Natural resources conservation service

Idaho\
sPECIFICATION

FOR

Prescribed Burning

(Rangeland, Pastureland, CRP Land)

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(Owner/Operator) (Project Title)

GENERAL

The work shall consist of controlled fire to burn undesirable plants
within the area as shown on the plan(s) or drawing(s) or as staked in
the field.

Clients will have obtained the required permits and prior clearance from
the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, Idaho Department of Lands or
responsible fire district and the Idaho Department of Environmental
Quality -- Air Quality Program.

PREPARATORY WORK

All planned firebreaks will be installed prior to starting the
prescribed burn. The measures are to be installed according to
Conservation Practice Standard -- Firebreaks (394). Buffer strips will
be utilized in all prescribed burns adjacent to all stream courses that
are indicated on the drawings. The minimum width will be 50 feet, plus
four times the slope percentage (converted to feet).

To ensure that necessary mitigation is provided for threatened and
endangered species and historical and archaeological resources, the
final determination of the status is the responsibility of the Lead
Agency conducting the burn.

burn plan

The landowner or client shall contact the \"Lead Agency\" for a burn
plan which will, at a minimum, contain:

A. Dates for burning. Burn dates will not interfere with locally
identified nesting periods.

B. Method of burn.

C.  Fire protection.

D.  Designation of a fire or burn boss.

E.  Other data as may be required.

The landowner or client shall provide NRCS with:

a\) a copy of the burn plan, and

b\) prior to the burn, a copy of required permits

PRE-BURN MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING

Landowners requesting assistance with prescribed burning will be
referred to the local District Forester of the Idaho Department of
Lands, and the local, responsible fire district for the issuance of a
permit for prescribed burning on rangelands, forestlands and other
wildlands.

The landowner will also be referred to the Idaho State Department of
Agriculture (ISDA) for prescribed burning on lands enrolled in the
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and harvested pasturelands and
haylands. The landowner will be responsible for registering with ISDA
for the necessary permit on such lands under the Crop Residue Disposal
program.

NRCS conservationists implementing plans with landowners and landusers
shall be aware of 'Stage 1 Air Quality Alerts' as imposed by the Idaho
Department of Environmental Quality-Air Quality Program. This is
pursuant to state regulation IDAPA 58.01.01.550 'Air Pollution Emergency
Rule'.

Only NRCS personnel, with required expertise and appropriate job
approval authority and certification, are authorized to assist with the
application of prescribed burns. Appropriate on-site assistance includes
rangeland ecological site and range ecological condition (Percent
Similarity Index and Apparent Trend) or forage suitability group
inventories (to include inventory of total air-dry or oven-dry weight of
total herbage production in pounds per acre), pre- and post-burn
evaluations of the burn and other technical assistance required in
applying the practice.

[The conservationist shall not drop the match, carry the drip torch or
otherwise light the fire, under any circumstances. Similarly, the NRCS
conservationist shall not act as the fire or burn boss.]{.underline}

A written burn plan (Prescribed Burn Plan ID-190-005) will be prepared
by certified individuals. Specifications for applying this practice
shall be prepared for each site and recorded using approved
specification sheets, job sheets, technical notes and narrative
statements in the conservation plan or other acceptable documentation.
All necessary permits must be obtained before implementation of the
practice.

Pre-Burn precautions should include:

(1) Obtaining a permit from the local, responsible fire district. Obtain
    a Crop Residue Disposal Burning Permit from the Idaho State
    Department of Agriculture, when appropriate.

(2) Obtain a 24-hour outlook for weather conditions from the fire
    weather focal point of the National Weather Service (NWS).

(3) On rangelands and pasturelands, the burned area must be incorporated
    into a system of management allowing for the desired response of
    forage plants. Generally, it is best to burn an entire pasture or
    paddock, but in many instances it is not feasible to do so. When all
    of a pasture or paddock is not burned, grazing management should be
    based on the needs of the burned area, except for spot burning of
    small areas to improve livestock distribution.

