Salmonid Restoration Federation

Fire & Fish

Prescribed Fire and Cultural Burning Resources:
 
 
Programs:
Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges (Trex) Programs-
Liability:
  • In 2021, SB332 changed the liability standard for fire suppression costs related to prescribed fire.
  • In 2023, the state of CA announced a $20 million Prescribed Fire Claims Fund, which will act like a state-backed insurance pool for prescribed/cultural burners and provide coverage where it has been lacking. To learn more, visit here.
  • Prescribed and Cultural Fire Practitioners Certification Program: The California State-Certified Burn Boss (CARX) Program, provides special benefits and protections for those who are certified. See this PDF for more information.

Articles:

Fire Retardant in Waterways:
 
 
 
 
Additional Reading:
Seeing the Fish for the Fire. Lenya Quinn-Davidson, EssayLandscape Treatments. Aug 24, 2023 
 
 
Wildfire Smoke Cools Summer River and Stream Water Temperatures. Water Resources Research. David, A.T., J.E. Asarian, and F.K. Lake. 2018.
*Abstract only. No freely accessible online full-text version.
 
 
Factors influencing fire severity under moderate burning conditions in the Klamath Mountains, Northern California, USA. Ecosphere, 8(5), B.L Estes, E.E Knapp, C.N Skinner, J.D. Miller, and H.K. Preisler. 2017.
 
Managed Wildfire Effects on Forest Resilience and Water in the Sierra Nevada. Ecosystems. Boisramé, G., S. Thompson, B. Collins, and S. Stephens. 2016. 
 
Wildfire may increase habitat quality for spring Chinook salmon in the Wenatchee River subbasin, WA, USA. Forest Ecology and Management, R. L. Flitcroft, J. A. Falke, G. H. Reeves, P.F. Hessburg, K. M. McNyset, and L. E Benda. 2016.
 
Fire effects on aquatic ecosystems: an assessment of the current state of the science. Freshwater Science R. J. Bixby, S. D. Cooper, R. E. Gresswell, L. E. Brown, C. N. Dahm, and K. A. Dwire. 2015
 
Wildfire and the effects of shifting stream temperature on salmonids. Ecosphere. M. P. Beakes, J. W. Moore, S. A. Hayes, and S. M. Sogard. 2014.
 
Fire and fish: A synthesis of observation and experience. USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station-GTR-290. B.E Rieman, R. E. Gresswell, and J. N. Rinne. 2012.
 
Long-term perspective on wildfires in the western USA. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, J.R Marlon, P. J. Bartlein, D. G. Gavin, C. J. Long, R. S. Anderson, C. E. Briles. 2012. 
 
 
The fire pulse: wildfire stimulates flux of aquatic prey to terrestrial habitats driving increases in riparian consumers. Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences. R. L. Malison, and C. V. Baxter. 2010
 
 
 
Fire in the Riparian Zone: Characteristics and Ecological Consequences. Ecosystems. N. E. Pettit, and R. J. Naiman. 2007.
 
Wildfire burn patterns and riparian vegetation response along two northern Sierra Nevada streams. Forest Ecology and Management. L. N. Kobziar, and J. R. McBride. 2006
 
 
The Fire/Fish Risk Management Problem. Western Forester. J. O'Laughlin. 2005
 
Fire and aquatic ecosystems of the western USA: current knowledge and key questions. Forest Ecology and Management. P. A. Bisson, B. E. Rieman, C. Luce, P. F. Hessburg, D. C. Lee, J. L. Kershner, G. H. Reeves, R. E. Gresswell. 2003
 
Fire and riparian ecosystems in landscapes of the western USA. Forest Ecology and Management. K. A. Dwire, J. B. Kauffman. 2003
 
 
Fire and Aquatic Ecosystems in Forested Biomes of North America. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. R. E. Gresswell. 1999.
 
Changes in a Reach of a Northern California Stream Following Wildfire. Environmental Management. K.B. Roby, and D. L. Azuma. 1995.
 

Presentations:

Fish & Fire 2025: Where There Are Fish, There is Fire: Workshop at the 42nd Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference in Santa Cruz, CA (April 29, 2025).
 
Forwarding the Fish & Fire Conversation: Where Do We Go From Here?: Videos from the workshop at the 41st Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference in Fortuna, CA (March 26, 2024)
 
From the 40th Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference in Fortuna, CA (April 25, 2023)

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