FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH REVIEW

Thursday January 10, 2019 Cloquet Forestry Center

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

AGENDA ........................................................................................................................................................... 5

WELCOME AND OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................... 7

BLOCK 1 ............................................................................................................................................................ 8

Forest metric mapping in northern Minnesota: Can we see the forest for the trees without missing

the trees? ......................................................................................................................................................... 8

Effects of Snow Removal on Soil Frost Development in Forested Peatlands ................................ 9

Using Lidar-Multispectral Data Fusion for Enhancing Forest Inventories........................................ 10

Development of a Sampling Design to Assess the Importance of Hydrology and Climate on

Floodplain Forests of the Upper Mississippi River System .................................................................. 11

Remotely Sensed Ash Abundance in Minnesota derived from Landsat Time Series and Lidar

Surface Models ............................................................................................................................................. 12

Regeneration, Tending, and Regeneration Harvests: An assessment of silvicultural strategies

used in Minnesota........................................................................................................................................ 13

BLOCK 2 .......................................................................................................................................................... 14

Understanding Fire Behavior in a Complex Landscape ........................................................................ 14

Effects of Biochar, Weed Control, and Irrigation on Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) Survival and

Growth .......................................................................................................................................................... 15

Minnesota’s Loggers and Invasive Forest Plants: An Assessment of Awareness, Actions and

Training Opportunities ............................................................................................................................... 16

Analyzing the current and future habitat, areas of major concern, and dispersal of invasive

forest plants in Minnesota .......................................................................................................................... 18

Does thinning white spruce increase stand level resilience to spruce budworm?.............................. 19

How are we managing forest health? An assessment of silvicultural strategies used in Minnesota

........................................................................................................................................................................ 20

BLOCK 3 .......................................................................................................................................................... 22

Evaluating artificial den boxes as a habitat management tool for fishers in Minnesota .............. 22

Forest structure influences interactions between American martens and their predators ............... 24

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Utilizing the MN Ecological Classification System to Prioritize GWWA Nesting Habitat

Enhancement Locations ............................................................................................................................. 26

Evaluation of Tree Retention Guidelines Pertaining to Wildlife ......................................................... 27

Adaptive management for future oak forests in the hardwood hills of Minnesota–a 20 year

journey .......................................................................................................................................................... 28

Understanding the Perceptual Qualities of a Lost Landscape: A Modified Delphi Approach to

Inform Pine Barrens Restoration .............................................................................................................. 30

50-year growth and response to climate of ponderosa pine in Minnesota ..................................... 32

BLOCK 4 .......................................................................................................................................................... 33

From Skid Trails to Landscapes: Vegetation is the Dominant Factor Influencing Erosion After

Forest Harvest in the Lake States ............................................................................................................. 33

Quantitative Silviculture ............................................................................................................................. 35

Emerald Ash Borer and Wildlife: A Look into the Future ................................................................... 37

POSTER ONLY .............................................................................................................................................. 38

Alteration of habitat and food webs associated with failing culverts in northern forest streams ... 38

Regional patterns of quaking aspen health and mortality across northern Minnesota ecoregions . 39

Developing a web application to make avian models responsive to forest managers ...................... 40

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................... 41

SFEC MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS FOR 2018-2019 ......................................................................... 42

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SYMPOSIUM PARTICIPANTS................................................ 43

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AGENDA 8:15am Check-in opens

8:45am Welcome and agenda review Eli Sagor, UMN SFEC

8:50am BLOCK 1 Forest metric mapping in northern Minnesota: Can we see the forest for the trees without missing the trees? Keith Pelletier, UMN FR

Effects of Snow Removal on Soil Frost Development in Forested Peatlands Hannah Friesen, UMN FR

Using Lidar-Multispectral Data Fusion for Enhancing Forest Inventories Benjamin Allen, UMN FR

Development of a Sampling Design to Assess the Importance of Hydrology and Climate on Floodplain Forests of the Upper Mississippi River System

Daniel Nielsen, UMN FR

Remotely Sensed Ash Abundance in Minnesota derived from Landsat Time Series and Lidar Surface Models Trevor Host, UMN FR

Regeneration, Tending, and Regeneration Harvests: An assessment of silvicultural strategies used in Minnesota

Marcella Windmuller-Campione, UMN FR

10:15am Break and poster session

10:45am BLOCK 2

Understanding Fire Behavior in a Complex Landscape Jacob Olbrich, Iowa State University

Effects of Biochar, Weed Control, and Irrigation on Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) Survival and Growth Sara Kelso, UMN FR

Minnesota’s Loggers and Invasive Forest Plants: An Assessment of Awareness, Actions and Training Opportunities

Charlie Blinn, UMN FR

Analyzing the current and future habitat, areas of major concern, and dispersal of invasive forest plants in Minnesota

Jason Reinhardt, UMN FR

Does thinning white spruce increase stand level resilience to spruce budworm?

Stephanie Patton, UMN FR

How are we managing forest health? An assessment of silvicultural strategies used in Minnesota Matt Russell, UMN FR

12:05pm Lunch and poster session

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1:00pm BLOCK 3 Evaluating artificial den boxes as a habitat management tool for fishers in Minnesota

Michael Joyce, UMD NRRI

Forest structure influences interactions between American martens and their predators

Michael Joyce, UMD NRRI

Utilizing the MN Ecological Classification System to Prioritize GWWA Nesting Habitat Enhancement Locations

Kevin Sheppard, American Bird Conservancy

Evaluation of Tree Retention Guidelines Pertaining to Wildlife

Alexis Grinde, UMD NRRI

Adaptive management for future oak forests in the hardwood hills of Minnesota–a 20 year journey

John Geissler, Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum

Understanding the Key Characteristics of a Lost Landscape: A Modified Delphi Approach to Inform Pine Barrens Restoration

Ingrid Schneider, UMN FR

50-year growth and response to climate of ponderosa pine in Minnesota

Brian D. Anderson, UMN FR

2:30pm Break and poster session

3:00pm BLOCK 4From Skid Trails to Landscapes: Vegetation is the Dominant Factor Influencing Erosion After Forest Harvest in the Lake States

Zac McEachran, UMN FR

Quantitative Silviculture John DuPlissis, UMD NRRI

Emerald Ash Borer and Wildlife: A Look into the Future Alexis Grinde, UMDNRRI

4:00pm Closing and adjourn Eli Sagor, UMN SFEC

Denotes a lightning talk

Poster-only presentations not listed above: Alteration of habitat and food webs associated with failing culverts in northern forest streams, Sue Eggert, USDA Forest Service Norther Research Station

Regional patterns of quaking aspen health and mortality across northern Minnesota ecoregions, William Sea, Bemidji State University

Developing a web application to make avian models responsive to forest managers, Nick Walton, UMD NRRI

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WELCOME AND OVERVIEW

Welcome to SFEC’s 2019 Forestry and Wildlife Research Review!

Innovation at a large scale requires experimentation, learning, and exchange. That’s what the Research Review is about.

Each year the Research Review brings together a diverse group of natural resource professionals for updates on research relevant to their work. The presentations, questions, and discussion from wildlife managers, foresters, ecologists, water resource specialists, outreach professionals, students, and others bring us all up to speed on new developments and how they can inform our work on the ground.

We encourage you to engage with researchers to help them understand what you see as gaps or opportunities to improve future work. While there is not much time for Q&A during the presentation sessions, we have designed the event with conversation in mind. The generous breaks and Stine Room layout are intended to create opportunities to ask questions of presenters and peers, challenge what you’ve heard, and explore ways to improve the resource conservation and management work that you do every day. We hope you’ll consider the presentations the start of a conversation, not the last word.

As usual, this year’s Review includes a large group of presenters. You will hear 20-minute presentations and 5-minute lightning talks throughout the day. The lightning talks are a brief way to get the big ideas across so that you can fill in the details during the breaks and poster sessions.

We’re glad you joined us and we hope you enjoy the day!

