Overview

Basics

Basics
Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a federally threatened conifer that grows in mixed conifer and subalpine forests across western North America. It provides high value wildlife habitat, modulates spring runoff, and stabilizes slopes. Threats include climate change, wildfire, mountain pine beetle outbreaks, and white pine blister rust. Collection of cones from apparent blister rust resistance trees is needed to screen for blister rust resistance and identify future operational cone collection trees. This project would involve cone production surveys, cone caging, and cone collection. Cones would subsequently be sent to USFS Nursery Facility to conduct white pine blister rust screening.

Planning/Design
2024
2025
2030
$200,000

Emma Williams (emma.williams@usda.gov)
12/16/2024
12/16/2024
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Location Information Location Notes
Whitebark pine stands within tree seed transfer zones on the Lake Tahoe Basin

Organizations

Organizations

EIP Details

EIP Basics

02.02.01.0028 - Lake Tahoe Basin Whitebark Pine Cone Collection

This project is on the EIP 5-year list.

Performance Measures

Expected Performance Measures

Expected Performance Measures
Special Status Species Sites Protected or Re-Established [Action Performed: Protected], [EIP Focal Species: Other priority species], [Site Type: High-priority ] 1 number

Reported Performance Measures

Reported Performance Measures

Reported Performance Measure Accomplishments are not relevant for projects in the Planning/Design stage.

Funding

Expected Funding

Expected Funding
$200,000
$0
$200,000

No funding sources identified for this project.

Reported Expenditures

Reported Expenditures

No expenditures have been reported for this project.

Photos

Photos

No photos available.

Other Details

Watersheds

No watersheds set for this project.

Threshold Categories

  • Project supports recovery of whitebark pine stands. These are uncommon communities in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and require intervention to prevent extinction. Recovery of whitebark pine stands is dependent on identification of rust resistant seed trees, which is the primary objective of this project.
  • Whitebark pine stablizes headwater slopes and capture and retain snow drifts late into the year. By capturing snow and reducing the rate it melts in the spring, whitebark pine stabilizes the hydrograph which is increasingly variable under a changing climate. Recovery of whitebark pine stands is dependent on identification of rust resistant seed trees, which is the primary objective of this project.
  • Whitebark pine is a keystone species that provides nutritious seeds for bears, numerous bird species including clarke's nutcracker, and small mammal species such as pine squirrels. Whitebark pine grows at higher elevations than other conifers in the Lake Tahoe Basin, making it a critical species for maintaining wildlife habitat on upper ridgetops.

Local and Regional Plans

No Local and Regional Plans set for this project.

Related Projects

Related Projects

No Related Projects set for this project.

External Links

No external links entered.

Notes

Notes
12/16/2024 3:23 PM Emma Williams Project was developed in 2024 including drafting contract terms. Funding is being sought in 2025 to solicit contract and implement project in 2025-2030.