This seminar is part of the USFS Missoula Fire Lab Seminar Series.

Wales Creek is a tributary to the Blackfoot River south of Ovandoand west of Helmville. The drainage makes up about half of the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area. The area has not experienced any significant wildland fires that have affected the vegetation due to a full suppression policy since 1929. It is in a mixed and high severity fire regime and has experienced widespread mortality in the lodgepole pine due to mountain pine beetles. It is also occupied by several federally listed species. On September 5thof this year, the BLM ignited a prescribed fire to reintroduce wildland fire to this area. This talk will be a deep dive into the planning for and implementation of this burn. Topics to be covered: fire history, vegetation, mountain pine beetle, NEPA, lynx, grizzly bears, and helitorches.