Effects of multiple intense disturbances at Manley Woods, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
Leis S and James K. 2008. Effects of multiple intense disturbances at Manley Woods, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2008/123. Natural Resource Program Center. Fort Collins
In 2003, a tornado struck the Manley Woods area of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield (WICR) affecting 60 ha. The affected area included long-term monitoring sites sampled in three years both prior to and post-tornado. In the post tornado years, three additional notable disturbances occurred, but each disturbance differentially affected each of the sites. Increased fuel loads resulting from the tornado damage caused concern for elevated wildfire risk, so park staff made plans to reduce fuel loads. In 2005, a contractor removed salvageable timber from Manley Woods and the following year a prescribed fire was completed. In 2007, however, a January ice storm further affected communities in Manley Woods. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the fuels reduction activities and to describe the composition of overstory and understory plant communities currently inhabiting Manley Woods.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Leis, Sherry; James, Kevin
- Date of Issue
- 2008-11
- Publisher
- Natural Resource Program Center
- Units
- HTLN , NRSS , WICR
- Keywords
- Burning, FIRE, Fire Ecology Monitoring, Fire ecology monitoring reports, Fuel, HTLN, HTLN Fire Ecology Monitoring, Prescribed Fire, Restoration, woodland
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Forest/Woodland Communities , Ecological Framework: Landscapes | Fire and Fuel Dynamics | Fire and Fuel Dynamics