KittitasCountyCWPP_September2022_Amendment_Only (2)

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Teanaway Landscape Evaluation Summary (2020) | Page 5 Figure 8. Fire transmission to homes shows where fires that expose structures are most likely to originate. It is based on simulated fire perimeters given contempo- rary patterns of fuels, topography, and wind. Figure 9. Landscape treatment priority is based on three metrics of forest health – forest fire risk (Fig. 1), drought vulnerability (Fig. 3), overabundant forest structure (Fig. 4) – as well as wildfire transmission to homes (Fig. 8). Definitions Vegetation Types Cold forest: Upper elevation mixed-conifer for- ests with high-severity fires every 80-200+ years. Dry forest: Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir domi- nated forests that historically had surface fires every 5-25 years. Moist forest: Forests that historically had mixed- severity fires every 30-100 years and were com- posed of fire-resistant (western larch, Douglas-fir) and fire-intolerant (grand fir) trees. Woodland/Steppe: Grass and shrub lands that may have oak woodlands or ≤ 10% conifer cover. Forest structure Large tree: Overstory diameter > 20 inches. Medium tree: Overstory diameter 10-20 inches. Small tree: Overstory diameter < 10 inches. Dense canopy: Greater than 40% tree canopy. Open canopy: Less than 40% tree canopy. Fuels: Shrubs, grasses, small trees, litter, duff, and dead wood. Fuels treatments: some combination of mechani- cal density reduction (commercial or non-commer- cial) and surface and ladder fuel reduction (prescribed fire, piling & burning, etc.). Managed wildfire: fires that are allowed to burn under safe conditions to achieve management goals but can be suppressed if conditions change. Landscape Treatment Prioritization Prioritizing for forest health & to reduce fire exposure of homes Landscape treatment priority integrates three metrics of forest health – forest fire risk (Fig. 2), drought vulnerability (Fig. 3), and presence of overabundant forest structure types (Fig. 4) – with wildfire transmission to homes (Fig. 8). To ensure that habitat for closed canopy dependent wildlife is incorporated into the prioriti- zation, we recommend overlaying the large dense forest sustain- ability layer (Fig. 7) when selecting treatment locations. Wildfire transmission is high across most of the planning area, indicating that wildfires starting in these locations are expected to expose homes in Roslyn, Cle Elum, and along Teanaway Road (Fig. 2). Treatment priorities Landscape treatment priority is highest in the eastern portion on the Teanaway Community Forest and USFS land (Fig. 9). The southern edge along the north side of Cle Elum Ridge is also high priority. Medium and high priority areas on roadless USFS lands in the northeastern portion indicate that managed wildfire will be needed to restore this landscape. Some low priority areas may need treatment to address species composition, insect and dis- ease risk, or other issues. In addition, fuel reduction treatments, defensible space, and home hardening are needed on private par- cels to protect homes along Highway 970 and Teanaway Road.