WERA1018: The Social-Ecological Resilience of Rangelands in Working Landscapes

(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

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[06/19/2015] [08/29/2016] [10/01/2015] [08/23/2016] [01/08/2018]

Date of Annual Report: 06/19/2015

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 09/03/2013 - 09/05/2013
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2012 - 09/01/2013

Participants

Participants:
(in person)
Lynn Huntsinger, University of California, Berkeley (Vice-Chair)
Neil Rimbey, University of Idaho
Tex Taylor, University of Wyoming
John Tanaka, University of Wyoming
Kristi Maczko, University of Wyoming
Tom Foulke, University of Wyoming (Chair)
Julie Pierce, Bureau of Land Management (Salt Lake City)
Brianne Lind (soon to be) University of Wyoming
(via telephone)
Tom Harris, University of Nevada, Reno
Alan Torell, New Mexico State University
Rhonda Skaggs, New Mexico State University
Don Snyder, Utah State University (Advisor)
Fen Hunt, USDA

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting commenced at 1:00pm on Tuesday, 03 September, 2013 in board room of the Hilton Garden Inn in Rapid City, South Dakota. WERA-1018 is the reformatted W-1192 regional research committee which expired in 2011. Since the authorization process was continuing in 2012, there was no 2012 meeting and this is the first meeting of the new WERA.

The first order of business was to elect officers. Neil Rimby nominated Tom Foulke as Chairman. John Tanaka seconded the nomination and nomination was carried unanimously. Lynn Huntsinger was voted in unanimously as Vice Chairman, to become chairman in 2015.

State reports for California, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wyoming were presented to the committee. Discussion of these projects and the progress (See attached) for the committee continued for some time.

Discussion of a future project followed and dominated the rest of the meeting. John Tanaka is the PI for the project and he brought with him to the meeting a soon-to-be new graduate student, Brianne Lind. Brianne just graduated from the University of Idaho in May and is currently working for the BLM on sage grouse habitat in Idaho.

The new project is a survey of public land grazing permit holders. Brianne will be the primary worker on the survey and will write her thesis from it. Our task at the meeting was to start the process, by talking to the Public Lands Council executive committee, the BLM and Forest Service. We need to have their input as to what are the important outcomes of the survey so we know what questions to ask.

The meeting adjourned at 5:00pm.

