Brad Teson, KC Harvey Environmental, LLC, 376 Gallatin Park Drive, Bozeman, MT, 59718, bteson@kcharvey.com

to assist the U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office (DOE), in developing a conservation management plan for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site. The INL Site serves as a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory that supports DOE missions in nuclear and energy research, science, and national defense. The planning team identified nine conservation targets and 10 threats that directly impact those targets. Resource experts helped develop conceptual models that explicitly outline drivers of threats

(i.e. contributing factors) on the INL Site. Strategies were then developed to address contributing factors and an explicit theory of change (i.e. results chain) was created to show managers the team’s hypothesis about how strategy implementation would produce measurable results. The conceptual model and results chain also provided a framework for developing a plan to monitor (1) strategy implementation, (2) threats, and (3) status of conservation targets. I show how this method forms the basis for improved decision making, and share lessons learned while trying to balance DOE mission needs with biodiversity conservation.

Quinn Shurtliff, Wildlife Conservation Society, 120 Technology Dr., Idaho Falls, ID 83402 qshurtliff@wcs.org

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continental US alone. The Great Basin contains some of the most endangered ecosystems and restoration factors relatively prominently in land management, and so the need to have representation for the Great Basin in SER was evident. The Great Basin Chapter is focused on the portions of the western states of Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Oregon and California that comprise the Great Basin geographical – ecological province. The Chapter will promote the science of ecological restoration and information exchange among practitioners, researchers and the general public in the Great Basin.

Lexine Long, Quinney College of Natural Resources, Utah State University, 5200 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, lexine.long@gmail.com

a transect line coupled with repeat photography. The line-point intercept uses point sampling at every meter on three 50-meter transect lines per site to collect canopy and surface cover data. Data were collected from 2007 to 2011 on six different sites within two large (~5000-acre) pastures managed with light stocking rates (<20% utilization). We have evaluated the two methods’ ability to detect change rather than comparing the absolute values derived from the two methods. The direction of change in basal area was consistent across methods. Although the degree of change was not consistent, this is a notable finding as basal area is notoriously difficult to estimate. Percent litter was relatively inconsistent across methods, we suspect due in part to the high spatial heterogeneity of this plant community, annual changes in litter distribution at the microsite level based on the timing and severity of precipitation events that move litter, and the significant difference between the methodologies for measuring litter. Bare soil values were consistent more often than not; new technology for image analysis could be used to make quantitative measurements from Land EKG photographs. This data will be collected approximately every three years and used to guide grazing plans.

Tipton D. Hudson, Rangeland & Livestock Management Faculty, Washington State University Extension, 507 Nanum Street, Suite 2, Ellensburg, WA, 98926, hudsont@wsu.edu

Steve Germaine, USGS Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Ave, Bldg. C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, germaines@usgs.gov

nest use of impacted and non-impacted nests. Preliminary analysis showed that raptor nest use (for all species pooled) decreased as CBM well development occurred at closer proximities to the nest, and nest use gradually increased with time since initial well construction. At the species level, red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), great-horned owls (Bubo virginianus), golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis) exhibited patterns similar to those described above; however, the effect of CBM development may be influenced by local topography and habitat type. Our results will assist land managers seeking to balance the needs of raptor populations with energy extraction activities, and provide insight into species-specific tolerance levels for disturbance associated with energy development.

Jason Carlisle, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3166, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071 jason.d.carlisle@gmail.com

Mary Barkworth, Intermountain Herbarium, Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322-5305, mary.barkworth@usu.edu

Shannon Babb, Utah State University, 4820 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, s.babb@aggiemail.usu.edu

and other published BMPs in order to bring the best conservation science to the process of wisely choosing wind and solar energy sites, as well as permitting, construction and operation of renewable facilities destined for wild places. These BMPs are organized according to the needs of sage grouse, raptors, other birds, bats, general wildlife (not covered by the first 5 categories), and soil/vegetation/site hydrology. Within each of these categories the BMPs are broken down into siting BMPs, pre-construction/planning BMPs, construction BMPs, and monitoring BMPs. These BMPs also offer guidance on how to address renewable energy development within the context of public land-use planning. This document should offer sound guidance for all stages of wind and solar energy development in the West, and offer pathways for development that are “smart from the start” for wildlife and their habitat.

