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5 Year Forest Management PlanCu -'e4 /vCcrJ 5 YEAR FOREST MANAGEMENT,. PLAN prepared for NORTHAMPTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION ROBERTS' HILL AND FITZGERALD .LAKE PROPERTIES January, 1982 KARL DAVIES FOREST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT P.O. BOX 601, NORTHAMPTON, MA 01060 1 Management Objectives Table of Contents (Management Plan) 2 Forest Type Code Explanation 3 Stand Type Map with Overlays (a b) Roberts Hill (RH) a) thinning priorities b) soils map with restricted areas, roads, trails, landings 4 Stand Type Map with Overlays (a b) Fitzgerald Lake (FL) a) thinning priorities b) soils map with restricted areas, roads, trails, landings 5 Locator and Stand Type Keys RH 6 Locator and Stand Type Keys FL 7 Properties Locations Map 8 -9 Silvicultural Options 10 -14 Principles of Forest Investment Analysis 15 -16 Guide to Your Woodland Management Plan 17 -20 Stand Type Descriptions RH 21 Summary of Recommendations RH 22 -27 Stand Type Descriptions FL 28 Summary of Recommendations FL 29 -31 Overview Appendix A Wildlife Habitat Management for Vermont Woodland Appendix B Tree Crops: A Neglected Source of Food and Forage from Marginal Lands Appendix C Forest Aesthetics: As The Owners See It Appendix D Soil Survey References Appendix E Glossary MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES 1 To improve the growing conditions for the better trees and to encourage regeneration of desirable species. 2 To protect aesthetic values by careful thinnings. 3 To indicate opportunities for improved wildlife habitat. 4 To show areas where cutting should be excluded or restricted. 0 FOREST TYPE CODE EXPLANATION The forest type code is a standard three part system used to classify stand types. Part 1: Species Composition S: mixed softwoods H: mixed hardwoods WP or P: white pine RP: red pine HK: hemlock Other letters may be used also, for example R0 would indicate red oak, SM would indicate sugar maple. When the letters are used in combination, such as HHK, PH, or HP, the first letter represents the predominant species in the stand, while the second letter represents species comprising a significant component of the stand. Thus SH indicates a primarily softwood stand with a significant hardwood component; HS would indicate the converse. Part 2: Height Classes .11) 0: 0 -20 feet high, average about 10' 1: 20 -40 feet high, average about 30' 2: 40 -60 feet high, average about 50' 3: 60 -80 feet high, average about 70' 4: 80 -100 feet high, average about 90' Stands with heights that don't fit into one class would be described with two height class numbers. For example, a stand with an average height of 60' would be described as 2 -3. A stand with a wide range of heights from 20' to 60' would be described as 1 -2. Part 3: Stand Density A: a very dense stand with a complete crown canopy, which has not been recently harvested or thinned B: a nearly complete cover of trees of the same general height, which has been recently thinned or'is growing on a poor site C: a very patchy stand, having been recently harvested or thinned heavily, and usually consisting of different age classes of trees Example: HK)I3A indicates a dense stand, 60' -80' tall, predominantly hemlock, but with a significant amount of hardwood. 2 0 4S 1; >3 5.. 0 .1 -I--) 0 0.. CfP "0 r! 0 E 8 No, 1 C- C,0 C 1 i I il .1/ 5211 CD L< 0 (D 5 0_ Ll4 El s -h 52.1 0 Z 01 5 c 0 cu 0 0_ a) 5 3 5 r1- C) c< c< CD Cu v) c...... 5:u 0 C Cu I 0 0 V) CD 0 CL 0 0 0: 0 (1 7:.) i(c.riL CD rt 0 0.) c al I 01 (1) c. 0 C G 0 CD c 0 5 (D o 1± ---1 pi LO tr.- -2 (-t-_ cu 00 IN) Ln n o cri rt- -P. c 1 o 01 3 co 3 co r.) 1 :1 0 C o 1.1 a a .0E1 u 2 a iv (-0 o CD in r+ fl r a 'S n N S O." fD O J. ...a {/f i fD O N fn CD an N W '1 rD 0 cu al h (n °7, n ft trm -s s ge M :mot r+ 0 vi j I 0 0 m w N r+ 'O O" 0 c+ O N J 01 01 01 CD N 0 0 a ct c+ S p .J. 2 N Cr c+ O N c+ V) C7 a CO O ct 0 rD a a n. s Cv 0 C") p.. 5 11 O Sal <G 5 a N O SL -5 CD 7C I rD s1 c 0 1 O SL n c+ C 0 2 3 l� LOCATOR AND STAND TYPE KEY RH locator type acres type locators acres 1 H3B 52 H3B 1 4 58 2 SH3B 26 H2B 5 6 3 SH3B 13 SH3B 2, 3 39 4 H3B 6 ROW 6 6 5 H2B 6 ponds 7 1 6 ROW 6 7 ponds 1 110A 110A LOCATOR AND STAND TYPE KEY FL locator type acres type locators acres 1 H2D 3 H2D 1 3 2 SH2C 13 H2B 3, 9 40 3 H2B 28 HS2B 4, 5, 8, 11 12 4 HS2B 5 SH2C 2 13 5 HS2B 2 PH2D 6, 12 11 6 PH2D 8 HOC 7, 10 25 7 HOC 20 field 13 4 8 HS2B 4 lake 14 37 9 H2B 12 10 HOC 5 145A 11 HS2B 1 12 PH2D 3 13 field 4 14 lake 37 145A p 1( 1 z -1 z -J 0, 57:or 1.- o„ 3 4. 0 „Air: D ..---:•■_.)-:.,7 7 f CD i i r'i, 1 C V I 1 I L ",,L' I: t ,4 -0 'co _Z 0 I. Pr/V 7. 0_7d- r3 I cr----E), c–, 6-- __...0,__. –.''.1, C I' .4",.. 