Placid
Prepared for:
Lee Bastian
Regional Parks Manager
Region 2
&
Darcy Yakoweshen
Parks Project Coordinator
Parks Division
Prepared by:
Camas Creek Enterprises, Inc
October 2007
Table of
Contents
Project
Summary................................................................................... 3 .................................................................................................................. 3
Forest
Health Assessment....................................................................... 4
Forest Characterization......................................................................................... 4
Recreational Activity Impacts............................................................................... 4
Natural Impacts on Forest Health –
Natural Impacts on Forest Health –
Natural Impacts on
Hazard Tree Identification.................................................................... 7
Forest Resource Inventory..................................................................... 8
Forest Health Prescription &
Recommendations................................ 10
Exhibits
Exhibit 1 – Map of Placid
Exhibit 2 – Map of Placid
Exhibit 3 – Photos....................................................................... 15
Project Summary
The Park Division of the
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MT FWP) seeks to ‘...provide
diverse recreational opportunities while preserving important historical and
cultural resources’ throughout its 50 State Parks and numerous Fishing Access
Sites. Over 1.65 million people used Montana State Parks for camping, fishing,
boating and other recreational pursuits during 2004. In Region 2, total park visitation increased
by 13% from 2003 to 2004.
The 31 acre
The trees and forests that
grow in Montana State Parks are an important component of affirmative
recreational experiences. Visitor satisfaction
is often increased by the presence of trees that provide beauty, shade,
privacy, and other positive attributes.
These same trees also contribute significant habitat for wildlife
species regularly enjoyed by Park visitors. An over-abundance of dead trees and
the presence of trees unduly threatened by mortality from insects, diseases, windthrow
or man-caused factors pose a threat to recreational values and represent a
potential human safety issue.
The dominant feature of the
31 acre
Recreational Activity Impacts: Recreational activities are having an overall moderate
impact on forest health. The official camping sites are relatively devoid of
understory trees, grasses and forbs due to typical foot and vehicle traffic-
some camp sites are more significantly impacted by normal use, but not to a
level that is impacting forest health. Soil compaction from vehicles or camp trailers
is not considered to be a source of tree mortality in this Park.
Natural Impacts on Forest Health –
The four most prevalent
forest insects affecting forest health in Montana currently are, in order of
forested acres affected, the Mountain
Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae),
the Western Spruce Budworm (Choristoneura occidentalis), the Western
Balsam Bark Beetle (Diyocoetes confusus) and lastly the Douglas Fir Bark Beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae).
Mountain
Pine Beetle’s primary host is Lodgepole Pine, which was not observed in
The second most prevalent
forest insect currently affecting western
Western balsam bark beetles
are responsible for tree mortality in Sub-Alpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa), a tree species not growing in
Adult Douglas Fire Bark
Beetles attack Douglas fir and occasionally Western Larch by boring through the
bark to lay eggs. Boring dust, also
called frass, is visible in bark crevices or on the ground around the tree
after trees are infested. A clear
resinous pitch exuded from entrance holes is also an indication of Douglas Fir
Bark Beetle presence. The adult beetles
and the larvae introduced into host trees eat the phloem layer of inner bark,
effectively girdling the tree and usually killing it. These insects are felt to be responsible for
a small area of Douglas fir mortality in
Natural Impacts on Forest Health – Forest Disease: No parasitic forest diseases, such as Armillaria Root
Disease (the Armillaria group)
cubical & butt rot, or dwarf mistletoe, were impairing forest health at the
time of the
Natural Impacts on Forest Health – Animal Damage: Animal damage
affecting forest health, such as beaver or porcupine activity, was not apparent
on
Fuel Ladders
- The term ‘Fuel ladder’ characterizes the degree to which ground fires can
reach the crowns of mature trees. In
many forest conditions, understory trees and low-level dead and green limbs can
provide the ‘fuel ladder’ for ground fire flames to reach the crowns of
overstory trees. In many natural dry-site
western
1.
In several camp
sites the fire rings are located near trees with low overhanging branches.
2.
There are also
low branches very close to the new shower facility/restroom.
