Range, Fuels, Vegetation and Wildlife-version 2/9/2016
Rough Fire Landscape Analysis: 1803001005 (Mill Flat-Converse), 1803001003 (South Fork Kings)

Ownership: 82,229 ac. total; 997 ac. non-Forest Service, 81,232 within Hume Lake District, Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Resource | Existing Conditions | Desired Conditions | Preliminary Opportunities
Range | The Hoist/Converse Allotment is throughout forested areas & mountain meadows.  The Sampson Allotment is through chaparral and grassland areas.  Monitoring is meeting guidelines. | Livestock grazing opportunities are maintained and managed for sustainable, healthy rangelands that contribute to local economies and improve watershed conditions. |

Fire and Fuels

Converse Basin Grove, and portions of plantations and chaparral have had more than 25 tons/acre of fuels with extensive ladder fuels.  Prescribed burns, timber harvest, piling and burning and mastication have been used in the Boulder, Tornado, Hume and Mill Flat Creek areas.  

Chaparral & other brushy areas have been treated using excavators, shredders, dozers & ball/chain in lower Tenmile Creek and along Davis Road near Pine Ridge. Hume, McKenzie, Pine and Tornado areas.  Fuelbreaks are maintained as needed.  Approximately 400 acres of mastication (down material and trees under 12” dbh) occurred in 2000-2004 between Pine Ridge and Sequoia Lake to thin out existing plantations.  

A portion of Monarch Wilderness and Agnew Roadless Area is red fir forest type with frequent lightning strikes that result in small fires less than 5 acres in size, with few fires of large acreage in recorded history (Sheep Fire in 2012).  Some plantations in this vicinity are dominated by brush encroachment which has increased the risk of large fires, including Rough.

The Mill Flat drainage, Converse, Hume and Tornado areas are mainly pine and mixed conifer type with a dense understory of brush and young trees creating high fire susceptibility and extensive fuels.  Portions of this burned during the Rough Fire.

The latest drought and insect infestation in 2012-2015 has created more extensive mortality and contiguous fuels between 3,000 and 6,000 feet elevation.

There have been extensive brushy fuels at the conifer/chaparral transition zone at the lowest elevations in the Pine Ridge and lower Mill Flat Creek area.  Some of this burned in the Rough Fire 

About 15% of Forest Service landscape area is in WUI ( 13,788 acres in threat and 755 acres in defense zones); 

Based on current burn severity satellite data just over 35% of the area is in high or moderate burn severity.  

The fuel condition class varies from I to III across the landscape and depending on the recent burn severity in sequoia groves, plantations and conifer/chaparral transition, and mixed conifer zones.

Fire occurs in its characteristic pattern and resumes its ecological role. Frequent fire maintains lower, manageable levels of flammable materials in most areas, especially in the surface and understory layers. There is a vegetation mosaic of age classes, tree sizes, and species composition, and a low risk for uncharacteristic large, catastrophic fires. The objects of interest are protected; sustainable environmental, social, and economic benefits (such as those associated with tourism) are maintained; and the carbon sequestered in large trees is stabilized. 
Fire susceptibility and severity, and fire hazards to adjacent human communities and surrounding forest types, are low. The need to maintain fuel conditions that support fires characteristic of complex ecosystems is emphasized and allows for a natural range of fire effects in the Monument.

Projects in progress are Kirkland Plantation Thin (being planned), Pine Ridge Fuels Reduction (scheduled for implementation in 2016), and fire mortality hazard reduction being initiated.  

Protect WUI zones of Hume Lake and other recreation areas through prescribed fire, mechanical treatments and maintaining fuelbreak system.  

Protect and restore Converse Basin Grove and surrounding area per Monument Plan guidelines, specifically areas of high fire susceptibility to reduce the potential for stand-replacing fires.  Improve fuel conditions and stand health in existing plantations in Converse Basin Grove (see old dry-converse decision memo).

Use collaboration and partnerships with Park Service and Sequoia Lake to treat across administrative boundaries to accomplish fuels reduction projects.

Propose fire restoration project to use prescribed fire, and mechanical treatments in portions of the area to 1) reduce fire-and drought/insect mortality-created fuels build-up, 2) improve vegetation health and resiliency to fire and climate change (including sequoia groves and existing plantations), 3) improve habitat conditions.

