Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2011; Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Devils Postpile National Monument

Caprio, Anthony

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). One of the most significant changes to the Fire Ecology Program in the last 15 years occurred in 2011. In response to expected budget reductions SEKI’s fire effects program (Resources Management) and fire monitoring program (Fire Management) were merged with reduced crew size and a single Lead and Assistant Lead. Major activities for the year involved “fire effects” (FMH) and “rapid assessment” (RAP) plot sampling, data analysis, and operational fire support. The late snowmelt in May/June delayed the start of field work by 4-5 weeks at mid-to-upper elevation sites. Burns that fire ecology staff were involved with included the Hole-in-the-Wall, Redwood Mtn., Huckleberry, Round Meadow, Nature Trail, and Swale East “prescribed burns” (Rx) and the Lion Wildfire. Considerable effort went in to the successful implementation of the Redwood Mt. Rx where there were special resource concerns related to thickets of giant sequoia regeneration. A major update to all SEKI fuels data was completed using custom fuel constants based on proportional species basal area within each plot. This update was part of an overall update to fuels for burn planning and reporting. Additionally, staff collaborated on several manuscripts that address fire and natural resource issues, with some utilizing long-term fire ecology data sets. During the year significant time was invested by the fire ecologist on SEKI’s Resources Management Division Natural Resources Condition Assessment (NRCA) and Fire Management Scenario Planning Project, as a member of the SEKI Fire Management Committee, which included a review of the Round Meadow Rx Plan, and on input to park compliance. Time was also committed as the federal representative for a Joint Fire Science (JFS) project and to SIEN Inventory and Monitoring Program. Also, of note for 2011 was the adoption by the USDA Forest Service of a modified “fire return interval departure” (FRID) analysis, developed within the SEKI fire ecology program, statewide across California.

Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2011; Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Devils Postpile National Monument

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