Building Partnerships to Evaluate Wood Utilization Options for Improving Forest Health

Kenneth Skog,' David GreenY2R. James Barbour: John Baumgras? Alexander Clark Andrew Ma~on,~David MeriwetherY7and Gary Myers7

Abstract-Silvicultural practices used on national forests are changing as a re- sult of the shift to ecosystem management. As a result, the species mix, size, quality, and quantity of woody material that may be removed are changing. In a combined, multidisciplinary effort, Forest Service research units at the Forest Products Laboratory, Pacific Northwest and Southern Research Stations, North- eastern Forest Experiment Station, and national forests in Regions 6, 8, and 9 have been identifying wood utilization options for managing specific ecosystems. Teams have been focusing research on three conditions: dense small-diameter stands in the West, uneven-aged pinelmixed hardwood stands in the South, and central Appalachian hardwood forests in the Northeast. The teams are evaluat- ing alternatives for silvicultural treatments, forest operations, and wood products, as well as the economic feasibility of these alternatives. The project objective is to provide information and methods for evaluating opportunities for current and future products from woody materials that may be removed from the forests.

INTRODUCTION The research is coordinated by a national steer- ing committee and conducted by three teams. Each Forest Service research units at the Forest Prod- team has been focusing on a particular ecosystem ucts Laboratory, Pacific Northwest and Southern condition: (1)dense small-diameter stands in the Research Stations, Northeast Forest Experiment West, (2) uneven-aged pine/mixed hardwood Station; and national forests in Regions 6, 8, and 9 stands in the Piedmont region of the South, and (3) are completing the first year of research of the central Appalachian hardwoods in the Northeast. lWood Utilization for Ecosystem Management Using an ecosystem approach to management, Project. The project involves many types of studies land managers in these areas are seeking workable aimed at developing methods to identify and evalu- silvicultural practices to achieve many interrelated ate utilization options for managing specific ecosys- ou tcornes: tem conditions. restoring the natural range of variation in disturbance patterns 'Supervisory Research Forester and Research General Engineer, restoring wildlife habitat Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI. maintaining healthy and aesthetically desir- 'Research Forest Products Technologist, Forest Sciences Labora- lory; Port!and, OR. able forests 3Aesearch Forest Products Technoiogisi, Noheasiem Forest Expen'- mitigating the impact of insects and diseases ment Station, Morgantown, WV: reducing the risk of catastrophic fire 4Wood Scientist, Forestry Sciences Laboratorj Athens, GA. restoring a mix of vegetation within the SEcosysternManagement Staft Coiville National Forest, Cofville, WA. natural range of variation %egional Ecosystem Management Coordinator, Region 8, Atlanta, GA. 'Research Forest Products Technologist, Forest Products Laboratory, Treatments needed to achieve these outcomes Madison, WI. may require removal of woody material, as with traditional practices, but there may be differences cultural treatments. The research objectives for this in the species mix, size, quality and quantity of ecosystem condition are (1) to evaluate the effect of materials to be removed when compared to tradi- alternative silvicultural treatments on forest condi- tional practices. tions, (2) to evaluate logging costs, product yield, and price of alternative forest operations, (3) to The overall objective of this project is to provide examine alternative high value products, and (4) to information and methods needed to evaluate prepare a tool for analyzing the economic feasibil- current and future product opportunities for ity of alternative products. woody materials that may be removed from forests maintained under ecosystem management re- 1 , gimes. By combining expertise in silviculture, Current Forest Conditions forest operations, wood utilization, and economic feasibility evaluation, this project provides scien- Fire suppression has resulted in the development tific and technical knowledge relevant to planning of small-diameter, densely stocked stands through- and implementing ecosystem management for out the interior West. These stands typically lack specific ecosystem conditions. vegetative and structural diversity and exhibit an increased susceptibility to attack from insects and To financially support the removal of woody disease. Mortality from competition, insects, or materials on national forests and to aid local disease leads to an increase in fuel materials (fuel economies we-fieed tb obtain the highest value loading) and consequent increased risk of cata- products possible from these materials at the strophic fires. lowest operating cost. The information from this research may also help community leaders to Under a program known as Creating Opportuni- determine where wood utilization proposals can ties (CROP), the Colville National Forest (NF) realistically provide jobs and income. surveyed 110,000 acres (44,516 ha) of densely . stocked small-diameter stands (4-7 inches [I02178 APPROACH mm] dbh, 1300-2000 stems/acre) (USDA FS 1994a). Natural development has led to stands commonly consisting of fire-origin lodgepole pine (Pinus Regional research teams are studying wide- contorfa var. latifolia), western larch (Larix spread ecosystem conditions. Team members on occidentalis), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii the national forests identify the outcomes needed var. glauca). These stand conditions are common in for the ecosystems and work with scientists to northeast Washington, northern Idaho, and north- identify possible alternative silvicultural treat- west Montana. A heavy western redcedar (Thuja ments. The research teams (1)collect information placata) understory is also present in many stands on that links possible treatments to characteristics of the east side of the Colville NE wood to be removed and to possible products and product qualities, (2) evaluate woody material for Average stem size varies in the Colville stands, use in alternative high value products, (3) evaluate but at least half the trees fall below the minimum alternative forest operations for removing woody size required for conventional lumber utilization at material, and (4) evaluate the economic feasibility local mills. The Rocky timber sale area, which of alternatives. Utilization options are being evalu- encompasses 5,600 acres (2,266 ha), has been ated for woody material to be removed both now selected for studying how active management can and in the future. produce a range of ecosystem characteristics.

