United States Department of Agriculture

Draft Revised 

Land Management Plan

for the Sierra National Forest

Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa Counties, California

Forest 

Service

Pacific Southwest 

Region

Sierra National 

Forest

R5-MB-295 May

2016
Cover: Image of Dinkey Creek, Sierra National Forest.

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Draft Revised 

Land Management Plan

for the 

Sierra National Forest

Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa Counties, 

California

Responsible Official: Dean Gould

Forest Supervisor

Sierra National Forest

1600 Tollhouse Rd.

Clovis, CA 93611

(559)297-0706

For more information contact: Judith Tapia

Forest Planning Officer/Business Manager

(559)297-0706 ext. 4938

Draft Revised Forest Plan i 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1

Location ....................................................................................................................................... 1

Distinctive Roles and Contributions of the Plan Area ................................................................. 1

Purpose of the Forest Plan ........................................................................................................... 5

Adaptive Planning ....................................................................................................................... 6

Plan Structure .............................................................................................................................. 6

Plan Components ......................................................................................................................... 7

Chapter 2. Vision ............................................................................................................................. 9

Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 9

Desired Conditions ...................................................................................................................... 9

Air ............................................................................................................................................ 9

Watershed Conditions .............................................................................................................. 9

Terrestrial Ecosystems ........................................................................................................... 11

Animal and Plant Species ...................................................................................................... 32

Invasive Species ..................................................................................................................... 38

Fire ......................................................................................................................................... 38

Local Communities ................................................................................................................ 39

Volunteers, Interpretation, Partnerships and Stewardship ..................................................... 39

Timber .................................................................................................................................... 40

Range ..................................................................................................................................... 40

Sustainable Recreation ........................................................................................................... 41

Scenery ................................................................................................................................... 43

Tribal Relations and Uses ...................................................................................................... 43

Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................. 44

Geology and Minerals ............................................................................................................ 45

Energy .................................................................................................................................... 46

Infrastructure .......................................................................................................................... 46

Lands ...................................................................................................................................... 47

Chapter 3. Management Strategy ................................................................................................... 49

Management Areas .................................................................................................................... 49

Strategic Fire Management Zones ......................................................................................... 49

Wilderness .............................................................................................................................. 53

Wild and Scenic Rivers .......................................................................................................... 57

Riparian Conservation Areas ................................................................................................. 58

Critical Aquatic Refuges ........................................................................................................ 65

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail ........................................................................................ 65

Recreation Places ................................................................................................................... 66

Designated Areas ....................................................................................................................... 74

Wilderness .............................................................................................................................. 74

Wild and Scenic Rivers .......................................................................................................... 74

Kings River Special Management Area ................................................................................. 74

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail ........................................................................................ 74

Teakettle Experimental Forest ............................................................................................... 75

Inventoried Roadless Areas ................................................................................................... 75

National Recreation Trails ..................................................................................................... 75

Research Natural Areas .......................................................................................................... 76

Special Areas ......................................................................................................................... 76

Scenic Byways ....................................................................................................................... 77
Contents 

ii Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Plan Objectives .......................................................................................................................... 78

Watershed Conditions ............................................................................................................ 78

Terrestrial Ecosystems ........................................................................................................... 78

Invasive Species .................................................................................................................... 78

Riparian Conservation Areas ................................................................................................. 78

Timber ................................................................................................................................... 79

Sustainable Recreation .......................................................................................................... 79

Scenery .................................................................................................................................. 79

Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................. 79

Goals ......................................................................................................................................... 80

Air .......................................................................................................................................... 80

Watershed Conditions ............................................................................................................ 80

Animal and Plant Species ...................................................................................................... 80

Fire ......................................................................................................................................... 81

Local Communities ................................................................................................................ 81

Volunteers, Interpretation, Partnerships and Stewardship ..................................................... 82

Timber ................................................................................................................................... 82

Range ..................................................................................................................................... 83

Sustainable Recreation .......................................................................................................... 83

Scenery .................................................................................................................................. 83

Tribal Relations and Uses ...................................................................................................... 83

Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................. 84

Geology and Minerals ........................................................................................................... 84

Energy .................................................................................................................................... 84

Lands ..................................................................................................................................... 84

Potential Management Approaches ........................................................................................... 86

Air .......................................................................................................................................... 86

Watershed Conditions ............................................................................................................ 86

Terrestrial Ecosystems ........................................................................................................... 86

Animal and Plant Species ...................................................................................................... 87

Invasive Species .................................................................................................................... 88

Fire ......................................................................................................................................... 88

Volunteers, Interpretation, Partnerships and Stewardship ..................................................... 88

Timber ................................................................................................................................... 89

Range ..................................................................................................................................... 89

Sustainable Recreation .......................................................................................................... 89

Scenery .................................................................................................................................. 89

Tribal Relations and Uses ...................................................................................................... 90

Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................. 90

Geology and Minerals ........................................................................................................... 90

Chapter 4. Design Criteria ............................................................................................................. 91

Standards ................................................................................................................................... 91

Watershed Conditions ............................................................................................................ 91

Terrestrial Ecosystems ........................................................................................................... 91

Animal and Plant Species ...................................................................................................... 91

Invasive Species .................................................................................................................... 93

Fire ......................................................................................................................................... 93

Timber ................................................................................................................................... 93

Range ..................................................................................................................................... 93

Guidelines.................................................................................................................................. 95

Air .......................................................................................................................................... 95
Contents 

Draft Revised Forest Plan iii 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Watershed Conditions ............................................................................................................ 95

Terrestrial Ecosystems ........................................................................................................... 95

Animal and Plant Species ...................................................................................................... 97

Invasive Species ................................................................................................................... 101

Fire ....................................................................................................................................... 101

Timber .................................................................................................................................. 102

Range ................................................................................................................................... 103

Sustainable Recreation ......................................................................................................... 103

Scenery ................................................................................................................................. 104

Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................... 104

Geology and Minerals .......................................................................................................... 105

Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring ............................................................................................... 107

Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 107

Monitoring Program ................................................................................................................ 109

Watershed Conditions .......................................................................................................... 109

Terrestrial Ecosystems ......................................................................................................... 110

Aquatic Ecosystems ............................................................................................................. 112

Focal Species ....................................................................................................................... 113

Ecological Conditions for At-risk Species ........................................................................... 114

Visitor Use, Visitor Satisfaction, and Progress toward Meeting Recreation Objectives ..... 116

Climate Change and Other Stressors.................................................................................... 117

Desired Conditions, Including Social, Cultural, and Economic Sustainability.................... 120

Productivity of the Land ...................................................................................................... 121

Appendices ................................................................................................................................... 123

Appendix A: Maps ................................................................................................................... 125

Management Areas .............................................................................................................. 125

Congressionally Designated Areas ...................................................................................... 132

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum ....................................................................................... 133

Scenic Integrity Objectives .................................................................................................. 134

Appendix B: Proposed and Possible Actions .......................................................................... 135

Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 135

Air ........................................................................................................................................ 135

Water, Soils, and Watershed ................................................................................................ 135

Terrestrial Ecosystems ......................................................................................................... 135

Aquatic and Riparian Ecosystems ........................................................................................ 136

Animal and Plant Species .................................................................................................... 136

Invasive Species ................................................................................................................... 137

Fire ....................................................................................................................................... 137

Timber and Other Forest Products ....................................................................................... 137

Range ................................................................................................................................... 137

Sustainable Recreation ......................................................................................................... 138

Scenery ................................................................................................................................. 139

Tribal Relations and Uses .................................................................................................... 139

Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................... 139

Geology and Minerals .......................................................................................................... 140

Energy .................................................................................................................................. 140

Infrastructure ........................................................................................................................ 140

Lands .................................................................................................................................... 140

Special Uses ......................................................................................................................... 141

Designated Areas ................................................................................................................. 141

Appendix C: A Renewed Partnership Focus for the Sierra National Forest ............................ 143
Contents 

iv Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Creating a Partnership Culture............................................................................................. 143

Forest Capacity for Working in Partnership ........................................................................ 144

Best Practices for Building New Partnerships ..................................................................... 144

Steps for Ensuring Effective Outreach and Communication with Nontraditional Partners and 

the Public ............................................................................................................................. 147

Appendix D: Management Strategies for Resolving Recreation Resource Conflicts ............. 149

Appendix E: Timber Suitability and Management .................................................................. 151

Determination of Suitability for Timber Production ........................................................... 151

Planned Timber Sale Program ............................................................................................. 153

Vegetation Management Practices ...................................................................................... 156

Glossary ....................................................................................................................................... 161

List of Tables

Table 1. Percent of seral stage patches by vegetation type at the landscape scale ..................... 16

Table 2. Structure within forested patches ................................................................................... 19

Table 3. Snags and large logs at landscape scale in low to moderate severity burn patches ....... 19

Table 4. Amount of seral stage patches by vegetation type at the landscape scale ..................... 23

Table 5. Structure within forested patches ................................................................................... 23

Table 6. Snags and large logs at landscape scale in low to moderate severity burn patches ....... 25

Table 7. Large/old trees at landscape scale ................................................................................... 31

Table 8. Desired recreation opportunity spectrum classes ........................................................... 43

Table 9. Monitoring watershed conditions ................................................................................. 109

Table 10. Monitoring conditions for terrestrial ecosystems ....................................................... 110

Table 11. Monitoring conditions for aquatic and riparian ecosystems ....................................... 112

Table 12. Monitoring the status of focal species ......................................................................... 113

Table 13. Monitoring ecological conditions for select at-risk species ......................................... 114

Table 14. Monitoring visitor use, visitor satisfaction, and progress toward meeting recreation 

objectives ................................................................................................................................ 116

Table 15. Monitoring changes on the plan area resulting from climate change and other 

stressors .................................................................................................................................. 117

Table 16. Monitoring progress toward meeting desired conditions not addressed elsewhere in 

the monitoring program, particularly those related to social and economic sustainability of 

communities ........................................................................................................................... 120

Table 17. Monitoring questions and associated indicators that evaluate soils and soil 

productivity ............................................................................................................................ 121

Table 18. Sierra National Forest land suitable for timber production......................................... 154

Table 19. Average volume outputs for the 1st and 2nd decades for Sierra National Forest 

planned timber sale program ................................................................................................. 155

Table 20. Estimated vegetation management practices on the Sierra National Forest .............. 156

Table 21. Stocking criteria for suitable lands by forest type* ..................................................... 158

List of Figures

Figure 1. Vicinity map of the Sierra National Forest ........................................................................ 2

Figure 2. A schematic of the relationship of watersheds .............................................................. 10
Contents 

Draft Revised Forest Plan v 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 3. Variation in dominant trees and tree density ................................................................. 15

Figure 4. A cross-section in a forest patch that illustrates the heterogeneity or complex mosaic of 

different forest densities, sizes, and species mix .....................................................................17

Figure 5. Ponderosa pine patch .....................................................................................................19

Figure 6. Dry mixed conifer forest ................................................................................................. 21

Figure 7. Three photos displaying red fir forest heterogeneity .....................................................25

Figure 8. Jeffrey pine patch ............................................................................................................28

Figure 9. The southern Sierra Nevada Fisher Conservation Strategy area ....................................36

Figure 10. Middle portion of the southern Sierra Nevada Fisher Conservation Strategy area .....37

Figure 11. Strategic fire management zone map ......................................................................... 125

Figure 12. Wilderness management areas of the Sierra National Forest .................................... 126

Figure 13. Wild and scenic river status of the Sierra National Forest .......................................... 127

Figure 14. Riparian conservation areas of the Sierra National Forest ......................................... 128

Figure 15. Critical aquatic refuges of the Sierra National Forest ................................................. 129

Figure 16. Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Management Area ................................................ 130

Figure 17. Recreation places map of the Sierra National Forest ................................................. 131

Figure 18. Congressionally designated areas of the Sierra National Forest ................................ 132

Figure 19. Recreation opportunity spectrum map of the Sierra National Forest ........................ 133

Figure 20. Scenic integrity objectives map of the Sierra National Forest .................................... 134

Figure 21. Timber suitability map of the Sierra National Forest .................................................. 152

Draft Revised Forest Plan 1 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Chapter 1. Introduction

Location

The Sierra National Forest is one of eighteen national forests in California. It is located on the 

western slope of the central Sierra Nevada (Figure 1), covering approximately 1.4 million acres 

within eastern portions of Mariposa, Madera and Fresno Counties. There are about 102,000 acres 

of private, state, county and other land ownerships embedded within the boundaries of the Sierra 

National Forest. Other land managers in the region include the National Park Service, Bureau of 

Land Management and Army Corps of Engineers.

The Sierra National Forest Supervisor’s Office is located in Clovis, California. The Sierra has two 

administrative ranger districts, Bass Lake Ranger District and High Sierra Ranger District. 

Distinctive Roles and Contributions of the Plan Area

The Sierra National Forest is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and abundant natural 

resources, defined by deeply carved river valleys, high elevation lakes outlined by towering 

conifers, and huge granite monoliths. Elevations vary from 900 feet at Pine Flat Reservoir, to 

nearly 14,000 feet at the summit of Mount Humphreys along the Sierra Crest. Combining the 

extreme elevation changes with the variability in aspect and slope, variety of geology and soils, 

and the amount and timing of precipitation creates a high diversity of ecosystems, ranging from 

grasslands to sub-alpine meadows. 

At the lowest elevations, rising above the valley floor is the foothill zone. The foothill zone 

contains rolling foothills dotted with oaks and foothill pine and extensive areas of a unique mixed 

chaparral type found only on the Sierra National Forest. Above the foothill zone is the montane 

zone, dominated by ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests. Next, the upper montane zone is 

comprised of a mosaic of red fir forests, open Jeffrey pine woodlands, meadows and montane 

chaparral. At the highest elevations, the sparsely vegetated subalpine and alpine zones occur. 

Massive areas of rock outcrops occur throughout all of these vegetation types.

These varied ecosystems are inhabited by over 1,400 plant species, with herbaceous plant species 

contributing greatest to plant species richness, and approximately 350 fish and wildlife species. 

The forest’s terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal species are dependent on resilient ecosystems 

that also sustain a social and economic fabric connected to a healthy forest. 

Wildland fire has been a vital part of the Sierra Nevada for centuries. Many of the ecosystems 

that make up the Sierra National Forest have been shaped by the way fire moved across the 

landscape in the past; the ecosystem has been altered by the lack of fire in recent history. 
Chapter 1. Introduction 

2 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 1. Vicinity map of the Sierra National Forest 
Chapter 1. Introduction 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 3 

for the Sierra National Forest 

In addition to being a recreation destination with its intensely used and highly developed lakes 

and the world famous Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses, the Sierra National Forest

provides extreme ends of recreation settings: wildlands, transitional landscapes, lakes recreation

and scenic corridors. The wildlands setting consists of picturesque “destination” wilderness areas 

that provide nationally recognized trails such as the John Muir and Pacific Crest trails. Nearly 50 

percent of the forest is wilderness, offering solitude and vast open space as part of one of the 

largest contiguous blocks of wilderness in the continental United States. At lower elevations, the 

transitional front-country, or forest-urban transition landscapes, offer year round recreation 

opportunities within a mixed ownership pattern. These sharp contrasts provide destinations for 

visitors to escape from the intensity of urban life, and connect with nature, family and friends.

Large lakes, such as the low elevation Bass Lake that attracts the highest number of visitors, or 

Huntington Lake, a high alpine lake, define the lakes recreation setting that provides shaded 

landscapes and opportunities to escape from the heat in the valleys. Lakeshores accommodate 

intensive developed recreation, while natural settings provide visitors a connection to the 

expansive wild areas that are within view. 

In the scenic corridors setting, popular paved driving and scenic corridors, like the Sierra Vista 

and Sierra Heritage National Scenic Byways, are the conduit for connecting people from low 

elevation urban settings to cool, high elevation solitude. These corridors provide dramatic 

geology and historic and vegetative contrasts, including an intimate experience with giant 

sequoias. The Sierra National Forest offers outstanding opportunities for active outdoor recreation 

visitors including whitewater rafting, climbing, sailing, off highway vehicles, over snow vehicles, 

mountain biking, skiing and other forms of dispersed recreation. These activities occur at highly 

specific locations on the landscape, leading to deep attachments for this community of visitors.

The resulting tourism from recreational opportunities on the forest is also important in 

contributing to the economic sustainability of local communities. This contribution occurs 

through visitor spending that supports jobs in local businesses, and contributes to county sales tax 

revenues that local governments use to provide important public services in local communities. 

The Sierra is within a four hour drive of nearly half of the over 37 million people who make their 

homes in California. This populous pool of potential visitors is one of the most ethnically diverse 

in the world, challenging the forest to look at nontraditional methods of providing service. 

The Sierra National Forest is bordered by Yosemite National Park and the Stanislaus National 

Forest to the north, the Inyo National Forest and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to the 

east, and the Sequoia National Forest to the south (Figure 1). In conjunction with these lands, the 

Sierra forms one of the most active recreation areas in the world and as a result receives nearly 

1.5 million visitors per year. 

The San Joaquin Valley and foothills, located to the west, are mostly rural and agricultural in 

character and have historic and current economic and cultural ties to the commodities that are 

produced on the forest. In addition, the San Joaquin Valley is home to urban centers with a 

growing and increasingly diverse population that is seeking new and evolving recreational 

opportunities. Within this ecological, social and economic landscape, the Sierra National Forest 

contributes a vast array of benefits including 11 major reservoirs that provide recreational 

opportunities, water for consumption, the generation of hydroelectric power and irrigation to the 

rich farmlands of the San Joaquin Valley. Grazing areas and harvested timber also play key roles 

in supporting the local economy, as well as sustaining a healthy and diverse forest. While the 

Sierra has substantial commercial value for the people of California, with its rolling oak-covered 

foothills and beautiful alpine slopes, it is the unique terrain that draws visitors.
Chapter 1. Introduction 

4 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

The lands and people surrounding the Sierra National Forest have an important influence on 

management of the Sierra National Forest. Native Americans have inhabited these areas for 

thousands of years and their diversity, longevity and importance in the region result in deep 

cultural ties to the forest and surrounding lands. The forest lies in the traditional territories of five 

federally recognized tribes, as well as four unacknowledged tribes, tribal groups and 

organizations. Tribal communities are contacted and consulted, and are important partners in 

forest management activities. 

Much of the Sierra National Forest is covered in snow during the winter months, but experiences 

the same Mediterranean climate common to most of California in the summer. With three primary 

rivers, 469 lakes, 11 reservoirs and countless streams, the Sierra is a popular destination for 

summer water-sport enthusiasts. In the winter, snowboarding and skiing (both downhill and crosscountry) remain popular, while snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle use is increasing. The outdoor 

recreation creates economic benefits by serving as a draw for businesses and high-skill workers.

The Sierra National Forest is also a source for timber, with a rolling average timber volume sold 

of 12,510 thousand board feet between 2008 and 2012. This timber production supports three 

sawmills in the small communities of Terra Bella, Chinese Camp and Standard. The Terra Bella 

mill is especially reliant on the Sierra, as it is the last remaining sawmill located south of 

Yosemite National Park in California.

Grazing has occurred on the rangelands of the Sierra National Forest since the late 1800s.

Livestock grazing continues to be one of a variety of multiple uses that contributes to the

economic and social well-being of people. Grazing provides opportunities for economic diversity, 

promotes stability for communities that depend on range resources for their livelihood, and meets 

the public needs for interrelated resource uses by providing livestock forage, wildlife food and 

habitat, outdoor recreation and other resource values dependent on range vegetation. 

Cultural opportunities are also an important contribution of forest lands. Tribal communities 

benefit socioeconomically through the use of cultural resources for artisan and craft materials, 

medicinal purposes, fuel, and traditional foods, and by supporting heritage tourism and recreation. 

Cultural resources on the Sierra National Forest also enhance the sustainability of tribal 

communities by providing opportunities for traditional ceremonies and religious practices that 

strengthen the community’s sense of place and self. Gathering activities on the forest play an 

important role in contributing to social, economic, familial, and religious benefits. Native 

American areas for gathering and distributing wealth and resources on the Sierra National Forest 

include sedge beds, sour berry patches, meadows, elderberry patches and black oak groves. 

Among the general public, the young bracken fern fronds are used in several types of Asian 

cuisine by residents of the Central Valley.

While many visitors enjoy the opportunities the Sierra National Forest provides, there are many

people that call the forest their home. Most private property is concentrated around small 

residential communities that have grown within or adjacent to the Sierra National Forest over 

time. There are also isolated private properties scattered throughout the forest that support 

ranching interests, isolated residences, and second homes. Reducing fire hazards to adjacent lands 

and communities is a key contribution of the Sierra National Forest to local communities. 

Wildfires are actively suppressed on national forests when needed to protect key resources and to 

prevent intrusion of dangerous fires into communities. Tools to reduce hazardous fuels and 

maintain fuel conditions include wildland fires managed to meet resource objectives, prescribed 

burning and mechanical treatments. 
Chapter 1. Introduction 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 5 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Annually, around 800 billion gallons of clean water flows from the forest into the San Joaquin 

River in the north, and into the Kings River in the south. These rivers fill eleven reservoirs that 

are on or are adjacent to the Sierra National Forest and that ultimately supply water and power to 

the populations, farms and industries of the San Joaquin Valley. This contribution of the forest is 

critical in supporting the economic and social sustainability of jobs, rural culture and quality of 

life. Free-flowing rivers also provide crucial benefits for recreation and regional ecology. There 

are also benefits to people living outside of the San Joaquin Valley who value the commodities 

obtained from continued agricultural production in the area, one of the most diverse and fertile 

agricultural areas in the world. 

With the combined benefits of reducing the risk of catastrophic fire, and providing a key 

component to the local economy, the Sierra National Forest implements a very successful and 

strategic vegetation management program. While this program is a vital stimulant to local 

industry, it is equally important to increasing the overall health of the forest. All resources that are 

currently being made available to the Sierra for this program are being used every year. Under the 

current planning decisions and allocated funding, the vision for this program is developed by way 

of collaborative groups, with both the Bass Lake Ranger District and High Sierra Ranger Districts

consulting with a multitude of stakeholders on a regular basis.

The benefits from all forest contributions provide tremendous ecological, social and economic 

value. Some forest benefits are more easily appreciated than other benefits. For example, forest 

recreation, economic and cultural opportunities, and a clean water supply are enjoyed and 

appreciated directly by people and communities as a whole. Other vital forest ecosystem services 

provide benefits like biodiversity that are less apparent in our daily lives, but are important 

because they support and regulate ecosystems and social environments. The term “value“ as used 

here, represents something more inclusive than a monetary value to capture the idea that all 

contributions of the Sierra National Forest, even when they are not directly relatable to dollars 

that are spent or received, still contribute significantly to improving the quality of our lives.

Purpose of the Forest Plan

Every national forest managed by the Forest Service is required to have a land management plan 

(forest plan) that is consistent with the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 

1604) and other laws. The National Forest Management Act directs that these plans be amended 

as necessary and revised within 15 years. Forest plans are one of three levels of planning and 

decision-making that guide how we manage National Forest System lands.

The first and broadest level of planning occurs at the national level through the United States 

Department of Agriculture Forest Service Strategic Plan, a 5-year plan that allows public 

transparency of the agencies goals, objectives and accomplishments. The second level of planning 

occurs at the level of National Forest System administrative units through forest plans. The third 

level of planning includes development of on-the-ground projects and activities, which are 

designed to achieve the desired conditions and objectives of the forest plan. Projects and activities 

must be consistent with the forest plan.

Forest plans are intended to be strategic, meaning they identify long-term or overall desired 

conditions and provide general direction for achieving those desired conditions. Forest plans 

focus on outcomes, and are flexible to allow management to adapt to local conditions. Generally, 

forest plans are not tactical and do not specify particular methods that must always be used and 

do not require resources to be allocated. Forest plans emphasize strategic decisions: “why” and 

“what,” and to a lesser extent, “when” and “where.” The “how” decision is generally made at the 
Chapter 1. Introduction 

6 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

tactical or project planning level, and includes a set of site specific details of time, place and 

circumstances of a particular project proposal.

Forest plans themselves do not compel any action, authorize projects or activities, or guarantee 

specific results. A project might be needed because of a discrepancy between current conditions 

and desired conditions. Projects may be proposed in response to demands by the public or to 

respond to forest plan objectives. When a project is proposed, it is first checked against the 

suitability of areas. If the project is an appropriate use, then relevant design criteria, standards and 

guidelines are used. The proposed action for the project is then analyzed using appropriate 

National Environmental Policy Act procedures. If the project is not consistent with the forest 

plan, the project may be redesigned or rejected, or a forest plan amendment may be considered. 

After the project is completed, it is evaluated against forest plan desired conditions and 

objectives.

A forest plan guides and constrains Forest Service personnel, not the public. Any constraint on the 

public needs to be imposed by law, regulation, or through the issuance of an order by the 

Responsible Official under 36 CFR part 261, subpart B. In addition to forest plans, management 

of National Forest System lands is also guided and constrained by laws; regulations; and policies, 

practices, and procedures that are in the Forest Service Directive System. These are generally not 

repeated in forest plans.

Adaptive Planning

Forest planning is a continuous process that includes assessment, plan development, amendment, 

revision and monitoring. The intent of this forest planning framework is to create an integrated 

approach to the management of resources and uses, incorporate the landscape-scale context for 

management, allow the Forest Service to adapt to changing conditions and improve management 

based on monitoring and new information.

An adaptive forest plan recognizes that there is always uncertainty about the future of natural 

systems and the timing and type of disturbances. Social conditions and human values regarding 

the management of national forests are also likely to change. Given that the setting for forest plan 

implementation will be changing over time, the forest plan incorporates an effective monitoring 

program, capable of detecting change, with an adaptive flexibility to respond to those detected

changes. The forest plan monitoring program recognizes key management questions and 

identifies measurable indicators that can inform the questions. When conditions change beyond 

what was anticipated in the forest plan, a responsive process using narrow amendments can be 

used to adjust plans between revisions.

The planning framework creates a structure within which land managers and partners work 

together to understand what is happening on the land. It is intended to establish a flexible forest 

plan that allows the forest to adapt management to changing conditions and improve management 

based on new information and monitoring. 

Plan Structure

In chapter 1 we have introduced the Sierra National Forest plan area, distinctive roles and 

contributions, and described the purpose and structure of a forest plan. Chapters 2, 3 and 4 

provide the framework for integrated resource management and for guiding project and activity 

decision-making. 
Chapter 1. Introduction 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 7 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Chapter 2 is the vision section that provides the foundation of the plan, the desired conditions. 

Desired conditions describe the aspirations or visions of what the plan area (or portions thereof) 

should look like in the future, and drive the development of the other plan components. Desired 

conditions essentially set forth the desired landscape of the future and the other plan components 

give guidance on how to get there.

Chapter 3 is the management strategy section that builds upon the foundation of chapter 2 and 

guides subsequent tactical planning. This chapter first describes the expected and measurable 

outcomes and potential management approaches that apply to specific parcels of land, which can 

include management areas, geographic areas, designated areas, recommended designated areas, 

and priority watersheds. Chapter 3 also identifies the following: suitability of lands, which 

describes areas generally suitable or not suitable for various uses or activities; plan objectives, 

which describes objectives, or intermediate outcomes, that lead toward achievement of desired 

conditions; goals, which are used to describe outcomes that are not at the sole control of a 

national forest, such as the result of a partnership; and potential management approaches, which

the Forest is inclined to use in order to be responsive to desired conditions and objectives. 

Chapter 4, termed the design criteria section, supports the vision and management strategy and is 

designed to provide sideboards for projects or activities. It includes standards and guidelines that 

influence the design of projects and activities developed under this forest plan. 

Chapter 5 describes the plan monitoring program that forms the basis for continuous 

improvement and provides information for adaptive management of the plan area. The purpose of 

monitoring in an adaptive management framework is to facilitate learning to support decisions on 

necessary changes to the plan. The plan monitoring program consists of a set of monitoring 

questions and associated indicators to evaluate whether plan components are effective and 

appropriate and whether management is effective in maintaining or achieving progress toward 

desired conditions and objectives for the plan area.

The appendix section includes the following: maps (appendix A), proposed and possible actions 

(appendix B), a plan for a renewed partnership focus for the Inyo National Forest (appendix C), 

management strategies for resolving recreation resource conflicts (appendix D), and timber 

suitability (appendix E).

Plan Components

An integrated plan means that all plan components work together toward achieving or 

maintaining desired conditions and are internally consistent. The plan components work together 

as a whole to meet the requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219.8 through 219.11), 

but this does not mean that all uses must be provided for on all lands. 

This plan includes five plan components that guide future project and activity decision-making: 

desired conditions, objectives, standards, guidelines, and suitability of lands. These five plan 

components, along with other plan content, are organized according to chapters 2, 3 and 4 as 

described above. Those five components are described as:

A desired condition is a description of specific social, economic, and/or ecological 

characteristics of the plan area, or a portion of the plan area, toward which management 

of the land and resources should be directed. A desired condition description is specific 

enough to allow progress toward achievement to be determined but does not include a 

completion date. 
Chapter 1. Introduction 

8 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

An objective is a concise, measurable, and time-specific statement of a desired rate of 

progress toward a desired condition or conditions. Objectives are based on reasonable 

foreseeable budgets.

The suitability of lands is determined for specific lands within the plan area. The lands 

are identified as suitable or not suitable for various uses or activities based on desired 

conditions applicable to those lands. The suitability of lands is not identified for every 

use or activity. If certain lands are identified as not suitable for a use, then that use or 

activity may not be authorized. Appendix E identifies lands that are not suitable for 

timber production.

A standard is a mandatory constraint on project and activity decision-making, 

established to help achieve or maintain the desired condition or conditions, to avoid or 

mitigate undesirable effects, or to meet applicable legal requirements. 

A guideline is a constraint on project and activity decision-making that allows for 

departure from its terms, so long as the purpose of the guideline is met. Guidelines are 

established to help achieve or maintain the desired condition or conditions, to avoid or 

mitigate undesirable effects, or to meet applicable legal requirements.

Plan components that apply forestwide or to land of specific character (e.g. vegetation types) are 

spread throughout this document across the Vision (desired conditions), Management Strategy 

(suitability of lands and plan objectives), and Design Criteria (standards and guidelines) sections. 

Plan components that apply to specific parcels of land, such as management areas and designated 

areas, are consolidated under the respective areas they apply to in the Management Strategy 

section.

The forest plan uses a unique coding system to identify plan components and where they apply 

using the following pattern: AAA-BBB-CCC. The series of letters before the first dash references 

either a resource area (e.g., WTR for watershed conditions) or a type of spatial area (e.g., MA for 

management areas). The middle series of letters reference where the plan components apply (e.g. 

FW for forestwide), land of specific character (e.g., RFIR for the red fir vegetation type), or 

mapped parcels of land (e.g., CWPZ for the community wildfire protection zone). The third series 

of letters references the type of plan components (e.g. DC for desired conditions). So the unique 

coding for air resources (AIR) forestwide (FW) desired conditions (DC) begins with AIR-FWDC, followed by the specific code number; and the codes for the management area (MA) wildfire 

restoration zone (WRZ) guidelines (GDL) begins with MA-WRZ-GDL. 
Draft Revised Forest Plan 9 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Chapter 2. Vision

Introduction

The visions or aspirations of what the plan area (or portions thereof) should look like in the future 

are expressed in terms of desired conditions. Desired conditions are developed within the context 

of the forest’s distinctive roles and contributions, and include specific cultural, ecological, social, 

and economic characteristics of the plan area. Desired conditions essentially set forth the desired 

landscape of the future while the other plan components give guidance on how to get there. 

Desired conditions are developed according to the geographic scale where they apply. The 

conditions that apply forestwide or to land of specific character (e.g., vegetation types) are 

presented here in chapter 2. Desired conditions and other plan components that apply to specific 

parcels of land, such as management areas and designated areas, can be found in chapter 3, the 

management strategy section of this document.

Desired Conditions

Air

Desired conditions and other plan components for air quality apply forestwide or to Class I 

airsheds, which have the highest standard of air quality. Class I airshed status applies to 

designated wilderness areas which were larger than 5,000 acres and in existence in 1977. The 

Ansel Adams, John Muir, and Kaiser Wildernesses are Class I areas on the Sierra National Forest.

Forestwide (AIR-FW-DC)

01 The air quality value of visibility in Class I airsheds is maintained or improved to the 

natural background condition specified in the California Regional Haze State 

Implementation Plan.

02 Wildland fuel loadings resemble natural range of variation conditions, reducing the 

potential for harmful effects on air quality from high intensity wildfires.

Watershed Conditions

Plan components found in the watershed conditions (WTR) sections of this plan cover the broad 

area of soils and water throughout the Sierra National Forest at the watershed scale. Watersheds 

include riparian conservation areas and the riparian and aquatic environments contained within 

them, such as rivers, streams, meadows, springs and seeps. Figure 2 displays the relationship 

among watersheds, riparian conservation areas, and riparian and aquatic environments. Critical 

aquatic refuges are subwatersheds selected by a national forest to provide a refuge for at-risk 

species and have plan components similar to those of riparian conservation areas. The 

management area section of chapter 3 presents plan components specific to riparian conservation 

areas and critical aquatic refuges.

The Forest Service national Watershed Condition Framework (WCF) is used to identify priority 

watersheds for restoration. Priority watersheds are where plan objectives for restoration would 

concentrate on maintaining or improving watershed condition. Under the framework, the Forest 
Chapter 2. Vision 

10 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Supervisor is responsible for identifying priority watersheds using an interdisciplinary team 

process. 

The list of priority watersheds can be changed administratively without a forest plan amendment. 

Watershed Condition Framework priority watersheds are mapped online at the USDA Forest 

Service Watershed Condition and Prioritization Interactive.

Figure 2. A schematic of the relationship of watersheds, riparian conservation areas, and riparian 

and aquatic environments 
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 11

for the Sierra National Forest 

Forestwide (WTR-FW-DC)

01 Adequate quantity and timing of water flows support ecological structure and functions, 

including aquatic species diversity and riparian vegetation. Watershed resilience to higher 

air temperatures, reduced snowpack, erratic runoff timing and other effects of climate 

change is sustained or maintained or restored. 

02 Water quality is sustained at a level that retains the biological, physical, and chemical 

integrity of aquatic systems and benefits the survival, growth, reproduction and migration 

of native aquatic and riparian species. 

03 Watersheds have the following conditions: fully functioning or trending toward fully 

functioning and resilient; recover from natural and human disturbances at a rate 

appropriate with the capability of the site; and have a high degree of hydrologic 

connectivity laterally across the floodplain and valley bottom, and vertically between 

surface and subsurface flows. Physical (geomorphic, hydrologic) connectivity and 

associated surface processes (i.e., runoff, flooding, in-stream flow regime, erosion and 

sedimentation) are maintained and restored. Watersheds provide important ecosystem 

services: high quality water; recharge of streams and shallow groundwater; maintenance 

of riparian communities; and moderation of climate change and atmospheric deposition. 

Watersheds maintain long term soil productivity.

04 Soil and vegetation functions in upland and riparian areas are sustained and resilient. 

Healthy soils provide the base for resilient landscapes and nutritive forage for browsing 

and grazing animals, and support timber production. Healthy upland and riparian areas 

support healthy fish and wildlife populations, enhance recreation opportunities, and 

maintain water quality.

05 Water quality meets the needs of water users, providing suitable water for cold and warm 

water species, swimming, irrigation, groundwater recharge and drinking after normal 

treatment.

06 Identified beneficial uses for a water body are adequately protected. 

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Terrestrial (land-based) ecosystems are diverse across the Sierra National Forest, changing with 

elevation and topographic factors like slope and aspect (Figure 3). These are described in the 

following paragraphs in terms of ecological zones named the foothill zone, montane zone, upper 

montane zone, and the subalpine and alpine zones. The ecological zones were mapped broadly 

using elevation breaks, but vary on the ground in location with respect to aspect and other 

topographic or soil factors. Each zone has different dominant plants, seasonal weather, and 

wildlife habitat. Because of these distinctions, each of these ecological zones has desired 

conditions described for the dominant vegetation types or subtypes. For the more wide-spread 

forest types in the mixed conifer zone, there are separate desired conditions for the drier versus 

wetter parts of the landscape. The nature of each vegetation type may vary by location but the 

desired conditions are designed to be broad enough to allow individual, site specific adjustments 

at the project level to adjust for these differences. 

At the lowest elevations, rising above the valley floor is the foothill zone. The foothill zone is a 

mosaic of blue oak woodland savannahs and chaparral-live oak plant communities. At the upper 
Chapter 2. Vision 

12 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

reaches of the foothill zone, ponderosa pine and black oak forests intermingle with the blue oak 

and chaparral communities. 

The foothill zone reaches up into the coniferous forest-dominated montane zone, which is 

dominated by ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests on the western slopes of the Sierra 

Nevada. White fir, sugar pine, incense cedar and occasionally Douglas-fir are intermixed 

throughout the montane zone. Ponderosa pine is dominant at the lower elevations and drier 

portions of this zone; at the higher reaches of the zone Red fir is present. The dry mixed conifer 

type occurs on the south and west aspects, ridges and upper slopes and is distinguished by typical 

dry site understory indicator plants such as buckwheat and iris. These areas have been altered 

greatly by fire suppression and past management actions. Formerly dominated by fire and drought 

resilient ponderosa pine and black oak, there is now a heavy ingrowth of white fir.

Moist mixed conifer forests are found in the montane zone where soil moisture is higher, such as 

lower slopes, drainages, north and east aspects or where water tables are close to the surface. 

Understory plants here include trailplant, false solomon’s seal, starflower, fairy bells, hazel or 

Pacific dogwood. These areas have also been altered greatly by fire suppression and past 

management actions. Formerly co-dominated by ponderosa and sugar pine, it is now heavily 

dominated by white fir. Forests are more uniform, where formerly they were highly irregular and 

patchy.

Next the upper montane zone occurs at higher elevations and receives a high percentage of 

precipitation that falls as snow. This zone is primarily comprised of red fir forests, open Jeffrey 

pine woodlands, wet and dry lodgepole pine forests, meadows and riparian areas, and montane 

chaparral. These vegetation types occur in a patchy mosaic across the upper montane landscape, 

depending on changes in elevation, topography, soils, climate, and prior disturbance history. Fire 

is an especially important ecological process in the upper montane zone, influencing forest 

structure and composition patterns, such as intermingled patches of trees and open areas. As with 

lower montane forests, decades of fire exclusion, past timber harvest, and patterns of increasing 

high severity fire have resulted in increasing degrees of structural homogenization in upper 

montane forests at a landscape scale. 

At the highest elevations, the sparsely vegetated subalpine and alpine zones occur. The subalpine 

zone has stands of mountain hemlock and open, windswept pines. Whitebark pine is found in 

harsh, windswept areas of the alpine zone. The alpine zone is generally referred to as “above 

timberline” but may have stunted trees, often referred to as krummholz, especially of whitebark 

pine. It supports a rich understory flora of over 600 species, 200 of which are limited to that zone.

Desired conditions are described at different spatial scales, or extent of area. First, are landscape 

scale desired conditions, applying to areas greater than 10,000 acres. The intent is to provide 

conditions that cover multiple small or medium sized vegetation management projects or single 

very large (greater than 100,000 acre) sized projects. The latter would be applied over multiple 

years, on a forest-wide basis. Ecological zones are broad and not exact—for monitoring at forestwide and multi-forest scale. 

Second, are the mid-scale desired conditions, applying to areas in the hundreds to thousands of 

acres. These desired conditions are applicable to smaller areas, such as a large single patch of 

vegetation or mosaic of patches in an area or sub-watershed. Third, are the fine-scale desired 

conditions, applying to the variation on the ground of smaller vegetation elements, such as 

understory shrubs, gaps or small openings, and litter cover. 
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 13

for the Sierra National Forest 

Patches are areas where there is similar dominant species and vegetation structure. They are 

similar to the term forest stand but encompass a broader range of ecological aspects. Patches may 

not be uniform but they are different from the surrounding areas. One may have a “salt and 

pepper” look from above of tree clumps and gaps and another may be a uniform sea of forest 

canopy. Some desired conditions include the term “within-patch”. This refers to changes at the 

fine-scale like, patches of shrubs or clumps of trees within patches. 

Terrestrial ecosystem plan components do not apply to administrative or developed recreation 

sites. Areas covered by special use permits are subject to guidance in their operating plans. 

Forestwide (TERR-FW-DC)

01 Each vegetation type contains a mosaic of vegetation conditions, densities and structures. 

This mosaic occurs at a variety of scales across landscapes and watersheds and reflects 

conditions that provide for ecosystem integrity and ecosystem diversity. 

02 Vegetation conditions, particularly structure and composition, are resilient to climate 

change and to the frequency, extent and severity of ecological processes. These include

fire in fire-adapted systems, drought, and flooding in riparian systems. Functioning 

ecosystems retain their essential components, processes and functions. Native insect and 

disease populations are generally at endemic levels with occasional outbreaks. Vegetation 

structural diversity usually restricts the scale of insect and disease outbreaks to local 

levels.

03 Ecological conditions contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered species, 

conserve proposed and candidate species and support the persistence of species of 

conservation concern.

04 The landscape contains a mosaic of vegetation types and structures that provide habitat, 

movement and connectivity for a variety of species: wide-ranging generalists such as 

bear, mountain lion, and deer; more localized, semi-specialists such as ground-nesting, 

shrub- and cavity-nesting birds, and various bats; and specialists such as old forest and 

sagebrush associated species.

05 The carbon carrying capacity for a given ecosystem is stable or improving, given trends 

in climate change, fire and drought.

06 Fire occurs as a key ecological process in fire-adapted ecosystems where it does not pose 

an unacceptable risk to life and property. Fire occurs within an ecological appropriate 

regime of frequency, extent, and severity, and enhances ecosystem heterogeneity and 

habitat and species diversity.

07 Composition, density, structure and condition of vegetation help reduce the threat of 

undesirable wildfires to local communities, ecosystems and scenic character.

08 Landscape sustainably provides a variety of benefits that improve peoples’ economic, 

social and physical wellbeing: clean water; forest products; livestock forage; carbon 

sequestration and storage stability; energy generation; recreational opportunities; 

landscapes with scenic character and scenic integrity; cultural uses; and biodiversity. 

Vegetation provides sustainable amounts of forest products that include wood fiber; 

biomass; forage; firewood; edible and medicinal plants; and boughs, bark, berries and 

cones for commercial, tribal, personal, educational and scientific uses. These products are 
Chapter 2. Vision 

14 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

provided while sustaining soil and water quality and productivity. Vegetation conditions 

support the long-term sustainability of these benefits to people by reducing the risk of 

undesirable fire effects, disease and mortality.

09 Vegetation types and vegetation conditions support continued use by tribes for traditional, 

ceremonial and medicinal purposes. Plants known to be used by tribes that traditionally 

use the forest are thriving.

10 Ecological conditions in relatively pristine landscapes (e.g., wilderness and recommended 

wilderness areas) are primarily the result of natural ecological processes, which occur 

with little direct human influence across the larger landscape. 

Blue-Oak Interior Live Oak Woodland (TERR-BLU-DC)

01 Blue oak-Interior oak woodlands occur in a highly variable and complex landscape 

pattern. Blue oak dominates the overstory in patches but is co-dominant with interior live 

oak or foothill pine. Blue oak woodlands are a mosaic of varying age and size classes 

with mature oaks that provide acorns from older trees that are an important food for 

wildlife. There are occasional pulses of blue oak regeneration to successfully replace 

mortality in older trees.

02 Fires occur periodically to maintain lower levels of dead grass and litter levels so that 

they do not fuel intense fire. Fires typically burn with low to moderate vegetation burn 

severity.

03 In annual grasslands, native plant abundance is maintained or improved and provides 

enough residual plant matter at the end of the growing season to maintain germination 

potential, site productivity and to protect soils.

Chaparral-Live Oak (TERR-CHAP-DC)

01 Chaparral comprises native shrub and understory species that reflect the natural range of 

variation for the site. The chaparral vegetation type is composed of varying age classes 

and densities that protect against accelerated erosion, with two to 20 percent of the type 

in early seral grass and herbaceous cover, 5 to 20 percent in native herbaceous plants and 

shrubs, and 70 to 95 percent in dense shrubs.

02 Chaparral is in a constant state of transition from young to older stages and back again, 

with fire as the primary disturbance. High severity fires that kill most aboveground stems 

occur on average every 35 to 100 years. Fire-return intervals allow the buildup of native 

shrub and plant seeds in the soil seed bank and for the accumulation of fuels necessary to 

support fire-induced regeneration. Invasive non-native plants do not dominate between 

fires.
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 15

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 3. Variation in dominant trees and tree density1 

 

1 North, M., P. A. Stine, K. L. O’Hara, W. J. Zielinski, and S. L. Stephens. 2009. An ecosystems management 

strategy for Sierra mixed-conifer forests, with addendum. General technical report PSW-GTR-220. U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Albany, California, USA. 

This diagram illustrates how tree size and tree density varies across the topography of a watershed. The 

cross-section of a watershed is shown with a river or stream in the middle and slopes rising to a ridge top 

on either side. Individual trees are shown with lighter colors depicting sun-dependent pine trees and 

darker green colors depicting shade-tolerant fir trees. The slope on the left is south facing and thus 

warmer and drier, with widely spaced pine trees and scattered fir trees. In the valley bottom, fir and 

hardwood trees dominate in a clumpy distribution. The north-facing slope is more shaded and thus often 

cooler and moister, with a moderate density of trees that become more widely spaced as they approach 

the warmer and drier ridge top. 
Chapter 2. Vision 

16 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Table 1. Percent of seral stage patches (>10 acre) by vegetation type at the landscape scale (tens of 

thousands of acres) 

Vegetation Type/Zone Early Seral1 Small Tree2

Open 

Mature 

Forest3

Intermediate 

Mature 

Forest4

Dense 

Mature 

Forest5

Black Oak/

Ponderosa pine 10–20% 1–10% 20–40% 40–60% 0–20%

Ponderosa Pine 10–20% 1–10% 60–90% 10–20% <10%

Dry Mixed Conifer 10–20% 1–10% 60–90% 20–40% 0–20%

Moist Mixed Conifer 10–20% 2–15% 10–40% 30–60% 40–60%

1 Shrub, grass/herb, tree seedlings and saplings.

2 California wildlife habitat relationship system (CWHR)2

tree size classes 2 & 3.

3 CWHR 4 & 5; 10–40% tree cover.

4 CWHR 4 & 5; 40–60% tree cover.

5 CWHR 4, 5, & 6, >60% tree cover. 

All Montane Vegetation Types (TERR-MONT-DC)

01 At the landscape scale, montane vegetation occurs in a complex mosaic of different forest 

densities, sizes, and species mix across large landscapes (Figure 3 and Table 1), that vary 

with topography, soils and precipitation. The composition, structure, and function of 

vegetation make them resilient to fire, drought, insects, pathogens and climate change. 

The mix of seral stage patches and open versus closed canopied areas varies by forest 

type. Interspersed across all seral stages, large and old trees are common in most of the 

landscape in varying densities, as described in the old forest section below.

02 At the landscape scale, montane vegetation provides ecological connectivity for a wide 

range of species, including old forest-associated species and habitat generalists. At least 

30 percent of the landscape provides greater than 40 percent tree or shrub cover for 

connectivity of wide-ranging forest-associated species that travel on the ground. Between 

10 to 40 percent of the landscape has closed canopied, multi-storied forests with greater 

than 50 percent overstory tree cover for species that travel in the canopies. Most of these 

multi-storied forests occur on moist sites, on lower slope positions, and north or eastfacing slopes.

03 At the landscape scale, ponderosa, Jeffrey and sugar pine are common and dominant or 

co-dominant on drier sites. Large areas of black oak are present both in large patches, and 

intermixed throughout montane forests where it historically occurred. Sugar pine is 

reproducing, growing successfully, and is resistant to blister rust and insects. Shrub 

patches, as well as irregular openings within forests, provide diverse habitat for a wide 

variety of wildlife and plant species.

04 At the landscape scale, fire occurs as a key ecological process to create and maintain 

heterogeneity, invigorate and restore fire-adapted understory plants and shrubs, reduce 

and maintain lower fuel loads, and promote the retention and maintenance of legacy oak 

trees and the recruitment of young oaks.

 

2 Mayer, K.E. and W.F. Laudenslayer. 1988. A Guide to Wildlife Habitats of California. California 

Department of Fish and Game. 
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 17

for the Sierra National Forest 

05 At the landscape scale, fires burn with low, moderate or mixed severity, with minimal 

patches of very high severity (greater than 90 percent basal area mortality) that is rarely 

greater than 200 acres in size. The proportion of areas burned at very high severity within 

a fire is generally less than 10 to 15 percent. Due to existing high levels of fuels and 

weather variability, greater proportions of areas burned at high severity (up to 40 percent,

with some patches of high severity up to 1,000 acres), may be unavoidable during large 

landscape prescribed fires or wildfires managed to meet resource objectives. 

06 At the mid-scale, a complex mosaic of groups of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants 

provide diverse habitat for a wide variety of wildlife species, including old forestassociated species. Within forest patches, trees are highly irregular in spacing and size. 

Individual trees, small clumps, and groups of trees are interspersed with grass, 

herbaceous plants, and shrubs, in variably sized openings that vary by forest type (Figure 

4). A mosaic of moderate to dense shrubs, tree litter, down wood and bare ground occurs 

between groups of trees. Vigorous understories of heterogeneous, patchy, and diverse 

native shrubs, herbs, and grass species support small mammal, bird, insect, and fungal 

communities, as well as providing pollinator and herbivore forage.

07 At the mid-scale, shrub, grass and young trees grow in patches of high tree mortality with 

abundant snags and large logs, providing complex early seral habitat.

Figure 4. A diagram of a cross-section in a forest patch that illustrates the heterogeneity or complex 

mosaic of different forest densities, sizes, and species mix1

. From left to right there are large and 

likely old, overstory trees above a widely varying and clumpy understory. On the left, three large 

trees tower above a dense clump of mid and small fir trees. In the middle, encompassing two-thirds 

of the cross-section, several individual large trees and small clumps tower above a sparse 

understory, with scattered seedlings and clumps of shrubs. To the right, a similar dense patch as 

the one on the far left occurs, with a large snag and some mid-sized trees. 

Black Oak/Canyon Live Oak (TERR-BLCK-DC) 

01 Oak trees in varied ages are present, with wide spacing providing full sunlight around 

large old oak trees, enhancing their ability to produce abundant acorn crops. Black oak is 

reproducing successfully. Sufficient numbers of mid-age black oaks have enough canopy 

space to form full crowns to replace old oaks that eventually die. 

02 Black oak snags greater than 20 inches in diameter, and live oak trees with dead limbs, 

hollow boles and cavities provide shelter, resting and nesting habitat for wildlife.
Chapter 2. Vision 

18 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

03 Acorns and other important plants in this vegetation type are plentiful and available for 

tribal uses. There are a diversity of sizes, ages, and locations of black oaks, ensuring 

sustainable tribal uses over time.

Ponderosa Pine (TERR-POND-DC)

01 At the landscape scale, the ponderosa pine vegetation type (Figure 5) consists of open 

forests with a mosaic of varied tree sizes, densities and understory vegetation. They are 

dominated by ponderosa pine trees and, where black oak is common, co-dominated by 

black oak. Understory shrubs and plants are common. These areas are highly resilient to 

fire.

02 At the landscape scale, areas dominated by open-canopied forests of medium and large 

diameter trees comprise more than 60 percent of the landscape (Table 1). Overstory tree 

canopy cover is generally 30 percent, ranging widely from 10 to 80 percent at a finescale. When black oak dominates the overstory, because of their wide crowns, canopy 

cover can be greater than 50 percent. Trees are denser in some locations such as northfacing slopes and canyon bottoms, but in small patches. Large and old trees are common 

in most of the landscape in varying densities (see old forest section below). Trees greater 

than 30 and 40 inch diameter are common, especially pines and black oaks. 

03 At the mid- to fine-scale, vegetation within patches is highly variable (Table 2).Trees of 

different sizes and ages, variably spaced, comprise an irregular, uneven-aged forest. 

Individual trees are variably spaced with some denser groups. Groups mostly vary from 2 

to 10 trees. Tree stocking (basal area) is highly variable, ranging from 20 to 200 square 

feet per acre, with most areas having fewer than 150 square feet per acre. Irregularly 

shaped openings with less than 10 percent tree cover make up from 10 to 50 percent of 

the area. The opening sizes are varied, mostly ranging from 0.05 to 0.12 acres in size, 

occasionally greater than 0.12 acres, and contain a mix of grasses, herbaceous plants, and 

shrubs, and young trees. Vigorous shrubs cover 10 to 60 percent of the area. Less than 30 

percent of shrubs are decadent with many dead branches Numbers of seedlings and 

saplings are sufficient to replace old trees over time, but since ponderosa pine is shadeintolerant, they are very patchy in distribution with regeneration occurring when gaps and 

openings of sufficient size are created.

04 At the mid- to fine- scale, litter and surface fuel is patchy with fewer than 5 to 10 tons per 

acre in fuel loading on average over 30 to 70 percent of the area. There are some small 

areas of up to 30 tons per acre and others with fewer than 5 tons per acre.

05 A the mid- to fine- scale, snags greater than 20 inches in diameter are patchily distributed 

and highly irregular in spacing with 2 to 40 snags (median of 10) per 10 acres (Table 3) 

providing for future downed logs. Coarse woody debris, including large downed logs in 

varying states of decay is patchily distributed and ranges from 1 to 10 tons per acre 

(Table 3).

06 Fire occurs as a key ecological process in fire-adapted ecosystems where it does not pose 

an unacceptable risk to life and property. Fire as an ecological process creates, restores, 

and maintains ecosystem resilience and increases understory plant vigor, heterogeneity, 

and habitat diversity.
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 19

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 5. Ponderosa pine patch 

Table 2. Structure within forested patches (10s to 100s of acre areas with similar forest) 

Vegetation Type/Zone

Tree Density 

Basal Area 

(square feet per 

acre)

Tree Canopy Cover 

(percent cover 

overhead)

Shrubs

Black oak/Ponderosa Pine 20–200; 

mostly < 150

10–80; median 30; 

highly variable

10–60% cover; highly 

variable; mixed ages

Ponderosa Pine

Dry Mixed Conifer

20–200; 

mostly < 150

10–60; median 30; 

highly variable

10–60% cover; highly 

variable; mixed ages

Moist Mixed Conifer 50–300; 

mostly < 200

20–90; median 60; 

highly variable

10–60% cover; highly 

variable; mixed ages

Table 3. Snags and large logs at landscape scale in low to moderate severity burn patches 

Vegetation Type/Zone

Snags 

>20” diameter 

(per 10 acres)

Logs 

>15” diameter and 

>8 feet long 

(tons per acre)

Litter and 

Understory Dead 

Wood 

(tons per acre)

Black Oak/Ponderosa Pine

Ponderosa Pine

Dry Mixed Conifer

2–40; median 10 1–10; 

all decay classes 3–10; patchy

Moist Mixed Conifer 5–60 (median of 20) 1–10; 

all decay classes 3–15; patchy
Chapter 2. Vision 

20 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Dry Mixed Conifer (TERR-DMC-DC)

01 At the landscape scale, the dry mixed conifer vegetation type (Error! Reference source 

ot found.) has a mosaic of patches of trees of varied sizes and ages. It is dominated by 

ponderosa pine and Jeffrey pine trees, with varying amounts of white fir, red fir, incense 

cedar or sugar pine. Sun-loving and fire-adapted native shrubs and plants are common.

02 Fire occurs as a key ecological process in fire-adapted ecosystems where it does not pose 

an unacceptable risk to life and property. Fire as an ecological process creates, restores, 

and maintains ecosystem resilience and increases understory plant vigor, heterogeneity, 

and habitat diversity.

03 At the landscape scale, areas dominated by medium and large diameter trees comprise 

more than 60 percent of the landscape. Overstory tree canopy cover is generally 30 

percent but ranges widely from 10 to 60 percent at a fine-scale. When black oak 

dominates the overstory, because of their wide crowns, canopy cover can be greater than 

50 percent. Trees are denser in some locations, such as north-facing slopes and canyon 

bottoms, but in small patches, in limited areas (less than 30 percent of the area). Large 

and old trees are common in much of the landscape in varying densities (see old forest 

section below) in all seral stages. Trees greater than 30 and 40 inches in diameter are 

common, especially pine and black oak. Some trees exceeding 50 inches in diameter 

occur on more productive sites. These areas are highly resilient to fire (see TERRMONT-DC-05).

04 At the mid- to fine- scale, vegetation within patches is highly variable (Table 2). Trees of 

different sizes and ages, variably spaced, comprise an irregular, uneven-aged forest. 

Individual trees are variably spaced with some denser groups. Tree stocking (basal area) 

is highly variable, ranging from 20 to 200 square feet per acre, with most areas having 

fewer than 150 square feet per acre. Numbers of seedlings and saplings are sufficient to 

replace old trees over time, but since ponderosa pine is shade-intolerant, they are very 

patchy in distribution with regeneration occurring when gaps and openings of sufficient 

size are created.

05 At the mid- to fine- scale, small irregularly shaped openings with less than 10 percent tree 

cover make up from 10 to 50 percent of the area, and contain a mix of grasses, 

herbaceous plants and shrubs. Vigorous shrubs cover 10 to 60 percent of the area. Less 

than 30 percent of shrubs are decadent with many dead branches.

06 At the mid- to fine-scale, large snags greater than 20 inches in diameter are at densities of 

2 to 40 snags per 10 acres (Table 3), and are well distributed, but highly irregular in 

spacing providing for future downed logs. Coarse woody debris, including large downed 

logs in varying states of decay, is irregularly distributed and ranges from 1 to 510 tons per 

acre. Litter and surface fuel is patchy with fewer than 5 to 10 tons per acre in fuel loading 

on average over 30 to 70 percent of the area. There are some small areas of up to 30 tons 

per acre and others with fewer than 5 tons per acre.
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 21

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 6. Dry mixed conifer forest 

Moist Mixed Conifer (TERR-MMC-DC)

01 At the landscape scale, varying mixtures of Jeffrey or ponderosa pine, white fir, red fir, 

incense cedar and sugar pine trees occur. Native shrubs and plants are common in the 

understory.

02 At the landscape scale, the moist mixed conifer type has a mosaic of patches of trees of 

varied sizes and ages, with more small patches of moderate and high canopy cover than 

in drier parts of the landscape. Areas dominated by medium and large diameter trees 

comprise more than 50 percent of the landscape. Overstory tree canopy cover is highly 

variable, ranging from 20 to 90 percent but with a median of 60 percent.

03 At the landscape scale, closed-canopied patches are resilient to high intensity fire when 

they are embedded in larger areas dominated by highly resilient, open forests. These 

close-canopied patches are comprised of a combination of mid-story and understory tree 

and shrub density, and patchy, light to moderate surface fuels. Early seral vegetation, 

shrubs, grasses, herbs, tree seedlings or saplings mostly occur in very small areas, 

intermixed within forest stands or patches. Large and old trees are common in much of 

the landscape in varying densities (see old forest section below) in all seral stages. Trees 

greater than 30 and 40 inch diameter are common. Some trees exceeding 50 inches in 

diameter occur on more productive sites.

04 At the mid- to fine- scale, moist mixed conifer patches are diverse, with high variation in 

density and spacing. Trees of different sizes and ages, variably spaced, comprise an 

irregular, uneven-aged forest with all seral stages present, including old forest. Individual 

trees are variably spaced with some tight groups. Tree stocking (basal area) is highly 
Chapter 2. Vision 

22 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

variable, ranging from 50 to 300 square feet per acre (Table 2) with most areas having 

fewer than 200 square feet per acre. Seedlings and saplings are sufficient to replace old 

trees over time, but are not uniformly distributed in stands. These areas are moderately to 

highly resilient to fire, when surrounded by large areas of highly resilient forests.

05 At the mid- to fine- scale, large snags greater than 20 inches in diameter are patchily 

distributed, averaging 5 to 60 snags per 10 acres (Table 3) providing for future downed 

logs. Coarse woody debris, including large downed logs in varying states of decay, is 

patchily distributed and averages fewer than 5 tons per acre. In patches centered on areas 

of past tree mortality, course woody debris can be up to 10 tons per acre. Litter and 

surface fuel is patchy, with fewer than 5 to 15 tons per acre in fuel loading on average 

over 30 to 70 percent of the area.

06 At the fine scale, irregularly-shaped groups of trees and widely-spaced trees are variably 

spaced with some tight clumps. Vigorous shrubs cover varies from 10 to 90 percent of the 

area. Openings with less than 10 percent tree cover are in various shapes and intermixed 

with groups of trees. These openings make up 10-30 percent of the area, are typically less 

0.75 acres in size, and contain a mix of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. 

07 Fire occurs as a key ecological process in fire-adapted ecosystems where it does not pose 

an unacceptable risk to life and property. Fire as an ecological process creates, restores, 

and maintains ecosystem resilience and increases understory plant vigor, heterogeneity, 

and habitat diversity.

All Upper Montane Vegetation Types (TERR-UPPR-DC)

01 At the landscape scale, the upper montane landscape is a heterogeneous mosaic of 

patches of red fir forests, lodgepole pine patches, Jeffrey pine woodlands, meadows and 

montane chaparral. Upper montane vegetation occurs in a complex mosaic of different 

densities, sizes, and species mixes across large landscapes that vary with topography, 

soils and snow accumulation. The composition, structure, and functions of vegetation 

make them resilient to fire, drought, insects and pathogens, and climate change. The mix 

of seral stage patches, and open versus closed canopied areas, varies by forest type as 

described in Table 4. Large and old trees are common in most seral stages throughout the 

landscape and in varying densities (see old forest section below).

02 At the landscape scale, fire is a key ecological process, restoring and maintaining patchy 

fuel loads and increasing heterogeneity and understory plant vigor. Fires occur 

irregularly, generally every 15 to 100 years, with frequency averaging about 40 years. 

Fires in this vegetation type burn with low, moderate or mixed severity, with minimal 

patches of very high severity (greater than 90 percent basal area mortality), rarely greater

than 300 acres in size. The proportion of areas burned at high severity within a fire is 

generally less than 10 to 15 percent. Due to existing high levels of fuels and weather 

variability, greater proportions of areas of high severity burn (up to 50 percent) may be 

unavoidable during large landscape prescribed fires or wildfires managed to meet 

resource objectives. Some patches of high severity burn reach 1,000 acres in size.

03 At the landscape scale, white pines (sugar pine, western white pine, and whitebark pine) 

are healthy and vigorous with a low incidence of white pine blister rust. Individual trees 

and the stands they occur in are resilient to moisture stress, drought and bark beetles. 

White pine blister rust-resistant trees are regenerating and populations are sustained.
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 23

for the Sierra National Forest 

Table 4. Amount of seral stage patches (>10 acre) by vegetation type at the landscape scale (tens of 

thousands of acres) 

Vegetation Type/Zone Early Seral1 Small Tree2

Open 

mature 

forest3

Intermediate 

mature 

forest4

Dense 

mature 

forest5

Jeffrey Pine 5–20% 1–10% 60–90% 10–20% <10%

Red Fir 5–20% 2–15% 20–70% 20–70% 10–40%

Wet Lodgepole Pine 5–20% 2–15% 5–20% 20–70% 20–70%

Dry Lodgepole Pine 5–20% 2–15% 50–80% 10–30% 00–30%

1Shrub, grass/herb, tree seedlings and saplings.

2California wildlife habitat relationship (CWHR) tree size classes 2 & 3.

3CWHR 4 & 5; 10–40% tree cover.

4CWHR 4 & 5; 40–60% tree cover.

5CWHR 4, 5, & 6, >60% tree cover. 

Table 5. Structure within forested patches (10s to 100s of acre areas with similar forest) 

Vegetation Type/Zone Basal Area

(square feet per acre)

Tree Canopy Cover 

(percent cover 

overhead)

Shrubs

Jeffrey Pine 20–200; mostly < 150 10–40; may exceed 

40% in small patches

0–70% cover; variable, 

mixed ages

Red Fir 50–300; 

mostly < 200

20–75; median 40; 

highly variable

0–70% cover, variable, 

mixed ages

Wet Lodgepole pine 100–280; 

mostly < 200

20–70; generally 40 to 

60%

0–70% cover, variable, 

mixed ages

Dry Lodgepole pine 20–200; 

mostly around 120

10–40; may exceed 

40% in small patches

0–70% cover, variable, 

mixed ages
Chapter 2. Vision 

24 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Red Fir (TERR-RFIR-DC)

01 At the landscape scale, the red fir forest type (Figure 7) is part of a heterogeneous mosaic 

of tree species and vegetation structures (e.g., tree density, size, age and shrub cover), 

with patches of Jeffrey pine, meadows and montane chaparral. It is dominated by red fir 

trees, with varying amounts of white fir, Jeffrey pine, western white pine, sugar pine, 

lodgepole pine and mountain hemlock.

02 Fire occurs as a key ecological process in fire-adapted ecosystems where it does not pose 

an unacceptable risk to life and property. Fire as an ecological process creates, restores, 

and maintains ecosystem resilience and increases understory plant vigor, heterogeneity, 

and habitat diversity.

03 At the landscape scale, areas dominated by medium and large diameter trees and 

moderate canopy cover (between 40 and 60 percent) comprise most of the landscape 

(Table 4). Trees are denser in some locations such as north-facing slopes and canyon 

bottoms, near meadows or where snow accumulates. Areas with closed canopy cover 

exceeding 60 percent occur on 20 percent of the landscape, but can range from 10 to 40 

percent depending on the distribution of deeper soils and available soil water. Early seral 

vegetation, shrubs, grasses, herbaceous plants, tree seedlings or saplings, mostly occur in 

very small areas, intermixed within forest stands or patches.

04 At the landscape scale, shrubs, grasses and young trees grow in patches of high tree 

mortality with abundant snags and large logs, providing complex early seral habitat.

05 At the mid- to fine-scale, trees of different sizes and ages, variably spaced, comprise an 

irregular, uneven-aged forest. Individual trees are variably spaced with some tight groups. 

Tree stocking (basal area) is highly variable, ranging from 50 to 300 square feet per acre 

with most areas having fewer than 200 square feet per acre (Table 5). Numbers of 

seedlings and saplings are sufficient to replace old trees as they die, but are very patchy in 

distribution.

06 At the mid- to fine-scale, small openings are intermixed within stands of trees. They 

make up 5 to 20 percent of the area within tree stands, have less than 10 percent tree 

cover, are irregularly shaped, and often contain herbaceous plants, shrubs, and tree 

seedlings and saplings. Vigorous shrub cover is highly variable (Table 5), covering 5 to 

70 percent of the area, though some soil types do not support shrubs. Some openings and 

the understory of some red fir patches have little to no understory plants but instead have 

a high diversity of mushrooms and other fungi.

07 At the mid- to fine-scale, snags greater than 20 inches in diameter are patchily 

distributed. An average of 5 to 40 snags per 10 acres provide for future downed logs

(Table 6). Coarse woody debris, including large downed logs in varying states of decay, is 

patchily distributed and ranges from 1 to 10 tons per acre. Litter and surface fuel is 

patchy with fewer than 5 to 20 tons per acre in fuel loading on average. There may be 

areas with no fuels and pockets of high fuel accumulation scattered irregularly.
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 25

for the Sierra National Forest 

Table 6. Snags and large logs at landscape scale in low to moderate severity burn patches 

Vegetation Type/Zone

Snags > 20 

inches 

diameter per 10 

acres

Snags > 30 

inches 

diameter per 10 

acres

Logs (>15” 

diameter and 

>8 feet long) 

tons per acre

Litter and 

Understory 

dead wood 

(tons per acre)

Jeffrey Pine 2–40 --

1–10, all decay 

classes 3–10; patchy

Red Fir 5–40 1–10 1–10, all decay 

classes 5–20, patchy

Wet Lodgepole Pine 5–40 --

1–20, all decay 

classes 5–30, patchy

Dry Lodgepole Pine 2–25 --

1–10, all decay 

classes 2–10; patchy

Figure 7. Three photos displaying red fir forest heterogeneity 

Lodgepole Pine (TERR-LDGP-DC)

This vegetation type is divided into dry lodgepole pine versus wet lodgepole pine. Dry lodgepole 

pine dominates on upper montane dry sites generally above 8,500 feet elevation, often located on 

benches, upper topographic positions, and moderate slopes. Stands are typically in broken terrain 

and shallow, drier, and nutrient-poor soils. Western white pine may be present, but mesic tree 
Chapter 2. Vision 

26 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

species (e.g., red fir, mountain hemlock) are generally absent or infrequent. Understory 

herbaceous plant cover is generally less than 30 percent and bare ground and rock cover is 

generally more than 30 percent. Either wet or dry lodgepole may border some meadow 

ecosystems, depending upon the ecological setting.

Wet lodgepole pine dominates on upper montane wet sites generally above 7,500 feet elevation, 

often located on gently rolling lower slopes and drainage bottoms. Stands are located on 

relatively productive, moister, and deeper soils in the upper montane zone. Red fir or mountain 

hemlock may be present in wet lodgepole pine stands. Understory herbaceous plant cover is 

generally more than 30 percent and bare ground and rock cover is generally less than 30 percent. 

Either wet or dry lodgepole may border some meadow ecosystems, depending upon the 

ecological setting.

01 Lodgepole pine forests are highly variable throughout the landscape, occurring as open 

forests on dry sites at higher elevations, or as denser stands in pockets around meadows, 

lakes or where cold air accumulates. The lodgepole pine type is part of a heterogeneous 

mosaic of tree species with diverse structural conditions. It is dominated by lodgepole 

pine, with varying amounts of red fir, white fir, aspen and sometimes white pines.

02 Shrubs, grasses, forbs and young trees grow in patches of high tree mortality where the 

site potential supports those growth forms, and with sufficient snags and large logs, 

providing complex early seral habitat.

03 Fire occurs as a key ecological process in fire-adapted ecosystems where it does not pose 

an unacceptable risk to life and property. Fire as an ecological process creates, restores, 

and maintains ecosystem resilience and increases understory plant vigor, heterogeneity, 

and habitat diversity.

04 The distribution and structure of wet lodgepole pine forests are variable, ranging from 

small patches of even-aged trees, with both closed and open canopies, to uneven-aged, 

irregular patches. Size and age class diversity is high within wet lodgepole pine stands. 

Individual trees are variably spaced with some tight groups. Irregularly shaped groups of 

large and intermediate trees are variably sized, with some overlapping tree crowns. 

Smaller trees are randomly distributed.

05 In wet lodgepole pine forests, areas dominated by medium and large diameter trees 

comprise more than 45 percent of the landscape (Table 4). Tree stocking (basal area) is 

highly variable, ranging from 100 to 280 square feet per acre, but most stands average 

less than 200 square feet per acre (Table 5). Canopy cover ranges from 20 to 70 percent 

but is generally 40-60 percent (Table 5). Small openings with less than 10 percent tree 

cover are irregular in shape and make up from 5 to 20 percent of the area and contain a 

mix of grasses, herbaceous plants and shrubs. On wet sites next to meadows, lakes, 

streams or springs, shrub, grass and herbaceous plant cover may exceed 80 percent. 

Sufficient tree regeneration in openings provides for stand replacement.

06 In wet lodgepole pine forests, large snag densities are between 5 and 40 snags per 10 

acres (Table 6), and are well distributed, but highly irregular in spacing, providing for 

future downed logs. Coarse woody debris, including large downed logs in varying states 

of decay, is well distributed but irregular in spacing, ranging from 1 to 20 tons per acre. 

Surface fuel loads are highly variable; most are between 5 to 15 tons per acre and patchy, 
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 27

for the Sierra National Forest 

covering 30 to 70 percent of the area. Some small areas contain very high fuel loading of 

up to 30 tons per acre and others have fewer than 5 tons per acre (Table 6).

07 The distribution and structure of dry lodgepole pine forests are variable but typically 

open with irregular patches of trees of variable ages, and generally few overlapping tree 

crowns. Smaller trees are randomly distributed. Tree groups may contain other tree 

species such as western white pine. Sufficient tree regeneration in suitable but irregularly 

distributed sites provides for stand replacement.

08 In dry lodgepole pine forests, areas dominated by medium and large diameter trees 

comprise more than 60 percent of the landscape (Table 4). Canopy cover is generally 10 

to 40 percent but may exceed 40 percent in small patches and moist microsites (Table 5).

09 Within dry lodgepole pine patches, individual trees are variably but often widely spaced. 

Tree stocking (basal area) is highly variable with most stands having around 120 square 

feet per acre but ranging from 20 to 200 square feet per acre. Small openings with less 

than 10 percent tree cover are irregular in shape and make up from 10 to 50 percent of the 

area and contain a mix of bare ground, rock, grasses, herbaceous plants and shrubs.

10 The understory of dry lodgepole pine stands is highly variable. Most areas contain 

between 0 to 40 percent shrub cover; on very dry, cold, rocky sites, there may be no 

shrubs.

11 In dry lodgepole pine forests, large snag densities are between 2 and 25 snags per 10 

acres, and are well distributed, but highly irregular in spacing and providing for future 

downed logs. Coarse woody debris, including large downed logs in varying states of 

decay is well distributed but highly irregular in spacing and ranges from 1 to 10 tons per 

acre. Surface fuel loads are highly variable and patchy. Nearly all are between 2 to 10 

tons per acre and are very patchy, covering 20 to 70 percent of the area. Some small areas 

contain higher fuel loading of up to 15 tons per acre and most areas have fewer than 8 

tons per acre.

Upper Montane Jeffrey Pine (TERR-UMJF-DC) 

01 At the landscape-scale, forests are dominated by Jeffrey pine trees (Figure 8), with 

scattered western white pine, red fir, lodgepole pine and white fir in some areas. Forests 

are generally very open with less than 30 percent canopy cover. Trees are denser in some 

areas, limited to small pockets with deeper soils. Open canopies allow tree regeneration 

of shade-intolerant Jeffrey pine. These areas are highly resilient to fire.

02 At the landscape scale, fire is a key ecological process, creating a diversity of vegetation 

types, maintaining understory plant diversity and lowering surface fuels. Fires occur 

frequently, with mostly low and moderate vegetation burn severity.

03 At the landscape scale, areas dominated by medium and large diameter trees comprise 

more than 60 percent of the landscape (Table 6). Early-seral vegetation, shrubs, grasses, 

herbs, and tree seedlings or saplings mostly occur in very small areas, intermixed within 

forest stands or patches. Large and old trees are common throughout all seral stages (see 

old forest section below).
Chapter 2. Vision 

28 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

04 At the landscape scale, shrub, grass and young trees grow in small patches of high tree 

mortality with abundant snags and large logs, providing complex early seral habitat.

05 At the mid- to fine-scale, vegetation within patches is highly variable. Trees of different 

sizes and ages, variably spaced, comprise an irregular uneven-aged forest. Individual 

trees are variably spaced with some denser groups. Tree density is typically less than 100 

trees per acre but ranging from 20 to 150 trees per acre. Tree stocking (basal area) is 

highly variable with most areas containing fewer than 80 square feet per acre, but ranging 

from 20 to 150 square feet per acre. Numbers of seedlings and saplings are sufficient to 

replace old trees over time. These areas are highly resilient to fire.

06 At the mid- to fine-scale, openings of various shapes are intermixed with trees. More 

openings occur on shallow soils or when rock outcrops are interspersed with trees. They 

make up 10 to 70 percent of the area, are irregular in shape and vary widely in size. They 

contain herbaceous plants, shrubs and tree seedlings and saplings. Shrub cover is highly 

variable and Jeffrey pine stands or woodlands often occur in a mosaic with patches of 

montane chaparral. Shrub cover varies from two to 70 percent of the area. At least half of 

the shrubs are vigorously growing, with few dead branches.

07 At the mid- to fine-scale, snags greater than 20 inches in diameter are at densities 

between 1 to 20 snags per 10 acres, and are well distributed, but highly irregular in 

spacing, providing for future downed logs. Coarse woody debris, including large downed 

logs in varying states of decay, is irregularly distributed and ranges from 1 to 5 tons per 

acre and highly variable density. Surface fuel loads are fewer than 5 to 7 tons per acre and 

are patchy, covering 30 to 70 percent of the area.

Figure 8. Jeffrey pine patch 

Montane Chaparral (TERR-MCHP-DC)

01 Chaparral is comprised of native shrub and understory species that reflect the natural 

range of variation for the site. The chaparral vegetation type is composed of varying age 

classes and densities that protect against accelerated erosion, with two to 20 percent of 

the type in early seral grass and herbaceous cover, 5 to 20 percent in native herbs and 

shrubs, and 70 to 95 percent in dense shrubs.

02 Chaparral is in a constant state of transition from young to older stages and back again, 

with fire as the primary disturbance. High severity fires that kill most aboveground stems 

occur on average every 35 to 100 years. The fire return interval is long enough to allow 
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 29

for the Sierra National Forest 

the soil seed bank of uniquely adapted plants that follow fire to be maintained over the 

short and long term. Fuels are able to accumulate sufficiently in areas to carry fire in the 

areas of fire adapted plants. Invasive non-native plants do not dominate between fires.

Subalpine and Alpine (TERR-ALPN-DC)

01 Subalpine woodlands are highly variable in structure and composition. Diverse patch 

types vary from open woodlands with scattered trees to small, dense groves.

02 Fires occur infrequently, are mostly very small and with mixed severity. Fire intensity is 

highly variable, but crown fires are usually limited in size.

03 Subalpine woodlands and alpine ecosystems are resilient to insects, diseases, fire, wind 

and climate change. High-elevation white pines (e.g., whitebark pine) are healthy and 

vigorous, with a low incidence of white pine blister rust, and resilient to moisture stress 

and drought. White pine blister rust-resistant trees are regenerating and populations of 

high elevation white pines have the potential to expand above the tree line.

04 Mature cone-bearing whitebark pine trees are spatially well distributed to produce and 

protect natural regeneration and conserve genetic diversity.

Old Forest (TERR-OLD-DC)

Old forests are characterized by the presence of large and old trees for the given species and site 

productivity. Old forests vary widely based on forest type, soil condition, topography, and fire 

history. For ponderosa pine or mixed conifer forests, trees greater than 20, 30 or 40 inches in 

diameter contribute to old forest structure (Table 7). In contrast, at the highest reaches of trees 

near the Sierra Nevada crest, whitebark pine trees that are 10 inches in diameter may be several 

centuries or older. Very large trees that are greater than 50 inches in diameter are also part of the 

desired condition, their densities are not included in Table 7 because they were heavily harvested 

in the late 1800s and the earlier 1900s and information is lacking on their historic densities. 

Desired densities of trees greater than 20 inches in diameter are included for oaks and upper 

montane forests. These trees are often old and at the high end of their potential size. The old 

forest management direction below focuses on old forests in the montane and upper montane 

ecological zones where most vegetation management has occurred in the past and continues to 

occur. 

Old forests often contain large snags and logs in addition to large live trees. The density of these 

old forest components vary widely. Old forests within montane mixed conifer and pine vegetation 

types are currently more uniformly dense than they were in the past, resulting in increased rates 

of old growth tree mortality from competition with younger trees, climate change, insect-related 

mortality and increased high intensity fire. At the same time, the denser forests with old growth 

trees are favored habitat of the California spotted owl, Pacific fisher and Sierra marten.

01 The composition, structure and functions of old forests and surrounding landscapes are 

resilient to fire, drought, insects, pathogens and climate change. Fire occurs as a key 

ecological process in forest types that are adapted to fire, creating, restoring and 

maintaining ecosystem resilience and fire-related composition and structure.

02 The landscape contains a mosaic of vegetation types and structures that provide foraging 

and breeding habitat, and movement and connectivity for a variety of old forestassociated species.
Chapter 2. Vision 

30 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

03 Between 40 and 80 percent of the forested landscape contains old forest areas. Old forest 

areas are clumps and patches of old forest components such as old trees, snags and large 

downed logs. These areas are irregularly distributed across the landscape and interspersed 

with stands of younger trees, shrubs, meadows, other herbaceous vegetation and nonvegetated patches.

04 The number and density of old trees vary by topographic position and soil moisture. In 

general, more large and old trees are found on moister sites, on lower slopes, bottoms, 

and north and east aspects, especially where soils are deeper. Large trees are well 

distributed but are often clumpy. The densities vary by forest type as shown in Table 7. 

Trees greater than 40 inches in diameter, generally over 150 years old, represent the 

oldest trees, and comprise a significant proportion of large and old trees. In many areas of 

high soil productivity, trees grow to large sizes (e.g., around 30 inches in diameter) in 

fewer than 100 years. On low and very low soil productivity sites, the oldest trees may be 

smaller in diameter. Sufficient numbers of younger trees are present to provide for 

recruitment of old trees over time.

05 Old forests are composed of both vigorous trees and decadent trees. Decadent trees with 

broken tops, multiple tops, cavities and deformities provide wildlife nesting and denning 

habitat and contribute to the future production of snags, downed logs and other coarse 

woody debris. Older trees with larger branches and those showing signs of decadence 

provide the best potential to create cavities. Clumps of large trees, snags, large logs and 

decadent older trees are maintained on the landscape in sufficient numbers to benefit 

wildlife and are distributed throughout the planning area pre and post-disturbance.

06 Large snags are scattered across the landscape, generally occurring in clumps rather than 

uniformly and evenly distributed, meeting the needs of species that use snags and 

providing for future downed logs. The desired number and distribution of snags varies by 

major vegetation type, but old forests tend to have higher numbers of large snags than 

younger forests and can vary from single large snags to clusters of up to 20 snags per 10 

acres in some areas. 

07 Coarse woody debris, including large downed logs in varying states of decay, provides 

important wildlife habitat and can occur as single large down logs or in clusters 

depending on the source of tree mortality. Coarse wood debris is patchily distributed and 

the density of large downed logs varies by vegetation type. Surface dead wood levels are 

sufficient to provide for legacy soil microbial populations.
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 31 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Table 7. Large/old trees at landscape scale, except where high severity fires have occurred (>90 

percent basal area mortality) 

Vegetation Type/Zone >20” diameter 

trees per acre

>30” diameter 

trees per acre

>40” diameter 

trees per acre

Proportion of 

the landscape 

with large 

and/or old trees

Dry Mixed Conifer 4–32 5–20

(median 12)

2–7

(median 4)

40–80%

Moist Mixed Conifer 4–40 10–22

(median 16)

4–12

(median 6)

40–80%

Jeffrey Pine 2–16 1–8 1–4 40–80%

Red Fir 4–40 4–20 4–12 40–80%

Wet Lodgepole Pine 4–12 4–12 -- 40–80%

Dry Lodgepole Pine 2–6 2–6 -- 40–80%

Complex Early Seral Habitats (TERR-CES-DC)

Complex early seral habitat is the stage of forest development that follows a significant mortality 

event in a mature forest, where the loss is greater than 75 percent of the basal area. Major 

disturbance events include high intensity fire and wide-scale insect outbreaks. The death of 

overstory trees creates openings that allow other plants and tree seedlings to reoccupy the site.

The complex early seral habitat is often characterized by high densities of snags, the development 

of shrub cover and other native vegetation, downed wood and natural conifer regeneration.

01 Complex early seral habitat created as a result of a disturbance event contains dense 

patches of snags and habitat elements characteristic of natural succession like

regenerating shrub cover and herbaceous understory that are important to early seral 

forest-associated species. Large areas of shrubs are managed in locations where they 

represent the potential natural vegetation considering fire risks over time to adjacent 

vegetation and resources. Aspen and oak sprouts are well distributed in areas where they 

occur.

02 Snags, logs and live trees are widely distributed in large patches (greater than 100 acres 

when available) of very high vegetation burn severity (greater than 90 percent mortality) 

to provide habitat while also considering the need for other resource objectives such as 

hazard and other tree removal (e.g., salvage); reforestation to contribute to future forested 

conditions and carbon carrying capacity; and strategic fuel treatment, including

management of fuels in and adjacent to the community wildfire protection zone.

03 Snags that support cavity nesting birds and mammals are sufficiently abundant and well 

distributed, especially large diameter snags.

Aspen (TERR-ASPN-DC)

01 The structure, function and distribution of aspen are within the natural range of variation; 

there is a wide age and size distribution of aspen and it is contributing to habitat and 

biodiversity. Aspen is successfully regenerating and growing into larger trees.

02 Fire or other silvicultural activity reduces conifer encroachment and competition. Aspen 

stands are periodically regenerated through stand-replacing events such as wildfires, 

allowing for potential expansion.
Chapter 2. Vision 

32 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

03 Aspen groves contribute to social and economic sustainability by supporting recreational, 

cultural and economic opportunities. Aspen groves add visual interest, variety and 

contrasts in the landscape, providing spiritual respite and enjoyment.

Special Habitats (TERR-SH-DC)

Special habitats are generally small scale habitat or vegetation types that may support unique 

assemblages of plants and animals, especially at-risk species. Special habitats typically include 

uncommon rock types, harsh soils or rock outcrops. Examples include dry sandy and gravelly 

soils, limestone or serpentine soils, alkali or acidic soils, metamorphic, volcanic or granitic rocky 

soils or rock outcrops, caves, and alpine talus or fell fields. Many at-risk plant and animal species 

are found in rocky or gravelly habitats; the plan area has an abundance of exposed granitic rock, 

but only some areas are habitat for at-risk species. Aquatic and riparian special habitat examples 

include fens, seeps and springs. Given the localized nature of these special habitats, they are 

challenging to address comprehensively at the forest scale since they may be uniquely affected by 

different activities or trends in ecological conditions. For example, restoring the composition and 

structure of a red fir forest where outcrops are present would not automatically restore desired 

ecological conditions on the outcrops.

01 The integrity of special habitats is maintained or improved. Composition, diversity and 

structure are maintained in all areas, including those with multiple use activities.

02 Microclimate or smaller scale habitat elements provide habitat and refugia for species 

with a specific geographic or other restricted distribution.

03 Conditions remain suitable for long-term sustainability of the suite of native plants 

adapted to rocky and gravelly habitats and the insect pollinators that rely upon them. 

Animal and Plant Species

This and subsequent sections under this heading include plan direction designed to maintain the 

diversity of plant and animal communities and support the persistence of native species within the 

plan area, subject to the extent of Forest Service authority and the inherent capability of the plan 

area. This includes plan components that address the needs of at-risk species within the plan area. 

At-risk species include (1) federally listed threatened, endangered, proposed, or candidate species 

under the federal Endangered Species Act, and (2) species of conservation concern (SCC)

3

. This 

section also includes direction that provides for the sustainable use and enjoyment of fish, 

wildlife, and plants.

For each species or group of species, the forest plan considers the extent that plan components 

provide for ecosystem integrity and diversity to meet the ecological conditions necessary for 

those species within their range. Species-specific plan components are added as needed. 

Additional direction is provided for special habitats under the “Terrestrial Ecosystems” section to 

address unique habitats of some at-risk species.

Desired conditions are either forestwide or specific to the habitat of the species in question. For 

the California spotted owl and Pacific fisher, desired conditions are based on their respective

 

3 The Regional Forester’s species of conservation list is dynamic and may be periodically updated. The 

current Regional Forester’s species of conservation concern list for the Sierra National Forest can be 

found on the Pacific Southwest Region’s website. 
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 33

for the Sierra National Forest 

conservation assessment and science synthesis, and the broad array of science concerning the 

species and the risks they face. Some desired conditions are more focused on the short-term risks 

identified in the fisher Conservation Strategy and the California spotted owl Assessment, while 

others, particularly those in the focus landscapes, are more dedicated to the long term 

sustainability of the species and their habitat.

Forestwide (SPEC-FW-DC)

01 Sustainable populations of native plant and animal species are supported by healthy 

ecosystems, essential ecological processes and land stewardship activities, and reflect the 

diversity, quantity, quality and capability of natural habitats on the forest. These 

ecosystems are also resilient to uncharacteristic fire, climate change, and other stressors 

in order to support the long-term sustainability of plant and animal communities.

02 Habitats for at-risk species support self-sustaining populations within the inherent 

capabilities of the plan area. Ecological conditions provide habitat conditions that:

contribute to the survival, recovery and delisting of species under the Endangered Species 

Act; preclude the need for listing new species; improve conditions for species of 

conservation concern; and sustain both common and uncommon native species.

03 The structure and function of the vegetation, aquatic and riparian system, and associated 

microclimate and smaller scale elements (e.g., special features such as carbonate rock 

outcrops, or fens) exist in adequate quantities within the capability of the plan area to 

provide habitat and refugia for at-risk species with restricted distributions.

