California Forests and Rangelands: Proposed Indicators

Document the amount of rangeland currently being managed with water quality best management practices. The University of California Rangeland Water Quality Program provides tools and incentives for ranchers to implement voluntary measures to prevent and/or mitigate impacts of livestock operations on water quality. Trends and levels of participation in these programs are considered to be indicative of sustainable rangeland management practices.

Measure the number of biomass facilities that potentially facilitate treatment of forested areas to reduce fire and/or pest risk or existing damage, and contribute to local economies. The number of biomass facilities in California has been fairly dynamic, and has included new facilities as well as closures. Biomass facilities can provide an economic incentive for treating areas at risk or damaged by fire or pests. Many areas in need of treatment do not have this incentive available due to travel time between project areas and biomass facilities.

Shows where specific efforts are being taken by identified at-risk communities to reduce the chances for loss and damage from wildfire. Communities at Risk (CAR) participating in the Firewise Communities USA/Recognition Program develop an action plan to guide residential risk reduction activities, and encourage their neighbors to participate as well. Firewise communities must invest at least $2 per capita in local Firewise actions each year and conduct a “Firewise Day” community event. Communities on the CAR list which are recognized as Firewise Communities may be more prepared and/or resilient in the face of wildfires.

This shows which designated Communities at Risk have made specific planning efforts to reduce their chances for loss and damage from wildfires. A list of communities at high risk of structure damage from wildfires was first created by the National Fire Plan, to identify priority projects designed to reduce the fire risks to communities. This Communities at Risk (CAR) list was initially limited to communities neighboring federal lands, but was since expanded to include all high-risk communities identified within the wildland-Urban Interface. A number of these communities have prepared a CWPP - a collaborative strategic plan, developed by the community or neighborhood together with relevant agencies, to reduce its risk of losses from vegetation fires by managing hazardous fuels and structure vulnerability. These communities are likely to be more prepared and/or resilient in the face of wildfires. In addition, communities with a CWPP will be given priority for funding of hazardous fuels reduction projects carried out under the auspices of the federal Healthy Forest Restoration Act.

The number of Fire Safe Councils (FSCs) available to support the efforts of CAR to reduce the chances for loss and damage from wildfires. The California Fire Safe Council, and county and local FSCs, are non-profit organizations that promote fire safety education, and encourage wildfire hazard management and wildfire prevention. CAR represented by an FSC may be more prepared and/or resilient in the face of wildfires.

The number of communities benefitting from USFS assistant to enhance the cultural, social, and spiritual aspect of the environment outside of forests. The number of communities with developing or established urban and community forestry programs resulting from Forest Service assistance.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/spf/fhp/fhm/risk/index.shtml .

Forest communities potentially at risk from future pest outbreaks, which could result in economic, environmental, aesthetic, and public safety impacts. These communities represent potential opportunities for risk reduction through different types of actions designed to mitigate the particular type of threat. Forest pest threat is ranked based on expected tree mortality, based on data from the USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection program (FHP)

The extent to which the USFS is providing interpretive and conservation education to enhance the cultural, social, and spiritual appreciation of forests. The number of plans implemented shows the level of outreach effort.

The number of livestock currently depending on rangeland to meet some or all of their life cycle requirements is indicative of the status of the range livestock industry. This indicator measures the quantity of livestock (cattle, sheep, horses, and goats) that spend part or all of the year on rangeland. The indicator, linked with other indicators, represents rangeland grazing and browsing use by domestic animals. It accounts for short-term management strategies by individual grazers, as well as more long-term strategies followed by land management agencies.

The extent to which the USFS is contributing to environmental literacy to enhance the cultural, social, and spiritual appreciation of forests. Number of people who participate in USFS environmental literacy programs and activities.

Provides a measure of highly modified urbanized WUI (>1 house/2 acres; >0.5 houses/acre) at risk of wildfire penetration. In contrast to Intermix areas, Interface landscapes have more manicured, irrigated and highly modified vegetation, and often it is the structural fuels that contribute significantly to fire spread. Wildfires in this form of WUI are relatively rare, and typically only spread under very extreme fire weather conditions. But due to the high density of assets such as homes, roads, and residential and commercial infrastructure, damage levels from burning can be very high even over small areas.

Provides a measure of risk for existing Intermix areas, based on the associated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) class. Intermix is defined as between 1 house/2 acres, and 1 house/20 acres (0.5 to 0.05 houses/acre). Landscapes with housing densities of less than 1 house per 2 acres typically retain most of their natural vegetation fuels, and consequently are not as resilient to wildfires as denser urbanized areas. Although wildfires are more frequent in these types of environments, infrastructure values (due to low housing density) are typically relatively low (as compared to urban areas).

This indicator is considered to reflect local and regional engagement by stakeholders in timberland management. There are numerous collaborative efforts and local or regional groups that are actively involved with forest management throughout California’s forested regions. Many of these have received funding and technical assistance from state and federal agencies and private foundations.

Area and volume of ozone damaged trees. This evaluates effects of air pollution on ecosystem health in forest and rangelands. Known impacts occur from several processes including ozone damage to pine and other plant species in areas with chronic air pollution , and the deposition of fertilizing or acidifying substances in clear mountain waters and on mountain desert and soils.

The amount of land in California available for open space and thus possibly contributing to the cultural, social, and spiritual needs of California. Acres of land under fee simple conservation or easement conservation.

The amount of land in California available for open space and open to the public and thus contributing to the cultural, social, and spiritual needs of California. Acres of land under fee simple conservation or easement conservation available for recreation, outdoor education, or tourism.

Characterize the general status of surface water quality on California rangelands. This indicator measures the percentage or area of surface water bodies with impaired water quality, when compared with beneficial uses defined under the Clean Water Act. Surface water includes the length of small, medium, and large streams and rivers, and the area of lakes and reservoirs. Impairment may be reflected in 303-d listings of watersheds where ranching uses are identified as source of pollution.

Characterize the general status of surface water quality on California rangelands. This indicator measures the percentage or area of surface water bodies with impaired water quality, when compared with beneficial uses defined under the Clean Water Act. Surface water includes the length of small, medium, and large streams and rivers, and the area of lakes and reservoirs. Impairment may be reflected in 303-d listings of watersheds where ranching uses are identified as source of pollution.

Shows level of activity towards the protection of working forest and rangelands. Areas under conservation easements (or Williamson Act or TPZ for 10-year timeframes) are not currently available to high impact new development, and can still function as working landscapes.