The Sierra Forest Voice
Web Edition
Vol. 2, No. 4 December 2008
Forest Plan Revisions are Coming!
The Forest Service in California is beginning forest plan revisions for the eleven national forests in the Sierra Nevada. While we have spent the last ten years defending the award-winning Sierra Framework plan amendment throughout the Sierra Nevada, new forest plans have the potential to further--or hinder--our efforts to secure long term conservation measures necessary to save the Sierra and its many imperiled wildlife species. We are hopeful that direction from Washington under a new Administration will provide the necessary leadership.
Forest management plans must be revised in accordance with new information at least every 15 years, as required by the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) passed in 1976. It will take a lot of effort and organization from the conservation community to meet this new challenge and engage in the process of overseeing the development of new plans that will guide management of the Sierra Nevada for another 15 years.
A Brief History
Federal regulations guiding the development of forest management plans were not completed until 1982. In California, the first forest plans created under the new regulations were not completed until the late 1980s and early 1990s. These were quickly found to be inadequate, primarily because of the aggressive logging that was essentially mandated by the plans.
The plans required forest managers to meet Allowable Sales Quantity (ASQ) objectives, or timber sale targets, that drove massive clearcutting. The plans failed to protect species associated with old forests and other threatened habitats. In the Sierra Nevada, the failure of the plans to utilize sound science and to conserve the region's natural resources led to the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project (SNEP 1996) mandated by Congress, and the subsequent Sierra Nevada forest plan amendment in 2001 (Sierra Framework).
In 2000, a significant revision of the NFMA rules was completed after extensive review by the Committee of Scientists, convened for this purpose by the USDA under Jim Lyons in the Clinton Administration. The new rule never got implemented, however, as the new incoming administration began to dismantle it immediately.
The Sierra Framework was also illegally revised in 2004 with the incoming Bush Administration. Sierra Forest Legacy has been working hard to restore the original plan which--for the first time--placed the needs of wildlife and ecological integrity above extractive activities that are not sustainable.
Early this year, the Bush Administration issued their final revised rules, eliminating NFMA's key provision designed to ensure viability of populations of species. In California, the new planning rule--when combined with reduced wildlife monitoring requirements (Management Indicator Species)--presents a big setback for ecology based forest management. Both of these affronts are being challenged by our partners at Earthjustice.
The Forest Service intends to complete the new plans rapidly, perhaps in one or two years, using the 2008 revised rules for implementing NFMA. The new rules can be accessed from the Forest Service website here. We are hopeful that this attack on NFMA will be halted in federal court early in 2009.
In the meantime, Sierra Forest Legacy will be working with our coalition partners and science advisors to craft alternatives for each of the forest plans that will utilize the best available science and a deep understanding of the region's underlying issues and conservation priorities. Development of a Sierra-wide forest carnivore conservation strategy will be high on our list to accomplish. Providing sufficient habitat to support these far ranging species (fisher, marten, wolverine, Sierra Nevada red fox) will ensure that other species can thrive as well. In addition, we will work with the state Department of Fish and Game to see that recommendations in the recently completed State Wildlife Action Plan are incorporated into the forest plans.
The national forests of the Sierra Nevada cover approximately 12 million acres, and what happens here has significance for the survival of hundreds of unique species that do not live anywhere else on the planet. With global warming a growing threat to life as we know it today, the importance of good forest management planning cannot be overemphasized. Many of you will be hearing from Sierra Forest Legacy seeking your ideas and support for this effort.
New Research Dispels Common Assumptions Affecting Forest Management
Download the report: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/gtr763/
A recent report highlighting key findings from a Forest Service forest inventory in California dispels many common assumptions the agency has been operating under in recent years, regarding a variety of forest ecological factors, including fire. The report, California Forest Resources, 2001-2005 (PNW-GTR-763), is based on the Forest Service five year forest inventory and analysis, or FIA program. The program sampled 3,542 forest plots during the period, including 1,900 permanent sample plots established during the previous inventory in 1994.
A common argument made by proponents for aggressive thinning focuses on "forest health" based on an assumption that stressed trees and die back occurs widely in the forests of the Sierra Nevada, driving forest fires. The Forest Service analysts found, however, that "Recent crown dieback was detected for only 2.8 percent of the trees examined. Initial results suggest that crown decline is not widespread in California. Most dieback was found in dry forest types in the southeastern part of the state."
The report also found that "We lack landscape-scale historical or paleoecological data to compare with today's average annual rate of 0.67 percent of forest land burned, and so we cannot determine whether this rate represents a departure from historical rates." This is the opposite message than the fire-hysteria that accompanies each fire season in our Mediterranean-type, fire adapted California forest communities.
