Science Uncorked: So It Burned. Now What? Turner Gulch Restoration

So It Burned. Now What?: Landscape Recovery and Rehabilitation After the Turner Gulch Fire

Presented by Ian Reiling, Silviculturist with the US Forest Service

The Turner Gulch Fire burned southwest of Grand Junction from July to October of 2025, affecting a 36,000 acre landscape and producing substantial quantities of smoke in the Grand Valley.

The operations of suppressing wildland fire are complex and fast-moving with the potential to do significant long-term resource damage. While the airtankers are flying and the hotshots are digging, plans are already under development for ecosystem rehabilitation and longer-term recovery. This presentation captures many facets of the recovery efforts as they evolve over time and techniques used for short-term and long-term recovery goals. It is a much less documented but very important side of

living with wildland fire.

Ian is a silviculturist with the US Forest Service based in Grand Junction. He has worked in forestry and forest health for the past decade. He also worked at a winery once upon a time! Ian leads the local chapter of Society of American Foresters and enjoys talking trees with anyone who will listen.

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Host or Publisher Whitewater Hill Vineyards