Source: SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE submitted to NRP
ENHANCING NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT THROUGH RESEARCH, COLLABORATION AND TRAINING ON REMOTE SENSING OF SOUTHWEST RANGELANDS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1018425
Grant No.
2019-38424-29291
Cumulative Award Amt.
$500,000.00
Proposal No.
2018-08416
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Apr 1, 2019
Project End Date
Mar 31, 2023
Grant Year
2019
Program Code
[ZY]- Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program
Recipient Organization
SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
9169 COORS RD NW, BOX 10146
ALBUQUERQUE,NM 87184
Performing Department
Advanced Technical Education
Non Technical Summary
Grazing of grass forage by livestock is the dominant land use in the Southwestern United States, and is a major part of the economy of many Southwestern Tribes. Persistant drought and other stressors threaten the biological integrity and resilience of the grass ecosystems in the Southwest, and pose challenges to sustainable rangeland management.Detrimental impacts on the capacity of grass vegetation to support sustainable livestock production are aparamount concern for both Tribal and public lands.The design of effective strategies for mitigation and adaptation can benefit from timely, spatially comprehensive information about how grass in the Southwest responds to stressors and management practices over space and time. By enabling consistent observations over seasonal, annual, decadal and longer time-periods, satellite-based remote sensing can be an effective source of such information. This project is designed to support improved rangeland management in the Southwestern U.S. by testing a newmethodology that extracts information on grass condition from images collected at frequent intervals by Earth-observing satellites. The project advances a long-term objective to establish an operational, satellite-based monitoring system that can inform and guide effective management of Tribal, public and private grazing lands in the Southwest in response to multiple stress factors, including a variable and changing climate and grazing pressure.
Animal Health Component
60%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
60%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1210799206020%
1211620207020%
1217210209060%
Goals / Objectives
This project addresses TCRAE priorities through coordinated activities in applied research, education and outreach to Tribal communities and other stakeholders. The research is designed to develop and test a methodological foundation for an observation-based, spatial data and information system that would support improved rangeland management in the Southwestern United States. The project advances a long-term objective to establish an operational, satellite-based monitoring system that can inform and guide effective management of Tribal, public and private grazing lands in the Southwest in response to multiple stress factors, including a variable and changing climate and grazing pressure.The major, supporting objectives are to:refine a satellite remote sensing methodology previously developed for mapping of semiarid grass vegetation in the Southwest (Dye and Middleton et al., 2016, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs8110889), and evaluate its effectiveness for monitoring of year-to-year variability and trends in grass condition and monsoon rainfall.enhance the degree and certificate programs in Geospatial Information Technology (GIT), Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) by engaging students in project activities and training opportunities that a) develop their knowledge, skills and experience in environmental remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), field methods, digital image processing, data analysis, and rangeland ecology, and b) enhance their preparedness for success in baccalaureate programs and competitiveness for quality jobs in natural resource applications of geospatial information technology.
Project Methods
RESEARCH METHODOLOGYStudy AreaThe study area covers a broad region of southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico (approximately 37 million hectares, or 143,000 square miles), and focuses on the zone of perennial warm-season (predominately C4) grasses where livestock grazing is the dominant land use.Satellite Remote Sensing MethodsThe satellite-based analysis is designed to deepen understanding of spatio-temporal patterns of vegetation-climate (particularly grass-climate) relations achieved by prior research in our study area. The approach will:Use 20-year (2000-2019) data sets from MODIS for our full study area (250m, 8-day composites) and from Landsat (30 m) for selected sub-areas in New Mexico and Arizona where the Landsat path-rows overlap (and thus provide greater observation frequency).Use our DVP method (Dye et al., 2016) to create annual time-series of MSAVI2, NDPI and NDPIs from the MODIS and Landsat datasets.Apply insights from our field observations to refine the NDPI parameterization and calculations.Perform statistical analysis (primarily bivariate and multivariate regression) to investigate relationships between observed interannual and spatial variation in NDPIs and corresponding variation in grass condition (net primary productivity, NPP) and annual weather conditions (for example, monsoon rainfall patterns from spatially comprehensive, radar-based 800m PRISM data, meteorological site data from observing networks at the Sevilleta and Jornada Basin LTERs).Climatological and Biotic Data AnalysisProcess daily, 800m PRISM data (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University) to create 20 years of statistical summary maps for the study areaand the time intervals (p1, p2) used for the NDPI calculation, and validate with independent, local meteorological data.Analyze and summarize patterns of spatial and intra- and inter-annual