Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest

Last updated
Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest
Entrance to Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest on Forestry Rd., Cobb, CA.jpg
Entrance to Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest on Forestry Rd., Cobb, CA
Relief map of California.png
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Location Lake County, California
Nearest city Cobb, California
Coordinates 38°49′N122°41′W / 38.82°N 122.69°W / 38.82; -122.69
Area3,433 acres (14 km2)
Established1949
Governing body Calfire

Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest is a state forest in Lake County, California that covers the northwest of Boggs Mountain. It was founded in 1949, and came into operation in 1950 when most of the site had been clear cut. The purpose was to demonstrate good practices in restoring and managing a forest. The state forest was open for recreational use, including camping, hiking, mountain biking etc. The 2015 Valley Fire destroyed 80% of the trees. The state forest as of 2021 was replanting saplings.

Contents

Location

The forest is roughly half way between Clear Lake and Calistoga. [1] It is near the town of Cobb, about 10 miles (16 km) north of Middletown on Highway 175. [2] It is about 50 miles (80 km) from the Pacific Ocean to the west, and about 75 miles (121 km) as the crow flies from San Francisco to the south. [3]

Boggs Mountain is a prominent feature at the southeast end of the Clear Lake Volcanic Field. [4] It is an elongated rolling highland. [5] The mountain takes the form of a simple ridge crest from which long spurs run southeast to Putah Creek. [6] Around 3,000 feet (910 m) above sea level the topography levels out. The upper part of the mountain is similar to a plateau cut by several drainage channels. [7] The terrain of the state forest is gently rolling, with peaks at the north and south ends. It covers almost 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of the mountain. Volcanic rock is visible in most parts of the forest. [3]

Vegetation

Lower down, most of the vegetation is chaparral, and manzanita is the most common species. Higher up there is (or was) a mixed forest of coast range Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa ) and sugar pine ( Pinus lambertiana ). [3] There are also small quantities of incense cedar ( Calocedrus ) and MacNab cypress ( Cupressus macnabiana ). [2] Deciduous trees include canyon live oak ( Quercus chrysolepis ), black oak ( Quercus kelloggii ), dogwood ( Cornus ), and madrone ( Arbutus ). [3]

History

In December 1949 the California Department of Forests (CDF), now officially renamed Cal-Fire, purchased 3,432 acres (13.89 km2) of land and timber on the mountain for $38,000. [8] [9] The price was so low because the land held no timber of commercial value. [10] The state bought the land from the Calso Company for $20,600, and bought most of the timber between 16 and 29 inches (410 and 740 mm) diameter at breast height from the Setzer Forest Products Company for $18,100. [9]

Setzer completed cutting the remaining timber in 1950, and In 1954 all timber interests and titles were conveyed to the state. [9] In the early years the state undertook limited inventory and mapping, but no timber was harvested. Cliff Fago became the first permanent forest manager in 1965, and completed the inventory. Between 1966 and 1976 the remaining old growth timber was removed. [9]

The Valley Fire of 6 October 2015 burned many of the trees. [11] The fire killed about 80% of the mature trees on the mountain and 95% of the regeneration growth in the understory. Cal-Fire undertook a reforestation plan of 3,100 acres (1,300 ha) of the state park. [3] Thousands of dead trees were logged. Those with lumber value were sold, and the others piled up for burning in the future when conditions were safe. [12] Natural regeneration included bracken, coffeeberry ( Frangula californica ), wild rose ( Rosa californica ), squaw carpet ( Ceanothus prostratus ), yerba buena, wild iris, dogwood ( Cornus ), madrone ( Arbutus ), and non-native, invasive Scotch broom ( Cytisus scoparius ). [12]

In March 2017 about 312,000 eight-inch (200 mm) seedlings of Douglas fir, ponderosa pine and sugar pine had been planted, spaced at 13 feet (4.0 m) intervals. This was about one third of the planned plantings for the next two years. It would take ten years before the trees reached heights of 10 feet (3.0 m). [12] In all, Cal-Fire planted almost 703,000 tree seedlings. including ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, sugar pine, incense cedar, and giant sequoia ( Sequoiadendron giganteum ). [3]

Operations

Bogg Mountain State Forest, Cobb Mountain in background Cobb Mountain.jpg
Bogg Mountain State Forest, Cobb Mountain in background

The California Department of Forestry (CDF) uses Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest to experiment with forest management techniques, which include firefighting and logging. [1] The forest management program has aimed for a managed all-age forest, and has included studies of disease control, fertilization and reforestation. [9] The state forest has an active timber sale program, and is managed so as to yield timber sustainably. [13]

