Progress 07/01/12 to 06/30/13
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project is focused on providing scientific information to direct and support range management decisions in the Owyhee Region of southwestern Idaho. Project outputs are relevant to challenges related to grazing management in rangeland regions throughout the western United States. Implications of this work apply specifically to sagebrush-steppe ecosystems and juniper woodlands in the Basin and Range ecoregion and the riparian areas within these ecosystems. Accomplishments and Progress to Date: * Scientific summary of growing season grazing to create management guidelines. A report entitled "Management of Growing Season Grazing in The Sagebrush Steppe" was created by Dr. J.W. Burkhardt and Dr. K.D. Sanders in September 2010. This report was provided to land managers and ranchers in the Owyhee region as a foundation for setting guidelines to monitor and achieve sustainable grazing levels during the season of active plant growth in the sagebrush steppe ecosystem. * The Range Science Information System (RSIS) was created to provide scientific research articles to evaluate and support management decisions. This searchable database is currently available at www.rangescience.info. This internet catalog of research is a joint project among the University of Idaho, Montana State University, and the University of Wyoming. The internet interface of this database allows users one-click access to full-text articles in the database. * A pool of scientific reviewers was created to examine future management decisions that are challenged, or management questions for which illumination of scientific principles would be valuable. The pool of potential reviewers was a result of a "Call for Nominations" and discussion of qualifications to serve in the reviewer pool. Each potential reviewer was contacted to gain additional information and establish initial contract agreements. * A series of 13 science guides that will highlight the scientific information necessary to make rangeland management decisions have been outlined and authors have been assigned. Drafts of these science guides have been created and final publications will be printed in 2013. * A new electronic open-access journal, called the Journal of Rangeland Applications, has been drafted and will be available for publishing science guides and synthesis papers related to rangeland management. This journal will be a refereed journal with rigorous peer-review procedures. PARTICIPANTS: Project Director is Dr. Karen Launchbaugh. Karen is a professor of rangeland ecology and director of the University of Idaho Rangeland Center. Karen's role is to oversee work on the Range Science Information System (RSIS), maintain the pool of potential reviewers for the Owyhee Science Review Program, facilitate the work of review panels and bring reviews to publication on the web and in scientific periodicals. Lovina Roselle, the outreach coordinator of the U-Idaho Rangeland Center, works to ensure that outputs created in this project are made available to the public and target audiences. Project Coordinator is Dr. Chad Gibson. Chad is a retired professor of rangeland extension. Dr. Gibson's role is to facilitate discussions by the Owyhee Initiative Board relating to the Science Review Program. Chad also oversees local arrangements for review panel members and others relating to each science review. Dr. Gibson coordinates with land managers and stakeholders to identify research review and data management priorities based on on-site interactions with science review panels and the findings of science reviews. Partners in the science review program include members of the Owyhee Initiative Board which includes land owners, land managers with the Bureau of Land Management, The Wilderness Society, Idaho Conservation League, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Owyhee County Commissioners, Outfitters and Guides Association, Idaho Rivers United (www.owyheeinitiative.org). Several graduate research assistants have been retained in the Rangeland Center at the University of Idaho to develop annotations for the Range Science Information System. Collaborators in the creation of RSIS have included the Montana State University Libraries and the Renewable Resources Department at the University of Wyoming. TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audience for this work is ranchers, public and private range and resource managers, County officials, Native American Tribes, and land management agency personnel in the Owyhee Region of Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada. The outputs of this work have a much larger audience that includes all those who manage, use, enjoy, or care about sagebrush steppe, juniper woodlands, canyon grasslands, and salt desert shrubs in western North America. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
1) The first final report of the Owyhee Science Review Program was entitled "Management of Growing Season Grazing in The Sagebrush Steppe" has been used by ranchers and range management specialists in the Owyhee region to prepare and respond to planning documents used in the grazing permit renewal process. 2) Additional information on early season grazing was brought to light in a minority report prepared by Cindy Salo. This minority report has been considered by rangeland managers and scientists developing tools to support grazing management decisions. 3) The Range Science Information System (RSIS) bibliography has over 1,300 peer-reviewed bibliographic citations to professional journal articles and documents currently available at www.rangescience.info. These citations focus on: livestock grazing, riparian, weeds, rangeland, wildlife, vegetation and soils research. Article bibliograhic citations include additional research information such as: the type of article (primary research, synthesis article or case study), location of study, a summary of methods or area of influence, major findings or main points, topic categories, and annotations. This information is used by ranchers and rangeland managers in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and throughout North America to make management decisions and develop planning documents. 4) A series of science guides have been drafted and will be created on the following topics related to making land management decisions: Assessing Progress Toward Objectives; Adaptive Grazing Management; Assessing the Value of Information; Economic Impacts of Grazing Decisions; Season of Grazing; Stock Density and Stocking Rate; Rest from Grazing; Grazing After Fire; Strategic Grazing to Manage Wildland Fuels; Annual Grass Abundance; Juniper Management; Riparian Use and Management; Livestock and Sage-grouse.