variability in PRISM precipitation, and use results to inform analysis of and calibrate NDPIs based products.Process and analyze multi-year time-series of NPP and related biotic and abiotic (e.g., precipitation, temperature) data available from our collaborators/cooperators at Sevilleta (UNM) and Jornada (NMSU) Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) sites in central and southern New Mexico funded by the National Science Foundation, and the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range (a USDA-sponsored Long-term Agricultural Research Site) for comparative analysis with the NDPIs and the PRISM climate data.Fieldwork Field data will be collected on multiple dates in 2019 and 2020 to support refinement of the NDPI parameterization and analysis, and verification and validation of our NDPIs map results. The field observations will examine seasonality of the spectral reflectance properties (including "greenness") of the major vegetation cover types, grass fractional cover, and related vegetation metrics. We will use four main types of remote sensing instruments:Mobile Imaging System. We will construct a mobile imaging system as an efficient, practical means to document the seasonal phenology and spectral reflectance of the major vegetation types across our study area. It will include a retractable camera mast and a remotely controlled pan-tilt camera mount that is deployable on our field vehicle, a 4WD pickup truck. For this purpose, we will either adapt a UAV 4-band (visible-NIR) camera system or construct a custom-designed imaging system using high-quality machine vision cameras.Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Imaging System. We will use SIPI-GIT's quadcopter with a 4-band camera (Slantrange 3PX) to observe and analyze spatial composition of our study sites, particularly grass fractional cover. We will also collaborate with the NMSU team to leverage their UAV-based imaging capabilities and field studies. All UAV flights will be consistent with FAA regulations and any local restrictions, if any.Spectroradiometer. We will use SIPI-GIT's ASD HandHeld Pro 2 portable spectroradiometer to collect hyperspectral reflectance data for individual plants representing the major vegetation types at our field sites.Phenocams. Our cooperating researchers at UNM and USDA-ARS will share data or information from their networks of tower-based cameras, or phenocams, at Sevilleta LTER and Jornada Basin LTER. These imaging systems provide a high-frequency (sub-daily) record of seasonal change in greenness of individual plants and the integrated landscape.We will select field sites to represent the range of vegetation and climate conditions across the larger study area, designated as local or distant sites. Local sites (Pueblo of Isleta, Sevilleta LTER) can be visited during day trips from SIPI. Distant sites involve multiday field trips, and are grouped by sub-region (SE Arizona/SW New Mexico, and SE New Mexico). We anticipate visiting the local and distant sites 8 times and 5 times each year, respectively. Because of practical constraints (time, cost), distant sites will be visited less frequently than local sites.METHODOLOGIES FOR EDUCATION AND TRAININGThe project will introduce new, participation-based educational and training activities that enable SIPI students to gain direct knowledge and experience in instrument development (mobile imaging system), remote sensing technology (satellite imagery and UAV-based imaging systems, spectroradiometers, phenocams), arid lands ecology (desert and grasslands), field and lab methods (vegetation mapping/monitoring) and computer-based skills (data processing, statistical analysis, visualization). SIPI students will also be provided opportunities to participate in research at the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range (JER) and adjacent NMSU Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (CDRRC). This will include participation in the Desert Ecology Short Course that is hosted annually in early July by the NSF-funded Jornada Basin LTER program, and participation in additional fieldwork at the JER-CDRRC associated with the LTER graduate and undergraduate summer research programs.In addition, a graduate student associated with the project will be located in the Range Science program at NMSU, a nationally accredited program that focuses on rangeland management and conservation. The graduate student at NMSU, while conducting their own project related research, will also work directly with the SIPI students both in the field and periodically during the academic year. The graduate student, with guidance from senior project scientists, will serve as a peer mentor both in the field and on individual student projects. Importantly, we see this as a bridge for potentially interested SIPI students to transition to a four-year undergraduate program and graduate school.Our project plan includes an inter-bureau "detail" to SIPI by USGS Geographer Mr. Barry Middleton (Co-PD) for 20 months of the 24-month project period. In addition to providing critical research support and leadership, Mr. Middleton will enhance teaching and research in the SIPI GIT program, through guest presentations in courses and by mentoring and advising SIPI students. He will also expose SIPI students to science activities and career opportunities at USGS by facilitating site visits to a USGS Science Center, such as the Flagstaff Science Campus in Arizona.PROJECT EVALUATIONWe will use a variety of metrics to evaluate and report the project's effectiveness in enhancing research capacity at SIPI, including numbers of project-related:Student learning outcomes based on established assessment protocolsStudent research assistantships and internshipsStudents participating in field work and training coursesStudent research projectsScience presentations by students, the PD and Co-PDsSeminars/presentations at SIPI by external researchersPeer-reviewed publications and other reports