1 I. 1 1') ^7 a ,1 k :s Z__ A, 'f 1 V i I I c r SILVICULTURAL OPTIONS The following operations are those most frequently used in this area by the forest manager. The particular operations recommended in your plan should fall under one or more of the following headings: Commercial Thinnings Firewood Thinnings: Individual trees will be marked and sold in order to release better trees which have a good potential of growing into valuable timber. Sometimes firewood thinnings will be essentially weedings where chiefly trees of low value potential species will be cut. Firewood thinnings occur mainly in younger stands. Timber Thinnings: In older stands where there is a large quantity of small timber, some of the lower value potential trees may be marked and sold. Often timber and firewood will be marked at the same time, provided there are buyers interested in the sale who have diversified markets. Harvest Cuts 8 Improvement Harvests: In older and mixed age stands where there is a signi- ficant amount of low grade timber which is competing with better, smaller trees those trees may be marked and sold if there is a reasonable market for only the low grade material. Improvement cuts may also include some firewood or high grade timber, again depending upon availability of buyers with diversified markets. Selection Harvests: Some or all of the high grade, mature timber in older stands may be marked and sold, provided markets are good. Market conditions are much more important in the timing and planning of mature timber harvests than in commercial thinnings and improvement cuts. Buyers of high grade timber are often not interested in marketing low grade timber or firewood. Competitive bidding for this type of sale often brings a higher price than might have been expected. Shelterwood Cuts Shelterwood Preparation: Where the objective is to regenerate a stand in which there is very little future value potential, all but a certain number of trees may be removed (as timber and /or firewood) in order to allow the right amount of light to reach the ground needed for the regeneration of desired species. The shelterwood overstory provides seed and 'protection for seedlings and causes them to grow tall while at the same time growing itself at a rapid rate. The shelterwood method and its more extreme vari— ation, the seed tree method (where only a very few vigorous seed trees of desired species are left), are also used for stand conversion where most of the trees on the site are not suited to the site. Shelterwood Removal: After the stand has regenerated itself and the shelterwood overstory is ready for harvest it should he removed in order to give the seedlings or saplings underneath it full opportunity to grow. Shelterwood removals may be done in one or more cuttings. Non Commercial Operations Girdling: In younger softwood stands where the unwanted trees are not saleable as firewood or timber, and in some hardwood stands with very difficult access, trees may be killed by girdling with an axe or chainsaw. Before the recent development of good firewood markets in this area, nearly all thinnings were done by girdling. The cost was and still is justified by the increased rates of volume growth on the residual stands. Pruning: Where lower and midstem branches on young trees prevent the growth of high grade, clear wood those branches may be removed- -but only after the trees have demonstrated an ability to grow rapidly. This prac— tice can apply to hardwoods as well as softwoods. The cost is justified by the increased rate of unit value growth. Planting and Seeding: As the description of shelterwood cots above indi— cates, most regeneration of forest stands is done naturally in this area. Occasionally, however, there will not be a seed source on the lane] for the desired species. Or a species not native to this region may be desired. In such cases planting or seeding to the chosen species may be a justified expense. 9 PRINCIPLES OF FOREST INVESTMENT ANALYSIS 10 In order for the forester to make decisions about when to cut which trees in a forest or stand of trees, there must be a framework for decision making which includes the landowner's objectives of ownership including aesthetics, wildlife habitat, recreational uses, and financial objectives. The first three areas of consideration are usually not nearly as available to objective criteria for evaluation as is the last area -the financial. The following will outline some of the factors used in evaluating a forest investment from the economic point of view.' Within the constraints of good aesthetic, wildlife, and recreation management, the forest landowner may wish to maximize annual volume production, annual value production, or percent rate of return on investment. Annual volume production might be the objective of an owner wishing to use a woodiot close to the house for fuelwood production, or an industrial owner who is primarily concerned with supplying the company mill with logs. Annual value production might be the objective of an owner who anticipates a special financial need in the not -to- distant future, and who, for tax or other reasons, wishes to keep his /her investment in timber. Percent rate of return on investment is the most often applied criterion for the forest landowner who must consider that his /her money could also be invested in money market funds, municipal bonds, stocks or other investments and could thereby earn a given "alternative" annual rate of return. For the forest owner who must view his /her property as an investment choice, the management practice must be directed toward liquidating the value invested in the low potential earning trees, and concentrating the remaining investment value on high potential earners. Therefore each tree must be seen individually as an investment in relation to the landowner's goals, its own potential, and its neighbors' potential. As will be shown, a tree's investment potential depends upon its potential for volume, unit value, and relative value increases. The