Uploaded January 2015 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Over the years, certain areas of rangeland managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Burley Field Office have declined in overall health due to significant expansion of Utah juniper into the sagebrush steppe ecosystem. While this expansion of Utah juniper is a natural process normally controlled by fire, past fire suppression efforts have contributed to junipers creeping into areas not historically occupied in high densities, reducing diverse understory vegetation. When wildfire ignites, burning junipers tend to create high fire intensities. Extreme fire behavior creates dangerous fire suppression conditions for both firefighters and members of the public. Additionally, juniper dominated communities lack diversity and therefore may not recover naturally following fire. The Burley Field Office is managing Utah junipers through mechanical removal methods which encourage growth of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs leading to a diverse plant community that is more resilient to fire and resistant to invasive plants and noxious weeds. Wildlife habitat is also improved for species which depend on the sagebrush steppe, particularly sage-grouse.
Over the years, certain areas of rangeland managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Burley Field Office have declined in overall health due to significant expansion of Utah juniper into the sagebrush steppe ecosystem. While this expansion of Utah juniper is a natural process normally controlled by fire, past fire suppression efforts have contributed to junipers creeping into areas not historically occupied in high densities, reducing diverse understory vegetation. When wildfire ignites, burning junipers tend to create high fire intensities. Extreme fire behavior creates dangerous fire suppression conditions for both firefighters and members of the public. Additionally, juniper dominated communities lack diversity and therefore may not recover naturally following fire. The Burley Field Office is managing Utah junipers through mechanical removal methods which encourage growth of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs leading to a diverse plant community that is more resilient to fire and resistant to invasive plants and noxious weeds. Wildlife habitat is also improved for species which depend on the sagebrush steppe, particularly sage-grouse.
