State 1
Reference

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

Structure: multistory with small gap dynamics.
Western hemlock is the most common overstory species in the historic climax plant community. Western redcedar and Douglas-fir will both be present; grand fir, bigleaf maple and western white pine would be much smaller components. The dense canopy created by multiple age groups of hemlocks blocks most of the sunlight from the forest floor, leading to a sparse understory. Gaps in the canopy which allow sunlight to reach the ground are where the majority of the understory plants would be found. If there is no mid-canopy of regenerating hemlocks the understory will be more continuous. The most common natural disturbance on these sites would be 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. Plant community 1.2 retains some areas that resemble the HCPC 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 found in the ecological site (salal, salmonberry, oceanspray, red elderberry) also respond well to increased sunlight and may delay or even prevent reforestation of the newly formed openings.

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

Structure: single story/shrub. community 1.3 is forestland in regeneration; species composition depends on the natural seed sources present and the intensity of management. When resulting from a moderate- to severe fire event, there is a good possibility for shrubs to out-compete tree seedlings. Red huckleberry, salal, oceanspray, snowberry, 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 the preferred timber species and so has been favored over red alder or western hemlock on these sites. This has changed over time, so a managed stand at this stage could feature any of the species or be a mixture.

Community 1.4
Grasses, Salal, Trailing Blackberry, Western Swordfern, Douglas-fir, Redcedar, and Western hemlock

Structure: abandoned pasture with regeneration. community 1.4 is abandoned pasture or crop land. This community will be dominated by non-native grasses but may have some native species present. Shrubs and trees will gradually encroach from the surrounding forest. While Douglas-fir and red alder prefer mineral soil, they will germinate in an organic seedbed, which is preferred by hemlock. Depending on the available seed source, any of these species will begin to encroach on an abandoned pasture. As an overstory canopy develops, the cover of shade intolerant grasses will diminish and native understory plants such as salal, red huckleberry and trailing blackberry will increase.

Community 1.5
Douglas-fir, Red Alder, and Western Hemlock

Structure: dense single story with diminished understory. Community 1.5 is a forest in the competitive exclusion stage. Because this community is indicative of no active management, there is increasing competition among individual trees for the available water and nutrients. Canopy closure is almost 100 percent, leading to a diminished understory. Over time the forest will begin to self-thin due to the elevated competition. Species composition depends on the original seed sources available; the forest could be single or mixed-species.

Community 1.6
Douglas-fir, Western Hemlock, Red Alder, Salal, Red Huckleberry, and Western Swordfern

Structure: single story with few small openings community 1.6 is a maturing forest which is starting to differentiate vertically. Individual trees are dying (whether due to insects, disease, competition or windthrow) allowing some sunlight to reach the forest floor. This allows for an increase in the understory as well as some overstory tree species regeneration. Cycling between community 1.3 and community 1.6, through even-aged management, will generate maximum wood fiber.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

This pathway represents a larger disturbance – a moderate-intensity fire or wind storm would have historically created this forest structure; uneven-aged management techniques such as group selection or shelterwood with reserves may also lead to this community. Areas of regeneration would range from 2 to 5 acres.

Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.3

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

Pathway 1.1C
Community 1.1 to 1.4

This pathway signifies the conversion of forestland to either cropland or pasture.

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, understory re-initiation – until they resemble the old-growth structure of the HCPC.

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 1.3C
Community 1.3 to 1.5

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

Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.6

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 1.4B
Community 1.4 to 1.3

This pathway indicates active management in order to restore the forest. Site preparation (most likely mechanical tilling, possibly combined with herbicides) and planting of preferred species bring about the change.

Pathway 1.4A
Community 1.4 to 1.5

This pathway represents the shift from field to forest without any external management. Whatever seed sources are present will provide the basis of the future forest.

Pathway 1.5A
Community 1.5 to 1.6

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 will begin to die.

Pathway 1.6A
Community 1.6 to 1.1

This pathway is one of no further management. Continued growth over time, as well ongoing mortality, leads to continued vertical diversification. The community begins to resemble the structure of the HCPC, with small pockets of regeneration and a more diversified understory.

Pathway 1.6B
Community 1.6 to 1.3

This pathway represents intensive management focusing on wood products. Clear-cutting, some type of site preparation, planting of preferred species and timely thinnings are the steps to achieve this goal.