Allison Jones, Wild Utah Project, 824 S. 400 W., Salt Lake City, UT, 84101, allison@wildutahproject.org

Allison Jones, after completing her graduate work in Conservation Biology at the University of Nevada, is now the staff conservation biologist for the Wild Utah Project (a non-profit conservation science research group and the Wildlands Network affiliate for Utah). In addition to assembling biological data to be used in Conservation Network Design models for areas in and adjacent to Utah, such as the Heart of the West Wildland Network, Allison also provides biological analyses for other Utah conservation groups that do not typically have these services in-house. These include projects such as species’ status reviews, and ecological analyses of federal land management plans. Allison is also co-author or editor of two Best Management Practices documents: “Best Management Practices for Off-Road Vehicle Use on Forestlands” (which was initially adopted by the U.S. Forest Service for their use) and “Best Management Practices for siting, developing, operating, and monitoring renewable energy in the Intermountain West.”

Temis Taylor, PhD Candidate, Utah State University Department of Environment and Society, 5215 Old Main Hill, Logan UT, 84322, temistaylor@gmail.com

Temis Taylor earned her BS in Communications with a minor in Women’s Studies at the University of Utah and her MS in Bioregional Planning at Utah State University. She is pursuing a PhD in Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management under the direction of Dr. Joseph Tainter. Her Master’s thesis was supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and described alternative futures for biodiversity conservation in the face of energy development in Western Colorado. Continuing interest in the biophysical limits, perceptions of risk, and construction of knowledge in relation to energy development drives her current research.

Brooke Bell, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, P.O. BOx 173779, Denver, CO, 80217-3779, brooke.bell@anadarko.com

Brooke Bell is a Project Manager for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation with over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry as a Petroleum Engineer and Regulatory Manager. She currently manages a diverse team of wildlife and project management experts focused on regulatory long-range planning and exploration support for Anadarko’s federal acreage holdings in the Rocky Mountain Region. With Brooke’s dedication and leadership, Anadarko recently received approval of the Greater Natural Buttes EIS, supporting the development of 3700 natural gas wells in the Uinta Basin. Brooke has also work in the public sector as a Budget and Finance supervisor for the City of Aurora in Colorado, during which time she lead a $70 million bond financing effort to build the City of Aurora Municipal Center. Brooke has a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. Anadarko Petroleum Corporation is among the world’s largest independent oil and natural-gas exploration and production companies, employing over 4,900 men and women dedicated to safely finding and producing essential energy resources.

also dusted 3 flowers on 10 plants (n=30) prior to hand pollination and measured fruit set. Differences were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models to determine significant correlations between reproduction, proximity to the road, and dust. When controlling for plant size and distance, fruit set decreased with increasing proximity to the road and was negatively correlated with increasing levels of dust deposition (ƒ1,15 = 5.26, p

= 0.0366). The number of seeds per plant, the mean plant seed weight, and the proportion of hand-pollinated flowers that set fruit were also negatively correlated with dust, although not significantly. Although correlated with dust, the observed pattern of reduced reproduction could be due to other factors. Roads have been shown to interrupt complex plant-pollinator interactions, resulting in reduced reproduction. Stomatal conductance was significantly reduced (ƒ1, 58 = 87.56, p < 0.001) by the application of road dust. Eighty percent (24/30) of hand pollinated flowers set fruit after dusting, suggesting that dust did not prevent pollination. However, the process of applying pollen by hand could have removed any dust on the stigma. Overall, these results suggest that dust may impact fruit set through reduced physiological processes. The results also highlight the need for further research into the effects that roads and dust have on nearby plants while suggesting negative consequences for the conservation of an endangered shrub in Utah’s Uinta Basin.

Matthew Lewis, Graduate Research Assistant, Utah State University Department of Wildland Resources, 5230 Old Main HIll, Logan, Utah, 84322, ma.le@aggiemail.usu.edu

Matthew Lewis is a Graduate Research Assistant working towards his Master’s degree in Ecology through the Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology Center at Utah State University. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Conservation and Restoration Ecology at Utah State University.

A. Cheyenne Burnett, Utah State University Department of Wildland Resources, 5230 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, cheyburnett@gmail.com

Cheyenne Burnett is a MS student in the department of Wildland Resources at Utah State University. She received her BS degree in Zoology from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2007. She studied field biology abroad at the University of Western Australia. Before studying wildlife biology, she worked as a horse trainer and veterinarian technician. After obtaining her BS degree, she became a wildlife field technician for a variety of field research projects ranging from the Mexican border in Arizona to the Canadian Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada and many places in between. After working mainly with carnivores and ungulates, she has expanded her research scope by studying a fringe population of Greater sage-grouse in Southern Utah. Her current interests include behavioral ecology, inter-species interactions, threatened and endangered species conservation and management and wildlife education.

are listed as threatened by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and require pollination services for adequate reproduction. Development may potentially change the pollinator community important to these rare plants through habitat fragmentation and suitable habitat declination. These changes could include modification in diversity, abundance, or pollinator functional type. These changes in pollinator community may impact rare plant pollination, which would influence fecundity rates. During the spring of 2010 and 2011, plant fecundity was monitored at selected distances from road sides. For these experiments, roads were considered the major type of development. Differences in plant fecundity were analyzed for multiple covariance parameters to determine if there was any significant effect due to the development. Analysis determined that the effects of development on rare plant fecundity were minimal.

Sarah Clark, Utah State University Department of Biology, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, scoot.c@aggiemail.usu.edu

Sarah Clark is a Masters student in the Biology Department at Utah State University. She has always been interested in entomology and natural sciences, with recent emphasis in pollination biology and ecology. She received her BS in Biology at Utah State University, and decided to stay on for a MS under the tutelage of Dr. James P. Pitts in the terrestrial entomology lab. Her research followed her interests, where she studied plant- pollinator networks on rare plants in Colorado. She enjoys kayaking, running, small dog agility, and knitting outfits for her four legged friends.

Gregg Servheen, Wildlife Program Coordinator, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID, 83707, gregg.servheen@idfg.idaho.gov

Gregg Servheen is a wildlife program coordinator with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in Boise, Idaho. He is responsible for habitat-related conservation, mitigation, acquisition, technical assistance and strategic planning within the agency. Gregg has worked for the Department more than 25 years in 6 different research and management positions across the state. He is a wildlife biologist by education through the University of Massachusetts and Texas A&M University. Gregg is past President of the Idaho Chapter of

the Wildlife Society, an active member of the Executive Committee of the Idaho Association of Land Trusts and University of Idaho Rangeland Center task force, was Chair of the 2006 Idaho Land Use Summit, and has received recognition for his work on behalf of wildlife from the BLM, the Idaho Wildlife Federation, and Federal Highways Administration.

Bill James, Energy Development / NEPA Coordinator, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 1594 West North Temple, Suite 2110, PO Box 146301, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301, billjames@utah.gov

Bill began his formal training 30 years ago at Oklahoma State University, where he earned a BS in wildlife ecology. He also holds an MS in forest resources from the University of Georgia, where he and several other researchers reestablished bobcat populations on Cumberland Island, Georgia. He first worked for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in 1987, left for a time, then came back in 1991. He has worked in various capacities for Utah DWR ever since. Bill’s professional interests revolve around working with different kinds of people to address tough natural resource issues. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, and their daughter is now a sophomore at Utah State University in Logan.