Publications
- Burkhardt, J. W., and K. Sanders. 2012. Management of Growing-Season Grazing in the Sagebrush Steppe: A Science Review of Management Tools Appropriate for Managing Early-Growing-Season Grazing. Rangelands 34(5):30-35.
- Fraker-Marble, M., R. Mealor, J. Tanaka, and K. Launchbaugh. 2012. RSIS (Range Science Information System): An Annotated Bibliography Tool for All Rangeland Managers. Abstract Num. 147. 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management. Spokane, WA. Available at: http://rangelands.org/spokane2012/pdf/SRM%202012%20-%20title%20index% 20with%20links.pdf
- The Range Science Information System. 2012. Available at: www.rangescience.info.
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Progress 07/01/10 to 06/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The primary target audience for this work was ranchers, public and private rangeland and resource managers, County officials, Native American Tribes, and land management agency personnel in the Owyhee Region of Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada. The outputs of this work had a much larger audience that includes all those who manage, use, enjoy, or care about sagebrush steppe, juniper woodlands, canyon grasslands, and salt desert shrubs in western North America. Anyone who influence or make rangeland management decisions can benefit from this work. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project initiated the Owyhee Research and Restoration Roundup to create mutual learning among conservationists, land managers, and scientists. This 2-day event was viewed as highly valuable to participants and will continue as a bi-yearly event into the foreseeable future. This event created an opportunity for professional development of a diverse audience of people who care about land management in the Owyhee region. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Two important mechanisms were created in this project to disseminate information to land managers, policy makers, and conservationists. First, a partnership was foraged with Montana State University and the University of Wyoming to redesign and develop the Range Science Information System (www.rangescience.info). This online database provides individual summaries of the most highly relevant information necessary to make wise rangeland management decisions. Second, this project gave rise to the Journal of Rangeland Applications (www.theJRA.info). This online open-source journal provides scientific synthesis articles to inform land management decisions. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
To accomplish our goals we brought together scientists and managers in a work session to identify topics that should be researched to provide syntheses of what current knowledge and best available science on the topic. Topic experts including researchers and land managers where identified and teams were created to address each topic. Teams of rangeland scientists and extension specialists developed 15 journal articles and experiment station bulletins.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Burkhardt, J. W., & Sanders, K. 2012. Management of Growing-Season Grazing in the Sagebrush Steppe: A Science Review of Management Tools Appropriate for Managing Early-Growing-Season Grazing. Rangelands, 34(5), 30-35.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Davies, K.W., Vavra, M., Schultz, B.W., Rimbey, N.R. 2014. Implications of Longer Term Grazing Rest in the Sagebrush Steppe. Journal of Rangeland Applications. 1:14-34.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Strand, E.K., K.L. Launchbaugh, R.F. Limb, Torell, L.A. 2014. Livestock Grazing Effects on Fuel Loads for Wildland Fire in Sagebrush Dominated Ecosystems. Journal of Rangeland Applications. 1:35-57.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Boyd, C.S., Beck, J.L., Tanaka, J.A. 2014. Livestock Grazing and Sage-Grouse Habitat: Impacts and Opportunities. Journal of Rangeland Applications. 1:58-78.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Taylor, D.T., Wulfhorst, J.D., Torell, L.A., Rimbey, N.R., Tanaka, J.A. 2014. Economic and Social Impact Assessment of Ranching on Public Lands: Guides to Methods, Issues, and Applications. Journal of Rangeland Applications.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Swanson, S.R, Wyman, S., Evans, C. and Williams, S. 2014. Practical Grazing Management to Meet Riparian Objectives. Journal of Rangeland Applications.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Svejcar, T.J., C.S. Boyd. 2014. A Guidelines for Evaluating Scientific and Resources Information in Rangeland Management. Journal of Rangeland Applications.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Shewmaker, G.E., Launchbaugh, K.L., Jensen, K.S., Torell, L.A. 2014. Stocking Rate and Stock Density Considerations for Livestock Grazing in the Great Basin. Journal of Rangeland Applications.