The number of product pieces are summarized below: 



Type Wood Houselogs Cowdl Rails Fenceposts 



------ (pieoes pev aove) ------- 



Live 31 135 289 



Standing dead 7 31 25 



Sound down 10^ 26 27 



All 48 192 341 



Although this would probably be a maximum- value recovery, some houselogs, poles, 

 and posts could alternatively be used for saw logs or stud logs. 



The total amount of such products available from the Bitterroot depends on various 

 land management and harvest activities, which are discussed later. Based on estimates 

 now available, the approximate potential output per year is as follows: 



Annual production 



Houselogs 15,000 to 27,000 pieces 



Corral rails 62,000 to 100,000 pieces 



Fenceposts 110,000 to 145,000 pieces 



Fiber 264 to 555 M ft^ 



CURRENT HARVEST OF LODGEPOLE 



During the past few years, utilization of lodgepole pine has grown dramatically in 

 the Bitterroot. Several houselog plants have been established, along with several post 

 plants. Existing post plants have expanded and sawmill operations have increased their 

 use of smaller size lodgepole. 



In the past 10 years the harvest of lodgepole pine rose from about 3 million bd. 

 ft. in 1966 and 1967 to over 9 million bd. ft. in 1971. During the last few years use 

 has been about 4 to 6 million bd. ft. The volume of older, dead material has increased 

 severalfold: 



Year Green Older dead 



( thousand bd. ft. ) 



1966 



2,600 



300 



1967 



2,600 



500 



1968 



3,500 



700 



1969 



5,700 



370 



1970 



6,400 



450 



1971 



8,100 



1,525 



1972 



7,300 



670 



1973 



5,100 



1,000 



1974 



2,200 



1,900 



1975 





3,000 



9 



