Forest Service Podcast

In a study led by Katie Driscoll, two stream restoration techniques were evaluated for their effectiveness in recovering degraded riparian ecosystems. The research focused on the use of Beaver Dam Analogs and plug-in ponds to address issues caused by channel incision and lowered water tables due to livestock overgrazing. By analyzing plant traits, the study aimed to assess changes in community composition and the overall success of the restoration efforts. While both techniques showed promise in raising water tables and enhancing plant cover, they alone may not fully restore ecosystem functions. The findings highlight the importance of trait-based analysis as a cost-effective method for monitoring stream restoration.

The video highlights the importance of science in managing ponderosa pine ecosystems, particularly regarding fire dynamics. It discusses how historical fire patterns, characterized by frequent low and mixed severity fires, have been altered by fire suppression since European settlement. Chris Suhar's synthesis of various studies reveals that while frequent fires were common, high severity fires were rare. The current state of these forests, now overcrowded with shade-tolerant species, poses a greater risk for deadly crown fires. The synthesis of research provides valuable insights for effective land management and fire prevention strategies.

The Wildfire Research (WiRē) team, supported by USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, is no stranger to engaging with residents and communities in fire-prone areas. They’ve been at it for over a decade— regularly refining their approach to reach the most people. Still, midway through a project in Lake County, Colorado, the WiRē team received almost no survey responses from households in three mobile home communities.

In a field that is hyper-focused on efficiency and cost savings, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling — or detecting fish and wildlife from traces of genetic material in the environment — has become the gold standard. Over the last decade, eDNA sampling has emerged as a powerful and cost-effective tool for national forests to obtain the data they need to make management decisions. Now, Forest Service scientists have created “biochips” that generate these high-value data even more efficiently, buoying the value of eDNA monitoring capacity far into the future.

In forests across the western United States, large, severe wildfires are creating treeless patches that are unlikely to reforest naturally due to a lack of seed sources and a warming climate. Active reforestation through tree planting has the potential to help forest ecosystems recover after wildfire.

Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread.

Spotted owls benefit from forest restoration in the Sierra Nevada.

Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread.

Fire exclusion has prevailed for over one hundred years in the wilderness of the United States. Rocky Mountain Research Station scientists have put together a framework that shows the long-term and escalating consequences of this practice and make the argument for a return to human-ignited fire for its important ecological and cultural roles in our wilderness. Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread.

Riparian ecosystems support many species and tend to be vulnerable to change and disturbance. These regions between land and a river or stream are the focus of a new General Technical Report from the Rocky Mountain Research Station. This report provides a "matrix" that guides users though the restoration process and aids with decision-making. This product will help simplify and streamline restoration of these important areas.

Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread.

What plants can survive fire, can displace native plants, and are difficult to manage? Among others are these eight nonnative species in the western United States: buffelgrass, cutleaf blackberry, diffuse knapweed, Himalayan blackberry, Sahara mustard, spotted knapweed, ventenata, and yellow starthistle. Unfortunately, one of the reasons that invasive plants are so hard to manage is because there is no one-size-fits-all approach—each species has its own tricks enabling it to thrive and wreak havoc.

Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread.

Federal land managers are asked to meet diverse goals ranging from sustainable resource management to social equity. To encourage conversations around how to meet these goals, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute (ALWRI) Research Social Scientist, Dr. Lauren Redmore, recently teamed up with Dr. Aby Sène-Harper, an assistant professor of Parks and Conservation Area Management at Clemson University, as guest editors for a special issue of the International Journal of Wilderness, now... read more

Federal land managers are asked to meet diverse goals ranging from sustainable resource management to social equity. To encourage conversations around how to meet these goals, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute (ALWRI) Research Social Scientist, Dr. Lauren Redmore, recently teamed up with Dr. Aby Sène-Harper, an assistant professor of Parks and Conservation Area Management at Clemson University, as guest editors for a special issue of the International Journal of Wilderness, now available open access. The issue, themed “Wilderness for a Diverse America”, features contributed articles from emerging and established professionals, ranging from US federal agency and non-profit representatives to academic researchers, who contemplate what wilderness means for a country in progress. Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread.   show less

The Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools program (LANDFIRE) is a multi-agency (U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and U.S. Department of the Interior) national geospatial suite of datasets. Born from the Congressional National Fire Plan in support of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, LANDFIRE’s prototype was launched in 2002. Chartered by the Wildland Fire Leadership Council in 2004, this year the program celebrates 20 years of applied science.

Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread

An extreme multi-year drought with extensive bark beetle outbreaks in California from 2012 to 2016 killed an estimated 147 million trees. This included ponderosa pine, incense cedar, white fir, and pinyon pine, rapidly changing forests over vast areas. Recently published work by Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) researchers Sharon Hood and Charlotte Reed found that major tree mortality events like these increase surface and canopy fuels - dead needles, branches, and logs - which may result in more extreme forest fires and increased emissions when these areas burn. Drought often triggers bark beetle outbreaks in forests, where low moisture can stress trees and make it easier for beetles to kill them.

Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread

The video discusses the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in the Sonoran Desert scrub communities, which are particularly vulnerable due to their unique plant species. It highlights the challenges faced by long-lived plants like the saguaro, which are not adapted to recover from fire, and the role of invasive species like buffelgrass that exacerbate fire risks. Mary Lotta, a fire ecologist, emphasizes the need for updated land management strategies to address these changes, including the importance of fuels management to mitigate fire hazards. The video also references recent publications and resources that aid in understanding and managing fire effects in these ecosystems.

Rangelands worldwide are essential for carbon sequestration, water retention, and habitat to name a few critical benefits. Prescribed fire is used to benefit vegetation and soil and reduce fuels on rangeland sites. What hasn’t been clear is how burning on rangelands may affect microbes in the soil, which are responsible for breaking down woody material. Also missing was an understanding of how the insects that typically call rangelands home respond to these burns.

Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread

Livestock grazing is a common use of rangelands that can be managed to support rangeland health, including the wide array of ecosystem services that benefit society from public lands and private lands. This requires careful allocation of naturally occurring forage on large landscapes for both domestic and wild herbivores. Managers know grazing can sustain rangeland health as long as they time it right and balance the duration, frequency, and intensity of the grazing. However, forage production on a single area or landscape varies significantly from year to year, which, until recently, has limited the accuracy of data available to managers when they make decisions about grazing.

More than 100 years of fire exclusion, logging, grazing, and other human activities have contributed to uncharacteristically high tree densities in the dry conifer forests of the western United States. Mechanical forest treatments using heavy machinery or chainsaws to remove trees are being used widely to create a more open and diverse overstory, especially in situations where prescribed fire is not feasible. It has not been clear how these treatments affect the understory, particularly over... read more

More than 100 years of fire exclusion, logging, grazing, and other human activities have contributed to uncharacteristically high tree densities in the dry conifer forests of the western United States. Mechanical forest treatments using heavy machinery or chainsaws to remove trees are being used widely to create a more open and diverse overstory, especially in situations where prescribed fire is not feasible. It has not been clear how these treatments affect the understory, particularly over longer time frames. To help managers better assess what is happening in the understory, Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) researchers Arièl Demarest and Paula Fornwalt recently published a study that looked at responses shortly after mechanical treatment (1-2 years) and over a longer time frame (4-6 years), across a wide environmental gradient in dry conifer forests of the Colorado Front Range. Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread.   show less

A team of forest ecologists from RMRS and other organizations recently published research that looked at the survival of seedlings planted in the aftermath of the Cold Springs Fire. They found numerous variables that increased survival and seedling health. These results will be helpful in guiding reforestation efforts after high intensity wildfire in the future.

In the western United States, wildfire activity has increased the exposure of communities to fires that can devastate lives and destroy homes and businesses. As fires encroach on urban areas, protecting communities from wildfire impacts is a top priority for fire managers. Scientists studying wildland fire in the wildland urban interface (WUI) are particularly interested in using historical data and analytic models to understand how to reduce risks to the WUI.

Kieran Sheth hosts the podcast 'All Things AIR' and interviews Trent Wickman, an air resource specialist with the US Forest Service. They discuss the role of air resource advisers in assessing smoke impacts from wildfires, the purpose of prescribed fires, and the collaboration with fire managers to predict smoke dispersion. Wickman also talks about controlling smoke dispersion in prescribed fires, assessing industrial emissions, and the impact of air quality regulations on emissions... read more

Kieran Sheth hosts the podcast 'All Things AIR' and interviews Trent Wickman, an air resource specialist with the US Forest Service. They discuss the role of air resource advisers in assessing smoke impacts from wildfires, the purpose of prescribed fires, and the collaboration with fire managers to predict smoke dispersion. Wickman also talks about controlling smoke dispersion in prescribed fires, assessing industrial emissions, and the impact of air quality regulations on emissions reduction. The conversation highlights the importance of multidisciplinary skills in the air program and the intersection of biology, engineering, and environmental issues. Wickman expresses excitement about a lake monitoring project and the upcoming field work for lake sampling, emphasizing the potential benefits for advancing knowledge in the field.   show less

Kieran Sheth introduces Alexia Prosperi, a science communication and environmental justice intern for the US Forest Service. The podcast covers Alexia's background, transition from fire training specialist to air quality specialist, and her passion for meteorology and climate. It also highlights the collaborative nature of the AIR program, the importance of information sharing, and the influence of geography on research and communication. Alexia's focus on communicating uncertainty in climate change and the meaningfulness of working on smoke forecasting for prescribed fires are also discussed.

Kieran Sheth interviews air resource specialist Andrea Nick about the history of air quality regulation in Los Angeles, including the introduction of catalytic converters and fuel-efficient vehicles. They discuss challenges with air quality at the port of Los Angeles, the impact of pollution on mountain towns like Big Bear, and long-distance transport of ozone. Andrea also talks about her role in educating the public about air quality, collaborating with other departments to protect endangered plants, and her personal interest in the Dust Bowl and its influence on her career.