04 The forest provides for high quality hunting and fishing opportunities. Habitat for nonnative fish and game species is managed in locations and ways that do not pose 

substantial risk to native species, while still contributing to economies of local 

communities.

05 Residents and visitors have ample opportunities to experience, appreciate and learn about 

the forest’s wildlife, fish and plant resources.

California Spotted Owl, Pacific Fisher and Sierra Marten (SPEC-CSO-PF-SMDC)

01 Risk of large high intensity fire is reduced, especially in fisher linkage areas (Figure 9), 

fisher target habitat (Figure 10), California spotted owl protected activity centers and 

home range core areas, and marten core habitat areas. 

02 Within the fisher strategy area (Figure 9), spotted owl home range core areas, and marten 

core habitat areas, vegetation is trending toward desired conditions for terrestrial and 

riparian vegetation.
Chapter 2. Vision 

34 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

California Spotted Owl (SPEC-CSO-DC)

01 California spotted owl habitat is well distributed throughout the California spotted owl’s 

range, providing for nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat and movement across large 

landscapes.

02 California spotted owl protected activity centers encompass the best available 300 acres 

of habitat in as compact a unit as possible. Best available habitat includes: two or more 

tree canopy layers; trees in the dominant and co-dominant crown classes averaging 24 

inches diameter or greater; at least 60 percent tree canopy cover, including hardwoods; 

and in descending order of priority, California wildlife habitat relationship (CWHR) 

system classes 6, 5D, 5M, 4D, and 4M and other stands with at least 50 percent canopy 

cover, including hardwoods. Protected activity centers also contain some very large 

snags, greater than 45 inches diameter, and snag and down woody material levels that are 

higher than average. Where possible, heterogeneity is incorporated as described in the 

terrestrial vegetation desired conditions appropriate for the protected activity center 

location (e.g., red fir, mixed conifer, and blue oak woodland). In general, the moist mixed 

conifer desired conditions are most applicable. 

03 Where the majority of a California spotted owl protected activity center contains dry 

vegetation types, the vegetation type is resilient towards fire, drought, insects and 

pathogens, and is trending towards terrestrial ecosystem desired conditions. 

04 California spotted owl home range core areas include additional best available California 

spotted owl habitat as described in desired conditions for protected activity centers, as 

well as a range of conditions that promote resiliency and heterogeneity. Home range core 

areas consist of fine-scale gaps and patches of 0.03 to 2.0 acres (median of 0.1 acres) 

associated with shrubs, meadows, or low tree and canopy densities consistent with 

vegetation desired conditions. Clumps or groups of large trees, some with dense tree 

cover, are well distributed in an irregular pattern. Forest cover varies with the vegetation 

desired conditions and corresponding vegetation types.

Pacific Fisher (SPEC-PF-DC)

01 Pacific fisher habitat is well distributed throughout the fisher’s range, providing for 

foraging, denning and resting habitat, and movement across large landscapes. 

02 Outside of community buffers (see community wildfire protection zone guidelines MACWPZ-GDL in chapter 3) essential fisher habitat elements are common and well 

distributed throughout the fisher’s range, including large living and dead trees, especially 

pines and oaks where feasible; and structures used by fishers for resting and denning, 

such as cavities and deformities.

03 Outside of community buffers, snags occur in all size classes throughout the fisher’s 

range. Many snags are 35 inches in diameter or larger, depending on site conditions. Snag 

levels correspond with terrestrial vegetation desired conditions.

04 Black oaks are well-distributed within mixed-conifer and conifer-hardwood stands 

throughout the fisher’s range. The majority of trees are in good condition and the number 

of large oaks is increasing.
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 35

for the Sierra National Forest 

05 Outside of community buffers and focus landscapes, at least 60 percent of each fisher 

target cell (Figure 10), on average, is in CWHR classes 5M, 4D, 5D, and 6 in a 

heterogeneous pattern. This proportion may vary according to the landscape conditions 

within each cell. Canopy cover greater than 60 percent occurs in patches, especially in 

more mesic sites like canyons and swales and on north and east slopes. The patches may 

be separated by more open stands, especially on drier slopes and ridges, with up to 25 

percent of the target cell in open canopy cover (less than 40 percent) and the balance in 

moderate canopy cover (40 to 60 percent). Dense stands are also punctuated at fine 

resolution with gaps of 0.03 to 2.0 acres (median of 0.1 acres). 

06 Where fisher target cells overlap with community buffers, manage toward desired 

conditions for dry vegetation types, except in the black oak/ponderosa pine vegetation 

type, which should be managed toward black oak/ponderosa pine desired conditions. 

Large logs and snags are limited to minimize the likelihood of spotting or ember 

ignitions, maximize fireline production rates, and reduce firefighter safety hazards. 

Preferentially retain large live trees. 

07 Within focus landscapes, forest cover varies based on vegetation type and corresponding 

vegetation desired conditions. Areas of higher tree or shrub cover provide movement 

habitat between adjacent fisher target cells and provide heterogeneity at the landscape 

and patch scales that is ecologically resilient to climate, drought and fire. There are finescale gaps and patches of 0.03 to 2.0 acres (median of 0.1 acres) associated with shrubs, 

meadows, or low tree and canopy densities. Clumps or groups of large trees, some with 

dense tree cover, are well distributed in an irregular pattern. 

08 Fisher linkage areas maintain connectivity between fisher habitat core areas (Figure 9).

09 Fisher linkage areas support patchy vegetation with some moderate to dense tree canopy 

cover where site conditions allow, such as along riparian corridors, or shrub cover where 

forest cover is inadequate. 

10 Fisher linkage areas have minimal impediments or barriers to fisher movement, allowing 

fishers to disperse and maintain genetic diversity within and among subpopulations. 

Sierra Marten (SPEC-SM-DC) 

01 Sierra marten habitat is well distributed throughout the marten’s range, providing for 

foraging, denning and resting habitat, and movement across large landscapes. 

Great Gray Owl (SPEC-GGO-DC)

01 Meadow vegetation in great gray owl protected activity centers supports a sufficiently 

large prey species population to provide a food source for great gray owls through the 

reproductive period. 
Chapter 2. Vision 

36 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

 

Figure 9. The southern Sierra Nevada Fisher Conservation Strategy area (white boundary) 

encompasses modeled fisher habitat core areas and linkage areas based on a grid of female 

breeding territory-sized (10-km2, 4-mi2) hexagon cells4. Individual habitat core areas are numbered 

and linkage areas are lettered. 

4

 Spencer, W.D., S.C. Sawyer, H.L. Romsos, W.J. Zielinski, C.M. Thompson, and S.A. Britting. 2016. 

Southern Sierra Nevada fisher conservation strategy. Unpublished report produced by Conservation 

Biology Institute. 
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 37

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 10. Currently suitable, future potential suitable and low potential to ever be suitable grid cells 

in the middle portion of the southern Sierra Nevada Fisher Conservation Strategy area4. Cell 

suitability in this map does not reflect potential impacts of the 2013 Aspen and 2014 French Fires. 

Fisher target habitat is dynamic in nature and made up of target cells that generally include most of 

the currently suitable cells, as well as some that are potentially suitable. Additional considerations, 

such as habitat resilience and sustainability goals, are also used to determine the exact locations of 

target cells. See the definition of fisher target habitat in the glossary for more information. 
Chapter 2. Vision 

38 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Invasive Species

Desired conditions and other plan components under this heading address reducing populations of 

invasive species and minimizing their impacts on native species and ecosystems. Invasive species 

on the Sierra National Forest comprise all life forms including plants, animals, invertebrates and 

fungi.

Forestwide (INV-FW-DC)

01 Terrestrial and aquatic invasive species are controlled, or eradicated when possible, and 

establishment of new populations is prevented.

02 The area affected by invasive species and introduction of new invasive species is 

minimized.

Fire 

Desired conditions and other plan components under this heading apply to forestwide fire 

management, including reducing damages and enhancing benefits from wildland fire. Other plan 

direction related to fire management is in chapter 3, under management areas, subsection strategic 

fire management zones.

Forestwide (FIRE-FW-DC)

01 Fire management activities minimize the risk of loss of life and damage to property or 

ecosystem function. Firefighter and public safety is the first priority in every fire 

management activity.

02 Fire management activities reduce fuel buildup, help maintain and protect habitat for a 

variety of species, reduce smoke from larger fires, provide added protection for 

communities, and restore fire on the landscape. These actions are also an integral part of 

achieving sustainable recreation, particularly in maintaining scenic attractiveness, 

integrity and character. 

03 Wildland fires burn with a range of intensity, severity and frequency that allows 

ecosystems to function in a healthy and sustainable manner. Wildland fire is a necessary 

process, integral to the sustainability of fire-adapted ecosystems.

04 Fire management uses an all lands risk-based approach in planning and decision making,

responsive to the latest fire and social sciences, and adaptable to rapidly changing 

conditions, including climate change. Wildfire management is coordinated with relevant 

state agencies and adjacent federal agencies. The net gains to the public are an important 

component of the decision-making process.

05 The forest contributes to increased awareness and understanding about wildfire risk 

among community leaders, service providers, homeowners, permittees and tribes who are 

invested in or adjacent to the forest. This includes an understanding about the need to 

adapt communities, properties and structures to wildfire, while also recognizing that 

wildland fire is a needed ecological process.

06 Wildfire threat is reduced through management actions in areas where fuel conditions 

currently pose the highest threat to communities and community assets, such as power 

lines, communication towers and developed recreation sites.
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 39

for the Sierra National Forest 

07 Education and enforcement have reduced the likelihood of human ignited wildfire.

Local Communities

Desired conditions and other plan components under this heading include forest management and 

communication with local communities and other organizations interested in the management of 

the plan area and forest resources.

Forestwide (LOC-FW-DC)

01 Forest personnel communicate with interested local agency leadership, business owners, 

non-profit organizations, community members, and other local organizations on a regular 

basis to develop mutual understanding regarding forest management.

02 The Sierra manages the land in a spirit of shared stewardship with local people. Local 

knowledge and input is an important part of the process when developing and 

implementing projects.

03 Forest uses such as recreation, forest products, mining and grazing are provided in an 

ecologically sustainable way that also contributes to economic and social sustainability in 

local communities.

04 Ecological restoration supports the long-term sustainability of forest resource use and 

appreciation by communities by reducing the risk of high intensity fires, drought, insects 

and disease, which may impact forest use opportunities. 

05 The Sierra provides interpretation and education opportunities related to culture, history 

and land stewardship, and provides ample opportunities to connect people, including 

youth, with nature.

06 Management of the Sierra supports community needs by providing employment and 

training opportunities.

Volunteers, Interpretation, Partnerships and Stewardship

Desired conditions and other plan components for interacting and partnering to work together on 

shared interests with people, organizations, agencies (e.g., local, state, and federal), non-profits, 

businesses and communities are included under this heading.

Forestwide (VIPS-FW-DC)

01 The Sierra has a network of dependable partners and volunteers who provide additional

capacity to effectively and efficiently meet plan desired conditions and deliver services to 

the public. 

02 The Sierra uses partnerships to build local capacity for providing information and content 

using the best available methods, including advances in technology.

03 Interpretation and conservation education materials and activities convey up-to-date and 

clear messages about natural and cultural resources, climate change, land stewardship, 

responsible recreation use and etiquette, and Native American heritage and culture.

04 The diverse backgrounds and needs of visitors are considered in the design of 

communication and interpretive messages.
Chapter 2. Vision 

40 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

05 Forest Service projects and management actions, as well as the importance of ecosystem 

services, are communicated to the public in an understandable fashion to increase public 

awareness of nature and ecosystems.

06 There is little human litter as a result of effective interpretation and education, 

enforcement, patrols and use of refuse and recycling facilities.

07 Nationally registered historic sites and culturally important properties retain their historic 

and cultural significance when public use and education opportunities are provided.

Timber 

Desired conditions and other plan components under this heading cover timber management. 

Forest management on the Sierra National Forest consists of restoration and fuels reduction 

treatments designed to achieve desired conditions for the associated terrestrial vegetation type on 

suitable timber lands (appendix E). The 1.4 million acres of the Sierra National Forest includes 

approximately 327,244 acres that are suitable for timber production (Figure 21). Land determined 

to be suitable is land where timber production is the primary or secondary management objective. 

On lands not suited for timber production, timber harvest may occur to protect multiple use 

values other than timber production, and for salvage, sanitation, or public health. 

Forestwide (TIMB-FW-DC)

01 Predictable and sustainable forest product yields contribute to maintaining and improving 

local and regional industry infrastructure and are sufficient to meet the needs of the 

desired pace and scale of ecological restoration over the next several decades.

02 Production of timber contributes to ecological, social and economic sustainability and 

associated desired conditions. A sustainable mix of forest products (including both 

sawtimber and non-sawtimber) is offered under a variety of harvest and contract methods 

in response to market demand and restoration needs.

03 Salvage of dead and dying trees captures as much of the economic value and carbon 

storage capacity of the wood as possible while retaining key features in quantities that 

provide for wildlife habitat, soil productivity and ecosystem functions.

Range

Desired conditions and other plan components under this heading apply to rangeland 

management, which includes the authorized use and management of National Forest System 

lands for the purpose of livestock production and utilization of forage resources by livestock.

Forestwide (RANG-FW-DC)

01 Rangelands, along with grazable forestlands and woodlands, provide large areas of

contiguous space supporting native vegetation that has the potential to be grazed. These 

ranges sustain biological diversity and ecological processes and help to preserve the rural 

landscape and cultural heritage of the central, southern and eastern Sierra Nevada. 

02 Domestic livestock grazing maintains the desired vegetation represented by diverse plant 

functional groups, species richness and diversity, and structure and condition of plant 

communities.
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 41

for the Sierra National Forest 

03 Forage, browse, and cover meet the needs of wildlife and authorized livestock are 

managed in balance with available forage. Areas that are grazed have or are trending 

toward having satisfactory soils, functional hydrology and biotic integrity.

04 Livestock utilize available forage, while minimizing adverse impacts on soil, vegetation, 

water quality, wildlife habitat, fisheries and riparian areas.

Sustainable Recreation

The Sierra National Forest receives nearly 1.5 million annual visits by local and state residents 

and by people from all over the world. The Sierra National Forest seeks to provide a quality, 

sustainable recreation program by assessing recreation settings, opportunities, access and scenic 

character (addressed in the next section). The Forest uses various tools to describe and assess 

these categories.

A niche statement is what the Forest uses to describe what it has to offer in terms of special 

places, opportunities and potential experiences, overlapped with what people desire and expect in 

terms of outdoor recreation from public lands. The Sierra’s niche is described as follows: 

From lakeside camping and picnicking to wilderness solitude, the Sierra National 

Forest is destination recreation. With intensely used and highly developed lakes and the 

world famous Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses the Sierra provides the extreme 

ends of recreation settings. These sharp contrasts provide destinations for visitors to 

escape from the intensity of urban life, connect with nature, family and friends. Given 

the proximity to large, diverse and growing urban areas the Forest has a responsibility 

to provide heritage and conservation education to sustain this incredible landscape for 

future generations

The Sierra manages for outdoor recreation activities that are consistent with these settings and

recreation opportunities. The Sierra developed a recreation opportunity spectrum, or framework,

to define and categorize recreation settings into six distinct opportunity classes: primitive, semiprimitive non-motorized, semi-primitive motorized, roaded natural, rural and urban. A map of

Sierra’s recreation opportunity spectrum classes is provided in Figure 20, in appendix A. 

Desired conditions and other plan components under the sustainable recreation heading apply to 

forestwide recreation settings and accompanying recreation opportunities. The Sierra National 

Forest has also described place-based management areas that provide a contiguous backdrop for 

particular opportunities and activities. Plan components specific to these place-based areas are in 

chapter 3, under management areas, subsection recreation places.

Forestwide (REC-FW-DC)

01 The diverse landscapes of the forest offer a variety of year-round recreation settings for a 

broad range of nature-based recreation opportunities derived from assigned recreation 

opportunity spectrum (ROS) classes and recreation places management areas.

Management focuses on settings that enhance the forest recreation program niche. 

02 The condition and function of recreation facilities reflect the diversity of cultures and 

activities in our community. 
Chapter 2. Vision 

42 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

03 Recreation opportunities on land, water and in the air provide a high level of visitor 

satisfaction and safety. Recreation activities are ecologically, socially and economically 

sustainable. Agency resources focus on supporting the forest recreation program niche.

04 Visitors can connect with nature, culture and history through a full range of inclusive and 

sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities.

05 Conflicts between different recreation uses are infrequent. 

06 National Forest access is ecologically, socially and economically sustainable and properly 

sized to provide public enjoyment focusing on the forest recreation program niche. 

National Forest System roads and trails provide recreation opportunities and access to 

recreation settings and places the public highly values. The management and operation of 

facilities and capacity is place based, integrated, and responsive to changes that might 

limit or alter access. The agency provides access to the distinctive landscapes of the 

forest in a manner that supports the safety of forest staff and the public.

07 Trail opportunities are available in a variety of settings that provide differing levels of 

challenge and types of experiences. 

08 Developed recreation sites and infrastructure provide for the planned use, are managed 

for public safety, and are maintained for ecological, social and economic sustainability.

09 New developed recreation infrastructure is located in resilient landscapes and designed to 

respond to future impacts of climate change, while being financially sustainable and 

sensitive to changing public demand.

10 Dispersed recreation occurs in areas outside of high visitation, developed facilities or 

communities, and does not impact natural or cultural resources. 

11 Permitted recreation uses, such as recreation special events or guided activities, are 

consistent with recreation settings, protect natural and cultural resources, and support 

community goals. 

12 Developed recreation facilities sites are in areas resilient to large, high-intensity wildfires. 

13 Forest recreation information is up-to-date, connecting people to the forest through 

various means including social media, radio ads, public information bulletins, and print 

media sources, to reach diverse communities near and far.

14 Recreation settings provide a range of opportunities as described by the recreation 

opportunity spectrum. The desired distribution of recreation opportunity spectrum 

settings are shown in Table 8, and displayed in Figure 14, appendix A.

15 The Forests’ trail system provides a variety of motorized and non-motorized recreational 

opportunities during summer and winter and distributed across the forest. Trails access 

destinations provide for loop opportunities that also connect to a larger trail system, 

provide linkage from local communities to the forest, and are compatible with other 

resources.
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 43

for the Sierra National Forest 

16 Forest system trails are sustainably designed and managed to provide a variety of high 

quality motorized and non-motorized summer and winter access that connects people to 

nature. Trails are maintained in accordance with trail management objectives.

Table 8. Desired recreation opportunity spectrum classes 

Class Acres Percentage

Primitive 567,482 43

Semi-primitive non-motorized 44,760 3

Semi-primitive motorized 57,999 4

Roaded Natural 524,049 40

Rural 121,671 9

Urban 0 0

Scenery

Desired conditions and other plan components under this heading apply to the Sierra’s 

management of scenery. Ecosystems provide the environmental context for a scenery 

management system; a framework that considers scenic character and aesthetic values, geologic 

features and viewsheds. Scenic character is a combination of the physical, biological, and cultural 

images that gives an area its scenic identity and contributes to its sense of place. Scenic character 

provides a frame of reference from which to determine scenic attractiveness and to measure 

scenic integrity.

Providing a high level of scenic integrity may have to be achieved through establishing an 

‘ecological aesthetic’ over time through knowledge and appreciation of how a healthy ecosystem 

functions. In some situations, preferred scenic conditions such as absence of downed woody 

debris from timber harvest may run counter to the need for woody debris to provide wildlife food 

and cover, nutrient recycling, etc. 

Forestwide (SCEN-FW-DC)

01 The forest provides a variety of ecologically sound, resilient and visually appealing forest 

landscapes that sustain scenic character, supporting the forest recreation program niche in 

ways that contribute to visitors’ sense of place and connection with nature.

02 Scenic character is maintained and/or adapted to changing conditions to support 

ecological, social and economic sustainability on the forest and in surrounding 

communities.

03 Scenic integrity is maintained in places people visit and view.

04 The Forest’s scenic resources compliment the recreation settings and experiences, as 

described by the range of scenery integrity objectives, while reflecting healthy and 

sustainable ecosystem conditions. The desired distribution of scenic integrity objectives 

is displayed in Figure 20, appendix A.

Tribal Relations and Uses

Desired conditions and other plan components under this heading apply to the Sierra National 

Forest’s recognition that lands and people surrounding the forest have an important influence on 
Chapter 2. Vision 

44 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

forest management. The forest lies in the traditional territories of five federally recognized tribes, 

as well as four unacknowledged tribes, tribal groups and organizations. Tribal communities are 

contacted and consulted, and are important partners in forest management activities.

Forestwide (TRIB-FW-DC)

01 The forest recognizes Native American needs and viewpoints and fosters a robust 

relationship with federally and non-federally recognized tribes and related groups with 

which it consults. Forest personnel, including but not limited to line officers, 

departmental staff, archaeologists, historians, and tribal liaisons, consult and 

communicate with tribal leadership, tribal historic preservation officers, traditional 

religious practitioners, traditional gatherers, tribal members and other tribal 

organizations.

02 The forest coordinates with tribes in managing traditional cultural properties, resources 

and sacred sites where historic preservation laws alone may not adequately protect the 

resources or values.

03 Native Americans have access to areas that provide them an opportunity to practice 

traditional, cultural and religious lifeways, such as plant gathering, fishing, hunting and 

ceremonial activities that are essential in maintaining their cultural identity and the 

continuity of their culture.

04 Traditional ecological knowledge is a valued part of the process when developing and 

implementing restoration projects and other forest programs.

05 The forest provides a setting for the education of tribal youth in culture, history and land 

stewardship and for the exchange of information between tribal elders and youth.

Cultural Resources

The cultural and historic resources on the forest are a vast array of distinct resources that enrich 

communities, both large and small, through their use, preservation and interpretation. 

Programmatic management strategies allow selective use of various cultural resource types, for 

the greatest public benefit, while minimizing overall impacts and leaving a rich cultural heritage 

for the future. A myriad of federal laws, regulations, and policies direct the documentation and 

management of cultural resources.

Cultural resources include prehistoric and historic archaeological sites and districts; historic 

buildings and structures; ethnographic landscapes; traditional cultural properties; and Native 

American contemporary use areas. Contemporary use areas include places where traditional 

forest products are harvested. Products harvested annually include but are not limited to teas, 

medicines, basketry materials, cedar bark, and foods such as acorns, berries, roots, etc. Most 

contemporary use areas are rooted in past cultural traditions that may have shifted location due to 

environmental change and forest development.

Cultural resources also include a substantial record of oral histories, photographs, maps, reports, 

and archaeological artifacts. The documentary record of the people and historic landscapes that 

are illustrated in these old stories, maps and photographs contribute greatly to the understanding 

of cultural resources in the forest.
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 45

for the Sierra National Forest 

All cultural resources are not amendable to all potential uses, and vary individually and 

collectively on what they can offer. Preservation and interpretation of these fragile non-renewable 

resources educate people of all ages, races, and walks of life about the cultural connections 

between people and the forest.

Forestwide (CULT-FW-DC)

01 Cultural resources (buildings, sites, districts, structures and objects) having scientific, 

cultural or social values are preserved and protected for their cultural importance. Site 

integrity and stability is protected and maintained on sites that are susceptible to 

imminent risks or threats, or where the values are rare or unique. Priority heritage assets 

are stable and their significant values protected; vandalism, looting, theft and humancaused damage to heritage resources are rare. Site significance and integrity are 

maintained through conservation and preservation efforts.

02 Cultural resources, traditional cultural properties and sacred sites are protected through 

project design and consultation with Indian tribes, tribal cultural leaders and consulting 

parties.

03 Cultural resources provide educational opportunities that connect people to the land and 

its history. Through interpretive sites, historic standing structures and other materials, the 

forest provides opportunities for an appreciation for the region’s history and an awareness 

of preservation efforts. In some cases, historic routes (e.g., railroad grades) are used for 

recreation trails with interpretation of their history and historic features. Heritage-based 

recreation opportunities are connected, where practical, with other recreation 

opportunities such as trails.

04 Public enjoyment is enhanced by opportunities to visit interpretive cultural resource sites. 

Archaeological site etiquette information is readily available to national forest visitors. 

Interpretation of the human history of the forest promotes greater public understanding of 

the communities that have depended on this landscape for their livelihood, recreation and 

spiritual wellbeing.

05 Opportunities exist for volunteers to participate in cultural resource conservation 

activities such as research, site stabilization, protection, conservation and interpretation. 

Cultural resource programs, interpretive presentations or publications are available to 

provide the public with opportunities to learn about, understand and experience the 

forest’s past.

06 Practical opportunities for the rehabilitation and reuse of historic structures to enhance 

recreation experiences are promoted.

Geology and Minerals

Uses on National Forest System lands include the extraction and potential development of 

mineral resources, which are managed in a manner that protects natural resources, public health 

and safety, and are consistent with National Forest System land and resource management plans. 

Mineral extraction and development is limited on the forest, although historically mining played 

an important role in the area. Geothermal development is limited on the forest; facilities are 

present in the area. All authorized uses to occupy and use National Forest System lands are 

evaluated and determined to be in the public interest. Determinations include consultation with 
Chapter 2. Vision 

46 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

other interested parties including federal, state, and county agencies and non-governmental 

interests.

Forestwide (GEO-FW-DC)

01 Mineral resources on National Forest System lands provide for public benefit, while 

minimizing adverse environmental effects on other forest resources from mineral 

exploration, development, and extraction.

Energy

Uses on National Forest System lands include the extraction and potential development of 

geothermal and other energy sources, which are managed in a manner that protects natural 

resources, public health and safety, and are consistent with National Forest System land and 

resource management plans. Wind and solar development is limited on the forest; geothermal 

facilities are located on the forest and serve local communities. All authorized uses to occupy and 

use National Forest System lands are evaluated and determined to be in the public interest. 

Determinations include consultation with other interested parties including federal, state, and 

county agencies and non-governmental interests.

Forestwide (NRG-FW-DC)

01 Energy resources of National Forest System lands provide for the maximum public 

benefit that is compatible with protecting ecosystem integrity.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure on National Forest System lands includes the built property created to support the 

Forest’s use and mission. The five major categories of infrastructure are transportation, recreation 

facilities, administrative facilities, public utilities and private uses. Other infrastructure includes 

range related facilities, and historic facilities. 

Transportation refers to the vehicular movement of goods and services for the use of the national 

forest. Roads managed by public road agencies such as states, counties and municipalities that 

help provide access to National Forest System lands, are also part of the transportation system. A 

recreation facility is a discrete area on a forest that provides recreation opportunities, receives 

recreational use, and requires a management investment to operate and maintain to standard. 

Administrative facilities are typically buildings and their appurtenances necessary to support the 

employees, equipment and activities necessary for management of national forests. Public utility 

infrastructure is associated with Federal Energy Commission licensed hydroelectric systems, but 

also includes cable TV, telephone and internet service, and municipal sewer service. Private 

infrastructure refers to facilities developed in private ownership used in conjunction with special 

use authorizations. Such facilities include buildings and other kinds of structures and 

improvements representing a broad range of permitted recreation and land use activities. These 

activities can serve single purpose use by individuals or families, as well as offer benefits to the 

public. 

Management direction for infrastructure is to provide safe, energy-efficient, accessible, 

functional, efficient, aesthetically pleasing, and cost effective administrative buildings and related 

facilities, while reducing fixed cost through: consolidation and decommissioning of obsolete or 

underutilized buildings; construction of new facilities where and when required; and by 

conducting proper routine maintenance of existing facilities.
Chapter 2. Vision 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 47

for the Sierra National Forest 

Forestwide (INFR-FW-DC)

01 Forest infrastructure, such as roads, buildings, campgrounds, water systems and bridges, 

is managed to provide for the planned use and protection of resources, and is maintained 

for health and safety. 

02 Management operations on the Sierra National Forest are energy-efficient.

03 Forest resources meet administrative objectives. Vegetation and soil are modified to 

accommodate facilities, but disturbance is minimized. Fire protection measures are 

planned to protect improvements.

Lands

Uses on National Forest System lands include land acquisition and disposal, and special uses. 

Statutory authorities govern any land acquisition and disposal, and the authorization and 

administration of special uses. Special uses are managed in a manner which protects natural 

resources, public health and safety and are consistent with National Forest System land and 

resource management plans. Special uses are administered based on sound resource management 

objectives and sound business principles. All authorized uses to occupy and use National Forest 

System lands are evaluated and determined to be in the public interest. Determinations include 

consultation with other interested parties including federal, state, and county agencies and nongovernmental interests.

Forestwide (LAND-FW-DC)

01 Land ownership and access management support authorized activities and uses on 

National Forest System lands. Lands exchanges promote improved management of 

National Forest System lands.

02 Coordination of land and resource planning efforts with other federal, state, tribal, county, 

and local governments, and adjacent private landowners, promotes compatible 

relationships between activities and uses on National Forest System lands and adjacent 

non-federal lands.

03 Isolated or scattered parcels of National Forest System land identified for disposal 

through exchange provide for a range of objectives and outputs with limited investments.

Draft Revised Forest Plan 49

for the Sierra National Forest 

Chapter 3. Management Strategy

Management Areas

Strategic Fire Management Zones 

Strategic fire management zones were developed based on a southern Sierra Nevada wildfire risk 

assessment, which used a wildfire risk assessment framework for land and resource management 

to spatially model and assess contemporary wildfire risk5. The purpose of assigning strategic fire 

management zones is to support decision makers before an ignition occurs, by pre-assessing areas 

for wildland fire (i.e., wildfire and prescribed fire) risk and benefits. Four strategic fire 

management zones were developed: 1) community wildfire protection zone, 2) general wildfire 

protection zone, 3) wildfire restoration zone, and 4) wildfire maintenance zone. The Sierra 

National Forest’s fire management specialists finalized the mapping of each zone (Figure 11, 

appendix A). Forest plan guidance organized into these zones aid wildland fire management 

decisions to meet the full range of forest plan objectives. Active management through thinning 

and prescribed fire within all the zones reduces fuels and associated fire hazard and mitigates 

safety hazards for firefighters working close to structures. 

Community Wildfire Protection Zone

The community wildfire protection zone encompasses locations where hazardous fuel conditions 

currently put communities, community assets and private land at a very high risk of damage from 

wildfire. Wildfires that start in this zone contribute more to potential loss to community assets 

than any other strategic fire management zone. Under most conditions, wildfire mitigation, fuel 

reduction treatments and fire protection is needed in the community wildfire protection zone to 

prevent direct threats to life or property. Wildfire is suppressed under most conditions due to the 

very significant risk, potential economic loss and public safety concerns posed by a wildfire 

occurring within this zone.

Within this zone, community buffer areas are identified and used to strategically mitigate 

vegetation directly adjacent to structures and allow for safer conditions for firefighters. Although 

some wildfires that burn in this zone can potentially benefit natural resources and help decrease 

fuels and threats from future wildfires, these potential benefits are less likely under most weather, 

fuel moisture, and other environmental conditions due to the very high risk to community assets 

during the fire season. The long term focus is to create fire-adapted communities that are less 

reliant on aggressive wildfire protection.

Desired Conditions (MA-CWPZ-DC)

01 Areas adjacent to communities with current high fire risk have low fuel loadings, 

designed to result in less intense fire behavior and to facilitate safe wildland fire 

operations. 

 

5

 Scott, Joe H.; Thompson, Matthew P.; Calkin, David E. 2013. A wildfire risk assessment framework for 

land and resource management. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-315. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 83 p. 
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

50 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

02 Over time, risk to communities is reduced sufficiently in the community wildfire 

protection zone (CWPZ) to allow some areas to be placed in a lower risk zone including 

the general wildfire protection or wildfire restoration zones. 

Guidelines (MA-CWPZ-GDL)

01 When planning and implementing projects around communities, manage vegetation in 

community buffers to meet the following conditions:

a. Community buffers are measured from the structures in the community. 

Maximum width is based on potential fire behavior in adjacent areas under 

extreme fire weather conditions (i.e., 97th percentile weather, probable average 

momentary wind gusts). The maximum width is sufficient to provide low radiant 

heat from areas of untreated fuels (i.e., four times the potential maximum flame 

length in adjacent areas on slopes less than 40 percent and six times the potential 

maximum flame length in adjacent areas on slopes greater than 40 percent).

b. Within the community buffer, treated areas have a modeled average potential 

flame length of four feet or less, and where possible meet terrestrial ecosystem 

desired conditions.

c. Snags and logs are absent or their densities are very low to minimize the 

likelihood of spotting or ember ignitions, maximize fireline production rates, and 

reduce firefighter safety hazards. 

i. No snags should exist within two and a half tree lengths of structures. In 

the rest of the community buffer, snag density should be less than 1 snag 

per 10 acres.

ii. Less than 1 large log per acre should exist within two and a half tree 

lengths of structures. In the rest of the community buffer, log density 

should be less than 2 large logs per acre.

d. In riparian areas within community buffers, native hardwood shrubs and trees 

should be retained over conifers where fuel reduction is necessary to meet fire 

behavior objectives. These treatments take precedent over general riparian 

conservation area guidelines. On a site specific basis, higher levels of large logs 

may be retained in some areas.

02 Locate restoration treatments along ridges, roads, or other natural or man-made features

and in areas that pose the greatest fire threat to communities so that there are more 

tactical opportunities to manage wildfires and reduce the spread rate and intensity of 

wildfires. Treatments should conform to the terrestrial ecosystem desired conditions.

Goal (MA-CWPZ-GOAL)

01 Protect communities (life and property) from the negative impacts of wildfire. 

02 Reduce the impacts of wildfire by creating fire-adapted communities through fuel 

reduction treatments, prescribed fire and managing wildfires that can benefit natural 

resources while reducing risk.

General Wildfire Protection Zone
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 51

for the Sierra National Forest 

The general wildfire protection zone identifies where conditions currently put some natural 

resource values at high risk of damage from wildfire; wildfires that start in the general wildfire 

protection zone contribute to the high fire risk in the community wildfire protection zone. 

Managing wildfires to meet resource objectives in this zone is often considerably constrained due 

to fuel conditions, the high risk of loss of natural resources and the potential adverse impacts to 

communities threatened by wildfires starting in this zone. Although some wildfires that burn in 

this zone can potentially benefit some natural resources, high negative impacts to many natural

resources are more likely under most weather, fuel moisture, and other environmental conditions 

during the fire season. Targeted ecological restoration and hazardous fuel reduction are needed in 

the general wildfire protection zone to safeguard communities and resources.

Desired Conditions (MA-GWPZ-DC)

01 The threat to communities from wildfires starting in this zone is minimal due to 

vegetation conditions reaching a balance of reduced excessive fuel loading while 

maintaining terrestrial ecosystem desired conditions. 

02 The landscape is resilient and can tolerate varying effects of wildfires. Over time, risk to 

values is reduced sufficiently in the general wildfire protection zone to allow some areas 

to be placed in a lower risk zone including the wildfire restoration and wildfire 

maintenance zones.

Guidelines (MA-GWPZ-GDL)

01 Restoration treatments to reduce the spread rate and intensity of wildfires are located in 

more tactical opportunity areas like along ridges, roads, other natural or man-made 

features and in areas that pose the greatest fire threat to communities. Treatments should 

conform to the terrestrial ecosystem desired conditions.

Goal (MA-GWPZ-GOAL)

01 Protect natural resources from the negative impacts of wildfire and prevent direct threats 

to life or property in nearby communities. 

02 Reduce the threat of wildfire spreading to communities through fuel reduction treatments, 

prescribed fire and wildfires managed to meet resource objectives, while also reducing 

risk to natural resources. 

Wildfire Restoration Zone

The wildfire restoration zone identifies where conditions currently put some natural resource 

values at moderate risk of damage from wildfire. In general, wildfires that start in this zone pose a 

low to moderate threat to communities in average fire season conditions. Wildfires that burn in 

this zone can potentially benefit natural resources, but only under limited environmental 

conditions. Managing wildfires to meet resource objectives in this zone can be constrained due to 

fuel conditions and moderate risk to natural resources from wildfire. This zone is where some 

ecological restoration may be needed before using wildland fire under a wider range of weather, 

fuel moisture, and other environmental conditions.

Desired Conditions (MA-WRZ-DC)

01 The landscape is resilient to a range of fire effects, and wildland fire has a predominately 

positive benefit to ecosystems and resources. 
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

52 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

02 Wildfire is managed to meet resource objectives under a wide range of environmental 

conditions. 

03 The landscape is resilient to the impacts of wildfire. Over time, risk to natural resources 

is reduced sufficiently in the wildfire restoration zone to allow some areas to be 

categorized in the wildfire maintenance zone.

Standards (MA-WRZ-STD)

01 Use natural barriers and features like creeks, old fire scars, ridges and human-made 

features (e.g., roads and trails) when managing wildfires to meet resource objectives or 

managing unwanted wildfires that have surpassed the initial attack phase, unless unsafe 

or impractical. Variation from this standard will be the exception and will be documented 

by the responsible line officer in the current fire decision support system.

Goal (MA-WRZ-GOAL)

01 Create fire resilient landscapes that can be restored and maintained by managing wildfire 

to meet resource objectives, prescribed fire and fuel reduction treatments.

Potential Management Approaches

Fuel treatments include prescribed fire, mechanical treatments, and managing wildfire to meet 

resource objectives. 

Areas that historically supported more frequent fire, like ponderosa pine and Jeffrey pinedominated forests, and areas with high existing levels of understory fuels are prioritized for 

treatment.

Wildfire Maintenance Zone

The wildfire maintenance zone poses a low threat to communities in average fire season 

conditions, and where conditions allow natural resources to benefit from wildland fire. Managing 

wildfire to meet resource objectives in this zone is the least constrained, and implementing 

prescribed fire for ecological restoration is favorable. Ecological maintenance can be carried out 

by the management of wildland fire under a wide range of weather, fuel moisture, and other 

environmental conditions. Using prescribed fire to meet resource objectives is also appropriate. 

Desired Conditions (MA-WMZ-DC)

01 Ecosystems are resilient to the impacts of wildfire and wildland fire has predominantly 

positive benefits to ecosystems and resources.

02 Lands within this zone are maintained in a predominately low risk with high potential 

benefit condition relative to wildland fire.

Standards (MA-WMZ-STD)

01 Following current wildland fire policy, manage wildfires to meet resource objectives and 

restore and maintain fire as an ecological process. The responsible line officer must use 

the current decision support system for wildfire management to document cases when 

naturally caused wildfires are promptly suppressed.

02 Use natural barriers and features, such as creeks, old fire scars, ridges, and human-made 

features (e.g., roads and trails) when managing wildfires to meet resource objectives or 
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 53

for the Sierra National Forest 

unwanted wildfires that have surpassed the initial attack phase, unless unsafe or 

impractical. Variation from this standard will be the exception and will be documented by 

the responsible line officer using the current fire decision support system.

Goal (MA-WMZ-GOAL)

01 Maintain fire resilient landscapes by managing wildfire to meet resource objectives, and 

using prescribed fire and fuel reduction treatments.

Wilderness

The wilderness management area on the Sierra National Forest includes all existing wilderness 

areas that have been designated by Congress (Figure 12, appendix A). In addition to plan 

components that apply to all designated wilderness areas, the Ansel Adams, John Muir, Dinkey 

Lakes and Kaiser Wildernesses have additional desired conditions that are specific to three 

different types of recreation categories occurring across these wildernesses (Figure 12, appendix 

A). Individual wilderness plans provide wilderness area specific guidance in addition to the 

strategic level guidance provided in this land management plan. 

All Designated Wilderness

Desired Conditions (MA-WILD-DC)

01 The wilderness character of each wilderness, including the qualities of untrammeled, 

natural, undeveloped, opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation, and other features 

of value (ecological, geological or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, 

cultural or historical value unique to each specific wilderness area) are preserved and, 

when possible, enhanced.

02 Watersheds are functioning properly and exhibit high geomorphic, hydrologic, and biotic 

integrity relative to their natural and current potential condition.

03 Fire is restored as an ecosystem process and natural disturbance agent in wilderness 

where possible. 

04 The undeveloped character of wilderness is enhanced compared to the time of 

designation.

05 Each wilderness area accommodates levels of recreation use that are ecologically 

sustainable. 

06 Overall recreation use is maintained at a level that protects opportunities for solitude and 

wilderness character.

07 Forest visitors find opportunities for primitive recreation and solitude across the 

wilderness.

08 Forest system trails that access wilderness are part of a high-quality wilderness 

experience for visitors. Forest system trails meet national quality standards, with minimal 

deferred maintenance and adhere to the national trail classification system. Trails in 

wilderness are located in resilient areas, and do not cause impacts to at-risk species, water 

quality, soils, hydrologic connectivity, or cultural resources.
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

54 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

09 Concentrated use areas and associated resource impacts are not expanding into nearby 

areas. 

10 Resource impacts of user-created trails are reduced.

11 The wilderness permit system provides equity in access for all authorized and legitimate 

uses.

Guidelines (MA-WILD-GDL)

01 An invasive species should meet the following criteria before the Forest uses herbicides

or biocides in wilderness: the invasive species would likely expand to the landscape 

scale, and the invasive species has the capability to displace native species or alter 

ecosystem processes.

02 Vegetation management projects on non-wilderness lands should include measures to 

minimize the risk of introducing non-native invasive species into wilderness.

03 Campsites that adversely affect water quality or exceed established density standards 

should receive treatments that promote passive restoration to natural conditions.

04 Limit party size and number of stock per party to a level that protects social and natural 

resource values. The level may vary within or between wildernesses.

Suitability (MA-WILD-SUIT)

01 Developed recreation sites are not suitable.

02 Motorized use on forest system roads and trails is not suitable, except as provided for in 

the Wilderness Act or Forest Service Manual.

03 Over snow vehicle travel is not suitable.

04 Mechanized transport is not suitable.

05 Ski areas are not suitable.

06 Permanent improvements are not suitable.

07 Road construction or reconstruction is not suitable, except as provided for in the 

Wilderness Act.

08 Commercial enterprise sites and major utility corridors are not suitable, except as 

provided for in the Wilderness Act.

09 Disposal of National Forest System land is not suitable.

10 Commercial harvesting of non-timber forest products is not suitable.
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 55

for the Sierra National Forest 

Ansel Adams, John Muir, Dinkey Lakes and Kaiser Wildernesses

Recreation Category 1

Desired Conditions (MA-REC1-DC)

01 Opportunities for solitude are highest among the recreation categories. Evidence of 

human activities is predominantly absent. Encounters with other visitors while traveling 

or camping are very infrequent. This environment offers the highest degree of challenge, 

self-reliance and risk.

02 An unmodified natural environment characterizes the area. Ecological and natural 

processes are minimally affected by the action of users. Environmental impacts are low 

and restricted to minor losses of vegetation where camping occurs and along travel 

routes. Most impacts recover on an annual basis and are apparent to few visitors.

03 Campsites are at low-density levels and show minor impacts that will rarely persist year 

to year. 

04 There is very little vegetation loss or alteration of duff and litter layer by human use.

05 Riparian, lakeshore and stream channel conditions show no measurable degradation due 

to human uses.

06 Management focuses on sustaining and enhancing the natural ecosystem. Signs are 

present in very rare cases, for resource protection only, and at system trail junctions.

Indirect methods of accomplishing management objectives predominate. Management 

occasionally includes direct, on-site actions. Site-specific regulations may be in place in 

unusual cases where resources require higher levels of protection. Trail system 

management is minimal, focusing on resource protection.

Recreation Category 2 

Desired Conditions (MA-REC2-DC)

01 High occasions of solitude are experienced while traveling or camping outside the 

primary trail corridors. Along primary trail corridors, encounters with other visitors while 

traveling or camping is higher than Category 1 areas but far less than Category 3 areas. 

This environment offers a high degree of challenge, self-reliance, and risk.

02 A highly unmodified natural environment characterizes the area. In the few concentrated 

areas of moderate use, natural conditions may be more affected by the actions of users. A 

higher level of management is present to mitigate these impacts. Impacts may persist 

from year to year and may be apparent to some visitors. Most visitors will not discern 

impacts.

03 Concentration of campsites exists at trail junctions and popular destination points. No 

new sites are forming over time. Campsites may occasionally be within sight and sound 

of others. Bare mineral soil may exist on some sites and may persist from year to year.

