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SUMMARY

STAKEHOLDERSCIENCEANDSTAKEHOLDERCOMMUNITYCOMMITTEEFIELDVISITLAKETAHOEWESTRESTORATIONPARTNERSHIPWednesday,June7,8:00amto4:00pmWardCreek,BlackwoodCanyon,andMeeksBay

AllmeetingmaterialsarepubliclyavailableontheLakeTahoeWestwebsitehttp://nationalforests.org/laketahoewest.Forquestionspleasecontacttheprogram

manager/facilitatorDorianFougèresatdfougeres@nationalforests.orgor(530)902-8281.MeetingSynopsisTheLakeTahoeWestRestorationPartnership(LakeTahoeWest)helditsfirstStakeholderScienceCommitteeandStakeholderCommunityCommitteeFieldVisitonJune7,2017.ThetripincludedexploringWardCreek,BlackwoodCanyon,andMeeksBay,onthewestshoreoftheLakeTahoeBasin.Thegoalsofthefieldvisitweretoexamineplacesthatembodieddifficultrestorationchallengesonthewestshore,andhelpeachotherbegintoseeandreadthelandscapeinnewanddifferentways.Ineachlocation,stakeholderslearnedaboutthehistoryofvegetationtreatmentsandprescribedfire;sharedwhattheywereseeingonthelandscape;brokeintosmallgroupstotraveldeeperintodiscussion;andcamebacktosharehighlightsofsmallgroupconversations.Topicscoveredsteepslopes,streamchannels,ecologicalfire,ripariancorridors,sensitivewildlife,aspenstands,thestructureandcompositionofvegetation,meadows,andculturalresources,includinghowtheseinteractedwithpublichealth&safetyandrecreationvaluesonthelandscape.ThenextStakeholderCommunityCommitteeandStakeholderScienceCommitteemeetingswillbeonThursday,July6,from9amto12pm,and1pmto5pm,respectively.ThelocationwillbetheU.S.ForestServiceLakeTahoeBasinManagementUnit,inSouthLakeTahoe.Contents

MeetingSynopsis...........................................................................................................................1ActionItems...................................................................................................................................21. WelcomeandOpeningRemarks............................................................................................22. WardCreek.............................................................................................................................23. BlackwoodCanyon..................................................................................................................54. MeeksBay...............................................................................................................................95. ClosingRemarks....................................................................................................................126. Attendance...........................................................................................................................12

Thismeetingsummaryparaphrasesindividualcommentsandsuggestions.Statementsdonot

indicateconsensusofthegroupunlesstheyareprecededbytheword“AGREEMENT”.Statementsarenotattributedunlessspokenbyoneoftheorganizingorparticipatingagencies,

orbyapresenter.

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ActionItems1. Documentation&PermittingCoordinationTeamtoreviewTRPAslopetreatment

restrictions.2. DoriantosharefishermarkingguidelinesincludingclumpidentificationfromtheDinkey

LandscapeRestorationProject.3. Doriantodrafthigh-level,generalgoalsforSSCreview,andsubsequentrefinementduring

Phase2.

1. WelcomeandOpeningRemarks• Mr.MikeVollmer,LeadfortheLTWInteragencyDesignTeam(IADT)andTahoeRegional

PlanningAgency(TRPA),andMr.BrianGarrett,IADTandLakeTahoeBasinManagementUnit(LTBMU),thankedeveryoneforattending,andreviewedthedesignoftheday,theagendaforthestops,andthemap.Theynotedthatthegoalofthefieldvisitwastocollectivelyexamineseveralsitesthatembodydifficultrestorationchallengesonthewestshore;andhelpeachotherbegintoseeandreadthelandscapeinnewanddifferentways.Theyalsobriefedthegrouponsafetyprotocols.

o Thefieldvisitmapisonthenextpage.• Mr.DorianFougères,LakeTahoeWestRestorationPartnership(LTW)Facilitatorand

NationalForestFoundation,ledintroductionsandreviewedthegroundrules.• Mr.MasonBindl,TRPA,remindedthegroupthattheLTWonlinegeospatialmappingtoolis

liveandcanbeaccessedbyanyoneathttp://gis.trpa.org/laketahoewest/Mr.Bindlalsobriefedthegroupontheelectronictablet&laptopsthathehadloadedwithEcObjectlayers,toallowparticipantstolocatethemselvesatthefield,verifytheaccuracyofdata,andimprovetheirabilitytointerpretthedata.

