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U.S. Forest Service U.S. Department of Agriculture

San Bernardino National Forest

South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness Wilderness Character Baseline Assessment Report

Prepared by Delaney Callahan

May 2019

ON THE COVER View along the South Fork Trail. Photo: Ben Fox-Shaprio.

South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness Wilderness Character Baseline Assessment Report San Bernardino National Forest U.S. Forest Service San Jacinto Ranger District 54270 Pine Crest Ave Idyllwild, CA 92549 Prepared by Delaney Callahan Wilderness Fellow May 2019

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A special thank you to the following staff for offering their assistance and knowledge throughout the production of this report: San Bernardino National Forest Staff David Austin Forest Biologist, Program Manager for Wildlife, Fish, Botany, and Range,

Supervisor’s Office Chris Fogle Battalion Chief, San Jacinto Ranger District Regina Griffith Assistant Forest Archaeologist/Heritage Steward, Supervisor’s Office Daniel Grijalva Forest Archaeologist/Tribal Liaison, Supervisor’s Office Julie Hall District Ranger, San Jacinto Ranger District Heidi Hoggan Lands, Special Uses, and Mineral Administrator, San Jacinto Ranger

District Andrew Smith Assistant Public Services Staff Officer, San Jacinto Ranger District Tracy Tennant GIS Specialist, GIS Coordinator, Supervisor’s Office LaReina Van Sant Wildlife Biological Technician, San Jacinto Ranger District Laura Verdugo Visitor Services, San Jacinto Ranger District Bill Wells Hydrologist, Supervisor’s Office Rick Wilkerson Wilderness Coordinator, Forest Service Volunteer Association Lance Woolley Botanist, San Jacinto Ranger District Other Forest Service Staff Christina Boston Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Program Lead, Pacific Southwest

Region Lance Criley Rangeland Management Specialist, Cleveland National Forest Jim Edmonds National Wilderness Character Monitoring Central Data Analyst Portia Jelinek NRM Customer Relations Julie King National Wilderness Character Monitoring Program Manager Adrienne Kovasi Lichen Biomonitoring Lead, Fire and Aviation Management, Pacific

Southwest Region Andrea Nick Air Resources Specialist, Fire and Aviation Management, Pacific

Southwest Region Trent Procter Air Quality Program Manager, Pacific Southwest Region Other Agencies Kerwin Russell Natural Resources Manager, Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation

District Society for Wilderness Stewardship Michael Smith Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Lead Jacob Wall Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Lead & National Program

Director Jessica Zehr Wilderness Fellow, Pacific Southwest Region

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1

Wilderness Character Monitoring in the Forest Service ........................................................................ 4

WILDERNESS CHARACTER MONITORING ...................................................................................................... 5

Overview of Wilderness Character Monitoring Measures ..................................................................... 6

UNTRAMMELED.................................................................................................................................... 10

Number of authorized actions and persistent structures designed to manipulate plants, animals,

pathogens, soil, water, or fire ......................................................................................................... 11

Number of unauthorized actions and persistent structures by agencies, organizations, or

individuals that manipulate plants, animals, pathogens, soil, water, or fire ................................. 13

NATURAL .............................................................................................................................................. 15

Acres of nonindigenous plant species ............................................................................................. 16

Index of nonindigenous terrestrial animal species .......................................................................... 18

Index of nonindigenous aquatic animal species ............................................................................. 20

Amount of haze ............................................................................................................................... 22

Extent of waterbodies with impaired water quality ....................................................................... 24

Number of animal unit months of commercial livestock use .......................................................... 25

UNDEVELOPED ..................................................................................................................................... 27

Index of authorized non-recreational physical development .......................................................... 28

Acres of inholdings .......................................................................................................................... 30

Index of administrative authorizations to use motor vehicles, motorized equipment, or

mechanical transport ...................................................................................................................... 31

SOLITUDE OR PRIMITIVE AND UNCONFINED RECREATION ................................................................. 32

Index of encounters ......................................................................................................................... 33

Acres of wilderness away from access and travel routes and developments inside wilderness ..... 35

Acres of wilderness away from adjacent travel routes and developments outside the wilderness 37

Index of National Forest System (NFS) developed trails ................................................................. 39

Index of visitor management restrictions ....................................................................................... 40

Measures Not Used for Wilderness Character Monitoring .................................................................. 42

Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................... 43

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................ 44

LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1. OVERVIEW OF MEASURES SELECTED FOR THE SOUTH FORK SAN JACINTO WILDERNESS ............ 6

TABLE 2. DATA QUANTITY AND QUALITY CATEGORIES ................................................................................ 8

TABLE 3. DATA ADEQUACY MATRIX.............................................................................................................. 9

TABLE 4. UNTRAMMELED QUALITY ............................................................................................................ 10

TABLE 5. NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED TRAMMELING ACTIONS (2016 – 2018) ............................................. 11

TABLE 6. NATURAL QUALITY ....................................................................................................................... 15

TABLE 7. WILDERNESS ACREAGE OCCUPIED BY NONINDIGENOUS PLANTS .............................................. 16

TABLE 8. INDEX OF NONINDIGENOUS TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL SPECIES ....................................................... 18

TABLE 9. INDEX OF NONINDIGENOUS AQUATIC ANIMAL SPECIES ............................................................. 20

TABLE 10. HAZE VISIBILITY MEASURE VALUES ............................................................................................ 22

TABLE 11. NUMBER OF ANIMAL UNIT MONTHS (AUMS) OF LIVESTOCK (2016 – 2018) ............................ 26

TABLE 12. UNDEVELOPED QUALITY ............................................................................................................ 27

TABLE 13. INDEX OF AUTHORIZED NON-RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS ................................................ 28

TABLE 14. GRAZING INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOUTH FORK SAN JACINTO WILDERNESS ................................ 29

TABLE 15. SOLITUDE OR PRIMITIVE AND UNCONFINED RECREATION QUALITY ........................................ 32

TABLE 16. TRENDS IN VISITATION ............................................................................................................... 33

TABLE 17. INDEX OF NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM DEVELOPED TRAILS ....................................................... 39

TABLE 18. INDEX OF VISITOR MANAGEMENT RESTRICTIONS..................................................................... 40

LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1. KEEPING IT WILD HIERARCHICAL FRAMEWORK .......................................................................... 3

FIGURE 2. OVERVIEW OF WILDERNESS AREAS ON THE SAN JACINTO RANGER DISTRICT OF THE SAN

BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST ......................................................................................................... 9

FIGURE 3. VISIBILITY ON HAZIEST DAYS IN VICINITY OF SOUTH FORK SAN JACINTO WILDERNESS ........... 23

FIGURE 4. GRAZING ALLOTMENT BOUNDARIES WITHIN SOUTH FORK SAN JACINTO WILDERNESS ......... 26

FIGURE 5. ACRES MORE THAN A HALF-MILE AWAY FROM DEVELOPMENTS INSIDE WILDERNESS ........... 35

FIGURE 6. ACRES MORE THAN A HALF-MILE AWAY FROM DEVELOPMENTS OUTSIDE WILDERNESS ........ 38

FIGURE 7. ACRES MORE THAN A HALF-MILE AWAY FROM DEVELOPMENTS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

WILDERNESS ....................................................................................................................................... 38

SOUTH FORK SAN JACINTO WILDERNESS 1

INTRODUCTION The Wilderness Act of 1964 (Pub. L. No. 88-577, 78 Stat. 890) was passed by a nearly unanimous vote in the United States Congress to protect natural lands from the seemingly endless threats of “expanding settlement and growing mechanization.” The primary mandate of the Wilderness Act is given in Section 4(b) and states that “each agency administering any area designated as wilderness shall be responsible for preserving the wilderness character of the area” [emphasis added]. In order to establish a common understanding of this directive, wilderness character was formally defined by an interagency monitoring team representing the Forest Service (Department of Agriculture), as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management (Department of the Interior):

Wilderness character is a holistic concept based on the interaction of (1) biophysical environments primarily free from modern human manipulation and impact, (2) personal experiences in natural environments relatively free from the encumbrances and signs of modern society, and (3) symbolic meanings of humility, restraint, and interdependence that inspire human connection with nature. Taken together, these tangible and intangible values define wilderness character and distinguish wilderness from all other lands. (Landres et al. 2015)

Wilderness character encompasses the five qualities that are described in the definition of wilderness from Section 2(c)) of the Wilderness Act. Together, these five qualities are used to monitor how stewardship actions, impacts from modernization, and other changes occurring outside of a given wilderness area, affect said wilderness over time. The five qualities apply nationally to all wilderness areas—regardless of their size, location, administering federal agency, or other unique place-specific attributes—because they are based on the legal definition of wilderness. Descriptions of these qualities as derived from Section 2(c) of the Wilderness Act are below.

Untrammeled Wilderness is “…an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man”

Wilderness ecological systems are essentially unhindered and free from the actions of modern human control or manipulation when the untrammeled quality is preserved.

Natural Wilderness “…is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions”

Wilderness ecological systems are substantially free from the effects of modern civilization when the natural quality is preserved.

Undeveloped Wilderness is “…an area of undeveloped Federal land … without permanent improvements or human habitation”

Wilderness retains its primeval character and influence, and is essentially without permanent improvement or modern human occupation when the undeveloped quality is preserved.

Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation Wilderness “…has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation”

Wilderness provides outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation when the quality of solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation is preserved.


