CMER Active Projects
Background Information:
The CMER work plan is organized by Forests & Fish Report “rule groups”. A rule group is a set of forest practices rules relating either to a particular resource, such as wetlands, or fish-bearing streams, or to a particular type of forest practice, such as road construction and maintenance. Although the rule group divisions are somewhat arbitrary, they provide a useful framework for the research and monitoring strategy. Critical research and monitoring questions are identified at the rule group level to address information gaps related to scientific uncertainty and resource risk associated with the rules. Once the research and monitoring questions are identified, programs are developed to address them. Programs consist of one or more related projects designed to strategically address a set of related scientific questions. Completion of a CMER project will typically result in one or more final CMER products. Final products come in a variety of formats including but not limited to reports, models, data, websites, and software.
The tables below are organized in rule groups with programs that have one or more active projects. For completed projects, please visit the Completed CMER Projects page
Type N Riparian Prescriptions Rule Group ▬ Type N Riparian Effectiveness Program
Type N Experimental Buffer Treatment Hard Rock Status: Data collection
Soft Rock Status: Development of QAPP & Site Selection Contact:
Teresa Miskovic
(360) 902-1423
teresa.miskovic@dnr.wa.gov | | This project is designed to compare the effect of three different Type N stream buffer treatments on riparian function variables and amphibian populations. Downstream effects on water quality and fish populations will also be assessed.
| | Study Plan (763KB PDF)
Map of Sites (575KB PDF)
Hard Rock Progress Report (14KB PDF)
|
Type N Experimental Buffer Treatment (Soft rock)
Soft Rock Status: Site Selection
Contact:
Teresa Miskovic
(360) 902-1423
teresa.miskovic@dnr.wa.gov | | This project is designed to compare the effect s of Type N stream buffer treatments on riparian inputs, water quality, and exports to fish-bearing waters in incompetent (soft rock) lithologies in Western Washington. | | Study Plan (QAPP) (182KB PDF)
Soft Rock Progress Report(14KB PDF) |
Eastside Type N Characterization Status: Characterizing sites for field component Contact:
Amy Kurtenbach
amy.kurtenbach@dnr.wa.gov | | This project will determine the current status, characteristics, and distribution of Type N streams in eastside forestlands subject to the Forest Practices Act.
| | Study Plan (3,090KB PDF)
Progress Report (17KB PDF) |
Type N Riparian Prescriptions Rule Group ▬ Type N Amphibian Response Program
| Tailed Frog Literature Review and Meta-Analysis Status: Finish Contact:
Darin Cramer
(360) 902-1088
darin.cramer@dnr.wa.gov | | This project is a literature review and meta-analysis of previous published studies and data sets related to timber harvest effects on tailed frogs.
| | Lit Review Progress Report (60KB PDF)
Meta-Analysis Progress Report (58KB PDF) |
Dunn’s and Van Dyke’s Salamanders Status: Finish Contact:
Darin Cramer
(360) 902-1088
darin.cramer@dnr.wa.gov | | This project, done in cooperation with the Forest Service, is designed to provide additional information on the role of LWD in these species’ habitats.
| | Study Plan (43KB PDF)
Progress Report (61KB PDF) |
Buffer Integrity/Shade Effectiveness Status: Data processing & analysis Contact:
Teresa Miskovic
(360) 902-1423
teresa.miskovic@dnr.wa.gov | | This project will estimate the effects of 4 shade levels on amphibian abundance, body condition, spatial organization, periphyton accumulation, macro-invertebrate and particulate organic matter drift, and water temperature.
| | Study Plan (81KB PDF)
Progress Report (11KB PDF) |
Type F Riparian Prescriptions Rule Group ▬ Type F Statewide Prescription Monitoring Program
| Type F Riparian Prescription Monitoring (Westside) Status: Final report Contact:
Teresa Miskovic
(360) 902-1423
teresa.miskovic@dnr.wa.gov | | This Project will evaluate the effectiveness of the Type F riparian prescriptions, including survival of buffer leave trees, stand condition and trajectory over time, and changes in riparian functions including shade, LWD recruitment, and soil disturbance.
| | Type N & F Study Plan (915KB PDF)
Progress Report (11KB PDF) |
Type F Riparian Prescription Monitoring (Eastside - bull trout add-on) Status: Data collection Contact:
Teresa Miskovic
(360) 902-1423
teresa.miskovic@dnr.wa.gov | | This project will evaluate the effectiveness of eastside Type F riparian prescriptions on buffer tree integrity/survival and changes in stand conditions and LWD recruitment.
| | Study Plan (102KB PDF)
Progress Report (10KB PDF)
|
Type F Riparian Prescriptions Rule Group ▬ Hardwood Conversion Program
| Riparian Hardwood Conversion Status: Reporting & data collection Contact:
Ash Roorbach
(360) 528-4332
aroorbach@nwifc.org | | This project will provide information on techniques, tools, and treatments for harvesting hardwood trees in riparian areas and re-establishing free-to-grow conifers that are on trajectory to dominate the sites.
