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Home My WebLink AboutUrban Wildland Interface Zone , .~ ; ~ ) - . >> . . AsWand Urban Wildland Interface Fire Zone Risk and Hazard Assessment City of Ashland REAL Corps . , ) . . t . , , . ) ) . . . . . September 2000 . ~ Cilyof '""_.- cft$7/~11~. O,.c..5011 %~-:~.. /'---.~D// '!'V,,-?'\ (*iU'\ ','Y'" ,.....,1 \; .\, .'~j ~.".>.. ....<<~/ ,.".,' "l/': --- --_:...-:-/ r~~ /::11\\ ~"..' -~(?::J\ . 1. 'cfl \ (:Ij:~i \ _', ". 1_" / \,/?;--, <<:~/ ~/ Southern Oregon University - nT AsWand Urban Wildland Interface Zone Risk and Hazard Assessment Completed by The Regional Ecosystem Applied Learning Corps For The City of Ashland, Oregon September 2000 Written and Compiled by Charles Mayer, REAL Corps Leader Mathew Bryant, REAL Corps Leader The Regional Ecosystem Applied Learning Corps thanks The City of Ashland The Ashland Forest Lands Commission The Ashland Fire Department The Ashland Ranger Station, USFS Southern Oregon University for their support and help on this project. Table of Contents · Project Overview · Bear Watershed Analysis Fire Hazard Map · Bear Watershed Analysis Fire Risk Map · Southwest Oregon Fire Environment · Ashland and Ashland Watershed Map · Ashland Fire History · Bear Watershed Analysis Large Fire History Map · The Interface Fire Zone · Fuel Models and Data Collection Protocols · Fuel Models · Data Collection Protocol · Photo Examples · Priority Areas . Sources · Mapl · Map 2 · Map 3 · Map 4 · Map 5 · Map 6 · Map 7 · Map 8 "1 Project Overview The purpose of the Ashland Urban Wildland Interface Fire Zone, Risk and Hazard Assessment Project is to support one of the Ashland Forest Land Commission's goals of addressing wildfire risk and hazard reduction in the Ashland Urban Wildland Interface, This project is a combined educational, outreach, and implementation effort and complements the commission's work on proactivdy addressing wildfire fuels on municipal lands. The three main components of the project are: Understanding Relationships and Setting Priorities The first step of the project is understanding the overall wildfire risk and hazard by understanding the specific relationships within the Ashland community of development patterns, protection resources, topography, prevailing winds, and existing vegetation and structures, The REAL Corps will collect, review, and update existing Geographical Information Systems (GIS)-based risk and hazard maps and identify priority areas on which to focus subsequent education, outreach, and implementation efforts. Education and Outreach The Forest Lands Commis sion has done an excellent job promoting general awareness of wildfire concerns, but there is still considerable work to be done to effect behavioral changes in how residents manage vegetation around homes and in wildland areas. There is a need to familiarize new residents with the local fire environment. The REAL Corps would involve Southern Oregon University students in the development of educational and outreach materials for public distribution. Students would also be responsible for implementing strategies for ongoing educational efforts and ".1 follow-up opportunities including personal contacts, neighborhood meetings, field trips, and site visits, Students would also create additional educational and service learning opportunities through the development of a K-12 curriculum, and academic and community conferences related to wildfire and interface issues. Providing the Tools and Expertise REAL Corps experience suggests it is not enough to create an awareness of the problem. It is equally important to assist landowners with implementation of fuel reduction projects. Wildfire fuel modification is difficult, expensive, and sometimes hazardous work. Other values, such as soils, wildlife, and plants have to be considered and included in fuel modification. The REAL Corps will assist landowners in obtaining technical assistance and support, including referral to appropriate professionals, providing assistance with permits, identification and development of grant funds and cost-sharing opportunities, and offering direct assistance through contracts with REAL Corps. . This assessment specifically addresses the first component of the project --identifying specific priority areas for fuel reduction/ manipulation/ treatment. City of Ashland t . . , , .