table below illustrates rates of volume growth for different sizes of trees (DBH- diameter at breast height) growing at different rates (Rings Per 1 The landowner's cost, if any, for the bare land (less its tree value) is left out of this analysis because this factor theoretically has a development value separate from its tree value which grows according to a different set of potential value criteria. The analyses assume that the acquisition cost of I the trees is their appraised value at management year 0, which represents a potential liquidation sale value at that time. DBH Rings Per Inch 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 4" 1 .282 .225 .188 .161 .141 .125 .113 .102 .094 .087 .080 .075 5" .220 .177 .147 .126 .110 .098 .088 .080 .073 .068 .063 .059 6" .181 .145 .121 .103 .091 .080 .072 .065 .060 .056 .052 .048 7" .153 .123 .103 .088 .077 .068 .061 .056 .051 .047 .044 .041 8" .133 .106 .089 .076 .067 .059 .053 .048 .044 .041 .038 .035 9" .116 .093 .078 .067 .058 .052 .047 .042 .039 .036 .033 .031 10" .105 .084 .070 .060 .053 .047 .042 .038 .035 .032 .030 .028 11" .095 .076 .063 .054 .047 .042 .038 .034 .032 .029 .027 .025 12" 1 .087 .070 .058 .050 .044 .039 .035 .032 .029 .027 .025 .023 13" .080 .064 .053 .046 .040 .035 .032 .029 .027 .025 .023 .021 14" .074 .059 .049 .042 .037 .033 .030 .027 .025 .024 .021 .020 15" .069 .055 .046 .039 .034 .031 .028 .025 .023 .021 .020 .018 16" .064 .052 1 .043 .037 .032 .029 .026 .023 .021 1 .020 .018 .017 17" .061 .048 .040 .035 .030 .027 .024 .022 .020 .019 1 .017 .016 18" .057 .046 .038 .033 .029 .025 .023 .021 .019 .018 .016 .015 19" .054 .043 .036 .031 .027 .024 .022 .020 .018 .017 .015 .014 20" 1 .051 .041 .034 .029 .025 .023 .020 .019 .017 .016 .015 .014 21" .049 .039 .033 .028 .024 .022 .020 .018 .016 .015 .014 .013 22" .046 .037 .031 .027 .023 .021 .019 .017 .015 .014 1 .013 .012 Radial Inch RPI). Trees growing very slowly (less than 15 RPI) are poor earners and are likely to be producing poor quality wood in some species. Trees growing very fast are good earners although extremely fast grown wood (2 -4 RPI) may not be marketable for the highest quality products. The same rate of radial growth on a smaller tree is a higher percentage rate than on a larger tree. A 12" DBH tree at 6 RPI grows 6% /year, but compare the rates for 6 RPI on 6" and 18" DBH trees. A tree's potential rate of growth depends upon its age, its site, and its history of competition -how dominant or suppressed it is. Generally speaking, most vigorous trees in this area are capable of growing at 4 -8 RPI after they have been released from competition. RATE OF GROWTH (GROWTH FACTOR TABLE) Procedure 1. Determine GROWTH FACTOR by applying average DBH and average rings per inch to above table. 2. Compute annual rate of growth of BASAL AREA, CORDS, TONS, BOARD FEET (International), or CUBIC FEET by multiplying amount of good growing stock in each category by the GROWTH FACTOR. 3. Multiply GROWTH FACTOR by 100 for growth percent. 11 The price list below shows prices paid for logs delivered at a local sawmill in 1980. It illustrates how trees with high grade potential can grow in value /Mbf (unit value) as they grow in volume. For example, if an 8" tip diameter butt log (in a tree) with higher grade potential is now worth $20 /Mbf as stumpage, and if it takes 14 years for it to add on 4" diameter (at 6 RPI 1/3" /year) so that it becomes a 12" tip grade log worth $80 /Mbf as stumpage, then it has grown at 10% /year in unit value,since an investment growing at 10% compound doubles in value in 7 years and quadruples in 14 years. Usually, however, only about 2/3 of a whole tree's value is capable of growing that much in unit value because the upper, knotty logs and branches have little or no grade potential. Thus the whole tree might be growing at 6 -7% in unit value. Where limitations on the tree's unit value can be removed, i.e. small branches, they should be pruned off while the tree is still young. Tree species that don't have high grade potential (beech, soft maple, hemlock, poplar, etc.) should not be kept in a stand unless there is nothing else better compare the log prices for red oak to those for hemlock on the price list. The percentage of high grade potential trees (red oak, ash, the birches, cherry, hard maple, white pine, etc.) in a stand will vary greatly. A tree with little or no grade potential will only grow in volume, while a tree with high grade potential will grow in unit value at about the same rate as it grows in volume. Log prices effective October 5, 1980: J RED OAK Prime: 20" tip diam. and larger. 7'6" and 8'6" only. Second cuts o.k. Must be freshly cut, symmetrical, smooth,,straight, no defects, shake or sweep. No Black Oak. 560 Select: 16" to 20" tip diam. Otherwise the same as Prime.,5 C2 #1 #2 LOCAL LUMBER COMPANY. Hilltown, Massachusetts 16" and larger, clear three sides and better. Smooth. 8' to 16' in two fgot increments plus 3" trim allowance. No Black Oak. ,36S L 14" to 16" clear three sides and better, plus Black Oak clear four sides. Smooth. Same lengths as #1..;155 #3 12" and larger, clear two sides, plus Black Oak clear three sides. Same lengths as #1. /6c 2 Oak Tie Logs: '10" and larger tip diam. No unsound defects such as shake, splits, or rot. Also no sweep in 10" and 11" logs. Black Oak o.k. /e.5 2 Pallet Logs: All logs 8" and larger not meeting above specifications. 