As of 1993 there was an interpretive nature trail beside the Cobb Elementary School. Group tours of the forest could be arranged with the forest manager. [2] CDF also maintains a helicopter base at Boggs Mountain which was established in 1972 for fire and rescue operations and provides coverage for Mendocino National Forest to the north, San Francisco Bay Area to the south and the Sacramento Valley to the east. [14]

Research

Between 1952 and 2005 ten 2.5 hectares (6.2 acres) plots had each been measured ten times, with all trees more than 11 inches (280 mm) diameter at breast height being mapped. Tree heights were sampled. There were also four continuous forest inventory (CFI) measurements of these plots at five year intervals from 1991 to 2006. [15] As of 1993 two harvests had used horses to skid logs so as to minimize damage to the remaining trees. Horse logging was also in part used to monitor how timber harvesting affects the spread of black stain root disease. Studies have been made of the occurrence, spread and control of annosus root disease. Research has been conducted into precommercial thinning, including use of machinery to thin and release ponderosa pine. [2]

Bark beetles ( Dendroctonus brevicomis and Dendroctonus ponderosae ) mostly breed in unhealthy trees. Vulnerability to infection may be caused by drought, flooding, fire and air pollution, and possibly by needle casts, dwarf mistletoe ( Arceuthobium ), true mistletoe ( Phoradendron ) and root pathogens. [16] A 1965 study showed that Boggs Mountain had moderate but chronic mortality from bark beetles in ponderosa pine. [17] 71.2% of beetle-infested trees had root diseases, but few trees with root diseases died until they became infested by bark beetles. [18] The fungus Heterobasidion annosum was the only fungus found at Boggs Mountain is association with bark beetles. [19]

Sugar pine scale ( Matsucoccus paucicicatrices ) has been found on two sugar pine saplings in the state forest. It was causing twig- and top-kill of the saplings that resembled white pine blister rust ( Cronartium ribicola ) cankers. [20] The disease may predispose trees to bark beetle attack. [21]

Obsidian hydration occurs when the surface of a piece of obsidian is exposed, and obsidian hydration dating is often used in archaeology. In the spring of 1998 experiments were made to find the effect of forest fires on obsidian hydration bands. Samples of obsidian with measured hydration bands were placed on the ground in the path of small broadcast burns and a slash pile burn. The experiments showed that hydration bands were indeed damaged, and that the severity of the fire might be a more important factor than its intensity. [22]

Recreation

As of 2021 the mountain was open for day use, with limited overnight camping at Calso Camp. The other group campgrounds were closed. Pets must be leashed and under control. [3] Boggs Mountain is open all year for hiking, and is accessible through a system of easy roads and trails. [11] The 14.8 kilometres (9.2 mi) Boggs Mountain Loop is rated moderate, with an elevation gain of 439 metres (1,440 ft). It is not heavily used, and is open to dogs and horses. [23] For mountain bikers the forest's single-track trails are moderately difficult and moderately aerobic. Most of the biking terrain is at an elevation of 3,000 feet (910 m), and the trails run through open woods and meadows, with some short, steep hills. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas fir</span> Species of tree

The Douglas fir is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, and Columbian pine. There are three varieties: coast Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir and Mexican Douglas-fir.

<i>Pinus albicaulis</i> Pine tree species found in North America

Pinus albicaulis, known by the common names whitebark pine, white bark pine, white pine, pitch pine, scrub pine, and creeping pine, is a conifer tree native to the mountains of the western United States and Canada, specifically subalpine areas of the Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, Pacific Coast Ranges, and Rocky Mountains. It shares the common name "creeping pine" with several other plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western white pine</span> Pine tree found in North America

Western white pine, also called silver pine and California mountain pine, is a species of pine in the family Pinaceae. It occurs in mountain ranges of northwestern North America and is the state tree of Idaho.

<i>Pinus lambertiana</i> Pine tree found in North America

Pinus lambertiana is the tallest and most massive pine tree, and has the longest cones of any conifer. The species name lambertiana was given by the Scottish botanist David Douglas, who named the tree in honour of the English botanist, Aylmer Bourke Lambert. It is native to coastal and inland mountain areas along the Pacific coast of North America, as far north as Oregon and as far south as Baja California in Mexico.

<i>Pinus contorta</i> Species of plant

Pinus contorta, with the common names lodgepole pine and shore pine, and also known as twisted pine, and contorta pine, is a common tree in western North America. It is common near the ocean shore and in dry montane forests to the subalpine, but is rare in lowland rain forests. Like all pines, it is an evergreen conifer.

