http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/gtrs.shtml Pacific Northwest Research Station General Technical Reports en-us http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr964.pdf Coal is the primary fuel source for electrical power generation in interior Alaska, with more than 600,000 tons burned annually at five different power plants. Woody biomass could be used as part of this fuel mix, offering potential environmental and economic benefits. In this research, debarked chips were cofired with locally mined coal at the Aurora Power Plant facility in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska. During two days of testing, aspen chips were successfully cofired with coal at average rates of 2.4 percent and 4.8 percent of total energy value. Combustion gases were analyzed during combustion of 100- percent coal, as well as at two different blends with aspen chips, for levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxygen, and nitrogen compounds. Carbon monoxide was suggested as the combustion gas most influenced by changes in woody biomass blend rate. The potential logistic and operational challenges when cofiring were also observed. Cofiring biomass at low levels in grate-combustion systems could be performed with relative ease, with only minor impacts on plant operations, including fuel storage, handling, and performance. David Nicholls, Zackery Wright, and Daisy Huang. Thu, 16 Feb 2018 08:00:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-964. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 40 p. Jason Blake http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr956.pdf In frequent-fire forests of the interior Western United States, historical (prefire suppression) conditions are often used as a reference to set management objectives, guide prescriptions, and monitor treatment effectiveness. We quantified the historical size, density, composition, and spatial patterns of dry mixed-conifer forests in the Blue Mountains of Oregon to establish reference conditions that could be used for ongoing forest-restoration efforts. Derek J. Churchill, Gunnar C. Carnwath, Andrew J. Larson, and Sean A. Jeronimo. Thu, 16 Nov 2017 08:00:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-956. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 93 p. Jason Blake http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr958.pdf This report highlights key findings from a comprehensive vegetation survey of all forested land across the state of Oregon. A total of 5,180 forested field plots in Oregon were visited by Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) crews over a 10-year period from 2001 to 2010. Oregon has 30 million acres of forest, covering nearly half the state. The structure and composition of Oregon’s forests differ considerably across the state, particularly east versus west of the Cascade Range. Western Oregon forests are dominated by higher productivity classes (85 to 224 cubic feet per acre annual growth) and are composed of Douglas-fir and western hemlock, while forests in the east typically exhibit lower productivity (0 to 84 cubic feet per acre annual growth) and are composed of ponderosa pine, western juniper, and lodgepole pine. The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management administer the majority of forested land in Oregon; these public forests managed by federal agencies tend to have older, larger trees. Private owners, both corporate and noncorporate, own nearly half of the forested land in western Oregon, particularly in areas of high productivity. Understory vegetation in Oregon forests is more abundant in younger, moist forests. Non-native species are present in many of Oregon’s forests, most notably cheatgrass in the east and Himalayan blackberry in the west. This report includes estimates of forest growth, removals, and mortality for ownership groups across the state. The FIA program will continue to revisit and remeasure all the field plots over 10 years to report on changes in Oregon’s forest resources. Sheel Bansal, Leslie Brodie, Sharon Stanton, Karen Waddell, Marin Palmer, Glenn Christensen, and Olaf Kuegler. Mon, 13 Nov 2017 08:00:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-958. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 130 p. Jason Blake http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr959.pdf This research models a wood pellet heating system at the Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority in Juneau, Alaska, used to provide thermal energy to a 929-m2 warehouse, as an alternative to a heating system that burns more costly fossil fuels. Research objectives were to evaluate project economics of the pellet system and to conduct cost:benefit analysis on key variables (initial capital cost, fuel oil cost, and wood pellet cost). Economic results of interest included net present value, payback, internal rate of return, and cost:benefit ratio. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted using RETScreen software with the parameters of heating oil cost, wood pellet cost, fuel price escalation, and heating load. Cost:benefit analysis was conducted for capital cost versus wood fuel cost and also versus alternative fuel cost. This research found that economic performance was favorable over a wide range of normal operating conditions, even when paying a relatively high price for wood fuel. A pellet production facility in southeast Alaska could lead to lower wood fuel costs and even more favorable regional economics. David L. Nicholls. Tue, 08 Aug 2017 08:00:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-959. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 19 p. Jason Blake http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr960.pdf This report describes and documents the OpCost forest operations cost model, a key component of the BioSum analysis framework. OpCost is available in two editions: as a callable module for use with BioSum, and in a stand-alone edition that can be run directly from R. OpCost model logic and assumptions for this open-source tool are explained, references to the literature used in all of the submodels included in OpCost are provided, and guidance is offered on how to change the default hourly machine rates associated with overall logging cost calculations. OpCost enhancements such as cost component breakout, and identifying the least-cost harvest system, are also described and explained. Conor K. Bell, Robert F. Keefe, and Jeremy S. Fried. Fri, 20 Oct 2017 08:00:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-960. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 23 p. Jason Blake http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr963.pdf The ‘Gene Conservation of Tree Species—Banking on the Future Workshop’ provided a forum for presenting and discussing issues and accomplishments in genetic conservation of trees, and notably those of North America. The meeting gathered scientists, specialists, administrators and conservation practitioners from federal, university, non-governmental and public garden institutions worldwide. The 81 submissions included in this Proceedings are from oral and poster presentations at the 2016 workshop held in Chicago, Illinois. They update the science and policy of genetic conservation of trees, showcase current successes, and provide guidance for future efforts. This Proceedings is complemented by 11 related papers gathered in a special issue of the journal New Forests (Vol 48, No. 2, 2017). In addition to plenary talks that provided overviews of some national and international efforts, there were concurrent sessions with themes of Conservation Strategies, Pest and Pathogen Resistance, Genetic Conservation, Tools for Tree Genetic Conservation, Conservation Program Case Studies, Designing Seed Collections, Ex Situ Conservation, and Science in Support of Conservation. The meeting was also the venue for special sessions on Coordinating the Red List of North American Tree Species, Innovative Approaches for Assessing and Prioritizing Tree Species and Populations for Gene Conservation, Community Standards for Genomic Resources, Genetic Conservation and Data Integration, and Development of Seed Zones for the Eastern U.S., and a group discussion on Improving Genetic Conservation Efforts. Richard A. Sniezko, Gary Man, Valerie Hipkins, Keith Woeste, David Gwaze, John T. Kliejunas, Brianna A. McTeague, tech. cords. Tue, 01 Oct 2017 08:00:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-963. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 206 p. Mervin Leigh http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr961.pdf The economic linkages between national forests and surrounding areas are one of the important ways public lands contribute to the well-being of private individuals and communities. One way national forests contribute to the economies of surrounding communities is by attracting recreation visitors who, as part of their trip, spend money in communities on the peripheries of national forests. We use survey data collected from visitors to all forest and grasslands in the National Forest System to estimate the average spending per trip of national forest recreation visitors engaged in various types of recreation trips and activities. Average spending of national forest visitors ranges from about $36 per party per trip for local residents on day trips to more than $740 per party per trip for visitors downhill skiing or snowboarding on national forest lands and staying overnight off forest in local areas. We report key parameters to complete economic contribution analysis for individual national forests and for the entire National Forest System. Eric M. White. Tue, 01 Oct 2017 08:00:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-961. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 70 p. Mervin Leigh http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr957.pdf Natural resource professionals are often tasked with weighing the benefits and costs of changes in ecosystem services associated with land management alternatives and decisions. In many cases, federal regulations even require land managers and planners to account for these values explicitly. Outdoor recreation is a key ecosystem service provided by national forests and grasslands, and one of significant interest to the public. This report presents the most recent update of the Recreation Use Values Database, based on an exhaustive review of economic studies spanning 1958 to 2015 conducted in the United States and Canada, and provides the most up-to-date recreation economic values available. When combined with data pertaining to recreation activities and the quantity of recreation use, the recreation economic values can be used for estimating the economic benefits of outdoor recreation. The recreation economic value estimates provided in this report, whether from past research literature or from values constructed using our meta-analysis benefit function, are average consumer surplus per person per activity day. Randall S. Rosenberger, Eric M. White, Jeffrey D. Kline, and Claire Cvitanovich. Tue, 01 Aug 2017 08:00:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-957. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 33 p. Mervin Leigh http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr951.pdf Southeast Alaska is a remote area, located approximately 700 miles north of Seattle, Washington. Most of the region’s goods are imported by barge, creating logistical and economic challenges not faced by many other parts of the United States. In this context, we used life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the potential environmental impact on global warming potential (GWP) of converting home heating systems from heating oil to wood pellets in southeast Alaska. Once the current level (status quo) was established, we evaluated imported pellet utilization at 20-, 40- and 100-percent penetration into the residential heating oil markets. We also modeled local production of wood pellets in southeast Alaska, assuming a 20-percent penetration. Our research found that reductions in GWP resulting from the conversion to wood pellets ranged from 10 to 51 percent, with the greatest reductions being associated with the highest levels of imported pellets. The scenario of producing wood pellets in southeast Alaska to meet local needs had a reduction in GWP of 14 percent (versus the status quo). Allen M. Brackley, David L. Nicholls, Maureen Puettmann, and Elaine Oneil. Tue, 01 Aug 2017 08:00:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-951. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 34 p. Mervin Leigh http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr952.pdf Epiphytic lichens are bioindicators of climate, air quality, and other forest conditions and may reveal how forests will respond to global changes in the U.S. Pacific States of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. We explored climate indication with lichen communities surveyed by using both the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) and Alaska Region (R10) methods. Across the Pacific States, lichen indicator species and ordination “climate scores” reflected associations between lichen community composition and climate. Indicator species are appealing targets for monitoring, while climate scores at sites resurveyed in the future can indicate climate change effects. Smith Robert J. Smith, Sarah Jovan, and Bruce McCune. Tue, 25 Jul 2017 08:00:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-952. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 44 p. Mervin Leigh http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr954.pdf The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens produced a massive landslide and consequent pyroclastic currents, deposits of which blocked the outlet to Spirit Lake. Without an outlet, the lake began to rise, threatening a breaching of the blockage and release of a massive volume of water. To mitigate the hazard posed by the rising lake and provide an outlet, in 1984–1985 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bored a 2.6-km (8,500-ft) long tunnel through a bedrock ridge on the western edge of the lake. Gordon E. Grant, Jon J. Major, and Sarah L. Lewis. Tue, 04 Jun 2017 14:38:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-954. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 151 p. Mervin Leigh http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr953.pdf The Community Biomass Handbook Volume 4: Enterprise Development for Integrated Wood Manufacturing is a guide for creating sustainable business enterprises using small diameter logs and biomass. This fourth volume is a companion to three Community Biomass Handbook volumes: Volume 1: Thermal Wood Energy; Volume 2: Alaska, Where Woody Biomass Can Work; and Volume 3: How Wood Energy is Revitalizing Rural Alaska. This volume is designed to help business partnerships, forest managers, and community groups rapidly explore and evaluate integrated manufacturing opportunities. Eini C. Lowell, Dennis R. Becker, David Smith, Marcus Kauffman, and Dan Bihn. Tue, 04 Apr 2017 14:38:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-953. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 46 p. Mervin Leigh http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr950.pdf This assessment evaluates the effects of future climate change on a select set of ecological systems and ecosystem services in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula and Chugach National Forest regions. The focus of the assessment was established during a multi-agency/organization workshop that established the goal to conduct a rigorous evaluation of a limited range of topics rather than produce a broad overview. Hayward, Gregory H.; Colt, Steve; McTeague, Monica L.; Hollingsworth, Teresa N., eds. Tue, 04 May 2017 14:38:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-950. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 340 p. Mervin Leigh http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr939.pdf The Blue Mountains Adaptation Partnership was developed to identify climate change issues relevant to resource management in the Blue Mountains region, to find solutions that can minimize negative effects of climate change, and to facilitate transition of diverse ecosystems to a warmer climate. Halofsky, Jessica E.; Peterson, David L., eds. Tue, 04 Apr 2017 14:38:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-939. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 331 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr943.pdf The ecosystem services concept describes the many benefits people receive from nature. It highlights the importance of managing public and private lands sustainably to ensure these benefits continue into the future, and it closely aligns with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) mission to "sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.". Deal, Robert; Fong, Lisa; Phelps, Erin, tech. eds. Wed, 04 Jan 2017 14:38:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-943. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 87 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr949.pdf This book is intended to help people better understand how wood energy is helping to revitalize rural Alaskan communities by reducing energy costs, creating jobs, and helping to educate the next generation. Bihn, Dan. Wed, 30 Nov 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-949. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 65 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr945.pdf Outdoor recreation is a central way that people interact with the natural environment. Federal land agencies are key providers of settings, facilities, and landscapes for recreation. White, Eric; Bowker, J.M.; Askew, Ashley E.; Langner, Linda L.; Arnold, J. Ross; English, Donald B.K. Wed, 30 Nov 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-945. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 46 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr942.pdf This report traces the flow of Oregon's 2013 timber harvest through the primary wood products industry and provides detailed description of the structure, timber use, operations, and condition of Oregon's forest products sector. Simmons, Eric A.; Scudder, Micah G.; Morgan, Todd A.; Berg, Erik C.; Christensen, Glenn A. Wed, 30 Nov 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-942. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 58 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr941.pdf The Forest Landscape Assessment Tool (FLAT) is a set of procedures and tools used to rapidly determine forest ecological conditions and potential threats. Ciecko, Lisa; Kimmett, David; Saunders, Jesse; Katz, Rachael; Wolf, Kathleen L.; Bazinet, Oliver; Richardson, Jeffrey; Brinkley, Weston; Blahna, Dale J. Wed, 30 Nov 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-941. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 51 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr947.pdf This guidebook describes major biological and physical attributes of the 155-ha (384-ac) Lost Lake Research Natural Area (RNA), in Jackson County, Oregon. The RNA has been designated because it contains examples of a landslide-dammed lake; and a low-elevation lake with aquatic beds and fringing marsh, surrounded by mixed-conifer forest (ONHAC 2010). Schuller, Reid; Wender, Bryan. Mon, 19 Sep 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-947. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 28 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr946.pdf This guidebook describes major biological and physical attributes of the 3531-ha (8,725-ac) Fish Creek Rim Research Natural Area located within the Northern Basin and Range ecoregion and managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Lakeview District (USDI BLM 2003). Schuller, Reid; Grinter, Ian. Mon, 19 Sep 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-946. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 25 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr940.pdf Forest disturbances are increasing in extent and intensity, annually altering the structure and function of affected systems across millions of acres. Land managers need rapid assessment tools that can be used to characterize disturbance events across space and to meet forest planning needs. Schrader-Patton, Charlie; Grulke, Nancy E.; Dressen, Melissa E. Wed, 17 Aug 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-940. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 35 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr938.pdf Moss accumulates pollutants from the atmosphere and can serve as an inexpensive screening tool for mapping air quality and guiding the placement of monitoring instruments. We measured 22 elements using 346 moss samples collected across Portland, Oregon, in December 2013. Gatziolis, Demetrios; Jovan, Sarah; Donovan, Geoffrey; Amacher, Michael; Monleon, Vicente. Wed, 08 Jun 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-938. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 55 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr937.pdf The Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS) of the Northwest Forest Plan guides management of riparian and aquatic ecosystems on federal lands in western Oregon, western Washington, and northern California. Reeves, Gordon H.; Pickard, Brian R.; Johnson, K. Norman. Thur, 21 Apr 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-937. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 97 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr932.pdf The Aquatic and Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Program focuses on assessing the degree to which federal land management under the aquatic conservation strategy (ACS) of the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) has been effective in maintaining and improving watershed conditions. We used stream sampling data and upslope/riparian geographic information system (GIS) and remote-sensing data to evaluate condition for sixth-field watersheds in each aquatic province within the NWFP area. Stephanie A. Miller, Sean N. Gordon, Peter Eldred, Ronald M. Beloin, Steve Wilcox, Mark Raggon, Heidi Andersen, and Ariel Muldoon Thur, 03 Nov 2017 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-932. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 74 p. Mervin Leigh http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr931.pdf These proceedings report invited presentations and contributions to the 2015 Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Symposium, which was hosted by the Research and Development branch of the U.S. Forest Service. Stanton, Sharon M.; Christensen, Glenn A. Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-931. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 384 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr930.pdf This guidebook describes major biological and physical attributes of the 433-ha (1,070-ac) Grayback Glades Research Natural Area. Schuller, Reid; Wender, Bryan; Showalter, Rachel. Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-930. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 26 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr929.pdf Northwest Forest Plan—the first 20 years (1994-2013): status and trends of northern spotted owl habitats. Davis, Raymond J.; Hollen, Bruce; Hobson, Jeremy; Gower, Julia E.; Keenum, David. Mon, 21 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-929. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 54 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr928.pdf Efforts to amend the Tongass National Forest Land Management Plan have necessitated the development of several management scenarios to assist with planning efforts. Daniels, Jean M.; Paruszkiewicz, Michael D. THur, 21 Apr 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-928. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 32 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr924.pdf Over the past decade, the use of wood for thermal energy in Alaska has grown significantly. Since 2000, nearly 30 new thermal wood-energy installations in Alaska have been established. Nicholls, David L.; Brackley, Allen M.; Parrent, Daniel J. Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-924. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 22 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr923.pdf Over the past decade, wood-energy use in Alaska has grown dramatically. Nicholls, David; Brackley, Allen; Deering, Robert; Parrent, Daniel; Kleinhenz, Brian; Moore, Craig. Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-923. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 72 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr922.pdf Over the past decade, wood-energy use in Alaska has grown dramatically. Nicholls, David; Brackley, Allen; Deering, Robert; Parrent, Daniel; Kleinhenz, Brian; Moore, Craig. Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-922. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 23 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr921.pdf Cities have become more committed to ecological restoration and management activities in urban natural areas. Daniels, Jean M.; Brinkley, Weston; Paruszkiewicz, Michael D. Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-921. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 28 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr920.pdf If you’re a local businessperson, an entrepreneur, a tribal partner, a community organizer; a decision-maker for a school district, college, or hospital; a government leader; a project developer; an industry leader; or an equipment manufacturer, the Alaska Community Handbook will be helpful to you. Lowell, Eini C.; Parrent, Daniel J.; Deering, Robert C.; Bihn, Dan; Becker, Dennis R. Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-920. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 104 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr919.pdf Understanding the capacity to reduce wildfire risk and restore dry forests on Western national forests is a key part of prioritizing new accelerated restoration programs initiated by the Forest Service. Ringo, Chris; Ager, Alan A.; Day, Michelle A.; Crim, Sarah. Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-919. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 71 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr918.pdf Sitka, Alaska, has substantial hydroelectric resources, limited driving distances, and a conservation-minded community, all suggesting strong opportunities for achieving a low community carbon footprint. Nicholls, David; Patterson, Trista Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-918. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 25 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr917.pdf A conservation and management strategy for yellow-cedar in Alaska is presented in the context of climate change. Hennon, Paul E.; McKenzie, Carol M.; D'Amore, David; Wittwer, Dustin T.; Mulvey, Robin L.; Lamb, Melinda S.; Biles, Frances E.; Cronn, Rich C. Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-917. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 382 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr915.pdf This report addresses the need for developing consistent regional guidelines for stand-level management that integrates goals and objectives for dry forest restoration and habitat management for the northern spotted owl. Lehmkuhl, John; Gaines, William; Peterson, David; Bailey, John; Youngblood, Andrew tech. eds. Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-915. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 158 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr914.pdf We reviewed the literature to synthesize what is known about the use of fire to maintain and restore oak forests, woodlands, and savannas of the upper Midwestern United States, with emphasis on Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Frelich, Lee E.; Reich, Peter B.; Peterson, David W. Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-914. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 64 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr913.pdf This report highlights key findings from the most recent (2001–2010) data collected by the Forest Inventory and Analysis program across all forest land in California, updating previously published findings from data collected from 2001 through 2005 (Christensen et al. 2008). Christensen, Glenn A.; Waddell, Karen L.; Stanton, Sharon M.; Kuegler, Olaf Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-913. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 293 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr912.pdf Sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of national forests and grasslands is the mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. Hummel, S.; Lake, Frank; Watts, A. Thur, 03 Mar 2016 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-912. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 9 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr910.pdf On February 4, 2014, a seven-member expert panel provided objective technical information on the potential effectiveness and feasibility of activities to manage raptors (northern harriers and great horned owls) to aid the recovery of western snowy plovers. Marcot, Bruce G.; Elbert, Daniel C. Mon, 03 Aug 2015 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-910. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 67 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr908.pdf This report traces the flow of California’s 2012 timber harvest through the primary wood products industry and provides a description of the structure, condition, and economic impacts of California’s forest products sector. McIver, Chelsea P.; Meek, Joshua P.; Scudder, Micah G.; Sorenson, Colin B.; Morgan, Todd A.; Christensen, Glenn A. Mon, 02 Nov 2015 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-908. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 49 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr907.pdf We developed a process to address terrestrial wildlife species for which management for ecosystem diversity may be inadequate for providing ecological conditions capable of sustaining viable populations. The process includes (1) identifying species of conservation concern, (2) describing source habitats, and other important ecological factors, (3) organizing species into groups, (4) selecting surrogate species for each group, (5) developing surrogate species assessment models; (6) applying surrogate species assessment models to evaluate current and historical conditions, (7) developing conservation considerations, and (8) designing monitoring and adaptive management. Following the application of our species screening criteria, we identified 209 of 700 species as species of concern on National Forest System lands east of the Cascade Range in Washington state. We aggregated the 209 species of conservation concern into 10 families and 28 groups based primarily on their habitat associations (these are not phylogenetic families). We selected 32 primary surrogate species (78 percent birds, 17 percent mammals, 5 percent amphibians) for application in northeastern Washington, based on risk factors and ecological characteristics. Our assessment documented reductions in habitat capability across the assessment area compared to historical conditions. We combined management considerations for individual species with other surrogate species to address multiple species. This information may be used to inform land management planning efforts currently underway on the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests in northeastern Washington. William L. Gaines, Barbara C. Wales, Lowell H. Suring, James S. Begley, Kim Mellen-McLean, and Shawne Mohoric Mon, 02 Oct 2017 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-907. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 324 p. Mervin Leigh http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr905.pdf This report investigates the interactions between household location decisions and community characteristics, including green space. Stone, Edward A.; Wu, JunJie; Alig, Ralph Mon, 05 May 2015 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-905. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 43 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr903.pdf This report traces the flow of timber harvested in Alaska during calendar year 2011, describes the composition and operations of the state’s primary forest products industry, and quantifies volumes and uses of wood fiber. Berg, Erik C.; Gale, Charles B.; Morgan, Todd A.; Brackley, Allen M.; Keegan, Charles E.; Alexander, Susan J.; Christensen, Glenn A.; McIver, Chelsea P.; Scudder, Micah G. Tue, 30 Dec 2014 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-903. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 39 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr896.pdf The Integrated Landscape Assessment Project (ILAP) was a multiyear effort to produce information, maps, and models to help land managers, policymakers, and others conduct mid- to broad-scale (e.g., watersheds to states and larger areas) prioritization of land management actions, perform landscape assessments, and estimate cumulative effects of management actions for planning and other purposes. Halofsky, Jessica E.; Creutzburg, Megan K.; Hemstrom, Miles A., eds. Tue, 25 Nov 2014 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-896. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 206 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr898.pdf Wineteer, Marcia L.; Schuller, Reid. Thur, 05 Jun 2014 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-895. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 31 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr892.pdf The North Cascadia Adaptation Partnership (NCAP) is a science-management partnership consisting of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Mount Baker-Snoqualmie and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests and Pacific Northwest Research Station; North Cascades National Park Complex; Mount Rainier National Park; and University of Washington Climate Impacts Group. Raymond, Crystal L.; Peterson, David L.; Rochefort, Regina M., eds. Mon, 27 Oct 2014 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-892. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 279 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr898.pdf Since 2004, close to 50,000 ac of hazardous fuels have been mechanically treated in east-central Arizona as part of the USDA Forest Service's first 10-year stewardship project on national forest lands. The need for coordinated wood products and biomass utilization in Arizona is likely to increase as broad-scale restoration treatments across Arizona's national forests remove large amounts of wood fiber in coming decades. This research considers biomass availability and land ownership patterns for three potential wood products cluster sites in the Mogollon Rim region of Arizona (Show Low, Flagstaff, and Heber-Overgaard, Arizona). The formation of one or more wood products clusters in the Mogollon Rim region could create tangible benefits for communities in central Arizona as new businesses utilize increasing volumes of wood fiber. Land ownership patterns varied greatly between the locations, with federal lands predominating near Flagstaff and private ownership more common near Show Low. Regardless of the path forward, community support for forest restoration initiatives is likely to be a key to success, as is a shared vision held by stakeholders. Nicholls, David. Wed, 03 Sep 2014 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-895. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 18 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr895.pdf This guidebook describes major biological and physical attributes of the 243-ha (600-ac) Round Top Butte Research Natural Area. The area supports high-quality examples of valley upland grasslands and savanna of the Cascade foothills. Plant communities include Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) savanna and open woodland with forbs and grasses; ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)-Oregon white oak woodland; bluebunch wheatgrass-California oatgrass-Lemmon’s needlegrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata-Danthonia californica-Achnatherum lemmonii) grasslands; and tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa)-California oatgrass vernally flooded prairie. Wineteer, Marcia L.; Schuller, Reid. Thur, 05 Jun 2014 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-895. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 31 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr899.pdf This handbook and financial app is a guide to help communities quickly determine if biomass energy projects might work for them so that this option is not overlooked. Its purpose is as a screening tool designed to save significant time, resources, and investment by weeding out those wood energy projects that may never come to fruition from those that have a chance of success. It establishes technical, financial, and social criteria and indicators to evaluate proposed biomass investment options. Through showcasing of successful projects using text, photos, video interviews, and diagrams, it facilitates virtual project planning and interaction with experts. The interactive wood energy financial app allows estimation of capital investment costs to facilitate project design and screening across a variety of wood energy options. The calculator can be accessed from the eBook or from the Web. Becker, D.; Lowell, E.; Bihn, D.; Anderson, R.; Taff, S. Wed, 21 May 2014 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-899. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 93 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr894.pdf This guidebook describes major biological and physical attributes of the 243-ha(600-ac) North Fork Silver Creek Research Natural Area (RNA), Josephine County, Oregon. Schuller, Reid; Showalter, Rachel; Kaye, Tom; Lawrence, Beth. Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-894. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 25 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr890.pdf Stem decays of living trees, known also as heart rots, are essential elements of wildlife habitat, especially for cavity-nesting birds and mammals. Stem decays are common features of old-growth forests of coastal Alaska, but are generally absent in young, managed forests. We offer several strategies for maintaining or restoring fungal stem decay in these managed forests that can be used to enhance specific types of wildlife habitat. Hennon, Paul E.; Mulvey, Robin L. Wed, 21 May 2014 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-890. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 23 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr889.pdf Carbon storage and flux estimates for the two national forests in Alaska are provided using inventory data from permanent plots established in 1995–2003 and remeasured in 2004–2010. Estimates of change are reported separately for growth, sapling recruitment, harvest, mortality, snag recruitment, salvage, snag falldown, and decay. Although overall aboveground carbon mass in live trees did not change in the Tongass National Forest, the Chugach National Forest showed a 4.5 percent increase. For the Tongass National Forest, results differed substantially for managed and unmanaged forest: managed lands had higher per-acre rates of sequestration through growth and recruitment, and carbon stores per acre that were higher for decomposing downed wood, and lower for live trees and snags. The species composition of carbon stores is changing on managed lands, with a carbon mass loss for yellow-cedar but increases for red alder and Sitka spruce. On unmanaged lands, the Chugach National forest had carbon mass increases in Sitka spruce and white spruce, and the Tongass National Forest had increases in western redcedar and red alder. Barrett, Tara M. Wed, 21 May 2014 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-889. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 44 p. Tiffany Chau http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr888.pdf This report provides new cost estimates for carbon sequestration through afforestation in the United States. We extend existing studies of carbon sequestration costs in several important ways, while ensuring the transparency of our approach. We clearly identify all components of our cost estimates so that other researchers can reconstruct our results as well as use our data for other purposes. Our cost estimates have five distinguishing features: (1) we estimate costs for each county in the contiguous United States; (2) we include afforestation of rangeland, in addition to cropland and pasture; (3) our opportunity cost estimates account for capitalized returns to future development (including associated option values) in addition to returns to agricultural production; (4) we develop a new set of forest establishment costs for each county; and (5) we incorporate data on Holdridge life zones to limit afforestation in locations where temperature and moisture availability prohibit forest growth. We find that at a carbon price of $50/ton, approximately 200 million tons of carbon would be sequestered annually through afforestation. At a price of $100/ton, an additional 100 million tons of carbon would be sequestered each year. Our estimates closely match those in earlier econometric studies for relatively low carbon prices, but diverge at higher carbon prices. Accounting for climatic constraints on forest expansion has important effects on cost estimates. Nielsen, Anne Sofie Elburg; Plantinga, Andrew J.; Alig, Ralph J. Wed, 21 May 2014 9:55:00 PST Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-888. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 35 p. Tiffany Chau