Post on 05-Apr-2018
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Old Growth
Morgan Creek andCoffeepot
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Managed Coffeepot Old Growth
Background
In 2002, all competing trees were removed
In 2003, slash piles were burnedThese selected stands are composed oftrees with ages 250-300 years old
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Managed Coffeepot Old Growth
All stands are very openwith low disease and firerisk.
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Unmanaged Coffeepot Old Growth
Background
These stands are basically untouched,
though no fire has been allowed to enter thearea
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Unmanaged Coffeepot Old Growth
Stands are very dense,
with around 300-400 treesper acre in each.Older trees have crownedout, with many hollow orgrowing conchs.Some trees aresuccumbing to beetles.
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Morgan Creek Managed Area
Background
Stands were thinned 40 years ago, taking
largest trees, leaving around 30-40 trees peracreA few upper-story, mid-story and under-storytrees were left
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Morgan Creek Managed Area
4 species of tree are
present
Ponderosa,Lodgepole, and White Pine,as well as white fir.Stands are fairly open, withsome shrubs.
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Morgan Creek Harvested Area
Background
Harvest was typical, largest trees were taken
Trees present today are smaller and spacedout
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Morgan Creek Harvested Area
Mostly mid-sized trees, lownumber of trees per acre
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Morgan Creek White Fir Area
Background
The large trees have become decadent,
many in early snag stages or snapped offMuch of the ground is covered in woodydebris, large and small, from trees that havefallen or shed branches
Site is, overall, highly degraded, and manytrees have mistletoe or paint fungus growingon trunk or branches
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Morgan Creek Stream Area
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Morgan Creek Sugar Pine Area
Background
Stands have never been entered for
management or harvest and are composedof large trees with a large component ofunderstory coming inUnderstory is fairly open, but as fire has
been excluded for about 60 years, theunderstory trees are beginning to take over
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Morgan Creek Sugar Pine Area
Much of the ground is
covered in heavy duff, withlarge amounts of woodydebrisLargest trees are starting to
crown out
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Average Soil Depth (cm) by Area
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
COMA COUN MOMA MOHA MOAPNE MOCRK
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Average Duff Depth by Area
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
COMA COUN MOMA MOHA MOAPNE MOCRK
D e p t h
i n c m
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Average Rhizome Depth (cm) by Area
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
COMA COUN MOMA MOHA MOAPNE MOCRK
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Old Growth Cycles (Regen)(A) Stocking 25-35 trees per acre of large trees Shrub understory
Layers of understory have a 30 ft. approximate heightdifference(B) Fire every 15-30 years to kill regen with heightsof less than 15-30 ft. Only about 4-6 trees per acrewill survive Grasses and herbs destroyed by fire will return after about a
year, shrubs may take 5 years or more(C) Fire tends to reduce tree diseases andinfestations
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Conclusion
Stands that have never been entered havebecome overstockedToo late in many cases to introduce firesafelyMechanical treatment may be necessary torestore the health of these stands