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Post-Fire Treatment Effectiveness for Hillslope Stabilization
United States Department of Agriculture Post-Fire Treatment Forest Service Rocky Mountain Effectiveness for Research Station General Technical Hillslope Stabilization Report RMRS-GTR-240 August 2010 Peter R. Robichaud, Louise E. Ashmun, and Bruce D. Sims A SUMMARY OF KNOWLEDGE FROM THE Robichaud, Peter R.; Ashmun, Louise E.; Sims, Bruce D. 2010. Post-fire treatment effectiveness for hill- slope stabilization. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-240. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 62 p. Abstract This synthesis of post-fire treatment effectiveness reviews the past decade of research, monitoring, and product development related to post-fire hillslope emergency stabilization treatments, including erosion barri- ers, mulching, chemical soil treatments, and combinations of these treatments. In the past ten years, erosion barrier treatments (contour-felled logs and straw wattles) have declined in use and are now rarely applied as a post-fire hillslope treatment. In contrast, dry mulch treatments (agricultural straw, wood strands, wood shreds, etc.) have quickly gained acceptance as effective, though somewhat expensive, post-fire hillslope stabilization treatments and are frequently recommended when values-at-risk warrant protection. This change has been motivated by research that shows the proportion of exposed mineral soil (or conversely, the propor- tion of ground cover) to be the primary treatment factor controlling post-fire hillslope erosion. Erosion barrier treatments provide little ground cover and have been shown to be less effective than mulch, especially during short-duration, high intensity rainfall events. In addition, innovative options for producing and applying mulch materials have adapted these materials for use on large burned areas that are inaccessible by road. -
Wildfires from Space
Wildfires from Space More Lessons from the Sky Satellite Educators Association http://SatEd.org This is an adaptation of an original lesson plan developed and published on-line by Natasha Stavros at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The original problem set and all of its related links is available from this address: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/fired-up-over-math-studying-wildfires-from-space/ Please see the Acknowledgements section for historical contributions to the development of this lesson plan. This spotlight on the “Wildfires from Space” lesson plan was published in November 2016 in More Lessons from the Sky, a regular feature of the SEA Newsletter, and archived in the SEA Lesson Plan Library. Both the Newsletter and the Library are freely available on-line from the Satellite Educators Association (SEA) at this address: http://SatEd.org. Content, Internet links, and materials on the lesson plan's online Resources page revised and updated in October 2019. SEA Lesson Plan Library Improvement Program Did you use this lesson plan with students? If so, please share your experience to help us improve the lesson plan for future use. Just click the Feedback link at http://SatEd.org/library/about.htm and complete the short form on-line. Thank you. Teaching Notes Wildfires from Space Invitation Wildfire is a global reality, and with the onset of climate change, the number of yearly wildfires is increasing. The impacts range from the immediate and tangible to the delayed and less obvious. In this activity, students assess wildfires using remote sensing imagery. -
Fire and Water
Fire and Water: An Emerging Nexus in California << THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK >> A Report by the 2019 Water Education Foundation Water Leaders Water Education Foundation 2019 Water Leaders: Jonathan Abelson Erica Bishop Dominic Bruno Greg Bundesen Daniel Constable DeDe Cordell Andrew Garcia Jenifer Gee Cheyanne Harris Julia Hart Levi Johnson Kevin Kasberg Megan Maurino Danielle McPherson Maya Mouawad Tara Paul Geeta Persad Adriana Renteria Ivy Ridderbusch Gokce Sencan Melissa Sparks-Kranz Sarah Sugar Andrea Zimmer Acknowledgements and Thanks: The 2019 Water Leaders Class would like to thank the Water Education Foundation for providing us with this unique opportunity. We would also like to express our gratitude to each of the mentors that shared their invaluable time and insights. Finally, we would like to thank the supporters of the Water Education Foundation and the William R. Gianelli Water Leaders program. Without your generosity, this program would not be possible. Disclaimer: This report, and the opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Water Education Foundation (WEF) or its Board of Directors, the Water Leaders, or their employers. Cover photo credit: Ken James/California Department of Water Resources 1 Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iii List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. -
