The sustained
forest management philosophy of the Confederated Tribes
of the Warm Springs Reservation is declared in the 
Warm Springs Forest Products
Industries has been awarded the 
Ponderosa Pine Lumber
Mature Ponderosa
Pines can be easily identified by their distinctive
orange-brown bark which is arranged in large plates. The dark
yellow-green needles are 5-10" long and grow in clusters of
three. The cones, similar in color to the bark, are 3-6" long
and 2-4" in diameter. Seeds are 5/16-3/8" long with a 3/4-1"
wing.
In pure, or nearly pure, stands of Ponderosa Pine there is a
standing inventory of approximately 188 billion board feet of
lumber; in mixed stands there are additional billions of board
feet in unmeasured inventory. Most Ponderosa trees grow, mature
and survive for about 125 years before they are lost to natural
causes such as rot, insect damage, fires or wind throw.
Occasionally, a lone specimen will survive for nearly 200
years. Their typical site is on semi-arid plateaus and slopes,
often surrounded by juniper and sage.
Ponderosa Pine forests are usually selectively harvested
rather than clear cut. This method of logging removes only the
mature trees and leaves the other trees to re-seed and mature.
Selective harvesting often makes it difficult to identify a
recently logged stand.
Ponderosa Pine (pinus ponderosa) is one of the Western pine
species that includes Idaho White Pine (pinus monticola), Sugar
Pine (pinus lambertiana) and Lodgepole Pine (pinus contorta).
The Western pines are distinct from the Southern Yellow pines
which are denser and pitchier, with widely different
characteristics and uses.
Appropriate applications for Ponderosa Pine include light
framing, spaced sheathing, floor and roof decking. As a treated
product, it is superb for decks and other outdoor projects.
Although it is not as strong as some of the heavier, denser
softwoods, Ponderosa's combination of dimensional stability,
strength and workability is well adapted to most light framing
applications including joists, studs, rafters, plates and
soffits.
Read more about Ponderosa Pine.
FSC available upon request.