In addition, the research concluded, "in only 8 percent of forests would fire occur as an active crown fire...in most cases treatment may require only the removal of ladder fuels (typically associated with smaller diameter trees) rather than thinning of the mature trees in the upper canopy."
Snag densities were found to be in short supply for the needs of wildlife. This has been a concern of wildlife biologists for decades, yet agency decision makers have failed to ensure the conservation of these important legacy structures. Snags and large down trees are usually bulldozed and burned during forest salvage operations or cleaned up when plantations are installed on forest lands. Researchers found that every survey unit averaged fewer than two large snags greater than or equal to 20 inches diameter at breast height per acre, and concluded that this was not likely to be sufficient for species which utilize snags as habitat.
These conclusions have far reaching importance for forest management in California's Sierra Nevada.
Fall Migrations
by Darça Morgan, Conservation Biologist
As fall approaches winter, I always start to miss the conspicuous birds of summer- brilliant Western tanagers and the ash throated flycatcher's sweet, buzzy whistle. Now long gone, these birds have left for better chances at surviving the winter where food is more plentiful. Although it may feel like our forests have emptied out for the winter, it is a great time to see migrating hawks in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Majestic ferruginous hawks and rough-legged hawks are readily seen in grasslands this time of year. It's easy to appreciate what these migrant raptors go through biannually.
Swainson's hawks, for example, migrate between California and South America covering 14,000 miles every year. Carried by rising air thermals, Swainson's hawks and turkey vultures avoid flapping for miles. These soaring species are known to travel in large groups. The broad-winged hawk, an occasional California migrant, can be seen by the millions migrating across Mexico. Diurnal raptors use geographic features such as coastal shorelines or mountain ridges to navigate. High Sierra meadows along the way can serve as important stopovers to fill up on rodents. Other birds migrate primarily at night. The flammulated owl, North America's only migratory owl, breeds in the Sierra and over-winters in Mexico and Central America. Night migrants use powered, flapping flight when air is still, and navigate using magnetic or constellation cues.
Why go to such effort? While dispersal of young raptors from their natal territories is driven largely by ecological factors, researchers believe strong genetic programming drives long-distance migrations. There is evidence that during the last ice age, animals were restricted to temperate and tropical habitat in Central and South America. Birds bred and lived there year round. As glaciers and ice receded, some species ventured north, expanding their range to avoid competition while breeding, returning to their ancestral home for winter. Over thousands of years migration grew to its current scale.
Migrating raptors encounter many hazards along the way including storms that may blow them off track, and predators looking for an exhausted bird to eat. Windmills, towers, windows, cars, poison and shooting threaten thousands of birds crossing unfamiliar territory every fall and spring. Organophosphates also threaten raptors, slowing their reaction time or killing them outright. Sierra Forest Legacy continues to advocate for protection of important habitat for threatened species as well as the many common species just passing through in need a good meal or some rest to complete their long, seasonal journey.
2008 Backyards & Beyond Conference Tampa, Florida
by Karina Silvas, Firewise USA Coordinator
The National Fire Protection Agency and Firewise Communities/USA program held their bi-annual conference recently in Tampa, Florida. It was a great opportunity for continuing education, and learning about other communities' advancement in fire prevention.
I was able to attend a pre-conference workshop with a mapping program, ArcGIS. It was a great 2-day workshop to utilize mapping within the Wildland urban interface of our communities here in the Sierra Nevada. We were able to map evacuation routes, and evaluate the effectiveness of fire protection districts response area. This will be a great tool for Sierra Forest Legacy to use in the future to help communities in the rural areas of the Sierras. Sierra Forest Legacy has recently submitted a grant for the ArcGIS program software, and we are awaiting the answer from the ESRI team.
In addition to the pre-conference workshop, David Jaramillo and I were able to attend many presentations given by other communities and agencies that are working closely with the Firewise program. I must say that the most valuable part of the conference was being able to sit down with Jack Cohen, Judith Leraas-Cook, and others to talk about what Sierra Forest Legacy is accomplishing in California. The overall take home message of this conference was that managers are still focusing too much effort on the "vegetation" management aspect of fire with landscape-wide fuel breaks, and until we change our focus to "fuels" management we will continue to see hundreds of homes destroyed by wildfire.
Dave and I also had the grand opportunity of presenting Sierra Forest Legacy's approach to the Firewise program with a presentation entitled-"Integrating an Environmental Approach to Fire Mitigation." We were able to outline who we were and why we became involved with fire mitigation from the standpoint of an environmentalist organization. We had a great turn out for this presentation, and it turned into a lively discussion with the audience. We captivated their attention, and were able to stay after our allotted time slot to talk more with the attendees. It was a real success in getting our message out to community members and fire officials around the U.S.
