Arizona Wildfires : The effects on trails and how to begin Mitigation and Reconstruction

Arizona Wildfires: The effects on trails

and how to begin

Mitigation and

Reconstruction

Presentation Outline

• 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:

• 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:

• 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 CENTERYEAR-TO-DATE FIRES & ACRES

Human Human

Lightning

Lightni

ng    

Cause

d Caused Caused Caused TOTAL TOTAL

Fires Acres Fires Acres FIRES ACRES

 2006   1,483 36,567 1,597115,85

6 3,080152,42

3 2005   2,716

197,683 1,196

564,429 3,912

762,112

 2004   1,227 45,966 1,396176,53

7 2,623 222,503

 2003   1,232114,62

4 1,607 74,381 2,839189,00

5

 2002   1,746599,38

3 1,335 30,493 3,081629,87

6

 2001   1,820 12,762 1,347 17,741 3,167 30,503

ARIZONA

 2000   1,407 45,657 2,172 37,239 3,579 82,896

 2007   1,055 23,010 871 40,898 1,926 63,908As of 9/11/2007 Larger, More Intense

and Damaging Wildfires

Avg. ~191,000 ac. / yr(based on 1990-2005)

AZ Trail

Trails in Arizona

• 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

• 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

• 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:• 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.

What BAER cannot do:

• 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

o Television

o Radio

o Newspaper

o 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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