Showing the following locations: In 2003-2004, 180 locations within Great Smoky Mountains National Park were

visited to inventory overstory composition, fuels, and ericaceous shrub cover (Waldrop et al.,

2007). Overstory composition and ericaceous shrub cover were determined using fixed-area plots

(0.02 ha). Within these fixed-area plots, fuels were observed using Brown’s Planar Intercept

Method (Brown, 1974) as modified by Stottlemyer (2004). Using this technique, down-and-dead

woody debris 0 – 1/4 in., 1/4 – 1 in., 1 – 3 in., and greater than 3 in. in diameter was tallied as 1-,

10-, 100-hr., and 1000-hr. timelag size classes, respectively, along three 50 ft. transects

established at a 45o angle. Timelag refers to how each individual fuel-size class responds to

changes in relative humidity (Brown, 1974). Using this method, 1-hr. and 10-hr. fuels were tallied

within the first 6 ft. of each transect, 100-hr. fuels were tallied within the first 12 ft., and 1000-hr.

fuels were tallied along the entire 50 ft. transect. A quality rating (sound or rotten) was

additionally recorded for 1000-hr. fuels. Estimates of fuel loading in tons per acre were derived

for each fuel-size class based upon these tallies (Brown, 1974; Stottlemyer, 2004). Litter depth,

duff depth, and fuel bed height (defined as the distance from the top of the litter layer to the top of

any coarse woody debris crossing the transect) were measured at three locations along each 50-ft.

transect: 12-13 ft., 24-25 ft., and