PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 11: Disturbance Ecology
Tuesday, August 9, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Lost Lake vegetation recovery after the Blue Cut fire.

Narog, Marcia^*,1, Sclafani, Christie¹, Beyers, Jan¹, ¹ USDA Forest Servive, Riverside, CA, USA

ABSTRACT- During 2002, the Blue Cut fire burned 6,815 acres on the Angeles National Forest in southern California. This included Lost Lake which is formed mainly by sub-surface water. This shallow lake is surrounded by both coastal sage scrub and chaparral species. All nearby vegetation burned during the fire including the partially submerged species of juncus, typhus, carex and arundo. This area is potential habitat for the endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), and Least Bells vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus). No fire effects information is available on these species and more information is needed on riparian vegetation recovery after fire. A case study was established to evaluate post-fire recovery of vegetation composition and structure in and near Lost Lake. Vegetation cover and height were measured using eight 50 m line transects placed from the lake edge radiating outward. Burned shrub and tree skeletons up to 5.5 m in height were initially recorded across the blackened landscape. Two years after the fire, eighty-two species of plants had been identified, and live vegetation averaged over 95 percent cover with maximum heights reaching 3.75 m. To date, regeneration of this critical habitat has been rapid. It will be tracked for at least 3 years after the fire. ′

Key words: fire, riparian