Therewerenointerestedpartycomments.

2. WardCreekMr.GarrettandMr.Vollmerorientedthegrouptothelocation,includingadescriptionoffieldconditionsabriefreviewofhistoricalvegetationandprescribedfiretreatments.

• ThelandisprimarilyForestService.Theareahasthekindofhomogeneousforeststructurethatischaracteristicofthewestshore.Steepslopesandephemeralstreamsmakeaccessdifficult.Conifersareencroachingtheaspenstand.Prescribedfirewasusedin2004fuelsreductiontreatments.ThelanduphillisCaliforniaTahoeConservancyland,andhashadsomesmalltreehand-thinningandpile-burning(butnobroadcastburning),aswellasmechanicalthinningupto24”diameteratbreastheight(dbh)followedbymastication.TheareaisinthedefensezoneoftheWildlandUrbanInterface.

Discussionfollowed.

• Historicaltreatmentswerepartoffuelstreatmentsthatdidnotpayattentiontheheterogeneityofvegetation.

Kaspian Day Use AreaMeeting location - 9 AMLunch - 12:30 1:15 PM

Ward Creek - Stop 19:20 - 10:30 AM

Blackwood Canyon - Stop 211 - 12:30 PM

Meeks Meadow - Stop 32 - 3:30 PM

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o Thereisyounger,goodgroundvegetationwherethereareopenings.Mortalityisshowingupinsomeplaces.

§ Youcanseeevidenceofarmillariadiseaseandstalactiformblisterrust,whicharepartofacommonpackageofdiseasesonthewestshore.

o Thenorthsideismoredensethanthesouthasonewouldexpect,thereisalargeamountofpine,theaspenlookgoodandregenerating.

o Thetreeslooktobeallofasimilarage.o Becauseofpastdisturbances,onecan’tassumethatthesizeofatreeequalsits

age.Wewouldbemoreinterestedinvariabilityinsizeclass.Thisisnotmappedoutwell.

• Forspatialvariability,EcObjectshowsthatacrossthecreekisanorth-facingslopethatisdominatedbysmallclumpsthatareallconnected.Wewillneedtoeithercombinethisindicatorwithothersorseethepolygonstofurtherinterpretthis.

o Regardingclimaticwaterdeficit,thescaleiscoarse(270meterpixels),butgenerallylowdeficit.

o Regardingvegetationtype,bothsidesshowupaswhitefir,mixedconifer,andredfir,asonewouldexpect.

o EcObjectappearspowerfulinthatitletsyouseesomuchfromonevantage.Typicallyyouwillalsowanttoseesitesfromseveraldifferentviewpoints.

• Thecontourofthecanyonmakesithardtouseprescribedfirehere,becauseeachnightsmokegoesdownthedrainage,whichispreciselywherehomeare.Peoplearereluctanttodealwithsmokeeachnight.

o Thereisalsoalargeneighborhoodseveralmilesupthecanyon,andWardCreekBoulevardisanevacuationrouteforthem.Thisraisesthepriorityoffuelstreatments.

o Thesteepslopesmightmeanthatprescribedfireistheonlyoption.o Hazardreferstothefuelloadingonaplot,whileriskisbasedonthehazardplus

thevalueofstructuresandaccess.o IfIcoulddoanythingIwanted,Iwouldinvestinhigh-hangingfruit.Wewould

needtobuildfirecontainersthatincreasethecomfortoffiremanagers–asinourEssentialManagementQuestions(#9).Typicallywebuildwhatiseasyandcheap.Weneedtochangeourapproach.

• Theareahasgoodwarblerandvireohabitat,theyareclosed-canopyassociates,andaspen.

o Inthinkingaboutresilienceandbiologicalintegrityandfire,thecanyonispartofalargewatershedthatsupportslargerbiota.Connectivity(orcontinuity)especiallyalongtheripariancorridorisimportantforlarge-bodiedanimalslikeAmericanmarten,amedium-sizedcarnivore.

