Resource Management:The Fire ElementThe Newsletter of the California Fuels Committee Winter 1996

New Tools for R-s Fuels Managers Thanks to (K Efforts

0 ver the last couple of years, several members of the California Fuels Committee (CFC) have worked hard to makesure fuels management needs were included in stand inventory programs and tools as they were developed in aneffort to coordinate as much data gathering as possible. As CFC Chair in 1995, Christie Neill (Eldorado NF) took

responsibility for working with the Regional Office to make two such programs a reality: R5FUELS; and FIA WOODY.

Christie stepped down as Chair in February and the committee welcomes the 1996 Chair, Ann Marks (Los Padres NF)and new Vice-Chair Gary Cones (Stanislaus NF). The following articles were written by Christie to transfer informationon these tools to California fuel managers. Thanks, Christie, for all your dedicated work!

R5FUELS - Fuel Inventory Software

For those of you who are still counting sticks and computing tons/acre using James Brown's hand-cranked formulas, putaway your calculators! A few years ago, the Lassen NF got tired of doing just that and originated a contract with CorvallisMicrotechnology Inc (CMT) to have the planar intercept method (Brown's version) converted to software that would workin the field data recorders (FDR) being used by timber personnel to collect stand data. The idea was to be able to calculatetons/acre by size class right in the field.

This was a great idea, but those who wanted a copy of the software needed to come up with $500 for each data recorderit was to be loaded into. The CFC thought all users in the region should have access and we could thereby get a reducedrate. A proposal was submitted to the Regional Fuels Specialist, Sue Husari (she's the short woman with money and a shoephone!) to fund a site license for R-5 data recorders so any user could obtain the software free of charge. -

As paperwork came and went, various people in the fuels arena submitted modifications to the original contract and animproved, automated version of planar intercept for the FDR's was the result. Bob Olson and Judy Forbes from the LassenNF and Aaron Gelobter (Sequoia NF) were very helpful in testing and submitting modifications for the improved finalproduct. Thanks to Bill Hay (RO Timber) for putting together the contract and site license.

A copy of the software and User's Guide can be RISed from the RO; or send your FDR to CMT for installation. Thosedistricts or forests that purchased the original software can send FDR's to CMT for an upgrade. CMT's address is: 413SW Jefferson Avenue, Corvallis, OR 97333 (do Matthew Lehman). Depending on your model of FDR, you may needto purchase additional memory. For technical assistance or information, contact Matt Lehman at (503) 752-5456.

FIA WOODY - Inventoryinff Woody Debris

To properly manage National Forest lands, an inventory of the existing vegetation, both live and dead, overstory andunderstory, must be carefully and competently conducted. Any project which involves manipulation of live vegetation, snagand down log populations, or fuel bed structure should be based upon detailed forest inventory data. The Forest InventoryAnalysis (FIA) is a source of information for such data and for identifying priorities of vegetation treatments.

Vegetation mapping is done for all acres within the Forest, including private in-holdings. Mapping is based on the CALVEGclassification system for all conifer, hardwood, shrub, and grass types. Additionally, for the conifer types, information ontree size and crown closure is included. Vegetation maps are a key layer in each Forest's GIS data base.

(Continued on page 8)

4

Forging a., lEbreYention/Fuels Linkfor a Defensible Ecosystem

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he Alta Sierra CommunityDefensible Ecosystem Projecton the Greenhorn Ranger

District of the Sequoia National Forestis combining "Community-Based AdultEducation" with fuels reduction todecrease the risk from wildfire in thiswildland urban interface community.This is a Fire Prevention/FuelsManagement link being forged byPrevention Officer Linda Adams andFuels Specialist Julie Thrupp. It is alsoa Region 5 Fire Management 2000pilot project.

