Example specifications for fuels treatment contract

Abstract

The recent impetus to reduce wildfire risk in urban interface forests of the Colorado Front Range has resulted in the adoption of mechanized thinning to reduce forest density. Lack of suitable markets for the resulting biomass has further prompted the use of in-the-woods chipping and mastication (chunking) to reduce the flammability of the material and scatter it on-site. While these techniques are effective in reducing wildfire risk, little is known about the effect that leaving this biomass has on subsequent understory vegetation recovery and soils. This document describes an area on the Manitou Experimental Forest selected for treatment and outlines mechanical treatments needed to install a study to compare fuel manipulation techniques and subsequent effects on understory vegetation and soils.

Citation

Shepperd, Wayne D. 2006. Example specifications for fuels treatment contract. Unpublished paper on file. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. 4 p.