FROM FLAMES TO FISH: CO-MANAGEMENT FOR WILDFIRE AND AQUATIC SPECIES AT ZENA CREEK RANCH, IDAHO

In recent years, the role of climate change in exacerbating wildfire size and severity in the Western US has become increasingly evident; new fire regimes and climate change necessitate novel management approaches. We propose a framework that addresses the following question: 1) How can the dual needs of fire and aquatic species management be achieved through the development of new model-based tools, and on-the-ground design of wetland and Beaver Dam Analog (BDA) structures, while concurrently strengthening partnerships among scientists, managers, tribal agencies and local land-owners? Beaver dam analogs (BDAs) have emerged as a powerful tool in ecological restoration and landscape management, particularly in their dual role of stream channel restoration and fire risk mitigation. The project provides the science, data and models needed to better understand impacts of fire on aquatic species in small mountainous watersheds, and how ‘win-win’ wetlands and BDAs can support the dual needs of wildfire and aquatic species management.