Thinning for Habitat Workshops (2022)

What is Variable Density Thinning?

Variable density thinning is a silvicultural strategy designed to accelerate development of late-successional habitat by applying a variety of harvest intensities within a stand. This practice dovetails with common small forest landowner management objectives like developing wildlife habitat and enhancing recreation and aesthetic value of a forest. It can also be a low-impact form of harvest that landowners can utilize to meet tax-based county harvest requirements.

What will we cover?

These evening workshops will tour two variable density thinning projects at Seaquest and Nisqually State Parks, which were completed in tandem with a USFS research project. WSU Extension, USFS, WA DNR, and WA State Parks representatives will discuss:

Landowner objectives that conform with VDT
Impacts on forest succession, development, and health
Benefits to wildlife
Forest stand conditions conducive to VDT
Implementation of the “skips and gaps” method of VDT
Practical and operational considerations
Financial implications of a VDT harvest
Incorporating VDT into a long-term management scheme

Workshop Details

Location

These workshops will be held in-person at two separate Washington State Parks in southwest Washington.

You will need to a Discover Pass to participate. If you don’t have one, you can purchase one here.

Seaquest State Park – Tuesday, April 26th (6PM-8PM)

3030 Spirit Lake Hwy, Castle Rock, WA 98611

Nisqually State Park – Thursday, April 28th (6PM-8PM)

Mashel Prairie Rd, Eatonville, WA 98328

Both workshops will be held outdoors. Please dress appropriately for weather and be prepared to walk approximately one mile on easy terrain.

Cost: $20

Registration fee is $20 per household. Please only bring one car per registration. Space is limited and is first-come, first-served. No refunds within 7 days of the workshop start date. Eventbrite processing fees are non-refundable.

Registration [CLOSED]

If registering as a family from the same household/ownership, only do one registration for all of you–do not do separate registrations for individual family members. However, please only bring one car to the event per household or registration.

Register Online

Registrations via Eventbrite are subject to a non-refundable credit card processing fee. Online registration will be open until 5:00 PM Thursday, April 19, 2022.

Register by Mail

Mail-in registrations must be received by 5:00 PM Thursday, April 21, 2022. Send in the registration form along with a check made out to WSU Extension. This fillable PDF form is an accessible document. Fill it out on your computer and then print it out and mail it in with your check to:

WSU Extension Forestry
Attn: VDT Workshop Registration
5722 Sleater Kinney Rd. NE
Olympia, WA 98506

Additional instructions and information will be provided in the week prior to the events.

Acknowledgements and Accommodations

This program is an educational partnership between Washington State University Extension Forestry and the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This Program is made possible in part by funding from Lewis County, Pacific County, USDA Forest Service, and the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Patrick Shults at patrick.shults@wsu.edu at least three weeks prior to the event