Barrens to Bayous Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2015

Burton, Jesse; Fields, Carol

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 two past years, the fire effects crew worked hard to prioritize monitoring needs and establish pre-burn data for developing parks within the monitoring network. In addition to fire and vegetation monitoring at CUIS, GUIS, HOBE, LIRI, MACA, NATR, SHIL, and STRI, the crew also assisted with the implementation of Rx fire within BICY, BISO, CONG, LIRI, NATR, STRI, and SHIL. The fire effects crew assisted with well over 20 prescribed fires throughout the Southern Area (NPS, BIA, FWS, and USFS), providing operational support as FFT2, FFT1, ATVO, READ, FIRB(T), ENOP, ICT5, and FEMO. The Barrens to Bayous crew installed a forest plot at the neighboring Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge in 2014, with more planned as time allows. One important highlight for the 2014 season was the founding of an NPS fire monitoring program at Cumberland Island National Seashore. Eight monitoring plots were installed in August 2014, with the generous support of the Mountains-to-the-Sea and Everglades FX modules. The crew also installed and read 4 new FMH plots at Shiloh National Military Park in Tennessee prior to first-entry spring burns in 2014 and 2015. Even with restricted travel, budget stagnation, and minimal staffing, the crew read 69 long-term vegetation plots in 2014 and 65 in 2015. As always, the entire crew was actively involved with local wildfires, serving in the roles of FFT2, FFT1, FAL3, and ICT5. During the 2014 wildfire season, Fields served as a HECM and as a READ at YOSE and the King Fire. Burton also covered some ground as a Squad Boss on a hand crew at the King Fire. In 2015, Fields supported Big Cypress National Preserve on a HECM detail and as a READ on the Mud Lake Complex. Burton is now working with the Southern Area Red Incident Management Team as a GISS trainee. In 2014, all members of the crew taught segments of S130/190 and S-212 courses for AmeriCorps volunteers. Jennifer Falkey was the crew coordinator for the fire AmeriCorps crew. Jesse Burton presented information regarding fire ecology and endangered species management at the MidSouth Fire Tour at Stones River National Battlefield. Carol Fields discussed FMH data collection methodology at the Fire Tour. Additionally, Burton presented fire monitoring results and lead a tour at the 2014 Fire and Bat Workshop at Mammoth Cave National Park. Burton also led discussions and presented at local Mississippi Fire on the Forty extension programs. In the spring of 2014, Falkey accepted a position as a Resource Management Specialist with the US Forest Service, and Will Hilton accepted a position as a Fuels Technician for the Mississippi River Fire Management Zone. Anna Ramthun was hired as a seasonal fire effects monitor in the fall of 2015. She assisted with a multitude of prescribed fires and suppression fires in addition to monitoring duties.

Barrens to Bayous Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2015

See also