Refuge Rehab: Tex Creek two months post burn

IDAHO FALLS — The Henry’s Creek fire burned about 75 percent of Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area in August. Two months post burn, there’s a short weave of green grass in the black blanket covering the WMA.

Two helicopter pilots see both colors from above as they crisscross the landscape. They’re targeting 6,800 acres of green within the black because that green is new cheatgrass where old sagebrush once grew.

“One of the biggest issues we have in a lot of the West is when you get catastrophic wildfires, cheatgrass comes in and dominates an area,” says Ryan Walker, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Tex Creek habitat biologist. “Cheatgrass prevents germination and rehabilitation of native species simply by removing soil moisture.”

While the $183,000 aerial spraying operation drops cheatgrass killing bacteria on the ground, 175 pounds of sagebrush seed collected by volunteers is bundled for shipment. The seeds are heading to Lucky Peak Nursery in Boise. They’ll return to Tex Creek next fall as seedlings.

“Sagebrush will come back,” Walker says. “I will find a way to make sure sagebrush comes back.”

Beyond seed, another stockpile sits at refuge headquarters. A haystack piled for elk migrating to Tex Creek for the winter. The 1,600 tons of hay sitting on hold will feed wildlife while the land continues to recover from burning.

And finally, the big game population at Tex Creek is shrinking more than originally planned. An extra deer hunt starts November 10 and an extra elk hunt opens November 17. Despite the post-burn rehab that’s underway, there won’t be enough food to feed the thousands of animals wintering at Tex Creek this year. That’s why there’s an additional 500 tags for deer and elk each. Both hunts end November 30.

Tex Creek, designated prime winter range for big game, closes to vehicle traffic December 1.

Outdoor journalist Kris Millgate is based in Idaho Falls, Idaho. See her work at www.tightlinemedia.com.