Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (Pah) Contamination In Urban Soils: Testing And Management, Melissa Chilinski, Paul Grossl, Melanie Stock

All Current Publications

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large class of chemicals and common environmental pollutants. Understanding which PAHs and soil test levels may impact human health is an important aspect of gardening and micro-farming, particularly in urban environments that are at increased risk of soil contamination. Land use histories, such as sites associated with vehicle and industrial emissions, burning, and dumping, can elevate concentrations of PAHs in soils. This fact sheet provides instructions on assessing your site for PAHs that may present health risks to humans, testing the soil, and first steps for interpretation and management.

U.S. Public Opinion Of Reproductive Control Options For Free-Roaming Horses On Western Public Lands, S. Nicole Frey, Jeffrey L. Beck, John Derek Scasta, Loretta Singletary

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Free-roaming horses (Equus ferus caballus; horses) inhabit public rangelands located primarily in 10 western U.S. states. Recent horse population increases are impacting rangeland ecosystems, native wildlife species and their habitats, and exacerbating conflicts with domestic livestock grazing. While contraceptives and physical sterilization are promising options to manage horse herd levels, public opinion concerning the use of fertility control is not well understood. To better inform policymakers, we completed a rigorous study of a random sample of public land stakeholders across the United States (n = 3,500) in 2020 using a Likert scale online survey to assess their …

Management Innovations For Resilient Public Rangelands: Adoption Constraints And Considerations For Interagency Diffusion, Gwendŵr R. Meredith, Mark W. Brunson, Stuart P. Hardegree

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Maintaining healthy rangeland ecosystems requires adaptive co-management at the landscape scale. Because the majority of western rangelands are publicly owned, it is critical that federal land management agencies work together in generating and sharing information. Promotion and communication of rangeland management innovations among agencies is one means of sharing information. Two rangeland management innovations, the Weather-Centric Restoration Tool and Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health, were studied in order to better understand agency adoption decisions and barriers to diffusion of the innovations across agencies. Using a mixed qualitative methodology, we interviewed land managers across the floristic Great Basin and in southeastern …

Modelling Eurasian Beaver Foraging Habitat And Dam Suitability, For Predicting The Location And Number Of Dams Throughout Catchments In Great Britain, Hugh A. Graham, Alan Puttock, William W. Macfarlane, Joseph Michael Wheaton, Jordan T. Gilbert, Róisín Campbell-Palmer, Mark Elliott, Martin J. Gaywood, Karen Anderson, Richard E. Brazier

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) populations are expanding across Europe. Depending on location, beaver dams bring multiple benefits and/or require management. Using nationally available data, we developed: a Beaver Forage Index (BFI), identifying beaver foraging habitat, and a Beaver Dam Capacity (BDC) model, classifying suitability of river reaches for dam construction, to estimate location and number of dams at catchment scales. Models were executed across three catchments, in Great Britain (GB), containing beaver. An area of 6747 km² was analysed for BFI and 16,739 km of stream for BDC. Field surveys identified 258 km of channel containing beaver …

A Model Explaining Medusahead Invasion And Novel Targeted Grazing Approaches Of Control, Casey N. Spackman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski) is currently one of the biggest threats to rangelands and livestock operations in the Western US. High silica concentrations in medusahead contribute to its invasiveness. I developed a model to explain how silica is involved in the invasion process, and attempted to manipulate silica to increase use of the grass by livestock. Experiments were conducted to determine: 1) whether rotational grazing on established forages of improved nutritional quality would provide supplemental nutrients to increase cattle use of medusahead; 2) evaluate intake of and preference for medusahead treated with a glyphosate herbicide at different rates …

Why Do They Do That? Understanding Factors Influencing Visitor Spatial Behavior In Parks And Protected Areas, Abigail M. Sisneros-Kidd

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Visitors to parks and protected areas within the United States and worldwide often visit these areas with a particular destination in mind, such as seeing Old Faithful erupt in Yellowstone National Park or standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon in Grand Canyon National Park. These visitor use destinations, and the pathways leading to them, such as trails and roadways, see high levels of use, and as a result, impacts to soil, vegetation, air, water, soundscapes, and night skies that result from this use. The field of recreation ecology studies these impacts to park and protected area resources resulting …

Black Bears Recolonizing Historic Ranges: Indiana Human–Bear Interactions, Bradford J. Westrich, Emily B. Mccallen, Geriann Albers

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Over a century after extirpation from Indiana, USA, 2 American black bears (Ursus americanus) were confirmed in the state during the summers of 2015 and 2016. The first bear encountered a public and management agency unaccustomed to living with large carnivores, which resulted in intentional and unintentional feedings, habituation, and ultimately its euthanasia. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) attempted to learn from this encounter and began preparing for the next transient black bear. Education materials were created to help minimize human–bear interactions, promote living safely with bears, and inform about what to do when encountering a …

Aligning Conservation Goals And Management Objectives For Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarki Utah) In The Logan River, Utah, Harrison E. Mohn

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Rivers are often managed without informed knowledge of how sportfish use different areas of the river to reproduce, and rarely take into account the relationship between fish movement and how they are distributed within the river when making management decisions. The population of native Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki utah) within the Logan River is the largest documented population remaining for this imperiled species, and still maintains extremely high numbers of fish in the upper river. Currently, fishing is not allowed in the upper 20 kilometers of the Logan River watershed during spawning, based on the assumption that …

Process-Based Management Of Downy Brome In Salt Desert Shrublands: Assessing Pre- And Post- Rehabilitation Soil And Vegetation Attributes, Merilynn Carol Hirsch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As an ecosystem driver, downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) presents obstacles to land rehabilitation efforts, including restoring desirable species cover. Because damaged ecosystems may have crossed both abiotic and biotic thresholds, ecologically-based control strategies may assist with altering successional trajectories and restoring desirable plant species. My thesis research had three objectives: 1) assess soil and vegetation relationships in degraded salt desert ecosystems prior to implementing downy brome control treatments, 2) determine the effects of control treatments on soil properties and resident plant species, and 3) evaluate the relative importance of shrubland soil type, herbicide type, and herbicide rate on seedling …

Catch, Treat And Release With Limited Removal Red Desert Complex Wild Horse Herd Management Areas (Lost Creek, Stewart Creek, Green Mountain, Crooks Mountain, Antelope Hills), United States Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Land Management

Environmental Assessments (WY)

This Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared to disclose and analyze the environmental consequences of a "Catch, Treat and Release (CTR)" of wild horses in the Red Desert Wild Horse Herd Management Area (HMA) Complex. In addition to the proposed action of a CTR gather, removal of wild horses outside identified HMAs within the project area will also be conducted. The HMAs included in this complex are Lost Creek, Stewart Creek, Green Mountain, Crooks Mountain and Antelope Hills (See Area Map, Appendix 2). The EA is a site-specific analysis of potential impacts that could result with the implementation of a …

Wild Horse Gathering For The Red Desert Complex Wild Horse Herd Management Areas (Lost Creek, Stewart Creek, Green Mountain, Crooks Mountain, Antelope Hills), United States Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Land Management

Environmental Assessments (WY)

This Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared to disclose and analyze the environmental consequences of gathering excess wild horses in the Red Desert Wild Horse Herd Management Area (HMA) Complex. The HMAs included in this complex are Lost Creek, Stewart Creek, Green Mountain, Crooks Mountain and Antelope Hills. The EA is a site-specific analysis of potential impacts that could result with the implementation of a proposed action or alternatives to the proposed action. The EA assists the BLM in project planning and ensuring compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and in making a determination as to whether any …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Grassbed Treatments As Habitat For Juvenile Black Bass In A Drawdown Reservoir, D. R. Ratcliff, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, J. Zustak

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Many reservoirs in arid regions experience highly variable water levels caused by seasonal inflow fluctuations and designated outflow requirements. At Shasta Lake, California, managers plant cereal-grain grassbeds on exposed drawdown shorelines to increase juvenile fish habitat, localize productivity, and increase invertebrate fish prey. To determine the efficacy of these plantings, the abundance of juvenile black basses Micropterus spp. (20–55 mm standard length) and the amount of periphyton and macroinvertebrate prey were compared among three treatment types: (1) planted grassbeds of cereal barley Hordeum vulgare; (2) artificial rope grassbeds, which eliminated physical deterioration and nutrient release; and (3) nonplanted control sites …

