Facilities Master Plan

RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Original Purpose of SDEF

The San Dimas Experimental Forest was established in January 1933 and formally dedicated on June 15, 1935. The original objectives were: 1) to develop methods of vegetation management to obtain maximum water yields with minimum erosion from southern California watersheds; and 2) to determine quantitatively the relation of chaparral vegetation to the hydrologic cycle in mountain watersheds. Research throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s focused on hydrologic monitoring of the rainfall-runoff sequence with a network of about 450 raingages, 17 stream gauges, and several weather stations. Also, water consumption by various plants was studied in lysimeter and runoff plots. Using these data, attempts to increase water yield through vegetation manipulation were conducted in the Bell and Monroe watersheds.

The research emphasis changed to post-fire rehabilitation to control runoff and erosion after the Johnstone Fire of 1960. A number of techniques were tested, including contour trenches, channel checks, and reseeding with various barley and grass species. In the 1980s and 1990s, research emphasizing ecosystem-level issues such as air pollution, soil genesis, postfire plant and animal succession, vegetation biomass, remote sensing, and nutrient cycling has taken place.

At present, research at SDEF may be grouped into 5 areas:

• Lysimeter studies, which track soil development
• Long-term monitoring of decade-long trends in watershed hydrology, wildlife, and vegetation
• Short-term experiments in chaparral ecology
• Effects of fire severity and fire management in chaparral
• Interaction of air pollution with ecosystem processes.

The SDEF's proximity to urban areas, along with its existing database and closure to the general public, provides many research opportunities. Future research projects will likely focus on: lysimeter and soils development, invertebrates and fungi in soil, fire ecology, threatened & endangered wildlife species, fuels management, air quality, and human/urban impacts on the ecosystem. One focus for SDEF will be the development of an age-class mosaic for fire and ecological research. The SDEF is being considered as a satellite urban LTER site.

In addition to the researchers listed on the SDEF Cooperators List, the SDEF interacts with many agencies and individuals, including: Angeles National Forest, U.S. Geological Survey, California Department of Forestry, California Air Resources Board, California Department of Fish and Game, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles County Public Works, Angeles Volunteer Association, Boy Scouts of America, and numerous local colleges, universities, and other organizations which conduct field trips or educational tours of the SDEF.

STAFFING AND SPACE

Presently, one Forest Service employee works full-time as manager of the SDEF, coordinating research activities, collecting and managing data, and maintaining Tanbark facilities. The PSW Project 4403 Project Leader, Team Leader, and other Riverside Fire Lab personnel provide professional, technical and administrative oversight and support for SDEF.

Visiting researchers, graduate students, and educators also utilize the SDEF and Tanbark Flats. Usage varies, depending on season, and the overnight facilities, laboratory, office, and storage space are used as described below.

Space available at Tanbark Flats includes 3 residences, 2 barracks, a mess hall, and an office/lab building. (MAP). These buildings are used by visitors, researchers, and Forest Service personnel. The facilities at Tanbark help support fieldwork throughout the SDEF. There are presently 2 residents at Tanbark, and regular intermittent use of the other residence by visiting researchers (1 to 5 people) approx. one night per week. Occasional usage of Tanbark facilities by groups of 10 to 20 people occur approximately twice a month. The mess hall and barracks are used by these larger groups. The Office/Lab is used regularly by visitors and Forest Service personnel for basic lab work, storage, and office purposes. Day use by large (approximately 50 people) groups also occurs approx. once or twice a year.

Future Needs - Future need of the Tanbark Facilities is expected to continue. Small groups (1 to 5) of visitors will be expected on a regular, approx. weekly basis. Larger groups (up to 15 or 20) of visitors will be expected at least once a month. Overnight facilities, lab space, storage space, and office space will be required to support this use.

ANALYSIS OF FACILITIES

Description of Site - Existing - In addition to the Tanbark Flats field headquarters, the SDEF also contains several active concrete flumes, 7 dams, a shelter trailer (in Bell Canyon), a 1-acre arboretum, 2 pine plantations, 2 memorial groves, and 2 electronic sites (commercial TV and radio stations, under special use permit, in addition to official Government radio equipment). The road network in SDEF is maintained by Angeles National Forest. Valuable permanent research facilities include: Bell Canyon Dams (4), Fern Canyon Dams (3), Monroe and Volfe Canyon. Flumes, and several trapezoidal flumes. Most of the instrument houses on these dams and flumes are of steel construction and require little maintenance. Flumes, dams, and weir gates require periodic repair and cleanout. Overall condition of these research facilities is fair.

