Figure 3

Sample conditional inference decision trees show how variables related to hydrology predicted time to return to pre-burn character as seen in Landsat imagery. MAXyr represents maximum water depth during the year of the fire and MAXf2g represents maximum daily water depth between the fire date and green-up. The variable g represents variability of water depths during the year of the fire. Dry years and hydrologic variability predict widely varying time frames for vegetation recovery.