Stereo Photo Series for Quantifying Natural Fuels

Volume XIII: Grasslands, Shrublands, Oak-Bay Woodlands, and Eucalyptus

Forests in the East Bay of California

Clinton S. Wright and Robert E. Vihnanek

United States

Department of 

Agriculture

Forest Service

Pacific Northwest

Research Station

General Technical

Report

PNW-GTR-893

January 2014
ABSTRACT

Wright, Clinton S.; Vihnanek, Robert E. 2014. Stereo photo series for quantifying natural fuels. Volume XIII: grasslands, shrublands, oak-bay 

woodlands, and eucalyptus forests in the East Bay of California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-893. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 39 p.

Four series of photographs display a range of natural conditions and fuel loadings for grassland, shrubland, oak-bay woodland, and eucalyptus 

forest ecosystems on the eastern slopes of the San Francisco Bay area of California. Each group of photos includes inventory information 

summarizing vegetation composition, structure, and loading; woody material loading and density by size class; forest floor depth and loading; and 

various site characteristics. The natural fuels photo series is designed to help land managers appraise fuel and vegetation conditions in natural 

settings.

Keywords: Woody material, biomass, fuel loading, natural fuels, East Bay Regional Park District, Tasmanian bluegum, Eucalyptus globulus, 

California laurel, California bay, Umbellularia californica, California live oak, coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, coyotebrush, Baccharis pilularis.

COOPERATORS

This publication was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNW), Fire 

and Environmental Research Applications team with funding provided by the East Bay Regional Park District. The USDA Forest Service, PNW

Research Station provided funding to print this report.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special recognition is due John Swanson, Steve Quick, John Hitchen, Sergio Huerta, Janet Gomes, Gordon Wiley, and Ken Blonski, East Bay 

Regional Park District for assistance selecting sites and providing logistical support. Jon Dvorak, Joe Restaino, Travis Fried, and Alex Lundquist, 

USDA Forest Service, PNW Research Station, Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Laboratory, worked on this project in the field and in the laboratory.

John Swanson, Carol Rice, Cheryl Miller, and Brad Gallup provided helpful reviews that improved the quality of the final product.

AUTHORS

Clinton S. Wright is a research forester and Robert E. Vihnanek is a supervisory forester, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Pacific Northwest Research Station, Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Laboratory, 400 North 34th Street, Suite 201, Seattle, Washington 98103.
CONTENTS

2 What Is the Natural Fuels Photo Series?

3 Why Is the Photo Series Needed?

3 How Was the Photo Series Developed?

3 Photographs

4 Photograph and Information Arrangement

4 Site and Stand Information

4 Vegetation

5 Shrub Biomass

5 Litter

5 Woody Material

6 Saplings and Trees

6 Using the Photo Series

7 Species List

7 Metric Conversions

8 Literature Cited

10 East Bay Grassland Photo Series

16 East Bay Shrubland Photo Series

20 East Bay Oak-Bay Woodland Photo Series

26 East Bay Eucalyptus Forest Photo Series
2

WHAT IS THE NATURAL FUELS PHOTO SERIES?

The Natural Fuels Photo Series are a set of photographs with accompanying fuel bed characteristics data from sites where no recent management 

activity has occurred for ecosystem types in various regions of the United States. Generally, sites include wide-angle and stereo-pair photographs 

supplemented with information on living and dead fuels and vegetation, and, where appropriate, stand structure and composition within the area 

visible in the photographs (fig. 1). This volume (volume XIII) continues the Natural Fuels Photo Series and includes four series documenting 

grassland, shrubland, oak-bay woodland, and eucalyptus forest types. Some of the sites in this volume are intended to broaden the range of 

conditions presented in volume IV (Ottmar et al. 2000) and volume VII (Ottmar et al. 2004), and provide a basis for appraising and describing 

vegetation amount and composition, and, where appropriate, woody material and stand conditions that occur commonly throughout California.

The first phase of the Natural Fuels Photo Series was a collection of six volumes, each representing a region of the United States (Volumes I-VI). 

Additional phases included new volumes (Volumes VII-XII) and supplemental volumes (Volumes IIa, Va, VIa). Volume I included sites in 

mixed-conifer, western juniper, sagebrush, and grassland ecosystems, and volume XI included sites in sagebrush-steppe and old-growth forest 

suitable for spotted owl nesting in the Pacific Northwest. Volume II included sites in black and white spruce ecosystems and volume IIa included 

sites in hardwood ecosystems undergoing succession to spruce in Alaska. Volume III included sites in lodgepole pine, quaking aspen, and gambel 

oak ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains. Volume IV included sites in pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, and chaparral ecosystems in the Southwest.

Volume V included sites in red and white pine, northern tallgrass prairie, and mixed-oak ecosystems and volume Va included sites in jack pine 

ecosystems in the Midwest. Volume VI included sites in longleaf pine, pocosin, and marsh grass ecosystems, volume VIa included sites in sand 

hill, sand pine scrub, and white pine-invaded hardwood ecosystems, and volume XII included sites in posthurricane fuels in the Southeast. Volume 

VII included sites in Oregon white oak, California deciduous oak, and mixed conifer with shrub ecosystems in Washington, Oregon, and 

Figure 1—Photo series sample area 

layout. The sample area extended 150 ft 

from the camera. Forty-five random 

azimuth planar intercept transects for 

measuring dead and down woody fuels 

and 6 to 12 clipped vegetation plots (1 to 

3 per arc) were located within the sample 

area. Vegetation coverage was measured 

along each of the five sample area layout 

lines between the 30- and 150-ft arcs by 

using the line intercept method. Where 

present, trees were inventoried in the 

entire sample area, and seedlings and 

saplings were inventoried in 12 

systematically located sample plots.

30 ft

60 ft

90 ft

120 ft

150 ft

Camera point

32° sample area angle

Edge of 

sample area

Planar intercept (large wood), 

vegetation height, and canopy 

closure measurement locations

Sapling and seedling

plots (gray)

Clipped vegetation plots:

 yellow: litter and fine wood

 blue: herbaceous

 green: shrub (only 6 of 12 plots)

Line intercept transects 

(vegetation coverage)
3

California. Volume VIII included sites in hardwood, pitch pine, and red spruce/balsam fir ecosystems in the Northeast. Volume IX included sites 

in oak-juniper ecosystems in Arizona and New Mexico. Volume X included sites in sagebrush with grass and ponderosa pine-juniper ecosystems

in central Montana. An unnumbered volume included grassland, shrubland, woodland, and forest ecosystems in Hawaii. The aforementioned 

volumes build on older photo series in natural fuels in common forest types in the Cascade Range (Maxwell and Ward 1980b) and Sierra Nevada 

(Blonski and Schramel 1981, Maxwell and Ward 1979,Weise et al. 1997).

WHY IS THE PHOTO SERIES NEEDED?

The photo series are land management tools that can be used to assess landscapes through appraisal of living and dead woody material and 

vegetation (i.e., fuels) and stand characteristics. Once an assessment has been completed, stand treatment options, such as prescribed fire, 

mechanical or hand fuel reduction, or harvesting, can be planned and implemented with greater detail and precision to better achieve desired 

effects while minimizing negative impacts on other resources.

The photo series has application in several branches of natural resource science and management. Inventory data such as these can be used as 

inputs for evaluating animal habitat, nutrient cycling, and microclimate, for example. Fire managers will find these data useful for predicting fuel 

consumption, smoke production, fire behavior, and fire effects during wildfires and prescribed fires. In addition, the photo series can be used to 

appraise carbon sequestration, an important factor in predictions of future climate, and to link remotely sensed signatures to live and dead fuels on 

the ground. The photos have proved useful in discussions of proposed treatment options with citizens, public officials, and agency administrators. 

