- Author
-
McKenzie, D. W.
|
Garrett, S.
- Title
- Steep Slope Logging Slash Treatment.
- Coporate
- San Dimas Technology and Development Center, CA
- Report
-
3E31P19,
September 1994,
13 p.
- Keywords
-
forestry
|
pollution
|
fuels
|
fire hazard
|
transportation
- Identifiers
- prescribed burning; current slash treatment practices; effects of logging techniques on slash
- Abstract
- Prescribed burning has been widely used to eliminate slash resulting from logging operations, particularly on steep slopes (50 to 100 percent). However, air pollution concerns are driving requirements to reduce smoke emissions. These requirements have resulted in limited prescribed burning or no prescribed burning. This can cause increased fire hazard if the slash is not handled and/or treated by other means. The objective of this project is to develop concepts and strategies for handling and treating steep slope logging slash that will reduce the fire hazard and smoke emissions to acceptable levels. Traditionally, management of National Forest lands has been broken into individual components, i.e., timber harvest, fuels management, etc., that are discharged separately or stand alone. In this project we are attempting to integrate the various management practices into a systems approach. Thus, we advocate maximizing the efficiency of the whole system, rather than individual components. For example, removing the slash during logging makes the harvesting operation less efficient but may provide real savings overall when site preparation, fuels reduction, and fire suppression costs are greatly reduced. The goal of this project is to find ways to reduce the fire hazard caused by logging slash on steep slopes, with the major constraint being that the traditional method, broadcast burning, is not available. Changes in policy, procedures, and equipment are required. A pilot project to test the effects of these changes is needed.