Test of a model to assess the condition of lodgepole pine stands

A predictive model for assessing stand condition as a function of suitabili ty for achieving specified management objectives was originally developed u sing a data set for only 28 stands. In this study, we evaluate the model us ing an operational-sized data set composed of currently collected stand inv entory data for 238 stands in the Snowy Range of the Medicine Bow National Forest in southern Wyoming. We compared its predictions of old growth suita bility to results of a separate special old growth survey. Stands were char acterized as profiles of variables derived from stand inventory data, and p lotted as points in two-dimensional space where similarity between stands w as reflected by the distance between their points. Results suggest the mode l is useful for classifying stand condition using relatively large sets of data currently collected during routine stand inventories.