Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.
AS9.18
F 762
'Joke st and
FOREST-LAND PROBLEMS
of Soutnwcstcrn Oregon
by G. EH AYES
, vs PACIFIC NORTHWEST
)U4S\ n F0REST AND RANGE EXPERIMENT STATION
U. S. DEPT OF AGRICULTURE • FOREST SERVICE
JUNE 1959
This paper was prepared as a guide in
formulating and implementing the Pacific North-
west Forest and Range Experiment Station's
research program in southwestern Oregon. At
the time the paper was written, the author was
in charge of the Experiment Station's Siskiyou-
Cascade Research Center at Roseburg, Oreg.
At present he is Chief, Division of Forest Man-
agement Research, Rocky Mountain Forest and
Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, Colo.
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
LIBRARY
BOOK NUMBER A99 * 1 8
962269 F762
FOREST AND FOREST- LAND PROBLEMS OF
SOUTHWESTERN OREGON
t»y
G. L. Hayes
June 1959
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
FOREST AND RANGE EXPERIMENT STATION
R. W. Cowlin, Director Portland, Oregon
FOREST SERVICE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
9G2269
CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION .................... 1
PHYSICAL SETTING .................. 3
Topography ..................... 3
Geology ....................... 4
Soils ........................ 6
Climate ....................... 7
RESOURCES ...................... 9
Land ........................ 9
Timber ....................... 9
Forest Types ................... 12
Brushfields .................... 19
Water ....................... 22
Water Flow .................... 23
Water Use .................... 25
Sedimentation ................... 26
Forage ....................... 26
Scenic Resources and Wildlife ............. 26
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ........ 29
Population ..................... 29
Forest Industries .................. 30
Agriculture ..................... 32
Recreation 35
Other Industries ................... 35
Transportation 37
Water Power 37
Employment 37
Page
PROBLEMS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT ......... 38
Provincewide Problems 39
Ecological Relationships 39
Preservation of Soil and Water Values 39
Cutting Practices 40
Natural Regeneration 41
Artificial Regeneration. . 41
Brushfield Reclamation 42
Cultural Measures . 42
Protection 42
Slash Abatement 43
Utilization 43
Regulation of the Cut 44
Recreational Relationships 44
Problems of Certain Forest Types 45
Species to Favor in the Mixed- Conifer Zone ..... 45
Soil- Building and Watershed Values of Species .... 46
Sugar Pine Management 46
Growth and Yield 47
Port- Orford- Cedar Management 48
ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES ON PROBLEMS 48
LITERATURE CITED 53
TABLES
Table 1 . - -Area of all land and forest land, by major class;
and area of commercial forest land, by ownership:
southwestern Oregon, 1948 11
Table 2. - -Area of all land and selected farm-land classes
in southwestern Oregon counties, 1954 12
Table 3. --Area of commercial forest land, by stand-size
class; and area of sawtimber stands, by forest type:
southwestern Oregon, 1948 13
Table 4. - -Volume of live sawtimber on commercial forest
land, by species group and ownership, southwestern
Oregon, 1948 ........ ...... 14
Table 5. - -Area of nonstocked burns and old cutovers and
understocked stands of poletimber and seedlings and
saplings, southwestern Oregon, 1948 23
Page
Table 6. - -Variations in flow of selected southwestern
Oregon streams, records through 1956 ......... 24
Table 7. - -Suspended sediment loads in selected streams
in southwestern and northwestern Oregon and in
Washington ..................... 27
Table 8. --Population of southwestern Oregon; 1930,
1940, 1950, and 1958. ................ 30
Table 9. - -Mean annual log production in southwestern
Oregon counties, by 5-year periods, 1925-54, and
for 1955-57 ..................... 31
Table 10. - -Estimated annual usable wood residue
developed in Douglas County ............. 32
Table 11. - -Land irrigated on southwestern Oregon farms;
1944, 1949, and 1954. ................ 33
Table 12. --Value of southwestern Oregon farm products
sold, 1949 and 1954 ................. 33
Table 13. - -Pastured land on farms in southwestern
Oregon counties; 1944, 1949, and 1954 ......... 34
Table 14. - -Livestock on farms and ranges in southwestern
Oregon counties, 1954 ................ 34
Table 1 5. - -Southwestern Oregon sports fishery values, 1956 36
Table 1 6. - -Southwestern Oregon sports game values, 1956 36
Table 17. - -Employment in southwestern Oregon counties,
by selected industrial groups, 1950 .......... 38
Table 18. --Comparison of defect in sugar pine and Douglas-
fir in the South Umpqua River basin .......... 47
Table 19. - -Priority of major forest types for important
forest problems in southwestern Oregon ........ 51
INTRODUCTION
Rapidly expanding timber harvesting has given rise to an in-
creased need for organized research to solve forest-land problems
in southwestern Oregon. The following analysis was prepared to
assist in choosing problems for first attention.
Southwestern Oregon comprises a province exceeding 8 mil-
lion acres of land in 5 counties -- Coos , Curry, Douglas, Josephine,
and Jackson- -of which 89 percent is forested. Population was nearly
232, 000 in 1955. Economically remote from primary transportation
systems, large-scale timber harvesting did not start in the interior
until World War II. The province contains about 10 percent of the
nation's softwood sawtimber.
The economy of the area depends first on timber; second on
agriculture, mainly livestock and poultry; and third on outdoor recre-
ation. All three are strongly dependent upon the forests, which
produce not only timber products but water for expanding irrigation
agriculture and the primary recreational attraction, sports fisheries.
Probably nowhere in the Pacific Northwest are the problems
of forest, land, and watershed management so intricate and varied
as in southwestern Oregon. Here is a forest transition area of great
ecological complexity. Douglas-fir forests, typical of the Cascade
and Coast Ranges to the north, meet and intermingle with pine types
of the California Sierra Nevada; Sitka spruce-hemlock mixtures of
the northern coast yield to Port- Orford- cedar and then to redwood;
and ponderosa pine, typical of the eastern slopes of the Cascades,
crosses to the western side. The major transition in forest types
from north to south is undoubtedly due to climatic changes from the
cool, humid environment of Douglas-fir to the warmer and drier en-
vironment of the pines.
Geology and accompanying soils are also complex. West of
the Cascades proper, Eocene sedimentary formations of the Coast
Range meet and overlap in an irregular pattern with the metamor-
phosed Jurassic and Cretaceous bedrocks and complex, metamor-
phosed sedimentary formations of the Siskiyou-Klamath Mountains.
Within the Cascade Range, young volcanic rocks exuded in the
Pliocene epoch and possibly the Pleistocene epoch cap the Eocene and
Miocene flows of the older Cascades, The soils of southwestern
Oregon differ considerably in productivity, erodibility, and water-
regulation functions. Many thousands of acres underlain by serpen-
tine and peridotite are too infertile to support commercial forest,
but at the other extreme are sites where several important tree
species attain maximum development. Soils on the older Cascade
flows seem reasonably resistant to erosion, whereas those on quartz
diorite wash away like sugar, and certain clays when saturated be-
come subject to flow.
Three separate mountain ranges transect the province and
strongly influence climate. Precipitation in excess of 100 inches
annually and summer fog typify some areas on the west slope of the
Coast Range, but as little as 1 6 inches of precipitation annually and
clear, hot summers are found in parts of the Rogue River Valley.
Superimposed upon all this is a complex fire history that has
had a marked influence on distribution, stocking, and composition
of existing timber stands and brushfields .
Maximum observed flows on the headwaters of the North
Umpqua and Rogue Rivers are only 5 or 6 times greater than the
minimum, whereas for many streams originating in the lower Cas-
cades and Coast Range the maximums exceed the minimums by
1, 500 times and more. For example, the South Umpqua River,
which has a mean annual flow of Z, 675 cubic feet per second near
Brockway, has dropped to less than 40 c.f. s. in summer and would
be pumped dry if all irrigation rights were exercised simultaneously.
High water temperatures accompanying the low stage of the Rogue
River in late summer threaten the survival of one of the most valu-
able sports fisheries in the nation. Yet water from the Rogue is
irrigating less than half the irrigable land in its basin.
Woodland grazing and attempts to convert forest to pasture
raise important questions in land use.
Forest and wild-land research was virtually nonexistent in
southwestern Oregon before the establishment of the Siskiyou-
Cascade Research Center by the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range
Experiment .Station in 1948. There is, however, considerable in-
formation on the management of Douglas-fir to the north, ponderosa
pine to the east and south, and sugar pine to the south. This infor-
mation can be drawn upon and tested for application to local forest
types. For the unique and valuable Port- Orford- cedar and Shasta
red fir — mountain hemlock types, however, no background informa-
tion is available.
Timber harvesting, which has been in progress for about a
hundred years, is only now penetrating deeply into major watersheds.
There is still time to influence harvesting practices on critical upper
watersheds if facts can be obtained on which to base an integrated
management plan that will permit harvest and regeneration of for-
ests without damaging important soil and water resources.
PHYSICAL SETTING
Topography
The entire length of the Pacific Coast is dominated by the
Pacific Mountain System, which includes the coast ranges, Cascade
Range, Sierra Nevada, and an intervening belt of valleys, all lying
in a north- south direction. In southwestern Oregon and northern
California, the Klamath and Siskiyou Mountains, lying east and west,
interrupt the Coast Range and connect it with the Cascades. The en-
tire province lies in this belt of interruption so aptly described by
Diller and Kay: (2). A/
Between the head of the Willamette Valley and
the north end of the Great Valley of California . . .
there is a tract of generally mountainous country with
transverse drainage, where for 200 miles the three-
fold longitudinal division of the Pacific system into
two ranges and an intervening valley is less evident
than elsewhere. The Umpqua Valley, Rogue River
Valley and Shasta Valley, lying between the Cascade
Range on the east and the Klamath Mountains toward
the coast, are not continuous. Nevertheless, they
represent the Pacific Valley belt interrupted by trans-
verse ridges, spurs from the Klamath Mountains to
the Cascade Range.
1/
Cited.
Underscored numbers in parentheses refer to Literature
The Coast Range, averaging Z, 000 to 3, 000 feet in elevation
along the crest, has a choppy, steep topography. The Klamath
Mountains are the remnants of an old plateau, deeply incised, steep
in the canyons but flatter toward the summits. They average 4, 000
to 6, 000 feet on the west and 6, 000 to 7, 000 feet on the east. The
Cascades rise in a generally long slope on the west side to an aver-
age crest height of 5, 000 to 6, 000 feet, with volcanic peaks approach-
ing 10, 000 feet in the province. The lower slopes are made up of
steep ridges and intervening waterways which flatten markedly
toward the summit.
Geology
The general geologic pattern in southwestern Oregon has been
described. In the absence of detailed soil classification, knowledge
of these formations provides the best key now available for deline-
ating different soils.
The exposed rocks of the Klamath Mountains, the oldest
feature of the southwestern Oregon landscape, cover roughly half of
the province (fig. 1). They are generally harder and more compli-
cated in structure than those of the overlapping parts of the Coast
and Cascade Ranges. The Klamath Mountain formations, mapped
together in figure 1, include a very wide variety of rock types which
date from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Roughly, the south-
eastern third of the Klamath Mountains is characterized by old,
metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks of great complexity.
