Post-Wildfire Restoration in Southeast Oregon - Miller Homestead Fire
Dates
Start Date
2013
End Date
2014
Summary
Background information.—On July 8, 2012, lightning ignited a fire on Bureau of Land Management-managed land on the Miller Homestead in Harney County, Oregon. High winds combined with unusually hot and dry conditions spread the fire through dry grass and sagebrush and 160,801 acres were burned before the fire was contained on July 24, 2012. In the aftermath, it was determined that ecological restoration was necessary since the majority of the fire occurred within prime habitat for sage-grouse, and the fire had burned with such severity that it removed vegetation down to bare soil. Without rehabilitation efforts, desirable vegetation would be unlikely to reestablish and the site would be open to invasion by noxious weeds. Major components [...]
Summary
Background information.—On July 8, 2012, lightning ignited a fire on Bureau of Land Management-managed land on the Miller Homestead in Harney County, Oregon. High winds combined with unusually hot and dry conditions spread the fire through dry grass and sagebrush and 160,801 acres were burned before the fire was contained on July 24, 2012. In the aftermath, it was determined that ecological restoration was necessary since the majority of the fire occurred within prime habitat for sage-grouse, and the fire had burned with such severity that it removed vegetation down to bare soil. Without rehabilitation efforts, desirable vegetation would be unlikely to reestablish and the site would be open to invasion by noxious weeds. Major components of the Miller Homestead Fire Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Project included the replacement of permanent and temporary fencing and wildlife guzzlers; aerial seeding; drill seeding; collecting and growing sagebrush seed for future plantings; removal of downed juniper near the community of Frenchglen, Oregon; and inventory and monitoring of noxious weeds. The goal of this project is to restore the ecological condition and function of the landscape, which, if achieved, will result in improved wildlife habitat, increased forage availability that will allow for continued livestock grazing, restored habitat for wild horses, a reduced risk of erosion, enhanced recreation opportunities, and better community protection from the risk of future wildfires.
The U.S. Geological Survey collected data on restoration activities and expenditures to estimate the economic activity supported by this project. Background information on the Miller Homestead project was obtained from Autumn Toelle, BLM, written commun., 2015; and Blackwood, 2013.
Economic impacts.—The Miller Homestead Fire Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Project began in 2013 and continued into 2014, and had a total cost of $2,512,000 during this period (2014 dollars). Approximately 40 percent of project funds was spent locally, which supported an estimated total of 19.2 job-years; $709,000 in labor income; $768,000 value added; and $1,681,000 in economic output within the local economy near the fire’s recovery effort. Expanding to include the effects of both local and nonlocal expenditures, the Miller Homestead Fire Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Project supported an estimated 37.6 job-years; $2,014,000 in labor income; $2,968,000 in value added; and $6,645,000 in economic output in the Western States economy. The Miller Homestead Fire Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Project will continue after 2014.
