Effectiveness Monitoring Committee

ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS MONITORING COMMITTEE

The Effectiveness Monitoring Committee (EMC) was formed in 2014 by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board). The Board sought to create an independent committee to assess the efficacy of the Forest Practice Rules and other related laws and regulations. As an advisory body to the Board, the EMC helps implement an effectiveness monitoring program that provides an active feedback loop to policymakers, managers, agencies, and the public by soliciting robust scientific research that addresses the effectiveness of these laws at meeting resource objectives and ecological performance measures related to AB 1492.

 

The EMC includes representatives from academia, industry, state agencies, consulting firms, and non-profit agencies. This diverse membership reflects representatives from a wide range of California’s natural resources, including water quality, geology, wildlife, and forestry. EMC meetings occur quarterly and are open to the public. Meetings are held in Redding, Ukiah, and Sacramento and may be attended in person or are available through a webinar. Meeting registration information is posted at least ten days in advance of the meeting on the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s webpage under “Upcoming Webinars”.

 

MISSION, GOALS, AND GUIDING DOCUMENTS

 

PROJECT APPLICANTS  

 

STAFF MEMBERS

Kristina Wolf, Senior Environmental Scientist

kristina.wolf@bof.ca.gov 

 

Phoebe Elliott, Student Assistant

Phoebe.Elliot@bof.ca.gov

 

Angelina Guerrero, Student Assistant

Angelina.Guerrero@bof.ca.gov

 

The EMC includes representatives from academia, industry, state agencies, consulting firms, and non-profit agencies. The current EMC membership roster may be viewed in the following downloadable PDF: Members and Term Expiration

2025 Meeting Materials

EMC MEETING MATERIAL ARCHIVES

 

EMC-SUPPORTED MONITORING PROJECTS

EMC News

EMC MEETING AND SANTA CRUZ FIELD TOUR APRIL 30, 2025

The next EMC meeting will be in person in Santa Cruz. The morning business meeting will run from 9 – 11 AM, with an afternoon field tour from 11 AM – 4 PM. Register for the 9 AM business meeting HERE. Register for the 11 AM Field Tour HERE. See the field tour flyer HERE and bring a signed release/ waiver to the event.

 

2025/26 Request for Proposals Now Open

The EMC 2025/26 Request for Proposals to fund research testing the efficacy of the Forest Practice Rules and related regulations opened on March 18, with Initial Concept Proposals due on May 19, 2025. Read the Request for Proposals and Grant Guidelines HERE.

 

CALL FOR EMC MEMBER APPLICATIONS

The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board) seeks to fill vacancies on the Effectiveness Monitoring Committee (EMC). The Call for Applications will be open until all seats are filled. See the EMC Call for Member Applications for more information. Interested parties may send inquiries or a Letter of Interest and current Resume or CV to Kristina.Wolf@bof.ca.gov. See the current membership roster for details about the current membership. 

Effectiveness Monitoring Committee Call for Member Applications

 

Revised Effectiveness Monitoring Committee Charter

The EMC revised its Charter in late 2024. Read the updated version HERE.

 

2025 Strategic Plan Update

The EMC revises the Strategic Plan on a 5-year cycle. Read the 2025 Update HERE.

EMC Links

Board Committees Links

Agreement Number

Project ID, Agreement Number, Amount Funded

 

Principal Investigator(s), Affiliation[s]

Project Liaison(s)

Project Title

Project Files
9GA24701

EMC-2024-004

$351,702
  • Brian Dotters, Sierra Pacific Industries
  • Zach Peery, University of Madison, WI
  • Connor Wood, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  •  K. Lisa Yang, Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
  • Sal Chinnicci, Humboldt and Mendocino Redwood Companies
  • Dr. Ben Waitman, Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW)

Establishing a Survey Protocol for Marbled Murrelet Using Passive Acoustic Technology (Phase 1)
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal

         Funding encumbered January 2025

         Active research ongoing

 
GA24700

EMC-2024-001

$74,862
  • Katie Moriarty, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. (NCASI)
  • Holly Munro, NCASI
  • Dr. John Bailey, Oregon State University
  • Ben Waitman, Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW)
  • Mathew Nannizzi, Green Diamond Resource Company

Balancing Fuel Considerations and Rare Carnivore Habitat: An Evaluation of Risk and Reward
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal

         Funding encumbered December 2024
9GA23700

EMC-2023-003

$242,492
  • Dr. John D. Bailey, Oregon State University
  • Clarence Holster, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service       

Pre- and Post-Harvest Fuel Loads and Implications for Site Productivity
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal

         Funding encumbered February 2024
9GA23701

EMC-2023-002

$94,588
  • David Saah, Spatial Informatics Group
  • Jessica Leonard, State Water Resources Control Board

Assessing Fire Hazard, Risk, and Post Fire Recovery for Watercourse and Lake Protection Zones (WLPZ) and riparian areas of California
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
         Funding encumbered April 2024
9GA22702

EMC-2022-005

$91,278
  • Tori Norville, U.C. Cooperative Extension
  • Dr. Michael Jones, U.C. Cooperative Extension
  • Drew Coe, Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)              

Decay Rates and Fire Behavior of Woody Debris in Coastal Redwoods
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
  3. Project Update – June 2024
  4. Progress Report Presentation – Nov 2024

         Active research ongoing
9GA22701

EMC-2022-004

$85,000
  • Dr. Rob York, University of California, Berkley
  • Dr. Leander Love-Anderegg, University of California, Santa Barbara 

A critical evaluation of Forest Practice Regulation's capacity to accommodate forest restoration and resilience targets
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
  3. FLOC Presentation – May 2024
  4. Progress Report – June 2024
  5. Progress Report Presentation – Nov 2024

         Active research ongoing
9GA22700

EMC-2022-003

$207,876
  • Nadia Hamey, Hamey Woods
  • Jonathan Meurer, Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board     

Santa Cruz Mountains Post-Fire Redwood Defect Study
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
  3. Progress Report – June 2023
  4. Progress Report – September 2023
  5. Progress Report – Dec 2023
  6. Progress Report Presentation – Nov 2024
         Active research ongoing

 
9CA05659

EMC-2021-003

$448,510
  • Dr. James Rivers, Oregon State University
  • Dr. Michael Jones, U.C. Cooperative Extension

Evaluating the Response of Native Pollinators to Fuel-Reduction Treatments in Managed Conifer Forests

        
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
  3. Sampognaro et al. 2023 – WFGRS Poster
  4. Gutierrez and Sampognaro 2024 – OSU Spring Poster Symposium
  5. Rivers Invited Talk – 2024
  6. Rivers and Sampognaro CalFire Bee Project Handout – July 2024
  7. Progress Report Presentation – Nov 2024

         Final results expected 2025                               

9CA04802

EMC-2019-005

$56,200
  • Cheryl Hayhurst, California Geological Society
  • Bill Short, California Geological Society

Sediment Monitoring and Fish Habitat – San Vicente Accelerated Wood Recruitment
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal

Project funding disencumbered after term expiration; alternative research plan results expected 2025

9CA04824

EMC-2019-003

$156,665
  • Dr. Terri Hogue, Colorado School of Mines
  • Dr. Alicia Kinoshita, San Diego State University
  • Matthew O’Connor, O’Connor
  • Givonne G. Law, East Bay Regional Park District

Fuel Treatments and Hydrologic Implications in the Sierra Nevada
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
  3. Boden et al 2021 – AGU Conference Presentation
  4. Progress Report Presentation – Aug 2022
  5. Boden et al. 2023 – Ecohydrology

Final deliverables and Completed Research Assessment expected 2025
   

9CA04801

EMC-2019-002

$68,168
  • Brad Graevs, Feather River Resource Conservation District
  • Jason Moghaddas, Spatial Informatics Group
  • Dr. Stacy Drury, U.S. Forest Service
  • Drew Coe, CAL FIRE

Evaluating Treatment Longevity and Maintenance Needs for Fuel Reduction Projects Implemented in the Wildland Urban Interface of Plumas County
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
  3. Final Report – Dec 2021
  4. Final Presentation – Aug 2022 
  5. Final Completed Research Assessment – Feb 2025

Additional publication expected 2025

9CA04453

EMC-2018-006§

$694,371
  • Dr. Kevin Bladon, Oregon State University
  • Dr. Catalina Segura, Oregon State University
  • Matt House, Green Diamond Resource Company
  • Drew Coe, CAL FIRE
  • Mathew Nannizzi, Green Diamond Resource Company
  • Dr. Ben Waitman, Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW)

