08/22/07 Murphy Complex aftermath, part two

The Murphy Complex fire burned an area on the Idaho-Nevada border larger than Rhode Island. Environmentalists want to see 600 thousand plus acres replanted in native grasses. Longtime rancher Chet Brackett says there isn't enough seed to do that and unless a variety of grasses are planted, cheatgrass will dominate once again. Brackett says something like crested wheatgrass could be used. BRACKETT "It's staying green; it's not quite as apt to burn. Again if its grazed early and then it greens up then its wildlife feed the antelope and some of the other wildlife will utilize later the growing season." Brackett says cattle can graze on it too but that's the rub with environmentalists who don't want any livestock on the range. Devil Creek Ranch manager Keith Severe does as he looked at destroyed rangeland where cattle were not allowed to graze. SEVERE "Our fuel load out here has been horrendous. We've been scared to even go out in the pickup in the summer time for fear that we'd catch everything on fire." He, like Brackett believes plants like crested wheatgrass and koosia should be part of the rangeland reseeding effort. SEVERE "Something that is going to maybe help us in the long run to prevent such horrendous fires." Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott