National Fire Plan Success Story
Incorporating Prescribed Fire as a Management Tool in a Floodplain Forest
Delta National Forest, Sharkey County, Mississippi
National Fire Plan - Restoration
2007
Pre-mulching conditions.
Post-mulching conditions.
Post-burn conditions.
The Delta National Forest is a great, green jewel set in the Yazoo River Basin of the Lower Mississippi Valley. Named for the valley's low, flat southern portion, often called "the delta", the Delta National Forest comprises 60,000 contiguous acres of bottomland hardwoods and forested wetlands.
Historically, Delta National Forest has not utilized a prescribed fire regime as part of site preparation plans prior to supplemental seeding or planting efforts. In the fall of 2007 forest managers implemented a mechanical mulching treatment followed by a prescribed burn as a site preparation plan on a 32 acre stand with poor stocking conditions. The stand was originally clearcut in 1990 and direct seeded with Nutall oak acorns in 1991. Low stocking levels along with enormous vegetative competition resulted in undesirable stand conditions
The prescribed site preparation treatment followed by the supplemental planting of 200 Nuttall oak seedlings per acre is expected to increase the oak component of this stand. Due to the stump sprouting abilities of hardwoods, the existing stock is not lost during site preparation. The existing stock will greatly contribute to the stands ability to compete with less desirable woody and non-woody vegetation in the future.
Contact: Mike Dueitt, National Forests in Mississippi, Forest Fire Management Officer, (601) 965-1668.