USDA FOREST SERVICE

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION

Southern Sierra Tree Mortality

Weekly Status Report
Report #5 [05/23/2016]
Internal Use

For

Highlights

Aerial surveys were completed to map the current tree mortality in the
Sierras. Flights covered as far north as the Lassen National Forest and
throughout the Southern Sierras.
May 19 Legislative tour on the Sierra National Forest was well attended.
Attending were staff from the offices of Senators Feinstein and Boxer and
Congressmen McClintock, Valadao, Costa and Aguilar. County and CAL FIRE
officials attended along with Regional Forester Randy Moore and Deputy
Regional Forester Barnie Gyant, Sierra National Forest Supervisor Dean
Gould, PSW Research Station and others. The group attended a field meeting
near Shaver Lake to view the tree mortality occurring within the Sierra
National Forest and surrounding areas. The group also visited tree removal
within campgrounds, and the Cressman community fuel break and tree
mortality clean-up project efforts. This project will eventually have
prescribed fire treatments as part of the effort and will ultimately tie into
Forest Service fuel break work near-by.
Forests are preparing for Memorial Day weekend and getting public
information out related to campground and campsite availability. Some
campsites will be closed due to hazard trees.

Cumulative Accomplishments
National
Forest

Cumulati
ve Trees
Felled*

Cumulative
Volume
(MBF)
Felled**

Cumulati
ve Acres
Treated

Acres
in
Progre
ss

NEPA-ready in FY
16 Pending
Additional
Funding***

Sequoia

20,863

Sierra
Stanisla
us

39,276

2,702
17,215

2,230

1,349

93,421

8,730

5,262

11,904

6,954

4,484

2,279

8,957

13,083

Total

67,093

24,402

13,239

15,567

118,407

* Approximate values
** MBF = 1,000 board feet; values are approximate due to multiple size classes

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USDA FOREST SERVICE

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION
*** Acres approximate as project area boundaries are based on GIS and may change

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USDA FOREST SERVICE

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION

Accomplishments For Week Ending 20 May

National
Forest
Sequoia
Sierra
Stanislaus

Trees
Felled*

Volume
(MBF)
Felled**

1,115

263

763

537

* Approximate values
** MBF = 1,000 board feet; values are approximate due to multiple size classes

Sequoia National Forest

Accomplishments: Continued fire crew refresher training limited work on the ground.
Safety: No incidents to report.

Sierra National Forest

Accomplishments: Hosted a successful Legislative Tour. Participation included Federal
legislative staffs, industry, conservation groups, State and Local Governmental
Representatives, Regional Forester and staff.
Emphasis Area: Work on fuel breaks on the north end of the forest, and campgrounds on the
south end of the Forest.
Communication efforts: Press release was published addressing campground status and
public awareness messages related to dead and dying trees.

Stanislaus National Forest

Accomplishments: Progress is slowing; looking for archaeologists to fill resource orders.
Emphasis Area: Preparing for Memorial Day weekend; some campsites will be closed because
of hazard trees in some campgrounds. Working with the County and CAL FIRE to identify
evacuation routes in preparation for large fires.
Safety: Convened a Facilitated Learning Analysis around firefighter tree falling accident.
Additional notes: Safety stand down to review safety protocols and reflect on the hazards
related to tree falling.

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USDA FOREST SERVICE

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION

Resources Committed
Sequoi
a

Sierr
a

Stanisla
us

Total

Hand Crews

Chippers

Dozers

Excavators
Air Curtain
Burners

6
1

1
1

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