Progress 04/01/22 to 03/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached by the project efforts during this reporting period consists of: 1) Graduate student(s) in Dryland Ecology and Rangeland Management 2) Native American undergraduate/communitycollege students in Pre-Engineering and Geospatial Information Technology Changes/Problems:The primary obstacle during the reporting period was unexpected difficulties in arranging inter-agency agreement to enable participation of topical expert Barry Middleton of the USGS Western Geographic Science Center, as planned for the 2022-2023 project year. We are now optimistic we can succeed in arranging this in early 2023. We are therefore requesting a 1-year no-cost extension for 2023-2024. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Students at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute were engaged in the project through hands-on development work for the field-portable multispectral imaging system.Their activities provided training and experience in software development and computer-assisted design and manufacturing of system components. The project supported their efforts through stipends. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are requesting a 1-year no-cost extension for 2023-2024to complete the project under existing funding. Our plan includesthe following priorities: 1) Implement collaboration with USGS researcher Barry Middleton at the Western Geographic Science Center. As a topical expert, his participation (as Co-PI on the original, funded project proposal and work plan) wasa core element of the project. Unexpected bureacratic obstacles between USGS and BIE-SIPI precluded implementation and resulted in his withdrawal from the project. Recent progress in establishig a formal USGS-BIE Memorandum of Understanding provides encouragment that we can now succeed in arranging his participation in early 2023. 2)Our training plans focus on engaging SIPI students in project-related learning activities. These activities include 1) participation in fieldwork to characterize seasonal phenology of grass and shrub vegetation in our study area by collecting near-surface multispectral images and hyperspectral reflectance measurements, 2) student-focused presentations or seminars by project team members to inform them of the underlying sciece as well as related career opportunities. To support Barry Middleton's research efforts on the project, we plan to reallocate a portion of the unobligated funds to a cooperative agreementwith the USGS Western Geographic Science Center. T The timeline of activities during our requested no-cost extension period (4/1/2022-3/21/2023) is as follows: March-June, 2023 Arrange and implement subaward to USGS with NIFA approval Conduct field tests of the SIPI multispectral imaging system (SIPI team) Data preparation for regional scale analysis (SIPI and USGS researcher) Apr-July, 2022 Organize 2022 field surveys Regional scale analysis, Phase 1 May-Oct 2022 Conduct field surveys Student field training Regional scale analysis, Phase 2 Oct 2022-Mar 2023 Regional scale analysis, Phase 3, including synthesis of local/regional results Workshop(s) with Tribal and other stakeholders Final reporting and publication submissions

