Soil Disturbance during Mountain Pine Beetle Salvage Logging

Soil Disturbance during Mountain Pine Beetle Salvage Logging - Update and Training SI Region Soil Scientists: Graeme Hope, Bill Chapman, Mike Curran

Outline: • Increased soil disturbance • Extent • Contributing factors • Solutions

Evidence of Increased Soil Disturbance • Large increase in calls/requests to regional soil scientists (Bill Chapman and Graeme Hope, SIR) by C&E – also in Northern Region • FREP results indicate that there is extreme soil disturbance associated with some MPB salvage logging • FP Board investigation in 2 districts

1. On-block soil disturbance • Surveys: 13 – 30+ %

29% in block disturbance (5%, 10%) • 59% RWA (25%) • damage to the environment

Rutting and Compaction 13% on-block disturbance 2. 0 ha compacted soil areas

2. Roadside work areas • Soil disturbance limit – 25% • Surveys: 40 – 85% • Area affected > if landings used

RWA

3. Road Construction and Maintenance

What is the Extent of Problem? • C&E Pilot Project in 2 districts • Monitoring MPB salvage harvesting for longterm productivity (FREP Special Project) • Ongoing FREP Soils Monitoring

Contributing factors • Soils wetter in MPB - attacked stands – reduced evapotranspiration • Economics – pressures to reduce costs, including planning • Guidance and training – FPC to FRPA shift, personnel turnover

Solutions • Communicate to management • Improve ability to detect problems • Revitalize soil conservation training

Training Provincial • improved information (field cards, website, videos, etc. ) • develop training materials for operators, small licensees • guidance document and other publications Regional (soil scientists) field training of: • Professional, technical, operators • MOFR, BCTS, licensees (large and small), operators

Other suggestions / questions? Training sessions?