Pacific Northwest Research Station

Title: Software for calculating vegetation disturbance and recovery by using the equivalent clearcut area model.

Author: Ager, Alan A.; Clifton, Caty.

Date: 2005

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-637. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 11 p

Station ID: GTR-PNW-637

Description: The use of cumulative watershed effects models is mandated as part of interagency consultation over projects that might affect habitat for salmonids federally listed as threatened or endangered. Cumulative effects analysis is also required by a number of national forest plans in the Pacific Northwest Region (Region 6). Cumulative watershed effects in many cases are measured with the equivalent clearcut area (ECA) model, which generates an index of cumulative disturbance by considering disturbance type, extent, and recovery over time. Although the model has many limitations, it provides an index of vegetative disturbance that can be used to compare the existing condition of different watersheds, and the potential impacts among land management alternatives. Calculating ECA on multiple watersheds and management scenarios for project-level analysis is a tedious process. We automated the process with a program called Equivalent Treatment Area Calculator to streamline its application on national forests in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. The program, operation, and limitations of the ECA model are described in this paper.

Keywords: ECA, equivalent clearcut area, cumulative watershed effects, equivalent roaded area

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Citation

Ager, Alan A.; Clifton, Caty.  2005.  Software for calculating vegetation disturbance and recovery by using the equivalent clearcut area model..   Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-637. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 11 p