The Evolution of Forest Inventory on the Warm

Springs Indian Reservation

The Evolution of Forest Inventory on the Warm

Springs Indian Reservation

Allan D. DericksonForest Planning & Inventory SupervisorConfederated Tribes of Warm Springs

East Slope Cascades1,000 ft to 10,000 ft

Reservation established in 1855 for Wasco and Warm Springs Indians

Paiutes added in 1879

Kah-Nee-TaKah-Nee-Ta

Warm Springs Forest ManagementWarm Springs Forest Management

644,000 total acres 423,000 forested acres 315,000 unreserved forested acres 256,000 net commercial forest acres Over 3 billion board feet of inventory 25 commercial tree species 27 different plant associations

Warm Springs Forest ManagementWarm Springs Forest Management 1992 - Integrated Resource Management Plan

Traditional Cultural UsesWater and FishWildlifeTimberGrazingOther Economic DevelopmentRecreation

Harvest Scheduling Constraints

Harvest Scheduling Constraints

Must plan by watershed (12) Retention trees at 5-15 tpa Minimum stand age requirements: 70 years Selected stands constrained temporarily for

wildlife cover Harvest priority respected. No low or stable OG

Harvest PriorityHarvest Priority

UnhealthyHigh Value

1

AverageHigh Value

4

VigorousHigh Value

7UnhealthyMod Value

2

AverageMod Value

5

VigorousMod Value

8UnhealthyLow Value

3

AverageLow Value

6

VigorousLow Value

9

Conditional Use AreasConditional Use Areas

Have one or more of the following:Extremely low productivityVery difficult logging or accessPossess other high resource valuesSpiritually significant to Tribal Members

Harvest timber only at Tribal Council direction Not scheduled or included in allowable cut

1957 99 3-plot clusters

1957 99 3-plot clusters

1966 249 3-plot clusters1966 249 3-plot clusters

1972 289 3-plot clusters1972 289 3-plot clusters

1974 McQuinn Strip

1974 McQuinn Strip

1979-99 1380 plots

1979-99 1380 plots

1988: CFI Design Changed1988: CFI Design Changed Single plot on a 50x50 chain grid replaced 3-plot

cluster on 100x100 chain grid Subplot 1 remeasured Subplot 2 remeasured for the last time Subplot 3 dropped 1/100 acre regeneration plot added in the Pine

type Conditional Use plots not remeasured

1997: CFI Plots GPS’ed1997: CFI Plots GPS’ed

Conditional Use plots remeasured Taper heights measured 1/100 acre regeneration plot on all plots CFI not used for AAC CFI was used to calibrate both FPS and FVS

growth models CFI used to compute growth & mortality

The Stand Exam ProgramThe Stand Exam Program

1993: A need for more detailed stand-based data to implement IRMP

Stand health and structure important USFS R6 Stand Exam protocol adopted Atterbury SuperStand 2 types of exams: “Formal” & “Walk-through”

The SE Program EvolvesThe SE Program Evolves

Switch to MB&G SIS compiler and inventory database

“Walk-Throughs” eliminated Data used for AAC calculation Count plots used to improve statistics

Evolution ContinuesEvolution Continues

1999: Eastern Oregon FPS library available FPS offered a more integrated compiler-growth

model-harvest scheduler 2001: AAC calculated with FPS Stocking survey data used to supplement SE 2002: Prescribed fire monitoring begun

The Wilcox Stocking PlotsThe Wilcox Stocking Plots

1985: Need to find appropriate level of stocking for uneven-age management in PP type

4 areas selected to install 3 sets of 2.5 acre plots 3 different levels of retention All tree >1.5 inches dbh measured and stem-

mapped Remeasured at 5 year intervals

Upper Tenino Plot 3Upper Tenino Plot 3

The FutureThe Future

Continue to improve accuracy and efficiency Gather data on 12,000 acres a year Use data from other programs to bolster SE Have an inventory program second to none