ASSESSMENT OF EMERGENCY FIRE REHABILITATION OF FOUR FIRES FROM THE 2000 FIRE SEASON ON THE VALE, OREGON BLM DISTRICT

1
ASSESSMENT OF EMERGENCY FIRE REHABILITATION OF
FOUR FIRES FROM THE 2000 FIRE SEASON ON THE VALE,
OREGON BLM DISTRICT

• Jack D. Alexander III1, Brenda K. Kury1, and Jean
  Findley2
• 1Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc., 1755 Hymer
  Ave., Sparks, NV, 89431
• Phone [phone], Email jack_at_countgrass.com
• 2Vale BLM, 100 Oregon Street, Vale, Oregon,
  97918-9630
• Phone [phone]

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
2
Acknowledgments

• Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc., would like to
  thank the Vale Bureau of Land Management for the
  opportunity to participate in this study.

• Jean Findley
• Tom Hilken
• Randy Eyre

• Steve Christensen
• David Wallace
• Tom Miles

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
3
Introduction Jackson Fire
Objective Evaluate the success of post-fire
seeding, and determine which seed treatment was
most successful in accomplishing the goals of
rehabilitation

• The Jackson Fire was discovered on July 14, 2000
  and controlled on August 17, 2000.
• Before the fire, approximately 35 of the burned
  area was in early-seral stage, dominated with
  introduced annual species.
• Approximately 35 of the burned area was in
  mid-seral stage, with a minor component of
  perennial species such as bluebunch wheatgrass
  (Pseudoroegneria spicata). The remaining 30 of
  the area was in late-seral stage.
• Numerous isolated stands of invasive weeds such
  as Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium), whitetop
  (Cardaris spp.), hogbite (Chondrilla juncea), and
  knapweed (Centaurea spp.) were also present.
• Synergy conducted post-fire rehabilitation
  assessments in June 2001 and 2002.
• Three transects and three photo-plots were
  established in each of 5 seed mix treatments.
• Three photo-plots were established in burned
  areas that were not seeded.
• Mulfords milkvetch (Astragalus mulfordiae) is a
  state endangered-listed plant found on two ridges
  in the Jackson fire area 16 additional transects
  (8 paired plots) with photo-plots were
  established.

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
4
Introduction Kern Fire
Objective Evaluate the success of the post-fire
seeding and to determine which seeding treatment
best met rehabilitation objectives.

• A lightning strike started the Kern Fire on
  August 4, 2000, approximately 30 miles south of
  Vale, Oregon.
• The fire burned areas dominated by a native
  sagebrush/bunchgrass community with inclusions of
  annual herbaceous species.
• Pre-burn native communities contained Wyoming big
  sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata ssp.
  wyomingensis), rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp.),
  bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata),
  Thurber needlegrass (Achnatherum thurberina), and
  Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda).
• Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) was dispersed
  throughout most vegetation communities and a
  number of pure stands of medusahead (Taeniatherum
  caput-medusae) were present on clay soils.
• The fire burned a total of 12,068 acres,
  including 11,983 acres of public land. Post-fire
  rehabilitation included seeding 1,800 acres with
  a native perennial seed mixture and 360 acres
  with a non-native perennial seed mixture.
• Synergy conducted the Kern Fire Post-Fire
  Rehabilitation Assessment in July 2001 and June
  2002.

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
5
Introduction White Mule Fire
Objective Evaluate the overall success of the
post-fire seeding and to determine which seeding
treatment best met rehabilitation objectives.

• The lightening-caused White Mule fire burned a
  total of 18,158 acres of BLM land south of Rome,
  OR from August 3 to 7, 2000.
• This area previously burned in 1999 (550 acres),
  1995 (36,046 acres), 1986 (8,500 acres), 1985
  (32,497 acres), and 1983 (53,518 acres).
• The area is dominated by annual species such as
  cheatgrass, tumble mustard (Sisymbrium
  altissimum), and Russian thistle (Salsola kali).
  
• Post-fire rehabilitation included the re-seeding
  of a native seed mix and a non-native seed mix on
  8,151 acres. Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia
  tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) and forage kochia
  (Kochia prostrata) were aerially seeded on 3,593
  acres.
• Synergy conducted the post-fire rehabilitation
  assessments in July 2001 and June 2002.

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
6
Introduction Wild Horse Springs Fire
Objective Evaluate the overall success of the
post-fire seeding and to determine which seeding
treatment best met rehabilitation objectives.