Station Fire BAER Revisit – May 10-14, 2010
United States Department of Agriculture Station Fire Forest Service Pacific Southwest BAER Revisit Region September 2009 Angeles National Forest May 10-14, 2010 Big Tujunga Dam Overlook May 11, 2010 Acknowledgements I would like to express thanks to the following groups and individuals for their efforts for planning and holding the Revisit. Thanks to all the Resource Specialists who participated; Jody Noiron - Forest Supervisor; Angeles National Forest Leader- ship Team; Lisa Northrop - Forest Resource and Planning Officer; Marc Stamer - Station Fire Assessment Team Leader (San Bernardino NF); Kevin Cooper - Assistant Station Fire Assessment Team Leader (Los Padres NF); Todd Ellsworth - Revisit Facilitator (Inyo NF); Dr. Sue Cannon, US Geological Survey, Denver, CO; Jess Clark, Remote Sensing Application Center, Salt Lake City, UT; Pete Wohlgemuth, Pacific Southwest Research Station-Riverside, Penny Luehring, National BAER Coordinator, and Gary Chase (Shasta-Trinity NF) for final report formatting and editing. Brent Roath, R5, Regional Soil Scientist/BAER Coordinator June 14, 2010 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. -
Fire Vulnerability Assessment for Mendocino County ______
FIRE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT FOR MENDOCINO COUNTY ____________________________________________ _________________________________________ August 2020 Mendocino County Fire Vulnerability Assessment ________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Page SECTION I- OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................... 6 A. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 6 B. Project Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 6 C. Mendocino County Description and Demographics ................................................................ 7 D. Planning Area Basis .................................................................................................................. 8 SECTION II- COUNTY WILDFIRE ASSESSMENT ............................................................ 9 A. Wildfire Threat ......................................................................................................................... 9 B. Weather/Climate ........................................................................................................................ 9 C. Topography ............................................................................................................................. 10 D. Fuel Hazards .......................................................................................................................... -
Volume-1-San-Diego-Main-Report
Folsom (Sacramento), CA Management Consultants Regional Fire Services Deployment Study for the CountyCounty ofof SanSan DiegoDiego OfficeOffice ofof EmergencyEmergency ServicesServices Volume 1 of 3 – Main Report May 5, 2010 2250 East Bidwell St., Ste #100 Folsom, CA 95630 (916) 458-5100 Fax: (916) 983-2090 This page was intentionally left blank TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page VOLUME 1 of 3 – (this volume) PART ONE—EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i. Executive Summary ......................................................................................... 1 Policy Choices Framework .................................................................... 2 Overall Attributes of the County of San Diego’s Fire Services............. 2 Accomplishments to Date ...................................................................... 3 Main Challenges..................................................................................... 3 Fire Plan Phasing.................................................................................. 17 ii. Comprehensive List of Findings and Recommendations ........................... 19 PART TWO—PROJECT BACKGROUND Section 1 Introduction and Background to the Regional Deployment Study .......................................................................................... 37 1.1 Project Approach and Research Methods.................................. 38 1.2 Report Organization................................................................... 38 1.3 Project Background................................................................... -
Post-Fire Debris Flow Erosion in the San Gabriel Mountains, CA
