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FOREST RESOURCES of the
Douglas- Fir Region
@ FOREST SERVICE
Historic, archived document
Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.
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FOREST SURVEY STAFF Pacific Northwest Forest Expervment Station
H. J. ANDREws, zn charge 1930-38 R. W. Cow in, zn charge 1938—
W. H. BoLes D. N. MatTHEws P. A. BRIEGLEB W. H. MEYER
E. D. BUELL F. L. Moravets H. M. JoHnson P. N. PRATT
P. D. Kemp W. J. WAKEMAN C. W. KLINE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
In publishing the results of the Forest Survey in the Douglas-fir region credit must be given to the efficient service of temporary and assigned field personnel both of the experiment station and of the North Pacific Region of the Forest Service. Valuable cooperation of numerous other individuals and agencies included assistance and advice from the State forestry departments and agricultural experiment stations of Oregon and Washington, and the helpful cooperation of the forest protective organiza- tions, commercial cruising firms, and the West Coast Lumbermen’s Association. F. P. Keen, Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, contributed data on depletion by insects. J. W. Girard, Forest Service, Washington, D. C., developed the procedure used in adjusting timber cruises. As station director, ‘Thornton T. Munger gave leadership through- out the history of the project and directed the preparation of the report.
UsNe aise D SAEs (DE RPARTEMENT-OF AGRICULTURE
MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATION NO. 389 WASHINGTON, D. C., DECEMBER 1940
Forest Resources of the Douglas-Fir Region
by H. J. ANDREWS and R. W. COWLIN, senior forest economists
PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOREST AND RANGE EXPERIMENT STATION
FOREST SERVICE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE - WASHINGTON =: 1940
FOR SALE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, WASHINGTON, D. C., PRICE 50 CENTS
The Forest Survey
FFECTIVE rehabilitation and constructive management of this country’s forest resources require not only protection against neglect and destruction but, with equal urgency, provision for permanent and wise use. Intelligent forest land use
planning must be based upon reliable facts as to location, area, and condition of existing and prospective forest land, supply of timber and other forest products, forest depletion and forest growth, and production and consumption of forest products. ‘This necessity for dependable and comprehensive data is now being translated into action through the pro- visions of the McSweeney-McNary Forest Research Act of 1928, authorizing a Nation- wide forest survey. ‘The Forest Service was directed by the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct the survey.
The fivefold purpose of the Forest Survey is: (1) To make an inventory of the extent and condition of forest lands and of the present supply of timber and other forest products on these lands; (2) to ascertain the rate at which this supply is being increased through growth, and the potential growth on forest areas; (3) to determine the extent of depletion of the forests through cutting and through loss from fire, insects, disease, wind throw, and other causes; (4) to determine the present consumption and the probable future trend in requirements for timber and other forest products; and (5) to analyze and correlate these findings with other economic data, as an aid in the formulation of private and public policies for most effective and rational use of land suitable for forest production.
These investigations are conducted in each forest region of the United States by the regional forest experiment station of the Forest Service. In Oregon and Washington they are conducted by the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, with headquarters at Portland, Oreg.
It is planned to publish the results of this investigation, as they become available, in a series of reports applying to large forest areas such as districts, regions, and States. It is expected that the information presented in these reports for large geographic units will facilitate more intensive studies of small areas.
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Contents
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Survey findings in brief . The Douglas-fir region Major phases of survey Methods and specifications Standards of measurement . Species and size classification Type definitions and type mapping Nonforest types Woodland types . Timberland types Miscellaneous types . Classifications Ownership classes Other classifications . Forest inventory . Types and areas . Nonforest land Conifer sawlog types . Conifer types less than eriloe sze . Deforested lands . Woodland = and forests Hardwood Fores Forest site quality Timber volume ; Saw-timber volume . Economic availability Cubic volume 4 Ownership of forest resources Private ownership National-forest ownership State ownership . County ownership Municipal ownership Indian ownership Revested grant lands. Other Federal lands . Depletion . Cutting deniciont Sawlog production
noncommercial
Page
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Depletion—Continued.
Cutting depletion—Continued.
Forest fuel wood . ‘Forest pulpwood . Other minor timber products
Fire depletion . ne ie
Depletion from other causes.
Assumed future depletion
Forest growth . : :
Kinds of growth eAculanen made
Current annual growth .
Realizable mean annual growth. Results of computation . Interpretation of results .
Potential annual growth .
Comparison of current, realizable, ana
potential growth
Trends in future forest increment If present forest practice continues.
If forest practice becomes more intensive 3 he If selective cutting is wadely em- ployed . Summary .
Forest protection . Protection on Peteea tangles : Protection on State, county, and private lands : Future hazard conditions Land use Agriculture Present use of lana ‘es aenieale TURE s. Trends in Aoriculearall linda use Relation of agricuiture to forests Forest land use Status of cut-over land Timber production . Production of sounodice: than timber
other
eh Teaver RP hetC.e le @ ie vN|
Land use—Continued.
Status of cut-over land—Continued. Soil and watershed protection . Recreation : Wildlife production andl use. Grazing ets Forest problem areas
Forest industries . :
Conditions in the mcluemies:
Development. Integration Investments . Labor . Production
Markets
Logging ge Types of organization Methods ‘Transportation
Lumber manufacture Sawmills .
Transportation and rene Sawmill byproducts .
Other wood-using industries.
Pulp and paper manufacture Shingle manufacture. it Veneer and plywood manufacture . Wood preserving. ‘ Secondary wood-using RGR ies
Future timber supplies in relation to indus-
trial development . Major forest districts .
Puget Sound district . Grays Harbor—Willapa Bay age ict. Columbia River district Willamette River district Oregon coast district South Oregon district
Future depletion and inventories Sawlogs Pulpwood Plywood 3 Poles and piling .
Fuel Hardwoods
Forest-land management problem
Uses of forest land other than for timber
‘production
Future agricultural expansion Forage production Recreation
Page
75 76 Ta Tl 80 81 81 81 82 82 82 83 83 85 85 86 87 88 89 91 92 93 93 94 96 96 96
97 OF 98 99 99 100 100 100 101 104 109 ile 112 113 114 115
AS GS AS 116
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Forest-land management problems—Con. Uses of forest land—Continued. Wildlife : Sustained-yield forest Manaeenent Forest-land ownership Stable ownership essential to contin- uous-production management Factors influencing liquidation of private ownership . : Areas favorable for private owner- ship : Current trend to eee SSN - Integration of public lands and pol- icies desirable Public-acquisition programs A regional forest program Future situation if present crendeme con- tinue Stabilizing forest- lana Ganership Public acquisition of forest land Public regulation of forest-land use Methods of cutting Slash disposal Sustained yield Restriction of cutting Forest protection : Reforestation of aenuded ees Forest research. : Forestry extension and foreste edie tion. The public Peony Management of public forest eral Improvements Legislation : The private owners’ perpen ‘ Control of overproduction Logging practice . Utilization of minor species . Manufacturing practice . Industrial expansion. Road development Sustained-yield management Conclusions. Literature cited Appendix . Inventory Pretods anche sources. Depletion-study methods and sources . Periodic saw-timber growth . Method of computing realizable mean annual growth. Supplemental tables .
Page
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PE OBReES Sea RAESSIO,URREGeEis( OOF Tf HE, DO U GLAS =-FITR REGION
: Survey Findings in Brief
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HE highest service that forests of the Douglas-fir region can render is in support and stabilization of
communities dependent on them. Included are, not only the people and investments in forest
industries, but also those in farms, stores, banks, garages, schools, transportation, and various industries. Forests support in one way or another about half the population of the region. ‘To redeem this enormous responsibility for service, forests must furnish a permanent annual harvest of material equal at least to present production. ‘This will require sustained-yield forest practice, including acceptance of the responsi- bilities of permanent ownership.
The major problem therefore is to bring about promptly the adoption of a system of managing old- growth and second-growth forests for the continuous production of high-quality material while there is yet sufficient growing stock to do so without calamitous dislocation of people and industry.
A factual resume of the findings of the Forest Survey, as presented in detail in subsequent pages of this publication, is as follows: '
1. The forest is an integral part of the farm economy of the Douglas-fir region. Forests furnish fuel, fence posts, and other products essential to farm management and rural life. Forest products are important crops to many farmers. Forest industries afford part-time employment to many farmers and support, directly and indirectly, approximately half the population of the region.
2. The Douglas-fir region produces 30 percent of the lumber, 90 percent of the shingles, and 23 percent of the wood pulp produced in the United States, depending chiefly upon outside markets.
3. The major forest problem in the Douglas-fir region is the necessity for instituting a system of managing old-growth forests for continuous production. ‘This means that clear cutting over vast areas, which has resulted in large areas of nonstocked cut-over land, must be halted.
4. The Douglas-fir region has 29 million acres of forest land, amounting to 82.6 percent of its total land area. Of this, 26.1 million acres, or 90 percent, was classified in the forest survey as commercial conifer.
5. Conifer types of saw-timber size occupy more than 14.5 million acres, of which 11.6 million is old growth and 2.9 million second growth. Second-growth conifer types less than saw-timber size occupy 7 million acres. Deforested burns, old nonrestocked cut-overs, and recent cut-overs total 4.4 million acres.
1 Forest survey progress releases on the Douglas-fir region issued by the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station previous to the publication of this major report are: (1) Forest statistics in separate form for Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, and Whatcom Counties, Wash., and for Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill Coun- ties, Oregon. 1934. [Mimeographed.] (2) Forest Resources of the Douglas-Fir Region. Forest Res. Notes No. 13. 1934. [Mimeographed.] (3) Pulpwood Resources of Western Oregon and Western Washington. Forest Res. Notes No. 17. 1935. [Mimeographed.] (4) Forest Growth in the Douglas-Fir Region. Forest Res. Notes No. 20. 1936. [Mimeographed. | (5) Timber Volume and Type Acreage on the National Forests of the North Pacific Region. Forest Res. Notes No. 22. 1937. [Mimeographed.] (6) Detailed forest type maps of each of the above listed 38 counties. Scale 1inch equals1 mile. Blue line print form. 1934. (7) State type maps—Douglas-fir region covered by four sheets, NW Washington, SW Washing- ton, NW Oregon, SW Oregon. Scale 4% inch=1 mile. 1936. [Lithographed.] The Pacific Northwest Station has also cooperated with the State of Washington in the following recent publication: Cow in, R. M., and Morets, F. L., FoREsT RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON. Wash. Dept. of Conserv. and Development, Olympia. 44 pp., illus.
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6. More than 3 million acres of forest land in the Douglas-fir region was cut over prior to 1920 and in 1933 had not been put to other use; of this total, in 1933, 28 percent was well stocked with second-growth trees, 36 percent was medium stocked, 15 percent was poorly stocked, and 21 percent was nonstocked. In the period 1920-33 more than 2 million acres was cut over, of which at the end of the period 12 percent was well stocked with reproduction, 17 percent was medium stocked, 29 percent was poorly stocked, and 42 percent was nonstocked. Of the total area of cut-over land in the region, 50 percent is satisfactorily restocked and 50 percent is either nonstocked or only poorly stocked.
7. The region’s saw-timber stand totals 546 billion board feet, log scale, all but 4 billion of which is conifers. Douglas-fir, the leading species, totals 331 billion feet, and is followed by western hemlock with 105 billion board. feet. Other important species are western redcedar, Sitka spruce, and silver fir.
8. It was estimated that only a little more than half the saw-timber volume could profitably be logged under the conditions that prevailed during the period 1925-29.
9. The regional total of cubic volume in trees 6 inches and larger in breast-height diameter is 129 billion cubic feet; species eminently suitable for pulp manufacture make up 39 billion cubic feet, or 30 percent,
10. More than 53 percent of the commercial forest land and approximately 48 percent of the saw-timber volume in the Douglas-fir region are privately owned, and 30 percent of the commercial forest land and 37 percent of the saw-timber volume are within the national forests. The remaining 17 percent of the land and 15 percent of the volume are in other forms of pubiic ownership or owned by Indians.
11. Current annual depletion of saw timber from all causes is estimated to total about 8.3 billion board feet, of which 7.9 billion board feet is cutting depletion.
12. Sawlog production in the Douglas-fir region during 1925-33 averaged 7.4 billion board feet, of which 5.4 billion feet was Douglas-fir, 1 billion feet western hemlock, 0.6 billion feet western redcedar, 0.3 Sitka spruce, and 0.1 billion other species.
13. Current losses of saw timber by fire, excluding catastrophes such as the Tillamook fire of 1933, amount to a quarter of a billion board feet annually. The area burned over annually averages more than 250,000 acres, including large areas of second growth. Killing of second growth seriously endangers future saw-timber supplies.
14. Current annual growth in the Douglas-fir region totals approximately 2.4 billion board feet. Poten- tial annual growth under intensive forest practice is approximately 8.2 billion board feet.
15. The supply of old-growth Douglas-fir within economically feasible transportation distance of the Puget Sound and Grays Harbor districts will be practicaily exhausted within two decades if the present rate of depletion continues.
16. The supply of pulp timber is sufficient to maintain the existing rate of wood-pulp production indefi- nitely if reasonable forest practice is observed and if the volume of pulp species used in lumber manufacture is not increased.
17. In order to stabilize economic life in this region sustained-yield forest management should be instituted as soon as possible. The ultimate sustained-yield capacity of the region under reasonably in- tensive forest management is estimated at 8 billion board feet per year; during the transition period, under optimum conditions, a cut of about 614 billion per year is allowable.
18. In the Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and Columbia River districts the annual cuts allowable under a sustained-yield budget were exceeded during 1933, a year of comparatively low production. Progressive overcutting of the southern districts will bring about conditions similar to those in the north.
19. Most of the forest land that should be used for continuous production could, through concerted action by industry and government, be put under sustained-yield management within 25 to 50 years.
20. With an enlarging acreage of cut-over land and a growing use of the forests by the public for recrea- tion, the Douglas-fir region is facing an increasingly difficult problem of forest-fire protection.
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ERORR Ee LR OMmUsRaC mrs Ord Her Dir@ UW G LAS > RF 1 oR’ RE. G TO N
The Douglas-Fir Region
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33
HE Douglas-fir region, which includes those
parts of Oregon and Washington west of the summit of the Cascade Range, was selected
as the place to begin the Nation-wide forest survey (fig. 2). Extending 480 miles from north to south and varying in width from 100 to about 150 miles, this region has an area of more than 35 million acres, of which 29 million acres, or 83 percent, is forest land. Its long littoral exposure subjects most of it to humid westerly winds; its climate is charac- terized by equable temperatures, except in the high mountains, and moderate to heavy precipita- tion. Climatic conditions are particularly favor- able to conifer forest growth, and the region is noted for the luxuriance and density of its forest vegetation The forests of this region are almost exclusively conifer, and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia) is the. predominating tree, forming 60 percent or more of the stand on more than half the forest land (fig. 1). Important species commonly associated with Douglas-fir are western hemlock (Tsuga_hetero- phylla), western redcedar (Thwa plicata), Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), Pacific silver fir (Abzes amabilis), and noble fir (A. nobilis). Exceptions to the predominance of Douglas-fir are found in the forests on the cool, humid western slopes of the Coast Ranges and the Olympic Mountains known as the fog belt, where western hemlock and Sitka spruce are the outstanding species and Douglas-fir is occasionally entirely lacking. Again, on the higher slopes of the Cascade Range and _ the Olympic Mountains and occasionally on those of the Coast Ranges, the stands are made up prin- cipally of western hemlock, Pacific silver fir, noble fir, mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana), and western white pine (Pinus monticola). Latitudinally also, toward the cooler, northern extreme of the regicn, Douglas-fir forms a smaller percentage of
the stand, western hemlock and other species in- creasing in frequency; and on the dry exposures of the interior valleys and foothills of southern Oregon, Douglas-fir gives way to ponderosa pine (P. ponderosa).
Ficure 1.—Saw-timber stand of old-growth Douglas-fir near the Columbia River in western Washington averaging more than 40 inches in diameter and having a gross volume of about 125,000 board feet per acre. The trees in the picture measure from 5 to
6 feet in diameter.
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Major Phases of Survey
HE major phases of the Douglas-fir survey
were four—the inventory phase, the study of
forest depletion, estimates of forest growth, and a determination of present and future timber requirements. An analysis of this information for the purpose of developing principles and policies to make the forests contribute most in services region- ally and nationally leads inevitably into a consider- ation of land use planning, future supplies of timber in relation to industrial development and require- ments, and forest management. Although the requirements phase is discussed here only for the region, the subject is much broader than this; it is planned to integrate it with similar information from other regions for publication later as a report on forest-products requirements for the whole country.
The inventory phase of the forest survey was undertaken first in the spring of 1930. Its principal purposes were to obtain:
1. Volume of the present timber stands, by species and by ownership class.
2. Areas of the several types, by ownership class.
3. Areas of the immature-conifer types by age class and degree of stocking.
4. Maps showing location of each of the forest types.
5. A classification of timber stands according to economic availability for logging.
6. A classification of forest area according to site quality.
The existence of considerable information, par- ticularly on the merchantable timber areas which comprise about half of the 29 million acres in the Douglas-fir region, made it practicable to rely on checking and compiling the information already available from public or private cruises, maps, and reports. ‘This was supplemented with field exami- nations of all remaining areas.
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_ The work of the inventory phase was conducted in four steps: (1) Collection of all existing informa- tion, (2) checking and adjusting to a common standard all usable existing timber estimates, (3) field examination of areas not covered by usable information, (4) compilation of data collected.”
The immediate object of the depletion phase of the forest survey was to determine the quantity and kind of timber annually removed by cutting or killed by fire, wind throw, insects, disease, and all other causes; in short, the extent and character of the drain on the forest capital. The ultimate object was to obtain data needed for an analysis that would determine the trends of depletion and growth, present and potential, and the net result of the two trends.
Depletion as considered in this study does not include ordinary endemic losses due to such causes as diseases, surface fires, wind throw, and insects. Such normal losses have been allowed for in the construction of the yield tables used in calculating growth. Depletion as here considered involves only timber killed or removed by logging, by fires that kill entire stands, by windstorms of major intensity, and by insect epidemics.
To estimate the rate and quantity of current and potential growth in the forests of this region would be simple if rates of growth were constant for all conditions. Instead, they vary among individual trees according to species, age, and dominance; among individual forest stands according to type, site, average age, and stocking; and among aggre- gates of stands according to the growth character-
2 The organization of the field work and the detailed
procedure involved in each of these four steps are described in the Appendix, p. 146.
istics of individual stands. Stands more than 160 years of age were considered as a whole to have no present net growth. Although some stands above this age are increasing in merchantable volume, others are actually losing in merchantable volume; thus in these older stands losses due to mortality and to decay approximately balance growth. Stands not more than 160 years of age were classed as growing stands. For all these stands growth computations were made.
Four conceptions of rate of growth were con- sidered: Current annual growth, realizable mean annual growth, potential annual growth, and periodic growth. These terms as used in this report are defined as follows:
Current annual growth is the volume increase that took place in 1933.
Realizable mean annual growth is (1) mean an- nual growth from 1933 to 2032 of existing stands, or to dates earlier than 2032 for those areas which it is assumed will be depleted before that date, plus (2) mean annual growth on portions of areas now deforested or to be deforested that presumably will restock before 1952. These calculations were made for each of the three decades from 1933 to 1962.
Potential annual growth is the average quantity of timber that can be grown annually if all the
commercial conifer forest land produces 75 percent of full capacity.
Periodic growth is growth within a given period— in this study, 10 years. It was estimated for each of the three decades from 1933 to 1962. On the basis of these estimates and of assumptions as to future depletion, future inventories at 10-year intervals during that period were estimated.
The requirements phase of the forest survey consisted of a determination of present and prospec- tive requirements for wood products of the Douglas- fir region. Estimates of the quantities of these products needed in the future cannot be made solely on the basis of needs within the region. Interchange of products between regions necessitates determina- tion of future requirements on a national basis.
Obviously, this region with its enormous forest resources and comparatively sparse population can supply its requirements for practically all kinds of forest products indefinitely. The only wood prod- ucts consumed in this region that must be imported are small amounts of hardwood material such as flooring and interior finish, and articles manufac- tured of woods not grown in this region, such as certain kinds of furniture and implement handles. The principal sources of these items are eastern and southern United States, the Philippine Islands, South America, and Central America.
FE OPR SE ST RES OUR CES
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Methods and Specifications
279
Standards of Measurement
ment of the volume of standing timber, so that
estimates would be stable and could be cor- related with estimates for other regions and ad- justed to meet changing economic conditions. Standards were defined that conformed as far as practical with generally accepted concepts of utilization practices appropriate to current condi- tions. Inventory, growth, and depletion data are given in board feet, log scale in the body of this report. Lumber-tally equivalents are found in the appendix.
Timber-volume estimates were made in board feet, log scale, according to the Scribner Decimal C rule, and in cubic feet. The board-foot esti- mates included only the stems of living trees that would make at least one log meeting the following specifications: Conifers other than ponderosa pine and sugar pine, 32 feet long, 12 inches in diameter inside bark at the small end; ponderosa pine and sugar pine, 16 feet long, 10 inches in diameter inside bark at the small end; hardwoods, 8 feet long, 10 inches in diameter inside bark at the small end. Practically, this amounts to making the minimum specification for conifers other than these two pines the 16-inch diameter class (15.1 to 17.0 inches d. b. h.)? and that for ponderosa pine, sugar pine, and hardwoods the 12-inch diameter class @aEtetost3:0imehes d: b: h:)
Allowance was made in the volume estimates for decay, defects, and such breakage as is inevitable in logging. In other words, the estimates are for the net volume usable in saw-timber operations under good utilization practices.
|: WAS necessary to fix standards of measure-
3“T). b. h.” signifies diameter at breast height (41% feet above average ground level) outside bark.
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Probably the standards of utilization employed
- in the survey estimates are slightly more intensive
for the more valuable species, and considerably so for the less valuable species, than the average utilization standards of present-day saw-timber operators, Owing chiefly to the inclusion of trees as small as the 16-inch diameter class.
Cubic-foot volume was computed for the sound wood of stems only, from stump to 4-inch tip inside bark, limb wood and bark excluded, of all trees of or above the 6-inch (5.1 to 7.0 inches) diameter class.
The estimates cover all timber areas, including farm woods, outside the platted limits of muni- cipalities.
In order to obtain satisfactory estimates of volume of standing timber it was necessary to have for each of the commercial saw-timber species an accurate volume table that could be applied throughout the region. Investigation and check of the existing tables showed that some of them could be used as they were and others could be made usable by adjustment and extension to include larger trees, but that for some species new tables would have to be made. Volume tables used for the principal species are described in the appendix.
Species and Tree-Size Classification
An estimate of total volume of living timber was made and recorded separately for every species that usually attains saw-timber size and character and that was present in commercial types in quantity measurable according to survey standards. Also, an estimate of total volume of dead timber was made and recorded for Port Orford white-cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), western redcedar, and Alaska yellow-cedar (C. nootkatensis). (Owing to their durability and resistance to decay, dead trees
of these species have commercial value and are logged.) In some cases, separate estimates were made for certain size and age classes of timber of a single species; in some, estimates were combined for pairs of species having similar Sa cag tea and structural characteristics.
Species that usually do not attain saw-timber size in the Douglas-fir region include Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia) and some hardwoods.
Table 1 lists the species (27),* classes, and diam- eter ranges for which volume was recorded, with the symbols adopted for convenience in referring to them. As applied to Douglas-fir here and else- where in this report, ‘‘old growth” and “‘second growth” are relative terms distinguishing between the older timber and the younger, more rapid-grow- ing timber. Likewise, “large” and ‘“‘small” are used here as relative terms distinguishing between larger and smaller timber of a given type or species.
Type Definitions and Type Mapping
In primitive forests of the Douglas-fir region certain fairly definite major species associations and innumerable minor associations may be ob- served. Fire, cutting, and land settlement have added to the complexity of forest-cover conditions, and consequently to the difficulty of defining types. Each forest type recognized in this survey had to have some significance in forest management. Types had to be within practical limits in num- ber, and type definitions had to be such that types could be determined from office records, such as timber cruises, and could easily be recognized in the field and indicated on field maps. <A _ type scheme that had already been adopted by the Forest Service for intensive surveys partly fulfilled the requirements. On this foundation a scheme was finally evolved that stood the test of 4 years’ field use with few changes.
The forest-cover and land-use types recognized in the forest survey of the Douglas-fir region ° follow:
Nonforest Types
No. Nonforest land other than agricultural, including (7) barren areas too rocky, deficient in soil, or exposed to support a cover of either trees,
4 Italic numbers in parentheses refer to Literature Cited, p. 145.
5 Numbers preceding types relate to series of types listed for the entire Northwest.
TasiLe 1.—Species and diameter classes for which volume was
recorded CONIFERS Breast- Name and class Symbol pelea range Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia): Inches
Targeiold: erowth bas. sae oe ee eo nee DA 40+
Smallioldicrowth®=—-=—=- =e DB 22-40
barge second) er owithee cee: eee ena a ees ar DC 22-40
Smallisecond' growth seat ee eee DD 16-20 Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis):
Arges sao 2 SSeS hee ae ee ee Fao ee a SA 244+
Soma] eee a er ee errr SB 16-24 Engelmann spruce (P. engelmannii)_______________ ES 16-+- Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla):
SAT On eee een ere ee ey ane RI Anos HA 20+
Small Ae SP ee Pa ee ate ead yn LAs 258s HB 16-20 Mountain hemlock (7. mertensiana)_.__-_________- MH 16+ Western redcedar (Thuja plicata):
Lively Ss Te eee ae see eee eee Cc 16+
Deads esas es eens eee een Ne KC 16+ Port Orford white-cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoni-
ana):
Dives: 222 52 er PC 16+
PCa Ge Gee ea ene See ak anaes ee KPC 16+ Alaska yellow-cedar (C. nootkatensis)
AW ote ae ee ae a YC 16+ California incense-cedar (Libocedrus decurrens) ____- IC 16+ Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Jeffrey
pine (P. jeffreyi):
Targe: ke: 5 ee a ee eae Ho YIN 22+-
Small? 2 See YB 12-22 Sugar pine (P. lambertiana) SP 12+ Western white pine (P. monticola) and whitebark t
pine CP lalbicaulis =e eee Ww 16+ Lodgepole pine (P. contorta latifolia), shore pine
(P. contorta), and knobcone pine (P. attenuata)__| LP 16+ White fir (Abies concolor) and grand fir (A.
GTENGIS) eee Ns ele Sd TR amas ee | WE 16+ Noble fir (A. nobilis) and Shasta red fir (A. mag-
TLEFECESROSEENSTS) ween ee | NF 16+ Pacificisilverstin (Ana ma bilis) eee ere A 16+ Alpine fir/CAslasiocarpa) ee sea ee ee ATS 16+ Western larch (Larix occidentalis) and alpine larch
Go Slyalli) et ee ee ee er ee ec een eet ee Ay; 16+ Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) _____--___---_-___- R 16+
BROADLEAF TREES Red alder (Alnus rwbra)______________- eS aeeae RA 12+ Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana)______________ 0o 12+ Canyon live oak (Q. chrysolepis)___________________]| CLO 12+ California black oak (Q. kelloggii)_--______________- co 12+ Tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflora) --__----_. ----_-__- TO 12+ Northern black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa |
hastata) and quaking aspen (P. tremuloides)______ BC 12+ Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)_______________- | 12+ Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii) _________- 12+ Oregon ash (Frazrinus oregona)_____________________ 12+ California laurel (Umbellularia californica) _________ 12+ Golden chinquapin (Castanopsis chrysophylla) 12+ Western paper birch (Betula papyrifera occiden-
talis) and northwestern paper birch (B. papyri-
er Gi SILUCOT AGL) heme ee ee ee ee Sea WPB 12+
shrubs, or herbs; (2) grass, sagebrush, and brush areas on which the principal present vegetation is either grass, herbs, brush, shrubs, or sagebrush; and (3) cities, towns, and unmeandered water surfaces.®
No. 3. Agricultural land, including (7) areas cleared or cultivated for agricultural use, includ- ing pasture; and (2) stump pasture, logged-off or burned-off land from which stumps or snags have not been removed, now part of an operating farm unit and devoted chiefly to grazing. Usually, on such an area some attempt has been made to prop- agate forage plants by seeding or repeated burning.
Woodland Types
No. 4. Oak-madrone woodland, consisting of approximately 60 percent or more of any species of oaks (including tanoak) or madrone or any combination of these.
No. 514. Ponderosa pine woodland, in which ponderosa pine predominates and on which the trees are scattered, singly or in clumps, and form a very thin stand. Individual trees may or may not be of merchantable size and form.
Timberland Types
Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Douglas fir: A forest con- taining approximately 60 percent or more, by vol- ume, of Douglas fir—the characteristic forest west of the summit of the Cascade Range. ‘The five Douglas-fir types, differentiated by the sizes into which most of the volume falls, are (6) large old growth, 42 inches d. b. h. and more; (7) small old growth, 22 to 40 inches; (8) large second growth, 22 to 40 inches (coarse-grained timber yielding only a small percentage of the upper grades of lumber); (9) small second growth, 6 to 20 inches; (10) seedlings and saplings, mostly less than 6 inches.
Nos. 11, 12, and 13. Sitka spruce: A forest con- taining 50 percent or more, by volume, of Sitka spruce, rarely in pure stands, usually in mixture with Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar. The three Sitka spruce types are (11) large, 26 inches d. b. h. and more; (12) small, 6 to 24 inches; (13) seedlings and saplings, mostly less than 6 inches.
Nos. 14, 15, and 16. Western hemlock: A forest containing 50 percent or more, by volume, of
6 Bodies of water that have not been surveyed by the
General Land Office and that consequently are included in the official totals of land area.
western hemlock with varying quantities of Douglas- fir, western redcedar, Pacific silver fir, and Sitka spruce. The three western hemlock types are (14) large, 20 inches d. b. h. and more; (15) small, 6 to 20 inches; (16) seedlings and saplings, mostly less than 6 inches.
No. 17. Western redcedar, large: A forest con- taining approximately 40 percent or more, by volume, of western redcedar, in which most of the volume is in trees more than 24 inches d. b. h.
No. 18. Port Orford white-cedar, large: A forest in which 20 percent or more of the volume is in Port Orford white-cedar trees more than 30 inches
~d. b. h., with varying quantities of Douglas-fir
white fir, western redcedar, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and hardwoods.
No. 19. ‘‘Cedar,” small: A forest in which west- ern redcedar 24 inches or less in d. b. h. or Port Orford white-cedar 30 inches d. b. h. or less, or both, compose 40 percent or more, by volume, of the dominant stand, with some or considerable quantities of western hemlock, Sitka spruce, or Douglas-fir, or of two or all three of these species.
Nos. 20, 20A, 21, and 22. Ponderosa and sugar pine. The four types are (20) large ponderosa pine, in which the predominating trees are the so-called yellow pine, about 22 inches d. b. h. or more (about 150 or 200 years old or older), in which no material part of the stand has been cut; (20A) large sugar pine, containing 20 percent or more, by volume of sugar pine, never in pure stands, usually in mixture with Douglas-fir, pon- derosa pine, or white fir, in which most of the vol- ume is in trees 22 inches d. b. h. or more. (This type was mapped only outside the boundaries of national forests.) (21) Small ponderosa pine in which most of the trees are less than about 22 inches in diameter (less than 150 or 200 years old), either on an old burn or on an area that has been selectively cut, and in which the volume in trees 12 inches d. b. h. or more is ordinarily at least 1,000 board feet per acre; (22) ponderosa pine seedlings, saplings, and poles, on an old burn or on heavily cut-over land, most of the trees being less than 12 inches d. b. h. and the stand of larger trees, if any, amounting to less than 1,000 board feet of saw timber per acre.
Nos. 23 and 24. Fir-mountain hemlock: The two fir-mountain hemlock types are (23) large, in which most of the dominant trees are 16 inches
d. b. h. or more and of saw-timber character (mature stands not of this character are ordinarily included in the subalpine type); (24) small, most dominants less than 16 inches d. b. h., usually a young stand on an old burn.
Nos. 25 and 26. Lodgepole pine: A forest con- taining at least 50 percent, by volume, of lodgepole pine or knobcone pine, often pure. ‘The two types are determined by the size of 50 percent or more of the dominant trees: (25) Large, 12 inches d. b. h. and more; (26) small, less than 12 inches.
Nos. 27 and 28. White fir-larch-Douglas-fir: A mixed forest of greatly varied composition, con- sisting of two or more of the five species western larch, white fir, Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and lodgepole pine, in which ponderosa pine consti- tutes not more than 40 percent of the stand; limited to the range of western larch and prevalent on north and other cool slopes within the ponderosa The two types are determined by the size of the trees representing most of the volume: (27) Large, 20 inches d. b. h. and more; (28) small, less than 20 inches.
Nos. 29 and 30. White fir: Usually a mixed forest within the range of ponderosa pine and sugar
pine zone.
pine, containing 50 percent or more, by volume, of grand fir or white fir. The two types are deter- mined by the size of most of the dominant trees: (29) Large, more than 20 inches d. b. h. or 150 years in age; (30) small, less than 20 inches or 150 years.
No. 31. Hardwood: A hardwood forest, either pure or mixed, consisting predominately of one or more species other than oaks or madrone.
No. 32. Redwood: A forest containing approxi- mately 80 percent or more, by volume, of redwood, usually with some Douglas-fir and some Pacific madrone, tanoak, and other hardwoods.
No. 33. Subalpine: A forest at the upper limits of tree growth, usually unmerchantable because of poor form and small size, the principal components being alpine fir, mountain hemlock, Shasta red fir, lodgepole pine, whitebark pine, western white pine, and alpine larch.
Miscellaneous Types
No.. 34. This number was used as a prefix to type numbers to denote areas clean cut prior to 1920 or selectively cut at any time.
10
No. 35. Nonrestocked cut-over: An area clean- cut prior to 1920 on which less than 10 percent of the 13.2-foot squares are stocked, not put to other than forest use.
No. 36. Recent cut-over: An area clean-cut since the beginning of 1920, regardless of the status of regeneration.
No. 37. Deforested burn: Land not cut over on which the stand has been killed by fire and that is less than 10 percent restocked.
No. 38. Noncommercial rocky: An area of any species of timber within the range of commercial timber and below the range of the subalpine type that is too rocky, too steep, or too sterile to produce a stand of commercial size, density, and quality; ordinarily the stand averages less than 5,000 board feet per acre.
The scale decided on for type mapping was 1 inch to the mile. A larger scale would have led to excessive detail and made the cost more than was contemplated; a smaller one would not have pro- vided sufficient space for the field examiner to record data of the desired completeness. Obvi- ously, areas only a few acres in extent could not be mapped on the adopted scale. It was decided that all 40-acre or larger areas of commercial forest land—that is, land now bearing or capable of pro- ducing forests of commercial character—and agri- cultural land should be mapped, but that for non- commercial-forest land, barrens, etc., the minimum should be several hundred acres. Hardwood types, owing to their infrequent occurrence, usually as ‘‘shoestrings’’ along creek and river bottoms, were mapped if occupying areas as large as 20 acres. These limits are fixed not absolutely but merely as In all cases the field examiner was al- If he could con- veniently map a farm or a patch of conifer timber as small as 20 or 30 acres without slowing down the
a guide. lowed to exercise his judgment.
work he was at liberty to do so; if he was mapping an area low in values and difficult of access he was allowed to generalize more than if mapping an area of high values and easy access.
Classifications
Ownership Classes
Separation of forest type and volume data accord- ing to ownership was considered particularly im-
portant because of the high timber values involved and the large quantities of timberland in various classes of public ownership. Its usefulness has been emphasized by economic developments since the inception of this project. The subject of forest- land ownership is being carefully studied by economists, foresters, legislators, public officials, and the lumber industry. The break-down in private forest-land ownership (22) is a cause of particular concern and the subject of many studies. Ownership statistics were taken from the best public records available. It is recognized that ownership is constantly changing and that the totals given for individual ownership classes probably fail in many cases to coincide with sta- tistics from other sources. Both forest land and in- termingled nonforest land were classified as to own- ership. No distinctions were attempted as to the ownership of large bodies of agricultural land; they were all arbitrarily classified as privately owned. As applied to forest land,the own- ership classification was as follows:
Private. All privately owned forest prop- erty, including farm woods.
State, available for cutting.
State, reserved from cutting.
County. Forest property deeded to the county. (Tax-delinquent land not deeded to the county is classified as private.)
Municipal. Includes all municipally owned forest property outside the platted limits of municipalities.
Indian. Includes both tribal lands and trust allotments.
Revested land grant. Includes Oregon & California Railroad and other land grants that have reverted to Federal own- ership whether classified as timber, agri- cultural, or power withdrawals. GRAYS
Federal other than national forest and revested land grant.
Includes national
parks, military reservations, unappropri-
ated public domain and miscellaneous. National forest, available for cutting. National forest, reserved from cutting. National forest, State selection.
The term “reserved from cutting” as applied to State or national-forest land denotes areas unavailable for cutting because of statute, proclama- tion, or policy. Most land so classed had been officially dedicated to
BAUS (CENTRAL
Hoquiam Q or Cnenalls
Vara Sg @(Longview . RIVER] er Sen f ) SKAMANIA
watershed protection, to recreational use, or as national-forest primitive areas on which primitive conditions are to be maintained so far as possible for recreational purposes. The term ‘‘available for cutting’? means that there was no legal or formal prohibition on timber cutting; it does not imply the presence of timber ready for cutting or, in fact, of any timber at all.
National-forest areas designated as State selection areas are lands in the north Puget Sound unit that have been designated for exchange with the State of Washington in order to enable the State to con- solidate scattered land holdings.
Other Classifications
For convenience and facility of analysis and dis- cussion, the region was arbitrarily divided into 11 units (figs. 3 and 4). So far as was practical, the units were compact areas homogeneous as to eco-
>
SE ( 599 Riker rh seater Nie Anac6rtes skagit a \ SN SKAGIT
PUGET
WHATCOM
el
Port Angeles
[WariKiaKuM COLUMBIA 1 ' eS -
COWLITZ
@ pe! — Survey-unit boundary rol) —— - — County boundar S FoLaRK | dl ef si WAS'!HINGTON *Vancouver ee el pas of
Ficure 3.—Map of western Washington showing survey units, counties, and im-
portant drainages.
)) CLATSOP Wee UMBIA COLUMBIIA \
t e t
- ee RIVER), eee of
= rer
WASHINGS “Sa \. HOOD
TON Portland MULTNOMAH‘ RIVER
( Ti/LLAMOOK BAY 6)
NORTH ete
UMPQUA
DOUGLAS
RIVER
MILES QO 25 50 ——————e
O JACKSON Survey-unit boundary
JOSEPHINE ! — -— County boundary
| RIVER
'
Figure 4.—Map of western Oregon showing survey units, counties, and important drainages
to economic availability. Class |! includes timber that according to estimate could profitably be logged under the production and marketing conditions that prevailed during the period 1925-29; class II, timber that under those conditions could be logged at a loss of not more than $5 per 1,000 board feet; and class II], all other timber.
In order to calculate growth and volume of immature conifer stands. most of these stands were classified according to age, in 10-year classes, and according to density, in three degrees of stocking. If an area were 70- to 100-percent covered, according to the stocked-quadrat method of measurement (explained in the ap- pendix), it was classified as well stocked; if 40 to 69 percent, medium stocked; if 10 to 39 percent, poorly stocked; and if less than 10 percent, nonstocked.
The term “site quality’? denotes the forest-productive capacity of an area, determined by the composite effect of all climatic and soil con- ditions. Site-quality classifications based on height of dominant and codominant trees at a given age have been adopted for the Douglas- fir type and the ponderosa pine type.
The classification for Douglas-fir consists of five classes and that for ponderosa pine of six classes; in each case, the highest class is designated I. The Douglas-fir classification was employed for all forest-cover types in the region except ponderosa
nomic influences and industrial conditions. In pine, lodgepole pine, subalpine, oak-madrone,
most cases unit boundaries were made to coincide hardwood, and noncommercial rocky. The pon-
with county lines, so that data could be assembled derosa pine classification was used for all ponder-
by counties. It was impossible to establish abso- osa pine types except woodland. Land occupied
lutely self-contained units. by the other types listed was not classified by site Saw timber was ranked in three classes according quality.
LO MReeE aS mele mR SHi@) Wiis GE aS
ORE SE high ae Din@l WG Ie tA Ss. <oh el eRe SRE Gol iOUN
Forest Inventory
>>
NDOUBTEDLY the most important natural
resource of the Douglas-fir region is its forest
land, which comprises 29 million acres of the total land area of 35 million acres. Forest land com- poses approximately 85 percent of western Wash- ington and 81 percent of western Oregon. Approxi- mately 27 million acres is classified as commercial forest land. Although exceeded in forest area by nearly every other important forest region, in the United States, the Douglas-fir region, owing to the large size of its trees and the density of its forest stands, far exceeds any one of them in saw-timber volume. The total stand of saw timber at time of estimate was 546 billion board feet, log scale.
Puget Sound, which penetrates to the heart of western Washington (see type maps at end of report) was formerly surrounded by magnificent forests of old-growth Douglas-fir and western redcedar. Ease of logging and_ transportation attracted lumbermen to lands bordering the sound as early as the middle of the nineteenth century. Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay, on the coast of western Washington, offered almost equally at- tractive opportunities for forest exploitation. Prac- tically all the old-growth Douglas-fir forests of western Washington were within 30 to 40 miles of navigable waterways. Now western Washington, particularly in the vicinity of Puget Sound and Grays Harbor, is characterized by vast expanses of cut-over land largely barren of conifer growth. The remaining old-growth Douglas-fir stands in western Washington are principally in the eastern parts of Cowlitz and Lewis Counties. Extensive virgin forests of western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and western redcedar occur along the Washington coast, and on the upper slopes of the Cascade
224146° —40 2
Ke
Range throughout western Washington occur ex- tensive bodies of old-growth western hemlock and balsam fir-mountain hemlock. Large areas in the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Range in northwestern Washington are occupied by subal- pine and other noncommercial forests, or are bar- ren of tree growth chiefly because of altitude.
There are few extensive bodies of developed agri- cultural land in western Washington. The two largest are at the northern and southern extremes, in western Whatcom County near the Canadian border and in Clark County on the Columbia River.
The forest cover of western Oregon (see forest- type maps at end of report) differs materially in pattern from that of western Washington. Logging has removed the virgin timber from extensive areas in extreme northwestern Oregon, but almost unbroken stands of old-growth Douglas-fir cover the lower slopes and foothills of the Cascade Range practically the length of the State. Scattered throughout this timber belt are comparatively small bodies of second growth on old burns, small deforested burns, and cut-over areas. At higher elevations, reaching to the summit of the Cascade Range, is a mixture of western hemlock, balsam fir-mountain hemlock, noncommercial forests, and barrens. In parts of southwestern Oregon pon- derosa pine types predominate.
In the Coast Range of Oregon the virgin Douglas- fir forests are broken by extensive even-aged second- growth forests varying in age from 40 to 80 years. These are the result of several large fires that burned during the middle of the nineteenth century. Scattered throughout the Coast Range are a number of fairly large deforested burns, and in
the northwest is the great Tillamook burn, where roughly 380 square miles was deforested in 1933. Between the Cascade Range and the Coast Range in the north half of western Oregon is the fertile Willamette Valley, shaped like a cornu- copia. It contains more than 4,000 square miles, of which by far the greater part is farmed. Dotted throughout the valley are small woodlands. Other large agricultural areas in western Oregon are the Umpqua River and Rogue River Valleys. Throughout the Coast Range and Cascade Range
of both States, ribbons of farm land, and hardwoods border the lower stream courses.
Types and Areas
The areas of the individual forest-cover and land- use types recognized in the survey are given in table 2 by ownership class, together with a sum- mary by broad groups of types. Table 3 presents type areas by forest-survey units. Figure 5 com- pares acreages in the several generalized type classes and ownership classes.
Tas_e 2.—Area of all types in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership class, 1933
INDIVIDUAL TYPES
| ] State Federally owned or managed , | Muni- | | National forest Type name and No. Private Avail Reserv-|County cipal | Revest- Total able forjed from Indian | ed land 7 | S| ce 2} cutting euitivg acco iakeoe | cutting | cutting| tion! 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 acres acres | acres acres | acres acres | acres acres | acres acres | acres | acres Nonforest land other than agricultural (2)____- 549. 2 13.9 0.5 9.9 | 7.9 4.2 39. 1 435.0 193.1 | 4.3 197.9 | 1,455.0 ‘Asriculturall(3)#oss-o=ses= = ane ae eee | 4,611.5 12.3 1.9 17.1 1.8 | 5.8 | 12.0 19h | Dats es |S 6.2 | 4,670.5 Oak-madrone woodland (4)------------------- 224. 7 1.3 @) | 6.4 8 | 4] 46.2 O79) |Ea ane e | Steen 16.6 | 364.3 Ponderosa pine woodland (5%) ---_--__- QTE 8a\n 18) | eee 3.8 oi bse S140 | Bokeh Mae sg eee 72) |= a5aea Douglas-fir: arg e.old growth (6)c--2 222 Se 2,157.5 115.5 1.4 25.3 5.3 7.8 313.6 607.5 35. 1 -3 30.1 | 3, 299.4 Smallloldterowthi(7)22-- = 2 ee nee 921.6 22.5 aul 36.0 7.0 -8 | 589.9 |1, 905. 2 2955) |b aoeees 52.1 | 3, 565.3 Large second growth (8) ------------------ 1, 425. 4 57.9 122) 45.3 SZ 7.9 | 339.3 | 728.0 yf {| 2-=e oneal ME Sonla|pe2N641e6 Small second growth (9)_ -_...-----.2=---- | 2,416.2 127.6 5.0 121.1 8.6 15.6 243.4 597. 1 26.10 2a ae 131.5 | 3,692.2 Seedlings and saplings (10)_____-_________ | 1,291.3] 61.2 35 || AE) ||6 WoaEe BRAN mes 5 7208 [eo 2759i|) 37230 | see 32.0 | 2,110.5 Sitka spruce: | | Target (11) ean ee eee Ses a Sere ty a 135.6 | 10.5 4 2.5 oY) 0:74 psec 25.2 [pI ease 4.6] 189.8 Small. 2) Bese 5s a ee a eee 41.2 n5 Bal 2.5 all 45 |Ea oR oeees Da Dhy | Sener | Lea .6 47.6 Seedlings and saplings (13)--_._-_-__----__- 10. 2 5} eee 6 (3) On a) fee el eee (3) 12.0 Western hemlock: Toarger(ls) her este Sok en ant ease 976. 1 212.8 .4 22. 5 10.8 51.6 4.3 871.7 50. 1 1/2 45.7 | 2,247.2 Smalli(ls)2eeeas. on ee ee 284.40) 1450 te 4s: 4.4 1.0 Bis 33.8 2:6 G| Seen 11.2 366. 0 Seedlings and saplings (16)____--_-------_- 179.8 27.4 mill 14.8 2.0 6 ab) 14.6 2A | eae 1.5 243.3 Western redcedar, large (17) - ----------------- 192.5 49.4 Bal 3.9 -8 62.5 5 71.3 6.3 a .9 388.7 Port Orford white-cedar, large (18)--_---_____- 27.4 ea (yb eee 2 Bray ssa ee 5.6 SRS arene. |Saeanes (3) OB a7. * WedaraesmalliG!9) sesso sae ee nae eens 23.4 5) a3 .9 (he |Saeeeeee Bal Gy | Dime tess | |e a | ee 25.8 Ponderosa pine: Wwargel(20))2s=8 seek eee SAIN te Seem se 92.6 alt) (3) 6.5 572, | 100. 5 8580) | ees | aes 162) 293.5 Small (21) 42.2 er in) eee a 5. 2 17.5 10533)22ee—— a) Rae BuY/ 79.1 Seedlings and saplings (22).__-_-____-____- 88.6 BAYT ge oe 10.6 36.5 TSM | Foye i 8.4 153. 2 Sugar pine, large (20A)--:-+---=----_-_-_==--== 13h | saa ee ae | eee 5.8 36;31)| 222s son |e eae | Sieeeee 4.4 97.8 Fir-mountain hemlock: | Targen (23) ete a Ge cera 208.2 | 67.0 5 3.1 8.7 5.5 8.0 |1,130.7 | 85.9 .4| 91.3 | 1,609.3 Smialli(Q4) ee ose 2 a ee ee 229) ce tee ee ee 0 GN eee 3.5 212.8 3154)|2 So 2.4 | 273.9 Lodgepole pine: TAL BOt CD) nae ae ee ae AL ee eee Ds |e cell eee re [Pen S| eee Oy” pa SLM GH | acess a | ool cc aoe (3) | 351 Smalli(26)2s2 ee 5 EET ee ales 33.1 1.0 ar) 155 (3) 5 | ees 30 (22742) eho) | meen 2.1) 269.9 White fir-larch-Douglas-fir: | Nargel(27)) sana es nee epee meee eee elie) | See tees |e, | eee ey Re Ey he eae 30. 4 GAO | sameeren Sal | 37.6 Siralll((23) eae een Soe eee 25), | kets en | Beet. Base By eel eee ee 22.7 5:8) | reese |e | 30.9
1 Designated for exchange with the State of Washington.
2 Of the 981.1 thousand acres listed under ‘‘Other Federal,’’ 563.9 thousand acres is included in Rainier National Park and Mount Olympus National
Monument, and therefore is not available for cutting. 3 Less than 50 acres.
14
Tasie 2.—Area of all types in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership class, 1933—Continued
State Federally owned or managed ; | iMETAE National forest | Type name and No. Private | 4 vail pen County cipal Revest. Total , c . ; l 3 ear cutting Indian ed/and Avail- |Reserv-| State | Other & able for |ed from| selec- cutting | cutting} tion ae: 1, 000 1,000 1, 000 1,000 1, 000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1, 000 1,000 1,000 1,000 White fir: acres acres acres acres acres acres acres acres acres acres acres acres IGATZON(29) wees wee eee eee 20. 6 0565) eaeeeee- (hf fi | 0.1 16. 2 SOL 8) (cee ee eee 0.5 69.5 Sia le( 30) eee ee cee ee 639) ones |e! iy eee BA) bree 3.8 359i | es ae ee ee 56} 15.0 Mardwoodsi(sl)e2 ss = 584. 1 16.0 2 | 27.3 | 2.8 10.7 12.9 86. 2 OM See 12) 1 753.3 Redwood (32) __- gC al es | RE [Bere wees Wee Seyler s fal JN | ae enn |e ete ae 1.6 Subalpines (33) eee eae ema ae eo ee 67.5 (Ac) | eee ee elec MON | ease 2.4] 664.1] 232.5] 1.6] 185.7 | 1,162.9 Old cut-overs, nonrestocked (35)_-___________- 576. 2 24.6 1 24.7 12.0 11.4 7.0 5:61) sees [rien ee 3.9 665.5 RecentsCut-OVversi(s0) eee a ee en 1, 824. 2 94.0 1.4] 72.5 (a6 27.5 70.6 | . 54.1 @)i4 / Eee 8.1 | 2,160.0 Deforested burns, nonrestocked (37)__________ 626. 5 30.3 .4} 95.9 7} 1.3 168.9 | 499.1 ZONE Ness cca 64.9 | 1, 534.7 Noncommercial rocky areas (38) -_____________ rer y| 6.1 3.0 2.6 oul! 4052 722) |! 312: 9 41.7 | 5 14.7 504. 4 | | | | | | | DRO RU nade ae are ee ee 19,814.6 | 977.2 18.7 657. 0 110.6 270.4 |2,165.9 |9, 281.6 841.6 8.8 | 981.1 |35, 127.5 | | GENERALIZED TYPES INontforestiland'|(2:andi3) Ss22 =e <a eee 5, 160. 7 26.2 | 2.4 27.0 9.7 10.0 OL 436.9 193.1 4.3 204.1 | 6,125.5 ardwoodetimbers(3)) es a= ea ees | 584. 1 16.0 2 27.3 | 2.8 10.7 12395) ~ 86332) POM ee es 12:11 753.3 Conifer saw-log timber (5%,! 6, 7, 8, 11, 14,17, | | “i | 1Se20 20 Ave 23274820 anda o2)eena see ee | 6,229.4 | 537.8 4.7 155. 1 34.8 145.9 |1, 433.6 |5, 492.4 216. 7 | 2.4 275.1 |14, 527.9 = | | | | Conifer timber smaller than saw-log size (9, 12, | | 15, and 21): Onvcut-ovema\reas see ae eee ee 1, 020. 5 23.0 iisal 39.8 8.3 10.3 BiGs |= Se Bee 8 | eee | ee 767 |) 1922 Ontoldiburnss 22a eee eee eee 1, 763.5 119.2 4.0 103. 1 4.9 6.7 252.8 643. 4 28 ih) paces 139.4 | 3,065.7 Le | | 7 | TS 0 Gel pee en PRA Bee ee OS et 2, 784.0 142. 2 551 142.9 13.2 17.0 261. 4 643. 4 28.7 aseaaaae 147.0 | 4,184.9 Conifer timber, seedling and sapling (10, 13, | 16, and 22): Onicut-over areas sees a ee a 1, 190. 7 53. 0 3 67.0 26.6 5.5 8.3 25.5 BU yi | eta 9.9 | 1,388.3 Ontoldiburns™ eas rea 379. 2 36.8 3 30.3 1.9 5 86.5 525. 4 BY Mitel bye 32.0 | 1,130.7 PANO UN ae EN ae 1, 569.9 89.8 6 97.3 28. 5 6.0 94.8 550. 9 BON St | eee 41.9 | 2,519.0 Conifer timber, small mixed types (19, 24, 28, and 30): | Onvcut-overiareass=== as ee 20.5 4 2 iT al eee mel te qa .8 eA i eee te 23.1 ‘Onroldiburns=s34=e46 =e et ee 34.9 | ill 1 1.3 oth | See. 7.3 239. 2 36.8 | Sects 2.7 | 322.5 | MOOS Re See Es ee 55. 4 5 3 | 2.0 SEM sates ee 7.4 240.0 37. 2 jacetece| Pell 345.6 Noncommercial (4, 514,4 25, 26, 33, and 38)_____ 404. 2 15.8 Bi} 12.3 | 1:7; 40.6 58. 2 |1, 273.0 278. 4 | pHa 221.3) |) 22311ed Recenticut—overs(36) he | 1,824.2 94.0 NG Chat = Pas 7.6 2725 70.6} 654.1 Cit |e | 8.1 | 2,160.0 Old cut-overs, nonrestocked, and deforested-) | | | | burnetypesi(ssandisy) ise ssou- = oe Se el 202207) 111) 9042.9, | 5 120.6 12,2 12:7 175.9 | 504.7 ATS 25 see ee | 68.8 | 2, 200.2 WG tall epee een ae | 19,814.6 | 977.2| 187] 657.0| 110.6 | 270.4 |2, 165.9 |9, 281.6 | 841.6 8.8 | 981.1 |35, 127.5 | | | |
3 Less than 50 acres.
4 6,510 acres of type 5%4 in Josephine County, Oreg., is classified here as noncommercial.
15
Tasle 3.—Area of all types in the Douglas-fir region, by State and forest-survey unit, 1933
Western Washington 2 | | Type name and No. aan North | Central | South Gra color Puget Puget Puget Harbor Wash. Total Sound Sound | Sound ington 1,000 1,009 1,000 1,000 1,009 | 1,090 | 1,000 acres acres acres acres acres | -acres | acres ‘Nonforest Jand otherithan/acriculturall(2)2=222--- en ee eee 1, 455.0 467.3 370.0 22.6 89.7 58.9 1, 008. 5 Agriculturali(S) se ee eee ee ee Sees Ree 4,670.5 450.9 343.5 257.0 79.4 284.5 1, 415.3 Oak-madrone-woodland:(4)c-- 22 Sea ee Se eS eee ae 364.3 eal 2.2 23 3 aul 3.0 Ponderosa: pines woodlandii(54) 2a sse hae ee ee ee ee ea GOA esos eB bee oe TE S| as ee |e ee | ee Douglas-fir: Large old growth (6)________ . 4 143.9 285.0 367.0 186. 2 296. 2 1, 278.3 Small old growth (7) __-_-_-- BS) 59. 6 306. 9 24.0 11.8 20.1 422.4 qargee'second: sro wbhi(8) = Se ee ne ee ee ee eee eee .6 120. 2 152. 2 252. 6 39.1 166.7 730.8 Smallisecond‘erowthi(9) 2. see ee oe Se eee By 310.3 525. 6 232. 5 51.7 347.7 1, 467.8 Seedlingsiand’saplings!(10)= 222-2 ae Se es ee ee ees ee 5 230. 7 549. 6 224. 2 108. 9 232.1 1, 345.5 Sitka spruce: Targe! (il) 222k. 2a. So Bn Se ee Ee ee 189. § 69.3 1.8 98. 3 Small (12) 47.6 9.2 3.9 14.0 Seedlings and saplings (13) 12.0 1:3} | See 1.3 Western hemlock: Targe (14) 2S a0 oS oa ae eet ee ee 2, 247. 2 420.8 587.3 84.7 676.8 136.7 1, 906. 3 Smalli(15) eso — se ee oe ee a oe ee ee ee ee 366. 0 46.5 58.9 325 125.8 29.6 264. 3 Seedlings‘and'saplings: (16)= 22s) — a ee ee Se te 243.3 28. 2 85.0 132 85.3 11.9 211.6 Western redcedar, large (17) -_---__- 388. 7 6 3 pial 1.3 8 Hal Port Orford white-cedar, large (18) __ 38.7 “<¢Cedar!?:smallt(19)t< 5. es See ea ae ee ee ee ee 25.8 Ponderosa pine: Tyarge;(20)2 se oe pa Se ee ee eee eee eee OLR Bi (aces Be ee eed Bee ee 5.0 5.0 Small\(Q)) reese a ee ee ee ee a ne eae ee ee TOM lig | eee eee 38), |Ressce s- 22/222 SE be eae .8 Seedlingsiand(saplingsi(22)= = 2. ace es eee ee 5329) 5ee ee pel BRE Oe oo ose MS SS ee es |e Sugar’ pine; larse(Q0:A) oe ee a ee eet es ee ee 978) | sean eg SAE eel ES Fe SS | Fir-mountain hemlock: Targe; (23) i252 2S = Soe SS SN A oS ate ora ee ee 1, 609. 3 325. 5 250. 6 105. 6 169. 0 142.6 993. 3 Small (24) 2a sce ee ee ee eee 273.9 20. 6 25. 5 22.2 ~2 84.8 153.3 Lodgepole pine: Targei(25) 8-22: 25. 2 SS 2 ee ee ee 3310) |S mt 2d | eae rea Oe = = «2 Smalli(26) S225 2 Se ee ee ee ok Fee a en ee 269.9 6.0 4.2 -8 2.3 13.3 26. 6 White fir-larch-Douglas-fir: MATEO (27) <2 Sse oeets 2 See Se beens Read Ee SD ee ee ee BY Ti eeeena tas OU ES ee 2 Be ES IS | Pees SS es 14.9 14.9 Small (28) 2222s Se eee ee SS eee er Bese ee a 3059) | Pee | ee on |bneseeees 9.9 9.9 White fir: Margei(20)i 7. Sa. oa Se Sa ae es Sos es eo eee ee ee 69.5 44 1.6 Q) 92 eames 0 Smealll\(30) 22s 22252552 Se Ee as ee en eee 15.0 35 1 ae ee pees 1.0 1.6 lard woodsi(30) 20 == ono ee ee Se eS oe ee ee Ree 753. 3 134. 2 102. 2 35.5 60.9 20. 4 353. 2 Redwood (32) _----- OER] NS ere Oe ol ee i) beeces Salles 2 | eee eee Subalpine (33) 1, 162.9 590.5 341.6 37.8 74.1 47.9 1,091.9 QOldicutowers!(35)-ce2= 3 225 A OE es eee 665. 5 149.8 202. 6 28.0 62.5 82.9 525.8 Reécenticut-overs: (36) <2 Se Sa ae Se ee ee ee eee 2, 160. 0 205.8 483. 2 294.9 323.9 133.2 1. 441.0 Deforested burns; nonrestocked) (3/222. 2 2. aa ee ee eee 1, 534. 7 73.8 63.1 16.7 6.2 206.0 365.8 Noncommercialirocky-areas!(38)_- ==- -- <= 222 25 pass os ee eee esse 504. 4 116.8 79.1 abs? 63.3 | 30.7 301.6 | | Total = 2222. S252. ere a Se ee eee 35, 127.5 4, 043.9 4,910.0 | 2, 027.5 | 2, 475. 3 2, 392. 6 15, 849. 3
1 Less than 50 acres.
16
Tasie 3.—Area of all types in the Douglas-fir region, by State and forest-survey unit, 1933—Continued
Type name and No.
Western Oregon
1 ia} Willa- Nort Sout | “River, | mette | Oregon | Oregon | Umpaual Rogue | tay Oregon River coast coast 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 acres acres acres acres acres acres acres Nonforest land other than agricultural (2) 124.0 101.9 23.3 44.9 15.3 137.1 446.5 Agricultural’ (3) -—------—-------_---=---------- 603.6 | 1,753.2 141.4 167. 6 342.7 246.7 | 3,255.2 Oak-madrone woodland (4) ______ 7.1 Olona ee 78.6 76. 2 148.1 361.3 PONG CrosasDineswOOdlanda (51/4) aaa ee mete ee ee ee eer rere et ere Liaenie |i Sn elite UE oie eS |e ee ee 54. 4 54, 4 Douglas-fir: eargeyoldterowUly (6) eae ee ee eee ene eee eee ene eee —— 210. 4 806. 1 167.1 333. 9 397.5 106.1 2,021.1 Smallioldierowthi ee oases see Se ee ee ee eee ee 248. 3 834. 8 22.6 433. 2 816.8 787. 2 3, 142.9 Ieargeisecond!erowithi (8) sess es ees ee ee a 159.0 614.8 359. 1 242.2 492.9 42.8 1,910.8 Small second growth (9)_____- Se ee ee ee ene Nel re At 428. 4 708. 7 138. 4 435.6 327.3 186.0 2, 224.4 Seedlingstandisaplings((10)hsseeee sae ana see eee er es 269. 5 282. 6 28. 2 64. 0 77.0 43.7 765. 0 Sitka spruce: AT EC CLil!) Sewn es Se Oe Sere ee nes Boe ceo o een a ees oee ee oe 19.9 52. 2 LO aN eee ee Shrew Ors Sm 8) | (1.2) Sas eae oe ee . = 2.3 17.9 BIA a Pos | ea ae 33.6 Seedlingsiandtsaplingesi (13) so s22= a Se a ee eee eos Ee 1.9 6.1 Qarle, | pate = oa el eee eee 10.7 Western hemlock: arco (14) Eee nae es eee eee eer ae Oe ne eee 340.9 Sim alll (5) seas eat eae see See eee aeons sees coke eee et eee 101.7 Seedlings and saplings (16) ___ 31.7 Western redcedar, large (17) _----_----------- 12.6 Port Orford, white-cedar, large (18) Es 38.7 COOH ery oa ON OOS) a i a re a ee ee 6.9 Ponderosa pine: GAT Sey (20) seen are wae seen Slee oe Ue tke Re en Jo Sew ence eae Tk 2:2 Oy|eas=- ese _- 11.4 34.3 240.0 288.5 Sm al li(2 1) tera ee ek oe ret a coe a ee Seen EF ay HO bssavet nese bake 12.0 65.8 78.3 Seealingsandisaplinest(22)\es nese a ae eee eee ee Oe ae ee ee .6 9) Hie a ee tony [eee eee ee veal 150.3 153. 2 SAYRE yop tote) METERS) (COUN) a ae a eS ae ee | pee Pe el ea Gi [-=22-2 2222 97. 2 97.8 Fir-mountain hemlock: Large (23) 122.6 298. 3 3.6 151 144.1 46.3 616.0 Small (24) 67.5 AQHA. 8 Se ee eee 2 3.6 8.9 120.6 Lodgepole pine: ILERRS (QA) os ose Se SE SS I ee |e 5 5 -8 Dele asx eon 2.9 S711 D126) eset eed ee ree en Be ee ie oe Doe ee erat we ood 19. 2 116.1 12.5 25. 7 63. 0 6.8 243.3 White fir-larch-Douglas-fir: Large (27) 22.7 Small (28) 21.0 White fir: DOA ERS OTE) ) ec a a a ee ee eee 2.6 US OM eee nee we 5.1 1.6 56.3 67.5 Sinn ea) (0) pee a ee ee Ne ee eae es -6 PS Re eee 3.5 ree 5.9 13.4 JET arc OOCSK(S 1) Beer rete ne ee te OS eR SE SSE ues Seen = Wwe Sele ol 58.6 69.9 226. 4 40.9 9 3. 400. 1 TRICO OOO CPD) a eo Se OE Le er ea Fea ae ON ae eos | ee 1.6 Sibal piney (33) Mere eee eae ae ee eee oe eee ea oe ek ooe ek 2h Po Sa ee eee (a aac ae 15.7 7.0 71.0 OTGECUtSOVELST (GD) eee ee ar ea en ee ee Ae ee eee 86.7 32.1 325) 12.8 4.1 5 139.7 Recent cut-overs (36) = 303. 5 209.3 70.8 89.5 19.3 26.6 719.0 iDeforestedsburns snonrestockedt (37) e=ss2--- anne ae oe 132. 6 151.5 303. 6 213. 4 76.8 291.0 1, 168.9 INGncommMercialinocksysaredsy(o8) se ee eee ee al ee 10.3 30. 6 6 79.0 Tad 75,1 202. 8 CROC al eee aameie cet ae env ucvendi eee oon te ee tal le 3,224.0 | 6,209.0 | 1,712.9] 2,362.8 2,936.1 | 2,833.4 | 19,278.2
1 Less than 50 acres.
Ly)
GENERALIZED
FOREST TYPE ee
SAW TIMBER
SEGOND GROWTH
NON- COMMERCIAL
NONRESTOCKED CUT-OVERS AND BURNS
REGENT CGUT-OVERS
HARDWOOD
bo
Nonforest Land
The ‘‘agricultural land” category takes in culti- vated fields and orchards and also stump pasture, included in operating farm units, on which oper- ators are making definite efforts to improve the forage by clearing, seeding, fencing, or other measures (fig. 6). It does not include the large acreage of cut-over land that is used as free range This land is grazed casu- Usually
no attempt is made to convert it to permanent
by neighboring farmers. ally and, in many instances, in trespass.
(e) ine) BS
18
pasture. It is not an uncommon practice to burn this type of land in an attempt to improve the grazing. Most of the 444 million acres classed as agricultural was orginally forested and is capable of again growing forests if not devoted to other use. The ‘‘nonforest land other than agricultural’’ is chiefly land that will not support tree growth, because of soil, climate, or topography. It includes sand beaches, rock barrens, swamps, mountain meadows, roads, and urban and industrial sites. Of the 115 million acres in this class more than two- thirds is in Washington, where the Cascade Range
is more rugged and has a more severe climate than in Oregon.
Conifer Sawlog Types
The conifer saw-timber types occupy 14.5 million acres, or more than 40 percent of the region’s total land area and more than 50 percent of its forest land. Practically all the saw-timber volume in the region occurs in the types making up this group. The average stand per acre of these types approxi- mates 35,000 board feet. Figure 7 shows the extent of saw-timber stands contrasted with that of second- growth stands. About 60 percent of the saw-timber type area is in Oregon and 40 percent in Washing-
ton. OLD-GROWTH DOUGLAS-FIR
Nearly all the cutting in this region has taken place in old-growth Douglas-fir forests, chiefly in type 6 stands averaging more than 40 inches d. b. h. It is estimated that before logging began old-growth Douglar-fir timber covered about 14 million acres. Of the 6.9 million acres remaining, three-quarters is in western Oregon.
Old-growth stands in western Washington are predominantly mixed; in western Oregon predomi-
nantly pure. In the region as a whole they average about 80 percent Douglas-fir. The most common associates are western hemlock, western redcedar, Pacific silver fir, and noble fir. The understory consists usually of western hemlock, western red- cedar, bigleaf maple, and red alder. The alder is generally limited to the stream courses. Along the larger rivers northern black cottonwood is found. Tree species much less commonly present in these types are Sitka spruce along the coast, Pacific yew, western chokecherry (Prunus virginiana demissa), and in southern Oregon ponderosa pine, sugar pine, Port Orford white-cedar, golden chinquapin, tan oak, California laurel, and Pacific madrone.
The underbrush of these types is characteristically dense and luxuriant. Salal (Gaultheria shallon), vine maple (Acer circinatum), salmonberry (Rubus spectab- iis), Oregon-grape (Odostemon aquifolium), and devils club (Fatsia horrida) are the most common brush species.
Stand volume per acre ranges from 10,000 to more than 175,000 board feet and averages about 60,000 board feet for the large old growth and 40,000 board feet for small old growth. Douglas-fir sawlog-size trees range in diameter from 16 to more than 100 inches.
325635
Figure 6.—Stump pasture, classified in the survey as agricultural and definitely out of forest production. In background, patches of forest such as are found throughout the Willamette Valley and other large agricultural areas in the Douglas-fir region.
Large old growth occurs on better sites and usu- ally at lower elevations than the smaller type. Small old growth is common in the Cascade Range of Oregon but seldom occurs in the Coast Range except in southern Oregon. It is found along the west shores of Puget Sound and on Hood Canal, a district of comparatively low precipitation and gravelly soil.
A very large proportion of the original area of large old growth was privately owned, and after three decades of large-scale logging about two- thirds of the present area is privately owned. Most of the small old growth is on national-forest land, little of which has been cut over.
DOUGLAS-FIR SECOND-GROWTH SAW TIMBER
About 28 percent of the total Douglas-fir saw- timber type area is occupied by second growth
(type 8), nearly three-quarters of it in western Oregon.
Second-growth saw-timber stands are nearly all even-aged. Most of them range from about 90 to 160 years. On the better sites and in the more open stands Douglas-fir trees reach a breast-high diam- eter of 20 inches as young as 60 years and 40 inches by 120 years. Asa general rule, however, Douglas- fir even on sites I and II does not attain a 40-inch d. b. h. if the stand is closed until it reaches the age of 150 years, after which growth slows down.
These stands occur chiefly on old burns. They are usually pure averaging for the region as a whole between 85 and 90 percent Douglas-fir. Volume per acre ranges from 10,000 to 125,000 board feet and averages about 45,000 feet. A very considerable amount of logging is taking place in this type, principally to supply logs to small mills
TYPE CLASS NATIONAL ALL AND SPECIES PRIVATE FOREST OTHER SAW-TIMBER TYPES Oa’! !2' 2a’ a’ aa"! Oe yy DOUGLAS -FIR penne, § WI) PULP SPECIES Reeeeeeeeeteeernes ZG OTHER SPECIES iy Z SECOND-GROWTH TYPES DOUGLAS -FIR Rese WZ. xX PULP SPECIES MY A | OTHER SPECIES j A Oo te a ee a ig a ae a one eee
MILLIONS OF ACRES
Figure 7.—Areas of saw-timber and second-growth types in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership class,
cutting railroad ties. Most of the pole and piling material produced in the region is derived here. The comparative accessibility of a large portion of the area accounts for much of the premature logging of these young stands.
MISCELLANEOUS SAWLOG TYPES
Of the other sawlog types the most important is western redcedar (17), occurring almost exclu- sively in western Washington, in low, moist situa- tions, rarely in pure stands. Much of the early logging in the Puget Sound district was in this type, and logging in it is still extensive.
The large Port Orford white-cedar type (18) occupies less than 39,000 acres, all in southwestern Oregon. The stands are seldom pure, the usual associate being Douglas-fir. Because of its high stumpage value this type has been actively ex- ploited in recent years. Most of the cutting has taken only the ‘‘cedar.”’
Next in importance to the ‘“‘cedar”’ types are the large ponderosa and sugar pine types (20 and 20A). These are practically restricted to the Rogue River and Umpqua River units, where they have con- Their stand volume is usually much less than that of the types previously discussed, ranging from about 5,000 to 30,000 board feet per acre and averaging about 15,000 feet.
The large white fir-larch-Douglas-fir type (27) is unimportant west of the Cascade divide, and the redwood type (32) is restricted to a few acres in extreme southwestern Oregon.
siderable commercial importance.
PULPWOOD TYPES
The pulpwood types are composed of the large spruces, hemlocks, and balsam firs, which at present find their chief use for this purpose.
Of these types, which occupy in all 4.1 million acres, large western hemlock (type 14) is the most widespread, since it is found at practically all elevations within the range of commercial forest growth (sea level to about 4,000 to 5,000 feet elevation) and almost throughout the length of the region (fig. 8). Eighty-five percent of its area, however, is in two large belts in western Washing- ton extending the length of the State, one a coastal belt about 20 miles wide and the other along the
2
Ficure 8.—Western hemlock, the Douglas-fir region's chief pulp
species, extensive stands of which occur along the coast and on the
upper slopes of the Cascade Range. The region has 105 billion board feet of this species
upper slopes of the Cascade Range between the Douglas-fir and balsam fir-mountain hemlock zones. The type has been little exploited except Some stands are as much as 40-percent Douglas-fir and
at the low elevations accessible to tidewater.
are logged primarily for that species.
The next most prevalent pulpwood type is the large fir-mountain hemlock (type 23), the principal constituents of which are Pacific silver fir, noble fir, Shasta red fir, mountain hemlock, western hem-
lock, and Engelmann spruce. This type occurs commonly at the higher elevations of the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains and occasionally at the extreme elevations of the Coast Range. Because of its comparative inaccessibility and the unsuitability of its constituent species for sawlogs, it has little present commercial value and practi- cally no logging is taking place in it. Future exploitation will probably be almost exclusively for pulpwood.
The larger Sitka spruce type (11) occurs only in a coastal belt rarely more than 10 miles wide. The common associates are western hemlock, western redcedar, and Douglas-fir. Although its acreage is relatively small, this type has been logged exten- sively for sawlogs and pulpwood. During the
World War much of the type 11 area was partially logged for airplane spruce.
White fir (type 29) occurs on a small area only. More than three-quarters of the area is in southern Oregon. The remainder is principally in stream bottoms in small patches rarely exceeding 80 acres. Large white fir is occasionally cut for pulp-
wood by farmers and woodcutters.