- " . . t . . . , ) , ~ . ~ . . . ') J , Previous analysis of wildfire hazard and rirk, such as the 1995 Bear Watershed Analysis, showed only broad zones of interpretation. BEAR WATERSHED ANALYSIS AREA Fire Hazard Map . LEGEND YELLDW- HIGH HRZRRD GREEN- KEDIUK HRZRRD BlACK- Le~ HAZARO . Fire hazard is defmed as vegetation by kind, arrangement, volume, condition, and location (aspect, slope, elevation) that forms a special threat of ignition, rate of spread, and resistance to control. T:T ~ , ing a fIre Ii htning, caus human or g . .. tion sources, the vanous 19ru h chance as . dfi daste ty Fire risk" e me life and proper . raluble resources, , that threatens \ BEAR ANALYSIS AREA WATERSHED Fire Risk Map '=l LEGEND "XTREl1E R1SK REO RAEA-__ HTGH A!SK ORRNGE AR~A- . ~D ruM RISK _ Y-LLO~ RR~A- M~ CAUSED rlRES ,~ LIGHTNING BLACK DOTS- - AUSED FIRES S- HUMAN C GAE~~ DOT S~S BOUNDARl 8UleK UNE- U r Southwest Oregon Fire Environment Geographically, Ashland and the Ashland Watershed, lie in the eastern Siskiyou Range of the Klamath Mountains. Geologically, this area is situated in dissected granitic terrain called Ashland Pluton. Granitic rock types include quartz diorite, tonalite, granite, diorite, quartz monzonite, and granodiorite. These rock types are weathered to decomposed granitic soils, generally 6 -10 inches deep on northern slopes and 4-6 inches deep on southern slopes. Duff cover varies between 1 -2 inches. Slopes are moderate to steep and range from 20 -70 percent. Reeder Reservoir collects neadyall of the sediment from the upstream portion of the watershed. Vegetative conditions are primarily composed of mixed conifer forest stands. The major conifer species are douglas fir, ponderosa pine, and white fir, Associates include sugar pine, incense cedar, pacific mamone, and black oak. Understory species include deer brush, manzanita, Oregon grape, hazel, rose, service berry, blackberry, poison oak, and a variety of grasses and herbs. The eastern Siskiyou Mountains of Southwest Oregon have the lowest average annual precipitation for areas west of the Cascade Mountain Range in Oregon or Washington. There is a pronounced rain shadow in this area. Annual rainfall in Ashland is less than 20 inches. During the summer relative humidity is regularly below 10 p~rcent. Serious drought conditions have occurred periodically; 1928-1935, 1946-1949,1959, 1967-1968, and 1983-1992, The historic fire return interval for Southwest Oregon, including the Ashland Watershed, was 8 -15 years with an average of 10 years. In general, fires which burn in forests with a high return interval, such as that of Southwest Oregon, burn at low severity and maintain open, fire adapted plant communities. Fire severity measures the effects of fire on vegetation and watershed resources. A low severity fire regime is one in which the effect of the fire is minimal, fires are frequent (under 20 years), of low intensity, and the ecosystem has dominant vegetation well adapted to survive fire. When effective fire suppression efforts began around the turn of the century the fire return interval changed. The Ashland Watershed Fire of 1910, which burned a large portion of the watershed, burned within the fire return interval and mostly at low severity. The 1959 Ashland Creek Fire burned at a high to moderate intensity over the majority of the burn. At the time of this fire the area T ",. had missed approximately 5 fire return cycles, The severity of the 1959 fire is still visible. The fire was contained on a ridge top fuel break built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's. TIlls area was previously an open ponderosa pine stand and is now a broshfield of shrubs and hardwoods. Historically, fire was the primary disturbance mechanism for Southern Oregon. Lightning ignitions, as well as the utilization of fire by Native Americans, produced a short fire return interval. Fires were generally frequent, low intensity, and spread over weeks or months. TIlls fire regime maintained relatively open forest stands with little dead or down material and few standing snags. Currently, vegetation, outside of existing fuel breaks, is comprised of dense overstocked stands ranging from pine plantations (the result of the 1959 Fire) to mature single and multi-storied canopies. Heavy fuel loads (as the result of missed fire return cycles), competition, and moisture stress have caused stands to self thin. Contiguous vertical and horizontal vegetation (fuel ladders) pose a wildfire threat of moving ground fires into the canopies of tree stands (crown fires). Concentrations of slash left from previous timber harvests also pose serious risk. Some areas have up to 200 tons per acre of dead and down material (fuel breaks average 2 tons per acre). Wildfire in the watershed will likely bum at moderate to severe intensity and be stand replacing. Resulting erosion and capture of sediment in Reeder Reservoir will limit water quality for the City of Ashland . 