Maximum Productivity Study

- Site Descriptions -

The location, site and stand characteristics of the eight "maximum productivity" field installations are described in Table 1. Detailed stand and site descriptions of individual field installations are provided below.

• Descriptions of Lodgepole pine study sites
• Descriptions of spruce study sites
• BC map showing all sites

A note about map quality:

At first glance, many of the maps you'll find here don't look so good on the screen. However, they will look fine when printed, or when you download them to use in other applications.

Table 1.  Site and stand descriptions of the eight "maximum productivity" installations

^a P = Planted, N = Natural
^b Site index estimates by Site Series (SIBEC) – second approximation:  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/sibec/

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Lodgepole pine study sites

Sheridan Creek

The Sheridan Creek installation is located 7.5 km east of McLeese Lake, B.C. (see MAP) within the Blackwater variant of the dry warm subzone of the Sub-Boreal Spruce Biogeoclimatic Zone (SBSdw2). Soil and vegetation description indicates the site belongs to the zonal SxwFd–Pinegrass (01) site series. It occurs on a moderately well drained, gently undulating morainal blanket. The rooting zone has a loamy texture with about 25% gravels and cobbles. There is a root-restricting layer at 35 cm below which the texture is more clay rich with more coarse fragments. The soil is classified as a Brunisolic Gray Luvisol. The site is occupied by a naturally regenerated lodgepole pine stand that originated from a 1978 clearcut and subsequent drag scarification. At the time of installation establishment in 1992, the 13-year-old stand had an average stand density of 20,000 stems per hectare. All treatment plots were thinned to a uniform density of 1100 stems per hectare during plot establishment.

Kenneth Creek

The Kenneth Creek installation is located approximately 75 km east of Prince George, B.C. (see MAP) within the Willow variant of the wet cool subzone of the Sub-Boreal Spruce Biogeoclimatic Zone (SBSwk1). Soil and vegetation description indicates the site belongs to the submesic Sxw-Huckleberry-Highbush cranberry (05) site series. Derived from thick, well-sorted glaciofluvial outwash parent material, the soil is well drained and stone free, with a fine to medium loamy sand texture. The soil is classified as an Eluviated Dystric Brunisol. After clearcutting and broadcast burning, the site was planted in the spring of 1983 with lodgepole pine 1+0 container stock. The plantation was chemically brushed in 1986. At the time of installation establishment in 1993, the stand was 12 years old and had an average density of approximately 1360 stems per hectare. All treatment plots were thinned to a uniform density of 1100 stems per hectare during plot establishment.

McKendrick Pass

The McKendrick Pass installation is located approximately 23 km north of Smithers, B.C. (see MAP) within the moist cold subzone of the Engelmann Spruce–Subalpine Fir Biogeoclimatic Zone (ESSFmc). Soil and vegetation description indicates that mid- and lower slope positions belong to the zonal Bl–Huckleberry–Leafy liverwort (01) site series. The soils at these slope positions are derived from morainal material and are relatively stone free at the surface with 30-40% gravels and cobbles at depths greater than 15 cm. The upper portions of the site are slightly drier and likely belong to the submesic Bl–Huckleberry–Heron´s-bill (04) site series. Soils in upper slope positions are partially derived from colluvial material and have a higher percentage of coarse fragments. Soils at all slope positions are morphologically consistent with Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzols. The site was clearcut harvested in 1987 and subsequently broadcast burned. In June 1988, the site was planted with lodgepole pine 1+0 container stock. At the time of installation establishment in 1995, the stand was 9 years old and had an average density of approximately 1200 stems per hectare. All treatment plots were thinned to a uniform density of 1100 stems per hectare during plot establishment.

Tutu Creek

The Tutu Creek installation is located approximately 15 km north of Mackenzie, B.C. (see MAP) within the Williston variant of the moist cool subzone of the Sub-Boreal Spruce Biogeoclimatic Zone (SBSmk2). Soil and vegetation description indicates the site belongs to the submesic Sb–Huckleberry–Spirea (04) site series. Derived from well-sorted glaciofluvial outwash parent material, the soil is well drained with a medium sandy loam texture and approximately 60% coarse fragments consisting mainly of gravels. The soil is classified as an Eluviated Dystric Brunisol. The previous stand was clearcut harvested in 1985 and broadcast burned in 1986. The site was planted in the spring of 1987 with lodgepole pine 1+0 container stock. The plantation was mechanically brushed in 1992. At the time of installation establishment in 1995, the stand was 10 years old and had an average density of approximately 1230 stems per hectare. All treatment plots were thinned to a uniform density of 1100 stems per hectare during plot establishment.