-Eli Sagor and Madison Rodman

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BLOCK 1 Forest metric mapping in northern Minnesota: Can we see the forest for the trees without missing the trees? Keith Pelletier University of Minnesota Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis Laboratory pelle155@umn.edu, 6126243459 Recent advances in remotely-sensed data have provided unprecedented detail to support forest management with our ability to acquire optical and surface elevation data from manned and unmanned airborne platforms. These data provide a top-down perspective for forest inventory and management to augment existing ground-based approaches. Integrating high-resolution optical and surface information enables us to extract detailed metrics on forest canopy extent and vertical structure. Forest classes were derived using a semi-automated feature extraction approach in which imagery and canopy height models were segmented and classified as individual trees and forest stands. Multi-date normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) layers were used to classify coniferous and deciduous trees and forest stands. The individual tree and stand layers were then used to calculate forest metrics based on vertical structure and canopy extent. We compared these results to those from manned and unmanned sensors and field surveys. The preliminary results compared to the field surveys suggest we are mapping individual trees with high accuracy and that semi-automated forest stand delineation and structure measurements can enhance traditional forest inventory data with repeatable and scalable methods. Additional author names and affiliations: Dr. Jennifer Corcoran (MN DNR), Trevor Host (UMN), Dr. Joseph F. Knight (UMN), and Patrick Landisch (UMN)

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Effects of Snow Removal on Soil Frost Development in Forested Peatlands Hannah Friesen University of Minnesota fries060@umn.edu, 218-259-7740 Forested peatlands play an important economic role in the temperate-boreal region of North America, providing a valuable timber and pulpwood resource. Accessing these resources occurs during the winter following ample development of soil frost. However, climate models project fewer soil frost days and decreased total frost depth throughout this region by 2100, as well as a decrease in the amount of precipitation that falls as snow. While the impact of decreased snow cover on soil frost dynamics has been well-studied in mineral soils through the use of snow removal techniques, few studies have been conducted in peatlands. We used a paired-plot experimental design to assess the impact of snow removal on soil temperature and frost development at six forested peatland sites in northern Minnesota, during the winter of 2017-18. Treatments were either 1) removal of snow throughout the winter, or 2) ambient snow conditions. Here, we present on the results found after this winter, including a significant effect of snow removal by mid-winter that continued into spring, where removal of snow correlated with increased soil frost depth and colder soil temperatures compared to plots with ambient snow cover. These results indicate that predicted changes to the amount and form of wintertime precipitation in the temperate-boreal zone may result in increased soil frost development in forested peatland systems. However, the increased reactivity of soil temperature to air temperature fluctuations may offset this effect if average winter air temperatures are higher, as currently predicted. Additional author names and affiliations: Rob Slesak (MFRC), Diana Karwan (University of Minnesota), Randy Kolka (USFS)

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Using Lidar-Multispectral Data Fusion for Enhancing Forest Inventories Benjamin Allen University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources alle0638@umn.edu, 7637840385 Current forest inventories, such as the FIA program and state-level inventories rely primarily on data collected from field plots. The costs associated with field sampling limit sampling density and frequency. Remote sensing facilitates data collection over large areas, potentially allowing for more accurate estimates of forest attributes and for enhanced monitoring of changes in the forest over time, without significant increases in inventory costs. This talk will cover an ongoing project using high-density lidar and fall-color multispectral imagery in conjunction with field data to improve the precision of forest inventories. Models for common forest metrics such as volume and basal area have been built using plot-level lidar metrics and field measurements. Results suggest that lidar is most effective for modelling tree height, followed by volume and basal area. Other topics to be discussed include species/cover type classification and mapping with remote sensing, the effect of lidar point density on inventory model accuracy, and the use of lidar metrics for growth and yield modelling. Combining remote sensing and field data allows the strengths of both data types to be exploited for maximizing inventory efficiency. Additional author names and affiliations: Joseph Knight, Department of Forest Resources; Keith Pelletier, Department of Forest Resources; Trevor Host, Department of Forest Resources

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Development of a Sampling Design to Assess the Importance of Hydrology and Climate on Floodplain Forests of the Upper Mississippi River System Daniel Nielsen University of Minnesota Silva Lab niels667@umn.edu, 9522127058 The floodplain forests of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) provide numerous significant ecological services as part of a multi-use river system, making them a management priority for land managers and stakeholders in the floodplain. However, there is uncertainty in the selection and application of forest management techniques because it is unclear how hydrologic regimes, climate, succession and competition interact to drive forest stand dynamics through time. Here, we present a study design to address the following questions: 1) What is the relative importance of inundation, climate, and competition to long-term stand dynamics? 2) What is the relationship between tree growth and age across a range of eco-hydrologic conditions? and 3) How can forest management replicate patterns of development and succession given these unique constraints in floodplain forests? To address these questions, we have developed a spatially explicit, regional sampling design that leverages dendro-ecological methods, climate data, and a geospatial model of inundation dynamics. We selectively inventoried the two most extensive forest stand types (silver maple and silver maple-mixed stands) in forest management units located from Hastings, MN to just south of Prairie du Chien, WI by establishing plots across gradients of inundation characteristics. Within each plot we collected standard forest inventory data and increment cores from all viable overstory trees, resulting in an increment core inventory of nearly 430 individual trees that will be analyzed for evidence of individual growth patterns, flood damage, and impacts of physical and biotic drivers of stand dynamics. The results from our work will provide fundamental knowledge about contemporary floodplain forest dynamics in the Upper Mississippi River and how best to manage them, ensuring a resilient floodplain ecosystem. Additional author names and affiliations: Marcella Windmuller-Campione (UMNTC), Molly Van Appledorn (USGS), Andrew Meier (USACE), Randall Urich (USACE)

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Remotely Sensed Ash Abundance in Minnesota derived from Landsat Time Series and Lidar Surface Models Trevor Host University of Minnesota - Twin Cities hostx009@umn.edu, 218-349-2914 Ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) are a prominent species in Minnesota forests. The U.S. Forest Service (2016) estimated that there are 1.1 billion ash trees in Minnesota, accounting for 8 percent of all trees in the state. Ash trees are threatened by an invasive beetle, the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire), which typically results in tree mortality within 1 – 5 years of infestation. A detailed, wall-to-wall map of ash presence is highly desirable for management and monitoring applications. Ash trees have certain distinct biological and physiographic features that may help to differentiate it from other Minnesota species with remote sensing. Ash trees drop their leaves earlier than other deciduous species in the fall and they grow in high density in lowland, poorly-drained sites. Using Google Earth Engine, Landsat time series analysis provides unique information of phenologic patterns across the landscape that is useful for identifying ash species. Topographic position information derived from lidar is added to further inform spatial maps of ash abundance. These factors were used collectively to produce a classification map and identify the abundance of ash forests that exist in the state of Minnesota. We derived a 30-meter resolution map of current ash presence/absence in Minnesota and modeled the abundance of ash in terms of basal area from lidar height metrics. Additional author names and affiliations: Dr. Matthew Russell, UMN, Dr. Marcella Windmuller-Campione, UMN, Dr. Robert Slesak, UMN

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Regeneration, Tending, and Regeneration Harvests: An assessment of silvicultural strategies used in Minnesota Marcella Windmuller-Campione UMN Department of Forest Resources mwind@umn.edu, Silvicultural systems and practices are not static and continue to evolve and develop over time. Silvicultural practices represent a balance of theory and research, goals and values, and art - with every stand having unique features, history, and challenges. There has been an investment in Minnesota to document silvicultural practices through multiple surveys (1991, 1996, 2008, and 2017). The most recent survey was delivered in the fall of 2017 to natural resource managers across Minnesota. Twenty-two forest management agencies representing approximately 10.4 million acres of forest land across Minnesota responded to the survey. These respondents represent State, Federal, County, Forest Industry, Tribal, and Non-profit organizations. There was a total of 1.6 million cords harvested across approximately 90,500 acres of forest land. Average acreage of a clearcut systems was 17 acres; average acreage for a partial harvest system was slightly larger (30 acres). The clearcut system was the predominant regeneration harvest method (72% or 65,607 acres) in 2017. This is consistent with previous surveys. However, there was variability among ownerships. Federal ownership had the lowest percent of harvests in a clearcut system (42%), while Forest Industry had the highest at 78%. All ownership groups implemented uneven-aged systems on a total of approximately 5,000 acres. Commercial thinning occurred on 15,266 acres of forest land. A total of 74,180 acres were regenerated using both artificial and natural regeneration. A total of 27,265 acres of regeneration was protected with the most common method being bud capping (20,296 acres). Other protection methods included cages around individual trees, large permanent fences, sprays, and hand release. Regeneration, tending, and regeneration harvests represent the three parts of a silvicultural system. Silvicultural systems will continue to evolve to best meet the goals and values of the different organizations which manage the 10.3 million acres of forest land in Minnesota. Additional author names and affiliations: Matthew Russell, Eli Sagor, Madison Rodman

