Project Leader: Anna Hendricks Email: ahendricks@thesca.org [1] Phone: 208.608.6325 Project Dates: May 19 - November 19, 2010 Wayne National Forrest Athens Distict--Main Office 13700 US Highway 33 Nelsonville, OH 45764
2010 Work Site Report [2]
Download our Final Report here:
Fire Effects Monitoring Work Site Report 2010 [4]
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Farewell Ohio [6]
FIREMON in Wayne National Forest has come to a close for now after successfully monitoring 221 plots! It would be hard to list every individual who made an impact on our journey but below are folks who deserve an extra thanks for their help in making this season a success.
Jonathan Olsen, Forest Fuels Specialist for Wayne National Forest, served as the main agency contact and was instrumental in developing the SCA FIREMON program in Wayne National Forest. In addition to answering many questions along the way, Jonathan assisted team members by sending out job opportunities, organizing S-130/1-90 Fire Fighter training, and providing corps members with firefighting experience in Wayne National Forest.
Jill Kolodzne, Director of SCA Conservation Corps Fire, supported both teams efficiently and effectively, even from a distance. Her diligence organizing logistics, answering countless questions, and orchestrating all the behind-the-scenes magic empowered each team to be well prepared and field ready.
Nick Galentin, Biological Sciences Technician for Wayne National Forest, served as the agency contact for the Athens SCA team. His understanding of the local ecosystem and previous data collection processes proved invaluable in both the field and office. He mentored team members in local botany and assisted the Athens team troubleshooting the FFI database. The success of this season is due in no small part to Nick’s knowledge and patience.
Jason Simms, Forestry Technician Senior Firefighter for Wayne National Forest, served as the agency contact for the Ironton SCA team. Jason’s presence in the field aiding in tree identification and fuels measurement was always welcomed and enjoyed. He assisted the Ironton team with data entry and office work, and shared his abundant knowledge of the fire world with the teams as an instructor for the Fire Fighter training course.
Brian Doughty, Program Manager for SCA Fire, stepped in mid-season and assisted immensely in helping the end of the season run smoothly. Brian joined both teams in the field to gain a better understanding of their work and experience as corps members. His flexibility and patience was greatly appreciated during his visit.
Chad Kirschbaum, former Botanist for Wayne National Forest, immensely aided the teams in plant identification skills and assisted in identifying unknown species found in FIREMON plots.
Scottie Kiser, IRD Engine Captain for Wayne National Forest, assisted the Ironton team on office days and helped get both teams certified to work on fires.
Gary Chancey, Public Affairs Officer for Wayne National Forest, photographed the teams in the field, recorded a podcast documenting SCA FIREMON work, and created a poster that stood in the Wayne’s Headquarters for visitors to view and learn about the SCA’s efforts.
Fred Johnson, Telecommunications Specialist for Wayne National Forest, made it possible for SCA corps members to access the FFI database at the Forest Service offices and served diligently as FFI troubleshooter throughout the season.
Daniel Yaussy, Research Forester for Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest, guided the SCA teams on a tour of the Experimental Forest and educated corps members on fire ecology for Wayne National Forest.
Lorraine McCosker, Ohio University professor and president of the local Sierra Club chapter, welcomed SCA into the Athens community by inviting both teams into her home for a viewing of “The Forest Returns”. This insightful film and the discussion that followed led to a more balanced view of land management challenges in Wayne National Forest.
Sassafras Farms, a local organic farm hosted a Sierra Club potluck and a sustainable energy tour of their facilities where SCA members were welcomed. They provided warm hospitality and inspired the corps members to create a more sustainable society.
Michael Armandarez, Fire Division Supervisor for Wayne National Forest, helped the teams become FFT2 certified and work on fires.
And a big thanks to Corps Members for all their hard work this season!
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Field Work Comes to an End [9]
October proved to be a busy yet exciting month as the team wrapped up field work and welcomed visitors to our neck of the woods. So much has happened that it’s hard to know where to begin!
The team was happy to welcome SCA Program Manager, Brian Doughty, to join them in the field. Brain’s flexibility was greatly appreciated as the team was summoned back to the Athens District to install 11 new rangeland plots in the Kern Area. The Kern region is reclaimed mine land with an abundance of troublesome Chinese lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), a non-native invasive species (NNIS). In order to best monitor the vegetation of grassland areas, cover frequency data was taken, adding one more method to the team’s repertoire of FIREMON methods. With the abundant help of Nick Galentin, everyone also learned a variety of new grass and forb species.
Team members felt very fortunate to partake in an opportunity to tour the Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest with Research Forester, Daniel Yaussy. Current research in the forest focuses on the effects of using thinning and prescribed fire to restore mixedoak ecosystems and fire behavior and dynamics. Vinton Furnace is one of the first sites to conduct ecosystem-based studies on the effects of fire in the central hardwood region. Team members left with a better appreciation for how the FIREMON data they have collected throughout the season is utilized as well as the importance of oak and hickory regeneration. In addition, the forest also contains remnants of the abundant iron mining that dominated in the area in the late 1800s.
During the last field days, the Cuyahoga Native Plant Team came to visit Wayne National Forest and learn about fire monitoring data collection. Project leader, Tyler Lau, and Corps Members Isaac Arndt, Trevor Ellis, and John Price joined both teams in the field assisting in data collection on the remaining plots in the Buckhorn burn area. All teams camped out at Lake Vesuvius and enjoyed a group dinner followed by an evening around the campfire, guitar and all. It was a great opportunity to connect with another team and expand understanding of other SCA programs.
An added bonus of the month came as red-carded team members were hired to fight fire at the Wayne and put their training to good use, on their off-time of course. Among various other assignments, members worked on hand crews digging line around the 12 acre Rock Hollow fire in the Ironton Ranger District.
Now that field work is complete, the team is resting up to wrap up the season writing their final report with some database management to boot!
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Leave No Trace (LNT) Trainer Course and OU Career Fair [20]
All members of the Team are now certified as Leave No Trace Trainers after completing our Trainer Course in Hocking Hills State Park on Oct. 3rd & 4th.
Trainer courses are tailored for educators, guides, agency employees, and other outdoor professionals. Successful graduates of the Trainer Course gain the skills to teach Leave No Trace techniques and ethics to their clients, friends and family.
The Teams have learned the concepts of Leave No Trace and are now prepared to teach the Leave No Trace curriculum in a variety of settings-schools, camps, parks, wilderness and front country areas. Workshop topics included the underlying ethics and seven principles of Leave No Trace:
• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Dispose of Waste Properly
• Leave What You Find
• Minimize Campfire Impacts
• Respect Wildlife
• Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Other topics included: History of Leave No Trace, Principles of Education, Wildland Ethics, & " “Authority of the Resource” ".
Through focused activities, hands-on field experience and both formal and informal discussions, the teams advanced their knowledge of Leave No Trace issues, expanded their repertoire of low-impact skills, and learned skills that will increase effectiveness in teaching these important skills to others.
This was a fun course where all participants had a part in demonstrating the choices that can be made to minimize our impact on the land and our resources. All members are now registered as Leave No Trace Trainers with the national Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and have received a certificate of course completion as well as their Leave No Trace Trainer lapel pin.
After completion of the LNT course, the Athens and Ironton teams hosted a booth at the Ohio University Fall Career & Internship Fair on October 5th. Approximately 1,200 Ohio University Students attend the career & internship fair.
The Team answered students questions regarding our project in Wayne National Forest, opportunities with the SCA, and what it's like to be a Corps Member.
Our Teams were able to cut through a crowd of stiff suits like a hot knife through butter and brought a little life to the fair with our "truly casual dress". It was impossible for our table to go unnoticed with prime real estate directly by the front door. One recruiter even told us, "how happy she was to see us there, we made the room feel so much more relaxed and inviting."
Our poster should have read: 'Take OFF that Tie! Come work for the SCA!'
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Calendar of Events [28]
- Upcoming Events: -
11/12 – End of The Season Banquet, 2:00pm at Della Zona [29] Come celebrate the wonderfully successful season for both the Athens and Ironton Fire Effects Monitoring Team. Appetizers, Salad, and Pizza (including vegetarian options) will be provided. This event is open to SCA Members, USFS Employees, and their families. We chose Della Zona for this event because of their commitment to changing our food systems by using fresh ingredients from local farms!
