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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Burns, Oregon » Range and Meadow Forage Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #254896
Title: Long-term Moderate Livestock Grazing Reduces the Risk, Size, and Severity of Wildfires.

Author
item Davies, Kirk
item Bates, Jonathan - Jon
item Svejcar, Anthony
item Boyd, Chad

Submitted to: Oregon State University Extension Publications
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2010
Publication Date: 5/27/2010
Citation: Davies, K., Bates, J., Svejcar, T., Boyd, C. 2010. Long-term Moderate Livestock Grazing Reduces The Risk, Size, and Severity of Wildfires. Oregon State University Beef Research Report 2010. p. 15-17

Interpretive Summary: The influence of moderate livestock grazing on fuel characteristics in sagebrush rangelands are relatively unknown. The effects of moderate grazing on fuels are important because fuels are one of the primary factors determining the risk and severity of wildfires. We evaluated the impacts of grazing on fuels by comparing grazed to non-grazed (livestock excluded in 1936) sagebrush steppe plant communities. Long-term grazing decreased fuel accumulation. These results suggest that grazing is reducing the risk and severity of wildfires on sagebrush rangelands.

Technical Abstract: The influence of moderate livestock grazing on fuel characteristics in sagebrush rangelands are relatively unknown. The effects of moderate grazing on fuels are important because fuels are one of the primary factors determining the risk and severity of wildfires. We evaluated the impacts of grazing on fuels by comparing grazed to non-grazed (livestock excluded in 1936) sagebrush steppe plant communities. Long-term grazing decreased fuel accumulation. These results suggest that grazing is reducing the risk and severity of wildfires on sagebrush rangelands.