Air Quality | The San Joaquin air basin near Fresno includes the “Fresno Eddy” where air stagnates due to inversions, etc. | Emissions generated by the Monument are limited and managed, and clean air is provided for the Monument and surrounding communities. |

Vegetation:

See specific species mixes below.

Across the pine, mixed conifer, montane hardwood-conifer, and fir vegetation types in the fire area, there are 17,142 acres in Monarch Wilderness.

Regeneration harvesting has created 6,319 acres of plantations, from 1 to 40 years in age.

Vegetation, including Giant Sequoias 
Forested stands in the Mediterranean climate of the Monument are subject to frequent weather cycles. Years of cooler, wetter weather are often followed by years of hotter, drier weather. The desired condition of a forested stand subject to these extremes is diversity in composition (species, size, age class, distribution) and spatial distribution that are expected to be more resilient to climate changes over time.

See specific species mixes below

Mixed Conifer Forest

Most stands (outside of wilderness, chaparral & sequoia grove) have been harvested for sanitation or insect salvage, and to reduce stocking density until the past decade.  

There are no known Threatened or Endangered plant species are in this area.  

There are 8,888 acres of the mixed conifer stands in giant sequoia groves.  Converse Basin, Abbott and Cherry Gap groves were logged in 1800s prior to transfer to Forest.  No sequoias were harvested out of Little Boulder, Converse and Windy Gulch groves in the 1980s when other conifers were thinned out to encourage sequoia regeneration.  Approximately 1,210 acres are in plantations from these time periods.

The current drought has killed many of the largest sugar pine in this area, and the incense cedar starting in fall 2014 (M.Emmendorfer personal observations and communication with L. Burd, District Silviculturalist retired).

Current insect infestations, including western bark beetles, have killed most of the young, intermediate and large ponderosa and Jeffery pine between 4,000 and 6,000 ft elevation.  
Yellow starthistle, tocalote and bull thistle are mainly in chaparral areas or openings in forested areas of Pine and McKenzie Ridges, and Hwy 180 and 245 corridors.

We are working with Regional vegetation management staff to get updated vegetation layers affected by fire and drought/insect induced mortality to determine current percentages in early, mid and late seral stages of mixed conifer.

The mixed conifer forest varies by both species composition and structure—as influenced by elevation, site productivity, and related environmental factors, including disturbance—and is in a condition that is resilient to changes in climate and other ecological conditions. The composition is patchy, consisting of a variable mixture of conifer and hardwood trees, as well as a diverse mixture of shrubs, herbaceous vegetation, and grasses. Spatial arrangements vary from pure, or nearly pure, groupings to complex combinations, often within relatively limited areas. Low density forests with frequent canopy openings, varying in size, dominate much of the landscape, with higher density forests on portions of north and east aspects. 
More frequent openings with early seral structure and composition (10 percent of the vegetation type) exist within the giant sequoia groves. Some mid-seral structure has converted to a later seral stage as tree sizes increase. Approximately 70 percent of the mixed conifer within groves is dominated by trees greater than 24 inches in diameter. Some of the large trees have multi-layered crowns, producing 60 percent or more canopy cover. 
Outside giant sequoia groves, 10 percent of this vegetation type is early seral structure and composition. Almost half of the mid-seral structure has converted to a later seral stage as tree sizes increase. Approximately 50 percent of the mixed conifer is dominated by trees greater than 24 inches in diameter. Some of the large trees have multi-layered crowns, producing 60 percent or more canopy cover.

Protect and improve current sequoia regeneration in Converse, Abbott, and Cherry Gap Groves, and Evans Grove Complex.  

Reestablish hardwood dominance at lowest elevations of the mixed conifer belt especially along Pine Ridge.

Reduce noxious weeds and prevent new introductions from the various projects being planned. 

Improve fuel conditions and stand health in existing plantations in Converse Basin Grove (see old dry-converse decision memo).

Propose fire restoration project to use prescribed fire, and mechanical treatments in portions of the area to 1) reduce fire-and drought/insect mortality-created fuels build-up, 2) improve ecological health and vegetation resiliency to fire and climate change (including sequoia groves and existing plantations), 3) improve habitat conditions.

Reforest high burn severity areas at highest risk of soil erosion in Mill Flat Creek drainage

Kirkland thin (modify existing project due to fire) intended to improve forest health in and around plantations through mastication of smaller material and prescribed burning to reduce fuels.

