Synthesize the best available science to assess climate change vulnerability
and develop adaptation strategies for recreation and infrastructure resources on National Forests in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range to understand and mitigate potentially adverse effects of climate change
Develop a framework and tools for managers to incorporate the best available science plus existing/complementary assessments
into USFS recreation and engineering program assessments
Define priority regional- and forest-level climate change vulnerabilities
so that such factors may be integrated in a cohesive and strategic manner throughout the land management planning process
Produce a spatially explicit, peer-reviewed vulnerability assessment
(with specific adaptation strategies noted) written to support the needs of Forest Service resource managers
Review existing R5 vulnerability assessments and resources to extract and organize pertinent outputs and information to priority program resources within the recreation and infrastructure programs
Consult with R5 Recreation and Engineering Staff and key partners in the Sierra Nevada to:
Compose a vulnerability assessment, including adaptation strategies, for Recreation and Infrastructure Program resources in the Sierra Nevada
Develop vulnerability maps for Forest Service priority recreation and infrastructure resources
Conduct a workshop(s) with scientists, land managers, and other stakeholders to develop adaptation options
Peer review and publish
April 2018
Establish partnership
Determine partners and team members, and resource areas to be covered by the vulnerability assessment.
September 2018
Field Consultation and Expert Elicitation
Regional office and science teams consult with land managers and collect data for the assessment area.
Fall/Winter 2018
Develop vulnerability assessment
Process data, review preliminary results, consult with resource managers and planners to develop relevant information.
May 2019
Conduct science-management workshop
Present vulnerability assessment, receive feedback on the assessment, and develop adaptation options.
October 2019
Finalize vulnerability assessment report
Conduct internal and external peer-review of the report.
Project website for internal and external communication and marketing.
General Technical Report
An ArcGIS online tool was developed as a geospatial complement to the GTR. The tool allows land managers to view maps showing a variety of climate vulnerabilities overlaid on key Forest Service recreation and infrastructure resources in California. The intent is to give land managers one perspective on how to prioritize limited resources when thinking about the long-term sustainability of investments. The tool starts off by posing five initial questions, with pre-generated overlays, providing quick and easy comparisons. The tool also contains a Data Explorer with more than 30 data layers, on topics related to recreation, infrastructure, hydrology, climate change, and more.including map gallery, data, and information for use at national forest level in projects and forest plan revision.
Online library of adaptation options by resource area.
