Understory

A part of the South Coast Ranges of California, and more specifically part of the San Rafael Mountains, Big Pine Mountain has one of the few well-developed examples of Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forest in this ecological province. The island-like mixed conifer forest at Big Pine Mountain are separated from similar forest on Madulce Peak and Pine Mountain (also known as Reyes Peak, a part of the Transverse Range) by about 5 and 16 miles (8 and 26 km), respectively. Mixed conifer forests are limited to the elevations above 5100 ft (1555 m) and are diverse and variable topographically and compos...

The Bridge Creek Research Natural Area is distinguished by its old growth Douglas-fir hardwood forest with a significant white fir and giant chinquapin element. It covers the majority (slightly under 80%) of the RNA. The forest is generally well developed, much of it being spared from even minor ground fires for over 150 years. Consequently, the multi-layer structure of the forest is typically very pronounced.Mature Douglas-fir forms an open canopy of trees up to 220 ft (67 m) tall and 6.5 ft (2 m) diameter at breast height (dbh). Beneath this is a sub-canopy of white fir, giant chinquapin, yo...

The lakes, numerous meadows, and predominant forest vegetation of red fir and mountain hemlock are the major features of Antelope Creek Lakes Research Natural Area.In the RNA, both the Butte and the Antelope Creek valleys were heavily glaciated. The four small lakes were created by morainal damming during the Pleistocene. Two lakes each occur in the Antelope and Butte Creek drainages. The Northern Antelope Creek Lake and both Butte Creek lakes appear to be formed by damming of lateral moraines, while the southern Antelope Creek Lake was formed in a cirque bowl following damming by a recessiona...

The L. E. Horton Research Natural Area is distinguished by an assemblage of plant associations that are underlain by ultramafic soil derived either from peridotite or gabbro. The entire RNA is within the Josephine Peridotite Body, a huge mass of peridotite, cumulate gabbro, diabase, and spilite. Forests on peridotite and serpentine show strikingly different patterns from those on adjacent metamorphic and granitic parent materials. The chemical imbalance of the ultramafic soils derived from this parent material is responsible for the open, stunted, scrubby and endemic-rich flora of the area.

The FIA Annual Business Reports evaluate the performance of the FIA program to ensure accountability and transparency to FIA partners, supporters and customers. Modeled on a corporate business report, they contain basic business information about the FIA program including accomplishments, performance measures, plans for the next fiscal year, agreements with other parties, and basic financial and staffing data. These reports are prepared by the National Office staff of the FIA Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, DC.See more information for fiscal years 2021 and ...

The Long Canyon Research Natural Area (LCRNA) is one of two Forest Service areas chosen to preserve populations of this rare species endemic to the Southern Sierra Nevada province. The other area is the Bodfish Piute Cypress Botanical Area, which lies approximately nine miles (14.5 km) west-southwest of the Long Canyon stand.As with other cypresses in California, Piute cypress is a fire-adapted, serotinous-coned species, requiring fire for effective dispersal and regeneration. Fire history of each of the approximately 10 stands known varies. Some stands, such as the Back Canyon stand, are rela...

McAfee Research Natural Area (MRNA) is part of the largest continuous alpine steppe in California and the Great Basin, and is the most accessible large alpine area in California. It is unique due to the long history of research activities in the area. With the adjacent scientific facilities of WMRS and the concentration of scientific interest, the MRNA can be used as a control area for research done in the surrounding region and is valuable as a scientific research site for local (such as high-altitude environment and physiological processes related to reduced oxygen and increased ultraviolet ...

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.

The FIA Annual Business Reports evaluate the performance of the FIA program to ensure accountability and transparency to FIA partners, supporters and customers. Modeled on a corporate business report, they contain basic business information about the FIA program including accomplishments, performance measures, plans for the next fiscal year, agreements with other parties, and basic financial and staffing data. These reports are prepared by the National Office staff of the FIA Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, DC.See more information for fiscal years 2021 and ...

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 ...