• The Wild Horse Springs Fire burned near Bully
  Creek, near Vale OR.
• The fire burned 1,235 acres of BLM land and a
  total of 1,873 acres.
• Synergy conducted the post-fire rehabilitation
  assessments in June 2001 and 2002.

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
7
Methods Seed Mixes
N Native Seed Mix, I Introduced Seed Mix, x
only one seed mix used, seed treated or untreated
with Germ-N-8. Grasses were drill seeded. A
variety of shrubs were aerially seeded at each
fire.
Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
8
Methods Site Selection

• Study sites were placed to represent areas with
  varying degrees of seeding success. This study
  was not designed to have random samples.
• All study sites were placed in areas with
  evidence of seedling establishment.
• Photo-plots (by default the 0-meter point for
  density transects) were placed in areas with
  seedlings of seeded species. Portions of the
  project area had little or no seedling
  establishment.
• Transects were intentionally placed where
  seedlings had established. This biased the data
  to reflect higher than average seedling
  establishment.
• The project did not have sufficient budget to
  perform a statistically valid sample of the
  entire area, therefore, sites were selected to
  provide data representative of areas with
  successful seeding.
• 4 paired plots (8 plots per ridge) were
  established on the treated and untreated areas in
  the Jackson fire to determine the impact of the
  fire and seeding on Mulford's milkvetch.
• Some areas with Mulford's milkvetch were seeded,
  but portions of two ridges in the treated
  (seeded) area were left unseeded because of
  concern of the effects of seed drills on
  Mulford's milkvetch.
• Synergy collected two types of monitoring data at
  each site density and photo-plots to evaluate
  the efficacy of the various seed mixes in burned
  areas.

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
9
Methods Photo-Plots

• Photographs provide a quick, qualitative
  assessment of sites and a means of making
  comparisons between sites and at the same site
  over time. Photographs allow non-technical
  assessment of a small plot. Photo-plots are
  accepted by BLM as a qualitative method of data
  collection.

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
10
Methods - Density

• Synergy used TR 4400-4, Sampling Vegetation
  Attributes, to develop density protocol used for
  the Jackson Post-Fire Rehabilitation Assessment.
  
• Developing efficient protocol was one of the
  tasks for 2001.
• Several quadrat sizes were used to test for
  optimal sampling efficiency in 2001.
• In 2002, two quadrat sizes were used
  0.1x0.5-meter and 0.5x1.0-meter.
• 2002 data were collected at the same study areas
  established for sampling in 2001.
• This study was not designed to provide a
  statistically valid sample.
• Observers collected three types of density data
  during this study
• Fifty quadrats placed in a stratified random
  manner along 10 belts within a 25x50-meter grid
  (data collected separately by plant maturity and
  species)
• One 0.75x75-meter belt transect that counted
  number of adults and seedlings (not separated by
  species)
• Ten 0.5x25-meter belts along the X-axis tape that
  counted only mature grasses and forbs.
• All three types of density sampling for each site
  used the same 25x75-meter grid.

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
11
Methods Density (Contd)

• A 75-meter tape formed the Y-axis and a 25-meter
  tape formed the X-axis. Random numbers were used
  to determine sample transect starting points
  along the Y-axis and quadrat locations along the
  X-axis. Ten coordinates were randomly selected
  for Y-axis coordinates. Five X-axis coordinates
  were randomly selected for each of the 10 Y-axis
  legs.
• A plot rod was used to outline plot boundaries.
• The plot rod measured 0.5-meters on the
  horizontal leg and was marked in 0.1-meter
  increments. As the plot rod passed over each
  plant, one observer counted individual mature
  plants and seedlings of each species using a hand
  counter (clicker).
• Individuals were counted only if rooted within
  the quadrat.
• The number of mature and seedlings of each
  species on the density data sheets.
• Perennial species were sampled at all 50 quadrats
  (5 quadrats on each of 10 legs).
• Annual species were sampled at 25 quadrats (5
  quadrats on each of 5 transects on the Y-axis
  the first, third, fifth, seventh, and ninth
  legs).

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
12
Methods Density (Contd)

• In 2001, quadrat size varied according to
  community structure and species sampled.
• In 2002, only the two most efficient quadrat
  sizes from 2001 were used.
• Annuals and forbs were sampled within a
  0.1x0.5-meter plot nested in the lower-left
  corner of the 0.5x0.1-meter quadrat used for
  perennials.
• Quadrat size 0.5x1.0-meter was used to sample
  Mulford's milkvetch and perennial species on all
  Mulford's milkvetch transects.
• In the second set of density data, observers
  sampled a 0.75x75-meter belt quadrat along the
  right side of the Y-axis tape at each density
  transect.
• This sample was not separated by species, instead
  observers counted two classes (seedlings and
  adults or resprouts) of all perennial grass
  species.
• These data were collected to provide an
  additional indication of seedling density.
• The 0.75x75-meter belt included clumps of
  seedlings that may have been missed in the
  smaller quadrats.
• These data have not been analyzed due to budget
  restrictions.

