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United States
- Department of
=, Agriculture

Forest Service

Pacific Northwest
Research Station

Research Note

PNW-RN-518
February 1996

Abstract

Reducing Stand Densities in
Immature and Mature Stands,
ApplegateWatershed, = —

Southwest Oregon rs

Marty L. Main and Michael R Amaranthus =~ ©

Throughout the Applegate watershed, dense, overstocked, immature stands of mixed
conifers and hardwoods and declining stands of mature conifers present significant
and complex silvicultural problems. Stand stagnation is common, as is loss of large-
diameter conifers from insects and wildfire. Treatments designed to maintain or
encourage development of large-diameter conifers have not been tested. In this
study, we examined conditions after density management treatments in two adjacent
but dissimilar stands: (1) a dense, stagnant, immature stand of 40+-year-old hard-
woods and conifers, and (2) a stand of declining mature conifers over a rapidly
encroaching understory of hardwoods and conifers. The immature stand received a
unique density-reduction treatment retaining both hardwoods and conifers to encour-
age long-term survival and growth of its coniferous component. The density-reduction
treatment in the mature stand focused on removal of the competitive influence from
overstocked, suppressed understory trees and maintaining existing large-diameter
conifers. Precommercial thinning greatly reduced stand density and increased
quadratic mean diameters in the immature stand. Before precommercial thinning,
Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii Pursh) dominated, even though it regenerated at
the same time as Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Following
precommercial thinning, relatively equal numbers, sizes, and basal areas of Douglas-
fir and madrone were retained. Several light thinnings may be necessary to foster
development of vigorous Douglas-fir that can release and ultimately grow into large-
diameter mature trees. In the mature stand, the combination of commercial and
precommercial thinnings produced a reduced stand density designed to improve
overall stand vigor. Trees per acre and basal area were greatly reduced in all diam-
eter classes less than 24 inches but were not reduced in diameter classes greater
than 24 inches.

Keywords: Applegate watershed, basal area, commercial thinning, competition,
Douglas-fir, large-diameter conifers, Pacific madrone, precommercial thinning.

MARTY L. MAIN is a forester, Small Woodland Management
Services Inc., 1305 Butte Falls Hwy., Eagle Point, OR 97524;
and MICHAEL P. AMARANTHUS is a research biologist, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest
Research Station, PO. Box 440 Grants Pass, OR 97526.

Introduction

Methods

Site Description

Treatments designed to maintain or encourage development of large-diameter coni-
fers have been mainly untested, Particularly at lower elevations and on harsh sites in
the Applegate watershed of southwest Oregon. Dense, overstocked, immature stands
of mixed conifers and hardwoods are not only common in the Applegate watershed,
but also present significant and complex silvicultural problems, particularly if develop-
ment of mature stands of conifers is desired. Stand Stagnation is common, with
reduction in growth and vigor, as well as increased likelihood of damage from insects
and wildfire. Precommercial thinning in these immature, mixed species, natural
Stands demands much more complicated decisionmaking processes than uniformly
spaced single-species plantations.

Existing mature conifer stands are threatened by bark beetle attack throughout the
lower elevations of the Applegate watershed, and large-diameter conifers are being
lost at increasing rates. Enhancing vigor of mature leave trees through harvest-
related reductions in stand density is not nearly as dependable, or as immediate and
dramatic, in mature stands as in younger stands (Williamson and Price 1971). This
study examines stand conditions before and after density management treatments in
the Applegate watershed of southern Oregon in two adjacent but dissimilar stands:
(1) a dense, stagnant, immature stand of 40+-year-old hardwoods and conifers, and
(2) a stand of declining mature conifers over a rapidly encroaching understory of
hardwoods and conifers. The immature stand received a unique density reduction
treatment retaining both hardwoods and conifers to encourage long-term survival and
growth of its coniferous component; the mature stand was commercially and pre-
commercially thinned with the aim of maintaining large-diameter conifers. Specific
objectives for the immature stand included reducing stand density, increasing tree
quadratic mean diameters, and developing relatively equal numbers, sizes, and basal
areas of Douglas-fir (PSeudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and Pacific madrone
(Arbutus menziesii Pursh). In the mature stand, specific objectives of commercial and
precommercial thinnings included reducing stand density and basal area, especially
in the understory with retention of larger overstory diameter classes. Long-term
objectives are to develop a mixed stand of large-diameter conifers and hardwoods
and may require several density management treatments.

