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

2 Overview Study Area Project Objectives Data Methods Timeline Anticipated Results

3 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

4 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.

5 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

6 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

7 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

8 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)

9 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

10 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

11 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

12 HYDROLOGY & CLIMATE Drainage east to Cheyenne and Missouri Rivers. Hot summers and cold winters inches of precipitation. Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule Cheyenne River Bridge Study Area in Summer Study Area in Winter

13 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

14 POINT & LINE DATA DescriptionSourceComments Sage grouse leks Wyoming Game and Fish In hand StreamsUSGS National Hydrography Dataset In hand RoadsCensus Bureau Tiger Line Data In hand Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule Sage Grouse Leks and Drainages

15 POLYGON DATA DescriptionSourceComments Water bodiesUSGS National Hydrography Dataset In hand NRCS soil ecological sites Natural Resource Conservation Service In hand Vegetation map UnknownIn hand Prairie dog towns Wyoming Game and Fish Partially in hand Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule

16 RASTER DATA DescriptionSourceComments Vegetation cover TBGPEAIn hand ElevationUSGSIn hand Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule Elevation Raster Data

17 METHODS- OVERVIEW Retrieve all data Identify suitable sage grouse and prairie dog habitat on study area Characterize habitat of actual sage grouse and prairie dog town locations Provide management recommendations to TBGPEA Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule

18 METHODS- CREATE RASTERS Create slope and slope aspect rasters from elevation data; Create buffers around point and line data; Create rasters of polygon and buffered data. Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule Slope Raster Data

19 METHODS- RECLASSIFY RASTER DATA Reclassify rasters at prairie dog town and sage grouse lek locations to identify habitat characteristics; Convert reclassified rasters to point shapefiles for statistical analyses; Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule Slope Less Than Five Percent

20 METHODS- FLOW CHART Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule Obtain Point DataObtain Line DataObtain Polygon DataObtain Raster Data Create Buffers Convert to Raster Reclassify Rasters Identify Suitable Habitat by Raster Calculation Prepare Maps of Suitable Habitat Research Best Management Practices Provide Best Practices Recommendations to TBGPEA

21 METHODS- STATISTICAL ANALYSES ArcGIS spatial analyst tools; ArcGIS spatial statistics tools; Point pattern analysis; Histograms; Normal qq plots. Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule Slope Histogram

22 DELIVERABLES Provide a habitat suitability index Maps showing suitable sage grouse and prairie dog habitat Recommended best management practices for specific areas Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule

23 ANTICIPATED RESULTS Identify typical habitat for existing prairie dog towns and sage grouse leks. Identify management conflicts between prairie dog towns and sage grouse leks. Provide best management practices to TBGPEA. Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule

24 SCHEDULE TASKDEADLINE Locate prairie dog town data April 2010 Perform data analysisMay 2010 Complete final paperJune 2010 Complete final presentation June 2010 Give final presentationJuly-Oct 2010 Study Area Objectives Data Methods Anticipated Results Schedule

25 QUESTIONS ???