Timber Sale Leave Tree Area

[Cruiser]

The Washington Department of Natural Resources sets up and auctions timber sales on state land to fund schools and other public institutions.
One of the requirements for laying out a sale is that a minimum of 8 trees/acre remain uncut. They can be scattered individuals or lumped together. The preference is for long-lived structurally unique trees.
These leave trees are in addition to old growth, unstable geological features, ecologically rare/sensitive areas, and streams that also get bound out or buffered.

When one looks out into a clear cut and sees discreet islands of trees remaining, leave tree areas (LTAs) are usually what they’re viewing.


Here’s my take.


The real thing.






Individual leave trees get a blue band so loggers know not to cut them.


Clumped leave trees get tagged and ribboned.


Here is a stream buffer. You can see that interior trees are shorter hardwoods. Those are red alder growing right along the channel. The conifers are Douglas-fir and western hemlock. Most buffers are at least 100’ on both sides of a stream.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Nicely done Alan you've really captured the look that those of us living in clearcut country are so familiar with.

 

[Cruiser]

Nicely done Alan you've really captured the look that those of us living in clearcut country are so familiar with.

Thanks Mike. The desire to represent our home is what drives a lot of my projects.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Can't tell if they are amabilis or lasiocarpa ?

 

[M. Frary]

That's exactly what I do for a living.

 

[Cruiser]

Can't tell if they are amabilis or lasiocarpa ?

Close. Procera.

 

[Cruiser]

That's exactly what I do for a living.

Asplundh tree trimmer? Dangerous work. I was in the WA apprenticeship for 6 months before I realized I’d end up killing myself and moved on to forestry.

 

[August44]

Great pictures Alan! They log around here also but don't do the clear cut thing, just go through and do selective cutting. I have never gotten over the mess that they leave on the ground. If you are looking for trees, or just hiking around, it is tough to navigate these areas. Also, when they trim smaller trees back from the roads, they always leave little stubs sticking up all over. That turns into a major trip hazard very quickly if one walks thru the area. I don't know how these things could be corrected either.

 

[Cruiser]

just go through and do selective cutting

Sounds like thinning. The forest service does a lot of that. They go into a stand and cut some trees to reduce basal area or create gaps. It promotes better growth in remaining trees and can be used to cause structural changes that favor wildlife. It depends on the foresters goals.

There’s not much that can be done about the mess. It is hard and dangerous to navigate. A good pair of caulk boots helps a ton. Some outfits pile the slash and burn it.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Close. Procera.

Interesting, always wondered why we don't see Noble fir used for bonsai

 

[Cruiser]

It's only a matter of time before noble fir becomes more popular in bonsai.

I’ve been working with it for a few years now. The species has many of the qualities we seek: a strong root system, good needle retention and reduction potential, easily back buds, can be layered, and does not have many pests. With well draining soil one can water the heck out of it with positive results. The species is also resistant to balsam woolly adelgid, which is a serious problem for subalpine fir and silver fir.

 

[August44]

It's only a matter of time before noble fir becomes more popular in bonsai.

I’ve been working with it for a few years now. The species has many of the qualities we seek: a strong root system, good needle retention and reduction potential, easily back buds, can be layered, and does not have many pests. With well draining soil one can water the heck out of it with positive results. The species is also resistant to balsam woolly adelgid, which is a serious problem for subalpine fir and silver fir.

Can u collect these where you live and can we see a picture if you do. They sound interesting to me but probably not for my zone 6.

 

[Cruiser]

Can u collect these where you live and can we see a picture if you do. They sound interesting to me but probably not for my zone 6.

Naturally growing trees are not available to me locally, but are common in Gifford Pinchot NF and the surrounding hills.
Almost all of my firs and their corresponding threads are procera. I try to document everything so there’s lots of pictures and info to sift through.

If you can successfully grow subalpine fir there’s a good chance noble will do ok. The keys are preventing the roots from getting too hot, good drainage, and lots of water. If roots can stay above freezing in the winter, they will continue to grow (surprisingly well).
Nobles can grow in part sun but are less tolerant of shade than other true firs. They prefer full sun as long as it doesn’t get too hot!

 

[M. Frary]

Asplundh tree trimmer? Dangerous work. I was in the WA apprenticeship for 6 months before I realized I’d end up killing myself and moved on to forestry.

Not anymore. I used to do line clearance. Did it for 20 years. Now I operate a feller buncher for a logging company. Clear 3 to 5 acres a day.

 

[Cruiser]

Not anymore. I used to do line clearance. Did it for 20 years. Now I operate a feller buncher for a logging company. Clear 3 to 5 acres a day.

Nice. Those things look like fun to operate. What do you typically cut out there, plantation pine?

 

[M. Frary]

Nice. Those things look like fun to operate. What do you typically cut out there, plantation pine?

Everything.
Cutting lots of oak right now because they're all dying of oak wilt.
Plantation pine sucks to cut if it isn't being clear cut. Lots of backing down rows.
The funnest trees to cut down are the huge ones that it can't do in one cut.
Go round the front,dive the saw in then go around the back and cut through and tip it over. I've done 46 inch diameter white pines like this.

 

[Cruiser]

Everything.
Cutting lots of oak right now because they're all dying of oak wilt.
Plantation pine sucks to cut if it isn't being clear cut. Lots of backing down rows.
The funnest trees to cut down are the huge ones that it can't do in one cut.
Go round the front,dive the saw in then go around the back and cut through and tip it over. I've done 46 inch diameter white pines like this.

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I’ve wondered how operators/fallers really feel about thinning. It seems like a pita compared to cutting everything. More thinking unless you’re in a uniform plantation..

Hypothetically, how many guys can accurately estimate bringing a relative density down to 35 or basal area to 120; or distinguish a 20” tree from an 18” when up in a cab?… yet most manage to do these things with good results. Wizards they are.

 

[JudyB]

Everything.
Cutting lots of oak right now because they're all dying of oak wilt.
Plantation pine sucks to cut if it isn't being clear cut. Lots of backing down rows.
The funnest trees to cut down are the huge ones that it can't do in one cut.
Go round the front,dive the saw in then go around the back and cut through and tip it over. I've done 46 inch diameter white pines like this.

Hey Mike good to see you! We had a forestry mulcher come and do some areas on our property, it was so cool. I want one…. Bet your machine is amazing. What is causing the oak die off? Is it localized or widespread?
Alan, I love your image you’ve created. We spend lots of time hiking the west, and have seen and hiked thru just this sort of landscape. Also admire the work you do.

 

[M. Frary]

Hey Mike good to see you! We had a forestry mulcher come and do some areas on our property, it was so cool. I want one…. Bet your machine is amazing. What is causing the oak die off? Is it localized or widespread?
Alan, I love your image you’ve created. We spend lots of time hiking the west, and have seen and hiked thru just this sort of landscape. Also admire the work you do.

It's a disease called oak wilt.
And it travels through root grafts underground.