Lessons learned on 50,000 acres of plantation in northern California

Abstract

Many lessons have been learned during reforestation of large wildfires and clearcuts in interior Northern California, a region of low rainfall and summer drought typical of a Mediterranean climate. Challenges appeared from time of establishment right up to commercial thinning. Establishment issues included procurement of improved seed, site preparation, soil mitigation, seedling performance, season of planting, and timing of vegetation management. Important decisions also had to be made with regard to mechanical vs. hand pre-commercial thinning (PCT), achieving a proper balance between reducing fire risk and compacting the soil, and prescribing spacing guidelines for thinning operations. On some sites damage from Eucosma sonomana (Kearfott) (western pine shoot borer) was a factor.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the Symposium on Ponderosa Pine: Issues, Trends, and Management, 2004 October 18-21, Klamath Falls, OR

Citation

Webster, Jeff; Fredrickson, Ed. 2005. Lessons learned on 50,000 acres of plantation in northern California. In: Ritchie, Martin W.; Maguire, Douglas A.; Youngblood, Andrew, tech. coordinators. Proceedings of the Symposium on Ponderosa Pine: Issues, Trends, and Management, 2004 October 18-21, Klamath Falls, OR. Gen. Tech. Rep PSW-GTR-198. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 267-281