- Past Events -
5/22 Community Pot Luck BBQ and Team Welcome Dinner 6 - 9 pm.
6/7 - 6/9 Trainings in: Local Fire Ecology, Field Sampling, Cultural Awareness, Radio Protocols, and Vegetation presented by Wayne National Forest (WNF).
6/22 The Hopewell Culture National Historical Park [30] provides an opportunity to learn about the people, plants, and animals that lived in Ohio in the past and in the present. Visitors can watch a 17-minute award winning film, browse the museum, and take a tour of the Mound City Group.
7/26 - 7/30 FFT2 (S130/S190) Red Card training with Wayne National Forest.
8/5 The Sierra Club: Tour of Sassafras Farm & Potluck Dinner [31] 6 p.m.
Many have enjoyed the fresh greens and other vegetables that Ed Perkins has sold at the Athens Farmer’s Market [32] for years. Ed and his wife Amy Abercrombie, owners of Sassafras Farm, [33] hold true to the philosophy of living simply and working closely with the land. They retrieve their water from an outdoor pump, live in a quaint home that was once a barn, and sell their organic produce at the Athens Farmers Market. Here’s a chance to see how your food is grown and view Ed’s solar systems. Ed will discuss solar electric, solar hot water and cooling without AC.
8/18 – Screening of The WNF film; "The Forest Returns" [34] and discussion with: Loraine McCosker, Environmental Studies Outreach Coordinator at Ohio University and Sierra Club Member. 7:30pm The Forest Returns: The Success Story of Ohio's Only National Forest as told by Ora E. Anderson; a journalist living in Southeastern Ohio during the Great Depression. In this oral history, he recalls the environmental and social conditions that led to the establishment of the Wayne National Forest and our evolving relationship with the land. Along with historical photographs and emotionally evocative music by Bruce Dalzell, Ora Anderson's first-hand account gives life to a significant chapter of American history with clarity, hope, and a uniquely Appalachian perspective.
8/23 - Tecumseh! [35]
The Ultimate Outdoor Drama Experience. Witness the epic life story of the legendary Shawnee leader as he struggles to defend his sacred homelands in the Ohio country during the late 1700’s. “Tecumseh!” has been labeled as one of the most mesmerizing dramas in the nation.
9/6 Labor Day: Mid Season BBQ 12pm - 4pm
9/17-9/19 The 12th Annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival [36]
Join us at scenic Lake Snowden in Albany, Ohio for the 12th Annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival; a fun-filled and educational community event celebrating one of America’s largest native tree fruits, the Pawpaw (Asimina triloba). This three-day event highlights the rich history and future possibilities of the pawpaw through delectable foods, quality entertainment, unique arts, crafts and local businesses throughout southeastern Ohio and beyond. The Main Stage is host to some of the best musicians and performers in our region. A full line-up of presentations and activities cover pawpaw growing, cooking, genetics, medical use and sustainable living workshops.
10/3 - 10/4 – Leave No Trace (LNT) Trainer Course [37] is a vital component of the nationwide Leave No Trace program. It is a shortened version of the Master course. Participants receive introductory training in Leave No Trace skills and ethics in a condensed two-day format. The Trainer Course assists the student participants in learning more about the seven principles of Leave No Trace and techniques for disseminating these low impact skills.
10/5 Ohio University Fall Career & Internship Fair: [38] Baker University Center, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Outreach opportunity to meet students and alumni sponsored by Career Services of OU. This single day event is open to for profit, non-profit, and government employers, as well as graduate and professional schools to gain exposure for their organization on campus and to the students, alumni and faculty of Ohio University.
10/18 – Tour of the The Vinton Experimental Forest [39] Ohio’s largest, last contiguous forested block still available for permanent protection. The Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the United States and home to more than 50 years of ongoing forest research. Vinton Furnace represents one of the most important forest research and demonstration sites east of the Mississippi River.
10/24 – Cross Training with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Native Plant Team [40] The Team lead a cross training for the Cuyahoga Native Plant Team, showing them around Wayne National Forest, and provided them with a crash course in Fire Effect Monitoring. It was a lot of fun to show off our skills and to reconnect with our fellow SCA Members.
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From the Team [47]
In order to provide a fresh perspective of life in the field, team members take to the keyboard this month to tell their personal accounts of the coming of fall in Southeastern Ohio.
Sarah Farley, Corps Member:
"Our first two hitches working and camping in the Ironton district have been an adjustment but good with the cooler temperatures at night. Sleeping under the stars and building campfires after a day of work has been a refreshing change of pace despite the lack of air conditioning provided in our Athens apartment. Lake Vesuvius has proven to be an excellent camping spot with trails, swimming, and rock climbing close by. Heidi and I ingeniously set up a camp shower which has come in handy after working in the field.
"We concluded our latest hitch in Ironton with a local cultural experience at the 12th Annual Ohio Paw Paw Festival by Lake Snowden in Albany. Our weekend camping out at the festival was spent sampling local food products made from Ohio’s only native fruit, Asimina triloba, including paw paw pancakes, paw paw sauce on burgers made from local ranchers, and for those of age, paw paw beer. We also attended workshops ranging from Tai Chi to 'Sheep to Shawl' to native medicinal plants to expand our knowledge of species we might see on our transects in the field. Evening highlights included some amazing local bluegrass bands.
"Truck maintenance has been part of our daily experience this last hitch with oil refills and changing two flat tires in the field, but we are ready to get back to work after its successful replacement. In the next few weeks we are looking forward to completing the pack test qualifying us as Wildland Fire Fighters, Leave No Trace (LNT) training to expand our responsible wilderness use practices, as well as recruiting the next set of conservation leaders at the Ohio University Career Fair."
Heidi Braunreiter, Corps Member:
"Last month we completed our FIREMON plots in the Athens district so we’ve moved our work to the Ironton district. Although smilax, a woody shrub with thorns, is more prevalent in the area, the terrain and vegetation of the Ironton district is very beautiful and full of wildlife. Since we live several hours away, we’ve been staying at a cute little campground near Lake Vesuvius. Its close enough to go swimming, hiking and rock climbing.
"We took a break from plots this last hitch and attended Ohio’s twelfth annual Pawpaw festival for a couple days where we enjoyed lots of pawpaw’s, the areas native fruit tree, in a variety of different forms. Several of us volunteered at the festival on an array of tasks such as serving an assortment of beers including two brewed from pawpaws. We also enjoyed local music and some educational workshops including a medicinal plant walk where I learned a very helpful bit of knowledge. The common plant plantain (Plantago in latin) when masticated and applied to a bug bite will dry out the wound, and reduce the itchiness which is very useful to know seeing as we encounter lots of bugs in the forest.
"Although we’ve had to work around a couple glitches, mainly car problems, we have been enjoying ourselves in the field and are looking forward to the rest of the season now that its cooling down and hopefully the ticks will start to decline in numbers."
Andrew West, Corps Member
"To say the absolute least, this season is moving quickly. Now that our team has finished up plots up in the Athens District, we have the opportunity to enjoy a good drive down to Southern Ohio and spend some nights camping. It has been a good change of pace that helps keep us out of the apartment and lounging around. Doing plots down in the Ironton District of the Wayne National Forest is adventurous. The plants are different, the trees are different, we don’t know our way around, and the itsy bitsy ticks we find in nests of 50 or more at a time on our leg sure keeps us alert. Although, firemon is firemon no matter which district of the forest we are in.
"My favorite activity this season was the Paw Paw festival. It was three days of music, workshops, craft vendors, local farmers, and environmental education in celebration of the wild native Paw Paw. For a greater part of the season, we had no idea what a Paw Paw was. We knew about the festival and that we could find the fruit in the woods, but it was this mysterious thing that we needed to try.
"Nick Galentin, our agency contact was the first to show us this fruit earlier in the season. It is a yellow, green, brownish colored potato looking fruit, varying in size from the size of a golf ball to the palm of your hand, has yellow innards that taste like a banana, has the consistency of an avocado, and seeds that are large and varying in shapes. Every paw paw in every stage of ripening will have a different flavor than the last. It is a wildly unique fruit. I have grown to like it a lot and ate some manifestation of the paw paw in every meal of the festival, starting with Paw Paw chili on Friday night. My favorite form of the Paw Paw was from Marietta Brewing Company in an aqueous form of a wheat beer, it was tasty.
"In my time off I have enjoyed traveling to Ontario, West Virginia, and NE Pennsylvania. Next break, I will be heading to New York City! I have also found more opportunities to work during time off with local area farmers helping out cutting and staking hay, baling hay, feeding farm animals, assisting with building projects, and recently working on a Dairy Farm milking cows and making cheese!
"Southeast Ohio has been a very rich cultural experience. I have learned new skills, eaten delicious local foods, and met some wonderful people. With less than two months less, I’m sad to be on my way so soon. With the end of one seasonal position comes the beginning of another. With winter approaching, I plan on working on my snowboard bum skills. The job is to be determined, but I have a number of applications out and hearing back from some already!"
Michael Young, Corps Member
"In the past few hitches, I have become more comfortable with my fellow team members, and more confident in the work that we do together. I won’t deny that it was intimidating and nerve racking to come into an established group halfway through a season. I was completely inexperience, and I feel that during my first couple hitches I was considerably more of a hindrance than any help in the field. However, I learned quickly with the patient help of the team, and I can now at least name some plants and trees.
"We recently participated in the Paw Paw Festival of Southeastern Ohio. It was absolutely splendid. I am a local, so most of my fun came from hearing about Andy’s, Heidi’s, and Sarah’s new adventures involving all paw paw related activities. They especially seemed to enjoy the many ways that people have discovered to prepare paw paws. I personally enjoyed late nights around a campfire with my friends, tossing a Frisbee around, and just generally having as much fun as possible. All in all, the festival was a roaring success.
"I think I will wrap up my web update with emphasizing what a good experience this has been for me. Before I got this position, I had decided to take a year of school after graduating this year. I was, however, not interested in doing nothing. I was seeking a source of income, and a learning experience that could help me decide what I want to do with the rest of my life. It was a lucky chance that I heard about the SCA through a friend, and since I started working, I haven’t regretted it once. I am immensely happy with the people I work with, and the work I’m doing, and that’s just what I was looking for."
Pictures are once again courtesy of Gary Chancey and Wayne National Forest.
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Welcome Michael! And More... [58]
The Athens Team is proud to add Michael Young as our newest corps member. Michael, a local of the Athens area, has volunteered at Wayne National Forest removing non-native invasive species with his youth organization and heard of the open position from agency contact and plant guru, Nick Galentin. Michael joined the team in the field the first of August and has done an outstanding job learning about all aspects of FIREMON. We are all appreciative of the extra hand and good humor Michael brings to the team!
As all good things must come to an end, so has our time in the forest of Athens. Upon remeasuring 45 plots and installing 1 new plot, work for now is complete in the Athens District. The team will be traveling south to collect data on FIREMON plots in the Ironton District alongside the Ironton SCA Team. The workload, 117 plots between the two teams, will certainly keep all of us busy for the remainder of the season.
Highlights this month included a screening of “The Forest Returns” with Environmental Studies Outreach Coordinator at Ohio University and Sierra Club member, Lorraine McCosker. It was engaging to learn more about the history of Wayne National Forest and the varying views regarding its management policies. We are very grateful to Lorraine for inviting us into her home, and we look forward to seeing her again in the near future.
All team members also enjoyed the live outdoor drama, “Tecumseh” in Chillicothe, Ohio. The show portrays the epic life story of the legendary Shawnee leader as he struggles to defend his sacred homelands in the Ohio country during the late 1700’s. The historic portrayal was certainly enhanced by the outdoor setting under a nearly full moon.
We are very grateful to WNF Public Relations Officer, Gary Chancey, for taking the time to snap some great photos of the teams in action. All photos below are courtesy of Gary and Wayne National Forest with more photos coming soon.