Other Features of Value Wilderness “…may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value”

Other tangible features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value in wilderness preserve wilderness character when they are preserved.

In addition to these five tangible qualities of wilderness character, wilderness also has important intangible aspects that are difficult or impossible to quantify or monitor. These intangible aspects are diverse and can include the scenic beauty, spiritual experiences, immensity of an area, and opportunities for self-discovery, self-reliance, and challenge that come from wilderness settings. Currently, these intangible aspects of wilderness can only be addressed in narrative form. Wilderness character may change over time, and may be improved or diminished by the actions or inaction of managers. The challenge of wilderness stewardship is that decisions and management actions taken to protect one quality of wilderness character may degrade another quality. In addition, the accumulated result of seemingly small decisions and actions may cause a significant gain or loss of wilderness character over time. Because of this complexity, preserving wilderness character requires that agency staff document decisions made in wilderness and the impacts of those decisions. To assess trends in wilderness character over time, a national and interagency monitoring strategy was developed in 2008 titled Keeping it Wild: An Interagency Strategy for Monitoring Trends in Wilderness Character Across the National Wilderness Preservation System (Landres et al. 2008). Based on lessons learned from implementing this framework from 2008 to 2014, it was revised and updated in 2015 as Keeping it Wild 2: An Updated Interagency Strategy to Monitor Trends in Wilderness Character Across the National Wilderness Preservation System (Landres et al. 2015). The national monitoring framework described in Keeping it Wild 2 was formally endorsed by the Interagency Wilderness Policy Council in 2015, and all four wilderness-managing agencies have since begun implementing the updated strategy. The national interagency framework of wilderness character monitoring described in Keeping it Wild 2 is based on the qualities defined above. Each quality is divided into a hierarchical set of monitoring questions, indicators, and measures to assess trends in wilderness character over time. Monitoring questions frame wilderness character monitoring to answer particular management questions; indicators are distinct and important elements within each monitoring question; and measures are a specific aspect of wilderness on which data are collected to assess trend in an indicator (Landres et al. 2008 and 2015). While the qualities, monitoring questions, and indicators are nationally consistent, measures are specific and sometimes unique to individual wilderness areas (Figure 1). This framework balances national and local needs for monitoring by defining locally relevant measures whose trends can be compiled at higher levels for national or regional reporting. This interagency monitoring strategy:

Provides on-the-ground information to assess trends and make defensible decisions; Provides valuable information on wilderness on regional and national scales; Provides a set of key wilderness stewardship goals; Communicates a common definition of wilderness character; Communicates a tangible vision of wilderness within the agency and to the public; Clarifies how stewardship decisions and actions influence wilderness;


Evaluates and documents the effects of actions taken inside the wilderness and effects from threats outside the wilderness;

Synthesizes data into a single, holistic assessment of wilderness character; Creates a legacy of staff experience and knowledge of a wilderness; Improves on-the-ground wilderness stewardship.

Figure 1. Keeping It Wild hierarchical framework This monitoring strategy offers a consistent means for documenting the status and trends in wilderness character and wilderness management within a wilderness. Under this monitoring strategy, trends in wilderness character are classified as improving, degrading, or stable. These trends are both nationally consistent and independent of the unique aspects specific to any given wilderness; therefore, trends in wilderness character can be compared between wildernesses or across regions. These trends cannot be used to “rate” or “grade” stewardship, however, since they are meaningless when taken out of the context of wilderness character monitoring—wilderness character monitoring is a tool to holistically assess the preservation of wilderness character, not to place judgment on managers. Similarly, while trends can be compared between wildernesses, comparing wilderness character itself among different wildernesses is inappropriate. Each wilderness is unique in its legislative and administrative direction, and in its social and biophysical setting; therefore wilderness character in a particular wilderness cannot, and will not, be compared to that of another wilderness. The purpose of this report is to improve wilderness stewardship by informing managers’ understanding of the wilderness they manage, how wilderness character is changing over time, and why changes may have occurred. The following report establishes a baseline condition and monitoring strategy for the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness based on the five qualities of wilderness character as well as the measures that are specific to the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness and indicative of local trends in wilderness character. Trends are monitored through the online Wilderness Character Monitoring Database (WCMD; at https://wc.wilderness.net/) which includes entries for all measures and baseline data specific to this wilderness. In order to assure that data will be collected and entered into the

Wilderness Character

Qualities

Monitoring Questions

Indicators

Measures Locally Relevant

Nationally Consistent


WCMD in the future, it is recommended that wilderness character monitoring be added to annual workload planning.

Wilderness Character Monitoring in the Forest Service Preserving wilderness character in the Forest Service is vital to national wilderness preservation. The Forest Service administers 445 designated wilderness areas comprising 33% (37 million acres) of lands within the National Wilderness Preservation System. Approximately 19% of the total acreage managed by the Forest Service is designated wilderness. Forest Service policy affirms the mandate of the Wilderness Act to preserve wilderness character, and cites wilderness character as a consideration for a range of actions including public use, research, and resource management (Forest Service Manual 2320). The Forest Service has been involved in wilderness character monitoring from the outset. Starting in 2001, the Forest Service Wilderness Monitoring Committee developed an initial wilderness character monitoring strategy titled Monitoring Selected Conditions Related to Wilderness Character: A National Framework (Landres et al. 2005). This was the direct impetus for, and precursor to, the interagency framework described in Keeping it Wild. Following the publication of the Forest Service monitoring strategy, the agency then developed a Technical Guide for Monitoring Selected Conditions Related to Wilderness Character that provided specific protocols for data collection, storage, analysis, reporting, and use (Landres et al. 2009). This 2009 technical guide was never implemented nationally. In 2015, the Forest Service began the process of writing a new technical guide based on the updated wilderness character monitoring framework of Keeping it Wild 2. The new Forest Service Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide was published in 2018 and provides a national framework and detailed protocols to monitor trends in wilderness character within the Forest Service (Landres et al. 2018). The 2018 technical guide updates and completely replaces the former technical guide published in 2009. Its approach is consistent with the Keeping it Wild 2 interagency wilderness character monitoring strategy used by the other wilderness-managing agencies and endorsed in 2015 by the Interagency Wilderness Policy Council. This wilderness character baseline assessment report for the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness reflects the monitoring strategy described in the 2018 Forest Service technical guide. The Forest Service WCM strategy, as described in the 2018 technical guide, is structured as follows:

The Forest Service uses Keeping It Wild 2’s organizational framework of qualities, monitoring questions, and indicators to ensure interagency consistency.

At least one measure must be used for each indicator. For each indicator, the technical guide describes a required measure, or a set of measures from which at least one must be used.

In addition to the required measures, optional measures described in the technical guide may be chosen for a wilderness if they are highly relevant. Additional locally developed measures may be used for a wilderness, and are encouraged to more fully describe trend in wilderness character, as long as they adhere to the guidelines described in the technical guide.

Data are gathered or compiled for each measure by using the best available information.

Once there are at least two data points per measure, a trend (improving, stable, or degrading) is determined based on agency established rules, or locally developed rules for locally developed measures. Trends in each measure are reported at 5-year intervals even though data for some measures may need to be gathered annually.


If there is more than one measure within an indicator, trends in these measures are compiled by using consistent rules to determine the trend in the indicator. Only the trends in the measures, not the data, are compiled. These same rules are then used to determine the trend in each monitoring question, each quality, and ultimately the overall trend in wilderness character.

Wilderness character is considered “preserved” (i.e., as required by law and Forest Service policy) when there is a stable or improving trend. Once the trend in wilderness character for each wilderness is determined, the percentage of wildernesses with a stable or improving trend in wilderness character within a region and across the entire Forest Service can be derived.

The Forest Service approach to wilderness character monitoring also includes writing a Wilderness Character Narrative to provide a qualitative and holistic description of the tangible and intangible aspects of an area’s wilderness character. The Wilderness Character Narrative describes what is unique and special about a wilderness in terms of the five qualities of wilderness character. It is a foundational document intended to convey the current and foreseeable future condition of the wilderness, identify fundamental wilderness resources, and acknowledge important intangible values associated with the wilderness. The Wilderness Character Narrative for the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness was written as a separate document prior to completing the wilderness character baseline assessment report.

WILDERNESS CHARACTER MONITORING This wilderness character baseline assessment report describes the wilderness character monitoring strategy for the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness based on the Forest Service 2018 Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide and the interagency monitoring framework of Keeping it Wild 2. It discusses the measures selected for monitoring the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness and provides quantitative baseline data for each. In contrast to the qualitative descriptions found in the Wilderness Character Narrative, this is a quantitative assessment of the area’s wilderness character. The measures selected for the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness, and the corresponding data compiled and analyzed for each, establish a foundation for continued monitoring of the wilderness character of the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness into the future.


Overview of Wilderness Character Monitoring Measures Table 1 provides a basic overview of the 16 wilderness character monitoring measures selected for the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness. Each measure is described in more detail in its respective section later in the report.

