| Abstract | Past forest management practices, fire suppression,
and climate change are increasing the need to actively
manage California Sierra Nevada forests for multiple environmental
amenities. Here we present a relatively low-cost,
repeatable method for spatially parsing the landscape to help
the U.S. Forest Service manage for different forest and fuel
conditions to meet multiple goals relating to sensitive species,
fuels reduction, forest products, water, carbon storage,
and ecosystem restoration. Using the Kings River area of the
Sierra Nevada as a case study, we create areas of topographically-
based units, Landscape Management Units
(LMUs) using a three by three matrix (canyon, mid-slope,
ridge-top and northerly, southerly, and neutral aspects). We
describe their size, elevation, slope, aspect, and their difference
in inherent wetness and solar radiation. We assess
the predictive value and field applicability of LMUs by using
existing data on stand conditions and two sensitive wildlife
species. Stand conditions varied significantly between
LMUs, with canyons consistently having the greatest stem and snag densities. Pacific fisher (Martes pennanti) activity
points (from radio telemetry) and California spotted owl
(Strix occidentalis occidentalis) nests, roosts, and sightings
were both significantly different from uniform, with a disproportionate
number of observations in canyons, and fewer
than expected on ridge-tops. Given the distinct characteristics
of the LMUs, these units provide a relatively simple but ecologically meaningful template for managers to spatially
allocate forest treatments, thereby meeting multiple
National Forest objectives. These LMUs provide a framework
that can potentially be applied to other fire-dependent
western forests with steep topographic relief. |
