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r� i restricted within the Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas due to the potential to t«t create smoke problems along the urban interfaces of these sites, primarily U.S. Highway 1, C.R. 510, and the internal thoroughfares of Sebastian Highlands. it will be the responsibility of the prescribed burrs manager for the Sebastian HCP Management Program to determine the safety of using this rnanagemcnt technique to recover open spaces within the subject scrub restoration areas. Whenever possible, prescribed fires will be conducted (fairing tide natural fire season, late spring and summer, to mimic historic fire patterns (Breininger et at 19961); Adrian and Farinetti 1995). Knowledge of the location of critical scrub -jay nesting sites and the extent of each scrub -jay territory will enhance efforts to conduct prescribed burns during these months while reducing the potential for occurrence of adverse impacts to the resident scrub -jay population. As a measure to minimize adverse impacts of the scrub restoration on scrub -jays, the Applicant will conduct field surveys prior to the application of prescribed fires within a scrub -jay territory during the nesting season. Prescribed fire frequency, following the initial burns, will be dictated by habitat quality data collected as part of the site-specific Sebastian HCP Habitat Management Monitoring Program (HCP Monitoring Program). The time between burns will be limited by the availability ratio of dead to live fuels (Breininger et at. 1996b). Effective fires appear to require that 25% of the above ground biomass be composed of dead fuels (F. Adrian Pers. obs. in Breininger et at 1996b). A Mininkim of 2-4 years may be required between burns within matrix flatwoods habitats characterized by a dense saw palmetto cover (Breininger at at 1996b). Oak scrub habitats exhibiting a sparse cover of saw palmetto may require a minimum of 3-5 years between burns (Breininger et at. 1996b). Variability is all important ecological component that must be integrated into any fire management program (Christensen 1985; Schmalzer and Hinkle 1992; Fernald 1989). Regular prescribed burn management schedules place constraints on the habitat managers and reduces habitat heterogeneity (The Nature Conservancy (TNC) 1991; Schmalzer et at. 1999). Flexibility in management schedules, as proposed herein, allows the land manager to refine future burn units, treatments, and schedules based on the effectiveness of previous burn prescriptions in achieving the management goals (TNC 1991; Schmalzer et at. 1999). 5.3.1 Iden o.1c.,_MarQea.r ancl_Prescrtled_8ttm,MantirJer . The IRC Board has approved the hiring of a Conservation Lands Manager for the 2000 budget year beginning in October 1999 (R. DGBlois pens. comm.). It will be the responsibility of the Conservation Lands Manager, ill conjunction with the County Environmental Planning Section, to coordinate implementation of HCP Management Program and performance of the HCP Monitoring Program. 79