Effectiveness of Class II Watercourse and Lake Protection Zone (WLPZ) Forest Practice Rules (FPRs) and Aquatic Habitat Conservation Plan (AHCP) Riparian Prescriptions at Maintaining or Restoring Canopy Closure, Stream Water Temperature, and Primary Productivity
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
  3. Progress Report Presentation – Jul 2021
  4. Progress Report Video – Jul 2021                         (email Kristina.Wolf@bof.ca.gov for file)
  5. Wissler Thesis – July 2021§
  6. Wissler et al. 2022 – Hydrological Processes§
  7. Pimont Thesis – Aug 2022
  8. Nicholas Thesis Defense – Nov 2022
  9. Nicholas Thesis – Nov 2022
  10. Miralha et al. 2022 – Hydrological Processes
  11. Miralha et al. 2023 – Forest Ecology & Management
  12. Final Report – Oct 2023
  13. Final Presentation – June 2024

Completed Research Assessment expected April 2025

9CA04452

EMC-2018-003

$101,802
  • Dr. Christopher Surfleet, California Polytechnic State University
  • Matt O’Connor, O’Connor Environmental Inc.
  • Dr. Leander Love-Anderegg, U.C. Santa Barbara

Alternative Meadow Restoration
  1. Project Proposal
  2. Cary Thesis – Aug 2021
  3. Marks Thesis – Dec 2021
  4. Progress Report – Apr 2022
  5. Final Report – July 2023
  6. Final Presentation – Nov 2023
  7. Ramirez and Surfleet 2023 – SAF
  8. Ramirez Thesis – June 2024
  9. Final Completed Research Assessment – Dec 2024
  10. Marks et al. 2024 – Forests

Final deliverables received 2024; additional publication expected 2025

 

n/a*

EMC-2017-012

*no associated funding
  • Dr. Michael Baker, CAL FIRE
  • Dr. Ben Waitman, CDFW
  • Mathew Nannizzi, Green Diamond Resource Company

Assessment of Night-Flying Forest Pest Predator Communities on Demonstration State Forests – with Monitoring across Seral Stages and Silvicultural Prescriptions
  1. Progress Report – Sept 2022
  2. Lausen et al. 2022 – NEBWG
  3. Lausen et al. 2023 – NASBR 
  4. Lausen et al. 2023 – Wildlife Society Bulletin
  5. Sample singing silver–haired bat sound files (2023)
  6. Lausen et al. 2023 - Dryad [Dataset] 

         Final results and Completed research                                     assessment expected 2025

9CA04087

 

EMC-2017-008

$108,986
  • Dr. Richard Cobb, California Polytechnic State University
  • Dr. Ben Waitman, CDFW
  • Jessica Leonard, State Water Resources Control Board

Do Forest Practice Rules Minimize Fir Mortality from Root Disease and Bark Beetle Interactions
  1. Project Proposal
  2. Poloni et al. 2021 – Pathogens
  3. Final Presentation – Apr 2022
  4. Final Completed Research Assessment – Dec 2022
  5. Flores et al. 2023 – Forest Pathology
  6. WIFDWC Poster – June 2023

Project Complete; three additional refereed publication expected 2025

 

9CA04019

EMC-2017-007

$71,278
  • Dr. John Battles, University of California, Berkley
  • Matthew O’Connor, O’Connor Environmental Inc.
  • Michael Jones, U.C. Cooperative Extension

The Life Cycle of Dead Trees and Implications for Management
  1. Project Proposal
  2. Final Presentation – Apr 2022
  3. Final Report – Aug 2023

Completed Research Assessment expected 2025

9CA04020

EMC-2017-006

$114,844
  • Dr. Rob York, University of California, Berkley
  • Matthew O’Connor, O’Connor Environmental Inc.
  • Mathew Nannizzi, Green Diamond Resource

Fuel treatment alternatives in riparian zones of the Sierra Nevada
  1. Project Proposal
  2. CLFA Presentation – Mar 2019
  3. Partial Harvest WLPZ White Paper w Cover Letter – 2019
  4. EMC field tour handout – 2020
  5. Forest and Research Outreach UCANR Blog – Dec 2021
  6. Final Presentation – Feb 2023
  7. Blodgett Forest field tour handout – Nov 2023

