My comments are restricted to questions about the planned brushing and site
preparation treatments to enable the growth of planted seedlings.
Fill planting or cluster planting into an established plant association
will be a challenge. As stated in the project plan, there may be a need for
brushing treatments to facilitate the survival and growth of planted seedlings.
Please consider the following questions:
Is there a need for browse protection?
Deer and rodents can easily damage and kill unprotected seedlings.
Are there raised micro-sites (mounds) that would be beneficial to the
growth of planted seedlings?
Have you considered the use of brush blankets that may provide longer
term benefits in extremely brushy, open sky conditions such as grass dominated
openings?
Have you considered planting native deciduous trees (other than black
cottonwood) such as bigleaf maple, alder and birch in order to maintain
a broadleaf stand component?
Alder along riparian ecosystems may provide benefit to aquatic ecology
and stream bank stability. Even though alder is not long lived it may help
mitigate the absence of large conifers and may act as a nurse crop. Have
you considered cluster planting under alder without felling? Or, partial
girdling treatments that may reduce alder canopy leaf area without complete
alder removal?
Have you considered the influence of slope azimuth on planting-site selection?
The amount of light available to a planted seedling during the growing
season may change dependent upon its slope position and view of the sun
(north versus south facing slopes).
Comment 1
My comments are restricted to questions about the planned brushing and site preparation treatments to enable the growth of planted seedlings.
Fill planting or cluster planting into an established plant association will be a challenge. As stated in the project plan, there may be a need for brushing treatments to facilitate the survival and growth of planted seedlings. Please consider the following questions:
George Harper P.Ag., R.P.F., 8 June 09