Fire Regime Condition Class: - Using the FRCC Mapping Tool -

Goals of Today’s Talk: 1. Introduce FRCC Mapping Tool Discuss the necessary input layers 3. Describe the output layers & potential uses 4. Discuss the Summary Report xls 5. Review some common pitfalls & limitations

Goals of Today’s Talk: 1. Introduce FRCC Mapping Tool Discuss the necessary input layers 3. Describe the output layers & potential uses 4. Discuss the Summary Report xls 5. Review some common pitfalls & limitations

Goals of Today’s Talk: 1. Introduce FRCC Mapping Tool Discuss the necessary input layers 3. Describe the output layers & potential uses 4. Discuss the Summary Report xls 5. Review some common pitfalls & limitations

Goals of Today’s Talk: 1. Introduce FRCC Mapping Tool Discuss the necessary input layers 3. Describe the output layers & potential uses 4. Discuss the Summary Report xls 5. Review some common pitfalls & limitations

Goals of Today’s Talk: 1. Introduce FRCC Mapping Tool Discuss the necessary input layers 3. Describe the output layers & potential uses 4. Discuss the Summary Report xls 5. Review some common pitfalls & limitations

QUESTION: Why not conduct FRCC field assessments instead of using the Mapping Tool? Because FRCC field assessments are spatially vague, whereas the Mapping Tool is spatially specific! (And, the Mapping Tool saves time & money)

QUESTION: Why not just download the LANDFIRE FRCC layer? Because LANDFIRE FRCC is based on very large summary units, not local watersheds. (And, it provides Veg-only outputs)

Mapping Tool Functionality

The Tool is an ArcMap extension that: Compares veg. & regime traits to Ref. Conditions Spatially displays departure & condition class Identifies restoration opportunities Summarizes data for planning & monitoring

Version can now analyze current fire frequency & severity!

Mapping Tool Inputs Geospatial Data: Biophysical Setting (BpS) layer Current Succession Classes (S-Class) layer Current Fire Frequency & Severity layers Landscape layer (reporting units) Tabular Data Reference Condition Table: - Lists veg & regime traits for each BpS - Lists appropriate Landscape Levels

Potential Data Sources: –Download LANDFIRE data layers from the USGS National Map –Remote Sensing Satellite imagery Photo interpretation –Stand exam data –Field-level mapping

Now let’s discuss the input layers

1. Biophysical Settings Layer Shows the BpS distribution - natural vegetation with disturbance regime Available from LANDFIRE (

2. Succession Class Layer Shows current status (Classes A thru E, and U) Structure: –Open –Closed Seral state: –Early seral –Mid seral –Late seral * Available from

3. Frequency & Severity Layers Current fire regime traits Source: Local estimates User generates rasters with Fire Frequency & Severity Editor

4. Landscape Layer (reporting units) For scale-appropriate S-Class summary Sub-watershedWatershedSub-basin Regimes I, II Regime III Regimes IV, V

Question : Why would a 10,000-acre analysis area likely be inappropriate for assessing S-Classes in interior Alaska? ANSWER: For Regime V, the analysis scale should be orders of magnitude larger! (e.g., ECOMAP Subsections; HUC SubBasins)

The Reference Condition Table (comes with installation file) Lists Ref. S-Class percents Lists Ref. Frequency & Severity values Suggests appropriate Landscape Level Sources: LANDFIRE or local data

FRCCmt: Easy user interfaces

Fire Frequency & Severity Editor

Mapping Tool Outputs 13 Rasters (Stand-to- Landscape scale) Summary Report (xls format)

Stand FRCC Stratum FRCC Landscape FRCC Departure Layers Now let’s review some major layers

Stand FRCC layer Classifies the Rel. Amount (based on veg comp. only) Suggests mgt scenarios: CC1 = maintain/recruit CC2 = reduce CC3 = reduce

Strata FRCC layer Displays BpS’s according to the three condition classes (mean of veg + fire departures) Useful for prioritizing BpS’s for treatment

Landscape FRCC layer Summarizes FRCC by HUC Area-weighted average of the Strata results Useful for assessing & prioritizing individual drainages

The Departure Layers (All 3 Scales) Shows FRCC departure within individual Stands, Strata, & Landscapes Values = 0 to 100% Useful for prioritizing and for post-treatment analysis

Summary Report Condition Class Acres by BpS & Assessment Area

Potential Uses: Diagnostic data for ecosystem restoration & maintenance Pre- and post treatment documentation (e.g., NFPORS)

Pitfalls & Limitations Inaccurate inputs (models, rasters) Failure to validate (“ground truth”) S-Class U identification = limited FRCC scale issues

FRCC Mapping Tool Vital Questions: How well does your Landscape match the Reference Conditions? Which S-Classes should be maintained?... reduced?... recruited? Where are those S-Classes on the landscape?

Note Tool Releases for 2012: Version for Arc 9.3 Version for Arc 10

For more information: