Springs Fire BAER Plan 2013
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____________________________________________________________________________________National Park Service Santa Monica Mountains U.S. Department of the Interior National Recreation Area Pacific West Region SPRINGS FIRE May 2 - May 12, 2013 Burned Area Emergency Response Plan May 23, 2013 Springs Fire BAER Plan 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................... 2 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 5 The Springs Fire........................................................................................................................................ 6 Burned Area Emergency Response ........................................................................................................... 6 Assessments ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Emergency Stabilization ........................................................................................................................... 9 Recommended Actions for State Parks Management .............................................................................. 9 ASSESSMENT TEAM ............................................................................................................... 10 SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES AND COSTS ........................................................................... 12 VICINITY MAP .......................................................................................................................... 14 FIRE INFORMATION .............................................................................................................. 15 FIRE NARRATIVE..................................................................................................................................... 15 BURNED AREA ASSESSMENTS ........................................................................................... 23 WATERSHED RESOURCES ....................................................................................................................... 23 CULTURAL RESOURCES........................................................................................................................... 42 VEGETATION RESOURCES....................................................................................................................... 61 WILDLIFE ................................................................................................................................................ 85 DAMAGES - Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition Study Samplers ............................................................. 97 ROADS AND TRAILS ................................................................................................................................ 99 LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS ................................................................................................................. 104 PUBLIC INFORMATION & INTERPRETATION NEEDS .............................................................................. 110 STAFFING AND ADMINISTRATION NEEDS ............................................................................................ 115 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Springs Fire BAER Plan 2013 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION CR-1 ..................................................... 116 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION CR-2 ...................................................... 119 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION VR-1 .................................................... 122 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION WR-1 ..................................................... 126 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION DM-1 .................................................... 129 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION RT-1 .................................................... 131 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION RT-2 ..................................................... 133 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION RT-3 ..................................................... 135 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION RT-4 ..................................................... 137 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION LE-1 ...................................................... 139 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION LE-2 ...................................................... 141 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION LE-3 ...................................................... 143 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION LE-4 ...................................................... 145 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION LE-5 ...................................................... 148 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION LE-6 ...................................................... 150 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION PI-1 ....................................................... 153 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION AD-1 ..................................................... 156 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION ES-1 ...................................................... 158 INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT SPECIFICATION PL-1 ...................................................... 160 APPENDIX A. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ......................................................... 162 APPENDIX B. EMERGENCY CONSULTATION .............................................................. 166 APPENDIX C. COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT .................................. 167 APPENDIX D. SPRINGS FIRE BARC BURN SEVERITY MAP .................................... 175 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Springs Fire BAER Plan 2013 APPENDIX E. AUTOMATED GEOSPATIAL WATERSHED ASSESSMENT RESULTS .................................................................................................................................................... 179 APPENDIX F: MAPS .............................................................................................................. 195 1. Springs Fire Progression Map ...................................................................................................... 195 2. Springs Fire Land Ownership, Roads and Trails ........................................................................... 195 3. Springs Fire Watersheds ............................................................................................................. 195 4. Springs Fire Generalized Vegetation Map ................................................................................... 195 5. Springs Fire Burn Severity Classes (BARC) for Slope Classes 30-75% ............................................ 195 6. Springs Fire Watershed Hazards.................................................................................................. 195 7. Weed Treatment Areas ............................................................................................................... 195 8. RSV Weed Infestations................................................................................................................ 195 9. Springs Fire Fire Frequency ......................................................................................................... 195 10. Springs Fire Fire History – Time Since Last Fire ............................................................................ 195 APPENDIX G. MOST RECENT REPORT OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL LOOTING .......... 206 APPENDIX H. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EMERGENCY SIGNAGE ................... 210 APPENDIX J. RESPONSE REQUEST MEMO .................................................................. 212 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Springs Fire BAER Plan 2013 INTRODUCTION This Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) plan has been prepared in accordance with Department of the Interior and National Park Service policy, including DM 620 Part 3: Burned Area Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation, the Interagency Burned Area Emergency Response Guidebook, and NPS Reference Manual 18. The primary objective of BAER is to assess the need for and implement cost effective post-fire stabilization measures to protect human life, property, and critical cultural and natural resources in accordance with approved land management plans and policies, and all relevant federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This plan provides emergency stabilization and rehabilitation recommendations for all cooperatively managed state and federal parklands burned within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SAMO) in the Springs Fire. It was prepared by a BAER team comprised of National Park Service (NPS) staff from the SMMNRA and experienced BAER team members from other NPS units. 5 INTRODUCTION Springs Fire BAER Plan 2013 The Springs Fire The Springs Fire began on May 2, 2013 on the Conejo Grade section of the 101Freeway in Camarillo, CA by accidental ignition from a passing car or truck. The fire occurred under extreme weather conditions and was initially driven by strong Santa Ana winds. The fire burned 24,238 acres in a day and a half and is the 5th largest wildfire within the Santa Monica Mountains (Appendix F, Map 1). It burned 12% of the SMMNRA in the most undeveloped section of the park. A large portion of the fire burned in the 20 year old footprint of the 1993 Green Meadow Fire, the largest fire on record (38,478 acres) in the mountains (Appendix F, Map 10). There was minimal property damage to the surrounding communities as the fire burned mostly through undeveloped private property and parkland. The fire was declared