Forest Land Mgmt & Timber Sales ♦ Shared knowledge enhancing management of trust lands

Dave Zibell, CommunicationsElectronics System Technician, inOlympia. He installed most of OlympicRegional RTI system and the CapitalPeak RTI system.

by Dave ZibellTired of playing phone tag, spendingyour time driving from phone booth tophone booth? Spending eveningsmaking business calls for thedepartment? Out on fire call or doingbusiness when the radio operator isnot working? A radio telephoneinterconnect (RTI) could be the answerto your problem.

RTI is now used in Olympic Regionand parts of Northwest, South Puget.Central and Southwest Regions. Withtraining, field personnel can accessSCAN and local lines from their truckor hand-held at any time of the day ornight. If you are already in an areaserviced by an RTI. the cost ofequipping present mobiles is about$200 and most hand-helds requireminor reprogramming.

Our most advanced RTI, locatednear Olympia, can ring the desiredperson and has capabilities of paging.remote security detection, radio sitemonitoring and remote programingthrough a telephone-computer modemfeature.

The future of RTI looks bright withadvances in smart radio coming on themarket. Plans for expanding RTI aredependent upon the individual Regionneeds. Want to let your fingers do thewalking? Talk to your radio technicianor call Dave Zibell. •

Busy again Salmon and troutA fish habitat perspective

by Jeff Cederholmsf almon and trout populations in rivers, streams, and lakes of the PacificNorthwest are a highly valuable and renewable resource. Basic habitatneeds must be met to maintain the viability of the resource. Our activities

on uplands can have a direct bearing on fish habitat.Salmon and trout require:clean, cool, highly oxygenated wateran assortment of stable and silt-free gravelan abundance of large organic debris (LOD)a food supplyEach kind of salmon and trout have exploited the aquatic environment

differentlyUsually,habitatsegregationhas resultedin anefficientuse ofspace andfood. Backwater pool associated with root wad (LOD).

Adults often migrate long distances before arriving to their spawning grounds.Unfavorable conditions such as excessively low streamflows. high suspendedsediment levels, and high water temperature will not only delay arrival on thespawning beds, but may cause avoidance of their natal stream. Adults need deeppools to hide in and some degree of overhead cover e.g. [LOD and undercutembankments].

Upon emergence from the gravel, young salmon and trout take up summerresidence in riffles and pools. The riffles and pools are formed by the action ofwater around obstructions such as LOD and boulders. Gravel becomes trappedbehind logs forming spawning riffles and pools for rearing. Generally, higherlevels of LOD in streams have been correlated with higher numbers of salmonand trout. In the design of Riparian Management Zones (RMZ) consider leavingtrees that will replenish the LOD. Research is now underway in our departmentto guide LOD enhancement.

When streams shrink and water temperatures become high in summer, livingspace becomes limited. Water temperature can have beneficial as well asdetrimental effects. The optimum range is probably between 46 and 63 degreesFahrenheit, depending on the species. RMZ's should provide both shade andopenings to maximize food productivity.

During fall storms. stream dwelling fingerling salmon and trout immigrate intooverwintering ponds and swamps. which are places of refuge and good growth.Coho salmon fingerlings that use these overwintering habitats (termed wall-basechannels), have improved ocean survival compared to non-immigrants. It iscrucial that wall-base channels be identified during the pre-sales stage to properlyprotect them. Departmental research is underway to find ways of improving thesecrucial habitats.

A video is available from FLNID. Illustration from: Bisson et. al. 1987

Art McCoy with a snag

Forest Prescrifition page 4

STEWARDSHIP FEATURE

Wildlife trees and safetyby Deborah LindleyOne of the DNR's stewardship wildlifeobjectives is to provide long termwildlife habitat diversity. Blockplanning is a key element inoperational integration of wildlifehabitatmanagement.We canexamine anddocumentthe abilityofalternativesilviculturalpractices toprotect orenhanceelements ofstandstructureimportant towildlife.Innovativemanagementopportunitiesalso exist for individual unit plans.

Dead and defective trees are astructural component that add diversityon-site. About 1/5 of all Washington'swildlife species use standing dead anddefective tree habitat. Three-fourths ofthese snag users (about 65 species)depend on cavities in standing deadand defective trees for nesting ordenning, yet only 16 of these species(the primary excavators) can createtheir own holes in trees. Theremaining 50 or so species must relyon nature and the primary excavatorsto provide their homesites. Anadditional 80 species on the westside(116 eastside species) use down wood.

