Employing Fire: A Small Landowner s Primer. Ryan N. Harr, Iowa DNR Private Lands Wildlife Biologist

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1 Employing Fire: A Small Landowner s Primer Ryan N. Harr, Iowa DNR Private Lands Wildlife Biologist ryan.harr@dnr.iowa.gov

2 Understanding Fire in Your Landscape How comfortable are you with using fire in your management?

3 Understanding Fire in Your Landscape What is a novel ecosystem? Why are they important?

4 Understanding Fire in Your Landscape Fire was (and can still be) the primary driver of ecosystem development in North America Dictates herbaceous community, woodland community, and wildlife present in an area In most ecosystems, that meant an FRI of somewhere around 3-10 years Citation: Guyette, R., D. Dey, M. Stambaugh and R. Muzika USFS Northern Research Station General Technical Report P-1.

5 From: Brown, J.K. and Smith, J.K Wildland Fire in Ecosystems: Effects of Fire on Flora. USFS RMRS-GTR-42 vol 2.

6 Understanding Fire in Your Landscape Fire Regimes: Understory fire regimes = ground level fires that do not effect primary biome vegetation Mixed-severity fire regimes = ground level & canopy level fires that may destroy some of primary biome vegetation Stand-replacing fire regimes = canopy level fires that destroy MOST of the primary biome vegetation

7 Understanding Fire in Your Landscape Ecological Site Descriptions (ESDs) can provide insight into the processes that were present in a native condition Developed from soils and pre-settlement plant community; considers precip regime and other physiographic factors State-and-transition models often included, identify tipping-points of ecosystem

8 Understanding Fire in Your Landscape Dendrochronology data indicate historical FRI of years in many Midwestern North American ecosystems Stambaugh et.al NW Missouri Surge in frequency associated with settlement of the midwest

9 Understanding Fire in Your Landscape George Caitlin s Prairie Bluffs Burning (1832) George Caitlin s Prairie Meadows (1834) Having nothing better to do; I set fire to the prairie Francis Chadron at Fort Clark, Dakota Territory 1839

10 Understanding Fire in Your Landscape Iowa s Loess Hills before and after the removal of fire from landscape and 2005 (courtesy Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation)

11 Understanding Fire Governance

12 Understanding Fire Governance During active times of year, most states will post a map (interactive) of local fire dangers and permit requirements Interagency cooperation leads to coordinated fire response in many states

13 Understanding Fire Governance Restrictions are put in place based upon a number of factors considered locally or statewide Weather Conditions Mixing & Transport Short- and Long-Term Drought Capacity of Local Resources

14 Understanding Fire Governance Most localities (if not states) now have ordinances requiring notification of emergency management agency ALWAYS notify that local agency, regardless of whether it is required or not

15 Understanding Fire Governance Depending on jurisdiction, burning permit requirements, or other program requirements a prescribed burn plan may be required

16 Understanding Role of Fire in Woodlands What are common goals for using fire within woodlands? Removal of downed debris, brush, invasive species Improvement of habitat for wildlife Regeneration of desirable woody species (oak, jack pine, others) Reduction of future fire danger Maintenance of seral stages, timber stand improvement

17 Understanding Role of Fire in Woodlands

18 Understanding Role of Fire in Woodlands Take care to know the composition of your woodland, and know what the effects of fire might be to intolerant species! As needed, adjust prescription to suit specific management goals Burn in deep hardwoods with lower RH, higher wind & more sun Burn in fall instead of spring or vice versa Burn when target species are most susceptible to fire impacts Avoid T&E species restrictions!