• Soilslooklooseinmanyareas,andthereishightreedensity.o Thecreeklooksunstableanderoding.o Thecanyonwasbuiltthroughglacialmorainessoisnaturallydown-cutting.

• Itwouldbedifficulttotreatthecreekchannelbyremovingsomeofthelodgepolepinethatareencroaching,becauseofequipmentexclusions.Powerlinesalsomaketree

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removaldifficult.Moredeadtreesintheareawouldincreasethechanceoffirecarryingupthestreamcorridorlikeawick.

• OneapproachtotreatingvegetationcouldbetorevisethecurrentTRPArestrictionsontreatingslopessteeperthan30%.ThestateForestPracticeRuleswouldallowthis,andwecouldexplorenewtechnologiesliketracked,articulatedharvesterswithself-levelingcabs,andwalkingexcavators.Youstillwouldwanttokeepanyheavyequipmentoutofsomezones.

o TheLTWDocumentation&PermittingCoordinationTeam(D&PCT)shouldexamineTRPAregulationsnow.

o ACTIONITEM:Documentation&PermittingCoordinationTeamtoreviewTRPAslopetreatmentrestrictions.

• Therearealsohistoricloggingroads,likethegradeacrossthecreek.TouchingthemwouldactiveconcernsabouttheStateHistoricPreservationAct.

o Thereisagateclosingthestartoftheroadacrossthecreekandthroughanaspenstand.

o Therewouldalsobeprehistoricandhistoricarchaeologicalconcernsalongtheriparianarea.

o AssessingimpactstohistoricroadbedspertheTribal/StateHistoricalPreservationOfficeisverycostly.ThisiswhytheForestServicetypicallypreferstoavoidtreatingthoseareas,andwilloftencreateanewroadparalleltoahistoricroadbedifaccessisrequired.Thiscanendupincreasingerosionimpacts.

o StateParkshashadsuccessworkingwiththeirculturalresourcespecialistto,forexample,havetreesgrowintooldfoundations,andavoidusingfireinhistoricareas.

• Thinkingaboutvegetationresilience,oneneedstoconsiderthisyear’ssnowfallinthecontextofclimatescenariosaroundsubstantiallywarmertemperaturesinJanuaryandFebruary.Withmorerainfallingassnow,floodssimilarto1997wouldbeexpectedtooccurmoreoften,butrunoffrapidlycomparedtosnowandflowlessfarintothesummer.

3. BlackwoodCanyon

Mr.GarrettandMr.Vollmerorientedthegrouptothelocation,includingadescriptionoffieldconditionsabriefreviewofhistoricalvegetationandprescribedfiretreatments.

• ThisareaisprimarilyForestServicelandintheWUI.WeareattheboundaryofanareathatwasmechanicallytreatedandanarealeftuntouchedbecauseitisaRiparianConservationArea(RCA).

o Mechanicalharvestingandmasticationwasdoneinthemid-2000sforfuelreduction,fromthecampgroundonward.Thisincludedmechanicalthinningupto30”,upto19”intheCaliforniaspottedowl(CSO)ProtectedActivityCenter(PAC),andupto24”inthegoshawkPAC.

• Peoplehavepetitionedseveraltimestolistthespottedowlasathreatenedspecies.ItisnotwidespreadintheBasin,only5onthewestsideandasixthinthenortheast.The

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managementapproachforPACstypicallyistoleave300acresaroundthenestforforaging,andthenoutto1000acresasthehomerangecorearea(HRCA),fortheterritoryofthebreedingpair.

Discussionfollowed.

• RegardingEcObject,itdoespickupdifferentstanddensitywell.TheLiDARitisbasedonwastakenin2010,soafterthetreatments.Itshowsalotofhomogeneityaroundthemid-seralstageofvegetation,ratherthanadiversityofseralstages.

• Evenifweweretothinrightuptothediameterlimit,weprobablywouldnotmeetfireobjectives.

