Black sage, a low growing shrub found on harsh sites where little else can grow, is heavily utilized by pronghorn antelope, deer and domestic sheep, especially on winter ranges.*(FEIS, 2002). Because it can grow where few other species have adapted, it can provide valuable ground cover and can decrease erosion within a watershed. In addition, it can serve as a “fuel break” as fire has difficulty spreading through black sage. As evidenced by the photo, black sage on one side burned, but was halted by a road, leaving the other side intact. Only 15 acres of black sage burned during the Sanford, and new grasses and some black sage have resprouted quickly on this site.

Oftentimes, mountain big sagebrush is found in conjunction with black sage. The Sanford fire burned 17,270 acres of big sagebrush, “…one of the most widespread and economically important shrubs in western North America,” *(FEIS, 2002). Big sagebrush is eaten by domestic livestock, as well as sage grouse, mule deer, antelope, and elk and provides important forage and cover for numerous small game animals, waterfowl, upland game birds, and small game birds. .Its’ high content of protein, carotene and phosphorous make it especially important forage during winter months. Sage grouse numbers have declined in recent years, in part to declines in sagebrush populations.

Prior to Euro-American settlement, over 115,000 acres of sagebrush habitat occurred, but in 1998 it was estimated that only 97,000 acres occurred within the Upper Sevier Watershed. Numerous sagebrush habitat projects throughout the watershed have helped restore natural sagebrush habitat types to help work towards a desired future condition (DFC) of 111,000 acres **(USFS, 2000). Although the loss of 17,285 acres of black sage and mountain big sage represents an 18% loss of habitat from the 1998 estimate, much of this sagebrush was in old condition. Following the fire, these burned areas are expected to change to young sagebrush/grass complexes, and will help decrease erosion within the watershed. Biologists will continue to monitor sagebrush areas, and may find it necessary to control browsing of both big game and livestock until conditions can stabilize.

*USDA, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (2002, September). Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. Available at Fire Effects Information [October 2, 2002].

**USDA Forest Service. 2000. Assessment of Major Vegetation Types, Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) / Desired Future Condition (DFC); Upper Sevier River Watershed Private Lands, and Bureau of Land Management, Dixie National Forest, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, and State of Utah Lands.

Vegetation mosaics of unburned and burned black sage are seen following the Sanford Fire.