SUMMARY STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY COMMITTEE FIELD …...Meeting Synopsis The Lake Tahoe West Restoration...
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1 SUMMARY STAKEHOLDER SCIENCE AND STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY COMMITTEE FIELD VISIT LAKE TAHOE WEST RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP Wednesday, June 7, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Ward Creek, Blackwood Canyon, and Meeks Bay All meeting materials are publicly available on the Lake Tahoe West website http://nationalforests.org/laketahoewest. For questions please contact the program manager/facilitator Dorian Fougères at [email protected] or (530) 902-8281. Meeting Synopsis The Lake Tahoe West Restoration Partnership (Lake Tahoe West) held its first Stakeholder Science Committee and Stakeholder Community Committee Field Visit on June 7, 2017. The trip included exploring Ward Creek, Blackwood Canyon, and Meeks Bay, on the west shore of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The goals of the field visit were to examine places that embodied difficult restoration challenges on the west shore, and help each other begin to see and read the landscape in new and different ways. In each location, stakeholders learned about the history of vegetation treatments and prescribed fire; shared what they were seeing on the landscape; broke into small groups to travel deeper into discussion; and came back to share highlights of small group conversations. Topics covered steep slopes, stream channels, ecological fire, riparian corridors, sensitive wildlife, aspen stands, the structure and composition of vegetation, meadows, and cultural resources, including how these interacted with public health & safety and recreation values on the landscape. The next Stakeholder Community Committee and Stakeholder Science Committee meetings will be on Thursday, July 6, from 9 am to 12 pm, and 1 pm to 5 pm, respectively. The location will be the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, in South Lake Tahoe. Contents Meeting Synopsis ........................................................................................................................... 1 Action Items ................................................................................................................................... 2 1. Welcome and Opening Remarks ............................................................................................ 2 2. Ward Creek ............................................................................................................................. 2 3. Blackwood Canyon.................................................................................................................. 5 4. Meeks Bay ............................................................................................................................... 9 5. Closing Remarks .................................................................................................................... 12 6. Attendance ........................................................................................................................... 12 This meeting summary paraphrases individual comments and suggestions. Statements do not indicate consensus of the group unless they are preceded by the word “AGREEMENT”. Statements are not attributed unless spoken by one of the organizing or participating agencies, or by a presenter.
Transcript of SUMMARY STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY COMMITTEE FIELD …...Meeting Synopsis The Lake Tahoe West Restoration...
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SUMMARY
STAKEHOLDERSCIENCEANDSTAKEHOLDERCOMMUNITYCOMMITTEEFIELDVISITLAKETAHOEWESTRESTORATIONPARTNERSHIPWednesday,June7,8:00amto4:00pmWardCreek,BlackwoodCanyon,andMeeksBay
AllmeetingmaterialsarepubliclyavailableontheLakeTahoeWestwebsitehttp://nationalforests.org/laketahoewest.Forquestionspleasecontacttheprogram
manager/facilitatorDorianFougè[email protected](530)902-8281.MeetingSynopsisTheLakeTahoeWestRestorationPartnership(LakeTahoeWest)helditsfirstStakeholderScienceCommitteeandStakeholderCommunityCommitteeFieldVisitonJune7,2017.ThetripincludedexploringWardCreek,BlackwoodCanyon,andMeeksBay,onthewestshoreoftheLakeTahoeBasin.Thegoalsofthefieldvisitweretoexamineplacesthatembodieddifficultrestorationchallengesonthewestshore,andhelpeachotherbegintoseeandreadthelandscapeinnewanddifferentways.Ineachlocation,stakeholderslearnedaboutthehistoryofvegetationtreatmentsandprescribedfire;sharedwhattheywereseeingonthelandscape;brokeintosmallgroupstotraveldeeperintodiscussion;andcamebacktosharehighlightsofsmallgroupconversations.Topicscoveredsteepslopes,streamchannels,ecologicalfire,ripariancorridors,sensitivewildlife,aspenstands,thestructureandcompositionofvegetation,meadows,andculturalresources,includinghowtheseinteractedwithpublichealth&safetyandrecreationvaluesonthelandscape.ThenextStakeholderCommunityCommitteeandStakeholderScienceCommitteemeetingswillbeonThursday,July6,from9amto12pm,and1pmto5pm,respectively.ThelocationwillbetheU.S.ForestServiceLakeTahoeBasinManagementUnit,inSouthLakeTahoe.Contents
MeetingSynopsis...........................................................................................................................1ActionItems...................................................................................................................................21. WelcomeandOpeningRemarks............................................................................................22. WardCreek.............................................................................................................................23. BlackwoodCanyon..................................................................................................................54. MeeksBay...............................................................................................................................95. ClosingRemarks....................................................................................................................126. Attendance...........................................................................................................................12
Thismeetingsummaryparaphrasesindividualcommentsandsuggestions.Statementsdonot
indicateconsensusofthegroupunlesstheyareprecededbytheword“AGREEMENT”.Statementsarenotattributedunlessspokenbyoneoftheorganizingorparticipatingagencies,
orbyapresenter.
