Written by Julie Weikel, Friends of Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge Board Member
Pictured above is the view the western slopes of Hart Mtn from the south. This area is within the perimeter of the 2024 Warner Peak fire. Bunch-grasses and forbs are coming back, as you can see in the foreground. Most of the background in burned to the east of the Plush-Hart Road. Photo by Jim Davis
Following the almost 70,000 acre Warner Peak fire of August 2024 and the 1500 acre Black Canyon fire of July 2025, as well as long standing effects of the Poker Fire of 2019, Hart Mountain Fish and Wildlife staff are busily engaged in major rehabilitation efforts. The major focus of these efforts are aquatic restoration and control of invasive weeds.
Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge is a snow dominated watershed so maintaining water in the uplands is a key strategy. While beaver were present on the Refuge historically, they were extirpated in the late 1990’s. Immediately after the Warner Peak Fire, a BAER (Burned Area Emergency Response) plan was initiated. This is a five-year plan but funding and staffing will run out as of the end of 2025. Jesse Scott (PhD), heading up a team of 10, have put in place a major portion of the plan. One hundred seventy-five PALS (Post Assisted Log Structures, sometimes called Beaver Dam Analogs) have been placed in fifteen stream systems, including 3.5 miles of Guano Creek, 3 miles of Rock Creek and .75 miles of Bond Creek. These structures are part of a newer approach to restoration called LTPBR (Low Tech Process Based Restoration). Using pounded posts and native materials such as rock, juniper and stream side debris, water is slowed, raising the water table and expanding the riparian zone. This approach aims to intentionally support natural forces and it includes long term monitoring of streamflow and other parameters of recovery. Already fish observations and macro invertebrate measurements indicate healthy improvements for all three species of cutthroat trout found on the Refuge. This includes the Alvord Cutthroat in Guano Creek. This phenotype of Lahontan Cutthroat is today only found at this site. In addition to the good news about fish on the Refuge, expanding groves of aspen are apparent in the burn sites with hundreds of four-foot saplings. The potential of beaver reinhabiting such areas providing adequate food is a likely outcome.
Recently, Hart Mountain NAR engaged in a major spraying effort on 51,000 acres aimed at controlling invasive plants, primarily cheatgrass and medusahead. Herbicide choice and dosages were carefully calibrated to target the specific problems of certain areas. LP Mancini oversaw the project and will follow up with replanting programs in the fall of 2026 and 2027.
For many long-time visitors to Hart Mountain, the devastating loss of the big pines at Blue Sky was a major blow. Only a few trees survived there and a ring count of one large, burned tree indicated an age of 143 years. However, a nice stand of pine in DeGarmo Canyon did not burn. Fifteen sacks of cones from these trees have been collected, dried, and under to direction of Refuge Manages, Josh Lowe, will be grown out under contract to two-year saplings and replanted on Hart Mountain. The goal is 20,000
saplings.
Mother Nature has been unusually cooperative with the staff and volunteer efforts with respect to the recent restoration efforts. The biggest risks going forward involve “people insecurity.” Staffing cuts, unfilled positions and lack of critical funding pose real threats to the success of the initiated projects. We appreciate any and all support our friends can provide.
To connect with and support the Friends of Hart Mountain NAR visit http://www.friendsofhartmountain.org/
