Can Archeology Survive A Fire?,
2011
US Forest Service
Can Archeology Survive A Fire?, Jake Delwiche
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
Most public lands include not only natural resource values, but also signifi cant cultural resources from both historic and prehistoric occupation. In some cases, the cultural resources are the reason for establishment of a park or monument. Responsibilities of the managers of these lands include protecting these cultural resources and balancing their protection with protection of the natural resources. This is essential to having a good understanding of the potential effect of fire— whether a prescribed fire or a wildfire—on the cultural resources. A recent scientifi c project funded by the Joint Fire Science Program studied the potential impact of …
Saving The Cypress: Restoring Fire To Rare, At-Risk Species,
2011
US Forest Sercive
Saving The Cypress: Restoring Fire To Rare, At-Risk Species, Christina Frame
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
Many populations of Baker and Macnab cypress are dying without signs of regeneration. The Forest Service is currently implementing controlled burning across a range of vegetation types in northern California, but because there is little information about how such treatments will affect rare, endemic plant communities, cypress stands have been excluded from such treatments. However, these fire-adapted species cannot survive extended periods of fire exclusion. To effectively manage the cypress and prevent further decline of the species, land managers need information on factors that promote cypress regeneration. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine if fire is indeed …
Evaluating Bark Beetle And Wildfi Re Dynamics In The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem,
2011
US Forest Service
Evaluating Bark Beetle And Wildfi Re Dynamics In The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Shari Anstedt
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
In the western United States, bark beetle outbreaks are at a record high—and of grave concern to forest managers and other stakeholders. There is a common belief that the high amounts of dead fuels produced by bark beetle infestations increase the chance of active crown fires. However, little is known about how bark beetle outbreaks and wildfire interact, and how that interaction influences the overall ecosystem structure and potential fi re behavior. To better understand bark beetle/wildfire dynamics, a study was conducted in beetle-infested areas of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) in northwestern Wyoming and adjacent portions of Montana and …
A Project In Two Parts: Developing Fire Histories For The Eastern U.S. And Creating A Climate-Based Continental Fire Frequency Model To Fill Data Gaps,
2011
US Forest Sercive
A Project In Two Parts: Developing Fire Histories For The Eastern U.S. And Creating A Climate-Based Continental Fire Frequency Model To Fill Data Gaps, Christina Frame
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
Tree-ring dated fire scars provide long-term records of fire frequency, giving land managers valuable baseline information about the fire regimes that existed prior to Euro-American settlement. However, for the East, fire history data prove diffi cult to acquire because the generally moister climate of the region causes rapid decay of wood. In an endeavor to fill data gaps, the research team collected fire scar data in the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The second part of the project used this newly collected fi re history data combined with previously collected records to parameterize and calibrate …
Reducing Fuels Through Mulching Treatments: What Are The Ecological Effects?,
2011
US Forest Sercive
Reducing Fuels Through Mulching Treatments: What Are The Ecological Effects?, Christina Frame
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
Many areas in the western U.S. are being thinned to reduce fire hazard and spread. Often the most economical solution for the disposal of the thinned biomass is to grind and leave the material onsite. These treatments are assumed to reduce the ability of the forest to carry a crown fire, but the effects of the added material on forest ecosystems are poorly known because such treatments do not have a natural analogue. Managers and the public are interested in understanding the impacts of the addition of this woody material on forest ecosystems so they can evaluate the benefi ts …
Ponderosa Pine Biomass Relationships Vary With Site Treatment And Site Productivity,
2011
US Forest Service
Ponderosa Pine Biomass Relationships Vary With Site Treatment And Site Productivity, Joy Drohan
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
Allometric equations, which express biomass as a function of tree size, are often used to estimate the amount of fuel in a site’s canopy. Most managers assume that one allometric equation per species is suffi cient, or that any error introduced by extrapolation is irrelevant. This work showed, however, that the allometric biomass relationship for ponderosa pine likely changes over space and time. The researchers concluded that for maximum accuracy, allometric equations for ponderosa pine should account for stand management history and site productivity. Thinned trees replaced their foliage within about 4 years, and 8–10 years post-thinning, growth had stabilized. …
Modifying The Model To Mitigate Crown Fire: Improving Estimates Of Canopy Fuels For The Black Hills (And Beyond),
2011
US Forest Sercive
Modifying The Model To Mitigate Crown Fire: Improving Estimates Of Canopy Fuels For The Black Hills (And Beyond), Christina Frame
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
