FIRE Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User Guide

FRCC 1

FRCC 2

FRCC 3

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool

User’s Guide

Version 2.1.0

National Interagency

Fuels Coordination Group

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Preface

Preface

Many federal land management agencies have been directed to manage their lands to
sustain ecosystems through time (USDA 1999, USDA 2000a, USDA 2000b). Allen and
Hoekstra (1992) suggested that sustainability could be achieved only if managers worked
with the underlying processes of the system to be managed, not against them. Several
important scientific concepts have been developed to help managers address
sustainability by the assessment of ecosystem condition. The scientific concepts
important to the development and understanding of the Fire Regime Condition Class
Mapping Tool – or FRCC Mapping Tool – include the historical range of variation,
ecological departure, fire regime condition class (FRCC), and FRCC versus fire hazard.

Historical range of variation

Recent federal forest policy has identified the need to consider current ecosystem
condition in the context of historical variation (USDA 2000a, 2000b). Historical range
of variation (HRV) provides context and guidance for ecosystem management.
Furthermore, disturbance-driven spatial and temporal variation is a vital attribute of
nearly all ecosystems (Landres and others 1999). Landres and others (1999) suggest

that a primary objective in characterizing HRV is to understand: 1) how the driving

ecosystem processes vary from site to site, 2) how these processes affected ecosystems
in the past, and 3) how these processes might affect both current and future
ecosystems. Vegetation patterns resulting from historical fire regimes are a critical
component for characterizing HRV in fire-adapted ecosystems.

Ecological departure

The historical range of variation can be used as a reference condition for understanding
and evaluating change (Morgan and others 1994; Hessburg and others 1999; Swetnam
and others 1999), as well as for evaluating current and future management goals (Hann
and others 1997). For example, historical conditions have been used to assess the
impact of altered fire regimes on the structure and composition of forest ecosystems
(Skinner and Chang 1996; Hann and others 1997) and for assessing the effectiveness of
wildland fire use programs (Brown and others 1994).

Certain photos courtesy of Fire Management Today

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Preface

The amount of change or departure from reference disturbance regimes can be derived
by comparing the condition of existing or future ecosystems to the historical range of
variation. An understanding of ecosystem departure provides the context necessary for
managing sustainable ecosystems. That is, managers need to understand how ecosystem
processes and functions have changed before they can develop strategies for sustaining
those systems through time. In addition, the departure from historical fire regimes may
serve as a useful ecological proxy of the potential for uncharacteristic fire effects.
Several recent land management initiatives have addressed these important concepts
with respect to fire and call for spatially explicit maps of historical fire regimes as well as
an estimate of fire regime departure (or condition class) (USDA 2000a; USDA 2000b;
Healthy Forests Initiative: W House 2002; Healthy Forests Restoration Act: U.S.
Congress 2003).

Fire regime condition class

Fire regime condition class (FRCC) is an index of ecological departure from reference
conditions. The FRCC departure metric can be derived by evaluating the change in
composition of succession classes, fire frequency, and fire severity (Hann and others

2004). Three classes corresponding to low, moderate, and high departure have been
defined (Hardy and others 2001; Schmidt and others 2002) (see Appendix B). Common
causes of departure include fire suppression, timber harvesting, livestock grazing,
introduction and establishment of exotic plants, as well as introduced insects and
disease (Schmidt and others 2002).

FRCC is derived by comparing current conditions to an estimate of the historical range
that existed prior to substantial Euro-American settlement. Departure of current
conditions from an historical baseline can be used as a proxy for potential
uncharacteristic fire effects and serves an important role in addressing risks to the
sustainability of fire-adapted ecosystems. In applying the condition class concept
(Schmidt and others 2002), we assume that historical fire regimes represent the
conditions under which ecosystem components of fire-adapted ecosystems have evolved
and been maintained over time (Hardy and others 1998). Thus, if we observe that fire
intervals, fire severity, vegetation structure, and/or vegetation composition have
changed from those of historical conditions, we would expect fire size, fire intensity, and
burn patterns to be subsequently altered. If these basic fire characteristics have
changed, then it is also likely that ecosystem components adapted to these historical fire

regimes would be affected as well.

FRCC versus fire hazard

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Preface

Fire regime condition class should not be used to indicate fire hazard potential since the
relationships between condition class and fire behavior are inconsistent at best. For
example, in some cases, low departure areas may have very active fire behavior,
whereas in other cases, the fire behavior could be relatively benign. The opposite is
also true: some high departure areas may have fire behavior ranging from benign to very
active. In addition, fire behavior and FRCC are derived at different scales. FRCC is a
landscape metric, whereas fire behavior is typically analyzed on a stand basis (such as a
homogeneous patch characterized by uniform topography and fuels). Since FRCC is
derived according to the composition of succession classes (for example, stands) within
a given landscape, it is quite possible that some succession classes would have
characteristics that may result in a low fire behavior hazard (such as in early seral
stands), whereas others may have a high hazard (such as in late seral stands).

_____________________

The FRCC Mapping Tool

The FRCC Mapping Tool quantifies the departure of vegetation conditions from a set of
reference conditions that represents the historical range of variation. The tool, which
operates from the ArcMap platform, derives several metrics of departure by comparing
the composition of successional states representing current vegetation to the
composition of successional states representing the reference conditions. FRCC
Mapping Tool outputs can be used to develop management plans and treatment
strategies aimed at restoring vegetation conditions.

This version of the FRCC Mapping Tool (version 2.1.0) was released in January of 2007.
Future versions may incorporate additional features, so be sure to check the NIFTT
website (www.niftt.gov) for possible updates and enhancements as well as associated
updates to this user’s guide.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Front Matter

What’s new in version 2.1.0?

→Changes in terminology and concepts

Some terms and concepts related to the FRCC Mapping Tool have changed
considerably since earlier versions of this software were made available. The
term potential natural vegetation group, or PNVG, which was widely used in
earlier versions of FRCC material, has been replaced by the term biophysical
setting (commonly abbreviated as BpS). Another earlier term, vegetation-fuel
class, has been replaced by the term succession class (S-Class) in this user’s guide
and in other current material related to the FRCC Mapping Tool.

→Changes to inputs

The design of the FRCC Mapping Tool’s user interface (dialog boxes) has been
improved for ease of use. In addition, the structure of the Reference Condition
Table has changed, as have some field names; these changes were intended to
make the Reference Condition Table more robust and thereby reduce common
errors. Moreover, reference condition tables from the LANDFIRE Rapid
Assessment are now included with the installation package. Lastly, the FRCC
Mapping Tool can now modify BpS and S-Class grids even if they do not coincide
with the Reference Condition Table.

→Changes to outputs

Two new output layers have been added: Landscape FRCC and Stand Departure.
(Chapter 5 provides information on these new layers). In addition, the
Management Report has been renamed Summary Report and several new fields
have been added.

Prerequisites

FRCC Mapping Tool users should be familiar with the FRCC assessment process. As a
minimum, users should review the Interagency Fire Regime Condition Class Guidebook
(Hann and others 2004) prior to working with the FRCC Mapping Tool. We also
recommend that potential users complete online FRCC training available at

www.frcc.gov. Since the FRCC Mapping Tool is a GIS application, users must also have

a working knowledge of ArcMap. Lastly, because the FRCC Mapping Tool incorporates
some applications of Microsoft Access and Excel, users should have at least some basic

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Front Matter

working knowledge of these programs. Specific hardware and software requirements
are detailed in Chapter 1

of this guide.

Obtaining copies

To obtain additional copies of the FRCC Mapping Tool User’s Guide or Tutorial
(available spring 2008), go to the NIFTT website at www.niftt.gov. Click on NIFTT
Tools & User Documents in the menu. Select NIFTT User Documents, and you
will then be routed to www.fire.org where NIFTT tools and associated documents are
housed.

Credits

A beta version of the FRCC Mapping Tool was developed for the National Interagency
Fuels Technology Team (NIFTT) by J.D. Zeiler and Jeff Jones of the USDA Forest
Service. Early versions of the software have been substantially modified by Lee Hutter
of Systems for Environmental Management (SEM) under the auspices of NIFTT.

Funding was provided by the USDA Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Interior.

This FRCC Mapping Tool User’s Guide was written by NIFTT members Jeff Jones of the
USDA Forest Service and Deb Tirmenstein of Systems for Environmental Management.

Lastly, we thank Christine Frame of Systems for Environmental Management (and NIFTT
member) for her editorial proficiency.

Your input

We value your input. Please forward any questions, comments, reports of bugs, or
ideas to the National Interagency Fuels Technology Team (NIFTT) at

[e-mail].

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface..................................................................................................................... 1

Historical range of variation.........................................................................................................1

Ecological departure ......................................................................................................................1

Fire regime condition class...........................................................................................................2

FRCC versus fire hazard...............................................................................................................2

The FRCC Mapping Tool..............................................................................................................3

What’s new in version 2.1.0?.......................................................................................................4

Prerequisites....................................................................................................................................4

Obtaining copies.............................................................................................................................5

Credits ..............................................................................................................................................5

Your input........................................................................................................................................5

Chapter 1: About the FRCC Mapping Tool User’s Guide................................ 8

1.1 Before you begin.....................................................................................................................8

1.2 How to use this guide ...........................................................................................................8

1.3 System requirements.............................................................................................................9

1.3.1 Computer hardware......................................................................................................9

1.3.2 Computer software .......................................................................................................9

Chapter 2: FRCC Mapping Tool Function........................................................ 10

2.1 How it operates....................................................................................................................10

2.2 Processing steps....................................................................................................................10

2.3 Applications ...........................................................................................................................11

Chapter 3: Input Data......................................................................................... 12

3.1 Description of input data....................................................................................................12

3.1.1 Biophysical Settings (BpS) layer.................................................................................12

3.1.2 Succession Classes (S-Class) layer............................................................................13

3.1.3 Landscape layer.............................................................................................................15

3.1.4 Reference Condition Table........................................................................................18

Chapter 4: Obtaining Input Data ...................................................................... 22

4.1 Spatial input layers................................................................................................................22

4.1.1 Steps for obtaining the layers ....................................................................................22

4.2 Reference conditions...........................................................................................................29

Chapter 5: Output Data ..................................................................................... 31

5.1 Succession class (S-Class) outputs....................................................................................32

5.1.1 S-Class Percent Difference (SclassPctDiff)...............................................................32

5.1.2 S-Class Departure (SclassDep)..................................................................................33

5.1.3 S-Class Relative Amount (SClassRelAmt)...............................................................33

5.1.4. Stand FRCC (StandFRCC).........................................................................................34

5.2 Strata (BpS) outputs.............................................................................................................35

5.2.1 Strata Departure (StrataDep)....................................................................................35

5.2.2 Strata FRCC (StrataFRCC) ........................................................................................35

5.3 Landscape outputs................................................................................................................36

5.3.1 Landscape Departure (LandFRCCDep) ..................................................................36

5.3.2 Landscape FRCC (LandFRCC) ..................................................................................37

5.4 Summary Report ..................................................................................................................37

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Table of Contents

5.5 Access database....................................................................................................................43

Chapter 6: Installing FRCC MT ......................................................................... 44

6.1 Installation instructions.......................................................................................................44

6.1.1 Installing the complete NIFTT tool package...........................................................45

6.1.2 Single tool (FRCC MT) installation...........................................................................50

6.2 Troubleshooting FRCC MT installation ..........................................................................52

Chapter 7: Using the FRCC Mapping Tool ...................................................... 53

7.1 The FRCC MT toolbar........................................................................................................53

7.2 How to run FRCC MT........................................................................................................53

7.2.1 Creating a new project ...............................................................................................53

7.2.2 Loading data...................................................................................................................54

7.2.3. Selecting a reference condition table......................................................................58

7.2.4 Selecting input layers ...................................................................................................61

7.2.5 Selecting output layers ................................................................................................66

7.2.6 Running the tool ...........................................................................................................69

Chapter 8: Troubleshooting FRCC MT – Common Errors, Symptoms, and

Solutions................................................................................................................ 75

8.1 Data quality............................................................................................................................75

8.1.1 Output error related to the S-Class layer..............................................................75

8.1.2 Output error related to the BpS layer....................................................................76

8.1.3 Output error related to the Reference Condition Table ...................................76

8.1.4 Output error related to landscape scale.................................................................77

8.2 Landscape patterns ..............................................................................................................77

8.3 Naming conventions............................................................................................................78

8.4 Reference Condition Database.........................................................................................78

Appendix A: References ...................................................................................... 79

Appendix B: Fire Regime Condition Classes ................................................... 82

Appendix C: Fire Regime Groups ..................................................................... 83

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 1

Chapter 1: About the FRCC Mapping Tool User’s Guide

1.1 Before you begin

1.2 How to use this guide

1.3 System requirements

1.3.1 Computer hardware

1.3.2 Computer software

1.1 Before you begin

This user’s guide describes the basic operation of the FRCC Mapping Tool, which
quantifies the departure of vegetation conditions from a set of reference conditions.