Conifer Types Less Than Sawlog Size
Immature stands consisting chiefly of trees below sawlog size cover 7 million acres. The continued growth of these stands and their protection against fire and premature cutting are most essential for the future saw-timber supply. Table 4 and figure 9 show their area, by age and stocking.
TABLE 4.—Area of certain immature conifer forest types in the Douglas-fir region, by age class and degree of stocking, 1933
| ; | | Good | Medium) Poor | Allstock- Type and age class (years) stocking stocking| stocking] ings | Douglas fir, small second growth: 1,000 acres|1,000 acres|1,000 acres|1,000 acres D0) se ens Pe eae 60.9 88.7 24.6 174. 2 BO ee ee en) eee 348.9 385. 2 72.8 806.9 AQ Verne re a ae eA 395. 4 424.6 85.4 905.4 50 ete eee 277.3 273.5 63. 2 | 614.0 6022s Saas e e 206. 4 312.4 58. 4 577.2 7(U epee Sac. Pee See a 190. 6 198.8 24.8 414. 2 || 43.0 57.4 20.5 120.9 24.8 18.8 12 44.8 || 10.1 19.1 5.4 34.6 || 1, 557.4 | 1,778.5 356.3 | 3,692.2 || lings: 392. 2 586. 7 363. 5 1, 342, 4 || 291.2 283.8 63. 4 638. 4 81.1 41.1 5.3 127.5 Dez, AT | Sages 1.8 23 Hi |f Satu 4 766. 5 911.8 | 432.2 2,110.5 | | 1.0 Dish |powee as 3.3 | 5.1 5.2 3 10.6 |, 7.6 5.3 Ao} 1351} -5 3 sek 9 6.1 5.9 1.3 13.3 WE wy i Sud So soe ees 2c ots eal eee @) 12) 2 9 1.3 3.2 5.4 || =e gel ep na Re .3 | Seeds BA ood 5 (1) 15 PAL 21.1 5.3 47.6 lings: LO ee 2 ae ae eee ee 6 27 3 7.1 || 20 en + ate 5 as nets Sd 6 3.4 1 4.1 SOU ee Se Se 1 aff) | ee eee .8 | Totals = ease eee ad 1.3 6.8 | 3.9 | 12.0
DD,
| F | aq
Type and age class (years) es | Srenene aes Peas Western hemlock, small: 1,000 acres|1,009 acres|1,009 acres|1,000 acres 14.3 9.3 .3 23.9 60. 4 44.0 4.3 108. 7 51.2 28.3 2.3 81.8 16.5 11.6 9 29.0 15.0 16.8 2.8 34.6 21. 2 13.9 5.2 40.3 5.5 7.2 3.1 15.8 8 albal .2 201: 5.7 23.1 1.0 29.8 190. 6 155. 3 20.1 | 366. 0
Western hemlock, seedlings and | saplings: P 128. 6 57.7 21.2 207.5 15.7 10.4 7 26.8 5.0 Lal 2 Ses 6.1 1.3 344 | ek aoe 1.7 4 2 anes .6 (77 a | bere 4 .4 () 23 |e ee 52 151.0 70.0 22.3 243.3
“Cedar,’’ small: JOG. 222 2 ee eas 2.7 2.6 6.1 11.4 20__ 9 BY 8 5.4 .8 A) .2 1.5 3 -9 a2, 3.4 6 .0 6 2.2 .3 .3 ()
.3 1.3 25.8 oul .5 6.5 7.6
omitted from this table, as it was classified as uneven-aged,
Tasie 4.—Area of certain immature conifer forest types in the Douglas-fir region, by age class and degree of stocking, 1933—Continued
| ra | } Ponderosa pine, small—Con. 1,000 acres|1,000 acres |1,000 acres|1,000 acres 24.3 12.3 39.9 10. 2 5.2 16.6 2.5 1.0 5.1 SG | poses 9 cen ern ae ibal nial Motalwssewee ss ce ee sone 9.7 44.0 24.6 78. 3 Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings: .2 1.9 1.0 3.1 2.7 9.9 5.4 18.0 2.8 18.8 5.3 26.9 12.4 46.5 13.3 72, 2 2.2 4.3 3.4 9.9 4.9 15.0 2.8 22.7 -2 a ral 4 25.4 96. 5 31.3 153. 2 11.3 13.9 34.1 59. 3 45.1 46.1 9.1 100. 3 25.7 15.9 3.3 44.9 eal 1.8 17.9 .3 ra 8.4 .2 -9 8.8 7.0 13.2 .3 13.8 FO Lal Reese ee eas 121.4 103. 2 49.3 273.9
Type and age class (years) Becene coe | Hoocne | ey | White-fir - larch - Douglas - fir, small: 1,000 acres 1,000 acres|1,0C0 acres\1,000 acres pee ee ee ral 2s Wosd, 5. 9.7 a 1.4 ite 7.2 GOR erat Se es 3 3.8 Fo bea Wea = ete Oe ek 20.4 | 9.2 1.3 30.9 i} White fir, small: 1 OES Se Ee Ge OY 1.3 3 4 2.0 4 .4 od Aa!) -9 Oh seers oa tear eid Ba iced) 1 1.9 563 1.4 6 2.3 1.4 1 Es ee 2.7 adi 2 aul 1.0 seers te dig |e avs Medias s 20s |S aut 1 4 es eee es ues Mota lessees se st te ae 5.5 8.1 | 1.4 15.0 536.9 666. 9 430. 1 1, 633.9 437.2 460.0 105. 9 1, 003. 1 536. 5 517.8 91.5 1, 145.8 488.7 51222 106. 2 L810 Fee 314. 6 297.0 70.9 682. 5 242.1 382.7 78.9 703. 7 220. 7 223.3 35.5 479.5 59. 8 74.1 27.9 161.8 26. 2 20.8 alt 48.5 Wed 57.6 7.5 82.8 2,880.4] 3,212.4] 955.9 7, 048. 7
DOUGLAS-FIR SECOND GROWTH
The small second-growth (9) and seedling and sapling (10) types occupy a total of 5.8 million acres including some of the most favorably located and productive forest land in the region. Stands of these types are almost always even-aged. ‘They are usually pure, averaging from 80 to 90 percent Douglas-fir in the region as a whole.
The small second-growth Douglas-fir occupies 3.7 million acres, mostly old burns. The stands, 6 to 20 inches d. b. h., range from 20 to 120 years in age; on poor sites many stands reach 100 years. Less than half the small second-growth stands are well stocked (table 4). As a general rule those growing on old burns are better stocked than those growing on cut-over land, because practically all cut-over land has been burned over at least once and much of it several times.
The stands on cut-over lands occur chiefly on areas that were logged in the early days of the lumber industry and that are easily accessible from industrial centers. ‘Topography usually permitted cheap logging. Undoubtedly these areas will be logged again before many of the more remote old- growth areas. ‘They are being logged already in a small way for poles, piling, fuel wood, and sawlogs. This premature clear cutting of small second growth is a short-sighted practice, but from present indications it will increase. Approximately two- thirds of the area involved is privately owned, chiefly by farmers and other local small holders. Such owners usually do not have the resources to carry timber for long periods. How to introduce forest-management practice in these second-growth stands is one of the critical forest problems in this
region.
OPO ZOr Ss OR 4 One®
NOVO rT BO) 140) SO) GO). ©
AGE CLASSES WELL STOCKED MEDIUM STOCKED eee (YEARS ) Gy Ne Wilda 30 & 40 50 & 60 70 & 80 COOLS, y So, ate See Le | | | l l
kOe ZO’ SO
DISTRIBUTION OF AGE CLASSES (PERCENT)
Ficure 9.—Age class and stocking of immature conifer stands in western Washington and western Oregon
The seedling and sapling stands (less than 6 inches in d. b. h.) range from 1 to about 30 years in age and cover 2.1 million acres; those on a few thousand acres of poor land are as old as 50 years. Roughly half the area of this type has been cut over (fig. 10). The condition of these stands is far from satisfactory; only a little more than a third of the area is well stocked.
SECOND-GROWTH PULPWOOD
Second-growth Sitka spruce (types 12 and 13) occupies about 60,000 acres. Usually it occurs as mixed stands near the coast and ranges in age from 1 to 100 years. The stands occupy very productive sites, their stocking averages better
than that of second-growth Douglas-fir stands, and their yields are higher.
The western hemlock types (15 and 16) are the most important of the second-growth types other than Douglas-fir, and have a total area of 609,000 The stands are usually even-aged and pure Age, stocking, and site being
acres. in composition. equal, higher yields are obtained from western hemlock second growth than from Douglas-fir second growth. There has been little cutting on these stands, although in the past few years small areas have been logged from pulpwood.
Balsam fir-mountain hemlock less than 16 inches d. b. h. (type 24) covers 274,000 acres, practically all of which is on old burns at high elevations on
the national forests. The stands are usually mixed. White fir second growth (type 30) occurs only in small scattered patches.
OTHER SMALL SECOND-GROWTH TYPES
Second-growth “‘cedar’”’ (type 19) usually occurs in mixture with Douglas-fir and western hemlock, and seldom occurs in sufficient proportion to be a type. The ponderosa pine second-growth types (21 and 22) are concentrated in the Rogue River unit and are of considerable importance there. Small white fir (28) is confined to the Columbia River units.
Deforested Lands
More than a tenth of the total forest-land area of the region has been deforested by fire alone or by fire following logging and is now nonproductive.
NONRESTOCKED CUT-OVERS
Nonrestocked lands cut over before 1920 (type 35) constitute one of the most acute land-use problems in the region. They total 666,000 acres, or about
21 percent of the total area cut over prior to 1920. Approximately 79 percent of the acreage of this type is in western Washington, concentrated in the vicinity of Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and the Columbia River. Most of it is within 15 miles of one or another of the industrial centers, Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Portland, and Aberdeen. It formerly supported fine stands of virgin timber, and is very accessible. The present cover consists of shrubs and herbs with a few broadleaf trees and an occasional conifer. Much of the area is covered with bracken. Part of it is grazed, but too inter- mittently to be considered pasture land. The present condition of this land is not the result of logging alone; most of it, since being cut over, has been burned several times.
In 1934 about 87 percent of this land was private, 4 percent county-owned, and 4 percent State- owned. (See table 2.) Since then a considerable acreage has been forfeited to the counties for un- paid taxes, and a much larger acreage has become tax delinquent. Instability of ownership adds to the problem that this land presents, and in many
cases responsibility for its care and protection is evaded by its owners. Remedial measures to cor- rect this and other critical forest problems are
discussed later in the report. RECENT CUT-OVERS
Lands that have been cut over since the begin- ning of 1920 (type 36) total 2,160,000 acres (fig. 11), two-thirds of which is in western Washington. It is all easily accessible, and most of it is near the great waterways of the region, Puget Sound and the Columbia River. percent was privately owned and 3 percent county-
In 1934 approximately 84
owned. The county-owned portion has increased greatly since then, and much more has become tax delinquent.
Less than a third of the recently logged land is satisfactorily restocked. Results of a linear survey of the land logged in the 4-year period 1920-23 show that 12 percent of that land is well stocked, 17 percent is medium stocked, 29 percent is poorly stocked, and 42 percent is nonstocked. Since 1923 the seed crops have been poor. that lands logged later than 1923 are in poorer
It may be assumed
condition than those logged earlier.
The recent cut-over type includes not only some of the most accessible forest land in the region but also some of that having the greatest potential productivity. This potential productivity has been greatly impaired by present practices, which if they continue will bring the forest resources of the region far below what they would have been had this land been permitted to restock promptly and fully. The first and urgently needed step in re- storing these lands to a fair degree of productivity is to give them more intensive fire protection.
DEFORESTED BURNS
The deforested cut-over lands have yielded at least one crop, but 14 million acres of land (type 37) has been deforested by fire without having yielded a crop. (A comparatively small percent- age of the trees killed by fire have been salvaged.) Part of this area has been burned several times, and each succeeding fire lessened the chance of natural restocking. Part will regenerate naturally in time, but a large part must be planted if it is to become productive without undue delay. A portion has been burned so severely that the in-
26
herent productive capacity of the soil has been considerably reduced by exposure to the elements, and now supports a scanty cover of weeds and shrubs.
Many of the present deforested burns, particu- larly those in the Oregon Coast Range, supported some of the finest stands in the region. Some areas such as the Tillamook and Wolf Creek burns of 1933 may restock naturally, but had not had time to do so when the survey data were collected. There are other large deforested areas where the original forest was noncommercial or inaccessible.
Woodland and Noncommercial Forests
Approximately 8 percent of the total forest land in the region, 2,311,000 acres, is woodland and non- commercial forests. Although lands of these classes are not suitable or available for commercial produc- tion of timber products, they are valuable for other uses. They protect the headwaters of streams, conserving soil and water, they furnish grazing for stock, and contribute much to the region’s scenic attractions. Oak-madrone woodland (type 4) is occasionally cut for cordwood and is extensively grazed. The other types forming this group are lodgepole pine (types 25 and 26), subalpine forests
38). Hardwood Forests
Broadleaf or hardwood forests occur infrequently and are very much less important than conifer stands. Less than 3 percent of the forest area in the region is occupied by hardwood forests (type 31) other than oak-madrone woodland. Hardwoods occur mainly on the moist stream-bottom lands; extensive continuous hardwood forests are lacking. The more important broadleaf stands occur in the valleys and on the lower slopes of the Oregon Coast Range and in the vicinity of Puget Sound. The most common species is red alder. It often forms pure forests by seeding in on conifer sites after fire and acts as a rapid-growing temporary cover for the seedling conifers. This dominance persists for a few decades, but ultimately the alder is over- topped by the conifers (fig. 12). Red alder reaches optimum development on the bottom lands and well watered sections of the western slope of the
(type 33), and noncommercial rocky areas (type
F320969
Figure 11.—Example, in western Oregon, of the 2,160,000 acres clear-cut in the Douglas-fir region in 1920-33. Most of this total has been slash burned, and much of it has been accidentally reburned. According to forest-survey findings, probably 12 percent of it is well stocked, 17 percent medium stocked, 29 percent poorly stocked, and 42 percent nonstocked.
Ficure 12.—Red alder, the principal hardwood species of the Douglas-fir region. In such stands, which are cut for sawlogs and fuelwood, the conifer understory may be expected eventually to overtop the alder.
27
Coast Range in Oregon. Other important broad- leaf trees are bigleaf maple, northern black cotton- wood, California laurel, and Oregon ash. Bigleaf maple occurs more commonly in mixture or as an understory tree in conifer stands than in pure stands. Northern black cottonwood often forms pure stands on the banks of the larger rivers, on gravel bars, and on river islands.
Forest Site Quality
The distribution of the 26 million acres of com- mercial conifer forest land by site-quality classes (p. 12), as in table 5, indicates the relative growth capacity of the region. The Douglas-fir site classifi- cation was applied to all this area except about 748,000 acres for which the ponderosa pine clas- sification was used. The area of Douglas-fir site quality I has been greatly reduced by conversion of forest lands to nonforest uses, and by deteriora- tion of lands that were logged at an early period and have been burned frequently. Land of this site class occurs principally on the flats and lower slopes of the Coast Range of southwestern Wash- ington and northwestern Oregon and in the Cas- cade Range north of the Cowlitz River. It is rarely found in southern Oregon.
The 28 percent of commercial areas in Douglas- fir site class If is common to the Coast Range and the lower elevations of the Cascade Range, except in southern Oregon.
Douglas-fir site class III is the most common in this region, including areas of the coarser, shallow soils on mountain slopes. In western Oregon, 46 percent of the total commercial conifer forest land is in this site class and 39 percent in western Washington. |
Douglas-fir site class IV includes the areas of shallow, coarse soil with much exposed rock and the drier exposures on the upper slopes of the Cascade Range. Little land of this site class is found in the Coast Range except in southwestern Oregon.
More than a million acres is of site class V, the lowest in the Douglas-fir classification. Class V includes the land bordering subalpine and other noncommercial areas, gravel bars along streams, swampy areas, and exposed rocky ridges. By far
28
Tas ie 5.—Land areas in the Douglas-fir region, forest land areas, and commercial conifer areas, by site-quality class 1
Area Area Kind of forest and in in com- site-quality class Total area forest | mercial land _ | conifers Commercial conifer:
Douglas-fir: Acres Percent | Percent | Percent Classi ee i= 520, 398 1, 48 1.79 1.99 Classilie sts aie eae 7, 224, 513 20, 57 24.91 7. 64 @lasssi ee eee eee 11, 131, 223 31. 69 38. 38 42. 59
_| 5, 424, 108 15. 44 18. 70 20. 75
7 1, 086, 121 3. 09 3.75 4.16
Totalit: 2 Soe set 25, 386, 363 | 72.27 | 87.53 97. 13
23, 602 .07 . 08 09
159, 781 - 45 . 55 61
378, 357 1.08 1.31 1.45
169, 111 .48 . 58 . 65
14, 657 . 04 -05 . 06
2,217 .O1 OL .O1
Total'sst2-2 ene 747, 725 2.13 2. 58 2. 87
Total commercial conifer_|26, 134,088 | 74.40] 90.11 100. 00 iodgepolepines=2—= = 273, 064 . 78 Noncommercial rocky_-_---------_- 504, 355 1. 43 Subalpinet=-2 ee. == see ee eee 1, 162, 882 3. 31 Oak-madrones tio senate eee ee 364, 299 1.04 Hardwood eu 556, 712 1.58 Pine) woodland“: == =2=s2e es 6, 510 .02
Totalie = a ss eee 2, 867, 822 8.16 9. 89 |=====-==
Alivforestity pes see = esate aaa 29,001,910 | 82.56 | 100.00 |----___-
Nonforestitypessssse=- oe 651:259539) | po 75445 | Se | ee
| Granditotalbess=ssosesse= = 35;.127,;449")|| 100003 Sates Ss | Eee
|
1 Deforested areas, types 35, 36, and 37, were classified as to site on the basis of original type. For definition of site-quality classes see p. 12.
the greater part of this land is in the Cascade Range and in southwestern Oregon.
Areas of all six of the site classes commonly used in classifying ponderosa pine land were found in this region. The ponderosa pine land in the Douglas-fir region averages about class III, whereas that in eastern Oregon and eastern Washington averages about class IV.
Timber Volume
The quantity, kind, economic availability, and ownership of the timber of the Douglas-fir region are matters of national as well as regional impor- tance. The largest remaining stand of old-growth timber in the United States is here. According to
conservative estimates the national total of saw- timber volume is 1,764 billion board feet lumber tally, and the national total volume of all trees, both saw timber and smaller, is 519 billion cubic feet. This region’s saw-timber volume, converted to lumber tally,’ is approximately 628 billion board feet, or 36 percent of the national total, and its cubic timber volume is 129 billion feet, or 25 per- cent of the national total. The way in which this enormous particularly old-growth component, is cut and marketed will influence
volume, its forest management in every other forest region of the United States. Under current economic con- ditions, only about half of this volume is available for exploitation.
Saw- Timber Volume
All but a small volume of material cut is derived from trees of sawlog size. All the lumber, shingles, and plywood, practically all the pulpwood, and a large proportion of the fuel wood, piling, and other timber products are cut from trees of sawlog size.
Nearly half the total volume of the 24 conifer and 12 hardwood species of the region’s saw timber is privately owned (table 7)—including more than half the volume of the more valuable species and size classes, such as large old-growth Douglas-fir, Sitka spruce, and Port Orford white-cedar. The next largest portion is on the national forests. Of the 546 billion board feet of all timber, only 4 billion is hardwood. Western Oregon has 55 per- cent of the total volume and 70 percent of the Douglas-fir volume (table 6).
DOUGLAS-FIR
Douglas-fir exceeds in total saw-timber volume It attains its best development in western Oregon and Wash- ington and in British Columbia.
any other tree species in this country.
In size of indi- vidual trees and density of stands it is exceeded only by the sequoias. In its physical and mechan- ical properties Douglas-fir wood is well adapted for a multitude of uses and is pre-eminent for many structural purposes. It is marketed the world over. The principal uses are structural timbers, dimen- sion and yard lumber, flooring, doors, factory lumber, veneer, plywood, piling, and ties.
7 Saw-timber volume is shown in lumber tally in the Appendix, p. 162.
224146*—40——_3
Douglas-fir constitutes approximately 61 percent of the saw-timber volume of this region. In spite of the concentration of logging in the old-growth types, nearly 44 percent of the remaining Douglas- fir volume (331.4 billion board feet) is in old- growth trees more than 40 inches in d. b. h.; and of this, nearly half is in the four most southerly Oregon survey units, the Willamette River, Ump- qua River, south Oregon coast, and Rogue River. This size class includes the fine-grained, slow- growing “‘yellow fir’? from which is produced by far the greater part of the region’s output of clear lumber, veneer, and plywood. Approximately 62 percent of this volume in the region is privately owned. Of the 54.6 billion board feet of this class
STATE
WASHINGTON
OREGON
25 5 MILLIONS OF BOARD
GMB eee PUBLIC
Ficure 13.—In both Washington and Oregon nearly two-thirds of the valuable “‘yellow fir,” or large old-growth Douglas-fir, is in private ownership.
of timber in western Washington, 65.1 percent is privately owned (fig. 13); of the 89.9 billion board feet in western Oregon, 60.8 percent is privately owned.
Almost a third of the total Douglas-fir volume is in the class of slower-growing, small old-growth trees (22 to 40 inches in d. b. h.). Although it produces some clear lumber, this class as a rule is much inferior in quality to large old growth. Most of its volume is in the Cascade Range in Oregon, at higher elevations and on poorer sites than the larger class. Less than a third of it is privately owned, and more than half is on the national forests.
The small old-growth stumpage, all factors other than size being equal, usually sells for a lower price than that of the larger class; but much of this which is most accessible brings a premium for conversion to piling and structural timbers. Small old-growth timber seldom produces peeler-grade logs; this is
TaBLe 6.—Volume of timber log scale, Scribner rule, in the Douglas-fir region, by species, State, and forest-survey unit, 1933
[In million board feet—i. e., 000,000 omitted]
Western Washington
Total for |
Species {fare J region North Central South z au | Puget Puget Puget a zy S om | Total Sonnd Sounde ele Souride |e oa elas er | | Douglas-fir: | | Large old Brow EDs Cee es Se ne re es oa a lee ene at A484 Gd 5, 208.1 | 14, 243.3 | 12, 461.7 8,912.0 | 13, 735.3 54, 560. 4 Small. oldigrowth!sso28 = 22s Se See ae ee oe ee ee ae! _ 101, 378. 5 2,104.6 | 10, 131.7 4,099.8 | 1,031.0 2,584.9 | 19, 952.0 Taarge:second growth ica 25 =. s20 2 eso ae eae eet ene nese 68, 271.5 2, 139.6 3,233.7 | 8,029.0 1, 115. 2 4, 653. 3 19, 170.8 Smallisecon dssrowiths sao see ee oe eee | 17, 246.6 544. 3 1, 456. 0 1, 246.3 166.5 2, 306. 6 5, 719. 7
| 91, 651.6 | 12,335.2 | 24, 917.1 6, 034.6 | 19, 906.6 6, 525. 9 69, 719. 4 | 12, 908. 2 1, 921.5 2, 404.5 1,016.3 3, 879. 4 1,031.5 10, 253. 2 10, 828. 7 124. 2 1, 848. 2 68.7 3, 939. 4 227.7 6, 208. 2 856. 9 11.0 9299 Seen ees 463.9 35.8 520.6 24, 659. 3 5, 308. 9 5, 203. 2 2, 169.0 5, 666. 5 1, 744.5 20, 092.1 D745 OF | eae eo | ee ees esi a eaters ol Se ee | eee Ps LANG) | See omatelay a] torn oe ee ee eae ee | eee ena Sena es Alaska vellow-cedarilive ts waa= ose sne ae ae ane ee ea ne ee ee 547.7 150.9 259. 5 85.7 20.8 18.6 535.5 G@alifornia-incense-ced ary live ase ee = ao ee ee MG eee aed ae es Sos ee Se a SDE | AE Se | ee Other! ‘cedar’ isd ead ee aaa EN Ae eae te eee ee 1, 064. 8 430.8 106. 6 95.7 314.7 21.2 969. 0 Balsam firs: Wihite/and' srandia 2s Se ee ee eee 6, 385. 3 34.8 43.2 294. 4 354, 2 138.7 865.3 Noble:and)Shastaircd Sos== ssa s= = aa ee een 8, 676. 6 29 951.1 791.7 21.5 994. 0 2, 759. 2 Pacificisil vere. foo 2 os cay SNC Ss See ON 2 ae ec ES 32,924.5 | 7,911.7 | 8,972.2 | 2,410.5] 6,759.3] 3,829.5] 29,883.92 PAT pine Be oe Se aS I Se Ee ee ee ee 99.0 4.2 25.1 472 ee Se (1) 33.5 2) | Bee ees | 28 See wane 98.4 98.4 Le a DRO | eee el | eee ce ees | Hae era 2:3 Other conifers: Eengelmann:SPruce sae teas. oo eee ee ee a NO ee a ee 223.0 al 5 14s) | Caan 32.0 34.0 Mountainvhemlock= 2625 25 eee ee ee eee ne 5, 390. 3 612.3 444.6 199. 7 56.5 80.3 1, 393. 4 Western:white\(and whitebark)spines2=22- 2) =. =s 2 =a ee 2, 819. 5 184.7 523. 1 162.0 139.5 488.4 1, 497.7 Lodgepole (and knobcone) pine 81.3 2 4.5 mz .4 .4 557, Redwood D(A) Sens | sree ae Sy eee eed == eo Soa Seite 4 | Sees Western larch 126.7 : 2 eee 26.5 26.5 Hardwoods: | Red: alders.= 2s 22-¢ S22. ee ee ee ee eee 2, 050. 5 96. 2 148.8 38. 0 173.0 97.7 | 553.7 Bigleatmaples] > oc8 ses sR Mc Wl Sg ae CTs eel ee arenes 735.2 44.3 33.0 | 121.0 39.1 8.9 246.3 ‘Blackicottonwood: (and!aspen) 22222 — a ee eee ae 273.5 63. 4 26.1 11.5 13.1 29.0 143.1 Oregon white oak_______________ California black oak QOregon\ash! 2. . .2b 2528 0822 Se ee eee ae ee er 45. 4 .2 3.2 62.95 |taee aera 1.3 11.6 California laurel 58.8 | @hinquapint. 2225-2. eee a eee 66.9 Western'and' northwestern paper birch) 2:2. -2— = --- ee no) [SS LE cae | Me ol aa | | To talinssee 0 i BE SO ae Ye mS ev ae 546, 207.9 | 39, 232.3 | 74,9014 | 39,348.3 | 52,972.6 38,710.4 | 245, 255.0 | |
1 Less than 50,000 board feet.
30
stern sR
TaBLe 6.—Volume of timber, log scale, Scribner rule, in the Douglas-fir region, by species and ownership class, 1933— Continued
[In miilion board feet—i. e. 000,000 omitted]
Species
Douglas-fir: Large old growth Small old growth Margesecondeorow, thee cee a cee eA eg se eS Small second growth Western hemlock:
Smalleaenslascs Western redcedar:
Balsam firs: iWihite;andtlowland«whitet =~ sis Se a ese ee ES os é Noble and Shasta red
Ponderosa and sugar pine: Ivargewponderosay(andJefirey) =- e262 a) oe ee a ; Small ponderosa (and Jeffrey)
Other conifers: Engelmann spruce Mountain hemlock Western white (and whitebark) pine Lodgepole (and knobcone) pine Redwood Western larch
Hardwoods: Red alder Bigleaf maple Black cottonwood (and aspen) Oregon white oak Californiatblacksoakesateese sean ed Some re pe watens wo Non eh
Oregon ash California laurel Chinquapin Western and northwestern paper birch
Western Oregon Columns i ( ou | ae
ia River) Willa- Nort 7 South
mette Oregon Vapdue | Oregon | Hoe ue Total River coast co coast wer -0 | 35, 783.0 8, 033.7 | 16, 240.8 | 15, 198.6 4, 266.9 89, 896.0 . 1 | 29,729.8 | 1, 713.2 | 22, 516. 4 8, 425.6 9, 152. 4 81, 426.5 3, 732.6 | 16, 018.6 8,421.3 | 12, 394.1 7, 533. 8 1, 000. 3 49, 100. 7 966. 7 3, 796. 5 | 599. 6 3, 029.8 2, 276. 4 857.9 11, 526, 9 7, 311. 1 8, 370. 9 4, 458.5 812.9 905. 2 73.6 21, 932, 2 1, 085. 9 929. 3 466. 1 90. 5 75.0 8.2 2, 655. 0 1, 216.9 6.1 | 2p LLG]. 2 oe IL WAR) aes ese eet 4, 620. 5 21.0 523i 261. 4 See OS:k | eee 336, 3 1, 070.8 1, 879.0 723.7 487.3 406.4 |_____- 4, 567, 2 9.8 14.5 32.7 18.8 19. 2 -8 95.8 Ee eee (aan 90.9 1, 050. 5 32.6 1,174.0 Le ey el (et eee sec 24.83 |e sesee 24.8 GR 23) Breet Pe S| Ole eas |e | ee 12.2 208824 | eee: 917.7 2.4 660. 2 1, 788. 5 297.5 590. 0 2.8 1, 380. 3 599. 0 2, 650. 4 5, 520. 0 1, 589.7 1, 735. 5 348. 4 1, 033. 2 26.1 1, 184.5 5, 917. 4 1, 655. 1 1, 148. 6 136. 4 O12 | sete eee 3, 041.3 38. 4 27.0 ae co fae ee be ere 65.5 55. 8 Gal eee 737.7 27.4 3, 504. 9 4, 393.5 See ee 34.8 2.8 407.4 447.2 cS Ee eae 1, 110.4 147.1 2,127.4 3, 553. 1 130.7 ASS asa ceee .4 neal 13.0 189. 0 692. 6 QHARA oe S19 ea aee nes = 3, 996.9 236. 1 474.2 5 357. 2 5 253. 3 1, 321.8 6.5 63. 3 AY? 3.0 1.8 8 75.6 zoe AIRE | Sak rw ee | eee | Fk UR Le bY oe Fl Pere ae 57.4 99. 3 .9 See be be oo | soe aoe | ae es 100. 2 56. 4 115. 4 961.6 57.2 305. 9 3 1, 496.8 32.8 242.3 15.3 75.6 122.7 62 488.9 53.6 Miles O\e| ea eee a3 9 4.1 130. 4 122 PP NEY A eee ee ee 45.8 2.8 16.0 88.3 oe ce en ee ee |e eh Cok 30. 4 5.4 27.8 63. 6 38) 3.0 3.3 433.6 5.9 439.5 26.3 6.5 247.1 | =2 .8 33.8 pare ee | be eae anid Peete = 2 x she 58:8) eae ee eee 58.8 aft | ee pe ee 53.4] 12.7 8 66.9 Rr ee | eRe [Es 22. ot S|. oo ee eh ee eee | f | al | 40, 633.6 104, 025.2 | 28, 290.0 | 62,656.3 | 39,087.3 | 26, 260.5 | 300, 952.9 | | |
31
Tas_e 7.—Volume of timber, log scale, Scribner rule, in the Douglas-fir region, by species and ownership class, 1933
[In million board feet—i. e. 000,000 omitted]
State owned Federally owned or managed Species Privately County Muni- ae National forest ae owned | A vail- Re- cipal F served able | served Indian | ‘grant : State | Other! lend) | “aie. ||servea | Selec: ig tion Douglas-fir: Ibargeold'srow th ges se oa 90, 233.7 | 4,776.8 42.0 828.0 242.7 255.4 |15, 8138.4 | 28, 909.4 |1, 940. 7 19.6 |1, 394.7 |144, 456. 4 Smiallioldterowth=22 522 -2=----eseee = 31, 225.7 | 1,259.1 12.9 474.5 246.9 31.1 |11, 028.8 | 55,195. 9 876.8 .8 /1,026.0 |101, 378.5 Large second growth____---_-_------- 34, 334.7 | 1,593.9 35. 2 701.3 31.5 107.5 | 9, 740.8 | 21, 223. 4 81.2 .6 421.4 | 68,271.5 Small second growth____---_-_------- 11, 012. 3 740. 4 14.6 | 309.8 26.7 43.1 | 2,290.8 | 2, 536.2 3.3 .2 | 269.2 | 17, 246.6 Western hemlock: Ware e ist oo eee en eee 45, 340.4 | 7, 482.0 20.8 613. 2 378.6 |1, 385.8 | 1,135.4 | 31,4064 |1, 614. 2 20.1 |2, 254.7 | 91, 651.6 Srna ee ee oe Pore 6, 790.3 | 1,026.7 2.4 | 112.2 16.1 | 122.9 125.4 | 4,317.0 | 229.8 2225 | 1'635,2 12, 908. 2 Sitka spruce: GAT Oates een ever ee 7, 934. 1 752. 1 10. 2 98. 6 8.8 | 461.9 alt |b el so 7e4 65.6 .2 | 139.7 | 10, 828.7 Small ae ate a eee 702.3 31.1 .8 15.4 .2 Done |e 425.3%) | Ree e ens | te ee 8.6 856. 9 Western redcedar: Tole ess ae Ree ee ere ee 12, 926. 2 | 2,339.1 857 | L7ed 65.9 |1, 183.3 518.1 | 6,751.8 | 471.1 13.6 | 210.4 | 24, 659.3 | 423.0 LSS Sc eee 4.5 2.3 197.9 10.2 298. 7 6.3 2.2 .9 1, 064.8 789.3 1.6 .3 5.9 Sul 1.4 186. 1 187.6 Nlie| Seeeeas ~ ak @ 1, 174.0 2252 fl Reena | Eee (22 | 5 See Se eee 2.0 £164 | eer |B | 24.8 Alaska yellow-cedar, live_______-------- = 89.7 5/2) |e wees .2 Hs |BeaSe ees | EAs 350. 0 14.4 1.4 86.7 547.7 California incense-cedar, live_____----___- 759. 3 5 (2) 23.5 6 .8 458. 4 539.1 @ialnzeowere 6.3 1, 788. 5 Balsam firs: Wihiteiand|grand__--2 essere eee 2, 241.7 60. 6 3 26.9 119) 6.8 | 1,016.5 | 2,998.1 L6H ee 16.4 | 6,385.3 Noble and Shasta red_____----------- 2, 082. 7 LONG S| ps=- 15.5 59.7 (2) 179.4 5, 647.9 38768) 2--aeee 124.0 8, 676.6 iPacificisilversst sess ese ee eee 8,276.0 | 3, 150.7 10.6 123.8 273.6 446.9 2.1 | 17, 882.2 |1, 054. 7 "13.9 |1, 690.0 | 32, 924.5 ‘Al pine=s tee nee en a eee eee OL (a eel ol epee ee ee | ee 51.6 SO4GE eae 4.7 99.0 Ponderosa and sugar pine: | Large ponderosa (and Jeffrey) --.-_-_- 1, 613.5 7.9 Bal 77.9 6508 Rese 1, 749.5 978.3 DAs Te Pes 57.6 | 4,491.9 Small ponderosa (and Jeffrey) - --_--- 196.5 1.4 (2) 1555) 78) | ee 144.3 POET | Pati eas | ee antares 14.3 449.5 Sugars Sse ee ee eee 1,001.4 4.3 (2) 42.9 otf (2) 1, 066. 1 1, «14.5 Qs | eee 23.2 3, 553. 1 Other conifers: Engelmann spruce_------------------ 8,9) | Ses oe | SEN Se Se | es ee eee cee ee 181.8 BG os |e | ee * 223.0 IMountain:hemlock==: - 2225. 22 = = | 201.7 208 7a |e eee 1.4 374 Ree ai 4,775.4 287.6 atsal 102.1 5, 390. 3 Western white (and whitebark) pine_ 323.9 TAO pee ae 3.6 15.1 28.0 LSA | 2517 69.5 ab) 112.2 | 2,819.5 Lodgepole (and knobcone) pine ___. - 451i |e Seen es 2 2) ip) Se See | ee eo eee 74.3 2 Sijal| sees (2) 81.3 IREd W000 She= senses sees oer ne nee AVS 4) ieee k [bees Se | eee 57.4 Western larch 108. 4 1724 | ees 2 126.7 Hardwoods: Redialders:: *s25- Va se eee 707. 3 5.7 1 23:9 | 2,050.5 Bigleaf;maples--- ee vere 21.0 -7 2 3.6 735. 2 ' Black cottonwood (and aspen) ______- 34.4 Bs (ae| eee tees 4.1 27355 Oregon:white oak=2e2 as eee ees AO | Sess | Besson 2.3 88. 3 California black oak _- ELLA | me tas | be cope iets 63. 6 Canvyoudiveoak. =. =s2.-2s-- hess PA 7a eee tee eae fore ge [Peay gS 3.3 Tan 0akset ass ree Sane ee eee 29055 i | Seee wees | Eee ae 5.3 439.5 Madronetesenes i. 2s240- scare oeees LB 7 fin) Peers Pee, 2.2 247.1 ‘Oregonsashie- se ses =o Ses ee ees (2) ese eae Se Se 3 45. 4 California laurel ==? Soe 222. ss BO} [ee teases [see ee 5 58.8 Chinquapin= 2 s2 S222. eee SiO Bao ee eee eee ati 66.9 Western and northwestern paper birche 2 fo ee 2 ee | ee ee |e a rs | ee | ee | eee ere 23 | ee aS |e | eee 2 — J} I. HCO} Fs peas eRe Ts TN ToT es /260, 880.9 |23, 736.0 160.4 /3, 736.0 |1, 380.4 |4, 393.0 |45, 874. 2 |190, 577.3 7, 220. 7 76.7 | 8,172. 3 546, 207.9
|
1 Of the 8,172 million board feet in the class “‘Other federal,’’ 6,389 million board feet is included in Rainier National Park and Mount Olympus National Monument and is therefore not available for cutting. 2 Less than 50,000 board feet.
one of the principal reasons why the larger class is valued higher.
Large second-growth trees (22 to 40 inches d. b. h.) contain slightly more than a fifth of the total Douglas-fir volume. ‘These trees are rarely more than 150 to 175 years old and are fast-growing. Their wood is typically coarse-grained and of a reddish color that has given them the name ‘red fir.’ Of the total volume, 65 percent is in the Willamette River, north Oregon coast, south Ore- gon coast, and Umpqua River survey units, the result of fires that burned over large areas in all Considerable quantities of trees of this class are now being cut, particularly in the Willamette River unit, where a number of The principal prod- ucts manufactured are ties, dimension lumber, and common boards.
Small second-growth trees (16 to 20 inches d. b. h.) contain about 5 percent of the total Douglas-fir volume.
four units around 1800.
small mills are in operation.
These trees, usually not regarded by lumbermen as suitable for saw timber, are occasionally cut for sawlogs, poles, and piling, and fuel wood.
WESTERN HEMLOCK,
All factors considered, western hemlock is next in importance to Douglas-fir. Nearly a fifth of the total saw-timber volume of the region is western hemlock. More than three-quarters of this is in Western hemlock produces a wood having many good properties, but lacking the specialty qualities which bring high prices for Sitka spruce, western redcedar, and Port Orford white-cedar. It is of more extensive occurrence and more general use than these species. ‘The prejudice of consumers against eastern hemlock has been extended to western hemlock, despite the superiority of the western species, and has resulted in discrimination against western hemlock lumber in eastern and midwestern markets. The wood of this tree is light, straight-grained, fairly soft and easy to work, odorless when dry, and nonresinous.
western Washington.
It is used for common boards and dimension, box shook, and flooring; also extensively for paper pulp. Hemlock bark has a high tannin content, and there is a possibility that it will be used more extensively for tannin extraction.
LSS)
LSS)
Figure 14.—Port Orford white-cedar, a very valuable species found only in southwestern Oregon and the extreme northwestern part of California. Principal products are battery separators, venetian blinds, and veneers. The volume of the existing stands totals about 7.2 billion board feet
SITKA SPRUCE
The wood of Sitka spruce is exceedingly valuable for special uses. It is comparatively light in weight, easy to work, tough, and nonresinous. During the World War it was used extensively for airplane con-
struction. At present it is used principally for box
shook, ladder stock, basket and crate veneers, and paper pulp. It is suitable for building lumber but is not used so extensively for that purpose as Douglas-fir. Because of its comparatively limited occurrence it will probably be used less for lumber than for specialty products and paper pulp.
WESTERN REDCEDAR
Western redcedar is one of the most important commercial species in the region. Its wood is light and soft and splits easily, and the heartwood is ex- The principal use of western redcedar is for shingles. It is used also for shakes, sills, siding, interior trim, molding, posts, piling, and poles. The saw-timber stand is less than 25 billion board feet, of which more than 81 percent is in western Washington.
tremely resistant to decay.
PORT ORFORD WHITE-CEDAR
Port Orford white-cedar (fig. 14) brings higher stumpage prices than any other forest tree of the region, owing to the intrinsic excellence of the wood and to its scarcity. The wood is valued highly for veneer stock, interior finish, boat construction, pat- tern stock, ties, block flooring, interior trim, and airplane construction. It is most widely used for specialty veneer products such as battery separators and venetian blinds. It is light in weight, straight- grained, easily worked, and exceedingly durable. It is in great demand abroad, particularly in Japan, and is exported in large quantities as logs, cants, and manufactured products. The region’s total stand of this useful species is only 1.2 billion board feet, all located in the southwestern corner of Oregon.
BALSAM FIRS
The balsam firs, with a total volume of 48 billion board feet, include Pacific silver fir, noble fir, Shasta red fir, grand fir, white fir, and alpine fir, none of which is now utilized to any great extent. Noble fir is generally considered to be superior to the other balsam firs for lumber, and is cut in small quantities each year. Sometimes this tree has been called “‘larch’? by lumbermen, and its products have masqueraded under that misnomer. It is used for siding, interior finish, shop lumber, and box shooks. Pacific silver fir and grand fir are
utilized in small quantities, chiefly as pulpwood.
34
Alpine fir and Shasta red fir occur in nonoperable locations, and there is little immediate prospect of their utilization. All the balsam firs are well adapted to the manufacture of wood pulp, and will probably be used more extensively for that purpose in the future. Pacific silver fir leads them all in volume, with 32.9 billion board feet.
PONDEROSA AND SUGAR PINES
Ponderosa pine and sugar pine are much less important here than in other western forest regions, chiefly because of limited quantity. In the Rogue River unit they are more important in lumber manufacture ‘than Douglas-fir; elsewhere in. this region they are not important. The wood of these two species is used chiefly for sash and doors, box
shook, common boards, and interior finish.
OTHER CONIFERS
The other conifers shown in table 6 are com- mercially unimportant here, because they occur in inaccessible locations or in insufficient quantities or because their wood is of poor quality. Engel- mann spruce and mountain hemlock are suitable for pulpwood but are largely inaccessible. Western white pine, an important timber tree in other regions, is likewise found chiefly in the mountains beyond the reach of present lumbering operations. Redwood is so limited in occurrence in Oregon as to have little economic importance.
HARDWOODS
The hardwoods are of minor importance in this region. Red alder composes more than half the total hardwood volume. The wood of this tree is fine-grained, light, and relatively strong. It is used for furniture manufacture, turnery, and fuel.
Next in importance among the hardwoods is bigleaf maple, used in furniture manufacture, for veneer, and for fuel wood. Small quantities of maple burls have been exported to Europe. A large part of the bigleaf maple volume is in under- story trees in conifer saw-timber types and under present practice is destroyed when the conifers are logged.
Northern black cottonwood quantities as pulpwood and for excelsior and cooperage. The oaks are used for fuel wood and in small quantities for cooperage and handle stock.
is used in small
ALL OTHER SPECIES
OWNERSHIP AND PULP "AVAILABILITY CLASS POL Creag SPECIES
NATIONAL, FORESTS
CLASS I CLASS I 505 CLASS I
OTHER OWNERSHIP
RSL
cLASS I | ‘
oS
GLASS I
0 50 100 I9O: 0 SOx 0 50 BILLIONS OF BOARD FEET
Figure 15.—Economic availability of saw timber in the Douglas-fir region, by species and by ownership and availability classes
California laurel is used in the manufacture of Puget Sound and Columbia River, have a great novelties. The other species are rarely used for influence on economic availability, as already any purpose. defined, and are chiefly responsible for the con- centration of cutting in large continuous areas in
Economic Availability western Washington and northwestern Oregon. ; Other factors being equal, timber within feasible
A large part of the timber easily accessible to transportation distance of these waterways ranks tidewater has been cut. The large water bodies, highest in economic availability. Other factors
Tasie 8.—Economic availability classification of nonreserved saw timber in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership, forest-survey unit, and species class }
a eee LGA aT La ae ea nwa aaa
| Douglas-fir Pulp species All other species Ownership, State, and 7, A a 7, ; ae 7, : forest susvevianit es Volume in class aie Volume in class ae Volume in class— volume volume volume I Ii iil I |} pal Hil I IL Til ; | | | | National forest: Million | Million | Million Washington: board feet | Percent |Percent |Percent | board feet | Percent |Percent |Percent | board feet | Percent |Percent | Percent North Puget'Sound.-2222: #22225 3, 100 37 52 ll 11, 293 25 56 19 2, 686 32 56 12 Central Puget Sound_---_--------- 10, 378 53 40 7 14, 624 41 46 13 1, 680 50 41 9 South Puget Sound_-------------- 4, 577 37 50 | 13 4, 767 22 60 18 549 32 55 13 Grays Harbor= 282. 2==s=ae eee 2, 920 63 28 | 9} 10,952 52 30 18 1, 234 58 32 10 ColumbiaiRivers: s2s222-2--2-->-— 6, 880 | 27 64 9 6, 316 17 69 14 1,118 33 59 g Totals totaesn Ceram 27,855 | 48 48 | 9| 47,952 35 49 16 7, 267 41 49 10 Oregon: | Golumbia River:c 2. 2 22 8, 486 | 50 44 6 4, 633 20 70 10 502 | 29 62 | 9 Willamette River_-___-.---- ----| 35, 332 | 47 44 9 8, 836 20 68 12 1, 730 38 51 ll North Oregon coast_-_------ seek 6, 401 48 51 1 1,014 46 53 1 715 28 72/\| oe South Oregon coast-_------- eee 5, 954 32 54 14 106 86 5 9 739 19 66 15 Umpqua River-_----------- 16, 826 | 10 75 15 3, 586 4 70 26 1, 417 14 70 | 16 Rogue River 7, 033 | 10 67 17 2, 605 22 61 17 1, 665 57 30 | 13 Ota i= ee eee eee 80, 032 36 54 10 20, 780 19 67 14 6, 768 34 54 12 Other ownerships: Washington: North Puget Sound___-__---------- 6, 461 59 35 6 10, 319 46 44 10 3, 269 73 23 4 Central Puget Sound_-___------_-- 16, 938 | 74 23 3 21, 547 60 37 3 4, 267 75 22 3 South Puget Sound=:--=22_5- =s=" 21, 026 77 16 7 5, 686 62 33 5 2, 080 80 15 5 GraysiHasbor< 2.22252 ee 7, 955 82 18 ieee 23, 486 69 27 4 5, 054 81 17 2 Columbia: Rivero SS 16, 329 71 28 1 6, 596 65 31 4 1, 380 76 20 | 4 Totale c=. 222 Oe oe Se 68, 709 74 22 4 67, 634 61 34 5 16, 050 77 | 20 | 3 Oregon: | | Columbia River__._...-..------__ 13, 948 70 29 1 7, 278 71 27 2] 758 67 32 | 1 WillamettetRiver.2=2*o2222" 222s. 49, 852 7 28 2 6, 441 57 40 3 | 1, 553 55 42 | 3 North Oregon coast____----------- 12, 360 59 39 2 6, 771 61 37 2 1,015 59 40 1 South Oregon coast__--_--- 27, 464 61 36 3 2, 837 74 25 | 1 1, 969 57 41 2 Umpqua River. ________-- 37, 355 34 55 1] 653 23 65 | 12 2, 819 35 | 55 | 10 Rogue :River 222. 22-s2=a=- sees ae | 8, 231 27 60 13 1, 327 39 45 16 5, 376 76 | 16 | 8 | | | | | Ota eee oe ee ee 149, 210 56 39 5 | 25,307 62 35 3 | 13, 490 61 33 | 6 — | All ownerships: Washington: North Puget Sound__-_----------- 9, 561 52 40 8 21, 612 35 50 15 5, 955 54 38 8 Central Puget Sound------------- 27, 316 66 29 5 36, 171 52 41 7 5, 947 68 27 5 South Puget Sound__----------__- 25, 603 70 22 8 10, 453 44 45 11 2, 629 70 23 77 Grays’ Harbor 2222-2225 20 2 ae 10, 875 77 21 2 34, 438 64 28 8 6, 288 76 20 4 OolumbiasRiver22+2=-24-- = aess 23, 209 | 58 39 3 12, 912 41 50 | 9 2,498 57 37 6 ; | | | | | ANGE ee be rece ee Ee | 96, 564 65 30 | 5 | 115, 586 51 40 | 9| 23,317 66 29 5 Oregon: | | | | | Columbia River=— 2. = oe cee 22, 434 62 | 35 3 11, 911 51 44 5 | 1, 260 52 | 44 4 Willamette River\2..-=-- 22.252 85, 184 60 | 35 5 15, 277 36 56 | 8 3, 283 46 47 7 North Oregon coast__.------------ 18, 761 55 43 | 2 7, 785 59 39 | 2| 1,730 46 53 1 South Oregon coast______________- 33, 418 56 39 | 5 2, 943 75 24 | itl} 2,708 47 | 48 5
1 The economic availability classification, based on estimate, is as follows: I, timber that could profitably be logged under the conditions that prevailed during the period 1925-29; II, timber that under 1925-29 conditions could be logged at a loss of not more than $5 per M board feet; III, all other timber. “Nonreserved” means unaffected by any legal or formal prohibition on timber cutting.
36
Taste 8.—Economic availability classification of nonreserved saw timber in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership, forest-survey unit, and species class—Continued
pn TUE Uy DIE RSET SE UUSISSSSS SS eR
| Douglas-fir Pulp species All other species Ownership, State, and | Volume in class— Volume in class— Volume in class— forest-survey unit Total ¥ oI Total3| A Total wes volume | volume | volume ale tele: 1 = | I i U1 I Il II | | | | | paseo fe All ownerships—C ontinued. Million | | Mullion | | Mitiion | Oregon—Continued. board feet |Percent |Percent | Percent | board feet | Percent |Percent | Percent | hoard feet | Percent |Percent | Percent Umpaue Rivers 22. se wees \/ie54) 181" |r 27 Git em 12 | 4,280 7} 69 Ba lp 4, 23685985 < 9460) 12 Rocuewiversceses== o> 5a eo | 15, 264 | 22 63 15 3, 932 | 28 | 55 17 7, 041 72 19 9 Rota] sees eases See aS es eta 229, 242 49 | 44 7 46, 087 | 43 49 8 20, 258 52 40 | 8 Summary: | | | Nation alforestiaseec= seme vae ise 107, 887 38| 52 10 | 68,732) 30 54/16 | 14,035 | 37 52 ul Other ownerships.___-----------------| 217,919 62 34 4| 92, 941 62| 34 4] 29,540] 70 26 1 Ail ownerships......----------------| 325, 806 54 40 6 | 161,673 48 43 9| 43,575| 59| 34 7 i} | | influencing availability are topography, density of This classification should not be considered pre- stand, size and quality of timber, species, and to a cise or permanent. Developments in logging equip- lesser extent proximity to common-carrier railroads. ment and methods, such as increased use of crawler Broadly classified as to economic availability in tractors and motortrucks, change from clear cutting table 8 and figure 15, the nonreserved saw timber to some sort of partial cutting, construction of new of the region is divided into three species groups— railroads, or improvement of certain harbors te ° 5 Pp ’ Pp Douglas-fir; pulp species, including the hemlocks, accommodate sea-going vessels, would alter the spruces, and balsam firs; and all other—and two status of large quantities of standing timber. kinds of ownership—national forest and all other. Development of new uses and markets for some of p In general the economic availability of saw the so-called minor species would upset the classi- Pp timber is greater for western Washington than for fication. As depletion advances the relative avail- western Oregon and is greater for other ownerships ability of the remaining timber will change. than for national forest. It is higher for Douglas- fir than for the pulp species, both in western Oregon CahieVoluine and in western Washington. On Oregon lands outside the national forests, however, it is less for Comparisons of the timber volumes of different Douglas-fir than for the pulp species. The reason forest regions can be made accurately only in cubic is that a large part of the Douglas fir on these lands feet, because the board-foot unit of measure is not is in remote locations in the southern part of the precise and varies greatly with relative size of State and is poor in quality, whereas by far the timber and with utilization standards. ‘Total greater part of the pulp-species volume is at low cubic volume in this region, given in table 9 by and comparatively accessible locations in the ownership class and species, is 129.5 billion cubic coastal belt. feet. Of this total 101 billion feet is in sawlog-size The ‘‘all other species” group has a total stand of (16 inches d. b. h. or more) trees, 7 billion feet is in 44 billion feet, mostly “‘cedar.”” Generally speaking understory (less than 16 inches d. b. h.) trees in the ‘‘cedars’’, exclusive of Alaska yellow-cedar, are conifer saw-timber stands, 18.5 billion feet is in more accessible than Douglas-fir and the pulpwood conifer second-growth stands, and 3 billion feet is species. They occur usually at lower elevations in hardwood stands. ‘The first three categories and on ground more favorable for logging. Pon- include small quantities of hardwood volume and derosa pine and sugar pine, also, are in the main the last includes some conifer volume. relatively accessible. As a result the all-other- Sawlog-size timber constitutes a much larger per- species group ranks highest in economic availa- cent of the cubic timber volume in the Douglas-fir bility. region than in other forest regions of the United
States (22), because of the preponderance of old- growth saw timber in this region. The Douglas-fir region excels every other forest region of the United States in total cubic volume, but not by so large a margin as in saw-timber volume.
Measurement of the entire stand in cubic units is particularly important in considering pulpwood supplies,* although only a small part of the pulp- wood at present consumed in this region is cut from trees of less than sawlog size. Under prevailing logging methods and the economic conditions now existing, it is unprofitable to remove understory trees and they are usually destroyed in logging.
Cubic measure is useful also in considering the capital stock available to produce future growth.
Ownership of Forest Resources
The large areas of idle forest land and the dis- orderly exploitation of forest resources in the Douglas-fir region have resulted partly from the ownership pattern. Ownership has been so diffused and public responsibility so neglected that no coordinated policy of forest-land use has been put Future condition of the forest re- In
into effect. sources depends even more on this factor, order to produce the greatest social and economic benefits, the forest resources must be so managed that they will be permanently productive; and the type of management accorded forest land is governed largely by ownership. Stabilization of ownership is prerequisite to sustained-yield man- agement of forest lands.
Private Ownership
More than 53 percent of the commercial forest land and approximately 48 percent of the saw- timber volume in the Douglas-fir region is privately owned. In general, the privately owned forest land is more accessible and the privately owned saw timber is of better quality than that in public ownership. Between 56 and 57 percent of the
timber in economic-availability class I is privately
8'The pulpwood resources of this region are analyzed in detail in Pulpwood Resources of Western Oregon and West- ern Washington, Forest Research Notes No. 17, Pacific Northwest Forest Experiment Station. (Mimeographed.) 1935.
38
owned. Roughly 6.2 million acres of conifer Included in the acreage of private commercial forest lands is 1.8 million acres of recently cut-over land (type 36), about half of which is nonrestocked, and 1.2 million acres of old nonrestocked cut-over land and deforested burns. Conifer second growth occupies 4.4 million acres of private land, of which about half is cut over and half is old burns. Prac- tically all the second growth on cut-over areas and
timber of sawlog size remains.
a considerable part of that on old burns is more accessible than the existing sawlog-size timber.
By far the greater part of the privately owned forest land in the region is owned by either lumber, timber, pulp-manufacturing, or land companies, railroads, or individuals other than farmers.
The conception of forest land as a resource to be managed on a sustained-yield basis has attained scant realization among private forest owners here. Beset by adverse economic factors, nearly all pri- vate owners are directing their efforts toward early liquidation of their standing timber. Cut-over lands, second-growth lands, and other lands not supporting saw timber, with few exceptions, are held either for speculation, as a protection to ad- joining saw timber, to protect rights of way, or through inertia on the part of the owner. Very little land of this character is being managed by the owners for continuous production of forest crops.
Until recent years many timber owners confi- dently expected to dispose of much of their cut- over land to settlers. Recent economic events and a growing realization that most of the remaining uncleared cut-over land is not suitable for agri- culture have done much to dispel these hopes.
National-Forest Ownership
The national forests were originally created from the public domain and consist, generally speaking, of lands that up to the time of their withdrawal had not been considered desirable for private investment. They have been slightly augmented by exchange and in other ways. As depletion of private timber progresses, national-forest timber becomes more valuable.
The national-forest timber is managed under sustained-yield policies, and cutting on each oper-
TaBLe 9.—Cubic volume of timber,! in the Douglas-fir region, by species and ownership class
{In millions of cubie feet—i. e. 000,000 omitted]
| | | Federally owned or managed | State 7 TT = aay v Mu- National forest Species Private County nicipal Revested|— . i; Total ue Indian land | snet State | Other Avail- Re- grants Avail- | Re- able | served able served | Selec- | | tion eave sate - | ee Les: Douglas-fir eee ties ees se ae ea 39, 503.4 |1, 990.8 33.9 843. 2 142.8 133. 9 8, 396.4 | 24, 789. 4 662.3 3:7 692. 4 77, 192. 2 Sit Kars price Sasa ee es te as Ree 1,813.1 | 331.2 2.5 35.5 5.1 99. 1 9.5 | 295. 2 11:5 eal 30.6 2, 633. 4 Engelmann spruce__-------------------- 1H} ew toeer | (OVE a eee ae ABA toe 0254S es oa Se 54.1 iWesternehemilockseasense saaee ee neees 12, 416.1 |1, 696.6 6.8 228. 0 94.0 350. 5 359.9 | 8,406 8 | 463. 6 4.9 322.3 24. 349. 5 Mountain hemlock ---_-_-_-_---------_- 50. 5 it | Boeke 3 FO eee (2) 1,171.4 | 72.9 3 11 1,311.4 Westerniredcedar, live_--=2--2.2+_- 2-2: 3, 189. 0 533. 1 2.4 55. 4 23. 2 256. 6 144.7 1,558.7 | 114.8 | 2.9 41.7 5, 922. 5 Alaska yellow-cedar, live.--_-_---_____- 22.2 1.3 gies Belt) oi : 99.6 | 3.5 68 iis 141 141.1 California incense-cedar, live______--___- 213. 3 1.0 (2) 10. 2 .4 SP 127.1 135.9 | (2) 5.7 493.8 Port Orford white-cedar: | ive etc ee ae sea 182. 1 3.2 ae 2.2 1 Bel 42.6 | 40.7) () 1.9 ID YC eee ae a es ea en eA a5 [eae lee oct (2) erst Para he .4 | aki il lee hey | Base _| Other dead ‘‘cedar’’___-----.------------ SON3H| 250i eee ee 1.0 | .5| 42.4 2.1 6307 |< a5 5 ah Pond erosaip ine ee eeee eee eee ee 552.0 | 4.1] (© 2.9 2.4 (2) 446.0 | 262.7 1 36.8 | Sugar, pine saeeseeeetaeas seem seeesiee oe 219.1 22) ©) 12.5 | 4] @ 206.9] 261.6] (2) |____- 8.2 Western white (and whitebark) pine____ WoMde | peeee se] =F =| 3.6 5.6 4.3 528. 6 fat | al 17.0 | odgepolespinese sete a 37/0} ee LAO. 3 1.3} () (2) 25 ilanD8BuS 4) P8rON 17 White fir and grand fir---------------_- 648.6 | 25.0 e225 | 1.3 Qn 326.2 | 867.5] 13.6 Bl 11.4 Noble fir and Shasta red fir________- fee 441.3 35.7 | a2 3.4 11.9 (2) SONC M25 tau 93.5 seis 26.4 | iPacificisilvertfir’= = 2 S2525 = 2s as 1,735.0 | 640.1 | 2.2 27.0} 56.1 91.6 1.5 | 4,167.8 | 244.1 2.8 | 185.2 | FAD ine fire seater eee ree ae eats 8.1) OBIE a 2 | a2 Be i| 39. 5 | 9.4 () 1.8 | Western larch___ NG a | ones | | calla | eset : 45.8 | 4.0 | aul Redwood. _____- Balle Bese peal ane eer aes A BUD ental LP ae BY. With oe one 4.8 palin (2) =| .2 (2) lla 1.6 be | Bo til eee wl Redia ld ers seuunn so nentes stasen cine ol 917.5] 34.2 | RAG ero3eG.[o-ord1n |) kOdod 39.1 285.1 29] (© 22.3 | Northern black cottonwood-_---_-__--- ee 169. 6 | 2.8 (2) 3.0 L0u) 2.9 | 1.2 apy Lo 1 i eee 1.2 Oregon white oak____-_.__.---_---.---_- 161. 4 ee) 4.7 | 43:1 5 6.3 (Geffen sp ea egg 4.9 | California black oak____-_----._---_--_- 43.3 BO ulesetens 4.0 le) 3.5 PUTIN ahs a (hoa oS 4.6 | Manoa kere ee aoe Sees ee me eee 33. 3 -5 | aul 1 Ut apa .4 2.9 95. 4 |--------]-------- 4.1 | C@anyoniliveoaks= ae et AG} ‘(Qo sa Ca) | eee = et | ee 2 .8 | Bes [idee (3) |] Bigleaf maple are 348.2] 11.7 sl 9.1 1.5 4.5 31.9 43.7 10] @ 3.5 BANS Fa ei Ee hele "eh hi be re Sr eae mnae 46.1 3 | (?) .4 eal eal 9 350% Shee ear |Poerees act 51.8 Western and northwestern paper birch __ Prat ie jl byeeaeaeas pH Veena ng A [aa ed Sil Miele | Rc ae Bal 2.9 Californialaurelaea tele eae 19.1 1.7 (?) nti) | (2) yal 4.6 | 4.6 |- Ey lente ey :3 30.9 Madrone_____ See eae os aie eae ae oe 65.4 | 8 (2) 3.6 | 2] a2, 33.5 | 1 OR) bee, De ees al sea 4.1 150. 3 Ghinquapines2 ed oe 14.9 | 6d|aewtue te tO) () 10.3 | Bid) |G ween en (Eee .2 35. 0 PTR Ot eh eae areas ree Spain nie 63, 031. 2 l5, 372.9 49.3 |1, 357.7 | 348. 6 i1, 016. 2 | 10, 243.9 | 44, 832.6 |1, 730.8 15.7 /1, 454.3 | 129, 453. 2 | | | | |
) Including all sound wood in stems of all living trees and all standing dead trees 5.1 inches d. b. h. and larger from stump to 4-inch tip inside bark,
excluding bark and limb wood. 2 Less than 50,000 cubic feet.
ating unit is restricted to the maximum specified in the working plan. Sales contracts and adminis- trative measures provide for adequate pretection of existing growing stock and for regeneration, thus assuring a perpetual supply that should promote stability of manufacturing plants and permanence of communities.
A policy of conservative disposal and a lack of market demands have tended to keep actual cutting far below the indicated sustained-yield capacity on most of the national forests of the region. In no
39
year of the history of these national forests has the total quantity of timber cut from them equalled the total permitted by the working plans. Owing to the inaccessibility of some of the national-forest timber, it may be a long time before the cut reaches the quantity permissible; certainly, however, as the supply of private timber lessens there will be more demand for logging of national-forest timber. The total area of the national forests in this region is a little over 10 million acres, of which 94 percent is forest land. Of the total forest land, 6
percent is classed as noncommercial. The national forests form 35 percent of the region’s total forest land and 30 percent of its commercial forest land. They contain 37 percent of its total saw-timber volume. In contrast, they contain only about 24 percent of the timber in availability class I and their Douglas-fir percentage is smaller than that of the other ownership classes. Approximately 73 percent of the commercial forest land in the national forests supports stands of saw-timber size and 19 percent supports conifer second-growth stands, almost all of which occur on old burns. Only a small percentage of the commercial forest land is deforested.
The national forests, in common with other public lands, are not subject to any kind of local taxation. By statutory provision, however, 25 percent of all receipts derived from the sale or use of the resources of each national forest are trans- ferred to the State or States containing the national forest, for expenditure on the public schools and public roads of the county or counties in which the forest is situated. When any national forest is in more than one State or county the distributive share to each from the proceeds of such forest shall be proportional to its area therein. Also, 10 percent of all national-forest receipts are made available for expenditure for construction and maintenance of roads and trails within the national forests of the States in which the funds originated. In addition, direct appropriations are made by Congress each year for road and trail construction on lands within the national forests. Substantial sums are spent each year for the protection, administration, and improvement of these public forests, whose resources of timber, forage, water, recreation, etc., are largely used by and are of much benefit to the national as well as the local population.
In this region, up to and including 1935, more than $9,000,000 had been realized from the sale of national-forest products and approximately $2,250,000 of national-forest receipts had been paid to the two States for distribution to the counties.
State Ownership
Forest lands in the Douglas-fir region owned by Oregon and Washington total nearly a million acres, of which about 16,000 acres is reserved for
40
specific purposes such as State parks. The saw- timber volume in State ownership totals 23.9 billion board feet, of which 160 million feet is on reserved lands. The lands were granted by the Federal Government to the States to finance edu- cation and internal improvements. Oregon dis- posed of the greater part of her lands years ago, but Washington retained most of hers and is now profiting thereby. In the Douglas-fir region Washington owns 853,293 acres of forest land supporting 23.2 billion board feet of standing timber, and Oregon owns 113,968 acres supporting 0.7 billion board feet.
The common-school lands originally granted to the States comprised sections 16 and 36 in each township, and thus were badly scattered. This dispersion of the State forest lands has been one obstacle to their effective management. In western Oregon most of the remaining State lands have now been consolidated into one block called the Elliott State Forest. This was effected by exchanging scattered State lands for national-forest and Oregon & California Railroad revested grant lands. This block is now almost entirely occupied by second- growth Douglas-fir stands. Although there are no statutory provisions for its management, the State Board of Forestry expects to manage it on a sus- tained-yield basis.
In western Washington the State is acquiring through exchange of scattered areas for national- forest land, two comparatively large blocks of mature timber. One of these is on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula and the other is in the northern Cascade Range. In 1933 the Washing- ton Legislature enacted a law reserving from sale all State timberland on the Olympic Peninsula area with the intention of creating a sustained- yield forest. Subsequently the constitutionality of certain provisions of the act was challenged by the Washington commissioner of public lands. The legislature failed to appropriate funds for the opera- tion of a sustained-yield forest, and so far no cutting has taken place on the area. No corresponding law has been enacted concerning areas in the Cascade Range. Other large blocks of State forest are being established through acquisition of cut- over land by donation from counties and by pur- chase from private owners. Payment to the private owners is made in State utility bonds.
County Ownership
The counties of the Douglas-fir region owned nearly 630,000 acres of forest land in 1933, all acquired by tax foreclosure. Most of this area is either deforested or in second growth; however, more than 155,000 acres is occupied by stands of saw-timber size. In Oregon the area of county- owned land has increased greatly since 1933. ‘Table 10 shows the increase in county-owned land in 8 of the 19 western Oregon counties, by forest cover type. In Washington, moratoria on tax foreclosures have prevented large increases in county-owned land. However, these moratoria have now expired and foreclosure proceedings are under way in a number of counties.
Tillamook is the one county that has declared a policy of retaining at least part of its county-owned forest lands. This county received some forest land as a gift and plans to retain it as a park. Further- more, it has announced its intention to retain for forest purposes other lands acquired by foreclosure. There is no statutory basis for establishing perma- nent county forests in either Oregon or Washington, and a change in county administration could result in reversal of ‘Tillamook County’s present practices.
Generally speaking, the Oregon counties have no long-term program for handling their lands and are trying to pass them back into private ownership by sale. saw-timber size without selling the land. Some of
A few have sold stumpage of pole, tie, and
these stumpage sales have been on a contract basis and have brought extremely small returns. Obvi- ously it is not probable that tax-reverted lands can be successfully reestablished in private ownership, except in a few cases, unless economic conditions change materially.
Municipal Ownership
Approximately 100,000 acres of forest land in the Douglas-fir region is owned by municipalities. Almost all this land is retained as a protection to domestic water supplies. None of it is owned and managed primarily for the purpose of timber pro- duction. In addition to this municipal land about 135,000 acres of national-forest land has been set aside for the protection of watersheds supplying
domestic water to municipalities. An example of
4]
Tasre 10.—Increase in county-owned forest land through tax delinquency during 1933—36 in 8 western Oregon counties
rr —
Increase Generalized type 1933 19364 | aeateural os 1933 1936
Acres | Acres | Acres | Percent
Conifer saw timber__...-__--________ 76, 480 |219, 019 |142, §39 186 Conifer second growth_______________ 78, 052 |159, 999 | 81, 947 105 Cut-overs and burns. _____-________ _| 85, 907 |188, 598 | 102, 691 120 Noncommercial forests_____....______ 3, 308 3, 842 534 16 Hardwood'forests=2- .--2 22-2. - 2) 6, 871 | 12, 792 5, 921 86 AO Calon See) Se what Sd 250,618 |584, 250 |333, 632 133
this is the Bull Run watershed on the Mount Hood National Forest, from which Portland draws its
supply. Indian Ownership
Indians own approximately 260,000 acres of forest land and 4.4 billion feet of saw timber in the Douglas-fir region. The region contains one large reservation, the Quinault, and a number of smaller ones. A small portion of the Indian-owned land Timber on the Quin- ault and Makah Reservations is being sold and cut
consists of trust allotments.
under management of trained foresters employed by the Office of Indian Affairs of the Department More than half the Indians’ forest land supports stands of saw-timber size.
of the Interior. Unusually large percentages of their timber are western red- cedar, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce.
Revested Grant Lands
Most important of all forest-ownership classes other than private and national forest are the re- vested Oregon & California Railroad and Coos Bay Wagon Road grants, all of which are in Ore- These include well over 2 million acres of forest land and nearly 46 billion board feet of saw
gon.
timber.
The original grant to the Oregon & California Railroad, which later became a part of the South- ern Pacific Railway system, consisted of the odd- numbered sections within a 20-mile-wide strip on each side of the right-of-way, and an indemnity strip 10 miles wide on each side. ‘This line ran from Portland, Oreg., to the California boundary. ‘The grant contained specific provisions regarding the
disposal of these lands by the grantee. A similar grant was made to the Coos Bay Wagon Road Co. for a much smaller area. The terms of both grants were violated and the Government brought suit against the companies in Oregon maintaining that the intent of the grants was being frustrated. The grant lands still unsold were declared forfeit and in 1916 were revested in the Federal Government by an act of Congress that provided for their classifi- cation and disposal. Land classified as agricul- tural (all tracts having less than 300,000 board feet of saw timber per 40 acres, regardless of suitability for farming) were opened to homestead entry. A very large part of this land was strictly forest land, with no agricultural potentialities. The timber on lands classed as timberland was made subject to public sale upon application. After the timber was removed these lands were opened to homestead entry. In 1934 they were temporarily closed to entry, by Executive order. A small acreage of land valuable principally for water-power development has been withdrawn and placed under the jurisdic- tion of the Federal Power Commission. The large remaining acreage is administered by the Depart- ment of the Interior. Until recently, authority and funds for the proper protection and manage- ment of the lands were not provided. ‘Their check- erboard distribution was another obstacle to satis- factory management. In 1937 the Seventy-fifth Congress passed an act providing for sustained- yield management, under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, of the portion of these lands classified as timberlands. The law provides for classifying the lands more suitable for agricul- tural use than for forestry purposes and restoring them to homestead entry.
42
The original act and subsequent legislation have provided for certain minimum payments to the Southern Pacific Railroad for its equities, to the counties in lieu of taxes, to the State for school purposes, and to the United States Reclamation Fund. Payments to the railway company, which were completed about 1927, and to the counties have exceeded receipts by millions of dollars.
Other Federal Lands
Other Federal lands include national parks, na- tional monuments, unappropriated public domain, military reservations, lighthouse reservations, and some other Federal lands of small extent. The total area of forest land in this ownership category is about 775,000 acres. The largest and most im- portant units are the Mount Olympus National Monument ® and Mount Rainier National Park, both administered by the National Park Service. Next in importance, probably, is the public do- main, which is scattered in small isolated parcels the length of the region.
The total volume of saw timber on “other Fed- eral lands” is more than 8 billion board feet. Slightly more than 3 billion board feet is on the Mount Olympus National Monument, and nearly the same quantity is on the Mount Rainier Na- tional Park. No cutting is allowed on either of these areas. Practically all the remaining volume is for one reason or another unavailable for com- mercial exploitation.
9Subsequent to the forest survey inventory, Congress created in 1938 the Olympic National Park containing the Mount Olympus National Monument, formerly part of the Olympic National Forest.
He O MRE Swe Roe ha Sa OmOm etwas Ombre he tehe DAO GE A'S = FoTeR REG I © N
Depletion
O ONE now knows, or will ever know, what the volume of timber in the Douglas-fir re- gion was before the coming of the white
man. It is therefore quite impossible to compare the volume of the present stand with that of pre- histeric times and thus compute the depletion that has resulted from the activities of civilization. It is certain that the primeval forest was far from carrying, on every acre, the maximum volume of a fully stocked, mature forest. Fires, windstorms, insects, and diseases had always taken their toll and kept certain areas understocked or temporarily stripped of large living timber. But it must be as- sumed that before the interference of man the for- ests of the region maintained from decade to decade and century to century a generally constant vol- ume; that the natural agencies of depletion were constantly at work but were substantially in equil- ibrium with growth. —
Since the region has been settled and industrial activity begun there has been great acceleration of depletion, particularly by cutting and fire, and the natural equilibrium has been upset. Though for- ests are a renewable resource, so active has been the harvesting of mature timber that the regrowth has not been able to keep pace, and depletion of the forest capital has resulted. It appears now that the saw-timber volume of the Douglas-fir re- gion is being depleted about four times as fast as it is being replaced by growth.
The current annual depletion of saw timber from all causes is estimated to approximate 8.3 billion board feet. It should be remembered that the de- pletion considered here includes only that caused by man and by epidemics and catastrophes, not the normal losses that take place in any forest in
eee a virgin state; normal losses due to causes such as scattered wind throw, decay, incidental insect kill- ing, surface fires, and suppression in crowded stands had been allowed for in the preparation of the growth and yield tables used in the survey. Nor does it include material unutilized in logging, as is explained later.
