old growth presentation

7/31/2019 Old Growth Presentation

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Old Growth

Morgan Creek andCoffeepot


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Managed Coffeepot Old Growth

Background

In 2002, all competing trees were removed

In 2003, slash piles were burnedThese selected stands are composed oftrees with ages 250-300 years old


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Managed Coffeepot Old Growth

All stands are very openwith low disease and firerisk.


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Unmanaged Coffeepot Old Growth

Background

These stands are basically untouched,

though no fire has been allowed to enter thearea


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Unmanaged Coffeepot Old Growth

Stands are very dense,

with around 300-400 treesper acre in each.Older trees have crownedout, with many hollow orgrowing conchs.Some trees aresuccumbing to beetles.


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Morgan Creek Managed Area

Background

Stands were thinned 40 years ago, taking

largest trees, leaving around 30-40 trees peracreA few upper-story, mid-story and under-storytrees were left


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Morgan Creek Managed Area

4 species of tree are

present

Ponderosa,Lodgepole, and White Pine,as well as white fir.Stands are fairly open, withsome shrubs.


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Morgan Creek Harvested Area

Background

Harvest was typical, largest trees were taken

Trees present today are smaller and spacedout


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Morgan Creek Harvested Area

Mostly mid-sized trees, lownumber of trees per acre


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Morgan Creek White Fir Area

Background

The large trees have become decadent,

many in early snag stages or snapped offMuch of the ground is covered in woodydebris, large and small, from trees that havefallen or shed branches

Site is, overall, highly degraded, and manytrees have mistletoe or paint fungus growingon trunk or branches


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Morgan Creek Stream Area


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Morgan Creek Sugar Pine Area

Background

Stands have never been entered for

management or harvest and are composedof large trees with a large component ofunderstory coming inUnderstory is fairly open, but as fire has

been excluded for about 60 years, theunderstory trees are beginning to take over


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Morgan Creek Sugar Pine Area

Much of the ground is

covered in heavy duff, withlarge amounts of woodydebrisLargest trees are starting to

crown out


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Average Soil Depth (cm) by Area

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10

20

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40

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80

90

100

COMA COUN MOMA MOHA MOAPNE MOCRK


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Average Duff Depth by Area

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1

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D e p t h

i n c m


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Average Rhizome Depth (cm) by Area

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12



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Old Growth Cycles (Regen)(A) Stocking 25-35 trees per acre of large trees Shrub understory

Layers of understory have a 30 ft. approximate heightdifference(B) Fire every 15-30 years to kill regen with heightsof less than 15-30 ft. Only about 4-6 trees per acrewill survive Grasses and herbs destroyed by fire will return after about a

year, shrubs may take 5 years or more(C) Fire tends to reduce tree diseases andinfestations


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Conclusion

Stands that have never been entered havebecome overstockedToo late in many cases to introduce firesafelyMechanical treatment may be necessary torestore the health of these stands

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