Estimating Historical Snag

Density in Dry Forests East

of the Cascade Range

Richy J. Harrod, William L. Gaines, William E. Hartl, and

Ann Camp

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest Service

Pacicic Northwest

Research Station

General Technical

Report

PNW-GTR-428

August 1998
Authors RICHY J. HARROD is a plant ecologist, WILLIAM L. GAINES is a wildlife biologist,

and WILLIAM E. HARTL is a silviculturist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest

Service, Wenatchee National Forest, Leavenworth Ranger District, Leavenworth, WA

98826; and ANN CAMP is a research silviculturist, U.S. Department of Agricurlture,

Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

Cover photo by the senior author.
Abstract Harrod, Richy J.; Gaines, William L.; Hartl, William E.; Camp, Ann. 1998.

Estimating historical snag density in dry forests east of the the Cascade Range.

Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-428. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Forest Service, Pacfic Northwest Research Station. 16 p.

Estimating snag densities in pre-European settlement landscapes (i.e., historical conditions) provides land managers with baseline information for comparing current snag

densities. We propose a method for determining historical snag densities in the dry

forests east of the Cascade Range. Basal area increase was calculated from tree ring

measurements of old ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) trees. Historical stand structure was assumed to be open and parklike, with low densities favoring

larger diameter trees, and it was considered relatively stable at the landscape level.

Snag density (S) was calculated by holding forest stand structure relatively constant

(basal area range 13.8 to 18.4 square meters per hectare [60 to 80 ft2

/acre] and diameter size class distributions with q-factors of 1.1 or 1.2), assuming snag recruitment

could be no greater than annual basal area increase, and estimating that all snags

fall by 45 years; S = (a)*(1 + Σri), where a is annual recruitment and Σri is a sum of

the ratios of snags remaining from previous recruitment years (i). If eight representative snag sizes are selected, snag density in historical landscapes ranged from 14.5

to 34.6 snags per hectare (5.9 to 14.1 snags per acre).

Keywords: Snag density, ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, snag recruitment,

historical forest structure.
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Introduction Snags are important structures in forest ecosystems. They provide wildlife habitat

(Thomas and others 1979) and affect fire behavior (Agee 1993), fish habitat (Platts

1983), and bank stability in streams (Platts 1983). Snags eventually may become

down logs and provide important ecosystem functions, such as nutrient cycling

(Maser and others 1979), water storage (Maser and others 1979), soil stabilization

(Graham and others 1994), and habitat for wildlife and numerous invertebrate, microbial, and fungal species. Snags that fall across streams provide links between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and contribute to the development of stepped stream

profiles that reduce channel erosion (Harmon and others 1986). The importance of

snags and logs within terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is reviewed by Harmon and

others (1986).

Land managers may choose to develop snag management strategies that ensure

the recruitment of snags in a full range of sizes. Previous studies and recommendations concerning snag management levels have been carried out in present-day landscapes altered by fire suppression, logging, and grazing. As land managers attempt

to restore historical ecosystem conditions, it is important that any sustainable snag

management strategies that are developed be guided by the range of natural variability (see Morgan and others 1994, Swanson and others 1994, USDA 1995a, USDA

and USDI 1994).

We propose a method of estimating presettlement snag recruitment in dry forests

(ponderosa pine [Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.], Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga

menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] and dry plant associations within the grand fir [Abies grandis

(Dougl. ex D. Don) Lindl.] series) on the east side of the Cascade Range. We provide

estimates of presettlement snag densities in several diameter classes and demonstrate how this model is useful as a tool for ecosystem management on the east side

of the Cascade Range.

Methods The process of determining historical snag density involves first modeling historical

stand structure, then measuring tree growth under historical conditions, and finally

estimating snag fall rates.

Historical Stand

Structure and Growth

We assumed that long-term snag recruitment potential cannot exceed the rate of tree

growth on the landscape. We also assumed that snag densities and recruitment rates

in historically dry forest landscapes of the east side of the Cascade Range were predictable, based on a historical disturbance regime of frequent, low-intensity fires.

These fires created an uneven-aged vegetative structure at the landscape scale with

small (<0.5 hectare [1.2 acre]), even-aged groups of trees primarily dominated by

large ponderosa pine (Agee 1994, Avery and others 1976, Hessburg and others

1994, Johnson 1994, Weaver 1943, Wickman 1992). Tree mortality in these historical

landscapes were continuous and occurred in small patches (<0.5 hectare [1.2 acre])

as a result of low intensity fire, insects (particularly western pine beetle [Dendroctonus

brevicomis]), and diseases (Agee 1994, Hessburg and others 1994, Weaver 1943,

Wickman 1992).

