​The Teton Interagency wildfire response assessment (Scott et al. 2013) was conducted to quantify the expected threat and benefit of wildfire to highly valued resources and assets (HVRAs) within the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) and Grand Teton National Park (GTNP). One of the HVRAs assessed by both agencies was diverse and resilient vegetation (DRV). The need to quantify expected threat and benefit of wildfire to vegetation communities was determined early in the wildfire response assessment process. Both agencies have the land management plan mandate to manage fire to meet resource objectives over the majority of their land bases. Including DRV – vegetation in a near-reference mix of succession classes – as a HVRA would allow the assessment to capture the potential wildfire effects on the local plant communities and anticipate how wildfire may help achieve resource objectives. An independent assessment of vegetation condition was therefore necessary to characterize and map the DRV HVRA for the BTNF1. This report presents the methodology and results of that assessment.

Helmbrecht, Don, Martha Williamson, and Diane Abendroth. 2012. Bridger-Teton National Forest Vegetation Condition Assessment. Prepared for Bridger-Teton National Forest, February 25, 2012. 38 p.