8.22.21 INFORMATION: PINE GROVE FIRE

Montana Dept. of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC)
County Assist Team (CAT)

Fire Summary:   The Pine Grove Fire is now listed at 16,004 acres and 28% contained. It is located on the Fort Belknap Reservation and in Blaine and Phillips counties. The reduction in acreage is the result of continued ground truthing and aerial reconnaissance. Crews were busy on the fire line yesterday on the eastern and southern edges of the fire. A helicopter performed bucket drops to address some of the less accessible areas with remaining heat. White Horse Canyon south to Scraggy Peak was cold trailed and lined, where needed. Work also occurred in the Monument Peak and Mission Ridge areas.   Fire Situation:  Today, firefighters will continue line construction and mop up. One hotshot and two 20-person hand crews will continue to focus on the southern flank of the fire above the Zortman and Landusky mines as well as the Mission Ridge and Monument Peak areas.   No movement from the existing perimeter is anticipated until warmer, sunnier weather returns. Evacuations & Closures: There are Evacuations Warnings in the communities of Zortman, Landusky, Pine Grove, Star Hill, and Lodge Pole. The Mission Canyon, White Cow Canyon and Coming Day roads and the roads going to Camp Creek Campground and Wiccum Cabin remain closed.   Incident Objectives: 1) Provide for firefighter and public safety by adhering to existing policies, procedures, and regulations.  Limit hazard exposure to firefighters, support personnel, and members of the public from the environment created by this incident.  2) Follow and implement the guidance outlined in the Fort Belknap Indian Community COVID 19 Reopening Plan.  Specifically, social distancing measures are encouraged and wearing of masks are required while indoors. 3) Place high priority on protecting communities, ranches, individual properties, cultural,  and natural resources. 4) Utilize Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics to achieve containment where possible. 5) Minimize disruption to residential access that ensures their safety. 6) Ensure effective communications between agencies, elected officials, other stakeholders, and the public.

 

8.21.21 INFORMATION: PINE GROVE FIRE 

Montana Dept. of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) 
County Assist Team (CAT)

Fire Summary:   The Pine Grove Fire remains 17,325 acres and 19% contained. It is located on the Fort Belknap Reservation and in Blaine and Phillips counties. The map has changed based on aerial reconnaissance  of the fire yesterday. The fire has not grown.Crews were unable to access much of the fire yesterday due to the wet conditions. Local rain gages measured 0.88 to 1.28 inches of rainfall during the past three days. Where work was possible, mechanical and hand line was constructed on the eastern perimeter of the fire. Fire Situation:  Today, firefighters will continue line construction and mop up. Two hotshot and three 20-person hand crews will focus on the east and southern flanks of the fire from just south of Lodgepole around to the Zortman and Landusky mines, as well as the Mission Ridge area.   Once again, the wet weather has done a lot of good. But the work isn’t done. Firefighters recognize that things will dry out and small areas burning near the fire perimeter may still be present and could pose a future threat. Evacuations & Closures: There are Evacuations Warnings in the communities of Zortman, Landusky, Pine Grove, Star Hill and Lodgepole. Residents may return to their homes but are requested to be in a Ready State to Evacuate if fire conditions deteriorate. The Mission Canyon, White Cow Canyon and Coming Day roads and the roads going to Camp Creek Campground and Wiccum Cabin remain closed.  Incident Objectives: 1) Provide for firefighter and public safety by adhering to existing policies, procedures, and regulations.  Limit hazard exposure to firefighters, support personnel, and members of the public from the environment created by this incident.  2) Follow and implement the guidance outlined in the Fort Belknap Indian Community COVID 19 Reopening Plan.  Specifically, social distancing measures are encouraged and wearing of masks are required while indoors. 3) Place high priority on protecting communities, ranches, individual properties, cultural,  and natural resources. 4) Utilize Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics to achieve containment where possible. 5) Minimize disruption to residential access that ensures their safety. 6) Ensure effective communications between agencies, elected officials, other stakeholders, and the public. 

