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Tools to Address Biodiversity Resources and Management Concerns in the Southwest: a Greater Tularosa Basin Model at Multiple Scales

ABOUT THE SUBMITTING PARTIES:

The New Mexico Natural Heritage Program (NMNHP) gathers, analyzes and disseminates information on the biological diversity of New Mexico. Particular research interests focus on the status and distribution of rare and declining plant and animal species; vegetation classification, mapping and ecological assessment; and integration of biological database and GIS technologies. The NMNHP has worked extensively in the greater Tularosa Basin and is knowledgeable about its biological resources and management concerns. While the NMNHP is a part of the University of New Mexico, it receives additional support from The Nature Conservancy, a non profit land conservation organization. One of the Investigators (PM) is an employee of that organization and will be supported through a subcontract from the University.

The Earth Data Analysis Center (EDAC) developed and now maintains the Resource Geographic Information System (RGIS) Program Clearinghouse. The RGIS Program is a cooperative program between the University of New Mexico and the New Mexico General Services Department/ISD. The Program is supported by the New Mexico State Legislature and committed to the advancement of GIS technology within New Mexico. The RGIS Program is a focal point and clearinghouse for geographic information and related technologies in New Mexico. The Clearinghouse is a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) compliant node. All of the RGIS metadata, where possible, is NSDI compliant and searchable by keywords and/or geographic coordinates. EDAC has been active in the development and review of metadata standards and providing metadata workshops in the Southwest.

OBJECTIVES/JUSTIFICATION:

Need-- Changing population demographics, economics, cultures and policies in the Southwest have brought about increased conflicts over use of public lands for resource extraction, biodiversity and ecological values, as well as other use opportunities. This project will address an increasing need for a broad spectrum of interest groups and government agencies to have access to accurate, well-documented and organized data that address regional biological resource management and conservation issues across spatial and temporal scales.

Background-- Historically, public and private lands and waters in the Southwest have been managed to extract the greatest economic gain from them for the owner or manager. Indeed, laws, policies and guidelines have encouraged a focus on such activities. During the past few decades, an increase in the human population in the Southwest, with concomitant increases in urbanization, outdoor recreation and concern for the environment, have brought challenges to the more traditional extractive approaches. Laws such as the National Environmental Protection Act, National Forest Management Act, Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act have enabled and encouraged consideration of environmental, recreational and public health concerns in addition to more traditional concerns, such as grazing and logging. This has brought about an increasing number of conflicts over land use. Most recently, this situation has culminated in the Southwest Strategy (SWS), a multi-agency task force that is seeking solutions to conflicts and the problems that generate them.

One problem identified by the SWS as serving to kindle the conflicts is that accurate, current, unbiased, and adequately documented data are not readily accessible to everyone with an interest in these issues. Documents are available from the literature, the Federal Register, and unpublished reports from numerous agencies on single species that are listed or proposed for listing as threatened or endangered or are declining or species of special concern. Other information on vegetation responses to grazing and fire on grazed and ungrazed lands is scattered and not interpreted for particular regions of the Southwest. No procedure has been established to compile and adequately disseminate this information in an organized, user-friendly and efficient manner that involves essential collaborations among agencies, land owners and interest groups. Of particular interest is the integration of species level to landscape level ecosystem information.

Grazing issues, particularly in desert grasslands, are of special interest. Desert grasslands represent valuable biotic communities in the Southwest with a unique biota and concomitant economic importance. Most semi-desert grasslands of the northern Chihuahuan Desert, have been subjected to long-term utilization by livestock. Beginning with the Spanish colonial period of the 1500's, livestock numbers increased to a peak in the late 19th century with the coming of the railroad, and now continue in relatively modest numbers. This continual utilization, particularly during the late 1800's, led to an alteration, and in some cases whole transformation of the landscape from desert grassland to desert shrublands. Yet some grasslands have continued to persist, although not necessarily of the original pre-grazing composition and condition. We do not know conclusively why this is. Persistence of certain grasslands may be related to historic land uses or specific landscape features that enhanced water and nutrient relationships. Some desertified grassland/shrublands have shown a degree of recovery following a reduction in grazing, and possibly in combination with optimal climatic conditions.

