ABSTRACT
Changes in old growth structural features as well as susceptibilities to disturbances were projected in stands typical of the eastern Washington Cascades. Projected changes with and without silvicultural operations were made. Doing no silvicultural activities in these stands will not rapidly increase old growth structural features and will allow the stands to become very susceptible to insects and wind breakage, followed by fires. Specifically designed silvicultural operations can maintain or rapidly increase old growth structural features and reduce susceptibilities to most disturbances. Unless some trees killed in the silvicultural operations are removed, the treated stands will become very susceptible to fires. Removing some of the thinned trees can also offset the costs of doing the operations. A landscape approach of treating various stands with different silvicultural regimes will probably best maintain a dynamic balance of structural features, a reduced susceptibility to various disturbances, and a steady flow of wood for manufacturing.
