Essay About Western Junipers Growing Influence And Percent Cover

Juniper
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Western Junipers Growing Influence in Eastern Oregon
Estimated Acreage
1988
> 10 percent cover
420,000
2.2 million
Total area with juniper
6 million
Volume of current stand
——–
467 million cubic feet
Private landowners own 58 percent of the area and 49 percent of the volume
BLM is the principle owner of public lands with juniper – 79 percent of publicly owned juniper forest
Over Ð of the present juniper forest became established between 1850 and 1900 (greatest increase came between (1879 and 1918).
Rate of Establishment
1650 – 1800
2900 acres/year
1800 – 1850
8200 acres/year
1850 – 1900
23,100 acres/year
1900 – 1940
6000 acres/year
52 percent of juniper grows in the 10 – 15 inch precipitation zone
41 percent of juniper grows between 4000 – 5000 ft. in elevation
Juniper crown intercepts more that Ð… of the annual precipitation
Juniper transpires water year round compared to seasonal transpiration of other vegetation
Juniper roots can extend several times the crown diameter
Almost 50 percent of juniper forests have crown covers 10-20 percent
Juniper woodlands have up to 10 times the erosion rate of sagebrush – grass ecotypes (Buckhouse et. al.)
Average cubic volume of wood per acre in juniper forests is 200 cubic feet
Over half the area of juniper forests have fewer than 50 trees per acre
Counties with more that Ð… million acres of juniper
Crook
857,000
Harney
884,000
Grant
539,000
Jefferson
582,000