 

8.20.21 INFORMATION: PINE GROVE FIRE 

Montana Dept. of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) 
County Assist Team (CAT)

Fire Summary:   The Pine Grove Fire is 17,325 acres and 19% contained. It is located on the Fort Belknap Reservation and in Blaine and Phillips counties. Crews worked hard to take advantage of less intense fire conditions to construct line as close to the fire perimeter as possible. Structure loss assessments are ongoing.Fire Situation: Rain fell over the fire yesterday aiding firefighting efforts. Crews were able to access some difficult to reach areas of the fire to assess, plan and map. Today, firefighters will continue to take advantage of the weather to shore up mechanical line and dig hand line.  Crews will be joined by two arriving hot shot and three 20-person hand crews to focus on the east and southern flanks of the fire from just south of Lodge Pole around to the Zortman and Landusky mines, as well as the Mission Ridge area.   While the wet weather has done a lot of good, things will dry out later and small areas burning interior of the fire perimeter will likely still be present and may pose a future threat. Work done this weekend will help prepare for that possibility. Crews continue to work with tribal cultural specialists to make sure that culturally important sites are protected.Evacuations & Closures: There are Evacuations Warnings in the communities of Zortman, Landusky, Pine Grove, Star Hill and Lodgepole. Residents may return to their homes but are requested to be in a Ready State to Evacuate if fire conditions deteriorate. The Mission Canyon, White Cow Canyon and Coming Day roads and the roads going to Camp Creek Campground and Wiccum Cabin remain closed.  Red Cross Evacuation Shelters have closed.Incident Objectives: 1) Provide for firefighter and public safety by adhering to existing policies, procedures, and regulations.  Limit hazard exposure to firefighters, support personnel, and members of the public from the environment created by this incident.  2) Follow and implement the guidance outlined in the Fort Belknap Indian Community COVID 19 Reopening Plan.  Specifically, social distancing measures are encouraged and wearing of masks are required while indoors. 3) Place high priority on protecting communities, ranches, individual properties, cultural,  and natural resources. 4) Utilize Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics to achieve containment where possible. 5) Minimize disruption to residential access that ensures their safety. 6) Ensure effective communications between agencies, elected officials, other stakeholders, and the public.  


 

 

8.19.21 INFORMATION: PINE GROVE FIRE 

Montana Dept. of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) 
County Assist Team (CAT)

Fire Summary:  The DNRC County Assist Team (CAT) was briefed by local authorities and assumed command of the Pine Grove Fire at 6:00 AM today, Thursday, August 19, 2021. It is 17,325 acres and located on the Fort Belknap Reservation and in Blaine and Phillips counties. Crews worked hard to place perimeter line along the toe of the slope, utilizing existing roads where possible,  between Lodge Pole and Hays. The fire is now 19% contained.Structure loss assessments are ongoing.Fire Situation: Rain fell over the fire yesterday. Today firefighters will take advantage of less intense fire conditions to construct line as close to the fire perimeter as possible to control future fire spread.  Crews continue to work with tribal cultural specialists to make sure that culturally important sites are protected.Evacuations & Closures: Evacuations in Zortman and Pine Grove have been dropped to a Warning Condition.  Evacuations Warnings remain in effect for Starhill and Lodgepole. Residents may return to their homes but are requested to be in a Ready State to Evacuate if fire conditions deteriorate. The Mission Canyon, White Cow Canyon and Coming Day roads and the roads going to Camp Creek Campground and Wiccum Cabin remain closed. Incident Objectives: 1) Provide for firefighter and public safety by adhering to existing policies, procedures, and regulations.  Limit hazard exposure to firefighters, support personnel, and members of the public from the environment created by this incident.  2) Follow and implement the guidance outlined in the Fort Belknap Indian Community COVID 19 Reopening Plan.  Specifically, social distancing measures are encouraged and wearing of masks are required while indoors. 3) Place high priority on protecting communities, ranches, individual properties, cultural,  and natural resources. 4) Utilize Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics to achieve containment where possible. 5) Minimize disruption to residential access that ensures their safety. 6) Ensure effective communications between agencies, elected officials, other stakeholders, and the public. 

 
  
 

DIXIE POST-FIRE BAER ASSESSMENT REPORTS RELEASED

The Forest Service, Lassen and Plumas National Forests completed their post-fire assessments for emergency stabilization measures and actions on National Forest System (NFS) lands burned by the Dixie Fire.  The emergency treatments and activities are designed to decrease possible impacts to critical values from the burned area such as: life and safety, property, critical natural resources, and cultural resources.  Because of the ultimate size of the fire and continual burning and expanding of the fire perimeter and borders, the Burned Area Emergency Response assessment was done in 3 phases and subsequent 3 separate assessment reports.