| | Study Plan (354KB PDF)
Progress Report (11KB PDF)
Hardwood Conversion Study Interim Report (5,330KB PDF) |
Type F Riparian Prescriptions Rule Group ▬ Extensive Riparian Monitoring Projects Program
| Extensive Riparian Monitoring Status: Initial sampling event Eastern WA - Type F reporting
Initial sampling event Western WA - Type F&N data processing & reporting Contact:
Teresa Miskovic
(360) 902-1423
teresa.miskovic@dnr.wa.gov | | The purpose of this project is to obtain an unbiased estimate of the distribution of stream temperatures across forestlands subject to the Forest Practices Act, as well as identify trends over time as necessary.
| | Study Plan (192KB PDF)
Study Plan Addendum (40KB PDF)
Temp Progress Report (12KB PDF)
Veg Progress Report (13KB PDF) |
Type F Riparian Prescriptions Rule Group ▬ Eastside Riparian Type F Program
| Eastside Type F Riparian Current Condition Assessment Status: Implementation Contact:
Jenelle Black
(425) 445-7034
jblack@nwifc.org
or Lynda Hofmann
hofmalah@dfw.wa.gov | | This project is a baseline assessment of current riparian forest stand conditions, and will help develop targets to accomplish prescription scale evaluation.
| | Study Plan (2MB PDF)
Progress Report (10KB PDF) |
| Eastside Type F Riparian Characterization Project (EWRAP), Phase II Status: Model runs for critical questions
Contact: Amy Kurtenbach
(360) 902-1029
amy.kurtenbach@dnr.wa.gov | | The purpose of Phase II of the EWRAP is to evaluate current and projected riparian stand conditions using data collected during Phase I of this study. | | Progress Report (29KB PDF) |
Bull Trout Rule Group ▬ Bull Trout Overlay Temperature Program
| Bull Trout Overlay Temperature (Eastside Riparian Shade/Temperature Effectiveness) Status: Post-harvest data collection Contact:
Terry Jackson
(360) 902-2609
jackstbj@dfw.wa.gov | | The purpose of this project is to determine if the riparian prescriptions for the bull trout overlay (all available shade), and the standard forest practices shade rule are comparable in their protection of stream temperature, and whether each prescription is adequate in protecting and maintaining cool stream temperatures.
| | Study Plan (293KB PDF)
Study Plan Addendum (24KB PDF)
Progress Report (17KB PDF) |
Solar Radiation/Effective Shade Status: Independent Scientific Peer Review (ISPR)
Contact:
Terry Jackson
(360) 902-2609
jackstbj@dfw.wa.gov | | This project is a secondary component of the Bull Trout Temperature Overlay project, and will determine if the “all available shade” riparian rule is effective at blocking solar energy from reaching the stream and preventing changes in stream temperatures.
| | Study Plan (52KB PDF)
Study Plan Addendum (24KB PDF)
Progress Report (17KB PDF) |
Unstable Slopes Rule Group ▬ Mass Wasting Effectiveness Monitoring Program
| Mass Wasting Prescription Scale Effectiveness Monitoring (Post-Mortem) Status: CMER review Contact: Amy Kurtenbach
(360) 902-1029
amy.kurtenbach@dnr.wa.gov | | This project will determine if the Forest Practices Rules - including rules for harvest on potentially unstable slopes, road construction and maintenance rules, and Road Maintenance and Abandonment Plans - are effective at limiting landslides from forest practices.
| | Study Plan (860KB PDF)
Progress Report (17KB PDF) |
Wetland Protection Rule Group ▬ Wetlands Mitigation Effectiveness Program
Characterization of Forest Roads and Wetland Interactions Methods Development Project
Status: Final study plan
Contact:
Teresa Miskovic
(360) 902-1423
teresa.miskovic@dnr.wa.gov | | The methods developed in the Methods Development and Pilot Projects will address questions about the effects of road construction on wetland structure, and will use a combination of direct measurements and best professional judgment (BPJ). It is anticipated that the methods developed will also use BPJ to assess potential risks from road construction and maintenance to wetland functions. | | Progress Report (12KB PDF) |
Characterization of Forest Roads and Wetland Interactions Methods Development Project
Teresa Miskovic
(360) 902-1423
teresa.miskovic@dnr.wa.gov | | The Survey of Forest Practices Applications – Wetlands and Forest Practices Interactions Development Report addresses the extent to which constructing and maintaining forest roads in, adjacent and near wetlands and harvest of forested wetlands is occurring in Washington State, and whether these activities create a risk to wetland functions. | | Development Report (12KB PDF) |
Wildlife Rule Group ▬ Wildlife ProgramRMZ Study Resample Project
Status: Final report Contact:
Teresa Miskovic
(360) 902-1423
teresa.miskovic@dnr.wa.gov | | This project evaluated the effects of upland forest harvest and riparian management zone retention on the abundance and diversity of songbirds, small mammals, and terrestrial amphibians in managed forests of eastern and western Washington using two buffer configurations (state regulations and a modified version of the state regulations).
| | Progress Report (13KB PDF) |