Description and Condition of Tanbark Buildings. (View Map). Most of the buildings at Tanbark were constructed in 1933 and 1934, and are constructed of wood frame and wood siding, with composition shingle roofing. The Mess Hall and Barracks were remodeled in the 1970's by the Angeles National Forest, when California YCC crews were living in the facilities. All buildings at Tanbark are included in the USDA Forest Service's Infrastructure Database. Buildings and related facilities and their current status are summarized in a table in Appendix E. Included in this table are present condition, repair needs, present usage, maintenance priority, and relative cost to maintain. A map of Tanbark Flats, showing existing buildings and their relative locations can be viewed by clicking here. Lack of adequate maintenance funding and age have resulted in a lengthy list of maintenance needs. Maintenance items are listed in Appendix D.

Utilities

Electrical - Electrical Service is supplied to Tanbark Flats by way of pole transformers and overhead distribution lines coming in from the north, off of Glendora Ridge Road. There are 2 main service panels, and power is distributed from these to buildings and other facilities via underground conduit. The electrical system was rewired in most buildings and underground supply lines in the mid-1970s by Angeles National Forest. There are a total of 4 electric meters at Tanbark, serving the: 1) 2-story residence; 2) Cottage; 3) Lysimeter, Mess Hall and Barracks; and 4) Main (includes all other buildings).

Water - Water is presently supplied to Tanbark Flats by 3 storage tanks, via 2" galvanized iron pipes by gravity pressure. These include: 1) Domestic concrete tank, 50,000 gal, built in 1930s; 2) Lysimeter concrete tank, 20,000 gal, built in 1930s; and 3) Metal tank, 250,000 gal., built in 1960s. Surface water spring boxes feed these tanks. Water is presently batch chlorinated, to control coliform bacteria, but is untreated for potential giardia or cryptosporidium contamination, and is therefore non-potable. A new water well has been drilled and final hookup to the existing water distribution system is presently under way. This new system should supply clean, potable water to the Tanbark Flats facility. Expected completion date is unknown.

Propane/Heating Systems - Propane is the major source of heating fuel at Tanbark Flats, although several buildings are supplemented by electric space heaters or wood-burning fireplaces. Two of the Tanbark residences have central heating/air conditioning units installed. There are a total of 5 propane tanks at Tanbark: 1. Staff House (288 gal.); 2. Barracks and Mess Hall (500 gal.); 3. Lab and AQ (1,000 gal.); 4. 2-story Residence (500 gal.) ; and 5. Cottage (500 gal.).

Septic Tank Systems - There are a total of 4 septic tanks and their associated drainfields. The septic tanks are concrete, and range in size from 1,000 to 2,000 gal. The Staff House, Barracks, and Mess Hall have their own, separate septic tank system. The AQ, 2-Story, Lab/Office, and Cottage share a common septic tank. The 4 septic tanks were built in the 1930s, and the drainfields (leach lines) were last rebuilt in the mid-1970s.

Telephone - The telephone service to Tanbark Flats is via microwave, with a tower and dish at both Tanbark and Johnstone Peak, approximately 5 miles away. There are presently 2 FTS government lines, and 2 personal, residential lines provided by GTE. Maintenance and repair of the microwave phone system is presently performed by Angeles National Forest.

Future/Proposed Facilities

Use of the Tanbark facilities by researchers is expected to continue in the future. The site's protected status and proximity to urban areas makes it an easily accessible research laboratory. Cooperative agreements with the following agencies are being sought, in order to share the facilities and related expenses: colleges and universities, conservation organizations (Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club). Possible agreements with California Department of Forestry and Los Angeles County Fire Dept should be investigated.

Certain buildings in Tanbark Flat are assigned a Maintenance Level of "I", based upon present condition, usage, and maintenance costs. Maintenance Levels are defined in the "Buildings and Related Facilities Handbook," FSH 7309.11, 42.2, Exhibit 01, effective 1/9/95. Levels range from I to V, with level I being the lowest level of maintenance, and includes buildings awaiting retirement. The seven buildings to receive a Maintenance Level of "I" are considered to have "little foreseeable value at present," as shown in Appendix E (Warehouse Loft, Stable, CCC Bunkhouse, Fire Climate, Gas House, Guard House, and Soil Storage). These seven structures would not receive further maintenance or repair work, under existing budget conditions. Maintenance and repair priority would be given to the other buildings and facilities.

