L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm Annual Report

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm Annual Report"

Lorena Ferguson
5 years ago
Views:

2012 Annual Report 2012 Annual Report Inside this report: Cover Story 1 Research and other projects in 2012 Summer operations & maintenance in 2012 Summer operations & maintenance planned for 2013

donated a lidar data set covering the L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm. Lidar or Light Detection and Ranging, is an active remote sensing technology.

1 2012 Annual Report 2012 Annual Report Inside this report: Cover Story 1 Research and other projects in 2012 Summer operations & maintenance in 2012 Summer operations & maintenance planned for 2013 Research projects planned for 2013 Other projects planned for Receives Donation of LIDAR data from Green Diamond Resources Company In the fall of 2012 Green Diamond Resources Company donated a lidar data set covering the L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm. Lidar or Light Detection and Ranging, is an active remote sensing technology. Similar to radar technology, lidar works by transmitting pulses of laser light towards the surface and measuring the amount of time it takes for a given pulse to return. Lidar can produce high resolution digital elevation maps which provide detailed imagery and measurements of topographic features. Lidar also has many important applications for forestry and resource management; including providing measurements of canopy heights, leaf area and biomass estimations. with data storage. The lidar sensor is a laser emitting and receiving scanning unit. The laser scanner sends between 10,000 to 200,000 (depending on resolution) pulses of light per second to the surface below. The sensor records how long it takes each light pulse to return back to the unit. These times are used to calculate the distance based on the constant speed of light and the time it takes a given light pulse to return. The sensors are able to records multiple returns for a given pulse, which allows lidar systems to differentiate from the forest canopy (first return) and the bare While lidar technology has been around for over forty years, there has been significant increase in the use of lidar in the last 10 years. This is due to the decrease in costs associated with lidar collection and an increase in computing power and resolution. Most lidar acquisitions are done using an aircraft equipped with a lidar sensor, GPS unit, inertial measurement unit (IMU) and an onboard computer The above diagram is a graphical representation of how lidar is collected

Page 2 Research projects in 2012 Carbon storage Dr. Pascal Berrill and graduate student Brandon Namm compelted their study on Below-ground carbon storage in tanoak at the Tree Farm.

2 Page 2 Research projects in 2012 Carbon storage Dr. Pascal Berrill and graduate student Brandon Namm compelted their study on Below-ground carbon storage in tanoak at the Tree Farm. The primary goals of this research are to 1) quantify how belowground carbon levels in tanoak are connected to aboveground variables, such as diameter at breast height and basal area, which are easily measured; 2) explore how the allometric relationship between aboveground and belowground biomass and carbon content in tanoak is influenced by canopy position and competition for light and other resources; and 3) use variables that impact this above- and belowground relationship to generate predictive models. Bio-energy pilot study Dr. Pascal Berrill continued work on the Tree Farm bio-energy pilot study: Planting five tree species in a replicated test plot., Students from the Forest Restoration class and The Forest Environment class maintained and monitored the plots planted in Maintenance primarily consisted of weed control as there was considerable competition from weeds on the dry site. Tree Farm as Educational Tool Other projects in 2012 In addition to the faculty and graduate research the Tree Farm is a hands-on learning environment for many forestry courses. Introduction to Forest and The Environment (FOR 116), Forest Health & Protection (FOR 222), Forest Mensuration & Growth (FOR 311), Forest Management (FOR 315), Forest Restoration (FOR 431) and Silviculture (FOR 432) all made field trips to the L.W. Schatz Tree Farm as part of the course. In the spring 2012, Dr. Pascal Berrill s Forest Restoration (FOR431) class made trips to the L.W. Schatz Tree Farm for their applied restoration project at the L.W.Schatz Tree Farm. The student in FOR 431 made multiple visits to the Schatz Tree Farm over the course of the spring semester. FOR 116 and FOR 431 students have performed maintenance (primarily weed control) and monitoring during field trips to the Tree Farm.

2012 Annual Report Page 3 Summer operations and maintenance in 2012 As in past summers, significant maintenance and improvement projects were done over the Summer in 2012.

Projects completed include: Tree Farm building Mowed lawns and outer areas to reduce fire hazard. Cleaned shop, bathrooms and interior of the building. Cleaned walkway and gutters around the building.

All Terrain Vehicles were serviced and received new tires. General landscaping, including weeding, cleanup and mulching.

3 2012 Annual Report Page 3 Summer operations and maintenance in 2012 As in past summers, significant maintenance and improvement projects were done over the Summer in Derek Weatherbee and Mike Vogele comprised the 2013 summer maintenance crew, along with Gordon Schatz, Tree Farm Manage. Projects completed include: Tree Farm building Mowed lawns and outer areas to reduce fire hazard. Cleaned shop, bathrooms and interior of the building. Cleaned walkway and gutters around the building. Saws and other power equipment brought into town for annual maintenance. Cleaned equipment shed and contents. Resupplied gas and oil for machines. All Terrain Vehicles were serviced and received new tires. General landscaping, including weeding, cleanup and mulching. Tree Farm acreage Cleared storm debris and downed trees from roads, trails and culverts. Mowed roads, and turnouts as well as brush cut trails. Mowed and brush cut trails (ongoing). Worked on pond trail improvements. Removed brush and pruned trees along roadsides to improve visibility. Potholes filled on roads with gravel. Located and cleared culvert inlets and areas around them. Cleaned up duck blind at the pond. Shaded fuel break enhancement and pruning along roads and trails. Summer operations and maintenance planned for 2013 Digitize historical documents and maps from the L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm Scenes from the Tree Farm.

