Estimating postfire changes in production and value of Northern Rocky Mountain-Intermountain rangelands

Abstract

A simulation model was developed to estimate postfire changes in the production and value of grazing lands in the Northern Rocky Mountain-Intermountain region. Ecological information and management decisions were used to simulate expected changes in production and value after wildfire in six major rangeland types: permanent forested range (ponderosa pine), transitory range (Douglas-fir, larch, lodgepole pine, western white pine), mountain grassland, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and western hardwoods. Changes varied widely in quantity and duration among the range types. The largest decrease in net value was calculated for mountain grassland ($7/acre for a 2-year period). The largest increase in net value was calculated for a ponderosa pine sawtimber stand with 100 percent basal area removal ($36/acre for a l50~year period). The estimates calculated in this study should be useful in land and fire management planning in the Northern Rocky Mountain-Intermountain area.

Citation

Peterson, David L.; Flowers, Patrick J. 1984. Estimating postfire changes in production and value of Northern Rocky Mountain-Intermountain rangelands. Res. Pap. PSW-RP-173. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 19 p.