1
Figure 1—Mean number and standard deviation of trees per hectare by diameter size class from a

ponderosa pine stand, Arizona, 1929 (from Avery and others 1976).

Figure 2—When basal area is 18.4 square meters per hectare (80 ft2/acre), the diameter distribution

with a q-factor of 1.1 produces a flat inverse J-shaped curve indicating many large and fewer small

trees. A q-factor of 1.2 produces a slightly more pronounced inverse J-shaped curve indicating more

small trees.

5 15 25 36 46 56 66 76 86

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Size class (centimeters)

q = 1.2

q = 1.1

Trees per Hectare

2
We also assumed that the tree-stem diameter distribution of single-species, unevenaged stands or landscapes generally can be described by an inverse J-shaped curve,

when tree diameter is plotted against the number of trees per unit area. This curve is

convertible to a straight line if the logarithms of the numbers of trees per unit area are

plotted against the arithmetic diameters (Smith 1986). The q-factor, which stands for

quotient and describes the shape of the curve, defines a geometric progression of increasing number of trees with decreasing diameters (Smith 1986). Determining the

shape of the inverse curve involves choosing three parameters: initial basal area,

selection of a q-factor, and maximum tree size. Because no historical stand data apparently exist for the east side, we used ponderosa pine stand descriptions from 1920

and data sets from Arizona (Avery and others 1976) to guide our selection of parameter values. The data presented in Avery and others (1976) come from 16 subplots

(total of 16 hectares [40 acres]) from the 31-hectare (76-acre) G.A. Pearson Natural

Area. The area is described as a climax forest in irregular, uneven-aged stands consisting of small even-aged groups with an abundance of large ponderosa pine individuals (fig. 1). Avery and others (1976) note that the area had not been logged or subjected to stand replacement fire. Our study area was within the Douglas-fir and grand

fir climax series, but these sites were dominated by ponderosa pine.

We calculated size class distributions of trees by using the equation from Alexander

and Edminster (1977):

Nd = k(e-D(ln*q)1/2),

where Nd is the number of trees per hectare in size class D, k is the residual density parameter, and D is the midpoint of a diameter class. We used several combinations of parameter values to derive two inverse J-shaped curves that we assume approximate historical diameter distributions. Historical basal area likely ranged from

about 13.8 square meters per hectare (60 ft2

/acre) (Avery and others 1976) to less

than 21 square meters per hectare (90 ft2

/acre)1 or 23 square meters per hectare

(100 ft2

/acre).2 For the initial basal area, we chose values of 13.8 square meters per

hectare (60 ft2

/acre) (from Avery and others 1976) and 18.4 square meters per hectare (80 ft2

/acre). The q-factors of 1.1 and 1.2 were chosen to define two possible

shapes for the diameter distribution curves (fig. 2), which represent a range of historical structural conditions (Avery and others 1976; and as suggested by Agee

1993, 1994; Keen 1929, 1955). Maximum initial tree size was held constant at a

91-centimeter (36-in) diameter at breast height (DBH) for both calculations.

To determine growth rate of trees under historical stand conditions, we sampled 69

randomly selected, old ponderosa pine trees at 32 sites within 15 kilometers (9 mi)

north and south of Leavenworth, Washington. All sites were in dry plant associations

within the Douglas-fir and grand fir series (Lillybridge and others 1995). We measured

increment cores, taken at breast height, to determine mean 10-year growth rates by

1 Personal communication. 1994. Jim Hadfield, forest

pathologist, Wenatchee Forestry Sciences Laboratory,

1113 Western Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801.

2 Sloan, J. 1994. Historical density and stand structure of an

old growth forest in the Boise basin of central Idaho. Ogden,

UT: Intermountain Research Station. 24 p. Unpublished

report. On file with: Wenatchee National Forest, Leavenworth

Ranger Station, 600 Sherbourne, Leavenworth, WA 98826.

3
diameter classes (inside bark). The most recent 60 years (outer 60 rings) were

ignored because active fire suppression and partial-cut logging likely impacted tree

growth. Our sample provided information for the period from 1700 to 1930. Fire suppression in the area studied did not become efficient until about 1930 (USDA 1995b).

We assumed that the sampled trees were growing under the frequent fire regimes

dominant before European settlement.