NOTE: Attached below as “Related Information” are 3 PDF documents called “Dixie Phase-1 Post-Fire BAER 2500-8 Report_PUBLIC; Dixie Phase-2 Post-Fire BAER 2500-8 Report_PUBLIC; and Dixie Phase-3 Post-Fire BAER 2500-8 Report_PUBLIC”.

 

SPECIAL BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding and landslides may occur quickly during heavy rain events and residents and forest visitors need to be prepared to take action. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/sto/.

PHASE 3 DIXIE POST-FIRE BAER SOIL BURN SEVERITY MAPS RELEASED

     

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams are sent to federal lands following significant wildfires to identify imminent post-fire threats and give recommendations on how to reduce the potential impacts on human life and safety, property infrastructure, and critical natural and cultural resources. These multi-disciplinary and sometimes multi-agency teams assess wildfire-impacted burned areas almost immediately after the fire threat passes. Their focus is on the direct damage caused by the fire itself, rather than from suppression, and the after-effects. Post-fire conditions of loss of vegetation and the changes in the soils may increase the flow of water and could cause potential debris and sediment flow impacts.

In August, a Forest Service (USFS) BAER team began evaluating post-fire effects of the Dixie Fire on National Forest System (NFS) lands, while a US Department of Interior (DOI) BAER team focused specifically on the portion of the Dixie Fire that burned in the Lassen Volcanic National Park (LAVO). The DOI BAER team was assembled by the National Park Service (NPS) on September 9, 2021. For information about the DOI BAER assessment, please go to the LAVO Dixie Fire webpage found at: https://www.nps.gov/lavo/learn/nature/dixie-fire.htm.

Due to the large size and continual active burning of the Dixie Fire, the USFS BAER team divided the burned area into three phases for their assessment and analysis. The BAER specialists recently completed their data gathering and analysis of the Dixie burned area to produce a Phase 1 soil burn severity (SBS) map on August 25—analyzing 365,678 acres, a Phase 2 SBS map on September 15—analyzing 404,473 acres, and two Phase 3 SBS maps for the west and east survey areas on October 1, 2021. The USFS BAER team analyzed a total of 207,984 acres during its Phase 3 assessment. The maps and the data display SBS categories of unburned/very low, low, moderate, and high. For the west survey area of Phase 3, approximately 62% of the 113,427 acres are either unburned/very low and/or low soil burn severity, while 36% sustained a moderate soil burn severity and only about 2% identified as high soil burn severity. The east survey area in Phase 3, approximately 44% of the total acres burn are either unburned/very low and/or low soil burn severity, while 53% sustained a moderate soil burn severity, and only about 3% identified as high soil burn severity.

Both Phase 3 SBS maps also show the acreage for each of the landowners for the total 207,984 acres in the Phase 3 assessment to be: 87,476 acres for the Plumas National Forest; 66,517 acres for the Lassen National Forest; 44,064 acres for the National Park Service; 7,305 acres of private/unknown lands; 1,821 acres for the State of California-Lands Commission; and 803 acres for the DOI Bureau of Land Management.

 

It is important to note that the BAER team assesses the effects to soils and not the effects to vegetation. SBS characterizes the effects at the soil surface and below-ground whereas vegetation effects are determined based on mortality and vegetation canopy changes.

Changes in soil cover, water repellency, and soil physical/biological changes determine the severity level of soil burn severity. Changes in water repellency is a much-discussed fire effect.  Change in water repellency is a natural soil property. Fire can increase the severity and the thickness of the water repellent soil which has significant effects to post-fire water runoff.

Low SBS indicates there was only partial consumption of fine fuels while litter coverage remains relatively intact on the soil surface. Burning time at the soil surface was short, leaving root systems and root structure undamaged. Vegetative recovery time in the low category will vary based on ecological community but is expected to recover in the short-term.

