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.................................. 9
Exhibits
Exhibit 1 – Map of Salmon
Exhibit 2 – Photos....................................................................... 13
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 42 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
42 acre
Recreational Activity Impacts: Recreational activities are having a 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. 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 Fir 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. This forest insect is active in areas near
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 dry-site western
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 two-percent (2%) of all standing trees were dead, primarily
concentrated in the two areas described in the Forest Insects section above.
This minor number of standing dead trees constitutes insignificant effects on
Forest Fuel levels. Standing dead trees scattered randomly outside the
campground, boating and picnic areas provide good habitat for various birds and
small mammals.
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
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
The standing dead trees noted
above should be considered as hazard trees. 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 1.6 acres due to the small tract size 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, Western larch and
Ponderosa pine. Engelmann spruce was minimally present but not within any
Sample Plots. 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 10 inches, with a range of 7” to 30”. Average tree height was 80 feet.
Total Trees per Acre – The forested area of
Dead Trees per
Tree Volume – The
forest inventory and timber volume calculations indicate there is approximately
604,319 board feet of commercial-sized timber (7” DBH & greater) in the 32
acres of forested area in the Park. There
is 393,138 board feet of Douglas fir, 183,438 board feet of Western larch and
27,743 board feet of Ponderosa pine.
The average volume per acre
(a common metric to determine forest stocking levels and timber harvest
potential) is 18,885 board feet per acre for live and dead trees. There is 12,285 board feet per acre of
Douglas fir, 5,732 board feet per acre of Western larch and 868 board feet per
acre of Ponderosa pine. These relatively
high levels of tree volume per acre are typical of un-harvested forests in this
productive region.
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
Observations:
1.
The thickly
forested areas along Highway 83 help to diminish traffic noise and probably improve
overall visitor experience by reducing the visibility of cars and trucks as
they travel past the Park.
2.
There are some
forested areas that block lake views potentially visible from the campground
and could be considered too thick, but that condition is not an immediate forest
health issue.
3.
There is a
vehicle pull-out at the extreme north end of the Park along Highway 83, close
to the north property line. This area
could provide a nice view of
Recommendations:
1.
Removal of the
two groups of dead standing hazard trees located at the north end of the Park
along Highway 83 and at the south end of the Park near the access road to the
boat launch 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.
Monitoring of the
Park’s Forest Health should be conducted on an on-going basis so that future
dead hazard trees can be scheduled for removal.