Ecosystem Needs Assessment for Camp Hantesa: Enhancing Recreation and Oak Regeneration

1. Camp Hantesa Ecosystem Needs Assessment Presented by: Michael Edwards, Brendan Kelly, Mike Thompson, & Casey Hawes www.hantesa.com

2. Introduction

3. Jungst & Sons Consultants J & S Jungst

5. Outline • Intoduction • Current conditions • Desired future conditions • Management actions • Summary • Conclusion

6. General Information • Member of Campfire Association • Summer camp since 1919 • Four season recreational facility • 144 total acres • 100.4 forested acres

7. Topographic Map of Camp Hantesa www.terraserver.micrsoft.com

8. Purpose • Assess current: conditions wildlife habitat unit values (HUV), woodland quality (WQR), recreation, & oak regeneration. • Emphases: • 1) recreation • 2) enhancement of native oak

9. Goals & Objectives • Goals • Enhance native oak component • Increase passive and active recreation • Objectives • Increase basal area by 25% within 20 years • Improve recreation by 35% throughout forested area by 2025

10. Methods • Systematic sampling of 100.4 acres • 48 plots • Fixed radius • Point sampling • Assessment of factors critical to recreation, HUV, oak regeneration, & woodland quality.

11. Aerial Photo: Camp Hantesa

12. Current Conditions

13. Wildlife Habitat Unit Value (HUV) • Assessed for • 1) tree squirrels • 2) forest game (white-tailed deer and wild turkey) • Factors assessed: food, cover, water, reproduction, weather, & human disturbance. • Average 1) Tree Squirrels HUV=5.6 points 2) Forest game HUV=5.3 points

14. Habitat Unit Value (HUV) Source: Flood, Sangster, Sparrowe, Baskett 1977

15. Woodland Quality Rating (WQR) • Provides generalized idea of health for wooded area. • Primary factors: diversity, structure, fidelity, & introduced species.

16. WQR Scale • Average of 11.5 WQR points Source: Norris 1995

17. Tree Regeneration • No advanced oak regeneration found. • Large canopy prohibits understory growth.

18. Seedlings per Acre

19. Recreational Current Conditions • Area assessed for General Hiking, Primitive Camping, Wildlife Observation, & Horseback Riding. • Evaluation based on “Guidelines for Understanding and Determining Optimum Recreation Carrying Capacity (RCC)”. Source: (The Urban Research Development Corporation, 1977)

20. General Hiking • Average capacity 14.1 groups/mile

21. General Hiking

22. Primitive Camping • Average capacity of 27 Acres/campsite

23. Primitive Camping

24. Horseback Riding • Average capacity of 5.9 groups/mile

25. Horseback Riding

26. Wildlife Observation • Average capacity of 3.3 people/acre

27. Wildlife Observation

28. Desired Future Conditions

29. Desired Future Conditions • Create areas of recreation throughout forested land having little/ no impact upon landscape. • Increase oak seedlings • Increase total oak population

30. Management Actions for Camp Hantesa

31. Possible Management Actions

32. Guiding Principles • Ecological: Humans inseparable from ecosystem. • Social: Human, physical, & biological ecosystem relationships are natural & intertwined. • Economic: Non-market & market goods based on human values. Source: (Kaufmann et. al. 1992; Salwasser & Pfister 1993; Task Force 1994)

33. Filtration Process All Possible Management Actions Guiding Principles Feasible Management Actions

34. Recreational Management Actions • Installation of recreational facilities based upon plots with highest recreational carrying capacity. • Three campsites • Wildlife observation area • General hiking trail • Horseback riding trail

35. RCC Spatial Representation

36. Oak Management Actions Through Thinning • Removal of specified species • Thinning overstory opens canopy for seedlings • Removal of undesirable oaks (UGS) post regeneration

37. Continued • Removal of basswood, ash, iron wood, hard maple. • Opens canopy • Reduces competition • Increase of oak sprouting potential

38. Percent Basal Area for Oak

39. Cost & Benefit of Thinning:Present Day • Cost • 2 Fellers at 4 hours/Acre • $40/hour • Benefit • $165/cord of firewood

40. Benefits Example Equation Thinning for basswood, ash, hardwood maple, & ironwood 1,100 cu ft/Acre/128 cu ft = 9 cords/Acre 9 cords/Acre x $165/cord= $1,500/Acre 100.4 Acres x $1,500/Acre= $150,600 total

41. Calculation of Cost of Thinning 2 Fellers x $40/hour x 4 hours/Acre = $320/Acre $320/Acre x 100.4 Acres= $32,000 total cost

42. Present Benefit/Cost Ratio $150,600 benefit / $32,000 cost= 4.70 Benefit/Cost Ratio For every dollar invested there will be a return of $4.70. Net revenue= $119,000

43. Cost of Recreation • Heavy chainsaw work • $40/ hour x 4 people= $160/ hour • $160/ hour x 80 hours= $12,800 total • Heavy hand cutting • $35/ hour x 4 people= $140/ hour • $140/ hour x 80 hours= $11,200 total • Total cost • $11,200 + $12,800= $24,000 total cost

44. Thinning Net Revenue & Recreation Costs • Thinning net revenue • $119,000 • Recreation Costs • $24,000 • $119,000 - $24,000= $95,000 total net revenue

45. Evaluation and Adaptation of Decisions • Observe changes every 5 years • Make adjustment in plan if necessary • Re-evaluate conditions after 20 year period

46. Summary

47. Emphases & Objectives • Emphases • Enhance native oak component • Increase passive and active recreation • Objectives • Increase basal area by 25% within 20 years • Improve recreation by 35% throughout forested area by 2025

48. Desired RCC Future Conditions • Create areas of recreation throughout the forested land that will have little to no impact upon the landscape.

49. Desired Oak Future Conditions • Increase oak seedlings • Increase total oak population

50. RCC Management Recommendations • Creation of recreational activities based upon plots with highest recreational carrying capacity • Three campsites • Wildlife observation area • General hiking trail • Horseback riding trail