• It’simportanttonotonlylookatthisstand,butratherallofBlackwood.• Thedriverofthistreatmentwasfuelsreduction.Onecoulddesignafuelstreatmentfor

thePAC.o Thehighfuelloadingandeven-agednatureofthestandmeansthatfirewould

likelycauseshort-termimpactstothebirds,eventhoughtheaimwaslong-termresilience.

• ThemanagementdirectiveforhowtotreatPACsisfixed,andwillremaininplaceunlessthehabitatisdeemednolongersuitable.

o ThishashappenedontheRimFireandKingFirelandscapes.ThehabitatwasburnedhencethePACsnolongerexist.

o WearenotawareofexampleswherePAChabitathasbeendesignatedasnolongersuitablebasedonsomecombinationofothercriteria,likedurationsincelastoccupancy,etc.

§ Weneedtothinkabouthowevenwhat’scurrentlyahigh-valueresourcecanbecomemorefluidoverspaceandtime,becausethelandscapeisdynamic.

§ Theabilitytodispersetreatmentsoverspaceandtimetoreducetheirshort-termimpactsonsensitivewildlifeconstitutes“thepromiseoflandscape”–it’swhatlandscape-scalerestorationmakespossible,comparedwithonlylookingatafewthousandacres.

• WedonotknowtheactivitystatusofthebirdsinthisPAC.o Ifthey’reactive,thiswouldbeacriticalplacetomonitor.o Somenewmonitoringactivitiesarebeingplannedandmightalreadyinclude

BlackwoodCanyon.o Otherfactorsthatcaninfluencegoshawkreproductivityareconecrops,latewet

storms,andothervariables.Somonitoringdatarequirescarefulinterpretation.• Thehistoricaltreatmentswehavedonehavenotmadethisarearesilienttoinsectsor

drought.• Wecouldburnintheuntreatedarea,butthisraisesthequestionofhowmuchfire-

causedtreemoralitypeoplewouldbewillingtoaccept.Thepublicoftenhasahardtimeunderstandingwhywewouldbekillingtrees.

o Further,deadtreeswouldthenfalloverandcould,giventhedensity,increasefuelloads.Theninturn,wemightnotreburntheareaunlessweweretofirst

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thinit.Soitseemsthereisacircularitywhichmeansthatsoonerorlateryou’regoingtoneedtodosomemechanicalthinningtobeabletotheneventuallystartusingfireastheregularmaintenancemanagementtoolonitsown.

o Thispointstotheneedtoplantreatmentsinawaythatanticipatesachangingsequenceoftreatmentsovertime.

• Thetypeofuntreatedconditionsweseehavehighspeciesvalue,whichsuggeststhiskindofstandwasrepresentedonthehistoriclandscape.

o TheIADThasbeenlookingatthediversityofseralstagesasanindicator.• MostPACsintheSierrahavehadtreatment,thereisagoodamountofpublished

literature.• Asarecreationaluser,theviewshedcreatedbythinning,evenjust50or75infromthe

road,isvaluable.Italsowouldreducetheriskofincidentalfirefromacigaretteorvehiclealongthecorridor.Suchthinningalsoincreasesthesunlightontheroads,makingformorerapidsnowmelt,andalsobetterdrivingvisibility.

o Weneedtotakeadvantageofexistingrecreationsitestobuildeducationbeforestartingtreatments,includingmeetingpeopleinhigh-useareas.

o Firehasmultiplebenefitsbutpeopledonotlikeblacktreesandsmoke,soeducationwillhavetoanticipateandprovideafoundationforacceptingthis.

o MoreburningwillaffecttheBasin’srecreationandtourismeconomy.Aggressiveeducationandasmuchspecificityaspossibleaboutthetiminganddurationofburningwillbecritical.

o Mr.Fougères:Alongtheselines,theimportanceofeducationandinformation-sharingiscalledoutintheLTWCommunication&EducationPlan,andstaffhavediscussedtheideaofdevelopingmessagingaroundadesignated“BurnSeasoninTahoe”sothatbusinessandvisitorscanmoreeasilyanticipatewhensmokemightbeprevalent.

o Ifsuchanideaweredeveloped,itshouldlineupwiththeshoulderseasonforrecreation.Manyhotelsalreadyshutdownduringthisperiod.