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ActionItems1. Documentation&PermittingCoordinationTeamtoreviewTRPAslopetreatment
restrictions.2. DoriantosharefishermarkingguidelinesincludingclumpidentificationfromtheDinkey
LandscapeRestorationProject.3. Doriantodrafthigh-level,generalgoalsforSSCreview,andsubsequentrefinementduring
Phase2.
1. WelcomeandOpeningRemarks• Mr.MikeVollmer,LeadfortheLTWInteragencyDesignTeam(IADT)andTahoeRegional
PlanningAgency(TRPA),andMr.BrianGarrett,IADTandLakeTahoeBasinManagementUnit(LTBMU),thankedeveryoneforattending,andreviewedthedesignoftheday,theagendaforthestops,andthemap.Theynotedthatthegoalofthefieldvisitwastocollectivelyexamineseveralsitesthatembodydifficultrestorationchallengesonthewestshore;andhelpeachotherbegintoseeandreadthelandscapeinnewanddifferentways.Theyalsobriefedthegrouponsafetyprotocols.
o Thefieldvisitmapisonthenextpage.• Mr.DorianFougères,LakeTahoeWestRestorationPartnership(LTW)Facilitatorand
NationalForestFoundation,ledintroductionsandreviewedthegroundrules.• Mr.MasonBindl,TRPA,remindedthegroupthattheLTWonlinegeospatialmappingtoolis
liveandcanbeaccessedbyanyoneathttp://gis.trpa.org/laketahoewest/Mr.Bindlalsobriefedthegroupontheelectronictablet&laptopsthathehadloadedwithEcObjectlayers,toallowparticipantstolocatethemselvesatthefield,verifytheaccuracyofdata,andimprovetheirabilitytointerpretthedata.
Therewerenointerestedpartycomments.
2. WardCreekMr.GarrettandMr.Vollmerorientedthegrouptothelocation,includingadescriptionoffieldconditionsabriefreviewofhistoricalvegetationandprescribedfiretreatments.
• ThelandisprimarilyForestService.Theareahasthekindofhomogeneousforeststructurethatischaracteristicofthewestshore.Steepslopesandephemeralstreamsmakeaccessdifficult.Conifersareencroachingtheaspenstand.Prescribedfirewasusedin2004fuelsreductiontreatments.ThelanduphillisCaliforniaTahoeConservancyland,andhashadsomesmalltreehand-thinningandpile-burning(butnobroadcastburning),aswellasmechanicalthinningupto24”diameteratbreastheight(dbh)followedbymastication.TheareaisinthedefensezoneoftheWildlandUrbanInterface.
Discussionfollowed.
• Historicaltreatmentswerepartoffuelstreatmentsthatdidnotpayattentiontheheterogeneityofvegetation.
Kaspian Day Use AreaMeeting location - 9 AMLunch - 12:30 1:15 PM
Ward Creek - Stop 19:20 - 10:30 AM
Blackwood Canyon - Stop 211 - 12:30 PM
Meeks Meadow - Stop 32 - 3:30 PM
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o Thereisyounger,goodgroundvegetationwherethereareopenings.Mortalityisshowingupinsomeplaces.
§ Youcanseeevidenceofarmillariadiseaseandstalactiformblisterrust,whicharepartofacommonpackageofdiseasesonthewestshore.
o Thenorthsideismoredensethanthesouthasonewouldexpect,thereisalargeamountofpine,theaspenlookgoodandregenerating.
o Thetreeslooktobeallofasimilarage.o Becauseofpastdisturbances,onecan’tassumethatthesizeofatreeequalsits
age.Wewouldbemoreinterestedinvariabilityinsizeclass.Thisisnotmappedoutwell.
