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Aerial Application of Herbicide on Area Burned by Kolob Fire
Zion National Park » Aerial Application of Herbicide on Area Burned by Kolob Fire » Document List
Zion National Park has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to assess the impacts of the aerial application of herbicide on the area burned in the Kolob Fire. The human-caused Kolob Fire started on June 24, 2006 and burned 10,615 acres within the park in the North Creek watershed.
The proposed aerial application of herbicide on up to 10,280 acres is intended to interrupt the grass-fire cycle that is perpetuated by cheatgrass, a non-native, highly flammable grass. Cheatgrass increases in abundance and density after fire. As cheatgrass continues to invade and increase after each fire, the time between fires becomes shorter. The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to treat the burned area with the herbicide Plateau® which targets cheatgrass: reducing the growth of cheatgrass which reduces the fine fuels that carry wildland fires. Plateau® has shown a very low toxicity to humans, fish and wildlife, and does not remain in the soil. Because of the remote and rough terrain in the burn area, helicopter application of the herbicide is proposed.
The proposed aerial application of herbicide on up to 10,280 acres is intended to interrupt the grass-fire cycle that is perpetuated by cheatgrass, a non-native, highly flammable grass. Cheatgrass increases in abundance and density after fire. As cheatgrass continues to invade and increase after each fire, the time between fires becomes shorter. The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to treat the burned area with the herbicide Plateau® which targets cheatgrass: reducing the growth of cheatgrass which reduces the fine fuels that carry wildland fires. Plateau® has shown a very low toxicity to humans, fish and wildlife, and does not remain in the soil. Because of the remote and rough terrain in the burn area, helicopter application of the herbicide is proposed.