California Forests and Rangelands: Proposed Indicators

To identify biologically significant areas, as defined by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), that are experiencing fragmentation due mainly to human disturbance (roads, development). The CDFW has ranked habitat types across the state of California based on a set af factors including their species richness, uniqueness, rarity, endemism, and vulnerability. The Fire Resource Assessment Program’s 2015 Assessment is calling the types with the highest ranks “biologically significant areas”. This indicator will measure the fragmentation occurring on these areas due to road and housing density.

To identify forest and rangeland vegetation types that are experiencing fragmentation due mainly to human disturbance (roads, development). Fragmentation results in spatial discontinuity of habitats that affect species occupancy, reproduction and survival. It can be difficult to measure because of its scale-dependency. In this case, fragmentation would be measured based on road and housing density.

Evaluate changing climate influences on daily fire conditions that are associated with large fire development. The pattern and occurrence of severe fire weather directly influences the likelihood of large fires. We will evaluate a reconstructed 10-year climate data set expressed at 2km grids for patterns and trends in frequency of severe fire days as expressed in terms of the modified Fosberg Weather Index (mFWI) that accounts for a drought correction.

A parallel means of tracking level of agency and program commitment to stopping the spread of forest pathogens and insect pests. Dollars spent or appropriated by state and federal for programs to combat the spread of forest pathogens and pests.

Track the demand side of the economics of the California livestock industry. Prices of dairy products, wool, lamb, and beef are key indicators to show the viability and potential economic challenges faced by the livestock industry.

Evaluate water quality impairments on forest and rangelands. This is calculated as the length of stream miles on forest or rangelands that are 303d listed for water quality impairments. Under the Clean Water Act the State Water Resource Control Board (SWRCB) and its Regional Boards establish water quality standards for California waterways. Every two years the Regional Water Quality Control Boards identify waterbodies (i.e. 303d list) that are impaired and not supporting beneficial uses.

Evaluate change in urban area impervious cover. Developed surfaces (e.g. roads, houses, sidewalks) are often impervious to water, resulting in excessive storm water runoff from these surfaces to receiving water bodies. Vegetating urban areas through green streets programs, and utilizing permeable hardscape features can reduce imperviousness.

The ability to retain rangeland in livestock production uses depends on the economics of those uses and the ability of owners to maintain their ownerships in comparison to competing uses. This indicator will look at current information on the costs and returns associated with conventional cow-calf and sheep operations on rangelands. It will provide insights into whether or not these operations are stable, increasing or declining due to economic forces.

This indicator documents the degree to which different sources of economic wealth and growth within regions in rural California result in large disparities in the distribution of income. It covers a range of characteristics that assess the distribution of income and wealth across the different economic groups in rural areas, and the severity of the problems facing the local economically disadvantaged.

To monitor the biodiversity of an ecosystem, based on integrity of the selected keystone species within that ecosystem. Monitoring keystone species populations, such as beavers, mountain lion, maple or aspen, can be a proxy as an indication of the state of genetic diversity within an ecosystem. More often than not, monitoring all populations in an ecosystem is not feasible, so tracking a keystone species can act as a proxy for all other species in that ecosystem. The keystone species must be carefully selected.

Evaluate changing climate conditions on large fire activity. Trends in climate patterns impact the length of fire season and consequently the duration of fire threat conditions. Impacts of increasing fire season length are reflected in trends in fire activity and in costs of manning fire stations for longer periods. We will evaluate this indicator by looking at frequency of fires greater than 10 acres by date.

Livelihoods indicates the types of work people tend to be engaged in to make a living in rural California. This indicator also looks at transformations that have taken place in the recent past, due to changing economic conditions in rural California. This covers a broad range of characteristics that describe the changes through time in the way people earn a living in society.

To track stream biological integrity based on sediment and nutrient loads, and temperature. Stream conditions affect its biological integrity, and fish are particularly impacted due to their sensitivity to environmental disturbances (flow regime, chemical and organic changes, thermal fluctuations, etc.). CWA 303(d) impaired stream listings are available in GIS format, and can be used to measure the proportion of total stream length per watershed. Also, NatureServe provides an ecological integrity assessment for wetland mitigation in some counties.

To track water courses that are unimpaired by dams and barriers and available for fish passage. The status of stream impairment can change, for instance if a dam is removed. Other streams may have natural barriers, such as waterfalls, landslides or large boulders. The Passage Assessment Database inventories potential barriers to fish and can be used to track impaired and unimpaired streams throughout California’s forest and rangeland.

Net growth of growing stock on timberland (defined as capable of producing 20 cf/acre/year which is used by FIA) and net growth to removals ratio. Data are available for timberland as a whole and for different ownerships that quantify the amount of growth, mortality and harvest.

Evaluates level of new (and recent historical) development in counties and regions. Data on new housing starts shows the intensity of development, recent and historical, by location (county, region, etc.) across the state. These are where developers are expecting (or expecting to lure) new inhabitants to live, and also show potential impacts to the land use and the greater land base, particularly from the lower density types of housing.

Shows how much private non-industrial forest land is protected under a forest stewardship management plan. Protected forests enhance the cultural, social, and spiritual appreciation of forests. Acres of non-industrial private forest land under approved forest steward management.

Number of groups (NGOs, agency cooperatives, etc.) heavily engaged in activities related to land conservation and regional planning. Regions with active groups involved in planning for conservation of wildland values may be more likely to implement development that is compatible with maintaining regional working landscapes, and local core forest and rangeland resources.

Measure the potential for biomass facilities to facilitate fuel treatments that lower the risk faced by officially designated high fire risk communities. Communities At Risk were initially created under the auspices of the National Fire Plan, and represent officially designated high fire risk communities. Biomass facilities can provide an economic incentive for treating areas at risk or damaged by fire or pests, including areas in and around these communities. Many areas in need of treatment do not have this incentive available due to travel time between project areas and biomass facilities.

Measure the potential for biomass facilities to facilitate fuel treatments for communities that are active in planning and conducting projects to reduce community fire risk. A CWPP is a collaborative strategic plan, developed by the community together with relevant agencies, to reduce its risk of losses from vegetation fires by managing hazardous fuels and structure vulnerability. Communities with a CWPP are likely to be more active in conducting pre-fire projects, and to be given priority for funding of hazardous fuels reduction projects carried out under the auspices of the federal Healthy Forest Restoration Act. Biomass facilities can provide an economic incentive for treating areas at risk or damaged by fire or pests, including areas in and around these communities.