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Aspen Ecology and Management in California:A Field Seminar for Non-Governmental Organizations  

                            

The Aspen Delineation Project (a partnership of USFS, BLM, and CDFG), the Sierra Forest Legacy, and the Lassen National Forest will conduct a two day aspen ecology and management field seminar on the Eagle Lake Ranger District of the Lassen National Forest, September 12-13, 2007.

The overarching objective of this field seminar is to provide Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade stakeholders with an understanding of (1) historic distribution, abundance, and ecologic role of aspen, (2) contemporary resource issues, (3) management options for improving the ecological viability of aspen habitats, (4) monitoring effectiveness of management, (5) and aspen management in the context of larger landscape-scale ecological restoration opportunities.  Non-governmental organizations, private land owners, permittees, and state wildlife agencies are being invited to join Lassen National Forest resource managers, University of California researchers, and aspen scientists, Wayne Shepperd and Dale Bartos from the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station in an open discussion that will result in a common understanding of aspen issues.

The Eagle Lake Ranger District is an ideal site for this field seminar since the Ranger District is involved in a major landscape level effort to bring its aspen habitats back into their range of natural variability.

In order to increase discussion between those attending the event, participation will be limited so submit your registrations by August 15, 2007. There are no registration fees for the workshop.  Participants will need to provide their own food, lodging, and other travel costs.  Additional details about the workshop (i.e. event location details, lodging opportunities, participant’s reception, etc) will be distributed to registrants by August 20.

To participate in this event, please registrar by sending your name, address, email and affiliated organization to David Burton, Aspen Delineation Project, 2070 Orange Drive, Penryn California 95663, or email the information to peregrines@prodigy.net . If you have any questions regarding the event or registration, please call David at  (916) 663-2574.

 

Freatured Presenters

Dale L. Bartos is an Ecologist with the Restoration Ecology work unit, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Logan, UT. He joined the project in 1997 and has been working on aspen and associated problems since 1972. Prior to assuming his current position, he was with the Intermountain Research Station as a member of the Mountain Pine Beetle Project (1985-1997) and the Aspen Ecosystem Project (1972-1984). He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from Fort Hays State University and a Ph.D. degree in Range Science from Colorado State University. His principle research interests are in ecological processes in general and restoration of aspen ands which have declined substantially since settlement in the West.


Wayne D. Shepperd is a Retired Research Silviculturist. He worked for the Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ft. Collins, CO  his entire professional career. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from Colorado State University along with a Ph.D. from Colorado State University in Silviculture. His research encompassed the development and evaluation of alternative silviculture practices for all forest types with a major emphasis on understanding the factors and processes responsible for the structural development of existing forests.

 

Draft Agenda:

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

1:00-5:00; Eagle Lake Ranger District, Susanville, CA

 

Seminar Overview: Introduction of events goals and objectives and logistics

David Burton, Aspen Delineation Project

Session 1: Aspen in the Context of Eastside Pine Ecosystems

Tom Rickman, Wildlife Biologist, Eagle Lake Ranger District

              Discussion

Session 2: Aspen Ecology and Restoration.

Wayne Shepperd. RMRS (Retired) lead author of Ecology, Biodiversity, Management, and Restoration of Aspen in the Sierra Nevada (2006) GTR-178, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

             Discussion

Session 3: Monitoring effectiveness of restoration efforts.

Presenter to be announced.

             Discussion

Social Hour and Dinner: Susanville Railroad Depot or equivalent site.

Thursday, September, 13th

8:00-4:00; Start at Eagle Lake Range District Office, Susanville, CA

Field trip stops will occur at sites that illustrate

Aspen ecology,

Aspen in the context of eastside pine ecosystems,

The current ecological condition of aspen,

Specific aspen management techniques available in aspen restoration,

Range management in aspen  (wild and domestic ungulates), and

Monitoring the effectiveness of restoration efforts.