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4.6.3.1 Seasonality
Historically, while fires were probably the most frequent in spring and summer, they probably
also occurred at other times of the year (see Section 2.6.1). Prescribed fires should be set
whenever it is possible to do so, regardless of season. Different burn seasons may have different
impacts on vegetation, but a lack of fire is much more problematic than a burn outside of
preferred season. Dry season (i.e. the spring months up until May or June, depending on weather
conditions), backing fires are preferred on fire-suppressed sites because they are more effective
in reducing hardwood densities than wet season burns, especially when applied at short intervals.
The first burn may result in temporarily increased hardwood stem density due to coppicing from
plant bases, but subsequent burns begin to kill these hardwoods after their food reserves are
exhausted.
4.6.3.2 Application
Prescribed burns should be applied in any way that burn teams designate as controllable, whether
they are head fires, backing fires, or flanking fires, as long as fire intensity is limited. The
application of fire is more critical than the type of fire, as long as fires do not become so intense
as to become uncontrollable, create a crown fire, or overheat understory palms and herbs. As
described above, dry season backing fires are preferred on fire-suppressed sites.
4.6.3.3 Wildfires
In addition to providing a critical ecosystem function, the application of prescribed fires to pine
rockland fragments serves as protection to structures and people who live or work near the
fragments. Many fragments have dangerously high fuel loads. Wildfires started by arson or by
accident can create dangerous conditions and can result in destruction of property, including
homes, and even loss of life. Wildfires are much more difficult for firefighters to manage than
prescribed fires. Wildfires may not even be reached by emergency personnel quickly enough to
prevent loss of property or life.
In addition to collateral, off-site damage, wildfires can cause unexpected damage on county
owned pine rockland fragments. Emergency personnel regularly install fire lines with bulldozers
or bombardiers to fight wildfires, or even clear areas of habitat, resulting in loss of habitat and
opportunities for invasion of exotic pest plants. Regular use of prescribed fire is a feasible way to
reduce the threat of dangerous wildfires. Restrictions on the use of prescribed fire could result in
loss of property or life.
EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 39
4.6.3.4 Personnel
As discussed in Part I of this management plan, finding personnel to conduct prescribed fires in
Miami-Dade County has been a major obstacle in the proper management of pine rocklands. The
Florida Division of Forestry (FDOF) has been used on all prescribed burns, often with assistance
from the few county staff with appropriate training. Unfortunately, FDOF’s presence in MiamiDade County is very limited, and even when time allows they are usually reluctant to set fires for
liability reasons, even though they have legal protection (Brenner and Wade 2003). Attempts to
reach an agreement with fire crews at ENP to allow them to burn county properties have stalled.
The EEL program should investigate the use of private contractors to implement an effective fire
management program (see also Part I, Section 5.2.1). Several companies in Florida provide this
service and their use in Miami-Dade County should be encouraged. Costs of using private
contractors may be much higher than using FDOF, but the absence of fires will result in
increasing hardwood removal costs, decreasing habitat quality, and increasing threat of
damaging wildfires.
4.6.4 Alternatives to Prescribed Burning
If the application of prescribed fire is absolutely impossible, there are several alternatives that are
available, although less desirable. These options include grazing, herbicide application, and
mechanical treatment. Grazing, such as by goats, has the disadvantage of introducing trampling
effects, nutrients from feces, and possible spread of exotic pest plant seeds. Both herbicide
application and mechanical treatments have the disadvantage of requiring that dead woody
material be removed from the site following treatment to limit the amount of decomposing
vegetation that would create organic soils. Even with physical removal after treatment, organic
matter from all plants on the site will eventually accumulate, leaving an organic soil, and thereby
reducing diversity of native herbs and potentially introducing invasive species. Physical removal
after treatment can also cause disturbances. In addition, none of these techniques replicate a
fire’s ability to return nutrients to the soil for short periods of time, a process that is critical to
many pine rockland plant species. These alternative techniques, as opposed to prescribed
burning, require a significantly greater labor commitment from personnel and come at a
significant ecological cost.
4.7 Management after Tropical Cyclones
As discussed in 2.6.2 and 3.6.2, tropical cyclones, including tropical storms and hurricanes, can
break or topple pine trees, make pine trees susceptible to pest insect outbreaks, and defoliate or
damage understory hardwoods. Storms can also blow manmade debris into pine rocklands,
including large items such as shipping containers and boats, which can damage vegetation and
soils. In addition to these direct effects, post-storm impacts from people can also be considerable,
including dumping, habitat clearing, and establishment of campgrounds or temporary homes.
Management Policy
Post-storm evaluations shall be conducted at all pine rockland EEL sites to determine the
extent and severity of damage to vegetation, wildlife, and structures. After inspection, an
action plan shall be developed to mitigate any impacts caused by the event.
EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 40
Establishment of post storm security should be a top priority, including temporary erection of
fences, gates, and signs. If existing signs are destroyed, inexpensive, temporary “no dumping”
signs should be installed liberally around property perimeters. Sites should be inspected regularly
for dumping and trespassing.
Maintenance of a sparse pine canopy, as discussed in Section 4.3.1, will limit outbreaks of pest
insects, including Ips beetles, following storms. If infestations do begin, trees can be protected by
the application of Onyx, a bark-adhering formulation of bifenthrin that is applied to bark.
Infested trees should be cut down and sprayed with Onyx. If other chemicals are available for
this use, they can be tried as well.
4.8 Hydrological Restoration
Pine rocklands are upland communities but have been stressed by a lowered water table, for
example, in recovery from wind damage or fires. Though it is unlikely that any small scale, site
specific project, could occur to remedy this problem, large scale restoration would be very
beneficial to stressed pine rocklands. While such large scale restoration projects are not feasible
for the EEL program to accomplish alone, EEL would support and partner with any existing or
proposed restoration plans that would attempt to elevate water tables closer to historic levels.
Water levels that re-hydrate adjacent wetlands would be very advantageous for the adjacent pine
rocklands.
4.9 Soil Management
Pine rockland soils are naturally nutrient poor. However, successional changes lead to changes in
the soil. In the absence of fire, hardwoods invade pine rockland habitat, resulting in inhibition of
pine regeneration. As hardwoods invade, accumulation of organic matter in the soils and
increased shading results in an increase in soil moisture, which inhibits fires that maintain the
pine rockland community.
Because pine rockland soils are naturally nutrient poor, proper ecosystem management
(particularly burning) will maintain the low fertility of pine rockland soils. Accumulation of

