2014 Hulls Gulch Thinning
The City of Boise manages approximately 289 acres within the Hulls Gulch Reserve. The prevalent vegetation of Boise’s high desert sage steppe ecosystem dominates the reserve. Cheatgrass (Downy Brome- B. tectorum), and Medusahead Rye (T. caput) are non-native potential fuels for wildfires. Native species, such as Basin Sagebrush (A. tridentata) and Bitterbrush (P. tridentata), also pose a fire risk if left unchecked. The original Hulls Gulch project addressed dense groupings of Sagebrush and other shrubby vegetation surrounding the Hulls Gulch Reserve. In 2014, the Wildfire Mitigation Team worked to remove dense undergrowth and other ladder fuels near homes in the Hulls Gulch Reserve.
As a result of the project, the severity of wildfire in these areas and the associated hazard potential have been reduced. Wildfire hazard awareness was increased due to conversations with local residents, and through homeowners witnessing the thinning of fuels.
