Sponsor: Southwest Fire Science Consortium

Presenter: Adam Benefield, CTC Technology and Energy

Federally owned public lands, originally designated to properly manage natural resources, are prone to wildfire in the southern Rocky Mountains, a risk which has increased as a result of environmental conditions and historical land management. Outdoor recreation has become increasingly prevalent since the twentieth century, providing greater access to fire-prone lands. Using San Juan National Forest as the study site, this presentation explores research analyzing the influence outdoor recreation and human access have on anthropogenic wildfire occurrence and size in the southern Rocky Mountains. GIS methodologies and statistical analysis demonstrate the impact designated outdoor recreation locations have on anthropogenic wildfires, giving insight into specific usage patterns that result in human-caused wildfire ignitions.