          Final project report, referred publication, and       CRA expected 2025

n/a*

EMC-2017-002

$1200
  • Stacy Stanish, CAL FIRE
  • Drew Coe, CAL FIRE

Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest Post-Fire Automated Bird Recorders Study
  1. Project Proposal
  2. Methods Presentation – 2017
  3. Bird Recorder Deployment Presentation – 2017
  4. Progress Report (PDF) – Feb 2023
  5. Progress Report (PPT w audio links) – Feb 2023  (email Kristina.Wolf@bof.ca.gov for file)

         Final results expected 2025

8CA03685

EMC-2017-001

$192,251
  • Dr. Helen Dahlke, University of California, Davis
  • Dr. Randy Dahlgren, University of California, Davis
  • Drew Coe, CAL FIRE
  • Lance Leigh, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

     

Effects of Forest Stand Density Reduction on Nutrient Cycling and Nutrient Transport at the Caspar Creek Experimental Watershed
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
  3. Detailed Study Plan – 2017
  4. Sampling Methods – 2017
  5. Progress Report – Feb 2018
  6. Progress Report – June 2018
  7. Final Report – Dec 2021
  8. Final Presentation – Nov 2022

        Additional publications and Completed                                    Research Assessment expected 2025 and                              beyond

8CA03680

EMC-2016-003

$100,000
  • Bill Short, California Geological Survey

 

 

  • Matt O’Connor, O’Connor Environmental Inc
  • Dave Fowler, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

     

 

 

Road Rules Effectiveness at Reducing Mass Wasting (Repeat LiDAR Surveys to Detect Landslides)
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
  3. Progress Report – Aug 2022
  4. Fuller et al. GSA Presentation –  Oct 2022

Final Project Deliverables and Completed Research Assessment expected April 2025

n/a*

EMC-2016-002

*no associated funding
  • Joe Wagenbrenner, Michigan Technological University
  • Kevin Bladon, Oregon State University
  • Drew Coe, CAL FIRE
  • Don Lindsay, California Geological Survey
  • None†

Post-fire Effectiveness of the Forest Practice Rules in Protecting Water Quality on Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest
  1. Project Proposal
  2. Olsen Thesis – 2016
  3. Cole Thesis – Mar 2020
  4. Prats et al. 2019 – Journal of Hydrology
  5. Cole et al. 2020 – Wildfire and Hydrological Processes
  6. Waggenbrenner et al. 2020 – AGU Poster Abstract
  7. Waggenbrenner et al. 2020 – AGU Poster
  8. Waggenbrenner et al. 2021 – CA Fire Science Seminar Presentation

Project Complete and Closed

n/a*

EMC-2015-004

‡see funding associated with EMC-2015-002

 
  • Drew Coe, CAL FIRE
  • Bill Condon, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • None†

Effectiveness of Road Rules in Reducing Hydrologic Connectivity and Significant Sediment Discharge

See EMC-2015-002

Project Complete and Closed

8CA03685

EMC-2015-002

$55,835
  • E. Ashley Steel, U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station
  • Pat Cunningham, U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station
  • None†

Forest Practice Rules Implementation and Effectiveness Monitoring (FORPRIEM) ver. 2.0.
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
  3. Project Update – Jan 2016
  4. Final Report – June 2018

Project Complete and Closed

8CA03650

EMC-2015-001§

$221,271
  • Dr. Kevin Bladon, Oregon State University
  • Dr. Catalina Segura, Oregon State University
  • Drew Coe, CAL FIRE

Class II Large Watercourse Study: Multiscale Investigation of Perennial Flow and Thermal Influence of Headwater Streams into Fish Bearing Systems
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
  3. Wissler et al. 2021 – Authorea
  4. Wissler Thesis - Jul 2021§
  5. CA Fire Science Seminar Presentation – Apr 2021
  6. Final Presentation – Apr 2021
  7. Final Presentation Attachments – Apr 2021
  8. Forest Practice Committee Presentation – Sep 2021
  9. Completed Research Assessment – Sep 2021
  10. Updated Presentation to the Forest Practice Committee – Dec 2021
  11. Wissler et al. 2022 – Hydrological Processes§
  12. Rule Change 2022

Project Complete and Closed

* No associated EMC funding

† project liaisons were introduced in 2020, and some projects were completed prior to assignment of liaisons.

‡ funding linked through associated EMC funded project

§ see also EMC-2018-006 or EMC-2015-001                                                                                        Updated March 19, 2025