The central half, oriented northeast and southwest, is dominated by
the Jurassic Galice and Dothan sedimentary formations, which are
greatly cut up by (1) igneous intrusions, ranging from ultrabasic
peridotite to greenstone and basalts, and (Z) acidic materials, in-
cluding dacite porphyry and quartz diorite. The Cretaceous Myrtle
formation comprises most of the northwestern extension of the older
rocks between the lower Rogue and Coquille Rivers, and forms a
narrow band between the Eocene and Jurassic rocks for much of the
distance from Roseburg to the junction of the Illinois and Rogue
Rive rs .
The area north of the Klamath Mountains and part of the area
to the east were beneath the seas during the Eocene epoch. Sedi-
ments from the Klamath uplift were laid down in these shallow seas
to form sandstones and shales that were later uplifted to make the
Coast Range. The early Cascade Range mountains were formed by
-4-
legend:
ICretoceous and older rocks ossocio+ed
with the Klomath Mountains
Eocene sedimentary rocks of the Coast Ronge
Eocene and Miocene volcanic rock3,of the
older Cascade flows
Pliocene and Pleistocene volcanic rocks
of the high Cascades
Eocene ( Roseburg ) diabase
Pleistocene sands of the coastal terraces
Figure 1. --Generalized geological map of southwestern Oregon.
-5
volcanic flows in the late Eocene and Miocene epochs, and these rocks
overlap those of the Klamath Mountains and Coast Range. The older
Cascade flows, mainly rhyolite and basalt, are now exposed in a band
which widens from about 1Z miles along the Oregon- California border
to nearly 40 miles along the northern boundary of the province. And
finally, olivine-basalt and andesite flows from the high volcanoes of
the Cascades, exuded in the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs, cap the
Cascades in a band averaging 15 to ZO miles wide.
Two other rock types of limited extent are shown in figure 1:
the intruded Eocene diabase around Roseburg and the poorly consoli-
dated Pleistocene sands along the coast from Coos Bay to Port
Orford.
Soils
The varied rock types in southwestern Oregon produce soils
which differ in forest productivity, erodibility, and hydrologic char-
acteristics. Soils on the Eocene sedimentary formations of the Coast
Range are typically of medium texture and high productivity. They
probably have a high infiltration capacity and resist sheet erosion,
but gully readily if exposed to concentrated surface runoff. Heavy
textured soils with a dense clay "B" horizon are typical of the early
Cascade volcanic flows. They are highly productive and are consid-
ered to be more resistant to erosion than other soils of the province.
The black adobe clay formed on the Roseburg diabase is not regarded
as a forest soil.
Along the coast, Pleistocene sands on gentle slopes are
markedly different from those on steep slopes. On gentle slopes, a
cemented pan is commonly found in the subsoil, but on steeper slopes,
drainage is good. Quality of forest sites is generally low where the
cemented pan is present but is apparently high where the pan is ab-
sent. Judging from the steep- sided character of the waterways, these
sands will gully readily.
The varied rocks of the Klamath Mountains form diverse soils.
Often only a thin mantle of mostly iron oxides, which will not support
commercial forests, is found above the peridotite and serpentine.
Granodiorite and quartz diorite form a coarse, permeable soil of
good productivity but dangerous erosiveness.
-6-
Extensive pumice deposits of the high Cascades are in some
places nearly sterile and in others of very high productivity. They
are ideal for stream regulation, being so porous that all the water
is absorbed and much of it released slowly into streams. They erode
rapidly, however, if subjected to concentrated flows, which may ac-
cumulate on improperly engineered roads. Most soils of the high and
younger parts of the Cascades contain considerable pumice. They
seem moderately productive and probably have good infiltration
capacity. Little is known of their erodibility. Insufficient study has
been devoted to other formations to permit any generalizations con-
cerning soils derived from them.
Early completion of a forest soil survey in southwestern
Oregon would provide a badly needed tool for improved land manage-
ment.
Climate
The province has a moderate, semihumid climate modified
by local topography. Summers are dry and winters are wet. On the
west side of the Coast Range and Klamath Mountains, the climate is
marine: precipitation is heavy, humidities generally high, summer
fog frequent, and temperatures moderate. Interior valleys are
drier and have more widely fluctuating temperatures. The Cascades
tend even more toward a continental climate, receiving increasing
precipitation as elevation increases but subject to low relative
humidities .
Distribution of precipitation probably results from two
factors: reduction from north to south in number of storms that
cross the province, and influence of varied topography. The latter
is the more important. Going from west to east, precipitation
averages about 70 inches along the coast, increases to probably 100
inches or more along the crest of the Coast Range, then declines to
about 30 inches in the Umpqua Valley and to less than 20 inches in
the Rogue River basin (fig. 2). As the Cascades are ascended, pre-
cipitation increases again to maximums of 40 to 60 inches.
The moderate temperatures along the coast vary but little
with season- -from an average of about 45° F. in January to 60° F.
in July (fig. 2). For the interior valleys, winter temperatures are
5 to 8 degrees cooler and summer temperatures 6 to 1 2 degrees
warmer; January means range from 37° to 40° F. and July means
-7-
Figure 2. --Climatic data for southwestern Oregon.
Red figures represent mean annual precipitation;
black figures, the mean January and July temper-
atures .
-8-
from 66° to 72° F. At increasing elevations in the Cascades, both
winter and summer temperatures decline: January and July average
only 26.0° and 56.6° respectively at Crater Lake National Park
headquarters, 6,475 feet above sea level.
H. B. Shepard (9) divided the Pacific Coast States into seven
zones of "forest fire climate" based on: (1) precipitation, (2) mean
drought period, (3) maximum drought period, (4) average low rela-
tive humidity, and (5) number of days in which relative humidity went
below 35 percent for the period April through October. Zone 1 rep-
resents the least fire danger, zone 7 the greatest. Six of Shepard's
zones are found in the province (fig. 3). Since drought and atmos-
pheric humidity are strongly reflected in these fire climate zones,
they are indicative not only of forest fire danger but also the relative
transpiration draft and general effectiveness of precipitation for
forest growth. The influence of humid air and summer fog along the
coast and that of dry air in the arid country east of the Cascade
Range is strikingly evident.
RESOURCES
Land
Of 8, 145, 000 acres of land in the province, about 7, 234, 000
acres or 89 percent are forested (table 1). A total of 1, 51 5, 935 acres
were in farms in 1954, of which 299, 942 acres were cropland and
1, 076, 912 acres were pastured (table 2). Irrigation of cropland and
improved pastures is increasing rapidly, but is not yet approaching
the potential. Less than half of the irrigable land along the Rogue
River in Jackson and Josephine Counties was irrigated in 1958 (8),
and less than 14, 000 acres were irrigated in Douglas County in 1955
out of a potential of nearly 120, 000 acres (10).
Due to rough topography, four-fifths or more of the province
will continue to be best adapted to tree growing, less than one-tenth
to crops, and the remainder to pasture.
T imb e r
Of the 7, 234, 000 forested acres in the province, 6, 581, 000
or 91 percent are considered commercial forest land (table 1). Over
half the commercial forest land is federally owned or managed.
Seventy-three percent of the commercial forest, land is still in
-9-
I I Zone
2, 50% increase in
severity
over zone 1
| Zone
3, 100%
II
II II II
HUD Zone
4, 150%
II
II II II
1 1 Zone
5, 200% ■■
II
II U II
7nn«
6, 2 50%
II
II II II
BT1 7 nnfi
7, 300% .. ,•
II
II II II
Figure 3. --Forest
(9- - Zone 1 , the
fire climatic zones of southwestern Oregon
standard, is not represented in SW. Oregon).
-10
Table l.--Area of all land and forest land, by major class;
and area of commercial forest land, by ownership:
southwestern Oregon, 1948 (3)
Class of land
or ownership
Area
Thousand acres
Percent
All land:
Forest
7,234
89
Nonforest
911
11
Total
—^8 , 145
100
Forest land:
Commercial
6,581
91
Reserved commercial
221
3
Noncommercial
364
5
Reserved noncommercial
68
1
Total
7,234
100
Commercial forest land:
Privately owned
2,717
41
Federally owned or managed
3,529
54
Other public
335
5
Total
6,581
100
~ The U.S. Census of Agriculture reports total land area as
approximately 8,151,680 acres. The disparity is due to different
standards of classification and methods of compilation.
-11 -
Table 2 . --Area of all land and selected farm-land classes
in southwestern Oregon counties, 1954-^
Item
County
Total
Coos
Curry
Douglas .
Jackson
Josephine
Acres
Land area
Land in
1,031,040
1 ,038,080
3,239,680
1,802,880
1,040,000
8,151,680
farms
271,784
120,392
553,903
472,739
97,117
1,515,935
Cropland
All land
53,481
24,175
101,423
89,084
31,779
299,942
pas tured
173,937
94,370
423,585
344,309
40,711
1,076,912
Woodland
Woodland
140,560
50,278
265,365
201,232
53,549
710,984
pastured
78,853
31,732
200,779
158,416
21,361
491,141
1/ From 1954 U.S. Census of Agriculture (vol. 1, part 32).
sawtimber, 11 percent in poletimber, 7 percent supports only seed-
lings and saplings, and 9 percent is nonstocked (table 3). Of the
4, 835, 000 acres classified as sawtimber, 81 percent is in the
Douglas-fir type, 12 percent in pine types, and 7 percent other types.
The total sawtimber volume of 153 billion board feet is 72 percent
Douglas-fir, 8 percent pine, 18 percent other conifers, and 2 percent
hardwoods (table 4).
Forest Types
The province is a forest transition zone in which Douglas-fir
is the most abundant species. The transition from north to south is
evident in several ways: (1) an increasing frequency of ponderosa
pine, sugar pine, and incense- cedar in the interior; (2) a general
decline in site quality for Douglas-fir; (3) a generally better growth
rate and timber quality for the pines; (4) appearance of Port-Orford-
cedar, then redwood, in mixtures along the coast; and (5) appearance
of many species not found further north, such as Jeffrey pine, knob-
cone pine, tanoak, California-laurel, California black oak and canyon
live oak. The transition is most rapid from the North Umpqua River
to the Rogue River.
-12-
Table 3. --Area of commercial forest land
by stand
-size class; and
area of sawtimber
stands ,
by forest type:
southwestern
Oregon ,
1948 (3)
Stand-size class or forest type
: Area
Thousand acres
Percent
Commercial forest land:
Sawtimber
4,835
73
Poletimber
713
11
Seedlings and saplings
456
7
Nonstocked
577
9
Total
6,581
100
Sawtimber stands:
Old growth
3,084
64
Large young growth
931
19
Small young growth
820
17
Total
4,835
100
Sawtimber stands:
Douglas- fir
3,892
81
Pine
596
12
Other
347
7
Total
4,835
100
-13-
Table 4 . - -Volume of live sawtimber on commercial forest land,
by species group and ownership, southwestern Oregon,
1948 (3)
(Scribner rule)
Species group or ownership
Volume
Billion board feet
Percent
Species group:
Douglas- fir
110
72
Pines
13
8
Other conifers
27
18
Hardwoods
3
2
Total
153
100
Douglas- fir :
11.0-20. 9"
12
11
21.0-30. 9"
23
21
31.0-40.9"
24
22
41.0" and larger
51
46
Total
110
100
Ownership :
Private
58
38
National forest
49
32
Revested grant lands
34
22
Other public lands
12
8
Total
153
100
-14-
Northern and western parts of the province are considered
Douglas -fir forests from the standpoint of abundance, growth rate,
and apparent economic desirability. But farther south and inland,
where other species become prominent and frequently exceed Douglas-
fir in growth and quality, there is valid doubt whether Douglas -fir
should be encouraged to remain predominant. This area has been
termed the "mixed- conifer zone. " An attempt has been made (fig. 4)
to delimit the zone_^7 in which Douglas -fir is likely to remain the
most desirable species. Also included in figure 4 are the distinctive,
high- elevation true fir — mountain hemlock type, the lodgepole pine
type, the coastal Sitka spruce — western hemlock type, and the sub-
zone where Douglas-fir is the predominant species but where Port-
Orford- cedar is also commercially important.
