Meadows in the Sierra Nevada of California: state of knowledge

Ratliff, Raymond D.

doi:10.2737/psw-gtr-84

Cited by 91 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…An estimated 40 percent were located in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys adjacent to the range. Sheep became important for food and wool in the mining camps between 1852 and 1860, and flocks expanded and eventually peaked in the mid-1870's at about 6,400,000 head statewide (Ratliff 1985). In 1880, 2,864,000 sheep were estimated in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys alone (West 1935), and a few large ranches located in the central valley had herds of 100,000 to 200,000 sheep.…”

Section: Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sheep grazing ended in the National Parks by the 1900's, and effective control of grazing through issuance of permits began with the formation of the National Forest System in 1905 (Ratliff 1985). Early efforts at regulation were often ineffective, but control was gradually gained.…”

Section: Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 1861, for example, cattle were first introduced to the current SequoiaKings Canyon National Park (Vankat and Major 1978), and the droughts of 1862-63 and 1876-77 added impetus to summer grazing in the mountains (Ratliff 1985). Grazing increased dramatically, and while cattle use was widespread, sheep soon became dominant (Ratliff 1985, Vankat andMajor 1978).…”

Section: Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…"Tales of damage to resources were to become legendary" (Ratliff 1985). Burcham (1957) believed that changes in successional patterns on valley and foothill range lands provided clear indication of a downward trend in the range resource, particularly soil productivity.…”

Section: Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forested Communities of the Upper Montane in the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada

Potter¹

1998

112

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Potter, Donald A. 1998 Upper montane forests in the central and southern Sierra Nevada of California were classified into 26 plant associations by using information collected from 0.1-acre circular plots. Within this region, the forested environment including the physiographic setting, geology, soils, and vegetation is described in detail. A simulation model is presented for this portion of the Sierra Nevada that refines discussions of climate, and disturbance regimes are described to illustrate the interaction between these features of the environment and vegetation in the study area. In the classification, plant associations are differentiated by floristic composition, environmental setting, and measurements of productivity. Differences in elevation, aspect, topographic setting, and soil properties generally distinguish each plant association described. A detailed description is presented for each plant association, including a discussion of the distribution, environment, vegetation, soils, productivity, coarse woody debris, range, wildlife, and management recommendations. A complete species list and tables for cross referencing specific characteristics of each association are provided.

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Section: Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forested Communities of the Upper Montane in the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada

Potter¹

1998

112

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“…Subalpine and alpine meadows-Tree invasion of high mountain meadows has sometimes been linked to fire protection efforts in these areas (Ratliff 1985). Such an invasion, however, may also occur under natural conditions, so identifying causes is difficult.…”

Section: Grasslands Shrublands and Woodland Ecosystems-the Perenniamentioning

confidence: 99%

Fire and weather disturbances in terrestrial ecosystems of the eastern Cascades.

Agee¹

1994

108

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Fire has been an important ecological process in eastside Cascade ecosystems for millennia. Fire regimes ranged from low severity to high severity, and historic fire return intervals ranged from less than a decade to greater than 300 years. Fire history and effects are described for grassland and shrubland ecosystems, and the range of forested communities by plant series: Ponderosa Pine, Douglas-fir/White fir/Grand fir, Lodgepole pine, Western hemlock/Western redcedar, and subalpine fir/Mountain hemlock. The riparian zones within these communities may be more or less impacted by fire. The effects of extreme weather events, including unusual temperature, wind, or moisture have generally had less significant impact than fire. Management practices, including fire suppression, timber harvesting, and livestock grazing, have altered historical fire regimes, in some cases irreversibly. The management issues for the 1990s include both management and research issues, at a grand scale with which we have little experience. Ecosystem and adaptive management principles will have to be applied.

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Watershed‐scale modeling of streamflow change in incised montane meadows

Essaid

Hill

2014

Water Resources Research

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Land use practices have caused stream channel incision and water table decline in many montane meadows of the Western United States. Incision changes the magnitude and timing of streamflow in water supply source watersheds, a concern to resource managers and downstream water users. The hydrology of montane meadows under natural and incised conditions was investigated using watershed simulation for a range of hydrologic conditions. The results illustrate the interdependence between: watershed and meadow hydrology; bedrock and meadow aquifers; and surface and groundwater flow through the meadow for the modeled scenarios. During the wet season, stream incision resulted in less overland flow and interflow and more meadow recharge causing a net decrease in streamflow and increase in groundwater storage relative to natural meadow conditions. During the dry season, incision resulted in less meadow evapotranspiration and more groundwater discharge to the stream causing a net increase in streamflow and a decrease in groundwater storage relative to natural meadow conditions. In general, for a given meadow setting, the magnitude of change in summer streamflow and long-term change in watershed groundwater storage due to incision will depend on the combined effect of: reduced evapotranspiration in the eroded meadow; induced groundwater recharge; replenishment of dry season groundwater storage depletion in meadow and bedrock aquifers by precipitation during wet years; and groundwater storage depletion that is not replenished by precipitation during wet years.

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Meadows in the Sierra Nevada of California: state of knowledge

Cited by 91 publications

References 81 publications

Forested Communities of the Upper Montane in the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada

Forested Communities of the Upper Montane in the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada

Fire and weather disturbances in terrestrial ecosystems of the eastern Cascades.

Watershed‐scale modeling of streamflow change in incised montane meadows

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