Montane Warm Dry Coniferous Seeley, Swan, Flathead and Tobacco Valleys
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Introduced grasses and/or weedy species dominate the understory with overstory of Ponderosa pine.
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Transition T1B
Fire exclusion over long periods allowing stands to grow into homogenous, dense, multi-storied stands.
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Transition T1C
Forest stands converted to cropland or pastureland by cutting trees down and planting introduced grasses
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Transition T1D
Housing and road development within Ponderosa pine forest that reduces forest patch size, increases edge and decreases interior acreage of intact forest and ecological services
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Restoration pathway R2A
Range management practices to convert introduced grass and/or weedy species dominated understory to native perennial bunchgrasses.
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Restoration pathway R3A
Forest stand structure, composition and historical fire regime restored by overstory thinning, ground and ladder fuels reduction, and prescribed fire.
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Restoration pathway R4A
Overstory restoration through forestry management practices of afforestation through planting of native trees and range management practices of seeding of native grasses, forbs, and shrubs and treatment of invasive plants and Time
More details -
Restoration pathway R5A
Potentially not feasible; removal of housing and road development and restoration for Ponderosa pine overstory and perennial native bunchgrass understory.
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
Ponderosa Pine/common snowberry/Idaho fescue-Rough fescue
Pinus ponderosa/Symphoricarpos albus/Festuca idahoensis-Festuca campestris
Structure: Multistory with small gap dynamics
Submodel
States 1 and 5 (additional transitions)
1.1. Reference Plant Community Ponderosa pine/common snowberry/rough fescue-Idaho fescue/twin arnica-yarrow
1.5. Vertical Differentiation Ponderosa pine/common snowberry/rough fescue-Idaho fescue/twin arnica-yarrow
Description
Alternative State 2. Introduced and Weedy Understory State
2.1 Ponderosa pine overstory with introduced grasses and/or weedy species dominated understory.
Submodel
Description
This State has been shaped by fire exclusion in which the forest structure and fuel loading has been dramatically increased due to a dramatic reduction or elimination of fire from the ecological site. Tree density and fuel loading have reached a point in which fire if it did occur would be of very high severity. The suppression of fire has allowed Douglas fir to establish and share the limited site resources with ponderosa pine. Therefore, an increase of fuel accumulation attributable to the thickets of Douglas fir trees and its dense, continuous fuels. As well, in the absence of frequent fire, ponderosa pine is not able to regenerate well and is very susceptible to crown fires due to understory ladder fuels (Gautreaux, Russ. 1999). There is an increased susceptibility of these dense multi-storied Douglas fir and ponderosa pine stands to western spruce budworm which results in severe defoliation and mortality. Douglas fir is also a major host for root disease, especially Armillaria, and dwarf mistletoe. These diseases and pathogens will increase fire hazard on-site. Additionally, other factors have changed forest structure including years of hygrading (harvesting largest best trees on site), overgrazing, prevalence of many roads which create fire breaks, and tree plantations. Dense multi-layered forests of ponderosa pine now exist and is homogenous on the landscape. Intensive forest management practices can reduce the risk of severe fire.
Submodel
Description
Alternative State 4 (Cropland or Pastureland)
4.1 Community
Tame grasses used for crop or pasture. Forest converted to crop or pastureland.
Submodel
Mechanism
T1A – Introduction, establishment and dominance of introduced grasses/weedy species into the understory of native, cool season, perennial bunchgrass understory
Introduced grasses and/or weedy species dominate the understory with overstory of Ponderosa pine. This occurs with the introduction of these introduced/weedy species (through human or livestock use, proximity to development or other means), establishment and dominance of the native perennial bunchgrass community.
Mechanism
T1B - Fire exclusion over long periods allowing stands to grow into homogenous multi-storied stands
Fire exclusion over long periods allowing stands to grow into homogenous, dense, multi-storied stands. This dense forest structure can increase fuel loads of ladder fuels in live trees, standing dead trees and woody and herbaceous litter on the ground. This increase in fuel loading and dense forest structure can change fire severity once fire occurs. In transitional areas close to Douglas fir forests, there may be thickets of Douglas fir occurring in ponderosa pine stands.
Mechanism
T1C – Forest stands converted to cropland or pastureland
Forest stands converted to cropland or pastureland by cutting trees down and planting introduced grasses
Mechanism
T1D – Forest stands converted to housing and road development causing increased forest gaps and less intact interior forest areas
Housing and road development within Ponderosa pine forest that reduces forest patch size, increases edge and decreases interior acreage of intact forest and ecological services
Mechanism
R2A – Forest management practices to convert introduced grass/weedy understory back to native, cool season, perennial bunchgrass understory
Various management practices can be employed to convert non-native understory to native, perennial bunchgrass understory including application of herbicides, mowing, and planting of native perennial bunchgrasses.
Range management practices to convert introduced grass and/or weedy species dominated understory to native perennial bunchgrasses. This may not be feasible if the native plant composition is less than 10 percent and may be economically infeasible. As well, feasibility is dependent on the type of weed species and amount i.e. extreme cheatgrass or smooth brome coverage may be impossible to restore; soil condition and ability to restore must be taken into account.
Mechanism
R3A – Forest stands restored by overstory thinning, ground and ladder fuels reduction, prescribed fire and seeding of native grasses and forbs.
Forest stand structure, composition and historical fire regime restored by overstory thinning, ground and ladder fuels reduction, and prescribed fire. This may be economically infeasible, and is completely dependent on site conditions and will require numerous entries into a forest stand.
Mechanism
R4A – Afforestation through planting of native trees /shrubs and seeding of native grasses and forbs, treatment of invasive plants and Time.
Overstory restoration through forestry management practices of afforestation through planting of native trees and range management practices of seeding of native grasses, forbs, and shrubs and treatment of invasive plants and Time. This restoration may not be feasible and is dependent on: soil condition and feasibility of restoration with amendments and other practices, amount and type of introduced grasses and weed species on site and feasibility of restoration, and economic feasibility.
Mechanism
R5A – Removal of houses and road with restoration of areas with afforestation through planting of native trees /shrubs and seeding of native grasses and forbs, treatment of invasive plants and Time. This pathway is site dependent and may not be feasible in all situations and may be cost prohibited.
Potentially not feasible; removal of housing and road development and restoration for Ponderosa pine overstory and perennial native bunchgrass understory. This is probably the least feasible restoration pathway for this ecological site due to lack of public support to curb private home building and desire to restore developed areas back to forest. The feasibility of restoration depends on size of development i.e. if there is one house on 10 acres with only one dirt road, this may be restored with removal of structures, forestry management practices for the overstory and range management practices for the understory whereas more developed areas will not be feasible to restore.
Model keys
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