Wildfire and invasive species in the west: challenges that hinder current and furture management and protection of the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem

Authors: MAYER, KENNETH - Non ARS Employee; ANDERSON, PETE - Nevada Division Of Forestry; CHAMBERS, JEANNE - Us Forest Service (FS); Boyd, Chad; CHRISTIANSEN, TOM - Wyoming Department Of Game & Fish; DAVIS, DAWN - Oregon Department Of Fish & Wildlife; ESPINOSA, SHAWN - Nevada Department Of Wildlife; HAVLINA, DOUGLAS - Bureau Of Land Management; IELMINI, MIKE - Us Forest Service (FS); KEMNER, D. - Idaho Department Of Fish & Game; KURTH, LAURIE - Us Forest Service (FS); MAESTAS, JEREMY - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA); MEALOR, BRIAN - University Of Wyoming; MILESNECK, T - Bureau Of Land Management; NIELL, L. - State Of Nevada; PELLANT, MIKE - Bureau Of Land Management; PYKE, DAVID - Us Geological Survey (USGS); TAGUE, JOE - Bureau Of Land Management; VERNON, J. - Utah Division Of Wildlife Resources

Submitted to: Government Publication/Report
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2013
Publication Date: 12/2/2013
Citation: Mayer, K.E., Anderson, P., Chambers, J.C., Boyd, C.S., Christiansen, T., Davis, D., Espinosa, S., Havlina, D., Ielmini, M., Kemner, D., Kurth, L., Maestas, J.D., Mealor, B., Milesneck, T., Niell, L., Pellant, M., Pyke, D.A., Tague, J., Vernon, J. 2013. Wildfire and invasive species in the west: challenges that hinder current and furture management and protection of the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem. [A Gap Report].Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Cheyenne, Wyoming. 61 p.

Interpretive Summary: Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) to satisfy the 45-day report requirement identified in Cooperative Agreement (F13AC00353) between WAFWA and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) submit this “Gap Report”. This report summarizes the policy, fiscal and science challenges that land managers encounter related to the control and reduction of the invasive plant/fire complex, especially as it relates to the threaten or endangered species listing status of the Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). While this Gap Report identifies 22 technical, policy, planning and funding gaps, it should be considered a “work in-progress”. To address this effort a Wildfire/Invasive Initiative Work Group (WG) was formed. The WG consist of nationally recognized experts in fire ecology, Sage-grouse ecology and management, range management and plant ecology. The WG developed this Gap Report and will be developing the final report for this Cooperative Agreement. Thus, as the WG evaluates the wildfire/invasive issue and makes recommendation to address scientific and management shortcomings, additional gaps will be identified and included in the final report. Within this report, the WG has suggested the top 5 gaps. However, the actual priority of what should be addressed first will depend on the significance and sequence of the limiting factor, available funding, current work, roles and responsibilities of the specific agencies, etc.

Technical Abstract: Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) to satisfy the 45-day report requirement identified in Cooperative Agreement (F13AC00353) between WAFWA and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) submit this “Gap Report”. This report summarizes the policy, fiscal and science challenges that land managers encounter related to the control and reduction of the invasive plant/fire complex, especially as it relates to the threaten or endangered species listing status of the Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). While this Gap Report identifies 22 technical, policy, planning and funding gaps, it should be considered a “work in-progress”. To address this effort a Wildfire/Invasive Initiative Work Group (WG) was formed. The WG consist of nationally recognized experts in fire ecology, Sage-grouse ecology and management, range management and plant ecology. The WG developed this Gap Report and will be developing the final report for this Cooperative Agreement. Thus, as the WG evaluates the wildfire/invasive issue and makes recommendation to address scientific and management shortcomings, additional gaps will be identified and included in the final report. Within this report, the WG has suggested the top 5 gaps. However, the actual priority of what should be addressed first will depend on the significance and sequence of the limiting factor, available funding, current work, roles and responsibilities of the specific agencies, etc.