Accomplishments

A University of Idaho Hatch project deals with private grazing lease arrangements, ranch values and rangeland management policy issues.  Ashley McClain completed her MS thesis project on western juniper encroachment, partially supported by Sage-STEP and the Joint Fire Science Program.  She used a GAMS model to estimate the ranch-level economic impacts of moving from phase I (few trees) to phase III (lots of trees) of encroachment and the ability of the ranch to pay for treatment of invasive junipers.  We completed a private grazing lease study that was partially funded by Idaho Department of Lands and involved the survey unit in a telephone survey of Idaho grazing lessees/lessors.  Unfortunately, IDL has not allowed us to release/publish the study yet. There is some pretty good stuff resulting from this study that will be published somewhere down the road.  In the interim, Rimbey is pursuing external funding to re-do the survey and analysis of private leases, hoping this will spur some action from IDL.  Wulfhorst continues to lead the PhD NSF-IGERT team focusing on social-ecological resilience with a developing research emphasis on juniper encroachment management, litigation impacts, and assessing drivers of change including fire, climate, and biological invasion. Rimbey is serving in a mentoring role of the 4 graduate students partially funded under the NSF-IGERT program.  The project deals with juniper invasion and we are working closely with BLM, TNC, and others on the participatory research/modeling effort.  Rimbey is also cooperating with the Range Specialist and a county faculty member on a sagebrush thinning project in eastern Idaho, designed to test 3 methods (chemical and mechanical) to enhance sage-grouse habitat.  Neil is also involved with multi-state/agency project dealing with wolf-cattle interactions in which he is providing the ranch-level economic analysis of wolf impacts and alternative strategies for dealing with wolves.  John Tanaka, Allen Torell and Rimbey recently put their heads together and updated the GAMS models used to estimate ranch-level impacts of alternative sage-grouse management strategies in 2002.  Models were originally developed and used to analyze the situation under the short-lived PACWPL.  Price and cost updates have been accomplished and initial runs undertaken, limiting public land forage for ranch models in Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon. Neil serves on BLM’s Boise District Resource Advisory Council (RAC).  The RAC continues to push the district to do something about cheatgrass invasion and fire frequency that is negatively impacting sagebrush habitat on the Snake River Plain.  A major symposium was sponsored in 2011 and dealt with “Breaking the Fire Cycle”.  Efforts continue on this important resource issue, including a public information campaign, designing and installing fuel breaks, using grazing as a tool to reduce fuel loads and others.  He has also been involved in a series of papers dealing with rangeland issues associated with the Owyhee Initiative effort.  These will be published in a new journal (J. of Rangeland Applications) in the next year or so.  University of Nevada, Reno researchers had a journal article accepted by the Review of Regional Science that incorporated a ranch level model with a regional Social Accounting Matrix model.  This model also incorporated a stochastic rangeland fire model. They also analyzed with researchers at the University of Wyoming problems in using out of box impact models for regional economic impact analysis. This procedure adjusted Use and Make Tables by incorporating University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension budgets for range cattle and alfalfa.  Results presented at Western Agricultural Economics Association meeting. Work is underway updating representative Northeastern Nevada range cattle model with the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M. Also incorporating procedures for analysis of impacts from changes in public land grazing due to rangeland fires, drought, and potential sage grouse designation. UNR researchers are analyzing adoption rates by Nevada range cattle producers of the trichomonaisis vaccine. A rancher questionnaire has been developed and completed. Analysis of data is currently under way. An NMSU research report exploring and updating market values for New Mexico ranches was published. An updated RANVAL model was released at the website <a href="http://ranval.nmsu.edu">http://ranval.nmsu.edu</a> for use by ranchers, appraisers, lenders and those interested in New Mexico ranchland values and the factors affecting those values. A thesis and research review was completed at NMSU about the cost and potential of using targeted cattle grazing to reduce fire danger. Researchers also did an assessment and critique of the ecosystem services provided from New Mexico rangeland restoration efforts implemented by the cooperative Restore New Mexico restoration project (part of the BLM Healthy Lands Initiative) was made. NMSU researchers published a Western Economics Forum (WEF) journal article was published about the feasibility of providing sound assessments and economic valuations of ecosystem service provisioning from rangelands. NMSU participated in a regional effort to write science guides about various public land management issues. Thirteen guides are proposed and are at various stages of completion. The effort is coordinated by Karen Launchbaugh, Rangeland Center Director at the University of Idaho. The guides that Torell co-authored along with other members of this WERA committee included the following: <ul> <li>Ranch Level Economic Impact Analysis for Public Lands: A Guide to Methods, Issues, and Applications. L. Allen Torell, Neil R. Rimbey, John A. Tanaka, David T. Taylor and J.D. Wulfhorst</li> <li>Economic and Social Impact Analysis for Public Lands: Guides to Methods, Issues, and Applications—Part II: Community and Social Impact Analysis by. David T. Taylor, J.D. Wulfhorst. L. Allen Torell, Neil R. Rimbey, and John A. Tanaka.</li> <li>Stocking Rate and Stock Density Considerations for Livestock Grazing in the Great Basin by Glenn E. Shewmaker, Karen L. Launchbaugh, K. Scott Jensen, and L. Allen Torell</li> <li>Wildland Fuels and Fire Behavior by Eva K. Strand, Ryan Limb, Karen L. Launchbaugh, Barry Perryman and L. Allen Torell</li> <li>Participating in a Western Regional Development Center (WRDC) economic study to update an earlier study about the economic impacts to livestock producers of protecting the Greater Sage Grouse.