1 Appendix H Barry Point Fire – Retrospectives and Lessons Learned Excerpts from the 2011 Fremont

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Appendix H

Barry Point Fire – Retrospectives and Lessons Learned

Excerpts from the 2011 Fremont – Winema National Forest and Lakeview District Bureau of Land Management, Fire Management Plan, that are applicable to the Barry Point Fire.

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Land and Resource Management Plan Guidance

Fremont National Forest - Land and Resource Management Plan: ―This Plan calls for implementing wildfire suppression tactics based on a policy of appropriate suppression response. Managers will have the option to confine, contain, or control a wildfire. Based on professional judgment and assessment of contributing factors such as expected weather, fire danger, and value of the resources threatened. Suppression costs will be reduced by eliminating the demand to take aggressive action on all fire reports and increasing flexibility to respond to specific situations with the appropriate level of effort.‖ (page 46)

Winema National Forest - Land and Resource Management Plan: The forestwide fire protection objective states: ―All wildfires must receive an appropriate suppression response for each management area.‖ (page 4-10)

Goals and Objectives

Fremont National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan – Goals (page 51, page 118)

A fire protection and fire use program that is cost efficient and responsive to land and resource management goals and objectives will be provided and executed. (page 118)

All wildfire will receive an appropriate suppression response utilizing a strategy of confine, contain, or control. (page 118)

Wildfire that threatens life, property, public safety, or improvements will receive aggressive suppression action using a control strategy. (page 118)

All high investment timber areas, such as seed orchards and evaluation plantations will be protected from fire by taking aggressive initial attack and by considering their location in subsequent line location and attack strategies. (page 118)

Aspen stands will be avoided whenever possible in the construction of fire lines, new roads or facilities such as rock pits (page 103)

Fremont National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan – Objectives (page 49)

To provide responsive, courteous public service in all management activities.

To identify, design, and achieve a high level of multiple-use coordination in all resource management activities.

To maintain or improve the productivity of the soil in all resource management activities.

To re-establish all degraded land to a productive state by the year 2000.

To increase public awareness of, involvement in, and support for Forest Service resource management objectives.

To produce thrifty stands of commercial timber within the requirements provided by law, policy, regulations, and fiscal restrictions while providing for other resource uses.

To maintain or improve vegetative condition of rangelands through the use of available silvicultural practices and livestock management while providing for other resource uses.

To provide sufficient habitat quantity, quality, and diversity to maintain self-sustaining populations of all vertebrate native fish and wildlife species.

To provide for increases in or maintain habitat quantity or quality of those species which 1) are officially listed as endangered or threatened at the state or federal level to insure population recovery and/or 2) are management indicator species.

To reintroduce extirpated species that will have a minimal effect on other resource programs in coordination with ODF&W.

To maintain air quality at a level that meets or exceeds applicable federal and state standards and regulations.

To re-establish channel stability (by re-establishing a good or better riparian ecological condition) and to improve water quality (decrease in sediment and late season water temperature) on class I and II stream courses.

To meet or exceed state water quality standards and protect identified beneficial uses.

To maintain water quantity consistent with downstream needs and resource protection.

To restore and maintain all riparian areas in a condition which enhances riparian dependent resource values.

To improve and maintain trout habitat to support self-sustaining trout populations.

To promote cooperation and coordination with individuals, corporate landowners, and state and federal agencies on matters of mutual interest.

To provide a natural-appearing forest character that is attractive to the sensitive highway, forest road, trail, or developed site user.

To maintain the Gearhart Mountain Wilderness to enhance natural ecosystems and to provide for a Wilderness recreation experience in south central Oregon.

To provide opportunities for a non-motorized recreation experience, with a high degree of isolation from sights and sounds of human activities, in a natural setting which may have very subtle alterations.

Standards and Guidelines

Fremont National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan – (Page 118)

1. A fire protection and fire use program that is cost efficient and responsive to land and resource management goals and objectives will be provided and executed.

2. All wildfire will receive an appropriate suppression response utilizing a strategy of confine, contain, or control.

3. Wildfire that threatens life, property, public safety, or improvements will receive aggressive suppression action using a control strategy.

4. All high investment timber areas, such as seed orchards and evaluation plantations will be protected from fire by taking aggressive initial attack and by considering their location in subsequent line location and attack strategies.

5. Prescribed fire will be considered for use in meeting management objectives in areas where ecological studies show that fire has played a significant role in ecosystem development.

