RAPID: Addressing the wind and water erosion knowledge gap in Drylands: Fire as a driver of erosion in cheatgrass invaded Sagebrush Steppe

This project responds to a June 9, 2021, wildfire that burned 283 hectares of the 999-ha Jacks Valley Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in south Carson City, Nevada. It explores soil erosion processes occurring subsequent to fires induced by cheat grass invasion. It will quantity the factors influencing wind and water erosion using modern instruments, including terrestrial laser scanner, unmanned autonomous vehicle, ground penetrating radar, and satellite imagery.

The project team includes members of groups historically underrepresented in science. Students will be supported on the project through paid internships that leverage existing programs at the University of Nevada, Reno, and connections with federal partners. The data generated could be useful to tribal communities whose lands are at high risk to degradation.

Building on an established United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) study, this project addresses a critical knowledge gap in our fundamental understanding of wind and water erosion rates in dryland landscapes that are undergoing abrupt change. The wildfire event that is the focus of this study presents a time-sensitive opportunity to collect perishable data on the wind- and water- driven soil erosion that occurs subsequent to fires induced by increased cheatgrass fuel loads in sagebrush steppe.

The investigators will address research questions related to the relative contribution to the annual sediment budget of various factors influencing erosion. These factors will be quantified using terrestrial laser scanning, unmanned aerial vehicles, ground penetrating radar, and satellite imagery.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.