The Douglas-fir zone thus delineated occupies 33. 5 percent
of the province, nearly half of which is within the commercial area
for Port- Orford- cedar . Douglas-fir should remain the primary
species to manage in the Douglas-fir zone and part of the mixed-
conifer zone, but Port- Orford- cedar should also be considered in
the subzone where it is abundant.
Port- Orford- cedar has been greatly sought ever since logging
commenced along the southwest Oregon coast. For many years it
was the only species cut in quantity. Today its future is clouded.
The supply is limited and its special markets have been to a great
extent invaded by substitutes. A lethal root rot, caused by the fungus
Phytophthora lateralis, now present in Port-Orford-cedar's natural
range, can potentially eliminate the species if the environment is
hospitable and feasible control measures are not developed. If time
and research show that cedar is to remain in the stands, special
efforts should be made to favor it. Port- Orford- cedar is a wood of
outstanding properties and should remain a valuable component of
our rich timber resource.
The mixed- conifer zone, which contains many combinations
and degrees of mixture of Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, sugar pine,
white fir, incense- cedar, and others, occupies 44 percent of the
2 /
— The term "zone" is used to designate areas occupied by a
variety of forest types but within which one species, or group of
species, appears to be most important from the standpoint of forest
management.
-15-
APPROXIMATE
: AREAS
Square Miles
Percent
Nonforest
II .7
Douglas-fir
_ 4, 600_ _
. .. 33.5
Mixed conifers _
6,000..
. ..43,7
Spruce - hemlock .
84 .
... 0.6
True fir - mountain
hemlock 1,200
. . . 8.8
Lodgepole pine _.
... 2 30 ._
... 1.7
Total 13, 714
... 100.0
Porf-Orford-cedor
subzone . 2, 140 .
... 15.6
legend:
] Nonforest
3
Douglos-fir zone
Port- Orford - cedar subzone
Mixed -coniter zone
Sitka spruce -western hemlock type
True fir-mountain hemlock type
Lodgepole pif>« type
Figure 4. --Generalized forest zones and types of southwestern
Oregon.
-16-
province. It may equal the Douglas-fir zone in commercial impor-
tance and has many more management problems. Although the mixed
conifers generally occupy drier sites than the other types, their po-
tential productivity under management may be far greater than is
indicated by present stands,
A major part of the mixed- conifer zone is classified as
Douglas-fir type, but present stands are far from uniform in compo-
sition, Sugar pine, ponderosa pine, and incense - cedar are commonly
present. Both sugar and ponderosa pines predominate in some places
and form extensive types. Western white pine is an important con-
stituent on limited areas, and a white fir — Douglas-fir mixture is
common in the Cascade Range east of Ashland,
The true fir — mountain hemlock type occupies 1, ZOO square
miles of the higher Cascades. Shasta red fir dominates from Crater
Lake southward, and either Shasta red fir or noble fir dominates to
the north. The boundary or zone of mixing between the two has not
yet been satisfactorily identified. They probably hybridize. Their
woods are superior to those of other true firs, stands are dense, and
yields are high. Both are highly valued for Christmas trees. Within
its altitudinal range the true fir— mountain hemlock type is considered
worthy of intensive management. The type is also important for
water production. Lying at high elevations where deep snow accum-
ulates in winter, it is a primary source of water for summer stream-
flow. Watershed needs should be a major consideration in its man-
agement.
The Sitka spruce — western hemlock and lodgepole pine types
are too limited in southwestern Oregon to be important. Lodgepole
pine occupies about Z percent of the province near the sources of the
North Umpqua and Rogue Rivers. It occupies poor soils and is of
little commercial value. The Sitka spruce — western hemlock type
along the coast occupies less than 1 percent of the province.
Interspersed with the conifers, especially in Curry County,
are 3 billion board feet of hardwoods-«Z percent of the total sawtimber
volume. Hardwood types (not shown in fig. 4) occupy about Z percent
of the land area.
-17-
Following is a list^/ of tree species and subspecies native to
southwestern Oregon, showing both scientific and common names.
Commercially Important Softwoods
Abies concolor
Abies grandis
Abies magnifica var.
shastensis
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
Libocedrus decurrens
Pinus lambertiana
Pinus monticola
Pinus ponderosa
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Thuja plicata
Tsuga heterophylla
Tsuga mertensiana
(white fir)
(grand fir)
(Shasta red fir)
(Port- Orford - cedar)
(incense - cedar )
(sugar pine)
(western white pine)
(ponderosa pine)
(Douglas -fir)
(western redcedar)
(western hemlock)
(mountain hemlock)
Commercially Unimportant Softwoods^/
Abies amabilis
Abies lasiocarpa
Abies magnifica
Abies procera
Chamaecyparis
nootkatensis
Cupressus bakeri
Cupressus macnabianal^
Juniperus occidentalis
Picea breweriana
Picea engelmannii
Picea sitchensis
Unimportant either
or because little used.
2/
— Presence not confi]
(Pacific silver fir)
(subalpine fir)
(California red fir)
(noble fir)
(Alaska- cedar)
(Modoc cypress)
(MacNab cypress)
(western juniper)
(Brewer spruce)
(Engelmann spruce)
(Sitka spruce)
ecause of small quantity
red.
3 /
— Names are in accordance with: Little, Elbert L. , Jr.
Check list of native and naturalized trees of the United States (in-
cluding Alaska). U.S. Dept. Agr. Handb. 41, 472 pp. 1953.
-18-
Pinus albicaulis
(whitebark pine)
Pinus attenuata
(knobcone pine)
Pinus balfouriana.^/
(foxtail pine)
Pinus contorta
(lodgepole pine)
Pinus jeffreyi
(Jeffrey pine )
Sequoia sempervirens
(redwood)
Taxus brevifolia
(Pacific yew)
Hardwoods
Acer circinatum
(vine maple)
Acer macrophyllum
(bigleaf maple)
Alnus rhombifolia
(white alder)
Alnus rubra
(red alder)
Arbutus menziesii
(Pacific madrone)
Castanopsis chrysophylla
(golden chinkapin)
Cornus nuttallii
(Pacific dogwood)
Crataegus douglasii
(black hawthorn)
Fraxinus latifolia
(Oregon ash)
Lithocarpus densiflorus
(tanoak)
Prunus emarginata
(bitter cherry)
Prunus virginiana
(common chokecherry)
Populus tremuloides
(quaking aspen)
Populus trichocarpa
(black cottonwood)
Cue reus chrysolepis
(canyon live oak)
Cuercus garryana
(Oregon white oak)
Cuercus kelloggii
(California black oak)
Cuercus X moreha
(oracle oak)
Rhamnus purshiana
(cascara buckthorn)
Umbellularia californica
(California- laurel)
— Presence not confirmed.
Brushfields
In some places brush apparently excludes forest reproduction
and in others causes long delays in restocking. It may take 30 to 50
years for seedlings to get above the brush cover. And wherever
present, brush undoubtedly slows tree growth.
Any lands not fully covered with trees are typically brush
covered. No record is available of the extent of brush- covered
lands, but it can be estimated. The Forest Survey reports 315, 000
-19-
acres of nonstocked burns and old cutovers (table 5), all of which are
probably densely covered with brush. Of 1 , 1 69, 000 acres of pole-
timber and seedling and sapling stands, almost three - fourths
(865,000 acres) is less than 70 percent stocked. There is no record
of the acreage of saw-log- size timber not fully stocked, but it prob-
ably exceeds that of smaller trees. Brush therefore is a problem on
more than 2 million acres.
Brushfields are of many types, differing in ecological require
ments, degree of competition they afford to forest regeneration and
growth, and degree to which they may protect and build the soil and
aid its watershed functions. The more common brush and weed
species and subspecies in southwestern Oregon, listed by scientific
name, are as follows
Acer circinatum
Acer glabrum
Acer macrophyllum
Alnus rhombifolia
Alnus rubra
Amelanchier alnifolia
Amelanchier florida
Arbutus menziesii
Ar ctostaphylos canescens
Arctostaphylos Columbiana
Arctostaphylos hispidula
Arctostaphylos nevadensis
Arctostaphylos patula
Carex spp.
Castanopsis chrysophylla
Castanopsis chrysophylla
var. minor
Ceanothus cordulatus
Ceanothus cuneatus
Ceanothus integerrimus
(vine maple)
(Rocky Mountain maple)
(bigleaf maple)
(white alder)
(red alder)
(Saskatoon serviceberry)
(Pacific serviceberry)
(Pacific madrone)
(hoary manzanita)
(hairy manzanita)
(Howell manzanita)
(pinemat manzanita)
(greenleaf manzanita)
(sedges)
(golden chinkapin)
(golden e vergreenchinkapin)
(mountain whitethorn ceanothus)
(buckbrush ceanothus)
(deerbrush ceanothus)
Names of trees are in accordance with: Little, Elbert L. ,
Jr. Check list of native and naturalized trees of the United States
(including Alaska). U. S. Dept. Agr. Handb. 41, 47Z pp. 1953.
Names of shrubs and weeds follow: Kelsey, Harlan P. , and
Dayton, William A. Standardized plant names. Ed. 2, 675 pp.
Harrisburg, Pa. 1942.
-20-
Ceanothus prostratus
Ceanothus sanguineus
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
Ceanothus velutinus
Ceanothus velutinus
var. laevigatus
Cornus nuttallii
Corylus cornuta var.
californica
Cytisus scoparius
Fraxinus latifolia
Garrya flavescens var.
buxifolia
Garrya fremonti
Gaultheria shallon
Holodiscus discolor
Lithocarpus densiflorus
Lithocarpus densiflorus
var. montanus
Mahonia aquifolium
Mahonia nervosa
Myrica californica
Osmaronia cerasiformis
Pachistima myrsinites
Polystichum munitum
Prunus emarginata
Pteridium aquilinium
var. pubescens
Quercus chrysolepis
Quercus garryana
Quercus kelloggii
Quercus sadleriana
Quercus vaccinifolia
Quercus X moreha
Rhamnus purshiana
Rhododendron
macrophyllum
Rhododendron occidentale
Ribes bracteosum
Ribes lobbi
Ribes roezli var.
cruentum
Ribes sanguineum
(squawcarpet ceanothus)
(redstem ceanothus)
(blueblossom ceanothus)
{snowbrush ceanothus)
(varnishleaf ceanothus)
(Pacific dogwood)
(California hazel)
(Scotch broom)
(Oregon ash)
(boxleaf silktassel)
(Fremont silktassel)
(salal)
(creambush rockspirea)
(tanoak)
(scrub tanoak)
(Oregongrape)
(Cascades mahonia)
(Pacific bayberry)
(osoberry)
(myrtle pachistima)
(western swordfern)
(bitter cherry)
(western bracken)
(canyon live oak)
(Oregon white oak)
(California black oak)
(Sadler oak)
(huckleberry oak)
(oracle oak)
(cascara buckthorn)
(Pacific rhododendron)
(western azalea)
(stink currant)
(Lobbs gooseberry)
(blood Sierra gooseberry)
(winter currant)
Zl-
Ribes viscosissimum
Rubus laciniatus
Rubus leucodermis
Rubus parviflorus
Rubus spectabilis
Rubus procerus
Rubus ur sinus var.
vitifolius
Salix spp.