They are also a practical communication tool in the preparation, advertisement, and administration of fuel treatment contracts.

Ground-based inventory procedures that directly measure site conditions (e.g., fuel loading and arrangement, vegetation structure and composition, 

etc.) exist for most ecosystem types and are useful when a high degree of accuracy is required. Ground-based inventory is time consuming and 

expensive, however. Photo series can be used to make quick, easy, and inexpensive determinations of fuel quantities and stand conditions when 

less precise estimates are acceptable.

HOW WAS THE PHOTO SERIES DEVELOPED?

Sites photographed for the series in this volume were selected to represent a range of conditions in ecosystem types that are common throughout 

the East Bay area of California. They are also characteristic of sites in similar ecosystem types through the greater San Francisco Bay area, as well 

as adjoining lands to the north and south. The sites are organized into four series: grassland, shrubland, oak-bay woodland, and eucalyptus forest.

Photographs were taken, and fuel loading, stand structure, and composition data were collected by using the procedures of Maxwell and Ward 

(1980a) as a guide.

PHOTOGRAPHS

A large, wide-angle photograph and stereo-pair photographs are included with all series to help land managers appraise natural fuel, vegetation, 

and stand structure conditions. The three-dimensional image obtained by viewing the stereo-pair photographs with a stereoscope will improve the 

ability of the land manager to make assessments in the field. The marker in all of the photographs is a 1-ft square, and the pole is painted in 

contrasting colors at 1-ft intervals to provide scale. The pole is 6-ft tall and 30 ft from the camera. The summary data relate to the field of view of 

the stereo-pair photographs. Note that no sampling occurs in the foreground between the camera and the sign.
4

PHOTOGRAPH AND INFORMATION ARRANGEMENT

The photographs and accompanying data summaries are presented as single sites organized into four series. Each site in the grassland and shrubland 

series is shown on a single page, and includes wide-angle (16-24mm) and stereo-pair photographs and summaries of vegetation composition and 

structure. The shrubland series also includes general site information and summary vegetation information, as well as data describing the shrub, litter, and 

dead and down woody fuel components. Each oak-bay woodland and eucalyptus forest site is arranged to occupy two facing pages. The upper page 

contains a wide-angle (16-24mm) photograph and general site and stand information. The lower page includes the stereo-pair photographs and 

summaries of overstory structure and composition; understory vegetation structure and composition; and downed woody material loading and 

density by size class.

SITE AND STAND INFORMATION

The camera point of each site was located with a global positioning system receiver, and aspect and slope were measured with a compass and 

clinometer, respectively. Fuel type (LSA Associates 2009), an aggregation of many vegetation types determined from vegetation mapping done by 

the East Bay Regional Park District, and ecological community classification to the association level (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012, NatureServe 2013), 

based on the potential natural vegetation concept, were assigned for all sites. A list of the most common grass, forb, and shrub species is included.1

The listing of species was not meant to be a complete vegetation inventory and represents only a portion of the species richness of the sampled 

areas.

For the two series with a tree component, crown closure at each site was measured with a forest densitometer (95 systematically located points).

Tree composition and density were determined by a total inventory of the sample area for all trees greater than 4 in diameter at breast height 

(d.b.h. 2) and on twelve 0.005-ac (oak-bay woodlands and mature eucalyptus forest sites) or 0.002-ac (young eucalyptus forest sites) circular plots 

for all trees greater than 4.5 ft tall and less than or equal to 4 in d.b.h. (fig. 1); trees less than 4.5 ft tall were considered seedlings. Seedling 

composition and density were also measured on twelve 0.005-ac circular plots.

VEGETATION

Shrub, forb, and graminoid species coverage (along with litter coverage and mineral soil exposure) were estimated by using line intercept transects 

(Canfield 1941). Vegetation heights were measured at 25 points located systematically throughout the sample area. Vegetation biomass was 

determined by sampling square, clipped vegetation plots (twelve 10.76-ft

2

plots for herbaceous species and six 43.06-ft2plots for shrubs) located 

systematically throughout the sample area (fig. 1). All live and dead vegetation rooted within each square plot was clipped at ground level, sorted 

by lifeform, and returned to the laboratory for oven drying. Vegetation was oven dried at a minimum of 158 °F for at least 48 hours before 

weighing and determination of area loading. 

 

1 A list of scientific and common species names used in this volume appears on page 7.

2 D.b.h. is measured 4.5 ft above the ground.
5

SHRUB BIOMASS

Six shrub clip plots, as referenced above, were selected for sampling that were completely covered by shrub vegetation. A list of more than six 

sampling point locations was developed a priori and each point was evaluated in order until six suitable points were located. Shrub vegetation was 

separated into live and dead fractions for all six shrub clip plots and further separated into size classes (less than or equal to 0.25 in + foliage, 0.25 

to 1.0 in, and greater than 1.0 in) for three of six shrub clip plots. After clipping and separation, each shrub category was weighed in the field. 

Three moisture content subsamples that were representative of the material in each field-weighed sample were collected in airtight containers, 

returned to the laboratory, and oven dried to determine moisture content. Adjustment to an oven-dry basis for each field-weighed shrub sample for 

each plot was made by multiplying the field-measured weight by the mean of the ratio of oven-dry weight:wet weight of the three moisture content 

subsamples from that plot. The dry weight average proportion of each status and size class category of the three fully separated samples was 

applied to the gross dry weight of the unseparated samples and multiplied by the proportion of the site that was covered with shrubs to estimate 

site loading by status and size class.

LITTER

Litter coverage (and mineral soil exposure) was measured by using the line intercept method (Canfield 1941), and is reported with site information 

for all but the shrubland series. Litter loading was estimated by collecting surface material in 12 systematically located 2.69-ft2plots (except 

eucalyptus forest sites). Collected material was oven dried at a minimum of 158 °F for at least 48 hours before weighing and determination of area 

loading. Litter depth was calculated as the average of measurements taken every 5 ft between the 30- and 150-ft arcs on the five sample area

layout lines (see fig. 1) for all sites. For eucalyptus forest sites, litter loading was estimated by multiplying the depth by a site-specific bulk 

density.

3 Litter depth was calculated as an average of the depth only where litter was encountered during sampling (null values, or points where 

litter was absent, are not included in the average).

For the eucalyptus series, the loading of litter, bark, and branch material that had accumulated at the base of some trees or groups of trees was 

estimated by measuring the gross volume of the basal accumulation, subtracting the portion of the bole volume of the trees growing out of the 

accumulation that was encapsulated by the volume of the accumulation to derive net volume, and applying an allometric relationship for predicting 

loading from net volume. Material in basal accumulations is in addition to woody material and litter measured on transects. The allometric 

relationship was generated by measuring and weighing 25 basal accumulations in areas adjacent to several of the sites sampled in this photo series.

WOODY MATERIAL

Measurement techniques used for inventorying dead and down woody material were patterned after the planar intersect method outlined by Brown 

(1974) and described by Maxwell and Ward (1980a). Transects of random azimuth starting at 45 systematically located points within the sample 

area were used to determine woody material loading and density (fig. 1). Woody material data are reported by size classes that correspond to 

timelag fuel classes used in fire behavior modeling (see, for example, Burgan and Rothermel 1984).4 Woody material in 1-, 10-, and 100-hourand-larger size classes was tallied on transects that were 3, 10, and 30 ft long, respectively. The decay class and the actual diameter at the point of 

intersection were measured for all pieces greater than 3 inches in diameter. All woody material less than or equal to 3 inches in diameter was 

 

3 The forest floor bulk density value used for eucalyptus litter appears under “Notes to Users.”

4

1-, 10-, 100-, and 1,000-hour timelag fuels are defined as woody material 0.25 in, 0.26 to 1.0 in, 1.1 to 3.0 in, and >3.0 inches in diameter, respectively.
6

considered sound. Woody material loading and woody material density were calculated from relationships that use number of pieces intersected 

and transect length (and wood specific gravity for loading) developed by Brown (1974) and Safranyik and Linton (1987), respectively. Woody 

material in the shrubland series was measured by collecting all 1- and 10-hour pieces in twelve 2.69-ft2plots nested within the larger clipped 

vegetation plots. Collected woody material was oven dried at a minimum of 158 °F for at least 48 hours before weighing and determination of area 

loading.

