ABSTRACT 



Timber inventory data collected in 1978 for the 1.2 million acres of state 

 and private commercial timberlands in Working Circle 3 estimated a total 

 growing stock volume of 1.7 billion net cubic feet. Sawtimber volume was 

 estimated to be 4.7 billion net board feet Scribner. Approximately 906,500 

 acres of grazable commercial timberland, of which 729,800 acres are in good 

 or excellent condition, existed on state and private lands within the working 

 circle. In 1978 the carrying capacity of this acreage was estimated to be 

 127,900 animal unit months. 



The average potential productivity was found to be 54 cubic feet per 

 acre per year. About 54 percent of the timberland had the potential to 

 produce 50 or more cubic feet of wood per acre per year. Forty percent of 

 the commercial timberland sampled was rated as excellent or good for timber 

 production. 



A large amount of the privately owned commercial forest is at a formative 

 stage and can be manipulated to greatly increase future timber production. 

 Silvicultural treatment opportunities existed on 60 percent of the commercial 

 timberland sampled. These silvicultural treatments could dramatically increase 

 the growth rates and thereby increase future timber supplies from state and 

 private timberlands. The extent to which these opportunities are realized, 

 beginning immediately, will determine the amount of timber available for 

 harvest in the future. 



Ill 



