Allen M. Brackley

An evaluation of the grades and value of red alder lumber in southeast Alaska.

Many stands in southeast Alaska harvested since 1950, especially where there has been a high degree of disturbance of mineral soil, have regenerated to red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) and are now approaching maturity. The availability of red alder raises questions addressed in this study about the recovery of lumber from this resource. Information in this study was obtained from trees estimated to be 46 years old on a site outside of Ketchikan. Rates of recovery using a thin-kerf portable band mill were higher than those reported by larger production mills in Washington and Oregon. Grade yields of the Alaska material are comparable to those attained in other regions. This study determined that there were no significant differences in material characteristics that would set this Alaska log resource apart from red alder in the other regions of North America. The potential value of the products is sufficient to allow production in Alaska for use in the manufacturing of value-added products within the state or shipment of finished lumber to domestic or export markets.

House log drying rates in southeast Alaska for covered and uncovered softwood logs

Log moisture content has an important impact on many aspects of log home construction, including log processing, transportation costs, and dimensional stability in use. Air-drying times for house logs from freshly harvested trees can depend on numerous factors including initial moisture content, log diameter, bark condition, and environmental conditions during drying. In this study, we evaluated air-drying properties of young-growth Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr) and of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) from logs harvested in southeast Alaska. For each species, we considered inside storage in a warehouse vs. outside storage, as well as debarked logs vs. logs with bark remaining, resulting in four experimental treatments. We considered moisture losses after 8 and 12 months of air drying. There was considerable moisture loss for Sitka spruce logs, and much of the drying occurred during the first 8 months. Fastest drying rates for both species were for peeled logs with inside storage. Western hemlock logs showed higher moisture content and greater moisture content variation (vs. Sitka spruce), and in most cases would require additional drying beyond the 12-month study period to produce satisfactory house logs. Results of this study are significant because they can help entrepreneurs determine appropriate levels of capital investment (e.g., land, covered storage, debarking equipment), as well as whether to dry and process logs in southeast Alaska vs. some other location. This study found that a leading option for local producers would be to peel Sitka spruce logs, then air dry indoors for between 8 and 12 months. Another effective strategy would be to peel western hemlock logs, then air dry indoors for 12 months.

Economic and environmental benefits of community-scale cordwood hydronic heaters in Alaska-three case studies.

Over the past decade, the use of wood for thermal energy in Alaska has grown significantly. Since 2000, nearly 30 new thermal wood-energy installations in Alaska have been established. Cordwood units, burning primarily firewood and other forms of roundwood, have played an integral part in this success and are well suited to many rural communities in Alaska. In this case study, we evaluate cordwood installations located in three geographic regions of Alaska. Included are systems at Coffman Cove (southeast Alaska), Ionia (Kenai Peninsula, Alaska), and Gulkana (south-central Alaska). We considered the wood-energy conversion process, system operation, economics, and carbon benefits of the three cordwood systems. We found that the simple payback period ranged from 1.1 to 14.2 years and the internal rate of return from 8 to 91 percent, and that benefits exceeded costs by a factor of from 1.6 to 17. There were also substantial carbon benefits for cordwood systems. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (relative to those from heating oil) differed by installation from 129 to 259 tons avoided per year, with total reductions of 611 tons of CO2 per year. We also considered secondary benefits of community-scale cordwood energy systems in rural Alaska, including greenhouses for local foods, the ability to create part-time jobs for local residents, and the educational experiences for school students.