The study site is a 10-acre area about 0.25 mile west of the town of Applegate

(Sec. 21, T. 38 S.,R.4W.) on the first hillside bench above the flood plain of the
Applegate River. Slope percentage is 0 to 10 and the aspect is southerly. Elevation is
1,000 feet above sea level and annual precipitation is 22 inches. Soils are the Manita
loams series—a relatively deep, moderately drained soil formed in colluvium weath-
ered from altered sedimentary and extrusive igneous rocks. The surface soil is dark
reddish brown and about 11 inches thick. The upper 9 inches of the subsoil is reddish
brown clay loam. The lower 30 inches is reddish brown Clay impermeable to most root
development.

Before treatment, the study site was dominated by two distinct stand types. The first
was an immature, dense stand of 30- to 44-year-old mixed conifers and hardwoods
that regenerated after a stand replacement wildfire in the early 1950s. The same fire
underburned the adjacent mature timber type, as evidenced by common fire scars
on larger trees. The immature stand was Significantly overstocked (over 2,200 stems
per acre), with primarily Pacific madrone and Douglas-fir (table 1). Growth of indi-
vidual stems throughout this type was suppressed, particularly so for the Douglas-fir,

which had a quadratic mean diameter of only 2.6 inches (as compared to 4.2 inches
for Pacific madrone). Stand density index was 417, high for a stand at age 100. Site
index, 50-year base age, was 70-75 for both Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine (Pinus
ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) (Hann and Scrivani 1987).

Table 1—Douglas-fir, Pacific madrone, and ponderosa and sugar pine trees per
acre, basal area, quadratic mean diameter, stand density index, and relative
density index before and after precommercial thinning in the immature stand

Douglas-fir Madrone Pine® Total, Total,
Measure 2 Before After Before After Before After before after
Trees/acre 1,070 382 1,100 341 50 16 2,220 739
BA (ft2/acre) 42 40.8 06:20 243 3 2 15152 85.8
QMD (inches) 2.6 4.5 4.2 4.8 Cer 58 3:5 4.7
SDI 417 217
RDI 0.4

i A wi a LR em ae

a BA= basal area, QMD= quadratic mean diameter, SDI= stand density index, and RDI= relative density
index.
Ponderosa and sugar pines.

The second stand type was a rapidly declining stand of mature mixed conifers and
hardwoods (table 2). This mature type was comprised of four primary age classes of
conifers: 110 to 115 years, 95 to 100 years, 75 to 80 years, and 30 to 44 years. The
three oldest age classes comprised the declining overstory conifers—Douglas-fir

146 to 30 inches in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.), and to a lesser extent ponderosa
pine and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana Doug.) (table 3). The youngest age class
began after the wildfire in the early 1950s that was survived by the overstory trees.
The 30- to 44-year-old understory was dominated by 1 to 9 inches in d.b.h. Douglas-
fir and Pacific madrone. Openings within the mature overstory were densely stocked
with the young Douglas-fir and Pacific madrone.

Table 2—Number of trees, basal area, Scribner volume, stand density index,
relative density index, mean crown ratio, and crown closure before and after
thinning in the mature stand

Measure Before thinning After thinning
Trees per acre 383 V77.

Basal area (ft? per acre) 180 101
Scribner volume (bd. ft. per acre) 22,455 10,929
Stand density index 340 183
Relative density index 0.641 0.345
Mean crown ratio (crown %/100) 0.388 0.458

Crown closure (percent) 84.1 30.8

Be ds nals eens ONL, PEAS eR ah Mee Be ee

Stand Treatments

Table 3—Number of trees, basal area, cubic foot volume, and Scribner
volume per acre for each diameter class before and after thinning in the
mature stand