4C HEMLOCK #1 Logs 12'3" in length, 10" to 20" tip diameter. Sound, no shake. /CL 2 #2 All other Hemlock logs. Scaling deductions will be made for unsound defects. C6 12 2 A11 prices are for logs delivered at the mill yard. To calculate stumpage return to the landowner, subtract $65- 75 /Mbf for felling, limbing, skidding, bucking, and trucking. 13 The quotes below indicate that timber values have historically increased and will continue to increase relative to other commodities at about 2-3%/year. The price of lumber has risen more or less steadily since 1800...at a rate averaging about 1.7% annually, compounded...in terms of dollars of constant purchasing power, so these increases are "real." "Report of the President's Advisory Panel on Timber and the Environment," 1973 ...in the past, increases of 50 -60 percent in softwood lumber prices have resulted in a rise of over 100 percent in relative average prices of soft wood stumpage...It seems likely that relative prices of hardwood timber products may also rise in about the same way as softwoods, particularly for the preferred species and larger sizes. "The Nation's Renewable Resources--An Assessment, 1975;' US Forest Service, 1976 This increase occurs independent of a tree's volume and /or unit value increases and is purely a function of the scarcity of timber relative to other commodities. Relative value increases tend to be higher during periods of high demand (when the housing industry is strong) and lower or non existent during periods of low demand. In summary, trees are capable of growing in volume, unit value, and relative value all at the same time. Therefore, to determine the rate of total value increase being grown by an individual tree or a stand or forest, all three factors must be added together. Trees of course will grow in all the above ways with or without management, but whereas the unmanaged forest might be growing at 1- 3% /year in volume, 0 -1% in unit value, and 2% in relative value (total 3 -6 a well managed forest might grow at two or even three times that rate of total value increase. Exceptional individual trees and stands can grow at still higher rates. It should be kept in mind that all of the foregoing calculations are "real" or "deflated" and that in order to compare a forest investment to an alternative, inflated rate investment, some rate must be assigned to inflation and added on to the forest investment rate or subtracted from the alternative investment rate. The foregoing calculations do not include a risk factor -for liabilities such as fire, insect, ice, wind, and disease damage. This is a very hard variable to estimate and could range anywhere from 1 -5% /year -risk also being to some extent an inverse function of management since healthy, vigorous, forests with good access are less susceptible to risk factors. Nor do the calculations include carrying and operating expenses (property taxes, management planning, marking and sales administration, etc.), most of which are income tax deductible, but which might account for a cost equal to 1 -2% /year of the investment value. 14 To conclude, the forester should work with the landowner to clarify financial �i and other objectives of ownership and then to indicate opportunities and liabilities for forest investment management within the context of the overall forest management plan, using the following guidelines: Trees should be cut only if they have low potential for volume and unit value increases. These trees to cut can be classified as follows: very low vigor trees of any grade or species, large trees which have reached their highest potential grade, and smaller trees with little or no potential for grade increase. Conversely, any tree that has high potential for volume and unit value increases should be released from competition and left to grow unless, perhaps, it is seriously competing with an equally or more valuable neighbor; and where a tree's unit value growth potential is limited by branches they should be pruned off. 3 These general guidelines should of course be influenced by market conditions, i.e. large, high quality timber should be sold when markets are up and low quality timber and /or fire wood may be sold when markets are down. 15 A GUIDE TO YOUR WOODLAND MANAGEMENT PLAN O The purpose of this guide is to help you understand and therefore better utilize your forest management plan. One of the first steps in forest management planning is to divide the woodland into homogeneous units, areas which are sufficiently uniform to be distinguishable from adjacent areas. These units are called forest stands and are assigned type codes. Various vegetation and land characteristics are useful in understanding each stand's present and future potential. Characteristics of Trees In this plan the following characteristics of trees are looked at: major species, age, mean diameter, density, quality, and volume. Major Species: A list of the most frequently found species in the main canopy is given. The main canopy is where the foliage and branches of most trees in that stand are located. If there are 2 main canopies the taller one is termed the overstory and the shorter one the understory. Certain species tend to-grow together like beech birch -maple or oak hickory. Age: This is the approximate age of those trees in the main canopy. The age is determined by boring