Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2013; South Cascades Network

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). Much of 2013 was spent dealing with the 2012 Reading Fire in LAVO. This involved much post-fire monitoring and assessment. This included water quality monitoring, FMH, research with Penn St, field trips and presentations, continuation of post-fire browse research with exclosures, accuracy assessment of mapping, and developing several fire risk and hazard assessment models to address issues post-fire reviews. Additional work included maintenance of FMH protocols within network parks, finalizing preproject monitoring networks for the pilot Northwest Gateway silvicuture project, and active involvement in several ongoing research projects in the network with collaborators. There was no fire effects crew in 2013 so the FEMO had to work with a variety of ancillary personnel from network and PWR parks. We supported several incidents in 2013, including the Rim Fire (onsite and from afar), dozens of suppression fires in the network, and three US Forest Service fires. We served in varying roles ranging from Resource Adviser to firefighter to engine members to WFDSS planning and analysis. In addition, we worked closely with resource management staff from the network to help plan and monitor vegetation and fire related projects.