Timber Harvest Guidelines/Risk Analysis and Guidelines Tool Formats

Fig. 1 - Query section of user page

Timber Harvest Guidelines

Preventive measures developed for minimizing initiation of new oak wilt infection centers and the potential for future tree losses due to oak wilt in regenerated stands were described in three brief statements: (1) Do not harvest or conduct activities that may wound oaks, (2) Harvesting may be conducted if stumps are treated, and (3) No restrictions. The first two measures largely apply to stand harvest activities being considered for spring and early summer. A summary of the stand/harvesting scenarios associated with each of the preventive recommendations when categorized by timing and proximity factors is presented in (Table: Management guidelines.). For timber stands where oak wilt centers already exist and harvest of and regeneration to oak are planned, the guidelines include some further considerations. Specifically, foresters are advised to first consider the landowner’s tolerance for future tree losses to oak wilt in the regenerated stands. Disease control actions, such as stump extraction or soil trenching, could be valuable for greatly reducing the carryover of oak wilt into the future stand.

Risk Analysis and Guidelines Tool Formats

Three different formats of the risk analysis results and the harvest guidelines were developed for end users. A hard-copy, decision-tree format (filename: oakwiltguide031507.pdf) with accompanying tables is available from the Wisconsin DNR website (http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/fh/oakWilt/guidelines.asp). The electronic spreadsheet version of the results (filename: oakwiltguide031507.xls) is also available from the same site. The interactive, online format was adapted from the spreadsheet version. The front user page of the spreadsheet-based tool (Figure 1) and of the online tool requires the user to input conditions of the stand being considered for harvest. The questions asked of the user include: (1) Is oak wilt present? (2) What time of the year do you propose cutting? (3) What is the basal area of red oak in the stand? (4) What is the general topography of the stand? and (5) What is the general soil texture of the stand?

Fig. 2 - Response section of user page

The user selects a response from the multiple-choice answers offered for each question. The spreadsheet application then selects and displays the appropriate ratings and recommendations for the conditions described by the user (Figure 2), as does the online version.