Western Journal of Applied Forestry

O'Keefe,, Tim

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/20.4.204pmid: 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. © 2005 by the Society of American Foresters

Long, James, N.;Shaw, John, D.

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/20.4.205pmid: N/A

Abstract We developed a density management diagram (DMD) for ponderosa pine using Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data. Analysis plots were drawn from all FIA plots in the western United States on which ponderosa pine occurred. A total of 766 plots met the criteria for analysis. Selection criteria were for purity, defined as ponderosa pine basal area ≥80% of plot basal area, and even-agedness, as defined by a ratio between two calculations of stand density index. The DMD is relatively unbiased by geographic area and therefore should be applicable throughout the range of ponderosa pine. The DMD is intended for use in even-aged stands, but may be used for uneven-aged management where a large-group selection system is used. Examples of density management regimes are illustrated, and guidelines for use are provided. West. J. Appl. For. 20(4):205–215. Silviculture, stand density index, stocking diagram, northern goshawk, mountain pine beetle, 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. © 2005 by the Society of American Foresters

Oester, Paul, T.;Emmingham, William, H.;Larson,, Pat

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/20.4.216pmid: N/A

Abstract Density management of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests is critical for control of beetles, reducing risk of wildfire and capturing monetary, aesthetic, and ecological values. This case study examined periodic growth response of ponderosa pine 5 and 13 years after installation of a trial including three thinning regimes and an unthinned option in the Wallowa Mountains of northeast Oregon. Family forest owners and their advisors whose management goals include reducing fire and beetle risk and producing timber value can use the results of this case study with the stand density index (SDI) to evaluate thinning options. We analyzed mean tree diameter growth and periodic board foot volume growth of 8-in. diameter and larger trees for the four treatments applied to 85–100-year-old stands. Our treatments were used as a local test for SDI management guidelines and forest vegetation simulator (FVS). As expected, significant increases (α=0.05) were found after 13 years in mean diameter growth of trees and periodic board foot volume growth per tree in the wide and free treatments compared to narrow and control. Thinning to 80 ft2 of basal area or the lower management zone SDI in previously unmanaged, 85-year-old ponderosa pine stands provided for faster tree growth, lower risk of mortality from mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), and no appreciable sacrifice in value of stand growth. Total wood fiber production was better for narrow and control, but with greatly increased fire and beetle risk. This work substantiates research results that thinning to carefully prescribed stocking levels can increase volume growth per tree (even free selection) and maintain reasonable stand value growth even though cubic volume growth is diminished. The resulting changes in stand structure and reduced beetle and fire threats improve the odds that family forestland will generate their full potential of monetary and ecological benefits. West. J. Appl. For. 20(4):216–223. Thinning regimes, growth response, stand density index (SDI), bark beetles, density management, forest vegetation simulator (FVS), 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. © 2005 by the Society of American Foresters

Gilbert, Brian, A.;Pierce,, Wade

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/20.4.224pmid: N/A

Abstract Stands identified as potential Canadian lynx denning habitat by a habitat suitability model were sampled in northeastern Washington for stand structure and understory structural features identified as important for denning lynx. Potential den structures were quantified by use of strip transects, and stand structure was quantified through an enhanced forest inventory approach focused on assessing understory and downed wood conditions. Information theoretic model selection methods indicated that the best model to predict potential denning understory structure availability included downed wood abundance, total basal area, and average stand diameter. The strong predictive ability of our models suggest that understory features important to denning lynx can be predicted using traditional inventory data with the addition of a downed wood line intercept methodology. In general, our study supports the suggestion that assessing downed wood availability will effectively address concerns over quantifying the availability of understory structural features identified as being important at lynx den sites. West. J. Appl. For. 20(4):224–227. Coarse woody debris, transects, Lynx canadensis, 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. © 2005 by the Society of American Foresters

Waring, Kristen, M.;O'Hara, Kevin, L.

