Land Trust staff have been deep in post-fire recovery mode in September and early October. From visiting burned Preserves to assess and plan restoration efforts, to submitting applications for recovery funds, and sharing resources with our neighbors, we are doing our best to help our Preserves recover from the Flat and Cram Fires so they can thrive into the future. Read our updates, then watch our video to learn more:
- Whychus Canyon Preserve closure: The Land Trust has decided to keep Whychus Canyon Preserve closed through June. As we’ve shared before, there are many downed and dangerous trees throughout the trail system at the Preserve. Keeping the Preserve closed through the winter will give us the time to get in and remove current hazard trees and the new hazard trees that will continue to come down with winter storms. It will also allow us to focus on erosion control that is needed in a few places in the trail network. The good news is that the trail system is in relatively good shape, so hazard tree removal is the primary focus. This closure will also help give wildlife the refuge they need to recover and rest after a stressful summer. Thank you for continuing to respect the Preserve closure!
- Bulldozer line repair: Firefighters put in bulldozer lines as they fight fires to help slow the progress of the fire. They use heavy equipment to remove all vegetation (down to bare soil) in a path across the landscape. After the fire, these bulldozer lines need restoration, including de-compacting and leveling of soil, weed management, and native plantings or seeding. The Land Trust is working to restore bulldozer lines at Aspen Hollow Preserve by returning soils to natural conditions and seeding new native plants. At Whychus Canyon Preserve, we are also working on restoring a bulldozer line by seeding new native plants and cutting and piling trees that were taken down during the fire fighting.
- Weed management: Weeds are always a top priority after a fire since they thrive in disturbances and can easily take over native plant habitat. Initial weed management includes spraying targeted herbicides in grasslands that were impacted by the fire. We are hoping to complete these efforts in the next few weeks at both Priday Ranch and Rimrock Ranch before wet, fall weather arrives, and so we can follow with appropriately timed native plant seeding.
- Structure assessment and clean up: We’ve completed initial assessments on any structures that were lost at our Preserves. Fences were burned at Priday Ranch, Rimrock Ranch, and Whychus Canyon Preserve, and we are working with neighbors and other partners to rebuild. Several outbuildings at Rimrock Ranch were also destroyed in the fire. Staff are working with contractors to clean up and dispose of this debris in a safe manner.
- Forestry assessments: Staff have been working with forestry partners to assess and decide how to handle juniper and pine forests that were burned in the Flat Fire. At Rimrock Ranch, most of the forests on the canyon rim and slopes burned hot and tree mortality appears high. At Whychus Canyon Preserve, we are seeing a more mixed-severity burn, with some pockets of trees surviving and others not. We are working on plans for where we’ll replant ponderosa pine seedlings, where to remove some of the burned material and where to leave it standing, where to seed, and where to just leave it alone and let nature take its time and its course. We also are thinking into the future and determining where changing climatic conditions may ultimately lead to a shift in plant communities.
On a promising note, it’s been encouraging to see all the signs of regeneration at our Preserves after the fire! Native bunchgrasses and shrubs sprouting, lupine popping up from the ashes, and alder trees sending up new shoots. Nature is helping heal the scars from the fires and we are proud to help her along.
Once again, many thanks to our partners for all their hard work during the fire and with post-fire recovery! We are so grateful to have you by our side. If you would like to support the Land Trust and help our Preserves recover, please make a donation today.
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