Fire Ecology Annual Report for Ozark Highlands Group: Calendar Year 2012
Author unknown. Fire Ecology Annual Report for Ozark Highlands Group: Calendar Year 2012
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 highlight of the Ozark Highlands fire effects 2012 season was being able to replace our vacant Lead Monitor position. The fact that our Assistant Lead Monitor, Angela Sokolowski, was the most qualified applicant gave Angela a promotion that she deserved, but it resulted in the Assistant Lead Monitor subject-to-furlough position being held vacant due to budget reductions. The seasonal Fire Effects Monitoring (FEMO) crew was also affected by budget cuts. One position was left vacant and two positions had reduced payperiods compared to previous years. In addition to the challenges of being short-staffed, 2012 was a recoding-breaking hot and dry summer in the Ozarks. The brutally enduring heat and drought were the low point of 2012. The physical stress of the summer was compounded by the summer-long lack of anything approaching a normal size crew or routine. Frequently we fielded a crew of two. The Lead Monitor, 2 seasonals, and myself, rotated out on 4 different deployments. Additionally, we lost 2 weeks of plot reads to local wildfire severity patrols. Despite the challenges of a summer where no routine could be established, the FEMO crew maintained a superb positive mental attitude. They were also grateful for the experiences of being integrated into a wide variety of important operations.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Author unknown
- Units
- BUFF , FIEC , HOSP , OZAR , PERI
- Keywords
- FFI, Fire Effects, Fuels, Monitoring
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Landscapes | Fire and Fuel Dynamics | Fire and Fuel Dynamics