Blue Oak–Interior Live Oak

Blue oak savannah from Pine Ridge to Verplank and Hoist Ridges.  Much of this area is not roaded.

We are working with Regional vegetation management staff to get updated vegetation layers affected by fire and drought/insect induced mortality to determine current percentages in early, mid and late seral stages of oaks.

Blue oak conditions are maintained at their current condition: a fire regime of low intensity fires, with flame lengths less than three feet; natural vegetation types; and a highly variable and complex landscape pattern. Blue oak dominates, with grass and occasional shrubs as the understory. There are occasional or periodic flushes of regeneration to replace mortality in older trees.

Chaparral–Live Oak

Portions of manzanita and other chaparral species have been affected by drought and fire, and need field verification on extent.

We are working with Regional vegetation management staff to get updated vegetation layers affected by fire and drought/insect induced mortality to determine current percentages in chaparral-live oak.

Interior and canyon live oak vegetation is a mosaic of varying size and age classes. Large expanses of dense or older chaparral are broken up by recent disturbances of 10 acres or more, to help slow the spread of fire and regenerate chaparral species. Fire susceptibility and severity are low, and fire hazards to adjacent human communities and surrounding forest types are reduced.

Montane Hardwood–Conifer

We are working with Regional vegetation management staff to get updated vegetation layers affected by fire and drought/insect induced mortality to determine current percentages in early, mid and late seral stages of montane hardwood-conifer.

The montane hardwood/mixed conifer forests vary by both species composition and structure—as influenced by elevation, site productivity, and related environmental factors, including disturbance—and are in balance with climate and other ecological conditions. The composition is patchy, with an abundance of large black oaks. More frequent openings with early seral structure and composition (10 percent of the vegetation type) exist within the groves. Most mid-seral structure has converted to a later seral stage as tree sizes increase. 
Approximately 70 percent of the montane hardwood-conifers within giant sequoia groves is dominated by trees greater than 24 inches in diameter. Some of the large trees have multi-layered crowns, producing 60 percent or more canopy cover. 
Outside of giant sequoia groves, 20 percent of this vegetation type is early seral structure and composition. Over one-half of the mid-seral structure has converted to later seral as tree sizes increase. Approximately 40 percent of the mixed conifer is dominated by trees greater than 24 inches in diameter. Some of the large trees have multi-layered crowns, producing 60 percent or more canopy cover.

Reforest high burn severity areas at highest risk of soil erosion in Mill Flat Creek drainage. 

Given recent climate predictions manage for more black oak in these areas.

Use prescribed fire, mechanical or manual treatments to maintain or improve health of Yucca and Monarch pinyon pine groves.

Red Fir

Red fir occurs in Monarch Wilderness and Agnew Roadless Area only.  

We are working with Regional vegetation management staff to get updated vegetation layers affected by fire and drought/insect induced mortality to determine current percentages in early, mid and late seral stages of red fir.

Red fir consists of a mosaic of varying size and age classes, with structural clumping greater than 10 acres, as necessary for species dependent on this vegetation type. 
More frequent openings with early seral structure and composition (10 percent of the vegetation type) exist within the giant sequoia groves. Some mid-seral structure has converted to later seral as tree sizes increase. Approximately 70 percent of the red fir within groves is dominated by trees greater than 24 inches in diameter. Some of the large trees have multi-layered crowns, producing 60 percent or more canopy cover. 
Outside of giant sequoia groves, 10 percent of this vegetation type is early seral structure and composition. Most mid-seral structure has converted to a later seral stage as tree sizes increase. Approximately 70 percent of the mixed conifer outside groves is dominated by trees greater than 24 inches in diameter. Some of the large trees have multi-layered crowns, producing 60 percent or more canopy cover.

Wildlife and Plant Habitat

There is no designated Critical Habitat or known population of Federally listed species within the perimeter of the Rough Fire. Habitat for the West Coast distinct population segment (DPS) of fisher, which was proposed for listing as a threatened species, was impacted by the fire.  Based on a habitat model (CWHR 2.1) over 26,000 acres of moderate and high suitability fisher habitat was within the perimeter of the Rough Fire.  The area that links fisher populations on the north and south sides of the Kings River has likely been severed until vegetation has time to grow back and provide a thick canopy cover.  

Eight Protected Activity Centers (PACs) for California spotted owls and five Northern goshawk PACs were within the fire perimeter.  

The Windy Gulch caves provide roost sites for Townsend’s big-eared bats.  

