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Burns District BLM plans medusahead treatments

Oregon-Washington
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close up of medusahead invasive grass
Close up of medusahead invasive grass. Photo by BLM Oregon staff.

HINES, Ore. – This fall, the Bureau of Land Management, Burns District, will conduct aerial herbicide applications across about 15,000 acres to target the invasive grass medusahead on public lands heavily impacted by wildfire.

"Medusahead can take over a landscape in just a few years if left unchecked," said Sam Cisney, BLM Burns District Natural Resource Specialist. "By treating these areas now, especially in recent burn scars, we’re giving native plants a fighting chance to reestablish and reducing the risk of larger, more destructive wildfires in the future."

Treatment locations include burns scars from the Sagehen, Falls, and Telephone fires north of Highway 20, between Riley and Buchanan; the Solomon Fire area and Mud Creek East unit, both in the Frenchglen vicinity; and Neils Hill on the east side of Steens Mountain.

Medusahead is a non-native invasive annual grass and a prolific seed producer that germinates in the fall and grows while native plants are dormant. Avoided by grazing animals, medusahead out-competes other grasses by depleting ground moisture well before perennial grasses have begun to grow. It also prevents regular species from germinating and favors non-native invasive grasses that thrive under these circumstances. Dense infestations of non-native invasive annual grasses often lead to more frequent large, fast-moving wildfires. Once land is invaded by this species, it becomes almost worthless, supporting neither native animals, birds nor livestock.

Both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft will be used in the effort. Maps of the treatment areas and additional information can be found at: OR/WA Weeds and Invasives Program.

The BLM is committed to keeping public landscapes healthy and productive. The community can help prevent the spread of noxious weeds by learning to identify species in their area, treating them promptly, washing vehicles and equipment entering new areas, and reporting weed sitings on BLM-administered lands to the local BLM office.

For more information about weed treatments on public land, contact Sam Cisney at the BLM Burns District office at 541-573-4443.

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.