Fire in California’s Ecosystems describes fire in detail—both as an integral natural process in the California landscape and as a growing threat to urban and suburban developments in the state. Written by many of the foremost authorities on the subject, this comprehensive volume is an ideal authoritative reference tool and the foremost synthesis of knowledge on the science, ecology, and management of fire in California. Part One introduces the basics of fire ecology, including overviews of historical fires, vegetation, climate, weather, fire as a physical and ecological process, and fire regimes, and reviews the interactions between fire and the physical, plant, and animal components of the environment. Part Two explores the history and ecology of fire in each of California's nine bioregions. Part Three examines fire management in California during Native American and post-Euro-American settlement and also current issues related to fire policy such as fuel management, watershed management, air quality, invasive plant species, at-risk species, climate change, social dynamics, and the future of fire management. This edition includes critical scientific and management updates and four new chapters on fire weather, fire regimes, climate change, and social dynamics. "The authors synthesize the theoretical and practical aspects of fire issues in a well-organized structure that makes it easy for the readers to find information on specific aspects of fire. This comprehensive volume will definitely improve understanding of fire regimes and their ecological impacts in order to 'manage wildlands and fire in harmony with nature.' " ― Conservation Biology Jan W. van Wagtendonk  is Research Forester Emeritus with the National Park Service, Yosemite National Park. Neil G. Sugihara  is Program Coordinator, Wildfire Training and Education, at Northern Arizona University.  Scott L. Stephens  is Professor of Fire Science, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, at the University of California, Berkeley.  Andrea E. Thode  is Professor of Fire Ecology and Management, School of Forestry, at Northern Arizona University.  Kevin E. Shaffer  is Fisheries Chief at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Jo Ann Fites-Kaufman  is a private consultant. Fire in California's Ecosystems By Jan W. Van Wagtendonk, Neil G. Sugihara, Scott L. Stephens, Andrea E. Thode, Kevin E. Shaffer, Jo Ann Fites-Kaufman UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS Copyright © 2018 The Regents of the University of California All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-520-28683-2 Contents LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS, FOREWORD JAMES K. AGEE, PREFACE, 1 Introduction: Fire and California Vegetation NEIL G. SUGIHARA, TODD KEELER-WOLF, AND MICHAEL G. BARBOUR, PART ONE Introduction to Fire Ecology, 2 California Fire Climate RICHARD A. MINNICH, 3 Fire Weather Principles BRENDA L. BELONGIE AND RICHARD A. MINNICH, 4 Fire as a Physical Process JAN W. VAN WAGTENDONK, 5 Fire as an Ecological Process NEIL G. SUGIHARA, JAN W. VAN WAGTENDONK, AND JO ANN FITES-KAUFMAN, 6 Characterizing Fire Regimes BRANDON M. COLLINS, JAY D. MILLER, JEFFREY M. KANE, DANNY L. FRY, AND ANDREA E. THODE, 7 Fire and Physical Environment Interactions: Soil, Water, and Air PETER M. WOHLGEMUTH, KEN R. HUBBERT, TRENT PROCTER, AND SURAJ AHUJA, 8 Fire and Plant Interactions AMY G. MERRILL, ANDREA E. THODE, ALEXANDRA M. WEILL, JO ANN FITES-KAUFMAN, ANNE F. BRADLEY, AND TADASHI J. MOODY, 9 Fire and Animal Interactions KEVIN E. SHAFFER, SHAULA J. HEDWALL, AND WILLIAM F. LAUDENSLAYER, JR., PART TWO The History and Ecology of Fire in California's Bioregions, 10 North Coast Bioregion SCOTT L. STEPHENS, JEFFREY M. KANE, AND JOHN D. STUART, 11 Klamath Mountains Bioregion CARL N. SKINNER, ALAN H. TAYLOR, JAMES K. AGEE, CHRISTY E. BRILES, AND CATHY L. WHITLOCK, 12 Southern Cascades Bioregion CARL N. SKINNER AND ALAN H. TAYLOR, 13 Northeastern Plateaus Bioregion GREGG M. RIEGEL, RICHARD F. MILLER, CARL N. SKINNER, SYDNEY E. SMITH, CALVIN A. FARRIS, AND KYLE E. MERRIAM, 14 Sierra Nevada Bioregion JAN W. VAN WAGTENDONK, JO ANN FITES-KAUFMAN, HUGH D. SAFFORD, MALCOLM P. NORTH, AND BRANDON M. COLLINS, 15 Central Valley Bioregion ROBIN WILLS, 16 Central Coast Bioregion MARK I. BORCHERT AND FRANK W. DAVIS, 17 South Coast Bioregion JON E. KEELEY AND ALEXANDRA D. SYPHARD, 18 Southeastern Deserts Bioregion MATTHEW L. BROOKS, RICHARD A. MINNICH, AND JOHN R. MATCHETT, PART THREE Fire Management Issues in California's Ecosystems, 19 The Use of Fire by Native Americans in California M. KAT ANDERSON, 20 Fire Management and Policy since European Settlement SCOTT L. STEPHENS AND NEIL G. SUGIHARA, 21 Fire and Fuel Management SCOTT L. STEPHENS, SUSAN J. HUSARI, H. TOM NICHOLS, NEIL G. SUGIHARA, AND BRANDON M. COLLINS, 22 Fire, Watershed Resources, and Aquatic Ecosystems JAN L. BEYERS, ANDREA E. THODE, JEFFREY L. KERSHNER, KEN B. ROBY, AND LYNN M. DECKER, 23 Fire, Air Quality, and