DENSE SMALL-DIAMETER STANDS Desired Forest Ecosystem Conditions IN THE WEST The desired outcome for Colville stands is to Dense, small-diameter stands are widespread in create healthy, vigorous stands that contain struc- the West. To improve ecosystem health and biologi- tural components (age, species) within the historic cal diversity will require thinning and other silvi- range of variation for the region and that support ,ildlife. The reference for variation is the pattern future conditions for these dense, small-diameter and abundance of structural stages within water- stands. The projections show that for the no treat- shed~in the region during the 19th century (USDA ment option, stands will develop slowly and it is FS 1994b).TO achieve this outcome requires creat- unlikely they will ever reach the tree size or species ing a higher proportion of late successional forest objectives. Simulations show greater success for structure as quickly as possible. The objective is to growing stands with the desired tree size and I improve wildlife habitat, forest health, and forest species diversity through the small clearcut with aesthetics. Standards and pdelines for managing green tree retention, thinning, and uneven-aged these stands are contained in the Colville NF Plan management options. (USDA FS 1988), as amended by the Regional Forester's Interim Management Direction for Alternative Forest Operations Eastside National Forests. Actual thinning operations on the Rocky timber Alternative SilviculturalTreatments sale area were studied to determine the relation- ship of stand characteristics (tree size, density) to To evaluate silvicultural alternatives for the harvest costs and product volume-value recovery Colville NF, Dr. Steven Tesch and David Rylandgof under current local mill utilization standards Oregon State University have simulated four (Barbour et al. 1995). silvicultural prescriptions and a no treatment scenario for a range of stand types using the Inland Stands were marked to remove trees attacked by Empire variant of the Forest Vegetation Simulator Armillaria and mistletoe, to release underst;ory (FVS) (Wykoff 1986, Wykoff et al. 1982). The alter- trees, to reduce potential fire risk, to create winter natives are thinning, a small clearcut with green browse sites, and to move stands toward a late tree retention, group selection, and single tree successional stage. Harvesting equipment included selection. The last two are treatments for uneven- one rubber-tired harvester, three tracked harvest- . aged management. For thinning, the objectives are ers, and two rubber-tired forwarders. to remove trees with poor form or vigor, remove Costs for harvesting were developed along with trees that pose a health risk, reduce competition, estimated volume and value of dimension lumber and increase growing space to develop larger trees. and 'chips that could be produced in local mills. For the clearcut, 12 to 15 green trees per acre are Estimated harvesting costs and value of recovered retained after the harvest, larch seedings are products were highly sensitive to differences in planted at a density of 360 seedings per acre, and average diameter of trees harvested. For dense other species regenerate naturally. Group selection stands with mean tree dbh of 5-10 inches (127-254 is used for western larch/Douglas-fir stands-4.75- mm), harvest costs increased and traditional acre (0.3-ha) areas are harvested on a 30-year cycle; product revenue declined sharply with even slight one-fourth of the area is harvested each 30 years, decreases in mean tree dbh. A stand averaging a resulting in a 120-year rotation. Single tree selec- few tenths of an inch smaller in average diameter tion is limited to western redcedar stands where a provided a third less lumber per unit volume of majority of understory and overstory species are logs harvested. shade tolerant. Treatments are scheduled every 30 years and leave no more than 150 ft2/acre (35 Alternative Wood Products m2/ ha) in size distribution, characterized by a reverse J-shaped distribution with a diminution quotient of 1.3. Some small trees that will be removed under ecosystem management are large enough to pro- The FVS projections suggest that without inter- duce structural lumber. Stud-grade 2x4s would be vention the Colville NF will not meet the desired a traditional choice for some mills.g However, some of the larger logs might be made into machine-. 8Ryland, David B. Evaluating the impact of four silvicultural prescrip- tions on stand growth and structure in North East Washington-a mod- eling approach. Submitted to Western Journal of Applied Forestry. 