BLM lands in the Canyon Country District contain dispersed patches of old growth Ponderosa pine. The extent or age of the stands has never been inventoried. The health of these trees are at risk from drought, disease, and other effects of climate change. The BLM in partnership with Utah State University will study the Ponderosa pine stands for extent, range, age class, fire history, health and and condition. The application of dendrochronology will further our understanding of these Ponderosa.

Identify and map tree locations with the BLM Canyon Country District Inventory tree density Age trees and analyze age class diversity Determine pre euro fire history and fire return interval Monitor the overall pine stand health and condition Identify at risk precursors or Provide remedy and recommendation for protection

Threats to Ponderosa ecosystem health and dependent wildlife habitat could occur through impacts related to drought, invasive species, disease, infestation and wildfire. A scientific approach to study and understand the active and future threats to these trees is needed to enhance their survival.

Federal Land Policy and Management Act Public Rangeland Improvement Act Environmental Quality Improvement Act BLM National Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) Strategy WRI Monitoring

The expected fire intensity level at Ponderosa pine locations is expected to be high to very high during the months of June through September. Flames could range between 12 and 20 feet long. Trees with low branches can be expected to torch with fire extending into the canopy of stands. Expect short-range spotting to be very common with medium to long range spotting possible up to one-mile. Direct attack by firefighters, engines, aircraft and dozers is generally ineffective but indirect attack may be effective. It will be difficult for firefighters to protect Ponderosa stands that have not had previous fuels treatments to reduce and thin encroaching juniper and pinyon. Many Ponderosa stand locations found in Ray Mesa and Devil Canyon have had active Fuels reduction treatments and prescribed fire over the past 15 years. Pinyon and juniper trees were cut, piled and burned to reduce ladder fuels and prevent crown fire to the stands if an active wildfire event was to occur. The Devil Canyon stands received the thinning treatments but have not yet had a surface or low intensity broadcast burn. It is unknown what the actual and appropriate fire return interval is for these trees in this lower elevation desert ecosystem.

This monitoring project monitors vegetation cover, bare soil and other indicators that relate to erosion and run-off. Science based methodologies of monitoring data collection can help verify that fuels treatments have a desired outcome for the benefit of watersheds.

This project does not require NEPA.

Identify know locations of Ponderosa stands from the BLM Canyon Country Fuels program. Gather past monitoring data from the BLM Canyon Country Fuels program. Apply GIS tools, imagery and remote sensing to identify Ponderosa pine stands. Create a GIS database for tree stand locations, share data to BLM for ArcGISViewer. Field verify- inventory (trees/acre or trees per stand), monitor stand health & identify threats. Use dendrochronology to age trees, identify fire history and fire return interval Final report to include all above information and final recommendation to the BLM for stand health treatments and protection.

This Ponderosa pine study is monitoring and will include; Line-point Intercept Cover and Height Nested Frequency Belt Tree Density Repeat Photography Gap Intercept

BLM Canyon Country Fuels Program Utah State University

This Ponderosa study is anticipated to take place over a 2-3 year period of time depending on funds and personnel availability. Results of the data can provide scientific support for analyzing ecological goals and inform future adaptive management processes for the BLM. Distribution of the data will be and important component of this study. The data will be uploaded in various databases for future studies and analysis across multiple disciplines including; land manager agency's, university's and other research institutions.

With the results of this study the BLM will be informed on the best practices to promote resilience for the protection and preservation of these low elevation Ponderosa micro-forests.