Progress 03/10/05 to 03/10/15
Outputs
OUTPUT: No work was performed this year. The problem area ceased to be pursued in 2015 and no new publications are associated with this problem area.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Sierra Nevada is a region that is subject to diverse contemporary land management challenges with significant scientific uncertainties surrounding key management issues. Improved knowledge of aquatic and land interactions at local and watershed scales is essential to evaluate and design land management alternatives for stream and watershed resources. Restoration of the Sierra Nevada's forest watersheds to historic or desired conditions requires active management such as reintroduction of frequent, cool fires and removal of accumulated fuel loads. The region is home to the Kings River Experimental Watersheds (KREW) and San Joaquin Experimental Range (SJER). PSW continues to conduct the primary outreach to non-scientists in the southern Sierra Nevada on the value and function of watersheds and watershed research through web sites, participation in regional water and climate change planning efforts, field trips, lectures, local museum exhibits on water and forestry. The San Joaquin Experimental Range (SJER) held a 75th Anniversary celebration, including morning field tours and a short program followed by a barbecue lunch. PSW scientists have been involved in NEON planning and implementation activities at SJER. Investments in facility upgrades were made, including remodeling to upgrade and expand the capacity of facilities to support research. Continued long-term bird surveys on the San Joaquin Experimental Range, as well as new studies of pond turtles and cavity use by European starlings. PARTICIPANTS: PSW: Carolyn Hunsaker, Kathryn Purcell, Renee Denton, Kevin Mazzacco, Doug Drynan Collaborators: Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Sierra Nevada Alliance, NEON, UC Merced, CA Department of Water Resources, Climate Change Technical Advisory Committee, UC Berkeley Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project, University of Nevada, University of Wyoming, National Science Foundation, Sierra National Forest TARGET AUDIENCES: National Forests, public and private lands, watershed collaboratives PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None.
Impacts
The Kings River Experimental Watersheds (KREW) project is the only watershed-scale experiment occurring in the Sierra Nevada. Stream discharge (10 streams) and precipitation data (four sites) are available on the World Wide Web through CLIM/HYDRODB (www.fsl.orst.edu.climhy). It was selected as part of the southern Sierra Nevada core site for the National Science Foundation NEON program because of its unique current and potential future contributions to understanding watershed dynamics and function under a diversity of environmental changes. It continues to be recognized by the scientific and conservation communities as the center-piece of watershed research in the Sierra Nevada. It presents the singular opportunity to yield timely results in the study of watershed dynamics in response to fuels reduction treatments in fire suppressed forests in light of climate change. It continues to contribute expertise to the design of monitoring systems and indicators of the physical environment for the National Forest System and National Parks. The KREW completed its seventh year of pre-treatment data collection: it consists of eight individual headwater watersheds and two integrating watersheds (each receives water from three of the individual watersheds). All planned measurements have been taken for one up to seven years depending on the experimental design. KREW was selected by the National Science Foundation for one of three new Critical Zone Observatory projects. For the third year, six universities are adding new instruments to the KREW Providence Site and planning field research and modeling exercises for these experimental watersheds. An EIS was developed just for the KREW project and is expected to be completed and treatments put in place in 2011. The San Joaquin Experimental Range (SJER) is the only experimental unit located in oak woodland ecosystems in the Pacific Southwest Region. The SJER has been as a core site for the NSF NEON project as a result of the historical data, site facilities, and key location in the Sierra Nevada. Activities have been directed at maintaining and upgrading SJER facilities, and facilitating the implementation of new and existing research.