For the trees sampled, diameters inside bark (DIB) were converted to estimated diameters outside bark (DOB) by including bark thickness (BT). Outside bark diameters

were estimated by using the equation, DOB = DIB/0.87, which is derived by rearranging BT = 0.065 (DOB) for Douglas-fir (Ryan and Reinhardt 1988). Peterson and

Ryan (1986) observed that bark thickness of ponderosa pine, western larch (Larix

occidentalis Nutt.), and Douglas-fir are similar for a given diameter.

We applied the 10-year growth rates by diameter class to stands described by the

two inverse J-shaped curves selected. The 10-year basal area increase was used

to determine snag recruitment potential by 10-centimeter (4-in) DBH size categories.

The 10-year basal area increase was divided by eight diameter groups to estimate

snag recruitment potential. Basal area increase of representative trees (midpoint)

of each diameter class was used to calculate snag recruitment potential. Basal area

increase of trees less than 10 centimeters (4 in) was ignored because it would not

contribute to producing 15-centimeter (6-in) or larger snags. Basal area available for

snag recruitment by diameter category was converted to number of snags per hectare

(SPH, or SPA for acre).

Fall Down Rates and

Snag Density

Snag fall down rates from 0 to 15 years were determined by compiling data from the

literature (Bull 1983; Keen 1929, 1955; Schmid and others 1985) and estimating

curves for small (30 centimeters [12 in] in diameter) and medium and large DBH ponderosa pine snags (43 centimeters [17 in] and 64 centimeters [25 in], respectively).

These fall rates were similar to those that Raphael and Morrison (1987) determined

for Jeffrey pine (Pinus jefferyi Grev. & Bals.), which is similar to ponderosa pine. Falling rates beyond 15 years were extrapolated because we could find no data on snag

longevity beyond this period. We assumed that all small (30 centimeters [12 in] in diameter) snags would have fallen by 20 years and medium to large (43 centimeters

[17 in] and 64 centimeters [25 in] in diameter, respectively) snags would have fallen

by 45 years (fig. 3). It should be noted, however, that any fall rate can be applied to

this model.

Snag density by the eight size categories was calculated from the equation S = (a)

*(1 + Σri), where S is snag density, a is the annual snag recruitment rate (recruitment

rate per decade divided by 10), and Σri is a summation of the ratios (percentage

divided by 100) of snags remaining from previous recruitment years (i).

We performed a sensitivity analysis (Brown and Rothery 1993) of the extrapolated

portion, beyond year 15, of our snag density estimates by varying the time, from 30

to 60 years, at which 100 percent of snags recruited during any event have fallen.

4
Results The total number of trees per hectare (TPH) per decade, given an initial basal area

of 18.4 square meters per hectare (80 ft2

/acre) and a q-factor of 1.1 was 110.7

(44.8 trees per acre [TPA]) (table 1). Using the same q-factor, but changing the initial

basal area to 13.8 square meters per hectare (60 ft2

/acre), resulted in a 25-percent

decrease in the number of TPH (92.7; 37.5 TPA) and a corresponding 25-percent

decrease for each size class; the shape of the curve remained the same. When a

q-factor of 1.2 was used, the total number of TPH with an initial basal area of 18.4

square meters per hectare (80 ft2

/acre) was 167.5 (67.8 TPA; table 1). The reduction

of trees per unit area created by using the 1.2 q-factor and reducing an initial basal

area to 13.8 square meters per hectare (60 ft2

/acre) was again 25 percent (125.6;

46.1 TPA).

Diameter growth per decade for 5-centimeter (2-in) inside bark size classes (fig. 4)

was converted to DBH. This diameter growth was applied to the 18.4 square meters

per hectare (80 ft2

/acre) and 13.8 square meters per hectare (60 ft2/acre) diameter

distribution models to determine basal area increase per decade (table 1). The 13.8

square meters per hectare (60 ft2

/acre) models are 75 percent of the basal area and

trees-per-hectare descriptions (table 1). Change in basal area, which could be available for snag recruitment, was 2.04 square meters per hectare (8.86 ft2

/acre) per decade for a q-factor of 1.1 and an initial basal area of 18.4 square meters per hectare

(80 ft2

/acre) (table 1). Change in basal area for a q-factor of 1.2 and an initial basal

area of 18.4 square meters per hectare (80 ft2

/acre) was 2.72 square meters per

hectare (11.83 square feet per acre) (table 1).

Figure 3—Fall down rates of small, and medium and large snags. Fall down rates from year 0 to year

15 were based on several studies. Rates beyond 15 years were extrapolated.

