Revegetation Studies of a Disturbed Subalpine Community in Olympic National Park, Washington

Scott, Ruth

At Flapjack Lakes, a subalpine wilderness community in the southeast corner of Olympic National Park, heavy visitor use has resulted in large bare areas of ground. In order to determine what methods of revegetation would best restore flora to these damaged sites, in September of 1976, forty-four 1/2 meter by 1/2 meter square plots were set up in two locations, the northern and southern areas of the isthmus which separates the two Flapjack tarns. Saplings and seedlings of Abies amabilis and Tsuga mertensiana, mature plants of Xerophyllum tenax and clumps of Phyllodoce empetriformis were treated with two variables in the southern exposed plots: the addition of richer soil and the use of fertilizer; while only one variable, the addition of fertilizer, was used on the more protected northern plots. All plots were watered throughout the research period, as needed. Measurements taken in June 1977 on winter survival rates indicate P. empetriformis to be the most successful species of the four overall. In the southern area, an exposed, treeless region with little if any top soil, A. amabilis was the most effective transplant. In the northerly protected area where top soil is present but compacted, P. empetriformis had the greatest survival rate with T. mertensiana not far behind. X. tenax appeared to be a poor choice for any type transplant technique employed. The introduction of treatments, designed to enhance survival rates resulted in a net increase in livelihood only in the case of P. empetriformis. Survival rates for the two coniferous species increased in the north plots and decreased in the south plots when nutrient pellets were introduced. Adding richer soil was only effective in the use of X. tenax, slightly increasing the number of individuals remaining alive one year after transplanting. In addition to the transplanted individuals, many pioneer species took hold on their own in the experimental regions, especially within the coniferous sapling plots.