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE POST-FIRE DEBRIS FLOW EROSION IN THE SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS, CALIFORNIA: EVIDENCE FROM THE STATION FIRE, 2009 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Science in Geology By Martha M. Ahlstrom August, 2013 The thesis of Martha M. Ahlstrom is approved: _________________________________ ________________ Dr. Matthew d'Alessio Date _________________________________ ________________ Dr. Julie Laity Date _________________________________ ________________ Dr. Richard Heermance, Chair Date California State University, Northridge ii Acknowledgments I most heartily thank Dr. Richard Heermance for his exceptional guidance, advice, patience, knowledge, support, and willingness in allowing me to conduct a study on debris flows. My other committee members, Dr. Julie Laity and Dr. Matthew d’Alessio, made heroic efforts in editing my thesis. I appreciate all their efforts to ensure the scientific integrity of this project. I also thank all the professors in the CSUN Geological Sciences Department for their support. I especially thank Dr. Vicki Pedone for her guidance and encouragement. Mrs. Marilyn Hanna and the Geological Sciences Scholarship Committee funded this thesis project. I am grateful for their support, grants, and scholarships. This project would have not been completed in such a timely manner without the awesome field assistants who trekked all over the San Gabriel Mountains to help conduct the field work. My field assistants included CSUN undergraduate geology students, CSUN graduate students, Morning Star Christian Academy students, LA Valley College students, and family members. I value all their time and efforts. I thank all my family members for their patience, graciousness, and support while I completed this project. -
Geologic Hazards
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Assessment FINAL Specialist Report – GEOLOGIC HAZARDS Thomas Fire –Los Padres N.F. December, 2017 Jonathan Yonni Schwartz – Geomorphologist/geologist, Los Padres NF Introduction The Thomas Fire started on December 4, 2017, near the Thomas Aquinas College (east end of Sulphur Mountain), Ventura County, California. The fire is still burning and as of December 13, 2017, is estimated to have burned 237,500 acres and is 25% contained. Since the fire is still active, the BAER Team analysis is separated into two phases. This report/analysis covers a very small area of the fire above the community of Ojai, California and is considered phase 1 (of 2). Under phase 1 of this BAER assessment, 40,271 acres are being analyzed (within the fire parameter) out of which 22,971 acres are on National Forest Service Lands. The remaining 17,300 acres are divided between County, City and private lands. Out of a total of 40,271 acres that were analyzed, 99 acres were determined to have burned at a high soil burn severity, 19,243 acres at moderate soil burn severity, 12,044 acres at low soil burn severity and 8,885 acres were unburned. All of the above acres including the unburned acres are within the fire parameter. This report describes and assesses the increase in risk from geologic hazards within the Thomas Fire burned area. When evaluating Geologic Hazards, the focus of the “Geology” function on a BAER Team is on identifying the geologic conditions and geomorphic processes that have helped shape and alter the watersheds and landscapes, and assessing the impacts from the fire on those conditions and processes which will affect downstream values at risk. -
Bobcat Fire 2020
USDA FOREST SERVICE FS-2500-8 (2/20) Date of Report: November 12, 2020 Bobcat Fire 2020 Big Santa Anita Canyon PART I - TYPE OF REQUEST A. Type of Report ☒ 1. Funding request for estimated emergency stabilization funds ☐ 2. No Treatment Recommendation B. Type of Action ☒ 1. Initial Request (Best estimate of funds needed to complete eligible stabilization measures) ☐ 2. Interim Request #___ ☐ Updating the initial funding request based on more accurate site data or design analysis PART II - BURNED-AREA DESCRIPTION A. Fire Name: Bobcat B. Fire Number: CA-ANF-003687 C. State: California D. County: Los Angeles E. Region: 05 Pacific Southwest F. Forest: Angeles G. Districts: San Gabriel National Monument, H. Fire Incident Job Code: P5NJ7S20 0501 Los Angeles Gateway I. Date Fire Started: 9/6/2020 J. Date Fire Contained: 92% of 10/13/20 L. Fire Suppression Damages Repaired with Suppression Funds (estimates): 1 | Page USDA FOREST SERVICE FS-2500-8 (2/20) 1. Fireline repaired (miles): Approximately 140 miles of dozer line constructed. Approximately 16 miles of repair completed as of 10/11/2020. 2. Other (identify): M. Watershed Numbers: Table 1: Acres Burned by Watershed HUC # Watershed Name Total Acres Acres % of Burned Watershed Burned 180701050101 Alder Creek 13,092 213 2 180701050103 Upper Big Tujunga Creek 25,366 532 2 180701050302 Santa Anita Wash-Rio Hondo 34,556 11,149 32 180701060201 Devils Canyon 11,021 1,104 10 180701060202 Upper West Fork San Gabriel River 14,097 10,294 73 180701060203 Bear Creek 17,996 14,580 81 180701060204 North Fork -
Wildland Fire in Ecosystems: Effects of Fire on Fauna
