Key Question #2: How are riparian systems affected by wildfire, particularly where fire has been excluded? Can we manage riparian areas to achieve RMOs? Study and Sampling Design: These studies will provide ecological data for riparian areas and RMOs, riverine and non-riverine aquatic habitat, and biotic components (i.e., amphibians and macroinvertebrates) among the following situations: burned (wildfire and prescribed burns) burned with post-fire riparian salvage logging unburned conditions under natural and less than natural fire frequency Amphibian population parameters that will be evaluated under burned and unburned riparian conditions include species composition, distribution, reproduction, abundance, and survival in streams, ponds, and springs. Aquatic and riparian amphibian habitat components and macroinvertebrate taxa will also be measured. P71 will focus on post-wildfire areas with different fire histories and areas planned for prescribed burning. P## addresses post-burn data collection in wildfire areas with different burn severities and amount of area burned for which there is pre-burn data, as well as pre- and post-prescribed burning data. Riparian and LWD relationships in ponderosa pine under different riparian fire scenarios (fire exclusion, post-wildfire, and pre- and post-prescribed burning) will be evaluated for P53. Data will be collected at approximately 11 streams that exhibit various deviations from natural fire regimes to determine riparian tree structure and composition, instream LWD characteristics, and channel structure. P33 involves data analysis for two control and two harvested (post-fire riparian salvage) stream reaches on Hand Creek. Data were collected for various fish habitat variables before and after harvest. RMOs addressed by these studies include LWD, temperature, pool frequency, width-to-depth ratio, bank stability, and undercut banks. Table 1 shows the study area and planned accomplishments by fiscal year for each study. Table 1.  Study Areas and Accomplishment Timeframe Study Study Area FY2001 FY2002 FY2003 FY2004 P33 (Effects of post-fire riparian salvage logging on fish habitat) Flathead National Forest, Montana Data compilation and analysis N/A N/A N/A P53 (Riparian forest and LWD relationships in burned and unburned riparian) South Fork Salmon R, Big Creek (Idaho) Study design review, additional site selection, field sampling, analysis Field sampling, analysis Field sampling, analysis Field sampling, analysis P71 (Fire effects on non-riverine habitats and amphibians) Sawtooth NF (Idaho), Fishlake NF (Utah), Humboldt-Toiyabe (NV) Study design, data compilation, site selection, field sampling, analysis Field sampling, analysis Field sampling, analysis Analysis and publication P## (Fire effects on amphibians and aquatic habitats) South Fork Salmon R, Big Creek (Idaho) Field sampling, analysis Field sampling, analysis Field sampling, analysis N/A Process for Field Collection of Data: Principal investigators will coordinate crews to maximize data collection efficiency. For example, common needs occur for riparian vegetation, and data collection will often be at the same locations for several of the projects, enabling crew and data sharing. Data collection for P33 has already been accomplished, and P53 and P## have already conducted two years of data collection. Field supervisors for all projects are already employed by the Forest Service, enabling close coordination and cost savings. Additionally, many cooperators are already in place, allowing for further combining of resources and support. The following table lists an estimated field schedule for data collection by study and fiscal year. Table 2.  Field Data Collection Schedule Study FY2001 FY2002 FY2003 FY2004 P33 (Effects of post-fire riparian salvage logging on fish habitat)* N/A N/A N/A N/A P53 (Riparian forest and LWD relationships in burned and unburned riparian) Sample 2 unburned (fire-excluded) streams Sample 1 unburned, 2 burned (wildland fire) streams Sample 2 burned (post prescribed fire), 2 unburned (control) streams Sample 2 burned (wildland fire) streams P71 (Fire effects on non-riverine habitats and amphibians) Sample 24 - 28 sites Sample 24 - 28 sites Sample 24 - 28 sites N/A P## (Fire effects on amphibians and aquatic habitats) Sample 6 streams for prescribed fire (3 burned, 3 unburned), 12 for wildland fire (6 burned, 6 unburned), and 10-20 ponds for wildland fire Sample 6 streams for prescribed fire (3 burned, 3 unburned), 12 for wildland fire (6 burned, 6 unburned), and 10-20 ponds for wildland fire Sample 6 streams for prescribed fire (3 burned, 3 unburned), 12 for wildland fire (6 burned, 6 unburned), and 10-20 ponds for wildland fire N/A *P33 field data collection already completed; funding is for data analysis and reports Data Analysis: Basic descriptive statistics will be calculated and summarized for all physical and biological parameters. Statistical analyses will be made for all aspects of the study using appropriate mixed, GLM (general linear model), or ANOVA procedures from SPSS statistical packages. Treatment differences and means comparison tests will be accepted at P < 0.05. Products and Technology Transfer: These studies will provide R1/R4 National Forests with basic biological and physical riparian characteristics and relationships to assist in development of management strategies and objectives, assist in effects analysis for NEPA and consultation, provide information for decision support, and help define monitoring indicators and procedures, including key RMOs related to species and their habitats. Products will include annual progress reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, general technical reports and databases for R1/R4 field units, presentations for annual R1/R4 natural resource specialists, regional workshops for dissemination of information, and procedures, technical tools, and databases. Current study information will be maintained on websites, and partners and interested/affected users will be updated with the latest study information. Species information (e.g. taxa and distribution) will be distributed to Natural Heritage, NMFS and USFWS. Study design and results will be coordinated with other R1/R4 Fire Monitoring and/or Adaptive Management Studies. Estimated Total Costs (overhead part of total): P33 - Effects of post-fire riparian salvage logging on fish habitat -- Beth Gardner/Mike Young - $11,700 ( $1,404) P53 - Riparian forest and LWD relationships in burned and unburned riparian -- Wollrab and Overton - $197,161 ($23,659) P71 - Fire effects on non-riverine habitats and amphibians - Lampman - $225,000 ($27,000) P## - Fire effects on amphibians and their aquatic habitats - Pilliod- $142,139 ($21,321) TOTAL = $ 576,000 Expanded Budget Request: P53 - Riparian forest and LWD relationships in burned and unburned riparian -- Wollrab and Overton - additional $40,646 for a total project cost of $237,807(1) P71 - Fire effects on non-riverine habitats and amphibians - Lampman - additional $100,000 for a total project cost of $325,000(2) P## - Fire effects on amphibians and their aquatic habitats - Pilliod - additional $53,557 for a total project cost of $195,696(3) Riparian vegetation characterization to support and augment above proposals -- Saab and Wollrab - $88,292(4) Expanded Total = $ 282,495 Basic + Expanded Total = $ 858,495 (1)Adds 3 streams (2 burned and 1 unburned) for expansion to wildfire (2)Adds an additional geographic area - Custer Grasslands (Montana) and contract for analysis and report. (3)Adds expansion to R1 (Bitterroot Mountains) - 12 streams (6 burned, 6 unburned) (4) This would augment P53, P71 and P## for the monitoring of riparian vegetation by including measurements of downed woody debris, herbaceous ground cover, shrub densities, and aquatic invertebrates to understand fire effects and habitat relationships of Idaho giant salamander, long-tailed salamander, and ground-nesting riparian birds. (Expanded Request was not approved by the Steering Group. - 4-6/01)

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