We recommend that FRCC Mapping Tool users understand the concepts and methods
presented in the Interagency FRCC Guidebook (Hann and others 2004) prior to
working with the FRCC Mapping Tool. This user’s guide will review many of the
concepts, definitions, and methods contained within the Interagency FRCC Guidebook,
but will not repeat detailed discussions.

Lastly, FRCC Mapping Tool users must be familiar with Microsoft Windows and basic
ArcGIS/ArcMap functions.

1.2 How to use this guide

You need not read the entire guide to carry out a specific task. Once you are familiar
with the basic concepts associated with the FRCC Mapping Tool, you can quickly locate
commonly performed tasks by reviewing the headings in the Table of Contents located
near the beginning of this guide. You can then refer to the specific section pertaining to
your needs. Whenever appropriate, screen captures are used to illustrate the steps
required to complete a task.

Note that the FRCC Mapping Tool User’s Guide is not intended to provide step-by-step
guidance on the tool’s operation using specific examples; rather, it is intended to serve
as a reference guide. The FRCC Mapping Tool tutorial, available in spring of 2008
through www.niftt.gov
to a specific management scenario.

, will provide such step-by-step instructions for applying the tool

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 1

1.3 System requirements

1.3.1 Computer hardware

Your choice of hardware will greatly affect the FRCC Mapping Tool’s
performance. In general, computers having faster processors, more memory,
and more free hard drive space will process data faster. A computer system

having the minimum requirements identified in table 1-1 will likely suffice for

applications involving relatively small analysis areas, such as tens of thousands of
acres. However, a computer system should have the recommended

requirements (table 1-1) if users will be frequently processing relatively large

analysis areas, such as hundreds of thousands of acres.

Table 1-1. Minimum and recommended computer specifications for FRCC MT.

Windows operating system 2000/XP 2000/XP
Memory 1GB At least 1.5GB
Processor: P4 or equivalent 1.0GHz At least 2.0GHz
Free hard drive space 5GB At least 10GB
Display resolution 800 x 600 At least 1280 x 1024
Mouse or pointer Required Required

Minimum Recommended

1.3.2 Computer software

Users of the FRCC Mapping Tool need to have the following programs installed:
ArcMap versions 9.0 or 9.1 with the Spatial Analyst extension, Microsoft Excel
(2000 or higher), and Microsoft Access (2000 or higher).

Note: Although not required, ArcCatalog is a highly valuable tool for managing
and organizing ArcMap data layers and should be used for all data
manipulation such as copying, pasting, renaming, and deleting.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 2

Chapter 2: FRCC Mapping Tool Function

2.1 How it operates

2.2 Processing steps

2.3 Applications

2.1 How it operates

The FRCC Mapping Tool works within ArcMap to spatially assess the departure of
vegetation conditions from a set of reference conditions. These reference conditions
represent the midpoint of the historical range of variation (see the preface to this
guide). The tool generates a suite of metrics that characterizes vegetation departure
with varying degrees of thematic detail and at various levels of ecosystem organization.
For example, some metrics are based on continuous values, whereas others use
categorical data made up of relatively few discrete classes. Departure indices are
generated at the landscape, biophysical setting, and succession class levels. Users can
select the metric(s) that best addresses the specific analysis question.

The FRCC Mapping Tool uses protocols and algorithms outlined in the Interagency
FRCC Guidebook (Hann and others 2004) to derive FRCC and related departure
metrics. However, unlike the FRCC field assessment technique, the tool does not
estimate departure of fire frequency and severity. All departure metrics produced by

the FRCC Mapping Tool are based solely on vegetation conditions.

2.2 Processing steps

The FRCC Mapping Tool integrates the ArcMap and Access applications. ArcMap
combines the spatial landscape, biophysical setting, and succession class layers so that
each value in the resulting raster layer denotes a unique combination of values from the
three input layers. A series of queries is then made in an Access database to derive the
composition of succession classes (S-Class) for every biophysical setting (BpS) within
each landscape. The S-Class composition is then compared to the reference conditions
contained within another Access database, known as the Reference Condition Database.
Various departure indices are then computed within Access and, after that, joined back
to the combined raster. Individual rasters representing each departure metric are then
produced by ArcMap.

Finally, tabular data are exported to Excel where the difference between current and
reference conditions is calculated. The Excel worksheet displays the amount of change

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 2

in the area necessary to restore or maintain landscapes according to their reference
condition.

2.3 Applications

Outputs from the FRCC Mapping Tool can be used to develop management plans and
treatment strategies to improve the sustainability of fire-adapted ecosystems. That is,
the FRCC Mapping Tool can help to spatially identify restoration opportunities.
Outputs can determine the amount of change that is needed across a landscape if
restoring fire-adapted ecosystems is a management goal. Furthermore, the tool can
help evaluate the effectiveness of proposed treatments in regards to restoring departed
landscapes. The FRCC Mapping Tool can be used for broad- to fine-scale planning;
however, careful consideration should be given to the spatial resolution, thematic
specificity, and accuracy of the input data (spatial layers and reference conditions) when
designing and interpreting FRCC Mapping Tool applications.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Input Data

3.1 Description of input data

3.1.1 Biophysical Settings (BpS) layer

3.1.2 Succession Classes (S-Class) layer

3.1.3 Landscape layer

3.1.4 Reference Condition Table

3.1 Description of input data

The FRCC Mapping Tool requires three kinds of spatial information in ArcGRID format:
a layer (or attribute) depicting biophysical settings (BpS); a layer depicting succession
classes (S-Class), and a layer depicting the landscape units (such as reporting units)
within which the composition of succession classes is derived. This spatial information
can be provided by a single layer having BpS, S-Class, and landscape levels as attributes,
or the information can be provided by three unique layers which characterize BpS, S­Class, and landscape units separately. If multiple layers are used, all must have identical
coordinate systems and projections. In addition, we recommend that the spatial layers
also have identical cell sizes, cell alignment, and geographic extents. The tool also
requires a set of reference conditions that can be associated with the BpS layer. These
reference conditions are stored in a table (the Reference Condition Table) contained
within a Microsoft Access database. Each of the inputs will be discussed in this user’s
guide, but readers are encouraged to refer to the Interagency FRCC Guidebook (Hann
and others 2004) for a more detailed discussion of concepts pertaining to biophysical
settings, succession classes, and reference conditions.

3.1.1 Biophysical Settings (BpS) layer

Biophysical settings reflect the integration of soils, climate, and topography which
define native disturbance regimes and the composition of resulting plant
communities. Biophysical settings are the taxonomic units used to characterize
reference conditions. The natural composition of succession classes has been
determined for each BpS by using either spatial vegetation succession and
disturbance models, such as LANDSUM (Keane and others 2006) and TELSA
(ESSA Technologies Ltd. 2005a) or aspatial vegetation succession and
disturbance models, such as the Vegetation Dynamics Development Tool
(VDDT; ESSA Technologies Ltd 2005b).

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 3

The FRCC Mapping Tool derives departure values, and subsequently fire regime
condition classes, for each BpS within the analysis area. Therefore, the BpS layer
must contain attributes with codes that coincide with BpS codes in the
Reference Condition Table. Departure values will be derived only for those
biophysical settings common to both the BpS layer and the Reference Condition
Table. Biophysical settings lacking a set of reference conditions (such as barren,
water, agriculture, and urban) are ignored when calculating landscape
composition and deriving departure indices. For example, if agriculture
comprises 10 percent of a landscape, the composition of succession classes is
determined from the remaining 90 percent of that landscape.

The BpS layer must contain an attribute that coincides with the BpS codes used
in the Reference Condition Table. In the example Value Attribute Table
displayed in figure 3-1, the attribute denoted as Bps_model coincides with the

field named BpS_model in the Reference Condition Table (fig. 3-5).

Figure 3-1. Example of a value attribute table from a BpS layer produced by the LANDFIRE
Project.

Tip: To view an example attribute table, open ArcMap and right click on any
desired layer in the Table of Contents. Select Open Attribute Table from
the menu options.

3.1.2 Succession Classes (S-Class) layer

The Succession Classes (S-Class) layer identifies the successional states within
each BpS. Succession classes are unique to a BpS and can be interpreted only
within the context of the BpS. Consequently, succession classes must be nested
within the BpS layer. Succession classes typically denote both seral status (in
other words, early-, mid-, or late-seral) and structure (in other words, open or
closed canopy) and are generally derived from a characterization of species

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 3

composition (such as cover type), diameter and/or height classes, and density or
cover.

The current version of the FRCC Mapping Tool can accommodate up to six
succession classes for a given BpS, including five natural states (for example,
early-seral, mid-seral closed, mid-seral open, late-seral open, late-seral closed),
and one “uncharacteristic” state or vegetation class that would not have been
found within the natural or historical range of variation, such as invasive weeds
and timber or grazing management that doesn’t emulate the natural regime.
These states are commonly denoted by A, B, C, D, E, and U, respectively.
However, it is important to note that not all biophysical settings are
characterized by five natural states and that the description of each state is not
necessarily consistent. For example, some biophysical settings do not have open
structures and some lack mid-seral states. For this reason, users must be
familiar with the BpS model descriptions that apply to their local areas.

The FRCC Mapping Tool computes the existing composition of succession
classes for each BpS within a given landscape (fig. 3-2). The existing composition
is then compared to the reference composition to derive the departure indices.
Consequently, every pixel in the BpS layer that has been assigned to a BpS having
a reference condition, must also be assigned to an S-Class. Biophysical settings
lacking a reference condition (such as rock, barren, mines, agriculture, urban, and
water) do not need a corresponding S-Class since they are ignored when
departure is derived.

The S-Class layer must contain an attribute denoting the S-Class as A, B, C, D,
E, or U (fig. 3-2) so that the layer can be associated with the Reference
Condition Table. In the following example, the attribute Label relates the S­Class layer to the succession classes in the Reference Condition Table (fig. 3-5).
Succession classes identified by anything other than A, B, C, D, E or U will be
ignored when calculating the S-Class composition of a BpS.

Note: The S-Class layer must have an attribute that can be related to the
Reference Condition Table.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 3

Figure 3-2. Example of a value attribute table derived from an S-Class layer produced by the
LANDFIRE Project. Note – the S-Class layer produced by LANDFIRE may have two
uncharacteristic classes: “UE” depicts an uncharacteristic condition due to exotics, where as “UN”
depicts an uncharacteristic condition due to unnatural structure.

3.1.3 Landscape layer

The Landscape layer identifies a geographic area for deriving the composition of
succession classes for any given BpS. Thus, the Landscape layer and the BpS
layer together create the strata for which vegetation departure and FRCC are
derived. The concepts of ecological departure and FRCC are scale-dependent.
Consequently, results will differ as the landscape used to report those results
changes in size and/or shape. It is therefore highly important that landscapes of
an appropriate size are selected when using the FRCC Mapping Tool.

To select an appropriately sized landscape, consider historical fire regimes and
the resulting vegetation patterns that historically dominated a particular area.
The landscape should be large enough to encompass the historical range of
variation (HRV). That is, it should be large enough so that the full expression of
succession classes would occur given natural disturbance processes. For
example, in a forested setting, infrequent, high-severity fire regimes commonly
led to relatively large patches of vegetation (in other words coarse-grained
patterns), whereas frequent, low-severity fire regimes resulted in relatively small
patches (fine-grained patterns). Thus, larger landscapes would be required to
incorporate the full expression of HRV in areas having coarse-grained patterns,
whereas smaller landscapes may suffice in areas having fine-grained patterns.
Estimates of departure tend to be inversely correlated with landscape size. That
is, departure estimates tend to increase as the landscape size decreases.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 3

Conversely, using exceedingly large landscapes may produce departure estimates
that are too low.