Publications
- Bergen, K.M.; Goetz, S.J.; Dubayah, R.O.; Henebry, G.M.; Hunsaker, C.T.; Imhoff, M.L.; Nelson, R.F.; Parker, G.G.; Radeloff, V.C. 2009. Remote sensing of vegetation 3-D structure for biodiversity and habitat: Review and implications for lidar and radar spaceborne missions . Journal of Geophysical Research 114, G00E06: 13 p. doi:10.1029/2008JG000883
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Kings River Experimental Watersheds (KREW) completed its seventh year of pre-treatment data collection: it consists of eight individual headwater watersheds and two integrating watersheds (each receives water from three of the individual watersheds). All planned measurements have been taken for one up to seven years depending on the experimental design. KREW was selected by the National Science Foundation for one of three new Critical Zone Observatory projects. For the second year, six universities are adding new instruments to the KREW Providence Site and planning field research and modeling exercises for these experimental watersheds. Forest and alpine ecosystems, exhibit development for the Museum of the Central Sierra, Shaver Lake, CA. CA Department of Water Resources, Climate Change Technical Advisory Committee Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project, public and scientist meetings PARTICIPANTS: Forest Service Employees: Matt Stuemky, GIS and data manager Tom Stratman, chemist Jason Adair, Anthony Coleman, Rob Wilson, David Millar, and Kevin Mazzocco, hydrologic technicians Lisa Bonilla and Ashley Cortez, biological technicians Collaborators and Contacts: Sierra Nevada Conservancy Sierra Nevada Alliance Training: Lisa Bonilla, STEP position, Central California Consortium PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The research treatments (mechanical thinning and prescribed fire) have been delayed for four years due to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and associated opposition. A new NEPA process was started by PSW just for the KREW areas.
Impacts
The KREW was identified by the Sierra Nevada Alliance as the conservation project in the southern Sierra Nevada that should receive funding to help protect and restore California⿿s Sierra Nevada (June 2009 Sierra Nevada Conservation Project Profiles). Stream discharge (10 streams) and precipitation data (four sites) are available on the World Wide Web through CLIM/HYDRODB (www.fsl.orst.edu.climhy).
Publications
- Johnson, D.W.; Fenn, M.E.; Miller, W.W.; Hunsaker, C.T. 2009. Fire effects on carbon and nitrogen cycling in forests of the Sierra Nevada, pp 405-423 IN A. Bytnerowicz, M. Arbaugh, A. Riebau, and C. Anderson (eds), Wildland Fires and Air Pollution, Elsevier.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: The Kings River Experimental Watershed (KREW) completed its sixth year of pre-treatment data collection: it consists of eight individual headwater watersheds and two integrating watersheds (each receives water from three of the individual watersheds). All planned measurements have been taken for one up to six years depending on the experimental design. KREW was selected by the National Science Foundation for one of three new Critical Zone Observatory projects. Six universities are adding new instruments to the KREW Providence Site and planning field research and modeling exercises for these experimental watersheds. Fresno Office of Education, San Joaquin River Watershed Institute, K-12 teacher field trip Center for Advanced Research and Technology (charter high school), special project for two students Regional Occupational Program and Advisory Committee, Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa County School Districts Exhibit development for the Museum of the Central Sierras, Shaver Lake, CA. CA Department of Water Resources, Climate Change Technical Advisory Committee Stewardship Council for Upper San Joaquin River Watershed Program Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project public and scientist meetings Events: 6 field day events were held including 3 for National Science Foundation efforts; 1 for the public and 2 for Region 5 and PSW staff to discuss the Kings River Project. 8 science presentations were made including 3 at the American Geophysical Union; 1 to the CalFed Watershed Program, 1 at conference of California Licensed Foresters Association, 1 to Region 5 managers, 1 at Ecological Society of American conference, 1 at PSW Climate Workshop. 2 science talks and a display are planned for the Southern Sierra Science Symposium. Public display for Earth Day celebration, Educate: Use Resources with Care. Advisory panel, National Science Foundation, Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems Program. Hosting national meeting for project scientists, science advisory group, and staff of the National Science Foundation's Critical Zone Observatory program. Products: Stream discharge (10 streams) and precipitation data (four sites) are available on the World Wide Web through CLIM/HYDRODB (www.fsl.orst.edu.climhy). PARTICIPANTS: Principal Investigator: Carolyn T. Hunsaker, research ecologist Forest Service Employees: Thomas Whitaker, hydrologist Jessica Auman, chemist Brent Lignell, physical scientist Jason Adair, Kurt Weidich, and Kevin Mazzocco, hydrologic technicians Amanda Karby and Ashley Cortez, biological technicians Colleen Kent, Samasoni Matagi, Anna Mostovetsky, David Millar: hydro techicians Partner Organizations: National Science Foundation U.S. Geological Survey University of California--Merced, Berkeley, Davis, Santa Barbara, Irvine University of Nevada, Reno California Regional Water Quality Control Board California Department of Water Resources CalFed Watershed Program Southern California Edison Collaborators and Contacts: Sierra National Forest Pacific Southwest Region, Forest Service Sierra Resource Conservation District Upper San Joaquin River Watershed Program Central Sierra Historical Society, Museum of the Central Sierra Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks University of California, Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project Training: Fresno Office of Education, San Joaquin River Watershed Institute, K-12 teacher field trip Center for Advanced Research and Technology (charter high school), special project for two students Student Conservation Association TARGET AUDIENCES: Same as last year, PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: National Science Foundation funded one of three new Critical Zone Observatory for five years to start adding instruments and new research studies at the Kings River Experimental Watershed.