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BLOCK 2 Understanding Fire Behavior in a Complex Landscape Jacob Olbrich Iowa State University jolbrich@iastate.edu, 8154040791 Past and current forest species composition and structure in northeastern Minnesota is tightly coupled with the size, frequency, and intensity of historic wildfires on this landscape, as evidenced by the abundance of an especially fire-dependent forest species (e.g., Pinus banksiana Lamb.). Dense understories of predominantly balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) make estimations of vegetation and fuel parameters difficult. As a result, wildfire perimeters are often underestimated in simulations. A sensitivity analysis of FARSITE fire spread model was conducted using the Redeye (2006) and Winchell (1995) fires using six different estimates of canopy bulk density (CBD) in northeastern Minnesota at both 30m and 50m pixel resolution. Partial least squares (PLS) regression was used to select models comprised of satellite sensor data from Landsat, SAR, Sentinel, and SPOT, as well as pixel-wise forest basal area. These models were calibrated by CBD estimates derived by FuelCalc, LANDFIRE, and four combinations of canopy gap fraction (CGF) from the top two (7⁰, 23⁰) or top three angles (7⁰, 23⁰, 38⁰) at either ground level or two meters above ground level. Model accuracy was assessed using a comparison of Lee-Sallee spatial correspondence metric. Preliminary results suggest CBD estimated at ground level produce larger fire areas than FuelCalc, LANDFIRE, and CGF estimates at two meters with corresponding angles averages. Additional author names and affiliations: Dr. Peter Wolter, Iowa State University

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Effects of Biochar, Weed Control, and Irrigation on Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) Survival and Growth Sara Kelso University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources kelso026@umn.edu, (906) 203-4702 There has been increased interest in maintaining and increasing jack pine (Pinus banksiana) cover in northern Minnesota. However, regeneration failure is common due to spring and summer drought conditions. One potential treatment to increase regeneration success is the addition of biochar. Biochar is a bio-based soil amendment created through pyrolysis, and has been observed to increase the water-holding capacity and cation exchange capacity of soils. Two studies were installed in northern Minnesota to explore the effects of soil amendments (including biochar) on the growth and survival of jack pine. At three different locations in the Superior National Forest, jack pine seedlings were planted in the spring of 2016 in a randomized 2-way factorial design. Factor 1 was soil amendment (biochar, compost, a biochar-compost mix, and a control) and Factor 2 was a weed control treatment where competing vegetation was mechanically removed throughout the growing season. Here, we present treatment effects on growth and survival in the first three years after the seedlings were planted. Another site was planted at the Cloquet Forestry Center in 2017, with Factor 1 being soil amendment and Factor 2 an irrigation treatment. Results from the first two years of growth will be presented. We expect that the results will contribute to landowner and land manager considerations associated with the survival of jack pine (or other species) in the changing climate. Information generated from this study will be used to assess trade-offs of biochar use as a forest management tool. Additional author names and affiliations: Robert Slesak - Minnesota Forest Resources Council, UMN Department of Forest Resources, Marcella Windmuller-Campione - UMN Department of Forest Resources

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Minnesota’s Loggers and Invasive Forest Plants: An Assessment of Awareness, Actions and Training Opportunities Charlie Blinn UMN Department of Forest Resources cblinn@umn.edu, 612-624-3788 A survey of the 359 logging business owners who were members of the Minnesota Logger Education Program was conducted in the spring of 2018 to assess their awareness, potential impacts to their business, interactions on timber sales and information needs relative to invasive forest plants. Thirty-eight percent of the businesses responded.

The average logging business owner in Minnesota is somewhat (48%) or slightly (40%) knowledgeable about invasive forest plants. Of the 15 invasive forest plants included within the survey, approximately half of the respondents could identify three of the species: buckthorn (50%), reed canary grass (50%), and honeysuckle (47%), and the majority (89%) could identify thistle.

Additional author names and affiliations: Stephanie Snyder, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station

Key findings Include: Awareness of Minnesota’s invasive forest plants • There was no significant difference in self-reported knowledge of invasive forest plants between

businesses a) located in the DNR’s Northwest (NW), Northeast (NE) and Central/Southern (CS) regions or b) based on volume harvested by size class (< 1,000 cords, 1,001 – 5,000 cords, 5,001 – 15,000 cords and > 15,000 cords).

• Respondents did not report high percentages of their sales having invasive forest plants in 2017 (20% reported none of their sales and 37% reported between 1 and 25% of their sales had invasive plants), although almost one-third (32%) reported that they did not know.

• The majority of respondents (54%) indicated they had not noticed an increase of sales with invasive forest plants over the past three years, while 29% reported not knowing.

• Almost half (48%) of the respondents indicated they had never sought information about invasive forest plants.

Business practices related to invasive forest plants • All ten hypothetical business practices related to invasive forest plant management were rated as

being more than slightly difficult to implement. • Learning to identify invasive plants was rated the least difficult to implement. Mowing, spraying or

treating staging areas to remove invasive plants before bringing equipment in was rated as the most difficult to implement.

• Nearly half (49%) of respondents reported that a forest invasives BMP program would likely have a large impact on their business, while an additional 38% reported impacts would be moderate.

• An overwhelming percentage would prefer a voluntary BMP program, if one were developed. • Businesses haven’t developed expertise in invasive forest plant treatment or removal as a way to

diversify their operations and add new revenue streams.

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• Businesses who have an interest in developing new invasive plant treatment and removal expertise are more likely to be located in the CS region, have noticed an increase in their timber sales with invasives over the past three years, and derive higher percentages of their timber volume from state land.

Interactions with invasive species on timber sales • Most commonly, respondents had not discussed invasive forest plants with landowners or

managers on private (69% of respondents) or public (47%) timber sales within the past year. • More than half of the respondents had not been contractually required to undertake any of eight

listed activities to prevent the introduction and/or limit the spread of invasive forest plants on private (56% of respondents) or public (51% of respondents) timber sales.

• On public timber sales, respondents reported voluntarily undertaking the following activities: inspecting equipment for invasives prior to moving it to a different logging site (31%), inspecting equipment for invasives prior to removing from the job site (29%), and cleaning/washing the equipment (28%).

• On private timber sales, respondents reported the following voluntary activities: inspecting equipment for invasives prior to moving it to a different logging site (28%), inspecting equipment for invasives prior to removing from the job site (28%), and cleaning/washing the equipment (26%).

• Businesses who have been contractually required to treat invasive plants are also very likely to voluntarily undertake such activities on other sales.

• Approximately half of the respondents indicated that the presence of invasive species wouldn’t impact their interest in purchasing a timber sale, although 22% weren’t sure.

• More than half of the respondents indicated the requirement to undertake invasive plant BMPs would negatively impact their interest in purchasing a timber sale (57% of respondents for private timber sales and 60% for public timber sales).

Information needs • The top three most frequently identified training topics were: identification of invasive forest

plants (60 responses), business expenses associated with invasive forest plants (37 responses) and invasive forest plant spread prevention (37 responses).

• Classroom and field-based training were more preferred than online training or printed materials.

