State 1
Reference State

Figure 2. Reference PC (Restoration), GF/Pinegrass Shelterwood cut with prescribed burn

Figure 3. GF / Elk Sedge Shelterwood cut and prescribed burn

Mature open stands of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir with swards of pinegrass with elk sedge were common before increased fire protection. Frequent low intensity ground fires kept tree regeneration scattered and increased pine grass and elk sedge cover. With longer intervals between fires grand fir and Douglas-fir regeneration will become more prevalent in the overstory and shrubs will increase. Grand fir will develop into a second canopy level creating ladder fuels leading to a potential stand replacing fire. Ponderosa pine will be the major tree regenerating after severe fires with Douglas-fir and some grand fir filling in later. Western larch can be present in some of the mature stands in the elk sedge sites and snowberry sites. Lodgepole pine can sometimes be found in pockets. Dwarf mistletoe can present on Douglas-fir and some root and bole rots can found on all the tree species, but not extreme. Major insects that can cause mortality are the fir engraver and western spruce budworm The Douglas-fir tussock moth can also cause concern. Overstocked late seral stands with increased grand fir developing from prolonged fire intervals enhance beetle, budworm and tussock moth attack. The western pine beetle and the mountain pine beetle can cause mortality in ponderosa pine. Dwarf mistletoe is a major concern in western larch causing major growth loss and mortality. It will also be found on Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and lodgepole pine. Dwarf mistletoe was found in over 40 percent of the acreages in the Eastern Cascades where Douglas fir was a major stand component. Again, dense stands underneath infected trees from prolonged fire intervals causes mistletoe to spread easier. Fuel loads and ladder fuels increase fire intensity as a result. Other diseases include Annosum, laminated, and Armillaria root rots. Armillaria can be present in close to 80 percent of the sites with grand fir. Indian paint fungus can be found on sites with increased grand fir stocking. These root rot diseases are enhanced through soil compaction and root damage though selective logging and road building. The root rot diseases are less of a concern in productive grand fir sites and worse in drier sites.

Community 1.1
Reference Community

Open grown ponderosa pine with some Douglas-fir and dense swards of pinegrass and elk sedge in understory. Some Douglas-fir and grand fir regeneration may be present. A variety of shrubs are inconspicuous within the pinegrass or elk sedge stand. This phase perpetuated by frequent low intensity ground fires.

Resilience management. Community Phase Pathway 1.1A A reoccurring event every 10 to 15 years with frequent ground fires maintaining this plant community in an open stand condition.

Community 1.2
Stand Initiation (Replacement)

Regeneration of trees, shrubs, and grass after stand replacement fire. Ponderosa pine more abundant in tree regeneration than Doulas-fir or grand fir. Depending on fire intensity pinegrass can quickly reestablish and spread. Fire damage to soil may lead to ceanothus abundance.

Community 1.3
Stem Exclusion

Dense pole stands of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir mix compete for resources and some mortality starts to occur. Understory vegetation will be sparse.

Community 1.4
Understory Re-initiation

Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir pole stands mature through time and competition. Canopy gaps allow understory vegetation to increase including Douglas-fir and grand fir regeneration.

Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.4

Lack of ground fires allow Douglas-fir and grand fir regeneration to grow into overstory. Shrub coverage increases. Periodic mixed severity fires open up a patchy mosaic of open stands.

Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Time with reoccurring sporadic ground fires opening up pole stands creating open stand conditions.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.3

Long intervals without fire will allow tree regeneration to grow into dense pole stands. These pole stands may occur as a mosaic on the site depending on tree regeneration competing with pinegrass and shrubs.

Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.2

Dense pole stands killed by fire reverting back to stand initiation phase.

Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.4

Canopy gaps occur due to stand competition and mortality. Shrubs and grass increase along with tree regeneration. Douglas-fir and grand fir are the major regeneration tree species.

Pathway 1.4A
Community 1.4 to 1.1

Time with sporadic mixed severity fires create a mosaic of open stands.

Pathway 1.4B
Community 1.4 to 1.2

Stand replacing fire due to ladder fuels back to grass/shrub phase.

State 2
Fire Exclusion

Community 2.1
Fire Exclusion

Figure 4. Fire exclusion. Grand fir and Douglas-fir ladder fuels between old ponderosa pine.

Figure 5. Fire exclusion. Grand fir disease and insect mortality.

Main overstory is large ponderosa pine and some Douglas-fir with a second canopy layer of a grand fir and Douglas-fir mix. Mix of shrubs and grass along with more grand fir and Douglas-fir regeneration. In drought years grand fir and Douglas-fir susceptible to defoliators and bark beetle mortality.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Prolonged fire exclusion allows the grand fir regeneration to grow into a second level canopy layer creating ladder fuels for a potential stand replacing fire.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Selective overstory and second canopy level removal followed by prescribed fire to open up stand.