Eric Knapp, U.S. Forest Service

2013 Accomplishments Report DEPAR TMENT OF AGRICULT URE

Serving California, Hawai ́i, and the Pacific Islands

U.S. Forest Service

Pacific Southwest Research Station
Vision and Mission

The Pacific Southwest Research Station is a 

world leader in natural resources research 

through our scientific excellence and 

responsiveness to the needs of current and 

future generations. Our mission is to 

develop and communicate science needed 

to sustain forest ecosystems and their 

benefits to society.

Maggie Craig, U.S. Forest Service

About Us

The Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) represents Forest Service Research and Development in 

California, Hawai‘i, and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. Our region has the lowest, driest desert in 

the country, the highest elevations within the 48 contiguous States, and the wettest tropical forests. 

An abundant diversity of native plants and animals and nearly half of the nation's threatened and 

endangered species live in this region. At PSW, we develop and deliver science to help inform decisions 

about natural resource management, conservation, and environmental protection. Much of our work 

is accomplished in cooperation with other research and development institutions, such as universities, 

and state and other federal agencies.
I am proud to 

present the Pacific 

Southwest Research 

Station's 2013 

Accomplishments 

Report. As part of 

U.S. Forest Service 

Research and 

Development, the 

Station provides 

reliable research to 

address 

contemporary 

questions about 

trees, forests, ecosystems and their relationship to 

people now and into the future.

America's forests and grasslands are integral to the 

well-being of the Nation. We can no longer take for 

granted the values and benefits that people get from 

healthy, resilient forests and grasslands–including 

clean air, drinking water, jobs, forest products, 

wildlife and fish habitat, and places to recreate. This 

is especially true in California, Hawai‘i, and the Pacific 

Islands. Due to changes in land use, conflicting 

societal values, and environmental stresses, many 

treasured lands are degraded or vulnerable to loss. 

The sound management, restoration, and 

sustainability of these lands depend on conducting 

rigorous science, and sharing it effectively with a 

diversity of people.

More than 50 percent of California's fresh water 

comes from National Forest lands. In addition to 

supplying clean water for residential and industrial 

use, forests are vital to California's economy. 

Comprising nearly 20 percent of California's land 

mass, National Forest lands support 38,000 jobs. 

PSW supports the National Forest System in our 

region by investing in research that will help land 

managers develop and sustain healthy forests. Our 

research informs land managers in developing 

resilient forests, furthering accelerated restoration of 

our forests and grasslands, and providing clean, 

reliable water and other environmental services that 

sustain and enhance quality of life. PSW also helps 

inform private landowners, State forestry 

organizations, tribes and communities throughout 

California, Hawai‘i and the Pacific Islands.

PSW is organized into five research units that work 

with an emphasis on safety and inclusivity to address 

ecological restoration, wildfire management, and 

community connections to the land. Our work in 

these areas is directed toward four overarching 

outcomes: clean and reliable water resources from 

forests; restoration rather than devastation from 

wildfire; enhanced benefits to urban communities 

from forests; and sustained ecological resources and 

services from forests and grasslands.

To accomplish our goals, we must be mindful of the 

interactions among people, ecosystems, and myriad 

environmental changes. Human activities have an 

increasing impact on the functioning of our 

ecosystems and understanding the interplay between 

social dynamics and natural resources will be an 

increasing part of our work. We appreciate the unique 

and rich diversity of the people of California, Hawai‘i, 

and the Pacific Islands, and embrace the perspectives 

of the public as we shape our research programs to 

best serve their needs through inclusion and outreach.

We remain committed to serving the public through 

community involvement. Six examples that I am 

particularly proud of are mentioned in the pages that 

follow. Many of them receive financial support 

through grant programs. But equally important are 

the dedicated volunteers from PSW and their families 

who regularly give their time and energy to support 

these initiatives.

The coming year offers exciting prospects of 

leveraging our work with collaborators within and 

outside of the public sector. I believe that by focusing 

on collaboration and communication, the impact of 

our research will be amplified. At the same time, our 

core of rigorous peer-reviewed science will remain 

the foundation of the contributions we make to 

natural resources stewardship. We plan to respond to 

events and circumstances, such as the aftermath of 

the Rim Fire, to capture unique opportunities to learn 

while sustaining important, long-standing research 

activities. These are dynamic and challenging times, 

but we are up for the challenge and committed to 

deliver innovative research information and tools to 

benefit environmental health and community 

livelihood throughout California, Hawai‘i, and beyond.

Alex

Alexander L. Friend, Ph.D.

Station Director, Pacific Southwest Research Station

Science that makes a difference.

Sherri Eng, U.S. Forest Service

1
The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, a federal agency under the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the Nation's forests 

and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Established in 

1905, the Forest Service: 

• Manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands.

• Shares responsibility, working in concert with state and local 

agents, for the stewardship of about 500 million acres of nonFederal rural and urban forests.

The Forest Service has several major branches that work together to 

manage the nation's forests and protect global forest resources:

• The National Forest System sustains healthy terrestrial and 

aquatic ecosystems while addressing the need for resources, 

commodities, and services. This system is divided into nine 

regions. California and Hawai‘i are located in Region 5.

• State and Private Forestry helps private landowners, State 

forestry organizations, tribes, and communities achieve forest 

management, protection, and utilization objectives through 

a wide range of cooperative programs in the State and 

Private Forestry mission area.

• Research and Development provides long-term 

research, scientific knowledge, and tools that are 

used to manage forests and rangelands across the 

United States and overseas.

• International Programs promotes sustainable forest management and 

biodiversity conservation internationally.

• Law Enforcement and Investigations enforces Federal laws and regulations 

governing national forest lands and resources.

The Forest Service has research units located throughout the United States, 

Puerto Rico, and the Pacific (Fig. 1). 

Texas

Utah

Montana

California

Arizona

Idaho

Nevada

Oregon

Iowa

Colorado Kansas

Wyoming

New Mexico

Illinois

Ohio

Missouri

Florida

Minnesota

Nebraska

Georgia

Oklahoma

Alabama

Washington

Arkansas

South Dakota

Wisconsin

North Dakota

Virginia

Maine

New York

Indiana

Louisiana

Michigan

Mississippi

Kentucky

Tennessee

Pennsylvania

North Carolina

South 

Carolina

West Virginia

Vermont

Maryland New Jersey

New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Connecticut RI

Delaware

Alaska

Hawai‘i

Puerto Rico / Virgin Islands

■ Northern Research Station

■ Pacific Northwest Research Station

■ Pacific Southwest Research Station

■ Rocky Mountain Research Station

■ Southern Research Station

▲ Forest Products Laboratory

● International Institute of Tropical Forestry 

Forest Service Research & Development

Fig. 1

Forest Service at a Glance

2
The Pacific Southwest Research Station partners with 

18 National Forests in California (Fig. 2), and with 

State and Private Forestry programs throughout 

California, Hawai‘i, and the Pacific Islands.

Leaders of the Pacific Southwest Region and the 

Pacific Southwest Research Station have established 

a goal of retaining and restoring ecological resilience 

of the National Forest lands to achieve sustainable 

ecosystems that provide a broad range of services to 

humans and other organisms. Combined effects of 

changing climate and hydrologic patterns, unhealthy 

forests, and rapidly growing human populations are 

resulting in increasingly over-allocated and 

undervalued ecosystem services (especially water); a 

dramatic increase in large wildfires, floods, and 

insect and disease outbreaks; threats from terrestrial 

and aquatic invasive species; and a growing need to 

revitalize rural economies in California, Hawai‘i and 

the Pacific Islands. The Region and the Research 

Station are facing these challenges together and 

through collaboration with external partners around 

watershed restoration and forest resiliency.

Fig. 2

3
• Headquarters in Albany, Calif.

• Eight laboratories in California and Hawai‘i

• 12 Experimental Forests and Ranges; two Research Watersheds

• Research is also conducted in more than 90 research natural areas (RNAs)

• Pacific Southwest Research Station is one of five research stations in the U.S. Forest Service

• 236 employees

• Conterminous with Region 5 of the National Forest System.

1. Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry

Station scientists conduct tropical ecosystem research and 

technology transfer. Research furthers sound management, 

conservation, and restoration of grassland, forest, and 

wetland ecosystems and landscapes in Hawai‘i, Guam, 

American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, 

Micronesia, and Palau.

2.Conservation of Biodiversity

Station scientists conduct research on genes, species, 

habitats, landscapes, and the biological processes necessary 

to maintain diversity of organisms and functioning 

ecosystems. Research focuses on enhancing the 

conservation, ecology, and evolution of species and habitats, 

and the restoration and maintenance of degraded 

ecosystems.

3.Ecosystem Function and Health

Station scientists examine forest function and conduct 

research to protect and preserve water, air, and soil 

resources while considering the effects of a changing 

climate, unpredictable precipitation, air pollution, and 

growing threats from pests and pathogens.

4.Fire and Fuels

Station scientists conduct research on how fire behavior 

affects fuel types and conditions and how physical 

properties of fuels influence fire severity and intensity. 

Research includes decision-support models that analyze risk, 

resource allocation economics, and fire danger forecasting. 

5.Urban Ecosystems and Social Dynamics

Station scientists examine the interconnections of people 

and natural resources. Research focuses on developing 

knowledge and tools in natural resource management to 

better serve the public, and to connect urban dwellers with 

public lands through urban forestry and social science 

research.

Research is organized into five research units:

U.S. Forest Service

Pacific Southwest Research Station Overview

CALIFORNIA

HAWAI‘I

North Mountain

San Dimas

San Joaquin

Teakettle

StanislausTuolumne

Challenge Sagehen

Caspar 

Creek

Swain 

Mountain

Blacks

Mountain

Redwood 

Onion Creek 

Davis

Albany

Fresno

Riverside

Redding

Placerville

Arcata

Kings River

Hilo

HETF

Station Headquarters

Lab Location

Experimental Forests and Ranges

Research Watersheds

DEPAR TMENT OF AGRICULT URE

Pacific Southwest Research Station

4
Publication type 2012 2013

Other reports, theses, 

dissertations, abstracts, 

and articles

48 72

Peer-reviewed books / 

chapters, papers, and other 

reports published outside 

of Forest Service research

10 18

Peer-reviewed Forest 

Service publications

89 193

Refereed journal articles 120 124

WORKFORCE 

• Total station workforce: 236

• Research: 171

• Leadership and administration: 65

Pacific Southwest Research Station at a Glance

FUNDING

PUBLICATIONS

5

10

15

20

25

30

Extramural funding received

Base research appropriations

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

100

200

300

400

500

Other reports, theses, dissertations, 

abstracts, and articles

Peer-reviewed books/chapters, papers, and 

reports published outside of Forest Service research

Peer-reviewed Forest Service publications

Refereed journal articles

2012 2013

IN US $ MILLIONS NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS

48

89

10

120

72

18

124

193

FUNDING

• Base research appropriations: $21.6 million

• Extramural funding received: $2.2 million

• Total funding: $23.8 million

5

10

15

20

25

30

Extramural funding received

Base research appropriations

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

100

200

300

400

500

Other reports, theses, dissertations, 

abstracts, and articles

Peer-reviewed books/chapters, papers, and 

reports published outside of Forest Service research

Peer-reviewed Forest Service publications

Refereed journal articles

2012 2013

IN US $ MILLIONS NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS

48

89

10

120

72

18

124

193

WEB METRICS

• Number of visits to the PSW website: 103,729 

• Number of visitors to the PSW website: 68,787 

• Source countries or territories visits originated from: 199

• Page views of PSW publications through Treesearch: 19,645

• Followers on Twitter(@usfs_psw): 700

5
PSW depends on its many partners and collaborators to develop and deliver cutting-edge, practical science to the public. 

The Station would like to thank the following organizations for their support and cooperation:

Research Partners

2ND Nature, LLC

Alison E. Stanton

Bat Conservation International

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

California Conservation Corps

California Department of Fish and Game

California Department of Forestry and Fire 

Protection (CalFIRE)

California Energy Commission

Carnegie Institute

City and County of Denver

City of Oakland

Claremont Graduate University

Colorado State University

Coral Reef Research Foundation

California State University, Fresno 

Desert Research Institute

Eco-ascension Research and Consulting

EcoLayers, Inc.

Federal Occupational Health 

Forest Research and Management Institute, 

Romania

Fundacao Universidade Regional 

de Blumenau

Great Basin Institute

Hawaii Agriculture Research Center 

Hawaii Department of Land and 

Natural Resources

Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization

Hercon Environmental

Humboldt State University

Hydroikos, Ltd.

Integral Ecology Research Center

Klamath Bird Observatory

KUPU

Lang, Railsback & Associates

Mazana Wind LLC

Mendocino Land Trust

Mississippi State University

Montana State University

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation

North Arizona University

Oregon State University

Portland State University

PRBO Conservation Science

Riverside Municipal Museum

Riverside-Corona Resource 

Conservation District

San Diego Science Alliance

San Francisco State University

Save the Redwoods League

Sonoma Technology, Inc.

