Sediment and runoff collected from forwarder trails, biomass reduction project, Kaniksu National Forest, Idaho

Fuels reduction is a forest management tool that has been in practice for the last couple of decades, especially since the development of the Wildfires and Healthy Forest Initiative Act (2003, White House). The goal behind reduction of fuels is to limit and/or prohibit catastrophic wildfires, pest infestation and to help promote healthy forests and wildlife habitat. Fuel reduction management plays an important role for forest managers when trying to minimize impact of wildfire on the wildland urban interface (WUI). One of the concerns with fuels reduction practices is mineral soil exposure in a steep, mountainous environment. These types of conditions are suitable for promoting erosion. Several studies have investigated fuels reduction in the northwestern United States after management practices. Research has explored methods which include but are not limited to; thinning and harvesting biomass and even simulated wildfire. The Lakeface-Lamb Fuel Reduction Project (LLFRP) site is located in the northern Idaho panhandle. This research site is located within the bounds of Unit 33, which was commercially thinned using a harvester forwarder cut-to-length logging system in May of 2004. Plots were installed shortly thereafter, and then in October of 2004 the unit was slashed and left to dry before piling with an excavator in October of 2005 and jackpot burned in the fall of 2006. Seven hillslope tipping bucket runoff plots were installed: four disturbed plots on the Unit 33 forwarder trails and the other three on an adjacent undisturbed area (control plots). Hillslope runoff data were collected from 2004-2008. Cover data were collected on the disturbed sites yearly (2004-2008), and on the control sites every year, except 2008. Soil samples were gathered at each plot to discern soil texture (particle size analysis) and bulk density. Soil loss samples were collected 2005-2009 from 1) the suspended water in the sediment trap, 2) the settled soil which accumulates in the sediment trap and 3) the gutter. Because the soil loss samples were collected after the events of equipment installation (2004), dates for this file are off by one year. The soil loss samples are designated as: 2005-2009 as they were collected during these years for soil loss that occurred during 2004-2008. This data publication also includes 2004-2008 weather data from the Remote Automatic Weather Station (RAWS)-Priest Lake Ranger District. Also included for download is a map package of the area (available for viewing in ArcGIS program) or the standalone files associated with the map (for use in ArcGIS or other GIS programs). The following data are included: Digital Elevation Model, topographic raster, and several shapefiles outlining the locations of unit boundaries, control and treated plots and trails color coded for traffic use and one-way and two-way traffic.
This study investigates and measures sediment yield and runoff from small hillslope plots on forwarder trails to the sediment yield and runoff from small hillslope plots on an undisturbed (control) site.