End of the World Marking Guide

End of the World Marking Guide
Casey Seaman, South Zone Silviculturist

Intermediate Treatment Options
Grand fir dominated stand marking example
Primarily mixed conifer stands dominated by GF with PP, WL, DF, and LP present. Thin from below across the stand leaving gaps, openings, and clumps to create mosaic patterns and maintain desirable species. Retain an average of 60-80 sq ft. of basal area (or roughly 60-110 TPA based on an assumed 12 in DBH average) across the harvest unit.
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Species preference is PP=WL>WP>DF>ES>GF>LP>SAF.
Leave largest, healthiest and most well-formed trees available. Where no PP or WL is available, leave the healthiest and most well-formed trees available (This varies from leaving the largest trees available, we want to prioritize health and vigor and species preference over tree size. Leaving large, healthy trees is preferred, but when necessary smaller trees of better health and species preference is preferred), utilizing the species preference list. Example: a 25” grand fir can be cut and a 4” ponderosa can be left. Leave gaps and clumps creating mosaic. Gaps can result in some areas (up to 5 ac in size) with less than 60 TPA. These openings can make up approximately 30% of the stand. Trees selected for retention should be healthy and have good vigor, free of forks or sweeps. No visible conks or frass from bark beetles. Tree crowns should be green with a crown ratio greater than 25%.
In root rot pockets and brushy openings, daylight the PP/WL and remove the diseased/dead trees. Where root disease is obvious, remove all trees within the root disease pocket to reduce advancing spread.
Leave legacy trees in commercial thin units. These trees appear in clumps or as single trees. The legacy trees will be left as future snag habitat. Where older, larger trees from the previous disturbance exist (i.e. Legacy Trees - defined as trees remaining from the previous stand disturbance, typically several size classes larger than the current stand and may have stem or butt rot), leave 2-5 per acre for wildlife purposes, future course woody debris and for stand structure where possible. These leave trees may be counted as part of the overall TPA, but they are not left for crop tree or seed tree purposes.
Pacific yew is to be retained in all units whenever feasible. Maintain a minimum of 50% of live yew in any given stand in patches of 1/4 – 1/2 acer in size. Ideally, place clumps or retain buffer