The National Fire and Fire Surrogate Study (FFS)

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1 The National Fire and Fire Surrogate Study (FFS) James McIver OSU -- Eastern Oregon Agriculture Research Center Dylan W Schwilk USGS, Sequoia-Kings Canyon Field Station

2 Key Collaborators -- FFS Project SITE MANAGERS Jim Agee Central WA University of Washington Carl Edminster -- SW Sites FS Research (Rocky Mt) Carl Fiedler -- W. Montana University of Montana Eric Knapp -- Sequoia Dylan Schwilk USGS BRD (Sequoia NP) John Lehmkuhl - Centr WA FS Research (PNW) Ken Outcalt - Myakka Park FS Research (Southern) Carl Skinner - S. Cascades FS Research (PSW) SITE MANAGERS Scott Stephens -- Blodgett Univ California, Berkeley Tom Waldrop -- Piedmont FS Research (Southern) Dan Yaussey -- Ohio Hills FS Research (NE) Andy Youngblood - NE OR FS Research (PNW) wildfire-intro.avi PROJECT COORDINATION Jim McIver -- Current FS Research (PNW) Phil Weatherspoon -- Former Ex-Officio member PSW (retired) DISCIPLINE LEADERS Jamie Barbour -Economics FS Research (PNW) Ralph Boerner -- Soils Ohio State University Chris Fettig -- Entomology FS Research (PSW) Sally Hasse -- Fuels FS Research (PSW) Jon Keeley -- Vegetation USGS BRD (Sequoia) Bill Otrosina -- Pathology FS Research (Southern) Steve Zack -- Wildlife Wildlife Conservation Society (Portland) FUNDING Joint Fire Science Program USDA Competitive Grants National Fire Plan

3 Fire suppression in North American forests Increased tree density Shade tolerant species favored over shade-intolerant trees Higher fuel loads and increased risk of severe wildfire

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5 Management Solution Fuel Reduction: prescribed burning or mechanical thinning Methods have been successful Managers need better information

6 No treatment Thinned with prescribed fire Thinned only How a Forest Stopped a Fire in Its Tracks By James Gorman New York Times 7/21/03 SUSANVILLE, Calif. - Where the fire came through Blacks Mountain Experimental Forest last September, the ground is ash and the trees are charcoal

7 Tyee fire, Wenatchee Nat l Forest 1994

8 A Research Solution The National Fire and Fire Surrogate Study

9 Research Goals 1. Relative efficacy of fuel reduction methods 2. Ecological consequences 3. Economics Mechanical Burn Mech / Burn

10 Fire and Fire Surrogate Study All sites in forests with high frequency / low severity fire regime Common design Replication (>3), response variables 105 Collaborators 45 Academic & 31 Federal scientists 12 State/Private & 17 Federal managers Funded by: Joint Fire Sciences Program, USDA Competitive Grants National Fire Plan

11 The National Fire/Fire Surrogate Study

12 Fuel Reduction Methods Desired condition 80/80 rule at each site Mechanical Burn Mech. / Burn

13 Ecological Consequences Stand structure, tree mortality Fuel reduction / fire risk Wildlife Species diversity, understory community Soils Photos: Trygve Steen

14 Economics Can we afford these treatments? Will they pay for themselves?

15 Hungry Bob Site Northeastern Oregon Photo: Trygve

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18 Unit 6B (Mechanical + Burn) Photo: Trygve Steen

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20 Tree Size Distribution Unit 6B: Diameter class distribution, 1998 Unit 6B: Diameter class distribution, Ponderosa pine Ponderosa pine, dead Douglas-fir Douglas-fir, dead 80 Ponderosa pine Ponderosa pine, dead Douglas-fir Douglas-fir, dead Stems per ha Stems per ha S S Diameter class (cm) Pre treatment Diameter class (cm) Post treatment

21 Changes in ground fuels Fuel Load Unit 6B (Thin/Burn) pre-treatment 6B post-thin post-burn cm cm cm > 7.62 cm Sound > 7.62 cm Rotten TOTAL WOOD Litter Duff TOTAL FUELS metric tons/hectare (1 mton/ha = 2.24 tons/acre)

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23 Ecological Effects Photo: Trygve Steen

24 Photo: Trygve Steen

25 Photo: Trygve Steen

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27 At the site level, emphasis is interdisciplinary Donald Owen, At the network level, emphasis is on general treatment effects

28 How are we getting the information out? FFS Website ( At local level -- tours, workshops, etc. Regional workshops late 2005 National symposium late 2006 Species effects FEIS Fuels Data FVS-FFE, FOFEM, Fire Effects Library Linked websites FIREHOUSE, FRAMES Scientific publications

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