1>f ~ ~ . , ) J .. J . , ~ , t ) I ~ , . . . , . ) i \ ) ~ ~ . ~ ~ . . . ; )t~7. I. " I~k J tf ...~': ~i ~J' ':, ;'. :.;><~:' 'i;;-/-:~j~~~~~,~ ' ' ~ 6 fb =i""h ~~'U' .'1""11:' !}r -- r~~ "I {~ I . 'I :~ : 12 7 1 t ". I" 1~ ." ,,' ;i~~'f " , " . ~\ " " :~-; I. I?~ ....{.;;... f . 13 ! " I I~ , II. I ',1\' )1 '-'. ',I - , 1 i ~ '. \ I V ~_ -'~~'" ~\,: J'W.-': '>'~ (1 1 o~.:,~, / : 24 j I ',.\ I ,. I 1 1 I 18 "'\,17 " n " ~(,: I 'C--s'1 1 ,1 <I "'I ::1 :1 ,,' I 1 1 1 :'1 i=1 --, ;~I 'I --I :;1 '-':yl: .. '._0",' . 25 ~/ ~ ,I: -~ y 36 ,p - I ,--~J / ! :---;1,-,' -, _.;~"..J J . -, ":""" . , 13 I 1 1 I 1 I ~~Cl"r. ~---....._._--~.--._--: I ""tP : 24 __"~t. ,) // '-, " / ........)-..... The City of AsWand and the Ashland Watershed, The watershed is bounded on the south by Mt. AsWand, north by Lithia Park, wcst by Wagner Butte and east by Bull Gap. Within Forest Service boundaries, private and municipal ownership are shown in gray. AsWand Wildfire History · The first European-descendant settlers to the Bear Creek Valley described how Native Americans set fire to the hills and ravines of the area. This annual burning probably promoted food gathering, stirn ulated grass growth for deer and elk foraging, increased bear grass gathering areas, facilitated travel, and minimized wildfire potential. · By the 1850's, the Bear Creek Valley had been settled and most Native Americans had been removed or k:i1led. Small-scale logging and sawmills utilized the drainage areas. Severallarge wildfires in Southern Oregon were recorded in 1867 and 1868; smoke from these fires impacted cities as far north as the Willamette Valley. · In 1899 the first Forest Ranger was hired to oversee the protection of the Ashland Forest Preserve. · In 1901 a wildfire struck the Hamilton Creek Watershed .area (m southeast Ashland) burning several hundred acres. It is suspected that fire suppression along with fifty years of slash accumulation from timber harvesting contributed to this fire. · In 1907 the Ashland National Forest was created and was soon merged into the Crater National Forest, · In 1910 three fires burned simultaneously in the Ashland Watershed. One started in the Co1estine area, several small fires burned on the Winburn Ridge, and the largest originated in the Wagner drainage and burned into the Ashland Watershed and up the East Fork of Ashland Creek. These fires, although large in acreage, burned at 10w severity and within the average fire return interval. · Fire concerns led to increased fire patrols and to the establishment of the Wagner Butte and Mt, Ashland Fire Lookouts in 1923. TT · In 1928 Hosler Dam was built and held the waters of Ashland Creek in Reeder Reservoir, providing the municipal drinking water supply to the City of Ashland. · In 1929 a cooperative agreement between the City of Ashland and the US Forest Service established a management plan for the Ashland Watershed. · In 1959, a wildfire started near Jackson Hot Springs in northern Ashland and burned several thousand acres in the Ashland Watershed. This fire burned at high intensity over the majority of the area (70%). · In 1973, a wildfire started on the Perrozi Property (currendy managed by Southern Oregon University and REAL Corps). This fire burned several hundred acres and entered and burned the Hamilton Creek area, again. High levels of erosion and flooding occurred the following year in this area. · Other small high intensity fires burned in 1981, 1988, 1 992, and 1994. Initial attack and control efforts were successful in keeping these fires relatively small in acreage. Developments continue to be built in areas already burned. The majority of ignitions have shown to be human caused; primarily along road corridors, residentiallocations, and places of frequent outdoor recreation, Hurnan caused fires have burned the greatest number of acres (versus lightning ignitions) in the Ashland Watershed and Interface Zone. This fire history suggests that despite prevention and suppression efforts there is a significant probability of a large scale wildfire occurring and/ or starting in the Ashland Urban Wildland Interface. Based on the correlation between missed fire cycles and increased area burned at high severity, a fire escaping initial attack and control in the Interface or Watershed would have a greater potential than other fires in the last 25 years to exceed several hundred acres in size. TI The 1995 Bear Watershed Analysis shows AsWand and the Ashland Watershed's major wildfIres since 1910, around