Twin Fire Update - 9:00 a.M .
Incident: Twin Fire Wildfire
Released: 10/7/2009
Williams, AZ- October 7, 2009. 9:00 a.m. Rehabilitation operations have commenced on the Twin Fire. This includes shaping of dozer lines to prevent erosion and reseeding. Plant species native to an area are emphasized in the rehabilitation process.
The Coconino and Kaibab National Forest share a unique piece of equipment, a seed harvester. The seed harvester allows for the collection of seeds from native species of grasses and wildflowers. The seed harvester collected seed from the meadow at Williams Ranger District yesterday afternoon. The seed will be distributed to fire crews to be spread on burned areas and on dozer lines.
Benefits of the Kaibab National Forest harvesting its own seed are many:
· The species mix collected and the plants providing the seeds are adapted to an environment very similar to the burned area.
· The seed is readily available at this time of the year; therefore it will be spread immediately.
· It is economical as the seed does not need to be purchased. According to Mike Hannemann, Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation Coordinator for The Forest, "Although the seed harvester has not been used before on the Forest, it has shown great success on other Forests and in other burned area rehabilitation projects.
