Manage Colorado rangeland post fire

While range fires can be chaotic and deadly, most of the impact comes after the flames and smoke have ended. Replacing lost forage, as well as future grazing, will be a challenge. But recently burned pastures will come back stronger if livestock are not re-stocked too early. Post fire, the period of recovery on rangelands is determined by moisture, past grazing management, recovery period and severity of erosion post fire.
    Burned plants will need abundant moisture to recover. Stocking rates will be still likely be depressed for the first few years following the rest period.
    Loamy sites with abundant moisture will require six months to two years of rest; average moisture, one to three years; and drought conditions, two to five years. Sandy sites with abundant moisture will require one to two years; average moisture, 1 1/2 to three years; and drought conditions, two to several years. However, each pasture is unique and should be determined on a case-by-case basis.
    With few exceptions, your range plants are still alive and will come back. Think of your forage community as a boxer healing between fights. Management objectives should focus on retaining and improving existing plants, restoring soil cover and water capture, and allowing for recovery of the forage community to support livestock production again.
    Range management
    The loss of reliable fence — and the ability to control grazing livestock — should alone be enough to avoid the temptation to turn cattle out following the first flush of green forbs.
    Don’t be in a rush to begin grazing burned areas. At a minimum, burned pastures should not be grazed for one growing season. Ask yourself, how was the range condition before it was burned? If you have problem pastures, they could probably use some extra rest.
  

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