HomeMy WebLinkAboutKenai Inventory 2012
FOREST RESOURCES ON STATE LANDS
IN THE KENAI PENINSULA
2012
Douglas Hanson, Inventory Forester
State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources
Division of Forestry Northern Region
3700 Airport Way
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
November, 2012
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................. 1
II. Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 4
III. Methods................................................................................................................................ 4
A. Base Imagery ....................................................................................................................... 4
B. Vegetation Classification ..................................................................................................... 4
C. Field Inventory Design ........................................................................................................ 5
D. Data Summary ..................................................................................................................... 5
E. Description of Strata ............................................................................................................ 6
1. Stratum 1 Needleleaf: Dead White or Sitka Spruce ......................................................... 7
2. Stratum 2 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Pole ................................................. 7
3. Stratum 3 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Seedlings and Saplings ................... 8
4. Stratum 4 Needleleaf: Black Spruce, Pole Size or Larger ............................................... 8
5. Stratum 5 Needleleaf: Mountain Hemlock....................................................................... 9
6. Stratum 6 Broadleaf: Pole Size or Larger ........................................................................ 9
7. Stratum 7 Mixed Forest: Broadleaf Dominating ............................................................ 11
8. Stratum 8 Mixed Forest: Dead Needleleaf Dominating ................................................. 11
IV. Results ................................................................................................................................ 11
A. Forest Volume Definitions ................................................................................................. 11
B. Inventory Volume by Species ............................................................................................ 13
C. Defect Estimates by Species .............................................................................................. 14
D. Inventory Volume by Strata ............................................................................................... 15
E. Inventory Volume of Sapling Size Trees ........................................................................... 17
F. Sampling Error by Volume ................................................................................................ 19
A. Log Grade .......................................................................................................................... 19
V. Forest Productivity ............................................................................................................. 20
A. Site Index ........................................................................................................................... 20
B. Timberland Area Age Class ............................................................................................... 21
C. Regeneration ...................................................................................................................... 23
D. Growth and Mortality Estimates ........................................................................................ 23
VI. Sustained Yield estimates .................................................................................................. 24
VII. Economic Availability of Sustainable Biomass Fuels ....................................................... 25
A. Volume Availability Ionia/Kasilof .................................................................................... 26
B. Volume Availability Seward.............................................................................................. 26
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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C. Volume Availability Homer .............................................................................................. 26
VIII. Literature Cited .................................................................................................................. 31
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. State land classification by acreage. ................................................................................. 1
Table 2. Inventory volume and acreage summary. ........................................................................ 2
Table 3. Land cover key. ................................................................................................................ 6
Table 4. Acreage and number of sampled plots and stands by volume strata. ............................... 6
Table 5. Volume formulas by species for poletimber and sawtimber size classes. ...................... 12
Table 6. Weight by species for poletimber and sawtimber size classes. ...................................... 13
Table 7. Volume per acre live and dead across all strata. ............................................................. 13
Table 8. Volume summary by size class and species across all strata. ......................................... 14
Table 9. Defect type ranking by species. ...................................................................................... 15
Table 10. Cubic foot defect estimates by species across all strata. ............................................... 15
Table 11. Volume summary by timber type species class. ........................................................... 16
Table 12. Inventory sapling species and weight regression equations. ........................................ 17
Table 13. Number of trees 2-4.9” and tons per acre of saplings by strata. ................................... 18
Table 14. Gross live cubic foot percent sampling error. ............................................................... 19
Table 15. Log grade for strata 1, 5 and 8. ..................................................................................... 20
Table 16. Site index by strata and species, ................................................................................... 21
Table 17. White spruce site index (acres) by strata. ..................................................................... 21
Table 18. Birch site index (acres) by strata. .................................................................................. 21
Table 19. Percent of area by age class. ......................................................................................... 22
Table 20. Average age by strata. ................................................................................................... 22
Table 21. Number of trees per acre less than 5 inches dbh by species and strata. ........................ 23
Table 22. Growth and mortality estimates. ................................................................................... 24
Table 23. Sustained yield estimate. ............................................................................................... 25
Table 24. Sustainable available volume Ionia/Kasilof area. ......................................................... 26
Table 25. Sustainable available volume Seward area. .................................................................. 27
Table 26. Sustainable available volume Homer area. ................................................................... 27
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Project area vicinity map. ................................................................................................ 3
Figure 2. Stratum 1 Needleleaf: Dead White or Sitka Spruce. ....................................................... 7
Figure 3. Stratum 2 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Pole. ............................................... 8
Figure 4. Stratum 3 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Seedlings and Saplings. ................. 9
Figure 5. Stratum 5 Needleleaf: Mountain Hemlock. ................................................................... 10
Figure 6. Stratum 6 Broadleaf: Pole Size or Larger. ..................................................................... 10
Figure 7. Stratum 7 Mixed Forest: Broadleaf Dominating. .......................................................... 11
Figure 8. Percent of total cubic foot net volume by strata. ........................................................... 15
Figure 9. Sustained yield comparison between strata, total timberland area. ............................... 25
Figure 10 Forest units near Ionia. ................................................................................................. 28
Figure 11. Forest units near Seward. ............................................................................................ 29
Figure 12. Forest units near Homer. ............................................................................................. 30
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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APPENDICES
Appendix A Acres by Vegetation Type and Strata ..................................................................... A-1
Appendix B Stand Tables Per Acre by Strata and Species ......................................................... B-1
Appendix C Volume Per Acre and Total Volume by Stratum ................................................... C-1
Appendix D Total Volume Across Strata ................................................................................... D-1
Appendix E Log Grade by Species .............................................................................................. E-1
Appendix F Diameter/Height Relationships, Ten Year Growth, and Bark Thickness ................ F-1
Appendix G Forest Inventory Field Instructions ........................................................................ G-1
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The inventory of forest resources within the Kenai Peninsula is the first comprehensive stand
based inventory to be conducted by the Division of Forestry (DOF) in this area of the state.
Funding for the project was made available in part through a reimbursable services agreement
with the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA). AEA’s interest in the project is to obtain biomass
resource information in part to determine the feasibility of supplying woody biomass to
peninsula communities. Ionia a small residential treatment facility located on 160 acres is
adjacent to Kasilof. It looks to expand its use of biomass through the installation of additional
solid wood Garn heating units. Seward seeks to heat several school buildings that are co-located
together with biomass. It has not decided what form the biomass will take. Additionally, the
community of Homer although not currently proposing a biomass project is not served by natural
gas and may benefit from the use of biomass resources. These three communities are analyzed
for a potentially operable biomass supply. Information contained within this report will aid AEA
and DOF in forest planning activities as well as identifying suitable biomass resources. State
lands that are included are classified in the Kenai Area Plan for a broad range of land uses
including forestry (Table1). Lands classified for other uses are generally available for forestry
because much of the area has been impacted by the spruce bark beetle. Timber harvest on these
lands is generally viewed as a way to conduct forest rehabilitation with the intent of establishing
new regeneration. The inventory comprises a total of 83,178 acres and summarizes field data
collected during the summer of 2011. A total of 46,780 acres of timberland are present on this
land. Total volume of these stands is 30,422,585 net cubic feet, 567,642 net tons and 96,755,359
net board feet (Table 2).
Land Classification Acres Percent
Agriculture 139 <1
Forestry 560 1
Forestry/Habitat 21,247 26
Forestry/Habitat/Public Recreation 361 <1
General Use 19,126 23
Materials 886 1
Public Facilities-Retain 1,452 2
Reserved Use Habitat 26,928 32
Settlement 12,477 15
Trail 2 <1
83,178 100
Table 1. State land classification by acreage.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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Inventory Area Land Classification
Acres
Timberland 46,780
Dwarf Forests 8,353
Non-Forest 28,045
Total Inventory Area: 83,178
Timberland Area by Timber Type Size Class
Sawtimber 21,673
Sawtimber/Poletimber Mixed 16,122
Poletimber 4,122
Reproduction
Total Timberland Area: 46,780
4,863
Timberland Area by Timber Type Species Class
Spruce 27,882
Spruce-Hardwood 8,066
Hemlock 791
Hardwood-Spruce 3,372
Hardwood 3,893
Black Spruce
Total Timberland Area: 46,780
2,776
Total Net Volume
Cubic Feet (> 5”dbh) Tons (> 5”dbh) Board Feet (> 9”dbh)
30,422,585 567,642 96,755,359
Table 2. Inventory volume and acreage summary.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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Figure 1. Project area vicinity map.
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II. OBJECTIVES
The objective of this report is to provide reliable inventory data to assist in the management of
forest resources on the Kenai Peninsula. Determination of an operable land base, sustainable
harvest rate and harvest scheduling all require accurate volume data and geographically
referenced spatial locations of individual stands. This data, both in spatial and tabular form can
be used to assess the availability of timber and biomass resources and determine economic
viability of proposed harvest development activities. The inventory provides the following items
useful for development and planning:
• Spatially accurate stand polygons overlaid on geographically rectified photo base.
• Accurate acreage determination of forest cover.
• Statistically valid sampling design that produces a variety of tree and stand attributes.
• Field sampling of tree and stand productivity variables useful for determining
sustainable harvest rates.
• Internet Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping access of spatial data with
volume and acreage querying capabilities.
• Compatibility with Kenai Peninsula existing land cover classification.
III. METHODS
Forest inventory information was collected through a stratified random sampling design. The
project area was divided into subpopulations (timber types) in order to account for variation in
species composition, density and size class. Each timber type was then treated as a random
sample population. The number of stands sampled within each timber type was based on the
variability encountered in previous forest inventory and timber sale projects. A total of 91
individual timber stands were field sampled during the summer of 2011. These field samples
comprise 910 individual measurement plots. The black spruce seedling/sapling type was not
sampled and this type is considered non timberland dwarf timber. The sample timber types were
selected randomly and access to the stands was by foot, or four-wheeler. Field measurements
were made in the selected stands to provide estimates of volume, stocking, defect and growth by
individual tree species.
A. Base Imagery
A mosaic dataset of Quickbird satellite scenes was utilized as the project’s base imagery. These
scenes acquired between 2006 and 2011 were utilized for the field sampling phase and provided
a means to accurately navigate to individual sample stands. Timber type polygons, ownership
boundaries, roads and sample stands were overlaid onto the base imagery. These scenes
however were not used to classify the vegetation. Vegetation classification is discussed in the
next section below.
B. Vegetation Classification
Vegetation classification was initiated through recommendations made from a multi-party task
force established during the Kenai Peninsula spruce bark beetle outbreak. The task force
generated numerous consensus policy recommendations, one of which was to produce a GIS
database of forest stands and vegetation cover across the peninsula. In the vegetation typing
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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process, boundaries of individual features (polygons) were determined from the stereo image of
1996 true color and 1997, 1998 and 2001 color infrared 1:30,000 scale aerial photos. All
vegetation was identified and timber stands were classified by species, size class and density. A
priority was placed on accurately identifying spruce bark beetle killed forest. Vegetation was
classified to a minimum mapping unit of 10 acres. The GIS database of forest stands and
vegetation cover was clipped to the state ownership and forms the basis of the acreage estimates
used in this report.
C. Field Inventory Design
The variable plot radius sampling method was used for field data collection of poletimber and
sawtimber size trees. The basal area factor utilized was 20 square feet. In each timber stand
sampled, ten plots were spaced uniformly on a traverse located systematically through the stand.
The traverse was located in such a manner as to attempt to sample the variation within a stand.
To minimize travel time, plots were generally located with a maximum interval of 330 feet.
Tally trees were selected or rejected with a relascope prism. On five of the ten plots, species,
tree vigor, crown ratio, defect type and estimated defect percentage, were recorded and tree
diameter, total tree height, bark thickness, and ten-year growth were measured (measure plots).
Tree diameters were measured 4.5 feet above ground, commonly known as “diameter breast
height” or dbh. Co-dominate and dominant trees were cored at dbh to determine average age and
site index of the sample stand. On the other alternating five plots, only the number of trees by
species and size class selected by the relascope were recorded (count plots). Count plots
generally serve to lower the sample error by increasing the overall plot numbers, but economize
time spent in the field collecting data. Only trees five inches dbh and greater were measured
utilizing the variable plot sampling method.
The fixed plot sampling method was used for field data collection of trees less than five inches
dbh. At every other plot in the ten plot traverse (measure plots) seedling and sapling size trees
were measured. Species and quality were recorded and tree diameter and total tree height were
measured. The fixed plot was a circular 1/250th acre plot (7.45 foot radius).
D. Data Summary
Upon completion of the field work, sampled stand data were entered into TCruise, a timber
inventory software program. The inventory software calculated volume attributes for the
individual sampled stands. These stands were then grouped into strata and re-processed in
TCruise. The inventory contains eight separate sample strata for which estimates of gross and
net volume per acre have been calculated. The strata contain field data from 91 individual
timber stands containing 910 plots (Table 4). Field data from some sampled stands were similar
enough to each other to allow combining of different stand timber types into like strata. Acreage
of un-sampled timber types deemed similar enough was also included in the strata.
Characteristics of these timber types were observed during the field work phase of the inventory.
Acreage of sampled and un-sampled timber types and the corresponding strata are shown in the
appendix. Total inventory volume was calculated by multiplying the average per acre volume
figures for each stratum by the number of acres each sample stratum represents. These
calculations were performed in a Microsoft Access database and utilize the GIS acreage figures.
Output reports written in Access display numerous stand attributes from the associated database
tables and queries.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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LAND COVER KEY
FOREST SPECIES
A Aspen BS Black Spruce
B Birch WS White Spruce
CW Cottonwood SS Sitka Spruce
HD Hardwood (Aspen, Birch, Cottonwood) MH Mountain Hemlock
FOREST SIZE / DESCRIPTORS
1 Seedling/Sapling < 5.0 inches DBH
2 Pole 5.0 inches to 8.9 inches DBH
3 Large (Sawtimber) > 9.0 inches DBH
D Dead
FOREST DENSITY
C Closed (60-100%) Calls are based
O Open ( 25-59% ) on crown closure
W Woodland ( 10-24% ) percent.
OTHER LAND COVER
HVST Harvest Area OS Other Shrub
GH Grasses and Herbs AGRI Agriculture
GH_CC Calamagrostis MSH Wetland
GH_TDL Tidal NF Non-Forest
GH_OG Other Grasses BN Barren/Snow Ice
ALD Alder DEV Developed Area
WIL Willow W Water
Table 3. Land cover key.
Volume Strata Acres
# of
Plots
# of
Stands
1 Needleleaf: Dead White or Sitka Spruce 21,673 210 21
2 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Pole 1,346 130 13
3 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Seedlings and Saplings 4,863 60 6
4 Needleleaf: Black Spruce, Pole Size or Larger 2,776 70 7
5 Needleleaf: Mountain Hemlock 791 70 7
6 Broadleaf: Pole Size or Larger 3,893 160 16
7 Mixed Forest: Broadleaf Dominating 3,372 80 8
8 Mixed Forest: Dead Needleleaf Dominating 8,065 130 13
46,780 910 91
Table 4. Acreage and number of sampled plots and stands by volume strata.
E. Description of Strata
The eight volume strata are described below. Pictures are shown for selected strata where
available. Generally the inventory project area is comprised of spruce dominated stands with
lesser amounts of mostly birch hardwoods mixed in. The composition of birch increases moving
south to north on the peninsula. The Ninilchik area forms the dividing line between mostly
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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spruce dominated lands to the south to a more mixed forest to the north. Spruce stands in all
regions have a significant amount of beetle kill and much of the sawtimber and larger poletimber
are dead. The classified vegetation layer identifies a broadleaf seedling/sapling timber type but
upon field checking, these stands are mostly shrub and wetlands. These types instead are
grouped in the non-forest shrub stratum.
1. Stratum 1 Needleleaf: Dead White or Sitka Spruce
This stratum is found throughout the project area but with heavier concentrations south of
Kasilof. Most of the area of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) is confined to the vicinity of Homer.
Much of the remaining area is white spruce (Picea glauca) or Lutz spruce (Picea x lutzii). It is
the largest in area of all the strata and comprises 46% of the total timberland area. Bark beetle
mortality is severe in the stratum and many of the sawtimber and poletimber sized trees are dead.
The infestation peaked in the early to mid nineties. The standing dead trees are generally
suitable for fuelwood and biomass with little sawtimber potential. The average stratum age is
106 years though the true stand initiation date is likely older based on the dead tree age. The
stem count (trees greater than 5” dbh) averages 113 trees per acre but 35% of the trees are dead
leaving about 74 live trees per acre. The stratum contains 746 cubic feet per acre and 13 tons per
acre but live trees account for only 387 cubic feet per acre and 8 tons per acre. Net yield is quite
low when factoring in the standing dead and is 0.04 tons per acre per year (2 cubic feet per acre
per year). However gross yield is significantly higher at over 4% and exceeds many strata from
other regions of interior and south central state forest lands. This indicates the potential of stand
growth on the Kenai Peninsula.
Figure 2. Stratum 1 Needleleaf: Dead White or Sitka Spruce.
2. Stratum 2 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Pole
This stratum is found mostly south of the Ninilchik area. The majority of trees in this stratum
are live white spruce poletimber. Defect averages around 9% and the average age is 144 years.
