Pacific Southwest Region

Southern California Hazardous Fuels Rehabilitation and Restoration

June Aerial Flight Survey Results for Southern California

• USDA Forest Service

The USDA Forest Service is conducting quarterly aerial surveys to create a record of forest mortality for forests in southern California, including: the San Bernardino, Cleveland, and Angeles National Forests; parts of the Los Padres, Sequoia and Inyo National Forests; and some of Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs land. Some private lands area are also included in the survey. This is a synopsis of the second quarterly survey occurring from June 14 through June 24, 2004. The first survey was conducted in March 2004.

The aerial surveys showed a wide variety of mortality, caused by drought, insect and disease and wildfire. Nearly 6 million acres were flown in the June survey. The June data showed mortality adjacent to existing stands of dead trees, and other sites with pockets of dead and dying trees, in what appeared to be mostly green forest. By using aerial surveys, coupled with GIS and GPS mapping technologies, the Forest Service is more capable of identifying potential danger zones, and critical needs areas. The data also helps with \short-term and long-term trends analysis.

On the San Bernardino National Forest (NF), the June survey showed an increase of over 27,000 acres of insect and wildfire caused mortality since the March flight. The Cleveland and Angles NF's were showing between 3,000-4,800 new acres of insect caused mortality, while the Los Padres NF had 70 new acres of wildfire mortality and nearly 4,000 new acres of insect caused mortality. The Sequoia NF survey showed over 20,000 new acres of mortality, likely insect caused, and the Inyo NF showed 1,500 acres lost due to fire and over 42,000 new acres with insect-caused mortality. Since 2003, the surveys have identified about 615,000 acres with abnormally high levels of tree mortality.

For more information on the Southern California and Southern Sierra Quarterly Aerial Survey Project, please contact Lisa Fischer, 916-286-7896.

Success Stories

• Barton Flats
• Breaking Barriers
• Burn Area Restoration Projects
• Carveacre Community Protection
• Charlton Flats
• Crystal Lake
• Evacuation Route Clearing
• Forest Area Safety Taskforce
• Grant Successes
• June Aerial Flight Results
• Kuffel Canyon Road
• Laguna Mountain Community Protection
• Lake Arrowhead Log Storage Facility
• March Aerial Flight Results
• Mistletoe Eradication
• North Lake Arrowhead Fuels Reduction
• Seeds for Forest Renewal
• Skyline Fuels Reduction Project
• Student Conservation Association Partnership
• Take Pride in America

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