Sagebrush Steppe and Fire in Lava Lake Ranch
The Project
Faculty and students in the College of Natural Resources (CNR) are in the midst of a three-year research project studying the rangeland of Lava Lake Ranch located in Hailey, Idaho.
The Goal
The goal of this project is to investigate the rangeland characteristics, including grass, leaves and thousands of acres of sagebrush steppe. Dry by nature, this rangeland is primed for catastrophic wildfires that may burn across valuable agricultural lands as well as prime habitat. Steve Bunting, CNR professor of rangeland ecology and management, and Eva Strand, assistant professor of rangeland ecology and management, are conducting a study of the impacts of sheep grazing on sagebrush steppe. They are also monitoring the ecosystem’s fuel load variability on Lava Lake Ranch.
The Vision
Sagebrush steppe, the most widespread vegetation type in Idaho, is particularly important because it supports many other things in nature such as insects, bird populations, and grazing animals, and it’s the dominant vegetation type on Lava Lake land. Fire is a major factor in the natural history of sagebrush steppe.
“Current fuel models mistakenly assume that fuel is uniformly distributed across an area,” said Bunting. “On-the-ground observations, aerial photography and satellite remote sensing technologies tell us otherwise.”
The Impact
Data gathered from this study will be used to describe the area’s fuel amounts by different sizes at a vary fine scale and then used as input to a U.S. Forest Service fire behavior model. The fire model will calculate how quickly fire burns, the length of flames and the amount of heat generated. Through this study, the team is confident they can help range and land managers better prepare for fires and other changes to the land. Specifically, this information can benefit many private landowners who need to assess how grazing may affect fuel loads and fire behavior.
The People
Steve Bunting, CNR professor of rangeland ecology and management, Eva Strand, assistant professor of rangeland ecology and management, and other faculty members. Graduate students are also being sought for participation in this and other projects happening in Lava Lake Ranch, Idaho.
Faculty and students in the College of Natural Resources (CNR) are in the midst of a three-year research project studying the rangeland of Lava Lake Ranch located in Hailey, Idaho.
The Goal
The goal of this project is to investigate the rangeland characteristics, including grass, leaves and thousands of acres of sagebrush steppe. Dry by nature, this rangeland is primed for catastrophic wildfires that may burn across valuable agricultural lands as well as prime habitat. Steve Bunting, CNR professor of rangeland ecology and management, and Eva Strand, assistant professor of rangeland ecology and management, are conducting a study of the impacts of sheep grazing on sagebrush steppe. They are also monitoring the ecosystem’s fuel load variability on Lava Lake Ranch.
The Vision
Sagebrush steppe, the most widespread vegetation type in Idaho, is particularly important because it supports many other things in nature such as insects, bird populations, and grazing animals, and it’s the dominant vegetation type on Lava Lake land. Fire is a major factor in the natural history of sagebrush steppe.
“Current fuel models mistakenly assume that fuel is uniformly distributed across an area,” said Bunting. “On-the-ground observations, aerial photography and satellite remote sensing technologies tell us otherwise.”
The Impact
Data gathered from this study will be used to describe the area’s fuel amounts by different sizes at a vary fine scale and then used as input to a U.S. Forest Service fire behavior model. The fire model will calculate how quickly fire burns, the length of flames and the amount of heat generated. Through this study, the team is confident they can help range and land managers better prepare for fires and other changes to the land. Specifically, this information can benefit many private landowners who need to assess how grazing may affect fuel loads and fire behavior.
The People
Steve Bunting, CNR professor of rangeland ecology and management, Eva Strand, assistant professor of rangeland ecology and management, and other faculty members. Graduate students are also being sought for participation in this and other projects happening in Lava Lake Ranch, Idaho.