The Alta Sierra wildland urban interfaceis an area of extreme fire history,extreme fire hazard, and very highvalues at risk. More than 400 summerhomes, a ski resort, two summer camps,and a 100-site campground arescattered throughout 1000 acres ofdense, mixed conifer forest poised atthe top of a steep, brush-filled drainageonly five miles above a major recreationarea and a full-time community.

Six major fires, from the 25,670-acreRed Mountain Fire in 1970 to the24,200-acre Stormy Fire in 1990, haveburned the wilcllands around Alta Sierrain the last 20 years. Alta Sierra wasevacuated for the Stormy Fire in 1990.Fire occurrence records from 1910show a 20,000-acre fire burning throughthe area every 20 years. To mitigatethe risks of the interface fire thathistory predicts about the year 2010,Fire Prevention and Fuels Managementhave been linked to accomplish bothcommunity education and fuelsreduction.

On Memorial Day 1995, the Projectwas introduced to 120 Alta Sierracabin owners with a poster display anda 20-minute oral presentation. In June,a 40-yard refuse box for raked needleswas rented by the Alta Sierra PropertyOwners'Association.Theoverwhelming response indicates that

pine needle recycling and/or disposal iscritically needed to remove that barrierto Defensible Space. Also in June, 11Alta Sierra community leaders weretrained on the basics of Defensible Space,so that they can assist with HazardInspections as part of the NeighborhoodFire Watch Program.

In July, the Bakersfield Californian dailynewspaper printed "Surviving theAftermath ofFires - Fire Teaches Manyto Clear Away Brush - FirefightersTrained to Save Defensible HomesFirst" featuring color photos of the localhomes destroyed a year ago in the 2436-acre Lakeland Fire, and including theDefensible Space Checklist. DefensibleSpace Bulletin Boards were installed bythe District at the two main entrances toAlta Sierra, and Fire Safe videos can bechecked out from the local real estateoffice in the center of the community.

At their Labor Day Barbecue, theProperty Owners' Association presenteda one-page handout about their WildfireDefensible Space Team. This is anexciting step toward the Property Ownerstaking ownership in this project, makingit their project. The handout brieflyexplains what Defensible Space is, whatthe purpose of their Team is, what theForest Service is doing, and what theProperty Owner can do. Their goalsinclude communications and education,Defensible Demonstration Lots, a slashand needle recycling site, and all lotscleaned and defensible by 1998.

The project has been included in theLower Kern Environmental Analysis.Notices on the Alta Sierra BulletinBoards brought lots of property ownersto the Open House and field trips. Weare working out the details of anInteragency Partnership with KernCounty Fire Department and theProperty Owners' Association for crewsto clear cabins and vacant lots that violatethe CA Fire Hazard Reduction Law.

The costs of the clearance work willbe attached to the owner's tax bill.

The Project made a big on-the-ground step forward in earlyDecember. A District resource crewof unemployed carrot packers built 78piles of slash for 16 acres, as the firststep in creating a community defensezone along the Forest Service boundarydirectly behind cabins at Alta Sierra.

So progress is being made at AltaSierra to mitigate the effects of thatfire predicted for the year 2010. We'rehoping to continue to use thisPrevention/Fuels link to build arelationship with the community thatwill create long-term results inDefensible Space.

LINDA ADAMSGreenhorn RD - Sequoia NF

(Missouri continued from pg 2)role of fire in control of exotic plantspecies and long-term change in biota.Preliminary results of some of thesestudies indicate that fire does play asignificant role in preservation of thenative plant communities of Missouri.Monitoring has also shown that fire inthe ecosystem has had a positive effecton critical habitat for birds such as thewild turkey and reptiles such as thecollard lizard

One of the big differences I havenoticed is that burning in Missouri hasbeen a lot more fun. Not any easier,just more fun! Maybe because it's lessstressful and controversial than it wasin the politically sensitive area fromwhich I came.

JIM DESMOND, FMOOzark National Park

5

Sharing Resources HelpsAgencies Meet RX Fire Goals

p

ulling off a prescribed fire can bea very complex process. Notonly must managers meet all the

weather and fuels prescriptionparameters, but they must also haveadequate numbers and types ofresources on hand to safely and costeffectively complete the project. Withmore and more emphasis being placedon completing prescribed fire projectseach year in all agencies, it becomesmore difficult locating resources.Sometimes this is due to the fact thateveryone is burning at the same time.

In order to alleviate some of theseproblems and get as much prescribedburning accomplished as possible, theModoc National Forest and Lava BedsNational Monument worked togetherduring 1995 to meet both agency's goals.The Forest burned 2235 acres whichincluded natural and activity fuels,

underburning in eastside pine as well asslash in logging units. The Monumentburned 1300 acres which included 200acres of natural fuels underburning ineastside pine and burning to reducehazardous accumulations of fuels andrestore fire to the ecosystem.

Both agencies shared resources toaccomplish this work. Engines andpersonnel from each agency were sharedthroughout the fall season for prescribedfire project work. In some cases, costsfor the use of these resources wereabsorbed by the agency utilizing aparticular resource. Funds weretransferred between agencies forpersonnel and equipment costs whenneeded through a local InteragencyAgreement developed in 1993. In onecase, the Monument paid the full cost(base 8 and overtime) of one temporaryForest Service employee for two months

while this employee assisted withMonument prescribed fire projects. Inanother case, the Forest funded twolight engines for a two-day projectwhere four-wheel drive was necessary.

Although the Modoc NF and LavaBeds National Monument have beenworking cooperatively for the past threeburning seasons, this past year wasundoubtedly the highlight season.Prescribed fire managers of both unitswill work together more closely thanever to share resources for completingprojects. It is evident that through morecooperative efforts such as this, wecan be more successful at meeting ourprescribed fire and ecosystemmanagement goals.

KEN KERR, FMOLava Beds National Monument

The Search for FallenFirefighters

y

our help is needed to collectinformation on the whereaboutsof Wildland Firefighter

Memorials throughout the country.Wildland Firefighter Memorials aredefined as "official plaques,monuments, statues, crosses, markersor named places such ascampgrounds, trails or canyonswhich commemorate wildfirefatalities".

Paul Gleason (Arapaho/RooseveltNational Forests) is working to supportpreparation of a listing by AndrewGulliford, Ph.D. (public history). Tohelp, please send Paul any informationyou have such as location of memorial,fire event, whether you have actuallyseen the memorial or just heard aboutit. He will do all the follow-up work, all

he needs is a few leads. Be sure to sendalong your name and address so he cancontact you.

This is an enormous task which is longoverdue. Please don't assume that anymemorial you might be aware of iscurrently listed. Paul can be reached at240 W. Prospect Rd., Fort Collins, CO80526; DG: RO2F10A; /s---p.gleason/oui=r02f10a@mhs-fswa.attmail.com ;or at firewhirl@aol.com .

PAUL GLEASONArapaho & Roosevelt NFs

Proceedings Available

Tsii the fall of 1993, over 200,000acres of southern Californiashrublands exploded in massive

wildfires. These catastrophic fires,woven between wildlands and urbanenvironments, re-initiated manyunresolved debates on resourcemanagement strategiet in Californiawildlands.

As a consequence, an outstanding panelof experts in ecology and resourcemanagement came together in asymposium and workshop to synthesizeour current understanding of theseissues. The resulting proceedings,Brushfires in CaliforniaWildlands: Ecology andResource Management, includeresearch synthesis and perspectives ofresource managers and environmentalorganizations on topics of prefire andpostfire ecology and management. Inaddition to problems ofland planning, athorough discussion is presented ontopics related to aerial seeding ofpostfire chaparral and coastal sage.

Proceedings can be ordered throughthe International Association ofWildland Fire , PO Box 328, Fairfield,WA 99012 (800) 697-3443. Cost is$32.95.

