1 IDENTIFYING SAGE GROUSE LEK & PRAIRIE DOG HABITAT ON WYOMING’S THUNDER BASIN GRASSLAND Steve Storie The Pennsylvania State University Master Geographical Information Systems Program Geography 596A Capstone Project Proposal Presentation April 1, 2010 Douglas Miller, Advisor
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1 IDENTIFYING SAGE GROUSE LEK & PRAIRIE DOG HABITAT ON WYOMING’S THUNDER BASIN GRASSLAND Steve Storie The Pennsylvania State University Master Geographical.
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IDENTIFYING SAGE GROUSE LEK & PRAIRIE DOG HABITAT ON WYOMING’S
THUNDER BASIN GRASSLAND
Steve Storie
The Pennsylvania State UniversityMaster Geographical Information Systems Program
• Study Area• Project Objectives• Data• Methods• Timeline• Anticipated
Results
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Thunder Basin Grassland Prairie Ecosystem Association
(TBGPEA)
•Formed in 1999 to address land management issues•Provides voluntary non-profit privately-led efforts•Partners with government•Backs responsible economic use.• Demonstrates effective stewardship.
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule
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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule
• History, ecology, and economy discussed in 2001 symposium;
• Methods of formulating and implementing an ecosystem management plan discussed in 2004;
• Ecological assessment of terrestrial ecosystems by EMRI completed in 2008.
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LAND OWNERSHIP
• Private (members)- 25%• Private (non-members)-
34%• US Forest Service- 31%• Bureau of Land
Management- 4%• State of Wyoming- 6%
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule
Land Ownership in Study Area
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ISSUES• Land Uses
– Grazing– Wildlife– Coal, oil, & gas
extraction• Land Management
– Maintain range– Maintain wildlife
habitat– Reclaim mined land
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule
Large Coal Mine
Oil Pump Station
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RANGE MANAGEMENT ISSUES
• Exotic plant species– 41% of ecosites with
> 5% exotic cover – Influenced by
grazing and fire management
• Reseeding go-back lands– Previously farmed
lands– Abandoned prairie
dog towns
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule
Cheat Grass
Rabbit by Abandoned Prairie Dog Hole
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WILDLIFE ISSUES
• Sage grouse– Half of population in
Wyoming– Habitat dividing– Population declining
• Prairie dogs– Holes provide
habitat for other animals
– Nuisance to ranchers
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule
Male Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)
Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)
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ENERGY ISSUES
• Reseed range for grazing
• Minimize impact to existing wildlife habitat
• Reconstruct wildlife habitat
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule
Cattle Grazing on Reclaimed Land
Pronghorn Grazing on Reclaimed Land
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MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
• Changing traditional attitudes about solving public and private land issues;
• Getting a management consensus between multiple private and government entities;
• Implementing management plans across private and public land ownership boundaries.
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule
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PHYSIOGRAPHY
• Transition area between Great Plains and Rocky Mountains to the west.
• Elevation ranges from 4000 to 5300 feet.
• Surface geology consists of weathered bedrock mixed with alluvium, eolian, and slopewash.
• Desert and prairie soils.
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule
Wyoming Landforms
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HYDROLOGY & CLIMATE
• Drainage east to Cheyenne and Missouri Rivers.
• Hot summers and cold winters.
• 12.5 inches of precipitation.
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule
Cheyenne River Bridge
Study Area in Summer
Study Area in Winter
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OBJECTIVES
• Locate and characterize prairie dog town and sage grouse lek habitat;
• Identify the management challenges if habitat is favorable for both prairie dogs and sage grouse.
• Provide management recommendations
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule
Male Sage Grouse Strutting at a Lek
Prairie Dogs
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POINT & LINE DATA
Description
Source Comments
Sage grouse leks
Wyoming Game and Fish
In hand
Streams USGS National Hydrography Dataset
In hand
Roads Census Bureau Tiger Line Data
In hand
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule
Sage Grouse Leks and Drainages
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POLYGON DATADescription
Source Comments
Water bodies
USGS National Hydrography Dataset
In hand
NRCS soil ecological sites
Natural Resource Conservation Service
In hand
Vegetation map
Unknown In hand
Prairie dog towns
Wyoming Game and Fish
Partially in hand
Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule