Evaluation of landscape alternatives for managing oak at Tenalquot Prairie, Washington
By: Peter J. Gould and Constance A. Harrington.
Contributors: Harrington, Constance A.; Pacific Northwest Research Station (Portland, Or.)
Series: General technical report PNW -- GTR-745; General technical report PNW -- 745.
Publisher: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Portland, OR
Language: eng
Number of pages: 45
Subjects: Oregon oak -- Conservation -- Washington (State) -- Tenalquot Prairie; Restoration ecology -- Washington (State) -- Tenalquot Prairie; Prairie conservation -- Washington (State) -- Tenalquot Prairie; Forest landscape management -- Washington (State) -- Tenalquot Prairie
Description: In recent years, interest has increased in restoring Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana Dougl. ex Hook.) and prairie landscapes in the Pacific Northwest, especially where elements of historical plant communities are intact. We evaluated the effect of alternative management scenarios on the extent and condition of Oregon white oak, the extent of prairie, and the harvest and standing volumes of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) within a 2934-ha portion of Fort Lewis, Washington (named the Tenalquot Planning Area for the purpose of the project). A landscape-level analysis of the scenarios was completed using a geographic information system, a forest growth model (ORGANON), and landscape visualization software (EnVision). The scenarios ranged from no active management to restoration of the historical extent of oak and prairies within the planning area. The results indicate that the window of opportunity for restoring oak and prairie landscapes in the Puget Sound lowlands and other regions is small, and aggressive management is needed to maintain or enhance these landscapes. The project demonstrates the value of landscape-level analyses and the use of new technologies for conveying the results of alternative management scenarios.
Notes: Cover title.

"April 2008."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 38-40).

Also available on the World Wide Web.