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Oasis Fire PipelineOasis Fire PipelineSpring 2011Spring 2011
Soil and Vegetation effects of Soil and Vegetation effects of Oasis Wildfire followed by Oasis Wildfire followed by
droughtdrought
Alfredo MuñozRangeland Management Specialist
Natural Resources Conservation Service
How to stop it?
Extreme climatic conditions, especially low RH%
What we were left with.
Misleading InformationMisleading Information
““The effects of wildfires are similar to the effects The effects of wildfires are similar to the effects of prescribed burning”of prescribed burning”
““Fire never causes the death of grass plants”Fire never causes the death of grass plants”
““Fire is natural, therefore these wildfires should Fire is natural, therefore these wildfires should not be viewed as such a bad thing”not be viewed as such a bad thing”
How Much Grass Has Died?How Much Grass Has Died?How Much Grass Has How Much Grass Has
Survived?Survived?
The Biggest The Biggest Question:Question:
Charred grass stump
Dr. Henry Wright
Prescribed Burning and Wildfire are Prescribed Burning and Wildfire are Completely DifferentCompletely Different
Grass Response to FireGrass Response to Fire((Fire EcologyFire Ecology; Wright and ; Wright and
Bailey)Bailey)
• Most species of short grass are harmed by Most species of short grass are harmed by fire during a dry year.fire during a dry year.
• Following a spring wildfire, when soil was Following a spring wildfire, when soil was dry, recovery took three growing seasons.dry, recovery took three growing seasons.
• Recovery was 35%, 62% and 97% Recovery was 35%, 62% and 97% following the 1following the 1stst, 2, 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd growing growing seasons.seasons.
• The rhizomatous form of sideoats is almost The rhizomatous form of sideoats is almost always reduced 40% to 50% by fire during always reduced 40% to 50% by fire during dry years and may require three years for dry years and may require three years for full recovery.full recovery.
• It tolerates fire reasonably well during It tolerates fire reasonably well during exceptionally wet years with no significant exceptionally wet years with no significant reduction in yield.reduction in yield.
• As long as soil moisture is adequate, vine-As long as soil moisture is adequate, vine-mesquite, Arizona cottontop, plains mesquite, Arizona cottontop, plains bristlegrass, Texas cupgrass, bunchgrass bristlegrass, Texas cupgrass, bunchgrass sideoats and meadow dropseed thrive after sideoats and meadow dropseed thrive after fire.fire.
Grass Response (Wright and Grass Response (Wright and Bailey)Bailey)
Grass Response (Wright and Grass Response (Wright and Bailey)Bailey)
• Texas wintergrass is severely harmed by Texas wintergrass is severely harmed by sweeping hot fires but increases following sweeping hot fires but increases following creeping cool fires.creeping cool fires.
• Fire will cause little bluestem to decrease as Fire will cause little bluestem to decrease as much as 58% during dry years or increase as much as 58% during dry years or increase as much as 81% during wet years.much as 81% during wet years.
• Tobosagrass is severely harmed by burning Tobosagrass is severely harmed by burning during dry years but will recover fully by the during dry years but will recover fully by the end of the third growing season.end of the third growing season.
• If the soil is moist at time of burning, If the soil is moist at time of burning, tobosagrass yield is two or three times higher tobosagrass yield is two or three times higher than unburned areas.than unburned areas.
• Following wildfire in a dry year, the cover Following wildfire in a dry year, the cover and yield of following grasses were and yield of following grasses were reduced: big bluestem, little bluestem, reduced: big bluestem, little bluestem, hairy grama, sideoats grama, hairy grama, sideoats grama, buffalograss, blue grama. buffalograss, blue grama.
• Bush muhly and black grama is seriously Bush muhly and black grama is seriously harmed by fire, especially in dry yearsharmed by fire, especially in dry years
Grass Response (Wright and Grass Response (Wright and Bailey)Bailey)
It all depends on rainfallIt all depends on rainfall
Perennial grasses survival ranged from 0 to 28% in some areas
The Biggest Risk:The Biggest Risk:Soil ErosionSoil Erosion
Edwards Plateau Wildfire:Edwards Plateau Wildfire:7 – 10 Tons per acre7 – 10 Tons per acre over 2.5 year Periodover 2.5 year Period
Power and energy of a single raindrop.
Soil Erosion after significant Rainfall
Bottom of hills
Erosion since fire
Grass Impacts – East Amarillo Complex Grass Impacts – East Amarillo Complex FireFire
March 2006; 888,000 Acres March 2006; 888,000 Acres((Rangeland Ecology and MgtRangeland Ecology and Mgt; Jan. 2011); Jan. 2011)
11 Ranches; 3 Counties11 Ranches; 3 Counties
Bad News / Good NewsBad News / Good News
Bad News:Bad News:•Grass mortality was 7x higher on burned sites Grass mortality was 7x higher on burned sites in fall 2006 for short grass sites (primarily in fall 2006 for short grass sites (primarily blue grama and buffalograss)blue grama and buffalograss)•Grass mortality was 4x higher on burned sites Grass mortality was 4x higher on burned sites in fall 2006 for mid grass sites (primarily in fall 2006 for mid grass sites (primarily sideoats grama, little bluestem, sand sideoats grama, little bluestem, sand dropseed)dropseed)
Grass Impacts – East Amarillo Complex Grass Impacts – East Amarillo Complex FireFire
Good News:Good News:•Grass productivity was not harmed by the Grass productivity was not harmed by the wildfire in 2006, 2007 or 2008.wildfire in 2006, 2007 or 2008.•Fewer living grass plants provided increased Fewer living grass plants provided increased compensatory growth.compensatory growth.•Grass density increased by the end of 2008 Grass density increased by the end of 2008 but was still measurably lower than non-but was still measurably lower than non-burned areas. burned areas.
