Volcanic-ash-derived forest soils of the inland Northwest: Properties and implications for management and restoration

Abstract

Volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt. Mazama ~7,700 years ago has a strong influence on many forested landscapes of the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain regions of the USA and Canada. Because of the unique biological, physical and chemical properties of the ash, it is closely tied to plant communities and forest productivity, and should therefore be considered as a resource to protect when harvesting, burning, or site preparation activities occur on it. How did this symposium get started? There has been a steady stream of questions, problems, and research on volcanic ash-cap soils for many decades. This symposium was designed to assemble experts to discuss our state-of-knowledge about volcanic ash-cap soil management and restoration. About 200 scientists and natural resource managers participated in this conference, which was held at the Coeur d'Alene Resort, Coeur d'Alene, ID in November 2005.

Titles contained within Volcanic-ash-derived forest soils of the inland Northwest: Properties and implications for management and restoration

• Volcanic Ash-cap Forest Soils of the Inland Northwest Properties and Implications for Management and Restoration
• Ecological and Topographic Features of Volcanic Ash-Influenced Forest Soils
• Field Identification of Andic Soil Properties for Soils of North-central Idaho
• Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Ash-influenced Soils of Inland Northwest Forests
• Assessing quality in volcanic ash soils
• Effects of Machine Traffic on the Physical Properties of Ash-Cap Soils
• Runoff and Erosion Effects after Prescribed Fire and Wildfire on Volcanic Ash-Cap Soils
• Volcanic Ash Soils: Sustainable Soil Management Practices, With Examples of Harvest Effects and Root Disease Trends
• Restoring and Enhancing Productivity of Degraded Tephra-Derived Soils
• Ash cap influences on site productivity and fertilizer response in forests of the Inland Northwest
• Economics of Soil Disturbance
• The Grand Fir Mosaic Ecosystem -- History and Management Impacts
• Chemical changes induced by pH manipulations of volcanic ash-influenced soils
• WEPP FuME Analysis for a North Idaho Site
• Erosion Risks in Selected Watersheds for the 2005 School Fire Located Near Pomeroy, Washington on Predominately Ash-Cap Soils
• Conference wrap-up

Citation

Page-Dumroese, Deborah; Miller, Richard; Mital, Jim; McDaniel, Paul; Miller, Dan, tech. eds. 2007. Volcanic-ash-derived forest soils of the inland Northwest: Properties and implications for management and restoration. Proceedings RMRS-P-44. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 220 p.