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
13
Methods Density (Contd)

• In the third set of density data, observers
  identified adult plants (by species), within a
  0.5x25-meter belt quadrat along the left side of
  each X-axis leg.
• These data were collected to indicate the number
  of adults that survived the fire.
• These adults may have been too widely scattered
  to be well represented in the 0.5x1-meter
  quadrats.
• Data from comparison of the 0.5x25-meter belts to
  data from 0.5x1-meter quadrats would allow
  additional analysis of plot size.
• These data have not been analyzed due to budget
  restrictions.
• Sampling for Mulford's milkvetch was accomplished
  by stretching a transect tape 25 meters to form
  the Y-axis and a second tape 25 meters to form
  the X-axis.
• Coordinates were uniformly selected to sample
  both Mulford's milkvetch and perennial species
  every 5 meters, beginning at the 5-meter mark,
  and Mulford's milkvetch only every 5 meters
  beginning at the 2-meter mark.
• Mulford's milkvetch was sampled the entire length
  of the axes perennial species were sampled every
  5 meters using a 1x0.5-meter quadrat.
• These data have not been analyzed due to budget
  restrictions.

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
14
Methods Plot Rod
0.5 m
0.1 m
Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
15
Summary

• Data analysis was not included in the funding for
  this project.
• No seeding success objectives were established
  during the fire reclamation design process.
• BLM was generally disappointed with the lack of
  seedling establishment.
• This is particularly true in light of the fact
  that the sample site selection ignored large
  areas where seedling success was marginal or
  essentially none.

Sagebrush mariposa lily Calochortus macrocarpus
Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides
RESULTS Data analysis was not included in the
funding for this project. A preliminary summary
of the data is provided. Data were summarized by
the average number of seeded species per year and
per square-meter for each seed mix. Data are
represented by transect total (i.e., 1 1
transect had a certain number of seedlings per
square-meter). No seeding success objectives
were established during the fire reclamation
design process. However, BLM was generally
disappointed with the results of these seedings.
This is particularly true in light of the fact
that the sample site selection ignored large
areas where seedling success was very marginal or
essentially none.
Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
16
Summary Density at All Fires

• A preliminary summary of the data is provided.
  Data were summarized by the average number of
  seeded species per year and per square-meter for
  each seed mix. Data are represented by transect
  total (i.e., 1 1 transect had a certain number
  of seedlings per square-meter). SSeedling
  plants of the seeded species (regardless of mix)
  MMature plants of the seeded species (regardless
  of mix).

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
17
Summary Milkvetch Density

• Data were summarized by the average number of
  seeded species and Mulfords milkvetch plants per
  year and per square-meter for each seed mix.
  Data are represented by transect total (i.e., 1
  1 transect had a certain number of seedlings per
  square-meter). SSeedling plants of the seeded
  species (regardless of mix) MMature plants of
  the seeded species (regardless of mix).

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
18
Observations

• Initial establishment of seeded species was low.
• Recruitment of seeded species from seedlings to
  mature plants was low on all evaluated sites.
• Sites with a higher seral stage prior to the
  fires of 2000 appeared to have increased seeding
  success.
• No differences were observed in the success of
  the different seed mixes.

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
19
Recommendations

• This study was not designed to determine cause of
  seedling success or failure.
• Site observation indicates two main factors
  drought conditions in 2 years following seeding
  and presence of invasive annual species (most
  notably cheatgrass) may have negatively impacted
  seeding successes.
• Seeding success was correlated to precipitation
  levels (i.e., low precipitation levels yielded
  low seedling success).
• Additional data analyses are necessary to
  completely understand the interactions of seeded
  species at each fire.
• A correlation should be developed between initial
  seedling establishment and short- and long-term
  plant persistence.
• Analyses should be completed to determine the
  most appropriate plot size.

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov
20
For More Information

• Please Contact
• Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
• Jack D. Alexander III
• 1755 Hymer Avenue
• Sparks, NV 89431
• 775-331-5577
• www.countgrass.com jack_at_countgrass.com

Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc.
www.countgrass.com Vale Bureau of
Land Management - www.or.blm.gov