Project Code:	WEYDV-02-029
Program:	FRIP
Area:	Applied Research
Sponsor:	Weyerhaeuser Company Limited
Project Status:	Complete

Funding was used to support the third year of a multi forest company research project that was designed to study the impact of aspen decline. The project assessed seasons of harvest and logging impacts and their effect on seasonal aspen carbohydrate stores. Nine study sites were used for the project with borders of Hines Creek, Calling Lake, Slave Lake, and the Whitecourt area. Clones visually assessed to be in later stages of decline appeared to have modest but likely inconsequential loss in their inherent capacity to regenerate vegetatively. During water harvesting, aspen regeneration was not affected by frozen ground; however, summer harvesting resulted in reduced stem density that was statistically significant for at least three years. The effects of light and heavy skidder traffic were less significant and harder to evaluate. Final reports were submitted by Ken Greenway entitled, “Stand Condition and Site Factors Affecting Regeneration of Healthy-Mature and Over-Mature Aspen” in March 1999 and “Seasonal Carbohydrate Dynamics in Healthy and Declining Aspen Clones in West Central Alberta” in May 1998.