TFL 19 Sustainable Harvest Component Resource Management Plan
Western Forest Products Limited TFL 19
Sustainable Harvest Component of Campbell River Forest District
Resource Management Plan
(Revised June 2001)
Index
Introduction
1.0) Basic Data
- Administration
- Land Area
- Annual allowable Cut
- Site Class Profiles
- Age Class Profiles
- Species Profile
2.0) Timber Supply Issues
2.1) Timber Quantity
- Opportunities to Increase Timber Quantity
- Potential Treatments to Increase Timber Quantity
Planting with Genetically Improved Stock
Juvenile Spacing
Fertilization
2.2) Timber Quality
- Opportunities to Improve Timber Quality
- Potential Treatments to Improve Timber Quality
2.3) Forest Health
3.0) Non Timber Issues
3.1) Habitat Supply
3.2) Job Outcomes
4.0) Historical Incremental Silviculture Activities
5.0) Tables (5 year plan)
- Table A Backlog Activities
- Table B Stand Tending Activities
- Table C Forest Health Enhancement Activities
- Table D Habitat Supply Activities
Introduction
This document is submitted in response to the Ministry of Forests and Ministry of Environment’s request for a Resource Management Plan (RMP) to outline Forest Renewal B. C. (FRBC) funded silviculture programs. This information is drawn from Management Plan(MP) 8 and 9 for TFL 19 and addresses TFL 19 needs. MP 9 scheduled to take effect August 1, 2001 is in its final stage of approval and when approved will guide activites for the next 5 year peoiod. A Type 1 Silviculture Investment Strategy analysis will be completed in 2001 and will give further direction to silviculture programs.
1.0) BASIC DATA
Administrative Information:
TFL 19 is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island in the vicinity of Nootka Sound. It is located 80 km west of Campbell River.
TFL 19 is held by Doman-Western Lumber Ltd. and managed by Western Forest Products Limited (WFP). Doman –Western Lumber Ltd. was formed in December 1997 when Doman Industries Limited acquired the Crown assets of Pacific Forest Products Limited.
The communities of Gold River, Tahsis, and Zeballos are dependent on the economic activities generated from TFL 19. Logging operations are conducted from Gold River, Zeballos, Tahsis and several camps located throughout the Nootka Sound area. Fibre from TFL 19 helps supply the raw material needs of Doman’s nine saw mills and two pulp mills.
Land Area
TFL 19 covers 191,992 ha broken down as follows: 148,178 ha productive forest and 43,814 ha non forest or alpine. Further reductions from the productive land base for inoperable, inaccessible, environmental, and social values amounts to 63,101 ha. The long term land base for comercial timber production is 85,077 ha.
The forests lie within the wetter maritime coastal western hemlock biogeoclimatic zone with annual precipitation levels reaching 3,000 to 5,000 mm. The dominant timber species is western hemlock mixed with varying amount of amabilis fir, Douglas-fir, western red cedar, and lesser amounts of sitka spruce, yellow cedar, and mountain hemlock.
Annual Allowable Cut and Harvest Forecast
The current (1997 – 2001) annual allowable cut is 978,000 m3.
Depending on the options chosen in MP 9, the current timber supply analysis indicates that the long run sustainable yield (over the next 50 – 100 years will be between 725,000 m3 and 785,000 m3.
Site Class Profile
There are 13 forest types within the TFL that have been divided into good, medium and poor sites for timber supply modelling purposes. The site classes (Breast Height 50 yrs) are shown below:
Site Class Site Indices (m at BH 50)
Good 32.5+
Medium 22.5 – 32.4
Poor 12.5 – 22.4
Age Class Profile
Based on a 1991 inventory the table below summarizes the approximate age classes within TFL 19.
Age Class Years Estimated area (ha) Percentage of land base (%)
1 1 - 20 20,854 14
2 21 - 40 9,038 6
3 41 - 60 2,073 1
4 61 - 80 9,747 6
5 81 - 100 5,457 4
6 101 - 120 541 <1
7 121 - 140 1,320 1
8 & 9 141+ 104,153 67
NSR/NCBR 905 <1
TOTAL 154,088 100
Species Profile
Based on a 1991 inventory the table below summarizes the approximate species within TFL 19.