the time organiL:ed wildfIre suppression began in Southern Oregon. BEAR WATERSHED ANALYSIS AREA Large Fire History {'\. "''./'1. '--\ ~ ~ ~ "'-------.. -- / ___I / ~ I "- "\ "CJ J \ ~ ~ l \.. \ - - --- LEGEND cP JR~NGE- AREA BURNED 1910 GREEN- AREA BURNED 1910 , 1959 BLUE- ARER BURNED 1910.1967' 197i PURPLE- AREA BURNED 1959 BROWN- AREA BURNED 1973 RED- AREA BURNED 1987 YELLOW- AREA BURNED 1988 BLACK L!NE- USfS BOUNORRY BLACK DASHED LINE- ANRLISIS AREA - - '----,. \ ( l ) ( f ( l \ ) ) J J Fuel Models and Data Collection Protocols The REAL Corps developed fuel models based on Forest Service natural fire/fuel models. The Forest Service models did not include some varieties of vegetation found in an interface area, however, Structures and landscaped or "manicured" properties needed to be considered. REAL Corps developed its own model, which took structures and other types of vegetation into account. Structures were rated on a high, medium, and low scale based primarily on roof type. Wood shake shingle roofing was considered high; asphalt/composite shingle and tar and gravel were considered medium; tile, slate, and metal roofing were considered low. Vegetation was rated in three general categories: grasses, shrubs, and timber. Within each category, three levels were considered: high, medium, and low. How structures interacted with the vegetation was also considered when rating the vegetation within a taxlot. For example, a timber -medium rating could be bumped up to a timber -high rating if a structure-high (wood shake roof) was present and part of a contiguous vegetation pattern. REAL Corps members were trained on fire mapping fuel models and data collection protocols and mapped the interface zone in pairs. Each taxlot within in the interface zone was physically surveyed. High resolution aerial photos (provided by the City of Ashland) were utilized to verify vegetation and structures. These photos were also utilized in areas where access was difficult or unavailable in large taxlots. Some large taxlots were divided into smaller segments where significant changes in vegetation patterns occurred. All6.eld data was entered into Ar.cView, a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) computer software program which allows the viewing and manipulation of spatial data. The maps in this assessment were created on ArcView, T - Interface Fire Mapping Fuel Model Classifications Structures I: Low Metal, tile. slate roofing 2: Moderate Tar and gravel, asphalt shingle root1ng 3: High Cedar shake wood shingle roofmg Grass G1: Low Comprised of mostly continuous grass fueL~ with less then 1/3 of the area covered by shrubs or timber. This could include "manicured" or "landscaped" yards provided that the above conditions apply. Fuels are either grc'Co or curing. {approximate height: I foot) G2: Moderate Grasses are dead and make up ~ - 2/3 of the area. Litter and dead material from open shrub or timber ovt:rstory could contribute to ftrehazard. Stands of open pine or shrub could be included where grass is still the dominant species. [grass with understory] G3: High TaU, thick, dead or dying grasses. This could include shrub or timber stand presence as long as it remains under 1/3 of the area. [approximate height: 2 1/2 feet] Shrobs 51: Low Compri~ed of young, green' shrubs covering almost the entire area. The dead wood content and k.'vels of surface fuels from the shrubs are both low. These can exist in a "manicured" environment m with a timber l;tand present. e.g. manzanita, chaparral [approximate height: 2 teet) 52: Moderate Comprised of older, more developed shrub stands, but having essentially the same size and height. More dead-down woody debris i.~ present and these shrubs may be intermixed with open grasses and or a timber overstory. Generally, the shrubs fall between 2 and 6 feet in height and may have ladder fuel capabilities_ 53: High Mature shrub stands with increased fine, woody and dead-down materials. General density is greater than model $2 and the shrub stand height can exceed 6 feet in height. e.g. California mixed chaparral and manzanita IParrozzi property) Timber Tl: Low Closed canopy stands of short needle conifers and or hardwoods. Low surface fuel levels comprised mostly of needles and leaves make up (he li.ller with no understory vegetadon_ Generally good spacing exisrs between trees. T2: Moderate Long needle conifer and hardwood stands, especially oak make up this model's dominant species type. IncIeased surface litter depth al<mg with concentrations of dead-down woody material. These conditions can contribute to torching of