into trees and counting the rings on the extracted core. Since this is done according to standard forestry practice at 4'5" from the ground, the age given is the age of the tree at that height. Anywhere from 1- 10 years, the time it took the tree to reach that height, can be added to that to obtain the total age. Diameter: The diameter listed is the average diameter of the trees in the stand measured at 4'5" above the ground. Again, this is of trees in the main canopy. Trees having diameters of 0 -3.5" are seedlings and saplings; 3.6 9.5" are pole timber; 9.6 14.5" are small sawtimber; and 14.6" and op are large sawtimber. Comparing the age of the trees to their mean diameter gives one an indication of the rate of growth. The younger trees are for a given diameter, the faster the rate of growth. Even within a stand, for example, trees of the same age may have different diameters. It is common to find a 14" red oak right next to a 10" red oak of the same age. The canopy on the 14" oak is probably larger, so that it was able to get more sunlight, and pro- duce more food, and therefore grow more rapidly. Density: The density of the stand indicates what of the site is covered with trees. Basal area is the standard unit of measure. Basal area /acre is the number of square feet of ground covered by trees in one acre. The formula is `I7" X (radius) For a 12" tree 144 it would be 3.14 X 6 .76 square feet. Through years 144 of research optimum basal areas for different species at different mean dia- meters have been determined. Softwoods (pine, hemlock, spruce, and fir) have higher optimum basal areas than hardwoods. If the stand is overstocked (basal area too high) trees are growing too slowing in diameter and therefore will take longer to reach maturity. An understocked stand means there is too little Thanks to Lynn Levine, forester from Putney, VT and member of Forest Resource Management Associates, for this guide KD C, 16 vegetation, and although each tree can grow quite fast, the total volume /acre is too low. Quality: The rating of quality is important in understanding a stand's poten- tial. Stands with straight trees, with little lower branching and no insect or disease problems are the best quality. This is because these trees can be made into the most 'Valuable products. Volume: Volume in this plan is divided into board feet and cords /acre for the entire stand. For a tree to have board foot volume it must be greater than 11" in diameter for hardwoods and 9" for softwoods. Trees with board foot volume are usually termed tie, saw, or veneer logs. If a tree is less than the stated dimension or it is very defective its volume has been measured in cords. The present value of the trees can be determined by multiplying the volume by an average stumpage price. The stumpage price is the value of the tree (to the landowner) as it stands in the woods. Characteristics of the Land In this plan the following land characteristics for each stand are explored: loca- tion, slope, aspect, access, and productivity. Location: Each stand's location is described in the text and can be found on the map preceding all the forest stand descriptions. Slope and Aspect: The slope and aspect are important characteristics in determining both potential access and productivity. Slopes greater than 25% may create problems in logging, and in general the steeper the slopes the lower the potential productivity. It is important to know the aspect or direction the slope faces to understand whether the slope is working for you or against you. Extracting trees by pulling uphill can make things difficult. It is also true that some aspects are more productive than others, with the northeast being the best. Access: A rating of the ease of removing wood products from the stand is given. Items taken into account besides slope and aspect are ground wetness and distance from main road. Future road needs are usually stated. Productivity: The productivity of the site is rated using the system of site index. The site index for an area is the height of the trees at age 50. Site index can vary from 40 -90. The more productive a site the taller the trees will be at a given age. Therefore, at a given basal area /acre the higher the site index the greater the volume produced. Manipulating the density does not alter the height of trees. Following the woodland description are the recommendations for that stand. This part of the plan should be self- explanatory. Reasons are given for each suggested treatment along with associated costs or income. type and locator(s) H3B: L1, 4 overstory: mid stratum understory: fl regeneration: basal acres 58 area 90+ 17 site (hardwood) index 50+ annual of species quality DBH height /age volume growth red oak, hickory, 2 -3 10 -12 60 +/60 3 -4 ash 2 -3 4 -10 40 +/60 2 -4 as above, plus red maple, white oak, birches 1 -3 2 -4 20 +/40 4+ white pine, 1 -2 0 -2 0 /10+ 6+ hemlock, laurel, witch hazel volumes and values: 5.5 mbf $110, 10 cd $10 $705 /A (see printout) site characteristics: dry (off) site oak and hickory on dry, ledgey soils with moderate slopes and good access by old woods roads; eastern part of locator 1 is mostly hickory; south end of locator 1 is fairly wet recommendations: remove low grade potential trees and some currently high grade, large red oak in an improvement harvest /thinning; be careful to leave vigorous oak and