Habitat for two fish species in the lower Kings River (hardhead and Kern brook lamprey) may be adversely affected by sediment runoff.  Western pond turtles are found in Mill Flat Creek area at lower elevations.  No known species of other aquatic TES, though may have historically provided habitat for foothill and mountain yellow-legged Frogs.  The Mill Flat Creek watershed is a designated Critical Aquatic Refuge. 

Historically mapped populations of eleven sensitive plant species were within the fire perimeter.  Most of these species are fire adapted and had flowered before the fire began.

Lands in the Monument continue to provide a diverse range of habitats that support viable populations of associated vertebrate species, with special emphasis on riparian areas, montane meadows, and late successional forest. Proper hydrologic and ecological functioning conditions in riparian areas and meadows are restored and maintained. Old forest habitat is in suitable quality, quantity, and distribution to support viable populations of late successional dependent species, including Pacific fishers, American martens, California spotted owls, northern goshawks, and great gray owls. The configuration of habitat in the Monument provides connectivity and heterogeneity.  Ecological conditions contribute to the recovery of federally threatened and endangered species such as the California condor and Springville clarkia, and help avoid federal listing of Forest Service sensitive species.

Manage veg. to improve old forest characteristics in mature stands and minimize habitat fragmentation.  Use adaptive management as appropriate to improve habitat.  Improve habitat in streams where compacted and denuded by recreation/cattle use and fire.

Scientific Study and Adaptive Management

Resource management decisions are based on sound science. Research projects focus on science relevant to the proper care and management of the objects to be protected. This includes continuous, iterative collaboration between scientists and managers in the implementation of research projects.

Potential opportunities with Park Service and others regarding sequoias.

Opportunities with Kings River Water District, IRWIM, Friends of South Fork Kings and others to monitor, manage water resources.

Table 6 Strategies for Scientific Study and Adaptive Management 
Strategy
1. Propose scientific study and management activities that respond to the advice provided in the science advisories, where applicable and practicable. Use the joint strategic framework, “A Strategic Framework for Science in Support of Management in the Southern Sierra Nevada Ecoregion,” developed with the National Park Service, to incorporate current and new science.
2. Encourage research to assist in defining agents of change, such as climate, invasive species, ecological succession, and air pollution.
3. Foster partnerships dealing with science.
4. Conduct research regarding objects of interest, including paleontological, cultural, and geological resources, for which there is little current science available.
5. Conduct social science and recreation research to better understand connection to place (including objects of interest), levels of acceptable change, and future use trends.
6. Conduct research to determine whether species shifts are occurring and whether these are associated with climate change factors, such as shifts in habitat characteristics.
7. Study the archaeological sites recording Native American occupation and adaptations to this complex landscape, and the roles prehistoric peoples played in shaping the ecosystems on which they depended (Clinton 2000, p. 24095).
8. Study the archaeological remains of historic logging and giant sequoia regeneration since logging, and study forest resilience to large-scale logging and the consequences of different approaches to forest restoration (Clinton 2000, p. 24097).
9. Conduct research “to understand the consequences of different approaches to forest restoration...” and “the consequences of different approaches to mitigating these conditions [unprecedented buildup of surface fuels, increased hazard of wildfires] and restoring natural forest resilience” (Clinton 2000, p. 24095-24096).

Table 7 Objectives for Scientific Study and Adaptive Management 
Objective | Comment/Accomplishment
1. During the life of the Monument Plan^1, encourage and coordinate at least two scientific studies in the giant sequoia groves to research resilience to agents of change such as fire, drought, insects, disease, and climate change. Design experiments to investigate the responses, including regeneration, of giant sequoias to changes in temperature and moisture, and the complex interactions of these two factors. Publish results within 10 years of study initiation. |
2. During the life of the Monument Plan, continue and expand research on the effects of management activities on Pacific fisher and its habitat to better understand how these activities influence individuals, important habitat components, prey resources, and competition with other predators. Evaluate the research findings as available and refine management direction. |
3. Within 5 years, encourage and coordinate scientific studies in giant sequoia regeneration and in the growth of older giant sequoias subjected to disturbance. |
4. During the life of the Monument Plan, use landscape analysis information to identify opportunities for site-specific ecological restoration projects. | Conducting Rough Fire landscape analysis.
^1 The work toward achieving the objectives in this plan will begin upon plan implementation. When a time frame has been provided for meeting an objective, the intent is to meet the objective within that time frame, or as soon as reasonably possible thereafter.