• Blackwooddoesnothaveelevatedlevelsoftreemortalitycurrently.Withregardtomaintainingfutureresilience,manyofourtreeshaveincrediblecapacityforgeneflow,iftherearefutureconditionsthatourtreatmentscannotmitigate.

• Regardingclimate,scientistscanprovideinnumerablefuturescenarios,fromwhichonecanpickandchooseorbundle.What’slikelymorehelpfulistolookattheextreme

episodesinthepredictions,andfocusonthebreakpoints–nottheaverages–in

futureclimates.Thesearelikelymostinformativeforvulnerabilityandresilience.o Thetemperaturedifferencebetweenthetreatedareaandtheriparianareais

notableandpointstomicroclimaticdifferences.Thereisalsomorewindthrowinthetreatedarea,andsnowwouldmeltfaster.

o IntheWUIorevenoutside,multipleobjectivesriskcreatingmorehomogeneityonthelandscape.Fromaclimaticperspective,microclimatevariabilitywillbe

yourfriend.Forresilience,onewouldwantpocketsofdifferenthabitat.o Regardingcoldpooling,theBasinholdscoolairtoadegreenotseenelsewhere

intheSierra,likelybecausethesizeofthelake.

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• Togetawayfromhomogeneity,onewouldhavetocreateopenings,andfigureouthowtowritethisintomarkingguidelines,andidentifywheregapsmightoccur.

o ACTIONITEM:DoriantosharefishermarkingguidelinesincludingclumpidentificationfromtheDinkeyLandscapeRestorationProject.

o Iftheprimaryobjectiveiscommunityprotectionandfirereduction,thiskindofhomogeneityislikely.LTW,however,purposelyincludesnotonlythegeneralforest,butalsotheWUI.Wehaveanopportunitytodevelopmaintenancetreatmentsthatalsoadvanceforestheterogeneity.

• Onecouldcreatemoremicroclimaticdifferencesbycreatingamosaicofindividualtrees,clumpsoftrees,andgaps,liketheEcObjectpolygons,bymodifyingtreedensity,andbymodifyingfire.

o Alternately,theSouthForkoftheAmericanRiver(SOFAR)projectrecognizestherearecertainsocialvaluesoccurthroughoutthelandscape,butsortingthemintozoneswheretherearegreaterorfewerconstraints.Thendifferenttreatmentscreatemorediversityacrossthelandscape.

§ SuchanapproachmaybeusefulfortheLTWLandscapeRestorationStrategy(Phase2).

o StateParkshasstandsthathavenothadtreatmentforalongtime,andarenowself-thinning,withsurfacefuelsdecreasingtoo.Weneedtoidentifytheareasthatarealreadymovingindesirabledirectionsontheirown,andletthemcreatemicroclimaticdiversity.

• Microclimaticvariabilityandforestheterogeneityareapositivefeedbackloop:onewouldexpectthatincreasingthediversityoffireeffectswouldincreaseforestheterogeneityaswellasmicroclimates.

o Thechallengeistogetoverthehurdleordeficitofcurrentconditions,sothatecologicalfirecandothisworkwithoutsuchathreattopublichealth&safety.Weneedtocommunicatethisanticipatedtrajectoryoftreatments,frommoreintensiveearlyontocreateasubsequentpositivefeedbackloop.

o It’salsoimportanttorecognizethatifanareahashighfuelloadingandwe’reusingfirethatkillstrees,thiswillinturnbecomethefutureopeningwe’relookingfor.Diseasesandbeetlesalsocreategaps,sothesetypesofdisturbancesalsohavepositiveaspects.