• Forspatialvariability,EcObjectshowsthatacrossthecreekisanorth-facingslopethatisdominatedbysmallclumpsthatareallconnected.Wewillneedtoeithercombinethisindicatorwithothersorseethepolygonstofurtherinterpretthis.
o Regardingclimaticwaterdeficit,thescaleiscoarse(270meterpixels),butgenerallylowdeficit.
o Regardingvegetationtype,bothsidesshowupaswhitefir,mixedconifer,andredfir,asonewouldexpect.
o EcObjectappearspowerfulinthatitletsyouseesomuchfromonevantage.Typicallyyouwillalsowanttoseesitesfromseveraldifferentviewpoints.
• Thecontourofthecanyonmakesithardtouseprescribedfirehere,becauseeachnightsmokegoesdownthedrainage,whichispreciselywherehomeare.Peoplearereluctanttodealwithsmokeeachnight.
o Thereisalsoalargeneighborhoodseveralmilesupthecanyon,andWardCreekBoulevardisanevacuationrouteforthem.Thisraisesthepriorityoffuelstreatments.
o Thesteepslopesmightmeanthatprescribedfireistheonlyoption.o Hazardreferstothefuelloadingonaplot,whileriskisbasedonthehazardplus
thevalueofstructuresandaccess.o IfIcoulddoanythingIwanted,Iwouldinvestinhigh-hangingfruit.Wewould
needtobuildfirecontainersthatincreasethecomfortoffiremanagers–asinourEssentialManagementQuestions(#9).Typicallywebuildwhatiseasyandcheap.Weneedtochangeourapproach.
• Theareahasgoodwarblerandvireohabitat,theyareclosed-canopyassociates,andaspen.
o Inthinkingaboutresilienceandbiologicalintegrityandfire,thecanyonispartofalargewatershedthatsupportslargerbiota.Connectivity(orcontinuity)especiallyalongtheripariancorridorisimportantforlarge-bodiedanimalslikeAmericanmarten,amedium-sizedcarnivore.
• Soilslooklooseinmanyareas,andthereishightreedensity.o Thecreeklooksunstableanderoding.o Thecanyonwasbuiltthroughglacialmorainessoisnaturallydown-cutting.
• Itwouldbedifficulttotreatthecreekchannelbyremovingsomeofthelodgepolepinethatareencroaching,becauseofequipmentexclusions.Powerlinesalsomaketree
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removaldifficult.Moredeadtreesintheareawouldincreasethechanceoffirecarryingupthestreamcorridorlikeawick.
• OneapproachtotreatingvegetationcouldbetorevisethecurrentTRPArestrictionsontreatingslopessteeperthan30%.ThestateForestPracticeRuleswouldallowthis,andwecouldexplorenewtechnologiesliketracked,articulatedharvesterswithself-levelingcabs,andwalkingexcavators.Youstillwouldwanttokeepanyheavyequipmentoutofsomezones.
o TheLTWDocumentation&PermittingCoordinationTeam(D&PCT)shouldexamineTRPAregulationsnow.
o ACTIONITEM:Documentation&PermittingCoordinationTeamtoreviewTRPAslopetreatmentrestrictions.
• Therearealsohistoricloggingroads,likethegradeacrossthecreek.TouchingthemwouldactiveconcernsabouttheStateHistoricPreservationAct.
o Thereisagateclosingthestartoftheroadacrossthecreekandthroughanaspenstand.
o Therewouldalsobeprehistoricandhistoricarchaeologicalconcernsalongtheriparianarea.
o AssessingimpactstohistoricroadbedspertheTribal/StateHistoricalPreservationOfficeisverycostly.ThisiswhytheForestServicetypicallypreferstoavoidtreatingthoseareas,andwilloftencreateanewroadparalleltoahistoricroadbedifaccessisrequired.Thiscanendupincreasingerosionimpacts.
o StateParkshashadsuccessworkingwiththeirculturalresourcespecialistto,forexample,havetreesgrowintooldfoundations,andavoidusingfireinhistoricareas.
• Thinkingaboutvegetationresilience,oneneedstoconsiderthisyear’ssnowfallinthecontextofclimatescenariosaroundsubstantiallywarmertemperaturesinJanuaryandFebruary.Withmorerainfallingassnow,floodssimilarto1997wouldbeexpectedtooccurmoreoften,butrunoffrapidlycomparedtosnowandflowlessfarintothesummer.
