DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 



The data presented indicate the volumes and characteristics of logging residue 

 left in north Idaho's mixed conifer stands following sawlog removal. By conventional 

 sawlog standards, little merchantable residue remained on either site after logging. 

 However, the material that was left offered real, although varying possibilities for 

 additional product recovery and residue reduction. The study produced the following 

 conclusions : 



1. Residues left on site after conventional sawlog harvesting vary in defect, 

 condition class, and individual size (table 2) . 



2. Initial harvesting of other products may reduce the need for relogging. Re- 

 moving pulpwood of conventional standards would have left few useable residues on Danby 

 Ridge (table 3) . Conventional removal of pulp on Lee Creek would have left numerous 

 small pieces of potentially useable residue. 



3. Stringent utilization standards resulted in 993 products (mostly pulpwood) and 

 5,291 net cubic feet of wood fiber being removed in relogging Danby Ridge (tables 4 and 

 6). Some 1,656 products and 3,821 net cubic feet were removed on Lee Creek. 



4. A cubic foot volume comparison of post-sale residue and post-relogging residue 

 larger than 3 inches (7.62 cm) in diameter showed a 59 percent reduction on one area 

 and a 44 percent reduction on the other. 



Although further study is needed to determine the most efficient equipment for 

 relogging, the following factors strongly influence production rates: 



1. As with conventional harvesting, machine capacity and design must be matched 

 with wood size and character. The value of equipment that matches residue conditions 

 is best shown by the total relogging effort on the study areas. The tractor on Danby 

 Ridge required 44 hours to skid 632 pieces (6,026 ft 3 [171 m 3 ]) an average one-way 

 distance of 70 feet (21.34 m) . The rubber-tired skidder needed only 22 hours to skid 

 625 pieces (3,062 ft 3 [87 m 3 ]) an average one-way distance of 204 feet (62.18 m) . 

 However, due to the larger piece size on Danby Ridge, on a per-hour basis approximately 

 the same cubic volume was skidded on both areas. 



2. Machines designed for conventional harvesting operate far below volume capac- 

 ity on relogging sites where numerous small pieces of wood fiber must be recovered. 



3. Until equipment designed for relogging is readily available, cheap multi- 

 purpose equipment appears to offer the most practical means for relogging. 



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