USDA Forest Service Publishes

“Fuels Planning Fact Sheets” on the WWW[1]

 

The geographic focus of the "Fuels Planning Science Synthesis and Integration" project (known as the Fuels Synthesis Project) is on the dry forests of the Western United States. Project goals include developing accessible analyses, protocols, and tools; writing peer-reviewed documents that synthesize and integrate the ecological and social science relevant to fuels treatments; and delivering these products in a user-friendly format. Target audiences include fuels management specialists, resource specialists, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) planning team leaders, line officers in the USDA Forest Service and the Department of the Interior; community leaders; and educators.

Teams of scientific experts from public agencies, their management counterparts, and university researchers across the country are working in the four key topic areas to develop a variety of information products for the target audiences. The fact sheets are part of the ongoing information program. Look for current and future fact sheets in the Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) Research Note (RN) series:

RMRS-RN-19: Overview of the Project
RMRS-RN-20: Economic Uses
RMRS-RN-21: Social Issues
RMRS-RN-22: Forest Structure and Fire Hazards
RMRS-RN-23: Environmental Consequences

Project overview

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; fact sheet: the fuels synthesis project overview. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-19-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available:
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn019.pdf

The geographic focus of the "Fuels Planning: Science Synthesis and Integration" project (known as the Fuels Synthesis Project) is on the dry forests of the Western United States. Target audiences include fuels management specialists, resource specialists, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) planning team leaders, line officers in the USDA Forest Service and the Department of the Interior; community leaders; and educators.

Economic uses

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; economic uses fact sheet 1: mastication treatments and costs. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-20-1-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn020_01.pdf

Mastication, or mulching, is a mechanical fuel treatment that changes the structure and size of fuels in the stand. This fact sheet describes the kinds of equipment available, where mastication should be used, and treatment factors affecting cost.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; economic uses fact sheet 2: log hauling cost. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-20-2-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn020_02.pdf

Knowing the cost of fuel reduction treatments and associated activities, such as hauling cut trees, is essential for fire and fuels planning. This fact sheet explores the main factors that determine the cost of hauling cut trees and points the user to an interactive tool that can help plan for those and other expenses.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; economic uses fact sheet 3: economic impacts of fuel treatments. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-20-3-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn020_03.pdf

With increased interest in reducing hazardous fuels in dry inland forests of the American West, agencies and the public will want to know the economic impacts of fuel reduction treatments. This fact sheet discusses the economic impact tool, a component of My Fuel Treatment Planner, for evaluating economic impacts.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; economic uses fact sheet 4: My Fuel Treatment Planner. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-20-4-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn020_04.pdf

In the face of rapidly changing public and political attitudes toward fire and fuel planning, one thing remains constant: the fuel planner is ultimately responsible for making decisions on the land. This fact sheet discusses the options for fuel treatments, and the need, development, and use of the MS Excel based tool, My Fuel Treatment Planner.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; economic uses fact sheet 5: NEPA and economics. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-20-5-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn020_05.pdf

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is the law that requires Federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of their actions, involve the public in the decisionmaking process, and disclose information, starting at the initial stages of planning. This fact sheet discusses when you should consider economics in the NEPA process, when to do an analysis, whether or not to use an economist to conduct the analysis, and other statutes, such as the Clean Air Act, you should be aware of.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; economic uses fact sheet 6: selection criteria analysis. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-20-6-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn020_06.pdf

Confidence in decisionmaking can often come from knowing if others in similar circumstances would choose the same management strategy. Researchers at the USDA FS Pacific Northwest Research Station and the University of Saskatchewan have developed a Selection Criteria Analysis for answering this very question. This fact sheet discusses factors affecting the choice of treatment, such as site characteristics and management objectives; and how the Selection Criteria Analysis balances the factors in the decisionmaking process.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; economic uses fact sheet 7: markets and log prices. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-20-7-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn020_07.pdf

Markets and prices for logs vary widely across the West, fluctuating from place to place in response to regional variables and hauling costs. This fact sheet discusses those variables, locality of log markets, markets for low-value logs, and caveats to consider when using My Fuel Treatment Planner.

Social issues

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; social issues fact sheet 1: developing personal responsibility for fuels reduction: building a successful program to engage property owners. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-21-1-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn021_01.pdf

In the course of work as a land manager, you will no doubt be involved in developing programs to achieve various objectives, including the improvement of fuels management on private lands. This fact sheet describes six steps that will help you plan and conduct a successful program.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; social issues fact sheet 2: developing personal responsibility for fuels reduction: types of information to encourage proactive behavior. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-21-2-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available:
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn021_02.pdf

Fuels management responsibilities may include providing local property owners with the information for taking responsibility for reducing fuels on their land. This fact sheet discusses three different types of information that may be useful in programs to engage property owners in fuel reduction activities.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; social issues fact sheet 3: developing personal responsibility for fuels reduction: more ways to catch and hold people's attention. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-21-3-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available:
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn021_03.pdf

