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RESEARCH & MONITORING:
PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL FIRE PLAN
Monitoring the Response of Native Species Seeded in
Postfire Treatments on the Fishlake National Forest, South-Central Utah
(Submitted by Bob Campbell, Ecologist, Fishlake NF November 10, 2001)
Problem Statement
USDA Forest Service guidelines strongly encourage that native species be used in revegetation projects whenever practical (Robichaud et al. 2000). In fact, some agency documents now require the sole use of native species for seeding treatments. Four wildfires occurred on the Fishlake National Forest during the summer of 2000 that resulted in Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) reports and a variety of treatments including aerial seeding (Fishlake National Forest 2000a, 2000b).
| Fire |
Mountain Range |
NFS Acres Burned |
NFS Acres Seeded |
| Morning Dove |
Canyon Mountains |
11,340 |
2,460 |
| Oldroyd |
Monroe Mountain |
1,149 |
168 |
| Swains |
Pahvant Range |
3,140 |
1,489 |
| Yance Canyon |
Canyon Mountains |
414 |
120 |
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Broad elevation and moisture gradients are represented among these four burned areas. Cover types range from sage/grass/forb with juniper (5,200 feet) to aspen and spruce/subalpine fir (near 10,200 feet). The seed mixes included native grasses and introduced grasses and forbs.
| Fire |
Seed Mix Design |
No. of Native Species |
No. of Introduced Species |
| Morning Dove |
Low Elev (<16" pcpt) |
4 |
4 |
| |
Mid Elev (16-20" pcpt) |
2 |
5 |
| |
High Elev (>20" pcpt) |
2 |
4 |
| Oldroyd |
High Elev (>24" pcpt) |
2 |
5 |
| Swains |
Mid Elev (20-24" pcpt) |
2 |
5 |
| |
High Elev (24-28" pcpt) |
2 |
5 |
| Yance Canyon |
High Elev (>20" pcpt) |
2 |
4 |
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Preliminary evaluations of these four areas during the summer of 2001 indicated that none of the seedings were considered effective. However, Robichaud et al. (2000) states that major benefits of seedings are often not apparent until the second year after the fire. We desire to know the response of the seeded species, particularly that of the native species, which were used in the BAER treatments for these burned areas. This monitoring is a key step in the adaptive management cycle for our future BAER treatments.
Proposal
We propose to monitor the response of seeded species in BAER treatments completed on the Fishlake National Forest during late summer and fall 2000. We will hire an individual to conduct this project who preferably is working on an MS degree. A second individual will also be hired to assist in the fieldwork. The monitoring protocol will be adapted from Stickney and Campbell (2000) to use the 0.5 x 0.5 m frequency/cover plots along 25 m transects. Transects may be randomly selected rather than permanently established. An alternate method approved by the major professor of the graduate student who will work on the project would also be acceptable. The first year will require more time in the field for study area selection and transect location. The second year will require more time for additional data analysis and report preparation.
Plan of Work
Data will be gathered from the two larger fires, Mourning Dove and Swains, and include areas seeded with each of the five seed mixes. The two smaller fires, Oldroyd and Yance Canyon, will be limited to supplemental data and supporting observations.
| Year |
Item or Expense |
Budget |
| FY 2002 |
GS-5/7 (5pp) ($1,400/pp) |
$7,000 |
| |
GS-3/4 (4pp) ($900/pp) |
3,600 |
| |
Vehicle (2 mo at $600/mo include miles |
1,200 |
| |
Equipment and Supplies |
500 |
| |
Report Preparation |
400 |
| |
Per diem (Camp rate 3 weeks x 100 x 2) |
600 |
| |
Total |
$13,3000 |
| FY 2003 |
GS-5/7 (4pp) ($1,500/pp) |
$6,000 |
| |
GS-3/4 (3pp) ($1,000/pp) |
3,000 |
| |
Vehicle (2 mo at $700/mo include miles) |
1,400 |
| |
Equipment and Supplies |
200 |
| |
Report Preparation |
700 |
| |
Per diem (Camp rate 2 weeks x 100 x 2) |
400 |
| |
Total |
$11,700 |
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2-year TOTAL |
$25,000 |
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The evaluation of the seeding treatments could be extended for subsequent years with additional funding.
References
Fishlake National Forest. 2000a. Unwanted wildland fire: Oldroyd Complex initial BAER reports for Mourning Dove, Yance Canyon, and Oldroyd fires. Richfield, Utah.
Fishlake National Forest. 2000b. Unwanted wildland fire: initial BAER report for Swains fire. Richfield, Utah.
Robichaud, Peter R., Jan L. Beyers, and Daniel G. Neary. 2000. Evaluating the effectiveness of postfire rehabilitation treatments. RMRM-GTR-63. Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, Colorado. 85 p.
Stickney, Peter F., and Robert B. Campbell, Jr. 2000. Database for early postfire succession in Northern Rocky Mountain Forests. RMRS-GTR-61-CD. Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, Colorado. (This electronic publication may be accessed at
www.fs.fed.us/rm and then go to RMRS-GTR-61CD.)
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