An Evaluation of Whiskeytown's Shaded Fuelbreaks
Gibson J. 2002. An Evaluation of Whiskeytown's Shaded Fuelbreaks
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has implemented a progressive and ambitious fuels management program that protects high value areas through a multi-faceted approach. As a portion of this program, the park is proposing a six year construction and maintenance schedule of 1,940 acres of shaded fuelbreaks. The combination of fire and ground disturbing activities associated with the construction and maintenance of these fuelbreaks may create conditions favorable to the invasion of non-native plant species. As most public agencies have discovered, there is a lack of information on how to minimize the spread of non-native species while simultaneously reducing hazardous fuels. This project is a preliminary examination of the effects of shaded fuelbreaks on vegetation, and evaluation of what structural characteristics minimize the introduction and spread of non-native plant species. From the data that collected in 2001 and 2002, we found that canopy cover, the percent cover of littler, and litter depth were the most important variables for distinguishing 'desirable' and 'undesirable' conditions on the park’s shaded fuelbreaks. The location and age of the fuelbreak also played a role in the presence of non-native plant species, however, their relative importance could not be determined by this preliminary evaluation.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Gibson, Jennifer
- Date of Issue
- 2002
- Units
- WHIS
- Keywords
- Distribution (Biodiversity), Disturbance, Evaluation, Exotic Species, Fire Management, fuelbreak, Fuels, Invasive Species, Non-Native Species, Presence (Biodiversity), Report, shaded fuelbreaks, Taxa Links To References