MANAGEMENT PLAN
FOR
Bridgeoporus nobilissimus
AT
GOAT MOUNTAIN
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Management Plan for Bridgeoporus nobilissimus
Goat Mountain Site
Cascade Resource Area
Salem District Bureau of Land Management
March 22, 2007
Introduction:
Bridgeoporus nobilissimus is apparently a parasite (butt rot) or saprobe on Abies species,
most notably A. procera (noble fir). The fruiting body is a distinctive perennial conk that
can grow to a large size and has a tawny, hairy upper surface. Conks occur on the lower
bole of live trees, snags and stumps. This species is listed as a Bureau Sensitive, a Survey
& Manage Category A, and an Oregon Natural Heritage List 1/Rank 2 species. Common
names for Bridgeoporus nobilissimus include Noble Polypore and Fuzzy Sandozi.
Management recommendations for this species include preparation of a site-specific
management plan for known populations (Castellano and O’Dell, 1997).
Location:
The Goat Mountain Bridgeoporus nobilissimus (BRNO) population is located within the
Middle Clackamas, Lower Clackamas, Upper Molalla, and Lower Molalla Watersheds,
on Salem District Bureau of Land Management and Mount Hood National managed
lands, in Clackamas County, Oregon. This area has a “checkerboard” of ownership, with
the BLM, Forest Service, and private (Weyerhaeuser) owning alternating sections.
Site Description and Management History:
This population is located between 3200’ and 3840’ elevation, on multiple aspects, with
gentle slopes (10-40%), in the Pacific Silver Fir zone plant association (ABAM/RHMA3VAAL/COCA13). With the exception of one conk with an old-growth true fir as its host,
all remaining conks are associated with legacy material (stumps) in areas previously
logged between 1940 and 1976. These areas are now forested with 31 to 67 year old
conifer stand dominated by noble fir (Abies procera), with a mix of Douglas-fir
(Pseudotsuge menziesii) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). Canopy closer is
+/- 70% with little light reaching the forest floor. The shrub layer is dominated by
rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum) and huckleberry (Vaccinium spp.) with
varying densities. The herb layer is very limited in both quantity and variety due to the
lack of direct sunlight.
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Management Objectives:
The goal of this management plan is to provide direction for ensuring the long-term
viability of the Goat Mountain Bridgeoporus nobilissimus population by maintaining
habitat conditions, minimizing disturbance to the conks, host trees and stumps, and the
use of silvicultural prescriptions to develop large diameter noble and pacific silver fir that
can serve as future hosts to this rare fungus.
Management Guidelines:
1. All known and any newly discovered Bridgeoporus nobilissimus conks will be
protected from management activities with an appropriate buffer as determined by
the governing land management agency botanist. Each botanist will utilize their
professional knowledge, site location and site specific microclimate when
determining appropriate buffer/management area size. The botanist will evaluate
activities (e.g. timber sales, site modification, fertilization, and special forest
product sales) that could result in disturbance to the conk or host tree/stump,
either through direct physical damage or change in microsite characteristics and
make recommendations based on these findings.
2. Because fertilization can accelerate the rate of decomposition of suitable stumps
and snags (Castellano 1997), fertilization should not occur in known-site stands,
nor in adjacent stands that contain suitable habitat.
3. The presence and growth of noble fir within occupied stands should be enhanced
through standard silvicultural methods, including planting of host species,
selective thinning, and girdling of non-host species.
4. As time, man-power and funding allow, additional surveys for Bridgeoporus
nobilissimus should be conducted in the areas surrounding known sites.
Monitoring:
1. Monitor known sites to detect major environmental changes, animal damage to
the host trees/stumps and conks, vandalism, or any other active that may have a
negative impact on individual fruiting bodies the population as a whole.
2. Monitoring of known sites will be conducted when time, man-power and funding
allow.
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References:
USDI, USDA. 2004. Management Recommendations for Known Sites, Additional Survey
and Manage, Version 3.0
ONHP, 2004. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants and Animals of Oregon.
FSEIS, 2004. To Remove or Modify the Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure
Standard and Guidelines.
Smith, Alice, April 21, 2004. Sweethome Ranger District, Willamette National Forest.
Personal communication.
USDA, 2002. Sweethome Ranger District, Willamette National Forest. Management
Plan for Bridgeoporus nobilissimus, Hardy Creek Site.
USDI, USDA. 2001. FSEIS Amendments to the Survey & Manage, Protection Buffer,
and other Mitigation Measures Standards and Guidelines.
USDI, USDA. 2001. Record of Decision and Standard and Guidelines.
ONHP, 2001. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants and Animals of Oregon.
Hibler, C. and O’Dell, T. 1998. Survey Protocols for Bridgeoporus nobilissimus Fungi,
Version 2.0
Castellano, M.A. and O’Dell, T. 1997. Manage Recommendations for Survey and
Manage Fungi, Version 2.0
Salem District Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan, 1995.
USDI, USDA. 1994. FSEIS, Management of Habitat for Late-Successional and OldGrowth Forest Related Species Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl.
USDI, USDA. 1994. Final-Salem District Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final
Environmental Impact Statement.
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