2015 Lolo Forestwide WBP Cone Collection
General Project Information
Project Title: Lolo Forestwide WBP Cone Collection
Project Dates: 2015
Year project implementation started: 2015
How many more years is this project expected to continue, if any? 2 years
Project Contact: (Please provide complete information for primary contact(s), e.g., name, position, phone number, email, agency name, unit/sub-unit)
Mike Mueller, mlmueller@fs.fed.us, (406) 826-4353
Location (Land management agency or ownership and name of geographic area(s) where project was implemented. This information should be specific enough to identify a general project location on a map but not specific enough to compromise the project.)
Lolo National Forest, Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District, MT
Cooperators: (List cooperating agencies and sub-units, other companies/organizations, and individuals as needed.)
Project Funding
Funding Sources (amount FHP/amount other incl. in-kind)
Forest Health Protection funding $20,178
Other funding $ 2,500
Total $22,678
Did Whitebark Restoration funding get used or obligated? (If not, please explain.) Yes
Project Details
Scope and/or Size of Project or Treated Area: (Include a short description of the project or treatment area if helpful in understanding the scope of the project.)
Number of Acres or Other Units Treated, Monitored, or Surveyed:
Collected cones from 20 trees in 2015 with another 48 trees to be collected from in 2016 and 2017
Specific location of project or treated area(s): (If desired, add more specific project location information here, e.g., UTMs, Lat-long, specific landmark. Otherwise, indicate if more information is available by request.)
Objective(s) (from original request):
Operational Cone Collections
Cone collections for regeneration purposes (this is different than plus tree cone collections which is in focus area “C”). Trees should be pre-screened for blister rust resistance or phenotypically resistant.
Planting: (Please answer the following questions if the project includes plantings or cone collections.)
Number of seedlings planted (List by location if applicable): N/A
Was the seed source screened for resistance? (If other, explain.)
Were Plus trees used?
Results/Outcome:
While 2015 was not a bumper crop year for WBP cones, we did collect 4 bushels of cones from Stark Mtn. to add to the regional seed inventory.
Project Status (Is the project complete? If not, what remains to be accomplished and when?
Funding was obligated in 2015 to the Lolo vegetation collection contract. This amount of funding allows us to cage and collect from 68 trees over the next few years. In 2015, cone surveys were conducted across the forest in areas where the initial rust screening has taken place and where WBP plus trees are located. Stark Mtn. was selected because of the number of cones. Cones from 20 trees on Stark Mtn. were caged on July 1st and then collected on August 21st. Cone surveys will be conducted over the next two years to cage and collect from the remaining 48 trees.
Will outcome meet objectives?
Yes, the final outcome will completely meet project objectives when the task order is completed. The WBP seed will be added to the regional seed inventory at Coeur d’ Alene nursery for any forest in the region to use, providing they are in the right transfer zone.
Project Follow-Up
Are there plans for monitoring or follow-up? (If not, please explain.)
Changes Needed or Problems Encountered: None