Bureau of Land Management

Description

B. Project Background Information: Between October 1997 and October 2002 approximately 7,500 acres of vegetation treatments were conducted as livestock and pronghorn mitigation for the Moxa Arch gas development field, in the Kemmerer Resource Area (KFO). There were two different treatment types utilized: mowing, and spike (sagebrush herbicide); as well as one project that experimented using two different mower heights. The projects have been surveyed to determine the summer grass response to the different treatments, however not to determine the spring forb response. Spring forbs are a crucial forage for sage-grouse during nesting and brood rearing, and current management concerns are focused on sage-grouse mitigation. There is a relatively small window of time in the spring in which the forbs can be monitored, thus a survey requires a concentrated effort by a large and experienced team of professionals. This project proposes to work with an experienced wildlife consulting firm in order to complete the field survey, analyze the data, and write a final report of the results including future vegetation management recommendations for sage-grouse. C. Project Objective: The Objectives of this study are to: • Determine the short-term herbaceous response of sagebrush habitats to different habitat treatments. • Determine the short-term and potential long-term effects of different treatments to nesting and early brood-rearing habitat suitability for greater sage-grouse. • Establish herbaceous vegetation measurement techniques to be used to track the herbaceous response of sagebrush habitats to different treatments through time. D. Benefits: The results from this project will help improve BLM vegetation management decisions to benefit breeding sage obligate species, which will make future projects more cost-effective and beneficial. E. Statement of Joint Objectives/Project Management Plan: a. Complete field work on over 40 established transects by the end of June 2008. b. Analyze the data and write up a summary draft report by August 30, 2008 for review by the BLM biologist representative. c. Submit a final report by September 30, 2008.

Who can apply

• Unrestricted

Contact

Ilze Karklins-Powers <br/>Grants & Agreements Specialist <br/>Phone 307-775-6293
Ilze_Karklins-Powers@blm.gov