Title:

Snag and fuel dynamics after stand-replacing wildfires in the interior Pacific Northwest

Author(s):

Peterson, David W.; Dodson, Erich K.; Harrod, Richy J.

Publication Year:

2023

How to Cite:

These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Peterson, David W.; Dodson, Erich K.; Harrod, Richy J. 2023. Snag and fuel dynamics after stand-replacing wildfires in the interior Pacific Northwest. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2023-0037

Abstract:

These data were collected for a retrospective study of coarse woody debris and woody fuel dynamics following high severity (stand-replacing) wildfires in dry coniferous forests of the interior Pacific Northwest, USA. Between 2007 and 2009, we sampled 255 study sites within a chronosequence of 68 wildfires that burned between 1970 and 2007 in dry coniferous forests of Eastern Washington and Oregon. We selected study sites that represented large patches of dry coniferous forest that burned in stand-replacing wildfire (> 95% overstory tree mortality) within these wildfires and contained a significant component of merchantable ponderosa pine or Douglas-fir trees. This sample included 96 study sites that had been salvage logged following wildfire and 159 sites that had not been logged following wildfire. We avoided sites where Forest Service records or field visits indicated significant post-fire management activities (other than salvage logging) or subsequent fuels management activities (e.g., prescribed burning) that would significantly alter snag or downed wood dynamics.

At each site, we established a randomly placed study plot on which we surveyed pre-fire stand structure, snag and log conditions, and surface woody fuel loadings. By surveying all residual live trees, standing and fallen snags, and cut stumps within a fixed-radius plot, we were able to reconstruct pre-fire stand basal area, density, and species composition. For each live tree and snag on the fixed-radius plot – and additional snags in an expanded variable-radius plot – we recorded the species, diameter, and status (alive, standing dead, broken dead, fallen dead, or cut). In 2007 and 2008, we also recorded snag decay class and the presence or absence of wildlife cavities (on standing snags only). We surveyed surface woody fuels, by size class, on 3-7 planar intercept fuel transects at each study site. Data were collected during 2007-2009 on areas that burned during 1970-2007.

Keywords:

biota; Ecology, Ecosystems, & Environment; Ecology; Fire; Fire ecology; Natural Resource Management & Use; Forest management; Landscape management; Restoration; Timber; Wildlife (or Fauna); Habitat management; ponderosa pine; Pinus ponderosa; Douglas-fir; Pseudotsuga menziesii; Abies; fuel succession; snag dynamics; wildlife cavities; snag longevity; fuel succession; reburn; Joint Fire Science Program; JFSP; Washington; Oregon; Cascade Mountains; Blue Mountains

Related publications:

• Peterson, David W.; Dodson, Erich K.; Harrod, Richy J. 2015. Post-fire logging reduces surface woody fuels up to four decades following wildfire. Forest Ecology and Management. 338: 84-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2014.11.016 https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/48822
• Vizcarra, Natasha; Peterson, David W. 2018. Reburn in the rain shadow. Science Findings. 211. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 5 p. https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/57312
• Peterson, David W.; Dodson, Erich K.; Harrod, Richy J. Unknown. Snag decomposition following stand-replacing wildfires alters wildlife habitat use and surface woody fuels through time. Ecoscience. [In press].

Metrics:

Visit count : 72 0
Download count: 7
More details

Data Access:

• View metadata (HTML)
• View file index (HTML), which lists all files in this data publication and short description of their contents
• Download all files below for the complete publication:
  • RDS-2023-0037.zip (100.63 KB; Checksum)

Need information about Using our Formats?