Table 8 Strategies Specific to Giant Sequoias 
Strategy

1. As part of the fuel load reduction plan for each giant sequoia grove^1, emphasize the protection of: 
	Large giant sequoia trees 
	Large trees of other species, including pines, red firs, incense cedars, and black oaks.

2. Protect naturally-occurring isolated giant sequoias located outside of grove administrative boundaries and near areas of human use from vegetation management activities, giving special consideration to the root systems. When practical, preserve them within wildlife clumps or within areas reserved to meet seral stage diversity requirements.
3. Provide additional protection to the named giant sequoias—Boole, President Bush, and Chicago Stump—from fuels reduction activities, wildfires, and from human disturbance that can damage tree health, such as peeling bark and trampling on roots. Protect these specific trees by pulling fuels away from the base of the trees or removing ladder fuels that could promote a crown fire in them.

4. Give the designation of “grove” to any detached naturally-occurring group (10 or more giant sequoia trees, with at least 4 trees with a dbh of 3 feet or larger) located outside an existing grove’s administrative boundary. If previously unknown giant sequoia trees of any size and number are discovered outside a grove’s administrative boundary, modify the boundary according to the standards and guidelines. 
Develop a zone of influence (ZOI) within which key ecological processes, structures, and functions should be evaluated to ensure that the giant sequoia groves are preserved, protected, and restored (North et al. 2000).

^1 Using the grove administrative boundary.

Table 9 Strategies for Climate Change/Carbon Sequestration
5. Design forest management techniques to forestall impacts to high value resources, such as retention of named giant sequoia trees.
6. Improve the potential for forest ecosystems to return to desired conditions following natural disturbances, such as through the use of prescribed fire, managed wildfire, or mechanical treatments to reduce ladder fuels or tree densities.
7. Restore essential ecological processes and patterns (for example, structural heterogeneity) to reduce impacts of current stressors.
8. Provide mitigation measures for minimizing short-term greenhouse gas emissions and promoting long-term sequestration of carbon resulting from site-specific project activities.

Table 10 Strategies for Ecological Restoration 
Strategy
9. Accomplish ecological restoration, in part, through the reduction of fuels by decreasing down woody material, ladder fuels, and brush.
10. Promote heterogeneity in plantations and young stands by encouraging more diversity in species composition and age. Reduce stand density in young stands and encourage shade-intolerant species such as giant sequoia, pine, and oak.
11. Improve stand resilience and health by varying spacing of trees both inside and outside of giant sequoia groves.
12. Encourage natural regeneration of tree species, including giant sequoia. In areas where natural regeneration is not likely, use planting as determined in site-specific project analysis.
13. Promote resiliency in Monument ecosystems by using the following tools, in order of priority: managed wildfire (when available), prescribed fire, mechanical treatment.^1
^1 Consistent with the Decision Tree narrative (pp. 82-84), whenever naturally-ignited wildfires occur and are available to manage for resource benefits, those managed wildfires will be used first for ecological restoration. These three tools can be used individually or in combination based on site-specific analysis and existing conditions.

Table 11 Strategy for Pest Management
Strategy
14. Continue using integrated pest management, allowing carefully controlled, limited use of pesticides to rapidly control pests and encourage a natural environment.

Table 12 Objectives for Giant Sequoias 
Objective | Comment/Accomplishment
1. Within 20 years, complete a grove-specific fuel load reduction plan for each giant sequoia grove in the Monument. | Initial versions complete for all groves on HLRD. Converse Basin, Indian Basin, Cherry Gap, Abbott Creek ones likely to need updates prior to any project initiation in these areas.
2. Within 20 years, accomplish ecological restoration projects in the WUI defense zone in the giant sequoia groves. |
3. Within 20 years, accomplish ecological restoration projects in 25 percent of the giant sequoia groves outside of the WUI defense zone. | Need to evaluate and document the percent of Evans Grove Complex, Deer Meadow and Agnew Groves restored through reintroduction of fire (Monarch and part of Converse Basin too?)

Table 13 Objectives for Mixed Conifer 
Objective | Comment/Accomplishment

4. Manage vegetation to: 
•	Change approximately 2 percent of the mixed conifer types to an early seral phase in giant sequoia groves per decade. 
•	Change approximately 1 percent of the mixed conifer types to an early seral phase outside of groves per decade. 
•	Change approximately 10 percent of the mixed conifer types to reduce fuels and increase tree growing space in groves per decade. 
•	Change approximately 6 percent of the mixed conifer types to reduce fuels and increase tree growing space outside of groves per decade.

Table 14 Objective for Blue Oak–Interior Live Oak 
Objective | Comment/Accomplishment
5. For the life of the plan, keep the total acreage of the blue oak vegetation type stable. |

Table 15 Objectives for Chaparral–Live Oak
Objective | Comment/Accomplishment
6. Manage vegetation to change approximately 6 percent of the chaparral vegetation types to an early seral phase outside of groves per decade. |

Table 16 Objectives for Montane Hardwood–Conifer 
Objective | Comment/Accomplishment

7. Manage vegetation to: 
•	Change approximately 24 percent of the montane hardwood-conifer vegetation types to an early seral phase in giant sequoia groves per decade. 
•	Change approximately 2 percent of the montane hardwood-conifer types to an early seral phase outside of groves per decade. 
•	Change approximately 12 percent of the montane hardwood-conifer types to reduce fuels and increase tree growing space in groves per decade. 
•	Change approximately 9 percent of the montane hardwood-conifer types to reduce fuels and increase tree growing space outside of groves per decade.

Table 17 Objectives for Red Fir 
Objective | Comment/Accomplishment

8. Manage vegetation to: 
•	Change approximately 3 percent of the red fir vegetation types to an early seral phase in giant sequoia groves per decade. 
•	Change approximately 1 percent of the red fir types to an early seral phase outside of groves per decade. 
•	Change approximately 1 percent of the red fir types to reduce fuels and increase tree growing space in groves per decade. 
•	Change approximately 1 percent of the red fir types to reduce fuels and increase tree growing space outside of groves per decade.

Table 18 Strategies for Fire and Fuels
Strategy
1. Focus fire prevention programs on recreation use and residential areas.
2. When the use of fire is not appropriate (poor air quality days) or desirable (an abundance of ladder fuels that pose a threat to public safety or adjacent communities), mechanical treatments^1 can be used to accomplish fuel management objectives.
3. Promote a range of natural fire effects by allowing low, moderate, and high intensity fires to burn in the Monument.
4. For fires started by natural ignitions (lightning strikes), determine whether to allow them to burn on a case-by-case basis.
5. Conduct prescribed burning at various times of the year, and with different prescriptions (firing patterns), to maximize biodiversity and to avoid undesirable changes from repeated burning at the same time of year.
6. Avoid aerial application of retardant or foam within 300 feet of waterways. This does not require the helicopter or air tanker pilot in command to fly in such a way as to endanger his or her aircraft, other aircraft or structures, or compromise ground personnel safety.
^1 Mechanical treatment is the use of self-propelled equipment.

Table 19 Strategies for Ecological Restoration 
Strategy
7. Restore fuel conditions to allow fire to burn in its characteristic pattern and allow fire to resume its ecological role.
8. Manage fire and fuels to produce a vegetation mosaic of age classes, tree sizes, and species composition to protect the objects of interest and help maintain environmental, social, and economic benefits, such as those associated with tourism.
9. Manage some high-intensity fires on a limited basis and tolerate relatively high mortality to reduce fuels or to improve the diversity of vegetation and habitat characteristics in the Monument.

10. Prioritize treatments for fuels reduction and ecological restoration by land allocations/management areas as follows: 
1.	WUI defense zones 
2.	NOT APPLICABLE TFETA areas of high and moderate fire susceptibility within ¼-mile of the reservation boundary (see following map) 
3.	WUI threat zone 
4.	Giant sequoia groves (not previously treated in 1 through 3) 
5.	NOT APPLICABLE TFETA areas of high fire susceptibility (not previously treated in 2) 
6.	Old forest emphasis areas (not previously treated in 1 through 5)

Table 20 Strategies for Fuels Reduction 
Strategy
11. Locate fuel treatments and manage wildfires (when available) across broad landscapes so that the spread and intensity of wildfire is reduced.
13. Use the following tools for fuels reduction, in order of priority: managed wildfire (when available), prescribed fire, mechanical treatment.^1
^1 Consistent with the Decision Tree narrative (pp. 82-84), whenever naturally-ignited wildfires occur and are available to manage for resource benefits, those managed wildfires will be used first for ecological restoration. These three tools can be used individually or in combination based on site-specific analysis and existing conditions.