United States Department of Agriculture Wildland Fire in Forest Service Rocky Mountain Ecosystems Research Station General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-42- volume 1 Effects of Fire on Fauna January 2000 Abstract _____________________________________ Smith, Jane Kapler, ed. 2000. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on fauna. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 1. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 83 p. Fires affect animals mainly through effects on their habitat. Fires often cause short-term increases in wildlife foods that contribute to increases in populations of some animals. These increases are moderated by the animals’ ability to thrive in the altered, often simplified, structure of the postfire environment. The extent of fire effects on animal communities generally depends on the extent of change in habitat structure and species composition caused by fire. Stand-replacement fires usually cause greater changes in the faunal communities of forests than in those of grasslands. Within forests, stand- replacement fires usually alter the animal community more dramatically than understory fires. Animal species are adapted to survive the pattern of fire frequency, season, size, severity, and uniformity that characterized their habitat in presettlement times. When fire frequency increases or decreases substantially or fire severity changes from presettlement patterns, habitat for many animal species declines. Keywords: fire effects, fire management, fire regime, habitat, succession, wildlife The volumes in “The Rainbow Series” will be published during the year 2000. To order, check the box or boxes below, fill in the address form, and send to the mailing address listed below. -
PUBLIC SAFETY U Building a Safer Los Angeles 99
MOTION PUBLIC SAFETY U Building a Safer Los Angeles 99 From time to time it is appropriate for the Council to review and update ordinances adopted in the past. The urgency to do this is compounded when those ordinances relate to public safety, and even more so when a natural disaster affects our City such as the recent wildfires. In recent years, the City has made strides in enhancing the protection and character of our hillside communities, specifically our hillside single family home communities. Both in 2011 and again 2017 the City adopted stricter Baseline Hillside Ordinances to better ensure public safety in those neighborhoods. Though these ordinances addressed out of scale development and neighborhood character, the secondary effects ensure safer communities and better design that reduces risk during catastrophic events such as wildfires. The City must ensure that our growing multifamily housing stock is being constructed safely with skilled labor, and is resilient in the face of growing threats from wildfires and other natural disasters. In late 2018 the risk and devastation from wildfires was on full display throughout California. The risk associated with wildfires has grown exponentially in recent years. The frequency and intensity of these fires has made them a serious public safety risk. Their speed and intensity have created an urgent need to address their impacts. Much of this increased risk comes from the growing impacts of climate change that has changed the ecological makeup of our forests and climatic shifts that have driven the region into drought year after year, as well as rapid growth of our urban-wildland interface. -
Wildfire Resilience Insurance
WILDFIRE RESILIENCE INSURANCE: Quantifying the Risk Reduction of Ecological Forestry with Insurance WILDFIRE RESILIENCE INSURANCE: Quantifying the Risk Reduction of Ecological Forestry with Insurance Authors Willis Towers Watson The Nature Conservancy Nidia Martínez Dave Jones Simon Young Sarah Heard Desmond Carroll Bradley Franklin David Williams Ed Smith Jamie Pollard Dan Porter Martin Christopher Felicity Carus This project and paper were funded in part through an Innovative Finance in National Forests Grant (IFNF) from the United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities, with funding from the United States Forest Service (USFS). The United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Inc. (the “Endowment”) is a not-for-profit corporation that works collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. We want to thank and acknowledge Placer County and the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) for their leadership and partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the US Forest Service on the French Meadows ecological forest project and their assistance with the Wildfire Resilience Insurance Project and this paper. We would like in particular to acknowledge the assistance of Peter Cheney, Risk and Safety Manager, PCWA and Marie L.E. Davis, PG, Consultant to PCWA. Cover photo: Increasing severity of wildfires in California results in more deaths, injuries, and destruction of