EEL FIRE MANAGEMENT MANUAL -- Prepared by The Nature Conservancy

Natural Community- Sandhill (Stage 2)

contribute significantly to the surface fuel component and are a major contributor to fire spread as a loft-able material producing to brands.

  • Soils:  Mineral (pale-yellow in color and sandy in texture) - need typical sandhill soil type in the county.  Typical soil types include Alphin, Bonifay, Candler, Chiefland, Cocoa, Deland, Eustis, Hurricane, Kershaw, Lake, Lakeland, Orlando, and Troup (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1987).

FUEL MODEL: Either Fuel Model 2 or Fuel Model 4 could represent the fire behavior of this stage.  Model 2 is the best fuel model input for rate of spread.  Model 4 best models for intensity as a fuel model input, although it tends often to over predict.  Fuels can generate moderate to high fire intensity and severity.

TYPICAL FIRE BEHAVIOR:   [Using FBPS: FM 2/4, FFM 8, LFM 100, MFW 5 - 10] (Refer to page 32)

* Note: Fuel Model 4 tends to over predict.

DESIRED STAGE:  Sandhill - Stage 1 (Wiregrass Dominant).  Open canopy of longleaf pine with turkey oak intermittent and very sparse.  Wiregrass with short palmettos dominate the ground cover.  Sparse pine needle litter with intermittent exposures of mineral soil.  Fuel Model 2.

RESTORATION/MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL

  • Restoration Phase:
  • No restoration required.

  • Maintenance/Management Phase:
  1. Growing season and mixed season series of  prescribed fire at a 1 to 3 year fire interval.
  1. Avoid any soil disturbing activities or treatments.

  • Special Management Concerns:
  • Soil disturbance as avenue for exotics.
  • Degradation of wiregrass complex vegetation from equipment trampling.
  • Avoid hydrologic/topographic alteration such as ditching and fire-plow scars.

EEL SITES WHERE SANDHILL - STAGE 2 OCCURS
  • Malabar Scrub Sanctuary
  • Turkey Creek Sanctuary

General Fire Effects & Management Considerations

85