Fuels treatment and wildfire effects on runoff from Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forests

We applied an eco-hydrologic model (Regional Hydro-Ecologic Simulation System [RHESSys]), constrained with spatially distributed field measurements, to assess the impacts of forest-fuel treatments and wildfire on hydrologic fluxes in two Sierra Nevada firesheds. Strategically placed fuels treatments were implemented during 2011–2012 in the upper American River in the central Sierra Nevada (43 km2) and in the upper Fresno River in the southern Sierra Nevada (24 km2). This study used the measured vegetation changes from mechanical treatments and modelled vegetation change from wildfire to determine impacts on the water balance. The well-constrained headwater model was transferred to larger catchments based on geologic and hydrologic similarities. Fuels treatments covered 18% of the American and 29% of the Lewis catchment. Averaged over the entire catchment, treatments in the wetter central Sierra Nevada resulted in a relatively light vegetation decrease (8%), leading to a 12% runoff increase, averaged over wet and dry years. Wildfire with and without forest treatments reduced vegetation by 38% and 50% and increased runoff by 55% and 67%, respectively. Treatments in the drier southern Sierra Nevada also reduced the spatially averaged vegetation by 8%, but the runoff response was limited to an increase of less than 3% compared with no treatment. Wildfire following treatments reduced vegetation by 40%, increasing runoff by 13%. Changes to catchment-scale water-balance simulations were more sensitive to canopy cover than to leaf area index, indicating that the pattern as well as amount of vegetation treatment is important to hydrologic response

Vegetation and soils of watersheds 2 and 3, H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest

Early in the planning of the Coniferous Biome program It was recognized that experimental watersheds 2 and 3 in the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest might provide ideal study sites for certain phases of the Biome program. A study was funded during year 1 (1970) to provide necessary background ecological information about these watersheds, which would then be available before intensive studies were undertaken. This report contains a summary of the Information obtained as a result of an inventory of vegetation and soils present on the watersheds. It contains the vegetation mapping legend, vegetation maps, descriptions of mapped vegetation units, detailed soil maps, and a brief description of soils present. In addition to small maps included with this report, large-scale vegetation maps (scale 2 inches or 5 centimeters equals 100 meters) are also available

Vegetation and soils of the Hi-15 watersheds, H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest

Early in the planning of the Coniferous Biome research program, it was recognized that Experimental Watersheds 6, 7, and 8 in the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest might provide ideal study sites for certain phases of the Biome program. A study was funded during year 1 (1970) to provide necessary background ecological information about these watersheds, which then would be available before intensive studies were undertaken. This report contains a summary of the information obtained as a result of an inventory of vegetation and soils present on the watershed. It contains the vegetation mapping legend, vegetation maps, descriptions of mapped vegetation units, a generalized soil map, and a brief description of soils present. In addition to the small maps included with this report, large-scale vegetation maps (scale 1 in. = 2 chains: 1 chain = 66 feet) also are available

A preliminary classification of forest communities in the central portion of the western Cascades in Oregon

Forest communities in the central portion of Oregon's western Cascades are arrayed along moisture and temperature gradients. With the aid of reconnaissance data and a computerized ordination technique, 23 forest communities have been provisionally recognized in two distinct forest zones, the Tsuga heterophylla (300 to 1050 m in elevation) and the Abies amabilis (1050 to 1550 m). The location of these zones is largely a function of temperature (elevation), while distribution of individual communities within a zone is controlled mainly by moisture availability. Eleven climax or near-climax associations and three seral communities were recognized within the Tsuga heterophylla zone. Associations range from the Pseudotsuga/Holodiscus on very dry sites to the Tsuga/Polystichum-Oxalis on wet sites. In the Abies amabilis zone, nine units were identified--seven climax or near-climax associations and two seral communities. Driest habitats in the zone are occupied by the Abies--Tsuga mertensiana/ Xerophyllum association and wettest sites support the Chamaeeyparis/Oplopanax association. Characteristics of all 23 forest communities are described and relationships among them are discussed

Variation in plant moisture stress associated with forest communities in the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest

Measurement of plant moisture stress of 1-2 m understory conifers was made in "reference stands" on the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest in 1970-1972. Maximum stress each year (measured between midnight and dawn) is closely correlated with the position of each community along one axis of an ordination of the vegetation. In some stands, stress decreases during rainless periods, for uncertain reasons. Apparently, use of different species in different plots does not, of itself, lead to differences in stresses measured at the plots

Variation in air and soil temperatures in forest communities on the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, 1970-1972

Air temperatures at i m and soil temperatures at 2C cm are reported for twenty-one forest stands in the central Western Cascader of Oregon. Records began in 1970 for some stands, in 1971 or 1972 for most. Temperature Growth Index for a stand, based on temperature effects on Douglas-fir seedling growth, varies from 32 to 101, and ordinates the stands similarly for 1971 and 1972. However, the index is not closely related to stand position in a vegetation ordination. A strong nocturnal temperature inversion causes summer minima to increase with elevation up to 1100 m, All lapse rates are low up to 1100 m. Comparisons with studies of montane forests in Arizona and Colorado show that the sites studied here lack the temperature variation, particularly the low minima, characteristic of the other areas.Best copy available

A conceptual model of soil mass movement, surface soil erosion, and stream channel erosion processes

The conceptual framework of an erosion model has been designed to link processes of mass wasting, surface erosion, and channel storage and transport. A program to stimulate mass wasting will be based on a variation of the factor of safety approach which balances forces tending to drive mass movement against those resisting it. Surface erosion will be treated by using a form of the universal soil loss equation adapted to account for dry ravel processes as well as precipitation generated surface erosion. These processes move material eroded from hillslope landscape areas into the stream channel. Channel erosion may occur either as bedload and suspension load transport or in episodic debris torrents, triggered by debris dam failure or by mass movement from a hillslope. The model will be driven primarily by hydrologic processes and will also receive key inputs from vegetation components of the general ecosystem model. Model development will aim at producing a computer model which will have sufficient realism and predictive capability to be useful to land managers

Positive Art: Artistic Expression and Appreciation as an Exemplary Vehicle for Flourishing.

The relevance of the arts to wellbeing has been recognised within clinical fields, as reflected in therapeutic forms based on various art modalities, from music to drama therapy. However, there has hitherto been little appreciation in fields such as positive psychology of the broader potential of the arts as a vehicle for flourishing and fulfilment. As such, this paper proposes the creation of ‘positive art’ as a field encompassing theory and research concerning the wellbeing value of art. To show the scope and possibilities of this proposed field, the paper provides an indicative summary of literature pertaining to four major art forms: visual art, music, literature and drama. Moreover, the paper identifies five main positive outcomes that are consistently found in the literature across all these forms: sense-making, enriching experience, aesthetic appreciation, entertainment, and bonding. The paper aims to encourage a greater focus on the arts in fields like positive psychology, enabling science to more fully understand and appreciate the positive power of the arts

Zen and the Art of Living Mindfully: The Health-Enhancing Potential of Zen Aesthetics

Amidst the burgeoning enthusiasm for mindfulness in the West, there is a concern that the largely secular ‘de-contextualized’ way in which it is being harnessed is denuding it of its potential to improve health and well-being. As such, efforts are underway to ‘re-contextualize’ mindfulness, explicitly drawing on the wider framework of Buddhist ideas and practices in which it was initially developed. This paper aims to contribute to this, doing so by focusing on Zen Buddhism, and in particular on Zen aesthetic principles. The article concentrates on the seven principles identified by Hisamatsu (1971) in his classic text Zen and the Fine Arts: kanso (simplicity); fukinsei (asymmetry); koko (austere sublimity); shizen (naturalness); daisuzoku (freedom from routine); sei-jaku (tranquillity); and yūgen (profound grace). The presence of these principles in works of art is seen as reflecting and communicating insights that are central to Buddhism, such as non-attachment. Moreover, these principles do not only apply to the creation and appreciation of art, but have clear applications for treating health-related issues, and improving quality of life more generally. This paper makes the case that embodying these principles in their lives can help people enhance their psychosomatic well-being, and come to a truer understanding of the essence of mindful living