92u4 refers to nominal 2- by 4-inch lumber (standard 38 by 89 mm). stress-rated lumber (MSR) or laminated veneer Pulp characteristics will be identified for each lumber (LVL). MSR and LVL lumber are worth processing method. Paper made from the resultant from 20 to 400 percent more than Stud-grade pulp is tested for strength and optical properties. lumber. However, the grade of MSR and LVL is Washington State University is conducting , determined by nondestructive testing of wood research on the relationship between characteristics properties in addition to visual assessment of of wood from the Colville NF and options for growth characteristics, such as knots. Current composite products. grading procedures for logs are based solely on visual assessment of log characteristics. Identifica- tion of logs most likely to produce high quality Evaluation of Economic Feasibility MSR lumber or veneer for LVL lumber could help get the maximum value from small-diameter logs. A simulation tool will be developed to conduct The Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) is evaluat- sensitivity analysis of economic feasibility of ing a nondestructive method to test logs for stiff- alternative treatments of dense small-diameter ness and link test results to mechanical properties stands. The tool will show how costs and revenues of lumber or other products made from the logs. for particular silvicultural treatments change with Results of initial studies on red oak, balsam fir, and changes in stand conditions (size, density, species), eastern spruce indicate that longitudinal stress available alternative products, efficiency of conver- wave techniques may be used to relate log proper- sion to products, manufacturing costs, and product ties to lumber properties.1° A cooperative study prices. The analysis will help identify th'e condi- between the FPL and the Pacific Northwest Forest tions where silvicultural treatments, forest opera- and Range Experiment Station is using this stress- tions, and utilization options combine to achieve wave technique with small-diameter Douglas-fir ecological objectives economically. and Hem-Fir logs. The objectives of the study are to establish a relationship between log and lumber properties and to combine visual measurements of UNEVEN-AGED MIXED-SPECIES growth knots with the nondestructive measure- FORESTS IN PIEDMONT REGION ment of log properties to predict the yield of MSR lumber from the logs. The Piedmont physiographic region is located The FPL and the University of Washington are east and south of the Appalachian Mountains and conducting mechanical and chemical pulping west and north of the fall-line of the Coastal Plain trials, respectively, of small-diameter trees from the in the Southeast. The Piedmont contains about 21 Colville NF. These trees may contain large concen- million acres (8,500 thousand hectares). trations of juvenile wood, cbmpression Good, bark, Before European settlers arrived in the Pied- and extractives that could be detrimental to both mont, nearly one-half of the area was probably pulping processes and pulp and paper characteris- occupied by pine-mixed hardwood stands and the tics. Tests are examining fiber quality differences other half by predominantly hardwood stands. The associated with different tree characteristics. rolling hills of the Piedmont, among the most Mechanical pulping is done by thermomechanical fertile in the South, had been extensively cleared and chemithermomechanical pulping procedures; for cotton and other row crop production by 1860. electrical energy consumption during pulping is a By the 1930s, most top soil had eroded away and primary concern. The kraft pulping procedure is further productive cultivation was difficult because used for chemical pulping, where the primary of large gullies and poor soils. Subsequent aban- concerns are cooking conditions and pulp yield. donment of agriculture and the reforestation of vast areas stabilized the land, and by 1990 only a

1°Ross, R.; Green, D.; McDonald, K; Schad, K. Stress wave nonde- small percentage of the Piedmont was still row ' structive evaluation of logs to predict structrualproduct quality In prepa- cropped. Most agricultural land has been con- ration as a journal report. Schad, K.; Kretschmann, D,;McDonald, K.; Ross, R.;Green, D. Stress wave techniques for determining qualify of verted to pasture, naturally seeded to pine forests, red oak switch ties. In preparation as a FPL Technical Note. or planted to pine plantations. Current Forest Conditions Alternative Silvicultural Treatments

Based on the latest forest inventory data, the A series of study plots with histories representa- piedmont contains 31 billion ft3 (8.78 x 10am3) of tive of a range of ecosystem management practices growing stock--44 percent pine, 1 percent other is being established, measured, and retained for softwoods,26 percent soft hardwoods, and 29 per- future monitoring in pine and mixed pine/hard- , cent hard hardwoods. The NF land in the Pied- wood stands in the Piedmont. Forest practices mont region was purchased by the Federal govern- represented are seed tree, group selection, partial ment in the 1930s; prior to that time, it was private cuts, and reserved. agricultural land. At present, Piedmont national Plots are located on the Oconee NF and Pied- forests contain 58 percent of growing stock in pine, mont Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, the Sumter NF 3 percent in other softwoods, 18 percent in soft and Savannah River Forest