Interacting with grazing history is the effect of fire, or lack of it, as it affects the composition, structure and dynamics of these arid grasslands. Our understanding of fire effects in semi-desert grasslands is limited, yet some research indicates that fire was a natural part of desert grasslands of the Southwest. Experimental research on fire effects in shrub dominated Chihuahuan Desert communities at the Jornada Experimental Range in the Tularosa Basin region indicates that fire has relatively little effect on the plants in these communities. However, experimental fire research in grama grassland communities at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge just to the north demonstrates that black grama grassland communities take approximately six years to recover from fire. Relatively recent fire events can be detected with aerial photography and satellite imagery, although the time of those events cannot be determined precisely.

Objectives--

1. Provide well-documented and organized geographic and biological information in spatial formats for the following scales:

A. General geographic and biodiversity spatial data layers covering the state of New Mexico. These layers will serve as a backdrop for interpreting spatial and temporal information at finer scales in regions of the state.

B. Biodiversity and ecological data for the Tularosa Basin region for access by the land management agencies, land owners and interested parties in the region.

C. Information on temporal changes in grazed and ungrazed grasslands within the Tularosa Basin region that helps to resolve local land use issues and that is applicable to other areas of the Southwest.

2. Integrate A, B, and C above into a regional perspective can be used to address land management issues, identify areas of potential conflict, and propose approaches for resolution.

3. Provide metadata that meet NBII and FGDC standards for all data used.

PROCEDURES

The NMNHP and EDAC partner with the Fort Collins Science Center (MESC) and land owners and management agencies to gather, organize and analyze data and provide data that meet the stated objectives and offer information support for the SWS. As indicated in the objectives, this project will be approached at three scales: 1) the state of New Mexico, 2) the greater Tularosa Basin region, and 3) grasslands within the greater Tularosa Basin region. Our intention is to apply the greater Tularosa Basin model to other regions of the state, building ultimately to a statewide analysis. All partners (see list under Partners) will be contacted by NMNHP and informed of the objectives and scope of the project before other work on the project commences.

General data that will serve as a backdrop for the finer scale analyses will be compiled at the state level, principally by EDAC. Through the RGIS Program, EDAC will provide GIS data layers and metadata for USGS watersheds, rivers, topography, land ownership, vegetation, county boundaries, roads, cities, and other relevant information. The NMNHP will provide data layers that summarize the status and distribution of biodiversity statewide. MESC will review and enhance metadata for the data layers, interacting with EDAC and NMNHP where needed. Most of the data were collected and compiled with funds from our federal agency partners in the Tularosa Basin region.

MESC will mine existing data on the biodiversity of the greater Tularosa Basin from our partners with their cooperation. A substantial amount of those data that are geographically referenced resides with the NMNHP, including high accuracy vegetation maps for the majority of the Basin, an endangered and sensitive species database that covers the Basin, wetlands data, and vegetation type and condition data. Additional data will be added through a collaborative project in the northern portion of the study area that is supported by The Nature Conservancy. The NMNHP will serve as a liaison between MESC and the land management agencies in the study area to enable MESC to mine the substantial additional data needed to meet NSDI/NBII metadata standards and to seek input from these land management agencies. Using GIS, the NMNHP will analyze the data acquired through the efforts of MESC and our partners to identify areas of potential concern related to land ownership and management. Results of analyses will be shown spatially on the web without revealing potentially sensitive information. Partners will be invited to review the results and comment prior to posting on the web.

Grasslands within the greater Tularosa Basin will be used for finer scale analyses to detect change over time. Change detection will focus on a major regional issue identified by the SWS, livestock grazing. Because there is a variety of grasslands the greater Tularosa Basin that are both grazed and ungrazed, there is excellent potential for developing tools that can be applied to other desert grassland systems. The NMNHP and EDAC will mine data documenting temporal changes in land use, fire and vegetation in the grasslands, including aerial photographs from the 1930s (when grazing was not excluded) to the present. We anticipate that this will require visiting the National Archives. The NMNHP will analyze the data, using GIS and remote sensing, to relate vegetation change to land use, and fire to the extent possible from the data.

Once the data at the various scales have been mined and analyzed, the NMNHP will integrate it into a regional perspective that can be used to address land management issues. It will develop assessments and information support systems that will help to resolve local and regional land use issues and that apply to other areas of the Southwest.

An Internet home page will be developed containing project information, data access and metadata for the project. The data will be separable by scale with the smallest being statewide and the largest being site specific, field derived data collected by project participants. Detailed information on the Project and its participants will be provided along with hot links to each participant's Internet site and, if appropriate, directly to their spatial data collections. The New Mexico Partnership home page will be separate from, but within, the RGIS Program home page at http://rgis.unm.edu. The RGIS home page and Clearinghouse of spatial data are maintained by EDAC.

