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Challenges of Ecosystem Challenges of Ecosystem Restoration in Ponderosa Pine Restoration in Ponderosa Pine

Okanagan Valley, British Okanagan Valley, British ColumbiaColumbia

White Lake Grasslands White Lake Grasslands Protected Area, BC ParksProtected Area, BC Parks

Judy Millar, RPBio

Workshop on Ecological Restoration Best Practices in Protected Natural Areas, Waterton, Alberta, October 3, 2007

Photo by Daryl Stepaniuk

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RelevanceRelevance

Restore ecological resilience for healthier Restore ecological resilience for healthier ecosystems that can withstand pests and diseaseecosystems that can withstand pests and disease

Apply restoration techniques and management Apply restoration techniques and management guidelines:guidelines:

ReRe--create precreate pre--fire suppression native plant fire suppression native plant communities communities Control and manage of invasive speciesControl and manage of invasive species

Implement ecosystem restoration projects: Implement ecosystem restoration projects: Define restoration challenges (changing)Define restoration challenges (changing)Set restoration priorities Set restoration priorities Develop goals and objectivesDevelop goals and objectivesDevelop detailed plansDevelop detailed plans Photo by Judy Millar

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The GoalThe Goal

Ecosystem

Very hot and dry grasslands, open pine forests and associated alkali ponds, riparian areas, rock outcroppings and associated wildlife habitatsOne of the four most endangered ecosystems in Canada

Restore ecological resilience for healthier ecosystemsRestore ecological resilience for healthier ecosystems

Photo by Rose Gunoff

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Restoration Restoration ChallengesChallengesRestore the natural ecosystem structure, function, composition and dynamics

Restore ecosystem resilience Reduce fuel build-up, encroachment & infillingHigh Risk Urban InterfaceSpecies/Ecosystem at Risk(Antelope Bruch and WHWO)Improve management techniquesLimited staff time and funding

New Challenges

Px fire - IP’s and WPB

Sulphur cinquefoil direct competition with native grasses

Western pine 

beetle

Photo by Judy Millar

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Establishing PrioritiesEstablishing PrioritiesSpecies and Ecosystems at RiskSpecies and Ecosystems at Risk

WLGPA WLGPA -- 20% is grassland 0.4% is antelope20% is grassland 0.4% is antelope--brush (Redbrush (Red--listed; globally listed; globally imperilled)imperilled)

Showy PhloxShowy Phlox

AntelopeAntelope--brushbrush ((PurshiaPurshiatridentatatridentata) ) Plant CommunityPlant Community

88 provincially 88 provincially 

listed Species at Risklisted Species at Risk

Bighorn Sheep

Western Rattlesnake

Photos: MOE

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White-headed WoodpeckerProvincially “Red-listed” &

Federally Endangered

Small population sizeRestricted range Dependency on Py seeds Loss and degradation of habitatBreed only in the south Okanagan

Two critical needs for White-headed Woodpeckers in the South Okanagan are a good food source and ‘snags’ for nesting sites;

Px fire challenge of protecting old ‘snags’

Establishing Priorities

Photos by Judy Millar, Crystal Klym & MOE

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Fuel reduction is a priority and required to

decrease the risk of wildfire

near communities and to prevent damage to ecosystems from high

intensity wildfires.

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New ChallengesNew ChallengesWestern Pine BeetleWestern Pine Beetle

((DendroctonusDendroctonus brevicomisbrevicomis ))

Can attack and kill Can attack and kill PyPy trees of all ages and trees of all ages and vigorvigorBreed in and kill mature, diseased or drought stressed OR trees Breed in and kill mature, diseased or drought stressed OR trees impacted by lightning, fire or mechanical injuryimpacted by lightning, fire or mechanical injuryDisrupt management planning and operations, and increase Disrupt management planning and operations, and increase forest fire danger by adding to available fuelsforest fire danger by adding to available fuels135 ponderosa pine trees infested with bark beetles135 ponderosa pine trees infested with bark beetles

(Clarence J. (Clarence J. DeMarsDeMars, Jr., and Bruce H. , Jr., and Bruce H. RoettgeringRoettgering, USFS), USFS)

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Western Pine BeetleCut, pile and burn

Thinning of dense, 70Thinning of dense, 70‐‐ to 80to 80‐‐yearyear‐‐old trees is an effective old trees is an effective silviculturalsilvicultural method to method to reduce stocking to ~50% reduce stocking to ~50% Reduces competition among the remaining trees, improve their Reduces competition among the remaining trees, improve their vigorvigor, and make , and make them less prone to successful bark beetle attack.them less prone to successful bark beetle attack.

