GSP Monitoring Team Baseline Data Report

Transcription

1 GSP Monitoring Team The data in this report was gathered by the Green Seattle Partnership Forest Monitoring Team, a citizen-science program that collects information on permanent plots in Seattle s public parks. For more information about this program, please visit: The goal of the Green Seattle Partnership (GSP) is to restore 2,500 acres of forested land by To achieve this goal, the GSP has identified three target forest types to serve as a template for restoration efforts throughout Seattle. These forest types include: Conifer Deciduous Mixed Forest, Conifer Broadleaf Evergreen Mixed Forest and Riparian Forest. Based on these three target forest types, GSP has created specific thresholds for canopy cover, tree regeneration, species diversity, shrub cover and ground cover. The Restoration Site Report was developed to give Forest Stewards an easy to access status report on their GSP site(s) and to help identify actions that will move their sites(s) towards targeted goals. Please keep in mind that these target forest types are preliminary and will be adjusted as work on describing Seattle s target forest types is completed. Page 1: Plot Characteristics The first page shows data collected on the site. It should be used for reference during the next site visit to make sure that general plot characteristics have not changed. If a change has occurred, the information should be updated. Page 2: Plot Summary The report shows site information on the left side of the page, and recommended actions on the right. Bar charts for each category are color coded for easy interpretation categories that are far from the target threshold are shown in red, while those that are approaching threshold values move from orange to yellow as they get closer to the target, and then finally change to green when the threshold is exceeded. Native Tree Regeneration - The presence or absence of desirable tree regeneration (conifer or evergreen) and the density of seedlings dictates whether or not tree planting is needed. The diversity of regenerating species is also a determining factor. If either density or diversity is not adequate, tree planting is recommended. Canopy cover is a determining factor for what types of trees can be planted. If canopy cover is >60%, only shade tolerant species are recommended, whereas in more open forests species that can tolerate sun are favored over those species that need overstory canopy to establish and survive. Native Shrubs/Native Groundlayer The presence or absence of adequate desirable cover and species diversity dictate whether or not planting is needed for both of these layers. If either cover or diversity is inadequate, planting is recommended. Invasive Species Invasive species presence triggers removal action. Tree invasives include cherry laurel and holly and any tree invasive removal requires prior consultation with Seattle Parks staff. Page 3-4: Forest Structure and Composition Page 3 contains more detailed information about forest structure of the site. Species composition by structural layer (stratum) is shown for all non-invasive species found on the site both native and non-native. Occurrence is given either as a percent cover (overstory trees, shrubs, groundlayer), or as a density (regenerating trees). Page 4 of the report contains detailed information about the invasive species composition of the site. Species composition by structural layer (stratum) is shown for all invasive species found on the site. Occurrence is given either as a percent cover (overstory trees, shrubs, groundlayer), or as a density (regenerating trees). Page 5: Ecosystem Services Page 5 contains information about economic values of services provided by trees located on this site. Information is provided for stormwater runoff, carbon sequestration and air filtration. Cover 27% 0% Diversity 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% (# target 3 species) i Shrub Planting Needed

2 Site: East PB Lakeshore Monitoring Date: 08/16/12 Plot Characteristics Plot size: 0.1 Aspect: N Slope: 1 degrees Canopy cover: % Habitat type: Deciduous forest Average overstory tree dbh: 20-30" Coarse woody debris: 0-5% Reference Objects and GPS Cooordinates Ref. Object 1: POBA Compass bearing: 90 degrees Distance to tree from center of plot: 8 feet DBH of tree: 34 inches Ref. Object 2: stump Compass bearing: 316 degrees Distance to tree from center of plot: 40 feet DBH of tree: 27.5 inches Latitude: degrees Longitude: degrees Soils Soil texture: Silt Soil moisture: Dry soil Bare Ground (%): 0-20% Soil stability: Stable soils Litter depth (inches): <1/2" Soil compaction: Light visual evidence Compaction notes: Social trail Special Features Trail, Lake Plot Walking Directions From NE corner of parking lot. Walk trail towards water until reach large rocks. then follow the edge of the grass line heading east 200 ft. after that go 330 degrees for 45 ft to plot center. Plot Description The Highway is visible to the north of the site, water is ft NW of the plot. Large cotton wood (Ref #1) NE about 8ft from center. grass field is 5 ft of plots SE edge. shed is inline with plot center. two stand cotton wood on the edge of NW of plot. small social trail. 1