EXPECTED PRODUCTS

The product that will reach the greatest number of potential users is the New Mexico Partnership web site with GIS-derived maps, metadata, and hot links to other web sites. In addition, we plan to publish a scientific paper on the process used that will serve as a model for conflict resolution in other geographic areas of the Southwest.

TECHNOLOGY/INFORMATION TRANSFER

This project will produce products that will be of use to groups, agencies and individuals interested in the Tularosa Basin region and those interested in the process developed to gather and disseminate information directed to conflict resolution over natural resource management. Those who will benefit from information on the Tularosa Basin region include SWS, MESC, USFWS, NPS, DoD, USFS, USDA Range Experiment Station, NM Department of Game and Fish, the Pedro Armendaris Ranch, The Nature Conservancy, NM State University and the University of New Mexico. We intend that beneficiaries of knowledge about the process developed will include those same users; a broader spectrum of individuals and programs within those user agencies; and groups from ranching, conservation and recreation interests.

The RGIS Program and associated New Mexico Partnership Internet site will contain federally compliant metadata provided by MESC. The RGIS Internet site is at present a searchable node through the FGDC Clearinghouse and will, as a result of this contract, become a searchable node through the NBII Clearinghouse. This will eliminate metadata updating problems for MESC in the future and simplify access by all users.

PERSONNEL:

Patricia Mehlhop will serve as principal contact for coordination and administration of the project; as the person to make initial contact with agencies, organizations and individuals to explain the project; as liaison for MESC data mining with the agencies; and as the NMNHP source for information on wildlife and protected species information. Esteban Muldavin will serve as lead researcher on the grassland studies and as the NMNHP source for information on vegetation in the Tularosa Basin Area. Stanley Morain will serve as the principal EDAC contact for metadata standards and review all metadata provided to the project for format and parsing by MESC prior to its inclusion in the RGIS Clearinghouse. Mike Inglis will serve as the coordinator for EDAC and the RGIS Program Clearinghouse and identify and acquire appropriate state and regional data for the project.

Contracts to UNM are to be negotiated and administered by: Office of Research Service, Scholes Hall Rm 102, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Attention: Marjorie Hudson, (505) 277-296.

PARTNERS

All of the agencies and organizations who will be providing information for this project are essential partners in this endeavor. These are:

New Mexico State Land Office

With the exception of The Nature Conservancy, these partners either have not been contacted or have been contacted only through participation in the SWS. The names and addresses of contact individuals will not be listed in this proposal, but will be furnished to the BRD principal contact once the NMNHP has made initial contact with the partners.

QUALIFICATIONS OF PROJECT PERSONNEL Resumes are attached for Patricia Mehlhop, Esteban Muldavin, Stanley Morain and Mike Inglis, who will conduct or oversee the principal work on the project.

BRD PRINCIPAL CONTACT: Barbara M. White, Computer Specialist; USGS, BRD, MESC; 4512 McMurry Avenue, Ft. Collins, CO 80525-3400

FACILITIES/EQUIPMENT/STUDY AREA

The principal study area is the Tularosa Basin of south-central New Mexico, an area of 1.7 million hectares (4.3 million acres) that is bordered by four mountain ranges on the west and two on the east. This project will also include the land west of the Tularosa Basin and east of the Rio Grande known as the Jornada del Muerto. Most of the area is in federal public ownership and managed by multiple agencies.

Both the NMNHP and EDAC have offices on the campus of the University of New Mexico. The NMNHP databases that contain data on species and vegetation communities of interest for this project are in MicroSoft Access operating in Windows NT. ArcInfo and Arcview, which will be used for analysis and presentation of the finer scale spatial data also operate in NT. EDAC has Unix, NT and PC based systems for processing, analyzing and serving spatial data. The Internet site servers are Gateway 2000 PII-350s with linux and NT. All image processing is performed on SUN Unix systems using ERDAS software. GIS activities are performed on AlphaStation Unix systems as well as NT and PC using ESRI's ARC/INFO and ArcView software.

LEGAL ASPECTS

No legal issues are known. We do not anticipate the need for permits or for landowner permission because no field data collection is planned. There is potential for concern to be raised by land management agencies with respect to personnel resources required. Some limited personnel time will be required from the agencies for successful data mining and metadata documentation. In addition, the metadata that are planned to be posted as part of the web product will point the user to the data source, thereby requiring more personnel resources to respond the direct requests. Land owners and management agencies also may be reticent to release documents for metadata documentation that contain sensitive biological information. We believe that these issues are precisely the type that need solutions to be able to bring success to the SWS. Thus, rather than being a deterrent to the project, we consider them an important component of it.