Trees/ Basal area/ Cubic foot Scribner

acre acre volume/acre volume/acre
Diameter Before After Before After Before After Before After
Inches ----No.---- Setar ei ieee See [LR S's [Sfoy (e= =
0-4 152:8) *76:4 3.3 2.9 40 oh} 0 0
4-6 743.0 28.5 13.3 4.2 292 88 0 0
6-8 67:2..5 328-5 1163/7 esl 388 167 0 0
8-10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10-12 10.3 0 6.7 0 152 0 519 0
12-14 10.8 Tal 10.0 6.7 279 Ure 989 574
14-16 22.0 5.5 26.7 6.7 912 196 3686 736
16-18 14.5 8.3 23.3 133 838 422 2845 1130
18-20 13.8 8.8 26:7, 11627, 985 535 3995 1908
20-22 4.1 UBS} 10.0 3.3 420 115 1919 414
22-24 8.0 6.8 23.0 20.0 942 699 4096 2873
24-26 2.9 2.9 105051070 456 380 2093 §=1584
26-28 LBZ ei, C7, 6.7 314 253 1542 1106
28-30 8 8 3.3 3:3 161 131 812 602

Total 383.1 176.6 180.0 100.8 6,177 3,194 22.455 10,929

The immature stand was precommercially thinned in winter 1993 with the short-term
objective of improving stand vigor and maintaining and promoting vigorous Douglas-fir
and (where present) ponderosa pine. The long-term objective was to produce a mixed
stand of large-diameter conifers. Leave tree selection was determined by close
examination of crowns and existing stand densities. Tree stems selected for removal
were severed with a chain saw and left on the soil Surface. The stagnant and sup-
pressed nature of the stand and the dominance by Pacific madrone prevented an
abundance of vigorous Douglas-fir from existing in the overstory Canopy. Thinning to
improve individual tree performance, regardless of species, was the priority, and leave
trees selected were the most vigorous trees in the stand regardless of size or loca-
tion. Tree vigor was subjectively estimated through examination of individual crown
ratio, crown denisty, needle color, and leader growth. All factors being equal, conifers
were selected as leave trees over Pacific madrone.

The mature stand was harvested in May 1993. Draft horses were used to remove logs
from the site, and damage to remaining leave trees was minimal. About 50 percent of
the standing volume was removed from the mature stand. The harvest was intended
to be strictly a stand improvement entry, maintaining as many large and healthy trees
as possible. Considerable mortality had already occurred in the overstory trees as a
result of stand overcrowding, drought, and bark beetle infestations. Leave trees
selected were the most vigorous trees in the Stand regardless of size or location.

Field Measurements

Results and
Discussion

Immature Stand

Leave tree selection was determined by close examination of the crown form and ratio
and numerous corings to determine growth patterns in the last 20 years. Throughout
the stand, radial growth had dramatically decreased in the previous 5 years. Although
basal area reduction was an obvious objective of the thinning, a careful adherence

to spacing guidelines was not followed. Forcing this mature stand into some pre-
designated preferred spacing was not an objective. Rather, a generalized basal area
reduction was implemented with the primary objective of retaining healthy overstory
trees, even if they naturally occurred in a clumpy pattern.

In conjunction with commercial thinning in the mature stand, an understory thinning of
precommercial size classes was performed to reduce understory stocking levels and
overall stand densities. Thinning was particularly heavy in the vicinity of the residual
mature leave trees, although scattered healthy understory saplings were retained as
well. Healthy Pacific madrone also were retained at light stocking levels.

Pretreatment measurements in both the immature and mature stands were taken in
November 1992. In the immature stand, five areas were randomly selected froma
systematic grid as center points for installation of 1/50-acre measurement plots. Data
collected included d.b.h. in 1-inch size classes by tree species. In the mature stand,
six 20-basal-area-factor (BAF) plots were installed with species and d.b.h. of each
basal area tree measured. In addition, the healthiest dominant site tree on each plot
had the following data collected: age, d.b.h., height, diameter, radial growth, and basal
area.

Posttreatment measurements in both the immature and mature stands were taken in
summer 1994. Growth and yield plots were installed and measured in both the
immature and the mature stands. Measurements included tree species, d.b.h.,
height, radial growth, and crown ratios within a 20-BAF variable plot, along with two
nested subsamples (7.78-foot-in-radius plot for trees 0 to 4 inches d.b.h.; 15.56-foot-
in-radius plot for trees 4.1 to 8.0 inches d.b.h.) in which species and diameter of all
“in” trees were recorded. Plot centers were identical in the pretreatment and post-
treatment surveys in the mature stand; new plots were randomly selected after
treatment in the immature stand.