(4) Implement precautionary measures to avoid burning of areas that
    would adversely affect wildlife habitat, ranch headquarters,
    corrals, windbreaks, riparian areas, etc.

Pre-Burn management should include:

(1) Developing a prescribed fire prescription and burn plan to include:

-   Description of the burn area including present vegetation cover

-   Objective and timing of burn

-   Acceptable conditions for prescribed burn

-   Preparation of the area for burning

-   Equipment/personnel needs/safety requirements

-   Special precaution areas

-   Firing technique

\(2\) On rangelands, pasturelands and haylands, areas should be managed
to ensure that forage plants are in a high state of vigor, and that they
will provide adequate fuel to carry the fire with continuity. When
noxious or undesirable brush suppression is the objective, fine fuels
should be evenly distributed to carry the fire (bare areas of 1 to 2
feet wide can stop the burn under normal conditions). Livestock grazing
deferment may be necessary prior to the burn to obtain these fine fuel
amounts.

\(3\) Natural barriers such as roads, bluffs, water bodies, etc. should
be used as firelines where feasible. When it becomes necessary to create
blacklines or graded strips for firelines in controlling the prescribed
burn, these shall be installed prior to the burn. The following shall be
considered for construction of graded firelines and blacklines:

(a) When grading firelines, rolls of soil and vegetation material shall
    be left on the side of the fireline opposite the fire.

(b) When fire retardants are used to create firelines, follow the
    manufacturer's label. The principal objective is to coat all the
    fuel lightly with just a trace on the ground. The rate and mixture
    should be adjusted to accomplish this objective.

(c) Dimensions of firelines shall be designed for each burn and recorded
    in the burn plan. Graded fireline strips will be bladed, dozed,
    disked, etc. down to mineral soil and a minimum of ten feet wide.

(d) Pre-burned blackline strips shall be 100 feet or more wide for
    low-volatile fuels (such as grass, some shrubs, deciduous green
    trees). Blackline strips shall be 500 feet or more wide for
    high-volatile fuels.

\(4\) Extreme care must be taken should a wetland be utilized as
firebreak. In these cases, the fire boss must have a high degree of
training and practical experience.

(5) Dispose of (burn or remove) any brush piles or highly combustible
    material in the area to be burned to reduce the hazards of
    firebrands.

(6) Check all firelines for "fuel bridging" on areas not cleared to
    mineral soil.

(7) Notify all adjoining landowners, local fire departments, county
    sheriff's department, Idaho State Police and other authorities as
    deemed advisable. Notify the local fire department at least 24 hours
    in advance of the burn. Notify the local District Forester of the
    Idaho Department of Lands, the local field office or district office
    of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the local ranger district
    office of the USDA - Forest Service and other Federal and state
    agencies as necessary, in advance of the burn. Notify the Federal
    Aviation Administration (FAA) and radio stations in locations around
    the burn where the public may call in a fire alarm. The Idaho
    Department of Environmental Quality-Air Quality Program shall also
    be consulted for the possibility of a 'Stage 1 Air Quality Alert'.

(8) Sufficient equipment and personnel needed to control the fire at all
    times. Fire suppression equipment shall be considered for the type
    of area being burned.

(9) Safety equipment for all personnel should be stressed. Minimum
    safety equipment should include hardhat, fireshirt, 100% cotton or
    wool pants or "Nomex" weave clothing, goggles or similar eye
    protection, leather gloves, goggles, leather lace boots with no-
    slip lug soles. The use of contact lenses by personnel should be
    forbidden.

\(10\) Inform the participating landowner, in writing, of landowner
liability during planning that they may be liable for damages resulting
from the fire and cost of suppression by others should the fire escape
the designated area.

POST BURN MANAGEMENT

A post burn investigation will be conducted on each burn. The post burn
investigation shall include monitoring of the burned site and adjacent
areas until such time as ash, debris and other consumed material is at
pre-burn temperatures. The burn area treatment plan will be evaluated
and modified where necessary to protect the resource.

A. Forestland

1\. Plant or seed tree species according to the Field Office Technical
Guide (FOTG), Vegetative Guide and appropriate tree/shrub
specifications.

2\. Natural regeneration may be adequate if intensity of the burn, seed
source, soil and reduction of potential brush competition favors
reproduction.

3\. Grazing will be withheld until tree seedlings are established and
damage by domestic livestock will be negligible.

B. Rangeland, Pastureland, Hayland and enrolled CRP acreages

1\. Deferred grazing will be a follow-up management practice on all
prescribed burns for a minimum period of one growing season or until
ground cover and forage production are adequate.

2\. A specification for Range Planting and/or Critical Area Planting is
attached.

BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE

After the burn has been completed, an on-site inspection will be
conducted to determine if a minimum of 85 percent of the designated land
area has been burned and/or that the undesirable species have been
destroyed or controlled.

There will also be at least one other post-burn, on-site inspection 60
to 90 days after the burn.

operation and maintenance

At least annually, the area will be inspected and determination made of
\'spots\' where additional treatment is necessary. If needed, the work
will be conducted during the same year unless the time has passed for
proper treatment.

Specifically, attention should be given to areas to:

A. Reduce soil erosion

B. Repair fire breaks

C.  Status of new plant growth

The Fire Behavior Evaluation (ID-190-006) portion of the Prescribed Burn
Plan will be completed by the NRCS conservationist or burn boss present
during the burn to document actual conditions during the burn operation.

Success of the burn shall be determined by evaluating re-growth or
reoccurrence of target species after sufficient time has passed to
monitor the situation and gather reliable data. Evaluation periods will
depend on the methods and materials used.

TABLE 1 -- CONDITIONS FOR BURNING

[1]{.underline}/ Recommendation -- Use "White Pine County formula,"
(Bruner and Klenbenow, 1979) to help determine whether or not to burn,
where: Index = Maximum wind (mi/hr) + Shrub and tree cover (%) + Air
temperature (˚F). If index is 110 or higher, a fire will carry. If index
over 130, too dangerous to burn.

[2]{.underline}/ Recommendation -- Use the following formula for
predicting fire spread in Big sagebrush burns. **[FORMULA]{.underline}:
Wind (mph) + Temperature (˚F) + Brush cover (%) + Fine fuels (lbs./acre
multiplied by one-tenth -- score.**

> 130 = Assures good spread in dry fuels. How high you go above 130 will
> depend on firelines and risk of escape.

a.  118-128 + Patchy fire spread unless fine fuels are uniform and
    continuous.

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a.  Below 118 + One bush at a time. Generally no spread.

[3]{.underline}/ Do not burn during nesting season of specified bird
species. Typical game bird nesting season (April till June 15).

[4]{.underline}/ Excess litter is described as the buildup of dead plant
materials severely limiting sunshine from reaching green plant material.
In extreme cases, mowing prior to burning may be necessary to remove the
high density of dead material in plant crowns.

[5]{.underline}/ Just as the key species begins to break dormancy in the
spring. A good rule of thumb is to burn when the desired species has no
more than one inch of new growth.

**TABLE 2. EXPECTED EFFECTS OF FIRE ON PLANT SPECIES**

[PLANT SPECIES]{.underline}

[Common Name]{.underline} [Scientific Name]{.underline} [Plant
Response]{.underline}

Ponderosa Pine Pinus ponderosa Most resistant of Western trees -- often

killed by crown damage from intense

fires

Douglas -- fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Old trees fairly resistant -- young
trees

glauca susceptible

Western larch Larix occidentalis Fairly resistant -- seedlings
susceptible

Western white pine Pinus monticola Killed or injured by all but light
fires

Lodgepole pine Pinus contorta Killed or injured by all but light fires
--

opens serofinous cones

Engelmann spruce Picea engelmanii Susceptible to all but light fires.