3. BlackwoodCanyon
Mr.GarrettandMr.Vollmerorientedthegrouptothelocation,includingadescriptionoffieldconditionsabriefreviewofhistoricalvegetationandprescribedfiretreatments.
• ThisareaisprimarilyForestServicelandintheWUI.WeareattheboundaryofanareathatwasmechanicallytreatedandanarealeftuntouchedbecauseitisaRiparianConservationArea(RCA).
o Mechanicalharvestingandmasticationwasdoneinthemid-2000sforfuelreduction,fromthecampgroundonward.Thisincludedmechanicalthinningupto30”,upto19”intheCaliforniaspottedowl(CSO)ProtectedActivityCenter(PAC),andupto24”inthegoshawkPAC.
• Peoplehavepetitionedseveraltimestolistthespottedowlasathreatenedspecies.ItisnotwidespreadintheBasin,only5onthewestsideandasixthinthenortheast.The
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managementapproachforPACstypicallyistoleave300acresaroundthenestforforaging,andthenoutto1000acresasthehomerangecorearea(HRCA),fortheterritoryofthebreedingpair.
Discussionfollowed.
• RegardingEcObject,itdoespickupdifferentstanddensitywell.TheLiDARitisbasedonwastakenin2010,soafterthetreatments.Itshowsalotofhomogeneityaroundthemid-seralstageofvegetation,ratherthanadiversityofseralstages.
• Evenifweweretothinrightuptothediameterlimit,weprobablywouldnotmeetfireobjectives.
• It’simportanttonotonlylookatthisstand,butratherallofBlackwood.• Thedriverofthistreatmentwasfuelsreduction.Onecoulddesignafuelstreatmentfor
thePAC.o Thehighfuelloadingandeven-agednatureofthestandmeansthatfirewould
likelycauseshort-termimpactstothebirds,eventhoughtheaimwaslong-termresilience.
• ThemanagementdirectiveforhowtotreatPACsisfixed,andwillremaininplaceunlessthehabitatisdeemednolongersuitable.
o ThishashappenedontheRimFireandKingFirelandscapes.ThehabitatwasburnedhencethePACsnolongerexist.
o WearenotawareofexampleswherePAChabitathasbeendesignatedasnolongersuitablebasedonsomecombinationofothercriteria,likedurationsincelastoccupancy,etc.
§ Weneedtothinkabouthowevenwhat’scurrentlyahigh-valueresourcecanbecomemorefluidoverspaceandtime,becausethelandscapeisdynamic.
§ Theabilitytodispersetreatmentsoverspaceandtimetoreducetheirshort-termimpactsonsensitivewildlifeconstitutes“thepromiseoflandscape”–it’swhatlandscape-scalerestorationmakespossible,comparedwithonlylookingatafewthousandacres.
• WedonotknowtheactivitystatusofthebirdsinthisPAC.o Ifthey’reactive,thiswouldbeacriticalplacetomonitor.o Somenewmonitoringactivitiesarebeingplannedandmightalreadyinclude
BlackwoodCanyon.o Otherfactorsthatcaninfluencegoshawkreproductivityareconecrops,latewet
storms,andothervariables.Somonitoringdatarequirescarefulinterpretation.• Thehistoricaltreatmentswehavedonehavenotmadethisarearesilienttoinsectsor
drought.• Wecouldburnintheuntreatedarea,butthisraisesthequestionofhowmuchfire-
causedtreemoralitypeoplewouldbewillingtoaccept.Thepublicoftenhasahardtimeunderstandingwhywewouldbekillingtrees.
o Further,deadtreeswouldthenfalloverandcould,giventhedensity,increasefuelloads.Theninturn,wemightnotreburntheareaunlessweweretofirst
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thinit.Soitseemsthereisacircularitywhichmeansthatsoonerorlateryou’regoingtoneedtodosomemechanicalthinningtobeabletotheneventuallystartusingfireastheregularmaintenancemanagementtoolonitsown.
o Thispointstotheneedtoplantreatmentsinawaythatanticipatesachangingsequenceoftreatmentsovertime.