• Amajorconstraintonprescribedfireisthelackofdedicatedcrewandstablefunding.It’sdoubtfulwewilleverbeabletoburnasmuchaslikelyburnedherehistorically.Thisappliestobothstateandfederalagencies.

o Mr.Fougères:Anotheraspectofthe“promiseoflandscape”istheabilitytoplanseveralyearsoftreatmentsoveralarge-scale,whichallowsformorecertainworkloadplanningandfunding.ThisiswrittenintheMulti-JurisdictionalFuelsStrategyamendmentfromApril2017.

o Mr.Fougères:TherearealsoexampleswheresomeNationalForestsaretryingtotraintheirstaffwhoserveasfiresuppressioncrewsduringfireseasontothenworkasprescribedfirecrewsduringtheoff-season.Theaimistobetterensuretheyhavethestaffon-handtoburnopportunisticallyandtakeadvantageofsmallwindows.

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o Ifstaffcoulddevelopaproposalforaninteragencyprescribedfireteam,andmapandplanout10yearsoftreatment,agencyexecutivescouldworktosecurereliablefundingforthisperiod.

o Alongtheselines,regardingtheForestService,onJune1U.S.SecretaryofAgricultureSonnyPerduesaid,

§ “First,itmustreorientitsculturetoembraceagenerationalapproachtoresponsibleforestmanagement.Treestakedecadestogrowtomaturity.Wemustthinkabouthowtheforestswillprovidecleanerwaterandair,morebiofuelsandmoreusefulproductsforconsumers.Ifwedonottakethelongview,wewillneverbeabletopreservedelicateecosystemsorprosperfromthethousandsofjobsthatourforestscouldprovide.Wemusttreatourforestssothatwearenotspendingmoreonfightingfiresthanweareonmakingsurethatourforestsarehealthy.”http://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article153760404.html

Mr.PatrickWright,ExecutiveDirectorfortheCaliforniaTahoeConservancy,askedstafftonotcensorthemselveswhentheythinkaboutopportunitiesbutthenthinkaboutalltheconstraintsorbarriers.Heencouragedstafftonotassumethatwecannotdosomething,andnoteditwouldbemuchbettertoidentifybarriersandstartworkingonthemnow.HeremindedthemthattheExecutiveTeamwantstopushtheenvelope,andcantakeupandtrytomodifypolicyandregulatoryconstraintsifneeded.

• AnothermembernotedthatintheSagehenCreekFieldStationcollaborativerestorationwork,theystartedwithamapandthelocationofPACs.Inhindsight,hewouldhavepreferredtostartwithnoconstraints.Healsonotedtheyhadmany“falseno’s”–thingsthatpeoplesaidwerenotpossible,butafterhardworkwereindeedpossible.

• Mr.Fougèresnotedthat,similartotheearlierdiscussionofzones,indevelopingtheLandscapeRestorationStrategytheIADTandstakeholderscouldalsoconsiderwhethertobuildaseriesoflayerswithprogressiveconstraints.

4. MeeksBay

Mr.VollmerandMr.Garrettorientedthegrouptothelocation,includingadescriptionoffieldconditionsabriefreviewofhistoricalvegetationandprescribedfiretreatments.

• Theareaisamixofprivateproperty,CaliforniaTahoeConservancy,andForestServiceland.TheWasiutimbersalereducedmeadowencroachmentthroughskylineyardingfromacentralstationinthemeadow.TheQualsfuelsreductionprojectalsoincludedthinning.Thiswasinthemidandearly1990s.Hand-thinningbytheConservancyfollowed.However,therehasbeenlittlefollow-upandconifershaveencroachedagain,raisingquestionsaboutthelongevityoftreatments,theneedforrepeatfireentriestomaintaintreatments,andthelong-termresilienceofthemeadow–whetheritisfutiletotrytostopencroachmentinlightofexpecteddroughts.

• Theareahasstreamchannelconcerns,culturalresources,andalargemeadowwithheavylodgepolepineinvasionassociatedwithdrought.

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• Apileburnburnedunexpectedlyhotandspreadintothebrush.Thiscreatedsomelocalpoliticalcontroversyandconcernaboutpublicsafety.Onecanseethehousesrightacrossthemeadow.

o Thedensityoftheforestsmeansthateventhoughthereisasubdivisiononbothsidesofthemeadow,youcanonlyseeveryfewhouses,mostarehiddeninthevegetation.

