Santiam State Forest - Forest Management

Forest Management

North Cascade District operates under a forest management plan that included timber harvesting at a rate of 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) to 3,000 acres (12 km2) per year. Clear cut harvesting is limited to 200 acres (0.81 km2) per year. Two important factors that influence the timber harvest are restrictions for spotted owl habitat and the emerging market for smaller-diameter saw-logs and veneer material.

Douglas-fir is the primary tree species in the Santiam State Forest. In some areas, the Douglas-fir stands are mixed with western hemlock, western red cedar, red alder, and bigleaf maple. A few Pacific yew can also be found at the lower elevations. Mountain hemlock, noble fir, silver fir, and western white pine are found in the higher elevations. Douglas-fir areas that have been recently cut and reforested are characterized by even-aged layers of seedlings or saplings. Stands cut more than 15 years ago have grown into closed canopy stands. These areas have a dense, even-aged layer of rapidly growing Douglas fir trees. The forest also has some older stands that naturally regenerated prior to the establishment of the state forest. These areas are typically mixed conifer stands that include Douglas-fir, hemlock, western red cedar, and noble fir. The forest has only a few layered stands, approximately 8,500 acres (34 km2). These are the result of a selective cutting program during the 1970s and 1980s. These stands normally have an over-story of large Douglas-fir trees. There are ten separate patches of old-growth forest, totaling 380 acres (1.5 km2). These stands range in age from 120 to 500 years old.

The Santiam State Forest has seven management basins delineated by major stream drainage areas and related land forms. The Butte Creek Basin has 10,074 acres (40.77 km2), and is located southeast of Silverton. The Cedar Creek Basin has 4,229 acres (17.11 km2), and is northeast of Silver Falls State Park. The Crabtree Basin has 1,890 acres (7.6 km2), and is located east of Lebanon, Oregon. The Green Basin has 6,905 acres (27.94 km2), and is northeast of Gates. The Mad Creek Basin has 6,737 acres (27.26 km2), and is located southeast of Mill City. The Rock Creek Basin has 12,603 acres (51.00 km2), and is located south of Mill City adjacent to the Mad Creek Basin. There is also a forest unit designated as the Scattered Basin. That unit has 5,276 acres (21.35 km2) located in scattered parcels throughout Clackamas, Marion, and Linn counties. These areas drain into the North Santiam River, South Santiam River, or the Pudding River.