Uniform shelterwood trial to manage Douglas-fir on frost prone sites (EP 1104.01)

Last updated on August 22, 2023

Trial name: Uniform Shelterwood systems for even-aged Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine stands in the Sub Boreal Spruce (dry, warm) subzones in the Cariboo Forest Region (EP1104.01) (aka Uniform Shelterwood Trial)
Trial objectives	Installation name	Ecosystems represented	Tree species	Silvicultural systems tested	Post establishment treatments
Can Douglas-fir be successfully regenerated using partial retention to reduce frost damage? Can growth of the residual trees be used to offset mid-term timber supply? Microclimate (frost) Tree regeneration density and growth (natural and planted) Seedfall periodicity Stand stability Vegetation response Small mammal use Overstory tree growth	Uniform Shelterwood Trial	SBSdw1	Douglas-fir Lodgepole pine	Uniform shelterwood using preparation cuts regeneration cuts second regeneration cuts no-harvest and clearcut controls	First entry – 1991 – 2 levels of basal area retention (30 and 40 m²) and 2 harvesting methods (feller buncher / hand falling) Second entry – 2001 Five levels of BA retention (15, 20, 30, 40, 60 m²) Final removal cut in 2011
Comments: Some challenges with mountain pine beetle. The final removal harvest occurred in 2011; beetles no longer a problem.

Publications
Publication topics	Publications
General Overview	Sutherland, C. 1994. Uniform shelterwood systems for Douglas-fir/lodgepole pine stands (PDF, 49KB). B.C. Min. For., Cariboo For. Reg., Res. Section. Exten. Note EN-11. Waterhouse, M.J. 2001. Silvicultural systems research in the Cariboo Forest Region (Uniform shelterwood systems for even-aged Douglas-fir/lodgepole pine stands in the SBSdw1 subzone) (PDF, 1.7KB). For. Renewal BC, Res. Program Final Rep. CC927-RE/A FR-96/97-705. Waterhouse, M.J. 2005. Shelterwood silvicultural systems to address integrated resource management issues (PDF, 92KB). Project Y051043. For. Investment Account. Annu. Tech. Rep. 2004/05. Wiensczyk, A. and M. Waterhouse. 2005. Shelterwood silviculture trials address resource issues. LINK 7(1):24–25. Waterhouse, M.J. , T.A. Newsome, and A. Arsenault. 2006. Shelterwood silvicultural systems to address integrated resource management issues – Executive Summary 2005/06 (PDF, 45KB). Project Y062043. For. Investment Account. Annu. Rep.
Seedfall, predation, germination and survival Vegetation Natural regeneration densities and growth Planted stock Tree fall Microclimate Stand structure Bark beetles	Waterhouse, M.J. 1999. Uniform shelterwood systems for Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine stands –update–year 8 (PDF, 72KB). B.C. Min. For., Cariboo For. Reg., Res. Section. Exten. Note 28. Burton, P.J., D.C. Sutherland, N.M. Daintith, M.J. Waterhouse, and T.A. Newsome. 2000. Factors influencing the density of natural regeneration in uniform shelterwoods dominated by Douglas-fir in the Sub-Boreal Spruce zone (PDF, 5.96MB). B.C. Min. For. Work. Pap. 47. Waterhouse, M.J. and T.A. Newsome. 2006. Uniform shelterwood systems in the Sub-Boreal Spruce zone: update for Year 15 (phase 2). B.C. Min. For. Range, Kamloops, B.C. Exten. Note 03.
Harvesting costs Damage to regeneration Damage to residual trees	Mitchell, J.L. and I.B. Hedin. 2002. Shelterwood harvesting in interior Douglas-fir: second entry of a three-entry system. FERIC Advantage Rep. 3(22). Sagar, R.M. and M.J. Waterhouse. 2010. Microclimate studies in uniform shelterwood systems in the Sub-Boreal Spruce zone of central British Columbia. B.C. Min. For. Range, For. Sci. Program, Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep.057. Sagar, R.M. and M.J. Waterhouse. 2018. Interaction between Douglas-fir regeneration and frost in central British Columbia. Prov. B.C., Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 118.
Overstory response	Mitchell, S.J. 2001. Summary of shelterwood codominant ten year response in 50% BA removal treatment. Alex Fraser Res. For. Quick Sheet 17.
Small mammals	von Treba, C.D. 1994. Relationship of small mammal populations to uniform even-aged shelterwood systems. MSc thesis. Univ. British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. von Treba, C., D.P. Lavender, and T.P. Sullivan. 1998. Relations of small mammal populations to even-aged shelterwood systems in sub-boreal spruce forest. J. Wild. Manag. 62(2):630–642. Mule Deer Winter Range Strategy Committee. 2017. Basal area requirements for initiating group selection harvest in transition and deep snowpack zones (PDF, 816KB).

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Uniform shelterwood trial to manage Douglas-fir on frost prone sites (EP 1104.01)

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