Bald Eagle Management:

Bald eagle management areas are highest priority for wildfire suppression if potential for damage to habitat is high.‖ (page 135) Fuel treatment by fire around active nest sites will take place outside nesting season (March 1 to July 15) if fire activities and smoke would affect nesting eagles.‖ (page 136) National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines - LINK

Other raptors (page 108) - Active nests of raptors (red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, long-eared owls, sharpshinned hawks, Cooper's hawks, pygmy owls, flammulated owls, turkey vultures, American kestrels, Swainson's hawks, etc.) should be protected.

Active raptor nests found in project areas will be left standing with at least four adjacent large trees for cover and perches. The nest and perch trees may be harvested after the young have left the area, usually by August 15. Attempt to make an agreement with timber purchasers to retain active nest, perch, and cover trees. Major activities such as logging and road construction adjacent (300 yards) to active raptor nests, should be postponed until young have fledged (usually around July 30).

Northwest Forest Plan - Standards and Guidelines

Fire/Fuels Management (pages C-35 – C-36)

FM-1. Design fuel treatment and fire suppression strategies, practices, and activities to meet Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives, and to minimize disturbance of riparian ground cover and vegetation. Strategies should recognize the role of fire in ecosystem function and identify those instances where fire suppression or fuels management activities could be damaging to long-term ecosystem function. FM-2. Locate incident bases, camps, helibases, staging areas, helispots and other centers for incident activities outside Riparian Reserves. If the only suitable location for such activities is within the Riparian Reserve, an exemption may be granted following review and recommendation by a resource advisor. The advisor will prescribe the location, use conditions, and rehabilitation requirements. Use an interdisciplinary team to predetermine suitable incident base and helibase locations. FM-3. Minimize delivery of chemical retardant, foam, or additives to surface waters. An exception may be warranted in situations whereoverriding immediate safety imperatives exist, or, following review and recommendation by a resource advisor, when an escape would cause more long-term damage. FM-5. Immediately establish an emergency team to develop a rehabilitation treatment plan needed to attain Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives whenever Riparian Reserves are significantly damaged by wildfire or a prescribed fire burning outside prescribed parameters. Other - In Riparian Reserves, the goal of wildfire suppression is to limit the size of all fires. When watershed and/or landscape analysis, or province-level plans are completed and approved, some natural fires may be allowed to burn under prescribed conditions. Rapidly extinguishing smoldering coarse woody debris and duff should be considered to preserve these ecosystem elements. In Riparian Reserves, water drafting sites should be located and managed to minimize adverse effects on riparian habitat and water quality, as consistent with Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives.

Inland Native Fish Strategy - Standards and Guidelines

Applicable to all areas not covered by Northwest Forest Plan Fire/Fuels Management (pages A-11 – A- 12)

FM-1. Design fuel treatment and fire suppression strategies, practices, and actions so as to not prevent attainment of Riparian Management Objectives, and to minimize disturbance of riparian ground cover and vegetation. Strategies should recognize the role of fire in ecosystem function and identify those instances where fire suppression or fuels management activities could perpetuate or be damaging to long-term ecosystem function or inland native fish.

FM-2. Locate incident bases, camps, helibases, staging areas, helispots and other centers for incident activities outside of Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas. If the only suitable location for such activities is within the Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas, an exemption may be granted following review and

4 recommendation by a resource advisor. The advisor would prescribe the location, use conditions, and rehabilitation requirements, with avoidance of adverse effects to inland native fish as a primary goal. Use an interdisciplinary team including a fishery biologist, to predetermine incident base and helibase locations during presuppression planning.

FM-3. Avoid delivery of chemical retardant, foam, or additives to surface waters. An exception may be warranted in situations where overriding immediate safety imperatives exist, or, following a review and recommendation by a resource advisor and a fishery biologist, when the action agency determines an escape would cause more long-term damage to fish habitats than chemical delivery to surface waters.

FM-5. Immediately establish an emergency team to develop a rehabilitation treatment plan to attain Riparian Management Objectives and avoid adverse effects on inland native fish whenever Riparian

Habitat Conservation Areas are significantly damaged by wildfire or a prescribed fire burning out of prescription.

Page A-12:

RA-4 Prohibit storage of fuels and other toxicants within Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas. Prohibit refueling within Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas unless there are no other alternatives. Refueling sites within a Riparian Habitat Conservation Area must be approved by the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management and have an approved spill containment plan.

RA-5 Locate water drafting sites to avoid adverse effects to inland native fish and instream flows, and in a manner that does not retard or prevent attainment of Riparian Management Objectives.

Desired Conditions

Fremont National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (page 119)

―…the general character and condition (of the forest) should be retained. Subtle changes in the ownership pattern will result from efforts to consolidate National Forest System lands. The Forest will still possess an abundance of large diameter, old-growth stands of trees. Changes in diversity will be relatively subtle and, for the most part, relatively unnoticeable. ―

SEE Specific Direction for Forest Service Management Areas Fremont National Forest Management Area (MA) Summary – BELOW.

Fire Management Direction for State Protected Land:

Oregon Department of Forestry - Protection from Fire

Program Background and Purpose (Ref. ORS 477.005)

The Protection From Fire Program's main purpose is to protect 15.8 million acres (24,900 square miles) of private and public forestland from fire. The acreage protected includes 3.5 million acres of ´wildland- urban interface´, which are forest lands with residences and other structures within the reach of wildfire

in that area. This is done through a complete and coordinated system of fire prevention, suppression and fuels management. The goal of the program is to create and use environmentally sound and economically efficient strategies that minimize the total cost to protect Oregon´s timber and other forest values from wildfire while also minimizing wildfire damage to protected resources. Specific objectives of the program are to:

Ensure that landowners will continue to invest in forestry in the state, knowing that their lands have effective and reasonable cost protection from fire. The total "cost plus loss" resulting from wildfire in terms of suppression costs and damage to timber and forest values is held to minimum levels. Provide effective protection from fire to other forest values, such as water and watersheds, fisheries, wildlife, recreation, aesthetics, soil productivity and soil stability. Provide a cost effective system of fire protection that is well coordinated with local fire districts across the state and with federal and tribal wildland fire protection agencies. Effectively manage high-cost fire suppression resources. Educate forest landowners and forest homeowners about the value of fire hazard and risk reduction measures and take positive action to minimize the threat. Maintain air quality through the administration of the Smoke Management Plan which regulates prescribed burning on private, federal, and state & local government forestland in Oregon.

State and Private Lands Located within the South-Central Oregon Interagency Fire Management area

Within the boundaries of this FMU are state and private lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. These lands do not fall under the scope or authority of the FMP or the LMP but are managed differently based upon the landowner’s objectives in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. All fire on or threatening these state and private lands will be aggressively suppressed as to minimize acreage burned and suppression effort will be coordinated with the applicable protection agency (ODF or Rural FD) or the landowner if a protection agency is not established for said land.

Physical Characteristics that Apply to All Fire Management Units

The SCOFMP area contains forest and shrub dominated ecosystems. Vegetation ranges from mixed conifer and ponderosa pine stands to high desert. Along the western boundary of the SCOFMP area, mixed conifer stands cover most of the Cascade Mountains, with true fir dominated stands in high elevation areas of the cascades. East of the Cascades, the forest is characterized by drought-tolerant tree species such as ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), incense-cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), and western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis). Abundant stands of white fir (Abies concolor) occur at higher elevations. Sagebrush communities and western juniper dominate vegetation in high desert areas, especially in the eastern portion of SCOFMP.

Fire Management Considerations for Specific Fire Management Units

FMU Snap Shot FMU Number: FMU_01, Basin NFDRS Weather Station: Gerber 353328 Ownership: Total Acres 1297796 BLM 160281 BIA 1 Bureau of Rec 15344 DOD 129 FAA 162 GSA 40 Local Govt 41 Private 738412 State 6056 USFS 272423 Unknown or 104907 Water

Predominant Vegetation Types: There is a wide variety of fuel types in this area. In the north, the Sprague River valley has a significant amount of sagebrush (Artemesia) and Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) woodland. To the south of the Sprague River there is Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) woodland and mixed conifer woodland. Much of the Klamath and Goose basins are agriculture lands with sagebrush and juniper woodlands. FBFM 2, 6, 9, NFDRS Fuel Model C.

IA Dispatch Office: Klamath Falls Interagency Fire Center, Lakeview Interagency Fire Center

Communities adjacent or within FMU: Beatty, Bly, Bly Mountain, Bonanza, Dairy, Drews Gap, Harriman, Klamath Falls, Keno, Lakeview Basin, Malin, Merrill, New Pine Creek, South Drews.

3.2.2. FMU Guidance – See Section 3.1

3.2.3 FMU Characteristics

3.2.3.1 Safety

High-Voltage power lines running North-South from Beatty thru Langell Valley, etc.

Mining sites: Juniper Mtn, Quartz Mtn

Hwy 97 corridor.

Southern Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail lines

Trans Canada Natural Gas Pipeline North-South near Malin and Bonanza and Malin Natural Gas Pipeline station

Aircraft hazards:

Low-elevation Military flights.

