Bromus tectorum cover mapping and fire risk

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Contents Vol 15(1)

doi:10.1071/WF05001

Bromus tectorum cover mapping and fire risk

Steven O. Link ^A ^D, Carson W. Keeler ^B, Randal W. Hill ^B, Eric Hagen ^C

^A School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University Tri-Cities, 2710 University Drive, Richland, WA 99354, USA.
^B Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, PO Drawer F, Othello, WA 99344, USA.
^C Hanford Reach National Monument/Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, 3250 Port of Benton Boulevard, Richland, WA 99354, USA.
^D Corresponding author. Email: slink@tricity.wsu.edu





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International Journal of Wildland Fire 15(1) 113–119 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WF05001
Submitted: 10 January 2005 Accepted: 19 August 2005 Published online: 6 March 2006

Abstract

Fire risk in western North America has increased with increasing cover of Bromus tectorum, an invasive alien annual grass. The relationship between B. tectorum cover and fire risk was determined in a historically burned Artemisia tridentata-Poa secunda shrub–steppe community where B. tectorum cover ranged from 5 to 75%. Fire risk ranged from ~46% with an average of 12% B. tectorum cover to 100% when B. tectorum cover was greater than 45% based on prediction confidence limits. Reflectance of the green and red bands of aerial photographs were related to senescent B. tectorum cover to create fine resolution B. tectorum cover and fire risk maps. This assessment technique will allow land managers to prioritize lands for restoration to reduce fire risk in the shrub-steppe.

Keywords: aerial photography; fire probability; ignition; perennials; soil cryptogams.