC.ax�t hardwood specins for azaferxed but are. wildli!a Psciiic aadrone is an icaportnnt h�ardaaod species �a�ineeriag '... ' because it Produces berries which ars extaralely important to bead -tailed Debar birds and Pi'8aoua, 3iuxrrels The berries are also an 1portant food source for 'food rats, other rodents and dear. Alder (Alaus a Vi llou (S„ alix. ,' �:,�: rottoawocd (Po ulus spr.► aaprn (Pnpt�lus s , important species along.. E), map la (A.. c°r epi) and $t-.aacs9' and in moist areas for browse species and coves is travel corridors for itildlf:Er, moving between diffaxant Mas t. hardw6td stands, or other dais tine tions., r 2. Recotpiaanded Asa-Class Distiibutioas for Mast- and Fruit Producing Hardwoods. It is roco=ended that two broad ago--class groups of hardwoods be maintained. These croups should bis Present with the following age-f iass distribution. 8. Ona broad age-class group of older mast and fruit-Ptoduciug hardwood trees 'ranging in age from 80 to 200 years old. b. One broad age-class group of young hardwood trees to replace the older mast and fruit-producers as they become decadent or die. The age range should vary from 10 to 80 ye4r3 (for stands originating from sprouts) or 20 to 80 years (for stands originating from seedlings). c. Stands that are 1 to 10 (sprouts) or l to 20 (saedlings)years old; would ba considered as stands that are in the procails of bejcoming established. 3. Hardwood Stand 8m4ection Hardwoods should be present as aggregations is unVM of O.S-10 acres, rather than individual scattered trdds. The ha'rdwood's should be present as st&Qds attingcra, or inclusions in a atAnd, and should be managed strictly for wildlife purposes or for wildlife aitd tUalwood purposes. Nihau hardwoods are present in hardwood-conifat mixes, natural groupingd of hardwoods should be.selected for maiataining and improving these aggr;®Ratious. 4 few conit*T4 left within or imaiediat,.ely adjacent to these nA aggregations gravid® for wildlife diversity ad shelter. Fiold tsbsrrvatiOns Of mature California black oakc�t indicate dome ayoA lige oak trees trees are consistent acorn producers even is Poor years, wharea;i :th®r trees do not , produce acorns even in good Years. Consequently, specific hardwood trees for inclusion , (esPeciAlly oaks) should into stands ace � ar�lectad, � (or f'r`uit) are post apparent (late acornJuly - early November), assuming the trees are acorns (Walter enough to produce: iblalter C. Oraves> Pero, comm.). It is rncoanacndad. thact these hardwood aggregations distinct timber stands, placed sh,�nLd be established as on de�ini to rotation to tion record cards be eatabl„shed for thaw, iengthd and that stand 4. Distribution of Hardwood .A re ations over a .Lar P Area r, a. The hardwood aggregation, (aspacially blr,dlc, should be located wheravv,,r wildlife oak, tanoak and cadroaa) l Q are r cobnixed `roan these foie®st. Lo. as a yield. ng narrow hiardvoc<� stands including sctch species as adder, willow, cottonwood, ate. should be established strnacisida management 201111,� or riparian or retained along either aide of stringers for iQo feet on the stream course Co maintain continuity batweoh discrete hardwood stands a d provide travel, cor The dfscree riders dor w Ldlife,, hardwood aggregations should as feadible bated as unj ormly W distribute, the sub,jact .area, Information from Cdlifornia Wildlife biologists indicates that ha aggregations on slopes greater thardwood n 6Qx reco:iv;� o Utilizationbyby dnlY a lea level of oor (salwadece , Hdli e�ws 1942; Gary Nnrtcani pore, ..gl coma,). However it is suggested that slope classen greater or less than !iO% be used in the guidelines because 50% is the slope per cent separation point used in land management plawaing acid timber -harvesting, operations. The following area allocation recommondati.ons are baq.nd on assumptions and values presented in a paper on the management of California black oak and deer aintar range by Annald Potter and Barbara Johnston, 1979. In their paper they conclude that 490 pounds of acorns /acre 1yesar will simultaner>usly pr,.ov3;de the following; L) toot of aa Octob©r-through-Decamber diet of one dear (odocoileus hemionus) in the Sierra Nevada mountain during GOOD MAST YEARS. 