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Commercial timber value of streamside management zones in managed pine and hardwood stands

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Streamside management zones (SMZs) are widely recommended for protection of water quality, but the costs associated with maintaining SMZs are not well documented. This project documented the commercial timber values of 16 watersheds in the Piedmont region and 16 watersheds in the Allegheny Plateau region before and after SMZs were established. Four blocks were established in each region, and 5 combinations of SMZ width (25, 50, and 100 feet) and harvest level (none versus 50 percent in the 50 and 100 feet SMZ widths) were installed in each block. The average value of the residual timber was greater in the Allegheny Plateau region (high value sawtimber species) than in the Piedmont (pine plantations with low grade hardwoods near streams). Overall, the partial harvests may be more sustainable in the Allegheny region due to the presence of desirable shade tolerant species, in contrast to the Piedmont where partial harvests favor lower-value species.

Citation

Lakel, William A. III; Aust, W. Michael; Dollof, C. Andrew; Sharp, Elizabeth P. 2005. Commercial timber value of streamside management zones in managed pine and hardwood stands. In: Conner, Kristina F.,ed. Proceedings of the 13th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference Memphis, Tennessee February 28-March 4, 2005: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 407-408.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/31612