Description: The opportunistic encroachment of native pinyon and juniper trees into areas formerly dominated by sagebrush has reduced the presence of shrubs and grasses, impacting critical habitat and forage availability. Pinyon and juniper currently occupy 19 million hectares in the Intermountain West. Prior to 1860, it is estimated that 2/3 of pinyon and juniper woodlands were sagebrush communities. This presentation will give an overview of the Porter Canyon Experimental Watershed, where tree-felling treatments are being studied. Porter Canyon is located in central Nevada in the Desatoya Mountains. A network of sensors has been installed in the canyon to measure hydrologic and vegetation responses. The effects of tree presence versus absence on the components of the water budget will be addressed.
What: SageSTEP scientists have now collected 6 years of post-treatment data on 20 sites throughout the Great Basin, and now have a fairly certain understanding of short-term vegetation response to fire and mechanical treatments on at about half of those sites.