Masters Thesis

Predicting vegetation type and fire hazard in the Smith River National Recreation Area using a geographic information system

Two environmental models were created to predict the occurrence of closed-cone pine (knobcone lodgepole) stands and to assess fire hazard in the Smith River National Recreation Area (SRNRA), Six Rivers National Forest. Both models integrated Landsat Thematic Mapper digital imagery (bands 1 - 5, and 7) with slope and aspect data derived from USGS digital elevation models (DEM) to produce thematic maps of the Middle Fork of the Smith River within the SRNRA. Accuracy was assessed by ground verification using a global positioning system (GPS). Fire hazard classes were mapped with 92 percent accuracy ( K = 0.88) and the location of closed-cone pine stands was predicted with 78 percent accuracy ( K = 0.52). The fire hazard and closed-cone pine models should be useful to land managers when devising fire management plans and for fire suppression.

Items in ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.