Tip: The creation of a landscape layer commonly involves clipping a pre­existing layer. This process often creates slivers around the boundary of the
assessment area. Erroneous estimates of departure may occur if these small
slivers are not incorporated into the larger, adjacent landscapes. In some
instances, it may be advantageous to extend the assessment area to
incorporate entire landscapes extending beyond a project area’s boundary.

A nested hierarchy of up to three landscape levels (small, medium, and large) can
be used by the FRCC Mapping Tool to derive the composition of succession
classes. A nested hierarchy allows for the analysis of areas containing multiple
biophysical settings and historical fire regimes. For example, the smallest
landscape level could be used to assess the departure of biophysical settings
dominated by low-severity fire regimes (in other words, regimes resulting in fine­grained vegetation patterns); the mid-sized landscape level could be used to
assess biophysical settings dominated by mixed-severity regimes (regimes
resulting in both fine- and coarse-grained vegetation patterns); and the largest
landscape level could by used to assess biophysical settings dominated by high­severity regimes (regimes resulting in coarse-grained vegetation patterns).

If multiple landscape levels are used, the smaller landscape levels must be nested
within the larger landscape levels. To ensure that the landscape levels are in fact
nested, we recommend using a single landscape layer that contains an attribute
for each level of the hierarchy. For example, if a watershed hierarchy such as a
hydrologic unit code (HUC) is used, the layer could contain three attributes
representing subbasins (large), watersheds (medium), and subwatersheds (small).
Similarly, if an ECOMAP hierarchy (Cleland and others 1997) is used, the
landscape layer could contain attributes for subsections (large), landtype
associations (medium), and landtypes (small). Figures 3-3 and 3-4 demonstrate
examples of a nested landscape layer comprised of watersheds and the
associated value attribute table, respectively.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 3

Black = Subbasins

Red = Watersheds

Blue = Subwatersheds

Figure 3-3. Example of nested landscapes comprised of subbasins, watersheds, and
subwatersheds.

Subbasin Subwatershed

Watershed

Figure 3-4. Example of a value attribute table from a Landscape layer comprised
of nested watersheds.

Although the FRCC Mapping Tool can use three hierarchical levels of landscapes
for assessing departure, it is not necessary to use all three. For example, using

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 3

only one level may be appropriate if the analysis area is dominated by a single fire
regime group. Similarly, for a small analysis area dominated by a single fire
regime group, it might be appropriate to have a single landscape (analysis area
boundary). In this instance, the landscape layer would contain only a single value
(for example, one subwatershed).

3.1.4 Reference Condition Table

The Reference Condition Table provides three key pieces of information for use

with the FRCC Mapping Tool: 1) a list of biophysical settings that occur within a

particular analysis area, 2) the succession classes and corresponding reference
condition for each BpS, and 3) the dominant historical fire regime group. Select
one or more landscape levels according to the fire regime group(s) to compute
the composition of the existing succession classes. Reference conditions are
typically derived by a vegetation succession and disturbance model such as
VDDT (ESSA Technologies Ltd. 2005b), TELSA (ESSA Technologies Ltd. 2005a),
or LANDSUM (Keane and others 2006). However, some users have developed
reference condition tables by consulting the literature or by using General Land
Office survey information. The Reference Condition Table identifies the
proportional distribution of succession classes (expressed as a mid-point) within
each BpS that would likely occur across a landscape as a result of the historical
disturbance regime.

The Reference Condition Table (fig. 3-5) must be formatted so that it can be
associated with BpS and S-Class layers. For example, the first field in the
Reference Condition Table, BpS_Model, denotes the BpS and must coincide
with an attribute in the BpS layer. The third through eighth fields in the
Reference Condition Table, succession classes A through U, correspond to the
S-Class and provide percent composition within a particular BpS. The field
headings must coincide with an attribute of the S-Class layer.

Note: The U field denoting the “uncharacteristic” class must be populated
with a value of 0 because uncharacteristic succession classes did not occur
naturally during the reference period.

The next field, Fire Regime Group (FRG) describes the dominant historical fire
regime (see Appendix C) for each BpS. The dominant fire regime group is used
to assign a value to the last field, LandscapeLevel. LandscapeLevel identifies
the appropriate landscape level to use for deriving the existing composition of

succession classes within a BpS. The values in the LandscapeLevel field – 1, 2,

and 3 – correspond to the small, mid-sized, and large landscapes, respectively.

Two fields in the Reference Condition Table, Name and FRG, are optional and
are not directly used by the FRCC Mapping Tool. These fields are included only

18

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 3

for convenience and need not be populated. However, if the Name field is not
populated in the Reference Condition Table, then the Summary Report will not
show the BpS names (see Chapter 5 for a description of the Summary Report).

Reference condition tables can be found in an Access database called

refcon.mdb, which is located in c:\NIFTT\FRCC Mapping Tool

2.1.0\Reference Conditions Database (provided the recommended default

pathways were used during the installation procedure). Five default reference
condition tables are included when the FRCC Mapping Tool is installed. Three –
GB_Alaska, GB_East, and GB_West – were adapted from the Interagency
FRCC Guidebook (Hann and others 2004), and two – RA_East and RA_West
– were adapted from the Rapid Assessment phase of the LANDFIRE Project.

Note: Users of the default reference condition tables should review the FRG
and LandscapeLevel fields to verify that values are reasonable for the specific
assessment area (unreasonable values should be changed).

Figure 3-5. Example Reference Condition Table from the Rapid Assessment phase of the
LANDFIRE Project. BpS_Model = the BpS code; Name = BpS name; A thru U = succession
classes; FRG = Fire regime group; LandscapeLevel = the appropriate level at which to assess
each BpS.

Some general guidelines for creating a reference condition table in Access are as
follows:

19

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 3

1. The name of the Reference Condition Table cannot contain spaces or special

characters (such as `~! @#$^()-+={ }[ ]|\?/:;”’< >, .) and should be between
three and eight characters long.

2. The Name and FRG fields are optional and need not contain any values.

They are included within the Reference Condition Table for user
convenience only.

3. The S-Class fields A through U cannot contain missing values (cannot be left

blank). For example, the record must contain a value of 0 in cases where an
S-Class did not occur naturally; therefore, the U field must contain 0 for
every record in the table. In addition, S-Class values should total 100
percent for each BpS.

4. The LandscapeLevel field in the Reference Condition Table must match

the desired number of analysis levels. The default reference condition tables
were developed assuming that three analysis levels would be used to assess
departure. If a user prefers to use only one or two levels, then the
LandscapeLevel field in the default reference condition table must be
edited. For example, if only one level is used, then the LandscapeLevel

field must contain a value of 1 for every record in the table. If two levels are
used, then the LandscapeLevel field must contain a value of 1 or 2 for

every record.

5. The total path length for the location of the FRCC Mapping Tool software,

and consequently the Reference Condition Table, must be less than 80
characters in length.

6. The FRCC Mapping Tool can use only a reference condition table in an

Access database labeled as refcon.mdb. This database is created during the
software installation process. If the default pathway was selected during the
installation process, then the refcon.mdb will reside in c:\NIFTT\FRCC
Mapping Tool 2.1.0\Reference Conditions Database. (The pathway cannot
contain any folders with spaces such as Program Files, My Documents,
or Documents and Settings).

7. Removing the FRCC Mapping Tool software will also remove any customized

reference condition tables that you may have developed. We therefore
recommend that, prior to removing the software, you make a backup copy of
the refcon.mdb if it contains any customized reference condition tables.

The design or structure of the Reference Condition Table is critically
important for successful execution of the FRCC Mapping Tool. The

appropriate design of the Reference Condition Table is displayed in table 3-1.
An empty table called Custom (provided with the installation of the software)
has the appropriate design specifications, and users wishing to create their own
reference condition table are encouraged to use this Custom table as a
template. An alternative approach for creating a customized reference condition
tables is to copy one of the default tables included with installation, paste it with
a new name within the database and then edit those values of interest.

20

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 3

Table 3-1. Required structure of the Reference Condition Table.

Field name Data

BpS_Model Text 16 Yes No
Name Text 128 No Yes No Yes

A Number Double Auto Yes 0 No
B Number Double Auto Yes 0 No
C Number Double Auto Yes 0 No
D Number Double Auto Yes 0 No
E Number Double Auto Yes 0 No
U Number Double Auto Yes 0 No

FRG Text 4 Yes No No Yes
Landscape

Level

type

Number

Field
size

Long
Integer

Decimal
places

Auto Yes 1 No

Required Allow

zero
length

Default
value

Indexed Unicode

Yes (No
duplicates)

compression

Yes

IME
mode

No
Cntrl.
No
Cntrl.

No
Cntrl.

IME
sentence
mode

None
None

None

21

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Obtaining Input Data

4.1 Spatial input layers

4.1.1 Steps for obtaining the layers

4.2 Reference conditions

4.1 Spatial input layers

LANDFIRE is an interagency project producing consistent and comprehensive maps and
data describing vegetation, wildland fuel, and fire regimes across the United States.
LANDFIRE data layers representing biophysical settings and succession classes can be
downloaded from the LANDFIRE website at www.landfire.gov
United States. Layers developed by the LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment phase of the
project are currently available for the entire continental United States. LANDFIRE
National data products are being delivered across the nation on an incremental basis,
and layers are currently available for the western United States. The National phase of
the LANDFIRE Project is scheduled to complete coverage for the entire nation,
including Alaska and Hawaii, by the end of 2009. BpS and S-Class layers produced by
the LANDFIRE National effort will be more refined than those produced by the Rapid
Assessment phase of the LANDFIRE Project.

Note: The LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment uses older terminology and refers to the BpS

layer as PNVG (potential natural vegetation group). The S-Class layer produced by

LANDIRE National contains two uncharacteristic classes (“UE” and “UN”, depicting
uncharacteristic exotics, and uncharacteristic natural, respectively). These two classes
will need to be combined into a single uncharacteristic class denoted as “U” prior to use

in the FRCC Mapping Tool.

for many areas of the

4.1.1 Steps for obtaining the layers

1. Navigate to www.landfire.gov and click on Data Products.

22

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 4

Click on

Data Products

Figure 4-1. LANDFIRE website homepage.

2. Under the Data Product Access menu item, you will see an overview

followed by four options for downloading LANDFIRE data (shown below in
fig. 4-2). Note these are also located in the right-hand column of the page.
The first option links to the National Map LANDFIRE, LANDFIRE’S data
dissemination website managed by the U.S. Geological Survey. The second
option allows you to download the LANDFIRE Data Access Tool, which is
run from ArcMap and can be used to download data layers (see

http://www.landfire.gov/datatool.php). The third option provides information

on how to obtain the latest LANDFIRE data via DVD, and the fourth explains
how to access the data from an ftp site (note: this option is reserved for
rare, time-sensitive situations – see website for details).

23

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 4

Options for

downloading

LANDFIRE

data

Figure 4-2. LANDFIRE data product access options.

The following steps will detail the process necessary for downloading data
directly from the National Map LANDFIRE.

3. Click on National Map LANDFIRE for a description of the data

dissemination site and then click on the link in the right-hand column of that
page to link to the National Map LANDFIRE. You can also access the
National Map LANDFIRE website directly at

http://landfire.cr.usgs.gov/viewer/.

Click on link to

National Map

LANDFIRE

Figure 4-3. Link to National Map on LANDFIRE website.

24

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 4

4. Click on View User Instructions to open a page with tips for using the

map interface. After reviewing, click on the approximate geographic location
of your assessment area.

Note: Layers are available for all mapping zones colored green on the website’s
front page (visit the National Map LANDFIRE for current mapping status).

Click on

geographic area

of interest

Click on View User

Instructions

for help

Figure 4-4. National Map LANDFIRE front page.

5. The next web page will display a shaded relief map of the approximate

geographic location that you selected in the previous step. At this point, you
can zoom in, zoom out, and pan until the specific area of interest is within
view. Note also that under the Display tab, you can access the Places and
Boundaries menus to help locate your area of interest.

25

Zoom

tools

Pan tool

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 4

Figure 4-5. Data viewer page displaying area of interest.

6. Click on the Download tab to identify the LANDFIRE layers that you wish

to download. Check all of the layers to be downloaded.

Click

Download tab

Click desired

LANDFIRE

Figure 4-6. Data download tab and LANDFIRE menu options.

