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State Plans California
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Sierra Nevada
(Area - 9,732,500 ha)
Description - The Sierra Nevada range, mostly within California and barely
extending into Nevada, rises sharply from the arid basin and range on the east and slopes
gently toward the Central Valley of California on the west. Vegetation at lower elevations
is dominated by lodgepole pine on the east and ponderosa pine on the west, with fir,
spruce, and alpine tundra at higher elevations.Conservation recommendations and needs - Oak woodlands in this area have been extensively cleared for agriculture, notably vineyards, and urbanization. Firewooding, altered fire regimes, overgrazing, and invasive non-native plant invasions have changed what remains. As much of this habitat is private, large landowners should be encouraged to maintain habitat, particularly large oaks, and to manage fire and grazing appropriately. Management guidelines are being devised by California PIF for higher elevation forest wet montane meadows that have been altered by grazing.
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