Page 4 LIDAR Story (continued from page 1) earth (last return). The ability to distinguish and visualize both the ground and canopy structure offers many advantages for forestry research.

The lidar data will offer an excellent, real-world learning tool for forestry students. The lidar acquisition will also provide valuable data for research at the Tree Farm.

4 Page 4 LIDAR Story (continued from page 1) earth (last return). The ability to distinguish and visualize both the ground and canopy structure offers many advantages for forestry research. A wide range of information can be obtained from lidar, including topographic models, forest structure, density, canopy heights,, and biomass estimates. The lidar data will offer an excellent, real-world learning tool for forestry students. The lidar acquisition will also provide valuable data for research at the Tree Farm. Research projects anticipated for 2013 Response to Mortality and Anthropogenic Disturbances in Mixed Evergreen Conifer Forests: Changes in Stand Structure, Growth, and Branching Satellite aerial image of the research station at the L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm (Top) and 3-D Point cloud representation of the same area modeled with Fusion software (Bottom) In 2013 Dr. Pascal Berrill and his graduate student will begin work on their study on Response to Mortality and Anthropogenic Disturbances in Mixed Evergreen Conifer Forests: Changes in Stand Structure, Growth, and Branching. Coastal mixed evergreen conifer forests are changing in response to disease and harvest disturbances., in particular Sudden oak death (SOD) caused by the pathogen Phytopthora ramorum is killing millions of tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) throughout California. The project aims to address three main topics; I) The response of coast redwood and Douglas-fir to partial harvesting and associated composition control in irregular uneven-aged stands; 2) Stand density and branching in pure and mixed even-aged and multiaged coastal redwood and Douglas-fir; and 3) Regeneration and growth of residual stand during conversion of mixed even-aged stands to conifer-dominated uneven-aged stands. The pilot study of this project will take place at the L.W. Schatz Tree Farm to test field sampling method. This will include Redwood and Douglas-fir tree growth and branch sampling at the Tree Farm and dendrochronological analysis in the laboratory at Humboldt State University.

5 2012 Annual Report Page 5 Research and Other projects planned for 2013 Bio-energy pilot study Dr. Pascal Berrill will continue work on the Tree Farm bio-energy pilot study: Planting five tree species in a replicated test plot. Dr. Berrill along with students from his Siliviculture (FOR 432) and Forest Restoration (FOR 431) class will continue to monitor and maintain the plots through hand weeding. Tree Farm as outdoor classroom As in previous year, the Tree Farm will continue to be used for many forestry classes, there are many field trips already planned for 2013 Forest and The Environment (FOR 116): Students in the Forest and The Environment class will visit the Tree Farm. Forest Health and Protection (FOR 222): Students in the Forest Health and Protection class will visit the Tree Farm. Forest Restoration (FOR 431): Dr. Pascal Berrill and his Forest Restoration students will continue to maintain and monitor restoration sites at the Tree Farm. Nonindustrial Timber Management Plan (NTMP) Establish an NTMP for the Tree Farm by putting out a statewide call for bids to write a plan. Geographic Information System Continue improvements on the Tree Farm GIS database, including mapping and obtaining additional data. Digitize historical documents and maps from the L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm The s mission is to provide a demonstration tree farm operation for the benefit of the instructional and research needs of the students and faculty of Humboldt State University and as an example for owners of small timberland parcels. The Tree Farm enables experimentation and research regarding the growing, harvesting, and replacement of trees on timberland. The Tree Farm aims to utilize as many square feet as practical for production of commercial wood crops. The Tree Farm serves as an outdoor classroom for educational purposes and also enables public educational assistance to landowners through publications, photos, lectures, symposia, and tours. Contact Information L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm Department of Forestry & Wildland Resources Humboldt State University 1 Harpst St. Arcata, CA Phone: Fax: fwr@humboldt.edu Web site: schatztreefarm Tree Farm Advisory Committee Ken Fulgham, Chair, Department of Forestry and Wildland Resources Steve Smith, Dean, College of Natural Resources and Sciences Pascal Berrill, Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry and Wildland Resources Tree Farm staff Gordon Schatz, Tree Farm Manager George Pease, Technician Sara Hanna, Research Associate and Coordinator Derek Weatherbee, Summer crew Mike Vogele, Summer crew Deparment of Forestry & Wildland Resources faculty members Pascal Berrill Ken Fulgham Han-Sup Han Jeff Kane Erin Kelly Susan Marshall Mahesh Rao Stephen Sillett John Stuart Andy Stubblefield

L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm Annual Report

L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm 2011 Annual Report 2011 Annual Report Inside this report: Cover Story 1 Research and other projects in 2011 Summer operations & maintenance in 2011 Below-ground Carbon