If you are interested in reviewing the information we presented at the conference please feel free to contact me at karina[AT]sierraforestlegacy[DOT]org, and I would be happy to share that information with you.
Living in the Sierra: Seasonal Firewise Practices Fall~Winter 2008
by David Jaramillo, Forester and Community Fire Protection Coordinator
Well, we made it through another hot and exciting summer, unfortunately not without the loss of life and property. The lightning fires this summer were yet another reminder that we live in a fire-adapted and fire- dependent ecosystem. The smoke was disturbing, but a completely natural trend in California according to fire scientists. Fire scientists claim that prior to 1800 approximately 4.4 million acres burned annually in California. This amount of fire would put out substantially more smoke compared to the average of 250,000 acres that have burned annually in California in the last five decades. Since we live in this type of ecosystem we need to be ever vigilant of how we can actually live here. The National Firewise Communities / USA program gives us tools and guidance to help us live in these fire adapted ecosystems.
Fall is a great time of year to begin preparations for the next fire season. Whether it is a yard, tool, house maintenance or community collaboration, by getting little things done now you will be helping to minimize much needed work in the future. If your yard looks anything like mine, it is covered with leaves and needles due to the wind and rain. Of course the roof is also coated with this same material. It is my recommendation that you, or someone you hire, get on the roof and remove this material from the entire roof and especially the gutters.
Gutters are a vital part of the roof and if clogged will not function as designed. If the gutters are
clogged, water can excessively drip from the roof causing erosion problems within the drip line of the structure. While on the roof take some time to inspect your spark arrestor on your chimney. If you do not have a spark arrestor you should have one installed before you start your first fall warming fire.
It is time to start raking up the leaves that have accumulated on your property, which in my case are falling as I write. If you live in a forested area that has completely natural landscaping I do not recommend removing all of the pine needles as they act as erosion control during storm events. In this case you should remove the needles directly surrounding the structure (within 5 feet) and maintain a needle and duff layer in the area beyond this. The accumulated needles will eventually break down and become soil. I recommend composting this material although many areas offer green waste collection and/or dumping if composting is not something you want to do. If composting or green waste dumping is not a good option burning is another way of getting rid of this material. Be sure to contact your local fire department and air quality district as permits are required as well as burn day clearance.
My next recommendation is to remove and store in a dry place deck furniture (especially mats), umbrellas, and other valuable deck and patio equipment. By removing and storing this type of material you not only minimize your fire risk but you will increase the longevity of the item. Even non-flammable items such as metal chairs should be stored in a dry place in order to extend their lifetime usage. Remember, this is about learning how to live here and adapting our lifestyles to be more compatible with nature.
If you haven't already done so, it is time to maintain and store garden equipment. If you read the winter addition of this article series you will notice that I talked about pruning. In order to properly prune you need to have good working tools. This is a great time of year to sharpen and oil pruning shears, pole saws, chainsaws and other lawn and garden tools. By doing this necessary maintenance you will extend the life of your valuable tools as well as create a safer and more useful tool for future firewise work.
Finally, it is my recommendation that you continue to collaborate and work with your neighbors and communities on future fire planning. This is a good time of year to plan for future fire mitigation and education events by getting involved at your local FireSafe council. A list of FSC's can be found on the California FSC website. If you do not have a local council I encourage you to begin the formation of your own council. Information on starting a council can be found on the state FireSafe Council website.
Remember that fire affects us all and does not discriminate or stop at property lines. Community collaboration is a key factor when planning for fire and may be the best way to ensure healthy communities and ecosystems. A community that works together will thriv
e and survive together so let's be great neighbors and do our work in order to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Please, if you have any questions about the Firewise program feel free to contact me and I will be more than willing to help.
Have fun and be well,
David Jaramillo
david [AT] sierraforestlegacy [DOT] org
Registered Professional Forester # 2839
Read more Seasonal Firewise tips here.
Species Profile: Sierra Nevada Red Fox
Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator) is so rare, there may only be 10-15 individuals left. Unlike the red fox in the Central Valley and coast region, the SN red fox is a native species, and once ranged across the Sierra Nevada in a wide variety of forest habitats, from mixed conifer forest to subalpine regions. Today it is limited to the region of Lassen Peak and the surrounding Lassen National Forest. The SN red fox is listed as threatened by the State but is considered critically endangered by the Department of Fish and Game
Quick facts:
- Pocket gopher is most common dietary component; also eats mule deer, manzanita berries, and insects
- Home range in winter is about 8,000 acres
- Weighs about 8-15 pounds
Read more about the Sierra Nevada red fox here on our website.