Range Values in the Dry Fir Range Practices Specialist April 21st, 2017 Clayton Bradley Range Practices Specialist Range Branch

Why is the Dry Fir important? Provides spring and fall grazing opportunities for livestock and is important habitat for wildlife Rangeland is a type of land which provides forage and browse for wildlife and livestock in addition to other products and values. Rangelands consist of all areas that are not barren deserts, farmed or covered by bare soil, rock, ice or concrete. These uncultivated lands provide the necessities of life for grazing and browsing animals. The IDF zone is a very important zone for grazing with a well developed understory with one of the bigger challenges being ingrowth resulting in a decreased forage supply. Range values in the dry fir: Livestock forage production and supply Resistance to invasive plants Resilience to climate change Streams and riparian areas Wildlife habitat and forage Tools to protect the values: Debris structures Off-stream watering Forage seeding Obstacle planting

Range Values in the Dry Fir Livestock forage production and supply Production is dependent on tree cover, existing plant community and moisture Supply is affected by limitations of use Open Forest: Below 150 sph typically experiences a canopy closure of 15-25%, above 150 sph is a canopy closure of 26%-40%.

Little forage, zero forage supply Moderate forage production, High forage supply Large openings: Selective harvesting that retains some canopy cover is much more preferred than very large openings. This is not only bad for forage production but also a big challenge to get successful regeneration on large openings because they are very hot and dry. High forage production, low forage supply

Range Values in the Dry Fir Resistance to Invasive Plants Tree cover makes this resistant to invasive plants We need the herb layer to supply resistance to invasive plants If this is your starting condition (few desirable large perennial grasses and forbs because there is not enough light getting to the ground), this weed resistant site will become a seed bed for weeds when the trees are removed. Weeds will take advantage of the growing space A lot of the new grasslands will come from this type of forest.

Range Values in the Dry Fir Resistance to Invasive Plants Knapweed and yarrow take over after a fire. The opening in the background remained as bunchgrass If this is your starting condition (few desirable large perennial grasses and forbs because there is not enough light getting to the ground), this weed resistant site will become a seed bed for weeds when the trees are removed. Weeds will take advantage of the growing space A lot of the new grasslands will come from this type of forest.

Range Values in the Dry Fir Adaptation to climate change Sites will be more diverse with more vigorous grass, forb and shrub layers if managed for an open canopy and will be more capable of adapting to a changing climate and catastrophic events This site will go through climate change with a minor shift to grasses

Range Values in the Dry Fir Streams and riparian areas including wetlands & lakes Severe impacts if left unprotected Consider greater basal area retention and coarse woody debris buffers Riparian values Conveyance of water from water producing ecosystems to intake Ephemeral and intermittent streams and non classified drainages will attract livestock because of soil moisture that provides higher quality forage than adjacent uplands, especially later in the season. Streams can be degraded increasing sediments and trampling banks. Water quality is a concern and healthy riparian areas are a good buffer to sediments and pollutants. Must consider forest health concerns if using CWD barriers in the dry fir.

Tools to protect values: Debris structures – use riparian protection where there is an increased probability of cattle usage Linear barriers create a fence-like structure that limits livestock entry into riparian areas. Random, criss-cross debris elevated over the stream channel limits livestock movement up and down the riparian area. This often occurs naturally due to natural decay and blowdown along riparian systems.

Tools to protect values: Off-stream watering Water holes can capture spring runoff from ditch line water and adjacent uplands to provide important water for spring use by livestock. Gravity fed troughs away from streams and riparian areas will significantly reduce the time spent by livestock in riparian areas. Water can be a limiting factor in the dry fir zone during fall use and future planning of water developments will be essential to not affect other values.

Tools to protect values: Forage seeding – trees, forage and livestock can grow on the same hectare of land, plant trees through the duff layer and not in bare mineral soil where forage will be competing for moisture and nutrients Adequate forage availability decreases the tendency for livestock to occupy riparian areas in search of forage. A more useful tool in transitory range where forage supply is a limiting factor in grazing livestock. If seeding a cutblock planting should be scheduled for the first spring following grass seeding to maximize seedling survival. They need to get established as early as possible before too much forage growth takes place. planters should target areas where grass seed is not anticipated to establish as heavily. A practical assumption is that if there is exposed mineral soil, grass will be growing. Microsites that are both protected by a physical obstacle and have the duff layer intact are preferred microsites for seedling placement. Subsequent livestock management is crucial to managing vegetative competition and minimizing the potential for seedling damage.

Tools to protect values: Obstacle planting – trampling damage is greatly reduced when trees are planted 6 inches or less from an immoveable obstacle Trees planted without the benefit of protective obstacles are at greater risk of damage and mortality. It’s not an obstacle if it’s not close to an obstacle. The best obstacles should have no vertical or lateral movement and should be at least half the height of the seedling. It’s been shown that this is not more expensive once planters have been taught how to do it, after a couple of days there was no impact to production.

Discussion & Questions