It is recommended that a training program be developed and delivered which presents and uses results from this survey to focus on key local topics such as the rationale for increasing awareness of forest invasive plants, plant identification, potential practices to reduce the spread of invasive forest plants, and agency requirements and restrictions. Training would be both classroom and field based and should utilize a field guide containing information about invasive forest plants.

The survey was supported by the Minnesota SFI Implementation Committee, the Minnesota Logger Education Program, Minnesota Forest Industries, University of Minnesota and USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station. For further information about survey results, contact: Charlie Blinn (612 624 3788 cblinn@umn.edu) or Stephanie Snyder (651 649 5294 stephanie.a.snyder@usda.gov)

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Analyzing the current and future habitat, areas of major concern, and dispersal of invasive forest plants in Minnesota Jason Reinhardt University of Minnesota reinh215@umn.edu, 5739532440 Invasive plant management decisions are often made at the local level, without the benefit of regional context or coordination across municipalities or ownership. This makes tracking management and control efforts difficult, and can ultimately lead to an inefficient distribution of effort. One major roadblock in developing coordinated plans to mitigate this problem is the lack of relevant spatial datasets and tools – such things are important in aiding decisionmakers in setting large-scale management objectives. Here, we conduct a series of spatial analyses for 13 invasive plant species across Minnesota, including both common and glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica, Frangula alnus). Spatially-explicit distribution models were constructed for each species under both current and projected future environmental conditions (2050 and 2070) – encompassing both low and high greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. Trends in species distribution were analyzed over time, across ownerships, ecoregions, and cover type. We used these distribution models, in conjunction with survey-acquired concern data reported by landowners and land managers, to compute and map a series of spatially-explicit prioritizations for each species. These prioritizations illustrate the locations of major areas of concern across the state as a function of both ecological data and manager-reported concerns. Finally, the datasets created here are currently being used to develop dispersal models for each species, which will illustrate the potential routes and extent of dispersal by each plant across Minnesota through 2100. The analytical results, data products, and tools produced from this work have the potential to help inform the construction of statewide invasive plant management plans. Additional author names and affiliations: Matt Russel, University of Minnesota; Monika Chandler, Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture; William Lazarus, University of Minnesota; Senait Senay, University of Minnesota

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Does thinning white spruce increase stand level resilience to spruce budworm? Stephanie Patton University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources patt037@umn.edu, 612-624-3639 White spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) has historically been an important source of high quality forest products in the Great Lakes Region. Thinning spruce stands is a common, cost-effective silvicultural practice for reducing intraspecific competition and promoting resiliency to forest health threats such as eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clemens). Spruce budworm is a native forest pest of the eastern United States which typically targets balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and spruce (Picea spp.) trees. Larvae feed on the fresh foliage of trees, which reduces growth and potentially leads to mortality during a budworm outbreak. This almost two decade research project explored the response of approximately 50 year old white spruce stands to thinning treatments and spruce budworm activity, which was relatively high at the onset of the study. Treatments included an initial thinning and non-thinned control; a subset of stands were thinned in the early 2000’s. Throughout the last two decades, spruce budworm activity fluctuated. We modeled annual diameter growth using common tree and stand metrics such as diameter, basal area, and crown ratio. We also investigated growth model improvement by including multiple thinnings and spruce budworm defoliation. We found that diameter growth of spruce in stands with high budworm activity would be 64% of that realized in stands with no or low budworm activity. Results of this study highlight how thinning in combination with insect disturbance affects stand productivity and mortality in white spruce plantations of northern Minnesota. Additional author names and affiliations: Matthew Russell, Marcella Windmuller-Campione and Christopher Edgar; all University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources

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How are we managing forest health? An assessment of silvicultural strategies used in Minnesota Matt Russell University of Minnesota russellm@umn.edu, 6126264280 Forest and natural resource managers are increasingly incorporating silvicultural strategies into forest management plans to combat invasive plants, insects, and diseases. In the fall of 2017, a survey was delivered to forest managers representing 26 land management agencies in Minnesota (including state, county, federal, industry, university, and tribal ownerships) to determine trends in silvicultural practices, concerns of forest health problems, and silvicultural strategies being implemented to manage invasive species. Responses from forest managers represented over 10 million acres of timberland across the state. Forty-three percent of respondents stated that emerald ash borer was their biggest forest health threat, followed by eastern larch beetle (24%). Results indicate that managers are promoting mixed-species composition in stands that are impacted by insects and diseases such as emerald ash borer, white pine weevil, and hypoxylon. Similarly, salvage harvests and partial salvage harvests are being considered for forest health issues such as spruce budworm, two-lined chestnut borer, and oak wilt. Compared to a similar survey conducted in 2008, forest managers are using more diverse methods to address Minnesota’s forest health problems. Compared to a similar survey conducted in 2008, forest managers are using more diverse methods to address forest health problems. Some additional highlights on specific forest health problems: Insects:

• Foresters are promoting mixed-species stands to manage insect threats like EAB • 45% of respondents used thinning to combat bark beetle damage in red pine forests. 27% of

respondents removed logging slash to combat problems with bark beetle. • Salvage or partial salvage harvests were cited as common approaches to manage eastern larch

beetle and spruce budworm.

Diseases: • Managers indicated using salvage harvests and thinning to manage oak wilt. • Clearcutting was used by respondents to manage hypoxylon in aspen-birch forests and

eastern spruce dwarf mistletoe in black spruce. • For intermediate stand treatments, 46% of respondents used pruning for mitigating damage

from white pine blister rust.

Windstorms: • Windstorms occured in the forests of every survey respondent.

• 68% percent of respondents indicated using salvage harvests following windstorms.

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Invasive plants:

• 73% percent of respondents managed knapweeds (Centaurea spp.)

• 53% of respondents managed tansy (Tanacetum vulgare).

• 33% of respondents managed buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica or Frangula alnus).

• Chemical and mechanical techniques were the two most common methods cited for managing invasive plants.

Additional author names and affiliations: Marcella Windmuller-Campione (University of Minnesota), Eli Sagor (Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative), Madison Rodman (Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative)

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BLOCK 3 Evaluating artificial den boxes as a habitat management tool for fishers in Minnesota Michael Joyce UMD/NRRI joyc0073@d.umn.edu, 2187882656 Fishers are mid-sized carnivores that live in the forested region of northern and north-central Minnesota. Minnesota DNR data show that the fisher population has declined by 50% over the last 20 years. Female fishers raise their kits in cavities in large-diameter trees and snags. Consequently, tree cavities are a critically important habitat resource for fishers that promote reproduction and population recruitment. Large cavity-bearing trees and snags are relatively scarce in managed landscapes and could be a limiting resource that contributed to the fisher population decline in Minnesota. Artificial den boxes could provide habitat for female fishers where natural cavities are rare, but little is known about the factors influencing use of den boxes by fishers. We are conducting a project from 2019 through 2021that will investigate artificial den boxes as a habitat management tool for fishers in Minnesota. During our project, we will deploy and monitor at least 60 den boxes in northern Minnesota. Our main objectives are to: 1) evaluate factors influencing visitation and use of artificial den boxes by fishers and other wildlife species; 2) develop best management guidelines for using artificial den boxes as a fisher habitat management tool; and 3) evaluate whether den boxes could be used to determine whether cavity tree availability is limiting the fisher population in Minnesota. We will discuss den box design, monitoring methods, and preliminary data from test boxes deployed during 2018. We will also discuss future opportunities for cooperation and collaboration on this project. Additional author names and affiliations: Ron Moen (UMD/NRRI) & John Erb (Minnesota DNR)

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Opportunities may exist in the future to expand the number of den boxes installed over a larger portion of Minnesota forests. If you may be interested in deploying and monitoring den boxes on forests you manage, please contact us (E-mail: joyc0073@d.umn.edu; Tel: 218-788-2656).

