Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, California, Sugar Pine Adaptive Management Project

Resumen

The Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District is proposing to conduct a comprehensive series of treatments centered on a Wildland Urban Intermix area known as the community of Sugar Pine. Strategically Placed Area Treatments (SPLATs) have been initially identified to provide a means to reduce the intensity and spread of wildland fires across the landscape and near communities. Additional treatments within these SPLATs have been identified where forest stands are densely stocked and thinning is needed. This thinning is needed to reduce inter-tree competition and improve tree vigor and increase stand resistance to drought conditions, insect and disease attack. The effects of implementing the treatments called for in the final decision will be studied by the University of California as they relate to fire and fuels, water quality and quantity, wildlife (specifically the Pacific Fisher) and public involvement. Depending on the results of this study, future management actions on other similar ecosystems may be changed. This approach to monitoring and feedback is called Adaptive Management and is a primary reason for the descriptive title.