Matthew Richardson measures an area of Gambel oak while Ruby Connelly records the information in an area that was thinned and burned 10 years ago. The two are members of a Fort Lewis College research team working on a long-range forest management study northwest of Pagosa Springs. The summer work was supported by a $93,000 federal grant. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Michael Bartley, who is part of a Fort Lewis College research team, measures a ponderosa pine tree in a long-range forest management study northwest of Pagosa Springs. The study is examining the efforts of forest management. “The diversity of the forest will make the forest more healthy and it will make it more resilient,” said Julie Korb, an FLC professor and forest and fire ecologist. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

A Gunnison’s mariposa lily blooms in an area that was thinned and burned years ago for a long-range forest management study northwest of Pagosa Springs. Researchers found wildlife use all areas in the study. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Ian Fullinwider, left, Hailee McOmber, center, and Stacey Tabb count and identify plants in an area that was thinned and burned 10 years ago for a forest management study northwest of Pagosa Springs. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Stacey Tabb, part of a Fort Lewis College research team, works in an area that was thinned and burned 10 years ago for a long-range forest management study northwest of Pagosa Springs. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

The area on the left was thinned and burned years ago for a forest management study. The area on the right was left alone. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Michael Bartley, left, Ruby Connelly, center, and Matthew Richardson, all part of a Fort Lewis College research team, work in an area that was thinned and burned 10 years ago for a long-range forest management study northwest of Pagosa Springs. It is possible the area could be burned again for research purposes. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Michael Bartley holds a marker as Ruby Connelly takes a photo Wednesday marking an area they surveyed. The two counted and measured brush and trees in an area that was thinned and burned 10 years ago in a forest management study area northwest of Pagosa Springs. The area is far more open than areas that have not received any treatment. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Matthew Richardson, a member of a Fort Lewis College research team, shows the area that is in a long-range forest management study northwest of Pagosa Springs. The research is shared with the San Juan National Forest staff to help inform forest management, said Julie Korb, Fort Lewis College professor and a fire and forest ecologist. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Hailee McOmber, a member of a Fort Lewis College research team, looks through her journal of vegetation she has gathered to help identify plants in the study area. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Hailee McOmber, a member of a Fort Lewis College research team, looks through her journal of vegetation she has gathered to help identify plants in the study area. Open forests are more resilient to catastrophic wildfires and other threats. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald