I was in a burn plan writing workshop at Chico State this week, and ran into retired US Forest Service leader, Patty Grantham. She is a Lookout fan, and said yes when I asked her to sit for an interview!
We discussed her 41-year career. She detailed her tenure on the Klamath National Forest from 2007 to 2020, managing fires and timber programs. She emphasized the impact of climate change on fire behavior and fuels accumulation, saying that nobody was expecting the sorts of changes we have seen recently, when they were planning for a future forest based on growing small trees, in the 1970s and 1980s. She discussed the challenges of balancing fire suppression with resource benefits, the role of tribes in fire management, and the need for larger-scale prescribed burns.
We also talked about the influence of private timberlands on fire management in backcountry areas of the Klamath NF. We discussed forest management following major fires, and how the Forest Service is still managing dramatically-altered landscapes based on Forest Plan documents which were designed in the 1970s. Grantham also mentioned the importance of retaining staff and the challenges faced by under-resourced native tribes.
AI Summary
Introduction and Background of Patty Grantham
- Zeke Lunder introduces Patty Grantham, a retired Forest Service supervisor from the Klamath National Forest, and mentions her work in the Washington office as the director of Fire and Aviation.
- Patty Grantham provides a brief overview of her 41-year career in forestry and fire, starting in southern Utah or southern Idaho while she was still in college.
- She mentions her roles in various states, including Alaska, and her experience as a ranger on the Tongass.
- Patty discusses her transition from fire to other roles in forestry, including timber planning, land management, and recreation programs.
Patty’s Career Highlights and Challenges
- Patty talks about her time as a deputy supervisor in the Klamath from 2007 to 2008 and then as supervisor from 2008 to 2020.
- She highlights the challenges of managing fires and timber programs, including the impact of endangered species concerns and the decline of timber programs.
- Zeke Lunder asks about the impact of the timber industry’s decline on the Forest Service’s cash flow and funding for fire management.
- Patty explains the diminishing interest from Congress in funding timber programs and the impact on the Forest Service’s ability to manage fires and forests.
Impact of Climate Change and Fire Management
- Zeke Lunder and Patty discuss the impact of climate change on fire behavior and fuels accumulation.
- Patty mentions the extreme conditions of the 2008 fire season and the challenges of managing fires under those conditions.
- They talk about the role of social media in amplifying concerns about fire management and the public’s perception of fire operations.
- Patty shares her experience of asking fire teams to track their use of firing operations for educational purposes and to ensure accurate information in public discussions.
Balancing Fire Management and Community Safety
- Zeke Lunder and Patty discuss the challenges of balancing fire management with community safety and the political pressures of fire suppression.
- Patty explains the importance of making smart investments in fire management and the impact of high severity fires on communities.
- They talk about the differences in fire management approaches between the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests.
- Patty emphasizes the need for good relationships and collaboration between different fire management teams to achieve effective fire management.
The Role of Tribes in Fire Management
- Zeke Lunder and Patty discuss the involvement of tribes in fire management and the challenges of working in unceded Native territory.
- Patty shares her experiences working with tribes in Alaska and the Klamath, including the importance of building relationships and understanding tribal perspectives.
- They talk about the progress made in collaboration between the Forest Service and tribes, particularly with the Karuk Tribe and the Yurok Tribe.
- Patty highlights the positive impact of tribal fire programs and the importance of continuing to work together for effective fire management.
Patty’s New Role and Vision for Prescribed Fire
- Patty discusses her new role at the Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District, coordinating the Siskiyou Prescribed Burn Association.
- She shares her vision for increasing the scale of prescribed fire in the Klamath and the challenges of preparing the landscape to accept prescribed fire.
- They talk about the impact of high severity fires, such as the McKinney Fire, and the need for larger scale prescribed fire to reduce fuel loads and prevent future high severity fires.
- Patty emphasizes the importance of addressing the capacity challenges in fire management and finding ways to increase the scale of prescribed fire.
Challenges in Fire Management and Policy
- Zeke Lunder and Patty discuss the challenges of fire management, including the impact of NEPA requirements and the need for greater capacity in the Forest Service.
- They talk about the role of policy in fire management and the potential for reforming the Forest Service.
- Patty shares her thoughts on the impact of climate change and the need for a comprehensive approach to fire management.
- They discuss the importance of addressing the root causes of fire management challenges and finding ways to improve the system.
The Future of Fire Management on the Klamath
- Zeke Lunder and Patty discuss the future of fire management on the Klamath and the impact of past fires on the landscape.
- They talk about the importance of learning from past fires and using that knowledge to inform future fire management strategies.
- They discuss the challenges of balancing fire management with community safety and the need for a comprehensive approach to fire management.
Personal Reflections and Legacy
- Patty reflects on her career and the impact she has had on fire management and forestry.
- Patty shares her thoughts on the importance of stewardship and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.
- They discuss the challenges of managing fire and forestry in the face of climate change and the need for continued innovation and collaboration.
- Patty emphasizes the importance of working together to achieve effective fire management and the impact of her work on the next generation of foresters and fire managers.
Forest Management Challenges and Solutions
- Zeke Lunder discusses the inefficiency of thinning forests without burning, noting the rapid regrowth and the creation of new ”Christmas tree farms’ as young trees grow into the recently-thinned areas.
- PAtty suggests focusing on areas where commercial products can be extracted and investing in follow-on treatments in accessible areas.
- Zeke talks about land management following the Dixie Fire and the outdated Lassen National Forest Plan from 1978, highlighting the need for a new Forest Plan to reflect current management needs.
Forest Planning and Adaptation
- Zeke and Patty discuss the slow process of revising Forest Plans and the need for more adaptive and simpler planning processes.
- Zeke emphasizes the need to focus on thinning and burning in surviving forests rather than just cleanup efforts in burned ones.
- Patty agrees but notes the practicality of snagging hazard trees within 200 feet of roads.
Native American Involvement in Forest Management
- Zeke asks about ways to involve Native Americans in forest management and planning.
- Patty highlights the importance of engaging in collaborative processes and the challenges faced by tribes with limited resources.
- She notes the success of “have” tribes in retaining staff and the need for more support for “have not” tribes.
- She mentions the role of stable funding and a compelling vision in maintaining momentum for forest management efforts.
Success Stories and Challenges in Forest Management
- Patty praises the efforts of Western Klamath Restoration Partnership (WKRP) and their success in burning acres and securing funding from various sources.
- Zeke and Patty discuss the challenges of working in remote areas and the impact of different fire management strategies.