[Logover]

Hikers, bikers and others out in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest southwest of Asheville might want to get in their exercise early in the day on Thursday, Aug. 11.

Starting at 1 p.m. Thursday the U.S. Forest Service will close down trails in the Ledford Branch area near Lake Powhatan in preparation for a one-day prescribed burn today of some 42 acres of national forest land in the Bent Creek area of Buncombe County.

The prescribed fire is part of a multi-year research study led by scientists at Bent Creek Experimental Forest, part of the Forest Service Southern Research Station.

“The ultimate goal of the burn is to look at how prescribed fire affects hazardous fuel accumulation, how it affects understory species development and to look at overall forest structure,” said Tara Keyser, research forester with the Southern Research Station.

The burn is also part of a long-term study to determine the effects of repeated prescribed burning on oak regeneration, she said. Scientists at Bent Creek will evaluate how prescribed burns in the grown season of June-September versus the dormant seasons of January-March affect upland hardwood forest ecosystems.

The Forest Service will close Ledford Branch Road and Deer Lake Lodge Trails during the burn. All roads into Lake Powhatan and other areas of Bent Creek will be open to mountain bikers, hikers, anglers and campers.

The safety of firefighters and the lives and property of the public is the No. 1 priority, said Forest Service spokeswoman Zoe Hoyle. The public is asked to heed signs posted at trailheads and roads and to stay away from burn sites and off closed roads and trails. Nearby residents with respiratory health issues may need to stay indoors with windows closed if there is significant smoke. The Forest Service says it will do everything possible to reduce smoke from the prescribed burn.

The Forest Service is required to meet state air quality requirements and will conduct smoke modeling to reduce the possible effects of smoke emissions. Adequate personnel and equipment will be on site, and the fire should be completed in a single day.

For more information on prescribed fire visit Fire Management.

Article from CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Girls Gone Outdoors » Forest Service to hold prescribed burn in Bent Creek Thursday

 

[JustinM]

I was wondering when this was going to happen, thought it was supposed to be earlier.

 

[bandit350]

Thanks for posting that. Perfect timing.

I am going to change my riding plans now. Better to find out this way. +1 Rep power!

 

[Logover]

Ledford Branch and Rice Pinnacle parking lots are scheduled to be closed tomorrow at 8AM for the prescribed burn

 

[Maida7]

 

[dobovedo]

Now I'm gonna have that song in my head for weeks. Thanks sooooooo much. :madmax:

 

[Maida7]

Now I'm gonna have that song in my head for weeks. Thanks sooooooo much. :madmax:

How about this one

 

[Logover]

Burn was a dud.

Apparently the Burn didn't happen today. I guess the planets were not aligned right. :madman:
Now the question is when will they do it?

 

[mopartodd]

:madmax: Double post

 

[mopartodd]

Apparently the Burn didn't happen today. I guess the planets were not aligned right. :madman:
Now the question is when will they do it?

Heard they didn't have enough people to do the required box turtle drive/round-up prior to the burn.

 

[Logover]

Bent Creek trails open today
The prescribed burn in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest planned for yesterday, Thursday, Aug. 11, never did happen. Just as the fire technicians were poised to light the 42-acre fire, the raindrops started to fall, squashing burn plans for the day.

So, all the hiking and mountain biking trails are open. Forest Service personnel say they still plan to have the burn, which is part of a long-term study on oak regeneration, as soon as weather conditions permit.

To have the burn, there has to have been no rain for a number of days, and not too humid, to help disperse smoke.

They can’t give too much notice because they have to wait and see what the weather will be doing each day, but as soon as they know, and let me know, I’ll let you all know. Until then, enjoy a smoke free Bent Creek Forest this weekend!

August 12th, 2011 By Karen Chavez

Article here. http://blogs2.citizen-times.com/outdoors/2011/08/12/bent-creek-trails-open-today/

 

[motobutane]

Bent Creek trails open today
The prescribed burn in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest planned for yesterday, Thursday, Aug. 11, never did happen. Just as the fire technicians were poised to light the 42-acre fire, the raindrops started to fall, squashing burn plans for the day.

So, all the hiking and mountain biking trails are open. Forest Service personnel say they still plan to have the burn, which is part of a long-term study on oak regeneration, as soon as weather conditions permit.