7. Under Downloads in the left-hand column, click on either of the two

download options: Define Rectangular Download Area or Define Download
Area by Coordinates.

26

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 4

Click on either

of the 2

download

options

Figure 4-7. Data viewer download tools.

8. When you have finished drawing a rectangle or selecting coordinates, a

summary page identifying all layers selected for download will appear. The
data format default is ArcGRID_with_attib. However, in the event that you
want to download additional layers with the existing selection or you have
forgotten to select layers from the download tab, you can use the Modify
Data Request option (found at the top of the Request Summary Page).

27

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 4

Click on

Modify Data

Request

Figure 4-8. Modifying data request.

9. First, select the additional grids by checking the box next to the layer name.

Then, click on the dropdown menu next to each data layer you have chosen
and select ArcGRID_with_attribs. Notice that ArcGRID (no attributes) is
the default format.

10. Click the Save Changes and Return to Summary button at the bottom of the

page, which will bring you back to the Request Summary Page. You are now
ready to continue downloading your data.

11. Once you have selected the desired layers, click on the Download button

for the first layer in your summary report. The file will download as a .zip
file with a random numeric name. The .zip file will contain a grid identified by
the same random number as the .zip file. We recommend that you change

28

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 4

the name of the grid in ArcCatalog to reflect the thematic nature of the
layer.

Tip: Users should regularly check www.landfire.gov

for data versioning alerts –
notices that appear when layers have been updated – and data notifications that
identify known issues with specific data layers (fig. 4-9).

Figure 4-9. Link on LANDFIRE website homepage to important user information pages: Data
Versioning Alerts and Data Notifications.

Note: LANDFIRE does not provide landscape layers; therefore, the user needs
to investigate the availability of these layers in his/her local area. For example,
local hydrologists, ecologists, and/or GIS managers will likely be direct you to
available, appropriately scaled landscape layers. Note also that watershed
layers are being produced under the auspices of the National Resource
Conservation Service (NRCS); check their website at

http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/

for the availability of watershed layers in your

local area.

4.2 Reference conditions

Two sets of reference conditions are included with the installation of the FRCC
Mapping Tool version 2.1.0. One set includes the first iteration of relatively coarse
biophysical settings occurring across the continental United States and Alaska; these are
published in tables in the Interagency FRCC Guidebook (Hann and others 2004; see

www.frcc.gov

). These biophysical settings were later refined for the continental United

29

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 4

States through the LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment phase of the LANDFIRE Project (see

www.landfire.gov

) and constitute a second set of reference conditions.

The three reference condition tables published in the FRCC Guidebook (Hann and
others 2004) are denoted in the software as gb_West, gb_East, and gb_Alaska for
the western U.S, eastern U.S., and Alaska, respectively. The two reference condition
tables developed for the LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment project are denoted as
ra_West and ra_East for the western U.S. and eastern U.S., respectively.

The LANDFIRE National Project provides two additional sets of reference conditions in
database format. One set is derived non-spatially from the VDDT models produced for
the LANDFIRE National Project and are available for the western U.S. at www.fire.org
(NIFTT > Reference Conditions). Another reference condition data set derived using
the LANDSUM spatial vegetation succession and disturbance model has been completed
for the western U.S. This data set reflects the influence of local topography and
contagion upon fire frequency and therefore may be more refined than reference
conditions derived from non-spatial applications. Contact [e-mail] to
request the LANDSUM-derived reference conditions for your area.

Note: Although these data are currently available only for the western U.S., data for
the eastern U.S. should be available by 2009 and data for Alaska and Hawaii should
be available by 2010.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Output Data

5.1 Succession class (S-Class) outputs

5.1.1 S-Class Percent Difference (SclassPctDiff)

5.1.2 S-Class Departure

5.1.3 S-Class Relative Amount (SClassRelAmt)

5.1.4 Stand FRCC (StandFRCC)

5.2 Strata outputs

5.2.1 Strata Departure (StrataDep)

5.2.2 Strata FRCC (StrataFRCC)

5.3 Landscape outputs

5.3.1 Landscape Departure (LandFRCCDep)

5.3.2 Landscape FRCC (LandFRCC)

5.4 Summary Report

5.5 Access database

The FRCC Mapping Tool derives a suite of departure metrics from the BpS, S-Class, and
Landscape input layer(s) (table 5-1). A suite of outputs was designed so that managers
would have a variety of layers to meet their local analysis objectives. Thus, not all
outputs will be useful to all users. Identifying which output layers are potentially useful
depends largely on the management questions and necessary thematic detail.

Output layers are available to address management questions at the landscape level, the
BpS level, and the S-Class level. It is important to note that some output layers simply
provide a broader classification of other output layers. Thus, a user can determine the
amount of detail needed to address the management questions and then select the
appropriate output layers. In some instances, the level of detail desired depends upon
the audience. For example, a decision maker may determine that less detail will provide
greater clarity when explaining a complicated scenario to members of the general public.

Table 5-1. Output layers produced by the FRCC Mapping Tool.

Layer

description

S-Class Percent Difference SclassPctDiff S-Class Several hundred
S-Class Relative Amount SclassRelAmt S-Class Six
S-Class Departure SclassDep S-Class Several hundred
Stand FRCC StandFRCC S-Class Four
Strata Departure StrataDep BpS Several hundred
Strata FRCC StrataFRCC BpS Four
Landscape Departure LandDep Landscape Several hundred
Landscape FRCC LandFRCC Landscape Four

Layer
name

Analysis

level

Thematic detail

(number of potential

values)

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 5

The following section discusses each of the FRCC Mapping Tool outputs, including their
derivation and potential applications.

5.1 Succession class (S-Class) outputs

5.1.1 S-Class Percent Difference (SclassPctDiff)

The Succession Class (S-Class) Percent Difference layer is analogous to “Veg-fuel
Class Percent Difference” as defined by the Interagency FRCC Guidebook (Hann
and others 2004). This layer characterizes the difference between the existing
composition of succession classes within a BpS and the reference conditions for
that BpS. The following algorithm is used to derive S-Class Percent Difference:

If Current% < Reference% Then

SClassPctDiff = ((Current% - Reference%) /Reference%) *100
Else
SClassPctDiff = ((Current% - Reference%) /Current%) *100

Values range between -100 percent and +100 percent. A positive value indicates
that a particular S-Class is overrepresented on the landscape (compared to the
reference condition), whereas a negative value signifies that the S-Class is
underrepresented. A value of -9999, representing NoData, indicates that the S­Class Percent Difference metric could not be calculated. This occurs when a BpS
in the input layer lacks a reference condition (examples of such layers include
barren, sparely vegetated, snow/ice, and water) or when an S-Class in the input
layer is denoted as something other than A, B, C, D, E, or U (such as agriculture,
rock/barren, urban, or water).

The S-Class Percent Difference layer provides the most detailed information on
departure because, at the pixel level, every combination of S-Class, BpS, and
Landscape layers can have a unique value ranging between -100 and +100
percent. Managers interested in the departure of succession classes could find
this layer useful. However, this output layer can be cumbersome to use because
there can be several hundreds of values in the Value Attribute Table. For many
managers, this layer may provide too much detail to be useful. Note that the S­Class Relative Amount layer (see section 5.1.3 below), derived by classifying the
S-Class Percent Difference, may be more useful for those managers that have no
need for the amount of detail included in the S-Class Percent Difference layer.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 5

5.1.2 S-Class Departure (SclassDep)

The S-Class Departure layer is derived from the S-Class Percent Difference layer
and indicates those succession classes that are excessive relative to reference
conditions. The only difference between the two layers is that all negative values
of the S-Class Percent Difference layer have been truncated to 0 in the S-Class
Departure layer (table 5-2). Thus, the values in the S-Class Departure layer
represent a continuous variable with values ranging between 0 percent (no
departure or underrepresented) and 100 percent (completely departed).
Because we did not want to produce a floating point grid, we simply rounded the
calculation of the S-Class Departure to two decimal places and then assigned
each unique outcome to a unique value in the ArcGRID layer. (Note: a floating
point grid is a layer whose values are denoted by a type of numeric field for
storing real numbers with a decimal point. The decimal point can be in any
position in the field and, thus, may "float" from one location to another for
different values stored in the field.)

Regarding management implications, note that, at a stand-level, an S-Class that is
under-represented (in other words, value = 0) simply indicates that there is too
little of that class. That is, there is no need to treat that stand if the management
objective is to emulate reference conditions. On the other hand, values greater
than 0 suggest an increasing need for treatment.

5.1.3 S-Class Relative Amount (SClassRelAmt)

This output is analogous to “Veg-fuel Relative Amount” as defined by the
Interagency FRCC Guidebook (Hann and others 2004; www.frcc.gov

). As
mentioned above, the S-Class Relative Amount layer is derived by grouping the
S-Class Percent Difference layer into six classes (trace, underrepresented,
similar, overrepresented, abundant and unclassified; table 5-2). Consequently,
this layer also characterizes the relative departure of succession classes. It is
easier to use than the S-Class Percent Difference layer because it has only six
classes instead of the hundreds of potential values that could exist in the S-Class
Percent Difference layer.

The S-Class Relative Amount layer can provide information for those who would
like to restore and maintain vegetation to emulate reference conditions. It
indicates whether the current amount of an S-Class is deficient or excessive
relative to reference conditions. In this respect, the S-Class Relative Amount
layer is more informative than the S-Class Departure layer because the S-Class
Relative Amount layer indicates departure on both sides of the scale. The S­Class Relative Amount layer suggests whether a landscape has too much or too
little of each S-Class within each BpS. If excessive amounts exist, a manager may

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 5

want to convert some proportion of that class into another class that is deficient
in land area.

It is important to note that not all excessive classes present restoration
opportunities. For example, if the early seral class is excessive, not much can be
done except to allow succession to advance. On the other hand, if a class is
deficient, a land manager may want to maintain the amount that remains. It may
not be practical to pursue treatment objectives in some instances due to cost or
other management objectives. Treatment objectives should always be developed
in an interdisciplinary planning context.

5.1.4. Stand FRCC (StandFRCC)

The Stand FRCC layer is the final classification for the S-Class (stand) level of
analysis. As used here, the term “stand” refers to all pixels having the same
successional state within a given BpS. The Stand FRCC layer is derived by
grouping the S-Class Relative Amount into four fire regime condition classes
(table 5-2). Consequently, the Stand FRCC layer is not as informative as the S­Class Relative Amount layer; information is lost due to the broader classification
scheme. The overall premise behind the Stand FRCC layer is that from a
departure perspective, there is no reason to change the proportion of an S-Class
that is either deficient across a landscape (in other words, Trace or
Underrepresented) or that occurs in approximately the same proportion as the
reference conditions (in other words, Similar).

The Stand FRCC layer can be used for various management purposes (table 5-2).
For example, if emulating reference conditions is the management goal, then

Stand FRCC 1 would suggest a maintenance or recruitment scenario, whereas

Stand FRCC 2 and 3 would suggest that the areal extent of the S-Class should be
reduced. The Stand FRCC layer may be useful in reporting systems that identify
stand-level accomplishments (such as the National Fire Plan Operations and
Reporting System or NFPORS).

Table 5-2. Relationship between S-Class Percent Difference, S-Class Departure, S-Class Relative
Amount, and Stand FRCC.

S-Class
Percent

Difference

(Value) (Value) (Class) (Class)

-9999
(Undetermined)

-100 to -66% 0 Trace 1 Maintain/Recruit

-66 to -33% 0 Underrepresented 1 Maintain/Recruit

-33 to 0% 0 Similar 1 Maintain/Recruit
0 to 33% Same as Similar 1 Maintain/Reduce

S-Class

Departure

-9999
(Undetermined)

S-Class

Relative Amount

-99
(Unclassified)

Stand
FRCC

-99
(Unclassified) None

Suggested

Management

Scenario1

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 5

Percent
Difference
Same as

33 to 66%

66 to 100%

1

When the land management objective is to manage towards reference conditions.