A variable plot cruise using a relaskop also was installed in the mature timber type.
Six 20-BAF prism plots were measured with information on species, d.b.h., merchant-
able height, and grade recorded for all “in” trees. Minimum merchantability was 16 feet
long and 5 inches in diameter. Trees with less than 30 board feet were not included in
the cruise. Volumes for individual trees were determined from local volume tables
(Scribner Formula Rule, 32-foot logs) derived from Medford District, Bureau of Land
Management, information.

Precommercial thinning reduced stand density and increased quadratic mean diam-
eters for all tree species (table 1). Average number of stems per acre declined dra-
matically from 2,220 to 739. After thinning, quadratic mean diameter increased over
70 percent for Douglas-fir but only 14 percent for Pacific madrone. Quadratic mean
diameter was over 60 percent greater for Pacific madrone compared to Douglas-fir
before thinning but only 6 percent greater after thinning. Basal area was twice as
great for Pacific madrone as for Douglas-fir before thinning and approximately equal
after thinning. Equal numbers of Dougias-fir and madrone were retained after
precommercial thinning.

Precommercial thinning to retain both conifers and hardwoods is an emerging ap-
proach to management of immature stands consistent with objectives of ecosystem
management in the Pacific Northwest (USDA and USD! 1994). But selecting leave
trees in naturally regenerated stands with dominant hardwoods is a more complex
process than precommercial thinning strategies in single-species conifer plantations
with predesignated spacing guidelines. In this Study, leave trees were selected
primarily by a subjective assessment of overall tree vigor regardless of species.
Conifers were preferred, however, when all other factors were equal. Pacific madrone,
even though regenerated at the same time as the Douglas-fir, dominated most of the
immature stand, with associated Douglas-fir lightly to severely Suppressed and
overtopped. Large-scale removal of madrone would have shocked the Douglas-fir
trees because most Douglas-fir had high height-to-diameter ratios, minimal crowns,
extensive shade needles, and subsequently low vigor. In addition, removal of struc-
tural support maintained by adjacent hardwoods often results in numerous Douglas-fir
tipping over.

This precommercial thinning treatment was viewed as an initial entry to begin stabiliz-
ing the stand, with the long-term objective of producing a mixed stand of madrone and
large-diameter conifers. Achieving this objective will have to be a careful, long-term
process with at least two and perhaps more thinnings before Douglas-fir are ready to
be fully released. In the interim, a relatively high number of Pacific madrone were
maintained. Characteristics used for selecting and retaining Pacific madrone included
healthy, vigorous crowns: lack of disease, defect, and evidence of suppression; and,
particularly, their position of providing shade (growing with crowns to the south of a
preferred Douglas-fir) or structural support for preferred Douglas-fir. Pacific madrone
with straight boles, a minimum of forking, and few limbs also were retained for future
commercial value (limited markets with very high prices for large high-quality Pacific
madrone logs already exist). Selecting for higher quality Pacific madrone may have
future economic benefits in a developing hardwood lumber market. Retaining mixed
Stands of hardwoods and conifers may have numerous other benefits, including
improved soil physical, chemical, and biological properties; reduced likelihood of
stand-replacing insect or disease infestations: improved wildlife habitat; and possibly
greater cubic-foot volume growth than single species stands (Amaranthus and Perry
1989, Amaranthus and others 1990, Fried and others 1990, McComb and others
1986, Hunter and Aarsen 1988, Perry and others 1987, Velasquez-Martinez 1990).

Conditions similar to the immature stand treated in this study are quite common in low
and mid elevations of the Applegate watershed and are a challenge when develop-
ment of large-diameter conifers is a primary objective. Pacific madrone, once estab-
lished, is much better adapted than conifers to infrequent but intense disturbances,
including intense wildfire or harvests. The ability of madrone to rapidly sprout new
growth from its base is an advantage over conifers in such scenarios, and once
established, Pacific madrone is much more drought tolerant than native conifers.
Given the tendency of madrone to regenerate from seed and grow quite slowly, its
thin, easily destroyed bark, and its affinity for maximum sunlight, it would have been
much less common in a regime of frequent, low-intensity wildfire. Frequent distur-
bances of reduced intensities offer Significant advantages to mature, thicker barked,
and larger sized Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine and tend to leave large portions of
established canopies intact.