The principal agent in this 8.3 billion board foot annual gross reduction in the forest inventory is cutting, which has been active at an accelerating rate in recent decades. Fire, also, is an important cause of forest destruction, particularly in second- growth stands; it is far more destructive than can be measured in terms of volume of timber killed. Forest-destructive agents of secondary significance in this particular region are insects and wind throw.
Cutting Depletion
The statistics of depletion from cutting herein given include only material actually removed from the woods as a result of harvesting operations; they do not include sound material left in the woods, because the inventory statistics and the growth cal- culations included only the usable part of the tree wherever the board-foot unit of measure was em- ployed. A study of logging waste in the Doug- las-fir region made by the Forest Service in 1926-27 (6), along with information obtained by the survey, formed the basis for adjusting gross volume and growth figures to volume actually removed in log- ging. The results of this study indicate that nearly 144 billion board feet of sawlogs were left in the woods after logging in 1926 when the total sawlog production amounted to about 10 billion board feet.
TasLe 11.—Annual output of timber products in the Douglas-fir region, by State and forest-survey unit }
¥ MATERIAL? CUT FROM TREES OF SAW-TIMBER SIZE
e i Forest-survey unit Sawlogs | Fuel wood 3) Pulpwood 4 apes eS spinels Posts Total M board M board M board M board | M board M board M board M board Western Washington: feet feet feet feet feet feet Feet Teet
North Puget) Soundts= 22 ess sseeee ena 679, 977 23, 575 15, 820 8, 593 2, 210 8, 000 453 738, 628 CentralsPuret|Sounds == 2Se-5 See eae 1, 716, 204 86, 000 21, 835 10, 994 12, 010 1, 750 1, 033 1, 849, 826 SouthvPugetiSound 22222 st asses e eee 560, 443 | 245/500 | een eee 750 10%330))|Sseeee eee 555 596, 578 Grays Harbors == sss eo oe ee ee ee 1, 455, 557 6, 080 2, 750 743 | 1, 550 250 74 1, 467, 004 ColumbiasRiver! 22222222 = 22 ee eee 589, 151 24, 900 3, 450 STL 8 1 | ee a Se 22s eee 256 618, 875
) Totale ! soe ee eS ee eee eee 5, 001, 332 165, 055 43, 855 22, 198 26, 100 10, 000 2, 371 5, 270, 911
Western Oregon: | ColumbiatRiverssses 22s enea so wee eeee eee 1, 110, 229 84, 730 2, 355 USSG | ea es oe ee a cee 584 1, 199, 734 WiillamettesRiver o> sass ae ee So eee 691, 563 64, 305 1, 530 777, 518 North; Oregon) coastvos- = == sees ee ee 255, 221 9, 350 141 277, 873 South Oregon coast__- 2 278, 361 8, 000 100 287, 939 Umpqua River__----- = 21, 741 9, 625 255 31, 621 IROPUCHRIVEr sss sera s sess ene ee eee os 68, 468 11, 800 148 80, 416
| Total ise ee ra aoe eee eee 2, 425, 583 187, 810 30, 940 8; O10 8 | Seeee saa | |S aee 2, 758 2, 655, 101 Region totale:stos sees a = ses eee Ee eee 7, 426,915 | 352, 865 74, 795 30, 208 26, 100 10, 000 5, 129 7, 926, 012
MATERIAL CUT FROM TREES OF LESS THAN SAW-TIMBER SIZE
Forest-survey unit Fuel wood | Pulpwood oe Posts pene Hewed Exeoisict Total
M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic
Western Washington: feet feet feet feet feet feet feet feet NorthePugetiSound 22222252 ele ee 6, 022 3, 026 548 133 82 A | ices Seaver eee 9, 855 GCentraltbucet;Sound#. 2222s ene 11, 617 774 1, 437 283 699 113 180 15, 103 SouthyBuceti Sounds oe ea eee oe 215g | Sawn 910 95 200 36) | ao eee 3, 356 Grays Harbor_-_____ 3, 683 345 868 22) Soa oe 44 | eee are 4, 932 Columbia River 2, 268 271 1, 488 52} beeen nee 23" || enc ee ee 4, 102
Totaliess 2 un ot eee Sees o sea Ot es 25, 705 4,416 5, 251 585 981 230 180 37, 348
Western Oregon:
ColumbisiRivers] 2) a=: oes ee! 10, 078 771 473 {| (ee ea Ue ee. 45 11, 5387 Willamette River__. 13, 726 1, 397 475 240 | 69)|| Seat ee 180 16, O87
North-Oregon(coast=---==- see 2, 489 423 125 3, 051 South Oregon coast 2, 065 10 383 2, 552 UmpquavRiverss. 2-252 bers ee ee VIN GT eee SRS a ee, 16 2, 783 PROSTICHRIV er = toe * 6 OS oa oa ees eee ee 297028 so ee | Se ee ee 3, 025
| | Totalezs= 26 te ee ee ee 34, 073 2, 601 1,472 523 | 99 42 225 39, 035 Region totale) so. 2- Soak ee ee ee 59, 778 7,017 6, 723. 1, 108 | 1, 080 272 405 76, 383
1 Data for sawlog production are averages for the period 1925-33, other data are for 1930 only.
2 Figures given are log scale, based on Scribner rule.
3 In addition to the quantities of material shown under this heading, considerable quantities of slabs, edgings, mill waste, and sawdust were sold as fuel.
*In addition to the quantities shown under these headings, some sawlogs were used for manufacture of paper pulp, veneers, panels, plywood, and shingles,
44
The survey of cutting depletion covered the ma- terial removed from the forest for different uses, not only as sawlogs but also as minor timber prod- ucts, such as fuel wood, poles, piling, posts, veneer blocks, shingle bolts, pulpwood, mine_ timbers, hewed ties, and excelsior bolts. Sawlogs were clas- sified by species and geographical unit; the minor timber products were classified by item, species, and geographical unit, and according to whether the material was cut from trees of saw-timber size (16 inches d. b. h. or more) or from smaller trees. The results were expressed in board feet for the saw-timber size and in cubic feet for the smaller trees. The average annual timber production in the Douglas-fir region is shown in table 11 by State and survey unit.
The total volume of material cut from trees of sawlog size annually during the period 1925-33 averaged 7.9 billion board feet. The area clear- cut annually during that period amounted to roughly 165,000 acres. By far the greater part of the cutting, in terms of area, was in large old- growth Douglas-fir. Cutting is heaviest in the north Puget Sound, central Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and Columbia River, Oreg., units.
Sawlog Production
Sawlogs comprise about 95 percent of the total cutting depletion. The average annual sawlog
production during the period 1925-33 of 7.4 billion board feet, log scale, is distributed by species for each unit in western Oregon and western Washington in table 12. During the first part of this period annual sawlog production increased, but beginning with 1930 it declined rapidly, so that in the 4 years 1930-33 it was little more than half as much as in 1925-29.
More than two-thirds of the region’s total output of sawlog volume during 1925-33 was produced in Washington. Douglas-fir composed 83 percent of the sawlog production in Oregon, and 68 percent of that in Washington. Other leading species, in order, were western hemlock, western redcedar, and Sitka spruce.
By far the greater part of the sawlog production— 6,592 million board feet annually—took place on private land. The remaining 835 million board feet was distributed, in million board feet, as 255, Oregon & California Railroad revested grant lands, - 245; State lands (all in Washington), 175; and Indian- owned lands, 160. This volume on public or In- dian lands was all cut by private concerns to which the stumpage had been sold.
Water transportation has been a significant factor in the development of the lumber industry in the Douglas-fir region. ‘The units leading in saw-
follows: national-forest lands,
log production are, in order, the central Puget
Tasie 12.—Average annual sawlog production, log scale, in the Douglas-fir region in 1925-33, by State, forest-survey unit, and species
| | Port | lepine West- E . Douglas- | Western | Western | Orford Sitka Balsam z Sugar ern (|Incense-| Hard- Forest-survey unit | fir hemlock | redcedar | white- | spruce firs | corose pine white | cedar | woods Total cedar Pp pine | | — | | F M board | M board | M board |M board) M board |M board| M board| M board| M board|_M board|M board| M board Western Washington: feet feet feet feet feet Seet feet feet | feet feet feet feet INorthsPuget:Sounds2.- =. 22 =. - 466, 897 104, 212 94713) \\esaea- Ss 8, 668 PULLS | SS ae eee [epee | 398s |o- 2 3, 088 679, 977 Central Puget Sound_____________ 1,147,927 | 342,811 176}, 0651/2 siene SS, O52 LONG i soc - =< 2|-n2s5 ee L678) | seose oe 3, 504 | 1, 716, 204 South Puget Sound______________-_ 455, 571 55, 851 435005) seo 1, 663 SPAS 2 Seach ees eee Raa re sere eos 2,172 560, 443 Grays Harbor 875, 204 285, 241 1LE9"31A! |Se * 120, 761 3, 584 848 608 | 1, 455, 557 ColumbiatRiversses=- = 2 os 476, 291 56, 532 44, 649 |-------- 3, 313 7,417 80 \aaeenee 639 589, 151 Mo talebe seawater ee 28. Ut 3,421,890 | 844,647 | 527,743 |_______- 168, 457 | 25,350] 230 |_....__.| 3,004 |___.____ 10,011 | 5, 001, 332 Western Oregon: | ColumbiasRivers = oon 1, 008, 112 62, 638 8, 867 17,852 | 5,073 S601) geese oe 74) fall ees a 7,027 | 1, 110, 229 WillametterRiver. =. S25 woo 620, 488 49, 439 8,277 |_- 62 | 10, 703 238 | 484 | 266 | 161 1, 445 691, 563 North Oregon coast_______________ 163, 497 25, 040 5, 536 |------- 59, 644 Shi Eee as -| L53;j|22--226 992 255, 221 South Oregon coast_______________ 179, 679 6, 814 3, 004 | 48, 558 BSO75o1 21021 |22--2-= |= ad | See ae ae 210 278, 361 WimpquayRivers2 se ees 2 19, 184 135 135g | ese |S SSSEee SS i224") 824 | OB: sits aoe 376 30 21, 741 ROSUeER Vers teste swe ee 20, 732 | TS6p peewee 2 | 5 YAN ae a 1,948 | 39,462 | 5, 627 | 110 | 316i ae ee 68, 468 INO Gea eens aos Shh 2,011, 692 | 144, 252 25,819 | 48,645 | 115,633 | 20, 226 | 40, 887 | 7, 046 826 853 | 9, 704 | 2, 425, 583 Regionstotal=sasmermeke hae eye ae” 5, 433, 582 988,899 | 553,562 | 48, 645 284, 090 | 45, 576 | 41, 117 | 7, 046 3, 830 853 | 19,715 | 7, 426, 915 | | | 1 Including all species of Abies. 224146°—40-__4 45
Sound, Grays Harbor, Columbia River Oregon, Willamette River, and north Puget Sound. All these except the Willamette River unit are readily accessible to tidewater, and are characterized by cheap water transportation of logs. In the Wil- lamette River unit comparatively few logs are transported by water and most of the sawlog pro- duction is done by logger manufacturers, whose mills are usually located within a relatively short distance of the woods operation.
The earliest logging operations in the region were in the vicinities of Puget Sound and the Columbia River. In the Columbia River district logging began in a small way more than a century ago. Supplies of saw timber in these units are still large but are being depleted rapidly, particularly in the some Oregon counties. In Washington, logging in this district has been greatly stimulated of late by the establishment of large mills at Longview. Continued large-scale logging has greatly depleted the accessible privately owned saw timber in the Puget Sound district—nearly to exhaustion in the counties east of the Sound. In Grays Harbor County, the comparatively easy logging ground and dense stands of high-quality timber invited early operation. This county outranked all others in the region in aggregate sawlog production from 1925 to 1933, although cutting declined rapidly in the latter part of the period and in 1933 was exceeded by that of Cowlitz County.
In all units except the Rogue River, where pon- derosa pine ranks first, Douglas-fir is the leading species in log production, ranging from 91 per- cent of the total in the Columbia River, Oreg., unit to 60 percent in the Grays Harbor unit. In the central Puget Sound and Grays Harbor units western hemlock constitutes about 20 percent of the total production; in the other units, much less. Western redcedar forms 14, 12, and 10 percent of the total log production in the north Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and central Puget Sound units. Sitka spruce production is significant only in the Grays Harbor, south Oregon coast, and north Oregon coast units. Port Orford white-cedar logs are produced only in the south Oregon coast unit, where they form 17 percent of the total sawlog production. Practically all the ponderosa pine are produced in the Rogue
logs River
unit.
46
Not aii the sawiogs produced are used in the manufacture of lumber. A considerable propor- tion of the western hemlock and Sitka spruce logs and practically all the white fir logs produced in 1925-33 were used to manufacture wood pulp. Some Douglas-fir and Sitka spruce logs were used in veneer manufacture. Most of the western red-
cedar logs were used for shingles.
Forest Fuel Wood
The cutting of forest trees of both saw-timber and smaller size for fuel, usually into split cordwood dimensions, is a factor in the depletion of growing stock. Forest fuel wood, as indicated by the 1930 production listed in table 13, constitutes about three-quarters of the volume of all the so-called minor timber products. In 1930 western Oregon produced 55 percent of the regional total, although it had but 41 percent of the region’s population. Practically all the forest fuel wood is consumed locally, and the principal markets are the urban localities. The wood is trucked to consuming centers for distances up to 40 or 50 miles. The Columbia River, Oreg., and Willamette River, the most populous of the Oregon units, lead in fuel-wood production. In Multnomah County, Oreg., in which Portland is situated, 29 percent of the volume of all the trees of saw-timber size felled in the period studied was converted into for- est fuel wood, together with 97 percent of the mate- rial cut from smaller trees. The chief reasons for western Oregon’s greater fuel-wood production are: (1) A larger percentage of the population of western Oregon than of that of western Washing- ton is rural or resident in small communities, and in the Douglas-fir region these population classes use wood as fuel almost exclusively; (2) the forest stands suitable for fuel wood near large cities are more nearly exhausted in western Washington; (3) coal mined’near Seattle and other Puget Sound cities
competes with forest fuel in _ local markets.
In western Oregon by far the greater part of the forest fuel wood is Douglas-fir; oak is next in im- portance, followed by red alder. In western Washington, the central Puget Sound unit, the most populous, produces roughly half the total output of forest fuel wood, and almost all the forest fuel wood produced is Douglas-fir.
urban
Considerable quantities of mill waste such as approximately 75 million board feet of forest pulp-
slabs, trimmings, hogged fuel, and sawdust, also, wood was cut from trees of saw-timber size and 7 are used for industrial and domestic fuel. The use million cubic feet from smaller trees (table 14). of mill waste for fuel is discussed more fully later. This is but a small part of the total material used in the manufacture of wood pulp in this region,
Forest Pulpwood ; other sources being sawlogs and sawmill waste. Approximately 60 percent of the total forest Second in importance among the minor timber pulpwood was produced in western Washington, products is forest pulpwood—iaterial cut in the most of it western hemlock. In western Oregon woods. This is usually in 4-foot lengths, peeled the leading species was grand_ fir, practically and stacked in round or split form. During 1930, all of it cut and used in the Willamette River unit.
Tasie 13.—Production of forest fuel wood in the Douglas-fir region during 1930, by State, forest-survey unit, and species } MATERIAL 2? CUT FROM TREES OF SAW-TIMBER SIZE
Other | hardwoods
a ae ees Douglas- Western | Ponderosa) Other eae : : pe Forest-survey unit fir henilecks pine | conifers Oak Red alder Total
M = board M = board M = board M board | M board | M board | M board M board
Western Washington: feet feet feet feet feet feet feet feet INorthiPuget} Sound 22222225 =. 2255-22 eee es 23, 000 1 a5 ees oe 504 | eee asset 350 50 23, 575 GentraltPuget; Sound: 2222 22s22 22-2 2s 85, 100 1 fs 08 eee eee 50h ass eae eee 595 105 86, 000 SouthiBuget;soundiaes tae See ees esee ER 2T OM oe seen ena ek nee | eee | Le et 200 25 24, 500 (Graysthlarborss ses nse 2 Ss ee eae ete 5, 775 [10 ee See 0 (eee eee Pseceerctece 255". 6, 080 Columbiaghiversaseat snes ae ieee eee 24, 730 20 2 _| eg eee 8 50 100 24, 900
TT a ee ee teee acelin ee Nh amie heey OP sian 162, 880 SAS bas ae wep TOO erates cnt 1,450 | 280 165, 055
Western Oregon: | | Golumbia River. imine cei Sw Pain ie EME BINA 90% (ween a 150 170 1, 185 625 | 180 84, 730 WrllamettesRivers22-cse0o2ss 2 - Tone ass ee 59,061; )S-=2=-1 22 Se | oe ee ears ae | a 5, 050 | 45 139 64, 305 North Oregon coast__-___---------------------- EC) eee ees a a oe | 75 | ect Ss aes 500 5 9, 350 Southe@regonicoasts = <5 2 see re eee Opti) hae | ee Ls 175 Le pee ee 135 110 8, 000 (Wim pquapRivenss 2x 8 eee ee ba ea ee Ch GPRS | ae es LOO} So eee en ae | 1200) \|Eee eee ¥ Ds bee 9, 625 FORTIS PR Ver aoe ae anaes ne tenant Ue Ien Ea LORAT SIN Sse eS 600 25 700} ese : 11, 800
TT cy bal] Bike ee te eek eet entre tent ye PRR 76416104 | he ae aw Bonne 850 445 8, 135 1, 315 434 187, 810
Repionttotal ssc as ware ee St ED er eee 339, 511 | 345 850 545 | 8, 135 2, 765 714 352, 865
MATERIAL CUT FROM TREES OF LESS THAN SAW-TIMBER SIZE
t M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic M cubic
Western Washington: feet feet feet feet feet feet feet feet “North Puget;Sound =~ 21 -2-- = 225-2 5-2-2 SOL GM Steak Saleen eo 6 See eee 384 17 6, 023 Central Puget Sound _- 11, 354 AM |e the es ol | Pee cee ete a |e ee as 259 peta © 11, 617 South Puget Sound_________- 198 74) eer mens S| Cetera oe oe 3S eee Se eee 119 9 2, 115 Gray seblanborsomec see eee eae 2, 742 4. Gi etree ete te | een |e awe BO8N ee ae eS. 3, 682 ColumpbiasRivers et a7 2 a eee eee DS 232i hee re UE Eee ee eS 13 = ee oe 23 \p=eeneene 2, 268 FN taleees a atm mene nee cr 23, 931 BO p (sua aes - 19 1, 679 | 26 25, 705
Western Oregon: Columbiaskiivencs-0=tess 5-2 Sse as 987485 |Eowee Sees 27 9 150 103 | 42 10, 079 WhllamettedRiy ers sa 22s ae = be Se TUSG508 225s. 22 nfo | ae Eee a [Ee 2, 067 9 | ae 13, 726 NorthsOregonicoast:2 2. a ee eee 2) 1405 Eee sae ne leas a Re B2iH 24 Sees. 2 304 4 2, 489 South Oregon coast_-__..-.-.---.-------- Sea TABO Tae cu eee ae |e ak SS 61 6 51 50 2, 065 Wmpqua Rivero ses ee Pos ee ene eee Pee PAT eee ees 1) 30 ee 486 Sais Sae 18 2, 745 IROGUCVRIVer eee se ee ese eee sae PAS) see aby Allis See ea eee 135 .|R ue se eeeee 72 2, 970 ST tay etre rae ope ata reat See as EEN LE A 30525908 | Se aaeteees = 216 102 2, 844 467 | 186 34, 074 Regionstotalesass 1 eie het Los Se ee eee sen oe 54, 190 50 216 121 2, 844 | 2, 146 | 212 59, 779 |
| | 1 In addition to the quantities of material shown here, considerable quantities of slabs, edgings, mill waste, and sawdust were sold for fuel. 2 Figures given are log scale, based on Scribner rule; 1,000 board feet is approximately equivalent to 130 cubic feet.
47
Tasie 14.—Production of forest pulpwood' in the Douglas-fir region during 1930, by State, forest-survey unit, and species
Forest-survey unit
Western Washington:
North Puget/Sound2_22- 2 = s-seeaseene oe Central PucetiSound)=_ 2
South Puget Sound
Grays Harbor-____-__----
Columbia River
Western Oregon:
ColumbiawRiver®- 221-2 S eee ee
Willamette River
INorth'Oregomn coast. 2-2 fae saees
South Oregon coast
Wmpauial River-2s2 see ee ROpUC RIVED tess ee cee woke ea seoee
Material 2 cut from trees of saw-timber size Material cut from trees of less than saw-timber size | = Northern Northern Western Sitka Balsam black Total Western Sitka Balsam black hemlock | spruce firs cotton- E hemlock | spruce firs | cotton- Total wood wood M M M M M M M M board feet | board feet | board feet | board feet | board feet | cubic feet | cubic feet | cubic feet | cubic feet | cubic feet 13, 367 150 31, 678 625 15, 820 1,811 63 422 729 3, 025 10, 920 9, 935 980))|_22=5-=35= 21, 835 219 462 931) 22a ee 774 P5550 100 100/\Selaeaee 2, 750 333 19)| 2 eam [aa 345 3000/22 eee are 50 300 3, 450 RY Bae se 9 155 271 29, 937 10, 185 2, 808 $25 43, 855 2,470 537 524 884 4,415 NIBH Go) ea as 580) Rae 2, 355 540)! So eee 231 | Pase eee 771 15290) |Ee ee 14 25 teense a 15, 415 CY (i ee 1300 pl Ssee aes 1, 397 6, 600 6,550) | See | See ee 13, 150 342 81) Fae ee | eee 423 ee eee 205 See see 20) | Eee Saas | eee ene 10) |S 10 9, 665 6, 550 1457254 |Seeeee eee 30, 940 929 81 175918 | See eeeeee 2, 601 —_————| 39, 602 16, 735 17, 533 925 74, 795 3, 399 618 2,115 884 7, 016 |
1 In addition to the quantities of material shown here, some sawlogs were used to manufacture wood pulp. 2 Figures given are log scale, based on Scribner rule. 3 Includes 50,000 board feet of Douglas-fir.
Tasre 15.—Production of poles and piling in the Douglas-fir region during 1930, by State, unit, and species
ColumbiauRiver2o.2.22-1= A.
North Oregon coast_______-____
South Oregon coast_ Umpqua River_-____ Rogue River--_-_----
Material cut from trees of saw-timber size
Material cut from trees of less than saw-timber size
Forest-survey unit Douglas- Wester Ge Sitka Total | Douglas- Ws ae Y a Western | Sitka Total fir cedar “cedar” | Spruce fir Codan “cedar” hemlock | spruce . M board | M board | M board | M board | M board | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic
Western Washington: feet feet feet feet feet feet feet feet feet North Puget Sound___________ 7, 575 1,018 8, 593 61 487 548 Central Puget Sound___ 8,099 2, 895 10, 994 565 872 1, 487 South Puget Sound____________ 349 401 750 487 423 910 Grays Harbors 22.22. .2-22--2. 287 447 743 308 445 868 Columbia River__.-_.._---_.-- 854 5 Shy (epee aes Seeeeea| (el Ae ere 1,118 371 1,110 1, 488 | feelers LER Motale sins: see Ace ees Se 17, 164 5;025|<S25-e se 9 22, 198 1, 792 BOY (ol eee oe 118 4 5, 251
Western Oregon:
5, 584 25
48
3, 675
Production of forest pulpwood is usually an in- dividual enterprise of farmers and local woodsmen. With few exceptions the producers haul the pulp- wood to market by truck, and production is com- monly restricted to areas within 40 or 50 miles of the pulp mills. Production increased considerably for 2 or 3 years after 1930, when unemployment among woods workers was at its height. Since then it has declined and the data for 1930 are prob- ably representative of the average forest pulpwood production of recent years.
Other Minor Timber Products
Of the poles and piling produced in the region in 1930, as given in table 15, western Washington’s annual production was three times that of western Oregon. Well over half the total was Douglas-fir, and nearly all the remainder western redcedar poles.
Veneer-block and shingle-bolt production during 1930 is shown in table 16. Practically all the veneer blocks were Douglas-fir. All the shingle bolts were western redcedar, and 80 percent of them were produced in the north Puget Sound unit. There was no reported production of veneer blocks or shingle bolts in western Oregon in 1930. This ap- parently means that western Oregon’s veneer plants and shingle mills operated on logs exclusively.
The production of hewed ties, excelsior bolts, and mine timbers in 1930 is given in table 17. All the hewed ties produced in western Washington in 1930
TABLE 16.—Production of veneer blocks and shingle bolts, during 7930, by forest-survey unit and species }
[In thousands board feet, log scale—i. e. 000 omitted]
Veneer blocks
% | Shingle Forest-survey unit a Nore: Other B ols Doug, ae black | hard Total |redeedar
cotton- |} woods
wood
North:Puget:Sound |) 2) 200"|2- 25.222 10 | 2,210 8, 000 Central Puget Sound-| 11, 060 150 700 100 | 12,010 1, 750 South Puget Sound__| 10,025 |. --____ 200 108 )3])103330) |e Grays Harbor_______ 1, 000 550) (Hasse BS ree eed 1, 550 250 Columbia River_____|-_-_-___|__-___- eee, eee | Pape pal eee el | eI otal 24, 285 700 900 215 | 26, 100 10, 000
1 No production of veneer blocks and shingle bolts was reported for 1930 in western Oregon. All material was cut from trees of saw-timber size.
TasLe 17.—Production of hewed ties, excelsior bolts, and mine tumbers during 1930, in cubic feet of solid wood by forest-survey unit and species
Excelsior bolts,
Hewed ties, Mine tim- Forest-survey unit Douglas- pees bers, Doug- cotton- a fir wood las-fir
Western Washington: M cubic feet| M cubic feet | M cubic feet
North Puget Sound________ AA) Loe auntie z 82 Central Puget Sound ______ 113 180 699 South Puget Sound__.______ Big | es eee eens a 200 Grays Harbor: --.--: 222. Ee BE: a eer | [ancy oh Columbia River____________ 23 =i
Totals: teat aS 230 180 981
Western Oregon:
Columbia*River.2 2. - 2.2. |e. 2-22 eee il ee ee ee See Willamette River___________]__ seseus bee 180 69 iNorthyOregon:coast---- 2002s cee eee | South Oregon coast_________ 2 0 eS oe 2 29 WimpquayRivers 252s wales sees eros | ee ee Rogue'River= ==. ==- 222-22 Bate eke a acre: NE Se eee Ota eee Wee ie ns re 1 42 225 98 Eos Regionitotali «21 veh 272 | 405 1,079
1 Port Orford white-cedar.
were reported as Douglas-fir and all those in west- ern Oregon as Port Orford white-cedar. Excelsior bolts, produced in the central Puget Sound unit in Washington and the Willamette River and Colum- bia River units in Oregon, were all reported to be of northern black cottonwood. All the mine tim- bers produced were reported as Douglas-fir, and most of them were cut in the central Puget Sound unit, where coal mining is an important industry.
It was difficult to obtain accurate data on post production, since approximately 85 percent of all posts produced are cut either by individual farm- ers for their own use or by small operators. In the totals for 1930, as reported in table 18, nearly equal quantities were produced in western Ore- gon and in western Washington, nearly all of them of western red cedar.
Fire depletion
Trees killed directly by fire and not salvaged usually constitute but a small percentage of the annual depletion of saw-timber volume in the Douglas-fir region. This percentage, however, is not the full measure of the destructiveness of fire; unfortunately, fire reduces future timber supplies
Tasie 18.—Production of round and split posts in the Douglas- fir region during 1930, by State, forest-survey unit, and species
MATERIAL OUT FROM TREES OF SAW-TIMBER SIZE
West- | poyg- | Ponde-| Forest-survey unit ernred- 1 ue Tosa Oak Total cedar pine | M M M M M board | board | board | board | toard Western Washington: feet feet | feet feet | feet North Puget Sound____-} 406 479 | Cece | etn | 453 Central Puget Sound_---| 1,023 | 105 |e eee ess 1,033 South Puget Sound__-_- 530 | 25) | faa a el Oey 555 Grays! Harbor_=-——— 70 4p ae ee 74 Columbia River________- 230 | 26) (Seal Pees 256 Totale= sere na 2, 259 1:1 2 eee | ean 2, 371 Western Oregon: | Columbia River-__-----_- 530 54 ee ee ee 584 Willamette River_-_-___- 1, 372 68/2 90 | 1,530 North Oregon coast_-_-_- 138 BY) ee Bees 141 South Oregon coast__--_- 64 Ca) | ee el ae . 1100 Umpqua River----_--:-- 185 30} | Tee 40 255 Rogue) Rivers 222 =-==2- 685) sa see 48 | 32 148 Totalost=--25= ee 2, 357 178 48 162 2, 758 Regionitotalitesess— esa 4,616 290 48 162 5, 129
MATERIAL CUT FROM TREES OF LESS THAN SAW-TIMBER
SIZE
M M M M M
‘ cubic | cubic | cubic | cubic | cubic
Western Washington: feet feet | feet feet feet North Puget Sound____- 133) eee (ism ete farina 133 Central Puget Sound__-_- p22.) [ee penn | (epee © ee We 282 South Puget Sound__-__ 96) eae BAP IE IR So hes 96 Grays) Harbor==ss2---2 == Pa (ae | a ed PE 23 Columbia River_-_----_-- Zhi sere al SE es Ce ae | 52 Motalsecs see Oe a 9867p aoe ea |e se ee ees 586
| Western Oregon: | | Columbia River__-____ = 169 Se 1 170 Willamette River__-_____ ZIG! | Reames | Mertens 20 | 239 North Oregon coast_____ 143 / E Co wee ee pea 14 South Oregon coast__--_- 18 1) ee reel Peep ies, 222 Umpqua River-<-_.2--2. 15 |--------|-------- 8 23 Rogue;Rivers-==+="--' 23 Sit [es seer 3 18 255 Tota] use ease et 466 1 3 47 523 |
Region:totalae oss 1, 052 il 3 47 1, 109
1 Includes 13 M board feet of other species. 2 Includes 3 M board feet of other species.
by destroying young stands, delaying and prevent- ing forest regeneration on cut-over land, and reduc- ing the productivity of forest soils. In the present study of fire depletion, the gross area burned over annually was recorded by type, site, and unit and the net loss of saw-timber volume was recorded by
50
type and unit. Such records were compiled and analyzed for the period 1924-33 for national- forest land and for 1926-80 for all other land. The records used did not include any catastrophic fires, such as the Tillamook fire of 1933 which cov- ered more than 240,000 acres and killed 10 billion feet of some of the finest timber in the region, prac- tically all on private land. If such a catastrophe had been included in a study of a period as short as 5 or 10 years and for an area as small as a survey unit, the averages would have been distorted. In estimating future fire depletion it was assumed that a catastrophic fire would occur once in 30 years and a separate allowance was made for such losses. Estimates of the average acreage burned annually in the Douglas-fir region are given by generalized type for national-forest land and all other land in table 19. Saw-timber losses, confined to conifer saw-timber types, are, in M board feet, as follows.
Nationalttorestilandira emi toerr acct: eee 93, 790 @therpland eye olorsvorehtevorey ker etelarneeeree 178, 613 Ao tale Si WS Se ee eaexer a Pove /o vobercuc te oye eran 272, 403
Negligible volumes of saw timber were lost by fire in types 9, 12, 15, 19, 21, 24, and 28; fire reports customarily include them in saw-timber types or ignore them. ‘
The 24,000 acres of national-forest land burned over annually in 1924-33 is 0.24 percent of the total forest area of the national forests in the region. The net acreage was considerably less than this, since some fires reduce the stocking without completely destroying the stand. For example, in old-growth Douglas-fir stands (types 6 and 7) field study indi- cated that for each 100 acres burned over the net loss was equivalent to complete destruction of the stand on only 40 acres.
Approximately 30 percent of the acreage burned over annually was occupied by saw-timber stands, whereas nearly 56 percent of the total area of national-forest land in the region is occupied by such stands. A much higher proportion of the Douglas-fir seedling and sapling areas, of recently cut-over land, of old deforested burns, and of the noncommercial types is burned over annually than of saw-timber areas, for these types have a higher hazard than saw timber and older second growth. The seedling, sapling, and recent cut-over types, in particular, are highly inflammable. The non-
commercial types commonly occur at the higher elevations, where they are exposed to lightning, the principal cause of fires on the national forests.
The annual loss by fire of saw-timber volume on national forests is 0.047 percent of the total na- tional-forest saw timber. Very little of the fire- killed timber on national forests is salvaged, be- cause of inaccessibility to logging operations or because the quantity killed on any one area is too small to justify salvage logging.
Outside the national forests the 229,000 acres burned over annually during 1926-30 averaged 1.2 percent of the total. The average annual volume loss, not including material salvaged, was 179 million board feet, or 0.051 percent of the total saw-timber stand outside the national forests. Acreage burned over is considerably greater than on the national forests, largely because causative agents are more numerous, climate at the lower altitudes is more unfavorable, and the highly in- flammable cut-over land types are more prevalent. Volume losses would be proportionately much greater than on the national forests if salvaged timber had been included. Considerable fire- killed timber was salvaged on other lands. On national forests practically none was salvaged.
More than one-third of the annual burned acreage is recently cut-over land (type 36). During 1920-32 approximatly 165,000 acres was cut over annually, and each year more than half as much cut-over land was burned over accidentally, even after the slash-disposal broadcast burning customarily practiced in western Oregon and Washington. Nearly a fourth of the total burned acreage was of stands of Douglas-fir seed- lings and saplings (type 10). Areas of this type were burned over at the rate of 3.2 percent an-
intentional
nually. These two types usually occur in the vicinity of active logging operations and are ex- posed to fire from slash burning of adjacent areas and from many other causes. Moreover, they are highly inflammable. Undoubtedly, also, they are given less effective protection than timber of
sawlog size.
Depletion From Other Causes
Depletion from catastrophic or abnormal causes other than cutting and fire is not of great con-
Tasie 19.—Estimated annual averages | of gross forest-land area covered by fire in the Douglas-fir region
Se
- 7 Na- Other A Type group and type No. penal Tana Sn Conifer saw timer (6, 7, 8, 11, 14, 17, 18, 20, | Acres | Acres | Acres 2OAT 23; 2i ANG oe) = see) ee oe ee ae 7,356 | 35, 631 42, 987 Conifer second growth, small (9, 12,15,and 21)_| 1,120 | 20,157 | 21,277 Conifer seedlings and saplings (10, 13, 16, and 22) ee eee ene ee ane ee ae eee ee 5, 886 | 53, 725 59, 611 Conifer second growth, small (19, 24, and 28)__ 968 231 1, 199 Noncommercial (4, 514, 26, 33, and 38)________ 3,135 | 7,808 | 10,943 Recent cut-over areas (36)_...__________._-__.| 1,039 | 83,797 | 84,836 Old-cut-over areas, nonrestocked, and _pre- viously deforested burns (35 and 37)________| 4,172 | 25,894 | 30,066 Ward wood timber (31) 225-5..222--_ 2522-2222. 34 | 2,203 2, 237 INonforestland?(2iand:3) #224 ss- 2 see SEEM see Totals ead sen ey they 23,710 |229, 446 | 253, 156
! For national-forest lands, fire-loss data were averaged for the period 1924-33, for other land, data are for 1926-30.
sequence in this region. Losses caused by natural phenomena such as landslides, avalanches, floods, or sand-dune movement do not form a total merit- ing separate consideration and are moreover exceedingly difficult to appraise on a region-wide and annual basis. Although at present there are no disease epidemics in the Douglas-fir region of such a scale as to cause extraordinary losses, the presence of white pine blister rust in sugar-pine stands of southern Oregon threatens serious future losses. It has been explained already that the current small losses inevitably occurring from endemic diseases and normal insect activity, from surface fires, from scattered wind throw, and from overcrowding in growing stands are allowed for in the preparation of growth and yield tables. The only such factors requiring separate mention are insects and wind throw.
The only forest-insect species causing material losses in the region are the hemlock looper (Ellopia
fiscellaria var. lugubrosa Hulst.) and Sitka spruce
aphis (Aphis abietina Walk.) in the spruce-hemlock stands near the coast, and the Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopk.) in the Douglas-fir forests. ‘Timber are not serious in the Douglas-fir region as compared with
losses due to insects the ponderosa pine region of eastern Oregon, for example. The most destructive of the insects in this region is the hemlock looper, which becomes In 1889-91 a severe out-
in southwestern
epidemic periodically. break of this
insect occurred
Clatsop County, Oreg., and in Pacific County, Wash., but no estimate of the loss from this out- During the period 1918-21 another epidemic took place in Tillamook County, estimated to have killed 500 million board feet of standing timber on an area of approximately 27,000 Fire followed the insects on much of this area, adding to the damage.
break was ever made.
acres. The most recent epidemic was one in 1929-31 in Pacific County, Wash., which the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine estimated covered about 52,000 acres and caused the loss of approximately 165 million board feet of standing timber, practically all western hemlock. Control measures are credited with hastening the termination of this epidemic.
The native Douglas-fir bark beetle is commonly found in freshly felled or fire-killed trees, but occasionally this insect increases abnormally on burns and cut-over areas and attacks neighboring green timber, causing considerable damage. These outbreaks are usually of short duration and small extent. The annual damage to spruce by the aphis is usually small, although heavier infestations occur periodically. The Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine estimates that during the period 1921-30 the abnormal forest drain due to epidemics of the hemlock looper and other insects averaged 80 million board feet per year.
Abnormal losses from wind throw are difficult to estimate for a period as short as a decade, because they occur only sporadically and are likely to be catastrophic. The loss in the Olympic blowdown of January 1921 is estimated at 5 billion board feet, but there had probably been no storm damage like it for at least 75 years in this region. Losses averaging about 30 million board feet per year were reported for western Oregon in the decade 1920-29. In April 1931 several hundred million feet of timber was reported to have been wind thrown during one storm, which did its greatest damage on the Mount Hood and Willamette National Forests in Oregon. In October 1934 a windstorm of unusual severity in western Wash- ington caused loss estimated at more than 300 million board feet, practically all on State and private lands in King, Pierce, Skagit, and Sno- homish Counties. Fortunately a considerable part of this volume is salvable and it is therefore not considered as depletion.
On the basis of such records and evidence as were available regarding windstorms, the quantity of saw timber blown down, including both bodies of timber and scattered trees, was estimated to average 150 million board feet per year. It was further estimated that half of this fallen timber either was so scattered as not to affect total growth or would in the future be salvaged. If so, the net loss from wind throw was 75 million board feet annually.
Assumed Future Depletion
Undoubtedly all agents responsible for depletion in recent years will continue to be active in the future. By far the most important of the probable causes of future depletion is cutting. Beginning with 1933, the date of the inventory, the rate of depletion by cutting, fire, insects, and wind throw was estimated for each of three decades, 1933-42, 1943-52, and 1953-62. The estimates are shown in table 20.
TasLe 20.—Assumed future average annual forest depletion in the Douglas-fir region
|
Ejind of depletion and 10-year period National Gther Total : Miilion | Million | Million Cutting: board feet | board feet | board feet 1933-42 22s Saree ee Re 215 6, 785 7, 000 1943252 tam sae aoe eel kee e 498 7, 502 8, 000 1953-6222 20 Ee eet ee eee ee ae 831 6, 169 7, 000 Other: 1933=42 7 Ee a St Soe os ee 242 507 749 194352) ess ee ee eae 231 324 555 1953622252 Re a 199 | 240 439 Total: 1933 40 ee ee eee eee ee eae 457 | 7, 292 7, 749 OAS 55 Dis mene Pre ae cer oreo ee 729 7, 826 8, 555 1953-62222 eee a Sb ee ee 1,030 | 6, 409 7, 439
During the period 1925-33, the annual depletion by cutting of material of saw-timber size averaged approximately 7.9 billion board feet. It was con- siderably higher at the beginning of the period, but declined rapidly after 1929. A gradual increase over the cutting rate of the 3 years 1930-32 is anticipated during the decade 1933-42, but it is expected that the average for this period will be less than that for the period 1925-33. Therefore, it was estimated that the net annual depletion by cutting for 1933-42 would average 7 billion board feet.
It was thought that in the decade 1943-52, as a result of reduction of timber supplies in other forest regions, a greater proportion of the national lumber requirements would be supplied by this region. Furthermore, increase in the population of the West should increase local lumber consumption and result in increased markets. Considering these and other factors, it was estimated that annual cutting depletion for the decade 1943-52 would average 8 billion board feet.
In view of the tendency of national population to become stable and the trend toward decreased per capita consumption of lumber, it was anticipated that by about 1950 national lumber consumption would again decline. By this time the eastern and southern forest regions, close to the large centers of population, should have increased their forest productivity so as to be more nearly self-sufficient, thus limiting the market in the East for lumber from the Pacific coast. An annual depletion by cutting of 7 billion feet was assumed for the decade 1953-62.
Assumptions as to future losses from fire were based on past rates of loss adjusted to meet changes in inventories. The net area burned annually per 100,000 acres was computed for each type. After analyzing these data, it was decided to combine the types into 10 groups and assign a net annual rate of loss per 100,000 acres, exclusive of that caused by catastrophes, to each group (table 50). Next, on the assumption that one such catastrophe as the great Tillamook fire of 1933 might be expected each 30 years and that it would destroy on the average approximately 150 million feet of timber on about 4,500 acres annually, catastrophe loss rates were computed for the saw-timber types and
oy)
added to the rates previously calculated for ordinary fire losses.
A future net loss from wind throw of 75 million board feet annually was assumed and was converted to an acreage basis by using average-stand-per-acre figures for the types in which such loss occurs, derived from inventory check-cruise data. The result was about 1,400 acres per year. The future loss from the hemlock looper was assumed to be 60 million board feet, or 1,200 acres annually. This loss will probably occur exclusively in the hemlock saw-timber type (type 14).
Future depletion from cutting as shown in table 20 for the entire region was prorated to individual survey units on the basis of past cutting and amount of saw timber available for future cutting in the units. The total future cut assumed for each unit was prorated to type groups and the acreage cut of each type group calculated for national-forest land and other land separately. Average volume per acre as determined for each type group from inven- tory check-cruise data was used to estimate future cutting depletion. In so doing allowance was auto- matically made for logging waste.
Acreage depletion from fire, wind throw, and insect losses, computed as previously explained for each of the three decades, was converted to board- foot volume, by use of stand-per-acre values com- puted separately for each unit’s national-forest land and other land. ‘These estimates were combined with cutting estimates for corresponding decades to give the total assumed future depletion from all causes (table 50). junction with growth data to estimate inventories for 1943, 1953, and 1963.
They were later used in con-
FiO; R EO Saf (ROE SO UR GeESS: (O70 bh Eee DeOeUNGyErARS F- she li RR Es Gale @meN
Forest Growth
>>
HEN conclusions had been reached regard-
ing the extent of the forest capital of the
Douglas-fir region and the rate at which it is being depleted, the next step in the survey was to calculate the rates at which this forest capital is being and might be replenished by growth.
In general, the forest stands of the region may be divided into two categories—those in which there is net volume growth and those in which growth is off- set by mortality and decay. It was assumed in the survey that net increment in stands between the ages of 160 and 300 years is balanced by net loss in older stands, and estimates of growth were therefore re- stricted to stands not more than 160 years of age (2).
Because most of the growing stands are even- aged, growth in all stands was calculated on the basis of growth in even-aged stands and average ages were assigned to the small areas of uneven-aged stands.
Briefly, growth was calculated by applying rates to areal statistics of type, age, stocking, and site obtained in the inventory phase of the survey. Classification of forest lands and stands by these variables is described in pages 14 to 38.
Table 21 shows what percent of the 11 million acres of growing stands in the region is occupied by each of five type groups. The conifer stands total
10 W. H. Meyer devised the methods used in computing growth values and directed the computational work. P. A. Briegleb is the author of the text of this section. publications presenting results of the growth phase of the forest survey are (1) the station’s Forest Research Notes No. 17, Pulpwood Resources of Western Oregon and West- ern Washington, which includes some growth data for stands of pulpwood types, and (2) its Forest Research Notes No. 20, Forest Growth in the Douglas-Fir Region, which gives de- tailed growth statistics by broad ownership class for each unit and county of the region and briefly discusses the growth
Previous
study and its results.
54
Ke TABLE 21.—Composition of growing stands, in terms of total area occupied Type group Conifer All types J mnes All types Percent | Percent
Douglas-firses nen eee eee aa ee es 85. 2 | 76.5 Spruce:hemlocksss-- seater as ee eee 9.2 8.3 Ponderosa: pineemensan see tae ome eee enen mee 1.9 GY Other! coniferssae ssa er oe na oa eee 3.7 3.4 Lotaliconifers savrsamesea ees eear ee ane oer 100.0 89.9 TEL ar W.00G Beran eae ae ee eee tes ee ae ee ee 10.1 Granditotalieee creamer ann seesin Paes | Mee a eee 100.0
nearly 9 acres to 1 of hardwoods, and approxi- mately 85 percent of them, by area, are of types in which Douglas-fir predominates.
Growth rates derived from standard Douglas-fir yield tables (72) were applied to all growing conifer stands, in the belief that application of these rates to stands of types other than Douglas-fir would lead to adequate, conservative estimates. Findings of the recently completed study of spruce-hemlock yield in the region (73) indicate that spruce-hem- lock forests (fig. 16) usually produce materially greater volumes than would be estimated by use of the Douglas-fir yield tables. Because of the rela- tively small extent of growing spruce and hemlock stands, however, the procedure employed resulted in no serious underestimate of forest growth in the region as a whole. Analysis of results of the recently completed study of ponderosa pine yield (74) indicates that application of the Douglas-fir growth rates as modified for survey use to ponderosa pine stands has resulted in estimates satisfactory for the present purpose.
For application to actual stands the yield-table growth rates were reduced by the ratios of actual
stocking (p. 10) to normal stocking."
results of previous investigations (72, 75), under-
According to
stocked stands tend to approach normality, at a relatively slow rate where understocking is due principally to holes or gaps in the stand, and at a relatively rapid rate where it is due principally to wide spacing of the trees. Understocking in the forests as mapped in the survey is due primarily to the presence of gaps in the stands too small to be mapped on the scale adopted, and only secondarily to wide spacing of trees. The fact that no allow- ance was made for improvement of stocking with time contributes another element of conservatism to the growth estimates.
The growth rates used for the hardwood types were derived from an empiric yield table based on field sampling done as a part of the forest survey of Lewis County, Wash.
The growth rates used are rates of net growth; that is, they represent stand increment due to growth of merchantable-sized trees and to the pass- ing of small trees into the merchantable-size class minus volume lost through normal tree mortality. Because the yield tables from which the rates were derived show only volume in living trees at 10-year age intervals, they do not include the growth in trees that under present practices are lost through suppression but that could be utilized through intermediate cuttings and thinnings. Hence, in- tensive forest management would result in realiza- tion of growth greater than is indicated by the survey calculations.
Kinds of Growth Calculation Made
In this project four kinds of volume growth calculation were made: (1) Current annual growth, the annual increment of stands in their present condition; (2) realizable mean annual growth, an approximation of the growth that will actually occur in the future under forest practice as main- tained in the past; (3) potential annual growth,
11 A normal stand, or fully stocked stand, is one that, so far as any practical consideration is involved, utilizes its site completely, that is, represents the full productive capacity of the land on which it is growing. Normality of stand is determined not only by number of trees per acre but also by spacing of trees. The condition referred to as normal stock- ing is not maximum stocking.
5D
Ficure 16.—Second-growth western hemlock and Sitka spruce
stand approximately SO years of age. This type is found only
within a few miles of tidewater
the average annual growth that could be obtained on the whole of the region’s commercial forest land through intensive forest practice; and (4) periodic growth, the estimated growth within a given interval—in this study, 10 years. he predomi- nance of conifers in the forests of the region has been previously pointed out. Although 10 percent of the growing stands are hardwood, less than 2 per- cent of the total area of forest land is true hardwood site and only a little more than 1 percent oak- madrone woodland site. In addition, much of the hardwood site is considered potential agricultural
land and probably considerable portions of such land will be shifted from forest to farm use in the future. Consequently, in the growth phase the hardwood stands were considered only in the cur- Results of the periodic erowth calculation, made in order to estimate board-foot timber inventories as of the years 1943, 1953, and 1963, are not discussed here but are included on page 150.
In the growth phase as in the inventory phase,
rent growth calculation.
volume estimates were made in cubic feet and in board feet (for detailed specifications see p. 7). Periodic growth was computed on the basis of the current board-foot utilization standard only, as a means of estimating future board-foot In anticipation of more intensive in the future, realizable and
inventories. forest utilization potential annual growth were also computed according to another standard, board feet for all trees 11.1 inches d. b. h. or more estimated in 16-foot logs to 8-inch top, Scribner rule. Board- foot growth rates were reduced 5 percent for breakage and defect.
Current Annual Growth
Estimates of current annual growth, the annual increment of stands in their present condition, were based on acreages of growing types as found in 1933. ‘This is the only one of the four kinds of growth calculation that does not involve estimates of future changes in condition and extent of forests. An estimate of current annual growth should not be used as a basis for any estimate of volume at a future time; it cannot remain valid for more than a short period. It does not show the potential productivity of the land, and it does not show the growth realizable over long periods such as are involved in management plans for large forest areas.
Current annual growth in the region totals 917 million cubic feet, or 2.4 billion board feet, Scribner log scale, of which 886 million cubic feet or 2.3 billion board feet is occurring in conifer stands (table 22).
Immature conifer stands occupy 9.9 million acres,
or 38 percent of the commercial conifer forest land of the region. In cubic feet their annual increment
Ol
amounts to only 0.66 percent of the region’s total conifer timber stand; in board feet, only 0.42 percent.
Western Oregon, having a greater acreage of rapid-growing stands than western Washington, is producing 56 percent of the region’s cubic-foot growth and 62 percent of its board-foot growth.
The three Puget Sound units contain 30 percent by area of the conifer second growth in the region and have 22 percent of the region’s annual conifer board-foot growth and 28 percent of its cubic-foot growth. The two Oregon coast units, though con- taining only 14 percent of the region’s conifer second-growth area and having approximately a commensurate amount of its current cubic-foot growth (16 percent), have 25 percent of its board- foot growth. This is due to the relatively large proportion of sawlog-size stands among the grow- ing forests on the Oregon coast, there being great areas of advance second-growth timber now about 80 years old.
Table 23 shows the species distribution of cur- For the region as a whole, approximately three-quarters of the growth is of Douglas-fir and about one-fifth is of the pulpwood species. Notable departures from the regional averages are found in the Grays Harbor unit, where nearly two-thirds of the growth is of pulpwood species and less than one-third is of Douglas-fir. In the Rogue River unit, other species (in this instance principally ponderosa pine) are making more than one-third of the total current growth, both in cubic feet and in board feet.
The growing stands as a whole compare favorably in physical accessibility with the virgin stands of
immature
rent annual growth in conifer stands.
the region that are now being logged; but because their quality is, in general, much poorer, they are lower in current economic availability. However, the immature stands are growing rapidly in volume and in value and should not be logged at this time. Of greater import than their current economic availability is their potential availability. It is es- timated that approximately 90 percent of such stands as a whole is either economically or poten- tially available.
Very little of the current net increment is being added to the large or clear stems that provide the
ee
bulk of the current sawlog production. Of the total net board-foot growth in the region one-third is in stands less than 22 inches d. b. h., approximately one-half in stands 22 to 30 inches d. b. h., and less than one-fifth on trees 32 or more inches d. b. h.
Survey data indicate that current annual growth is about 28 percent of total annual depletion of trees of sawlog size. However, such a direct com- parison may be misleading in a region of extensive
virgin forests in which growth is offset by mortality and decay. Such a rate of cutting in excess of growth may be justified until the large area of mature and overmature timber stands is converted to growing stands. The present growth of the region’s forests would have been much less if exten- sive old-growth stands had not been destroyed by fire about the middle of the last century and re- placed by thrifty growing stands which are now
Taser 22.—Current annual growth } in the Douglas-fir region, 1933
Conifer types ? Hardwood types 3 Total District and unit & ; " Z , at urrent annual | ‘urrent annual | Current annual Area growth | Area growth Area growth | | | Million | Million Million | Million Million | Million Puget Sound: Acres cubic feet | board feet Acres cubic feet | board feet Acres cubic feet | board feet INoxthy Puget'Soun ds): eae a a 786, 635 61 114 134, 252 5 7 920, 887 66 121 Gentralteuget: Sounds eee ee 1, 412, 220 101 127 104, 458 3 6 1, 516, 678 | 104 133 SouthiPugetSound 222922. 22 2s ss 742, 095 | 83 261 35, 730 2 2 777, 825 85 263 LTR Gall] erate eee ie oe na tee SY 2, 940, 950 245 502 274, 440 10 15 8, 215, 390 255 517 > Grayseblarbor ieee eae eee eae eee er be ee 553, 719 62 165 61, 193 2 3 614, 912 64 | 168 Columbia River: ColumbiasRiverpiwashs Sanit cele: 899, 740 85 222 20, 538 1 | 3 920, 278 86 225 ColumbiaiRiver! Oreg? 2-2" 2 sass eee 1, 087, 619 105 156 65, 716 2 | 3 |. 1, 153, 335 107 | 159 | Lao re eo Se a ae ee 1, 987, 359 190 378 86, 254 3 | 6 | 2,073, 613 193 384 WiillamettemRivenysws suc. ces cies lezen ae irlgg 1, 683, 674 166 422 121, 207 3 5 1, 804, 881 169 | 427 Oregon coast: | INorth;Oregon'coast si ss2- 2 ee a 613, 596 64 283 226, 363 6 40 839, 959 70 323 SouthiOregonicoastaece esa ee ee ee ee 765, 741 76 297 119, 484 3 3 885, 225 79 300 ANS ERs nee a a eee 1, 379, 337 140 580 345, 847 9 43 1, 725, 184 149 623 South Oregon: Wimp quarRiver® yy sass cas ea ee 921, 590 51 246 77, 118 1 (4) 998, 708 52 246 TROP MGHECLV CL ren oe ne ik ne es ee een See 449, 993 32 17 151, 507 3 (4) 601, 500 | 35 17 PROC eee ont cate te ae Tis the Bits 1, 371, 583 83 | 263 228, 625 4 | (4) 1, 600, 208 | 87 263 Regional: totals sae ee PL ee 9, 916, 622 886 2,310 1, 117, 566 | 31 72 11, 034, 188 917 2, 382 Summary by districts: Percent Percent | Percent Percent Percent | Percent Percent Percent | Percent IPUset Sound sca meme ME ee ae 29.7 27.7 21.7 24.6 32.3 20.8 29.1 27.8 21.7 (Grav shel anbDon ees semen ne oe eo ee 5.6 7.0 (ba 5.5 6.4 4.2 5.6 | 7.0 eal Columbiaghivens=s2sesa—- = = 2s = a 20.0 21.4 16.4 Fat 9.7 8.3 18.8 21.2 16.1 Willamette River 17.0 18.7 18.3 10.8 9.7 7.0 16.4 18.3 17.9 Oregon coast_______- 13.9 15.8 25.1 30.9 29.0 59.7 15.6 | 16. 2 26. 2 South Oregon 13.8 9.4 | 11.4 20.5 | 12.9 |.--.------ 14.5 | 9.5 11.0 Regionalstotal = case e- s eee| 100.0 100.0 100. 0 100.0 | 100.0 100. 0 100.0 | 100.0 100. 0 | | 5 | |
1 Growth in cubic feet is shown for the portion of the stem of all trees 5.1 inches d. b. h. or more between the stump and a top 4 inches in diameter inside bark, exclusive of bark and limb wood. Growth of conifers in board feet is shown for all trees 15.1 inches d. b. h. or more, estimated in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top, Scribner rule. Growth of hardwoods in board feet is shown for all trees 11.1 inches d. b. h. or more, estimated in 8-foot logs to 10-inch top,
Scribner rule.
2 Data are shown only for stands 160 years or less in age, on commercial conifer forest land. 3 Data shown are totals for hardwood timberland (type 31) and oak-madrone woodland (type 4). Data for north Oregon coast include 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods, and those for south Oregon coast include 14,520 acres of such land.
4 Less than 4 million board feet.
Taste 23.—Species distribution of current annual growth in conifer stands 1 of the Douglas-fir region
CUBIC-FOOT GROWTH
SSeS rrr Balsam firs, |‘‘C edars”’ Unit Douglas, hemlocks, 4 and other and spruces} species Puget Sound units: Percent Percent Percent North Puget Sound ---_----------- 66 27 7 Central Puget Sound__----------- 74 22 4 South Puget Sound_-------------- 88 9 3 Total’ Ss eee 77 19 4 Grays: Harbor==2--- == 31 63 6 Columbia River units: Columbia River, Wash____-_---_- 78 21 1 Columbia River, Oreg__-_-_------- 73 26 1 Totals Ss a ee ee 75 24 1 WillamettenRivers=---eossos = oes 82 17 1 Oregon coast units: North Oregon coast--------------- 77 22 1 South Oregon coast_-------------- 82 11 7 Total. oo Poe eee | 80 16 4 | South Oregon units: | | Umpqua River | 88 | 6 6 Rogue River=se-- sesso aan | 57 6 37 Total Bat Se eee ee | 76 6 18 Revionaveragesss-= 2 - ae eee ae eee 75 21 4 | BOARD-FOOT GROWTH Puget Sound units: Worth! Puget Sound ===:-222_-=2=- 62 30 8 Central Puget Sound__- 69 | 25 | 6 South Puget Sound 88 9 | 3 Tota] Ms See ae eae | 77 18 5 ee GraysiHarbors == ee | 32 62 | 6 Columbia River units: Columbia River, Wash___-_--__-- 78 21 1 Columbia River, Oreg____-__---__ 73 25 2 To tale se eee ee: | 76 23 1 Willamette River_........------------ | 85 14 | 1 Oregon coast units: North Oregon coast_--_____-_--__- 82 17 1 South Oregon coast_____---------- | 82 7 Totalewwet- <1 severe Ue | 82 | 14 | 4 | South Oregon units: Umpqua: Rivers) 2222 ese 88 6 6 mopne River’ = =e sce use acse se 58 5 37 Tio tal ais ene ae Se 86 | 6 8 Regioniaverage:~--- 2222 22-2 77 19 4
1 On commercial conifer forest land.
58
producing most of the board-foot growth. As the old-growth timber is harvested and replaced by young stands, growth will increase. More signifi- cant are the comparisons between depletion and realizable mean annual growth and between deple- tion and potential annual growth.
It is particularly significant, however, that the timber depletion of the region is principally in the high-quality material and that the volume being added by growth is of relatively poor quality. Hence the spread between current growth and de- pletion is much greater on a value than on a volume basis. In this connection it should be borne in mind that the successful application of selective timber management might greatly increase the average quality of the net volume increment.
Hardwood stands occupy 1.1 million acres and are making an annual growth of 31 million cubic feet or 72 million board feet. These totals each represent 3 percent of the region’s total current growth.
Realizable Mean Annual Growth
The computation of realizable growth assumes a uniform rate of growth to assumed age at depletion. It prorates and credits the estimated growth of every stand, whether present or prospective, to the whole of its estimated life.
Although the concept of realizable mean annual growth is not entirely new, the present technique for computing such growth, which is explained in detail in the Appendix, is original and the term “realizable mean annual growth” is believed to have been used for the first time in connection with the growth phase of the forest survey of this region.
Results of Computation
If the present trends of depletion by cutting, fire, and other factors continue and if cutting and other depletion factors affect forest conditions in the future in the same manner as they have in the past, the realizable mean annual growth in the region for the decade that began with 1933 amounts to 733 million cubic feet or 3.3 billion board feet. The expected conversion of additional areas to second- growth conditions increases the realizable mean annual growth for the decade 1943-52 to 953 mil- lion cubic feet or 3.9 billion board feet. Further
expected conversion from nongrowing to growing types increases the estimated annual growth for the decade 1953-62 to 1,060 million cubic feet or 4.1 billion board feet. Detail for the various units is given in table 24. Improved forest management could further increase realizable mean annual growth considerably.
Realizable growth in board feet for the decade 1933-42 is greater than current growth for every unit except the Umpqua River unit, and for the region as a whole is 43 percent greater. In the
Umpqua River unit current board-foot growth is greater than realizable growth for the first decade because in 1933 many of the growing stands were at an age at which current annual growth in board feet was greater than the average annual increment for the assumed life of the stands. In following decades, as more nongrowing old-growth timber stands are assumed to be converted to growing stands, realizable growth increases and exceeds current growth in this unit as well as in the others. The same explanation applies to the fact that cur-
Tasie 24.—Realizable mean annual growth | of conifers of indicated diameter range in the various survey units of the Douglas-fir region, by decades
5.1+ inches d. b. h. 11.1+ inches d. b. h. 15.1+ inches d. b. h Unit s 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Puget Sound units: cubic feet | -cubic feet | cubic feet | board feet | board feet | board feet | board feet | board feet | board feet Northebuget Sound = 22 22 a4 fore 56 72 79 336 413 442 213 254 266 ‘CentralePuget|/Sound-=) 22s 8 100 140 154 515 705 | 780 309 401 435 SouthtPuget;Sound S2ss2se eee es ee 66 88 102 418 527 | 594 314 378 409 | | Oval eg ste we teen en eas ee ee 222 300 | 335 1, 269 1, 645 | 1, 816 836 1, 033 1,110 | Gray stl arbor sess ete rian meee! 59 84 98 | 354 485 | 550 | 261 344 377 Columbia River units: Columbia River, Wash___._---_-_--------- 74 94 103 462 562 599 328 380 394 ColumpbiajRiverOreg-22224- coe ease eee = 90 119 128 541 675 711 344 418 433 Motels ame tsas 2 Ae aise Susie eae Te ee 164 213 | 231 1, 003 1, 237 | 1, 310 672 798 827 Willamette River__-:---2--22------c-eceneee 2 118 142 162 797 906 | 980 559 613 642 Oregon coast units: North Oregon coast 3_________________---___- 53 71 79 402 491 511 316 370 378 South’ Oregon coastis!22=.S 28 2. eee 58 73 82 427 489 | 530 343 377 396 i} MIN FN a Se 111 144 161 829 980 1, 041 659 747 774 South Oregon units: Wim PQ UarR iy eres ete ee ee 37 42 45 288 307 316 240 248 250 IROgUC IR ver rant see ee ae Se ose 22 28 28 135 153 153 | 79 86 86 TG tal eens tare Besos ENN 59 70 | 73 423 460 469 | 319 334 336 Regionalitotal Sov ssek Sass ee 733 953 1, 060 4, 675 5, 713 6, 166 3, 306 3, 869 4, 066 Summarv by districts: Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Puget SOundse-ce sewers ee 30. 3 31.5 31.6 22 28. 8 29. 5 25.3 26.7 27.3 GrayssHarporses eee 8.0 8.8 9.2 7.6 8.5 8.9 7.9 8.9 9.3 Columbia: Rivers 25 =e sere 22.4 22. 4 21.8 21.5 21.6 21.2 20.3 20.6 20. 3 Wiillamettcunivers swsse= ce Sr lie lees 16.1 14.9 15.3 17.0 15.9 15.9 16.9 15.9 15.8 Oregon coast_______ 15.1 15.1 15.2 a Gare 17.2 16.9 19.9 19.3 19.0 South Oregon____ 8.1 ree: 6.9 9.0 8.0 7.6 eae SY f 8.6 8.3 Regionalitotal ess ess 3 Se 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100. 0 100.0 100. 0 100.0 100.0
! Growth that, according to the calculations described in the text, may be expected if growth and depletion trends revealed by the survey continue through the designated period. Growth shown for trees 15.1 inches d. b. h. or more was calculated by estimating volumes in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top,
by Scribner rule.
? Data exclude growth on 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31).
3 Data exclude growth on 14,520 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31).
59
That shown for trees 11.1 inches d. b. h. or more was calculated by estimating volumes in 16-foot logs to 8-inch top, by Scribner rule.
rent cubic-foot growth is greater in every unit than realizable cubic-foot growth for the first decade and that realizable growth in cubic feet gradually increases, exceeding current growth in the second decade in all but four units and in the third decade in all but three units. In the Rogue River unit, realizable growth in board feet is approximately the same in the third decade as in the second. It was assumed that in this unit greater depletion of stands increasing. rapidly in board-foot volume would occur in the third decade.
Interpretation of Results
Where extensive areas of very young growing stands and nongrowing virgin stands are involved, as in the Douglas-fir region, this type of growth computation clearly demonstrates that even with- out any marked increase in the intensiveness of for- estry practice, future forest growth may be expected to exceed current growth as of 1933 by a consider- able margin.
The next logical question is, What value can realizable growth be expected to approach? The detailed computation was carried forward only three decades because to have carried it further would have involved great additional labor and highly speculative assumptions regarding deple- tion and standards of forest practice and utilization, but an appraisal was made of the end result of simi- lar computations for decades succeeding 1963.
The computation of realizable mean annual growth, if carried forward, would lead to estimates of growth for approximately 100-year rotation on 80 percent of the commercial forest sites at a stock- ing of 55 percent of normal. Hence an approxima- tion of its end result may be extrapolated by apply- ing normal yield table rates for the commercial conifer forest sites under the stated assumption re- garding stocking. This operation indicates an ulti- mate value of 4.5 billion board feet at the current standard of measurement and one of 7.4 billion board feet at the more intensive standard used in these growth calculations.
Potential Annual Growth
Potential annual growth is the average annual increment that could be obtained on the whole of
60
the region’s commercial forest land through inten- sive forestry practice. It could be achieved only after years of careful and effective forest-land man- agement. As here computed potential growth does not represent the maximum increment obtainable; the theoretical ultimate value of increment has been substantially reduced (25 percent) to allow for a certain amount of understocking and nonuse of forest land believed inevitable. In computing it all the commercial conifer forest land was assumed to be occupied by immature stands, averaging 75 percent of normal stocking, with all age classes up to technical rotation age, approximate age of maxi- mum mean annual growth, equally represented. Stocking in excess of this adjusted standard can be found throughout the region’s natural forests, uni- formly over areas of several thousand acres. The mean annual growth rate for each site-quality class was multiplied by the corresponding acreage, and the sum of the resulting products is the estimated potential annual growth ? (table 25).
Lands in the region capable of producing com- mercial conifer forests total about 26.1 million acres. These lands have the capacity to produce annually, under intensive sustained-yield forest management, 2.8 billion cubic feet of wood. Ex- pressed in board-measure content of sawlogs from trees 15.1 inches d. b. h. or larger, the potential annual growth totals 8.2 billion board feet, log scale, Scribner rule; in board-measure content of all trees 11.1 inches d. b. h. or larger, it comes to 12.6 billion board feet, log scale, Scribner rule. Of the region’s total potential growth, 28 percent is contained in the three Puget Sound units and 16 percent in the two Columbia River units.
Areas of site-quality classes I and II include less than one-third of the region’s commercial conifer forest land, but nearly one-half of its potential for- est productivity (fig. 17). Less than one-tenth of the region’s growth capacity is in site-quality classes [Vand V, even though lands of these classes compose more than one-quarter of the commercial conifer forest land area.
Almost one-third of the commercial forest land in the region is within national torests; but because of relatively low site quality, these national-forest
lz [he rates used in making these calculations, and the
corresponding approximate rotation ages, are shown in table 55.
Tas_e 25.—Potential annual growth } of conifers of indicated diameter range in the Douglas-fir region, by survey units
Trees 15.1+ inches d. b. h. 3
Trees 5.1+ | Trees 11.1+ Unit inches inches ? Distribution by site quality class— d. b. h. d. b. bh. Total growth | I Il Ill IV Vv i Million Million Million Puget Sound units: cubic feet board feet board feet Percent | Percent | Percent | Percent | Percent Noni heBupet; sOouUnGES === Nede oo ee eee ae 224 981 609 0.7 32.1 50.5 16. 4 0.3 Central Puget Sound 363 1, 605 1,012 2.2 35. 1 49, 2 12.8 wilt SouthyPugetyS orn cee es ee ee es eee 196 940 652 7.2 60. 1 29. 7 AOS |Peeeeee TANG Lo ae a ee ee eee 783 3, 526 2, 273 3. 2 | 41.5 43.9 11.0 .4 GrayspHarhborienss soe sesss eas ose she ea arise Se 264 1, 297 933 14.3 71.6 11.8 2.2 1 Columbia River units: GolumbisvRiverwmWash==cens= 2) =e 204 924 604 1.5 47.4 42.1 8.6 4 Columbia; River Oregea wetness ms sans ooo eee 247 1119) 732 3.4 49.9 36. 2 9.9 6 ST Ge] eee eee Sea en ee Sere a eee eee 451 2, 043 1, 336 2.5 48.9 38.8 9.3 mt) | WillamettemR iv erase sees te reeaaer n= eee es crces Sekeee eee 424 1, 918 1, 238 1.0 26.7 68.0 | 3.8 ad Oregon coast units: NorthiOregoncoash:4ausaie is See Se eases aes 185 904 644 me T.2 19.5 1.0 1 SouthwOregonicoast{sies = ws ser etre ee SE eee 226 1,077 741 5.4 56. 3 35.6 Delt [eee 2 ee | Ie 0 bal] Baa RNS re ee ey Re sek hae peat De eee a san ee 411 1, 981 1, 385 6.7 63. 2 28.1 1.9 al South Oregon units: Um pquarRiv cress tase seo tate nse ee enn sas ee ene eee 229 _ 990 603 1.2 25.7 55. 0 17.4 a Rogue River 6 __ ae 197 820 476 2.9 14.3 55.0 26.8 1.0 fo tall beeen te ey nee hte sgt ne 426 1, 810 1,079 2.0 20. 7 55.0 21.5 8 Regionalitotaliomaverage.-se2- = 22 ans aote oe eee 2, 759 12, 575 8, 244 4.4 44.8 41.9 8.5 4 | | Summary by districts: Percent Percent Percent Ruget;S UM dr ss Sa ne ee ee Se 28.4 28.0 27.6 (Graysidlanb Oreste eae at a = a en ee 9.6 10.3 1 @olumbiaiRiy cress seesaw see ees ene eee anon 16.3 16.2 16. 2 WallametteiRivers==sse= saw iatee bees ere Sot 15.4 15.3 TOROH Pes s 2 a alles os. SR ee aE eee Oregon COAST sss ae ee See os a ee eet 14.9 15.8 VG OG eee ts Jae ON eet Ne oe Be on tea ee a oe oe SouthiOreg omer ae an a eee ee 15.4 14.4 a1 BE 7c a el | eee ee |S ee ee | ger ere (ee eee eee es IRefionalito tale< see saws ete Se ee = =e == 100.0 100.0
1 On commercial conifer land. Calculated at annual growth rates shown in table 22.
2 Growth estimated by Scribner rule in 16-foot logs to 8-inch top. 3 Growth estimated by Scribner rule in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top. 4 Data include growth on 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31). 5 Data include growth on 14,520 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31).
8 Data exclude growth on 6,510 acres of pine woodland (type 514) considered noncommercial forest land.
224146°—40
5
61
lands have little more than one-fifth of the region’s potential forest productivity.
Forest lands reserved from cutting have about 3 percent of the timber-growth capacity of the region. Additional withdrawal of forest lands from com- mercial use may be anticipated, and all such clos- ure will correspondingly decrease the effective growth capacity of the region. The extent of this decrease is of course dependent upon the area and character of the lands withdrawn.
The species-group distribution of current annual growth as shown in table 23 is some indication of that of potential growth. Under prevailing meth- ods of forest management and for the region as a whole, probably about three-fourths of the poten- tial growth can be assigned to Douglas-fir and one- fifth to the pulpwood species. These proportions could of course be materially altered by changes in forest management. Clear-cutting favors Douglas- fir, while partial cutting tends to increase the per- cent of western hemlock, western redcedar, the balsam firs, and other tolerant species in the stand.
Comparison of Current, Realizable, and Potential Growth
Comparison of the growth calculations described is facilitated by table 26.
In 1933, growing stands occupied 38 percent of the total commercial conifer land. The increment in such stands, however, was but 32 percent of the potential growth in cubic measure and 28 percent of that in board measure. This discrepancy be- tween increment and area involved is due partly to differences in age-class distribution, but principally to the lower average stocking of current immature stands (62 percent of normal) compared with that assumed for the potential growth calculation (75 percent of normal). Differences in site on the areas involved are slight; the average site on the area that supported growing stands in 1933 is virtually equivalent to that of the entire commer- cial conifer area.
Although the end result of realizable growth is based on 80 percent of the commercial conifer land, the calculated end increments are but 55 to 59 percent of corresponding potential increments. This is due principally to the lower average stock-
Tas ie 26.—Comparison of current annual, realizable mean annuai, and potential annual conifer growth in the Douglas-fir region
Increment on trees— Kind of annual growth cal- | Area in- | culation and period volved 5.1+ 111+ 15.1+ inches inches inches | d.b.h. | d.b. h.!] d.b. h.2 Thousand) Million | Million | Million acres | cubic feet | board feet | board fect Current1933 "==> ee 9, 917 8863) eee 2, 310 Realizable: | 1933-4952 ee 12, 132 | 733 4, 675 3, 306 1943-52-22 eee 13, 195 953 5, 713 3, 869 1963=6222 Se ee ee eee 14, 193 1, 060 6, 166 4, 066 Rndgvalueseess ss eee 20, 907 | 1, 575 7, 400 4, 500 ‘Potentials eae se ene 26, 134 | 2, 759 12, 575 8, 244 Summary in terms of poten- | tial values: | Percent | Percent | Percent | Percent Current, 1933____________ 38 | S21 | os eee 28 Realizable (end values) __ 80 | 57 59 55
1 Calculated by estimating volume in 16-foot logs to 8-inch top, by Scribner rule.
2 Calculated by estimating volume in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top, by Seribner rule. ;
ing, 55 percent of normal, assumed for the realiza- ble increment in contrast with the 75 percent of normal stocking on which the potential growth calculation is based. Slight differences are also due to the rotations assumed. For the realizable calculation a constant 100-year rotation was as- sumed, while the potential-growth calculation is based on technical rotations (table 55).
