Study area was the 2003 Strawberry Hill Wildfire. This area was aerially seeded using Kamloops blue tag mix – the seed mixes have been revised and changed since 2003 version
Invasive plants can change fuel properties. For example, cheatgrass can grow really quickly and shorten the period of time between the next fire, altering fire cycles.
Most seeded species established as expected and there was some persistence, except for Timothy. There were unexpected species – smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass; these seeds could have come in through contaminated seed.
Invasive plants were higher in unseeded control, suggesting that seeding of agronomics can be effective at blocking early wind borne invaders
Forage production was similar when taking into account the forage provided by native plant community. The seeded plant community was different, especially when looking at forbs versus grasses
When deciding to seed, consider your objectives, choose the species wisely, consider timing
This media record is part of a series:
Crown of the Continent Forum 2021
The Crown Managers Partnership partnered with the Northern Rockies Fire Science Network and others to bring you the 2021 Fire in the Crown of the Continent Forum, which was held virtually from March 22nd to March 26th.
The Crown Managers Partnership is a multi-jurisdictional partnership among federal, state, provincial, tribal, and first nation agency managers and universities in Montana, Alberta, and British Columbia. Annual forums facilitate networking opportunities, build collaboration, and deepen understanding of common issues in the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem.
View the Forum Report (in the Files block) with summaries from presentations and special sessions (published November 2021).