Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2007; Saguaro National Park

Grissom, Perry

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). Fire ecology staff for 2007 consisted of James Leckie, Lead Fire Effects Monitor, and Perry Grissom. It was another slow fire season, and for the second straight year only two wildfires burned about 8 acres on Saguaro NP. The area has been in a drought for over 6 years, and it was dry early in the year. There was the potential for a very active fire season, but when the monsoon came, it was wet, but without the flooding of 2006. Due to drought early in the season, and green, wet conditions later, the Saddle prescribed burn was postponed to 2008. With two wet summers, the lower elevations of the burn unit now have a major grass crop, where there had been little previously. The Record of Decision for SAGU’s Fire Management Plan was published Friday, July 13, 2007, allowing Wildland Fire Use again. The two wildfires of the year started prior to this (July 6 and 11) and were suppressed. Invasive plants took up an increasing amount of time.

Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2007; Saguaro National Park

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