Crater Lake

The Crater Lake installation is located approximately 85 km west of Mackenzie, B.C. (see MAP) within the very dry very cold subzone of the Montane Spruce Biogeoclimatic Zone (MSxv). Depending on slope position, soil and vegetation description indicates the site belongs to two site series -- the submesic Pl–Grouseberry–Kinnikinnick (04) site series and the zonal Pl–Grouseberry–Feathermoss (01) site series. The soil is derived from morainal parent material and is well drained with a sandy loam texture and approximately 60% coarse fragments. The soil is classified as an Eluviated Dystric Brunisol. The previous stand was clearcut harvested in 1978 and chain dragged in the fall of 1979. Landings were burned in the fall of 1980, and escapes from these fires lightly burned portions of the surrounding cutblock. The naturally regenerated lodgepole pine stand was juvenile-spaced in 1995. At the time of installation establishment in 1996, the stand was approximately 15 years old and had an average density of approximately 2000 stems per hectare. All treatment plots were thinned to a uniform density of 1100 stems per hectare during plot establishment.

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Spruce study sites

Crow Creek

The Crow Creek installation is located approximately 60 km southeast of Houston, B.C. (see MAP) within the Babine variant of the moist cold subzone of the Sub-Boreal Spruce Biogeoclimatic Zone (SBSmc2). Soil and vegetation description indicates the site belongs to the zonal Sxw–Huckleberry (01) site series. The well-drained soil is derived from a thick morainal blanket and is silty loam in texture with about 25% gravels in the upper mineral soil. Depending on the thickness of the Bf horizon, the soil classification is either an Eluviated Dystric Brunisol or an Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzol. After clearcutting and broadcast burning in 1985, the site was planted in the spring of 1986 with spruce 1+0 container stock. At the time of installation establishment in 1994, the stand was 10 years old and had an average density of approximately 1200 stems per hectare. All treatment plots were thinned to a uniform density of 1100 stems per hectare during plot establishment.

Lodi Lake

The study site is located approximately 40 km southeast of Hixon, B.C. (see MAP), on Tree Farm License 53 (Dunkley Lumber Ltd.), within the Willow Wet Cool variant of the Sub-Boreal Spruce biogeoclimatic zone (SBSwk1). Based on slope position, soil characteristics, and the dominant shrub and herb species, the site most clearly matches the zonal Sxw–Oak fern (01) site series for this variant. The soil is derived from morainal parent material and is well to moderately well drained. The soil is classified as an Eluviated Dystric Brunisol, and is relatively stone free with sandy loam texture. The previous mature forest was clearcut harvested in 1985 and subsequently broadcast burned. The site was planted with 2+1 bareroot interior spruce seedlings in 1987. At the time of installation establishment in 1995, the stand was 11 years old and had an average density of approximately 1300 stems per hectare. All treatment plots were thinned to a uniform density of 1100 stems per hectare during plot establishment.

Hand Lake

The Hand Lake installation is located approximately 88 km northwest of Prince George, B.C. (see MAP) within the Mossvale variant of the moist cool subzone of the Sub-Boreal Spruce Biogeoclimatic Zone (SBSmk1). Soil and vegetation description indicates the site primarily belongs to the zonal Sxw–Huckleberry–Highbush cranberry (01) site series. Derived from morainal parent material, the soil has a fine loamy texture. Soils have few coarse fragments near the surface with up to 25% coarse fragments at depth consisting of gravels and cobbles. Soils are mostly classified as Orthic Dystric Brunisols. The previous mature forest was clearcut harvested in 1985 and the cutblock was broadcast burned in 1986. The site was planted with spruce 2+0 container stock in August 1987. The plantation was chemically brushed in 1989. At the time of installation establishment in 1999, the stand was 14 years old and had an average density of approximately 1350 stems per hectare. All treatment plots were thinned to a uniform density of 1100 stems per hectare during plot establishment.

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Last Modified: 2007 APR 20.  Ministry contact: Frank van Thienen
Webmaster: For.Prodres@gov.bc.ca