The stem count totals 49 trees per acre with scattered dead sawtimber and poletimber size trees
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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that comprise about 24% of the total. The stratum contains 160 cubic feet per acre and 3 tons per
acre. The net annual yield is 0.05 tons per acre per year (3 cubic feet per acre per year).
Figure 3. Stratum 2 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Pole.
3. Stratum 3 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Seedlings and Saplings
This stratum is also concentrated south of the Ninilchik area. It occurs mostly on poorly drained
sites with a mixture of black spruce seedlings. The black spruce is non-commercial and for the
most part is not going to develop into poletimber or sawtimber. There is however limited
potential for biomass. Most trees are less than five inches dbh and total 742 per acre for black
spruce and 200 per acre for white spruce.
4. Stratum 4 Needleleaf: Black Spruce, Pole Size or Larger
This stratum is found mostly north of the Ninilchik area. The trees in this stratum are dominated
by black and white spruce at roughly equal amounts. Defect averages around 4% and the
average age is 128 years. The stem count is 45 trees per acre and there is over 2,000 trees per
acre of black spruce that are less than 5 inches dbh. For the most part these stands are similar to
the un-sampled black spruce seedling/sapling dwarf type but with a somewhat higher poletimber
component. The stratum contains 218 cubic feet per acre and 4 tons per acre. It has a net annual
yield of 0.06 tons per acre per year (4 cubic feet per acre per year).
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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Figure 4. Stratum 3 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Seedlings and Saplings.
5. Stratum 5 Needleleaf: Mountain Hemlock
This stratum is confined to the Cooper Landing area and along the Seward Highway. It contains
the highest volume per acre in the inventory and is the oldest. Hemlock dominates the stratum
with roughly 16% of the stocking comprised of spruce. Defect averages around 5% and rot
indicators do not point to an excessive amount of hidden defect. The average age is 209 years.
The stem count is 374 trees per acre. The stratum contains 3,029 cubic feet per acre, 60 tons per
acre and 9,490 board feet per acre. It has a net annual yield of 0.93 tons per acre per year (46
cubic feet per acre per year).
6. Stratum 6 Broadleaf: Pole Size or Larger
This stratum is concentrated between Ninilchik and Clam Gulch. Birch and white spruce
comprise near equal portions of the stocking with small amounts of black spruce, cottonwood
and aspen. Defect is relatively high in the birch with most trees suitable for only fuelwood or
biomass. The average age is 106 years. The stem count is 85 trees per acre. The stratum
contains 493 cubic feet per acre. It contains 10 tons per acre and has a net annual yield of 0.32
tons per acre per year (15 cubic feet per acre per year).
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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Figure 5. Stratum 5 Needleleaf: Mountain Hemlock.
Figure 6. Stratum 6 Broadleaf: Pole Size or Larger.
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7. Stratum 7 Mixed Forest: Broadleaf Dominating
This stratum is found in the Kasilof area along with some additional stands located near the
Seward Highway in the Crown Point area. A variety of species is present with birch being the
dominate hardwood. Birch has high defect and averages 26%. Average age is 113 years. The
stem count is 156 trees per acre. The stratum contains 1,047 cubic feet per acre and 20 tons per
acre. It has a net annual yield of 0.49 tons per acre per year (23 cubic feet per acre per year).
Figure 7. Stratum 7 Mixed Forest: Broadleaf Dominating.
8. Stratum 8 Mixed Forest: Dead Needleleaf Dominating
This stratum is found throughout the project area. The species mix is dominated by white spruce
of which about one-half of the stems are dead. Birch is the dominate hardwood species.
Average age is 114 years. The stem count is 156 trees per acre. The stratum contains 626 cubic
feet per acre and 12 tons per acre. It has a net annual yield of 0.08 tons per acre per year (4 cubic
feet per acre per year).
IV. RESULTS
A. Forest Volume Definitions
Estimates of timber volume on forested lands have been calculated with three different
measurements; cubic foot volume, board foot volume and green tons. The cubic foot
measurement includes all timber greater than or equal to five inches dbh and is divided among
the live and dead poletimber and sawtimber components of the forest. The board foot
measurement is commonly used to determine the amount of lumber that can be sawn from a log.
Because the measurement is based on actual boards that can be sawn from a log, it disregards all
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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material wasted in the process such as slabs and sawdust. The board foot measurement only
includes timber equal to or greater than 9 inches dbh.
Volume calculations for both cubic and board foot measurements are based on volume equations
produced for Interior and South Central Alaska; U.S. Forest Service research notes NOR-5,
NOR-6, PNW-59, National Volume Estimator Library (NVEL) and the University of Alaska
Forest Growth and Yield Program. The NVEL volume equations are available on the internet as
a Microsoft Excel add-in function. Board foot volume is reported in Scribner Decimal C scale
and is based on 16-foot log segments (short log scale). For spruce and hemlock it is reported to a
6-inch top (PNW-59, NVEL) and for hardwoods to an 8-inch top (NOR-5). Cubic volume is
reported in Smalian’s rule and for spruce, hemlock and hardwoods includes volume to a 4-inch
top (NOR-6, U of A, NVEL). Both live and dead volume is reported. Dead volume includes
recently dead trees estimated to have died within the last 16 years.
Volume
Formula
Name
Volume
Unit
Species Formula
U of A Cubic Foot
4-inch Top
White, Black
and Sitka
Spruce
(-0.8937)+0.9963*(0.00217*dbh^1.85171*
ht^1.06907)+0.0488*dbh-0.00316*ht
NVEL
A01DEMW000
Cubic Foot
4-inch Top
Mountain
Hemlock
Region 10 Chugach National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/fmsc/measure/index.shtml
NOR-6 Cubic 4-inch
Top
Birch (-2.5767)+0.9524*(dbh)-0.10446*(dbh)^2-
0.03303*(ht)+0.00282*(dbh)^2*(ht)
NOR-6 Cubic 4-inch
Top
Aspen (-0.5553)-0.02216*dbh^2+0.00246*dbh^2*ht
NOR-6 Cubic 4-inch
Top
Balsam
Poplar
(-3.2187)+0.8281*(dbh)-0.05908*(dbh)^2-
0.01985*(ht)+0.00199*(dbh)^2*(ht)
PNW-59 Board Foot
Scribner 6-
inch Top
White, Black
and Sitka
Spruce
39.71+4.2659*dbh-0.55865*dbh^2-
1.1184*ht+0.016113*dbh^2*ht-437.92/dbh^2
NOR-5 Board Foot
Scribner 8-
inch Top
Birch and
Aspen
(-27.263)+0.00995*dbh^2*ht
NOR-5 Board Foot
Scribner 8-
inch Top
Balsam
Poplar
(-46.7415)+0.00956*dbh^2*ht
NVEL
A01DEMW000
Board Foot
Scribner 6-
inch Top
Mountain
Hemlock
Region 10 Chugach National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/fmsc/measure/index.shtml
Table 5. Volume formulas by species for poletimber and sawtimber size classes.
Computation of green tons is derived from researched local values found in the Matanuska-
Susitna area and utilized in the Mat-Su borough forest inventory report (Sanders 2006.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough: Forest Inventory Report.). Hemlock values are from the
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Engineering Toolbox (http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/weigt-wood-d_821.html). The
inventory cubic foot values are converted to green tons using these ratios (table 6).
Species Pounds per Cubic Foot
White/Sitka Spruce 33
Black Spruce 45
Mountain Hemlock 41
Birch 55
Aspen 50
Cottonwood 50
Table 6. Weight by species for poletimber and sawtimber size classes.
B. Inventory Volume by Species
Inventory volume is reported below in Table 7 by tree species across all strata. When the entire
volume by species is summed and divided by the timberland area of 46,780 acres there is an
average volume of 650 net cubic feet per acre. Similarly, overall there is an average of 12 net
tons per acre and 2,068 net board feet per acre. The values for cubic feet and tons are reported
for trees equal to or greater than five inches dbh. Board foot values are reported for trees equal
to or greater than nine inches dbh.
Net CF/Ac. Net Tons/Ac. Net BF/Ac.
Species Live Dead Total Live Dead Total Live Dead Total
Aspen 19 1 20 <1 <1 <1 35 2 36
Birch 83 0 83 2 0 2 300 2 302
Black Spruce 9 3 12 <1 <1 <1 0 0 0
Cottonwood 4 0 4 <1 0 <1 10 0 10
Hemlock 53 1 54 1 <1 1 173 2 176
Sitka Spruce 31 40 70 1 1 1 125 176 300
White Spruce 211 196 407 3 3 7 526 718 1,244
Totals 409 241 650 8 4 12 1,169 899 2,068
Table 7. Volume per acre live and dead across all strata.
Table 8 reports inventory volume by species and size class across all strata. The sawtimber size
class comprises 70% of the total net cubic volume or about 21,200,000 CF. The poletimber size
class comprises 30% of the total net cubic volume or about 9,200,000 CF. Dead trees of both
size classes comprise about 11,300,000 CF or a significant 37% of the total net cubic volume.
The percentage is even higher for the sawtimber board foot volume where dead trees represent
over 43% of the total net board foot volume.
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Gross
Cubic Ft.
Net
Cubic Ft.
Gross
Tons
Net
Tons
Gross
Board Ft.
Net Board
Ft.
Saw
Live
Aspen 804,649 610,586 20,116 15,265 2,142,430 1,632,509
Birch 4,137,385 3,147,667 113,778 86,561 18,946,542 14,040,185
Cottonwood 85,928 78,050 2,148 1,951 533,500 462,744
Hemlock 1,877,494 1,771,708 38,489 36,320 8,582,213 8,107,661
Sitka Spruce 1,265,953 1,265,958 20,888 20,888 5,837,818 5,837,831
White Spruce 5,491,290 5,353,679 90,606 88,336 25,446,509 24,602,404
Total 13,662,699 12,227,648 286,025 249,321 61,489,012 54,683,334
Saw
Dead
Aspen 22,622 23,474 566 587 67,844 70,349
Birch 213,803 14,374 5,880 395 989,620 91,634
Hemlock 24,189 23,431 496 480 105,780 102,727
Sitka Spruce 1,791,401 1,780,875 29,558 29,384 8,243,458 8,212,378
White Spruce 8,420,031 7,162,855 138,931 118,187 39,647,525 33,594,939
Total 10,472,046 9,005,009 175,431 149,033 49,054,227 42,072,027
Pole
Live
Aspen 291,107 278,480 7,278 6,962
Birch 825,845 733,941 22,711 20,183
Black Spruce 433,947 417,686 9,764 9,398
Cottonwood 90,075 88,089 2,252 2,202
Hemlock 709,343 693,645 14,542 14,220
Sitka Spruce 166,510 165,993 2,747 2,739
White Spruce 4,582,133 4,536,959 75,605 74,860
Total 7,098,960 6,914,793 134,899 130,564
Pole
Dead
Birch 83,860 8,506 2,306 234
Black Spruce 161,191 161,191 3,627 3,627
Hemlock 31,915 30,746 654 630
Sitka Spruce 78,599 78,624 1,297 1,297
White Spruce 2,044,394 1,996,070 33,733 32,935
Total 2,399,959 2,275,137 41,617 38,723
Grand Total
33,633,663 30,422,585 637,970 567,642 110,543,239 96,755,359
Table 8. Volume summary by size class and species across all strata.
C. Defect Estimates by Species
Defect renders portions of individual trees unusable or of very limited use as forest products due
to physical damage such as forked stems, sweep and crook. Table 9 ranks the most common
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
15
defect types by species. Crook and sweep are the most common defect types for white spruce
followed by broken tops. Broken tops are mostly found in the beetle killed trees. For birch the
most common defect types are form related (forked top, crook) followed b y rot indicators of
scars and conks. Birch has the most amount of defect at almost 26% (Table 10).
Defect Type
Species Broken Top Conks Crook Forked Top Frost Cracks Scars Sweep
Aspen 5 3 2 1 - 3 4
Birch 7 4 2 1 5 3 6
Black Spruce 3 - 1 2 - - 3
Cottonwood - - 1 1 - - -
Hemlock 4 4 2 3 - - 1
Sitka Spruce 1 - - 1 - - -
White Spruce 2 4 1 2 3 3 1
Table 9. Defect type ranking by species.
Species
Gross Cubic
Feet/Ac
Net Cubic
Feet/Acre
Percent
Defect
Aspen 24 20 18.4
Birch 112 83 25.8
Black Spruce 13 12 2.7
Cottonwood 4 4 5.6
Hemlock 56 54 4.7
Sitka Spruce 71 70 0.3
White Spruce 439 407 7.2
Total 719 650 9.5
Table 10. Cubic foot defect estimates by species across all strata.
D. Inventory Volume by Strata
Timber inventory results by stratum and species are shown in Figure 8 and Table 11. Detailed
results by stratum are contained in the appendix.
Figure 8. Percent of total cubic foot net volume by strata.
53%
1% 2%
2%
8%
6%
12%
17% 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Strata Number
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
16
Net CUFT
Per Acre
Total Net
CUNITS
Net Tons
Per Ac.
Total Net
Tons
Net BDFT
Per Acre
Total Net
MBF
Stratum 1 Needleleaf: Dead White or Sitka Spruce = 21,673 Acres
Aspen 16 3,384 0 8,460 36 774
Birch 51 11,043 1 30,369 224 4,853
Black Spruce 6 1,388 0 3,123
Cottonwood 2 394 0 984
Sitka Spruce 135 29,199 2 48,178 589 12,762
White Spruce 537 116,292 9 191,882 1,704 36,926
Totals 747 161,700 12 282,996 2,553 55,315
Stratum 2 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Pole = 1,346 Acres
Birch 12 158 0 435 36 48
Black Spruce 6 78 0 176
White Spruce 142 1,911 2 3,152 382 515
Totals 160 2,147 2 3,763 418 563
Stratum 3 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Seedlings and Saplings = 4,863 Acres
Black Spruce 5 263 0 592
White Spruce 105 5,099 2 8,414 406 1,977
Totals 110 5,362 2 9,006 406 1,977
Stratum 4 Needleleaf: Black Spruce, Pole Size or Larger = 2,776 Acres
Birch 39 1,082 1 2,975 5 14
Black Spruce 40 1,114 1 2,507
White Spruce 139 3,864 2 6,376 289 801
Totals 218 6,060 4 11,858 294 815
Stratum 5 Needleleaf: Mountain Hemlock = 791 Acres
Aspen 6 49 0 123 21 16
Birch 30 237 1 652 61 48
Hemlock 2,659 21,044 55 43,140 8,478 6,710
Sitka Spruce 79 628 1 1,035 295 234
White Spruce 255 2,016 4 3,327 635 502
Totals 3,029 23,974 61 48,277 9,490 7,510
Stratum 6 Broadleaf: Pole Size or Larger = 3,893 Acres
Aspen 19 740 0 1,850 81 314
Birch 138 5,361 4 14,743 528 2,054
Black Spruce 22 846 0 1,904
Cottonwood 20 782 1 1,954 34 132
White Spruce 294 11,446 5 18,887 923 3,595
Totals 493 19,175 10 39,338 1,566 6,095
Stratum 7 Mixed Forest: Broadleaf Dominating = 3,372 Acres
Aspen 122 4,127 3 10,319 119 403
Birch 220 7,432 6 20,437 646 2,177
Black Spruce 10 345 0 775
Cottonwood 7 229 0 574 54 182
Hemlock 123 4,152 3 8,511 445 1,501
Sitka Spruce 92 3,088 2 5,096 313 1,054
White Spruce 472 15,915 8 26,261 1,616 5,449
Totals 1,046 35,288 22 71,973 3,193 10,766
Stratum 8 Mixed Forest: Dead Needleleaf Dominating = 8,066 Acres
Aspen 10 825 0 2,062 24 196
Birch 170 13,732 5 37,762 612 4,936
Black Spruce 22 1,754 0 3,947
Cottonwood 3 257 0 641 18 148
White Spruce 421 33,951 7 56,020 1,046 8,433
Totals 626 50,519 12 100,432 1,700 13,713
Grand Total 304,225 567,643 96,754
Table 11. Volume summary by timber type species class.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
17
E. Inventory Volume of Sapling Size Trees
Inventory volume results are calculated for the sapling component and determine the green
tonnage of this material that may be available as a biomass resource. These values represent the
total above ground portion of the tree including branches and needles and use equations
developed by the State of Alaska Division of Forestry for the Tok area. Due to inaccuracies in
projecting weight of very small trees, the equations were only applied to trees with diameters
between two and 4.9 inches dbh.
As can be seen in Table 13, most strata have a rather insignificant amount of additional tonnage
in the sapling size class. Stratum 4, the black spruce pole stratum, has a significant number of
sapling sized trees and has the most volume at over 7 tons per acre.
