• Soils: Poorly to somewhat poorly drained sandy soils with loamy subsoils.  A variety of representative soils are common such as Oleno, Portsmouth, Gainesville, Hernando, Plummer, Herod, and others.

FUEL MODEL:

  Fuel Model 9 is best fit for modeling fire behavior of this stage.  Fire spread occurs primarily through surface fuels dominated by deciduous hardwood leaf litter.  Duff and litter can significantly contribute to the smoldering combustion phase under moderate to severe drought conditions in areas of better drained topography and soils (Anderson, 1982).

TYPICAL FIRE BEHAVIOR:

[Using FBPS: FM 9, FFM 8, LFM 100, MFW 5 - 10]
(Refer to page 32)

DESIRED STAGE:

This single stage community is in the condition at which mesic and hydric communities are to be maintained.

RESTORATION/MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL:

• Restoration Phase:
  • No restoration required.
• Maintenance/Management Phase:
  • Fire is naturally very infrequent in this vegetation complex and only occurs under moderate to extreme drought conditions.  Moisture conditions for prescribed burning should be selected that allow fire to creep into the surface litter layer of this habitat type but allow also for self extinguishment during increased evening moisture conditions.
• Special Management Concerns:
  • Soil disturbance as avenue for exotics.
  • Avoid hydrologic/topographic alteration such as ditching and fire-plow scars.
  • Extensive smoldering phase smoke production if wildfires or prescribed burns occur under excessively dry conditions.

EEL SITES WHERE MESIC/HYDRIC HAMMOCK COMMUNITY OCCURS

• Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
• Pine Island Conservation Area