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Table 2. Vegetation Cover by Treatment, 2006 and 2010
expected after mechanical treatment. Shrub, forb and perennial grass totals increased,
shrubs and forbs substantially. For simplicity, the tables do not include
statistical analysis technicalities. Results shown are consistent with statistical
analysis results currently submitted for publishing.
We also grouped the data by treatment method to demonstrate any differences
in vegetation response between the methods (Table 2). Looking at the
data by treatment, we see total reduction in tree cover for all treatments except
the veg-crusher/bulldozer method, which left several live trees. Shrub cover
increased similarly across all treatment methods. Forb cover more than doubled
for all treatments except for mastication. Alternatively, the mastication treatment
showed a large increase in perennial grass cover. Other treatments showed
a very small increase in perennial grass cover and a decrease for the bulldozer
method. Cheatgrass cover did not change. Its presence was minimal before
treatment and did not increase. The method leaving the least amount of slash or
biomass residue was lop, pile and burn.
The largest variation among the treatment methods was cost. Table 3 shows
the costs for each method used in the research project and the current going
rates. Due to the small acreage for the research project, costs for some methods
were inflated. The chaining was conducted at normal cost since there were 700
more acres chaining within the project area. The least expensive method was
the bulldozer and one-way chaining. The most expensive was the feller-buncher
and chipper. The lop, pile and burn method was effective in reaching objectives,
however it is very labor intensive, and thus, expensive. Mastication is at least
double the cost of lop and scatter.
Table 3
Treatment Methods
Project Rates
$/acre
Normal Rates
$/acre
Lop and scatter $525 $100-200
Lop, pile, burn $935 $400-500
Fecon shredder/masticator $460 $400
Bulldozer or one-way chaining $83 $100
Feller-buncher-chipper $2,000 $1000
We can infer from the results that we met our goals for the project. We reduced
tree cover and increased shrubs, forbs, and grass cover without introducing
more cheatgrass onto the site. We have minimized the potential for a large
fire moving through the study area and the rest of the project area. Flourishing
shrubs and herbaceous species should improve wildlife habitat for ungulates
and birds. We, also, more fully understand the variety of methods used to accomplish
mechanical removal of trees. Finally, monitoring protocols are in place
for future analysis and evaluation.
All treatment options seemed to meet project objectives…perhaps some
better than others, primarily economically. Though veg-crushing or one-way
chaining is cheap, it does not accomplish thorough removal of pinyon and
juniper. More expensive two-way chaining increases tree and shrub mortality.
Shredding machines like the feller-buncher and masticator can be expensive, but
wood chip residue is preferable to logs and limbs when considering aesthetics,
fire, and pathogen hazards. On the other hand, dead biomass nutrients remain
on site that may benefit living organisms. Machines are restricted by topography
and road access, while chainsaw crews are more versatile on difficult terrain.
Pinyon and juniper trees with low to medium cover are optimal for chainsaw
crew lop and scatter methods.
Options and considerations are plentiful in planning treatments to reduce
pinyon and juniper cover. Among many things, we must consider available funding,
terrain and access difficulty, and last, but not least, our desire of healthy and
resilient ecological condition of our valuable sagebrush ecosystems.
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