Young-Stand Management Options and their Implications for Wood Quality and Other Values by Jamie Barbour, PNW Research Station; Richard Zaborske, USFS Washington Office; Michael H. McClellan, PNW Research Station; Linda Christian, Region 10; Don Golnick, Region 10.

Road Map for Talk Wood quality what is it & what endures? SEA information (empirical & simulated) My views on what available information means

Southeast Alaska Current Situation Resource = old-growth Issue = costs Challenges –too much low quality –how to manage young stands

Current Resource Log Grade Check Scale st quarter 2000 Spruce = 17% of harvest Hemlock = 55% of harvest

Southeast Alaska Future Situation Resource = young-growth Issue = costs Challenges –less high grade –competing in world markets

Wood Quality What’s Important? Knots Tree size Soundness Growth rate Stem straightness Basic wood properties Proximity to processing facilities & markets

Wood Quality Characteristics What’s Especially Important in SEA? Knots Tree size Soundness Growth rate Stem straightness Basic wood properties Proximity to processing facilities & markets

Size and Quality Processing Streams Structural Products Lumber Posts & Poles Veneer Particle and Fiber Panel Products Pulp and paper Energy production Chemicals Heat Appearance Products

Open Grown Tree JW MW JW Tree from Dense Stand Wood Quality and the Crown

4”6”8” S.Str. No. 2 No. 3 No. 1 1” 1.5” 2” Knot Size, Lumber Width, & Lumber Grade

Existing Information on Young-Growth Green and Kilborn, lumber grade and log grade. Wang et al., thinning and mechanical properties. Christensen et al., thinning and lumber grade.

Stiffness (MOE) and Thinning Southeast Alaska Thinning Intensity Wang et al HeavyMediumLightControl

Southeast Alaska Young-Growth Spruce Mechanical Properties Christensen et al., 2002 Published Value

Southeast Alaska Young-Growth Hemlock Mechanical Properties Christensen et al., 2002 Published Value

Southeast Alaska Young-Growth Volume Recovery Christensen et al., 2002

Southeast Alaska Young-Growth Sitka Spruce Lumber Grades Christensen et al., 2002

Southeast Alaska Young-Growth Hemlock Lumber Grades Christensen et al., 2002

Current Study Simulate 4 prescriptions using FVS Three harvest ages Two site classes

Current Study Assumptions Generalize Christensen et al. results Branches last 50 to 80 years Lumber or veener will be important

Ketchikan Area Site Class 60 and 90 Cubic Foot Log Volumes 70 Years110 Years150 Years

Ketchikan Area Site Class 60 and 90 Normalized Log Volumes 70 Years

Ketchikan Area Site Class 60 and 90 Normalized Log Volumes 110 Years

Ketchikan Area Site Class 60 and 90 Normalized Log Volumes 150 Years

MBF/ac So What! PCT A & PAS always produce most volume Some differences even out over time Important differences remain among site classes

Ketchikan Area Site Class 60 and 90 Lumber Revenues 70 Years110 Years150 Years

Ketchikan Area Site Class 60 and 90 Normalized Lumber Revenues 70 Years

Ketchikan Area Site Class 60 and 90 Normalized Lumber Revenues 110 Years

Ketchikan Area Site Class 60 and 90 Normalized Lumber Revenues 150 Years

$/ac So What! Volume buys a lot Volume is not everything

Ketchikan Area Site Class 60 and 90 Average Lumber Revenues per MBF 70 Years 110 Years 150 Years

What’s All This Mean? Branch Size Trees grown at wide initial spacings or thinned early tend to have large branches Large branches limit wood product potential

What’s All This Mean? Mechanical Properties Later thinning does not seem to adversely affect mechanical properties Mechanical properties of both spruce and hemlock suffer from wide early spacings

What’s All This Mean? Lumber Grades Later lighter thinnings result in smaller trees with better lumber grades Earlier heavier thinnings result in larger trees sooner but only average lumber grades If our assumptions are correct the no thinning prescription might result in the best quality at 110 or 150 years.

What’s All This Mean? For private landowners it comes down to questions about cash flow and return on investment For public landowners it comes down to questions about jobs, subsidies, and ecological function

Jamie Barbour