In addition to wood harvested for products, firewood permits average about 1 

 million bd.ft, per year, principally lodgepole pine. Total harvest is between 5 and 8 

 million bd.ft. or about 2 million ft^ per year. 



POTENTIAL FOR UTILIZING MATURE 

 LODGEPOLE PINE 



This analysis of the lodgepole pine resource was undertaken to determine the 

 potential for increased utilization of mature and overmature stands, particularly 

 dead material currently left as residue that would provide additional wood fiber and 

 increase the local economy and employment. 



There appears to be some potential for increased use, but realizing this potential 

 depends on location, economic conditions, technology, and feasibility for harvest, and 

 on land management plans. 



Location 



Key factors in the potential use of the lodgepole pine resource are its location 

 and availability. In our analysis of the resource, we did not attempt to make any 

 detailed logging or roading appraisal. However, the small-scale map (fig. 4) shows 

 generally where most of the lodgepole stands lie relative to existing roads. A larger 

 {h inch = 1 mile) map that shows individual stands of mature lodgepole in more detail is 

 available from the Supervisor's Office, Bitterroot National Forest, or the Intermountain 

 Station's Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, Montana. A highly detailed [2 inches 

 = 1 mile) map of timber types is available at the Bitterroot National Forest. This map 

 is about 15 years old but is accurate enough for general planning. 



The general map (fig. 4) shows that most of the mature lodgepole stands are located 

 along the high divides, somewhat remote from roads and towns. A large portion is in the 

 West Fork Bitterroot drainage and the high elevations between the West Fork and East 

 Fork. There is also a strip along the crest of the Sapphire Mountain Range on the 

 east side of the valley. Most of the lodgepole on the west side of the valley lies 

 within the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness (this portion not shaded on map) . 



Economic Feasibility 



Because of the remoteness and the relatively low value inherent in at least some 

 of the lodgepole stands, current efforts to sell these stands often appraise out 

 "negative;" that is, after all the various harvest and manufacturing costs are deducted 

 from market value, stumpage has a negative dollar value. 



Although the real price of wood has risen constantly, it is not likely to go so 

 high (at least on a sustained basis) as to give all the lodgepole stands a positive 

 dollar value under normal appraisal procedures. 



However, there are probably several ways in which these costs can be partially 

 offset, such as road financing in total or in part from sources other than stumpage 

 value on a particular sale; attributing some of the timber harvest cost to restoring 



10 