Nature Stand

It is suspected that the Pacific madrone in the immature stand will release and grow
faster initially than the released conifers. In our experience, thinning in similar dense,
low-elevation Pacific madrone stands in southern Oregon produces immediate and
large response, much larger than typical responses from conifers in similar scenarios.
It is likely that a second thinning concentrating on removal of more Pacific madrone
will be needed within a short time to continue encouraging conifer growth on the site.
By the time of the next thinning, conifer crown elongation and densification, increased
percentage of sun needles, and bole stability should allow further release. Seven
hundred and thirty-nine total trees per acre is still far too many to remain on the site
for vigorous growth in the future.

The combination of treatments, commercial thinning harvest coupled with a precom-
mercial thinning, effectively reduced stand density and improved the likelihood of
maintaining large-diameter conifers in the stand (table 2). Trees per acre were
reduced by more than 55 percent, and basal area and stand density index were
reduced by 45 percent. Canopy closure declined from 84 percent before thinning to

31 percent after thinning. Average crown ratio increased nearly 20 percent after
thinning as a result of removing the majority of trees with low crown ratios. Reducing
stand density and selecting trees with more developed crowns was particularly
important because vigor of the mature timber had declined significantly and experi-
enced a large reduction in radial growth within the last 5 years. Bark beetle infestation
was already occurring in the stand, and there was considerable recent mortality in the
larger diameter overstory trees. Although mature trees could have been removed to
achieve the same desired reduction in basal area, as has been typical of many “high-
grading” types of timber harvests in the Applegate watershed in the past, that would
not have met the desired objective of trying to maintain as many large-diameter
conifers as possible. Further, it would fail to capitalize on the release potential of these
larger trees that typically had radial growths exceeding those of the smaller size
classes in the stand.

Trees per acre and basal area were greatly reduced in all diameter classes less than
24 inches (table 3). Trees per acre and basal area were not reduced in diameter
classes greater than 24 inches. Trees in the larger size class, above 20 inches in
diameter, were removed only if they were rapidly declining, were insect or disease
infested, or were not expected to survive. Removal of 45 percent of the basal area in
the suppressed, intermediate, and codominant size classes should reduce competi-
tion for soil moisture and nutrients in this stand and provide growing space and
additional site resources for the preferred larger diameter trees. Younger, immature
trees may use more site resources than older mature timber of equal or greater basal
areas as a result of the greater percentage of sapwood in younger stems. Heartwood
in older timber accounts for a large increase in basal area but contributes less com-
petitive influence.

The significance of maintaining and promoting mature stands of large-diameter
conifers through basal area reductions is becoming an increasingly important man-
agement concept. Mature stands, particularly at lower elevations, have become
increasingly uncommon, and thereby represent a significant and highly desirable
biological and ecological component of the Applegate watershed. Less commonly
discussed are the economic justifications for retaining healthy, higher quality mature
timber. In the rapidly developing global economy, large high-grade conifers have

become more valuable. Results of timber cruises afer thinning indicate that 68 percent
of the Douglas-fir leave tree volume is a sawmill grade 2, with the remainder in lower
quality sawmill grades 3 and 4. In 1994, stumpage value for sawmill grade 2 Douglas-
fir logs was 24 percent higher than sawmill grade 3 logs and 48 percent higher than
sawmill grade 4 logs. Some of the timber, if it can be retained in the stand, will soon
develop into a special mill grade with a current stumpage value 23 percent higher
than sawmill grade 2 Douglas-fir logs. Similar grade differentials can be extrapolated
for the ponderosa pine in the stand. It is expected that price differences between
lower and higher quality logs will only expand in future years as worldwide availability
of larger, slower growing mature trees diminishes. In addition, larger trees allow
higher values per unit of volume and subsequent reduced management costs. Devel-
oping stand management strategies that extend rotations or retain large-diameter
conifers can add volume as higher quality saw logs, which will maximize value rather
than just volume per acre.