Spatial Informatics Group, LLC

Stanford University

Student Conservation Association

The Nature Conservancy

University Corporation for 

Atmospheric Research

University of Alabama, Huntsville

University of California, Division of Agriculture 

and Natural Resources

University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Davis

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, Merced

University of California, Riverside

University of California, San Diego

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California Cooperative Extension

University of Hamburg

University of Hawaii, Hilo

University of Hawaii, Manoa

University of Maryland, College Park

University of Montana

University of Nevada, Reno

University of Tuscia

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Urban Tilth

U.S. Department of Agriculture – 

Agricultural Research Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture – Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service

U.S. Department of Defense – 

Strategic Environmental and 

Development Program

U.S. Department of Energy

U.S. Department of the Interior – Bureau of 

Land Management

U.S. Department of the Interior – Fish and 

Wildlife Service

U.S. Department of the Interior – National 

Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior – 

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Utah State University

Washington State University

Watershed Professionals 

Wood Buffalo Environmental Association

Yurok Tribe

6
USDA Secretary's Honor Award

Research Entomologist Dr. Tracy Johnson

received the prestigious USDA Secretary's 

Honor Award in the category of protecting 

natural resources. Johnson led the Forest 

Service's international search to identify insect 

species for use as host-specic biological 

control agents against invasive plants in 

Hawai‘i. His 13-year eort culminated in the 

release by the state of Hawai‘i of leaf gallforming scale insects to help regulate the 

strawberry guava invasive plant species.

Chief's Honor Award

Research Ecologist Dr. Connie Millar received 

the 2013 Chief's Honor Award for excellence in 

science and technology. Millar, along with 

other climate change scientists, was recognized 

for pioneering the Forest Service's strategic 

framework for conducting climate change 

vulnerability assessments and for developing 

climate change adaptation options in wildland 

settings.

R.W. Harris Award

Research Forester Dr. Greg McPherson

received the 2013 R.W. Harris Award for 

Excellence in Education from the Western 

Chapter International Society of Arboriculture 

for his outstanding contribution to the 

education of Western Chapter members.

Eagle Feather Award

Research Ecologist Dr. Frank K. Lake received 

the Eagle Feather Award, presented by the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service, for his work with basin 

tribes on climate change research, and his 

support and eorts with the Klamath Basin 

Tribal Youth Program research project, a 

developmental project for tribal students.

Batefuegos de Oro Golden Fire Swatter Award

Research Economist Dr. Armando GonzálezCabán received the 2013 Batefuegos de Oro 

Golden Fire Swatter Award in the Best 

International Cooperation category for his work 

with Spain's Ministry of the Environment Fire 

Management and Protection Program. The 

award recognizes signicant contributions to 

the reduction of forest re risk and forest re 

prevention in Spain.

Partners in Conservation Award

Research Ecologist Dr. Frank K. Lake, along 

with others involved with the Klamath 

Leadership Development summer 2013 pilot 

project, received the U.S. Department of the 

Interior's Partners in Conservation Award, 

presented by Secretary of the Interior Sally 

Jewell. The pilot 10-week summer youth 

internship strived to develop future tribal 

leaders in conservation. Lake received special 

recognition for providing an approach for 

incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge 

in conservation and scientic methodology.

Kupu Site of the Year Award 

PSW's Institute of Pacic Islands Forestry

received the 2013 Kupu Site of the Year Award 

for its conservation education work with 

Hawaiian youth from Kupu, a nonprot 

community organization that administers 

AmeriCorps programs in Hawai‘i. Youth 

participated in ongoing restoration and 

invasive species control projects within the 

Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest and 

surrounding lands.

Human Diversity Award

The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest

received the 2013 Human Diversity Award from 

the Organization of Biological Field Stations for 

unique activities, programs, and approaches 

that increase the involvement, engagement, 

and sustainability of underrepresented groups 

in eld science. 

Awards

7
Community Service

Bay Area Science Festival, PSW-Albany

Station scientists hosted an educational urban forestry 

booth at the second annual Bay Area Science Festival at 

San Francisco's AT&T Park. Children and parents visiting 

PSW's booth learned about the importance of trees in 

urban areas, created cards with drawing materials, and 

took home enlightening forest information, stamps, and 

stickers using the theme, "Trees for You and Me." The event 

provided interactive science and nature exhibits, 

experiments, and games to more than 20,000 people of 

different ages. 

The Bay Area Science Festival was created by The Science & 

Health Education Partnership at the University of 

California–San Francisco, and seeks to provide an outlet for 

young minds to explore. The objective of the annual 

festival is to engage young people in the excitement, fun 

and wonder of science, in order to inspire and lead them 

toward careers in science and technology. 

Richmond Edible Forest, PSW-Albany

Employees volunteered during the Martin Luther King, Jr. 

National Day of Service by planting fruit trees, herbs and 

vegetables in the Richmond Edible Forest in Richmond, 

Calif. The edible forest serves as an environmental 

education site where station scientists and Forest Service 

land managers teach youth about the benefits of trees and 

forested landscapes.

The Richmond Edible Forest project is sponsored yearly by 

Urban Tilth, a community organization that helps build 

sustainable, healthy, and accessible food systems in urban 

neighborhoods. Urban Tilth has 13 school and community 

gardens, all uniquely rooted in the community where they 

are located. The mission of the initiative is to help local 

communities grow their own food; train and employ young 

people to grow food; and teach local residents about the 

relationships between food, health, poverty, and justice. 

Sherri Eng, U.S. Forest Service Sherri Eng, U.S. Forest Service

8
Veteran's Job fair, PSW-Institute of Pacic Islands Forestry

Several members of PSW's Institute of Pacic Islands Forestry participated 

in the Hiring Our Heroes job fair in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. More than 130 

veterans visited the booth and 48 individuals completed job interest 

worksheets.

Hiring Our Heroes is a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 

Foundation, and is a nationwide initiative to help veterans, military 

spouses, and transitioning service members nd meaningful employment. 

Kupu, PSW-Institute of Pacic Islands Forestry

PSW's Institute of Pacic Islands Forestry worked with Hawaiian youth from 

Kupu, a nonprot community organization that administers AmeriCorps 

programs in Hawai‘i. Station sta took part in the long-term conservation 

education project, helping youth understand and learn hands-on 

approaches toward the conservation of forestlands. Throughout the 

program, youth participated in ongoing restoration and invasive species 

control projects within the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest and 

surrounding lands.

Kupu is a growing community organization which was developed to 

address Hawaii's need to train the next generation of natural resource 

management, renewable energy, energy conservation, and other green 

job skill sets. Kupu seeks to provide experiential education, job training, 

leadership, teamwork, and life skills development opportunities to help 

youth and young adults succeed in life and to serve their communities.

