akec Mt. A GUIDE TO THE ;0-c :f !•• McCLEARY EXPERIMENTAL FOREST Me CLEARY, WASHINGTON About This File: . This file was created by scanning the printed publication. Misscans identified by the software have been corrected; ho e · \f\/ r-_ some mistakes may remain. _ ANGELES L l
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MAINTAINED JOINTLY BY THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOREST S RANGE EXPERIMENT STATION
Mt. Adams PUGET SOUND RESEARCH CENTER AND THE
SIMP SON LOGGING COMPANY
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE
PORTLAND, OREGON
1954 - - - (I) A GUIDE TO THE ... - "' (I) The McCleary Experimental Forest is a co ... operative undertaking in forest research by private·industry and the United States Forest -0 (I) Service. Here, the Simpson Logging Company and - ::1 the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment e Station, through its Puget Sound branch, conduct 0 studies and demonstrations in management of young z ...: (I) growth forests. This is one of four experimental - -• I:: (I) forests in the Puget Sound region dedicated to ::1 u 0 improvement of management practices through coop >. >. c erative research. Under a long-term agreement, - u the Forest Service prepares the management plan, "'0 >. 0 ... 0 0 outlines experiments, and regulates cutting .... (I) schedules. The Simpson Logging Company provides -cu u I::0:2 fire protection, develops roads, and cuts and markets the products. An Advisory Committee of E c. 0 foresters actively engaged in forest management ->. - ... in the Puget Sound area helps to guide the re - (I) "'- search program. .E -0 .... (I) . . Established in January the forest is �;,_':'-:t: e>".: 1948, I:: 0 _ ...,. -::· 1 -·;:, part of Simpson Logging Company1s forest holdings ...,.. · - "' 0 stands; second, to determine whether such cuts can - "' yield a net income after meeting all e±penses; and Q) ; i!'�" r:r. ... finally, to offer practical aid to forest landotiners Qy demonstrating thinning and partial cutting prac (I) ... _,: k' ·?]s: --- . .c tices on a commercial scale • �:..: ·"' ·...... _ -::i!";t." ; . _,,.,_,.,. -�=-,·... .· ;.,;-.:J (: . ': ·-.- I'- . ·--· ·:" ': :.: ;., ··:>:. :- _ ·..:d •JE. - .:} - . Location and General Characteristics . The forest consists of 340 acres northeast of the town of McCleary in eastern Grays Harbor County (see map on back cover) • It is midway between Olympia and Aberdeen and occupies gentle to medium slopes at an elevation of 300 to 600 feet. Princi pal drainage is into Wildcat Creek at .the north boundary, then through the Chehalis River to Grays Harbor. The forest lies just south of the glaci ated section of the Puget Sound region, and is covered with residual soils except for a narrow band of alluvial soil (Elma ·sandy loam) along ldcat Greek. Olympic loam, the major soil type; is derived from a basalt cap overlying marine strata deposits. The forest is largely Douglas-fir that or1gL nated after cutting in the western portion of the forest and burning in the eastern portion. As of 1954, two age classes have resulted: 50 years on the logged area and 60 years on the burned. The stand is better stocked and contains more Douglas fir on the east side than on the west, where mixtures of cedar, hemlock and alder are common. Alder is dominant in the north quarter bordering Wildcat Greek, and is also present in the_ south west portion. Climate and soil favor rapid tree growth Rainfall is abundant and temperatures moderate. Records from Elma, the nearest weather station, show an annual precipitation of 59 inches--14 inches Sixty-year-old Douglas-fir growing during the period April-September.. Snowfall is rare. on a high I site q:uality; total height Average annual temperature is 49.4°Fe; April-Septem 156 feet; 1,025 board feet. ber average is 57e5°Fo Average frost-free growing season is 184 days. Strong winds occur frequently during late w.inter and early sprl.ng. -2 -3 Tree species Sixteen tree species grow on the forest, six conifers ten hardwoods. Eight are commercially 00000 o · and C\J \.0 ....:::t _,_0 --· important. Common and botanical names are: ['- C'l....:::t ttl ... G\. 