Moderate SBS indicates nearly all soil cover of vegetative litter and fine fuels was consumed or converted to ash. Because soil cover is significantly reduced, accelerated water runoff is expected. Charring of the mineral soil occurs in Moderate SBS as well as shallow root burning. The extent of the burning of the leaves and needles on the trees (aka tree canopy) can be unpredictable and can range from high to relatively low mortality. Water repellency is often found at the surface and is increased for both in severity and thickness of the water repellent soils which reduces the ability of precipitation to infiltrate the soil surface.

High SBS is the result of higher intensity fire behavior or longer burning time at the soil surface. As a result of the high heat, nearly all the soil cover of vegetative litter and fuels has been consumed leaving bare soil prone to the impacts of precipitation and resulting water runoff. The surface mineral soil has been reduced to powder (single grain) and often several inches thick. This single grain soil is very easy transported or moved during rain events resulting in excessive soil erosion and sediment loading in rivers, streams, and creeks. The roots in the High SBS areas tend to be completely consumed by the resulting heat of the fire above the soil surface. Water repellency does not exist at the surface because water repellent compounds have been vaporized and tend to be found below the powdered soil surface, but the repellency thickness and more severe burning tend to be much greater than a Moderate SBS soil. Generally, there is 100% tree mortality in High SBS soils. Fire-adapted shrubs and vegetation such as bear clover, manzanita, and deer brush tend to come back with vigor because of root sprout; however, because seed sources are consumed in these High SBS areas, conifers may take many years to re-establish without tree planting.

 

The Dixie BAER assessment team used initial remote sensing imagery with its field validated soils data, to develop and produce the final SBS maps. The BAER team and the US Geological Survey (USGS) both use the SBS maps as an analysis tool to estimate post-fire flows, debris flow probability, erosion and sedimentation flow rates. The USGS initial preliminary hazard assessment map and report for the Dixie burned area is posted at: https://landslides.usgs.gov/hazards/postfire_debrisflow/detail.php?objectid=368.

 

The BAER team relied on its refined soil burn severity map to produce data used in its subsequent modeling and determination of post-fire runoff and sedimentation. In specific areas that experienced moderate-to-high burn severity, there could be increased runoff from steep hillslopes and resultant increases in post-fire soil erosion and potential debris flows.

 

The Dixie Fire soil burn severity map can be downloaded at the “Dixie Post-Fire BAER” InciWeb site (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7811/) as a JPEG or PDF version under the “Maps” tab.

 

SPECIAL NOTE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains over the burn scars. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events-be prepared to take action. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/sto/.

 

Dixie Post-Fire BAER Assessment information is available at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7811/

Dixie DOI BAER Assessment information is available at: https://www.nps.gov/lavo/learn/nature/dixie-fire.htm

PHASE 2 DIXIE POST-FIRE BAER SOIL BURN SEVERITY MAP RELEASED

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams are sent to federal lands following significant wildfires to identify imminent post-fire threats and give recommendations on how to reduce the potential impacts on human life and safety, property infrastructure, and critical natural and cultural resources. These multi-disciplinary and sometimes multi-agency teams assess wildfire-impacted burned areas almost immediately after the fire threat passes. Their focus is on the direct damage caused by the fire itself, rather than from suppression, and the after-effects. Post-fire conditions of loss of vegetation and the changes in the soils may increase the flow of water and could cause potential debris and sediment flow impacts.

In addition to the Forest Service (USFS) BAER team that began last month evaluating post-fire effects of the Dixie fire on National Forest System (NFS) lands, a US Department of Interior (DOI) BAER team is focused specifically on the portion of the Dixie fire that burned in Lassen Volcanic National Park (LAVO) and was assembled by the National Park Service (NPS) on September 9, 2021. This DOI BAER team is evaluating post-fire values-at-risk and will recommend stabilization and rehabilitation treatments specific to the LAVO. The DOI BAER team is currently conducting field reconnaissance of fire impacted recreation facilities, infrastructure, cultural resources, watershed and hydrology, fish and wildlife habitat, rare plants, and invasive species within the LAVO. For information about the DOI BAER assessment, please go to the LAVO Dixie Fire webpage found at: https://www.nps.gov/lavo/learn/nature/dixie-fire.htm.