</li> </ul> A proceedings paper has been written for inclusion in a proposed publication of the 17th Wildland Shrub Symposium papers as a special Rangelands journal issue.  The proceedings paper is in review as of August 29, 2013. Parry’s thesis research was presented at the Society for Range Management 65th Annual Meeting, Spokane, Washington, February 29, 2012, “Impermanence Factors and Rangeland Management in the Desert Southwest.” Historical data for individual BLM grazing allotments in SW New Mexico focusing on ownership instability and turnover is being analyzed spatially and temporally by Rhonda Skaggs and collaborators from the Jornada Experimental Range. The following paper was published: Williamson, J. C., Burkett, L., Bestelmeyer, B., Skaggs, R., Havstad, K. (2012). Reinterpreting Historical Data for Evidence-Based Shrubland Management. Natural Resources and Environmental Issues, 17(1), Article 18. <a href="http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1763&context=nrei">http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1763&context=nrei</a>. Wyoming researchers are involved in a number of project that connect with WERA-1018: <ul> <li>Wyoming Sage-Grouse 9 Plan Amendment</li> </ul> This project is in support of BLM and Forest Service Sage-Grouse planning efforts in Wyoming. It involves an economic impact analysis of five potential Sage-Grouse management alternatives for amendments to six BLM RMPs and three Forest Service LMPs in Wyoming. BLM Field Offices considered in the analysis included: Casper, Kemmerer, Newcastle, Pinedale, Rawlins, and Rock Springs. Forest Service units considered in the analysis include: Bridger-Teton National Forest, Medicine Bow National Forest and the Thunder Basin National Grasslands. Commodities considered in the analysis included: Oil & Gas Well Drilling, Oil & Gas Production, Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, Wind Development, Wind Generation, and Recreation.  The analysis considered both regional and statewide economic impacts for each unit. <ul> <li>Socioeconomic Analysis for Sage-Grouse Planning in the Western United States</li> </ul> This project is in support of BLM and Forest Service Sage-Grouse planning efforts in the Western United States. It involves economic impact analysis for five sub-regions including: Northwest Colorado The Northwest Colorado analysis considered 8 counties as the primary study area and 5 counties as the secondary study area. Commodities included in the analysis were: Oil & Gas Well Drilling, Oil & Gas Production, Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, and Recreation. This information is to be used to assist in planning for amendments to 5 BLM RMPs and 1 Forest Service LMP in Northwest Colorado. Nevada and Northeast California The Nevada and Northeast California analysis included 10 counties in Nevada and 2 counties in California as the primary study area. There was no secondary study area for this analysis. Commodities included in the analysis were: Oil and Gas Well Drilling, Oil and Gas Production, Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, and Geothermal. This information is to be used to assist in planning for amendments to 10 BLM RMPs and 2 Forest Service LMPs. Idaho and Southwest Montana The Idaho and Southwest Montana analysis included 27 counties in Idaho and 2 counties in Montana as the primary study area and 4 counties in Idaho and 2 counties in Montana as the secondary study area. Commodities included in the analysis were: Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, and Recreation. This information is to be used to assist in planning for amendments to 13 BLM RMPs and 7 Forest Service LMPs. Oregon The Oregon analysis included 7 counties as the primary study area and 1 county as the secondary study area. Commodities included in the analysis were: Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, Wind Development, and Wind Generation. This information is to be used to assist in planning for amendments to 10 BLM RMPs. Utah The Utah analysis included 22 counties as the primary study area and 5 counties as the secondary study area. Commodities included in the analysis were: Oil & Gas Well Drilling, Oil & Gas Production, Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, Wind Development, and Wind Generation. This information is to be used to assist in planning for amendments to 13 BLM RMPs and 6 Forest Service LMPs. The Rock Springs RMP project is in support of the BLM’s planning effort for the Rock Springs RMP. It involves an economic impact analysis of potential management alternatives on a five-county region in Southwest Wyoming.  Commodities to be considered in the analysis include: Oil & Gas Well Drilling, Oil & Gas Production, Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, Coal, Trona, Recreation, and possibly Wind Development and Generation. This project is unique in that both an IMPLAN and REMI analysis will be conducted and the results compared. Work on the Shoshone National Forest Plan continues. This project was in support of the U.S. Forest Service’s planning efforts for the Shoshone National Forest. It involved an economic impact analysis of six management alternatives on a three-county region in Northwest Wyoming.  Commodities considered in the analysis included: General Recreation, Commercial Recreation, Timber, Cattle Grazing, and the Shoshone National Forest Budget. This was an update to a previous analysis conducted for the Forest in 2007. Wyoming researchers recently completed multi-year project for Wyoming State Parks. It involved an economic impact analysis of: 1) Snowmobiling in Wyoming, 2) ORV Use in Wyoming, and 3) Non-motorized Trail Use in Wyoming. Another component of the project was development of a State Trail Inventory for Wyoming. The snowmobile analysis, ORV analysis, and Trails Inventory were all updates of previous studies conducted for Wyoming State Parks and were based on snowmobile and ORV registrations in Wyoming. The non-motorized trail use in Wyoming was based on U.S. Forest Service NVUM data for the four national forests located in Wyoming.

