A Synthesis of Evaluation Monitoring Projects Sponsored by the Forest Health Monitoring Program (1998-2007)
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United States Department of A Synthesis of Evaluation Agriculture Forest Service Monitoring Projects Sponsored by the Forest Health Monitoring Program (1998-2007) Southern Research Station General Technical Edited by William A. Bechtold, Michael J. Bohne, Barbara L. Report SRS–159 Conkling, Dana L. Friedman, and Borys M. Tkacz Forest Insects Forest Diseases Invasive Plants Lichens Tree Crown Conditions Tree Declines Down Woody Material Drought and Climate Fire Effects Ozone Soil Conditions The Editors: William A. Bechtold, Research Forester (now retired) formerly U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Asheville, NC, 28804; Michael J. Bohne, Forest Health Group Leader, U.S. Forest Service, Forest Health Protection, Durham, NH, 03824; Barbara L. Conkling, Research Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709; Dana L. Friedman, Chemical Review Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; and Borys M. Tkacz, Forest Health Monitoring Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service, Forest Health Protection, Arlington, VA, 22209. Pesticide Precautionary Statement This publication reports research involving pesticides and herbicides. It does not contain recommendations for their use, nor does it imply that the uses discussed here have been registered. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate State and/or Federal agencies before they can be recommended. Caution: Pesticides and herbicides can be injurious to humans, domestic animals, desirable plants, and fish or other wildlife if they are not handled or applied properly. Use all pesticides and herbicides selectively and carefully. Follow recommended practices for the disposal of surplus pesticides and herbicides and their containers. July 2012 Southern Research Station 200 W. T. Weaver Blvd. Asheville, NC 28804 www.srs.fs.usda.gov A Synthesis of Evaluation Monitoring Projects Sponsored by the Forest Health Monitoring Program (1998-2007) Edited by William A. Bechtold, Michael J. Bohne, Barbara L. Conkling, Dana L. Friedman, and Borys M. Tkacz Contents INTRODUCTION . 1 FOREST INSECTS chApTeR 1. Interior West Forest Insects . 3 chApTeR 2. North Central Forest Insects ............................................. 15 chApTeR 3. Northeast Forest Insects . 19 chApTeR 4. Southern Forest Insects . .21 chApTeR 5. West Coast Forest Insects . .25 FOREST DISEASES chApTeR 6. Interior West Forest Diseases . .31 chApTeR 7. North Central Forest Diseases . 41 chApTeR 8. Northeast Forest Diseases . 47 chApTeR 9. Southern Forest Diseases............................................... 53 chApTeR 10. West Coast Forest Diseases ............................................. 63 OTHER BIOTIC STRESSES AND INDICATORS chApTeR 11. Invasive Plants.................................................... 73 chApTeR 12. Lichens . .79 chApTeR 13. Tree Crown Condition . .83 chApTeR 14. Tree Species “Declines” that May Be Associated with Large-Scale Mortality .................. 87 ABIOTIC STRESSES AND INDICATORS chApTeR 15. Down Woody Material . 95 chApTeR 16. Drought and Climate . 101 chApTeR 17. Fire Effects..................................................... 109 chApTeR 18. Ozone . 115 chApTeR 19. Soil Conditions . 121 SUMMARY .............................................................. 127 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................... 129 APPENDIX A—Request for Proposals and Instructions (2009) . 131 APPENDIX B—Evaluation Monitoring Projects (1998-2007) ................................... 135 Abstract The national Forest Health Monitoring Program of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, has funded over 200 Evaluation Monitoring projects. Evaluation Monitoring is designed to verify and define the extent of deterioration in forest ecosystems where potential problems have been identified. This report is a synthesis of results from over 150 Evaluation Monitoring projects initiated between 1998 and 2007. The purpose of this synthesis is to document results, provide material for a planned online database, and establish priorities for future Evaluation Monitoring projects. Keywords: Down woody material, evaluation monitoring, fire, forest health, insects and disease, lichens, ozone, soils. Introduction The national Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) Program others (2007). Additional details are available on the FHM of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Web site at www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/fhm/. has three main objectives (Riitters and Tkacz 2004): (1) to identify forest ecosystems where conditions might be The objective of this report is to collect and synthesize the