Sierra Meadows: Historical Impact, Current Status and Trends, and Data Gaps

The purpose of this report is to present the results of a multi-partner project titled “Sierra Mountain Meadow Wetlands,” a two year project in which existing information on the current condition and function of meadows in the Sierra was synthesized and new information was collected in order to better characterize the role that they play in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The project area included all or part of three river basins that flow down the north western slope of the Sierra: the Yuba River, Bear River and American River, as well as portions of four river basins that flow east towards the Great Basin: Little Truckee River, Truckee River, West Fork of the Carson River and East Carson River. The project team developed a Mountain Meadow Health Database where spatial information relevant to meadows can be stored and analyzed using geographical information systems (GIS). This information was used, in addition to field data on aquatic and terrestrial conditions, to develop an integrated Meadow Health Rating System and to assess the status and trends of mountain meadows in the Sierra.