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Arizona Wildfires: The effects on trails

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Arizona Wildfires: The effects on trails. and how to begin. Mitigation and. Reconstruction ... Street 3100 Arizona Avenue. Address Los Alamos, NM 87544. Phone ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Arizona Wildfires: The effects on trails


1
Arizona Wildfires The effects on trails

and how to begin

Mitigation and
Reconstruction
2
Presentation Outline
  • AZ Wildfire History
  • Trails in Arizona
  • Impacts to Trails from Wildfires
  • Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Measures

3
AZ Wildfire History
  • Wildfires were once common in Arizona
  • The historic natural fire regimes were
  • Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands every 10-30 years
  • Ponderosa Pine Communities every 2-10 years
  • Mix-Conifer Forests every 5-25 years
  • Spruce-Fir Forests 150 years
  • Type and intensity of historic wildfires
  • Frequent, low-intensity surface fires
  • Fire-dependent ecosystems

4
AZ Wildfire History
  • Whats changed AZs natural fire regime?
  • Arrival of Anglo-Americans
  • Roads and trails broke up forest fuels continuity
  • Livestock grazing / Logging
  • Fire suppression by land management agencies
  • Climatic Differences (Drought) / Global Warming
  • Subsequent affects to the land and wildfires
  • Altered forest composition and structure
  • Greater build-up of organic materials (fuels)
  • Larger, more intense catastrophic wildfires

5
Avg. 191,000 ac. / yr (based on 1990-2005)
ARIZONA
Larger, More Intense and Damaging Wildfires
As of 9/11/2007
6
AZ Trail
7
Trails in Arizona
  • ASP lists over 600 trails statewide
  • Thousands of miles of trails / routes
  • Many different types / classes of trails
  • Trails located in many different types of
    ecosystems and land jurisdictions

8
Impacts to Trails From Wildfires
  • Loss of Vegetation (trees, shrubs,
    bushes, grasses, ground cover, etc.)
  • Insect Infestation / Noxious Weeds
  • Soil Erosion (hydrophobic soils and significant
    surface runoff / washouts)
  • Loss of Trail Structures (THs, toilets, signs,
    water bars, aesthetics, trail integrity, etc.)

9
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Measures
  • Burned Area Emergency Response Process
  • Trail Assessment (safety concerns, damage report)
  • Develop Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Strategy
  • Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Techniques

10
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Process
  • BAER teams are comprised of hydrologists, soil
    scientists, engineers, biologists,
    archaeologists, range conservationists,
    silviculturists, and other specialists.
  • Primary objective is to protect life, property,
    water quality, and deteriorated ecosystems.
  • When appropriate, an agency administrator
    requests a BAER team, usually before a fire is
    contained.

11
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER)
Process(continued)
  • Primary goal of the BAER team is to generate a
    Rehab Plan for approval and implementation
  • Determine if emergency resource or human health
    and safety conditions exist.
  • Alleviate emergency conditions to help stabilize
    soil control water, sediment and debris
    movement prevent impairment of ecosystems
    mitigate significant threats to health, safety,
    life, property downstream values at risk.
  • Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of
    emergency treatments. Typically 12-month
    timeline.

12
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER)
Process(continued)
  • What BAER may do
  • Install water or erosion control devices
  • Plant for erosion control or stability reasons.
  • Install temporary barriers to protect
    treated/recovering areas.
  • Install warning signs.
  • Replace minor safety related facilities.
  • Install appropriate-sized drainage features on
    roads and trails.
  • Remove critical safety hazards.
  • Plant grass to prevent spread of noxious weeds.
  • What BAER cannot do
  • Replant commercial forests or grass for forage.
  • Excavate and interpret cultural sites.
  • Install interpretive signs.
  • Replace burned buildings, bridges, corrals, etc.
  • Repair roads damaged by floods after fire.
  • Treat pre-existing noxious weeds.

13
Post-Fire Trail Assessment
  • Things to look for
  • Safety Concerns
  • Current
  • Future
  • Trail Damage
  • Extent
  • Severity
  • Cost Estimate

14
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Measures
  • First Steps
  • Secure the Area
  • Post warning / safety signs.
  • Remove hazard trees.
  • Inform the Public
  • News Releases
  • Television
  • Radio
  • Newspaper
  • Town Hall Meetings

15
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Strategy
  • Three General Approaches
  • Decommission trail for safety and resource
    concerns/issues.
  • Repair / reconstruct the trail at its current
    location.
  • Reroute trail or portions of the trail to a
    better location.

16
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Considerations
  • Questions to Ask
  • What are the elements of the reconstruction
    project?
  • Will it require NEPA to reconstruct
    the trail?
  • How will we accomplish the work (i.e. in-house,
    contract, grants, volunteers, etc.)?

17
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Reconstruction
Measures
  • Seed / Mulch Dispersal Aerial and By Hand

18
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Reconstruction
Measures
  • Contour Slope Stabilization Straw Wattles

19
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Reconstruction
Measures
  • Slope Stabilization Contour Tree Felling

20
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Reconstruction
Measures
  • Reforestation Plant Trees

21
Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Reconstruction
Measures
  • Trail Reconstruction

22
Over 78,000 volunteer hours since May, 2000
Home Restoration Trails Education
Monitoring Contact Us
  • Contact Information
  • E-Mail info_at_volunteertaskforce.org
  • Email cmartin_at_losalamos.com
  • E-Mail hogan_at_newmexico.com
  • Street 3100 Arizona Avenue
  • Address Los Alamos, NM 87544
  • Phone 505.662.1612
  • Web Site http//volunteertaskforce.org
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