Author: Harold Draper

Sierra Nevada Forests, Part 2B: Tahoe National Forest and American River

June 1, 2016

Part 2B continues with the national forest system and then describes the reservoir and hydroelectric power systems of the American River area of the Sierra Nevada forests ecoregion. Lake Tahoe Basin Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, California, manages 78 percent of the Lake Tahoe watershed, and was formed from lands of the Eldorado, Tahoe, and … More Sierra Nevada Forests, Part 2B: Tahoe National Forest and American River

Sierra Nevada Forests, Part 2A, American River and Tahoe Areas

May 15, 2016

Sierra Nevada map 1 Continuing south in the Sierra Nevada forests, the American River watershed drains the western slopes and the Truckee River drains the eastern slopes. This post describes some of the features in this landscape. Part 2 describes the Mother Lode and Lake Tahoe areas encompassed by general areas of the Eldorado and Tahoe … More Sierra Nevada Forests, Part 2A, American River and Tahoe Areas

Sierra Nevada Forests, Part 1B: Plumas Area

April 3, 2016

This entry concludes the northernmost Sierra Nevada forests ecoregion compilation, with information about hydroelectric developments, wilderness areas, and state parks included. Feather River, Middle Fork Lake Davis, California State Water Project (N39º53’ W120º29’), is on Big Grizzly Creek, a tributary to the Middle Fork Feather River. The reservoir is north of Portola, with recreation areas … More Sierra Nevada Forests, Part 1B: Plumas Area

Sierra Nevada forests, Part 1A: Plumas Area

March 1, 2016

Sierra Nevada forests (NA527), Part 1A: Plumas Area Boundary Delineation Sierra Nevada forests ecoregion is the most diverse temperate coniferous forest on Earth, supporting numerous species of pine and 75 giant sequoia groves. The Sierra Nevada forests are generally found between 35 to 40 degrees north latitude and 117 to 120 degrees west longitude in … More Sierra Nevada forests, Part 1A: Plumas Area

Eastern Cascades Forests

February 4, 2016

The Eastern Cascades forests ecoregion (NA 512) is mostly to the west of the121st meridian. The sections east of the 121st meridian are described here, with those to the west being a future attraction. The sections below include the southeastern Wenatchee Mountains and Simcoe Mountains of Washington, the eastern extension of the Newberry Volcanics (Paulina Mountains), … More Eastern Cascades Forests

Cascades Mountains Leeward Forests, Part 2

January 2, 2016

Part 2 provides a description of National Wilderness Preservation System, National Fish Hatcheries, State Lands, and Local Sites. National Wilderness Preservation System There are five units of the National Wilderness Preservation System in the Cascades Mountains leeward forests. Alpine Lakes Wilderness Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Snoqualmie National Forest, Wenatchee National Forest, and Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, … More Cascades Mountains Leeward Forests, Part 2

Cascades Mountains Leeward Forests, Part A: National Parks, Forests, Lakes, and Trails

December 3, 2015

Part A. Cascades Mountains leeward forests (NA 507) The eastern slope of the Cascades includes four ecoregions, from the Sierra Nevada to the British Columbia coastal forests. This section will be expanded more in the future by inclusion of sites to the west of the 121st meridian and to the north of the 50th parallel. … More Cascades Mountains Leeward Forests, Part A: National Parks, Forests, Lakes, and Trails

Blue Mountains Forests, Part D: National System of Public Lands and Local Sites

November 1, 2015

Other federal sites in Blue Mountains forests are part of the National System of Public Lands. Dry Mountain Research Natural Area (RNA), National System of Public Lands, Oregon (N43˚40’ W119˚36’) is 2,100 acres on an isolated mountain overlooking the Snake-Columbia shrub-steppe ecoregion. Vegetation is big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass and mountain mahogany-bunchgrass. Forest Creek-Fox Canyon RNA, National … More Blue Mountains Forests, Part D: National System of Public Lands and Local Sites

Blue Mountains Forests, Part C: Wild Rivers and Wilderness

October 2, 2015

A Wild Chinook Run, the Matterhorn of Oregon, and Devil’s Tooth Although open ponderosa pine forests are the signature vegetation type, the Blue Mountains ecoregion has a number of distinctive subregions, as described in Thorson et al. 2003. Maritime-influenced areas have a more diverse forest created by additional moisture that makes it through the Columbia … More Blue Mountains Forests, Part C: Wild Rivers and Wilderness

Blue Mountains Forest, Part B: Ponderosa Pines and Fossil Mammals

September 5, 2015

This section includes the National Forests in the western and central Blue Mountains of Oregon, National Park System, Recreation Lakes, and the National Trails System. While ponderosa pines predominate at higher elevations, botanical areas protect other rare species such as Alaska yellow cedar grove. Grasslands and sagebrush are characteristic at lower elevations of the Blue … More Blue Mountains Forest, Part B: Ponderosa Pines and Fossil Mammals