<i>Pinus ponderosa</i> Species of large pine tree in North America

Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow-pine, or filipinus pine is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western North America. It is the most widely distributed pine species in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain pine beetle</span> Species of beetle

The mountain pine beetle is a species of bark beetle native to the forests of western North America from Mexico to central British Columbia. It has a hard black exoskeleton, and measures approximately 5 millimetres, about the size of a grain of rice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tahoe National Forest</span> U.S. National Forest in California

Tahoe National Forest is a United States National Forest located in California, northwest of Lake Tahoe. It includes the 8,587-foot (2,617 m) peak of Sierra Buttes, near Sierra City, which has views of Mount Lassen and Mount Shasta. It is located in parts of six counties: Sierra, Placer, Nevada, Yuba, Plumas and El Dorado. The forest has a total area of 871,495 acres. Its headquarters is in Nevada City, California. There are local ranger district offices in Camptonville, Foresthill, Sierraville and Truckee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shasta–Trinity National Forest</span> National forest in California, US

The Shasta–Trinity National Forest is a federally designated forest in northern California, United States. It is the largest National Forest in California and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The 2,210,485 acre forest encompasses five wilderness areas, hundreds of mountain lakes and 6,278 miles (10,103 km) of streams and rivers. Major features include Shasta Lake, the largest man-made lake in California and Mount Shasta, elevation 14,179 feet (4,322 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plumas National Forest</span> National Forest in northern California, United States

Plumas National Forest is a 1,146,000-acre (4,640 km2) United States National Forest located at the northern terminus of the Sierra Nevada, in northern California. The Forest was named after its primary watershed, the Rio de las Plumas, or Feather River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson Demonstration State Forest</span> Protected public forest in Mendocino County, California, US

Jackson Demonstration State Forest is a public forest in Mendocino County, California managed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It is the largest demonstration forest operated by the State of California. The forest land, located along California State Highway 20 between Willits and the coastal city of Fort Bragg, was formerly owned by Caspar Lumber Company. The forest holds sacred value as an ancestral home and ceremonial site for the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sierra Nevada lower montane forest</span>

The Sierra Nevada lower montane forest is a plant community along a strip along the western and eastern edges of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. This zone is also known as a yellow pine forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest Lake Resort</span> Resort in California, United States

Forest Lake Resort was a resort in the Cobb Mountain area of Lake County, California, in an area of wet meadows along Kelsey Creek. Originally a campground, it was developed into a resort in the 1930s to exploit the growing automobile-based recreation market. The resort was sold in 1963. By 1989 it was longer operational, and was being considered for development as a community park site.

LaTour Demonstration State Forest is a state forest totaling 9,033 acres in the southern Cascade Range and Shasta County, in northern California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park</span> Place in California listed on National Register of Historic Places

Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park is a state park in California in the United States. It occupies nearly two miles of the western shore of Lake Tahoe and a total of about 1,000 hectares of forested mountains in El Dorado County. Originally called Sugar Pine Point State Park, its name was changed in 2003 to honor Edwin L. Z'berg, a California state assemblyman who specialized in environmental legislation and worked to develop state parks and other natural areas.

Mixed coniferous forest is a vegetation type dominated by a mixture of broadleaf trees and conifers. It is generally located in mountains, below the upper montane vegetation type.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ponderosa pine forest</span>

Ponderosa pine forest is a plant association and plant community dominated by ponderosa pine and found in western North America. It is found from the British Columbia to Durango, Mexico. In the south and east, ponderosa pine forest is the climax forest, while in the more northern part of its range, it can transition to Douglas-fir or grand fir, or white fir forests. Understory species depends on location. Fire suppression has led to insect outbreaks in ponderosa pine forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boggs Mountain</span> Mountain in the state of California

Boggs Mountain is a mountain the Mayacamas Mountains in Lake County, California. Part of the mountain holds the Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest. About 80% of the trees were burned in the September 2015 Valley Fire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelsey Creek (Lake County)</span> Watercourse in Lake Country, California, United States

Kelsey Creek is a watercourse in Lake County, California, United States, that feeds Clear Lake from the south. The watershed was forest-covered. In the lower parts it has been converted to farmland and for urban use. Higher up the forests have been cleared, regrown and cleared again. The northern part of the creek flows through a geothermal field that feeds power plants and hot springs. The wooded Cobb area in the higher part of the watershed holds resorts and resort communities, some dating to the 1850s.

References

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.