• Thetypeofuntreatedconditionsweseehavehighspeciesvalue,whichsuggeststhiskindofstandwasrepresentedonthehistoriclandscape.
o TheIADThasbeenlookingatthediversityofseralstagesasanindicator.• MostPACsintheSierrahavehadtreatment,thereisagoodamountofpublished
literature.• Asarecreationaluser,theviewshedcreatedbythinning,evenjust50or75infromthe
road,isvaluable.Italsowouldreducetheriskofincidentalfirefromacigaretteorvehiclealongthecorridor.Suchthinningalsoincreasesthesunlightontheroads,makingformorerapidsnowmelt,andalsobetterdrivingvisibility.
o Weneedtotakeadvantageofexistingrecreationsitestobuildeducationbeforestartingtreatments,includingmeetingpeopleinhigh-useareas.
o Firehasmultiplebenefitsbutpeopledonotlikeblacktreesandsmoke,soeducationwillhavetoanticipateandprovideafoundationforacceptingthis.
o MoreburningwillaffecttheBasin’srecreationandtourismeconomy.Aggressiveeducationandasmuchspecificityaspossibleaboutthetiminganddurationofburningwillbecritical.
o Mr.Fougères:Alongtheselines,theimportanceofeducationandinformation-sharingiscalledoutintheLTWCommunication&EducationPlan,andstaffhavediscussedtheideaofdevelopingmessagingaroundadesignated“BurnSeasoninTahoe”sothatbusinessandvisitorscanmoreeasilyanticipatewhensmokemightbeprevalent.
o Ifsuchanideaweredeveloped,itshouldlineupwiththeshoulderseasonforrecreation.Manyhotelsalreadyshutdownduringthisperiod.
• Blackwooddoesnothaveelevatedlevelsoftreemortalitycurrently.Withregardtomaintainingfutureresilience,manyofourtreeshaveincrediblecapacityforgeneflow,iftherearefutureconditionsthatourtreatmentscannotmitigate.
• Regardingclimate,scientistscanprovideinnumerablefuturescenarios,fromwhichonecanpickandchooseorbundle.What’slikelymorehelpfulistolookattheextreme
episodesinthepredictions,andfocusonthebreakpoints–nottheaverages–in
futureclimates.Thesearelikelymostinformativeforvulnerabilityandresilience.o Thetemperaturedifferencebetweenthetreatedareaandtheriparianareais
notableandpointstomicroclimaticdifferences.Thereisalsomorewindthrowinthetreatedarea,andsnowwouldmeltfaster.
o IntheWUIorevenoutside,multipleobjectivesriskcreatingmorehomogeneityonthelandscape.Fromaclimaticperspective,microclimatevariabilitywillbe
yourfriend.Forresilience,onewouldwantpocketsofdifferenthabitat.o Regardingcoldpooling,theBasinholdscoolairtoadegreenotseenelsewhere
intheSierra,likelybecausethesizeofthelake.
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• Togetawayfromhomogeneity,onewouldhavetocreateopenings,andfigureouthowtowritethisintomarkingguidelines,andidentifywheregapsmightoccur.
o ACTIONITEM:DoriantosharefishermarkingguidelinesincludingclumpidentificationfromtheDinkeyLandscapeRestorationProject.
o Iftheprimaryobjectiveiscommunityprotectionandfirereduction,thiskindofhomogeneityislikely.LTW,however,purposelyincludesnotonlythegeneralforest,butalsotheWUI.Wehaveanopportunitytodevelopmaintenancetreatmentsthatalsoadvanceforestheterogeneity.
• Onecouldcreatemoremicroclimaticdifferencesbycreatingamosaicofindividualtrees,clumpsoftrees,andgaps,liketheEcObjectpolygons,bymodifyingtreedensity,andbymodifyingfire.
o Alternately,theSouthForkoftheAmericanRiver(SOFAR)projectrecognizestherearecertainsocialvaluesoccurthroughoutthelandscape,butsortingthemintozoneswheretherearegreaterorfewerconstraints.Thendifferenttreatmentscreatemorediversityacrossthelandscape.
§ SuchanapproachmaybeusefulfortheLTWLandscapeRestorationStrategy(Phase2).
o StateParkshasstandsthathavenothadtreatmentforalongtime,andarenowself-thinning,withsurfacefuelsdecreasingtoo.Weneedtoidentifytheareasthatarealreadymovingindesirabledirectionsontheirown,andletthemcreatemicroclimaticdiversity.