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Forest structure influences interactions between American martens and their predators Michael Joyce UMD/NRRI joyc0073@d.umn.edu, 2187882656 American martens (Martes americana) are forest carnivores occupying mature forests in northeastern Minnesota. Martens are susceptible to predation by several predator species including bobcats, fishers, and raptors. Habitat structure has been hypothesized to play an important role in mediating the frequency and outcome of encounters between martens and their predators, but direct tests of the role of habitat in marten-predator interactions are lacking. Our objectives were to examine the role that habitat structure plays in mediating interactions between martens and predators. Because bobcats are frequent predators of martens, we mainly focused on marten-bobcat interactions. We used light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data to measure canopy and understory characteristics and compared characteristics between sites where martens were killed by predators to characteristics of non-mortality locations. Sites where martens were killed by bobcats were closer to non-forested habitats and were in areas composed of more non-forested habitats than locations where martens were alive. The structural characteristics and types of non-forested habitats associated with mortality sites varied among predator species. Our results provide direct evidence that martens experience elevated mortality risk when in or near areas lacking a tree canopy including shrublands, wetlands, and young/regenerating forests. The arrangement and amount of risky habitat could impact marten survival, and management aimed at conserving marten habitat should consider the distribution and abundance of risky habitats to ensure retention of high-quality habitat. Additional author names and affiliations: John Erb (Minnesota DNR), Barry Sampson (Minnesota DNR), Pamela Coy (Minnesota DNR), Ron Moen (UMD/NRRI)

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Examples of sites where martens were killed by predators:

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Utilizing the MN Ecological Classification System to Prioritize GWWA Nesting Habitat Enhancement Locations Kevin Sheppard American Bird Conservancy ksheppard@abcbirds.org, 2182443788 Utilizing the MN ECS, it may be possible to determine which habitat types are better suited to provide higher quality GWWA nesting habitat, resulting in the ability to better optimize the limited funding throughout Minnesota and avoiding funding marginal or poor projects. This Study examines the possible benefits that linking ECS analysis to GWWA project identification and implementation could have on future GWWA habitat projects.

Golden-winged Warbler Point Count Data was plotted by Native Plant Community. The NPC FDn32 shows the highest average GWWA observed per sample point at 3.1 followed by FDn43 at 2.8, while no GWWA were recorded in the MHn47 NPC.

Golden-winged Warbler point count data was also plotted by Ecological Subsection. All treatment sites fell within the listed five Subsections. Average observed GWWA per point sample was highest in the St. Louis Moraines at 2.3 followed by Pine Moraines and Outwash Plains at 1.9 and lowest in the Littlefork and Vermillion Uplands at 0.4.

Golden-winged Warbler response by Ecological System (Fire Dependent vs Mesic Hardwood) was also examined. This comparison revealed that Fire Dependent ECS communities demonstrated a post treatment site occupation that was almost double that of Mesic Hardwood communities at 2.1 vs. 1.1 observed GWWA per point, respectively.

Discussion: The comparison between Ecological Systems shows a greater response in Fire Dependent Systems by very nearly double.

Conclusion: There was no NPC that showed a significant enough response of GWWA to use as a ranking tool. However the Fire Dependent Ecological System showed a measurable increase of GWWA response compared to the Mesic Hardwoods Ecological System.

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Evaluation of Tree Retention Guidelines Pertaining to Wildlife Alexis Grinde UMD- NRRI agrinde@d.umn.edu, 320-496-0016 Forest management is increasingly focused on maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem function compared to a historic emphasis on timber production alone. In 1998, the Minnesota Forest Resources Council (MFRC) established Minnesota’s Forest Management Guidelines to reduce potential for negative environmental impacts from forest harvesting. The current guidelines recommend 6-12 trees per acre “scattered” or 5% of harvest area in 0.25 acre patches “clumped” be left uncut. In 2017 and 2018 we surveyed wildlife communities in over 60 early successional stands across northern Minnesota to evaluate the benefits of tree retention to wildlife. We will summarize key findings from our two year study detailing the impact of tree retention configuration (scattered or clumped) on bird and small mammal communities in Minnesota. Additional author names and affiliations: Josh Bednar and Jessica Gorzo, Natural Resources Research Institute; Jody Vogeler, Colorado State University; Robert Slesak, Minnesota Forest Resource Council.

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Adaptive management for future oak forests in the hardwood hills of Minnesota–a 20 year journey John Geissler Saint John's Abbey Arboretum jgeissler001@csbsju.edu, 3203633126 Regenerating northern red oak (Quercus rubra) and white oak (Quercus alba) in areas of high white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) densities is a challenge that Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum in Collegeville, MN has attempted to address for twenty years with a variety of techniques. The case studies illustrate three major steps in adaptive oak management at Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum including silvicultural methods without deer protection, with deer protection, and finally with deer protection plus weed protection and annual weeding of understory competition. For land managers working on rich mesic sites with high deer densities, these case studies confirm that deer protection alone is not enough to regenerate oak. A plan that both protects the oak seedlings from deer herbivory and controls competing vegetation until oak seedlings regenerate above deer browse height and escape understory competition is required.

Figure 1. Variety of traditional silvicultural techniques without deer protection yeilded unsuccessful results because of high deer herbivory.

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Figure 2. Deer protection techniques: tree tube shelters on left and fenced deer exclosures on the right yielded initially higher seedling survival that eventually succombed to intense understory competition.

Figure 3. Deer protection plus annual hand release: Placing 3’X3’ VisPore mat around oak seedlings and annual brush saw work around matted seedlings. Additional author names and affiliations: Marcella Windmuller-Campione – University of Minnesota Matthew Russell – University of Minnesota Joseph Bump – University of Minnesota

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Understanding the Perceptual Qualities of a Lost Landscape: A Modified Delphi Approach to Inform Pine Barrens Restoration Ingrid Schneider University of Minnesota ingridss@umn.edu, 612 624 2250 Pine Barrens once covered extensive areas of the Northern Great Lakes Region but due to fire suppression and plantation silviculture, these open forest ecosystems have been reduced to isolated remnants across their former range. Successful restoration depends both on sound management processes and stakeholder acceptance of restoration practices. Forest landscape restoration is increasingly advocated as an alternative approach to forest management, particularly where traditional timber-driven systems do not match well with that landscape’s natural disturbance patterns or other environmental and social goals such as aesthetics and recreation (Stanturf et al. 2012).

This project reports on the first phases of a multi-method project to inform restoration efforts. Specifically, results from a modified Delphi approach identified important aspects of Pine Barrens landscapes in the Great Lakes Region. Participants, 37 experts in Pine Barrens and their management, answered 1) open-ended questions relating to the ideal Pine Barrens and their key characteristics and then 2) rated their importance. Results indicate a range of site and landscape-level conditions are important for Pine Barrens management (Figure 1). Given the lack of research on barrens, this work contributes to prioritizing management practices with consideration to a variety of perspectives: ecological, economic, recreational, and visual. Future research will include a survey to understand the relative importance of these attributes among residents adjacent to Pine Barren restoration areas in northeastern Wisconsin.

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Figure 1. Round 2 results: Importance ratings of Identified pine barrens characteristics (n= 11, 1= very unimportant and 9 = very important) Stanturf, J., Lamb, D., and Madsen, P. Eds. (2012). Forest Landscape Restoration: Integrating Natural and Social Sciences. New York: Springer. Additional author names and affiliations: Paul H. Gobster, US Forest Service Northern Research Station, Evanston, IL; Arne Arnberger, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Michael J. Dockry, US Forest Service Northern Research Station, St. Paul, MN; Kristin Flores, US Forest Service Northern Research Station, Evanston, IL; Anna L. Haines, Center for Land Use Education, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Recurring fireFire dependent system

