Using FORSEE and continuous forest inventory information to evaluate implementation of uneven-aged management in Santa Cruz County coast redwood forests

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  • Authors: Piirto, Douglas D.; Sink, Scott; Ali, Dominic; Auten, Steve; Hipkin, Christopher; Cody, Reid.
  • Publication Year: 2012
  • Publication Series: General Technical Report (GTR)
  • Source: In: Standiford, Richard B.; Weller, Theodore J.; Piirto, Douglas D.; Stuart, John D., tech. coords. Proceedings of coast redwood forests in a changing California: A symposium for scientists and managers. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-238. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. pp. 539-551

Abstract

Swanton Pacific Ranch in northern Santa Cruz County has been owned and managed by California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) Foundation since 1987. The California Forest Practice Rules specific to Santa Cruz County limit harvest rate and opening size. Cal Poly forest managers are implementing uneven-aged forest management on 1,182 acres of 80 to 110 year old, second-growth coast redwood forests using a modified BDq approach. The Lockheed Fire spread into most of the managed forest area during the summer of 2009 causing significant mortality in lower diameter classes.

Little information is available on implementation of uneven-aged forest management for coast redwood stands in Santa Cruz County especially regarding the influence of fire. This McIntire Stennis funded, observational research study used the Forest and Stand Evaluation Environment (FORSEE) program and a 22 year Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI) record to evaluate changes in past and current stand structure using trees per acre, basal area per acre, and volume per acre. Stand structural changes associated with uneven-aged management and disturbance were detected using FORSEE analysis of the CFI records. FORSEE is a useful inventory, growth and yield model that will become better with local calibration.

  • Citation: Piirto, Douglas D.; Sink, Scott; Ali, Dominic; Auten, Steve; Hipkin, Christopher; Cody, Reid. 2012. Using FORSEE and continuous forest inventory information to evaluate implementation of uneven-aged management in Santa Cruz County coast redwood forests. In: Standiford, Richard B.; Weller, Theodore J.; Piirto, Douglas D.; Stuart, John D., tech. coords. Proceedings of coast redwood forests in a changing California: A symposium for scientists and managers. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-238. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. pp. 539-551.
  • Keywords: Sequoia sempervirens, coast redwood, multi-aged, BDq, FORSEE, growth and yield model, fire effects, monitoring, Santa Cruz County
  • Posted Date: September 27, 2012
  • Modified Date: September 27, 2012

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