Single Publication

INTERAGENCY BAER SPECIALISTS ASSESS HERMITS PEAK & CALF CANYON BURNED AREAS

Interagency Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists are currently assessing multiple soil properties that changed during the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires. These properties include soil cover, changes in soil aggregate strength, rooting mortality and water repellency. These properties affect soil recovery and water runoff.

In the 1st photo below, Santa Fe National Forest Soil and Watershed Program Manager, and BAER Team Leader Micah Kiesow is assessing soil burn severity of the Hermits Peak burned area from a vantage point within the Tecolote Creek Headwaters:

In this 2nd photo, Micah is mapping soil burn severity of the Gallinas Watershed in the Hermits Peak burned area:

In the 3rd photo, Jeremy Klass, the Natural and Working Lands Coordinator for the State of New Mexico, EMNRD (Energy Minerals Natural Resources Department) Forestry Division, is also mapping soil burn severity of the Gallinas Watershed in the Hermits Peak burned area.

Jeremy also assisted the Incident Management Team managing the suppression of the fires as a Resource Advisor (READ).  READS assist the fire managers and firefighters by:

• Identifying potential resource issues that may occur because of the fire or fire suppression activities.
• Coordinating with local specialists (biologist, archaeologist, engineers, resource, recreation, etc.) to identify potential impacts from fire suppression activities.
• Identifying existing utilities, roads, pipelines, and other uses on the land that may be affected.
• Developing recommendations for fire suppression rehabilitation of control lines.
• Provides guidance during the implementation of rehabilitation activities.
• Monitoring rehabilitation efforts.