Historical Stand

Structure and Growth

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42

Years

Medium and large snags (43 and 64 cm)

Small snags (30 cm)

Bull (1983) >50 cm

Bull (1983) 25-50 cm

Bull (1983) < 25 cm

Keen (1955) 25-127 cm

Keen (1955) 25-127 cm loam soils

Keen (1929) >25 cm

Schmid et al. (1985) 18-56 cm

Schmid et al. (1985) 15-41 cm

Snags standing

5
Table 1—Change in basal area per decade (as measured in our study) and total trees per hectare by diameter class

a

q 1.1, 18.4 square meters per hectare q 1.2, 18.4 square meters per hectare

DBH class (80 ft2/acre) (80 ft2/acre)

Start End TPH (TPA)b Starting BAc Ending BA Change in BA TPH (TPA) Starting BA Ending BA Change in BA

Centimeters (in)

10 (4) 13.8 (5.4) 12.60 (5.10) 0.10 (0.44) 0.19 (0.82) 0.09 (0.38) 29.16 (11.8) 0.24 (1.03) 0.44 (1.90) 0.20 (0.87)15 (6) 18.6 (7.3) 11.37 (4.60) 0.21 (0.90) 0.31 (1.35) 0.10 (0.45) 24.46 (9.90) 0.44 (1.94) 0.68 (2.91) 0.22 (0.97)20 (8) 24.5 (9.6) 10.38 (4.20) 0.34 (1.47) 0.49 (2.13) 0.15 (0.66) 20.26 (8.20) 0.65 (2.86) 0.96 (4.16) 0.30 (1.30)25 (10) 29.0 (11.4) 9.39 (3.80) 0.47 (2.07) 0.62 (2.69) 0.14 (0.62) 16.80 (6.80) 0.85 (3.71) 1.11 (4.82) 0.25 (1.11)30 (12) 34.2 (13.5) 8.65 (3.50) 0.63 (2.75) 0.79 (3.46) 0.16 (0.71) 14.09 (5.70) 1.03 (4.47) 1.29 (5.63) 0.27 (1.16)36 (14) 39.0 (15.4) 7.66 (3.10) 0.76 (3.31) 0.92 (3.99) 0.16 (0.68) 11.86 (4.80) 1.18 (5.13) 1.42 (6.18) 0.24 (1.05)41 (16) 44.0 (17.3) 7.17 (2.90) 0.93 (4.05) 1.09 (4.74) 0.16 (0.69) 9.88 (4.00) 1.28 (5.58) 1.50 (6.54) 0.22 (0.96)46 (18) 48.9 (19.3) 6.42 (2.60) 1.05 (4.59) 1.21 (5.26) 0.15 (0.67) 8.15 (3.30) 1.34 (5.83) 1.53 (6.68) 0.20 (0.85)51 (20) 54.0 (21.3) 5.93 (2.40) 1.20 (5.24) 1.35 (5.92) 0.16 (0.68) 6.92 (2.80) 1.40 (6.11) 1.58 (6.90) 0.18 (0.70)56 (22) 58.8 (23.1) 5.19 (2.10) 1.27 (5.54) 1.41 (6.13) 0.14 (0.59) 5.68 (2.30) 1.39 (6.07) 1.54 (6.72) 0.15 (0.65)61 (24) 63.5 (25.0) 4.94 (2.00) 1.44 (6.28) 1.57 (6.82) 0.12 (0.54) 4.70 (1.90) 1.37 (5.97) 1.49 (6.48) 0.12 (0.51)66 (26) 68.3 (26.9) 4.45 (1.80) 1.52 (6.64) 1.63 (7.10) 0.10 (0.46) 3.95 (1.60) 1.35 (5.90) 1.45 (6.31) 0.09 (0.41)71 (28) 73.1 (28.8) 3.95 (1.60) 1.57 (6.84) 1.66 (7.23) 0.09 (0.39) 3.21 (1.30) 1.28 (5.56) 1.35 (5.87) 0.07 (0.31)76 (30) 78.0 (30.7) 3.71 (1.50) 1.69 (7.36) 1.77 (7.72) 0.08 (0.36) 2.72 (1.10) 1.24 (5.40) 1.30 (5.66) 0.06 (0.26)81 (32) 83.0 (32.7) 3.21 (1.30) 1.67 (7.26) 1.74 (7.58) 0.07 (0.32) 2.22 (0.90) 1.15 (5.03) 1.21 (5.25) 0.05 (0.22)86 (34) 88.2 (34.7) 2.97 (1.20) 1.74 (7.57) 1.81 (7.90) 0.08 (0.33) 1.98 (0.80) 1.16 (5.04) 1.21 (5.27) 0.05 (0.23)91 (36) 93.4 (36.8) 2.72 (1.10) 1.79 (7.78) 1.86 (8.11) 0.08 (0.33) 1.48 (0.60) 0.97 (4.24) 1.02 (4.42) 0.04 (0.18)

Totals 110.71 (44.80) 18.38 (80.09) 20.42 (88.95) 2.03 (8.86) 167.52 (67.80) 18.34 (79.87) 21.06 (91.70) 2.72 (11.83)

a Each 5-centimeter (2 in) size class is represented by the midpoint diameter (e.g., the 20-centimeter [8-in] class represents trees 17.8 to 22.6 centimeters [7.0 to 8.9 in]. English equivalents are

provided in parentheses.

b TPH = trees per hectare; TPA = trees per acre. c BA = basal area.

6
The basal area available for snag recruitment in each of eight size categories and

actual snag recruitment rate per decade for representative trees sizes are presented

for two stand types with an initial basal area of 18.4 square meters per hectare

(80 ft2

/acre) and q-factors of 1.1 and 1.2 (table 2). The 13.8 square meters per

hectare (60 ft2

/acre) models are 75 percent of the basal area and trees-per-hectare

descriptions (table 2).

Fall Down Rates and

Snag Density

At any given year, the number of snags remaining from any recruitment event can

be calculated and is expressed as a ratio. The sum of the ratios intersected at any

given year (i.e., 1 + Σri) is conceptually presented in figure 5. The sum of the ratios

was 7.6 for small snags and 11.2 for medium and large snags. Annual recruitment

(a) was derived from table 2. A range of snag densities for q-factors of 1.1 and 1.2,

and basal areas of 13.8 square meters per hectare (60 ft2

/acre) and 18.4 square

meters per hectare (80 ft2

/acre), is presented in table 3. The total range of estimated

S for all eight size categories was 14.5 SPH (5.9 SPA) to 34.6 SPH (14.1 SPA)

(table 3).

Shortening longevity of medium to large snags to 30 years reduced snag density by

5 percent, and lengthening snag longevity to 60 years increased snag density by 8.5

percent.

Figure 4—Mean diameter growth and standard deviation per decade decreases as diameter inside bark

increases.

8 18 28 38 48 58 69 79 89

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Diameter inside bark (centimeters)

Diameter growth rate entimeters/decade) c

7
Table 2—Potential snag recruitment rate per decade for 8 representative tree sizes given 2 stand types

a

Stand structure and initial Basal area available for Representative Potential snag recruitmentbasal area Snag size category snag recruitment tree size rate/10 yrsSquare meters per hectare Centimeters (in) Square meters per hectare Centimeters (in) TPH (TPA)b

(ft2/acre) (ft2/acre)

q = 1.1, 18.4 (80) 15-20 (6-8) 0.19 (0.83) 18 (7) 10.4 (4.2)

25-30 (10-12) 0.29 (1.28) 28 (11) 4.8 (1.9)36-41 (14-16) 0.32 (1.39) 38 (15) 2.8 (1.1)46-51 (18-20) 0.31 (1.36) 48 (19) 1.7 (0.7)56-61 (22-24) 0.29 (1.27) 58 (23) 1.1 (0.4)66-71 (26-28) 0.32 (1.39) 69 (27) 0.9 (0.3)76-81 (30-32) 0.16 (0.68) 79 (31) 0.3 (0.1)86-91 (34-36) 0.15 (0.66) 89 (35) 0.2 (0.1)

q = 1.2, 18.4 (80) 15-20 (6-8) 0.42 (1.84) 18 (7) 23.2 (9.4)

25-30 (10-12) 0.55 (2.41) 28 (11) 9.0 (3.7)36-41 (14-16) 0.51 (2.21) 38 (15) 4.4 (1.8)46-51 (18-20) 0.42 (1.81) 48 (19) 2.3 (0.9)56-61 (22-24) 0.33 (1.44) 58 (23) 1.2 (0.5)66-71 (26-28) 0.28 (1.23) 69 (27) 0.8 (0.3)76-81 (30-32) 0.11 (0.48) 79 (31) 0.2 (0.1)86-91 (34-36) 0.09 (0.41) 89 (35) 0.2 (0.1)

a Ending DBH, for each 5-centimeter (2-in) DBH class, is used to distribute basal area among snag size classes. Each 10-centimeter (4-in) snag size class is represented by the midpoint

diameter of two 5-centimeter (2-in) size classes (e.g., the 25-to 30-centimeter [10-12 in] class represents snags 22.8 to 32.8 centimeters [9 to 12.9 in) DBH). English equivalents are providedin parentheses.

bTPH = trees per hectare; TPA = trees per acre.