Outside these areas, campsites and impacts associated with camping is light. 

04 Moderate soil compaction and loss of vegetation occurs. Minimal erosion occurs on 

disturbed sites.
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

56 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

05 Riparian, lakeshore and stream channel conditions show a temporary change within 

standards, which could persist from year to year at a few sites. Impacts are mitigated and 

prevented to reduce long-term impacts.

06 Management emphasizes sustaining and enhancing the natural ecosystem. Signing is 

minimal, providing for resource protection and direction at major trail intersections.

Management may frequently include direct, on-site actions. Site-specific regulations may 

be in place to meet management objectives for resource protection. Primary trail 

corridors have highly maintained and constructed trails that support access to popular 

destinations and travel routes. Secondary trails allow for moderate dispersal of use but are 

maintained in a manner consistent with a more pristine and primitive experience than 

primary trail corridors.

Recreation Category 3

Desired Conditions (MA-REC3-DC)

01 Recreation use levels provide fewer opportunities for solitude than the other two 

categories, yet high opportunities for solitude exist during the non-peak use season.

During peak use season, opportunities for experiencing isolation from the sights, sounds, 

and impacts of human activities is less than other categories. The probability of 

encountering other visitors on the trail and at campsites is more than other areas.

02 A highly unmodified natural environment characterizes the area. In the few concentrated 

areas of moderate use, natural conditions may be more affected by the actions of users. A 

higher level of management is present to mitigate these impacts. Impacts may persist 

from year to year and may be apparent to some visitors. Most visitors will not discern 

impacts.

03 Concentration of campsites is moderately high at destinations and along travel corridors. 

The number of sites accommodates peak use to prevent the formation of new sites. Bare 

mineral soil may exist on some sites and may persist from year to year. 

04 Moderate soil compaction and loss of vegetation, litter, and duff occurs on many visitor 

created trails, in camp areas, and in areas used by livestock. Minimal erosion occurs on 

disturbed sites and is mitigated to prevent long-term impacts.

05 Riparian, lakeshore, and stream channel conditions show temporary changes within 

standards, which could persist from year to year at some sites. Mitigation measures 

accommodate moderate levels of human recreation impacts.

06 Management emphasizes sustaining and protecting natural conditions. Management is 

often direct, and management presence to mitigate visitor use impacts on resources is 

more noticeable. Campsites may be identified and delineated. Site-specific closures to 

camping, campfires, and site-specific regulations may be in place. Signs used for 

resource protection are present in these areas. A moderate density of social trails is 

present in destination camping areas. The Forest Service has a presence to provide 

education contact and manage high levels of use.
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 57

for the Sierra National Forest 

Wild and Scenic Rivers

The wild and scenic river management areas on the Sierra National Forest include all existing 

wild and scenic rivers that have been designated by Congress (Figure 13, appendix A). 

Designated Wild and Scenic Rivers

Desired Conditions (MA-WSR-DC)

01 The free flowing condition, water quality and specific outstandingly remarkable values of 

designated wild and scenic rivers are protected or enhanced. Any development is 

consistent with the river’s classification, and management is consistent with a current 

comprehensive river management plan.

02 Public recreation and resource uses are provided that do not adversely impact or degrade 

the values for which the river was designated.

Standards (MA-WSR-STD)

01 Road and motorized trail access to rivers must be consistent with river classification, 

travel management direction and the recreation opportunity spectrum classification.

02 When evaluating a federally assisted water resources project under the Wild and Scenic 

Rivers Act Section 7(a) and where a comprehensive river management plan has not yet 

been completed, use the documented baseline conditions at date of designation for free 

flow, water quality and outstanding remarkable values to evaluate effects of the project.

The river’s classification is not a factor in the evaluation.

Guidelines (MA-WSR-GDL)

01 Uses of facilities in existence at the date of designation that do not conform to the river’s 

classification should be allowed so long as the river’s free-flowing condition, water 

quality, and outstanding remarkable values are protected.

02 Consider closing and restoring dispersed campsites to natural conditions that are 

adversely affecting water quality.

03 If new recreation facilities are needed, they should be consistent with river classification, 

recreation opportunity spectrum classification, scenic integrity objectives, and located to 

protect outstanding remarkable values.

Eligible or Recommended Wild and Scenic Rivers

Desired Conditions (MA-EWSR-DC)

01 Eligible or recommended wild and scenic rivers retain their free-flowing condition, water 

quality and specific outstandingly remarkable values. Recommended preliminary 

classifications remain intact until further study is conducted or until designation by 

Congress.

Standards (MA-EWSR-STD)

01 For interim management of Forest Service-identified eligible or recommended suitable 

rivers, use interim protection measures identified in FSH 1909.12 – 84.3. 
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

58 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Riparian Conservation Areas

Riparian conservation area (RCA) widths are defined by type: 1) perennial streams, 300 feet on 

each side of the stream, measured from the bank full edge of the stream; 2) seasonally flowing 

streams (includes intermittent and ephemeral streams), 150 feet on each side of the stream, 

measured from the bank full edge of the stream; 3) streams in inner gorge (defined by stream 

adjacent slopes greater than 70 percent gradient), top of inner gorge; 4) special aquatic features 

(e.g., lakes, wet meadows, bogs, fens, wetlands, vernal pools, and springs) or perennial streams 

with riparian conditions extending more than 150 feet from edge of streambank, or seasonally 

flowing streams with riparian conditions extending more than 50 feet from edge of streambank, 

300 feet from edge of feature or riparian vegetation, whichever width is greater; and 5)other 

hydrological or topographic depressions without a defined channel, riparian conservation area 

width and protection measures determined through project level analysis. These widths may be 

adjusted at the project level if interdisciplinary analysis demonstrates a need for different widths

to meet or improve desired conditions for riparian conservation areas. Locations of riparian 

conservation areas for the Sierra National Forest are shown in Figure 14 (appendix A). The types 

of riparian conservation areas are 

Riparian conservation area plan components apply to the entire riparian conservation area, as well 

as the specific riparian and aquatic environments contained within them, such as rivers, 

streams, meadows, springs and seeps. Riparian and aquatic environments also have 

additional direction specific to each environment. The relationship among watersheds, riparian 

conservation areas, and riparian and aquatic environments is displayed in Figure 2, chapter 2.

Desired Conditions 

RCA-wide (MA-RCA-DC)

01 Habitat supports persistent populations of native and desired non-native plant, 

invertebrate, and vertebrate riparian and aquatic-dependent species. New introductions of 

invasive species are prevented. Where invasive species are adversely affecting the 

persistence of native species, the appropriate state and federal wildlife agencies work to 

reduce impacts of invasive species to native populations.

02 Species composition and structural diversity of plant and animal communities in riparian 

areas, wetlands, and meadows provide desired habitat conditions and ecological 

functions.

03 The distribution and health of biotic communities in special aquatic habitats perpetuates 

their unique functions and biological diversity.

04 Spatial and temporal connectivity for riparian and aquatic-dependent species and nutrient 

cycling is maintained within and between watersheds. Connectivity provides physically, 

chemically and biologically unobstructed movement for species survival, migration and 

reproduction.

05 The connections of floodplains, channels, and water tables distribute flood flows and 

sustain diverse habitats.

06 Soils with favorable infiltration characteristics and diverse vegetative cover absorb and 

filter precipitation and sustain favorable conditions of stream flows.
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

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for the Sierra National Forest 

07 In-stream flows are sufficient to sustain desired conditions of riparian, aquatic, wetland, 

and meadow habitats and keep sediment regimes as close as possible to those with which 

aquatic and riparian biota evolved.

08 The physical structure and condition of stream banks and shorelines minimizes erosion 

and sustains desired habitat diversity.

09 Flooding is the primary disturbance. Streams and rivers maintain seasonal water flow

over time, including periodic flooding, which promotes natural movement of water, 

sediment, nutrients and woody debris. Flooding creates a mix of stream substrates for fish 

habitat, including clean gravels for fish spawning, large wood structures and sites for 

germination and establishment of riparian vegetation.

10 Native fish, amphibians and other native aquatic species are present within their historic 

distribution, adjusted for climate change, and habitat conditions support self-sustaining 

populations. Streams and rivers provide a variety of habitats for aquatic species, 

including deep pools and overhanging banks, structure provided by large wood, off 

channel areas and cover. Woody and herbaceous overstory and understory regulate stream 

temperatures. Aquatic and upland components are linked, providing access to food, water, 

cover, nesting areas and protected pathways for aquatic, riparian and upland species.

11 Native riparian vegetation is diverse, structurally complex and provides food and cover to 

sustain fish and wildlife populations.

12 The condition of riparian vegetation including riparian species composition, stand density 

and fuel loading are consistent with healthy riparian systems and reduce risks due to 

high-intensity wildfire in the watershed. 

13 Riparian areas provide a range of substrates to sustain habitat for a variety of aquatic and 

terrestrial fauna. Soil structure and function is sustained to infiltrate and disperse water 

properly, withstand erosive forces and cycle nutrients. Associated water tables support 

riparian vegetation and restrict non-riparian vegetation.

14 Riparian areas in frequent fire landscapes (e.g., montane) have low to moderate intensity 

fire restored as an ecological process. Fire effects occur in a mosaic and support 

restoration and ecological integrity and function of composition, structure, and ecological 

resilience.

15 Ecological conditions contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered species, 

conserve proposed and candidate species, and support the persistence of species of 

conservation concern.

Meadows (RCA-MEAD-DC)

01 Meadows are hydrologically functional. Sites of accelerated erosion, such as gullies and 

headcuts are stabilized or recovering. Vegetation roots occur throughout the available soil 

profile. Meadows with perennial and intermittent streams have the following 

characteristics: (1) stream energy from high flows is dissipated, reducing erosion and 

improving water quality; (2) streams filter sediment and capture bedload, aiding 

floodplain development; (3) meadow conditions enhance floodwater retention and 

groundwater recharge; and (4) root masses stabilize stream banks against cutting action.
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

60 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

02 Wetlands and groundwater-dependent ecosystems, including springs, seeps, fens, wet 

meadows, and associated wetlands or riparian systems, support stable herbaceous and 

woody vegetative communities that are resilient to drought, climate change and other 

stressors. Root masses stabilize stream channels, shorelines and soil surfaces. The natural 

hydrologic, hydraulic and geomorphic processes in these ecosystems sustain their unique 

functions and biological diversity.

03 Meadows are resilient and recover rapidly from natural and human disturbances; they 

exhibit a high degree of hydrologic connectivity, laterally across the floodplain, and 

vertically between surface and subsurface flows; they provide important ecosystem 

services such as high quality water, recharge of streams and aquifers, and moderation of 

climate variability and change. 

04 Soil in wet and headwater meadows are influenced by a shallow water table and function 

to filter water. These soils also store and release water over an extended period of time, 

which helps to maintain streamflow during dry summer months.

05 Meadows are in mid- to late-seral condition, with substantive ground cover and a rich and 

diverse species composition, especially of grasses and forbs. Meadows have high plant 

functional diversity with late successional functional types represented. Perennial streams 

in meadows contain a diversity of age classes of hardwood shrubs along the stream bank, 

where the potential exists.

06 Fen condition is within the natural range of variation. Fens are resilient with continual

peat accumulation. The hydrologic regime, and vegetation, soil and water characteristics 

sustain the fen’s ability to support unique physical and biological attributes.

07 A complexity of meadow habitat types and successional patterns support native plant and 

animal communities. Meadow species composition is predominantly native, where 

graminoid (grass-like) species are well represented and vigorous, and regeneration occurs 

naturally. Healthy stands of willow, alder, and aspen are present within and adjacent to 

meadows with suitable physical conditions for these species. Natural disturbances and 

management activities are sufficient to maintain desired vegetation structure, species 

diversity, and nutrient cycling.

08 Meadows in montane and upper montane areas have low to moderate intensity fire 

restored as an ecological process, especially on meadow edges, limiting conifer 

encroachment and enhancing native understory plant composition and cover.

Rivers and Streams (RCA-RIV-DC)

01 Stream ecosystems, riparian corridors and associated stream courses sustain ecosystem 

structure; are resilient to natural disturbances (e.g., flooding) and climate change; 

promote the natural movement of water, sediment and woody debris; and provide habitat 

for native aquatic species.

02 Stream ecosystems, including ephemeral watercourses, exhibit full connectivity where 

feasible to maintain aquatic species diversity, except where barriers are maintained in 

good condition to protect native aquatic species. Ephemeral watercourses provide for 

dispersal, access to new habitats, and perpetuation of genetic diversity, as well as nesting 

and foraging for riparian and aquatic species.
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 61

for the Sierra National Forest 

Lakes, Pools, Ponds (RCA-LPP-DC)

01 Natural lakes and ponds retain necessary attributes, such as adequate vegetation and large 

woody debris, to function properly and support native biotic communities. Attributes 

include the following: floodwater retention and groundwater recharge; stabilized islands 

and shoreline features; and diverse characteristics to provide for amphibian production, 

waterfowl breeding and biodiversity.

Springs and Seeps (RCA-SPR-DC)

01 Springs provide sufficient water to maintain healthy habitats for native riparian and 

aquatic species. 

02 Springs are resilient to natural disturbances, groundwater diversions, and changing 

climate conditions. Springs function across the landscape within their type and water 

availability. 

03 Springs and associated streams and wetlands have the necessary soil, water, and 

vegetation attributes to be healthy and functioning at or near potential. Water flow is 

similar to historic levels and persists over time, within constraints of climate change. 

Standards (MA-RCA-STD)

All standards listed here also apply to critical aquatic refuges except as noted. 

01 Ensure that management activities do not adversely affect water temperatures necessary 

for local aquatic- and riparian-dependent species assemblages.

02 Limit pesticide applications to cases where project level analysis indicates that pesticide 

applications are consistent with riparian conservation areas desired conditions.

03 Within 500 feet of known occupied sites for Yosemite toad, foothill yellow-legged frog, 

and mountain yellow-legged frog, design pesticide applications to avoid adverse effects 

to individuals and their habitats.

04 Within riparian conservation areas only, prohibit storage of fuels and other toxic materials 

except at designated administrative sites and sites covered by special use authorization. 

Prohibit refueling within riparian conservation areas except if there are no other 

alternatives. 

05 Ensure that culverts or other stream crossings do not create barriers to upstream or 

downstream passage for aquatic-dependent species, except where desired to protect 

native species. 

06 Locate water drafting sites to minimize adverse effects to in stream flows and depletion 

of pool habitat. 

07 Prevent disturbance to streambanks and shorelines of natural lakes and ponds caused by 

resource activities (e.g., livestock, off-highway vehicles, and dispersed recreation) from 

exceeding 20 percent of stream reach, or 20 percent of natural lake and pond shorelines. 

Disturbance includes bank sloughing, chiseling, trampling, and other means of exposing 

bare soil or cutting plant roots. This standard does not apply to developed recreation sites;

sites authorized under special use permits; and designated off-highway vehicle routes.
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62 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

08 In stream reaches occupied by or identified as “essential habitat” in the conservation 

assessment for the Lahontan cutthroat trout, limit streambank disturbance from livestock 

to 10 percent of the occupied or “essential habitat” stream reach. Implement corrective 

action where streambank disturbance limits have been exceeded.

09 Use screening devices for water drafting pumps; fire suppression activities are exempt 

during initial attack. Use pumps with low entry velocity to minimize removal of aquatic 

species from habitats, including juvenile fish, amphibian egg masses and tadpoles.

10 During ecological restoration or other activities, use methods and equipment that limit 

soil disturbance and erosion to achieve riparian conservation area desired conditions.

11 Assess the hydrologic function of meadow habitats and other special aquatic features 

during range management analysis. Ensure that characteristics of special features are, at a 

minimum, at proper functioning condition or at functioning at-risk and trending toward 

proper functioning condition, as defined in the appropriate technical reports6,7,8,9. 

12 Prohibit or mitigate ground-disturbing activities that adversely affect hydrologic 

processes that maintain water flow, water quality, or water temperature critical to 

sustaining fen ecosystems and the plant species that depend on these ecosystems. During 

project analysis, survey, map, and develop measures to protect fens from activities 

causing significant degradation, such as trampling by livestock, packstock, and humans. 

In all cases, wheeled vehicles should be prohibited from entering fens. The criterion for 

defining fens is the presence of at least 40 cm of peat (thickness) in the top 80 cm of soil. 

Complete initial inventories of fens within active grazing allotments prior to re-issuing 

permits. If more than 10 fens occur on an allotment, ensure 25 percent of all fens are 

inventoried, and establish a 5-year schedule to complete inventory.

13 Locate new facilities for gathering livestock and packstock outside of meadows and 

riparian conservation areas. 

14 Under season-long grazing:

a. For meadows in early seral status: limit livestock utilization of grass and grasslike plants to 30 percent (or minimum 6-inch stubble height).

 

6

 Barrett, H., J. Cagney, R. Clark, J. Fogg, K. Gebhardt, P. L. Hansen, B. Mitchell, D. Prichard, D. Tippy. 1993 

(Revised 1998). Riparian area management: Process for assessing proper functioning condition TR-1737-9. 

U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 60 pp. 

7

 Prichard, D., J. Anderson, C. Corell, J. Fogg, K. Gebhardt, R. Krapf, S. Leonard, B. Mitchell, and J. Staats. 

1998. Riparian Area Management TR-1737-15. A user guide to assessing proper functioning condition and 

the supporting science for lotic areas. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 

National Applied Resource Sciences Center. 136 pp. 

8

 Prichard, D., C. Bridges, R. Krapf, S. Leonard, and W. Hagenbuck. 1994. Riparian area management: 

Process for assessing proper functioning condition for lentic riparian-wetland areas T R-1737-11. US 

Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management Service Center. Denver, Colorado. USA. 38 p. 

9

 Weixelman, D. and D. J. Cooper. 2009. Assessing Proper Functioning Condition for Fen Areas in the 

Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Ranges, California. A user’s guide. Gen. Tech. Rep. R5-TP-028. 

Vallejo, CA. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, 52 p. 
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 63

for the Sierra National Forest 

b. For meadows in late seral status: limit livestock utilization of grass and grass-like 

plants to a maximum of 40 percent (or minimum 4-inch stubble height). 

15 If meadow ecological status is determined to be moving in a downward trend, modify or 

suspend grazing. 

16 Degraded meadows (such as those in early seral statuses with greater than 10 percent of 

the meadow area in bare soil and active erosion) require total rest from grazing until they 

have recovered and have moved to mid- or late seral status.

17 Limit browsing to no more than 20 percent of the annual leader growth of mature riparian 

shrubs and no more than 20 percent of individual seedlings. Remove livestock from any 

area of an allotment when browsing indicates a change in livestock preference from 

grazing herbaceous vegetation to browsing woody riparian vegetation.

18 Designate equipment exclusion zones within riparian conservation areas when designing 

projects. The default is half of the riparian conservation area width (150 feet for perennial 

streams, 75 feet for intermittent streams):

a. These widths may be adjusted on a project by project basis based on 

geomorphology, slope, and/or soil conditions, as long as best management 

practices and other plan direction are met. Adjustments may be made only after 

consultation with experts in soils, hydrology or aquatic ecology.

b. If further mechanical incursion is warranted, use methods that limit soil 

disturbance within the RCA, such as low ground pressure equipment, helicopters, 

over the snow logging, extra ground cover requirements, or other non-ground 

disturbing actions to achieve desired conditions consistent with best management 

practices and other plan direction.

c. When vegetation is treated in the near stream area, meet the needs for coarse 

wood in stream channels where possible. 

Guidelines (MA-RCA-GDL)

All guidelines listed here also apply to critical aquatic refuges.

01 Prior to activities that could adversely affect streams, determine if relevant stream 

characteristics are within the range of natural variation. If characteristics are outside the 

range of natural variation, mitigation measures should be considered. .

02 Within rivers and streams, ensure proposed management activities maintain the level of

coarse large woody debris within the natural range of variation.

03 Post-wildfire management activities in riparian conservation areas and critical aquatic 

refuges should emphasize enhancing native vegetation cover, stabilizing channels, and 

minimizing adverse effects from the existing road network. Post-wildfire operations shall 

minimize the exposure of bare soil, to limit erosion.

04 Maintain and restore the hydrologic connectivity of streams, meadows, wetlands, and 

other special aquatic features by identifying roads and trails that intercept, divert, or 

disrupt natural surface and subsurface water flow paths. Implement corrective actions 

where necessary to restore connectivity.
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05 Minimize the construction of new skid trails or roads for access into riparian conservation 

areas.

06 Consider actions in project design to ensure consistency with standards and guidelines 

and move toward desired conditions for roads, trails, OHV trails and staging areas, 

developed recreation sites, dispersed campgrounds, special use permits, grazing permits, 

and day use sites, that have been identified as contributing to degradation of water quality 

or habitat for aquatic and riparian-dependent species.

07 During permit reissuance for livestock, evaluate impacts of facilities on the riparian 

conservation areas and, consider relocating existing livestock facilities outside of 

meadows and riparian areas.

08 Under intensive grazing systems where meadows are receiving a period of rest (e.g., restrotation and deferred rotation), utilization levels can be higher than the levels described 

above if the meadow is maintained in late seral status and meadow-associated species are 

not being impacted.

Goals (MA-RCA-GOAL)

01 Continue to coordinate and collaborate with California Department of Fish and Wildlife 

to implement and re-new the California Golden Trout Conservation Assessment and 

Strategy in order to improve riparian and stream resources for the golden trout.

Potential Management Approaches

All management approaches listed here also apply to Critical Aquatic Refuges (CARs), except as 

noted. 

Look for opportunities to use prescribed fire treatments in riparian areas.

For waters designated as “water quality limited” (Clean Water Act Section 303(d)), participate in 

the development of total maximum daily loads and total maximum daily loads implementation 

plans. Execute applicable elements of completed total maximum daily loads implementation 

plans.

At either the landscape or project-scale, determine if the ecological conditions within riparian 

conservation areas are outside of the natural range of variation for the vegetative community 

including age class, structural diversity, composition, and cover of riparian vegetation. Include 

consideration of the ecological role of fire. If conditions are outside the range of natural variation, 

consider implementing mitigation and/or restoration actions that will result in an upward trend. 

Actions could include restoration of aspen or other riparian vegetation where conifer 

encroachment is identified as a problem, using fire, hand or mechanical treatments.

Evaluate required long-term restoration actions and implement them according to their status 

among other restoration needs.

Ensure that fuel spill plans are reviewed, up-to-date, and determined sufficient to protect soils and 

aquatic resources.

Determine ecological status on all key areas monitored for grazing use prior to establishing use 

levels. Use regional ecological scorecards and range plant list in regional range handbooks to 
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 65

for the Sierra National Forest 

determine ecological status. Analyze meadow ecological status every 3 to 5 years. Include 

ecological status data in a spatially explicit geographical information system database.

Recommend restoration practices in: (1) areas with compaction in excess of soil quality 

standards; (2) areas that have lowered water tables; or (3) areas that are actively down cutting or 

that have historic gullies. Identify management practices such as road building, recreational use, 

grazing and timber harvest that may be contributing to the observed degradation.

When existing routes through riparian areas and meadows are not compatible with riparian 

dependent resources, consider re-routing.

Re-routing trails, relocating dispersed campsites, and fencing of areas will be considered to 

manage activities and improve riparian conditions in identified areas not meeting desired 

conditions.

Critical Aquatic Refuges

Critical aquatic refuges are subwatersheds, generally ranging between 500 to 50,000 acres, on the 

Sierra National Forest, that contain either: 1)known locations of at-risk species; 2)highly 

vulnerable populations of native plant or animal species; or 3)are localized populations of rare 

native aquatic- or riparian-dependent plant or animal species. Critical aquatic refuges on the 

forest are shown in Figure 15 (appendix A). The boundaries of critical aquatic refuges may be 

refined based on the findings from conservation assessments or verification of the presence and 

condition of habitat for at-risk species. 

Desired Conditions (MA-CAR-DC)

01 Critical aquatic refuges provide habitat for native fish, amphibian and aquatic 

invertebrate populations. Remnant plant and animal populations in aquatic communities 

are maintained and restored.

02 Streams in critical aquatic refuges have vegetation and channel bank characteristics that 

are properly functioning or functioning at-risk with an upward trend. These ratings are 

made in relation to the current potential of the stream system. If the current potential is 

different from historic potential, assess what restoration measures are required to attain 

historic potential and if this is necessary or achievable.

03 The ecological integrity of upland vegetation is resilient and maintains soil productivity, 

water quality, and creates conditions to maintain or improve watershed conditions under 

the Watershed Condition Framework.

Potential Management Approaches

Consider seeking withdrawal of lands in critical aquatic refuges from location and entry under 

federal mining laws, subject to valid existing rights.

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) management area includes the lands in the visible 

foreground encompassing resources, qualities, values, associated settings and primary uses(Figure 

16, appendix A). The visible foreground is the distance zone, up to a half mile, that is visible from the trail 

at a height of 5 feet, and using terrain to define the boundaries. The PCT travels through designated 

wilderness and non-wilderness lands with management direction for both.
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

66 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Desired Conditions (MA-PCTW-DC)

01 The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail’s nature and purpose are to provide for 

outstanding journeys on foot or on horseback amongst the spectacularly wild landscapes 

of high Pacific mountain ridges. Tranquility and closeness with nature can be found 

consistently along the trail, evoking a feeling of extended retreat from civilization, even if 

only venturing out for a day.

02 The recreation setting is consistent with or compliments the primitive recreation 

opportunity spectrum.

03 When possible, the Pacific Crest Trail management area provides panoramic views of 

natural landscapes in a tranquil scenic environment and offers outstanding views along 

the crest of the Sierra Nevada.

Standards (MA-PCTW-STD)

01 Prohibit heavy equipment line construction on the Pacific Crest Trail, unless necessary 

for emergency protection of property and safety.

Guidelines (MA-PCTW-GDL) 

01 All management activities should meet or exceed high or very high scenic integrity 

objectives.

Potential Management Approaches

Reconstruct or relocate existing portions of the PCT as needed to enhance the recreation 

experience and protect resources. Evaluate proposed trail relocations using the established Pacific 

Southwest Region process in partnership with adjoining federal agencies, Pacific Crest Trail 

Association and other partners.

Key observation points along the trail corridor are used to evaluate the condition of scenery 

resources.

Implement visitor use management strategies to minimize impacts to desired conditions for 

natural resources and visitor experiences on the PCT, through education, site management, 

regulation and enforcement.

Recreation Places

Recreation places (Figure 17, appendix A) and associated desired conditions provide a framework 

to guide management efforts to sustain scenery and recreation settings, recreation opportunities, 

and recreation sites and infrastructure. Recreation places help connect the public to the relevant 

and various types of places within the forest. 

Recreation places are characterized by their distinctive roles and contributions within the 

landscape, taking into account the agency mission, unique capabilities, and the broader area 

beyond national forest boundaries. This includes the scenic character of each place. Plan 

components that guide management of each recreation place are provided within the context of 

each place’s distinctive roles and contributions. In addition, each place on the Sierra National 

Forest is categorized as one of the following types:
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for the Sierra National Forest 

 Destination: These places have regional and national significance. Visitors are drawn to 

these places to experience sport-type activities or participate in recreation activities in 

higher-end recreation settings; more highly developed infrastructure is prevalent and

visitor controls are evident.

 Dispersed Use: These places have local and regional significance. Visitors are drawn to 

these places to experience unregimented recreation activities and moments of solitude in 

undeveloped settings. Infrastructure tends to be rustic or non-existent, with minimal 

visitor controls.

 River Recreation: These places have regional and national significance. Visitors are 

drawn to these places to experience moderate-to-extreme water-based challenges and 

relief from the warmer lower-elevation climates. Infrastructure tends to be rustic or nonexistent, with minimal visitor controls.

 Scenic Drive: These places have regional and national significance. Visitors are drawn to 

these places to experience the interaction of natural resource elements in the landscape or 

to view the vestiges of California’s rich historic frontier past. More highly developed 

infrastructure is prevalent; visitor controls are evident.

 Wildland: These places have regional, national and international significance. Visitors 

are drawn to these places to experience extreme challenge and solitude in remote highelevation settings. Infrastructure and visitor controls are non-existent.

Ansel Adams Wilderness Place

The Ansel Adams Wilderness Place is a wildland type place; a jagged ridge of peaks known as the 

“Minarets”, are considered to be the one of the most spectacular massifs in the Sierra and provide 

an iconic skyline viewed from both the east and west side of the Sierra. The 231,279-acre Ansel 

Adams Wilderness is managed by the Inyo and the Sierra National Forests and the National Park 

Service. The Ansel Adams Wilderness is bordered by the Yosemite Wilderness to the north and 

the John Muir Wilderness to the southeast. There are a number of streams and lakes, which form 

the headwaters of the North and Middle Forks of the San Joaquin River. The Ansel Adams 

Wilderness Place experiences high visitor use, including day hiking, packstocking and 

backpacking. This place is valued for remoteness and adventure.

Desired Conditions (MA-AA-DC)

01 The Ansel Adams Wilderness is managed to sustain its wilderness character and visitor 

use is managed consistent with wilderness values.

Bass Lake Place

Bass Lake Place is a destination type place; a natural-appearing destination landscape that derives 

its sense of place from the mix of lake-based resorts and support facilities, set in dense midelevation coniferous forest. The dominant feature of this destination is a 362-acre reservoir and 

resort village known as Bass Lake. Its waters are typically warmer than other lakes of the Sierra, 

making it especially inviting for urban visitors. Hydroelectric infrastructure provides power to the 

State of California and beyond. Granite outcrops occur throughout the conifer-covered slopes. 

Half of this place is the historic territory of the Monache Tribe; the remaining area has served as 

the interface between the Monache and the Owens Valley Piute-Shoshone Tribes. The lake 

shoreline is developed with a road network and a high concentration of valued public and private 

developed recreation sites, including marinas, campgrounds and picnic areas. The remaining area 
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

68 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

of Bass Lake Place is moderately roaded and contains popular rock climbing sites, motorized 

trails and mountain bike opportunities. This place is valued for lake-based and developed 

recreation activities.

Desired Conditions (MA-BASS-DC)

01 Bass Lake Place is sustained as a natural appearing tourism destination landscape that 

provides a refuge for urban visitors seeking escape from the heat of the Central Valley. 

The configuration of hydropower facilities is managed to maintain the roles, 

contributions and sense of the place.

Blue Canyon Place

Blue Canyon Place is a dispersed use type of place; rolling hills of oak woodland serve as a 

transition zone between forested areas and lower-elevation urban development. This place is 

characterized by the pastoral quality of oaks interspersed in scrub and grassland in the lower 

elevations and dense coniferous forest with granite outcrops in the higher elevations. The Sacate 

Ridge Research Natural Area is located in this place. Historically, eighty percent of the place 

served as the lands of the Monache Tribe; the remaining served as the interface between the 

Monache and the Owens Valley Piute-Shosone Tribes with places of tribal importance. The Blue 

Canyon Place is valued for its dispersed recreation opportunities. There are popular kayaking 

opportunities along Big Creek and Sycamore Creek, near Pine Flat Lake. There are very few 

motorized trails and no non-motorized trails. There is a moderate density of roads. About thirty 

percent of this place is in private holding.

Desired Conditions (MA-BLUE-DC)

01 Blue Canyon is sustained as a dispersed use area providing natural appearing landscapes.

Clover Meadow Place

Clover Meadow Place a scenic drive type place; a high-elevation natural appearing landscape that 

provides scenic-driving opportunities and serves as a portal to the Ansel Adams Wilderness. This 

place is the historic interface area between the Monache and the Owens Valley Piute-Shoshone 

tribes. Traditional gathering locations occur in various locations throughout this place and water 

areas hold tribal importance. Clover Meadow Place is valued for the mix of dispersed and 

developed recreation, including campgrounds, trailheads and vista points along the Sierra Vista 

Scenic Byway. It is moderately roaded. There are some motorized trails, but very few nonmotorized trails. The non-motorized trails are concentrated in the northern portion of Clover 

Meadow Place, in the inventoried roadless area, and provide access to the Ansel Adams 

wilderness. There is a popular rock climbing location at Cold Springs Meadows.

Desired Conditions (MA-CLOV-DC)

01 Clover Meadow Place is sustained as a natural appearing landscape and serves as a 

gateway to the landscapes of the wilderness.

Courtright/Wishon Place

Courtright/Wishon Place is a destination type place; valued as a destination landscape that derives 

its sense of place from the dominant presence of hydropower infrastructure, dams, spillways, 

transmission lines and communication sites, set in a high-elevation coniferous setting. The 

character of this place is defined by a moderately dense coniferous forest, large granite outcrops, 

and two prominent reservoirs. Historically, Courtright/Wishon Place served as the interface area 
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 69

for the Sierra National Forest 

between the Monache and Owens Valley Piute-Shoshone Tribes. The place contains the Kings 

Cavern Geologic Area, Kings River Special Management Area, the Tea Kettle Experimental Area 

and the Courtright Intrusive Geologic Area. This place is valued for the Courtright and Wishon 

Reservoirs that provide fishing and boating opportunities; with boat ramps, campgrounds, horse 

camp and a group camp along the shores of reservoirs. There are not many motorized or nonmotorized trails in this place. About twenty percent of the Courtright/Wishon Place contains an 

inventoried roadless area; about five percent is in private holding, with a high concentration of 

private land around Wishon Reservoir.

Desired Conditions (MA-COUR-DC)

01 Courtright/Wishon Place is sustained as a destination landscape providing electrical 

power and water-based recreation through its configuration of water-related 

infrastructure. Utilities are managed to support the achievement of the roles, 

contributions and sense of the place. Dispersed recreation activities, including motorized 

and non-motorized trail opportunities, are maintained.

Dinkey Creek Place

Dinkey Creek Place is a dispersed use type place; a natural-appearing landscape that derives its 

sense of place from a sparse to moderately dense coniferous forest and the presence of granite 

outcrops spotted throughout the landscape. It contains the McKinley Grove Special Interest Area, 

one of the few vestiges of Giant Sequoias on the Sierra National Forest, and the Dinkey Creek 

Geologic Area. There is a significant presence of named streams, all flowing into Dinkey Creek. 

A major collaborative forest landscape restoration demonstration project occurs in this place. Ten 

percent of Dinkey Creek Place is Monache historic tribal lands, with the remaining being the 

interface area between the Monache and Owens Valley Piute-Shoshone tribes. This place is 

valued for numerous dispersed and developed recreation opportunities, including resorts, 

packstock outfitter guides and organization camps. Kayaking and motorized recreation are also 

highly valued. There are several non-motorized trails. A major transmission line traverses the 

area, bisecting Dinkey Creek Place.

Desired Conditions (MA-DCRK-DC)

01 Dinkey Creek Place is sustained as a dispersed-use landscape that demonstrates and 

educates on forest-health best practices.

Dinkey Lakes Wilderness Place

Dinkey Lakes Wilderness Place is a wildlands type place, composed of subalpine forests with 

high, rolling ridges made up of granitic bedrock interspersed with large, wet meadows. Sixteen 

sizable lakes and dozens of smaller ones are dominant features. Dinkey Lakes Wilderness (30,000 

acres in size) is located on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. Almost all of it sits above 

8,000 feet, with Three Sisters Peak soaring 10,619 feet near the 16 lakes clustered in the westcentral region. Rocky outcroppings often break the skyline, and snow blankets much of the area 

from November until June. Extensive glaciation is evident. The large John Muir Wilderness 

(580,323 acres) is to the east of Dinkey Lakes and is separated from it by a primitive road, the 

Dusy-Ershim OHV Route. This corridor links Kaiser Pass in the north to the Courtright Reservoir 

in the south. There are three other motorized trails to the west of the wilderness boundary and are 

popular in the summer months. The Place is valued for the wilderness, day hiking, backpacking, 

horseback riding, fishing, rock climbing and cross-country skiing.
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for the Sierra National Forest 

Desired Conditions (MA-DLKS-DC)

01 Dinkey Lakes Wilderness Place is managed to sustain its wilderness character; visitor use 

is managed consistent with wilderness values.

Edison/Florence Lake 

Edison/Florence Lake Place is a destination type place; a high-elevation natural appearing 

landscape that serves as a destination and portal to the John Muir Wilderness. It is also the ending 

point of the Sierra Heritage Scenic Byway that begins in the San Joaquin Valley. The 

Edison/Florence Lake Place is wholly coniferous forest, with a significant presence of granite 

outcrops. This place is the historic interface area between Monache Tribe and the Owens Valley 

Piute-Shoshone Tribes. Eighty percent of this place is the John Muir Wilderness; the rest includes 

roads, developed sites around lakes and other infrastructure. There is a mix of resorts, including 

Mono Hot Springs; camping; packstock outfitter guides; boat launches; and ferry service on both 

Edison and Florence Lakes. Edison/Florence Lake Place is valued for a popular rock climbing 

area at Kaiser Pass, and several winter trails for snowmobile use. Motorized trails include Onion 

Springs, Bear and Hooper Diversion. There are several non-motorized trails, generally leading to 

wilderness.

Desired Conditions (MA-EDSN-DC)

01 Edison/Florence Lake Place is maintained as a natural appearing destination landscape 

containing a substantial amount of primitive landscapes associated with wilderness.

Huntington Lake Place

Huntington Lake Place is a destination type place; a year-round destination for outdoor recreation 

constructed in 1912 as part of the Big Creek Hydroelectric Project. This alpine lake is host to 

some of the best lake sailing in the United States and draws sailing competitors from all over the 

country and internationally. Conifer forests are punctuated with prominent granitic rock outcrops. 

Kaiser Ridge divides the Kaiser Wilderness into two distinct regions and provides a commanding 

view of much of the central Sierra Nevada. Home Camp Research Natural Area is located in this 

place. Huntington Lake Place was a significant trading location between the Monache and Owens 

Valley Piute-Shoshone tribes. The Place is accessed by the Sierra Heritage Scenic Byway 

(Highway 168), a route that ties the Sierra Nevada with eight foothill and mountain communities. 

Climbing from the San Joaquin Valley to the 9,200-foot Kaiser Pass at White Bark Vista, one can 

view the Kaiser, Dinkey Lakes, Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses. The Black Point and 

Rancheria Falls National Recreation Trails are in this place. The Place is valued for recreation 

opportunities that include boating, sailing and fishing. There are 24 campgrounds and a number 

of hiking and equestrian trails. Other developments include marinas, resorts, recreation 

residences, snowparks and a ski resort. Additional valued opportunities include rock climbing, 

river recreation, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and snow play.

Desired Conditions (MA-HNTG-DC)

01 The Huntington Lake Place is maintained to sustain its landscape character, recreation 

destination status, and community values.

John Muir Wilderness Place

John Muir Wilderness Place is a wildlands type place, characterized by deep canyons, lofty peaks, 

meadows, lakes and expansive alpine terrain. This iconic western Sierra landscape encompasses 

many of the lands that Muir explored in the late 1800s. From east of Fresno in the north, the 
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 71

for the Sierra National Forest 

651,992-acre John Muir Wilderness forks around Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park and 

extends some 100 miles to the south with its southern most boundary just west of Lone Pine, 

California. This wilderness is managed by the Inyo and Sierra National Forests. Elevations range 

from 4,000 feet to just below the Mt. Whitney summit at 14,497 feet. There are numerous peaks 

over 12,000 feet. The south and middle fork of the San Joaquin River, the North Fork of the 

Kings River and many creeks that flow into the Owens valley to the east originate here. The John 

Muir Wilderness is heavily visited and has use limits in the form of trailhead quotas for accessing 

the wilderness from both the east and west side of the Sierra Nevada. There are over 590 miles of 

maintained trails including portions of the John Muir trail and Pacific Crest trail. This place is 

valued for remoteness and adventure.

Desired Conditions (MA-JNMR-DC)

01 The John Muir Wilderness Place is managed to sustain its wilderness character and 

visitor use is managed consistent with wilderness values.

Kings River Place

Kings River Place is a river recreation type place; valued as a low-elevation landscape that

supports river-based recreation activities. These are largely scrub lands, but seasonal wildflower 

displays are a noted value. Kings River Geological Area is located in this place and the historic 

lands of the Monache Tribe. There are large numbers of single and group camping sites and river 

access sites; rafting is a popular activity on the Kings River. Kings River Place is very lightly 

roaded, with most roads located on the western side. There are few non-motorized trails. 

Desired Conditions (MA-KNGS-DC)

01 Kings River Place is sustained as a natural appearing landscape with a focus on waterbased recreation opportunities.

Mammoth Pool Place

Mammoth Pool Place is a scenic drive type place; a natural-appearing canyon landscape that 

provides scenic-driving opportunities and serves as a hub for water-oriented river recreation 

activities. The most noted features are the San Joaquin River and the scenery along the Sierra 

Vista National Forest Scenic Byway. Historically, Mammoth Pool Place was the interface area 

between the Monache Tribe and the Owens Valley Piute-Shosone Tribe. This place contains a 

number of campgrounds and resorts; and vista points along the scenic byway. There is a 

moderately dense road system with very limited motorized trails and non-motorized trails for 

summer use. The historic French Trail is located in this place. Stump Springs is a popular crosscountry ski trail in the winter. There are a number of hydropower facilities and communicationsite facilities. This place is valued for motorized uses associated with the enjoyment of scenic 

views and developed recreation opportunities.

Desired Conditions (MA-MMPL-DC)

01 Mammoth Pool Place is managed to sustain a natural-appearing landscape with a focus 

on water-based recreation activities and scenic-driving opportunities. Utilities are 

managed to support the roles, contributions and sense of the place.

Merced River Place

Merced River Place is a river recreation place; a natural-appearing landscape containing the 

popular Merced Wild and Scenic River, which is popular for passive and challenging water-
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

72 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

oriented river recreation activities. This place is the gateway to adjoining Yosemite National Park 

to the north. Approximately thirty-five percent is inventoried roadless. Merced River Place 

contains the Bishop Creek Ponderosa Pine Research Natural Area, and the Devil’s Peak Botanical

Area. Approximately seventy percent of the Place was Mi-Wok historic tribal land. The remaining 

30 percent was the interface land between the Monache Tribe and the Owens Valley PiuteShoshone Tribe. Places of tribal importance are located throughout this place. Additionally, there 

is history of mining gold and other metals. There is extensive recreation day use along the 

Merced River, including a number of river rafting opportunities. Outside the river canyons, this 

place offers extensive dispersed recreation use. There are few developed campgrounds or roads. 

There are very few motorized and non-motorized trails.

Desired Conditions (MA-MRCD-DC)

01 Merced River Place is managed to sustain a natural-appearing landscape that provides 

water-based and dispersed recreation opportunities.

Monarch Wilderness Place

Monarch Wilderness Place is a wildlands type of place; solitude is the draw of this place. Few 

areas of the United States can boast such an abundance of spectacular mountain scenery. Big 

mountain views of Deer Ridge and Monarch Divide may be among the best in the world.

Monarch Wilderness (44,896 acres in size) is at the southern end of John Muir Wilderness, on the 

western border of Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. Elevations range from about 2,000 feet 

on the banks of the South Fork of the Kings River to 11,077 feet on Hogback Peak. This wildland 

is steep and rugged, with high ridges standing above deep canyons. Mountain meadows, 

numerous streams, shallow lakes, and spectacular multicolored rock formations throughout the 

wilderness add to the character. The ragged, brushy terrain in the northwest area of Monarch 

Wilderness has no trails, and travel is extremely difficult; trails in the southern area are mostly 

steep and strenuous. Sheer ruggedness has kept visitation light despite the fact that CA State 

Highway 180 divides the wilderness. This place is valued for remoteness and adventure.

Desired Conditions (MA-MNRC-DC)

01 The Monarch Wilderness Place is managed to sustain its wilderness character; visitor use 

is managed consistent with wilderness values.

Redinger Lake Place

Redinger Lake Place is a dispersed use type place; a low-elevation natural-appearing landscape 

that provides dispersed and water-based recreation opportunities. It is also an urban interface 

zone. Redinger Lake Place contains the Sierra Vista and Sierra Heritage National Forest Scenic 

Byways; the geographic center of the state of California; the Carpinteria Botanical Area; and 

Backbone Creek Research Natural Area. This place is the historic tribal lands of the Monache 

Tribe. Big Sandy Indian Rancheria is located in this Place. There are few developed recreation 

sites, with the exception of overlooks along the scenic byway. There are water-based put-in and 

take-out sites along the San Joaquin River. There are very few trails, motorized or non-motorized, 

and a low-to- moderate density of roads. About fifty percent of this place is in private holding 

arranged in a checkerboard pattern. There are a number of dams, power houses and transmission 

lines traversing the area.
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Desired Conditions (MA-RDGR-DC)

01 Redinger Lake Place is managed to sustain as a natural appearing landscape that provides 

dispersed and water-based recreation opportunities. Utilities are considered if their 

location will not limit the achievement of the roles, contributions and sense of the place.

