In the western united states, the increasing severity of wildfires and consequent impacts to human and natural systems necessitate increased attention to minimizing undesirable post-fire effects

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management, through the Joint Fire Science Program (CFDA 15.232), awarded a $490,274 Cooperative Agreement to Colorado State University. The goal of this multi-year project is to assess the tools, methodologies, and governance practices that can be used to mitigate the impacts of large wildfires in the western United States, such as watershed impairment and habitat recovery for critical species. The research will involve a literature review, key informant interviews across 11 western states, and case studies focused on issues like debris flows, flooding, invasive species, and forest management practices. This project is designed to provide comprehensive information to government agencies, non-profits, and researchers on the current state of pre-fire planning resources and governance models that can support communities in preparing for and recovering from the effects of large-scale wildfires. The University of Oregon will contribute to the qualitative data collection and science-sharing efforts under this Cooperative Agreement as a sub-awardee.

While a considerable body of work has focused on pre-fire management and governance for fire hazard reduction in general, deficiencies remain regarding the characterization of the available tools and methodologies that address specific post-fire effects such as watershed impairment or habitat recovery for specific species. Moreover, there is much to be learned regarding the governance conditions that support pre-fire actions to mitigate post-fire impacts across different land ownerships. Our study will assess these questions through a multi-stage research process that incorporates: 1) an indepth literature review of peer-reviewed, agency, and non-governmental resources, 2) key-informant interviews with individuals from across the 11 western states, and 3) multiple case studies in sub-state regions where various tools, methodologies, or practices have been implemented in response to or anticipation of large wildfire incidents. We will examine resources focused on 1) watershed impacts (i.e., debris flows, flooding, threats to infrastructure, water quality degradation, water supply impairment), 2) habitat resilience for critical species, 3) invasive species mitigation, and 4) broader forest management practices intended to reduce the intensity and extent of wildfire. This research is designed to provide multiple beneficial outcomes for the wildfire response and recovery community in the western U.S. First, IT will comprehensively frame the current state of pre-fire planning resources in the western U.S. That are available for practitioners focused on post-wildfire forest ecosystems and watershed recovery. Second, this assessment will benefit government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and researchers alike to better understand the slate of tools that are currently available, where cross-application of existing individual tools may provide synergistic applications in pre-fire planning, and insight from practitioners regarding the types of future tools and planning needed to mitigate the impacts of wildfire in the coming decades. Third, this research will elucidate the governance actions that have facilitated the development and use of pre-wildfire tools and resources in specific case study areas. Such lessons in collaboration can serve as governance models for other western U.S. Communities or regions that seek to pre-emptively plan and prepare for the impacts of future large-scale wildfires.