Other fact sheets discuss the different types of information that are useful in explaining to property owners the importance of taking personal responsibility for fuels management on their land. However, for some property owners, new information is not enough - they may need more information in order to understand that change is necessary. This fact sheet discusses ways to catch and hold people's attention so that they become (and stay) engaged in fuels reduction activities.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; social issues fact sheet 4: three critical topics to cover when talking about hazards. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-21-4-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn021_04.pdf

The amount of science applicable to the management of wildfire hazards is increasing daily. In addition, the attitudes of landowners and policymakers about fire and fuels management are changing. This fact sheet discusses three critical keys to communicating about wildfire hazards.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; social issues fact sheet 5: the importance of working locally. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-21-5-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn021_05.pdf

People who evaluate their actions in terms of what others think are often said to be guided by community norms. With respect to fuels management, this means that when you are "selling" a property owner on taking steps to reduce fuels, you are not just "selling" to one person, but to a network of people. This fact sheet discusses three tools to help you focus wildfire hazard education and communication on the local area.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; social issues fact sheet 6: important considerations for communicating about hazards. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-21-6-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn021_06.pdf

Effective public education and communication campaigns about wildland fire and fuels management should have clear objectives, and use the right techniques to achieve these objectives. This fact sheet lists seven important considerations for planning or implementing a hazard communication effort.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; social issues fact sheet 7: the "laws" of effective public education about fire hazards. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-21-7-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn021_07.pdf

Within the past 10 years, breakthrough research has identified factors that are most important for effectively communicating about wildland fire hazards. This fact sheet discusses seven "Laws" of effective public communication that should be considered in any state-of-the-art education campaign.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; social issues fact sheet 8: the "Golden Rule" and other lessons on communicating about hazards. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-21-8-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn021_08.pdf

Other fact sheets identified considerations for communicating about hazards, talked about the importance of working locally, and discussed the seven laws of effective hazard communication. This fact sheet introduces the "Golden Rule" of hazard communication and shares some final lessons from hazard educators.

Forest structure and fire hazard

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; forest structure and fire hazard fact sheet 1: forest structure and fire hazard overview. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-22-1 WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn022_01.pdf

Many managers and policymakers guided by the National Environmental Policy Act process want to understand the scientific principles on which they can base fuel treatments for reducing the size and severity of wildfires. These Forest Structure and Fire Hazard fact sheets discuss how to estimate fire hazard, how to visualize fuel treatments, and how the role of silviculture can help in managing forests to reduce crown fires.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; forest structure and fire  hazard fact sheet 2: fire hazard. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-22-2-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn022_02.pdf

Fire hazard reflects the potential fire behavior and magnitude of effects as a function of fuel conditions. This fact sheet discusses crown fuels, surface fuels, and ground fuels and their contribution and involvement in wildland fire.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; forest structure and fire hazard fact sheet 3: visualizing forest structure and fuels. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-22-3-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn022_03.pdf

The software described in this fact sheet provides managers with tools for visualizing forest and fuels information. Computer-based landscape simulations can help visualize stand and landscape conditions and the effects of different management treatments and fuel changes over time. These visualizations can assist forest planning by considering a range of management options, as well as facilitate communication with a variety of users including the general public.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; forest structure and fire hazard fact sheet 4: role of silviculture in fuel treatments. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-22-4-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn022_04.pdf

The principal goals of fuel treatments are to reduce fireline intensities, reduce the potential for crown fires, improve opportunities for successful fire suppression, and improve forest resilience to forest fires. This fact sheet discusses thinning, and surface fuel treatments, as well as challenges associated with those treatments.

Environmental consequences

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; environmental consequences fact sheet 1: Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). Sutherland, Steve. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-23-1-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn023_01.pdf

The Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) provides accessible, up-to-date fire effects summaries, taken from current English-language literature, for almost 900 plant species, about 100 animal species, and 16 Kuchler plant communities found on the North American continent. This fact sheet discusses the development of FEIS and what is contained in the species summary.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; environmental consequences fact sheet 2: First Order Fire Effects Model (FOFEM). Sutherland, Steve. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-23-2-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn023_02.pdf

FOFEM 5.2 is a simple, yet versatile computer program that predicts first order fire effects using text and graphic outputs. It can be used in a variety of situations including: determining acceptable upper and lower fuel moistures for conducting prescribed burns, determining the number of acres that may be burned on a given day without exceeding particulate emission limits; comparing predicted fuels reduction for alternative prescribed burn scenarios; and predicting the effects of wildland fire. This fact sheet describes what inputs are needed to run FOFEM, the outputs that are produced, and how to download a copy from the internet.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; environmental consequences fact sheet 3: structure fires in the wildland-urban interface. Sutherland, Steve. 2004. Res. Note RMRS-RN-23-3-WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn023_03.pdf

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) data indicate that wildfires destroyed approximately 9,000 homes between 1985 and 1994 in the United States. The loss of homes to wildfire has had a significant impact on Federal fire policy. This fact sheet discusses the causes of home ignitions in the wildland-urban interface, home ignition zones, how to reduce home ignition potential, responsibility for reducing home ignition potential, and management consequences of the home ignition zone.