PIERRE LAKE
A Successful Fuels Reduction Story
Overview: The Pierre Lake Project was identified in the Stevens County Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and developed through the Healthy Forest
Restoration Act (HFRA). The absence of wildfires in the area for many decades had resulted in heavy, dense stands. Over the years, residential
development had increased adjacent to the project area. The tree species in the stands had transitioned to less fire tolerant species and uniform
stands in contrast to the historic stand conditions that included predominantly larger and older class trees. The Pierre Lake project focused on a
series of fuels reduction treatments including pre-commercial thinning, commercial harvest and prescribed fire to reduce the small understory and
brush that act as fuels ladders, thus reducing the potential for wildfire that could have resulted in complete stand mortality.
Pierre Lake Fuels Reduction Project
Stevens County, WA
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Pierre Lake Plot 009
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Pierre Lake Plot 007
Pre-Broadcast Burn
Pre-Treatment
Brushy stand prior to broadcast treatment
(May 2014)
Heavily stocked and crowded forest
stand prior to treatment
(September 2009)
Post-Broadcast Burn
Post-Commercial Harvest
Broadcast burning was used to reduce
fuel loading of brush and downed material
(October 2014)
Stand conditions following commercial
harvest activities
(June 2011)
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Post Pre-Commercial Thin and Broadcast Burn
Final treatments included pre-commercial thinning
and prescribed burning, resulting in a healthier stand
of timber that is more fire tolerant and resistant to
insects and disease
(October 2014)