Fire Ecology Program, 2004 Annual Monitoring Report: Yosemite National Park

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). The 2004 season for the Yosemite Fire Ecology program was characterized by many challenges including vacant positions, odd weather and policy constraints. It was an average year for acres treated in Yosemite with 365 acres of prescribed burns, 350 acres of mechanical treatments, 5633 acres burned in 7 WFU (Wildland Fire Use) and 2300 acres in human caused Wildland Fire. Though fewer acres were treated than in more recent years, the amount of work required to monitor the effects of these various treatments remains enormously challenging. With the dedication and skill of the 2004 Yosemite Fire Ecology staff, nearly all planned plot rereads and installations were completed. The effects of fire and thinning were monitored according to 8 different protocols in 9 different vegetation types. Thirty three FMH plots, 63 Rapid Assessment plots, 64 Retro plots, 58 CBI burn severity plots, 30 “Jan’s plots”, 28 Sugar Pine Mortality plots, 15 Sugar Pine trees affected by fire retardant and 4 (each includes 20 subplots) 1911 transects were installed or reread for a total of 280 plot reads (excluding the sugar pine retardant trees).