COS 101-1 - CANCELLED - Landscape-scale, cross-jurisdictional assessment of the post-fire restoration need in Klamath and Lake Counties, Oregon, USA; A collaborative approach to all-lands recovery

Abstract: Since 2018, approximately 660,000 acres experienced wildfire within southern Oregon’s Klamath and Lake Counties, two thirds of which burned at high severity. The extent and continuity of high severity patches have eroded forest recovery mechanisms, risking loss of forest cover, water resources, carbon storage capacity, economic benefits, and biodiversity. Landscape-scale restoration is necessary to establish fire- and climate-adapted forests. American Forests and Fremont-Winema National Forest convened a “Core Team” of stakeholders including the Oregon Department of Forestry, Klamath Tribes, The Nature Conservancy, and two large private industrial forest owners to develop a post-fire resilience strategy for areas burned since 2018. The Core Team developed a strategy to establish fire- and climate-resilient forests to support eventual management via large-scale prescribed fire. Here, we discuss strategy development, geospatial analysis to determine restoration need and prioritization, costs and workforce requirements, implementation scenarios, climate-smart restoration guidelines, and progress.


Geospatial analysis classified the landscape into restoration categories defined by reforestation, fuel management, meadow restoration, and immediate prescribed fire need. Reforestation need, defined by RAVG basal area mortality > 75% in patches > 50 acres, was categorized into planting and natural regeneration ( >40 m and ≤40 m from the nearest potential seed source, respectively). Areas with high fuel loading, indicating fuel management need, were identified using average stand diameter, average stand density, and RAVG basal area mortality. Candidates for immediate prescribed fire were unforested pre-fire or had no reforestation or fuel treatment needs. Planting needs were prioritized based on criteria defined by the Core Team. Lastly, fuel break locations were delineated using potential operational delineation (POD) boundaries and roads near private/public interfaces.

Nearly 250,000 acres may require reforestation with or without fuel treatments, another ~92,000 acres of meadows may require restoration and/or conifer removal, ~203,000 acres may require fuel treatment but no reforestation activities, and an additional ~33,000 acres may be candidates for immediate prescribed fire and other maintenance treatments. Approximately 112,000 acres of National Forest System land are high or moderate reforestation priority, and 60,000 acres of high or moderate reforestation priority on private lands. A total of 586 miles of fuel breaks were identified. Implementing all actions identified in the strategy would cost approximately $652 million dollars. Although recent legislation has provided reforestation funding, workforce availability is still limited. American Forests is providing staff support to the Fremont-Winema National Forest and working with private land managers to support staffing and workforce development.