Impacts
Despite their importance as a food source for stream animals and their potential importance as bioindicators of stream condition, benthic algae have not been well studied in California, particularly for small headwater streams in the Sierra Nevada. The results from two years of sampling streams in the Kings River Experimental Watershed (KREW) show that elevation, water temperature, pH, specific conductance, and forest canopy were habitat variables correlated with the differences in diatom assemblages among sites. Of the 12 streams sampled, the three streams in the Bull Creek watershed represent a distinctive habitat that appears to favor a distinctive assemblage of diatoms. Diatom species richness in the KREW streams (15-47 species) was generally comparable to other studies of western mountain habitats. Species were indicative of streams with abundant dissolved oxygen, little organic pollution, and dilute water chemistry. The KREW watersheds have been relatively undisturbed by human activities for many years and may serve as useful benchmarks of least-impacted ecological conditions. Results provide a valuable baseline for future studies of benthic algae in Sierra Nevada headwater streams and will be particularly important in understanding the effects of different forest restoration strategies, and future air pollution and climate change conditions. The lower elevation KREW watersheds illustrate hydrologic and chemical processes for a rain and snow precipitation site. These data are being used to indicate how these processes may change for the snow-dominated watersheds under future climate change predictions.
Publications
- Bales, R.; Boyer, B.; Conklin, M.; Goulden, M.; Hopmans, J.; Hunsaker, C.; Johnson, D.; Kirchner, J.; Tague, C. 2007. Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory: integrating water cycle and biogeochemical processes across the rain-snow transition. Eos Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 88(52), Fall Meeting Supplement.
- Bales, R.; Hunsaker, C.; Kirchner, J.; Boyer, B.; Kirchner, P. 2007. Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory (CZO): hydrochemical characteristics, science and measurement strategy. Eos Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 88(52).
- Brown, L.R.; May, J.T.; Hunsaker, C.T. 2008. Species composition and habitat associations of benthic algal assemblages in headwater streams of the Sierra Nevada, California. Western North American Naturalist 68(2):194-209.
- Michener, W.K.; Breshears, D.D.; Hunsaker, C.T.; Wickland, D.E. 2008. Professional certification: increasing ecologists effectiveness. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 5(8):399.
- Whitaker, T.W.; Hunsaker, C.T. 2007. The influence of climate change on headwater stream discharge in the southern Sierra Nevada. Eos Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 88(52), Fall Meeting Supplement.
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
The Kings River Experimental Watershed (KREW) completed its fifth year of pre-treatment data collection; it consists of eight individual headwater watersheds and two integrating watersheds (each receives water from three of the individual watersheds). KREW discharge and precipitation data are now available on the web through CLIM/HYDRODB (www.fsl.orst.edu.climhy). Due to delays in the NEPA process and litigation, thinning treatments were postponed for a second year. Continuous measurements were added this year for stream turbidity at all ten watersheds and electrical conductivity at the four watersheds of the Providence Site. An automated wet-deposition monitoring station makes KREW a new location (CA28) on the National Atmospheric Deposition Program. Air pollution monitoring continued at 23 sites on the Sierra National Forest. KREW is part of a collaborative research project (Region 5; PSW; and Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks) on air quality
monitoring and modeling of pollution emissions from wildland fires. One of the KREW watersheds continues as a western site for the evaluation of atmospheric critical loads to forest ecosystems; staff have participated in both international and inter-agency discussions of critical loads. A workshop to pilot several types of science products for the public was held in Fresno, and comments from participants are being used to improve initial KREW products. Several field trips were given for colleges and universities and the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection's Monitoring Study Group. Research was presented at the Ecological Society of America's conference session on "forest restoration at the scale of the landscape." PSW staff and California academics are working to add additional infrastructure and research activities onto the foundational research provided by KREW. National Science Foundation (NSF) funding is building a water-balance instrument cluster this year at the
Providence Site. KREW is part of the California site for NSF's new National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and also a new Critical Zone Observatory, another NSF program aimed at understanding the integration of earth surface processes as mdeiated by the presence and flux of fresh water.