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Vavra, M., DelCurto, T., Rimbey, N., Kay, R. 2014. Ecological impacts of season of use on Sagebrush-Steppe Grasslands. Journal of Rangeland Applications.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Frost, R., Borman, M., Roselle, L. 2014. How long should land be rested from grazing after fire? Journal of Rangeland Applications.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Smith, B., Monaco, T., Hardegree, S., Prather, T., Tanaka, J. 2014. Managing Annual Grass Abundance with Restoration and Grazing Management. Journal of Rangeland Applications.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Bates, J., Pierson, F., DeBoodt, T. 2014. Implications of Western Juniper Invasion and Control. Journal of Rangeland Applications.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Torell, L.A., Rimbey, R.R., Tanaka, J.A., Taylor, D.T., Wulfhorst, J.D. 2014. Ranch Level Economic Impact Analysis for Public Lands: A Guide to Methods, Issues, and Applications. Journal of Rangeland Applications. 1:1-13.
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Progress 07/01/11 to 06/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Our overall program goal is to assure that the best available scientific information is used to make land management decisions and to resolve issues in questions related to rangeland management. We seek to increase access to published research that constitutes the best available science relevant to specific land management decisions. The first formal output of the Science Review Program (SRP) created a report entitled, "Management of Growing Season Grazing In The Sagebrush Steppe" by J.W. Burkhardt and K. D. Sanders. This first report offered guidelines to set grazing management plans in the sagebrush steppe region. The topic of the report was selected because of past grazing decisions where the implementation of early season grazing and monitoring its use was disputed by permittees. The information in this SRP report clarified much of the science related to early season grazing and will serve as guidance for future grazing permit renewal efforts. This SRP report on early season grazing was posted on the Owyhee Initiative web site (www.owyheeinitiative.org) and distributed in meetings of the Owyhee Initiative. This report is expected to be published as a peer reviewed article in Rangelands (a journal published by the Society for Range Management) and will be made available to the public in that form. To achieve our goal of increasing the availability of scientific information relative to management decisions, we also contributed to the creation of the Range Science Information System. The Range Science Information System is a citation searchable database with over 1,400 peer-reviewed bibliographic citations of professional journal articles and documents focused on: riparian, weeds, wildlife, vegetation, soils and rangelands management. Each RSIS article citation includes research information such as: summary of methods, article summary or main points, vegetation types and Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA). Each citation also describes the type of article (primary research, synthesis article or case study). RSIS article citations have a direct link to an online full-text retrievable copy of the article, or when an online copy is not available, a link to a library resource contact. The RSIS Range Science Information System is a partnership project between: Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming and can be accessed at: http://arc.lib.montana.edu/range-science/. The Owyhee Initiative has provided valuable input and resources to expand this on-lined reference database. Based on our current work, we are creating a series of experiment station bulletins and journal articles that focus on: >> Setting appropriate management objective >> Tracking progress >> Assessing the scientific value of research relative to grazing management >> Specific ecological impacts of grazing on wildland fuel loads, invasive grasses, sage-grouse habitat, riparian health, and soil attributes. >> Options in grazing management programs that can be controlled to manage grazing impact PARTICIPANTS: Project Director is Dr. Karen Launchbaugh. Karen is a professor of rangeland ecology and director of the University of Idaho Rangeland Center. Karen's role is to oversee work on the Range Science Information System (RSIS), maintain the pool of potential reviewers for the Owyhee Science Review Program, facilitate the work of review panels and bring reviews to publication on the web and in scientific periodicals. Lovina Roselle, the outreach coordinator of the U-Idaho Rangeland Center, works to ensure that outputs created in this project are made available to the public and target audiences. Project Coordinator is Dr. Chad Gibson. Chad is a retired professor of rangeland extension. Dr. Gibson's role is to facilitate discussions by the Owyhee Initiative