Western Journal of Applied Forestry

O'Keefe,, Tim;Filip,, Greg

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/19.1.4pmid: N/A

environmental management, forest, forest management, forest resources, forestry, forestry research, forestry science, natural resources, natural resource management Article PDF first page preview Close This content is only available as a PDF. © 2004 by the Society of American Foresters

Schuster, Ervin, G.;Krebs, Michael, A.

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/19.1.5pmid: N/A

Abstract A sensitivity analysis was conducted of the National Fire Management Analysis System (NFMAS) to better understand the relationship between data input and model outcomes, as reflected by changes in C+NVC and MEL program options. Five input variables were selected for sensitization: Unit Mission Costs, Average Acre Costs, Net Value Change, Production Rates, and Escaped Fire Limits. A stratified random sample of 32 national forests was selected, according to the distribution of national forests within Forest Service regions and fire frequency classes, on the basis of historical fire data. NFMAS database tables were obtained and manipulated, with each variable increased and decreased at six levels (±25, ±50, and ±100%). Results indicated that Production Rates was always the most influential variable, Unit Mission Costs was always least influential, and the influence of the other variables depends on the choice of model outcome. In general, greater sensitivity changes resulted in greater changes in model outcome, but no consistent pattern of influence could be found regarding program option.West. J. Appl. For. 19(1):5–12. NFMAS, strategic fire planning, sensitivity analysis, environmental management, forest, forest management, forest resources, forestry, forestry research, forestry science, natural resources, natural resource management This content is only available as a PDF. © 2004 by the Society of American Foresters

Moore, James, A.;Mika, Peter, G.;Shaw, Terry, M.;Garrison-Johnston, Mariann, I.

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/19.1.13pmid: N/A

Abstract This article provides foliar nutrient concentration distributions and sample size calculations for Douglas-fir, grand fir, ponderosa pine, and lodgepole pine. Managers can obtain foliar nutrient values from their own lands and use this information to make judgments on the relative nutrient status of forest stands. Foliage was collected from unfertilized trees at 160 different research sites of the Intermountain Forest Tree Nutrition Cooperative spanning a 16 yr period from 1982 to 1997. Douglas-fir showed the lowest variation in foliar nutrient concentrations, while grand fir was the most variable of the species sampled. Nitrogen was the least variable and Mn and Mo generally the most variable elements for all species. Grand fir had much higher foliar concentrations of K and Ca than the other species. Ponderosa pine had the highest foliar N concentrations. The pines generally have lower nutrient concentrations than the firs, with the exception of Zn. Western hemlock habitat types showed lower Douglas-fir foliar Ca, Mg, and B concentrations, but higher K concentrations than other habitat type series. Douglas-fir growing on soils derived from meta-sedimentary rocks generally had lower foliar nutrient concentrations than those growing on other rock types. West. J. Appl. For. 19(1):13–24. Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies grandis, Pinus ponderosa, P. contorta, environmental management, forest, forest management, forest resources, forestry, forestry research, forestry science, natural resources, natural resource management This content is only available as a PDF. © 2004 by the Society of American Foresters

Filip, Gregory, M.;Ganio, Lisa, M.

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/19.1.25pmid: N/A

Abstract Four 10- to 20-yr-old plantations were treated to determine the effects of precommercial thinning on tree growth and mortality caused by Armillaria root disease in the Cascade Range of western Oregon and Washington. One plantation was Douglas-fir and noble fir, one Douglas-fir and western hemlock, one Douglas-fir alone, and one Shasta red fir and mountain hemlock. After 20 yr, differences in crop tree mortality between thinned and unthinned plots were not significant (P = 0.9768). Quadratic mean diameter growth of crop trees, however, was significantly (P = 0.0053) greater in thinned than in unthinned plots. Crop tree basal area/ac growth was significantly (P = 0.0008) greater in thinned plots. There were no significant (P = 0.6647) differences in basal area/ac growth of all trees between thinned and unthinned plots. Apparently, from a root-disease perspective, precommercial thinning does not affect incidence of crop-tree mortality after 20 yr, but individual and per acre tree growth of crop trees increase significantly. West. J. Appl. For. 19(1):25–33. Thinning, Armillaria ostoyae, tree mortality, tree growth, Douglas-fir, western hemlock, noble fir, mountain hemlock, Shasta red fir, stand density index, environmental management, forest, forest management, forest resources, forestry, forestry research, forestry science, natural resources, natural resource management This content is only available as a PDF. © 2004 by the Society of American Foresters