SAPLINGS AND TREES

Overstory tree (i.e., trees greater than 4 in d.b.h.) composition and density were determined by a total inventory of the sample area. Sapling (i.e., 

trees less than or equal to 4 in d.b.h. and greater than 4.5 ft tall) composition and density were estimated by using twelve 0.005-ac circular plots 

located systematically throughout the sample area (fig. 1). Tree measurement data were summarized by d.b.h. size class and by tree status (all, 

live, or dead). Each stem was measured in cases where trees forked below 4.5 ft. The two most abundant tree species for each size class are listed 

with their relative density. Height to crown base (reported as ladder fuel height in previous photo series volumes) was defined as the height of the 

lowest, continuous live or dead branch material of the tree canopy, and height to live crown was defined as the height of the lowest continuous live 

branches of the tree canopy. All height measurements were made by using a graduated pole (measurements less than 25 ft) or a laser rangefinder 

with an inclinometer.

USING THE PHOTO SERIES

The natural fuels photo series is a tool for quickly and inexpensively evaluating a variety of fuel and vegetation conditions. Because of its ease of 

use, care must be taken when evaluating field sites to compare only with photo series sites that are appropriate matches. It is acceptable, however, 

to use the data from more than one site from the photo series when evaluating a site in the field (e.g., woody material loading from one site in the 

photo series and tree density from another site in the photo series to best match the conditions of a given field site).

Make a visual inventory of the site by observing fuel and stand conditions within the field of view and comparing them with the photographs as 

follows, remembering that the data tables relate to the area behind the sign in the photographs:

 Observe each fuel and vegetation characteristic (e.g., 1.1- to 3.0-in woody material loading).

 Select a photo series site (or sites) that nearly matches (or brackets) the observed characteristics.

 Obtain the quantitative value for the characteristic being estimated from the data summary accompanying the selected photo series site, or 

interpolate a value between sites.

 Repeat these steps for each characteristic of interest.

The total biomass or stand condition can then be calculated by summing the estimates. If the site being inventoried has areas with obvious 

differences in composition, structure, or condition, the user should make separate determinations for each area and then weight and sum the 

characteristics for the whole site.

Characteristics not distinguishable in the photographs are litter or forest floor depth, loading, and bulk density. If values for these characteristics 

are desired in the inventory, they must be derived from independent sampling or observations.
7

The 20 National Fire-Danger Rating System fuel models (Burgan 1988, Deeming et al. 1977) and the 13 original (Albini 1976) or 40 new (Scott 

and Burgan 2005) fire behavior fuel models are very general and broadly applied. Each photo series encompasses a wider range of conditions, and 

individual sites represent fuel characteristics at greater resolution than can be gained by using fuel models; consequently, we chose not to assign 

one of these existing fuel models to individual sites in this photo series. The photo series was designed to provide sufficient fuel and vegetation 

data from which managers could generate their own customized fuel models.

SPECIES LIST

Scientific and common species names are from U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (2013). Common species names 

and scientific names in regular usage that differ from those found in the PLANTS database are also noted.

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME

TREES:

Acacia melanoxylon R. Br. Blackwood or

black acacia

Cretaegus monogyna Jacq. Oneseed hawthorn

Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Tasmanian bluegum

Quercus agrifolia Née California live oak or

coast live oak

Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt. California laurel or

California bay

SHRUBS:

Baccharis pilularis DC. Coyotebrush

Toxicodendron diversilobum (Torr. & A. Gray) Greene Pacific poison oak

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME

GRASSES:

Avena fatua L. Wild oat

Bromus diandrus Roth Ripgut brome

Festuca spp. Fescue

FORBS:

Centaurea solstitialis L. Yellow star-thistle

Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. Bull thistle

Rubus armeniacus Focke Himalayan blackberry

(formerly Rubus discolor Weihe & Nees)

METRIC CONVERSIONS

1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm) 1 ton = 907.2 kilograms (kg)

1 foot (ft) = 0.3048 meter (m) 1 ton/acre (ton/ac) = 0.2242 kilogram/square meter (kg/m2)

1 square foot (ft2) = 0.0929 square meter (m2) 1 ton/acre(ton/ac) = 2241.7023 kilograms/hectare (kg/ha)

1 acre (ac) = 4046.9 square meters (m2) 1 ton∙acre-1∙inch-1(ton∙ac-1∙in-1) = 8.8256E-03 grams/cubic centimeter (g/cm3)

1 acre (ac) = 0.4047 hectare (ha) 1 ton∙acre-1∙inch-1(ton∙ac-1∙in-1) = 8825.6 grams/cubic meter (g/m3)

(Degrees Fahrenheit – 32) × (5/9) = Degrees Celsius 1 ton∙acre-1∙inch-1(ton∙ac-1∙in-1) = 8.8256 kilograms/cubic meter (kg/m3)
8

LITERATURE CITED

Albini, F.A. 1976. Estimating wildfire behavior and effects. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-30. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 92 p.

Blonski, K.S.; Schramel, J.L. 1981. Photo series for quantifying natural forest residues: southern Cascades, northern Sierra Nevada. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. PSW-56. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 145 p.

Brown, J.K. 1974. Handbook for inventorying downed woody material. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-16. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 24 p.

Buck-Diaz, J.; Batiuk, S.; Evens, J.M. 2012. Vegetation alliances and associations of the Great Valley ecoregion, California. Sacramento, CA: 

California Native Plant Society, Vegetation Program. 473 p.

Burgan, R.E. 1988. 1988 revisions to the 1978 national fire-danger rating system. Res. Pap. SE-273. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 39 p.

Burgan, R.E.; Rothermel, R.C. 1984. BEHAVE: fire behavior prediction and fuel modeling system—FUEL subsystem. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT167. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 126 p.

Canfield, R.H. 1941. Application of the line interception method in sampling range vegetation. Journal of Forestry. 39: 388–394.

Deeming, J.E.; Burgan, R.E.; Cohen, J.D. 1977. The national fire-danger rating system—1978. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-39. Ogden, UT: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 63 p.

LSA Associates. 2009. East Bay Regional Park District draft wildfire hazard reduction and resource management plan. Berkeley, CA: LSA 

Associates, Inc. 220 p. [plus appendices]. http://www.ebparks.org/stewardship/fuelsplan/plan/. (25 June 2013)

Maxwell, W.G.; Ward, F.R. 1979. Photo series for quantifying forest residues in the: Sierra mixed conifer type, Sierra true fir type. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. PNW-95. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 79 p.

Maxwell, W.G.; Ward, F.R. 1980a. Guidelines for developing or supplementing natural photo series. Res. Note PNW-358. Portland, OR: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 16 p.

Maxwell, W.G.; Ward, F.R. 1980b. Photo series for quantifying forest residues in common vegetation types of the Pacific Northwest. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. PNW-105. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 230 p.

NatureServe. 2013. NatureServe Explorer: an online encyclopedia of life [web application], Version 7.0. Arlington, VA: NatureServe.

http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/. (25 June 2013).

Ottmar, R.D.; Vihnanek, R.E.; Regelbrugge, J.C. 2000. Stereo photo series for quantifying natural fuels. Volume IV: pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, 

and chaparral types in the Southwestern United States. PMS 833. Boise, ID: National Wildfire Coordinating Group, National Interagency Fire 

Center. 97 p.

