South Schmidt Plot
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South Schmidt Plot Silvicultural Plot Report Shawn Hilton Ben Rubinfeld Brooks Worden Robert Howard c.c. Natural Eastern White Pine and Artificial Scotch pine Stand White Pine (Pinus strobus) Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) To the North East: Corker Plot To the East: Fischer Pot To the South East: Grass Plot To the South: Burtis Plot To the South West: Le Vite Plot To the North West: Kilbury Plot Schmidt Plot Silviculture Report In partial fulfillment of the requirements of Silviculture 132 April 28, 2008 Natural Eastern White Pine and Artificial Scotch Pine 1969, 1974, 1979, *2008*, 2018, 2028 Brooks Worden Ben Rubinfeld Shawn Hilton Robert Howard C.C. Table of Contents Page Number Group Photo…………………………….…………………………………………………. 1 General Location Map of the Plot…………….…………………………………………… 2 General Location Description……………………………………………………………... 3 Keys to Corners on Map…………………………………………………………………... 4 Plot Map…………………………………………………………………………………… 5 History of the Plot…………………………………………………………………………. 6 Environmental Impact Statement………………………………………………………….. 8 Plot Treatment…………………………………………………………………………….. 11 Stand Prescription………………………………………………………………………… 14 Before Pictures………………………………………………………………………….… 19 After Pictures……………………………………………………………………………… 20 Log Inoculating Methods………………………………………………………………..... 22 Tree Silvics………………………………………………………………………………... 23 Marking Guide…………………………………………………………………………….. 35 Expenses…………………………………………………………………………………... 36 Field Collection Sheets……………………………………………………………………. 37 Trees per Acre………………………………………………………………………...…… 46 Basal Area per Acre……………………………………………………………………….. 47 After Cut Numbers………………………………………………………………………… 48 Percentage of Species within Each Canopy Class………………………………………… 49 Mil Acre Plot……………………………………………………………………………… 50 Time Sheet………………………………………………………………………………… 51 Top Left: Ron Rotach; Brooks Worden; Ben Rubinfeld; Bottom Left: Shawn Hilton; Robert Howard General Plot Location Description The Schmidt plot is located in the County of Franklin in the state of New York off of the Beech Hill Rd. Beech Hill Rd. is roughly 2.25 miles north of the entrance to Paul Smiths College on Rt. 30. Driving up Rt. 30, Beech Hill Rd. is located on the right hand side of the road. Turning up the road, precede approximately two tenths of a mile eastward. On the right hand side there will be a logging road going back into the woods. Follow the logging road into the woods roughly fifty yards then off to the right is the Schmidt plot. The plot corners are described on the following page. South Schmidt Plot Keys to Corners on Map 1. Rebar sticking roughly four feet out of the ground. Painted purple with two red stripes around the top section. 2. Piece of one inch steel pipe sticking roughly four feet out of the ground. Silver in color with a red stripe around the top section 3. A piece of half inch black iron that sticks roughly four and a half feet out of the ground. Painted pink with two red stripes on the top section. 4. A piece of three quarter inch steel pipe that is rusted with two red stripes at the top. At the bottom of the pipe is a concrete marker that is roughly twelve inches tall 5. Piece of one inch steel pipe that is silver in color painted with two red stripes at the top. Sticks above ground roughly four feet. 6. Rebar sticking roughly four feet out of the ground. Painted purple with two red stripes around the top section. Plot History The Schmidt plot has been manipulated by Paul Smith’s silviculture students since 1964. The most intensive and recent operation occurred in 1979, which students decided to increase site productivity and increase white pine (Pinus strobus) regeneration. The plot had an infestation of white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), white pine weevil (Pissodes strobi), and Scleroderris lagerbergii on the Austrian pine (Pinus nigra). So they implemented a salvage cut of Austrian pine and white pine. They also facilitated an intermediate tending operation, in which they salvaged some poorly figured white pine, and left slash behind in wind rows, to protect white pine seedlings they planted. They also removed some Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) to open the canopy for planted white pines. Overall, they removed 66.02 sq. ft. of basal area per acre from a total before they cut of 227.21 sq. ft. of basal area per acre. This results in a final basal area of 161.19 sq. ft. per acre. About 81 trees per acre were cut, which was less than 2% of the total stems per acre on the plot. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) The location of the South Schmidt Plot is found by traveling north on Route 30 from Paul Smith’s College main entrance. Approximately one mile up the road is a right hand turn called Beech Hill Road. This road leads into the old Boy scout camp but also runs along the edge of the silviculture stands. The first pull off on the right is a skid road blocked by rocks. If one walks down the skid road approx 50 yards they will end up at the north-west corner of the South Schmidt Plot. The plot has an area of 0.76 acres and is located on very flat terrain. The slope does not exceed 2% at any point within the plot. The stand contains mainly merchantable Eastern White pine (Pinus strobus) and Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris). Our crews’ objective for this stand is to maintain the biodiversity of the stand while harvesting merchantable softwood timber in the form of a Seed Tree cutting plan. The crews other objective is to establish mycelium colonies within the stand, improving the soils in the plot with added mycorhizal agents, and a source of non timber forest products with the fruiting bodies of these particular species being edible mushrooms. The 2 species inoculated into 4 different piles and two stumps were The Chicken-of-the- woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) on the softwood piles and stump, and the Maitake (Griffola frondosa) on the hardwood piles and stump. This stand is in an interesting recreational area. While working in our plot we had groups of hikers come down the skid trails on either side of our plot, as they passed they were inspecting what we were doing. There are a number of summer homes very close by and the Visitor Interpretation Center (VIC) as well. The Jackrabbit Trail and many skid roads in the area also provide walking, biking and cross country skiing opportunities. The close proximity to the Red Dot Trail, Osgood Pond and several lean-tos in the area assure that the plot work will be under close and frequent inspection by the public. The environmental impacts of our plot silvicultural work will be kept to a bare minimum. The observed animals in the plot include the discovery of a Northern Redback Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) in a rotten log, a massive amount of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) wintering activity in the form of trails, beds (when snow was present) and heavy feeding on young Red maples (Acer rubrum). Large amounts of “tweety” bird activity can be heard when sitting still in the plot. These “tweety” birds could not be heard when snow was present. This indicates they are migratory species, and are dependant on this area for a summer nesting habitat. There is also one large snag in the northeast corner of the plot showing heavy signs of woodpecker activity. Many mammals are also getting ready to bare young; it is assumed that these fur bearing creatures (especially the little buggers) inhabit the leaf litter and woody debris in the plot. The activity of harvesting creates a large disturbance in a forest. Chainsaws and skidders, produce a large amount of noise, and also release emissions into the air. Running this machinery is as expensive to run as it is noise and polluting, therefore use will be efficient and minimized. The skidding will be done mainly on the two existing skid roads. By utilizing a cable skidder; the amount of machinery running in the stand will also be kept to a minimum in order to prevent soil damage. Slash from the cut trees will be used to drive on in the stand in order to further minimize compaction. The amount of soil damage will be minimal due to the dry spring and the already existing skid roads. The trees that will be left in the plot after our Seed Tree harvest is complete will be a mixture of conifers and deciduous trees. White pine, Scotch pine, Sugar maple (Acer saccharum), Red Spruce (Picea rubens), Balsam fir (Abies balsamea), Eastern hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Paper birch (Betula paperifera) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia). Leaving these tree species will embellish our goal to maintain biodiversity in the stand. The white and scotch pines are being left as seed trees. The crew has selected these seed trees for proper spacing as well as the health and genetics of the tree. We will be harvesting any trees that show signs of disease, dieback or poor timber form. The slash from these trees will be cut below knee height and serve as browse and cover for animals. There are several large benefits to our Seed tree harvest. The first is to create large openings in the canopy for white pine regeneration to take place. This is a benefit because it will be leaving the genetically healthy and properly timber formed pines in the stand. It will maintain a healthy timber producing stand for many years to come. Another benefit from our actions in the stand will be the improved soil conditions. The additition of mycelium to a forest greatly increases soil nutrient availability, water uptake and general health of the stand. In addition to a healthier stand, there will be non-timber forest products available growing in the stand. Maitake and Chicken-of-the-woods are highly prized kitchen fungi and can provide an example to the forestry world that timber is not the only profit bearer in the forest.