Berry Brush site in the Experimental Network for Assisted Migration and Establishment Silviculture (ENAMES)
The Berry Brush site, part of the Experimental Network for Assisted Migration and Establishment Silviculture (ENAMES) study, has been established in the Plumas National Forest to test assisted population migration of Douglas-fir, as well as the effect of planting density and configuration on seedling survival and growth. The site burned during the 2020 North Complex Fire and was planted in 2024.
Landowner: U.S. Forest Service
Location: Plumas National Forest, Feather River Ranger District
Nearest town: Brush Creek, CA
Species: Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Site history: The site, originally a west-side mixed conifer-hardwood, burned in the 2020 North Complex Fire.
Site characteristics: The site is at an elevation of 3100 ft. The soils are fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Ultic Haploxeralfs. The mean annual temperature is 57 °F (coldest month 43 °F, warmest month 74 °F) and mean annual precipitation is 1651 mm (22 mm as snow).
Planting date: 2024
Contact person:
Jessica Wright, Research Geneticist, Pacific Southwest Research Station
Christopher Looney, Research Forester, Pacific Southwest Research Station
Pre-site prep site conditions at the Berry Brush site. Photo by Christopher Looney.
Pre-planting site conditions at the Berry Brush site after site prep was completed. Photo by Christopher Looney.
Management objectives and other considerations: TBA
Site preparation: Salvage logging reduced competing vegetation and scarified the soil. Herbicide was applied in spring 2024.
Pre-planting site conditions: The area was logged as part of a roadside salvage project in summer 2023. Most woody biomass was removed from site with smaller woody detritus chipped and scattered. Prior to salvage, sprouting shrubs and hardwoods were waist height.
Assisted migration treatments: The team used the Climate-Adapted Seed Tool to choose four planted seed sources (see table below).
Climate period
| Seed origin | Seed source elevation (ft) | Mean cold month temperature (°C) | Summer heat-moisture index |
Historical/local (1961-1990) | CA seed zone 524 (Lassen/Plumas National Forests) | 3000-3500 | 4.77 | 173.6 |
Early-century (2011-2040) | CA seed zone 524 (Lassen/Plumas National Forests) | 2500-3000 | 5.42 | 195.7 |
Mid-century (2041-2070) | CA seed zone 524 (Lassen/Plumas National Forests) | 2000-2500 | 6.19 | 227.8 |
Late-century (2017-2100) | CA seed zone 524 (Lassen/Plumas National Forests) | 1500-2000 | 7.03 | 273.4 |
Silvicultural treatments: Four treatments: uniform vs cluster planting, 100% planted conifers vs 80/20 conifer-hardwood sprout mix.
Seedling stock type: 1-0 containerized stock.
Planting density: Crews planted 160-200 trees per acre depending on treatment, anticipating that vigorous shrub competition will reduce survival even after control with herbicide.
Monitoring: The site will be monitored to track and compare seedling survival among seed sources and silvicultural treatments. Measurements are planned for 1, 5, 10, and 15 years after planting.
The site may also serve as a demonstration plot for managers to visit and visually compare seed source performance.
Year 1 results
In the graphs below, bars with same letter (for example, a) indicate no significant difference among seed sources/climate scenarios. Different letters (such as a vs b) indicate a significant difference based on latest measurements.
Figure 1. Seedling survival for the different seed sources 1 year after planting at the Berry Brush site.
Figure 2. Seedling diameter by seed source 1 year after planting at the Berry Brush site.
Figure 3. Seedling growth by seed source 1 year after planting at the Berry Brush site.
Silvicultural results: Douglas-fir had significantly lower diameter than the Douglas-fir/ponderosa pine mix.
Silviculture-climate interactions: None