Non-Native Invasions Following Fire in Southwestern Colorado: Long-Term Effectiveness of Mitigation Treatments and Future Predictions

摘要

Measured effects of prescribed fire and fuels treatments are small and/or non-detectable under normal weather and standard operating conditions: Without large storm events in the first three years after prescribed fire, measured erosion rates were very low and there were no significant differences in hillslope erosion between burned and unburned plots. The significant relationship between bare ground and erosion rates, however, demonstrated the role of soil cover in controlling surface erosion. The hillslope area contributing sediment to the erosion fences was very small, extending no more than a few meters upslope of the fence apron. For the most part, erosion resulted from bioturbation by small mammals and elk. In general, current riparian buffer design criteria (no ignition within riparian, only allowing fires to back into riparian areas) appear effective in preventing hillslope sediment from entering riparian areas and delivering to streams.