Sambucus callicarpa
Sambucus glauca
Toxicodendron
di ver silobum
Ulex europaeus
Umbellularia californica
Vaccinium ovatum
Vaccinium parvifolium
Whipplea modesta
Xerophyllum tenax
(sticky currant)
(cutleaf blackberry)
(whitebark raspberry)
(western thimbleberry)
(salmonber ry)
(Himalaya blackberry)
(grapeleaf California dewberry)!./
(willows )
(Pacific red elder)
(blueberry elder)
(Pacific poison- oak)
(common gorse)
(California- laurel)
(box blueberry).!/
•3 /
(red whortleber ry)_'
(modest whipplea)
(common beargrass)
!-/ Known locally as trailing blackberry.
2 /
— Known locally as evergreen huckleberry.
3 /
— Known locally as red huckleberry.
Water
The province feeds two large rivers, the Umpqua and Rogue--
which cut through the coastal mountains from the Cascades to the
coast- -and many smaller streams draining the west side of the coastal
mountains. Annual water yield from the Umpqua drainage above Elk-
ton is 26. 64 inches from its 3, 680 square-mile watershed. The Rogue
may yield a similar amount. Greatest water yields are obtained from
the high- elevation pumice areas around the sources of the Nortn Ump-
qua and Rogue Rivers (30 to 50 inches annually) and from streams on
the west slope of the coastal mountains (61 . 62 inches from the South
Fork of the Coquille River at Powers). Lower elevation interior
streams produce much less flow. Cow Creek above Azalea, for
example, yields only 17.48 inches annually (10)././
Runoff values in this paragraph are 10-year averages,
5/
1941-50.
-22-
Table 5. --Area of nonstocked burns and old cutovers
and understocked stands of poletimber and
seedlings and saplings, southwestern
Oregon, 1948 (3)
Condition
: Area
Thousand acres
Nonstocked land:
Burns
Old cutovers—'
269
46
Total
315
Understocked poletimber and seedling
and sapling stands:
10 to 40 percent stocked
222
40 to 70 percent stocked
643
Total
865
Total
1,180
— ! Clear cut before 1940.
Water Flow
Due to the wide variation in flow of most streams, only a
small part of the total is usable- -the amount of water used cannot
exceed the minimum flow unless it is stored. The Umpqua has a
mean annual flow of 7, 425 cubic feet per second at Elkton, but has
sunk to 640 c.f. s. ; the Rogue averages 3, 505 c.f. s. at Grants Pass,
but has dropped to 637 c.f. s. (11). The South Umpqua averages
2, 8 58 c. f. s. at Brock way, but has fallen to 36 c. f. s. ; and the South
Fork of the Coquille averages 768 c.f. s. at Powers, but has dribbled
down to 12 c. f . s . (table 6).
-23-
Table 6 . --Variations in flow of selected southwestern Oregon streams, records through 1956—
x
X)
CO
O
AJ
Jh
J-4
LO
v£>
CNJ
CNJ
p—4
oo
oo
o
r—4
r— 1
NO
m
CN
NO
t—4
00 4-1
o
03
CNJ
CNJ
CNJ
CO
p—4
m
p— i
r—4
CO
CO
p—4
t—4
r—4
r—4
Csl
CN
CO
C
o
o
03
a)
03
>*
ON
X
Pi
in
<r
CO
n£>
O
O'
CO
rH
CNJ
o
in
in
CN
m
O'
CO
CO
NO
o
CO
CN
O'
03
LO
CO
1 — 1
<r
nD
CNJ
p—4
CO
00
CO
m
r— 1
CO
ON
CN
NO
NO
CO
4-1
X
CN
4-1
U
o
CO
CO
CNJ
in
O'
CO
CN
CO
oo
00
O'
r—4
CO
00
r—4
4-1
O
c
co
LO
nO
co
co
t— 4
CO
CN
co
r—4
CO
co
CN
CO
CN
t—4
NO
C
M
\
r— 1
a
P
CNJ
Pi
CO
o
C
CN
o
•pH
4-1
4-1
0
o
cd
AJ
o
CO
o
CN
4-J
13
CO
00
Nf
CO
o
s
E
NO
ON
NO
o
NO
r—4
oo
00
in
r—4
3
P
LO
co
o
m
CO
<r
NO
CN
r>-
CN
r
r
*■*
r
J-l
4-4
O
E
E
nO
ON
CN!
oo
i—4
p— 4
oo
m
r— 1
co
CO
r—l
CN
r—4
CN
O
•pH
•pH
•pH
4-4
XJ
4-)
c
X
p— 1
r— 1
r— 4
r— 1
r— 1
i—4
i—4
r— 4
i— H
i—4
p—4
r—4
r—4
r—4
t—4
r—l
r—4
i — 1
r—4
t—l
03
03
•r4
03
4-»
>
a:
E
E
CL
J-4
0)
03
O
CO
1
X
rQ
E
1
03
O
P
1
nO
in
r— H
CNJ
o
o
NO
NO
r— 1
CN
CO
cr
O
o
NO
CN
CO
E
1
O
On
O'
O'
CO
o
NO
p— 1
CN
i— 4
r>.
CO
m
r—4
CN
CN
CO
t— <
r
u
03
•pH
1
CN
CO
i— H
p—4
CNJ
in
NO
03
X
c
1
r“4 1
CL
AJ
•pH
CO|
r*4|
cd
Z
X)
s-x
CL
o
c
4-J
o
oo
o
p—4
X)
03
CL
0)
CO
r—4
CL
X3
0)
E
o
o
oo
o
o
o
o
o
O
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
O
P
X3
00
3
Jh
ON
00
on
00
CO
o
o
o
o
CN
m
NO
m
o
o
o
CN
o
J-l
CO
cd
u
E
03
p— 4
nD
m
CO
nO
o
o
t—l
in
i—4
00
O'N
r— 1
r—4
CO
<t
o
O'
m
0)
g
03
•pH
a.
CL
Jh
03
X
X
i-4
CO
1—4
v£>
o
o
CN
CO
p—4
oo
CN
o
CN
m
o
cd
03
-a
o
03
4-J
r— 1
o
r— 4
CN
co
O
CO
CL
4-J
CO
z
03
r— 4
p—4
r—4
cd
X)
•rH
03
13
t—4
Q
4-1
t—4
P
a
o
O
CL
03
X
•rH
P
>
CO
-Q
CO
J-i
t— 4
3
<t
CN
CO
n£>
oo
00
CN
n-
CO
CO
p— i
O'
O'
in
in
oo
00
1
P
C
03
cj
O'
nD
in
O'
00
t—l
oo
CN
oo
i—H
NO
o
-j-
m
m
O
NO
J-l
CO
O
d d
CO
00
r— 4
CO
in
oo
r—4
i— H
r—4
CO
CN
O
oo
t—4
03
•rH
d C
1
r
r
r>
r
4-1
t—4
•
4-)
03 c
1
CO
CN
r—4
CN
cd
cd
cd
2 cfl
1
3
o
p—4
AJ
1
•rH
c
CO
1
00
o
03
o
03
•
>
t—4
CO
X
c
J-4
o
Pi
4-J
o
3
03
cd
•pH
CO
O
03
03
AJ
>,
>
cd
pi
4-»
t—4
O
AJ
O
cd
CO
in
pC3
CO
Jh
u
03
o
cd
0)
u
CL
•pH
X
03
4-J
C/3
00
X
X
Jh
03
u
cd
o
■U
>,
w
o
Jh
03
co
AJ
u
3
03
X
J-l
o
cd
J-i
t—4
03
03
c
Jh
4-J
03
CL,
03
13
03
o
•rH
Jh
4-1
03
c
03
03
x
03
C
CL
X
13
03
p—4
CJ
•
>
o
X
03
a>
e
J-l
C/3
XJ
"O
J-l
o
o
e>
J-l
o
O
•pH
03
p— l
CL
.
X
1—4
4J
03
o
o
c
u
03
o
CL,
cd
X
rP
4J
X
cj
cd
u
4-)
o
u
0)
J-4
03
cd
XJ
03
r—l
u
03
O
CO
cd
OJ
u
X
CJ
o
c
03
03
C
a,
X
r— 1
c
CL
t—4
CQ
4J
CO
o
AJ
£
03
H
4-J
03
•rH
>
CL
a
r—4
cd
CL
•rH
cd
E
DC
CO
CO
CO
o
>
3
03
CL S
O
C/3
r
J-4
z
0
p— i
O
H
U
X
o
C
i— H
O
03
o
03
03
XI
pO
o
•
cd
r—4
O
cd
cd
••
Jh
03
o
"O
03
-Q
>
E
pQ
o
4-J
t—l
cd
5-4
P 1
03
L4
o
4-J
03
03
E
4-4
>
4-4
•pH
C
03
O
Jh
cd
o
CL,
C
03
u
X
U
cd
c
t—4
pi
o
O
O
CO
03
pO
4-J
CQ
P-4
00
r
03
03
cd
cd
cd
J-4
03
rO
Jh
**
03
03
r
>>
u
P
r
c
03
J-l
03
r
r
N
03
4-1
U
cd
CO
03
E
03
03
03
Pi
cd
or)
c
cd
C
<
r—l
cd
C
>
03
oC
pi
*•
>
>
p i
Pi
03
o
J-l
r
03
pi
Pi
t—l
03
X)
o
•pH
a)
O
O
a)
c
p 1
CJ
r
c
r
J-l
•rH
Jh
X
03
•rH
X)
u
03
o 3
pi
pi
pO
pQ
cd
4-J
0
J-l
cd
cd
cd
P
cd
o
J-l
CO
4-J
3
3
03
03
3
cd
00
r
X
4-»
CJ
u
r
pi
p
C3
03
cr
•rH
p
Jh
r—4
CO
u*
cr
Jh
U
cr
o
L4
03
O
cr
cr
c
o
cd
X
CO
03
t—l
CL
a.
03
03
r
r
CL
r
p 1
Jh
o
X
03
J-4
03
CL
Cl
CJ
4-»
£
cd
>
cd
E
E
4-J
4->
E
CJ
PL
G
4-J
03
CJ
4-J
E
E
r
cd
03
•rH
e
3>
33
03
03
d
pi
pi
x
cd
4-»
03
cd
CQ
CQ
X
o
«*
z
Q
CQ
u
cd
03
r—4
3
P
J-l
00
J-l
J-4
Nf
X
X
u u
03
03
X
03
o
X
»— l
CQ
CQ
o
03
03
X
X
CJ
o
t—4
N
N
4-J
4J
03
03
3
3
4-)
3
p4
cd
X3
X
X
t—4
4-J
4-1
pH
-||
<N
<1-1
J-i
u
03
03
on
or
U
or)
X3
X)
00
4-J
a
CL
P
P
13
"d
o
o
t— H
r— 1
o
o
o
o
g
•rH
03
•rH
r— 1
P
CL
o
o
o
C
z
z
CJ
o
Pi
Pi
z
pi
CO
M
Z
Pi
CQ
<c
co
<
CO
CO
o
CO
cd
r— H
CNJ
CO
in
nO
00
ON
O
i—4
CN
co
in
NO
oo
ON
o
t—4
r— 1
r— 4
r—4
t— 4
r—4
t—4
r—4
t—4
r—4
r—4
CN
t—4
- 24-
The North Umpqua and Rogue Rivers are moderately well
regulated by the uniform flow from the deep pumice areas around
their headwaters. The North Umpqua down to the mouth of the Clear-
water River, the Clearwater, and the Rogue River to the mouth of
Bybee Creek vary little from summer to winter. About 90 to 95 per-
cent of the flow of the entire North Umpqua during the driest part of
summer originates on the 30 percent of the headwaters area covered
by pumice .
Other streams originating in the high Cascades; such as the
Middle and South Forks of the Rogue, Imnaha Creek, Red Blanket
Creek, and Big Butte Creek; are also reasonably well regulated.
Streams originating in the Siskiyou Mountains along the California
border- -such as Althouse Creek, Sucker Creek, and the Applegate
River- -are much more poorly regulated, and those originating on
the lower Cascades - -like the South Umpqua River, Cow Creek, and
the South Fork of the Coquille, fluctuate even more widely.
Water Use
Water is used primarily for irrigation and domestic purposes
in southwestern Oregon. In 1949? when 49, 346 acres in Jackson
County and 19, 718 acres in Josephine County were irrigated by waters
from the Rogue, it was estimated that 40, 300 irrigated acres should
have additional water and 73, 340 additional acres could be irrigated
if water were available. In 1954, acreage irrigated in Jackson and
Josephine Counties had increased to 53,674 acres and 20,820 acres,
respectively. Under present diversions, waters of the lower Rogue
become so warm in summer that fish die and the future of one of the
most valuable fresh-water fisheries in the nation is threatened.
Irrigation is also increasing in other counties. If all water
rights on the South Umpqua River, for example, were exercised
simultaneously, it would be pumped dry in late summer.
Shortages of water are becoming acute. The city of Medford
used 2, 250 million gallons of water in 1951, with a peak daily use-
under severe restrictions- -of 14 million gallons. Ashland used about
a third as much as Medford.
-25-
Sedimentation
Additional summer water can be made available in large
quantity only by storage, and storage capacity on several streams
might rapidly be lost by sedimentation. The winter average sedi-
ment load for eight southwestern Oregon streams was found to be
651 parts per million in 1951 and 1952 (table 7). This average is
deceptively high due to one stream (South Fork of the Coquille R. ).
Based on the other seven streams, the average was 224 p.p.m. In
contrast, the Wilson River in northwestern Oregon carried a load of
only 72 p.p.m. and six streams in western Washington averaged
47 p. p. m.
F orage
The Forest Survey found 11 5,000 acres of oak-madrone
woodland, much of which is used for grazing, and 46, 000 acres of
subalpine forest, much of which makes excellent summer grazing.
Some stockmen have sown grass seed on cutover lands to increase
available pasture, and some local groups advocate grass sowing on
all cutover public lands.
Problems in land use have arisen where woodland grazing
infringes on the coniferous forests of the interior and from attempts
to convert excellent forest lands to pasture, especially in Coos
County.
Scenic Resources and Wildlife
Recreation is exceeded in importance in the economy of
southwestern Oregon only by timber and agriculture. Recreational
use centers around the scenic resources and fish and game.
Scenic resources include such attractions as Crater Lake
National Park; Oregon Caves National Monument; the Oregon Coast;
the high Cascades; and mountain forests, lakes, and streams.
Tourist use is very heavy in the upper Rogue and North Umpqua
River areas. In 1958, the Rogue River National Forest reported
194, 200 recreational visits, the Umpqua National Forest 116, 500
visits, and the Siskiyou National Forest 39, 500 visits. Winter sports
use is still relatively small but is developing in several places.
-26-
Tab 1 e 7 . - -Suspended sediment loads in selected streams
in southwestern and northwestern Oregon and
in Washington (1)
Area and stream
„ Sediment load
[ Maximum [
Minimum
Averaged
Parts
per million
Southwestern Oregon:
Illinois R. (Kirby)
204
(2/)
67
S. Fork Coquille R. (Powers)
38,200
%
4,061
(267)
Ashland Cr. (Ashland)
2,410
2
401
( 97)
South Umpqua R. (Tiller)
853
\
94
( 49)
South Umpqua R. (Brockway)
6,850
(2/)
552
(102)
Calapooya Cr. (Nonpariel)
2,930
h
252
( 61)
North Umpqua R„ (Glide)
2,100
3
220
( 94)
Elk Cr. (Tiller)
450
{2/)
106
Little R. (Glide)
777
2
104
( 56)
Average
--
--
651
Northwestern Oregon:
Wilson R. (USGS)
295
9
84
Wilson R. (Lees Bridge)
229
4
59
Average
--
--
72
Washington:
Chehalis R.
164
3
50
Skookumchuck R. (Bucoda)
98
2
41
Cowlitz R.
112
27
62
E. Fork Lewis R. (Tenino)
88
1
37
S. Fork Newaukum R. (Forest)
195
13
60
S. Fork Newaukum R. (Alpha)
71
(2/)
33
N. Fork Newaukum R. (Water Intake)
65
(2/)
30
N. Fork Newaukum R. (Forest)
304
\
65
Average
--
--
47
—J Averages were based on approximately 15 samples per station.
Averages in parentheses were obtained by omitting maximum sediment
loads o
Trace.
-27-
Fishing, centered around the thousands of miles of trout,
salmon, and steelheaa streams originating in the forested mountains,
is one of the leading recreational uses. The Umpqua National Forest
alone was visited by 69, 600 anglers in 1958. Sport fish harvest for
the province was estimated at more than 1, 100, 000 pounds in 1956.
The Umpqua River and Winchester Bay at its mouth, the Rogue
River, and the Coos River and Bay are the principal areas for salmon
and steelhead fishing. In 1955 Winchester Bay ranked second, Rogue
River third, and Coos River and Bay fourth in number of salmon and
steelhead caught by sports fishermen in Oregon. In the same year,
38 percent of salmon and steelhead combined and 53 percent of
salmon alone caught in Oregon by sports fishermen were landed in
southwestern Oregon (6).
The estimated total population of anadromous salmonoids in
the Umpqua basin in 1955 was
as follows : (5) .
Spring chinook
9, 500
to
10, 000
Fall chinook
4, 500
to
6, 000
Silver salmon
54, 000
to
90, 000
Summer steelhead
3, 430
Winter steelhead
35, 000
to
40, 000
Cutthroat trout
20, 000
to
32, 000
The estimated probable capacity of Umpqua basin for the
several anadromous salmonoids is as follows: (5).
Spring chinook
Fall chinook
Silver salmon
Summer steelhead
Winter steelhead
Cutthroat trout
Z0, 000 to 25, 000
30. 000 to 40, 000
300. 000 to 350, 000
10 . 000 to 12, 500
100. 000 to 1 50, 000
200. 000 to 250, 000
Fishing for trout- - chiefly rainbow- -also attracts a large
number of fishermen to the streams and lakes of southwestern
Oregon. There were approximately 10,000 fishermen at Diamond
Lake opening day of 1957. In 1955 (when Diamond Lake was closed)
the Oregon State Game Commission estimated that 20, 000 to 25, 000
man-days were spent in trout fishing on streams in the Umpqua
River basin.
-28-
Big game- - principally black-tailed deer and, to a much
lesser degree, Roosevelt elk--are the most important wildlife for
the hunters. The reported legal kill was 1 1 , 606 deer and 1 , 08Z elk
in 1957 (7). Big game on the national forests are estimated to total
about 23, 900 deer, 390 elk, and 2, 350 black bear. Since the national
forests include only about a third of the forest lands, total numbers of
big game in the province could be roughly estimated at three times the
figures for the national forests. However, big-game population esti-
mates in this area are highly speculative because of dense cover and
the nonmigratory nature of most of the herds.
Before intensive fire protection was started in southwestern
Oregon, intentional and accidental burns created ideal deer habitat.
Hunting in this period has been reported as very good. With the ad-
vent of intensive fire protection, the old burns have grown to dense
stands of high brush or young timber. Because of poor visibility and
hindrance to travel, hunting became much more difficult. In recent
years extensive clear cutting has added large acreages of ideal deer
habitat. Hunting is easy on these clear-cut areas for a number of
years after logging. Also, logging roads provide good access. Be-
cause a large acreage of new clearcuts will be added each year, good
habitat and hunting areas will continue to be available as the older
clearcuts grow up to young timber. Although many people believe
the deer population is increasing or will increase because of the clear-
cuts, there is no conclusive evidence that the number of deer are in-
creasing .
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Furs and minerals attracted the first white men to southwest-
ern Oregon; but with permanent settlement about a century ago,
agriculture pre-empted first place as a means of livelihood, a posi-
tion it continued to hold until the expansion of timber harvesting dur-
ing World War II. Timber has since been the most important resource
in the economy and should retain that position indefinitely.
Population
As agriculture developed, population grew steadily. By 1930,
southwestern Oregon had 98, 011 people; in 1 940 there were 1 15, 009,
a growth of 1 7 percent; and in 1950 the total reached 187,914, an in-
crease of 63 percent from the 1940 figure (table 8). The increase in
the 1940-50 period was due mainly to the expansion of the timber
-29-
Table 8 „ --Population of southwestern Oregon;
1930, 1940, 1950, and 1958-j^
•
Census
year
:
Growth
County
: 1930
: 1940 :
1950 :
1958 :
1930-
; 1940- ;
1950-
: :
:
40
; 50
55
----- Number ------
--------
------
Percent
Coos
28,373
32,466
42,265
56,330
14
30
26
Curry
3,257
4,301
6,048
12,690
32
41
77
Douglas
21 ,965
25,728
54,549
62,880
17
112
31
Jackson
32,918
36,213
58,510
68,660
10
62
12
Josephine
11,498
16,301
26,542
29,070
42
63
13
Total
98,011
115,009
187,914
229,630
17
63
23
1/
From U . S .
Census of
Population through
1950;
from (4)
for
1958.
industry. The population of Douglas County during this time jumped
112 percent.
Population should increase rapidly for many years. The
medium of three projections by the U. S. Census Bureau estimates
that Oregon will have 1,918,000 people by I960 and 2, 417, 000 by
197 5. The Columbia Basin Inter-Agency Committee's medium esti-
mate for 1975 of 2, 591, 000 seems more in keeping with recent birth
and in-migration rates. Between 1910 and 1940, southwestern
Oregon averaged 10 percent of the State's population, in 1950 it had
12 percent. The province will probably maintain or even increase
the higher percentage, since its resources are less fully developed
than those of the State as a whole. A population of 310, 000 by 1975
seems likely.
Forest Industries
Exploitation of the province's timber started early in the
more accessible stands. In fact, logging has been continuous in the
vicinity of Coos Bay, where water transportation is available, since
the 1850's. Pine was cut heavily at the lower elevations in the Rogue
-30-
River valley by 1900, but the vast mountain stands of the interior
and Curry County were economically inaccessible until the 1940!s
(table 9). In the period 1925-29, cutting was concentrated in Coos
County, near tidewater in Douglas County, and in the pine stands of
Jackson County, with 64 percent of the total cut coming from Coos
County. After the interior stands became marketable in the early
1940's, the cutting rate increased rapidly in Douglas, Jackson, and
Josephine Counties, but it was 1950 before Curry County really
opened up. In the period 1955-57, Douglas County contributed 48
percent of the total cut and Coos County 17 percent.
Table 9. --Mean annual log production In southwestern Oregon
counties, by 5-year periods, 1925-54, and for 1955-57— ^
(Scribner rule)
2 / :
County
Total
rerioci
Coos
° Curry ° Douglas [ Jackson ‘ Josephine
--- M board feet
1925-29
312,662
4,436
89,454
72,160
9,850
488,562
1930-34
153,375
2,993
49 ,089
41 ,927
12,694
260,078
1935-39
327,251
40,224
142,497
91,192
25,513
626,677
1940-43
458,536
54,992
379,354
265,609
79 ,671
1,238,162
1945-49
448,129
61,120
852,456
397,761
187,361
1,946,827
1950-54
655,600
372,479
1 ,438,650
548,509
283,715
3,298,953
1955-57
594,604
391,738
1,687,222
567,611
252,990
3,494,165
1925-48 from (3); 1949-57 from unpublished data in Pacific
Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station files.
2/
— 1944 data not available.
Since more than half the commercial forest is in public owner-
ship and managed for sustained yield, a continuous and reasonably
high-level flow of products seems assured. Present cutting rates
probably cannot be long maintained, however, due to overcutting on
some private lands.
Thus far, the timber industry has been concerned mainly with
primary manufacture- -the production of lumber, veneer, plywood,
-31-
poles, and shingles. At present there is a small pulp mill and a
fiberboard plant at Coos Bay, a particle board plant at Dillard, and
a fiberboard plant at Grants Pass. If the industry is to maintain its
present importance in the economy, a gradual change toward more
complete utilization and secondary manufacturing will be needed.
Table 10 shows that there is an abundant source of material for pulp,
fiberboard, and chip-board. Secondary manufacture might include
products such as moldings, doors, softwood furniture , boxes, crates,
and laminated structural members.
Table 10.
--Estimated annual usable wood
residue
developed in Douglas County
Source
Logs used
Residue
M board feet
M cubic feet
Log production
1,620,000
53,460
Lumber production
1,000,000
55,000
Plywood production
173,000
14,360
Agriculture
Agriculture should remain a primary activity and lend
stability to the economy. As previously pointed out, a total of
1, 51 5, 935 acres, or 19 percent of the land area, is in farms (1954).
Of this amount, 299, 942 acres are cropland. Lands under irrigation
increased from 72, Ozl acres in 1940 to 93, 294 acres in 1954 (table 11).
Livestock provide more than half of the income from farm
holdings, crops provide approximately a third, and forest products
about an eighth (table 12). Dairying, beef cattle, sheep, and poultry
lead in the interior counties; dairy herds and sheep are prominent
in the coastal counties.
Little is known of the extent of the forage resource, but the
sale of livestock and livestock products accounts for more than half
-32-
Table 11. --Land irrigated on southwestern Oregon farms;
1944, 1949, and 19541/
Year
County
[ Coos
Curry ’
Douglas
Jackson
Total
Josephine
1944
644
3
-- — Acres
1,735 48,590
21,049 72,021
1949
4,382
923
3,798
49,346
19,718 78,167
1954
6,301
1,701
10,798
53,674
20,820 93,294
— ^ From U.
S. Census
of Agriculture, 1950
and 1954 (vol . 1 ,
part 32).
Tab 1 e 12.- -Value of southwestern Oregon
farm products sold, 1949 and 1954— ^
Products
Value
1949
1954
Dollars
Percent
Dollars
Percent
Crops
9,657,702
36.0
8,236,701
30.4
Livestock and live-
stock products
15,812,885
58.9
15,482,736
57.1
Forest products
1,368,074
5.1
3,378,563
12.5
All farm products
26,838,661
100.0
27,098,000
100.0
~ From 1954 U.S. Census of Agriculture (vol. 1, part 32).
-33-
of farm income in the province. Over 1 million acres of land on
farms is pastured (table 13). The Rogue River National Forest re-
ported that 371, 430 acres were grazed in 1952 to provide 12, 946 cow-
months and 7, 111 sheep-months of use. Grazing use is small on the
Umpqua and Siskiyou National Forests. Farmers reported 324,912
animals on farms and ranges in 1954 (table 14).
Table 13. --Pastured land on farms in southwestern
Oregon counties; 1949, 1999, and 1959—/
County
; 1944
1949
' 1954
Coos
188,458
------ Acres
173,397
173,937
Curry
85,667
83,112
94,370
Douglas
526,293
421,714
423,585
Jackson
242,789
246,296
344,309
Josephine
67,184
36,885
40,711
Total
1,110,391
961 ,404
1 ,076 ,912
From U.S. Census of Agriculture, 1950 and 1954 (vol. 1,
part 32) .
Table 19. --Livestock on farms and ranges
in southwestern Oregon counties, 1959— /
County
Horses
and
[ mules [
Cattle [
Sheep
Goats
Hogs '
Total
Coos
641
31,720
17,953
1 ,485
574
52,373
Curry
320
7,977
26,672
1,665
621
37,255
Douglas
1,512
24,457
103,308
8,166
3,488
140,931
Jackson
1,756
51,321
11,618
1,086
3,912
69,693
Josephine
521
18,048
2,473
1,256
2,362
24,660
Total
4,750
133,523
162,024
13,658
10,957
324,912
11
From 1954 U
S. Census
of Agriculture (vol
. 1, part
32) .
-34-
Recreation
Recreation, centered around scenic attractions and fish and
game, is the third most important source of income in southwestern
Oregon. Furthermore, recreation is the least developed of major
resources. No overall measure of the economic value of the recrea-
tion resource is available, but the value of the fish and game resource
for southwestern Oregon in 1956 has been estimated by the Roseburg
office of the Oregon State Game Commission as follows:
Fish:
Dollar redistribution by anglers
(table 1 5)
Value of fish caught (table 15)
$8, 435, 000
802, 375
Total "income"
9, 237, 375
Game :
Dollar redistribution by hunters --
46, 61 3 hunters at $79. 49 per
hunter (National Wildlife Eco-
nomic Survey)
Harvested meat value (table 16)
3, 705, 267
1, 002, 940
Total "income"
4, 708, 207
Capital Values:
Income from fish, capitalized
at 4%
Income from game, capitalized
at 4%
230, 934, 375
117, 705, 184
Total 348,639,559
Other Industries
Sand and gravel, limestone, nickel, mercury, chromium, and
gold are the important minerals in southwestern Oregon. In 1954 the
M. A. Hanna Co. began operating nickel deposits near Riddle under
contract with the Defense Minerals Procurement Agency, which ad-
vanced $24, 800, 000. All but $2, 400, 000 of this was to be spent on a
smelter. The Hanna Nickel Smelting Co. contracted to produce be-
tween 95 and 125 million pounds of nickel for the government.
-35-
Table 15 . --Southwestern Oregon sports fishery values, 1956—/
Area
[ Anglers dollar ’
° redistribution
Fish harvested
[Anglers '
Value [
Salmon [
Steelhead'
' Trout [
Valued./
Number
Dollars
Pounds
Pounds
Pounds
Dollars
Rogue River
230,000
—^3 ,450,000
— 2 , 100 ,000
291,930
32,278
26,500
244,379
Umpqua River
140,000
56,100
34,310
15 ,000
73,734
Coas tal
125,000
1/ 1,875 ,000
80,100
75,000
25,000
124,468
Coos Bay and
Winchester
Bay 50,500
o
o
o
o
r— H
o
T— 1
529,109
0
0
359,794
Total
8,435,000
957,239
141,588
66,500
802,375
February 1958.
— / $0.68 per pound for salmon, $0.60 per pound for steelhead,
and $1.00 per pound for trout.
3 /
— $15 per angler.
— / $20 per angler.
Table
16.- -Southwestern Oregon sports game values,
19561/
Game bird
or animal
Total birds
or animals
Value per bird
or animal
Total value
Number
Dollars
Dollars
Elk
552
150.00
82,800
Deer
8,293
50.00
414,650
Geese
43,605
5.00
218,025
Ducks
100,144
2.50
250,360
Pheasants
7,842
2.50
19 ,605
Quail
3,500
1.00
3,500
Grouse
3,500
2. 50
8,750
Doves
2,000
1.00
2,000
Pigeons
2,500
1.00
2,500
Squirrels
750
o
o
r— 1
750
Total
--
--
1,002,940
— / Compiled
by Roseburg
office, Oregon State
Game Commission,
February 1958.
-36-
Commercial fishing is important along the coast, and probably
contributes between 1 and 2 percent of the net income of the province.
Transportation
Poor transportation facilities and remote markets have de-
layed the development of the forest resources in most of the province.
One branch of the Southern Pacific Co. railroad traverses the interior
from north to south and another extends from Eugene to Coos Bay.
Two major north- south highways cross the province: U. S. 101 along
the coast, and U. S, 99 through the interior. These are connected by
east-west highways from Winston to Coquille and from Drain to Reeds-
port. Other east-west highways from Eugene to Florence and from
Grants Pass to Crescent City, Calif. , although outside the province,
are important in the movement of forest products. Two highways
cross the Cascades, one from Ashland to Klamath Falls and another
by way of the upper Rogue River. Salt-water transportation is avail-
able at Coos Bay, Reedsport, and Bandon.
Water Power
The province is well supplied with potential water power and
development is keeping pace with needs. The California- Oregon
Power Co. , which serves most of the province, had plant capacities
totalling 232, 773 kw. by the end of 1957. Mountain States Power Co.
(now part of Pacific Power and Light Co. ) has a steam plant at Coos
Bay with a capacity of 15, 000 kw. , and the city of Ashland has a
hydro plant of 300 kw. capacity. The Bureau of Reclamation has
under construction on Emigrant Creek, and scheduled for completion
in 1959, a plant which will add 16, 000 kw. Pacific Power and Light
Co. has a Federal Power Commission preliminary permit for con-
struction of a plant on the Coquille River to develop 67, 500 kw.A/
Other hydroelectric projects are under consideration. Federal power
from the Bonneville system is available to southwestern Oregon.
Employment
Manufacturing of wood products accounted for 31 . 5 percent,
and agriculture 11.8 percent, of employment in the province in 1950
(table 17).
6 /
— From unpublished data supplied by the Bonneville Power
Administration, Portland, Oreg. , and The California Power and
Light Co. , Medford, Oreg.
-37-
Tab 1 e 17.- -Employment in southwestern Oregon counties,
by selected industrial groups,
19501/
Industrial group
County
Total
Coos
Curry
Douglas
Jackson
Josephine
Number
Employed labor force
16,661
2,563
19,838
20,145
9,381
68,588
Agriculture
1,219
595
1,802
2,707
1,641
7,964
Forestry & fisheries
277
103
75
92
59
606
Manuf ac turing
6,852
738
8,941
4,679
2,623
23,833
Furniture; lumber
and wood products
6,170
643
8,383
3,757
2,381
21,334
Trucking, warehousing
124
13
159
251
87
634
---- Percent^./ --
Agriculture
7.3
23. 2
9.1
13.4
17.5
11.6
Forestry & fisheries
1.7
4.0
.4
.5
.6
.9
Manuf ac turing
41.1
28.8
45.1
23.2
28.0
34.7
Furniture; lumber
and wood products
37.0
25.1
42.3
18.6
25.4
31.1
Trucking, warehousing
. 7
.5
.8
1.2
.9
.9
— ! From 1950 U.S. Census of Population (vol. 2, part 37).
2/
— Number of employees as percentage of employed labor force.
PROBLEMS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT
The major forest problems in southwestern Oregon fall into
two categories: (1) those which are provincewide in scope, and
(2) those which relate only to certain forest types, or ecological
situations within forest types. The two groups of problems will be
discussed separately.
