Stand structure for the Joshua trees in the eastern Mojave Desert of California, 2022 plot data (ver. 2.0, October 2026)

These data were compiled to measure the stand structure, including size class distribution, of eastern Joshua tree as measured on 62 1000m2 plots. The objective of our study was to provide the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with stand structure of the western and eastern Joshua tree in support of the decisions that the Service makes for the management of these species.These data represent tree height, number of trees by size class as represented by height, and some environmental characteristics for each plot. These data were collected in the spring and early fall 2022 in the eastern Mojave of California with plot locations adjacent to plots that had been allocated in 1997 and 1998 using a stratified random sampling design. The plots represent portions of the western Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) and of the eastern Joshua tree (Yucca jaegeriana). The plots were all on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Mojave National Preserve, and Death Valley National Park lands. These data were collected with field observations by technicians of the U.S. Geological Survey. The data provide a summary of Joshua tree stand structure including recruitment of trees. Recruitment data for the eastern Joshua tree will benefit the decisions that the public land managers make for the long term viability of the eastern Joshua tree.