Treesearch

A telephone survey of 1500 households in metropolitan Los Angeles and San Francisco was made to (1) determine extent of wildland use by residents of the two metropolitan areas, reasons for non-use, and the characteristics of users; (2) describe and analyze activities, knowledge, and attitudes of users which may contribute to their fire risk; and (3) assess selected communication channels for conveying forest fire prevention information to the residents of metropolitan areas. Wildland use was more prevalent among San Francisco households, but otherwise households in the two areas were...

In tests on the Bitterroot National Forest, Montana, in 1965 and 1966, mexacarbate, aerially applied at the rate of 0.15 lb a.i./gal/acre (68.04 g a.iJ3.785 1/0.404 ha), killed about 90 percent of the western spruce budworm (Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman) populations. More parasitized budworm larvae survived treatments than nonparasitized. Apanteles fumiferanae Viereck and Glypta fumiferanae Viereck-two overwintering parasites-and Phaeogenes hariolus (Cresson), Mesochorus sp., and tachinids-late larval, pupal parasites-increased following treatments. But parasites tended to return to...

Growth was strongly related to growing stock level (GSL) for 5 years after thinning 20-year-old poles on Site Index50 115 land at the Elliot Ranch Plantation in northern California. Five GSL's-basal areas anticipated when trees average 10 inches d.b.h. or more-ranging from 40 to 160 square feet per acre were tested. Periodic annual increment (PAI) in diameter ecreased curvilinearly from 0.51 to 0.21 inch, with increasing GSL's from 40 to 160. But only trees in plots heavily thinned to GSL 40 (and briefly in GSL 70) grew faster in diameter after thinning than these same trees grew before...

A survey of 61 cutblocks planted since 1964 evaluated stocking of conifers (trees 1 foot tall or taller) on 2-milacre quadrats. Overall stocking percentage averaged 42.2 and ranged from 15 to 8 1. Overall number of trees per acre averaged 396. In the regression model, based on 36 cutblocks, better stocking was associated with high site class, northerly aspect, elevation below 3000 feet, and tractor (rather than cable) logging. Stocking tended to increase with increasing age of plantation, but decreased with increasing size of cutblocks.

This state-of-the-art report summarizes what is known about the effects of heat on soil during chaparral fires. It reviews the literature on the effects of such fires on soil properties, availabilty and loss of plant nutrients, soil wettability, erosion, and surface runoff. And it reports new data collected during recent prescribed burns and a wildfire in southern California. From the data, stylized curves that characterize soil heating during light, moderate, and intense chaparral fires were developed. The information is useful in estimating the effects of fire on soils in chaparral...

Mortality and diameter growth loss were severe on study plots in a thinned plantation of 9-year-old trees. California five-spined engravers killed 15 percent of the trees and a hard freeze killed 20 percent of the survivors. Mortality was higher and subsequent diameter growth was lower in trees with most of their needles freeze-killed than in trees less severely damaged in spite of occasional freeze damage at 3200 feet elevation, plantations of the hybrid can be successful if trees are closely spaced to provide for freeze mortality.

This is the authors' response to comments and criticism received following this publication: Nonturbulent dispersion processes in complex terrain

Since 1973, the Los Angeles County Forestry Division has been cooperating with the Forest Service Riverside Fire Laboratory on fire retardant plant research through yearly agreements. In 1976, the County and the PSW Experimental Station in Berkeley entered into the "Chaparral Ecology and Related Ecosystems Studies" program under which the scope of the initial agreement of fire retardant plant research was greatly expanded. In a joint meeting between personnel of the Experimental Station and the County in the summer of 1976, Project Leader Gene Conrad of the chaparral program requested that...

Pacific madrone, tanoak, and California black oak are the most economically promising native California hardwoods. Volume and value data indicate upward trends in growing stock levels and prices received for their products. These trends are likely to continue. They suggest research is particularly needed for: (1) seed fall and regeneration, (2) sprout growth and development, (3) stand growth and yield, and (4) species adaptation and strategy. Much new material in these categories is presented here. The ability to produce copious amounts of seed at frequent intervals is a hallmark of...