U.S. Forest Service

The Klamath Basin Tribal Youth Program, PSW-redding

Research Ecologist Dr. Frank K. Lake worked with the Klamath Basin Tribal 

Youth Program (KBTYP), and mentored tribal students in the incorporation 

of traditional ecological knowledge and western science methodologies 

through a 10-week educational program. Over the course of the program, 

which launched last summer, students and scientists worked on habitat 

restoration projects, developed models and collected data in the Sycan 

River in Oregon and Shasta Big Springs Creek in California – two important 

tributaries in the Klamath watershed that support tribal sheries.

The project, "Klamath Basin Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Climate 

Change Science Internship," is funded by the North Pacic Landscape 

Conservation Cooperative, and includes tribes of the Klamath Basin, federal 

agencies, and several academic institutions. The internship program runs 

throughout the summer, and selects tribal students from each of the six 

federally recognized tribes in the Klamath Basin. They are placed with 

professional mentors from tribes and federal agencies to gain experience 

in local and regional environmental monitoring, analysis, management 

and policy. This experience helps facilitate a better understanding of 

climate change impacts on ecological processes and natural and cultural 

resources valued by Tribes.

Centro de Niños, PSW-Riverside

Research station sta collected school supplies, food for the Thanksgiving 

holiday, and holiday gifts for Centro de Niños child care center, which 

serves disadvantaged families of preschool-age children in the Riverside, 

Calif. area. Centro de Niños is a nonprot bilingual-bicultural children’s 

center established to provide free and low cost quality child care and 

development, education, and social welfare services to the families in a 

safe and secure learning environment. The center’s goal is to teach 

children, and provide them the necessary tools to have a successful 

educational career. PSW-Riverside has been supporting Centro de Niños 

for nearly 25 years. 

9
Recent activities and achievements on PSW's Experimental Areas:

Stanislaus-Tuolumne Experimental Forest

Scientists published results of a 79-year research study 

on how long-term changes to forests affect biodiversity 

and how future fires burn. Conducted on the StanislausTuolumne Experimental Forest, the study found 

dramatic differences in forests today compared to 

historic conditions prior to logging and fire 

suppression. Scientists re-measured three large 

historical plots established in 1929 to evaluate the 

effects of logging methods, and collected fire scar 

samples to pinpoint dates of previous fires. The forest 

currently contains 2.4 times more trees than it did in 

1929; the excess density suggests that long-term 

changes exert an influence on forests' susceptibility to 

uncharacteristically severe fire. 

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Forest Service

Redwood Experimental Forest

Scientists installed a climate monitoring plot on the 

Redwood Experimental Forest, which joined 15 plots 

established throughout California's redwood region. 

Sets of cover boards with motion-sensitive video 

cameras and sound equipment were also installed 

inside the canopies of two large old-growth 

redwood trees to track movements and behavior of 

canopy-dwelling salamanders and to detect the 

calls of marbled murrelets and high-frequency 

emissions of forest bats.

Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest 

The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest (HEFT) 

provides landscapes, facilities, and data/information 

to support research and education activities 

contributing to a better understanding of how to 

conserve and manage the biological diversity and 

functioning of tropical forest and stream ecosystems. 

The HETF began its first five-year re-census of the 

Forest Dynamics Plot, as part of the Center for 

Tropical Forest Science global plot network. The plot 

was also established as part of the Hawaii-Ecosystem 

Climate Observatory, which has eight climate stations 

equipped with state-of-the-art micrometeorology 

equipment and complementary vegetation plots that 

represent different forest types on the windward and 

leeward sides of the Hawaiian Island.

U.S. Forest Service

Kings River Experimental Watersheds

The Kings River Experimental Watersheds (KREW) is 

a watershed-level, integrated ecosystem project for 

headwater streams in the Sierra Nevada, which aids 

research efforts on the impacts of climate change 

and fire on the forest ecosystem. Eight subwatersheds were chosen and fully instrumented to 

monitor ecosystem changes . Each watershed 

receives one 

of three 

management 

treatments or 

serves as a 

control. A 

prescribed 

burn was 

conducted on 

an area that 

hadn't seen fire in more than 100 years, as part of a 

study comparing the effects of forest restoration 

approaches on Sierra Nevada headwaters.

Blacks Mountain Experimental Forest

Scientists initiated the 15-year re-measurement of 

the Blacks Mountain Experimental Forest Ecological 

Research Project, which evaluated the effects of 

structural diversity and prescribed fire on 

community development and fuels. 

Teakettle Experimental Forest

Scientists followed the long-term dynamics of forest 

carbon on the Teakettle Experimental Forest in 

response to fuels reduction treatments. Researchers 

published the fifth paper in a series examining 

carbon recovery now, 10 years after prescribed 

burning and mechanical thinning treatments.

10
On the morning of Aug. 17, 2013, a hunter's fire raced up a 

canyon slope in the Stanislaus National Forest and 

subsequently into the adjoining Yosemite National Park, 

burning more than 250,000 acres, and costing more than 

$125 million to finally contain. What became known as the 

Rim Fire, the blaze exploded during unprecedented 

weather conditions producing thousands of acres of 

continuously blackened trees, an example of what may 

become the new norm for fire behavior under changing 

climatic conditions. Habitat for many species, including 

listed or proposed for listing species, such as the California 

spotted owl, great gray owl, and Pacific fisher, was 

drastically altered. Impacts to the watershed feeding Hetch 

Hetchy Reservoir, San Francisco's water supply, have 

already been significant, and long-term effects are still 

unknown.

Each time there is a major fire season we all ask the 

same questions: why do we have so many fires, how 

destructive were they, and was there something we 

could have done to prevent them? We have learned 

much about the phenomenon of fire over the past 30 

to 40 years. PSW has gathered a group of scientists 

from diverse research disciplines to form a Fire 

Research Advisory Group to encapsulate this large 

body of scientific knowledge into a brief set of 

summaries that tell the story of fire in the West with a 

focus on the Sierra Nevada. This information will be 

presented in a succinct and easy-to-read format on 

the PSW website. The content is intended to provide a 

scientifically defensible overview of all facets of the 

story around fire in Sierra conifer forests. 

Fire is an inherent process in most Sierra Nevada, 

southern Cascade Range, and montane Modoc 

Plateau forest types. It is a regulating mechanism and 

the dominant force in shaping forest structure. Recent 

studies of historical fire regimes indicate that fires 

occurring prior to Euro-American settlement were 

characterized by a high degree of spatial complexity 

driven by heterogeneity in vegetation/fuels and 

topography and influenced by variability in climate, 

which mediates the timing, effects, and extents of 

fires over time. 

