Forestry work in Eastern Wedge hemlock thicket

FORESTRY: 1 hour: 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Pre-commercial thinning, pruning and general clean-up in the south end of Eastern Wedge unit #5.

Forestry portion of trail creation in Eastern Wedge unit #5. Cut out suppressed and damaged trees alongside the trail route, plus some low branch pruning. Originally estimated as a 20 year-old stand, the culled trees show it to be only 15 or 16 years old. This stand was replanted in Doug fir, but it has been overrun by hemlock in the higher, drier sections, and alder in the lower, wetter sections. Fortunately, the hemlock and alder have not grown into an un-differentiated thicket – there are many larger, well-spaced specimens that have achieved dominance, and timely thinning (now!) will consolidate their gains. Unfortunately, extensive damage is apparent (from approx. 6 years ago) in the form of bent, downed and broken-topped trees. Hurricane-force winds hammered this windward-facing slope during the Great Coastal Gale of 2007 (December 2^nd & 3^rd ). Nearby Naselle Ridge clocked the storm’s highest gust at 147 mph. The damage is similar to what would occur with snow/ice loading, but that type of event is extremely unlikely in this coastal setting. Will need to carefully examine tree tops for wholeness and good form during the thinning process.