Table 1. Overview of measures selected for the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness

Quality Indicator Measure Measure

Type

Un

tram

mel

ed

Actions authorized by the federal land manager that intentionally manipulate the biophysical environment

Number of authorized actions and persistent structures designed to manipulate plants, animals, pathogens, soil, water, or fire

Required

Actions not authorized by the federal land manager that intentionally manipulate the biophysical environment

Number of unauthorized actions and persistent structures by agencies, organizations, or individuals that manipulate plants, animals, pathogens, soil, water, or fire

Required

Nat

ura

l

Plants Acres of nonindigenous plant species Required

Animals

Index of nonindigenous terrestrial animal species

Required to select at least one

Index of nonindigenous aquatic animal species

Air and water

Amount of haze Required to select at least one

Extent of waterbodies with impaired water quality

Required

Ecological processes Number of animal unit months of commercial livestock use


Un

dev

elo

ped

Presence of non-recreational structures, installations, and developments

Index of authorized non-recreational physical development

Required

Presence of inholdings Acres of inholdings Required

Use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment, or mechanical transport

Index of administrative authorizations to use motor vehicles, motorized equipment, or mechanical transport

Required


Table 1. Overview of measures selected for the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness

Quality Indicator Measure Measure

Type

Solit

ud

e o

r P

rim

itiv

e an

d U

nco

nfe

ined

Rec

reat

ion

Remoteness from sights and sounds of human activity inside wilderness

Index of encounters Required

Acres of wilderness away from access and travel routes and developments inside wilderness


Remoteness from sights and sounds of human activity outside the wilderness

Acres of wilderness away from adjacent travel routes and developments outside the wilderness

Required

Facilities that decrease self-reliant recreation

Index of National Forest System (NFS) developed trails


Management restrictions on visitor behavior

Index of visitor management restrictions Required

For each measure, this report includes the following subsections: measure baseline value, year(s) of data collection, measure description, background and context, data source, data adequacy, frequency, and threshold for change. The content and purpose of each of these subsections is described below.

Measure Baseline Value—The first value reported for a measure. The first year that data are compiled for a measure forms the measure baseline, and is the reference point for evaluating the trend in a measure over time. The measure baseline (i.e., the first year that data are compiled for an individual measure) is distinct from the wilderness character monitoring baseline (i.e., the first year that data are compiled for all measures). While the measure baseline year will often be the same as the wilderness character monitoring baseline year, it may predate it if legacy data are used, or it may post-date it if the data source or data protocol change. The first value reported for a measure from this measure baseline year is called the measure baseline value. Year(s) of Data Collection—The year(s) the data were collected or compiled. Measures using rolling averages will report three years of data collection, e.g., 2016–2018. Measure Description—A brief description of what is being measured and how. Full measure descriptions and protocols are defined in the Forest Service 2018 Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide and are not included here, except for locally developed measures. For locally developed measures, this subsection also includes a detailed protocol for data compilation, analysis, and data entry.


Background and Context—A description of the context and relevance of the measure at an individual wilderness. This subsection addresses why the measure was selected and discusses the current state of the measure as well as any known previous conditions or reasonably foreseeable future changes. Any available legacy (historical) data for the measure are also included here. Data Source—The source(s) for baseline information and any historical data for the measure. The intent of this section is to encourage written documentation of wilderness character data and data sources so that information is accessible into the future. Data Adequacy—A description of the reliability of the data to assess trends in the measure at an individual wilderness. Data adequacy is based on both data quantity and data quality. Data quantity refers to the level of confidence that all appropriate data records have been gathered. Data quality refers to the level of confidence about the source(s) of data and whether the data are of sufficient quality to reliably identify trends in the measure. Local resource specialists must evaluate data quantity and quality for all potential data sources using the categories described in Table 2. An overall determination of data adequacy (high, medium, or low) is derived by combining the assessments of both data quality and quantity, as shown in Table 3. Further information on the role of data quantity and quality in wilderness character monitoring is available in the Forest Service 2018 Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide.

Table 2. Data quantity and quality categories

Dat

a Q

uan

tity

1. Complete—This category indicates a high degree of confidence that all data records have been gathered. For example, to assess the occurrence of nonindigenous plants, a complete inventory of a wilderness was conducted or all likely sites were visited. Similarly, to assess encounters, all trailheads were inventoried.

2. Partial—This category indicates a medium degree of confidence that all data records have been gathered. Some data are available but are generally considered incomplete, such as with sampling. For example, to assess the occurrence of nonindigenous plants, only a partial inventory was conducted; to assess encounters, only selected trailheads were sampled.

3. Insufficient—This category indicates a low degree of confidence that all records have been gathered. Few or no data records are available. For example, no inventory for nonindigenous plants has been conducted, and encounters were not assessed anywhere, requiring professional judgment in both cases.

Dat

a Q

ual

ity

1. Good—This category indicates a high degree of confidence that the quality of the data can reliably assess trends in the measure. Data are highly accurate, reliable, and relevant for the measure. For example, data on the occurrence of nonindigenous plants are from ground-based inventories conducted by qualified personnel; for encounters, data comes from encounter monitoring following the national minimum solitude monitoring protocol.

2. Moderate—This category indicates a medium degree of confidence about the quality of the data. Data are only moderately accurate, reliable, or relevant. For example, data on nonindigenous plants could come from national or regional databases; for encounters, data could come from visitor permit data.

3. Poor—This category indicates a low degree of confidence about the quality of the data. The accuracy, reliability, or relevancy of the data is minimal or unknown. For example, data on nonindigenous plants and encounters data could come from professional judgment.


Table 3. Data adequacy matrix

Data Quality

Good Moderate Poor

Data Quantity

Complete High Medium Medium

Partial Medium Medium Low

Insufficient Medium Low Low

Frequency—How often data for this measure are compiled, analyzed, and entered into the WCMD. Further information on frequency is available in the Forest Service Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide. Threshold for Change—The amount of change in the data necessary to qualify as a meaningful change in the measure (i.e., indicating a changing trend in the measure). Further information on the threshold for change is available in the Forest Service Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide.

Together, these subsections provide a comprehensive overview of each measure, provide transparency into the wilderness character monitoring measures selected, and form the basis of the wilderness character monitoring strategy of the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness.

Figure 2. Overview of wilderness areas on the San Jacinto Ranger District of the San Bernardino

National Forest


UNTRAMMELED

Wilderness is essentially unhindered and free from modern human control or manipulation The Untrammeled Quality monitors the actions of humans in wilderness that intentionally manipulate the biophysical environment. Actions that intentionally manipulate or control ecological systems inside wilderness degrade the Untrammeled Quality regardless of what instigated the action or if benefits to other qualities of wilderness character are gained by the action. Withholding action is a key concept for understanding this quality; management of wilderness, in contrast to management of other types of land, should be approached with restraint and humility. When monitoring the Untrammeled Quality we can track either the decision to manipulate the biophysical environment or the opportunity for humans to let natural processes occur without intervention. Further information on determining whether an action meets the criteria for the Untrammeled Quality can be found in the Forest Service Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide, Part 2, Section 2.1.

Table 4. Untrammeled Quality

Indicator Measure Measure

Type Frequency

Measure Baseline Value (Year(s) of Data

Collection)

Data Adequacy

Actions authorized by the federal land manager that intentionally manipulate the biophysical environment

Number of authorized actions and persistent structures designed to manipulate plants, animals, pathogens, soil, water, or fire

Required 1 year 2

(2016 – 2018) High


Number of unauthorized actions and persistent structures by agencies, organizations, or individuals that manipulate plants, animals, pathogens, soil, water, or fire

Required 1 year 0

(2016 – 2018) Low


Number of authorized actions and persistent structures designed to manipulate

plants, animals, pathogens, soil, water, or fire Measure Type: Required Measure Baseline Value: 2 Years of Data Collection: 2016 – 2018 Measure Description: This measure assesses the 3-year rolling average of authorized trammeling actions, based on an annual count of authorized actions and persistent structures intended to manipulate any component of the biophysical environment within wilderness (including vegetation, fish, wildlife, insects, pathogens, soil, water, or fire). Local data are compiled and entered in NRM-WCM annually. NRM-WCM calculates the annual value, and the WCMD then calculates the 3-year rolling average (the measure value). Background and Context: Any action that intentionally manipulates the biophysical environment results in degradation to the untrammeled quality and are authorized only when justifiable through a review process. Most authorized trammeling actions are limited to scenarios wherein action is deemed necessary to improve another quality of wilderness, to comply with federal regulations, or in the interest of human health and safety. Actions that are undertaken by tribal, state, or other federal agencies or private citizens are included if they are authorized by the Forest Service. During the years of data collection for the measure baseline value, the only authorized trammeling actions are those related to livestock grazing and fire suppression (Table 5). Data entered into NRM-WCM uses the following Authorization ID format: SFSJ18 01. SFSJ is for South Fork San Jacinto, the adjoining number (in this example: 18) would be the fiscal year related to that action, and the last number (01) increases with each authorized action for that fiscal year.