Open canopyNative species

Supports rare flora, faunaLarge areas

Patchy mosaicLarge openingsDry, sandy soilsPine dominated

Variable vertical structureThick groundcoverFire "architecture"Dynamic structure

Scattered single treesProminent shrub cover

Abundant wildlifeClumps of trees

Oak co-dominant

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50-year growth and response to climate of ponderosa pine in Minnesota Brian D. Anderson University of Minnesota - Department of Forest Resources and03662@umn.edu, 7639238947 Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Lawson) is a wide-ranging pine in western North America, extending from southern Canada into Mexico and from Nebraska to the Pacific Coast. Over the past 50 years, researchers have been interested in its viability outside of its native range including several locations in Minnesota. Interest continues in establishing ponderosa pine planted outside of its native range, particularly in light of its tolerance to drought and adaptability to climate change including the USFS Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change study on the Cutfoot Experimental Forest. In 1968, 72 seed sources from 10 regions were planted at four University of Minnesota Research and Outreach Center locations. Results within the first nine years showed seed sources from two regions north of 40ºN latitude and east of 112ºW (southern and eastern Montana, eastern high plains regions) had the highest survival and freedom from climatic injury, and grew taller than other seed sources. Twenty-three seed sources from three regions of interest (southern and eastern Montana, eastern high plains, Black Hills) were re-measured in 2018 and analyzed to determine climatic factors influencing diameter growth, and analyze differences in 50-year results in height and diameter among seed source groups. Results from this dendroclimatology and growth and yield study are presented, and considerations given to managers considering planting ponderosa pine outside of its native range in order to adapt to climate change. Additional author names and affiliations: Marcella A. Windmuller Campione, Matthew B. Russell

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BLOCK 4 From Skid Trails to Landscapes: Vegetation is the Dominant Factor Influencing Erosion After Forest Harvest in the Lake States Zac McEachran University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources mceac015@umn.edu, 2182518073 Water quality in working forested watersheds is generally high, but forestry activities may cause sedimentation of surface water if best management practices (BMPs) are not implemented during harvesting. As water resources are often managed at a landscape scale (e.g., ecoregion), and BMPs are often implemented at the feature scale (e.g., forest road), it is imperative to understand how erosion dynamics behave across multiple scales. Our objective was to identify which factors determine erosion occurrence after forest harvesting in the Lake States at the feature, harvest site, and landscape scales in order to aid in BMP optimization and ecological assessment in working forested watersheds. We analyzed monitoring data from forest roads, skid trails, and landings on harvest sites in Minnesota collected between 2004 and 2016 to identify major erosion risk factors. Post-harvest vegetative cover levels were more important than slope, soils, and climate factors at all spatial scales for explaining erosion occurrence. At the landscape scale, we identified a moderate inverse relationship between mean erosion and vegetative cover levels on sites located in different ecoregions (r2 = 0.66) and a strong inverse relationship for sites located on different glacial landforms (r2 = 0.90). Thus, vegetative cover is a dominant factor controlling erosion occurrence after forest harvesting in the Lake States, and glacial history is an important driver of both erosion and vegetation dynamics at the landscape scale. Revegetation BMPs and harvest practices that promote revegetation should be focused on high-erosion landscapes to reduce erosion where it is most likely to occur. Additional author names and affiliations: Rob Slesak - Minnesota Forest Resources Council, University of Minnesota Diana Karwan - University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources Management Implications Observed erosion in the Lake States following forest harvesting is generally very low; however, it is important to understand what drives erosion when it does occur in order to optimize management practices. In the absence of high slope grades and lengths, lack of herbaceous vegetative cover on forest roads, skid trails, and log landings is the most important factor influencing erosion on forest harvest sites across spatial scales. The vegetation-erosion dynamic is controlled by the type of sediment deposited during the last glaciation. Revegetation on this disturbed soil is lower where soils are loose and sandy, especially where the Wadena Lobe glacier deposited sediments in the central part of Minnesota (see Figure on page 2 of this handout). Thus, the areas experiencing the highest erosion following forest harvesting in the Lake States may be in regions with coarse soil not typically considered highly erodible. Revegetation management on forest roads, skid trails, and landings in these regions may decrease erosion where it is most likely to occur.

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Figure: Note the concentration of high-erosion sites on sediment deposited by the Wadena Lobe glacier in the central part of the state. These sites are located on the Itasca Moraine, or on the outwash plain directly south of the Itasca Moraine. Soils here tend to be loose and coarse, with low water holding capacity for revegetation after harvest. Note that the erosion levels pictured are relative to the overall very low erosion levels in the state, and in the absence of management.

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Quantitative Silviculture John Duplissis UMD NRRI jdupliss@d.umn.edu, 218.788.2719 The timing and implementation of forest management practices are often based on visual observations of the stand, the need to generate income or remediate damage from insect, disease and storms. We have been working on developing a set of quantitative tools that will allow forest managers to schedule thinning and harvesting activities from planting through regeneration harvest, allow them to model thinning frequency, observe consequences from early or delayed entry and evaluate economic versus ecologic rotations. The goal is to create a simplified system to help managers schedule, monitor and project income as well as staffing needs to implement management activities.

Silviculture has often been defined as the art and science of managing a forest. Quantitative Silviculture is the science side of this formula developing tools that can be used to identify density dependant mortality, optimal stocking levels and the timing of thinnings and harvesting to maintain or take advantage of optimum growth. The most common tool used to determine when management activities may be appropriate are stocking charts. Stocking charts illustrate the relationship between basal area per acre, density (trees per acres) and the quadratic mean diameter (the diameter of the tree of average basal area) and are based on Reineke's Stand Density Index which identifies the line where density dependent mortality begins to become a factor in tree growth, stem form and live crown ratio. Stocking levels beyond this line represent lost growth due to mortality, reduction in volume and increased incidence of insect and disease problems.

There have been a number of quantitative tools developed over the years to help foresters schedule the timing of thinings and harvests to maximize growth and yield. Some tools, like the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) are extremely complex and “simulates forest vegetation change in response to natural succession, disturbances, and management. It recognizes all major tree species and can simulate nearly any type of management or disturbance at any time during the simulation1. (Forest Vegetation Simulator, 2019)” While others, like Red Pine Yield, are species specific and offer limited options to set thinning and harvesting parameters.

Our goal was to develop a simplified tool that would create a thinning and harvest schedule for commercially important timber species in the Lake States that could be used by field foresters with very little training. To that end we choose to use Microsoft Excel as the platform for this tool. Excel allows us to perform the fairly complex equations necessary to schedule harvests and calculate volumes while being commercially available.

Stands are grown using a diameter growth model using a distance-independent, individual-tree diameter growth model for the Northeastern United States developed by Teck and Hilt2. Stand Density Index is calculated and used to determine optimum, maximum and minimum trees per acre3. Heights are modeled using site index equations developed by Scott and Voorhis4. Volumes are estimated using Stem Profile Equations5 for common tree species in USFS Region 96. Density dependant mortality is caluclated based on stand density index.

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Initial stand data provided by the user includes… Current Year, Species Code, Stand Age, Site Index, Tree per Acre, Basal Area, AMD or QMD, and Height. Users also have the ability to assign an age or diameter limit to the harvest schedule as well as modify the the Stand Density Index Optimum and Minimum for thinnings as well as add additional thinnings to lengthen the rotation.

We are still testing this tool to see how well it estimates trees per acre, basal area, QMD, and mortality to actual stand values from managed stands. We are currently in the process of evaluating multi-year data from aspen and red pine stands from across the lake states to see how well the models hold up and how closely the volume estimates come to actual volumes on the ground. References

1) Forest Vegetation Simulator. (2019, 1 2). Retrieved from U.S. Forest Service: https://www.fs.fed.us/fvs/software/index.shtml

2) Teck, Richard M.; Hilt, Donald E. 1991. Individual tree-diameter growth modelfor the Northeastern United States. Res. Pap. NE-649. Radnor, PA: US. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 11 p.

3) Reineke, L.H. 1933. Perfecting a stand-density index for even-aged forests. Journal of Agricultural Research 46:627-638.

4) Scott, C.T.; Voorhis, N.G. 1986. Northeastern forest survey site index equations and site productivity classes. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 3: 144-148.

5) Clark, Alexander, III; Souter, Ray A.; Schlaegel, Bryce E. 1991. Stem Profile Equations for Southern Tree Species. Res. Pap. SE-282. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 117 p.

6) FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK EASTERN REGION (Region 9) Supplement No.: R9 RO 2409.12a-2011-1

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Emerald Ash Borer and Wildlife: A Look into the Future Alexis Grinde NRRI- UMD agrinde@d.umn.edu, 320-496-0016 Black ash (Fraxinus nigra) wetlands cover over one million acres of northern Minnesota and provide critical habitat for wildlife. The future of Minnesota’s black ash wetlands is critically threatened by emerald ash borers (Agrilus planipennis; EAB), which has been destroying native populations of ash throughout the Great Lakes Region. This project examined the impacts of EAB and adaptive management on bird, mammal, and herptile diversity in Minnesota’s black ash forests. We will 1.) Summarize the current composition of wildlife communities and environmental dynamics found in black ash wetlands and, 2.) Discuss the effects of mitigation and adaptation strategies for EAB invasion on wildlife communities. Additional author names and affiliations: Steve Kolbe, and Alexis Liljenquist, Natural Resources Research Institute; Melissa B. Youngquist, University of Minnesota; Robert Slesak, Minnesota Forest Resource Council; Brian Palik, USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station; Anthony D’Amato, University of Vermont

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POSTER ONLY Alteration of habitat and food webs associated with failing culverts in northern forest streams Sue Eggert USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station seggert@fs.fed.us, 218 326-7135 Undersized and failing culverts can be susceptible to large precipitation events and are increasingly the source of economic losses when critical roadways in the transportation system are washed out during storms. Additionally, poorly functioning culverts can disrupt stream connectivity and reduce aquatic organism passage. Currently many culvert replacements completed by the USDA Forest Service in northern forests are based on stream simulation design, a geomorphic and ecologically-based restoration approach that mimics natural channel structure, or bankfull/backwater design which allows properly sized culverts to fill on their own. As part of a culvert restoration project, we examined habitat qualities (current velocity, water depth, silt depth, organic matter standing crops, and substrate type) and invertebrate communities above and below poorly functioning culverts in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Pre-restoration analyses revealed slower current velocities, higher water and silt depths, higher total and fine organic matter standing crops, and lower proportions of hard substrate types upstream of the culverts compared to downstream reaches at all sites. Poor habitat quality above the culverts resulted in lower tax richness, abundance, and biomass of sensitive invertebrate taxa at sites above the culverts. At the most impacted sites, invertebrate abundance and biomass was dominated by collector-gatherer and shredder taxa. Our pre-restoration data demonstrated negative consequences for in-stream habitat for aquatic organisms and altered food webs in addition to flooding and aquatic organism passage concerns associated with substandard culverts. Future work will document the effectiveness of the culvert restorations on habitat quality and aquatic communities.

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Regional patterns of quaking aspen health and mortality across northern Minnesota ecoregions William Sea Bemidji State University william.sea@bemidjistate.edu, 218-755-4103 Quaking aspen trees are valuable both ecologically and economically. Sudden Aspen Decline (SAD) brought on by drought and climate change impacts have potential to threaten Minnesota quaking aspen populations. Understanding current trends in aspen health and mortality can help researchers and forest managers create mitigation and adaptation strategies in anticipation of climate change impacts. Aspen populations were assessed across both a rainfall gradient and ecological transitions in Northern Minnesota. Transect plots were used to qualify aspen health and mortality, stand characteristics, and mortality factors across sampled regions. Comparative analysis between regions and larger ecoregions were performed to identify spatial patterns in quaking aspen health and mortality between and within ecoregions. Previous data from USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) and MNDNR Forest Stand Inventory (FSI) were used to develop baseline estimates and for comparison with research plot results. It was found that fragmented regions of northwestern Minnesota in the Tallgrass Aspen Parkland (TAP) were healthier or just as healthy relative to stand age as stands in the Laurentian Mixed Forest Province (LMF) to the East. The Prairie Parkland Province (PPA) displayed the highest mortality rates among the provinces with the Eastern Broadleaf Forest (EBF) falling between the LMF and PPA. Variations among the ecoregions were found in the distribution and the strength of relationship between mortality factors and their influence on quaking aspen health and mortality. Age related vulnerability to mortality factors was a leading driver of lower health rates, with variations among the ecoregions in which specific mortality factors were more prevalent. These results question preconceived notions of lower comparative TAP aspen stand health. They also show the value of age-related mortality characterizations across specific ecoregions as they could identify deviating trends as possible SAD events brought on by drought or climate change impacts as opposed to being an age-related mortality pattern.

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Developing a web application to make avian models responsive to forest managers Nicholas Walton Natural Resources Research Institute ngwalton@d.umn.edu, 218-788-2782 Bayfield County Forest conducted point count bird surveys across their managed lands from 2008 to 2011. The purpose of these surveys was to better understand the interaction between management choices and bird populations. In particular, they wanted a way for foresters to get feedback on how cover type and succession impact the birds using a given management unit. To this end, we produced classification and regression models to predict point count abundance of 43 bird species based on primary cover type and timber size class. We then developed an R Shiny web application that allows users to input the current and potential future primary cover type and size class to see the predicted point count abundance under each scenario. This web application will help forests visualize the impacts of changing cover and succession such as what would happen if we take early successional aspen and covert it to early successional jack pine, or leave the aspen stand until it is large enough to harvest. Additional author names and affiliations: Alexis Grinde, Natural Resources Research Institute

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As noted above, each and every participant today helps to make this event a success. By asking questions, adding your own experiences and interpretations, and in some cases challenging what you hear, you help the community to derive meaning and value from the ideas exchanged today. With that in mind, we are grateful to the many people and organizations that help make this event happen. We are fortunate to have both a strong community of researchers and a thoughtful and engaged community of natural resource professionals to help inform, interpret, and test new ideas exchanged today. In addition, as an educational cooperative, we are grateful for the continued support of the many organizations listed below that have signed on as members this year. Without their support, SFEC could not offer the quality continuing education and professional development opportunities that we do. In addition to our members, SFEC is supported by the University of Minnesota Extension, College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resources Sciences, and Cloquet Forestry Center. -Eli Sagor and Madison Rodman Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative

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SFEC MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS FOR 2018-2019 Aitkin County Land Department Aitkin County SWCD Beltrami County Natural Resource Management Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Bureau of Indian Affiars, Midwest Region Camp Ripley Natural Resources Carlton County Land Department Carlton County SWCD Cass County Land Department Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (USFS) Chippewa National Forest (USFS) Clearwater County Land Department Crow Wing County Land Department Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Grand Portage Band of Chippewa Indians Hubbard County Natural Resource Management Itasca Community College Itasca County Land Department Koochiching County Land & Forestry Lake County Land Department Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe MN Association of County Land Commissioners

MN DNR – Division of Ecological & Water Resources MN DNR – Division of Forestry MN DNR – Forestry Stewardship Planwriters MN DNR – Section of Wildlife MN Forest Resources Council Molpus Timberland LLC Packaging Corporation of America Pine County SWCD Potlatch Corporation Red Lake Department of Natural Resources Sappi Fine Paper South St. Louis County SWCD St. John's Abbey Arboretun/ Outdoor University St. Louis County Land Department Superior National Forest (USFS) The Nature Conservancy – MN Chapter UMD Natural Resources Research Institute UMN Extension Forestry Program UMN Deptartment of Forest Resources UPM Blandin Paper Company Wadena County SWCD White Earth Tribal Forestry WI DNR- Division of Forestry Vermilion Community College

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CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SYMPOSIUM PARTICIPANTS Brian Allen Allen Forestry allen.forestry2@gmail.com 2187248799 Benjamin Allen University of Minnesota Dept. of Forest Resources alle0638@umn.edu 7637840385 Nate Anderson St. Louis County Land & Minerals Dept AndersonN2@stlouiscountymn.gov 218-625-3730 Brian D. Anderson University of Minnesota - Department of Forest Resources and03662@umn.edu 7639238947 Mark Baker St. Louis County Land & Minerals Dept BakerM@stlouiscountymn.gov 218-625-3705 John Bathke john@b-green.us 612-991-5363 Jim Berkeland Blandin Paper jim.berkeland@upm.com 218-327-6385 Charlie Blinn UMN Department of Forest Resources cblinn@umn.edu 612-624-3788 Tom Bodell Lake County Forestry tom.bodell@co.lake.mn.us 218-834-8340

