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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Burns, Oregon » Range and Meadow Forage Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #388440
Research Project: Restoration and Conservation of Great Basin Ecosystems

Location: Range and Meadow Forage Management Research

Title: Managing invasive annual grasses, annually: A case for more case studies

Author
item SCHROEDER, VANESSA - Oregon State University
item JOHNSON, DUSTIN - Oregon State University
item O'Connor, Rory
item CROUCH, CARTER - Burns Paiute Tribe
item DRAGT, WILLIAM - Bureau Of Land Management
item QUICKE, HAROLD - Bayer Cropscience
item SILVA, LYNNE - Bureau Of Land Management
item WOOD, DEBBIE - Crooked River Weed Management Area

Submitted to: Rangelands
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2022
Publication Date: 2/26/2022
Citation: Schroeder, V.M., Johnson, D.D., O'Connor, R.C., Crouch, C., Dragt, W.J., Quicke, H.E., Silva, L., Wood, D.J. 2022. Managing invasive annual grasses, annually: A case for more case studies. Rangelands. 44(3):210-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rala.2022.01.002.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rala.2022.01.002

Interpretive Summary: Invasive exotic annual grasses are expanding in the western United States and management of these grasses is a complex problem and requires a concerted, sustained effort from multiple stakeholders. During the High Desert Partnership/SageCon Partnership Invasive Annual Grass workshop four case studies were presented to show different methods of control for invasive annual grass and their efficacy. We learned that results from science-based case studies of real-world management issues is important information that needs to be disseminated but that currently there is no repository for this type of data. What is needed are journals and/or databases that can store this information with subsequent site data to allow other managers access to this information to make more informed decisions about treatment options.

Technical Abstract: The continued expansion of invasive annual grasses is a complex ecosystem management problem that will require a shift in focus from a discrete, single treatment approach to one of adaptive management with sustained investment. Four case studies shared at the 2020 High Desert Partnership/SageCon Partnership Invasive Annual Grass workshop provide lessons learned and opportunities to advance future management efforts that can better inform the direction for new science. Tackling this complex problem of invasive annual grass management will require an expansion of science-based case studies of real-world management efforts, strong science and management partnerships and a platform for continuous learning and communication, such as a comprehensive database to document management outcomes along with Open Access journals that allow publishing of negative and null outcomes. Until a user-friendly comprehensive management database is built, managers can utilize existing tools such as the Land Treatment Digital Library, Land Treatment Exploration Tool, and the Rangeland Analysis Platform to help understand the efficacy of invasive annual grass treatments under a variety of site and environmental conditions.