Transcript Slide 1

This document is contained within the Fire Management
Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other related resources
found in this toolbox may be of interest, you can visit this
toolbox by visiting the following URL:
http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=toolboxes&sec=fir
e. All toolboxes are products of the Arthur Carhart National
Wilderness Training Center.
Wilderness Fire Resource Advisor
Training
Fish and Wildlife Concerns in Wilderness
WFRP
Sara Eckhardt
WFRP
Ken Gebhardt, Forest Fishery Biologist
Superior National Forest
Duluth, Minnesota
WFRP-Mark Ball
Fish and Wildlife Concerns Related to
Fire In Wilderness
Lesson Organization…
Noel Fletch
 Lesson Objectives and Organization
 Fish and Wildlife Law and Policy Related to
Fire Management in Wilderness.
 Potential Effects of Wildfire to Fish and
Wildlife.
 Potential Effects of Fire Suppression to Fish
and Wildlife.
Fish and Wildlife Concerns
In Wilderness
Lesson Organization Continued……
Ray Rivera
 Strategies and guidelines for protection of fish and
wildlife for use in fire planning and suppression.
activities.
• Information resources for IC Team planning
meetings.
• Guidelines for use at briefings and inclusion in
the IAP.
• Pre-planning and off-season preparation for the
WRA role.
 Information to gather
 Contacts needed.
Fish and Wildlife Concerns
In Wilderness
Presentation Objectives:
• Understand the basics of law and policy for
protection of fish and wildlife resources in
wilderness.
• Understand the potential effects of fire and
fire suppression on fish and wildlife in
wilderness.
• Provide examples of strategies and guidelines
for protection of fish and wildlife for use in
fire planning, management, and suppression.
Nick Schmal
Fish and Wildlife Law and Policy Related
to Fire Management
Wilderness Act
Endangered Species Act
National Forest Management Act
Agency Policies
Mary Shedd
- Forest Service Manual Direction.
- Policies and Guidelines for Fish and
Wildlife Management in Wilderness
and primitive areas.
- Forest and Wilderness Management
Plans
Photo Courtesy: Nick Schmal
Wilderness Act and Policy For Fish and
Wildlife Management
Wilderness Resource (def): defined in section 2c
of the Wilderness Act , as an area “untrammeled
by man” where natural ecological processes
operate freely and the area is “affected primarily
by the forces of nature”
Barbara Jordon
(Policy and Guidelines for Fish and Wildlife Management in National Forest
And Bureau of Land Management Wilderness 2006)
Endangered Species Act
Considerations in Wilderness
Mary Shedd
Noel Fletch
Ray Rivera
 The conservation and recovery of threatened and
endangered species and their habitat is a high priority
(i.e. Bald Eagle and Canada lynx).
 Provide protection for known populations and aid
recovery in areas of previous habituation, of federally
listed threatened or endangered species and their
habitats.
 ESA regulations require identification and evaluation
of effects to threatened, endangered, and proposed
species of all Federal agency programs and activities.
Endangered Species Act Section 7
Consultation with USFWS and NMFS
Chad Hood
Don Virgovic
Chad Hood
• Emergency consultation with the USFWS or NMFS is required
to identify potential effects from fire or fire suppression
activities to threatened and endangered fish and wildlife.
• USFS typically provides known occurrence, fire location, and
potential effects to populations and habitat.
• USFWS and NMFS determines if emergency consultation is
necessary.
Dave Bickford
• Consultation occurs with the local fish and wildlife biologist.
Where Does Forest Plan Direction For
Wilderness Wildlife Management Come From?
Forest Service Manual 2323.3
 Provide an environment where the forces of natural
selection and survival rather than human actions
determine which and what numbers of wildlife species
will exist.
 Protect wildlife and fish indigenous to the area from
human caused conditions that could lead to Federal
listing as threatened or endangered.
 Provide protection for known populations and aid
recovery in areas of previous habituation, of federally
listed threatened or endangered species and their
habitats.
Mary Shedd
Forest Plan Wilderness Management Direction
For Wildlife Management
SNF BWCAW Forest Plan Management Direction
 Wildlife habitat composition will be the result of natural
ecological processes such as fire, wind, insects, etc..
 Objectives for management of wildlife are normally compatible
with the wilderness objectives…wilderness values take
precedence.
 Conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered
species and their habitat, with methods compatible with
wilderness values is a high priority (i.e. Bald Eagle and Canada
lynx).
 Forest Plan standards will be implemented where applicable for
conservation and management of sensitive species and species
of concern.
Superior National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan 2004
Interagency Policy For Fish and Wildlife
Management in Wilderness
USFS, BLM, and the Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies
 The National Wilderness Preservation System will be managed to
ensure that ecological succession, including fire and infestation of
insects, operate as freely as possible with only minimal influence by
humans.
 Fish and wildlife management activities will emphasize the
conservation of natural processes, to the greatest extent possible.
 Management activities will be guided by the principle of doing only
the minimum necessary to conserve and, if necessary, to enhance
fish and wildlife resources, and to manage the area as wilderness.
(Policies and Guidelines for Fish and Wildlife Management in National Forest and Bureau
of Land Management Wilderness 2006)
Enough Wilderness Law and Policy!
Lets talk about effects to fish and wildlife
from wildfire and fire suppression activities
Mary Shedd
General Effects to Fish and Wildlife
From Wildfire and Fire Suppression
Nick Schmal
Ray Rivera
Mark Ball
Fire Effects to Watersheds,
Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat
•Effects depend on
weather, topography
and fuel conditions.
•Greater effects to
streams and wetlands
than lakes.
•High severity fires affect
vegetation, soil structure,
and erosion potential.
Potential Effects From Wildfire to Streams
And Aquatic Organisms
Effects to Watersheds and Stream Channels
•Increased stream flows
•Decreased channel stability
•Increased fine sediments
•Changes water chemistry/stream temperatures
•Increased nutrients.
•Loss of riparian habitat and cover
Effects to Aquatic Organisms
•Direct and indirect mortality
•Displacement
•Loss of aquatic habitat
•Loss of connectivity
•Overall productivity!!!!!
Dan Kenny
Nick Schmal
Watershed Effects and Response From
High Severity Wildfire
Effects
• Loss of soil organic layer
• Loss of soil and root structure.
• Loss of all vegetation.
• Decreased water infiltration into soils.
Response:
• High rainfall intensity
• High to moderate slopes
• Mass erosion
• Debris flows
• Transport of eroded
materials to streams.
Effects To A Stream Channel From Wildfire
Nick Schmal
Impacts to a stream channels and habitat:
•Introduction of fine sediments, debris, and nutrients.
•Stream channel becomes unstable.
•Deterioration of riffle and pool habitats.
•Loss of spawning, rearing, and wintering habitat.
•Loss of stream shading
•Increased stream temperatures
Effects to Terrestrial Wildlife and Habitat
From Fire
Fire photo – Nick Schmal. Wildlife photos – Mary Shedd
General Effects to Terrestrial Wildlife and
Habitat From Fire
Barbara Jordon
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Direct and indirect mortality.
Disturbance and displacement
Changes to vegetation and habitats
Improved habitat for some wildlife species
Short term of early successional growth
Long term benefits to other species
Doreen Sumerline
Potential Wildfire Effects to Bald Eagle,
Canada Lynx, and Gray Wolf
Mary Shedd
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Mary Shedd
Mary Shedd
Disturbance and displacement
Potential mortality of young animals.
Bald eagle nests may be at risk.
Positive benefits to prey populations and habitat
(snowshoe hare, deer, and moose).
Potential Effects to Wildlife From
Fire Suppression Activities
Photo – Nick Schmall
Dan Kenney
Mary Shedd
Mark Ball
Mary Shedd
General Effects to Fisheries and Aquatics
From Wildfire Suppression in Wilderness
•Water withdrawal
•Use of retardants and foams (rare)
•Fire line construction
•Potential Some soil compaction.
•Effects of fire ignitions
•Exotic species.
Photos courtesy of Nick Schmal
Water Withdrawals From Lakes and Streams
• Stream dewatering
• Fish removal
(straining)
• Aquatic nuisance
species transferals
Slide Courtesy of Nick Schmal
Slide Courtesy of Nick Schmal
Retardant and Foam Use
May be toxic to
fish and other
aquatic organisms
Dependent on type:
Liquid versus Powder
formulations
Only used in
Wilderness following
preset conditions and
in emergency
situations.
Slide and photos originally provided by Nick Schmal.
Introduction Aquatic Invasive Species as a
Result of Fire Suppression in Wilderness
Spiny Water Flea
Rusty Crayfish
MN SeaGrant
Jason Butcher
Potential Ways to Spread Invasive Species
• Firefighter water use and hose line deployment.
• Helicopter bucket dipping from lakes and streams.
• Helicopter drafting hose – pulls up mud
– Water drops reported to be black
• Long distance movement of water
– Between watersheds and within watersheds
General Effects to Terrestrial Wildlife From Fire
Suppression Activities in Wilderness
Michael Jackson
•Firefighter or aircraft disturbance/displacement
•Disturbance of breeding, nesting, and denning sites.
•Potential mortality from hand or aircraft ignited fires.
•Effects to habitat from hand line construction.
•In BWCAW blow down area, suppression activities
may actually benefit movement of large mammals (i.e.
moose).
Strategies and Guidelines For Protection
of Fish and Wildlife in Wilderness
Salmon
Sensitive Mussels
Bald Eagle
Chad Hood
Noel Fletch
Brad Fink
Chad Hood
First Strategy for the WFRA
If A Wilderness Fire Occurs and you are the
designated WFRA what do you need to help guide ICT
planning efforts to protect fish and wildlife?
First, determine who is the appropriate wildlife or
fisheries staff to consult!.
Strategies and Guidelines For Protection of
Fish and Wildlife in Wilderness
Questions the WFRA should ask the local fish and wildlife biologists
 What species and habitats are of concern?
 Where do they occur in relation to the fire or suppression activities?
 Could they potentially be affected by wildfire or suppression activities?.
 What policies or direction exists?
 What is best approach in a wilderness environment?
Strategies and Guidelines For Protection
of Fish and Wildlife in Wilderness
WFRA General Information Documents
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Fireline Handbook
Minimum Impact Strategies and Techniques (MIST)
Wildland Fire Situation Analysis (WFSA)
Understanding and a copy of the ICS
Delegation of Authority
Fire Plan
Fire Briefing Packet
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Wilderness Act (Ref)
Endangered Species Act (Ref)
Forest Plan
Wilderness Management Plan
Strategies and Guidelines For Protection of
Fish and Wildlife in Wilderness
Other Useful Information Sources
• Instructions for Reporting and
Managing Fires in Anadromous
Drainages (Handout)
• Guidelines for Aerial Delivery
of Retardant or Foam Near
Waterways (Handout)
• Wildland Fire Chemical
Products Toxicity and
Environmental Issues and
Concerns (Handout)
• Endangered Species Act
Consultation Guidelines
(Handout)
Ray Rivera
Dan Kinney
Mary Shedd
Mary Shedd
Mary Shedd
The End
Dan Kinney
Fire photo – Nick Schmal. Wildlife photos – Mary Shedd