Evaluating replanting priority using GIS: Proposed model for replanting California in the wake of wildfires.
Presentation Time: Mon, 08/01/2022 - 17:00
Keywords: Erosion, California, fire, replanting, tool
As the number and scale of wildfires in California continue to increase, so too has the amount of land in need of replanting. Severely burned areas run the risk of soil loss as unsupported soil formations are eroded by exposure to wind and water, damaging the environment and potentially endangering infrastructure. In order to reduce environmental degradation and potential secondary fire-related damage to infrastructure, a new geospatial model should be developed to help prioritize the most at risk areas for urgent replanting efforts. At the same time, due to the many stakeholders involved with these replanting efforts, such tools should be as easy and accessible for use. This Master’s Project aims to create an automated model that anybody with access to ArcGIS can use. Using publicly available data, the model produces a polygon file of the most at-risk areas in a given burn area on the basis of slope, erosion potential, burn severity, as well as recommended Forest Service species for replanting. Using the instructions provided with the model, the user will be able to locate the raw data necessary to generate a prioritized area file for their own fire incident and customize the model to suit their specific incident. While not a comprehensive tool, this model will provide a starting point for targeted post-fire replanting efforts.