Shaver Lake Place

Shaver Lake Place is a destination place; a natural appearing destination landscape, hub for lakebased recreation activities and the entry portal to the Sierra National Forest along the Sierra 

Heritage National Forest Scenic Byway. Historically, approximately two-thirds of this place was 

Monache Tribe land, with the remaining serving as the interface area between the Monache Tribe 

and the Owens Valley Piute-Shosone Tribe. Shaver Lake Place contains an equal mix of public 

and private recreation facilities providing year-round recreation opportunities, including 

campgrounds, picnic areas and vista points. The lake-related facilities are privately managed. 

There is a moderately dense road system, including the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway which 

traverses the area. There are concentrated use areas along the Bald Mountain motorized trail. 

There are no inventoried roadless areas in this Place. About sixty percent of the place is in private 

holding.

Desired Conditions (MA-SHVR-DC)

01 Shaver Lake Place is sustained as a natural appearing destination landscape that provides 

water-based recreation and scenic-driving opportunities.

Sky Ranch Place

The Sky Ranch Place is a scenic drive type place; a natural appearing canyon landscape and as a 

hub for motorized use and touring along the Sierra Vista National Forest Scenic Byway. 

Historically, fifty percent of the place was Mi-wok Tribal lands with the other half serving as the 

interface area between the Monache Tribe and the Owens Valley Piute-Shosone Tribe. The Nelder 

Creek Historic Area is located in this place. There are a number of developed recreation sites, 

including campgrounds and vistas along the scenic byway. There are a number of hiking 

opportunities and horse camps. There is a sizeable amount of motorized trails in the southwestern 

part of the place, accessed from Lone Sequoia and Kamook. The Lewis Creek and Shadow of the 

Giants National Recreation Trails occur in this place. There is a snow play area and cross-county 

ski area at Goat Meadow. There is a popular mountain bike area at Fish Camp. Rock climbing is 

popular in the Fresno Dome area. Sky Ranch Place is moderately-to-heavily roaded. About 

twenty-five percent of Sky Ranch Place is in private holding.

Desired Conditions (MA-SKY-DC)

01 Sky Ranch Place is maintained as a natural-appearing landscape that provides scenic 

driving opportunities.
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74 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Designated Areas 

A designated area is an area or feature identified and managed to maintain its unique special 

character or purpose. Designated areas are either statutorily or administratively designated, 

pursuant to statute, regulation, or policy. Examples of statutorily designated areas include 

wilderness areas, national scenic trails, and wild and scenic rivers. Examples of administratively 

designated areas are experimental forests, research natural areas, scenic byways, botanical areas, 

and significant caves. Where multiple designated areas overlap, the designated area with the most 

restrictive plan components must be followed. A map of all statutorily designated areas can be 

viewed in Figure 18, appendix A. 

Wilderness

Congress has designated five wilderness areas that are either in whole or in part within the Sierra 

National Forest’s administrative boundary. These wilderness areas comprise about 44 percent of 

the forest. They include the Ansel Adams Wilderness (shared with the Inyo National Forest), 

Dinkey Lakes Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness (shared with the Inyo National Forest), Kaiser 

Wilderness, and Monarch Wilderness (shared with the Sequoia National Forest). Plan components 

for wilderness areas are organized under the wilderness management area section above.

Wild and Scenic Rivers

Congress designated two wild and scenic rivers that are either in whole or in part on the Sierra 

National Forest: the main stem and south fork of the Merced Wild and Scenic River (shared with 

Yosemite National Park and the Bureau of Land Management) and middle fork of the Kings Wild 

and Scenic River (shared with the Sequoia National Forest and Sequoia Kings Canyon National 

Park). Plan components for wild and scenic river segments on the Sierra National Forest are 

organized under the wild and scenic river management area section above.

Kings River Special Management Area

The Kings River Special Management Area (KRSMA) includes approximately 49,000 acres. In 

1987, Congress gave special designation to this area to provide for public outdoor recreation use 

and enjoyment; for protection of the natural, archaeological, and scenic resources; and for fish 

and wildlife management. The Sierra National Forest administers the KRSMA, including the 

24,290 acres that are within the northern portion of the Sequoia National Forest Giant Sequoia 

National Monument. The statute creating the KRSMA (Public Law 100-150) takes precedence 

over the 2000 Presidential Proclamation that created the Giant Sequoia National Monument. 

Management of the KRSMA is guided by the 1991 Kings River Special Management Area 

implementation plan.

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail

In 1968, Congress designated the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. The Pacific Crest Trail is a 

continuous long distance trail from the Mexican border near Campo, California to the Canadian 

Border at Boundary Monument 78 near Manning Provincial Park, Canada. The Sierra National 

Forest manages 27 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, all of which are in wilderness. 

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Comprehensive Plan was signed in 1982 by the Chief of 

the Forest Service; national forests are expected to integrate the direction and guidance provided 

by this plan into their land management planning process. Plan components for the Pacific Crest 

Trail are organized under the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail management area section above. 
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To ensure the conservation of the Pacific Crest Trails nationally significant wild, scenic, natural

and heritage resources, and to maximize its intended recreation opportunities, the trail’s entire 

length, together with sufficient land area on both sides to safeguard and preserve its character, 

should be publically owned, permanently protected, and managed as a single entity across 

jurisdictions. The investment of citizen stewards offers another critical thread of continuity from 

Mexico to Canada. The Pacific Crest Trail experience should favor panoramic views of 

undisturbed landscapes in an uncrowded, non-mechanized, quiet, and predominantly natural 

environment. It should feature diverse, untrammeled ecosystems and historic high country 

landmarks while avoiding, as much as possible, road crossings, private operations, and other 

signs of modern development. Trail facilities such as campsites, water sources and other 

amenities for hiker and pack-and-saddle use should be simple.

Teakettle Experimental Forest

Teakettle Experimental Forest was designated in 1938 to study how the Central Valley’s water 

supply might be increased through management of Sierra Nevada watersheds. The area is over 

3,200 acres of old-growth forest at 6,500 to 9,200 feet elevation and consists primarily of mixedconifer and red fir forest common on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. Recent research at 

this experimental forest has provided invaluable, science-based information related to the longterm effects of restoration treatments on forest ecosystem function and health. While it is on the 

Sierra National Forest, it is administered by the Pacific Southwest Research Station.

Inventoried Roadless Areas

Inventoried roadless areas are designated by the Secretary of Agriculture. Over 146,000 acres of 

the Sierra National Forest have been designated as inventoried roadless areas, as governed by the 

Roadless Area Conservation Rule (36 CFR 294 Subpart B). The Roadless Area Conservation 

Rule and Forest Service policy guide and restrict management activities within inventoried 

roadless areas. Subject to the restrictions imposed by the Rule, forestwide plan components apply 

to inventoried roadless areas. 

National Recreation Trails

The Secretary of Agriculture has designated five national recreation trails on the Sierra National 

Forest: the Black Point National Recreation Trail, Rancheria Falls National Recreation Trail, 

Kings River National Recreation Trail, Lewis Creek National Recreation Trail, and Shadow of the 

Giants National Recreation Trail.

Desired Conditions (DA-NRT-DC)

01 National recreation trails meet the intended goals and preserve the values and recreation 

opportunities for which they were established.

02 The trail setting provides a variety of opportunities that complement the existing 

recreation opportunity spectrum class where the trail segment is located.

Guideline (DA-NRT-GDL)

01 Management activities within the foreground views from the trail should be designed to 

meet a scenic integrity objective at least as high as shown on the minimum scenic 

integrity map. Management activities in the middle and background should meet or 

exceed a scenic integrity objective of at least moderate. As appropriate, include scenery 

management considerations in special use permits that affect national recreation trails.
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76 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

02 During management activities, maintain safe public access to national recreation trails if 

practicable.

03 National recreation trails should be managed consistent with trail management objectives 

and the maintenance standards for trail class and managed use.

Research Natural Areas

The regional forester with concurrence of the research station director designates research natural 

areas (RNA). The purpose of research natural areas is to maintain biological diversity and to 

contribute to a network of representative ecosystems across the nation. Research natural areas are 

intended to provide ecological baseline data, and to be used for education and research that results 

in improved management of all National Forest System lands. 

The Sierra National Forest has two established research natural areas: Backbone Creek RNA, for

tree anemone, Carpenteria californica, a rare shrub; and Sacate Ridge RNA, for blue oak-foothill 

pine and other foothill vegetation types. The Sierra also has two proposed research natural areas: 

Bishop Creek RNA, for western ponderosa pine; and Home Camp Creek RNA, for white fir-red 

fir vegetation. Management of research natural areas is guided by individual management plans

and/or by direction provided in the Forest Service Manual (FSM 4063). Proposed research natural 

areas are managed the same as established research natural areas.

Standards and guidelines for constraints on fire management activities within research natural 

areas are included under the components for “Fire”.

Desired Conditions (DA-RNA-DC)

01 Research natural areas have excellent examples of the ecological features and values for 

which they were established. They are generally natural appearing, and ecological 

processes such as plant succession, fire, and insect and disease activity function with 

limited human influences. They serve as areas for the study of ecosystems and ecological 

processes, including succession, and as baseline areas for measuring ecological change 

due to disturbances or stressors like climate change.

Suitability (DA-RNA-SUIT)

01 Developed or dispersed recreation sites are not suitable. 

02 Over snow vehicle travel is not suitable.

03 Timber production or wood gathering is not suitable.

04 Developed facilities are not suitable. 

05 New roads, trails, fences, or signs are not suitable unless they contribute to the objectives 

or protection of the research natural area.

Special Areas

Special areas are designated by the Regional Forester if less than 100,000 acres and by the 

Secretary of Agriculture if larger than 100,000 acres. The Sierra National Forest has three 

botanical areas, four geological areas, and one historical area. These include the Devils Peak 

Botanical Area, Carpenteria Botanical Area, McKinley Grove Botanical Area, Courtright 

Intrusive Contact Zone Geological Area, Dinkey Creek Roof Pendant Geological Area, Crater 
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Lake Meadow Geological Area, Kings Cavern Geological Area, and Nelder Grove Historical 

Area. Management of these Special Areas is guided by area specific management plans.

Scenic Byways 

Two national scenic byways have been administratively designated on the Sierra National Forest. 

The 70-mile Sierra Heritage Scenic Byway ties the Son Joaquin Valley to eight foothill and 

mountain communities, climbing to 9,000 feet in elevation in the Sierra Nevada, to within 

viewing distance of the Kaiser, Dinkey Lakes, and Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness areas. 

This corridor has many snow parks and access to popular off highway motorized trails, as well as 

scenic viewing opportunities.

The 100-mile Sierra Vista Scenic Byway meanders through the forest and highlights some of the 

most beautiful scenery and views of the Sierra Nevada. The byway starts at 3,000 feet in 

elevation and climbs to more than 7,000 feet, with sights that include Redinger Overlook, Jesse 

Ross Historic Cabin, Mile High Vista, Jackass Rock, Arch Rock, Mammoth Pool, Clover 

Meadow, Eagle Beaks, Portuguese Creek, the Balls, Globe Rock, Beasore Meadows, Cold 

Springs Summit, Fresno Dome, Kelty Meadow, Soquel Meadow and Nelder Grove of Giant 

Sequoias. 
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78 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Plan Objectives

Watershed Conditions

Forestwide (WTR-FW-OBJ)

01 Priority watersheds achieve or are moving toward a higher functioning condition class, as 

defined by the national Watershed Condition Framework within 10 years of plan 

approval. 

Terrestrial Ecosystems 

Forestwide (TERR-FW-OBJ)

01 Increase forest heterogeneity, reduce forest density and surface fuels, and restore species 

composition (i.e. increase black oak and pine) on 10 to 20 percent of the mixed conifer, 

ponderosa pine, and portions of the foothill landscape within 10 to 15 years following 

plan approval. 

02 Restore low and moderate severity fire mosaics of beneficial fire using prescribed fire on 

50,000 to 60,000 acres within 10 to 15 years following plan approval. 

Invasive Species

Forestwide (INV-FW-OBJ)

01 Within 10 years of plan approval, take action to eliminate non-native invasive plant 

species on 600 acres

Riparian Conservation Areas

RCA-wide (MA-RCA-OBJ)

01 Restore the structure and composition of 500 to 1000 acres in riparian areas within ten 

years following plan approval, emphasizing riparian areas that face the most risk from 

large-scale high intensity fire, past fire exclusion or accelerated flooding events 

associated with climate change.

Meadows (RCA-MEAD-OBJ)

01 Take action to maintain, enhance, or improve conditions on 5 to 10 meadows of any size, 

within 10 years following plan approval.

Rivers and Streams (RCA-RIV-OBJ)

01 Take action to maintain or restore structure, composition, or function of habitat for 

fisheries and other aquatic species along 20 stream miles over a 10 year period.

02 Eliminate or mitigate one high priority barrier to aquatic organism passage or ecological 

connectivity within ten years following plan approval.
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for the Sierra National Forest 

Timber

Forestwide (TIMB-FW-OBJ)

01 Provide approximately 25 to 50 MMCF (125 to 250 MMBF) per decade to contribute to 

the local forest products infrastructure (see appendix E, timber suitability and 

management).

Sustainable Recreation

Forestwide (REC-FW-OBJ)

01 Within 10 years of plan approval, complete fuel treatment restoration activities on 200 

acres at recreation sites that are in areas with a high risk of large, high intensity wildfire.

02 Within 10 years of plan approval, convert 5 percent of existing recreation sites to group 

sites. 

03 Within 10 years of plan approval, 470 to 550 miles of trails are meeting standard.

Scenery

Forestwide (SCEN-FW-OBJ)

01 Within 10 years of plan approval, improve scenic stability by treating 2000 acres of 

vegetation in areas with a high likelihood of large, high intensity wildfire, that depart 

from the natural range of variation.

Cultural Resources

Forestwide (CULT-FW-OBJ)

01 Within 10 years of plan approval, generate 5 to 10 cultural resource products like the 

following: significant interpretation; National Register of Historic Places nominations; 

thematic contexts; site management plans; 500 acres or more non-project surveys;

development and testing of predictive models; establishment of formal cultural resource 

partnerships; and cultural site restoration, stabilization or adaptive reuse.
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

80 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Goals

Air

Forestwide (AIR-FW-GOAL)

01 Continue the visibility monitoring program and determine sensitive indicators for each air 

quality-related value in Class I areas of the national forests. Protect air quality-related 

values by reviewing all projects and management activities that may affect those values. 

Review external prevention of significant deterioration source applications and make 

recommendations to permitting authorities.

02 Participate in and support interagency collaborative smoke management, including real 

time smoke monitoring and public messaging to maximize efficiency and relevance of 

monitoring results.

03 Provide early notification to the public about potential smoke from fire activities to 

promote awareness and protect human health and safety.

04 Support post-fire analysis of smoke impacts as they relate to emissions when they can 

inform refinement of smoke dispersion and transport modeling. Include analytical 

tradeoff and impact information, as appropriate, in public messaging to show smoke 

tradeoffs from large landscape scale fuels treatment projects.

Watershed Conditions

Forestwide (WTR-FW-GOAL)

01 Take a landscape- or watershed-scale approach to restoring aquatic and riparian 

ecosystems, integrating with recreation, fuels, and vegetation management in order to 

efficiently use limited resources, including partnerships, and to effectively address 

climate change.

02 Cooperate with federal, tribal, state and local governments to secure water rights and 

obtain water availability assurances for existing and foreseeable future Forest Service 

non-consumptive and consumptive uses.

03 Improve water quality and protect soil productivity by restoring deteriorated watersheds 

on the basis of economic efficiency and severity of problem and its impact on 

downstream beneficial uses.

Animal and Plant Species

Forestwide (SPEC-FW-GOAL)

01 Cooperate with private landowners to encourage resource protection on private lands.

02 Collaborate with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to assess potential 

disturbance factors to deer during the planning phase of vegetation management projects.

03 Develop and implement a consistent, systematic, biologically sound program for plant 

species of conservation concern and their habitat so that federal listing does not occur.
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 81

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04 For wildlife species that overlap in range and require areas of high canopy cover (e.g. 

California spotted owl, fisher and marten), target maintenance of high canopy cover 

conditions in areas that can meet the needs of multiple species in the same location, 

thereby increasing potential for more heterogeneous and resilient conditions outside of

high canopy cover patches.

Pacific Fisher (SPEC-PF-GOAL) 

01 Fisher mortality from human causes is reduced substantially. Fisher exposure to 

poisonous substances and pesticides is rare. Vehicle collisions are rare. Fisher mortality 

from human structures is eliminated.

02 Predation on fishers occurs at natural rates with natural seasonal patterns and does not 

prevent fisher population growth.

Fire

Forestwide (FIRE-FW-GOAL)

01 Restore ecosystems to a more fire resilient condition and lessen the threat of wildfire to 

communities.

02 Coordinate with other jurisdictions such as communities, tribes, service providers, and 

federal, state, county and local entities regarding prevention, preparedness, planned 

activities and responses to wildland fires. Notify those agencies about upcoming and 

ongoing fire season and any prescribed fire activity.

03 Help communities become more fire adapted, improving their ability to withstand a fire 

without loss of life and property.

04 Where feasible and suitable, use grazing, mechanical treatment, prescribed fire and/or 

wildfires managed to meet resource objectives to reduce vegetation build-up to lower the 

risk of unwanted wildfire.

05 Provide defensible space as defined by the California Public Resource Code 4291-

Defensible space around structures on administrative sites and structures authorized by 

permit.

06 Use wildfires forest-wide to meet multiple resource management objectives, where and 

when conditions permit and risk is within acceptable limits. 

Local Communities

Forestwide (LOC-FW-GOAL)

01 Develop memoranda of agreements or other protocols between the forest and local 

governments as appropriate to guide coordination processes and reflect local perspectives 

and interests.

02 Identify important socioeconomic locations and activities on the forest with interested 

local agencies to promote a common understanding of these important contributions, to 

help identify potential projects that may enhance community benefits, and help identify 

mitigation measures that may address adverse impacts to these resources.
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for the Sierra National Forest 

03 Work with local governments, businesses, and organizations to collect economic data to 

track changes for businesses in sectors dependent on forest activities. 

Volunteers, Interpretation, Partnerships and Stewardship

Forestwide (VIPS-FW-GOAL)

01 Work with neighboring communities, organizations, state and local agencies, tribes, and 

other federal agencies to sustain forest benefits to people across the broader landscape.

02 Regularly report potential projects suitable for partnership and volunteer opportunities to 

the public.

03 Maintain and expand contracting and partnering opportunities with local governments, 

businesses, and organizations. Develop partnerships that leverage different sources of 

funding to support opportunities to contribute to the economic and social sustainability of 

local communities.

04 Work with partners and volunteers to provide recreation opportunities, maintain and 

enhance recreation settings, collect and manage data on recreation use and demand, and 

contribute to socioeconomic benefits associated with recreation and tourism.

05 Work with skilled stewardship organizations in managing wilderness, wild and scenic 

rivers, national trails, and other designated areas.

06 Work with partners and volunteers in the coordination, development, and delivery of 

educational and community outreach programs. Actively engage urban populations, 

youth and underserved communities in programs.

07 Work with partners and volunteers to prioritize and complete deferred maintenance and to 

engage in resource stewardship and restoration.

08 Work with site stewards, volunteers, tribal governments, local governments, state and 

federal agencies, schools and universities and non-profit groups to protect, rehabilitate 

and restore cultural resource sites and facilitate development of research, educational and 

interpretive opportunities.

09 Develop heritage tourism opportunities with tribal governments, local organizations, and 

businesses to provide an economic benefit to the community, while fostering long-term 

sustainability of cultural resources.

Timber

Forestwide (TIMB-FW-GOAL)

01 After disturbances occur on lands identified as suitable for timber production, and when 

funding is available, adequately restock these areas within 5 years of salvage harvest, if 

applicable, or, when salvage harvest is not used, within 5 years of site preparation.
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Range

Forestwide (RANG-FW-GOAL)

01 Limited areas of primary range, presently in poor condition, will be managed to improve 

range condition. Increased production will be partially offset by reducing or 

discontinuing use of poor condition range at higher elevations and by grazing adjustments 

on some rangelands to maintain amenity values, such as dispersed recreation and wildlife 

resources.

02 Emphasize multi-purpose brush manipulation treatments such as fuel reduction and/or 

prescribed burn projects, which will benefit wildlife, watershed, range, recreation and fire 

management.

03 Extend grazing seasons into winter and early spring on low elevation annual grass 

rangelands; use treated brush fields and transitory range for grazing capacity that is 

available but not obligated.

04 Meadows in poor ecological condition, but having capability for improvement, will be 

managed to meet desired conditions.

Sustainable Recreation

Forestwide (REC-FW-GOAL)

01 Link broad variety of transportation systems, including bikeways, to connect people to 

nature, improve personal health, and increase access for underserved communities, 

minorities and urban youth.

02 To the extent practical, harmonize recreation direction for forest visitors to minimize 

confusion when crossing administrative boundaries.

Scenery

Forestwide (SCEN-FW-GOAL)

01 The Forest Service works with other agencies and adjacent landowners to maintain 

shared vistas.

Tribal Relations and Uses

Forestwide (TRIB-FW-GOAL)

01 Manage the land in a spirit of shared stewardship with tribes, supporting tribal rights and 

recognizing the mutual benefits of restoration.

02 Partner with tribes to contribute to the socioeconomic sustainability of tribal 

communities.

03 Develop memoranda of agreements or other protocols between the forests and Native 

American tribes as appropriate to guide consultation processes, reflect tribes’ particular 

perspectives and interests, and protect sacred sites.
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for the Sierra National Forest 

04 Meet regularly with tribes to better understand their needs and viewpoints. Promote the 

use of forest-hosted tribal forums and events, as well as attendance at tribally-hosted 

meetings and events, as a method to ensure consistent contact, consultation and 

collaboration.

Cultural Resources

Forestwide (CULT-FW-GOAL)

01 Priority will be given to preservation and maintenance, as opposed to removal of all 

historic structures.

Geology and Minerals

Forestwide (GEO-FW-GOAL)

01 Request mineral withdrawals for some areas where there is a need to protect key 

resources like administrative sites and recreational developments.

02 Request public and quasi-public agencies that are contemplating applications resulting in 

withdrawals, to review their applications with the Forest Service. Seek to minimize 

impact of withdrawal on mineral development, while protecting area included in the 

project proposal.

01 Undertake efforts to return disturbed areas to former vegetated condition on abandoned 

mine lands. 

Energy

Forestwide (NRG-FW-GOAL)

01 Encourage licensee acquisition of private lands within areas withdrawn by Federal 

Energy Regulatory Commission, where beneficial for resource protection.

02 Actively pursue undergrounding of existing powerlines, where economically feasible and 

desirable for resource protection.

01 When new hydroelectric developments are proposed, or relicensing occurs on existing 

developments, the Forest will coordinate with project proponents and the California 

Department of Fish and Wildlife to insure associated fish and wildlife habitats and 

sensitive plant resources are maintained near current levels on new proposals, and 

improved where needed on relicense proposals.

Lands

Forestwide (LAND-FW-GOAL)

01 General priorities are:

a. Priority 1:

i. Acquire, through land adjustment, key tracts of non-Federal land (1,000 

acres) to enhance management efficiency;
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ii. Acquire "inholding land" to reduce costs related to right-of-way 

acquisition and landline survey;

iii. Perform special use permit administration, to extent necessary to protect 

public health and safety;

iv. Property lines will be surveyed, marked and posted to standard with 

emphasis on those areas of potential occupying trespass and production 

of resource commodities; and

v. Resolve unauthorized occupancies through sale or interchange of Federal 

land in conformance with Small Tracts Act, when appropriate.

b. Priority 2: Acquire remaining lands classified as desirable for National Forest 

status.

c. Priority 3: 

i. Acquire tracts, which because of location or character, will become key 

tracts in the foreseeable future, but for which immediate action is not 

urgent, and

ii. Acquire land intermingled with or adjacent to National Forest System 

land primarily valuable for watershed purposes, timber production, or 

public recreation and needed to adequately block in or consolidate 

National Forest System land.

02 Participate or collaborate with towns on expansion of existing town boundaries adjoining 

national forest lands.

03 Take appropriate criminal and civil action, and resolve cases of unauthorized occupancy 

and use.

04 Resolve unauthorized occupancies through sale or interchange of federal land in 

conformance with Small Tracts Act, when appropriate.

05 Perform special use permit administration, to extent necessary to protect public health 

and safety.

06 Grants of right-of-way for roads and utilities should use common corridors, where 

feasible, to limit adverse effects to the environment, safety and suitable uses. 
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for the Sierra National Forest 

Potential Management Approaches

Management approaches describe the principal strategies and program priorities the Sierra 

National Forest intends to employ to carry out projects and activities under the land management

plan. Management approaches may discuss potential processes such as analysis, assessment, 

inventory, project planning or monitoring. 

Air

Include smoke tradeoff evaluation in project level planning comparing local (e.g., prescribed fire) 

and regional (e.g., wildfire) scales. Use existing scientific information on large wildfire 

emissions. Consider downwind communities at the local and regional scale.

Watershed Conditions

Cooperate with federal, tribal, state and local governments to secure in-stream flows needed to 

maintain, recover, and restore riparian resources, channel conditions, and aquatic habitat during 

all basic Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), state and other authorized water use 

planning, water rights, and relicensing on the national forests. Coordinate relicensing projects 

with the appropriate state and federal agencies. Provide written and timely license conditions to 

the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Terrestrial Ecosystems 

Emphasize vegetation treatments in focus landscapes (10,000 to 80,000 acres in size) to move 

terrestrial ecosystems toward desired conditions and increase resilience of old forest habitat, 

while limiting impacts to the Pacific fisher and California spotted owl.

To protect old forest components from uncharacteristic fire, prioritize restoration in key old forest

areas. Methods of protecting existing old forest components on the landscape may include 

thinning or selective harvest, prescribed fire, and wildfires managed to meet resource objectives.

To perpetuate old forest components, encourage the development of old forest conditions in areas 

where old forest is lacking. Restore patchiness within stands and sustain large black oak trees, 

pine tree regeneration, and snags over time.

During post-fire restoration projects, consider the availability of complex early-seral forests 

across the forest and region to provide for ecological conditions needed by complex early seral 

wildlife species. This includes retaining areas: of dense and connected patches of snags across a 

range of snag sizes; of naturally regenerating vegetation; of adjacent or intermixed burned and 

unburned areas; or areas with moderate to high tree survival. 

Promote native vegetation (e.g., conifers, hardwoods, shrubs) in complex early-seral habitat that 

supports long term ecosystem integrity considering climate change, drought, insects, disease and 

fire.
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Animal and Plant Species

Identify and enhance low to moderate quality fish habitat that has potential to improve from 

structural or nonstructural improvement.

California Spotted Owl 

Prioritize ecological restoration of protected activity centers that have departed furthest from 

protected activity centers and vegetation desired conditions, and that promote the greatest 

ecological resilience of the protected activity center. Also consider prioritizing protected activity 

centers with the highest wildfire risk in the community buffers, such as on upper slopes or ridge 

tops or in canyons with large areas of chaparral below. Consider the risk of large high intensity 

wildfire to clustered protected activity centers, degree of departure from desired condition, and 

whether some should be managed to reduce wildfire risk and increase overall resilience of 

protected activity centers and vegetation in an area.

Within protected activity centers, locate restoration treatments to minimize impacts to the 

protected activity center while considering opportunities to increase the resilience of the overall 

network of protected activity centers. Prioritize areas where dry vegetation is most departed from 

desired conditions and where treatments would provide for the most resilient conditions for the 

entire protected activity center.

Pacific Fisher

Prioritize ecological restoration in landscapes around key linkage areas and areas with suitable 

habitat at highest fire risk.

Plan prescribed fire under weather and fuel conditions that promote habitat resilience and fisher 

habitat values, using burn prescriptions that promote mosaic fire effects within the natural range 

of variation. 

Maintain or increase understory heterogeneity in fisher denning habitat to promote “escape 

cover” such as shrub patches, coarse woody debris, and slash piles following vegetation 

treatments. Design projects to have non-linear edges.

Reduce human-caused mortalities associated with illegal marijuana growing and rodenticide use, 

road-related mortalities, and mortalities associated with water pipes and tanks.

Avoid or remediate habitat modifications that unnaturally increase fisher susceptibility to 

predation. 

Sierra Marten

Maintain or increase understory heterogeneity in marten denning habitat to promote “hiding

cover” such as shrub patches, coarse woody debris, and slash piles following vegetation 

treatments. Design projects to have non-linear edges.

Reduce human-caused mortalities associated with illegal marijuana growing and rodenticide use, 

road-related mortalities, and mortalities associated with water pipes and tanks.

Avoid or remediate habitat modifications that unnaturally increase marten susceptibility to 

predation. 
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

88 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Great Gray Owl

Conduct additional surveys using established protocols to follow up reliable sightings of great 

gray owls.

Invasive Species

Work with tribes to determine priority areas for weed prevention and control, especially focused 

on traditional gathering areas that are threatened by weed infestations. Consult with tribes before 

using pesticides or herbicides that may affect traditional gathering.

Coordinate with research and other organizations to evaluate the potential effects of climate 

change on the spread of invasive, non-native species.

Fire 

Prior to and during the fire season assess conditional thresholds under which desired conditions 

can be met for the strategic fire management zones (see management areas section in this 

chapter). Work with tribes and adjacent landowners to identify areas and resources of value 

considered in the assessments. 

Assess human-caused ignitions and implement prevention activities that reduce the likelihood of 

the most common human-caused ignition sources.

Work with adjacent land management agencies to identify methods to reduce costs and increase 

effectiveness in restoring fire to the landscape. 

Prioritize fuel treatments in areas that pose the greatest threat to communities and highly valued 

resources. 

During ecological restoration treatments, reduce fuels along ridges, roads, or other natural or 

man-made features to aid in the use of large prescribed fires and in managing wildfire, including 

wildfires managed to meet resource objectives. 

Integrate terrestrial ecosystem desired conditions into spatial patterns for fuel reduction 

treatments. Incorporate heterogeneity by increasing variation in tree spacing, enhancing tree 

clumps, creating canopy gaps, promoting fire resilient tree species, increasing the ratio of large to 

small trees, and using topographic variation (e.g., slope, aspect, and position) to guide treatment 

prescriptions.

Volunteers, Interpretation, Partnerships and Stewardship

Assess partnership needs and develop priorities to meet those needs using the strategies and tools 

described in appendix C. 

Develop a partnership and volunteer strategy to define the types of projects suitable for 

partnership and volunteer opportunities, potential partners and volunteers, and the mechanisms 

for developing partnerships and volunteer agreements. 

Provide visitor information services at major entry points and areas of concentrated use.

Provide and update interpretive signage, wayside exhibits, publications and programs using a 

variety of media and methods.
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Draft Revised Forest Plan 89

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Develop bi-lingual communication tools including publications, information boards and radio 

spots.

Timber

Encourage use of small trees and wood biomass to support a variety of potential uses.

Develop landscape scale projects to increase the pace and scale of ecological restoration, 

ecosystem resilience and fire resilience, and to protect the carbon carrying capacity of the forest.

Plan vegetation, fuels, and other restoration projects across large landscape areas (e.g., greater 

than 5,000 to 10,000 acres), when it can increase efficiency in planning and support partnershipbased approaches, such as stewardship contracts.

Range

Coordinate utilization studies with livestock operators, other appropriate state and federal 

agencies and interested publics. Utilization studies should be planned and implemented on an 

interdisciplinary basis.

Measures like salting, herding, water development, fencing and riding will be used whenever the 

opportunity exists to improve livestock distribution and minimize impacts to riparian areas. If 

mitigation is unsuccessful in preventing resource damage to riparian habitat, measures will be 

taken to reduce or eliminate livestock use in affected areas.

Discourage conversion of forest range to other uses.

Sustainable Recreation

Use integrated resource planning during projects to respond to changing conditions in recreation 

settings.

Use management strategies to mitigate recreation use and resource conflicts (appendix D).

Manage recreation residences and recreation residence tracts in recognition of their heritage and 

cultural contributions to recreation on National Forest System lands.

Encourage mass transit opportunities to major recreational destinations.

Scenery

Use integrated resource planning during projects to respond to changing scenery conditions 

affecting scenic character and integrity.

Scenic character is sustained by perpetuating and improving scenic attributes through ecological 

restoration activities that improve scenic stability and integrity.

Minimize visible lines in landscape areas where vegetation is removed for management 

objectives. Cleared areas will include edges that reflect the visual character of naturally occurring 

vegetation openings.

In vegetation treatment and fuels reduction projects, consider improving scenery resources, 

especially in areas that do not meet established scenic integrity objectives.
Chapter 3. Management Strategy 

90 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Tribal Relations and Uses

Provide training to forest employees about federal tribal trust responsibilities and ways in which 

the forest honors and implements these responsibilities.

Consider employee exchange opportunities between the Forest Service and tribes under Service 

First agreements or other mechanisms. Provide forest staff with detail opportunities to work with 

tribes, and provide tribal staff opportunities to work with the agency, to increase reciprocal 

understanding and promote use of tribal programs and legislation that is mutually beneficial.

Manage Mono Hot Springs to maintain a near-natural setting for traditional Native American use.

Cultural Resources

To protect sites from physical damage and excessive wear and tear, consider user education,

restrictions and visitation controls.

Geology and Minerals

For each common variety materials site, prepare a development and rehabilitation plan prior to 

development and use.

Encourage use of the most energy efficient sources to obtain marketable, common variety mineral 

materials.

Provide assistance in planning for mineral extraction to facilitate reclamation.
Draft Revised Forest Plan 91

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Chapter 4. Design Criteria

Standards

Watershed Conditions

Forestwide (WTR-FW-STD)

01 Use best management practices as described in agency technical guides and handbooks to 

minimize adverse impacts to soils and water resources during the planning and 

implementation of forest activities.

02 Minimize the effects of stream diversions or other flow modifications on at-risk species, 

and other beneficial uses, during all basic Federal Energy Regulatory Commission , state 

and other authorized water use planning, water rights, and relicensing on the national 

forests. Determine and recommend in-stream flow requirements and habitat conditions 

that maintain, enhance, or restore all life stages of native aquatic species, and that 

maintain or restore riparian resources, channel integrity and aquatic passage. 

03 For exempt hydroelectric facilities on national forest lands, ensure that special use permit 

language provides adequate in stream flow requirements to maintain, restore, or recover 

favorable ecological conditions for local riparian- and aquatic-dependent species.

04 Prohibit regeneration harvest on highly erodible soils where sustained slopes exceed 65

percent.

Terrestrial Ecosystems 

Forestwide (TERR-FW-STD)

01 For mechanical thinning harvests specifically designed to treat fuels, and/or control stand 

densities, within the wildfire restoration and maintenance zones, retain all live conifer 

trees 30 inches in diameter or larger, except to meet the needs for equipment operability. 

Special Habitats (TERR-SH-STD)

01 At the project scale, consider special habitats during project design.

Animal and Plant Species 

California Spotted Owl (SPEC-CSO-STD)

01 Within community buffers and focus landscapes, vegetation treatments in protected 

activity centers may include mechanical, prescribed fire and hand treatments. Protected 

activity centers may be re-mapped during project planning to avoid intersections with 

mechanical treatment areas, provided that the re-mapped protected activity centers 

contain habitat of equal or better quality and include known nest sites and important roost 

sites. Treatment-related constraints include the following:

a. Limit mechanical treatments to no more than one third of an individual protected 

activity center per decade.
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92 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

b. Mechanical treatment is not allowed within 250 feet of the known nest site or, 

where the nest site is not known, the most recent known roost site. 

c. Retain clumps or groups of large trees, some with dense tree cover, in a welldistributed and irregular pattern. 

d. Maintain sufficient tree cover within 250 feet of the known nest site or, where the 

nest site is not known, the most recent known roost site to provide for the life 

history requirements.

02 Within community buffers and focus landscape, where greater than half of the protected 

activity center habitat is a dry vegetation type, up to one third of the protected activity 

center may be treated in dry vegetation type areas to improve resilience.

03 Outside community buffers and focus landscapes, vegetation treatments in protected 

activity center may include prescribed fire and hand treatments. Mechanical treatments 

are prohibited. 

04 For all treatments within protected activity centers, maintain connectivity between the 

rest of the protected activity center and habitat around the known nest site or, where the 

nest site is not known, the most recent known roost site.

05 Where prescribed fire is used in protected activated centers, apply mitigation measures as 

needed to minimize loss of or damage to known nest and roost trees.

06 Outside of community buffers, if less than half of a protected activity center burns at very 

high severity with greater than 90 percent basal area mortality, avoid salvage harvest in 

the protected activity center. If more than half of the protected activity center burns with 

greater than 90 percent basal area mortality, follow direction for complex early seral 

forests. 

Pacific Fisher (SPEC-PF-STD)

01 Avoid creating openings where woody vegetation cover is less than 30 percent within and 

directly adjacent to fisher linkage areas that would completely severed; strategically 

manage vegetation continuity in these areas as necessary to prevent widespread crown 

fire.

02 Within fisher target cells, limit disturbance from mechanical treatment to less than 13 

percent of the target cell in any 5-year period, except if target cells are within focus 

landscapes or contain community buffers. In those areas, mechanical treatment could 

occur in up to 50 percent of the fisher target cell in any 10-year period but no more than 

one third of all suitable target cells (Figure 10) can be treated to this extent within a 10-

year period. 

03 Outside of community buffers and focus landscapes, avoid treatment actions that could 

fragment the breeding population or degrade dispersal probability between fisher habitat 

core areas. Do not: 

a. Treat two or more adjacent target cells in a manner that creates simultaneously 

unsuitable conditions in each. 
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Draft Revised Forest Plan 93

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b. Treat one or more target cells adjacent to recently disturbed cells in a manner that 

reduces their suitability for more than 5 years.

04 Design projects to provide dispersal habitat between adjacent fisher target cells.

Invasive Species

Forestwide (INV-FW-STD)

01 When working in water bodies with known aquatic invasive species, clean equipment and 

vehicles before moving to other water bodies.

Fire 

Forestwide (FIRE-FW-STD)

01 Fire management actions and any subsequent suppression within research natural areas 

must be planned and carried out in consultation with the forest research natural area 

coordinator and the fire resource advisor. 

Timber

Forestwide (TIMB-FW-STD)

01 Following regulated regeneration harvest (e.g., group selection) on lands identified as 

suitable for timber production, create and maintain planting environments that favor 

seedling survival and rapid growth rates, facilitate early and periodic use of fire to reduce 

future wildfire-related mortality, and provide sufficient tree numbers to meet a variety of 

ecosystem services, including forest products and carbon storage. A site-specific 

silvicultural prescription will be designed to ensure that lands are adequately restocked 

within 5 years of a regeneration harvest (see appendix E for stocking criteria).

02 In response to wildfire, windthrow, insects, pathogens, or other disturbance occurring on 

lands identified as suitable for timber production, create and maintain planting 

environments that favor seedling survival and rapid growth rates, facilitate early and 

periodic use of fire to reduce future wildfire-related mortality, and provide sufficient tree 

numbers to provide a variety of ecosystem services, including forest products and carbon 

storage.

Range

Forestwide (RANG-FW-STD)

01 To protect hardwood regeneration in grazing allotments, allow livestock browsing on no 

more than 20 percent of annual terminal leader growth of aspen seedlings and advanced 

regeneration, and no more than 20 percent of annual growth of willows. Modify grazing 

plans if hardwood regeneration and recruitment needs are not being met.

02 Grazing utilization in annual grasslands will maintain a minimum of 60 percent cover. 

Where grasslands are in satisfactory condition and annual precipitation is greater than 10 

inches, manage for 700 pounds residual dry matter per acre, and where grasslands are in 

satisfactory condition and annual precipitation is less than 10 inches, manage for 400 

pounds residual dry matter per acre. Where grasslands are in unsatisfactory condition and 
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94 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

annual precipitation is greater than 10 inches, manage for 1,000 pounds residual dry 

matter per acre, and where grasslands are in unsatisfactory condition and precipitation is 

less than 10 inches, manage for 700 pounds residual dry matter per acre. Adjust these 

standards, as needed, based on grassland condition. This standard and guideline only 

applies to grazing utilization.

03 Where professional judgment and quantifiable measurements find that current practices 

are maintaining range in good to excellent condition, the grazing utilization standards 

above may be modified to allow for the Forest Service, in partnership with individual 

permittees, to rigorously test and evaluate alternative standards.

04 Base proper use standards on whether the site is rated in satisfactory condition; determine 

whether a site is in satisfactory condition with overall soil stability a primary 

consideration.

05 Locate salt grounds more than one-quarter mile from streams, meadows and trails, unless 

otherwise described in an allotment management plan.

06 For montane and subalpine riparian areas and wetlands, including moist and wet 

meadows, with a land form of basin meadows, sloped meadows and or stream-associated 

meadows, and a vegetation type of herbaceous aquatic and riparian species in 

“satisfactory condition,” limit utilization of grass and grass-like plants to a maximum of 

40 percent, or retain a minimum 4 inch stubble height at the end of season.

07 For montane and subalpine riparian and wetlands, including moist and wet meadows,

with a land form of basin meadows, sloped meadows and or stream-associated meadows,

and a vegetation type of herbaceous aquatic and riparian species in “unsatisfactory 

condition,” limit utilization of grass and grass-like plants to a maximum of 30 percent or 

retain a minimum 6 inch stubble height at the end of season.

08 For transitory, montane and subalpine dry meadows and uplands, with a land form greater 

than 2,000 feet elevation and vegetation type of herbaceous perennials in “satisfactory 

condition,” maintain a maximum allowable utilization of 40 percent use by weight.

09 For transitory, montane and subalpine dry meadows and uplands, with a land form greater 

than 2,000 feet elevation and vegetation type of herbaceous perennials in “unsatisfactory 

condition,” maintain a maximum allowable utilization of 30 percent use by weight.

10 For low elevation riparian areas in annual grassland and oak woodland, with a land form 

of less than 3,500 feet elevation and a vegetation type of herbaceous perennials and 

annuals in “satisfactory condition,” allow a maximum allowable utilization of 45 percent

use by weight.

11 For low elevation riparian areas in annual grassland and oak woodland, with a land form 

of less than 3,500 feet elevation and a vegetation type of herbaceous perennials and 

annuals in “unsatisfactory condition,” maintain a maximum allowable utilization of 35

percent use by weight.
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Draft Revised Forest Plan 95

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Guidelines

Air

Forestwide (AIR-FW-GDL)

01 Project design for prescribed burns, and strategies for wildfires, should incorporate 

emission reduction techniques to reduce negative impacts to air quality, subject to 

economic constraints, technical feasibility, safety criteria and land management 

objectives.

02 Decision documents for wildfires and prescribed burns should identify smoke sensitive 

areas and include management objectives and courses of action to mitigate impacts to 

those areas.

Watershed Conditions

Forestwide (WTR-FW-GDL)

01 Cooperate with federal, tribal, state and local governments to secure in-stream flows 

needed to maintain, recover, and restore riparian resources, channel conditions, and 

aquatic habitat during all basic Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), state 

and other authorized water use planning, water rights, and relicensing on the national 

forests. Coordinate relicensing projects with the appropriate state and federal agencies. 

Provide written and timely license conditions to the Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission.

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Forestwide (TERR-FW-GDL)

01 Projects should facilitate increasing heterogeneity at all scales, from tree clumps to large 

landscapes. Several strategies can be employed: using landscape topography (e.g. slope, 

aspect, slope position) to vary stand densities; promoting tree clumps and gaps within a 

stand, increasing the proportion of large to small trees; retaining important habitat 

structures such as large trees, snags and trees with broken tops; and increasing diversity 

by promoting hardwoods, pines and native plant species.

02 Vegetation treatment projects should include a widely distributed but often clumped 

distribution of snags and downed logs. Some snags and downed logs should be retained 

along edges of openings and within groups and clumps of large trees to provide habitat 

and roost sites for wildlife species such as small mammals, cavity-nesting birds and treedwelling bats.