Cavity users are vulnerable. Weknow that the presence or absence ofsnags determines whether a viablepopulation of snag users will exist.We also know that there is a scarcityof large snags in most managedforests, both even and uneven-aged.Large snags (> 17 inches dbh) areneeded by about 45 species.

Dead and defective trees benefit theforest ecosystem as a whole. They addstructural diversity, contribute to longterm forest productivity, and house

birds and bats that eat destructiveinsect pests. So what's needed?Biologists give a general rule ofthumb: maintain an average of 3snags, 3 greentrees and 2down logs peracre, of thelargestavailable,distributedacross the planning area. Greenrecruitment trees can be low value,defective trees. It is best to aim foruniform distribution, but small, welldistributed clumps are also useful.Snag management doesn't have tooccur on every acre. A good balancewould be to manage 65-75% of theplanning area to maintain 3 snags/acrethrough time.

The big challenge is how to do it.There is no question that human safetyis the top priority. Four agenciesstruggled with this question and in1985 signed aMemorandumofUnderstandingthat, withproper planning and training, snagscould be safely retained during loggingoperations. This sounds nice, but weall know implementation can bedifficult. The logger often feels stuckbetween a rock and a hard place,encouraged to leave snags by theDNR and cited for misconduct byLabor and Industries (L&I).

There is a way to intercept thecycle. Management of dead anddefective trees must be deliberate.With some forethought. snags can besafely and economically retained.Whether the harvest will occur on anindividual unit or in a larger basin,planning preserves flexibility. The keyto safe snag management is the safetyplan. State safety code requires theoperator to have a safety plan beforeharvest begins. The operator shouldinclude strategies for retaining snags inhis safety plan. We can facilitate thisby inviting an L&I consultant to thepre-work conference to review the

operator's safety plan.In addition to cooperative education

and training efforts, L&I VoluntaryServices offers on-site consultation and

assistancewith safetyplans."Consultantsinvited tovisit a workplace will

evaluate the site for potential hazardsthat may lead to accident and injury,and suggest ways to correct thehazards. Even though the consultantlooks for the same hazards an L&Isafety and health inspector would citeas violations, no citation is issued andno fines are levied. Serious hazardsmust be corrected, but the findings ofthe consultant are confidential and arenot referred to safety and healthinspectors." (The Guyline. Departmentof Labor and Industries, March 1988).This is a good way to learn how to

develop site-specific snagretentionplans thatwill be

compatible with safety regulations andcan minimize compliance time.Consultations may be requesteddirectly from L&I Voluntary Serviceseither by phone or in writing throughthe use of the L&I request card"Request for WISHA Services." Ifyou need L&I request cards contactDeb at FLMD. •

Deb Lindley, Wildlife Biologist, hasworked 11 years in wildlife with theUSFS and DNR. She has been themajor contributor to the UplandManagement Area (UMA) policy andguideline.

See the Spring 1989 issuefor Wildlife Tree Programsand other availableassistance, or call Deb atFLMD or Tom Sturza atTSD.

.maintain an average of snags, 3green trees and 2 down logs per acre,of the largest available."

"The key to safe snag management isthe safety plan."

Creating alternative approaches to managementThe changing perspective

gentler" forestry which reduces theconflicts between commodityproduction and ecological values arealso present in this recent research.

New Forestry attempts to incorporatethe new (scientific findings andadditional societal objectives) withscience and experience encompassed intraditional forest practices. At the standlevel, the primary objective of NewForestry is maintenance of higherlevels of structural and speciesdiversity in managed stands.Techniques include:p retaining various groups and sizes of

green trees, snags, and down logs ona continuous basiscreating young stands of mixedspecies, including cedar andhardwoods

Jdelaying canopy closure in youngstandsThe major concern of New Forestry

at the landscape level is to plan andassess management activities overlarger areas and longer time scalesthan has been traditional. Issuesinclude:Jlocation, sizes, and connections

between reserved areas within thecommodity landscapej appropriate sizes for harvested andreserved areasj aggregation vs. dispersion ofmanagement activities within alandscapeAs DNR employees. you are at the

forefront of changes in forestry.Practicing forestry daily on the groundyou have the opportunity to takeobjectives, such as a structurally morediverse forest, and find practicalapproaches for achieving them.Developing ways to accommodateecological values while maintaininghigh levels of commodity production isthe greatest legacy you could leavefuture generations. •

moisture, dust, and other materials.Structure is the key to the health

and diversity of the natural forest.They are typically very diverse instructure with a wide range of treesizes and conditions, snags, down logs,multiple canopy layers, and variedunderstory conditions. Even youngstands have high levels of structural

diversity undernatural conditionsbecause of"legacies" of livingorganisms and largewood structures(snags and downlogs) from thepreceding forest.Structural diversityrelates directly todiversity in speciesand the forest'sability to carry outimportant functions,such as inconservation ofsoils and nutrientsand streamflowregulation.

