Climate Change and California s Family Forests

Transcription

1 Climate Change and California s Family Forests Turtle Bay Exploration Park June 17, 2009 Bob Rynearson W.M. Beaty and Associates, Inc.

2 California Forestland Ownership Private non-timber Government Private - zoned for timber production Forest Service BLM NPS CA State etc. Roughly one-third of California is forestland.

3 California Private Forestland Status Private - zoned for timber production Wood products primarily building materials (dimensional lumber, plywood etc. ) other: energy, cosmetics, furniture, medicines etc. Family owned 100-year sustainability plans 3 rd Party Certified (FSC, SFI, Tree Farm etc.) Growth exceeds harvest by approximately 2:1 Millions of seedlings planted every year Strictest Forest Practice Rules and review

4 Community Support Forest products industry fund county government services Property taxes paid directly to counties Yield taxes paid to both state and counties schools particularly dependent

5 Private Forestland Regulation

6 Private Forestland Regulation Cost increases 1,200 percent since 1975 Avg cost: $40,000 per plan Landowner THP Cost Comparison (Preparation, Administration, Mitigation and $23.1 million Proposed New Fees) $80.00 $70.00 $60.00 Proposed $50.00 $40.00 $30.00 $20.00 $10.00 Calif. Oregon Washington Total $ Cost / Thousand Board Feet of Timber Harvest

7 7

8 Climate Benefits from Forest Management: Standing forest inventories (increasing inventory and/or maintaining land in forest cover vs. brush or other land uses) Storage in solid wood products Renewable bio-energy from manufacturing waste & landfill storage directly related to timber products Forest slash used to generate renewable energy that displaces fossil fuel emmissions Wood products substitute for building materials that have much higher carbon footprint (e.g. concrete & steel)

9 Wood as a Green Building Material Energy Efficient (mostly made with solar energy & manufacturing waste products offset the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity) Carbon storage Minimal overall environmental impact Renewable Recyclable Biodegradable Durable

10 Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) Comparison: Wood to Concrete Total Structure 60 Concrete vs Wood Design (%) % Embodied Energy 31% Global Warming Air Emissions Water Emissions Solid Waste Source: Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (2005).

11 LCA Comparison: Wood to Steel Total Structure 350 Steel vs. Wood Design (%) % 26% -50 Embodied Energy Global Warming Air Emissions Water Emissions Solid Waste Source: Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (2005).

12 LCA Comparison: Carbon footprint of 3,500 Various Floor Systems kg of CO 2 per 768 sq. ft. 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1, Steel Concrete Lumber Lumber Wood I-joists Wood Dimension Joists Concrete Slab Steel Joists Floor Type Source: Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (2005).

13 Beaty Managed Lands: Overall Ownership Objectives Provide annual income + increase forest value over time (by harvesting less than growth, thinning, reforestation etc.) Grow Large Trees sawlogs (fiber and fuel chips produced as by-products or as products of stand improvement treatments) Sustain/Increase timber yield, aesthetics, soils, watershed, water quality, riparian habitat, wildlife, forage, and recreation etc. (FSC certified w/ 100- Year SYPs) Minimize risk of catastrophic losses from fire, pathogens and insects

14 W.M. BEATY & ASSOCIATES, INC. also harvested 1 Billion Bd. Ft. & several hundred thousand tons of fuel chips 1 Billion Bd. Ft. Grown under WBA mgt. initial inventory + 30 years 2 Billion Bd. Ft current inventory

15 Mixed conifer stand in NE Shasta Co. where management has increased forest structure, timber volume, growth and average tree size over time.

