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2006

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

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Effects Of Lop And Scatter Slash Treatment On Potential Fire Behavior And Soil Erosion Following A Selection Harvest In A Coast Redwood Forest, Kyle W. Jacobson, Christopher Dicus Jan 2006

Effects Of Lop And Scatter Slash Treatment On Potential Fire Behavior And Soil Erosion Following A Selection Harvest In A Coast Redwood Forest, Kyle W. Jacobson, Christopher Dicus

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

Even though harvesting timber is one method of reducing fuel continuity and subsequent potential fire behavior, the residual slash can greatly increase the surface fuel loading and subsequent risk of wildfire on harvested sites. Fire behavior following silvicultural treatments to a stand can vary greatly, with both depth and loading playing a significant role (Nives 1989). Surface fuels and subsequent potential fire behavior has been shown to increase in the first year after harvest in coast redwood forests (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) (Dicus 2003), which threatens not only natural resources but also structures in an ever-increasing wildland-urban interface. Alternatively, …


Effects Of Fuel Loading On Potential Fire Behavior And Soil Erosion In Coast Redwood Stands, Eric Just, Christopher Dicus Jan 2006

Effects Of Fuel Loading On Potential Fire Behavior And Soil Erosion In Coast Redwood Stands, Eric Just, Christopher Dicus

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

Commercial timber harvesting typically reduces aerial fuel loading and continuity, but can actually heighten fire activity through increased surface fuel loading (Agee 1997). Fuel depth and loading, which typically increase after harvest, play a significant role in fire intensity and rate of spread in redwood forests (Sequoia sempervirens) (D. Don.) Endl.) (Nives 1989), which are significant predictors of redwood mortality (Finney and Martin 1993). However, residual slash fuels may simultaneously reduce erosion, which may be of greater importance in some areas because they intercept rainfall and soil particles dispersed by overland flow (Fernandez et al. 2004). The relationship of surface …