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Rangeland
Weed Management - Developing
a burned-area IWM plan
Noxious weeds
are likely to become established in many burned areas because fire-produced
disturbances favor weed colonization. Rapid weed reestablishment
and exponential growth is likely when weed survival is coupled with
disturbances such as the flush of nutrients, exposed ground surfaces,
and low shade with high light conditions. An effective burned-area
IWM plan can help prevent weed invasion and further the reestablishment
of desired plants.
An IWM plan
for a burned area requires more steps, and more coordination, than
a standard IWM plan. For instance, when weed management occurs immediately
following the fire (typically during the fall months), burn severity
and pre-burn weed and desired plant cover should be determined or
estimated. This information helps the manager decide whether to
revegetate. If revegetation is determined to be necessary, a fall-dormant
broadcast reseeding effort during the fall or winter following the
fire is a good idea. When the need for revegetation wasn’t
determined immediately following the fire, the manager should base
a burned-area IWM plan on the assumption that noxious weeds were
present, and may also assume rapid and expanded weed growth. The
plan would be implemented in the spring, and would be followed by
a fall-dormant seeding if the desired plant cover is inadequate.
Monitoring and annually evaluating the site allows the manager to
determine the adequacy of the plan and to adapt it as needed.
Appendix
C is a schematic or flowchart of a decision-making process that
can help a manager prepare a burned-area IWM plan.
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