Alaska Region Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2005
Barnes J. 2005. Alaska Region Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2005
A summary of fire ecology activities and program information for the Park/network including fire effects plot workload, staffing, management objectives and monitoring results, and planning, fire monitoring, communications, and research. Also included are staff accomplishments/areas of focus, future program direction and other optional information (e.g. data analysis graphics or presentations, annual highlights, publications, program challenges, unique solutions to problems, collaboration, photographs of monitoring/fire activities, and suggestions on FFI). The purpose of the National Park Service Alaska Region Fire Ecology program is to provide effective evaluation of Alaska park lands’ fire management program and understand the ecological effects of fire on the landscape, as well as to document any unexpected consequences of wildland fire occurrences. The objectives of the program are to obtain baseline data on the natural variability of fire on the landscape, to monitor the effects of fire or fuels treatments on vegetation, fuels, soil and wildlife habitat, and to provide fire ecology information to fire managers, other park staff, and the public. The fire ecology program for the NPS Alaska Region was initiated in the fall of 2002. Since that time several fire effects and fuels monitoring projects have been initiated and some completed (Appendix 1). The development, implementation and analyses of these projects are primarily the responsibility of the regional fire ecologist. This includes protocol development, compliance, database management, field instruction and field work. Accomplishments this year included the establishment of 40 wildland fire effects plots (Denali NP) and 42 mechanical treatment plots (YUCH), re-measurement of 26 mechanical treatment plots (DENA) (figure 1), 12 wildland fire effects plot (YUCH and NOAT), and 11 historic fire effects plots (YUCH and NOAT). The AK Eastern Area NPS fire management area coordinated the re-measurement and analysis of fire effects plots with the Eagle school. A poster for the Eagle School plots was developed and a success story about the Denali hazard fuels monitoring was written. In addition to program development and monitoring, the regional fire ecologist is involved in 9 NPS and Interagency committees and task groups. Other work has included, reviewing Fire Management Plans, ID team member on EA’s, assisting with Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams, and collaborating on Joint Fire Science Program proposals.