Granite Gulch Fire aiding recovery of whitebark pine

JOSEPH, Ore. — Aug. 25, 2019 — Despite strong winds, some small spotting and active burning on the eastern edge late in the day Saturday, there was little overall movement on the Granite Gulch Fire.    

Daily helicopter drops are keeping the fire's progress in check and guiding it toward the top of the Last Chance drainage as planned. Managing the movement of the Granite Gulch Fire is accomplishing several resource objectives.

Over the past century, white pine blister rust has decimated whitebark pine populations in the western U.S. Fortunately, those that survive produce seeds that are genetically resistant to the disease, but the species still needs help to reestablish.

"The trees that are left are hardier," Incident Commander Adam Wing said. "Those will be the next generation of trees."

Whitebark pine cones remain hard rather than opening and scattering their seed. These seeds are a key food source for the Clark's nutcracker, which caches them in open areas across the landscape -- exactly the kinds of places that get the direct sunlight necessary for whitebark pine to germinate.

When fire doesn't clear the ground periodically, thick stands of subalpine can form, "shading out" caches of whitebark pine and preventing them from sprouting. Strategic management of the fire is clearing out smaller, denser stands of subalpine fir, allowing larger firs to thrive and creating the more open landscape whitebark pine needs to reestablish.

In the interests of public safety, an area closure remains in effect for the area between Rock Creek Trail and Trail Creek Trail which drains into the Minam River, excluding Elk Meadows. The complete closure order, map and updated fire information can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6498/