This project will provide sanitation and thinning of about 50 acres in 2010 (approximately 250 acres total through 2014) to enhance the white bark pine stand on Commissary Ridge, which is the southernmost white bark pine stand in Wyoming. The area has mature and young stands of white bark and limber pine. The mature trees have extensive 70+% mountain pine beetle infestation with a new infection of white pine blister rust. The project would remove diseased white bark and limber pine reduce the spread of mountain pine beetle and white pine blister rust to enable the younger aged cohorts to survive. FHP report has been done. White bark pine is an important tree species for wildlife. The area has mature and young stands of white bark pine. The stands also have a sub alpine fir encroaching into the white bark pine. The project would also reduce the number of sub alpine fir in order to release the young white bark pine. Diseased white bark pine and subalpine fir will be removed from the area to increase viability and production of natural white bark pine regeneration.
General Prescription is for an overstory removal of all 5" or greater pines in the area as a salvage/sanitation cut. Remove all pines with mountain pine beetle attacks. Remove competing vegetation (i.e. subalpine fire) within 50' (could be a little less) from all small identified whitebark pine (5" DBH or less) - the reasoning behind this is to allow them to release.
