2009 Simmons Peak WBP Cone Collection
Project: Simmons Peak Whitebark Pine Cone Collection
Agency/Forest or Park/District: USFS, Idaho Panhandle National Forest, St. Joe Ranger District (Avery, Idaho)
Project coordinator: Sidnee Dittman
Contact: Sidnee Dittman 208-245-6284 sdittman@fs.fed.us
Cooperators
Dennis Riley (wildlife biologist) and Sidnee Dittman (culturist), USFS
Source of funding /amount
FHP: $1,000
Supplemental funding: $680 from FS
Dates of restoration efforts
Identified cone trees on July 6th, caged them on the 9th and 16th of July. Collected them on September 30th.
Objectives
Collect cones of 5 or more phenotypically rust resistant WBP trees in the Simmons Peak area to complete the operational seed lot (need a minimum of 20 trees). This seed would be used for future landscape level restoration projects.
Acres/ha treated
5 or more trees
Methods
Two certified climbers will cage the cones in July and collect them in mid to late September. We identified several trees with conelets at Simmons Peak in the fall ´08. Mountain Pine Beetle activity is low to none in this area so there is no need to protect trees with verbenone.
Outcome
We collected 204 cones which had 8,813 seeds from 11 trees.
Monitoring since completion of the project
We planted 41 acres with the seed in the upper St. Joe in the Fall of 2012.
Will outcome meet goals?
Yes, we finished a bulk collection of WBP and outplanted the seed back onto the landscape.
Future actions/follow up?
We will continue to monitor these plantations