State 1
Reference

This state recognizes two forest habitat types Douglas-fir/ninebark and Douglas-fir/snowberry. They occur in close proximity and react similarly. Douglas-fir/snowberry will occur at lower landscapes and sometimes in a moister environment, snowberry being the prominent understory shrub. Ninebark and oceanspray dominate the understory of the modal Douglas-fir/ninebark habitat type. Pinegrass is the dominant grass. They occur on foothills on northern aspects at lower elevations under 3000 feet and on eastern and western aspects on mountain sides over 3000 feet. Western larch is not present on the modal soils of this state. Western larch can occur on the moister Douglas-fir/ninebark/twinflower habitat type phase and wetter Douglas-fir/snowberry sites. Wartberry fairybells and russet buffaloberry are more constant on the on the moister Douglas-fir/ninebark/twinflower site.

With frequent low severity ground fires stand develops into an open stand of mostly large ponderosa pine with scattered ponderosa pine and some Douglas-fir regeneration with shrub patches mixed with grasses, mainly pinegrass, elk sedge, and Columbia brome.

Community 1.1
Reference Plant Community

This phase would be considered the historical plant community. Frequent low severity fires create an open stand of mostly large diameter 100+ year old ponderosa pine with some Douglas-fir. Tree regeneration is patchy consisting mainly of ponderosa pine with some Douglas-fir. Understory vegetation is a mix of shrubs, forbs and grasses. This phase perpetuates itself with reoccurring low intensity fires with some of the pine and fir regeneration surviving to mature stage.

Community 1.2
Understory Re-initiation

Without frequent low severity fire this plant community develops into an all aged stand of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine with scattered remnants of old ponderosa pine. Two to three tree canopy levels can develop with an understory of ninebark, oceanspray and/or snowberry. Canopy openings can develop from windthrow or root rot pockets creating openings for Douglas-fir regeneration or shrubs. Stand is susceptible to stand replacing fires due to large fuel load and ladder fuels. Mixed severity fires will produce a mosaic of patchy large older trees with open areas of regeneration and/or dense shrubs or grass.

Community 1.3
Stem Exclusion

Overstory structure consists of dense one story pole stands of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine 30-70 years old. Dense stocking creates high fire hazard and stress conditions for bark beetle attack. Armillaria root rot pockets can be present in Douglas-fir.

Community 1.4
Stand (Replacement) Initiation

Stand replacing fires or lack of reforestation after harvest, can create dense shrub fields mixed with grass. After severe fires Ceanothus velutinus, shiny leaf ceanothus, can dominate the site and limit tree regeneration if soil duff is destroyed and surface soils are damaged. This may cause this phase to go to Alternative State 3. Natural regeneration is variable depending on fire severity. Scouler willow can also be prevalent along with pinegrass and elk sedge. In low intensity or mixed severity fires Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir will eventually occupy the site. Future ground fires will create a patchy landscape of tree clusters and shrub/grass areas.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Reference Plant Community

Understory Re-initiation

Fire return interval extended allowing regeneration to grow and mature. Stand mortality start to occur.

Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.4

Reference Plant Community

Stand (Replacement) Initiation

Stand replacement disturbance. Severe Fire or insect mortality killing large pine/fir.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Understory Re-initiation

Reference Plant Community

Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.4

Understory Re-initiation

Stand (Replacement) Initiation

Stand replacement disturbance. Severe Fire or insect mortality killing large pine/fir

Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.2

Stem Exclusion

Understory Re-initiation

Time and localized disturbance. Stand competition mortality and insect/disease mortality creating gaps for understory development and tree regeneration

Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.4

Stem Exclusion

Stand (Replacement) Initiation

Stand replacement disturbance. Severe fire back to grass/shrub stage with periodic natural tree regeneration

Pathway 1.4A
Community 1.4 to 1.1

Stand (Replacement) Initiation

Reference Plant Community

Time. Low severity ground fires every 10-20 years to create patchy open grown ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir with grass dominant

Pathway 1.4B
Community 1.4 to 1.3

Stand (Replacement) Initiation

Stem Exclusion

Time with fire return interval extended to allow natural tree regeneration to grow into dense pole stands

State 2
Fire Exclusion

Since European settlement the fire regime has changed greatly reducing frequent low intensity ground fires that kept these forests more open, with reduced tree density more resilient to severe intensity fires. In addition, years of hygrading (harvesting largest best trees on site), overgrazing, prevalence of many roads which create fire breaks, and tree plantations has created a different forest structure. Dense multi-layered forests of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine now exist and is homogenous on the landscape. Intensive forest management practices can reduce the risk of severe fire.

Community 2.1
Reference Phase

Multi-level canopy of mature Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine over sapling/pole/seedling stands of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine. In areas without tree regeneration dense stands of shrubs will occur, mainly ninebark, oceanspray, or snowberry. Forest management practices which include selective overstory removal along with understory fuel load management, including prescribed fire, can transition the forest into a more drought, insect and fire resilient condition.

State 3
Shrubfields

Shrub species like shiny leaf ceanothus, Scouler willow, spirea, ninebark, oceanspray thimbleberry, snowberry, chokecherry and elderberry dominate the site preventing tree establishment. Reoccurring fires keep site in shrubfield condition.

Community 3.1
Reference Phase

Shrub species like shiny leaf ceanothus, Scouler willow, spirea, ninebark, oceanspray thimbleberry, snowberry, chokecherry and elderberry dominate the site preventing tree establishment. Reoccurring fires keep site in shrubfield condition

State 4
Converted

A portion of this ecological site has been converted to annual cropland or pasture. This has occurred on the lower slope foothills and valleys. Intensive tree establishment practices followed by prescribed fire once the trees are more fire resistant can lead to ecological functions of State 1.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Reference

Fire Exclusion

Fire exclusion over long periods allowing stands to grow into homogenous multi-storied stands

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

Reference

Shrubfields

Shrubfields caused by severe fire and soil degradation

Transition T1C
State 1 to 4

Reference

Converted

Forest stands converted to cropland or pastureland

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Fire Exclusion

Reference

Forest stands restored by overstory thinning, ground and ladder fuels reduction, prescribed fire and seeding of native grasses and forbs.

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1

Shrubfields

Reference

Careful selection of sites to determine if tree planting success is warranted.

Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 1

Converted

Reference

Afforestation through planting of native trees /shrubs and seeding of native grasses and forbs, treatment of invasive plants and Time.