Document Type

Report

Publisher

Utah State University

Publication Date

8-2026

First Page

1

Last Page

20

Abstract

Quaking aspen forests are important communities in the western United States where they provide preferential food and habitat for animals, limit wildfires from spreading, and have favorable aesthetics, among other things. Their putative decline is an issue for ecology and management. We remeasured the aspen population on Cedar Mountain, Utah, to assess changes to its condition since it was originally measured in 2008 and laid the groundwork for continued aspen monitoring on Cedar Mountain. Our objectives were to compare current metrics of stand structure and composition, mortality, crown dieback, bole damage, regeneration, and recruitment, to those of the original inventory. We found that the area comprised of stable aspen (>80% aspen) decreased from 84.3% to 69.7%. The amount of mortality has remained consistent over the last decade, on average, while there was an increase in the number of plots with substantial morality. The prevalence of crown dieback, on average, on aspen stems has decreased across the landscape but the proportion of crown dieback by plot as increased. Additionally, the intensity and frequency of insect and pathogen damage have increased significantly. On average, the density of aspen regeneration has increased to quantities indicative of self-replacement, but the proportion of stands where this has occurred has decreased, resulting in a large percentage of the landscape with no aspen regeneration. The amount of browsing pressure on understory aspen has decreased. Current levels of both sapling and overstory recruitment are insufficient to replace the existing aspen stands. Quaking aspen forests on Cedar Mountain are increasing in age, and their stand structure and stocking indicates the landscape is further senescing. If the amount of current aspen mortality is not matched or surpassed by the amount of regeneration and recruitment, the aspen forest type will likely continue to reduce in area and/or be converted to either non-forest or conifer forest. Our assessment of changing aspen conditions on Cedar Mountain provides important information for landowners interested in forest change and can be used to inform forest management decisions.

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