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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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