To have the burn, there has to have been no rain for a number of days, and not too humid, to help disperse smoke.

They can’t give too much notice because they have to wait and see what the weather will be doing each day, but as soon as they know, and let me know, I’ll let you all know. Until then, enjoy a smoke free Bent Creek Forest this weekend!

August 12th, 2011 By Karen Chavez

Article here. http://blogs2.citizen-times.com/outdoors/2011/08/12/bent-creek-trails-open-today/

I thought you were a guy:eekster: but your name is Karen Chavez

 

[Logover]

I thought you were a guy:eekster: but your name is Karen Chavez

That is who wrote the article on the Citizen times, see Citizen times link.

 

[motobutane]

That is who wrote the article on the Citizen times, see Citizen times link.

 

[Logover]

Bent Creek burn called off for this year

The planned prescribed burn part of a research study in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest has been called off for this year.

The study, “Effects of Dormant Season vs. Growing Season Prescribed Burning on Vegetation and Fuels in Mixed Hardwood Forests of the Southern Appalachians,” (yes, it’s a long study with a long name), includes prescribed burns on a large plot of forest near the Lake Powhatan area of Bent Creek, popular with recreation users.

The burn on some 40 acres of land was set for Aug. 11 this summer, with several forest trails and roads closed, but it rained that Thursday, and the burn was called off.

Henry McNab, research forester with the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station at Bent Creek, which is heading up the study, said the prescribed burn has been called off for the active growing season this year, and is now planned for the dormant season, some time in January or February, on the same general plot of land.

“We have an early fall this year, which changed the physiological condition of the vegetation,” McNab said. “We thought we would be able to extend the growing season into August, but when we took a look at the growing season, it had changed into dormant season, so we decided to call it off.”

Special weather conditions are required for a prescribed burn, and it was difficult to get everything to gel this summer, McNab said.

“Back in June, the Forest Service issued a burn moratorium. It was too dry to burn. They it was wet. We need an adequate amount of time for fuel drying. We need low humidity to have the fire intensity we need, but not too dry, or the flames will be too high.”

McNab said the preparation for this initial burn – which would have been the first in about a century – took six people working for two months, McNab said.

“I know a lot of people, visitors, and the media, were disappointed the burn didn’t happen,” he said. “You can imagine how disappointed the researchers are.”

By Karen Chavez
September 12th, 2011
Categories Uncategorized
Comments (0)

 

[motobutane]

The planned prescribed burn part of a research study in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest has been called off for this year.

The study, “Effects of Dormant Season vs. Growing Season Prescribed Burning on Vegetation and Fuels in Mixed Hardwood Forests of the Southern Appalachians,” (yes, it’s a long study with a long name), includes prescribed burns on a large plot of forest near the Lake Powhatan area of Bent Creek, popular with recreation users.

The burn on some 40 acres of land was set for Aug. 11 this summer, with several forest trails and roads closed, but it rained that Thursday, and the burn was called off.

Henry McNab, research forester with the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station at Bent Creek, which is heading up the study, said the prescribed burn has been called off for the active growing season this year, and is now planned for the dormant season, some time in January or February, on the same general plot of land.

“We have an early fall this year, which changed the physiological condition of the vegetation,” McNab said. “We thought we would be able to extend the growing season into August, but when we took a look at the growing season, it had changed into dormant season, so we decided to call it off.”

Special weather conditions are required for a prescribed burn, and it was difficult to get everything to gel this summer, McNab said.

“Back in June, the Forest Service issued a burn moratorium. It was too dry to burn. They it was wet. We need an adequate amount of time for fuel drying. We need low humidity to have the fire intensity we need, but not too dry, or the flames will be too high.”

McNab said the preparation for this initial burn – which would have been the first in about a century – took six people working for two months, McNab said.

“I know a lot of people, visitors, and the media, were disappointed the burn didn’t happen,” he said. “You can imagine how disappointed the researchers are.”

By Karen Chavez
September 12th, 2011
Categories Uncategorized
Comments (0)

Thanks Karen

 

[crossboy]

Special weather conditions are required for a prescribed burn, and it was difficult to get everything to gel this summer, McNab said.

I love this line from the story. Makes it sound like the researchers were trying to control the weather. :thumbsup: