Arizona Wildfires: The effects on trails
and how to begin
Mitigation and
Reconstruction
Presentation Outline
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AZ Wildfire History
Trails in Arizona
Impacts to Trails from Wildfires
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Measures
AZ Wildfire History
• Wildfires were once common in Arizona
– The historic natural fire regimes were:
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Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands = every 10-30 years
Ponderosa Pine Communities = every 2-10 years
Mix-Conifer Forests = every 5-25 years
Spruce-Fir Forests = 150+ years
• Type and intensity of historic wildfires
– Frequent, low-intensity surface fires
– Fire-dependent ecosystems
AZ Wildfire History
• What’s changed AZ’s natural fire regime?
– Arrival of Anglo-Americans:
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Roads and trails broke up forest fuels continuity
Livestock grazing / Logging
Fire suppression by land management agencies
Climatic Differences (Drought) / Global Warming
• Subsequent affects to the land and wildfires
• Altered forest composition and structure
• Greater build-up of organic materials (fuels)
• Larger, more intense catastrophic wildfires
SOUTHWEST COORDINATION CENTER
YEAR-TO-DATE FIRES & ACRES
Avg. ~191,000 ac. / yr
Human
Human
Lightning
Lightning
Caused
Caused
Caused
Caused
TOTAL
TOTAL
Fires
Acres
Fires
Acres
FIRES
ACRES
(based on 1990-2005)
ARIZONA
As of 9/11/2007
2007
1,055
23,010
871
40,898
Larger, More Intense
and Damaging Wildfires
1,926
63,908
2006
1,483
36,567
1,597
115,856
3,080
152,423
2005
2,716
197,683
1,196
564,429
3,912
762,112
2004
1,227
45,966
1,396
176,537
2,623
222,503
2003
1,232
114,624
1,607
74,381
2,839
189,005
2002
1,746
599,383
1,335
30,493
3,081
629,876
2001
1,820
12,762
1,347
17,741
3,167
30,503
2000
1,407
45,657
2,172
37,239
3,579
82,896
AZ Trail
Trails in Arizona
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ASP lists over 600 trails statewide
Thousands of miles of trails / routes
Many different types / classes of trails
Trails located in many different types of
ecosystems and land jurisdictions
Impacts to Trails
From Wildfires
• Loss of Vegetation (trees, shrubs,
bushes, grasses, ground cover, etc.)
• Insect Infestation / Noxious Weeds
• Soil Erosion (hydrophobic soils and
significant surface runoff / washouts)
• Loss of Trail Structures (TH’s, toilets, signs,
water bars, aesthetics, trail integrity, etc.)
Post-Fire Trail
Mitigation Measures
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Burned Area Emergency Response Process
Trail Assessment (safety concerns, damage report)
Develop Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Strategy
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Techniques
Burned Area Emergency
Response (BAER) Process
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BAER teams are comprised of hydrologists,
soil scientists, engineers, biologists,
archaeologists, range conservationists,
silviculturists, and other specialists.
Primary objective is to protect life, property,
water quality, and deteriorated ecosystems.
When appropriate, an agency administrator
requests a BAER team, usually before a fire is
contained.
Burned Area Emergency
Response (BAER) Process
(continued)
Primary goal of the BAER team is to generate a
Rehab Plan for approval and implementation:
 Determine if emergency resource or human health and
safety conditions exist.
 Alleviate emergency conditions to help stabilize soil;
control water, sediment and debris movement; prevent
impairment of ecosystems; mitigate significant threats to
health, safety, life, property & downstream values at risk.
 Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of
emergency treatments. Typically 12-month timeline.
Burned Area Emergency
Response (BAER) Process
(continued)
What BAER may do:
What BAER cannot do:
• Install water or erosion control
devices
• Plant for erosion control or
stability reasons.
• Install temporary barriers to
protect treated/recovering areas.
• Install warning signs.
• Replace minor safety related
facilities.
• Install appropriate-sized drainage
features on roads and trails.
• Remove critical safety hazards.
• Plant grass to prevent spread of
noxious weeds.
• Replant commercial forests or
grass for forage.
• Excavate and interpret cultural
sites.
• Install interpretive signs.
• Replace burned buildings,
bridges, corrals, etc.
• Repair roads damaged by floods
after fire.
• Treat pre-existing noxious weeds.
Post-Fire Trail Assessment
Things to look for:
– Safety Concerns
• Current
• Future
– Trail Damage
• Extent
• Severity
• Cost Estimate
Post-Fire Trail
Mitigation Measures
First Steps:
 Secure the Area
 Post warning / safety signs.
 Remove hazard trees.
 Inform the Public
 News Releases
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Television
Radio
Newspaper
Town Hall Meetings
Post-Fire Trail
Mitigation Strategy
Three General Approaches:
 Decommission trail for safety
and resource concerns/issues.
 Repair / reconstruct the trail
at its current location.
 Reroute trail or portions of
the trail to a better location.
Post-Fire Trail
Mitigation Considerations
Questions to Ask:
 What are the elements of
the reconstruction project?
 Will it require NEPA
to
reconstruct the trail?
 How will we accomplish the
work (i.e. in-house, contract,
grants, volunteers, etc.)?
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation &
Reconstruction Measures
Seed / Mulch Dispersal: Aerial and By Hand
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation &
Reconstruction Measures
Contour Slope Stabilization: Straw Wattles
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation &
Reconstruction Measures
Slope Stabilization: Contour Tree Felling
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation &
Reconstruction Measures
Reforestation: Plant Trees
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation &
Reconstruction Measures
Trail Reconstruction
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