Recovering the Rocking M

By Anna Owsiak, Regional Wildlife Biologist, Southwest Region A little over one year ago, the "Snake One" fire was extinguished, leaving 25,000 acres of burned rangeland in its wake. A large portion of the fire occurred within the Rocking M Ranch Conservation Easement Area west of Midvale along the Idaho/Oregon border. The area is familiar to many people because of its chukar and mule deer hunting, and Brownlee Reservoir fishing access. At that time, federal and state agencies, private landowners, and conservation and hunting organizations came together, pooled their resources and began working to help recover the land. Portions of the burn were seeded with grasses, forbs and sagebrush; bitterbrush and other shrubs were planted in key mule deer winter range and riparian areas, and plans were made for weed control to begin the following spring. Habitat Recovery Today, visitors to the Rocking M Ranch might not even realize that a fire had taken place. Bunchgrasses, lupines and other plants cover hillsides that were blackened just last year. In areas of low fire intensity, most native plants have re-sprouted on their own. Low intensity fire over much of the area only burned the above-ground portion - or stems and leaves of plants - leaving the plants' roots and root crowns undamaged. When spring weather conditions arrived, new growth began immediately. The passing of a fire is most evidenced by what's missing from the landscape: sagebrush and other shrubs. A short walk through the new grass, and a scan of the surrounding ground would reveal pieces of blackened wood, all that remains of burned sagebrush and other shrubs. Most dryland or "xeric" shrubs - like sagebrush and bitterbrush - do not re-sprout after a fire; they rely on seeds to become re-established. If healthy seeds are present in the soil (and were not damaged by the fire) and temperature and moisture levels are just right, they might begin to grow the following spring. Otherwise, these shrubs take decades to return on their own. To shorten this recovery time, shrub and seed planting efforts continue to be the focus of rehabilitation efforts on the Rocking M. A closer look at the landscape would reveal tiny sagebrush seedlings, only about three to four inches tall. Many of these young plants grew from seeds scattered in February when snow still blanketed much of the ground. Bitterbrush seedlings were planted in March on north facing slopes close to the reservoir in critical mule deer winter range. Here, the soil stays cooler and wetter longer into the summer than on south facing slopes, providing better conditions for the long-term growth and survival of these seedlings. It is along creeks, draws and other waterways within the Rocking M that evidence of fire is most pronounced. The blackened trunks and limbs of cottonwoods, aspens and alders stand silently, casting shadows across the ground. In many of these areas, fire intensity was not hot enough to kill their roots, allowing these and other wet area or "mesic" trees and shrubs to re-sprout. In just one growing season following the fire, many of these new sprouts are more than three feet tall. There are areas on the Rocking M where the fire intensity was hot enough to kill most of the plants. Where the brush was once thickest, almost no vegetation remains and the soil is blackened. Conditions here are very harsh, for even the soil itself has been changed by fire, making it difficult for seeds to successfully germinate and plants to survive. In these hard to recover areas, willow cuttings have been planted. Their roots grow quickly, helping to keep soil from eroding. Large woody debris in the form of burned tree trunks and large branches has also been placed in these areas, to catch and hold sediment from nearby eroding hillsides. It will take many years for plants to recover in these areas, even with concerted rehabilitation efforts. One major downside of wildfire is that it creates ideal conditions for noxious weeds to establish themselves. Acres of bare soil and little competition for water, nutrients and living space from other plants allows noxious weeds to move in and take over. As expected, a survey of the burn area this spring revealed patches of noxious weeds. However, they have not been ignored. A cooperative effort between Fish and Game, the Bureau of Land Management, Washington County Weed Control and a hired contractor resulted in many acres of noxious weeds being treated within the burn this year. In the Future Much more recovery work lies ahead to improve conditions on the Rocking M Ranch and the entire Snake One Fire area. More than 130,000 bitterbrush seedlings are being grown for planting on critical mule deer winter range in early spring 2007. Willows and other riparian shrubs will be planted again this fall in Wolf and Raft Creeks. Cooperative weed control will continue again next year. Partners for all these projects include the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Washington County Weed Control, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Deer Hunters of Idaho and private landowners, leasees and volunteers. Burn Impacts On Wildlife Walk anywhere in the burn area and you'd see that wildlife is still there. This spring, deer and elk tracks could be found along creeks and in burned timber patches. Chukars have returned to the burn area where they now enjoy plenty of grass cover in which to hide. Song birds and insects can be heard from any vantage point. Red-tailed and Swainson's hawks are frequently seen soaring across the landscape, or resting on a burned tree branch. Signs of activity from burrowing pocket gophers and other small animals can be found throughout the area. Coyote tracks are frequently seen in the dust along the roadside edge, a favorite traveling lane for these efficient predators as they hunt for mice and berries. But current habitat conditions within the burn area do not yet adequately meet the needs of wildlife. Most of the shrubs that once provided winter browse for mule deer and nesting cover for birds are no longer there. It will be several years before seedling shrubs are tall enough to provide adequate food and cover, and many more years before large patches of sagebrush and bitterbrush - capable of supporting large numbers of wintering mule deer - are present again. Berry-producing shrubs also need time to grow and mature before they can provide food for bears, ruffed grouse and wintering sharp-tailed grouse. Several growing seasons will pass before plant roots stabilize creek banks, and the overhanging branches of trees once again provide shade and cooler water temperatures for native trout. Weeds will always be an issue, requiring constant control efforts to keep them from reducing the quality of desirable plant communities. Over time, as plants grow and mature and missing habitat components slowly return, wildlife should respond to the better living conditions. Improved over-winter survival of big game, increased nesting success and reduced predator detection because of better cover are just a few of the responses that should be seen as the quality of habitat slowly improves on the Rocking M.