Ottmar, R.D.; Vihnanek, R.E.; Wright, C.S.; Olson, D.L. 2004. Stereo photo series for quantifying natural fuels. Volume VII: Oregon white oak, 

California deciduous oak, and mixed-conifer with shrub types in the Western United States. PMS 839. Boise, ID: National Wildfire Coordinating 

Group, National Interagency Fire Center. 75 p.

Safranyik, L.; Linton, D.A. 1987. Line intersect sampling for the density and bark area of logging residue susceptible to the spruce beetle, 

Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby). Inf. Rep. BC-X-295. Victoria, BC: Canadian Forestry Service, Pacific Forestry Centre. 10 p.
9

Scott, J.H.; Burgan, R.E. 2005. Standard fire behavior fuel models: a comprehensive set for use with Rothermel’s surface fire spread model. Gen. 

Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-153. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 72 p.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2013. The PLANTS Database. Greensboro, NC: National Plant 

Data Team. http://plants.usda.gov/. (25 June 2013).

Weise, D.R.; Gelobter, A.; Haase, S.M.; Sackett, S.S. 1997. Photo series for quantifying fuels and assessing fire risk in giant sequoia groves. 

Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-163. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 49 p.
10

EAST BAY

GRASSLAND

PHOTO SERIES

A SERIES OF THREE SITES

EBG 01 THROUGH EBG 03
EAST BAY GRASSLAND 11

NOTES TO USERS:

1. The sites in this series are arranged in order of increasing total aboveground biomass.

2. This series represents some grassland types in the East Bay area. Sites with similar vegetation and fuel attributes from other Natural Fuels 

Photo Series publications can be referenced to supplement the sites reported here. Figure 2 shows where sites from this series fit relative to 

sites of similar fuel type in volume VII (Ottmar et al. 2004).

3. A list of scientific and common species names can be found on page 7.

4. Photographs were taken in September 2010. Sampling was performed in October 2010.

5. The marker in these photographs is a 1-ft square, and the pole is painted in contrasting colors at 1-ft intervals. The pole is 30 ft from the 

camera and is 6 ft tall. Note that no sampling occurs in the foreground between the camera and the sign.

6. Trace coverage is coverage <0.5 percent. The designation of “na” indicates cases where data are missing or “not available.”

Figure 2—East Bay grassland (EBG) photo series site biomass in relation to sites with similar fuels in other parts of the 

Western United States. Comparative data come from the California Deciduous Oak (CDO) and Oregon White Oak (WO) 

series in Ottmar et al. (2004).

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

CDO 09WO 03CDO 06WO 10WO 02WO 07CDO 04CDO 03CDO 02EBG 01CDO 07WO 04WO 05WO 01CDO 01CDO 08EBG 02WO 06CDO 05WO 08EBG 03WO 09

Herbaceous fuel loading (tons/ac)

Photo series site number
EBG 01 EAST BAY GRASSLAND 12

EB12

Grassland, low loading

Site location: N 37° 34′ 29.9′′ W 121° 56′ 05.9′′

Elevation: 900 ft Aspect: 260° Slope: 18%

Administrative unit: Vargas Plateau Regional Park

Ecological association: Bromus diandrus herbaceous vegetation

Fuel type: California annual grassland

Litter loading: 0.45 tons/ac

Litter depth: 0.5 in

Litter coverage: 80%

Mineral soil exposure: 20%

Species: Avena fatua, Bromus diandrus, Centaurea solstitialis, Cirsium vulgare, 

Festuca spp.

SITE INFORMATION

VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species --

Centaurea 

solstitialis

Bromus 

diandrus

Coverage (%) 0 trace 80

Avg height (ft) -- 1.0 0.6

Biomass (tons/ac) 0 trace 0.47
EBG 02 EAST BAY GRASSLAND

EBG 02 EAST BAY GRASSLAND 13

EB08

Grassland, medium loading

Site location: N 37° 43′ 03.0′′ W 122° 05′ 54.6′′

Elevation: 450 ft Aspect: 200° Slope: 10%

Administrative unit: Lake Chabot Regional Park

Plant association: Bromus diandrus herbaceous vegetation

Fuel type: California annual grassland

Litter loading: 0.25 tons/ac

Litter depth: na

Litter coverage: 91%

Mineral soil exposure: 9%

Species: Avena fatua, Bromus diandrus, Cirsium vulgare, Festuca spp.

SITE INFORMATION

VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species --

Cirsium 

vulgare

Bromus 

diandrus

Coverage (%) 0 trace 91

Avg height (ft) -- 0.7 0.7

Biomass (tons/ac) 0 0.01 0.75
EBG 03 EAST BAY GRASSLAND 14

EB05

Grassland, high loading

Site location: N 38° 00′ 19.6′′ W 122° 21′ 24.0′′

Elevation: 5 ft Aspect: -- Slope: 0%

Administrative unit: Point Pinole Regional Shoreline

Plant association: Bromus diandrus herbaceous vegetation

Fuel type: California annual grassland

Litter loading: 0.30 tons/ac

Litter depth: 0.5 in

Litter coverage: 96%

Mineral soil exposure: 1%

Species: Avena fatua, Bromus diandrus, Centaurea solstitialis, Festuca spp.

SITE INFORMATION

VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species --

Centaurea 

solstitialis

Avena 

fatua

Coverage (%) 0 1 98

Avg height (ft) -- 1.5 2.5

Biomass (tons/ac) 0 0.03 0.95
15
16

EAST BAY

SHRUBLAND

PHOTO SERIES

A SERIES OF TWO SITES

EBS 01 THROUGH EBS 02
EAST BAY SHRUBLAND 17

NOTES TO USERS:

1. The sites in this series are arranged in order of increasing total aboveground biomass. 

2. This series represents some shrubland types in the East Bay area. Sites with similar vegetation and fuel attributes from other Natural Fuels 

Photo Series publications can be referenced to supplement the sites reported here. Figure 3 shows where sites from this series fit relative to 

sites of similar fuel type in volume IV (Ottmar et al. 2000) and volume VII (Ottmar et al. 2004).

3. A list of scientific and common species names can be found on page 7.

4. Photographs were taken in September 2010. Sampling was performed in October 2010.

5. The marker in these photographs is a 1-ft square, and the pole is painted in contrasting colors at 1-ft intervals. The pole is 30 ft from the 

camera and is 6 ft tall. Note that no sampling occurs in the foreground between the camera and the sign.

6. Trace coverage is coverage <0.5 percent. Trace biomass indicates biomass <0.005 tons/ac. The designation of “na” indicates cases where data 

are missing or “not available.”

Figure 3—East Bay shrubland (EBS) photo series site biomass in relation to sites with similar fuels in other parts of the 

Western United States. Comparative data come from the Mixed-Conifer with Shrub (MCS) and Chaparral (CH) series in 

Ottmar et al. (2004) and Ottmar et al. (2000), respectively.

0

20

40

MCS 04MCS 03MCS 09MCS 10MCS 08MCS 06MCS 05EBS 01CH 01CH 02CH 03CH 04MCS 07CH 05EBS 02CH 06CH 08CH 07CH 09MCS 11CH 10CH 11CH 12CH 13CH 14CH 15CH 16

Shrub fuel loading (tons/ac)

Photo series site number
EBS 01 EAST BAY SHRUBLAND 18

EB10

Shrubland, medium loading

Site location: N 37° 44′ 28.0′′ W 122° 05′ 44.4′′

Elevation: 800 ft Aspect: 30° Slope: 25%

Administrative unit: Anthony Chabot Regional Park

Ecological association: Baccharis pilularis-Toxicodendron diversilobum shrubland

Fuel type: Coyotebrush scrub

Mineral soil exposure: 1%

Species: Avena fatua, Baccharis pilularis, Bromus diandrus, Festuca spp.

SITE INFORMATION

VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species

Baccharis 

pilularis

na

Bromus 

diandrus

Coverage (%) 35 trace 64

Avg height (ft) 4.3 0.5 1.9

Biomass (tons/ac) 5.65 0.01 0.71

SHRUB BIOMASS

Baccharis pilularis

Loading 

(tons/ac)

Live: Foliage + ≤ 0.25 in 1.41

0.26 - 1.0 in 2.92

>1.0 in 0.99

Dead: Foliage + ≤ 0.25 in 0.12

0.26-1.0 in 0.18

>1.0 in 0.03

All: Foliage + ≤ 0.25 in 1.53

0.26-1.0 in 3.10

>1.0 in 1.02

Grand total 5.65

Litter loading: 0.70 tons/ac

Litter depth: 0.9 in

Litter coverage: 28%

≤ 0.25in woody loading: 0.09 tons/ac

0.26 - 1.0 in woody loading: 0.14 tons/ac

LITTER AND WOODY MATERIAL
EBS 02 EAST BAY SHRUBLAND

EBS 02 EAST BAY SHRUBLAND 19

EB11

Shrubland, high loading

Site location: N 37° 44′ 16.8′′ W 122° 05′ 42.7′′

Elevation: 715 ft Aspect: 76° Slope: 12%

Administrative unit: Anthony Chabot Regional Park

Ecological association: Baccharis pilularis-Toxicodendron diversilobum shrubland

Fuel type: Coyotebrush scrub

Mineral soil exposure: 4%

Species: Avena fatua, Baccharis pilularis, Bromus diandrus, Festuca spp., 

Toxicodendron diversilobum

SITE INFORMATION

VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species

Baccharis 

pilularis

na

Bromus 

diandrus

Coverage (%) 68 trace 23

Avg height (ft) 6.6 1.4 1.1

Biomass (tons/ac) 11.85 trace 0.26

SHRUB BIOMASS

Baccharis pilularis

Loading 

(tons/ac)

Live: Foliage + ≤ 0.25 in 2.50

0.26 - 1.0 in 3.76

>1.0 in 2.42

Dead: Foliage + ≤ 0.25 in 0.32

0.26-1.0 in 1.43

>1.0 in 1.42

All: Foliage + ≤ 0.25 in 2.82

0.26-1.0 in 5.19

>1.0 in 3.84

Grand total 11.85

Litter loading: 0.45 tons/ac

Litter depth: 0.6 in

Litter coverage: 5%

≤ 0.25 in woody loading: 0.11 tons/ac

0.26 - 1.0 in woody loading: 0.14 tons/ac

LITTER AND WOODY MATERIAL
20

EAST BAY

OAK/BAY WOODLAND

PHOTO SERIES

A SERIES OF TWO SITES

EBW 01 THROUGH EBW 02
EAST BAY OAK/BAY WOODLAND 21

NOTES TO USERS:

1. The sites in this series are arranged in order of increasing tree density.

2. This series represents some woodland types in the East Bay area. Sites with similar vegetation and fuel attributes from other Natural Fuels 

Photo Series publications can be referenced to supplement the sites reported here. Figure 4 shows where sites from this series fit relative to 

sites of similar fuel type in volume VII (Ottmar et al. 2004).

3. Although referred to as “woodlands,” the sites dominated by Quercus agrifolia and Umbellularia californica in this series are quite dense and 

do not meet the typical definition of woodlands for which canopy coverage is generally considered to be between 25 and 60 percent.

4. A list of scientific and common species names can be found on page 7.

5. Photographs were taken in September 2010. Sampling was performed in October 2010.

6. The marker in these photographs is a 1-ft square, and the pole is painted in contrasting colors at 1-ft intervals. The pole is 30 ft from the 

camera and is 6 ft tall. Note that no sampling occurs in the foreground between the camera and the sign.

7. A distinction is made between rotten and sound woody material for pieces larger than 3 inches in diameter.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

CDO 01CDO 07CDO 02CDO 03EBW 02EBW 01CDO 08CDO 06CDO 04CDO 05CDO 09

Wood + forest floor loading (tons/ac)

Photo series site number

Figure 4—Oak-bay woodland (EBW) photo series dead and down woody fuel and forest floor (i.e., litter and duff) biomass 

in relation to sites with similar fuels in other parts of the Western United States as reported by Ottmar et al. (2004). 

Comparative data come from the California Deciduous Oak (CDO) series in Ottmar et al. (2004).
EBW 01 EAST BAY OAK/BAY WOODLAND 22

EB01

Oak/bay woodland, open understory

(lower tree density)

SITE AND STAND INFORMATION

Site location: N 37° 49′ 08.6′′ W 122° 04′ 08.6′′

Elevation: 1,900 ft Aspect: -- Slope: 0%

Administrative unit: Las Trampas Regional 

Wilderness

Ecological association: Quercus agrifoliaUmbellularia californica woodland

Fuel type: Oak-bay woodland

Litter loading: 1.71 tons/ac

Litter depth: 0.9 in

Litter coverage: 77%

Mineral soil exposure: 14%

Trees (% of stems): Quercus agrifolia (57), 

Umbellularia californica (43)

Crown closure: 97%

Seedlings (% of stems): Quercus agrifolia (79), 

Umbellularia californica (21)

Density: 956/ac
EBW 01 EAST BAY OAK/BAY WOODLAND 23

SAPLINGS AND TREES

Size class (diameter at breast height)

4 in 4 - 9 in 9 - 20 in >20 in >4 in

Most common species 

(percentage of stems) --

Umbellularia 

californica (64)

Quercus 

agrifolia (71)

Quercus 

agrifolia (100)

Quercus 

agrifolia (57)

Second most common 

species (percentage of stems) --

Quercus 

agrifolia (36)

Umbellularia 

californica (29)

--

Umbellularia 

californica (43)

Tree density (stems/ac) 0 159 224 7 390

 Live 0 137 209 7 353

 Dead 0 22 15 0 37

Avg d.b.h. (in) -- 7.1 13.2 22.4 10.8

 Live -- 7.1 13.3 22.4 11.1

 Dead -- 6.7 10.4 -- 8.2

Avg height (ft) -- 32.9 44.6 52.4 40.0

 Live -- 34.0 45.2 52.4 41.0

 Dead -- 26.0 35.0 -- 29.6

Avg height to crown base (ft) -- 9.1 17.8 30.3 14.7

 Live -- 9.1 17.8 30.3 14.7

 Dead -- -- -- -- --

Avg height to live crown (ft) -- 9.1 17.8 30.3 14.7

WOODY MATERIAL

Loading (tons/ac) Density (pieces/ac)

Diameter (in) Sound Rotten Total Sound Rotten Total

0.25 0.23 -- 0.23 -- -- --

0.26 - 1.0 0.50 -- 0.50 -- -- --

1.1 - 3.0 0.52 -- 0.52 -- -- --

3.1 - 9.0 0.00 1.13 1.13 0 48 48

>9.0 0.00 0.25 0.25 0 4 4

Total 1.25 1.38 2.63 0 52 52

UNDERSTORY VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species -- -- --

Second most 

common species -- -- --

Coverage (%) 0 0 0

Avg height (ft) -- -- --

Biomass (tons/ac) 0 0 0
EBW 02 EAST BAY OAK/BAY WOODLAND 24

EB13

Oak/bay woodland, closed understory

(higher tree density)

