Alder Thinning and WCC training

We're back! I apologize for the 3 week blog hiatus. Over the past few weeks we've been having too much fun/been too busy to keep up on the blog, what with WCC training, chainsaw work, fish trap removal...all sorts of good stuff.

WDFW smolt trap removal

A quick run-down of what we've learned in the past few weeks:

1.WCC Training - a week-long training put on by the WCC

• James, AJ, Chris - wildland firefighting (they will be getting their red cards!)
• Lou - grant writing
• Owen - ethnobotany
• Katie - GPS/GIS

2. How to safely run chainsaws and fell trees
3. How to tube trees like mad men
4. The basics of running a grip hoist
4. Red-headed ants taste like limes.  For real.


This past week has been spent thinning alders.  The site is situated on a hillside next to Salmon Creek and was logged many years ago.  No replanting was done and the entire site has been dominated by alder trees, some growing so close together you can barely walk through them.  There is currently no room for conifers to grow to start the next step in plant succession - the alders are going to grow old and die and leave the area open to invasives such as scotch broom and blackberry.

Our job this past week was to fell some of the excessive alders, leaving trees spaced about 12 feet apart.  Next year's crew will return to the site and interplant conifers between the remaining alders.  There will be gaps in the canopy to provide sunlight and ground space for other species of trees to grow, leading to a much healthier and biologically diverse site.

Training on saw maintenance and safety

AJ

Chris

An area we finished thinning

AJ planning his next move

James leveling-off staubs to make it safer for next year's crew

Katie