SIERRA NEVADA ECOSYSTEM PROJECT MAPS

The original maps used in the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project's (SNEP) 1996 report to Congress on the status of the Sierra Nevada are available for research at WRCA.

The maps have been fully cataloged. The following pages (nos.1-40 & nos.41-89) contain a complete index to the cataloged maps, however, there is no search engine for this index, although a simple search can be performed with the use of your browser's find command [usually Ctl-F]. To access the full bibliographic records, search the Melvyl catalog. Once in Melvyl, select form: maps and search on corporate author: sierra nevada ecosystem project. Searches can be refined by limiting the records to specific subjects or areas (eg., old growth forests or stanislaus national forest). To browse the web index, select one of the links below:

Map nos. 1-40 Map nos. 41-89

The collection summary information below is provided courtesy of the University of California Centers for Water And Wildland Resources.

Note: The Final Report to Congress is also available online: http://ceres.ca.gov/snep/pubs/

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SNEP Maps Collection Summary
Binders with LSOG Attribute information on SNEP mapped conditions on public lands, including National Forest and National Parks lands, and national resources lands (BLM) in Sierra Nevada Study Area.

Description of more than 2,800 polygons on public lands of Sierra Nevada. Mappers described and ranked several large, relatively homogeneous units called "patches" using late successional structural features, including numbers of large trees, numbers of large snags and logs, degree of canopy closure, and history of human disturbances. The ranks of these patches were than aggregated to provide an overall rank for the larger polygon in which they occur. Thus the landscape polygons were usually mixes of forest and non-forest vegetation of varying composition and structure. The six-point scale for ranking structural complexity and contribution to late successional forest function in the Sierra Nevada ranged from 0 (low complexity, no contribution) to 5 (very high complexity and contribution). This represents the late successional/old growth (LSOG) ranking system. For more information, refer to Volume I, chapter 6, SNEP Final Report.

Map tubes by 7.5 minute quad for each forest. An experimental pilot mapping effort was applied to the Eldorado National Forest to test and refine ranking procedures. This pilot effort led to rules and standards for structural complexity to ensure consistency in mapping over the range. Subsequently, mapping and characterization were carried out by a large team of resource specialists assembled from the federal and state land units of the Sierra, and directed by members of SNEP. The specialists all possessed familiarity with on-the-ground conditions. A wide variety of source materials, including aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and maps showing forest conditions and habitat suitability as well as personal knowledge of forest conditions, was used by the specialists to delineate landscape polygons and characterize the patches within them. Most mapping was mapped on 7.5 minute quads, some were mapped on base maps for specific National Forest, BLM, State Park, or National Parks at a scale of 1:100,000/1:250,000.

All map tubes titled by National Forest, BLM, State Park, or National Parks with LSOG project contain the following: 7.5 minute quads joined together to create the National boundaries of areas mapped. These map tubes contain a base map of the National Forest, Park, State Park or BLM lands as well as a mylar and paper copy of the National Forest, Park, State Park or BLM lands with polygon ID and ranking by shading.

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Map of California:
From approximately I-5 East (one large map/entire state N-S excluding West). Mylar & Base includes: elevations/valleys & mountain ranges; cities & elevation; rivers; roads; railroads.

BLM Base Maps:
54 maps (2 tubes), 1973-1991

Raven Maps
California (trimmed to show SNEP study area only), with mylar overlays

Terrestrial Natural Community Types of the Southern Sierra Nevada Region.
Prepared for SNEP by UCSB Biogeography Lab 7/95

California Tree Seed Zone Map, 1961-1969.
Mylar only; used to scan and bring into Arc Info

Shevock Rare & Endemic Plants.

SNEP Study Area Ownership.
Proclaimed NF, BLM & Private lands

Leisz 1888 vegetation maps:

• 1888 Vegetation: Tahoe, Eldorado, and LTB NF
• Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit 1888 Vegetation
• Tahoe 1888 Vegetation (Source: California State Board of Forestry 1887-88)
• 1902 Fires Occurring in Tahoe National Forest (Source: USGS Leiberg 1902)

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Stewart hydro plant project

• Dams of SNEP Study Area.
• Draft Power Plants, SNEP Study Area.

LSOG verification maps
Verification of polygons and polygon "ID's" with original mapping from 7.5 minute quads or 1:100,000 base maps. Corrections were made and sent back to National Park/National Forest for confirmation of corrections.