Percent
Difference
Same as
Percent
Difference

Overrepresented 2 Reduce

Abundant 3 Reduce

5.2 Strata (BpS) outputs

5.2.1 Strata Departure (StrataDep)

Strata departure, defined by the Interagency FRCC Guidebook (Hann and others

2004) as “Veg-fuel Class Departure,” describes the overall departure across all
succession classes within a particular BpS. It is derived by first determining the
percent similarity between the existing BpS’ S-Class composition and the
reference conditions for that BpS. The sum of the percent similarities is then
subtracted from 100 (Hann and others 2004). Thus, the layer represents a
continuous variable with values ranging between 0 percent (no departure) to 100
percent (completely departed). Because we did not want to produce a floating
point grid, we simply rounded the calculation of the Strata Departure value to
two decimal places and then assigned each unique outcome to a unique value in
the ArcGRID.

Managers can use the Strata Departure layer to identify those biophysical
settings within given landscapes that exhibit the highest degree of departure. It is
therefore useful for prioritizing biophysical settings for restoration. Although
the Value Attribute Table could have hundreds of potential values, the default
symbology uses a color ramp ranging from blue (low departure) to red (high
departure) to facilitate interpretation. Users can further simplify the layer by
changing the symbology and classifying values into user-defined categories
designed to visually rank the biophysical settings by their level of departure.

5.2.2 Strata FRCC (StrataFRCC)

The Strata FRCC layer depicts biophysical settings that have a low, moderate, or
high departure. It is derived by classifying the Strata Departure layer into three
condition classes plus an unclassified category (table 5-3). Consequently, the
Strata FRCC layer is not as informative as the Strata Departure layer, which may

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 5

contain hundreds of values. On the other hand, it is much easier to interpret
the Strata FRCC layer since it has only four values.

The Strata FRCC layer is analogous to “Vegetation Departure” as defined by the
Interagency FRCC Guidebook (Hann and others 2004). At this time, the FRCC
Mapping Tool does not derive a metric corresponding to departure of fire
frequency and severity. Consequently, the Strata FRCC metric represents only
the vegetation component of FRCC.

Because the Strata FRCC layer depicts biophysical settings that have been
classified into low, moderate, or high degrees of departure, it is commonly used
by managers to help identify areas that may have opportunities for restoration

(such as those that fall into classes 2 and 3) or maintenance (class 1). However,

the utility of the Strata FRCC layer is limited because it provides little insight on
actual treatment objectives or management prescriptions. For example, although
the Strata FRCC layer indicates relative departure, it does not indicate whether
a landscape has too much or too little of a particular S-Class. Only the
succession class outputs (detailed in section 5.1 above) provide enough
information for managers to determine whether they should try to maintain,
reduce, or recruit an S-Class in a particular landscape, provided the management
goal is to mimic reference conditions.

Table 5-3. Derivation of the Strata FRCC layer.

Strata departure Strata FRCC Description

-9999 (not calculated) -99 (not calculated Unclassified
<34% 1 Low departure
34-66% 2 Moderate departure
>66% 3 High departure

5.3 Landscape outputs

5.3.1 Landscape Departure (LandFRCCDep)

The Landscape Departure layer is the coarsest characterization of departure
produced by the FRCC Mapping Tool. It is derived by computing an area-

weighted average of the Strata Departure values within the Level 1 Landscapes.
Level 1 landscapes are the lowest (in other words, smallest) level of the

landscape hierarchy used in the analysis. For example, if the landscape layer
represents a watershed hierarchy comprised of subwatersheds, watersheds, and
subbasins, the Landscape Departure metric would be derived at the
subwatershed level. The lowest level of the landscape hierarchy is used as the
reporting unit because it provides the most detailed information of the three

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 5

landscape levels. That is, spatial information is commonly washed out when data
are summarized by larger and larger units (in other words, decreasing resolution
and increasing granularity).

The Landscape Departure layer can have values ranging between 0 and 100
percent. Departure values are rounded to two decimal places and then assigned
to a unique value in the Value Attribute Table of the ArcGRID. Consequently,
the Landscape Departure layer could potentially contain hundreds of values.

Managers can use the Landscape Departure layer to prioritize entire landscapes
based on their need for restoration. Although useful for broad-level decisions
made at a landscape level, the Landscape Departure layer does not provide
information regarding what is “wrong” with a particular landscape in terms of the
composition of succession classes. Consequently, the FRCC Mapping Tool
outputs at the succession class and strata (BpS) levels (sections 5.1 and 5.2

above) are more helpful for formulating restoration strategies.

5.3.2 Landscape FRCC (LandFRCC)

The Landscape FRCC layer is derived by classifying the Landscape Departure
layer into three categories denoting low, moderate, and high departure (table 5-

4). The class thresholds are the same as those used to classify Strata Departure
for deriving the Strata FRCC layer.

Table 5-4. Derivation of the Landscape FRCC layer.

Landscape departure Landscape FRCC Description

-9999 (not calculated) -99 (not calculated Unclassified
<34% 1 Low departure
34-66% 2 Moderate departure
>66% 3 High departure

The Landscape FRCC layer has the least thematic detail and spatial resolution of
the FRCC Mapping Tool metrics because data are summarized into four classes
at the landscape level. The layer has the same limitations of the Landscape
Departure layer in that it cannot be used to directly address issues pertaining to
the BpS or S-Class. However, it can be useful for those wanting a very simple
map with departure summarized at a landscape level.

5.4 Summary Report

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Because the multiple output layers produced by the FRCC Mapping Tool do not provide
information in a format that can be readily used to interpret the data and develop
treatment strategies, the Summary Report was developed to facilitate the design of
treatment prescriptions based on an ultimate objective of managing landscapes towards
reference conditions. In essence, the Summary Report can be used as a diagnostic tool
to identify what restorative actions are needed and where they need to occur across an
assessment area.

The Summary Report is a Microsoft Excel file that contains an individual worksheet
corresponding to each landscape level that was used to derive the departure layers (fig.
5-1). For example, three worksheets would be included automatically within the Excel
file if three landscape levels were used in the analysis. The software will name these
worksheets LL1Report, LL2 Report, and LL3Report corresponding to landscape

levels 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 5

Worksheet tabs indicate

the Landscape Level of

each report. LL3Report

denotes Landscape

Figure 5-1. Example of a Landscape Level 3 Summary Report (LL3Report tab). Landscape Level 3 includes the reporting units used to derive
estimates of vegetation departure for those biophysical settings dominated by fire regime groups 4 and 5 (in other words, higher severity and longer
fire return intervals). This example shows three biophysical settings (Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland, Inter-Mountain Basins Mixed
Salt Desert Scrub, Mojave Mid-Elevation Scrub, and Inter-Mountain Basin Big Sagebrush Steppe) occurring within a single landscape unit (Subbasin

1501008). (See table 5-5 for field descriptions).

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Table 5-5. Description of fields contained within the Summary Report.

Field Description

Landscape The landscape identifier contained in the landscape layer.
BpS The BpS model identifier corresponding to BpS_Model in the

Reference Condition Table.

BpS Count The total number of pixels of a specific BpS within a specific

landscape.
Sclass The S-Class identifier.
Reference (%) The reference condition percentage of an S-Class of a BpS.

Expressed as the mid-point of the simulated historical range of

variation.
Reference Count The number of pixels required for the S-Cla ss to have the same

composition percentage as the reference composition for that

BpS in the landscape.
Current% The current condition composition percentage of an S-Class

within a BpS and a given landscape.
Current Count The current number of pixels occurring within a specific S-Class

of a BpS within a specific landscape.
Current Count – Reference
Count
Acre Difference The difference between the current condition and reference

Sclass Status Indicates whether a particular S-Class is currently in a deficit or

SclassPctDiff Characterizes the difference between the existing composition of

SclassRelAmt Derived by grouping the S-Class Percent Difference layer into six

StandFRCC Final classification for the S-Class (stand) level of analysis;

StrataFRCC Depicts biophysical settings that have a low, moderate, or high

BpS Name The name of the BpS as identified in the Reference Condition

The difference between the current number of pixels and the

number of pixels necessary to meet reference conditions.

condition expressed in acres.

surplus condition. Deficit denotes that the composition

percentage is less than the reference composition percentage.

Surplus denotes that the composition percentage exceeds the

reference composition percentage.

succession classes within a BpS and the reference conditions for

that BpS.

classes (trace, underrepresented, similar, overrepresented,

abundant, and unclassified).

derived by grouping the S-Class Relative Amount into four fire

regime condition classes.

departure; derived by classifying the Strata Departure layer into

three condition classes plus an unclassified category.

Table.

The reports, which are sorted by landscape, BpS, and S-Class (table 5-5 above), first
identify the total pixel count of a BpS within a specific landscape. The reference
condition of each S-Class within a BpS is then identified along with the corresponding
pixel count necessary to simulate that reference condition. The report then compares
the current pixel count in each S-Class to the pixel count of reference conditions to
derive the number of acres of a particular S-Class that needs to be maintained or
converted to some other S-Class. Information pertaining to the S-Class Percent
Difference, S-Class Relative Amount, Stand FRCC, and Strata FRCC are also included
within the Summary Report.

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Tip: The report can be sorted in various configurations depending on the management
questions to be answered. However, the user must be careful when sorting Excel
worksheets: worksheets can be easily scrambled, making them useless if only a subset
of the fields is sorted independently of the other fields. The user must be sure to sort
the entire worksheet. We also recommend saving a master copy of the worksheet
under another name before sorting and editing it.

The Summary Report can be useful in answering the following questions: How much
change is necessary to mimic the reference condition? and Which succession classes need to be
treated? The report identifies succession classes as being surplus or deficient, allowing

managers to easily identify the status of succession classes within specific landscapes and
biophysical settings. The Summary Report can therefore be used to identify the
succession classes that need to be recruited by adding additional acres versus those that
need to be reduced by decreasing their acreage, allowing for the development of a
prescription. For example, if we focus on a single BpS and a single landscape as shown
in figure 5-2, it appears that there are excess acres of the late-seral closed class (E), and
deficient acreage in the mid-seral classes (B and C) and the late-seral open class (D).

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 5

Figure 5-2. Example Summary Report displaying a single BpS within a single landscape. The Summary Report can be used to determine how to treat a
BpS if your objective is to mimic reference conditions. In this example, the Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Savanna BpS appears to have an
overabundance of the late-seral closed successional state (class E) and a lack of mid-seral and late-seral open successional states (classes B, C, and D).
(See table 5-5 for descriptions of fields within the Summary Report).

The Summary Report can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of proposed treatments in reducing vegetation departure if the
overall objective is to manage for reference conditions. A manager could compare the Summary Reports representing pre­treatment and post-treatment conditions. The Summary Report could also be used to calculate the total acres that would have to be

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treated within an analysis area to mimic reference conditions. To determine the total
acreage to be treated, a user must first total the acres (either positive or negative
numbers – not both) in each landscape-level worksheet and then add those totals
together to calculate an overall sum.

The user should note that larger analysis areas generate larger summary reports, which
have a greater number of records and can be therefore unwieldy to work with in an
Excel spreadsheet. For example, few managers would want to use a spreadsheet to
process thousands of records in order to glean information that could be useful in
formulating treatment prescriptions. For large assessment areas (in other words, those
exceeding one million acres), users may find that the Summary Report is more useful if
they import the worksheet(s) into an Access database, which is better equipped for
summarizing large data sets. Moreover, Microsoft Excel has a limit of 65,536 records. If
you find that the Summary Report worksheet has been truncated to 65,536 records, it
suggests that some data have been lost and that your analysis area has too many
landscapes and/or biophysical settings to export the entire report to Excel.

5.5 Access database

Most users of the FRCC Mapping Tool will not need to use this database because it’s
simply used to calculate departure metrics that are then used to create the output
layers in ArcMap (as mentioned in Chapter 2). However, advanced users may find it
useful for diagnosing data problems or for conducting some additional types of data
summaries. There are 74 tables contained within this database. Many tables are empty
and are created for a geodatabase (those containing a GDB prefix). Although there are
other query-derived tables in the database for determining composition and departure
metrics, they have little or no actual utility for most managers. The more useful tables
are described in table 5-6.

The Access database is created within a user-specified folder for storing all of the
outputs. The Access database will have the same name as the output folder (although
the database will have an .mdb extension). Users wanting more detailed information
about the Access database created by the FRCC Mapping Tool should contact

[e-mail]

Table 5-6. Primary tables of interest contained within the Access database created by the FRCC Mapping Tool.

