Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 5
• Fire Regime Condition Class II - Fire regimes have been moderately altered
from their natural range. The risk of losing key ecosystem components is
moderate. Fire frequencies have departed from natural frequencies by one or
more return intervals. Vegetation attributes have been moderately altered.
• Fire Regime Condition Class III - Fire regimes have been significantly
altered from their natural range. The risk of losing key ecosystem
components is high. Fire frequencies have departed from natural frequencies
by several return intervals. Vegetation attributes have been significantly
altered.
Fire Risk
The chance of a fire starting, as affected by the nature and incidence of causative
agents, including lightning, people, and industry. Three risk scales are used: high,
moderate, and low. High-risk areas include locations where lightning, people, or
industry have commonly caused fire in the past; moderate-risk areas include
locations where lightning, people, or industry have periodically caused fire in the
past; and low-risk areas include locations where lightning, people, or industry
have infrequently caused fire in the past.
Fire Suppression
All the work and activities connected with fire-extinguishing operations
beginning with discovery and continuing until the fire is completely extinguished.
Fire Suppression Objective
To suppress wildfires at minimum costs consistent with land and resource
management objectives and fire-management direction as determined by National
Fire Management Analysis System (NFMAS). This includes all work and
activities associated with fire-extinguishing operations beginning with discovery
and continuing until the fire is completely extinguished.
Fireline Intensity
The rate of heat energy released per unit time per unit length of a fire front.
Numerically, it is the product of the heat combustion, quality of fuel consumed
per unit area in the fire front, and the rate of spread of a fire as measured in BTUs
per second per foot of the fire front.
Floodplain
The lowland and relatively flat areas adjacent to streams and standing bodies of
water and coastal waters, including debris cones and flood-prone areas of offshore
islands. 100-year floodplains include, at a minimum, the area subject to a 1%
chance of flooding in any given year.
Forage
Vegetation used for food by wildlife, particularly ungulate wildlife and domestic
livestock.
Forbs
Any herbaceous plant other than those in the grass, sedge, and rush families. For
example, any non-grass-like plant that has little or no woody material.
Forest System Roads
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