Under ideal forestry practice all the forest land in the region should be supporting either virgin or growing stands. However, of the area not now occupied by virgin stands, only 70 percent is sup- porting growing stands of one sort or another, and for this area as a whole current growth is but 58 percent of the potential in cubic measure and 51 percent in board measure. Opportunity for in- creasing forest growth in the region is therefore
obvious.
Trends in Future Forest Increment
If Present Forest Practice Continues
If forest practice neither improves nor declines, annual growth may be expected to increase gradu- ally from 2.3 billion board feet as of 1933 toward a maximum of 4.5 billion board feet. The rate of this increase and the date at which the maximum
may be attained are of course de-
pendent on the rate at which cutting proceeds, the type of stands in which
it is concentrated, and the effective- ness of fire protection.
Tf Forest Practice Becomes More Intensive
The maximum average annual attainable under present inten-
growth standards of utilization and siveness of forest practice (4.5 billion board feet) is but little more than half the annual volume depletion the forests of the region have undergone in the recent past. ‘Thus, the extent to which growth can be increased
through improved forest practice will be a controlling factor in determ- ining the level at which forest industry
DISTRIBUTION OF REGIONAL GROWTH (PERCENT)
can be continuously maintained,
assuming reasonable stability of demand.
By increasing the rotation assumed for realizable mean annual growth
(100 years for all sites) to the tech- nical rotation ages (ranging from 100 to 200 years, depending on site), the end value of realizable growth,
based on a 55-percent stocking of 80 SOUTH percent of commercial conifer sites, gees
would be increased from 4.5 to 4.8 billion board feet. Obviously growth
WILLAM-
OREGON GRAYS PUGET | DOUGLAS T ] COAST i ee HARBOR SOUND FIR UNITS UNIT UNITS | UNIT UNITS REGION 1
could be further increased by extend- ing the timbered area and raising stocking to a greater percentage, through increased efficiency of fire control, seeding and planting of devastated sites, interplanting on poorly stocked sites, and adoption of logging methods that will insure prompt By increasing the average stocking of forest sites, mean
and adequate regeneration for cut-over areas.
annual increment for the region could be increased to the estimated potential annual total of 8.2 billion board feet, which assumes average stocking of all forest sites at 75 percent of normal, the esti- mated maximum attainable over extensive areas.
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Ficure 17.—Distribution of potential annual conifer growth (by Scribner rule, in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top) of trees 15.1 inches d. b. h. or more on commercial forest land in the Douglas-fir region, by survey unit and site class
From the foregoing computations of board-foot growth it is obvious that if the more intensive forest practice and higher standard of utilization were adopted, about 50 percent more material could be obtained from growing stands than is obtained under the present standard. The reductions in technical rotation age that would be effected by this change are indicated in table 55.
Under yields through utilization of material cut in thin-
existing market conditions, increased
ning operations can be realized economically only in extraordinary cases. They are dependent upon standards of utilization much more intensive than the prevailing average, and at present possible only on a few of the most accessible operations near adequate pulpwood, piling, or fuel-wood markets. The extent to which yield can be increased when opportunity is afforded for thinnings varies with utilization standard or type of product, as well as with site quality and with age and density of stands. Analysis of the normal mortality rates of Douglas- fir stands reveals that ultimately increase in yield resulting from thinnings may approximate one- third of the cubic-foot yields shown in the pub- lished tables.
Tf Selective Cutting Is Widely Employed
A revolution in logging methods is now taking place the The steam- donkey, high-lead method, which is associated
in Douglas-fir region. with clear cutting, is giving way to the crawler- tractor method, which facilitates selection in cut- ting. If selective cutting came into practice on a wide scale as a result of this change in logging pro- cedure, the total increment in succeeding stands would probably be somewhat different from that assumed in this discussion, which applies specifi- cally to the even-aged second-growth stands that develop after clear cutting. Whether the incre- ment of a given forest would be greater or less, or of improved quality, and whether the species compo- sition would be altered, would depend largely on what kind of selective cutting was practiced. Changes in prospective growth that might be brought about by substitution of different kinds of selective cutting for clear cutting are as follows:
AREA-SELECTION CUTTING
If the selective cutting were predominantly in the nature of area selection, no material change in potential growth would be effected. In the long run, the growth on a series of patches clear cut in an operation of this sort would be about the same as that on a continuous clear-cut area of the same acreage. ply, almost always assured under this system,
The proximity of an adequate seed sup-
would favor prompt, denser, and more uniform regeneration.
64
ZERO-MARGIN CUTTING OR “CREAMING”
If the selective cutting were predominantly zero- margin cutting, which takes all the trees of positive value and leaves the trees of minus value, the re- sults of the change would probably vary widely. In some stands, such as the decadent even-aged Douglas-fir occurring on much of the privately owned forest land, such cuttings would frequently leave only defective and malformed trees, or sup- pressed trees of inferior species, which might pro- duce little or no net growth and would be likely to cast too much shade to permit establishment of reproduction of desirable species; in this case less usable increment would become available than In other kinds of stands—for example, certain two-
following clear cutting and full restocking.
story stands—zero-margin selection would remove only scattered veterans and leave well-stocked, thrifty stands; in such cases, growing stock that would otherwise have been wasted would be pre- served and many years’ growth would be saved. In the many kinds of stands intermediate between these two, substitution of zero-margin selection would probably have widely varying effects on growth,
LIGHT, FREQUENT CUTTING
If the selective cutting prevailingly took the form of light cuts made at relatively short intervals and leaving well-distributed stands of thrifty trees— such cutting as is consistent with continuous forest management and is now being practiced experi- mentally in certain forest types—the reserve stand could be expected to produce a mean annual volume increment comparable in amount and greatly superior in quality to that of a normal forest composed of even-aged stands. To the ex- tent, therefore, that this was done, selective cutting could be expected to result in greater realizable growth, particularly board-foot growth, over the whole forest area in the succeeding few decades than the method assumed in this report.
SECONDARY CONSIDERATIONS
Under selective cutting the fire hazard might be considerably different from what it is under clear cutting. If the selective cutting were light it might make possible better fire control: if heavy, it might
have the opposite effect. Fire is the most potent factor in causing understocking and preventing satisfactory growth after logging.
Every managed forest having normal distribu- tion of age classes, whether composed of even-aged stands or of uneven-aged stands, would probably produce about the same volume of wood per acre, site for site, under a selective-cutting as under a clear-cutting system of management, except as standards of utilization or the practicability of thinnings might vary. Under selective cutting the product would, however, average higher in quality. For example, the supply of high-quality old growth would be exhausted much less quickly and more of such timber would be produced. ‘This should re- sult in better utilization and therefore in greater Selective cutting might also result in utilization, through thinnings, of much material that would otherwise be lost. On the other hand, it might result in a higher per- centage of tolerant species in the stand.
It may be concluded that widespread substitu- tion of selective cutting for clear cutting would affect the volume and value increment on some
net utilizable growth.
areas favorably, on others unfavorably, and on others not at all. For the region as a whole, the effect of the change would depend on what type of selection predominated. a controlling factor, the change would probably not
If liquidation remained
65
alter materially the growth estimates herein pre- sented. If large areas were carefully selectively logged under a system of light cuts at frequent intervals, realizable growth measured in board feet during the next few decades should substantially
exceed the estimates presented.
Summary
Under prevailing methods of management the forests are being depleted of high-quality volume, the comparatively small volume being added by growth is of relatively poor quality, and no ma- terial improvement in quality of forest growth can be anticipated. Such increase in volume incre- ment as may be expected without change in forest practice is small in comparison with that needed to support forest industries continuously at present levels. Although at the present time and for the region as a whole the relation of cut to permanent production capacity is apparently fairly rational it decidedly is not so for individual units. Cutting has been irregularly distributed, the best-quality stands and the most accessible stands being taken first. In several units, notably the Grays Harbor, Puget Sound, and Columbia River units, the present rate of cutting exceeds that allowable under sustained-yield management, while in Oregon outside of the Columbia River unit an increased cut could be sustained.
FO RE S-T RES OUR CORES) OE 2 HE DOUG EE RAGS Sehr le Ree Rs hm Carle OmeN
Forest Protection
HE forests of the Douglas-fir region are par-
ticularly subject to devastating fires—more so
than those of most of the other forest regions of the United States (fig. 18). The dry summer climate, the predominance of resinous trees, and the great volume of inflammable material all com- bine to create an acute fire hazard. During the past 25 years this hazard has increased greatly. The area of the inflammable types, such as cut-over land, has become much larger. Increases in mile- age of roads, in motor travel, and in population, and the opening of hitherto inaccessible areas to settlers have added to the number of forest users and thus increased the possibilities of fires starting. In- creased logging has left great areas of hazardous debris exposed to the drying effect of sun and wind. Lightning storms, as well as human activity in many forms, are ever present to start fires. In critical weather a spark from a logging engine, a land- clearing operation, or the cigarette of a passer-by is sufficient to account for a major conflagration. Under these circumstances systematic fire protec- tion is essential both to prevent fires which human agencies start and to hold to a minimum the dam- age that fire may do.
Organized fire protection has made great prog- ress in the Douglas-fir region in the last two dec- ades. Presumably, all forest land in the region is now protected against fire. Formerly, saw-timber areas were protected intensively while cut-over land received very little protection. In the past few years, however, particularly since the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps, protection of all lands has been strengthened considerably.
Federal, State, and private protective agencies
cooperate closely, and together are responsible for
66
KE
the protection of all forest lands. Where there is a commingling of lands differing in ownership, co- operative agreements provide for division of the area and the assumption of responsibility for pro- tection of each division by a single agency.
Protection on Federal Lands
The Forest Service is responsible for the protec- tion of national-forest lands, amounting to about 9%, million acres in the Douglas-fir region. In both States the Forest Service has contracted with the State foresters with fire-patrol associations for protection of isolated parcels of national-forest land intermingled with private land.
Steady progress has been made in fire protection on the national forests of this region in recent years, through increased facilities, better planning, and training of personnel in organization and technique. Since 1931 the aid received through the Civilian Conservation Corps and other emergency programs has been applied in construction of new roads and trails to make the national forests more accessible and reduce the time required to reach fires; con- struction and betterment of telephone lines to increase the tection and “smoke chasing”’;
guard stations and efficiency of fire de-
building of many miles of firebreaks through old burns; and reduc- tion of hazards along roads and in especially dan- Also, the C. C. C. has furnished a mobile fire-fighting force which can be organized and trained, held in readiness, and quickly trans- ported to fires in organized units.
gerous areas.
As a result, fires have been attacked more intensively and _ effec- tively than is possible where pick-up labor only is available.
Ficure 18.—The fire that killed the forest stand on this area has been followed by a series of fires that have prevented restocking.
similar history within the Douglas-fir region total more than 1% million acres
The National Park Service is responsible for pro- tecting the national parks and monuments. Gener- ally speaking, the fire problem is not so acute on these lands as on the national forests. A large part of the area of the parks and monuments is nonforest land, or noncommercial forest land at high eleva- tions where the fire season is comparatively short and the hazard not high. Indian lands are pro- tected by the Indian Service. The protective organizations of these bureaus are similar to that of the Forest Service.
Protection on State, County, and Private Lands
Oregon and Washington both have progressive forest-fire codes providing for protection of private- ly owned forest lands, as well as laws requiring every owner of forest land to provide protection therefor. If an owner does not protect his land, the State forester does so and the cost is assessed against the property on the county tax rolls. Both States have compulsory slash-disposal laws. Oregon has a law enabling the Governor to close forest areas to
67
entry during critical fire weather, and this has been invoked several times even when it meant post- ponement of the hunting season. In Washington, hazardous areas may be closed or other restrictions applied thereon by the director of conservation and development. Oregon also has an operator’s per- mit law that gives the State forester authority to shut down logging operation during periods of high fire hazard, and a law requiring snag felling. Washington the supervisor of forestry to close logging, land-clearing, or other
law authorizes
industrial operations during periods of extreme fire hazard.
The organization of fire-protective agencies is On private lands, associations of timber owners have been In Wash- ington one such association functions over all terri- tory west of the Cascade Range. Western Oregon has 11 associations, each of which covers a certain area, in some cases less than a county. Several timber companies maintain their own patrols. ‘The Forest Service by contractual agreement with the associations and States protects practically all the
essentially alike in the two States.
formed to protect holdings of members.
State, county, and private lands within national- forest boundaries and a large acreage of lands ad- jacent to national forests. Other private lands, State lands, and county lands are protected by the State except in King County, Wash., which retains its own fire warden, paying his salary and expenses from county funds. In both States the work of the associations and private patrols is inspected by State officials to see that adequate protection is given. In some cases the State contracts with an association for the protection of tax-roll land within. the association’s territory.
The States receive funds for fire protection from private owners through county tax rolls, through direct appropriation by their legislatures, and from the Federal Government. The Federal contribu- tion under the Clarke-McNary Act has been an important factor in developing and maintaining fire protection of private lands. In 1936 the share of Clarke-McNary funds distributed to western Oregon was approximately $70,000 and to western Washington about $65,000. In recent years C.C.C. work has accelerated the progress of fire protection on private and State lands.
Expenditures for fire control on private and State lands in the last 10 or 15 years have ranged approx- imately from 3 to 5 cents per acre per year. They are generally conceded to be insufficient to obtain adequate protection of all types of forest land. The large proportion of cut-over land and other highly inflammable types on the areas protected by the State foresters increases greatly the cost of protec- tion. In Oregon, the State forester (5) estimates that it would cost approximately 10 cents per acre per year to restrict the annual burn to 0.15 percent of the total forest area. Annual losses in both States have been many times that figure, but in 1936 and 1937 are reported to have been approxi- mately 0.15 to 0.2 percent. Protection efforts on private lands are generally concentrated on mer- chantable timber, with much less attention to cut- over and second-growth land.
One of the most serious problems facing the State forest-protective agencies is the rapidly increasing area of county-owned and tax-delinquent lands, which they are required to protect if the counties so elect. The State may charge the counties for such services but cannot force collection, and many counties are in arrears.
68
A few years ago the private associations became less active in Oregon, but they were revived by the passage of the so-called tithing act. This act provides that 10 percent of State taxes collected, including the forest-fire-patrol tax, be paid into the State general fund to be used in defraying expenses of general State administration. The timber own- ers, loath to see 10 percent of the money paid for fire-patrol purposes diverted, rejoined the associa- tions. Unquestionably the scope and activities of the fire-patrol associations will diminish as more land is cut over and the volume of private saw timber decreases. Eventually, fire protection will probably be administered entirely by the States and the Federal Government. ‘There is persistent demand for increased subvention by the Federal Government.
In respect to other enemies, the Douglas-fir region is more fortunate than in its war against fire, and protective measures against them are accordingly of relatively minor importance. Measures for con- rol of hemlock looper infestations were first tried in this region during the epidemic of 1929-31. The infested areas were dusted with calcium arsen- ate from an airplane. The expense was shared by private owners and the State of Washington. The State acted principally as a landowner, since a large part of the timber involved was State- owned. There are no annual expenditures for protection against either insects or disease in this region except those of the Federal Government for research in forest-insect and disease control con- ducted by the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine and the Bureau of Plant Industry. The former bureau has done some experimental work in the control of white pine blister rust. This problem is not serious in the Douglas-fir region, as the susceptible species (the five-needled pines) are relatively unimportant here.
Future Hazard Conditions
In the past few years logging methods in the Douglas-fir region have been revolutionized, and the end is not yet. In 1930 motortrucks hauled only a few hundred million feet of logs in this At present, it is estimated, trucks haul 2 million feet per day in the lower Columbia River
region.
region alone. It is alleged that in the 3 years 1934-36 there has been a greater shift to the use of tractors in Douglas-fir logging than there was in the 14 years 1920-33. There will still be con- siderable railroad and donkey-engine logging, but trucks and tractors will continue to be substituted The use of tractors and trucks for logging, regardless of intensity of cut, will have marked effects upon the problems of slash-hazard abatement and forest protection, some (1)
Since logging with tractors does not knock down
where they are superior.
beneficial, some otherwise. For example: so much nonmerchantable material as donkey- engine logging, it leaves less combustible debris on the ground and leaves this debris rather well shaded by residual trees. by broadcast burning is more dangerous and less effective after tractor logging than after absolute clear cutting, because the residual trees are likely (3) The tractor trails and truck roads will be of some value as
(2) Disposal of slashings
to be killed and become snags.
firebreaks and as means of ingress in case of acci- dental fire. road engines removes one flagrant cause of fires. (5) Tractor and truck logging distributes the slash hazard over a wider area than do railroad and (6) If accidental fires are tractor-logged areas have a_ better
(4) Absence of steam logging and rail-
donkey-engine logging. prevented, chance than clear-cut areas to be quickly reclothed
69
and shaded with woody vegetation and the fire hazard diminished.
Use of trucks and tractors has expanded the op- erable timber area in the region, owing largely to the fact that it makes possible the opening up of timber tracts with a far smaller capital investment than would be necessary for railroad and donkey- engine equipment. Past procedure resulted for the most part in large, continuous expanses of cut-over land, the fronts of which were extended by each year’s cutting.
If protective measures are not adapted to the changing situation, the shift to truck and tractor logging may increase fire hazard. If areas logged selectively are broadcast burned, then hazard will be greater than that of clear-cut and broadcast- burned areas, because of the killing of reserve trees. Where the slash hazard would not be materially reduced by burning and a useful reserve stand would be killed thereby, very intensive protec- tion must be substituted. This will be facilitated in the case of very lightly logged areas by the re- latively small quantity of debris and by the shade resulting from the reservation of large numbers of trees.
In view of the wide range in cutting methods and types of machinery, it would be unwise to adopt any inflexible method of slash disposal but rather to vary the method to fit local conditions.
Eo OR ES T RES © UcR GES) O17 Tf BED RO, UGE CAS Siar epee Rrra Gapla@ uN
Land Use
3
century ago, before agricultural development A of the Pacific Northwest began, approxi- mately 33 million acres, or 94 percent, of western Oregon and western Washington was for- ested. Nearly half the nonforested land was level or rolling prairies and meadowland in the lower valleys. The open land suitable for agriculture was all preempted shortly after the arrival of the first settlers. The building of transcontinental rail- roads—largely between 1880 and 1890—brought an influx of settlers from the East and Middle West Clearing of forest At the same time lumbering developed as an industry
and immigrants from Europe. land for agriculture then started in earnest.
and cut-over land became available for agricul- tural settlement. In all, about 3}4 to 4 million acres of forested land has been transformed into agricul- tural land, either by land clearing alone or by logging and subsequent clearing.
The remaining forests have been altered consid- erably by man’s work. About 514 million acres has been logged and not put to other use, and a large part of this is not satisfactorily restocked. Several extremely large fires and numerous smaller fires directly traceable to human causes have devastated vast areas. Second-growth stands are growing on
extensive areas of logged-off land and old burns. Agriculture Present Use of Land for Agriculture
Agricultural land, as defined by the forest survey, consists of cultivated and pasture land, including stump pasture but excluding woodland or forest land in farm ownership. It totals approximately
4,700,000 acres, about 70 percent of which is in
70
Ke
western Oregon. It is estimated that more than half the farms in this region have some of their acreage in forest land.
The most extensive body of agricultural land in this region is in the Willamette Valley, in north- western Oregon. This is a broad alluvial valley, interrupted occasionally by low rolling hills, about 120 miles in length and 50 miles in width at its million acres of agricultural land. Its soils are chiefly recent allu- vial and old valley fill. The hill soils are residual, originating from both basaltic and sedimentary
widest point, containing about 2
material.
The agricultural lands in the Umpqua River and Rogue River Valleys, in southwestern Oregon, the only other large bodies of farm land in western Oregon, total about half a million acres. The re- maining agricultural land in western Oregon oc- curs as small areas on flood plains and bottom lands of the larger streams.
The most important agricultural areas in western Washington are the Cowlitz and Chehalis Valleys, the west half of Clark County, and the flood plains and alluvial valleys of the larger streams flowing into Puget Sound, such as the Nooksack, Skagit, Snohomish, Duwamish, and Puyallup Rivers. None of these compare in extent with the Willa- mette Valley, but they include some extremely productive land.
The total area in farm ownership in the Douglas- fir region was nearly 7 million acres in 1934, accord- ing to the Bureau of the Census. Of this total approximately 2 million acres was classified as cropland, 3}, million acres as pasture land, more than three-fourths of a million acres as woodland not pastured, and nearly half a million acres as building sites, farmyards, roads, or wasteland.
In addition to the woodland not pastured, 2 mil- lion acres of the pasture land was classed as wood- land pasture, making a total of nearly 3 million acres of woodland in farm ownership. Much of this, however, is stump land supporting only a sparse stand of second-growth conifers or hard- woods; on the other hand, a considerable part of the area classed as woodland pasture is well forested and is only Since only about 4% million acres was classified by the survey as agricultural, it can be seen that only a small portion of the woodland pasture was
intermittently used for grazing.
classed in the survey as agricultural; the remainder was considered forest land. Not all the forest land in farm ownership can be considered as farm woods, or woods managed in conjunction with agricultural land; some of it is entirely unrelated to the farm operation and is merely timberland adjacent to farms that is being held until the tim- ber can be logged. Many a farm in the Douglas-fir region consists of a few acres of tillable bottom land and a large area of mountainous forest land. Such a farm is only a place of residence for the owner, producing not more than enough for family consumption. ‘This type of farmer obtains a cash income from woods work and regards his forest land as a timber investment to be liquidated whenever possible.
There were nearly 100,000 farms in the Douglas- fir region in 1934, according to the Bureau of the Census. The average farm contained 70 acres: 21 acres of cropland, 5 acres of plowable pasture, 21 acres of woodland pasture, 10 acres of other
pasture, 8 acres of woodland not pastured, and 5 acres of land classified as miscellaneous.
The Bureau of the Census classified 22 percent of the farms as dairy farms, 19 percent as abnormal, 16 percent as general farms, 14 percent as poultry farms, 11 percent as fruit farms, 7 percent as self- sufhicing farms, and 11 percent as either grain, crop specialty, truck, animal specialty, or stock farms. It is significant that such a large percent was classed as abnormal farms, a category comprising five subtypes—institutions, part-time farm, boarding and lodging farms, forest-product farms, and horse farms. In this group the part-time farms and forest-product farms are probably the most im- portant and numerous. The part-time farm is defined as one where “‘the operator spent 150 days or more off the farm, in other than farm work, or reported an occupation other than farmer, pro- vided the value of products did not exceed $750.” Many of the part-time farmers were employed in The forest-product farm is de- ‘where value of forest products sold
forest industries. fined as one ‘ represented 50 percent or more of the total value of all products of the farm.” This type of farm is common in the Douglas-fir region.
‘The most recent population census, that of 1930, showed that in this region the rural farm popula- tion amounted to 316,778, or 16.8 percent of the total For the same year persons
classed as gainfully employed in agriculture num-
population.
bered 103,643, which is 12.7 percent of the regional total of persons gainfully employed in all occupa- tions.
TABLE 27.—Acreage of improved farm land and of farm woods, number of farms, and average size of farms in the Douglas-fir
region |, in stated years
Year | Land in farms Farms on | Farm land ? improved | Farm land an farm
| farms | woods
|
| Acres Percent | Number | Acres Acres Percent Acres Percent S80 eae ee eee ee EE ee tee 4, 028, 421 11.6 | 15, 819 | 254. 7 1, 958, 037 48.6 1, 793, 678 | 44.5 1890_—-_- 4, 763, 145 13.7 23, 384 203. 7 1, 990, 736 ACR yee eer ee eee <2 1900___ 6, 268, 601 18.0 39, 237 159.8 | 1, 880, 431 S0KO}| Geese eer Bpescde E 1910___ 6, 260, 944 18.0 54, 775 114.3 | 2, 133, 081 34.1 2, 180, 796 34.8 1920___ | 6,223, 326 17.9 64, 592 96.3 | 2,386, 164 38. 3 2, 226, 895 35.8 VPS a eae pe IR | 6, 214, 646 17.9 78, 917 78.7 | 2,299, 283 37.0 2, 685, 412 43,2 TB ee 2 Oe a Ra is ea) Se ee eee eee 6, 421, 233 18.5 77, 165 83.2 | 2,447, 502 38.1 | 2,791, 580 43.5 O35 errr ane cee urete Acs ani) Joa Ue | 6, 866, 127 ORT, 95, 991 71.5 | 2, 527, 981 36.8 | 2, 950, 404 43. 0
1 Exclusive of Hood River County, which was created in 1908 from part of Wasco County.
2 Includes cropland and plowable pasture. 3 Includes woodland pasture and woodland not pastured.
Data from Bureau of the Census.
(Al
The total value of farm products sold, traded, or used by operators’ families amounted to 144 mil- lion dollars during 1929. The value of field and orchard crops made up approximately half this total, dairy products nearly a quarter, and poultry and eggs about a quarter. The principal field and orchard crops produced were vegetables, berries, apples, cherries, prunes, walnuts, hay, and grain. During 1929, sales of farm-forest products brought in nearly 3 million dollars and, in addition, 2} million dollars’ worth of fuel wood, fence posts, and other forest products were used on the farms where they originated.
Trends in Agricultural Land Use
From present indications agricultural use of land has about reached a condition of equilibrium. Relation of present to past conditions is indicated by the 1880-1935 Census Bureau data (table 27) for total acreage in farms, number of farms, average size of farms, acreage of improved land in farms, and acreage of farm woods.
Between 1880 and 1900 farm acreage increased sharply, but for 25 years thereafter the increase was slight. gradual, and came mainly after 1920. The rise in
Increase in acreage of farm woods was more
improved land in farms has been slow and fairly steady since 1900. Between 1880 and 1935. the number of farms increased fivefold and average size of farm decreased by more than two-thirds. In the early days of agriculture large farms were the rule and cereals were the principal crops. As population increased and transportation facilities improved, many of the large farms were divided. Grain became less profitable as a crop as land values rose above those in eastern Oregon and Washington, and farming became more intensive and varied.
There are now few blocks of forest land as large as 10,000 acres in the whole region—whether virgin timber, second growth, or cut-over—that could successfully be converted to agriculture, and what potential agricultural land there is lies mainly in Washington, in Lewis, Grays Harbor, Pacific, western Clallam, and western Jefferson counties."
13 In studying possible future conversion of forest land to farm, the forest-survey staff received valuable assistance
from agricultural experiment station staff members and county agents of both States.
Burrier (3) states that the principal areas in western Oregon suitable for new or more intensive farming are the Willamette Valley and tidelands and wet areas along the Columbia and coastal streams. It has been estimated that drainage would be profita- ble at this time on 250,000 to 500,000 acres in the Willamette Valley, and preliminary investigations indicate that irrigation could profitably be ex- tended to about 500,000 acres in the valley. Bur- rier predicts that from 500,000 to 750,000 acres of undeveloped land in western Oregon will eventu- ally be cleared, about half being bottom and valley- floor lands. A large part of this area is stump pasture or idle forest land, and clearing it will not materially reduce forest crop production.
From present indications there will be little change in the acreage of cultivated land during the next two or three decades. Doubtless some forest land will be cleared and some cleared land now in agricultural use will revert to forest, but the net change will probably be small. Very little of the remaining uncleared forest land would produce sufficient agricultural income to justify the $100 to What little forest land is cleared will usually be parts of ex-
$250 per acre required to clear it. isting farmholds.
Relation of Agriculture to Forests
The forest is an integral part of the farm economy of this region. Not only do the forests furnish fuel, fence posts, and other products essential to farm management and rural life and a cash crop im- portant in farm economy, but forest industries also afford part-time employment to many farmers. Communities supported by forest industries are important markets, and in some cases the only markets, for local farm produce. Taxation of for- ests and forest industries helps to build and main- tain roads, schools, and other public facilities used chiefly by the rural population.
Of the nearly 3 million acres of woodland in farm ownership in this region in 1934 (table 27), more than two-thirds was grazed. Results of the forest survey indicate that of the total area classed as woodland pasture more than a million acres is so lightly grazed that it is primarily forest land and the remainder is stump land with little forest growth The area of actual farm woods in the region ap-
proximates 2 million acres, a part of which consists of old-growth stands held for timber speculation and not intended to be operated as part of the farm. The total saw-timber stand in farm woods is esti- mated at approximately 10 billion board feet. Each year forest products valued at about $5,000,- 000 are removed from farm woods for sale or home use.
Many farmers are employed part time in these neighboring logging operations and in sawmills and other wood-using industries. The periodicity of employment in the forest industries allows them ample time for farm work. No accurate data are available on the amount of employment thus fur- nished but it is conservatively estimated that 10 to 20 percent get work of this kind. Many have only small farms and practice no more than a subsistence type of agriculture, but they are classified as farm- ers by the Bureau of the Census.
The proximity of forests gives the farmers a readily available and cheap supply of fuel wood, fencing, building materials, boxes, and other forest products within a reasonable hauling distance, wherever their own woodlands fail to supply their needs. Even the Willamette Valley, the largest agricultural body in this region, is dotted with patches of forest. The low cost of these essential forest products partly offsets the disadvantage of remoteness from the large markets for agricultural goods.
The forest resources of the region pay a large part of the local taxes. In many of the sparsely settled counties they are the principal source of revenue. Many roads used almost exclusively by farmers and
many schools attended only by farm children are chiefly supported by the taxes on forest lands. Gerrymandering of school, road, and port-improve- ment tax districts to include bodies of inaccessible virgin timber is not an uncommon practice. Un- questionably forest resources have reduced the burden of taxation on farm property, especially since virgin forest lands make little demand on the public treasury for services. The expenditures of tax money for the benefit of forest properties are quite disproportionate to the revenues collected therefrom, in comparison with the expenditures for and revenues from farm property.
The availability of cheap cut-over land and other raw land has been responsible for the establishment of many submarginal farms. Burrier (3) estimates that 5,000 to 6,000 farms in western Oregon are problem farms, submarginal as full-time self-sus- taining units, chiefly “‘stump”’ ranches and farms in “shoestring” valleys. In Oregon they constitute a serious land use problem. Except where continu- ous supplemental employment can be obtained, the farmers either abandon the farms or depend on public funds for support. These scattered farms in the forest zones unduly increase the cost of local government and greatly raise the fire hazard of adjoining forest land. Not only does the timber owner have to pay more for fire protection but the cost of road and school upkeep falls more heavily upon him. The migration of large-scale logging operations leaves in their wake stump ranchers in distress because of loss of their outside employment. Were sustained-yield management, instead of liqui- ation, the prevailing policy of private forest-land
TaBLeE 28.—Stocking classification of cut-over lands in the Douglas-fir region
Land
Oregon lands cut over— Since beginning of 1920
Washington lands cut over—
Since wberinnin gyofal 920 eae ee een ee Pee ease ErIOTAL On O20 Bee enya ee een eee ee oh ae ce sceteecssss
ETIOTRLO BLO 20 Rete eeee Hime eens sree od ee os ce ssa sa sestkee
Well Medium Poorly 7 Ns Mote stocked stocked | stocked Nonstocked Total | | | Acres Acres | Acres Acres Acres 86, 285 122, 237 | 208, 522 301, 998 719, 042 238, 584 309, 550 | 127, 740 139, 698 815, 572 | | 324, 869 | 431, 787 336, 262 441, 696 1, 534, 614 172, 919 244, 969 417, 889 | 605, 219 1, 440, 996 654, 452 849, 120 | 350, 401 525, 817 | 2, 379, 790 827, 371 | 1, 094, 089 | 768, 290 1, 131, 036 | 3, 820, 786 | | == = 1, 152, 240 1, 525, 876 1, 104, 552 1, 572, 732 | 5, 355, 400 |
owners, there would be continuing forest employ- ment for a small number of part-time farmers.
Forest Land Use
The present area of forest land, 29 million acres, will probably remain practically constant for some time to come. This vast area represents a natural resource not only for the production of timber and other commodities, but also for watershed pro- tection, recreational use, wildlife production, and grazing use. Practically every body of forest land can serve efficiently more than one of these uses and in many cases all simultaneously and without
conflicting.
Status of Cut-Over Land
As of 1933 the forest-survey data show that 5.36 million acres of forest land in the Douglas-fir region has been cut over and not put to other use (table 28). Of this area about 3.20 million, or 60 percent, was cut over prior to 1920.
Thirty-six percent of the land cut over prior to 1920 and 71 percent of that cut over later is not restocking satisfactorily, amounting to 50 percent of the total 5.36 million acres. The 2.68 million acres of cut-over land that has restocked satis- factorily is widely scattered. Reforestation has resulted from several combinations of circumstances. The methods of logging and slash disposal practiced varied from early-day light ground logging with no slash burning to clear cutting with complete slash burning. Many tracts were clear cut with no slash burning; still others were clear cut and slash burned, but owing to weather conditions were burned only lightly. Most of the total area, how- ever, was slash burned after logging and thereafter, either by intention or by chance, not reburned.
Fire-protection agencies in the region, in com- piling fire statistics, do not record areas on which slash is burned under permit. They attempt to cover all areas reburned, either by accidental fires or in connection with the original slash burning of adjoining areas. Undoubtedly many accidental fires reburning cut-over areas are unreported, al- though reporting service is much better now than formerly. Fires reported by the protective agencies burned over an annual average of 85,000 acres of
74
recently cut-over land (cut since January 1, 1920) during the 5-year period 1926-30, or more than half the 13-year average of 165,000 acres cut over annually during the period 1920-32. Actually, these reported burns have covered much less than half the cut-over jands, since they undoubtedly in- cluded each year substantial acreages of repeated burns. Barely more than one-fourth of the recent cut-overs have restocked satisfactorily, and ap- parently fire has not been solely responsible. Elsewhere unreported accidental reburning of cut- over areas in connection with annual disposal of slash may be to blame. Certainly fire or destruc- tive logging methods must be responsible for the difference in this respect between lands logged before and after 1920. Analysis of data on lands logged prior to 1920 shows that as of 1932 nearly 65 percent were satisfactorily restocked. Much of this area was logged under less: destructive condi- tions than prevailed in later years, and no part of it was subject to the extreme fire hazard of proxim- ity to large areas of recently logged lands. It is a safe assumption that by 1943 not much more than half the lands clear cut in 1920-32 will be satis- factorily restocked if present practices persist, largely because of repeated fires.
This raises the question whether clear-cut areas can be burned in a manner that does not endanger adjacent forest land. Without doubt, vast im- provement over past practices and results can be attained, and determined efforts to restrict slash fires to areas cut over during the current year would result in far more reproduction.
The principles and detailed practices involved in slash disposal in this region, after the conven- tional clear cutting, are covered in a previous report (7/6) and will not be discussed here.
Timber Production
In this region 26 million acres, nearly 90 percent, of the forest land was classified as suitable for com- mercial production of softwood timber and more than half a million acres additional for commercial hardwood timber. Under improved forest manage- ment practically all this land, on which timber production will be pre-eminent for many years to come, can perform other functions without inter- ference with its main resource. On the privately
owned lands other uses will be incidental since these lands are for the most part more valuable for timber production than are the public lands. Of the commercial forest land in public ownership, 696,000 acres generally less suitable for timber production has been set aside for recreation and city water supply protection exclusively.
Production of Commodities Other Than Timber
Forest products other than timber, from which considerable income is obtained in this region, in- clude tanbark, swordferns, berries, huckleberry greens, pitch, and
Christmas trees, cascara_ bark, Oregon-grape root.
The most important of these is the bark of the cascara buckthorn (Rahmnus purshiana), valuable for The gathering of the bark
is a seasonal occupation pursued largely by local
its medicinal properties. residents. During the depression this employment has been an important source of income to many people. The price, forced down by a glutted market, has gone up again as unemployment has decreased—from 114 cents a pound in 1933 to a high of 9 cents a pound in 1936. Despite predic- tions that the supply of cascara bark would soon be
exhausted, it is apparently as large as ever. The dealers state that when the price is around 6 to 8 cents a pound the normal peel is 2,000 tons. The
demand is comparatively inelastic, and excess pro- duction in 1 year results in a lower price and a smaller peel the next year.
The popularity of Douglas-fir Christmas trees in other parts of the country has resulted in an enor- mous Increase in the annual shipments. In 1936, it is estimated, about 4,000,000 trees were shipped by rail, truck, and vessel to all sections of the country except the Rocky Mountain and New England States. California; other principal destinations were Texas, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Florida, and Okla- homa.
The majority were consigned to
A small number were shipped to Hawaii and the Philippine Islands. A large part of the delivered price goes for freight, but the local revenue, including stumpage, labor, etc., undoubt- edly totals at least a million dollars annually. Four counties in western Washington, Mason, Kitsap, Thurston, and Pierce, produce the large majority of the annual cut, and in 1936 Mason County alone
W®
produced about 25 percent of the regional total. The low-site gravelly soils in this section grow a bushy tree with closely spaced whorls of branches that sells most readily.
On privately owned cut-over land nearly all the young trees are cut for Christmas sale and no attempt is made to manage the land for future crops. Where the land is insufficiently stocked to begin with, as is often the case, the future sawlog productivity of the land is impaired. If the cutter gave thought to making an improvement thinning and to leaving a sufficient stand for proper forest development, the Christmas-tree industry would furnish the landowner some return from his 8- to 20-year-old stock and yet not diminish production of the major forest crop.
The bark of the tanoak has a high tannin content. and formerly was used in considerable quantities. In recent years the gathering of tanbark has prac- tically ceased, owing to depletion of the available ‘The latter has so lowered the price that it is at present unprofitable to cut tanoak for bark alone.
Data on ferns, pitch, berries, and the other mis- cellaneous forest products are nonexistent or un-
supply and competition of other materials.
satisfactory. Harvesting is done almost exclusively by local residents as home industries and no reliable These byproducts of the forest, mainly of second-growth stands, are now of very
records are kept.
little significance in comparison with the major commodities, but it is safe to predict that there will be a strengthening market for some of them. The gathering of these secondary crops hardly ever con- flicts with other forest uses, except in some instances it has increased the risk of forest fires.
Soil and Watershed Protection
In the Douglas-fir region the great extent of the old-growth forests, the luxuriance of the shrubby vegetation that within 2 or 3 years of logging clothes much of the deforested land, the abundance of water available for farm, home, and industry, and the mildness of the climate render the protective function of the forest cover of much less consequence than in many other parts of the United States. Any vegetative cover does, however, exert an ameliorating influence on flood peaks by retarding run-off and lengthening the time required for
waters to congregate in streams, and tends to insure continuity of stream flow throughout the dry sum- mer months. Perhaps even more important, it protects the soil against abnormal erosion.
In view of the heavy precipitation, it is fortunate that cut-over areas in this region normally become clothed with a cover of grass, weeds, or shrubs within 2 or 3 years after logging. Such a cover gives watersheds considerable protection from erosion, but is much less effective in retarding run- off and preventing abnormal erosion than a com- plete forest canopy, is inherently temporary in nature, and is highly inflammable. The area of cut-over land has increased rapidly in the last 20 years and the average quality of the watershed cov- er has correspondingly lowered. Floods in some 20 to 30 streams west of the summit of the Cascade Range cause damage to lowland property estimat- ed at $1,000,000 io $2,000,000 or more annually.
In spite of the importance of forests in this region, little positive information is available here con- cerning the relation of forest cover to stream flow and erosion. The problem is so complex that su- perficial observation will not answer; detailed stud- ies of different types of forest cover under varying climatic, soil, and topographic conditions are urgently needed.
It is evident, however, that the prevailing practice of clear cutting and slash burning accelerates run- off and that this continues until a new cover is established; considerable soil washing and gullving, started often in the skid trails made by logging machinery, is evident on the steeper freshly logged slopes. Sheet erosion and consequent soil deple- tion are a natural consequence of heavy rains where the beneficent cover is completely removed and the debris and the humus burned away. As the area of poorly stocked logged-off land grows larger the lack of that run-off regulation and soil conservation which the original forest gave will be more notice- able. More and more, logging and slash-burning operations are reaching the steeper slopes of the mountains, and here the dangers are greater that accelerated run-off and soil deterioration will ensue unless precautionary forest practices are adopted.
The only areas where occupancy and use of the forest are restricted in order to regulate run-off are the watersheds of several streams that supply water for municipalities, aggregating about 200,000
76
acres. This protection is given to insure the purity of the water supply and the volume and regularity of its flow.
Recreation
Few other sections of the United States are so for- tunate as the Pacific Northwest in its outdoor re- creational facilities. The abundant forests, streams, lakes, and snowclad mountains of the Douglas- fir region, as well as its seashore, are so accessible that they can be enjoyed with little effort or ex- pense. Good hunting and fishing are still to be had within easy access of the cities and towns. The development of highways and motor transpor- tation in recent years has extended this accessibility until at present most of the forest land is used to some degree for recreation, not only by the local population, but by many tourists from other States. Even areas rendered unsightly by logging or fire are frequented by hunters and fishermen. The recreational resource is thus a very real asset, as this region becomes more and more one of the national playgrounds.
Much of this recreational use conflicts in no way with timber production; only 959,300 acres are re- served from logging to preserve certain distinctive recreational features. Of this area approximately two-thirds is on national forests. The reservations include 472,500 acres of commercial forest land in conifers, but not the 331,600 acres of nonforest land, such as glaciers, rocky barrens, and alpine meadows within the recreational reserves. Among the lands reserved for recreation are such nationally famous areas as Mount Rainier National Park, Crater Lake National Park (which borders this region), Mount Olympus National Park, Mount Hood and Colum- bia Gorge recreational areas on the Mount Hood National Forest, and the Mount Baker recreational area and North Cascade primitive area on the Mount Baker National Forest. In addition to such reservations, practically all of the remaining na- tional-forest land is available for recreational use. Along the roads on the national forests of this region there are 803 forest camps where facilities are main- tained for overnight camping as well as picnicking.
The remarkable increase in popularity of winter sports has been responsible for the recent develop- ment of a number of areas for this specific purpose. The subalpine forests on the slopes of the Cascade
Ba ee
Range are admirably adapted for skiing and other winter sports and are readily accessible to the prin- cipal cities and towns. Within 1} hours’ drive of Portland is the Mount Hood area on the Mount Hood National Forest, and equally accessible to Seattle and Tacoma are the Snoqualmie Falls area on the Snoqualmie National Forest and Paradise Valley in Mount Rainier National Park. Within recent years great progress has been made in the development of State parks, located chiefly on the principal highways; although overnight camping is not permitted in many of the State parks.
The privately owned forest land is not all avail- able for public recreation use; many forest owners forbid trespass on their property near the highways because of the increased fire risk and cost of protec- tion. The trespass laws of Oregon and Washington are not enforceable on unfenced wild land, but the widespread use of closure by State officials under authority of fire laws has resulted in material re- striction of public use of forest land during critical fire weather. Nevertheless, there are large areas of private forest land where the public may hunt or fish undisturbed unless they violate State game laws. Farm woods, the most accessible of forest lands, are generally closed to public use, although some farm- ers add to their income by making a small charge tor the use of their woods for recreation. A definite need exists for small forest picnic and camp grounds, in addition to the existing State parks, on the high- ways near the larger cities.
Wildlife Production and Use
This region is well supplied with wildlife. The ex- tensive forests furnish food and shelter for the native fauna and have prevented its depletion. Hunting and fishing have not made the inroads on the game resources here that have been reached in more densely populated regions.
The forests contribute to the maintenance of the fish population by regulating stream flow, moderat- ing water temperature, and keeping the water clear. Other uses of the forests, including recreation, pro- tection, timber production, and grazing, do not seriously disturb wildlife production when properly coordinated. In fact, cutting operations usually result in an increase in shrubby and herbaceous vege- tation, which affords more food for game animals.
224146 °—40——6
77
Fire has undoubtedly been responsible for the destruction of much wildlife. Immediately follow- ing a crown fire the deforested area is vegetated by plants affording better feed than the original dense woods, and the game population usually increases by attraction from surrounding forests; but repeated burning results finally in a reduction of feed and consequent lowering of the game pop- ulation. In some parts of the region it has been a not uncommon practice for local residents to set fire to the forests to improve the hunting. Over a period of years this practice results in impair- ment of the wildlife resource. The aborigines are generally supposed to have done this, particularly in the Willamette Valley, and the treeless condition of this area when white settlement began is thought The reclaim- ing of some of these lands in the foothills of both the Willamette and Umpqua Valleys through fire
protection has resulted in some of the most thrifty
to have resulted from this practice.
stands of even-aged immature Douglas-fir now found there.
Game management, including protection of wild- life, has made some progress. The posting of privately owned forests against hunting and fishing, although far from universal, is increasing and is not likely to lessen as the population grows and as better roads bring in more tourists. Hunting and fishing are also forbidden on large areas of both private and public forest land set aside by the State and Federal Governments as wildlife refuges. During critical fire weather other forest areas are closed temporarily for protection against fires that might be started by hunters, fishermen, and other forest users. ‘The national forests, with their traditional policy of multiple land use, guar- antee the people of this region large areas on which wildlife management will be correlated with other forest use. Eventually it may be necessary to make provision for wildlife management on all
public and private forest lands.
Grazing
The shrubs and herbaceous species that grow in the shade of the dense forests of the Douglas-fir region proper are usually of low forage value. Woody shrubs, such as Oregon hollygrape, salal, huckleberry, vine maple, and hazel, with little or
Ficure 19.—This area was cut over years ago, seeded to pasture, and repeatedly burned.
It has now been claimed by bracken and 1s practically
worthless for pasture
no palatability to livestock, far outnumber succu- lent species among the understory plants. On the logged-off land and burns, where there is more of the succulent herbage, the rough topography, large quantities of down timber and other debris, and the rank growth of shrubs make the movement of livestock difficult. Grazing is therefore meager in the virgin and the dense second-growth forests, and very limited on old burns and recently logged land. In the higher mountains, however, chiefly within the national forests, numerous meadows, subalpine- type glades, and grassy hillsides and ridges afford excellent and largely used summer range. During the period 1925-35, approximately 14,000 cattle and 130,000 sheep grazed such areas on the national forests each season, and the grazing fees collected averaged approximately $20,000 a year.
A number of attempts to use cut-over Douglas-fir land for livestock range have been temporarily successful, but as a general rule the results have not justified this practice on any considerable scale. The possibility of converting cut-over land to per- manent grazing use has been the subject of con- siderable controversy and study. Certainly much of this land because of failure to restock to conifers
78
and because of unstable ownership is not now filling an economic use. Unquestionably portions of it through seeding can be converted to permanent pasture economically, on other portions grazing can be practiced without seeding for a few years with- out damaging future use for forestry. The use of fire to convert forest land to grazing should be care- fully controlled (9). The guiding principle in determining the future use of cut-over forest lands should be to put them to highest use. There is a dearth of physical and economic facts necessary for an impartial decision between forestry and grazing on much of this land. Some of it obviously suited for one use or the other. Gradually, scientific research by private, State, and Federal agencies and practical experience are supplying the answers to some of the questions; others are unanswered. An early solution to this entire problem of land use is urgent.
If these areas are not reburned for about 3 to 5 years, other shrubby species such as salal, Oregon- grape, rose, hazel, oceanspray, willow, and elder- berry enter the vegetative type. Broadleaf tree species such as bigleaf maple and red alder appear, and along with conifer seedlings soon dominate the
other vegetation. Reburning retards the woody species and encourages the bracken (fig. 19), resulting in a vegetation cover not only of little value for graz- ing but also highly inflammable during dry seasons.
Despite the availability of moderate quantities of forage on recently cut-over land and the possi-
bility of lowering the fire hazard by grazing, use of
hthis type of land for stock range as been limited to dairy cattle and a few sheep turned onto it by neighboring farmers and to occasional shipments of sheep from ranches east of the Cascade Range in summers when the home ranges east of the moun- tains were poor because of drought.
The oak-madrone woodland (fig. 20) and pon- derosa pine forests in southern Oregon are less dense and their many grassy openings furnish more range than is found in other forests of the region. Some of these open prairies and hillsides are sup- posed to have been burned by the Indians to make better hunting, although others are obviously on areas unsuited to forest growth because of soil or climate. In the Siskiyou Mountains of south- western Oregon, the grazing of cattle on such grass- covered openings began soon after white settlement
79
and was an important industry up to 20 years ago, when heavy grazing had so reduced the forage that the cattle were supplanted by sheep and goats. Periodic burning in the hope of improving grazing has greatly depleted the palatable herbage on these areas, resulting in many instances in a brush cover typically composed of scrub tanoak, Pacific ma- drone, or any of several species of manzanita or ceanothus, either unpalatable or of such low palata- bility that only goats will browse it. With the setting up of fire protection, some of the more promising of these areas have been reclaimed by conifers. Others cleared for farming and early abandoned were reclaimed by conifers prior to protection from fire.
Attempts have been made to seed recently cut- over lands or burns to forage plants, especially in southwestern Oregon. Seeding by airplane has been tried, with orchard grass, ryegrass, and various mixtures. As a rule a good stand of grass is ob- tained the first year, but the second year the stand is much less and the third year it is sparse. In order to retain the grass cover it is usually necessary to reseed the grass about every 3 years, and then it is
often necessary to slash the woody plants that in- evitably occupy parts of the area. Alternate grazing of cattle and goats has been tried as a means of keeping out bracken and brush, but without not- able success. Repeated burning, as already pointed out, results in increasing the bracken. The expense of seeding is apparently not justified where the land is going to be allowed to revert or will inevitably revert to trees or other woody growth in a few years, and where utilization as permanent pasture is not its highest economic use. Small areas that can economically be converted to pasture by per- sistent seeding and clearing are usually parts of operating farm units and accordingly are classed as agricultural, not forest land.
Forest Problem Areas
There are three major areas of idle forest land in the region, which illustrate conditions and prob- lems that occur on many other areas on a smaller scale. The first of these extends along the east side of Puget Sound from near Tacoma to about 25 miles north of Everett and runs inland 15 to 25 miles. Although the soils are chiefly gravelly and of low agricultural value, they once grew valuable forests, a large part of which was logged many years ago. Much of this district, which includes between a third and a half of the population of the Douglas-fir region, has been subdivided, outside urban limits, into 5- and 10-acre lots. Only a small number of these lots have been improved, chiefly for residence by workers in Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett; many of them are tax delinquent; and a considerable number have reverted to the counties through tax forfeiture. Little of the area is actually farmed. Clearing fires escaping to adjoining land have devastated large areas, until in this entire dis- trict there is little forest growth. Although this land is fairly densely populated, all but a small part of it is idle. To bring it under management for timber production would be difficult because of instability of ownership and proximity to industrial centers.
The second major problem area is the expanse of recently cut-over land in Gravs Harbor, Mason, and western Thurston Counties, Wash. Parts of this area have deep and fertile soil, but the topog- raphy is generally unfavorable to agriculture. There is little agricultural settlement in this district, and the only farms are in the narrow shoestring valleys.
80
This area may restock successfully; but because of its extent, the scarcity of seed trees, and the high fire hazard it probably will not do so for many If present conditions continue there is a strong possi- bility that large parts of this area will never restock naturally. The two most difficult problems are fire protection and tax delinquency. The instability of ownership reduces the effectiveness of fire protec-
years, unless remedial measures are applied.
tion. A State forest is now being created in this district, which should alleviate the situation. The area includes some of the most productive forest soil in the region, and if it is nonproductive for long, a serious loss of timber growth will result.
A large part of the third area, covering Columbia, Tillamook, and eastern Clatsop Counties in the northwest corner of Oregon, is cut-over land and deforested burn including the great Tillamook burn of 1933. It is practically all forest land but, like the second area, the topography is so rough as to permit little agriculture. The main bodies of saw timber will be almost entirely gone in about a dec- ade if the present rate of cutting continues. These three counties are already financially distressed, and it is doubtful if they can maintain the present road and school system in the forest zone when tax revenue from timberland decreases, unless sources other than the general property tax are available. The problem of financing fire protection is acute because of the instability of ownership and the large area of county-owned and tax-delinquent land. Much of this area will not restock naturally for many years, since many parts of it are a consider- able distance from seed trees.
Practically all of the region’s old nonrestocked cut-over lands (type 35), totaling 666,000 acres, occurs in these three problem areas. The economic returns from nonforest use of this land are negligible and from the standpoint of the future timber supply its idleness represents a serious loss. Under good forest management, however, it is easily capable of producing 250,000,000 board feet of timber an- nually. It is estimated that an annual production of this amount would give permanent employment to at least 2,000 workers in the forest industries and indirect employment to 2,000 or 3,000 additional workers in dependent industries and service occu- pations, thus supporting a total population of 10,000 to 12,000 persons.
*
18) ©) I IOS) IES IRIE SSO), WIR ae
ORES) Te Tite DMO Ui Gisele Ag St —
Rel Reo Res iG lON
Forest Industries
>>
Conditions in the Industries Development
HE first sawmill in the Douglas-fir region was
erected in 1827 near Fort Vancouver on the
Columbia River, by John McLoughlin, chief factor of the Hudson’s Bay Co. A few years later lumber was exported from this mill to Hawaii. Be- tween 1840 and 1850 a number of mills were estab- lished to supply lumber to the increasing local popu- lation and for export to the gold fields of California and to the Hawaiian Islands.
From its beginning more than a century ago, lumbering has been one of the leading industries in this region. The present industrial development is based toa very great extent upon the forest resources. The large majority of the population derive their support, directly or indirectly, from either lumber- ing or agriculture. The only other extractive indus- tries, fishing and mining, are of relatively minor Of the 1,883,650 population of the Douglas-fir region in 1930 (according to the Bureau of the Census), 815,528 were gainfully employed. Approximately 14.3 percent of those engaged in gainful occupations were directly employed in for-
significance.
estry, lumbering, and other wood-using industries, 12.7 percent in agriculture, 0.9 percent in fishing, and 0.7 percent in the extraction of minerals; alto- gether, 28.6 percent of the total were employed in natural-resource industries.
In this region the transportation industries, ma- chinery manufacture,'* food processing,’ merchan-
14Sawmill and logging machinery and equipment are manufactured here for local use and for shipment to other parts of this country and abroad.
15 This group, next in importance to the forest industries, includes fruit and vegetable canning, fish and other sea-food
canning, flour milling, butter and cheese making, condensing and evaporating milk, and meat packing.
81
ke
dising and other service industries, and the profes- sions are all dependent almost entirely upon the natural-resource industries. Another important source of income is tourist travel. It is safe to as- sume that nearly half the gainfully employed are de- pendent directly or indirectly upon the forest re- sources for their livelihood.
Lumbering in the United States has been a mi- gratory industry, and each successive move west- ward has widened the gap between producer and consumer. In the Douglas-fir region and the other Pacific coast forest regions, the large size of the trees, density of stands, and topography made needful many changes in logging and manufacturing meth- ods as developed in the East and South, and neces- sitated new techniques. Because of the great dis- tance from markets, distribution is one of the most important problems of the industry here; but in gen- eral methods of distribution and business practices have received far less attention from the leaders of the industry than have logging and manufacturing methods.
There is no new frontier to which the industry can turn from here, consequently competitive condi- tions must soon reach a stage of equilibrium. Lumber from this region competes with lumber pro- duced in the South. particularly for labor, and much shorter distance to
Low manufacturing costs,
the important domestic markets give the South an advantage over this region that is only partly offset by the latter’s cheaper stumpage and high-quality
raw material. In foreign markets, and to some
this region is subject to competition from lumber pro- duced in British Columbia and its lower labor and stumpage costs and cargo rates to distant points—
extent in domestic markets, lumber from
advantages only partly offset by greater cost of certain equipment and materials used in lumber-
ing and more difficult physical logging conditions. Both manufacturing and distribution costs must be kept at a minimum if lumber from this region is to continue to compete successfully in eastern and foreign markets.
Data from the Census of Manufactures indicate that in 1929 the forest industries of the region paid in salaries and wages approximately $125,000,000 and produced goods valued at more than $350,000,- 000. For the same year the value of sawlogs, pulp- wood, fuel wood, shingle bolts, poles and piling, fence posts, and other timber products was between $150,000,000 and $175,000,000. During 1929 lumber production was at a peak, wages and prices were high. Since then lumber production, wages, and prices have declined greatly. In 1935 lumber production was but half that of 1929. However, the relative importance of the forest industries in the economic life of this region has changed but little, as other industries have followed parallel courses.
Integration
The forest industries throughout the country are not integrated vertically to nearly so great an ex- tent as some other large industries. In the Douglas- fir region, in particular, there is little complete
6 industries.
vertical integration '® in the forest Many of the large lumber manufacturers own standing timber and do their own logging, and some of the larger companies own and operate steamship lines. Some lumber manufacturers pro- duce sash and doors, box shook, and shingles, but a large percentage of the output of these items in this region is produced by independent establishments.
Many of the lumber manufacturers here sell lumber at retail from their plants, but only a few of the larger mills are interested to any great extent in retail lumber companies. Several of the large companies own or control retail line yards in the Middle West. Many of the Douglas-fir manufac- turers are affiliated with lumber-manufacturing interests in the Lake States and the South; hori-
zontal integration of this sort is quite common.
16 By ‘complete vertical integration”’ is meant performance by the same concern of all processes of manufacture and distribution, from harvesting of the raw material to dis- tribution to facture of byproducts.
the ultimate consumer, including manu-
The pulp industry is dominated by companies The largest wood-pulp manufacturer and its affiliated
not affliated with lumber manufacturers.
companies own standing timber, and fill some of their requirements for raw material by logging their own timber. ‘This group is also affiliated with companies that manufacture and distribute many kinds of paper products. A large percentage of the wood-pulp manufacturers make paper.
The plywood and veneer industry is quite inde- pendent of other forest industries, and very few of the plywood and veneer manufacturers have any direct connection with timber owners and lumber manufacturers.
Investments
The total investment in the forest industries of this region at the present time probably exceeds a billion dollars. Of this amount about half is rep- resented by privately owned standing timber and the remainder by logging equipment, manufactur- ing plants, and working capital. The total invest- ment in logging facilities is estimated at approxi- mately $85,000,000, and that in lumber-manufac- turing plants at $140,000,000 to $150,000,000. Not included are common-carrier -railroads, steamship lines, and other shipping facilities that depend mainly on the forest industries for their traffic. The private investment in standing timber and _ the logging and lumber-manufacturing industries is roughly $100 per 1,000 board feet of lumber cut annually. ‘The investment in forest industries, including raw material, is approximately $4 per 1,000 feet of privately owned standing timber.
Labor
Labor is probably the most important single cost element in the forest industries. It is estimated by the West Coast Lumbermen’s Association (24) that in 1935 nearly half the return received by the Douglas-fir lumber manufacturer from the sale of his product went for labor. The association states that on an average two 8-hour man-days are re- quired to produce 1,000 board feet of lumber and that in 1935 wages per 1,000 feet averaged $8.89. The 40-hour week is established in the lumber industry in this region. Hourly wages in the log-
ging and lumber industries averaged in 1936 about
65 cents. the East and South, approximately the same as those in the other Pacific slope States, and as high as those in any other forest region. Hourly wages here are about double those paid in the South. Wages in the lumber industry in this region declined during the period 1930-32, but not so rapidly as lumber prices, and they have recovered much faster. In 1935 they were approximately at the 1926 level, and at the middle of 1936 they had risen above the 1929 level. Lumber prices had increased, but were still below the 1926 level. Approximately 75 percent of the 100,000 to 115,000 workers normally employed in the forest industries of this region are skilled. For this and for the consequent high average wage the high degree of mechanization in the logging and lumber industries and the extremely large size of the manu- facturing plants are chiefly responsible. Workers, including woods workers, are highly unionized, unlike those in the eastern and southern forest industries. in normal periods shut-downs are relatively brief. Conse- quently, a large percentage of the workers em- ployed are resident.
Employment is nearly yearlong;
Many men in rural communi- ties near the logging centers have had experience in forest work and supplement the yearlong labor during periods of extra activity.
Most of the larger logging operations maintain semiportable or portable logging camps where workers are housed and fed in community fashion. Some of these camps have quarters where married men may house their families, and even provide school facilities. Nota few logging operations, both large and small, are so situated that workers can go to their jobs daily from their homes on nearby farms or in neighboring towns, sometimes in trains run by the company or sometimes in their own auto- mobiles. A large percentage of the labor, which is practically all white, is native born. Many of the remainder, mostly the older forest workers, mig- rated from the Lake States and the South when operations there folded up or moved to the Pacific Northwest.
Production
The Douglas-fir region produces approximately 30 percent of the total lumber cut in the United
Wages are much higher than those in
States.
Figure 21, giving lumber production in the United States and in the Douglas-fir region, shows that the ratio of production of this region to the total for the country varied but little during the 11-year period 1925-35. For the first nine years of that period western Oregon’s lumber production amounted to about one-third of the regional total, varying from about 32 percent in 1925 to 36 per- cent in 1929; in the last 2 years the ratio increased slightly, and in 1935 it reached 41 percent.
This region produced 91 percent of the shingles manufactured in the United States in 1935, Wash- ington producing 81 and Oregon 10 percent.
The production of wood pulp was about 23 per- cent of the total for the country in 1935. The present installed pulp-mill capacity is about 17 percent of the Nation’s total. Present indications point to a large increase in pulp-mill capacity within the next few years.
Markets
This region’s wood-using industries depend chiefly upon outside markets. During the period 1926-34 only about one-quarter of the lumber pro- duced in the region was consumed within it. Ap- proximately one-third of the wood pulp produced is shipped to other regions without being manufac- tured into paper. Only about one-fourth as much paper is consumed in the region as is produced in it. Therefore, local paper consumption accounts for only about 15 to 20 percent of the annual regional pulp production. The situation in the This de-
pendence upon outside markets apparently will
plywood industry is about the same.
continue for many years if current rates of produc- tion are maintained.
With the exception of a very small quantity of hardwood veneer and lumber, no wood products need be brought into this region for a long time to come.
There are four large markets where logs are offered for sale under definite rules of measurement and grading; these are the Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, and Columbia River log markets. in each of these, an association has been formed to do the scaling and grading. Many lum- ber manufacturers depend entirely on these mar- kets for their raw material.
REGION
BIELIONS. OF “BOARD: PRET
WESTERN WASHINGTON
fe)
1926 1928
1930
1932 1934 1936
Ficure 21.—From 1925 to 1936 lumber production of the Douglas-fir region, although fiuctuating considerably in volume, remained constant in its relation to national cut, never falling below 25 percent or exceeding 30 percent of lumber production for the United States as a whole
Loggers and manufacturers of this region also buy and sell logs in British Columbia, but compared with the total sawlog consumption, the quantities are not large (table 29). Practically all the im- ported logs are brought into the Puget Sound district.
The volume of Douglas-fir log exports is com- paratively insignificant, amounting to about 0.5 percent of the annual production, and during the
Tas Le 29.—Logs imported! from British Columbia to Douglas- fir region (Scribner rule), stated years
Species 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937 M board|M board|M board|M board|M board
feet feet | feet feet feet Wouglas-firs 2. £22 se ee 119, 411 | 92,711 | 77,850 | 40, 275 18, 757 Western redcedar==_.- 7-22 30, 250 | 23, 100 | 37,414 | 23,265 | 25, 111 Western hemiock__--________ 16,990 | 35,568 | 4,319 | 30,406 | 53,594 Allliothens22s-2-aseoe see a= 5, 560 1,223 | 2,483) 2,736 | 10,214 otal: ak 20 set ei aes: 172, 211 |152, 602 |122,066 | 96,682 | 107, 676
1 Data based on reports from Pacific Northwest Loggers Association.
84
period 1928-37 (table 30), except in three of the years, was more than balanced by imports from British Columbia. A large part of the exports, however, 1s in “‘peeler’’ logs, amounting to a signifi- cant part of the total peeler log production. Most of the log exports go to Japan, China, and Aus- tralia. exported do not at present materially influence local supplies, except for a few preblem species. In addition, considerable quantities of large sawed timbers, “‘Jap squares,”’ are exported to the Orient for remanufacture (fig. 22).
The quantities of Port Orford white-cedar logs exported, practically all to Japan, are a significant part of the total production of the species. During the 9-year period 1925-33, the total average annual production of Port Orford cedar sawlogs was slightly less than 50 million board feet, log scale. For the last 6 of these years the Port Orford white-cedar log exports averaged about 17}4 million feet annually, or roughly a third of total production. In some
From a regional standpoint the quantities
>)
F347422
Figure 22.—Gizant squares being loaded for shipment to Japan, where they will be manufactured into lumber
TaBLE 30.—Logs1 exported from Douglas-fir region, Scribner rule®, 1928-37
Species 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932
M board|M board|M board| M board M board
Seet Jeet Jeet Jeet feet
Douglas-fir ae 9, 388 | 27,225 | 29,939 | 18, 385 5, 509 Western redcedar___________- 70, 938 | 56,897 | 31,373 | 33. 826 3, 869 Port Orford white-cedar_____ 35, 306 | 28,776 | 14, 208,| 12, 658 5, 298 Western hemlock_____-_____- 26, 468 | 35.119 | 24, 633 | 31, 215 23, 797 Balsamaifirs sess es see 110 489 1, 955 5, 707 4, 889 Northern black cottonwood _ 40 150 1,062 | 7, 245 4, 132 Sitkatsprucesaseeekee ee 1, 846 2, 380 1, 982 1, 309 447 SATO th ernest ne ee rane 332 237 191 1, 346 | 269
ET 0 al] aslo sere tn 2 144, 428 [151,273 |105, 343 {111,691 | 48, 210
1933 1934 1935 1936 1937
Douglas-firs =. ee 14, 299 | 24,688 | 37,059 | 53, 943 25, 409 Western redcedar______-_____ 5,807 | 8, 243 | 10, 990 7, 190 1, G51 8, 691 9,171 7, 480 6, 404 3, 647 22,277 | 29,185 | 40,369 | 32,521 12, 705 4, 143 1, 570 2, 657 4,099 1, 944 Northern black cottonwood_| 4,257 | 3,862 | 2,349 | 6, 461 2, 631
Sitkasprucess=ss5 >a t 580 | 2,805 7, 083 3, 245 1, 497 PAN(o ther. sate ee 175 1, 611 4, 290 1, 965 544 Motal==*=s eis 60, 229 | 81,135 |112, 277 |115, 828 50, 028
1 Data include small quantities of bolts. Source of data, summaries of United States customs records compiled by Seattle and Portland Mer- chants Exchange.
2 Original Brereton-scale data converted to Scribner by dividing by 2.
3 Includes so-called larch, actually noble fir.
years exports have been half the total production. In addition to logs, considerable quantities of Port Orford white-cedar lumber and sawn timbers are exported to Japan, and remanufactured there. The supply of Port Orford cedar in private ownership, about three-quarters of a billion board feet, will last only 15 years at the present rate of cutting.
In the vicinity of Coos Bay the manufacture from Port Orford white-cedar of products such as battery separators and venetian blinds has developed into an important and successful industry. This indus- try employs an unusually large number of laborers for the volume of forest resources used. Exporta- tion of this ‘‘cedar’ in unmanufactured form deprives this region of considerable income and outlets for labor and hastens the end of this industry.
Western redcedar, the supply of which is limited, is being exported in considerable quantities. How- ever, offsetting the exports, a large volume of this species is imported from British Columbia.
Logging
Types of Organization
Logging in the Douglas-fir region is a highiy specialized and mechanized operation. This has
4q
resulted in organization of the industry along lines not commonly found in other forest regions. Many companies and individuals are in the business of logging only, not having any interest in the sawmill industry or other wood-using industries. Some of these concerns are timber holders, others buy timber shortly in advance of cutting, and a few depend almost entirely on Government-owned timber. Their log output is sold on the open market or by contract to manufacturers. Much logging is done by “gyppo”’ loggers, operators who contract with owners of timber to log it at a stipu- lated price per 1,000 feet. They usually log on a small scale and are often irresponsible. The timber
Ficure 23.—Logging Douglas fir with tractor and arch in the Oregon Coast Range. Use of this type of equipment is increasing in the sbruce-hemlock and Douglas-fir types of western Wash- ington and western Oregon and is causing significant changes in management of these types
facturers, particularly the larger ones, do their own logging, either directly or through logging subsid- laries.
There are many variations and combinations of these types of organization. Some manufacturers supply part of their needs by logging their own timber directly, part by contracting the logging of their timber, and part by purchasing sawlogs on the open market. Sometimes they contract only a part of the logging operation, such as felling and bucking or truck hauling.
86
Methods
With very few exceptions, forests have been clear cut; that is, the entire merchantable stand has been felled and whatever trees were left as unmerchant- antable were usually knocked down in the process of skidding. The large size of the trees, the dense stands, and the rugged topography have been re- sponsible for the development of highly mechanized logging methods. Heavy high-speed machinery powered by steam, gasoline, diesel-oil, or electricity is used to move the logs, by cable, from stump to railroad, highway, or waterway and there load them for final transportation to mill or market. Recently there has been a tendency toward the use of lighter, more flexible, and more mobile machin- ery like crawler tractors and trucks, not only by small but also by large operators.
Where modern tractors or trucks or both can efficiently be used, they are likely to have certain advantages over the conventional steam-donkey and railroad method of log- ging, chiefly in saving on the investment required per acre logged and in the opportun- ity to practice selective cut- ting. Where tractors and trucks are usable their flexi- bility and mobility enable the operator to select the individ- ual trees or tracts of timber that can most profitably be cut 348202 at the time, thus effectively liq- uidating his investment with- out needless waste of forest re- sources or needless operating expenses. The rapid increase in the use of tractors and trucks is actually revo- lutionizing woods practice in this region and may have a far-reaching effect on both the economics of the industry and the condition of the cut-over areas. The use of tractors for skidding makes practicable the logging of small or remote bodies of timber where the installation of less mobile and more expensive machinery would not be justified. Wherea high de- gree of selectivity is practiced, as when tractors do the skidding (fig. 23), the cut-over land is still partly stocked with trees, in contrast to the denudation
when clear cut for steam-donkey skidding. Attendant problems of fire protection, silviculture, and forest management vary greatly under the two methods.
Transportation
Rail hauls of about 50 miles are common and veneer logs are hauled much greater dis- tances. It is not uncommon for logs to be moved by rail and water 150 to 200 miles or more. In the larger operations, standard-gage railroads extend to all parts of the area and the logs are hauled directly to the mill or to waterway. Stream driving, never very common here, is now practiced in only a few places. Puget Sound and the Columbia and Willamette Rivers have made possible cheap transportation of logs. Large flat rafts (fig. 24) are towed considerable distances on these waters and are used to a lesser extent on other waterways. Ocean-going rafts or barges are used to move logs coastwise; cigar-shaped rafts are towed from the Columbia River to San Diego, Calif., a distance of 1,100 miles. Practically all the merchantable timber in western Washington and a large part of that in northwestern Oregon is within 30 or 40 miles of tidewater or navigable streams.
Ficure 24.—Log raft being towed up the Willamette River at Portland. At right are storage
booms and sorting pond
The increased mileage of improved highways in the past few years and the development of efficient and economical motortrucks have extended the use of trucks from small operators to many of the large companies, which are now using them partly or wholly to move logs from woods to mill (fig. 25). The use of trucks, particularly in connection with such mobile and flexible skidding machinery as the modern tractor and arch, makes it practicable to harvest small isolated tracts of timber, or timber at long distances—sometimes 50 miles—from water or railhead, provided there are public highways
Se 6 ere OS ee ree
o *
Ficure 25.—Truck with load of about 4,000 to 6,000 board feet. Larger trucks haul as much as 10,000 board feet
nearby. This encourages geographic diffusion of logging operations, instead of the former concen- tration near railroads and waterways. It also en- courages selectivity in cutting whereby the very desirable species or the best logs are hauled even from great distances to market, while the less de- sirable tracts, trees, or logs are passed up for the present. No doubt, trucks will be used more for log transport as investment in logging railroads and expensive rolling stock is liquidated or present equipment is worn out.
Improvement of existing waterways and develop- ment of new routes by the construction of canals has been proposed. ‘Two of these proposals, if consummated—the canalization of the Willam- ette River and the construction of canals connect- ing Grays Harbor with Puget Sound and the Co- lumbia River—would probably have great influ- ence on log movement, the permanence of manu- There is, however, no definite assurance that these projects will be undertaken.
facturing centers, and logging methods.
Lumber Manufacture
The sawmill is the most common type of indus. trial plant in western Oregon and western Wash- ington, and many of the communities have grown up around a sawmill. Longview, Wash., for ex- ample, which has grown from nothing in 1920 to a population of over 10,000, owes its existence to two large sawmills. On the other hand, abandon- ment or dismantling of sawmills has resulted in the decline of communities dependent on them. Temporary shut-downs immediately result in a noticeable slackening of trade in surrounding communities.
Lumber production is, generally speaking, a more complex manufacturing process than in most other parts of the United States. A large variety of items, grades, and sizes are produced to satisfy many different classes of world-wide trade. The large sawmills produce hundreds of different patterns of molding and interior finish; flooring of many kinds and sizes ranging from 1- by 4-inch boards
Tasie 31.—Number and installed capacity } of sawmills in forest-survey units of Douglas-fir region, 1934
Mills Total installed capacity Forest-survey unit and capacity group - Active Idle Total Active mills} Idle mills | All mills
Western Washington: Number Number Number |M board feet|M board feet|M board fect
NorthPuget:Soun ds secs se ee scene en ee ee Ee ee 48 20 68 4,077 1,010 5, 08%
Central! Puget :S oud se ee aie aN Ee Li ee ees ere a 99 40 139 7, 314 1, 600 8, 914
South: Puget Sound's 2 <i ee ae ee oe eee 65 25 90 2, 385 504 2, 889
Gravsiitarbore- = - seen 38 16 54 3, 286 1, 301 4, 587
66 15 81 3, 722 240 3, 962
M1 bo) oY (ev nae ae eee dla ARI RO ire Ee NRT ieee eer) ey Se 316 116 432 20, 784 4, 655 25, 439
Western Oregon:
ColumbiatRiver-.2e oe ea ee eae oe le Se ee ae 103 26 129 4, 752 1,095 5, 847
Willamette River 172 56 228 5, 066 1,173 6, 239
North: Oregon:coast 222 saree aoe ee a I ae i ee ees 14 9 23 314 704 1,018
Uimpqita Riverso2 i= ee ar Ee ae ee 41 20 61 564 316 880
South: Oregon: coasts se ee cs ee oe ee 43 24 67 1, 776 556 2, 332
Rogue/Riveriic: = ssc se2 22k ska ee ae en esses eee ee 38 10 48 666 160 826
LS BX) 0 ap pe een epee SINE SNA RN eC SN ee rate 411 145 556 13, 1388 4, 004 17, 142 Daily capacity (M board feet)
P=D0 is bx SSS es Se ene ee 472 191 663 4, 586 1,719 6, 305
DImO Os Sees ch SSA Po ites See ss Mac Nie Ne dee eae a mee eee CEE EAR aE 108 32 140 3, 498 1, 067 4, 565
Gif Ea KO] i ce eee ee EE Se EU ea Ee ee he Ae ae 53 13 66 4, 299 1, 050 5, 349
101200 2s2 6 2 ara Se ee eee ee 54 18 72 8, 908 2, 625 11, 533
201-500 S23 SSS a Sen se Ne 2 AE rn ee 36 7 43 9, 331 2, 198 11, 529
Oweer'500 paws a es a TE eS See TR ee Se oe oe 47 cys eee 4 3,000 | eane= eee 3, 300
Régional totale oso e se Saas I a LN ses a one re ee ie 727 261 988 33, 922 8, 659 42, 581
|
1 Per 8-hour shift.
88
ae
WESTERN OREGON
SURVEY UNITS
fo} North Puget Sound Beleye ee A . Central Puget Sound eae) = South Puget Sound 28 0, lo 2
Grays Harbor Columbia River,Wash. Columbia River,Oreg. Willamette River North Oregon coast Umpqua River
South Oregon coast
. Rogue River
CAPACITY OF MILLS
@ 51-200 M per-8-hr. day °o 1-50 M per day
=OVBNOUSUN=
@ 20!M or more per 8-hr. day
a eae
Ficure 26.—Location of sawmills in the Douglas-fir region
for ordinary dwellings to ship and bridge decking; ceiling, siding, and boards; dimension lumber of many sizes; large timbers for oil derricks, bridges, and other types of heavy construction; factory The smaller mills produce fewer items, and some manu-
lumber; railroad ties; and many other items.
facture one class of products—ties, for example— almost exclusively.