Coming up in September, the 12th Annual Paw Paw Festival… and more plots!
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Michael "Fred" Young - Corps Member [63]
Hello, my name is Michael Young, but most people just call me Fred. I am 18 years old, freshly out of high school, and completely unprepared for real life, or college. That is part of how I picked this program. It helps prepare me. I have always been drawn to the outdoors, and am used to working in them. So when I heard about the SCA, i was pretty psyched. I would get the chance to work outside, but still learn new skills that could be useful in future jobs, whatever they may be. After my one year off, I plan on going to Hocking Community College, then on to a university, where I hope to double major in Psychology and Religious Studies.
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And the plots go on... [67]
The temperatures are continuing to rise. With a heat index around 105 degrees The Team has learned to embrace the benefits of early mornings. Everyone is becoming increasing comfortable with all aspects of FIREMON and the pace of completing plots has picked up, averaging 2 plots per day. To date the Athens team has completed 26 FIREMON plots in the following burn units: Big Baily, Middle Baily, and Pine Creek.
We are finding the forest in Athens to be quite peaceful. Coming across new species is also exciting as in the instance of ginseng (only to be picked in the fall with a permit) and Paw Paw trees, a native and important staple fruit of Ohio history.
Earning a much needed break, the corps members headed north to escape the heat and soak in the amazing scenery of Canada. A great time was had by all including a stop at Niagra falls, relaxing and canoeing at Algonquin Provincial Park, and for the some, a 200 foot bungee!! All members have returned safely and are currently participating in the FFT2 Red Card training and are becoming certified Wildland Firefighters!
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Let the Plots Begin! [78]
Upon completion of training with our Agency Partners in Wayne National Forest including topics such as: Local Fire Ecology, Local Field Sampling, Cultural Awareness, and USFS Radio Use Protocols, the team took time to get organized prior to hitting the field.
As fieldwork is in the begining stretches, it has been important to work through the first several plots slowly to insure quality data collection. Sarah and Heidi have done an amazing job identifying plants as Andrew and Anna embrace tree identification and measurements.
The team completed remeaurements on 3 FIREMON plots -- 2 in the Buckhorn burn area, Ironton District and 1 in the Big Baily burn area, Athens Distict. The next several months will keep the team occupied primarily in the Athens District. With temperatures rising and the bugs out in full-force, spirits remain high as we delve into the task at hand.
Cultural days have included visits to Hocking Hills State Park and the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park:
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/hocking/tabid/743/Default.aspx [79]
http://www.nps.gov/hocu/index.htm [30]
Highlights for July include FFT2 Red Card training! Keep tracking our progress here, or stop by for a site visit and help us count some trees.
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Anna Hendricks - Project Leader [86]
After serving as a FIREMON team member throughout the Great Plains region in 2009, I am excited to step into a leadership role, piloting a new site in the Athens District of Wayne National Forest. In addition to the many challenges and opportunities that will be presented throughout the season, I am interested in learning more about the ecology of Southeast Ohio and continuing to expand my understanding of the effects of fire on various ecosystems.
Born and mostly-raised in Colorado, my search for ever intriguing landscapes and passion for learning about new cultures has taken me on many adventures locally and abroad. I focused my studies in Anthropology at Metro State College of Denver and have found the SCA to be a great organization in which I can combine my admiration of the natural world with my enthusiasm for sustainable community development. When I’m not counting trees in the forest, you can find me exploring, dancing, climbing, or just hanging out on my porch couch.
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Sarah Farley - Corps Member [89]
Hello, I just graduated form Gonzaga University with a BA in Biology and a minor in Art. I was born and raised in Seattle and this is my first time living east of the Mississippi so I am looking forward to experiencing what this area has to offer. My interests include natural resources, cartography, hiking, eating and ceramics.
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Corps Member Training-MOSS [92]
The Team has returned from corps member training at the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS) in McCall, ID. Trainings included: Wilderness First Aid (WFA), SCA's: Mission / Program Overview / Risk Management Protocols, Conservation Ethics, Fire Ecology, Tree Measurements, Plant Identification, Navigation, GPS, FIREMON & FFI Database.
