Riparian, aquatic, and groundwater-dependent ecosystems in southern Oregon and northern California: An assessment of ecological integrity to inform forest plan revision. Vol. 6: Mendocino National Forest
| Authors: | D. Max Smith, Laurel F. Martinez, Cynthia King, Taylor L. Pearson, Katelyn P. Driscoll |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Type: | General Technical Report |
| Station: | Rocky Mountain Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.2737/RMRS-GTR-434-vol-6 |
| Source: | Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-434-vol. 6. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 82 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/RMRS-GTR-434-vol-6. |
Abstract
This six-volume assessment provides information on the current conditions of riparian, aquatic, and groundwater-dependent ecosystems on the Rogue River-Siskiyou, Klamath, Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, and Mendocino National Forests of southern Oregon and northern California. We used peer-reviewed literature and national and regional-level data from the forests and their partners to evaluate the status of several key ecosystem characteristics. These characteristics are distribution, hydrologic regimes, water quality, connectivity, instream habitat quality, and riparian reserve condition for four different stream ecotypes (permanently flowing fish-bearing, permanently flowing nonfish-bearing, seasonally flowing fish-bearing, seasonally flowing nonfish-bearing); lakes, ponds, and reservoirs; and rare and unique riparian and aquatic habitats. We determined that roads, altered fire regimes, and climate change were major stressors to riparian, aquatic, and groundwater-dependent ecosystems on the national forests. The relative impacts of these stressors and the resistance and resilience of the focal ecosystems differed across the Five Forests cohort. Altered fire regimes and impacts from drought and climate change appear to be most pronounced in the southern reaches of the study area and projected hydrologic impacts of climate change are expected to be significant throughout the Cascades. Our results support the ecosystem assessment completed during the forest plan revision process and can help inform decision making related to restoration and maintenance of riparian, aquatic, and groundwater-dependent ecosystems across the Five Forests.
Other Volumes in the Series:Vol. 1: Introduction and summary of findingsVol. 2: Rogue River-Siskiyou National ForestVol. 3: Klamath National ForestVol. 4: Six Rivers National ForestVol. 5: Shasta-Trinity National ForestVol. 6: Mendocino National Forest