California logging utilization: 2004

A study of logging activities conducted during 2004 provided utilization data and information on timber harvesting operations in California. A nested and stratified sampling scheme was used to produce a sample of felled frees with distributions of geographic area, ownership class, tree species, and tree size representative of California's recent sawlog and veneer log harvest. Results of the study indicated that about 50% of the harvested trees were less than 16.5-in.dbh, but these trees produced just 15% of the volume. About 50% of the harvested volume came from trees less than 24.5-in. dbh, and about two-thirds of the volume was from trees less than 30-in. dbh. Removals factors, quantifying impacts on growing stock, revealed that 1,051.4 ft³ of growing-stock volume was removed for every thousand cubic feet delivered to mills, with just 61.5 ft³ left in the forest as logging residue. Periodic reevaluations of logging utilization in California would make it possible to evaluate impacts of technology, market conditions, and policy changes on logging operations and utilization factors in the state.