Agenda
The conference live-stream is no longer available. You can watch the conference videos on the Videos web page.
Conference Location: Boise Centre, 850 W Front St, Downtown Boise
Wednesday, November 5 - Summit Room |
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| 7:15 | Registration/Check-in Begins (in hallway adjacent to Summit Room) |
| 8:00 | Opening Session Call to Order: Jesse Juen, BLM New Mexico State Director and Conference Master of Ceremonies Welcome: Tim Murphy, BLM Idaho State Director Keynote: Mike Connor, Deputy Secretary, Department of the Interior Opening Remarks: Tim Murphy, Moderator Janice Schneider, Assistant Secretary for Lands and Minerals, DOI Dan Ashe, Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service Neil Kornze, Director, Bureau of Land Management Conference Overview: Jesse Juen and Susan Hayman, Conference Facilitator |
| 9:30 | Break |
| 9:45 | Overview of Rangeland Fire in the Great Basin Sagebrush Steppe Moderator: Anne Kinsinger, Associate Director for Ecosystems, US Geological Survey Wildfire in the Great Basin and Challenges for the Future: Dr. Rick Miller, Professor Emeritus of Range Ecology and Management, Oregon State University Influence of Fire on Sagebrush-Obligate Wildlife in the Great Basin: Dr. Jeff Beck, Associate Professor, Wildlife Habitat Restoration Ecology, University of Wyoming Climate, Wildfire, and Great Basin Ecosystems: Dr. Matt Germino, Research Ecologist, US Geological Survey Participant Q&A |
| 11:30 | Lunch (on your own) |
| 12:30 | Panel: Management Moving Forward - States' Perspectives on Managing Fire and Sagebrush-Steppe Challenges Moderator: Will Whelan, The Nature Conservancy, Idaho Director of State Government Relations Virgil Moore, Director, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Leo Drozdoff, Director, Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Kathleen Clarke, Director, Utah Public Lands Coordination Office Brett Brownscombe, Natural Resource Advisor to Oregon Governor Kitzhaber Panel Discussion and Participant Q&A |
| 1:45 | Break |
| 2:00 | Priorities and Strategies for Sage-grouse Habitat Moderator: Carol Schuler, USGS-FRESC Director, Northwest Region A State Director's Perspective: Amy Leuders, BLM Nevada State Director Fire: Improving our ability to reduce wildfire and invasive impacts through accelerated partner collaboration: Jeremy Maestas, NRCS Sage Grouse Initiative Technical Lead Using Resistance and Resilience Concepts to Reduce Impacts of Invasive Annual Grasses and Altered Fire Regimes on the Sagebrush Ecosystem and Greater Sage-Grouse: Dr. Jeanne Chambers, US Forest Service Research Ecologist, Rocky Mountain Research Station Conducting Fire and Invasives Assessments to address Wildfire, Invasive Annual Grass, and Conifer Expansion in the Great Basin: Doug Havlina, BLM Fire Ecologist and Fire and Invasive Species Assessment Team Lead Participant Q&A |
| 3:30 | Break |
| 3:45 | Panel: Rangeland Fire in the Great Basin - Challenges and Needs from a Field Perspective Moderator: Jay Gibbs, Basin Leader, NRCS-Oregon Rosey Thomas, BLM Ely District Manager Jose Noriega, US Forest Service Ely District Ranger John Kasbohm, Project Leader, Sheldon-Hart National Wildlife Refuge Panel Discussion and Participant Q&A |
| 4:30 | Why All This Matters Presenter: Dr. John Freemuth, Professor, Department of Public Policy and Administration, Boise State University |
| 5:00 | Day 1 Closing Remarks and Announcements Jesse Juen and Susan Hayman |
Thursday, November 6 - Summit Room |
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| 8:00 | Introduction of Day 2 and Announcements Jesse Juen and Susan Hayman |
| 8:05 | Status Updates: Senior Policy Group and Senior Fire Management/Operations Group Janice Schneider and Rex McKnight, Fire Management Officer, BLM Nevada |
| 8:20 | The Effects of Rangeland Fire on Sage-grouse: A Fish and Wildlife Service Perspective Presenter: Ted Koch, US Fish & Wildlife Service - Nevada State Supervisor Participant Q&A |
