State 1
Reference State

Community 1.1
Douglas-fir - western hemlock / tall shrubs - low evergreen shrubs / forbs

Growth from community phase 1. 4 and 1.5 are the dominant pathways producing this condition. Moderate to low severity fire and background mortality (insects, pathogens, wind, etc.) processes also serve to maintain a heterogeneous horizontal and vertical range of compositional and live and dead structural conditions, with multi-layered forest intermixed with gaps of various sizes. Small to giant snags are present, as well as down wood (Mellen-McLean et al. 2017). Dominant and co-dominant large and giant Douglas-fir, with large western hemlock are indicators of reference condition. Small to large western hemlock and Douglas-fir can be found in the mid canopy, depending on fire history and gap dynamics. Other trees, such as coniferous small to large western redcedar, sapling to small Pacific silver fir, and evergreen hardwoods, such as giant chinquapin can be found as well. Shade tolerant western hemlock, western redcedar, Pacific yew and Pacific silver fir, as well as giant chinquapin can regenerate after moderate to low severity fire. Shade intolerant Douglas-fir may regenerate in large gaps, and after moderate severity fire (Tepley et al. 2013). A diverse understory is found in this condition. Vine maple, Pacific rhododendron, and Alaska blueberry are the most common tall shrubs, averaging around 35% cover (10-50%). Low shrubs, dominated by Cascade barberry are found in low to moderate cover, averaging around 20% (averages ranging 10-50%) Low to high cover of a diverse mix of herbs are present, averaging approximately 40% cover (10-65%). Sweet after death, Columbian windflower, bride’s bonnet, bunchberry dogwood, western rattlesnake plantain, twinflower, starry false lily of the valley, western swordfern, and threeleaf foamflower are often found in different combinations in the zone. At the dry, cool end of this type common beargrass and whiteveined wintergreen can be found (McCain and Diaz 2002). CP1.1 Reference Community. Douglas-fir - western hemlock / tall shrubs - low evergreen shrubs / forbs Large/Giant, multi-layered, moderate-closed canopy, scattered diverse sized gaps, regenerating shade tolerant and intolerant tree species Age class: >100 years

Community 1.2
Early seral Douglas-fir / tall shrubs - low shrubs / forbs

This community phase is a post-disturbance, early seral condition, resulting from high severity fire or regeneration harvest. Open canopy conditions, with or without legacy structure and tree regeneration characterize this phase. Douglas-fir may exist as scattered live legacy overstory. Post-fire conditions may consist of high densities of small to giant snags, resulting in diverse cover of down wood ((Mellen-McLean et al. 2017). Seedlings of various coniferous species may be present, with Douglas-fir likely dominating. Early seral trees, such as bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata (Douglas ex Hook.) D. Dietr.)) may be present (Oakley and Franklin 1998.). Sprouting tall shrubs, such as Pacific rhododendron, Alaska blueberry, vine maple and red huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium Sm.) persist from pre-disturbance conditions (Schoonmaker and McKee 1998, Brown et al. 2013, Dunn 2015). Evergreen low shrubs, such as Cascade barberry, and salal and deciduous California blackberry (Rubus ursinus Cham. & Schltdl) may greatly increase in cover to dominate the ground layer. Early seral shrubs may include thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus Nutt.), redstem ceanothus (Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh), snowbrush ceanothus (Ceanothus velutinus Douglas ex Hook) and willow species (Salix L.) (Halpern 1988, Brown et al. 2013). Snowbrush ceanothus can dominate the surface layer, especially on south aspects, (Brown et al. 2013, Dunn 2015), potentially affecting seedling establishment (McCain and Diaz 2002). Non-native shrubs such as Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link) may be present in low to moderate cover (McCain and Diaz 2002). Many late seral herb species recover and persist. Early seral native species such as western pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea (L.) Benth), fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub) and Canadian horseweed (Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist) may be ephemeral dominants (Schoonmaker and McKee 1998; Halpern 1989). Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten) and slender false brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) P. Beauv.), non-native herbs, may dominate the understory if seed source is present. On cooler, drier sites common beargrass may increase in cover to dominate the understory (McCain and Diaz 2002). CP1.2 Douglas-fir / tall shrubs - low shrubs / forbs Grass, forbs, seedings, single layered, open canopy Age class: 1-15

Community 1.3
Mid-seral Douglas-fir / tall shrubs - low shrubs / forbs

This mid-seral phase is the result of growth from CP 1.2. Large to giant decayed snags from previous disturbances may persist, although low levels of small snags may be more common. Down wood is variable, with high levels possible in post-fire generated conditions (Mellen-McLean et al. 2017). The live canopy has simple structure, dominated by sapling to pole sized trees, with some stands displaying some large to giant pre-disturbance legacy trees. Douglas-fir likely dominates, with scattered western redcedar, western hemlock, Pacific yew, Pacific silver fir and giant chinquapin present to varying degrees dependent on site conditions. Tree canopy cover is moderate to high. Shrub cover can be variable, depending on the residual sprouting shrubs (e.g. vine maple, Pacific rhododendron) and the degree of snowbrush ceanothus recruitment. This results in minimal to no tree regeneration. Tall shrubs (Pacific rhododendron, Alaska blueberry, vine maple and red huckleberry, thimbleberry, redstem ceanothus, snowbrush ceanothus) and low shrubs (Cascade barberry, salal, California blackberry) may be found Non-native scotch broom may be present in lower cover stands. Native herbs such will persist, and non-native bull thistle and slender false brome may continue to inhabit this phase (Schoonmaker and McKee 1998; Halpern 1989) CP1.3 Douglas-fir / tall shrubs - low shrubs / forbs Sapling/pole-sized, single layered, moderate-closed canopy Age class:15-50

Community 1.4
Small to medium sized Douglas-fir / tall shrubs - low shrubs / forbs

Growth from CP1.3 produces this community phase. Large and giant snags and down wood from previous disturbances are likely present but declining in abundance due to decay and fragmentation. Smaller snags are being created from background mortality due to competition, insects, and pathogens (Mellen-McLean et al. 2017). Forest structure is still simple and largely single layered, although some multi-layered development may be beginning to be expressed in scattered openings and in stands with legacy live trees. Canopy cover is generally high and dominated by small to medium sized Douglas-fir. Some legacy large and giant trees may be present in some cases. Scattered western hemlock, western redcedar, Pacific yew, Pacific silver fir and giant chinquapin may be present as well. Regeneration is minimal to none. Tall shrubs (Pacific rhododendron, Alaska blueberry, vine maple and red huckleberry) are present, with variable cover. Low shrubs, such as Cascade barberry may be found in pockets and gaps and scattered within the stand. Herbs are varied depending on understory light levels. Under very low light levels western swordfern may be the only understory species present. CP1.4 Douglas-fir / tall shrubs - low shrubs / forbs Small/Med, single layered, closed canopy Age class: 51-100

Community 1.5
Moderately thinned Douglas-fir - western hemlock / tall shrubs - low shrubs / forbs

This phase is the result of moderate severity fire or moderate thinning of CP 1.4. Small to medium sized Douglas-fir dominate the overstory canopy layer. Large and giant snags and down wood from previous disturbances are likely present but declining in abundance due to decay and fragmentation. Small and medium snags in varying densities may result from fire and may lead to later recruitment of down wood. (Mellen-McLean et al. 2017). A range of shade tolerant (western hemlock, western redcedar, Pacific yew, Pacific silver fir) and shade intolerant (Douglas-fir, giant chinquapin) trees may be present, depending on the severity and size of the disturbance (Tepley et al. 2013). Regeneration may also include shade tolerant and intolerant species. Shrub species are varied, with tall shrubs such as Pacific rhododendron, Alaska blueberry, and vine maple and low shrubs such as Cascade barberry persisting due to sprouting adaptation. Native and non-native herbs are present, dependent on seed source and disturbance severity. CP1.5 Douglas-fir - western hemlock / tall shrubs - low shrubs / forbs Small/Med, multi-layered, open to closed canopy, abundant diverse sized gaps, regenerating shade intolerant and tolerant Age class: 51-150 years

Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Stand replacing fire is the most common pathway from this condition. Timber management, large scale wind or insects and pathogens may also return this to the early seral phase.

Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.3

Growth is the major process transitioning out of this early seral condition.

Pathway 1.3a
Community 1.3 to 1.4

Growth is the major process transitioning out of this phase. Pre-commercial thinning may also serve to change phases.

Pathway 1.4a
Community 1.4 to 1.1

Growth will serve to transition this phase into the reference condition.

Pathway 1.4c
Community 1.4 to 1.2

Regeneration harvest or stand replacing fire can return this phase back to early seral conditions.

Pathway 1.4b
Community 1.4 to 1.5

Management actions such as thinning can trigger a shift in phases. Mixed severity fire can also result in a transition to more diverse stand conditions.

Pathway 1.5a
Community 1.5 to 1.1

Growth will serve to transition this phase into the reference condition.

Pathway 1.5b
Community 1.5 to 1.2

Regeneration harvest or stand replacing fire can return this phase back to early seral conditions.