Stone Ditch Jack Pine (MN DNR)

Stand Information

Stone Ditch jack pine after establishment

State or Province:

Minnesota

Nearest city or town:

Littlefork

Describe the location:

Littlefork District, Littlefork Forestry Area, Koochiching State Forest

Landowner:

State - Trust

Cover-type:

Pine

MN ECS Native Plant Community System:

Fire Dependent

Forest Health Threats:

N/A

Estimated year of stand origin:

2012

Additional information about stand origin:

Stand harvested Fall 2011, hand seeded Spring 2012

Site Index:

feet

for species:

Jack Pine

Silviculture System:

Clearcut

Brief silvicultural objective:

To regenerate jack pine after clearcutting with reserve trees, at 800 trees per acre with 95% stocking of desirable trees, 75% stocking of jack pine that is free-to-grow.

Soils:

B58B—Wurtsmith-Meehan complex, 0 to 4 percent slopes. From the USDA soil survey: The Wurtsmith series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils formed in sandy outwash and lacustrine deposits on outwash plains, lake plains, beach ridges, dunes, and river terraces. Slope ranges from 0 to 12 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 660 mm (26 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 6.1 degrees C (43 degrees F). The Meehan series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in sandy alluvium on outwash plains, stream terraces, beach ridges, and glacial lake plains. Permeability is rapid or very rapid. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is high or very high. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 30 inches near the type location. Mean annual air temperature is about 42 degrees F.

Stand area:

9 acres

Treatment area:

9 acres

Overview

This stand was managed by clearcut with reserves. The goal of management is to have a fully stocked, even-aged stand of jack pine. Additional treatments were prescribed to ensure the jack pine component is adequate.

Silviculture Objective(s)

On DNR Forestry lands, jack pine seeding is checked several times for appropriate trees per acre and stocking. This stand will have standards checked at year 3, 6, and 10 after seeding in 2012. The regeneration is considered adequate if it meets the standard of 600-800 trees/acre, with 75% stocking in year 3. By year 10, 500-600 trees/acre with 75% stocking is acceptable.

Pre-treatment stand description and condition

Stand establishment and management history:

Stand was managed previously for jack pine. Aerial photos from 1940 show the area clearcut.

Pre-treatment species composition:

Jackpine averaged 6-7 sticks, 10-11" dbh, and 31 cords/acre. Aspen averaged 6 sticks, 11" dbh, and 7 cords/acre. Balsam Fir averages 3 sticks, 7" dbh, and 2.3 cords/acre. Mixed

spruce (90% white and 10% black) averaged 3-4 sticks, 8"dbh, and 2 cords/acre. Birch averaged 3 sticks, 8-9" dbh, and 1 cd/acre.

Silviculture Prescription

Stand was harvested with conventional equipment fall 2011.

Harvest restrictions included:

Reserve dead or cull aspen or jack pine for larger than 10” diameter for snag trees.
Conduct falling and skidding operations during snow free, dry soil conditions only, to encourage scarification of soil for jackpine seedling establishment. Dry soil conditions suitable for harvest operations will be evaluated and approved by the DNR Forestry sale adminisstraor prior to starting harvest operations.
Biomass harvest is not allowed on permit.
Scatter jackpine slash evenly across entire cutting area. All other species is to be full tree skidded and slash piled tightly near the landing as directed by sale administrator.

Stand was anchor chained for scarification in October 2011 by a local contractor. Anchor chains are owned by the Northeast Region DNR Forestry. Hand seeding of 3 oz./acre jack pine seed occurred May 2012 by DNR Forestry personnel. Brush saw release with a contract crew occurred September 2015.

Post-treatment assessment

Regeneration check November 2015 with 1/100^th acre plots