Ecoregional Analysis of Sagebrush Ecosystems of the Wyoming Basin and Colorado Plateau

Research Task: 9354CTX.431.0
Task Manager: Cameron Aldridge

Conservation and restoration of the sagebrush ecosystem are of special concern to Federal and State resource management agencies due to extensive habitat degradation and loss during the last century. Accelerated energy and natural resource development, livestock grazing, and the construction of associated infrastructure—such as roads, powerlines, and pipelines—potentially influence a substantial proportion of the sagebrush ecosystem, especially in Wyoming and adjacent states. Threats to these systems require systematic assessment on an ecoregional scale to guide development of management plans and reduce further loss or degradation of sagebrush habitat. Because processes operating at regional scales can be independent of processes operating in local, smaller systems, conservation strategies developed at regional scales are a necessary part of effective conservation and land-use planning. By the same token, fine-scale data are helpful in setting local objectives. To support integrated planning and management at all levels, the work conducted through this task will (1) provide data layers appropriate for use in preparing ecoregional assessments; (2) identify primary land uses and changes, potential impacts to sagebrush habitats and associated wildlife, and species of concern that use sagebrush during some part of their life-cycle; (3) model potential impacts on sagebrush habitat and associated wildlife species; and (4) conduct extensive field sampling to test wildlife occupancy models.

 For more information contact Cameron Aldridge