Sawmills
Sawmills range in size from small portable mills operated by a few men to huge plants employing
89
more than 1,000 people each. In 1934, approxi- mately 74 percent of the 988 sawmills in the region were active during at least part of the year (table 31). number of small and medium-sized mills that were
idle. than western Washington, had 8 million board
A significant fact is the relatively large Western Oregon, with 124 more sawmills
feet less installed 8-hour capacity. ‘This is due to the large number of small mills in western Oregon,
The
large mills are concentrated in a few localities (fig.
most of which are in the Willamette Valley.
26) and with some exceptions are located on tide-
Figure 27.—Large sawmill on the Willamette River.
the extreme left are seen the cores remaining after logs and bolts are peeled
water or on rivers navigable to transoceanic ves- sels (fig. 27). In contrast, the small mills are widely scattered throughout the region, mostly in the interior (fig. 28). source of raw material becomes more remote from
As cutting progresses the
the large mills.
The total annual installed capacity of all existing sawmil!s in 1934, computed on a basis of 300 work- ing days of 8 hours each, was nearly 12.8 billion board feet (lumber tally), and the annual capacity of the mills active in 1934 was approximately 10.2 billion board feet. Actually, the mills can produce considerably in excess of these totals. Even when production is considerably below normal many of the large mills operate two shifts daily at least part of the year. The lumber produc- tion for 1934 was 4.4 billion board feet, only a little more than a third of the total esti- matedcapacity. Evidently, the existing sawmills are mechani- cally capable of producing at least twice the amount of lum- ber necessary to fill current de- mands (1925—33 average annual
production). Furthermore, any slight increase in demand and prices is usually followed
by erection of new sawmills log supply
In the foreground is a veneer plant; at
90
and rehabilitation of partly dismantled mills. This condi- tion leads to chronic malad- jusment of saw-mill capacity with lumber production. Retirement of obsolescent sawmills has been advocated as a panacea for the ills of the lumber industry, but no practi- cal method has been suggested for effecting this. Some of the oldest sawmills are among the more successful, proving that age is not necessarily a measure Sor of sawmill obsolescence. Many mills have become obsolete not because of mechani- cal deficiences of the plant but because the accessible timber has all been cut and the mill is too far from the source of raw material to operate successfully. The difficulties of the lumber industry are more The
availability of enormous quantities of standing tim-
deep-seated than excess sawmill capacity.
ber generates a constant pressure to increase pro- duction. Timber owners, weary of paying taxes and other carrying charges without return, seek to liquidate at the first opportunity. This trend, coupled with the excess sawmill capacity, has created a chronic overproduction that can be remedied only
FiGuRE 28.—Circular sawmill in western Washington having a capacity of approximately 30,000 board feet per 8-hour shift.
timbers, common boards, and dimension.
The chief products of small mills are railroad ties, planking, Usually such mills are located in the woods near their
by changes in timber ownership or a sharp reduc- tion in the cost of timber holding. General adoption of sustained-yield management would automati- cally cure most evils of overproduction.
Transportation and Markets
Lumber from this region is marketed in all parts of the world and forms the principal cargo shipped from its ports in both tonnage and value. Lumber is likewise the leading commodity shipped from the region by rail, in both tonnage and value. Water- borne shipments in 1935 from Oregon and Wash- ington ports amounted to 2.3 billion board feet, according to Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau data. Practically all the lumber shipped by vessel from Oregon and Washington is produced in the Douglas-fir region; and very little comes from eastern Oregon and eastern Washington or from other States. Domestic shipments picked up from the low points of 1932 and 1934 (table 32 and fig. 29) despite strike conditions in the shipping and lumber industries; but foreign shipments did not respond to improved economic conditions abroad. A large part of the lumber shipments were formerly consigned to Great Britain and possessions, but since the British Empire Trade Agreement of 1932 British Columbia mills are getting more of this busi- ness. Partly offsetting this trend, Oregon and Wash- ington mills are getting a larger proportion of the domestic cargo business.
It is estimated that in 1935 approximately 1 billion board feet of lumber produced in the Doug- las-fir region was remanufactured or consumed locally, and 1.9 billion board feet was shipped by rail to various parts of the United States. The principal rail markets for forest products from this region are the Lake, Central, and Prairie States. Shipping costs practically prohibit rail shipments to States farther east, although lumber shipped by vessel to the Atlantic coast is reshipped by rail or trucked to interior points within short distances. Freight charges constitute from 35 to 50 percent of the average delivered price of Pacific coast lumber in midwestern and eastern markets. To overcome this handicap there has been increased local use of dry kilns in the last few years.
The rail rate on lumber to Des Moines is 68 cents per hundredweight, to Chicago 72 cents, and to
91
| MILLIONS OF BOARD FEET
3.500
3,000
| 2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
| qf UNITED STATES DOMESTIC
{ BRITISH COLUMBIA | FOREIGN
Sune STATES 7{ BRITISH COLUMBIA
FOREIGN “4 TO UNITED STATES
Ficure 29.—Water-borne lumber shipments from the United States (Oregon and Washington) and from British Columbia to domestic and foreign ports
points eastward to the Atlantic coast 78 cents. Assuming an average shipping weight of 2,500 pounds per M board feet, these rates amount to charges of $17, $18, and $19.50 per M feet. The cargo rates per M board feet from ports in this region to the Atlantic coast averaged $12 to $13 in the last few years, to California ports $5 to $7. Back haul costs by rail or truck from Atlantic coast ports mount up rapidly, and at points as distant from the east coast as Buffalo and Pittsburgh cargo rates plus rail back haul exceed the through rail rate. In striking contrast to the domestic cargo rates are the rates to foreign ports; for example, the rate to Japan is about $7 per M, to China about the same, and to Australia $8 to $9. Practically all ex- port shipments are carried in foreign bottoms, with operating costs lower than those of the American vessels that handle coastal and intercoastal trade.
The great distance between mill and market has been a disadvantage in another way; it has been partly responsible for the development of a system of marketing through wholesalers and commission men. It is estimated that 70 percent of the lumber production of this region is sold through wholesale middlemen. This has weakened the control of the
Tasre 32.—Destination and volume of water-borne lumber shipments } from Oregon and Washington and from British Coiumbia in 1929-35
OREGON AND WASHINGTON {Million board feet; i. e., 000,000 omitted]
Destination 1929 1930 | 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 Foreign: SA Sighs a he re Ce ene ee ee 817 532 642 367 468 523 375 Continental MOLD ge) ofc Reece tema nee te Marca S SS Oa Sah at ee, Bae a | 73 58 58 63 47 United: Kingdom 2S2- i= = Sa eee ee ee ee eee ee 98 43 56 37 31 Western Hemisphere!32= 22 >= = sve eee eee eee 260 169 67 47 48 66 75 ‘Australasian si) 2 = eee WE OE Re ee ane eee 235 91 28 13 8 14 25 TA TICS Se a eee rea ne ee ne ae eee eos 14 13 8 9 7 17 11 YY 2 ey A ee eee 1, 610 1,111 916 537 | 645 720 564 Domestic: ‘Atlantic coasts22s 232 ea a re ae eee ee nee eee eee 1, 594 1, 342 1, 236 724 849 601 826 C@alifornige! 45232 ce ee ee 1, 420 1, 143 824 512 622 500 819 United States poss 108 82 74 78 83 69 81 PP otad< 25 toe Oo ie ee ee ee eee ne 3,122| 2,567| 2,134] 1,314| 1,554] 1,170 1,726 Grand ‘total 2 3326 ee ee ee ee ae eee eee 4, 732 | 3, 678 3, 050 1, 851 2,199 | 1, 890 2, 290 | | BRITISH COLUMBIA Foreign: JA Sizes © Leer yeah ise NS ae ee ee ees See ee ee ee eee 236 206 193 114 192 189 138 Gontinental Huropes- 2 Sodas see ee ee i) 70 a | 2 1 7 4 12 United Kingdom J 81 108 271 455 456 Western Hemisphere ? 17 15 9 10 17 17 16 ‘Australasia: - 22 0222.2 Slee sees es ee ees 56 43 56 128 128 136 138 ATTICA SE OE 2 Se SI Ss SO eee Re ee 21 18 17 6 18 30 32 Totalitin2 A8t sho ee a eo ee eee 400 | 380 358 367 633 831 792 | | Domestic: FACE Tar GIG] CORSE a= seen aN ee eR ra ns aE RI 276 208 140 39 | 13 1 40 G@alifornia. 3h 2o Boe re ae es Se eee 41 50 37 10 2 1 4 United! States'possessions 2-25 oot. ee oe A ee Eee a a | a ef) |e ee 1 Unclassified 232 223 2222 a ee Se 51 73 31 31 | 15 | 27 17 Total! oto 2s = ee et ee eee 368 332 208 80 | 30 | 29 | 62 | | | Grand-totali2- 2. 222 ae Se ee Se ee eee 768 | 712 566 447 663 860 | 854 | |
1 Data from reports of Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau.
producer over the distribution of his product, and has resulted in reduced prices. The distance from markets was also partly responsible for the practice of shipping transit cars and cargoes, which cost the producers large sums by lowering selling prices and increasing selling costs. The improvement in ship- ping facilities and the depressed market have been chiefly responsible for the reduction in transit
shipments. Sawmill Byproducts
In the last 20 years the manufacture of byprod- ucts from what was heretofore waste destroyed in
2 Mexico, West Indies, Central America, and South America.
refuse burners at sawmills has increased tremen- dously. The principal sawmill byproducts are lath, handle squares, shingle bands, pulp chips, fuel wood, hogged fuel, and sawdust. Lath has been manufactured as a byproduct of the sawmills for many years. Nearly half the lath produced in the United States is manufactured in this region.
Slabs, edgings, etc., are used for fuel in homes, apartment houses, schools, and small industrial plants. Hogged fuel is used in sawmills, pulp and paper mills, power plants, other industrial establish- ments, schools, and office buildings. In recent years the use of clean sawdust as a domestic fuel has
|
increased considerably; thousands of homes in Seattle, Portland, and smaller cities have installed sawdust burners. Many schools, apartments, stores and office buildings, also, are heated by sawdust- consuming furnaces.
Hodgson estimated (8) that during 1929 sales of sawmill “‘waste”’ fuel wood, hogged fuel, and clean sawdust totaled more than $4,300,000 f. o. b. mill.
Other Wood-Using Industries
Pulp and Paper Manufacture
The manufacture of wood pulp is fast becoming one of the leading industries in this region. In 1937, 25 active wood-pulp manufacturing plants had a combined capacity of 5,164 tons per 24 hours (table 33) of which more than a third was devoted to the bleached sulphite process. In the last few years production of paper pulp has nearly equalled installed capacity. Production in 1935 represented approximately 225 days’ operation at full capacity. The total output for 1937, shown in figure 30 as approximately 1.46 million tons, represents capac- ity production for about 285 working days. The annual pulpwood consumption of these mills in- creased sharply from 1936 to 1937. In 1934-35, as
shown in table 34, western hemlock was the pre- dominant species and nearly 70 percent of the total was from sawlogs of this and other species.
In recent years there has been a significant increase in pulp-mill capacity in this region through establishment of new plants and expansion of existing mills. From June 1936 to July 1937 the installed pulp-mill capacity increased more than 1,000 tons per 24 hours, the increase totaling nearly 25 percent. Approximately 750 tons of the in- crease was in sulphite plants. From present indi- cations such considerable increases will continue. One pulp mill was under construction in 1937 with an expected capacity of 125 tons.
The 17 paper mills active in 1937 had a total 24-hour capacity of 2,600 tons, of which 30 per- cent was newsprint, nearly 50 percent was fairly evenly divided between sulphites and sulphates and some 16 percent was in boards (table 35). The estimated annual production of paper for 1937, as shown in figure 30, amounts to capacity produc- tion for 300 working days.
The region has one plant, not listed in table 35, that manufactures wood-fiber insulating board from Douglas-fir exclusively, with a daily capacity of 250,000 square feet.
TaBLe 33.—Pulp mills active in Douglas-fir region in 1937 and their capacity,! by survey unit and process of manufacture ?
Mechanical Deni sul- | Bleached sulphite Sulphate Soda All processes Forest-survey unit = | . Capac- 7 Capac- pa Capac- 7: Capac- : Capac- rs Capac- Mills ity Mills ity Mills ity Mills ity Mills ity Mills ity Western Washington: Number| Tons | Number| Tons | Number| Tons | Number| Tons | Number| Tons | Number| Tons INonthsbugetiSoundees ss a0 oes eee 3 420 i A500 tesce@r ss |4 se ease 1 60 5 930 Central Puget Sound___________ 2 330 3 137 2 560 2 490) |2es= oo i eis 7 1, 457 Souchsre use tes OU mG ee ememsteret tn |eke a eam ctll| calen ese sel Ue eS se a awe Anal |e Pies ees | Ee eas | teen eal ee Se ee ee | (Gray spbiarborseesaseen as een en |e cas (ee Sy Lee 1 200) ees 2S | OAS ae eee 22 |e ees 1 270 ColumbiasRivers2s25_2 = 22. 4 240 1 250 3 420 2 310% |Beeeea oe |eenee ee 5 1, 220 aOR ee ee ee 6 570 | 7 807 7 1, 700 4 740 | 60 | 18 | 3, 877 Western Oregon: : ‘ColumbiatRiverses 22-2 -- = 2s 3 670 2 ASS | See | Ce 1 L2G etran sees | Peee 3 980 WillamettepRivers=oe = Sai eh ee Se 2 117 1 ISOM So 22 es see ee Eee ee ae oe 3 247 INOTtheOregoniCOas te mesmenree ese | ee oe eae |e ce ek SOs ee ee eee eee |e ere I ee Yi ral eee een eerie Pan eet ee eas Se Southk@regontcoast ase aoe ee es 1 GO acre tel | Nea ee ee alee ere SaILNEE See ee ee ce 1 60 IW OC WADE e Ly Cr eee terse erate | lee head [he Perens 44 Ge Lycra nds) | ENON ES |LGee 2 ea ee ee ce oe |e ey ee a ese ee ee UO STIG REVI C 1 semen nearest me caeien | ree w [LC ee oe | een ern [beeen ull ets deere ees Ws eo We hae a |e ee Es ece ee [pee ee = | Potala ween out 3 670 5 362 1 | 130 10] (ON eae oe eh | apse 287; | \— | | | Regionitotalass= = use 9 1, 240 12] 1, 169 | 8 | 1,830 5 | 865 1 60 25 | 5, 164 | | | |
1 Per 24-hour day.
224146 °—40——7
9
2
3)
= A mill using more than | process of manufacture is enumerated under each.
The Census of Manu- 2,600 vu T aa ] factures for 1929 lists 23 - PULPWOOD CONSUMPTION ; pcre Mis 4 al aie =I Ei iias pulp mills and 20 paper mills in the region. It | 2,200 gives the total number of | 5568 workers as 7,700, salaries and wages paid as $12,- 1,800 000,000, and value of ip) 2 ne products for 1929 as $70,- : 000,000. Figure 30 shows : 1.400 clearly an approximate S 1366 doubling of pulp produc- 8 tion between 1929 and = poe 1937 and a 35-percent in- 800 crease in paper produc- tion. The present invest- oe WE ment in pulp and paper ine — plants is estimated to | 4 ate ee dies 1 a lee a | | exceed $125,000,000 = -—o-" ee NC Neat I) 5) 0 200 t= c | = Sl | | | es Fees ee Shingle Manufacture 1,600 « 55 + WOOD - PULP PRODUCTION Monulacurc ot ceday 1.400 =a shingles is among the = more important of the @ al ee other primary wood-using miiood a industries. The total pro- S = duction in 1935 was 4 g eerily million squares, or about | 3 600 eee 3% billion pieces. Dur- as fa ing 1934 there were 232 OO. tases active and 37 idle shingle 200 mills in the region. The active mills had 782 : shingle machines and a e 800 total installed capacity of © 600 2315 million pieces, per $ 8-hour shift, and the idle | g eae mills had 42 machines | g 200 and a total installed 5 | capacity of 965,000 pieces e 1925 1927 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937 | per 8-hour shift. Ap- Douglas RipReaien | proximately 85 percent | . . 2 Uv Wastern Waeringlone meee Weetarmroreqon | of the installed shingle | J
mill capacity is in western
FicurE 30.—Pulpwood consumption and wvod-pulp and paper production of the Douglas-fir region \Nashington.
94
Veneer and Plywood Manufacture
The veneer and plywood industry has increased steadily in importance in the past decade, and especially in the past few years. Production in- creased from 200 million square feet in 1932 to 480 million square feet in 1935 and again to 700 million in 1936 (fig. 31). Production lagged be- hind orders in 1935 owing to longshoremen’s and lumber-workers’ strikes.
In 1937 there were 19 veneer- and plywood- manufacturing plants in the region, 17 in western Washington and 2 in western Oregon. The total rated annual capacity of the Washington plants is 790 million square feet, and that of the Oregon plants is 95 million square feet.
The market for plywood and veneer products from this region is principally domestic, only about 9 million square feet being exported in 1935. Of the domestic consumption, about 15 to 20 percent is local.
Douglas-fir is the principal species used in this industry; other species used are Sitka spruce, Port Orford white-cedar, western hemlack, noble fir, red alder, and bigleaf maple.
In recent years there has been a decided change in the type of peeler logs used. Formerly the de-
Tasie 34.—Normal annual pulpwood consumption in Douglas-fir region,! by species and type of material a Oe Mill waste
Forest wood
Saw-
ae Pulp Ss
Species chips 3
Total
M cords|M cords|M cords|M cords|M cords
Western hemlock_._.______ Eee abaty 263 81 32 1, 478 Sitkaispruces.s ware 2 oe 130 23)¢| eee 4 157 RWI Sirsa eves are rue 64 69 Pf (es ee 160 Northern black cottonwood_ 1 Pals ee ee eae 22 Douglas-firss a) ws Ee 38 | O20), ey ae Boe 61 119
Total eee tas 1, 335 396 108 97 1, 936
ee 1 Basis, data for years 1934-35. 2 Factor used to convert log scale to cords, 500 board feet=1 cord. 8 Usually measured in 0.8117-cord units.
mand was almost exclusively for the highest-quality No. 1 grade Douglas-fir logs, 40 inches or more in diameter (fig. 32). Now a large percentage of high-line No. 2 logs, even as small as 30 inches in diameter, are accepted. These developments have been caused chiefly by the increasing scarcity of large No. 1 Douglas-fir logs and by techno- logical improvements. Future expansion of the industry may be curtailed, at least in certain sec- tions, because of the limited quantity of high- quality Douglas-fir suitable for veneer faces and
TasLe 35.—Paper mills active in Douglas-fir region in 1937 and their capacity,! by survey unit and kind of material produced *
News Sulphites Sulphates Book Board Other All materials Forest-survey unit a q : : Mills | Capae-| Mills | Capac-| Mills | Capac-| Mills | Capac-| Mills | Capac-| Mills | Capaec-| Mills | Capac- ity ity ity ity ity ity ity Western Washington: Number| Tons |Number| Tons |Number| Tons |Number| Tons |Number| Tons |Number| Tons \Number| Tons North Puget Sound_______ ue) Mena ak 1 15 hee ae | Sea ee 1 650 | 252e See | eee | eee eee ees 2 80 Central Puget Sound ______| i SAO e | eee | ae 235 1 35 2 175 1 8 5 793 South Puget Sound___ Ch A YM dA Pa (a Pl [op (eee | De aN ee ee ame Re) ee eae oe Grays:Harbor== = -222- =< | rere se Lens | 1 SOR es | eek |B ares |e 2b | eae oe eee cael ee sa 1 50 Columbia River________-__ [atte ele ea ae) 2 305 2255 | eee | ann 2 25 De Eker eal Saar e ep 4 782 Total sen ae eee ee Fae 1 340 | 4 370 460 2 100 4 427 1 Sila 9 mt2hlyeet705 Western Oregon: Columbia River 115 LSS sesso 2 eee 2 ae | eee ae 1 45 3 735 Wiilamette River___ 16O}| Sir22— 2 Eee eee igs Sc La (eee (Bed ba | ce 2 160 NOT tHROLee OnRCOaS tae weirs | tesa oe | eu eR |e See | Bere el | See a ee a8 ee |= SSE eek eee Soi bs ee SOUGHEOreeOniCOaS ecserstoe acs |e tec | meme omel |S Sete meas | Di ecaec es | Wi eet al | Ma See | ae 8 |e a ee | Be ata ee | De ee ee ee {UI DCE ABER v, © roseererne reece es | aera | Eaten nl | psa ectes |b ern a | eer | ee ere | wes soe |W Se eee Oe |S ea | de 2s] be |e ee FEO UTC PE ULV.@ bsserre geet ter | Ea thet cen | LANL SPC ce || teri aoe ell] Seas cM ne pee |eh Cas eres [We Oni abs LI Coes ene ik bal ees (Soo ee ea kn | ee nee | | TOA saeeenta el crane wee 2 440 4} 275 L359 [noe sree Se we ee |e ee A 1 45 | 5 895 Region totale 3 780 | 8 | 645 | 595 2 100 | 4 427 2 53 17 2, 600 | |
1 Per 24-hour day.
95
2 A mill manufacturing more than 1 kind of material is enumerated under each.
the demand for this type of material for other uses. More flexible methods of logging, however, such as those employing tractors and trucks, is now making it possible to reach with partial-cutting methods tracts too inaccessible for the conven- tional clear-cutting methods; thus a larger volume of potential veneer logs is now brought into the radius of availability. Future expansion, predi- cated upon a plentiful supply of raw material, will
probably be restricted to western Oregon.
ies
g
400 ie 154 350 —-— 135
8
g fe)
MILLIONS OF SQUARE FEET (3/8-INCH~ 3-PLY BAS/S)
n o 3°
=) ue APPROXIMATE EQUIVALENT IN M/LLIONS OF BOARD FEET, LOG SCALE
150 — — 58 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936
Ficure 31.—Plywood production of the Douglas-fir region
Wood Preserving The
speaking, a wood-using industry—is of considerable
wood-preserving industry—not, _ strictly
importance. ‘The prolongation of the life of wood products through treatment with preservatives is an important factor in holding the markets for wood products against the competition of substi- tutes and in reducing the depletion of the forests of this region. Fifteen plants were in operation in 1935. The principal products treated that year were:
96
FicurRE 32.—Douglas-fir veneer log on lathe. The volume of Douglas-fir veneer produced in the region increased more than 250 percent during the decade 1927-36
Poles: (pieces) meee eee eee eee 71, 903 Pilesi(linearsfeet) bese eee ee eee 452, 441 Grossstiesi (pieces) Maecenas 2, 573, 875 Crosstarms} (pieces) yen ae eee eee 40, 732
Switch ties, timbers and lumber (board feet)... 50, 000, 000
Secondary Wood-Using Industries _
The secondary wood-using industries have in- creased greatly in the last two decades, although, in comparison with the primary wood-using indus- tries, they are still far from completely developed. Their leading products are sash and doors, mill- work, boxes and crates, cross arms, furniture, wood pipes, tanks and silos, handles, caskets, wooden- ware, and vehicles. The principal woods used in these industries are Douglas-fir, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, western redcedar, red alder, and bigleaf maple.
aOR ES he eR Bes OU RG ES
Ota lh Hehe D) Oli Gul ASS. Fb sR Roe E AG: a OmN
Future Timber Supplies in Relation to Industrial Development
N considering the adequacy of forest resources | present and future, it is necessary first to examine the present situation as to forest in- dustries, their requirements, and the supplies of raw material on hand, and then by using the best data available on rates of depletion and growth to project the present situation into the future.
In a century of operation, and 20 to 25 years of heavy cutting, the virgin commercial forests of the Douglas-fir region have been exploited in a very uneven manner, with heavy cutting in the north and central parts of the region and little or no cut- ting in the southern part. As is shown by the type maps at the back of this publication, vast areas have been cut over on and near Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and the Columbia River, and large areas of virgin timber remain in southern Oregon. Approximately 75 percent of the present cut-over area (including 84 percent of that in Washington and 59 percent of that in Oregon) was logged to supply tidewater or Columbia River mills.
During the period 1925-33, mills on tidewater and the Columbia River produced 85 percent of the lumber, 95 percent of the pulp, and practically Such mills have the following advantages over other
all the veneer manufactured in the region.
mills in the region: (1) Access to open log markets in which logs of any grade can be purchased; (2) a wide territory from which to draw logs; (3) access by combinations of rail and water transportation to both foreign and domestic markets for forest products; (4) better opportunity for integration with other wood-using industries, owing to cheap water transportation—for example, several saw-
97
Khe
mills on Puget Sound can sell waste material to a pulp mill on the sound, because the waste can be transported cheaply in barges; and (5) better op- portunity to sell—as fuel wood, hogged fuel, and sawdust—material that usually goes into the burner at strictly inland mills.
By far the larger part of the remaining timber of economic-availability class 1 in western Washing- ton is tributary to mills on tidewater or the Colum- bia River. In western Oregon, the class 1 timber in the Columbia River and Oregon coast units is tributary to such mills, but that remaining in the Umpqua and Rogue River units and the southern part of the Willamette River unit cannot, under present conditions, be moved to coast or Columbia River points except at excessive costs. The mills at inland points that are operating in competition with tidewater and Columbia River mills, are doing so in most cases on the basis of special advantages— such as preferred locations and easily accessible timber—that probably will be available to very few additional mills. The production of inland mills, now a very small percentage of the total re- gional production, is not likely to show any great increase until the timber tributary to tidewater is cut out.
Major Forest Districts
On the basis of transportation—water, rail, and truck—the region was divided into six major districts (fig. 33) as follows: (1) The Puget Sound district, which includes the north, central, and south Puget Sound forest-survey units, that is, all the territory
in western Washington tributary to Puget Sound. (2) The Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district, which is identical with the Grays Harbor unit and includes all the territory in western Washington tributary to Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay harbors. (3) The Columbia River district, which includes the Colum- bia River unit in Washington and that in Oregon, or all the territory in western Washington and western Oregon tributary to the Columbia River. (4) The Oregon coast district, which includes the north and south Oregon coast units, or all the territory in western Oregon directly tributary to the Pacific Ocean. (5) The Willamette River dis- trict, which is identical with the Willamette River unit and includes all territory in the Willamette Valley not tributary to the Columbia River. (6) The south Oregon district, which includes the Umpqua and Rogue River units, or all the remain- ing territory in southern Oregon.
For the next decade or two, at least, there is not likely to be any great amount of cross haul among these districts so far as the average run of logs is concerned. At some points along the edges of any one of them timber may go either one way or the other, and for high-grade logs there may be a large amount of cross haul, but by far the greater part of the average-grade logs cut in any district will probably be manufactured somewhere within that district. percent of its own log output is the Oregon coast
(The district manufacturing the lowest
district.) This prediction applies particularly to rail or motortruck transportation; where water transportation is feasible there may be a consider- able movement of camp-run logs from one district to another, e. g., from the Oregon coast district
TaBLe 36.—Unreserved saw timber of availability class I in the transportation districts of the Douglas-fir region by species group, log scale, Scribner rule
(In millions of board feet, i. e., 000,000 omitted)
eee Douglas- Pulp All other District fir | species | species Total
i} Buget Sounds 2 eae | 40,922 30, 972 | 9, 100 80, 994 Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay __| 8, 374 22, 040 | 4,779 35, 193 Columbia River_____________ | 27,370] 11,369] 2,079 40, 818 Willamette River_....--.----| 51,110 | 5, 500 1, 510 58, 120 Oregon coasts ss-=-=— - se 29, 033 | 6, 800 2, 069 37, 902 SouthiOreson22e ey se 17, 987 | 1, 398 6, 256 25, 641
| TO tal Dee ae aee eer ee 174,796 | 78,079 25, 793 278, 668
98
to the Columbia River, Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay, or Puget Sound district and from the Willa- mette River district to the Columbia River district.
The remaining stand of saw timber of availability class 1 in each of the six districts is shown in table 36.
Territory tributary to tidewater mills may be en- larged and movement of logs between districts facilitated by one or more of the following improve- ments proposed by various public and private agencies: (1) Improving the Willamette River so as to allow all-year economical towing of logs from Eugene to Portland; (2) cutting a canal across the narrow neck of land separating Willapa Bay from the Columbia River; (3) cutting a canal from Grays Harbor to Puget Sound; (4) connecting the railroad running north from Grays Harbor with that running west and south from Port Angeles. These purposes would be furthered also by other railroad construction, new highway construction, and improvement in trucks.
It is to be expected that the districts having most natural advantages will be exploited first, and that if industry is left to its own course their virgin tim- ber supplies will be exhausted before certain less favored districts are opened up. The Puget Sound, Columbia River, and Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay districts are the most favored, having the advantages of ocean shipping and open log markets. A log fed into the Sound or into the Columbia River at any point is about as available to any one mill on the Sound or on the river, respectively, as to another, so far as the cost of delivery is concerned.
Timber within reasonable distance of these water bodies has the following advantages over other tim- ber: (1) Concentration of sawmills, pulp mills, veneer plants, shingle mills, and other wood-using industries on these water bodies creates specialized markets for logs of many species and varying grades; (2) the log market is not dominated by a few buyers. In many instances these factors may result in rapid liquidation but in some cases they should induce the timber owner to practice con- tinuous forest management.
Puget Sound District
Of these six major forest districts in the Douglas- fir region, the Puget Sound district is the oldest in
large-scale logging and production of wood prod- It has 40 percent of the installed sawmill ca- Prior to the depression
ucts. pacity of the entire region. a large quantity of logs was put on the Puget Sound log market by independent loggers, but this has fallen off during late years. Puget Sound has ex- cellent harbors and has good shipping service—that is, it has enough volume of other traffic and enough sawmills and pulp mills so that boats plying at regu- lar intervals have an opportunity to get full cargoes. Location of both sawmills and pulp mills on tide- water makes it easy and cheap to move sawmill waste to pulp plants and hogged fuel to points of Logs can easily be imported, also, from British Columbia.
The Sound district is served by three transcon- tinental railroads to the east and three to the south, and by an _ excellent Wood-using plants are scattered up and down the Sound from Bellingham to Olympia, including sawmills, pulp mills, veneer plants, shingle mills, The diver- sity of these plants allows maximum integration of industry and full utilization of different timber species and of different grades of logs. The com- munities on the Sound where most of the wood- using industries are located are modern, progres- sive cities with good facilities for the welfare of their inhabitants.
consumption in the large cities.
highway system.
door factories, furniture factories, etc.
Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay District
The Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district has some of the advantages of the Puget Sound district, but not to the same degree. Grays Harbor is an excellent port, but the Willapa Bay harbor, to date, is only mediocre. At neither harbor there other lines of business permitting good water- transportation small shipments of lumber or pulp; in fact, forest products constitute practically all the shipping in these two ports. Although the Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district has sawmills, a pulp plant, veneer plants, shingle mills, box factories, door factories, general remanu- facture plants, cabinet works, and other wood- using industries, its wood-using industries are
are
service for
neither so varied nor so extensive as those of the Puget Sound district.
99
Se a Ce Ee I De
So — WU Bellingham 4) -
)iA\; -Angcortes
’ COLUMBIA '~ RIVER
\ s Vancouver
TILLAMOOK\, BAY
ip Tillamook
ps || @ q l| o | re) WINCHESTER BAr COOS BAYA(C \((° Marshfield ( 2 } [e) | i SOUTH ane LES y & 25 50 ( fe) OREGON
eee Transportation district
boundary
Figure 33.—Map showing 6 major transportation districts in the Douglas-fir region In this district, considering timber in all avail- ability classes, the ratio of board-foot volume of pulp species to that of Douglas-fir is 3 to 1.
Columbia River District The Columbia River district has excellent fresh- water harbors that will accommodate transoceanic
vessels, transcontinental rail facilities, and good- sized cities offering markets for mill byproducts and waste. It has ample fresh-water storage for logs. It contains 25 percent of the active sawmill capacity of the region, 43 percent of the installed pulp-mill capacity, and 18 percent of the installed plywood-mill capacity. It is the center of the furniture-manufacturing industry in the Pacific Northwest, and contains many secondary wood- using plants. Its forest resources have not been exploited to such an extent as those of the Puget Sound district. supply of all species immediately tributary to Columbia River mills is less than that tributary to mills on the Sound, but includes almost twice as
much Douglas-fir timber as pulp timber.
The existing commercial timber
Willamette River District
The Willamette River district has more Douglas- fir in availability class I than any other district and about 10 times as much Douglas-fir timber as pulp species. It has a greater volume of class I timber of all species than any except the Puget Sound district. It differs widely in industrial develop- ment from the three districts already discussed. It has no veneer or plywood industry, only 5 per- cent of the installed pulp-mill capacity of the region, few minor woodworking industries, and is distinctly a district of small sawmills and small woods operators. In this district 172 sawmills were active in 1934, representing about 15 percent of the regional installed capacity. Of the installed capacity of the district about 30 percent was in 7 mills cutting 100,000 feet or more per day, 44 percent represented mills cutting from 20,000 to 100,000 feet, and 26 percent less than 20,000. Although a considerable quantity of logs from the Willamette River district are taken into the Colum- bia River district for manufacture, most of the logs are manufactured locally, and this situation High-grade
logs will undoubtedly continue to move north in
will probably continue for some time.
increasing quantities. A considerable part of the lumber produced is moved to Portland for ocean
shipment.
Oregon Coast District
The Oregon coast district, although containing about as much timber of availability class I as
100
either the Grays-Willapa district or the Columbia River district, has lagged behind the districts already discussed in timber cutting and, especially, in forest-products manufacture. In the period 1925—33 it produced about 7 percent of the regional output of sawlogs. Between 20 and 25 percent of these logs were shipped to other districts or other countries for manufacture. This district has only about 8 percent of the installed capacity of active sawmills in the region, no pulp plant except a rela- tively small one at Empire, and only one veneer plant, newly installed at Coquille. Its sawmills are almost entirely dependent on California for outlets for the part of their cut that is shipped by water; Port Orford white-cedar logs are shipped to the Orient for manufacture, but in smaller quantities now than formerly.
For some time Lincoln and Tillamook Counties have been the source of many of the high-grade logs manufactured in the Columbia River district, and this will undoubtedly continue. Some logs from Lincoln County have been shipped even to Grays Harbor and Puget Sound points. Whether appreciable quantities of logs from the Coos Bay country will in the future be shipped north for manufacture in other districts is somewhat doubtful.
The largest manufacturing center in the Oregon Other major industrial points are the Tillamook-Nehalem area, Toledo, and Winchester Bay.
coast district is Coos Bay.
South Oregon District
The south Oregon district not only lacks facilities for ocean shipping but is more remote from large population centers than any of the other districts. In its southern portions are extensive forests that represent a merging of types characteristic of the Douglas-fir region, the ponderosa-pine region, and the Sierra region of northern California. It is less developed industrially than any other district of the Douglas-fir region. It has no pulp mills, no veneer or plywood mills, and only about 4 percent of the region’s installed sawmill capacity. In the period 1925-33 its cut of logs was only 1 percent of that of the region as a whole. Logging and lumber manufacture are chiefly limited to pon- derosa pine. In the south Umpqua drainage there is a tremendous volume of Douglas-fir timber,
but there neither logging nor the manufacture of wood prod- ucts has been of any conse- quence up to the present, owing in part to somewhat lower quality of timber but chiefly to lack of water-shipping facil- ities. In this district asa whole there are relatively few saw- mills, and the typical mill and the typical logging operation are small. The one large saw- mill is a pine mill with a box factory in connection, located at Medford.
Future Depletion and Inventory
On the basis of 1933 inven- tory data and depletion and growth estimates presented pre- viously, forest depletion and erowth in the Douglas-fir re- gion have been estimated for each decade of the 30-year period beginning with 1933 and regional forest inventories have been calculated as of 1943, 1953, and 1963 (table 37 and figure 34). The depletion fig- ures are log scale and do not include the results of any wind or fire catastrophe. Assump- tion of a specified cut in a given forest-survey unit does not necessarily imply that that quantity of logs will be manu-
factured into lumber, pulp, or other products in that unit. How the assumed future depletion by cutting, fire, etc., would alter type areas is shown
in figure 35.
The key element in these estimates and calcula- tions was the assumptions of future cutting. ‘These were based on a continuation of past practices, 1. e., that liquidation would take its normal course. This would mean a continuation of past destructive processes. ‘The depletion data as set up, both as to amount and location, are based on conditions which are contrary to conservation principles and which
BILLIONS OF BOARD FEET, LOG SCALE, SCRIBNER RULE
DECADE 1933-42
DECADE 1943-52
DECADE 1953-62
250
| WASHINGTON
CLASSES IT AND IZ
150
x?
me 5
i“
~ RS rg Bs ; RS O08, Nore See, x 50-G ——+— FIRE SS CUTTING ICE EES —- x 7/j~ CUTTING] | oS | 300 | ra = 250 =| rg Q 200;-x ~ Es 150 it y Shs j Sho 100 LORS > Bas LE bso 2 Se so S st oe a ectee legeee ) eten FIRE ene =RY Gln r Sp Y <CUTTING] KXxY ska ZA | 1933 DEPLE- GROWTH 1943 DEPLE- GROWTH 1953 DEPLE- GROWTH INVEN- TION INVEN- TION INVEN- TION TORY TORY TORY
Douglas-fir region
it is to be hoped will change. thought desirable to show what might result if past practices continued.” A constructive program of
Ficure 34.—Estimates of forest depletion and growth and periodic timber inventories for the
Nevertheless, it was
forestry would alleviate the situation created by
101
this destructive process.
Timber in availability class I alone was con- sidered, on the theory that cutting will shift to class I timber in unexploited localities before any ma- terial quantity of class II or class III timber is cut in localities where the class I timber has been
17 See pp. 52 to 53, inclusive, for further details on as- sumptions or on estimates of future depletion.
Tapie 37.—Current and assumed future inventories of forest resources in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership, class, and district }
INVENTORY OF 1933
| Area, second-growth timber Total ue Area, old- ie Sel Volume Sle mercia. Ss | Area, non- ota! in avail- Ownership iendidistrct conifer owen 22-40 6-20 Less than | restocked | volume ability area inches inches 6 inches class I d. b. h. d. b. h. d. b. h. | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand Billion Billion National forest: acres acres acres acres acres acres board feet | board feet Puget: Sound 2-5 ee oes e ee eee 2, 124. 9 1, 443.9 124.0 178.6 234, 4 144.0 Mist 20.1 Grays Harbor 2-=<-- 282 2-20 es eae es 371.9 364. 1 1.5 1.6 1.9 2.8 16.4 8.3 Columbia River 1, 451.0 7eli3 114.8 139.8 376. 4 88.7 32.8 8.6 Willamette River 1, 603. 8 1,006.9 204.7 210.6 141.1 40.5 46.1 19.0 Oregon Coast sess re eee ee neers | 864. 6 373.1 221.4 74.6 35. 4 160. 1 14.9 5.9 SouthiOregon= 222222220 2-228 2 ee | 1, 541.6 1, 161.0 63.9 71. 2 81.2 164.3 33.2 4.2 Totals ee ee NaS alae eae ee 7, 957. 8 5, 080. 3 730. 3 676. 4 870. 4 600. 4 201.1 66.1 Other ownerships: Puget: Sounds.) =o ks Peer are eee 5, 482. 2 1, 742.3 401.0 1, 001. 2 963. 8 1, 373.9 95.9 61.0 Graysib arbor ses s=- oo- seen eee ees 1, 733. 3 920. 3 37.6 185. 1 200. 5 389.8 36.6 26.8 Golumbia: River= <2 222222222. 2, 865. 3 702. 4 211.0 745.7 349. 8 856. 4 46.5 32.4 Willamette River 2, 455. 0 994. 4 410.1 507. 4 190. 6 352.5 57.7 39. 4 Oregon‘coasts2-2 2-22 = sass =2 2, 368. 8 828.7 379.9 550.0 77.0 533. 2 52.5 32.0 South: Oregons22 22 see eee ees eee ee 3, 075. 1 1, 617.8 471.7 520.0 211.6 254. 0 55.7 20.7 Total=-.-.. 22 Se eee 17, 979.7 6, 805. 9 1,911.3 3, 509. 4 1, 993. 3 3, 759.8 344.9 212.3 All ownerships: Puget Soundis=a. his stow sees See a eae 7, 607.1 3, 186. 2 525. 0 1,179.8 1, 198. 2 1, 517.9 153. 6 81.1 GraysiHarbor22- === o-oo ese aes See ees 2, 105. 2 1, 284. 4 39.1 186.7 202. 4 392. 6 53.0 35.1 Columbia Rivers: 22 Sits eee ee eee 4, 316.3 1, 433.7 325. 8 885. 5 726. 2 945.1 79.3 41.0 Willamette River 4, 058. 8 2,001.3 614.8 718.0 331.7 398. 0 103. 8 58. 4 Oregonicoasts-2- soso sees 3, 233. 4 1, 201.8 601. 3 624, 6 112.4 693. 3 67.4 37.9 SouthiOregont)- 2202S See 4, 616.7 2, 778. 8 535.6 591.2 | 292.8 418.3 88.9 24.9 Tote Ses awe Se cae Ss ee es EN | 25, 987. 5 11, 886, 2 2, 641.6 4,185, .8 2, 863. 7 4, 360. 2 546.0 278. 4 ASSUMED INVENTORY OF 1943 National forest: Puget:Sound soho ss 2 at ae Sere een ees |e ere ae 1, 399. 3 164.8 205. 6 229. 2 126.0 Gi eee Graystbarbor 2 see eet ae ae ee eee en | eee eae 353.9 1.9 V7) 3.0 11.4 16:0) | ite GolumbiasRiversi2: 35 see eee es eee 717.1 148.9 214.3 302.8 67.9 32:9), | ae Willamette River 987.7 256. 3 203. 0 115.8 41.0 46.6 Oregoncoast2_ =~ 222= 368. 3 239.1 67.1 118.9 71.2 16.4 South Oregon | 1, 145.5 81.4 79.5 151.1 84.1 33.1 Notas: 2205 ee 2 sok eae Ae aD ph ele | ee ee 4,971.8 892. 4 Mdilet2 920.8 401.6 2015.6) Other ownerships: | | Puget Sound =.= 2220 eas sn Bee ee | eee 1, 232.3 609. 5 974.0 1, 087.8 1, 578.6 125 2)| see GraystHarbor=_2-=) co. soe ae se ae ee | ee 765. 5 72.5 186.8 309. 5 399. 0 29010 |e Seas eee GolumbiatRiverzse6 en ee ee oe | en eee 376.6 345. 2 640. 6 607.7 895. 2 SLAG) | So eee WillamettenRiveri2c2 . 22s Mole ha oo ras Sake | ae 840. 2 482.9 427.6 308. 6 395. 7 5252) | See Oregon!coastee seis 2 se ee oe os Se ee | eee eee oe 674.6 495.1 424. 4 357.7 417.0 49° 0)) | ease eee South2Oregom eo is See es es Cs | SER eee 1, 553. 2 571. 2 458. 9 282. 9 208. 9 565 1s eee eee | Motels 2 ee ee ee | 5, 442. 4 2, 576. 4 31253 2, 954. 2 3, 894.4 290%2))| een Ajl ownerships: PugetsSounde | 2: osteo e ee ene ee Seren 2, 631.6 774.3 1,179.6 1, 317.0 1, 704. 6 128: 8:)|iaes eee oe Grays Harbor. 52! i) 3222. eee eee 1,119. 4 74.4 188. 5 312.5 410.4 45.01 22 eo eee ColumbiayRiver<: eos ee a2 a ee | ars eee 1, 093. 7 494.1 854.9 910. 5 963. 1 6425 ¢ | eoienenenaees 1, 827.9 739. 2 630. 6 424.4 436.7 98.:3))| aes 1, 042.9 734. 2 491.5 476.6 488. 2 65; 4 3 |S ee ae 2, 698. 7 | 652. 6 538. 4 | 434.0 293.0 89523 2c ees | | | | | TO Gall ene eae Sa ee 28 eet Be an ae the See 10, 414. 2 3, 468. 8 38, 883. 5 3, 875. 0 4, 296.0 401.8: |e eee eee
1 Includes nonreserved lands only.
102
Tasie 37.—Current and assumed future inventories of forest resources in the Douglas-fir region, by ownership, class, and district—Continued
ASSUMED INVENTORY OF 1953 se ee ee
' Area, second-growth timber | ee Potal’ Com | Area, old: 2 | Volume Ownership and district ¢ growth : | Area, non- Total in avail- conifer timber 22-40 6-20 Less than | restocked volume ability area inches inches 6 inches | class I d.b.h. d. b. h. dab: he«| F Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand | Thousand Billion Billion National forest: acres acres acres acres acres acres board feet | board feet Puget Sound-------- 1, 337.6 204.4 225. 4 221.9 136.6 S4580 | Rear o eee ee Grays HarboT - - --- 326.6 2.2 19 9.1 32, 1 L459) Resse ee Columbia Rivet 699. 2 182. 4 281.8 223.8 63.8 B3q Og | eeciensene a Willamette Rivel------------------------------|------------ 951.3 307.5 194.0 93. 2 57.8 CYG( fil less Bruen Oregoni const at a nee e s ee e aee 362.9 256. 7 59. 1 146. 3 39.6 V7SRi | Meese Wake toe Southi@regonSsesse sea canara scene en we ewe nae 1,119.5 98.8 86.9 172.4 64.0 SOR7e|| Cte sae woe ITO tg eaae eo e t uan ne aheee e noel ar uea | Stent ne 4, 797.1 1, 052. 0 849.1 866.7 392.9 AQOHB': [less taneous Other ownerships: Puget; Sounds. se eue san ree enone ace eae | ene 717.1 783.1 870.8 1,377.1 1, 734.1 50.6 GrayssHanrbor eats aaee eee eae eae eae cea 572.9 103. 5 177.6 417.6 461.7 22.6 Columbia River 80.9 475.5 510.8 867.8 930. 3 19.5 Willamette River 559. 1 536. 2 339. 4 448.5 571.8 AEN OM | Snel Oregon coast - —--- 430. 1 590. 2 300. 3 550. 8 497.4 J he. See ea South Oregon 1, 451.0 667. 0 398. 4 327.0 231.7 BBS | Paces ar pede ule PTS tet] See ein ere a Sr Ra S| a eS 3, 811.1 3, 155. 5 2, 597. 3 3, 988. 8 4, 427.0 PBT IEN | eke adres) All ownerships: aa PugetiSoun de Sees a we ee on wan Nn See 2, 054. 7 987. 5 1, 096. 2 1, 599.0 1, 869.7 105545 | beter Bere. Grays Harbor ee ean ee ens het aoe ose So nae 899.5 105.7 179.5 426.7 493. 8 37.5 ColumbiatRiverseos22 soe as esas at noes one e en ee 780. 1 657.9 792.6 1,091.6 994.1 52.5 WiillamettouRiverssc sss ese ns ca eee eee ea eh 23) 1, 510. 4 843.7 533. 4 541.7 629. 6 88.1 OregonicoaSte syne an te a ean eee eee oe ees oan 793. 0 846.9 359. 4 697.1 537.0 59. 2 South! Oregon sees ee en eee eens eee ee cee ly 2, 570. 5 765. 8 485. 3 499. 4 295.7 88. 2 TN eal erie casera sete Mea eee aye EE aot ek Bs | eee 8, 608. 2 4, 207.5 3, 446. 4 4,855.5 4,819.9 430 Gy ete ene aie ASSUMED INVENTORY OF 1963 National forest: Puget Sound 22222 ses aes ee 1, 259. 0 243. 4 316.3 150.9 155.3 Grays Harbor 288.9 2.6 3.6 25. 5 51.3 ColumbiatRiverss =. ses se a ee 673. 2 215.3 417.5 76.5 68.5 Willamette River 888.0 358. 2 207.9 58.8 90.9 Oregonkcoas tesa ea ene oes ae eee Es 357. 2 274, 2 141.4 65.3 26.5 Southw@res om esete = ses aS ee a nee ae 1, 083. 7 116.0 187.7 87.6 66.6 ETO Lallemeeteee erent owen meena ee ee ae 4, 550.0 1, 209. 7 1, 274.4 464. 6 459. 1 1O522/) eta eee Other ownerships: : ae PUpet SOUNG ses esmes = Weasels ee ee hee BENE Sk aeh 547. 2 839.5 1,091.9 1, 371.2 1, 632. 4 4153) ees Graysebanbor2 sewn oss tl ee 395. 0 92.8 277.8 | 396. 5 571. 2 145 Q),| Rekteree ce Columbia River-__- 56.9 541.8 682. 5 833. 2 | 750.9 LOM a tower ae Willamette River__ 289. 4 570. 5 416.9 526.1 652. 1 PU ie fet Oregon coast--—-__-- 200. 5 573. 8 431.0 511.9 651. 6 301i) Ree eee South Orecon == sent xt ss (sees a se |e ee 1, 244. 2 738. 6 463.9 249.8 378. 6 SOMO: |e ees rae eke . i} ET 0 tet eee ae er ae Sree ee Le ae ee he ea | 2, 733. 2 3, 357.0 | 3, 364. 0 3, 888. 7 4, 636. 8 LSG309 (Soe eeeee | | All ownerships: | | USE TIS OULIG meat mune tenant cin eta owt |e eee 1, 806, 2 1, 082. 9 1,408.2] 1, 522.1 | 1, 787.7 O38 Rt eee mse eee Gray Sean OTs ses ee eat its Ps SS a es 683.9 95, 4 281.4 422.0 622. 5 2 Ue Ly | ees cues ColumbigeRi verte ee a Se eee wt 730. 1 757.1 1, 100. 0 909. 7 819. 4 5210) | seams ee Willamette River 1,177.4 928. 7 624.8 584.9 743.0 75:0) eres ee oes Oregontcoast= eet esses! ee 557.7 848. 0 572. 4 | 577. 2 678. 1 A4QnA pst eee aes Southi@reconte ws =8 ee ee 2, 327.9 854. 6 651.6 337. 4 | 445. 2 8320} | seen | 2 TRO tall peer eterno ce one NOt Ua Pee Se al ST | i a ee 7, 283. 2 | 4, 566. 7 4, 638. 4 4, 353. 3 | 5, 095. 9 SOL || eens e
103
exhausted. In regard to material for lumber manu- facture it was assumed that Douglas-fir will be the principal species used during the next two or three decades, and that a certain quantity of Douglas-fir of lower economic availability will be taken before hemlock and other species are used extensively, but that during the second and third decades species other than Douglas-fir will be used in greater quanti- ties thanat present. The quantity of pulp manufac- tured in the region was assumed to increase mate- rially during the 30 years covered by the calculations.
The estimates of depletion in the region and in individual forest-survey units theoretically indicate not only how far the supplies of raw material now available will go but what shifts of logging opera- tions from district to district are likely to take place.
On the 1933 basis, according to the figures given in table 37, by 1963 the region’s total volume of all species in all ownership and availability classes would be reduced to about 70 percent and the vol- umes in the various districts would be reduced as follows: Grays Harbor, to one-half; Puget Sound and Columbia River, to two-thirds each; Willa- mette River and Oregon coast, to about three- quarters each; and south Oregon, to something more than nine-tenths.
According to the estimates the total national- forest volume in 1963 would be 97 percent of the 1933 figure, but the total volume on other lands in 1963 would be only 54 percent of the 1933 figure: the difference is explained by the fact that in 1933 there was three times as much class I timber on other lands as on the national forests and that the national forests are managed under a sustained- yield policy.
According to estimate, in 1963 the national-forest volume would exceed the volume on all other lands in the Puget Sound, Columbia River, and Willa- mette River districts, would about equal it in the Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district, and would fail by a considerable margin to equal it in the Oregon coast and south Oregon districts. The estimates were based on the present ratios of national-forest area to other land area.
Let us consider, with the 1933 inventory data as a basis, how the assumed rates of depletion and growth would affect the supply of raw material for the wood-using industries in each major district of the Douglas-fir region.
104
Sawlogs PUGET SOUND DISTRICT
Douglas-fir saw timber in availability class I is practically cut out in the north and central Puget Sound units. The entire Puget Sound district con- tains about 154 billion board feet of saw timber of all species in all ownership classes, of which only about 81 billion is in availability class I, including only 40.9 billion feet of Douglas-fir. The depletion assumed for this unit during the decade 1933-42 totals about 30 billion feet. Of the remaining 124 billion feet, 55 to 60 billion would be in class I and only 21 or 22 billion Douglas-fir. During this decade Douglas-fir will continue to form a major part of the cut, most of which will be manufactured somewhere in the Puget Sound district, and un- doubtedly some high-grade Douglas-fir logs will be brought in from British Columbia and from Oregon points as far away as the Willamette Valley. So long as there is an open log market on the Sound a supply of raw material for the existing manufac- turing plants will be assured, and this situation is likely to continue until 1942 to 1945; by that time, although probably there will still be an open log market on Puget Sound for’ species other than Douglas-fir, it is possible or even probable that a few large operators will control by far the greater part of the Douglas-fir in the district.
Sawlog production in the Puget Sound district in the period 1925-33 averaged about 3 billion feet per year; the 28-billion-foot cut assumed for the decade 1933-42 would allow the industries in the district an annual- supply of that magnitude. About two-thirds of the logs used in 1925-33 were Douglas-fir, and this ratio could continue in 1933-— 42. Almost the entire supply of Douglas-fir logs would have to come from the central and south units, since the north unit has only between 7 and 8 billion feet of class I Douglas-fir left.
For the period 1943-52 the total assumed deple- tion for the Puget Sound district is about 2814 bil- lion feet, log scale, of which slightly more than 27 A considerable reduction in cutting is assumed in the north and central units, and a material increase in the south During that decade most of the Douglas-fir timber of sawlog size will be depleted, but local timber resources should be adequate to supply the
billion feet is assigned to cutting.
unit.
SEEDINGS
SMALL SECOND GROWTH
OLD GROWTH
STATE AND
AND SAPLINGS
PRODUCTIVE
YEAR
OREGON
KX KS
See
i
i Xx
SSR
on x
OSS
<x x
SC
\Z > Sex
\/ “0; x
22.
1933 ---- 1943---- 1953----
1963----
RO
| I |
WASHINGTON 1933 ---- 1943 ---- 1953 ---- 1963----
MILLIONS OF ACRES
LANDS OTHER THAN NATIONAL FORESTS
and calculated growth on timber-type areas in the Douglas-fir region
NATIONAL FORESTS
Ficure 35.—Effect of assumed depletion
105
sawmills if greater quantities of hemlock and ‘“‘ce- dar” are utilized.
For the decade 1953-62 the assumed cut for the district drops to about 1515 billion feet, of which na- tional-forest timber composes about a fifth. In 1963 the Puget Sound district is assumed to have the third largest total log production among the six By that time its total volume of timber on lands other than national forests is as- sumed to have diminished to about 42 billion feet, and its national-forest timber to have diminished (from 58 billion feet in 1933) to 52 billion feet. A
considerable reduction in the quantity of sawlogs—
districts of the region.
particularly Douglas-fir sawlogs—cut for lumber is It is assumed that by that period part of the slack in employment
expected to occur during this decade.
caused by the passing of sawmills will be taken up by increase in pulp production.
Under present marketing conditions the existing raw material is sufficient to supply all the existing wood-using industries at present rates of consump- tion at least until 1943, and is probably sufficient to do so until 1963 if all species are used. However, disappearance of the open log market for Douglas- fir would undoubtedly force certain sawmills to cease operation. Owners of sawmills the deprecia- tion of which has been fully accounted for and that are still reasonably efficient can afford to pay about $1.50 per 1,000 more for logs than owners of newly built sawmills requiring depreciation, and this $1.50 can be applied to the cost of transporting logs from greater distances. ‘This differential is not, however, sufficient to bring in camp-run logs from northern Oregon. ‘Therefore, unless other species are substi- tuted on a large scale for Douglas-fir there is bound to be a reduction in the quantity of lumber sawed in the Puget Sound district during the period 1953-62.
Forced migration of forest industries as a result of raw-material shortage would seriously disrupt the economy of this district which has more than half the population of the entire region. Constructive measures that would help avert this danger are: (1) Conserving the supply of high-quality material through selective logging; (2) better utilization in the woods; and (3) more complete manufacture.
GRAYS HARBOR-WILLAPA BAY DISTRICT
In the Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district the annual production of lumber, lath, and shingles for
106
the period 1925-34 averaged about 1.1 billion feet, lumber tally, with a high of 1.8 billion feet in 1926. a low of 0.3 billion feet in 1932, and a 1934 total of about 0.47 billion feet. Annual production of logs (log scale) for 1925-33 averaged slightly more than 1.45 billion feet, with a low of 0.77 billion feet in 1933. The Douglas-fir, spruce, and “cedar” of availability class I in this district is sufficient to maintain the 1933 rate of log production until about 1948, even if no hemlock or balsam fir trees are cut. This same timber would maintain the 1925-33 annual rate of log production only until about 1943. The total cut of 9 billion feet assumed for 1933-42 and for 1943-52 includes a consider- able proportion of hemlock and other species to be used in pulp mills, 15 to 20 percent in the first de- cade and 20 to 40 percent in the second. By the end of the second decade the greater part of the Douglas-fir will be gone, and a considerable part of the Sitka spruce and “‘cedar.”’
The sawmill industry in the Grays Harbor- Willapa Bay district will be able to go ahead on a reduced basis for one more decade and probably part of the second, but not much longer unless there is a decided increase in the use of hemlock, ‘‘cedar.” and balsam firs for lumber. Inventory data and type maps for the district show that the future of this region is bound up in the pulp industry. With raw material enough for greatly increased pulp production, this district needs additional pulp mills if all labor now used in the lumber industry is to be given employment in the future.
Western hemlock lumber is well adapted to most ordinary construction needs, and prior to 1930 a considerable quantity of it was marketed. Preju- dice against this wood existed particularly in eastern markets where eastern hemlock, a different species, had only a mediocre rating. Instead of making a determined effort to overcome this prejudice through trade extension and through better manu- facturing methods, West Coast manufacturers of- fered western hemlock at prices lower than those of competing woods. The prejudice persisted; and during the depression, when little building was being done and prices of other woods went to rock bottom, the price-differential sales weapon was eliminated and hemlock lumber sales dropped off % larger proportion than sales of Douglas-fir. It is assumed that good manufacturing procedure,
including good drying, together with aggressive merchandising, will partly remedy this situation.
The cut of timber in all ownership and economic- availability classes in the period 1933-62 is assumed to total about 30 billion feet. Offset in part by growth, this depletion would reduce the 1933 supply of 36.6 billion feet on lands other than national forests to 14 billion feet and the 16.4 billion feet on the national forests to 13.1 billion feet. During 1953-62 the annual cut of national- forest timber is assumed to average about 13 percent of the total annual cut.
The industrial development in this district is dased almost entirely upon the forest industries. Prompt application of forestry practice that will insure a continuous flow of raw material is of utmost concern to all communities in the district.
COLUMBIA RIVER DISTRICT
In 1925-34 the Columbia River district produced annually an average of 1.77 billion feet of lumber, with a high of 2.38 billion feet in 1928 and a total of 1.36 billion feet in 1935. The quantity of logs cut in this district averaged more than 1.82 billion feet in 1925-33, but was only 1.41 billion feet in 1933. The 1925-33 average was about 23 percent of the regional average for that period, and the total in 1933 was 30 percent of the regional total. Production of both logs and lumber fell off less, proportionally, during 1931-33 in this district than in any other district.
The standing timber in this district now in availability class I is not sufficient to maintain the 1925-33 rate of log production until 1963. During the decade preceding 1935 the sawmills in the dis- trict cut 14 billion feet or logs per year; if this rate of production continues, and if the pulp mills in the district continue to utilize between 300 and 350 million feet of logs per year, the sawmills and ply- wood industry will be pinched for raw material sometime between 1943 and 1952. It is assumed here that the annual rate of cutting depletion will be only slightly less in 1933-42 than in the period preceding 1933, that in 1943-52 it will average between 85 and 90 percent of the 1925-1933 rate, and that after about 1952 it will diminish abruptly. A relatively small number of companies own a large part of the timber in this district. It is as-
107
sumed that during 1933-42 these owners, both large and small, will continue cutting at the same rates as in earlier years, but that by the end of that decade most of the present small owners will have cut out and that by 1945-50 there will be few areas where small independent loggers can operate.
The anticipated reduction in cut of timber in the district within the decade 1943-52 would not nec- essarily result in a proportional reduction in quan- tity of raw material available to the local wood- using industries; there is every reason to believe that it would be compensated by an increase in the quantities of logs brought into the district from the Oregon coast and Willamette River dis- tricts. In the competition with the Puget Sound and Grays Harbor districts for these logs, the Columbia River district should have the geographic advantage enabling it to intercept the flow of logs northward. The lessening of the volume of logs cut within the district would probably have some effect on the volume and quality of logs available on the open log market. This effect would prob- ably be felt first in the plywood industry. General application of selective logging would conserve the supply of peeler logs.
WILLAMETTE RIVER DISTRICT
The Willamette River district has not played a prominent part in the West Coast lumber industry in the past, but seems destined to do so in the future. In 1934 more than 515 million board feet of lum- ber was sawed in the district. This was 12 per- cent of the regional total, and exceeded the out- put of any of the other districts except the Puget Sound and Columbia River. During 1925-33 the annual cut of trees of sawlog size for all uses aver- aged about 778 million feet, of which the sawlog cut was about 692 million feet, log scale, including some 120 million feet shipped elsewhere for manu- facture. Cutting in the 30 years 1933-62 is as- sumed to average higher per year than in 1925—33, but leaving more than 20 billion feet of timber of availability class I in the district, even if none of the timber now in availability class II moves into class I.
Decadal cuts assumed for this district are as follows: 1933-42, 7.6 billion feet; 1943-52, 14.2 billion feet; 1953-62, 16.2 billion feet. The cut on
the national forests is assumed to amount to about 450 million feet in the first decade and to increase to 2.25 billion in the third. According to these assumptions, by 1963 the 46.1 billion feet of tim- ber on the national forests in 1933 will be reduced to 45.8 billion and the 57.7 billion on other land in 1933 will be reduced to about 30 billion feet, depletion being practically equalled by growth on the national forests but being greatly exceeded by it on other lands.
OREGON COAST DISTRICT
The average annual cut in the Oregon coast dis- trict of trees of sawlog size used for all purposes of 570 million feet in the period 1925-33 was about 7 percent of the total regional cut and fairly evenly divided between the north and south units. Annual lumber production was about 540 million feet (1925-34 average) with a cut of 390 million feet in 1934. By 1933 the production of logs had dropped to 270 million feet, or 6 percent of the regional total.
With the exception of Port Orford white-cedar, there will be no shortage of logs for local industries in this district for at least three decades. The assumed depletion in the district, which increases in each decade to 1963, would leave 15 billion feet The pre- depression annual cut of Port Orford white-cedar was about 70 million feet. The total stand of this spe- cles is not much more than 1.1 billion feet, of which
of class I timber remaining in that year.
something more than 750 million feet is in private ownership. Resumption of the former rate of cutting would lead to exhaustion of the supply in private hands in the second decade, even if all the The cut of logs took a tremendous drop in the 1931-33 period,
remote stands were logged completely.
when ‘exports of the logs to Japan were at a very low point. but in 1935-36 it increased materially. Cessation of the exporting of Port Orford white- cedar logs would materially lengthen the life of the local industries dependent on them, since during the period 1928-33 the logs exported amounted to about 30 percent of the total quantity cut.
For the district as a whole the depletion assumed in the survey for the period 1933-62, increasing in each decade, would not exhaust the class I timber. However, as in any other forest district of the region, dividing the remaining supply of class I timber by
108
the past average annual cut of logs does not neces- sarily give an indication of how long the wood using industries in the district may be assured of a supply of raw material. Even where a considerable vol- ume of timber is at present available, if the mill owner does not own this timber he may have no guarantee of a continuous supply.
The total cut of some 33 billion feet in this dis- trict during the period 1933-62 is assumed to in- clude less than 1 percent cut on the national forests. The national-forest timber in the northern part of the district will not mature by 1963, and that in the southern part presumably will still be economically While the timber volume on lands other than national forests is calculated to decline from 52.5 billion feet (log scale) in 1933 to 30.1 billion feet in 1963, national-forest timber is calculated to increase from about 15 billion feet in 1933 to slightly more than 19 billion feet in 1963.
The disastrous Tillamook fire of 1933, located mostly in the Oregon coast district, particularly affected the wood-using industries on the Columbia River, since probably at least three-fourths of the 10 billion feet of timber burned would have been manufactured in Columbia River mills. Of the remainder, part would have gone to Oregon coast Salvage on the burned area has lagged behind expectations, and of the total volume removed to date a con- siderable part has been green timber. At the end of 1937 only about 5 percent of the timber burned had been salvaged.
Since the fire considerable areas within the
unavailable at that time.
mills and part to Willamette River mills.
boundaries of the burn have become tax delinquent, and even though assessed values have been reduced, the hazards of holding the timber make it doubtful that taxes will be paid on much of the burned area after 1940 or 1945. At current salvage rates the most that present owners can expect to recover be- for relinquishing their equities is about 2 billion feet. By about 1945 Tillamook County may own the greater part of the 7 or 8 billion feet that will remain uncut, unless the State or Federal Govern- ment takes over the area before that time.
A study of deterioration of fire-killed Douglas-fir (7) showed that by the eighth to tenth year after fire killing, salvage for lumber logs is practical only for large slow-grown trees 50 inches d. b. h. and more. On the Tillamook burn Douglas-fir com-
posed about 85 percent of the timber burned and 40 percent of this was in trees 50 inches d. b. h. and more. By the time the county may be expected to own most of the burned timber the gross volume of the unsalvaged trees 50 inches d. b. h. and more will probably be less than 3 billion feet.
In an examination '* of a large area of the burn in 1935 two-thirds was found to be restocking. A reexamination in 1937 showed serious loss to repro- duction from mechanical injuries wherever salvage Restoring the Tilla- mook burn to forest productivity represents an
operations had taken place.
acute problem in fire protection and silviculture, and if this is to be accomplished within a reason- able period planting will have to be resorted to on large parts of the burn.
The profits in salvaging this burned timber, even at very low valuation of stumpage, have been small. An operator whose margin of profit is narrow is not likely to do much work to prevent spread of slash fires from the areas logged. As time goes on, salvage operations will probably be conducted only by smaller operators who will spend even less time and money on control of slash fires.
SOUTH OREGON DISTRICT
The south Oregon district contains about 89 billion feet of standing timber, of which about 25 billion feet is rated in availability class I. In the period 1925-33 the cut of logs in the district amounted to about 1 percent of the regional total, practically all manufactured locally as lumber— a few logs cut along the north border being sent to the Willamette River district for manufacture. During the period 1925-34, the average annual production of lumber was only about 85 million feet, of which more than 90 percent was produced in the Rogue River unit, and 70 percent of this was ponderosa pine and sugar pine.
The depletion assumed in the survey for the period 1933-62—even though about six times as great a cut of lumber is assumed for 1953-62 as the 1933-42—would not materially change the quantity of timber available in the district. For
18 Tsaac, L. A., and MEAGHER, G. S. DUCTION ON FIRE. Pacific Northwest Forest Expt. Sta. eographed. |
NATURAL REPRO- THE TILLAMOOK BURN TWO YEARS AFTER THE 1936. |Mim-
224146 °—40——8
109
some time to come, also, no considerable quantity of logs is likely to be taken from this district for manufacture.!® ‘There appears to be sufficient raw material on hand not only for existing wood-using industries but for a considerable addition to them. Several of the small mills may not have enough supplies to continue indefinitely in their present locations, but most could be relocated without difficulty.
Pulpwood
At the beginning of pulp manufacture on the Pacific Coast, the principal material used by the pulp mills was sawmill waste. In 1929, pulpwood consumption in the region totaled 1% million cords, of which logs constituted 48 percent, saw- mill waste 40 percent, and forest pulpwood 12 percent. Data obtained by circulating a ques- tionnaire to all pulp manufacturers in the region in 1936 indicated that in a normal year pulpwood consumption would total very nearly 2 million cords and would be divided as follows: Waste, 11 percent; logs, 69 percent; and forest pulpwood, 20 percent. During the last few years the sawmill waste used in pulpwood manufacture has de- creased greatly in total quantity, as well as in pro- portion to other materials used for pulpwood, and the quantities of logs and forest pulpwood used for this purpose have correspondingly increased. ‘This is accounted for in part by the great decrease in In Puget Sound sawmills, for example, until 1930 hemlock lumber constituted about 20 percent of all the lumber manufactured, in 1932 it was but 7 per- cent of the total, and in 1934 it was a little more than 8 percent. After 1930, lumber buyers who formerly took a certain quantity of hemlock mixed with Douglas-fir refused to take any hemlock. However, loggers continued to take approximately the same percentage of hemlock out of the woods; in fact, of the logs brought out of the woods in 1931-33 the percent of hemlock was larger than in 1925—29;
Future trends in use of logs as against use of forest pulpwood for pulp manufacture are hard to
hemlock lumber production since 1929.
19 Some of the pine in the southeast corner of Jackson County will undoubtedly be milled in eastern Oregon, probably at Klamath Falls.
foresee. Unquestionably, the pulp industry in the Pacific Northwest will continue to demand high- grade raw material. Logs yield cleaner pulp than mill waste or forest cordwood and they can be handled at less cost per ton of chips produced. Apparently there is a trend toward use of chipping machines that take larger cants, which further reduces handling charges. In general, cordwood is not likely to supplant logs except where it is available at much lower prices—for example, where it is produced by farmers who are willing to work for wages lower than those paid in the logging industry. However, some of the existing mills are organized to use cordwood, and undoubtedly large quantities of cordwood will be used for pulp As before stated, the competition of lumber, veneer, and
other wood-using industries for hemlock and bal-
manufacture for some time to come.
sam fir logs may result in higher log prices to the pulp mills when stands in which Douglas-fir pre- dominates become scarce, but this is still likely to be offset by the advantages of using logs. As the lumber industry recovers, more waste will become available, and if independent operators can con- vert this to chips and sell it at the right price the pulp industry will use it.
Undoubtedly the pulp industry in the Douglas-fir region, as in other parts of the country, will produce various grades of pulp, and consequently will require various grades of raw material.
It is popularly thought that any large sawmill company could be merged with a pulp company and the latter would take all the waste from the mill and utilize all the small logs, leaving only the high-grade logs for the sawmill. As a matter of fact the pulp manufacturers, particularly the pro- ducers of high-grade pulp, are likewise looking for better grade logs. There is opportunity for integration of the two industries, however. Until more hemlock is manufactured into lumber, the pulp mills will utilize the hemlock and balsam fir timber occurring in stands logged for Douglas_ fir, spruce, and “‘cedar”’ to be used in the sawmills, There is very little tendency to date to use small trees for pulpwood, either as small logs or as forest cordwood. Ordinarily only No. 1 and No. 2 hemlock logs are taken from the woods, and in cordwood operations trees less than 14 to 16 inches d. b. h. are not taken. Thus far, attempts to
110
prelog saw-timber stands for the small understory hemlock and to salvage the waste hemlock and balsam firs left on the ground after logging have been unsuccessful. The rapid changes now taking place in logging methods and costs may, however, make production of smail hemlock logs profitable. Also, if the price of hemlock logs rises a greater effort will be made to utilize the waste now left in the woods; but such an increase in price will have to be considerable to result in any appreciable utilization of small understory trees or of logging waste.
In the Puget Sound district pulp manufacture will increase in importance among the forest indus- tries. The supply of pulpwood available in the Puget Sound district is sufficient to maintain the present pulp mills in this district until 1963 and probably much longer. However, in the future (particularly after the first decade) more and more of the logs used for pulpwood will be produced in logging operations intended chiefly to produce pulpwood, rather than as a byproduct of logging for sawlogs. According to present indications, logging will have exhausted most of the stands of the Douglas-fir types by the end of the second decade. In logging stands in which Douglas-fir is a minor species or is lacking, it appears probable that production of sawlogs will usually be incidental to production of pulpwood.
Since 1919 the price of camp-run hemlock in the Puget Sound log markets has with few exceptions been even lower than that of No. 3 Douglas-fir logs. In general, camp-run hemlock logs have been sold on Puget Sound for $1 to $2 less per 1,000 feet than the actual total cost of production. In 1934 Douglas-fir log prices per 1,000 feet ranged from $19 for No. 1 logs to $10 for No. 3 logs, and camp-run hemlock sold for about $9, although the total cost of delivering those logs to pulp mills, including not only direct cost of logging but overhead, depreciation, etc., was about $10.50 per 1,000 feet. As a result of this and of the utili- zation of sawmill waste, the price per cord of pulp- wood delivered at Pacific coast mills has been less than the average for any other forest region of the United States except the South and has been about $2 less than the national average. In the past little or no stumpage charge has been made for hemlock, and camp-run hemlock logs (usually only
Ficure 36.—Pulp and paper mill on the Willamette River near Oregon City.
