Research Ecologist USGS Boise, Idaho, United States
The cheatgrass-fire cycle and demise of sagebrush landscapes has progressed in spite of extensive restoration seedings and herbicide applications in recent decades. Mixed success could be expected given variability in site conditions and weather prevailing following treatments, one-time treatment attempts, invasion pressure, resumption of grazing or reburning during recovery, incomplete knowledge of critical biotic diversity or inventory of vegetation, and unclear metrics for success given the challenges. Fortunately, many technical or agency administrative advances are addressing these obstacles and are increasingly used in treat-monitor-learn-retreat strategies, i.e. adaptive management, needed to overcome cheatgrass and wildfire impacts in the 21st century.
