Fairy Lake Rx Burn Monitoring

Stated objectives:Mimic light to moderate ground fireTo minimize the mortality of mature whitebark pine (<5%)To create cache habitat To reduce competition between from subalpine fir, spruce, and Douglas fir

160 acre Rx burn unit

implemented in fall 2004

Fairy Lake Rx Burn Monitoring

Stand Characteristics8000-8500 feet elevation30-55 % slope160-210 aspect (south)Fuel model 10Blister Rust present pre-burn; no evidence of MPB

Burn CharacteristicsPatchy; consumed areas that had been previously slashedSome stand replacement crown fire

10 treatment and 5 control plotsStand Exams on 1/300 acre plot; Veg composition on 1/100 acre plotsBAF 10 to tally trees in the plotGround cover on 100 points MPB and Blister Rust assessed on 100 trees in treatment and control areas Both PIAL and PIFL were present on the site and were combined for the purpose of analysis

Methods

Results

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

# trees % 5-needle % dead regen

TreatmentControl

Averages for # (BAF 10) trees in the plot% of total trees represented by 5-needle pines% of 5-needle pine trees that were dead

Range and S.D. for Variable

Treatment Control

Trees in plot 4-17 (4.7) 5-20 (5.9)

% of trees that were 5 needle pine

25-100 (28.4) 20-90 (29.5)

% of 5-needle pines dead

33-100 (25.3) 20-100 (39.5)

Results

Results

0102030405060708090100

bare ground %MPB %BR %dead BR

TreatmentControl

Averages for % bare ground in plot% of 100 trees that had MPB activity% of 100 tres that had Blister Rust% of Blister rust trees that were dead

Range and S.D. for Variable

Treatment Control

%Bare Ground

0-26 (7.3) 0-30 (11.8)

Results

Control

Treatment

DiscussionNo significant differences between treatment and control. Fire was the primary mortality agent in treatment plots and Blister Rust in control plots. More small trees left in control.Fire did not seem to create cache habitat – grasses and forbs came back quickly. Also, not enough cones being produced to entice nutcrackers. We observed woodpeckers in the stand, not nutcrackers; maybe too soon to tell, but not likely to see WBP or Limber regenerationRibes was present on all control plots but only one treatment plot; however blister rust levels are severe in both the control and the treatment area Overall levels of MPB are moderate. Slightly higher MPB occurrence in treatment may be related to fire weakened trees attracting beetles

ConclusionsEffects of fire (and possible secondary effects of fire on mtn pine beetles) were outweighed by the effects of blister rustBurn did not meet objectives5-needle pines will likely be replaced by Abla in this stand

RecommendationPlant whitebark and/or limber pine In this Rx burn unit as soon as seedlings are available