Recognition of the importance oflandscape-level forest issues is alsovery recent. We now understand thatforestry practices can have cumulativeeffects on hydrology and erosion.Similarly, forest fragmentation isrecognized as a problem, particularlywhere dispersed patch cutting practiceshave been utilized. Small, isolatedforest patches do not provide thehabitats needed by interior forestspecies and are often vulnerable towind. We now understand the need foranalyzing effects of managementpractices at the drainage level: effectsof stand treatments can no longer beconsidered in isolation.

Many of these scientific findings aredisconcerting. They are contrary toprevious assumptions about forests andhow they work. They signal a needfor us to stand back and take a freshlook with the likely outcome ofsignificant change in forestry at boththe stand and the landscape level.Fortunately, the seeds of a "kinder and

Jerry F. Franklin is BloedelProfessor of Ecosystem Analysis,College of Forest Resources.University of Washington and ChiefPlant Ecologist, USDA Forest ServicePacific Northwest Research Station.

by Jerry F. FranklinA revolution is occurring in forestry.Alterations in our perspectives onforesty occur about every half-centuryand one of those is in progress now!Society is identifying some newpriorities and concerns. Science isspewing forth a lot of newinformation, some of which challengesthe core of traditional forestryperspectives. Whilesuch revolutionarytimes are stressful,it providesexceptionalopportunities todemonstrate ourability as forestersto accommodate abroad array ofsocietal objectives.

Integratingmaintenance ofecological valuesand production ofcommodities is theheart of the NewForestry. Forestsremain an essentialsource of rawmaterials but, responsible stewardshiprequires increased attention tosustainable productivity, biologicaldiversity, and the forests' resilience inthe face of altered environmentalconditions.

Fortunately, two decades of basicresearch on forest ecosystems andlandscapes provides a wealth ofinformation relevant to modification offorest practices. Natural forests turnout to be far more complex than wehad imagined. Their richness inorganisms and processes mocks anearlier view of these forests asbiological deserts. Many organisms arepart of an "invisible" diversity (insectsand fungal species) critical to theproductive functioning of the forest.Certain parts of the forest, such ascanopies and belowground, are provingespecially complex. The complex.multi-storied canopies provideextended diverse habitats for animalsand behave as gigantic sky combsscavenging the atmosphere for

Table I. General characteristics of the two extremes In forest floor types

Structure

Transition between forest

weacThickness of partially decomposed litter .

floor — mineral soilpreyof large amounts

of kv,„haptevalen

. .alencc

*funga_'07 rearthworms-- ,___rtebratesand other invertebrates

Mull Thin

Intermixed

Lacking

Characteristic

Characteristic

.... . Highi

Abrupt

Location (very generalized)Moisture. conditions . .Temperature conditionsElevation of occurrence

Example Plant IndicatorsMor .. Salal, Bunchberry, Thin-leaved huckleberry, False HuckleberryMull . Youth-on-age, Enchanter's nightshade, Lady-fern, Salmonberry

Dty/very, wetCool

MoistWarmLow

FunctionDecomposition rateMajor decomposer ..........................Nitrogen availability . . .......Nutrient availability other than nitrogen . .pH.... , . . . . . . . .......

InterpretationSite quality . . . . . . . . .......General response for nitrogen fertilization .Susceptibility to nutrient losses with fire .Ease of displacement with soil disturbance

SloW RapidFungus Bacteria

Low

HighRelatively low

Relatively highRelatively low Relatively high

Relatively low

Relatively highExcellent

VariableVery high

LowHigh

Low

Forest Presort tion page 6

FOREST INSITES

Forest managers should...know their duff

by Richard BigleyHow come one of the most valuableand easiest features of the forest toexamine when trying to determine asite's response to management is oneof the most overlooked? A quicklook at the forest floor (what somecall duff) can tell you much abouttimber productivity and generalresponse of a site to management suchas slashburning or fertilization withnitrogen. Foresters have been usinginterpretation of forest floors to makethe distinction between higher andlower productivity sites for over ahundred years. All you have to do isknow your duff.

Most of us realize that the forestfloor (the layer of organic matter at ornear the surface of the mineral soil)serves major functions in soil stabilityand site productivity. By reducing theimpact of rain and increasinginfiltration, the forest floor protects thesoil from erosion as well as protectingthe soil from extremes of temperatureand helping retain moisture. In manyforests, most of the nitrogen used tosupport timber growth comes from theforest floor. The forest floor acts as anutrient reservoir storing nutrientsaccumulated in the forest over theyears and slowly releasing themthrough decay.

