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Abstract
Forest Service land managers, with the collaborative assistance from research, applied a disturbance based restoration strategy to rehabilitate a greatly-altered, high risk Northern Rocky Mountain old-forest ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir stand. Age-class structure and fire history for the site have been documented in two research papers (Arno and others 1995, 1997). Silvicultural treatments using stocking reduction through a normal timber sale offering and prescribed fire to simulate disturbance processes, were used to restore a semblance of historical vegetative conditions. These actions should improve tree vigor of the old-forest and promote ponderosa pine regeneration, while reducing the risk of significant mortality due to wildfire, root disease or bark beetle through reduced competition and open spacing. Other resource objectives were achieved including enhancement of big game winter range and flammulated owl habitat, retention and creation of wildlife snags, stimulation of fire dependent species, improved aesthetics, commodity production, and road closure/rehabilitation. Post harvest re-measurement reflects successful application of disturbance simulations. High prescribed fire severity with resulting mortality, illustrates the risk of restoration activities and the requirement of good execution. Photographs from four permanent camera points document pre-harvest, post-harvest, and post-burn conditions.
Parent Publication
Citation
Hillis, Mike; Applegate, Vick; Slaughter, Steve; Harrington, Michael G.; Smith, Helen. 2001. Simulating historical disturbance regimes and stand structures in old-forest ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forests. In: Barras, Stanley J., ed. Proceedings: National silvicultural workshop; 1999 October 5-7; Kalispell, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-19. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 32-39