Table name Description

frcc_sclass_percent_difference Identifies landscape, BpS, S-Class, and S-Class Percent Difference
frcc_sclass_relative_amount Identifies landscape, BpS, S-Class, and S-Class Relative Amount
frcc_strata_departure Identifies landscape, BpS, and Strata Departure
frcc_strata_frcc Identifies landscape, BpS, and Strata FRCC
frcc_landscape_departure Identifies the landscape and the Land scape Departure (area-weighted

frcc_join Identifies landscape, BpS, S-Class, and all of the departure metrics

.

average of the Strata Departure)

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Chapter 6: Installing FRCC MT

6.1 Installation instructions

6.1.1 Installing the complete NIFTT tool package

6.1.2 Single-tool (FRCC MT) installation

6.2 Troubleshooting FRCC MT installation

6.1 Installation instructions

Currently, all NIFTT tools can be installed at once as a package. For most NIFTT tool
users, the complete or package installation is most convenient.

Note: The following instructions apply to installation of the entire NIFTT package.
Single tool installation will be addressed later in this chapter.

Before you begin installation, it is important to note that both Microsoft .Net
Framework 1.1 with Service Pack 1 are required for all of the NIFTT tools. If you have
only Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1, you need to upgrade to Service Pack 1.

You can obtain Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 from ftp://fire.org/dotnetfxsp1
searching at http://www.microsoft.com.

The folder dotnetfxsp1 contains three required files, and they must be installed in the
following order (the install programs provide help in the form of warnings):

1. dotnetfx.exe ( Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1).

2. NDP1.1sp1-KB867460-X86.exe – (Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 Service

Pack 1).

3. NDP1.1sp1-KB886903-X86.exe - (Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 Hotfix).

You will need to reboot after installation. However, only one reboot is necessary.

Note: To confirm that these programs are installed on your computer, check
Add/Remove Programs. You should see the following if the necessary programs are
present:

• Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1

• Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 Hotfix (886903)

or by

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6.1.1 Installing the complete NIFTT tool package

If you have earlier versions of any of the NIFTT tools (Area Change Tool [ACT],
FRCC Mapping Tool [FRCC MT], Multi-scale Resource Integration Tool [MRIT],
or Fire Behavior Assessment Tool [FBAT]) installed on your computer, you will
first need to un-install these tools before proceeding with installation of the
current versions.

To determine which version is currently installed on your computer, go to Start
> Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs. View the version of the
NIFTT tool you are interested in (fig. 6-1).

Figure 6-1. Version 2.1.0 of the FRCC Mapping Tool.

Note: NIFTT naming conventions are as follows: FRCC_MT_ 210_061211
indicates that this “install” version 2.1.0 was completed on 12/11/2006.

You may need administrative privileges to install the NIFTT tool package.
Contact your system administrator if you experience problems with the
installation.

Follow these steps to install the complete NIFTT tool package:

1. From www.niftt.gov

, click on NIFTT Tools & User Documents and then on
NIFTT Tools. You will be routed to www.fire.org where the NIFTT tools are
housed.

2. To download the self-extracting WinZip file, NIFTT_Install_(date).exe, select

NIFTT > Downloads from the menu.

3. Click on the NIFTT Install Executable file as shown in figure 6-2:

NIFTT Install Executable (FBAT, FRCC, MRIT and ACT)

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Figure 6-2. Downloading the complete NIFTT tool package.

4. Next, double-click on NIFTT_Install_070226.exe to begin downloading the

most recent tool installation package (note that the date in the file name may
have changed). You will see the dialog box shown in figure 6-3:

Figure 6-3. Opening and preparing to download
package installation file.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 6

5. Click OK to download the installation file and then save it to a convenient

location on your computer.

The following box will open as soon as the download is complete.

Figure 6-4. WinZip Self-Extractor NIFTT install dialog box.

6. Unzip the file to either the default location (C:\NIFTT as shown above in figure

6-4) or the location of your choice by selecting the Browse button.

Note: do not install the tools to any pathways that may contain a space in the folder
name such as My Documents or Program Files.

7. A folder labeled NIFTT_Install_070226 will be created within the NIFTT

(default) folder. Locate and then double click on the folder labeled
NIFTT_Install_070226 as shown in figure 6-5 to begin the installation process.
(Again, dates in folder names may have changed.)

Click on the

igure 6-5. NIFTT_Install folder.

F

NIFTT_Install

folder

8. When the NIFTT_Install folder opens, you will see the following files. Next,

double-click on the installation batch file NIFTT_setup.bat.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 6

_

Figure 6-6. NIFTT Install folder contents.

Click on the

NIFTT

setup.bat file

9. You’ll see a number of dialog boxes such as the one in figure 6-7. Click Yes to

install the Microsoft.NET Framework package.

Figure 6-7. k Setup dialog box.

Microsoft Framewor

Follow instructions as directed in a series of tool installation screens. Finally,
you’ll see the following dialog box:

Figure 6-8.

Microsoft Service Pack dialog box.

10. Click OK to install the Microsoft.NET Framework Service Pack 1, which

is necessary for proper operation of the NIFTT tools.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 6

11. You will be directed to reboot your computer after installation of each service

pack. However, do not reboot the first time you see the following message
box:

Figure 6-9. Microsoft .NET Framework dialog box.

When prompted a second time, click Yes to reboot.

Note: If for some reason you do not see a second message box asking if you
want to reboot your computer, reboot your computer after the installation is
complete.

In addition, during installation of the MRIT tool, you may be asked to specify
whether the tool is to be installed for Everyone or Just Me. Select the radio
button next to the Just Me option.

Installation of the NIFTT tool package should now be complete. The following
NIFTT tools should now be installed on your computer:

• Area Change Tool (ACT)

• Fire Behavior Assessment Tool (FBAT)

• FRCC Mapping Tool (FRCC MT)

• Multi-scale Resource Integration Tool (MRIT)

Two other applications, Microsoft.NET Framework and the Microsoft.NET
Framework1.1Service Pack 1, should now also be installed.

Note: For NIFTT tools to function properly, ensure the following:

• The Spatial Analyst Extension must be installed and activated

• The Ethernet cable must be unplugged from your computer

• The wireless network card (if you have one) must be turned off.

Now, open ArcMap and make sure that all of the NIFTT toolbars are visible as
shown in figure 6-10:

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MRIT

toolbar

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 6

Area Change

Tool toolbar &

wizard

FBAT

toolbar

Figure 6-10. Arc Map showing NIFTT toolbars.

Note: Toolbars may be “floating” and you may need to anchor them in
convenient locations by dragging them to toolbars at the top of your screen.

6.1.2 Single tool (FRCC MT) installation

If you wish to install or reinstall the FRCC Mapping Tool as a single tool without
the entire NIFTT package, follow these steps:

1. Download the individual tool (FRCC MT) from the website at www.fire.org.

Go to NIFTT > Downloads located at the left margin of the screen and
select FRCC Mapping Tool from the table as shown in figure 6-11:

FRCC

MappingTool

toolbar

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Figure 6-11. Downloading individual FRCC Mapping Tool.

2. Navigate to the directory in which you have copied NIFTT tool files and

downloaded FRCC MT (see figs. 6-4 and 6-5).

3. If the installer determines a previous version of FRCC MT is already installed,

go to the Control Panel (Start > Settings > Control Panel) and select
Add/Remove Programs. Uninstall the FRCC Mapping Tool and then
rerun Setup.exe.

4. If the installer determines that Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC)

are not up-to-date, run mdac_type.exe from the distribution source and
rerun Setup.exe.

5. If the installer determines the setup needs the .NET Framework, double

click on the dotnetfx.exe file and follow the prompts. When complete,
double click Setup.exe to continue.

Tip: If the dotnetfx.exe file is already present on your computer, the
downloaded .zip file will contain everything needed to install FRCC MT on your
computer. If it is not already installed, you must download and install
dotnetfx.exe.

6. Once the installation begins, choose to install FRCC MT for a single user

(Just Me) and then select your install location. Follow the defaults and then
select Close.

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7. Open ArcMap with your desired map document. Go to the Tools menu

and select Extensions. Make sure that the Fire Behavior Assessment Tool
Extension and Spatial Analyst are checked and select Close. Next, go to
the View menu and select Toolbars. Make sure that the FRCC Mapping
Tool toolbar is checked and visible.

6.2 Troubleshooting FRCC MT installation

If the FRCC Mapping Tool toolbar as shown to the right, does not
install automatically, you may need to select Tools > Customize and check the box to
the left of FRCC Mapping Tool 2.1.0 as shown below:

Figure 6-12. Selecting the FRCC MT toolbar.

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Chapter 7: Using the FRCC Mapping Tool

7.1 The FRCC MT toolbar

7.2 How to run FRCC MT

7.2.1 Creating a new project

7.2.2 Loading data

7.2.3 Selecting a reference condition table

7.2.4 Selecting input layers

7.2.5 Selecting output layers

7.2.6 Running the tool

7.1 The FRCC MT toolbar

The following diagram shows icons and associated tool tips on the FRCC Mapping Tool
toolbar. Refer to the discussions below to learn more about the basic functions of each
icon.

Open FRCC Mapping Tool 2.1.0

Open Summary Report

Figure 7-1. The FRCC MT toolbar.

The FRCC Mapping Tool 2.1.0 icon opens the FRCC Mapping Tool. The command
opens a dialog box used to select inputs and outputs.

The Open Summary Report icon simply opens the Summary Report, an Excel
spreadsheet designed to help summarize and present data obtained from an FRCC
Mapping Tool run.

7.2 How to run FRCC MT

7.2.1 Creating a new project

Start ArcMap and create a new project by selecting A new empty map as
shown below in figure 7-2:

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7.2.2 Loading data

Click on the add data icon to load input layers.

Figure 7-3. Loading data.

Add the three required input layers, BpS, S-Class, and landscape, as shown in
figure 7-3. You can also add any desired ancillary layers such as cities, roads, and
wildland-urban interface. Navigate to the directory where your data layers are
stored and select the appropriate layers to add.

Figure 7-2. Creating a new project.

Add Data

Icon

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In this example, these

three data layers represent

the BpS, landscape, and

S-Class layers,

respectively.

Figure 7-4. Adding required input layers.

Select appropriate input from the Add Data dialog box.

Tip: You may see the following Create pyramids box at this point. If you
see one or more of these dialog boxes, click No to expedite processing.

Figure 7-5. Create pyramids dialog box.

Note: For ArcMap to run, the pathway and folder name containing your input
layers should not exceed ten characters in length and should not contain any
spaces, leading numbers, or special characters (such as `~! @#$^()-+={ }[
]|\?/:;”’< >, .)

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Save your project and, if desired, rename the data frame to a more intuitive
name for your project by clicking the icon as shown in figure 7-6:

Figure 7-6. Rename project by clicking the Layers icon.

Save your ArcMap project with a file name of your choice.

Note: When naming your file, you do not need to include a file extension.
However, the file name should not exceed ten characters in length and should
not contain any spaces, leading numbers, or special characters (such as `~!
@#$^()-+={ }[ ]|\?/:;”’< >, .)

Tip: Convenient names might include a location, a run number, or perhaps
even an indication of the number of landscape levels analyzed (such as
SmithCr, sc1, or sc1_1).

Click on the Open FRCC Mapping Tool 2.1.0 icon from the FRCC Mapping
Tool toolbar as shown in figure 7-7:

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Click here to

start the FRCC

Mapping Tool

Figure 7-7. Launching the FRCC Mapping Tool.

The following dialog box (showing default selections) will appear after the FRCC
Mapping Tool has been launched:

Figure 7-8. FRCC Mapping Tool dialog box showing default selections.

This dialog box contains information necessary for:

• Selecting the appropriate reference condition table

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• Selecting the input layers and associated attributes that FRCC MT will

use for conducting the analysis

• Identifying the pathway and folder for the outputs of the run

• Selecting the desired output from among eight available output layers in

the Spatial Output Layers menu

7.2.3. Selecting a reference condition table

First select the appropriate reference condition table from the drop-down list as
shown in figure 7-9 below. Two sets of reference condition tables are included
when the FRCC Mapping Tool is installed. The first set (gb_Alaska,
gb_EastUS, and gb_WestUS) was developed for the Interagency FRCC
Guidebook (Hann and others 2004). The second set (ra_East and ra_West)
was developed for the Rapid Assessment phase of the LANDFIRE Project. Any
customized reference condition tables that have been developed locally must
first be imported into the FRCC Mapping Tool (details follow).

