United States Forest Department of Service Agriculture FINAL SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST ASSESSMENT CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Purpose of the Assessment .................................................................................................................................. 4 Structure of the Assessment ................................................................................................................................ 4 The Living Assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Maps of the Assessment Area ............................................................................................................................. 5 Assessment Area, History and Distinctive Features ........................................................................................ 8 RESOURCES MANAGED AND EXISTING PLAN OBJECTIVES .................................................................... 10 Resource Management on the Sierra NF ................................................................................................. 10 Budgets ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 Risk Factors ................................................................................................................................................. 13 BEST AVAILABLE SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION .............................................................................................. 14 FINDINGS ................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Chapter 1: Ecological Integrity .......................................................................................................................... 15 Important Information Evaluated in this Phase ..................................................................................... 15 Nature, Extent, and Role of Existing Conditions and Trends .............................................................. 16 Contributions the Plan Area Makes to Ecological, Social or Economic Sustainability ..................... 36 Information Gaps ....................................................................................................................................... 38 Chapter 2: Assessing Air, Water, and Soil Conditions ................................................................................. 39 Important Information Evaluated in this Phase ..................................................................................... 39 Nature, Extent and Role of Existing Conditions and Future Trends .................................................. 47 Contributions the Plan Area Makes to Ecological, Social or Economic Sustainability ..................... 48 Information Gaps ....................................................................................................................................... 50 Chapter 3: Assessing System Drivers and Stressors ...................................................................................... 51 Important Information Evaluated in this Phase ..................................................................................... 51 Nature, Extent and Role of Existing Conditions and Future Trends .................................................. 51 Contribution the plan area makes to ecological, social or economic sustainability .......................... 64 Information gaps ........................................................................................................................................ 66 Chapter 4: Carbon ............................................................................................................................................... 66 Important Information Evaluated in this Phase ..................................................................................... 66 Nature, Extent and Role of Existing Conditions and Future Trends .................................................. 67 Contributions the Plan Area Makes to Ecological, Social or Economic Sustainability ..................... 69 Information Gaps ....................................................................................................................................... 70 Chapter 5: At-Risk Species ................................................................................................................................. 70 Important Information Evaluated in This Phase .................................................................................... 70 Nature, Extent and Role of Existing Conditions and Future Trends .................................................. 71 Contributions the Plan Area Makes to Ecological, Social or Economic Sustainability ..................... 91 Information Gaps ....................................................................................................................................... 92 Chapter 6: Assessing Social, Cultural and Economic Conditions ................................................................ 93 1 Important Information Evaluated in this Phase ..................................................................................... 93 Nature, Extent and Role of Existing Conditions and Future Trends .................................................. 95 Contributions the Plan Area Makes to Ecological, Social or Economic Sustainability ................... 105 Information Gaps ..................................................................................................................................... 108 Chapter 7: Benefits to People ........................................................................................................................... 109 Important Information Evaluated in this Phase ................................................................................... 110 Nature, Extent and Role of Existing Conditions and Future Trends ................................................ 110 Contributions the Plan Area makes to Ecological, Social or Economic Sustainability ................... 117 Information Gaps ..................................................................................................................................... 120 Chapter 8: Multiple Uses – Water ................................................................................................................... 121 Chapter 8: Multiple Uses - Fish, Plants and Wildlife ................................................................................... 121 Chapter 8: Multiple Uses - Range ................................................................................................................... 126 Important Information Evaluated in this Phase ................................................................................... 126 Nature, Extent and Role of Existing Conditions and Future Trends ................................................ 126 Contributions the Plan Area Makes to Ecological, Social or Economic Sustainability ................... 135 Information gaps ...................................................................................................................................... 136 Chapter 8: Multiple Uses - Timber ................................................................................................................. 137 Important information evaluated in this phase ................................................................................... 137 Nature, extent and role of existing conditions and future trends ...................................................... 137 Contributions the Plan Area Makes to Ecological, Social or Economic Sustainability ................... 144 Information Gaps ..................................................................................................................................... 145 Chapter 9: Recreation Settings, Opportunities and Access, and Scenic Character .................................. 146 Important information evaluated in this phase. .................................................................................. 146 Nature, Extent and Role of Existing Conditions and Future Trends ................................................ 146 Contribution the Plan Area Makes to Ecological, Social, or Economic Sustainability .................... 165 Information Gaps ..................................................................................................................................... 166 Chapter 10: Energy and Minerals ................................................................................................................... 166 Important information evaluated in this phase ................................................................................... 166 Nature, extent and role of existing conditions and future trends ...................................................... 166 Contributions the Plan Area Makes to Ecological, Social or Economic Sustainability ................... 171 Information Gaps ..................................................................................................................................... 172 Chapter 11: Infrastructure ...............................................................................................................................