Klamath Mountain

Natural fire cycles were key contributors to the diversity of the Klamath Siskiyou area for millennia. Returning every 10-150 years, fires recycle nutrients, maintain diversity, renew fire-dependent species and leave burned out trees critical for wildlife. Past clear cutting has also seriously reduced old-growth habitat and on-going logging continues to compromise habitats for old-growth dependent species.

The Klamath Mountains, also referred to as the Klamath Knot, are a lightly populated series of mountain ranges in north western California and South Western Oregon. The Klamath Mountains include the Siskiyou Mountains, the Marble Mountains, and the Scott Mountains. A large portion of the Klamath Mountains is protected by the United States Forest Service. Through out the Klamaths, there are extensive hikinh trails, recreation areas and campgrounds. The is a 400 mile trail from the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness to Cresent City, California through the Klamath Mountains. The Klamath Mountains has rich biodiversity that include temperate rain forests, oak forests, savannas, and alpine grasslands. Also thirty conifer species inhabit the mountains.

KLAMATH MOUNTAINS

Clear cutting at the Klamath Mountains

Spotted OwlKey SpeciesOccurs in colsed-canopy, uneven-aged late-successional and old-growth forests. Preys on northern flying squirrels and woodrats. Long lived (16-17 years).

Wooley Fire on Marble Mountain (Klamath) 2005