2016 Foundation Creek Genetically Diverse WBP – Operational Cone Collection

General Project Information

Project Title: Foundation Creek Genetically Diverse WBP – Operational Cone Collection

Project Dates: 2016

Year project implementation started:

How many more years is this project expected to continue, if any?

Project Contact: (Please provide complete information for primary contact(s), e.g., name, position, phone number, email, agency name, unit/sub-unit)

Megan Strom, mstrom@fs.fed.us, (406)296-7125

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.)

USFS, Kootenai National Forest, Rexford/Fortine Ranger District, Montana

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                   $5,000

Other funding                                                 $1,500

Total                                                               $6,500

Did Whitebark Restoration funding get used or obligated? (If not, please explain.)

Yes, per direction from Sandy Kegley and Mary Francis Mahalovich, the funds were obligated to the Coeur d’Alene nursery for the purpose of Kootenai NF PIAL (Whitebark pine) projects including seed cleaning and production.

 

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.)

20 – 25 trees over approximately 225 acres

Number of Acres or Other Units Treated, Monitored, or Surveyed:

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):

• Identify trees for operational cone collection.
• Monitor general condition and trend of WBP health.
• Conduct rust resistance and MBP surveys.
• Secure seed from genetically diverse population of WBP.
• Prepare for future years planting by conducting operational cone collection. Seed will be used for planting WBP in areas on the 2015 Marston fire and possible future planting needs in the Galton Vegetation EIS proposed burn areas.

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:

Funds were allocated to the Coeur d’Alene nursery for PIAL projects from the Kootenai NF.  This will assist in offsetting nursery costs for other cone collections that occurred on the Kootenai this summer with the cleaning and propagation of that seed.

Project Status (Is the project complete? If not, what remains to be accomplished and when?

The project as originally conceived was not implemented as cones were not present within the desired collection area. Regular Forest Service funds were utilized for reconnaissance and travel. All FHP funds were obligated to the nursery for the above-mentioned purposes.

Will outcome meet objectives?

Cone collection from the Foundation Creek area did not occur this fiscal year as cones were not present to be collected. Field surveys were conducted and plus trees were identified within the Foundation Creek genetically diverse area. General trends of tree health were observed.

 

Project Follow-Up

Are there plans for monitoring or follow-up? (If not, please explain.)

We will continue to prepare for cone collection and collect cones when they are available.

Changes Needed or Problems Encountered:

The problem encountered was that cones were not present within the collection area. The Forest Silviculturist worked through the system and was approved to allocate the money to the Coeur d’Alene nursery. This was an excellent compromise for the Forest as it will allow us to offset some of the other costs from cone collections and seedlings.