Magalia site in the Experimental Network for Assisted Migration and Establishment Silviculture (ENAMES)
The Magalia site, part of the Experimental Network for Assisted Migration and Establishment Silviculture (ENAMES) study, has been established in Bureau of Land Management land to test assisted population migration of ponderosa pine, as well as the effect of seedling stock type on survival and growth. The site burned during the 2018 Camp Fire and was planted in 2024.
Pre-planting site conditions at the Magalia site. Photo by Kara Sanghera.
Landowner: Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Nearest town: Magalia, CA
Species: Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Site history: The site is a city park in the town of Magalia managed by the BLM in a high visibility area with a trail and near a school. The stand was originally low-elevation pine and burned in the 2018 Camp Fire.
Site characteristics: The site is at an elevation of 2200 ft and faces southeast with gentle slopes of less than 15%. The soils are Fine, mixed, semiactive, mesic Andic Haploxeralfs. The mean annual temperature is 59 °F (coldest month 44 °F, warmest month 76 °F) and mean annual precipitation is 1418 mm (12 mm as snow).
Planting date: 2024
Contact person:
Jessica Wright, Research Geneticist, Pacific Southwest Research Station
Christopher Looney, Research Forester, Pacific Southwest Research Station
Coreen Francis, Bureau of Land Management
Heidi Rogers, Bureau of Land Management
Pre-planting site conditions at the Magalia site. Photo by Kara Sanghera.
A newly planted ponderosa pine seedling. Photo by Christopher Looney.
Management objectives and other considerations: TBA
Site preparation: TBA
Pre-planting site conditions: TBA
Assisted migration treatments: The team used the Climate-Adapted Seed Tool to choose four planted seed sources (see table below).
Climate period
| Seed origin | Seed source elevation (ft) | Mean cold month temperature (°C) | Summer heat-moisture index |
Historical/local (1961-1990) | CA seed zone 524 (Lassen/Plumas National Forests) | 2000-2500 | 6.19 | 227.8 |
Early-century (2011-2040) | CA seed zone 521 (Shasta NF) | 1500-2000 | 5.35 | 171.55 |
Mid-century (2041-2070) | CA seed zone 532 (Sierra National Forest) | 2000-2500 | 6.74 | 637.2 |
Late-century (2017-2100) | CA seed zone 521 (Shasta National Forest) | 1000-1500 | 6.30 | 197.4 |
Silvicultural treatments: Two different seedling stock types.
Planting density: Contract crews planted 302 trees per acre.
Seedling stock type: Half containerized, half bare-root stock.
Monitoring: The site will be monitored to track and compare seedling survival among seed sources and silvicultural treatments. Measurements are planned for 1, 5, 10, and 15 years after planting.
The site will also serve as a demonstration plot for managers to visit and visually compare seed source performance.
Year 1 results
In the graphs below, bars with same letter (for example, a) indicate no significant difference among seed sources/climate scenarios. Different letters (such as a vs b) indicate a significant difference based on latest measurements.
Seedling survival was not measured at this site during the first round of measurements.
Figure 1. Seedling diameter by seed source 1 year after planting at the Magalia site.
Figure 2. Seedling growth by seed source 1 year after planting at the Magalia site.