• MeeksMeadowisaprettyuniquefeature–alargemarshatthesouthendofthelakethatissubjecttoregularflooding–andanimportantcomponentofthewestshorelandscape.Ithasanincrediblyrichconcentrationofbirdsandwildlife.

Discussionfollowed.

• TheLTBMUhasaprojectwiththeWashoeTribeofNevadaandCaliforniatoremoveconiferandrestorethemeadow,includingfollow-upwithprescribedfire.Ithasbeenahighlyvaluedculturalsitethatinvolvedregularburningforthepromotionoftheplantsusedforbasket-weaving.

o Wearenotcertainhowregularlyburningtookplacewhenthemeadowwastraditionallymanagedbythetribe.Studyingcharcoallayerscouldhelpidentifythis.

o Therearesomelargetreestumpsinthemeadowwhichsuggestthatencroachmenthasbeenaregularphenomenon.

• RegardingtheMeeksMarina,thecurrentplanistoremovethemarinaandrestorethemarsh.TheWashoeTribehastheconcessionforthemarina,andplanstoextenditsculturalprogramsinland.

• Inthepast,themeadowwouldgetextremelydryattimes.• Achallengehasbeenthatonceyouremovetheconifertheyre-occupythemeadow,so

weneedmorefire,andalsoconditionsthataredryenoughtoburn.Theburnwindowsarelimited,andremovingbiomassishardbecausethegroundtendstobesowet.

o Giventhecurrentfuelloads,theriskofafiregettingaway–giventheproximitytohomesandlocationintheWUI–alsoincreasesthereluctancetoburn.Thisisanothersituationwheremechanicaltreatmentwillbeneededeithernow,beforethefirstentry,orafterprescribedfire.

o Firecouldalsokilltheyounglodgepole.o Onewouldalsostillhaveaseedsource.

• Coniferremovalwouldincreasethewatertable,andtherestorationofthemarinawouldalsoaffectthewatertableoverthelongterm.Weneedtolookatthemeadow-marinacomplex,includingtheroadinbetween.

o Withclimate,oncecouldexpectbiggerstormsandhencemoremeadowflooding.

o TheroadwouldpullCaltransintoourwork.o Cedarsalsoencroachthemeadow,theoneswecanseeappearresilientand

havesignificantfirescarswithgreencrowns.• Itseemslikepartofourworkistoclearlyacknowledgetheelementofuncertainty

inherentintreatments,aswrittenintheEssentialManagementQuestions.Inthisway,

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perhapswecanmanageourownandpublicexpectations,andbemoreopportunistic

withregardtouncontrolledoutcomes.• Whileit’sdifficulttosayanythingclimatologicalwithcertainty,onethingthatiscertain

isthatmarkedswingsbetweendryandwetyearswillbecomethenorm.o Forexample,the2015winter’s5%snowpackisexpectedtobecomesignificantly

morefrequentbytheendofthecentury.o Furthermore,twotypesof“snowdrought”willbecomemorefrequent–snow

droughtscausedsimplybydryyears,andsnowdroughtscausedbywarmingtemperaturesthatmeanprecipitationfallsasrainratherthansnow.

o Asnotedearlier,LTWmaywanttofocusmoreonresiliencetotheextremeepisodesassociatedwithecosystemtippingpoints.

o LeeTarnay,USFSRemoteSensingLab,isworkingonnewmodelingof“snow-off”–thetimeatwhichdifferentpartsofthelandscapelosetheirsnowcover–andhowthisischangingwithclimate.

o AlexHall,UCLA,hasalsorecentlypublishedonthealbedoeffectofsnowmelt.Hisworkusedaregionalclimatemodel;itwouldbedifficulttoreplicatethisatasmallerscale,becauseofthetypesofdatarequired.

o ThisvariabilityisinherentinCalifornia’sclimate.Thereisnomeaningful“averageyear.”