Station in South Carolina, hardwoods, and 21 percent in hard hardwoods. and the Uwhanie NF in North Carolina. Study plots The NF lands account for only 2 percent of all will be inventoried every 5 years, after any natural timberland in the Piedmont. The majority of stands disturbance, and prior to and following harvest are natural even-aged pine or pine/ hardwood on treatments. Selected study plots are relatively even- abandoned agricultural lands. aged, representing five 20-year age classes (1,20,40, 60, and 80 years) and two broad site-index (SI) classes (SI < 80 and SI > 80). Desired Forest Ecosystem Conditions On each study plot, three 1/5-acre (0.081-ha) Forest soils are in a highly depleted condition. In circular permanent subplots are being established. many cases, centuries of careful management will Trees > 5.0-inch (> 127 rnm) dbh are being invento- be needed to restore the soils to a condition similar ried by individual species, diameter at breast to their original fertility. Nevertheless, the general height, total height, merchantable height, crown . health of Piedmont forests is good, except for class, tree grade, and defect indicators. Rate of problems with fusiform rust and small outbreaks growth and wood properties will be estimated of southern pine beetle. from increment cores collected from a sample of The NF lands have been managed under the trees from each subplot. Five 1/300-acre (0.001-ha) multiple-use concept since the 1960s. Under this subplots are being installed in each plot to measure concept, timber management objectives were to reproduction and trees 1.0 to 4.9 inches (25.4 to improve the health, quality and volume of pine 124.5 mm) dbh. stands. Older pine stands were often clear cut and replanted with pine or harvested using seedtree cuts Alternative Wood Products to regenerate pine. Younger stands were thinned using various partial-cut management systems to stimulate Wood properties and tree characteristics will be pine sawtimber growth. linked to lumber and veneer yield by grade. Equa- Under ecosystem management objectives, pine tions will be developed that link tree characteristics and pine/hardwood stands on national forests in to product yield by grade. Using the equations and the Piedmont are sometimes converted from even- field measurements of tree characteristics, total age to uneven-age stand management for pine and product potential by grade will be determined for mixed species stands. Other practices include trees and stands managed under various ecosys- traditional even-age, modified even-age, and tem management regimes. modified uneven-age methods and systems. In a cooperative study, the FPL and the Southern The research objective for the Piedmont region is Station are evaluating the use of longitudinal stress to identify the implications of various ecosystem wave techniques to relate log properties to proper- management strategies and resultant silvicultural ties of MSR lumber. Southern Pine logs from both treatments on species composition, tree growth, tree plantation and natural stands under uneven-age survival, wood properties, and product quality. management schemes will be used to assess the techniques. Preliminary results indicate a useful basal area, trees per acre, and site index. A model is correlation between log and lumber properties. being developed to project growth and yield for uneven-aged loblolly pine stands in the South. optimization model will also be developed to WO,.. Alternative Forest Operations with the growth yield model to evaluate the eco- Implementing intermediate cuts under uneven- nomic return and stand species and size diversity age regimes and for stand improvements is diffi- for alternative silvicultural treatments. The optimi- cult and costly in the southern United States. zation model will use information about potential Higher costs are associated with harvesting low products from stands grown under different volumes and scattered trees, as well as an in- treatment regimes. creased risk of residual tree damage, especially when protecting the hardwood component in CENTRAL APPALACHIAN mixed species stands. Current harvesting systems HARDWOOD FORESTS are designed for large volume, large area opera- tions and are not conducive to intermediate cutting The initial phase of research in the Northeast is activities. Recent studies have shown that harvest- focusing on central Appalachian hardwood stands ing costs and residual tree damage increase in- on the Monongahela NF. Innovative silvicultural versely with cutting volumes and that site distur- practices are being evaluated as a means for meeting bance increases directly with cutting volumes for ecosystem objectives for a wide variety of forest types conventional chainsaw / skidder systems. New and stand conditions. No single forest type; age class, technologies and techniques are needed to improve or species association is being targeted. harvesting efficiency, to reduce site impacts and residual tree damage, and to optimize wood recovery. Current Forest Conditions Forest operations need to be completed