• Microclimaticvariabilityandforestheterogeneityareapositivefeedbackloop:onewouldexpectthatincreasingthediversityoffireeffectswouldincreaseforestheterogeneityaswellasmicroclimates.
o Thechallengeistogetoverthehurdleordeficitofcurrentconditions,sothatecologicalfirecandothisworkwithoutsuchathreattopublichealth&safety.Weneedtocommunicatethisanticipatedtrajectoryoftreatments,frommoreintensiveearlyontocreateasubsequentpositivefeedbackloop.
o It’salsoimportanttorecognizethatifanareahashighfuelloadingandwe’reusingfirethatkillstrees,thiswillinturnbecomethefutureopeningwe’relookingfor.Diseasesandbeetlesalsocreategaps,sothesetypesofdisturbancesalsohavepositiveaspects.
• Amajorconstraintonprescribedfireisthelackofdedicatedcrewandstablefunding.It’sdoubtfulwewilleverbeabletoburnasmuchaslikelyburnedherehistorically.Thisappliestobothstateandfederalagencies.
o Mr.Fougères:Anotheraspectofthe“promiseoflandscape”istheabilitytoplanseveralyearsoftreatmentsoveralarge-scale,whichallowsformorecertainworkloadplanningandfunding.ThisiswrittenintheMulti-JurisdictionalFuelsStrategyamendmentfromApril2017.
o Mr.Fougères:TherearealsoexampleswheresomeNationalForestsaretryingtotraintheirstaffwhoserveasfiresuppressioncrewsduringfireseasontothenworkasprescribedfirecrewsduringtheoff-season.Theaimistobetterensuretheyhavethestaffon-handtoburnopportunisticallyandtakeadvantageofsmallwindows.
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o Ifstaffcoulddevelopaproposalforaninteragencyprescribedfireteam,andmapandplanout10yearsoftreatment,agencyexecutivescouldworktosecurereliablefundingforthisperiod.
o Alongtheselines,regardingtheForestService,onJune1U.S.SecretaryofAgricultureSonnyPerduesaid,
§ “First,itmustreorientitsculturetoembraceagenerationalapproachtoresponsibleforestmanagement.Treestakedecadestogrowtomaturity.Wemustthinkabouthowtheforestswillprovidecleanerwaterandair,morebiofuelsandmoreusefulproductsforconsumers.Ifwedonottakethelongview,wewillneverbeabletopreservedelicateecosystemsorprosperfromthethousandsofjobsthatourforestscouldprovide.Wemusttreatourforestssothatwearenotspendingmoreonfightingfiresthanweareonmakingsurethatourforestsarehealthy.”http://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article153760404.html
Mr.PatrickWright,ExecutiveDirectorfortheCaliforniaTahoeConservancy,askedstafftonotcensorthemselveswhentheythinkaboutopportunitiesbutthenthinkaboutalltheconstraintsorbarriers.Heencouragedstafftonotassumethatwecannotdosomething,andnoteditwouldbemuchbettertoidentifybarriersandstartworkingonthemnow.HeremindedthemthattheExecutiveTeamwantstopushtheenvelope,andcantakeupandtrytomodifypolicyandregulatoryconstraintsifneeded.
• AnothermembernotedthatintheSagehenCreekFieldStationcollaborativerestorationwork,theystartedwithamapandthelocationofPACs.Inhindsight,hewouldhavepreferredtostartwithnoconstraints.Healsonotedtheyhadmany“falseno’s”–thingsthatpeoplesaidwerenotpossible,butafterhardworkwereindeedpossible.
• Mr.Fougèresnotedthat,similartotheearlierdiscussionofzones,indevelopingtheLandscapeRestorationStrategytheIADTandstakeholderscouldalsoconsiderwhethertobuildaseriesoflayerswithprogressiveconstraints.
4. MeeksBay
Mr.VollmerandMr.Garrettorientedthegrouptothelocation,includingadescriptionoffieldconditionsabriefreviewofhistoricalvegetationandprescribedfiretreatments.
• Theareaisamixofprivateproperty,CaliforniaTahoeConservancy,andForestServiceland.TheWasiutimbersalereducedmeadowencroachmentthroughskylineyardingfromacentralstationinthemeadow.TheQualsfuelsreductionprojectalsoincludedthinning.Thiswasinthemidandearly1990s.Hand-thinningbytheConservancyfollowed.However,therehasbeenlittlefollow-upandconifershaveencroachedagain,raisingquestionsaboutthelongevityoftreatments,theneedforrepeatfireentriestomaintaintreatments,andthelong-termresilienceofthemeadow–whetheritisfutiletotrytostopencroachmentinlightofexpecteddroughts.