19 Understanding Role of Fire in Woodlands As fire moves upslope, damage tends to occur on upslope face of tree due to funneling

20 Understanding Role of Fire in Grasslands What are common goals for using fire in grasslands? Requirement for grassland to be grassland! CRP MCM maintenance Reinvigorating habitat growth Wildfire risk reduction Reduce pressure from undesirable plants Livestock grazing and improvement of forage resource

21 Understanding Role of Fire in Grasslands Understanding of the timing, intensity, and technique and employing; all can alter habitats easily Dormant season burns tend to benefit grasses (November March) C4 Plants will tend to erupt early in next growing season C3 plants depending on burn dates can be significantly set back by appropriately timed fire Forbs (flowers) tend to benefit most from growing season (late) fire, as they have senesced by fall

22 Understanding Role of Fire in Wetlands Stimulate regrowth, diversify community Promote wetland-cycle Deepen wetland Wildlife habitat Though certainly less thought of, fire does still play a role in wetland ecology Classic wetland cycle may have relied upon fire to open hemi-marsh state As in other systems, fire likely present during annual dry cycles and drought conditions Fire is still employed as a tool to reopen choked wetland systems

23 Understanding Role of Fire in Wildlife Habitat Habitat effects should be considered regardless of overall goals, but can often be the driving goal for fire Promote regrowth, thin cover or drive production of winter cover, diversify cover, set back succession Enhance food resources for young wildlife Create opportunities for attracting wildlife Beware of tradeoffs: cover will be altered temporarily provide refugia T&E Species?

24 Understanding Role of Fire in Forage Production Fire can be employed to diversify forage base, and drive production Reduce litter, improve nutrient cycling Increase palatability, improve nutritional content Focus grazing pressure without intensive infrastructure resources Facilitate change in grazing season by getting animals out sooner or boosting forage base later in season

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27 Understanding Timing of Fire First and foremost, fire should be conducted at the time it is most likely to achieve goals AND provide for safety! That said, practical constraints prevent us from likely doing most of our burning when it historically occurred Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Historical 20% 80% Present 90% 10%

28 Understanding Weather for Fire Preferable Puffy Cloud Days Low pressure systems Stable, Directional Winds Average Sunlight Steady, Moderate Wind (8-12mph) Stable, Moderate Relative Humidity (40-50%) Passed weather fronts Non-preferred Bluebird days High pressure systems Light & Variable Winds Excessive sunlight Excessive Wind (<15mph) Low Relative Humidity (<40%) Approaching weather fronts

29 Understanding Weather for Fire Red Flag Warnings from NWS Conditions are such (Fuels, Wind, Temperature, RH) that an explosive fire environment exists any fire starts will get out of control Starting a fire on a red-flag day may be considered criminal, or at least gross-negligence NEVER burn under a red flag warning

30 Understanding Weather for Fire Smoke may be as much as a risk to health and safety as the fire itself Smoke sensitive areas need to be identified prior to burn: Roads Occupied buildings Airports EPA Airsheds Managed ventilations Thin, whispy smoke from backfire Heavy, thick smoke from headfire

31 Understanding Weather for Fire Plan for wind, fuel moistures, and soils to avoid unnecessary amounts of smoke Pay attention to wind vectors, winds aloft, mixing heights and Haines (as possible) Notify neighbors that may be impacted by smoke Plan for traffic control if smoke may impact road people won t slow down!

32 Understanding Opportunities for Assistance Don t go it alone especially at the beginning! Take advantage of learning opportunities Extension Workshops, Master Woodland Manager programs, Eastern Tallgrass Prairie & Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium Engage experienced natural resource professionals agency personnel can help develop RX Burn Plan to meet your goals

33 Understanding Opportunities for Assistance Don t go it alone especially at the beginning! State agencies may assist you with developing appropriate prescribed burn plan Federal agencies are more variable amongst states (NRCS), or less able to assist (USFWS) Consultants and contractors can help you develop a plan

34 Understanding Opportunities for Assistance With appropriate planning funding can be available to hire contractor or consultant to conduct burn CRP often requires MCM burn EQIP can be used as part of approved TSI or woodland stewardship plan Other state/local cost share programs (Iowa: REAP, IHAP)

35 Understanding Opportunities for Assistance Rise of prescribed burn cooperatives is presenting new opportunities to get involved in learning, grow use of fire on landscape GPFSE 2015

36 Understanding Fire Planning Appropriate planning helps to mitigate many issues Should be begun days, weeks, months even years ahead Did you realize that we just walked through all the necessary elements of a prescribed burn plan? Put forethought into why you think fire is appropriate for your land Identify legitimate goals for conducting fire Consider appropriate timing of actions Think about jurisdictions, neighbors Consider appropriate smoke management Identify resources needed

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