Table 5. Number of authorized trammeling actions (2016 – 2018)

Fiscal Year Number of Actions Comments Authorization

ID

16 1 Authorized livestock grazing SFSJ16 01

17 1 Authorized livestock grazing SFSJ17 01

18

4

Authorized livestock grazing Application of fire retardant Fireline construction Direct extinguishing

SFSJ18 01

SFSJ18 02

SFSJ18 03

SFSJ18 04

A small portion of the Garner grazing allotment (640 acres) overlaps with the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness. The Garner allotment permit holders have been grazing cattle in the San Jacinto Mountains since before the establishment of the National Forest. The Rouse grazing allotment, which encompasses

UNTRAMMELED QUALITY Actions authorized by the federal land manager that intentionally manipulate the biophysical environment


a majority of the Wilderness extent, has not been used since 2013 and is unlikely to be used in the future. The physical setting and landscape of the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness make it extremely prone to wildfire risks. Fire management is critically important in this area due to its close proximity to populated communities. There has not been a fire, nor any fire prevention efforts or fuel reduction projects in Wilderness since its designation. Additionally, prescribed burning may be used in Wilderness to retain wilderness values or where community protection needs exist. Post-wildfire Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) action is allowed to prevent the unnatural loss of wilderness resources should there ever be a wildfire within South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness. While there are not any current fire related management actions within the Wilderness boundary, the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness can be affected by fire suppression and fire prevention efforts that occur outside the Wilderness boundary. Wildfire suppression in surrounding Forest Service land is immediate and aggressive and any unplanned ignitions are not allowed to run their course due to unnatural buildup of fuel. The Cranston Fire in 2018 would have burned into South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness had fire suppression actions not been deployed. In accordance with the Forest Service 2018 Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide, each suppression activity that stopped the wildfire’s advancement into Wilderness constitutes a trammeling action: application of fire retardant, direct extinguishing with water by airplane and hoselays, and fireline construction by hand and heavy machinery. Data Source: Personal correspondence with district specialists, as well as reporting and documentation from USFS staff in local files. Legislative and Administrative document compilation (2-point level) and the 2018 Wilderness Character Narrative (4-point level) were utilized for historical and contextual information. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is high. Data quantity is complete and quality is good. The nature of authorized actions often result in some formal written record that allows for comprehensive data collection. Frequency: 1 year Threshold for Change: A 5-percent change in the 3-year rolling average number of authorized actions and persistent structures. Once there are five measure values, the threshold for meaningful change will switch to regression analysis. A decrease in the 3-year rolling average beyond the threshold for meaningful change results in an improving trend in this measure.


Number of unauthorized actions and persistent structures by agencies,

organizations, or individuals that manipulate plants, animals, pathogens, soil, water, or fire

Measure Type: Required Measure Baseline Value: 0 Years of Data Collection: 2016 – 2018 Measure Description: This measure assesses the 3-year rolling average of unauthorized trammeling actions based on an annual count of known actions not authorized by the Forest Service taken by other Federal and State agencies, organizations, or individuals that are intended to manipulate any component of the biophysical environment within wilderness (including vegetation, fish, wildlife, insects, pathogens, soil, water, or fire). Local data are compiled and entered in NRM-WCM annually. NRM-WCM calculates the annual value, and the WCMD then calculates the 3-year rolling average (the measure value). Background and Context: Unauthorized trammeling actions can have significant impacts on the natural environment. These actions are fundamentally different from those authorized by the managing agency. Most authorized manipulations undergo a review process to determine their impacts on the various resources within wilderness, but unauthorized manipulations are often undertaken with little to no consideration for their effect on the broader ecological systems. However, these actions can be difficult to observe, record, or quantify. Those that are captured in this baseline assessment are those that the local Forest Service staff have learned of or have reason to suspect within the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness. Managers must rely on several sources, including their own experiences, those of other Forest Service staff, and reports from volunteers, visitors, or researchers. During the years of data collection for the measure baseline value, there have been no known unauthorized trammeling actions. If records should be entered into NRM-WCM in the future, use the following Authorization ID format: SFSJ18 U01. SFSJ is for South Fork San Jacinto and the adjoining number (in this example: 18) would be the fiscal year related to that action. Then, U distinguishes the unauthorized nature of the action and the last number (01) increases with each unauthorized action for that fiscal year. Historically, there have been issues with illegal marijuana (Cannabis spp.) cultivation in wildernesses of the San Jacinto Ranger District. Most of the time, these activities are not discovered until after the site has been abandoned, leaving behind tarping, pipes, and trash. Data Source: Personal correspondence with district specialists.

UNTRAMMELED QUALITY



Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is low. Data quantity is insufficient and quality is moderate. Discovering unauthorized trammeling actions often rely on reports from the public or volunteer associations, as there are no regular patrols in Wilderness. Actions could have been taken that were not reported to Forest Service staff. Frequency: 1 year Threshold for Change: A 5-percent change in the 3-year rolling average number of unauthorized actions and persistent structures. Once there are five measure values, the threshold for meaningful change will switch to regression analysis. A decrease in the 3-year rolling average beyond the threshold for meaningful change results in an improving trend in this measure.


NATURAL

Wilderness ecological systems are substantially free from the effects of modern civilization.

The Natural Quality assesses the integrity of local ecosystems and their freedom to change and develop without human manipulation. The Natural Quality tracks the effects of human actions and modern civilization on natural ecosystems (in contrast to the Untrammeled Quality which tracks the actions themselves). Ecosystems include all living and non-living things in an area, as well as the interactions between them. Within wilderness, changes to the Natural Quality can be caused directly or indirectly, and intentionally or unintentionally. While some aspects of the Natural Quality may be under the control of wilderness managers, other aspects (such as air quality) may not be. Monitoring ecosystem changes inside wilderness is critical to understanding the unique character of each wilderness area and how it is impacted by human actions. Further information on selecting measures for the Natural Quality can be found in the Forest Service Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide, Part 2, Section 3.6.

Table 6. Natural Quality


Type Frequency


Collection)

Data Adequacy

Plants Acres of nonindigenous plant species

Required 5 years Low

(2019) Low

Animals



5 years 1

(2019) Low


5 years 6

(2019) Medium

Air and water

Amount of haze


5 years

Stable (2013)

High


Required 5 years 0

(2019) Medium

Ecological Processes

Number of animal unit months of commercial livestock use


1 year 32

(2016 – 2018) High


Acres of nonindigenous plant species

Measure Type: Required Protocol Option: 3 – Categories based on professional judgement Measure Baseline Value: Low – 1 to 5% of the total wilderness acreage Year of Data Collection: 2019 Measure Description: This measure assesses the estimated percentage of acres occupied by selected nonindigenous plant species in wilderness. Data are compiled from a variety of local, state, regional, and national data sources. Local staff calculate the measure value. Background and Context: Nonindigenous species are considered one of the greatest threats to the integrity and function of natural communities and ecosystems. Any alteration of a plant community within wilderness may result in changes to the structure and function of that plant community, as well as effects on wildlife through loss, degradation, or alteration of habitat. The use of professional judgement by Forest Service botany staff was relied upon to calculate the measure baseline value. Currently there is no invasive plant species management plan for South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness. Due to inadequate staff/funding, the Forest generally does not monitor, survey, or inventory weeds unless related to such activities like BAER treatments or project by project Biological Evaluations. There have not been any surveys inside South Fork San Jacinto, but some surveying from 2005 (pre- designation) was recorded along Rouse Ridge Road which bisects Wilderness through the center. Tall tumblemustard (Sisymbrium altissimum), tamarisk (Tamarix spp.), tocalote or Maltese star thistle (Centaurea melitensis), and Russian thistle (Salsola spp.) were documented within or immediately adjacent to the boundary. Additionally, portions on the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness have seen decades of light to moderate cattle grazing intensity in the more accessible elevations and terrains, an activity which can have compounding effects for the spread of invasive species over time. Past inventory and survey data were retrieved from the Forest Service NRIS Database and analyzed by botany staff to select key species that pose the greatest threat to wilderness values (Table 7). Other species can be added in future years if/as they are identified in Wilderness.

Table 7. Wilderness acreage occupied by nonindigenous plants

Species Percent Occupied Source

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)

Low – 1 to 5% of the total wilderness acreage

Professional judgment and NRIS Database

Tocalote (Centaurea melitensis)



Tall tumblemustard (Sisymbrium altissimum)



NATURAL QUALITY Plants


Data Source: Past survey data in areas adjacent to Wilderness were retrieved from the Forest Service NRIS Database. Nonindigenous plant species list and distribution data were provided via personal correspondence with the district Botanist, Lance Woolley. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is low. Data quantity is insufficient and data quality is poor. Limited resources have prevented surveying in Wilderness, so estimates rely heavily on professional judgement based on old data. Frequency: 5 years Threshold for Change: Any change in categories:

None—less than 1 percent of the total wilderness acreage.

Low—1 to 5 percent of the total wilderness acreage.

Moderate—6 to 20 percent of the total wilderness acreage.

High—greater than 20 percent of the total wilderness acreage. A change to a lower “percent occupied” category results in an improving trend in the measure.



Measure Type: Required to select at least one Measure Baseline Value: 1 Year of Data Collection: 2019 Measure Description: This measure is an index that assesses the geographic distribution and estimated impact of selected nonindigenous terrestrial animal species. Data are compiled from a variety of local, state, regional, and national data sources. The WCMD calculates the measure value. Background and Context: Nonindigenous species are considered one of the greatest threats to the integrity and function of natural communities and ecosystems. Introduced species may compete with native species for finite resources such as shelter and food, or they may prey upon or parasitize plants or animals that have not evolved corresponding resistance mechanisms. Any alteration in the occurrence or abundance of animals may result in cascading ecosystem changes. South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness does not have a record of nonindigenous terrestrial animal species other than domestic livestock (Table 8). Small portions of the Garner allotment (640 acres) coincide with the boundary. Very rarely do cattle make it into the Wilderness extent, where vegetation, topography, historical drought conditions, herd size reductions, and seasonally rotated pastures have limited the cattle’s ability to access Wilderness. The Rouse grazing allotment use to include most of Wilderness, but grazing on this allotment was discontinued in 2013 and is unlikely to occur in the future.

