Effects of Fuel Management Treatments in Piñon-Juniper Vegetation at a Site on the Colorado Plateau
Brooks M and Deuser C. Effects of Fuel Management Treatments in Piñon-Juniper Vegetation at a Site on the Colorado Plateau. 2003-2006. National Park Service
Joint Fire Science Project Number 03-3-3-58. This project was designed as the first of two phases at a site on the western Colorado Plateau dominated by Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) and two-needle piñon pine (Pinus edulis). Phase 1 focused on comparing the cost effectiveness of different types of thinning treatments targeting 80% of the post-settlement juniper and piñon pine trees: two chain saw treatments (cut; cut, limb, scatter) and one herbicide treatment (15% Tordon 22K applied at the base of the tree). The cut treatment was evaluated alone and when combined with seeding of the native understory grass species bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides) at 3 pounds per acre and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) at 2 pounds per acre. The second phase, pending additional funding beyond the scope of the current project, will add fire as a treatment and compare fire behavior among previous thinning treatments, and vegetation response during the immediate postfire years.
- Type
- Project
- Authors
- Brooks, Matt; Deuser, Curt
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- PARA
- Keywords
- Colorado Plateau, juniper, pinyon pine, Twin Point, vegetation management
Products
- Assessing the Ecological & Economical Effectiveness of Thinning Techniques in Pinon & Juniper-Encroached Shrublands
- Effects of Fuel Management Treatments in Pinon Juniper Vegetation at a Site on the Colorado Plateau
- Effects of fuel management treatments in piñon-juniper vegetation at a site on the Colorado Plateau
- Response of Fuelbed Characteristics to Restoration Treatments in Pinon-Juniper-Encroached Shrublands on the Shivwits Plateau, Arizona