Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2011; Southern Great Lakes Area (INDU, LIBO, SLBE, & CUVA)
Fisher-Dunham M and Weyenberg S. Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2011; Southern Great Lakes Area (INDU, LIBO, SLBE, & CUVA)
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). This was the 14th year of the fire effects program at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU). This year’s staff included one permanent and three seasonal positions. The crew is responsible for the monitoring at INDU and two other parks: Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial (LIBO) and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SLBE). With a fire program soon to be initiated at Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CUVA), the fire effects program will be adding this park to its monitoring responsibilities.At INDU, 10 prescribed burns were completed; six in the spring and four in the fall. No burns were completed at LIBO and CUVA. Piles were burned at SLBE. In late August, the INDU staff visited St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (SACN) to assist with sampling of four burn units. The crew’s arrival unexpectedly coincided with the birth of the Ecologist’s first child! Fortunately, park employees were able to assist the crew with directions and boat transportation.