Table 8. Index of nonindigenous terrestrial animal species

Species Distribution

(Rating) Impact (Rating)

Component Score

Comments

Domestic cattle Trace < 1%

(1) Low (1)

1 Based on professional

judgement of actual usage

Measure Value: 1

Data Source: Personal correspondence with the Rangeland Management Specialist for the Cleveland National Forest, Lance Criley. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is low. Data quantity is insufficient, since no general wildlife surveying has been conducted and staff spend relatively little time in Wilderness. Data quality is considered low, as the information that is available on domestic cattle relies on professional judgment of observed conditions on the ground. Frequency: 5 years

NATURAL QUALITY Animals


Threshold for Change: A 5-percent change in the measure value for all selected nonindigenous terrestrial animal species. Once there are five measure values, the threshold for meaningful change will switch to regression analysis. A decrease in the measure value beyond the threshold for meaningful change results in an improving trend in this measure.



Measure Type: Required to select at least one Measure Baseline Value: 6 Year of Data Collection: 2019 Measure Description: This measure is an index that assesses the geographic distribution and estimated impact of selected nonindigenous aquatic species (NAS), including amphibians, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, gastropods, aquatic insects, and aquatic pathogens and diseases. Data are compiled from a variety of local, state, regional, and national data sources. The WCMD calculates the measure value. Background and Context: Nonindigenous aquatic species may alter the composition, structure, and function of natural aquatic communities, as well as adversely impact indigenous species and reduce biodiversity. Often times, NAS are introduced to wilderness areas by anthropogenic vectors and may result in cascading ecosystem changes. This measure was selected as there are 100 miles of streams in the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) have been observed in the South Fork San Jacinto River within portions that cross the Wilderness. It is likely that this waterway was once stocked with brown trout to provide opportunities for recreational fishing long before wilderness designations. There are a number of nonindigenous fish species that are stocked by the CDFW into Lake Hemet: largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Lake Hemet is dammed and feeds into South Fork San Jacinto River. None of these fish have been reported downstream and seem to be confined to the lake. Generally the establishment of nonindigenous aquatic species in Wilderness is very unlikely to happen on its own unless intentionally done through repeated human actions. The measure value calculation is provided in Table 9.

Table 9. Index of nonindigenous aquatic animal species

Species Distribution

(Rating) Impact (Rating)

Component Score

Comments

Brown trout (Salmo trutta)

Moderate 11%-20% (2)

High (3)

6 Surveyed

Measure Value: 6

Data Source: Information on nonindigenous aquatic animal species were provided by Kerwin Russell, Natural Resource Manager for the Riverside-Corona Resource Conversation District. Information on nonindigenous fish species in Lake Hemet were retrieved from the USGS NAS Database and through the CDFW Data Portal on fish planting schedules.

NATURAL QUALITY Animals


Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is moderate. Data quantity is partial as there are some documented cases within limited geographic scope and staff spend relatively little time in Wilderness. Data quality is good as distribution categories are supported by field surveys/observations. Frequency: 5 years Threshold for Change: A 5-percent change in the measure value for all selected nonindigenous aquatic animal species. Once there are five measure values, the threshold for meaningful change will switch to regression analysis. A decrease in the measure value beyond the threshold for meaningful change results in an improving trend in this measure.


Amount of haze

Measure Type: Required to select at least one Measure Baseline Value: Stable deciview Year of Data Collection: 2013 Measure Description: This measure assesses the trend in average deciview for the 20 percent most impaired days, based on the Forest Service Air Resource Management Program’s annual analyses of national visibility monitoring data. Data are compiled from the Forest Service Wilderness Air Quality website. The central data analyst calculates the measure value. Background and Context: As addressed in the Southern California Wilderness Air Quality Plan (no date) visibility impairment is one of the main air pollution risks to Southern Californian wilderness areas. Close proximity to major urban areas and offshore shipping lanes drive high levels of year round impairment, with fine particulates such as nitrate, sulfate, and organic carbon as the major contributors. By selecting this measure, the haze monitoring that is already occurring within the region will be integrated into Wilderness Character Monitoring. California adopted a Regional Haze Rule in order to meet the goal of improving visibility and meeting natural background conditions in California’s Class I areas by 2064. The Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) has a network of sites within Class I wilderness areas that collect aerosol, optical, and scene measurements, creating a haze index measured in deciviews. Deciview is a measurement of the amount of haze, with higher values of deciview indicating increased haze and greater levels of visibility impairment. South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness is designated as a Class II wilderness and as such does not have a designated IMPROVE monitoring site. Air quality specialists at Colorado State University were consulted and recommended using the visibility data provided by the Agua Tibia IMROVE site (AGTI) as a viable representative figure. Based on the 5-year rolling averages in the years since the baseline, there has been a statistically significant decreasing trend in deciview for the 20 percent most impaired days. The measure values reported in the baseline year up to 2016 are in Table 10 and the visibility data is displayed in Figure 3. The 5-year averages are calculated using values from the current and previous four years of data and are represented in the graph by blue dots. The Forest Service Air Resource Management Program conducts a statistical analysis of the IMPROVE 5-year averages using a non-parametric regression technique, the Theil-Sen slope, which minimizes the influence of data outliers.

Table 10. Haze visibility measure values (2013 – 2016)

Year Measure Value

2013 (Baseline) Stable deciview

2016 Decreasing deciview

NATURAL QUALITY Air and water


The baseline year for this measure is 2013, which is five years after wilderness designation when data averages became available, and a measure value of ‘stable deciview’ is reported for that year, as per the Forest Service 2018 Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide. We select stable for the measure baseline year in order to convey that the baseline year is the first year for which we have sufficient data to begin to generate trend reports. It should not be mistaken that deciview values have actually been stable up to that point.

Figure 3. Visibility on haziest days in vicinity of South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness

Data Source: Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments and Forest Service Air Resource Management Program data, pulled and analyzed by the USFS WCM Central Data Analyst, Jim Edmonds. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is high. Since South Fork San Jactino has a representative IMPROVE site, data quantity is complete and data quality is high. There may be up to a year delay in posting data. Frequency: 5 years Threshold for Change: Any change in categories:

Decreasing deciview—there is a statistically significant decreasing trend in the 5-year average deciview for the 20 percent most impaired days.

Stable deciview—there is no statistically significant trend in the 5-year average deciview for the 20 percent most impaired days.

Increasing deciview—there is a statistically significant increasing trend in the 5-year average deciview for the 20 percent most impaired days.

A change towards decreasing deciview results in an improving trend in the measure.

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Dec

ivie

w (

dv)

South Fork San Jacinto WildernessVisibility Trend from 2013 to 2016

5-Year Average of 20% Most Impaired Days Theil-Sen slope= -0.32 dv/yr significant trend

IMPROVE monitor ID: AGTI1



Measure Type: Required Protocol Option: 1 – Miles of Streams Measure Baseline Value: 0 miles Year of Data Collection: 2019 Measure Description: This measure assesses the miles of streams inside wilderness with impaired water quality, based on national or state 303(d) list of impaired water bodies or local monitoring data. Data are compiled from national or state 303(d) databases, or other local, state, regional, or national data sources. Local staff calculate the measure value. Background and Context: Natural waterbodies sustain terrestrial life in the surrounding ecosystem as well as aquatic life. Healthy ecosystems also function as water filters, providing clean water for human use downstream. Even in wilderness, water quality can be compromised by a variety of factors, including deposition of airborne pollutants, runoff from roads and agricultural land, and fecal contamination from human visitors or livestock. Local units are not currently conducting any research or monitoring of water quality in wilderness, for this reason, the data selected for this measure is 303(d) data. Miles of streams was selected as the protocol option because there are no lakes in the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness. There are 100 total miles of streams according to the Southern California Wilderness Air Quality Monitoring Plan (no date) and the 303(d) database lists all streams as unassessed. Therefore, the measure baseline value is 0 miles. Data Source: 303(d) database, pulled and analyzed by the USFS WCM Central Data Analyst, Jim Edmonds. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is medium. Data quantity is partial and quality is moderate, as the data is pulled from a national and regional database. Frequency: 5 years Threshold for Change: A 5-percent change in the total mileage of impaired streams. Once there are five measure values, the threshold for meaningful change will switch to regression analysis. A decrease in the amount of impaired waterbodies beyond the threshold for meaningful change results in an improving trend in this measure.

NATURAL QUALITY Air and water


Number of animal unit months of commercial livestock use

Measure Type: Required to select at least one Measure Baseline Value: 32 AUMs Years of Data Collection: 2016 – 2018 Measure Description: This measure assesses the 3-year rolling average of commercial livestock use, based on an annual count of animal unit months (AUMs) within a wilderness. Local data are compiled and entered in NRM-Range annually. The WCMD calculates the annual value and the 3-year rolling average (the measure value). Background and Context: Grazing allotments are common occurrences on Forest Service lands where, in many cases, grazing existed prior to wilderness creation and are permitted to continue after designation. Domestic animals are nonnative species that can alter plant community composition and wildlife habitat availability, cause erosion, and degrade water quality. Cattle have been grazed in the San Jacinto Mountains since the early 19th century, predating the establishment of the National Forest. There is one active and authorized grazing allotment that overlaps with South Fork San Jacinto. The Rouse allotment, a majority of which lies within designated Wilderness, was historically grazed since 1975 under various term permits, but has not been used since 2013. This allotment could be grazed again in the future should the permittee decide to resume operations, but it seems unlikely at this time. The Garner allotment has always been permitted to the owners of the Garner Cattle Company with the first permit issued for grazing on federal lands issued in 1925. By 1981, the allotment boundary began to resemble its current boundaries. The permittee and the USFS have adjusted the number of cattle as needed depending on adequate forage production, precipitation rates, and personal choices regarding herd sizes. Subunits are on a rotating schedule to relieve year round grazing pressures. Small portions of the Baldy Top and Spillway subunits overlap with Wilderness, totaling 640 acres. Due to variable natural conditions, authorized use does not always match the actual use. Vegetation, topography, and relatively small acreage of allotment/Wilderness overlap has reduced grazing pressure in most areas and grazing in Wilderness is not considered significant. The Garner allotment is currently undergoing a permit renewal that includes a spatial adjustment of allotment boundaries and is likely to affect this measure in the future. The 3-year rolling average for the measure baseline years are provided in Table 11. The measure value is rounded to the nearest whole number. Figure 4 displays the allotment boundary overlap with the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness.

NATURAL QUALITY Ecological processes


Table 11. Number of animal unit months (AUMs) of livestock (2016 – 2018)

Year Allotment Total Acres

(Forest Land) Acres in

Wilderness % Acres in Wilderness

Authorized AUMs

Wilderness AUMs

2016

Garner 16,251.56 639.66 3.94

634 24.98

2017 1,177 46.37

2018 630 24.82

Measure Value: 32

Figure 4. Grazing allotment boundaries within South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness

Data Source: RNGR311P: Summarized Authorized, Actual Use by Allotment report from NRM-Range provided by the Range Management Specialist on the Cleveland National Forest, Lance Criley. Total allotment acres and acres in Wilderness were verified by GIS Specialist, Tract Tennant. Geospatial data displayed in Figure 4 was obtained from the FSGeodata Clearinghouse Enterprise Data, citation title: S_USA.Allotment. Historical information was found in local files on grazing allotment Environmental Assessments (EA) and Decision Notices (DN). Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is high. Data quantity is complete and data quality is good. This information has been reliably collected and reported within the Forest through NRM-Range. Frequency: 1 year Threshold for Change: A 5-percent change in the 3-year rolling average number of authorized wilderness AUMs. Once there are five measure values, the threshold for meaningful change will switch to regression analysis. A decrease in the 3-year rolling average beyond the threshold for meaningful change results in an improving trend in this measure.


UNDEVELOPED

Wilderness retains its primeval character and influence, and is essentially without permanent improvement or modern human occupation

The Undeveloped Quality is the most familiar and recognizable quality of wilderness for many people. Without buildings, roads, evidence of other people, or improvements on the landscape, the Undeveloped Quality speaks to the idea that humans are visitors that do not remain. The Wilderness Act of 1964 makes the following allusions to the Undeveloped Quality of wilderness character:

The National Wilderness Preservation System was created “in order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy all areas within the United States” (2a);

Wilderness is “in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape” (2c);

Wilderness should be managed in such a way that “the imprint of man’s work is substantially unnoticeable” (2c);

And that “there shall be no permanent road within any wilderness area…no temporary road, no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or motorboats, no landing of aircraft, no other form of mechanical transport, and no structure or installations within any such area” (4c).

Table 12. Undeveloped Quality


Type Frequency


Collection)

Data Adequacy

Presence of non-recreational structures, installations, and developments


Required 5 years 15

(2019) High

Presence of inholdings

Acres of inholdings Required 5 years 0

(2009) High

Use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment, or mechanical transport

Index of administrative authorizations to use motor vehicles, motorized equipment, or mechanical transport

Required 1 year 0

(2016 – 2018) High



Measure Type: Required Measure Baseline Value: 15 Year of Data Collection: 2019 Measure Description: This measure is an index that assesses selected elements for each type, or component, of non-recreational physical development. Data are compiled from a variety of local and national data sources and entered in various NRM applications. NRM-WCM calculates the measure value. Background and Context: Markedly human developments or installations not related to recreation have the propensity to degrade a landscape’s primeval character and bring down other tangible qualities of wilderness. Non-recreational physical developments are all the structures present in wilderness that are not involved with recreation such as buildings, dams and other instream structures, roads, fixed instrumentation sites, utility and grazing infrastructure, and mines. There are not very many non-recreational developments that have persisted on the landscape. The area is generally very remote and rugged, deterring more intrusive human activities. There are no known buildings, dams and/or other instream structures, roads, utility infrastructure, or mines within the Wilderness extent (Table 13). Rouse Ridge Road, which requires a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, bisects South Fork San Jacinto into two sections, but is not technically in Wilderness nor included in measure calculations. Along the road are numerous spurs leading up low knobs or into canyons that are popular for dispersed campers. Rouse Ridge Road holds a 200 foot setback and the spurs fall within that zone. Additionally, there is a cherry-stemmed road that was purposefully removed from wilderness consideration, known as Blackburn Ridge.

Table 13. Index of authorized non-recreational developments

Measure Component Component Score

Buildings 0

Dams and other Instream Structures 0

Roads 0

Fixed Instrumentation Sites 1

Utility Infrastructure 0

Mines 0

Grazing Infrastructure 14

Measure Value: 15

Fixed Instrumentation Sites: There was a paleoseismic trench sensor operated under permit since 2010 by a geophysicist at San Diego State University. The sensor was placed across the Clark Strand of the San Jacinto Fault and was part of a research project to better understand the likely size of a geologically

UNDEVELOPED QUALITY Presence of non-recreational structures, installations, and developments


imminent earthquake along the fault. It was located roughly one mile southwest of Rouse Ridge. The sensor was not removed until November of 2018, so is still included FY19 calculations. Grazing Infrastructure: Grazing has occurred in most of the South Fork San Jacinto extent since the 1970s. There is one currently active grazing allotment that has accompanying grazing improvements which are needed to support the transport and management of livestock (Table 14). The Rouse grazing allotment has historically coincided with most of the Wilderness extent, but has not been grazing since 2013 and is unlikely to be grazed in the future, but the possibility exists. There are old grazing improvements along Rouse Ridge Road, such as fencing, corrals, and troughs, but are contained within a non-wilderness corridor and as such not included in this measure. Numerous records in NRM-WCM had to be deselected to reflect known conditions.

Table 14. Grazing infrastructure in South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness

Grazing Improvement Name

Improvement ID

Scale Category (Value)

Materials (Value)

Individual Component Score

Willow Creek Trough 1 55RO426ET1 Point site

(1) Non-primitive

(2) 2

Willow Creek Trough 2 55RO426ET2 Point site

(1) Non-primitive

(2) 2

Willow Creek Corral 55RO612A Point site

(1) Non-primitive

(2) 2

Willow Riparian Fence 55RO235A Linear feature

(0.3 miles) Non-primitive

(2) 2

Willow Creek Spring 55RO426ES Point site

(1) Non-primitive

(2) 2

Pine Tree Spring & Trough

55RO426BS Point site

(1) Non-primitive

(2) 2

Pine Tree Trough 1 55RO426BT1 Point site

(1) Non-primitive

(2) 2

Component Score Total: 14

Data Source: Most data was retrieved from NRM-WCM and validated/amended by various district and Forest specialists. Information on fixed instrumentation sites were provided by Heidi Hoggan, district Lands, Special Uses, and Mineral Administrator. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is generally high. Data quality is considered complete as it can be and quality is good. This measure capitalizes on already tracked and recorded data and is up to Forest Service expectations of data quality. Frequency: 5 years Threshold for Change: A 3-percent change in the development measure value. Once there are five measure values, the threshold for meaningful change will switch to regression analysis. A decrease in the development measure value beyond the threshold for meaningful change results in an improving trend in this measure.


Acres of inholdings

Measure Type: Required Measure Baseline Value: 0 acres Year of Data Collection: 2009 Measure Description: This measure assesses the acres of inholdings in a wilderness, even if the existence of the inholding is imperceptible to an observer. Data from the Land Status Record System (LSRS) are automatically compiled via the EDW and entered in NRM-WCM. NRM-WCM calculates the measure value. Background and Context: Private inholdings are not considered a part of wilderness and not subject to wilderness laws and policies. As such, the presence of inholdings often detract from the wilderness experience when installations and activities on private land are visible or audible to the public. Additionally, if activities on inholdings produce byproducts or pollution, or if they facilitate the establishment of non-native species through disturbance, such actions and their products would likely impact wilderness outside the inholding. There are no acres of inholdings within South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness and there have not been any inholdings since Wilderness designation. Wilderness character is not threatened by potentially degrading activities associated with inholdings and this measure will maintain a stable trend in the future. Data Source: Data was pulled from the Land Status Record System (LSRS) via NRM-WCM and validated by GIS Specialist, Tracy Tennant. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is high. Data quantity is complete and quality is good. Frequency: 5 years Threshold for Change: Any change in the number of inholding acres. A decrease in the total number of acres results in an improving trend in this measure.

UNDEVELOPED QUALITY Presence of inholdings


Index of administrative authorizations to use motor vehicles, motorized

equipment, or mechanical transport Measure Type: Required Measure Baseline Value: 0 Years of Data Collection: 2016 – 2018 Measure Description: This measure assesses the 3-year rolling average of a use-level index evaluating administrative authorizations to use motor vehicles, motorized equipment, or mechanical transport, based on the type and number of pieces of equipment and the days of use. Local data are compiled and entered in NRM-Wilderness annually. NRM-WCM calculates the annual value, and the WCMD then calculates the 3-year rolling average (the measure value). Background and Context: Despite the general prohibition, administrative and other non-emergency uses of motorized equipment and mechanical transport are explicitly authorized under certain conditions by the Wilderness Act. The use of these devices nonetheless diminishes the undeveloped quality. Examination of patterns in the use of administrative authorizations over a period of time will enable managers to be aware of upward trends and respond with appropriate management decisions to reverse or stabilize them. Given its relatively young age, there are no administrative authorizations to use motor vehicles, motorized equipment, or mechanical transport in South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness during the measure baseline years. Data Source: Data were retrieved via NRM-WCM and past years administrative authorizations were confirmed by Assistant Public Services Staff Officer, Andrew Smith. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is high. Data quantity is considered complete and quality is good. This information has been a required element of upward reporting for many years and is thoroughly tracked and recorded. Frequency: 1 year Threshold for Change: Any change in the 3-year rolling average measure value. Once there are five measure values, the threshold for meaningful change will switch to regression analysis. A decrease in the 3-year rolling average beyond the threshold for meaningful change results in an improving trend in this measure.

UNDEVELOPED QUALITY Use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment, or mechanical transport


SOLITUDE OR PRIMITIVE AND UNCONFINED RECREATION

Wilderness provides outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation. As populations increase and technology advances, wilderness provides opportunities for solitude and for a primitive or unconfined type of recreation that are not available in many other places. Wilderness is unique in that its managers are mandated to provide outstanding opportunities for a specific type of recreational experience. Although managers cannot guarantee or require that visitors experience solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation, they must protect and uphold the opportunity to have said experiences. The Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation Quality focuses on the tangible aspects of the setting that affect the visitor experience, and not on the subjective nature of the visitor experience itself. There are many intangible aspects of wilderness recreation (challenge, self-reliance, self-discovery, etc.) that are not included under this quality but that are still integral to the wilderness experience.

Table 15. Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation Quality


Type Frequency


Collection)

Data Adequacy

Remoteness from sights and sounds of human activity inside wilderness

Index of encounters Required 5 years Stable (2009)

Low

Acres of wilderness away from access and travel routes and developments inside wilderness


5 years 15,172 (2019)

High

Remoteness from sights and sounds of human activity outside the wilderness

Acres of wilderness away from adjacent travel routes and developments outside the wilderness

Required 5 years 7,606 (2019)

High

Facilities that decrease self-reliant recreation



5 years 12

(2019) High

Management restrictions on visitor behavior

Index of visitor management restrictions

Required 5 years 10

(2019) High


Index of encounters

Measure Type: Required Protocol Option: 4 – Trend in visitation Measure Baseline Value: Stable visitation Year of Data Collection: 2009 Measure Description: This measure monitors encounters by assessing the trend in visitation. Local data are compiled and stored in local archives. Local staff calculate the measure value. Background and Context: Solitude is dependent on the absence of other people, particularly those outside one’s immediate group. Visitation levels may also affect feelings of peace, quiet, and mental calm, which are associated with solitude. To allow visitors the opportunity to experience the solitude that often comes with wilderness, visitor encounters are being monitored and, when necessary, managed. There is no current solitude monitoring program in place for the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness, so for this measure, professional judgement on the trend in visitation was selected as the protocol option. South Fork San Jacinto is still a relatively young, only having been designated in 2009. Long-term recreation staff on the Forest were able to provide insight into trends in visitation over time, allowing us to confidently backdate the measure baseline year to 2009 (Table 16). Before designation, the main trail leading to the South Fork San Jacinto River drainage was not maintained and was in poor condition, deterring many visitors. Trail crews were able to repair the South Fork Trail in full over the 2008 – 2009 season where the Wilderness saw a brief period of increased visitation due to its recent designation and newly repaired trail. After 2011, visitation levels have slowly decreased each year. It is suspected that visitation is closely tied to the condition of the trail, where if not properly maintained, it makes for a very unforgiving hike to visitors. Funding and staff on the district is not available to keep maintaining the South Fork Trail, where the terrain is susceptible to yearly winter rain washouts.

Table 16. Trends in visitation (2009 – 2019)

Year Measure Value

2009 (Baseline) Stable visitation

2014 Decreasing visitation

2019 Decreasing visitation

The baseline year for this measure is 2009 and a measure value of “stable visitation” is reported for that year, as per the Forest Service 2018 Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide. We select stable for the measure baseline year in order to convey that the baseline year is the first year for which we


QUALITY Remoteness from sights and sounds of human activity inside wilderness


have sufficient data to begin to generate trend reports. It should not be mistaken visitation levels have actually been stable up to that point. Data Source: Personal correspondence with district recreation and visitor services staff. Andrew Smith, Assistant Public Services Staff Officer, was able to provide his professional insight into trends in visitation over time. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is low. Data quantity is insufficient and quality is poor, as we are relying on professional judgment to assess this measure. Professional judgement was based off of years of on-the-ground experience and field reports. Andrew Smith has worked on the San Jacinto RD in recreation and wilderness since 2008. It would be possible to improve the data adequacy for this measure if a consistent, long-term strategy for monitoring visitation in wilderness were implemented, such as a solitude monitoring plan. However, the practicality of developing protocol and the resources to implement it is not possible at this time. Since professional judgement was heavily relied upon in the assessment of this measure, if long-time staff were to move or retire, this invaluable resource may be lost. Frequency: 5 years Threshold for Change: Any change in categories:

Decreasing visitation—visitation levels appear to be trending over time towards fewer visitors.

Stable visitation—visitation levels appear to be remaining about the same.

Increasing visitation—visitation levels appear to be trending over time towards more visitors. A change in categories towards decreasing visitation results in an improving trend in the measure.


Acres of wilderness away from access and travel routes and developments inside

wilderness Measure Type: Required to select at least one Measure Baseline Value: 15,172 acres Year of Data Collection: 2019 Measure Description: This measure assesses the total number of wilderness acres located more than ½ mile from access points, travel routes (e.g., authorized trails and roads, aircraft landing sites), and developments inside wilderness. Data are compiled from the EDW, or other local or national data sources, and validated locally. The central data analyst calculates the measure value. Background and Context: This measure provides an indication of the capacity of the wilderness to provide opportunities to escape the sights and sounds of human activity. While this measure is unlikely to change past the baseline year, as trails, roads, and structures are rarely built or removed in wilderness areas, nevertheless, there is still potential for change. Of the possible measures to select for this indicator, this measure was the most appropriate for South Fork San Jacinto because there are no recreation sites within this wilderness and social trails are not a current problem. Data processed by the USFS WCM Central Data Analyst shows that there are 15,171.61 acres of wilderness (75%) that are more than a half-mile away from any access points, travel routes, and developments that occur inside the wilderness boundary. All developments displayed in Figure 5 are related to travel routes, all non-motorized.

Figure 5. Acres more than a half-mile away from developments inside Wilderness


QUALITY Remoteness from sights and sounds of human activity inside wilderness


Data Source: Data provided by the USFS WCM Central Data Analyst, Jim Edmonds, and validated by district specialists. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is high. Data quantity is complete and quality is good. Frequency: 5 years Threshold for Change: A 3-percent change in the acres of wilderness away from access and travel routes and developments inside wilderness. Once there are five measure values, the threshold for meaningful change will switch to regression analysis. An increase in the number of wilderness acres beyond the threshold for meaningful change results in an improving trend in this measure.


Acres of wilderness away from adjacent travel routes and developments outside

the wilderness Measure Type: Required Measure Baseline Value: 7,606 acres Year of Data Collection: 2019 Measure Description: This measure assesses the total number of wilderness acres more than ½ mile from roads, structures, and other developments that are located outside a wilderness or on the boundary, including cherry-stemmed access road corridors and developed inholdings. Data are compiled from the EDW, or other local or national data sources, and validated locally. The central data analyst calculates the measure value. Background and Context: Developments and structures outside wilderness can be located close enough to impact visitor experience within wilderness. These intrusions on solitude can manifest visually, such as seeing large buildings from within wilderness, or audibly, such as hearing traffic noise from nearby roads. Data processed by the USFS WCM Central Data Analyst shows that there are 7,705.95 acres of wilderness (38%) that are more than a half-mile from any roads, structures, and other developments that occur outside the Wilderness boundary. All developments that occur outside the Wilderness boundary as displayed in Figure 6 are roads, both paved and dirt. Due to the fact that both this measure and the previous measure (acres of wilderness away from adjacent travel routes and developments inside wilderness) were selected, Figure 7 displays a combined remoteness map of the two measures together. There are 6,536.19 acres of wilderness that are remote from sights and sounds both inside and outside designated wilderness. Data Source: Data provided by the USFS WCM Central Data Analyst, Jim Edmonds, and validated by district specialists. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is high. Data quantity is complete and quality is good. Frequency: 5 years Threshold for Change: A 3-percent change in the acres of wilderness away from travel routes and developments outside wilderness. Once there are five measure values, the threshold for meaningful change will switch to regression analysis. An increase in the number of wilderness acres beyond the threshold for meaningful change results in an improving trend in this measure.


