Wilderness Considerations for Fire Resource Advisors

2. Wilderness Considerations for Fire Resource Advisors Wilderness Fire Resource Advisor Training Southern Region - 2011

3. Objectives: • Understand Wilderness management principles in relation to fire management. • Understand the “Authority of the Resource” management technique.

4. Some see Wilderness as… • A frustrating place to manage fire • A place we can’t use chainsaws or helicopters • Another layer of restrictions • A barrier to timely fire suppression

5. PERCEPTIONS … All Wilderness Resource Advisors

6. Assumptions... All Firefighters

7. There are complex issues, and confusing signs

8. Wilderness Fire Managementis a Balancing Act

9. Wilderness Fire Management Wilderness resource protection needs Necessary fire management activities

10. The Wilderness Act of 1964 P.L. 88-577 • After 8 years of debate in Congress • 66 different rewrites of the bill • 18 public hearings that generated over 6,000 pages of testimony…

11. Signed by President Johnson on September 3, 1964

12. National Wilderness Preservation System - Percentage by Agency 5% 19.8% 33.2% 42%

13. Definition of WildernessSection 2(c) • “…affected primarily by the forces of nature…” • “…man’s work substantially unnoticeable…” • “…outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation…” • “…managed to preserve natural conditions…”

14. Wilderness Stewardship means: • Manage for ecological health and integrity • Provide opportunities for a wilderness experience • Minimize human caused impacts • Provide education and information about the wilderness resource, values, and benefits

15. Wilderness Management DirectionSection 2 (a) • “... shall be administered… in such a manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness…” • “provide for the protection of these areas, the preservation of their wilderness character.”

16. Wilderness Management Agency ResponsibilitySection 4 (b) “ …each agency shall be responsible for preserving the wilderness character of the area and shall so administer such area for such other purposes for which it may have been established as also to preserve its wilderness character.” • The managing agencies must preserve wilderness character. • It is the over-riding criteria for all decisions, including those involving fire management.

17. The Four Statutory Qualities of Wilderness Character * • Undeveloped • Untrammeled • Natural • Outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation • A National Framework for Monitoring Wilderness Character, 2006 • http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=WC

18. The Four Statutory Qualities of Wilderness Character * • Undeveloped • Untrammeled • Natural • Outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation • A National Framework for Monitoring Wilderness Character, 2006 • http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=WC

19. Untrammeled = Unhindered“Not being subject to human controls and manipulations that hamper the free play of natural forces.” - Howard Zahniser, Principal author of The Wilderness Act

20. FOUR STATUTORY QUALITIES OF WILDERNESS CHARACTER • “Untrammeled” Wilderness is generally unhindered and free from intentional modern human control or manipulation Threats to this setting Suppression and prescribed fire Wilderness setting

21. EXAMPLES OF MANIPULATION TO RESTORE NATURAL CONDITIONS IN WILDERNESS Reducing fuels to restore natural fire regimes and fire effects

22. FOUR STATUTORY QUALITIES OF WILDERNESS CHARACTER • “Natural” Wilderness ecological systems are substantially free from the unintentional effects of modern civilization Threats to this setting Suppression and suppression activities Wilderness setting

23. Fire Control vs. Fire Management

24. Fire and Wilderness This used to be called “a disaster”.

25. Wilderness Fire Damage or Natural Event? • Catastrophic Fire • Stand Replacing Fire • Ground Fire • High Intensity • Low Intensity A natural part of the ecological process and wilderness

26. Wilderness – Natural Appearing or Wild ? • Long-term fire suppression is an example of large-scale manipulation of natural conditions. • Fire use creates, for some visitors, a less natural appealing or less scenic landscape

27. Fire and Wilderness – Natural role The fire and the effects of the fire Erosion-sedimentation Smoke-air quality

28. The Wilderness Act Agency ResponsibilitySection 4 (d) “…such measuresmay be takenas may be necessary in the control of fire… subject to such conditionsas the Secretary deems desirable.” • The managing agencies have discretion for how fire in wilderness is managed • The National Fire Policy and agency fire and wilderness management policy describe implementation

29. The Wilderness ActAgency ResponsibilitySection 4 (c) • no temporary road • no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or motorboats • no landing of aircraft • no form of mechanical transport • no structure or installation EXCEPT

30. The Wilderness ActAgency ResponsibilitySection 4 (c) • “…exceptas necessary to meet the minimum requirements for the administration of the areafor the purpose of this Act…” • The ‘minimum requirements’ and ‘minimum tool’ provision of the Act. • Applies to fire management activities.