Due to the large size and continual active burning of the Dixie Fire, the USFS BAER team divided the burned area into three phases for their assessment and analysis. The BAER specialists recently completed their data gathering and analysis of the Dixie burned area to produce a Phase 1 soil burn severity (SBS) map on August 25—analyzing 365,678 acres, and a Phase 2 SBS map on September 15—analyzing 404,473 acres. The map and the data display SBS categories of unburned/very low, low, moderate, and high. For Phase 2, approximately 39% of the 403,473 acres are either unburned/very low and/or low soil burn severity, while 57% sustained a moderate soil burn severity and only about 3% identified as high soil burn severity.

The Phase 2 SBS map also shows the acreage for each of the landowners for the 403,473 acres in the Phase 2 assessment to be: 140,206 acres for the Plumas National Forest; 125,199 acres for the Lassen National Forest; 79,364 acres of private/forestry industry lands; 33,585 acres for the National Park Service; 23,366 acres of private/unknown lands; 911 acres for the State of California-Department of Fish and Game; and 839 acres for the DOI Bureau of Land Management.

The low category of soil burn severity indicate that there was only partial consumption of fine fuels and litter coverage remains relatively intact on the soil surface. Residence time at the soil surface was short, leaving root systems and structure undamaged. Recovery time in the low category will vary based on ecological community but is expected to recovery in the short-term.

A moderate category of soil burn severity indicates consumption of litter and fine fuels at the soil surface. In forested communities, the heat from moderate severity fire will result in water repellant conditions at the mineral soil surface. The canopy in the forest is browning and it is expected that trees will drop needles and leaves that can provide some litter cover at the soil surface. In these systems, recovery can take longer for tree species to re-establish.

The moderate soil burn severity category in lower-elevation communities indicates complete consumption of shrub cover that can but does not necessarily result in water repellant conditions at the soil surface. Several shrub species in the lower-elevation communities do re-sprout after fire and recovery time will be variable. Moderate soil burn severity category in the lower-elevation shrub communities that did not express water repellant behavior can still result in a runoff potential category of high as a result of the soils inherent qualities and the removal of effective vegetative cover.

A high soil burn severity category is the result of higher intensity fire behavior or longer residence time at the soil surface. This category is found in forested or dense woodland communities and the litter and fuels, including an overstory canopy, was consumed. The soil structure is weakened, roots are charred and water repellant soil conditions persist through the upper horizon of mineral soil. Recovery time in the conifer systems can be significant.

The Dixie BAER assessment team used initial remote sensing imagery with its field validated soils data, to develop and produce a map showing soil burn severity levels for the burned area. The BAER team and the US Geological Survey (USGS) both use the soil burn severity maps as an analysis tool to estimate post-fire flows and debris flow probability. 

The BAER team relied on its refined soil burn severity map to produce data used in its subsequent modeling and determination of post-fire runoff and sedimentation. In specific areas that experienced moderate-to-high burn severity, there could be increased runoff from steep hillslopes and resultant increases in post-fire soil erosion and potential debris flows.

The Dixie Fire soil burn severity map can be downloaded at the “Dixie Post-Fire BAER” InciWeb site (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7811/) as a JPEG or PDF version under the “Maps” tab.

SPECIAL NOTE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains over the burn scars. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events-be prepared to take action. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/sto/.

Dixie Post-Fire BAER—Preparing for Rain Events

While many wildfires cause minimal damage to the land and pose few threats to the land or people downstream, some fires cause damage that requires special efforts to prevent problems afterwards. 

Thunderstorms and winter rain events in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains can result in high runoff and flooding. 

Wildfire increases the potential for flooding, post-fire soil erosion and debris flows that could impact campgrounds, fishing areas, homes, structures, roads, and other infrastructure within, adjacent to, and downstream from the burned areas. 

Post-fire, watershed conditions will naturally receive and transport water and sediment differently than during pre-fire conditions. 

The public and communities adjacent to and downstream from the wildfire areas should expect increased flooding and debris transport during less than average rain events.

The potential for increased runoff and debris flows are not just a one-year concern.

We need to recognize the threat potential of flash floods and debris flows may exist for the next several years, depending on the intensity of these storms.

For life and safety concerns, burned area closures may need to be implemented prior to forecast rain events until the burned area fully recovers.

Residents and visitors should remain alert to weather events and plan ahead when travelling along roads within and downstream from the burned areas of the Dixie wildfire.