WORK AND REPORTING SCHEDULE:

* Actions to be completed with Year 2 funds.

Deliverables Deliverable Date

List of partner contacts for data mining Oct-98

Statewide GIS layers Dec-98

List of sources for historical data on grasslands for metadata documentation Mar-99

First iteration of web site Dec-99

Final iteration of web site with grassland assessment and integrated analysis Mar-00

PATRICIA MEHLHOP is Director and Research Zoololgist, New Mexico Natural Heritage Program. Her research emphasis is on appropriate monitoring protocols for rare and declining animals, population viability analysis of animal species, ecoregion-level conservation planning, and information transfer design for biological resources. She is a member of the Ecological Society of America, Society of Conservation Biology and the Wildlife Society. She serves on the conservation committee of the Southwestern Association of Naturalists.

Education

B.S., University of Maryland, 1967 (Zoology)

M.S. University of Maryland, 1969 (Zoology; thesis in ecological parasitology)

Ph.D., University of New Mexico, 1981 (Biology; dissertation on terrestrial ecology)

Postdoctoral Fellow, Smithsonian Institute, 1981-82.

Employment

1990-present. Director & Research Zoologist, New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, UNM.

1990-present Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biology Department, UNM.

1987-90: Coordinator/Research Scientist, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, U of OK.

1985-86: Coordinator/Research Zoologist, New York Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy.

1983-84: Research Associate, Wyoming Cooperative Research Unit (endangered species studies).

Pertinent Publications

Johnson, K, and P. Mehlhop. Influence of flowing water on nesting success of the southwestern willow flycatcher. Southwestern Naturalist. In press.

Vaughn, C.C., C.M. Mather, M. Pyron, P. Mehlhop and E.K. Miller. The current and historical mussel fauna of the Kiamichi River, Oklahoma. Southwestern Naturalist. In press.

Mehlhop, P. and R.L. Cifelli. 1997 A comparison of morphometric techniques to distinguish sympatric mussel species (family Unionidae) with similar shell morphology. pp 249-258. In: Yates, T.L., W.L. Gannon and D.E. Wilson. Life Among the Muses: Papers in Honor of James S. Findley. The Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico.

Rich, K. and P. Mehlhop. 1997 A landscape perspective on songbirds in Southwestern ponderosa pine forests. GTR. USDA Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ft. Collins, CO.

Mehlhop, P. and C.A. Vaughn. 1994. Threats to and sustainability of ecosystems for freshwater mollusks. pp. 69-77. In, Covington, W.W., L.F. DeBano (tech. coord.) Sustainable ecological systems: implementing an ecological approach to land management. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-247. Ft. Collins, CO. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station.

Kaufmann, M.R., R.T. Graham, D.A. Boyce, W.H. Moir, L. Perry, R.T. Reynolds, R.T. Bassett, P. Mehlhop, C.B. Edminster, W.M. Block and P.S. Corn. 1994. An ecological basis for ecosystem management. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-246. Ft. Collins, CO. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station.

Moss, S.P. and P. Mehlhop-Cifelli. 1990. Status of the Texas kangaroo rat (Heteromyidae) in Oklahoma. Southwest. Natur. 35:356-8.

ESTEBAN H. MULDAVIN

Education

Ph.D. Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM. August, 1988

M.S. Natural Resources (Interdisciplinary), Humboldt State University, Arcata CA. August, 1982.

B.S. Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA. June, 1977.

Employment

1990- Senior Research Scientist, New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, Department of Biology University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. Responsible for the statewide description and classification of ecosystems, their inventory and mapping, the analysis of ecosystem processes and biodiversity, and the ranking of ecosystems with respect to conservation values. Concurrently an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biology.

1989-90 Visiting Assistant Professor. Biology Dept., University of Texas at El Paso.

1988-89 Postdoctoral Research Associate. Jornada Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Project II, Biology Dept., New Mexico State University.

Recent Relevant Publications

Bogan, M.A., C.D. Allen, E.H. Muldavin, S.P. Platania, J.N. Stuart, G.H. Farley, P. Mehlhop, and J. Belnap. In Press. The Southwest. Pages xx-xx in Mac, M.J., P.A. Opler, and P.D. doran, editors. National Status and Trends Report. National Biological Service, Washington D.C.