16 High stocking levels = stagnating trees, insects & fire hazard

17 Smaller, weaker trees selected for biomass harvest # 17

18 Thinned eastside stand: increases individual tree vigor & growth & reduces impacts from wildfire

19 Increase Forest Inventory & Structure by timely reforestation after wildfire Wildfire in Modoc County 10-year old plantation after wildfire

20 Example: Management Plan for one family owned forest: Thousand Board Feet (net) Decade Standing Growth Harvest 0 1,021, ,153, , , ,267, , , ,340, , , ,395, , , ,461, , , ,522, , , ,553, , , ,637, , , ,688, , , ,780, , ,639

21 Climate Benefits in tco2e (tons of CO2 emission equivalents) Decade Standing Biomass 0 8,786, ,923, ,905, ,527, ,001, ,571, ,098, ,359, ,088, ,520, ,315,435 sum Related to Timber Products in use 100 yrs. Landfill storage & Energy from "Waste" Chips If 70% of forest slash is used as bioenergy Century Long Benefits of Harvested Products 422, , ,570 1,404, , , ,046 1,733, ,231 1,039, ,249 2,299, ,350 1,335, ,582 2,955, ,248 1,359, ,675 3,008, ,990 1,423, ,874 3,150,444 1,029,880 1,548, ,136 3,426, ,666 1,469, ,136 3,252,496 1,074,080 1,614, ,536 3,573,247 1,032,616 1,552, ,389 3,435,303 8,488,094 12,759,880 6,990,195 28,238,169 Does not include benefits of wood substitution for other building materials

22 WESTCARB II Reforestation & Fuel Management Pilot Projects in Shasta County Bob Rynearson W.M. Beaty and Associates, Inc. Redding, CA June 17, 2009

23 Shasta Co. 23

24 WestCarb Phase II Projects for Shasta County Forest Fuel Management Afforestation/Reforestation Conservation Forest Management (PFT Bascom CE) Latour State Demonstration Forest (CAL FIRE) 24

25 We all know: Wood-fuel offsets fossil fuel use Thinning reduces the extent and damage from wildfires. But how can we measure the carbon sequestration value? Davis Mtn. Biomass HH Shaded Fuel-break Biomass 25

26 Phase II Objectives for Afforestation/Reforestation Validate Phase I potential through actual pilots Baseline carbon stocks Carbon accumulation potential Costs (site prep, planting, maintenance, MMV, registration and reporting) Explore conditions of landowner participation Are landowners interested? What type of landowners? Under what conditions? Gain on-the-ground experience in site prep requirements, planting, maintenance, carbon registries/markets for expansion/replication Road-test Registry protocols and inform protocol development 26

27 Pilot Reforestation Projects - Initial Landowner Outreach Western Shasta RCD, Leslie Bryan More than 400 Landowners Contacted + 50 Landowners Interested & Interviewed 27

28 Office Evaluation of 50 Potential Projects Criteria for Feasibility & Selection: CCAR Forestry Protocol eligibility (pre-2009): < 10% Tree Canopy (used NAIP or GE photos) > 10 yr. out of forest cover Seed Zone & Elevation NRCS Soil Surveys: Depth & AWC etc. Slope Access Roads (for equipment & crews) Easements & Property Corners/Lines Landowner s objectives Regulatory constraints: T& E, 1600 permits etc. Other Misc. 20 out of 50 selected for Site Visits 28

29 Site Visits resulted in 17 site-specific reforestation plans w/ estimates: Background information: acres, access, easements, boundary lines, soils, site class, precipitation, seed zone, elevation, current vegetation, topography, owner s objectives / historical background etc. Step-by-step plan for site prep, seedlings, planting, chemical and mechanical treatments Estimated costs including WESTCARB II and landowner portions 29

30 Shasta County Variety of: Elev. Veg. (Spp.& age) Soils Climates History Ownerships (9 acres) 12 projects / Landowner Agreements totaling 470 acres. 30