in a way that minimizes residual tree damage, soil surface According to a 1989 Forest Service inventory, 79 disturbance, and impact to the physical properties percent of West Virginia is forested, with 12.1 of the soil. Multiple entries into the stand may lead million acres (1,270 thousand ha) of forest land to cumulative impacts and potential growth loss (DiGiovanni 1990). Two-thirds of this forestland is unless the operations are managed carefully using fully stocked or overstocked. Survey results also improved technologies. Current research is assess- indicate that sawtimber stands predominate, which ing the costs and impacts associated with different indicates the maturing of the central Appalachian technologies in implementing various intermediate forest resource. One-third of the timberland has stand cuts and in identlfylng improved methods sawtimber volumes exceeding 6000 board feet per and alternatives, such as cut-to-length systems and acre.ll However, a problem common to much of smaller machines. The scientific and technical the eastern hardwood region is that two-thirds of knowledge from such research will aid the devel- the sawtimber volume is in low-value grades 3 and opment of new technologies and operating guide- 4 logs. Although oak/ hickory and northern hard- lines that will benefit the forest manager in imple- wood forest types dominate, species composition inenting partial cuts. on a single treatment area can be extremely vari- able, given variation in elevation, aspect, and stand Evaluation of Economic Feasibility history Thus, the timber resource for ecosystem management treatments is very diverse. Prediction models will be developed to estimate potential timber product yields for various stand Desired Forest Ecosystem Conditions conditions and treatment regimes. The models will estimate current and predicted yields of total The ecosystem management concerns associated biomass and timber products per acre for pine and with the central Appalachian hardwood forests are hardwoods. The predicted yields will be based on stand variables, including species mix, stand age, "1 board foot = 0.0024 in3. (1) maintaining forest health and vigor, (2) main- the susceptibility and vulnerabillity of stands taining diversity of tree species, (3) maintaining threatened by gypsy moth defoliation. These and regenerating oak species, and (4) minimizing treatments and systems were identified in meet- stand damage from forest operations. ings with managers on the Monongahela NF.

Given the relatively high proportion of sawtimber Two-age management can regenerate intolerant ' ,tan& and fully or overstocked stands, maintaining tree species without the adverse impact on esthetic foresthealth and vigor will require the regeneration (visual) quality associated with clearcutting (Smith of maturing sawtimber stands and intermediate cuts and others 1989). Two-age harvest cuts conducted in other fully stocked and overstocked stands. thus far have left 20 to 30 ft? (1.9 to 2.8 m2)of basal area in sawtimber-size trees. Even though two-age Intolerant species such as yellow-poplar and management is now being implemented, informa- black cherry cannot be adequately regenerated tion is lacking on the effects of pretreatment stand ' with the light partial cuts or diameter-limit cuts and residual tree characteristics on residual stand common on private lands, and clearcutting is growth, quality and vigor. We also need to determine seldom an option on NF lands. These shade- the effect of site quality and the composition, density, intolerant species are very important to wildlife and crown expansion of the residual overstory on the and the forest industry. Many wildlife species also ' subsequent species composition and quality of require tree height or crown structure diversity. reproduction. Future wood utilization options will be Oak species are essential to several species of determined by the growth and quality of residual wildlife and are very important to the forest indus- trees and the species composition of the regeneration. try. Frequently, light cutting on mesic sites does not Research is being planned to address these issues. regenerate oak species; with heavy cutting, the oak Crop tree release is thnning that provides crown regeneration cannot compete with-intolerantspecies. release for designated crop trees (Perkey and Preliminary research indicates that removing the others 1994). With lengthening rotations and understory without creating canopy openings may be increasing reliance on intermediate cuts, crop tree the key to regenerating oaks on mesic sites. Relying release can become an important management tool. on commercial harvesting operations to remove the Crop tree release can also be applied to the man- understory would pose a si~cantchallenge for agement of non-timber resources. For example, harvesting and utilization research. Timber stands selecting desired mast-bearing species for release with an oak component are also threatened by gypsy can improve wildJife habitat. Unlike a two-aged moth defoliation. Silvicultural treatments