Quantifying Impacts of Fire Severity in Grand Canyon National Park

Fire is a frequent disturbance on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, where lightning-caused fires and prescribed fires are used together to meet management objectives. Park managers are concerned by an observed increase in size and number of high severity patches from these fires. Their concerns are that: pine regeneration may be suppressed due to increasing distances between seed trees and potential seed beds; and nesting habitat for the federally protected Mexican Spotted Owl may be declining. FireCenter scientists are working with park managers to quantify the current extent and expansion of high severity patches. This will help fire managers make better management decisions based on scientific findings.