Teton Interagency Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2010

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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 Teton Interagency Fire Ecology program includes the Fire Effects Crew, Fire Ecologist, Prescribed Fire Technician, Fuels Specialist, Fire Planner, and Fuels AFMOs from the three zones of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Together this group supports Teton Interagency Fire with an “adaptive management loop” that uses a variety of treatment methods, assessments of effectiveness, and science-based information. Fire effects monitoring is done on an individual project basis, with a menu of protocols that relate to specific stated objectives. Each project’s monitoring protocols and results are tracked over time, and individual reports are written and presented to the responsible burn bosses and FMOs. In the case of prescribed fires, during-burn weather and fire behavior observations are compared to vegetation and fuels effects to help tweak prescriptions for the future. In 2010, the fire effects monitoring program incorporated a new weed mapping and monitoring protocol that will be incorporated into all new projects at Grand Teton National Park. It made its debut at the Phelps Moraine prescribed burn, with help from the Grand Teton Exotic Plants crew, Engine 4, the fuels crew, and the GIS office. Unfortunately, a large and widespread infestation of St. John’s wort was discovered, which derailed the full implementation of the burn. While this is a setback for the fuels program, we may have averted a serious weed problem. The burn must be delayed until St. John’s wort is curtailed. With the departure of Kristen Shive for graduate school in November of 2009, Teton Interagency Fire made the decision to adopt a permanent GS6/7 crew lead, in order to provide continuity to the program. Hiring was delayed until summer, unfortunately, which left the fire effects crew without leadership for the field season. Two detailers from Grand Canyon National Park, Li Brannfors and Jasper Peach, generously travelled to the Tetons to fill in during the season’s most hectic period during June and July. The detail was quite successful and fostered valuable idea-sharing that will hopefully help both programs. In the fall of 2010, Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest met to renew the operating agreement that allows interagency crews and resource sharing to happen. At this time, the forest agreed to continue to fund half of the Lead Fire Effects Monitor salary as well as one of the seasonal crew members. USFS fire managers were very enthusiastic and supportive of the services the fire effects crew provides. With a permanent crew lead in place, Fire Ecologist Diane Abendroth will be able to devote more time to interagency planning and scientific investigations. She will spend 50% of her time working for each agency.

Teton Interagency Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2010

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