State 1
Reference

Community 1.1
Western Hemlock, Western Redcedar, Red Huckleberry, Salal, and Western Swordfern

Structure: Multistory with small gap dynamics

Western hemlock and western redcedar are the most common overstory species. Douglas-fir and bigleaf maple are also present. The dense canopy, which is created by multiple age groups of hemlocks, blocks most of the sunlight from the forest floor and leads to a sparse understory. The majority of the understory plants grow where gaps in the canopy allow sunlight to reach the ground. In areas where there is no mid-canopy of regenerating hemlocks, the understory is more continuous. The most common natural disturbance in areas of this community are the small gap dynamics following the death of one or two trees.

Community 1.2
Western Hemlock, Douglas-fir, Red Huckleberry, Salal, and Western Swordfern

Structure: Mosaic of mature overstory and regenerating openings

This community phase retains some areas that resemble the reference community but also contains moderate sized (2–5 acres) openings. Historically, this spatial pattern would have been caused by low- to moderate-intensity fires or pockets of disease (such as annosum root rot or laminated root rot). Uneven-aged management techniques, such as group selection or shelterwood with reserves, can also create this plant community.

Depending on the seed sources present, the patches may contain any of the previously mentioned overstory species. Some of the shrub species in the ecological site also respond well to increased sunlight and may delay or even prevent reforestation of the newly formed openings. Examples include Cascade barberry (Mahonia nervosa, known locally as Cascade Oregongrape), salal, salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), and red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa).

Community 1.3
Douglas-fir, Red Alder, Western Hemlock, and Salal

Structure: Single story/shrub

This community consists of forestland in regeneration. Species composition depends on the natural seed sources present and the intensity of management. If this community results from a moderate to severe fire event, the possibility is good for shrubs to out-compete tree seedlings. Red huckleberry, salal, trailing blackberry, red elderberry, and salmonberry (which may have been only moderately abundant previously) all have the capability to rapidly recover and spread when top-killed, slowing successful regeneration. This would be less of an issue with intensive management. Historically, Douglas-fir has been preferred over red alder, western redcedar, or western hemlock on these sites. This has changed over time, so a managed stand could feature any of the species or a mixture of species.

Community 1.4
Douglas-fir, Red Alder, Western Hemlock, Salal, and Western Swordfern

Structure: Dense single story with sparse understory

This community consists of forest in the competitive exclusion stage. Because this community is indicative of no active management, competition among individual trees is increased for the available water and nutrients. Canopy closure is almost 100 percent, leading to a diminished understory. Over time, the forest begins to self-thin due to the elevated competition. Species composition depends on the original seed source(s) available. The forest can be single or mixed-species.

Community 1.5
Douglas-fir, Western Hemlock Red Alder, Salal, Red Huckleberry, and Western Swordfern

Structure: Single story with scattered openings

This community consists of maturing forest that is starting to differentiate vertically. Individual trees are dying (due to insects, disease, competition, or windthrow), allowing some sunlight to reach the forest floor. The sunlight allows for an increase in the understory as well as some overstory tree species regeneration. Cycling between Community Phases 1.3 and 1.5 while using even-aged management generates maximum wood fiber.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

This pathway represents a large disturbance. Historically, a moderate-intensity fire or windstorm would have created this forest structure. Uneven-aged management techniques, such as group selection or shelterwood with reserves, can also lead to this community. Areas of regeneration range from 2 to 5 acres.

Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.3

This pathway represents a major disturbance, such as a high-intensity fire, large scale wind events, or clear-cutting followed by prescribed burning.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

This pathway represents growth over time with no further significant disturbance. The areas of regeneration pass through the typical stand phases—competitive exclusion, maturation, and understory reinitiation—until they resemble the old-growth structure of the reference community (1.1).

Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.3

This pathway represents either a high-intensity fire or a change to intensive management (block harvest, post-harvest burn). Both situations lead to the stand initiation phase of forest development.

Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.4

This pathway represents no further management, denoting only growth over time.

Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.5

This pathway represents growth over time with active management to maximize timber development. Precommercial thinning, commercial thinning, or both, combined with understory control, lower the stand density and decrease competition for water and nutrients.

Pathway 1.4A
Community 1.4 to 1.5

This pathway represents grow over time, with or without active management. Precommercial (or possibly commercial) thinning can decrease competition by removing a portion of the trees. Without management, intermediate and suppressed trees begin to die.