Species Percent Species Percent
Hw 46 Ss 0.5
Ba 17 Pl 0.3
Fd 13 Pw 0.2
Yc 12
Cw 11
2.0) Timber Supply Issues
2.1) Timber Quantity
The amount of timber available to harvest within TFL 19 depends on several factors, including but not limited to: the Forest Practices Code (restrictions with regard to harvesting within riparian areas, green up requirements, block size requirements, etc.), the visual landscape analysis, ungulate winter ranges, harvesting operability limits,recreation features, among others.
Opportunities to Increase Timber Quantity
The underlying rationale for an incremental program on TFL 19 is to improve the yield, and quality from the regenerated stands and to compensate for the forest age class imbalance by treatments that will increase the timber supply availability in 30 to 60 years. Incremental silviculture treatments will consist of genetic improvement, juvenile spacing, commercial thinning, pruning, and fertilization.
Benefits sought from an incremental program will be: increase in timber stand value, improvement in volume yield, shortened rotation ages, enhanced biodiversity capability, improved security and thermal cover for wildlite, and creation of local forestry employment opportunities.
Second growth stands are currently targeted for maximum fibre production in smaller diameter sawlogs, on a 60 to 100 year rotation.
Potential Treatments to Increase Timber Quantity
Planting with Genetically Improved Stock: All areas harvested in TFL 19 are usually reforested within one year of harvest. Areas are planted with genetically improved seedlings when available. All Fd and most of the Cw andHw seedlings planted in TFL19 are from genetically improved seed with anticipated gains in volume yields from 12% in Fd, 2% in CW and 8% in Hw. There are no (or very little) areas of backlog reforestation required within TFL 19.
Juvenile spacing: Stands will be assessed for potential spacing where stands exhibit competition for growing space. Potential candidate stands for juvenile spaced should have the following attributes:
1). Densities greater than 3,000 sph
2). Hw,Fd stands with > 2,500 sph
3). Average Age 12 – 18 yrs
4). Average Height 3 – 8 metres
5). Site Index >25
Stands will generally be spaced to 1,000 sph (1,200 sph in HwCw salal areas, and at higher snowpack areas). This will allow for commercial thinning opportunities when stands are 35 to 45 years old.
It is expected that 10 to 15% of regenerated stands will be spaced. Juvenile spacing activities are dependent on FRBC funding.
Fertilization: Many second growth stands on TFL 19 are being fertilized at the time of planting. This helps seedlings achieve free growing sooner thereby minimizing brushing costs.
Post free growing stands will be assessed for fertilization and should have the following attributes:
1). Fd stands or stands with at least 50% Fd mixed as crop trees or 40% and greater than 1m taller than the surrounding trees in the stand..
2). Hw Cw salal sites (2nd priority)
3). Spaced and/or pruned stands on medium to poor sites. (2st priority)
4). Second growth Fd stands that are <10 –20 years from harvest.(1st priority)
5). Fertilization within pruned stands may be done manually at time of pruning.
Candidate stands will be fertilized using nitrogen in the form of urea pellets applied at a rate of 435 kg/ha using aerial methods. Cw Hw salal sites will be fertilized using a nitrogen/phospherus blended mix. Post free growing fertilization activities are dependent on FRBC funding.
2.2) Timber Quality
It is expected at rotation, the average DBH of second growth stands will be in the 35 – 45 cm range. This is much smaller that the average DBH of many of the old growth stands currently being harvested. It is expected that many of these second growth stands will not have the same amount of clear (knot free) wood as the old growth. Although future markets can not be predicted with any certainty beyond five years, it is expected that some knot free wood will always be in demand.
Opportunities to Increase Timber Quality
Pruning can increase timber quality by minimizing the knotty core and providing clear wood.
Potential Treatments to Increase Timber Quality
Pruning: Stands will be assessed for potential pruning based on the following attributes:
1). Spaced stands composed primarily of Fd and Hw.
2). Concentrate pruning on sites with a high SI. (SI>25)
3). 1st lift pruning (3 metres) on stands that are on average at least 6 m tall.
4). 2nd lift pruning (5.6 m) on stands that are on average at least 10 metres tall.
