Ozark Highlands Cluster, Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2009

Author unknown

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). FY 2009 was a very successful year for the Ozark Highlands fire ecology program. The highlight of the year was Lead Monitor, Erin Yeoman, being awarded a Quality Step Increase for her outstanding contribution to the NPS fire programs in Missouri and Arkansas. Erin made huge contributions to every aspect of the OZAR fire program, necessitated by several of the permanent positions being vacant. Erin’ contributions helped set the stage for the Missouri fire crew setting a record for the largest number of acres they had ever burned, despite having several vacant full-time positions. Erin’s ability to multi-task, her in-depth knowledge of the complete fire program, and her eagerness to help wherever needed were all factors contributing to the success of the 2009 fire season. One of the seasonal biological science technician positions was upgraded to an Assistant Lead Fire Effects Monitor. Angela Sokolowski earned the job and the promotion. She brought a great deal of additional knowledge to the crew and is enthusiastically learning Ozark flora. Angela made a huge contribution towards customizing a MO. Dept. of Conservation Botany Training Manual for use by our crew. Dan Drees got the privilege of replacing Dan Swanson as the fire ecologist. Drees is in his dream job and dream location. His knowledge of tall larkspur (Delphinium exaltatum) helped the crew find this globally-rare wildflower in a burn unit at Ozark National Scenic Riverways (OZAR). The 2,481 plants inventoried by the crew is the largest population ever discovered in a prescribed burn unit. Since tall larkspur is dependent on fire for its long term survival, the crew hopes to develop monitoring protocols to track OZAR populations. Drees and Cody Wienk wrote a Fire Success Story about the tall larkspur and got it widely distributed. Drees and Wienk also collaborated with Dr. Alan Templeton to write a Fire Success Story on the expansion of the state-listed collared lizards at OZAR. OZAR fire staff worked closely with the MO. Dept. of Conservation and The Nature Conservancy to get 5,000 contiguous acres burned in 2009 that is in an area with some of the best remaining habitat for collared lizards in Missouri. The lizards responded by continuing to re-colonize glades that were opened up by the prescribed fires. 2 This year the monitoring crew consisted of three seasonal biological science techs. Everyone did an excellent job and was critical to our program’s accomplishing all of our fire effects plot work. Erin, with some help from Dan, read 12 immediate postburn plots at OZAR and 24 fuel lines in the spring. Erin and Angela read 3 immediate postburn plots at Buffalo NR (BUFF) and 1at Hot Springs NP (HOSP). The fire effects monitoring crew reread 32 FMH plots at Ozark NSR, Buffalo NR, Pea Ridge NMP, and Hot Springs NP. During a glade read at BUFF, crewmember Emily Baker discovered Nuttall’s pleatleaf iris (Nemastylis nuttallii), a state-listed fire-dependent plant of conservation concern. Due to the limited amount of out-of-state summer fires, Erin was the only crewmember who went out-of-state on a wildfire assignment. Erin deployed to Alaska in August as a Task Force Leader Trainee on the 630,000+ acre Rex Creek Complex. Dan worked closely with Dr. Lynn Robbins who was under contract with OZAR to start an assessment of Indiana bat activity in the park during the Spring, Summer, and Fall. There is a desire to know