Monitoring
Forest Inventory
Forest inventory is an estimate of the number, size, and species of trees on both HRC and MRC forestlands as well as forest habitat condition, and acreage of high conservation value areas. Inventory foresters collect the following information:
- tree diameters,
- tree heights,
- unique tree characteristics (e.g. old growth, snags, nests), and
- number and size of downed logs
Table 1. Total inventory of trees and harvest level on HRC forestlands by year.
| Year |
Harvest (million board feet) |
Estimated inventory (million board feet) |
| 2008 |
53.2 |
3,870 |
* This includes all harvest for the year, including harvest completed by the previous landowner.
Table 2. Total inventory of trees and harvest level on MRC forestlands by year.
| Year |
Harvest (million board feet) |
Estimated inventory (million board feet) |
| 1998 |
35.8 |
2,142 |
| 1999 |
38.9 |
2,187 |
| 2000 |
36.8 |
2,237 |
| 2001 |
31.6 |
2,294 |
| 2002 |
26.1 |
2,358 |
| 2003 |
28.9 |
2,416 |
| 2004 |
30.5 |
2,553 |
| 2005 |
33.1 |
2,608 |
| 2006 |
37.1 |
2,676 |
| 2007 |
36.0 |
2,727 |
| 2008 |
38.4 |
2,815 |
Inventory foresters also track forest habitat types. Table 3 shows acreages in each of five habitat types (hardwoods; small mixed hardwoods/conifers; medium to large mixed hardwoods/conifers; small conifers; and medium to large conifers) on both forestlands. Note – this table does not include acres considered to be non-forested.
Table 3. Acreage in five habitat types on HRC and MRC forestlands, 2008.
| Structure class |
Average tree size |
HRC |
MRC |
| Medium to large conifers |
> 16” dbh |
90,884 |
66,156 |
| Medium to large mixed hardwoods/conifers |
> 16" dbh |
15,101 |
88,502 |
| Small conifers |
< 16" dbh |
62,463 |
60,122 |
| Small mixed hardwoods/conifers |
< 16" dbh |
14,774 |
4,866 |
| Hardwoods |
All |
15,893 |
5,579 |
High conservation value areas are areas with unique qualities or which provide habitat for sensitive species. These areas are mapped by region for both HRC and MRC in the maps section.
Table 4. Acreages of high conservation value areas on MRC forestlands, 2008.
| Area type |
Acreage |
% of land |
Description |
| Type I old growth |
105 |
< 1% |
Unharvested old growth stands, generally larger than 20 acres. |
| Type II old growth |
620 |
<1% |
Previously harvested old growth stands at least 3 acres in size. |
| Pygmy forest |
162 |
< 1% |
Forests of generally dwarfed conifers which exist near the Pacific coastline containing many rare plants. |
| Bishop Pine |
373 |
< 1% |
Forests of Bishop pine, generally existing near true pygmy forests. |
| Oak woodland |
1,270 |
<1% |
Forests of true oaks and Douglas-fir, interspersed with grasslands. |
| Rocky outcrop |
78 |
<1% |
Outcroppings of rock that provide habitat for peregrine falcons and other rare species. |
| Class I WLPZ |
15,305 |
7% |
Watercourse buffers for large fish-bearing streams and rivers |
| Large Class II WLPZ |
6,206 |
3% |
Watercourse buffers for streams carrying non-fish aquatic life |
| Small Class II WLPZ |
6,340 |
3% |
Watercourse buffers for streams carrying aquatic life with < 100 acre watershed |
| Northern spotted owl core areas |
6,794 |
7% |
Protective buffers for northern spotted owl activity centers. |
| Marbled murrelet zone in Lower Alder Creek |
1,270 |
<1% |
Area managed specifically for retention of current murrelets as well as acceleration of growth of habitat in adjacent areas. |
| Conservation easements |
751 |
<1% |
Easements on our forestlands to maintain specific values. |
| Carbon sequestration |
341 |
<1% |
Forest units managed for the retention of and increase of carbon storage. |
| Visual |
4,015 |
<1% |
Management in these areas prioritizes aesthetic values. |
Table 5. Acreages of high conservation value areas on HRC forestlands, 2008.
| Area type |
Acreage |
% of land |
Description |
| Type I old growth |
2,200* |
1% |
Unharvested old growth stands, generally larger than 20 acres. |
| Type II old growth |
2,500* |
1% |
Previously harvested old growth stands at least 3 acres in size. |
| Oregon white oak woodland |
147 |
< 1% |
Forests of true oak, sometimes with Douglas-fir, interspersed and/or underlain by grasslands |
| Prairies |
5,242 |
2.5% |
Grasslands |
| Oak woodland |
1,270 |
<1% |
Forests of true oaks and Douglas-fir, interspersed with grasslands. |
| Rocky outcrop |
Not available – mapped as points |
<1% |
Outcroppings of rock that provide habitat for peregrine falcons and other rare species. |
| Class I RMZ |
14,931 |
7% |
Watercourse buffers for large fish-bearing streams and rivers |
| Class II RMZ |
20,899 |
10% |
Watercourse buffers for streams carrying non-fish aquatic life |
| Northern spotted habitat retention areas |
6,666 |
3% |
Areas of retained habitat for northern spotted owl nest trees and/or activity centers. |
| Marbled murrelet Conservation Areas (MMCAs) |
6,539 |
3% |
Areas set aside for the protection of old growth redwood stands occupied by marbled murrelets; includes second-growth or residual old growth stands as buffers and as areas to be managed for accelerated transition to old-growth-like conditions |
| State park buffers |
503 |
<1% |
A buffer for old growth redwood stands in state parks that border HRC lands |
| Conservation easements |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Carbon sequestration |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Visual |
Not available |
Not available |
View sheds along state highways 101 and 36, and along the Kneeland and Greenwood Heights roads are taken into account during harvest layout, but are not currently mapped in GIS to enable calculation of acres |