A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has been working with the Lassen and Plumas National Forests, to assess the condition of the watersheds on National Forest System (NFS) land burned in the Dixie wildfire.

The BAER assessment team identifies potential emergency threats to critical BAER values, and recommends emergency stabilization response actions that are implemented on federal land to reduce potential post-fire threats.

BAER critical values that may be considered at-risk on federal lands are:

• Human life and safety.
• Property such as buildings, water systems and infrastructure, utility systems, road and trail prisms.
• Critical natural resources such as water, soil productivity and hydrologic function, areas where invasive species or noxious weeds may impact native or naturalized communities and may include critical habitat or suitable occupied habitat for federally listed threatened or endangered species.
• Critical cultural and heritage resources such as pre-historic and historic properties and sites.

For values and resources potentially impacted off federal lands, one of the most effective BAER strategies is interagency coordination with local cooperators who assist affected businesses, homes, and landowners with preparing for rain events. 

While multi-agency efforts are being taken to reduce the risks to life and safety adjacent to and downstream from the burned areas, nearby residents should develop individual plans to protect themselves and their property. 

The Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) work together and coordinate with other federal, state and local agencies, and counties that assist private landowners in preparing for increased run-off and potential flooding impacts.

NRCS and local sponsors prepare damage survey reports for eligible sites on private lands adjacent to and downstream from affected areas.  NRCS uses these reports, along with the Forest Service BAER team’s assessment report, to develop emergency measures to reduce the impacts from potential increased water and debris flows, and assist local sponsors to implement recommended emergency measures through its Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program: (www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1045263.pdf).

All EWP Program–Recovery projects begin with a local sponsor or legal subdivision of state or tribal government. Eligible sponsors include cities, counties, towns, conservation districts, or any federally-recognized Native American tribe or tribal organization. Interested public and private landowners can apply for EWP Program–Recovery assistance through one of those sponsors. For more information on NRCS Disaster Assistance Programs: NRCS CA Post-Fire Disaster Assistance.

The following state and local county offices of emergency management promote preparedness through its emergency services programs to assist the public to prepare for, respond appropriately to, and quickly recover from natural emergencies that may impact county residents and visitors:

• Recovering from Wildfire-Damage Assessments

• Lassen County Office of Emergency Services
• Lassen County Department of Public Works

• Plumas County Office of Emergency Services
• Plumas County Department of Public Works

• Butte County Office of Emergency Management
• Butte County Department of Public Works

• Shasta County Wildfire Recovery & Rebuilding
• Shasta County Emergency Services

• Tehama County Office of Emergency Services
• Tehama County Emergency Flood Information
• Tehama County Public Works

Homes or businesses that could be impacted by flooding from federal land that resulted from wildfires may be eligible for flood insurance coverage from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  Information about NFIP is available through FEMA at www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program, or FEMA Wildfire Increases Flood Risk. Other flood preparedness information is available at www.ready.gov/floods at www.floodsmart.gov/.

SPECIAL NOTE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains over the burn scars. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events be prepared to take action. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: https://www.weather.gov/sto/.

 

JUST THE BAER FACTS: BAER Hydrologists assess the response and conditions of burned watersheds in the Dixie Fire

While many wildfires cause little damage to the land and pose few threats to natural resources and people downstream, some fires create situations that require special efforts to prevent additional damage after wildfires. Loss of vegetation exposes soil to erosion; runoff may increase and cause flooding, sediments may move downstream and damage houses or fill reservoirs and put endangered species and community water supplies at-risk.

The Forest Service (USFS) Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program addresses these situations on USFS lands with the goal of keeping National Forest (NF) visitors and employees safe while recreating and working. Another BAER program objective protects critical natural resources such as water quality from further damage during rainstorm events.

Water is one of the most important natural resources flowing from forests. The Forest Service manages the largest single source of water in the U.S. with about 18% originating from 193 million acres of land. A network of water and watershed resource specialists support stewardship efforts at all levels of the organization to promote healthy, sustainable watersheds fundamental to ecosystems and people.

A watershed is the drainage area where water from rain or melting snow and ice drains downhill into a body of water such as a river, stream, lake, reservoir, pond, estuary, wetland, aquifer, sea, or ocean. BAER hydrologists and watershed resource specialists are currently assessing the condition and response of the watersheds within the Dixie burned area.

