Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2011; Northern Great Lake Area Parks (VOYA, SACN, GRPO, ISRO, APIS)

Weyenberg, Scott

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). Three burns were conducted this past year at St. Croix Scenic Riverway (SACN) for approximately 160 acres. The burns were conducted in tallgrass prairie and oak savanna. The fire ecologist served as a firing boss trainee on two of the burns. Two wildfires occurred within the Riverway boundary; both were small and quickly extinguished by the Wisconsin DNR. On July 1st northwest WI experienced a significant windthrow event, which affected part of the Riverway. Approximately 300,000 acres of forest was affected from east-central Minnesota through northwest Wisconsin. Park Service Fire Management and the MN and WI DNR are making preparations for a potentially active spring fire season. One burn was completed at Voyageurs National Park (VOYA) for six acres; limited funding precluded the implementation of other burns at the park. Voyageurs also managed a 300 acre wildfire from August through November. The Upper Great Lakes program hired one fire effects monitor for 6 pay periods to assist with monitoring at VOYA and SACN. The Indiana Dunes (INDU) fire effects crew also assisted with monitoring at SACN in late August.

Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2011; Northern Great Lake Area Parks (VOYA, SACN, GRPO, ISRO, APIS)

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