Grassland, Shrubland and Desert
Ecosystem Research Program
Joint Fire Science Program:
Equipment and Strategies to Enhance the Post-wildfire
Establishment and Persistence of Great Basin Native Plants
Project
Summary
The cycle of annual weed
invasion and wildfire has altered large expanses of western shrublands,
disrupted ecosystem functioning, and increased wildfire size, intensity, and
frequency. These impacts are costly in terms of losses to native
species and ecosystems, and also in risks to human life and property and
wildfire-associated expenditures. Post-fire rehabilitation provides an
opportunity to stabilize and revegetate at-risk shrublands.
This
research addresses reestablishment of native vegetation after fires on arid
lands. The USDI Bureau of Land Management treats more acres and
expends more funds through the Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation
Program (ES&R) than other agencies, and is required by Executive Orders and
agency regulations to use native species where feasible. However our
ability to establish mixtures of grasses, forbs, and shrubs is limited.
This research will provide both basic and applied results on native
restoration species and technology for their use.
Project
Objectives
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Examine seeding techniques
for Wyoming big sagebrush
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Test seeding technology for
for native species, particularly native forbs
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Compare the ability of a
modified rangeland drill and an experimental minimum-till drill to plant
native seeds of diverse size and shapes and to reduce surface disturbance,
thereby conserving residual native species and biological soil crusts, while
minimizing planting of annual grass seed
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Apply and examine use of USGS
proposed ES&R monitoring protocols for gauging seeding success for both the
short and long term
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Provide plantings for
long-term examination of livestock grazing on diversity in native settings
Research
Components
Cooperators
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USDA FS Rocky Mountain Research
Station,
Boise, ID
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Nancy Shaw
Robert Cox
Nick Williams
Kelsey Sherich
Matt Fisk
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USDI Bureau of Land Management,
Boise, ID |
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Mike Pellant
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USGS
Biological Research Division,
Corvallis, OR |
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David Pyke
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USDA Natural
Resource Conservation Service,
Aberdeen, ID |
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Loren St. John
Brent Cornforth
Boyd Simonson
Charlie Bair
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USDA Natural Resource Conservation
Service,
Boise, ID |
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Dan Ogle
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USDA Natural
Resource Conservation Service,
Fallon, NV |
|
Steve Perkins
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Truax Company, Inc.,
New Hope, MN |
|
Jim Truax
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