Table 21 Strategies Specific to WUI Management 
Strategy
14. Allow low, moderate, and high intensity fires to burn in the Monument, including within giant sequoia groves.
15. Provide a minimum 100-foot defensible space (CFR Section 4291) for all structures on administrative sites, structures authorized by permit, and for developments adjacent to National Forest System lands.

Table 22 Objectives for Fire and Fuels 
Objective | Comment/Accomplishment
1. Meet at least once annually with cooperating agencies to coordinate prescribed burning plans for projects located on adjacent lands and to coordinate fire protection activities. |
2. Use grove-specific fuel load reduction plans to determine where mechanical treatments are needed prior to the re-introduction of fire. | Converse Basin, Indian Basin, Cherry Gap, Abbott Creek ones likely to need updates prior to any project initiation in these areas.
3. Re-introduce fire to achieve ecological restoration goals in the giant sequoia groves on an average of 5 percent of grove acres per year, according to their fuel load reduction plans. | Converse Basin, Indian Basin, Cherry Gap, Abbott Creek ones likely to need updates prior to any project initiation in these areas.

Table 23 Strategies for Wildlife and Plant Habitat
Strategy
1. Maintain and improve habitat for endangered and threatened plant and animal species on federal and state lists to meet objectives set forth in their recovery and management plans.
2. Protect, increase, and perpetuate old forest ecosystems and provide for the diversity of native plant and animal species associated with old forest ecosystems.
3. Protect high value wildlife habitat from management activities using species-specific standards and guidelines based on land allocations such as PACs, HRCAs, den site buffers.
4. Protect high quality fisher habitat from any adverse effects from management activities, evaluating the effects of site-specific projects with models appropriate to the scale of the project.
5. To protect aquatic, riparian, and meadow ecosystems, use streamside management zones, the aquatic management strategy, and the riparian conservation objectives for riparian conservation areas (RCAs) and critical aquatic refuges (CARs).
6. Manage California condor habitat following the most current U.S. Department of the Interior (USDI) Fish and Wildlife Service California Condor Recovery Plan. Contribute to the recovery of the California condor by protecting roosting and potential nesting sites. Include the management of historic use areas, such as the Starvation Grove historic nest site and the Lion Ridge roost area.
7. Manage wetlands and meadow habitat for willow flycatchers and other species following the standards and guidelines from the 1988 Forest Plan, as modified by the 1990 MSA and the 2004 SNFPA.
8. Cooperate with other agencies and researchers on rare species conservation (e.g., the Southern Sierra Nevada Fisher Working Group, the Pacific Southwest Research Station, and the California Department of Fish and Game).
9. Minimize effects to TES plant species and their habitat. Restore and enhance suitable habitat.
10. Minimize the spread of existing infestations and the introduction of invasive non-native species (noxious weeds).

Table 24 Objectives for Wildlife and Plant Habitat 
Objective | Comment/Accomplishment
1. Within 3 years, complete a baseline inventory for invasive species within the Monument. |
2. Over the next 10 years, maintain or increase the number of acres of old forest habitat (defined as CWHR vegetation size classes 4, 5, and 6). Maintain structural features important to late forest species including: multiple layers of vegetation, snags, down woody debris and dense canopy cover. |

Table 25 Strategies for Air Quality
Strategy
1. Avoid prescribed burning on high visitor use days.
2. Convey condition and trend information of sensitive resources to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board, and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District for regulatory consideration.
3. Use ambient air quality monitoring, in collaboration with research, to understand broad southern Sierra air pollution trends and the contribution of smoke to the total pollution load.

Table 26 Objective for Air Quality 
Objective | Comment/Accomplishment
1. As part of managing prescribed fire and wildfire, develop actions with local air pollution control districts that minimize public exposure to atmospheric pollutants. |

Table 27 Strategies for Range
Strategy (GSMN contains no objectives)
1. Maintain or enhance the productivity of all Monument ranges through adequate protection of the objects of interest and the soil, water, and vegetative resources.
2. Contribute to the stability of the ranching community by recognizing its value as part of our heritage, its contribution of food and fiber, and its maintenance of open space.
3. Utilize management systems that ensure cost-effective management of suitable rangelands.
4. Manage rangeland in meadows following the standards and guidelines from the Forest Plan, as modified by the 1990 MSA and the 2004 SNFPA.