Bromus tectorum cover mapping and fire risk

Fire risk in western North America has increased with increasing cover of Bromus tectorum, an invasive alien annual grass. The relationship between B. tectorum cover and fire risk was determined in a historically burned Artemisia tridentata-Poa secunda shrub–steppe community where B. tectorum cover ranged from 5 to 75%. Fire risk ranged from ~46% with an average of 12% B. tectorum cover to 100% when B. tectorum cover was greater than 45% based on prediction confidence limits. Reflectance of the green and red bands of aerial photographs were related to senescent B. tectorum cover to create fine resolution B. tectorum cover and fire risk maps. This assessment technique will allow land managers to prioritize lands for restoration to reduce fire risk in the shrub-steppe.