9\ ll\ Cl\ . ::I"' ... ttl ...:;:tO....:::ti:'-C'\ 01:'- 0 N C\J"' ·o '()'C'Cf"\ 0 ..p Conifers O'....:::t\.0 r-1 C\J +' ... . "' "' \.0 H r-1 Q) (!) b.O Common name Scientific name b.O fa r-1fa Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii OOO....:::tO ....:::t\.0 r-1 ....:::t O\.OCOll\ - "d C'\ 'tj livestern hemlock Tsuga heterophylla '-0\.0 ....:::t riCO 1:'-ll\ "' "' -h- -5- Growth All tnnber is cut for L ediate commercial use. Stumpage has been sold by the Simpson Log Growth will be measured by the continuous in ging Company on a log scale basis with the ex.:. ventory stem, using permanent plots. This ception of one small cedar pole sale in 1951. method accounts for mortality directly, providing r1inimum conifer tree cut is 10 inches d.b.h., and a measurement of both net and gross gro h. These utilization is to a min:L11um merchantable 7 -inch estimates are needed to manage·· a forest intensive top. · The minLmum tree for alder is 12 inches d.b.,h. ly, because light and frequent cuttings have a cut to an 8:-:inch top., Trees are handled mainly in marked influence on increment through salvage of 32-foot lengths, altpough scaled in 16-foot lengths. natural mortality and stimulation of diameter Lumber is sold to concentration and resaw yards in growth. The first growth estimates under this Olympia and Shelton; All slabs and refuse . are method will not be available until the plots have hogged and sold in Shelton for fuel. been remeasured. · T e following annual cuts have been made: Increment was- estimated rqughly to serve as a tentative. guide. This showed annuai increment N board feet .. for the next 10-year period would average 1,150 Year Cubic feet Scribner rule board feet (International 1/4-incnkerf) per acre, Conifers Alder Conifers Alder of which 1,050 feet are conifers and 100 feet are - alder. Annual increment is estimated to total 132 1949 38,137 0 199 0 cubic feet per acre (107 conifers, 25 alder). The 1950 86,338 1,143 439 6 current rate of growth is estimated to exceed ean 1951 43,661 0 222 0 annual increment by 40 percent and probably will 1952 45,431 3,809 231 20 continue to do so .for at least years. During 1953 25,767 4,571 30 131 24 this period, light and frequent tpinnings may be 239,334 9,523 1,222 expected to raise net increment and prolong the 55 period of maximum growth .. Board feet-cubic feet ratio: conifers, 5..084 to 1; alder, 5.,250 to 1.. Increase by ll percent for Administration International 1/4-inch kerf, the approximate equiv alent of lumber tally. Timber sales are made according to terms of a cooperative agreement with the company. Research Protection foresters mark all trees to be cut and supervise ¢he harvest operation.. A local contractor logs Fire protection on the forest is a primary the timber and converts it into lumber·at a mill 8 responsibility of the State, but is supplemented miles from the forest.. Thus far, five annual cuts by additional help from the company•s regular fire have been made, starting in 1949. Through experi protection organization. A continuous, closed ence, the contractor has learned to. handle the .·canopy keeps wind circulation to a minimum, and marked tiiaber economica.J..ly and· to remove it with helps to prevent rapid drying of litter and minimum damage to the residual trees .. other forest fuels. Fire hazard is only slightly increased by light partial cuts since slash is .-6 -7 closely lopped and scattered during logging. against the first cut of 1,272,000 board feet in the period , Usually fire hazard is back .to normal wo year.s 1949-53. Beginning in 1955, there will follov-i.i.ng ·cutting., b no further road · construction costs. Maintenance costs should be light because the· roadbed is ade The most serious tree disease is root rot. quately drained. and well constructed. (Poria weirii), Which is scattered throughout the forest. No easy means of detecting .the disease Research Program has been found; foliage often shows no evidence of infection until two to eights rnonths·prior to The research program is focused on forest management death of the tree. Under a 5-year cycle of cutting and economic problems of a small forest of mixed most root rot trees are salvaged. Some brown, conifers and alder. The purpose is to work crumbly rot (Fornes pinicola) occurs in suppressed out improved practices that will be both and intermediate trees where their tops have been profitable to the owner and beneficial to the for broken out by sleet and ice.storrns., Otherwise the est. Main features of 4 major