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Application of the remote sensing methodology at the local/regional spatial scale was evaluated at the Jornada Experimental Range in southern New Mexico. The analysis identified significant issues that were not explored in the original, prior research project, however theresults provided encouraging evidence that the methodology can be successfully applied across a broader range ofSouthwest bioclimate zones.This componenent of the research was undertaken by Taylor Hansen at New Mexico State Unviersity as a project-funded research assistant under the guidance of Co-PI Lara Prihodko.

Publications


    Progress 04/01/19 to 03/31/23

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The target audience reached by the project during the full performance period consists of: 1) Graduate student(s) in Dryland Ecology and Rangeland Management at New Mexico State University, and2) Native American undergraduate/communitycollege students in Pre-Engineering and Geospatial Information Technology at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. Changes/Problems:A major problem confronted by the research were the unanticipatedchallenges faced by SIPI and USGS in realizinga cooperative agreement to enable project support by a USGS researcher.A critical element of the work plan described in the original proposal was full-time research support to be provided by USGS Geographer Mr. Barry Middleton. Mr. Middleton possesses unique knowledge and experience on the research topic, gained through prior collaboration with the Project Director during their joint tenure at USGS. The work plan was predicated on executionof aCooperative Agreementbetween SIPI and USGS. The purpose of the agreement was to arrange an interbureau detail of Mr. Middleton from USGS to SIPI that wouldenable him to undertake project research and student mentoring at SIPI. Although this arrangement was pre-approved in principle by leadership at both USGS and SIPI, unexpected complexities associated with BIE and USGS policy impeded efforts to realize it. Despite sustained efforts, the USGS-SIPI collaboration could not be implemented; the project work plan and productivity consequently suffered. Nevertheless, the project made substantial, noteworthy accomplishments in support of the research objectives that render it, in balance, a success. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided direct support for: 1) the planning, execution and successful completion of a Master's Thesis and MS Degree by NMSU student Taylor Hansen. 2) experiential learning in remote sensing instrument development for agricultural field applications by at least 8 SIPI undergraduate (Year 1 and 2) students. The project also supporting professional development by the Project Director, SIPI faculty member Dr. Dennis Dye through participation and presentations at relevant conferences and workshops. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The project results have been disseminated to communities of interest through presentations at major conferences and workshops concerned with Native American agriculature (FALCON), ecosystem monitoring and data systems (NEON), and grassland ecology What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? OBJECTIVE 1: Develop and test a methodological foundation for an observation-based spatial data and information system that would support improved reangeland management in the Southwestern United States. Accomplishments: Major accomplishments were achieved throughoriginal research performed by NMSU Master's student, Taylor Hansen, under supervision of project Co-PIs, Drs. Lara Prihodko (NMSU) and Dennis Dye (SIPI). The researchtested the ability of the normalized difference phenometric index (NDPI) to capture the fraction of grass and shrub cover at the Jornada Experimental Range in southwestern New Mexico and examined the ability of the NDPI to represent the spatial variability of precipitation impacts on grass productivity. MODIS/Terra surface reflectance 8-day imagery with a spatial resolution of 250m was used to test the ability of NDPI to separate grasses and shrubs at the Jornada. The NDPI was calculated over 16 years, from 2005-2020, on Google Earth Engine. NDPI = (VIp2-VIp1)/(VIp2+VIp1) where VI is the MSAVI2 Vegetation Index and p1 and p2 refer to distinct phenological periods for grasses (dormancy and maximum greenness). The results of the 16-year NDPI indicate that the novel index effectively discerned between shrub coverage and grass coverage across space and time. The research achieved the significant conclusion that NDPI is an efficient tool for rangeland management that reinforces expectations that the satellite-based methodology can be highly effective in isolating and monitor grass productivity and rangeland conditions in the Southwest. OBJECTIVE 2: Enhance the degree and certificate programs in Geospatial Information Technology (GIT), Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) by engaging students in project activities and training opportunities that a) develop their knowledge, skills and experience in environmental remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), field methods, digital image processing, data analysis, and rangeland ecology, and b) enhance their preparedness for success in baccalaureate programs and competitiveness for quality jobs in natural resource applications of geospatial information technology. Accomplishments: The project was successful in providing significant opportunities for SIPI students to engage in experiential learning in environmental remote sensing, principally through grant-funded internship activities. These activities enhanced the educational experience of SIPI students majoring in Geospatial Information Technology and Pre-Engineering. A noteworthy achievement was thedevelopment of the grant-sponsored Field-Portable Multispectral Imaging System

    Publications

    • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Hansen, T.M., 2022. Satellite Estimates of Grass Productivity in a Heterogenous Southwestern Rangeland (MS Thesis, New Mexico State University).
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Hansen, T., Prihodko, L., Dye, D., Hanan, N., Ji, W., and Anchang, J., 2022. Satellite estimates of grass productivity in a heterogeneous Southwestern Rangeland, Society for Range Management, 75th SRM Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Feb. 6-10.