hickory for mast production; leave all white pine as seed trees and fully release them from competition this site would be better suited to white pine because of the poor soils; a heavy thinning on the top of Roberts Hill would improve the scenic vista type and locator(s) H2B: L5 acres 6 area 100 index 50- (l w 18 basal 90- site (hardwood) annual of species quality DBH height /age volume growth overstory: red oak, 2 -3 9 -12 50 +/70 2 -3 white oak mid stratum:\ understory j regeneration: as above, 2 -3 6 -9 40 +/70 2 -3 plus red maple, black birch, pine 2 -3 2 -6 20 +/40 2 -4 laurel, 2 -3 0 -2 0 /10+ 4+ some oaks and pine volumes and values: 3.5 mbf $80, 12 cd $10 $400 /A (see printout) site characteristics: very dry (off) site oak on ledgey soils with moderate slopes except near western edge of locator 5 where it's steep; good access to roads recommendations: remove low grade potential trees in a thinning operation; the laurel could be cut in patches to encourage regeneration for future timber pro- duction and wildlife browse; leave all white pine as seed trees and fully release them from competition the site would be better suited to white pine because of the poor soils 19 it; type and basal 90- site (pine) locator(s) SH3B: L2, 3 acres 39 area 100 index 80 annual of species quality DBH height /age volume growth overstory: white pine, 1 -3 12 -16 70/40 3 -4 red oak., hickory, hemlock mid stratum: 1 -3 8 -12 50/40 3 -5 understory: as above, plus 1 -3 2 -8 40/20 3 -5 red maple, birches regeneration: white pine, 1 -2 0 -2 0 /10+ 5+ red oak, hemlock, etc. volumes and values: 7 mbf $10, 5 cd $10 $540t /A (see printout) site characteristics: more recently abandoned pasture areas than hardwood types, and better sites; well drained soils with moderate to level slopes; the southeast part of locator 2 has some good, small pine poles recommendations: remove low grade potential trees and some mature timber in an improvement harvest /thinning; where there are good quality pine poles (4 -10" DBH), prune them up to the bottom of the live crown these areas would be the southeast part of locator 2 and patches in locator 3, roughly 3 acres in each locator; where there are concentrations of softwoods offering opportunities for deer yard sites, these stands should be encouraged by thinning out the hardwoods and releasing the softwoods type and locator(s) ROW overstory: mid stratum: understory: basal site acres 6 area 0 index 50+ annual of species quality DBH height /age volume growth white pine, regeneration: red oak, birches 1 -2 0 -2 .0 +/5+ 10+ IMO white oak, red maple, laurel, juniper volumes and values: no measurable volumes or values site characteristics: see types H3B and SH3B descriptions the leg of the ROW in the SE part of locator 1 is fairly wet and full of raspberry and blackberry plus above trees 20 recommendations: the "edge" provided by the ROW offers good wildlife habitat for many species; food diversity could be supplemented by plantings in the ROW; also, the ROW could be widened to increase its area year 1982- 84 type(s) SH3B 5 YEAR SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS ROBERTS HILL (estimated) operation cost net Primarily timber thinning $1760- $7535 on 39A, cut 140- mbf and 40- cd 1982- H2B Timber and firewood thinning 315± $1525± 84 on 6A, cut 15± mbf and 30± cd 1984- H3B Timber and firewood thin- $3220± $24930± 86 ning on 58 acres, cut 205± mbf and 170± cd (this opera- tion could occur earlier if less timber and wood were cut) (1) All boundaries should be clearly marked before any marking of trees begins. 21 type and locator(s) H2D: L4 overstory: mid stratum: understory: regeneration: annual of species quality DBH height /age volume growth red maple dead elm, pine along edges of type as above, plus viburmum 3 3 3 3 basal site (harlwood) acres 3 area 20± index 50- 8 -12 50 +/50 2 -4 4 -8 40 +/50 2 -4 2 -4 20 +/30+ 4+ 0 -2 0 /10+ 6+ volumes and values: 4cd $10 $40 -/A (this value assumes frozen ground for (see printout) cutting operation) 22 site characteristics: very wet, level ground with poor access because of wetness; the elm has died out in the past 10 years, leaving only poor quality red maple. recommendations: leave as a natural, unmanaged area; or leave uncut but plant wet- land tree and shrub species for wildlife -white ash might grow on this site type and locator(s) H2B:L3,9 overstory red, white, and chestnut oak, poplar, mid stratum: hickory understory: as above, but more red maple regeneration: white pine, red maple, oaks basal 70- acres 40 area 90 annual of species quality DBH height /age volume growth 3 3 8 -10 50 +/50 3 -4 4 -8 40 +/50 3 -4 3 2 -4 20 +/30 1 -3 0 -2 0 /10+ volumes and values: 1 Mbf $30, 10cd $10= $130 /A (see printout) site (h a rdwood index 50- 4+ 23 site characteristics: very dry, rocky soils on gentle slopes with good access; locator 9 is less rocky than locator 3 and has much chestnut oak; rockiness in locator 3 may restrict operability recommendations: remove low grade potential trees in a fairly heavy thinning/ shelterwood preparation cut; these sites would be much better suited to white pine and since there is already some good pine regeneration especially in locator 3 cutting should be done soon and preferably in late summer to minimize hardwood sprouting which would compete with the pine seedlings; the most vigorous oaks should be left for mast production; heavy