Response of overstory trees and understory regeneration to a green-tree retention harvest as part of the Spearfish Timber Sale, Wind River Experimental Forest

This data publication contains the 1989 and 1998 data from the assessment of overstory trees and the regeneration 12 years after a clearcut harvest with reserve trees in an even-aged, 145-year-old Douglas-fir stand on a moderately productive site (site class 3) in southwest Washington in the Wind River Experimental Forest. The 15 hectare (ha) harvest unit was superimposed over two areas differentially thinned 15 and 34 years before clearcutting, which retained 18 trees/ha with a mean diameter of 63 centimeters. This study is described in more detail in Buermeyer and Harrington (2002). The data provided include 1989 and 1998 tree height and diameter for all 287 overstory trees in the 15 ha harvest unit, along with additional measurements for some trees such as tree damage, severity, and height to live crown. A subset of these trees were also cored to provide diameter at breast height growth increases in 3 year increments from 1977-1998. An additional 1 ha study plot was placed within the 15 ha harvest unit. The location, height class, and species of all 5870 seedlings (both overstory and understory trees) on this plot were measured in October 1998.
In the 1990s there was increased interest in the Pacific Northwest in retaining live overstory trees (green tree retention). This study was initially planned as an operational shelterwood harvest superimposed over a thinning trial and it was realized that collection of additional data could be useful in documenting response (survival and growth) of the residual overstory trees and seeing the pattern, amount, and growth of the natural regeneration that resulted. The study was visited on several tours.