On July 8, 2016, the Houston Sierra Club (HSC) met with the District Ranger and his staff at Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF) to discuss a proposed 4,100 acre project which would thin log 20-30 year old pine trees to reduce basal area (density) from 90-160 square feet/acre to 50-70 square feet/acre.
This project has been proposed to reduce southern pine beetle infestation risk and improve habitat for the federally endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) and other wildlife; plant native grasses in areas disturbed by logging (logging decks, temporary roads, and skid trails); maintain existing roads for access; masticate, mulch, or mow understory shrub growth; maintain open areas; and prepare sites for prescribed burning on 104 stands in 34 Compartments on the east side of SHNF in San Jacinto County. A compartment is about 700 to 1,000 acres in size and is made up of stands of trees that have similar species, age, and other characteristics.
The Sierra Club recommended that a 50 foot buffer on both sides of the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) be instituted as a “no cut zone” or that this small area be eliminated entirely from the logging proposal to avoid rutting and compaction of the wet soils in this area.
The Sierra Club also recommended that baygall and wet hardwood areas be flagged and buffered as streamside management zones (SMZs) so that no occurs in these areas. Some of the other Sierra Club recommendations included:
1. That some coarse woody debris be left in logged areas so that this important wildlife and soil enrichment element is maintained in these stands.
2. That variable thin logging of 50-70 square feet basal area be done to mimic the natural variation of tree density on the landscape.
3. That an increase of the acres burned by prescribed fire occur for the creation and maintenance of adequate RCW and other upland forest habitats. The Club also wants the FS to conduct significant outreach to its neighbors to educate them about the need for prescribed burning. The Sierra Club supports additional fire personnel, either volunteers (like environmental group or master naturalist members) or others so additional burning can be done.
4. That the Sierra Club looks forward to discussions with the FS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about additional flexibility for RCW foraging habitat and how to initiate pine tree growth for RCW areas to encourage or mimic natural regeneration.
The Sierra Club also thanked the FS for its efforts, from 2006 to 2016, to which resulted in an increase in the population of RCW from 162 to 280 active clusters.
If you are interested in the management of federal public forest lands in the Houston Area you can contact Brandt Mannchen at brandtshnfbt@juno.com.
Brandt Mannchen
July 10, 2016