• Theareahasstreamchannelconcerns,culturalresources,andalargemeadowwithheavylodgepolepineinvasionassociatedwithdrought.
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• Apileburnburnedunexpectedlyhotandspreadintothebrush.Thiscreatedsomelocalpoliticalcontroversyandconcernaboutpublicsafety.Onecanseethehousesrightacrossthemeadow.
o Thedensityoftheforestsmeansthateventhoughthereisasubdivisiononbothsidesofthemeadow,youcanonlyseeveryfewhouses,mostarehiddeninthevegetation.
• MeeksMeadowisaprettyuniquefeature–alargemarshatthesouthendofthelakethatissubjecttoregularflooding–andanimportantcomponentofthewestshorelandscape.Ithasanincrediblyrichconcentrationofbirdsandwildlife.
Discussionfollowed.
• TheLTBMUhasaprojectwiththeWashoeTribeofNevadaandCaliforniatoremoveconiferandrestorethemeadow,includingfollow-upwithprescribedfire.Ithasbeenahighlyvaluedculturalsitethatinvolvedregularburningforthepromotionoftheplantsusedforbasket-weaving.
o Wearenotcertainhowregularlyburningtookplacewhenthemeadowwastraditionallymanagedbythetribe.Studyingcharcoallayerscouldhelpidentifythis.
o Therearesomelargetreestumpsinthemeadowwhichsuggestthatencroachmenthasbeenaregularphenomenon.
• RegardingtheMeeksMarina,thecurrentplanistoremovethemarinaandrestorethemarsh.TheWashoeTribehastheconcessionforthemarina,andplanstoextenditsculturalprogramsinland.
• Inthepast,themeadowwouldgetextremelydryattimes.• Achallengehasbeenthatonceyouremovetheconifertheyre-occupythemeadow,so
weneedmorefire,andalsoconditionsthataredryenoughtoburn.Theburnwindowsarelimited,andremovingbiomassishardbecausethegroundtendstobesowet.
o Giventhecurrentfuelloads,theriskofafiregettingaway–giventheproximitytohomesandlocationintheWUI–alsoincreasesthereluctancetoburn.Thisisanothersituationwheremechanicaltreatmentwillbeneededeithernow,beforethefirstentry,orafterprescribedfire.
o Firecouldalsokilltheyounglodgepole.o Onewouldalsostillhaveaseedsource.
• Coniferremovalwouldincreasethewatertable,andtherestorationofthemarinawouldalsoaffectthewatertableoverthelongterm.Weneedtolookatthemeadow-marinacomplex,includingtheroadinbetween.
o Withclimate,oncecouldexpectbiggerstormsandhencemoremeadowflooding.
o TheroadwouldpullCaltransintoourwork.o Cedarsalsoencroachthemeadow,theoneswecanseeappearresilientand
havesignificantfirescarswithgreencrowns.• Itseemslikepartofourworkistoclearlyacknowledgetheelementofuncertainty
inherentintreatments,aswrittenintheEssentialManagementQuestions.Inthisway,
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perhapswecanmanageourownandpublicexpectations,andbemoreopportunistic
withregardtouncontrolledoutcomes.• Whileit’sdifficulttosayanythingclimatologicalwithcertainty,onethingthatiscertain
isthatmarkedswingsbetweendryandwetyearswillbecomethenorm.o Forexample,the2015winter’s5%snowpackisexpectedtobecomesignificantly
morefrequentbytheendofthecentury.o Furthermore,twotypesof“snowdrought”willbecomemorefrequent–snow
droughtscausedsimplybydryyears,andsnowdroughtscausedbywarmingtemperaturesthatmeanprecipitationfallsasrainratherthansnow.
o Asnotedearlier,LTWmaywanttofocusmoreonresiliencetotheextremeepisodesassociatedwithecosystemtippingpoints.
o LeeTarnay,USFSRemoteSensingLab,isworkingonnewmodelingof“snow-off”–thetimeatwhichdifferentpartsofthelandscapelosetheirsnowcover–andhowthisischangingwithclimate.
o AlexHall,UCLA,hasalsorecentlypublishedonthealbedoeffectofsnowmelt.Hisworkusedaregionalclimatemodel;itwouldbedifficulttoreplicatethisatasmallerscale,becauseofthetypesofdatarequired.
o ThisvariabilityisinherentinCalifornia’sclimate.Thereisnomeaningful“averageyear.”
