assigned to a different cover type than the 

 current cover-type filter would suggest. The 

 appropriate filter estimates, from the current 

 condition of the stand, what the stand may 

 have looked like in 1900. 



The protocol used to assign cover types is 

 explained in detail in Coal Creek DEIS, 1998, 

 pages 111-6 through 111-24. 



Patch size will be expressed in acres and patch 

 shape will be derived from the patch shape 

 index of McGarigal and Marks (1994). 



ANALYSIS AREA 



Historic conditions will be displayed from the 

 scale of Climatic Section 333c, which repre- 

 sents the Upper Flathead Valley. Current 

 and appropriate conditions will be dis- 

 played on the scale of the contiguous 

 Stillwater State Forest, approximately 

 91,119 forested acres. 



AGE-CLASS 

 DISTRIBUTION 



Age-class distributions delineate another 

 characteristic important for determining 

 average historical or appropriate condi- 

 tions. When these distributions are 

 combined with information on cover 

 types, a fairly clear picture emerges of the 

 average forest conditions over time. 

 Knowledge about local topographic effects 

 ecological characteristics of tree species. 



climatic-vegetational relationships, and distxir- 

 bance regimes adds clarity to the picture of 

 appropriate conditions. 



The 1930s' inventories quantified the ages of 

 forest stands. Losensky examined the data 

 and projected the stands back in time to the 

 early 1900s to arrive at age estimates. This 

 data is useful in setting baseline conditions for 

 determining the extent to which current forest 

 age-class distribution deviates from average 

 historical conditions. 



The following Figure III-2 and Table III-l 

 compare the current condition of age classes 

 on Stillwater State Forest and the historical 

 conditions from the Upper Flathead Valley. 

 They also show the age-class distribution in 



FIGURE III-2- AGE-CLASS DISTRIBUTION 

 AGE-CLASS DISTRIBUTION 



Comparison of Historic and Currant Conditions 



C»ndlllo»» Ud»«« W««l<««d V«ll«y I 



Nonstocked/seedling/sapling 



Poles 



Mature 



Old stands 



TABLE III-l - PERCENTAGE OF AREA/ AGE CLASS 



Chapter III: Affected Environment 



