Pacific Southwest Research Station

Plant community characterization and ranking of fens in the Lake Tahoe Basin

Final Report [pdf]

Abstract

The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) proposes to monitor, map, and rank fens for their plant community diversity and quality within the Lake Tahoe Basin. We will analyze data from over 100 existing fen/montane wetland surveys to refine a vegetation classification system for fens in the region. We will establish a system for quantitatively ranking fens based on existing methods, and we will use existing fen data and collect additional monitoring data for at least 40 stands in order to sufficiently rank fen sites. We plan to focus efforts where initial reconnaissance/surveys have been undertaken by project partners, such as the US Forest Service (USFS). Collection of additional monitoring data and establishment of maps and rankings for fens will be useful to project partners and the public, so that they can make long-term conservation and management decisions to protect sensitive fen communities.