Team Fire Update
TEAM RESEARCH GOALS
Wildlands
Understand the interaction of fire and vegetation
Understand the role of vegetation as fuel
Investigate the shifts in vegetation as a result of fire
Human Communities
Understand patterns of fire risk to communities
Help reduce fire risk through land-use planning
Fire + Water
Investigate the role of precipitation and infiltration in vegetation moisture
Understand the effects of post-fire landscapes in erosion, infiltration, and downstream water quality
Fire + Biodiversity
Understand the impact of fire on the management and restoration of connected landscapes
Find conservation opportunities to avoid development in fire-prone areas
WHERE WE ARE NOW
Mapped and analyzed patterns of post-fire chaparral recovery in relation to different fire regimes and drought occurrence
Developed satellite remote sensing technique to more accurately and precisely map burn areas and fire histories
Developed prototype remote sensing tool for mapping and monitoring herbaceous (mostly non-natives) cover
Supported the other CWC teams in understanding historical burn areas and how these inform hydrological monitoring and wildlife refuge analysis
WHAT'S NEXT
Produce a more comprehensive and accurate map of fire history (past 3-4 decades) for southern California
Produce a map of vegetation recovery time-scales for the southern California region
Combine data on changes in herbaceous cover, ignition locations, and fire history to assess possible changes in fire regime and where wildfire risk may be changing
Explore patterns of wildfire damage by home price
Incorporate overall findings into data products and tools that will best serve stakeholders