harvest systems employed will usually be clearcutting or two-stage shelterwood cuts. 

 Both systems require total removal of all stems on the area treated; clearcutting in 

 one operation and shelterwood in two. Clearcutting will be involved on approximately 

 two-thirds of the acreage in the standard component, with shelterwood for the remainder 

 and shelterwood or group selection for the special component. 



Preventing overconcentration of harvesting activities or large size of cutting 

 units in any one area will generally be the primary constraint on rapidity of harvest. 

 As stated previously, the majority of lodgepole pine stands are on the high divides at 

 elevations exceeding 6,000 feet. Most are in the alpine f ir/beargrass habitat type 

 where recovery periods following disturbance range from 20 to 25 years. This means 

 that high impact cuts will require a 20- to 25-year recovery period before similar cuts 

 can occur in stands immediately adjacent thereto. Generally speaking, 1 acre in every 

 4 or 5 can be in a high impact cut in any 20-year period. Therefore, it will require 

 from 80 to 100 years before the existing, mature high- and low-risk stands will be 

 totally removed, and up to 120 years for shelterwood and group selection cuts. Most 

 of the volume would be removed within a 100-year period. 



Based on the above, and considering all usable green and dead products, average 

 annual harvest would amount to 323 acres or about 900,000 ft^ of solid products and 

 300,000 ft^ of fiber (table 5). An assumption made here is that growth will be balanced 

 by decay and that usable fiber per ^cre will remain essentially unchanged over the 

 100-year period. 



Removal of dead material might possibly be accelerated on the 10,000 acres where 

 tracked or rubber-tired skidders could be used. Usable dead material amounts to 1,525 

 ft^ per acre. If access and markets are favorable, this material could be removed in 

 about 20 years and perhaps sooner. This would mean an additional 500 acres per year 

 (removal of dead volume only) or up to 400,000 ft^ of solid products and 400,000 ft^ of 

 fiber. In addition, salvage could occur in that portion of the unregulated component 

 that has already been roaded. Approximately 3,500 acres are suitable for the use of 

 rubber-tired skidders. Again, using a 20-year period, about 175 acres could be har- 

 vested annually (removal of dead and recent mortality) or up to 160,000 ft^ of solid 

 products and 140,000 ft^ of fiber (table 4). 



In total about 2.2 million ft^ would be removed annually (fig. 5) over a 20-year 

 period. About 29 percent would be green material, the remainder dead; unless already 

 roaded, access for removal of dead volume only would have to be provided from appropri- 

 ated funds. High markets would probably be required to make most sales economically 

 feasible. Thus, removals will probably not occur on a smooth annual basis but period- 

 ically during good markets and as appropriated funding becomes available for road con- 

 struction. More detailed estimates of harvest scheduling and economic feasibility will 

 be provided in the Forest's new Timber Management Plan scheduled for completion in 1977. 



14 