Context:Context:•Rainfall for first 6 months after fire = Rainfall for first 6 months after fire = 15”15”•Rainfall for three years following the Rainfall for three years following the fire was average to above average.fire was average to above average.•Fire was primarily a grassland fire not Fire was primarily a grassland fire not a juniper firea juniper fire
Grass Impacts – East Amarillo Complex Grass Impacts – East Amarillo Complex FireFire
Monitoring Grass Monitoring Grass Mortality on Wildcat FireMortality on Wildcat Fire
Shallow Sites: 72% DeadLow Stony Hill Sites: 91% DeadSteep Rocky Sites: 100% Dead
Monitoring Grass / Forb Monitoring Grass / Forb Seedlings on Wildcat FireSeedlings on Wildcat Fire
Shallow Sites: 92 / Square FootLow Stony Hill Sites: 118 / Square FootSteep Rocky Sites: 57 / Square FootSteep Rocky (Cedar) 10 / Square Foot
Large mature trees; are they Large mature trees; are they dead?dead?
• Make no mistake, these fires not only Make no mistake, these fires not only present some heartburn over potential present some heartburn over potential impact to wildlife and wildlife habitat, it impact to wildlife and wildlife habitat, it also sends a lot of business up in smoke as also sends a lot of business up in smoke as well. well.
• The whitetail hunting business has been in The whitetail hunting business has been in a tailspin over the last few years. These a tailspin over the last few years. These fires certainly do not help the cause at all. fires certainly do not help the cause at all.
• We recently cancelled all hunts that we We recently cancelled all hunts that we had booked on two ranches.had booked on two ranches.
Comments from Wildcat FireComments from Wildcat FireTom Green and Coke Co, April Tom Green and Coke Co, April
20112011
Comments from Wildcat FireComments from Wildcat Fire
Worst Losses---Worst Losses---
Grand live oak trees, native pecans, Grand live oak trees, native pecans, lots of grass (feed), fences and deer lots of grass (feed), fences and deer stands. stands.
Best Losses---Best Losses---
Raccoons, porcupines, skunks, and Raccoons, porcupines, skunks, and hopefully anything else that eats a quail hopefully anything else that eats a quail as well as dead brush from previous as well as dead brush from previous years grubbing and maybe even some years grubbing and maybe even some of the fences.of the fences.
No doubt, over the past 500 years, our range land in No doubt, over the past 500 years, our range land in West Texas has suffered similar fires. So the West Texas has suffered similar fires. So the
eventual recovery is assured . . . . eventual recovery is assured . . . .
but will any of us live to see it?but will any of us live to see it?
Comments from Wildcat FireComments from Wildcat Fire65 Year Old Rancher:65 Year Old Rancher:
On the Positive Side:On the Positive Side:Greatly reduced pricklypear cover; tasajillo controlGreatly reduced pricklypear cover; tasajillo control
Greatly reduced cedar coverGreatly reduced cedar cover
Control of blueberry cedarControl of blueberry cedar
Control of young redberry cedarControl of young redberry cedar
Improved browse availability (after initial regrowth)Improved browse availability (after initial regrowth)
Enhanced use of low value browseEnhanced use of low value browse
Persimmon, whitebrush, algeritaPersimmon, whitebrush, algerita
Enhanced nutritional value of browseEnhanced nutritional value of browse
Removal of dead slashRemoval of dead slash
Reductions of varmintsReductions of varmints
The land will recoverThe land will recover
On the Negative Side:On the Negative Side:Ground is bare; Soil is vulnerable to erosionGround is bare; Soil is vulnerable to erosion
Infiltration reduced; Runoff is increasedInfiltration reduced; Runoff is increased
Possible (probable) death of grasses – extent unknownPossible (probable) death of grasses – extent unknown
Loss of woody cover for deer and other wildlifeLoss of woody cover for deer and other wildlife
Loss of nest cover for birds; fawning cover for deerLoss of nest cover for birds; fawning cover for deer
Loss of mesquite beans, acorns, pear applesLoss of mesquite beans, acorns, pear apples
Reduced deer populations (depending on location)Reduced deer populations (depending on location)
Turkey roost impactsTurkey roost impacts
Increased vulnerability to predationIncreased vulnerability to predation
Marketing of hunting (drought + fire)Marketing of hunting (drought + fire)
Possible toxic plant problems if grazingPossible toxic plant problems if grazing
Economic impactEconomic impact
Opportunities:Opportunities:
Re-configure fences to better accommodate grazing Re-configure fences to better accommodate grazing mgtmgt
Monitor grass recoveryMonitor grass recovery
Chronicle range recoveryChronicle range recovery
Photo pointsPhoto points
Install cages to monitor regrowthInstall cages to monitor regrowth
Mini plot irrigationMini plot irrigation
Enhanced aerial predator control Enhanced aerial predator control
Monitor deer population:Monitor deer population:
spotlight; helicopter; trail cameraspotlight; helicopter; trail camera
Aerial seeding (depending on grass recovery)Aerial seeding (depending on grass recovery)
Broadcast seed native grass and forb on rocky areasBroadcast seed native grass and forb on rocky areas
Three Things for Certain:Three Things for Certain:
• The short term impact is extremeThe short term impact is extreme
• The grass and the game will The grass and the game will recover eventuallyrecover eventually
• Recovery will depend on rainfallRecovery will depend on rainfall
Littleleaf lead tree
Hackberry Prickly ash
Shin oak resprouts
Texas snoutbean
Trailing ratany
Orange zexmania
Bush sunflower with root system
The end
Thank you for your attention
Alfredo MuñozRangeland Management SpecialistNatural Resources Conservation
Service522 Main Street
Junction, TX 76849(325) 446- 2717