2007 Fairy Lake Prescribed Burn Monitoring

Project:   Fairy Lake Prescribed Burn Monitoring                                                      AttachmentPowerPoint

Agency/Forest or Park/District: Bozeman RD, Gallatin National Forest, Montana

Project coordinator: Jodie Canfield

Contact:  Jodie Canfield-Ecologist, Gallatin N.F., 3710 Fallon, Suite C, Bozeman, MT.  59718.   406-522-2554   jecanfield@fs.fed.us

Cooperators:  Dave Roberts, Ecologist, MSU.

Source of funding /amount:  FHP: $3,000

Supplemental funding: $6,000 from Gallatin N.F. (NFVW)

Dates of restoration efforts: 

Burn was monitored in August 2007

Objectives

To complete an initial assessment of the effectiveness of a 160 acre RX burn completed in 2004 by establishing 15-20 plots and taking initial measurements as per the monitoring plan for the project. The objective of the burn was to mimic light to moderate ground fire to minimize the mortality of mature WBP, create Nutcracker’s cache sites for future regeneration of WBP, and reduce competition from subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce and Douglas fir.

Acres/ha treated

160 acres

Methods

A field crew would put in stand exam plots on every 10 acres to provide information on species composition, health, relative mortality and ground cover. Each plot would have a GPS location and photo point. Data would be entered as stand exams.

Planting? If so, source of seedlings? Resistance?

Yes, Coeur d’Alene nursery.

Outcome

Project completed. Effects of fire were overwhelmed by white pine blister rust impacts.  In 2010, we planted whitebark pine seedlings and put in a research plot to test various kinds of direct seeding.  There was very low survivorship and very low germination rates.

Monitoring since completion of the project

  Dates:  September 2010; September 2013

  Plans for future monitoring?  None anticipated

Will outcome meet goals?  Yes

Future actions/follow up?

The Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation members visited this site as part of their meeting in 2013.  They recommended no further investment for whitebark pine on this site, as it is marginal habitat especially in light of climate change.

Miscellaneous comments: 

We will continue to protect whitebark pine “plus” trees on this site.