• Giventheextremesofsnowpackandhydrologyanticipated,isitrealistictoassumethatthemeadowwouldremainhereintheabsenceofintervention?Thelogisticsoftreeremovalareverydifficult,andyieldssmall,low-valuematerial.
o Historicalgrazinglikelyalsohelpedlimitconiferencroachment.o Mr.Fougères:Onealternateapproachtothinkingaboutvalueisthroughthe
ecosystemservicesprovidedbyameadow.Ms.KimRollins,UniversityofNevadaatReno,willbeworkingwiththeLTWScienceTeamonaneconomicsanalysisforPhase2.
• Theareathatissouth-facingfacessunallday,andlooksrestored–ithasevidenceoffreshburningandalsobrushregeneration.
• Increasedfirefrequencycanalsoincreasethepotentialforterrestrialinvasivespecies.o Arecentstudyofcheatgrasssurvivabilityraisesthequestionofwhetheritwill
cometothewestshorewithincreasingtemperaturesandadifferentfireregime.• Itsoundslikeweareallinagreementinoursupportforvegetativeheterogeneityat
differentscales,fortheuseoffireinareaswithheavierfuelsandhigherseverityburnsandthecreationofclumpsandgaps.
o Mr.Fougères:AsuggestionfromcolleagueslastweekwastodevelopsomegeneralgoalslikethistofurthercommunicatetheintentofLTW,beyondincreasingforestandwatershedresilience.PertheCalendarofActivities,basedontheLandscapeResilienceAssessmentwewouldthenrefineandmakethesemorepreciseatthestartofPhase2,thedevelopmentofourLandscapeRestorationStrategy.
o ACTIONITEM:Doriantodrafthigh-level,generalgoalsforSSCreview,andsubsequentrefinementduringPhase2.
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• Togetthosehighseverityfireeffects,onewillhavetoacceptkillingtrees,whichishardtoselltothepublic.
5. ClosingRemarks
Ms.TeresaMcClung,ActingForestSupervisor,LTBMU,thankedparticipantsfortheirtimeandpreparation,andnotedtheimportanceandexcitementofbeingabletothinkaboutthelandscapewithoutalltheconstraints.Mr.Wrightaskedstafftothinkaboutmultiple-yearprojectsthataresoontobeginonthewestshore,likeStateParksworkinSugarPinePointStateParkandForestServiceWestShoreWUIwork,andseeifthoseprojectscouldpilottreatmentsthatcantheninformLTWprojectplanning.Thereisanopportunitytostartpushingonbarriersnow.
• Mr.GarrettnotedthatwhileWestShoreWUIfocusesonfuels,inthenextyearwemightseeopportunitiestoaddsomeadditionalworkbasedontheLandscapeResilienceAssessment.ThismightevenincludeworkintheWUIdefense,whichwealsoseektomovetoamoreresilientcondition.
6. Attendance
OrganizingandParticipatingAgenciesCTC–CaliforniaTahoeConservancyNFF–NationalForestFoundationRWQCBLahontan-LahontanRegionalWaterQualityControlBoardStateParks–CaliforniaStateParksTFFT–TahoeFireandFuelsTeamTRPA–TahoeRegionalPlanningAgencyUSFS–U.S.ForestServiceStakeholderScienceCommitteeMembers
1. JeffBrown2. MollieHurt3. PatriciaMaloney4. MaureenMcCarthy5. RolandShawStakeholderCommunityCommittee
Members
6. DougBarr7. AmyBerry8. ZackBradford9. BethKenna10. JackLandy
Agencies
11. RichAdams,StateParks12. MasonBindl,TRPA13. KimCaringer,TRPA14. BeckyEstes,USFS15. DorianFougères,NFF16. BrianGarrett,USFS17. RossGerrard,USFS18. AmyJirka,TFFT/CALFIRE19. BrianJudge,RWQCBLahontan20. PatriciaManley,USFS21. TeresaMcClung,USFS22. TamaraSasaki,StateParks23. DanShaw,StateParks
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24. RandyStriplin,USFS25. NadiaTase,TFFT/CALFIRE26. MikeVollmer,TRPA27. PatrickWright,CTC28. LesleyYen,USFSInterestedPartiesfromthePublic29. MikeDettinger,USGeologicalSurvey30. GeoffThornton,AECOM31. JessicaMitchell,AscentEnvironmental