ALSE-definition and description found in SNEP Final Report, Volume I, page 101, paragraph starting with "Strategy 1. Areas of Late Successional Emphasis". A brief definition-Areas of late successional emphasis (ALSEs) are areas with a management emphasis on maintenance of structurally diverse forests that provide high levels of late successional function, including habitat for species requiring or preferring such conditions. ALSEs would be large landscape units, typically in the range of 20,000-60,000 acres (multi-polygons), distributed across the range of the forest types. Existing high-ranked polygons (4s and 5s) would be used as starting points for identifying ALSEs, with adjacent or intermixed polygons potential areas for enhancing late successional characteristics. It should be recalled that these areas would not be homogeneous continuous stands of old trees. Patches of lower-ranked stands are included in many 4 and 5 polygons; what is more important, as described earlier, the "natural" late successional condition of Sierran middle-elevation forest interspersed with spatial variability (patches of deep forest intersperse with treefall gaps, areas where fires burned at different intensities resulting in different densities, etc.)

Three Sets of LSOG maps, Sierra Nevada Standard, Series Normalized --ALSE.

• LSOG Mark II---Rankings, shrubs, wetland, rock, and water.
• LSOG Series Normalized ----Ranking by shading and tree type
• LSOG Mark II Areas of Late Successional Emphasis---ALSE polygons

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SNEP ALSE working drafts
50 maps (mylar and paper) used in establishing ALSE polygons

Eastside ALSE proposals
Modoc, Lassen, Inyo and Toiyabe National Forest base maps with mylar copies of ALSE proposed polygons.

Significant Area Mapping
The SNEP significant areas project was primarily an inventory effort to map and compile information about features in the Sierra Nevada that have special ecological, geological, and cultural significance. The project did not attempt to be exhaustive but rather to contribute to the list of areas already known for the Sierra Nevada. By inventorying these areas and their special attributes, SNEP highlighted their existence, general condition, and potential management needs.

Significant areas make up a heterogeneous class. Definitions of significance are arbitrary and relative to geographic scale, to biodiversity values, and to human values. Previous and ongoing efforts exist in the Sierra Nevada to identify natural and significant areas. SNEP's work adds to, and does not replace, these efforts.

Because of the nature of significant areas, the SNEP significant areas mapping effort does not try to be exhaustive. Many more areas exist in the Sierra Nevada that fit the criteria and were not inventoried; SNEP's goal was to add to existing inventories in a systematic way. The significant areas inventory was based on expert-opinion and knowledge; on-the-ground evaluation of significant areas was not undertaken.

SNEP focused more on locating special features of the Sierra Nevada and less on mapping areas that contain them. Thus, boundaries are rough, indicating general location of features, and are not intended to be formal management boundaries.

Specific objectives in some cases overlap, and are accomplished by, other SNEP efforts. Collectively, the work in SNEP to identify habitats and areas of high ecological value for late successional forests, for watersheds, for endemic plants and animals, for genetic diversity, and for significant areas have common goal of inventorying biodiversity in the Sierra Nevada.

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For more information refer to Significant Natural Areas, SNEP Final Report Volume II, Chapter 29, pages 839-854.

Binders with attribute sheets. Significant Area maps.

Mylar or original mapping. Most base maps have been removed.

SNEP CalWater watershed maps.
Included in legend--Hydrologic Area (HA) Boundary, Hydrologic SubArea Boundary, Super Planning Watershed (SPWS) Boundary and Hydrology (Rivers and Streams) See SNEP 24

Poff Soils Project Statsgo.
Soil map of study area

LSOG Edgematching Project
Mostly Yosemite and base maps
Verification of polygons & polygon "ID's"

Yoshiama Historic Spawning Areas.
2 maps

• Historic salmon spawning area
• Current salmon spawning area

NDDB Map NF elevation map.
One map, "Plant Animal & Communities" (Department of Fish and Game Natural Diversity Database)

Plantation Maps, Status Reforestation 1991.

SNEP 30M DEM Index.
Index for Study Area by 7.5 minute Quads

Camp Creek.
7.5 minute quads (Eldorado National Forest) and mylar overlays; Leek Springs/Iron Mountain Source: Landsat Imagery captured at 30 meter pixel resolution

LAVO Wilderness Area, Lassen Volcanic National Park
LSOG mapping revised by mappers. Base map & mylar.

Terrestrial Natural Communities of the Southern Sierra Nevada (8)
Terrestrial Natural Communities of the Northern Sierra Nevada (8)

Tahoe Pilot Project: Mountain Quail

Camp/Clear Creek LSOG.

USGS/SNEP maps

• Earthquake Epicenters 1910-present
• Tracts Permissive for Mother Lode Au Deposits
• Areas of Elevated Mercury Concentrations

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