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Project ID: 10-1-01-16

Year: 2010

Date Started: 06/01/2010

Ending Date:  11/01/2014

Title: Characterization of Masticated Fuelbeds and Fuel Treatment Effectiveness in Southeastern US Pine Ecosystems

Project Proposal Abstract: There is little documentation of fuel treatment effectiveness in the southeastern (SE) US, and virtually none in southern wildland-urban-interface (WUI), although the legacy of treatments, particularly prescribed burning, is unparalleled. The majority of pinelands across the SE US Coastal Plain are characterized by short fire return intervals, ranging from 1-3 years for pine uplands, flatwoods, and sandhill communities. Whether wildfire risk is mitigated by mechanical fuel reduction techniques in these systems is closely tied to pre-treatment conditions and post-treatment prescribed fire use, but has not yet been tested. The SE Region, with an average of 2-3 million ha fuels treated annually, presents a compelling opportunity to quantify the effectiveness of mastication for reduction of potential wildfire behavior, and to explore additional ecological repercussions including those on vegetation composition and biomass. In particular, the extensive fuels reduction treatments planned for the WUI of Floridas National Forests should be evaluated to determine whether the risk reduction and ecosystem repercussions meet overall management objectives. We propose to characterize masticated fuelbeds in Floridas WUI pine flatwoods, as this forest type is widespread across the Coastal Plain and represents the most frequently fuels-treated vegetation in Floridas National and State Forests. Our study design compares four treatment scenarios: mastication alone, mastication plus prescribed fire, repeated mastication, and control, across two vegetation structures: mature forests burned within the last three years, and unburned mature pine forests. By characterizing treatment effects on vegetation, masticated fuels, and both actual and potential fire, we will examine not only treatment effectiveness, but assess how the unique features of masticated fuelbeds impact fire behavior and effects. Our quantification of vegetative biomass translocations and recovery will expand the impact of our research by providing data for future analyses of the carbon consequences and economic viability of these fuel treatments.

Principal Investigator: Leda N. Kobziar

Agency/Organization: University of Florida

Branch or Dept: School of Forest Resources & Conservation

Other Project Collaborators

Type	Name	Agency/Organization	Branch or Dept
Co-Principal Investigator	Alan J. Long	University of Florida	School of Forest Resources & Conservation
Co-Principal Investigator	Wayne C Zipperer	Forest Service	SRS-Ctr for Southern WUI Research & Information
Federal Cooperator	Carl J. Petrick	Forest Service	Region 8-Southern Region
Federal Fiscal Representative	Shelly M. Gates	Forest Service	SRS-Southern Research Station
Student Investigator	Jesse K. Kreye	Mississippi State University	Department of Forestry

Project Locations

Consortium

South

Level	State	Agency	Unit
STATE	FL	FS	Osceola National Forest

Project Deliverables

There is no final report available for this project.

	ID	Type	Title
	9467	NonRefereed Publication	Mechanical Fuels Reduction Treatments Effects on Fire Behavior, Fuel Loads, and Forest Ecology
	9448	Poster	Above and Below Ground Heating From the Burning of Masticated Palmetto-Gallberry Fuel Beds
	9447	Poster	Mechanical Mastication as a Fuels Treatment Method in Pine Flatwoods

Supporting Documents

There are no supporting documents available for this project.

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