Treesearch

Diminishing quantities of appearance grade lumber and rising price premiums for it have accompanied the transition from old-growth to young-growth timber. The price premiums for better grades are an incentive for producers to undertake investments to increase the yield of those higher valued products. Price premiums, however, are also an incentive for users to substitute lower grades, lower priced species, or nonwood materials for these higher priced appearance grades. This possibility may cast doubt on the permanence of the price premiums associated with appearance grade lumber. The real...

This issue of Science Findings examines the results of a study designed to provide a broad array of silvicultural options for land managers. Pacific Northwest Research Station scientist Mike McClellan is leading the study and has found that timber harvesting by using alternatives to clearcutting is viable in the current marketplace and technically feasible across a wide range of cutting intensity. Other findings have shown that moderate, partial cutting encourages diverse understory vegetation, similar to vegetation found in adjacent uncut old-growth stands. The effectiveness of a wide...

We reviewed existing data to determine the range and distribution of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in southeast Alaska, summarized biological characteristics, and determined population status of steelhead stocks. Unique or sensitive stocks that may require consideration in planning land management activities are identified within the data reviewed. Data sources were personal communications, reports, and unpublished data files of State and Federal agencies. Only eight winter-run stocks in southeast Alaska and two summer-run stocks in southwest Alaska had sufficient data to evaluate...

Using hierarchical clustering techniques, we grouped subwatersheds on the eastern slope of the Cascade Range in Washington State into ecological subregions by similarity of area in potential vegetation and climate attributes. We then built spatially continuous historical and current vegetation maps for 48 randomly selected subwatersheds from interpretations of 1938-49 and 1985-93 aerial photos, respectively, and attributes cover types, structural classes, and potential vegetation types to individual patches by modeling procedures. We estimated a natural range of variation (NRV) in spatial...

Survival and growth of planted Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) saplings and associated shrubs were observed for 6 years after seven release treatments had been applied, side by, side on four areas in the Coast Range of Oregon. Four times as much Douglas-fir volume as in the control was produced by one manual cutting of shrubs, which also represented the best economic return. Diversity of competing species temporarily increased after the release treatments.

A study encompassing 24 years was conducted to determine if a breeding program could produce highly graft-compatible rootstocks. Twenty-seven trees of apparent high graft compatibility were selected and crossed to produce 226 control-pollinated families. Seedlings were grown, field planted, and grafted with test scions. Graft unions from field tests were evaluated anatomically for internal symptoms of incompatibility. Average compatibility of progeny from the 226 crosses was 90.6% compared with 65% in native populations. Breeding values were calculated for each parent by the best linear...

This report analyzes and summarizes a 1988 inventory of western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook.) in eastern Oregon. This inventory, conducted by the Pacific Northwest Research Station of the USDA Forest Service, was intensified to meet increased need for more information about the juniper resource than was available in previous inventories. A primary sample, using aerial photos, recorded crown cover and ownership on all juniper forest and savanna lands in eastern Oregon. The inventory sampled all private and public lands in eastern Oregon, except some lands classified as reserved and...

Drying tests and trials for western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook.) were conducted between 1993 and 1996 to (1) test and refine existing dry kiln schedules; (2) develop moisture meter correction factors; (3) test dry western juniper in different types of kilns, both by itself and with ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.); (4) explore alternative drying techniques to minimize splitting and warping caused by inherent growth stresses; and (5) test a "saw-dry-rip" program currently used in the hardwood industry to reduce splitting and cracking. Test results over a 3-year...

There are many parallels between the 1978 legislation to expand Redwood National Park and the Northwest Forest Plan, which together with the Northwest Economic Adjustment Initiative formed the 1993 Pacific Northwest Initiative. In both situations, the Federal Government sought to promote retraining for displaced workers, to undertake watershed assessment and restoration work, and to assist communities with economic planning, grants, and transitions. Both of these efforts point out the inherent conflicts between the economic and ecological objectives of watershed restoration. No one wants...

Periodic annual increments (PAI) for survivor diameters decreased curvilinearly with increasing stand density. Gross volume and basal areas PAIs increased linearly with increasing stand density. Growth of basal area and volume for the 20 largest trees per acre were reduced curvilinearly with increasing stand density. Bark beetles were the primary cause of mortality. No mortality occurred at the lowest density.