Fuels Planning: Science Synthesis
and Integration
Forest Structure and Fire Hazard
Dave Peterson & Morris Johnson
PNW Research Station
Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Lab
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
Objectives
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Synthesize and publish scientific knowledge and
principles about how modifications of forest
structure affect fire hazard and fire behavior.
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Develop quantitative guidelines for how
silvicultural prescriptions affect fire hazard and
fire behavior – guide for representative forest
types of the western U.S.
Application: Assist the NEPA process, planning, and
decision making primarily at the scale of forest
stands.
Linkage: Provide input for economic and ecological
analyses.
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
Representative Stands
• Selected Forest Types
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Ponderosa Pine
Mixed Conifer
Pinyon-Juniper
Lodgepole Pine
• Stand Exams
• FIA FVS Ready
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
Silvicultural Treatments
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No action
Thin from below < 9 inches DBH
Thin from below to target stand density
Thin to target stand density proportional
Thin from below to fire resilient conditions
– 75th percentile fire weather
– 98th percentile fire weather
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
Surface Fuel Treatments
• No Surface Fuel Treatment
• Whole Tree Harvest
• Target Residual Surface Fuels
(mechanical and/or fire)
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
Example Stand
Treatment 1
Stand 060101019710380
No Surface Treatment
Treatment 2
Whole Tree Harvest
Treatment 3
Treatment 4a
Treatment 4b
Target Residual
Surface Fuels
(mechanical and/or
fire)
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
Analysis Tools
• Forest Vegetation
Simulator-Fire and
Fuels Extension
(FVS-FFE)
• Fuel Characteristic
Classification System
(FCCS)
• EnVision Software
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
Fuel Treatment Guidebook
Modifying Forest Structure to Reduce Fire
Hazard: A Guidebook for NEPA Analysis
• Qualitative
– Pre & Post Treatment EnVision Images
• Quantitative
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Stand Attributes
Fuel Loadings
Flame Length
Torching Index
Type of Fire
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
Initial Stand Condition
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
Thin from below <9 inches DBH
Thin to target stand density proportionally
Thin from below to target stand density
Thin from below to fire resilient conditions
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
Guidebook outputs
Forest stand data
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Trees per acre
QMD
Basal area
Stand density index
Volume (incl. merchantable)
Crown closure
Crown competition factor
Canopy base height
Canopy bulk density
Projected 50 years forward in time at 5-year increments
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
Guidebook outputs
Fuelbed and fire behavior data
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Surface fuel loadings (0-3 in., 3-6 in., litter, duff)
Flame length
Torching index
Crowning index
Fire type (surface, passive & active crown fire)
Potential tree (basal area) mortality
FCCS fire potential
Projected 50 years forward in time at 5-year
increments
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
Cooperative work: PNW – R6 – SORO
Overarching objective
• Provide the scientific basis and technical support to strategic
plans for fuel/vegetation treatments on national forests.
• Assist planning for spatial and temporal pattern of treatments.
Scientific approach and products
Scientific and technical support will focus on:
• Developing a decision process for planning fuel/vegetation
treatments.
• Improving the quality of fuel/vegetation data bases of national
forest landscapes à fuels mapping.
• Developing a long-term monitoring approach for documenting
and evaluating fuel/vegetation treatments.
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.
THANK YOU!
Dave Peterson
peterson@fs.fed.us
206.732.7812
http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/fera
Disclaimer: The views in this report (presentation) are these of the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of the Forest Service.