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Journal of the International Association of Wildland Fire
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Utah juniper and two-needle piñon reduction alters fuel loads

Kert R. Young A D , Bruce A. Roundy A , Stephen C. Bunting B and Dennis L. Eggett C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA.

B Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences Department, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA.

C Department of Statistics, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA.

D Corresponding author. Email: youngke1@msn.com

International Journal of Wildland Fire 24(2) 236-248 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF13163
Submitted: 27 September 2013  Accepted: 16 September 2014   Published: 3 February 2015

Abstract

Juniper (Juniperus spp.) and piñon (Pinus spp.) trees have encroached millions of hectares of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.)–bunchgrass communities. Juniper–piñon trees are treated to reduce canopy fuel loads and crown fire potential. We measured the effects of juniper–piñon infilling and fuel-reduction treatments on fuel load characteristics at four locations in Utah. At each location, treatment areas were burned, left untreated, or trees were cut or masticated in a randomised complete-block design. We measured standing and downed fuels by size and type along 30-m transects on 15 subplots (30 × 33 m) per location before and 1–3 years after treatment. Increased tree cover was associated with decreased shrub and herbaceous fuel loads (P < 0.01). By 2 years post-treatment, herbaceous fuel loads were greater than pretreatment in all treated areas (P < 0.01). Cut and mastication treatments increased surface woody 10- and 100-h fuel loads and wood/bark cover (P < 0.01). Masticated-tree depth was a good estimator of fuel loads (R2 = 92). The conversion of canopy fuels to surface fuels reduced fuels that enable crown fire and extreme fire intensity. Cool-season prescribed fire may need to follow mechanical treatments to reduce surface fuel and the potential for wildfire damage to perennial understorey vegetation.

Additional keywords: fire, mulch, resilience, resistance, resource availability, weed invasion.


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