studies, along with forest is singularly free of injurious tree dis prelirninar,y results and trends, are given in the eases. following sections., · Thus far;·no insect problems have developed .in colli,ection With cutting. Since the forest is young and vigorous, no insect-trouble is antici pated., Road Construction· Road development has been financed out of part of each year's stlli page receipts. All necessary road grading was completed in 1952 and most road surfacing will be done by 1954 Altogether, 1 95 miles of road have been built and .the road system is fully adequate for light and frequent cuts. This places 90 percent of the area less than 1,000 feet from a road, with an average distance of 500 feet., Thus, l mile of road serves 174 acres, a rather efficient use. The road has been built to Forest Service standards by the logging contractor. Costs have averaged $3,062 per mile for grading and ditching and $1,769 per mile for surfac Field meeting of Advisory Committee. ing, or a total cost of $4,831. These costs equal Frequent consultations keep research program $0.52 per M based on total volume of the forest in balanced to public and private requirements"' 1948 or $3 ..80 per M if the entire cost is charged .;,;8 -9 .McCLEARY EXPERIMENTAL FOREST t 18N., R.5W.,W.M .. Alder CD ® ...------� • • • @ I lf'l ® BLOCK A !Oo . • • @ • • @ • e piO • I (11 @ @) G) FARM FORESTRY FORTY P1 l'/ C HEf"K B @ • @ dhJ ®I@ @) @) o @ @) ® @ • ® CHECK B • @ • e I® • N/Lt. ® <® (@ KefERYO/ .R..:$)- @I® @ ®> - @ • • '== . · 12 • 9' LEGEND Scattered throughout the three blocks are a number of 1/5-acre permanent sample plots,.. which will be used to measure effect of thinning on growth, mortality, and total yields. All plots w.ill be remeasured at 5-year intervals, coinciding with Thinned stand along west edge of Block B. the length of the cutting cycle. The first ap Light, frequent cuts forestall mortality and proximation of growth following cutting will be concentrate growth on larger trees. made in 1954,. and a more complete report will be possible in 1959 when all parts of the thinned -13- -12- Financial aspects of thiru1ing Determining costs and returns of thinning . is another research objective., In stands of this size.and age, successful thinP2ngs should return a profit, ·even though a small one., Experience gained during 5 years of operation has. ·reduced logging costs. to a low of $20.,00 per :iVI. Stumpage brought $12.50 per H for the Douglas-fir; $10.,00 for hem lock and cedar; and-$6.00 for alder timber in 1953. Labor ef.ficiency was also high; production per man hour was 34.. 7cubic feet or 194 boardfeet, Scrib ner rule. Both figures are close· to average for clear-cutting operations in similar stands of the Puget Sound region. Average diameter of tree cut in 1953 was 15.6 inches d.,b.,h., Experience shovm that size of average tree cut has a greater effect on log ing costs than volQme removed per acre., Analysis of logging records shows how various logging operations contribute to total cost. These figures should be generally applicable to other thinnings in accessible young-growth stands of Thinnings are removed by modern logging similar size and age. machinery. Logs are skidded to roadside in 30- to 40-foot lengths., Percent of Operation total cost that 75 percent of net annual in Skidding 30.5 Assuming over the entire forest Has harvested in Felling 22.,}+ crement thinnings, an aru1ual stumpage return of Hauling 18.9 periodic about $9.05 per acre would be possible. Such an Loading 13.8 would require 172 man-days of labor for Administration and misc., 6.,2 operation logging alone. In addition the volume in reserve Taxes 6.,0 would be increasing at the yearly rate of Road maintenance 2.,2 trees least the · 260 board feet Scribner per acre for at roo .. o next 25 years. The stand would then have grovm 27,179board feet to 33,620 board feet per Logs, mostly 32 feet long, are slCLdded to the from roadside with a tractor where they are later loaded acre. with a mobile, self-propelled loader and hauled 8 · .miles to the mill. -15- --14-· Farm woodland area Alder frequently encroaches on coniferous sites following clear cutting and fire.. On many areas Forty acres of typical mixed conifer-alder it seeds in abundantly and grows rapidly in the type common to the farming area of the vicinity juyenile stage