Ecological effects within an extreme fire like the Rim 

Fire vary greatly as areas burn at different severities. 

Areas that burn at moderate severity may experience 

shifts in forest fuels, tree density, and stand structure 

toward desired conditions. Iconic forest trees 

including giant sequoia, sugar pines, yellow pines, and 

California black oak need recurring, moderate fire to 

become dominant and provide food and habitat for 

wildlife. Patches of fire-killed trees can become a 

short-term haven for many wildlife species, including 

deer, woodpeckers and other birds, as well as firefollowing grasses, forbs, shrubs, and young trees. 

Wildfires can also rejuvenate aquatic systems by 

reforming in-stream habitat and increasing the supply 

of light, water, and nutrients. Current management 

objectives involve restoring the forest stand and 

landscape conditions that would allow fires to 

function in what is generally believed to be a more 

natural way.

Research in action: Responding to extreme fire

Sherri Eng, U.S. Forest Service

Sherri Eng, U.S. Forest Service

11
Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry

A center of research and technology transfer since 1967, the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry 

addresses information needs to support the management, conservation, and restoration of 

natural forest and wetland ecosystems and landscapes throughout the Pacific. The Institute's 

area of responsibility includes the State of Hawai‘i and six U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands: the 

Territory of Guam, the Territory of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and 

the Republic of Palau. 

The focus of research and technological assistance centers on Hawai‘i and other islands of the 

Pacific, but results are applicable to many tropical and temperate ecosystems of the world, 

including the U.S. Mainland. The research conducted through the Institute encompasses PSW's 

four program areas.

The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest (HETF) is the first experimental forest in the Pacific 

Islands and directly contributes to a better understanding 

and conveyance of information about climate change, 

biological diversity, and ecosystem processes in the 

Pacific region and tropical ecosystems worldwide. HETF 

encompasses remarkable gradients of climate, forests, 

soils, and resource history that allow PSW researchers 

and collaborators to address critical natural resource and 

conservation questions fundamental to effectively 

managing tropical forests to maintain and enhance 

important ecosystem services in a changing climate.

Research focuses on the following areas:

• Work to better understand invasive species interactions with factors 

including fire, disturbance, watershed management, and recreation; 

and

• Assess water quality, food web structure, and fish and invertebrate 

assemblages in a number of watersheds to improve protection, 

management, and restoration of forested wetlands and water 

resources in the Pacific Islands.

U.S. Forest Service

12
2013 Research Highlights

Passive restoration of forest cover on abandoned pastureland

Actively re-establishing forest cover across large tracts of abandoned 

agricultural lands is cost prohibitive. In Hawai‘i, Acacia koa root 

suckering has been shown to be a no-cost, passive option to augment 

high-cost planting efforts on deforested landscapes. Conversion of 

natural forests to grasslands for cattle pasture and other agricultural 

uses is a worldwide phenomenon. While the world's natural forest area 

continues to decline, the rate has slowed: losses are being partially 

offset by reforestation. Research in Hawai‘i has shown that planted 

stands of Acacia koa established by active restoration are passively 

expanding beyond their initial boundaries by means of root suckering. 

An extensive network of koa tree corridors was established over a 

20-year period in abandoned pasturelands of Hakalau Forest National 

Wildlife Refuge, on the Island of Hawai‘i. Based on observed rates of 

expansion, gaps between planted koa corridors will close naturally 

simply by continuing to protect the area from ungulates and wildfires.

Invasive tree species in Hawai‘i store more carbon but reduce biodiversity

A team led by a PSW researcher has identified an important trade-off in 

the management of forests on the island of Hawai‘i. The team studied 

above-ground carbon density (ACD) in two types of forest, and 

discovered that forests dominated by non-native species had higher 

ACD than forests composed of native Hawaiian species. However, this 

increased ability to store carbon comes at the cost of dramatically 

reduced biodiversity of native species. These results illustrate that 

further spread of two invasive tree species could constitute a significant 

erosion of the invaluable contribution of Hawaii's native ecosystems to 

global biodiversity.

Addressing the threat of fire in Palau

PSW scientists developed a three-pronged approach to addressing a growing and serious fire 

threat to natural resources in the Republic of Palau. The three components of this approach 

include developing and delivering a cost-effective and low technology restoration treatment for 

increasing forest cover and biodiversity recovery in fire-prone savanna; a process and associated 

training for systematically mapping the incidence and amount of human-caused fire; and 

educational materials and an outreach strategy for fire prevention to communities of Babeldaob 

Island—the largest island of Palau and a global biodiversity hot spot.

Watershed decision support tool enhances tropical forest management

In partnership with the Pacific Northwest Research Station, and in collaboration with local 

community partners, PSW scientists have developed a Watershed Decision Support Tool (WDST), 

which specifically addresses climate change, biological diversity, and hydrologic functions in 

forests and near-shore environments of the Hawaiian Islands. The tool helps decision makers in 

Hawai‘i to better prioritize management actions, such as where to focus invasive plant species 

control, and where to implement native plantings.

Susan Cordell, U.S. Forest Service

Paul Scowcroft, U.S. Forest Service

13
Our geographic area includes oceanic islands, elevational clines from coastal to 

alpine ecosystems in temperate and tropical ecosystems, and species and 

communities that occur nowhere else in the world. The area faces significant 

species extirpations and extinctions, with remaining natural areas continuing to 

be threatened. 

The Conservation of Biodiversity Program provides high-quality, relevant 

information across the conservation continuum: status, threats, vulnerable 

components, response of organisms and ecosystems to threats, trade-offs in 

desired management outcomes, efficacy of management approaches through 

adaptive management, restoration and recovery techniques and tools, and 

effectiveness monitoring and evaluation techniques. 

Conservation of Biodiversity

Jessica Wright, U.S. Forest Service Zane Miller, U.S. Forest Service

Research focuses on the following areas:

• Determine environmental conditions needed for terrestrial species 

persistence;

• Identify conditions that can support aquatic biodiversity and 

ecosystem services;

• Determine the genetic origins of traits that can enhance tree 

adaptability and utility; and

• Develop innovative approaches to reduce ecological impacts of 

non-native species.

14
Climate and habitat change effects on the 

avifauna of old-growth redwood forests

Long-term research is critical to understanding 

the effects of climate and habitat change on 

redwood forests, which are essential California 

nesting habitat of the threatened marbled 

murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), as well 

as many landbird species. This research brings 

together historical data from two decades of 

research with new studies conducted in the 

Redwood Experimental Forest. Making these 

historical and current research data available 

for analysts and researchers is an important part of this project. This includes incorporating these 

census data into files available to data visualization tools on the web through the California Avian 

Data Center, making them available to a wide audience. Current analyses are in progress to 

compare current and historical murrelet and landbird populations.