Managers of most coniferous forests in the western United States aim to create and maintain forest structures that are less susceptible to the initiation and spread of crown fire. To achieve this end, they use models that predict potential fire behavior, and these models rely on accurate estimates of canopy structure, including canopy base height (CBH) and canopy bulk density (CBD). Managers predict CBD through use of the Fire and Fuels Extension to the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FFE-FVS). However, the equations used by FFE-FVS to predict crown mass are based on estimates solely from northern Montana and Idaho, and therefore …
Woodpecker Habitat After The Fire,
2011
US Forest Service
Woodpecker Habitat After The Fire, Jake Delwiche
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
Public land managers are asked to minimize fuel levels after fires, including using techniques such as salvage logging. They are also responsible for maintaining suitable wildlife habitat, especially for species of concern to state and federal agencies. An area where these responsibilities could conflict is in the use of salvage logging in burned-over areas that also represent good habitat for certain wildlife such as woodpeckers. Controversy over this conflict has led to litigation. Public land management agencies need consistent design criteria to maintain suitable habitats for these birds. Little information has existed on how to assess potential effects of postfire …
Post-Fi Re Logging: An Effective Tool For Managing Future Fuels In Coniferous Inland Northwest Forests,
2011
US Forest Service
Post-Fi Re Logging: An Effective Tool For Managing Future Fuels In Coniferous Inland Northwest Forests, Joy Drohan
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
This study involved a chronosequence of 68 stand-replacing wildfires that happened between 1970 and 2007 in dry coniferous forests of eastern Washington and Oregon. The authors compared snag decay and surface fuel accumulation with and without post-fire logging. Without logging after a fire, woody fuels accumulate for 15–30 years because the rate of fuel deposition on the ground is greater than the rate of wood decay. Stands that were more dense prefire have greater accumulations of fuel. Predominant tree species and size influenced rates of fuel deposition and snag decay. Thin trees fell before larger trees and ponderosa pines typically …
Fire Helps The Lonesome Pine,
2011
US Forest Service
Fire Helps The Lonesome Pine, Jake Delwiche
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
Regeneration of Table Mountain pines in the Southern Appalachian has been on the decline since the 1950s. From central Pennsylvania to northeast Georgia, stands of these pines are beginning to be dominated by oaks, particularly chestnut oak, and by hickories. It has been believed that this is because the shade-intolerant pines are being replaced by more shade tolerant hardwoods and shrubs, largely a result of fire exclusion in these areas. Few studies have evaluated fire as a tool for replacement of this species. Some prescriptions have called for intense crown fi res, but these narrow the burning window and cause …
Evaluating The Effects And Effectiveness Of Post-Fire Seeding Treatments In Western Forests,
2011
US Forest Service
Evaluating The Effects And Effectiveness Of Post-Fire Seeding Treatments In Western Forests, Shari Anstedt
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
High-severity wildfires can profoundly affect soils and plant communities, thus requiring emergency rehabilitation treatments such as post-fire seeding. Intended to stabilize soils, reduce erosion, and combat non-native species invasions, post-fire seeding is typically one of the first treatments used by most U.S. natural resource agencies. But despite its widespread use, there is still doubt about the treatment’s actual effectiveness and ecological impacts. Therefore, researchers conducted a study to gain more definitive insight on the ecological effects and usefulness of post-fire seeding. The first part of the study involved an evidence-based review of scientifi c articles, theses, and government publications to …
Optimizing The Location Of Fuel Treatments Over Time At Landscape Scales,
2011
US Forest Service
Optimizing The Location Of Fuel Treatments Over Time At Landscape Scales, Shari Anstedt
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
Fuel treatments are a vital part of forest management—but when faced with limited budgets, narrow burning windows, and air quality restrictions, it can be challenging to prioritize where, when, and how fuel treatments should be applied across the landscape to achieve the most benefit. To help ease this process, land managers can turn to various standalone models, capabilities, and decision support systems. While these tools address various aspects of fuel treatments, there is no one integrated solution that can provide the combined functionality needed to handle the strategic scheduling of fuel treatments, the spatial and temporal changes of fuel treatment …
Synthesis Of Knowledge Of Extreme Fire Behavior: Volume I For Fire Managers,
2011
Northwest Interagency Coordination Center
Synthesis Of Knowledge Of Extreme Fire Behavior: Volume I For Fire Managers, Paul A. Werth, Brian E. Potter, Craig B. Clements, Mark A. Finney, Jason A. Forthofer, Sara S. Mcallister, Scott L. Goodrick, Martin E. Alexander, Miguel G. Cruz
Joint Fire Science Program Synthesis Reports
The National Wildfire Coordinating Group definition of extreme fire behavior (EFB) indicates a level of fire behavior characteristics that ordinarily precludes methods of direct control action. One or more of the following is usually involved: high rate of spread, prolific crowning/ spotting, presence of fire whirls, and strong convection column. Predictability is difficult because such fires often exercise some degree of influence on their environment and behave erratically, sometimes dangerously. Alternate terms include “blow up” and “fire storm.” Fire managers examining fires over the last 100 years have come to understand many of the factors necessary for EFB development. This …
