Understory

Snow Canyon Research Natural Area contains a relatively small area of central Sierra subalpine landscape, yet included within it are diverse topographic features, extraordinary geology, and several vegetation types. Two types of rock are found in the RNA, volcanic rock on the ridge defining the northern boundary and granitic rock in remaining areas. The contact of these two rock types is observable at elevations around 9200 ft (2804 m), and along this contact several seeps and springs issue.

Over the last twenty five years, our understanding of the geomorphic and ecological role of large woody debris (LWD) has altered our view of wood in streams. Where managers were pulling LWD out of the channel in the 1970’s, they are now adding wood to channels to improve their aquatic habitat. The pace of placing the wood in channels, however, is greater than our increases in understanding of LWD dynamics. Therefore, our ability to predict the stability of LWD is somewhat limited. In particular, there are no guidelines that can be used to assess how wood stability differs according to channel ...

Sustaining healthy community forests will be important to quality of life as many Coastal Southern California communities continue to grow during the next decade. The role of urban forests to enhance the environment, increase community attractiveness, and foster civic pride will take on greater significance as communities strive to balance economic growth with environmental quality and social well-being.Coastal Southern California communities can promote energy efficiency through tree planting and stewardship programs that strategically locate trees to shade buildings, cool urban heat islands,...

Habitat inventories conducted by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) of the west end streams in Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JSDF) have repeatedly revealed them to possess a high percentage of canopy cover and generally well-vegetated stream banks. However, their pools are often shallow and there is generally very little large woody debris (LWD) in the channel. It is believed that the addition of large woody material to stream channels could produce higher habitat quality in these streams for anadromous fish. Enhanced juvenile rearing and over-winter holding areas should im...

San Joaquin Valley communities will be among the fastest growing in the state during the next decade. The role of urban forests to enhance the environment, increase community attractiveness, and foster civic pride will take on greater significance as Valley communities strive to preserve and improve their quality of life. Urban and community forestry has been recognized as a cost-effective means to cool urban heat islands, improve air quality, and combat global warming.San Joaquin Valley communities can promote energy efficiency through tree planting and stewardship programs that strategically...

The Ruth Research Natural Area (RRNA) occupies a portion of the southwest-facing slope of South Fork Mountain in southwestern Trinity County. This long ridge has a remarkably even summit and has been touted as one of the longest continuous ridges known in the world. At the RRNA the slope of South Fork Mountain is dissected by several small intermittent streams, the two principal ones being Hobart and Choptoy creeks. Both of these creeks originate at several permanent springs within the RNA.

The Adorni Research Natural Area occupies a large portion of the Aikens Creek drainage, a second-order tributary of the Klamath River in the western Klamath Mountains province. Slopes are primarily northeast facing and are steep and prone to slumping. The area is on the boundary between ultramafic (peridotite) and metasedimentary schistose rock and contains both types. The entire RNA is forested, with no openings, save a few recent and rapidly colonizing slides.

The Fisherman's Camp Research Natural Area captures a steep area reaching from Deep Creek on its eastern edge to the forest boundary at the top of an unnamed ridge to the west. It is contained within the Upper San Gorgonio Mountains subsection of the Southern California Mountains and Valleys Section Ecological Unit. The RNA captures several small sub-watersheds and includes a variety of riparian conditions as well as extensive areas of westside ponderosa pine forest and the target Coulter pine forest. One association of Coulter pine and canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis) is only found in th...

The Black Butte Research Natural Area (BBRNA) occupies the northeast side of a steep, southeast-trending ridge. This ridge forms a major topographic boundary between the western maritime climatic region and the temperate interior. Terrain is steep with an elevation gain of 1300 feet (396 m) in approximately 0.6 mile (1.0 km). Slopes of 80 percent or more are common within the RNA. Because of its location and steep elevation gradient, the BBRNA supports a complex mosaic of vegetation types. These include extensive stands of knobcone pine, various forms of chaparral including areas dominated by ...

The Falls Canyon Research Natural Area is distinguished by the presence of bigcone Douglas-fir-canyon live oak forest, which is generally restricted to the Transverse and Peninsular ranges. Other plant communities include mixed montane chaparral and an herbaceous "ridge flora."The area is underlain by one continuous Mesozoic granitic rock type, and similarly, soils are mostly of one family: the Stukel-Sur-Winthrop complex.