QUALITY Remoteness from sights and sounds of human activity outside the wilderness


Figure 6. Acres more than a half-mile away from developments outside Wilderness

Figure 7. Acres more than a half-mile away from developments both inside and outside Wilderness



Measure Type: Required to select at least one Measure Baseline Value: 12 Year of Data Collection: 2019 Measure Description: This measure is an index that assesses the miles of NFS trails and their trail classes. Local data are compiled and periodically entered in NRM-Trails. NRM-WCM calculates the measure value. Background and Context: Developed trail systems protect natural resources and provide visitor safety by guiding visitors through challenging terrain, but simultaneously have adverse effects on opportunities for primitive and unconfined recreation by decreasing self-reliance. Trails are categorized based on a developmental rating ranging from class 1 (least developed) to class 5 (most developed). Trail class is important to monitor since visitors tend to feel more solitude and freedom on an unkempt class 1 trail as compared to a well maintained class 5 trail. There is only one NFS developed trail within the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness that takes visitors from the South Fork Trailhead on Highway 74 to the center of wilderness along Rouse Ridge/Rouse Ridge Road (Table 17). The measure value is rounded to the nearest whole number.

Table 17. Index of National Forest System developed trails

Trail Class Miles (rounded to nearest 1/10th)

Score

Class 3 – Developed 4 12

Measure Value: 12

Data Source: Data was retrieved from NRM-WCM and validated/amended by Assistant Public Services Staff Officer, Andrew Smith. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is high. Data quantity is considered complete and quality is good. This information has been reliably collected and reported within the Forest through NRM-Trails. Frequency: 5 years Threshold for Change: A 3-percent change in the measure value for NFS trails. Once there are five measure values, the threshold for meaningful change will switch to regression analysis. A decrease in the measure value beyond the threshold for meaningful change results in an improving trend in this measure.


QUALITY Facilities that decrease self-reliant recreation


Index of visitor management restrictions

Measure Type: Required Measure Baseline Value: 10 Year of Data Collection: 2019 Measure Description: This measure is an index that assesses the relative degree of imposition or inconvenience of certain visitor management restrictions as well as the geographic extent of those restrictions. Local data are compiled and entered in NRM-Wilderness and NRM-WCM annually. NRM-WCM calculates the measure value. Background and Context: Visitor management restrictions can impact a visitors’ ability to experience solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation by way of limiting their behavior. Managerial restrictions are often in place to balance recreational needs with that of landscape and resource health. The level of restriction (impact rating) as well as the geographic extent of each regulation are factored into this measure. South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness is relatively restriction-free. There are several Forest-wide specific regulations across all wilderness areas that limit group sizes to no more than 12 people a permit or 8 head of stock. Stock packs are not permitted to graze and weed-free hay must be packed in for stock animals. All campfires are prohibited due to extreme fire hazards. The measure value calculation is provided in Table 18.

Table 18. Index of visitor management restrictions

Regulation Category Impact Rating x Geographic Weight = Component Score

Area closure 0 - 0

Campfire restrictions 2 2 4

Camping restrictions 0 - 0

Dogs and domesticated animals 0 - 0

Fees 0 - 0

Group size limits 1 2 2

Human waste 0 - 0

Length of stay 0 - 0

Permits 0 - 0

Stock Use 2 2 4

Swimming/Bathing 0 - 0

Measure Value: 10

Widespread regulations such as no-littering or Leave No Trace ethics, are not included in this measure as they do not significantly confine the visitor. Additionally, seasonally variable restrictions, such as closures due to fire or drought, are also not included. There is a length of stay limit of 14 consecutive


QUALITY Management restrictions on visitor behavior


days that applies to all National Forest System lands and is not specific to South Fork San Jacinto. Dogs are permitted in Wilderness, but they must be leashed or under verbal control at all times. This regulation is dictated by a county leash law and the Forest does not have a CFR for it. As per direction provided in the Forest Service 2018 Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide (pg. 235), this management restriction, as it comes from an outside agency, was not included in measure calculations. Data Source: Data was retrieved through NRM-WCM and validated by Assistant Public Services Staff Officer, Andrew Smith. Wilderness.net was also cross checked. Data Adequacy: Data adequacy is high. Data quantity is considered complete and quality is good. This information has been a required element of upward reporting for many years and is thoroughly tracked and recorded. Frequency: 5 years Threshold for Change: Any change in the measure value. A decrease in the measure value beyond the threshold for meaningful change results in an improving trend in this measure.


Measures Not Used for Wilderness Character Monitoring The measures described below were considered as measures for wilderness character monitoring but were ultimately not used. Descriptions of each measure and the rationales for exclusion are included in this section. Index of sensitive lichen species was not selected because the model and protocol for lichen monitoring specific to Southern California has yet to be established at the time of the Baseline Assessment Report. It is the goal of the regional air quality program to include lichen monitoring as a more site specific, local indicator for air quality conditions in tandem with a more regional look at haze and visibility data. Lichen was recommended as a priority sensitive receptor for the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness in the Southern California Wilderness Air Quality Monitoring Plan (no date). It is anticipated that this measure will later be included in an amended Baseline Assessment Report once adequate data exists.


Conclusions This report establishes a baseline condition and monitoring strategy for the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness based on the five qualities of wilderness character as well as the specific measures that are indicative of local trends in wilderness character. The South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness has fairly complete data, wherein this monitoring strategy offers a consistent means for documenting the status and trends in wilderness character. A wide range of specialists were consulted to complete each baseline data measure, including recreation and visitor services staff, wildlife biologists, natural resource managers, botanists, hydrologists, archaeology and heritage staff, range specialists, lands, minerals, and special uses administrators, and regional air quality team members. The experience and knowledge of long time district staff was pivotal in establishing the baseline condition captured in this report. Professional judgement was relied upon considerably to develop some of the measure baseline values, where the specialists we have discussed these measures with and received input from are quite knowledgeable in their areas of expertise. Not only did long time staff aid with the determination of measure values, but they were also able to define historical conditions and provide on-the-ground awareness that otherwise would have been lost. However, where outdated information and professional judgment are the primary sources, data and trends may not be as reliable. This data source also happens to be an unstable one if staff leave the agency or move elsewhere. The measures where data are harder to acquire, such as those related to encounter monitoring and nonindigenous plant/animal species, lack the necessary resource allocation that would improve data adequacy. For example, the current status of nonindigenous plant species within South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness is not currently known, our only data coming from a survey done near the boundary in 2009. If species in Wilderness were confirmed and their impacts observed, managers might be able to determine effective management strategies that would improve the natural quality. Additionally, there was one measure that would have been selected for monitoring, had there been data available at the time of the Baseline Assessment to support its inclusion. Through discussions with local staff, there are a couple conceivable situations that may impact wilderness character trends in the future. The first is that related to authorized grazing activity in Wilderness. The Rouse grazing allotment, while not currently active, still can be grazed in the future and if the permittee should decide to resume operations, it could severely increase the amount of commercial livestock allowed. This could have impacts on multiple qualities of wilderness. Another threat common to all the wilderness areas on the San Jacinto Ranger District, is that of authorized trammeling actions related to wildfire suppression. While justifiable in emergency situations to protect the life and property of nearby communities, fire suppression activities can have negative effects on the untrammeled and natural qualities of wilderness character. As is the case with many wildernesses, the future of wilderness character monitoring hinges on available funding and staff. Implementing new monitoring to improve current data adequacy, as well as keeping up with future monitoring cycles in the face of decreasing budgets and staffing limitations will be the biggest challenge. Many of the measures selected rely on data that is easily accessible or already being collected by other programs to help ease this concern. Opportunities also exist to expand current volunteer and partner organization activities to aid in collecting relevant data in the South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness.


REFERENCES Fox-Shapiro, B. 2018. San Jacinto Wilderness Character Narrative. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest

Service, Pacific Southwest Region. 12 p. Landres, P.; Barns, C.; Boutcher, S.; Devine, T.; Dratch, P.; Lindholm, A.; Merigliano, L.; Roeper, N.;

Simpson, E. 2015. Keeping it wild 2: an updated interagency strategy to monitor trends in wilderness character across the National Wilderness Preservation System. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-340. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 114 p.

Landres, P.; Barns, C.; Dennis, J.G.; Devine, T.; Geissler, P.; McCasland, C.S.; Merigliano, L.; Seastrand, J.;

Swain, R. 2008a. Keeping it wild: an interagency strategy to monitor trends in wilderness character across the national wilderness preservation system. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-212. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 77 p.

Landres, P.; Boutcher, S.; Dean, L.; Hall, T.; Blett, T.; Carlson, T.; Mebane, A.; Hardy, C.; Rinchart, S.;

Merigliano, L.; Cole, D.N. 2009. Technical guide for monitoring selected conditions related to wilderness character. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-80. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, U.S. Government Printing Office. 293 p.

Landres, P.; Boutcher, S.; Mejicano, E., tech. eds. 2018. Draft wilderness character monitoring technical

guide. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-XXX. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 285 p.

Landres, P.; Boutcher, S.; Merigliano, L.; Barns, C.; Davis, D.; Hall, T.; Henry, S.’ Hunter, B.; Janiga, P.;

Laker, M.; McPherson, A.; Powell, D.S.; Rowan, M.; Sater, S. 2005. Monitoring selected conditions related to wilderness character: A national framework. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-151. Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 38 p.

McCorison, M.; Andrea, N.; Plymale, B.; Procter, T.; Shaw, G. No date. Wilderness Air Quality Monitoring

Southern California Plan. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region. 106 p.

USDA Forest Service. 2007. Forest Service Manual 2320. Wilderness management. Washington, DC: U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 55 p. Wilderness Act of 1964; 16 U.S.C. 1121 (note), 1131-1136.

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