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The Northeastern California Plateaus Bioregion

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The Northeastern California Plateaus Bioregion Section 1. Introduction Chapter 1.1. The Northeastern and serve as the source of appreciable surface water. The California Plateaus Bioregion forests of the Cascade Range are home to several animal Science Synthesis: Background, species of concern, such as the northern spotted owl (Strix Rationale, and Scope occidentalis caurina) and Pacific marten Martes( caurina) (Gonzales and Hoshi 2015a). 1 R. Kasten Dumroese The Modoc Plateau, itself comprised of multiple plateaus such as Devil’s Garden, is a broad transition zone from Introduction the basalt parent material of the Cascade Range to the Situated in Northeastern California, the Lassen National sedimentary/alluvial parent materials of the Great Basin Forest spans 1.2 million acres (485,625 ha) and the Modoc (fig. 1.1.1; Fuller et al. 2015). The Modoc Plateau began National Forest another 1.65 million acres (667,730 forming about a million years ago, when a long series of ha), mainly in Lassen and Modoc Counties, but also gentle eruptions of smooth lava began flowing across the across portions of Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, and landscape (see Peacock 1931). Because of its transitional Tehama counties. A unique blend of geology, topography, geologic state and location in the Cascade Range rain elevations from 2,000 to 14,000 feet (610 to 4,270 m), shadow, much of the Modoc Plateau is exemplified and climate have fostered immense biodiversity within by ecosystems typical of the Great Basin (sagebrush this area. On the western edge of these national forests, rangeland, shrub steppe, and juniper woodlands). These the Cascade Range, characterized by steep changes in ecosystems provide important habitat for wildlife species elevation and a Mediterranean climate (cool, wet winters that require sagebrush (Artemisia species), such as greater and warm, dry summers), draws out the precipitation sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), pygmy rabbit from Pacific storms, leaving a rain shadow to the east. The result is a rich vegetation gradient of mixed-conifer forest, dry pine forests, oak savannahs, juniper woodlands, and sagebrush steppe. In addition, fire, promoted by the Mediterranean climate, further stimulates a mosaic of vegetation across the landscape that supports a wide variety of fauna. For more detailed descriptions of this area, see Gonzales and Hoshi (2015a, b), Riegel et al. (2006), and Skinner and Taylor (2006). The Cascade Range, characterized by basalt parent material, runs from southern British Columbia to just south of Lassen Peak in Northern California, where it transitions to the granite parent material of the Sierra Nevada (fig. 1.1.1). In Northern California, the Cascade Range receives abundant rain and snow, and supports rich, mixed-conifer forests that supply valuable forest products ________________________ 1R. Kasten Dumroese is a research plant physiologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station and director, Western Center for Native Plant Conservation and Restoration Science, 1221 South Main Street, Moscow, ID 83843. Figure 1.1.1—The Lassen and Modoc National Forests are in Citation: Dumroese, R.K. 2020. The Northeastern California plateaus Northeastern California, where the Cascade Range, the Sierra bioregion science synthesis: background, rationale, and scope. In: Dumroese, Nevada, and the Modoc Plateau intersect. Here the watershed R.K.; Moser, W.K., eds. Northeastern California plateaus bioregion science synthesis. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-409. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of the Pit River forms the headwaters of the Sacramento River, of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 1-14. one of the most important waterways in the State. USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-409. 2020. 1 Figure 1.1.2—The wet meadows, vernal pools, and other wetlands of Northeastern California provide critical habitat for resident and migratory birds, such as these sandhill cranes visiting Pine Creek Valley on the Lassen National Forest (photo by Emmett Richards, Forest Service). (Brachylagus idahoensis), pronghorn (Antilocapra U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Contained americana), and sagebrush sparrow (Artemisiospiza within the footprint of the Lassen and Modoc National nevadensis). Other wildlife, such as mule deer (Odocoileus Forests are 6 wilderness areas covering about 257,000 hemionus) and elk (Cervus canadensis), also make use of acres (104,000 ha). The Caribou, South Warner, and this habitat. Vernal pools (temporary, seasonal wetlands) Thousand Lakes wildernesses are managed by the Forest support rare plants and animals and the biodiversity of Service, Ishi Wilderness is managed jointly by the Forest California’s vernal pools is noteworthy (e.g., King et al. Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau 1996; Simovich 1998). Vernal pools help connect wetland of Land Management and Lassen Volcanic Wilderness is habitat along the Pacific Flyway and are thus important for managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National migrating birds such as sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis), Park Service. Also within the footprint are the Lava Beds ducks, and geese (fig. 1.1.2). National Monument (46,000 acres [18,615 ha]) and Lassen National Park (106,000 acres [42,900 ha]), both managed The Modoc Plateau gives rise to the 3-million-acre by the National Park Service. (1.2-million-ha) Pit River watershed that is critical to wildlife and human sustainability (fig. 1.1.1). The upper Planning for the Future reaches of the watershed flow from the Warner Mountains, forming the headwaters of the Sacramento River that A land management plan or “forest plan” guides how the supplies about 20 percent of the water to the Sacramento Forest Service manages the associated public lands and Basin, which in turns irrigates about 2.1 million acres natural resources for a period of 15 to 20 years. Following (850,000 ha) of agricultural crops (California Department mandates and provisions of the 1982 Planning Rule, the of Water Resources 1998; Gonzales and Hoshi 2015a). It forest plan for the Modoc National Forest (hereafter, the also supports many endemic and threatened aquatic species Modoc) was completed in 1991, while the forest plan for (Gonzales and Hoshi 2015a; Moyle et al. 2011). the Lassen National Forest (hereafter, the Lassen) was completed a year later. Thus, it is time for both forests The Federal Government manages about 60 percent of to revise their existing forest plans to meet the legal the Modoc Plateau, with about one-third managed by the requirements of the National Forest Management Act 2 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-409. 2020. of 1976 and incorporate changes in law, regulation, and What Is a Science Synthesis? policy. The plan revisions will be guided by the 2012 Scientists are continually learning and gaining new Planning Rule (https://www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule), understanding of the natural processes that affect which requires public and tribal input throughout a ecosystems, how humans influence ecosystems, and the multi-step process that embraces the fact that ecological, ways that society values what ecosystems provide. Since social, and economic objectives are interrelated. Because the last forest plans for the Lassen and Modoc were conditions have changed since the original forest plans written, much new information has been discovered. were written and because new science is available, the first Combining these discoveries into a single document, step is to prepare a science synthesis, guided by input from commonly referred to as a “synthesis,” requires reviewing the public, tribes, and forest staffs (fig. 1.1.3). Although the the best available scientific information. The goal of the Lassen and Modoc will each prepare an independent forest science synthesis is to combine the findings from the full plan, these neighboring forests have worked together on body of relevant science within a topic area (defined and this science synthesis because they share management of refined by input from the public, tribes, and forest staffs) unique geology and ecosystems. into a current, concise, comprehensive, and coherent Figure 1.1.3—Forest plans are revised through a multi-step process that encourages public participation. The first step is Pre-Assessment, which includes development of a science synthesis. USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-409. 2020. 3 overview that can be more readily interpreted and used by forest staffs and stakeholders during the forest plan Textbox 1.1.1—“The 2012 Planning Rule requires process. In turn, the science synthesis will be followed by the use of the best available scientific information additional opportunities for public input as the forest plans to inform planning and plan decisions. Science is a develop (fig. 1.1.3). While science syntheses focus mainly dynamic process that builds knowledge and reduces on broad, widely accepted and applicable concepts, this uncertainty by testing predictions; scientific information can be considered the expanding body of knowledge synthesis also sought to incorporate research specifically developed through the scientific process. Scientific conducted on or near the Lassen and Modoc. information comes in many forms, including social, economic, and ecological information. Scientific Best Available Scientific Information information comes from many sources—for example, In A Citizens’ Guide to National Forest Planning, the from peer-reviewed articles, scientific assessments, expert opinion, and data in the form of monitoring
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