California Interagency Fuels Group – Update

The California Interagency Fuels Group consists of state and federal resource specialists working on methods and data relating to wildland fuels. Following a workshop held in Sacramento in November 1996, the group established the following work items:

1. Apply the SNEP vegetation-to-fuel model crosswalks to the Lassen-Modoc vegetation coverage and compare the results to those derived from using plot data. The inventory data for surface fuel components would be ranked to determine whether strata effectively reflect the discrete fuel models produced by the crosswalk. The group decided to form a working team of Husari, Sapsis, Bahro, Conover and Hermit to initiate this work, in conjunction with the RSL. We have named this working group the California Interagency Fuels Group (CAIFG).

2. Explore conversion of plot data into ladder, crown, and resistance to control measures. Specifically, use sample data on herb, shrub, and small tree strata to parameterize the vertical fuel component, and combine large woody debris data with all the above to assess resistance to control.

3. Create a fuel structure map for another area with mixed ownership within the state. A crosswalk would be created from CALVEG data (both USFS and FIA plots) with potential post-inventory re-stratification based on fuel characteristics and other spatial data themes (e.g., elevation).

4. Involve the Riverside Fire Lab in the pilot work. Albright to initiate contacts at Jan. 14 meeting.

Status

CAIFG has met twice to date and focused on step 1 and 2 above. The group compared surface fuel models derived from Lassen-Modoc Inventory plot data on understory vegetation structure and dead and downed woody debris to models derived from applying the SNEP crosswalk to mapped vegetation. In general, the inventory data from plots within strata corroborated the derived surface fuel model based on the crosswalk. In some instances, however, slash models appeared more appropriate and suggested the use of harvest data as a means for updating fuels. This procedure may apply non-federal lands as well, as the presence of slash cannot be inferred from stand structure data alone.

The inventory data show promise for deriving ladder and crown indices, but the group found a need for a more appropriate classification. Sapsis reviewed the CDF Fire Plan three-tier classification, but a more direct measure for ladder fuels, possibly as a "effective" height-to-live-crown-base measure, such as that required in FARSITE, may be a better classification system. We are soliciting input from Mike Landrum (Natural Resources Management staff, Region 5, USFS) for help in interpreting ladder fuel. He is scheduled to meet with the group when it convenes in early June.

The group is considering a binary crown classification - susceptible or not susceptible to crown fire - based on threshold stand density or crown cover values. Sapsis and Husari are to review the literature and make a recommendation.

More problematic, and probably more influential in fire management decisions is the development of a resistance to control measure. The group feels that with the new capability in FARSITE for modeling suppression activities, it may be possible to use fuel model based estimates of line production as a proxy for this measure.

The group is still trying to coordinate with the Idyllwild Project in Riverside County by inviting a member of that group to sit on CAIFG.

Currently, we are planning to generate a map of the Lassen-Modoc based on our methods, and have both internal and external reviews and comparisons to the Lassen N.F. fuel map developed by Bob Olson.

What’s Ahead

The group will meet in early June to continue exploring development of the ladder, crown, and resistance to control indices to compliment the surface fuel model mapping.

The group plans to finish the development of methods to be used for interagency fuel data development by the USFS Region 5 Remote Sensing Lab in Sacramento as part of an interagency agreement with CDF

We are still soliciting additional participation from other agencies. Husari is working on BLM while Sapsis is working on local contacts. It seems particularly important to include the State Fire Marshal for input on fuels classification in developed/urbanized areas.

CAIFG recognizes that fire perimeter data are critical for updating fuel/hazard data, so changes in fuels resulting from fire (as well as other treatments are captured in the corporate data.

Additional scoping by the group is going to examine other data development on hazard that is ongoing in the state, as well as exploration of ground-up image processing for fuels information directly.

Finally, the group will act as a repository for custom fuel models developed for particularly unique fuel complexes in California. Sapsis has collected numerous custom fuel models and will post these models, as well as descriptions of their intended uses and contact points for developers. These data will be available via the CDF Fire and Resource Assessment Homepage.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact David Sapsis via e-mail at dave.sapsis@fire.ca.gov or by phone at (916) 227-1338

Last edited on May 19, 1997 by Greg Greenwood