31. Determining the Minimum Requirement The minimum requirement analysis is a two step process * The Minimum Requirements Decision Guide (MRDG) is a commonly used process for making these decisions. http://www.wilderness.net/mrdg/

32. Determining the Minimum Requirement The minimum requirement analysis is a two step process Step 1: Is administrative action needed? • Do you really need to do something? • Could another strategy avoid the need for unnecessary effects to wilderness?

33. Determining the Minimum Requirement Step 2: What is the minimum necessary management action? If it is necessary to take action: • what is the minimum necessary tool or method that will have the least impact on wilderness resources and values?

34. Wilderness Fire ManagementDetermining the Minimum Requirement for Fire Management The Minimum Requirements Decision Guide (MRDG)is not designed for use in emergency situations A lengthy analysis is not always possible or desirable in fire emergency situations.

35. Wilderness Fire ManagementDetermining the Minimum Requirement 1) Determining ifanyaction is necessary 2) Selecting the method, tool, or tacticwhich represents theminimum necessaryadministrative action.

36. Wilderness Fire ManagementDetermining the Minimum Requirement Incorporate wilderness management objectives and the minimum requirements decision process into programmatic fire management planning Develop GO/NO GO checklists and decision trees that will aid in the emergency decision making situations that arise. Make use of the proper authority (who in the agency can make the decision). Document the rationale and the decision to track the process and improve future decision making. Fire Management Toolbox at: http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/

37. Wilderness Fire ManagementDetermining the Minimum Requirementand Documenting the Decision Examples: BWCAW Matrix and Reporting Form Medicine Bow Routt NF “Approval for Motorized Equipment in Wilderness in Support of Fire Management Activities” 3) Wallowa-Whitman NF “Approval for Motorized Equipment in Wilderness” 4) Other examples ??? Fire Management Toolbox at: http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/

38. Wilderness ManagementDetermining the Minimum Requirement Example - Method of transport

39. Preferences for Limiting ImpactsLong term impacts vs. short term disturbances Aircraft use (if necessary) Preferred: • Aircraft flights • Helicopter landings and/or sling loads in natural openings Least acceptable: • New constructed helispots

40. Wilderness ManagementDetermining the Minimum Requirement Example - Suppression activities

41. Preferences for Limiting ImpactsLong term impacts vs. short term disturbances Suppression activities (if necessary) Preferred: • Natural fuel breaks • Cold trailing • Burnouts and backfires • Wetlines and pumps Least acceptable: • Constructed fireline

42. 1) Is the camp necessary in wilderness ? 2) What is the minimum necessary development ? Wilderness ManagementDetermining the Minimum Requirement Example – Spike and coyote camps

43. The Minimum Tool vs. the Minimum RequirementWhat really matters?

44. Other Concerns for Wilderness Fire Management Subdivisions on the Wilderness boundary • Threats to lives and property outside wilderness • Challenges for restoring the natural role of fire and fire use

45. Wilderness Fire Management Information and Education

46. Wilderness and Fire • The effects of fire in wilderness should be considered neither good nor bad. • In fire dependent ecosystems, fire is a critically important part of the natural process.

47. Wilderness and Fire • Unnecessary, negative impacts from suppression are not part of the natural condition. • Always ask, is this action really necessary? Manage fire in wilderness using only the minimum necessary actions, tools, and methods.

48. Use information and education to: Provide feasible alternatives to meet both wilderness and fire goals Capitalize on a ‘teachable moment’ for wilderness Explain why it matters based on actual effects to the wilderness resource 4. Use “The Authority of the Resource” communication technique

49. The Authority of the Resource* • The Authority of the Resource (ART) is a communication technique that allows the message to be delivered as ‘the right thing to do for the wilderness resource.’ • The communication is not focused on law and policy as the primary reason for strategy or tactics. * Education Planning Toolbox at: http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/

50. “ Because I’m the resource advisor and I have a delegation of authority that empowers me to make these decisions.” “Because taking advantage of the natural opening will eliminate the need to fell 20 trees. It’s the minimum necessary action to insure that when we leave here there will be no lasting impacts from our activities.” Authority of the Resource“I recommend revising the helispot location…”