3 Site: East PB Lakeshore Monitoring Date: 16-Aug-12 Recommended Actions Native Tree Regeneration Evergreen 10 Density (stems/acre) Diversity (# target species) Canopy Cover 0-25% 26-50% 51-75% % Native Shrubs Cover Diversity (# target species) % 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Evergreen Tree Planting Needed Shade-tolerant plantings recommended Shrub Planting Needed Native Groundlayer Cover Invasive Species 70% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Diversity (# target 4 species) Groundlayer Shrubs Tree Density 102% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 21% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Coarse Woody Debris and Snags Snags (stems/acre) CWD (cubic feet/acre) red - corrective action needed as soon as possible Legend Key light orange - attention needed soon light yellow - nearing goal goal - target threshold green - at, or above target threshold Additional Groundcover Species Groundlayer invasives should be removed Shrub invasives should be removed Contact Seattle Parks for tree removal Preserve Existing Snags Preserve and Augment CWD

4 Site: East PB Lakeshore Non-Invasive Species Composition common names Legend Key Tree Species Pacific dogwood sweet cherry paperbark birch Scouler's willow bigleaf maple black cottonwood grand fir Regenerating Trees (Stems/acre) Monitoring Date: 16-Aug-12 Native species (green) Non-native species (light orange) paperbark birch black cottonwood Scouler's willow western red cedar Overstory Trees (Stems/acre) Shrub Species indian plum Hooker's willow Chinese stranvaesia Scouler's willow Groundlayer Species giant horsetail rush sword fern ladyfern fringed willowherb dandelion Shrubs (Cover %) Groundlayer (Cover %)

5 Site: East PB Lakeshore Invasive Species Composition Monitoring Date: 16-Aug-12 cherry plum Invasive Tree Overstory (Density [stems/acre] ) English holly Portugal laurel sweet cherry oneseed hawthorn European mountain ash Invasive Regenerative Trees (Density [stems/acre] ) Himalayan blackberry Invasive Shrubs (Cover %) English ivy hedge false bindweed creeping buttercup Invasive Groundlayer (Cover %)

6 Site: East PB Lakeshore Monitoring Date: 08/16/12 Ecosystem Services: An Overview Urban forests are increasingly being recognized as providing the "green infrastructure" for our cities, including many services that our society relies on called ecosystem services. Trees provide oxygen, filter air and water, store carbon, prevent soil erosion, and reduce storm water runoff - a major challenge in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, research has shown that trees and green spaces increase property values and that access to green spaces is important for physical health and emotional well-being. Recently, economists have begun to quantify the economic benefits of these ecosystem services. Using this information, the US Forest Service has created a National Tree Benefit Calculator that shows some of the economic values of trees, based on their species and diameter. The calculator is available at: The economic benefits that trees provide vary widely for deciduous and conifer trees, due to the fact that conifer trees are able to intercept storm water during rainy winters when deciduous trees are dormant. For example, a 20 inch diameter big-leaf maple intercepts an average of 1,526 gallons of storm water per year, whereas a 20 inch diameter Douglas-fir intercepts an average of 2,206 gallons of storm water per year. Current Ecosystem Service Values (per acre/year) For the table below, species and diameter values for each tree collected in the plot were used to create a combined overall value of the ecosystem services provided by this forest per acre per year. Stormwater Carbon sequestration Air filtration Gallons $ Pounds $ $ (acre/year) (acre/year) (acre/year) (acre/year) (acre/year) 231,119 6,423 79,

7

8