Oasis Fire Pipeline Spring 2011 Soil and Vegetation effects of Oasis Wildfire followed by drought Alfredo Muñoz Rangeland Management Specialist Natural Resources Conservation Service

How to stop it?

Extreme climatic conditions, especially low RH%

What we were left with.

Misleading Information “The effects of wildfires are similar to the effects of prescribed burning” “Fire never causes the death of grass plants” “Fire is natural, therefore these wildfires should not be viewed as such a bad thing”

How Much Grass Has Died? How Much Grass Has Survived? The Biggest Question:

Charred grass stump

Dr. Henry Wright

Prescribed Burning and Wildfire are Completely Different

Grass Response to Fire (Fire Ecology; Wright and Bailey) Most species of short grass are harmed by fire during a dry year. Most species of short grass are harmed by fire during a dry year. Following a spring wildfire, when soil was dry, recovery took three growing seasons. Following a spring wildfire, when soil was dry, recovery took three growing seasons. Recovery was 35%, 62% and 97% following the 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd growing seasons. Recovery was 35%, 62% and 97% following the 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd growing seasons.

The rhizomatous form of sideoats is almost always reduced 40% to 50% by fire during dry years and may require three years for full recovery. The rhizomatous form of sideoats is almost always reduced 40% to 50% by fire during dry years and may require three years for full recovery. It tolerates fire reasonably well during exceptionally wet years with no significant reduction in yield. It tolerates fire reasonably well during exceptionally wet years with no significant reduction in yield. As long as soil moisture is adequate, vine-mesquite, Arizona cottontop, plains bristlegrass, Texas cupgrass, bunchgrass sideoats and meadow dropseed thrive after fire. As long as soil moisture is adequate, vine-mesquite, Arizona cottontop, plains bristlegrass, Texas cupgrass, bunchgrass sideoats and meadow dropseed thrive after fire. Grass Response (Wright and Bailey)

Texas wintergrass is severely harmed by sweeping hot fires but increases following creeping cool fires. Texas wintergrass is severely harmed by sweeping hot fires but increases following creeping cool fires. Fire will cause little bluestem to decrease as much as 58% during dry years or increase as much as 81% during wet years. Fire will cause little bluestem to decrease as much as 58% during dry years or increase as much as 81% during wet years. Tobosagrass is severely harmed by burning during dry years but will recover fully by the end of the third growing season. Tobosagrass is severely harmed by burning during dry years but will recover fully by the end of the third growing season. If the soil is moist at time of burning, tobosagrass yield is two or three times higher than unburned areas. If the soil is moist at time of burning, tobosagrass yield is two or three times higher than unburned areas.

Following wildfire in a dry year, the cover and yield of following grasses were reduced: big bluestem, little bluestem, hairy grama, sideoats grama, buffalograss, blue grama. Following wildfire in a dry year, the cover and yield of following grasses were reduced: big bluestem, little bluestem, hairy grama, sideoats grama, buffalograss, blue grama. Bush muhly and black grama is seriously harmed by fire, especially in dry years Bush muhly and black grama is seriously harmed by fire, especially in dry years Grass Response (Wright and Bailey)

It all depends on rainfall

Perennial grasses survival ranged from 0 to 28% in some areas

The Biggest Risk: Soil Erosion Edwards Plateau Wildfire: 7 – 10 Tons per acre over 2.5 year Period over 2.5 year Period

Power and energy of a single raindrop.

Soil Erosion after significant Rainfall Bottom of hills

Erosion since fire

Grass Impacts – East Amarillo Complex Fire March 2006; 888,000 Acres (Rangeland Ecology and Mgt; Jan. 2011) 11 Ranches; 3 Counties Bad News / Good News Bad News: Grass mortality was 7x higher on burned sites in fall 2006 for short grass sites (primarily blue grama and buffalograss) Grass mortality was 7x higher on burned sites in fall 2006 for short grass sites (primarily blue grama and buffalograss) Grass mortality was 4x higher on burned sites in fall 2006 for mid grass sites (primarily sideoats grama, little bluestem, sand dropseed) Grass mortality was 4x higher on burned sites in fall 2006 for mid grass sites (primarily sideoats grama, little bluestem, sand dropseed)

Grass Impacts – East Amarillo Complex Fire Good News: Grass productivity was not harmed by the wildfire in 2006, 2007 or Grass productivity was not harmed by the wildfire in 2006, 2007 or Fewer living grass plants provided increased compensatory growth. Fewer living grass plants provided increased compensatory growth. Grass density increased by the end of 2008 but was still measurably lower than non-burned areas. Grass density increased by the end of 2008 but was still measurably lower than non-burned areas.

