Woody Renewables Updates

Woody Renewables Field Trials (September 22, 2011)

TSS recently conducted transportation system trials on a current timber sale/service contract in the Tahoe National Forest. They used both existing and innovative technologies (dump truck, stinger-steer, standard chip van) to remove woody renewables from the area. Analysis included detailed observations regarding efficiencies and costs associated with each system. TSS worked with Nathan Bamford to remove chipped woody renewables from the site and haul it to Oroville, California.

Additionally, a demonstration day was held on September 22 for 17 participants which consisted of forest service staff, private contractors, and other relevant parties. Those participating loaded into trucks and traveled up to the staging area, where the stinger-steer van was described by the San Dimas Technology and Development Center staff member who drove it. On the way, the various constraints posed by the road were explained, these included steep gradients, narrow road widths, and turn radii. Participants watched the stinger-steer attempt to negotiate each constraint.

Preliminary Transportation Network Assessment

This report details certain transportation challenges and opportunities associated with woody renewables utilization. It contains maps based on data gathered from Mt. Ingalls and Rice Creek. The maps utilize the GIS information compiled in these project areas to help determine the potential volume of available woody renewables supply and possible constraints that could prevent it from being harvested.

This report details certain transportation challenges and opportunities associated with woody renewables utilization.  It contains maps based on data gathered from Mt. Ingalls and Rice Creek.  The maps utilize the GIS information compiled in these project areas to help determine the potential volume of available woody renewables supply and possible constraints that could prevent it from being harvested.

Some road conditions in the area are not optimal for woody renewable transport equipment In a situation like this, the cost of improving these roads needs to be compared to the potential amounts of woody renewables that they can provide access to.  Certain roads require relatively cheap, in the range of only a couple hundred dollars, and easy fixes.  Thus, it is more likely that these might be improved than roads that would require thousands of dollars or work or extensive environmental impact assessment.

Using this information, TSS was able to develop a spreadsheet and data program that could calculate the amount of woody renewables supply available in a given area.  They produced a map of 'landing sites,' areas where woody renewables will be brought for processing, and how many bone dry tons (bdt) can be obtained around each landing.  Industry standards recommend that, for an acre to be harvested, it should produce at least 25 green tons of woody renewable, which is equivalent to about 13bdt.  TSS' analysis allows for the siting of landings only in areas where this amount of woody renewables is available.  Also, by knowing the amount of bdt that will be accessible per acre, it can be estimated how many times equipment will have to pass through to remove material, which is an important environmental consideration of harvesting.

The maps also include 'no-go' and 'choke-point' locations.  'No-gos' are areas where harvesting would be prohibited due to the presence of sensitive species, streams, or slope restrictions.  'Choke-points' are areas where the road is currently not in good enough condition to allow hauling and harvesting equipment to navigate safely.  The existence of 'no-gos' and 'choke-points' ar limiting factors in the amount of woody renewables which can be removed from a site and TSS has accounted for them in the assessment of bdt availability.

The report also includes methods for estimating the cost of woody renewables removal.  This is partially dependent on the value of the woody renewables that will be harvested and any road improvements that may be necessary, but is also a factor of how deep into the forest equipment has to go in order to harvest.  The analysis provides cost estimates for equipment traveling 0-800-feet into the woods; the deeper equipment goes, the higher the costs will be.  If costs prove too high, saw timber harvesting may need to be incorporated with woody renewables harvesting in order to make removal of woody renewables cost effective, and TSS' analysis provides a function that allows for this to be calculated.

The same type of analysis that has been used in the Mt. Ingalls and Rice Creek areas can also be replicated in other locations.  TSS has provided spreadsheets and data programs that can allow any site to pin point its vegetation type, slope, harvesting restriction, and numerous other factors, and then produce an estimate of available woody renewables and its cost of removal.  This type of assessment tool could prove invaluable, especially when it comes to siting potential woody renewables facilities near reliable supply sources, as groups across California look to further the viability of woody renewables utilization.  However, even with this system in place, on-the-ground fieldwork is still vital if one is to determine the specific constraints (i.e.: where are the best landings?, what are the 'choke-points?') to woody renewables harvesting in a given area.

Resource Availability Review

This report details the level of availability of woody renewables from different sources in the Upper Feather River watershed. The area being assessed for supply includes areas of Butte, Lassen, Plumas, and Sierra counties. The primary activities expected to produce woody renewables for value-added usage are timber harvests, fire fuels reduction programs, and forest restoration and timber stand improvement activities.

The report gives estimates as to how many bone dry tons (bdt) each project will produce. Some potential sources of woody renewables have limited access because of factors like slope steepness, one of the primary constraints to harvesting.

There are a number of different areas from which woody renewables can be obtained. These include US Forest Service (USFS) land, private timber lands, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas; the report gives a breakdown of the amount of land controlled by each entity. Each area has different regulations on the degree of slope it is willing to harvest timber on. The USFS and BLM generally only perform harvesting and treatments in areas that have a slope less than 35%. According to the report, over 70% of the assessment area is located on slopes that are 35% or less. Private timber operations may be willing to perform harvests on steeper terrains, possibly up to 55%. Less than 10% of the assessment area is located on slopes greater than 55%. Given these slope calculations, TSS estimates that over 200,000 acres of land could be potentially available for woody renewables harvest in the assessment area.

The report also includes a discussion of the types of vegetation available for woody renewables usage in the assessment area. The primary source of vegetation is mixed-conifer forest (74%). Brush and shrubland is also somewhat prominent (12% the of assessment area), but mixed-conifer is expected to be the main vegetation type from which woody renewables supply will be obtained.

Preliminary Market Review – Current and Potential Value-Added Markets

This report details potential value-added markets for the increased use of woody renewables. Current markets include thermal and power generation, firewood, and furniture and crafts manufacturing.

The report discusses difficulties with transportation and harvesting restrictions as the primary challenges to be overcome. In particular, roads in potential woody renewables harvesting areas need to be able to accommodate biomass chipping, hauling, and harvesting equipment. Not all roads in forest lands have a substantial turn curve radius, wide enough turning areas for long and heavy vehicles, to allow equipment to operate safely and effectively. Also, the presence of streams or substantial dips in roadways can prove difficult for vehicles to navigate.

In addition to transportation constraints, the report details certain seasonal restrictions on woody renewables harvesting. For example, a typical harvest season generally runs from May-November, but can be subject to change based on snowfall and soil moisture. During this season, the US Forest Service requires that operations be limited in certain areas where sensitive wildlife habitat is a concern. Until the obstacles of transportation and restricted harvest season are addressed, the potential for expanding value-added uses of woody renewables will be significantly limited.

Biomass Awaiting Chipping