Species Sapling Aboveground Green Weight in Pounds
Spruce, Hemlock
-51.272*dbh+11.28*dbh^2+3.752*Ht
Birch, Aspen,
Cottonwood
-52.125*dbh+11.408*dbh^2+3.433*Ht
Table 12. Inventory sapling species and weight regression equations.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
18
Trees/Acre Tons/Acre
Stratum 1 Needleleaf: Dead White or Sitka Spruce
Black Spruce 38 0.5
Cottonwood 12
Sitka Spruce 5
White Spruce 64 1.0
Total Trees Per Acre 119 1.5
Stratum 2 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Pole
Black Spruce 27 0.2
White Spruce 31 0.1
Total Trees Per Acre 58 0.2
Stratum 3 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Seedlings and Saplings
Black Spruce 58 0.3
White Spruce 33 0.7
Total Trees Per Acre 91 1.0
Stratum 4 Needleleaf: Black Spruce, Pole Size or Larger
Black Spruce 479 7.0
White Spruce 29 0.1
Total Trees Per Acre 508 7.2
Stratum 5 Needleleaf: Mountain Hemlock
Birch 7 0.1
Hemlock 121 1.3
White Spruce 7
Total Trees Per Acre 135 1.4
Stratum 6 Broadleaf: Pole Size or Larger
Birch 9 0.3
Black Spruce 13 0.2
Cottonwood 3 0.1
White Spruce 59 0.8
Total Trees Per Acre 84 1.3
Stratum 7 Mixed Forest: Broadleaf Dominating
Birch 50 3.0
Black Spruce 19 0.1
Hemlock 13 0.2
Sitka Spruce 19
White Spruce 25 0.7
Stratum 8 Mixed Forest: Dead Needleleaf Dominating
Black Spruce
White Spruce 15 0.1
Total Trees Per Acre 85 0.9
Table 13. Number of trees 2-4.9” and tons per acre of saplings by strata.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
19
F. Sampling Error by Volume
Sample error was calculated for the live gross cubic foot estimate by strata and size class (Table
14). The sample error percent is given within one standard deviation of the mean. This means
that there is a 68% chance (one standard deviation) that the volume of the individual live size
class components are within plus or minus the error percentage indicated. High variability and
low numbers of pole and saw size trees resulted in high errors for strata 2, 3, and 4. Overall the
combined error across strata was a more reasonable 4.3%.
Live Poletimber Live Sawtimber Combined
Stratum Number
of Plots
Gross
CF/Ac
%
Sampling
Error
Gross
CF/Ac
%
Sampling
Error
Gross
CF/Ac
%
Sampling
Error
1 210 151 10.3 255 12.0 406 8.5
2 130 55 17.6 79 31.9 134 20.1
3 60 30 45.6 46 75.3 76 49.0
4 70 62 31.2 127 30.6 189 23.0
5 70 869 13.2 2,184 9.0 3,053 7.5
6 160 109 18.0 304 10.4 413 9.0
7 80 287 14.5 729 11.5 1,016 9.2
8 130 167 13.2 260 18.1 427 12.2
Total 910 161 6.8 368 5.4 529 4.3
Table 14. Gross live cubic foot percent sampling error.
A. Log Grade
Log grade estimates were made during field sampling. Log grade was only tallied for the live
sawtimber sized trees (> 9 inches dbh). A grade was given for each of the first two 16-foot log
segments. Log grades use Puget Sound grading rules, which contain specifications for various
species. White spruce, Sitka spruce, Mountain hemlock and Black spruce were applied to the
Puget Sound Sitka spruce rules. Aspen and birch were applied to red alder rules. The summary
for white spruce trees in strata 1 and 8 and hemlock trees in stratum 5 is shown in Table 15.
Log grade results were not computed by volume but do provide grade estimates in straight
percentage terms of trees measured in the field. This gives a reference point for the grade
distribution in each stratum. In stratum 1 the first white spruce 16-foot log was coded a number
3 (> 10-inch top, 50 bf minimum) in only 5% of the measurements. Over 80% of the
measurements however, coded the first log segment as a number 4 log grade. In stratum 5
hemlock accounted for the most number 3 log grades and the first hemlock 16-foot log was
coded a number 3 in 17% of the measurements. The Puget Sound grading rules and detailed
results by species across all strata are shown in the appendix.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
20
Strata Species First 16-Foot
Log Grade
Second 16-Foot
Log Grade
Percent of
Measurements
1 White Spruce 3 4 5 %
1 White Spruce 4 4 50 %
1 White Spruce 4 Utility 24 %
1 White Spruce Utility Cull 7 %
1 White Spruce 4 Cull 10 %
1 White Spruce Cull Cull 5 %
5 Mountain Hemlock 2 2 1 %
5 Mountain Hemlock 2 3 2 %
5 Mountain Hemlock 3 3 1 %
5 Mountain Hemlock 3 4 14 %
5 Mountain Hemlock 3 Utility 2 %
5 Mountain Hemlock 4 4 24 %
5 Mountain Hemlock 4 Utility 19 %
5 Mountain Hemlock 4 Cull 8%
5 Mountain Hemlock Utility 4 1 %
5 Mountain Hemlock Utility Utility 18 %
5 Mountain Hemlock Utility Cull 9 %
5 Mountain Hemlock Cull Cull 2 %
8 White Spruce 3 5 6 %
8 White Spruce 4 Cull 45 %
8 White Spruce 4 4 6 %
8 White Spruce 4 5 28 %
8 White Spruce 5 Cull 11 %
8 White Spruce Cull Cull 6 %
Table 15. Log grade for strata 1, 5 and 8.
V. FOREST PRODUCTIVITY
A. Site Index
Tree height has been found as the most reliable indicator of site productivity. In essence, the
taller the tree the more productive is the growing site. When height is combined with tree age,
the measurements can be reported as a site index number. This number gives the height in feet
of a particular stand at a reference base age. Site index of spruce and hemlock uses a base age of
100 years whereas site index of hardwoods uses a base age of 50 years. Site index reflects the
combined effect of all environmental factors and is therefore a good index of stand productivity.
Site index calculations for white spruce are based on site index equations produced for Interior
Alaska: U.S. Forest Service research paper PNW-53. The white spruce PNW-53 values were also
applied to Sitka spruce and Mountain hemlock. Site index calculations for birch and aspen are
based on site index equations produced for Interior Alaska; U.S. Forest Service research paper
NOR-2. The aspen NOR-2 values were also applied to the Cottonwood measurements. In
Tables 17 and 18 the white spruce and birch average sample stand site indices were prorated by
the strata acreage to give an estimated distribution of sites across the project area.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
21
Site Index
Stratum White Spruce Sitka Spruce Hemlock Birch Cottonwood
1 54 84 53
2 36 34
3 40
4 57
5 48 43 43
6 63 37 52
7 61 68 46 38 38
8 52 43
Average 53 77 43 39 47
Table 16. Site index by strata and species,
Site Index
20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90
Stratum
Acres
1 1,204 2,408 2,408 7,224 7,224 1,204
2 367 489 367 122
3 1,216 1,216
1,216 1,216
4
1,110
555 1,110
5
264 264 264
6 389 389 389 389 1,168 389 779
7
2,248 562 562
8
1,613 4,033
807 1,613
Percent 9% 16% 21% 21% 19% 10% 3%
Table 17. White spruce site index (acres) by strata.
Site Index
20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90
Stratum
Acres
1
21,673
2
1,346
3
4
5
791
6 1,168 1,557 779 389
7
3,372
8
1,613 6,453
Percent 3% 20% 20% 56% 0% 0% 0%
Table 18. Birch site index (acres) by strata.
B. Timberland Area Age Class
Forest productivity can also be examined in terms of overall age class distribution. Typically as
trees become older productivity declines. Hardwoods generally begin to decline after year 80 or
90 when rot becomes more frequent. White spruce is longer lived, but generally starts to decline
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
22
after year 180. At this age white spruce becomes more susceptible to rot and insect damage.
Mountain Hemlock is longer lived and can reach ages in excess of 300 years. Table 19 shows
age class distribution in acres and percent of the total acreage. Roughly 45% of the timberland
acreage is between 100 and 150 years of age and less than one quarter of the acreage is between
60 and 90 years of age which is optimum for birch quality. The decline of birch quality is
evident in many of the stands and is reflected in the age class distribution where 73% of the stand
acreage is in age classes that are over mature for birch. Stand age in stratum one is likely older
than the reported age of 103 in Table 20 but most of the larger and older size classes are dead.
This age mostly reflects the residual pole and small sawtimber component in these stands.
Stand Age Class Average Age Acres Percent of Total
40 - 50 48 514 1%
50 - 60 54 1,542 3%
60 - 70 64 4,113 9%
70 - 80 75 2,570 5%
80 - 90 86 4,113 9%
90 - 100 94 3,598 8%
100 - 110 105 5,655 12%
110 - 120 115 6,169 13%
120 - 130 123 2,056 4%
130 - 140 136 3,084 7%
140 - 150 144 4,113 9%
150 - 160 158 514 1%
160 - 170 166 3,084 7%
170 - 180 173 2,056 4%
190 - 200 198 514 1%
210 - 220 219 514 1%
230 - 240 232 1,028 2%
240 - 250 240 514 1%
250 - 260 252 514 1%
290 - 300 291 514 1%
Weighted Average 120 46,780 100%
Table 19. Percent of area by age class.
Stratum Description Average Age
1 Needleleaf: Dead White or Sitka Spruce 103
2 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Pole 141
3 Needleleaf: Live White or Sitka Spruce, Seedlings and Saplings 112
4 Needleleaf: Black Spruce, Pole Size or Larger 125
5 Needleleaf: Mountain Hemlock 206
6 Broadleaf: Pole Size or Larger 103
7 Mixed Forest: Broadleaf Dominating 110
8 Mixed Forest: Dead Needleleaf Dominating 111
Table 20. Average age by strata.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
23
C. Regeneration
Another measure of productivity is whether individual timber stands are being replaced by
regeneration. The spruce bark beetle has killed much of the larger trees on the peninsula and
understory regeneration is critical in restoring the historical stocking in these stands.
Regeneration of desirable and acceptable crop trees was generally adequate across the strata but
the stocking is likely below levels needed for rapid restoration of white spruce stands (van
Hees.2005. Spruce Reproduction Dynamics on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula). In some cases the
distribution of regeneration is poor and is evident in the mixed strata were grass competition is
significant. Table 21 gives numbers of trees per acre less than 5 inches by species and stratum.
Trees are of desirable and acceptable quality as determined in the field sample. Undesirable
trees not expected to become future crop trees are not included in the table.
Number of Trees Per Acre < 5” dbh
Strata # Mountain
Hemlock
Sitka
Spruce
White
Spruce
Black
Spruce
Birch Aspen Cottonwood Total
1 7 274 40 60 43 424
2 127 212 8 346
3 200 742 942
4 93 2,086 2,179
5 2,371 14 29 7 2,421
6 119 13 206 6 9 353
7 50 138 19 50 256
8 188 146 4 338
Table 21. Number of trees per acre less than 5 inches dbh by species and strata.
D. Growth and Mortality Estimates
Growth estimates have been determined through projections made with the timber cruise
software TCruise (Table 22). The software projects growth by utilizing 10 year diameter growth
increment and bark thickness measurements collected in the field. By collecting both of these
variables, the software is able to discount changes in bark thickness that would affect the
accurate determination of diameter growth. The software calculates a diameter-height regression
(displayed in the appendix) and then applies the projected heights to the new grown diameters.
These diameter and height pairs are then processed through the volume tables to calculate gross
growth. A growth projection interval of 10 years (2011-2021) is used and then the increased
volume growth is divided by 10 to calculate an annual growth rate. This volume figure was then
divided by the growing stock base (live tree volume) to calculate a percentage growth rate (gross
growth). Diameter-height relationships, diameter growth and calculated bark thickness ratios
(Husch et al. 2002. Forest Mensuration, Fourth Edition.) are shown in the appendix. Mortality
estimates have been determined by dividing the recently dead volume estimates by 16 to get
annual mortality. The 16 year time period corresponds to the beginning of the bark beetle
infestation on the Kenai Peninsula. These trees were easily identified during the field
measurements as bark beetle killed trees. The net growth (gross growth minus mortality) is
exceedingly small due to the massive mortality rates. The gross growth figures may be a better
indicator of the future growth potential considering that the bark beetle outbreak has mostly run
its course. Gross growth rates somewhat exceed Forest Service estimates of between 2 and 3%
(softwoods) and up to 4% (hardwoods) on unmanaged interior boreal forests (Smith et al. 2007.
Forest Resources of the United States, 2007).
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
24
Strata Description %
Annual
Gross
Growth
%
Annual
Mor-
tality
%
Annual
Net
Growth
CF/Ac/
Yr
Gross
Growth
CF/Ac/
Yr Net
Growth
Tons/Ac
/Yr
Gross
Growth
Tons/Ac
/Yr Net
Growth
1 Dead White/Sitka 6.29% 5.80% 0.49% 24 2 0.50 0.04
2 Live White/Sitka Pole 3.87% 1.56% 2.31% 5 3 0.08 0.05
3 Live White/Sitka Seed Sap 4.04% 3.17% 0.87% 3 1 0.04 0.01
4 Black Spruce Pole 3.55% 1.40% 2.15% 6 4 0.11 0.06
5 Mountain Hemlock 1.92% 0.31% 1.61% 55 46 1.11 0.93
6 Broadleaf Pole/Saw 6.20% 2.19% 4.01% 23 15 0.50 0.32
7 Mixed: Broadleaf Dom. 3.47% 0.91% 2.56% 32 23 0.66 0.49
8 Mxd: Dead Needleleaf Dm 5.52% 4.47% 1.05% 20 4 0.44 0.08
Total Growing Stock 4.11% 3.68% 0.43% 17 2 0.31 0.03
Table 22. Growth and mortality estimates.
VI. SUSTAINED YIELD ESTIMATES
Estimates of sustained yield have been made for the inventory project area. Spruce and mixed
timber types use a rotation age of 120 years which includes 10 years for establishment.
Hardwood timber types use a rotation age of 80 years which includes 10 years for establishment.
The sustained yield has been calculated using area control, which divides the acreage of each
stratum by the rotation age. A total of 406 acres per year is the sustained yield on these lands.
Dead trees account for over 37% of the cubic volume and 43% of the board foot volume.
#
Strata Description Acres
Rota-
tion
Ac./
Yr.
Net
CF/
Ac.
Net
CF/
Yr.
Net
Tons/
Ac.
Net
Tons/
Yr.
Net
BF/
Ac.
Net
BF/
Yr.
1 Dead White/Sitka 21,673 120 181 747 134,914 12 2,167 2,553 461,093
2 Live White/Sitka Pole 1,346 120 11 160 1,795 2 22 418 4,689
3 Live White/Sitka Seed Sap 4,863 120 41 110 4,458 2 81 406 16,453
4 Black Spruce Pole 2,776 120 23 218 5,043 4 93 294 6,801
5 Mountain Hemlock 791 120 7 3,029 19,966 61 402 9,490 62,555
6 Broadleaf Pole/Saw 3,893 80 49 493 23,991 10 487 1,566 76,205
7 Mixed: Broadleaf Dom. 3,372 120 28 1,046 29,393 22 618 3,193 89,723
8 Mxd: Dead Needleleaf Dom. 8,066 120 67 626 42,078 12 807 1,700 114,268
Totals 46,780
406
261,637 4,677
831,788
Species Totals
Aspen
7,954 84
15,539
Birch
34,770 910
126,361
Black Spruce
5,109 23
0
Cottonwood
1,733 49
4,382
Hemlock
20,984 447
68,389
Sitka Spruce
27,488 424
117,118
White Spruce
163,599 2,740
499,999
Totals
261,637 4,677
831,788
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
25
Table 23. Sustained yield estimate.
Figure 9. Sustained yield comparison between strata, total timberland area.
VII. ECONOMIC AVAILABILITY OF SUSTAINABLE BIOMASS FUELS
The economics of available biomass is examined in context to three communities in the project
area; Ionia which is located near Kasilof, Seward and Homer. Additional Garn solid wood
boilers are proposed to be installed in Ionia and Seward is evaluating the use of biomass for
heating its school buildings. Homer currently does not have plans for biomass but it is not
served by natural gas and a potential may exist for Homer to develop biomass resources. For
biomass projects to be successful an accurate estimate of an economic and sustainable raw
material supply is needed. This is especially important in Alaska because there is little urban,
logging residue or wood manufacturing wood waste available as a supplemental biomass
resource. Energy plantations of fast growing woody crops are also not available. For the most
part, the biomass supply for these projects will consist solely of harvested firewood and
commercial grade timber. When biomass is used in this form it is referred to as “fuelwood”.
This is the most expensive of biomass sources (Ashton et al. 2008. Woody Biomass Desk Guide
and Toolkit). This supply scenario is quite different than the Lower 48 where biomass projects
generally rely on a combination of urban wood waste, mill waste and logging residues.
Delivered firewood costs to the three communities are quite variable depending on the extent of
processing, volume and load configuration. Much of the wood is beetle killed spruce and is
being sourced from State of Alaska timber sales located between Kenai and Anchor Point.
Prices range from around $100.00 to $200.00 per cord. Prices are roughly 50% higher if the
material is delivered to Seward. Average haul distances from the sale areas to Kasilof/Homer are
10-30 miles and to Seward 120 miles.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
26
A. Volume Availability Ionia/Kasilof
Volume availability on an annual basis is determined by utilizing the inventory growth rates.