2) 5 -OX of the year-round diet of one gray squirrel (Sciarus ri& 3Qu9). 3) to! of the Octobsr-through-Decamber diet of one mountain quail (o:eor xi� ta) or one valley quail (Callipopla_ .californica) These foo requirements axe applied in conjunci:ion with studies of mast production for California black ask (Crim(os+ 1977; McDonald, 1969) to determine t);'e size and number of trees required to provide 490 pounds of acoras /acre /ye+ar. They estimated that 9.2 trees/acrowould provide the requ13ita &daunt of Acorns assuming the trees wore 20+ inches d.b b, With as averiga croon diadater of 36 feet. The number and size of. trees would occupy About 209 of each acre. The reader 13 reminded that the above a3sumpt ons and values are baacd on black oak acorn production occurring in cycles whore medium -to -good -92. acorn Production occurs ovary 2-3 years (Roy, 1962), Recent infarmaticn from McDonald ► Aers• coma. and Walton C. Graven, 19b2: indicate that California black oak (on good sites) will have medium -or better acorn crops every 4-5 years. Consequently the Percent of area. occupied by black oak aggregations, may nand to be increased if black oak acorn production in the subject area appears to be cyclic is 4-5 Year intervals, If hardwood aggregations composed of black oak, tanoak and madrone mixture are mma,ged for wildlife purpo®ea, the following inforzation Tanoakp on good sites may bu , appears to have a medium -to- y useful. better acorn corp every 2-3 ynars* k'acit;ic raadrone appa-rently ha, a madiun- to -be Lt9r berry crop avk y 3-4 Years. Ther© It no known uformotion about acorn crop pes.iodicity for evergreen oaks (McDc.,ald, Pers. corm,), a Information) About blue oak (Quercus douglasa i) indicates that an average acorn crop occurs on alternating years (Walter C. Cravens. 1082). b. Older age -clean group (80-200 Years) of hardwoods. Approximatoly 15- 20% of the key door winter range should bo occupied by aggregations of r this age -class group, ia. 15-20 acres/110 acres, This percentage of area occupati,ou is based on an ideal aggregat; jov dominated by 20+ inch d. b. h, C49,11fornia black oaks .with 36+ feet diameter crowns, and it further assuala d that these trans are producing the aaount of acorns that w0ul?, normally occur during an averaga-to-good w-Aavt year, if the. aggregation is domivatad), by tsnoak or Madrona or if the oaks present. have )stir mast productivity, the amount of Atca oc-.upied by hardwoods should be increased to include additional mdst-producing �,, oaks a -class group (10. or 20-80 years) of hardwoods. Approxi - G. YolIa$f3= $$ mately 15-20% of the key dear, mater range should bo occupied by aggre- $atious of the age -class, ie. 15-20 acres/100 aeras +4ith g ood represen to"tion of all ages between 10 (or 20) to 80 years bring present. This age -class group would be maintained for replacement of the older ager class group as trees became decadent and were harvested. d.. sprout plantations (1-10 years) or seedling plantations (1-20 yeara)of i hardwoods. Approximately 2.5% of the key deer winter range should bra occupied by plantations if 10 -year' cutting cycles and sprout planta- tions are; emyhasi"xed, OR approximately 5% of the way deer winter ra fz should be occupied by plantat on% �.f 20 -year cutting cycLes and seed- ling plautativaa are emphasized. It is assumed that f,t will require approx.'10 years for a sprout plantation to become astAblishad and approx. 20 yearn'for a seedling plantation to b soma established. a. Su=ary of area occupied by hardwoods. Approximately 30.40~ of the subject arae should be occupied by the two age-elassam of hardwoods Plus .1a Additional 2.5-5% of the area Would be occupied by hardwood plantations. So the amount of area that should bo occupied by hardwoods will range from 32.5 to 45% depending on the mast production, establishmaat and growth of the younger hardwood stands in the entire subject ar®a, f. Managemont of hardwood islands remaining in timber harvest areas. If hrkrduood aggregations are ma;nagad as islands in tracto* ',ogged regenerations cuts (clear -cuts, overstory removal of shelterwood-ante), -g1,-