Inyo National Forest (NF) watershed resource specialists Casey Shannon and Michael Wiese have been assessing the Dixie burned area for hazardous materials (hazmat) for threats from increased runoff and erosion that can impact the water quality of lakes and streams and cause soil contamination, along with public safety concerns with hazmat. They evaluate burned structures and infrastructure located on NF system lands which includes various developed recreation sites, campgrounds, road and trail bridges, and sites with Special Use Permit authorizations. The ash residue of burned structures are known to contain several chemicals and toxic metals that if not contained and eventually removed, will migrate off-site into the soil or waterbodies with increases of runoff during rainstorms and can also become airborne from strong wind events.

The photo below shows the Forest Service Road 26N26 bridge over the North Fork of the Feather River after burning caused by the Dixie Fire. The creosote treated wood timber abutments of the bridge that partially burned are considered hazmat and threaten water quality and the aquatic environment of the river:

This photo shows an organization camp authorized by a USFS Special Uses permit in the Canyon Dam area that was burned during the Dixie Fire. Large amounts of hazmat were identified at this site as a threat to both the local area soil and ground water natural resources:

Lassen National Forest hydrologist Jesse Merrifield, Cleveland National Forest hydrologist Emily Fudge, and Mendocino National Forest hydrologist John Kelley have been evaluating the Dixie burned area to determine threats from rainstorm events to USFS critical values.

In the two following photos, Cleveland NF Hydrologist Emily Fudge assesses the response and condition of the watersheds in the Dixie burned area:

                             

In this photo, Lassen NF Hydrologist Jesse Merrifield also evaluates the condition and response of the watersheds within the Dixie burned area:

Here in this photo, Mendocino NF Hydrologist John Kelley is evaluating post-fire watershed response and conditions along the Pacific Crest Trail within the Dixie burned area:

In this photo below, Lassen NF Hydrologist Jesse Merrifield pointing to the historic high-water marks and flooding posted on a sign along the Feather River:

Besides field assessments of burned areas, aerial reconnaissance flights by helicopter are also regularly needed to get an overview of the burned areas to assist in determining the level of soil burn severity of the soils and watersheds while also viewing for potential threats to critical values.

Below, Lassen NF Hydrologist Jesse Merrifield prepares for her reconnaissance flight to view the Dixie burned area:

Here in this photo, BAER specialists are completing their aerial reconnaissance of the Dixie burned area:

 

JUST THE BAER FACTS: BAER Engineering Specialists Assess Forest Service Roads in Dixie Burned Area

In addition to threats to human life and safety, the Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program assesses potential threats to Forest Service (USFS) property and infrastructure such as roads.

BAER engineering specialists assess the effects of the fire to roads and other infrastructure within the Dixie burned area. They identify potential threats to public users of the roads and infrastructure because of the effects of the fire and potential threats from rainstorms.

After assessing the roads within the Dixie burned area, the BAER engineering specialists may recommend BAER stabilization road treatments to lessen the impacts to USFS roads. These treatments will improve drainage and could include cleaning ditches and culvert inlets and installing culvert risers and trash racks on road crossings that are at-risk of plugging by sediment and woody debris. They may also recommend post-storm inspections to respond to any threats during and after rain events.

Recently Plumas National Forest BAER specialist Alax Parker, Joseph Lumpkin from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Jonathan Berry from the Pacific Southwest Regional Office, Kris Skinner and Loren Reimer, both from the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in Colorado, completed their field assessment in Phase 1 of the Dixie burned area.

The following photos are from their recent field assessment:

In these two photos, BAER engineers evaluate the culvert capacity and function, then determine if the drainage structures are adequate to pass the expected increases in flow, ash and debris during rainstorm events.

                                                  

In the photo below, BAER engineers evaluate the road prism and previously installed drainage features to develop emergency stabilization treatments to ensure that the expected increases in post-fire runoff and erosion don’t adversely damage USFS roads and other built assets.

 

In these last two photos BAER engineers Jonathan Berry and Alax Parker dig out and clear a clogged culvert to increase its function to allow anticipated increased water and sediment flows to continue under the road unobstructed.