31 Conifer Seed from: CAL FIRE, W.M. Beaty & SPI # 31

32 CAL FOREST NURSERY Sowing seeds into styroblock containers # 32

33 Seeds germinate into seedlings & grow for one season at the nursery # 33

34 Seedlings lifted from styroblocks after growing season # 34

35 Seedlings packed into boxes by seed lot, elevation, species, project name etc. # 35

36 Seedlings must be kept in cold storage from lifting/packing until they are planted in the field # 36

37 Shasta County Variety of: Elev. Veg. Soils Climates History Ownerships (9 acres) 1,600 2, PPT 37

38 Hendrix Project Manzanita 2,300 Soil: > 40 deep & mod/high AWC (10-14 ) 41.3 tco2/ac + 95% C.I. 38

39 2008 Planting - Climatic Conditions During 1 st Year of Seedling Establishment Project Elev. Date Planted Precip. Sept-June Precip. March-June Normal 2007/08 Normal 2008 % of Normal Hendrix 2,300 March % PPT Data from: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, created 23 Sep

40 Checking seedling root growth 6 weeks after planting Hendrix Project 40

41 end of summer > 90% survival 41

42 Whiteleaf manzanita 1,600 Soil: Deep & Low/Mod AWC (4.7 ) 42

43 Nearby wildfire June 2008 Site Prep 2008 & Plant

44 June 2008 lightning caused wildfires: Fire very close to 2 projects Fire burned 1/3 of one project Delayed site prep Prolonged smoke impacted nursery 44

45 Whiteleaf 1,700 Eroded Soils: deep & Low AWC (2-3 ) Frase Project Area 45

46 Site Prep 2008 & Plant Feb Frase Project Area 46

47 Ponderosa Pine seedling one month after planting 47

48 3,900 elevation > 140 year-old brush site (1860 s GLO notes) Greenleaf manzanita - Forest soils, deep but low AWC Windy &McCarthy Stony Sandy Loam # 48

49 3,900 elevation > 140 year-old brush site WESTCARB II Project Area BLM # 49

50 Brush was ground up & then trucked to wood burning power plant to generate green electricity 50

51 2008 Planting - Climatic Conditions During 1 st Year of Seedling Establishment (>90% survival) Project Elev. Date Planted Precip. Sept-June Precip. March-June Normal 2007/08 Normal 2008 % of Normal Hendrix 2,300 March % RRFP 3,880 April % PPT Data from: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, created 23 Sep

52 Ponderosa pine seedling at the end of a long, dry summer five months after planting on soils w/ low AWC 52

53 Table Mtn. Brushfield 5,500 # 53

54 Table Mtn. Brushfield 5,500 # 54

55 2008 Planting - Climatic Conditions During 1 st Year of Seedling Establishment Precip. Sept-June Precip. March-June Project Elev. Date Planted Normal 2007/08 Normal 2008 % of Normal Hendrix 2,300 March % RRFP 3,880 April % Goose Ranch 3,900 April % Table Mt. 5,500 June % PPT Data from: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, created 23 Sep

56 Planted June 5, ,500 elev. Low AWC Sept Survival: pond pine = 90%; red fir = 40% 56

57 Shasta County Variety of: Elev. Veg. Soils Climates History Ownerships 3,400-3, PPT (9 acres) 57

58 July 2007 Power Wildfire NE Shasta County Re-burned a portion of 1982 Chalk Fire area 58

59 1982 Chalk Fire / 2007 Power Fire NRCS Soil Survey: forest soil (pond. pine) Low AWC (2-3 ) Low PPT (normal: 20 /yr) 59

60 Power/Chalk Fire Test Planting - March 20,

61 2008 Planting - Climatic Conditions During 1 st Year of Seedling Establishment Precip. Sept-June Precip. March-June Project Elev. Date Planted Normal 2007/08 Normal 2008 % of Normal Lakey (Test) 3,400 3,800 Mar % 23.8% PPT Data from: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, created 23 Sep

62 September 20, 2008 > 90 % survival March 20, 2008 Test Planting 62

63 June 11, 2009 March, 2009 Power/Chalk Fire Project 2009 Operational Planting 63

64 Shasta County Variety of: Elev. Veg. Soils Climates History Ownerships (9 acres) 64

65 Smelter Fumes from the copper smelting activities in the early 1900 s killed off thousands of acres of ponderosa pine forest along the Sac. river 65

