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Joined: Apr 2001
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OP
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I was recently in Fort Benton, Montana on the Upper Missouri River. I talked to a local Rancher who was really upset by the fact that one of his bottoms had burned. Burned bad enough to kill all the very large cottonwood trees.
How long does it take a bottom to recover from this? I realize the large trees will take many years (maybe hundreds?). What consequences for the local ecology? How long before some underbrush returns? How bad is it for the game populations? Deer and Pheasents?
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 26,524
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 26,524 |
How long before some underbrush returns? How bad is it for the game populations? Deer and Pheasents? Brush will be back in the spring. Game will follow.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 25,429
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 25,429 |
Cottonwood are a pioneer species and will regenerate pretty quick. Aspen fireweed and many other important plants will also be coming up this spring. The nutritional value of his "bottom" will be increased significantly because of the fire.
�Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.� �General George S. Patton, Jr.
--------------------------------------------------------- ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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but shade and cover will suck for a while....
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Joined: Nov 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Damn, for a minute there I thought Cottonwood had injured himself.
Will regenerate before you know it.
g
"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson
GeoW, The "Unwoke" ...Let's go Brandon!
"A Well Regulated Militia" Life Member
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Is he sure that all of the large cottonwoods are actually dead? He might be surprised next spring.
Around here cottonwoods can get pretty big in 30-40 years and they are tough to kill off.
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence". John Adams
"A dishonest man can always be trusted to be dishonest". Captain Jack Sparrow
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Campfire Regular
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I live in the Boreal forest of Northwestern Ontario--it is a fire-driven ecology. I've seen some catistrophic burns that burned to bald rock. They might stay black for a few years but eventually they too green up and then get thick as a jungle. Good for fur and game. A lot of big Pine and Spruce die and then lodge in the wind over the course of years. Seems a few big pines always survive too.
I think the guy was lamenting the loss of his big cottonwoods--they're all dead. He showed me a bottom that was still black and had burned a couple of years ago. All the large cottonwood were dead and bark starting to peel--looks like they would eventually come down from the wind if not from flood first. Surely those bottoms must see floods from time to time.
Even the bottom that burned last Summer had some grass and was full of deer--both whitetails and muleys and I saw a couple of Sharptails and hundreds of pheasents.
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Joined: May 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2010
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Cottonwoods - just add water and wait awhile.
--- CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE --- A Magic Time To Be An Illegal In America---
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Yes, the cotton woods will return. Just don't be standing over one when the root sprouts appear.
1Minute
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Generally, most trees of that Genus sprout vigorously after a fire.
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Joined: May 2008
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Yes, the cotton woods will return. Just don't be standing over one when the root sprouts appear. Lol. Very true
�Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.� �General George S. Patton, Jr.
--------------------------------------------------------- ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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