why is post-fire vegetation recovery data important?
DESCRIPTION
Youth and Geography: Utilizing Spatial Technologies to Aid in Post-Fire Vegetation Recovery and Research. Caitlin Chason, Project Coordinator; Steven Dasher, 4H Youth Development Advisor UC Cooperative Extension, 5555 Overland Ave, Suite 4101, San Diego, CA 92123. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Why is post-fire vegetation recovery data important?
Detailed information about how regions have responded to wildfire is needed in order to manage land in the best possible way.Frequent burns on the same region can adversely affect an ecosystem.
Youth and Geography: Utilizing Spatial Technologies to Aid in Post-Fire Vegetation Recovery and Research
Project Protocol
Orbiting satellites send out radio signals to ground GPS stations
Youth groups use Garmin eTrex GPS receivers to locate coordinates of each site. These burned sites are documented by digital photography.
Data are entered into an Excel data log into a laptop computer. The data log becomes the attribute table connected to each waypoint in the GIS.
GPS data, digital photos, and data logs are downloaded into ArcGIS 8.3 software.
All data are linked together in ArcMap 8.3 for analysis and display.
Contact Caitlin Chason, [email protected]
(858) 495-5190 Steve Dasher, [email protected]
(858) 694-8874
AcknowledgementsCarl Bell, Invasive Species Advisor;
4H Fire Recovery Youth Groups; California 4H Foundation
Increased erosion Debris flows (landslides) Increased sedimentation
To build a comprehensive map of community photo-monitoring sites fro m a network of local 4H youth groups.
To engage youth in leadership and teaching roles.
To offer participants the opportunity to present results to local agencies.
To provide youth with valuable technical skills through the use of geospatial technologies.
To allow youth to become more familiar with scientific research processes by collecting, visualizing, and analyzing fire recovery data.
4H Fire Recovery Project Objectives
Post-Fire Vegetation Recovery Monitoring Sites
4H Youth Groups Collecting GPS Data_̂
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_̂
_̂_̂
Paradise Fire
VESPER
LAK
E W
OH
LFO
RD
VALLEY CENTER
A6
A5
A4
A3
A2
A1
Youth Group A: Photo-monitoring Sites
0 0.5 1 1.5 20.25 Miles
Group A Sites
_̂ GroupASites
Major Roads
Streams
Paradise Fire Perimeter
San Diego County
ÆCaitlin ChasonUC Cooperative Extension
Coastal Sage Scrub burned too frequently from wildfire can convert to Grasslands
The October 2003 wildfires burned throughout much of San Diego County, leaving many homes partially or completely burned. The wildfires also burned a significant portion of valuable open space that provides recreation for humans and wildlife habitat for a number of important native species.
The purpose of this project is to engage youth in fire ecology, environmental research skills, and geospatial technologies.
Total Acres Burned: 376,237Total Acres Burned: 376,237Total Acres in San Diego County: 2, 727,040Total Acres in San Diego County: 2, 727,040
Wildfire is a natural part of the ecology of the county. Accepting wildfire as a normal occurrence and planning for future wildfires may alleviate damage inflicted to the environment.Research on fire-related issues helps to meet the needs of the fire management community as well as adding to knowledge about the role of fire in the landscape.
SoftwareArcGIS 8.3 and Windows XP
Data Source(s)
ESRI, SANDAG, Garmin Int., California Dept. of Fire and Fire Protection, San Diego Union-Tribune, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
Caitlin Chason, Project Coordinator; Steven Dasher, 4H Youth Development Advisor
UC Cooperative Extension, 5555 Overland Ave, Suite 4101, San Diego, CA 92123
Re-sprouting
Native shrubs
To determine where photo-monitoring sites will be located, youth groups use ArcMap software to view GIS layers like California Dept. of Forestry (CDF) fire history and SANDAG provided (San Diego Association of Government) stream, vegetation, and road layers.
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_̂ _̂ _̂̂_̂__̂̂_
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_̂̂_̂_̂_̂__̂̂_̂_
Cedar Fire
Otay Fire
Paradise Fire
POWAY
VISTA
SANTEE
LA MESA
DEL MAR
CORONADO
EL CAJON
CARLSBAD
OCEANSIDE
ENCINITAS
ESCONDIDOSAN MARCOS
CHULA VISTA
LEMON GROVE
SOLANA BEACH
NATIONAL CITY
IMPERIAL BEACH
4H Fire Recovery Project Photo-monitoring Sites
0 6 12 18 243 Miles
ÆCaitlin ChasonUC Cooperative Extension
4H Project Sites
Cities
_̂ All Group Sites
Streams
Paradise Perimeter
Otay Perimeter
Cedar Perimeter
San Diego County
Oak Creek Fire1985
Cedar Fire2003
Dunbar Fire1973
HIGHWAY 67
INTERSTATE 8
2ND
JAMACHA
SANTEE
EL CAJON
CDF Fire History GIS Layers
San Diego CountyFire History
Cities
Freeways
Streams
CDF Fire Perimeters
YEAR
1910 - 1915
1916 - 1922
1923 - 1928
1929 - 1934
1935 - 1940
1941 - 1946
1947 - 1951
1952 - 1956
1957 - 1964
1965 - 1971
1972 - 1977
1978 - 1983
1984 - 1990
1991 - 1997
1998 - 2003
San Diego County
0 0.9 1.8 2.7 3.60.45 Miles
ÆCaitlin ChasonUC Cooperative Extension
San Diego County
Introduction
Background
Decreased species diversityLoss of endangered speciesVegetation type conversion
Possible ecological Possible ecological damage:damage:
Data from handheld Garmin eTrex GPS receivers are downloaded into the open source ArcMap extension, DNR Garmin, which allows the user to create shapefiles from GPS waypoints.
Chamise
SumacChamise
Coastal Buckwheat
Urban - Agriculture
Chamise
Urban - Agriculture
Urban - Agriculture
Water
Annual Grass - Forb
Urban - Agriculture
Annual Grass - Forb
Water
Mariposa Manzanita
California Sagebrush
Chamise
SAN DIEGO RIVER
SAN
VIC
EN
TE
CR
EE
K
POWAY
SANTEE
Vegetation Types Burned in Cedar Fire
Caitlin ChasonUC Cooperative Extension
Cedar Fire
Cities
Streams
Cedar Fire Perimeter
0 2 4 6 81 Miles
ÆSan Diego County
San Diego County
San Diego County