Ecology and Management of Forests of Eastern Washington

ESRM 491A: Ecology and Management of Forests of Eastern Washington

ESRM 491A

Professor Jerry Franklin

July 6-13, 2009

 

Contact Information:

 

Professor Jerry Franklin: jff@u.washington.edu

 

TA: Keala Hagmann hokulea@u.washington.edu

 

 

To sign up for the course, contact Keala for an add code.

 

 

 

Course Overview

 

This week long-field course offers an introduction to the ecology and complex management challenges of the forests of the eastern Cascades of Washington.  Selected sites encompass the rich diversity of forest types found in this region, and the history, opportunities, barriers, and uncertainties associated with managing them. Each day, leading scientists, managers, and stakeholders from state, federal, tribal and private lands will guide site tours, field lectures, and discussions. Students will gain a solid understanding of the ecological structure, function, and disturbance regimes of these forests, as well as a thorough overview of the historic and current efforts to manage and restore them.

 

Sites on the eastern slopes of the Cascades and Okanogan Highlands include:

· Relic pine stands at Meeks Table Research Natural Area

· Tieton Creek collaborative restoration efforts

· Ellensberg District DNR lands and old growth larch.

· Landscape management in the Wenatchee Basin.

· Fire and Fire Surrogate Study area

· Methow Valley and the Tripod Fire

· Colville tribal lands

· Hart’s Pass and subalpine forests

 

Course content includes:

· Biota and natural history of ponderosa pine, mixed-conifer, and subalpine forests.

· Historic forest structure and composition

· Consequence of modern human activities – livestock, logging and fire suppression

· Forest health issues including insects, wildfire, and climate change

· Management and restoration approaches for wood, biomass, health, and wildlife

· Landscape-level issues in restoring forests and forest landscapes

· Policy issues in providing overall direction for management of dry forests

 

Professor Jerry Franklin has been actively involved in research in forest ecology and management for the past three decades. His work includes management plans requested by federal and state legislature such as the Northwest Forest Plan (24 million acres), the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project (20 million acres), and most recently the 2008 report to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (The Case for Active Management of Dry Forest Types in Eastern Washington).

 

http://faculty.washington.edu/jff/index.htm

 

We will be camping at different locales each night for the entire period. Student should be prepared for moderate hiking. Daily showers are not available.

 

 

 

Contact Information:

 

Please contact Professor Jerry Franklin jff@u.washington.edu

 

TA Keala Hagmann hokulea@u.washington.edu for information or to obtain an add code for the summer course.