Annual Report, 2013: Southern Appalachian/Piedmont Fire Effects Monitoring
Author unknown. Annual Report, 2013: Southern Appalachian/Piedmont Fire Effects Monitoring
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 Southern Appalachian/Piedmont fire-effects team conducted short and long-term monitoring at six NPS units during 2013 (Table 1), and supported prescribed burning operations at five parks. The annual total for plots completed was 54, representing a 64% decrease in productivity from CY2012, and a substantial reduction from our running average. The decrease in production was directly related to budget reductions for the NPS Hazard Fuels Management (HFM) Program. These budget cuts resulted in fewer prescribed burns, fewer payperiods for our subject-to-furlough staff, and a reduction of our funding for summer travel. Travel restrictions at our home park and the shutdown of the Federal Government also contributed to our inability to complete scheduled monitoring at network parks.