TOM WHITECleveland National Forest

1500 1600 1700 1900 2000 2100 2200 23001800Year

Percentage of closed-canopy forest area more than 100 m from an edge in (a) Lookout Creekand (b) Augusta Creek: ( ) historical conditions; ( ) conditions in 1990. Landscapedynamics after 1990 were generated by using the CASCADE model with rotation lengthsof 50 years (—); 100 years (....); 200 years ( ); 330 years (-..-); and a mixture of 100,200, and 330 years (-.-). The simulations based on the 100-year rotation used dispersedcutting, and all others used aggregate cutting.

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6 L

Comparing Managed and Pre-SettlementLandscape Dynamics with GIS

T

he landscape structure offorests subjected to wildfiresfluctuates through time as a

result of the episodic nature of thesedisturbances and long-term variation inthe climatic conditions that influencethe fire regime. These landscapedynamics influence a variety ofimportant ecosystem processes.

Before European settlement, landscapedynamics in Pacific Northwest forestswere driven primarily by the patterns ofwildfire. An understanding of thesedynamics can provide a unique frameof reference for evaluating currentforest management policies andalternatives for the future. Tree-ringdata and historical records of forestcutting were used to quantify the rangeof landscape conditions that existed ontwo large watersheds (4,000 ha and11,600 ha) between the late 1400's and1990. A rule-based simulation model(Wallin et al. 1994) was used togenerate landscape patterns that wouldresult from five alternative futureforest management scenarios. Ouranalysis is heavily dependent on the useof a Geographical Information System(GIS) and FRAGSTATS, a softwarepackage that can be used to quantify alandscape characteristics (McGarigaland Marks 1995).

Our study focused on two watershedsin the central Oregon Cascades whereearlier studies had used tree-ringanalysis to map individual fire episodesfrom the late 1400's to the present(Teensma 1987, Connelly and Kertis1992). These fire episode maps arethought to represent the distribution ofmoderate to high severity fires. Thesetwo sets of fire episode maps weredigitized and used to develop asimplified, multitemporal representationof landscape pattern. Each fire episodemap was digitized and our GIS wasused to sequentially overlay these

maps. For each 50 m by 50 m grid cell,we tracked the time since the previousfire. Initially, unburned areas weretreated as background, but by the mid-1500's, nearly all grid cells in each studyarea had burned at least once. Asimplified representation of landscapepattern at any given point in time wasobtained by quantifying the shape,distribution and abundance of patches

of open- and closed-canopy forest.For the purposes ofthis analysis, open-canopy forests are defined as thosethat have burned within the last 40years and closed-canopy forests thosenot burned for over 40 years.

The effects of alternative future forestcutting scenarios on landscape pattern

(Continued on page 7)

W

ith a little luck, a largeburning window and lots ofhard work, the Stanislaus

National Forest was able to treat almost10,000 acres with prescribed fire inthe 1995 field season. All four districtscontributed acreage with largeunderburns including the Plum FlatUnderbum in January and a 500-acreunderburn in red fir last August.

Perhaps the most notable project,however, was the 4800-acre StanislausRiver Underbum. It is believed to bethe largest management-ignitedprescribed fire in California history.Average slope was 54 percent andfuels ranged from mixed conifer tobrush and oak woodland. Elevationsranged from 1100 to 4100 feet and theburn site perimeter was over 18 miles.

Planning, preparation and executionof the Stanislaus River Underburn

took less than a year thanks to thecooperation and commitment ofinterdisciplinary team members andmanagement support. The site containsthree California spotted owl protectedactivity centers (PAC's), 13 plantations,27 archaeological sites and two privateland holdings. NEPA direction wasthrough a Decision Memo.