Briggs,, David;Sonne,, Edie;Turnblom,, Eric;Becker,, Gero

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/19.1.34pmid: N/A

Abstract Three replications of four treatments: biosolids fertilization, thinning, thinning plus biosolids fertilization, and untreated control were established in 1977 in a dense, low site, 55-yr-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stand in western Washington. In 1998, 12 trees from each treatment were harvested, bucked into logs, and sawn into visually graded lumber. Taking into account effects of treatments on stand yield and log grades, biosolid fertilization only, thinning only, and thinning combined with biosolids increased log value/ac by $1,142 (19%), $3,642 (62%), and $9,069 (155%), respectively, over the untreated control. When treatment effects were viewed in terms of changes in lumber yield and quality, per acre gains over the control were $2,107 (26%), $5,683 (70%), and $10,708 (132%), respectively. Willingness to pay analysis indicates that if the landowner intends to manage the stand to a rotation of about 75 yr, each of the treatments, and especially the combination of thinning and applying biosolids, appears to be financially attractive at both 5 and 9% interest rates. However, if the rotation had been set at 55 yr, only the thinning/biosolids combination at 5% interest rate would entice management to delay immediate harvest. West. J. Appl. For. 19(1):34–41. Stand yield, economics, biosolids, fertilization, thinning, wood quality, log value, lumber value, environmental management, forest, forest management, forest resources, forestry, forestry research, forestry science, natural resources, natural resource management This content is only available as a PDF. © 2004 by the Society of American Foresters

Mathiasen, Robert, L.;Garnett, Gregg, N.;Chambers, Carol, L.

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/19.1.42pmid: N/A

Abstract Dwarf mistletoe infections often induce structures known as witches' brooms that may provide an important wildlife habitat element. We compared evidence of wildlife use in broomed and unbroomed ponderosa pine trees at 12 mistletoe-infested sites in northern Arizona. We systematically sampled 12 broomed and unbroomed trees on each site (n = 144 broomed and 144 unbroomed trees) by climbing and inspecting each tree to document evidence of wildlife use. Broomed trees were used more frequently than unbroomed trees for wildlife activities including foraging/caching, nesting, and roosting/resting sites. We observed evidence of use by Abert squirrel (Sciurus aberti), porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), and passerine birds in witches' brooms. Of the 226 brooms we examined, 23% (n = 52) contained evidence of wildlife use. Mammal use was found in 80% (n = 42) of the brooms and of these, 39 were used by Abert squirrel. We recommend that management agencies consider retaining some of these broomed trees to provide habitat for wildlife. West. J. Appl. For. 19(1):42–46. Abert squirrel, Arceuthobium vaginatum, dwarf mistletoe, Pinus ponderosa, ponderosa pine, Sciurus aberti, mammals, wildlife, witches' brooms, environmental management, forest, forest management, forest resources, forestry, forestry research, forestry science, natural resources, natural resource management This content is only available as a PDF. © 2004 by the Society of American Foresters

Hesseln,, Hayley;Loomis, John, B.;González-Cabán,, Armando

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/19.1.47pmid: N/A

Abstract Wildfire and prescribed fire have the potential to affect user demand and value for recreation, making such information important to the decision-making process for fire managers. However, such information is not always readily available. We conducted surveys on 22 sites within four national forests in western Montana to determine fire effects on recreation demand for hiking and biking, and net economic benefits to visitors. Net value per trip for hikers was $37. There was no statistical difference for consumer surplus between hiking and biking. Although there were differences in existing visitation between hikers and bikers, there were no statistical differences between the two groups as a result of fire effects. We found that hikers' demand decreased slightly in areas recovering from crown fire and increased in areas recovering from prescribed fire. Bikers' response to both types of fire was the opposite of hikers; for example, bikers showed a slight decrease in annual trips as areas recovered from prescribed fire. Individual value per trip was unaffected by both wild and prescribed fire for both activity groups. Although our recreation demand shifts in response to fire were statistically significant, the magnitude of the predicted changes in demand were not substantial from a managerial perspective suggesting that recreation users in Montana are not affected by fire characteristics resulting from prescribed burns or crown fires. Demand, however, decreased by both user groups as area burned increased and the amount of burn viewed from trails increased, suggesting that the size and extent of burns do affect visitation. West. J. Appl. For. 19(1):47–53. Recreation demand, travel cost method, wildfire, prescribed fire, environmental management, forest, forest management, forest resources, forestry, forestry research, forestry science, natural resources, natural resource management This content is only available as a PDF. © 2004 by the Society of American Foresters