Context: Rainfall for first 6 months after fire = 15” Rainfall for first 6 months after fire = 15” Rainfall for three years following the fire was average to above average. Rainfall for three years following the fire was average to above average. Fire was primarily a grassland fire not a juniper fire Fire was primarily a grassland fire not a juniper fire Grass Impacts – East Amarillo Complex Fire

Monitoring Grass Mortality on Wildcat Fire Shallow Sites: 72% Dead Low Stony Hill Sites: 91% Dead Steep Rocky Sites: 100% Dead

Monitoring Grass / Forb Seedlings on Wildcat Fire Shallow Sites: 92 / Square Foot Low Stony Hill Sites: 118 / Square Foot Steep Rocky Sites: 57 / Square Foot Steep Rocky (Cedar) 10 / Square Foot

Large mature trees; are they dead?

Make no mistake, these fires not only present some heartburn over potential impact to wildlife and wildlife habitat, it also sends a lot of business up in smoke as well. Make no mistake, these fires not only present some heartburn over potential impact to wildlife and wildlife habitat, it also sends a lot of business up in smoke as well. The whitetail hunting business has been in a tailspin over the last few years. These fires certainly do not help the cause at all. The whitetail hunting business has been in a tailspin over the last few years. These fires certainly do not help the cause at all. We recently cancelled all hunts that we had booked on two ranches. We recently cancelled all hunts that we had booked on two ranches. Comments from Wildcat Fire Tom Green and Coke Co, April 2011

Comments from Wildcat Fire Worst Losses--- Grand live oak trees, native pecans, lots of grass (feed), fences and deer stands. Grand live oak trees, native pecans, lots of grass (feed), fences and deer stands. Best Losses--- Raccoons, porcupines, skunks, and hopefully anything else that eats a quail as well as dead brush from previous years grubbing and maybe even some of the fences. Raccoons, porcupines, skunks, and hopefully anything else that eats a quail as well as dead brush from previous years grubbing and maybe even some of the fences.

No doubt, over the past 500 years, our range land in West Texas has suffered similar fires. So the eventual recovery is assured.... No doubt, over the past 500 years, our range land in West Texas has suffered similar fires. So the eventual recovery is assured.... but will any of us live to see it? Comments from Wildcat Fire 65 Year Old Rancher:

On the Positive Side: Greatly reduced pricklypear cover; tasajillo control Greatly reduced cedar cover Control of blueberry cedar Control of young redberry cedar Improved browse availability (after initial regrowth) Enhanced use of low value browse Persimmon, whitebrush, algerita Enhanced nutritional value of browse Removal of dead slash Reductions of varmints The land will recover

On the Negative Side: Ground is bare; Soil is vulnerable to erosion Infiltration reduced; Runoff is increased Possible (probable) death of grasses – extent unknown Loss of woody cover for deer and other wildlife Loss of nest cover for birds; fawning cover for deer Loss of mesquite beans, acorns, pear apples Reduced deer populations (depending on location) Turkey roost impacts Increased vulnerability to predation Marketing of hunting (drought + fire) Possible toxic plant problems if grazing Economic impact

Opportunities: Re-configure fences to better accommodate grazing mgt Monitor grass recovery Chronicle range recovery Photo points Install cages to monitor regrowth Mini plot irrigation Enhanced aerial predator control Monitor deer population: spotlight; helicopter; trail camera Aerial seeding (depending on grass recovery) Broadcast seed native grass and forb on rocky areas

Three Things for Certain: The short term impact is extreme The short term impact is extreme The grass and the game will recover eventually The grass and the game will recover eventually Recovery will depend on rainfall Recovery will depend on rainfall

Littleleaf lead tree Hackberry Prickly ash Shin oak resprouts

Texas snoutbean Trailing ratany Orange zexmania Bush sunflower with root system

The end Thank you for your attention Alfredo Muñoz Rangeland Management Specialist Natural Resources Conservation Service 522 Main Street Junction, TX (325)