• Giventheextremesofsnowpackandhydrologyanticipated,isitrealistictoassumethatthemeadowwouldremainhereintheabsenceofintervention?Thelogisticsoftreeremovalareverydifficult,andyieldssmall,low-valuematerial.

o Historicalgrazinglikelyalsohelpedlimitconiferencroachment.o Mr.Fougères:Onealternateapproachtothinkingaboutvalueisthroughthe

ecosystemservicesprovidedbyameadow.Ms.KimRollins,UniversityofNevadaatReno,willbeworkingwiththeLTWScienceTeamonaneconomicsanalysisforPhase2.

• Theareathatissouth-facingfacessunallday,andlooksrestored–ithasevidenceoffreshburningandalsobrushregeneration.

• Increasedfirefrequencycanalsoincreasethepotentialforterrestrialinvasivespecies.o Arecentstudyofcheatgrasssurvivabilityraisesthequestionofwhetheritwill

cometothewestshorewithincreasingtemperaturesandadifferentfireregime.• Itsoundslikeweareallinagreementinoursupportforvegetativeheterogeneityat

differentscales,fortheuseoffireinareaswithheavierfuelsandhigherseverityburnsandthecreationofclumpsandgaps.

o Mr.Fougères:AsuggestionfromcolleagueslastweekwastodevelopsomegeneralgoalslikethistofurthercommunicatetheintentofLTW,beyondincreasingforestandwatershedresilience.PertheCalendarofActivities,basedontheLandscapeResilienceAssessmentwewouldthenrefineandmakethesemorepreciseatthestartofPhase2,thedevelopmentofourLandscapeRestorationStrategy.

o ACTIONITEM:Doriantodrafthigh-level,generalgoalsforSSCreview,andsubsequentrefinementduringPhase2.

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• Togetthosehighseverityfireeffects,onewillhavetoacceptkillingtrees,whichishardtoselltothepublic.

5. ClosingRemarks

Ms.TeresaMcClung,ActingForestSupervisor,LTBMU,thankedparticipantsfortheirtimeandpreparation,andnotedtheimportanceandexcitementofbeingabletothinkaboutthelandscapewithoutalltheconstraints.Mr.Wrightaskedstafftothinkaboutmultiple-yearprojectsthataresoontobeginonthewestshore,likeStateParksworkinSugarPinePointStateParkandForestServiceWestShoreWUIwork,andseeifthoseprojectscouldpilottreatmentsthatcantheninformLTWprojectplanning.Thereisanopportunitytostartpushingonbarriersnow.

• Mr.GarrettnotedthatwhileWestShoreWUIfocusesonfuels,inthenextyearwemightseeopportunitiestoaddsomeadditionalworkbasedontheLandscapeResilienceAssessment.ThismightevenincludeworkintheWUIdefense,whichwealsoseektomovetoamoreresilientcondition.

6. Attendance

OrganizingandParticipatingAgenciesCTC–CaliforniaTahoeConservancyNFF–NationalForestFoundationRWQCBLahontan-LahontanRegionalWaterQualityControlBoardStateParks–CaliforniaStateParksTFFT–TahoeFireandFuelsTeamTRPA–TahoeRegionalPlanningAgencyUSFS–U.S.ForestServiceStakeholderScienceCommitteeMembers

1. JeffBrown2. MollieHurt3. PatriciaMaloney4. MaureenMcCarthy5. RolandShawStakeholderCommunityCommittee

Members

6. DougBarr7. AmyBerry8. ZackBradford9. BethKenna10. JackLandy

Agencies

11. RichAdams,StateParks12. MasonBindl,TRPA13. KimCaringer,TRPA14. BeckyEstes,USFS15. DorianFougères,NFF16. BrianGarrett,USFS17. RossGerrard,USFS18. AmyJirka,TFFT/CALFIRE19. BrianJudge,RWQCBLahontan20. PatriciaManley,USFS21. TeresaMcClung,USFS22. TamaraSasaki,StateParks23. DanShaw,StateParks

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24. RandyStriplin,USFS25. NadiaTase,TFFT/CALFIRE26. MikeVollmer,TRPA27. PatrickWright,CTC28. LesleyYen,USFSInterestedPartiesfromthePublic29. MikeDettinger,USGeologicalSurvey30. GeoffThornton,AECOM31. JessicaMitchell,AscentEnvironmental