Impacts
The Kings River Experimental Watershed (KREW) provides California with its first ecologically designed long-term watershed experiment to address both a better understanding of ecological processes and environmental effects of forest management. These research results will answer questions of local communities, state and federal agencies, and non-governmental agencies regarding water quantity and quality, soil erosion, stream and soil condition, and air quality impacts. This site provides data for future modeling exercises such as climate change, changes in air pollution, and increased use of prescribed fire. KREW's extensive instrument network is serving as a foundation for university collaboration in the Sierra Nevada and future research expansion through joint proposals.
Publications
- Hunsaker, C.; Bytnerowicz, A.; Auman, J.; Cisneros, R. 2007. Air pollution and watershed research in the central Sierra Nevada of California: nitrogen and ozone. TheScientificWorld Journal 7(S1): 206-221.
- Diaz M. F. I.; Bigelow S.; Armesto J. J. 2007. Alteration of the hydrologic cycle due to rain forest clearing and its consequences for rainforest succession. Forest Ecology and Management 244: 32-40.
- Dolanc, C. R.; Hunsaker, C. T. 2007. Riparian and upland vegetation on the Kings River Experimental Watershed, Sierra Nevada, California. In: R.F. Powers, tech. ed. Restoring fire-adapted ecosystems: Proceedings of the 2005 national silviculture workshop, Tahoe City, CA; 6-10 June 2005, Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-203, Albany, CA. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 299.
- Eagan, S. M.; Hunsaker, C. T.; Dolanc, C. R.; Lynch, M. E.; Johnson, C. R. 2007. Discharge and sediment loads at the Kings River Experimental Forest in the Southern Sierra Nevada of California. In: Furniss, M.; Clifton, C.; Ronnenberg, K.; eds. Advancing the fundamental sciences: Proceedings of the Forest Service national earth sciences conference, San Diego, CA, 18-22 October 2004, Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-689, Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 217-224.
- Hunsaker, C. T. 2007. A landscape experiment for forest restoration in the southern Sierra Nevada: Kings River project. ecological society of america 92nd annual meeting, San Jose, CA; 4-10 August 2007: page number unknown.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Instrumentation of the Kings River Experimental Watershed (KREW) was completed and consists of eight individual headwater watersheds and two integrating watersheds (each receives water from three of the individual watersheds). The second integrating station was completed at the Bull Site this year. KREW design and instrumentation was a five year process. The two sites have completed either three or four years of baseline (pretreatment) data; due to delays in the NEPA process, thinning treatments were postponed for a year. Stream turbidity measurements were added this year at all ten watersheds. An automated wet-deposition monitoring station was added, and KREW is a new location on the National Atmospheric Deposition Program. Seven new air pollution sites were added to an existing network of 16 air quality monitoring sites for full coverage of the Sierra National Forest. KREW is part of a new collaborative research project (Region 5; PSW; and Yosemite, Sequoia, and
Kings Canyon National Parks) on air quality monitoring and modeling of pollution emissions from wildland fires. One of the KREW watersheds continues as a western site for the evaluation of atmospheric critical loads to forest ecosystems; staff have participated in both international and inter-agency discussions of critical loads. PSW staff are working with California academics on proposals to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to build additional infrastructure and research activities on the foundational research provided by KREW. A water-balance instrument cluster was funded, and a site was selected.
Impacts
The Kings River Experimental Watershed (KREW) provides California with its first ecologically designed long-term watershed experiment to address both a better understanding of ecological processes and environmental effects of forest management. These research results will answer questions of local communities, state and federal agencies, and non-governmental agencies regarding water quantity and quality, soil erosion, stream and soil condition, and air quality impacts. This site provides data for future modeling exercises such as climate change, changes in air pollution, and increased use of prescribed fire. KREW's extensive instrument network is serving as a foundation for university collaboration in the Sierra Nevada and future research expansion through joint proposals.
Publications
- Hyde, P.; Dubayah, R.; Peterson, B.; Blair, J.B.; Hofton, M.; Hunsaker, C.; Knox, R.; Walker, W. 2005. Mapping forest structure for wildlife habitat analysis using waveform lidar: validation of montane ecosystems. Remote Sensing of Environment 96: 427-437.