Jennifer Corcoran MN DNR jennifer.corcoran@state.mn.us 6512585898 Andy David UMN david046@umn.edu 2182446794 Garret DeChaine Beltrami County Natural Resource Management Garret.dechaine@co.beltrami.mn.us 218-333-4210 Ted Dick MNDNR ted.dick@state.mn.us 218 395-0577 Scott Dowling Lake County Forestry scott.dowling@co.lake.mn.us 218-834-8340 Paul Dubuque MN DNR paul.dubuque@state.mn.us 651-259-5294 John Duplissis UMD NRRI jdupliss@d.umn.edu 218.788.2719 Sue Eggert USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station seggert@fs.fed.us 218 326-7135 Nate Eide Lake County Forestry nate.eide@co.lake.mn.us 218-834-8340

Duane Fogard American Bird Conservancy dfogard@abcbirds.org 218-720-5209 Hannah Friesen University of Minnesota fries060@umn.edu 218-259-7740 Mark Fulton Bemidji State University mfulton@bemidjistate.edu 2187559178 Brad Gatzlaff Zumbro Valley Forestry trees@northfieldwifi.com 5078386189 John Geissler Saint John's Abbey Arboretum jgeissler001@csbsju.edu 3203633126 Kyle Gill University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center kggill@umn.edu 2187266412 Marshall Graham Beltrami County Natural Resource Management Marshall.graham@co.beltrami.mn.us 218-333-4210 Alexis Grinde NRRI- UMD agrinde@d.umn.edu 320-496-0016 Chris Gronewold MN DNR Forestry chris.gronewold@state.mn.us 2183082368

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Julie Hendrickson Minnesota Tree Improvement Coop hendr065@umn.edu 218-726-6406 Jeff Hines MN DNR Wildlife jeff.hines@state.mn.us 218 328 8866 George Host Natural Resources Research Institute ghost@d.umn.edu 218 788-2664 Trevor Host University of Minnesota - Twin Cities hostx009@umn.edu 218-349-2914 Chad Jacobson Beltrami County Natural Resource Management Chad.jacobson@co.beltrami.mn.us 218-333-4210 Lane Johnson University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center lbj@umn.edu 2187266411 Kory Jorgensen Hubbard county kjorgensen@co.hubbard.mn.us 2187323302 Michael Joyce UMD/NRRI joyc0073@d.umn.edu 2187882656 Diana Karwan University of Minnesota dlkarwan@umn.edu 612-624-2774

Sara Kelso University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources kelso026@umn.edu (906) 203-4702 Joshua Koelsch MN DNR joshua.koelsch@state.mn.us 218-423-6026 Melissa Koelsch MN DNR melissa.koelsch@state.mn.us 218-878-5663 Tom Kroll Kroll Consulting Forestry KrollForestry@outlook.com 320-533-0206 Amanda Kueper Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources - Forestry amanda.kueper@state.mn.us 6512595281 Quintin Legler UPM Blandin Paper Quintin.Legler@upm.com 2183276304 Troy Lindgren St. Louis County Land & Minerals Dept Lindgrent@stlouiscountymn.gov 218-625-3716 Erik Lindquist Cass County erik.lindquist@co.cass.mn.us 218-947-3338 Allen Lysdahl Hubbard County Natural Resource Management alysdahl@co.hubbard.mn.us 218-237-1453

Sean Maiers Bureau of Indian Affairs sean.maiers@bia.gov 612-725-4557 Rachel Mason St. Louis County Land & Minerals Dept MasonR@stlouiscountymn.gov 218-625-3704 Zac McEachran University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources mceac015@umn.edu 2182518073 Martha Minchak MN DNR - Wildlife martha.minchak@state.mn.us 218-723-4768 Steve Mortensen Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe SMortensen@lldrm.org 2183357421 Christian Nelson Fond du Lac Band christiannelson@fdlrez.com 2188787118 Daniel Nielsen University of Minnesota Silva Lab niels667@umn.edu 9522127058 Bill Nixon Lake County Forestry bill.nixon@co.lake.mn.us 218-834-8340 Jacob Olbrich Iowa State University jolbrich@iastate.edu 8154040791

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Rachael Olesiak University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center rolesiak@umn.edu 2187266409

Steve Olson plan writier steveo1201@gmail.com 218 591 1795

Megan O'Neil MN DNR Megan.ONeil@state.mn.us 218-308-2364

Kelly Osterdyk Self employed kcoster01@msn.com 320-282-7768

Mark Pannkuk St. Louis County Land & Minerals Dept PannkukM@stlouiscountymn.gov 218-625-3711

Jessica Parson MNDNR Jessica.Parson@state.mn.us 2188341453

Stephanie Patton University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources patt0373@umn.edu 612-624-3639

Keith Pelletier University of Minnesota Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis Laboratory pelle155@umn.edu 6126243459

Ryan Pennesi Carlton County Land Department Ryan.Pennesi@co.carlton.mn.us 218-384-9179

Robert Perleberg Forestry First forestryfirst@gmail.com 3207452422

Bailey Petersen MN DNR Wildlife bailey.petersen@state.mn.us 2188341454

Beckie Prange UMN Hubachek Wilderness Research Center rjprange@umn.edu 218-365-7766

Jodie Provost MN DNR jodie.provost@state.mn.us 218-429-3052

Jason Reinhardt University of Minnesota reinh215@umn.edu 5739532440

Mike Reinikainen Minnesota Department of Natural Resources mike.reinikainen@state.mn.us 6512595270

Tanya Roerick Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe tanya.roerick@llojibwe.org 2183357428

Nick Ronning Beltrami County Natural Resource Management Nicholas.ronning@co.beltrami.mn.us 218-333-4210

Charlotte Roy MNDNR charlotte.roy@state.mn.us 218-328-8876

Matt Russell University of Minnesota russellm@umn.edu 6126264280

Tim Rutka St. Louis County Land & Minerals Dept RutkaT@stlouiscountymn.gov 218-625-3713

Marin Ryan University of Minnesota, NRSM Graduate Program ryan0666@umn.edu 651-200-7537

Sawyer Scherer Blandin Paper Company sawyer.scherer@upm.com 7633701681

Ingrid Schneider UMN Department of Forest Resources ingridss@umn.edu 612 624 2250

William Sea Bemidji State University william.sea@bemidjistate.edu (218) 755-4103

John Segari MN DNR john.segari@state.mn.us 2182449517

Lindsey Shartell MN DNR - Wildlife lindsey.shartell@state.mn.us 2183288870

Kevin Sheppard American Bird Conservancy ksheppard@abcbirds.org 2182443788

Keith Simar Simar Services kesimar@tds.net 2182512506

Robert Slater MN DNR robert.slater@state.mn.us 2187234791

Rob Slesak MN Forest Resources Council raslesak@umn.edu 651-603-6756

Paul Swanson Pine SWCD paul.swanson@co.pine.mn.us 3202164245

Alan Toczydlowski UMN Forest Resources toczy003@d.umn.edu 651-603-6756

Ryan Toot University of Minnesota tootx001@umn.edu 2187502254

Nicholas Walton Natural Resources Research Institute ngwalton@d.umn.edu 2187882782

Marcella Windmuller-Campione UMN Department of Forest Resources mwind@umn.edu (847)-772-5458

Peter Wolter Iowa State University ptwolter@iastate.edu 5152947312

Joe Worm MN DNR joe.worm@state.mn.us 218-878-5664

47

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH SFEC

Join our mailing lists: To receive our monthly email newsletter subscribe at sfec.cfans.umn.edu and to receive our calendar of events by mail, contact Madison at mrodman@umn.edu.

Contact us: Eli Sagor SFEC Program Manager esagor@umn.edu 218-409-6115

Madison Rodman SFEC Program Assistant mrodman@umn.edu or sfec@umn.edu 218-726-6403