biomass.forestguild.org - 1042 Study of Biomass Bundling, MN

Study of Biomass Bundling

Superior National Forest, MN
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and the US Forest Service
Case study based on the report Harvesting Fuel: Cutting Costs and Reducing Forest Fire Hazards Through Biomass Harvest

Project ID: 1042

1. Name - Study of Biomass Bundling

A collaborative team including Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and the US Forest Service recently published a study of biomass harvesting in the Superior National Forest, Minnesota. The study investigated 1) the economic and operational issues faced by loggers; 2) the environmental concerns for land managers, scientists, and policymakers; and 3) the administrative systems and constraints.

The report included nine test harvests carried out during the summer and fall of 2006. This case study focuses on the Pitcha Lake North site. The Pitcha Lake test sites are predominantly in the Dry Mesic Red Pine-White Pine Landscape Ecosystem. The overstory of the stands are predominately 60 to 80 year old pine (red and white), mixed with spruce, balsam fir, aspen and paper birch. Operability is good throughout the stands, although some rolling topography exists. The overstory trees range in size from 5- to 28-inch DBH with an average of about 12 inch DBH. Regeneration of the canopy pines is present in less than 5% of the area. Much balsam fir and hazel brush exists, particularly where no thinning of the forest has occurred for 60-80 years.

Before effective fire control, low-intensity surface fires removed dead and down fuels, reduced balsam fir and spruce regeneration, and helped minimize insect and disease outbreaks in older red and white
pine stands. During the last 80 years of wildfire control, balsam fir and spruce regeneration has created potential fuel for wildfires. The high fuel loading has put many pine stands at risk for intense crown fires
that could devastate the stands. In general, the area is in Fire Regime III and the stands are in Condition Class 2 or 3, moderately altered from historic conditions and significantly altered from historic
conditions, respectively.

The main objectives for the sites were to maintain and manage stands for longer rotations, and manage ladder fuels to reduce crown fire risk
with mechanical methods and prescribed burning. The prescription for the Pitcha Lake North was to remove all trees less than five inches DBH and balsam fir and spruce outside the marked leave areas. Young, healthy scattered white pine and white spruce trees were to be left whenever possible. Some balsam fir could be left if they were in small, relatively isolated pockets, or surrounded by white pine, white spruce and/or hardwoods regeneration. No snags or down woody material that did not result from harvest operation could be removed from site. Prescribed burns were planned for the site after the biomass harvest.

A Valmet 603 three-wheel feller-buncher harvested the material and then the John Deere 1490D bundled the biomass, and a Ponsse Buffalo Dual brought the material to the landing. In total, 3.2 green tons per acre were harvested, but only 37% of the biomass less than 1-inch DBH and 34% of the biomass of 1- to 5-inch DBH was removed.

Conventional treatment costs for the Pitcha Lake North site were estimated at $350 per acre for low-density sites while the cost of the biomass treatment was $371 per acre. The price for most biomass delivered was $21 per ton, but the power plant only paid $14 per ton for bundles because of the incrased grinding costs. The Pitcha Lake North site generated about $45 per acre, for a net saving of about $24 per acre over a conventional treatment. Had trucking distances been only 50 miles instead of 85, Pitcha Lake North might have saved as much as $80 per acre over a conventional treatment.

More detail on this and other case studies is available in the full report:
Harvesting Fuel: Cutting Costs and Reducing Forest Fire Hazards Through Biomass Harvest

Bundled small diameter balsam and brush

Links

Harvesting Fuel: Cutting Costs and Reducing Forest Fire Hazards Through Biomass Harvest
Minnesota's Biomass Harvesting Guidelines:

	2	Land Ownership US Forest Service
	3	Location Superior National Forest, Minnesota
	4	Forest Type
	Context
	5	Is this project a part of a landscape plan? Yes
	6	In a Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)? No
	7	Acreage treated 22.5
	8	Type of contract
	9	Funding source
	10	Collaborators and partners Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
	11	Project start date Summer 2006
	12	Project completion date Fall 2006
	Treatment Goals
	13	Restoration, watershed or habitat improvement
	14	Reduce fuel load
	15
	16
	17
	Treatment Specifics
	18	Primary treatment objective Maintain and manage stands for longer rotations, and manage ladder fuels to reduce crown fire risk
	19	How does biomass removal fit with other objectives? Well
	20	Treatment description Remove all trees less than 5 inches DBH and balsam fir and spruce outside the marked leave areas
	21	Description of contractors
	22	Travel distance for contractors
	23	Type of equipment used Valmet 603 three-wheel feller-buncher, John Deere 1490D bundler, and a Ponsse Buffalo Dual.
	24	Treatment of residual slash if any Presrcibed burn planned
	25	Treatment cost per acre $371/ac total cost - $45/ac income = $326/ac
	26	Trucking costs $1.50/mile
	Utilization
	27	Products from project Biomass bundles
	28	Price for products $14/ton
	29	Date of Sale Fall 2006
	30	Did biomass markets exist previous to project? Yes
	31	Type of utilization Power generation
	32	How well did the woody biomass match the utilization options? The bundles recieved a lower price than other biomass
	33	Distance to utilization 85 miles
	Treatment guidelines, targets, limitations
	34	Diameter limit <5"
	35	Basal area reduction None
	36	Crown coverage
	37	Fuel loading
	38	Retention guidelines Young, healthy scattered white pine and white spruce trees were to be left whenever possible.
	39	Treatment of snags and downed logs Left whenever possible
	40	Soil impacts
	41	Other ecological impacts monitored
	Pre Treatment
	42	Fuel load
	43	Stem density (stems/ac) 0-1 inch DBH ~63 1-5 inch DBH ~279 >5 inch DBH 6,344
	44	Basal area (ft2/ac) 145
	45	Canopy closure (%)
	46	Height to live crown base
	47	Snags and downed woody material ~12 snags /ac
	48	Size class distribution
	49	Tree species composition
	50	Presence/absence of invasive species
	51	Soil and other ecological data
	Post Treatment
	52	Fuel load
	53	Stem density (stems/ac) 0-1 inch DBH ~39 1-5 inch DBH ~184 >5 inch DBH 6,344 (same)
	54	Basal area (ft2/ac) 145 (same)
	55	Canopy closure (%)
	56	Height to live crown base
	57	Snags and downed woody material No significant change
	58	Size class distribution
	59	Tree species composition
	60	Presence/absence of invasive species
	61	Soil and other ecological data

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