03 Management activities that generate accumulations of green slash should minimize 

potential impacts from bark beetles.

04 Mechanical vegetation treatments, prescribed fire, and salvage operations should retain 

all large hardwoods, greater than 12 inches in diameter (8 inches for blue oak), except 

where they pose a threat to human life or property.
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96 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Chaparral-Live Oak (TERR-CHAP-GDL)

01 Treatments using fire within chaparral should be designed to provide a diversity of seral 

stages at the landscape scale. Where feasible, leave small to medium unburned or lightly 

burned patches for wildlife within very large burn units.

02 When chaparral is the potential natural vegetation type, treatment projects should not 

include active reforestation with the intent to convert the area to a forested type.

Black Oak/Canyon Live Oak (TERR-BLCK-GDL)

01 Where possible and appropriate to enhance forest structural heterogeneity or an 

underrepresented hardwood component, projects should create crown space around 

existing mid-aged California black oak and canyon live oak to allow crown development 

of the oaks. Where replacement age classes are missing, projects should create openings 

near mature oaks to stimulate natural regeneration.

Old Forest (TERR-OLD-GDL)

01 When large tree densities meet desired condition levels, thinning to increase 

heterogeneity and resilience should emphasize retention of the oldest and largest trees, 

especially pines and black oaks. Large trees with deformities, broken tops, large branches 

and cavities should be retained for wildlife habitat whenever possible. 

02 During burning, firing patterns should limit mortality of old trees by managing 

smoldering at the base of large old trees. Limit fire intensity in areas with large old trees 

where possible. 

Complex Early Seral Habitats (TERR-CES-GDL)

01 Restoration projects following large stand replacing events (e.g., wildfire and bark beetle 

infestations) should consider: 

a. safety to people in the short and long term

b. fuel loads over the long term, including the need to restore fire to the recovering 

or restored landscape

c. restoring forested habitat to deforested areas, including restoring connectivity

d. habitat for local wildlife species that use burned forest habitats

e. other ecological restoration actions in the affected area

f. opportunities to recover economic value and carbon stored as a harvested wood 

product from dead and dying trees

02 Post-disturbance restoration projects should be designed to reduce potential soil erosion 

and the loss of soil productivity caused by loss of vegetation and ground cover. 

03 Post-disturbance restoration projects should be designed to protect and maintain 

important wildlife habitat. 

04 Post-disturbance restoration projects should be designed to manage the development of 

fuel profiles over time. 
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Draft Revised Forest Plan 97

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05 Post-disturbance restoration projects should be designed to recover the value of timber 

killed or severely injured by the disturbance. 

06 Large fires with more than 1,000 acres of contiguous blocks of moderate and high 

vegetation burn severity should retain at least 10 percent of the moderate and high 

vegetation burn severity area without harvest to provide areas of high snag density for 

species that use complex early seral habitat.

Aspen (TERR-ASPN-GDL)

01 Where pile burning of material from conifer removal is desired, piles should be kept at 

least 4 to 15 feet away from large aspen trees to limit damage to aspen trunks. Larger 

piles should be farther from aspen trunks than smaller piles.

02 During treatment to manage or restore aspen, aspen trees with historical carvings should 

be protected, or the record and historical value appropriately captured.

03 Near developed or heavily managed areas, conifer removal (mechanical or hand thinning) 

should be the primary initial restorative treatment for aspen stands. Where cut material 

cannot be removed from the stand, pile burning is used to manage residual fuel loading.

04 Within the community and general wildfire protection zones, the number and size of 

conifers removed to enhance aspen should meet the following long term objectives: 

maximize direct and indirect light (this requires treating beyond the existing aspen stand 

perimeter); allow aspen expansion; reduce conifer seed sources; create fuel loads that 

reflect functioning aspen stands to allow future prescribed burning; and promote wildlife 

habitat, plant assemblages, and water yields typically found in functioning aspen 

communities.

05 Browsing pressure should be reduced in aspen stands that receive intensive browsing 

from either livestock or wildlife, to protect regenerating aspen stands.

Animal and Plant Species

Forestwide (SPEC-FW-GDL)

01 Known nest, roost, or den trees used by species of conservation concern, including 

surrounding trees that provide beneficial thermal or predatory protection, should not be 

purposefully removed, with the exception of hazard trees.

02 In order to reduce the loss of deer breeding and fawning, minimize disturbance associated 

with vegetation treatments in key summer range areas from May 15 through July 15 and 

during rutting season in key winter range areas from November 15 through January 1 

(refer to California Department of Fish and Wildlife deer range maps). Long-term over 

short-term benefits should be the deciding factor where conflicts exist.

03 Projects should protect at-risk species and their habitat by considering at-risk species 

early in the environmental planning process. 

04 Habitat management objectives from approved recovery plans should be considered in 

the design of projects that will occur within federally-listed species habitat to promote 

recovery of the species.
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98 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

05 Design features, mitigation, and project timing considerations should be incorporated into 

ground-disturbing projects that may affect occupied habitat for species of conservation 

concern.

06 Water developments (such as a diversion or well) should be avoided near streams or 

seeps and springs where there is high risk of dewatering aquatic habitats where species of 

conservation concern occur.

07 Establish a 200 foot zone on each side of all reaches of the tributaries to Portuguese 

Creek and Cow Creek where Lahontan cutthroat trout currently occur on all Class I, II, 

and III tributaries above those reaches. Apply the following guidelines within this zone:

a. Recommendations of a fisheries biologist should be considered prior to removal 

of any vegetation;

b. Trees should be felled and yarded away from the stream course;

c. Slash and other debris should be kept out of stream courses, except for the 

purpose of fish habitat improvement. Woody debris removed from stream courses 

will be disposed of by methods other than machine piling or broadcast burning;

Yosemite Toad (SPEC-YT-GDL)

01 In allotments where no specific management plan for Yosemite toad is in place, exclude 

livestock from occupied or used locations, including wet meadows and associated 

streams and springs, during the breeding and rearing season (through metamorphosis). 

Wet meadow habitat for Yosemite toads is defined as relatively open meadows with low 

to moderate amounts of woody vegetation that have standing water on June 1, or for more 

than 2 weeks following snow melt. Specific breeding and rearing season dates will be 

determined locally and may be modified annually. If physical exclusion of livestock from 

breeding areas is impractical, then exclude grazing from the entire meadow. This standard 

does not apply to pack and saddle stock.

02 The livestock exclusions detailed in the above standard (SPEC-YT-STD-01) may be 

waived if an interdisciplinary team develops a site-specific management plan to minimize 

impacts to the Yosemite toad and its habitat, by managing the movement of stock in and 

around wet areas. Management plans, at a minimum, should adhere and comply with 

forest plan grazing related standards and guidelines and best management practices. The

plans are to include a requirement for systematically monitoring a sample of occupied 

Yosemite toad sites (minimum of one location per allotment) within a meadow to assess 

habitat conditions and assess Yosemite toad occupancy and population dynamics. Every 3 

years from the date of the plan, evaluate monitoring data. Modify or suspend grazing if 

Yosemite toad conservation is not being accomplished, i.e., monitoring reveals a decline 

in toad populations is likely attributable to grazing. Yosemite toad management plans 

must be approved by the authorized officer and incorporated into all allotment plans and 

special use permits governing use within the occupied habitat.

California Spotted Owl, Pacific Fisher and Sierra Marten (SPEC-CSO-PF-SMGDL) 

01 Within the California spotted owl home range core areas, fisher strategy areas and marten 

core habitat areas, retain some overtopping and multi-storied canopy conditions, 

including some shade-tolerant understory trees such as firs and cedars, especially in 
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Draft Revised Forest Plan 99

for the Sierra National Forest 

drainages, swales and canyon bottoms and on north and east-facing slopes. Retain a 

patchy mosaic of shrubs and understory vegetation, separated by more open areas, to 

reduce fuel continuity, increase habitat heterogeneity, support prey and provide hiding 

cover, with a goal of 10 to 20 percent shrub cover at the home range scale.

California Spotted Owl (SPEC-CSO-GDL)

01 As necessary to assess the effects of a project, surveys should be conducted in 

compliance with survey protocols during the planning process when proposed vegetation 

treatments are likely to reduce habitat quality in suitable California spotted owl habitat 

with unknown occupancy. Designate California spotted owl protected activity centers 

where appropriate based on survey results.

02 Maintain protected activity centers regardless of California spotted owl occupancy status, 

except in the following situations:

a. After a stand-replacing event, evaluate habitat conditions within a 1.5-mile radius 

around the activity center to identify opportunities for remapping the protected 

activity center. If there is insufficient suitable habitat within the 1.5-mile radius, 

the protected activity center may be removed from the network.

b. If surveys show no occupancy after five years of survey data. 

03 To minimize disturbance that may lead to breeding failure, apply a limited operating 

period prohibiting vegetation treatments during the breeding season (March 1 to August 

15 or current regional guidance), within approximately 0.25 miles of the known nest site, 

or where the nest site is not known, the most recent known roost site, unless surveys 

confirm that California spotted owls are not nesting. Prior to implementing activities 

within or adjacent to a California spotted owl protected activity center, and the location 

of the nest site or known roost site is uncertain, conduct surveys to establish or confirm 

these locations. 

a. The limited operating period may be waived for vegetation treatments of limited 

scope and duration, if a biologist determines that such projects are unlikely to 

result in breeding disturbance considering their intensity, duration, timing and 

specific location. If a biologist concludes that a nest site would be shielded from 

planned activities by topographic features that would minimize disturbance, the 

limited operating period buffer distance may be modified.

b. Breeding season limited operating period restrictions may be waived, where 

necessary, to allow for early season prescribed fire in up to 5 percent of protected 

activity centers per year on a forest.

04 Where protected activity centers overlap with community buffers, community buffer 

standards should be met first (chapter 3), followed by vegetation desired conditions. 

Where community buffer standards conflict with vegetation desired conditions, desired 

conditions for dry vegetation types may be used. 

05 The following criteria should be used in selecting vegetation treatment areas that intersect 

with protected activity centers to avoid those that have the highest likely contribution to 

owl productivity. Current occupancy is based on surveys from the last 3 years prior to 

project planning. The protected activity center criteria below are listed from lowest 

contribution to productivity to highest contribution to productivity.

a. Currently unoccupied and historically occupied by territorial singles only.
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100 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

b. Currently unoccupied and historically occupied by pairs.

c. Currently occupied by territorial singles.

d. Currently occupied by pairs.

e. Currently or historically reproductive.

06 Outside of community buffers and focus landscapes, treatments in protected activity 

centers should not exceed 5 percent per year and 10 percent per decade of total acres of 

California spotted owl protected activity centers.

07 Within community buffers and focus landscapes, mechanical treatments in protected 

activity centers should not exceed 10 percent per year and 30 percent per decade of total 

acres of California spotted owl protected activity centers.

Pacific Fisher (SPEC-PF-GDL)

01 Within the fisher strategy area, prescribed fires should be designed to leave some 

unburned patches (up to 25 percent of total area within the burn perimeter) to provide 

heterogeneity and refugia for prey species, especially in larger burn units, if 

environmental conditions allow.

02 Avoid creating permanent new linear or otherwise continuous areas of open habitat in or 

near fisher denning habitat.

03 Within key fisher linkage areas, limit large areas of high intensity fire during firing 

operations. These areas should be uploaded and available ahead of fire season in the 

current Forest Service decision support system for wildfire management.

04 Outside community buffers and focus landscapes, apply the limited operating periods 

below in occupied fisher habitat cores 1 to 5, to minimize disruptions to fisher 

reproduction, unless a project-specific evaluation determines a low risk to fishers. In 

fisher cores 2 to 5, the limited operating period applies to modeled denning habitat 

buffered by 820 feet (250 meters). In core 1, the limited operating period applies to 

California wildlife habitat relationship fisher high-value reproductive habitat buffered by 

820 feet (250 meters). 

a. Prohibit mechanical logging, thinning, mastication and construction activities 

from March 1 to June 30, or current regional guidance.

b. Prohibit using prescribed fire from March 1 to May 1, or current regional 

guidance.

Great Gray Owl (SPEC-GGO-GDL)

01 In meadow areas of great gray owl protected activity centers, maintain herbaceous 

vegetation at a height commensurate with site capability and habitat needs of prey 

species. Follow regional guidance to determine potential prey species and associated 

habitat requirements at the project level.

02 During vegetation management activities, apply a limited operating period, prohibiting 

vegetation treatments and road construction within 0.25 mile of an active great gray owl 

nest stand, during the nesting period (typically March 1 to August 15). The limited 

operating period may be waived for vegetation treatments of limited scope and duration if

a biologist determines that such projects are unlikely to result in breeding disturbance 

considering their intensity, duration, timing and specific location. If a biologist concludes 
Chapter 4. Design Criteria 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 101

for the Sierra National Forest 

that a nest site would be shielded from planned activities by topographic features that 

would minimize disturbance, the limited operating period buffer distance may be 

reduced.

Bats (SPEC-BAT-GDL)

01 To conserve long-term bat species persistence in the plan area, bat gates should be 

considered at the entrances of caves and mines when bat hibernacula or maternity 

colonies may be adversely affected by recreational, management or other activities.

Invasive Species

Forestwide (INV-FW-GDL)

01 Use an integrated pest management approach in the planning and implementation of all 

projects and activities.

02 Projects should be designed to minimize invasive species spread by incorporating 

prevention and control measures into ongoing management or maintenance activities that 

involve ground disturbance, terrestrial or aquatic habitat alteration, or the possibility of 

spreading invasive species. When feasible, projects should include measures to provide 

invasive species-free gravel, fill, topsoil, and mulch; include follow-up inspections as 

needed and specified in regional or national strategies.

03 To the extent feasible, hay, straw and mulch used for animal feed or bedding, soil 

stabilization and land rehabilitation, or other purposes should be certified by California or 

the North American Invasive Species Management Association as being weed-free to 

prevent unintentional introduction of invasive species. 

04 Weed-free plant material should be selected for all seeding and mulching projects to 

restore natural species composition and ecosystem function to the disturbed area. Plant or 

seed materials should be used that are appropriate to the site, capable of becoming 

established, and not invasive.

05 Weed prevention measures should be included as necessary when amending or re-issuing 

permits, including but not limited to livestock grazing, special uses and packstock

operator permits.

Fire 

Forestwide (FIRE-FW-GDL)

01 When managing wildland fire (i.e., wildfire and prescribed fire), a variety of fire 

management options and activities should be considered, including hand and aerial 

ignitions, to achieve a mix of fire effects. When safe and feasible, limit extensive 

continuous areas of high severity fire effects in old forest habitat and riparian areas.

02 Plan restoration and fire management projects for large landscapes (i.e., subwatershed or 

larger) when and where possible to improve economic feasibility of restoration and 

effectiveness of changing the negative fire effects from large wildfires. 

03 When wildfires affect identified areas of tribal importance, communicate and collaborate 

with tribal leadership during fire incident management to identify and, to the extent 
Chapter 4. Design Criteria 

102 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

practical, protect tribal values and minimize impacts to resources or areas of tribal 

importance.

04 When managing wildland fire, the role of fire in riparian ecosystem function should be 

considered. Allow fire to burn in riparian ecosystems when fire intensity and continuous 

crown fire are limited. 

05 During wildland fire management activities, where possible, locate incident bases, camps, 

helibases, staging areas, helispots and other centers for incident activities outside of 

riparian conservation areas or critical aquatic refuges to avoid impacts to aquatic- and 

riparian-dependent resources.

06 During wildfires, avoid fire management activities in special habitats (see Terrestrial 

section, chapter 2) except when necessary to protect life and property. This includes 

activities such as line construction, staging areas, safety zones, water drafting and camps. 

When conducting fire management activities near special habitats, take extra measures to 

avoid spread of invasive plants.

07 If fire management actions are required within designated wilderness areas, research 

natural areas, or the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail management area, apply 

minimum impact strategies and tactics to manage wildland fire, unless more direct attack 

is needed to protect people or adjacent property. When possible, allow naturally ignited 

wildfires to function in their natural role. In cases where fire may damage the ecological 

values for which a research natural area was established, measures should be taken to 

exclude fire from the research natural area.

08 Wildfire management techniques that minimize ground disturbance impacts should be 

used in sensitive habitat of at-risk species, while considering the safety of people.

09 Consult a resource advisor during wildfires in large areas of old forest patches to identify 

old forest and wildlife resource values and to suggest opportunities for retaining and 

protecting large and old trees. When safe and feasible, protect highly valued old, den and 

nest trees ahead of burn operations using techniques such as targeted burning, removing 

large fuel from the base of trees, and providing direct protection.

10 When determining the appropriate wildfire management strategy, use spatial support 

tools such as wildfire risk assessments, fire management operating plans, and the current 

Forest Service decision support system for wildfire management. Locations of special 

habitats, old forest patches, and key habitat areas for at-risk species should be readily 

available in the current Forest Service decision support system for wildfire management 

ahead of fire season.

Timber

Forestwide (TIMB-FW-GDL)

01 Retention of snags within and immediately adjacent to areas planned for reforestation 

should be discouraged to mitigate hazards to workers. High fuel levels should not be 

retained in plantations that would preclude the use of prescribed burning at appropriate 

times as the plantation matures.
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Draft Revised Forest Plan 103

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02 Reforestation of suitable lands should be designed to achieve stocking levels, spatial 

arrangements and species composition to allow for long term resilience of the developing 

forest, while considering potential future plantation management, carbon carrying 

capacity, and climate change adaptations. Competing vegetation, fuel levels, and fire risk 

should be managed to provide for the long term survival and vigor of reestablishing 

forests as they move toward maturity.

03 On lands not suited for timber production, reforestation of deforested lands should be 

considered when forest cover could contribute to ecological restoration, while providing

benefits such as improving scenic character, restoring connectivity for wildlife, 

increasing carbon storage and improving watershed condition.

Range

Forestwide (RANG-FW-GDL)

01 Transitory forage produced by wildfire and other resource activities may be used for 

grazing.

02 Stock driveways and travel ways should be maintained in usable condition.

03 Domestic livestock should be managed to meet wildlife needs in identified important 

wildlife habitat areas.

04 Select a minimum of one key area benchmark for each sub-unit or pasture within an 

allotment that serves as the basis for establishing standards across the entire sub-unit or 

pasture on that landscape type. At selected key area benchmarks, include apparent trend 

rating, condition rating of soils, and a photo point record.

Sustainable Recreation

Forestwide (REC-FW-GDL)

01 Recreation projects should meet the minimum characteristics for recreation opportunities 

and settings as classified by the recreation opportunity spectrum (Figure 19, appendix A). 

Exemptions may occur on a case-by-case basis as documented in site-specific permits. 

02 Recreation uses should be managed adaptively to prevent impacts to other resources and 

recreation settings, while considering the recreation places inventory.

03 During implementation of projects with the potential to adversely affect recreation 

activities, implement measures to minimize adverse effects to recreation activities, 

facilities and visitor safety. 

04 Redesign, restore, or rehabilitate recreation sites where recreation activities have caused 

unacceptable natural resource and social resource impacts. 

05 New developed campgrounds and designated dispersed campsites should be located away 

from riparian areas, flood plains and other environmentally sensitive areas.

06 Within developed campgrounds, vegetation removal should promote visitor safety, scenic 

values and vegetation health. 
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104 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

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07 Seasonal road and trail closures, or other management methods, should be used to 

manage and protect resources and infrastructure. 

08 As part of project activities, semi-primitive non-motorized recreational opportunities 

should be maintained by closing temporary roads.

09 Cross-country over snow vehicle travel should be limited to snow depths 18 inches or 

greater or when site-specific conditions allow to avoid ground disturbance.

10 Special use permits should consider existing infrastructure, capacity and general public 

use and enjoyment prior to new or expanded special use permits.

11 Restoration projects should consider converting roads and trails or managing roads as 

trails to establish more areas for hiking, horseback riding, 4WD, trailbike use and other 

forms of recreation.

12 To be cost effective, conversion of recreation sites should fall within footprints of 

existing development unless there is a possibility of partnerships or alternative funding 

for a new recreation site.

Scenery

Forestwide (SCEN-FW-GDL)

01 Built environment and permitted activities should be designed to meet or exceed scenic 

integrity objectives and contribute to scenic stability.

02 Maintain scenic integrity objectives and scenic stability levels for the Pacific Crest Trail 

corridor, and surrounding National Forest System lands viewsheds, for the retention of 

panoramic views and landscape connectivity.

03 Restoration and salvage activities should achieve scenic integrity objectives in the longterm timeframes established in project analysis. 

Cultural Resources

Forestwide (CULT-FW-GDL)

01 Cultural artifacts should only be collected for diagnostic dating purposes, answering 

research questions, or protection of the artifact when special circumstances require 

collection. Artifact collections should be curated at nearby facilities and accessible to 

local tribes and researchers. 

02 Historic property protection provisions should be included in contracts and special use 

permits as applicable.

03 To protect the cultural setting of a site and visitor experiences, commercial use of 

heritage-based interpretive sites should be limited to activities that enhance the public

understanding of the resource, protect and preserve the resource, and are consistent with 

tribal interests.
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Draft Revised Forest Plan 105

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Geology and Minerals

Forestwide (GEO-FW-GDL)

01 Ensure that plans of operation, reclamation plans, and reclamation bonds address the 

costs of: removing facilities, equipment, and materials; isolating and neutralizing or 

removing toxic or potentially toxic materials; salvaging and replacing topsoil; and

preparing the seed bed and revegetating to meet the objectives of the land allocation in 

which the operation is located.

02 During mining-related activities, limit the clearing of trees and other vegetation to the 

minimum necessary. Clearing of vegetation should be pertinent to the approved phase of 

mineral exploration and development.

03 Within withdrawn areas, mining claims should be verified by a Forest Service mineral 

examiner prior to authorizing any surface disturbing mineral activities or authorizing 

surface access development.

04 Operating plans that provide for revegetation of disturbed areas should be in prescription 

within 2 years of conclusion of the operating plan period.

Draft Revised Forest Plan 107

for the Sierra National Forest 

Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring

Introduction

Monitoring forms the basis for continuous improvement of the forest plan and provides 

information for adaptive management within the plan area. The forest plan monitoring program 

enables the responsible official to determine where changes are needed in forest plan components, 

other plan content, and plan implementation strategies that guide resource management. 

The forest plan monitoring program measures management effectiveness and assesses progress 

toward achieving or maintaining the forest plan desired conditions and objectives through a set of 

monitoring questions and associated indicators. These are designed to inform management of 

resources in the plan area, including testing relevant assumptions, tracking relevant changes, and 

measuring management effectiveness. By using appropriate indicators which can be measured, 

observed, or described over time, management actions can be evaluated to determine if they are 

trending conditions toward the anticipated results. Not every plan component will have a 

corresponding monitoring question or indicator since monitoring in the plan is focused on priority 

management questions and related core information that are achievable within the means of the 

national forest. 

The plan monitoring program is just one piece of the monitoring that occurs within the forest and 

region; project and activity monitoring, and resource or species monitoring conducted by other 

agencies and organizations may inform the plan monitoring program and adaptive management of 

the plan. To address plan monitoring program questions and associated indicators that can best be 

answered at a broader geographic scale than one plan area, the Regional Forester shall develop a 

broader-scale monitoring strategy. The intent of the broader-scale monitoring strategy is to inform 

decision-making regarding the effectiveness of the forest plan, within the context of an all-lands 

approach, and realize efficiencies by coordinating similar monitoring across units, integrating 

agency protocols and leveraging partner and adjacent landowner monitoring work.

The monitoring program outlined below considers the 2014 science synthesis10 and 2013 forest 

plan assessment11. Existing national and regional monitoring programs, like the Forest Inventory 

and Analysis National Program, the National Visitor Use Monitoring Program, the current forest 

plan monitoring, and ongoing monitoring with the State contribute to the plan monitoring 

program. Monitoring is also coordinated with other Forest Service program mission areas (i.e.,

U.S. Forest Service State & Private Forestry and Research & Development), other federal and 

state agencies, partners and the public. 

Monitoring information will be evaluated every two years, starting no later than two years after 

the effective date of the forest plan decision. This biennial evaluation includes information 

gathered through this plan monitoring program and relevant information from the Region 5 

 

10 Long, Jonathan W.; Quinn-Davidson, Lenya; Skinner, Carl N., eds. 2014. Science synthesis to support 

socioecological resilience in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR247. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 723 

p.

11 USDA, Forest Service. 2013. Final Sierra National Forest assessment. U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Pacific Southwest. 
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

108 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

broader scale monitoring strategy. A written report of the evaluation will be made available to the 

public. Where frequency of monitoring is longer than two years, evaluation of that information 

will be made in the next biennial evaluation.

The monitoring program contains one or more monitoring questions and associated indicators 

addressing each of the following topics:

 The status of select watershed conditions.

 The status of select ecological conditions including key characteristics of terrestrial and 

aquatic ecosystems.

 The status of focal species to assess the ecological conditions required under the Code of 

Federal Regulations, specifically 36 CFR 219.9.

 The status of a select set of the ecological conditions required under 36 CFR 219.9 to 

contribute to the recovery of federally listed threatened and endangered species, conserve 

proposed and candidate species, and maintain a viable population of each species of 

conservation concern.

 The status of visitor use, visitor satisfaction, and progress toward meeting recreation 

objectives.

 Measurable changes on the plan area related to climate change and other stressors that may be 

affecting the plan area.

 Progress toward meeting the desired conditions and objectives in the plan, including for 

providing multiple use opportunities.

 The effects of each management system to determine that they do not substantially and 

permanently impair the productivity of the land (16 U.S.C. 1604(g)(3)(C)). 

Some monitoring questions and indictors may address more than one of these required topics. 

The entire monitoring program must be within the financial and technical capability of the forest, 

augmented by broader-scale monitoring by the Pacific Southwest Region and other monitoring 

with partners. 

The monitoring program for the Sierra National Forest is presented below in a set of tables, each 

related to one of the eight required topics previously listed. For clarity, monitoring questions for 

terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems are presented in separate tables. In the tables, each 

row represents a single monitoring question and associated indicators used to respond to a 

selected desired condition or objective. The desired conditions are generally complex statements 

that cannot be fully monitored. Therefore, the monitoring questions and indicators focus on some 

core aspect of the desired condition related to the required monitoring item that we are capable of 

monitoring. Monitoring questions and indicators that address more than one of the eight required 

items are repeated for each such item. Details of the plan monitoring program, including 

monitoring and analysis protocols, will be part of a separate monitoring guide.
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 109

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Monitoring Program

Watershed Conditions

These monitoring questions and their associated indicators are related to water resources and watershed conditions in the forest plan area. The 

geographic scale may extend beyond the plan area and may include receiving areas for water that flows off the plan area.

Table 9. Monitoring questions and associated indicators that evaluate watershed conditions 

Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component

Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

WTR-FW-DC-02 Water quality is sustained at a level that retains the 

biological, physical and chemical integrity of aquatic systems and 

benefits the survival, growth, reproduction and migration of native 

aquatic and riparian species.

Do aquatic benthic 

macroinvertebrate communities 

indicate stream ecosystem 

integrity is being maintained? 

(Same as aquatic ecosystems 

and focal species below)

Diversity; species composition; other indices 

of macroinvertebrate response to current 

conditions (e.g., Rivpacs score [O/E], index of 

biotic integrity [IBI], Ephemeroptera 

Plecoptera Trichoptera index [EPT]).

WTR-FW-DC-03 Watersheds have the following conditions: fully 

functioning or trending toward fully functioning and resilient; recover 

from natural and human disturbances at a rate appropriate with the 

capability of the site; and have a high degree of hydrologic connectivity 

laterally across the floodplain and valley bottom, and vertically between 

surface and subsurface flows. Physical (geomorphic, hydrologic) 

connectivity and associated surface processes (i.e., runoff, flooding, instream flow regime, erosion and sedimentation) are maintained and 

restored. Watersheds provide important ecosystem services: high 

quality water; recharge of streams and shallow groundwater; 

maintenance of riparian communities; and moderation of climate change 

and atmospheric deposition. Watersheds maintain long term soil 

productivity.

Is the condition of watersheds 

improving?

Watershed condition indicators from the 

Watershed Condition Framework.
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

110 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

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Terrestrial Ecosystems

A select set of ecological conditions is monitored for terrestrial ecosystems. The monitoring questions and indicators are selected to measure 

the effectiveness of the forest plan to maintain or restore ecological conditions for key ecosystem characteristics associated with composition, 

structure, function and connectivity. 

Table 10. Monitoring questions and associated indicators that evaluate conditions for terrestrial ecosystems 

Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

TERR-CES-DC-01 Complex early seral habitat created as a result of a 

disturbance event contains dense patches of snags and habitat elements 

characteristic of natural succession like regenerating shrub cover and 

herbaceous understory that are important to early seral forest-associated 

species. Large areas of shrubs are managed in locations where they represent 

the potential natural vegetation considering fire risks over time to adjacent 

vegetation and resources. Aspen and oak sprouts are well distributed in areas 

where they occur.

What is the amount and distribution 

of complex early seral habitat 

across large landscapes? 

Patch size; patch density; and 

patch distribution.

TERR-MONT-DC-01 At the landscape scale, montane vegetation occurs in a 

complex mosaic of different forest densities, sizes, and species mix across large 

landscapes that vary with topography, soils and precipitation. The composition, 

structure, and function of vegetation make them resilient to fire, drought, 

insects, pathogens and climate change. The mix of seral stage patches and 

open versus closed canopied areas varies by forest type. Interspersed across 

all seral stages, large and old trees are common in most of the landscape in 

varying densities (described in the old forest section below).

TERR-MONT-DC-02 At the landscape scale, montane vegetation provides 

ecological connectivity for a wide range of species, including old forestassociated species and habitat generalists. At least 30 percent of the landscape 

provides greater than 40 percent tree or shrub cover for connectivity of wideranging forest-associated species that travel on the ground. Between 10 to 40 

percent of the landscape has closed canopied, multi-storied forests with greater 

than 50 percent overstory tree cover for species that travel in the canopies. 

Most of these multi-storied forests occur on moist sites, on lower slope 

positions, and north or east-facing slopes.

What are the proportions and 

spatial distributions of seral stage 

patches and canopy cover areas 

for vegetation types across large 

landscapes?

Percent of seral stage patches by 

vegetation type at the landscape 

scale as shown in Table 1

(chapter 2): acres; and patch size 

distribution.

TERR-MONT-DC-06 At the mid-scale, a complex mosaic of groups of trees, 

shrubs, and herbaceous plants provide diverse habitat for a wide variety of 

wildlife species, including old forest-associated species. Within forest patches, 

trees are highly irregular in spacing and size. Individual trees, small clumps, and 

Is heterogeneity increasing within 

forest patches at the mid-scale?

Variation in tree canopy cover; 

tree sizes; tree spacing; and shrub 

and understory cover.
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 111

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Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

groups of trees are interspersed with grass, herbaceous plants, and shrubs, in 

variably sized openings that vary by forest type. A mosaic of moderate to dense 

shrubs, tree litter, down wood and bare ground occurs between groups of trees. 

Vigorous understories of heterogeneous, patchy, and diverse native shrubs, 

herbs, and grass species support small mammal, bird, insect, and fungal 

communities, as well as providing pollinator and herbivore forage.

TERR-OLD-DC-03 Between 40 and 80 percent of the forested landscape 

contain old forest areas. Old forest areas are clumps and patches of old forest 

components such as old trees, snags, and large downed logs. These areas are 

irregularly distributed across the landscape and interspersed with stands of 

younger trees, shrubs, meadows, other herbaceous vegetation and nonvegetated patches.

TERR-OLD-DC-04 The number and density of old trees vary by topographic 

position and soil moisture. In general, more large and old trees are found on 

moister sites; on lower slopes, bottoms, and north and east aspects, especially 

where soils are deeper. Large trees are well distributed but are often clumpy. 

The densities vary by forest type. Trees greater than 40 inches in diameter, 

generally over 150 years old, represent the oldest trees, and comprise a 

significant proportion of large and old trees. In many areas of high soil 

productivity, trees grow to large sizes (e.g., around 30 inches in diameter) in 

fewer than 100 years. On low and very low soil productivity sites, the oldest 

trees may be smaller in diameter. Sufficient numbers of younger trees are 

present to provide for recruitment of old trees over time.

Are the proportion of the landscape 

with large trees and the density of 

large trees increasing? 

Proportion of area with large trees; 

number of large trees per acre 

averaged at the landscape scale. 

TERR-BLCK-DC-01 Oak trees in varied ages are present, with wide spacing 

providing full sunlight around large old oak trees, enhancing their ability to 

produce abundant acorn crops. Black oak is reproducing successfully. Sufficient 

numbers of mid-age black oaks have enough canopy space to form full crowns 

to replace old oaks that eventually die.

Are black oak populations stable or 

increasing?

Oak spatial extent; basal area; 

density; regeneration; and tree 

health (e.g., mortality rates, 

insects, etc.).

TERR-MONT-DC-03 At the landscape scale, ponderosa, Jeffrey and sugar pine 

are common and dominant or co-dominant on drier sites. Large areas of black 

oak are present both in large patches, and intermixed throughout montane 

forests where it historically occurred. Sugar pine is reproducing, growing 

successfully, and is resistant to blister rust and insects. Shrub patches, as well 

as irregular openings within forests, provide diverse habitat for a wide variety of 

wildlife and plant species.

Are pines (i.e., ponderosa, Jeffrey, 

and sugar) increasing?

Pine relative density; basal area; 

average diameter at breast height; 

regeneration density; and health.
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

112 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

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Aquatic Ecosystems

A select set of ecological conditions are monitored for riparian and aquatic ecosystems. The monitoring questions and indicators are selected to 

measure the effectiveness of the plan to maintain or restore ecological conditions for key ecosystem characteristics associated with

composition, structure, function and connectivity.

Table 11. Monitoring questions and associated indicators that evaluate ecological conditions for aquatic and riparian ecosystems 

Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

WTR-FW-DC-02 Water quality is sustained at a level that retains the 

biological, physical and chemical integrity of aquatic systems and 

benefits the survival, growth, reproduction and migration of native 

aquatic and riparian species.

Do aquatic benthic 

macroinvertebrate communities 

indicate stream ecosystem 

integrity is being maintained? 

(Same as watershed condition 

above and focal species below)

Diversity; species composition; and other 

indices of macroinvertebrate response to 

current conditions (e.g., Rivpacs score [O/E], 

index of biotic integrity [IBI], Ephemeroptera 

Plecoptera Trichoptera index [EPT]).

RCA-MEAD-DC-01 Meadows are hydrologically functional. Sites of 

accelerated erosion, such as gullies and headcuts are stabilized or 

recovering. Vegetation roots occur throughout the available soil profile. 

Meadows with perennial and intermittent streams have the following 

characteristics: (1) stream energy from high flows is dissipated, 

reducing erosion and improving water quality; (2) streams filter 

sediment and capture bedload, aiding floodplain development; (3) 

meadow conditions enhance floodwater retention and groundwater 

recharge; and (4) root masses stabilize stream banks against cutting 

action.

Do meadows have wellfunctioning streams and 

floodplains?

Undercut banks; down cut streams; headcuts; 

number and size of deep pools, glides, riffles; 

and woody vegetation along streams.

RCA-MEAD-DC-05 Meadows are in mid- to late-seral condition, with 

substantive ground cover and a rich and diverse species composition, 

especially of grasses and forbs. Meadows have high plant functional 

diversity with late successional functional types represented. Perennial 

streams in meadows contain a diversity of age classes of hardwood 

shrubs along the stream bank, where the potential exists.

What is the ecological condition 

of meadows in selected grazed 

and ungrazed allotments?

Range condition class; species richness; 

species diversity; and plant functional groups.

RCA-MEAD-DC-05 Meadows are in mid- to late-seral condition, with 

substantive ground cover and a rich and diverse species composition, 

especially of grasses and forbs. Meadows have high plant functional 

diversity with late successional functional types represented. Perennial 

streams in meadows contain a diversity of age classes of hardwood 

shrubs along the stream bank, where the potential exists.

What is the status of 

streambank vegetation in 

selected grazed and ungrazed 

meadow perennial streams?

Range greenline monitoring: vegetation 

community types; presence of woody 

regeneration; and plant functional groups.
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 113

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Focal Species

Focal species are a small subset of species whose status permits inference to the integrity of the larger ecological system to which they belong. 

Focal species monitoring provides information regarding the effectiveness of the plan in providing the ecological conditions necessary to 

maintain the diversity of plant and animal communities and the persistence of native species in the plan area. They should act as indicators for 

the attributes of community composition, structure, connectivity or function, or factors that regulate them. 

An effective focal species or assemblage of species will be sensitive to the ecosystem components or habitat attributes of concern. There are a

few key qualities of well-selected focal species: the species is taxonomically well-known and stable; the species is specialized within a narrow 

habitat; and the species is a permanent resident (migrants are subject to a variety of sources of mortality and stress on their wintering grounds 

and during migration). A focal species could be a keystone species, an ecological engineer, an umbrella species, a link species, or a species of 

conservation concern, but need not be any of these species categories. Monitoring questions should relate the species to the ecological 

condition and reason for its selection; indicators may include affected attributes of the species, such as presence or occupancy, habitat use, 

reproductive rate and population trends. If the focal species’ sensitivity to habitat changes cannot be directly attributable to a cause and effect 

relationship, then the influence of habitat change on the focal species may not be separable from the influence of other factors on the species, 

such as climate change, predation, disease or competition.

Focal species, as used by the Forest Service, are not meant to act as surrogates for other species. Focal species monitoring is also not the same 

as monitoring those species in which we have a particular interest, such as threatened or endangered species, invasive species, or other species 

for which we deliberately manage the landscape. 

Focal species are intended to reduce the cost and effort of ecosystem monitoring and should only be used when direct measurement of 

resources is not efficient or practical.

Table 12. Monitoring questions and associated indicators that evaluate the status of focal species 

Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

Focal species is benthic macroinvertebrate communities for 

stream ecosystems and the following desired conditions:

WTR-FW-DC-02 Water quality is sustained at a level that retains 

the biological, physical, and chemical integrity of aquatic systems 

and benefits the survival, growth, reproduction and migration of 

native aquatic and riparian species.

RCA-RIV-DC-01 Stream ecosystems, riparian corridors and 

associated stream courses sustain ecosystem structure; are 

Do aquatic benthic 

macroinvertebrate communities 

indicate stream ecosystem 

integrity is being maintained? 

Diversity; species composition; and other indices 

of macroinvertebrate response to current 

conditions (e.g., Rivpacs score [O/E], index of 

biotic integrity [IBI], Ephemeroptera Plecoptera 

Trichoptera index [EPT]).
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

114 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

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Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

resilient to natural disturbances (e.g., flooding) and climate 

change; promote the natural movement of water, sediment and 

woody debris; and provide habitat for native aquatic species.

Ecological Conditions for At-risk Species

For select at-risk species, a select set of ecological conditions, including habitat, is monitored. The selected ecological conditions are necessary 

to provide for diversity of plant and animal communities and contribute to the recovery of, conserve, or maintain the viability of at risk species 

within the plan area. At-risk species include federally recognized threatened, endangered, proposed, and candidate species plus the species of 

conservation concern identified for the forest. Only a select set of ecological conditions is monitored for select at-risk species and may include 

characteristics at both the ecosystem and species-specific levels of terrestrial, riparian, or aquatic ecosystems. 

Table 13. Monitoring questions and associated indicators that evaluate ecological conditions for select at-risk species 

Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

TERR-SH-DC-01 The integrity of special habitats is maintained or 

improved. Composition, diversity and structure are maintained in all 

areas, including those with multiple use activities.

Is the integrity of special habitats 

(e.g. pumice flats, limestone or 

serpentine soils, fens) for at-risk 

plants being maintained or 

improved over time?

Special habitat extent (acres) and health 

(e.g., species composition, hydrologic 

function, grazing utilization).

MA-CAR-DC-01 Streams in critical aquatic refuges have vegetation and 

channel bank characteristics that are properly functioning or functioning 

at-risk with an upward trend. These ratings are made in relation to the 

current potential of the stream system. If the current potential is different 

from historic potential, assess what restoration measures are required 

to attain historic potential and if this is necessary or achievable.

Do streams in selected grazed 

and ungrazed meadows and 

grasslands have vegetation and 

channel bank conditions within the 

natural range of variation?

Range greenline monitoring:

vegetation community types and presence 

of woody regeneration.

SPEC-FW-DC-02 Habitats for at-risk species support self-sustaining 

populations within the inherent capabilities of the plan area. Ecological 

conditions provide habitat conditions that: contribute to the survival, 

recovery and delisting of species under the Endangered Species Act; 

Do stream temperatures support 

persistence of Lahontan cutthroat 

trout, hardhead and Central Valley 

hitch? 

Maximum summer stream temperature; 

average daily stream temperatures; 

maximum daily average stream 

temperature during summer and fall for fall 
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 115

for the Sierra National Forest 

Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

preclude the need for listing new species; improve conditions for 

species of conservation concern; and sustain both common and 

uncommon native species.

(Same as climate change and 

other stressors below)

spawners; maximum and minimum winter 

stream temperatures.

Fisher (Pekania pennanti)

SPEC-PF-DC-05 Outside of community buffers and focus landscapes, 

at least 60 percent of each fisher target cell, on average, is in CWHR 

classes 5M, 4D, 5D, and 6 in a heterogeneous pattern. This proportion 

may vary according to the landscape conditions within each cell. 

Canopy cover greater than 60 percent occurs in patches, especially in 

more mesic sites like canyons and swales and on north and east 

slopes. The patches may be separated by more open stands, especially 

on drier slopes and ridges, with up to 25 percent of the target cell in 

open canopy cover (less than 40 percent) and the balance in moderate 

canopy cover (40 to 60 percent). Dense stands are also punctuated at 

fine resolution with gaps of 0.03 to 2.0 acres (median of 0.1 acres).

What is distribution of fisher target 

habitat in the fisher target cells?

Acreage and distribution of California 

Wildlife Habitat Relationships classes 5M, 

4D, 5D, and 6.

Fisher (Pekania pennanti)

SPEC-PF-DC-04 Black oaks are well-distributed within mixed-conifer 

and conifer-hardwood stands throughout the fisher’s range. The 

majority of trees are in good condition and the number of large oaks is 

increasing.

Are black oaks stable or 

increasing?

(Same as terrestrial ecosystems 

above)

Oak spatial extent; canopy cover; density; 

regeneration; and tree health (e.g., mortality 

rates, insects, etc.)

California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis)

SPEC-CSO-DC-02 California spotted owl protected activity centers 

encompass the best available 300 acres of habitat in as compact a unit 

as possible. Best available habitat includes: two or more tree canopy 

layers; trees in the dominant and co-dominant crown classes averaging 

24 inches diameter or greater; at least 60 percent tree canopy cover, 

including hardwoods; and in descending order of priority, California 

wildlife habitat relationship (CWHR) system classes 6, 5D, 5M, 4D, and 

4M and other stands with at least 50 percent canopy cover, including 

hardwoods. Protected activity centers also contain some very large 

snags, greater than 45 inches diameter, and snag and down woody 

material levels that are higher than average. Where possible, 

heterogeneity is incorporated as described in the terrestrial vegetation 

desired conditions appropriate for the protected activity center location 

(e.g., red fir, mixed conifer, and blue oak woodland). In general, the 

moist mixed conifer desired conditions are most applicable.

What are the ecological conditions 

in protected activity centers 

(PACs)?

Diameter of crown trees; canopy cover; and 

California Wildlife Habitat Relationships 

class
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

116 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Visitor Use, Visitor Satisfaction, and Progress toward Meeting Recreation Objectives

The plan monitoring program includes monitoring questions and associated indicators that address the status of visitor use, visitor satisfaction, 

and progress toward meeting recreation objectives.

Table 14. Monitoring questions and associated indicators that evaluate visitor use, visitor satisfaction, and progress toward meeting recreation 

objectives 

Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

Recreation Objective

REC-FW-DC-02 Recreation settings are capable of adapting 

to changing conditions and support social, ecological, and 

economic sustainability on the forest and in surrounding 

communities.

How much money is spent in a year by 

non-local visitors within the local area on 

lodging, restaurant meals, groceries, 

gas and oil, and activities?