8
0

0 45

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Standing snags (percent)

Any

point

in time

Years

Figure 5—Conceptual diagram of the summation of the ratios of medium and large snags remaining

from previous recruitment years (1 + Σri). Each curve represents a recruitment year.

9
Table 3—A range of snag densities is presented for 8 representative tree sizes

Snag density by representative snag size

SPH (SPA)

a

Stand structure andinitial basal area 18 (7) 28 (11) 38 (15) 48 (19) 58 (23) 69 (27) 79 (31) 89 (35) TotalSquare meters per hectare

(ft2/acre)

q = 1.1, 18.4 (80) 7.9 (3.2) 3.6 (1.5) 3.1 (1.5) 1.9 (0.8) 1.2 (0.5) 1.0 (0.4) 0.4 (0.2) 0.3 (0.1) 19.4 (8.0)q = 1.2, 18.4 (80) 17.6 (7.1) 6.8 (2.8) 5.0 (2.0) 2.5 (1.0) 1.4 (0.6) 0.9 (0.4) 0.2 (0.1) 0.2 (0.1) 34.6 (14.1)q = 1.1, 13.8 (60) 5.9 (2.4) 2.7 (1.1) 2.3 (0.9) 1.4 (0.6) 0.9 (0.4) 0.8 (0.3) 0.3 (0.1) 0.2 (0.1) 14.5 (5.9)q = 1.2, 13.8 (60) 13.2 (5.3) 5.1 (2.1) 3.8 (1.5) 1.8 (0.8) 1.0 (0.4) 0.7 (0.3) 0.2 (0.1) 0.2 (0.1) 26.0 (10.6)a SPH = snags per hectare; SPA = snags per acre.

10
Discussion Ponderosa pine dominated the stands within the Douglas-fir series and the drier

plant associations within the grand fir series because of the low-intensity fire regime

(Agee 1996, Cooper 1960, Covington and Moore 1994). Low fire intensity and high

fire frequency would be required to maintain a steady recruitment of ponderosa pine

snags at the landscape level. Crown fires occurring infrequently would tend to create

“pulses” of high-density snag recruitment followed locally by periods of no recruitment.

Agee (1993, 1994) and others (Hall 1976, 1980, 1984; Hessburg and others 1994;

Johnson 1994) note that dry forest landscapes east of the Cascade Range maintained rather stable structure prior to European settlement because of frequent fires

and the resultant forest structure (open and parklike at the landscape level). Highintensity fires occasionally occurred within small groups of trees (stand level) and

accounted for as much as 10 percent, per fire event, of the dry forest landscape.3

The stand structures described in our study did not provide the opportunity for large,

landscape-level stand replacement crown fires.

Additional evidence for maintaining steady snag recruitment can be found by examining critical stand characteristics that promote or maintain crown fire activity.

These conditions include critical surface fire intensity (which incorporates crown

base height and foliar moisture content) and critical crown bulk density, which is

0.1 kilogram •meter-3 •hectare (0.002 lb • ft-3 •acre-1) if high potential rates of spread

as measured elsewhere are assumed (see footnote 3). Crown bulk densities for

forest landscapes with 18.4 square meters per hectare (80 ft2

/acre) basal area and

tree size class distribution curves favoring the larger sizes (q-factors of 1.1 and 1.2)

were 0.03 kilogram •meter-3•hectare-1 D (0.0006 lb •ft-3•acre -1) and 0.04 kilogram

•meter-3•hectare-1D (0.0008 lb •ft-3•acre-1 ), respectively. Surface fire intensity also

was likely quite low (because of fire frequency), so again, snag recruitment and

density would have been relatively stable within the forest landscape described, as

compared to fluctuations associated with stand replacing fires.

Avery and others (1976) measured 14.24 square meters per hectare (62.04 ft2

/acre)

of basal area on 16 plots in Arizona in 1920. Agee (1993) provides a discussion of

studies that have investigated stand structures in Arizona and the Pacific Northwest

and describes their similarities. Furthermore, Avery and others (1976) is the only

published document providing specific data before the onset of fire suppression.