Just as tree growth gives us anindex of site productivity, theconstruction of the forest floor givesus an index of nutrient availability andthe impact of different managementpractices. Forest floors, like mostnatural features we try to classify. area continuum of intergrading formsdeveloped by many aspects of theenvironment that vary in theirinfluence from place to place. The twoextremes at either end of the forestfloor continuum are called mor andmull. Between these two forms are avariety of intermediate types whichreflect different types and amounts bflitterfall, soil animal and/or soil fungalactivity, moisture and temperature.

In general, a mor type forest floorhas relatively thick litter and partiallydecomposed litter layers that laydirectly on the surface of the mineral

soil with virtually no mixing. A mulltype forest floor has a thin layer oflitter overlaying decomposed organicmaterial that is well mixed with thesurface horizon of the mineral soil.Table 1 compares and contrasts thesetwo forest floor types.

Inspecting the forest floor to makesite and management interpretations isas easy as scuffing through to themineral soil with your boot. Checkingthe depth of organic matteraccumulations, the degree ofdecomposition and amount of mixingwith the mineral soil tell most of whatis needed to start makinginterpretations of the site's productivityand response to management.Inspection of the forest floor shouldalways be a part of the process whenconsidering burning. The amount ofair pollutant emission and chemical

changes in the soil (e.g., nutrient loss)are usually closely related to theamount of forest floor consumed.Since the decomposed organic matterin a mull type • forest floor is mixed inthe mineral soil, fire is far less likelyto burn off this nutrient reserve thanwith a mor type forest floor that isperched on the mineral soil surface.Sites with a mull type forest floor arelikely to have a less than satisfactory,or at least variable response tonitrogen fertilization because nitrogenis already relatively plentiful.

Thoughtful care and maintenance offorest floors is a part of managingsites for future timber productivity. Formore information on how forest floorscan help us interpret site conditionsand improve our understandin g onsites we are managing, call RichardBigley at FLMD. •

201 1 401 402NORTH

/ SOUTH 411FORKS

221

012 222231

/Tattle

Pi 1Tacoma -\

421

412

SOUND

C241COAST 232

Olympia030

041 SOUTH440

WEST

CENTRAL 430

Vancouver

Tree Seed ZoneDNR Breeding Zone

e7

UPDATE

Improved seed available now!

by Boyd WilsonThe DNR seed orchard is producingsignificant quantities of Douglas-firseed. The 1989 crop was 110 pounds,up from 64 pounds in 1988. This seedis available to western WashingtonRegions for operational reforestationand is listed on the seed inventory.Because the ages and maturity of thevarious orchard blocks vary, largeamounts of seed are not yet availablefor all breeding zones. Some Regionscan expect a greater supply thanothers. But, in the next few years,higher production is expected

throughout the orchard.The goal of the tree improvement

program is to produce faster growingtrees and an ultimate increase in standvolume. But, that goal cannot berealized until improved trees areactually planted. It is in the bestinterest of the Trusts to reforest withimproved seed, and it makes sense touse all the seed that is available.There is no reason to use fieldcollected lots if suitable seed orchardseed exists. So use up that improvedseed!

There are six breeding zones inwestern Washington which make upthe DNR's tree improvement program(see map). Each of these breedingzones encompass all or part of severalseed zones, and despite some similarityin name, have different boundariesthan the Regions.

Improved western WashingtonDouglas-fir seed is intended for usewithin the appropriate breeding zone atelevations below 2,000 feet and onhigh site lands. High site meansDouglas-fir 50-year site index 100 andhigher. Do not move improved seedhigher than 2,000 feet elevation, or outof its breeding zone.

The use of large breeding zonesspanning 2000' may seem in conflictwith seed zones and 500' elevationbands. The difference is that seedorchard seed is from interbreeding thebest parents found throughout thebreeding zone. Field collected lotsrepresent a local gene pool or pools.Also, there is a growing body ofevidence showing that the best treesare broadly adapted within a breedingzone.

We are optimistic but, cautiousabout our use of improved seed. Fieldtesting will verify our expectations.

So what's the best strategy for usingthis seed orchard seed within abreeding zone?^Use seed orchard seed if it is

available.Use it on your high sites first.

JThen use it on other sites.Gains from tree improvement are

expected to approach a ten percentincrease in volume. To confirm thisprediction and to further increase thequality of seed orchard seed, bothnursery and long term field tests arebeing conducted. These tests willprovide actual performance data to finetune the use of this seed. •

Boyd Wilson, Geneticist at FLMD,since 1962 has been involved with thetree improvement program from itsonset. Boyd is available' to talk to youabout using improved planting stock.

Tree improvement breeding zones

Forest Prescription page 8

THE TOOLBOX

Yields...The 2nd key to sustainable harvestcalculationby Chuck Chambers

To calculate theboard footvolumesnecessary for asustainableharvestcalculation, acresand timber yieldsneed to be

known. The winter "ForestPrescription" outlined the acreagebase; now for the timber yields. Theyields are broken down into threemajor categories. They are:['old growth conifer['natural second growth conifer andhardwood['intensively managed second growthconifer

Old growth yields are for stands 100years and older. The assumption forthese stands is the mortality equalsgrowth, thus the yields areheld constant over time. Theoriginal estimates of the oldgrowth yields came from the1960's inventory and havebeen updated based on thetimber sale cruise volumes.The yields are further brokendown by region, zone, trust,and age. For example, theyield for Olympic Region,western hemlock zone, otherthan forest board and 160years plus is 48,000BDFT/Acres.

The natural second growthyields, covering age classes 30 to 90years, are by far the most important ofthe three categories. The presentstanding inventory for westernWashington is nearly 21 billion BDFT,in which the second growth coniferand hardwood stands accounts for over80 percent. The natural stand yieldsare based on the department'sempirical yield tables using theparameters age. site index and basalarea to generate the yield for eachstand type. These volume estimates(volumes = yield x acres) will need tosupport the sustainable harvest for thenext 50 years. If wrong, thedepartment will not be able tomaintain the harvest presently

calculated. Most of the inventory workscheduled for the summer. of 1990 willbe in this category.

The last, and most glamorouscategory, is the intensively managedyields. These yields are by far theleast important of the three forsupporting the sustainable harvest overthe 50 years. Their importance will bein the future rotations. We don't wantto be wrong, but time is on our side;a gift we don't have with the presentnatural stands. The yields are estimatedfrom DNRIMPS for Douglas-fir,western hemlock and silver fir fordifferent levels of stocking by tree peracre. We refer to these yields withdifferent stocking levels and treatmentas management regimes. It is notuncommon to have as many as tenmanagement regimes per age class.The intensively managed yields will

apply to the acres in the present 0through 30 year age class, plus all theacres that will be logged over the next150 years.

Let's not forget, I have only beentalking about the conversion of thepresent inventory through harvestscheduling and how the differentyields play a part in this process. Idon't want to leave you with the ideathat the intensively managed yields arenot important. Remember, we mustinvest some of the harvest capitol backinto the forest. We are investing in thepresent regenerated stands, not theones we are about to harvest. •

Next issue: The assumptions

Shakey businessby Bill Lewis, Olympic RegionThe shake and shingle industry on theOlympic Peninsula is old grass-rootsfree enterprise. These businesses varyfrom single saw "ma and pa" typemills to huge mechanized operationswith sorting yards, palletizers, andseveral saws.

The majority of the products arederived from purchased logs deliveredto the mill site. The mill is then facedwith the large problem of disposal ofmill debris, and usually accomplishesthis with a burner.

A smaller portion of the productsare derived from blocks delivered tothe mill. The landowner then retainsthe majority of the debris in the formof spaults. Spaults are the thin roughoutsides from when the "splitter-man"takes a 24 inch long round andsquares it into a block. Usually, thespaults are discarded in the fieldwherever the blocks are split. Thesetypes of operations which often followlogging are referred to as cedarsalvage. They are labor intensive andusually involve helicopter yarding. Onflat ground it is often difficult to seeresults of the harvest from the road.

The Olympic Region prefers tooptimize both commodity productionand ecological values. Some of ouroperational restrictions include:]relocating spaults in draws to a

stable locationj no snag salvage

no salvage in wetlandsno activity permitted within ordinaryhigh water mark of any watercourse

] others unique to specific salesWestern redcedar is an amazing tree.

It is famous for its resistance to decayand aromatic qualities. Both of theseare linked to its chemical properties.These chemical properties discouragefungi, insects, and other processes ofdeteriorations.

I wonder, is it best to scatter thisdebris in the form of spaults orsmoke? I welcome your ideas andcomments. Please call or write. •

Bill Lewis, Olympic Region, wasrecently appointed Region CedarSalvage and Sales Specialist. Bill, aHusky alumni. is a 12 year DNR vet.

a e

THE TOOLBOX

Vegetation control using sheep

by Louis HalloinGrazing by sheep is a biologicaltechnique for suppressing plantcompetition in plantations by usingcompeting vegetation as forage.Studies throughout the PacificNorthwest have demonstrated thatgrazing and forest regeneration can becompatible.