nets and or <''rowning. Tnc..'reased density among stands. T3: High Dense stands of conifers or hardwoods with high levels of litter and dead-down material resulting from overmaturation define this model. An established understory can be present as a ladder fuel threat. - ""1 Interface Fire Mapping Data Collection Step 1 Identify Structure(s) Wnre a S inside the taxlot if a st:rru::tlJre is present Step 2 Determine Structure classification 1 Low Metal, tile, slate roofing 2 Moderate Asphalt, composite, tar and gravel roofIng 3 High Wood shake shingle roofIng *remember to look at and consider vegetation immediately adjacent to the structure and whether or not it exacerbates fire risk/nazard . AJmr the S write a I, 2, or 3 inside the tufa! Step J Determine Vegetation Choose dominant type (generally 2/3 or more dominant) VG Grass VS Shrubs VT Timber W. a V (for vegetation) rmder the st:rru::tlJre d~tioD. inside the tufa! Step 4 Select Risk Level . Using the Fud Model Classification- Sheet, select the classification which best describes the overall vegetative conditions GI, Sl, orT! Low G2, 52, or T2 Moderate G3, 53, or T3 High Step 5 Incorporate the Structure Consider the structure classification and how it interacts with the vegetation For example a structure with a 3 rating (S3) could raise a T2 to a T3 rating Step 6 Make final taxlot classification .A.fh!r the V write the final fuel model cl8ssificatioD. 52 VGl S2 VTl- S3 VT2 Structure classification (alone) Vegetation Classification (incorporating the structure) 52 VGI S3 VSl - T'T~ .. . t . . ) ) . ) . . . . . ) ~ . . . . t . t } ~ t ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ The Interface Fire Zone The Ashland Urban Wildland Interface Fire Zone was established by the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Ashland Fire Department in 1992. The interface zone was physically surveyed by: Kcith Woodley, Ashland Fire Chief Dan Thorpe, Unit Forester (prevention), Oregon Department of Forestry Orville Eary, Incident Manager (wildfire), Oregon Department of Forestry The zone was established to protect water quality for the City of Ashland. A fire in the interface zone could become catastrophic and enter and burn the 14,500 acre Ashland Watershed. The resulting erosion would degrade the municipal water supply. The zone was based on three main factors; contiguous wildfire vegetation, the presence of wood shake roofs, and the lack of natural fuel! fire breaks. Other factors included slope, prevailing winds, and access and availability of protection resources. :--:\ , . .....,,;c...... ....., <~.t - - ~,,,', (. ~_. -., REAL Corps 380 Wightman 51 Ashland, OR 97520 (541) 488-9426 Streets Structures All Streets AI Urban Growth Boundary 'Str~ams & Ditches Streams Ditches Wildland Interface Zone -~ N A o 2 Miles Tr . . . . . >> . . . . . . . . ) . . . . . . . t ) t . t . . . . , ) . Photo Examples An example of a shrub-high vegetation taxlot. Manzanita is contiguous and touches the structure. An example of a timber-high ta.xlot. Note the dead and down debris, ladder fuels, and interlocking canapy. rr An example of a structure-medium and timber- high taxlot. Note the steep slope and lack of a fuel break between the structure and vegetation. An example of a structure-low in a timber-medium taxlot. The structure has a metal roof and is surrounded by a primary (30 foot) fuel break. l'T Priority Areas The data collection and mapping component of this project has provided information that has enabled REAL Corps to identify Priority Areas for treatment within the Urban Wildland Interface Fire Zone (UWIFZ). The Priority Areas were selected based upon criteria provided by Ashland Fire Department Chief Keith Woodley, US Forest Service Fire Behavior SpeciaIist Bill Rose and The Bear Watershed Analysis. These criteria include: 1) "High" vegetation & fuel characteristics, 2) proximity to the Ashland Creek Watershed and adjoining vegetation, 3) presence of structures and human activity. When assessing fire risk and hazard conditions within the UWIFZ, vegetation is the primary contributing factor that can be managed. Maps #2 and #4 clearly illustrate how "High" vegetation fuel characteristics are present throughout the UWIFZ. These conditions need to be addressed in the long term, but where these conditions are present and adjacent to the Ashland Creek Watershed is where treatment is needed more immediately. In addition, Map #3 provides information on the presence of structures within the UWIFZ. 