    Progress 04/01/21 to 03/31/22

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Efforts during this reporting period to reach our target audiences were constrained by a gradual transition in late 2021 from severe COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions toward quasi-normal operations. The significant change was partial re-opening of the SIPI campus to classroom-based courses in October, 2021. At the time of this reporting, we are preparing to reinitiate workplan activitiesthat involvedirect interaction with SIPI students, external collaborators, and stakeholders. We are also planning to conduct essential field work that has been disallowed in accordance with pandemic-related travel restrictions. We plan for these to be implemented and operational in calendar year 2022, within the performance period of our requestedno-cost extension. Changes/Problems:The primary challenges to progress in this reporting period were 1) institutional restrictions at BIE-SIPI during the COVID-19 pandemic that prohibited official travel to conduct planned fieldwork, and 2) unexpected delays in developingSIPI's custom, portable, multispectral imaging systemfor remote sensing of vegetation and phenology. With the easing of travel restrictions in late2021, we plan to initiate fieldwork within the period of our no-cost extension for calendar year 2022. Recent progress in the software development for the imaging system suggests it can be ready for deployment in our fieldwork in Spring 2022. In addition to our request for a no-cost extension of grant funding for 2022, we are requesting permission to restructure our budget for senior personnel.We seek to make project funds available to allow a USGS-based researchscientist to support the project on a part-time basis. The additional research support will enable us to make rapid progress on the regional-scale analysis, student training, and complete our overall project objectives. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?NMSU graduate research assistant Taylor Hanson presented her project-funded research at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. The abstract is below. Satellite estimates of grass productivity in a shrubby Southwestern Rangeland Taylor Hansen, Dennis Dye, Niall Hanan, Lara Prihodko Background/Questions/Methods: Drylands cover approximately 40% of the Earth's land surface but there are relatively few remotely sensed vegetation indices that are tailored to the challenges that come with observing arid and semi-arid rangelands from space. Low and heterogeneous vegetation cover,exposed soils and mix of woody and herbaceous cover present problems for discerning forage distribution and abundance. The novel vegetation index, Normalized Differential Phenometric Index (NDPI), was developed to overcome some of these challenges by taking advantage of the different phenology types typical in dryland landscapes while also minimizing the effects of soils. Shrubs and grasses in particular have different phenology and react to climate drivers differently. Here we test the ability of the NDPI to capture the fraction of grass and shrub cover at the Jornada Experimental Range in southwestern New Mexico and examine the ability of the NDPI to represent the spatial variability of precipitation impacts on grass productivity. MODIS imagery with a spatial resolution of 500m was used to test the ability of NDPI to separate grass and shrub features at the Jornada. We calculated NDPI over 15 years, from 2005-2020, on Google Earth Engine. NDPI = (VIp2-VIp1)/(VIp2+VIp1) where VI is the MSAVI2 Vegetation Index and p1 and p2 refer to distinct phenological periods for grasses (dormancy and maximum greenness). Results/Conclusions: The spatial coverage of shrubs and grasses estimated from NDPI were compared to an existing high resolution shrub map. After validating the approach for separating grasses and shrubs on the landscape, the spatial patterns of grass productivity estimated with NDPI were evaluated against the spatial variability of precipitation over the same time period.Early results suggest that NDPI is effective at discriminating grasses from shrub features within the dryland landscape of the Jornada. NDPI was also able to capture considerable variability in the grass component greenness across the landscape. When evaluated with respect to locations that are known productive grasslands, NDPI can be also be used to estimate grass productivity. Results show NDPI's performance at estimating the spatial variability of grass productivity in dryland landscapes such as the Jornada. NDPI was originally developed to assist rangeland managers in predicting forage availability and to plan usage of the landscape. This index may also be useful for researchers who are studying vegetation community dynamics in arid and semi-arid landscapes. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?As we transition out of COVID-19 restrictions, we will reinitiate our workplan acitivities for training, professional development and dissemination of results. Our training plans focus on engaging SIPI students in project-related learning activities. These activities include 1) participation in fieldwork to characterize seasonal phenology of grass and shrub vegetation in our study area by collecting near-surface multispectral images and hyperspectral reflectance measurements, 2) student-focused presentations or seminars by project team members to inform them of the underlying sciece as well as related career opportunities, and 3) an opportunity to participate in a summer field course at NMSU on grassland ecology. In January, 2022, we plan to submit for NIFA approval a revised budget. The proposed modifications will reallocate a portion of the unobligated funds to support a subaward (or NIFA cooperative agreement) with the USGS Western Geographic Science Center. The purpose is to support participation by a USGS research scientist who has prior knowledge and experience with the research topic and thereby facilitate rapid progress and success during our final year. The timeline of activities during our requested no-cost extension period (4/1/2022-3/21/2023) is as follows: Jan-Mar 2022 Finalize local-scale analysis (NMSU team) Conduct field tests of the SIPI multispectral imaging system (SIPI team) Planning and preparation for SIPI student workshop (SIPI and NMSU) Seek NIFA approval of budget modification for subaward to USGS (details forthcoming) Arrange and implement subaward to USGS with NIFA approval Data preparation for regional scale analysis (SIPI and USGS researcher) Apr-May 2022 Report/publish local-scale analysis, including M.S. thesis by grant-funded NMSU student (Taylor Hanson) Organize 2022 field surveys (SIPI, NMSU, and USGS researcher) Regional scale analysis, Phase 1 (SIPI and USGS researcher) May-Oct 2022 Conduct field surveys (SIPI, NMSU, and USGS researcher) Student field training (SIPI, NMSU, and USGS researcher) Regional scale analysis, Phase 2 (SIPI and USGS researcher) Oct 2022-Mar 2023 Regional scale analysis, Phase 3, including synthesis of local/regional results (SIPI, NMSU and USGS researcher) Workshop(s) with Tribal and other stakeholders (SIPI, NMSU and USGS researcher) Final reporting and publication submissions (SIPI)

