Effectiveness Monitoring Committee Research Request Grant

The Effectiveness Monitoring Committee (EMC) is inviting project proposals aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of California's Forest Practice Rules and natural resource protections. This initiative targets key issues such as watershed health, wildlife habitat, and wildfire management. Proposals should address specific research themes and critical monitoring questions identified by the EMC, contributing to enhanced scientific understanding and improved forest resilience in California.

NOTE: The Initial Concept Proposal is due in May (See Letter of Inquiry deadline). If endorsed, the EMC will request a more detailed Full Project Proposal generally within a week of review, and which will generally be due in June or July on the date provided in the email notification.
Purpose
The Effectiveness Monitoring Committee is an advisory body to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, intended to fund robust scientific research aimed at testing the efficacy of the California Forest Practice Rules and other natural resource protection statutes, laws, codes, and associated regulations, which address natural resource issues including, but not limited to, watershed science, wildlife concerns, and wildfire hazard.
Description
The Effectiveness Monitoring Committee (EMC) is seeking project proposals that
Address one or more of the EMC’s Research Themes and Critical Monitoring QuestionsThe critical monitoring questions are organized under 12 Research Themes. Watercourse and Lake Protection Zone (WLPZ) riparian functionWatercourse channel sedimentRoad and WLPZ sedimentMass wasting sedimentFish habitatWildfire hazardWildlife habitat: species and nest sitesWildlife habitat: seral stagesWildlife habitat: cumulative impactsWildlife habitat: structuresHardwood valuesClimate and wildfire resilienceSix prioritized critical questions were determined by vote amongst the current EMC members at the beginning of each calendar year: Are the FPRs and associated regulations effective in... Managing WLPZs to reduce or minimize potential fire behavior and rate of spread?Maintaining and restoring the distribution and quality of foraging, rearing and spawning habitat for anadromous salmonids? Managing forest structure and stocking standards to promote wildfire resilience? In mitigating or reducing the cumulative impacts of post-fire recovery and management actions in affected watersheds? Improving overall forest wildfire resilience and the ability of forests to respond to climate change (e.g., in response to drought or bark beetle; reducing plant water stress) and variability, and extreme weather events (evaluate ecosystem functional response to fuel reduction and forest health treatments)? Maintaining conifer and broadleaf stands which are well adapted to climate in order facilitate riparian functions (e.g., shade, temperatures, primary productivity, stream flow)?Address natural resource protection issues that are important for California forestlands