The gross growth rates indicated in Table 22 are 17 cubic feet per acre. Using an average 90
cubic feet of solid wood per cord (Sturgeon 1979. Wood As A Fuel) the forest is increasing in
volume by about 2-tenths of a cord per acre per year. In its simplest form, if timber harvest is
equivalent to projected growth, then the harvest would be considered sustainable over the long
term. Timber stands between Ninilchik and Kasilof (Figure 10) are considered mostly accessible
to Ionia and are considered in this analysis. The State Division of Forestry has several timber
sales listed in its 2011-2015 Five Year Schedule of Timber Sales within this area. The annual
volume availability is determined by multiplying gross growth percentages by strata by the
Ninilchik-Kasilof volume estimates. In addition to this amount the dead volume is also included
and is considered wholly available. The volume of dead however will continue to decline as
trees fall down. In addition to the 40,324 cords of dead wood, projected gross growth in these
units is estimated to be 210 cords per year. This volume could be made available for about
$150.00 per cord.
B. Volume Availability Seward
Timber stands in the vicinity of the Hope Road turnoff, Cooper Landing and Crown Point
(Figure 11) are considered mostly accessible to Seward and are considered in this analysis.
Although currently the State Division of Forestry does not have timber sales listed in its 2011-
2015 Five Year Schedule of Timber Sales within this area, timber sales could be scheduled if a
demand materialized. In addition to the 6,668 cords of dead wood, projected gross growth in
these units is estimated to be 39 cords per year. This volume could be made available for about
$225.00 per cord.
C. Volume Availability Homer
Timber stands between Ninilchik and the head of Kachemak Bay (Figure 12) are considered
mostly accessible to Homer and are considered in this analysis. The State Division of Forestry
has several timber sales listed in its 2011-2015 Five Year Schedule of Timber Sales within this
area. In addition to the 69,112 cords of dead wood, projected gross growth in these units is
estimated to be 296 cords per year. This volume could be made available for about $150.00 per
cord.
Annual Annual Total Total
Stratum Acres
Dead
Cords
Dead
Tons
Growth
Cords
Growth
Tons
Available
Cords
Available
Tons
1 2,344 9,350 13,915 40 66 9,390 13,981
2 150 52 16,693 0 0 52 16,693
3 1,795 746 0 2 0 748 0
4 2,759 1,219 78 7 0 1,226 78
5 0 0 343 0 0 0 343
6 3,290 4,672 0 51 0 4,723 0
7 1,004 1,487 1,108 12 3 1,499 1,111
8 7,865 22,798 2,217 97 0 22,895 2,217
Totals 19,207 40,324 34,354 210 70 40,534 34,424
Table 24. Sustainable available volume Ionia/Kasilof area.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
27
Annual Annual Total Total
Stratum Acres
Dead
Cords
Dead
Tons
Growth
Cords
Growth
Tons
Available
Cords
Available
Tons
1 828 3,303 4,916 14 23 3,317 4,939
2 0 0 5,897 0 0 0 5,897
3 664 276 0 1 0 277 0
4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 714 1,140 0 8 0 1,148 0
6 161 229 0 3 0 232 0
7 1,035 1,532 410 13 1 1,545 411
8 65 188 820 1 0 189 820
Totals 3,467 6,668 12,043 39 24 6,707 12,067
Table 25. Sustainable available volume Seward area.
Annual Annual Total Total
Stratum Acres
Dead
Cords
Dead
Tons
Growth
Cords
Growth
Tons
Available
Cords
Available
Tons
1 16,942 67,579 100,572 288 477 67,867 101,049
2 1,164 406 120,648 2 0 408 120,648
3 2,302 956 0 3 0 959 0
4 0 0 603 0 4 0 607
5 0 0 2,652 0 0 0 2,652
6 120 171 0 2 0 173 0
7 0 0 1,420 0 4 0 1,424
8 0 0 2,843 0 0 0 2,843
Totals 20,528 69,112 228,738 296 485 69,408 229,223
Table 26. Sustainable available volume Homer area.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
28
Figure 10 Forest units near Ionia.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
29
Figure 11. Forest units near Seward.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
30
Figure 12. Forest units near Homer.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
31
VIII. LITERATURE CITED
Ashton, S., L. McDonell, and K. Barnes. 2008. Woody biomass desk guide and toolkit. National
Association of Conservation Districts. U.S. Department of Interior and the USDA Forest Service.
Husch, B., T.W. Beers, J.A. Kershaw. 2002. Forest Mensuration, Fourth Edition. John Wiley
and Sons.
Sanders, R. 2006. Matanuska-Susitna Borough: Forest Inventory Report. Matanuska-Susitna
Borough.
Smith, B., P.D. Miles, C.H. Perry, S.A. Pugh. 2007. Forest Resources of the United States, 2007.
USDA Forest Service.
Sturgeon, J. 1979 Wood as a Fuel. Series No. R10-40 USDA Forest Service Alaska Region.
Van Hees. W. 2005. Spruce Reproduction Dynamics on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, 1987-2000.
USDA Forest Service Research Paper PNW-RP-563. March, 2005.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
A-1
Appendix A
Acres by Vegetation Type and Strata
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
A-2
Vegetation Type Acres Field Sampled?
Stratum 1 NEEDLELEAF: DEAD WHITE OR SITKA SPRUCE
DWS3MH2C 517 No DWS3WS3C 35 No DWS3WS2C 330 No DWS3W/WS2 4 No DWS3W/ALD 9 No DWS3W 1,576 Yes DWS3O/WS2 137 Yes DWS3O/ALD 0 No DWS3WS3MH2C 71 No DWS3MH3C 208 No DWS1W 99 No DWS3C/WS2 123 No DWS3C 13,045 Yes WS3W 61 Yes DSS3W 95 No DSS3SS3W 26 No DSS3SS3O 1,075 No DSS3MH2C 26 No DWS3O 4,058 Yes SS3C 55 No WS3DWS3C 31 Yes WS3DWS3MH3C 7 No SS3O 50 No WS3O 33 No Summary for 'stratum' = 1 (24 detail records)
Sum 21,673
Stratum 2 NEEDLELEAF: LIVE WHITE OR SITKA SPRUCE, POLE
DWS2W 516 No WS2O 114 Yes WS2W 336 Yes WS2C 10 No DWS2C 12 No DWS2O 325 Yes SS2W 1 No SS2O 31 No Summary for 'stratum' = 2 (8 detail records)
Sum 1,346
Stratum 3 NEEDLELEAF: LIVE WHITE OR SITKA SPRUCE, SEEDLINGS AND SAPLINGS
HVST 3,346 No WS1W 1,086 Yes WS1O 386 Yes WS1C 44 No Summary for 'stratum' = 3 (4 detail records)
Sum 4,863
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
A-3
Vegetation Type Acres Field Sampled?
Stratum 4 NEEDLELEAF: BLACK SPRUCE, POLE SIZE OR LARGER
BS2O 1,098 No BS2W 44 No BS3O 71 No BS2C 1,563 Yes Summary for 'stratum' = 4 (4 detail records)
Sum 2,776
Stratum 5 NEEDLELEAF: MOUNTAIN HEMLOCK
MH2C 442 Yes MH3DWS3C 341 No MH3C 4 No MH3DWS3W 4 No Summary for 'stratum' = 5 (4 detail records)
Sum 791
Stratum 6 BROADLEAF: POLE SIZE OR LARGER
CW3O 31 Yes CW2O 2 No B3C 3 No CW3W 47 No B2W 0 No B2O 3,198 Yes B2C/WS1 230 No B2C 75 No AB2C/WS1 14 No AB2C 12 No A2W 3 No A2O 20 No A2C 110 No A2B2C 109 Yes B3O 27 Yes HVST/B2O 14 Yes HD2O 0 No Summary for 'stratum' = 6 (17 detail records)
Sum 3,893
Stratum 7 MIXED FOREST: BROADLEAF DOMINATING
AB3WS2C 10 No B3WS3DWS3C 439 No B3WS3O 16 Yes B2WS2C 76 Yes A2BS2C 1 No CW3WS3O 3 No B2DWS3O 195 Yes B2DWS3C 315 No B1WS1O 30 No AB3WS3O 291 No B3WS3C 339 Yes AB3WS3C 634 No A3DWS3O 61 No A2BS1C 15 No A2DWS3C 33 Yes A2DWS3O 22 No A2WS1C 24 No
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
A-4
Vegetation Type Acres Field Sampled? CW3DWS3O 43 No A2WS2C 28 No B2WS2O 1 No HD3WS3DWS3O 374 No HD3WS3C 184 No AB2SS2C 17 No AB2WS2C 148 No AB3DWS3C 56 No AB3DWS3O 16 No Summary for 'stratum' = 7 (26 detail records)
Sum 3,372
Stratum 8 MIXED FOREST: DEAD NEEDLELEAF DOMINATING
DWS3WS3A2C 5 No DWS3A2C 121 No DWS3HD2O 202 No DWS3A2B2C 41 No DWS3A2O 84 No DWS3B2C 5,359 Yes WS3B2W 56 No WS3B3O 2 No DWS3B2O 1,501 Yes WS3B2O 281 No WS3B2C 0 No DSS3CW3C 27 No DSS3AB2C 7 No DWS3HD2C 271 No BS1A2C 2 No DWS3HD3C 29 No DWS3WS2B2C 23 No WS3AB2O 1 No WS3AB2C 3 No DWS3HD3O 26 No DSS3A2C 25 No Summary for 'stratum' = 8 (21 detail records)
Sum 8,066
Stratum 10 NEEDLELEAF: BLACK SPRUCE, SEEDLINGS AND SAPLINGS (Dwarf Forests)
BS1C 1,523 No BS1O 2,508 No BS1W 4,322 No Summary for 'stratum' = 10 (3 detail records)
Sum 8,353
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
A-5
Vegetation Type Acres Field Sampled?
Stratum 20 NON-FOREST: SHRUB
OS 673 No A1C 38 No WIL 301 No A1BS1C 118 No AB1O 1 No A1O 472 No CW1O 1 No A1BS1W 11 No B1C 26 No ALD 7,055 No AB1C 29 No Summary for 'stratum' = 20 (11 detail records)
Sum 8,726
Stratum 30 NON-FOREST: GRASSLAND
GH_DEV 236 No GH 7,492 No GH_AGRI 171 No Summary for 'stratum' = 30 (3 detail records)
Sum 7,899
Stratum 40 NON-FOREST: WETLAND
MSH 10,312 No Summary for 'stratum' = 40 (1 detail record)
Sum 10,312
Stratum 50 NON-FOREST: OTHER
NF 637 No
Summary for 'stratum' = 50 (1 detail record)
Sum 637
Stratum 60 NON-FOREST: WATER
W 471 No Summary for 'stratum' = 60 (1 detail record)
Sum 471
Grand Total 83,178
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
B-1
Appendix B
Stand Tables Per Acre by Strata and Species
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
B-2
DBH # of Trees BA Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Stratum 1 NEEDLELEAF: DEAD WHITE OR SITKA SPRUCE Acreage = 21,673
Aspen 8 1 0 3 3 0 0 9 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 1 10 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 3 11 0 0 3 3 0 0 11 10 12 0 0 2 2 0 0 8 7 13 0 0 2 2 0 0 9 8 14 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 2 2 0 0 9 8
Totals 2 1 17 16 0 0 40 36
Birch 6 1 0 2 0 0 0 7 1 0 2 1 0 0 8 1 0 2 2 0 0 9 1 0 7 5 0 0 10 7 10 2 1 7 6 0 0 31 27 11 2 1 18 13 1 0 67 48 12 1 1 5 4 0 0 32 19 13 1 0 8 0 0 0 34 2 14 1 1 5 4 0 0 19 16 15 1 1 4 3 0 0 19 14 16 1 1 7 6 0 0 44 38 17 0 1 6 5 0 0 43 36 18 0 0 2 2 0 0 22 17 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 12 8 76 51 2 1 321 224
Black Spruce 5 3 0 3 3 0 0 6 3 1 4 4 0 0
Totals 6 1 7 6 0 0
Cottonwood 6 1 0 2 2 0 0
Totals 1 0 2 2 0 0
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
B-3
DBH # of Trees BA Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Sitka Spruce 7 1 0 2 2 0 0 9 1 1 9 9 0 0 13 13 10 1 1 12 11 0 0 54 53 11 2 2 28 28 0 0 129 129 12 1 1 9 9 0 0 41 41 13 0 0 5 5 0 0 12 12 14 1 1 18 18 0 0 84 84 15 1 1 24 24 0 0 116 116 16 0 0 8 8 0 0 41 41 17 0 1 15 15 0 0 75 75 20 0 0 4 4 0 0 24 24
Totals 9 7 135 135 2 2 590 589
White Spruce 5 7 1 10 10 0 0 6 17 4 38 38 1 1 7 15 4 47 46 1 1 8 11 4 50 49 1 1 9 9 4 57 57 1 1 129 128 10 8 4 66 63 1 1 294 280 11 4 3 54 44 1 1 252 204 12 4 3 67 61 1 1 312 279 13 2 2 38 36 1 1 174 167 14 1 1 26 19 0 0 124 87 15 2 2 55 48 1 1 261 230 16 1 1 19 15 0 0 91 75 17 1 1 25 18 0 0 132 92 18 0 0 5 5 0 0 23 22 19 0 0 3 3 0 0 16 15 20 0 0 10 7 0 0 51 35 22 0 0 11 10 0 0 62 58 24 0 0 5 5 0 0 31 31 27 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 0
Totals 83 35 592 537 10 9 1,952 1,704
Totals for stratum NEEDLELEAF: DEAD WHITE OR SITKA SPRUCE 113 53 828 746 15 13 2,904 2,552
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
B-4
DBH # of Trees BA Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Stratum 2 NEEDLELEAF: LIVE WHITE OR SITKA SPRUCE, POLE Acreage = 1,346
Birch 7 2 1 3 3 0 0 8 0 0 2 0 0 0 9 2 1 1 1 0 0 4 4 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 1 1 10 8 0 0 30 22 12 1 1 0 0 0 0 9 9 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 6 3 16 12 0 0 43 36
Black Spruce 6 3 1 6 6 0 0
Totals 3 1 6 6 0 0
White Spruce 5 6 1 4 4 0 0 6 13 3 24 23 0 0 7 4 1 8 8 0 0 8 6 2 19 19 0 0 9 3 1 19 19 0 0 57 58 10 5 2 35 35 1 1 177 178 11 1 1 12 12 0 0 59 60 12 1 1 12 7 0 0 58 34 15 1 0 8 3 0 0 38 13 17 0 0 3 0 0 0 13 2 19 0 0 3 4 0 0 17 18 20 0 0 4 4 0 0 18 19 21 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0
Totals 39 13 155 142 3 2 437 382
Totals for stratum NEEDLELEAF: LIVE WHITE OR SITKA SPRUCE, POLE 49 16 176 160 3 3 480 418
Stratum 3 NEEDLELEAF: LIVE WHITE OR SITKA SPRUCE, Acreage = 4,863 SEEDLINGS AND SAPLINGS
Birch 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Black Spruce 6 5 1 6 5 0 0
Totals 5 1 6 5 0 0
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
B-5
DBH # of Trees BA Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
White Spruce 6 2 0 4 4 0 0 7 5 1 13 13 0 0 8 3 1 12 10 0 0 9 0 0 2 2 0 0 34 34 10 3 2 24 24 0 0 127 127 11 2 1 29 29 0 0 141 141 12 0 0 7 7 0 0 33 33 13 0 0 7 6 0 0 31 28 14 0 0 9 9 0 0 43 43
Totals 16 7 107 105 2 2 409 406
Totals for stratum NEEDLELEAF: LIVE WHITE OR SITKA SPRUCE, SEEDLINGS AND SAPLINGS 21 9 113 110 2 2 409 406
Stratum 4 NEEDLELEAF: BLACK SPRUCE, POLE SIZE OR Acreage = 2,776 LARGER
Birch 10 2 1 23 19 1 1 75 5 17 1 1 25 20 1 1 108 0
Totals 3 3 47 39 1 1 183 5
Black Spruce 5 10 1 12 12 0 0 6 3 1 9 9 0 0 7 8 2 19 19 0 0
Totals 21 4 40 40 1 1
White Spruce 6 3 1 5 5 0 0 7 3 1 7 7 0 0 8 4 1 21 21 0 0 9 5 2 34 34 1 1 82 82 10 1 1 19 17 0 0 81 20 11 2 1 25 25 0 0 112 42 12 1 1 12 12 0 0 58 57 13 1 1 19 19 0 0 87 88
Totals 20 9 141 139 2 2 420 289
Totals for stratum NEEDLELEAF: BLACK SPRUCE, POLE SIZE OR LARGER 45 15 228 218 5 4 603 294
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
B-6
DBH # of Trees BA Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Stratum 5 NEEDLELEAF: MOUNTAIN HEMLOCK Acreage = 791
Aspen 10 1 0 5 1 0 0 4 0 16 0 0 5 5 0 0 26 21
Totals 1 1 10 6 0 0 31 21
Birch 5 3 0 4 3 0 0 8 2 1 6 2 0 0 9 1 1 10 10 0 0 11 1 0 6 3 0 0 16 8 14 0 0 6 6 0 0 27 26 16 0 0 6 5 0 0 30 26
Totals 7 3 37 30 1 1 72 61
Hemlock 5 21 3 42 40 1 1 6 37 8 116 114 2 2 7 53 15 241 236 5 5 8 44 16 293 284 6 6 9 35 16 280 269 6 6 807 762 10 27 15 283 258 6 5 1,221 1,111 11 17 11 235 221 5 5 995 937 12 22 18 361 332 7 7 1,623 1,497 13 20 19 409 393 8 8 1,855 1,784 14 9 9 203 192 4 4 940 891 15 6 6 140 135 3 3 639 615 16 1 2 40 38 1 1 178 168 17 3 3 81 72 2 1 388 347 18 1 1 25 21 1 0 117 101 19 2 2 55 54 1 1 271 265
