News From Outdoors Forum - Fires assessed

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The implications of massive wildfires in the central Idaho wilderness were assessed by wildlife biologists Mike Scott and Greg Painter September 18. Their report: Yesterday afternoon, we were able to arrange a two-hour helicopter reconnaissance flight over the wilderness fires, courtesy of the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Departing from Challis, we toured the Pistol Creek, Norton Ridge, Sheep Creek, Flying B, and Big Creek burn areas, returning to Challis via Camas Creek and the Aparejo Fire. Our general overall assessment is that we probably had some animal losses in the fast intense fire runs in Pistol Creek, Brush Creek, Sheep Creek, and Big Creek; but that winter ranges remain at least adequate (Big Creek) to relatively unaffected (Pistol Creek). At least in Unit 27, there does not appear to be a strong biological justification for re-arranging the big game survey schedule to include Unit 27 this winter instead of the regularly scheduled survey in winter 2001-02. Pistol Creek The lower third of the Pistol and Little Pistol drainages burned with a moderate to high intensity, as did the west face of Little Soldier Mountain (across the Middle Fork from Pistol Creek.) The fire burned lightly across the face from Pistol Creek to Indian Creek, due in part to a controlled burn conducted around the Indian Creek airstrip by the USFS this spring. There was some fire on the south side of the Indian Creek drainage, producing a nice mosaic of burned and unburned areas. Overall, this fire was located on the upper fringes of where big game can winter; winter range impacts were insignificant. Shellrock Fire This was an intense, fast-moving fire that burned through the Flying B and Mormon Ranch. At the heads of the drainages, the fire tended to produce a mosaic pattern; in places, it burned in apparent wind-driven streaks across the slope, rather than up and down slope. As the fire moved downslope toward the mouths of Sheep and Brush Creeks, it apparently became more concentrated and more intense; most of the lower ends of these drainages did burn. High intensity burning occurred in the lower ends of Sheep, Brush, and Warm Spring Creeks and across the Mormon Ranch property from Warm Spring Creek to Reservoir. Although the fire reached as far as Soldier Creek, fire intensity appeared to taper off through Bernard Creek and into Soldier Creek. Although winter range within the fire area burned fairly completely, the actual fire area is a relatively narrow strip from about Sheep Creek on the south to Pole Creek on the north; about 3 air miles wide. Big game animals should have little difficulty moving that short a distance to unburned ranges. Big Creek The south side of Big Creek from about Soldier Bar to Fawn Creek (where we turned back down Big Creek) burned intensely and fairly completely. Overall, this was the largest intensely burned area we have seen this year. At least at the lower elevations, mosaic burn patterns were scarce. The north side of Big Creek burned much less intensely and much less completely. Burn areas are minor and of light intensity from the mouth to Cougar Creek. Although the Cliff Creek to Cabin Creek area burned more completely, unburned bighorn sheep winter range should still be more than adequate to carry the Big Creek sheep herd through the coming winter. Elk winter ranges from Cabin Creek to Coxey Creek (the western limit of our survey) received some light intensity fire on the grasslands with spots of more intense timber burn. Overall, our impression was that unburned elk range should be adequate for this winter. Lower Camas Creek Although the Aparejo Fire burned into the lower north side of Camas Creek, fire activity was actually very minor from Yellowjacket Creek to the mouth of Camas Creek. The only significant burn area was in Dry Gulch east of Yellowjacket Creek; that area historically has wintered about 100 elk that will now have to move elsewhere. Photos from of the areas mentioned are available on the Fish and Game web site at www.state.id.us/fishgame under "Fire Information" in the "What^s New" section. An earlier assessment of the Clear Creek and Maloney fire areas is also available there. Back to Top Ageless Reservists Honored Fish and Game reservists from eastern Idaho are to be honored by Blue Cross of Idaho in Boise September 27. Blue Cross of Idaho has acknowledged active reservists Wendell Dunn, Pocatello, and Frank and Lucille Columbo, Ovid, as Ageless Heroes. The awards celebrate individuals who find ways to good health in mind, body, and spirit at every life stage. Dunn, 69, a pharmacist, is a reservist/volunteer retired in 1988. "I decided to volunteer for Fish and Game because of my love of the outdoors and the desire to give something back to fish and wildlife. Volunteering gave me a chance to learn new and exciting things," Dunn said. Dunn has volunteered almost weekly with the Fish and Game^s Southeast Region program. He has donated more than 200 hours of his time each year in a variety of projects involving wildlife habitat restoration, waterfowl surveys and banding, teaching youth about fishing and the outdoors, and other activities. Regional Supervisor Dexter Pitman, said "Wendell has a strong desire to be active and a most wonderful, upbeat attitude. His interest and willingness to take on new experiences has had a tremendous impact on wildlife resources and other people in Southeast Idaho." The Columbos, Lucille, 76, and Frank, 80, are active volunteers in the hunter education program having taught more than 85 Montpelier area hunter education students and volunteered more than 915 hours. Their efforts began in 1997. "We wanted to do something productive and worthwhile the rest of our lives, so we decided to get involved in teaching outdoor ethics and hunter safety," Lucille Columbo said. Besides hunter education, the Columbos have volunteered to help with other wildlife conservation and management activities such as tranquilizing and relocating troublesome moose, trapping and radio-collaring mule deer, and helping their neighbors fence stored crops from hungry deer and elk in winter. Pitman said, "The vitality and vigor of Frank and Lucille are incredible. I have a devil of a time keeping up with Frank when its spring bitterbrush planting time on the steep hills around Montpelier. Frank and Lucille are a joy to work with." "These folks are truly inspirational people. They possess a deeply rooted inner commitment to Idaho^s wildlife and fish resources. They show a dedication to accomplishing good things for other Idahoans," Pitman said.

Uploaded: 9/30/2000