-38-
Provincewide Problems
Ecological Relationships
A knowledge of environment and environmental requirements
of species is fundamental to the management of any forest. It is es-
pecially important in southwestern Oregon, where forests of many
tree species are superimposed upon a complex environment and ex-
tensive brushfields occupy many forest and nonforest sites.
The broad ecological requirements of some species, such as
Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine, are fairly well known for many areas
in the Pacific Northwest. It is not known, however, whether local
strains and ecotypes have similar requirements. Even less is known
about species other than Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine.
Few ecological studies have been made in the province. Ob-
vious changes in the environment may be responsible for some
changes of forest types, but there are no apparent reasons for others,
such as in the northern limits of redwood and Port- Orford- cedar .
Causes of variations in composition of stands in the mixed- conifer
zone are obscure. The most abundant species may not be the best
in all environments. The problem of management, therefore, is to
learn which species to favor for all environments.
Little is known of the environmental requirements of brush
species and what their presence means. Fire is considered to have
been a primary factor in the formation and maintenance of brush-
fields. Some brush- covered sites maybe suitable for forests, others
not. In any brushfield reclamation program the best forest sites
should be reclaimed first.
Preservation of Soil and Water Values
Although apparently rich in water, southwestern Oregon is
having water troubles. Acute summer shortages are now experienced
locally and more widespread shortages can be anticipated as popula-
tion expands. Winter floods are increasing in frequency, and silt
loads are becoming intolerable. Much of the increasing turbidity is
caused by logging and associated road construction, which are
rapidly pushing toward the remotest headwaters. It is interesting to
note that the public policy of the State of Oregon, as expressed in its
code of laws , is :
-39-
to preserve the natural purity of the water of all rivers,
streams, lakes, and watersheds, and the coastal areas of
the State in the interest of the public welfare, for the pro-
tection and conservation of the public health, and recrea-
tional enjoyment of the people, and for the protection and
conservation of fish, aquatic life, and migratory birds ,
and to foster and encourage the cooperation of the people,
of industries, of incorporated cities, and of towns and
counties, in preventing and controlling the pollution of
said waters .
Watershed damage now prevalent in southwestern Oregon clearly does
not meet this goal.
Guides are needed for cutting, logging, and road-building
practices on different kinds of soils. These guides should permit
harvesting of timber with minimum damage to soils and water regu-
lation and minimum erosion and sedimentation.
Cutting Practices
Clear cutting in staggered settings is widely practiced in the
Douglas-fir type whereas partial cutting is the most common in
ponderosa pine. Both methods have been practiced in the southwest-
ern Oregon transition forests. Different cutting practices may be
required for best management in the mixed- conife r zone because of
(1 ) intricate mixtures of age classes and species; (Z) low merchant-
able volumes in many places, often with good advanced reproduction
underneath; and (3) old growth of mediocre quality. A major goal on
the South Umpqua Experimental Forest will be to experiment with
different methods of cutting and find ways of classifying and identi-
fying stands in which specific cutting methods are most advantageous
for growth, regulation of cut, and subsequent reproduction of desired
species .
Clear cutting in staggered settings, now practiced in the true
fir-— mountain hemlock type seems rational, but it needs to be further
tested. Only a beginning has been made toward prescribing cutting
methods to encourage Port- Orford- cedar .
7 /
— Art. 3, Sec. 116-1118, Oregon Laws pertaining to Public
Health. Oregon State Board of Health, 1947.
-40-
Natural Regeneration
Perhaps no other phase of forest management is as important
as prompt regeneration of cutover lands. Port- Orford- cedar is re-
producing well following a variety of cutting methods. Shasta red fir
appears to reproduce well on small clearcuts, and Douglas-fir is
reproducing well on clearcuts west of the Coast Range. But no species
seems to be reproducing satisfactorily on clearcuts in the interior
Douglas-fir zone and in the mixed- conifer zone. Sites are severe and
there is a definite brush threat in many places. If reproduction is not
prompt, brush may occupy the ground.
Natural regeneration surveys are needed to identify problem
areas and the conditions which cause them. Also needed are studies
of fundamental factors responsible for successes and failures. From
tnese, leads should be developed that will help specify more appro-
priate cutting methods. We should learn to recognize brush threat
areas and how long we can afford to wait to get natural reproduction.
Artificial Regeneration
Uncertainty of natural reproduction, brush threat, and oppor-
tunity to control composition of reproduction has led to widespread
planting of clear-cut public lands. Further artificial regeneration
will be needed if the 577, 000 acres of nonstocked commercial forest
land in the province are to be brought back into production.
Although extensively practiced, planting has not achieved
uniformly satisfactory results. Ponderosa pine and Port-Orford-
cedar have generally survived satisfactorily; Douglas-fir often has
not. Sugar pine planting is only in its infancy but looks promising.
Planting, however, is expensive. Direct seeding promises
to be more economical of both labor and money. Sugar pine and
ponderosa pine have been successfully seedspotted on the clay-loam
soils of the South Umpqua River basin, and ponderosa pine has been
successfully seedspotted on pumice in the Diamond Lake area.
Douglas-fir has not been tested sufficiently.
The potential economies of seeding have not been fully devel-
oped and much additional, work is needed to attain the goal of artifi-
cially reproducing all species by consistently successful and inex-
pensive methods.
-41 -
Brushfield Reclamation
The extensive brushfields pose special problems since the
land is producing no economic returns. Some soils are known to
have deteriorated under the brush cover and their watershed func-
tions are undoubtedly impaired. It is possible that reclamation of
brushfields may have more important and far-reaching effects
through watershed benefits than the added forest products which may
be produced.
We need to learn which brush- covered lands are capable of
growing commercial forests and how to prepare them for reforesta-
tion, and how to release reproduction that is being suppressed by
brush. Fire and chemical, mechanical, and biological methods of
control may all prove useful. More information is needed on the
ecology of the brush species to assure success.
Cultural Measures
Cultural measures increase in importance as the forests are
converted from old growth to young growth and forestry becomes in-
creasingly intensive.
Commercial thinning will be needed to avoid loss of normal
mortality, to maintain the resistance of stands against insects and
diseases, and to put growth on selected stems. Pruning is necessary
if clear wood is to be grown in a reasonable rotation. Pruning may
also help protect sugar pine from blister rust. Cultural measures,
such as weeding, may control composition in the mixed types and
Port- Orford- cedar zone.
Cultural measures have received little research attention in
southwestern Oregon.
Protection
The forest fire problem in the province is acute since the
climate is hotter and drier for longer periods of time than elsewhere
west of the Cascades. Poorer-than-average utilization of the felled
trees leaves abundant slash.
Fire has not only been an important factor in the understocked
condition of extensive areas but a primary cause of formation and
-42-
persistence of brushfields. It undoubtedly has contributed to the
abundance of heart and root rots.
Sixty-nine percent of the area in Oregon and Washington
affected by the epidemic outbreak of the Douglas-fir beetle in 1951-
52 was in the province. A survey made about 1946 of a 200, 000-acre
tract of Douglas-fir in Coos County showed 18 percent of the timber
had been recently killed, most of it by the Douglas-fir beetle. The
mountain pine beetle and western pine beetle are continuously active
in sugar pine and ponderosa pine. An outbreak of western pine beetle
in the Rogue River valley was especially severe about 1920. The fir
engraver (Scolytus ventralis) recently killed large quantities of white
and grand fir. Cone-and- seed-destroying insects are very active in
all species of trees. In most years of light and moderate cone crops,
so many seeds are destroyed that cones are not worth gathering.
Decay of wood has been the most serious of tree diseases in
southwestern Oregon. On two large, intensively surveyed tracts in
the South Umpqua area, 25 percent of all Douglas-fir stems were
complete culls and 32 percent were partly cull. Such high rates of
defect are common. Old-growth incense- cedar is of little value be-
cause of pecky rot. A white-pocket rot causes considerable loss of
valuable Port-Orford- cedar .
Windthrow is a major cause of losses of Douglas-fir. Al-
though commonly heavier on the west side of the Coast Range, blow-
down on the Umpqua National Forest in December 1951 alone was es-
timated to exceed the allowable annual cut on the forest.
Slash Abatement
The slash problem is more troublesome in southwestern
Oregon than elsewhere west of the Cascade Range. Fire danger is
greater, providing more reason for burning slash; but environments
are hotter, a justification for leaving slash to protect the soil and
shade new seedlings.
Utilization
Timber harvesting is still in the pioneering stage with its
attendant waste. Defect is higher than average in Douglas-fir. Many
species of widely differing wood quality are being cut and few mills
are equipped to make the best use of more than one or two. Equipment
-43-
and methods for handling large and small timber efficiently are not
interchangeable. Moreover, the transportation system is inadequate.
There is no material market for hardwoods, and plants for chemical
utilization of small and "waste" products are virtually lacking. As
a result of all these factors, utilization is relatively poor.
Improved utilization consequently is needed to reduce waste,
stretch the supply of old- growth timber, increase allowable cuts,
diminish slash, volumes, and permit more complete and cheaper
planting of cutover land.
Regulation of the Cut
A more reliable basis for regulation of the cut should permit
a larger flow of products from the public lands. Lack of information
needed for predicting future yields accurately is keeping the annual
cut on public lands on the conservative side. In some places timber
inventories are based on the Forest Survey, which is not sufficiently
intensive to be a good basis for management plans. Growth and
yield cannot be accurately estimated for mixed stands, nor for sev-
eral species and types. We do not know what losses to expect from
fire, insects, diseases, and wind; how much future mortality may be
circumvented or salvaged; nor how much additional wood will be made
available by increased utilization.
Recreational Relationships
Southwestern Oregon is plagued with many of the common
problems found in most forest -land recreation areas. Some of the
more acute ones are lack of adequate facilities, poorly distributed
use of the resources, and human relations. However, in this anal-
ysis we are primarily concerned with the land-management aspects
of recreation and interrelations with other uses.
The problems of land management in relation to fish life are
in reasonably clear focus. Land management affects fish life pri-
marily through its influence on streamflow fluctuation, the amount
of silt and debris in the streams, and stream shade needed to main-
tain suitable water temperatures. Consequently, watershed manage-
ment research aimed at reducing streamflow fluctuations and the
amount of silt and debris in streams will also benefit fish life.
In most other aspects, knowledge of the interrelation between
recreation and. land management is inadequate for even defining
-44-
critical problems. For example, it would seem that the rapidly in-
creasing area of clearcuts would have marked effects on deer and elk
populations. There is no distinct evidence to indicate whether or not
populations are increasing in and around clearcuts. Signs of over-
grazing have been observed but it may be rare or widespread. Brows-
ing of conifer reproduction by deer or elk is quite severe in some
places, but it is difficult to even speculate how widespread this prob-
lem may become. More precise knowledge is needed to define
critical questions on even this one facet of the whole field.
Before recreational research needs can be realistically
delineated, a comprehensive survey is needed to determine (1) the
kinds, amounts, and location of scenic attractions, wildlife, etc. ;
(Z) probable future demands on recreational resources and if their
conditions are changing for better or worse; and (3) the interrelations
or conflicts of recreational use with other uses.
Problems of Certain Forest Types
Species to Favor in the Mixed- Conifer Zone
The species found in the mixed stands differ in productivity
and value. Clear cutting followed by seeding or planting provides an
opportunity to control composition of the next stand. Each of the
major species may prove best for specific environments, but the
best species silviculturally may not be the best species for optimum
economic return. Objectives need to be developed from both stand-
points and the silvical dangers involved in attempting to attain eco-
nomic values should be ascertained in order that they maybe circum-
vented. Pure stands, for example, should yield maximum economic
returns on many environments but they are subject to many ills.