thinnings would also open up scenic vistas of the lake; access road improvements may be needed in locator 3, especially if skidder operations are excluded; some wet areas near the lake should be operated with frozen ground S type and basal 60- site (hardwood) locator(s) HS2B: L4, 5, 8, 11 acres 12 area 80 index 60+ annual of species quality DBH height /age volume growth overstory: 1 -2 9 -12 60/50 3 -5 red maple, black birch, red oak", ash, mid stratum: white pine- 1 -3 6 -9 50/50 3 -5 understory: 2 -3 2 -6 20 +/30 5+ hemlock, white pine, plus above hardwoods regeneration: 2 -3 0 -2 0 /10+ 5+ volumes and values: 2.5 mbf $60, 9 cd 10 $240 /A (see printout) 24 site ch a teristics: 4 small areas near Fitzgerald Lake with more water than H2B but sti� cry and stoney; gentle slopes with good access; locators 4 and 8 have more softwoods in the understory and were thinned in the last cutting recommendations: remove low grade potential trees in a fairly heavy thinning/ shelterwood preparation cut; this would facilitate stand conversion to hemlock and pine, thus providing better wildlife habitat, and leave the larger trees of good form; an alternative would be to thin more lightly and emphasize timber production over wildlife habitat; heavy thinnings would open up scenic vistas of the lake from locator 9 type and V locator(s) SH2C: L2 acres 13 basal 60- area 80 mid stratum: white. pine, 1 -3 6 -10 50 +/50 hemlock, red maple understory 1 -3 2 -6 20+30 as above, plus oaks and birches c o regeneration: 1 -2 0 -2 0 /10+ volumes and values: 6 mbf $45, Ocd $10 $270 /A (see printout) site (pine), index 70+ annual of species quality DBH height /age volume growth overstory: white pine 2 -3 10 -13 70/50 6 -10 4 -8 10+ site characteristics: mostly level ground, well drained with good water; very good access to main truck road; this area was heavily cut in the last harvest but has good stocking of small timber and poles recommendations: no thinning is needed now except in a few small areas of thick hemlock and /or pine poles; in about five years the area should be thinned in a commercial timber thinning afterwards some of the better pine poles (4 -10" DBH) should be pruned to the bottom of their live crowns; alternatively, the areas needing thinning now (roughly 5 acres) could be thinned with locator 3 and the commercial timber thinning could wait longer; the better pine seedlings should be released from hardwood competition by machete thinning in August type and locator(s) PH2D: L6, 12 acres overstory: 2 -3 10 -14 70 +/50 white pine, red maple, black cherry mid stratum: 2 -3 4 -10 50 +/50 understory: 1 -2 2 -4 20 +/20+ birches, red oak, black cherry, regeneration: white pine 1 -2 0 -2 0 /10+ r volumes and values: 1 mbf $55, 1 cd 0,$10 $65 ±/A (see printout) 26 basal 10- site (pine) 11 area 20 index 70+ annual of species quality DBH height /age volume growth 6 -10 6 -10 10+ site characteristics: locator 6 is level with good water, drainage, and access; locator 12 is gently sloping with fair water, good drainage and access; both areas were cut heavily in the last harvest and locator 6 had some blowdown afterwards recommendations: in locator 6 there are a few pine poles which should be pruned, but otherwise no management is needed; some of the better seedlings and saplings (especially white pine)/could be released from competition by machete thinning in August type and locator(s) HOC: L7, 10 overstory: mid stratum: understory: volumes and values: no measurable volumes or values basal 0- acres 25 area 10 regeneration: alder, birches, 3 1 -2 10/20 red maple, poplar, white pine site index 10+ 27 10- 20 annual of species quality DBH height /age volume growth site characteristics: locator 7 is the edge of the lake and is wet with stunted alder; locator 10 is an abandoned gravel bank with mixed hardwoods coning in a part of locator 10 adjacent to locator 7 on the west is a more recently abandoned gravel bank recommendations: no management is recommended at this time, although some machete thinning in locator 10 and the drier parts of locator 7 would be beneficial; white pine and mast producing hardwoods (oaks, hickories) could be planted in the more open, drier parts of both locators Year 1982- 84 1982- 84 1985- 87 Type H2B HS2B SH2C 5 Year Summary of Recommendations Fitzgerald Lake Operation Primarily firewood thinning on 40A, cutting 10 -Mbf and 265 ±cd (2) Timber and firewool thinning on 12A, cutting 15 -Mbf and55 ±cd (this operation may be combined with the above operation in locator 9) Timber thinning on 13A, cutting 50 -Mbf (this operation could be combined with the firewood thinning in H2B, locator 3 if less timber were cut) (estimated) Cost Net 28 $1580 (2) $2988± 450± 1085± 525± 1415± (1) All boundaries should be clearly marked before any marking of trees begins. (2) Access road improvements may be needed, depending upon the type of equipment used in the cutting operation. Roughly 1500' of work could be done, at about 75 /foot. Silviculture OVERVIEW The preceding recommendations are made to improve the quality and growing conditions of the potential timber resource on the Roberts Hill (RH) and Fitzgerald Lake (FL) properties, while indicating opportunities for improved wildlife habitat and aesthetic amenities. Heavier thinnings are indicated for the FL property because of the generally poor quality of the growing stock and the presence of pine regeneration. The dry sites now in hardwood would be better suited to white pine (on both properties) because pine grows earlier and later in the year, thus using the water when it is ava'ilable. 