Author Description

This operational summary provides information about vegetation management in the cottonwood complex. Interior versions of this complex are dominated by cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa) and may contain significant components of black twinberry (Lonicera involucrata), red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera), willow (Salix spp.), red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus), green alder (Alnus crispa), mountain alder (Alnus rugosa), reedgrass (Calamagrostis canadensis), or drooping wood-reed (Cinna latifolia). The coastal version of the cottonwood complex may contain significant components of red alder (Alnus rubra), salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), red-osier dogwood, devil's club (Oplopanax horridus), red elderberry, or thimbleberry. Other shrubby and herbaceous species that may occur with varying abundance are stink currant (Ribes bracteosum), vine maple (Acer circinatum), and sword fern (Polystichum munitum). Topics covered in this summary include development of the complex and its interaction with crop trees; non-timber values and pre-harvest considerations; and management strategies for current and backlog sites.