Sloan (see footnote 2) suggests that basal area was likely less than 23 square

meters per hectare (100 ft2

/acre) in dry forests in the Boise basin, central Idaho.

An unpublished report4 suggests that historical basal area in dry forests on the east

slope of the Cascades was 21 square meters per hectare (90 ft2/acre) or less. Our

selection of a basal area range between 13.8 and 18.4 square meters per hectare

(60 and 80 ft2

/acre) to determine historical snag recruitment and density is

representative of the available information.

Historical Landscape

Structure

3 Agee, James K. Report to the fire restoration team.

Wenatchee, WA: Wenatchee Forestry Sciences Laboratory.

25 p. Unpublished report. On file with: Wenatchee National

Forest, Leavenworth Ranger Station, 600 Sherbourne,

Leavenworth, WA 98826.

4 Hadfield, Jim. Report to the fire restoration team.

Wenatchee, WA: Wenatchee Forestry Sciences Laboratory.

15 p. Unpublished report. On file with: Wenatchee National

Forest, Leavenworth Ranger Station, 600 Sherbourne,

Leavenworth, WA 98826.

11
Snag Recruitment Efficient fire suppression over the past 60 years has changed the structure and composition of dry forest landscapes (Agee 1994; Franklin and Dyrness 1973; Hall 1976,

1980, 1984; Johnson 1994; Marsden 1983; Mutch and others 1993; Wickman 1992).

As a result, a system that historically operated under a low-severity fire regime has

been converted to a moderate-to-high fire regime (Agee 1994). Snag recruitment in

the landscape we have modeled was relatively stable because of the disturbance regime. Current dry forest conditions are conducive, however, to large-scale wildfires.

The Tyee and Rat Creek fires of 1994 in Chelan County, Washington, provide examples of altered fire behavior and resultant landscape patterns. High-severity crown

fires burned thousands of hectares thereby creating an abundance of snags. If postfire snags fall at the rates we have described, all snags will be down by the end of

the fourth decade postfire. The time required for a postfire ponderosa pine tree seedling (starting with a 9-centimeter [3.5 in] tree at time zero) to reach 50 centimeters

(20 in), based on the growth rates we measured, is estimated at 80 to 110 years if

tree densities are regulated. During that period, only small snags have the potential

to be recruited. Present-day dry forest ecosystems are recruiting snags episodically

at a broad scale as compared to the systems we have described.

Fall down rates are a critical aspect of determining snag densities. Raphael and

Morrison (1987) and Morrison and Raphael (1993) suggest that models of snag dynamics include species and condition of trees becoming snags, as well as causal

agents of mortality. Measuring snag fall down rates requires observations made for

a variety of diameter size classes over a long period. Studies concerning ponderosa

pine have extended only up to 15 years (see Bull 1983, Keen 1929, Schmid and

others 1985). Keen (1955) provides data over 30 years but all diameter size classes

were lumped together after 17 years. Dahms (1949) provides fall down rates for 22

years after a fire, but estimated the first 10 years. His estimates assume that the fire

was the causal agent of death, although actual time of death during that 10 years is

unknown. Dahms’ data, therefore, are likely biased toward longer retention rates

because of time of death rather than because of fire increasing snag longevity. In

addition, Keen (1955) points out that Dahms’ measurements of fire-killed snags were

made on pumice soils and were similar to his measurements of beetle-killed trees on

pumice soils, thereby suggesting that soil conditions are more important than cause

of death. There seems, however, to be disagreement in the literature regarding longevity of dead trees created by various killing agents. We were purposely “generous”

in choosing 45 years as the point when all snags have fallen, recognizing that a few

individuals within a population of snags may last longer. Some recent data collected

in the Leavenworth Ranger District, Wenatchee National Forest, suggest that some

snags may last up to about 80 years.5 The rate of snag fall down at the tail end of

the curve, as measured by Keen (1955), was about 3 percent per year. At this rate,

100 percent fall down likely would be realized by year 22. Keen (1929) states that it

is unlikely that many snags pass the 25-year mark, but some of the largest snags

5 Personal communication. 1994. Dick Schellhaas, research

forester, Wenatchee Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 1133

Western Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801

12
might last as long as 50 years (Keen 1955). Bull also points out that most large snags

do not last beyond 20 years.6 Our sensitivity analysis suggests that increasing or

decreasing the point in time when 100 percent of snags fall has little effect on the

overall outcome of snag density estimates. In addition, site-specific data could be

substituted for our fall down rates to provide snag density estimates for any given

dry, east-side area.