The Incident Command system (ICS)was utilized during burning with GaryCones as the Incident Commander andforest-wide participation to fill ICSpositions. The firing was initiatedNovember 6 with no measurable rainfallsince June. It took seven days and twonights of ignition to complete at a cost ofapproximately $180,000 or $40 per acre.Project funding was a combination ofnatural fuels (PF2) and Hill Bill (CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Game) dollars.At peek staffing, resources committedwere 2 watertenders, 3 hand crews, 6

engines, 2 dozers, 1 helicopter, and 14overhead and support personnel. Handignition and aerial ignition with thePrimo Mark III sphere dispenser wereboth utilized. A total of 22,000 "pingpong balls" were dropped on the site.

The resource management objectiveswere to reduce fire hazard, promoteregeneration of plants to improveforage for deer and to restore fire tothe ecosystem. Although no formalpost-burn evaluation has yet beencompleted, the general consensus isvery favorable. Only minor escapesoccurred totalling less than two acres.

JOE MOLHOEKMi-Wok RD, Stanislaus NF

(GIS continued from page 6)

were evaluated using the CASCADEmodel (Wallin et al. 1994). This modelsimulates landscape change inresponse to cutting and subsequentregrowth. We examined the patternsgenerated by dispersed cutting on a100-year rotation and aggregatedcutting on rotation lengths of 50, 200,330 years. We also examined onescenario that used aggregate cuttingand 100, 200 and 330-year rotations ondifferent portions of the study area.For both the pre-settlement andalternative future landscapes, a seriesof indices were calculated, at 20 yeartime steps, using FRAGSTATS(McGarigal and Marks 1995).

Our results demonstrate that conditionson these two watersheds in 1990 areoutside the range of conditions thatexisted during most of thereconstructed pre-settlement era (seefigure). Continued use of short (50-

100-year) timber rotation lengths wouldpush these watersheds even fartheroutside of this range. The use of muchlonger rotation lengths (200+ years)could bring these watersheds back towithin or very near this range of pre-settlement conditions. Our analysis ismore fully described in Wallin et al. (inpress).

Our analysis demonstrates a GIS-basedapproach to quantifying the range ofpre-settlement variability for a variety oflandscape-level attributes. By ignoringimportant differences in within-standstructural complexity, our results arelikely to underestimate the ecologicaldifferences between the pre-settlementlandscapes and those generated byforest cutting. A more completeanalysis of the ecological consequencesof the landscape patterns presentedhere will require more explicitconsideration of structural characteristicsat the stand level. Nevertheless, our

results do provide unique insights onsome of the differences betweenmanaged and pre-settlementlandscapes.

DAVID WALLINWestern Washington University

Connelly, K.P. and Kertis, J.A., 1992. AugustaCreek fire History. Unpublished report to theBlue River RI), Willamette NF.

McGarigal, K., and Marks, B.J., FRAGSTATS:Spatial pattern analysis program for quantifyinglandscape structure. Pacific Northwest ResearchStation, USDA Forest Service, PNW-GTR-351,Portland, Oregon. 123 pages.

Teensma, P.D.A., 1987. Fire history and fireregimes of the central western Cascades ofOregon. Ph.D. dissertation, University ofOregon, Eugene, OR, 188 pages.

Wallin, D.O., Swanson, F.J. and Marks, B.,1994. Landscape pattern response to changes inpattern generation rules: land-use legacies inforestry. Ecological Applications 4:569-580.

Wallin, D.O., F.J. Swanson, B. Marks, J.H. Cisseland J. Kertis. (In press) Comparison of managedand pre-settlement landscape dynamics in forestof the pacific northwest, USA. Forest Ecologyand Management

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(Tools continued from page 1)The resulting information is suitable foruse in landscape-level analysis andgeneral land management planning.However, for site specific project workand detailed silvicultural prescriptionsadditional information must be gatheredat the stand level. Data is collectedusing field data recorders and or "hardcards" R5-1900-1 thru 1900-4 1/93(available through the GPO). FIAsampling designs and data collectionneeds are usually initiated by the districtsilviculturist with input from wildlife,ecology and fire management. Dataneeds from these groups can be metutilizing an integrated or coordinatedinventory concept which FIA supports.

