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State and Private Forestry
1323 Club Drive
Vallejo, CA 94592

(707) 562-8921
 

Aerial Detection Survey
Insects and diseases are integral components of forest ecosystems.  They play a critical role in shaping forest lands, nutrient recycling, and small-scale disturbance.  Disturbances result in changes in the ecosystem function which often means mortality of trees.  Tree mortality and other forest damage is detected by annual aerial surveys over forested lands.The primary purpose of the aerial survey is to create sketch maps of areas containing current year conifer and hardwood mortality, defoliation, and other damage.  Sketch maps are captured digitally for input to the Region 5 GIS.   Number of trees and acres with damage are calculated for areas surveyed and reported annually.  The guidelines linked below are used to create the sketch maps and GIS coverages.

Methodology

Current-year tree mortality and other damage is sketch mapped by an aerial observer and is defined by yellow to reddish brown trees.  Map labels are categorized by a) damage type , b) number of trees affected, and c) affected tree species. Damage type is labeled either as mortality or one of several non-lethal damage types (topkill, defoliation, etc.).  Multiple damage types can be listed for each polygon.  Surveyors should also note what the probable damage-causing agent is (fire, bark beetles, etc.). 


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2007 aerial detection survey results for Sonoma County presented through Google Maps.
 
 
 

2011 Season Updates

(June 1 Update) (June 7-9 Update) (June 16 Update) (June 28 Update) (July 22 Update) (July 29 Update) (Aug 5 Update) (Aug 11 Update) (Aug 18 Update) (Aug 25 Update) (Sept 8 Update) (Sept 22 Update) (Sept 29 Update)

2011 Aerial Survey Results

2010 Aerial Survey Results

Cumulative Aerial Survey Results

2009 Aerial Survey Results

2008 Aerial Survey Results


2008 Mortality Maps
(Click on Forest or Park - PDF will open in new window)

Clickable Region 5 National Forest and National Park map link to Klamath National Forest mortality map link to Lassen National Forest mortality map Link to Lassen National Forest mortality mapLink to Shasta-Trinity National Forest mortality mapLink to Six Rivers National Forest mortality map Link to Plumas National Forest mortality map and tables Link to Mendocino National Forest mortality map Link to Tahoe National Forest mortality map Link to Eldorado National Forest mortality map Link to Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit map Link to Stanislaus National Forest mortality map Link to Yosemite National Park mortality map Link to Inyo National Forest mortality map Link to Sierra National Forest mortality map Link to Sequoia Kings National Park mortality map Link to Sequoia National Forest mortality map Link to Los Padres National Forest mortality map Link to Angeles National Forest mortality map Link to San Bernardino National Forest mortality map Link to Cleveland National Forest mortality mapLink to Modoc National Forest mortality map

2007 Aerial Survey Results

2006 Aerial Survey

2005 Aerial Survey

1978-2004 Aerial Survey

 

Special surveys

Special surveys are done as needed in response to emerging forest health concerns. Recently, special aerial surveys have been conducted on: Pinyon pine, sudden oak death, noxious weeds, and the extreme mortality event just experienced in Southern California. 

USDA Forest Service - State and Private Forestry
Last Modified: Friday, 07 October 2011 at 18:05:53 EDT
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