Applications to

Ecosystem Management

The Northwest Forest Plan (USDA and USDI 1994) provides a strategy for restoring

and maintaining the ecological health of watersheds through management activities.

This document states that “the baseline from which to assess maintaining or restoring

the [ecosystem] condition is developed through a watershed analysis,” and that “improvement relates to restoring biological and physical processes within their ranges

of natural variability” (USDA and USDI 1994: B-10). Natural variability refers to the

composition, structure, and dynamics of ecosystems prior to European settlement

(Morgan and others 1994, Swanson and others 1994) and serves as a historical

baseline for comparison of existing ecosystem conditions at the watershed scale. This

baseline condition can be used to establish management plan goals and objectives

where sustainability of ecosystem structures and processes is desired (USDA 1995a).

The maintenance of some structures, such as snags, is a key component of many

management plans currently being developed by Federal agencies. The range of

historical snag densities we have described for dry, east-side forests can be used to

develop sustainable management approaches for down log densities for long-term

site productivity, fuel levels, and the number of legacies to be retained in harvest

units and to manage snags for primary cavity excavators and other wildlife species.

Our model can be modified easily to accommodate site-specific snag fall rates. We

feel our method provides the best estimate currently available of the historical variability for snags on the east side of the Cascade Range. We recognize, however, that

these estimates will be refined as better data become available. Our results provide

a starting point for estimating historical snag structures, a reference important to implementing ecosystem management.

As described elsewhere (Agee 1994; Franklin and Dyrness 1973; Hall 1976, 1980,

1984; Johnson and others 1994; Marsden 1983; Mutch and others 1993; Wickman

1992), the disturbance regime within dry forests has been altered as a result of fire

exclusion and other management activities. This has dramatic implications for availability of snags across the landscape. Currently, projects are being implemented to

restore the structure of dry forests to conditions allowing for inherent disturbance

regimes. There is, however, a paucity of information on historical snag levels to guide

these restoration efforts. Thus, the importance and timeliness of our method. As

stated by Swanson and others (1994), many of today’s contentious issues in natural

resource management of Federal lands arise, in part, from actions causing deviation

from “natural” ecological conditions. In this paper, we have attempted to describe a

method for determining the range of ecological conditions for snags in dry forests

that will help guide restoration actions and, possibly, avoid some pitfalls of the past.

6 Personal communication. 1994. Evelyn Bull, research

wildlife biologist, La Grande Forest and Range Research

Station, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, OR 97850.

13
Acknowledgments We thank Peter Ryan, Lauri Malmquist, Susan Piper, Dave Brown, and Harry Lester

for technical assistance. James Agee, Evelyn Bull, John Lehmkuhl, Bill Noble, and

two anonymous reviewers provided constructive reviews of the manuscript. Figure 5

was produced by Dan O’Connor.

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Agriculture is dedicated to the principle of multiple

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Pacific Northwest Research Station

333 S.W. First Avenue

P.O. Box 3890

Portland, Oregon 97208-3890

Harrod, Richy J.; Gaines, William L.; Hartl, William E.; Camp, Ann. 1998.

Estimating historical snag density in dry forests east of the the Cascade Range.

Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-428. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Forest Service, Pacfic Northwest Research Station. 16 p.

Estimating snag densities in pre-European settlement landscapes (i.e., historical conditions) provides land managers with baseline information for comparing current snag

densities. We propose a method for determining historical snag densities in the dry

forests east of the Cascade Range. Basal area increase was calculated from tree ring

measurements of old ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) trees. Historical stand structure was assumed to be open and parklike, with low densities favoring

larger diameter trees, and it was considered relatively stable at the landscape level.

Snag density (S) was calculated by holding forest stand structure relatively constant

(basal area range 13.8 to 18.4 square meters per hectare [60 to 80 ft2

/acre] and diameter size class distributions with q-factors of 1.1 or 1.2), assuming snag recruitment

could be no greater than annual basal area increase, and estimating that all snags fall

by 45 years; S = (a)*(1 + Σri), where a is annual recruitment and Σri is a sum of the

ratios of snags remaining from previous recruitment years (i). If eight representative snag sizes are selected, snag density in historical landscapes ranged from 14.5

to 34.6 snags per hectare (5.9 to 14.1 snags per acre).

Keywords: Snag density, ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, snag recruitment,

historical forest structure.
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Pacific Northwest Research Station

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P.O. Box 3890

Portland, OR 97208

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