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Learning from a High-Severity Fire Event: Conditions Following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Open-File Report 2023-1053
Ecosystems Mission Area—Land Change Science Program
Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service
By: , , , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20231053

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Abstract

The 2018 Carr Fire burned more than 90 percent of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, with much of the park burning at high severity. California yellow pine and mixed conifer forests are not well adapted to large, high-severity fires, and forest recovery after these events may be problematic. Large, high-severity fire patches pose difficulties for recruitment with interiors that are long distances from potential seed trees and may develop fuel structures that can promote further high-severity fire. This report details patterns of forest structure derived from field plots measured 2–3 years after the Carr Fire, providing a characterization of immediate fire effects. We coupled these observations with remotely sensed information, including data collected from unoccupied aircraft system surveys. The remotely sensed data were used to depict erosion after the Carr Fire as well as to create a high-resolution land cover classification map, a debris flow risk map and hazard assessment, and a post-fire canopy vegetation loss map. Results indicated high levels of tree mortality after the Carr Fire, including high-value old growth forest stands, supporting remotely sensed assessments of fire severity. The high-resolution tree mortality model also aligned well with other remotely sensed estimates of immediate burn severity. Results of the land cover classification illustrated the high percentage of dead vegetation remaining in the understory and canopy 8 months post-fire. Changes in vegetation height identified areas with canopy vegetation loss from 1- to 8-months post-fire. Pairing the post-fire debris accumulation with debris flow probabilities may identify high-risk debris flow areas. The results of this study will help inform future decisions concerning wildland fire and vegetation management strategies at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and are broadly relevant for management in the aftermath of large, high-severity fires in mixed, dry coniferous forests in the western United States.

Suggested Citation

van Mantgem, P.J., Wright, M.C., Thorne, K.M., Beckmann, J., Buffington, K., Rankin, L.L., Colley, A., and Engber, E.A., 2024, Learning from a high-severity fire event—Conditions following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2023–1053, 52 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20231053.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Summary
  • References Cited
  • Glossary
  • Appendix 1. Unoccupied Aircraft System Imagery
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Learning from a high-severity fire event—Conditions following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2023-1053
DOI 10.3133/ofr20231053
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Western Ecological Research Center
Description Report: viii, 52 p.; 2 Data Releases
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details