A plentiful supply of raw material, cheap power, and an abun-
dance of clean water have combined to make pulp and paper manufacture one of the principal industries in the Douglas-fir region
No. 1 and No. 2 grade) were brought in if they would show a profit on the direct cost of logging, all overhead charges being allocated to the Douglas- fir, Sitka spruce, and ‘‘cedar”’ logs. This procedure may continue for some time; but by the end of the decade 1943-52, when logging for Douglas-fir, spruce, or even high-quality hemlock will have shifted to stands in which Douglas-fir is only a minor component, western hemlock and balsam firs will have to carry the full cost of logging, which will tend to increase considerably the prices of logs of these species.
Savings under recently developed methods of logging may, however, counteract this tendency to some extent. In the hemlock and balsam fir stands the opportunities for using lighter equipment—trac- tors and trucks—and for practicing selective logging will be much greater than they have been in stands of large old-growth Douglas-fir. If trees are properly selected for cutting, the supply of high quality logs will meet the needs of the indus- try, as now constituted, for an indefinite period.
In the Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district the situation as to future supplies of pulpwood is similar to that in the Puget Sound district. installed pulp-mill capacity the supply of pulp species is even greater.
In relation to
skill
In the Columbia River district, pulp mills have heretofore obtained raw material in about the same manner as in the Puget Sound district; but about 43 percent of the region’s installed pulp- mill capacity (fig. 36) is in this district, and pro- spective supplies of pulp species are therefore smaller in comparison with plant capacity than in the Puget Sound district. The 1963 stand of 52 bil- lion feet, however, will contain a large volume of pulp species. ‘There is every reason to believe, also, that Columbia River pulp mills will draw some material from the southern part of the Grays Har- bor-Willapa Bay district
The capacity of the pulp plants in the Willamette River and Oregon coast districts is so small that the estimated future inventories are more than ade- quate to supply their needs.
Current annual requirements for pulp total about 190 million cubic feet.?° This slightly exceeds the current annual growth of the pulp species (186 million cubic feet) but is considerably less than the potential growth of these species, estimated at 594 million cubic feet. For the region as a whole the assumed future inventories include sufficient raw material for the established pulp mills.
20 See table 9, p. 39 for data concerning present supplies of pulpwood species.
Plywood
The foregoing discussion of future supply of raw material for the lumber industry applies also to the plywood industry, which is chiefly dependent on the lumber industry for its raw material. Plywood manufacture is relatively new here; the region’s annual plywood production expanded from 153 million square feet (%-inch three-ply basis) in 1925 to about 700 million in 1936.71. The installed capacity of the region’s plywood mills is distributed principally as follows: Puget Sound district, 49 percent; Grays Harbor district, 30 percent; Columbia River district, 18 percent. Concentration of the industry at tidewater and on the Columbia River has been due principally to the ample supply of large high grade logs produced in the course of logging for sawmills and available on the open log markets there. The plywood industry has been in a position to command the market for these logs be- cause it can pay more for them than the sawmills. Owing to the rapid recent increase in plywood manufacture, some combing over of stands of large old growth to get veneer logs in advance of regular logging has been necessary in order to supplement the open-market supply. There is no immediate shortage of peeler-log trees in the woods. Whether or not the supply of high-grade veneer logs obtained in the ordinary course of log- ging for sawmills will prove adequate for the ply- wood industry in the future, or whether it will be necessary to continue the present practice of sup- plementing this supply by combing over old-growth stands, will depend on future trends in the demand for plywood, on progress in using logs of smaller diameter for plywood, and on the extent to which use of lower-grade logs for this purpose can be increased through taping of face stock.
The quantity of high-grade veneer used in mak- ing panels is only a small part of the total material needed for panel manufacture.
As yet plywood manufacturers have not owned much timberland, depending mainly on the open market or else on contractual agreements with loggers. ‘This industry is too big and promising to be allowed to decline because of a short-sighted policy towards providing raw material. Through ~ 21 269 million board feet of logs is required to produce 700 million square feet of plywood (%-inch three-ply basis).
LZ
selective logging and application of simple forestry measures a supply of logs suitable for the manu- facture of plywood may be provided indefinitely.
In the Puget Sound district, the supply of raw material for this industry is adequate for the first decade. Puget Sound plants may be faced with a shortage of high-grade Douglas-fir veneer logs during the latter part of the decade 1943-52. Logs of this type can stand a high transportation charge, however, and may be brought in from the Columbia River, Willamette River, and Oregon coast districts; or small veneer plants may be set up in these other districts and veneer shipped from them to plywood mills on the Sound.
In the Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district the ply- wood industry will probably have enough raw material to operate for two decades, since a con- siderable part of the 20-years supply of Douglas-fir and Sitka spruce timber in availability class I will Even so, veneer logs are now being brought into Grays Harbor from Oregon coast and Willamette River points. If during the next decade or two the ply- wood industry uses an increased proportion of
yield logs suitable for veneer manufacture.
hemlock, the supply of material for plywood should last well into the third decade.
In the Columbia River district there will un- doubtedly be a shortage of peeler logs by the third decade. However, this district has only one-fifth of the region’s installed plywood-mill capacity and is close enough to the Willamette River and Oregon coast districts to obtain its supply of veneer logs from them.
Poles and Piling
The cubic-foot production of poles and piling combined in 1930 contains far more Douglas-fir than “‘cedar,”’ since the use of Douglas-fir for piling far overshadows that of “‘cedar”’ for poles. Western redcedar composed more than 75 percent of the 1930 pole production for the region, more than 90 percent of that in western Washington, and less than 30 percent in western Oregon. Nearly as many “‘cedar”’ poles were imported into Washington from British Columbia as were produced locally; at the same time many “‘cedar”’ poles growing in Washington were wasted in the process of logging
for saw timber. Since 1930 the importations have dropped and there has been a very considerable increase in the practice of prelogging old-growth timber stands for ‘‘cedar’’ poles before cutting their saw timber.
The Puget Sound district holds first place in the output of ‘‘cedar”’ poles, which are found mixed with other species, usually as an understory in saw timber along stream bottoms and in other moist sites. Although through Douglas-fir, hemlock, or spruce types, they are most often found in stands that contain enough “‘cedar’’ to be
scattered
classed as a ‘‘cedar”’ type. Large quantities of pole timber are contained in the mature “‘cedar’’ stands covering 196,000 acres in the Puget Sound district, 171,000 acres in the Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay district, and 21,000 acres elsewhere in the region. In the small ‘‘cedar’’ type (trees less than 24 inches d. b. h.), which occupies only 26,000 acres in the region, only about 7,500 acres support scattered stands of the pole age of 40 years, in no single instance as large as 100 acres in extent. Therefore, ‘“‘cedar” poles will unquestionably continue to be produced for the most part by prelogging areas on which the saw timber is to be cut later, since the rate at which commercial logging advances into the particular areas where “‘cedar”’ poles are plenti- ful is not likely to make poles available rapidly enough to meet the marketrequirements. It is more than probable that future “‘cedar”’ pole production will center chiefly in the Puget Sound and Grays Harbor-Willapa Bay districts, where the supply is sufficient to supply the demand for many years.
As for piling, the regional supply of trees of suitable size and quality far exceeds the quantity of material of this kind that is likely to be required for several decades. In contrast with 2.6 million acres of second-growth stands in which most of volume is in trees from 22 to 40 inches d. b. h. and 3.7 million acres of second-growth stands in which most of the volume is in trees from 6 to 20 inches d. b. h., the 1930 regional cut of 135,000 pieces totaling between 25 and 30 million board feet is relatively insignificant. This annual requirement could be supplied by taking on the average one tree from every 4 acres of the large second growth in the Oregon coast district alone. If integrated utilization were effected, no doubt a large part of
e)
the annual piling requirements could be obtained in the course of ordinary logging.
Fuel
In the past forest fuel wood was the chief fuel in western Washington and western Oregon. The use of this type of fuel has decreased, particularly in the large population centers, with increased use of oil, coal, gas, and different forms of mill waste— slabs, trimmings, hogged fuel, and sawdust.
In 1930 the waste from sawmills and other wood- working plants utilized for fuel amounted to 331 million cubic feet of solid wood. In that year trees of saw-timber size aggregating 353 million board feet, log scale, and smaller trees aggregating 60 million cubic feet were cut into forest fuel wood. Portland now uses some 100,000 cords of forest fuel wood annually, in addition to large quantities of mill waste. In Seattle about 10,000 cords of forest fuel wood is burned annually, and consider- able quantities of mill waste.
No general statement can be made as to the prob- able adequacy of future supplies of the various kinds of wood fuel. The timber supply available to the sawmills and other wood-using industries in the larger manufacturing centers of the region is an in- dication of the quantity of mill waste that may be available to the people in these cities in the future for fuel. Shut-downs in sawmills and other wood- using plants due to cessation of logging in winter, strikes, or other reasons have made the supply of mill waste, particularly hogged fuel and sawdust, somewhat undependable—particularly for resi- dences, in which storage space is limited. However, many people in the wood-manufacturing centers un- doubtedly will continue to depend on this type of fuel for a considerable time.
The supply of forest fuel wood that can econom- ically be hauled into Tacoma and Seattle by truck is limited, and will probably be inadequate. On the other hand, lands tributary to Puget Sound in- clude large areas, principally logged areas, support- ing trees that are too poor for sawlogs but from which cordwood could be cut and cheaply barged to cities on the Sound. Comparble areas within a reasonable trucking distance of Portland are not extensive enough to permit Portland’s present rate of con- sumption of forest cordwood to continue.
For most rural communities of the region, future local supplies of forest cordwood apparently will be adequate. Most farms in the region contain some forest land that with but little care and attention could supply farm fuel requirements.
Hardwoods
More labor is required to log 1,000 board feet of hardwoods than to log a like quantity of conifers, and the manufacture of hardwoods into the finished product is carried farther. Approximately 90 per- cent of the hardwood lumber cut in the region is re- manufactured locally, practically all being used for furniture. The quantity of hardwood lumber and veneer produced has gradually increased and in 1935 amounted to 50 million board feet, of which 75 percent was alder and practically all the remain- der was maple. This annual cut was about 1 per- cent of the total stand of these two species. Nearly all the hardwood production was in the Puget Sound Columbia River, Willamette River, and Oregon coast districts.
The supply of maple available within reasonable hauling distances of certain hardwood mills is in-
114
adequate, but alder is plentiful in the vicinity of all centers of production. There is between 900 million and 1 billion board feet of alder in the northern part of the Oregon coast district, where alder stands have claimed the old burned-over conifer sites on fertile benches and lowerslopes. In this locality conifers are rapidly invading many alder stands and will grad- ually shade them out, causing the elimination of the present extensive stands except along the principal stream courses and the loss of several hundred mil- lion board feet of commercial timber within two or three decades unless the timber is utilized earlier. To utilize this timber before it is lost through the natural process of forest succession, the present rate of cutting will have to be increased and additional markets for alder will have to be developed. Most of the alder trees cut for lumber or veneer are less than 50 years in age, and many are only 25 to 35 years. Considering the short rotation and the large quantity of local labor required in the remanufac- ture of alder lumber, it would seem desirable to manage certain of the extensive mixed alder-conifer stands in the Oregon coast district for alder pro- duction instead of letting nature take its course.
EAOPRS Ea SleerRsern SOW RIC VES OF Tt HE'D OU GL
ASS Siem be baa eas ee Hy Ge a © IN
Forest-Land Management Problems
=
OREST land is the basic resource of the Douglas-fir region; its products constitute the raw material for the region’s leading indus- Past and present unwise treatment of forest land will influence greatly the future economic history of the region. If forest land is not kept con- tinuously productive and protected against de-
tries.
terioration, industry will decline and communities break down. The results of unrestrained forest exploitation are already apparent locally. Deple- tion of virgin timber within the radius of feasible transportation of several sawmill communities has resulted in serious economic and social loss.
Properly managed, the region’s forest land could permanently supply raw material for forest indus- tries of approximately the present magnitude, if these were properly distributed within the region.
Although timber production is the major use of forest land here, other uses are increasing in im- portance, namely, watershed protection, forage production, recreation, and hunting and fishing. Intelligent forest management involves two major principles: (1) Wood removed from the forest should on the average be limited to a volume ap- proximately equal to the increment, and the grow- ing stock—the forest capital—should be main- tained; (2) every forest area should be made to serve as many uses as possible, and these uses should be so correlated as to effect maximum production. The first is called the principle of sustained yield; the second, that of multiple forest-land use. The two are compatible.
One important prerequisite of forest management for continuous production is stability of forest-land Many of the problems that aggravate the forest situation in this region are inherent in the
tenure.
existing distribution of forest-land ownership.
115
Ke
Uses of Forest Land Other Than for Timber Production
Effective plans for management for continuous production must in the main be based on areas of forest land that can be expected to produce forest crops continuously. Areas now forested that may in the near future be more valuable for agriculture, or for a type of recreation or wildlife production that allows but little or no cutting, can play little It is therefore necessary to consider here the present use and
part in_ sustained-yield plans.
future requirements of forest land for agriculture, recreation, and wildlife production.
Future Agricultural Expansion
As was stated in the section on land use, agri- cultural use of land has about reached a condition of equilibrium, and any expansion of agricultural production in the next two or three decades will be the result of increasing the productivity of exisiting farmlands and clearing wild land in existing farm holdings. This does not mean that efforts will not be made to convert a considerable area of present- day forest land into farms, much of it in localities Un- less adequate zoning laws are enacted, this cannot be prevented. Although the aggregate area of such lands placed under cultivation in the forest zone is
where farming probably will not be feasible.
small, timber production is endangered by hazards created through careless use of fire in clearing them.
Forage Production
Future attempts to use large areas of forest land for range may be of greater consequence in limiting
timber production than future attempts to make arable farmland out of forest land. Logged-off lands and burns, both seeded and unseeded, have been grazed successfully for a few years until tree reproduction and brush crowded out the forage plants; but permanent grazing of cut-over, burned- over, or virgin-timbered areas is incompatible with Of the landowners who have temporarily gained a livelihood by raising cattle on cut-over and burned forest land, many
forest production in this region.
own and pay taxes on only very small areas, using land either privately owned or county owned as open range. Many people still advocate grazing forest lands, asserting that past failures have been due to improper techniques in seeding after burns and in handling sheep and cattle, and it is true that proper seeding immediately after burns does result in a grass and weed cover that holds for a while. over and burned-over forest land in this region, unless cultivated or otherwise intensively handled,
Experience has shown, however, that cut-
reverts to forest where seed trees are present except where repeated burning results in a permanent
brush or bracken cover, which has very little grazing value.
Where burning is practiced to improve grazing, neighboring forest owners who might otherwise have held their land for timber production recog- nize the fire hazard, liquidate their timber if possible, and let their lands revert to the county.
Recreation
Because of improved highways and added leisure time, forest lands are now used for recreation to a degree undreamed of 20 years ago. The public apparently has accepted the idea of reservation of certain publicly owned forest lands for recreation. At the same time it assumes that private forest lands are available to it for hunting, fishing, camp- ing, and hiking at no charge, and for the most part does not consider such use of private lands a form of trespass.
The form of forest recreation available to the greatest number of people is that of motoring through forest areas with stops for picnic lunches
TABLE 38.—State and Federal roads in the Douglas-fir region, by class of forest land and ownership of bordering lands }
Private | 3 5 [County Indian | Na- Na- & Cali- State and class of forest land Outside Inside State |_20 Teser- | tional | tional | fornia Other Total national- | national- munic-| vation | forest | park Rail- Federal forest forest | ipal | | road boundaries | boundaries | | is Western Washington: Miles Miles | Miles Miles | Miles | Miles | Miles | Miles Miles | Miles Nonforest, including urban areas__-________-___--___-- 683. 8 0.4 | 9.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 Fre 700. 3 Pard woods. one ile RE ee 2016) ee ee | iad Ven coc | tea at 53,1 Conifer!sawtim ber 22222 = =e eee 150.9 21.4) 18.2 ail | 20.0 | 247.6 Conifer second growth: | | 6toi20\inches dubs hes. sn! Meese Be | 196. 7 | 2.6 4.3 Pala |le as QESH| ero" 2 | Pieces 2.5] 221.9 Less than 6 inches d. b. h__-_-.________-_---_-_-_ 127.0 7.6] 10.0 yr ae a Ayal oe 1.0] 149.0 Noncoumerdials. 2. ak 22s") Sie oneness Oe 11.5 Dues Set] ae eget eee! 1°9,|rsceuees Ole Heng Nonrestocked cut-overs and deforested burns_________ 119.9 4.6 | 4.7 8) AD) UPS eee | seas 25 132.2 |. |. 1. PD ots Osten ake of Scatter meee ee ee oe 1, 339. 4 305)] 49:1 | 5.0] 249) 36.7 |) a5 Jee __| 12:0 | 1,522.0 | | Western Oregon: | | | | Nonforest, including urban areas______-___-_-________ 1, 040. 2 27.4 3.9 2.1 | aby | eae B a ae 2.0 | 1.6 1, 090.8 Hardwoods 15-06 21!) ,) ON eek eae 32.3 | ESO) Mes es Wisecees | Weuemee ys eeu eemame seri ph ren 7 Gonifersawatimbers22ss2--2 22-0252 = ee ee 133.9 14.1 1.4 | 5p) ON 58570 | aereeies 250) | ne 1S y | peer lieey Conifer second growth: | | | | 6to20iinches dbs is 2222 eee 170. 2 6.6 | 7.9 -9 | .9 211.) | Sea 1555] 1.4 210.5 Tess:thani6/inchesids, bjhu-t 22's. et one 37.8 | irl eect pili eben OWN eee Ss Soh 5 45.6 INOMCOMMIMCT CIA sy ee te ee ee ee = BYR 674) | ae | ac eee be ae c= abyal | Serio | ates {cai eabess 63.2 Nonrestocked cut-overs and deforested burns________- 80.0 il 4 | oth eee fey |e 130 8] peeamer 87.5 Neh eo bacata ee ee ae ie S e SOS 5 1, 532.1 | 61.0 | 13.6 41/19] 125.5 |-...._.| 13:75] -p5alalelepiors0 | } RegionalitotalMe tes === ee eeere eee em 2, 871.5 | 100.5 | 627] 91) 268] 162.2] 15.4] 13.7] 171 3,279.0
1 Both sides of road.
or overnight camping. Since presumably forest travelers are interested in scenery, particu- larly that which can be enjoyed from good roads, this form of recreation represents extensive use of large scenic areas plus in- tensive use of campgrounds and picnic spots. Along forest high- ways in this region are many beautiful views, but also many miles of unsightly cut-over and burned-over lands.
Old-growth timber occurs along 16 percent of the total mileage of lands bordering State and Federal highways in west- ern Washington and along 12 percent of those in western Oregon (table 38). Less than one-third of the sawlog-size co- nifer timber bordering 460 miles of main roads in the region is in public ownership. In the last 4 or 5 years the original beauty of three of the recently built scenic highways, the Olympic Pen- insula Loop Highway, the Oregon Coast Highway, and the Salmon River cut-off, has been badly marred by roadside logging. The privately owned saw timber along highways, amounting to more than two-thirds of the total saw-timber mileage, is highly accessible, and will probably be logged in the near future unless acquired by the public. Oregon and Washington have been derelict in acquiring adequate strips of virgin timber along roadsides when projecting new highways. Some 31,000 acres would have to be purchased if 400- foot strips of the sawlog-size timber now in private ownership were to be saved on each side of the highways. Owing to its location this timber would not be cheap, but its acquisition would probably result in more public satisfaction than acquisition of any other equal area of forest land.
According to table 38, of the 220 miles of cut- over and burned-over land adjacent to main high- ways, 205 miles is privately owned. The public interest in such destruction is manifest. The public responsibility to safeguard roadside beauty, as representing an intensive recreational use of forest land, is being recognized more and more widely, and if the States do not make more progress in
ington.
Figure 37.—A forest campground on the Mount Baker National Forest, Wash.
more than a million visitors entered the national forests of western Oregon and western Wash- Approximately 25 percent of these used the campground facilities provided without charge by the Forest Service
Pi?
. ‘ag ? eee Be
During 1937
acquiring such scenic roadside strips reserving them so far as possible from all cutting other than salvage operations, the Federal Government should step in. When forest land along State highways reverts to the counties for nonpayment of taxes it should im- mediately be deeded to the States for development of scenic strips. Areas that are not naturally reseed- ing should promptly be planted with forest trees.
Forest campgrounds have been developed on national forests (fig. 37), and also in many locali- ties on State lands, but there is still a shortage of them close to the larger centers of population. Even a greatly expanded program of forest camp and picnic grounds would not materially decrease the area available for timber production.
So far the discussion has referred to recreational uses that might withdraw from commercial exploi- tation accessible, high-quality forest land at low altitudes, chiefly in private ownership. Except along streams, lakesides (fig. 38), and highways, the lower-altitude forests of the Douglas-fir region have no great recreational appeal, owing to the density of timber and underbrush. Cross-country progress through these forests is so difficult that recreational use is limited to hiking along trails, fishing, and deer hunting for a short period in the fall. Moreover, a large percentage of the hunting by residents of western Oregon and western Wash-
ington is done in the eastern parts of the two States. The higher altitude forests, of much lower value for timber production and often of none, have much greater recreational appeal, owing to the fact that they are easily traversed, have openings in the form of mountain meadows, and afford splendid views of vast expanses of country. The national parks and national monuments, the various re- served areas on national forests, and an additional large acreage of national-forest land where no cutting is likely to take place for a long time to come are for the most part located at the higher altitudes.
A large aggregate area of publicly owned forest land in this region is either entirely or partially reserved from timber cutting or other commercial use and dedicated to recreation. Mount Rainier National Park and Mount Olympus National Monument now total 564,000 acres, and have a total stand of 6.4 billion feet of timber all reserved from cutting.2 State parks total about 19,000 acres, with a timber stand of about 161 million feet all reserved from cutting.
The Forest Service has dedicated about 1 million acres in the Douglas-fir region, chiefly
22 The establishment of the Olympic National Park since these data were compiled will increase these figures by 316,000 acres and 8.6 billion board feet of timber.
of noncommercial forest types to recreational use, watershed protection, education, and _ scientific study, by establishing 5 large recreational areas, 5 large primitive areas, and 4 small natural areas. These 14 areas have a stand of approximately 7.5 billion board feet. tive and recreational areas, and also the national parks and national monuments, contain con- siderable acreages of large old-growth timber of commercial size and quality but of low economic availability due to location. ‘Table 39 shows the acreages, by forest type, and timber volumes in- cluded in the recreational, primitive, and natural areas.
Recreational use of forest land need not always involve a complete ban on cutting. As new types
The national-forest primi-
of logging machinery and new logging techniques are developed and as better utilization is attained, many areas of medium or even fairly high recrea- tional value can undoubtedly be cut lightly without loss of recreational value. The total recreation area includes 710,000 acres listed in the survey as ‘reserved from cutting’ and 417,000 acres on which some cutting might presumably be allowed. If economic conditions ever justify logging opera- tions on land of the latter category, the cutting, owing to the general location, will undoubtedly
Tae 39.—Area, type classification, and timber volume of national-forest primitive, recreational; and natural areas in the Douglas-fir
region a a Conifers | : | Noncommer- : State and recreational class Barrens cial types Total area Timber and burns | 20+ inches | 0-20 inches volume d. b. h. d. b. h. | Western Washington: Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres see ae Primitive Sin Satee St eee Tis 2 ea Ee Fes ee eee 134, 800 395, 400 166, 800 25, 600 722, 600 fa} Recreational 67, 600 56, 400 | 7, 100 225, 000 1, 337 TN PY bigs eee ee Sano a a oO 100 4, 200 | 100 4, 400 190 | Total es txn ste eer etal een eee rere 228, 700 463, 100 227, 400 | 32, 800 952, 000 6, 280 Western Oregon: Primitive ase ie is Poe ee see Soe eee cee 13, 900 29, 600 31, 300 500 75, 300 383 Recreational 25.22 = ae ae one eee 15, 200 20, 700 31, 200 | 31, 800 98, 900 745 Naturales = 2 cio es Se ek Se ar ee Cee 200 O00 8 | =2eee ease eee 1, 200 57 Total tes 2S se oe see eh ee eae eee 29, 100 50, 500 63, 500 32, 300 175, 400 1.185 Region: Primitive Se aU a oe ee eee 148, 700 425, 000 198, 100 26, 100 797, 900 5, 136 IRecreationale22 i=" .3 <i k= oe eS eee 109, 100 88, 300 87, 600 38, 900 323, 900 2, 082 IN ature] e220 fos te See ee ee ae ee | 300 5, 200 100 5, 600 247 | otal sea ac ie eos eee Se ee 257, 800 513, 600 290, 900 65, 100 | 1, 127, 400 7, 465 |
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be of such character as neither to lessen the areas’ suitability for recreational use nor to add appre- ciably to the region’s annual production. Reserva- tion of forest land from cutting for recreational use has reduced but little the region’s sustained-yield capacity. Under the Forest Service policy of multiple use practically the entire national-forest area is available for recreation.
Wildlife
In this region the forests support an abundance of wildlife and as a general rule wildlife use does not conflict with timber production or other forest-land uses. The use of forest land for wildlife has had little influence on commercial timber pro- duction here, and it is unlikely that any conse- quential areas of commercial timberland will be withdrawn exclusively for this use in the immediate future.
It is possible to improve wildlife conditions in this region by a slight modification of current forest practice. Most of the streams and lakes are bor- dered by narrow strips of alder, cottonwood, and
maple, with scattered conifers. If these strips
119
were preserved during logging the reduction in quantity of material produced would be small. This practice would greatly improve scenic condi- tions, result in better fishing conditions, and in addition constitute a first step in a region-wide program of erosion and flood control. Also, the strips of timber would serve as firebreaks and as a source of seed to reforest adjoining cut-over land. On many national-forest timber sales the edges of streams are left in a natural condition after logging: otherwise, there has been little effort on the part of public and private agencies to follow such a course.
Hunting, indirectly, has conflicted with timber production, through the creation of high fire hazard in the fall months by the many hunters in the woods. A large percentage of the fires in this region are caused by hunters, some of them incendiary fires set allegedly to improve hunting conditions.
Sustained- Yield Forest Management
The preceding discussion of future timber sup- plies is based on the assumption that liquidation of
privately owned timber resources and clear cut- ting will continue, and it applies only to the period ending with 1962, which is as far ahead as most timber operators plan. In discussing the prospec- tive supplies of raw material for that period and particularly for the more remote future, it is neces- sary to consider the possible effects of sustained- yield forest management.
In this region the term “‘sustained-yield manage- ment” has been used too loosely. Essentially it denotes a plan of procedure which, assuming adequate stocking, will be applicable to an indi- vidual property or to a combination of properties under unified control whereby in the long run annual cut will equal annual growth. The cuts on a specified area may be made annually or at intervals of 5, 10, 20, or more years, but over a long period cut and growth will balance. At present sustained-yield management is in force on only a small percentage of the world’stotal com- mercial forest land. It is more prevalent in Ger- many, the Scandinavian countries, and France than elsewhere. In the Douglas-fir region there is no sustained-yield practice on large areas except on the national forests, and there the annual cut to date has been too small to permit any significant application of the policy.
Leading factors in the present situation in this region as regards sustained yield are about as follows: (1) The forests in any one locality are badly out of adjustment, 1. e., in most of them there is either too much old growth in proportion to timber of younger age classes or too little old-growth area in proportion to recently cut-over area, and a paucity of the intermediate size and age classes that would provide the owner a steady income; (2) there is no adequate system of permanent forest-develop- ment roads; (3) instead of maintaining a close rela- tion with growers, such as is found in European countries, many manufacturers in the three leading industrial districts depend on open log markets for their supply of raw material—a factor that may, however, be favorable toward attaining sustained yield in the northern part of the region; (4) regional distribution of wood-conversion plants in relation to supplies of standing timber is uneven, with heavy concentration of manufacturing plants in certain heavily cut-over districts and a lack of such facilities in many districts containing extensive stands of
virgin timber; (5) vast areas are covered by mature and overmature timber; (6) tax laws do not favor holding timber, and administration of existing tax laws is not uniform; and (7) few private owners are interested in holding forest land for continuous management.
The great extent of the timberland tributary to Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and the Columbia River and the ease and cheapness of log transpor- tation by water have resulted in the installation of sawmills whose aggregate capacity is far greater than could be supplied by available forests for even afew decades. Many of the mills face a shortage of raw material in the relatively near future which is not only of serious consequence to the companies involved but of even greater gravity to the depend- ent communities. This shortage is no less real for being at present obscured by the fact that several communities are counting upon the same bodies of privately and publicly owned timber for their sawmills.
Region-wide or large-scale adoption of sustained- yield management must begin in the forest rather than in the mill; wood-using industries must base their operations on what the forest land within their range of economical transportation can pro- duce under such management—and also on their own competitive ability. In a forest region that does not have extensive waterways, the timberland tributary to individual manufacturing centers is usually rather distinctly defined. This is true of some inland portions of the Douglas-fir region. The availability of water transportation in western Washington and northwestern Oregon, however, seriously complicates the distribution of logs and makes it exceedingly difficult to define tributary territories.
Vast expanses of clear-cut areas threaten forest stability. What is needed is a shift from clear cutting to a system, whether individual tree selec- tion or small area selection, which will allow fre- quent cutting over the same general area of high returns, leaving areas of low return for longer periods.
In connection with plans to institute sustained- yield management on a region-wide basis, decisions as to which of the present mill locations should be retained and what new locations should be chosen would be affected by the facility with which trucks
and tractors can go over timberlands for the higher quality logs that can stand the expense of long hauls. They will also be influenced by the greatly in- creased area of operable timberland in the region made available through the low initial investment involved in tractor logging, and by the fact that existing lumber-manufacturing centers on water, such as Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Bellingham, Hoquiam, Aberdeen, Longview, and Portland, not only have better facilities for marketing and shipping wood products, including waste, but have an advantage in possibilities for integrating wood- using industries. Many of the present plants have been largely or entirely depreciated. Changes in location involved would in some cases be no greater than those that would result from continuance of present trends under the liquidation policy; for many sawmill owners it has already become a problem whether to mill logs coming from their holdings at existing mills or to establish new mills nearer the source of log supply.
Regardless of whether sustained-yield practices are adopted in the near future, many communities in western Washington and northwestern Oregon will in the future have less saw timber on which to draw than they have had in the past. In consider- ing the region-wide aspects of forest management it would seem expedient to set up sustained-yield units on the basis of allowable annual cut in the future period when the ideal balance constituting sustained yield has been realized, at the same time calculating allowable cut for the intervening period.
If existing laws requiring that publicly-owned timber offered for sale be sold to the highest bidder were modified, sustained yield could be inaug- urated in the region through cooperative arrange- ments whereby the products of specified public and private forest areas would be committed to certain mills. Such arrangements would tend toward constant supplies of raw material for the mills and economic stability for the communities in which the mills are located. ease of transporting logs by water, however,
In view of the
objections could be raised to freezing into a fixed pattern the distribution of publicly owned timber in the northern part of the region.
Although these cooperative arrangements would not be planned specifically to result in normal age
121
distribution on each individual property involved, some of them might do so, particularly if selective logging were employed. The agreement might then be terminated. Thereafter, each of the indi- vidual properties could be managed under an indi- vidual sustained-yield plan and its product sold periodically to the highest bidder, and the annual production of the wood-using industry or industries that had been involved in the agreement could be scaled to the raw material obtainable on the basis of free competition. Community stability would then rest on the assurance that a regular supply of raw material would be produced in the various for- est units in the region and that this material would be sold in open competition to the mills and com- munities qualified by virtue of proper location, efficient management, and other economic factors to pay the top price.
Ultimate sustained-yield capacity has been calcu- lated for each of the forest units set up by the Forest Survey, and also the average rates of cutting that, starting with the present areas of old-growth tim- ber, second growth, and cut-over lands, would bring about a balance of cut and growth within a period varying from 90 to 150 years. The calcula- tions were restricted to unreserved commercial con- ifer forest land. Sustained yield probably will not be put into effect for areas so large as the survey units; but comparison of these figures with past and current rates of cutting depletion show in a general way the extent to which the forest-survey units and the major forest districts are being either overcut or undercut.
Before these allowable rates of cutting could be cal- culated, however, certain premises had to be set up. Undoubtedly future practice will be better than past and the calculations were based on that assumption, although with no attempt to allow for the inevitable economic changés which will occur in the future. The premises are as follows: That there will be prompt attainment of normal distribution of age classes; that utilization will be reasonably complete in the future; that all timber on commercial conifer land will be marketable; that existing mature stands will be cut first; that there will be an increase in stocking in understocked stands at the rate of about 4 percent per decade; that areas cut over will restock within the next decade; and that future cuttings will restock to approximately 75 percent of normal.
The rates of cutting calculated for the transition are shown in table 40 in comparison with the record of cutting depletion for the period 1925-33, the cuts in 1933 (which are approximately the lowest of the whole depression period), the assumed depletions for the three decades of 1933-62 as set up in the survey, and the potential ultimate rates of cutting under the sustained-yield plan. The potential ultimate sustained annual cut for the region as a whole of 8.08 billion board feet exceeds slightly the average annual cut during 1925-33 and is nearly three-fourths greater than the 1933 cut. It is note- worthy that the 1925-33 average annual cut of 7.9 billion feet is about 1.66 billion feet in excess of the annual cut estimated to be allowable for the first transitional period of 70 years, but that the cut for 1933 fell short of the estimate by 1.48 billion feet.
It is apparent that the three northern districts, Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and Columbia River, having river and tidewater facilities and most of the region’s wood-using plants, are seriously over- cutting, but that the Willamette River, Oregon coast, and south Oregon districts are undercutting (table 40 and fig. 39). The extent of the over- cutting in the first three districts is as follows:
Billion Puget Sound: board feet NO Z5S—3S race eacauesegaer eve averse ewe chop susan eacRobsuetelone 153, IES ee mein aa eis ecm AA. Anam aa s Gaia dS . 14 Grays Harbor: LO 25 = 33 eicaacs wesccret oer ret ciaieiene Colaaeie oie eer . 89 AO 33 Mya Borel awareneteien sien Colel ae vekevereheiereker ken eoeeun eer 19 Columbia River: TODS ABS eiiacccvca store Oraetarerers opscererbelorey steve re stoke Tone STL eh pE ean tin RenCh raed auaobenean aaan 36
If sustained yield were brought into effect in the Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and Columbia River districts, the rate of cutting would be reduced to half the 1925-33 average and even below the 1933 figure. In the other districts the annual cut would be double the 1925-33 average and more than three times what it was in 1933. Obviously, any such radical changes are not going to take place in the immediate future.
The Oregon coast and Willamette River districts are now shipping logs of all grades into the Colum- bia River district and high-grade logs into the
Puget Sound and Grays Harbor districts. If sus-
tained yield were brought into effect in each of these five districts, the two southern districts could add 1.27 billion board feet to their average annual shipment of logs to the three northern districts as of 1925-33; but this contribution would fail by 0.78 billion feet to meet the shortage in the annual cut of the northern districts as com- pared with their average for 1925-33.
Overcutting will presumably continue in the Grays Harbor, Puget Sound, and Columbia River districts, in order to keep mills running and men employed, as long as private timber lasts.
A number of sawmills in the three overcutting districts have ceased operations, because of short- age of timber available to these particular mills. Within 20 years more widespread lack of raw material will cause serious dislocation of sawmill employment throughout the overcutting districts. Cutting is already tapering off in the Puget Sound and Grays Harbor districts. Increasing woods and mill operations in Oregon and operation of newly installed pulp mills in Washington will probably employ many of the people deprived of employ- ment by abandonment of sawmills in these two dis- tricts. A voluntary further reduction in the rate of cutting logs for sawmills would lessen the shock that will occur if cutting goes ahead at the current rate for a few more years until raw materials sud- denly become nonavailable. It would, however, be as difficult to obtain any voluntary reduction of cut in the overcutting districts as to increase pro- duction in the undercutting districts, which at present cannot compete with the other three in the principal markets. A regional economy based on maintaining a specified production is so exceedingly rigid that efforts to divert production to unde- veloped localities are strongly resisted, until absolute exhaustion of raw material compels such diversion. This is the major unsolved problem of the region.
Forest-Land Ownership
Stable Owrership Essential to Continuous-Production Management
Application of the sustained-yield principle would be far easier, other things being equal, on areas where only one ownership was involved. One of the major difficulties in the way of universal adop-
as.
Taste 40.—Past and assumed future cutting depletion of saw timber, and allowable transitional and ultimate annual cuts of saw timber under sustained-yield plan, in the Douglas-fir region
TT NR ee ee n— Oo — —n——
Past annua! cut Assumed future average annual cut in relation to 1925-33 average District and unit fone 1933 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 Million Million Million Million Million Puget Sound: board feet | board feet | board feet Percent board feet Percent board feet Percent iINorthehugetiSound i= sess oe eee ee 730 350 520 71 400 55 390 53 Central’Pugetss oun dis ee eee eee 1, 840 1, 030 1, 610 88 1, 130 61 620 34 SouthtbugetiSoundes 22 ei esee were to te 590 390 650 110 1, 190 202 550 93 Sa EN a ee 3, 160 1,770 2, 780 88 2, 720 86 1, 560 49 Grays)Harborssss= aes od Se eee ses ei se 1, 470 770 920 63 900 61 1, 150 78 Columbia River: Columbia River, Wash 620 640 795 128 870 140 290 47 Columbia River, Oreg--_--------- 1, 200 77 970 81 720 60 190 16 ONO a ee a ee ee ee 1, 820 1, 410 1, 765 97 1, 590 87 480 26 iWillametterRiverzas=- 2-6 sso ono fo ne sa es 770 470 770 100 1, 410 183 1, 625 211 Oregon Coast: INorthtOregonicoaSttess2-— = saa sese es saa as- 280 130 340 121 560 200 560 200 SouthtOregon'coast=2= === == oe nae ase 290 140 325 112 580 200 950 328 GROIN se Se ee 570 270 665 117 1, 140 200 1, 510 265 South Oregon: (WinpdUamR verges s2s eee eee es 30 20 30 100 120 400 475 1, 583 IVORUC RAV CLs eee wet ee ee ees ISL 80 50 70 88 110 138 200 250 FT Ot al eae nn ec Cle yen 110 70 100 91 230 209 675 614 Regions total eee eee ee ae one re See 7, 900 4, 760 | 7, 000 89 | 7,990 | 101 7, 000 89 | 1 1 | Average annual cut under sustained-yield plan WDistrictandeinit First transitional period Second transitional period Eten Towable Duration Mlowable Duration eae Million Million Million Puget Sound: board feet Years board feet Years board feet INOLtHeRUge tis OUN Geese ees te weed me Sa ee ee ee ee 420 70 320 70 570 Central Puget Sound _ 750 80 740 50 990 South Puget Sound__-__-___- 2 460 60 520 50 650 S10 tel] Bost te enieertat act tee = 1, 630 70 1, 580 55 2, 210 Grayssblan boris bestia ae eee ar eo Pe Pa ee oe 580 70 750 50 920 Columbia River: 480 60 440 60 600 570 50 500 60 670 1, 050 55 940 60 1, 270 1, 160 60 910 30 1, 230 Oregon Coast: INOLEDRO res ONICOAS t= seen es eae Se oe nae ake 350 60 410 60 640 SouthsOregoniconstaseee eet ae et Sree eee Seen eee 480 70 520 50 740 FT: 0 Le)] ene peteek ae epee et Noe EE Med 20 2 eee aoa 830 65 930 55 1, 380 South Oregon: Wim pPquagR iv ere as ee estes See oe as endo Senn se esto o se sesesassee 670 70 500 50 600 IROP TIGER Vereen ieee an on cae Sa eee see ea col lessee seston cee 320 50 200 100 470 ETO Ll eters car er een Nia. See ees Jb oee cone ne ees Stes 990 65 700 70 1,070 Regi omstotalmeesseeeeee ee a EIS eee oe ones eeeee eae cee 6, 240 70 5, 810 | 80 8, O80
tion of sustained-yield management in the Pacific Northwest is the present division of forest areas among many owners, both public and_ private
whose intentions in regard to management of the
123
areas vary widely. Except for the national forests, the Indian reservations, and the Washington State forests. there are very few large continuous blocks of timber land in one ownership. Even much
FIRST TRANSITIONAL PERIOD UNDER SUSTAINED-YIELD PLAN
Pee aga lee aaa
1925
ol ! é =: ---- [f= H I
SOUTH OREGON +
[eae
1953 1963 1973 1993 2003
YEARS
1933 1943 1983
Figure 39.—Past rates and assumed future rates of cutting compared with rates allowable under
sustained-yield management
their holdings in order tospread
|
| action | AVERAGE the chance of losses from fire | ANNUAL i
poaro | ANNY Re ai aa 5 — ALLOWABLE AVERAGE | and other causes. Private lands
FEET | ioos-a3) |withOUlSUSTAINERIVICID ANN VAL Comegs are irregularly intermingled
: : - r with lands in different kinds of
pes lie = public ownership. Moreover,
neighboring owners are unlikely to fall into the same general category as to intent in owner- ship. Some are holding timber- land speculatively, intending to sell it to the highest bidder; some own logging equipment and plan to log for the open market or for wood-using industries with which they have contracts; and some operate mills and also do their own logging. Although it is estimated that the 12 largest hold nearly half the privately owned saw-timber area in the region,
owners
other owners number about 32,000. To further complicate the situation, probably nowhere in the region is there a solid block of as much as 30,000 acres owned by one company or individual unalienated by other ownership. Figure 40 shows the complexity of the ownership
| ‘ he oe OREGON COAST =| pattern in a typical forested ale oa | ial county, Coos County, Oreg.
a SSS po) ee poe aaa _| | In earlier days, particularly
5 | in Washington and northern
i | | Oregon, mills were set up on
| ot= au the basis of operating only long
enough for full depreciation (usually about 20 years), and supplies of standing timber were acquired with the assur- ance that if the mill owner’s supply of timber was exhausted before the plant was depre- ciated the deficiency could be made up from the open log
market. At the same time, much timberland was purchased speculatively by buyers who anticipated that their timber would be needed by mills depend-
of the publicly owned land is in scattered parcels. Few timber operators carry more than a 20- year supply; and many owners have scattered
124
ent on the open log mar- ket. Many mills in the re- gion have no raw material of their own to guaran- tee future production. Of the three major lumber- manufacturing districts, Grays Harbor district has 20 percent of its installed mill capacity dependent on the open log market for raw material, Puget Sound district 50 percent, and Columbia River dis- trict 60 percent.
Few private owners are doing much to block up their forest-land proper- ties for continuous timber production. ‘True, some owners have continued to hold timberland after the merchantable timber has been cut, but usually for other reasons than growing and _ harvesting a second crop of timber. The trends in tax delin- quency and in forfeiture of forest land to the coun- ties indicate that no great area of recently cut-over land will remain in private ownership even so long as 20 years. Since the aver- age private forest property in this region contains a much greater area of old- growth timber than of second-growth timber, it would be difficult for many owners to put a sustained-yield plan into practice unless they acquired young and mid- dle-aged timber to bridge the gap between the last of their old growth
224146°—40——_9
: DOUGLAS S ane CO. &y il © 9 6) = & Ty NN gS Xf 4 . <6 OSmaze Tt N= ews Q VAL Ze f N= @ Dill fi Zalll " bOoSh= Oo = N=N EN-N oF Zilli ft zill goeosill @ QUE SR teeta Ne a ozilizoeozoeoZo0e ele] N=O07s=0=o0=0=e8O ele, Ozi-zozozozoZo0= ole] : D-OGO=06s=o6 n= ele, j i] Z o i E =. ® inasgeenaecn Ze qe qi He Feel JeLalle [ile [The one | T] ga We rere Fae [fe pe t ° ANY (Seley Sere eliaetae fef}e, a ak Net) fee a =00 Tp NS fof tence ea nom u@ mali ZOoOS=s og= = NEN Oogrzillll =N= td ovos0; HU ml Mde|* (SS AGNS SEN ZENEN fa All ram iii S= NERY OES Pe tirdil Zilli ZOoZ HINES NEN a \ NY seat gilt EN SISNES le Ee DOUGLAS d AZ CO:
\ i i [J Nonforest land YMAL A eae NJ oe EINES eeeccs] National forest Pol [ele| Revested grant lands LEA State land County land
Municipal
Small timber owners with €
ZAlll YES] less than 3,000 acres BEM dividual targe timber
owners
cuRRY co. / y,
,
Ficure 40.—Forest’land ownership map of Coos County, Oreg.
and the maturing of the second growth on the lands they now own. Selective logging of the remaining old-growth timber where feasible would greatly assist in the establishment of conditions more favor- able to sustained yield. For the region as a whole the forests are far from being in a normal condition, that is, a condition of even representation of the various age classes. Figure 41 shows the very un- even acreage distribution of the four major size classes of timber and figure 9 (p. 24) shows that of 10-year age classes for the types less than 20 inches d. b. h. In general, progress toward sustained yield on a strictly private-ownership basis would in- volve blocking up of private properties either through mergers or through direct acquisition.
In a large part of the region the ownership pattern is so complex that the initial step in establishing sustained-yield practice on private lands depends mainly upon the integration of policies and pro- cedures of the various public agencies administer- ing forest land. In the spruce-hemlock coastal districts, and possibly in the Douglas-fir forests in southwestern Washington, public lands are less important and the pattern of private land is such that the integrating of public lands and policies is not of vital concern.
A few private owners of forest land who have serious intentions of owning and operating their lands continuously are selecting the areas of better site and second-growth conditions from their cut- over land and dropping the remainder.
Factors Influencing Liquidation of Private Ownership
The principal reasons given by owners of most timberland other than farm land as to why they are not interested in holding forest property beyond the time when they can liquidate their present stumpage are as follows:
1. Taxes (ad valorem property tax and Federal estate tax).
2. Risk of loss of capital investments through fire, insects, wind throw, and disease.
3. Uncertainty of future markets for wood.
4. Other investment fields more attractive.
5. Difficulty of financing.
6. Extent of public-owned forests
TAXES 23
The tax problem of forestry in the Douglas-fir region, and elsewhere in the United States for that
126
STATE AND
SIZE CLASS NATIONAL FOREST
OTHER LANDS
WESTERN WASHINGTON
20+ in.D.B.H | 160 + Yeors
20 iniDIB\H| eon (eee lesen O —160 Yeors
6-20in.D.BH} }------4-------t------ ==
Ok="6)i0 DAB A igen {EP SORCs REeCC Ces Ha Saa
WESTERN OREGON
20+ in. D.B.H. 160+ Years }
20+in DBH O - 160 Yeors
6-20in.D BH.) |-------4-------
0 - 6in DBH) be------fo---2-- Janene en geo =e} S
2 3 4
Ficure 41.—Size-class distribution of timber in the Douglas-fir region
matter, is concerned chiefly with the property tax. The only other taxes which may handicap forestry more than other enterprises are those imposed on transfer of property at death. Under some cir- cumstances, continuity of ownership, which is generally conceded to be favorable to good forestry practices, may be interrupted by the necessity of paying the heavy inheritance and estate taxes levied by the State and Federal Governments. No systematic study has been made of this subject under present conditions, however, and therefore further discussion of the forest-tax problem will be confined to the property tax.
The weight of property taxation is in large meas- ure determined by the extent to which State and local governments rely upon the property tax to meet their revenue requirements, the need for local revenues as affected by organization and function- ing of local government, and the manner in which the property-tax burden is distributed among classes of property and among individual owners. What is the present situation in the Douglas-fir region of Oregon and Washington in respect to these factors?
23 For a detailed presentation of the forest tax problem refer to Miscellaneous Publication 218, (4). For a brief treatment, see Circular 358, (6).
‘Generally, throughout the country, the ratio of the property tax to the sum of all taxes has for many years tended to decrease. In the decade preceding 1930, however, this decrease was brought about, not by any decrease in property taxes but by increases in other taxes. Subsequent to 1930 there has been a marked decrease in the absolute amount of property taxes in some States. In Oregon the annual property-tax levies, which totaled in the neighborhood of $50,000,000 from 1928 to 1931, receded moderately to about $40,000,000 in 1935 and 1936 (79, p. 20).
Washington there was a very marked recession in
In
property-tax levies after 1933, brought about largely by the enactment of over-all limitations of 40 mills on urban and 25 mills on rural property (Iniat. Meas. 64, 1932), so that the total taxes collectible in 1930 of $81,000,000 became less than $54,000,000 in 1934, and only a little over $42,000,000 in 1936 (23, pp. 10 and 52).
This decrease in property taxes in Washington was accompanied by a large increase in excise In both Oregon and Washington, local governments now receive practically all the prop-
taxes.
erty taxes and the State relies upon other forms of Many duties performed in the past by the county are now performed by the State, for ex-
taxation.
ample, public welfare activities and the construc- Moreover the State has taken on new duties such as policing highways and
tion of primary highways.
protecting forest lands, including large areas for- feited to the counties for unpaid taxes. Neverthe- less, the State is turning over to local governmental agencies an increasingly large percentage of its re- ceipts from various sources, retaining some super- vision of their disbursement. Local pressure is in- creasing upon State and Federal Governments for additional subventions and upon the State for additional services.
In spite of the above-mentioned developments the need for local revenues is an important aspect of the forest-tax problem. The local governments still lean Little has been done to simplify the structure of local government in these States and to adapt it to the needs of the sparsely settled communities where forest lands
heavily on the property tax.
predominate. Asa result, the property-tax burden
on forest lands in certain districts is still needlessly
127,
high. The most noteworthy recent advance has been the consolidation of certain elementary school districts in Washington which has somewhat -re- duced costs of administration. On the whole, how- ever, Improvements in local government organiza- tion and functioning remains a task for the future.
Uncertainty because of irregularities in distribu- tion of the property-tax burden is often more serious than the absolute amount of this burden. Inclusion of forest lands within special jurisdictions, and arbi- trary shifting of the boundaries of these jurisdictions to transfer timber values from one district to an- other, have encouraged extravagance in some dis- tricts and in some others have made very high taxes necessary to preservation of the districts’ exist- ence. This situation is accentuated by fluctua- tions in tax rates made necessary in many instances by the narrow tax base.
Another tax hazard to forest growing is the in- equality of assessment in many counties. Piece- meal and usually inexpert appraisal of forest prop- erties characterizes existing assessment practice in both Oregon and Washington. Since many prop- erties extend across county lines, the county assess- ment system at its best can hardly take account of their true economic situation and income capacity Failure to choose assessors with proper technical qualifications and lack of State supervision are also important handicaps. While it should be recognized that some county assessors, in spite of great difficulties,
as units of operation or management.
have done excellent work, there is no question but that much remains to be done to improve the assess- ment of forest lands, thus removing another impor- tant element of uncertainty in the tax system as now administered. Other steps in tax administration, especially collection, also need strengthening, but assessment is the heart of the property-tax system and the one step in tax administration which has the most direct bearing on equity and certainty in forest taxation.
In January 1937 a report to the Governor and legislative assembly of Oregon (78) recommended reorganization of local government, with consolida- tion of small rural school districts and State assess- ment of timberlands under the direct administra- tion of the State Tax Commission. lation recommended in this report was not enacted.
However, legis-
To date no law has been enacted in this region to adjust the property tax by removing the excess bur- den (in comparison with that of an ordinary income tax) which it imposes on deferred-yield forest prop- erties. ‘The proof of this excess burden and precise definition of deferred yield have been given in a previous publication (4) of the Forest Service. In 1935, an adaptation of the deferred timber tax, one of the Forest Service proposals to this end, was con- sidered by a committee of the Oregon Legislature, but no legislation resulted.
In the meantime, however, laws were enacted (Oregon in 1929, Washington in 1931) withdraw- ing cut-over lands suitable for reforestation and not containing timber in merchantable quantities from the ordinary operation of the property-tax system. Lands classified under these laws pay an annual tax on the land (at specific amounts in Oregon and based on fixed assessments in Washington) and a yield tax on the timber products when cut. The purpose was to encourage holding and protecting cut-over and other forest lands suitable chiefly for growing forests and not containing timber in merchantable quantities at the time of classifica- tion. The specific tax was originally uniformly 5 cents throughout Oregon but was subsequently reduced to 4 cents east of the Cascades. It is not yet clear how large a portion of the merchantable stand may be left in selective cuttings without making the residual property ineligible for classi- fication under these laws. So far only insignifi- cant amounts of yield tax have been collected. In spite of certain inherent disadvantages (4), these laws have been beneficial in tending to main- tain private ownership of cut-over lands and the cooperative fire-protection system. It is too early to pass judgment on their effectiveness in attaining their other objectives.
TAX-REVERTED LANDS
Unquestionably improved administration of the laws relating to assessment of property and collec- tion of taxes would tend to prevent tax forfeituure. It would not entirely prevent such forfeiture in this region, however, because some of the cut-over land is so devoid of income possibilities that no one is likely to hold it and accept the responsibilities of private ownership no matter how light the carrying charges.
Tax-delinquent lands in Oregon and Washington revert to the county rather than to the State. No adequate plans for the management or other dispo- sition of these lands have been adopted in Oregon. In Washington, county-owned lands may be deeded to the State for State forests. A portion of the county lands have been transferred to the State and are under management. Local opposition to the transfer of tax-forfeited lands to the State has been voiced in parts of Oregon and Washington. Among the reasons given for this opposition are the following: (1) The lands should be restored promptly to the property-tax rolls and local govern- ment is in the best position to do this; (2) surrender of this land would be a surrender of home rule; (3) the tax equities of local governments in these lands would be lost or impaired; and (4) any profits in excess of the tax equities derivable from prompt sale after county acquisition should go to Transfer of these lands to State ownership may become more acceptable locally when it is realized that (1) some of the land
local governments.
is unsuited to private ownership; (2) the State is in better position than local governments to classify, dispose of, and manage such.lands; (3) legal pro- vision can be made for settling the tax equities of local governments and for subsequent contributions in lieu of taxes on lands dedicated to public owner- ship and use; (4) usually, sale of these lands for immediate profit is followed by early removal of liquidable assets and the land again reverts for unpaid taxes; (5) in general, the amounts recov- erable from the State settlement of tax equities exceed the potential profits from such sales as could be made by the counties in short
in
order. RISK OF LOSS OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT
The chances of loss by fire have in the past loomed large to the average owner of forest land in this region. In the section on depletion, it was stated that trees killed directly by fire and not salvaged composed but a small percentage of the annual depletion of saw-timber volume in the region during the 5-year period 1926-30, averag ing about 179 million feet a year on lands other than national forest of which nearly all was pri- vately owned; and that with the more mobile logging equipment now available much of this
material could be salvaged. The fire records used by the survey did not, however, include any catastrophic fires such as the Tillamook fire of 1933, losses from which have been only slightly It is undoubt- edly fear of such major conflagrations, which can occur in the region at any time, that causes many tmberland owners to drop their holdings after liquidating their stumpage and that perpetuates the practice of many timber companies of scattering
reduced through salvage operations.
their holdings over a considerable area.
No insurance company has offered to insure standing timber against loss by fire, but a recent study (20) indicates that forest fire insurance is feasible and could be a profitable undertaking. If forest fire insurance is made available to timber it undoubtedly — greatly opportunities for timber holding.
Risk of loss by insects, wind throw, etc. is not great in this region, although epidemic losses of considerable magnitude have occurred here at
owners will increase
long intervals in the past.
UNCERTAINTY OF FUTURE MARKETS FOR FOREST PRODUCTS
The uncertainty of the chances of selling timber 10, 20, 50, or more years from now naturally bothers the average owner. It appears to him problematical how long the Douglas-fir region will have a Nation-wide market for its large surplus. A large part of the Douglas-fir lumber production is shipped abroad; future possibilities of holding these markets are uncertain. Owners of timber- land not tributary to an open log market are particularly concerned as to their opportunity to sell their timber profitably to operators.
OTHER INVESTMENT FIELDS MORE ATTRACTIVE
The belief that other forms of investment will bring greater returns than holding timberland to grow a second crop has been one reason for failure to hold such land in this region as in other parts of the United States.
During the era of rapid development in the United States, there was no inducement for a timberland.owner to hold his land for a long period
in order to grow trees. It was more profitable to
liquidate investments in stumpage and buy new stumpage from the Government, timber specula- tors, or from homesteaders, in a new region. This, therefore, was the usual procedure of private timberland owners in all forest regions in the United States developed prior to those of the Pacific Coast. profits in stumpage, although the initial costs were low, have been dissipated by the heavy car- rying charges, as the period of speculative invest- ment was premature by a score or more of years
In the Douglas-fir region as a whole the
(as measured by the progress of depletion in the East and South).
DIFFICULTY OF FINANCING
Obtaining low-cost capital in sufficient amounts to carry timber for a sustained-yield operation is a The capital required for a manufacturing plant averages larger than elsewhere.
particularly serious problem in this region.
Fire-protection costs are high; risk of loss is great. ‘There is no intermediate grazing revenue as in the ponderosa pine region. With rough topography and much inaccessible country heavy expensive equipment is needed for logging including transportation.
of
markets outside the region results in large pro-
Dependence wood-working industries on duction units, the manufacture of high-quality products to offset high cost of transportation, and All these factors
combine to increase the amount of capital neces-
the carrying of large inventories.
sary to finance operations in this region. EXTENT OF PUBLIC-OWNED FORESTS
The proximity of publicly owned forest land may or may not be an obstacle to private owners in setting up sustained-yield plans, depending on Neither the cut from the national forests in this region nor
type of public ownership and on locality.
that from Oregon & California Railroad land- grant timberlands has been large enough to influ- ence cutting of private stumpage in the past. In southern Oregon and even in parts of the Willa- mette River district, private owners forming plans for sustained yield will have to be guided by the policies governing administration of Oregon & California Railroad timber under the sustained- yield law of 1937.
policies as to sale of timber on State school lands
In western Washington future
will be an important factor in the situation. In- creasing county ownership not only of cut-over land but, in southern Oregon, of commercial tim- berland is one of the obstacles to continued holding of land by private individuals. It is impossible to foretell at this time the future timber-sale policies of the 38 counties in the region. Variation in policy among counties is one of the main reasons why tax-delingeunt forest land should revert to the State rather than to the county. So long as counties continue to sell timberland, whether second growth or old growth, at prices below the average price at which private owners can sell, or even below the assessed value of private timberland, sustained-yield practice by private owners will be hindered.
Areas Favorable for Private Ownership
As a general rule the opportunities for sustained- yield management of private timberland are greater for the pulpwood-producing areas of the coastal belt of Washington and Oregon than for areas suitable only for growing saw timber. Very prob- ably, much more than half the forest land held by private owners for continuous timber production will be located in the spruce-hemlock zone in western Clallam, western Jefferson, Grays Harbor, and Pacific Counties, Wash., and in western Clatsop, Tillamook, and Lincoln Counties, Oreg. Saw-timber areas equally attractive for the invest- ment of private capital exist, but are limited in extent. Present plans of a few large operators indicate that considerable saw-timber area may be operated on a continuous-production basis. It is likely that much saw-timber-producing land bor- dering large agricultural areas will be privately operated for continuous production.
The pulpwood-producing areas are practically all of very high site quality, mostly sites I and II. They are now covered with good stands of pulp species. By and large, the topography and ground conditions are such that logging is not difficult, and offer better possibilities for light selection cut- ting than those of most Douglas-fir areas in other parts of the region. The spruce-hemlock zone has a lower fire hazard, at least from the standpoint of climatic factors, than exists elsewhere in the region. Here the opportunity for integrated management
1S?)
is good, the better grade high value logs going to the saw and veneer mills and the less valuable logs used for pulp.
Until now pulp manufacturers in the Douglas-fir region, with few exceptions, have owned relatively little forest land in proportion to their investments in plants and to their annual wood requirements. On the whole, the pulp industry has ridden along on the back of the lumber industry so far as obtain- ing supplies of raw material is concerned. In the course of logging for Douglas-fir and ‘‘cedar’’ sawlogs the lumber industry produces more hemlock. logs than are needed for the sawmills, and the pulp in- dustry has depended to a large extent on these open- market hemlock logs. Relatively small areas of timberland owned by pulp companies have been used as sources of logs with which to depress the open-market price of hemlock logs. When the types in which Douglas-fir and ‘“‘cedar”’ occur in quan- tities sufficient to justify logging for sawlogs are cut out—a condition that will soon be reached in north- ern Washington—logging for hemlock alone will begin: when this time comes the pulp companies will probably have to obtain their raw material through logging operations of which pulpwood sup- plies are the main object, and may find it necessary to own and control more timberland than they do now.
Integrated utilization, low fire hazard, high an- nual growth per acre, not much agricultural devel- opment or many public improvements to date and therefore no cause for high-tax rates, make these areas in the spruce-hemlock zone more promising for continuous production and ownership by priv- ate capital than any other areas in the region.
Current Trend to County Ownership
Most of the changes in ownership of forest land now taking place in this region are resulting from county foreclosure of tax-delinquent lands. On January 1, 1934, about 657,000 acres of land was county-owned, of which 630,000 acres was forest land. Since then the area of land foreclosed by Oregon counties has been increasing each year. A comparison of the county-owned-land situation in eight counties of Oregon in 1932-33 and 1935-36 (table 41) shows that in this short period the acre- age foreclosed by the counties more than doubled,
TasLe 41.—County-owned areas } in selected counties of western Oregon as of 1932-33 and as of 1935-36, by generalized cover type ®
Se a aa aS SSS ee
Commercial conllen wires of diameter Hardwoods: District, county, and date vo Cut-overs, | noncommer- All cover etc.3 cial forest, types 20+ inches | 6-20 inches | 0-6 inches | nonforest | Columbia River: Clatsop: Acres | Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres VIG 51932 eee eee eee he Sa et 4, 500 11, 400 3, 900 4, 900 13, 400 38, 100 Pui ltys1 93 6 eee enna neers tee ee ee eee 9, 700 17, 100 6, 800 12, 000 16, 100 61, 700 Columbia: April 1932 400 6, 400 3, 000 17, 900 1, 300 29, 000 uly a1 93 6 eee een err ee ee ee 900 | 10, 800 7, 300 | 61, 800 2, 900 83, 700 Oregon coast: Tillamook: ARUDIE HOSP Ye 8 pe er ae ee eae 16, 600 11, 700 22, 600 17, 900 6, 800 75, 600 October 936i Stara ae sete oe ae eS 27, 800 16, 700 23, 400 | 61, 300 11, 000 140, 200 Coos: Vi aye 933 Scene ree ee ae 5, 300 7, 000 1, 500 1, 600 1, 900 17, 300 October 1935 15, 700 29, 000 | 8, 000 13, 800 5, 900 72, 400 Willamette River: Benton: TAUNAY) SCRA VG os si ae et pare Pee a 2, 000 700 | 1, 500 700 300 5, 200 Marche) 93 6 see eese eae os ns We Sk ee 7, 700 2, 200 2, 800 5, 400 1, 400 19, 500 Lane: § May 1933___ 7, 900 7, 400 500 6, 600 3, 200 25, 600 May 1936 30, 200 15, 800 | 3, 000 17, 200 6, 400 72, 600 South Oregon: | Douglas: 5 Septemberelos2eeesto eee case se a 2 ee ee 25, 600 6, 600 2, 100 5, 800 2, 200 42, 300 Decembergl 935 wes mesma te ater ees ERS ee yy oe 109, 900 19, 800 | 4, 900 12, 100 5, 200 151, 900 Josephine: | VI ‘es yp. 33 Spepeemee nate cates eats ese ae eae NS 22, 700 | 12, 900 | 5, 600 6, 300 3, 300 50, 800 Septembersl936Saoeses ss ee aes ee ee ee 29, 100 13, 900 | 6, 000 7, 700 3, 500 60, 200 | Total: L932 Bot eee ee aa nas BE mae Eerie Se eee 85, 000 64, 100 40, 700 61, 700 32, 400 283, 900 LOB 5-3. tere mers tase a IL Va SE) Tetra ad Le i orl 231, 000 125, 300 62, 200 191, 300 52, 400 662, 200 |
1 Acreages rounded off to nearest hundred.
Areas within agricultural zones of Benton, Lane, and Tillamook Counties not included.
2 For Clatsop and Tillamook Counties, where extensive fires occurred in 1933, new cover-type data were obtained in 1936 for use in the 1936 computa- tions shown here. For other counties, cover-type data taken in 1932-33 were used in the 1935-36 computations, no material changes in cover type having
taken place in the interval.
3 Lands cut over since 1920, old cut-overs not restocking, and deforested burns. 4 Data include 32,188 acres deeded by owners to Tillamook County to save costs of tax-forfeiture proceedings,
5 Data include some small areas situated in Oregon coast district.
even without counting in the 32,000 acres of tax- delinquent land deeded directly to Tillamook County by the owners to save the county foreclosure costs. In Washington, there were no foreclosures between 1933 and 1936. Where the cut-over lands are physically unsuited for agriculture the rate of reversion will progressively increase as the old- growth timber area is reduced and tax pressure on it increases. Some counties will acquire consider- able areas of merchantable timber through tax foreclosure. Unless the States liberalize tax-delin- quency laws or county officials drastically reduce assessments on cut-over lands, the acreages of county-owned land will greatly increase in the next two decades.
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Washington has adopted legislation whereby forest land acquired by counties through tax rever- sion can be deeded to the State and managed by it for the benefit of the county, with the provision that the State will be reimbursed for the cost of protection and management from receipts accru- ing through the sale of products raised on these So far none of the Oregon counties has made any attempt to manage forest land acquired
lands.
through tax foreclosure, and probably none of them can afford to undertake adequate manage- ment. Oregon might well follow the Washington precedent.
If Oregon does nothing to facilitate transfer of
reverted lands from county to State ownership and
Washington continues to acquire only part of the forest lands forfeited to the counties, there will be no reduction in the area of county-owned forest land and in fact it will increase in practically every county in the region. In Washington and north- ern Oregon the areas reverting to the counties im- mediately will be principally cut-over lands with or without reproduction, and within the next decade or two these will be supplemented with some remote and low-grade commercial timber- land. In southern Oregon the reverting areas will include not only cut-over land and second-growth land but considerable areas of old-growth timber. Extensive public purchases of forest land in the near future would probably retard the reversion of tax-delinquent land to the counties. County- owned forest lands will consist of scattered areas for many years but in certain counties may eventu- ally be consolidated into blocks. Owing to de- creasing tax bases and to the difficulty of adminis- tering an irregular patchwork of lands, many counties will undoubtedly sell any or all of their lands at almost any price, seeing only the oppor- tunity for immediate cash return, overlooking the greater future county burdens involved in such sales. Other counties, more far-sighted, may adopt policies designed to hold their lands and keep them off the speculative market. Since much of the tax-reverted land in the southern Oregon counties carries merchantable timber, it is possible that these counties will give more consideration to holding and managing their forest lands than will the northern counties. If the States fail to assume responsibility for the county-owned lands, the in- dividual counties should direct their efforts towards permanent forest management of these lands.
All county revenue in both Oregon and Wash- ington is obtained from the general-property tax. Funds raised by this method have barely sufficed for carrying on the ordinary functions of govern- ment, and at present the only statutory method by which counties can substantially increase their income is to raise property-tax rates to points that in many instances would be confiscatory. Under these circumstances it is doubtful that the counties will spend very much for administration of their forest land, particularly in western Washington and in northwestern Oregon where county-owned
132
forest land consists chiefly of areas either recently cut over or occupied by small second growth. So long as counties have to provide road and school services and are limited to the general-property tax for revenue, it will be increasingly difficult for private owners to carry timberland, particularly in the counties where there is but little industry and the farm areas are so small and so poor that the taxes they pay are inadequate to meet the costs of government they create. Under these circum- stances county spokesmen will continue to assert that public ownership of large areas of timberland is contributing greatly to county fiscal problems, overlooking the fact that if these same areas of publicly owned land had been turned over to private ownership many years ago they would only have aggravated the problem of oversupply of private timber, and many of them would un- doubtedly have reverted to the counties long ago.
Integration of Public Lands and Policies Desirable
Except in the spruce-hemlock districts just men- tioned, and possibly in the Douglas-fir forests in southwestern Washington, sustained-yield practice would be chiefly a matter of integrating policies and procedures of the various public agencies adminis- tering forest land.
Although there may be individual instances of sustained-yield practice on private land under the present conditions of unstable private and mixed public ownership, adoption of such practice on a complete region-wide basis is impossible so long as these conditions prevail. Most private owners will find it difficult to practice sustained-yield manage- ment unless on the basis of cooperative arrange- ments with a governmental agency having timber and the authority to enter into long-time agree- ments.
Under a liquidation program an operator might prefer that the publicly owned timber upon which he partly depends for raw material be controlled by several different public agencies; but under a sustained-yield program the average operator en- tering into a cooperative agreement involving fu- ture supplies for his mill and the handling of his land would prefer to deal with one public agency rather than several. In addition, therefore, to a merging of private properties, some consolidation of
public forest lands would be desirable in the further- ance of sustained-yield management in this region. Reblocking of federally owned timberland is feasi- ble. A merging of State and county-owned timber- land under unified administration is desirable. If the latter is not possible, at least a uniform set of policies, rules, and regulations should be adopted for the handling of all county-owned and State- owned timberland.
Public Acquisition Programs
Because of lack of funds, Federal and State ac- quisitions of forest land in this region have been too small to alter materially the production policy of the lumber industry. Forest Service acquisition has been largely a matter of trading merchantable timber on national forests for cut-over lands in the near vicinity of the national forests, and has been scattered throughout the western part of the two States. Oregon created the Elliott State Forest by exchanging scattered State lands within national forests for a solid block of national-forest land. Washington has blocked up its two major mature- timber areas by the same method, one in Jefferson and one in Snohomish County, and is blocking up an area of cut-over land in the central part of the State. In the latter case the State had purchased about 40,000 acres by the fall of 1936, at a cost of 50 cents per acre, using utility bonds bearing 1 percent interest. It is planned that this particular State forest shall ultimately be extended to include ap- proximately 100,000 acres. Under legislation that provides for transfer of tax-reverted land in Wash- ington from counties to State ownership, about 300,000 acres was transferred as of August 1938 and an additional 50,000 acres later in 1938.
The Federal Government may be considered to have two purposes in acquiring additional forest land, (1) consolidation of Federal ownership within the existing national-forest boundaries and (2) promotion of sustained-yield management on all forest lands. The existing national forests, in the region contain approximately 2 million acres of alienated land, by far the larger part of which is best suited to multiple-use forest management. Acquisition of this land would be logical, for ad- ministrative efficiency. The second purpose has greater significance and should receive primary con-
sideration in an acquisition program. In many
133
cases establishment of new national-forest units (both additions to existing national forests and new forests) through acquisition will be necessary to ob- tain sustained-yield management even on a basis of cooperation with private timber companies, unless outright subsidization is resorted to.
Enlarged public acquisition of second-growth and mature timber is advocated by many lumbermen because it would tend to stabilize stumpage prices, check the liquidation of private timber at excessive rates of cutting, and tend to hold back the cutting of second-growth timber, much of which is now in its period of maximum growth and which will be needed more in the future, when the present old- growth stands approach exhaustion. Overproduc- tion because of “‘distressed’’ stumpage has been a chronic problem of the West Coast lumber industry for the last 15 years; timber purchases to establish sustained-yield management will assist in solving it, From the public point of view, emphasis should be placed on purchases that will make industrial de- velopments permanent rather than upon those that will merely reduce the quantity of timber in unstable ownership.
The region contains 173 billion board feet of timber of availability class I in private ownership. If this timber were cut at a rate of about 7% billion feet per year, it would last about 23 years. ‘The- oretically it will all be cut before much class II or class III timber is cut. Actually this probably will not happen; but it can be assumed that not much class II and III timber will be cut until nearly all the class I timber is gone, which would mean that timber of classes I] and III would have to wait from 20 to 25 years to begin to be marketed. At the present time the pressure to liquidate results for the most part in cutting of class I timber, since that is the only kind for which the return is greater than the cost of operation. The class III timber in private ownership is so limited in extent and so remote from markets that it will have but little influence on liquidation of private stumpage. It is gradually passing into county ownership through tax delinquency, and this trend may be expected to continue. Any purchases by Federal agencies of class III timber- land should be for special purposes, such as recrea- tion or stream protection, rather than for manage- ment for timber production.
The 173 billion board feet of privately owned timber in availability class I has a market value probably in the neighborhood of $400,000,000. Complete public acquisition is obviously impracti- cable for fiscal reasons. Moreover, any large Federal timber acquisitions would disturb the sound purchase sustained-
Hence a that possible through minimum
tax base. one
counties’ program is will make yield management acquisition.
Maximum effectiveness can be obtained through locating timber purchases (both old-growth and second-growth) on areas where there is no con- siderable exploitation at present but where major exploitation is in prospect in the near future. First choices for acquisition under a cooperative sustained-yield plan would be in working circles where practically all the timber remaining in private ownership would be committed to such a management plan. Timber purchased could be of either availability class I or class II; class II timber would cost far less. If owners would agree to cut under a sustained-yield management plan, which ordinarily would mean an annual cut smaller than under liquidation, the plan would schedule cutting on their lands first in return for assurance that a stumpage supply would later be available to them from the publicly acquired lands.
In any working circle that might be selected for such acquisition there would probably be some timber owned by mill owners and some owned by nonoperating owners. Persons owning both saw- mills and timber would be expected to have a greater interest in a cooperative sustained-yield project than the nonoperating (very often specu- lative) owners. Nonoperating owners might not be interested at all in such a plan, since under present circumstances there is no such financial inducement in sustained-yield management as Usually their timber would have to be purchased, involving
purchase of both class I and class II timber.
is offered by prompt liquidation.
134
The possibilities of purchase under this scheme are greater in Oregon than in Washington. In the remaining old-growth timber stands in western Washington that are primarily valuable for sawlos production, liquidation has gone so far that the bulk of the remainder could be bought only at high prices including depreciation charges for the facilities already installed to cut and manufacture this timber at rates materially in excess of sustained- yield cutting allowances. This is not true of the large areas of pulp-timber types in the coastal belt in Washington, but the owners of much of this timber may be expected to operate it on a strictly private sustained-yield basis.
