This project aims to reduce the abundance of exotic annual grasses within the upper rogue OAK initiative project area

This $129,910.30 Cooperative Agreement award, funded by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under the Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program (CFDA 15.228), aims to reduce the abundance of exotic annual grasses within the Upper Rogue Oak Initiative project area in southwest Oregon. The Understory Initiative, a woman-owned non-profit organization, will collaborate with BLM to strategically apply prescribed burning and follow-up herbicide treatments to clear meadows of invasive grasses and thatch buildup. Following these efforts, native species seeding will be conducted to restore habitat characteristics and reduce wildfire risk. The project will utilize monitoring and data collection to evaluate treatment efficacy and inform future exotic annual grass removal initiatives in the region. This award runs from January 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028.

Currently, most of the meadows and savannas that occur within the project area are highly invaded by medusahead grass, north africa grass, and various annual bromes. These species increase the risk and rate of spread of wildfire. They also degrade habitat characteristics, such as ungulate forage and pollinator resources. Upper rogue OAK initiative partners will collaborate to time and spatially apply prescribed to clear meadows of exotic annual grasses and thatch build up. Following prescribed burning, the understory initiative will work with BLM to apply additional weed treatment to prevent short term reinvasion. Finally, seeding with appropriate native species will be conducted when exotic annual grass cover has been adequately diminished. Monitoring and experimental data collection will be utilized to report the efficacy of treatments to better inform future exotic annual grass removal efforts in southwest oregon.