Going...

Benefits of Plantation GrazingWell planned grazing in plantations

has several benefits for the landowner.By reducing plant competition, grazingoften results in an increase inavailable soil water, increased nutrientavailability, and increased availablelight for conifer seedlings. Seedlinggrowth rates commonly increase ingrazed areas compared to ungrazed.

Other potential benefits to thelandowner include noxious weedsuppression, reduced rodent habitat.enhanced natural regeneration throughsite preparation, protection of riparianzones, improved winter range, andreduced fire hazard.Potential Plantation Impacts

Grazing within plantations is oftenreputed to have adverse effects onconifer regeneration. Seedlingbrowsing and trampling are oftenreported. However, a detailed literaturereview revealed that virtually allserious seedling damage caused bylivestock was the result of grazingmismanagement.Grazing Technique

Plantation grazing requires carefulplanning, execution, and monitoring toachieve the desired outcome. Closecoordination between the landowner,the livestock operator, other resourceagencies, and other resource users isessential for minimizing problems andpromoting success.

To be effective, control of brush

needs to start early in the regenerationperiod. With proper grazingmanagement, damage to coniferseedlings can be minimal with no longterm effects on growth.

Proper timing of grazing with regardto forage growth and stage of seedlingdevelopment, correct forage utilization,and maintenance of livestockdistribution are critical factorsinfluencing success. With propertiming and utilization, it is possible tograze plantations having seedlingsentirely within the reach of grazinglivestock. If livestock are conditionedto graze good forage, tree seedlingswill be avoided.The Pilot Study

A suitable test plantation waslocated in the Klickitat District nearTrout Lake. Two bands of sheep werebeing grazed nearby in the GiffordPinchot National Forest. The sheep

going...operator, William Rill from Heppner,Oregon, was interested and agreed toprovide sheep for this project.

Smeltzer Mill (Unit 1), a 47 acreplantation, was the selected testplantation. The area was burned andplanted with Douglas-fir in 1987.Brush competition was rapidlybecoming a problem. Chemical andmechanical techniques for brushcontrol were considered socially and/oreconomically unacceptable.

Prior to grazing, a series of foragesampling plots were established forpurposes of monitoring anddocumentation. Major brush specieswere vine maple, redstem ceanothus,creeping ceanothus, and elderberry.Total available forage on a dry matterbasis was estimated to be 1,475lbs/acre. Target forage utilization was70 to 80 percent of total availableforage.

Available forage in the vicinity ofeach plot was categorized as low,medium, or high to enable stratifyingthe plantation into different levels ofbrush competition. A grazing enclosurewas established in each level of brushcompetition.

Adjacent to each enclosure, a foragesampling plot was selected as thecenter of a larger plot for assessingseedling damage existing prior tograzing. All Douglas-fir seedlingswithin each plot were inspected andexisting damage recorded.

A band of sheep consisting of 730ewes with 950 lambs entered theplantation in August 1989. The sheepremained in the plantation until mostof the available forage was consumed.

Average forage utilization was about80 percent. Snowbrush and currantwere the least preferred of thecommon shrub species and were littleutilized by the sheep. Vine maple.redstem ceanothus, and creepingsnowberry were almost totally utilized.

Browsing by sheep on Douglas-firseedling was nonexistent. Somemechanical damage caused bytrampling and head rubbing was noted,but affected less than one percent ofthe seedlings.

gone

Overall, the pilot study was acomplete success. The most seriousproblem for the sheep operator wascoyote predation. •

Lou Halloin is an FLMD scientist.located in Ellensburg. Lou has a keeninterest in proving the operationalvalue of sheep in plantationmaintenance.

7,11-1'W

,116.DOM .11.1.2(

"...the number of trees per acre, BAand the "average" diameter form threelegs of a triangle and, if any two areknown the third can be calculated."• • ..:.:.:••

Forest Prescription page 10

THE TOOLBOX

Basal area...the what & howby Fred MartinSome may think mensurationists havean unhealthy fascination with basalarea (BA). But there are...

Three reasons why BA is important:Pit is easy to accurately measure,pit can be used to measure stand

density,^it is one component of stand

volume - the other is height.This article presents the basics of

BA, while a companion piecedescribes uses for BA. BA can bedefined for an individual tree or for anentire stand. Tree BA is thecross-sectional area of a tree at breastheight and can be visualized as theexposed surface area of a 4.5 foothigh stump. Stand BA is the total ofthe cross-sectional surfaces of all treeson a given acre.

