Once the understory is lost, cutting may be the only, and very costly, method of juniper reduction. In the fire proof stage, prescribed fire may work under conditions of high winds and low humidity. However, the risk of fire escapement is great, so extreme caution or very intensive management of the area to be burned has to occur. The cost of juniper control is often more than any possible economic return from the land. This is particularly critical to private landowners.
Government programs exist to cost-share some control programs.
Since both public and private funds are limiting, prioritization of areas to be treated has to be done. Watersheds that are important to featured species such as red band trout serves as an example. However, other areas are essentially sacrificed due to the lack of funds. As juniper trees increase on a specific site to the extent of dominance, understory vegetation is lost due to the superior ability of juniper to extract water and nutrients from the soil. Exotic annual plant species, like cheatgrass, usually increase.