Objectives:

• To quantify the extent of changes in soil surface characteristics and soil chemical and physical properties following various harvesting operations.
• To monitor the effect these changes have on site climate, seedling establishment and long-term growth.

Experimental Design:

Treatments:

• Each location is a case study by itself. The study was designed to sample a range of harvesting equipment and a range of site, slope and soil characteristics. All harvesting was conducted by ground-based equipment.
• The areas were sampled after harvesting, across a range of disturbance classes, and plantations were established based on that initial stratification. Engelmann spruce was planted at each location; also, lodgepole pine is planted at Caribou Creek and Dainard, and western larch is planted at Caribou Creek. Microclimate stations were installed at all locations except Gorman Creek.

History:

• 1988 - Harvest Gorman Creek
• 1989 - Harvest Caribou Creek, Donald Hill and Dainard
• 1990 - Plant Caribou and Gorman Creeks
• 1991 - Plant Donald Hill and Dainard
• 1996-1997 7th-year assessments
• 1999 - Remeasured, Caribou Creek location spaced (about 50% of trees removed)
• 1999-2010 Annual Microclimate and Seedling Assessments in years 10, 15, and 20.
• 2000 - all climate stations wre removed
• 2001 - Caribou Creek thinned

Status: Active

Reports and Publications:

Senyk, J. P., 1990. Effects of ground-based forest harvesting operations on soils and tree productivity. In proceedings of 10th International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems, Kobe, Japan, August 20-24, 1990. Vol 11., pp 567-575.

Senyk, J. P., and R. B. Smith, 1990. Experience with retrospective and plantation growth studies on harvested and site prepared clear-cuts in BC. Poster presented at Soil Disturbance Guidelines: productivity and administrative implications Workshop, April 9­11, 1990 Penticton, BC. Sponsored by the Forest Site Degradation and Rehabilitation Committee and the Interior Forest Harvesting Council, TAC.

Senyk, J. P., 1990. Effects of forest management practices on soils and long-term productivity in Western Canada. In proceedings of 1st International Symposium on Forest Soils (ISFS), Bo-Qun Lin ed. Publishing House of Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China. pp 237-242.

Senyk, J. P., and R. B. Smith, 1991. Estimating impacts of forest harvesting and mechanical site preparation practices on productivity in British Columbia. In proceedings of the 1990 IEA/BE T6/A6 Workshop held in Florida, USA, February 18­25, 1990, W. Dyck and C. A. Mees eds. pp 199-211.

Senyk, J. and D. Craigdallie, 1997. Effects of harvesting methods on soil properties and forest productivity in Interior British Columbia. Can. For. Serv., Pac. For. Cent., Victoria, Inf. Rep. BC-X-365. 37 p.

Senyk, J. and D. Craigdallie, 1997. Effects of skidroads on soil properties and forest productivity on steep slopes in the Interior of British Columbia. Can. For. Serv. Pac. For. Cent. Tech. Transfer Note 8.

Senyk, J and E. Wass, 1999. Soil compaction resulting from ground based forestry practices and the impact on tree growth. in B. Morland and S. Corradini (comps.) Proc. FERIC Machine/Soil interaction workshop, Edmonton, AB, February 1999. FERIC Special Publ. SR133.

Senyk, J., 2001. Tree growth on displaced and compacted soils. Forestry Research Applications, Pac. For. Cent. Tech Transfer Note 26.