Preliminary Assessment Completed for Rehabilitation of Severely Burned Areas in
Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest
and National Park Service specialists has completed an initial assessment
of emergency needs in Glacier National Park and the Flathead National
Forest as a result of the Robert, Trapper and Wedge fires. They have
recommended a number of actions in order to minimize threats to life and
property and to prevent unacceptable changes to park and forest resources.
They studied potential damage to watersheds, wildlife and other resources.
In addition, critical sites related to trails, roads and culverts were
identified and rehabilitation projects were recommended.
Based on this assessment, the Forest Service and the National Park Service
have requested funding from their agencies to rehabilitate areas affected
by the Robert, Trapper and Wedge Canyon fires.
"We are taking immediate actions to deal with any post-fire needs in the
burned areas, especially those associated with erosion and public safety."
Flathead National Forest Supervisor Cathy Barbouletos said.
"It is important that we begin this land rehabilitation now before the fall
rains begin," Glacier National Park Superintendent Mick Holm said. The BAER
team hydrologists and soil scientists point out there is increased risk of
erosion and stream sedimentation in the high burn areas because the soil in
those areas is less able to absorb water.
The BAER team is made up of hydrologists, engineers, soil scientists,
wildlife biologists, ecologists, fishery biologists, vegetation and ecology
specialists, geologists and a cultural resource specialist. They were
joined by soil and engineering specialists from the Natural Resources
Conservation Services (NRCS) to evaluate watershed damage from wildfires on
private lands.
The BAER team has recommended a variety of treatments including seeding,
mulching, replacing and upsizing road culverts, stream channel
stabilization, weed treatments, water system resource protection,
replacement of minor burned facilities in Glacier National Park, and
replacing safety signs. In addition, the rehabilitation plans calls for
monitoring Bull trout habitat, vegetation response, soil erosion and
grizzly bear habitat.
Because the fires are still burning, additional requests for rehabilitation
funds may be necessary. When burned areas which are currently closed become
accessible, Park and Forest Service staff will determine if there are other
rehabilitation projects that are needed and whether to bring in another
BAER team or individual specialists.
Much of the burned area in the Robert, Trapper and Wedge Canyon fires
includes a mosaic of low and moderately burn severity. Preliminary findings
indicate that most of the Robert, Trapper and Wedge Canyon fire areas will
re-vegetate to grasses and other plants in 2004. Yet there are several high
burn severity areas upstream from Bull trout habitat, roads, trails and
Glacier National Park facilities. These are areas of particular concern and
a focus of BAER rehabilitation treatment.
The preliminary BAER recommendation calls for spending $809,881 in
emergency rehabilitation funds in the Flathead National Forest for the
Wedge and Robert fires; $235,026 in Glacier National Park for the Robert,
Trapper and Wedge fires and $274 for weed monitoring on other lands. Any
park and forest specific concerns will be addressed by each respectively.
Rehabilitation treatments are expected to begin quickly this fall once the
funds are received.
Snagging, fire line restoration and other restoration activities involved
with fire suppression are currently being performed by fire suppression
teams and are separate from BAER emergency rehabilitation.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)