Photo Mark Weston

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• Common in southern BC• Adapted to a wide range of soils

and climates• Does not need disturbed soils• Very competitive • Unpalatable to grazing animals

• Long growing season

• Effectively dispersed by birds, animals and livestock

• Also spread by its roots

Sulphur cinquefoil(Potentilla recta)

Monoculture‐forming a dense cover, limiting the regeneration  of native plants.

Photo by Judy Millar

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White Lake Grasslands Location White Lake Grasslands Location MapMap

White Lake Grasslands Protected Area, BC

WashingtonIdaho

Alberta

Vancouver Island

Okanagan Valley

Vancouver

‘Columbia Basin Shrub-Steppe’ – Hot,

Dry Ecosystems

Ecologically linked to the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahua Deserts further to the south

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Ponderosa Pine Ponderosa Pine biogeoclimaticbiogeoclimatic zone (PPxh1);zone (PPxh1); very hot, xeric (dry)very hot, xeric (dry)

White Lake Grassland Protected Area  (3700 ha.) 20 White Lake Grassland Protected Area  (3700 ha.) 20 kmskms southwest of Pentictonsouthwest of Penticton

Photo by Judy Millar

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Mahoney Lake Ecological Reserve

White Lake Grasslands Protected Area

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Detailed Plans (Restoration Plan and Impact Assessment)

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Implementation Implementation -- ThinningThinning

Cut immature treesCut immature trees<20 cm DBH<20 cm DBH

Retain large Retain large PyPy trees trees and snags >20 cm and snags >20 cm 

Cut, pile and burnCut, pile and burndense dense PyPy and and DfDf

Cut overCut over‐‐mature Saskatoon mature Saskatoon 

To <1m and burnTo <1m and burn

Photo by Judy Millar

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Remove all treesRemove all trees<20cm <20cm dbhdbh to reduceto reducethe fire hazard alongthe fire hazard alongthe access road/trail the access road/trail 

within 30 mwithin 30 m

Produce open habitats (i.e. 20‐50% canopy closure)

All material chipped30m x2 for 1km. 

$10K

Photo by Rose Gunoff

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MonitoringMonitoring75 monitoring plots 75 monitoring plots 100 m apart on a grid pattern100 m apart on a grid pattern

Data collected:Data collected:

UTM coordinates/photosUTM coordinates/photosTree, shrub, herb Tree, shrub, herb sppspp. and % . and % cover cover Species & # of trees in diameter Species & # of trees in diameter classes: <1cm; 1classes: <1cm; 1--10 cm; 1010 cm; 10--20 20 cm; and >20 cmcm; and >20 cmDBH of trees greater than 20 cmDBH of trees greater than 20 cmFuel depth Fuel depth % cover of coarse woody debris% cover of coarse woody debrisWeed species and number of Weed species and number of stemsstems

BC Parks Photo

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COSTCOST

2001 2001 –– Restoration Plan (CWS ~$5K)Restoration Plan (CWS ~$5K)2004/05 2004/05 --Planning/Prescriptions ($20K)Planning/Prescriptions ($20K)20052005--07 07 –– Thinning ($100K)Thinning ($100K)20052005--Fuel hazard Assessments Fuel hazard Assessments –– Interface ($5K)Interface ($5K)2005 2005 -- Access Road/Trail (Fire Smart) Access Road/Trail (Fire Smart) –– ($10K)($10K)2005/06 IP treatments/inventory ($7K)2005/06 IP treatments/inventory ($7K)2007 2007 -- Beetle Survey (MOFR ~ $5K)Beetle Survey (MOFR ~ $5K)2007 2007 -- Green Attack Cut and Burn ($15K)Green Attack Cut and Burn ($15K)

Total of Project to date Total of Project to date -- $167K$167K

Photo by Judy Millar

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OutcomesOutcomesThinningThinning

Significant reduction in fuel loadsSignificant reduction in fuel loads

Decrease the number of stems Decrease the number of stems per hectare; open parklandper hectare; open parkland--like like habitat with scattered mature habitat with scattered mature trees and snagstrees and snags

Significant improvement in the Significant improvement in the habitat WHWO; habitat WHWO; Increased cone production and improvement to and improvement to habitats for other species of habitats for other species of concern including bats and Mule concern including bats and Mule DeerDeer

Prepared the site for Prepared the site for PxPx FireFire

Photo by Judy Millar

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Final Challenge Final Challenge –– Prescribed FirePrescribed Fire

Invasive plantsInvasive plants

WBP attracted to WBP attracted to stressed stressed PyPy

Burning in the Burning in the interfaceinterface

Photo Crystal Klym

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The  EndThe  End

Cathedral Provincial ParkCathedral Provincial Park

Photos by Judy Millar