Defenders' Experts
Blue River Landscape Study
U.S. Forest Service researchers are exploring alternative approaches to
achieve the objectives of the Northwest Forest Plan through the Blue River
Landscape Study on Oregon's Willamette National Forest. The "dynamic landscape
management" alternative would relax riparian standards for smaller streams and
approach aquatic conservation objectives by relying more on overall management
of small watersheds. The landscape plan also tries to use logging and prescribed
fire to more closely mimic historic disturbance regimes characteristic of
particular sites represented by combinations of elevation, aspect and
vegetation. This leads to a more variable approach in terms of frequency of
logging and the amount of trees left, as well as in the use of prescribed fire.
Based on computer simulations, the Blue River study indicates that
significant differences in landscape patterns can be expected between following
the Northwest Forest Plan versus the landscape plan over the course of 200
years. Not only would the landscape plan result in more old-growth forest at
that time, but, since there would be fewer riparian reserves, the old-growth
forest would occur in larger blocks with less dramatic contrast in age with
their surroundings. In general the landscape plan would also provide a forest
mosaic that more closely resemble historic conditions and that would be expected
to better support wildlife adapted to these conditions.
Blue River Landscape Study
The Blue River Landscape Study is a longterm project designed to test an alternative landscape management strategy based on historical fire regimes and other disturbance processes. This strategy contains less frequent and less intense timber harvest activities and an alternative reserve configuration.
In this section. . .
Many conservation biologists are looking to the broader landscape for options to help conserve forest biodiversity.
Two landscape-level plans take different management approaches: the Northwest Forest Plan and the Blue River Landscape Study.
The Northwest Forest Plan is a system of late-successional reserves that are intended to provide essential habitat for northern spotted owls and other terrestrial wildlife associated with old-growth forests.
The Blue River Landscape Study is a long-term project designed to test an alternative landscape management strategy based on historical fire regimes and other disturbance processes.
Variable density thinning allows more flexibility to retain existing snags, logs and deciduous trees, as well promoting shrubs and complex canopies.
