Arizona Wildfires: The effects on trails

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Arizona Wildfires The effects on trails

and how to begin

Mitigation and
Reconstruction
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Presentation Outline

• AZ Wildfire History
• Trails in Arizona
• Impacts to Trails from Wildfires
• Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Measures

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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

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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

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SOUTHWEST COORDINATION CENTER SOUTHWEST COORDINATION CENTER SOUTHWEST COORDINATION CENTER SOUTHWEST COORDINATION CENTER SOUTHWEST COORDINATION CENTER SOUTHWEST COORDINATION CENTER SOUTHWEST COORDINATION CENTER SOUTHWEST COORDINATION CENTER
YEAR-TO-DATE FIRES ACRES YEAR-TO-DATE FIRES ACRES YEAR-TO-DATE FIRES ACRES YEAR-TO-DATE FIRES ACRES YEAR-TO-DATE FIRES ACRES YEAR-TO-DATE FIRES ACRES YEAR-TO-DATE FIRES ACRES YEAR-TO-DATE FIRES ACRES
Human Human Lightning Lightning    
Caused Caused Caused Caused TOTAL TOTAL
Fires Acres Fires Acres FIRES ACRES

 2006   1,483 36,567 1,597 115,856 3,080 152,423
Avg. 191,000 ac. / yr (based on 1990-2005)
ARIZONA
Larger, More Intense and Damaging Wildfires
 2007   1,055 23,010 871 40,898 1,926 63,908
As of 9/11/2007
 2005   2,716 197,683 1,196 564,429 3,912 762,112
 2004   1,227 45,966 1,396 176,537 2,623 222,503
 2003   1,232 114,624 1,607 74,381 2,839 189,005
 2002   1,746 599,383 1,335 30,493 3,081 629,876
 2001   1,820 12,762 1,347 17,741 3,167 30,503
 2000   1,407 45,657 2,172 37,239 3,579 82,896
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AZ Trail
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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

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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.)

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Post-Fire Trail Assessment

• Things to look for
• Safety Concerns
• Current
• Future
• Trail Damage
• Extent
• Severity
• Cost Estimate

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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

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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.

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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.)?

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Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Reconstruction
Measures

• Seed / Mulch Dispersal Aerial and By Hand

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Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Reconstruction
Measures

• Contour Slope Stabilization Straw Wattles

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Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Reconstruction
Measures

• Slope Stabilization Contour Tree Felling

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Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Reconstruction
Measures

• Reforestation Plant Trees

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Post-Fire Trail Mitigation Reconstruction
Measures

• Trail Reconstruction

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