Learning the Layout

Investigating an old logging road

Practicing laying out a block is a bit different than laying it out for work.  Firstly, it is with a very experienced forester versus beloved classmates.  Secondly the timber is actually going to be harvested instead of being a hypothetical area.  It is not over a four hour lab period but several 10 hour days.  While school is comfortable, learning in a professional setting drastically enhances that education.  

Good sized second growth timber

While I have been doing bits and pieces of laying out a block over the course of the last month and a half this time I am assisting in the entirety.  Working with Greg a well-experienced forest engineer he is teaching me how he sees the forest.

Getting to know the Block

Primarily we must understand the contents of the block in order to assign potential systems of harvesting and areas that could be hazardous.  We have to identify streams, timber volumes, rock hazards, sensitive areas, culturally modified artifacts, protected animal habitat, and a whole more.  We must gain an understanding of the landscape, terrain, and features to best fit a harvesting system.  This is called reconnaissance or reckie in Canada or recon in Oregon. 

Harvest System Options

Found a swamp in the middle of a block

While identifying the harvest systems available one must consider the equipment the particular company or contractors have on hand.  One is able to choose from ground based, cable systems, or heli-logging.  The cost increases in value in that order.  Port McNeill offers hoe chucking or shovel logging for ground based systems and are only used on lower slopes.  Cable systems in PM include grapple yarding and snorkel booms.  Grapple Yarders are most common.  Helicopter logging is incredibly expensive and are only consider for high value, steep sloped timbers.  At this point western redcedar is the wood of highest value in general. 

Gathering points with GPS at a Falling Corner

Laying Boundary

Once an area is more of less understood boundary tags are put in the block and marked using a GPS to draw a map.  Boundary must include riparian management areas (RMAs) and special management zones in order to comply with best forest practices identified by both the Crown and WFP.

Surveying the Roads

Once the boundary is set, roads will be put in with surveying methods.  The roads are placed in to best access the timber to load on to trucks. Landings are built on the roads to process the logs and load the trucks.  We as planning engineers use lasers to measure distances, a clinometer to get slopes, a GPS to map and a notebook to record.  Marking tape shows road builders where the road center line should be placed. 

Surveying a road with a laser

Finalizing Harvesting Instructions

The combined information gathered through laying out a block is then combined into a pack of harvest instructions that will be added to an entire package.  Foresters for planting and extra instructions regarding harvest and post-harvest treatments will add to this package.  Geotechnical engineers, biologists, anthropologists are all consultants who may be contacted for further information and professional advice.  The combined information will then be submitted to the Ministry of Forests to be approved.

This is a simplified version but I am still learning and want to teach the audience of this blog what I am doing in the woods.