Parker, Thomas, J.;Mathiasen, Robert, L.

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/19.1.54pmid: N/A

Abstract We compared four methods of assessing dwarf mistletoe infection and estimating volume of dwarf mistletoe-induced witches' brooms in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). Witches' brooms can provide important wildlife habitat and can influence fire behavior. We used Hawksworth's dwarf mistletoe rating system (DMR), Tinnin's broom volume rating system (BVR), an estimate of the percentage of live crown occupied by witches' brooms (PCB), and a new system, total broom volume (TBV). We rated 12,536 trees for southwestern dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium vaginatum subsp. cryptopodum) infection and broom volume. Using Hawksworth's DMR and Tinnin's BVR systems, we were not able to distinguish trees with different witches' broom volumes at all sample sizes. At all sample sizes, TBV ratings accurately and precisely identified amount of witches' broom volume. We recommend that TBV be used to quantify witches' broom volume in ponderosa pine where wildlife habitat and fire ecology are primary concerns. West. J. Appl. For. 19(1):54–59. Arceuthobium vaginatum, ponderosa pine, dwarf mistletoe, witches' broom, infection rating, broom volume rating, environmental management, forest, forest management, forest resources, forestry, forestry research, forestry science, natural resources, natural resource management This content is only available as a PDF. © 2004 by the Society of American Foresters

Larson, Debra, S.;Mirth,, Richard

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/19.1.60pmid: N/A

Abstract This is a case study, supplemented by an economic model, of one 85 ac ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) dominated stand, called Unit 16, that was treated during the summer of 2001. Unit 16 is located in the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership's Fort Valley project area of the Coconino National Forest and is part of the Flagstaff, AZ wildland urban interface. The silvicultural prescription was a full restoration prescription anchored to the presettlement condition and was limited by a 16 in. dbh cutting cap. The operational strategy for the merchantable material was hand felling, limbing, topping, bucking in the forest, and forwarding of logs to the landing for loading on waiting trucks. The nonmerchantable trees were cut and rough piled, along with limbs and tops. The economic model estimated the logging contractor's costs to total $124,117. His total revenue stream during the summer of 2001 was detrimentally impacted by two unforeseen changes in his market. His normal purchaser of wood from small trees <8.0 in. dbh was unable to purchase this wood and his other market reduced its purchase price by 11%. As a result, his projected income went from providing a small profit of $7,857 to a loss of $3,284. Costs to the Forest Service to prepare the unit and to conduct postthinning activities were estimated to total $31,9160. Net costs to the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership in the form of a service contract with the logger totaled $17,000. West. J. Appl. For. 19(1):60–65. Arizona, ponderosa pine, harvesting, fuels removal, environmental management, forest, forest management, forest resources, forestry, forestry research, forestry science, natural resources, natural resource management This content is only available as a PDF. © 2004 by the Society of American Foresters

Curtis, Robert, O.;Marshall, David, D.

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/19.1.66pmid: N/A

Abstract Systematic research on growth and yield of Douglas-fir began in 1909. This line of early research evolved over time and culminated in publication of USDA Bulletin 201, The Yield of Douglas-fir in the Pacific Northwest. B201 had an enormous influence on development of Douglas-fir forestry and was arguably the most influential single research publication ever produced in the Pacific Northwest. We review the evolution of this research and some associated topics, and the role of the major personalities involved. West. J. Appl. For. 19(1):66–68. Pseudotsuga menziesii, growth, yield table, site index, environmental management, forest, forest management, forest resources, forestry, forestry research, forestry science, natural resources, natural resource management This content is only available as a PDF. © 2004 by the Society of American Foresters