deteriorating in subtle ways over large areas; (2) to verify results of nationally funded EM projects initiated between and define the extent of deterioration in forest ecosystems 1998 and 2007. The impetus for this project is from a review where potential problems are identified; and (3) to of the FHM Program in 2006 by the State and Private understand the processes that cause forest health problems Forestry Branch of the Forest Service (http://www.fs.fed.us/ so strategies can be developed for problem mitigation and foresthealth/fhm/pubs/misc/fhm_review/FHM_review06. prevention. pdf). In addition to documenting lessons learned and value gained, this synthesis is expected to provide material for a The FHM program uses a three-tiered approach to planned online EM database as well as guidance for future accomplish these objectives, whereby progressively more project selection and overall program priorities for EM detailed studies are conducted to investigate forest health projects. issues. The studies are Detection Monitoring (DM), Evaluation Monitoring (EM), and Intensive Site Monitoring. Although the FHM program funded a few projects in 1996 and 1997, EM project selection and funding protocols were not Detection Monitoring relies on systematic sampling formalized until 1998. Since then, project selection has been across the landscape in both space and over time, where a collaborative regional and national panel process. A request measurements of forest health indicators are monitored for proposals (appendix A) is distributed nationally each year. for adverse change. Detection Monitoring is accomplished Projects are chosen through separate competitions involving through the phase 3 plot network implemented by the Forest two different funding sources: Base EM and Fire Plan EM. Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program of the Forest Service (Bechtold and Patterson 2005). Phase 3 plots were originally The purpose of Base EM is to investigate issues or concerns established by the FHM program between 1990 and 1999. identified in the Detection Monitoring phase of forest health These plots were integrated into the FIA plot network in monitoring. Proposed projects are 1 to 3 years in duration 2000, at which time they were designated as phase 3 plots, and devised to explain the extent, severity, and/or cause of and FIA standard inventory plots were identified as phase 2 a phenomenon observed during DM. General target areas plots. Phase 3 plots include all of the measurements obtained include forest insects and diseases, climatic events (e.g., from phase 2 plots, plus additional data associated with more drought, ice storms, hurricanes, frost), air pollution, soil specialized forest health indicators. Detection Monitoring conditions, and other factors influencing forest health. also includes the aerial detection surveys conducted by the Forest Health Protection (FHP) Program of the Forest The purpose of Fire Plan EM is to investigate and explain Service (Ciesla 2006), as well as special surveys designed the extent, severity, and cause of a fire-related phenomenon to monitor particular threats (Coulston and others 2008). observed in DM. General target areas include risk reduction, Evaluation Monitoring then focuses on potentially important fuel loading, ecological impacts of fires, invasive species, and problems that have attracted attention through DM. restoration or fire-damaged ecosystems. Fire Plan funding for EM projects did not become available until after the 2000 Intensive site monitoring, intended for even more rigorous fire season, when the EM system was recognized as a useful analysis, links forest health issues that defy explanation to mechanism for studying the aftermath of large disturbance process-level research at long-term research sites (Bechtold events associated with fire. In addition to Base and Fire Plan and others 2007). A comprehensive description of FHM funding, regional FHM offices have limited funding for local- program history, organization, and implementation is scale EM studies; the local projects are not included in this provided by Riitters and Tkacz (2004) and Bechtold and synthesis. Introduction e VALUATION MONITORINGVALUATION R 1. Interior West Forest Insects After EM proposals are submitted, each of five FHM • Forest Insects (by region) regional managers (West Coast, Interior West, North Central, • Forest Diseases (by region) Northeast, and South) identifies which funding category is • Other Biotic Stresses and Indicators most appropriate, subsequently ranking the projects in each Invasive Plants e • SULTS ANDSULTS A category for their region. Regional results are submitted to the • Lichens National FHM Program Manager, and individual proposals • Tree Crown Condition are then evaluated by a national panel for either Base or • Tree Mortality Fire Plan funding