Clackamas Soil & Water Conservation District

Forestland

Whether you are a small woodland owner or you manage large forested tracts, we can help you implement conservation practices that will help you and future generations enjoy the many benefits from a well-maintained, sustainably managed woodland or forest. Below is a list of forestry-related practices the District can help you implement on your land.

Brush Management - Removal, reduction, or manipulation of non-herbaceous plants.
This practice may be applied as part of a conservation management system to accomplish one or more of the following purposes:

Restore natural plant community balance
Create the desired plant community
Reduce competition for space, moisture, and sunlight between desired and unwanted plants
Manage noxious woody plants
Restore desired vegetative cover to protect soils, control erosion, reduce sediment, improve water quality and enhance stream flow
Maintain or enhance wildlife habitat including that associated with threatened and endangered species
Improve forage accessibility, quality and quantity for livestock
Protect life and property from wildfire hazards
Improve visibility and access for handling livestock

Tree and Shrub Planting Site Preparation - Treatment of areas to improve site conditions for establishing trees and/or shrubs. This practice usually entails removing invasive or competing species.

Forest Slash Treatment - Treating woody plant residues created during forestry, agroforestry and horticultural activities to achieve management objectives.

Reduce hazardous fuels
Reduce the risk of harmful insects and disease
Protect/maintain air quality by reducing the risk of wildfire
Improve access to forage for grazing and browsing animals
Enhance aesthetics
Reduce the risk of harm to humans and livestock
Improve the soil organic matter
Improve the site for natural or artificial regeneration

Forest Stand Improvement - Manipulation of species composition, stand structure and stocking by cutting or killing selected trees and understory vegetation.

Increase the quantity and quality of forest products by manipulating stand density and structure
Harvest forest products
Initiate forest stand regeneration
Reduce wildfire hazard
Improve forest health reducing the potential of damage from pests and moisture stress
Restore natural plant communities
Achieve or maintain a desired native understory plant community for special forest products, grazing, and browsing
Improve aesthetic and recreation, values
Improve wildlife habitat
Alter water yield
Increase carbon storage in selected trees

Forest Trails and Landings - Temporary or infrequently used routes, paths or cleared areas within a forest.

Provide infrequent access to forest stands for management activities including fire suppression
Provide periodic access for removal and collection of forest products

Fuel Break - Strip or block of land on which the vegetation, debris and detritus have been reduced and/or modified to control or diminish the risk of the spread of fire crossing the strip or block of land. It controls and reduces the risk of the spread of fire by treating, removing or modifying vegetation, debris and detritus.

Riparian Forest Buffer - Area predominantly managed as trees and/or shrubs located adjacent to and up-gradient from watercourses or water bodies.

Create shade to lower or maintain water temperatures to improve habitat for aquatic organisms
Create or improve riparian habitat and provide a source of detritus and large woody debris
Reduce excess amounts of sediment, organic material, nutrients and pesticides in surface runoff and reduce excess nutrients and other chemicals in shallow ground water flow
Reduce pesticide drift entering the water body
Restore riparian plant communities
Increase carbon storage in plant biomass and soils

Tree and Shrub Establishment - Establish woody plants for:

forest products such as timber, pulpwood, and energy biomass
wildlife habitat
long-term erosion control and improvement of water quality
treating waste
storing carbon in biomass
energy conservation
improving or restoring natural diversity
enhancing aesthetics

Tree Pruning - Removal of all or part of selected branches, leaders or roots from trees and shrubs.

Improve the appearance of trees or shrubs, e.g., ornamental plants and Christmas trees
Improve the quality of wood products
Improve the production of plant products, e.g., nuts, fruits, boughs and tips.
Reduce fire and/or safety hazards
Improve the growth and vigor of understory plants
Adjust the foliage and branching density or rooting length for other specific intents, such as wind and snow control, noise abatement, access control, and visual screens and managing competition
Improve health and vigor of woody plants e.g. disease, insect and injury management