Science and Management Symposium
Lessons Learned from Extreme Drought and Tree Mortality in the Sierra Nevada:
How Can Past Events Inform our Approach Forward?
Tuesday, July 25th, 2017
USFS Wildland Fire Training & Conference Center
Drought & Tree Mortality Symposium Fact Sheet
Target Audience: Federal, State, and Private Forest Managers, Line Officers, Foresters, Special Interest Groups, University and Federal Scientists, Tribal Members and Managers, Interested Stakeholder, and Partners
Summary: The US Forest Service has estimated that over 102 million trees have died in the Sierra Nevada since 2010; other parts of the State have also experienced increased rates of tree mortality. This unprecedented tree mortality event has been attributed to the combined effects of historical land management practices, including fire suppression, drought, climate warming, and insect outbreaks. Mindful that future projections indicate warmer temperatures and increases in fire activity, it is prudent to carefully examine the relative contributions of these factors in influencing patterns of tree mortality on the landscape. This science and management symposium will provide a forum where experts and managers can share findings, results, and experiences from the tree mortality event to help build a framework for development, planning, and implementation of future forest management strategies and activities. Our intent is to treat the topic generally, setting the stage for future symposia that will more explicitly examine the potential suite of management actions (e.g., reforestation, fire & fuels management, and partnerships & opportunities) for sustaining California’s forests.
Guiding Questions:
1. What are the past events that contributed to tree mortality?
2. What are the conditions, activities, and actions that influenced patterns of tree mortality and survival on the landscape?
3. What are the expected conditions for the future?
4. What are the options for future forest management? Download a PDF of the agenda here.
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM |
Arrive/Check-InContinental Breakfast Available Until 10:00AM |
Thirty Mile (N106A) |
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM |
WelcomeSymposium Kickoff
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Thirty Mile (N106A) |
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
Considerations of the Past and Expectations for the Future (Moderator: Chris Fischer)Session Objective: To provide an overview and understanding of the historic drought and tree mortality in California Forests The Sierra Nevada Tree Mortality Event: Historic Context and General Patterns
What Killed over 100+ Million Trees in the Sierra Nevada? The Biological Basis for How Trees Persist and Thrive
Which Environmental Conditions and Actions Contributed to Tree Mortality and Associated Resource Effects?
California’s Tree Mortality: Lessons from the Intermountain West
Panel: All/Group Questions |
Thirty Mile (N106A) |
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM |
Break |
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10:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
Patterns & Drivers of Tree Mortality: From the Tree to Landscape (Moderator: Koren Nydick)Session Objective: Taking a closer look at factors that have led to patterns of mortality and survivorship: considering what lived, what died, where and what might have influenced the result?Species-Specific Patterns of Mortality vs. Survivorship
What are the Spatial-Temporal or Other Patterns of Mortality vs. Survivorship?
Density Matters - Forest Thinning Treatments Reduce Drought Stress and Tree Mortality in the Sierra Nevada
Is There a Relationship Between Tree Mortality and Fire Susceptibility?
Panel: All/Group Questions |
Thirty Mile (N106A) |
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM |
Lunch |
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1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
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Moving Forward with Changed Conditions: The Future of California Forests with Climate Change & Extreme Events(Moderator: John Battles)Session Objectives: An overview of future conditions that will affect California Forests, including increased temperatures, changed precipitations, and increased climatic water deficit, and providing visions for future management approaches.
Panel: All/ Group Questions |
Thirty Mile (N106A) |
2:15 PM – 3:30 PM |
Concurrent Expert StationsCookies, Brownies, Coffee, Ice Tea, & Lemonade Available Session Objective: Considerations for future management actions - a survey of options for next steps. Instructions: The three panels will be running concurrently. Please initially attend the station you selected in your pre-symposium survey. You are welcome to switch topics part way through this session. Expert Station #1: Reforestation
Expert Station #2: Fire and Fuels Management (Note: the associated PPT is a placeholder as the panel will not be displaying PPTs with content.)
Expert Station #3: Partnerships and Opportunities
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Station 1: Thirty Mile (N106A) Station 2: Rattlesnake(N107) Station 3: Dude (N109)
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3:30 PM – 3:45 PM |
Moderators Organize Report Outs(Break for Others) |
Thirty Mile (N106A) |
3:45 PM – 4:15 PM |
Concurrent Session Report Outs(Moderators: Lara Buluç and Steve Ostoja)
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Thirty Mile (N106A) |
4:15 PM – 4:45 PM |
Large-Group Discussion |
Thirty Mile (N106A) |
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM |
Closing Remarks |
Thirty Mile (N106A) |