KittitasCountyCWPP_September2022_Amendment_Only (2)

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Upper Swauk Landscape Evaluation Summary (2020) | Page 3 Left: Figure 4. Forest structure types that are overabundant relative to targets for a resilient landscape, as well as potential maintenance treatments. Only a portion of the areas shown need to be treated. Right: Figure 5. Current land ownership. Table 1. Summary of forest health treatment needs (range represents low and high end of treatment need). Forest Health Treatment Needs Treating 14,000 to 22,000 acres is recommended to move the landscape into a resilient condition (39-62% of forested acres; Table 1). This total includes an estimated 11,000-16,750 acres of dense forest and 3,000-5,250 acres of maintenance treatments in existing open forest, based on current condition data from 2012 aerial photos. The majority of the treatment need and opportunity is on USFS land, although substantial need exists for private landowners in the community of Liberty. Meeting this target range will require multiple treatment strategies (Table 1). Managed wildfire under safe condi- tions will be needed, especially in less accessible locations. Based on tree size class, many areas are commercially vi- able, although treatment type will depend on road access, logging systems, and other considerations. Individual landowners will conduct their own planning and decision- making processes to determine acres and types of treat- ments to achieve the landscape goals while meeting their own objectives and regulatory requirements. Forest conditions to treat Treatment need (acres) Current acres by major landowner* Type Size class USFS Private Federal Other Dry Dense Medium-Large 5,500 - 7,500 8,898 117 8 0 Moist Dense Medium-Large 4,500 - 8,000 11,266 88 18 0 Cold Dense Medium-Large 1,000 - 1,250 1,625 0 0 0 Dry + Moist Open Medium-Large 3,000 - 5,250 6,922 163 27 0 Total 14,000 - 22,000 *These are current acres, not targets Anticipated treatment type Commercial thin plus fuels treatment if access exists. May be noncommercial, fire only (pre- scribed or managed wildfire), or regeneration treatment. Maintenance treatment: prescribed fire, managed wildfire, or mechanical fuels treatment. Target range corresponds to 50-75% of dry open and 25-50% of moist open forests.