Totals 299 145 2,804 2,659 57 55 9,035 8,478
Sitka Spruce 8 2 1 13 12 0 0 9 2 1 16 16 0 0 71 71 10 1 0 5 5 0 0 17 17 11 0 0 7 7 0 0 27 27 13 1 1 24 24 0 0 111 111 15 1 1 15 15 0 0 69 69
Totals 7 4 80 79 1 1 295 295
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
B-7
DBH # of Trees BA Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
White Spruce 5 12 2 22 22 0 0 6 19 4 48 47 1 1 7 11 3 30 30 0 0 8 4 1 21 21 0 0 9 3 1 19 20 0 0 99 99 10 3 2 19 19 0 0 96 97 11 2 2 32 31 1 1 133 130 12 2 1 17 17 0 0 82 82 13 0 0 6 6 0 0 24 26 14 1 1 25 21 0 0 116 101 15 0 0 6 4 0 0 26 18 20 2 1 24 16 0 0 130 82
Totals 60 19 269 255 4 4 706 635
Totals for stratum NEEDLELEAF: MOUNTAIN HEMLOCK 374 171 3,200 3,029 65 61 10,139 9,490
Stratum 6 BROADLEAF: POLE SIZE OR LARGER Acreage = 3,893
Aspen 13 0 0 3 1 0 0 14 4 14 0 0 8 6 0 0 31 25 16 0 0 4 4 0 0 16 16 18 0 0 9 8 0 0 41 35
Totals 1 1 24 19 1 0 103 81
Birch 6 9 2 17 17 0 0 7 3 1 8 7 0 0 8 1 0 2 2 0 0 9 3 1 9 7 0 0 17 12 10 2 1 10 6 0 0 30 19 11 4 3 24 17 1 0 127 75 12 3 3 36 28 1 1 166 122 13 2 2 13 9 0 0 54 37 14 1 2 12 10 0 0 53 45 15 2 2 13 10 0 0 66 48 16 1 1 10 8 0 0 75 61 17 0 1 12 11 0 0 61 55 18 0 0 2 1 0 0 22 15 19 0 1 8 5 0 0 51 33 20 0 1 2 1 0 0 11 5
Totals 32 20 178 138 5 4 733 528
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
B-8
DBH # of Trees BA Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Black Spruce 6 4 1 6 6 0 0 7 3 1 9 8 0 0 8 1 0 7 7 0 0
Totals 8 2 22 22 1 0
Cottonwood 6 2 0 3 3 0 0 7 2 0 5 5 0 0 8 1 0 3 3 0 0 10 0 0 5 5 0 0 3 3 16 0 0 5 3 0 0 21 16 19 0 0 1 0 0 0 21 15
Totals 5 2 21 20 1 1 44 34
White Spruce 5 2 0 1 1 0 0 6 3 0 7 7 0 0 7 10 3 38 38 1 1 8 6 2 22 22 0 0 9 5 3 43 39 1 1 126 110 10 5 3 52 49 1 1 221 207 11 1 1 15 15 0 0 50 49 12 3 3 54 50 1 1 225 207 13 2 2 33 31 1 1 155 144 14 1 1 27 27 0 0 129 129 15 0 0 11 11 0 0 51 51 17 0 0 5 5 0 0 25 25
Totals 39 18 307 294 5 5 982 923
Totals for stratum BROADLEAF: POLE SIZE OR LARGER 85 42 553 493 12 10 1,862 1,566
Stratum 7 MIXED FOREST: BROADLEAF DOMINATING Acreage = 3,372
Aspen 6 4 1 7 7 0 0 7 2 1 11 10 0 0 8 5 2 31 30 1 1 9 5 2 43 40 1 1 36 35 10 2 1 23 20 1 1 45 42 11 2 1 22 15 1 0 65 43
Totals 20 8 137 122 3 3 146 119
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
B-9
DBH # of Trees BA Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Birch 6 13 3 38 36 1 1 7 8 2 31 30 1 1 9 4 2 23 15 1 0 9 3 10 2 1 0 0 0 0 19 13 11 2 1 14 13 0 0 53 48 12 5 4 68 52 2 1 259 195 13 1 1 22 14 1 0 96 64 14 2 2 41 25 1 1 193 119 15 2 2 9 2 0 0 55 18 16 1 2 10 8 0 0 70 51 17 1 1 8 7 0 0 57 45 18 1 2 36 18 1 0 179 89
Totals 42 23 299 220 8 6 991 646
Black Spruce 5 4 1 5 5 0 0 6 2 0 3 3 0 0 7 1 0 3 2 0 0
Totals 6 1 11 10 0 0
Cottonwood 7 1 0 2 1 0 0 16 0 1 5 5 0 0 58 54
Totals 2 1 7 7 0 0 58 54
Hemlock 5 6 1 6 6 0 0 6 2 0 4 4 0 0 7 4 1 11 10 0 0 8 3 1 11 11 0 0 9 1 0 9 9 0 0 42 42 10 3 2 24 22 0 0 112 102 11 1 0 9 8 0 0 37 35 12 1 1 18 18 0 0 87 87 13 1 0 11 11 0 0 57 57 17 0 0 11 11 0 0 57 57 19 0 0 12 12 0 0 65 65
Totals 22 9 126 123 3 3 456 445
Sitka Spruce 5 5 1 8 8 0 0 7 4 1 11 11 0 0 9 3 1 18 18 0 0 77 77 10 3 2 34 34 1 1 150 150 11 2 1 20 20 0 0 86 86
Totals 17 6 92 92 2 2 313 313
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
B-10
DBH # of Trees BA Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
White Spruce 5 6 1 6 6 0 0 6 2 0 5 4 0 0 7 7 2 26 25 0 0 8 11 4 62 62 1 1 9 5 2 49 50 1 1 109 110 10 4 2 50 49 1 1 203 200 11 3 2 51 51 1 1 219 220 12 2 1 29 22 0 0 134 102 13 3 3 67 65 1 1 316 304 14 2 3 61 59 1 1 288 280 15 0 1 11 4 0 0 54 22 16 1 1 32 32 1 1 154 154 17 1 2 41 34 1 1 198 164 41 0 1 9 9 0 0 61 61
Totals 48 25 498 472 8 8 1,736 1,616
Totals for stratum MIXED FOREST: BROADLEAF DOMINATING 156 72 1,170 1,047 24 21 3,700 3,193
Stratum 8 MIXED FOREST: DEAD NEEDLELEAF DOMINATING Acreage = 8,066
Aspen 12 0 0 3 2 0 0 9 8 13 1 1 16 6 0 0 30 8 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 4 2 0 0 9 6 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3
Totals 2 2 22 10 1 0 52 24
Birch 5 2 0 1 1 0 0 6 7 1 14 13 0 0 7 6 2 19 17 1 0 8 1 1 7 4 0 0 9 1 0 4 3 0 0 4 5 10 1 1 12 11 0 0 18 18 11 3 2 24 17 1 0 93 68 12 2 2 26 19 1 1 112 89 13 4 4 54 43 1 1 212 179 14 1 2 25 17 1 0 111 84 15 1 1 13 12 0 0 64 58 16 0 1 7 3 0 0 35 22 17 1 2 9 7 0 0 90 76 18 0 1 3 1 0 0 22 13 21 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 30 18 216 170 6 5 763 612
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
B-11
DBH # of Trees BA Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Black Spruce 5 12 2 14 13 0 0 6 6 1 9 8 0 0
Totals 18 3 22 22 1 0
Cottonwood 25 0 0 4 3 0 0 20 18
Totals 0 0 4 3 0 0 20 18
White Spruce 5 13 2 15 15 0 0 6 13 3 34 34 1 1 7 19 5 74 71 1 1 8 13 5 66 65 1 1 9 6 3 44 43 1 1 100 95 10 4 2 42 40 1 1 192 183 11 4 3 57 54 1 1 282 267 12 2 1 19 19 0 0 98 98 13 3 3 50 47 1 1 245 230 14 1 1 15 15 0 0 71 71 15 1 1 11 11 0 0 55 55 16 1 1 9 9 0 0 47 47
Totals 78 29 435 421 7 7 1,091 1,046
Totals for stratum MIXED FOREST: DEAD NEEDLELEAF DOMINATING 128 52 699 626 14 12 1,927 1,700
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
C-1
Appendix C
Volume Per Acre and Total Volume by Stratum
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
C-2
Stratum 1 NEEDLELEAF: DEAD WHITE OR SITKA SPRUCE Acreage = 21,673
Trees/ BA/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net Total Total Total Total Total Total
Ac Ac CF/ CF/ Tons/ Tons/ BF/ BF/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Aspen
Pole Live 1 0 3 3 0 0 67,497 65,879 1,687 1,647
Saw Live 1 1 14 13 0 0 40 36 305,281 272,511 7,632 6,813 870,380 773,704
Species Totals 2 1 17 16 0 0 40 36 372,777 338,390 9,319 8,460 870,380 773,704
Birch
Saw Live 8 7 61 48 2 1 284 224 1,314,668 1,037,240 36,153 28,524 6,158,552 4,846,076
Pole Dead 2 0 4 0 0 0 75,943 515 2,088 14
Pole Live 1 0 3 3 0 0 70,309 65,441 1,933 1,800
Saw Dead 1 1 8 0 0 0 37 0 175,745 1,149 4,833 32 809,421 7,106
Species Totals 12 8 76 51 2 1 321 224 1,636,665 1,104,343 45,008 30,369 6,967,974 4,853,182
Black Spruce
Pole Live 4 1 5 4 0 0 98,458 95,739 2,215 2,154
Pole Dead 2 0 2 2 0 0 43,063 43,063 969 969
Species Totals 6 1 7 6 0 0 141,521 138,802 3,184 3,123
Cottonwood
Pole Live 1 0 2 2 0 0 39,375 39,375 984 984
Species Totals 1 0 2 2 0 0 39,375 39,375 984 984
Sitka Spruce
Pole Dead 0 0 4 4 0 0 78,599 78,624 1,297 1,297
Pole Live 1 0 4 4 0 0 90,298 90,298 1,490 1,490
Saw Dead 5 4 83 82 1 1 380 379 1,790,454 1,779,928 29,542 29,369 8,236,339 8,205,259
Saw Live 3 3 45 45 1 1 210 210 971,021 971,027 16,022 16,022 4,557,208 4,557,221
Species Totals 9 7 135 135 2 2 590 589 2,930,373 2,919,877 48,351 48,178 12,793,547 12,762,480
White Spruce
Pole Dead 14 3 39 38 1 1 839,410 813,294 13,850 13,419
Pole Live 41 11 134 134 2 2 2,914,429 2,897,135 48,088 47,803
Saw Dead 15 13 283 234 5 4 1,347 1,105 6,142,554 5,064,066 101,352 83,557 29,194,841 23,951,823
Saw Live 13 8 135 132 2 2 605 599 2,925,416 2,854,723 48,269 47,103 13,121,892 12,974,065
Species Totals 83 35 592 537 10 9 1,952 1,704 12,821,809 11,629,218 211,560 191,882 42,316,733 36,925,888
Strata Totals 113 53 828 746 15 13 2,904 2,552 17,942,520 16,170,006 318,407 282,997 62,948,633 55,315,253
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
C-3
Stratum 2 NEEDLELEAF: LIVE WHITE OR SITKA SPRUCE, POLE Acreage = 1,346
Trees/ BA/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net Total Total Total Total Total Total
Ac Ac CF/ CF/ Tons/ Tons/ BF/ BF/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Birch
Saw Live 2 1 10 8 0 0 34 26 13,419 10,496 369 289 45,590 35,168
Saw Dead 1 1 0 0 0 0 9 9 0 0 0 0 12,731 12,731
Pole Live 3 1 6 4 0 0 7,467 5,324 205 146
Species Totals 6 3 16 12 0 0 43 36 20,886 15,820 574 435 58,321 47,899
Black Spruce
Pole Live 3 1 6 6 0 0 7,835 7,835 176 176
Species Totals 3 1 6 6 0 0 7,835 7,835 176 176
White Spruce
Pole Live 21 5 44 43 1 1 59,175 58,253 976 961
Saw Dead 2 1 23 14 0 0 120 74 31,406 18,464 518 305 161,994 99,615
Saw Live 7 4 69 67 1 1 316 308 92,838 90,540 1,532 1,494 425,866 415,045
Pole Dead 9 2 18 18 0 0 24,609 23,797 406 393
Species Totals 39 13 155 142 3 2 437 382 208,028 191,053 3,432 3,152 587,860 514,660
Strata Totals 49 16 176 160 3 3 480 418 236,749 214,708 4,183 3,764 646,180 562,559
Stratum 3 NEEDLELEAF: LIVE WHITE OR SITKA SPRUCE, Acreage = 4,863 SEEDLINGS AND SAPLINGS
Trees/ BA/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net Total Total Total Total Total Total
Ac Ac CF/ CF/ Tons/ Tons/ BF/ BF/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Birch
Saw Dead 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Species Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Black Spruce
Pole Live 5 1 6 5 0 0 29,129 26,332 655 592
Species Totals 5 1 6 5 0 0 29,129 26,332 655 592
White Spruce
Saw Live 3 3 46 45 1 1 245 242 222,667 220,054 3,674 3,631 1,191,274 1,179,004
Saw Dead 3 2 32 32 1 1 164 164 156,401 156,682 2,581 2,585 796,219 797,539
Pole Live 8 2 24 22 0 0 116,925 108,030 1,929 1,783
Pole Dead 2 1 5 5 0 0 25,160 25,160 415 415
Species Totals 16 7 107 105 2 2 409 406 521,153 509,926 8,599 8,414 1,987,493 1,976,543
Strata Totals 21 9 113 110 2 2 409 406 550,282 536,258 9,254 9,006 1,987,493 1,976,543
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
C-4
Stratum 4 NEEDLELEAF: BLACK SPRUCE, POLE SIZE OR Acreage = 2,776 LARGER
Trees/ BA/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net Total Total Total Total Total Total
Ac Ac CF/ CF/ Tons/ Tons/ BF/ BF/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Birch
Saw Live 3 3 47 39 1 1 183 5 131,540 108,191 3,617 2,975 508,033 14,439
Species Totals 3 3 47 39 1 1 183 5 131,540 108,191 3,617 2,975 508,033 14,439
Black Spruce
Pole Dead 3 1 10 10 0 0 29,132 29,132 655 655
Pole Live 18 3 30 30 1 1 82,283 82,283 1,851 1,851
Species Totals 21 4 40 40 1 1 111,414 111,414 2,507 2,507
White Spruce
Saw Live 7 4 79 78 1 1 359 228 219,958 215,397 3,629 3,554 996,963 633,501
Pole Dead 6 2 16 16 0 0 44,775 44,775 739 739
Saw Dead 1 1 13 13 0 0 60 60 36,518 36,518 603 603 167,732 167,732
Pole Live 6 2 32 32 1 1 89,723 89,723 1,480 1,480
Species Totals 20 9 141 139 2 2 420 289 390,975 386,414 6,451 6,376 1,164,694 801,232
Strata Totals 45 15 228 218 5 4 603 294 633,930 606,020 12,575 11,858 1,672,727 815,672
Stratum 5 NEEDLELEAF: MOUNTAIN HEMLOCK Acreage = 791
Trees/ BA/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net Total Total Total Total Total Total
Ac Ac CF/ CF/ Tons/ Tons/ BF/ BF/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Aspen
Saw Live 1 1 10 6 0 0 31 21 8,141 4,935 204 123 24,197 16,252
Species Totals 1 1 10 6 0 0 31 21 8,141 4,935 204 123 24,197 16,252
Birch
Pole Live 6 2 20 16 1 0 16,016 12,498 440 344
Saw Live 1 1 17 14 0 0 72 61 13,526 11,212 372 308 57,254 48,033
Species Totals 7 3 37 30 1 1 72 61 29,542 23,710 812 652 57,254 48,033
Hemlock
Saw Live 126 94 1,973 1,850 40 38 8,901 8,348 1,561,716 1,463,928 32,015 30,011 7,044,273 6,606,802
Pole Dead 5 2 40 39 1 1 31,915 30,746 654 630
Saw Dead 2 1 31 30 1 1 134 130 24,189 23,431 496 480 105,780 102,727
Pole Live 166 48 759 741 16 15 601,014 586,265 12,321 12,018
Species Totals 299 145 2,804 2,659 57 55 9,035 8,478 2,218,834 2,104,370 45,486 43,140 7,150,054 6,709,529
Sitka Spruce
Saw Dead 1 0 1 1 0 0 9 9 947 947 16 16 7,119 7,119
Saw Live 4 3 66 66 1 1 286 286 51,976 51,976 858 858 226,719 226,719
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
C-5
Trees/ BA/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net Total Total Total Total Total Total
Ac Ac CF/ CF/ Tons/ Tons/ BF/ BF/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Pole Live 2 1 13 12 0 0 10,345 9,827 171 162
Species Totals 7 4 80 79 1 1 295 295 63,268 62,751 1,044 1,035 233,838 233,838
White Spruce
Pole Dead 15 4 45 45 1 1 35,674 35,674 589 589
Pole Live 31 6 76 75 1 1 60,329 59,625 995 984
Saw Dead 3 2 30 29 0 0 144 138 23,775 22,888 392 378 113,922 109,407
Saw Live 11 6 118 105 2 2 562 496 93,168 83,452 1,537 1,377 444,694 392,905
Species Totals 60 19 269 255 4 4 706 635 212,946 201,639 3,514 3,327 558,616 502,311
Strata Totals 374 171 3,200 3,029 65 61 10,139 9,490 2,532,730 2,397,405 51,060 48,277 8,023,958 7,509,962
Stratum 6 BROADLEAF: POLE SIZE OR LARGER Acreage = 3,893
Trees/ BA/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net Total Total Total Total Total Total
Ac Ac CF/ CF/ Tons/ Tons/ BF/ BF/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Aspen
Saw Live 1 1 24 19 1 0 103 81 94,666 73,983 2,367 1,850 400,412 314,439
Species Totals 1 1 24 19 1 0 103 81 94,666 73,983 2,367 1,850 400,412 314,439
Birch
Saw Live 17 16 146 110 4 3 718 521 566,902 427,182 15,590 11,748 2,795,398 2,026,379
Pole Dead 1 0 2 2 0 0 7,917 7,991 218 220
Pole Live 13 3 28 25 1 1 108,908 97,746 2,995 2,688
Saw Dead 1 1 2 1 0 0 15 7 7,865 3,179 216 87 57,972 27,999
Species Totals 32 20 178 138 5 4 733 528 691,593 536,098 19,019 14,743 2,853,370 2,054,379
Black Spruce
Pole Live 7 1 17 16 0 0 66,021 63,989 1,485 1,440
Pole Dead 1 0 5 5 0 0 20,639 20,639 464 464
Species Totals 8 2 22 22 1 0 86,660 84,628 1,950 1,904
Cottonwood
Saw Live 1 1 10 9 0 0 44 34 39,112 34,084 978 852 172,032 132,464