Kieran Sheth introduces the podcast and its host, David Gay, the coordinator of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program at the University of Wisconsin Madison. The program manages 350 monitoring locations across North America and focuses on mercury deposition and long-term trends in atmospheric deposition. David Gay discusses the shift in research focus towards new pollutants and compounds, as well as the importance of communicating research findings to the public. The podcast covers the functions and significance of the program, trends in precipitation acidity, future trends in precipitation and air quality, and the importance of measuring carbon deposition and its impact on the environment.

Janice Petersen, an air resource specialist with the USDA Forest Service, discusses the value of public lands and their interrelationship with protecting public lands. Her career focuses on air quality protection, public engagement, and collaboration with partners. She highlights the importance of partnerships with public information professionals for effective outreach and the shift in focus from anthropogenic emissions to wildfire smoke and prescribed fire management. Janice emphasizes the challenges in managing wildfire risk due to changing ecosystems and climate, and the focus on creating smoke-ready communities to deal with wildfire smoke emergencies.

Students receive a lecture on artifact preservation, emphasizing the importance of preserving discovered artifacts and their locations.

Limber pine is an ecologically vital species that provides food for wildlife, facilitates the establishment of other tree species, and grows where other species struggle. A nonnative disease, white pine blister rust (WPBR), and native bark beetles are killing limber pines faster than they can grow back.

Ranger Jansson's emotional journey after the Mann Gulch Fire, including his involvement in the investigation, guiding relatives to the disaster scene, and the impact on his family. The controversial board review, its findings, and the lack of popularity with the victims' families and the media. The long-term impact of the tragedy on Jansson and his family, including his transfer and medical challenges. The positive outcomes and changes in firefighting practices that emerged from the fire, and the enduring legacy of the young men who parachuted into Mann Gulch.

In the United States, more than 1,400 native plant nurseries produce more than a billion seedlings for reforestation and restoration projects every year. Many years of monitoring and research have shown that seedling survival of native plants can be greater when the plants are grown in nurseries and outplanted compared to direct seeding or natural regeneration. Production of high-quality seedlings reduces costs and improves seedling survival and growth after outplanting.

Scientists have spent decades trying to understand how to best promote resilient forests and reduce fuels. A golden endeavor certainly. Is the best approach using a series of prescribed burns? Or is it mechanically cutting trees? Or does the additive effect of both cutting and burning provide the best alchemy?

Music by Souvenir Thread.

More high-severity wildfire is occurring in the U.S. West and affecting people and forests in challenging ways. In places where mitigating high-severity wildfire is desirable, returning low-severity fire through fuel treatments is common practice. The last quantitative review of fuel treatment research happened 10 years ago. Much has been learned since then.

Music by Souvenir Thread.

Science You Can Use in 5 Minutes - Audio

While inconvenient for your average hiker or boater, major shifts in the weather can be deadly for firefighters. Longer and more intense fire seasons make accurate and timely weather predictions crucial to firefighter safety. To answer this need, the Fire Weather Alert System (FWAS) was developed by Jason Forthofer, Research Mechanical Engineer, and Natalie Wagenbrenner, Research Meteorologist, both from the Rocky Mountain Research Station’s... read more

Science You Can Use in 5 Minutes - Audio While inconvenient for your average hiker or boater, major shifts in the weather can be deadly for firefighters. Longer and more intense fire seasons make accurate and timely weather predictions crucial to firefighter safety. To answer this need, the Fire Weather Alert System (FWAS) was developed by Jason Forthofer, Research Mechanical Engineer, and Natalie Wagenbrenner, Research Meteorologist, both from the Rocky Mountain Research Station’s Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory. The FWAS is a mobile app that gathers weather data from many sources into a single convenient space and provides firefighters with individualized, easy-to-use, and timely weather alerts on their phones. Music by Souvenir Thread.   show less

The Devil is in the Details: Understanding community acceptance of fuels treatments. Music by Souvenir Thread.

Burning Insights: How wildfires reshape the soil microbiome

When land managers or planners need to understand how a segment of a forest road is impacting water quality, the Geomorphic Road Analysis and Inventory Package (GRAIP) is the go-to resource, with in-depth tools for intensive analysis. However, GRAIP’s use is limited to road segments where detailed field data are available or when analyzing high-risk roads within priority watersheds. With the National Forest System having over 380,000 miles of roads, that’s a lot of mileage that can’t be easily analyzed with GRAIP. For situations where field data are unavailable or entire watersheds need analysis, GRAIP_Lite is a new go-to resource.

Music by Souvenir Thread.

Science You Can Use audio reading of Misconceptions Around Strategy: Managing Fire Response and Public Communication to Support Risk-Based Decisionmaking

Reading of Prescribed Fire and Wilderness: Barriers and Opportunities in a Time of Change

Reading of Don’t Judge a Lamprey by Its Teeth: Genetic analysis shows need to reconsider species classification, possibly influencing conservation decisions.