Background Information : Elevation: Between 100 and 200 feet above mean sea level:

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1 Kenneth D. Gilbertson, Consulting Forester 774Fors Road, PortAngeles WA s I kgfore stcon@yahoo. com July 1, 2018 Clallam County Parks, Fair & Facilities Department 223 East 4'h Street Suite 7 Port Angeles, WA Joel G Winborn: Director Dear Joel: Subject: Dungeness Recreation Area Master Plan Vegetation Evaluation of proposed New Camp Site C Location (Area 1 and Area 2): Reference Attached Site Map for Area 1 and Area 2 Locations: Background Information : Location: Dungeness Recreation Area: See attached site map: Elevation: Between 100 and 200 feet above mean sea level: Topography: Both Area 1 & 2 are level: Water: There are no streams, wetlands or seasonally wet areas with either Area 1 or Area 2. The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a short distance to the north and west. There is a seasonally wet bottom area (open water in the winter months) to the south. Wind: The wind is known to blow through this area with very high velocity. There are a large number of multi topped trees within Area 2 that appear to have received rina ar-uge to their topr in the past. The trees within Area 2 are quite short for their age, possibly partially fromferminal leader growti damage. Soil Map Unit: The Natural Resources Conservation Service, Custom Soil Resource Report for this area shows the soil is Hoypus gravelly sandy loam: This is a very deep, somewhat exceisively drained soil: Permeability of this soil is rapid and available water capaciiy is very low. On the basis of a 100 year site curve, the estimated mean site index for Douglas-fir is 134: This a low Site Class III timber growing site. Most areas on the olympic peninsula are Site class III. Invasive plants: No significant non native vegetation was observed within Area l- or Area 2; 1

2 Forest Disease: Laminated Root Rot (Phellinus weirii (Murr.) was observed primarily in Area 2. This determination was made from viewing the extensive mortality within Area 2 and associated small openings created from dying conifer trees. No tree roots were examined since non were exposed. This is a fungus that spreads through the root systems from one rotation to the next. It spreads slowly to adjacent trees through conifer roots, except Western Red Cedar trees are not affected: There is extensive root rot in Area 2 (reference attached photos). The camping area to the west of Area 2 exhibits extensive conifer tree mortality from Laminated Root Rot also: It is quite possible that the road to the refuge parking lot to the north slowed or stopped the Laminated Root Rot spread into Area 1 when the stumps were removed for road construction. There is very little evidence of Laminated Root Rot in Area 1: Vegetation: This report just addresses the dominant vegetation growing within Area 1 and Area 2 that were observed when walking the sites: The following conifer trees were observed within the sites by abundance: Mature, immature and sapling size Douglas-fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesii); Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), mature, immature, sapling and seedling size: Grand fir (Abies grandis) Mature, immature sapling and seedling size: Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) immature, sapling and seedling size: Sitka spruce (picea sitchessis) mature: The following were also observed: Bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata): Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii); Willow (Salix); Salal (Gaultheria shallon); Dull Oregon Grape (Mahonia nervosa); Oceanspray Creambush (Holodiscus discolor): Moss on the forest floor and down logs: Area 1 Observations: The trees within the north portion of this area are predominantly healthy mature Douglas-fir trees. The age of the larger mature trees appears to be 60 to 70 years of age (increment bore readings). As you move south the tree age get younger with immature and sapling size conifer trees. There are small clusters of bitter cherry trees within the south portion of the site. The overall Area 1 tree health is very good. Increment bore data showed excellent stand growth until the last few years. A majority of conifer trees have very good live crown ratios and average to large DBH's (diameter at 4.5 feet). Their heights are very good for their age and site index. They are fairly well spaced in most areas. There is minimal down woody debris on the forest floor. Recommendation for Area L: Thin from below and remove for firewood a majority of the suppressed and defective ftees leaving enough for wildlife. This would allow sufficient sunlight and moisture to reach the forest floor and facilitate residual dominant tree growth and the vibrant understory and forest floor vegetation to flourish. Area 2 observations: The dominant tree within the site is mature Douglas-fir. Cut stump growth ring count and (increment bore growth ring count) shows the larger mature trees within most of the site to be B0 plus years of age There are allot of broken, multi topped trees within this area (assume wind damage). A majority of the mature trees within the site have small live crown ratios in relation to bole height. They have small interconnected root systems. Their average DBH's are quite small for their age, mainly due to growing in dense overstocked conditions and defective undersized root systems. 2

3 It appears from my observations that this area has extensive Laminated Root Rot. Dead and dying trees are visible throughout the site (reference attached photos) and on adjacent camp sites to the west. You should assume that all the trees within this area have the root rot and will weaken and die earlier then normal: Those mature conifer trees along the outer edge, especially to the north exhibit less systems presently but are or will become infected through their interconnected root systems. Recommendations for Area 2: The possibility of trees and limbs falling down, especially during high wind events is quite high within a majority of this area. You have no way of knowing the extent of root damage until the trees start to die. You can just be fairly certain that a majority of the trees are infected with root rot and are very susceptible to falling down or having limbs fall off limbs at any time within this area. Western Red Cedar is not affected by root rot from what I understand. I recommend converting a majority of this area overtime to Western Red Cedar. You would need to open up the area enough for adequate sunlight and moisture to reach the young (assumed planted) Western Red Cedar trees. Not sure camp sites within this area is a good thing with all the defective trees. Thank you 4Ld{o1424 Kenneth D Gilbertson Consulting Forester 3

4 Dungeness Recreation Area Site Map Showing Area 1 and Area 2

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6 Photos of Area l- and Area 2 Vegetation

7 Area l-: Trail and healthy trees, understory and forest floor vegetation: Area 1: Stand of healthy conifer trees. The dominant trees are fairly well spaced:

8 Area 1: Healthy young conifer and hardwood trees within the west portion of the site: Area L: Young healthy conifer trees within the west portion of the site and vibrant forest floor vegetation:

9 Area 2: Healthy young conifer trees adjacent to the cleared day use area: Area 2: Typical understory and forest floor vegetation:

10 Area 2: Dense stand of conifer trees (80 +/- years of age); They have small live crowns and small root systems: Area 2: A majority of the area is significantly overstocked with mature conifer trees:

11 Area 2: Small live crowns, smaller then normal DBH's (Diameter at 4.5 feet), small interconnected root systems: Area 2: Trees that have died from root rot which is very extensive within Area 2:

12 Area 2: Extensive root rot mortality. All the adjacent live trees have root rot and will die overtime Area 2: Root rot is very extensive with Area 2 and within the adjacent to the west camp sites: