RIM FIRE RECOVERY UPDATE 0 c (}) From the Desk of the j z ~ c Forest Supervisor Gl I z It's been almost a year since California's third largest wildfire on re­ cord roared through the hills of the Stanislaus National Forest, Yosem­ ite National Park and private timberlands. In the aftermath of that 400 square mile blaze, the Stan­ islaus National Forest and our partners are beginning the A BAER team m Fire: mitigation process that will make those burned lands more fire resilient and improve the wildlife habitat on them. The tasks that we and our partners in the Rim Fire The Big Picture Recovery Project are undertaking will be an opportunity for restoration at a landscape scale. We'll consider the many As soon as access to the fire area was pos­ Forest System (NFS) lands, many of which features and structures that are desirable and sustainable sible, the Stanislaus National Forest (STF) are along roads. for future forested conditions. We're fortunate to see a high brought in a team of resource specialists to In mid-May the Rim Fire Recovery Project level of community involvement. assess the condition of natural resources issued a Draft Rim Recovery Environmental The Rim Fire Recovery Project includes the salvage of affected by the fire. The STF completed the Impact Statement (EIS) for broader scale dead trees to capture their economic value, the removal of Burned Area Emergency Response work to salvage and restoration. The objective is to roadside hazard trees to protect public and worker safety, address imminent hazards. Hundreds of reduce the potential for future catastrophic the reduction of fuels for future forest resiliency, improve­ miles of primary roads have been treated fires by reducing the dead fuel loading creat­ ment of roads for hydrologic function, and, as I said, the to restore ditches, repair or replace culverts ed by the Rim Fire. This includes capturing enhancement of wildlife habitat. and prepare roads for winter weather. Many the economic value of the fire-killed trees The coming fire season promises to be as challenging as archaeological and historic sites were pro­ through timber salvage, before the wood previous ones. Drought conditions throughout much of the tected from additional damage from falling decays beyond market value. Approximately state are mirrored here on the Stanislaus. trees and erosion. Approximately 4,000 45,000 acres ofNFS lands are proposed to Many residents have taken the initiative to create acres were treated with aerial mulching and be included in this project, depending upon defensible space around their property, as well as a fuel 800 acres with ground-based chipping to which EIS alternative is selected. breaks around their communities. These efforts have help protect fragile soils. The STF received funding to repair and paid off in the past when wildfires were slowed and even With wildfire as an inevitable and fre­ replace range infrastructure damaged or de­ diverted away from valuable homes and property. The Fire quent presence on the STF, the Rim Fire stroyed by the fire. Over 30 miles of Forest Adapted Communities website (www.fireadapted.org) has Recovery effort is an opportunity to help Service range fence will be rebuilt. Twelve information on how you and your neighbors can join in a forest grow back that is more resilient to livestock water troughs will be replaced. this worthwhile effort. fire. Two phases of the recovery process The STF is coordinating with Yosemite The rest of us can help too, by remembering Smokey are currently underway. In late April the National Park to restore the fence line along Bear's message, "Only you can prevent wildfires." STF authorized the Rim Hazard Tree (HT) their shared boundary, which keeps grazing project for hazard tree removal along 194 cattle out of the Park. miles of roads, recreation facilities, and Reforestation and other resource recovery Wishing you all a safe summer season. areas adjacent to private infrastructures. actions are yet to occur and are expected to The project spans 1,329 acres of National take several years to complete. Susan Skalski Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor On the Road to Recovery with Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) hen a large scale wildfire, and the presence of ladder fuel. Road Infrastructure: of scientists quickly reviewed the W like the Rim Fire, burns an Heavy fuel buildups allow for the • Drainage restored on 64 miles burned area to assess the damage area, many resources are affected. rapid spread of fire. With continu- of paved roads and 249 miles of so that they could devise a holistic Since last fall, the US Forest Service ous fuels, the flames can readily native surfaced roads. plan to restore order and forest has been working to restore order extend from the forest floor into • Conducted storm patrols on 159 health. The accomplishments men- to the damage that occurred. Our the tree crowns. Numerous downed miles of roads to watch for unusu- tioned above reflect some of the recovery accomplishments, along trees can impact wildlife corridors. ally high water flows. work that has been underway since with the impacted resources, are They also create safety hazards for last fall. Additional temporary highlighted below. people. Trees with weakened timber • Replaced and upsized 228 culverts employees will soon be supplying Soils can sustain damage due to are often called widow-makers due and installed 86 drop inlets to more brain power as well as muscle over-heating causing a condition to their inclination for falling and improve culverts. to the recovery effort. Botanists, known as hydrophobicity or “water harming those nearby, hence the • Out-sloped 23 miles of roads to wildlife biologists, foresters and fearing.” Water beads up on the sur- temporary forest closures you are improve drainage and installed archaeologists are amongst those face of these soils rather than soak- now experiencing. 342 rolling dips to improve road ready to assist in the recovery effort. ing in as it normally would. Erosion With so many resources being drainage. The US Forest Service wants you to and sedimentation can become impacted at once during the Rim know that they are working hard at an issue as ash and repelled water Fire, the US Forest Service would Public Safety and restoring the much loved Stanislaus flow down burnt hillsides instead like to highlight just a few of their Protecting Our Heritage: National Forest. As many commu- of being absorbed by the soil and Burned Area Emergency Response nity members have already voiced, • 28 gates installed to control entry forest debris like leaves, pine needles (BAER) accomplishments to date: “We are all in this thing together,” into hazardous areas. and small twigs. Some watersheds or and forest officials are ensuring that stream runoff areas are more affected • Hazard trees felled on 391 miles of your public servants are taking a Water Quality and will take one or more seasons to roads, along 25 miles of trails and front seat on the road to recovery. & Soil Productivity: stabilize. How quickly slopes green- from around 17 recreational sites. LOOKING to HELP? up and provide protective ground • Aerially mulched over 4,000 acres • Installed 3,280 feet of rock barri- Visit the calendar on our website: cover is a key factor. of hillsides with rice straw. ers to protect cultural and historic www.fs.usda.gov/main/stanislaus/ In hotter portions of the fire, trees • Chipped over 800 acres and used sites from off-road vehicles. workingtogether are also more heavily impacted. the material as a soil stabilizer. Recovering in the aftermath and click on dates for details High tree density can equal high • Installed 96 water bars to help with of a large fire takes time, brawn of volunteer opportunities. tree mortality due to crown closure runoff as well as 37 armored dips. and brains. An assessment team RIM FACTS STANISLAUS 108 EMIGRANT Fire started on Aug. 17, 2013 NATIONAL FOREST to necrest WILDERNESS Know Before You Go! Pi WILDERNESS Cherry Lake S Fk. Lake and was human caused. Stanislaus Long Many forest closures are in effect until Nov. 18, 2014. Barn The area around Cherry Lake was burned 257,314 acres burned of Mi-Wuk 31 Visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/rimfirerecovery Village Clavey River by the Rim Fire and is currently closed to which, 154,530 were on to obtain current closure data before visiting YOSEMITE Richardson the public. STF lands. Mi-Wok Ranger WILDERNESS Mtn. Half of the acres burned on Stanislaus National Forest. Travel information can Twain District Office Harte 2 days in mid-August during also be obtained by calling the US Forest Service Creek a “fire-storm”. at 209-532-3671. Reynolds 31 Kibbie Mtn. Example: on Aug. 22, 49 Stanislaus National Forest Supervisors Mono Camp Mather 51,827 acres burned in Office 14 Creek Cherry YOSEMITE Sonora Vista Lake Firefighters were able to defend this historic one day consuming approxi- Lake NATIONAL PARK T HIS PUBLICATION is ALSO AVAILABLE Tuolumne mately 81 sq. mi. 108 Indian Eleanor family camp, owned and run by the City of San ONLINE in PDF FORMAT AT Rancheria Reed Duckwall Fire was contained on Oct. 24. www .3FORESTS.US/RIMFire Tuolumne Rd. Ridge Francisco. It is open for the summer 2014 season. Tuolumne 14 Duckwall Visit www.campmather.com for more information. It cost approximately Jamestown Mountain Woods $127 million dollars in Ridge Hetch Wards Creek Hetchy Res. suppression efforts. Jawbone Area 17 31 At its peak, 5,000 person- On Aug. 17, 2013, the Rim Fire started in the Ferry nel were battling the blaze Jawbone area of Stanislaus National Forest. The Tuolumne Tioga Road River Clavey River Tuolumne River or supporting those on the Rd.