5). Individual stem diameters should be less than 15 cm (DBH 1st lift and at 3 m height on 2nd lift)
Candidate stands should have between 400 and 600 sph pruned. 40% live crown will be retained on Hw, and a minimum of 3 whorls will be retained on Fd. Pruning activities are dependent on FRBC funding.
2.3) Forest Health
There have been a few minor forest health issues over the history of TFL 19. There are a few Armillaria root rot pockets scattered throughout, and the presence of Pissodes strobi has resulted in damage to some sitka spruce plantations. These concerns have been mitigated by planting resistant species in root rot areas, and minimizing the amount of spruce planted within the TFL. Pissodes resistant stock is available for planting from the Saanich Forestry Centre.
White Pine Blister Rust is present on second growth white pine. This concern has been mitigated by limiting the amount of white pine planted within the TFL, and by lower branch pruning. Blister rust resistant pine is available from the Saanich Forestry Centre.
Hemlock Dwarf Mistletoe is present on many old growth stands, but should not be a major concern in second growth, as it is addressed through regular and residual falling.
Elk browse on seedlings is a concern in several valleys within the TFL and is addressed by placing browse protectors over seedlings at time of planting.
Except for a small area of rehabilitation, there are no plans for FRBC funded health programs over the next five years. Forest health issues are monitored and control actions taken through regular silviculture surveys.
3.0) Non Timber Issues
3.1) Habitat Supply
A variety of wildlife species occurs within TFL 19. Notable large mammals include Roosevelt elk, black bear, black-tailed deer, and cougar. Smaller mammals such as raccoons, squirrels, and martens along with various species of birds are also found within the TFL. Various salmonids are present in many rivers and streams.
While habitat supply is not directly focused on during incremental silviculture activities, some benefits are being derived: Habitat for elk and deer browse within areas to be spaced and pruned will be maintained or possibly enhanced as a result of more light reaching the forest floor. The increase in light penetrating to the forest floor also provides increase berry production for bear browse.
During spacing or pruning activities, second growth trees with bird nests are left uncut or unpruned. In addition, willow and cascera (known elk browse) can be left uncut, or cut to encourage new regrowth.
Fertilizer free zones are left for a minimum of 10 metres along all observable water ways, and on all fish bearing streams. Cut trees, during spacing activities and pruned branches are removed from streams. These actions help maintain water quality in these water courses.
3.2) Job Outcomes
One of the main focus of FRBC funded projects within TFL 19 is to create local silviculture employment opportunities. Within TFL 19, several First Nations bands have been employed in carrying out juvenile spacing and pruning activities. Western Forest Products will continue to encourage the development of First Nation silviculture contractors through the award of silviculture contracts at market price to First Nations.
Year round employment in spacing and pruning is possible provided FRBC funding is available. Some down time is expected each year due to high fire hazard conditions, and heavy snowfall.
The following table lists expected productivity levels for various incremental programs:
Spacing: estimated productivity is 0.1 to 0.2 ha per person day of employment.
Pruning: estimated productivity is 0.1 ha per person day.
Fertilization: estimated productivity is 200ha/day (helicopter)
Back log Planting: estimated productivity is 1 to 2 ha/person day
Backlog Brushing: estimated productivity is 0.5 ha/person day (chemical) or 0.3 ha per person day (manual)
4.0) Historical Incremental Silviculture Activities
Juvenile spacing on TFL 19 has been ongoing since the mid 1970’s. Fertilization of second growth stands has been occurring on the TFL since the early 1980’s and pruning has been ongoing since the early 1990’s. Most, if not all, the backlog (pre 1987 logging) areas have been reforested and brushing treatments completed where required.
The following table outlines the incremental activity carried out over the last seven years on TFL 19.
Year Spacing Pruning Fertilization Backlog Brushing
2000 256 233 958 46.0
1999 303 117 764 0
1998 165 40 0 2.9
1997 163 111 0 158.2
1996 249 20 188 0
1995 226 39 0 167.4
1994 266 137 0 26.6
note: the values are expressed as hectares (ha) treated.
5.0) TABLES
See file SS2 tables 2002 2003 Van Region.
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