Publications

Brownsey, P., Oviedo, J., Huntsinger, L. and B. Allen-Diaz. 2013. Historic forage productivity and cost of capital for cow-calf production in California. Rangeland Ecology and Management 66(3): 339-347. [<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2111/REM-D-11-00059.1">http://dx.doi.org/10.2111/REM-D-11-00059.1</a>] Bunn, D., M. Lubell, and C. K. Johnson. 2013. Reforms could boost conservation banking by landowners. California Agriculture 67:86-95. Campos, P., Huntsinger, L., Oviedo, J.L., Starrs, P.F., Díaz, M., Standiford, R.B., Montero, G. (eds). 2013. Mediterranean oak woodland working landscapes: Dehesas of Spain and ranchlands of California. Landscape Series, Springer. 460 p. [<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6707-2">http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6707-2</a>] Committee to review the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Management Program--Guy Palmer, Chair, Lynn Huntsinger, one of 13 committee members, lead for chapter 6. 2013. Using science to improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program: A way forward. 436 p. ISBN-10: 0-309-26494-4. 436 pgs. [<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13511">http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13511</a>] Ferranto, S., Huntsinger, L., Getz, C., Lahiff, M., Stewart, W., Nakamura, G. and M. Kelly.  2013. Management without borders? A survey of landowner practices and attitudes towards cross-boundary cooperation. Society and Natural Resources 0:1-19. [<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2013.779343">http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2013.779343</a>] Fife, T.E., J.B. Glaze, Jr., K.S. Jensen, N. Rimbey, S. Kane, S.D. Baker, J. Church, S.J. Etter, D. Gunn, G. Keetch, S. Nash, S. Williams, R.L. Ruiz. 2013. Case study: Handling and management of animal health products by Idaho producers and retailers.  Prof. An. Scientist. 29(3): 313-320. Gerber, E. R., A. D. Henry, and M. Lubell. 2013. Political Homophily and Collaboration in Regional Planning Networks. American Journal of Political Science 57:598-610. Roche, L.M., Kromschroeder, L., E.R. Atwill, R.A. Dahlgren, and K.W. Tate. 2013. Water quality conditions associated with cattle grazing and recreation on national forest lands. PLOS ONE 8(6): e68127. Haden, V. R., M. T. Niles, M. Lubell, J. Perlman, and L. E. Jackson. 2012. Global and Local Concerns: What Attitudes and Beliefs Motivate Farmers to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change? Plos One 7. Maher, A.T., J.A. Tanaka, N. Rimbey. 2013. Economic risks of cheatgrass invasion on a simulated eastern Oregon ranch.  Rangeland Ecology & Management. 66(3): 356-363. McClain, Ashley. 2013. Ranch-level economic impacts of Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) encroachment on sagebrush steppe ecosystems in Owyhee County, Idaho.  University of Idaho College of Graduate Studies. M.S. Thesis. McClain, Ashley and Neil Rimbey. 2013. Impacts of Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) treatment costs on ranch-level profits.  Idaho Section Soc. for Range Management Spring Newsletter. Available on-line at: <a href="http://idaho.rangelands.org/Spring2013.pdf">http://idaho.rangelands.org/Spring2013.pdf</a>. Niemeyer, R. J., Bentley Brymer, A. L., Holbrook H. D., Suazo, A. A., Heinse, R., Link, T., Newingham, B., Rachlow, J., Vierling, K., Wulfhorst, J. D. (2013, May). Employing a deliberative process to understand knowledge integration and sagebrush-steppe system dynamics. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the University of Idaho NSF-IGERT Project, CATIE, Costa Rica. Torell, L.A., G. L. Torell, J.A. Tanaka, N.R. Rimbey. 2013. The potential for valuing ecosystem services on public rangelands.  Western Economics Forum XII (1): 40-46. Available on-line at: <a href="http://www.waeaonline.org/UserFiles/file/WEFSpring2013.pdf">http://www.waeaonline.org/UserFiles/file/WEFSpring2013.pdf</a>.

Impact Statements

Improved knowledge of the economic impact of federal land management activities.

Date of Annual Report: 08/29/2016

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 09/21/2014 - 09/24/2014
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2013 - 09/30/2014

Participants

Thomas K. Foulke, Foulke@uwyo.edu, University of Wyoming
Thomas R. Harris, harris@unr.edu, University of Nevada, Reno
Lynn Huntsinger, huntsinger@berkeley.edu, University of California, Berkeley
Man-Keun Kim, mkim@cabnr.unr.edu, University of Nevada, Reno
Kristie Maczo, kmaczko@uwyo.edu, University of Wyoming
Neil Rimbey, nrimbey@uidaho.edu, University of Idaho
John P. Ritten, John.Ritten@uwyo.edu, University of Wyoming
John D. Scasta, jscasta@uwyo.edu, University of Wyoming
Juli Shur Pierce, jsuhrpierce@blm.gov , BLM
Don Snyder, don.snyder@usu.edu , Utah State University
Sherm Swanson, University of Nevada, Reno
David T. Taylor, Taylor@uwyo.edu, University of Wyoming
Allen Torell atorell@nmsu.edu, New Mexico State University
John Tanaka, jtanaka@uwyo.edu, University of Wyoming
Leticia A. Veralas, lvarelas@uwyo.edu, University of Wyoming

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting convened at 8:30 am in Reno, Nevada. State reports were presented from Wyoming, Nevada, California, New Mexico, and Idaho, working through a lunch at 12 noon.

