ANGORA FIRE RESTORATION PROJECT

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ANGORA FIRE RESTORATION PROJECT

U.S. Forest Service

LAKE TAHOE BASIN MANAGEMENT UNIT

Duncan

Duncan Duncan Leao Leao

Leao

Vegetation Management Planner Vegetation Management PlannerVegetation Management Planner

Richard

Richard Richard Vacirca Vacirca

Vacirca

Forest Aquatics Biologist Forest Aquatics BiologistForest Aquatics Biologist

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3 PHASES OF FIRE REHAB

Phase I Rehab: Immediate post

Phase I Rehab: Immediate post Phase I Rehab: Immediate post- --fire actions fire actions fire actions –– –

Termed “mop

Termed “mopTermed “mop---up”up”up”

Hand/dozer lines, roads, safety zones, portions of urban Hand/dozer lines, roads, safety zones, portions of urban Hand/dozer lines, roads, safety zones, portions of urban lotslotslots

Phase II Rehab: Burned Area Emergency Rehab (BAER)

Phase II Rehab: Burned Area Emergency Rehab (BAER) Phase II Rehab: Burned Area Emergency Rehab (BAER) – ––

Erosion control measures

Erosion control measures Erosion control measures –– – Fall/Winter storm eventsFall/Winter storm eventsFall/Winter storm events Noxious weed detection surveys

Noxious weed detection surveysNoxious weed detection surveys

Phase III Rehab: Public safety & Long

Phase III Rehab: Public safety & Long Phase III Rehab: Public safety & Long --term restoration - term restoration term restoration

Angora Hazard Tree Removal Project (urban Angora Hazard Tree Removal Project (urban Angora Hazard Tree Removal Project (urban

lots/roads/trails) lots/roads/trails)lots/roads/trails)

Angora Fire Restoration Project Angora Fire Restoration ProjectAngora Fire Restoration Project

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WHY HERE? WHY NOW?

CONSIDERATIONS:

CONSIDERATIONS: CONSIDERATIONS:

¾ ¾ ¾ Pre Pre Pre -- - fire + post fire + post fire + post -- - fire conditions influence whether or fire conditions influence whether or fire conditions influence whether or

not we are currently at or will eventually meet

not we are currently at or will eventually meet not we are currently at or will eventually meet

desired conditions WITHOUT active management.

desired conditions WITHOUT active management. desired conditions WITHOUT active management.

¾ ¾ ¾ Impacts prior to the fire Impacts prior to the fire Impacts prior to the fire

-- - Roads/trails in Roads/trails in Roads/trails in SEZsSEZsSEZs; Stream straightening; Fire suppression ; Stream straightening; Fire suppression ; Stream straightening; Fire suppression affecting fuel loading

affecting fuel loadingaffecting fuel loading

¾ ¾ ¾ Impacts post Impacts post Impacts post -- - fire fire fire

-- - Loss of vegetation/ground cover to conserve soilsLoss of vegetation/ground cover to conserve soilsLoss of vegetation/ground cover to conserve soils

-- - Further effects to resources from future fire and/or floodsFurther effects to resources from future fire and/or floodsFurther effects to resources from future fire and/or floods + Increase in water availability

+ Increase in water availability+ Increase in water availability + Increase in riparian vegetation + Increase in riparian vegetation+ Increase in riparian vegetation

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DESIRED CONDITIONS

DESIRED CONDITIONS - - EXAMPLES EXAMPLES

POST POST - - FIRE (> 20 YEARS) FIRE (> 20 YEARS)

Fire, Fuels, Vegetation and Forest Management

Fire, Fuels, Vegetation and Forest Management Fire, Fuels, Vegetation and Forest Management

¾¾¾ Stand conditions in the defense zone are fairly open dominated Stand conditions in the defense zone are fairly open dominated Stand conditions in the defense zone are fairly open dominated by large, fire tolerant trees with an overall average fuel loadi by large, fire tolerant trees with an overall average fuel loadiby large, fire tolerant trees with an overall average fuel loading ng ng

of < 15 tons/acre.

of < 15 tons/acre.of < 15 tons/acre.

Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife Habitat Wildlife Habitat

¾¾¾ Maintain sufficient levels of snags and down logs to provide Maintain sufficient levels of snags and down logs to provide Maintain sufficient levels of snags and down logs to provide some characteristics of diverse forest habitat.

some characteristics of diverse forest habitat.some characteristics of diverse forest habitat.

