Skip to main content
Author(s):
Carleton B. Edminster, Charles P. Weatherspoon, Daniel G. Neary
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Fuels
Fuel Treatments & Effects
Mechanical treatments
Prescribed Fire-use treatments

NRFSN number: 8434
FRAMES RCS number: 2280
Record updated:

As part of the 1998 Joint USDA/USDI Fire Science Program, the Fire and Fire Surrogates Study was proposed to establish and evaluate cross-comparisons of fuels treatment practices and techniques to reduce wildfire risk. This study evaluates prescribed fire, thinning, and various mechanical treatment methods for treating, removing, or using woody biomass. Site-specific and study-wide evaluations will assess watershed impacts, soil disturbance, vegetation responses, wildlife changes, ecological consequences, social impacts, economics, and potential effects on wildfire size, severity, and cost. The study design is flexible to address local treatment variations and effects and will be installed at 10 locations representative of Interior Washington-Oregon, Northern California, Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountain, Southwest Ponderosa Pine, Southern Pine, and mixed hardwood-oak forest ecosystems. This paper outlines the study components and discusses the potential for providing guidance on the treatment of fuels and use of fire for future watershed management decisions.

Citation

Edminster, Carleton B.; Weatherspoon, C. Phillip; Neary, Daniel G. 2000. The Fire and Fire Surrogates Study: providing guidelines for fire in future forest watershed management decisions. In: Proceedings of the Conference on Land Stewardship in the 21st century: the contributions of watershed management. Proceedings RMRS-P-13. Flagstaff, AZ: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Access this Document

Treesearch

publication access with no paywall

Check to see if this document is available for free in the USDA Forest Service Treesearch collection of publications. The collection includes peer reviewed publications in scientific journals, books, conference proceedings, and reports produced by Forest Service employees, as well as science synthesis publications and other products from Forest Service Research Stations.