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Progress during this reporting period is primarily associated with satellite and climate observations, data analysis and modeling applications. Graduate research assistant Anderson (NMSU team) made substantial progress in processing and initial analysis of the NDPI for a study area at theJornada Agricultural Research Station and Long Term Ecological Research station. This analysis involved AVHRR satellite data and PRISM climate data and generated positive results that are consisitent and prior research that suggests the NDPI can provide a metric of the perennial grass abundance and condition in the semiarid Southwest. This local/regional analysis is continuing and will be completed in Spring 2022. These resultswill be detailed in a subsequent progress report, conference presentations, and journal publications.

    Publications


      Progress 04/01/20 to 03/31/21

      Outputs
      Target Audience:Efforts during this reporting period to reach our target audiences were derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. SIPI, federal and state restrictions precluded our workplan activities that involveddirect interaction with SIPI students, external collaborators, and stakeholders. We anticipate resuming these activities either as originally planned or with appropriate modifications in 2021. Changes/Problems:The major changes are: (1) Co-PD Barry Middleton (USGS) was compelled to withdraw from the project.His withdrawal was necessitated by failure of USGS and SIPI administrationsto arrange the interagency detail that would enable him to participate in the project at SIPI. The Project Director, Dennis Dye, has assumed Middleton's principal project duties. )2) We intend to request a no-cost extension beyond the scheduled project end-date to enable us to achieve the project objectives as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes. The major problems are: (1) Restrictions on travel and in-person interactions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the reportin period have impeded progress on field data acquisition. Efforts were shifted to activities lab-based activities, particuarly computer-based tasks for satellite and climate data processing, analysis and modeling. (2) The pandemic has also induced administrative decisions at SIPI that have postponed arrangements for leasing the 4x4 vehicle required for conducting the project field work. (3) Unanticipated BIE/SIPI administrative complexitiescaused an ongoingdelay in the planned purchase of PRISM gridded climate dataset during 2020. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The senior researchers (Dye, Prihodko, Hanan) and the graduate student researcher (Anderson) completed training for Google Earth Engine. The training was sponsored by GEE application experts affiliated with New Mexico State University and Jornada ARS. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Our objectives and activitiesin the next reporting period will be dynamically adjustedto comply with COVID-19-related restrictions. The most significant consequence of the pandemic the loss of all fieldwork opportunities as a result of a ban on travel imposed on the SIPI team. Assuming the pandemic situation improves and travel restrictions are lifted by approximately March, 2021, the SIPI team will conduct a full season of field data collection as described in the project field plan. Computer-based activities involving satellite and climate data will continue within Google Earth Engine, with the SIPI and NMSU teams focusing respectively on the macro-scale (full study area) and local/regional scale (Jornada region). We intend to request a no-cost extension beyond the scheduled project end-date to enable us to achieve the project objectives as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? In response to restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, our workplan activities shifted primarily to training and preparatory efforts for processing of satellite observations, analysis and modeling applications. PD Dye, Co-PDs Prihodko and Hanan, and graduate research assistan Anderson completed multi-day training for Google Earth Engine. Initial test implementations of the NDPI index were achieved using MODIS data for the SE New Mexico region including the Jornada Agricultural Research Station and Long Term Ecological Research station.Arrangements were completed for obtaining high-resolution PRISM gridded climatological data as a foundation for the planned bioclimatic analysis.