A promising beginning: Early measurements of a long-term experiment reveal differences 

between populations of valley oaks are associated with climate

Valley oak (Quercus lobata Neé), a majestic California native oak, found throughout the state's 

foothills, valleys and flood plains is threatened by habitat loss, low seedling survivorship and 

climate change. Currently, there is limited information for land managers regarding where to 

obtain their acorns for ecological restoration projects in oaks. In order to learn about local 

adaptation, seed transfer and responses to climate change in valley oak, PSW and collaborators 

initiated a provenance test where acorns from across the range are planted into a common set of 

environments. Acorns from across the range of the species were collected and planted in early 

December at PSW's Institute of Forest Genetics (IFG) greenhouses. Nearly 12,000 acorns were 

weighed and planted in two days with help from Station staff, as well as staff from the Regional 

Genetic Resources program. Germination was monitored throughout the winter. Findings 

revealed that seedlings from different sites were noticeably different in the greenhouse, and in a 

way that was often associated with climate. For example, acorns from higher elevations 

germinated later. Analyses of the germination and subsequent growth data are ongoing. Future 

plans include outplanting the resulting seedlings into two field locations (PSW-IFG and the 

Genetic Resource and Conservation Center in Chico, Calif.). By planting trees into two 

environments, researchers will be able to look at how the different sources of trees grow in 

different environments, and will be able to better advise land managers about potential tree 

responses to a changing climate..

U.S. Forest Service

Garth Hodgson, U.S. Forest Service

2013 Research Highlights

New insights into the evolution of forest trees

Understanding the evolutionary history of forest trees is an important 

step in optimizing the application of new genomic technologies that 

can guide forest biology research and applications. Recent large 

investments by federal agencies in forest genomics include the 

sequencing of poplar, eucalyptus, and conifer genomes. Strategies 

must be developed for best utilizing and exploiting these resources, 

including how to identify genes regulating traits, such as wood 

formation, underpinning characteristics of ecological and economic 

importance, which could then be exploited in applications for forest 

management. A PSW researcher authored a paper in the book 

"Challenges and opportunities for the world's forests in the 21st

Century," which outlines the practical importance of maximizing 

research outcomes by considering and exploiting knowledge of the 

evolutionary history of trees.

Woodland salamanders as indicators of forest ecosystem recovery: 

A case study from California's redwoods

A PSW researcher and collaborators have found that two common 

salamander species provide a way of measuring the recovery of 

previously harvested redwood forests, a unique forest type that 

contains the world's largest standing terrestrial carbon stocks. 

Abundance and body condition of the salamanders in a given location 

corresponded closely with a number of measures of forest recovery, 

including stand age, tree size, ambient moisture, canopy closure, and 

litter depth. These results suggest that sampling for salamanders could 

be a quick and cost-effective method for determining whether a 

harvested redwood forest is recovering. 

15
Research focuses on the following areas:

• Determine how biophysical factors influence the function and 

productivity of tropical, subtropical and temperate ecosystems;

• Quantify and predict ecosystem responses and adaptation to 

environmental stressors;

• Define and measure the impacts of biotic and abiotic stresses on 

hydrological and atmospheric systems; and

• Develop models and tools, and evaluate management options for restoring, 

sustaining and enhancing ecosystem function and productivity. 

Our forests and wildland ecosystems are exceedingly 

diverse and provide a wide array of societal goods and 

services. From clean water, timber and non-timber 

products, and carbon sequestration to recreational use, 

aesthetic beauty, and native biodiversity, these ecosystems 

are national treasures that contribute to the prosperity of 

current and future generations. A growing list of 

environmental pressures, including climate and land-use 

change, water scarcity, and an increasing human 

population, threaten the health and integrity of these 

ecosystems. 

The Ecosystem Function and Health Program focuses 

on the interactions among changes in or brought about by 

biotic and abiotic factors, such as temperature and 

precipitation, invasive species, air pollution, insects, 

pathogens, and past and current land management 

actions. Station scientists conduct research that provides an 

integrated understanding of the biophysical conditions that 

threaten ecosystem resilience, including how 

environmental changes are initiated and progress, what 

thresholds are associated with these changes, and what 

the consequences are of crossing identified thresholds. 

Chris Peters

Ecosystem Function and Health

Chris Fettig, U.S. Forest Service

Matt Busse, U.S. Forest Service Luna Latimer

16
Effects of climate change on tribal and indigenous people of North America

Indigenous people are often the first to observe and experience the effects of how natural 

resources are responding to a changing climate. Closer examination of climate change impacts on 

indigenous peoples and their homelands, and their proposed strategies of adaptation can be of 

great benefit to society. Indigenous peoples and marginalized populations are particularly 

vulnerable and sensitive to climate change impacts due to their resource-based livelihoods and 

dependency on different environments. They have been able to draw on a long multigenerational transmission of traditional ecological knowledge to demonstrate actions to respond 

and adapt in the face of climate change. American Indian and Alaska Native cultural diversity can 

be informative of our human responses to climate change and what diverse strategies may be 

required.

New recommendations for managing sudden oak death in tanoak ecosystems

Sudden oak death is a fungal disease caused by an invasive pathogen that has been particularly 

impactful to coastal ecosystems dominated by tanoak. A current management tactic is to repeatedly 

clear-cut forest stands where the pathogen is present; however, this approach has been shown to be 

unsuccessful at eradicating this pathogen. PSW has contributed to the first published biodiversity 

conservation strategy for these ecosystems that incorporates knowledge of pathogen behavior and 

stand growth characteristics to demonstrate that healthy tanoak can be maintained at low levels in 

infested stands. This work provides land owners and managers actions to improve stand or landscape 

resilience so that tanoak survives despite the presence of the pathogen.

2013 Research Highlights

Development of SPLAT® Verb

After several years of study in the laboratory and field, PSW scientists and 

cooperators have developed a highly effective biochemical lure for the 

control of mountain pine beetles in lodgepole pine forests. SPLAT® Verb 

is a new formulation of a pheromone produced by male mountain pine 

beetles that warns other beetles away from an individual tree. This 

control mechanism is preferable to either removing whole infested trees 

or spraying insecticides. SPLAT® Verb was registered as a biopesticide by 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use on pines in August 2013.

