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Author(s):
Roger D. Ottmar
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Fuels
Fuel Descriptions
Fuels Inventory & Monitoring
Ecosystem(s):
Montane wet mixed-conifer forest, Montane dry mixed-conifer forest

NRFSN number: 11170
FRAMES RCS number: 728
Record updated:

The natural fuels stereo photo series is a collection of geo-referenced data and photographs that display a range of natural conditions, fuel loadings, and other fuelbed characteristics in a wide variety of forest-, woodland-, shrub-, and grass-dominated ecosystem types. The photo series are useful tools for quickly and inexpensively evaluating vegetation and fuel conditions in the field. The objectives of this project were to: (1) complete an assessment of the literature and the needs of land managers to define a maximum of 10 fuelbed types and their associated fuel elements for further development of the Natural Fuels Photo Series; (2) locate, photograph, and inventory a maximum of 20 sites within a fuelbed type that cover a range of fuel and vegetation conditions and (3) produce a printer-ready manuscript, and assist with the printing process. Older photo series were reviewed and a needs assessment was conducted among managers and scientists to determine the fuelbed types and elements for inclusion in this project. A total of 9 fuelbed types were selected resulting in four photo series volumes: (1) Volume IIa: Hardwoods with spruce types in Alaska (Ottmar and Vihnanek 2002); (2) Volume Va: Jack pine in the Lake States (Ottmar et al. 2002); (3) Grassland, shrubland, woodland, and forest types in Hawaii (Wright et al. 2002); and (4) Volume VII: Oregon white oak, California deciduous oak, and mixed conifer with shrubs in the western United States (Ottmar et al. 2004). Volumes IIa, Va, and VII can be purchased from the National Interagency Fire Center, publication Management System for a small charge. The Hawaii photo series (PNW-GTR-545) is available free of charge from the Pacific Northwest Research Station. Data collected for this photo series effort allowed the Fuel Characteristic Classification System (JFSP 98-1-1-06) to be more robust and include more fuelbed types in historically data-poor fuel types across the United States.

Citation

Ottmar, Roger D. 2005. Photo series for major natural fuel types of the United States - Phase II, JFSP 98-1-1-05. Project Progress Report, 2005 JFSP Principle Investigator Workshop. 2005 November 1-3. San Diego, CA.

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