Improved understanding of relationships between vegetation, fuels, fire history, and species habitats in the upper gunnison basin (UGB) is needed in order to plan and monitor fuels reductions…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under the BLM Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities (CFDA 15.228) provides $110,000 to Western Colorado University to conduct applied research related to vegetation, fuels, fire history, and species habitats in the Upper Gunnison Basin. The key products and services include: 1) Assessing the effects of recent fire activity and fuels management treatments on Gunnison sage-grouse habitat use, and 2) Characterizing fire regime departures, fuels, and vegetation in sagebrush and forest ecosystems. The research will be completed between August 2023 and August 2028, with deliverables including written reports, presentations to BLM staff, and scientific publications. The BLM Gunnison Field Office is the direct beneficiary, with expected benefits to the surrounding communities in the Upper Gunnison Basin and improved science to support land management in the western U.S.

Improved understanding of relationships between vegetation, fuels, fire history, and species habitats in the upper gunnison basin (UGB) is needed in order to plan and monitor fuels reductions treatments and prescribed fire. Here, we proposed to conduct applied research synergistic with BLM management goals in sagebrush and forest ecosystems focusing on 1) effects of recent fire activity and fuels management treatments on gunnison sage-grouse habitat use, and 2) characterization of fire regime departures, fuels, and vegetation in sagebrush and forest systems. These activities build directly on prior research partnerships and follow a CO-production model. Projects will be completed during the period 2023-2028. Deliverables include written reports and presentations to agency staff and scientific publications. The BLM gunnison field office (BLM-GFO) will be the direct beneficiary, with attendant benefits to communities in the UGB, and improved science for land management in the western US.