Total spending by non-local visitors (whose 

home is at least 50 miles from the forest) within 

the local area (within 50 miles of the forest) on 

lodging, restaurant meals, groceries, gas and 

oil, and activities.

Visitor Satisfaction

REC-FW-DC-03 Recreation opportunities on land, water and 

in the air provide a high level of visitor satisfaction and safety. 

Recreation activities are ecologically, socially and 

economically sustainable. Agency resources focus on 

supporting the forest recreation program niche.

What level of satisfaction do visitors 

express for developed facilities, access, 

services, and perception of safety?

Percent meets expectations (PME) measure for 

developed facilities, access, services, 

perception of safety.

Visitor Use

REC-FW-DC-04 Visitors can connect with nature, culture and 

history through a full range of inclusive and sustainable 

outdoor recreation opportunities.

Do visitors engage in selected activities 

that focus on natural and cultural 

resources?

Percentage of visitors participating in viewing 

natural features, hiking or walking, viewing 

wildlife, visiting historic sites, nature study, 

backpacking.

Recreation Objective

REC-FW-OBJ-03 Within 10 years of plan approval, 470 to 

550 miles of trails are meeting standard.

How many trail miles meet National Trail 

Quality Standards?

Miles of trail meeting National Trail Quality 

Standards.

Recreation Objective

SCEN-FW-DC-01The forest provides a variety of ecologically 

sound, resilient and visually appealing forest landscapes that 

sustain scenic character, supporting the forest recreation 

program niche in ways that contribute to visitors’ sense of 

place and connection with nature.

What level of satisfaction do visitors 

express for scenery associated with 

day-use developed sites, overnight 

developed sites, undeveloped areas, 

and wilderness?

Percent meets expectations (PME) measure for 

scenery associated with day-use developed 

sites, overnight developed sites, undeveloped 

areas, and wilderness.
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 117

for the Sierra National Forest 

Climate Change and Other Stressors

The plan monitoring program includes monitoring questions and associated indicators to determine whether there are measurable changes on 

the plan area resulting from climate change and other stressors.

Table 15. Monitoring questions and associated indicators that measure changes on the plan area resulting from climate change and other stressors 

Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

TERR-ALPN-DC-03 Subalpine woodlands and alpine ecosystems are 

resilient to insects, diseases, fire, wind and climate change. Highelevation white pines (e.g., whitebark pine) are healthy and vigorous, 

with a low incidence of white pine blister rust, and resilient to moisture 

stress and drought. White pine blister rust-resistant trees are 

regenerating and populations of high elevation white pines have the 

potential to expand above the tree line.

TERR-RFIR-DC-01 At the landscape scale, the red fir forest type is part 

of a heterogeneous mosaic of tree species and vegetation structures 

(e.g., tree density, size, age and shrub cover), with patches of Jeffrey 

pine, meadows and montane chaparral. It is dominated by red fir trees, 

with varying amounts of white fir, Jeffrey pine, western white pine, sugar 

pine, lodgepole pine and mountain hemlock.

Are high-elevation white pines 

and red fir being sustained or 

increasing across the landscape 

with climate change?

Extent by forest type (acres); tree mortality 

(%); incidence of insects and pathogens 

(e.g., white pine blister rust) (%); tree 

regeneration (no./acre); extent of tree 

mortality (acres).

RCA-RIV-DC-01 Stream ecosystems, riparian corridors and associated 

stream courses sustain ecosystem structure; are resilient to natural 

disturbances (e.g., flooding) and climate change; promote the natural 

movement of water, sediment and woody debris; and provide habitat for 

native aquatic species.

Do stream temperatures support 

persistence of Lahontan 

cutthroat trout, hardhead and 

Central Valley Hitch? 

(Same as at-risk species above)

Maximum summer stream temperature; 

average daily stream temperatures; 

maximum daily average stream temperature 

during summer and fall for fall spawners; 

maximum and minimum winter stream 

temperatures.

FIRE-FW-DC-03 Wildland fires burn with a range of intensity, severity 

and frequency that allows ecosystems to function in a healthy and 

sustainable manner. Wildland fire is a necessary process, integral to the 

sustainability of fire-adapted ecosystems.

Are wildfires managed to meet 

resource objectives meeting the 

desired range of conditions 

within forested landscapes?

Fire severity; proportion high fire severity; 

fire severity index; mean and maximum high 

severity patch size.

FIRE-FW-DC-03 Wildland fires burn with a range of intensity, severity 

and frequency that allows ecosystems to function in a healthy and 

sustainable manner. Wildland fire is a necessary process, integral to the 

sustainability of fire-adapted ecosystems.

TERR-MONT-DC-05 At the landscape scale, fires burn with low, 

moderate or mixed severity, with minimal patches of very high severity 

Are natural fire regimes within 

terrestrial ecosystems becoming 

less departed from the desired

conditions and the natural range 

of variation?

Fire return interval departure
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

118 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

(greater than 90 percent basal area mortality) that is rarely greater than 

200 acres in size. The proportion of areas burned at very high severity 

within a fire is generally less than 10 to 15 percent. Due to existing high 

levels of fuels and weather variability, greater proportions of areas 

burned at high severity (up to 40 percent, with some patches of high 

severity up to 1,000 acres), may be unavoidable during large landscape 

prescribed fires or wildfires managed to meet resource objectives.

TERR-UPPR-DC-02 At the landscape scale, fire is a key ecological 

process, restoring and maintaining patchy fuel loads and increasing 

heterogeneity and understory plant vigor. Fires occur irregularly, 

generally every 15 to 100 years, with frequency averaging about 40 

years. Fires in this vegetation type burn with low, moderate or mixed 

severity, with minimal patches of very high severity (greater than 90 

percent basal area mortality), rarely greater than 300 acres in size. The 

proportion of areas burned at high severity within a fire is generally less 

than 10 to 15 percent. Due to existing high levels of fuels and weather 

variability, greater proportions of areas of high severity burn (up to 50 

percent) may be unavoidable during large landscape prescribed fires or 

wildfires managed to meet resource objectives. Some patches of high 

severity burn reach 1,000 acres in size.

FIRE-FW-DC-03 Wildland fires burn with a range of intensity, severity 

and frequency that allows ecosystems to function in a healthy and 

sustainable manner. Wildland fire is a necessary process, integral to the 

sustainability of fire-adapted ecosystems.

TERR-MONT-DC-05 At the landscape scale, fires burn with low, 

moderate or mixed severity, with minimal patches of very high severity 

(greater than 90 percent basal area mortality) that is rarely greater than 

200 acres in size. The proportion of areas burned at very high severity 

within a fire is generally less than 10 to 15 percent. Due to existing high 

levels of fuels and weather variability, greater proportions of areas 

burned at high severity (up to 40 percent, with some patches of high 

severity up to 1,000 acres), may be unavoidable during large landscape 

prescribed fires or wildfires managed to meet resource objectives. 

TERR-UPPR-DC- 02 At the landscape scale, fire is a key ecological 

process, restoring and maintaining patchy fuel loads and increasing 

heterogeneity and understory plant vigor. Fires occur irregularly, 

generally every 15 to 100 years, with frequency averaging about 40 

Are wildfires becoming larger, 

more frequent, and more severe 

with warming climate 

conditions?

Fire return interval departure; fire severity; 

proportion high fire severity; fire severity 

index; mean and maximum high severity 

patch size; and total fire size.
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 119

for the Sierra National Forest 

Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

years. Fires in this vegetation type burn with low, moderate or mixed 

severity, with minimal patches of very high severity (greater than 90 

percent basal area mortality), rarely greater than 300 acres in size. The 

proportion of areas burned at high severity within a fire is generally less 

than 10 to 15 percent. Due to existing high levels of fuels and weather 

variability, greater proportions of areas of high severity burn (up to 50 

percent) may be unavoidable during large landscape prescribed fires or 

wildfires managed to meet resource objectives. Some patches of high 

severity burn reach 1,000 acres in size.
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

120 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Desired Conditions, Including Social, Cultural, and Economic Sustainability

Progress toward meeting desired conditions, objectives, or other plan components that do not fall under one of the other eight required items 

are included in the monitoring program. Specifically, the plan monitoring program must contain one or more questions and associated 

indicators addressing the plan contributions to communities, social and economic sustainability of communities, multiple use management in 

the plan area, or progress toward meeting the desired conditions and objectives related to social and economic sustainability.

Table 16. Monitoring questions and associated indicators that evaluate progress toward meeting desired conditions not addressed elsewhere in the 

monitoring program, particularly those related to social and economic sustainability of communities 

Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

LOC-FW-DC-03 Forest uses such as recreation, 

forest products, mining and grazing are provided in an 

ecologically sustainable way that also contributes to 

economic and social sustainability in local 

communities.

What are the economic conditions in 

local communities that could affect 

the impact of forest contributions to 

local economies?

Economic health: unemployment (%); household earnings; 

per-capita income; and source of income (%).

Economic diversity: employment diversity index; 

employment projections by occupation (% change); number 

of local businesses, employees, and average salaries in 

forest related sectors.

Local fiscal conditions: forest land use receipts; timber yield 

tax revenue ($); transient lodging tax revenue ($); visitor 

spending contribution to county sales tax; and PILT and 

FFR/SRS payments to counties ($).

LOC-FW-DC-03 Forest uses such as recreation, 

forest products, mining and grazing are provided in an 

ecologically sustainable way that also contributes to 

economic and social sustainability in local 

communities.

What economic contributions are 

forest-based recreation, forest 

products, mining and grazing 

making to local communities?

Conditions in forest based sectors: forest-related sector 

employment (jobs); forest-related sector wages (annual 

salary); and employment and earnings from travel and 

tourism (by county). 

Forest contributions: units of commodities provided; value 

of contributions of commodities to local economies; 

contributions of USDA Forest Service employees; and ratio 

of annual local contracted value to annual total contracted 

value.
Chapter 5. Forest Plan Monitoring 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 121

for the Sierra National Forest 

Productivity of the Land

This monitoring requirement comes from the National Forest Management Act requirement that there be research regarding the effects of 

timber management systems on the productivity of the land, and that such research is to be based on continuous monitoring and assessment in 

the field. Monitoring is focused on key ecosystem characteristics related to soils and soil productivity. 

Table 17. Monitoring questions and associated indicators that evaluate soils and soil productivity 

Selected Desired Condition and Objective 

or Other Plan Component Monitoring Question Associated Indicators

WTR-FW-DC-04 Soil and vegetation functions in upland and riparian areas are 

sustained and resilient. Healthy soils provide the base for resilient landscapes and 

nutritive forage for browsing and grazing animals, and support timber production. Healthy 

upland and riparian areas support healthy fish and wildlife populations, enhance 

recreation opportunities, and maintain water quality.

TERR-FW-DC-08 Landscape sustainably provides a variety of benefits that improve 

peoples’ economic, social and physical wellbeing: clean water; forest products; livestock 

forage; carbon sequestration and storage stability; energy generation; recreational 

opportunities; landscapes with scenic character and scenic integrity; cultural uses; and 

biodiversity. Vegetation provides sustainable amounts of forest products that include 

wood fiber; biomass; forage; firewood; edible and medicinal plants; and boughs, bark, 

berries and cones for commercial, tribal, personal, educational and scientific uses. These 

products are provided while sustaining soil and water quality and productivity. Vegetation 

conditions support the long-term sustainability of these benefits to people by reducing 

the risk of undesirable fire effects, disease and mortality.

Is soil quality being maintained 

such that productivity of the 

land is not substantially or 

permanently impaired?

Soil stability; surface organic 

matter; soil organic matter, 

soil strength, soil structure; 

and macro-porosity.
122 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 
Draft Revised Forest Plan 123

for the Sierra National Forest 

Appendices

Draft Revised Forest Plan 125

for the Sierra National Forest 

Appendix A: Maps

Management Areas

Figure 11. Strategic fire management zone map 
Appendix A. Maps 

126 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 12. Wilderness management areas of the Sierra National Forest 
Appendix A. Maps 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 127

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 13. Wild and scenic river status of the Sierra National Forest 
Appendix A. Maps 

128 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 14. Riparian conservation areas of the Sierra National Forest 
Appendix A. Maps 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 129

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 15. Critical aquatic refuges of the Sierra National Forest 
Appendix A. Maps 

130 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 16. Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Management Area of the Sierra National Forest 
Appendix A. Maps 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 131

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 17. Recreation places map of the Sierra National Forest 
Appendix A. Maps 

132 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Congressionally Designated Areas

Figure 18. Congressionally designated areas of the Sierra National Forest 
Appendix A. Maps 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 133

for the Sierra National Forest 

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum 

Figure 19. Recreation opportunity spectrum map of the Sierra National Forest 
Appendix A. Maps 

134 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Scenic Integrity Objectives

Figure 20. Scenic integrity objectives map of the Sierra National Forest
Draft Revised Forest Plan 135

for the Sierra National Forest 

Appendix B: Proposed and Possible Actions

Introduction

This appendix describes proposed and probable practices that may take place on the Sierra 

National Forest at the project or activity level to help maintain existing conditions or achieve the 

desired conditions described in the plan. Included are items such as program strategies; 

inventories, assessments, resource analyses and other planning needs; and ongoing work with 

partners and cooperating agencies anticipated during the next 3 to 5 years. 

The listed proposed and probable management practices are not intended to be all-inclusive, nor 

are they intended to be decisions, but simply projections of what actions may take place in the 

future. A plan amendment is not required to change or modify any proposed and possible actions. 

The list of these actions can be updated at any time through an administrative correction of the 

plan. More information may be found under plan objectives and management approaches.

Air

 Continue participation in interagency groups, councils and committees focused on 

cooperation and coordination among land management agencies and air quality regulators 

in mitigations of potential air quality impacts from prescribed fire and wildfires.

Water, Soils, and Watershed 

 Plan and implement restoration actions in priority watersheds.

 Implement best management practices on all projects and continue to conduct best 

management practices monitoring to ensure water quality objectives are being met.

 Maintain satisfactory soil conditions and improvement of impaired and unsatisfactory soil 

conditions. Treatments that move watershed conditions in priority watersheds toward 

satisfactory conditions should take precedence. 

 Implement resource improvement projects that are beneficial for maintaining and 

improving soil condition and productivity, and water quality and quantity. 

 Complete onsite soil investigations and refinement of maps for soil disturbing projects 

that require site-specific, precise and highly detailed soil information that is beyond the 

scale of the terrestrial ecosystem survey.

Terrestrial Ecosystems

 Increase the pace and scale of ecological restoration on the forest through potentially 

larger scale planning and implementation processes; include thinning forests to reduce 

fuels and fire hazards, while producing commercial timber and biomass material. 

Continue our commitment to participating in collaborative planning processes to ensure 

that restoration strategies are science-based and reflect diverse interests.

 Restore aspen stands where feasible.

 Restore fire to the landscape where conditions are appropriate. 

 Use prescribed fires and naturally-ignited fires to treat mixed conifer types.
Appendix B. Proposed and Possible Actions 

136 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Aquatic and Riparian Ecosystems

 Implement restoration actions to maintain, enhance or improve conditions on 3 to 5

meadows in the Greys Mountain, Whiskey Ridge, Bald Mountain, Eastfork and 

Exchequer Project areas.

 Implement actions on stream habitat that maintain or restore structure, composition or 

function of habitat for fisheries and other aquatic species in the Greys Mountain, 

Whiskey Ridge, Bald Mountain, Eastfork and Exchequer Project areas.

 Eliminate or mitigate the high priority barriers to aquatic organism passage.

 Restore the structure and composition of riparian habitat, with emphasis on areas where 

riparian areas are most at risk from large-scale high intensity fire, past fire exclusion or 

climate change in the Greys Mountain, Whiskey Ridge, Bald Mountain, Eastfork and 

Exchequer Project Areas.

 Reconstruct or restore riparian function to springs identified as not in proper functioning 

condition.

 Restore nonfunctioning or functioning-at-risk riparian areas so they are in or moving 

toward proper functioning condition. 

 Evaluate fens (peatlands) using the regional fen proper functioning condition protocol12; 

determine and implement actions to restore fens and sustain peat formation if necessary.

Animal and Plant Species

 Implement actions to benefit federally listed species and species of conservation concern, 

including those that contribute to recovery or result in outcomes that avoid listing. 

 Restore terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat. 

 Coordinate with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, United States Fish and 

Wildlife Service, and interested parties on education, research, and activities that promote 

and enhance habitat conditions and species recovery.

 Develop a regional whitebark pine conservation and restoration strategy in collaboration 

with other federal agencies, research organizations and other partners.

 For foothill chaparral, emphasize sustainability of post-fire floral diversity, especially the 

first year or two after fire. Recognize the importance in maintaining native biodiversity in 

chaparral, especially of species that germinate in response to smoke or high heat, and 

build up soil seed banks between fires.

 Incorporate burning of the rare shrub tree anemone, Carpenteria californica, into 

prescribed burns within its range to increase seedling production and rejuvenate decadent 

stands; time burning to maximize survival and recovery of tree anemone. 

 

12 Weixelman, Dave A, Cooper David J. 2009. Assessing proper functioning condition for fen areas in the 

Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Ranges in California, a user guide. Gen. Tech. Rep. R5-TP-028. 

Vallejo, CA. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, 42 p. 
Appendix B. Proposed and Possible Actions 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 137

for the Sierra National Forest 

 For the rare plant Rawson’s flaming trumpet, Collomia rawsoniana, conduct careful 

thinning in select areas where canopy cover is close to or at 100 percent; to promote 

flowering and seed production.

Invasive Species

 Complete treatments in areas containing invasive species to restore native vegetation 

 Complete treatments in aquatic systems containing invasive species to restore native fish 

populations. 

 Prioritize wilderness areas, research natural areas, botanical areas, wild and scenic areas, 

and aquatic and riparian areas for control of invasive non-native species, to maintain the 

integrity of native species populations in these unique and rare habitats. 

 Maintain a current inventory of invasive non-native species on forest lands. 

 Coordinate invasive species management activities with internal and external partners 

and stakeholders to reduce, or minimize the potential for the introduction, establishment, 

spread and impact of invasive species.

 Continue invasive weed treatments in high priority areas.

 Complete a forest-wide National Environmental Policy Act document for invasive weed 

treatments, facilitating the use of a variety of control methods including appropriate 

herbicides, using integrated pest management as directed in FSM 2900.

 Continue actively participating in the weed management area for Mariposa, Madera, and 

Fresno Counties.

 Incorporate an approach to invasive weed management that emphasizes mapping areas 

that are free of invasive weeds and prioritizing prevention of spread to those areas.

Fire

 Complete risk based assessments and threshold criteria for naturally caused wildfires that 

could be beneficial. Identify areas of containment where natural or man-made barriers are 

maximized.

 Work collaboratively with all stakeholders to inform risk based assessments.

Timber and Other Forest Products

 Ensure the sustainability of special forest products through observation of commercial 

sales and personal use permit harvest levels.

 See appendix E for more information on the possible timber sale program and vegetation 

management practices.

Range

 Implement the Sierra National Forest’s revised Rescissions Act Schedule for grazing 

allotment environmental analysis (NEPA) in order to update allotment management plans 

accordingly.
Appendix B. Proposed and Possible Actions 

138 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

 Secure and maintain stock water rights for proposed spring or water developments.

Sustainable Recreation

 Develop trail systems for bikes, equestrians and motorized recreation users.

 Complete updates and changes to the motor vehicle use map to achieve forest plan 

desired conditions. 

 Naturalize or decommission unauthorized tracks.

 Maintain trails according to development level and managed use. 

 Develop interpretive plans.

 Participate in outdoor classrooms for school groups and other partnership opportunities 

with local schools. 

 Develop education and outreach programs, including signage, to help reduce user 

conflicts like those between motorized and non-motorized users. 

 Implement management actions to discourage illegal activity, including creation of 

unauthorized tracks. 

 Develop interpretive sites as opportunities become available and in conjunction with 

partners. 

 Maintain interpretive signs and exhibits. 

 Distribute visitor information at Forest Service offices and other locations.

 Cooperate with other entities, such as Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California 

Edison for the rehabilitation of recreation sites through Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission (FERC) settlement agreements. 

 Implement vegetation management activities in developed recreation sites, including 

periodic reviews of vegetation health and opportunities for vegetation to provide 

screening or manage recreation site concerns—following the protocol for removing 

hazard trees, where needed. 

 Improve facilities’ operating efficiency and sustainability through new construction and 

repairs. Consider energy efficiency through the implementation of recycled or renewable 

resources which produce a smaller carbon footprint. 

 Complete regular patrols at developed facilities to check for public safety, and facility 

and resource protection.
Appendix B. Proposed and Possible Actions 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 139 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Scenery

 Rehabilitate areas that do not meet or exceed their desired scenic integrity objective 

(SIO). 

 In all vegetation treatment and fuels reduction projects, meet the established scenic 

integrity objective and manage for high scenic stability through actions that will enhance 

and protect desired scenic attributes. 

 Cooperate with other entities, such as California Department of Transportation, to 

maintain or create scenic vistas to meet the needs of the public and improve scenery in 

areas of high public concern.

 Use interpretive signs and exhibits to educate the public of the importance of fire in an 

ecosystem and in achieving desired scenic conditions.

Tribal Relations and Uses

 Continue tribal consultation on projects and needs as they arise. 

 Jointly develop and implement memoranda of agreements and memoranda of 

understandings between the forest and consulting American Indian tribes, to guide 

consultation processes and reflect the tribes’ particular perspectives and interests. 

 Participate in regular meetings and tribal forums with tribes to understand their needs,

exchange ideas and promote mutually beneficial projects, goals and objectives. 

 Maintain consistency on already established special forest products collection policies

and tribal firewood programs with local tribes. 

 Create volunteer opportunities and promote potential employment or contracting 

opportunities for tribal communities.

Cultural Resources

 Develop at least one agreement with a university, college, or other educational institution 

to provide field school opportunities for students to conduct research, as well as to 

identify and record cultural resources on the forest. 

 Develop partnerships and agreements with interested tribal governments for the tribes to 

provide site stewardship services on the forest. 

 Outreach to state, county and local governments to develop partnerships and agreements 

that will incorporate appropriate forest-based cultural resources, interpretative services, 

and heritage education into county and local community plans for heritage tourism. 

 Develop a plan that identifies the process to convert appropriate historic buildings into 

the recreation rental program. 

 Engage youth groups, veteran’s groups, and non-profit organizations with educational 

and occupational opportunities that provide demonstrable benefit to the forest’s historic 

preservation program.
Appendix B. Proposed and Possible Actions 

140 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Geology and Minerals

 Coordinate with the Bureau of Land Management and other agencies to properly process 

applications for mineral entry and mineral operations on the forest. 

 Request withdrawal of some areas on the forest from mineral entry. 

 Rehabilitate abandoned mine lands that are no longer in use.

 Complete periodic updates to the list of significant caves on the forest.

 Monitor significant caves to determine visitor impacts and the conditions of key 

resources in order to protect the long-term integrity of the feature or resource. 

 Participate in public education activities about cave conservation and ethics and disease 

prevention “best practices” for caves.

Energy

 Manage hydroelectric generation under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 

licenses and to provide recreation for forest visitors.

Infrastructure

 Update facilities master plan to reflect quarter’s occupancy rates and the National 

reduced footprint initiative.

 Complete Travel Analysis (Subpart A) of the 2005 Travel Management Rule (Rule 36 

CFR 212) in one priority watershed.

 Implement the Southern California Edison Relicensing Transportation Plan.

 Complete reconstruction of the Sierra Vista National Scenic Byway.

 Collaborate with watershed and aquatic staff to inventory road culverts and enter into 

infrastructure database.

 Do a complete survey and create site maps of the Trimmer and North Fork administrative 

sites.

 Support Region 5’s implementation of the Federal Lands Transportation Program 

throughout the Region.

 Maximize use of students thru agreements with Fresno State and internships to 

accomplish engineering work for the Forest and the Region.

 Leverage appropriated funds in partnership with the State OHV Commission to do road 

work benefiting the OHV community.

Lands

 Ensure reasonable road ingress and egress to private property.

 Acquire right-of-way agreements for public and Forest Service use.
Appendix B. Proposed and Possible Actions 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 141

for the Sierra National Forest 

Special Uses

 Monitor permits for existing special use activities on the forest.

 Prioritize reissuance of existing expired permits in priority watersheds.

 Develop a plan to enhance the forest’s commercial filming permitting process. 

 Complete needs assessments for outfitter and guiding permits in both wilderness and nonwilderness areas.

 Prioritize utility companies’ responsibilities for vegetation removal and infrastructure 

maintenance within power line rights-of-way to meet national standards. 

 Complete updates to communication site plans for existing and new communication sites.

Designated Areas

 Rehabilitate sites or areas in wilderness that have been impacted by recreation in order to 

restore wilderness character. 

 Implement corrective measures, such as adjusting trailhead quotas or establishing 

destination quotas, if overuse causes unacceptable resource damage in wilderness. 

 Conduct regular wilderness ranger patrols in wilderness areas. 

 Establish and implement the national wilderness character monitoring protocol.

 Implement Sierra National Forest wilderness education plan and review for effectiveness 

every three years.

 Develop and implement management plans for the Kaiser Wilderness. 

 Develop and implement management plans for any newly designated wilderness areas 

within 5 years of designation. 

 Implement comprehensive river management plans for any newly designated wild and 

scenic river within 5 years of designation.

 Coordinate activities and design of byway facilities with the appropriate byway 

association and byway plan.
142 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 
Draft Revised Forest Plan 143

for the Sierra National Forest 

Appendix C: A Renewed Partnership Focus for the Sierra 

National Forest

Partnerships in land stewardship reflect a growing and important trend, the joining of passion and 

resources by committed citizens, organizations and government agencies to achieve social, 

economic and ecological goals. The U.S. Forest Service has worked with partners throughout its 

more than 100-year history. But the challenges of land management have grown more complex, 

and the needs of the public more varied. The American people today are voicing their strong 

desire to volunteer and participate in the stewardship of natural resources and in the decisions that 

affect their communities. The Forest Service has responded by developing partnership strategies 

at the national and regional levels.

The mission of the Forest Service is to “sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the 

Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.” Partnerships 

are essential to carrying out that mission today. Fortunately, there are hundreds of organizations in 

California whose missions overlap with ours in some way, creating the opportunity to work 

together toward bigger, better outcomes than each can achieve on its own. 

The Sierra National Forest recognizes the value of continuing to develop effective partnerships,

wherein we invite public participation, embrace stakeholder proposals, and successfully leverage 

our resources by working together to achieve the desired conditions set forth in the forest plan. 

Creating a Partnership Culture 

The forest supervisor on the Sierra National Forest responds to the needs of a varied public by 

empowering employees and communities of place, interest, and culture to create and sustain 

successful partnerships. The forest supervisor and forest staff have established the following 

partnership goals to accomplish the Forest Service mission, implementing the forest plan, and 

building a strong and lasting community of stewardship on the forest:

 Through partnership, sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the Sierra National 

Forest. 

 Build community support for, and understanding of, the Sierra National Forest. 

 Enhance opportunities to connect people to the land, especially in urban areas and of 

diverse cultures. 

 Expand partnerships with other federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as 

associations, non-government organizations, and other community groups, to leverage 

information and resources for mutual benefit. 

 Foster partnerships dealing with science associated with forest health. 

 Create more “citizen stewards” for the Sierra National Forest through volunteerism. 

 Support the ongoing efforts of current partnerships. 

 Develop new partnerships focused on management of the land (e.g., tree planting). 

 Build and enhance partnerships to protect tribal sites and interpret cultural assets.
Appendix C. A Renewed Partnership Focus for the Sierra National Forest 

144 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Accomplishing these goals will require new and innovative methods as well as the continuation 

of investment in ongoing successful partnership efforts. The purpose of this strategy is to outline 

an iterative process for building and sustaining a strong partnership culture for the Forest. The 

strategy includes the following components: a method for determining the forest capacity for 

working in partnership; best practices for building and sustaining new partnerships; and steps for 

ensuring effective outreach to nontraditional partners

Forest Capacity for Working in Partnership 

The National Partnership Office of the U.S. Forest Service has designed a partnership capacity 

assessment tool to help Forest Service units assess, sustain and improve their abilities to work 

with partners and continue the Forest Service’s long history of partnership and collaboration in 

land stewardship. 

What is the Partnership Capacity Assessment Tool? 

The “partnership capacity assessment tool” is essentially a group exercise to reflect on 

experiences and attitudes about partnerships and collaboration. The tool asks the group to score 

itself on a series of questions about partnership opportunities, goals, resources, procedures, 

incentives, barriers, skills and relationships. The group then uses these scores to chart strengths, 

analyze positive and negative factors that contribute to partnership capacity, and identify actions 

to sustain and grow capacity. 

Who Should Use the Assessment Tool? 

The tool is used by Sierra National Forest in conjunction with communities of place, interest and 

culture, who care about the uses and resources within the Sierra National Forest and whom will 

benefit from completing the assessment. This tool is designed to generate open dialogue with 

partners and among staff. It is a useful starting point for assessing current partnership abilities and 

discussing how to maintain strengths or address needs. A community forum would be formed to 

use the assessment tool. 

How Can the Assessment Tool Best Meet the Needs of the Forest? 

The assessment tool provides the format for a community forum to assess partnership needs and 

develop priorities to meet those needs. Use of the assessment tool by Forest Service staff can help 

identify needed resources and changes to better position the Forest for successful accomplishment 

of goals through partnerships; including partners in the process can help promote dialogue and 

improve relationships. However, the tool is not intended to assess the feasibility of or develop 

plans for specific partnership opportunities. These details will be identified during project-level 

planning. 

How Long and Where Will the Assessment Take Place? 

The community forum can expect to complete the assessment in one session lasting 3 to 4 hours. 

The investment of time will pay off by helping forest staff and potential partners to systematically 

identify needs and actions to meet those needs. Trained facilitators and recorders can be used to 

keep the process moving smoothly. 

Best Practices for Building New Partnerships 

Partnerships can be thought of as a type of alliance, where the complex interaction of business 

and interpersonal activities are essential to successfully achieving mutually beneficial goals. Key 

characteristics of successful interpersonal relationships include trust, communication, perspective 
Appendix C. A Renewed Partnership Focus for the Sierra National Forest 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 145

for the Sierra National Forest 

taking, rapport building, and commitment. Partnerships are known to yield better results under 

certain conditions13 14, for example: when each partner recognizes the need to have access to 

capabilities and competencies it cannot develop internally; or when a gradual and sustained 

approach is preferable in accessing resources, capabilities and competencies, as opposed to faster 

and shorter-term mechanisms such as contracting.

Keeping these conditions in mind, the following best practices are provided to assist forest staff in 

the identification and development of new partners: 

1. Identify the need for partnerships within the long-term strategies and desired condition of 

the forest 

2. Define specific objectives of the partnership 

3. Choose partners 

4. Evaluate what to offer and what to receive in exchange 

5. Define and act upon opportunities 

6. Evaluate the effect on forest stakeholders 

7. Determine each partner’s resources and capabilities 

8. Plan the integration 

9. Create the partnership

10. Take action and achieve the objectives

11. Recognize and celebrate successes

Identify the need for partnerships

Strategic partnerships respond to various long-term strategies of the Sierra National Forest. For 

example, the Dinkey Landscape Restoration Project gives the Forest the opportunity to partner 

with various groups. The goal of this science based ecological project is to protect the landscape 

for various endangered species through managing fire back into the landscape. This ten-year 

project is in its fifth year and has made many contributions to discerning how to successfully 

work with partners. As this example demonstrates, partnerships are important because of the extra 

resources they provide, and because they help enrich the information provided and help develop a 

sense of stewardship in all the partners involved.

Define specific objectives of the partnership

Three aspects of defining objectives are necessary for the success of the partnership:

1. The objective should be compared with the forest’s available resources and capabilities 

and with those that could be used. The partnership should bridge the gap of existing 

 

13 Mockler, R.J. 1999. Multinational Strategic Alliances. John Wiley & Sons. 266 p. 

14 O’Neill, B. (n.d.) Brian O’Neill’s 21 partnership success factors. San Francisco, CA: Golden Gate National 

Parks. 
Appendix C. A Renewed Partnership Focus for the Sierra National Forest 

146 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

resources and capabilities to achieve the objectives. The assessment tool can assist in 

identifying where gaps occur regarding both the forest’s capability to cultivate new 

partnerships and its resources to accomplish management goals alone. 

2. A clear consensus (internally) on why the agency cannot reach particular goals on its 

own, and why it must seek a partnership with an external organization, rather than 

internal development or via procurement. 

3. Knowing where the partnership generates mutual advantages within the chain of value,

and clarifying why each partner cannot develop these advantages internally. 

Choose partners 

The right partner in an alliance must have three principal features15:

1. The partner must have the resources and capabilities to help the Forest achieve its 

strategic goals, bringing to the partnership what is missing and which they are seeking. 

2. The partner and forest must share the same long-term goals for the partnership. Failure is 

inevitable if the goals are divergent. 

3. The partner must not use the alliance to gain know-how, relationships with clients or 

suppliers, or technology without making contributions of equal strategic weight. 

Alliances are longer lasting and better when they are considered between partners with a 

reputation for trustworthiness.

Evaluate what to offer and what to receive in exchange 

Reciprocity is a key component of building trust. Each partner should evaluate which capabilities 

are critical to the partnership, and then decide what the forest can offer to the others and what it 

can expect from them. 

Define and act upon opportunities

Knowing the value of the opportunities that can be achieved with the alliance is an essential guide 

in negotiation, and subsequent management, of the partnership. Beyond the opportunities, it is 

also important to examine the possible risks.

Evaluate the effect on forest stakeholders

A key question to consider is, “How will stakeholders, including other partners, react to the 

partnership?” 

Determine each partner’s resources and capabilities

Understanding a partner’s abilities and limitations is an important component in creating a 

successful partnership. A key question to consider is, “What resources and capabilities can the 

partners realistically bring to the partnership?” 

 

15 Hill C., and G. Jones. 2000. Strategic Management: an Integrated Approach, 5th ed. Boston, MA: 

Houghton Mifflin Company. 
Appendix C. A Renewed Partnership Focus for the Sierra National Forest 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 147

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Plan the integration

Develop a partnership business plan, which should: 

1. Organize activities and functions

2. Define accounting procedures 

3. Define procedures to resolve conflicts 

4. Define the relationships between the partnership and the forest, including duration and 

renewal process

5. Define the authorizing instrument for the partnership (e.g., memorandum of 

understanding) that will be appropriate to formalize the relationship 

Create the partnership

Flexibility is integral to sustaining an effective partnership. Whatever the form of the partnership, 

some principles apply: 

1. Each partner has its own goals that dictate the role of the partnership

2. The role of the partnership changes as internal and external conditions evolve

3. The relationship between the partners is quite dynamic

4. Evaluate the partnership for effectiveness in meeting mutual goals

Take action and achieve the objectives

For a partnership to last, both parties must find the partnership to be meaningful and to satisfy the 

established objectives.

Recognize and celebrate successes

Honor the efforts accomplished through the work of partnership. This recognizes the individuals 

involved and strengthens the relationship between partners. 

Steps for Ensuring Effective Outreach and Communication with 

Nontraditional Partners and the Public

The diversity of people using and valuing the Sierra National Forest will continue to increase as 

the American population grows and becomes more diverse, and as international visitation 

increases. California’s youth is more culturally diverse than any previous generation. 

Interpretation and outreach methods designed to connect users to the forest need to communicate 

important resource issues, solicit commitment to conservation, and encourage appropriate 

behaviors. Use of the forest by nontraditional user groups, especially Hispanics and Asians, is 

prevalent and growing.

To assure effective outreach occurs within this growing segment of potential forest partners, 

metrics should be designed to monitor and evaluate success, adapting as necessary to continually 

broaden the circle of involvement. The following steps may be considered, as appropriate, in 

developing innovative partnerships: 
Appendix C. A Renewed Partnership Focus for the Sierra National Forest 

148 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

 Translation of major documents (or summaries thereof), provision of translators at 

meetings, or other efforts as appropriate to ensure that limited English speakers gain 

understanding of potential partnership opportunities

 Provision of opportunities for limited English speakers to provide comments and actively 

engage in partnership opportunities

 Provision of opportunities for public participation through means other than written 

communication, such as personal interviews or use of audio or video recording devices to 

capture oral comments

 Use of different meeting sizes or formats, or variation on the type and number of media 

used; tailor communications to the particular community or population 

 Use of locations and facilities that are local, convenient and accessible to disabled 

individuals, low-income and minority communities, and Native American tribes

 Assistance to hearing-impaired or sight-impaired individuals
Draft Revised Forest Plan 149

for the Sierra National Forest 

Appendix D: Management Strategies for Resolving 

Recreation Resource Conflicts

Management strategies can be applied to existing or new recreation sites and uses whenever a 

conflict between recreation uses or sensitive resources is detected. Sensitive resources include atrisk species and habitats, riparian habitats, soil and watersheds, heritage resources, and other 

resources. 

Implementation of these actions would also take into consideration available funding and staffing. 

The actions and practices include the following: 

1. Conservation Education 

 Use information networks, including public service announcements, internet sites and 

links, and visitor guides and newsletters to communicate information regarding sensitive 

resources. 

 Install and maintain appropriate multilingual information boards, interpretive panels and 

regulatory signs at developed sites and dispersed areas within sites of sensitive resources. 

 Develop interpretive and environmental education programs about sensitive resources 

and habitats for the public, Forest Service personnel, concessionaires, other special-use 

authorization holders, and volunteers. Engage the services of special-use authorization 

holders that provide services to the public (e.g., concessionaires, organization camps, and 

outfitter guides) to assist in the development and delivery of these programs. Provide 

authorization holders with messages about sensitive resources and management issues so 

that they can use them to educate people. Ensure that the methods chosen do not result in 

unacceptable effects to sensitive resources. Coordinate efforts between national forests 

for maximum results and cost efficiencies. Use existing visitor centers where appropriate. 

 De-emphasize the site or area and develop an information strategy to direct visitors to 

national forest recreation opportunities that do not affect sensitive resources. 

2. Perimeter Control 

 Modify visitor access to manage use. Install and maintain appropriate fencing or other 

barriers to protect sensitive resource areas. Limit the number of users at the site or area. 

 Install and maintain appropriate multi-lingual informational, interpretive and regulatory 

signing, in conjunction with perimeter controls, to engage national forest visitors with 

protection of sensitive resources at recreation sites and areas. 

3. Presence 

 Provide adequate management presence to ensure protection of sensitive resources. This 

presence could include Forest Service personnel, peer education, contractors, 

concessionaires, other permit holders, and volunteer support. 

4. Direct Action 

 Limit visitor use of recreation sites and areas through diurnal, seasonal or temporary 

closures during critical life cycle periods for affected at-risk species.
Appendix E 

150 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

 Where visitor use is allowed, seek opportunities to proactively rehabilitate, design, 

reconstruct, rehabilitate and harden the site; locate new facilities and areas for 

redistributing human use away from sensitive resources. 

 Where visitor use is restricted, limit or control use at developed recreation sites and areas 

through permit system (e.g., group campgrounds). When other actions are ineffective, 

enact and enforce forest orders to protect sensitive resource areas through use of seasonal 

or temporary closures of developed recreation sites and areas. Seek opportunities to 

proactively design and locate new facilities and areas for re-distributing human use away 

from sensitive resources.

 Where visitor use is prohibited when seasonal or temporary closures are ineffective, enact 

and enforce forest orders to close recreation sites or areas. If monitoring and evaluation 

indicate that closure is ineffective, take steps to decommission facilities and permanently 

discontinue visitor use.
Draft Revised Forest Plan 151

for the Sierra National Forest 

Appendix E: Timber Suitability and Management 

Determination of Suitability for Timber Production

Timber production is the purposeful growing, tending, harvesting and regeneration of regulated 

crops of trees to be cut into logs, bolts or other round sections for industrial or consumer use (36 

CFR 219.19). Timber production activities can contribute to social, economic and ecological 

sustainability. Timber production may offset some or all of the costs of silvicultural treatments 

and other forest management activities that restore ecosystems to desired conditions, lower 

uncharacteristic fire and insect risk, increase understory plant diversity and abundance, and create 

employment opportunities. 

The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) requires that the Forest Service determine the 

suitability of National Forest System lands for timber production and has specific requirements 

for timber suitability analysis in land management plans. Note that there is a distinction between 

timber harvest as a resource use (i.e., timber production) and timber harvest as a management tool 

to achieve desired conditions. Timber harvest on lands classified as not suitable for timber 

production may be used as a tool designed to achieve desired conditions.

Lands that May be Suitable for Timber Production

Identification of land that may be (tentatively) suitable for timber production is the first step in the 

process of determining lands that are suited for timber production. This preliminary classification 

is made prior to the consideration of objectives and desired conditions that are part of the forest 

plan revision process. It excludes National Forest System lands that are not suitable for timber 

production based on the following criteria:

 Timber production is prohibited by statute, executive order, regulation or where the 

Secretary of Agriculture or the Chief of the Forest Service has withdrawn the land from 

timber production. Examples include designated wilderness areas, designated wild and 

scenic rivers, research natural areas and other designated areas where timber is 

specifically prohibited.

 Land that is not forested (nonforest), identified by having less than 10 percent 

occupation16 by conifer trees of any size or having a nonforest use like powerline 

clearings, residential or administrative sites, improved pasture, etc. 

 Known environmental factors exist that preclude reasonable assurance that restocking can 

be achieved within five years of final regeneration harvest17.

 Technology to harvest timber is not currently available without causing irreversible 

damage. 

Forest lands that remain after this initial screening are termed “lands that may be suitable for 

timber production.” Based on this initial suitability analysis, the Sierra National Forest has 

382,440 acres that may be suitable for timber production.

 

16 Ten percent occupation was represented utilizing ten percent canopy cover during analysis. 

17 The following Regional Dominance Types (CalVeg Forest Types) are recognized as capable of adequate restocking 

within 5 years: Giant Sequoia, Pacific Douglas-fir, Douglas-fir-Ponderosa Pine, Eastside Pine, Jeffrey Pine, Mixed 

Conifer-Giant Sequoia, Incense Cedar, Mixed Conifer-Fir, Mixed Conifer-Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Red Fir, and White Fir. 

In addition, Order 3 soil survey data was used to inform the likelihood of regeneration success.
Appendix E. Timber Suitability and Management 

152 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Figure 21. Timber suitability map of the Sierra National Forest 
Appendix E. Timber Suitability and Management 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 153

for the Sierra National Forest 

Lands Suitable for Timber Production

The final step in determining lands suitable for timber production is to determine which of the 

lands that may be suitable for timber production, are suited for timber production, based on 

compatibility with desired conditions and objectives: 

 Timber production is a desired primary or secondary use of the land

 Timber production is anticipated to continue after desired conditions have been achieved

 A flow of timber can be planned and scheduled on a reasonably predictable basis

 Regeneration of the stand is intended

 Timber production is compatible with the desired conditions or objectives for the land

After subtracting the lands that are suited for timber production from the lands that may be 

suitable, the remaining lands are not suited for timber production because timber production is 

not compatible with the land area’s desired conditions and objectives. Categories of lands deemed 

not suited for timber production include areas recommended for wilderness designation, wild 

river segments of eligible wild and scenic rivers18, and California spotted owl protected activity 

centers. 

On lands not suited for timber production, timber harvest may occur to protect multiple use 

values other than timber production, and for salvage, sanitation, public health or safety. Multiple 

use values may also include various other restoration activities. For example meadow restoration 

may require cutting encroaching trees. These trees may be made available for sale, but the intent 

is to maintain the meadow.

The Sierra National Forest includes approximately 327,244 acres that are suitable for timber 

production (Figure 21). The detailed acres of suitability are shown in table 18. Suitability 

indicates that timber production is the primary or secondary management objective. Project 

designs will incorporate actions to meet a variety of objectives, such as riparian area 

enhancement, habitat maintenance or development, and scenic stability and integrity.

Planned Timber Sale Program

The planned timber sale program represents an estimation of treatment types planned to achieve 

the outcomes described by the plan’s desired conditions and objectives, and consistent with the 

other plan components during the plan period (i.e., by decade). The planned practices are based 

on the projected fiscal capability and organizational capacity of the planning unit, and not a 

commitment to take an action or to develop a project-specific proposal for such action.

Sustained Yield Limit

The sustained yield limit is the amount of timber, meeting applicable utilization standards, “which 

can be removed from a forest annually in perpetuity on a sustained yield basis” (NFMA at section 

11, 16 USC 1611; 36 CFR 219.11(d) (6)). It is the volume that could be produced in perpetuity on 

lands that may be suitable for timber production. The calculation of the sustained yield limit is 

not limited by land management plan desired condition, other plan components, or the planning 

unit's fiscal capability and organizational capacity. The sustained yield limit for the lands that may 

be suitable for timber production is 487 millions of cubic feet (MMCF) per decade.

 

18 Area includes a corridor incorporating approximately 0.25 miles on either side of eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers. 
Appendix E. Timber Suitability and Management 

154 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Table 18. Sierra National Forest land suitable for timber production1

Land Classification Category Acres

A. Sierra National Forest System Land 1,316,324

B. Lands non suited for timber production due to legal or technical reasons 

(1+2+3+4) 933,885

1. Land withdrawn from timber production 732,076

2. Nonforested lands 135,241

3. Lands where adequate stocking is not assured 66,568

4. Lands where irreversible resource damage is likely 0

C. Lands that may be suitable for timber production (A minus B) 382,439

D. Lands where management objectives limit timber harvest (1+2+3) 55,195

1. Recommended wilderness areas 0

2. Eligible wild river segments 2,736

3. California spotted owl protected activity centers 52,459

E. Lands not suitable for timber production (B+D) 989,080

F. Lands suitable for timber production (C-D) 327,244

Projected Wood Sale Quantity and Timber Sale Quantity

The estimated quantity of timber and all other wood products that is expected to be sold from the 

plan area for the plan period is called the projected wood sale quantity (PWSQ). The PWSQ 

consists of the projected timber sale quantity as well as other woody material such as fuelwood, 

firewood, or biomass that is also expected to be available for sale. The PWSQ includes volume 

from timber harvest for any purpose based on expected harvests that would be consistent with the 

plan components. The PWSQ is also based on the planning unit’s fiscal capability and 

organizational capacity. PWSQ is neither a target nor a limitation on harvest.

The projected timber sale quantity (PTSQ) is the estimated quantity of timber meeting applicable 

utilization standards that is expected to be sold during the plan period. As a subset of the PWSQ, 

the projected timber sale quantity includes volume from timber harvest for any purpose from all 

lands in the plan area based on expected harvests that would be consistent with the plan 

components. The PTSQ is also based on the planning unit’s fiscal capability and organizational 

capacity. PTSQ is neither a target nor a limitation on harvest. Average volume outputs for the 1st 

and 2nd decades for Sierra National Forest planned timber sale program is displayed in table 19.
Appendix E. Timber Suitability and Management 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 155

for the Sierra National Forest 

Table 19. Average volume outputs for the 1st and 2nd decades for Sierra National Forest planned timber sale program1. The sustained yield limit for 

the lands that may be suitable for timber production is 487 MMCF2 per decade. 

Land suitability Product Type Product Subtype 1

st Decade

MMCF

1

st Decade

MMBF3

2

nd Decade

MMCF

2

nd Decade

MMBF

Suitable4 Timber Product5 A1.Sawtimber 19–38 95–190 20–40 100–200

Suitable Timber Product A2.Other products 4–8 20–40 4–8 20–40

Not Suitable6 Timber product B1.Sawtimber 2–4 10–20 1–2 5–10

Not Suitable Timber product B2.Other products - - - -

Both Suitable & Not Suitable Timber Product Total C.Projected Timber Sale Quantity 

(A1+A2+B1+B2) 25–50 125–250 25–50 125–250

Both Suitable & Not Suitable Other Estimated Wood 

Products7

D.Fuelwood 5–7 25–35 5–7 25–35

Both Suitable & Not Suitable All E.Projected Wood Sale Quantity

(C+D) 30–57 150–285 30–57 150–285

1 NFMA limits the sale of timber to less the sustained yield limit for each decade of the plan (16 U.S.C. 1611). Providing estimates in the plan of the annual 

projected wood sale quantity and the annual projected timber sale quantity for the each of first two decades aligns with the NFMA decadal periods limiting the 

sale of timber, and provides estimates to cover a second decade if revision of the plan is delayed beyond the 15-year limit.

2 MMCF: Millions of cubic feet.

3 MMBF: Millions of board feet.

4 Lands suitable for timber production.

5 The timber product categories are for volumes other than for salvage or sanitation, that meet timber product utilization standards.

6 Lands not suitable for timber production.

7 Other estimated wood products include fuelwood, biomass and others that do not meet timber product utilization standards.
Appendix E. Timber Suitability and Management 

156 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Vegetation Management Practices

Harvest of timber on National Forest System lands occurs for many different reasons, including 

ecological restoration, community protection in wildland urban interfaces, habitat restoration,

protection of municipal water supplies, and to contribute to economic sustainability through the 

production of timber, pulp for paper, specialty woods for furniture, and fuel as a renewable 

energy source. Timber harvest, whether for wood production, restoration or other reasons can 

support local businesses and employment.

Forest management on the Sierra National Forest consists of restoration and fuels reduction 

treatments designed to achieve desired conditions for the associated terrestrial vegetation type on 

suitable timber lands. The projected management approach uses an uneven-aged management 

system. Thinning would be used to increase individual tree vigor, increase horizontal 

heterogeneity, and reduce fuel hazards. Group selection would be used to regenerate suitable 

lands, increasing vertical structure heterogeneity and tree species diversity. More diverse 

silvicultural practices may be used to achieve site-specific objectives such as those related to 

insect and/or pathogen concerns, meadow enhancement, etc.

The projected management approach uses an uneven-aged management system. Thinning will be 

the primary practice, with group selection implemented as the regeneration method. Thinning is 

used to increase individual tree vigor, increase horizontal heterogeneity, and reduce fuel hazards. 

Group selection will be used to regenerate suitable lands, increasing vertical heterogeneity and 

tree species diversity. Table 20 displays estimates of acres of activity implemented by decade and 

vegetation management type for the Sierra National Forest.

Forest management in wildfire protection zones and strategic ridge tops will be prioritized for 

treatment. Forest management on unsuitable lands is primarily responsive to safety concerns or 

disturbance agents such as wildfire, windthrow, insect and disease, or other restoration objectives.

Table 20. Estimated vegetation management practices on the Sierra National Forest (acres 

implemented by decade) 

Cover Type Forest-wide Vegetation 

Management Practice 1st Decade 2nd Decade

Montane Thinning (Intermediate harvest) 18,000 – 27,000 18,000 – 27,000 

Montane Regeneration (Group Selection) 3,000 – 4,500 3,000 – 4,500 

Montane Precommercial Thinning 13,000 – 26,000 13,000 – 26,000 

Upper Montane Thinning (Intermediate harvest) 1,000 – 1,500 1,000 – 1,500

Upper Montane Regeneration (Group Selection) < 1,000 < 1,000

Upper Montane Precommercial Thinning < 1,000 < 1,000

Silvicultural Treatments Used in Timber Management Prescriptions

While an uneven-aged management system will be the primary approach used to achieve desired 

conditions and restoration objectives, other silvicultural treatments may be used to better meet 

specific forest health and restoration objectives. 
Appendix E. Timber Suitability and Management 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 157

for the Sierra National Forest 

Reforestation

Reforestation is the act of renewing forest cover by establishing young trees. This is typically 

accomplished by planting nursery-grown seedlings, but establishment of seedlings from natural 

seeding of nearby sexually-mature trees may supplement areas planted with nursery-grown 

seedlings. In some cases, natural seedlings originating from nearby trees may be used to meet 

management objectives. In the case where desired tree species are capable of sprouting new trees 

from roots (e.g., oaks and aspen), prolific root sprouting can provide for effective 

reestablishment.

Site Preparation

Site preparation treatments are designed to enhance the success of regeneration efforts. A variety 

of methods may be used to reduce competing vegetation, planting obstacles and fuel levels. 

Ground-based equipment may be used to reduce tree and shrub levels, providing a more favorable 

environment for developing seedlings. Selective herbicides may be applied to suppress competing 

plants, reducing competition for soil moisture and sunlight. Fire may be used to reduce surface 

fuel or to consume woody material piled by machine or hand.

Seedling Establishment

As discussed under reforestation, new forests may be established by planting nursery-grown 

seedlings or by germinating seed from nearby mature trees. Seedlings are grown in tree nurseries, 

from selected seed sources, to meet the expected demands of the future growth environment. 

Selected species, numbers, and arrangements are designed to provide a variety of options for the 

future. Seedlings developing from seeding of nearby mature trees vary widely in number and 

arrangement and commonly establish, in pulses, over time.

In managed environments, planting selected species at designed numbers and arrangements 

provides advantages over the development of seedlings from nearby mature trees. Seedlings 

originating from seeding of nearby trees often provide numbers in excess of need and in 

undesirable arrangement. They may, however, provide for successful establishment of new forests 

in places regarded as difficult to plant, or where planted seedling mortality levels are 

unacceptably high. Regardless of origin, both sources benefit from actions taken to provide more 

favorable growth environments.

Seedling Stocking Criteria

The stocking criteria for lands suitable for timber production are indicated in table 21. They are 

designed to provide for the attainment of long-term desired conditions, and provide sufficient 

stocking to meet the potential forest product yields over time. The values apply after regeneration 

harvests, and after disturbances, like in areas affected by high severity fire. 
Appendix E. Timber Suitability and Management 

158 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Table 21. Stocking criteria for suitable lands by forest type* 

Forest Type Region 5 Site Class Trees per Acre 

Minimum

Ponderosa/Jeffrey Pine 0–3 200

Ponderosa/Jeffrey Pine 4–5 150

True Fir All 300

Douglas-fir All 225

Mixed Conifer All 200

* Final density after stand establishment (within 5 years of harvest). 

Release 

These treatments are designed to free young trees from undesirable competing vegetation. 

Treatments are aimed at increasing the availability of moisture, sunlight and nutrients to planted 

seedlings, thus increasing survival and favorable growth rates. Depending on conditions, release 

can be performed using hand tools, herbicides or mechanically. 

Precommercial Thinning 

This treatment removes selected trees to reduce stocking and promote the growth and 

development of desirable trees. The removed trees are typically small and without sufficient value 

to cover the cost of the treatment. 

Timber Harvest

The projected activities associated with scheduled forest management on suitable lands for timber 

production are geared toward uneven-aged management, a system using a planned sequence of 

treatments, designed to maintain and regenerate a stand with three or more age classes. The types 

of treatments used are primarily “thinning” and “group selection”: 

 Thinning is commonly applied to lower stand density and improve the health and growth 

rates of the remaining trees. It may also be designed to alter tree arrangement. Trees of 

merchantable size are selected for removal; trees of less than merchantable size are 

selected when the reduction of ladder fuels is an objective. The youngest age classes are 

typically excluded from thinning. 

 Group selection is the most common method used to regenerate an age class. All, or most, 

of the trees are removed, followed by the establishment of seedlings. The size of the 

opening is variable, but is designed to provide sufficient site resources for favorable 

seedling establishment and growth.

In addition to scheduled forest management, management may also occur in response to 

disturbance events (i.e. wildfire, windthrow, insect, parasite or pathogen-related decline). Other 

harvest methods will likely apply to these specific conditions and project objectives. For example, 

after wildfire, and especially on suitable land, salvage harvests may be implemented to recover 

the economic value of dead and dying trees and to reduce the fuel environment. Other events, 

such as windthrow and insect and pathogen related infestations, may lead to salvage or sanitation 

harvests, to recover economic value and improve residual stand health. 
Appendix E. Timber Suitability and Management 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 159

for the Sierra National Forest 

Site-specific analysis may also lead to the use of alternative regeneration methods, including 

those associated with the even-aged management system. For example, project-specific objectives 

may lead to use of the shelterwood regeneration method to aid in establishment of seedlings.

Safety considerations, although not regarded as a component of a harvest system, will likely lead 

to the harvest of dead and dying trees, as well as living trees deemed a risk, that may fail along 

roads and other places where people or property are threatened. This action, commonly referred 

to as hazard tree removal, or tree risk reduction, may be used extensively along roads and trails 

within wildfire areas.

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for the Sierra National Forest 

Glossary

Adaptive capacity is the ability of ecosystems to respond, cope or adapt to disturbances and 

stressors, including environmental change, to maintain options for future generations.

At-risk species are federally recognized threatened, endangered, proposed, and candidate species 

and species of conservation concern within the plan area.

Best management practices for water quality (BMPs) are methods, measures or practices 

selected by an agency to meet its nonpoint source control needs. Best management practices for 

water quality include but are not limited to structural and nonstructural controls and operation and 

maintenance procedures. Best management practices for water quality can be applied before, 

during, and after pollution-producing activities to reduce or eliminate the introduction of 

pollutants into receiving waters (36 CFR 219.19).

Biotic integrity refers to habitat that supports viable populations of native and desired non-native 

plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate species. Species composition and structural diversity of plant 

and animal communities provide desired habitat conditions and ecological functions. New 

introductions of invasive species are prevented. Where invasive species are adversely affecting 

the viability of native species, the appropriate State and Federal wildlife agencies have reduced 

impacts to native populations. The distribution and health of biotic communities perpetuates 

functions and biological diversity.

Broader landscape is the plan area and the lands surrounding the plan area. The spatial scale of 

the broader landscape varies depending upon the social, economic, and ecological issues under 

consideration.

California spotted owl protected activity centers (PACs) are areas delineated surrounding each 

territorial owl activity center detected on national forest system lands since 1986. Owl activity 

centers are designated for all territorial owls based on the most recent documented nest site, or the 

most recent known roost site when a nest location remains unknown. Protected activity centers 

are delineated to include known and suspected nest stands and to encompass the best available 

300 acres of habitat, in as compact a unit as possible. Aerial photography interpretation and field 

verification are used as needed to delineate protected activity centers. As additional nest location 

and habitat data become available, boundaries of protected activity centers are reviewed and 

adjusted as necessary to better include known and suspected nest stands and encompass the best 

available 300 acres of habitat. When activities are planned adjacent to non-National Forest 

System lands, available databases are checked for the presence of nearby California spotted owl 

activity centers on non-national forest system lands. A 300-acre circular area, centered on the 

activity center, is delineated. Any part of the circular 300-acre area that lies on National Forest 

System lands is designated and managed as a California spotted owl protected activity center. 

Candidate species is a species under the purview of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS), for which the USFWS possesses sufficient information on vulnerability and threats to 

support a proposal to list as endangered or threatened, but for which no proposed rule has yet 

been published by the USFWS. For species under the purview of the National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), a candidate species is a species that is the subject of a petition to list as a 

threatened or endangered species and for which the NMFS has determined that listing may be 

warranted, pursuant to section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 
Glossary 

162 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

1533(b)(3)(A)), or a species that is not the subject of a petition but for which the NMFS has 

announced in the Federal Register the initiation of a status review.

Canopy closure is the percentage of the sky hemisphere obscured by vegetation when viewed 

from a single point. 

Canopy cover is the percentage of forest floor covered by the vertical projection of the tree 

crowns.

Carbon carrying capacity is the amount of carbon that can be stored in a system as a function of 

prevailing climatic conditions and natural disturbance regimes, and a potential foundation for 

carbon management plans19. 

Climate change adaptation is an adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual 

or expected climatic stimuli, or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial 

opportunities. This adaptation includes initiatives and measures to reduce the vulnerability of 

natural and human systems against actual or expected climate change effects: building resistance 

to climate-relate stressors; increasing ecological resilience by minimizing the severity of climate 

change impacts, reducing the vulnerability, and increasing the adaptive capacity of ecosystem 

elements; and facilitating ecological transitions in response to changing environmental 

conditions.

Collaboration is a structured manner in which a collection of people with diverse interests share 

knowledge, ideas, and resources, while working together in an inclusive and cooperative manner 

toward a common purpose.

Community buffers are areas around communities that are adjacent to or surrounded by National 

Forest System lands that currently have high fire risk and where treatments on National Forest 

System lands are designed to reduce fire behavior and intensity. Human health and safety are the 

primary values at risk within these areas. Community buffers are within the community wildfire 

protection zone (chapter 3).

Complex early seral habitat is a type of early successional forest habitat that contains structural, 

compositional, or functional elements of ecological complexity or integrity. These postdisturbance elements may include large snags, logs, and isolated live trees or tree clumps, as well 

as patches of young native shrubs, hardwoods, herbaceous plants or tree regeneration. Spatial 

heterogeneity in vegetation structure and diversity in vegetation composition during postdisturbance recovery is an important element of complexity in early seral forest habitat.

Connectivity is the ecological conditions that exist at several spatial and temporal scales to 

provide landscape linkages, including to: permit the exchange of flow, sediments, and nutrients; 

the daily and seasonal movements of animals within home ranges; the dispersal and genetic 

interchange between populations; and the long distance range shifts of species, such as in 

response to climate change.

Conservation is the protection, preservation, management or restoration of natural environments, 

ecological communities and species

 

19 Hurteau, M.D. and M. L. Brooks. 2011. Short- and long-term effects of fire on carbon in US dry 

temperate forest systems. BioScience, 61 (2):139-146. 
Glossary 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 163

for the Sierra National Forest 

Critical aquatic refuges (CARS) are subwatersheds, generally ranging between 500 to 50,000 

acres, on the Sierra National Forest, that contain either: 1)known locations of at-risk species; 

2)highly vulnerable populations of native plant or animal species; or 3)are localized populations 

of rare native aquatic- or riparian-dependent plant or animal species.

Critical habitat for a threatened or endangered species is: (1) the specific areas within the 

geographical area occupied by the species, at the time it is listed and in accordance with the 

provisions of section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (16 USC 1533), on which are found those 

physical or biological features (a) essential to the conservation of the species, and (b) which may 

require special management considerations or protections; and (2) specific areas outside the 

geographical area occupied by the species at the time it is listed in accordance with the provisions 

of section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (16 USC 1533), upon a determination by the 

Secretary that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species, ESA, sec. 3 (5)(A), (16 

USC 1532 (3)(5)(A)). Critical habitat is designated through rulemaking by the Secretary of the 

Interior or Commerce, ESA, sec. 4 (a)(3) and (b)(2) (16 USC 1533 (a)(3) and (b)(2)).

Disturbance is any relatively discrete event in time that disrupts ecosystem, watershed, 

community, or species population structure and/or function, changing resources, substrate 

availability, or the physical environment.

Ecological conditions are the biological and physical environment that can affect the diversity of 

plant and animal communities, the persistence of native species, and the productive capacity of 

ecological systems. Ecological conditions include habitat and other influences on species and the 

environment. Examples of ecological conditions include the abundance and distribution of 

aquatic and terrestrial habitats, connectivity, roads and other structural developments, human 

uses, and invasive species.

Ecological integrity is the quality or condition of an ecosystem when its dominant ecological 

characteristics (e.g., composition, structure, function, connectivity, and species composition and 

diversity) occur within the natural range of variation and can withstand and recover from most 

perturbations imposed by natural environmental dynamics or human influence.

Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been 

degraded, damaged or destroyed. Ecological restoration focuses on reestablishing the 

composition, structure, pattern and ecological processes necessary to facilitate terrestrial and 

aquatic ecosystem sustainability, resilience, and health under current and future condition.

Ecosystem is a spatially explicit, relatively homogeneous unit of the Earth that includes all 

interacting organisms and elements of the abiotic environment within its boundaries. An 

ecosystem is commonly described in terms of its: 1) composition or the biological elements 

within the different levels of biological organization, from genes and species to communities and 

ecosystems; 2) structure or the organization and physical arrangement of biological elements such 

as, snags and down woody debris, vertical and horizontal distribution of vegetation, stream 

habitat complexity, landscape pattern and connectivity; 3) function or the ecological processes 

that sustain composition and structure, such as energy flow, nutrient cycling and retention, soil 

development and retention, predation and herbivory, and natural disturbances such as wind, fire 

and floods; and 4) connectivity.

Ecosystem services are benefits people obtain from ecosystems: 1) provisioning services, such as 

clean air and fresh water, energy, food, fuel, forage, wood products or fiber, and minerals; 2) 

regulating services, such as long-term storage of carbon; climate regulation; water filtration, 
Glossary 

164 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

purification, and storage; soil stabilization; flood and drought control; and disease regulation; 3) 

supporting services, such as pollination, seed dispersal, soil formation and nutrient cycling; and 4) 

cultural services, such as educational, aesthetic, spiritual, and cultural heritage values, 

recreational experiences, and tourism opportunities.

Endangered species are any species that the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 

Commerce has determined is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its 

range. Endangered species are listed at 50 CFR sections 17.11, 17.12, and 224.101.

Ephemeral stream is a stream that flows only in direct response to precipitation in the 

immediate locality (watershed or catchment basin), and whose channel is at all other times above 

the zone of saturation.

Even-aged stand refers to a stand of trees composed of a single age class.

Federally recognized Indian Tribe is an Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Corporation, band, 

nation, pueblo, village or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an 

Indian Tribe under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a).

Final regeneration harvest is the final timber harvest in a sequence of harvests designed to 

regenerate a timber stand or release a regenerated stand. A final regeneration harvest could be a 

clearcut, removal cut of a shelterwood or seedtree system, or a selection cut.

Fine-scale refers to areas less than 10 acres in size.

Fisher denning habitat is habitat used by females while raising young20. 

Fisher habitat core areas are large contiguous areas, greater than 15 square miles, of fisher 

habitat within which fishers can establish home ranges and comingle as a population. Fishers in 

the southern Sierra Nevada are distributed in a series of subpopulations separated by unsuitable 

habitat areas21. Fisher habitat in the southern Sierra Nevada is segmented into a series of core 

habitat areas, which support these subpopulations, separated primarily by major river canyons, 

across which fishers may occasionally disperse via linkage areas (Figure 9). The “core” habitat 

areas are contiguous polygons of modeled suitable fisher habitat large enough to support at least 5 

adult females. There are seven fisher core areas, which are described in detail in the Southern 

Sierra Fisher Conservation Assessment and table 1 of the Southern Sierra Fisher Conservation 

Strategy. Cores 1 to 5 (1,621 mi2total area) are occupied currently by breeding fisher populations; 

cores 6 and 7 (647 mi2total area) currently are not occupied by breeding fisher populations, 

although fishers are detected occasionally in core 6. 

Fisher linkage area is a delineated polygon of habitats considered likely to facilitate dispersal 

between fisher habitat core areas, based on least-cost corridor models. Least-cost corridors are 

intended to represent the least risky areas for fishers to disperse between fisher habitat core areas, 

 

20 Spencer, W.D., S.C. Sawyer, H.L. Romsos, W.J. Zielinski, R.A. Sweitzer, C.M. Thompson, K.L. Purcell, D.L. 

Clifford, L. Cline, H.D. Safford, S.A. Britting and J.M. Tucker. 2014. Southern Sierra Nevada fisher 

conservation assessment. Unpublished report produced by Conservation Biology Institute. 

21 Spencer, W.D., S.C. Sawyer, H.L. Romsos, W.J. Zielinski, C.M. Thompson and S.A. Britting. 2015. 

Southern Sierra Nevada fisher conservation strategy. Unpublished report produced by Conservation 

Biology Institute. 
Glossary 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 165

for the Sierra National Forest 

based on expert assumptions about fisher dispersal relative to vegetation, terrain and other 

factors11.

Fisher strategy area is a mapped area encompassing modeled fisher habitat core and linkage 

areas based on a grid of female breeding territory-sized (4 mi2) hexagonal cells. It represents the 

area used in the Southern Sierra Fisher Conservation Strategy11 to apply fisher conservation 

measures. The fisher strategy area consists of 1,012 hexagonal cells that include all areas 

considered likely to contribute substantially to sustaining the fisher population over the next 15 to 

30 years.

Fisher target cells are hexagonal cells that make up fisher target habitat, where restoring and 

maintaining female fisher home range habitat is a conservation priority. 

Fisher target habitat is the portion of the mapped fisher strategy area where restoring or 

maintaining female fisher home range habitat is a conservation priority. It is made up of fisher 

target cells defined as ‘suitable’ and ‘potentially suitable’. The Southern Sierra Fisher 

Conservation Strategy establishes a desired number of target cells within each fisher habitat core 

area, representing about 40-45 percent of the fisher strategy area. However, their locations cannot 

all be mapped until appropriate resiliency targets and maps have been created, so that 

management can be planned and prioritized to most effectively and efficiently meet both fisher 

habitat and forest resiliency goals. Mapping and prioritizing of target cells also considers spatial 

configuration issues, such as proximity to linkage areas and patterns of contiguity or 

fragmentation of currently suitable habitat cells. Once mapped, locations of target cells may 

change over time, e.g., following large, severe wildfires. Given the dynamic nature of this system, 

shifting target habitat over time is acceptable, so long as the numbers of target cells are 

maintained and fisher habitat core and linkage areas are not significantly fragmented or severed.

Focal species refers to a small subset of species whose status permits inference to the integrity of 

the larger ecological system to which they belong, and provides meaningful information 

regarding the effectiveness of the forest plan in maintaining or restoring the ecological conditions 

to maintain the diversity of plant and animal communities in the forest plan area. Focal species 

are commonly selected on the basis of their functional role in ecosystems. See chapter 5, focal 

species section for more information.

Focus landscapes are large areas (10,000 to 80,000 acres) managed for old forest habitat for 

Pacific fisher and California spotted owl, which are resilient to climate change, fire, insects, and 

disease. They are identified based upon the co-occurrence of some or all of the following 

conditions: 1) presence of fisher sightings, regional monitoring; 2) more than one-third suitable 

owl and fisher habitat; 3) high fire risk to habitat, low ecological fire resilience; 4) presence of 

large areas of old forest (e.g. late succession old growth rank 3, 4, or 5, areas of late successional 

emphasis22); 5) more than one-third of area mechanically unconstrained; 6) little area that has 

recently burned; 7) contains, or is near, a fisher linkage area; and 8) contains black oak dominated 

or co-dominated areas. They can occur in all fire management zones but are mostly found in the 

general wildfire protection zone and wildfire restoration zone.

 

22 Millar, C. I. 1996. Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project, Final Report to Congress, Vol. I, Assessment 

Summaries and Management Strategies, Centers for water and Wildland Resources, Report No. 36, 

University of California, Davis, California. Cooperative report of the PSW Research Station, PSW Region, 

USDA, for the Sierra Nevada Framework Project, Sacramento, CA. 
Glossary 

166 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Foreground refers to the scenery management system, detailed in Forest Service Handbook 701, 

with a distance zone consisting of a detailed landscape generally found from the observer to 0.5 

mile away.

Forest land is land that is at least 10 percent occupied by forest trees of any size or formerly 

having had such tree cover and not currently developed for nonforest uses. Land developed for 

nonforest use includes areas for agricultural crops, improved pasture, residential or administrative 

areas, roads of any width and adjoining road clearing, and powerline clearing of any width (36 

CFR 219.19).

Forest recreation program niche is the specific recreation focus of a forest, incorporating public 

expectations with unique social and ecological features of the land. It is used to help focus to 

create the most public value with limited resources. 

Fuelwood is wood used for conversion to some form of energy.

Functional hydrology refers to perennial and intermittent streams having the following 

characteristics: (1) stream energy during high flows is dissipated, reducing erosion and improving 

water quality; (2) streams filter sediment and capture bedload, aiding floodplain development; (3) 

meadow conditions enhance floodwater retention and ground water recharge; and (4) root masses 

stabilize stream banks against cutting action.

Functional restoration refers to restoration of abiotic and biotic processes in degraded 

ecosystems. Functional restoration focuses on the underlying processes that may be degraded, 

regardless of the structural condition of the ecosystem. Functionally restored ecosystem may have 

a different structure and composition than the historical reference condition. As contrasted with 

ecological restoration that tends to seek historical reference condition, the functional restoration 

focuses on the dynamic processes that drive structural and compositional patterns. Functional 

restoration is the manipulation of interactions among process, structure and composition in a 

degraded ecosystem to improve its operations. Functional restoration aims to restore functions 

and improve structures with a long-term goal of restoring interactions between function and 

structure. It may be, however, that a functionally restored system will look quite different than the 

reference condition in terms of structure and composition and these disparities cannot be easily 

corrected because some threshold of degradation has been crossed or the environmental drivers, 

such as climate, that influenced structural and (especially) compositional development have 

changed.

Geographic area is a spatially contiguous land area identified within the planning area. A 

geographic area may overlap with a management area.

Great gray owl protected activity centers (PACs) are established and maintained to include the 

forested area and adjacent meadow around all known great gray owl nest stands. A protected

activity center encompasses at least 50 acres of the highest quality nesting habitat (i.e., California 

wildlife habitat relationship type 6, 5D, and 5M) available in the forested area surrounding the 

nest. A protected activity center also includes the meadow or meadow complex that supports the 

prey base for nesting owls.

Greenline is a linear grouping of perennial plants at or near the stream channel. 
Glossary 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 167

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Groundwater-dependent ecosystem refers to the community of plants, animals, and other 

organisms whose extent and life processes depend on groundwater. Examples include wetlands, 

groundwater-fed lakes and streams, cave and karst systems, aquifer systems, springs, and seeps.

Growing stock is all trees growing in a forest or in a specified part of it, usually commercial 

species, meeting specified standards of size, quality, and vigor, and generally expressed in terms 

of trees per acre, density, or volume.

Home range core area (HRCAs) is established surrounding each territorial California spotted 

owl activity center detected after 1986. The core area amounts to 20 percent of the area described 

by the sum of the average breeding pair home range plus one standard error. For the Sierra 

National Forest, the home range core area size is 600 acres. Aerial photography is used to 

delineate the core area. Acreage for the entire core area is identified on national forest lands. Core 

areas encompass the best available California spotted owl habitat in the closest proximity to the 

owl activity center. The acreage in the 300-acre protected activity center counts toward the total 

home range core area. Core areas are delineated within 1.5 miles of the activity center. When 

activities are planned adjacent to non-national forest lands, 1.5 mile circular core areas are 

delineated around California spotted owl activity centers on non-national forest lands. Using the 

best available habitat as described above, any part of the circular core area that lies on national 

forest lands is designated and managed as a California spotted owl home range core area.

Inherent capability of the plan area is the ecological capacity or ecological potential of an area 

characterized by the interrelationship of its physical elements, its climatic regime, and natural 

disturbances.

Integrated resource management refers to multiple use management that recognizes the 

interdependence of ecological resources and is based on the need for integrated consideration of 

ecological, social, and economic factors.

Intermittent stream is a stream or reach of stream channel that flows in its natural condition 

only during certain times of the year, or in several years, and is characterized by interspersed, 

permanent surface water areas containing aquatic flora and fauna adapted to the relatively harsh 

environmental conditions found in these types of environments. 

Invasive species are alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or 

environmental harm or harm to human health; species that causes, or is likely to cause harm and 

that is exotic to the ecosystem it has infested. Invasive species infest both aquatic and terrestrial 

areas and can be identified within any of the following four taxonomic categories: plants, 

vertebrates, invertebrates, and pathogens.

Landscape refers to a defined area, irrespective of ownership or other artificial boundaries, such 

as a spatial mosaic of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, landforms, and plant communities, 

repeated in similar form throughout such a defined area.

Landscape-scale refers to areas that are greater than 10,000 acres in size.

Line Officer is a Forest Service official who serves in a direct line of command from the Chief.

Maintain in reference to an ecological condition is to keep in existence or continuance of the 

desired ecological condition in terms of its desired composition, structure and processes. 

Depending upon the circumstance, ecological conditions may be maintained by active or passive 

management or both.
Glossary 

168 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Management area is land area identified within the planning area that has the same set of 

applicable plan components. A management area does not have to be spatially contiguous.

Management intensities are the set and schedule of management practices typically used for 

certain forest or timber types to achieve desired conditions that may include timber production.

Management practices (vegetation management practices) are silvicultural practices such as 

reforestation, prescribed fire, thinning to reduce stand density, and other practices designed to 

facilitate growth and development of trees.

Management system is a timber management system including even-aged management and 

uneven-aged management. 

Marten habitat core areas are large contiguous areas of marten habitat within which martens 

can establish home ranges and comingle as a population23. 

Mean annual increment of growth is the total increment of increase of volume of a stand 

(standing crop plus thinning) up to a given age, divided by that age. The culmination of mean 

annual increment of growth is the age in the growth cycle of an even-aged stand at which the 

average annual rate of increase of volume is at a maximum. In land management plans, the mean 

annual increment of growth is expressed in cubic measure and is based on the expected growth of 

stands according to intensities and utilization guidelines in the plan (36 CFR 219.19).

Mid-scale refers to areas that are hundreds to thousands of acres in size. 

Mitigate is to avoid, minimize, rectify, reduce or compensate the adverse environmental impacts 

associated with an action. 

Monitoring is a systematic process of collecting information to evaluate effects of actions or 

changes in conditions or relationships.

Multiple use is the management of all the various renewable surface resources of the National 

Forest System so that they are used in the combination that will best meet the needs of the 

American people; making the most judicious use of the land for some or all of these resources or 

related services over areas large enough to provide sufficient latitude for periodic adjustments in 

use to conform to changing needs and conditions; that some land will be used for less than all of 

the resources; and harmonious and coordinated management of the various resources, each with 

the other, without impairment of the productivity of the land, with consideration being given to 

the relative values of the various resources, and not necessarily the combination of uses that will 

give the greatest dollar return or the greatest unit output, consistent with the Multiple-Use 

Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 (16 U.S.C. 528–531).

National Forest System includes national forests, national grasslands, and the National Tallgrass 

Prairie.

Native species is an organism that is, or was historically, present in a particular ecosystem as a 

result of natural migratory or evolutionary processes and not as a result of an accidental or 

 

23 Spencer, W. and H. Rustigian-Romsos. 2012. Decision-Support Maps and Recommendations for 

Conserving Rare Carnivores in the Interior Mountains of California. Unpublished report produced by 

Conservation Biology Institute 
Glossary 

Draft Revised Forest Plan 169

for the Sierra National Forest 

deliberate introduction into that ecosystem. An organism’s presence and evolution (adaptation) in 

an area are determined by climate, soil, biotic and abiotic factors.

Natural range of variation (NRV) is the variation of ecological characteristics and processes 

over scales of time and space that are appropriate for a given management application. In contrast 

to the generality of historical ecology, the natural range of variation concept focuses on a distilled 

subset of past ecological knowledge developed for use by resource managers; it represents an 

explicit effort to incorporate a past perspective into management and conservation decisions. The 

pre-European influenced reference period considered should be sufficiently long, often several 

centuries, to include the full range of variation produced by dominant natural disturbance regimes 

such as fire and flooding, and should also include short-term variation and cycles in climate. The 

natural range of variation is a tool for assessing the ecological integrity and does not necessarily 

constitute a management target or desired condition. The natural range of variation can help 

identify key structural, functional, compositional, and connectivity characteristics, for which plan 

components may be important for either maintenance or restoration of such ecological conditions.

Nonforest land is land that does not meet the definition of forest land.

Patch refers to a relatively homogeneous area that differs from its surroundings. Patches are the 

basic unit of the landscape that change and fluctuate. Patches have a definite shape and spatial 

configuration, and can be described compositionally by internal variables such as number of 

trees, number of tree species, age of trees, height of trees, or other similar measurements.

Perennial stream is a stream or reach of a channel that flows continuously, or nearly so, 

throughout the year and whose upper surface is generally lower than the top of the zone of 

saturation in areas adjacent to the stream. 

Persistence is continued existence.

Plan components are the parts of a national forest land management plan that guide future 

project and activity decision-making. Specific plan components may apply to the entire plan area, 

to specific management areas or geographic areas, or to other areas as identified in the plan. 

Every plan must include the following plan components: desired conditions; objectives; 

standards; guidelines; suitability of lands. A plan may also include goals as an optional 

component. 

Plan monitoring program is an essential part of the land management plan that based on plan 

components sets out the plan monitoring questions and associated indicators. The plan monitoring 

program informs management of resources on the plan area and enables the responsible official to 

determine if a change in plan components or other plan content that guide management of 

resources on the plan area may be needed.

Productivity is the capacity of National Forest System lands and their ecological systems to 

provide the various renewable resources in certain amounts in perpetuity. For the purposes of the 

land management planning, productivity is an ecological term, not an economic term (36 CFR 

part 219).

Project refers to an organized effort to achieve an outcome on National Forest System lands 

identified by location, tasks, outputs, effects, times and responsibilities for execution.
Glossary 

170 Draft Revised Forest Plan 

for the Sierra National Forest 

Proposed species is any species of fish, wildlife or plant that is proposed by the U. S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service in the Federal Register to be listed 

under Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act.

Reasonable assurance is a judgment made by the responsible official based on best available 

scientific information and local professional experience; practices that are based on existing 

technology and knowledge are likely to deliver the intended results. Reasonable assurance applies 

to average and foreseeable conditions for the area and does not constitute a guarantee to achieve 

the intended results.

Recovery is a word used with respect to threatened or endangered species to denote the 

improvement in the status of a listed species to the point at which listing as federally endangered 

or threatened is no longer appropriate

Recreation opportunity is an opportunity to participate in a specific recreation activity in a 

particular recreation setting and enjoy desired recreation experiences and other benefits that 

accrue. Recreation opportunities include primitive, non-motorized, motorized, developed, and 

dispersed recreation on land, water and in the air.

Recreation setting is the social, managerial and physical attributes of a place that when 

combined, provide a distinct set of recreation opportunities. The Forest Service uses the 

recreation opportunity spectrum to define recreation settings and categorize them into six distinct 

classes: primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized, semi-primitive motorized, roaded natural, rural, 

and urban.

Resilience is the ability of an ecosystem and its component parts to absorb, or recover from the 

effects of disturbance through preservation, restoration or improvement of its essential structures 

and functions, and redundancy of ecological patterns across the landscape.

Restocked is the condition of the growing space occupancy of trees that is to be achieved after a 

disturbance that substantially altered the previous stocking.

Riparian areas include terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that extend down into the groundwater, 

up above the canopy, outward across the floodplain, up the near-slopes that drain to the water, 

laterally into the terrestrial ecosystem, and along the water course at variable widths.

Risk is a combination of the likelihood that a negative outcome will occur and the severity of the 

subsequent negative consequences

Rotation is the number of years (including the regeneration period) required to establish and 

grow timber under an even-aged management system to a specified condition or maturity for 

regeneration harvest.

Satisfactory soils are soil conditions with favorable structure and infiltration characteristics to 

absorb and filter precipitation, and support adequate vegetative cover to minimize erosion and 

sustain desired habitat diversity.

Satisfactory condition for range vegetation is good to excellent vegetation condition or fair 

vegetation condition with an upward trend. 
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Scenic character is a combination of the physical, biological and cultural images that give an 

area its scenic identity and contributes to its sense of place. Scenic character provides a frame of 

reference from which to determine scenic attractiveness and to measure scenic integrity.

Scenic integrity objectives in the context of the forest plan are equivalent to goals or desired 

conditions. Scenic integrity describes the state of naturalness or a measure of the degree to which 

a landscape is visually perceived to be “complete.” The highest scenic integrity ratings are given 

to those landscapes that have little or no deviation from the landscape character valued by 

constituents for its aesthetic quality. Scenic integrity is the state of naturalness or, conversely, the 

state of disturbance created by human activities or alteration. Scenic integrity is measured in five 

levels:

Very high: landscapes where the valued landscape character “is” intact with only 

minute, if any deviations. The existing landscape character and sense of place is 

expressed at the highest possible level.

High: landscapes where the valued landscape character appears unaltered. Deviations 

may be present but must repeat the form, line, color, texture and pattern common to the 

landscape character so completely and at such scale that they are not evident.

Moderate: landscapes where the valued landscape character appears slightly altered. 

Noticeable deviations must remain visually subordinate to the landscape character being 

viewed.

Low: landscapes where the valued landscape character appears moderately altered. 

Deviations begin to dominate the valued landscape character being viewed but they 

borrow valued attributes such as size, shape, edge effect, pattern of natural openings, 

vegetative type changes or architectural styles outside the landscape being viewed. 

They should not only appear as valued character outside the landscape being viewed, 

but compatible or complimentary to the character within.

Very Low: landscapes where the valued landscape character appears heavily altered. 

Deviations may strongly dominate the valued landscape character. They may not 

borrow from valued attributes such as size, shape, edge effect, pattern of natural 

openings, vegetative type changes or architectural styles within or outside the landscape 

being viewed. However, deviations must be shaped and blended with the natural terrain 

so that elements such as unnatural edges, roads, landings and structures do not dominate 

the composition.

Species of conservation concern are species, other than federally recognized threatened, 

endangered, proposed, or candidate species, that is known to occur in the plan area and for which 

the Regional Forester has determined that the best available scientific information indicates 

substantial concern about the species' capability to persist over the long-term in the plan area.

Stand is a contiguous group of trees sufficiently uniform in age class distribution, composition 

and structure, and growing on a site of sufficiently uniform quality, to be a distinguishable unit, 

such as mixed, pure, even-aged and uneven-aged stands.

Stressors are factors that may directly or indirectly degrade or impair ecosystem composition, 

structure or ecological process in a manner that may impair its ecological integrity, such as 

invasive species, loss of connectivity, or the disruption of a natural disturbance regime. 

Sustainability is the capability to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising 

the ability of future generations to meet their needs. For the purposes of the land management 

planning regulation at 36 CFR part 219, ecological sustainability refers to the capability of 
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for the Sierra National Forest 

ecosystems to maintain ecological integrity; economic sustainability refers to the capability of 

society to produce and consume or otherwise benefit from goods and services, including 

contributions to jobs and market and nonmarket benefits; and social sustainability refers to the 

capability of society to support the network of relationships, traditions, culture and activities that 

connect people to the land and to one another, and support vibrant communities.

Sustainable recreation refers to the set of recreation settings and opportunities on the National 

Forest System that is ecologically, economically and socially sustainable for present and future 

generations.

Threatened species is any species that the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce 

has determined is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future 

throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Threatened species are listed at 50 CFR 

sections 17.11, 17.12, and 223.102. 

Timber harvest refers to the removal of trees for wood fiber use and other multiple use purposes.

Timber production is the purposeful growing, tending, harvesting, and regeneration of regulated 

crops of trees to be cut into logs, bolts or other round sections for industrial or consumer use (36 

CFR 219.19).

Trail Corridor is an allocation established through the land use planning process, pursuant to 

Section 7(a)(2) of the National Trails System Act (“rights-of-way”), for a public land area of 

sufficient width, within which to encompass national trail resources, qualities, values and 

associated settings, and the primary use or uses that are present or to be restored.

Two-aged system is a planned sequence of treatments designed to regenerate or maintain a 

timber stand with two age classes. A two-aged system is a form of even-aged management.

Uncharacteristic wildfire refers to wildfire that exceeds the natural range of variation in fire 

severity (e.g., high severity proportion, high severity patch size) and other fire effects indicators 

for a specific vegetation type24. 

Undesirable wildfire refers to wildfire that does not meet the desired conditions for a specific 

vegetation type. 

Utilization standards are specifications for merchantable forest products offered in a timber sale.

Viable population is a population of a species that continues to persist over the long term with 

sufficient distribution to be resilient and adaptable to stressors and likely future environments (36 

CFR 219.19).

Visible foreground is the area within the foreground distance zone (up to 0.5 mile) that is visible 

from a height of 5 feet on the trail, using terrain to define the boundaries. 

Watershed is a region or land area drained by a single stream, river, or drainage network, a 

drainage basin.

 

24 Hardy, C. C. 2005. Wildland fire hazard and risk: Problems, definitions, and context. Forest ecology and 

management, 211(1), 73-82.
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Watershed condition is the state of a watershed based on physical and biogeochemical 

characteristics and processes.

Watershed condition framework is a national comprehensive and consistent approach for 

classifying watershed condition, proactively implementing integrated restoration in priority 

watersheds on national forests and grasslands, and tracking and monitoring outcome-based 

program accomplishments for performance accountability25.

Wild and Scenic River is a river designated by Congress as part of the National Wild and Scenic 

Rivers System that was established in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (16 U.S.C. 1271 

(note), 1271–1287).

Wilderness is any area of land designated by Congress as part of the National Wilderness 

Preservation System that was established in the Wilderness Act of 1964 (16 U.S.C. 1131–1136).

Wildland fire refers to wildfire or prescribed fire.

 

25 USDA, Forest Service. 2011. Watershed Condition Framework; a framework for assessing and tracking 

changes to watershed condition. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, Report FS977