Pathway 1.5A
Community 1.5 to 1.1

Douglas-fir, Western Hemlock Red Alder, Salal, Red Huckleberry, and Western Swordfern

Western Hemlock, Western Redcedar, Red Huckleberry, Salal, and Western Swordfern

This pathway represents no further management. Continued growth over time and ongoing mortality lead to continued vertical diversification. The community begins to resemble the structure of the reference community but has small pockets of regeneration and a more diversified understory.

Pathway 1.5B
Community 1.5 to 1.3

This pathway represents intensive management focused on wood products. Clear-cutting, some type of site preparation, planting of preferred species, and timely thinning are the management steps.

State 2
Converted

Community 2.1
Managed Cropland or Hayland

Structure: Annual or perennial non-native species monoculture

Community phase 2.1 can consist of a range of crops, including annually planted species, short-lived perennial species, and more permanent shrubby plants. Hay and grasses and legumes for silage are included in this community phase.

Community 2.2
Non-native Grassland and Shrubland

Structure: Annual or perennial herbaceous or shrubby species

Community phase 2.2 is characterized by low-level agronomic or management activity, such as the addition of soil nutrients, intensive grazing management, regular mowing, or weed control. This plant community commonly consists dominantly of introduced weedy species. Areas that have extremely low fertility or are subject to heavy grazing pressure have a higher proportion of annual, stoloniferous, or rhizomatous species. Wetland areas commonly support dominantly non-native rhizomatous grasses. The plant community may include remnants of introduced pasture species that commonly are seeded.

Community 2.3
Managed Grassland

Structure: Perennial herbaceous species

Community phase 2.3 receives regular agronomic inputs. Examples include adding soil nutrients and other soil amendments, such as lime; implementing grazing management plans; mowing regularly; controlling weeds; and reseeding as needed. This plant community typically includes introduced perennial pasture and hay species that commonly are seeded. In areas of historic native grassland, mixtures of perennial and annual native species can be seeded and managed by appropriate agronomic and livestock management activities. This phase includes minor amounts of introduced species that commonly are in non-native grassland and shrubland communities (community phase 2.2).

Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2

In the absence of agronomic and livestock management activities, seeds from surrounding weedy plant communities are transported to the site by wind, animals, or vehicle traffic, and the adapted species become established. Management activities include tilling; adding soil nutrients and other soil amendments, such as lime; mowing; burning; harvesting or chemically controlling vegetation; planting desirable herbaceous species; and implementing grazing management plans.

Pathway 2.1B
Community 2.1 to 2.3

This pathway represents agronomic and livestock management activities. Examples include tilling; adding soil nutrients and other soil amendments, such as lime; mowing; burning; harvesting or chemically controlling vegetation; planting desirable herbaceous species; and implementing grazing management plans.

Pathway 2.2B
Community 2.2 to 2.1

This pathway represents agronomic activities. Examples include tilling; adding soil nutrients and other soil amendments, such as lime; mowing; burning; harvesting or chemically controlling vegetation; and planting desirable crop species.

Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.3

This pathway represents agronomic and livestock management activities. Examples include tilling; adding soil nutrients and other soil amendments, such as lime; mowing; burning; harvesting or chemically controlling vegetation; planting desirable herbaceous species; and implementing grazing management plans.

Pathway 2.3A
Community 2.3 to 2.1

This pathway represents agronomic activities. Examples include tilling; adding soil nutrients and other soil amendments, such as lime; mowing; burning; harvesting or chemically controlling vegetation; and planting desirable crop species.

Pathway 2.3B
Community 2.3 to 2.2

In the absence of agronomic and livestock management activities, seeds from surrounding weedy plant communities are transported to the area by wind, floodwater, animals, or vehicle traffic, and the adapted species become established. Management activities include tilling; adding soil nutrients and other soil amendments, such as lime; mowing; burning; harvesting or chemically controlling vegetation; planting desirable herbaceous species; and implementing grazing management plans.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

This transition represents a change in land use. Land management includes modifications to the hydrologic function to develop pasture and agriculture. Non-native seed disbursement is introduced (intentionally or unintentionally), which alters the reference community (1.1).

Transition T2A
State 2 to 1

This transition represents restoration of the natural hydrologic function and native plant habitat. Native seed sources and extensive management and mitigation of brush and invasive species are needed to restore the community.