Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

Assessing and projecting post-fire transitions and reburn dynamics in the western Cascades

Project ID: G24AC00198

Federal Agency: U.S. Geological Survey

Partner Institution: University of Oregon

Fiscal Year: 2024

Initial Funding: $33,981

Total Funding: $49,765

Principal Investigator: Gavin, Daniel

Agreement Technical Representative: Miller, Rachel

Abstract: 

Project Description

The goal of this research project is to increase knowledge of effectiveness of strategies for managing post-fire vegetation transitions.

Objectives include.

  1. Locating forests at one wet and one drier location in the western Cascades of Oregon that span a range of fire severities and frequency, prioritizing forest reburns (n=3) where possible.
  2. Establish field research plots suitable at a scale suitable for vegetation measurements and soil sampling.
  3. Conduct vegetation sampling to characterize all major live structural classes (overstory, midstory, understory, including tree seedling regeneration), as well as detritus / fuel accumulations.
  4. Collect soil samples from surface organic horizons and mineral soils (0-10 cm) in each plot for delivery to USGS for chemical analysis.
  5. Conduct statistical analyses of forest live and dead vegetation characteristics across the plots and sites to determine the influence of reburn severity and frequency on forest characteristics.