Features

The SNAMP water team will be investigating impacts of strategic fuel treatments in SNAMP study areas on both water quantity and quality in headwater catchments of treatment and control firesheds. Their goal is to better understand the water storage in and movement through the catchments: how the water begins as snow or rain, interacts with the landscape, and eventually exits the system as stream discharge. To learn more about the water team and their research, please check out the Fall '09 Water Newsletter.

The PPT is researching the Forest Service public participation processes and working to increase stakeholder involvement in SNAMP through regular public meetings and reporting, public outreach, and an interactive website. The PPT coordinates and facilitates all SNAMP meetings, field trips, and events. In addition, the PPT seeks to facilitate an open dialogue amongst scientists and interested members of the public. Our goal is to maintain an open and transparent process throughout the research and implementation stages of SNAMP. To learn more about the public participation team please check out the Spring '09 PPT newsletter!

Geospatial data, or data linked to a place on the surface of the earth, is increasingly a part of our everyday lives and an important resource for environmental research. Geospatial data play a large role in the SNAMP project. We are mapping the forest before and after SPLAT treatments, and measuring forest habitat characteristics across our treatment and control sites. This newsletter discusses one of our datasets, called LIDAR, a new tool that shows great promise for mapping forests. To learn more about LIDAR please check out the Fall '08 Spatial newsletter!

The California Spotted Owl is an uncommon resident in the Mixed Conifer belt of the west slope of the Sierra Nevada, and a State and Federal Species of Special Concern. California spotted owls nest in mature trees and hunt from the vantage point of large trees. High intensity fire that leaves few trees alive has a negative impact on owl habitat, but forest fuel reduction treatments remove canopy cover and vertical structure of the trees. This research will assess the impacts of forest fuel treatments on owl territory, occupancy rates and reproductive output. To learn more about this project, please check out the Fall '08 Owl newsletter!

The Pacific Fisher is a State and Federal Species of Special Concern. The SNAMP fisher study is designed to determine whether the fisher population in the southern study area is stable or decreasing, which vital rate is most important in population change, and which environmental factors are correlated with these changes. Since Dec '07 we have captured and fitted over 20 different fisher with radio-collars. By the end of the study we anticipate having information on the age, home range and habitat use of around 40 individual fisher. To learn more about this project, please check out the Fall '08 Fisher newsletter!

This issue focuses on the Fire and Forest Ecosystem Health Team. The Fire and Forest Health Team will investigate effects of strategic fuel treatments on fire behavior, tree morbidity and mortality, and forest health. Crews are collecting information on forest structure and composition, shrubs and fuels. The first two years of the project (2007 and 2008) are focused on collecting pre-treatment data. For more information on this project, and on the common tree species from our sites, please check out the Spring '08 newsletter!

This is the first SNAMP newsletter! The SNAMP project involves resource agencies, the public, and University Scientists to assess how vegetation treatments to prevent wildfire will affect fire risk, wildlife, forest health, and water quantity and quality. The Forest Service will be planning and implementing the treatments, while the University Science team will be independently monitoring and studying the effects of the projects. The public will be invited to provide feedback on the entire process. To learn more about the SNAMP project, please check out the Fall '07 newsletter!