
Frank K. Lake
Research Ecologist
1700 Bayview Drive
Arcata
California
United States
95521-6013
Phone: 707-825-2953
Contact Frank K. Lake
Current Research
My current research involves wildland fire effects, traditional ecological knowledge, Climate Change, and ethno-ecology with an emphasis on cultural management and fire ecology of forest, shrub, grassland and riparian environments in the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion. My research projects support the Western Klamath Restoration Partnership composed of the Mid Klamath Watershed Council and Orleans-Somes Bar Fire Safe Council, Karuk Tribe, Yurok Tribe, The Nature Conservancy, rural community members, and government agencies on fuels reduction, prescribed fire, ethno-botany, and other natural resource issues. My other projects and research include: American Indian Tribes and Climate Change; Agroforestry practices of Indigenous and tribal people, and Wildland Fire effects on Heritage and Cultural Resources. I mentor and serve as a graduate committee member for several students working on tribal food security, wildland fire, and forest management. I serve as a Resource Advisor on wildfires, and am a faculty member of the Rx 510 Advanced Fire Effects course at the National Advanced Fire and Resources Institute.
Past Research
I have worked as a fisheries habitat biologist in western Oregon on the Siuslaw and Rouge River National Forests and in Northwestern California for the Hoopa Tribe's Fisheries Program. I switched from fisheries habitat work in 1999 and started graduate school in the Fall 2000 to study traditional ecological knowledge, tribal/fire management practices and fire ecology.
Education
- Oregon State University, Ph.D. Environmental Sciences - Ecology section 2007
- University of California, B.S. Integrated Ecology and Culture, Individual major; Native American Studies minor 1995
Professional Organizations
- Ecological Society of America, Chair (2014 - 2016)
As a member and section leader (Vice Chair 2012-2014, and Chair 2014-2016) I assist with organizing TEK section events. These range from fieldtrips, Special Session-Sense of Place, Organized Oral Sessions, and Symposia.
Awards & Recognition
- Pacific Southwest Research Station Distinguished Scientist, 2019
- Eagle Feather Award, 2013
For mentorship of the Klamath Basin Tribal Youth Program, summer 2013. By US Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Director, Ren Lohoefener and KBTY Program Coordinator, Trevor Super. - PSW Community Enhancement and Diveristy Team Civil Rights Individual Award 2013, 2013
Dr. Frank Lake has been working with tribes to integrate traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) with western science materials for natural resource management. He has made vital contributions toward service and outreach to multicultural communities. - Recognition, 2012
Recognition of my support of the US Forest Service Tribal Relations Program in the National Tribal Relations Workshop. Presented by Deputy Chief of State and Private Forestry, James E. Hubbard. May 15, 2012. - Fellowship, 2004
Community Forestry Research Fellowship recipient, U.C. Berkeley
Publications
- Kelly, Luke T.; Giljohann, Katherine M.; Duane, Andrea ; Aquilué, Núria ; Archibald, Sally ; Batllori, Enric ; Bennett, Andrew F.; Buckland, Stephen T.; Canelles, Quim ; Clarke, Michael F.; Fortin, Marie-Josée ; Hermoso, Virgilio ; Herrando, Sergi ; Keane, Robert E.; Lake, Frank K.; McCarthy, Michael A.; Morán-Ordóñez, Alejandra ; Parr, Catherine L.; Pausas, Juli G.; Penman, Trent D.; Regos, Adrián ; Rumpff, Libby ; Santos, Julianna L.; Smith, Annabel L.; Syphard, Alexandra D.; Tingley, Morgan W.; Brotons, Lluís . 2020. Fire and biodiversity in the Anthropocene.
- Long, Jonathan W.; Lake, Frank K.; Goode, Ron W.; Burnette, Benrita Mae. 2020. How traditional tribal perspectives influence ecosystem restoration.
