TIMBER VOLUME 



The 9 counties in the unit have nearly 

 5 billion cubic feet of timber on com- 

 mercial forest land. Conifers make up 

 99 percent of the volume. Of this lodge- 

 pole pine comprises 51 percent, Douglas- 

 fir 32 percent, and Engelmann spruce 8 

 percent . 



Most of the trees in South Central 

 Montana are in the smaller diameter 

 classes. Nearly three fifths of the 

 cubic-foot volume is in pole-size trees 

 (5,0" to 10.9" d.b.h.). This relatively 

 high proportion of pole-tree volume for 

 western coniferous forests is accounted 

 for by the large number of dense lodge- 

 pole pine stands. More than 86 percent 

 of the cubic-foot volume in saw-timber 

 trees is in the 12.0" to 20.0" d.b.h. 

 group. Almost 80 percent of the 3 bil- 

 lion cubic feet in pole-size trees is 

 found in pole stands. Most of the 

 volume in pole stands is lodgepole pine. 

 Because of these conditions mine timbers, 

 transmission poles, and pulpwood are 

 currently the major forest products. 



There are nearly 11 billion board feet 

 of saw-timber volume on the commercial 

 forest land. It is largely concentrated 

 in three species: Douglas-fir 45 percent, 

 lodgepole pine 30 percent, spruce 16 

 percent, other species 9 percent. Nearly 

 two thirds of the board-foot volume is 

 in saw-timber stands. The remainder is 

 in pole stands, in open woodlands and 

 as a residual volume in very young 

 stands. Over three fourths of the 

 board-foot volume in saw-timber stands 

 is in trees 11.0" to 21.0" d.b.h. 



Most of the timber cut in South Central 

 Montana in the past has been for rail- 

 road ties, fences, and other local needs. 

 The numerous parks and mountain meadows 

 within the forest area provide forage 

 for domestic stock and game. 



Currently there is much interest in the 

 production of transmission poles and 

 pulpwood. The next three pages illus- 

 trate uses of the timber found in the 

 South Central unit. 



SOFTWOOD SPECIES MAKE UP 99 % OF THE 

 BOARD-FOOT AND CUBIC-FOOT VOLUME 



60 % OF THE CUBIC-FOOT VOLUME 

 IS IN POLE-SIZE TREES 



THREE SPECIES MAKE UP 91 % OF THE 

 BOARD-FOOT VOLUME 



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