West Texas Rangelands

Legal Barriers to Prescribed Burning

September 17, 2025 by jaime.sanford

For centuries, fire has been a natural and essential part of Texas ecosystems. Before modern fire suppression, grasslands and forests across the Southeast and into Texas grasslands burned routinely—some every 2 to 10 years. These natural fire regimes kept resprouting trees and understory brush in check, enhanced wildlife habitat, and sustained resilient, productive rangelands.

But decades of fire suppression have come at a cost. Without fire, woody plants like ashe juniper and eastern redcedar creep across pastures. Native grasses struggle to compete and are choked out. Wildlife habitat declines due to unbalanced monocultures and loss of species richness. And volatile fuel builds up, making wildfires hotter, longer,, and harder to control.

Lessons Learned – Gas Polyurethane Line Ignited by Wildfire

September 10, 2025 by jaime.sanford

On July 17, 2025, a rapidly growing brush and grass fire broke out in the steep slopes of Cottonwood Flats, near the community of Rulison, Colorado. This area is known for its oil and gas infrastructure, and fire resources are regularly briefed on the presence of these operations.

The wildfire’s east side saw the most growth. However, the majority of the oil and gas infrastructure was located on the fire’s northwest flank, where it experienced lower-intensity backing and flanking fire. Two above-ground natural gas lines were near the heel of the fire, one steel and the other a “FlexSteel” pipe. According to local fire and oil and gas personnel, most gas lines are typically buried underground.

Five Characteristics of a Rangeland Steward

September 3, 2025 by jaime.sanford

What a privilege to be asked by West Texas Rangelands to write a short article about “Five Characteristics of a Rangeland Steward!” My range career started in the seventh grade when I participated in my first 4-H Rangeland Evaluation Contest in Junction, Texas. However, I didn’t learn about rangeland stewardship until I was a junior in high school while attending the Texas Section Youth Range Workshop. Since the inception of YRW, the rangeland stewardship component has been a fundamental component. So important that we start and finish each day with STEWARDSHIP. The following five characteristics of a rangeland steward are in no particular order for I feel that the whole is greater than the parts.

A Flood of Change: What July’s Historic Rains Mean for Texas’ Drought Outlook

August 27, 2025 by jaime.sanford

Texas endured a dramatic climatic shift in July—one that’s already rewriting the story of our drought and breaking 131 year records. But even as optimism swells, persistent vulnerabilities remind us the path to recovery is far from over.

Dr. Lander’s Rare Discovery in the Roots of Twin-leaf Senna

August 20, 2025 by jaime.sanford

It was a spring day in Schleicher County around 1985. Dr. Landers was waiting on students to finish a range contest when he decided to do a local rancher a small favor. Twin-leaf senna (Senna roemeriana) is a toxic plant known for causing livestock poisoning, and he had spotted a patch nearby. On a whim, he dug up about a dozen plants.

Grazing and Carbon: Finding the Balance

August 13, 2025 by jaime.sanford

When we think of livestock grazing, we often focus on the immediate impact on rangelands. But grazing can directly influence (good or bad) long-term organic material and carbon stored in soil. 2024 research published in Nature Climate Change highlights the critical role that grazing plays by analyzing global carbon stocks dynamics from 1,473 samples from across the world.

Indiana Prescribed Fire Entrapment – Incident Review

August 6, 2025 by jaime.sanford

On March 18, 2025, a routine prescribed fire at Indiana Dunes National Park turned into a serious safety incident when a firefighter sustained first and second‑degree facial burns, and a UTV caught fire during suppression efforts.

The team was tasked with burning a 10‑acre section just north of Long Lake, Indiana. Winds were at the upper limit of the prescription, but initial operations proceeded normally.

Management & Microbes: How Fire and Grazing Shape Soil Life Below the Surface

July 30, 2025 by jaime.sanford

When we think about the effects of fire and grazing, we often focus on what’s visible—charred grasses, shifting plant communities, and changes in wildlife behavior. But just beneath our feet, a powerful shift is also happening. Fire and herbivory don’t just impact the surface—they reshape entire microbial communities within the soil, influencing how rangelands recover, grow, and function long after the flames cool off or the herd moves on.

Beware of a New Invader in the Concho Valley: Jointed Goatgrass

July 23, 2025 by jaime.sanford

If you’ve noticed a wiry, unfamiliar grass growing along Texas roadsides—especially in the Edwards Plateau—you might be looking at Jointed Goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica). This invasive cool-season annual, part of the Poaceae (Grass) family, is becoming an increasing concern for landowners, farmers, and rangeland managers across the Concho Valley region.

Managing Cheatgrass on Texas Rangelands: Practical Strategies for Landowners

July 16, 2025 by jaime.sanford

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) concerns in Texas may sound impossible, unfortunately, it is growing into a real concern in the Upper and Lower Rolling Plains. As an invasive annual grass, cheatgrass poses a serious threat to native ecosystems, forage quality, and wildfire risk— dominating landscapes into potential future monocultures.