The University of Nevada, Reno, has Developed a University Center for Economic Development technical publication using FLIP-SIM with the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M to estimate impacts on economic success and financial viability to a representative Northeastern Nevada ranch from alternative sage grouse habitat programs. A Humboldt County input-output model which included University of Nevada Cooperative Extension agricultural budgets for range cattle and alfalfa hay operations was developed. This procedure adjusts the Use and Make tables of input-output models derived through the microcomputer IMPLAN model. The initial statistical analysis was completed to estimate factors which influence adoption of the trichonomiasis vaccine by Nevada range cattle producers.

At the University of California Berkeley, an NSF-funded project (CHNS) on “sustaining wetlands in a working landscape” is entering its final year. The project analyzes the benefits of agriculture to wildlife and ecosystems. Led by Steve Beissinger, an ornithologist, project leaders include a hydrologist, an epidemiologist and Lynn Huntsinger. The research examines the interactions among rare birds (California black rail), ranch production, mosquitos, and West Nile Virus in the Sierran Foothills. Within the bird’s range in Yuba and Nevada counties, a mail survey of landowners with 3 acres or more foothill rangeland has been completed with a greater than 55% return rate. The survey asks about water use motivations and practices, water sources, impacts of water price (discrete choice), and the cost of incentivizing creating wetlands for a rare bird. The bird’ habitat is largely leaks and tailwater from irrigated pasture systems on rangelands. http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1115069. The data from a statewide survey of forest and rangeland landowners conducted in 2008 was re-analyzed to look at what factors correlate with ecosystem service production for the landowner and for society. This will be published in the Rangelands special issue for the 2015 Annual Meeting. The search for an Extension Research Specialist in Range Planning and Policy will begin in the fall at Berkeley. UC Davis will be conducting a search for a rangeland management specialist as well beginning in Spring 2015. The searches are coordinated.

The team at UC Davis, lead by Leslie Roche and Ken Tate, has developed a multipronged approach to directly integrate management and science in addressing the challenges of providing for multiple and diverse outcomes on working rangelands, and to gain insights into decision-making and adaptation on rangelands. The work includes 1) surveys of over 500 California ranchers from the CA Cattlemen’s mailing list

(http://rangelandwatersheds.ucdavis.edu/main/projects/ranchersurvey.html); 2) semi-structured interviews of over 100 California ranchers, with follow-up field surveys on 30 ranches to measure on-the-ground outcomes of rangeland management and conservation practices (http://rangelandwatersheds.ucdavis.edu/main/CRSP.html); and 3) a long-term, stakeholder prescribed adaptive grazing strategy study. A new grant, funded by the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, on “Managing

California Rangelands for Multiple Ecosystem Services: Understanding Tradeoffs among Production and Conservation-Based Goals” came through very recently. Led by Tate, Davis and Berkeley researchers are participating.

At New Mexico State University, an analysis of the ranch-level economic impacts of management alternatives relating to Greater sage-grouse in the West has been completed. The resulting bulliten was published by University of Wyoming Extension, and includes ranch-level models and analysis for Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and Wyoming. Neil Rimbey is working with researchers at NMSU to publish a private grazing lease study from Idaho Department of Lands (the funding agency). The phone survey was conducted in 2011-12 of Idaho lessees and lessors of private grazing resources. New Mexico participated in a regional effort to write science guides about various public land management issues. Thirteen guides are proposed and are at various stages of completion. The effort is coordinated by Karen Launchbaugh, Rangeland Center Director at the University of Idaho. Additional science guides are in progress. A project has been recently started with Joel Brown with JER to develop a procedure and explore whether State-and-Transition models (STM) and Ecological Sites can be used to economically value ecosystem services.

