Cooperating Agencies:

• Tusayan Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest

Location:

Approximately 2 miles (3.5 km) northwest of Tusayan, Arizona; immediately south of Grand Canyon National Park.

Date Initiated:

2004

Description:

In 2004, we established an experiment near the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park to study ecological responses to fuels reduction treatments in pinyon-juniper woodlands. Specifically, were are interested in effects of overstory thinning and prescribed fire treatments on tree size distribution, species composition, growth, understory plant species abundance and diversity, fuel loadings, and potential fire behavior. To measure these effects, we established sample plots across the 700-acre site in areas treated one of four ways: 1) thinned only; 2) burned only; 3) thinned and burned; and 4) no treatment. Forty-eight plots in all were established. Sample data were collected on all plots in 2004 before treatments were implemented in 2005-2006.

Project Status:

Overstory thinning was implemented in 2005; trees up to 9-12 inches (depending on species) were cut, lopped to foot lengths, and this material was then scattered. Prescribed burning was completed in the fall of 2006. In summer 2007, ERI staff and students collected preliminary post-treatment data.

For More Information:

• A study to examine historical conditions and fire regime at this site was completed in 2006. The final report describing this study may be downloaded here.
• Contact Dave Huffman, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Publications:

• Huffman, D.W., P.Z. Fulé, J.E. Crouse, and K.M. Pearson. 2009. A comparison of fire hazard mitigation alternatives in pinyon–juniper woodlands of Arizona. Forest Ecology and Management 257:628–635.
• Huffman, D.W., P.Z. Fulé, K.M. Pearson, and J.E. Crouse. 2008. Fire history of pinyon–juniper woodlands at upper ecotones with ponderosa pine forests in Arizona and New Mexico. Canadian Journal of Forest Resources 38: 2097–2108.

Last updated:

September 9, 2008