The Team is now enjoying some much needed time off and preparing for more training, this time with our Agency Partners, in Wayne National Forest. Topics on the schedule include: Local Fire Ecology, Local Field Sampling Techniques, Vegetation, Cultural Awareness, and USFS Radio Protocols.
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Heidi Braunreiter - Corps Member [104]
I am excited to have this opportunity to work on the Wayne National Forest FIREMON team identifying plants and helping to figure out how to manage the vegetation. I recently graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BS in Biological Aspects of Conservation and a certificate in Environmental studies and I’m ready to put the knowledge I obtained to good use. In the future I would like to continue working on conservation projects for the national parks and forests.
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Site Information [107]
The Wayne National Forest (WNF) is located in the hills of southeastern Ohio. This small national forest, in the heart of the heavily populated Midwest, covers almost a quarter million acres of Appalachian foothills. The Wayne is divided into three blocks administered by two Ranger Districts at Athens and Ironton.
The Forest boundaries surround a checkerboard pattern of ownership, with public and private ownership interspersed.
The SCA is proud to expand the Wildland Fire program to include Wayne National Forest. As the first year serving in the region, 2 SCA crews consisting of 4 team members and 1 project leader will be collecting FIREMON data in the Athens and Ironton Districts. Once merged with past data, WNF will have a better understanding of the effects of fire on the ecosystem.
Forests in southeastern Ohio have changed dramatically in their structure and are starting to shift in species composition. Forest productivity has been degraded, land has become fragmented and average parcel size reduced. Fire on the landscape has become infrequent starting in the early 1930’s when fire control laws were passed and general protection of the forest ecosystem began. In southeastern Ohio, dominant forest taxa are occupying similar environmental sites today as they did in the pre-settlement forest, but relative abundances have changed significantly (Dyer, 2001).
In addition to a decrease in the dominant oaks and hickories with an increase of more shade tolerant species such as sugar maple, a second evident trend is a dramatic increase in early successional species such as yellow poplar, ash, pine, aspen, and black cherry (Dyer, 2001). One of the dominate canopy species, the American chestnut, has been extirpated except for some remaining stump sprouts, and the historic pine component of these systems has been largely lost.
The Wayne 2006 Forest Plan emphasizes wildlife habitat and oak-hickory ecosystem restoration. Prescribed fire is an important tool in oak-hickory restoration. The Wayne is working to document the current condition of its forest systems to understand what is most out of alignment and how far away systems are from the desired future condition described in the Forest Plan. We are also working to document the effects of prescribed fire in southeastern Ohio in an attempt to get a better understanding of what results can be obtained under different forest stand conditions. Using an adaptive management framework, information will be organized and used to refine a set of prescriptions that will help guide restoration in the future.
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Andrew Wuest - Corps Member [109]
Hello, my name is Andrew Wuest. I will be working with the Fire Monitoring team in Athens, Ohio for my first internship with the SCA. I am from Oregon City, Oregon and am a recent college graduate from the University of Portland. I graduated with a double degree in Environmental Ethics and Policy & Spanish. I am really excited to be working along side with the National Forest Service and more excited to be putting my studies to good use this summer. This opportunity will be provide great experience learning and exploring another area of the United States and will be a guiding light for future personal and career goals.
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Corps Member Arrival [112]
Since their arrival in Ohio, Project Leaders for the Athens and Ironton FIREMON teams, Anna and Bobby, have been working closely together to establish team member housing, meeting with agency contacts at Wayne National Forest, and preparing for Corps Member Orientation.
After much preparation, all members of the Athens FIREMON Team arrived safely on site in Athens, Ohio. They were fully prepared with lots of great questions and plenty of enthusiasm. Both Athens and Ironton FIREMON teams have now completed Corps Member Orientation covering SCA policies, protocols, and values (see attached schedule). The Teams made a visit to the Athens County Farmer's Market to check out the local goods and ended the week with a celebratory community BBQ at the Project Leaders' house.
The teams are now preparing to travel to McCall, ID for Corps Member Training....
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