Vegetation Restoration and Fuels Treatments at Lava Beds National Monument
Project ID: P25AC00571
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: Oregon State University
Fiscal Year: 2025
Initial Funding: $47,000
Total Funding: $47,000
Project Type: Research
National Park: Lava Beds National Monument
Principal Investigator: Shinderman, Matt
Agreement Technical Representative: Sutphin, Emma
Abstract:
Performance Goals – This agreement will support Lava Beds National Monument’s ongoing post-fire rehabilitation efforts to restore native forbs, grasses, and shrubs to the landscape and reduce invasive plant species presence to increase wildfire resilience and meet NPS land management objectives. These goals will be accomplished through the use of OSU-Cascades Campus’ Human and Ecosystem Resilience and Sustainability Lab to store, grow, and transport native plant materials to be used in Lava Beds’ restoration efforts. OSU-C is well-positioned to complete this work, as the campus is geographically proximal to LABE, and the High Desert location shares many ecological attributes with conditions found at the Monument. Students and faculty will participate in work force development because the campus Natural Resources degree curriculum is closely aligned with the goals of this native plant propagation program.
Use of the plant materials supplied by OSU-C through seed increase and plug production, along with technical expertise provided by OSU-C staff to support site selection, treatment methodology, and ongoing monitoring, will contribute to the long-term success of post-fire rehabilitation efforts. This active management strategy will improve current conditions and reduce future wildfire risks to the 97% of Lava Beds that has experienced wildfire within the past 5 years.
Project Objectives – The overarching objectives of the work conducted under this agreement is to sustain a native plant propagation program in support of pre-fire and post-fire sagebrush ecosystem restoration activities required by NPS to preserve key vegetation elements of park natural heritage and improve ecosystem responses to future fire events, ultimately reducing future wildfire risk.
Investigators from OSU and NPS will collaborate to accomplish the following specific objectives. Note that this agreement may be modified to add future phases, subject to the availability of funding and satisfactory progress of project work.
- Establish a collaborative stewardship team of OSU students and staff and NPS park staff to guide the project, conduct the activities, and co- author any documents produced through this project.
- Sustain ongoing post-fire restoration field trials at LABE by extending monitoring of existing restoration treatment sites, modification of treatment applications to improve vegetation response, and implementation of new treatment locations to expand the treated area and generate effective, scalable restoration treatment options.
- Propagate native plants from seed collections for use in park fuels management, restoration and post-fire rehabilitation.