Consequently, careful study will be required to learn to what degree
mixtures can be altered without encountering ecological difficulties.
The practical need is a means of recognizing the species or
mixture best adapted to each environment. It has been observed that
sugar pine commonly outgrows all other species on sites with an
index of 142 or less and also has the greatest economic value. Blister
rust control, however, may make it costly to grow. Ponderosa pine
makes equal height growth on many environments but fails to grow as
fast in diameter. Douglas-fir keeps up in height on some environ-
ments but fails on others, and in the mixed- conifer zone has not been
observed to produce as much volume or quality as the pines. Western
-45-
white pine is being planted on appropriate sites. Even incense- cedar
promises to make excellent growth and is increasing in value. Where
should the various species be favored?
Soil- Building and Watershed Values of Species
Watershed values are gaining in importance so rapidly that
comparative watershed and soil-building values of the different species
must be considered in forest management.
Much of the mixed- conifer zone is underlain by soils which
have a pronounced "B" horizon of dense clay. Large areas of the
Siskiyou uplands have apparently suffered sheet erosion and soil
degradation from repeated burning. Streams fed by these soils are
poorly regulated, indicating low percolation or water storage capacity,
or both.
The tree species of the mixed- conife r types vary in rooting
habits and depth of rooting, in volume of litter produced, and
possibly in chemical composition of litter. They may also vary in
water consumption. All these things can influence their suitability
for soil protection, soil improvement, and watershed cover.
Sugar Pine Management
Because of its superior growth and quality on many environ-
ments, sugar pine deserves special study. On the South Umpqua
Experimental Forest, for example, volumes of individual sugar pines
are two to four times those of associated Douglas -firs . In an 80-
year -old mixed stand in the Rogue River valley, 34 percent of the
sugar pines were found to be dominants; whereas only 9, 11, and 1
percent, respectively, of the ponderosa pines, Douglas -fir s , and
incense- cedars were dominants. Such, differences are common over
a wide but unknown part of the mixed- conifer zone.
Sugar pine is also outstanding in quality and freedom from
defect (table 18). Altogether, it is more valuable than any associ-
ate .
White pine blister rust, which entered the province about 1939
and is now found wherever there are 5-needled pines, must be con-
trolled in order to grow sugar pine. Where relatively few Ribes
bushes are found, it may prove more profitable to grow sugar pine
-46-
Table 18. --Comparison of defect in sugar pine and
Douglas- fir in the South Umpqua River basinl^
Proportion of
sound wood in
tree (percent)
D.b.h. class (inches) and species
4 to
12 | 12 to 24
24 to 50
’ 50 plus
DF J
SP ! DF
SP
DF ;
SP
: DF :
SP
2/
75-100
97
100 87
97
43
87
5
68
35-74
0
0 3
1.5
32
10
52
28
0-34
3
0 10
1.5
25
3
43
4
— Hammond, Herbert L. , Jr. Report on the work of the South
Umpqua combined disease survey and timber cruising party. 1942. (Un-
published report. Copy on file, Siskiyou-Cascade Research Center,
Roseburg, Or eg.)
2/
— Of total number of trees in species and d.b.h. class.
than other species. The South Umpqua drainage offers special
promise because blister rust control costs are low, growth and
quality of sugar pine are outstanding, and Douglas-fir is mediocre.
The first requirement is to learn in which environments sugar
pine will pay the greatest returns on an investment in blister rust
control. Then all aspects of its management must be studied.
Growth and Yield
Standard yield tables for Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine can
be applied to unmanaged stands in southwestern Oregon. Means are
required, however, for predicting growth and yield for Port-Orford-
cedar, sugar pine, Shasta red fir, and stands of mixed species and
mixed ages.
-47-
Port- Orford- Cedar Management
Port- Orford- cedar- -a wood with many desirable qualities but
of limited supply- ~i.s now of minor economic importance. In the past,
Port- Orford- cedar was one of the most valuable timber trees in south-
western Oregon. Special characteristics of the wood uniquely fitted
it for several special uses - -battery separators in particular. Other
materials have replaced Port- Orford - cedar to a large extent for all
of these special uses except for arrows. Even arrows are now ex-
tensively made of Fiberglas.
Port- Orford- cedar is now just another minor species of some-
what lesser importance than incens e - cedar or western redcedar in
southwestern Oregon. Of the minor species- -which make up only 9
percent of the total sawtimber volume in southwestern Oregon- - western
hemlock, incense- cedar, and western redcedar each have appreciably
more volume than does Port- Orford- cedar .
In light of the present economic status of Port- Orford- cedar ,
research on its management has, and in the foreseeable future will
continue to have, a low priority.
ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES ON PROBLEMS
The group of problems associated with forest-land use in
southwestern Oregon has been narrowed down to those having the
highest priority based on (1) consideration of forest or cover types
of maximum value, (2) the kinds of stands most urgently in need of
work, and (3) specific problems that should receive primary atten-
tion.
The following general guides have been used in determining
the priority of problems which should be investigated:
1. Are they provincewide in scope?
2. Are they associated with keeping forest land in full pro-
duction, assuming that lands from which timber is now
being harvested should not be permitted to become un-
productive ?
3. Are they associated with minimizing damage to soil and
water from land-management practices?
-48-
4. Do they promise to yield the greatest results with the
limited funds and personnel available?
5. Do they involve cooperation with other agencies?
6. How much is known about them?
7. Can a balance be maintained between long- and short-
term studies ?
8. Is similar work being done elsewhere?
9. Are special opportunities present to facilitate research
on a particular problem?
The timber industries now provide, and promise to continue
providing, major support for the economy of southwestern Oregon.
Forest exploitation is progressing rapidly, and regeneration is un-
certain. There is a distinct brush threat on many lands. Soil and
water values are high and damageable. Timber-harvesting activities
at best are detrimental in some instances to soil and water. Every-
thing possible should be done to minimize such damage, especially
during the exploitation period, when the major roads are being built
and heavy equipment used to move the large old-growth timber.
Although forest economic problems are important, they are
not as directly concerned as forest management problems in keeping
the land and watersheds undamaged and fully productive. Utilization
is below average, and the timber industries are preponderantly con-
cerned with primary manufacture, so there is an excellent opportun-
ity for products research. However, there are well- equipped and
ably staffed forest products laboratories at Corvallis, Oreg. , (State)
and Madison, Wis. (Federal), and the function of a local research
organization should be to recognize products problems and refer
them to the appropriate agency.
The livestock industry is important to the local economy but
is mostly concentrated on the farms and ranches below the commer-
cial forest zone. An exception is the Rogue River National Forest,
on which there is a substantial amount of forest grazing. LivestocK
and forest management come into sharp conflict in Coos County, but
the problem relates to the economics of land use: Can and should
some of the high- site forest land in the Coquille and Coos River areas
be converted to grazing use?
-49-
Within the framework of the nine general guides listed above,
the fields requiring study are arranged in the following order of pri-
ority: forest management (including protection), forest influences
and watershed management, forest economics, forest products, and
range management.
On the basis of tneir commercial importance and extent,
status of exploitation, importance as watersneds, and because of the
dearth of information needed for management, forest types are
assigned the following priorities: first, mixed- conifer ; second, true
fir — mountain hemlock; third, Douglas-fir.
Problems of old- growth stands should take priority over
those of young growth, since tne area and utilization of young growth
are limited.
On the basis of the foregoing considerations, the six problems
listed in table 19 are considered to be most urgently in need of solu-
tion in the designated types. The order of listing is approximate,
Out all must be regarded as having high priority.
It will be noted that the Douglas-fir type has not been given
top priority in many cases because it has long been studied elsewhere.
However, Douglas-fir is the major constituent of the mixed- conife r
types and the species will receive commensurate consideration in
many studies in the mixed types.
-50-
Table 19 . --Priority of major forest types for important
forest problems in southwestern Oregon
Forest type
Problem
Mixed-
conifer
: True fir-
: mountain
: hemlock
Douglas
fir
1. Methods of cutting and regeneration.
1
2
Devise measures to assure that cutover
lands will restock promptly to maintain
a maximum and constant flow of products
under sustained yield.
2. Preservation of soil and water values.
(1/)
(1/)
(1/)
Develop methods of logging and road con-
struction and special measures needed to
assure minimum damage to the high soil
and watershed values. Make a forest
soil survey to provide a basic tool for
land management.
3. Brushfield reclamation. Develop 13 2
methods for economically converting
suitable brush-covered lands to pro-
ductive forests and for improving
their productivity and hydrologic
functions .
4. Forest protection. Ascertain and in- 13 2
vestigate damage caused by insects,
diseases, fire, and other destructive
agencies. Report to and cooperate with
research and action groups concerned,
and investigate as required to mini-
mize timber losses and degrading due
to forest enemies.
See footnote at end of table.
-51 -
Tab 1 e 1 9 - -Priority of major forest types for important
forest problems in southwestern Oregon-Continued
Forest type
Problem
:Mixed-
True fir-
Douglas-
: conifer
mountain
hemlock
fir
5. Species to favor in management. Con- 1 2
duct studies in fundamental ecology,
growth and yield, and economics; and
recommend studies of products, as
needed, to provide land-managing
agencies with sound guides for the
most appropriate species to favor in
specific environments.
6. Growth and yield studies. Develop a 1 2
sound basis for regulation of the cut,
guides for intermediate cuttings ,
forecasts of future supplies of spe-
cific products and grades, and guides
for selection of appropriate species
or mixtures to favor.
Equally high priority for all major types.
- 52-
LITERATURE CITED
(1) Barton, Manes
1951. A progress report on suspended sediment sampling
in several western Oregon and western Washington
streams. U. S. Forest Serv. Pac. NW. Forest and
Range Expt. Sta. Res. Note 75, 19 pp. , illus.
(Processed. )
(Z) Diller, J. S. , and Kay, G. F.
19Z4. Geologic atlas of the United States: Riddle Folio,
Oregon. U. S. Geol. Survey Riddle Folio Z18, 1Z pp. ,
illus .
(3) Moravets, F. L.
1951. Forest statistics for southwest Oregon unit. U. S.
Forest Serv. Pac. NW. Forest and Range Expt. Sta.
Forest Survey Rpt. 104, 36 pp. , illus. (Processed. )
(4) Oregon Secretary of State
1958. Oregon blue book 1959-1960. 448 pp. , illus.
(5) Oregon State Game Commission
1956. Statement presented at State water resources board
hearing, Roseburg, October 15 and 16, 1956. Z1 pp.
(Processed. )
(6) Oregon State Game Commission, Fishery Division
1957. 1956 annual report. Z83 pp. , illus. (Processed.)
(7) Oregon State Game Commission, Game Division
(n.d.) 1958 annual report. 183 pp. , illus. (Processed.)
(8) Oregon State Water Resources Board
1959. Rogue River basin summary. 19 pp. , illus.
(Processed. )
(9) Shepard, H. B.
1937. Forest fire insurance in the Pacific Coast States.
U.S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bui. 551, 168 pp. , illus.
(10) U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
1956. Umpqua River basin Oregon, special report,
(n.p.n.), illus. (Processed.)
-53-
(11) U. S. Geological Survey
1959- Surface water supply of the United States 1956.
Part 14. Pacific slope basins in Oregon and lower
Columbia River basin. Water-Supply Paper 1448,
305 pp. , illus.
-54-
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11