Board relating to the Science Review Program. Chad also oversees local arrangements for review panel members and others relating to each science review. Dr. Gibson coordinates with land managers and stakeholders to identify research review and data management priorities based on on-site interactions with science review panels and the findings of science reviews. Partners in the science review program include members of the Owyhee Initiative Board which includes land owners, land managers with the Bureau of Land Management, The Wilderness Society, Idaho Conservation League, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Owyhee County Commissioners, Outfitters and Guides Association, Idaho Rivers United (www.owyheeinitiative.org). Several graduate research assistants have been retained in the Rangeland Center at the University of Idaho to develop annotations for the Range Science Information System. Collaborators in the creation of RSIS have included the Montana State University Libraries and the Renewable Resources Department at the University of Wyoming. TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audience for this work is ranchers, public and private range and resource managers, County officials, Native American Tribes, and land management agency personnel in the Owyhee Region of Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada. The outputs of this work have a much larger audience that includes all those who manage, use, enjoy, or care about sagebrush steppe, juniper woodlands, canyon grasslands, and salt desert shrubs in western North America. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Our goal to make scientific information about range management available to those creating land management plans has not changed. However, in 2011 we have placed greater effort on providing information to create defendable decisions that will reduce conflicts after decisions are made. We do not anticipate creating reports to resolve conflicts after they arise. Thus, our efforts have become proactive and preemptive rather than reactive.
Impacts
The findings in the first report of the Science Review Program are currently being used in NEPA documents for permit renewal in the Owyhee region and other regions and districts of the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Information from the Range Science Information System (http://arc.lib.montana.edu/range-science/) is referenced daily by land managers and others interested in rangeland management.
Publications
- Burkhardt, J.W. and K.D. Sanders. 2012. Management of Growing Season Grazing in The Sagebrush Steppe. Rangelands (accepted).
- Salo, C. 2010. Management of Growing Season Grazing in the Sagebrush Steppe - A Minority Report. Minority Report 2010-1 of the Owyhee Science Review Program. Availalbe at http://www.owyheeinitiative.org/science.htm.
- The Range Science Information System. 2011. Available at http://arc.lib.montana.edu/range-science/about.php
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Progress 07/01/10 to 06/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Outputs of this project are directed at range management decisions in the Owyhee Region of southwestern Idaho. The results of ongoing work are relevant to challenges related to grazing management in rangeland regions throughout the western United States. Implications of this work apply specifically to sagebrush-steppe ecosystems and juniper woodlands in the Basin and Range ecoregion and the riparian areas within these ecosystems. Accomplishments and Progress to Date: * Scientific summary of growing season grazing to create management guidelines. A report entitled "Management of Growing Season Grazing In The Sagebrush Steppe" was created by Dr. J.W. Burkhardt and Dr. K.D. Sanders in September 2010. This report was provided to land managers and ranchers in the Owyhee region as a foundation for setting guidelines to monitor and achieve sustainable grazing levels during the season of active plant growth in the sagebrush steppe ecosystem. * The Range Science Information System (RSIS) was created to provide scientific research articles to evaluate and support management decisions. This searchable database is currently available at http://arc.lib.montana.edu/range-science/index.php. We initially expected to create a unique and stand-alone searchable database of published research to support management decisions in the Owyhee Region. After discussing options with the Digital Initiatives Group at Montana State University, we decided to create a joint project that revised and expanded their existing internet database. A recent development occurred when a rangeland professor at the University of Wyoming was in the process of creating a searchable database with similar objectives and asked to join our effort. Resources from Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming are now pooled to create a highly effective internet tool to allow users to identify and access relevant rangeland research. We will create a new interface for users and work to create one-click access to full-text articles in the database. * A pool of scientific reviewers was created to develop scientific reviews of future management decisions that are challenged, or management questions for which illumination of scientific principles would be valuable. The pool of potential reviewers is a result of a "Call for Nominations" and discussion of qualification to serve in the reviewer pool. Each potential reviewer is currently being contacted to gain additional information and establish initial contract agreements. PARTICIPANTS: Project Director is Dr. Karen Launchbaugh. Karen is a professor of rangeland ecology and director of the Rangeland Center at the University of Idaho. Karen's role is to oversee work on the Range Science Information System (RSIS), maintain the pool of potential reviewers for the Owyhee Science Review Program, facilitate the work of review panels and bring reviews to publication on the web and in scientific periodicals. Project Coordinator is Dr. Chad Gibson. Chad is a retired professor of rangeland extension. Dr. Gibson's role is to facilitate discussions by the Owyhee Initiative Board relating to the Science Review Program. Chad also oversees local arrangements for review panel members and others relating to each science review. Dr. Gibson coordinates with land managers and stakeholders to identify research review and data management priorities based on on-site interactions with science review panels and the findings of science reviews. A research technician has been retained in the Rangeland Center at the University of Idaho to develop annotations for the Range Science Information System. Dr. Javier Naupari initiated this work and refined the format of annotations for RSIS. Javier created several dozen reviews that have been added to RSIS. Collaborators in creation of RSIS have included the Montana State University Libraries and the Renewable Resources Department at the University of Wyoming. Partners in the science review program include members of the Owyhee Initiative Board which includes land owners, land managers with the Bureau of Land Management, The Wilderness Society, Idaho Conservation League, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Owyhee County Commissioners, Outfitters and Guides Association, Idaho Rivers United (www.owyheeinitiative.org). TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audience for this work is ranchers, public and private range and resource managers, County officials, Native American Tribes, and land management agency personnel in the Owyhee Region of Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada. The outputs of this work have a much larger audience that includes all those who manage, use, enjoy, or care about sagebrush steppe, juniper woodlands, canyon grasslands, and salt desert shrubs in western North America. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
1) The first final report of the Owyhee Science Review Program was entitled "Management of Growing Season Grazing In The Sagebrush Steppe" has been used by ranchers and range management specialists in the Owyhee region to prepare and respond to planning documents used in the grazing permit renewal process. 2) Additional information on early season grazing was brought to light in a minority report prepared by Cindy Salo. This minority report has been used by rangeland managers and scientists to develop tools to support grazing management decisions. 3) The Range Science Information System (RSIS) bibliography has over 1,300 peer-reviewed bibliographic citations to professional journal articles and documents currently available at http://arc.lib.montana.edu/range-science/index.php. These citation focus on: livestock grazing, riparian, weeds, rangeland, wildlife, vegetation and soils research. Article bibliograhic citations include additional research information such as: the type of article (primary research, synthesis article or case study), location of study, a summary of methods or area of influence, major findings or main points, topic categories, and annotations. This information is used by ranchers and rangeland managers in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana to make management decisions and develop planning documents.
Publications
- 1) Burkhardt, J.W. and K.D. Sanders. 2010. Management of Growing Season Grazing in the Sagebrush Steppe. Report 2010-1 of the Owyhee Science Review Program. Available at http://www.owyheeinitiative.org/science.htm.
- 2) Salo, C. 2010. Management of Growing Season Grazing in the Sagebrush Steppe - A Minority Report. Minority Report 2010-1 of the Owyhee Science Review Program. Availalbe at http://www.owyheeinitiative.org/science.htm.
- 3) The Range Science Information System. 2011. Available at http://arc.lib.montana.edu/range-science/about.php
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