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Select an

appropriate

Reference Condition

Table from drop-

down list

Figure 7-9. Selecting a reference condition table.

Note: Reference condition tables are stored within the Reference Condition
Database, which is an Access database called refcon.mdb. The database is
located within the directory containing the FRCC Mapping Tool that was
selected during the installation process. If the default directory was selected as
recommended, the Access database can be found in C:\NIFTT\FRCC
Mapping Tool 2.1.0\Reference Conditions Database\refcon.mdb.
Navigate to C:\NIFTT\FRCC Mapping Tool 2.1.0\Reference
Conditions Database and double click on refcon.mdb to display the
default reference condition tables as shown above in figure 7-9.

If you do not wish to use the default tables, then you must import your own
customized reference condition table as follows:

1. Click on the Select Reference Condition Table drop-down list shown in

figure 7-10:

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Click the Select

Reference Condition

Table drop-down list

to move a reference

condition table from

another Access

database into the

database used by the

Mapping Tool

Figure 7-10. Selecting a customized reference condition table.

2. When the following dialog box appears, click on the browse button to the

right of the Import table from box and navigate to the Access database
that contains the desired table. Use the drop-down button to the right of
the Import Table box to select the appropriate table contained within that
database. Click OK.

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Navigate to the

Access database

containing the table of

interest

Select desired table

Navigate to the Reference
Conditions database used

by the Mapping Tool

(default path is recon.mdb)

Figure 7-11. Importing tables.

You can rename the table when finished and your changes will be saved
automatically. You do not need to include a file extension when you name the
table. However, the name should not exceed ten characters in length and
should not contain any spaces, leading numbers, or special characters (such as
`~! @#$^()-+={ }[ ]|\?/:;”’< >, .)

Note: If a Microsoft Security Warning appears, just click Open to proceed.
Then click OK to load the table into the FRCC Mapping Tool Reference
Condition Database. After a few seconds, you should see a pop-up message
indicating that the table was successfully loaded into the Reference Condition
Database. When you see that message, click OK again to finish the process.
The Reference Condition Database should be installed into a directory to which
the user has write access; that is, the directory should not be “read only”. Users
will not be able to import a new reference condition table if the directory is read
only.

7.2.4 Selecting input layers

Next, you will need to specify the landscape levels that you will be using.
Remember that these landscape levels correspond to the nested hierarchy (for
example, a layer containing subwatershed, watershed, and subbasin units) that
you are using in your analysis. The number of landscape levels used in the run
must match the LandscapeLevel field in the reference condition table that you
selected. For example, if three different levels are represented in the
LandscapeLevel field of your selected reference condition table, then you
must use three levels when you make your run. Otherwise, output layers will
contain a large number of pixels classified as NoData. Alternatively, if you want
to assess departure using only a single landscape level, then all values in the

LandscapeLevel field must be “1”.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 7

Figure 7-12. Landscape-level field in the Reference Condition Table.

You must also select the appropriate layer and attribute to the right of

Landscape Level 1 in the dialog box. No entries are made for Landscape

Level 2 and Landscape Level 3 in the dialog box if only one landscape level is

used in the analysis. Remember that the landscape levels used in the analysis
must match those in the LandscapeLevel field in the Reference Condition
Table. Refer to Chapter 3 for more information on landscape levels.

Figure 7-13. Dialog box with three landscape layers selected.

Both the Spatial Layer and Attribute (Field) drop-down boxes must be
populated as displayed below in figure 7-14. Remember that these Landscape
Levels correspond to the hierarchies you are using in your analysis. You may
use all three levels, but it is not necessary. There may be instances in which only
one or two levels may apply (see Chapter 3

for more information).

Three landscape

layers have been

selected in this

example

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Figure 7-14. Example of populated dialog box.

In this example, three Landscape Levels have been selected because we are
working with a tri-level nested hierarchy of landscape units, ranging from
multiple subwatersheds to a single subbasin encompassing the entire analysis
area. Only one spatial layer has been chosen for the analysis (hucs_g).
However, the selected layer (hucs_g) has three different attributes (Huc_12,

Huc_10, and Huc_8) which correspond to landscape levels 1, 2, and 3,

respectively. An alternative approach would be to use three unique layers to
denote each of the landscape levels used in the analysis. Note, however, that
this approach can sometimes lead to problems resulting from limitations of
ArcMap. When ArcMap attempts to combine the five layers (in this example,
Huc_12, Huc_10, Huc_8, SClass, and BpS), the software conducts an
internal test to evaluate the potential number of unique combinations. An error
message will appear if the software determines that there could be more than 10
million possible combinations. This error message is commonly misleading as
there may not actually be 10 million possible combinations between the five

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layers. This inconsistency results from the fact that the software test is based
largely on grid values rather than on the actual number of unique values.

For example, assume that an analysis area has three landscapes with values of
1000, 2000, and 3000. The software will determine that there are actually
3,000 landscapes instead of three landscapes. The likelihood of this problem
occurring is substantially reduced by using a single layer containing individual
attributes for the landscape levels. Furthermore, using a single layer will ensure
that the multiple landscape levels are nested. Consequently, we recommend
using a single layer that contains multiple attributes to denote the different
landscape levels (see fig. 7-12).

Note: We strongly recommend storing all input layers on the computer’s local
hard drive. Performance time is slowed down substantially if layers are stored
on a network drive.

Next select the appropriate BpS layer (labeled as Biophysical Setting and
displayed under Spatial Layer) and associated Attribute (Field) from the
drop-down boxes as displayed in figure 7-15 below.

Note: The attribute that is selected from the BpS layer must match the
BpS_Model field in the Reference Condition Table. Departure indices will be
derived only for those BpS codes that coincide with the Spatial Layer as defined
in the dialog box and the Reference Condition Table.

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Figure 7-15. Relationships between the dialog box, the value attribute table of the BpS layer, and the Reference
Condition Table.

Note: BpS and S-Class raster names should not exceed ten characters in
length and should not contain any spaces, leading numbers, or special
characters (such as `~! @#$^()-+={ }[ ]|\?/:;”’< >, .).

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 7

Next, select the S-Class layer and attribute from the drop-down boxes as
displayed below in figure 7-16. In this example, the attribute Label contains the
S-Class codes A, B, C, D, E, and U, which the Mapping Tool then links to the
selected reference condition table.

Figure 7-16. Selecting S-Class layer and associated attribute.

7.2.5 Selecting output layers

The next step is to select an output path and an appropriate folder name for
storing the outputs of your run. The folder will be located within the pathway
identified under the Path\Project Folder as shown below in figure 7-17.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 7

Figure 7-17. Selecting output path and folder name.

Tip: Make sure there are no spaces in the path, as shown above.

In this example, all outputs will be stored within a folder labeled run1 that will be
located in C:\WorkSpace\Project1. In addition to the output grids, the FRCC
Mapping Tool will create at least one and potentially three folders within the
output folder. A folder denoted as RasterLayers contains layer files for each
of the output grids. A layer file maintains an assigned legend when loaded into
an ArcMap project. Two additional folders are created if the Mapping Tool
creates new BpS or S-Class grids by deleting classes that do not correspond to
the Reference Condition Table. These new grids are stored in a folder labeled
CleanRasters. A Logs folder containing text files identifying the biophysical
settings and succession classes that do not match the Reference Condition Table
is also created.

Tip: Clean rasters can be saved and used in place of the original BpS and S­Class rasters.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 7

Note: We strongly recommend that users store their outputs on their local
hard drives. The following problems may occur when users try to store their
outputs on a network server:

• Performance (runtime) will be substantially slower

• The server may time out preventing file transport

• Permission problems will prevent file transport

• Overly long paths may exceed ESRI’s limitation

• Special characters (e.g., ~`@#$%^&*()-+={}[]”’:;|\/,.? , etc.) , leading

numbers, or spaces in the path will cause run failure

Note: The name of the output folder should not exceed ten characters in
length and should not contain any spaces, leading numbers, or special
characters (such as `~! @#$^()-+={ }[ ]|\?/:;”’< >, .)

Finally, you will need to select the desired spatial output layers. Simply check
the boxes to the left of the output layers that you would like to analyze as
shown below in figure 7-18. Two output layers, StrataFRCC and
StandFRCC, are checked by default since they seem to be of greatest interest
to users. See Chapter 5 for more information about output layers.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 7

Figure 7-18. Check the boxes to the left of the output layers that you
would like to analyze.

7.2.6 Running the tool

When finished with your selections, click OK and wait for the run to complete.
You will see an active progress bar at the bottom of the dialog box (fig. 7-19)
indicating that your run is in progress. The run may take a few minutes.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 7

Figure 7-19. Progress bar indicate that software is running.

After all selections have been made, the FRCC Mapping Tool performs an error
checking routine to identify any discrepancies between the biophysical settings in
the Spatial Layer and biophysical settings in the Reference Condition Table.

The pop-up window in figure 7-20 will appear when none of the biophysical
settings in the BpS layer coincide with those in the Reference Condition Table.
This may occur if you inadvertently selected the wrong reference condition
table, selected an incorrect attribute for the BpS layer, or if the reference
condition table is structured incorrectly.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 7

Figure 7-20. Error message indicating that none of the biophysical settings
in the BpS layer correspond with those in the reference condition table.

If only a few biophysical settings in the Spatial Layer do not match those in the
Reference Condition Table, then the following pop-up window (fig. 7-21) will
appear. Follow the instructions in the dialog box and click on OK if you want
the Mapping Tool to create a new BpS grid. This process will create a new grid
in which the biophysical settings that do not correspond to biophysical settings
in the Reference Condition Table have been removed. The new BpS grid will
have the same name as the original BpS grid with the addition of a “_c” at the
end. The Mapping Tool will then use the new grid as the BpS input layer and
continue the run. Click Cancel if you want to stop the run and manually edit
the BpS layer or Reference Condition Table.

.

Figure 7-21. Error message indicating that some of the biophysical settings in the BpS
layer do not correspond with those in the reference condition table.

The error message displayed above commonly occurs when there are
biophysical settings within the BpS layer that lack reference conditions. Typically,

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 7

these are anthropogenic classes, such as agricultural and urban types, but they
may include natural types, such as sparsely vegetated areas, rock, barren, water,
and snow/ice.

The following error message will appear after clicking on OK if the selected
attribute in the S-Class layer includes any classes other than A, B, C, D, E, or
U:

Figure 7-22. Error message indicating that layers other than the six succession classes
(A, B, C, D, E, U) have been included.

The error shown above typically occurs when the S-Class layer includes
anthropogenic classes (such as agriculture and urban) or naturally occurring
classes that do not necessarily reflect the state of succession (such as sparsely
vegetated, rock, barren, water, snow/ice). Click OK if you want the Mapping
Tool to create a new S-Class layer that contains only classes denoted as A, B,
C, D, E, and U. The new S-Class layer will have the same name as the original
S-Class layer with the addition of “_c” at the end of the name. The Mapping
Tool will then use the newly created S-Class layer as an input and will continue
to process the run. Click Cancel if you want to cancel the run and edit the S-
Class layer.

As your run progresses, each selected output layer will be added automatically
to your ArcMap project and will be visible in ArcMap’s Table of Contents. In
addition, several tables from the Access database will be loaded into your Table
of Contents. However, you must click on the Source tab located at the bottom
of the Table of Contents to view the tables. These output tables may prove

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 7

useful for diagnosing some data problems. To open the table, right click on the
table’s name and select Open from the context menu.

Figure 7-23. Click on Source tab to view
tables.

These same tables are included in the Access database located in the output
folder and are used to derive the spatial outputs.

Spatial outputs

are

automatically

loaded into the

ArcMap project

Tabular outputs

are also loaded

into the ArcMap

project

Figure 7-24. ArcMap table of contents.

When the Mapping Tool run has finished, the dialog box will automatically close
and the new output layers will appear in the Table of Contents.