APPENDIX D - MAINTENANCE ITEMS

Office/Laboratory: New floor.

Barracks: Reroof, repair/replace toilets, repair septic tank.

Mess Hall: Repair/replace toilets, sink fixtures.

AQ (Assistant. Quarters): new roof, plumbing fixtures in kitchen, bathroom.

2-Story Residence: Reroof, fix bathroom floor, repair wooden benches and screens.

Staff House: Paint bathrooms.

Cottage: Reroof, paint exterior, pump water out of basement.

Carpenter's Shop: Reroof, repair wood siding.

Complete water well hookup to existing water system

Replace propane tanks (5) and existing hot water heaters (7).

Replace existing water pipes in (7) buildings.

Replace gutters on Cottage, Shop, Barracks, AQ and Mess Hall.

Repair, repave roads at Tanbark.

Remove hazard trees

Asbestos hazmat removal, including asbestos roofs on Truck Shed and Soil Storage buildings.

Extensive wood siding, roof, and foundation damage in Stable and CCC Bunkhouse buildings.

Treatment for insect (termites, ants) infestations in all buildings.

Rodent trapping and rodent-proofing all buildings.

Periodic maintenance and repair of concrete dams and flumes, instrument houses, and metal weir gates.

Ongoing Projects:

Fuels, hazard reduction around Tanbark buildings

Clean up interior, exterior of buildings

Burn debris piles

Raingage and streamgage trail clearance

APPENDIX E - Summary of SDEF-Tanbark Buildings and Status (see Priority/Cost/Level key below)

Building

Number

Date

Sq Feet

Condition

Repair Needs

Usage

Priority

Cost

Level

Lab/Office

2007

1933

1849

satisfactory

New floor

office/lab

3

3

III

Barracks

1325

1934

2000

satisfactory

Roof/Septic/

Bathrooms

barracks

3

2

III

Mess Hall

1350

1934

1750

satisfactory

Kitchen- new floor

day use

3

3

III

AQ

1050

1933

1600

satisfactory

Roof/Plumbing fixtures

barracks

3

2

III

2-Story

1051

1933

1692

satisfactory

Roof

residence

3

3

III

Staff House

1049

1933

1500

satisfactory

Paint bathrooms

residence

3

3

III

Cottage

1052

1933

1258

satisfactory

Roof/Paint exterior

residence

3

3

III

Garage

1525

1933

400

satisfactory

storage

2

3

II

Paint House/Vault

2207

1933

364

satisfactory

Records Storage

2

3

II

Gas House

2602

1933

172

satisfactory

Tool Storage

1

3

I

Fire Climate

2809

1935

360

poor

Siding/Floor/Roof

Instrument Storage

1

1

I

Guard House

2814

1933

128

satisfactory

storage

1

3

I

Truck Shed

2313

1933

2136

satisfactory

Roof has asbestos

Vehicle Storage

2

2

II

Microwave Building

1994

50

good

Phone equipment

3

3

III

Pump House

1601

1933

345

satisfactory

Water system

3

3

III

Carpenter's Shop

2200

1933

1900

poor

Siding/Roof

Tool Storage

2

1

II

Stable

2213

1933

1375

poor

Roof

Storage

1

1

I

Warehouse (Loft)

2216

1933

1368

satisfactory

Storage

1

2

I

CCC Bunkhouse

1933

1100

poor

Roof/Walls/ Foundation

Storage

1

1

I

Lysimeter Instrument Room

1933

70

satisfactory

Research

3

3

II

Lysimeter Tunnel

1933

2500

satisfactory

Research

3

3

II

Soil Storage

1935

1000

poor

Asbestos/Roof

Research

1

1

I

Well House

1997

60

good

Water system

3

3

III

Maintenance Priority:

1 = Little foreseeable value at present

2 = Useful or potentially useful

3 = Extremely important and useful

Maintenance Cost:

1 = High cost (to correct structural or hazmat concerns)

2 = Moderate cost

3 = Low cost

Maintenance Level:

I = Not in operation or use; systems off; await retirem (from FSH 7309.11,

II = Infrequent. use; use for storage, etc; extend life 5 years 42.2, exhibit 01,

III = Used frequently; all systems operational; 10-15 years

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