Within FIA, woody debris data can becollected using the data recorder orWOODY DEBRIS cards. The FIAsystem has self-contained analysisfeatures that allow the user to createcustomized reports highlighting any ofthe inventory attributes contained inthe raw data, including WOODYDEBRIS. The program has beenavailable since 1994 from the RegionalOffice or Remote Sensing Lab.Instructions for use are in the FIAUsers Guide.

The Woody Debris inventory is basedon the "Photo Series for QuantifyingForest Residues". This systeminvolves the visual estimation of fuellevels on-site as compared to the fuel

levels depicted in the photos. Since thephoto series is based upon the planarintercept method, inventory crews shouldbe familiar with that method to be able tomake accurate ocular comparisons tothe photo series. Training on the correctuse of the photo series is essential togetting good data in for good data out.Data obtained with FIA WOODYincludes tons/acre by size class, duff andfuelbed depth. Accurate fuel loadingdata is important for landscape- andproject-level planning to describe existingand desired conditions, potential wildfireeffects and prescribing fuel treatmentalternatives to restore and sustainecosystems.

The best way to learn about FIA and itsuses is to consult with your District orForest Silviculturists. The latest versionof FIA was introduced with a workshoplab held in April of 1994 on the EldoradoNational Forest, Placerville, CA by KevinCasey and Tina Terrell of the RemoteSensing Lab. Questions concerning thewoody debris collection can be directedto Christie Neill, Eldorado National Forest(916) 622-5061. Contact Kevin Casey(916)551-3390 at the Remote SensingLab Sacramento, CA for the moretechnical aspects of FIA and woodydebris audits.

CHRISTIE NEILLEldorado National Forest

(Star thistle cont. from page 3)additional burning compartments. ThePony Gate compartment will not beburned during the next three years sothat yellow star thistle recolonizationcan be monitored. This analysis willhelp park resource managers identifythe fire regime required to maintainsustainable control ofyellow star thistle.

It is extremely difficult to have completesuccess with burning alone in the park.Prescribed fire is very reliable inreducing yellow star thistle in mostpark locations, yet problems arepresented with burning in proximity tofacilities and in roadside locationsNonflammable, fleshy yellow star thistledoes not readily burn during theappropriate phenological stage withoutsufficient grass fuel to carry the fire. Aflame thrower will be used to producefoliar scorch on roadside plants that donot burn during future broadcast bums.Fuel can be provided for large areasdominated by yellow starthistle withouta grass component by sowing grassseed the winter prior to a plannedprescribed burn. The preferabletreatment would be to sow locallycollected native seed. Unfortunately,financial limitations may make thisoption infeasible.

MARLA HASTINGSSilverado District, CA State ParksJOSEPH M. DITOMASOUC Davis, Coop Extension

April 8-19Apri19-11April 23-24April 29- May 3April 29-May 3April 29-May 3May 6-10May 7-10May 20-24October 27-31

Calendar of Events RX 300 Prescribed Fire for Burn Boss, Sierra NFFARSITE Workshop, Boise, IDIASC Meeting, (Location TBA)RX 450 Smoke Management Tech (2 staggered sessions), Redding CABurned Area Emergency Rehabilitation Techniques, Modesto, CASixth Biennial FS Remote Sensing Applications Conference, Aurora, COFire Management Practices & Techniques for EM Workshop, Sacramento, CA20th Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference, Boise, IDFire History Workshop, Susanville, CA13th Conference Fire & Forest Meteorology, Lorne, Australia

The California Fuels Committee NEWSLETTER is published three times a year as an informational service to allpersonnel engaged in resource management. Articles are solicited from all resource disciplines and readers areencouraged to send articles to the attention of Louise Larson, Sierra NF, 1600 Tollhouse Rd., Clovis, CA 93612;DG:RO5F15A; (209) 297-0706 ext. 4822 FAX (209) 294-4809.