Yesterday (Saturday, April 8th) I returned to private property, on the Kitsap Peninsula, near the Suquamish Reservation. The owner first noticed extensive die-off in 2010, making this the first report of the phenomenon.
Some details:
- west-facing slope, dominated by large red cedars, from 2'-4' dbh. Some big leaf maple.
- 140 dead crowns in 2300 sq ft: crown density about 16 sq ft.
- two surviving ferns for density comparison: large at 36 sq ft, small at 9 sq ft
- no doug firs in the 2300 sq ft
- good regeneration of other species, mostly Indian Plum, some bracken fern
- crowns are marked with orange flags (otherwise hard to see in the video among small new Indian plum)
The slope is east-facing - it runs down to Agate Passage on the west side of the water.
ReplyDeleteThe owner reported no mountain beavers.
Paul T