Down & Dead Material - Currently there are very small amounts of down
trees lying on the forest floor, a situation not negatively affecting Forest
Fuel levels. About three-percent (3%) of all standing trees were dead, mostly
concentrated in the area described in the Forest Insects section above. This
minor number of standing dead trees constitutes insignificant effects on Forest
Fuel levels.
Crown Density
– Crown density is measured by estimating the percentage which the tree crowns
within a sample plot occupy the space within the sample plot. Typically, 30% crown density is considered
low, and 70% is considered high. Where
crown density is high, the area can be more susceptible to severe wildfire
intensity, including crown fires. Crown
density in
There are two areas within
1.
A small area to
the south of the Day Use area (very close to a privately-owned cabin) is very
densely vegetated with a mix of small Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine. This area is very close to
2.
Also, in the main
campground area, a small area between the county road (
Hazard Tree Identification
Hazardous tree management is
an important responsibility for State Park managers. As documented by the U.S. Park Service Hazard
Tree Guidelines (http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/hazard_tree/pubs/misc/nps.htm)
a hazardous tree “is one that, because of a recognizable mechanical flaw, poses
a threat to people or property’. That
document relates that a hazard tree reduction program should address the areas
of visitor use, landscape management, interpretation and transportation
corridors (such as parking lots, walkways, visitor centers, campsites and
picnic grounds). The hazard tree reduction program is usually not applied to
wild or natural areas.
The most common source of
hazard trees in
Vigilance is also required
for other trees not noticeably completely dead but containing dead tops and/or
dead limbs that threaten human safety, especially in high-use areas.
There is a Ponderosa pine
(illustrated in the photo section of this report) located near the boat-launch
area that should be monitored closely for falling dead limbs. Many limbs on this tree are currently dead
and could fall off in a windstorm or other weather-related event.
Fungi growing on the main
stems of trees are also an indicator of rot and other weaknesses in tree
stability – these indicators should be monitored as the effects of forest
disease can result in hazardous trees.
The standing dead trees noted
above should be considered as hazard trees as should the live Ponderosa pine with
dead branches located near the boat launch.
This baseline information
provides a foundation for immediate or future measures needed to protect each
Park’s infrastructure and reduce potential threats to human safety.
The forest inventory process
was based on statistical sampling methods designed to capture tree size
variation in order to provide a statistically reliable estimate of tree volume
and other key metrics. Twenty (20) field
sample plots were randomly distributed within a grid system at the average rate
of one point per 1.35 acres due to the small tract size, separation of areas
and variability in tree species and tree diameter. More commonly, a forest
resource inventory is conducted by sampling one point for every 10 acres – the
sample plot intensity was increased for this project compared to common
methods. The random sample plot location method ensures the random distribution
of sample plots to eliminate bias in sample point locations. Field Sample Plots
were located randomly throughout the Park without regard for the suitability of
potential forest operations.
At each sample point two
plots were established. Tree
measurements used to determine merchantable volume (i.e., diameter at breast
height (dbh) to nearest one inch, total tree height, visual defect) and
stocking density were recorded for each tree species encountered using a 20
factor variable radius plot technique.
This process is often called “prism-cruising”. Merchantable tree volume is calculated using
this data and appropriate timber volume cruising tables. Dead trees, a very
minor component of this Park’s forests, were recorded separately from live
trees in order to calculate the ratio of dead trees to live trees.
A 1/100th acre
fixed plot was also established at each sample point. The fixed plot area was analyzed to provide,
(1) Understory information, including the presence or absence of noxious weeds,
types (size & species) of forest regeneration & forest understory, and
(3) Crown density ratios. This data, and other observations, also provided
information regarding fuel ladders, animal damage, forest insect and disease
impacts and hazard tree identification.
Results of
Tree Species – The trees sampled and measured during the resource
inventory were a mixture of Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine and Western larch. Engelmann
spruce was present in the small area on the south side of the lake across Owl
Creek from the main campground. Lodegpole pine and Sub-alpine fir were not
documented.