- Mansourian, Stephanie ; Parrotta, John ; Balaji, Poorna ; Bellwood‐Howard, Imogen ; Bhasme, Suhas ; Bixler, R. Patrick; Boedhihartono, Agni Klintuni; Carmenta, Rachel ; Jedd, Theresa ; Jong, Wil ; Lake, Frank K.; Latawiec, Agnieszka ; Lippe, Melvin ; Rai, Nitin D.; Sayer, Jeffrey ; Van Dexter, Kristina ; Vira, Bhaskar ; Visseren‐Hamakers, Ingrid ; Wyborn, Carina ; Yang, Anastasia . 2020. Putting the pieces together: Integration for forest landscape restoration implementation.
- Long, Jonathan W.; Goode, Ron W.; Lake, Frank K. 2020. Recentering ecological restoration with tribal perspectives.
- Hart‐Fredeluces, G. M.; Ticktin, Tamara ; Lake, Frank K. 2020. Simulated Indigenous fire stewardship increases the population growth rate of an understorey herb.
- Marks-Block, Tony ; Lake, Frank K.; Curran, Lisa M. 2019. Effects of understory fire management treatments on California Hazelnut, an ecocultural resource of the Karuk and Yurok Indians in the Pacific Northwest.
- Sowerwine, Jennifer ; Sarna-Wojcicki, Daniel ; Mucioki, Megan ; Hillman, Lisa ; Lake, Frank ; Friedman, Edith . 2019. Enhancing food sovereignty: A five-year collaborative tribal-university research and extension project in California and Oregon.
- Lake, F.K. ; Christianson, A.C. . 2019. Indigenous fire stewardship.
- Long, Jonathan ; Lake, Frank K.; Lynn, Kathy ; Viles, Carson . 2018. Chapter 11: Tribal ecocultural resources and engagement.
- Lake, Frank K.; Emery, Marla R.; Baumflek, Michelle J.; Friday, Kathleen S.; Kamelamela, Katie ; Kruger, Linda ; Grewe, Nicole ; Gilbert, Jonathan ; Reo, Nicholas J. 2018. Chapter 4 - Cultural dimensions of nontimber products.
- De Angelis, Patricia ; Nygaard-Scott, Sharon ; Chamberlain, James ; Crandall, Sharofa ; Lake, Frank K.; McLain, Rebecca J.; Mitchell, Christine ; Patel, Amit R. 2018. Chapter 7 - Policies and regulations concerning non-timber forest products.
- Lake, Frank; Giardina, Christian; Parrota, J.A.; Hunt-Davidson, I. 2018. Considering diverse knowledge systems in forest landscape restoration.
- Long, Jonathan W.; Lake, Frank K. 2018. Escaping social-ecological traps through tribal stewardship on national forest lands in the Pacific Northwest, United States of America.
- Lake, Frank; Parrotta, John; Giardina, Christian; Hunt-Davidson, Iain; Uprety, Yadav. 2018. Integration of Traditional and Western knowledge in forest landscape restoration.
- Long, Jonathan ; Gray, Andrew ; Lake, Frank . 2018. Recent trends in large hardwoods in the Pacific Northwest, USA.
- David, Aaron T.; Asarian, J. Eli; Lake, Frank K. 2018. Wildfire smoke cools summer river and stream water temperatures.
- MacFarland, Kate ; Elevitch, Craig ; Friday, J.B. ; Friday, Kathleen ; Lake, Frank K.; Zamora, Diomy . 2017. Chapter 5: Human dimensions of agroforestry systems.
- Lake, Frank K.; Wright, Vita; Morgan, Penelope; McFadzen, Mary; McWethy, Dave; Stevens-Rumann, Camille. 2017. Returning fire to the land: celebrating traditional knowledge and fire.
- Anderson, M. Kat; Lake, Frank K. . 2016. Beauty, bounty, and biodiversity: the story of California Indian s relationship with edible native geophytes.
- Kramer, Heather; Collins, Brandon; Lake, Frank; Jakubowski, Marek; Stephens, Scott; Kelly, Maggi. 2016. Estimating ladder fuels: a new approach combining field photography with LiDAR.
- Long, Jonathan W.; Anderson, M. Kat; Quinn-Davidson, Lenya; Goode, Ron W.; Lake, Frank K.; Skinner, Carl N. 2016. Restoring California black oak ecosystems to promote tribal values and wildlife.
- Hummel, S.; Lake, F.K. 2015. Forest site classification for cultural plant harvest by tribal weavers can inform management.