      Publications


        Progress 04/01/19 to 03/31/20

        Outputs
        Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems:Major problems and changes during this initial report period are as follows: Formal withdrawl in late 2019 of USGS partnership and participation of USGS researcher and Co-I Barry Middleton. Reason Failure by USGS Western Geographic Science Center and Bureau of Indian Educationto realize original agreement for Co-I Middleton to participate in the project through a DOI inter-bureau detail, and subsequent withdrawal by USGS. Changes Project Director Dye assumes research responsbilities originally assigned to former Co-I Middleton. This change is enabled by a modification of Dye's assignment at SIPI, which now consists of project research (0.75 FTE) and GIT Program Coordinator (0.25 FTE). In addition, the nominal start date of project was shifted to 01-01-2020 to accomdate the unforeeseen delays caused by the USGS withdrawal and resulting adminstrative challenges. Travel restrictions prevent implementation of field work plans originally scheduled to commence in April 2020, and student training activities orginially planned for July 2020. Reason Advent of the COVID-19 pandemic within the United States in February-March of 2020 resulted in an offical moratorium on travel by BIE employees. At the time of this report, the moratorium is anticipated to remain in effect at least through May 2020 and potentially much longer. Changes All travel for field data collection is cancelled for the duration of the travel ban. Student participation in the training activities organized by NMSU are likewise cancelled. Project actitivites are shifted to laboratory-based tasks, notably: satellite-based data acquisition, processing and analysis development of the field-portable multispectral imaging system. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Major activities planned forthe next reporting period are: 1) review and assessthe impacts and implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the original project plan, 2) develop and iniate a modified project plan as needed to mitigate or adjust to the pandemic circumstances, including but not limited to constraints on travel and fieldwork, 3) complete tasks associated with initial satellite-based elements of the project plan, including data acquisition, processing and analysis, and 4) develop and test field-portable multispectral imaging system for near-surface observations of vegetation phenology, and 5) conduct alternate student training activities as needed as mitigation to anticipated field work restrictions.

        Impacts
        What was accomplished under these goals? As a consequence of unanticipated circumstances described separately in this report, accomplishments during this reporting period were limited primarily to administrative tasks and goals. Significant accomplishments are: 1) development and approval of restructured staffing plan (12/2019), 2) preparation, submission and approval of subaward to Co-I's Prihodko and Hana at New Mexico State University (3/2020), and 3) recruitment and start of the undergraduate research assistant at NMSU.

        Publications

        • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Dye, DG, Prihodko, L, and Hanan, N., 2019. Enhancing Native American Education and Land Management through Research, Collaboration and Training on Remote Sensing of Southwest Rangelands. Annual Meeting of the First Americans Land-Grant Consortium (FALCON), American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), Aurora, CO, 10/27/2019.