are needed cut, which is primarily a regeneration tool applied to reduce susceptibility of these stands to defoliation to mature stands, crop tree release can be applied and their vulnerability to mortality to a much wider range of stand conditions-from Residual stand damage resulting from interme- poletimber to large-diameter sawtimber stands. diate partial cuts that may occur over longer Presalvage thinnings or sanitation thinnings can rotations will need to be minimized. Several partial be used to treat immature timber stands at risk ' cuts also increase the likelihood that logging from gypsy moth attacks. Presalvage thinnings damage will result in significant losses to decay remove vulnerable trees and increase the vigor of and reduction in quality. Cable yarding on steep residual trees. Sanitation thinnings eliminate trees slopes creates an additional challenge to moderating that are prospective targets of infestation residual stand damage. (Gottschalk 1993). Since stands with a heavy oak component are the most susceptible to gypsy moth and are important to wildlife, maintaining a viable Alternative Silvicultural Treatments oak component is very important.

Innovative silvicultural systems or treatments Alternative Forest Operations required to implement ecosystem management and address forest health issues include two-age man- One objective of research on harvesting will be to agement, crop tree release, and thinning to reduce obtain information required to model harvesting system production and to estimate harvesting costs concern when cable yarding technology is applied as a function of cut stand attributes and wood to partial cuts in Appalachian hardwoods. utilization options. These cost estimates are needed for economic analysis of treatment/harvesting/ utilization alternatives. Harvesting systems will Alternative Wood Products include conventional ground-based systems em- ploying rubber-tired skidders and skyline yarding. Research will idenbfy types of primary products Cut stand attributes will be determined by initial that can be harvested from specific treatments and stand conditions and the prescribed silvicultural develop methods of estimatingproduct yields from the treatments. For two-age cuts, which remove larger cut stand attributes. This information is essential for volumes and larger trees, research will focus on the estimating the marketability of wood harvested, identi- relationship between wood utilization limitations fylng methods of allocating roundwood to the most (minimum merchantable tree dbh and minimum valuable end-uses, and determining the extent to which stem dib) and harvesting costs. For thinnings and new products or processes could expand the merchant- crop tree release, which remove smaller trees, ability of wood products available from ecosystem research will focus on the relationship between cut management activities or fowst health treatments. stand attributes and harvesting costs. Research is underway to estimate potential Resear~hwill also-consider the environmental roundwood product yields, given tree attributes impact of harvesting operations, including soil (such as species, diameter, total and merchantable disturbance, visual quality, and residual stand heights) and bole quality attributes. This'informa- damage. Skyline yarding has generally been lim- tion will be used to develop equations required to ited to large clearcut units, and there is concern estimate potential product yields from tree at- about residual stand damage when this technology tributes for a wide array of products-factory- . is applied to the partial cuts now required on NF grade logs, local use logs, sawbolts or pallet bolts, lands. Skyline yarding is also expected to increase LVL, oriented strandboard, rails, posts, pulpwood, harvesting costs, which could limit applications and fuelwood. Research is also planned to validate when low-value stands are to be treated. the product yield models, measuring actual prod- Research plans include a study of cable yarding uct yields from harvested trees. and ground-based skidding on a timber sale that A cooperative study between the FPL and the includes two-age cuts, crop tree release cuts, and Northeastern Station will evaluate using longitudi- thinnings in stands threatened by the gypsy moth. nal stress-wave techniques to relate log properties Variables of interest include production rates, cost, to veneer properties. These techniques have been stand damage, soil disturbance, and effects of soil used to sort veneer into "grades" for commercial disturbance on revegetation and regeneration. A production of LVL. Traditionally, LVL has been study has been completed on thinnings of cable produced using only Southern Pine and Douglas- yarding, two-age cuts, and shelterwood cuts. This fir. Recently, however, Trus Joist MacMillian has case study was conducted in cooperation with begun production of LVL using yellow-poplar, and national forests in North Carolina to assess the there is interest in the potential for using other cost, production, and environmental impact of