The BA of a tree, like the area of acircle, is calculated by squaring itsradius and multiplying by pi(n=3.142). We do not usually measuretree radius, but diameter (DBH) ismeasured and by dividing the DBH inhalf we can compute BA. In symbols:

BA = x r2 or,BA = n x (DBH/2)2 or,BA = (7t x DB112)/4, in sq. inches.

Since we usually measure DBH ininches, but want BA in square feet,we need to convert it by dividing BAby the number of square inches in asquare foot (12 inches = 1 foot and144 sq. inches = 1 sq. foot).

BA = (7t x DBH2)/4 x (1/144), in sq. ft.

If it is divided by 4x144 we get ourold Nemesis from Forestry 201, whichis .005454. So to get BA of a treewe multiply the squared DBH by.005454.

Formula 1Tree BA = .005454 x DBH2

By adding the BA of all trees on anacre we could get the BA on a peracre basis. In actual practice, however,BA for a stand is usually determinedusing a prism or Relaskop. Thesedevices directly measure the BA peracre represented by a tree. Countingthe number of "in" trees on a prismor Relaskop plot and multiplying thenumber of "in" trees by the BA factor(BAF) for the device givesthe total BA per acre. Forexample, if six "in" treesare counted with a 40 BAFprism, then this plotrepresents (6 trees x 40BAF) 240 square feet peracre of BA. This demonstrates the firstreason for using BA, that is,measuring BA in the field is veryeasy.

Trees per acre...If, in addition to counting the

number of "in" trees on a plot, thediameters of each "in" tree are alsomeasured, then the number of treesper acre can be calculated. In fact, thenumber of trees per acre, BA and the"average" diameter form three legs ofa triangle and, if any two are knownthe third can be calculated. For

example, a 12 inch diameter treecontains 0.785 square feet of BA (122x .005454). If this is one of our six"in" trees on the plot, then it alsorepresents 40 square feet of BA peracre. If we divide the actual BA ofthe tree (0.785) into the 40 square feetper acre represented by the tree, weobtain the number of trees per acrethat this one "in" tree represents. Ourexample "in" tree represents (40/.785)51 trees per acre. If another "in" treewere 15 inches, it would represent[401(.005454 x DBH 2)] 32.6 trees per

acre. In symbols, the trees per acre(TPA) represented by each "in" tree is:

TPA = BAF/BA = BAF/(.005454 xDBH2)

If we perform similar calculationsfor each "in" tree on the plot and addup the trees per acre represented byeach "in" tree, we get an estimate ofthe total number of trees per acre.

In contrast, if we know the total BAper acre and the total trees per acre,

we can calculate an "average"diameter for the stand. In a stand with240 square feet BA and 150 trees peracre, each tree contains "on theaverage" 240/150 = 1.6 square feet ofBA. Using a little algebra on Formula1 above, we find that:

DBH2 = BA/.005454.

So, if we divide the average BA pertree by .005454, we get the square ofthe DBH. For our example, the"average" DBH is V(1.6/.005454) =17.1 inches. This "average" standDBH is called the quadratic mean

diameter. This is differentfrom the arithmetic meanbecause it is calculatedusing squared diametersrather than actual diameters.The quadratic mean isusually slightly greater than

the arithmetic mean. In forestry. it isthe quadratic mean that is desired andnot the arithmetic mean. This practiceis thought to have arisen in Europe asa method for representing the tree ofmean volume. •

Fred Martin, biometrician withFLMD, came to the DNR in 1987from Port Blakely Tree Farms. Fred isinterested in the application ofquantitative methods to silviculturalproblems.

See "Basal area—the why" for „,.continued discussion of the value ofbasal area.

enrinn 1 0011

Reader Comment/Request CardCopies of past issues/articles are available.

1:1 Please send me the issue.Please send me the article.

Here are my comments on this issue

Return to: Dennis Carlson, FLMDDept. of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA, 98504 MQ-11

page 11

THE TOOLBOX

Basal area...the why

by Fred MartinBasal area, quadratic mean, DBH, andtrees per acre (see "Basal area...whatand how") can describe two importantstand conditions - density and volume.

Density measures...Either trees per acre or BA provide

elementary measures of density. Mostadequately stocked saw timber standshave at least 150 square feet of BAand some high volume stands havemore than 350 square feet. Anotherdensity measure is to express the BAof a stand as a percent of some norm.This measure is called percent normalbasal area (PNBA) and is used inDNR yield tables. The norm used isthe BA found in well spaced, fullystocked stands of a given age. To usePNBA it is necessary to know standage and then compare the stand BA tothe normal BA for that age. Mostwestside DNR stands have a PNBA of80. That is, our stands average 80% ofthe basal area of a fully stocked stand.

