![\"\"](\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/3611\/files\/2019\/12\/Buttelanscape.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nContemporary Grazing in Sagebrush Country<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGrazing\nseasons of use effects on the sagebrush steppe ecosystem: <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nExtensive reduction and fragmentation of the sagebrush ecosystem\nhas generated an intense focus on how remaining intact sagebrush habitats\nshould be managed. Livestock grazing is the predominant land use in the\nsagebrush ecosystem but surprisingly, limited information is available for\nunderstanding the influence of the direct and indirect effects of common contemporary\ngrazing practices on the sagebrush\necosystem over both short and long time scales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- We are conducting a long-term replicated experiment focused on three common grazing regimes in the Great Basin: dormant season grazed, spring-defer rotationally grazed and grazing exclusion at a moderate utilization of bunchgrasses in 15-20 acre pastures. <\/li>
- Status: <\/em>Currently transitioning the project into long term monitoring after completion of one year of pre-treatment data (2017) and, 4 years of treatment application and post-treatment data collection (2018-2021). <\/li>
- Anticipated publications:<\/em>
- Influences of Moderate Levels of Rotational and Winter Grazing on Subsequent Year\u2019s Sagebrush Habitat Characteristics <\/li><\/ul>
- Sustainable Grazing Practices for Sagebrush Rangelands <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Grazing and Wild Horses<\/h3>\n\n\n\nSeason Long Horse Grazing in Sage-Grouse Habitat<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n Fourteen of Oregon\u2019s seventeen Horse Management Areas (HMAs) located in sagebrush rangelands overlap either partially or entirely with BLM\u2019s preliminary priority sage-grouse habitat, with the core distinction indicating the highest quality grouse habitat. Currently there is a high degree of uncertainty regarding wild horse grazing impacts to grouse habitat and population metrics. Preserving these core habitat areas is a top conservation priority, and we need a science-based understanding of horse impacts if we wish to mitigate any potential negative effects to grouse habitat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/3611\/files\/2019\/12\/CattleSageOSUarticle-1-300x201.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n- We have initiated a concentrated horse grazing study on private land <\/li>
- Status<\/em>: We are using a case study approach to determine the impacts of season-long (8 months\/year) horse grazing on
- Sage-grouse nesting habitat structure and composition and <\/li><\/ul>
- Currently collecting several years of pre-treatment data before applying the season long horse grazing treatment <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Restoration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While preserving intact habitat provides the highest return\non limited resources, preventing the degradation of habitats on the brink of\npersistent conversion to an undesired state is the next highest priority. These\nhabitats still provide some measure of use for wildlife and ranchers, but are\nat high risk of being lost with a single disturbance event, such as fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/3611\/files\/2019\/12\/stateC.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nRestoring habitats on the brink of persistent\ndegradation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nOne of the highest priority management challenges is restoring perennial vegetation in habitats that still have sagebrush but lack a productive and resilient understory needed to resist invasion in annual grass prone areas of the ecosystem.\u00a0 These areas often provide important connectivity between intact habitats and still potentially service certain habitat needs of sage-grouse and other sagebrush obligates.\u00a0 However, these areas are also at the highest risk for a persistent conversion to exotic annual grassland following disturbance.\u00a0 We also know the least about potential viable conservation measures for these degraded habitats. As such, we have implemented a study that is evaluating the efficacy of various pre-fire and post-fire conservation measures for restoring a perennial understory in degraded sagebrush habitats. We have applied treatments and collected several years of post-treatment monitoring. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shrub Management Techniques for Increasing Habitat Productivity and Wildfire Resilience of Depleted Wyoming Big Sagebrush Plant Communities<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/3611\/files\/2022\/02\/Johnson-Shrub-poor-understory-300x225.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWe are implementing research investigating the efficacy of varying sagebrush reduction levels, accomplished with tebuthiuron treatments, for stimulating desired perennial understory responses and improved wildfire resilience in degraded Wyoming big sagebrush rangelands. In 2021, study plots were established and baseline vegetation data were collected in summer, and shrub reduction treatments were conducted during fall. Seeding of native perennial grasses and forbs is planned for March 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fostering Collective Action through Shared Understanding of Fire Risk Factors and Outcomes in Rangeland Communities<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/3611\/files\/2022\/02\/Davies-Fire-002-300x225.jpg\")
Photo by Kirk Davies<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWe are engaging in work to help build collaborative capacity for cross-boundary wildfire risk mitigation on southeastern Oregon\u2019s rangelands by developing programming and outreach that offers a venue to create shared understanding of fire risk and outcomes among rangeland stakeholders. To do this, we first need to better understand different perceptions of fire risk factors and associated outcomes currently present among rangeland stakeholders, as well as the social and biophysical conditions that inform those perceptions. Thus, we are conducting an investigation of perceptions of wildfire risk and outcomes associated with varying rangeland fuels conditions among a diverse set of northern Great Basin sagebrush rangeland stakeholders and managers. We will leverage the common fire risk indicators and tolerance thresholds for fuels conditions learned from the investigation to establish guidance and mapping products to support fuels management decisions and associated modifications that reduce fire risk and\/or improve fire resilience on northern Great Basin rangelands. \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Maintaining the Good Due to the complex nature of the threats facing the sagebrush ecosystem, and our limited ability to restore degraded systems, we believe a top priority for conservation and research is to focus on how to \u201ckeep the good stuff good\u201d. Maintaining areas of intact sagebrush rangeland (state A) provides the greatest benefit… Continue reading
