2016 Whitebark Pine Operational Cone Collection Flathead
General Project Information
Project Title: Whitebark Pine 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)
Karl A. Anderson, Forest Culturist, kaanderson@fs.fed.us, (406) 758-3535
Flathead National Forest, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, Montana 59901
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.)
Flathead National Forest (FNF)
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 $14,700
Other funding $ 8,650
Total $23,350
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:
50 trees; climbed twice
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):
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.) Yes
Were Plus trees used? Yes, in addition to some that were Unknown
Results/Outcome:
We accomplished our goal of maintaining a viable seed bank of WBP seed that will meet our seed procurement and collection needs for our large, multi-year whitebark pine restoration planting program. The forest is now able to continue to operationally sow seed in an effort to get seedlings established in areas identified for restoration (primarily post-fire areas with limited or no seed source). The forest currently has 300 acres of seedlings growing at the Coeur d’Alene Nursery for out-year planting in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The forest has a substantial need for seed collection due to our sustained large whitebark pine planting program. All seed collected on the FNF can be used anywhere within the Inland Northwest seed zone (a combination of the former Missions/Glacier Park, Clark Fork/Lolo Pass and Selkirk-Cabinets seed zones) providing opportunities for this collection to assist other forests or agencies should needs arise.
Project Status (Is the project complete? If not, what remains to be accomplished and when?
Complete
Will outcome meet objectives?
Yes, the outcome allows us to have seed stored at the Nursery that will help us meet future Forest operational planting needs. The seed collected will provide seedlings with higher than average levels of rust resistance that will be planted in identified restoration areas to promote rust-resistant whitebark pine establishment and restoration of whitebark pine ecosystems. We expect to be able to plant approximately 200 acres from this collection.
Project Follow-Up
Are there plans for monitoring or follow-up? (If not, please explain.)
Yes, we will be monitoring and following up with the Nursery on these seed collections for viability and germination rates along with monitoring how the seedlings perform as operational plantings across the Forest.
Changes Needed or Problems Encountered:
Although the seed crop was lower than expected, the moderate cone crop was well worth collecting.