1 The shelterwood preparation approach would gradually increase the pine component in all stands (see pp. 8 -9) in the understory. The shelterwood_ itself could be left or later removed in part or entirely. A lower oak component in the H2B (and (RH) H3B) stand would make it less susceptible to gypsy moth damage. Lighter thinnings are prescribed for the RH property in all stands. Com- mercial timber and firewood thinnings should occur soon in SH3B and H2B; the same type of operation is scheduled for H3B in 1985 but could occur sooner if less volume were removed. Heavier thinnings than those prescribed would be desirable if there was a commitment to plant pine seedlings after the cutting. Wherever vigorous pine trees are found in the hardwood stands, they should be left as seed trees, regardless of form. And where pine re- generation is to be encouraged on both properties, cutting should be done in August and September to minimize hardwood stump sprouting. As indicated in the "silvicultural options" section, pp. 8 -9, high grade timber should be sold only when markets are up, while low grade timber and firewood may be sold when markets are down -as they are now. Open competitive bidding would not be as desirable for the thinnings planned since the main objective of the operations is careful work and since high bidders often do less careful work than operators who are chosen for their past performance records; sales should be negotiated with chosen operators or bids should 1 The site indices for pine are 20 higher than those for oak on nearly all the soil types on both properties. be sought from operators known to have high aesthetic standards. Bid pros pecti and contracts should clearly define how slash and skid roads are to be left. The computer printouts of inventory data show stand types by species, diameter, grade, and tree class (desirable, acceptable, poor, threatening)- see Appendix A for computer data. The simulations show what would happen with and without management. Residual stocking levels for management on the RH tract are B level for upland central hardwoods, and on the FL tract are C level for nothern hardwoods (slightly lower than B level upland central hardwoods). The future growth rates for the simulations of the hardwood stands may be somewhat optimistic over the next 5 -10 years because of the recent effects of the gypsy moth infestation and the poor quality of the sites for hardwoods. Over the whole 20 year period, the simulations should be accurate. The internal rates of return shown for the forest investment in the simulations are net -of- inflation, see p. 13-- Principles of Forest Investment Analysis. No risk factor is assigned; carrying costs are estimated at 50 /acre /year (for management planning, no taxes); annual increase in stumpage prices is estimated at 2.5 the value of the bare land is not in- cluded in the financial analysis. Wildlife and Tree Crops Although a complete wildlife management plan is beyond the scope of this report, some suggestions have been made in the recommendations. Vigorous mast producing trees should be released from competition. Potential deer yards should be developed (FL:L4; RH:L2). Den trees should be left uncut. ROW's and roads could be "daylinhted -i.e. have the trees cut back further from the edges. Small patch clearcuts could be planned for certain areas- especially where there are berries already established on the ground. Trees for wildlife could be planted in some areas (FL:L10). Background information on wildlife management is included in appendix A. Also beyond the scope of this report is planning for tree crops experiments (see appendix B). Black walnut should grow in.FL:L13 (field); hickories and chestnuts will grow in nearly all areas of both properties, as will mulberries and hazelnuts. Since culture of tree crops is still in its infancy in the northeast, no recommendations are made at this time. Better information on tree crops management planning should be available from the Northern Nut Growers Association and from the Cornell University Tree Crops Research Project in the next few years. Aesthetics 31 Appendix C indicates landowners' preference for managed forests in Massa- chusetts. The care taken in planning and executing cutting operations is an important factor in assuring that the results will be pleasing. Heavy equipment (skidders, forwarders) in the hands of careful operators can provide good results. Lighter equipment (tractors, crawlers, horses) can leave less damage but operate at a higher cost and mean a lower net return in stumpage. All values estimated in the plan, inventory, and simulations assume careful work by skidder operations. Improvements to and extensions of access roads would facilitate cutting operations with lighter equipment. Opportunities for improved scenic vistas are found in RH:L1 (the top of Roberts Hill) and FL:L8, 9 (southeast of the lake). Heavy thinnings or clear cuts would improve visibility from these areas. Plantings of flowers, berry bushes, and fruiting shrubs could be considered for areas along trails and roads. Grass should be seeded onto main skid roads and landings after they have been used.