Northeast Region, Fire Ecology Annual Report: 2009
Author unknown. Northeast Region, Fire Ecology Annual Report: 2009
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 Northeast Region underwent a National Fire Management Program review in May with positive feedback for the Fire Ecology and Monitoring Program. The Northeast Region Fire Effects Monitoring Crew measured over 150 monitoring plots (63 FMH, 14 CBI, 79 other) during the summer at eight National Parks units throughout the Northeast. Fire Ecology, working in conjunction with Shenandoah Natural Resources, has begun laying the groundwork to define desired future conditions for vegetation within Shenandoah National Park. Meetings began in late 2009 with a facilitator contracted from Pennsylvania State University to expedite this process. To improve the working relationship between Fire Management and Natural Resources, the two divisions collaboratively developed a draft Fire Resource Advisor plan.In recent months, Shenandoah Fire was awarded a $30,500 research request grant to develop a fuels map for Shenandoah National Park. This will provide much needed spatial fuels data to numerous recently introduced fire software programs. Other major accomplishments include filling the Fire Ecologist position, teaching S-190 to 70+ Americorps students and conducting the first prescribed burn at two parks, Assateague Island National Seashore and Appomattox Courthouse NHP.