Progress 09/01/08 to 06/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Field surveys of forest stands in the Seaquest State Park and the Lake Isabella State Park were conducted by the Center for Sustainable Forestry at Pack Forest for the purpose of developing management plans. 1. Seaquest: Many stands are dominated by either multi-aged Douglas-fir or by red alder that are typical of maturing natural forests for the southwestern Washington Cascades. Mature Douglas-fir forest dominates the central portion of the park. However some second growth Douglas-fir stands are densely stocked. 2. Lake Isabella: Many stands are dominated by young Douglas-fir that are typical of plantations of the southern Olympic Peninsula. Mature Douglas-fir forest dominates part of the park and the stocking in these stands is high. Forest stands were sorted into 5 blocks with stands grouped by similarities in vegetation, stand density, and potential suitability of the stands for silviculture treatments. The forest modeling program Landscape Management System (LMS) was applied to field data, allowing us to examine the possible outcome of a number of silvicultural prescriptions. We only considered high density stands as potential treatment sites. PARTICIPANTS: Principal Investigator: Gregory J. Ettl, Associate Professor, University of Washington School of Forest Resources and Director, Center for Sustainable Forestry at Pack Forest. Duane Emmons: Forest Operations Manager, Center for Sustainable Forestry at Pack Forest. Nicholas Reep: Research Technician, Center for Sustainable Forestry at Pack Forest. Training and Professional Development: Duane Emmons and Nicholas Reep supervised field crews of recently graduated forestry students thereby enhancing their training. TARGET AUDIENCES: The audience is the general public and the documents provide support for State Parks with planning, public meetings, and implementing management plans. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
In both parks, silvicultural thinning is recommended to reduce closed canopy conditions in these stands to open light to the understory, and to decrease competition-related mortality. Lower stand density should foster greater overall biodiversity while advancing stand development toward old-growth structural features. The need for follow-up treatments should be apparent by the year 2035 and future managers will need to create a new management plan by that time. The forest operations associated with the thinning will require a considerable amount of coordination and oversight. We believe that much of the management work could be hired out for contract and revenue generated from harvests could help pay for these expenses. Logging activities may be viewed poorly by the general public at first, however, the aesthetic gains of the thinning prescriptions and benefits to both wildlife and recreation within 5 years, should help to increase the public's level of comfort with forest health treatments of this nature. 1. Seaquest: We recommend treatment to second growth densely stocked Douglas-fir stands as a step toward promoting the maturation of diverse, "natural vegetation" across the northern portion of the park. The proposed treatments to the more northern stands are intended to increase the continuous mature forest habitat. Treatments should also be considered for stands with extensive root rot infection. Our analyses indicate thinning Block 1 stands will produce larger trees than if the stands are not treated. We recommend thinning stands in Block 1 to 150 TPA with variable thinning around this target residual stand density. Block 2 may also offer some isolated opportunities for treatment. The mixed treatments should increase within-site diversity, protect sensitive sites, and increase the overall acreage of mature forest habitat. 2. Lake Isabella: Treatments in the mature Douglas-fir stands may be difficult due to their current use and aesthetic appeal to visitors. We recommend a variety of thinning treatments depending on current age and initial stocking. The proposed treatments should increase within site diversity, protect sensitive sites, and increase the overall acreage of mature forest habitat.
Publications
- Ettl, G.J., Emmons, D., and N. Reep. 2009. Forest health assessment and management plan for Seaquest State Park. Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.45 pp.
- Ettl, G.J., Emmons, D., and N. Reep. 2009. Forest health assessment and management plan for Lake Isabella State Park. Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.54 pp.
|
Progress 10/01/07 to 10/01/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Center for Sustainable Forestry at Pack Forest conducted forest surveys for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (WSPRC) for both the 450 acre Seaquest State Park (SQSP), and the 194 acre Lake Isabella State Park (LISP). Forest surveys were completed in the fall of 2008. Forest survey data will be used to model forest stand development and then create separate forest health plans for each park. PARTICIPANTS: Gregory J. Ettl, University of Washington Duane Emmons, University of Washington Mathew Davis, Anita Goodrich, and Nicholas Reep,Center for Sustainable Forestry TARGET AUDIENCES: Washington State Parks Administrative Staff PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Information developed in this project will provide the basis for park personnel to manage forest structure over the next 20-50 years. Implementation of our recommendations will reduce stagnation of plantations and enhance wildlife habitat. Final Reports to be produced in June 2009.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|