Soil bulk density and disturbance were measured before and after a commercial
thinning of 3 0-50 year-old Douglas-fir using a cut-to-length (CTL) and a skyline system
on the Willamette National Forest in the Oregon Cascades. A dual-probe nuclear
densimeter was used to measure bulk density at four and eight inches....
A set of 119 study trees was identified in a 65 year-old Douglas-fir stand after a thinning operation conducted seven years ago using pre-planned skid trails and groundbased machinery. Some of the trails were tilled using a winged subsoiler after this operation in order to alleviate the effect of compaction...
A helicopter operations problem was studied for a private forest landowner testing an
experimental application of minerals on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesil) in the Coast Range
of Oregon to offset growth reductions from Swiss needle cast disease. A planning approach was
needed to minimize costs for transportation and aerial application of...
The mountain pine beetle has impacted over 5 million hectares of pine forests in the Rocky Mountains region in the United States. Although some beetle-killed stands are available for salvage harvesting, there are many uncertainties in harvesting beetle-killed stands including safety, costs, recoverable products and their values. These uncertainties impose...
With rising fuel costs and enhanced environmental concerns, the use of renewable energy has been steadily considered and widely expounded as a solution to the challenges of global energy security and climate change. The use of woody biomass, in particular, has received considerable attention for energy production due to the...
The use of mechanized harvest equipment has been
increasing as an economical method to harvest small diameter
timber. While the use of this equipment is increasing,
little is known about associated soil compaction. In
particular, little information exists on soil compaction
caused by feller--bunchers.
This study measured soil compaction caused...
Oregon has been moving forward with biomass energy development. Large-scale biomass power and cogeneration (producing heat and electricity) have been the focus of the last twenty-five years, while small-scale thermal bioenergy installations (producing heat) have dramatically increased during the last decade. In eastern Oregon, bioenergy is closely linked to restoration...
Lidar is able to provide height and cover information which can be used to estimate selected forest attributes precisely. However, for users to evaluate whether the additional cost and complication associated with using Lidar merits adoption requires that the protocol to use lidar be thoroughly described and that a basis...
Straw wattles are common erosion control devices used to trap sediment. This
thesis studies the relationship of straw wattles on slope stability through a case study
demonstrating their use on steep slopes (1.5H:1V) for the US20 highway realignment
project. Several surficial slope failures have occurred on these fill slopes, often...
The importance of accurately identifying inventories of domestic energy, including forest biomass, has increasingly become a priority of the US government and its citizens as the cost of fossil fuels has risen. It is useful to identify which of these resources can be processed and transported at the lowest cost...