New cost-effective methods for measuring atmospheric pollution 

effects in remote forest sites

Determining the effects of air pollution on forests and ecosystems 

requires that data be collected widely, including at remote sites. PSW 

scientists developed and deployed ion exchange resin (IER) atmospheric 

deposition samplers as a cost-effective method of measuring 

cumulative air pollution deposition inputs in remote sites. The IER 

samplers can be collected only twice per year allowing for widespread 

deployment. Data from these studies demonstrated that nitrogen 

concentrations in tree-dwelling lichens are strongly correlated with IER 

deposition rates. This finding will allow for atmospheric nitrogen 

deposition to be estimated in remote regions such as Wilderness areas 

by simply measuring nitrogen levels in lichen tissues collected from the 

forest canopy. 

Detecting the walnut twig beetle, a potential threat to international 

walnut culture and timber production

In response to the threat posed by the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus 

juglandis), which spreads thousand cankers disease in walnut trees, PSW 

led the development of a new highly effective lure. This synthetic form 

of a pheromone created by the male beetles will allow for much faster 

detection and mapping of this invasive insect, which has already 

expanded its known distribution from four U.S. counties in 1960 to 100 

counties by September 2013.

Steven Seybold, U.S. Forest Service and Stacy M. Hishinuma

17
Sherri Eng, U.S. Forest Service 

Fire and Fuels

Research focuses on the 

following areas:

• Improve measurement, modeling, 

and prediction of wildland fire 

and weather phenomena in 

complex landscapes and fuels;

• Determine the ecological effects 

of fire and fire removal on 

landscapes throughout California, 

Hawai‘i, and the U.S.-affiliated 

Pacific Islands;

• Evaluate the short- and long-term 

outcomes of fuels, fire, and postfire management strategies; 

• Determine and quantify the 

interactions between climate, 

vegetation, and fire in the face of 

a changing climate and improve 

our understanding and 

predictability of these interactions 

in order to manage forests and 

wildlands more effectively; and

• Describe and quantify uncertainty 

and risk in a science-based 

decision-making framework for 

fire and land management 

planning.

Managing fire and the vegetation conditions that fuel fire is a paramount challenge to land 

managers throughout most of California, Hawai‘i and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. The 

mission of the Fire and Fuels Program is to provide scientific findings that will improve 

management actions intended to enhance resiliency and sustainability of wildland ecosystems 

affected by fire, and reduce the potential for adverse effects resulting from wildland fire, 

including loss of life and property.

18
Jamie Lyderson, U.S. Forest Service

Carl Skinner, U.S. Forest Service

2013 Research Highlights

Changes to the structure of Sierran mixed-conifer forests due to fire 

suppression and logging make them less resilient to disturbances

Understanding the historical structure of natural forests may be useful 

to land managers who wish to restore forests to these conditions. A 

team led by PSW scientists has determined the ways in which the 

arrangement and size of trees in Sierran mixed-conifer forests have 

changed as a result of timber harvest and subsequent fire suppression. 

The team compared a rare dataset consisting of mapped tree locations 

in 1929 (pre-logging) to the current forest structure and arrangement 

International symposium discusses the effect of climate change and wildfires on fire economics, 

planning, and policy

PSW sponsored an international symposium on fire economics, planning, and policy, which 

focused on climate change and wildfires. More than 125 scientists, academicians, fire and fuel 

managers, natural resource managers, and policymakers exchanged ideas and shared mutual 

concerns and experiences. The symposium was a response to numerous reports in the U.S. and 

abroad recognizing the importance of optimizing fire management costs and the need to better 

understand the relationship between climate change and wildfires, and their potential impacts on 

community fire safety, reduction of costs to society, and reduction in fire risks. Providing 

information on current and potential future conditions help communities to be better prepared to 

respond to these events.

Carbon dynamics in the future forest: The importance of long-term successional legacy and 

climate-fire interactions

Understanding how climate change may influence forest carbon budgets requires knowledge of 

forest growth relationships with regional climate, long-term forest succession, and past and future 

disturbances, such as wildfires and timber harvesting events. A landscape-scale model of forest 

succession, wildfire, and carbon dynamics was used to evaluate the effects of a changing climate 

on total forest carbon storage, tree species composition, and wildfire dynamics in the Lake Tahoe 

Basin, California and Nevada. The independent effects of temperature and precipitation were 

assessed within and among climate models. Results highlight the importance of modeling forest 

succession and stand 

development processes at the 

landscape-scale for 

understanding the carbon 

cycle. The future of forest 

ecosystem carbon cycling in 

many forested systems 

worldwide may depend more 

on major disturbances and 

landscape legacies related to 

land use than on projected 

climate change alone.

in those same locations. The historical forest had a greater diversity of 

tree arrangements and sizes, including gaps between trees, than the 

present structure dominated by large, dense tree groups. The presentday forest is likely less able to recover from major disturbances, such as 

fire or insect outbreaks as a result of these changes. 

New satellite data lead to improved tools for monitoring, management 

and prediction of wildland fire behavior

PSW, in association with multiple partners, has developed methods 

based on new sources of satellite data to provide near real-time fire 

mapping and measurement. These data have also been incorporated in 

a simulation model that includes weather forecasts to provide more 

realistic short-term predictions of fire spread and activity. These 

advances will greatly enhance the ability of firefighting agencies to 

identify and respond to wildland fires quickly, as well as to plan for 

upcoming fire seasons.

19
Urban Ecosystems and Social Dynamics

The interconnection between humans and nature is complex and enduring. 

People need and yearn for the resources that only nature can provide: clean 

water, clean air, natural scenic beauty, and a connection to the land and 

wildlife. The Pacific Southwest Research Station strives to maintain forests, 

sustain functioning ecosystems in urban and wildland areas, enhance and 

protect quality of life, and ensure benefits to society through interdisciplinary 

research that examines urban ecosystems and social dynamics of natural 

resources conservation, management, and restoration.

The Urban Ecosystems and Social Dynamics Program conducts 

research and communicates science needed to understand and enhance the 

interconnections among ecosystems, people, and societies. 

U.S. Forest Service David Olson, U.S. Forest Service

Research focuses on the following areas: • Determine the relationships among human uses, human values, 

ecosystem services, and management; 

• Ascertain the roles of changing demographics, urbanization, 

socioeconomics, and technology on use and sustainability of 

natural resources; and

• Examine the impacts of public policies on ecological and social 

patterns and processes along rural-to-urban gradients.

20
2013 Research Highlights

Barriers to Firewise actions 

Community Firewise programs encourage the public to take actions 

that can reduce the likelihood of wildfire damage or injury, such as 

creating defensible space or making structural improvements to homes 

and other buildings. A PSW researcher and cooperators surveyed 

residents of the wildland-urban interface areas of Colorado to better 

The urban proximate wilderness visit offers myriad benefits

Urban proximate recreation wilderness visitors derive physical, psychological, spiritual, and social 

benefits from their recreation visits, affirming the emphasis on getting Americans outdoors, and 

pointing to the value of providing for these outdoor recreation opportunities. Understanding 

these benefits may aid wilderness protection efforts, of particular importance in the face of 

ongoing population and environmental change. Consideration of these benefits may aid public 

well-being by increasing awareness of the beneficial outcomes from outdoor recreation. Findings 

suggest wilderness visits provide opportunity for physical challenge and exercise contributing to 

physical health and suggest important benefits can be derived from visiting the urban proximate 

wilderness.