Pole Live 4 1 11 11 0 0 44,080 44,080 1,102 1,102
Species Totals 5 2 21 20 1 1 44 34 83,192 78,164 2,080 1,954 172,032 132,464
White Spruce
Saw Live 10 7 124 121 2 2 561 550 481,429 472,248 7,944 7,792 2,185,835 2,142,499
Pole Dead 6 2 27 27 0 0 103,777 103,826 1,712 1,713
Pole Live 17 4 53 53 1 1 207,105 206,539 3,417 3,408
Saw Dead 6 5 104 93 2 2 420 373 404,797 362,024 6,679 5,973 1,636,942 1,452,151
Species Totals 39 18 307 294 5 5 982 923 1,197,108 1,144,637 19,752 18,887 3,822,776 3,594,650
Strata Totals 85 42 553 493 12 10 1,862 1,566 2,153,218 1,917,510 45,167 39,337 7,248,590 6,095,931
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
C-6
Stratum 7 MIXED FOREST: BROADLEAF DOMINATING Acreage = 3,372
Trees/ BA/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net Total Total Total Total Total Total
Ac Ac CF/ CF/ Tons/ Tons/ BF/ BF/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Aspen
Pole Live 13 4 66 63 2 2 223,611 212,601 5,590 5,315
Saw Live 6 4 64 52 2 1 126 99 215,735 176,673 5,393 4,417 426,062 332,492
Saw Dead 0 0 7 7 0 0 20 21 22,622 23,474 566 587 67,844 70,349
Species Totals 20 8 137 122 3 3 146 119 461,967 412,748 11,549 10,319 493,905 402,841
Birch
Saw Live 18 17 220 148 6 4 991 646 742,812 498,195 20,427 13,700 3,340,183 2,177,425
Pole Live 24 6 79 73 2 2 266,255 244,963 7,322 6,736
Species Totals 42 23 299 220 8 6 991 646 1,009,068 743,158 27,749 20,437 3,340,183 2,177,425
Black Spruce
Pole Live 6 1 11 10 0 0 37,174 34,451 836 775
Species Totals 6 1 11 10 0 0 37,174 34,451 836 775
Cottonwood
Saw Live 0 1 5 5 0 0 58 54 18,311 18,311 458 458 196,989 182,248
Pole Live 1 0 2 1 0 0 6,620 4,634 165 116
Species Totals 2 1 7 7 0 0 58 54 24,931 22,945 623 574 196,989 182,248
Hemlock
Saw Live 7 5 94 91 2 2 456 445 315,778 307,780 6,473 6,309 1,537,939 1,500,859
Pole Live 15 4 32 32 1 1 108,329 107,380 2,221 2,201
Species Totals 22 9 126 123 3 3 456 445 424,107 415,160 8,694 8,511 1,537,939 1,500,859
Sitka Spruce
Saw Live 8 4 72 72 1 1 313 313 242,955 242,955 4,009 4,009 1,053,892 1,053,892
Pole Live 9 2 20 20 0 0 65,867 65,867 1,087 1,087
Species Totals 17 6 92 92 2 2 313 313 308,822 308,822 5,096 5,096 1,053,892 1,053,892
White Spruce
Pole Live 17 5 77 76 1 1 258,732 257,185 4,269 4,244
Saw Dead 5 5 107 85 2 1 486 385 360,526 288,190 5,949 4,755 1,639,546 1,298,790
Saw Live 14 13 274 269 5 4 1,250 1,231 922,595 908,494 15,223 14,990 4,213,789 4,149,848
Pole Dead 11 3 41 41 1 1 138,415 137,677 2,284 2,272
Species Totals 48 25 498 472 8 8 1,736 1,616 1,680,269 1,591,546 27,724 26,261 5,853,335 5,448,638
Strata Totals 156 72 1,170 1,047 24 21 3,700 3,193 3,946,337 3,528,830 82,272 71,971 12,476,243 10,765,902
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
C-7
Stratum 8 MIXED FOREST: DEAD NEEDLELEAF DOMINATING Acreage = 8,066
Trees/ BA/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net Total Total Total Total Total Total
Ac Ac CF/ CF/ Tons/ Tons/ BF/ BF/ Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net
Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac Ac CF CF Tons Tons BF BF
Aspen
Saw Live 2 2 22 10 1 0 52 24 180,827 82,484 4,521 2,062 421,380 195,622
Species Totals 2 2 22 10 1 0 52 24 180,827 82,484 4,521 2,062 421,380 195,622
Birch
Saw Live 13 14 168 131 5 4 749 607 1,354,516 1,055,151 37,249 29,017 6,041,532 4,892,664
Saw Dead 1 1 4 1 0 0 14 5 30,192 10,046 830 276 109,496 43,798
Pole Live 16 4 44 38 1 1 356,890 307,970 9,814 8,469
Species Totals 30 18 216 170 6 5 763 612 1,741,599 1,373,167 47,894 37,762 6,151,028 4,936,462
Black Spruce
Pole Live 12 2 14 13 0 0 113,048 107,057 2,544 2,409
Pole Dead 6 1 8 8 0 0 68,357 68,357 1,538 1,538
Species Totals 18 3 22 22 1 0 181,404 175,413 4,082 3,947
Cottonwood
Saw Live 0 0 4 3 0 0 20 18 28,505 25,655 713 641 164,479 148,031
Species Totals 0 0 4 3 0 0 20 18 28,505 25,655 713 641 164,479 148,031
White Spruce
Saw Live 6 5 66 63 1 1 355 337 533,219 508,771 8,798 8,395 2,866,197 2,715,538
Saw Dead 11 8 157 151 3 2 736 709 1,264,053 1,214,023 20,857 20,031 5,936,330 5,717,882
Pole Live 34 9 109 107 2 2 875,715 860,468 14,449 14,198
Pole Dead 26 7 103 101 2 2 832,574 811,868 13,737 13,396
Species Totals 78 29 435 421 7 7 1,091 1,046 3,505,561 3,395,129 57,842 56,020 8,802,527 8,433,420
Strata Totals 128 52 699 626 14 12 1,927 1,700 5,637,896 5,051,848 115,051 100,432 15,539,414 13,713,536
33,633,663 Gross Cubic Feet 30,422,585 Net Cubic Feet
Grand Totals = 46,780 Acres 110,543,239 Gross Board Feet 96,755,359 Net Board Feet 637,970 Gross Tons 567,642 Net Tons
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
D-1
Appendix D
Total Volume Across Strata
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
D-2
Gross CF Net CF Gross Tons Net Tons Gross BF Net BF
Saw Live
Aspen 804,649 610,586 20,116 15,265 2,142,430 1,632,509
Birch 4,137,385 3,147,667 113,778 86,561 18,946,542 14,040,185 Cottonwood 85,928 78,050 2,148 1,951 533,500 462,744 Hemlock 1,877,494 1,771,708 38,489 36,320 8,582,213 8,107,661
Sitka Spruce 1,265,953 1,265,958 20,888 20,888 5,837,818 5,837,831 White Spruce 5,491,290 5,353,679 90,606 88,336 25,446,509 24,602,404
Size Totals 13,662,697 12,227,648 286,026 249,321 61,489,012 54,683,332
Saw Dead
Aspen 22,622 23,474 566 587 67,844 70,349 Birch 213,803 14,374 5,880 395 989,620 91,634 Hemlock 24,189 23,431 496 480 105,780 102,727 Sitka Spruce 1,791,401 1,780,875 29,558 29,384 8,243,458 8,212,378 White Spruce 8,420,031 7,162,855 138,931 118,187 39,647,525 33,594,939
Size Totals 10,472,046 9,005,009 175,430 149,034 49,054,227 42,072,027
Pole Live
Aspen 291,107 278,480 7,278 6,962
Birch 825,845 733,941 22,711 20,183 Black Spruce 433,947 417,686 9,764 9,398 Cottonwood 90,075 88,089 2,252 2,202 Hemlock 709,343 693,645 14,542 14,220 Sitka Spruce 166,510 165,993 2,747 2,739 White Spruce 4,582,133 4,536,959 75,605 74,860
Size Totals 7,098,960 6,914,792 134,898 130,564
Pole Dead
Birch 83,860 8,506 2,306 234 Black Spruce 161,191 161,191 3,627 3,627 Hemlock 31,915 30,746 654 630 Sitka Spruce 78,599 78,624 1,297 1,297
White Spruce 2,044,394 1,996,070 33,733 32,935
Size Totals 2,399,959 2,275,136 41,617 38,723
33,633,663 30,422,585 637,970 567,642 110,543,239 96,755,359
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
E-1
Appendix E
Log Grade by Species
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
E-2
Puget Sound Log Scaling and Grading Bureau Specifications
Species Grade
No.
Gross
Diameter
Gross
Length
Minimum
Volume
Surface Annual
Ring
Count
Slope of
Grain
Sitka Spruce/
Hemlock/
1 24 Inches 12 Feet 8 per Inch < 3
inches/foot
White Spruce/
Black Spruce
2 12 Inches 12 Feet 60BF Net Knots <
2.5 inches
in
diameter
< 2
inches/foot
3 6 Inches 12 Feet 50 BF Net Knots < 3
inches in
diameter
May include
excessive
slope with
deduction
4 5 Inches 12 Feet 10 BF Net
Aspen/Birch 1 16 Inches 8 Feet 75% Clear
2 12 Inches 8 Feet 50% Clear
3 10 Inches 8 Feet 10 BF Net
4 5 Inches 8 Feet 10 BF Net
Cottonwood 1 10 Inches 8 Feet < 4 Knots
per log
2 6 Inches 8 Feet
4 5 Inches 8 Feet 10 BF Net
All Species
Utility Logs
5 4 Inches 12 Feet 10 BF Net
Logs do not meet sawmill grades, but are suitable for the production of firm usable
chips to an amount not less than 50% of gross scale. A log that is burned or charred or
is not mechanically barkable, shall not qualify as a Utility Log.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
E-3
Grade 1st Log Grade 2nd Log # Of Trees Measured % Of Trees Measured
Aspen
Cull Cull 10 30%
2 Cull 1 3%
3 4 1 3%
4 5 3 9%
5 Cull 3 9%
5 5 15 45%
Total for Aspen 33
Birch
Cull Cull 49 25%
Cull 5 2 1%
3 4 1 1%
3 5 4 2%
4 Cull 3 2%
4 4 1 1%
4 5 13 7%
5 Cull 33 17%
5 5 88 45%
Total for Birch 194
Cottonwood
Cull Cull 2 22%
1 2 3 33%
1 5 3 33%
5 5 1 11%
Total for Cottonwood 9
Hemlock
Cull Cull 3 2%
2 2 3 2%
2 3 3 2%
3 3 2 1%
3 4 21 13%
3 5 3 2% 4 Cull 12 8%
4 4 38 24%
4 5 30 19% 5 Cull 14 9%
5 4 1 1%
5 5 28 18%
Total for Hemlock 158
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
E-4
Grade 1st Log Grade 2nd Log # Of Trees Measured % Of Trees Measured
Sitka Spruce
2 3 2 8%
3 4 2 8% 4 Cull 6 24%
4 4 7 28%
4 5 8 32%
Total for Sitka Spruce 25
White Spruce
Cull Cull 10 6%
2 2 2 1%
2 3 1 1%
3 3 4 3%
3 4 10 6%
3 5 1 1% 4 Cull 21 14%
4 4 53 34%
4 5 42 27% 5 Cull 10 6%
5 4 2 1%
5 5 2 1%
Total for White Spruce 158
Grand Total Trees Measured 577
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
F-1
Appendix F
Diameter/Height Relationships, Ten Year Growth, and Bark Thickness
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
F-2
"e" is a numerical constant that is equal to 2.71828
The corresponding Microsoft Excel equation appears as follows:
Height = A Coefficient*POWER (e, B Coefficient/dbh)
Species A Coefficient B Coefficient C Coefficient
White Spruce 82.23 -5.4626 1
Black Spruce 59.62 -3.7847 1
Sitka Spruce 79.57 -4.5351 1
Mountain Hemlock 89.76 -6.7312 1
Birch 65.53 -3.7386 1
Aspen 64.93 -2.6792 1
Cottonwood 71.67 -3.7481 1
Reciprocal dbh height prediction model:
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
F-3
Ten Year Radial Growth and Bark Thickness by Species
Species Radial Growth (In.) Single Bark Thickness (In.)
Aspen (31 detail records)
Average= 0.45 0.85
Birch (187 detail records)
Average= 0.54 0.55
Black Spruce (27 detail records)
Average= 0.31 0.38
Cottonwood (14 detail records)
Average= 0.87 0.81
Hemlock (104 detail records)
Average= 0.32 0.89
Sitka Spruce (24 detail records)
Average= 0.95 0.51
White Spruce (279 detail records)
Average= 0.72 0.47
Bark Thickness Ratio by Species
DBH DIB* Bark Thickness Ratio
Aspen (31 detail records)
Sum= 383.40 330.50 0.862
Birch (187 detail records)
Sum= 2,368.60 2,164.46 0.914
Black Spruce (27 detail records)
Sum= 164.70 144.10 0.875
Cottonwood (14 detail records)
Sum= 168.20 145.50 0.865
Hemlock (104 detail records)
Sum= 1,135.30 949.80 0.837
Sitka Spruce (24 detail records)
Sum= 271.70 247.20 0.910
White Spruce (279 detail records)
Sum= 2,704.10 2,444.50 0.904
Grand Total Sum= 7,196.00 6,426.06 0.893 Average All Species
*DIB = Diameter Inside Bark
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
G-1
Appendix G
Forest Inventory Field Instructions
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
1
Table of Contents
I. Field Procedures ............................................................................................................................... 2
A. Locating Sample Plots in the Field ................................................................................................... 2
1. General ........................................................................................................................................... 2
2. Variable Plots from Maps or Aerial Photo Images ......................................................................... 2
3. Navigating to Plots ......................................................................................................................... 2
4. GPSing Plot Locations ................................................................................................................... 2
5. Determining “In” and “Out” Trees ................................................................................................... 2
II. Forest Plot Record Card ................................................................................................................... 2
A. Plot Record Card Header Information Items .................................................................................... 3
B. Plot Record Card Variable Plot Tree Measurement Information Items ............................................ 8
C. Plot Record Card Fixed Plot Tree Measurement Information Items .............................................. 14
III. Appendix ......................................................................................................................................... 15
A. Procedures for Deduction of Visible Defect .................................................................................... 15
1. Defects Causing Loss of Sound Wood Volume ........................................................................... 15
2. Defects Causing Loss of Board Foot Volume Only...................................................................... 15
3. Common Parasitic Diseases of the Major Interior Alaska Tree Species ..................................... 15
4. Percentage of Tree Volume in 16-foot Logs ................................................................................ 16
B. Procedure for Collecting Increment Cores ..................................................................................... 17
C. Field Plot Sheet .............................................................................................................................. 18
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
2
I. FIELD PROCEDURES
A. Locating Sample Plots in the Field
1. General
The field crew must find, on the ground, the exact stand polygon identified on the map for
sampling. Crews are furnished with maps, aerial photo images, a selected sample plot list, and
possibly a GPS receiver containing digital images of the stand polygons. The objective is to
sample the polygon with ten plots that will represent the variability of the stand.
