{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.018190298507462687, 'fraction_numerical': 0.017723880597014924, 'mean_word_length': 5.402985074626866, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Riparian Communities of the Sierra Nevada and their Environmental Relationships

Data on riparian community composition and environmental conditions were collected on over 20 streams in the Sierra Nevada as part of hydropower li- censing studies. Over 1,000 samples were analyzed us- ing two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), to determine riparian dominance types. Ordination tech- niques were applied to evaluate associations between en- vironmental conditions and community characteristics. Results indicate that at least 15 communities are found in riparian settings at altitudes ranging from 300 to 3000 m on eastern and western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. These communities are arranged in the landscape in ap- parent response to climatic and geomorphic gradients. The published literature contains few descriptions of riparian communities in California montane settings. In recent years, these communities have been subject to intensive ecological investigations performed in conjunc- tion with agency permit requirements for hydroelectric development. Reports of these investigations fall into that elusive category of "grey" literature which is rarely accessible to scientists and managers. Fragments have been published in the refereed literature (Harris and oth- ers 1987; Harris 1988) and symposia proceedings (Harris and others 1985; Taylor and others 1987). The purpose of this paper is to summarize some of the ecological studies conducted by consultants to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG and E) and Southern California Edison Company (SCE) with the specific aim of presenting an overview of the physical and botanical characteristics of riparian communities in the Sierra Nevada. These consultant studies encompass many of the communities occurring at altitudes from 300 to 3000 m in the central Sierra Nevada. Because field studies and analysis techniques were to some degree standardized, the results represent a valuable data base on montane riparian communities of the region. This data base is available to other scientists who may be stimulated by the introductory materials contained in this paper. Methods