Western hemlock Tsuga heterophylla Old trees somewhat resistant --
species

generally reduced by fire.

Basin big sagebrush Artemisia tridentate Readily killed -- does not
sprout

tridentata

Mountain big sagebrush Artemisia vaseyana and Readily killed -- does not
sprout --

spiciformis reinvades more rapidly than most

sagebrush

Wyoming big sagebrush Artemisia tridentate Readily killed -- does not
sprout

wyomingensis

Subalpine big sagebrush Artemisia vaseyana Readily killed -- does not
sprout --

spiciformis reinvades more rapidly than most

sagebrush

Threetip sagebrush Artemisia tripartite Top killed -- sprouts

Silver sagebrush Artemisia cana Top killed -- sprouts

Low sagebrush Artemisia arbuscula Not recommended to burn -- readily --

killed -- does not sprout

Horsebrush Tetradymia spp. Top killed -- sprouts

Tall Green rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus vicidiflorus Top killed -- sprouts

Rubber Antelope Pershia tridentate Top killed -- some sprouting in cool

Bitterbrush spring burns -- higher mortality in fall

burns

Snowbrush ceanothus Ceanothus velutinus Top killed -- sprouts

Curlleaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius Readily killed -- very
little sprouting

Quaking aspen Populus tremuloides Top killed -- strongly root suckers

TABLE 2. (continued)

[PLANT SPECIES]{.underline}

[Common Name]{.underline} [Scientific Name]{.underline} [Plant
Response]{.underline}

Juniper Juniper spp. Generally killed -- usually requires

greater wind speed to carry fire

Snowberry Symphoricarpos spp. Top killed -- root sprouts

Bluebunch wheatgrass Agropyron spicatum Resistant -- when burned under

optimum conditions

Idaho fescue Festuca idahoensis 1/

Bottlebrush squirreltail Sitanion hystrix Resistant -- generally
increases

following fire

Cheatgrass brome Bromus tectorum Response variable -- reduction in

seed numbers, may prevent heavy

reestablishment, however, seed set

following burning usually greater

Bluegrass Poa spp. Generally resistant

Needlegrass Stipa spp. Severely damaged

1/ Literature reviewed inconclusive. Reports lean toward severely
damaged.

Other plants and Their Response to Burning

[PLANT SPECIES]{.underline}

[Common Name]{.underline} [Scientific Name]{.underline} [Plant
Response]{.underline}

Threadleaf sedge Carex filifolia Severely damaged

Pussy toes Antennaria spp. Severely damaged

Eriogonum Eriogonum spp. Severely damaged

Saskatoon serviceberry Anelanchier alnifolia Severely damaged

Indian ricegrass Oryzopsis hymenoides Moderately damaged

Penstemon Penstemon spp. Moderately damaged

Milkvetch Astragulus spp. Moderately damaged

Tapertip hawksbeard Crepis acuminata Moderately damaged

Sticky geranium Geranium viscosissimum Moderately damaged

Tailcup lupine Lupinus caudetus Moderately damaged

Crested wheatgrass Agropyron desertorum Slightly to undamaged

Sod wheatgrass Agropyron spp. Slightly to undamaged

Yarrow Achillea spp. Slightly to undamaged

Deathcamas Zygadenus spp. Slightly to undamaged

Longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia Slightly to undamaged

Wild onion Allium spp. Slightly to undamaged

Arrowleaf balsamroot Balsamorhyza sagittata Slightly to undamaged

TABLE 2. (continued)

REFERENCE:

> USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PNW-76, 1978, Planning
> Prescribed Burning in the Inland Northwest, by Robert E. Martin and
> John D. Dell, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station
> USDA, Forest Service, Portland, Oregon.