2. Variable Plots from Maps or Aerial Photo Images
The first plot will be a minimum of 33 feet inside the stand polygon to ensure that the selected
polygon is truly being represented. The remaining plots will be spaced evenly across the stand
polygon. The line of plots can vary in direction to obtain a representative sample of an odd
shaped stand polygon. Interval spacing between plots is determined by measuring the distance
in inches across the polygon and dividing by the total number of plots (ten). By utilizing the
known scale of the image, distance in inches can be converted to feet. Maximum interval
between plots will be 330 feet. Verify pacing distance with the logger’s tape to accurately pace
between plots.
3. Navigating to Plots
Using the compass as a protractor, with orienting lines parallel to the map north line, determine
the true north azimuth of the line of travel. The declination must be accurately set on the
compass to get the true north azimuth. Local declination can be determined prior to field work by
downloading the Geographic Magnetic Calculator from the internet. Once at the point, check the
aerial photo images to ensure that you are within the stand polygon. The plot center point will be
marked by a wooden stake driven into the ground and tied with ribbon flagging. A long ribbon
flag will also be hung from a tree or bush above the plot center point with the plot number marked
on it.
4. GPSing Plot Locations
Plot locations of measured plots will be GPS’d when possible. A recreation grade receiver
(Garmin or equivalent) will be used for this procedure. The map datum will be set at NAD83 and
the position format will be degrees and decimal minutes.
5. Determining “In” and “Out” Trees
Hold a 20 basal area factor (BAF) relaskop over the plot center point. The instrument and not the
cruiser’s body must be held directly over the plot center while turning the circle. Walk the
instrument around; do not stand in one place and move the relaskop around you. Determine
those live trees 5.0 inches DBH and larger that are within the fixed critical angle of the instrument.
"Borderline" trees (difficult to determine ocularly as "in" or "out") will be resolved by examining the
Limiting Distances and Slope Correction tables in the appendix. To be considered "in" the tree
must be equal to or less than the calculated distance as shown in the tables. This limiting
distance is calculated from point center to face of tree.
II. FOREST PLOT RECORD CARD
The field form corresponds with a computer program designed to store, process and compile data collected on
the forest inventory. An asterisk indicates items to be completed in the office. Leading zeros do not need to be
entered. Where certain items do not pertain to a line entry, a dash should be entered to prevent confusion with
missing data.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
3
A. Plot Record Card Header Information Items
The purpose of these items is to record information about the sample stand.
Item #
1. Project Name
Record the project name for the forest inventory.
2. Crew
Record the crew members who are collecting the field data.
3. Date
Record the date the information is taken in the field. Use the following numeric code order – month, day
and 4 digit year.
4. Section
Record the section number in which the data is being collected.
5. Township
Record the three digit code for recording the township in the first two columns and north or south
designation in the third.
6. Range
The range is the three digit code for recording the range in the first two columns and the east or west
designation in the third.
7. Meridian
The Prime Meridian is recorded as follows:
Code
C Copper River
Meridian
K Kateel River
S Seward
F Fairbanks
U Umiat
8. Quad
Enter the USGS quad map name and identification using the first two letters of the name and map
number. When the quad name includes two words, use the first letter of each word.
9. Region
Record the code for the district in which the data is collected
Code
1 Northern
Region
2 Coastal
10. Area
Code Area
1 Kantishna Northern
District
2 Fairbanks
3 Delta
4 Tok
5 Valdez/Copper River
6 Southern Southeast Coastal
7 Northern Southeast
8 Kenai/Kodiak
9 Mat-Su
11. Unit
Record the one digit code of the locally defined unit in which the data is collected. See Section III (C2) for
definition.
12. Stand Number
Record the pre-assigned five digit code of the stand in which the data is collected.
13. Basal Area Factor
Record the pre-assigned basal area factor used at the sample plots.
14. Number of Plots
Record the number of plots sampled for the particular stand.
15. Photo Stand Call
Record the stand call for the sampled stand as it appears on the aerial photo image or a selected sample
plot list. This includes the species, size class, and stocking level for the primary and secondary call. The
Vegetation Key is shown below:
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
4
Forestland Vegetation
Non-Forestland Vegetation
A
Aspen
AGRI
Agriculture
B
Birch
ALD
Alder
CW
Cottonwood
ALP
Alpine
HD
Hardwood
ALPS
Alpine Shrub
BS
Black Spruce
BN
Barren/Snow Ice
WS
White Spruce
CC
Calamagrostis
SS
Sitka Spruce
DEV
Developed Area
MH
Mountain Hemlock
GH
Grasses and Herbs
HVST
Harvest Area
MSH
Marsh
NF
Non-Forest
OG
Other Grasses
OS
Other Shrub
Stand Size Class
99
NF
1
Reproduction (less or equal to
4.9 inches DBH)
W
Water
2
Poletimber (5.0-8.9 inches DBH)
WIL
Willow
3
Sawtimber (9.0 inches and
greater)
Crown Closure
Descriptors
C
Closed (60-100% canopy
coverage)
D
Dead
O
Open (25-59% canopy coverage)
W
Woodland (10-24% canopy
coverage)
16. Ground Stand Call
Record the ground stand call after a plot is complete. The ground stand call is determined from the
following stand call procedures:
Timber stands in Interior Alaska tend to be single layered and type calls were designed to describe the structure
and composition of these stands. Some gray areas still exist in this system and these guidelines are an attempt to
develop consistent calls by the field crews. Type calls are written in this fashion: tree species, stand density and
tree size class such as WS3C (white spruce, sawtimber, closed). Vegetation type definitions are included in
Section IV. Procedures for determining these calls in the field are outlined below:
Initial Type Call
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To make a call in the field, walk through at least 10% of the stand to get some idea of the variability, predominate
size and structure, and range of DBH measurements. (This walk through can be accomplished while traversing
between predetermined points). Get an overall view by using the aerial photography at the same time. If several
plots are to be taken in the stand, it is better to make (or confirm) the type call afterwards to get the most accurate
“feel” of the stand.
Mentally, call the stand in the following order (different than the order you’ll write down later).
1. Species - If the stand is mixed, call the predominate species first. The second species must make up at
least 30% of the overall stand composition. If that species is only in one portion of the stand, type that area
separately. Any additional species included in the call must also make up 30% of the stand, Therefore, it is rare
that a three species call would be made. One exception to this rule is in a mixed hardwood stand where no single
species makes up 30% of the stand but the combined group (ie., hardwoods) does. In this case, a call of mixed
hardwoods such as HD (Hardwood) is permissible. If trees do not comprise 10% of an area, the area is classified
as non-forested.
2. Next determine the predominate size class. If, for example, the trees range from 4"-12" DBH, you will
have to determine which size class (2 or 3) occurs in over 50% of the stand (use mode rather than mean for this
determination). Rarely will the stand be truly a 50/50 split.
3. Now, determine the crown closure by examining the overhead canopy. The reason for deciding on this
factor last is that occasionally it will need to be adjusted depending on what the predominate size class call was.
This adjustment will be needed only in a mixed 2/1 or 3/2 stand where the predominate size class call (the larger
size class) is only slightly in the majority. (Where there is no question as to the predominate size class - ie. It
makes up over 60% of the stand, other size classes will be inconsequential). In a close call, however, the
adjustment may be needed to more accurately reflect stand volume.
Example
4. Take for instance a birch stand that contains trees in which 55% are over 5"DBH and 45% are less than
5" DBH. The two conditions have been met; (1) The larger size class (pole) predominates but (2) it doesn’t have
the clear majority. The size class will be a 2 (poletimber). Most likely the crown closure of all the trees would be
over 60% so it would first appear to be a 2C call. This may not accurately reflect the conditions on the ground,
however, since the pole size trees themselves may only constitute a crown closure of, say, 40% ( the rest of the
crowns are from the reproduction trees). Here a B2O call would be more accurate. This is an example of the case
where the density call may be used to adjust the size class call based on the predominant size class. A plot tally
should confirm this because although you’re in a pole stand there are likely to be a few “in” trees (trees < 5"DBH
wouldn’t be tallied).
Again this case is only used where the predominant size class is the larger one in the stand. A WS2O stand with
some sawtimber wouldn’t be upgraded to a WS2C stand because the independent density call was made
including the sawtimber crowns already. They contribute to increasing the stand density by their larger size.
Summary
Rules for possible reduction of density call:
1. Consider only if the type call is debatable throughout the stand.
2. Consider only after a walk through.
3. Consider only when the size class call is mixed with trees of a smaller size class. Therefore, only used
where it may result in a reduction of the density call.
The result should be that the adjusted calls more accurately describe the volume. Density will drop where the
volume is lost due to the abundance of small diameter trees.
17. Stand Acreage
Record the acreage associated with the sampled stand polygon. Stand acreage will be determined prior
to field work. Acreage is available from selected sample plot list.
18. Stand Origin
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Stand origin is a single digit code for identifying the interpreted origin of the sampled stand. Stands are
considered evenaged if the age range of dominants and codominates is within + 20 years of the average
age.
Code
1 Fire
Stand Origin: Even-Aged Stands
2 Windthrow
3 Flood
4 Glacial Retreat
5 Timber Harvest
6 Other (Specify in Notes)
7 Unknown
Code
8 Old Growth Forest
Stand Origin: Uneven-Aged Stands
9 Timber Harvest (Selective Cutting)
0 Other (Specify in Notes)
19. Stand Age
For even-aged stands,
E.g., Oldest core age + 7 years to reach breast height
record the stand establishment year based upon the age of the oldest site tree
cored. Record the year for predominate cover type and size class.
Current year – estimated stand age = year of origin
For uneven-aged stands,
record the stand establishment year based upon the age of the oldest site tree
cored. Record the year for predominate cover type and size class.
Code
1 less than 150
Years
2 150-200
3 200-250
4 250-300
5 300-350
6 350-400
7 400+
20. Non-Stocked Condition Class
Record a one digit code for those forest lands which do not support a forest for the reasons listed below.
Code
0 Does not apply; stand at least 10% stocked.
Cause
1 Logging (within 5 years)
2 Logging (more than 5 years)
3 Water or Glacial Action
4 Slides
5 Windthrow
6 Insect Activity
7 Fire
8 Other (specify in notes)
21. Slope
Record the angle of slope to the nearest 1 percent.
22. Aspect
Record a three digit code for the general direction of slope within the stand based on true north, to the
nearest degree. If the stand is considered to be level, record 0. This can also be obtained from a USGS
topographic map.
Code
0 No aspect, stand is considered level
Degrees
1 1
5 5
90 90 (Due East)
360 360 (Due North)
23. Elevation
Record the average elevation of the plot traverse to the nearest fifty feet.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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24. Soil Description
Record the average soil description within the stand polygon.
Code Description
1 Sand and Gravel Heavy
Texture
2 Mostly Sand Moderately Heavy
3 Silt Loam Medium
4 Loam Moderately Light
5 Mostly Silt Light
6 Silty Clay Very Light
7 Clay Muck
8 Bog - -
25. Soil Drainage Class
Code
1 Excessively Drained - Water is drained from the soil rapidly due to the
absence of fines and organic material. Gravelly soils, often on steep slopes.
Description
2 Well Drained - Water is removed from the soil readily, but not rapidly. It is
available to plants throughout most of the growing season, and wetness does not
inhibit growth of roots for significant periods during most growing seasons. Well
drained soils are commonly medium textured.
3 Poorly Drained – Water is removed so slowly that the soil is saturated
periodically during the growing season or remains wet for long periods.
26. Soil Erosion Rating
Code
1 Slight
Cause
2 Moderate
3 Severe
27. Topographic Position
Code
1 Ridge top or mountain peak, > 130 ft wide
Description
2 Narrow ridge top or peak, <130 ft wide
3 Side hill, upper 1/3
4 Side hill, middle 1/3
5 Side hill, lower 1/3
6 Canyon bottom, < 660 ft wide
7 Bench, terrace or dry flat
8 Broad alluvial flat, > 660 ft wide
9 Swamp or wet flat
28. Stand Condition
Stand Condition codes are used to express differences between stands in terms relating to the desired
management of the stand. High risk stands are composed of a majority of trees not expected to live for more
than 20 years.
Code
1 High Risk
Description
2 Mature
3 Overstocked
4 Sparse
5 Low Quality
6 Good-Fully Stocked
7 In process of regeneration
29. Operability
Operability codes are used to give a general evaluation of timber harvest opportunity for a site.
Considerations are made relative to access costs, available volumes, environmental constraints, and
administrative restrictions. This and other information is used to develop a forest wide operability map
which defines the available timber base upon which the allowable annual harvest may be computed.
Code
1 Operable – No apparent restrictions to access.
Description
2 Operable/Seasonal – Access is restricted to winter because of local wetlands or
ice bridge requirements.
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3 Operable/Marginal – Difficult terrain for road construction, poor conditions for
conventional yarding systems, marginal stand volume not justifying high
operating costs. Unlikely to be logged on a first entry because of economic
constraints.
4 Operable/Restricted – Special interest takes precedence over timber resources,
e.g., mountain goat habitat.
5 Inoperable – Physical features of landscape and quality of tim ber prevent any
reasonable means of harvesting.
30. Wind Hazard
The recent blowdown history of a forest area may be observed and used as an indicator of blowdown
expected in the future. It is possible to get a general idea of frequency of wind damage by observing the
various states of decay of windthown trees or uproots. Wind hazard codes indicate the probability of wind
damage.
Code
1 No history of windthrow hazard.
Description
2 Recent evidence of windthrow.
3 Long term windthrow history.
4 Recent and long term evidence of windthrow.
5 Past cutting or roading has made stand susceptible to windthrow.
6 Shallow rooting.
7 Wind accelerated by topography in area.
8 Stand height exceeds general forest canopy.
31. Wind Hazard Direction
Record a three digit code for the general direction (degrees) of blowdown within the stand based on true
north (coding similar to item 19).
32. Diagram
Diagram the overall shape of the sample stand polygon, illustrating the line of travel and sample plot
locations. Provide the plot spacing in feet and the line of travel in true north azimuth.
B. Plot Record Card Variable Plot Tree Measurement Information Items
The purpose of these items is to record information about the individual trees sampled with the variable
plot method.
Item #
33. Plot Number
Record the plot number for the data being recorded. Record only once for each plot taken.
34. Tree Number
Record the tree number for the data being reported. Begin tree number sequence for each plot.
35. Site Tree
Record the number 1 for all site trees. Site trees are selected based on the following tree characteristics:
Site index is the commonly used method of estimating site quality. For white spruce in interior Alaska, site index
is the height attainable by the average dominant and codominant trees at a DBH age of 100 years. For birch,
aspen and balsam poplar, site index is the height attainable by the average dominant and codominant trees at a
DBH age of 50 years. Site trees should be species exhibiting vigorous growth and still putting on height. All site
trees should have been dominant or codominant throughout their lives. Do not use trees that have been
suppressed during early years and then released. These can be identified by increment cores which show narrow
growth rings in early years followed by a sudden and widening of growth. Avoid trees with major injuries or insect
and disease problems. Site trees should be near the index age of the site index curves for that species (i.e. 100
years for spruce, 50 years for hardwoods). Select a suitable tree on or adjacent to the plot so long as the tree is
within the same forest habitat type and site condition. Careful measurements of tree diameter, height, age, and
ten year growth are essential for a good estimate of site index. Every effort should be taken to record at least 4
site trees per sampled stand.
36. Off Plot Tree
Record the number 1 for all trees tallied that are not included in the variable radius sample plot. This
includes site trees or other trees solely measured for growth or age.
37. Species
Record the species code from the list below:
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Code Common Name
094 White Spruce WS
Timber Type Symbol
095 Black Spruce BS
098 Sitka Spruce SS
264 Mountain Hemlock MH
375 Paper Birch B
746 Quaking Aspen A
747 Black Cottonwood CW
38. Diameter Breast Height
Record the DBH to the last tenth inch (a 9.18-inch tree will be coded 91).
1. All "in" tally trees (live or dead) 5.0 inches DBH and larger are measured. Diameter will be measured at a
point 4.5 feet above ground on the uphill side of the tree. In cases of irregularities at DBH, such as swellings,
bumps, depressions, branches, etc., diameters will be measured immediately above the irregularity, and at a
place where the irregularity ceases to affect the normal stem form. Remove all moss from the tree bole at DBH
before taking the measurement.
2. If the tree forks below 4.5 feet, consider the tree as two trees. A forked stem, on the variable radius plot,
is a tally tree if the stem is “in” at the point where the diameter is measured. Forked trees on the fixed radius plot
are tally trees if the radius of the fixed plot passes beyond the center
of the forked stem at the point where it is
measured. Measure the diameter of each fork that is an “in” tree at a point 3 ½ feet above the crotch of the fork.
Consider the fork as the base of the tree for height determination and log quality assessment.
