Resource information
The 1998 ice storm caused damage to forests across much of eastern North America. One of the information needs expressed by landowners and the broader forest community in eastern Ontario was an assessment of the effect of past management on degree of damage in hardwood stands. Ice storm damage was assessed in managed and unmanaged permanent sample plots established prior to the ice storm. In addition, 1587 temporary sample plots established after the 1998 ice storm were used to examine the effect of basal area, stand composition, stand location and tree size on degree of ice damage. Permanent sample plot results showed no significant difference in degree of damage between managed and unmanaged hardwood stands that experienced light to moderate damage in eastern Ontario. Chi-square analysis of temporary sample plots showed that the damage varied with location (township). There was some association with stand type (intolerant hardwood, tolerant hardwood, mixed hardwood/conifer and conifer), stand basal area and tree size. Implications for management are discussed.
