Prescribed fire has been used at Devils Tower in an attempt to reduce non-native Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). There are 3 plots in the Kentucky bluegrass monitoring type at Devils Tower. These plots were burned as part of two different burn units over a 4 year period. Plots 1 & 2 have burned twice as part of the Meadow unit: May 1999 and May 2000. Plot 3 burned as part of the Westside unit in October 1999 and again as part of the Meadow unit in May 2002.

The figure below displays cover of native and non-native lifeforms. Pre-burn sampling occurred 1 to 2 growing seasons before the prescribed fires, Trt 1 Yr 1 is the first growing season following the first prescribed fire, Trt 2 Yr 1 is the first growing season following the second prescribed fire, and Trt 2 Yr 2 is the second growing season following the second prescribed fire. Five growing seasons following the second prescribed fire, cover of native grasses and sedges increased by 91% and 800% respectively while cover of non-native grass and forb species decreased by 58% and 83%.

Below are mean cover measurements of the six most common genera found on the three plots. Five seasons following the second prescribed fire Kentucky bluegrass cover was 81% below pre-burn levels while western wheatgrass increased by 283% and grama grass by 180% respectively.