A new approach to map urban forests and determine how much carbon they store

Urbanized areas account for 3 percent of total land area and 81 percent of the total population in 

the U.S. Trees in cities represent about 14 percent of the carbon sequestered by U.S. forests. 

Carbon stored in urban forests is not typically included in national, statewide, or regional 

inventories of greenhouse gas emissions and sinks. Accurate quantification and mapping of these 

stocks is fundamental to the inclusion of urban forests in local climate action plans and carbon 

offset markets. A team of Forest Service researchers along with collaborators developed a novel 

approach for addressing these information needs by combining field surveys, biometric 

information for urban tree species, GIS data sets, and mapping of the urban tree canopies using 

satellite imagery. This approach allowed the team to accurately map and estimate carbon stored 

and emissions avoided by urban forests in Los Angeles and Sacramento.

Ethnic- and gender-neutral messages about sustainability may be ineffective

Sustainability in the face of societal and environmental change requires effective messaging to 

address environmental attitudes and behaviors. Research by a PSW scientist revealed that ethnic 

identification and variations in culture and gender were important influences on the level to 

which an individual expressed environmental concern. These results suggested that cultural and 

gender environmental value differences may be relevant when framing environmental messages 

and developing interventions. They also point to the importance of considering degree of ethnic 

identification when cultural variations in environmental attitudes are examined.

Kari Greer, National Interagency Fire Center

understand individual and community actions that homeowners take 

to protect their home or property. The survey also aimed to determine 

the barriers that impede homeowners from completing recommended 

and effective Firewise treatments. Results suggest that Firewise 

messaging is setting-dependent; Firewise construction issues are more 

difficult to enact than defensible space ones; community context and 

social aspects are important; and Firewise actions are more likely to be 

adopted if their effectiveness is communicated and residents 

understand the roles and responsibilities of all involved. 

Healthy pursuits or health risk? Recreation and ozone levels in Los 

Angeles parks

Recreation affords important benefits to urban populations and public 

parks are among the venues essential to city-based opportunities. A 

team of PSW researchers compared the areas, activities, individuals and 

ozone levels in two Los Angeles parks: one in a relatively affluent 

community, the other in a community of social and economic concern. 

Their findings offer important considerations surrounding recreation 

opportunities and use of urban parks, especially among vulnerable 

populations within communities at risk. 

William Winter

21
Program Managers

PSW Research Station Organization Locations

PSW-Albany (Headquarters)

800 Buchanan Street

West Annex Building

Albany, CA 94710-0011 

Phone: (510) 559-6300

Fax: (510) 559-6440 

PSW-Arcata

1700 Bayview Drive

Arcata, CA 95521-6013 

Phone: (707) 825-2900

Fax: (707) 825-2901 

PSW-Davis

1731 Research Park Dr.

Davis, CA 95618 

Phone: (530) 759-1700 

Fax: (530) 747-0241 

PSW-Fresno

2081 E. Sierra Avenue

Fresno, CA 93710-4639 

Phone: (559) 323-3200

Fax: (559) 297-3355 

PSW-Hilo, Institute of 

Pacific Islands Forestry

60 Nowelo Street 

Hilo, HI 96720 

Phone: (808) 933-8121

Fax: (808) 933-8120

PSW-Placerville, Institute of 

Forest Genetics

2480 Carson Road

Placerville, CA 95667 

Phone: (530) 622-1225

Fax: (530) 622-2633 

PSW-Redding

3644 Avtech Parkway

Redding, CA 96002 

Phone: (530) 226-2530

Fax: (530) 226-5091 

PSW-Riverside

4955 Canyon Crest Drive

Riverside, CA 92507 

Phone: (951) 680-1500

Fax: (951) 680-1501 

May 2014

The electronic version of this report is available on the "About Us" page on the PSW website.

Station Director

Dr. Alexander L. Friend 

(510) 559-6310

afriend@fs.fed.us

Assistant Director, Research

Dr. Jane L. Hayes

(510) 559-6313

jlhayes@fs.fed.us

Assistant Director, Business Operations

Christine Hansen

(510) 559-6349

chansen@fs.fed.us

Director of Communications

Michael E. Sullivan

(510) 559-6434

mesullivan@fs.fed.us

Director of Partnerships and Collaboration

Dr. Peter A. Stine

(530) 334-0435

pstine@fs.fed.us

Credits 

Director of Communications—Michael Sullivan

Writers—Sherri Eng, Walita Kay Williams, and Michael Sullivan

Graphic design—Beth Purcille

Non-Discrimination Policy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

prohibits discrimination against its customers, 

employees, and applicants for employment on 

the bases of race, color, national origin, age, 

disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, 

marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's 

income is derived from any public assistance 

program, or protected genetic information 

in employment or in any program or activity 

conducted or funded by the Department. (Not 

all prohibited bases will apply to all programs 

and/or employment activities.)

To File an Employment Complaint

If you wish to file an employment complaint, 

you must contact your agency's EEO Counselor (click the hyperlink for list of EEO Counselors) within 45 days of the date of the alleged 

discriminatory act, event, or in the case of a 

personnel action. Additional information can 

be found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/

complaint_filing_file.html.

To File a Program Complaint

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA 

Program Discrimination Complaint Form, 

found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/

complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA 

office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the 

form. You may also write a letter containing 

all of the information requested in the form. 

Send your completed complaint form or letter 

to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 

Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 

20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at 

program.intake@usda.gov.

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Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or 

have speech disabilities and you wish to file 

either an EEO or program complaint please 

contact USDA through the Federal Relay 

Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in 

Spanish). Persons with disabilities who wish 

to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail 

directly or by email. If you require alternative 

means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, 

etc.) please contact USDA's TARGET Center at 

(202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

Conservation of Biodiversity 

Dr. Patricia Manley

(530) 621-6882

pmanley@fs.fed.us

Fire and Fuels; Urban Ecosystems and Social Dynamics

Dr. Deborah Chavez

(951) 680-1558

dchavez@fs.fed.us

Ecosystem Function and Health

Dr. Rick Bottoms

(530) 759-1703

rmbottoms@fs.fed.us

Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry

Dr. Ricardo D. Lopez

(808) 854-2601

rdlopez@fs.fed.us