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INTRODUCTION 



This report is prepared as a response to the invitation of the Superintendents 

 of Yosemite & Sequoia - Kings Canyon National Parks to observe effects of the 

 prescribed fire programs in Special Management Areas of these two parks where 

 the sequoia - mixed conifer forest is the significant landscape element. My 

 thanks are given to the resource management staff for providing background 

 information and field guidance. 



This report consists of four parts: 



1. Review of selected historic observations of Sierra Nevada forests. 

 (Brewer, King & Muir) 



2. Review and critique of The Christensen Panel Report, discussion and 

 responses . 



3. Review of field observations, discussion and responses. 



4. Recommendations, summarization of discussions and responses from items 

 1,2, & 3 above. This section also serves in lieu of an ABSTRACT . 



As a visiting critic/landscape architect, I have taken the liberty of 

 expressing my views in terms of peirk-wide landscape planning and msmagement and 

 going beyond the limits of Special Management Areas. My responses are not 

 specifically directed to the fire management program by itself. My intent has 

 been to gain some idea of how fire management fits into general park 

 management, to observe examples of visual effects and impacts of prescribed 

 fire upon the forest landscape, and to question how visitor satisfaction may be 

 affected by the fire management program. 