Comprehensive Fuels Treatment Practices Guide For Mixed Conifer Forests: California, Central And Southern Rockies, And The Southwest,
2011
The Forest Guild
Comprehensive Fuels Treatment Practices Guide For Mixed Conifer Forests: California, Central And Southern Rockies, And The Southwest, A. M. Evans, R. G. Everett, S. L. Stephens, J. A. Youlz
Joint Fire Science Program Synthesis Reports
The goal of this guide is to provide a resource for managers of mixed conifer forests of the Southwestern plateaus and uplands, the Central and Southern Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, and the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges in Southern California. Mixed conifer forests have different species, structures, and spatial patterns in these regions but, in general, we focus on forests with a mix of ponderosa or Jeffrey pine, Douglas-fir, true firs, and aspen. The guide includes a comprehensive review of historic conditions, past land use, natural fire regimes, impacts of altered fire regimes, and future prospects, given climate change, for …
Synthesis Of Knowledge: Fire History And Climate Change,
2011
George Mason University
Synthesis Of Knowledge: Fire History And Climate Change, William T. Sommers, Stanley G. Coloff, Susan G. Conard
Joint Fire Science Program Synthesis Reports
This report synthesizes available fire history climate change scientific knowledge to aid managers with fire decisions in tile face of ongoing 21st Century cIimate change. Fire history and climate change mange (FHCC} have been ongoing for over 400 million years of Earth history, but increasing human influences during tile Holocene epoch have changed both climate and fire regimes. We describe basic concepts of climate science and explain the causes of accelerating 21H Century climate change. Fire regimes and ecosystems classification serve to unify ecological and climate factors influencing fire, and are useful for applying fire history and climate manage …
Striving For Long-Term Forest Sustainability—Even As The Climate Changes,
2011
US Forest Service
Striving For Long-Term Forest Sustainability—Even As The Climate Changes, Shari Anstedt
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
Climate change, and its ecological impact, is right on the horizon. According to climate predictions over the next century, the southwestern United States will face higher temperatures and greater evaporative loss, which will heighten the possibility for severe drought. The stress of more frequent, intense droughts can increase tree mortality, hinder growth, and alter forest structure and composition. As a result, it’s now more important than ever for land managers to understand how today’s decisions and actions can impact future forest conditions. To develop answers, researchers conducted a study in the oldest ponderosa pine restoration project in the Southwest. Located …
Assessing Fuel Treatment Effectiveness After The Tripod Complex Fires,
2011
US Forest Service
Assessing Fuel Treatment Effectiveness After The Tripod Complex Fires, Shari Anstedt
Joint Fire Science Program Briefs (2007-2012)
Over the past 50 years, wildfire frequency and area burned have increased in the dry forests of western North America. To help reduce high surface fuel loads and potential wildfire severity, a variety of fuel treatments are applied. In spite of the common use of these management practices, there have been relatively few opportunities to quantitatively measure their efficacy in wildfires. That changed with the 2006 Tripod Complex fires in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington—one of the largest fire events in Washington state over the past five decades. A serendipitous involvement of recent fuel treatments and the availability of …
Timber Talk, Vol. 49, No. 1, February 1, 2011,
2011
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Timber Talk, Vol. 49, No. 1, February 1, 2011
Timber Talk: Nebraska Forest Industry Newsletter
Lumber Market News; Hardwood Lumber Price Trends—Green; Hardwood Lumber Price Trends—Kiln Dried; Hardwood Lumber Market History—Green; Nebraska “Primary Processors” Directory; Long Time Nebraska Sawmiller Will Be Missed; What Is That Log Worth?; Nebraska Forestry Industry Spotlight; The Trading Post; Timber Sales;
Timber Talk, Vol. 49, No. 3, September 1, 2011,
2011
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Timber Talk, Vol. 49, No. 3, September 1, 2011
Timber Talk: Nebraska Forest Industry Newsletter
Lumber Market News; Hardwood Lumber Price Trends—Green; Hardwood Lumber Price Trends—Kiln Dried; Timber Stumpage Prices; Timber Culture Act; Powderpost Beetles; End-Coating Logs and Lumber Makes “Cents” (Or Dollars); Nebraska Forestry Industry Spotlight; Planning Tool Available to Loggers; The Trading Post; Timber Sales.
Preparing Tomorrow’S Fire Professionals: Integration Of Education, Training, And Experience Through Science-Management Partnerships,
2011
Gail Wells Communication
Preparing Tomorrow’S Fire Professionals: Integration Of Education, Training, And Experience Through Science-Management Partnerships, Gail Wells
Joint Fire Science Program Digests
In this issue of Fire Science Digest, we explore the career and preparation challenges faced by forest and rangeland fi re professionals, both new and seasoned. As the job description grows more complex, a well-rounded background in current and emerging areas of fi re science and fi re management becomes critical. Today’s top professionals are approaching retirement, and tomorrow’s fi re professionals need to be adequately prepared to succeed them.
