Managing Root Disease – the Costs and Benefits
September 15-16, 2015
Salmon Arm
Are you Stumped About Stumping …?
This year’s fall field tour is a retrospective examination of the ecology and management of root rot infected stands. We will visit both a long-term research trial site and an operational site to see the linkages between research and operational application.
At the research site (Skimikin) we will discuss the ecology of root rot, its impact on site growth and yield, and and the costs / benefits of stumping. At the operational site (White Lake), we will see how treatments were applied and how the stands developed subsequently. We will also hear about some work in progress for identifying diseased stands on the landscape.
Who Should Come …
Planning and development foresters, as well as silviculturists, will benefit from this tour – root disease management begins at the early stages of stand management.
DAY ONE: Tuesday September 15th
Skimikin Long-Term Research Trials
In 1968 a trial was established near Salmon Arm in the southern interior of British Columbia to determine if whole tree logging reduced mortality in the next rotation on a site infested by root disease. In stumped and not stumped blocks, seedlings of Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, western redcedar and paper birch were planted alone and in all combinations of two species in three 0.04 ha plots per block; western larch and Engelmann spruce were planted on one plot in each block.
The highest survival after 40 years occurred in plots where stumps were removed, especially in those of Douglas-fir alone or in mixture or of spruce or larch. We will review each species survival and growth and determine the economics of stump removal and species mixtures, and discuss the practical implications of stump removal. We will focus on western redcedar as an alternative species for disease control and discuss some of its economics and silviculture.
On hand to lead the discussion (in order of appearance) will be:
- Mike Cruickshank, Forest Pathologist, Natural Resources Canada, NRCan Catherine Bealle Statland, MFLNRO Research Scientist
- Jim Goudie, Stand Modeling, FLNRO
- Patrick Asante, Economist, FLNRO
- Cosmin Filipescu, Ecophysiologist, Natural Resources Canada, NRCan
- Sandy Allen, Regional Coordinator, Natural Resources Canada, NRCan
- David Rusch, Regional Forest Pathologist, FLNRO
DAY TWO: Wednesday September 16th
White Lake Operational Treatments
At White Lake we will look at sites that were stumped about twenty years ago, to examine and discuss the effectiveness of the treatments, the risks of partial and incomplete stumping, and technical details such as is there a maximum stump size/diameter that can be stumped? Is there an area of risk around stumps? What interactions are created by tree retention areas and site disturbance? And how can we improve our detection techniques and recommendations for root disease once detected?
On hand to lead the discussion (in order of appearance) will be:
- Jill Werk, Stewardship Forester, FLNRO
- Harry Kope, Provincial Forest Pathologist, FLNRO
- Dana Manhard, Timber Pricing Forester, FLNRO
- Jim Wright, (retired),Silviculture Forester, FLNRO
Join your colleagues for an interesting excursion into the lovely Fall landscapes of the Shuswap.
The tour will be based out of Salmon Arm. The Prestige Inn has rooms set aside for us, and it is the location of our registration evening on Monday night and our banquet on Tuesday night. Buses will leave from, and return to the Prestige Inn.