species as well. If successful, this log testing ap- cable yarding partial cuts (Baumgras and LeDoux proach could help foster the use of smaller diam- 1995). Results indicate that light ihinnings and eter logs of underutilized Appalachian species for shelterwood cuts removing only 30 percent of basal higher valued LVL lumber. Initial studies will area produce very little net revenue. Heavy probably focus on yellow-poplar and red maple. thinnings, two-age cuts, and shelterwood cuts removing more than 50 percent of basal area all showed excellent economic returns. The two-age Evaluation of Economic Feasibility . and shelterwood cuts destroyed or heavily dam- aged 30 percent of the residual basal area, indicat- Research will be aimed at determining how the ing that residual stand damage can be a serious economic feasibility of a silvicultural treatment and associated harvesting operations is affectedby LITERATURE CITED &ernative market conditions for products. For sets of harvesting and marketing condi- Baumgras, J.; LeDow, C. 1995. Hardwood silviculture and tions (defined by a set of cut stand attributes, skyline yarding on steep slopes: economic and environmen- tal impacts. hi: Proceedings of 10th central hardwood forest ptential product yields, markets, and prices), conference, March 54,1995, Morgantown, WV. Gen. Tech. economic feasibility will be determined by deduct- Rep. NE-197. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, ? ing harvesting and transportation costs from the Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. p. value of wood delivered to mills (value of pro- 463473. cessed wood minus conversion costs). Additional Barbour, James R.; McNeel, Joseph F.; Tesch, Steven; Ryland, research will also establish values and conversion David B. 1995. Management and utilization of mixed species, small-diameter, densely stocked stands, bz: costs for the production of lumber, veneer, oriented Sustainability forest health and meeting the nations needs strandboard, and LVL, given tree species, log for wood pm.ducts, Proceedings of 18th annual meeting of the quality, and log dimensions. The results will link Council of Forest Engineering, June 543,1995, Cashiers, NC. future stand conditions to the value of the available A.E. Hassan, ed, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. roundwood. DiGiovanni, D.M. 1990. Forest statistics for West Virginia- 1975 and 1989. Res. Bull. NE-114. Radnor, PA: U.S. Depart- Because many variables in the economic analy- ment of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest ses cannot be estimated with precision, sensitivity Experiment Station. 172 pp. analyses will be conducted to determine the effects Gottschalk, K.W. 1993. Silvicultural guidelines for forest of markets on net revenue from specific manage- stands threatened by the gypsy moth. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE- ment activities. These results will indicate combi- 171. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Statio?. 50 pp. nations of price levels, market locations, and initial Perkey, A.W.; Wilkins, B.L.; Smith, H.C. 1994. Crop tree stand attributes required to implement specific management in eastern hardwoods. NA-TP-19-93. Morgan- ecosystem management activities. town,WV: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. 58 pp. Smith, H.C.; Lamson, N.I.; Miller, G.M. 1989. An esthetic alternative to clearcutting-deferment cutting in eastern CONCLUSION hardwoods. Journal of Forestry 87(3):14-18. USDA FS. 1988. Land and resources management plan, We expect that the combined efforts of a multi- Colville National Forest, Appendices A-K. Portland, OR: disciplinary group of researchers and forest man- Pacific Northwest Region (R6). p. B92-B103. USDA FS. 1994a. CROP: Creating opportunities: A study of agers will increase the likelihood of finding viable small-diameter trees of the Colville National Forest. and economical wood utilization options for Calville, WA: Colville National Forest. 36 pp. improving forest health. By coordinating and USDA FS. 1994b. Forest plan amendment for continuation of evaluating research on several specific ecosystem interim management direction establishing riparian, conditions, we can identify common elements of ecosystem and wildlife standards for timber sales. Portland, solutions that may be applied to a wider range of OR: Pacific Northwest Region (R6).10 pp. ecosystem conditions. Future work under consider- Wykoff, W.R. 1986. Supplement to the user's guide for the ation includes expanding outreach efforts to com- stand prognosis model-version 5.0. Gen. Tech. Rpt. INT- 133. Ogden, LTT: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain municate results to forest managers, studying Reseach Station. additional ecosystem conditions, and expanding Wykoff, W.R.; Crookston, N.L; Stage, A.R. 1982. User's guide to our capability to evaluate various species and the stand prognosis model. Gen. Tech. Rpt. JNT-133. Ogden, qualities of wood for composite panel products. UT: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Reseach Station.