SITE AND STAND INFORMATION

Site location: N 37° 45′ 32.9′′ W 121° 59′ 14.5′′

Elevation: 620 ft Aspect: 22° Slope: 22%

Administrative unit: Bishop Ranch Regional 

Preserve

Ecological association: Quercus agrifoliaUmbellularia californica woodland

Fuel type: Oak-bay woodland

Litter loading: 2.70 tons/ac

Litter depth: 1.1 in

Litter coverage: 95%

Mineral soil exposure: 5%

Trees (% of stems): Umbellularia californica (94), 

Quercus agrifolia (6)

Crown closure: 98%

Seedlings (% of stems): Umbellularia californica (100)

Density: 3,388/ac
EBW 02 EAST BAY OAK/BAY WOODLAND 25

SAPLINGS AND TREES

Size class (diameter at breast height)

4 in 4 - 9 in 9 - 20 in >20 in >4 in

Most common species 

(percentage of stems)

Umbellularia 

californica (100)

Umbellularia 

californica (78)

Quercus

agrifolia (67)

Quercus

agrifolia (100)

Umbellularia 

californica (62)

Second most common

species (percentage of stems) --

Quercus

agrifolia (22)

Umbellularia 

californica (33)

--

Quercus

agrifolia (38)

Tree density (stems/ac) 1,107 130 43 14 187

 Live 1,107 123 36 14 173

 Dead 0 7 7 0 14

Avg d.b.h. (in) 1.3 6.2 11.8 25.1 8.9

 Live 1.3 6.1 12.3 25.1 8.9

 Dead -- 8.6 9.3 -- 9.0

Avg height (ft) 12.7 27.3 34.2 32.2 29.3

 Live 12.7 27.4 36.5 32.2 29.7

 Dead -- 24.9 22.8 -- 23.9

Avg height to crown base (ft) 6.6 14.6 16.9 15.3 15.2

 Live 6.6 14.6 17.7 15.3 15.3

 Dead -- 14.8 12.5 -- 13.7

Avg height to live crown (ft) 6.6 14.6 17.7 15.3 15.3

WOODY MATERIAL

Loading (tons/ac) Density (pieces/ac)

Diameter (in) Sound Rotten Total Sound Rotten Total

0.25 0.29 -- 0.29 -- -- --

0.26 - 1.0 0.50 -- 0.50 -- -- --

1.1 - 3.0 0.27 -- 0.27 -- -- --

3.1 - 9.0 0.09 0.24 0.33 9 22 31

>9.0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0 0 0

Total 1.15 0.24 1.39 9 22 31

UNDERSTORY VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species -- -- --

Second most 

common species -- -- --

Coverage (%) 0 0 0

Avg height (ft) -- -- --

Biomass (tons/ac) 0 0 0
26

EAST BAY

EUCALYPTUS FOREST

PHOTO SERIES

A SERIES OF SIX SITES

EBE 01 THROUGH EBE 06
EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 27

NOTES TO USERS:

1. The sites in this series are arranged in order of increasing surface fuel (i.e., dead and down woody fuel, litter, and understory vegetation) 

loading.

2. A list of scientific and common species names can be found on page 7.

3. The bulk density value used for calculating eucalyptus litter loading from depth measurements was 3.61 tons·ac-1·in-1based on 24 samples 

collected from three of the six eucalyptus sites.

4. Eucalyptus litter, bark, and branch material can accumulate at the bases of some trees or groups of trees creating areas of relatively deep litter 

and woody fuels, particularly in eucalyptus forests regenerated through coppicing (fig. 5). Basal accumulations were inventoried and measured 

within the sample area (fig. 1) to estimate their abundance and biomass or loading. The density of basal accumulations refers to the total 

number of accumulations, not the number of stems with accumulations (i.e., an individual accumulation can be associated with more than one 

tree stem). See page 5 for a more detailed description of the methods used to quantify basal accumulations. No basal accumulations were 

observed within the sample area for EBE 06; the basal accumulation visible on the right side of the wide-angle photograph was outside of the 

sample area.

5. Photographs were taken in September 2010. Sampling was performed in 

October 2010.

6. The marker in these photographs is a 1-ft square, and the pole is painted in 

contrasting colors at 1-ft intervals. The pole is 30 ft from the camera and is 6 ft 

tall. Note that no sampling occurs in the foreground between the camera and the 

sign.

7. Trace coverage is coverage <0.5 percent. Trace biomass indicates biomass 

<0.005 tons/ac. The designation of “na” indicates cases where data are missing 

or “not available.”

8. A distinction is made between rotten and sound woody material for pieces larger 

than 3 inches in diameter.

9. Eucalyptus bark partially separates from the bole, potentially creating a 

flammable fuel ladder by which fire could spread vertically from the ground 

surface to the tree crowns. No attempt was made to quantify eucalyptus bark that 

is still attached to the trees as a “ladder fuel” in this series, although fire and fuel 

managers should take note of it when assessing eucalyptus-dominated stands.

Figure 5—Example of accumulated litter, bark, and 

woody material at the base of a eucalyptus coppice.
EBE 01 EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 28

EB04 

Eucalyptus; young, low

SITE AND STAND INFORMATION

Site location: N 38° 00′ 17.8′′ W 122° 21′ 24.2′′

Elevation: 20 ft Aspect: -- Slope: 0%

Administrative unit: Point Pinole Regional 

Shoreline

Ecological association: Eucalyptus globulus seminatural stands

Fuel type: Young eucalyptus forest

Litter loading: 5.27 tons/ac

Litter depth: 1.5 in

Litter coverage: 28%

Mineral soil exposure: 1%

Basal accumulation*density: 7/ac

Basal accumulation loading: 0.04 tons/ac

Basal accumulation coverage: <1%

Trees (% of stems): Eucalyptus globulus (100)

Crown closure: 47%

Seedlings (% of stems): None

Density: 0/ac

*Accumulated leaf, branch, and bark material piled 

around the bases of some trees.
EBE 01 EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 29

SAPLINGS AND TREES

Size class (diameter at breast height)

4 in 4 - 9 in 9 - 20 in >20 in >4 in

Most common species 

(percentage of stems) -- --

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

--

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Second most common 

species (percentage of stems) -- -- -- -- --

Tree density (stems/ac) 0 -- 58 0 58

 Live 0 -- 58 0 58

 Dead 0 -- 0 0 0

Avg d.b.h. (in) -- -- 15.7 -- 15.7

 Live -- -- 15.7 -- 15.7

 Dead -- -- -- -- --

Avg height (ft) -- -- 85.1 -- 85.1

 Live -- -- 85.1 -- 85.1

 Dead -- -- -- -- --

Avg height to crown base (ft) -- -- 22.1 -- 22.1

 Live -- -- 22.1 -- 22.1

 Dead -- -- -- -- --

Avg height to live crown (ft) -- -- 22.1 -- 22.1

WOODY MATERIAL

Loading (tons/ac) Density (pieces/ac)

Diameter (in) Sound Rotten Total Sound Rotten Total

0.25 0.10 -- 0.10 -- -- --

0.26 - 1.0 0.28 -- 0.28 -- -- --

1.1 - 3.0 0.15 -- 0.15 -- -- --

3.1 - 9.0 0.30 0.71 1.01 9 35 44

>9.0 0.00 0.23 0.23 0 4 4

Total 0.83 0.94 1.77 9 39 48

UNDERSTORY VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species

Baccharis 

pilularis

Centaurea 

solstitialis

Bromus 

spp.

