Study Site Location: Mountains in the Northern Colorado Front Range.

Slash pile burning is a widespread fuels reduction treatment because of its practicality and cost-effectiveness, yet it often has undesirable ecological impacts. Native plant recovery in slash pile scars is often delayed for many years because the extreme soil temperatures generally kill all living plants and all seeds in the soil seedbank. The extreme temperatures also tend to negatively impact physical and chemical soil properties that are important for successful native establishment. Simple slash pile scar treatments may be sufficient to alter soil properties in favor of native species establishment. In this ongoing research project conducted in ponderosda pine and lodgepole pine dominated forests along the norther Front Range of Colorado, we are analyzing plant and soils data collected within slash pile scars and in adjacent unburned areas to clarify the impacts of slash pile burning. We are also testing the effectiveness of rehabilitation treatments at reestablishing native species, reducing non-native species, and restoring soil properties within scars. Treatments include (1) mulching with chipped woody material; (2) scarifying the soil surface; (3) seeding with native species; (4) mulching and seeding; (5) scarifying and seeding; and (6) untreated control. Finally, we are examining the establishment and growth of native species used in the seeding treatments to determine which have the greatest success in slash pile scars. Treatments were installed in the fall of 2009. Plant and soils data will be collected in the summer of 2010. Results will benefit forest managers by clarifying the impacts of slash pile burning on plants and soils, and by providing them with scientifically-developed restoration guidelines for effectively rehabilitating slash pile scars.