3. Any forked tree not having and 8-foot log between forks in hardwoods, or a 12-foot log between forks in
softwoods will be called a sound cull (class 9 under the form column of item 53)
BASAL AREA COUNT PLOT PROCEDURES
Basal area count plots will record all trees 5.0 inches DBH and larger by species and product class i.e. poletimber
or sawtimber and all dead trees estimated to have died within the last five years. Record the tree count in item 38
and the size class description (POL, SAW) in item 39. If the tree is dead within the last fifteen years (e.g. Kenai
Beetle Kill), either salvable or non-salvable, record an X in item 43 Tree History.
39. Total Height
Record the total height to the nearest foot for all tally trees. For trees with broken tops, estimate the
expected total height using adjacent trees of similar diameter class as a guide and provide an appropriate
defect amount for the trees. Total height is measured from the ground (or top of root collar) to the tip.
1. Baselines for tree height measurements should always be taped as near as possible to the contour of the
slope to minimize or eliminate the need for slope correction. Where the baseline is taped up and down slopes
exceeding 15 percent, slope correcting should be made. The appendix contains slope correction tables that can
be used in correcting baselines in horizontal distances.
2. On trees that fork at or above DBH, measure length along the principle fork.
40. Single Bark Thickness
Record a single bark thickness to the nearest 1/20th inch at breast height for each species and two inch
diameter class present at sample plots 1 and 3 for each sample stand polygon. Select the healthiest tree
within each class for coring. Some bark gauges read in 1/10th increments, be sure to record to nearest
1/20th inch.
Diameter Class
6 inch 5.0 to 6.9 inches
Description
8 inch 7.0 to 8.9 inches
10 inch 9.0 to 10.9 inches
12 inch 11.0 to 12.9 inches
Etc. Etc.
41. Breast Height Age
Record the breast height age of site trees and trees cored to age the stand. Whenever possible, borings
must reach the pith. Rings may be counted in the field or prepared for sending to the office. The
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appendix contains instructions on collecting cores. Ring counting in hardwoods is difficult. The
application of a small amount of Thompson’s Water Seal to the core can help in distinguishing rings.
42. Ten Year Growth
Record the ten year radial growth to the nearest 1/20th inch at breast height for each species and two inch
diameter class present. Measurements are for the same trees as in item 40. If tree rings are unable to
be read,
43. Tree History Code
Tree history codes are used to express differences between trees in terms relating to the desired
management of the stand.
Code
1 Desirable crop trees.
Description
a. Less than rotation age (assume 150 years spruce, 100 years hardwood)
b. Alive
c. Noncull
d. A commercial species
e. Capable of producing one merchantable sawlog
f. Isolated, dominant, or codominate trees
g. At least 40 percent covered with live crown
h. Of good form
i. Free of defect indicators
2 Acceptable crop trees.
a. Less than rotation age (assume 150 years spruce, 100 years hardwood)
b. Alive
c. Noncull
d. A commercial species
e. Capable of producing one merchantable sawlog
f. Normal conical shaped crown. No evidence of flattening crown. Pole
sized crop trees with deformed crowns will be classed as sound culI.
3 Mature high risk trees.
a. Over rotation age (assume 150 years spruce, 100 years hardwood)
b. Alive
c. Noncull
d. A commercial species
e. Capable of producing one merchantable sawlog
f. Of fair or poor vigor, as indicated by low crown ratio, dead branches,
disease, internal rot, and/or mechanical damage.
4 Mature low risk trees. Trees will be coded low-risk only if obviously healthy and
vigorous and if no damage code applies to it.
a. Over rotation age (assume 150 years spruce, 100 years hardwood)
b. Alive
c. Noncull
d. A commercial species
e. Capable of producing one merchantable sawlog
f. Of good vigor, as indicated by high crown ratio, vigorous leader, no
evidence of disease, rot or mechanical damage.
5 Rotten cull trees. Trees not able to produce one merchantable log, primarily due
to defect.
a. Alive
b. More than 75 percent rotten cull in softwoods and more than 50 percent
rotten cull in hardwoods
6 Sound cull trees. Trees not able to produce one merchantable sawlog, primarily
due to defect.
a. Alive
b. Not rotten cull trees
c. Trees not able to produce one merchantable sawlog, now or in the
future, primarily due to bole roughness and poor form, or deformed or
sparsely needled crown, or is a noncommercial species.
7 Salvable dead trees.
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a. Dead within the last fifteen years (e.g. Kenai Beetle Kill)
b. Sawtimber
c. A commercial species
d. Contain at least one merchantable log
8 Non-salvable dead trees.
a. Dead within the last fifteen years (e.g. Kenai Beetle Kill)
b. A commercial species
c. No salvable sawlogs
9 Other dead trees. All trees that have been dead more than fifteen years.
Guidelines for Estimating Time Since Mortality
Died Within Past 15 Years Species
No foliage remaining Conifers No foliage
Dead More Than 15 Years
30% or more of twigs remain Less than 30% of twigs remaining
50% or more of branches remain Large limbs falling
Considerable sloughing of bark Less than 50% of branches remaining
Bark mostly absent
Small amount of bark still attached Populus spp. No foliage
in some degree to the bole Bark fallen off completely free of bole, or
less than 50% attached in any degree
No foliage Birch No foliage
50% or more branchlets remaining Less than 50% of branchlets remaining
Bark not curling abnormally Bark shows abnormal curling
Occasional secondary branches falling
44. Crown Ratio
For each live tree on the plot, estimate the percent of total tree height that supports green, live foliage that
is effectively contributing to tree growth. For trees of uneven crown length, ocularly transfer lower
branches on the longer side to fill holes in the upper portion until a full, even crown has been generated.
Do not compact branches to form an unnaturally dense crown. Record crown ratio as a one-digit code
for all live trees.
Code
0 Less than 10%
Description
1 10% - 19%
2 20% - 29%
3 30% - 39%
4 40% - 49%
5 50% - 59%
6 60% - 69%
7 70% - 79%
8 80% - 89%
9 90% - 100%
45. Defect Percent
Record the total board foot defect percent for conifer sawtimber tally trees. Record the total cubic defect
for hardwood tally and conifer poletimber tally trees. Record defect for all
46. Defect Type
Tree History codes except code
9 (other dead trees). Use only identified external, visible indicators. Use the “Procedures for Deduction
of Visible Defect” found in the appendix. Record cull trees as 99.
Record the major tree defect contributing to the majority of the lost volume.
Code
0 No defect
Defect Type
1 Conks
2 Swollen Knots
3 Scars
4 Frost Cracks
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5 Rotten Stubs
6 Sucker limbs
7 Dead side or strip
8 Old broken top in merchantable stem (> than 5 years old)
9 Sweep
10 Crook
11 Forked top
12 Fluting
13 Other
47. Tree Problem
Tree problem describes major damage or other conditions affecting tree growth, vigor or form.
Code
0 No damage
Tree Problem Class
1 Bark Beetles
Insects
2 Defoliators
3 Sap-Suckers
4 Stem Rust
Disease
5 Butt Rots
6 Broom Rusts
7 Foliage Disease
8 Fire Damage
Fire
9 Porcupine Girdling
Animal
10 Big Game Browse
11 Hare Browse
12 Small Rodent Browse
13 Wind
Elements
14 Lightning
15 Snow
16 Frost
17 Drought
18 Sun Scald
19 Erosion
20 Flooding
21 Forked Top
Suppression
22 Broken Top
23 Crook
24 Sweep
25 Scar
48. Log Grade First Log
For sawtimber sized trees only (> 9” dbh), record first log grade as a one digit code. The quality of
sawlog tally trees is rated by grading the first two 16 foot sawlogs. Grading will follow Puget Sound Log
Scaling and Grading Rules, and use the following published species. Sitka Spruce= Sitka Spruce, White
Spruce, Black Spruce, Hemlock. Cottonwood=Cottonwood. Red Alder=Birch and Aspen.
49. Log Grade Second Log
Record second log grade as a one digit code.
Code
1 Number one
Log Grade
2 Number two
3 Number three
4 Number four
5 Utility (pulp)
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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Logs will meet the minimum exterior characteristics. Diameter refers to top of log diameter.
1. Sitka Spruce, White Spruce, Black Spruce, Hemlock
Gross Diameter: 24 inches
Grade No. 1
Surface: 75% clear
Gross Diameter: 12 inches
Grade No. 2
Surface: Sound, tight knots not to exceed 2 ½ inches in diameter. Any larger knots must
be well distributed.
Gross Diameter: 6 inches
Grade No. 3
Surface: Sound, tight knots not to exceed 3 inches in diameter. Any larger knots must be
well distributed.
Minimum volume 50 board feet NET scale
Slope of Grain May include logs with “excessive slope of grain” with proper deduction.
Note: A 16’ log segment must be a minimum 10” top to equal 50 board feet.
Gross Diameter: 5 inches
Grade No. 4
Minimum volume 10 board feet NET scale
2. Cottonwood
Gross Diameter: 10 inches
Grade No. 1
Surface: Not to exceed 4 knots per log
Gross Diameter: 6 inches
Grade No. 2
Gross Diameter: 5 inches
Grade No. 4
Minimum volume 10 board feet NET scale
3. Birch/Aspen
Gross Diameter: 16 inches
Grade No. 1
Surface: 75% clear
Gross Diameter: 12 inches
Grade No. 2
Surface: 50% clear
Gross Diameter: 10 inches
Grade No. 3
Gross Diameter: 5 inches
Grade No. 4
Minimum volume 10 board feet NET scale
4. All Species
Shall be logs that do not meet the minimum requirements for sawmill grades, but are suitable for the production of
firm useable chips to an amount not less than 50% of GROSS scale.
Grade No. 5 Utility Logs
Gross Diameter: 4 inches
Minimum volume 10 board feet NET scale
Note: A log that is burned or charred or is not mechanically barkable, shall not qualify as a Utility log.
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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C. Plot Record Card Fixed Plot Tree Measurement Information Items
The purpose of these items is to record information about the individual seedling and sapling size trees
sampled with the fixed plot method. A seedling and sapling count will be recorded for tree species not
included in the variable radius plot (i.e. all trees less than 5.0 inches DBH). The dominate species of
understory vegetation will also be recorded. A seedling and sapling count will be made at each point
using a 1/250 acre plot (radius 7.45 feet). Plot centers will be the same as the variable plot sample point
centers.
50. Species
Record the seedling and sapling tree species present on the 1/250th acre plot. Species are recorder for
each one inch diameter class present on the plot. Record the species code as in Item 33.
51. Diameter Class
Record the diameter class of the tree species found on the 1/250th acre plot.
Code
0 Less than 0.5 inch
DBH Class
1 0.5 inch to 1.4 inches
2 1.5 inches to 2.4 inches
3 2.5 inches to 3.4 inches
4 3.5 inches to 4.4 inches
5 More than 4.4 inches
52. Number of Trees
Record the number of trees by diameter class and species found on the plot.
53. Height
Record the average height of each species at each fixed area plot.
Code
1 0-6 inches
Height Class
2 7-18 inches
3 18 inches – 3 feet
4 3-9 feet
5 10-19 feet
6 20-29 feet
7 30-39 feet
8 40-49 feet
9 50+ feet
54. Tree History
Record the code for tree history which best describes the condition of the trees found on the fixed plot.
Code
1 Desirable growing stock trees
Tree History
2 Acceptable growing stock trees
3 Undesirable growing stock trees
55. Ground Cover
Record ground cover for all plots, whether stocked or non-stocked. If more than one type of ground cover
is important, record the dominant species.
Code
0 No Vegetation
Brush Vegetation
1 Rose
2 Buffalo Berry
3 Raspberry
4 Labrador Tea
5 Blueberry
6 Willow
7 Alder
8 Grass 14 Fern
Other Vegetation
9 Moss 15 Devils Club
10 Forbs 16 Menziesii
11 High Bush Cranberry
12 Equisetum
13 Low Bush Cranberry
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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56. Percent Cover
Code
0 Less than 10%
Description
1 10% - 19%
2 20% - 29%
3 30% - 39%
4 40% - 49%
5 50% - 59%
6 60% - 69%
7 70% - 79%
8 80% - 89%
9 90% - 100%
57. Comments
Record any comments about the specific sample stand or individual trees.
III. APPENDIX
A. Procedures for Deduction of Visible Defect
Visible defect is divided into two major categories (board foot defect conifer trees, cubic foot defect
hardwood trees and conifer poletimber) under item 44, Defect Percent. Measurements of both board foot
and cubic foot defect refer to the merchantable portion of the tree. A merchantable tree must be capable
of producing at least one merchantable sawlog which is at least 33 percent sound in softwoods or at least
50 percent sound in hardwoods, in terms of board foot measure. All poletimber which is less than 50
percent sound, in terms of cubic foot measure, and all saplings with any sign of rot will not be considered
merchantable, but rotten culls. All trees which are of such poor form that they will never produce a
merchantable sawlog will not be classed as merchantable trees, but as sound culls or rough trees.
A merchantable log for a softwood sawtimber tree must have a minimum length of 12 feet to a minimum
top of 6 inches diameter outside bark (d.o.b.) and with one-third of its board foot volume in sound
recoverable wood. A merchantable log for a hardwood sawtimber tree must have a minimum length of 8
feet to a minimum top of 6 inches diameter outside bark (d.o.b.) and with one-half of its board foot volume
in sound recoverable wood.
1. Defects Causing Loss of Sound Wood Volume
These defects include rots and missing portions of the tree which reduce both the board foot and
cubic foot volumes and constitute losses of actual wood fiber. Fungus diseases such as butt rot
and heart rot can cause significant volume loss. Field crews will make deductions only for visible
defect. Hidden defect deductions should not be made in the field for rot discovered when boring
trees for age or growth, unless an external indicator accompanies the rot. Where rot is
encountered in borings, or suspected, however, make a careful examination for the presence of
indicators.
2. Defects Causing Loss of Board Foot Volume Only
These defects include deformities such as seams, cracks, fluting, serious crooks, sweep, etc.,
which reduce the volume of wood useable for board foot products, but do not reduce the cubic
foot volume of sound wood. Such defects can cause extensive board foot volume loss. Defects
which can be removed with the slab in sawing do not constitute a loss of board foot volume.
3. Common Parasitic Diseases of the Major Interior Alaska Tree Species
White Spruce—
Forest Resources on State Lands In The Kenai Peninsula 2012
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Disease Location Indicators
Tomentosus Root Rot
Visible Entrance Port
Confined mostly to
butt and roots
Fruiting bodies are
leathery and small,
usually less than 4” in
diameter. Red-brown
stain in heartwood.
Windthrown trees are
broken off at roots.
Spreads buy root
contact. Occurs in
groups, mortality
results in stand
openings.
Fomes pini Red Ring
Rot
Any location in main
bole of tree.
Shelf-shaped conk
with a sharp edge.
Dark brown with
concentric ridges.
Resinous punk knots
(swollen knots filled
with golden-brown
mycelium) are
common.
Old branch stubs,
seams, mechanical
wounds.
Fomes pinicola Red
Belt Fungus
Confined mostly to
butt or lower bole of
both live and dead
trees.
Woody hoof-shaped
conk, gray to black,
with reddish band
near the margin
Seams, fire scars,
mechanical wounds.
Hardwoods--
Disease Location Indicators
Fomes igniarius
Hardwood Trunk Rot
Visible Entrance Port
Any location in main
bole of tree.
Woody hoof-shaped
conk, grayish-black,
above, brown below.
Branch stubs or open
wounds, fire scars.
Pholiota spp. Yellow
Cap Fungus
Confined to butt
portion of tree.
Annual mushroom,
produced in clusters,
cap is yellow-brown
and usually scaly
and/or sticky.
Fire scars, butt seams
or wounds.
Ganoderma
applanatum Artist’s
Conk
Confined mostly to
butt or lower bole of
both live and dead
trees.
Woody shelf-shaped
conk, tan gray to gray
black, often covered
with a tan dusting of
spores.
Mechanical wounds,
broken tops.
4. Percentage of Tree Volume in 16-foot Logs
Tree Ht. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 Log 100
2 Log 85 13
3 Log 55 35 15
4 Log 41 31 20
5 Log 32 27 21 14 6
6 Log 27 23 19 15 11 5
7 Log 23 20 17 15 12 8 5
If section of bole is cull, deduct percent of log length affected. For example 4/16=25 percent cull
in section. For a three log tree if the 4’ defect is in log 2, then .25 X 35=9 percent cull for the
entire tree.
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B. Procedure for Collecting Increment Cores
The project leader may specify collection of site tree cores. When cores are collected for office evaluation, these
procedures shall be used.
All site trees will be bored to the center of the tree at d.b.h.
1. Mark outside (bark end) of core with heavy pencil or permanent fine tip marker line.
2. Put core in plastic straw and leave ½ inch of straw at each end. Fold once and pinch tight.
3. Place masking tape on straw and record core information on tape as shown below, preferably with a
permanent marker pen.
4. Note on straw if a portion of the core is in another straw (1 of 2 etc.). If core consists of two portions,
draw match lines on each piece. If center is not reached, note reason (rot, etc.).
5. After returning from the sample stand, place the cores for each location/plot in PVC pipe labeled with the
stand numbers.
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C. Field Plot Sheet