73

Click on the Source

tab to see tabular
outputs and to see
full pathway where

outputs are stored

Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 7

Save your results.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Troubleshooting FRCC MT – Common Errors, Symptoms, and Solutions

8.1 Data quality

8.1.1 Output error related to the S-Class layer

8.1.2 Output error related to the BpS layer

8.1.3 Output error related to the Reference Condition Table

8.1.4 Output error related to landscape scale

8.2 Landscape patterns

8.3 Naming conventions

8.4 Reference Condition Database

8.1 Data quality

The output layers derived by the FRCC Mapping Tool can be only as accurate as the
input data used to derive them. If any of the output layers seem questionable, the
problem can often be diagnosed by comparing the output layers to the input data.
Problems with the input data often go unnoticed until concerns are raised about the
outputs. Experience to date with FRCC MT suggests that there are four primary
sources of output error:

1. The S-Class layer does not adequately reflect conditions on the ground

2. The BpS Class layer does not adequately reflect conditions on the ground

3. The Reference Condition Table does not adequately reflect the BpS model,

or the BpS model does not adequately reflect the historical range of variation
for the assessment area

4. An inappropriate landscape scale was used to assess the composition of

succession classes for a given BpS or group of biophysical settings

8.1.1 Output error related to the S-Class layer

FRCC MT outputs seem to be most sensitive to the S-Class layer. Subtle
changes in the classification of succession classes will often change the output
layers substantially. Succession classes are commonly assigned by using canopy
cover as one of the discriminating variables. Small changes to the canopy cover
thresholds may substantially change the composition of succession classes within
a BpS, resulting in dramatic changes to any of the departure metrics. For
example, it may be problematic if a canopy cover threshold of 40 percent was
used in the model to distinguish open from closed classes, but the only canopy

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 8

cover layer that is available for deriving succession classes has been grouped into
classes with thresholds of 25 and 60 percent cover.

In addition, deriving an S-Class layer using remote sensing data can be
particularly difficult. Thresholds defined in BpS models and used to develop
succession classes are often based on field estimates of canopy cover, rather
than on remotely sensed data. Ground-based estimates of canopy cover may
not coincide with satellite-based estimates and, consequently, the S-Class layer
may be biased towards either more open or more closed classes. Mapping the
“Uncharacteristic” S-Class with remotely sensed data alone can also be
problematic due to limits in data resolution. As a result, uncharacteristic
conditions such as the presence of exotic species or lack of large-diameter trees
can be particularly difficult to detect.

Moreover, in some cases, the S-Class characteristics contained within a BpS
model may have been inadequately defined or mapped. Diagnosing a possible
problem with the output layers is best conducted by overlaying that output with

the BpS and S-Class input layers.

8.1.2 Output error related to the BpS layer

Remember that interpretation of succession classes depends on the BpS in which
they occur. Therefore, the S-Class layer cannot be used independently of the
BpS layer. We recommend using a single spatial layer that contains attributes for
both the BpS and S-Class layers. Use of a single layer to depict both attributes
will help ensure that the succession classes are indeed nested within biophysical
settings.

If the BpS and S-Class layers do not seem reasonable, you should examine the
process that was used to derive these layers. For example, if the S-Class layer
seems unreasonable, the problem may be attributed to the canopy cover layer
that was used to classify succession classes. An inaccurate canopy cover layer
can result in an inaccurate S-Class layer, which can, in turn, result in an
inaccurate departure layer. It is imperative that you completely understand the
limitations of the input data for deriving departure metrics. This understanding
can help you develop improvements for deriving the BpS and S-Class layers.

8.1.3 Output error related to the Reference Condition Table

If both the BpS and S-Class layers seem reasonable, the next troubleshooting
step is to examine the Reference Condition Table. Remember that reference
conditions depict the midpoint of the “historical range of variation” as

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 8

characterized by succession and disturbance simulation models. Although
modeling errors are always a concern, errors can also occur while transcribing
model outputs to the Reference Condition Table, especially if the information is
entered manually (for example, typographical errors). Carefully proofread the
Reference Condition Table to ensure that the composition of succession classes
seems reasonable for a given BpS and that it matches model descriptions. Those
using the FRCC Mapping Tool should have a thorough understanding of the BpS
models.

8.1.4 Output error related to landscape scale

Lastly, review the landscape levels used to derive the output layers. The
compilation of reference conditions and departure indices are scale-dependent;
that is, values are, in part, dictated by the geographic extent of the reporting unit
– the unit used to derive composition. The most appropriate-sized landscape is
the smallest landscape in which the full expression of succession classes would
be observed under the natural disturbance regime.

In theory, the smaller the reporting unit, the greater the likelihood that you will
obtain higher departure values. (As reporting units get smaller and smaller, the
probability of detecting the optimum S-Class composition decreases).
Conversely, use of reporting units that are inappropriately small will often
produce departure metrics that are too high. We recommend evaluating the
departure metrics for sensitivity to changes in reporting unit or landscape size.
To do this, complete three different FRCC MT runs using a single landscape level
to assess departure. Use a different landscape for each of the runs (for example,
subbasin, watershed, and subwatershed). If the outputs vary dramatically, you
should critically evaluate which landscape level is most appropriate for estimating
departure. If the results do not vary substantially, then any unexpected outputs

are probably not caused by use of an inappropriate analysis scale.

8.2 Landscape patterns

The FRCC Mapping Tool does not assess landscape patterns such as the departure in
patch size and arrangement from that of reference conditions. Consequently, an
analysis produced by the FRCC Mapping Tool may underestimate departure if current
patterns are substantially different from historical patterns. In such cases, it may be
advisable to supplement FRCC MT results with information obtained from other
sources that address landscape patterns, such as fire history studies.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Chapter 8

8.3 Naming conventions

Several problems associated with the FRCC Mapping Tool can be attributed to the
improper naming of files and folders. Special characters, spaces, and leading numbers
should not be used as part of a file or folder name. This rule applies to pathways used
for data inputs and outputs as well as to Access databases and tables.

8.4 Reference Condition Database

The most common problems encountered while using the FRCC Mapping Tool are
typically associated with the Reference Condition Database. Most errors are related to
the following:

• The design of the Reference Condition Table must match the criteria specified in

Chapter 3 table 3-1

• The name of the Reference Condition Table cannot contain spaces or special

characters and should be ten characters or fewer in length

• The values in the Landscape Level field of the Reference Condition Table must

correspond to the landscape levels used for the analysis. Often, one landscape
level is selected, but users forget to change the Reference Condition Table so

that the Landscape Level field contains only the value 1.

____________________

To report a bug, please contact [e-mail].

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Appendix A

Appendix A: References

Allen, T.F.H; Hoekstra, T.W. 1992. Toward a unified ecology. New York: Columbia
University Press. 384p.

Brown, J.K.; Arno, S.F.; Barrett, S.W.; Menakis, J.P. 1994. Comparing the prescribed
natural fire program with presettlement fires in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
International Journal of Wildland Fire. 4:157-168.

Cleland, D.T.; Avers, P.E.; McNab, W.H.; Jensen, M.E.; Bailey, R.G.; King, T.; Russell,
W.E. 1997. National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units. In: Boyce, M. S.;
Haney, A., eds. Ecosystem Management Applications for Sustainable Forest and Wildlife
Resources. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press: 181-200.

ESSA Technologies Ltd. 2005a. TELSA - Tool for Exploratory Landscape Scenario
Analyses: User’s Guide Version 3.3. Vancouver, BC: ESSA Technologies Ltd. 236 pp.

ESSA Technologies Ltd. 2005b. Vegetation dynamics development tool: User guide,
version 5.1. Vancouver, BC: ESSA Technologies Ltd. 196 pp.

Hann, W.; Shlisky, A.; Havlina, D.; Schon, K.; Barrett, S.; DeMeo, T.; Pohl, K.; Menakis,
J.; Hamilton, D.; Jones, J.; Levesque, M.; Frame, C. 2004. Interagency Fire Regime
Condition Class Guidebook. Last update November 2007: Version 1.3. [Homepage of
the Interagency and The Nature Conservancy fire regime condition class website, USDA
Forest Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, The Nature Conservancy, and Systems
for Environmental Management]. [Online]. Available: www.frcc.gov.

Hann, W.J.; Jones, J.L.; Karl, M.G.; Hessburg, P.F.; Keane, R.E.; Long, D.G.; Menakis, J.P.;
McNicoll, C.H.; Leonard, S.G.; Gravenmier, R.A.; Smith, B.G. 1997. Landscape
dynamics of the basin. In: Quigley, T.M.; Arbelbide, S.J., eds. An assessment of
ecosystem components in the interior Columbia basin and portions of the Klamath and
Great Basins. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-405. Portland, OR; U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Pages 338-1055.

Hardy, C.C.; Menakis, J.P.; Long, D.G.; Brown, J.K.; Bunnell, D.L. 1998. Mapping historic
fire regimes for the western United States: integrating remote sensing and biophysical
data. In: Jerry Dean Greer, ed. Proceeding of the seventh biennial Forest Service remote
sensing applications conference. 1998 April 6-9; Nassau Bay, TX: American Society for
Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing: 228-300.

Hardy, C.C.; Schmidt, K.M.; Menakis, J.M.; Samson, N.R. 2001. Spatial data for national
fire planning and fuel management. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 10:353-372.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Appendix A

Hessburg, P.F.; Smith, B.G.; Salter, R.B. 1999. Detecting change in forest spatial
patterns from reference conditions. Ecological Applications. 9:1232-1252.

Keane, R.E.; Holsinger, L.M.; Pratt, S.D. 2006. Simulating historical landscape dynamics
using the landscape fire succession model LANDSUM version 4.0. Gen. Tech. Rep.
RMRS-GTR-171CD. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Rocky Mountain Research Station. 73 pp.

Landres, P.B.; Morgan P.; Swanson, F.J. 1999. Overview of the use of natural variability
concepts in managing ecological systems. Ecological Applications. 9:1179-1188.

Morgan, P; Aplet, G.H.; Haufler, J.B.; Humphries, H.C.; Moore, M.M.; Wilson, W.D.

1994. Historical range of variability: a useful tool for evaluating ecosystem change.
Journal of Sustainable Forestry. 2:87-111.

Schmidt, Kirsten M.; Menakis, James P.; Hardy, Colin C.; Hann, Wendel J.; Bunnell, David
L. (2002). Development of coarse-scale spatial data for wildland fire and fuel
management. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-87CD. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 41 pp.

Skinner, C.N.; Chang, C. 1996. Fire regimes, past and present. In: Status of the Sierra
Nevada, Volume II: Assessments and scientific basis for management options. Sierra
Nevada Ecosystem Project, Final Report to Congress. Wildland Resources Center
Report No. 37. University of California, Davis, California: Centers for Water and
Wildland Resources. Pages 1041-1070.

Swetnam, T.W.; Allen, C.D.; Betancourt, J.L. 1999. Applied historical ecology: using the
past to manage the future. Ecological Applications. 9:1189-1206.

USDA 1999. Sustaining the people’s lands: Recommendations for stewardship of the
National Forests and Grasslands into the next century. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[Online]. Available:
www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma/includes/cosreport/Committee%20of%20Scientists%20Report.h
tm

United States Congress. 2003. Healthy Forest Restoration Act. Washington D.C.
[Online]. Available: http://www. fs. fed. us/r6/winema/management/.

USDA. 2000a. USDA Forest Service strategic plan (2000 revision). FS-682. U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.

USDA. 2000b. Protecting people and sustaining resources in fire-adapted ecosystems: a
cohesive strategy. Forest Service management response to the General Accounting
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W House. 2002. Healthy forests: an initiative for wildfire prevention and stronger
communities. Washington, DC: The White House. [Online]. Available:
http://www.healthyforests.gov/initiative/introduction.html

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Appendix B

Appendix B: Fire Regime Condition Classes

Class

1

2

3

Description

Fire regimes are within the natural or historical range of variation and
risk of losing key ecosystem components is low. Vegetation attributes
(composition and structure) are intact and functioning.

Fire regimes have been moderately altered. Risk of losing key
ecosystem components is moderate. Fire frequencies may have
departed by one or more return intervals (either increased or
decreased), potentially resulting in moderate changes in fire and
vegetation attributes.

Fire regimes have been substantially altered. Risk of losing key
ecosystem components is high. Fire frequencies may have departed
by multiple return intervals, potentially resulting in dramatic changes
in fire size, fire intensity and severity as well as landscape patterns.
Vegetation attributes have been substantially altered.

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Fire Regime Condition Class Mapping Tool User’s Guide Appendix C

Appendix C: Fire Regime Groups

Group

I

II

III

IV

V

Frequency

0 – 35 years

0 – 35 years

35 – 200 years

35 – 200 years

200+ years

Low to mixed

Replacement

Low to mixed

Replacement

Any severity

Severity

83