Understory

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...

Finney, M. A. 1999. Mechanistic modeling of landscape fire patterns. In: Mladenoff, D. J. and Baker, W. L. eds. Spatial modeling of forest landscape change: approaches and applications. Cambridge University Press: 186-209.

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.

Finney, M. A.; Andrews, P. L.. 1998. Application and status of the FARSITE fire area simulator. In: Proceedings of the III International Conference on Fire and Forest Meteorology; 1998 November 16-20; Luso, Coimbra-Portugal: 755-760. (4,154 KB; 6 pages)

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.

The Horse Meadow Research Natural Area (HMRNA) is distinguished by its well-developed white fir forest, and Southern California subalpine forest. Located in the Transverse Ranges of California, the area represents one of the southernmost examples of these vegetation types. The area is contained within the Upper San Gorgonio Mountains Subsection of the Southern California Mountains and Valleys Section Ecological Units. It is underlain by mostly glaciated granodiorite rocks which form steep terrain. Moraine deposits are also present, but the most striking feature of the landscape are avalanche c...

San Emigdio Mesa Research Natural Area (SEMRNA) is distinguished by its broad, gently sloping mesa, steep mesa edges, and alluvial fans and washes. Most of the RNA is a large alluvial fan formed by ancient stream flow from the region of Mt. Pinos. SEMRNA supports an excellent example of pinon-juniper woodland and has extensive stands of regenerating single-leaf pinon pines (Pinus monophylla). It supports a variety of plants including many desert species outside their normal ranges. The value of this RNA is enhanced by its location in a rich archaeological area that is highly regarded.