- Crawford, J. N.; Mensing, S. A.; Lake, Frank; Zimmerman, S. R. 2015. Late Holocene fire and vegetation reconstruction from the western Klamath Mountains, California, USA: a multi-disciplinary approach for examining potential human land-use impacts.
- Long, Jonathan W.; Quinn-Davidson, Lenya; Goode, Ron W.; Lake, Frank K.; Skinner, Carl N. 2015. Restoring California black oak to support tribal values and wildlife.
- Hummel, S.; Lake, Frank; Watts, A. 2015. Using forest knowledge: how silviculture can benefit from ecological knowledge systems about beargrass harvesting sites.
- Winter, Patricia L.; Long, Jonathan W.; Lake, Frank K.; Charnley, Susan. 2014. Broader context for social, economic, and cultural components.
- Charnley, Susan; Long, Jonathan W.; Lake, Frank K. 2014. Collaboration in national forest management.
- Lake, Frank K.; Long, Jonathan W. 2014. Fire and tribal cultural resources.
- Rossier, Colleen; Lake, Frank. 2014. Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge in agroforestry.
- Winter, Patricia L.; Long, Jonathan W.; Lake, Frank K. 2014. Sociocultural perspectives on threats, risks, and health.
- Lake, Frank K. 2013. After the First Full Moon in April: A Sourcebook of Herbal Medicine from a California Indian Elder Book Review.
- Anderson, Kat M.; Lake, Frank K. 2013. California Indian ethnomycology and associated forest management.
- Voggesser, Garrit; Lynn, Kathy; Daigle, John; Lake, Frank K.; Ranco, Darren. 2013. Cultural impacts to tribes from climate change influences on forests.
- Lake, Frank K. 2013. Historical and cultural fires, tribal management and research issues in Northern California: Trails, fires and tribulations.
- Lynn, Kathy; Daigle, John; Hoffman, Jennie; Lake, Frank; Michelle, Natalie; Ranco, Darren; Viles, Carson; Voggesser, Garrit; Williams, Paul. 2013. The impacts of climate change on tribal traditional foods.
- Trosper, Ronald L.; Clark, Fred; Gerez-Fernandez, Patrica; Lake, Frank; McGregor, Deborah; Peters, Charles M.; Purata, Silvia; Ryan, Teresa; Thomson, Alan; Watson, Alan E.; Wyatt, Stephen. 2012. North America Chapter 5.
- Lake, Frank K. 2011. Working with American Indian tribes on wildland fires: protecting cultural heritage sites in northwestern California.
- Lake, Frank K.; Tripp, William; Reed, R. 2010. The Karuk tribe, planetary stewardship, and world renewal on the middle Klamath River, California.
- Senos, René; Lake, Frank K.; Turner, Nancy; Martinez, Dennis. 2006. Traditional ecological knowledge and restoration practice.
Citations of non US Forest Service Publications
- Vinyeta, Kristen; Lake, Frank K.; Norgaard, Kari M. 2016. Chapter Three: Vulnerabilities of Traditional Foods and Cultural Use Species In Norgaard "Karuk Tribe Climate Vulnerability Assessment: Assessing Vulnerabilities from the Increased Frequency of High Severity Fires" prepared for the Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources report to DOI-BIA, pages: 65-133
Research Highlights
Highlight | Title | Year |
![]() PSW-2015-101 | Paleoclimate Fire History Study Reveals Human Affects to Fire Regime Differs Than Expected Climate on Western Klamath Vegetation. Forest Service scientists examined low-elevation lakes to determine if American Indian and early American forest management could be detected us ... | 2015 |
![]() PSW-2017-244 | Returning fire to the land: celebrating traditional knowledge and fire What are the "must do" approaches for working with tribes for wildland fire research and management? Tribal members, managers, and researchersen ... | 2017 |
![]() PSW-2016-52 | Student Collaboration Links Tribal History with Cultural Resources, Fire Regimes, Forest Management, and Ecological Habitats Open prairie grass and oak-dominated woodlands provide numerous cultural resources to the Yurok Tribe. Since the 1940s, more than 80 percent of ... | 2016 |