ID Assessment of fuel break performance – fire risk, ecology, and economy JFPS 20-2-01-10
Project ID: L20AC00417
Federal Agency: Bureau of Land Management Partner Institution: University of Idaho Fiscal Year: 2020
Initial Funding: $409,298
Total Funding: $409,298
Principal Investigator: Strand, Eva Agreement Technical Representative: Jenison, Becky
Abstract:
Problem Statement. Wildfires are increasing in both size and frequency in the Great Basin, threatening valued property and native vegetation that contributes to regional economies, and provide habitat for wildlife including many sagebrush obligate species such as the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Federal, state, and private landowners in Great Basin rangelands commonly utilize fuel breaks to stop to spread of wildfire across the landscape and to protect assets at risk, including homes, infrastructure, productive land. Different types of fuel breaks are utilized either singularly or as part of a system. However, little is known about how effective the various fuel break types are in controlling fire, and what the impacts (either positive or negative) are to natural resources where the breaks are installed. We propose to evaluate the ecological and economic trade-offs created by types of fuel breaks commonly utilized in Great Basin rangelands.
Objectives. We propose to compare fire, ecological and economic metrics and outcomes of four commonly utilized methods of creating a fuel break: Brown strips – Complete removal of vegetation adjacent to major travel corridors; Mowing/grazing – removing vegetation down to 2” of height either by using livestock or mechanical means), Green strips – disking and planting with a “fire-resistant” vegetation like forage kochia or perennial grasses; and Herbicide treatments – removal of annual grasses with an herbicide adjacent to travel corridors. We propose to evaluate existing fuel breaks on BLM managed land in southern Idaho (Twin Falls District and Field Offices and state or private land near Mountain Home, ID and include new fuel breaks for the Rinker Rock Creek Ranch near Bellevue, ID).
- To evaluate effectiveness of fuels breaks at modifying fire return intervals and fire behavior. We develop metrics describing the probability of a fuel break controlling fire and measures of fire behavior based on fuels in and near the fuel breaks.
- To assess the effects of various types of fuel breaks on adjacent plant communities. We will develop metrics for evaluating the plant community composition, and potential resistance to invasion and resilience to fire in plant communities within and adjacent to existing fuel breaks.
- To evaluate whether fuel break types differ in the net economic benefits they create for rural economies. We apply results from objective 1 and 2 to develop metrics for evaluating the economic benefits of fuel breaks to rural communities.