Tree Size – Tree
diameter is measured at the point 4.5 feet above ground level. This measurement point is known as “Diameter
at Breast Height” or DBH and serves as the basis for tree volume calculations. The average tree diameter for all trees was
12 inches, with a range of 7 inches to 30+ inches. Average tree height was 80 feet with
occasional trees over 100 feet tall.
Total Trees per Acre – The forested area of
Dead Trees per
Tree Volume –
The forest inventory and timber volume calculations indicate there is
approximately 422,667 board feet of commercial-sized timber (7” DBH &
greater) in the 27 acres of forested area in the Park. There is 269,540 board feet of Douglas fir,
90,563 board feet of Ponderosa pine, 48,410 board feet of Western larch and
14,154 board feet of Engelmann spruce.
The average volume per acre
(a common metric to determine forest stocking levels and timber harvest
potential) is 15,654 board feet per acre for live and dead trees. There is 9,983 board feet per acre of Douglas
fir, 3,354 board feet per acre of Ponderosa pine, 1,793 board feet per acre of
Western larch and 524 board feet per acre of Engelmann spruce. This area has a
high ability to grow trees, as evidenced by the numbers of large stumps
remaining from past harvest activities undertaken prior to ownership of the
Park by MT FWP.
The following Forest Health
Prescription is prepared based on the above Forest Health Assessment and Forest
Resource Inventory. In State Park
settings, the typical objectives for a Forest Health Prescription normally
involve individual tree maintenance (removal of small numbers of dead or other
hazard trees) on an as-needed regular basis, possible tree planting to replace
dead trees, maintaining vitality of small trees for privacy between
campgrounds, weed control and other minor activities. MT FWP has conducted various forest health
improvement projects to remove tree encroachment, improve wildlife habitat,
reduce forest fuels and commercially salvage small amounts of dead or dying
trees.
In
Recommendations:
1.
Removal of the
group of dead standing hazard trees located at the main entrance to the Park should
be considered the highest priority in terms of this Forest Health
Prescription. This activity will not
produce net revenue for the State of
2.
The two patches
of Canada thistle should be sprayed with a suitable herbicide to reduce or
eliminate their presence.
3.
Dead and live
branches hanging over designated fire rings should be pruned to eliminate the
potential danger of a camp fire igniting those branches and causing a wildfire.
4.
Low hanging live
branches close to the new shower facility/restroom should be pruned to provide
defensible space around that building.
5.
Dead branches in
the large Ponderosa pine located near the boat launch area should be pruned to
eliminate the potential danger of those branches falling during a wind storm or
other weather event.
6.
The small area
(less than 0.5 acres) of densely-stocked small trees on the east side of the
Day Use area should be considered for thinning to reduce forest fuel ladders
and crown density. The thinning
operation would be conducted using chain saws and a chipper to reduce slash.
The Day Use area is heavily used for picnic, swimming and boating activities in
the summer, with at least two designated camp fire sites. This area adjoins a private cabin site, and
the densely-stocked trees provide privacy for the day-use visitors and the
cabin owner, so more investigation is required beyond the scope of this Forest
Health Prescription before a forest treatment is initiated. Funds would need to be allocated for this
project, as the treatment would result in a cost to the State Park.
7.
Another small
area (about one acre in size) at the southeast end of the main campground area
is also very densely-stocked with ladder fuels in the understory. This area should also be considered for
manual-thinning with chain saws and a chipper to reduce the slash, although the
trees provide screening for the campground and reduce dust caused by vehicle
traffic on the
8.
The area on the
south side of Owl Creek contains many large mature trees –harvest of select
trees in that area represents a possible opportunity to produce revenue for the
State Park to help offset costs for the projects noted in Recommendation 6
& 7 above. Any commercial harvest in
that area must be designed to comply with Montana Streamside Management Zone
(SMZ) regulations. In that small area,
there are standing dead trees and also fallen dead trees that represent
potential Forest Fuel problems. This
area also adjoins a leased cabin site administered by MT DNRC; a possible
forest health treatment would require investigation beyond the scope of this
Forest Health Assessment project.