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/20.4.228pmid: N/A

Abstract Western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) is a fast-growing, deciduous conifer that is often managed for timber production in the inland Northwest. No previous study has documented the response of this species to artificial pruning. Trees pruned as part of a pruning cost study in 1992 were followed for 10 years to assess growth and epicormic sprout response. Trees were pruned to two heights: 2.4 and 5.5 m in three stands in western Montana. Epicormic sprouting occurred in a majority of trees in the first 2 years after pruning, but subsequently many sprouts died so that by year 10, only approximately 30% of trees had sprouts. Volume increment was adversely affected by more severe pruning among smaller trees pruned to the shorter lift. The volume increment of the trees that received the 5.5 m lift was generally unaffected, but trees receiving the 2.4 m lift were more sensitive to pruning. Initial tree diameter and residual crown length were important variables in predicting the 10-year volume increment in pruned trees. West. J. Appl. For. 20(4):228–232. Larix occidentalis, stand management, epicormic sprouting, pruning, growth response, 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. © 2005 by the Society of American Foresters

Donovan, Geoffrey, H.

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/20.4.233pmid: N/A

Abstract Rising wildfire suppression expenditures on public land in the United States have led to increased scrutiny of wildfire management practices. One area that has received particular attention is the Forest Service's increasing reliance on contract fire crews. Because a contract crew rate includes several costs that are not included in the wage costs of a Forest Service crew, it is difficult to determine if this increasing reliance on contract fire crews increases or decreases wildfire suppression costs. The full cost of 33 Forest Service type II fire crews dispatched during the 2003 fire season from five national forests in Oregon and Washington are estimated and compared with the cost of contract crews dispatched in the same region. Results suggest that if sufficient work is available to keep a Forest Service crew productively employed throughout a fire season, then the daily cost of a Forest Service type II crew is lower than the daily cost of a contract crew. West. J. Appl. For. 20(4):233–239. Type II fire crew, wildfire suppression, Oregon, Washington, Region 6, Forest Service, contract fire crews, 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. © 2005 by the Society of American Foresters

Vaughn,, Nicholas;Ritchie, Martin, W.

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/20.4.240pmid: N/A

Abstract We evaluated the relationship between crown cover measured with a vertical sight tube and stand basal area per acre in treated (thinned, burned, and thinned and burned) and untreated interior ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa P. & C. Lawson) stands in northeastern California. Crown cover was significantly related to basal area at the plot level and stand level. In addition, the relationship was not affected by two extremely different thinning regimes. However, the predicted crown cover was generally lower, for a given level of basal area, in a recently thinned stand than in a stand that had not been recently thinned. Prescribed fire had no detectable effect on the relationship. The maximum measured value of stand level crown cover in untreated stands in this study was about 60 percent. West. J. Appl. For. 20(4): 240–246. Sight tube, basal area, white fir, 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. © 2005 by the Society of American Foresters

Jacobi, W., R.;Kearns, H.S., J.;Johnson, D., W.

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/20.4.247pmid: N/A

Abstract We examined the persistence of pinyon pine (Pinus edulis Engelm.) standing snags and downed logs in southwestern Colorado pinyon-juniper woodlands. The time since death of pinyon pines killed by bark beetles, black stain root disease, or unknown causes in three study areas in southwestern Colorado was determined through monitoring of permanent plots and dendrochronological crossdating methods. The structural condition and form of the trees was recorded and related to the time since death. Pinyon snags may persist for up to 25 years, with persistence of intact snags averaging 8.4 years and broken snags averaging 13.2 years. Sound logs had been dead for a mean of 9.8 years, whereas more fragmented logs had been dead for a mean of 14.4 years. Extremely fragmented trees had been dead for 16.2 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the time since death for snags versus logs in similar condition classes. A simplified rating system to determine the number of years dead for pinyon pine based on form and condition is provided. West. J. Appl. For. 20(4):247–252. Pinus edulis, Leptographium wageneri var. wageneri, Ips confusus, decay, 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. © 2005 by the Society of American Foresters

doi: 10.1093/wjaf/20.4.253pmid: 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. © 2005 by the Society of American Foresters