Federal timber purchases should be used to con- vert existing forest enterprises to a sustained-yield basis where this is still possible, and to discourage the installation of new liquidating ventures. Pur- chases should preferably be made on areas where there are definite possibilities for cooperative sus- tained-yield management. It is estimated that approximately 30 billion board feet could be purchased to advantage on this basis at the present time. Purchases that would effect complete public ownership of forest resourees in a working circle should be undertaken only when cooperative management has been found impracticable and then only if the working circle has particular importance for industrial stability.
Federal timber purchases for the promotion of sustained-yield management are an investment of Federal funds that would result in substantial local benefits in the Douglas fir-region. The counties in which such purchases are made will eventually be in a much sounder financial condition by reason of the industrial stability obtained than if the present liquidation process is permitted to run its course. However, such purchases adversely affect the im- mediate fiscal position of the counties, by removing mature timber from the tax rolls. Some plan to reimburse the counties, during the adjustment period, for tax losses thus caused is apparently necessary.
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A Regional Forest Program
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ERMANENT forest the Douglas-fir region might be achieved by (1) public regulation, (2) public acquisition of forests, or (3) cooperation between public and private forest agencies to consummate sustained- yield plans. It is extremely unlikely that any one of these methods will be used exclusively; probably two or all three of them will be combined. Past progress toward stable forest-land use has resulted principally from legislation piece-meal, an essen- tially slow process. Permanent forest management will not be at-
management in
tained by any of these means until the people of the region thoroughly understand the inevitable conse- quence of continuing present practices and the results to be expected from sustained-yield manage- ment. program is to make these facts clear to the public, pointing out the full significance of sustained yield and the problems involved in putting it into effect.
Therefore, the first step in a regional forest
This is a task of great magnitude. In view of the economic and social values involved, it should be the function of a technical organization financed by Federal and State forest agencies with the coopera- tion of private owners’ trade associations. Existing inventory, growth, and depletion data gathered in the forest survey are sufficient for all the initial calculations.
Any program for making the forests of the region continuously productive, and thereby assuring to industrial communities a reasonably stable supply of raw material, conflicts with urgent present de- Some districts
undercutting. The overcutting districts possess
mands. are overcutting, others natural geographic advantages, established indus- tries, and comparatively large populations; the undercutting districts lack geographic advantages,
135
Ke
have few forest industries, are sparsely populated, and have timber supplies large in quantity but, on the average, of poorer quality than the timber now being cut. Owing to the excellent water-transpor- tation facilities, most industrial communities can draw on more adjacent forest territory for raw ma- terial than can communities in inland forest regions. This tends toward concentric cuttings around eas- ilv accessible and established sawmill communities, and as a result, there is extreme overcutting in this tributary territory and undercutting elsewhere.
Sawmills can be dismantled in a cut-over district and logging equipment moved without too great a sacrifice, but not so community development. When schools, water and sewer systems, and other civic improvements are abandoned because of the approach of timber depletion and industrial disin- tegration the taxpayers and in fact the entire popu- lation suffer a heavy loss.
The immediate need is to shift from liquidation to sustained-yield forest management on areas without The wood- using industries of overcutting localities endeavor
where forest conditions are favorable, dislocation of labor and commerce.
to maintain existing rates of production even in the face of certain radical curtailment within one or two decades. immediate application of sustained-yield practices
The reduction of cut involved in
seems too sacrificial of local interests, in spite of the known consequences of failure to do so. Obviously, stabilization of ownership and other economic readjustments are necessary before sus- tained-yield management can be generally adopted in the region. Application of a region-wide sus- tained-yield program would be gradual. Most of the forest land that should be used for continu- ous production of forest crops could, however,
through concerted action by industry and gov- ernment, be put under sustained-yield manage- ment during the next 25 to 50 years.
Future Situation [f Present Trends Continue
If present trends continue, it is predicted that sawlog production will decline greatly during the next two or three decades in the Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and Columbia River districts which are now being overcut, and will increase corre- spondingly in the Willamette River, Oregon coast, and south Oregon districts. Determined efforts will be made to maintain industries in present locations, by drawing on distant localities for raw material. compete sharply for the remaining old-growth
Well-established wood-using plants will timber within economic transportation limits. Logging of large second growth in accessible loca- tions when it is making maximum growth will in- crease alarmingly. Tax delinquency probably will increase greatly on young second-growth and recently cut-over areas in the northern and cen- tral parts of the region and on old-growth areas in the southern part. put of lumber and other sawmill products is expected for a few years, followed by a gradual decrease of such production accompanied by an in-
An increase in regional out-
crease in wood-pulp and plywood production. The transition from railroad and donkey-engine meth- ods of logging to the more flexible truck and tractor methods seems certain to proceed at an accelerated pace. With all its disadvantages clear cutting will undoubtedly continue, but selection cutting of Cut-
ting out of the old growth on private lands in cer-
various types will become more prevalent.
tain localities may be expected, particularly in north-central Washington and northern Oregon. Fire protection upon the increasing acreage of highly hazardous cut-over lands will undoubtedly become progressively poorer unless State and Federal appropriations are increased. Fire-protective associations are likely to concen-
greatly
trate on protecting the remaining private com-
mercial saw timber, leaving protection of young
second-growth and cut-over land to the States. The
efforts to convert forest land to grazing use, par-
increase of cut-over area will stimulate
Re)
ticularly in southern and western Oregon.
This activity may not be confined to deforested lands; misguided attempts may be made to convert areas of second-growth and old-growth timber to graz- ing land.
Recreational use of public forests, and demands for restricting commercial use of recreational areas, are increasing greatly, and it may be necessary to dedicate additional areas of Federal, State, and county forest land to this use.
Canning and processing of farm products, metal- lurgical industries stimulated by Federal power projects, pulp and paper manufacture, and other industries will undoubtedly expand within the near future and absorb some of the workers released by the decrease in lumbering in some parts of the re- gion. It is expected that an increase will take place in local remanufacture of lumber, facilitating dis- posal of the lower grades and giving additional employment.
Considerable forest land now privately owned will pass into public ownership through tax delin- quency. Many counties, particularly in Oregon, apparently are reluctant to transfer tax-reverted lands to the State or Federal Government, hoping that these lands, somehow, may be restored to the tax rolls. As time passes and these lands increase in extent, county governments will realize that oppor- tunities for permanently restoring tax-reverted forest to the tax rolls are very limited.
Stabilizing Forest-Land Ownership
The following program, although not necessarily a complete solution of the problem created by the instability of forest-land ownership, would if adopted vastly improve the situation:
1. All Federal forest land chiefly valuable for commercial timber production should be managed under a uniform policy.
2. Tax-forfeited lands should be promptly clas- sified as to most suitable use and ownership. Forest lands judged suitable for public use and ownership should be transferred to the State forest agency, and those within national-forest boundaries and nation- al-forest exchange limits should then be transferred to the Forest Service in exchange for Federal lands inside State-forest units.
3. Federal, State, and private holdings should be exchanged and consolidated to improve the ex- tremely patchy pattern of forest-land ownership now common in the region.
4. Private timberland owners, both operating and nonoperating, should be urged to merge their holdings so as to form properties of a size and com- pactness that will promote sound financing and efficient management for continuous production.
5. Federal loans on private timberlands should be made only to those private owners who agree to adopt and maintain sustained-yield practices; these loans should be made at low interest rates and with long term amortization privileges. The loaning policies of all Federal agencies should be coordi- nated accordingly. All borrowers should be re- quired to carry forest-fire insurance if it becomes available at equitable rates.
6. Defects and inequities in existing State and Federal tax laws as these affect forest lands should be corrected. should be given by State and county planning boards and by chambers of commerce to recom- mendations developed by the Forest ‘Taxation In- quiry of the Forest Service (4).
7. As a basis for intelligent land-use planning, classification of rural lands should be undertaken immediately by Federal and State agencies, acting jointly. Following this classification, adequate zon- ing laws should be enacted, and should be effec- tively administered.
With this purpose in view, study
Public Acquisition of Forest Land
Because of the instability of private forest-land ownership, it appears that the most direct way to restore and to maintain forest-land productivity in this region is through expanded public owner- ship. Theoretically, the Federal, State, and county governments should participate in a joint public- acquisition program. ‘The financial inability of the counties to administer forest. land adequately shifts their share of the burden to the other agencies. The States of Oregon and Washington have only limited funds for acquiring and administering addi- tional forest land. In view of this region’s pre- eminence in the Nation as regards forest resources, the Federal Government is justified, as a matter of national welfare, in assuming leadership in acquisi- tion of forest land here.
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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
A guiding policy of Federal acquisition should be to acquire forest land unlikely to remain in private ownership that could advantageously be adminis- tered as national-forest sustained-yield units, in cooperation with owners of neighboring land if possible, and for which State acquisition is not in prospect.
The program should be well rounded, including virgin-timber areas, second-growth areas, and de- forested land. Choice of areas to be acquired should be governed by the following purposes: Stabilization of ownership and encouragement of sustained-vield management; consolidation of na- tional forests for more effective administration and protection; protection of watersheds; prevention of premature cutting of second-growth forests; re- habilitation of denuded and deteriorated lands; and encouragement of better forest practice on the part of operators who do not intend to hold their lands for continuous production—the last to be accomplished by acquiring only the cut-over lands left in good condition where this is possible, or by discriminating against abused land in the price paid for it.
In planning acquisition, a territorial distribution of areas should be made between the States and the Federal Government, the latter assuming responsi- bility for areas that cannot be handled effectively by the States.
Any Federal acquisition program would be con- ditioned on the funds made available. It is highly desirable that sufficient Federal money be made available to attain all the objectives listed. Land now deforested could be obtained very cheaply and a considerable acreage of this type of land is a Federal responsibility. Second-growth timber- land would be more expensive, but would be cheap compared with old-growth timberland, and should be acquired in large quantity. For the most part this would involve purchasing lands outside existing national-forest boundaries, leaving acquisition of alienated lands inside national-forest boundaries to be effected through exchange.
If Federal funds sufficient to acquire 25 to 35 billion feet of saw timber within the next 5 to 10 years are made available, a Federal program should be set up to control overproduction in the Douglas- fir lumber industry by the methods outlined in the
preceding section. Up to now there has been only one large-scale Federal purchase of old- growth timber; most Federal acquisition has been by exchange. Exchange of national-forest timber for private cut-over land in good condition should be continued and expanded. In the long run it should result in careful cutting of privately owned old-growth timber within the national forests. The boundaries of national forests should be extended so as to enlarge the working area within which properly cut-over private land can be exchanged for Federal timber.
STATE GOVERNMENTS
An urgent phase of the State forest-land-acquisi- tion program is the acquisition by both States of timber strips along main highways. This should be carried out immediately. Whatever the ulti- mate plan for handling tax-forfeited forest lands may be, the States should at least insist that such county-owned lands as border highways, are traversed by good fishing streams, or possess other recreational features be transferred from the counties to the States. Both States should acquire more ocean frontage, not only to reserve more beach land for public recreational use but also to control development that would destroy present vegetative cover and result in serious sand-dune encroachment.
The State of Washington should continue to acquire State forests from private owners, by the utility-bond method or otherwise. In western Washington there are several large areas of cut- over land of high site quality, both with and with- out second growth, that could advantageously be blocked into State forests. The State might adopt an exchange system similar to that of the Forest Service and trade the timber on some of its scat- tered lands for carefully logged land inside the boundaries of existing and proposed State forests This would involve some changes in existing legis- In Oregon there does not seem to be much chance that any
lation governing disposal of State land.
considerable amount of State money will be allotted for direct forest-land acquisition in the near future.
The prompt setting up, if only on paper, of sev- eral State forest acquisition units in both States is
strongly urged. In many places large areas of
138
forest land have reverted to county ownership and additional large areas are almost sure to do so. Most of this land is obviously unsuited to private ownership and use. Scattered among the reverted areas are numerous small parcels of private land that cannot be operated independently on a sus- tained-yield basis. These parcels are held by persons interested not in managing the land for continuous forest production but in liquidating the forest capital; they include forest operators winding up their affairs in these localities and individuals gainfully employed in nonforest in- dustries. Tentative boundaries could be set up now around groups of such holdings, each group composing an area sufficiently large for an eco- nomic administrative unit, say about 100,000 acres. The boundaries need not be extended to include all parcels of land that may soon come into State ownership. Such action would impress upon the people that the State was planning to give these lands a definite management status as soon as finances would permit it, thus stimulating transfer to the State of county lands within such units.
COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
No sound reason appears for recommending any county forest-acquisition program other than for Coun- ties have not evidenced the consistent policy or the financial ability that would justify such a recom- mendation. ‘The frequent changes in local officers and policies and the constant struggle to finance existing local public services, owing to dependence
small parks needed by rural communities.
upon general-property taxes exclusively, prevent the counties from following a long-term, consistent program of management such as is required for proper forest administration and from undertaking the expense of such administration. In this region natural operating units overlap county boundaries, making it impractical for counties to undertake to protect or manage forests. Administration, par- ticularly protection, is more economical if spread over large areas. In view of these considerations, the counties would be better off in the long run if they conveyed their tax-forfeited forest lands to the State and the State made contributions to the
counties in lieu of taxes on lands of this category
dedicated as State forests. However, if the States will not assume the responsibility of managing the tax-forfeited forest lands the counties will be faced with the job. Any county funds available will be needed more for protecting and managing present and prospective tax-forfeited lands than for pur- chase of additional forest land.
For the same reasons no broad program of forest acquisition is recommended for municipalities.
Public Regulation of Forest-Land Use
The necessity for public regulation of forest- land use results from the failure of private initiative to check the abuses that follow unrestricted ex- ploitation. For lands that remain hereafter in private ownership there must be some regulation of methods of cutting and fire protection that will protect the public interest.
Methods of Cutting
Methods of cutting should be employed that provide for prompt and certain reforestation of cut- over lands. This involves following the silvi- cultural practices embodied in the rules adopted under the National Recovery Act and later revised and presented in the Forest Practice Handbook (71). Adherence of forest owners to the principles embodied in these rules should be made obliga- tory, as an initial step.
The choice of method should be determined by the physical characteristics of the area and the age, composition, and condition of the stand. In some instances selective cutting would be chosen in others clear cutting.
In selective cutting, a stand of positive value should be reserved.
Areas clear cut in any 1 year should be limited to such size that they can be reseeded by adjoining timber. The potential source of reseeding, whether it be a strip left along creek, ridge, highway, or property line or a body of timber awaiting cutting, should be at least 300 feet wide and should be left standing until the cut-over area has restocked.
Slash Disposal
Better slash disposal on clear-cut areas is needed, Approved methods (7/) should if necessary be re- quired by legislation.
139
The fire hazard must be controlled on areas logged selectively. Studies are now under way to determine suitable methods of abating the hazard from slashings; the results should be put into prac- tice as soon as available.
Sustained Yield
The ultimate solution of the forest problem in this region is institution of sustained-yield forest man- agement on all commercial forest land regardless of ownership. It is highly desirable that sustained- yield plans for all the forest areas be formulated at once, because of the possible effect on cutting of
public timber, mergers of private properties, estab-
lishment of new industrial plants, State legislative action, construction of public improvements, etc.
Restriction of Cutting
All timber on public forest lands, Federal, State, or county, now reserved or to be reserved exclu- sively for intensive recreational use should be omit- ted from sustained-yield calculations and reserved from cutting except for salvage. A comprehensive study of forest-recreation needs is now being con- ducted by the Forest Service and is expected to indicate future needs for recreation.
Except for thinnings, no second-growth timber in public. ownership should be cut and no privately owned second growth that is part of a sustained- yield unit should be cut so long as available old- growth timber may be supplied at costs reasonably comparable to costs of operating the second growth.
Integration of any measures taken for (1) stabili- zation of forest-land ownership, (2) public acquisi- tion of forest land, and (3) enactment of regulatory legislation would assist in the consummation of the sustained-yield plans.
Forest Protection
With an enlarging acreage of cut-over land and a growing use of the forests by the public for recrea- tion, the Douglas-fir region is facing an increasingly Particu- larly outside the national forests, efforts must be
difficult problem of forest-fire protection.
redoubled to keep losses within reasonable bounds. The fire codes of both States are very specific and
with minor additions would be adequate to meet present conditions, but should be modified as con- ditions change. The great needs in fire protection are stricter enforcement of the existing laws and more money to finance an adequate protective system.
Some of the specific steps necessary to advance forest protection are as follows:
1. The wild lands outside public forests should be classified to determine the major areas chiefly val- uable for forest purposes and requiring protection. Forest-protective agencies should then confine their efforts to these lands, and other agencies such as rural fire departments should be held responsible for the protection of the intervening agricultural and farm-woodland territory.
2. Following land classification, there should be land use legislation to prevent attempts to use forest land for agricultural settlement, since such uneco- nomic use of submarginal land is sure in this region to increase the fire hazard to adjoining forests.
3. In anticipation that the private timberland owners’ contribution toward protection will dimin- ish as the area of virgin forest diminishes, the State should assume a greater share in the protection of county and private lands and ultimately have en- tire jurisdiction over all forest protection outside Federal holdings. State appropriations should therefore be materially increased, to intensify the present protection and law enforcement.
4. Through educational effort and otherwise, better compliance with the forest-protection laws must be brought about and these laws must be more strictly enforced in the lower courts.
5. Probably the greatest technical weakness of the forest protection on private lands is in the methods of burning slashings and subsequently pro- tecting logged-off lands. There is need for much progress here, particularly in developing methods for abating the hazard, without detriment to forest productivity, on lands that have been selectively cut. Alarger force of year-long trained fire wardens is needed to give expert help and supervision in in- dividual slash-burning and land-clearing operations.
6. The Civilian Conservation Corps has been so helpful in fire suppression and prevention and has been so integrated with the regular fire-control or- ganizations during the last few years that a sudden
140
reduction or withdrawal of its help would be up- setting to the protective agencies. This or equiva- lent assistance should be given.
7. Adetermined effort should be made to have in- surance companies offer, and timber owners pur- chase, insurance for forest lands. The general in- suring of forests would give financial security and stability to forest ownership and have a salutary effect on fire prevention.
Reforestation of Denuded Lands
Large-scale forest planting in this region cannot be justified economically until areas reforesting nat- urally are better safeguarded. The money that would be required to plant extensive areas where natural reforestation is impossible would bring far ereater returns if spent on improving methods of cutting, slash disposal, and fire protection.
A program for permanent C. C. C. work should include planting of deforested burns on national forests and State forests that will not restock natu- rally in a reasonable period.
Forest Research
Forest research as now carried on by the Forest Service, the forest schools, and industrial organiza- tions is giving beneficial results and should be con- tinued and expanded. The industry itself should make more intensive studies of its industrial prob- lems, either through its trade associations or other- wise. The States themselves are doing very little research, though there is a field for State activities as a supplement to Federal activities; their research might best be conducted through their forest schools and should be well coordinated with the Federal experiment station’s program.
Expansion of the present forest-research program is needed particularly along the following lines:
1. Silvicultural and economic aspects of selective cutting.
2. Improved methods of slash disposal and of protecting logged-off land, particularly areas selectively cut.
3. Further intensification of the Forest Survey to develop basic policies and principles for forest-land use and to de-
termine how forestry fits in with other major types of land use.
4. Basis for distinguishing areas chiefly valuable for forest
purposes from areas chiefly valuable for agricultural use or pasturage.
5. Relation of forest-land management to floods, erosion and quantity and regularity of stream flow.
6. Economics of multiple land use, particularly of stock grazing, game management, and recreation, in relation to ~ timber production.
7. Economics of private sustained-yield managemcnt of forest lands, especially in relation to public finance and taxation.
8. Improvement of logging equipment and methods to meet requirements of good silviculture and protection.
9. Search for new uses for forest products, new markets, and better methods of conversion, with a view to making highest use of each tree.
10. Principles and plans to meet problems of declining communities that result from overcutting of tributary timber.
The experimental forests, both of the Forest Serv- ice and of the forest schools, are serving well as proving grounds and demonstration areas, but there is need for more large-scale trials of new methods and new equipment on representative commercial areas. The scope and importance of the forest problems in this region are such that a great deal more intensive research would well be justified.
Forestry Extension and Forestry Education
The pre-eminence of the forest resource in this region’s economic life makes forest utilization and forest conservation of vital concern to every citizen; but the general public has not been sufficiently im- pressed with the necessity of keeping forest land permanently productive. The following program of forestry extension and forestry education is recommended:
Despite many years of effort, forest extension ac- tivities among both farm and industrial forest own- ers have failed to convert forest owners from a liqui- dation philosophy to one of timber growing. Great- ly increased activity is needed not only in forest growing extension but also in forest utilization ex- tension. Legislative authority and administrative machinery exists in the Department of Agriculture for extension work in both industrial and farm for- estry. islation supported by adequate appropriations should be provided for extension in the fields of
Increased appropriations are needed. Leg-
timber utilization and marketing of forest products. The entire responsibility does not rest on the Fed- eral Government; the States of Oregon and Wash- ington, forest owners, and forest industries should greatly increase their own activities.
224146°—40——10
141
The Public Responsibility
Management of Public Forest Land
All cutting operations on public lands should be on a sustained-yield basis.
All public forest land chiefly valuable for recrea- tion should be reserved from cutting except to sal- vage timber killed by fire, insects, disease, or wind throw.
All public forest land chiefly valuable for water- shed protection should be reserved for that use, conflicting uses being prohibited.
So far as physical conditions permit, strips of tim- ber should be left along all public highways and stream courses.
Full use of forest land under the principle of mul- tiple use advocated by the Forest Service should be the policy wherever practicable.
The present policy of using sales of national-forest timber to encourage the practice of sustained-yield management on private land and refusing to make sales that might add to the established mill capacity or precipitate liquidation of private timber should be continued. All public agencies conducting tim- ber sales should adopt similar policies.
Improvements HIGHWAYS
The remarkable expansion of truck logging in the past few years has greatly complicated transporta- tion planning in this region. The requirements of the forest industries should be considered in plan- ning the location and construction of new highways. Furthermore, future highway development should be integrated with sustained-yield plans wherever possible.
WATERWAYS AND HARBORS
The bulk of the freight traffic on rivers and harbors of this region consists of forest products. Public development of waterways and harbors is based to a great extent on quantity of tributary timber. Future work should be integrated with sustained-yield plans.
Future exploitation of timber south of the Columbia River district depends chiefly on im- provement of shipping facilities. Some projects
now under consideration by the United States engineers, for example, canalization of the Willam- ette River the Umpqua River, would stimulate logging in terri-
and improvements on lower
tory now undeveloped. In time, improvement of certain harbors in southern Oregon will be needed to remove some of the geographic disadvantages now holding back the timber in that territory.
Legislation
To vitalize the forest program recommended in this report certain State and Federal legislation will be required. Some has recently been enacted, several bills are pending, and on the whole progress is encouraging. It is not within the scope of this report to list specifically the remaining legislation needed.
The Private Owners’ Responsibility Control of Overproduction
It would be very advantageous both to the public and to industry if overproduction of forest products in this region were controlled by volun- tary cooperative action of owners, including mergers, support of trade associations, and better financing. Failing this it may be necessary, in order to protect the public interest, for the Govern- ment to step in. The most effective way to control overproduction is curtailment of the log supply, and this should originate in the woods through Pub- inefficient, or excess sawmill capacity would be unnecessary if At best, it is difficult to determine with exactness what units are obsolete,
inefficient, or superfluous.
prompt adoption of sustained-yield practice. lic action to retire obsolescent,
woods control were effective.
Installation of additional sawmill capacity in western Washington and northwestern Oregon should be discouraged by associations of timber owners and lumber manufacturers and by banking interests, unless it can be shown that a definite Any additional plants should be located with consideration of available raw mate- rial and marketing facilities, and should be so
need exists.
constructed that successive physical changes to improve operations and meet demands for new
products could be made with a minimum of expense.
Logging Practice
{t is the responsibility of the private owner to leave his land in good condition after logging and to discontinue practices that leave larger areas The method of cutting may be clear cutting, stage cutting,** or selective cutting of some sort,
without return cuts for long periods.
depending on In all cases an adequate seed supply should be provided for re- stocking,
physical and economic conditions.
and satisfactory fire-control measures should be taken during and immediately following logging. Detailed recommendations are given in the Forest Practice Handbook (77). Technical advice is available from associations and public agencies. In cases of contract logging the land owner should insist that the logger leave the area in good condition.
A change from power logging to trucks and trac- tors would permit of flexible cutting methods and automatically leave the forest in better condition for regrowth.
If private owners do not voluntarily adopt such a program, public regulation is invited. Existing laws regulating forest protection should be scrupu- lously observed.
Utilization of Minor Species
A definite campaign should be initiated, using the results of research and trade extension, to increase the utilization for lumber and pulp of the so-called minor species, particularly hemlock and the balsam firs, and low-grade material of the major species.
Manufacturing Practice
Great improvement in manufacturing practice has been made by the lumber industry in the past few Further improvement is needed in milling, seasoning, grading, and preparation for The development of marketable prod-
ucts from sawmill waste should be given greater
years.
shipment.
24 A form of cutting which has clear cutting as its final objective. The stand is cut in two or more steps or stages.
2 Lena
attention by the industry as a whole. In the large centers of production sawmill waste is now used chiefly as fuel. Some of this waste has potentiali- ties for higher uses which would give greater re- turns and more local employment. Many smaller mills do not market sawmill waste even for fuel. Cooperative action is needed to make available to the small mills facilities for converting their waste to saleable commodities.
The industry should make every effort to reduce the volume of logs and rough lumber shipped out of this region and to increase local remanufacture. Industrial and financial agencies should encour- age and support the establishment of local re- manufacturing plants for which a definite need and opportunity exist.
Industrial Expansion PLYWOOD
There is some question as to the desirability of further expansion of the plywood industry in its present locations. It has expanded rapidly at tidewater points in the Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, and Columbia River districts, apparently without any definite plans as to future supplies of raw material. There is no shortage of material for core stock and innerplies, but plywood manu- facturers are already going far afield for the higher quality of peeler logs needed for outer surfaces of panels. It is a problem to the industry whether to ship in peeler logs from the central and southern parts of the region to augment the supply avail- able on the open log markets or to set up subsidiary veneer plants nearer the source of raw material and then ship veneer to the existing tidewater plants for final fabrication into plywood. This industry, in addition to obtaining supplies from the open log markets, should acquire lands sup- porting high-quality old-growth timber for a re- They should also encourage the practice of selective
serve supply, and thereby protect its future.
logging. PULP MILLS
There is sufficient raw material in the region for
143
additional pulp mills. The available raw material is suitable for the highest quality of pulp, and any new pulp mills installed should be designed for production of the higher grades. This would tend to induce local establishment of remanufac- turing industries using pulp for purposes other than paper, such as rayon and other textile mate- rials.
Road Development
Logging roads should be financed independently by timber owners and logging operators, where there is no public responsibility for the construc- tion of such roads. On some areas supporting ex- tensive undeveloped bodies of virgin timber in mixed ownership there are possibilities of develop- ing main-line truck roads to the nearest public highway through organization of cooperative road districts. The timber owners participating would pay for the construction of the main-line road in proportion to the anticipated benefits and would construct their own spur roads. Some of these roads would eventually be suitable for inclusion in In such cases the State highway departments or county road de- partments should have some voice in locating the
the public highway system.
roads and assist in their construction, even though the roads might be closed to general public use for the first few years of logging in the area.
Sustained-Yield Management
The Douglas-fir region, with its enormous re- maining supply of virgin timber, still has the op- portunity of adopting sustained-yield management without drastic curtailment of present production for the region as a whole. Other forest regions, in advanced stages of depletion, must greatly re- duce cutting if depleted growing stocks are to be built up to normal. It is the private owners’ re- sponsibility to support, and to share the leadership of, a coordinated program of private and public action that will make the forests of this region per- manently productive and furnish the forest indus- tries a stable supply of raw materials.
Conclusions
Progress in accomplishing the program herein presented does not depend upon simultaneous per- formance of all the recommendations. The pro- gram is multilateral, and although overlapping in some particulars it can be approached from several angles at once and thus be attained through a step-by-step process.
Prompt action must be taken on key sections of the program if the disastrous consequences that fol- lowed unrestricted exploitation in other forest regions are to be averted. The most critical prob-
144
lems are: Stabilization of ownership, including removal of some of the economic obstacles to private ownership and better distribution of private and public ownership; recognition of the urgency of doing something about the localized overcutting around the Puget Sound, Grays Har- bor, and Columbia River districts; adequate pro- tection of all forest land against fire; and provision for a sufficient seed supply on cutover land. Achievement of these objectives will stimulate action on the remainder of the program and con- tribute greatly to the institution of region-wide for- est management.
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Literature Cited
Doom
(1) Brat, J. A., Kimmey, J. W., and Raprarcer, E. F.
1935. DETERIORATION OF FIRE-KILLED DOUGLAS FIR. Timberman 37 (2): 13-17, illus.
(2) Boyce, J. S.
1932. DECAY AND OTHER LOSSES IN DOUGLAS FIR IN WESTERN OREGON AND WASHINGTON. U. S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bul. 286, 60 pp., illus.
(3) Burrter, A. S.
1935. LAND USE PROBLEMS IN OREGON, AND ABRIDGED REPORT. Oreg. State Planning Bd. 64 pp., illus.
(4) FarrcHitp, Frep Rocers, and associates.
1935. FOREST TAXATION IN THE UNITED STATES. U.S.
Dept. Agr. Misc. Pub. 218, 681 pp., illus. (5) Fercuson, Joun W.
1935. TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE FORESTER OF THE STATE OF OREGON. 86 pp., illus. Salem, Oreg.
(6) Hari, R. Ciirrorp
1935. THE FOREST-TAX PROBLEM AND ITS SOLUTION SUMMARIZED. U.S. Dept. Agr. Cir. 358, 18 PP:
(7) Hopeson, ALLEN H.
1929. LOGGING WASTE IN THE DOUGLAS FIR REGION. West Coast Lumberman 56 and 57 (Sup.), 40 pp., illus.
(8)
1931. THE PRESENT UTILIZATION OF SAWMILL WASTE IN THE DOUGLAS FIR REGION. ‘Timberman 32. (9-12), illus.
(9) INcram, Douctas C.
1931. VEGETATIVE CHANGES AND GRAZING USE ON DOUGLAS FIR CUTOVER LAND. Jour. Agr. Res. 43: 387-417, illus.
(10) Jonnson, Herman M., Hanzirk, Epwarp J., and Gippons, WILLiAM H.
1926. RED ALDER OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST: ITS UTILIZATION, WITH NOTES ON GROWTH AND MANAGEMENT. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bul. 1437, 46 pp., illus.
(41) Jor CommitrrEe on Forest CONSERVATION.
1937. FOREST PRACTICE HANDBOOK... 31. pp., illus. West Coast Lumbermen Assoc. Seat- tle.
(12) McArpre, Ricuarp E., and Meyer, WALTER H.
1930. THE YIELD OF DOUGLAS FIR IN THE PACIFIC nortHWEsT. U. S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bul. 201, 64 pp., illus.
145
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
Meyer, WatrTER H. 1937. YIELD OF EVEN-AGED STANDS OF SITKA SPRUCE AND WESTERN HEMLOCK. U. S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bul. 544, 86 pp., illus.
1938. YIELD OF EVEN-AGED STANDS OF PONDEROSA PINE. U.S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bul. 630, 60 pp., illus.
1930. A STUDY OF THE RELATION BETWEEN ACTUAL AND NORMAL YIELDS OF IMMATURE DOUGLAS FIR FORESTS. Jour. Agr. Res. 41: 635-665, illus. Muncer, THorNTON T. 1927. TIMBER GROWING AND LOGGING PRACTICE IN THE DOUGLAS FIR REGION. U.S. Dept. Agr. Bul. 1493, 42 pp.., illus. Munns, E. N. and Brown, R. M. 1925. VOLUME TABLE FOR THE IMPORTANT TIMBER TREES OF THE UNITED STATES: I. species. U. 159 pp. OrEGON SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON TIMBER TAXATION APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. 1937. OREGON TIMBER TAXATION RECOMMENDATIONS TOWARD THEIR SOLUTION. 40 pp., illus. Salem, Oreg. OreGoN STATE Tax Commission. 1937. THIRTEENTH BIENNIAL REPORT.
WESTERN S. Dept. Agr. Unnum. Pub.
PROBLEMS AND
SHeparp, H. B.
1937. FOREST FIRE INSURANCE IN THE PACIFIC COAST US.) Dept; Agr.’ Tech: Bull 551, 168 pp., illus.
STATES.
SupworTuH, Greorce B. 1927. CHECK LIST OF THE FOREST TREES OF THE UNITED
STATES: THEIR NAMES AND RANGES. U. S. Dept. Agr. Misc. Circ. 92, 295 pp. Unitrep STATES Forest SERVICE. 1933. A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTY.
(U. S.] Cong. 73d, 1st sess., S. Doc. 12, 2 v illus.
<3
WASHINGTON STATE Tax Commission. 1936. sIXTH BIENNIAL REPORT. West Coast LUMBERMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 1937. WEST COAST LUMBER FACTS. 25 pp., illus. Seattle, Wash.
EROOR] Eas 2 oRGE eS vORUERECIESS:
(Oy | AY Bebd) > 1D) O) AW KEP 1G VN. By Ia IL Re
REGION
Appendix
ss Inventory Methods and Sources
Volume Tables
Several existing Douglas-fir volume tables had given satisfactory results for certain localities, but comparison with measurements of felled timber showed that they could not be used regionally. Accordingly, a form-class table was de- veloped and checked against measured volume of 1.6 million board feet of felled and bucked timber in different sections of the region. In nearly every instance this table checked with- in 0.5 percent of the actual measurements, and in no case did it deviate more than 2.6 percent.
A western hemlock volume table was constructed in the same way, and was proved to be accurate. For western red- cedar a volume table made on the Quinault Indian Reserva- tion by Henry B. Steer, then of the United States Indian Service, was used. For Sitka spruce, table 80 of Volume Tables for the Important Timber Trees of the United States: Part I, Western Species (77), was accepted after ad- Table 79 from the same publication was adopted for silver fir and white fir, after it had been adjusted to a 12-inch top diameter and ex- tended to include trees as large as 70 inches in diameter.
Table 77 in the publication just mentioned, prepared by R. H. Weidman in 1917, was accepted for noble fir. A table made by Henry B. Steer on the Quinault Indian Reservation was used for western white pine. structed for ponderosa pine. red alder was prepared on the basis of an existing table (70) made by Griffin and Wilcox. wood table (table 11) in Volume Tables for the Important Timber Trees of the United States: Part III, Eastern Hard- woods, was found to be suitable for other hardwoods.
justment to a 12-inch top diameter.
A form-class table was con- A table for use in estimating
The second-growth cotton-
Organization of Field Work
More than 40 percent of the region’s total forest-land area This portion, 84 percent of which is in Federal ownership, includes the most
is within the boundaries of national forests.
mountainous, rugged, and inaccessible lands of the region. When this work was started, national forests either wholly or chiefly within the Douglas-fir region numbered 12; since
146
2
then, without any significant change in total area, the num- ber has been reduced by consolidations to 10. These na- tional forests now range in gross area from about 700,000 to 1,850,000 acres each, averaging approximately 1,200,000 acres.
A greater part of the national-forest lands than of the The procedure followed on them was influenced not only by the ruggedness of the many mountain areas but also by
other lands had to be covered by field examination.
It was decided that the work on national-forest areas that had not
scarcity of roads and shortness of field season.
been intensively cruised should be an intensive reconnais- sance. Men familiar with the national forests of the region were selected from the local forest organizations to do this work.
For lands outside the national forests a permanent organi- zation of 5 type mappers and 3 check cruisers was formed. This was augmented by field assistants during the field season and computers during the winter months. In peak periods as many as 40 or 50 men were employed on the survey of these lands.
Collection of Existing Information
The sources of information already in existence for na- tional-forest areas included intensive timber cruises cover- ing about 15 percent of their total; records of an extensive reconnaissance made in 1909-10 and amended in 1922, of examinations of cut-over land, of planting reconnaissance work, of land-exchange examinations, of appraisals, of settlement cases, of trespass cases, and of fire damage; aerial and panoramic photographs; Of the land outside national forests about 30 per- cent had been covered by intensive cruises.
and miscellaneous other records Collecting information on areas outside national forests involved in- vestigation of the records of all counties and consultations with lumbermen, public officials, foresters and engineers in ptivate employ, and many other persons. The principal sources of information found were private timber cruises in the hands of timber owners or their agents, county cruises made for taxation purposes, and cruises of State-owned lands, Oregon & California Railroad revested grant lands, and Indian reservations. In cases in which county cruises
were sufficiently complete and appeared to be reliable
enough to use, no attempt was made to collect private cruises.
Private timberland owners contributed materially to the success of this undertaking. With very few exceptions and reservations they tendered the use of their cruise data, which in the aggregate are estimated to have cost them more than a million dollars. Each cooperator was assured that private cruises given would be kept in strict confidence and that cruise data from private sources would be made public only in such combinations as would safeguard their confidential character. It was emphasized also that the type maps would not indicate density of stand for the mature
types.
Field Procedure
The intensive reconnaissance method applied on national forests consists in mapping areas that are uniform as to type conditions and estimating the average volume per acre for each of these type areas. Type boundaries were deter- mined by working along trails, roads, and ridges, by using high points for lookouts, and by running random strips, and were placed directly on base maps. For each saw- timber-type area, estimates of average volume per acre were made ocularly and were checked by use of data taken on a number of well-distributed sample plots. Sample plots were either quarter-acre circles (58.9-feet radius) or 1-acre strips (66 by 660 feet). For all trees of saw-timber size on these plots species, height, and diameter were recorded and volume was computed. For second-growth areas, that is, areas occupied by stands less than about 150 years of age, averge age of timber and average stocking were recorded. At frequent intervals site observations were taken and recorded; the age of the stand was determined with an increment borer, average height of the dominant and codominant trees was determined with an Abney level, and site values were read from a curve of height over age. ured where the Douglas-fir classification was used, and only ponderosa pines were measured where the ponderosa-pine classification was used.
In the Cascade Range, the Siskiyou Mountains, and the Olympic Mountains, because of the distinctness of the topography it was possible to determine type boundaries largely by observation from vantage points. On the Sius- law National Forest, in the Coast Range, mapping was seriously impeded by numerous small canyons and short ridges with no definite topographical pattern, by luxuriant brush and tree cover, and by poor weather. Here aerial photography was used as an adjunct to ground work. Oblique rather than vertical pictures were taken, because
In determining site only Douglas-fir trees were meas-
of lower cost and greater ease of orientation,
For areas outside national-forest boundaries the first step in preparing type maps was to record the collected type data on transparent vellum plats fitted over base maps. Each type mapper visited the county seat in search of addi- tional information and familiarized himself with the county in a general way by driving over the roads. Having
147
selected an area on which to begin work, he mapped as much as he could from the roads and trails. Picking points that would give the best view of the country and using as a control the roads, streams, and other features on the base map and the type areas already entered on the vellum from office records, he oriented himself with a compass and mapped all that could be seen. Each type area was viewed from several vantage points to determine its exterior boundaries. In this region of dense cover and irregular, often rugged topography, once under forest cover it is difficult to see out, and great care was necessary to avoid overlooking any small farms, pasture lands, burns, or small second-growth areas. On areas of mixed types it was cus- tomary to map the smaller type areas first, thus fixing the boundaries of the larger types.
For areas not covered by existing data, which were princi- pally second-growth areas, land cut over prior to 1920, burns, woodland areas, farm woods, agricultural lands, grassland, brush areas, and barrens, the field examiner located, and sketched on the map, the boundaries of each type. age class of the timber, its species composition, and the degree of stocking. For areas occupied by merchantable timber he estimated the board-foot content of the stand by species. For all coniferous types except lodgepole pine, noncommercial rocky, and subalpine, he made site deter- minations at frequent intervals.
Several large agricultural areas contain scattered forests and woods that are too small to be shown on the type map but that in the aggregate constitute a forest resource too large to be ignored. These agricultural areas are fairly well defined; an example is the Willamette Valley of Oregon. To get a statistical expression of the extent and character of their forest stands, they were covered by a linear survey. Type and volume data were taken on tran-
For second-growth areas, he determined also the
sects at intervals of 3 miles or less.
Lands shown by county and private records to have been clear cut since the beginning of 1920 (type 36) were not classified in the field but were examined in the field to verify that they had been clear cut. These areas cannot satis- factorily be classified as to restocking, because of the periodicity of adequate seed crops, the practice of slash burning, high fire hazard, and the nature of logging practice in the region. However, a statistical expression was ob- tained of the condition of those logged prior to the period of general seed-crop failure that began in 1924. A linear sur- vey was made of the areas logged in 1920-23, transects being spaced 2 miles apart or at the rate of 1 mile of strip for every 1,280 acres. four 13.2-foot quadrats were examined, and each of these was Classified as stocked or nonstocked according to whether it contained one well-established seedling (the stocked- quadrat method).
The site map was made on a skeleton vellum overlay map of the county, scale one-half inch to the mile. All the site determinations made were plotted on the map and by inter- polation site-class boundary lines were sketched in. This of course, gave only a generalized picture, but by referring to
At 1-chain intervals on these transects
topographic features and using his knowledge of the country the field examiner was able to make a sufficiently accurate map for an area as large asa county. The site maps were in- tended to show not the site class of specific small areas but the area of each site class in the county.
The final field job was “adjustment cruising”’ of contrib- uted cruise data. It was impossible to adjust these data to survey standards without resorting to field work because (1) specifications were often incomplete or lacking and (2) errors made by cruisers might have caused considerable inconsist- ency in a given cruise. The adjustment cruising consisted in cruising well-distributed sample areas according to the specifications adopted for the forest survey and comparing the results with the original cruise data. The size chosen for the individual sample was 160 acres.
Volume was recorded for quarter-acre circular plots at 214-chain intervals, or for 16 such plots on each 40-acre tract; in other words, a 10-percent cruise was made. The circular-plot system was admirably adapted to the purpose, and speeded up the work. Locations of all doubtful line trees were determined with a tape, all trees apparently more than 60 inches d. b. h. were measured for diameter, and a considerable percentage of the smaller trees were measured. Heights were measured with the Abney level and by taping a number of windfalls each day. Deductions for breakage and defect were calculated for each 40-acre tract. These deductions were carefully checked, for each tract cruised, by examining felled and bucked timber on neighboring logging operations and by interviewing superintendents, foremen, check scalers, and managers of logging operations in the vicinity.
Per-acre volume of the hardwood stands, usually not in- cluded in commercial cruises in the region, had been deter- mined by the type mappers, but information was lacking as to the volume of the hardwood timber occurring as an under- story in mature coniferous forests. As a part of the adjust- ment-cruising project, therefore, data on this hardwood un- derstory were collected.
Each check cruiser compiled his data currently and made frequent comparisons with the original cruise until he was satisfied that the results were consistent and that reliable ad- justment factors could be computed. Usually 3 to 4 percent of the area included in the original cruise was check cruised.
Compilation of Data
In many counties a year or more elapsed between the com- pletion of the original field work and the beginning of com- pilation. In such cases the status of areas logged and burned in the intervening period had to be investigated. This in- volved a check of cutting and fire records, and in some cases additional field mapping.
Before type acreages could be computed it was necessary to determine the exact land area of each township, each county, and each national forest. General Land Office plats
were used for townships for which they were available.
148
Areas of unsurveyed townships were determined by plani- metering the most accurate maps available.
Information as to ownership was obtained from county records for county-owned and municipal lands, State records for State-owned lands, Department of Interior records for national-park, Indian, and revested grant lands and for un- appropriated public domain, and Forest Service records for All land not shown by public records to be public property was considered private.
national forests.
Acreage for each of the various types and for divisions of some types by age class and degree of stocking was deter- mined for each section and for each ownership class from the field maps. For each national forest this was done by com- partment, block, and working circle and also by county. Acreage was determined by use of the planimeter or by counting squares.
Site-class acreages were compiled for each county and Percent- ages of total acreage in each site class represented were determined for each township in the same manner, for use in computing volume of second-growth stands.
Volume data for national forest areas were compiled by applying to type areas the stand-per-acre values determined in the field. Volumes were compiled by compartment and were summarized by block and finally by working circle.
For areas outside national forests, the adjustment factors
national forest from site maps by planimetering.
determined by check cruising were applied to the volume figures taken from existing cruise records and the corrected totals, recorded by section, township, and county. Vol- umes for areas of merchantable timber, including hard- woods, not covered by previous cruises were compiled by applying to each area the figure for stand per acre shown by the type map. Commercial cruises had omitted a large majority of the second-growth stands in which the average breast-height diameter was below a standard ranging, ac- For uncruised second-growth stands in which the trees averaged 16 inches d. b. h. or more, volumes were obtained from tables adapted from the Douglas-fir yield tables (72). Volume data for second-growth areas were segregated from the others.
cording to species, from 20 to 24 inches.
Depletion-Study Methods and Sources
Cutting Depletion
The data taken on depletion by cutting covered the mate- rial removed not only as sawlogs but also as so-called minor timber products. material actually taken out of the woods, omitting sound
The records used included only wood
material left by operators on the ground as nonutilizable. This sound unused material entered the study only when future depletion was being estimated. Its quantity had been accurately determined in a previous study (7).
The study of annual log depletion was based on the 9-year period 1925-33 because more and better data were ayvail- able for this period than for any other. It is true that in this period sawlog production reached a peak that it may never reach again, but the period included some years of extremely
low production; all things considered, the data are believed to be representative.
The log-production data used were taken from several sources but principally from the biennial lumber- and log- production censuses of Oregon and Washington for the years 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, and 1933 taken by the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station in cooperation with the Bureau of the Census. Sawlog pro- duction as reported by the independent loggers and logger- manufacturers was used in preference to lumber, lath, shingle, veneer, and pulpwood production because in this way the material could be traced to its sources and classified Data for 1926, 1928, 1930, and 1932 were obtained partly from records of the Portland, Oreg., regional office of the Forest Service and partly by inter- viewing officials of timber companies and lumber associa- tions and other individuals having personal knowledge of lumber operations.
A check of the sawlog data was made by comparing the sum of the county totals with a regional total obtained by combining census and other official figures. The differ- ences found were 3.7 percent for western Washington, 2.1 percent for western Oregon, and 1.9 percent for the region as a whole. The errors for survey-unit totals were esti- mated to be well within +5 percent.
The study of depletion for minor forest products had to be based on 1930 production alone, as data for previous or sub- sequent years were either missing or too incomplete for satis- The basic data were obtained through field in- vestigations and by means of questionnaires circulated to producers and consumers. curacy was obtained by this method for all items except round and split fence posts. Since posts are produced in small quantities and by many individuals, largely by farmers for their own use, it was impossible to canvass the field thoroughly. A figure was obtained by adding to the output reported by the large-scale commercial operators an estimate of annual farm requirements.
by county and unit.
factory use.
Information of satisfactory ac-
Fire Depletion
The study of depletion of the forest capital by fire was much more complex than the study of depletion by cutting.
The two sources of information available were Forest Serv- ice reports covering burned area on the national forests and State foresters’ reports covering burned area on all other forest lands. those for national forests being treated separately from those for all other lands.
The basic data used for the analysis of depletion by fire on the national forests were the reports of all class C fires (fires 10 acres or more in area) on the national forests of the region in the 10-year period 1924-33. Site and type before fire were determined by superimposing on the forest-survey site and type maps the outlines of the areas reported to have been covered by the fires. Each fire was classified and the essen- tial data regarding area, location, type, site, and volume were separately recorded. These were compiled by county
The data were summarized by survey unit,
149
A field check was made of about 25 percent of the total area reported to have been covered by class C fires, and from the data thus obtained correction fac- tors for both area and volume were computed. No blanket deduction was made for salvage.
and summarized by unit.
In the few cases in which material was known to have been salvaged this material was deducted from the loss. When the 10-year totals of area burned and timber killed had been adjusted, they were con- verted to average annual-loss rates.
Reports made to the State foresters on individual fires in the region in the 5-year period 1926-30, which had been analyzed in connection with the forest fire insurance study (20) recently made by the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, formed the basic data used in computing fire-depletion rates for land other than national forests. Supplementary reports on nearly all the fires cover- ing 50 acres or more were obtained from the fire wardens, and checked in the field, for all counties except San Juan and Island in Washington and Hood River, Jackson, and Jose- phine in Oregon. ‘The areas covered by the supplementary fire reports were classified as to site and type by reference to the forest-survey site and type maps, and the volume loss estimated. ‘These data were recorded by county and the totals combined by forest-survey unit. The data were then compared with the State foresters’ published reports of total area burned in the same period in the same group of coun- ties and were adjusted to them. They were next converted to an annual loss rate. This procedure automatically in- cluded Island, San Juan, and Hood River Counties. Jack- son and Josephine Counties were covered by a separate analysis of individual fire reports to the State foresters for the period 1926-32. Finally, annual loss rates were calculated for the entire region by survey unit. Salvage rates for lands outside the national forests were computed on the basis of data obtained in the forest fire insurance study, and were applied to volume-loss totals.
Future Depletion
No specific formula could be evolved for making estimates of future depletion from cutting. The economic forces that ‘The Douglas-fir region is farther removed than any other forest region of the United States from the large markets of the Mid- western and Eastern States. What quantities of lumber will be shipped from it will depend somewhat on the extent to which the other forest regions can fulfill the requirements of On the other hand this region is favorably situated in relation to Asia, Africa, and the antipodes, the world’s largest undeveloped markets for softwoods.
could influence the situation are many and complex.
the country’s heavily populated sections.
The depletion estimates are pure assump- tions, based on careful analysis of cutting records and of cur- rent trends in lumbering, not only regional but national, and all other known influences.
Future depltion from fire, while not subject to so many dynamic economic forces as cutting, was equally difficult of prediction.
Periodic Saw- Timber Growth
In order to estimate board-foot timber inventories for the Douglas-fir region as of the years 1943, 1953, and 1963, periedic annual board-foot growth was computed for each of the three decades following 1932. Advance in age and differences in type areas because of depletion were the only changes taken into account; no changes from the 1933 conditions were assumed in either species composition of stands or stand density.
TasLe 42.—Periodic conifer saw-timber growth in the Douglas-
fir region Periodic growth of trees 15.1+ inches d.b. h District and unit 1933-42 | 1943-52 1953-62 Million | Million | Million Puget Sound: board feet | board feet board feet North Puget Sound_-___- 1, 146 | 1, 294 1, 499 Central Puget Sound_-- 1, 288 | 1,615 1, 906 South Puget Sound____------- 2,491 | 2, 289 1,731 TRotaletes aes aes ea 4,925 | 5, 198 5, 136 | Grays/Harbor=2- = 2ess-ss5eoes 1,905 | 1,779 1, 462 Columbia River: Columbia River Washington _ 2, 270 2, 433 2, 283 Columbia River Oregon__-_-_- 1, 568 | 2,081 2, 482 Total: oe 34 oes See eee 3, 838 4, 514 4, 765 Willamette River____..----------- 4, 216 4, 540 4,799 | Oregon coast: North Oregon coast 3________- 2, 805 | 2, 698 2, 303 South Oregon coast 4_-_----__- 2, 946 3, 256 3, 435 Total seese soe eee a 5, 751 5, 954 5, 738 South Oregon: UmpquadRivers2 23 222s 2, 414 2, 396 2, 286 Rogue: River-2222s22s--- 22-6 192 296 462 Totalsseses oes cee ee 2, 606 2, 692 2, 748 Region totals ees ae | 23, 241 24, 677 24, 648 Summary by districts: Percent | Percent Percent Puget,Sound=-a.0).28 252!) 22 21. 2 | 21.1 20.9 Grays Harbors}. == 8.2 7.2 5.9 Columbia River____ 16.5 18.3 19.3 Willamette River__.___.__--__ 18.1 18.4 19.5 Orezonicosst. === ~ ee 24.8 24.1 23.3 South! Oregousss22 2 ee eee 1b) 10.9 11.1 Totals = es ceee eee ne 100.0 100.0 | 100.0
1 Data are shown only for stands 160 years or less in age, on commercial conifer forest land.
2 Estimated in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top, Scribner rule.
3 Data exclude growth on 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods.
4 Data exclude growth on 14,520 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoocs.
150
This process resulted in the periodic net conifer growth figures shown in table 42. Because relatively little incre- ment is contributed by hardwoods, periodic growth was computed only for the conifer types.
It is estimated that those of the existing conifer stands that survive to 1943 will put on a net growth of 23.2 billion board feet during the decade 1933-42, those that survive to 1953 will grow 24.7 billion board feet during the decade 1943-52, and those that survive to 1963 will grow 24.6 billion board feet during the decade 1953-62. According to the estimates of decadal volume increment and those of depletion (shown in table 20), the 1933 net volume inven- tory of 546 billion board feet, log scale, for the region will be reduced to 492 billion board feet by 1943, to 431 billion by 1953, and to 381 billion by 1963.
Method of Computing Realizable Mean Annual Growth
For those who are interested in the detail of the technique employed in computing realizable mean annual growth, a sample computation is given in table 43. Calculations for type 6 (Douglas-fir old growth more than 40 inches d. b. h.) appear in the first three lines. Type 6 is assumed to be nongrowing, and accordingly no stocking value is shown for it. ‘The value in line 2, column 13, was calculated on the assumption that 80 percent of the area depleted in 1933-42 will restock by 1948. The assumed average stocking of this area is indicated in line 2, column 5, and the estimated average age attained by the second-growth stands is shown in line 2, column 15. The entry in line 2, column 19, is 55 percent of normal mean annual growth per acre for Douglas-fir stands to age 85 years. The entry in line 2, column 24, is the product of those in line 2, columns 13 and 19. Since growth is calculated only from the middle of the period 1933-42, half this amount is entered in line 2, column 26. Since it is assumed that the second-growth stands will continue to grow during the whole of the period 1953-62, the total value is given in line 2, column 27. The entries in line 3 were calculated in the same way as those in line 2.
Calculations for type 8 (Douglas-fir second growth, 22 to 40 inches d. b. h.) appear in lines 4, 5, and 6. The growth rate applied for the first decade (Jine 4, column 16) is the periodic annual growth rate for ages 90 to 94 years, inclu- sive, of normal Douglas-fir stands on sites of a quality mid- way between II and III multiplied by 0.60, the estimated average stocking for type 8. Growth is assumed only to the middle of the decade 1933-42. The growth rate ap- plied to the type 8 area assumed to be depleted during the decade 1943-52 is the periodic annual rate for ages 90 to 104 years, similarly adjusted for stocking. Growth is as- sumed only during three-fourths of the 20-year period 1933-52. In calculating growth on the area assumed to be depleted during the decade 1953-62, the equivalent of 0.833 of the 49,000 acres was assumed to be growing during the entire 30-year period 1933-62 and the normal periodic
TasLe 43.—Sample computation of realizable mean annual growth
| | | | Assumed depletion, 1933-62, Part of Areas assumed to restock Iv erealwacverse leACrer: by decades rene | Eooaed in 1933-62 ‘ age age age Area in ype aera Line No. Type site age in | stock- 1933 peek Nes site | it 1 i emain- Ss | quality mp1983/5)/fSing 1933-42 | 1943-52 | 1953-62 | ingin | in 1963 | 1933-42 | 1943-52 | 1953-62 1963 (@)) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) | | | Years |Percent| Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres HU Je 5 sei tore ee a ae bas 300,000 | 120,000} 100,000) 60,000] 20,000] 18,000)... | 6
A Total annual growth on areas depleted Total Distribution of total annual t IN t p stribution of total annu ears en Dr sl eT OwUn iT ave) Der acre during— annual growth by decade— Line No. attained TE ee by tends A ik assumed pleted | iy ter verage verage after 1962 | 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 life 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 life ere: 1933-42 | 1943-52 1953-62 (1) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (28) (24) (25) (26) (27) Cubic Cubic Cubic Cubic M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic | M cubic Years feet feet feet feet feet Jeet feet feet feet feet -| — feet feet 4, 608 9, 216 pee eee 3, 960 4, 805 3, 980 1, 009 2,018 Re uae 783 35, 998 33, 170 487 974 Peo ee a 1,032 18, 561 17, 391 768 1, 536 eee 594 30, 080 30, 080 | 95, 964 104, 734 | | |
annual growth rate for ages 90 to 119 years, inclusive, was similarly adjusted for stocking.
In line 4 the entry in column 25 is the sum of those in columns 20, 21, 22, and 23; the entry in column 26 is the sum of those in columns 21, 22, and 23; and the entry in column 27 is the sum of those in columns 22 and 23.
In the calculations for type 8 area as in those for type 6 area, 80 percent of the portion depleted each decade is assumed to restock by the midpoint of the following decade.
The growth figured on the restocking areas is mean annual growth for the period from time of restocking until 2032. Results of this computation are shown in lines 5 and 6.
The procedure in growth calculations for the other types is essentially similar in detail to that already described.
The sums of columns 25, 26, and 27, shown in line 15, are realizable mean annual growth for the decades 1933-42, 1943-52, and 1953-62, respectively, for the aggregate of type areas in the sample unit.
ti ihy
Supplemental Tables
Supplemental estimates of average annual fire damage are shown for the national forests, for other lands, and for all lands in the Douglas-fir region as follows: Forest-land area covered and timber volume, log scale, lost by fire, by type and site quality, table 44; area deforested by fire, by type and survey unit, tables 45, 46, and 47; and timber volume, log scale, lost by fire, by type and survey unit, table 48.
Net average annual rate of depletion from causes other than cutting, used in calculating assumed future depletion, is shown by type group in table 49. Assumed future decadal
depletion from all causes is shown by district and owner- ship class in table 50.
Rates used in calculating potential annual growth on conifer timber are given in table 51.
Saw-timber data for some forest regions of the United States have been published in lumber tally rather than log scale. In order to facilitate comparison with those data, saw-timber volume for the Douglas-fir region is given in lumber tally in table 52. Lumber-tally values are given for cutting depletion in tables 53 and 54, for fire depletion in table 55, for assumed future depletion in table 56, for current annual growth in table 57, for potential annual growth in table 58, for realizable mean annual growth in table 59, and for periodic growth in table 60.
TABLE 44.—Estimated annual averages of forest-land area burned over and timber volume } lost by fire in the Douglas-fir region in 1924-33, by type and site quality
ON NATIONAL FORESTS
Type) Type Site IT | Site III Site IV Site V Total NO. | i M board | M board | M board M board M board Acres feet | Acres feet Acres feet Acres feet Acres fect Douglas-fir, large old growth__-_--------------- 35 1,351 | 487 8, 132 215 2, 784 46) eee 783 12, 267 Douglas-fir, small old growth___--------------- 9 272 | 784 13,998 | 3,546 38, 562 232 190 | 4,571 53, 022
Douglas-fir, large second growth_-_------------- i Sitka spruce, large: = eee senaaaeeee nee cn es Western hemlock, large!=222224 2-22 eacaaae Western redcedar, large-_--------------------- Port Orford white-cedar, large-- Ponderosa pine, large__-------- Fir-mountain hemlock, large_---
Douglas-fir, small second growth_-_------------- Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings_------------ Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings-_---------- Western hemlock, small__-_-_--------------
Western hemlock, seedlings and saplings | Ponderosa ,pine, small: Sass ee eee anne eee ae eee | Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings Fir-mountain hemlock, small
28_____| White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small 322 || REG WOOd: =a Nee See ee oo Oak-madrone woodland ._-_----------- 3) eee | Hardwoodss=— ---2=_ fae ee 234 Bo Se Old cut-overs, nonrestocked 194 36222 | “Recent cut-Overs === = = 2 == eee wen ene 1889 | Seeeee ee 1339 |aeooeeeee 680). sea as | eee | eae 15,0395 |e Riese Previously deforested burns------------------- Bh Pa eae 1S 228) nose 215440) ese eS 203) | Seas l= 349783 oetoeeeners 33k oe Subalpine! sees eee eee see ew See | eee | Ee | ee oobi een Sree ae |)! Si eas [Re eno 21) 020) | easeemncme 3822222 | Noncommercial rocky areas-__------------------|--------]---------- Se SS | ee | ee | eee | Rees | Cee eee (2210665 | pena | re’ ie ew i Mae Sr 3e2| 2,562 | 7,209| 32,112] 11,441| 58,672 | 1,529 444 | 23,710! 93,790 ON LANDS OTHER THAN NATIONAL FORESTS Type Type Site I Site IT Site III Site IV Site V Total M board M board M board M hoard M board M board | Acres feet Acres feet Acres feet Acres feet Acres feel Acres feet Guaees Douglas-fir, large old growth__-_-___-_- 95 543 | 6,041 | 61,925 | 8,474 | 31,47 103 216s | eee ee | erase 14,713 | 94,154 (iP ae Douglas-fir, small old growth-_----_..--]________]___-_-=- 274) 2,744 | 7,555 | 23,989 | 2,847 | 9,571 917 | 2,751 | 11,593 | 39,055 Sure Douglas-fir, large second growth____---_|________|_______- 652 | 8,541 | 3,649 | 13, 653 624 | 1,450 98 294 | 5,023 | 23, 938 ath Sitka spruce; large! 92202 Sues Tes aan | ee 9 7B) Rees a | nee | see 2724 es | Recast IRN Soeeacs 9 7 14urere | Western hemlock, large_-__------------- pees oe eee 259 466 120 845 17 330)! (Mets 2a eee 396 1, 641 7... | sWestern-redcedar: larges boi 2a ucts |e eae al Eee fare es Wet 42 3010 saree |e sae WW nietegee| fo Astrea | 42 301 ig: Port Orford white-cedar, large___ 230 12080! |f5 <= eel Be cee ee neces |[is cette a | Maesreons Bere 230 1, 080 | eee Ponderosa‘pine; largeso2c2 2s 2 oes 18 |e | ee |S e ee | e 281 459 | 1,829 | 5,447 662 | 1,986 | 2,772 7, 892
See footnotes at end of table.
TasLe 44.—Estimated annual averages of forest-l
ON LANDS OTHER THAN NATIONAL FORESTS—Continued
and area burned over and timber volume lost by fire in the Douglas-fir region in 1924-33, by type and site quality—Continued
Type Type Site I Site IT Site TIT Site IV Site V Total =} | - M board M board M board M board M board Acres feet Acres feet Acres feet Acres feet Acres feet 20 AWE Sugarspineslaree eases tens Seren | ele Bo S| ey ek | Ae | ee | ee 103 309 80 240 23 taeae Hir-mouUntainpnemlock- vlaree sera ss oe oaks Eee |e PR if hc eee 67001) 959808 | See es | ee ee ers Douglas-fir, small second growth ______ 325 |eraeae LS 5888] betes Sha | ees ae O28 7 eee 1s Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings_-____ SLD) a(S eee sh T6632; EN. 22. 3 23:5 70U| ees - oak Biel ees 1787s ippess Sitkarspruces sme) ll eee ee eee ae me | we ae |e ae Be G1 ee a ln ae 1G lc Fe eee See 13 eee Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings____|--______]________ TUG} | es ied ee ee Sl ee En ol ee 1 see aVVieSternunemlock small essa ss se 2.2 the |e e nee |e es 229 ul) by ee ee Pe) le erential a = Sa0| | ea 16ee Western hemlock, seedlings and sap- Lj) ee eee 3 253 PHS ASL a. ee G6N eo 2k a eee lings. 1QLEaeS: “led Are GInal | stesee ee pee ee a eae eel ee 2 NEN) Bush ys > P| WSS Se ao ko) Rape Fete epee Yee i Ad Lag lees Ml bee A ey ote RON 2 eee IRonderosaipiicy smalls eee eee || Sat ee (eee alee ee ete Se 5613 | eeu se = 70h | pee 2 21 | Se 872 |_ 22 nce Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings__|________|________ COTY Weel en Se CBU | Serene DIAG TR eee a | bee eS aNO07 sleet eee PANE oe Hir-mountainmemlock small vee (soe bas lew oo oe ee | casas 5 yi ee Boe AS a ee 2 en (aoe ae 149} ||, ogre ste 26m Lodgepole pine, small_________- 2575 a| a aeeee 5l6____| Ponderosa pine woodland S304 52u Mae eee Ge ae Oak-madrone woodland_____----- 2140815) == Seas Slinee PET early OO Seen eta ee an ees a ee ot | | ee net ee [Pete oe a ato ee (Cees 3325203), |aoaereer Bowe ae Old cut-overs, nonrestocked_________--_ CY fi) |e eens SOE: eer G6 R567 ee—= 25020) eee Se |pteseees 12, 440 |_ 36% een IRECeNt CUL-OVeTSE =a eee eae ioe | ee Banoo |) == 37 30Ty pee: 1H A0453 | bso S see 1564 e ees 83, 797 | Bynes iPreviously;deforested. burns: <2. -22. 222 ./=-= es S/b - 2s 180901 S eee 854901 Beek oe 2; 498ei =e 65 7ai| sane ae aWib ee 2 2) Cee 33euee STP ea a re ae ee ce pe | ee Caen ene eee RE (eed ee ee Se |e 2 194A eae SReo ms INoncommercialirocksyiareas tes ea | es ee ee ea eel ee |e eee ee ee | en ee ee tee 25. GN |e se es FD ot a] Seiten ee oe | 2, 060 543 | 66,518 | 74,829 |108,317 | 70, 717 | 37,673 | 27, 253 4, 867 5, 271 |229, 446 | 178, 613 ALL FOREST LANDS Ge Douglas-fir, large old growth___________ 95 543 | 6,076 | 63,276 | 8,961 | 39, 602 318 | 3,000 46. | fear 15,496 | 106, 421 (eae ede Douglas-fir; smallioldssrowth 2252-2 =|_2242__- |b 22 283 3, 016 8, 339 | 37,987 | 6,393 | 48, 133 1, 149 2,941 | 16, 164 92, 077 Rime os Douglas-fir, large second growth_- | STA 2 a Pree ce a 659 | 8, 722 3, 713 | 14, 481 638 1, 453 98 294 | 5,108 | 24, 950 na Peet Sitka spruce, large_______---_-__- 3 Eee S| eee ce 17 EO espe orn (aR Me ok Baath BE eae 17 | 505 Te ee Western hemlock, large________- S| oe are | ee ete 269 782 389 | 8,942 578 | 13, 281 182 |_ 1,418 | 23,005 iI /fape re AWieSsterniredcedardlarcera sso 2s ee a eee SL ee 3 10 (etl ee LA | | pee Shc Is ees 70 | 1,154 geen Port; Orfordiwhite-cedar large. .22 922 |e AT 230 TORO N|E eee. Fe Cees: 16 | el NEM es a Noe 246 1, 084 D0 een onderosaspine Marcos sae ss ener ag ee ries Tl ste er | 366 550 8, 119 20 een NOUgar pine larcess tesa ee een |S eee |S Pee Laer fe See ae a: 549 23 Hir-mountainghemlock-largecess sss sa| bs 2 ears ee cer ree 43 123 14, 373 Yi Ges White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, large.______|________ ee named s panmme | ved ore 166 ees Douglas-fir, small second growth______- 3260 | Saas ee Ome aac [eee ORSESe Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings --___ SDDS | ereeten |) 1G 57210 ee soe [eee Loews Sitkayspruceysmallzs 238 = 22 2 Sa ee eee ae Sees (1 eee eae Seen |e Ae Pa Ry ee Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings_-__|--_-____|----____ OG | Sa [ee Ma er ed ee ee ee Lis] eee eee 5 eaters awWrestemmphemlockstsmall= =. 282 ete ee =: 220) eo ooo 133|| Seo Pl ae eae 360 | ro 604 pee iss Western hemlock, seedlings and sap- | | 208) |oaes sees 160 |eae2eeet 18),| 22322 ya ec 5075 |e eos LOW 2 |e 80 a eases ot Pacem ee 8 Ee. x 82 | ‘ Phe e fete eel Phe ae as 561 eae 797, |= DLE ieee os YES) ee See 22am Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings _|--______ Se) ee ADRESSE Lae BoB 4) ere oe 2):0105 |Poeesee A Bt fel (ae eer A028 2. see Oy sashes Hir-mountainshemslock:, small. 222-22 |225 5. s|b_ ele ae, ee. Slgleetsrs se 982: ;|=e aes AS: | peseose i 1060 Soe ees 26caas odgepolespine, small _- 8 22-2 tee eo Pee eee eeeeee bee ey eer (See ip fear | (ee as MR eee 2563) esate Doe White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small_______|--______|----____ SS Visre = EA ee (ce el mated 11. |S eet BE LoS: Les | Saker ao Boe ee FRG WO OG Bae se teres tees a ee ee OY | eee alll Seen oe Sa ee eee | ee ie me | eee | So< eee Deen LE ONGeELOSarp Ne smOOG lands 222 aur an sae ee aes |b See wee oe ee Se ete en =a eee |p a aeeeallenn sees |- = soe ss |ze es -— a [ee ee = |S, 452 oe An IG Oak-madrone woodland_____- BOG Aa ie eee Sule ef ardiwo0d See ee eee ere eee re oa | eet oe |e seamen Lao Seo |ES Sale ene | Re eee | errs | are |e eee PL PSY (| er Syleses Old cut-overs, nonrestocked GrorGulsoseee DE 202) |b eae Eye ieee ae DOGS I fe ae eer, BOR ae VecentCubcoVerSeeees— 8a ee L7i2) | sean S38 ATA bases oo 38), 084) |= 2 2-22 18 0 io ee L5G Sosa se 84,836) |b == x Sy Previously deforested burns___.__.-____}--__.-__|----__-- IgE) ee 917185 |e 570427] oe Se 860 ))| See 1734320) ees es Sota FSH oye apa ha a Pa a a (ee ee ee PE 2 (ed ee ee Pee 3597106) see SLs Noncommercial rocky areas___-___--_-- [ee eis | = Sees | eee ee | eee eee | aateeee eee eae (Soeeeeee | poaeeees eens aA 0825 |e = owl a a ee 2, 060 543 | 66,880 | 77,391 |115,526 |102,829 | 49,114 | 85,925 | 6,396 | 5,715 253,156 | 272, 403
1 Data for national-forest lands were averages for 1924-33; data for other lands were averages for 1926-30. 1 Unclassified; total of these items: national forests, 3,169 acres; other lands, 10,011 acres, aggregate, 13,180. acres.