Muldavin, E., Harper, P. Neville, T. Bennett, and K. Johnson. 1997. A Vegetation Map for Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Final Report and map. 49CES/CEV. Holloman Ari Force Base, NM.

Thompson, B.C., P J. Christ, E. Muldavin, J.S. Proir-Megee, R. Deitner, and D. Garber. 1996. Examining natural floral heritage and management for biological diversity in Nwe Mexico using gap analysis. New Mexico Journal of Science. 36:327-353.

Durkin, P., E. Muldavin, M. Bradely, and S. Carr. 1996. A preliminary riparian/wetland vegetation community classification for New Mexico. In: D. Shaw and D. Finch, editors. Desired future conditions for Southwestern riparian ecosystems: Bringing interests and concerns together. USDA Forest Service. General Tech. Report RM-GTR-272.

Bourgeron, P.S., L.D, Engelking, H.C. Humphries, E. H. Muldavin and W.H. Moir. 1995. Assessing conservation value of the Gray Ranch: rarity, diversity, and representativeness. Desert Plants 11(2-3):3-68.

Ladyman, A.R. and E.H. Muldavin. 1996. Terrestrial Cryptogams of pinon-juniper woodlands in the southwestern United States: a review. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-280. Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experimental Station, Fort Collins, CO.

Muldavin, E.H., R.L. DeVelice and F. Ronco, Jr. 1996. Forest habitat types southern Arizona and portions of the Colorado Plateau. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-GTR-287. Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experimental Station, Fort Collins, CO.

Ernest, K. A., E.H. Muldavin, and E.F. Aldon. 1993. Woody Debris in undisturbed pinyon-juniper woodlands of New Mexico. Proceedings of the Pinyon-Juniper Symposium, Santa Fe, New Mexico. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest Experiment Station, Ft. Collins, CO.

STANLEY A. MORAIN is Professor of Geography and Director, EDAC, UNM. While at UNM, he has pursued a career in geography, remote sensing, and spatial analysis through teaching, research and application projects. Dr. Morain has served as a panel member at national meetings developed around the FGDC and NSDI missions, including a panel titled Network Uses and Impediments to NSDI held at the 1995 National GeoData Forum. He has moderated NSDI sessions at national meetings, and was Co-PI on EDAC s FGDC grant for developing an administrative model for implementing the NSDI framework infrastructure. He is Co-PI on a current FGDC grant to conduct customized training for developing and implementing NSDI-compliant metadata, clearinghouses, and framework.

Professionally, Dr. Morain has served the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing in several roles. He is a past National President of ASPRS; past Chairman for both the Remote Sensing Applications Division and Joint ASPRS/ACSM Education Committees; past Secretary of the Inter-Society Liaison Committee; past member of the Joint Satellite Mapping and Remote Sensing Committee. Currently, Dr. Morain is serving on the ASPRS Committees on Ethics and Professional Conduct, and Data Preservation and Archives.

Employment (last 20 years)

Professor 1984-Present Department of Geography, UNM

Director 1976-Present Earth Data Analysis Center, UNM

Relevant Publications

Morain, S.A. (with D. Lauer and V. Salomonson). 1997. The Landsat Program: Its Origins, Evolution, and Impacts. PE&RS 63(7): 831-838.

Morain, S.A., P. Neville, T.K. Budge, S.C. Morrison, D.A. Helfrich and S. Fruit. 1993. Design and Test of an Object-Oriented GIS to Map Plant Species in the Southern Rockies. Geocarto International: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Remote Sensing 8(4):33-44.

Morain, S.A. 1993. Emerging Technology for Biological Data Collection and Analysis. Annals, Missouri Botanical Gardens. 80(2):309-316.

Morain, S.A. 1992. From Columbus to Columbia. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 47(1992):285-305.

Morain, S.A. (with C.S. Carroll). 1992. Defining Biophysical Land Units for Resource Management. PE&RS 58(8):1239-1244.

Books Authored or Co-Authored/ Book Chapters

Morain, S.A. with R.K. Moore, and F. Ulaby (technical editors). 1998. The Role of Synthetic Aperture Radar in NASA s Mission to Planet Earth. Committee on Earth Studies, Space Studies Board. National Academy Press: Washington, D.C.

Morain, S.A. 1998. A brief History of Remote Sensing Applications, with Emphasis on LANDSAT. In: D. Liverman (ed.). People and Pixels. National Academy Press: Washington, D.C. pgs. 28-50.