Stand management strategies that retain large-diameter conifers may not reduce
volume production in the long term. Curtis (1992, 1994) suggests that mean annual
increment curves are quite flat near and beyond formerly predicted culmination ages
and that extending rotations may not, in reality, reduce volume production. Density
control can even further extend culmination of mean annual increment in many
cases. Curtis and Marshall (1993) describe an 81-year-old stand, commercially
thinned at age 48, that has produced 1.25 times the cubic volume of two 40-year
rotations, and with much higher quality logs than those produced in the two 40-year
rotations. Lengthening of rotations or retaining large-diameter conifers in stands also
may reduce conflicts with other amenities, wildlife, and other public values.

The condition of the mature stand before thinning is an example of the shift away from
historical conditions in southern Oregon forests. Dense understory vegetation was
less abundant before fire suppression activity began early in the 20th century. In the
absence of frequent, light to moderate intensity fires, coniferous stands have become
increasingly overstocked with understory vegetation that would have been partially or
totally removed by underburns (Agee 1993). This dense understory vegetation often
contains a high proportion of hardwoods and represents significant competition for
site resources. In effect, particularly at lower elevation sites, large-diameter overstory
conifers are being “killed from below.” Age classes in the mature stand were sepa-
rated by about a consistent 20-year interval (113-117, 95-100, 75-80) until about 80
years ago and the advent of fire suppression. Since that time, a single major fire event
has occurred (in the early 1950s) and produced the stand replacement event that led
to the development of the immature stand. With the developing understory fuels in the
mature stand adjacent to the dense thicket of the stagnating hardwoods and conifers
in the immature stand, the entire area had developed high risk for a stand-replacing
wildfire event.

The preharvest mature stand provided an example of a diameter distribution typical
of uneven-aged stands—a reversed J-shaped curve (table 3). A Q-quotient (a ratio
that compares the number of stems between adjacent diameter classes) of about 1.4
existed in this stand (a slightly lower quotient in the lower diameter classes and a
slightly higher Q-quotient in the diameter classes greater than 14 inches). It is
suspected that many of the prefire exclusion era stands in the Applegate watershed
were uneven-aged, particularly those where fire return intervals were short and at
low elevations. If a return to some degree of historical conditions is desirable, then

1

Conclusions

restoration and ultimate maintenance of uneven-aged stands, at least on a portion of
the landscape, is needed. The harvest in this stand provides one example of com-
bined treatments that maintained the uneven-aged nature of the stand, although the
Q-quotient was reduced slightly. Of critical importance in uneven-aged management
is the management of the understory species, precommercial thinning, and release
treatments. It should be noted that typical prescriptions and harvest practices that
either remove the overstory to release the understory (a practice of often questionable
value due to the poor quality and vigor of the understory) or remove the entire stand,
in effect, shift stands rapidly toward even-aged conditions and away from the historical
conditions of more uneven-aged stands.

Stand dynamics, species, and structures are far different in stands controlled by
infrequent, intense disturbance than by frequent, low-intensity disturbances. In the
Applegate area, shifting stands toward less frequent but more intense disturbances
has contributed to the following changes: (1) more stands in the stand initiation or
stem exclusion (precommercial) development classes; (2) the severely overstocked
condition of these stands, with subsequent impacts on growth and vigor; (3) and
resulting potential for damage or mortality from bark beetles and the likelihood of
killing mature conifers from below with unchecked encroachment of understory
vegetation; (4) the much higher percentage of hardwoods in the developing stands,
which will continue to increase (given their advantage of stump sprouting) if the
recurring cycle of intense disturbance is not broken; and (5) the decreased likelihood
of establishment and growth of shade-intolerant but otherwise well-adapted species
such as ponderosa pine (Agee 1993, Oliver and Larson 1990).