Air traffic associated with Kingsley Field (Klamath Falls) – Military, fire suppression, commercial and private.

Air traffic associated with Lakeview Airport – Commercial, Fire Suppression and Private.

Poor and hazardous road conditions

Poisonous snakes

Steep slopes in some areas

Remote area conditions

3.2.3.2 Physical

The eastern boundary of Basin FMU starting at the community of New Pine Creek follows Hwy 395 north to the junction with State Hwy 140 at Lakeview. The boundary follows Hwy 140 west from Lakeview to the southern boundary of Klamath District near Bly Mountain. The boundary falls as follows: West along the Klamath District Boundary to Hwy 97 north of Klamath Falls. North along Hwy 97 to the junction of State Hwy 62 near Chiloquin.Northwest along Hwy 62 to the boundary of Klamath District near Annie Ck. South along the Klamath District boundary to State Hwy 140 near Rocky Point. Southeast along Hwy 140 to the junction with Hwy 97 south of Klamath Falls. South along Hwy 97 to the Oregon border. East along the Oregon State line to New Pine Creek.

This FMU is generally classified as Forest Land

Elevation ranges from 4100ft-7200ft

Forested mountains and hills, broken by large North/South running valleys and flats associated with large lakes, dominate topography. Quartz and Bly Mountains, Goose Lake, Klamath Lake and Wood River valleys are examples of this topography.

Ownership patterns vary widely across the FMU. Most Federal ownership has interspersed private ownership parcels of various sizes. Few large blocks of contiguous Federal ownership are found within this FMU. An exception is the Gerber Block, a large block of BLM ownership with few private in-holdings. In general, the valleys and flats are in private ownership, with Federal lands consisting of the hills and mountains. There are several large blocks of private land managed for timber production.

3.2.3.3 Biological

A wide variety of fuel types exist within this FMU. Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer communities dominate the higher elevations, with Western Juniper woodlands, sage and agricultural lands at lower elevations. Both BLM and Federal lands have a long history of extensive grazing, silvicultural treatments and landscape-scale prescribed burns. FBFM include 2,6,8,9 and 10.

Special Status Species:

Federally Listed Threatened and Endangered Species: Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), and Bull Trout, (Salvelinus confluentus). Shortnose Sucker (Chasimistes brevirostris), Lost River Sucker (Deltistes luxatus), and Redband Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Sensitive Species: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrines), Greater Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), as well as other sensitive species

Plants: Applegates milkvetch (Astragalus applegatei), federally endangered

If fire suppression activities occur within any of these streams (pumping, bucket filling, etc) a resource advisor with fisheries expertise should be notified due to the presence of a Federally listed Threatened and Endangered fish species: Bly Ranger District (RD): Barnes Creek, Barnes Valley Creek, Ben Hall Creek, Dry Prairie unnamed tributaries, Gerber Reservoir, Lapham Creek, Long Branch Creek, Pitchlog Creek. Lakeview RD: NF Willow Creek Klamath RD: Threemile Creek, Recreation Creek, Crystal Creek, Agency Lake, and Sun Creek Chiloquin RD: Upper Klamath Lake and associated springs around the lake

Coordination with forest resource advisors is highly recommended.

3.2.3.4 Resources

Recreation:

High recreational use common throughout the year on the west side of the FMU.

On the east side, peak use occurs typically during weekends, holidays, and during hunting seasons

Recreation Areas:

Surveyor Recreation site, Topsy Recreation site, Gerber Recreation site, Klamath River put-in, Stan H. Spring campsite, Gerber Potholes campsite, Miller Creek campsite, Wildhorse campsite, Upper Midway campsite, Basin camp, Rock Creek campsite, Klamath River BLM campgrounds. Drew’s Creek Campground, Lofton Reservoir, Fishhole lake Recreation Area, Dog Lake Recreation Area, Quartz Mountain Snowpark, Booth Memorial State Wayside.

Special Areas

Sycan Wild and Scenic River, Upper Klamath Basin and Wood River Wetland. The Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan for the Upper Klamath Basin and Wood River Wetland is located at the following link: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/lakeview/plans/files/KFRA_WRW_RMP_ROD.pdf

Agency Infrastructure:

Lookouts: Dog Mountain, Horsefly

Bly RD and compounds, Klamath RD, KIFC and LIFC with associated compounds, Gerber Guard Station, Lakeview Airport SEAT and Helitack base, Klamath Falls airtanker base, KFRA compound,

Seed orchards requiring protection from fire include: Horseshoe Seed Orchard (40S; 18E; Sec 22)

A map of the recreational sites on BLM land is located at the following link on Map 7

Communication Sites:

Stukel Mountain (radar, microwave, two-way radio)

Yainax Butte (low power government radio only)

Brady Butte (microwave)

Buck Butte (microwave)

Malin (passive microwave reflector)

Bly (passive microwave reflector)

Communities:

Towns of Fort Klamath, Klamath Agency, Williamson River Mission, Modoc Point, Klamath Falls and surrounding suburbs, Midland, Worden, Henley, Harriman, Lost River, Merrill, Malin, Haynesville, Bonanza, Dairy, Olene, Beatty, Bly, Bly Mountain, Drew’s Gap, Westside, Lakeview, New Pine Creek, and several smaller communities.

Rural dwelling and recreational cabins exist throughout the

FMU.

Historical sites:

Numerous sites exist throughout the FMU. Contact resource advisor for specific information.

Cultural sites:

Native American cultural sites exist throughout the FMU. Examples include encampment sites, burial sites, cambium peeled trees, stacked rock features and lithic scatters. Contact resource advisor for specific information.

Other

High-voltage power lines run North-South from Beatty through Langell Valley

3.2.4 FMU Fire Environment

This FMU receives an abundance of lightning activity during the spring and summer months.

Fire Regimes 1 and 2. The condition class is predominantly 3, with pockets of 1 and 2 throughout the FMU.

Federal lands within this FMU have been significantly altered by extensive timber harvest, various related silvicultural treatments, large wildfires, and landscape-scale prescribed burns.

Juniper is a significant component of many stands, and is encroaching onto sage lands and meadows.

3.2.4.1 Fire Behavior

Sage/Shrub dominated fuels typically described by Fire Behavior Fuel Model (FBFM) 6 or NFDRS T with pockets of Western juniper are common on the BLM lands within this FMU.

Rapid rates of spread are possible due to grass and shrub fuels and topography of the FMU

Abundance of brush and understory stocking levels significantly alter fire behavior by creating ladder fuels to enable propagation of fire to canopy, increasing the likelihood of crown fire and long range spotting.

The timeframe when large fires typically occur late June through mid-October.

Fires in this FMU are frequent, and there is a high potential for large fire growth throughout the period (above).

Crown fires and long range spotting is common during the summer months.

The majority of ignitions on Federal lands within this FMU are caused by lightning.

Several fuels treatments are complete throughout the FMU, particularly on the perimeter of some of the individual WUI areas.

3.2.4.2 Weather

Weather patterns are influenced by several factors including position and intensity of upper level wind currents; high and low pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean, and variations in topography. The Klamath Falls and Lakeview areas are affected by two major frontal zones: Pacific air mass boundary, which is relatively moist, and the drier continental air mass and thermal trough that migrates northward in spring and summer with occasional intrusions of monsoon moisture from the southwest. Strong convection occurring during this time period sets the stage for multiple ignitions. In early summer, the drier continental air mass results in a prolonged drying trend. As the Pacific air mass strengthens in the fall season, precipitation occurs usually in the form of snow. Forty to sixty percent of the rainfall on the forest occurs from December through February. The least amount of precipitation occurs from June to October, when temperatures are the highest and fuels are the driest. Thunderstorms occur most often during these months. The approximate mean annual precipitation is 12.6 inches and the approximate mean annual snowfall is 36.6 inches.

Smoke Management issues include Klamath Falls and Lakeview Smoke Sensitive Receptor Areas (SSRA) and Non-Attainment areas. Class 1 airsheds include Mountain Lakes and Gearhart Wilderness Areas and Crater Lake National Park.

The following Fremont National Forest Management Area Summary Codes in the below tables are applicable to the Barry Point Fire:

MA-1 – Mule Deer Forage and Cover on Winter Range

MA-2 – Endangered and Threatened Species

MA-3 – Additional Old-Growth Habitat for Dependent Species

MA-4 – Mineral Exploration / Development Activities

MA-5 – Timber and Range Production

MA-6 – Scenic Viewsheds

MA-7 – Special Management Areas

MA-8 – Research Natural Areas

MA-9 – Semiprimitive Recreation

MA-10 – Wilderness

MA-11 – Wild and Scenic River

MA-13 – Developed Recreation

MA-14 – Old-growth Habitat to Provide Management Required for Dependent Species

MA-15 – Fish and Wildlife Habitat and Water Quality

MA-16 – Minimum Management