Attachment H - R5 Staked Tree Direction 2011.pdf

R-5 Direction for Tree Stocking Surveys and Seedling Survival

This direction supplements national direction at FSM 2472.4.

1. Stocking Surveys. Follow the national direction. There is no R-5 supplemental direction for stocking surveys.

1. Seedling Survival.

For purposes of national reporting, all Ranger Districts with active planting programs shall annually establish a minimum of 1.1 staked trees per 1,000 planted trees for each major species to estimate tree survival. For example, if a Ranger District plants 500,000 trees, there shall be staked rows installed containing at least 550 trees. “Major species” is defined as plantings of 1 thousand or more trees of a particular species on a given Ranger District.

Forest Supervisors shall assure that this requirement is met.

Step 1 - Survey Design. The intent of the design is to ensure staked trees are well distributed.

Staked rows shall have no fewer than 11 staked trees and no more than 33 staked trees.

Multiple species may be recorded in each row. Assure that each major species is represented by a minimum of 1.1 staked trees per 1,000 trees planted on a Ranger District.

Planting units shall be grouped for purposes of establishing well distributed staked rows.

Large Groups – Individual large planting units (spatially separate polygons) containing more than 10,000 planted trees shall be grouped with nearby smaller planting units (and not grouped with other large planting units). For each group, establish a minimum of 1 staked row that contains a minimum of 1.1 staked trees per 1,000 trees planted. The row(s) should be established in a planting unit(s) that is representative of the group.

Small Groups - When no large planting units are available for grouping, planting units smaller than 10,000 trees should be grouped with other smaller planting units nearby until a combined total number of planted trees exceed 10,000 trees. Resulting grouped planting units (spatially separate polygons grouped together) containing more than 10,000 planted trees shall have a minimum of 1 staked row that contains a minimum of 1.1 staked trees per

1,000 trees planted. The row(s) should be established in a planting unit(s) that is representative of the group.

The report for a given year should include spring planted trees from that calendar year AND any fall planted trees from the preceding year. For example, the 2012 report should include first-year staked row results for trees planted in the fall of 2011 and the spring/summer of

2012.

Document staked row information for the forest on a Staked Tree Survival Survey (Field

Form) (Exhibit 01).

Step 2 – Staked Row Establishment.

1. Install staked row(s) within a week after planting.

2. At the beginning of each staked row, firmly set a fence post or other durable monument as a reference point for the row. Record distance and bearing to the 1st staked tree.

3. Sketch a map locating the reference point and the row for easy relocation in the future. GPS locations for the reference post are encouraged.

4. From beginning of the row, stake each tree encountered as the line progresses.

Avoid abrupt turns in line. Any major variance in line direction should be recorded.

5. Use wood, plastic stakes or other durable marker that will be readily located during 1st and 3rd year exams. Avoid material such as rebar that may damage equipment during release or thinning treatments. Paint upper 3-4 inches of the stake a bright color that will facilitate relocation.

6. Set stakes 6 to 18 inches away from the tree to be marked, being sure not to damage the seedling or roots. Always set stakes on the downhill side of the tree or consistently on the same side (cardinal direction) on flat ground. Drive stakes firmly into the ground, leaving enough above ground to make it easy to locate among competing vegetation at year three. GPS locations for the 1st and last staked tree are encouraged.

7. Number each stake and record species with a permanent ink marker or use stamped/scribed aluminum tags. Attach tags securely to the stakes to assure numbers stay in place and readable for at least 3 years.

8. Record species for each staked tree for a single row on a Staked Tree Survival

Survey form similar to the one shown in Exhibit 01. Supplemental tree date such as condition, height, etc may be collected at the discretion of the Forest or

District. Include date and stand ID in the heading of the table.

Step 3 - Staked Row Examinations. Revisit staked rows at the end of the first and third growing seasons. Record seedling condition (live or dead), including damage/death causes.

Calculate survival percent by dividing the number of live staked trees by the total number of staked trees found for each species in the staked row. Lost stakes are deleted from survival calculations.

Step 4 - Upward Reporting. Summarize the results of first and third year survival examinations by major tree species and report results to the Regional Office as shown on the

Staked Tree Survival Summary (Exhibit 01).

Exhibit 1 Staked Tree Survival Field Form

Forest: District:

Stand Numbers:

Established by:

Acres Represented by this Staked Row:

Dates planted:

Date surveyed (yr. 1): by:

Date surveyed (yr. 3): by:

Reference Point GPS: Latitude: Longitude:

Directions to 1st tree: Distance: Bearing:

1st staked tree GPS: Latitude: Longitude:

Last staked tree GPS: Latitude: Longitude:

Status (L=live, D=dead)

Stake No. Species 1st year 3rd year Remarks (mortality, damage, other)

Survival Summary

Species Trees

Staked 1 yr. Stakes found 1 yr. Live 1 yr. % surv.

3 yr. Stakes found

3 yr.

Live

3 yr. % surv.

one row for each sps.

All Combined