Skip to main content

FRAMES logo
Resource Catalog

Document

Type: Journal Article
Author(s): K. N. Dalldorf; Sherman R. Swanson; Donald F. Kozlowski; Kirsten M. Schmidt; R. S. Shane; G. Fernandez
Publication Date: 2013

In 1999–2001 wildfires burned 1.13 million ha across northern Nevada, burning through many grazed riparian areas. With increases in wildfire frequency and extent predicted throughout the Great Basin, an understanding of the interactive effects of wildfire, livestock grazing, and natural hydrologic characteristics is critical. A comparison of pre- and postfire stream surveys provided a unique opportunity to statistically assess changes in stream survey attributes at 43 burned and 38 unburned streams. Livestock grazing variables derived from an extensive federal grazing allotment inventory were used to identify interactive effects of grazing strategies, fire, and natural stressors across 81 independent riparian areas. Differences between baseline and 'postfire' stream survey attributes were evaluated for significance using the nonparametric Mann–Whitney test for paired data. Binary logistic regression models evaluated the influence of fire, grazing, and hydrologic characteristics on observed stream survey attribute changes. Grazing attributes contributed most significantly to the bankfull width increase and bank stability rating decrease models. The odds of bankfull width degradation (increase in bankfull width) decreased where there had been rest is some recent years compared to continuous grazing. As the number of days grazed during the growing season increased, the odds of bank stability degradation also increased. The occurrence of fire was not significant in any model. Variation in the riparian width model was attributed primarily to hydrologic characteristics, not grazing. For the models in which grazing variables played a role, stream survey attributes were more likely to improve over time when coupled with a history of rotational grazing and limited duration of use during the growing season. This supports long-term riparian functional recovery through application of riparian complementary grazing strategies. © 2013 by the Society for Range Management. Abstract reproduced by permission.

Online Links
Citation: Dalldorf, K. N., S. R. Swanson, D. F. Kozlowski, K. M. Schmidt, R. S. Shane, and G. Fernandez. 2013. Influence of livestock grazing strategies on riparian response to wildfire in northern Nevada. Rangeland Ecology & Management, v. 66, no. 1, p. 34-42. 10.2111/REM-D-11-00065.1.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Keywords:
  • Alnus incana
  • antelope bitterbrush
  • Artemisia
  • Betula occidentalis
  • Carex
  • Chrysothamnus
  • Cornus sericea
  • fire frequency
  • fire management
  • fire size
  • forest management
  • Fremont cottonwood
  • gray alder
  • grazing
  • grazing history
  • hydrology
  • Juncus
  • livestock
  • logistic regression
  • national forests
  • Nevada
  • Populus fremontii
  • Populus tremuloides
  • post fire recovery
  • Purshia tridentata
  • quaking aspen
  • rabbitbrush
  • red osier dogwood
  • riparian habitats
  • rushes
  • sagebrush
  • Salix
  • season of fire
  • sedges
  • statistical analysis
  • stream survey
  • streams
  • water birch
  • watershed management
  • watersheds
  • wildfires
  • willow
Tall Timbers Record Number: 28019Location Status: In-fileCall Number: Journals -- RAbstract Status: Fair use, Okay, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 51202

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.