Burn to learn: mapping, monitoring, and managing with fire

Abstract

Western landowners are increasingly faced with the compounding challenges of altered fire regimes, invasive species, and limited access to practical land management tools. In semi-arid rangelands like those in Huerfano County, Colorado, fire suppression and historic overgrazing have degraded ecological resilience and increased wildfire risk. Therefore, my project addresses the need for integrated, accessible, and science-based decision-making models by developing a case study at Redwing Ranch, a 4,000-acre (1,619 hectare) working cattle ranch. My goal was twofold: (1) to build a GIS-based model for identifying where and when to apply prescribed fire, grazing, or mechanical treatments, and (2) to translate this model into usable guides and tools for land managers. Using QGIS, LANDFIRE data, and fire behavior modeling software (FlamMap and and Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System (IIFTDSS)), I combined landscape layers such as fuel models, slope, vegetation type, and infrastructure proximity to identify high-risk fire areas and appropriate treatments. Redwing Ranch was divided into management zones, each assigned one or more treatments based on ecological conditions, fire modeling outputs (e.g., flame length, rate of spread), and feasibility. Treatments included prescribed fire, shaded fuel breaks, managed grazing, mechanical thinning, and “no-treatment” zones for wildlife habitat.Results included the successful implementation of two prescribed burns: one targeting kochia (Bassia scoparia L.), a fire-adapted invasive species, and another in a willow (Salix spp.) corridor. GIS modeling showed that prescribed fire and strategic thinning could substantially reduce predicted flame lengths and fire spread. Additionally, post-treatment monitoring using NDVI satellite imagery and field photo points helped evaluate vegetation recovery and guide adaptive management. My project demonstrates that fire resilience can be built through integrated planning and applied skill-building. The resulting workflow and tools including burn planning checklists, monitoring protocols, and GIS guides, are intended for land stewards seeking actionable strategies. By combining geospatial modeling with real-world implementation, this work bridges research and practice and supports the development of a trained, empowered land-based workforce.