Strawberry Fire Burned Area Rehabilitation Plan Complete

This article was originally published in The Midden – Great Basin National Park: Vol. 19, No. 2, Winter 2019.

Park staff target invasive plants.

NPS Photo by Julie Long

by Meg Horner, Biologist

The Strawberry Fire burned 2,790 acres of park lands in August 2016. Sagebrush steppe, pinyon-juniper, aspen, mountain mahogany, and riparian plant communities were impacted by the lightning-ignited fire.

After the fire, the park prepared a three-year Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) plan. The plan addressed issues created or exacerbated by the fire. Plan objectives were to restore native plant communities, manage invasive plants, and replace minor infrastructure destroyed by the fire.

Restoration treatments outlined in the BAR plan are complete. Three aerial seedings were conducted through agreements with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the Bureau of Land Management’s Regional Seed Warehouse. Over 3,000 acres were seeded with a native seed mix. Invasive plant surveys were completed on 1,230 acres over the three-year project. Invasive plant treatments focused on cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and five target forb species with new infestations of Canada thistle (Cirsium canadensis), houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale) and hoary cress (Cardaria draba) documented and treated post-fire. Infrastructure destroyed or impacted by the fire was repaired or replaced. The Strawberry Creek Road was repaired; the vehicle bridge, restroom and foot bridges were reinstalled; and information signs and trail work were completed.

Three years post-fire, Strawberry Creek is still recovering. The condition of native vegetation, especially riparian and aspen communities, continues to improve. Management of invasive forbs and annual grasses will continue, as will vegetation monitoring to determine the success of revegetation efforts. A Round 17 SNPLMA project has been funded to improve riparian habitat and stream condition, manage invasive plant populations, and continue revegetation work.

Arrowleaf balsamroot flourishes post-fire in the Strawberry Creek area.

NPS Photo by Meg Horner

Strawberry Creek was reopened for day use in May 2019. The canyon will continue to be day use only while the park secures funding to replace campground facilities, rehabilitate trails, and improve access.