| 8:50 | Before the Fire: Rangeland Mitigation Treatments that Work Moderator: Jim Stovall, Pecos District Manager, BLM New Mexico Short-Term Effects of Sagebrush-Steppe Restoration Treatments on Herbaceous Vegetation: the SageSTEP Project: Dr. Jim McIver, Associate Professor of Forestry and Rangelands, Oregon State University Effective Treatments: Lance Okeson, BLM Boise Fuels District Specialist Decision Support for Sage-Steppe Protection: Designing a Regional Network of Strategic Fuel Breaks to Benefit the Greater Sage-Grouse: Dr. Bob Unnasch, Director of Science for Idaho, The Nature Conservancy |
| 10:00 | Break |
| 10:15 | Before the Fire: Rangeland Mitigation Treatments that Work (cont'd) Linear Fuel Breaks: Mike Fettic, BLM Winnemucca District Fire Management Officer A Rancher's View of Fire and Grazing Management: Todd Black, Deseret Land and Livestock Managing Landscapes for Sage-grouse with an Emphasis on Fire and Greenstripping: Dr. Terry Messmer, Professor of Wildland Resources, Utah State University Participant Q&A |
| 11:35 | Break |
| 11:45 | Lunch and Panel Presentation (Falcon Room) Moderator: Jeremy Maestas, NRCS-Oregon Connecting scientists and managers: Lessons from the Great Basin Fire Science Exchange: Genie MontBlanc, Program Coordinator, University of Nevada, Reno Sharing the Story of the Sage-grouse: Lisa Eller, The Nature Conservancy, Idaho Communications Director |
| 12:25 | Presentation: A Perspective on Fire Policy and Management Policy and Analysis in the Larger Picture: Rocky Barker, Environmental Reporter, Idaho Statesman |
| 12:45 | Panel Discussion, including Rocky Barker, and Participant Q&A |
| 1:00 | Break |
| 1:15 | Panel: During the Fire - Strategies and Tactics (Summit Room) Moderator: Julia Sullens, Southern Idaho Fire Program Liaison, Idaho Department of Lands Battalion Chief's View: Lindsey Neiwert, BLM Battalion Chief, Boise District Center Manager's Perspective: Jill Lenguineche, US Forest Service, Southwest Idaho Dispatch Center Manager Local and Rural Fire Engagement: Rich Harvey, Deputy State Forester, Nevada Department of Forestry and Type 1 Incident Commander Rangeland Fire Protective Associations: Darcy Helmick, Saylor Creek RFPA Panel Discussion and Participant Q&A |
| 2:30 | Break |
| 2:45 | After the Fire: What Works, What Needs to Change Moderator: Mike Pellant, BLM, Great Basin Restoration Initiative Coordinator Effectiveness of Sagebrush-Steppe Post-Fire Rehabilitation Projects: Dr. David Pyke, USGS Supervisory Research Ecologist Application of Current Research in Post-fire Management: Jeff Rose, BLM Associate District Manager, Burns, Oregon Precision Restoration Treatments: Dr. Jay Kerby, Southeast Oregon Project Manager, The Nature Conservancy Participant Q&A |
| 4:15 | On the Horizon: Potential New Tools to Improve Rangeland Health Moderator: John Cissel, Joint Fire Science Program Manager Cheatgrass Die-Off as a Restoration Opportunity: Dr. Susan Meyer, US Forest Service Research Ecologist Simulation Modelling and Emerging Technologies and Understanding and Prioritizing Management Actions: Dr. Matt Reeves, US Forest Service, Rangeland Specialist The Use of Seed Enhancement to Improve Sagebrush Establishment Across and Elevation Gradient: Dr. April Hulet, Range and Forest Management Researcher, Agricultural Research Services Participant Q&A |
| 5:15 | Summary of Day 2 and Announcements Jesse Juen and Susan Hayman |
| 5:30-7:30 | After-Hours Casual Conversation Session Snacks and refreshments available |
Friday, November 7 - Summit Room |
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| 8:00 | Introduction of Day 3 and Announcements Jesse Juen and Susan Hayman |
| 8:10 | Move to Breakout Rooms |
| 8:30 | Breakout Sessions (two groups that rotate participants at 9:30) |
Senior Fire Management/Operations Group (Kestrel/Merlin Room) |
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| 10:30 | Break |
| 10:45 | Senior Policy Group and Senior Fire Management/Operations Group Summary (Summit Room) Senior Policy Group and Senior Fire Management/Operations Group will summarize outcomes from the morning meetings. |
| 11:15 | Closing Remarks, Final Thoughts and Next Steps Moderator: Jesse Juen Janice Schneider, DOI Assistant Secretary Lands and Minerals Daniel Ashe, Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service Neil Kornze, Director, Bureau of Land Management |
| 12:00 | Conference Adjourned |
