First Implementation of Mid-Scale Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping

Abstract

Mid-scale Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) mapping provides the necessary data layers to plan fuels restoration project serving anthropogenic and resource management goals. We implemented for the first time in the USA the mid-scale methodology proposed by Shlisky and Hann (2003) to map FRCC using remote sensing (Ikonos 4-m resolution satellite imagery) on the 18,218 ha Mount Grant of Hawthorne Army Depot in western Nevada. Pinyon-juniper woodland and curl leaf mountain mahogany woodland were found within the historic range of variability (FRCC 1), whereas low sagebrush, mountain big sagebrush, Wyoming big sagebrush, and mixed desert shrub were moderately departed from the historic range of variability (FRCC 2). Only riparian mountain meadow was highly departed (FRCC 3). Based on fire regime departure as expressed by a continuous percentage value, FRCC assignments were borderline for low sagebrush (FRCC 2 to 1), mountain big sagebrush (FRCC 2 to 3), 2 Wyoming big sagebrush (FRCC 2 to 3), and riparian mountain meadow (FRCC 3 to 2). For departed ecological systems, which were all range sites and the riparian mountain meadow, the common recommended action was to decrease the percentage of late development closed and cheatgrass-dominant pixels, thus increasing the percentage of early and mid-development pixels.