Richfield Field Office Planning Area - Proposed Resource Management And Final Environmental Impact Statement, United States Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Land Management

Final environmental Impact Statements (UT)

The Proposed RMP was crafted primarily from the Preferred Alternative presented in the DRMP/DEIS (Alternative B) and includes other decisions within the range of alternatives (Alternatives N, A, C, and D) in response to public comments and internal review. The No Action Alternative (Alternative N) reflects current management. The BLM has removed the DRMP/DEIS Alternative B (Preferred Alternative) from the PRMP/FEIS. The other DRMP/DEIS Alternatives (Alternatives N, A, C, and D) and analyses are carried forward in the PRMP/FEIS only for comparative purposes and to correct some mistakes that were identified during the public comment period.

Moab Field Office Planning Area Proposed Resource Management Plan And Final Environmental Impact Statement, United States Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Land Management

Final environmental Impact Statements (UT)

This Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) describes and analyzes the Proposed Plan and draft alternatives for the planning and management of public lands and resources administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Moab Field Office. The Moab planning area is located in southeastern Utah and includes approximately 2.5-million acres of land in Grand and San Juan Counties. Within the Moab planning area, the BLM manages approximately 1.8-million acres of BLM-administered public land surface as well as about 29,000 acres of federal mineral estate.

Scoping Summary Report: Development Of Lower Basin Shortage Guidelines And Coordinated Management Strategies For Lake Powell And Lake Mead, Particularly Under Low Reservoir Conditions, U.S. Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Reclamation

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) acting on behalf of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior (Secretary) proposes to take action to adopt specific Colorado River Lower Basin shortage guidelines and coordinated reservoir management strategies to address operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead, particularly under low reservoir conditions. This proposed Action will provide a greater degree of certainty to all water users and managers in the Colorado River Basin by providing more detailed guidelines for the operation of Lake Powell and Lake Mead and by allowing water users in the Lower Basin to know when, and by how …

Record Of Decision: Operation Of Flaming Gorge Dam Final Environmental Impact Statement, U.S. Bureau Of Reclamation

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has completed a final environmental impact statement (EIS) on the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam. The EIS describes the potential effects of modifying the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam to assist in the recovery of four endangered fish, and their critical habitat, downstream from the dam. The four endangered fish species are Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), humpback chub (Gila cypha), razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), and bonytail (Gila elegans). Reclamation would implement the proposed action by modifying the operations of Flaming Gorge Dam, to the extent possible, to achieve the flows and temperatures recommended by participants …

Use Of Prescribed Fire In Rangeland Management: A Training Manual, Eric Lamalfa, D. Layne Coppock

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Course Outcomes

• Learn about the role of fire in rangeland ecosystems.
• Learn how to plan and implement a prescribed fire.
• Learn how to monitor fire effects to assist management decision-making.
• Make progress towards conceptualizing a community-based, fire management program on the Borana Plateau.

National Strategy And Implementation Plan For Invasive Species Management, U.S. Department Of Agriculture, Forest Service

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

The Chief of the U.S.Department of Agriculture Forest Service has identified invasive species as one of the four critical threats to our Nation’s ecosystems. In response to this national threat,we have evaluated the role of the Forest Service as a leading forest research, forest health, and Federal resource management agency.We are aware of our significant role in addressing invasive species threats at the local, State, and national levels, as well as internationally.We have found the best opportunity for success comes from working strategically, using all our scientific, management, and partnership resources in unison. This document is not designed to serve …

Scoping Comment Summary Report For The Vegetation Treatments Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, United States Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Land Management

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

No abstract provided.

Adoption Of Range Management Innovations By Utah Livestock Producers, Elizabeth Anne Didier

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Recent years have seen changes in ecological conditions, ownership patterns, and political-legal forces that affect the sustainability of Western range livestock production. Enterprise diversification and implementation of improvements are advocated as ways for ranchers to cope with marginal returns from ranching while better managing resources. However, relatively few ranchers make such substantive changes in their operations, and previous research suggests that rates of adoption may be especially low in Utah.

Using a qualitative approach, this study explored innovation adoption among Utah ranchers. During preliminary interviews with 13 key informants, commitment to traditional ranching lifestyles, the state's settlement pattern, and availability …

Final General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (Visitor Management And Resource Protection Plan) Zion National Park, Utah, U.S. Department Of The Interior, National Park Service

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

The purpose of this conceptual plan is to describe the general path the National Park Service intends to follow in managing Zion National Park over the next 20 years. The approved plan will provide a framework for proactive decision making on such issues as visitor use, natural and cultural resource management, and park development, which will allow park managers to effectively address future problems and opportunities. In most cases, new development outside the park would take place to meet visitor needs.

The Roswell And Carlsbad Bureau Of Land Management Field Offices And Lincoln National Forest Endangered, Threatened And Sensitive Plant Field Guide, United States Bureau Of Land Management

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

This field guide has been prepared through a combined effort of the Roswell and Carlsbad Field Offices of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Lincoln National Forest (LNF), and Ecosphere Environmental Services. This guide will help agency field personnel and public land users identify special status species found in the Roswell, Carlsbad, and Lincoln National Forest management areas.

Environmental Assessment : Middle Salt Creek Canyon Access Plan Canyonlands National Park, Utah, National Park Service, U.S. Department Of The Interior, Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands Research Bibliography

Salt Creek is the largest drainage in the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park. The creek supports one of the most important riparian ecosystems in the park. It is also the heart of the Salt Creek National Register Archeological District, the area with the highest recorded density of archeological sites in the park. A tributary canyon contains the spectacular Angel Arch, a well-known geologic formation that for many years has been a destination point for park visitors. In 1998 the U.S. District Court for the State of Utah ruled, in a lawsuit filed by the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, that …

Integrated Noxious Weed Management After Wildfires, Natural Resources Conservation Service

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

The ecosystems of the west are adapted to a long history of wildland fires that varied in frequency and severity. Over the last 100 years or more, though, fire suppression efforts, human settlement patterns and other land use practices have changed the composition and structure of the forests and grasslands of the West. Where once we typically had periodic low-intensity fires of low severity, we now experience damaging fires that can be both intense and severe. Severe fires can substantially affect the environment. Lack of vegetation on burned hillsides increases the likelihood of flooding and soil erosion from rain and …

Riparian Area Management: A Guide To Managing, Restoring, And Conserving Springs In The Western United States, United States Bureau Of Land Management

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

The purpose of this technical reference is to provide information on the characteristics of springs in the Western U.S. and to identify techniques for managing spring habitats that will allow use, maintain biological integrity, and rehabilitate or restore degraded habitats. Spring management goals are outlined and methods for prioritizing management actions are discussed.

Useful Conversion Factors In Rangeland Management, Mindy Pratt, G. Allen Rasmussen

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

Management Guidelines For Sage Grouse And Sagebrush Ecosystems In Nevada, Bureau Of Land Management

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

These management guidelines and supportive background information promote the conservation of sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and their sagebrush (Artemisia spp) habitats on Nevada public lands administered by Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The guidelines are intended to provide interim guidance to field managers, without restricting options currently being explored for regional, state, and local sage grouse/sagebrush conservation planning. The guidelines are a Nevada BLM, habitat-specific, adaptation of the recently updated, and soon to be finalized, Western Association of Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) Draft Guidelines. The Nevada BLM guidelines apply the most current sage grouse science to BLM activities, within the context …

Record Of Decision And Approved Resource Management Plan For Public Lands Administered By The Newcastle Field Office, United States Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Land Management

Record of Decisions (WY)

This Resource Management Plan (RMP) provides the management direction for approximately 292,168 acres of BLM-administered public land surface and 1,698,866 acres of federal mineral estate administered by the Newcastle Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Crook, Niobrara, and Weston counties in northeast Wyoming (Map 1, "General Location Map" located at the end of the "Planning and Management Decisions" section.) This Newcastle RMP supersedes all previous land-use planning decision documents for the planning area.

Reducing The Risk Of Surface And Ground Water Contamination By Improving Livestock Yards Management, Utah State University Extension

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

Decision Record And Finding Of No Significant Impact For The Wild Horse Gathering For The Fifteenmile Wild Horse Herd Management Area, United States Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Land Management

Record of Decisions (WY)

All wild horses gathered from areas outside the HMA are considered excess and subject to removal. Those wild horses not selected for removal will be released back into the HMA. Removal of excess wild horses will leave wild horse populations in, or close to, compliance with the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Grass Creek Planning Area.