Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Cooperative Refuge Cooperative

Restoration Project: Bringing Restoration Project: Bringing back peatlands while reducing back peatlands while reducing catastrophic wildfire threatscatastrophic wildfire threats

Sara Ward, USFWS Raleigh Field OfficeSara Ward, USFWS Raleigh Field Office

TNC Fire and Pocosins Conference, October 11, TNC Fire and Pocosins Conference, October 11, 20112011

OverviewOverview IntroductionIntroduction

Pocosins and fire regimesPocosins and fire regimes History of fire at PLNWRHistory of fire at PLNWR Recent NC peatland firesRecent NC peatland fires

A tool for the toolbox – peatland restoration A tool for the toolbox – peatland restoration example, Pocosin Lakes NWRexample, Pocosin Lakes NWR Restoration approachRestoration approach Restoration BenefitsRestoration Benefits CostsCosts

Restoration ImplicationsRestoration Implications SummarySummary

Pre-Alteration Pocosin Pre-Alteration Pocosin FiresFires

FrequencyFrequency: natural return : natural return interval determined by soil interval determined by soil type, depth, water type, depth, water tableand vegetative tableand vegetative communitycommunity

SeveritySeverity: peat ground fire : peat ground fire dependent on water table; dependent on water table; mostly above ground firemostly above ground fire

Source: Frost, 1995

1962 pocosin distribution (Richardson 2003)

Today: 70% habitat loss

Histosols – fire return interval between 7 Histosols – fire return interval between 7 and 300 yearsand 300 years Peat bogs with plant communities like those Peat bogs with plant communities like those

burned at PLNWR and GDSNWR: higher end of burned at PLNWR and GDSNWR: higher end of rangerange

In particular, AWC-associated return interval > In particular, AWC-associated return interval > 50 years50 years

(in Frost, 19951)

1Frost, Cecil C. 1995. Presettlement fire regimes in southeastern marshes, peatlands, and swamps. Pg 39-60 in S.I. Cerulean and R.T. Engstrom, eds. Fire in wetlands: a management perspective. Proc. of the Tall Timbers Fire Ecol. Conf., No. 19. Tall Timbers Res. Station, Tallahassee, FL.

(in Frost, 19951)

1Frost, Cecil C. 1995. Presettlement fire regimes in southeastern marshes, peatlands, and swamps. Pg 39-60 in S.I. Cerulean and R.T. Engstrom, eds. Fire in wetlands: a management perspective. Proc. of the Tall Timbers Fire Ecol. Conf., No. 19. Tall Timbers Res. Station, Tallahassee, FL.

PLNWR Fire HistoryPLNWR Fire HistoryAllen Road Fire Allen Road Fire March 1985March 1985 95,000 ac burned95,000 ac burned Peat loss: ≤ 1 mPeat loss: ≤ 1 m Estimated C loss: Estimated C loss:

1-3.8 million tons C 1-3.8 million tons C11

Evans Road FireEvans Road Fire 6/1/2008 – January 20096/1/2008 – January 2009 40,704 acres40,704 acres Peat burnedPeat burned

Non Federal land (private and NC State Park): 24” Non Federal land (private and NC State Park): 24” over 15,350 acover 15,350 ac

Federal land west of Western Rd – 12” over 16,100 acFederal land west of Western Rd – 12” over 16,100 ac Federal land east of Western Rd – 6” over 9,650 Federal land east of Western Rd – 6” over 9,650

acresacres Estimated C loss: ~10 million tons CEstimated C loss: ~10 million tons C11

Credit: NCFS-Chris Carlson

1Michler and Welch, 2011

2011 Peatland Wildfires 2011 Peatland Wildfires in NCin NC~ 88K acres burned to date:~ 88K acres burned to date:

Source: InciWeb, Incident Information System, www.inciweb.org/

Incident Location Origin Date

Cause Size Status (latest update)

Juniper Road

Holly Shelter Game Land, Juniper Road and County Line Road, 8 miles North of Topsail

6/19/2011 Lightning 31,140 acres

92% contained (8/1/2011)

Simmons Road

Bladen / Cumberland County

6/20/2011 Lightning 5,438 acres

100% contained (8/16/2011)

Pains Bay Fire

Dare County, NC (Alligator River NWR and Dare Co Bombing Range)

5/5/2011 Lightning 45,294 acres

100% contained (8/8/2011)

Lateral West

Great Dismal Swamp NWR and SP – NC&VA

8/4/2011 Lightning 6,377 acres

90% contained (9/20/11)

So, why are we seeing more So, why are we seeing more frequent and severe pocosin frequent and severe pocosin wildfires than predicted??wildfires than predicted??

In a word…drainage!In a word…drainage! Historically:Historically:

Summer water table drawdown (up to 1 m+Summer water table drawdown (up to 1 m+11) in ) in domed peat caused some peat fire; rewetting domed peat caused some peat fire; rewetting regularly occurred regularly occurred

Seasonal soil saturation limited ground fire potential; Seasonal soil saturation limited ground fire potential; allowed vegetation to burn (necessary in pocosin allowed vegetation to burn (necessary in pocosin ecosystems)ecosystems)

Now: Now: Extensive drainage network limits duration of Extensive drainage network limits duration of

seasonal floodingseasonal flooding Water table is lowered; peat is aerated/drierWater table is lowered; peat is aerated/drier Drainage prevents even significant rainfall (tropical) Drainage prevents even significant rainfall (tropical)

retention on landscaperetention on landscape Much more frequent ground fire; significant soil lossMuch more frequent ground fire; significant soil loss

1Ingram and Otte, 1982

Fire Return Interval: Fire Return Interval: PLNWRPLNWR

Fire Return Interval: Fire Return Interval: GDSNWRGDSNWR

Predicted RI > 50 yrs; Actual – 3 yr. Wildfire Predicted RI > 50 yrs; Actual – 3 yr. Wildfire recurring in footprintrecurring in footprint

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Corapeake

Kim Saunders

Weye

rhae

user

Sycamore

Persimmon

2008 South One Fire footprint

2011 Lateral West Fire footprint

Above ground fuel reduction not Above ground fuel reduction not always enough…need to address always enough…need to address

fire vulnerability of peat soilsfire vulnerability of peat soils Hydrology restorationHydrology restoration

Raises water tableRaises water table Allows water storage Allows water storage

before (prevention) and before (prevention) and during (suppression) during (suppression) wildfireswildfires

Permits above ground Permits above ground fire for habitat and fire fire for habitat and fire management with less management with less riskrisk

Cost effectiveCost effective Many restoration “co-Many restoration “co-

benefits”benefits”

Credit: USFWS-V. Carver

Hydrology restoration: a Hydrology restoration: a tool for the practitioner’s tool for the practitioner’s

toolboxtoolbox

PLNWR PLNWR Cooperative Cooperative Restoration Restoration

Project ExampleProject ExamplePhoto: D. Suiter, USFWS

Healthy pocosin wetlands

PLNWR : Refuge HistoryPLNWR : Refuge History

Land south of Lake Phelps ditched Land south of Lake Phelps ditched /drained in 60’s for ag and peat mining/drained in 60’s for ag and peat mining

Refuge established 1990 with a Refuge established 1990 with a focus on pocosin restoration focus on pocosin restoration

Hydrology restoration Hydrology restoration plan 1994 plan 1994

Restoration and Restoration and research on-going research on-going sincesince

Restoration ApproachRestoration Approach Install water control structures and culvertsInstall water control structures and culverts Use raised roads along the canals as levees Use raised roads along the canals as levees Re-saturate historically drained areas via Re-saturate historically drained areas via

rainfallrainfall Promote sheet flow via water level Promote sheet flow via water level

managementmanagement

Photo: S.Ward, USFWS

Photo: E. Hinesley, NCSU

2008: PLNWR partial restoration 2008: PLNWR partial restoration likely helpedlikely helpedInfrastruct

ure complete

Infrastructure in progress

Planned restoration

Importance of pocosin Importance of pocosin restorationrestoration

Carbon and nitrogen Carbon and nitrogen sequestrationsequestration

Restore wildlife habitat Restore wildlife habitat and threatened and threatened ecosystemsecosystems

Water qualityWater quality

Adaptation to climate Adaptation to climate changechange

Human community Human community benefitsbenefits

Benefits beyond reducing wildfire Benefits beyond reducing wildfire threat/impactsthreat/impacts::

Photo: USFWSPhoto: USFWS

Photo: SSECPhoto: SSEC

Pocosin restoration = ideal N & Pocosin restoration = ideal N & C offsetC offset

Peatland drainage promoted organic matter Peatland drainage promoted organic matter decomposition and loss of N and C to decomposition and loss of N and C to atmosphere atmosphere

Restoration stops soil loss: incremental Restoration stops soil loss: incremental (oxidation) and catastrophic (burning)(oxidation) and catastrophic (burning)

Since acquisition in 1990, hydrology Since acquisition in 1990, hydrology restoration a priority; project accelerated restoration a priority; project accelerated that effortthat effortDrained Drained ConditionCondition

loss of nitrogen, C and Hg via loss of nitrogen, C and Hg via oxidationoxidation

(SOURCE)(SOURCE)

Restored Restored ConditionCondition

nitrogen, C and Hg sequestrationnitrogen, C and Hg sequestration

(SINK)(SINK)

Emerging C Markets for Emerging C Markets for “Rewetted” Peatlands“Rewetted” Peatlands

In NC peatlands, sequestration In NC peatlands, sequestration driver is amount C retained that driver is amount C retained that would otherwise be lost without would otherwise be lost without hydrology restoration hydrology restoration

Estimated sequestration potential:Estimated sequestration potential: 200 lb/ac/year of N200 lb/ac/year of N 6500 lb/ac/year of C6500 lb/ac/year of C

Project sequesters the amount of Project sequesters the amount of C in ~82,000 tons of CO C in ~82,000 tons of CO22/yr/yr