Second most 

common species

Toxicodendron 

diversilobum

Cirsium 

vulgare

Avena 

fatua

Coverage (%) trace 2 69

Avg height (ft) 1.6 1.7 1.4

Biomass (tons/ac) 0.03*0.02 0.21

*

Poison oak was not collected for biomass estimation.
EBE 02 EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 30

EB06

Eucalyptus; mature, low

SITE AND STAND INFORMATION

Site location: N 37° 54′ 25.2′′ W 122° 15′ 41.9′′

Elevation: 615 ft Aspect: 208° Slope: 20%

Administrative unit: Tilden Regional Park

Ecological association: Eucalyptus globulus seminatural stands

Fuel type: Mature eucalyptus forest

Litter loading: 8.23 tons/ac

Litter depth: 2.4 in

Litter coverage: 84%

Mineral soil exposure: 0%

Basal accumulation*density: 0/ac

Basal accumulation loading: 0.00 tons/ac

Basal accumulation coverage: 0%

Trees (% of stems): Umbellularia californica (62), 

Eucalyptus globulus (21), Quercus agrifolia (17)

Crown closure: 84%

Seedlings (% of stems): Umbellularia californica (56), 

Quercus agrifolia (42), Eucalyptus globulus (2)

Density: 1,040/ac

*Accumulated leaf, branch, and bark material piled 

around the bases of some trees.
EBE 02 EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 31

SAPLINGS AND TREES

Size class (diameter at breast height)

4 in 4 - 9 in 9 - 20 in >20 in >4 in

Most common species 

(percentage of stems)

Umbellularia 

californica (73)

-- --

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Second most common 

species (percentage of stems)

Quercus 

agrifolia (20)

-- -- -- --

Tree density (stems/ac) 252 0 0 43 43

 Live 252 0 0 43 43

 Dead 0 0 0 0 0

Avg d.b.h. (in) 0.7 -- -- 28.5 28.5

 Live 0.7 -- -- 28.5 28.5

 Dead -- -- -- -- --

Avg height (ft) 7.7 -- -- 131.5 131.5

 Live 7.7 -- -- 131.5 131.5

 Dead -- -- -- -- --

Avg height to crown base (ft) 1.8 -- -- 68.4 68.4

 Live 1.8 -- -- 68.4 68.4

 Dead -- -- -- -- --

Avg height to live crown (ft) 1.8 -- -- 68.0 68.0

WOODY MATERIAL

Loading (tons/ac) Density (pieces/ac)

Diameter (in) Sound Rotten Total Sound Rotten Total

0.25 0.19 -- 0.19 -- -- --

0.26 - 1.0 0.63 -- 0.63 -- -- --

1.1 - 3.0 0.81 -- 0.81 -- -- --

3.1 - 9.0 0.42 0.44 0.86 13 17 30

>9.0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0 0 0

Total 2.05 0.44 2.49 13 17 30

UNDERSTORY VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species

Toxicodendron 

diversilobum

Centaurea 

solstitialis

Bromus 

spp.

Second most 

common species -- --

Avena 

fatua

Coverage (%) 2 4 11

Avg height (ft) 0.9 1.0 1.4

Biomass (tons/ac) na*0.06 0.07

*

Poison oak was not collected for biomass estimation.
EBE 03 EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 32

EB03

Eucalyptus; young, medium

SITE AND STAND INFORMATION

Site location: N 38° 00′ 12.5′′ W 122° 21′ 11.7′′

Elevation: 100 ft Aspect: -- Slope: 0%

Administrative unit: Point Pinole Regional 

Shoreline

Ecological association: Eucalyptus globulus seminatural stands

Fuel type: Young eucalyptus forest

Litter loading: 9.79 tons/ac

Litter depth: 2.7 in

Litter coverage: 59%

Mineral soil exposure: 1%

Basal accumulation

*

density: 43/ac

Basal accumulation loading: 0.59 tons/ac

Basal accumulation coverage: 2%

Trees (% of stems): Eucalyptus globulus (97), Acacia

melanoxylon (3)

Crown closure: 66%

Seedlings (% of stems): Acacia melanoxylon (66), 

Eucalyptus globulus (34)

Density: 1,476/ac

*Accumulated leaf, branch, and bark material piled 

around the bases of some trees.
EBE 03 EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 33

SAPLINGS AND TREES

Size class (diameter at breast height)

4 in 4 - 9 in 9 - 20 in >20 in >4 in

Most common species 

(percentage of stems)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (96)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Second most common 

species (percentage of stems)

Acacia

melanoxylon (4)

-- -- -- --

Tree density (stems/ac) 1,426 267 108 22 397

 Live 1,292 267 108 22 397

 Dead 134 0 0 0 0

Avg d.b.h. (in) 1.3 6.6 11.7 28.5 9.2

 Live 1.2 6.6 11.7 28.5 9.2

 Dead 1.7 -- -- -- --

Avg height (ft) 18.6 76.2 104.7 109.6 85.8

 Live 18.9 76.2 104.7 109.6 85.8

 Dead 15.9 -- -- -- --

Avg height to crown base (ft) 12.9 55.5 69.2 63.8 59.7

 Live 12.9 55.5 69.2 63.8 59.7

 Dead -- -- -- -- --

Avg height to live crown (ft) 12.9 55.5 69.2 63.8 59.7

WOODY MATERIAL

Loading (tons/ac) Density (pieces/ac)

Diameter (in) Sound Rotten Total Sound Rotten Total

0.25 0.23 -- 0.23 -- -- --

0.26 - 1.0 0.54 -- 0.54 -- -- --

1.1 - 3.0 1.07 -- 1.07 -- -- --

3.1 - 9.0 0.46 3.58 4.04 16 254 270

>9.0 0.89 0.70 1.59 5 11 16

Total 3.19 4.28 7.47 21 265 286

UNDERSTORY VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species

Toxicodendron 

diversilobum

Centaurea 

solstitialis

Bromus 

spp.

Second most 

common species

Baccharis 

pilularis

Cirsium 

vulgare

Avena 

fatua

Coverage (%) 2 trace 39

Avg height (ft) 1.6 1.2 0.7

Biomass (tons/ac) na*trace 0.07

*

Poison oak was not collected for biomass estimation.
EBE 04 EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 34

EB02 

Eucalyptus; mature, medium

SITE AND STAND INFORMATION

Site location: N 38° 00′ 07.8′′ W 122° 21′ 12.2′′

Elevation: 55 ft Aspect: -- Slope: 0%

Administrative unit: Point Pinole Regional 

Shoreline

Ecological association: Eucalyptus globulus seminatural stands

Fuel type: Mature eucalyptus forest

Litter loading: 13.43 tons/ac

Litter depth: 3.8 in

Litter coverage: 98%

Mineral soil exposure: 2%

Basal accumulation*density: 43/ac

Basal accumulation loading: 0.31 tons/ac

Basal accumulation coverage: 1%

Trees (% of stems): Eucalyptus globulus (100)

Crown closure: 90%

Seedlings (% of stems): Eucalyptus globulus (100)

Density: 1,234/ac

*Accumulated leaf, branch, and bark material piled 

around the bases of some trees.
EBE 04 EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 35

SAPLINGS AND TREES

Size class (diameter at breast height)

4 in 4 - 9 in 9 - 20 in >20 in >4 in

Most common species 

(percentage of stems)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Second most common 

species (percentage of stems) -- -- -- -- --

Tree density (stems/ac) 4,157 166 65 29 260

 Live 3,540 166 65 29 260

 Dead 617 0 0 0 0

Avg d.b.h. (in) 0.8 6.0 11.4 33.6 10.4

 Live 0.8 6.0 11.4 33.6 10.4

 Dead 0.5 -- -- -- --

Avg height (ft) 14.8 75.7 103.8 151.5 91.1

 Live 15.7 75.7 103.8 151.5 91.1

 Dead 10.2 -- -- -- --

Avg height to crown base (ft) 10.2 53.0 67.4 62.0 57.6

 Live 10.2 53.0 67.4 62.0 57.6

 Dead -- -- -- -- --

Avg height to live crown (ft) 10.2 53.0 67.4 62.0 57.6

WOODY MATERIAL

Loading (tons/ac) Density (pieces/ac)

Diameter (in) Sound Rotten Total Sound Rotten Total

0.25 0.38 -- 0.38 -- -- --

0.26 - 1.0 0.53 -- 0.53 -- -- --

1.1 - 3.0 0.69 -- 0.69 -- -- --

3.1 - 9.0 0.41 0.92 1.33 26 52 78

>9.0 0.00 3.36 3.36 0 22 22

Total 2.01 4.28 6.29 26 74 100

UNDERSTORY VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species

Toxicodendron 

diversilobum

Centaurea 

solstitialis

Avena 

fatua

Second most 

common species --

Cirsium 

vulgare

Bromus 

spp.