1bis map shows where human activity is most frequent and predictable. The Bear Watershed Analysis states that the areas within the UWIFZ where humans are most active are the most probable locations for ignition of a watershed-scale fire, Therefore, to combine these three attributes is to identify those areas where the greatest risk and hazard for a watershed -scale fire exist. Map #5 highlights those areas where the vegetation is considered "High" (grass, shrub or timber) and where there is at least one structure present. With this map and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, REAL Corps was able to identify Priority Areas by selecting the taxlots that fit both conditions and whose surrounding vegetative conditions presented an extreme fire threat to the City of Ashland and the Ashland Watershed. REAL Corps 100ks forward to utilizing these Priority Areas to contact the landowners whose property rests within a Priority Area, Through contacting the landowners, REAL Corps h opes to establish a relationship that will succeed in educating the public about fire risk and hazard in the UWIFZ and in working to manage these properties so to minimize such risk and hazard, lIT Priority Area #1 Terrace Street & Ashland Loop Road TIlls small neighborhood area above Lithia Park offers a good example of what REAL Corps was looking for when compiling data for this section of the project, The Terrace Street & Ashland Loop Road area straddles a ridge on the periphery of the Ashland City limits and sits in the midst of a high fire hazard vegetative condition, Almost all of the area vegetation is considered "High Tunber", where the stands are overstocked, canopies are closed and dead woody debris and shrubs provide ample ladder fuels for a crowning effect. The area abuts taxlots outside the city limits, which rise in a southerly direction towards Mount Ashland. The abutting lots seem to have similar vegetative characteristics and in many cases the canopies are joined (mforma.tion from aerial pho tos provided by Rich Hall, City of Ashland). The prevailing summer winds could exacerbate conditions in a fire situation as they run upslope into the Watershed, A number of residencies are in use and new homes are being built presently. As the area becom es more developed, human presence will increase and fire risk will increase as well. If a fire were to begin here and crown it would have a high probability of continuing into the watershed. The Terrace Street & Ashland Loop Road Priority Area affords a unique opportunity for the extension of this project. This example could become the model for the next component in the UWIFZ Project process. The Terrace Street & Ashland Loop Road neighborhood could be reached out to as a potential Neighborhood Fire Risk and Hazard Association, much like any neighborhood crime fighting organization. By contacting the landowners of this neighborhood in the interest of establishing a relationship and educating citizens about fire risk and hazard, the City of Ashland could foster a new awareness and begin to address these issues through the work of its citizens, Furthermore, as Map #6 shows, the City of Ashland owns two properties within Priority Area #1, While one of these properties (#6) has been at least partially managed, the City of Ashland could benefit by including itself in the neighborhood organization. Not only would such an effort show the City's interest in the issue, but it could also serve to educate citizens in a more interactive manner. - Priority Area #2 Ashland Creek Drive Priority Area #2 is the new development off Granite Street adjacent to Lithia Park. From some perspectives this neighborhood may not seem to be a critical area within the UWIFZ, but this rapidly emerging neighborhood presents a considerable fire risk and hazard, Looking at Map#7 (priority Area #2), one can discern that a human presence is not yet a consideration. However, the lots on Ashland Creek Drive are being excavated and built upon and soon most lots will have residences. The neighborhood is densely packed by small taxlots and is directly adjoined by contiguous vegetation of the "High Timber" variety. The vegetation is generally comprised of densely stocked, unhealthy conifers and hardwoods and a thick layer of ground fuels, including dead down woody debris arid shrubs. The position of the neighborhood in relation to the Ashland Watershed and Lithia Park canyon make the potential for a high intensity, watershed-scale fire likely due to the prevailing summer winds that run from north to south up the canyon towards Mount Ashland. The timberlands that border the Ashland Creek Drive neighborhood are very steep and comprised of decomposed granitics. In