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

alfredo.munoz@tx.usda.gov