August 14, 2003 The Rapid City Journal
Forest Service officials worry over low moisture content in pines

Associated Press

RAPID CITY, S.D. - Two years of dry, warm weather in the Black Hills
have reduced the moisture content in ponderosa pine needles to
unusually low levels, elevating the threat of wildfires.

"I've never seen it this low," said Dean Berger, fire-management
officer for the Black Hills National Forest. Live-fuel moisture in
Black Hills ponderosas was about 100 percent and in some cases it was
even lower, he said.

"I've never seen it below 100 before," said Berger, who has worked in
the Black Hills National Forest for more than 20 years.

The live-fuel moisture index compares the weight of water in pine
needles to the weight of needles themselves, without moisture. A 100
percent live-fuel moisture index means the water in a pine needle
weighs the same as the plant material itself.

Normal live-fuel moisture in the Black Hills for this time of year is
170 percent, Berger said. The low moisture level means more fuel
available for burning.

"It's a tremendous amount of energy," Berger said.

State firefighters also are worried about the forest.

"If we were to get a start with this heat and wind and low live-fuel
moisture, chances are very great for a large fire," said Joe Lowe,
state Wildland Fire Coordinator. He has requested two Blackhawk
helicopters from the South Dakota National Guard helicopters to be on
"pager alert" for the coming weekend.

The helicopters are in addition to the two single-engine air tankers
already based at Custer State Park.

"We're watching the weather very carefully," Lowe said. "If we get any
kind of dry lightning, we would be challenged."

The grasslands are dry, too, said Denny Gorton, fire coordinator for
Pennington County. "You look out there and you go, 'Wow, that's a lot
of brown.'"

After two years of below normal precipitation, the area received
nearly normal precipitation in April and May. But precipitation during
June and July returned to below normal.

National Weather Service meteorologist Pat Murphy predicts the heat
will continue at least through August and maybe into September.

Long-term drought is what effects ponderosas, Berger said. Hot winds
can dry grasses and other small fuels quickly, ponderosas suck
moisture out of the ground slowly.

Moisture from April and May won't effect the live-fuel moisture index
in ponderosas until next year, said Berger.

That means that this summer the ponderosas are reeling from two years
of dry weather in the past. "If we get an ignition and high winds, it
will be almost impossible to deal with," Berger said.


Comment from poster: While I haven't dealt much with measuring
live-fuel moistures, I do know that much of the Black Hills could use
some thinning. "Cultivating" specifically for very large trees in dry
areas is very difficult, very longterm and still is a viable goal (?)
Sounds like something we should be doing, over a relatively large area
(since we have millions of acres of similarly dry forestlands).

Larry

Larry Harrell wrote:

August 14, 2003 The Rapid City Journal
Forest Service officials worry over low moisture content in pines

Associated Press

RAPID CITY, S.D. - Two years of dry, warm weather in the Black Hills
have reduced the moisture content in ponderosa pine needles to
unusually low levels, elevating the threat of wildfires.

"I've never seen it this low," said Dean Berger, fire-management
officer for the Black Hills National Forest. Live-fuel moisture in
Black Hills ponderosas was about 100 percent and in some cases it was
even lower, he said.

"I've never seen it below 100 before," said Berger, who has worked in
the Black Hills National Forest for more than 20 years.

The live-fuel moisture index compares the weight of water in pine
needles to the weight of needles themselves, without moisture. A 100
percent live-fuel moisture index means the water in a pine needle
weighs the same as the plant material itself.

Normal live-fuel moisture in the Black Hills for this time of year is
170 percent, Berger said. The low moisture level means more fuel
available for burning.

"It's a tremendous amount of energy," Berger said.

State firefighters also are worried about the forest.

"If we were to get a start with this heat and wind and low live-fuel
moisture, chances are very great for a large fire," said Joe Lowe,
state Wildland Fire Coordinator. He has requested two Blackhawk
helicopters from the South Dakota National Guard helicopters to be on
"pager alert" for the coming weekend.

The helicopters are in addition to the two single-engine air tankers
already based at Custer State Park.

"We're watching the weather very carefully," Lowe said. "If we get any
kind of dry lightning, we would be challenged."

The grasslands are dry, too, said Denny Gorton, fire coordinator for
Pennington County. "You look out there and you go, 'Wow, that's a lot
of brown.'"

After two years of below normal precipitation, the area received
nearly normal precipitation in April and May. But precipitation during
June and July returned to below normal.

National Weather Service meteorologist Pat Murphy predicts the heat
will continue at least through August and maybe into September.

Long-term drought is what effects ponderosas, Berger said. Hot winds
can dry grasses and other small fuels quickly, ponderosas suck
moisture out of the ground slowly.

Moisture from April and May won't effect the live-fuel moisture index
in ponderosas until next year, said Berger.

That means that this summer the ponderosas are reeling from two years
of dry weather in the past. "If we get an ignition and high winds, it
will be almost impossible to deal with," Berger said.


Comment from poster: While I haven't dealt much with measuring
live-fuel moistures, I do know that much of the Black Hills could use
some thinning. "Cultivating" specifically for very large trees in dry
areas is very difficult, very longterm and still is a viable goal (?)
Sounds like something we should be doing, over a relatively large area
(since we have millions of acres of similarly dry forestlands).

Larry

As I recall, the Black Hills are nearly all in Lodgepole Pine, much of
it suppressed. With moisture levels like that, a dry sneeze could make
the place go up. Might be years or next week. Also, most of the area
is too steep to log except using cable. And I'd guess the market for
pulp and hog fuel is seldom high enough to support a strict thin from
below in LP. I just don't see how even an enlightened thinning
prescription could make a profit or save the bulk of that kind of woods
before burning in the long run.

Some species are meant to be even aged...