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Sycan Marsh project studies fire's effect on habitat
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| H&N photos by Steve Kadel Jeff Ketchum of the Nature Conservancy, foreground, digs a fire line to prevent a controlled burn from reaching a tribal vision quest rock near Sycan Marsh. |
April 27, 2007
Kelli Carlsen stood on a forested slope near Sycan Marsh wearing a blue hardhat and holding a two-way radio to her ear.
She was giving a final update to her Oregon Department of Forestry Lakeview office before igniting a controlled burn Thursday morning on Nature Conservancy land.
The idea is to improve forest health by burning dead debris on the ground. That rids the area of combustible fuel that could feed a wildfire, and allows nutrients from downed trees and limbs to enter the soil.
“Fire is an important function in restoring many of these ecosystems,” said Craig Bienz, Sycan Marsh program director for the Nature Conservancy. “Some seeds only germinate when they're smoked.”
Preparation for the project began days earlier when weather forecasts were checked. The National Weather Service in Medford gave site-specific information about moisture, wind speed and direction, along with temperature.
“All the variables that might affect behavior of the fire,” Bienz said.
Before burning began, though, there was one last check Thursday with a weather reporter on the other end of Carlson's radio. The Nature Conservancy's Rob Lindsay gave the OK, and it was time for a test burn to begin.
Carlson, acting as burn boss, looked at a half dozen firefighters holding drip torches.
“Are you waiting for me to bless it?” she joked.
Mike Wilkeson of the private company Klamath Fire Inc. jumped to action, igniting a line of vegetation. The group watched to see how fast the fire spread, information that would be vital for the real burn.
“We want consumption, but we don't want it to burn too hot and hurt the trees,” Wilkeson said.
When they were satisfied with the burn rate, the “igniters” spread out and began the fire that would cover about 100 acres during the day. They'll be at the site again today and Saturday, and possibly Sunday, to cover the targeted 800 total acres.
A plume of smoke from Thursday's burn was visible for dozens of miles, although fire traveled in the correct direction at the right pace. Water trucks were on standby just in case things flared out of control.
Bienz said the Nature Conservancy is trying to replicate the historic frequency of fire, which evidence shows occurred every seven to 15 years near Sycan.
“We know that without fire the forest is encroaching into the marsh,” he said. “We're trying to move the forest back.”
Water storage is another benefit of controlled burns in brushy areas. There's less evaporation on burned lands, Bienz said, and healthier plants.
“Plants that are there are more vigorous because they don't compete for water,” he said, adding that uplands provide storage for large amounts of water.
- Steve Kadel
Kelli Carlsen stood on a forested slope near Sycan Marsh wearing a blue hardhat and holding a two-way radio to her ear.
She was giving a final update to her Oregon Department of Forestry Lakeview office before igniting a controlled burn Thursday morning on Nature Conservancy land.
The idea is to improve forest health by burning dead debris on the ground. That rids the area of combustible fuel that could feed a wildfire, and allows nutrients from downed trees and limbs to enter the soil.
“Fire is an important function in restoring many of these ecosystems,” said Craig Bienz, Sycan Marsh program director for the Nature Conservancy. “Some seeds only germinate when they're smoked.”
Preparation for the project began days earlier when weather forecasts were checked. The National Weather Service in Medford gave site-specific information about moisture, wind speed and direction, along with temperature.
“All the variables that might affect behavior of the fire,” Bienz said.
Before burning began, though, there was one last check Thursday with a weather reporter on the other end of Carlson's radio. The Nature Conservancy's Rob Lindsay gave the OK, and it was time for a test burn to begin.
Carlson, acting as burn boss, looked at a half dozen firefighters holding drip torches.
“Are you waiting for me to bless it?” she joked.
Mike Wilkeson of the private company Klamath Fire Inc. jumped to action, igniting a line of vegetation. The group watched to see how fast the fire spread, information that would be vital for the real burn.
“We want consumption, but we don't want it to burn too hot and hurt the trees,” Wilkeson said.
When they were satisfied with the burn rate, the “igniters” spread out and began the fire that would cover about 100 acres during the day. They'll be at the site again today and Saturday, and possibly Sunday, to cover the targeted 800 total acres.
A plume of smoke from Thursday's burn was visible for dozens of miles, although fire traveled in the correct direction at the right pace. Water trucks were on standby just in case things flared out of control.
Bienz said the Nature Conservancy is trying to replicate the historic frequency of fire, which evidence shows occurred every seven to 15 years near Sycan.
“We know that without fire the forest is encroaching into the marsh,” he said. “We're trying to move the forest back.”
Water storage is another benefit of controlled burns in brushy areas. There's less evaporation on burned lands, Bienz said, and healthier plants.
“Plants that are there are more vigorous because they don't compete for water,” he said, adding that uplands provide storage for large amounts of water.
- Steve Kadel
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leesa wrote on Jan 23, 2009 12:37 PM:
" these things should never happened in this world. the world should be safe. "
samantha r. wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:12 PM:
" this article is So true when your a teen girl and your pregnant It seems to feel like your life is over and there is no way you can fix it but that's not true if your young and your going to have a child then stay focused in school your child wants you to succeed in life so he/she can succeed in life my name is Samantha R. I'm 14 years old i live in Klamath falls and i might be pregnant :] If so I'm determined to make sure my child has a better life then i did :] "
Babe wrote on Jan 23, 2008 6:54 PM:
" I think that chiloquin people do need help and not just the teens but i have also seen places that are alot worse i moved from L.A to chiloquin and ive been back there since and trust me chiloquin is nothing. I also think that crime and drugs etc. are noticed more because it is so small compared to other places and there is no form of disaplin at all "
Tony P. wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:55 PM:
" I remember the night the plane went down.. My mother crying and my dad in tears.. his dad searched for him for years...
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Jane D. wrote on Apr 10, 2009 12:00 AM:
I Love You Bobby
May your soul Rest In Peace
-Deems "