Extensive reduction and fragmentation of the sagebrush ecosystem\nhas generated an intense focus on how remaining intact sagebrush habitats\nshould be managed. Livestock grazing is the predominant land use in the\nsagebrush ecosystem but surprisingly, limited information is available for\nunderstanding the influence of the direct and indirect effects of common contemporary\ngrazing practices on the sagebrush\necosystem over both short and long time scales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- We are conducting a long-term replicated experiment focused on three common grazing regimes in the Great Basin: dormant season grazed, spring-defer rotationally grazed and grazing exclusion at a moderate utilization of bunchgrasses in 15-20 acre pastures. <\/li>
- Status: <\/em>Currently transitioning the project into long term monitoring after completion of one year of pre-treatment data (2017) and, 4 years of treatment application and post-treatment data collection (2018-2021). <\/li>
- Anticipated publications:<\/em>
- Influences of Moderate Levels of Rotational and Winter Grazing on Subsequent Year\u2019s Sagebrush Habitat Characteristics <\/li><\/ul>
- Sustainable Grazing Practices for Sagebrush Rangelands <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Grazing and Wild Horses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Season Long Horse Grazing in Sage-Grouse Habitat<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Fourteen of Oregon\u2019s seventeen Horse Management Areas (HMAs) located in sagebrush rangelands overlap either partially or entirely with BLM\u2019s preliminary priority sage-grouse habitat, with the core distinction indicating the highest quality grouse habitat. Currently there is a high degree of uncertainty regarding wild horse grazing impacts to grouse habitat and population metrics. Preserving these core habitat areas is a top conservation priority, and we need a science-based understanding of horse impacts if we wish to mitigate any potential negative effects to grouse habitat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n- We have initiated a concentrated horse grazing study on private land <\/li>
- Status<\/em>: We are using a case study approach to determine the impacts of season-long (8 months\/year) horse grazing on
- Sage-grouse nesting habitat structure and composition and <\/li><\/ul>
- Currently collecting several years of pre-treatment data before applying the season long horse grazing treatment <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Restoration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While preserving intact habitat provides the highest return\non limited resources, preventing the degradation of habitats on the brink of\npersistent conversion to an undesired state is the next highest priority. These\nhabitats still provide some measure of use for wildlife and ranchers, but are\nat high risk of being lost with a single disturbance event, such as fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nRestoring habitats on the brink of persistent\ndegradation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
One of the highest priority management challenges is restoring perennial vegetation in habitats that still have sagebrush but lack a productive and resilient understory needed to resist invasion in annual grass prone areas of the ecosystem.\u00a0 These areas often provide important connectivity between intact habitats and still potentially service certain habitat needs of sage-grouse and other sagebrush obligates.\u00a0 However, these areas are also at the highest risk for a persistent conversion to exotic annual grassland following disturbance.\u00a0 We also know the least about potential viable conservation measures for these degraded habitats. As such, we have implemented a study that is evaluating the efficacy of various pre-fire and post-fire conservation measures for restoring a perennial understory in degraded sagebrush habitats. We have applied treatments and collected several years of post-treatment monitoring. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shrub Management Techniques for Increasing Habitat Productivity and Wildfire Resilience of Depleted Wyoming Big Sagebrush Plant Communities<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWe are implementing research investigating the efficacy of varying sagebrush reduction levels, accomplished with tebuthiuron treatments, for stimulating desired perennial understory responses and improved wildfire resilience in degraded Wyoming big sagebrush rangelands. In 2021, study plots were established and baseline vegetation data were collected in summer, and shrub reduction treatments were conducted during fall. Seeding of native perennial grasses and forbs is planned for March 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fostering Collective Action through Shared Understanding of Fire Risk Factors and Outcomes in Rangeland Communities<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Photo by Kirk Davies<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n We are engaging in work to help build collaborative capacity for cross-boundary wildfire risk mitigation on southeastern Oregon\u2019s rangelands by developing programming and outreach that offers a venue to create shared understanding of fire risk and outcomes among rangeland stakeholders. To do this, we first need to better understand different perceptions of fire risk factors and associated outcomes currently present among rangeland stakeholders, as well as the social and biophysical conditions that inform those perceptions. Thus, we are conducting an investigation of perceptions of wildfire risk and outcomes associated with varying rangeland fuels conditions among a diverse set of northern Great Basin sagebrush rangeland stakeholders and managers. We will leverage the common fire risk indicators and tolerance thresholds for fuels conditions learned from the investigation to establish guidance and mapping products to support fuels management decisions and associated modifications that reduce fire risk and\/or improve fire resilience on northern Great Basin rangelands. \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Maintaining the Good Due to the complex nature of the threats facing the sagebrush ecosystem, and our limited ability to restore degraded systems, we believe a top priority for conservation and research is to focus on how to \u201ckeep the good stuff good\u201d. Maintaining areas of intact sagebrush rangeland (state A) provides the greatest benefit… Continue reading
- Currently collecting several years of pre-treatment data before applying the season long horse grazing treatment <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Sage-grouse nesting habitat structure and composition and <\/li><\/ul>
- Sustainable Grazing Practices for Sagebrush Rangelands <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Anticipated publications:<\/em>