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Big Sandy Central Mechanical Fuel Reduction
Big Thicket National Preserve » Big Sandy Central Mechanical Fuel Reduction » Document List
This project is located in the Big Sandy Creek Unit (Big Sandy) of the preserve and will reduce hazardous fuels on an approximately 100 acre treatment area. The purpose of hazardous fuels management at the Preserve is to protect and preserve the natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment of present and future generations. This includes the perpetuation of the ecosystem in which these resources occur. Hazardous fuels management is also intended to protect human life and property, both public and private, within and adjacent to National Park Service (NPS) lands.
Much of Big Sandy was affected by a Southern Pine Beetle outbreak in the 1980's. These outbreaks removed the overstory pine trees and as a result a dense midstory of brush and pine has regenerated. Recently, Hurricane Rita impacted the Texas coast on September 24, 2005 as a category 3 storm, followed by Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008 as a category 2 storm. Hurricane force winds from both storms caused significant damage over the entire Preserve. In the ensuing hurricane recovery the fire management program acquired a Gyro-trac grinder to mechanically treat hazardous fuels. The Big Sandy project is designed to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations allowing fire management to be able to effectively conduct prescribed burns on the project site. The project will also aid with longleaf pine ecosystem restoration as fire management will be more effective in reducing the density of brush and increasing the coverage of herbaceous vegetation. We understand that grinding alone does not decrease the total tons per acre fuel loading, but does redistribute fuel into different size classes (i.e. reducing 100 hr. fuels into 10 hr. fuels), and breaks down the vertical arrangement. Grinding understory brush and hurricane damaged trees reduces fire flame length and rate of spread, decreasing resistance to control, and providing access for fire fighting. Grinding also increases surface area of fuels allowing for better consumption by fire and quicker decay.
The interdisciplinary team has decided to implement the hazardous fuel reduction project on the Big Sandy Creek Unit. The Big Thicket National Preserve Fire Management Plan also covers mechanical treatment in the Big Sandy Creek Unit by way of hand tools or machinery that severs and/or shreds vegetation. The current project will operate under a mechanical treatment plan that is specific to the project area.
deanna_boensch@nps.gov, 409-951-6853
Dave Roemer, Chief of Resource Management
dave_roemer@nps.gov, 409-951-6820
Much of Big Sandy was affected by a Southern Pine Beetle outbreak in the 1980's. These outbreaks removed the overstory pine trees and as a result a dense midstory of brush and pine has regenerated. Recently, Hurricane Rita impacted the Texas coast on September 24, 2005 as a category 3 storm, followed by Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008 as a category 2 storm. Hurricane force winds from both storms caused significant damage over the entire Preserve. In the ensuing hurricane recovery the fire management program acquired a Gyro-trac grinder to mechanically treat hazardous fuels. The Big Sandy project is designed to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations allowing fire management to be able to effectively conduct prescribed burns on the project site. The project will also aid with longleaf pine ecosystem restoration as fire management will be more effective in reducing the density of brush and increasing the coverage of herbaceous vegetation. We understand that grinding alone does not decrease the total tons per acre fuel loading, but does redistribute fuel into different size classes (i.e. reducing 100 hr. fuels into 10 hr. fuels), and breaks down the vertical arrangement. Grinding understory brush and hurricane damaged trees reduces fire flame length and rate of spread, decreasing resistance to control, and providing access for fire fighting. Grinding also increases surface area of fuels allowing for better consumption by fire and quicker decay.
The interdisciplinary team has decided to implement the hazardous fuel reduction project on the Big Sandy Creek Unit. The Big Thicket National Preserve Fire Management Plan also covers mechanical treatment in the Big Sandy Creek Unit by way of hand tools or machinery that severs and/or shreds vegetation. The current project will operate under a mechanical treatment plan that is specific to the project area.
Contact Information
Deanna Boensch, Fire Ecologistdeanna_boensch@nps.gov, 409-951-6853
Dave Roemer, Chief of Resource Management
dave_roemer@nps.gov, 409-951-6820