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Vegetation changes over 12 years in ungrazed and grazed Conservation Reserve Program grasslands in the Central and Southern Plains

This research report describes the Vegetation changes of over 12 years in ungrazed and grazed Conservation Reserve Program grasslands in the Central and Southern Plains. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) established under the 1985 Food Security Act has the fundamental objectives of jointly providing economic support to segments of the More...

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Energy, Land Use, and Sagebrush Ecosystems: Finding the Delicate Balance

This web resource is a compilation of research projects related to Energy, Land Use, and Sagebrush Ecosystems. Investigators at the USGS Science Centers (FORT and FRESC), and Central Regional Office have brought biological and ecosystem research and mapping expertise to a partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Game and Fish More...

  • Photo of a badger

Modeling Habitat of the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Mojave and Parts of the Sonoran Deserts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona

A new tool provides land managers with a predictive model for mapping the potential distribution of desert tortoise habitat and to evaluate different land-use issues the tortoises face at a landscape scale. The model incorporates an extensive amount of field data for desert tortoises, as well as environmental data related to landscape attributes, More...

  • Mojave Desert Tortoise found in Piute Valley in Clark County, Nevada, in 2005 Location: NV, USA

Human Influence on California Fire Regimes

Periodic wildfire maintains the integrity and species composition of many ecosystems, including the Mediterranean-climate shrublands of California. However, human activities alter natural fire regimes, which can lead to cascading ecological effects. Increased human ignitions at the wildland-urban interface (WUI) have recently gained attention, but More...

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Visitor and Community Results for Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge: Completion Report

This study was commissioned by the Northeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in support of the Comprehensive Conservation Planning at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge (Prime Hook NWR or Refuge). The National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-57, USC668dd) mandates a Comprehensive Conservation Plan More...

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Community Partners with USGS to Restore Coastal Ecosystem on Maui

A success story of how Kanaha Beach Park once degraded with overuse, invasive species, vehicle traffic, and litter was restored into a cleaner and safer place for people and native wildlife.

  • popolo plants for the Hanaha Beach restoration project

Louisiana Coastal Ecosystem

Louisiana's coast and its degradation and restoration are major environmental issues being studied at the National Wetlands Research Center. This fact sheet outlines the center's projects related to the Louisiana coastal ecosystem.

  • Shrimping boat

USGS Chesapeake Bay Activities Homepage

USGS Chesapeake Bay Activities provides information on the science activities and research by the U.S. Geological Survey to provide integrated science to support effective ecosystem conservation and restoration in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This website links to features and publications to provide an understanding and management of the Bay More...

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National Land Cover Pattern Database

This database is the result of a national analysis of land cover pattern. A series of derived maps (different indices, different window sizes) is available. They are proposed for consideration by landscape analysts, as independent variables (e.g., covariates, stratification rules), and as "context" information for finer-scale investigations, for More...

  • Map of Continental US federal regions

Ecosystem Services Derived from Wetland Conservation Practices in the United States Prairie Pothole Region with an Emphasis on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve and Wetlands Reserve Programs

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with the USDA Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service, initiated a study to develop and apply approaches to quantify changes in ecosystem services resulting from wetland restoration activities funded by the USDA. Surveys from this study included catchments with seasonal and More...

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Cryptobiotic Soils: Holding the Place in Place

Cryptobiotic soil crusts, consisting of soil cyanobacteria, lichens and mosses, play an important ecological roles in the arid Southwest. Cryptobiotic crusts increase the stability of otherwise easily eroded soils, increase water infiltration in regions that receive little precipitation, and increase fertility in soils often limited in essential More...

  • Filaments of Microcoleus vaginatus (x 3000), the dominant organism in the crust. Individual cells ab

National Park Service (NPS) National Burn Severity Mapping Project

This project addresses the need to quantify fire effects over large, often-remote regions and long time intervals, reflecting collaborative efforts to bring previous research into operational implementation for fire managers and scientists. The project focuses on National Park Service Units and adjoining lands throughout the U.S., combining More...

  • Map image of moose fire project