Using Fire in Support of Traditional

Foods: Mt. Huckleberry Case Study

LIBBY NELSON, SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ANALYST , TREATY RIGHTS OFFICE, TULALIP TRIBES,

ROSS FENTON, FORESTER AND PROJECT MANAGER, TULALIP TRIBES, AND HOLLY ZOX, BOTANIST,

CONSULTANT

WEST SIDE FIRE WORKSHOP, DEC. 3, 2018

On this side of the stream [Skagit River] we found the whole forest burned

by late fires, ignited by persons lately encamped here. Smoke was still

arising in all directions from numerous footlogs and trees etc. Fires are very

frequent during the summer season in these Mountain forests and are often

ignited purposely by some of the Indians hunting in these Mountain regions,

to clear the woods from underbrush & make travel easier. Once ignited,

they generally burn the whole summer, and only the drenching rains of the

fall are able to check their further spread. (Custer 1866:20).

Some Background….

In 2007, Tulalip, a treaty tribe, and the US Forest Service, signed a government-to-government agreement (MOA) to serve as basis for improved communication and partnering in stewardship.

One concern voiced by tribes: mountain huckleberries, important cultural resource, seemed to be dwindling, and access to berry fields, particularly for elders was becoming increasingly difficult

Traditional foods, like huckleberry, important for health reasons and as means to sustain tribal culture and connection to ancestral mountain homelands.

Public lands like the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest play an important role in providing these foods, though areas limited.

For thousands of years, Tulalip’s ancestors used fire and other means to promote a

diversity of plants and animals, and to

maintain the open conditions that favor

huckleberries.

In contrast, the Forest Service has for

decades suppressed fire.

Decreasing logging (as an alternative form

of disturbance) and “Late Successional

Reserves” designated under the Northwest

Forest Plan has also lead to a decline in

meadow habitat.

In responding to Tulalip’s treaty/cultural needs,

MBS District Ranger suggested a remote, but

road-accessible high elevation area (5000’) in

the Skykomish watershed for huckleberries.

This area, now referred to as swədaʔx ̌ali, a

Coast Salish Lushootseed word for “Place of Mountain Huckleberries”, was formerly owned

by Weyerhaeuser and logged heavily in 1980s;

today significant portions of the area are open

shrub communities, dominated by huckleberry.

In 2011, the 1,280 acre area was formally designated, under our MOA, as the “swədaʔx̌ali

Co-Stewardship Area” -- where Tribes and USFS

work together to manage the area.

Primary goals in co-stewardship: maintain existing

huckleberry, enhance other areas for huckleberry

and other important cultural plants and medicines,

and for wildlife, and wildlife forage.

10 year (adaptive) management plan: Developed

by Tulalip, with assistance from USFS staff, and

others with expertise in huckleberry biology and

conservation.

Three years into implementation of our plan: focus so far centered on extending the productive life of

a large existing huckleberry-dominated meadow,

but threatened by dense number of emergent

conifers.

Our Approach: a mix of western science and traditional ways native people managed

huckleberry –including: pruning, manually removing competing vegetation, selective thinning, and fire.

Historical records show tribes kept huckleberry stands healthy and plentiful by setting fires;

this practice was discouraged by non-Indians who began settling on these lands in the mid to late 1800s, and fire suppression became government policy.

“This is God’s Country. Don’t set it on fire and

make it look Like Hell.” (Stevens Pass, 1925)

East side of the Cascades: Colville, Yakama and the

Gifford Pinchot National Forest have all, for several

years, been using fire to increase productivity of

huckleberry.

On the west side, archaeological and oral history

documents use of fire, but specific details about

traditional burning are less well documented and

understood.

Experimentation with prescribed burning techniques: While our 10 year plan calls for using fire to sustain and enhance treaty resources, we have learned that

burning on public lands today can get complicated.

ROSS FENTON --- TULALIP TRIBES FORESTRY PROGRAM

TULALIP FIELD PROJECT LEAD

E-MAIL: RFENTON@TULALIPTRIBES-NSN.GOV

Fire as a tool…

Indigenous use of fire for vegetation management well documented.

East Coast >>> Great Plains >>> West Coast.

Cascade region = Natives managed mountain huckleberries.

Centuries ago, forest composition was very different.

Today, fire suppression policies have created large scale, overstocked

timber stands throughout the West.

Huckleberry enhancement:

Tulalip Forestry

Recently completed our 5th season of successfull fieldwork.

Sites: Federal lands within Stillaguamish & Skykomish watersheds.

Fieldwork is guided by a ten year Co-stewardship agreement and

Yearly Implementation Plan (YIP).

YIP is a “dynamic” document; fieldwork changes are made in direct

response to local environmental conditions.

Current project area:

Sswedafzali

Slope gradients: 8% to 65%

Primarily West facing aspect

Subalpine, true fir tree species dominant.

Tree age: 5 to 38 years; Heights: 2’ to 20’ feet

Diameter (at base) = 2” to 12” inches

“Dog hair” High density of trees per acre (TPA)

Huckleberry enhancement:

Field Techniques

Prescriptive broadcast burning not yet an option.

Mechanical means to accomplish objectives

(i.e. Chainsaws, weedeaters, chipper, hand tools)

Labor & re$ource intensive.

One challenge: Industrial Fire Precautionary Levels (IFPL)

Ambient conditions dictate power tool usage.

Removal methods:

Competing vegetation

8 to 12 workers daily (2 weeks)

Power tools most effective means

2 to 3 person teams “felling/stacking/skidding” (EarthCorps, 2017)

Low gradients: Tarps skid debris to roadside (chip & mulch)

Steep slopes: Pile material for burning

Pile dimensions: 10’ wide x 10’ tall avg.

Burning debris has proven more efficient than chipping.

Accomplishments to date:

Sswedafzali

Seasons 1 - 3

Approximately 10 acres treated

2.5 acres of removed material was chipped

and spread. (in Fall, 2016-17)

USFS fire crew burned ~2.5 acres of removed

material from 2016-17. (in October, 2018)

5 acres material was removed in Fall, 2018.

Planned to burn in Fall, 2019 (USFS fire crew)

Remaining trees per acre = ~80 to 100

(dominant trees)

Additional details:

Remote area: Food, water, shelter, first-aid, communications

Multiple safety protocols & logistical considerations. “If…Then…”

Multi-agency coordination.

U.S. Forest Service Burn Plan requirements.

[Q:] Will a USFS fire team be available?

Industrial Fire Precautionary Levels (IFPL) timing key to more acreage.

Burn phase (October, 2018)

October, 2018

October, 2018

October, 2018

The final result!

Huckleberry Management Monitoring:

Assessing EffectivenessPermanent Monitoring Plots

% cover trees, shrubs, big

huckleberry, Cascade

blueberry

Treatment notes

Huckleberry condition class

Stand condition class

Huckleberry yield

1/20 Acre

Permanent Plots Monitoring

Burn Pile

Before and after burning

Thank-you to all parties involved!

EarthCorps (2017 & 2018 season)

Tulalip Cultural & Natural Resources staff

U.S. Forest Service staff

Volunteers, consultants, interns, seasonal

employees, Tulalip Youth programs