Flathead National Forest/Coram Experimental Forest - Transition

Treatment: actively facilitate change to encourage adaptive responses

Management Goals

Looking at the understory and caopy of a mixed conifer forest.
Transition ASCC plots on Flathead National Forest.
Photo Credit: Molly Roske.
  • Increase proportion and development of the most fire-adapted and drought-tolerant species and genotypes (30% western larch, 25% western white pine, 35% ponderosa pine, and 10% other (i.e. Douglas-fir, aspen, paper birch))
  • Enhance spatial and structural heterogeneity
  • Maintain high productivity and supply of timber products at regular intervals
  • Promote development of large-diameter long-lived trees (average 10-16 trees per acre) in clumps with scattered trees
  • Maintain low level of insects and diseases
  • Reduce hazard of crown fire and spread by reducing ladder fuels
  • Maintain low surface fuels
  • Maintain and improve forage production

Strategies & approaches

  • Seed tree cut with reserves, leaving 6-8 scattered seed tree clumps of western larch and western white pine per acre
  • Plant tree improvement seed of western larch, western white pine, and ponderosa pine (assisted range expansion, species not on site) from high, mid, and low elevations
  • Slash and/or remove damaged trees to facilitate site preparation
  • Reduce ladder fuels and burn slash piles 

Check out Other Treatments

Resistance

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Resilience

Site Leads & Partners

Justin Crotteau (USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station) is the site lead for the Northern Rockies ASCC site, whose team currently includes David Wright (USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station) and Elliott Meyer (USDA Flathead National Forest). Past team members include Elaine Kennedy Sutherland, Terrie Jain, Chris Keyes, Melissa Jenkins, and Amanda Rollwage.

Justin Crotteau
Site Lead

Research Forester
Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service
Missoula Forestry Sciences Lab
800 East Beckwith Ave
Missoula, MT 59801
Phone: 406-542-4169
Justin.crotteau@usda.gov

David Wright
Manager

Ecologist, Manager Coram Experimental Forest
Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service
Missoula Forestry Sciences Lab
800 East Beckwith Ave
Missoula, MT 59801
Phone: 406-542-4181
david.wright2@usda.gov