Watershed and Aquatic

Watershed and Aquatic Watershed and Aquatic

¾¾¾ The connections of floodplains, channels, and water tables The connections of floodplains, channels, and water tables The connections of floodplains, channels, and water tables distribute flood flows and sustain diverse habitats.

distribute flood flows and sustain diverse habitats.distribute flood flows and sustain diverse habitats.

Roads and Trails

Roads and Trails Roads and Trails

¾¾¾ The transportation system will provide nonThe transportation system will provide nonThe transportation system will provide non---motorized public motorized public motorized public access to the National Forest. Roads and trails retained in the access to the National Forest. Roads and trails retained in the access to the National Forest. Roads and trails retained in the

system will be improved to meet Forest Service standards system will be improved to meet Forest Service standards system will be improved to meet Forest Service standards

necessary for water quality protection.

necessary for water quality protection.necessary for water quality protection.

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PROPOSED ACTIONS

PROPOSED ACTIONS – – VEGETATION/FUELS VEGETATION/FUELS

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PROPOSED ACTIONS

PROPOSED ACTIONS – – ASPEN ASPEN

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PROPOSED ACTIONS

PROPOSED ACTIONS – – WATERSHED/AQUATICS WATERSHED/AQUATICS

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PROPOSED ACTIONS

PROPOSED ACTIONS – – ROADS/TRAILS ROADS/TRAILS

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SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ACTIONS

FUELS/FOREST HEALTH

FUELS/FOREST HEALTH FUELS/FOREST HEALTH

¾¾¾ Ground based removal = up to 951 acresGround based removal = up to 951 acresGround based removal = up to 951 acres

¾¾¾ Aerial removal = up to 447 acresAerial removal = up to 447 acresAerial removal = up to 447 acres

¾¾¾ Reforestation = up to 1,100 acresReforestation = up to 1,100 acresReforestation = up to 1,100 acres WILDLIFE HABITAT

WILDLIFE HABITAT WILDLIFE HABITAT

¾¾¾ Wildlife Habitat Management Zones Wildlife Habitat Management Zones Wildlife Habitat Management Zones ––– project designproject designproject design

¾¾¾ Aspen (conifer removal) Aspen (conifer removal) Aspen (conifer removal) ––– 1 stand/< 5 acres1 stand/< 5 acres1 stand/< 5 acres

¾¾¾ Aspen (planting) Aspen (planting) –Aspen (planting) –– 11 plots/1/4 acre 11 plots/1/4 acre 11 plots/1/4 acre

WATERSHED AND AQUATIC

WATERSHED AND AQUATIC WATERSHED AND AQUATIC

¾¾¾ Channel reconstruction (Angora Creek) Channel reconstruction (Angora Creek) Channel reconstruction (Angora Creek) --- ~1200 feet (0.23 ~1200 feet (0.23 ~1200 feet (0.23 miles)

miles)miles)

¾¾¾ Large wood placement (Angora Creek + Large wood placement (Angora Creek + Large wood placement (Angora Creek + TribsTribsTribs) ) ) --- ~ 2 miles~ 2 miles~ 2 miles

¾¾¾ Gardner Mountain Meadow Gardner Mountain Meadow Gardner Mountain Meadow ––– 13 acres/~1500 feet (est.)13 acres/~1500 feet (est.)13 acres/~1500 feet (est.)

¾¾¾ Wetland complex (Seneca Pond) Wetland complex (Seneca Pond) Wetland complex (Seneca Pond) ––– 555---10 acres (est.)10 acres (est.)10 acres (est.)

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SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ACTIONS CONT….

ROADS AND TRAILS

ROADS AND TRAILS ROADS AND TRAILS

¾¾¾ System roads System roads System roads ––– upgrades = upgrades = upgrades = BMPsBMPsBMPs, move out of , move out of , move out of SEZsSEZsSEZs, , , decommission, etc.

decommission, etc.decommission, etc.

¾¾¾ NonNon-Non--system roads system roads system roads ––– upgrades = decommission, reconstruct + upgrades = decommission, reconstruct + upgrades = decommission, reconstruct + adopt

adoptadopt

¾¾¾ Trails Trails Trails ––– new construction, reroute + new construction, reroute + BMPsnew construction, reroute + BMPsBMPs on existing, on existing, on existing, decommission, way

decommission, waydecommission, way---finding signagefinding signagefinding signage

NOXIOUS WEEDS

NOXIOUS WEEDS NOXIOUS WEEDS

¾¾¾ Manuel treatment methods (bull thistle) Manuel treatment methods (bull thistle) Manuel treatment methods (bull thistle) ––– 15 15 15 ––– 30 acres 30 acres 30 acres (est.)

(est.)(est.)