Local volume tables for young-growth conifers on a high quality site in the northern Sierra Nevada

Local volume tablesfor yomg-growth conifers on a high quality site i m the northem Sierra Nevada. Res. Note PSW-404. Local volume tables for ponderosa pine (Pinurponderosa Dougl. ex Laws. var. ponder-osa), sugar pine (Pinus lambertiam Dougl.), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco), California white fir (Abies concolor var. l o w i o ~ [Gord.] Lemm.), and incense-cedar (Libocebm decurrem Torr.) are presented by 1-inch diameter classes in the range of 3 to 40 inches for ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, California white fir, and incense-cedar. Sugar pine is presented to 45 inches. Trees were measured by an optical dendrometer. Tables are presented for each species in tems of cubic volume to a 0-and &inch top, and Scribner board feet to a 6-inch top. The tables are applicable to trees growing on land of high site quality in the northern Sierra Nevada of Califor-nia at low to mid elevations. ntensive forestry requires that foresters be able eo estimate tree volume accu-I rately for such phases of timber management as rimber sales, forest surveys, appraisals for land exchanges, evaluations of damage, advance planning;and p w t h and yield studies. The private kind appraiser and even the tax assessor often find such in-fornation useful as well. Needed in particular are volume data for young trees in small-bree growth models. To be of value, estimates of tree volume should be expressed in units of measure that relate to the prducts derived from the tree md that are expressed in tems familim to the user. The board foot and cubic foot are mdiriond units of measure, altlnough the cubic fmt is increasing in impomnce as urilization of the total tree becomes more common. Consequently, future users will find volume tables more applicable if they contain both unils of measure. Future users also will find volume tables more useful if they present esrimaees for the species that make up the typical westside Sierra Nevada [California] conifer forest. The large number of species provides raw material for a wide variety of w d products. Future managers are likely to retain the mixed-conifer forest in order to have the flexibility ro mpiealize on high-yielding "markels of opprtunity" and lo respond to the ever-changing marketplace. From the late 1940's through &e 197OYs, volume estimates in California were based largely on fom-class volume tables derived from logged s m d ~. ' ~ ~ But even with the availability of such …