KittitasCountyCWPP_September2022_Amendment_Only (2)

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Upper Swauk 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). 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 the western half of the planning area, representing potential fire exposure to communities in Liberty, along the Highway 97 corridor, and in the Cle Elum area. Treatment priorities Treatment priority is particularly high in western and northern por- tions of the planning area, reflecting high wildfire transmission on the slopes east of Teanaway Ridge (Fig. 8). Within those areas, north-facing slopes are especially high priority due to fire risk (Fig. 1) and current forest structure (Fig. 4). Treatment priority is gener- ally lower in southeastern portions due to recent treatments near Liberty and lower fire probability where the Table Mountain Fire burned in 2012. Planned Swauk Pine treatments will help reduce fire and forest health risks in remaining high priority locations.