Tour shows forests in jeopardy

OSU grad student Andrew Marschel recently led a tour of three of his study sites on the Sisters District.

Marschel, in the course of his research project on both the Deschutes and Ochoco forests, has cored (bored into) over 3,600 trees in the 72 study plots he has established, a key tool in helping to understand the impacts of a century of widespread logging, grazing, and fire exclusion - elements that have left the region's forests overcrowded and out of balance.

"They will not get better on their own," said Phil Chang, of Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project. "If no action is taken, the health and long-term sustainability of this unique treasure will remain in jeopardy."

The Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project (DCFP) is breaking through historic gridlock to forge new agreements and create a shared vision for stewardship that will sustain forests into the future. The 21 participants were there to listen to how Marschel thinks we can put things back together, and Phil Chang is sure DCFP can help.

Since 2009, the collaborative has been hard at work. Some of the major accomplishments on the landscape include:

• Ten-year, $10-million award for implementation, monitoring and restoration work.

• Worked with the Deschutes National Forest to implement over 10,000 acres of treatments.

• Offered restoration recommendations for 42,000 acres in historically controversial forest types (West Bend and Popper planning areas).

• Developed recommendations to integrate considerations for recreation, such as visual impacts, in forest-restoration work.

• Conducted four stakeholder field trips to evaluate methods and results of forest-restoration treatments.

• Developed and implemented a socioeconomic monitoring plan.

Chang organized the Nov. 13 tour in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and other partners.

The first site the group stopped to review was a dry mixed-conifer type where Marschel introduced them to what makes up a mixed-conifer ecosystem. After a short hike through the site, learning about the various facets that make up a forest of this type, Chang asked for a recap and questions about the key elements/clues of site history and development. The group had a collaborative discussion on how to use the information gleaned.

Jennifer O'Reilly, a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologist said, "The second stop on our tour was a very unique patch of forest that remained after the Pole Creek fire: a stand of old growth with Douglas fir and white fir trees that were over 300 years old and approximately 120-140 cm dbh (diameter at breat height). In my opinion these patches of cool, dark forest where we find the ancient Douglas fir are very rare on the east side of the Cascades. It was a classic example of where we might find a nest site for northern spotted owls."

Stop number three was on the northwest slopes of Graham Butte, north of the McKenzie Highway. It was here that Marschel and Spies showed the group how a massive grand fir encroachment is rapidly changing the forest ecosystem. Marschel used a chart he developed to demonstrate how firs can encroach on ponderosa pine climax forests, compete for moisture and space, and eventually change the habitat so dramatically it will shade out new pines.

The forest floor on the slopes of the butte, throughout the ancient ponderosa pine forest, was matted with new fir seedlings. Marschel pointed out there were no towering grand firs nearby, loaded with seed-bearing cones, yet there were thousands of 20- to 30-year-old trees already growing into the pine area, and thousands of new seedlings on the floor of the pine forest.

The chart Marschel developed showed ponderosa pine trees that were growing in that area since before the year 1500, and the botanical history showed they were now in danger of being choked out by the encroaching firs.

Terry Craig, USFS soil scientist, reminded the group of how vital it is to study the soils when doing research on land use. He spoke of how forest management practices - grazing, fires, and weather - are recorded in the soil, and with such data, future plans and use could frame the outcome.

There was the general agreement that the lack of fire may have been one of the components that lead to firs moving in, but the discussion about what to do about it was confusing, revolving around: "With complexity and constant changes of land management the question of, 'what do you want this forest to be?'"

A statement from Sisters District Ranger Kristi Miller presented a thread of hope in finding a way to help our forests: "The day was full of informative research, interesting history of our Central Oregon forests and stimulating conversation. My hope is that it will move all of us forward in managing our National Forest to reach social, economic, and ecological success."