SNAGS PER ACRE 



TABLE III-8 - SNAGS/ACRE IN OLD-GROWTH STANDS IN THE BEAVER LAKE AREA 



DECADENCE 



Lack of tree vigor, as shown by poor crown 

 development, slow growth rates, and damage, 

 will be used for indicators of stand decadence. 

 Approximately 76% of old-growth stands in 

 the Beaver Lake Project area have a vigor class 

 of good to average, where growth has not 

 slowed greatly and the crown lengths are still 

 over 33% of the stem height. The remaining 

 old-growth stands are in the below-average to 

 poor-vigor class where crown-to-stem ratios 

 and growth rates are low. None of the old- 

 growth stands were in the very-poor vigor 

 class. 



SUMMARY OF OLD-GROWTH 

 ATTRIBUTES 



Old-growth stands in the Beaver Lake area 

 have few large trees per acre, few acres that 

 have many snags, little large course woody 

 material, high stand vigor, and less decadence 

 than one would generally expect in 

 unmanaged stands of this age and type. Most 

 of these stands have been entered in the past 

 with stand-improvement and salvage harvests. 

 Some of the standing large trees and snags and 

 blown down larger trees were harvested; the 

 reduction of stocking density and removal of 

 trees showing poor crowns have reduced the 

 overall decadence in the stands. 



COMPARISON OF OLD- 

 GROWTH STANDS ON 

 STILLWATER STATE 

 FOREST AND THE 

 BEAVER LAKE PROJECT 

 AREA 



A comparison of old-growth stands on the 

 entire forest with the old-growth stands in the 

 project area is useful to determine how consis- 

 tent the characteristics of these stands are. A 

 comparison of decadence, as portrayed by 

 vigor class, stocking levels, and structure 

 (whether stands are multistoried or not), 

 follows. 



FIGURE III-4-COMPARISON OF VIGOR IN 

 OLD-GROWTH STANDS 



COMPARISON OF VIGOR IN OLD-GROWTH STANDS 



n Full vigor 



■ Good to avorags vigor 



H Bolow avarag* vigor 



H Vary poor vigor 



Chapter III: Affected Environment 