Photo: E. Hinesley, NCSU

Equivalent to the average Equivalent to the average annual COannual CO22 impact of 11,000 impact of 11,000

AmericansAmericans

Costs of RestorationCosts of Restoration Conservative cost Conservative cost

range for restoration range for restoration on conservation lands on conservation lands between $140 (in-between $140 (in-house) and $310 house) and $310 (contract) per acre (contract) per acre

We estimate PLNWR We estimate PLNWR project cost of ~ $5M project cost of ~ $5M if work completed if work completed through external through external contractscontracts

One time investment… One time investment… annual returnannual return

Photo: E. Hinesley, Photo: E. Hinesley, NCSUNCSU

Restoration Implications: Restoration Implications: Avoided LossesAvoided Losses

Avoided loss of valuable ecological Avoided loss of valuable ecological habitathabitat

Avoided wildfire response costs:Avoided wildfire response costs: Evans Rd – nearly $20M by Jan 2009Evans Rd – nearly $20M by Jan 2009

Juniper Road - $3.5M as of 7-29-2011Juniper Road - $3.5M as of 7-29-2011

Pains Bay - >$14M as of 8-9-2011; up Pains Bay - >$14M as of 8-9-2011; up to $350K/day at peakto $350K/day at peak

Peat soils have potential value in C Peat soils have potential value in C markets upon restorationmarkets upon restoration C trading at $10/ton, peat worth up to $139M was lost C trading at $10/ton, peat worth up to $139M was lost

during Allen Rd and Evans Road fires combinedduring Allen Rd and Evans Road fires combined

Peat soils exhaustible – fires can burn to depth of Peat soils exhaustible – fires can burn to depth of

underlying mineral soilunderlying mineral soil

SummarySummary Restoration will not prevent fire in pocosins; just promotes Restoration will not prevent fire in pocosins; just promotes

return to more nature fire regimereturn to more nature fire regime

Frequency and intensity of fires in drained pocosins Frequency and intensity of fires in drained pocosins exceeds natural baseline for these fire-dependent habitats exceeds natural baseline for these fire-dependent habitats with significant costswith significant costs Ecological community impact (e.g. globally threatened AWC)Ecological community impact (e.g. globally threatened AWC)

Fire fighting costs/resources in tough budget timesFire fighting costs/resources in tough budget times

Feet of soil loss in sea level rise vulnerable areasFeet of soil loss in sea level rise vulnerable areas

COCO22 emissions equivalent to industrial releases emissions equivalent to industrial releases

Tourism and health impactsTourism and health impacts

Evans Rd Fire – positive impact of partial restorationEvans Rd Fire – positive impact of partial restoration Partially-restored pocosins burned far less than neighboring Partially-restored pocosins burned far less than neighboring

drained landsdrained lands

Undrained pocosins and areas where restoration work was Undrained pocosins and areas where restoration work was complete did not burncomplete did not burn

Summary (cont.)Summary (cont.) Restoration is cost-effective preventative measureRestoration is cost-effective preventative measure

Potential for restoration projects to be important in Potential for restoration projects to be important in carbon marketscarbon markets

Restored peatlands are a valuable resourceRestored peatlands are a valuable resource Took geologic time to form; support unique habitats; Took geologic time to form; support unique habitats;

rapid lossrapid loss

Value of peat lost exceeds $100M on Evans fire aloneValue of peat lost exceeds $100M on Evans fire alone

New partners / external funds focused on C or N may New partners / external funds focused on C or N may expand restoration and even acquisition in futureexpand restoration and even acquisition in future

C and N benefits and project costs estimated; 3-year C and N benefits and project costs estimated; 3-year verification study underway…those tools may help verification study underway…those tools may help others with similar projects others with similar projects

Thanks!Thanks!

www.fws.gov/raleigh/pdfs/www.fws.gov/raleigh/pdfs/PeatlandRestoration_CSeqBenefits_Jan2010.pdfPeatlandRestoration_CSeqBenefits_Jan2010.pdf

sara_ward@fws.govsara_ward@fws.gov

Photo: Hollingsworth, USFWSPhoto: Hollingsworth, USFWS

NCDENRNCDENRWilliam RossWilliam RossDempsey BentonDempsey Benton

NCSU Horticultural NCSU Horticultural Eric Hinesly Eric Hinesly

U.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Geological SurveyDuke University Duke University

Wetlands CenterWetlands CenterThe Nature The Nature

ConservancyConservancyConservation FundConservation Fund

FWS - Raleigh FWS - Raleigh Mike Wicker Mike Wicker Tom Tom Augspurger Augspurger

FWS - RefugesFWS - RefugesHoward Howard

PhillipsPhillipsChris LowieChris LowieMike BryantMike Bryant

Dave Kitts Dave Kitts Wendy Wendy

Stanton Stanton Fred Fred

WursterWurster

NC Pocosins with Restoration/Enhancement NC Pocosins with Restoration/Enhancement PotentialPotential

NC Pocosins with Restoration/Enhancement NC Pocosins with Restoration/Enhancement PotentialPotential