Forest Plan Implementation
Procedures and Tools
Logging System and Transportation Analysis (LSTA)
In 2005-2006, a Logging System and Transportation Analysis (LSTA) was completed for all mapped suitable lands across the Forest. This LSTA was further updated when the Old-growth Reserves were adjusted and the Forest Plan Amendment was being conducted in 2007. The LSTA consists of a GIS layer that is in the form of a geodatabase (LSTA.mdb), and includes both roads and settings feature classes. It provides a systematic look at how timber available for scheduling timber sales could be accessed and harvested.
The detailed procedures that were followed in the development of the LSTA are described in the document "Procedures for Conducting an Integrated Timber Operability Analysis for the Tongass National Forest." The fields and attributes used in coding the LSTA and the specific codes used are described in the Data Dictionary for LSTA Setting Feature Class and in the Data Dictionary for LSTA Road Feature Cals."
The LSTA provides two different "looks" at the suitable lands. First, it provides roads and logging systems, in compliance with the Forest Plan standards and guidelines, for all lands that appear to be feasible for roading. This version of the LSTA represents a starting point for interdisciplinary teams planning a timber sale. It is selected by using the main Log_System and Yarding fields to define the coding for the logging system and yarding categories in the settings feature class of the geodatabase, and by using all mapped roads in the roads feature class.
The second version of the LSTA provides a more realistic picture of the roads and logging systems that are likely to be authorized. This version represents a more realistic assessment for area, district, or Forest-wide planning purposes. It is selected by using the Setting_Likely coding for the logging system and yarding categories in the settings feature class, and by using the Road_Likely coding and selecting "Yes" in the roads feature class.
Each logging setting was coded to identify the logging system and yarding category, as well as to document information that can be used to assess economics and falldown potential (risk factor and risk intensity). The Risk Factor field identifies a code if the logging engineer observed one or more of a number of factors that could serve to reduce the setting acreage and timber volume available. Examples of these risk factors are: areas that appear to have timber volumes less than 8,000 board feet per acre, areas that are likely to need additional or expanded riparian buffers, and settings that are likely to be reduced in size by steep or unstable slopes. In addition, a Risk Intensity code is identified for each setting with a risk factor, which estimates the effect of the risk factor(s) on each setting. (See the Data Dictionary for LSTA Setting Feature Class for a more complete description.) This information can be used to obtain a more accurate picture of the amount of timber actually available and the likely amount of resource protection required for an area as a preliminary view during timber sale planning.
Similarly for roads, information is captured that identifies specific concerns associated with specific road segments. This information is captured in several fields, including the Concerns field, the Constraint field, and the Risk_Poly field. It is summarized in the Road_Likely field, which identifies whether or not the interdisciplinary team that developed/reviewed the LSTA judged the road segment likely to be built. (See the Data Dictionary for LSTA Road Feature Cals for a more complete description.) This information can be used to more accurately predict whether or not helicopter harvest may be required.
Potential uses of the LSTA include timber sale planning for individual timber sales, longer term timber sale planning over a district or Forest-wide, and scheduling of timber harvest treatments through time to meet specific resource needs such as short- and long-term deer habitat needs. In addition, the LSTA identifies older young-growth areas (harvested in 1970 or earlier) in lands classified as unsuitable for timber production, that may be prime for thinning to open the canopy and enhance deer winter range and produce older forest characteristics at a younger age.