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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Reno, Nevada » Great Basin Rangelands Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #318400
Title: Post-fire grazing management in the Great Basin

Author
item VEBLEN, KARI - Utah State University
item Newingham, Beth
item Bates, Jonathan - Jon
item LAMALFA, ERIC - Utah State University
item GLICKLHORN, JEFF - University Of Nevada

Submitted to: Government Publication/Report
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/5/2015
Publication Date: 7/14/2015
Publication URL: http://www.gbfiresci.org
Citation: Veblen, K.E., Newingham, B.A., Bates, J.D., Lamalfa, E., Glicklhorn, J. 2015. Post-fire grazing management in the Great Basin. Government Publication/Report. 7:1-4.

Interpretive Summary: Increasing wildfire size and frequency in the Great Basin call for post-fire grazing management practices that ensure sagebrush steppe communities are productive and resilient to disturbances such as drought and species invasions. We provide guidelines for maintaining productive sagebrush steppe communities in grazed areas after fire. These guidelines focus on plant communities with largely intact understories of native herbaceous species or introduced bunchgrasses rather than on invasive annual grasslands. Management actions should focus on 1) maintaining the productivity and reproduction of surviving perennial grasses and newly established seedlings, and 2) sustaining perennial plant cover, surface litter, and biological soil crust. Proper monitoring should also be implemented to assure effective post-fire grazing management.

Technical Abstract: Increasing wildfire size and frequency in the Great Basin call for post-fire grazing management practices that ensure sagebrush steppe communities are productive and resilient to disturbances such as drought and species invasions. We provide guidelines for maintaining productive sagebrush steppe communities in grazed areas after fire. These guidelines focus on plant communities with largely intact understories of native herbaceous species or introduced bunchgrasses rather than on invasive annual grasslands. Management actions should focus on 1) maintaining the productivity and reproduction of surviving perennial grasses and newly established seedlings, and 2) sustaining perennial plant cover, surface litter, and biological soil crust. Proper monitoring should also be implemented to assure effective post-fire grazing management.