Morain, S.A. (With other contributors) 1997. Introduction to Non-photographic and Satellite Imaging Systems. In: W. Phillipson (ed). Manual of Photographic Interpretation (2nd Edition). ASPRS: Bethesda, MD. pgs. 49-113.

Morain, S.A. with A.M. Budge. 1996. Earth Observing Platforms and Sensors. Vol. 2 of Manual of Remote Sensing, R. Ryerson (editor). ASPRS: Bethesda, MD. CD-ROM.

Morain, S.A. with S.L. Baros. 1996. Raster Imagery in GIS. OnWord Press: Santa Fe, NM. 495p

Morain, S.A. 1993. Prolegomena on a Species Information System for the Flora of the Rocky Mountains. In: F.A. Bisby, G.F. Russell and R.J. Pankhurst, Designs for a Global Plant Species Information System. Systematics Association, Special Volume 48. Oxford University Press: Oxford England. pgs. 38-54.

Morain, S.A. (Guest Editor) 1992. Status of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems in the United States. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. 58(8):993-1271.

Morain, S.A. & P.G. Thome. 1990. America's Earth Observing Industry: Perspectives on Commercial Remote Sensing. Geocarto International: Hong Kong. 137 pages.

Morain, S.A. 1987. Commercialization of Remote Sensing Technology. In: L.W.B. Hayes and A.B. Cracknell (eds.) Remote Sensing Yearbook. (2nd Edition). Taylor and Francis: London. pgs. 3-14.

Mike Inglis is the Associate Director of the Earth Data Analysis Center at UNM, where he has pursued a career in applying spatial technologies. His recent efforts have focused on developing geographic information systems (GIS) for data analysis and management, and integrating and interpreting image data for GIS applications.

Mike has participated in, and served as PI on many geospatially oriented projects, including the Resource Geographic Information System (RGIS) Program. Other projects include developing methodologies for incorporating GIS, GPS, and image processing technologies for monitoring irrigated lands for the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, and developing long term programs for introducing GIS to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Mike is actively involved in geographic programs and currently chairs the New Mexico State Mapping Advisory Committee. He is a member of the New Mexico Geologic Mapping Advisory Committee and the U.S.-Mexico Geospatial Data/GIS Workgroup, Director of the Resource Geographic Information System Program (RGIS) and a past president of the New Mexico Geographic Information Council.

Education

BA, Geol./Anthro. 1970 University of New Mexico

Employment

Associate Director 1983 - Present Earth Data Analysis Center, UNM

Remote Sensing Div. Manager 1977 - 1983 Earth Data Analysis Center, UNM

Remote Sensing Analysis 1972 - 1983 Earth Data Analysis Center, UNM

Relevant Publications

Inglis, M., T.K. Budge, P.R.H. Neville, and R. Watson. 1996. Evaluation of Satellite Imagery to Inventory and Monitor Irrigated Cropland in New Mexico. New Mexico State Engineer Office.

Morain, S.A., M. Inglis, and S. Fellows. 1990. Evolution of East Africa Remote Sensing Project (EARS-11).

Inglis, M. et al. 1989. A Resource Geographic Information System: Communications and Information Transfer in New Mexico.

Inglis, M. et al. 1984. An Evaluation of Thermal Remote Sensing as a Low-Cost Regional Geothermal Exploration Technique in New Mexico. Final Technical Report 2-71-4221, New Mexico Energy Research and Development Institute, 45 pp.

Inglis, M. et al. 1984. Preliminary Evaluation of Simulated SPOT Data for Cultural Resource Assessments. Proceedings of the 1984 SPOT Symposium, Scottsdale, Arizona.

Inglis, M. et al. 1984. Preliminary Examination of TIMS Data for Geothermal Exploration. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Environment, Third Thematic Conference: "Remote Sensing for Exploration Geology," Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Inglis, M. 1984. Remote Sensing Data Acquisition, Image Processing, and Resource Interpretations for Natural and Cultural Resources. Space Technology Conference, Zurich, Switzerland.

Inglis, M. et al. 1983. Landsat Monitoring of Irrigated Farmland Acreage in Curry County, New Mexico. New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute Contract No. A-069-NMEX.

Inglis, M. et al. 1982. Monitoring of a Phosphate Mining Area in Central Florida Using Landsat Satellite Data. U. S. Bureau of mines Contract No. J0113099.

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