153
Taste 45.—Estimated annual averages of area burned over on national forests in the Douglas-fir region in 1924-33, by type and survey unit
| Western Washington | = | | | Re Type forests | LNoretoe| Gereein| meeerreal| * pas Puget Puget Puget H pat he Rive me Total Sound Sound Sound | Acres Acres Acres Acres | Acres Acres Acres Gizs2= Douglas-fir, large old growth_-____--------------------- 783 54 24 | 149) eon 347 | 439 y (ene Douglas-fir, small\old'growthies =o 2- as aes oe 4, 571 1, 619 7304| =o S22 eel |S eee 84 2, 436 Soe Douglas-fir, large second growth_-__-------------------- 85 | 7 7 nL SS] ees Oe re eer ll 26 af lee Sitka spruce; largess == ae sae ee ee ee oe aee 8. |S. 2S ss% oe | ee ee |e ee (| eee 8 [4a ‘Westernjhermlocklarges=2sse 25 - eea 1, 022 711 282 2 11 4 1,010 ify fae Western'redcedar} large 222. -== esos sea ee 28 25 By Ee ee |e ee | i ree 28 ipo Port.Orfordswhite-cedar, lare@ns-< 292 see ee 16})) 222-5 = See eT ESS SPOS | AS Se ee aes | Ree ae | ere 2022 |: Ponderosa pine; ‘large: =.= esuo wees Seats oon nee ese L526) Se ee ae a |e em ee | | ee | Cn | 20A\222|_ Sugari pine largess es 2 Se see Ce ee ae ec ere ee | eee een | ne Se ee eee oe oe re eae | meee 3 eee Fir-mountainjhemlock; large--2=. - =) 2-2-2222 ase ee 678 211 264 | 47 2 27 551 DY fetes | White fir-larch-Douzlas-fir, large___.------------------- | S| eee | ee et [Seay See eS | eee ne 8 8 Oe es Douglas-fir, small second growth___--.--------------_-- 756 155 46 063 |E oe eee ee 20 277 10s2s=0) Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings-_-_-___-_-------------- 5, 845 | 258 551 | (ty) See 3, 294 4, 205 125555 Sitkaispruce; smaller en ne eee | ee oes eee eee ee | eee pore SSS == A 2a GSS eee | ee Ss | ey eae 1 Fs Penge Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings-_------------------- D4) of ee we Ss ae 162 Wrestern*hemlock;/smallic22= Seek. toes See ee | in OO 2a | eee reee ces 1622 Western hemlock, seedlings and saplings__--__--- 19:22 nr Ceodarcy sins] ieee ee emer oe Sn eine Zisas Ponderosaipine, small elec ee ee eee 7 ae Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings_--------_- DALES 23 Fir-mountain hemlock, small_-__-___----_--_----- 2oue=s* Modgepole pines smallivei a= Sis See eee 2 2 White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small___-__-____----------- 32 ea=en Red wO0ds Soc = Se eae ee oe ee ee 536-- | (Ponderosa ‘pine wood land 2-9-2) as oe ee See ee See Y eee | Oak-madrone: woodland! = -=- 22s eee oe ee ee | G60 aoe yn 23] eo Sh ae | ee eS a ae ee Ree eee | Dern rlae a Ej ae Hardwoods sve ees Boece re co ee Bh pee petetee Bolg SSSR | |S See ees Se 5 Shrssoy Old cut-overs, nonrestocked _.----------------------_- 1942 |) eee eee [ieee 2a ee 12 12 8622-2 Recent/cCut-OVer sis = ae oe ee eee een eee | 1, 039 37 625 15 179 67 923 872_2=-|pPreviously, deforested: burns! === -2se2-=s sees sen | 3, 978 90 144 abi re ee 1, 142 1, 387 332 | Subal pine === 22 eae eat ee eee er eee 1, 922 | 1, 654 227 Q's 2: MR Soe 1, 890 3822 Noncommercial rocky areas__--------=----_-.-_-=------ 1, 066 | 331 24 (iis ee ok 303 664 Total S52) Seen on ee ee See eee ee 23, 710 5, 300 3, 307 264 201 6, 168 15, 240 i} | Western Oregon Type p | No. | sh Columbia | Willamette Owen Umpqua Gon Rogue Total River River Gat River COaSE River Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres (ae | Douglas-fir, large old growth______-_------------------- 26 254 3 23 16 22 344 Y pe | Douglas-fir;smallold:erowth so 222 2a ee ee ae 141 Sateen a ee 573 1,070 298 2, 135 Se22-2 | Douglas-fir, large second growth__---_----------------- 10 19 20 pS es ga 9 59 1h Sees | Sitkaispruce; largess == === *22L == 22 = an a | ae | | a | a en ee | ee eee 14-2224 Wiestern hemlockjylarge:. === See 9 5) (ee a ce ee | | as fh 12 phy apes, i. Western): red cedars largen ase. Se See arrears ame eh Se eR i NEE ATR eee | Fe eee | RS Re a ARaewes Port: Orford-white-cedar, large: 2222 ee os || ote as A aes | eee | Ree aen 1G | settee eee 16 20 se= 22 Ponderosa pine; laree-. =. === ee [Soa ele ou |S! eee | See eS 22 iP 58 152 Q0As-cieSugarpine:tlargess-=.-2-5ln~ sae Oe ee ee | fa SE ere A att Lal oR ea | ae cena | Me eal | oe 4 SOLES | BE ne er | eae Dake | Fir mountainihemlock, Jarge._-2 2 = ee |e 42) See naan Q's | irate reas BS 76 127 Vie | “White fir-larch-D ouglas-fir, large: <2 === = 2. Se a | a | es | cen | eee ear | (ee Ores Be Douglas-fir, small second growth___-_-_--_-------------- 118 201 | 22 64 47 27 479 10:2" Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings__________-__________ 70 184 | 48 169 1, 089 80 1, 640 12 Sitkaksprtice;;smmall atc 2 058 Ste Pere i | eee ne | MC | reer ea RS | eenereney yenetest een se |e oe tt 132-2 SitKaisprices seedlings'and Saplings satete = ss see eect | /oRae ee tee | eee ee Dee ees re HES CS vod | ere ear 2 a eee |) Western‘hemlock,;smalli 2. 3228 ae ee Qt) See SS Se eee ee eS |e a a | Eee ae ipe | ace eee 4 162-23 Western heinlock, seedlings and saplings_______________ Dy | ho Ne | a Sas | SE im | ae eee ih | WI oe 2 19.2222 “Gedar,’’ small_. ..—2=-255 32222 sece ives scscke ane n Sete a) ese | a SS | eee | perme ton | eee noe eee | See Qieet Ponderosa pine, ‘Smaqly sy -- Soe Sa | a | lad CE eo | | | Lage aN 2 2 22 hee Ponderosa:pine; seedling s/and' saplings += se ae a ae ee | ee eee | eee 7) | ee 14 21
TABLE 45.—Estimated annual averages of area burned over on national forests in the Douglas-fir region in 1924-33, by type and survey unit—
Continued Western Oregon Type T No. ype Columbia . North + South : Willamette Umpqu ou R River 2 ipqua ogue Ny River preson River Orecon River Total e Acres 242 Rare Fir-mountain-hemlock, small_-_-.___-------------------- 23 26 eel odgepole;pinessmall-sseseen as eke See Oe 18 28 White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small______------------___- 11 CPAs, RCC. W00 Cees ew ee ee ee nee 5 5 oe BE OTLCeLOSA SP INe nw OO GA TI eae s matare ate eh et teen Sed | es =e eee | ne os 2 es SO ee aoe | k e e hy Seo Oak-madrone}woodland essere. Se aL eae ee 66 31ea = Hl andiw0Odssmetece ese en sakn ee ena eee Mi Se 20 35s Old cut-overs, nonrestocked 182 Sse Recenticut-Overssssees = no aa aoe a = no 116 SYS Previously deforested burns___---_- 2, 591 BB 5 oe Subal pine seams ee eee oo ae eae Ssh soe 32 Ci esee iNoncommiercial'rocky:areas=_-——-_--- --------=-<<-=---- 402 HA DYOY eM be ek ON ee Pe A ee 676 1, 021 291 1, 180 3, 889 1, 413 8, 470
TABLE 46.—Estimated annual averages of area burned over on lands other than national forests in the Douglas-fir region in 1926-30, by type
and survey unit
Western Washington Type | ! Noe Type faceata North Central | South G : Puget Puget Puget Tay Columbia Total Sound Sound Sound Harbor River Acres Acres Acres Acres
Greet Douglas-fir; largeold' growth! :-2 ~~ 2-22 22 se. {ieee Douglas-fir, small old growth i awe ed Douglas-fir, large second growth be Sitkalspruce-tlargesetecs-. oe pee Se ne ese ssest-8 ieee sWWieStermehemlocksplarges = seat a ne ae oe te Ea Se sly (aes iWesternuredcedarmlanrgetes sen Sees we ss TSoeeee Port Orford white-cedar, large_-._-.._-_-__-.-._------- 20 eee Pond erosaypinew@largeseaasste = eel ee 2 ES ee 20 ASesleSuganpine larger sass wn eee. oss Oe ose DR eee Fir-mountain hemlock, large OY fea White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, large__-___-_-_------------- Gears. Douglas-fir, small second growth-_--__------------------ 10 we Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings_-_---_-_-----------_- Dire Sitkavsprucessmal lees =o aoe ot aS Eee 135s Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings______-_-----_---_--- 15a Wresternbhemlock small. 8-2 = = oer ee ee LG ieaue Western hemlock, seedlings and saplings_- 3G peste ““@edar small ssoe 2 S25 2 PA Uae Ponderosa pine, small 22 Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings__-______-_------- py ieee iMir-mountain hemlock;;small=_=_-> 2 22 2s Sos ase. 26m ans Wodgepolespine-small =... 2--— eee es DRESS White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small Byes ais Red wood tes (etter aoe Uo zins Sets 514____| Ponderosa pine woodland AE CCRT Oak-madrone woodland __-_ : GES Se PEA nGiw. COG S=aee eee aren tere mae le nd SS Saat 2, 203 | 743 | See eA | ee es 2,012 Cif Oldicut-overs; nonrestocked_--=__-_---_--------=------ 12, 440 190 831 1, 437 10, 534 30e ae IRECENTICUL-OV.CLS ee eee eee ee eee eae ee 83, 797 8, 575 9, 084 6, 659 52, 537 By (seed iPreviouslydeforested) burns= === _ -2 = -=-_-_ -=2--25--= = 13, 454 10) | ees eee 2, 363 2, 396 suse ee Su bal pinessseemer = sees meres cn. OE Sa | Rapes he | ae ae pL Raat ie et Anes oll ee een ee ees See 184 3c Noncommercial rocky areas LG's |e re 5a a EA l= UP Sean eee eee Lae eee ese ela a
Total Sees enn ce eee eee i eee se 229, 446 18, 442 36, 302 | 15, 089 11, 991 42, 238 124, 062
155
TasLe 46.—Estimated annual averages of area burned over on lands other than national forests in the Douglas-fir region in 1926-30, by type and survey unitt—Continued
Western Oregon Type | | No: gue Columbia Soe ae Umpqua Gane Rogue | Total River River AoaSt | River eanet River Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Douglas-fir dargevold: grow, these ee sees ee ees 1, 149 5, 436 975 865 3, 080 2 11, 507 Douglas-fir, small old growth_________-_-----_-_-_- 892 5/159 10 | eee 1, 461 552 2, 675 | 11,172 Douglas-fir, large second growth_______--_-__--_- whete 332 322 | 19 2, 509 518 417 | 4,117 Lhe 2 Sitka spruce; large:- _ =.= 22-2220 ee es Sa Se on | ee ee | See ene | eee eee Ox | eee ee 9 [45°58 | Western hemlock, large_._..__-..--.------=----------_- | 182) |eeee eee 446 | 5S eS | eee ee 226 1 72Oe Western redcedar:larges=* 5-5 ios2s Sse ee es | eee Soc A as Oe a al | Pee ne nee SS EE eae | a 18 --_|! Port: Orfordswhite-cedar; large: = === ss Sa ee | ee ee eee | ne ee | ee nena | Eee ea 2.30) eee oe 230 20-224 |\sPonderosapine large: ss=sstee see = aan ae ne es | eee an | eee eee ees | ee ee name 1453) a. 2 eae 2, 627 2,772 204:.-_ =) ‘Sugarpine; larges--=- oe ee ee ee beeen ea S| Se Ses | eS | ec | eee ee 183 183 2ioeee Fir-mountain hemlock; large .22- == sss oo ee ees | eee we Os ee oe ed | ESP ee eet | eee ee Pyke White firlarch=Douglas-firslarges ose) ou eee el | Bree ee nce | eee Se 25) te BE et lle ke | EA eat a [RO | ee 9______| Douglas-fir, small second growth__---..__-.---------_-- 732 3, 632 | 345 2, 450 | 2:27 2, 947 12, 383 10 Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings..___-_____--__--___- 1, 559 | 3, 216 21 | 684 300 221 | 6, 001 12 Sitka:spruce;smial] aes Se eee a a ere se (eee | ent eee Gls | PRAe ee eee 14) |e Stee See 75 13 seen Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings_________----__-___- | eS Fal 2 een |S eee See PR | S| en oe ee | ee 1a ae Wiestermyhemlock ssmall ee ss ee en ee 12 | beeen 24 eee Jo 24 | Ree ee 64 16.=_--|| Western hemlock: seedlings'and' saplings: <= soe ee ea ee | eee | ce ee | a ee | ee 19%aeae “@edar,?? small == a = oe a se ee | Bee er wee | en enna ns | ae ae ee | See ee | ee ae |e ee eee | ee pee ‘Ponderosaypines; Smal lisence = eee ee 872 22_____| Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings. -_______________ 4,007 2D Fir-mountain hemlock, smallse- 0 2: 225 ooo ee ee ee ee | er ee | eee ene | Eee | ene | Seen 26._ || Bodgepole:pine;;smallls So ee eee 5 28. _22.|/“Wibite:fir-larch=D ouglas-fir;: small oo = = Seo | es re | oe Se ee ee | ee eee ee | Pee ene | a 322— 2 Red wood ions oa 8 ae ee ee = or Se ee en | eee ae |e aes | eee eee | ee ee es | oe | ee | aa 56022 3).:Ponderosa;pine:woodland. S222" 2276s cee eee 3, 452 pete Oak-madrone;woodland e222 isa see rena ee 3, 878 312.88 Hardwo0ds= 22-2) | ae ee See eee eee 191 3523 Old! cut-overs; nonrestocked) -=-2--__-__- = 22-1 2 = 1, 906 36-62 =| SRecentiCut-o versie ses == ee eee eee ann eee 31, 260 37__---| Previously deforested burns__...__-------------------- 11, 058 Sh amare Subalpines <2. 52 se 2 So a a ww ee | ew ce ee a re | eee | nee ee 38:.---|-Noncommercialirocky.areas=-2------ -- == =-- ee 16 AR 8 ec ee eR ee eer et 105, 384 Tasie 47.—Summary of estimated annual averages } of area burned over in the Douglas-fir region, by type and survey unit Western Washington REL Type ne Northinll miCentealle lmasouth | NG: | ore Puget Puget Puget | ASEM | Coluxbia Total Sound Sound Sound Acres | Acres Acres | Acres Acres Acres | Acres 68x53 Douglas-fir, large old growth________----_-_--------=--- 15, 496 | 270 | 818 | 901 187 1,469 | 3, 645 Y (ete Douglas-fir; smalloldigrowth!- —+-2.-- se see enone 16, 164 | 1,619 | 1152 Of ba eRe Bs | 84 2, 857 822s Douglas-fir, large second growth_______________________ 5, 108 24 | 422 | 2684 |Seeea eee | 218 | 932 rh ese Sitkaisprucenmlareess. tos eee ee re AL 7} eee eee mel |e eaer el | Sees eee 8 pease ea 8 14RD iWesternthemlock: ‘large! 222-22 2s ee 1, 418 825 286 35 23 | ll 1, 180 ay Se iWeestern-red cedarwlargessseee= =~ eases er eee 70 | 67 | 3), | Se eS ee 0) DPS eon 70 1s | Port Orford white-cedar, large_________-_-_-__-___-___-- QAG fn aia |S RS DE SS | Ee cl pee | eee! OOnesall Ponderosa pine sarge 2-2 s- - == eee ee eee 20 A202) ‘Sugar pine argess-2-- -22 525 eet ee eee 235-208 | Fir-mountainihemlock, large-_.-2- 2:22 2222-222 2-2 74 ea | White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, large _______- Quests. | Douglas-fir, small second growth _________ Ome | Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings 12a jESitKaisprucessmallo=. tases ee ee eee ee 13ers | Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings___________________-
1 Data for national-forest lands were averages for 1924-33, data for other lands were averages for 1926-30.
156
Tape 47.—Summary of estimated annual averages of area burned over in the Douglas-fir region, by type and survey unit—Continued TTTTTTTT9tziqgg
Western Washington
Type Type All Nl No. forests North | Central | South Guiee Golampi Puget | Puget | Puget Harbor River 18 Total Sound | Sound Sound | Acres Acres | Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres Geese Wiesternvhemlock, smallo2 2222 22-86. 07S. pees 604 ll S60 i eae ee 165%] eet eee 536 ‘Geese Western hemlock, seedlings and saplings 1K s. es Codannysinall ise ae eon Seo ee PAN Ponderosaypinessmalless sen eee ee ee PP Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings_________________ DAS ee Fir-mountain hemlock, small_____-___________________- 26s InWodeepolempinesmall@ssuems. lob ne Wha love DR ete White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small___ a ll 32 Eeene Red wi00 Gee ames aera ae A 5 51%4____| Ponderosa pine woodland___________ is 3, 452 Canoes Oak-madrone woodland_-______-_-----------_-------_- 4,147 3 eae ET andi God Seems sneeial is Wes a eae pe oe 2, 237 Chee Old cut-overs, nonrestocked _--_------------------------ 12, 634 4, 028 4, 048 190 | 831 1, 449 10, 546 SOne == Recent cut-OVersuases) eaee a0 Sie Soe ie ie 84, 836 | 10, 087 18, 794 8, 590 9, 263 | 6, 726 53, 460 Sie Previously deforested burns 17, 432 90 167 Ohlkd meee eee © 3, 505 3, 783 BEE SUbal pine Se ewemeses esha eree Ue ne 2, 106 1, 654 411 Ol Seas Se SMA SOE ee 2, 074 382-2 Noncommercial rocky areas 1, 082 331 24 Gi eee see 303 664 Dota ie grees see ee ane te 2 eee 253, 156 23, 742 39, 609 | 15, 353 | 12, 192 | 48, 406 139, 302 | | | | Western Oregon Type p | 1 No. Mae Columbia | Willam- | North | pmnoua | South R River | ete | Oregon | “River | Oregon | River | Total Acres Acres Acres Gre Douglas-fir, large old growth______---------------------- Ue pes Douglas-fir, small old growth-_____--------------------- Cero Douglas-fir, large second growth--_-_--------_----------- Leer Sitkalspruce anges sens oe ee a ees 8 WAN oe Wiesternthemlock larger 9! 2822" SoS eses ess 2 ete sli Westermredcedarslange: ia oe es eee eo ee Leaps Port. Orford white-cedar, large__.____------_----------- 20 eee Ponderosa pine, large 20Aes|sSugenipinevlarcewiae eames eee bee os aoe PB re Fir-mountain hemlock, large. __.---------------------_- PA (aaorem White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, large______---------------_- 9_..___| Douglas-fir, small second growth____----+-------------- 10ses== Douglas-fir, seedlings and saplings_______----_-------__ eases Sitkatsprucessm allie sexo soo en eee eee eee Loueee Sitka spruce, seedlings and saplings___ 15 eeeoe iWesternvhemilocks small! 22" 2-2-2251) 2) 222. 16 manes Western hemlock, seedlings and saplings LO upeees i Codar wisi al lesen ee ee a ee 2a iPonderosaspinewsmall =. -=12 22s 222s ee Do ee eee Ponderosa pine, seedlings and saplings__________-_----- 24 Tae Fir-mountain hemlock. small____---------------------- 26 eee lelcodgepole;pinesmall 22.225 225) 252 eso ae ee 28 ae tats White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, small z Dp | Eee es | eae erate rl | ree ee auth pe 4 | rs et ANG ee Ieee lee 11 2 Ee ae REdWw00 dame Mem na eee at 5 5%____| Ponderosa pine woodland 38, 452 (eee Oak=madroneswoodlandis. <2 02 222) aes bol - 3, 944 Beers Se EVardiwOOdSseie srs = Ses os Woe Se See Soe Eee 220 See Oldicut-overs, monrestocked!!=--=-_.---_U 2-2-2 s22_- 1, 632 144 52 7 182 4 2, 088 BOE IRECentiCul-OVerse sane eee See ee 13, 068 7, 405 3, 958 554 5, 071 1, 320 31, 376 BY oaevnce Previously deforested: burns: —_.-_--.-..22.--.2------=2 570 4, 905 1, 206 1, 672 1, 976 3, 320 13, 649 pRoae Subalpine eee | te eerie es B2h | Demense h Sees | ae Poe ee eee eee oe | ee 32 BSiee Noncommercial rocky: areas == 325-2 ee See 6 1M pestle ae eae 5 397 13 418 MIRO FE se Ss SIN a MNS pe an a On 20, 557 31, 566 6, 834 11, 321 17, 006 26, 570 113, 854
224146 °—40——_11
TasLe 48.—Estimated annual averages of timber volume } lost by fire in the Douglas-fir region? in 1924-33, by type and Survey unit
Type |
ON NATIONAL FORESTS a
Western Washington
= Type All forests = | : Rates o Puget | Puget | Puget | Grays | Columbia] 5.5) Sound | Sound | Sound Harbor River — | | M board Mboard | Mboard | M board M board M board M board feet feet feet feet feet feet feet (ess. ‘Douglas-fir, Jargeiold/growthis22 = eee 12, 267 918 676 243 Y Pere Douglas-firsmallioldierowth™=-s- === =e 53, 022 18, 419 198869 | ss eee Sa Douglas-fir, large second growth...________-__--___--___ | 1,012 | 232 | 98 | 1 Tiliees we Sitka'spruceilarge: 22s re ee ee eee 432 Bee ee ee |S ee 1K Ge iWesternthemlock, largess oe Sees we ere 21, 364 | 16, 395 | 4, 360 145 [ene iWiesterniredced ars largesse = as ee re ee ner | 853 843 | 107) Bee 1S See Port: Orford): white-cedar, largesse o eee ee eee 4 |-------4----|=-----=---=-|-----2=----- D0 aes l#Ponderosaipine: largess sssaee ee ean eee ee | 227 |------------|------------|------------ 20A___| Sugar pine, large_____- ee a rae ey te ee [see ose |------------ |------------ |--==--=-==- Bin eon | Fir-mountain hemlock, large__.--.______-_---.-2-_-=-_- 4, 443 1,069 | 489 | 1,152 | Or fog White fir-larch-Douglas-fir, large_________--_---___-____ 166 )1| Secs. Coens | ae eee ee |ESeere pues Total: =-2 <2 ea ee 93, 790 37, 876 25, 502 1, 541 804 7,779 73, 502 Western Oregon Type Type - No. 4 Columbia | Willam- North J: South cm River | ette River | Crezon Ves : Oregon Heeue Total | | | M board M board | M board M board | M board M board M beard feet feet feet feet | feet feet feet 622 Douglas-fir, large old-growth_________-_----.---_--_-__- 793 5, 800 10 27 | 232 62 6, 924 7A Douglas-fir, small old growth_____________-__--_--____- 603 | 787) | eee on ietar 8, 163 | 1,105 | 1, 557, | 12, 215 ee Douglas-fir, large second growth_______________________ [peti eit BOO) era sete eee |e aera ae eas ee rare 20 | 610 1 Te ae Sitkaispruceslarg cha ssssn tie eee ee ee |e | eee eae | ene ne ee | | Se [eee te eee |------------ 1 4 eae Western hemlock-large = seea ete. Se See en eee eer 528] keene eee a | ne eee [D2 Sen SS eee ae Lee 52 172: ‘Western red cedar} large:2-= = 22. 222 Sea a a a ee a Se | ee SB ae | Bar| fae eae | soe Port; Orford -white-cedar; large. 2 2== ==) a ee |e ae Se | ae | ieee el | Ee eee 4 |------------ | 4 2 Ponderosa; pine, largess es eas eo cee ee ee Ce | es | ee ee [poemasceciaes Ce ee ee | 166 | 227 WA || Suganpines largess h. ek eS ee Le ees | ee | eee ee Jee CRT ak 2 [lear ee OE || s . AS | a [eee Pas a Fir-mountain hemlock, large mises see = es ees see ae | ee ea SE DAG E Eins SERC CI W es | ORT Re se | Wea ease teen! 7 256 27 een ‘Wihite firlarch=Douglas-fir large soos = sae meee ees | ee ee | nn ee ee | ee ee el | EO [cali 2p Mt Mav ae | aS aeaes Total= 222 3 se Se Fe ee eee | 1,396 7,478 10 8, 251 | 1, 341 1, 812 | 20, 288 ON LANDS OTHER THAN NATIONAL FORESTS | Western Washington Ete Type All forests North | Central South Grave Golumbi Puget Puget Puget Harbor | Rivers Total | Sound Sound Sound | M board | M board M board M board M board M board M board feet | feet feet feet feet feet feet Bi snes Douglas-firlarge‘old arowth:==-s2 52-80. - see eee eee 94, 154 2, 586 1, 523 6, 386 2, 069 3, 846 | 16, 410 (eae | Douglas-fir,.small'old' growthw__-22-==-_2 22 - ee 3950555 | -=sseeoeeees| 5 1, 060 See | Douglas-fir, large second growth_-______-_--------_----- 23, 938 | 8, 369 PEE ee laSitkalsprucey large =< 2¢ sss 23 oes eee BR | at ES SII I HNN se eige| SI Soa pe | ea en | 1452 I. Westernshemlock, large sseo= meee eee ene a eee) 1, 641 1, 620 yi iWiestern:redcedar, large: 2 oe ee ee eee 301 | 301 18iaeee Port\Orfordwhite-cedar, larges=s2 os saaae = ee T;080))|). 2-255 - SS2| ee See ae Sane ee re eee 203 Pondercsaipine, Wargele == see amee 7,892) 25 2a 8 | ate ee al DAS ele Sugarpines large se ssee ere ae ene BAO Ya a oe | re re eel | aoe et ee | ace | 23 Wir-mountain! hemlock: \largete=—— == eae 9, 920 9, 930 = | | | Total 178, 613 | 4, 068 | 20, 118 7, 399 | 2, 090 4,015 | 37, 690
1 Log-seale basis.
158
? Data for national-forest lands were averages for 1924-33; data for other lands were averages for 1926-30.
Tas_e 48.—Estimated annual averages of timber volume lost by fire in the Douglas-fir region in 1924-33, by type and survey unit—Con.
ON LANDS OTHER THAN NATIONAL FORESTS—Continued
SSS
Western Oregon Type Tp No. ype 4 : North Soutt Columbia | Willam- Umpqua ouu Rogue = « Oregon . Oregon gu Total River ette River COnSE River east River M board M board M board M board M board M board M board feet feet feet feet feet feet feet (Jess Mouglas-firslares‘old!growth=2---= 20-2 ee ee 10, 209 39, 339 4, 300 1, 778 22,112 6 77, 744 Y se Dougias-firsmalllold’growth=*__ 2.22222 8 8, 720 LS sge | ee eee 5, 188 2, 290 8, 025 37, 995 Sit Su Douglas-fir, large second growth______________________- 1, 325 415 38 11, 426 1,114 1, 251 15, 569 1 Tse Sitkarspruceplarme fae state cx ea sete sted arose ee eee ee |S ee Se ARSE Ee SF le 8 a RE 139 \ ee ae 73 Ue ee iVesternenemlockalarge tee eae St a eek Mc eeeranete ox) +E Sun anes [le ee DAE | ees Se Paice ieee clement | A ee See Po 21 py ee iwresternired cedar plareessssss 2 sete wa aoe meara ye eee |S oy tees ae eben es Se aay eee ee || etd 2 elle emi ee ee 1Szesee BortOrfordtwhite-cedarhlanrge eas awe saws ues hn ee S| eS | es | ee elle A NOSOue ster a: 1, 080 20 Sess Ponderosajpine? large: -— = 22-2. 2-2 25-_-.2 I es See 7, 881 7, 892 ZO ACRES UIP STADING Arye Meee em te erie nee Se ee SRP DIE Nene ete Ea een TE | Ree |e he 549 549 OF eee Hir-mountainyhemlock-Warge wes oun ese ene See OE Poe 2 te Se Se Ea |e 3 Sea | ahs REN Ee eee = | TROD aca Sc eee eee 20, 254 53, 526 4, 359 18, 403 26,669 | «17,712 140, 923 ALL FOREST LANDS Western Washington Type No. Type All forests North Central South ae a = Grays Columbia Puget Puget Puget Harbor Riv Total Sound Sound Sound i) ct M board M board M board M board M board M board M board feet feet feet feet feet feet feet 6252 Douglas-fir, large old growth____-_-.------------------_- 106, 421 3, 504 2. 199 6, 629 2, 069 7,002 21, 753 (fees Douglas-fir, smal] old growth_______- a2 92, 077 18, 419 20, 927 2) (loses ee 2, 519 41, 867 8_______| Douglas-fir, large second growth ae 24, 950 259 7, 527 7184; hese ae aes 201 Sera lee SItKalsDnuce plang e tees ate eee one en | ate See SOON Rete are se eae A ol Pome ae one CS P-fal eee epee 432 4earee eWiesternuhemlockolargelesss== Sari 6 eee 2 eee ees 23, 005 17, 549 4, 538 373 393 79 22, 932 esas iWiestern’redcedarslaroes=— 10 see a en Poet sles 1, 154 1, 144 LC eet (ee era eel beeen ee 1, 154 1S ies Port Orford white-cedar, large___________-_-_-----___-_- SOB 45] ee oes Ses eer ns oe Sl ae oe NE OP Se ae en | 20_...__| Ponderosa pine, large_-_--.------------ = BU OF ese pee | ee a | Meee = oe eras ae 2 ee eae eee 20 A= sSugar pine wlargem tas 228 = Ss = 2 540) hee sete eo Roee a Noe Sh en) eee eral eee ers | Ee ee ORY Fir-mountain hemlock, large________ 2 14, 373 1, 069 10, 419 152) | ose SS 1, 477 14, 117 272) |\=Wihite:fir-larch=) ouglas-fir; large s 22.222. ==-=-s--2-~ =. - 166) aoe Bose Soils eee SN ee | eS A 166 166 | 2S \\e Ota Seeee eh een Sen See ees ot BS Se eet 272, 403 41, 944 45, 620 8, 940 2, 894 | 11, 794 111, 192 Western Oregon ape Bene North South No. Columbia | Willam NOE Umpqua Sout Rogu : pate Oregon Pd Oregon oeue Total River ette River mani: River eonet Riv er M board M board M board M board M board M board M board feet feet feet feet feet feet fett (Git Douglas-fir, large old growth____--_- 11, 002 45, 139 4, 310 1, 805 22, 344 84, 668 eS S=5 _| Douglas-fir, small old growth_____- 9, 323 14 550\ ios eee 13, 351 3, 395 50, 210 Sues | OuUgI aS-fir sarge second growth... -._222-2--2_--_ 22. 1, 325 1, 005 38 11, 426 1,114 16, 179 bl eet Sitkayspruceslorceeerstes enue ower ne Sl a ee Se oe ee ee ee |S aoouseut ale tet ceote 73 73 WC ee WWiesteLngnemllockmlangewe en aa eu enews eee 2S 2 Ee 52 7 UE |e es so a Wi age ae 73 Lares Wiestenmyredcedarslargess- oo ee ee eee ee eee 1ge Port Orford white-cedar, large 20_..__.| Ponderosa pine, large. -___-__-_------- 20AR eSucarpine large 22-2 23ee==— Fir-mountain hemlock, large 27a see aah te -or-larch-Douglas-fir,, large. =.= -.-+-----=--_222|-==-_=-2-=_- -~----~- ----]-=---~------|------------|------------]------------]------------ Ota rei renaa a UM tems A ee EN 21, 659 61, 004 4, 369 26, 654 28, 010 19, 524 161, 211
159
TasLe 49,—WNet average annual rate of depletion from causes other than cutting, by type group
nnn
| | Annual loss per 100,000 acres from— Net annual
Ownership, State, and type group Total area
fire loss NI =| | | mmophicies| phiesece | Wind | Total | | | | | National forest: | | Washington: Acres Acres Acres Acres | Acres Acres (Saree lt peer ope eer a A ee DM AE a: 488, 704 1,152 236 | 30 11.5 | 277.5 Peer erie nee Ree MOR ee are | ele ee ee Mar ene 218, 216 10 5 30 1.5 | 36.5 FI 14S 11718220 s20An 2342 7/an Gt20 beeen een ee Ee 1, 644, 072 1, 044 64 30 11.5 | 105.5 Qi SVD T'S earn ht DD se sere Sa ce ee ee 215, 216 379 51°76 |p ah | a | 176 139163 195120:24-98 Sand '30 See ae ee nee ne eee 167, 624 714 | 426i) 2332 sos. i See ee 426 QUE eau aa ee I, A Pia ee cle ec een 271, 903 2, 817 THOSG} eee ee |S 1,036 45516525. 2620N CoS se esas eeees ese eee eee eee 191, 822 711 371p css Se See ee 371 BE eae a ie eae ee ae eet Ee ee 946, 004 1, 890 200 |e eR | | 200 35365 and :3 (ee ose see ee nn eae wae eee ee eee 205, 533 2, 322 1130) Ee a ae | eee 1, 130 nt alot Ee Apa A eee a ee 6, 301 4 G3 | estes see miei | Eee ae 63 Oregon: Rear hy (en a ea 2, 124, 340 990 88.5 Site FO Rae ek Sie SS eee 511, 832 24 36.5 11, 14,117, 18, 20, 20A, 23, 27, and 29________ a 858, 663 120 55.5 ORT 2 5 yandi2le esses ee een ee ne eee - 418, 279 196 47 13, 16, 19, 22, 24, 28, and 30 | 142, 725 35 25 10 OMe ee ee Oe | 295, 748 1,099 372 40516425 426 and\SSeee onan e eens 469, 455 963 205 gatuaaeise se Ue oes Rs eens: pe 64, 360 33 51 35, 36, and 37__ 399, 342 2, 881 721 Boa) SH UT SO ee teat eet se ee, eae oe 80, 779 21 26 All other forest land: Washington: Gia Zhe Ae Ue Aare ee eek eer rte bm raeere OT oe 1, 207, 589 893 74 30 11.5 115.5 EE EN SRN Se ST SON one OL RO or Ss Ser eee res | 512, 538 227 | 44 30 1.5 75.5 1114510171820 520A S232 7 5a 20 eae ee lee erences Sm --| 1,788, 127 | 119 7 30 11.5 48.5 QS12 515 han dD see eer Sn re ee ee ee | 1, 488, 406 | 2, 768 | 186) [Ecce ete ene) | eee 186 1316419 420694128" sini dO ee sere Caen en Te ee eee | 236, 365 412 1:7 44 | Seen pl | eaecoeee eee 174 1 (eee a Pale Mee iad He oe aie er eee Oe Pe | 1,073, 642 28, 730 25676) | eect econ los st ee 2, 676 PSV ASD YAM) Sess tole eae eis at aks a a eee aN ls | 139, 235 | 53 38), Sasa wes ee | eee ee 38 iY ee Se eee et en 5 At RE AS 1395922 1| eee rae 200)! ES ee |e ee 200 B5ABOCANG S7ccn tee eee es DA See ree De Se 2, 123, 787 65, 467 3) 083)| Gate lee Nee nee 3, 083 SCS RR eR AT ane Lee 346, 550 1, 510 436) |e eee a | Cae ae 436 Oregon: kar 47a sea er ie 6 ee eS 3, 055, 581 6, 768 221 | 30 11.5 262.5 Te ee aly Ed BR rege 92 Se SRI P ge no se 1, 398, 937 | 1,412 101 | 30 1.5 132.5 TT 145151751 820% 20 A 23427), AN tO ea ee ee ere 721, 066 818 | 113 | 30 11.5 154.5 OSI 2STB San deal soc eee eee aR nese = alr cere 2, 020, 303 5, 236 250M (boa tenons | ae eee 259 13581 65/1922 24. 28" en ds 30 seen ne ee cee eee 214, 950 | 927 43 10 Ee Ae ASAE ae ees 431 QD Sata Re CEI SILO, AO pn a IEE 469, 222 | 4,021 35 7a | ere ne ea 857 4) B64 25.026, ANG Sin eee eee oe wee ee ee ce ae 390, 969 | 7, 409 (2) jnaciloi2...-|. se | eee Fy Mie eee et ie omer iach na eat hs alee Pn ce ey 5p 1025 | ne eee Bit are wae |e 51 B55 36M ANG (81a es See te ee eo ona Ee ie a a ieee ee 1, 627, 022 | 43, 587 2 670g] beta ore Fe Sees 2, 679 SUA ee eS eS AE Se eee SL a en 293, 630 | 148 | 40) | Aeie ta ste pial Was 49 | |
1 For type 14 the annual looper-damage loss rate per 100,000 acres, not included in the rates tabulated, is 53 acres.
2 For the Columbia River Oregon, north Oregon coast, Willamette River, and Umpqua River units, 20 acres; for the south Oregon coast unit, 1,100 acres; for the Rogue River unit, 2,700 acres.
160
TasLe 50.—Assumed future decadal depletion,’ by district and ownership class
|
1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 Ownership and disrtict ; Cutting Other Total Cutting Other Total Cutting Other Total , Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million Million National forest: board feet board feet board feet board feet board feet board feet board feet board feet | board feet IRUZet SOUDCeeea mee se eae ae 1, 020 1,019 2, 039 1, 950 959 2, 909 3, 000 773 3, 773 Grayseelarboreese tee eee eas see 250 224 474 1, 000 204 1, 204 1, 500 170 1, 670 ColumbiatRivers= =e see 250 431 681 400 420 820 800 358 1, 158 \WillamettevRiver2oss-—-——--2---— 450 357 807 1, 150 344 1, 494 2, 250 325 2, 575 Oregon\coastiaasees= seen eee 50 133 183 80 132 212 105 122 227 SouthiOreconsseese = =e 125 253 378 400 255 655 650 242 892 Ota are ee es eS aS 2,145 2,417 4, 562 4, 980 2, 314 7, 294 8, 305 1, 990 | 10, 295 Other ownerships: | Buget Sound eee eee 26, 800 835 27, 635 25, 350 394 25, 744 | 12, 600 284 12, 884 Graystbiar bores eaene ae eee a 8, 980 332 9, 312 8, 000 218 8, 218 | 10, 000 132 10, 132 Columbia Rivernts ss se. 2 22 17, 400 612 18, 012 15, 500 139 15, 639 4, 000 143 4, 143 \WillametteyRivers22sseere ses) T= 7, 200 1, 228 8, 428 13, 000 767 13, 767 14, 000 460 14, 460 @regonicoas teeta eee eee 6, 600 942 7, 542 11, 300 597 11, 897 14, 000 387 15, 387 SouthiOregon "sss ees = ase - 875 1, 121 1, 996 1, 870 1,121 2, 991 6, 095 989 | 7, O84 Ue eee 67, 855 5, 070 72, 925 75, 020 3, 236 78, 256 61, 695 2, 395 64, 090 All ownerships: Puget Sound__ 27, 820 1, 854 29, 674 27, 300 1, 353 28, 653 15, 600 1, 057 16, 657 GraysiHarborsss-2s=— 9, 230 556 9, 786 9, 000 422 9, 422 11, 500 302 11, 802 ColumbiajRivers==2 22 2=- 2". =. 17, 650 1, 043 18, 693 15, 900 559 16, 459 4, 800 501 5, 301 Willamette River_______--___- 2 7, 650 | 1, 585 9, 235 14, 150 1,111 15, 261 16, 250 785 17, 035 @regontcoast=s== estes et ee ae 6, 650 1,075 7, 725 11, 380 729 12, 109 15, 105 509 15, 614 South Oregon 1, 000 1, 374 2, 374 2, 270 1, 376 3, 646 6, 745 1, 231 7, 976 BOY MS a ey pep ae 70, 000 7, 487 77, 487 80, 000 5, 550, 85, 550 70, 000 4,385 | 74, 385
1 Figures given are log scale, based on Scribner rule.
TasBLe 51.—Rates 1! used in calculating potential growth of conifer timber, approximate technical rotation ages
Trees 3.1+inches | Trees 15.1+inches | Trees 11.1+inches dvb-h? d. b. h.? d. b. hs
Site- quality class Mean Mean Mean annual Rota- annual Rota- annual Rota- growth | tion age | growth | tion age} growth | tion age per acre per acre per acre Cubic Board Board : feet Years feet | Years feet Years if 155 | 60 or 70 675 100 875 90 II 135 | 60 or 70 500 120 675 100 Ill 105 | 60 or 70 300 150 475 110 IV 75 | 60 or 70 125 180 275 130 V 45 | 60 or 70 30 +200 100 150 VI 208 60lOrs 70g) meen eres 2 2s be es aa Cee eee a |e2 oe eee
1 Approximately 75 percent of mean annual growth rates of normally stocked stands of Douglas-fir in western Oregon and western Washington. The normal rates for site classes I to V appear in Technical Bu'letin 201 (12). The rate for class VI was derived by extrapolation. No allowance is made for breakage and defect.
2 Estimated by Scribner rule in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top.
3 Estimated by Scribner rule in 16-foot logs to 8-inch top.
161
Tasie 52.—Volume of timber, lumber tally, in the Douglas-fir region, by species, State, and forest-survey unit
Western Washington
Sonn me. Total l | “bol SEECICS for North | Central | South eet Colum- Tee100 Puget Puget Puget is he 7 yee Total Sound | Sound Sound | | Stvectne | | | | | | Million Million | Million | Million | Million | Mlliion | Million board | board board | board | board | hoard board feet |) afeeER Ninn wifeet eae cet maul ue feetanns lms) cetauen Mmm ece DA Large old-growth. Douglas-fir 2220 sao ae ee eee 166, 124.9 5, 989. 3 | 16, 379.8 | 14, 331.0 | 10, 248.8 | 15, 795.6 62, 744.5 DB Small'old-erowth:D ouglas-firSo= se en eee aac 116, 585.2 | 2,420.3 | 11, 651.4 | 4,714.8} 1,185.6 2,972.6 | 22, 944.7 DC Large second-growth Douglas-fir 78, 512. 2 | 2, 460. 5 | 3, 718.7 | 9, 233.3 | 1, 282.5 5,351.3 | 22, 046.3 DD Small second-growth Douglas-fir 19, 833. 7 | 626.0 | 1,674.4 | 1, 483.3 | 191.5 2,652.5 | 6,577.7 SA argeiSitka spruce: 2-2 2 eee ance ee eee eee 12, 453. 0 | 142.8 | 2,125.5 79.0 | 4,530.3 261.8 | 7,139.4 SB Small Sitka‘spruces= =s22s)==s--— == === 985.4 | 12.7 | DBRS | |e 533. 5 41.2 | 598. 7 ES ingelmann/Sprucess-- 2s sese= se eae 256. 4 | ail -6 16) |e secs een 36. 8 39.1 HA Large western hemlock 105, 399. 3 | 14, 185.5 | 28, 654.6 | 6,939.8 | 22,892.6 | 7,504.8 | 80, 177.3 HB Small western hemlock 14, 844.4 | 2,209.7 | 2, 765. 1 1, 168.8 4, 461.4 1,186.2 | 11, 791.2 MH Mountain hemlock -______---_-------- 6, 198. 9 704. 2 511.3 | 229. 6 65.0 | 92.3 1, 602. 4 C Western redcedar, live 28, 358. 2 6,105.2 | 5, 983.7 2,494.4 | 6,516.5 2, 006. 1 23, 105.9 PC Port Orford white-cedar, live | 1535052 | | YC) |-Alaskavellow-cedarslive: = -2 2s" soe ee ee ee ee 629. 8 IC California:incense-ced af! 28 sa a ne ee eee 2, 056. KPC.) Port:Orford white-cedat) deado-- a. ee ee 28. KC | (Others cedar??(dead 2222 22 Senne ne ee eee 1, 224. YA | Large,ponderosa (and! Jefirey):pine=2 22" <= 22 - = Saeeeeeee 4,851. YB Small ponderosa (and Jeffrey) pine> 2-~- 22222." a eae 485. SP Sugars pine =< ec oe meee at UNE en eee ee Le ee 3, 837.3 | | Ww Western’ white: (andwhitebark)) pines. -=* 22225222 se ee 3, 045. 1 | 199.5 564.9 175.0 150. 6 527.5 | 1,617.5 LP Lodgepole: (and: knobeone) ‘pine:--—— 2 = = Sara oe eee 87.7 | -2 4.9 mF | -4 | 4a 6.1 WE Wihitetfir:and'erand:firssset cee es ee ae ee ee ee | 7,343.1) 40.0 49077) 338. 6 | 407.4 | 159.5 995. 2 NF Nobiesand Shasta red fits — = a eee ee | 9, 978.1 | 1.0) 1,093.7 | 910. 5 | 24.7 | 1,143.2) 3,173.1 A- || Pacific/sil ver fir 22: 2. ee ee eee 37, 863. 0 | 9,098.4 | 10, 318.0 2,772.1 | 7,773.2 | 4,403.9 | 34, 365.6 AE | VAlpine firs: = 22S coe a Se RO ee ee se eee 113.8 | 4.9 28.9 4° 84| Reena (2) 38.6 WL ‘Western larch. 20.2 noe en 3 a aia S © a Se vee Se arn sree 145. 7 | Sees Set alle ale eR ee ee ae ese 30.5 | 30. 5 R DRY h, Zee Peewee a eae Rel Meee a oe OS a GER0 9 Seat ee | ears | Bese \Exieeee eee [so JS See Eee RA Redialdert242. Stes ie et ee ee 2, 563.1 | 120. 2 186. 1 47.4 216.3 122. 2 | 692. 2 0O Oregon white: Oaks22-0 2S = ot Sere oes o eae eee eee ne eens T1OS5n)| 2 Sten icine ee | acres Vila a2 a aa ieee co California black oak =. 2-2-2 Scres- oe oe ee eee TQ. Be Mee la IAT Ey See |e Cae || CLO: | Canyon live: cakes = 2222-26 (a2 Sea es eee ae 452))| oe at es (Ca | Se See | Sanne oe | ea cee | eee DOysle Pancakes 22 Me 2) See ae 2_ SL eae ire oe ee ie AQ 738 Sap oe [eee ean | one [2222 oc |e ee eee BC Northern black cottonwood (and aspen)-_--_---.----.-------------- 341.9 79.3 32.7 14.3 16.4 36. 2 | 178.9 OM Bigleaf:maple: 27.) 22-3. es Be se ee ee eee ee 919.0 | 55. 4 41.3 151.3 48.9 11.0 | 307.9 MEA Dy |UiViadrones 922 ee eee 8 ee eee BOBS Oi) So ce See eS | OE ed | | eae |= eens ASH) il Oregoniash-22* 222252 - ee tt a eee 56.7 | 3 4.0 S56h ioe eae 1.6 | 14.5 MiY> (|e @alifornia,Faurel soo oeedely miran tt ore eater eee a 73.5 | CH Chinquapin: 22 .=- 2 25-. see ee er ees 83.6 WPB | Western and northwestern paper bireh__._--____--_-_-------__---- .3 Tobales eS 2 oo Fe RE ARS ret eel SOS 627, 748.6 | 45,124.8 | 86, 224.1 | 45, 257.0 | 60, 931.5 | 44, 489.3
1 Less than 50,000 board feet.
162
| 282, 026.7
q
Tae 52.—Volume of timber, lumber tally, in the Douglas-fir region, by species, State, and forest-survey unit—Continued
—__ Fee...” _mknknnmX _=<=S=_ gg
Western Oregon Sym- Species Colum- ae | South bo bis Willa- IN Orth et aan n ct alliOceconalieR xiver, Bie Oregon River a Gpeet Rives Total Million Million | Million | Million | Million | Million | Million board board | board board | hoard | board board feet Jeet, Aen ifect.” |e feet~ “esefeetiem| = sefeet feet
DA | Large old-growth Douglas-fir__-_..........-..--------------------= 11, 929.0 | 41, 150.5 | 9,238.8 | 18,676.9 | 17,478.3 | 4,906.9 | 103, 380. 4 DB Smalliold-growthiDouglas-firz=)2-- =. See ee 11, 372.5 | 34, 189.3 1,970.2 | 25,893.8 | 9,689.5 | 10, 525. 2 93, 640. 5 DC Large second-growth Douglas-fir__________-_-_-..-..----__--_--.-. 4, 292.5 | 18,421.4 | 9,684.5 | 14, 253.3 | 8,663.8 | 1,150.4 | 56, 465.9 DD Smallisecond-growth Douglas-fir: 2-2-2 2-8. = ss tS 1,111.7 | 4,366.0 689.5 | 3,484.3 | 2,617.9 | 986. 6 13, 256.0 SA Whale CLS IbKars DIU COs eee eens Cece ee ee Ren pe Sa a aes ee 1, 399. 4 Ce 2, 431-8) || Boe Set es 47023" |baoe eee 5, 313. 6 SB Small Sitka spruce________- 24; 2 2 | 30026: senes ee GIRTe ee Beas 386. 7 ES Engelmann spruce____-_-_--- 150. 3 | 1.3 15.0 217.3 HA Large western hemlock____ rere tf 1, 041.0 84.6 | 25, 222.0 HB Smalliwesternphemlocks=== =o ssa bo wea ee Lone ee en eS 8 | 86.3 9.4 3, 053. 2 Vice eVountainshemlocksncsseeeas - eeu an oly eee ee . 5 |Saieesn ore .6 4, 596.5 Cc iWresterniredcedarwlive ss == Mone oy ae ee eet 3 . 9 ; Nae 46703) | ascent 5, 252. 3 PC PortyOrfordawhiteicedarwiive® 2.45622 jenc sos Sek eo otal = | .6.| 1,208.1 | 37.5 1, 350. 2 yc mAlaskanvellow-cedarylivess. sts 2k clo oe ae A eee ee i De] eA ee es |---------- 14.0 IC Carifornighincense: ced are see beta ten ee Sane eeu Se eS . 4 | 55.4 | PN 759. 2 2, 056. 8 KPC | Port Orford white-cedar, dead__________ 28560 Bien oe a 28.6 KC | Other “‘cedar,’’ dead 110.1 NON, Large ponderosa (and Jeffrey) pine____ | | .2] 4,744.9 YB Small ponderosa (and Jeffrey) pine____---------------------------- 2.4 | 35,21 al E | 483. 0 SP SUS Arp D LTC eee eee ts Ss ei SE a ce 3 ' 8 | 7.6 | 3,837.3 W Western white (and whitebark)’ pine--=-----2_--._-.--_-.---_--__. i el 6 : : 5 1, 427.6 LP sodgepolei(and:knobcone) pine! 2.2 222_ 2s. 22 se 5 P a 5 , A 81.6 Wake VVibitefiranderan ds firs ose 5 os ee ws Sean es kd ee le 5 | 5 , 587. . i 6, 347.9 Nig eNO blevan dushastasred chine sts cs eee owt Se : . 8 | i Y 0 | ; 6, 805. 0 A Pacific silver fir 3, 497. 4 AF PAN PIM ey fi ree oes eee rs Le .0 | 5 75.2 AVVeli7geulmVVeSLeEny anc hse nn spn seer clad? Sar a Ne Wala ala os See 3 i 115. 2 R KRG Cy 00 dee sae ee ee eee ee I ss 66. 0 RA Re dial cl erzxwera enarereren soe S80 Ss Na ae VRE ee ees s 4 0 1, 870. 9 (oye) Orezontwhite;o ak saa we sn Ne eee ae ee 5 : f 3.6 20.0 110.5 co C@aliforniasblacksoake sien se es a nose Cae ae Se : 6.7 34.8 79.5 CLO 33) 3.9 4.2 TO 541.9 7.4 549. 3 BC_ | Northern black cottonwood (and aspen) __ z c eal 5.1 163.0 OM iBicleafema plese teres eae ee he eee hE a ee ; 9 | E KS 153. 4 2 611.1 MEAUD IVa dr One Seamer ears eae tek eS es : 32.9 8.1 308. 9 PNG IEles (MOreconsasheesosscee ee eee Sree UE: Te Nie eS 2 10 42.2 IViYer|s@aliforniatlaurels="s-2 ose es. a eee (REGE) Re ee 73.5 CH Ohin gua pineeswsas nee a te seks 2a ee Pe eee F 15.9 9 83. 6 NABER MVVesterngandenorthwestermipapen Dirchewss tase n sae eee ee eee EN Sn | Seon foal Rete ene nS aen ae ee eee Uae See ees | hoo eee PROT a Beene ee eee Fe ee ee Sse ee 46, 722.8 ‘9, 622. 6 32, 630.9 | 71,945.3 | 45, 034.6 | 29, 765. 7 | 345, 721.9
163
TasLe 53.—Annual output, lumber tally, of timber products cut from trees of saw-timber size in the Douglas-fir region, by Staie and forest-survey unit 1
Forest-survey unit Sawlogs Fuel wood 2 | Pulpwood : Tener | Single | Posts Total |
es = | Western Washington: | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet North Puget Sound 3222-2 see ase | 781, 974 | 27,111 | 18, 193 2, 542 9, 200 | 521 $39, 541 Central Puget Sound....__-_-.-------.------- | 1,973, 636 | 98, 900 | 25, 110 13, 812 2,012 | 1,188 | 2,114, 658 South: Puget/Sound ee =2 2 eee ee 644, 510 | PAE ty ee ee 11880); Saeae aa eeeeel| 638 685, 203 Grays Harbor 20. sono se eee 1, 673, 891 | 6, 992 | 3, 162 1, 782 288 85 1, 686, 200 ColumbiazRiverss0 Sees) sea nee 77, 524 | 28, 635 | 350680 |e ts cetes Resbetas t=F es Sui 294 710, 421
| |
Totals - se as eee ee } 5, 751, 535 189, 813 50, 433 | 30, 016 11, 500 | 2, 726 | 6, 036, 023
Western Oregon: | | ColumbiagRiversetes aes eee nese 1, 276, 764 97, 440 672 | 1, 377, 584 WillamettecRiver 22. oe ee ee | 795, 298 73, 951 1, 760 | 888, 736 North! Oregontcoast sees eee eee | 293, 505 10, 752 162 319, 541 South Oregon coasts ee eee 320, 116 9, 200 | 115 | 329, 454 Umpqua River | 25, 001 11,069 | | 293 | 36, 363 IROgUeER AV er so so a ene | 78, 737 TB SEY AY: | eae eee sie eceebeeoasced 170 | 92, 477
| | i= Troe] eens ser a ae eas, Seer eS hae 2, 789, 421 215, 982 | 35,5803 | Sess ee a ee BHI PS I 3, 044, 155 | | | }
Region:tota] ase ee ee 8, 540, 956 405, 795 86, 013 30, 016 11, 500 | 5, 898 | 9, 080, 178
|
1 Data for sawlog production are averages for the period 1925-33, other data are for 1930 only.
2In addition to the quantities of material shown under this heading, considerable quantities of slabs, edging, mill waste, and sawdust were sold for fuel.
3 In addition to the quantities shown under these headings, some sawlogs were used to manufacture paper pulp, veneers, panels, plywood, and shingles.
Tasie 54.—Average annua! sawlog production, lumber tally, in the Douglas-fir region in 1925-33, by State, forest-survey unit, and species
Be he i Western | Western Port Orford | guy Forest-survey unit Douglas-fir hemlock | redcedar white-cedar | Sitka spruce | Balsam firs 1 =| Western Washington: M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet | M board feet Northebucet;Sound 2a: 5 ae ee eee 536, 932 119, 844 | 1084920) |Baaee= = ane 9, 268 | 2, 301 Centralkbuget|Sound S222 eee 1, 320, 116 394, 233 2025475 | ee eee 39, 160 11, 692 SouthvPuget Sound setts eee eee en eee 523, S07 | 64, 229 | 490456 | seen corte 1,912 | 2, 508 Graysib arborea se ao et ae ee ee os een | 1, 006, 485 328, 027 194} (08H | Seeeec 2 ee 138, 875 4, 122 ColumbiseRiver 22s.) eee eee ee eee | 547, 735 65, 012 SLR 346) | Lee eee 3, 810 8, 530 | | Totaless i Sea eee as eS Se ee ee ee ee 3, 935, 175 | 971, 345 | 606;,9057)| eee se ees | 193, 725 29, 153 | | Western Oregon: | | ColumbiatRiver® a= 22s 2 a eee eee ee eee | 1, 159, 329 72, 034 10/197/'| se Se See <= 20, 530 5, 834 WillamettecRiver:.2s-2* 23a. S55 tae eres =| 713, 561 56, 855 | 95519) oe ee rel rou 12, 308 NorthiOres on Coast eet eee eee eee Re oe Le noe 188, 022 28, 796 653669) beeen on | 68, 591 | 413 South: Oregon: coaste "SS Ses a ee eee 206, 631 7, 836 | 3, 455 55, 842 | 43, 786 2, 324 (Wimp quasRiverjce 22 S22 Foo Se eee se eee 22, 062 155 165) | eee £3) a SiS 140 RONCHI Vere see a. AU Sar ee a See nee ee 23, 842 21 4e Pe ee eee 100 /3| ses aoa Oneal 2, 240 | i | | Totale> st a Se ne ee ee eee 2, 313, 447 | 165, 890 29, 692 55, 942 132, 978 | 23, 259 | Region:totals: 2.-<22-2: -_ 32-5. ee ee 6, 248, 622 | 1, 137, 235 | 636, 597 | 55, 942 | 326, 703 52, 412
1 Including all species of Abies.
164
Taste 54.—Average annual sawlog production, lumber tally, in the Douglas-fir region in 1925-33, Dy, State, forest-survey unit, and spectes—Continued
Forest-survey unit
Western Washington: North Puget Sound Central Puget Sound South Puget Sound Grays Harbor Columbia River
North Oregon coast South Oregon coast Umpqua River IROPUCHR Vers see ae eee ete oe re see ee toe ee
Ponderosa a A Western California : pine Sugar-pIne white pine | incense-cedar Hardwoods Total DEE ae is Bae AD SiMe se ee 3, 551 781, 974 ye als Sa eS O30) |Get ese tee oe 4, 030 1, 973, 636 2,498 644, 510 699 1, 678, 891 735 677, 524 2649 | sees te Bpaobr ics see eae a eee 11, 513 5, 751, 535 x Uy fal (epee nee a bY a Ween See ay 8, 081 1, 276, 764 795, 298 293, 505 320, 116 25, 001 78, 737 47,020 8, 103 950 980 | 11, 160 2, 789, 421 47, 284 8, 103 4, 405 | 980 | 22, 673 | 8, 540, 956
Tasie 55.—Estimated annual averages ! of gross forest-land area covered and timber lost by fire in the Douglas-fir region, lumber-tally basis
National forests Other land All land Type group and type No. = to Area Volume Area Volume | Area Volume Acres M board feet Acres M board feet Acres M board feet Conifer saw timber (6, 7, 8, 11, 14, 17, 18, 20, 20A, 23, 27, and 32) __ 7, 356 107, 858 35, 631 205, 405 42, 987 318, 26 Conifer second growth, 6-20 inches d. b. h. (9, 12, 15, and 21)___ 1, 120 (4) 20, 157 (2) 21, 277 (2) Conifer seedlings and saplings, 0-6 inches d. b. h. (10, 13, 16,
BNG22) ete eee eee nes rere wee ee ee Se eS 5RS86p|Ree eae EE PIN bee ere SONG I GIS aoe ee ee Conifer second growth, 0-24 inches d. b. h. (19, 24, and 28)______ 968 (2) 231 () 1, 199 (2) ‘Noncommercial i(4;7534;:26), 33, and'38)---_2 .=..-2_--__2_-----2--=_ CHB Eafe [aes eee 15 S08 | ee ee 1059433)|b 5 sssee Vee Ses IREcen MCUb-OM CIVALCASh (30) seen tees ee a ea Te es INOSOR| beast 8347970) |Ses Se Sees 845836 yee eee Old cut-over areas, nonrestocked, and previously deforested
LTS (GR Evel BY) ) ac soe Se a ee ee Ci bet eS eee sie 25, 894 Hardwoodstimberi (oi) er sa 2 see a ee = eee Dag eres shee 2, 203 iINontforestplandacciandes) mee ewene ec cea sansa inti Nit oannners Re a | perm oe ee Mee | Ns eee ipa Tea, ate
ARRON a I a 23, 710 107, 858 229, 446 205, 405 253, 156 313, 263
1 For national-forest lands, fire-loss data were averaged for the period 1924-83, for other land, data are for 1926-30. 2 Small amounts of saw-timber volume were lost by fire in these types, but fire reports either include them with loss in saw-timber types or ignore
them. Quantities involved are negligible.
Tasie 56.—Assumed future average annual forest depletion in the Douglas-fir region, lumber-tally basis
a —____
Cutting depletion Other depletion Total depletion eeeuper ce N: ] | Oth | National Oth National Oth | ationa er ationa er ationa er forests land Total forests land Total forests land Total Million Million Million Million Million Million | Million Million Million board feet board feet board feet board feet board feet board feet | board feet board feet board feet O03 3=4.2 Ratente sek Am Sree ere SE ee se 247 7, 803 8, 050 278 583 861 525 8, 386 8, 911 573 8, 627 9, 200 266 373 639 389 9, 000 9, 839 956 7,094 8, 050 229 276 505 1, 185 7,370 8, 555 |
en eS UUUU UES IEEE SISSIES SSSSSSSS SSS
165
Tasie 57.—Current annual growth 1 in the Douglas-fir region, lumber-tally basis
Conifer types 2 Hardwood types ° Total District and unit 2 allem B oR l urrent an- urrent an- 2 Current an- Area nual growth Area nual growth Area nual growth Thousand | Millionboard| Thousand | Million board Thousand | Million board Puget Sound: acres feet acres feet acres feet North Puget Sounds —- 2. - -= 68-6. ee ee ee 787 131 134 8 921 139 Central Puget Sound: ---2-° 52 22222 a ne oe ae ea 1, 412 146 104 tl 1, 516 153 South Puget® Sound 2228s 2 Soe ee ee eee 742 300 36 2 778 302 | | Tot pls Set Hees SNES ated ORE Nee ML BORO me 2, 941 577 274 7 3, 215 | 504 Grays; Har borsse oe ooo aa eon a e en cee eee naan nee see 554 190 | 61 3 | 615 193 Columbia River: ColumbiacRiverawashineton=2==-: na ee = 900 256 20 | 3 920 259 GoliumbiapRiver: Oregon sess ase eee eee 1, 088 | 179 66 3 1, 154 182 TG al es ik eee RRR Ee clear 10 Sear SO : 1, 988 435 | 86 | 6 2,074 | 441 | | Willamettel River ese ieses Cotes nenesee sunset see keene eee 1, 684 485 121 | 6 | 1, 805 491 Oregon coast: North Oregon coast---- 614 325 22 47 840 | 372 SouthiOregon\coast se sae se ee eae ees 765 342 120 3 885 | 345 | | Totaloze sce 5 i oe ee eee ee 1,379 667 346 50 | 1, 725 717 | | South Oregon: | | | TOA WRIVer se a= hacer eae nae ek es SE 921 283 | 77 | () | 998 | 283 Rogue: Riverisee: 222 es Se a a ee ee 450 | 19 | 152 fia] 602 | 20 | | | TOGA ete ecko 8 ee SN ore leet tee 8 eee ne 1, 371 | 302 229 | 1 | 1, 600 | 303 | | | | | Regionitotal fac sass Pees Se ee ae ee ee 9, 917 2, 656 1, 117 83 | 11, 034 2,739 Summary by districts: | Percent | Percent Percent Percent | Percent | Percent ‘Puget)Sound=2-- 2 aes 2k ne See Es a eee 29.7 21.7 24.5 20.5 | 29.1 | Deer GraystHarb orses2 2S. a ans 22 ee 5.6 Telat 5.5 3.6 | 5.6 | 7.0 ColumbiatRiver:2220et ee Se eee 20.0 16. 4 731 7.2 | 18.8 | 16.1 Willamette Rivers. i225 222s a a ees eee 17.0 18.3 | 10.8 7.2 | 16. 4 17.9 Oregon coasiieleio=. cme ui as oe eee eo JS eee eee 13.9 25.1 | 31.0 60.3 | 15.6 | 26. 2 South: Oresone - eee nt ea ita a suteee Us te are ster ne 13.8 | 11.4 | 20.5 | 1.2 14.5 | 11.1 | See Motal sz se see en Se be en eee | 100. 0 | 100.0 | 100. 0 100.0 100.0 | 100.0
1 Growth in board feet is shown for all conifer trees 15.1 inches d. b. h. or more, calculated by estimating volumes in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top, by Scribner rule; and for all hardwood trees 11.1 inches d. b. h. or more, calculated by estimating volumes in 8-foot logs to 10-inch top, by Scribner rule. These values are converted to lumber tally by multiplying by 1.15.
2 Data are shown only for stands 160 years or less in age, on commercial conifer forest land.
3 Data shown are totals for hardwood timberland (type 31) and oak-madrone woodland (type 4). Data for north Oregon coast include 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods, and those for south Oregon coast include 14,520 acres of such land.
¢ Less than one-half million board feet.
166
Taste 58.—Potential annual conifer growth} of trees 15.1-+- inches d. b. h. in the Douglas-fir region, lumber-tally basis
Unit
Annual
Puget Sound: North Puget Sound_______------- Central Puget Sound______------- South Puget Sound_-_-_-__--------
GraysiblarDore ease eee ee
Columbia River: Columbia River, Wash__________- Columbia River, Oreg___-------_-
Annual growth
District
growth Unit Million board feet || Willamette River 700 1, 164 || Oregon coast: 750 North Oregon coast? South Oregon coast? 2, 614 1, 073 South Oregon: Umpqua River 695 Rogue River 4 842 1, 537 |]
Million board feet 1, 423
741 852 1, 593 694 547 1, 241
9, 481
Puget:Soundsses2-2— si ees Grays arbor ec... anaes Columbia River
Oregon coast! 2 s2a=2 -4 Sosa South Oregon
Distribu- tion of regional esrowth
Percent 27.6 11.3 16. 2 15. 0 16.8 13.1
100. 0
1 On commercia! conifer forest land. Calculated at annual growth rates given in table 55, and converted to lumber tally by multiplying by 1.15. 2 Data include growth on 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31). 2 Data include growth on 14,520 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31). 4 Data exclude growth on 6,510 acres of pine woodland (type 5!4) considered noncommercial forest land.
167
TABLE 59.—Realizable mean annual conifer growth! of trees 15.1 + inches d. b. h. in the Douglas-fir region, 1933-62, lum- ber-tally basis
District and unit 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 | Million Million Million Puget Sound: board feet | board feet board feet North Puget Sound_-_-__-_-_- 245 | 292 | 306 Central Puget Sound-____-_-_-- 356 461 | 499 South Puget Sound__-__------ 361 435 | 471 | Total® :-< sss seers ea eee 962 1,188 | 1, 276 Grays Harborisess-ceses esos 300 395 433 Columbia River: Columbia River, Washington- 378 437 | 453 Columbia River, Oregon ---_-- 396 | 481 498 Totalea--o =) aoe ee eee 774 918 951 Willamette River__-_--.---------- 642 705 739 | | Oregon coast: | | North Oregon coast 2?________- 363 425 435 South Oregon coast 3________-_- 394 434 | 455 Totaless sesso a eae eee 757 859 | 890 South Oregon: | Umpqua River 276 | 285 | 288 RoeuerRivers 2222 ee 91 | 99 | 98 | Total-/222-222- 2252 367 | 384 | 386 | | Regiontotals\ oss see 3, 802 | 4, 449 | 4, 675 Summary by districts: Percent | Percent | Percent Puget Sound’: (2.7. ose | 25.3 | 26.7 | 27.3 Graystilarbors.-sss=seeo == | CR) | 8.9 | 9.3 Columbia River_-._..-..------ 20. 4 | 20.6 | 20.3 16.9 | 15.9 15.8 19.9 | 19.3 19.0 9.6 | 8.6 | 8.3 100.0 100.0 100.0
1 Growth that, according to calculations described in the text, may be expected if growth and depletion trends indicated by the survey continue through the designated period. Growth values shown were calculated by estimating volumes in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top, by Scribner rule, and converted to lumber tally by multiplying by 1.15.
2 Data exclude growth on 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31).
3 Data exclude growth on 14,520 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods (type 31).
168
Tasie 60.—Periodic conifer growth! of trees 15.1+ inches d. b. h. in the Douglas-fir region, 1933-62, lumber-tally basis
District and unit 1933-42 1943-52 1953-62 | Million | Million Million Puget Sound: board feet | board feet board feet North Puget Sound____--____ 1, 318 | 1, 488 | 1, 724 Central Puget Sound_-__-_-_-- 1, 481 | 1, 857 2,191 South Puget Sound____-___--- 2, 865 | 2, 632 1,991 Mopaleca eae ee ee 5, 664 | 5, 977 5, 906 Grays: Harbors2=-2---=--=- 2, 190 2, 046 1, 682 Columbia River: Columbia River, Washington_ 2, 610 2, 798 2, 626 Columbia River, Oregon_____- 1, 803 2, 393 2, 854 Motallstetse ween eater } 4, 413 5, 191 5, 480 Willamette River_....-.--------- 4,849 | 5, 221 5, 519 Oregon coast: | North Oregon coast ?_____--_- 3, 226 | 3, 103 2, 648 South Oregon coast 3_________ 3, 388 3, 744 3, 950 Total ease. 1 ot eines eae 6, 614 | 6, 847 6,598 | South Oregon: | UmpquarRiver—-----—— = 2,776 | 2, 756 2, 629 RogueiRivers=-e se seseee 221 | 340 531 otal: 2s See eae Een 2, 997 | 3, 096 3, 160 Region:total-eesss.2 ses ee eee 26, 727 | 28, 378 28, 345 | Summary by districts: Percent | Percent Percent Puget Sound sass ees a ees 21.2 | 21.1 20.9 Grays) Harbors neers 8.2 | 7.2 5.9 Columbia River_____..-.-.--- 16.5 18.3 19.3 Willamette River__.__...--_-- 18.1 | 18.4 19.5 Oregonicoast®=--- = 24.8 | 24.1 2353 South. Oregon = t= soe ease 11.2 | 10.9 11.1 Total! <2 see eee ea 100.0 | 100.0 100.0
1 Data are shown only for stands 160 years or less in age, on commercial conifer forest land. Calculated by estimating volumes in 32-foot logs to 12-inch top, by Scribner rule, and converted to lumber tally by multi- plying by 1.15.
2? Data exclude growth on 182,060 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods.
3 Data exclude growth on 14,520 acres of potential conifer forest land temporarily occupied by hardwoods.
ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WHEN THIS PUBLICATION WAS LAST PRINTED
Sadia OF AGED So Scan ObO OO ROO DA ObOe Gon ode ocae oo Ae ee oa erro Craupe R. Wickarb.
hack SEGRE eco e018. 616 ard BiH OTEIEED OOS ORICA ERS Is OIE Eoin Pam AE Pe nr Pau H. Appiesy.
A\SSICETDS SUGARY 5 0) 5:8 0.168 BADD AS DBA OOD AE BD Ran ee ore tale in ieee enn kari CaCI roe GROVER B. HILt.
IDERBHOR. Of GORE ODG > 190. Pa OS COBO O ODOC ES Co Gn DOC O OSE a toma ens one ere M. S. ElisENHOWER.
IDCs Of TELATOR VVC Pao 3.010 6 COR PAP EOD OCTETS Cor IR PORT CMTE ICO M. L. Witson.
DOC? Of TERED SS OS 6 OO BASS OPO DEO CO RE IMCS CAI Ier cae Ei cre ea ea eee W. A. Jump.
ID FREE? Of IATA! 3: &:6- 60 LORS ORS Ae EOI IIa ee Re Ree eS eer Roy F. Henprickson.
IDGGAR Of IEBBTTOLS 5.906 SOSA ae bLd COMER ene ME ENO Fine LI ain O erent eta ee James T. JARDINE.
DEGRA Gf MUCH TARE 6 8) 0.5:6: OC SAA LAS OA A ED OTe AR Peo OS oe eS Mito R. Perkins.
INMUIUGRIOP? 0.6 5:9;61'3-0°636/0.0°0. 6 80, OR URE Tce CREE ONO ISI ENOTES RET RT: rey Sareea Mastin G. Wuite.
Nga! (YS RCRA os a GG OPEN DOES OO ETOP OOO RS EO CR ERO et eee M. S. E1sENHOWER. Oficclojpiantzandh penation spacer utes tke teyate et ees are ol ev Tes ae a ese oe ARs oleate does ARTHUR B. THATCHER, Chief. Oijiae of G; Gs. Go LGRTEB 0.6 SA OBO MED EO SED RAIS tic Oi ya eet rat re OR Rae Frep W. Morre t, Chief. Officenojmlxperzmen ty Stationsyesas us ctse. srovstet se rahe efais) Sones cle ye) oo oke, cctis) a) eh ho ab ay aile) 2 508 ale eve James T. JARDINE, Chief. OficcnojponcvonwAcriculiuraleRelatzons, x..uelen=)sye= cies sjisus Ales se os © se ajsuai = eid 405 ageeus eel slayer Leste A. WHEELER, Director. PACT iCULeuraIMACIUSTINERUEA CiNtntStr ALLO sesh Teen oxsys¥susis).s. =) ols cetesegeo staaca sie ithe: Sve! af'aKel ey fysbentvetars R. M. Evans, Administrator. Bureawiof Agricultural-Chemistry and: Engineering oo. 0. fs cs coe wieieia ele ee ete ise eee nee es Henry G. Knicut, Chief. IBireaUM mA a TeCuLtien QUE COMOTICS seve vsley steeper Ue lameteus) seis: 2) cusla\eic nog iel's eas av Gteievalteione ete leter isis tie H. R. Torrey, Chief. PAlgricultur alm VAT elim SCN UCC esr Ae cay ay reder keke aie Pe Seis lei sahe} stetsievs) @2kcvnan lace! ts stereo sgaleuee C. W. KircHen, Chief.
Senco Of AGERE) IGLOS oso Sabha Coon ed 6 DOU GOA Oe e BOOP DENA Oooo oa amome ctr Joun R. Mouter, Chief. GormmodityhCredrig Gor porarromsiey wats ee ietea) tne e et onns sacra nace ryotcueliens ets) hate conarataya tere aera evel ashes Cart B. Rossrins, President. @ommodityelxchangemA dimimistratton rer A hve Sievers ere iaie oieVe wus ei oven cele se 2 sisvshorei erates JosreH M. Ment, Chief. BTA Of JLLAD HPT oo 8S rie 6 enw Be os PHU GD DE DA Ob eB OOo Ue Une ube Soro meray ce O. E. REEp, Chief. BurcaugojelntomnolocjeandablantsOuanantenesy.. « a.) cui voles ieee one Cist eee sav ei2in! oPSese. 2. yeh e ates yee Lee A. Stronc, Chief.
lage. GOH ACT ESOLDDE GGG SCANS BS OD OCIS OS OS RS CCRT OIC ECA ROT SERIA ER te?” A. G. BLack, Governor.
HLOTITES ECUTEL A CIOMUSETALLOME eicte rch @ Se Alsi sae Yo ch eye e Shy Nieeoeee # cise ese wales a) ee eleva eee is eases C. B. Batpwin, Administrator. Heder aia G10 pel isUrances GOTPOT ALOT ena cise sneere\c verse 4,68) os) 9s i.e rn sckeh whe, © oilehn trio sPoanch.ces| eqiehau -me ee ehet= Leroy K. Smiru,.Manager. OES pS CHU LOC I GR EMG E ANT Ee oats Crate tat as ch fies ada’ she oteheyel sda = le ekeiS oe, 2) cy ehieeGhiene! sus vels obeys alecdiies= Earte H. Crapp, Acting Chief. Bre CRO melL ONC RIL CONONULGS ANT =atts Piensa stsfaeay Seaton few ey ey ees sepa e o6 6) oft 0,8 oueveriens oi cuseheus) oie 432 LoutsE STANLEY, Chief.
LGC s 6. 5.50 bb. VEER UH SALE POO. DOO SORE G AED SOR pC oe OCU AG USO ono Sea tion CriarigeL R. BARNETT, Librarian. Bogan Gf UGE IDSs SBR dn rae BODO e be cia Be Ob 6 OU OO Ua nee Om curr doce E. C. AucuTer, Chief.
Reina UELLect it CALLOMPACMINTSL ALLO 2) site iolie Ais for Tale tensfetaiaisiecsls iG 4 ¥)e sie eae Side ielel else rwe © oeelnii= Harry SLATTERY, Administrator. Seal Comareanon SHBG 3.6 Soh So 6 ROE DDE OnDn os oO OO. Ao One aad Oren rion nie H. H. Bennett, Chief.
WSL LUSP MT RELI CA CimenestateOn cree el cdercy sisters efesetuisiovsyetoueualedekeue lay sisrristate eicusve sfeiwlel dretaieis aye = Mito R. Perkins, Administrator.
FR OTES Eg S C1016 COMMER STMT PS cae te a cra foray se nS este Fei/S Snes Hie ah eralone, au 4 ho¥e sa. stel 3fcls iovelai.s ens)sioiele eos sieve /e18 Earve H. Crapp, Acting Chief. PRESCCTC/MED) (UES7ON SEAR pet STN epee aay ras Chee sTeyehelase SS aerate, ecole) s oheoleleliels aleja: share laiesiais C. L. Forstine, Assistant Forester, In Charge. DD) FoSLOMMO UOT CSEMELCOMONIUICS). Weectehon teh itcussehs ictags ta lantovehsteusi eke, eis) aioe Ys elellevelletelie elses ois R. E. Marsu, Acting in Charge. TORE SHI sf dk So eA ae RH OPE Hoe OD La Doe aUD pp omeenos oo aa reroC OC R. D. Garver, Director. Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station... 0... 0000+ eee cece eee ees S. N. Wycxorr, Director.
169
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A
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