Big Stump Grove
Big Stump Grove
Overview
Health & Resilience Summary
moderate
2.7
This grove is ranked Moderate for Relative Overall Vulnerability due to:
Wildfire Vulnerability
Moderate - 2.7
Regen Vulnerability
Moderate - 2.5
See the Grove Health & Resilience section below for more information.
medium
2.7
This grove is ranked Medium for Relative Management Priority due to:
Overall Vulnerability
Moderate - 2.7
Treatment Feasibility
Good - 10.0
See the Management Considerations section below for more information.
Grove Map
Grove Map - click map for more detailed spatial information
Grove Information
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Grove Size (Acres) | 283 |
| Location | Upper King Watershed, Tulare County & Fresno County |
| Management Unit(s) | Giant Sequoia National Monument / Sequoia National Forest, Sequoia - Kings Canyon National Park |
| Land Steward(s) | NPS SEKI, USFS SQF GSNM, Private |
About Big Stump Grove
Big Stump Grove is a 283-acre grove in the Kings River Watershed region situated between 5,559 - 6,470 feet elevation at 36.71982°N. It is managed by Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Forest. Most of Big Stump Grove is located in the headwaters of Mill Creek, within the Kings River watershed. The upper grove portion around Big Stump Basin is in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, while the larger, lower portion of the grove is in the Sequoia National Forest. The grove has a history of old-growth logging, but some mature giant sequoias remain. The grove is named after the once exceptionally large Mark Twain Tree, which was cut in 1891. Its remaining stump became known as the “Big Stump.” The tree was cut so that slabs of the trunk could be displayed in the American Museum of Natural History and the British Museum.
Big Stump Grove
Health & Resilience
Big Stump Grove is ranked Moderate for Relative Overall Vulnerability because it is at a Moderate risk of being negatively impacted by the effects of severe wildfire and at Moderate risk for inadequate natural regeneration.
Additionally, Big Stump Grove is at Low risk for negative impacts from drought stress, Medium levels of tree mortality have been detected in the grove, and the presence and activity of beetles in the grove is Unknown. 12.9% of Big Stump Grove has burned in large fires since 1984. See below for more detailed information.
moderate
2.7
Relative Overall Vulnerability
Relative Overall Vulnerability is based on Wildfire Vulnerability and Regeneration Vulnerability using an area-weighted calculation. See Grove Assessment Analysis Methods for more details.
The pie charts below provide the percentage of the grove with high, medium, and low vulnerabilities. Click on the charts to view interactive maps of these vulnerabilities within the grove.
Below is additional information about Big Stump Grove's Health & Resilience. These data, their inputs, and any available notes and updates may be found in the Grove Resilience Datasheet.
Beetle Activity
Beetle Activity in Big Stump Grove has not been determined.
Please see the Grove Resilience Datasheet for details.
Drought-related Tree Mortality (all species)
The drought- and insect-related mortality of all tree species combined in Big Stump Grove is estimated as Medium according to USFS dead canopy surveys from 2017-2021. Please see Grove Assessment Analysis Methods for details.
The table below provides information about large wildfires in this grove recorded since 1984. See this map of wildfires and locations of high severity fire.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Wildfires | RABBIT - 2023 |
| % of grove burned | 12.9% |
| % of grove unburned | 87.1% |
| Fire Return Interval Departure | High |
Big Stump Grove
Management Considerations
Big Stump Grove is ranked Medium for Relative Management Priority because it has Moderate Relative Overall Vulnerability and Good feasibility for implementing management actions toward restoration goals.
Additionally, the grove is 0.6 miles from a community and contains recreational infrastructure. Residential homes are located immediately southwest of the grove. See below for more detailed information.
medium
2.7
Relative Management Priority
Relative Management Priority is determined by combining the Relative Overall Vulnerability and Treatment Feasibility ranks. See Grove Assessment Analysis Methods for more details.
Relative Overall Vulnerability
Moderate - 2.7
See the Health & Resilience section above for the component metrics for the Relative Overall Vulnerability rank.
Treatment Feasibility
good - 10.0
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Special Land Designation | None |
| Grove Manager Opinion | Fuel Treatments are Possible |
| Remote | No |
Below is additional information relevant to Big Stump Grove's Management Considerations. These data, their inputs, and any available notes and updates may be found in the Grove Resilience Datasheet.
Treatment History
The table below lists treatment projects in and 90 meters around this grove implemented since 2022. See this map of grove treatments.
| Treatment Type | % of Grove | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Treatments | 0% | 0 |
| Prescribed Fire | 30.1% | 176.1 |
| Pile Treatments | 17.2% | 100.5 |
| Pile Burns | 15.3% | 89.5 |
| Replanting | 0% | 0 |
Management Recommendations
The table below provides an estimate of the percentage and acreage of the grove that are recommended for evaluation for treatment based on the Vulnerability Models. See this map of Grove Vulnerability Models.
| Treatment Need | % of Grove | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Fuels Reduction/Restoration | 2.9% | 8.207 |
| Reforestation | 0% | 0 |
Big Stump Grove
Photos
Big Stump Grove
References
- Willard, D. 1994. Giant Sequoia Groves of the Sierra Nevada: A Reference Guide.
- Giant Sequoia Health & Resilience Assessment Glossary
- How to Use the Giant Sequoia Health & Resilience Assessment
- Giant Sequoia Health & Resilience Assessment Analysis Methods
Find more giant sequoia science by searching the GSLC Scientific Publications Library.
Explore more groves or learn about the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition.
Disclaimer
The information presented in the Giant Sequoia Grove Health & Resilience Assessment is intended to supplement on-the-ground knowledge of giant sequoia groves for use in conjunction with current on-the-ground knowledge of grove condition and management activities when planning fuel treatment and reforestation projects. It should not be considered the only source of information about the condition of groves.