66 Frase 800 Elevation Whiteleaf manzanita etc. on eroded soils w/ low AWC 66

67 67

68 Frase Project Site Preparation for Planting in

69 2008 Motion Fire Frase Project Area 69

70 1992 Fountain Fire Shasta County Variety of: Elev. Veg. Soils Climates History Ownerships (9 acres) 70

71 1992 Fountain Fire: 65,000 acres Timber companies replanted within 5 years after fire: now ~ 20 ft. tall conifers & some re-sprouted oaks Most small non-industrial landowners did not replant: now brush and re-sprouted oaks 71

72 Reservoir Lake Margaret 1992 Fountain 3,600 elevation Whitethorn brush Deep soils & mod/high AWC 72

73 1992 Fountain Fire Whitethorn 3,600 elevation 73

74 2008 Planting - Climatic Conditions During 1 st Year of Seedling Establishment Precip. Sept-June Precip. March-June Project Elev. Date Planted Normal 2007/08 Normal 2008 % of Normal Hendrix 2,300 March % RRFP 3,880 April % Goose Ranch 3,900 April % Table Mt. 5,500 June % PPT Data from: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, created 23 Sep

75 1992 Fountain Fire Whitethorn 3,600 elevation Goose Ranch Project Sept

76 1992 Fountain 3,000 elev. site prepped in 2008 & planted in

77 1992 Fountain Fire - Lammers Project 3,900 elev. greenleaf manzanita & whitethorn Deep 1992 soils Fountain w/ low/mod Fire 3,900 elev 77

78 1992 Fountain 3,900 elev 2008 Site Prep: Brush plucked by excavator into windrows, ground into hogfuel & transported to co-gen plant 78

79 Shasta County Variety of: Elev. Veg. Soils Climates History Ownerships Blue Oak Valley Oak (9 acres) 79

80 Regenerating Rangeland Oaks in California Douglas D. McCreary University of California Sierra Foothill Research & Extension Center University of 1992 California Fountain Fire Agriculture Whitethorn & Natural Resources Publication ,600 elevation 80

81 BLM Redding 500 Canyon Live Oak. Gravelly sandy loam deep Low/Mod AWC ( ) 81

82 SOME LESSONS LEARNED (OR RE-CONFIRMED) Must have a good plan & the commitment of all partners to follow through with the timely implementation of each sequential step over a multi-year project. Quality control and oversight at each step is critical to success. Need good seed that is adapted to the site. Access to a well supplied and diverse seed bank is important. Need good quality nursery stock and quality control during storage, handling and planting of seedlings. Control of competing vegetation is critical to success. Cannot rely on normal rainfall patterns. Non-industrial ownerships: higher costs/acre for many reasons. Many willing to pay 25% for conifers but not oaks 82

83 SOME LESSONS LEARNED (OR RE-CONFIRMED) Reforestation Project = Long term fuel management project Timely reforestation after wildfire: Reduces costs Reduces impacts to soils and environment Increases the available acres (e.g. steep & rocky sites) Faster net carbon gained in most accounting protocols Opportunities for artificial regen. of blue & live oaks (on nonconifer sites), but not needed for black oak (conifer sites) Ponderosa pine success is good over wide range & variability in PPT and site conditions (w/ weed control!). Active management is needed to increase (or even maintain) acres of conifer forests in interior California Revisions to improve CCAR Forestry Protocols. 83

84 Important Lesson for Reforestation in interior Calif.: EARLY WEED CONTROL IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT 15 years after Wildfire destroyed forest Planted + weed control Planted & no weed control 84

85 15 YEAR-OLD PLANTATION Established after wildfire in Northeastern California Both areas were planted after the same wildfire but: NO WEED CONTROL WEED CONTROL BLM plantation w/ no weed control Private plantation w/ weed control 85

86 Any Questions? 89 year-old Show Plantation 86