Improving Resilience and Reducing Wildfire Risk in Pine Valley: Rocky Mountain Research Station and Dixie National Forest partnership

In a collaborative effort with USDA Forest Service Dixie National Forest, Sarah Barga, a research botanist with the Forest Service, outlines a project focused on building ecosystem resilience and resistance in Utah's Pine Valley Ranger District. A team of specialists from the Forest Service and Utah State University are examining the roles of invasive species, local vegetation, and fire history in managing this key landscape. The project launched in 2024 with initial ground truthing surveys to build out localized strategies to support the recovery of native understory plants resistant to invasives like cheatgrass and resilient to wildfire. The work underscores the significance of adapting efforts at the local level and the role of partnerships in integrating knowledge into future planning for improved management outcomes.