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Abstract
The Fuel Load method (FL) is used to sample dead and down woody debris, determine depth of the duff/ litter profile, estimate the proportion of litter in the profile, and estimate total vegetative cover and dead vegetative cover. Down woody debris (DWD) is sampled using the planar intercept technique based on the methodology developed by Brown (1974). Pieces of dead and down woody debris are tallied in the standard fire size classes: 1-hour (0 to 0.25 inches or 0 to 0.6 cm), 10-hour (0.25 to 1.0 inches or 0.6 to 2.5 cm), 100-hour (1.0 to 3.0 inches or 2.5 to 8 cm). Pieces greater than 3 inches (8 cm) in diameter are recorded by diameter and decay class. Duff and litter depth are measured at two points along each 60- ft (20-meter) sampling plane. Litter depth is estimated as a proportion of total duff and litter depth. Cover of live and dead vegetation is estimated at two points along each 60-ft (20-meter) sampling plane. Biomass of DWD, duff, litter, and vegetation is calculated using the Analysis Tools software.
Parent Publication
Citation
Lutes, Duncan C.; Keane, Robert E. 2006. Fuel Load (FL). In: Lutes, Duncan C.; Keane, Robert E.; Caratti, John F.; Key, Carl H.; Benson, Nathan C.; Sutherland, Steve; Gangi, Larry J. 2006. FIREMON: Fire effects monitoring and inventory system. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-164-CD. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. FL-1-25