A strategy for developing large-diameter conifers in immature stands at low to middle
elevations in the Applegate watershed includes precommercial thinning as an initial
entry to begin stabilizing overstocked and stagnating stands, with the long-term
objective of producing a mixed stand of hardwoods and mature conifers. This will have
to be a careful, long-term process with at least two thinnings, and perhaps more,
before conifers are ready to be fully released. In the interim, a relatively high number
of hardwoods are maintained. Precommercial thinning should reduce stand densities
and increased quadratic mean diameters for all tree species. Where hardwoods
dominate the stand their density and basal area should be gradually shifted to coni-
fers. Precommercial thinning to retain both conifers and hardwoods is a newly emerg-
ing approach to management of immature stands in the Pacific Northwest. Selecting
leave trees, however, is a more complex process than the traditional precommercial
thinning strategies in single-species stands.

A strategy for maintaining large-diameter conifers in existing mature stands focuses
on commercial and precommercial thinning of understory vegetation. Trees per acre
and basal area are greatly reduced in the smaller diameter classes. The objective
includes improving overall vigor of large-diameter trees and maintaining larger diam-
eter classes unless they are rapidly declining, insect or disease infested, and unlikely
to survive. Density reduction of understory conifers and hardwoods is critically impor-
tant to maintain larger diameter conifers in the lower elevations of the Applegate
watershed. Developing stand management strategies that extend rotations and
retain healthy large-diameter trees not only has biological and ecological benefits for
dependent species but also adds economic value by producing higher timber values
and quality saw logs.

10

Literature Cited

In effect, both harvest activities and fire suppression have greatly reduced the
abundance and distribution of large-diameter conifers and increased the likelihood

of severe disturbance by wildfire, on both the stand and landscape levels. Maintaining
this level of risk is highly undesirable and investment in reducing this risk would seem
prudent, if not imperative. It will be a considerable challenge to manage immature |
and mature stands to develop and maintain large-diameter conifers in low- to mid- |
elevation areas in the Applegate watershed. This study and increased research and
monitoring of other areas will provide an opportunity for long-term assessment and
understanding of stand management in the Applegate watershed. |

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Amaranthus, Michael P.; Perry. David A. 1989. Interaction effects of vegetation type
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|
Curtis, Robert O. 1992. A new look at an old question—Dougias-fir culmination age. |
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Curtis, Robert O. 1994. Some simulation estimates of mean annual increment of
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Fried, S.J.; Boyle, Jim R.; Tappeiner, John C., Ill; Cromack, Kermit C., Jr. 1990.

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Hann, Steve L.; Scrivani, M. 1987. Dominant height growth of site index equations
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McComb, William. C.; Bonney, S.A.; Sheffield, R.M.; Cost, N.D. 1986. Den tree
characteristics and abundance in Florida and South Carolina. Journal of Wildlife
Management. 50: 584-591.

Oliver, Chad D.; Larson, B.C. 1990. Forest stand dynamics. New York: McGraw Hill.
468 p.

Oren, R. 1980. Stand sapwood basal area: an indicator of tree vigor. Corvallis, OR:
Oregon State University. M.S. thesis. )

Perry, David. A.; Choquette, Carolyn C.; Schroeder, Paul. 1987. Nitrogen dynamics
in conifer-dominated stands with and without hardwoods. Canadian Journal of
Forest Resources. 17: 1434-1441.

U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S Department of the Interior. 1994. Record of
decision for amendments to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
planning documents within the range of the northern spotted owl. [Location of
publisher unknown].

Velasquez-Martinez, A. 1990. The Influence of thinning, fertilization, and pruning on
productivity of young Douglas-fir stands in the Oregon Cascades. Corvallis, OR:
Oregon State University. Ph.D. thesis.

Waring, Richard H.; Thies, S.G.; Muscato, D. 1980. Stem growth per unit leaf area:
a measure of tree vigor. Forest Science 26: 112-117.

Williamson, R.L.; Price, F.E. 1971. Initial thinning effects in 70- to 150-year-old
Douglas-fir—western Oregon and Washington. Res. Pap. PNW-117 Portland, OR:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and
Range Experiment Station. 15 p.

11

The Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
is dedicated to the principle of multiple use management of
the Nation’s forest resources for sustained yields of wood,
water, forage, wildlife, and recreation. Through forestry
research, cooperation with the States and private forest
owners, and management of the National Forests and
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to provide increasingly greater service to a growing Nation.

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