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if the ground surface is disturbed by salvage logging or grazing. Many monitoring studies have found lower cover of native plants in areas with high seeded grass cover, even where seedingincreased total cover. Some- timea thiaresulted inlower total cover after the seeded grass decreased in abundance. On the other hand, seeded grass may also inhibit growth of noxious weeds that invade sites after fire, a beneficial outcome. Rhi- zomatous (sod-forming) grasses make reforestation more difficult if they achieve significant cover. It is important to know the composition of prefire vegeta- tion when proposing to seed - if the vegetation in- cluded many annuals or lots of perennial grass or sedge, there will usually be considerable cover eatab- liehed naturally after a fire. Other factors Many respondents noted that grass seeding was sometimes done primarily for "political" reasons, especially at the wildland-urban interface. Ground Seedine Purpose. Ground seeding is done in localized areas of high burn intensity where reeetabliehing plant cover quickly is essential, such as riparian areas, above lakes and reservoirs, or highly productive forest land. Annual or perennial grasses, usually non-native pas- ture grasses or cereal grains, and non-native legumi- nous forba,aretypically used. Ground seeding assures more even seed application than aerial seeding and sometimes includes treatments to cover the eeed, which enhances germination. Seed is applied from all- terrain vehicles or by hand. Relatrve Etlectrveness Excellent-9% Good-82% Fair- 9% Poor-0% (Replies = 11) Ground eeeding was judged "good" in effectiveness by moat interviewees. Aa with aerial seeding, the post- fire weather pattern frequently determines the effec- tiveness of cover production by seeded grass. high winds may blow seed off site. First rains can wash ash and seed from the hillslope, or they may be gentle enough to stimulate germination. Use of a rangeland drill, raking, or mulch to cover seed increases success. One forest used cattle to trample seed into the ground and break up a hydrophobic layer. Non-native species, especially perennial grasses, grow well, sometimes too well, and provide persistent Grover. Cereal grains dis- appear in a few years. Implementaton andEnvironmental Factors Timing of seed application is essential to success; optimum timing depends onlocal weather pattern. The seed mixmustbe adapted to the soil type. Awned or very light seeds spread more easily ifrice hulls (or similar material) are included in the mix. Grass grewthis beat on lower angle elopes (less likely to wash away). Protection from cattle grazing the first year ie considered by some to be the biggest factor in success; protection for 2 or 3 years is good. Elk may have a negative effect on seeded grasses as well. Seeding Plua Fertilizer Purpose. Seeding plus fertilization is done to increase total vegetation cover quickly on a burned elope. Occa- sionally fertilizer alone is applied to enhance natural regeneration. Relative effectrveness Excellent-25% Good-0% Fair- 50% Poor-25% (Replies = 4) Fertilization received mixed reviews among the four respondents. As with seeding, timing of application and poet-fire weather pattern are important to auc- ceae. Fertilizationismainly done in the Northwest and ammonium sulfate is most commonly used. One re- spondent reported that greener strips were apparent in the seeded area where the fertilizer had been applied. Pelleted seed, containing a small amount of fertilizer, may be easier to apply than uncoated seed. Implementation and Envlronmenta] Factors Along riparian areas slow release fertilizer has been used to m;n;m;~n leaching into waterways. There is evidence that fertilizer may inhibit or depress mycorrhizae formation. Contour-Felled I,oga (I.og Erosion Barriers. I.og Ter- races. Terracettesl Purpose. Contour-felled loge reduce water velocity, break up concentrated flows, and induce hydraulic reughnesa to burned watersheds. Sediment storage ie a secondary objective. The potential volume of sedi- ment stored ie highly dependent on elope, the size and length of the felled trees, and the degree to which the felled trees are adequately staked and placed into ground contact. Relatrve Etl`ectrveness Excellent-29% Good-37% Fair- 14% Poor-20% (Replies = 35) The effectiveness of contour-felling covered the epec- trumfrom "excellent" to "poor," although more ratings were "excellent" or "good" (66 percent) than "fair" or "poor" (34 percent) (table 16). Some personnel re- ported 100 percent of loge functioning, while others reported 0 percent functioning. Site conditions, instal- lation quality, climate, and the quality of materials are major factors in determining relative effective- ness. In some instances contour-felled log barriers have filled with sediment following the first storm event after installation, while others have taken 1 to 2 years to fill. Implementatron and Environmental Factors Gocd planning, proper implementation, and knowledge of environmental factors are crucial to the success of USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-63.2000 75