Commercial thinning strategies in southeast Alaska: establishment and effects of the Prince of Wales Commercial Thinning Study

Justin S. Crotteau; David V. D'Amore; Jeff Barnard; Gary Lawton; Jessika McFarland

doi:10.2737/PNW-GTR-1012

Treesearch

Commercial thinning strategies in southeast Alaska: establishment and effects of the Prince of Wales Commercial Thinning Study

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Justin S. Crotteau, David V. D'Amore, Jeff Barnard, Gary Lawton, Jessika McFarland

Year:

2022

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/PNW-GTR-1012

Source:

Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-1012. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 77 p. (Online only).

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Abstract

The coastal temperate rainforest of southeast Alaska is part of the largest temperate rainforest in the world and delivers a vast array of goods and services for local and global economies. Even-aged western hemlock-Sitka spruce (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.)/Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière) forests that regenerated after past harvests are projected to be the primary source of future value as landowners transition away from old-growth harvesting. Although current knowledge of long-term thinning effects in this region is limited compared to other regions, managers have options for the even-aged, young-growth stands. This report documents the establishment of, and 5- and 10-year overstory and understory changes following, the Prince of Wales Commercial Thinning Study, a research and demonstration project codeveloped by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station and USDA Forest Service Tongass National Forest to increase regional knowledge of silvicultural thinning methods. We compare the effects of five treatment levels on a suite of stand vegetation components and assess the tradeoffs for retention of alternative stand structures. Treatments include (1) a no-action control, (2) thinning from above, (3) crown thinning, (4) thinning from below, and (5) a hybrid approach that we call strip thinning. This report provides a basis for initial guidance on managing commercial-size, young-growth forests in southeast Alaska.

Keywords

Tongass National Forest, coastal rainforest, even-age silviculture, cutting methods, young growth, stand and understory development

Citation

Crotteau, Justin S.; D’Amore, David V.; Barnard, Jeffrey C.; Lawton, Gary; McFarland, Jessika. 2022. Commercial thinning strategies in southeast Alaska: establishment and effects of the Prince of Wales Commercial Thinning Study. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-1012. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 77 p. (Online only). https://doi.org/10.2737/PNW-GTR-1012.