Data for WERA is being complied, including the updated CattleFax weekly beef price series by state. The development of a Livestock budget generator spreadsheet is underway with plans that the spreadsheet will generate ranch budgets conforming to AAEA (2000) Cost and Return Estimates Guidelines, including:

Stock count and forage balance chart

Logic functions to minimize hardwired numbers

Will initially work with Neil Rimbey and others at the University of Idaho to adapt and structure for Northern Climates

At the University of Wyoming, work continues on the Grouse 9 Plan Amendment. The project is in support of BLM and Forest Service Sage-Grouse planning efforts in Wyoming. It involves an economic impact analysis of five potential Sage-Grouse management alternatives for amendments to six BLM RMPs and three Forest Service LMPs in Wyoming. BLM Field Offices considered in the analysis included: Casper, Kemmerer, Newcastle, Pinedale, Rawlins, and Rock Springs. Forest Service units considered in the analysis include: Bridger-Teton National Forest, Medicine Bow National Forest and the Thunder Basin National Grasslands. Commodities considered in the analysis included: Oil & Gas Well Drilling, Oil & Gas Production, Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, Wind Development, Wind Generation, and Recreation. The analysis considered both regional and statewide economic impacts for each unit.

Work is also underway on the Socioeconomic Analysis for Sage-Grouse Planning in the Western United States project. It is in support of BLM and Forest Service Sage-Grouse planning efforts in the Western United States. It involves economic impact analysis for five sub-regions. The Northwest Colorado analysis considered 8 counties as the primary study area and 5 counties as the secondary study area. Commodities included in the analysis were: Oil & Gas Well Drilling, Oil & Gas Production, Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, and Recreation. This information will be used to assist in planning for amendments to 5 BLM RMPs and 1 Forest Service LMP in Northwest Colorado.

The analysis in Nevada and Northeast California, the analysis included 10 counties in Nevada and 2 counties in California as the primary study area. There was no secondary study area for this analysis. Commodities included in the analysis were: Oil and Gas Well Drilling, Oil and Gas Production, Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, and Geothermal. This information is to be used to assist in planning for amendments to 10 BLM RMPs and 2 Forest Service LMPs. The Idaho and Southwest Montana analysis included 27 counties in Idaho and 2 counties in Montana as the primary study area and 4 counties in Idaho and 2 counties in Montana as the secondary study area. Commodities included in the analysis were: Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, and Recreation. This information is to be used to assist in planning for amendments to 13 BLM RMPs and 7 Forest Service LMPs.

The Oregon analysis included 7 counties as the primary study area and 1 county as the secondary study area. Commodities included in the analysis were: Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, Wind Development, and Wind Generation. This information is to be used to assist in planning for amendments to 10 BLM RMPs. The Utah analysis included 22 counties as the primary study area and 5 counties as the secondary study area. Commodities included in the analysis were: Oil & Gas Well Drilling, Oil & Gas Production, Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, Wind Development, and Wind Generation. This information is to be used to assist in planning for amendments to 13 BLM RMPs and 6 Forest Service LMPs.

In support of the BLM’s planning effort for the Rock Springs RMP, an economic impact analysis of potential management alternatives on a five-county region in Southwest Wyoming has been undertaken. Commodities to be considered in the analysis include: Oil & Gas Well Drilling, Oil & Gas Production, Cattle Grazing, Sheep Grazing, Coal, Trona, Recreation, and possibly Wind Development and Generation. This project is unique in that both an IMPLAN and REMI analysis will be conducted and the results compared. This project is on hold pending the completion of the Sage-Grouse Amendments EIS for the Rock Springs Field Office.

For the U.S. Forest Service’s planning efforts for the Shoshone National Forest an economic impact analysis of six management alternatives on a three-county region in Northwest Wyoming. Commodities considered in the analysis included: General Recreation, Commercial Recreation, Timber, Cattle Grazing, and the Shoshone National Forest Budget. This was an update to a previous analysis conducted for the Forest in 2007. After 10 years, two presidential administrations, and 75 public meetings the forest plan is nearing completion.

Wyoming is engaged in a collaborative effort between the WCCA, the University of Wyoming, the State of Wyoming, and Federal Management agencies to develop socioeconomic profiles for individual counties in Wyoming that will accurately reflect each county’s, physical resources, socioeconomic profile, and the preferences and values of it residents. The purpose of the project would be to: 1) Develop a database to assist counties in their own planning efforts and 2) where applicable, the database could also be used to provide both core and supplemental data for federal planning efforts as part of the Affected Environment analysis. The project will have three components including: 1) GIS mapping of physical resources, 2) Socioeconomic profile, and 3) Survey of residents to determine preferences and values. The participating counties would have the option of choosing among the three components.

