Comparing the Forest Condition on Reservoir Hill Before

Comparing the Forest Condition on Reservoir Hill Before and After Thinning Pagosa Springs, CO PSHS Global Science: Fall 2017

Purpose of Study To determine if the forest thinning on Reservoir Hill accomplished the goal of reducing fire risk and improving the forest health.

Ponderosa Pine Forest ● Study took place in Ponderosa Pine Forest on Reservoir Hill. ● Found between 6, 300 ft and 9, 500 ft and Pagosa Springs sits between these two elevations ● Trees spaced apart, grasses growing underneath, lots of sunlight on forest floor

The Role of Fire Adaptations ● Reduces fuel ● Higher limbs ○ Less ladder fuel ● Thick bark ○ Insulate the tree ● Widely spaced ○ Less fire travel ● Fires stopped in 1880’s ○ 100 years without fire

Fire Policy ● The US Forest Service was founded in 1905 ○ ○ Fire control was a huge issue Did a great job of putting out fire since being founded ○ 1900 s fire = bad, present fire = good ○ Want to control burn, but can’t due to homes A house in Pagosa Springs area ● Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) ○ Houses ½- 1 mile from a forest area ○ All of Pagosa 2002 missionary ridge fire

Fire Exclusion Policy- Consequences ❖ Unhealthy, dense, Ponderosa Forests vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires ❖ Produces dense understory tree debri giving off longer, hotter, lasting fires ❖ Affecting our own water supply ❖ Can’t take any action towards either controlled or catastrophic fire without smoking the people out

The Values of Reservoir Hill ● Invaluable to Pagosa. ● Economy, aesthetics and health. ● Fire and beetle kill could destroy these values. ● Proactive authorization for thinning.

Condition of the Forest Healthy vs. Unhealthy Forests ● Healthy forest has less ladder fuel ● Unhealthy forest is more susceptible to fire ● Pre-settlement forests had about 50 -70 stems per acre ● Healthy forest is much more equipped for beetles ● Our goal is to make a more resilient forest

Global Science History ● 2012 1 st Global Science Forestry Study in response to 2012 Little Sand fire. ● Reservoir Hill because it is close to the school. ● 1 st presentation to the town council in 2012, 2013 More plots. ● 2014 Presented to a town meeting recommended thinning.

Thinning History ● Jan. 2016 - Mechanical thinning done by Forest Health Company on flat areas ● Sept. 2016 - Hand thinning N. slope by Southwest Youth Corps ● Sept. 2017 - Hand thinning done on W. slope Google earth image taken in summer of 2016

Methodology ● GPS points from previous years to locate plots on Reservoir Hill ● Measured out a radius of 26. 3 ft that had an area of 1/20 of an acre ● DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) ● Tree Height and Lowest Branch Height using a clinometer

Hand Thinning Results(Steep Western Slope) ● Drastic Decrease ● ~70% ● Still above our goal

Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) Flat vs. Sloped Areas ● ● 3 Flat / 6 Sloped Large/Presettlement Greater Diameter Higher Average

Comparing Tree Height in the Flat vs. Sloped Areas ● ● 3 Flat, 6 Sloped Selective Thinning Improved Growth Ladder Fuel

Comparing Tree Density in Sloped Areas, Flat Areas, and Pre Settlement Condition ● Pre settlement 50 to 70 ● Sloped areas have 4 x more trees ● Flat areas meet forest prescription

Recommendation ● Slope areas still more dense than desired (5 x) ○ ● More susceptible to fire and beetle attack Our forest is more resilient than before thinning ● Rec to clear about 140 stems per acre in sloped area ○ Pagosa springs cross country team on reservoir hill. Protect investment ● Thankfully we have a proactive town council Aerial photo of reservoir hill taken before thinning process in 2016.