combination, and especially considering the future development and increased human interaction with the land, these characteristics present a serious fire risk and hazard. For management of Priority Area #2, REAL Corps would recommend an approach similar to the course of action suggested for Priority Area #1. The first step would be to contact these landowners in an effort to educate them about fire risk and hazard generally and the issues that are specific to their neighborhood and the Ashland Watershed. Once again, contacting these landowners as a neighborhood group could promote a shared interest in the issue of fire risk and hazard, In the long term, REAL Corps would like to build upon these potential relationships by working with neighborhood landowners to manage their vegetation appropriately. Priority Area #3 Alnut & Nutley Streets Priority Area #3 represents a crucial area of concern for fire risk and hazard within the UWIFZ. The larger northwest section of Ashland is vegetated by what was left from the 1959 fire that burned from Jackson Hot Springs towards the Ashland Watershed, The vegetative structure is a - checkerboard ofl1Grassl1, I1Shrubl1 and "Timberl1, I1Lowl1, I1Mediuml1 and "Highl1. However, there is a dense cover of small oak, shrub and non -native, highly flammable Scotch Broom that canvasses this section of town. While not contiguous, this vegetative structure has more than ample fuel stocks and a close proximity to the timber -dominant vegetation of the Wrights Creek corridor, The Alnut and Nutley Priority Area is a small neighborhood that is indicative of the fire risk and hazard conditions across the northwest part of Ashland. REAL Corps has spent time in the area eradicating Scotch Broom because of its invasive nature and flammability. A large portion surrounding the Talent Irrigation Ditch has been remove d but the risk associated with Scotch Broom's high flammability is still present, Above the dense layer of ground vegetation is a thick canopy of mostly hardwood with the occasional Douglas Fir or Ponderossa Pine. Human presence and interaction with the land are noticeable; hiking, mountain biking and vehicular travel are all frequent due in part to popular area trails (peidmont Trial, Water Tower Trail). Map #7 (priority Area #3) displays the convergence of five roads and dense groupings of taxlots. Th e vegetative conditions compiled with the consistent human presence impart a serious fire risk and hazard to this area. As was the case with Priority Area #2, the City of Ashland owns property in this area and could gain from initiating the formation of a neighborhood organization to address the fire risk and hazard concerns for this area. REAL Corps will continue its work eradicating Scotch Broom throughout Ashland, but more needs to be done. Landowners need to assist in developing and implementing management plans for areas like this one. The process of educating the citizenry is vital, but management needs to be part of the larger process, REAL Corps has started a process of education and management with the citizenry through our Scotch Broom eradication program. Thus far the results have been positive. Citizens have beentreceptive to REAL Corps' efforts to educate them about Scotch Broom and many participated in a "Pull Your Own Scotch Broom" campaign in the spring of 2000. The success of this endeavor offers insight into the possibility of a collective effort with the City of Ashland working with its citizens to address the issue of fire risk and hazard in the Ashland Watershed. 1'f Sources Agee,J.K. 1993. Fire Ecology ofNorlhwest Forests. Washington D.C.: Island Press. Aids to Determining Fuel Models For Estimating Fire Behavior. April, 1982. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Ashland Interface Fire Hazard Reduction (Ha~d) Project EnvironmentalAssessment (BA), Revised March, 1998. Ashland Ranger District, Rogue River National Forest, USPS. Bear WatershedAnafysis 1995. Ashland Ranger District, Rogue River National Forest, USFS. Development Strategies in the Wildland/Urban Inteiface. Western Fire Chiefs Associations Press, 1991. Main, Marty 1996. Protection and Restoration of a Fire-Adapted Eco.rystem in Southwestern Oregon: A Case Stu4J. Thesis, University of Washington. - . - w ~ '- ~ - -- - - -- --- - ... -- ~ .... ..." ... - .. - ... ... .. ... ... .., .... .. .. r- QI I I i I ' i I . I .1 i-nit- I tv""",," i,.1 '~.,. _ ",;1" ,~H ' 1\,.. !'; ,I:f ' ~I____~'~ ----/~. I .i ,~/~ ~ I ~~~-J I. I IT I I . I ;--r- - -- ---------- I ~ ~ -r---~/ i ,. 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