Coverage (%) trace trace 2

Avg height (ft) 0.9 0.9 0.7

Biomass (tons/ac) na*0.01 0.03

*

Poison oak not collected for biomass estimation.
EBE 05 EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 36

EB09

Eucalyptus; young, high

SITE AND STAND INFORMATION

Site location: N 37° 45′ 32.1′′ W 122° 06′ 52.3′′

Elevation: 595 ft Aspect: 152° Slope: 17%

Administrative unit: Anthony Chabot Regional 

Park

Ecological association: Eucalyptus globulus seminatural stands

Fuel type: Young eucalyptus forest

Litter loading: 16.35 tons/ac

Litter depth: 4.5 in

Litter coverage: 100%

Mineral soil exposure: 0%

Basal accumulation*density: 108/ac

Basal accumulation loading: 1.64 tons/ac

Basal accumulation coverage: 5%

Trees (% of stems): Eucalyptus globulus (100)

Crown closure: 66%

Seedlings (% of stems): Umbellularia californica (75), 

Eucalyptus globulus (25)

Density: 67/ac

*Accumulated leaf, branch, and bark material piled 

around the bases of some trees.
EBE 05 EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 37

SAPLINGS AND TREES

Size class (diameter at breast height)

4 in 4 - 9 in 9 - 20 in >20 in >4 in

Most common species 

(percentage of stems)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

--

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Second most common 

species (percentage of stems) -- -- -- -- --

Tree density (stems/ac) 721 506 29 0 535

 Live 503 506 29 0 535

 Dead 218 0 0 0 0

Avg d.b.h. (in) 2.2 5.8 9.7 -- 6.0

 Live 2.6 5.8 9.7 -- 6.0

 Dead 1.3 -- -- -- --

Avg height (ft) 33.0 62.4 79.0 -- 63.3

 Live 37.4 62.4 79.0 -- 63.3

 Dead 23.0 -- -- -- --

Avg height to crown base (ft) 27.0 43.1 64.2 -- 44.2

 Live 27.0 43.1 64.2 -- 44.2

 Dead -- -- -- -- --

Avg height to live crown (ft) 27.0 43.1 64.2 -- 44.2

WOODY MATERIAL

Loading (tons/ac) Density (pieces/ac)

Diameter (in) Sound Rotten Total Sound Rotten Total

0.25 0.33 -- 0.33 -- -- --

0.26 - 1.0 0.91 -- 0.91 -- -- --

1.1 - 3.0 1.39 -- 1.39 -- -- --

3.1 - 9.0 0.43 3.62 4.05 27 354 381

>9.0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0 0 0

Total 3.06 3.62 6.68 27 354 381

UNDERSTORY VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species

Toxicodendron 

diversilobum na na

Second most 

common species -- -- --

Coverage (%) na*trace trace

Avg height (ft) 5.3 1.5 0.7

Biomass (tons/ac) na*trace trace

*

Poison oak was not collected for biomass estimation.
EBE 06 EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 38

EB07 

Eucalyptus, mature, high

SITE AND STAND INFORMATION

Site location: N 37° 54′ 29.8′′ W 122° 15′ 42.2′′

Elevation: 660 ft Aspect: 208° Slope: 10%

Administrative unit: Tilden Regional Park

Ecological association: Eucalyptus globulus seminatural stands

Fuel type: Mature eucalyptus forest

Litter loading: 13.91 tons/ac

Litter depth: 3.9 in

Litter coverage: 93%

Mineral soil exposure: 3%

Basal accumulation*density: 0/ac

Basal accumulation loading: 0.00 tons/ac

Basal accumulation coverage: 0%

Trees (% of stems): Eucalyptus globulus (64), 

Umbellularia californica (32), Quercus agrifolia (2), 

Cretaegus monogyna (2)

Crown closure: 96%

Seedlings (% of stems): Umbellularia californica (54), 

Quercus agrifolia (35), Eucalyptus globulus (11)

Density: 2,345/ac

*Accumulated leaf, branch, and bark material piled 

around the bases of some trees.
EBE 06 EAST BAY EUCALYPTUS FOREST 39

SAPLINGS AND TREES

Size class (diameter at breast height)

4 in 4 - 9 in 9 - 20 in >20 in >4 in

Most common species 

(percentage of stems)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (58)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Eucalyptus 

globulus (100)

Second most common 

species (percentage of stems)

Umbellularia 

californica (37)

-- -- -- --

Tree density (stems/ac) 1,191 108 72 29 209

 Live 990 108 65 29 202

 Dead 201 0 7 0 7

Avg d.b.h. (in) 0.9 6.5 13.8 22.6 11.2

 Live 1.0 6.5 14.0 22.6 11.2

 Dead 0.5 -- 12.2 -- 12.2

Avg height (ft) 13.4 59.1 66.1 78.8 64.2

 Live 14.2 59.1 72.2 78.8 66.1

 Dead 9.6 -- 11.8 -- 11.8

Avg height to crown base (ft) 6.4 24.6 38.7 42.5 31.7

 Live 6.4 24.6 38.7 42.5 31.7

 Dead -- -- -- -- --

Avg height to live crown (ft) 6.4 24.6 38.7 42.5 31.7

WOODY MATERIAL

Loading (tons/ac) Density (pieces/ac)

Diameter (in) Sound Rotten Total Sound Rotten Total

0.25 0.46 -- 0.46 -- -- --

0.26 - 1.0 0.93 -- 0.93 -- -- --

1.1 - 3.0 0.75 -- 0.75 -- -- --

3.1 - 9.0 1.28 1.50 2.78 39 86 125

>9.0 4.53 4.20 8.73 30 56 86

Total 7.95 5.70 13.65 69 142 211

UNDERSTORY VEGETATION

Lifeform

Shrub Forb Graminoid

Most common 

species

Toxicodendron 

diversilobum

Rubus 

armeniacus

Bromus 

spp.

Second most 

common species -- --

Avena 

fatua

Coverage (%) 4 trace trace

Avg height (ft) 1.1 0.8 na

Biomass (tons/ac) na*trace trace

*

Poison oak was not collected for biomass estimation.
Wright, Clinton S.; Vihnanek, Robert E. 2014. Stereo photo series for quantifying natural fuels.

Volume XIII: grasslands, shrublands, oak-bay woodlands, and eucalyptus forests in the East Bay of 

California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-893. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 39 p.

Four series of photographs display a range of natural conditions and fuel loadings for grassland, 

shrubland, oak-bay woodland, and eucalyptus forest ecosystems on the eastern slopes of the San 

Francisco Bay area of California. Each group of photos includes inventory information summarizing 

vegetation composition, structure, and loading; woody material loading and density by size class; forest 

floor depth and loading; and various site characteristics. The natural fuels photo series is designed to 

help land managers appraise fuel and vegetation conditions in natural settings.

Keywords: Woody material, biomass, fuel loading, natural fuels, East Bay Regional Park District, 

Tasmanian bluegum, Eucalyptus globulus, California laurel, California bay, Umbellularia californica, 

California live oak, coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, coyotebrush, Baccharis pilularis.