In an effort to make use of workforce already in the field for summer 1998, the Recreation Department funded one-half of the Fire Prevention Technician position. The primary focus was on dispersed and primitive camp/recreation areas. It was the consensus of the recreation and fire managers that an impact could be made on the recreation problems without reducing the effectiveness of the prevention/patrol assignments. Fire readiness would remain the priority of the patrol, while grounds keeping, recreation contact, education and enforcement would be added to the focus of the patrol.
Diverse use of general Forest areas has been on the increase. The budget that provides for the stewardship of the land has been on the decrease, especially in the realm of recreation. The recreation department has continued to search for tools and methods to mitigate some of the negative impact for the recreational visitor. Some Forest visitors leave facilities vandalized and in disarray. If the damage or trash remain uncorrected, there seems to be a tendency for similar incidents to increase. After observing unfavorable conditions, some visitors left the Forest to recreate in another area. There was not consistent documentation of incidents. Specific areas of the Applegate AMA which have been most seriously affected are the dispersed and primitive recreational areas. The Middle Fork of the Applegate River has sustained the highest impact of this abuse.
For fire prevention, detection, suppression and patrol on the Siskiyou Zone, the Prevention Technician uses a 4-wheel drive engine, with 150 gallon water tank. It is assigned as part of the initial-attack force and normally staffed by 1 person.
PROJECT:
This summer, the Applegate AMA was the site of a cooperative program performed to make a slight adjustment in the workforce which would result in a large return in amount of work on the ground. Patrol areas for the Fire Prevention Technicianare primarily based on RISK (the potential for ignition of a wildland fire, especially human caused) and HAZARD (the fuel and slope of the landscape which influences the spread of fire). The dispersed recreation area has those conditions, is a high priority patrol area and is a natural match for the project. The Prevention patrol had a target to be in the Middle Fork area an average of four days per week, with the target being the weekend and holidays.
FINDINGS:
Several fire response assignments were given to the Prevention patrol while it was in the recreation area and they were answered without delay. In addition to many campfires left burning, two wildfires were discovered in the area by the Prevention unit.
Every patrol day in the area brought in several bags of trash, some days as many as 14 large bags. Nearly all of the vandalism was accompanied by trash left behind which included beer, wine, etc. Car parts, lawn mowers, refrigerators and furniture were some of the items found abandoned.
The Prevention engine was also used to fill outhouse vaults with water so that they could be pumped out by septic contractors.
Occupancy level of campgrounds were noted and reported.
Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) were used for any criminal or civil intervention and frequent contacts were made with LEO to keep current with issues and concerns.
In the summer of 1998 on the Siskiyou Zone, there were 66 Incident Reports written by the Prevention Technician. Of those, 29 reported incidents on the Middle Fork. These included:
The dispersed areas are pack it in, pack it out. There are no trash receptacles. Signing efforts were not very successful. Many signs installed to educate or redirect were pulled down the same week.
FOLLOW-UP:
Although problems take up much of our time and stay in our memory, many very positive contacts were made in this process. Several times, visitors asked for trash bags and helped clean areas as they saw the need. Some even brought their own tools to rake and shovel large amounts of junk out the fire-rings and haul it out. One such family I met with told me that the young people in camp represented the fourth generation of their family enjoying the Middle Fork area and they spoke a determination to help keep it clean. It was my pleasure to meet them each patrol day and offer the children a choice of some of our Smokey Bear fire prevention materials as a small reward for the good work and attitude they gave the Forest.
Some visitors took on a pro-active attitude and would notify the Prevention Patrol of potential problem camps, groups or individuals. Contact would then be made on an education basis, followed with enforcement if necessary. Forest Service employees of other departments returning through the dispersed area often would stop and take a few minutes to clean-up an area or check out damage to report. Trailhead patrols were initiated in an attempt to reduce the amount of car-clouting. Trailhead areas also received maintenance work in support of the fee-demo program. Information handouts such as Recreational Opportunity Guides were used on a regular basis.
An idea has been mentioned to weigh trash brought in or place it in a pile at the compound for the season as a display of the amount being left in the forest (it would be ugly).
In the fall of 1998, the Forest was able to replace a Law Enforcement Officer position that had been vacant for some time. This should be a great help with increased enforcement visibility in the area and better response times to observed problems requiring law enforcement intervention.
Last year's approach had a positive affect on addressing a growing recreation/forest protection problem. This is a good step, but only a beginning, to address an area of concern. The interest and involvement of many people has waned sometimes as they just give up under the load of what appears to be an insurmountable problem. Those who care and will help do out-number those who do not care. We will prevail as long as we keep the efforts going and team together to the honor of our resources.
Recreation is a part of the fabric of this forest area. If we do not recognize and intervene on the damages as they occur, some day we will not recognize what was once a beautiful creation.
Submitted by Michael Hannan, Fire Prevention Technician, Siskiyou Zone, Rogue River N.F.