but fails to reach merchantable is set aside in Block A as a farm woodland size or quality within a reasonable time. On demonstration. Here, possibilities of harvest such sites it is considered a weed rather than ing and utilizing increment on_a small area on a commercial for est tree. In other cases, alder an annual basis, while· building up quantity and attains merchantable size and quality as the quality of growing stock will be explored. climax species and merits special forest manage Annual cuts of approximately 80 percent of esti ment practices. Preliminary work has been mated net increment are being made, not over the started to determine first, through soil and entire area but on some portion of the tract moisture requirements, nat areas should be each year. These annual cuts foster prompt managed for alder and·which sites have possibili salvage of mortality losses and should add sig ties for conversion. nificant to net increment over a rotation. Trees chosen for cutting are the rough dominants, those dead or dying, and a few to improve spacing. Five annual removals, averaging 770 cubic feet or 4,090 board feet Scribner rule, per acre, have been made. This represents 12 percent of the cubic volume and 16 percent of the board-foot volume in the stand. Periodic an_nual growth is estimated to be 210 cubic feet or 1,500 board feet lumber tally. Products.cut to date have been Douglas-fir, hemlock, and alder sawtimber, and cedar poles. Excellent local markets for both conifers and hardwoods make it possible to realize good profits on relatively light cuts. The entire 40 acres has now been thinned once and annual cuts will probably be continued another 30 years. Alder management Block c, running across the northern part of the forest, is largely alder type.. Alder also·. occurs in minor mixt e throughout Block-A. How Management of alder types is one major to manage alder and how to convert the· type to objective on the forest. conifers pose two additio:ria1 research J?roblems., -16 -lT Selected Research Center Publications on Douglas- Selected Research Center Publications on Douglas - - Fir Management Fir Management -. . . N ... Isaac,. L. A.. Experi 1948 staebler,. G., Ro Predicting stocking -improve- 1952 Worthington, P. and ...- s-fir.,. ment in reproduction stands of' Douglas f'ir. mental thinnings in young Dougla 26(1):1-9., Feb. 1952. Research No.te No. 41, 5 pp., April 1948. Northwest Science No P .. and Shaw, E .. W., Cost of' 1948 steele,- R.. w. _Light thixu:rl.rig in century-old 1952 Worthington_, thinning young Douglas-fir., Timberman Douglas-fir® Research Note- No®. . 43, - 3 pp. - - 53(10):136-138.. August 1952 .. May 1948.. · G. R. An analysis 1948- Staebler, G.. R• . Use of dom:ina t tree heights 1952 Shaw, E., W., and staebler, Jour. Forestry in determ2I.dng site index-for Doug las-fir . of' investments in pruning. .. Nov. 1952. Research Note No. !iLL, 3 pp., Sept., 19484> _ 50:819-823 1949 staebler, G. R .. and Shaw, Ee w.. Cordwood 1953 Shaw, E. w.. u.. s. foresters study effects volume tables for second-grqwth Douglas-fire of thinning on stands of Douglas-fir., Research Note No .. 52, 3 pp., March 1949 .. Seattle Times, Sunday, May 10, l953o 1949 Worthington, N. P., Lumber grade recovery 1953 Staebler, Go Ro Mortality estimation in a d milling costs from second-growth Douglas fully stocked stands of young-growth Douglas fir of central western Wa hington., Timberman fir. Research Paper No. 4, 8 pp., June 1953. s- 50(11):48, 6o, 62, 64, 66. Sept 1949. 1953. Staebler, G. R. Long logs or short logs with 1949 Shaw, E. w.. Minor forest products of the the Scribner scale,. Timberman 54(10):6p, 68, Pacific Northwest., Research Note No. 59, 70.. August 1953. 10 pp., Dec. 1949. 1950 WOrthington, N. P. and Twerdal, M .. P. Contents of a cord of 8-.foot pulpwood., Pulp and Paper 24(1):74, 76, 79. Jan. 1950.. 1950 Shaw, E .. w.. and Staebler, G. R.. Financial aspects of pruning.. 45 PP• illus. August 1950.,. E.. 1951 Shaw, - w. A tree shield to prevent skid ding -injury .. Jour. Forestry 49:45-46. - Jan. i95l. -19 -18- - I 1\) ? Natural unthinned stand in the west check area, Block B. A.t age 6o, volume is 71,572 board feet (International rule) per acre or 109864 cubic feet. OVer 40 percent of board foot growth is lost an nually through natural mortality on this 18•acre area. •