the disturbed area. Local hydrologic cycles are altered which can affect downstream vegetation and water sources. Albedo of the soil surface is increased, which can decrease local precipitation. Wind farms are known to directly kill birds and bats, with unknown impacts to invertebrates. Many installations also often have lights, which can attract (insects) or repel wildlife. Dust from energy exploration and development is of huge concern, given its off-site impacts. Wind tunnel data show that most desert surfaces produce little sediment under typical wind speeds until disturbed. However, vehicle-disturbed soils, whether on or off roads, produce much more dust. As surface disturbance, plant invasion, and drought are expected to increase in the future, an increase in dust production can be expected as well. Deposition of dust on the snowpack darkens the surface, increasing snowmelt by 50 days or more and exposing soils to evaporation. Earlier germinating plants increase transpiration of soil water as well. Models suggest this can reduce Colorado River flows by 2-7% annually. In addition, earlier runoff means a reduction in late season water, which affects humans, wildlife and riparian plants.

Jayne Belnap, US Geological Survey, 2290 Resouce Blvd., Moab, UT, 84532, jayne_belnap@usgs.gov

Jayne Belnap has been a scientist with the Department of Interior since 1987. She received her two undergraduate degrees (in biology and natural history) from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1980; her Masters of Science (Ecology Department) from Stanford University in 1983 and her PhD (Botany and Range Department) from Brigham Young University in 1991. Her dissertation was on the effects of coal- fired power plants on the physiological functioning of biological soil crusts and rock lichens. Over the past 20 years, she has published 105 peer-reviewed articles and books on soil crusts that include a BLM technical reference (coauthored with 3 other BLM scientists) and the only comprehensive book available on the topic. She is recognized by scientists around the globe as one of world’s authorities on soil crusts. Dr. Belnap has been invited by many governments to train their scientists in soil crust ecology, including those of South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mongolia, China, Siberia, Australia, and Iceland. She travels extensively throughout the U.S., training BLM, NPS, USFS, BIA, DoD, and DOE staff and managers on management of soil crusts. She is past Chair of the Soil Ecology chapter of Ecological Society of America, as well as the President-Elect of the Soil Ecology Society.

Paul R. Vahldiek, Jr. is Chairman, of The High Lonesome Ranch (HLR) and President of Deep Water Cay (DWC). He received his undergraduate degree from Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas in 1977 and a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas in 1979. He began practicing law in 1980 and in 2008 received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the St. Mary’s University School of Law. The High Lonesome Ranch comprises approximately 300 square miles of deeded and permitted public lands (BLM), located northeast of Grand Junction, Colorado. The ranch includes lands ranging from approximately 5,000 to 9,200 feet in elevation that have been in agricultural and ranching uses since the mid 1800’s. The High Lonesome Ranch’s vision is committed to ensuring its lands, waters, and resources are healthy and productive for compatible values and uses, demonstrating how private and public lands can be stewarded in perpetuity for ethical uses and economic vitality. This effort will further and model a land ethic. In addition, Mr. Vahldiek and HLR are actively supporting the development of the High Lonesome Institute (HLI) that is being established to: advance scientific and scholarly knowledge relevant to stewardship of resources on working landscapes in the Intermountain West. It accomplishes these purposes through intentional science, education, and outreach focused (1) on improving land and resource management decisions, and (2) on being a venue for dialogue among diverse groups seeking to find common ground on conservation and sustainable development.

Bob Budd, Executive Director, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, Hathaway Building, 1st Floor, 2300 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne, WY, 82002, bob.budd@wyo.gov

Bob Budd is the founding Executive Director for the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, a program that funds and assists conservation projects in Wyoming. He is Chairman of the Wyoming Governor’s Sage- Grouse Implementation Team, an effort that developed a partner-based strategy for Sage-grouse conservation in Wyoming and the west. Most recently, he helped the states of Utah and Nevada design similar strategies

for conservation, and served as a member of the Conservation Objectives Team (COT) for the Fish and Wildlife Service. Budd is a native Wyomingite, and served as president of the international Society for Range Management, and the Wyoming Chapter of the Wildlife Society. He holds an MS degree in Range Management, and BS degrees in Animal Science and Agricultural Business, all from the University of Wyoming. He is a published author, and received the Kurt Bucholz Conservation Award from the Wyoming Stock Growers Ag Land Trust.