4.6.3.1 Seasonality

Historically, while fires were probably the most frequent in spring and summer, they probably

also occurred at other times of the year (see Section 2.6.1). Prescribed fires should be set

whenever it is possible to do so, regardless of season. Different burn seasons may have different

impacts on vegetation, but a lack of fire is much more problematic than a burn outside of

preferred season. Dry season (i.e. the spring months up until May or June, depending on weather

conditions), backing fires are preferred on fire-suppressed sites because they are more effective

in reducing hardwood densities than wet season burns, especially when applied at short intervals.

The first burn may result in temporarily increased hardwood stem density due to coppicing from

plant bases, but subsequent burns begin to kill these hardwoods after their food reserves are

exhausted.

4.6.3.2 Application

Prescribed burns should be applied in any way that burn teams designate as controllable, whether

they are head fires, backing fires, or flanking fires, as long as fire intensity is limited. The

application of fire is more critical than the type of fire, as long as fires do not become so intense

as to become uncontrollable, create a crown fire, or overheat understory palms and herbs. As

described above, dry season backing fires are preferred on fire-suppressed sites.

4.6.3.3 Wildfires

In addition to providing a critical ecosystem function, the application of prescribed fires to pine

rockland fragments serves as protection to structures and people who live or work near the

fragments. Many fragments have dangerously high fuel loads. Wildfires started by arson or by

accident can create dangerous conditions and can result in destruction of property, including

homes, and even loss of life. Wildfires are much more difficult for firefighters to manage than

prescribed fires. Wildfires may not even be reached by emergency personnel quickly enough to

prevent loss of property or life.

In addition to collateral, off-site damage, wildfires can cause unexpected damage on county

owned pine rockland fragments. Emergency personnel regularly install fire lines with bulldozers

or bombardiers to fight wildfires, or even clear areas of habitat, resulting in loss of habitat and

opportunities for invasion of exotic pest plants. Regular use of prescribed fire is a feasible way to

reduce the threat of dangerous wildfires. Restrictions on the use of prescribed fire could result in

loss of property or life.

EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 39

4.6.3.4 Personnel

As discussed in Part I of this management plan, finding personnel to conduct prescribed fires in

Miami-Dade County has been a major obstacle in the proper management of pine rocklands. The

Florida Division of Forestry (FDOF) has been used on all prescribed burns, often with assistance

from the few county staff with appropriate training. Unfortunately, FDOF’s presence in MiamiDade County is very limited, and even when time allows they are usually reluctant to set fires for

liability reasons, even though they have legal protection (Brenner and Wade 2003). Attempts to

reach an agreement with fire crews at ENP to allow them to burn county properties have stalled.

The EEL program should investigate the use of private contractors to implement an effective fire

management program (see also Part I, Section 5.2.1). Several companies in Florida provide this

service and their use in Miami-Dade County should be encouraged. Costs of using private

contractors may be much higher than using FDOF, but the absence of fires will result in

increasing hardwood removal costs, decreasing habitat quality, and increasing threat of

damaging wildfires.

4.6.4 Alternatives to Prescribed Burning

If the application of prescribed fire is absolutely impossible, there are several alternatives that are

available, although less desirable. These options include grazing, herbicide application, and

mechanical treatment. Grazing, such as by goats, has the disadvantage of introducing trampling

effects, nutrients from feces, and possible spread of exotic pest plant seeds. Both herbicide

application and mechanical treatments have the disadvantage of requiring that dead woody

material be removed from the site following treatment to limit the amount of decomposing

vegetation that would create organic soils. Even with physical removal after treatment, organic

matter from all plants on the site will eventually accumulate, leaving an organic soil, and thereby

reducing diversity of native herbs and potentially introducing invasive species. Physical removal

after treatment can also cause disturbances. In addition, none of these techniques replicate a

fire’s ability to return nutrients to the soil for short periods of time, a process that is critical to

many pine rockland plant species. These alternative techniques, as opposed to prescribed

burning, require a significantly greater labor commitment from personnel and come at a

significant ecological cost.

4.7 Management after Tropical Cyclones

As discussed in 2.6.2 and 3.6.2, tropical cyclones, including tropical storms and hurricanes, can

break or topple pine trees, make pine trees susceptible to pest insect outbreaks, and defoliate or

damage understory hardwoods. Storms can also blow manmade debris into pine rocklands,

including large items such as shipping containers and boats, which can damage vegetation and

soils. In addition to these direct effects, post-storm impacts from people can also be considerable,

including dumping, habitat clearing, and establishment of campgrounds or temporary homes.

Management Policy

Post-storm evaluations shall be conducted at all pine rockland EEL sites to determine the

extent and severity of damage to vegetation, wildlife, and structures. After inspection, an

action plan shall be developed to mitigate any impacts caused by the event.

EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 40

Establishment of post storm security should be a top priority, including temporary erection of

fences, gates, and signs. If existing signs are destroyed, inexpensive, temporary “no dumping”

signs should be installed liberally around property perimeters. Sites should be inspected regularly

for dumping and trespassing.

Maintenance of a sparse pine canopy, as discussed in Section 4.3.1, will limit outbreaks of pest

insects, including Ips beetles, following storms. If infestations do begin, trees can be protected by

the application of Onyx, a bark-adhering formulation of bifenthrin that is applied to bark.

Infested trees should be cut down and sprayed with Onyx. If other chemicals are available for

this use, they can be tried as well.

4.8 Hydrological Restoration

Pine rocklands are upland communities but have been stressed by a lowered water table, for

example, in recovery from wind damage or fires. Though it is unlikely that any small scale, site

specific project, could occur to remedy this problem, large scale restoration would be very

beneficial to stressed pine rocklands. While such large scale restoration projects are not feasible

for the EEL program to accomplish alone, EEL would support and partner with any existing or

proposed restoration plans that would attempt to elevate water tables closer to historic levels.

Water levels that re-hydrate adjacent wetlands would be very advantageous for the adjacent pine

rocklands.

4.9 Soil Management

Pine rockland soils are naturally nutrient poor. However, successional changes lead to changes in

the soil. In the absence of fire, hardwoods invade pine rockland habitat, resulting in inhibition of

pine regeneration. As hardwoods invade, accumulation of organic matter in the soils and

increased shading results in an increase in soil moisture, which inhibits fires that maintain the

pine rockland community.

Because pine rockland soils are naturally nutrient poor, proper ecosystem management

(particularly burning) will maintain the low fertility of pine rockland soils. Accumulation of