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, Environmental Scientist

kristina.wolf@bof.ca.gov 

 

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

2023 Meeting Materials

EMC MEETING MATERIAL ARCHIVES

 

EMC-SUPPORTED MONITORING PROJECTS

EMC News

The next EMC meeting will be fully virtual and is scheduled for Wednesday, June 7th at 9:30 AM: REGISTER HERE

 

2023/2024 REQUEST FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS

The EMC’s 2023/24 Request for Proposals has been released and is due on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. The EMC funds robust scientific research aimed at testing the efficacy of the California Forest Practice Rules (FPRs) and other natural resource protection statutes, laws, codes, and associated regulations. The EMC creates an active feedback loop to policymakers, managers, agencies, and the public by facilitating the transfer of research results to inform policy by working with Project Investigators to produce white papers, publish scientific reports and journal articles, and present policy implications to the Board for consideration. The FPRs and related policies and regulations address a variety of natural resource issues including, but not limited to, watershed science, wildlife concerns, and wildfire hazard.

Initial Concept Proposals are due on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Please review the EMC’s 2023/24 Grant Guidelines or the California Grants Portal – EMC Application Information in detail before submitting your application.  

 

 

CALL FOR 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.

EMC Links

Board Committees Links

Agreement Number

Project ID, Amount Funded over < 3 years

Primary Investigator(s) & Affiliation[s]

Project Liaison(s)

Project Title

Project Files
9CA05659

EMC-2021-003

$448,510
  • Dr. James Rivers, Oregon State University
  • Dr. Michael Jones

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

        
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal

         Funding encumbered June 2022                               

9CA04802

EMC-2019-005

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

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 2023

9CA04824

EMC-2019-003

$156,665
  • Dr. Terri Hogue, Colorado School of Mines
  • Dr. Alicia Kinoshita, San Diego State University
  • Drew Coe
  • Pete Cafferata (past)

Fuel Treatments and Hydrologic Implications in the Sierra Nevada
  1. Initial Concept Proposal
  2. Full Project Proposal
  3. Conference Presentation – Dec 2021
  4. Presentation Progress Report – Aug 2022

Final deliverables and Completed Research Assessment expected 2023
   

9CA04801

EMC-2019-002

$68,168
  • Brad Graevs, Feather River Resource Conservation District
  • Jason Moghaddas, Spatial Informatics Group
  • Dr. Stacy Drury
  • Drew Coe

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 

Completed Research Assessment expected 2023

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
  • Drew Coe
  • Mathew Nannizzi
  • Matt House (past)

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. Presentation Progress Report – Jul 2021
  4. Progress Report Video – Jul 2021         (email staff support for file)
  5. Nicolas Thesis Defense – Nov 2022
  6. Miralha et al. 2022 - Dec 2022

Final report and Completed Research Assessment expected 2023

9CA04452

EMC-2018-003

$101,802
  • Dr. Christopher Surfleet, California Polytechnic State University
  • Matt O’Connor

Alternative Meadow Restoration
  1. Project Proposal
  2. Progress Report – Apr 2022

Final results expected spring 2023

n/a*

EMC-2017-012
  • Dr. Michael Baker, CAL FIRE
  • TBD

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

        Final results expected 2025

9CA04087

 

EMC-2017-008

$108,986
  • Dr. Richard Cobb, California Polytechnic State University
  • Ben Waitman
  • Jessica Leonard

Do Forest Practice Rules Minimize Fir Mortality from Root Disease and Bark Beetle Interactions
  1. Project Proposal
  2. Poloni et al. 2021
  3. Final Presentation – Apr 2022
  4. Final Completed Research Assessment – Dec 2022

Project Complete; two refereed publications and final Completed Research Assessment expected 2023

9CA04019

EMC-2017-007

$71,278
  • Dr. John Battles, University of California, Berkley
  • Loretta Moreno
  • Dr. Michael Jones

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

Project Complete; final report in revision and Completed Research Assessment expected 2023

9CA04020

EMC-2017-006

$114,844
  • Dr. Rob York, University of California, Berkley
  • TBD
  • Sarah Bisbing (past)

Tradeoffs among Riparian Buffer Zones, Fire Hazard, and Species Composition in the Sierra Nevada
  1. Project Proposal
  2. CLFA Presentation – Mar 2019
  3. EMC field tour handout – 2020
  4. WLPZ Partial Harvest Report – Nov 2019
  5. Forest and Research Outreach UCANR Blog – Dec 2021

Results expected early 2023

n/a*

EMC-2017-002

$1200
  • Stacy Stanish, CAL FIRE
  • Stacy Stanish

Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest Post-Fire Automated Bird Recorders Study
  1. Project Proposal
  2. Methods Presentation – 2017

        Progress report expected early 2023

8CA03685

EMC-2017-001

$192,251
  • Dr. Helen Dahlke, University of California, Davis
  • Dr. Randy Dahlgren, University of California, Davis
  • Drew Coe
  • Pete Cafferata (past)

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 Project Report – Nov 2022

    Refereed publications expected 2023

8CA03680

EMC-2016-003

$700,000
  • Bill Short, California Geological Survey
  • Matt O'Connor, O’Connor Environmental Inc.

 

 

  • Matt O’Connor
  • Bill Short

 

 

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

Results expected mid-2023

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
  5. Cole et al. 2020
  6. Waggenbrenner AGU Poster Abstract – Dec 2020
  7. Waggenbrenner AGU Poster – Dec 2020
  8. Waggenbrenner Fire Science Seminar Presentation – Apr 2021

Project Complete; additional publication(s) expected 2023

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
  • Matt House (past)

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
  4. CA Fire Science Seminar Presentation – Apr 2021
  5. Final Presentation – Apr 2021
  6. Final Presentation Attachments – Apr 2021
  7. Forest Practice Committee Presentation – Sep 2021
  8. Completed Research Assessment – Sep 2021
  9. Updated Presentation to the Forest Practice Committee – Dec 2021
  10. Rule Change 2022

Project Complete; additional publication(s) expected 2023

* 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                                                                                              Updated January 10, 2023