- Hyde, P.; Dubayah, R.; Walker, W.; Blair, J.B.; Hofton, M.; Hunsaker, C. 2006. Mapping forest structure for wildlife habitat analysis using multi-sensor (LiDAR, SAR/InSAR, ETM+, Quickbird) synergy. Remote Sensing of Environment 102: 63-73.
- Eagan, S.; Hunsaker, C.; Korte, A.; Martin, S.; McDonald, L. 2006. Preliminary sediment budgets for four watersheds at the Kings River Experimental Watershed in the southern Sierra Nevada. In: Proceedings of the third federal interagency hydrologic modeling conference and the eighth federal interagency sedimentation conference; 2006 April 2-6; Reno, NV. Joint Federal Interagency Conference; 199.
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
The Kings River Experimental Watershed (KREW) was initiated in 2000 to address the effects of prescribed fire and mechanical thinning on small stream ecosystems in the Sierra Nevada. Eight watersheds were instrumented as of 2004; data collection started in 2002 and is planned to continue through 2015. This experiment provides much needed basic and applied ecological data on the condition of and processes operating in Sierra Nevada streams and watersheds. Physical measurements include upland erosion, stream flow, channel and soil characteristics, and meteorology. Chemistry measurements are made on soils, stream water, shallow soil water, precipitation, and snow melt. Biological measurements include riparian and upland vegetation and stream invertebrates and algae. In addition to providing answers for forest management questions, this research can address basic science topics such as climate change, disturbance processes like fire, and nutrient cycling. This intensively
instrumented ecosystem study is unique for the Sierra Nevada. In 2005 the state of California became a funding partner in this research illustrating the importance of the findings for state water issues. These funds added a new integrating site to address cumulative watershed effects and purchased instruments for measuring turbidity. In 2004 KREW became the Forest Service's western demonstration site for evaluating air pollution effects on forest ecosystems (i.e., critical loads); instrumentation continued on this effort in 2005. This research site was included in a proposal to the National Science Foundation for a Sierra Nevada hydrologic observatory and is also being considered as part of California's National Ecological Observatory Network. It is a demonstration site for fuels reduction. Collaboration is a critical part of a complex ecosystem study and several partners are involved. The Sierra National Forest and Southern California Edison are the land managers instrumental in
carrying out the landscape treatments that will start in 2006. The U.S. Geological Survey, University of Nevada Reno, University of California at Santa Barbara, California State University Fresno, and Colorado State University have been long-term participants. In 2005 the University of California at Berkeley began measuring stream temperature and dissolved organics; the University of California at Merced started helping with quantifying sediment budgets.
Impacts
The Kings River Experimental Watershed is the only intensively instrumented forest watershed experiment in the Sierra Nevada so it provides critical information for state, private, and federal lands. In 2005 the state of California became a funding partner in this research illustrating the importance of the findings for state water issues such as quantity, erosion and sedimentation, and fire effects. The Forest Service's research investment is attracting academic attention for use by both the California National Ecological Observatory Network and a Sierra Nevada hydrologic observatory.
Publications
- Erickson, H.E.; Johnson, D.; Soto, P.; Hunsaker, C. 2004. Soil nutrient pools and fluxes within a mixed conifer forest: implications for ecological restoration. In: Murphy, D.D.; Stine, P.A., eds. Proceedings of the Sierra Nevada science symposium, science for management and conservation; 2002 Oct. 8-10; Kings Beach, CA. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-193. Albany CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 248.
- Erickson, H. E.; Soto, P.; Johnson, D.W.; Roath, B.; Hunsaker, C. 2005. Effects of vegetation patches on soil nutrient pools and fluxes within a mixed-conifer forest. Forest Science 51(3): 211-220.
- Hunsaker, C.; Eagan, S. 2004. The Kings River Project: Small stream ecosystem variability and response to fire. In: Murphy, D.D.; Stine, P.A., eds. Proceedings of the Sierra Nevada science symposium, science for management and conservation; 2002 Oct. 8-10; Kings Beach, CA. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-193. Albany CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 259.
- Hunsaker, C.; Fleenor, N. 2004. Overview of the Kings River project. In: Murphy, D.D.; Stine, P.A., eds. Proceedings of the Sierra Nevada science symposium, science for management and conservation; 2002 Oct. 8-10; Kings Beach, CA. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-193. Albany CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 255.
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