A more precise density measure thaneither BA or trees per acre is relativedensity (RD). This measure takes intoaccount not only the total number oftrees but also the size of the trees.The formula for computing RD is:

RD = BA/VDBH (where DBH is thequadratic mean diameter.)

Relative density is used by DNR as a

measure of competition. Stands withRD less than 30 are considered in anopen-grown condition with littleinter-tree competition. Stands with RDgreater than 50 are approaching fullsite occupancy and may need thinning.Stands exceeding a RD of 60 can beunder excessive competitive stress andmay not respond to thinning. WhenRD is between 30 and 50 standgrowth is expected to be optimal.

Volume calculation...Another use of BA is in computing

volumes. If trees were perfectcylinders, we could compute volumeusing the standard formula for acylinder:

VOL = n x x height = BA x HT.

Or if trees were perfect cones, volumecould be calculated by:

VOL = 1/3n x r2xHT= 1/3 x BA x HT.

Trees are not standard geometricshapes, but are instead highly variable.Even so, we have found a rule ofthumb that works for a broad range ofstands. If we use .35 as a cylindricalform factor (cylindrical form factor isthe ratio of tree volume to the volumeof a true cylinder; for a cone, formfactor is 1/3) we can compute

individual cubic foot tree volume by:

VOL = .35n x x HT= .35 x BA x HT

(where HT is tree height.)

For a whole stand, cubic footvolume is the product of the formfactor (.35) times the product of totalstand BA and average stand height. Inmany even-aged stands tree heightvaries little among crown classes andcan be readily estimated. Board footScribner (BFS) volumes can becalculated using board foot to cubicfoot conversion ratios obtained fromyield tables. For western Washingtonstands less than 100 feet in height, aconversion of three board feet percubic foot provides a goodapproximation of BFS volume.Approximate BFS in a stand 75 feettall with 120 square feet BA is:

BFS .35 x 120 x 75 x 3 = 9,450

For stands between 100 and 150 feet,a BFS to cubic foot ratio of four isused and for stands greater than 150feet the ratio is five.

With a little extra effort, BA anddiameter provide the raw materialsto compute a number of standcharacteristics. These measures aremore valuable in stand managementdecisions than just stand volume. •

The world is runpeople...who show up!

BULK RATEU.S. POSTAGE PAID

LITTLEROCK, WAPERMIT #100

Forest Land Management Division, M(2-11Olympia, Washington 98504

Forest Prescription

QUOTABLE QUOTES

This issueStewardship Features 3-5Know your duff 6Improved seed 7Using...sheep 9Basal area 10-11imilmi■■•••■

Next issue:PC evolutionIntegrated vegetation

managementMore...StewardshipPaint gun blues

SPOTLIGHT

Blacktails and timberA region perspective

by Mark Morrow, NW RegionForesters in the Northwest Region are finding that good stewardship of the landoften means finding suitable solutions for wildlife. In the woods just east ofDarrington in northeast Snohomish County, part of that emphasis is on theblacktail deer.

Working closely with Department of Wildlife (WDW) biologists, NorthwestRegion foresters John Keller and Doug Lancaster are setting up future timbersales with an eye toward minimizing any negative impactson the blacktail.

Keller and Lancaster learned that the blacktail use thedeep valley north of Whitehorse Mountain for winter habitatwhen heavy snows make life nearly impossible at higherelevations. The valley is typical of terrain often found ineastern Washington, with high ridges surrounding it on threesides. The deer have no other easy way out of the highcountry for winter shelter and feeding purposes other thanthrough the Danington flats.

With that in mind, Keller and Lancaster have designedtimber sales so that logging roads in this forested drainagearea are closed for four months from December throughMarch. This will ensure that the deer have several monthsof undisturbed access to the lower reaches of the valley.

Northwest Region foresters also are using results of hidingcover research. Some studies suggest that blacktail deer prefer not to travel morethan 600 feet from the shelter of the trees. As a result, the upcoming FurlandFlat and Kirk sales near Darrington are designed so that deer never have totravel more than 600 feet from any spot in a clearcut to reach hiding cover.

Region foresters and WDW biologists are hailing the plan as a goodmanagement strategy that balances the needs of a viable timber industry withthose of wildlife. •

Spring 1990

Mark Morrow is the public information officer in NW. Mark, a newcomer toDNR, joins us from the Department of Ecology.

4 . ■ •