In a related project Nevada is working collaboratively with the BLM on a two part project. The first part of the project involves utilizing local data to develop a baseline socioeconomic database and monitoring procedures for an area economy experiencing a boom at the Field Office level. This part of the project will be conducted in Wyoming for the BLM’s Casper Field Office with a focus on Converse County where over 5,000 oil wells are projected to be drilled over the next few years. The second part of the project involves utilizing the Economic Profile System – Human Dimensions Toolkit and the EPA’s EJview website to develop a baseline socioeconomic report for stable area economy at the district level. The study area for this part of the project will be for Arizona BLM’s Colorado River District.

Other projects currently being undertaken in Wyoming include an economic Impact of the coal industry in Wyoming, the economic impact of range sheep production in Uinta County, Wyoming, a project for Wyoming state parks and trails, support for the Concise Guide to Wyoming Coal, 2014, updating of economic models for ranching and sage grouse in Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming and evaluation of the economic effects of allotment reductions on BLM lands, and finally the human footprint of wind energy development is incorporating economic, ecological, and social databases and impact models in a GIS framework, with funding from Wyoming BLM.

A survey of public land ranchers to better characterize their social and economic characteristics and to assess how they may respond to land management agency policy changes is underway. This will be supplemented with a survey to quantify ecosystem services supplied by these public land ranchers and to assess how they may be changing their management to produce more of less of these services. This project is funded by the Public Lands Council Trust Fund, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. A companion survey on ecosystem services will compare the Great Basin, Desert Southwest, and Southern Rocky Mountain regions and is funded by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. A third survey will be just for Wyoming addressing questions of concern to the state and is funded by a coalition of livestock organizations and county governments in the state.

The Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable co-sponsored a workshop on “Future directions of usable science for rangeland sustainability” with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and the Arizona State University Center for Science and Policy Outcomes Center. Scientists, agencies, landowners, and non-governmental organization representatives were invited to participate. The outcome will be a report and outreach to funding agencies.

Idaho reported the completion of an analysis of the ranch-level economic impacts of management alternatives relating to Greater sage-grouse in the West. Bulletin published by University of Wyoming Extension, includes ranch-level models and analysis for Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and Wyoming. It is available on-line via Wyoming Extension and W. Rural Development Center (http://www.wyoextension.org/agpubs/pubs/B1258.pdf). Approval was finally obtained to publish private grazing lease study from Idaho Department of Lands (the funding agency). A phone survey was conducted in 2011-12 of Idaho lessees and lessors of private grazing resources. The manuscript went through peer review process and is in the editor’s hands. Bulletin is tentatively published in August, 2014 via University of Idaho Ag. Experiment Station. Researchers worked with folks from around the west on economic analysis techniques appropriate for public land issue resulting in an on-line, open access journal via the Owyhee Initiative. http://journals.lib.uidaho.edu/index.php/jra/article/view/13.

Rimbey served as co-chair of a Resource Advisory Council (BLM) subcommittee for the Gateway West Utility Line Project. The task was to recommend how to get utility lines through southwestern Idaho. We completed our report and submitted it to the BLM in June. BLM will take that information and proceed with NEPA analysis before approving or modifying the routes recommended by the subcommittee. The Owyhee County Commission funded a study to update social and economic analysis conducted in 2002. The first phase of the project was completed in August.

John Tanaka provided an update on the public land rancher survey update and opportunities arising from the Sustainable Rangeland Roundtable.

Allen Torrell gave an update on the GAMS model cattle price series and update on the Allan’s Excel-based Ranch Budget Generator.

Presentation and discussion of issues interest by Julie Pierce of the BLM. The group discussed how planning documents in BLM are marginalizing local economic impacts of ranching. The group discussed a possible peer-reviewed article addressing the issue. There was also a discussion of the impact of grazing on cheatgrass dominated range, and a discussion of the economics of eradication and control of PJ.

A session to discuss the future on ”Where to go From Here” was convened.

Foulke will investigate the possibility of doing a break out session at the WRSA (Western Regional Science Association) meeting in February 2016.

Since our next meeting is in September, 2015, we can use that venue to preview papers we plan to submit to WRSA (due Oct. 2015). The timing fits well. Foulke will find out the location of that meeting and forward it on to the group.

At the next meeting we hope to hear some preliminary results of the rangeland producer survey that John Tanaka is leading.

Next meeting will be set up by Don and Julie in Park City, UT, September 16-17, 2015.

Planning continues for the 2015 SRM meeting in Sacramento, with WERA contributing in the Sage Grouse and many others. WERA member Huntsinger is the Program Chair.

Small group met to discuss regional modeling.

Accomplishments

Publications

Davies, K.W., M. Vavra, B.L. Schultz, N.R. Rimbey. 2014. Implications of Longer Term Rest from Grazing in the Sagebrush Steppe. J. Rangeland Applications. Vol.1:14-34. <a href="http://journals.lib.uidaho.edu/index.php/jra/article/view/15">http://journals.lib.uidaho.edu/index.php/jra/article/view/15</a> Ferranto, S., Huntsinger, L. and M. Kelly. 2014. Sustaining ecosystem services from private lands in California: the role of the landowner. Rangelands 36(5):44-51. Harris, Thomas R., Jeffery Stroup, Florina Salaghe and Malieka Landis. “Economic Structure in Humboldt County: A Socio-Economic and Input-Output Analysis”. University Center Technical Report, UCED 2013/14-11, June 2014 Huntsinger, L., and Bartolome, J.W. 2014. Cows? In California? : Rangelands and livestock in the Golden State. Rangelands 36(5): 4-10. Huntsinger, L. and J. Oviedo. 2014. Ecosystem services may be better termed social ecological services in a traditional pastoral system: The case in California Mediterranean rangelands at multiple scales. Ecology and Society 19 (1): 8 [http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol19/iss1/art8/] Huntsinger, L., N. Sayre, and L. Macaulay. 2014. Ranchers, land tenure, and grass-rootsgovernance: maintaining pastoralist use of rangelands in the U.S. in three different settings. In: Herrera, P.M., Davies, J. and Manzano Baena, P. (eds). The governance of rangelands: Collective action for sustainable pastoralism. London, UK: Routledge (IUCN). Lewin, P.A., N.R. Rimbey, A. Brown, K.S. Jensen, J.D. Wulfhorst. 2014. Regional Economic Impact Model of Owyhee County. University of Idaho Dept. of Ag. Econ. and Rural Soc.  AEE Series 14-01.  Available at: <a href="http://web.cals.uidaho.edu/idahoagbiz/files/2014/07/AEES14011.pdf">http://web.cals.uidaho.edu/idahoagbiz/files/2014/07/AEES14011.pdf</a> Lubell, M., B. Cutts, L.M. Roche, J.D. Derner, M. Hamilton, E. Kachergis, K.W. Tate. 2013. Conservation program participation and adaptive rangeland decision- making. Rangeland Ecology and Management 66:609-620. Plieninger, T., Hui, C., Gaertner, M. and L. Huntsinger. 2014. The impact of land abandonment on species richness and abundance in the Mediterranean Basin: a meta-analysis. PLoS ONE 9(5): e98355. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098355 Richardson, James, Brian Herbst, and Thomas R. Harris. “Economic Analysis of Management Options Following a Closure of BLM Rangeland Options due to Sage Grouse Population in Elko County”. University Center Technical Report, UCED 2013/14-07, January 2014. Rimbey, N., L. A. Torell, S. Kane, J. Gustanski, K. J., and S. D. 2014. Idaho Private Rangeland Grazing—Lease Arrangements. .  Moscow, IDUniversity of Idaho Agr. Exp. Sta. Research Bulletin 185. 27 p. Available at: <a href="http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/RES/RES185.pdf">http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/RES/RES185.pdf</a> Accessed Sept. 15, 2014. Strand, E. K., K. L. Launchbaugh, R. F. Limb, and L. A. Torell. 2014. Livestock Grazing Effects on Fuel Loads for Wildland Fire in Sagebrush Dominated Ecosystems. J. of Rangeland Applications 1:35-57. Available at: <a href="http://journals.lib.uidaho.edu/index.php/jra/index.%20">http://journals.lib.uidaho.edu/index.php/jra/index.</a> Accessed September 16, 2014. Torell, L. A., N. R. Rimbey, J. A. Tanaka, D. T. Taylor, J. P. Ritten, and T. K. Faulke. 2014. Ranch-Level Economic Impacts of Altering Grazing Policies on Federal Land to Protect the Greater Sage-Grouse.  Laramie, WY: University of Wyoming Extension Bulletin B-1258. 38 p. Available at: <a href="http://www.wyoextension.org/agpubs/pubs/B1258.pdf.">http://www.wyoextension.org/agpubs/pubs/B1258.pdf.</a>  Accessed September 16, 2014. Torell, L. A., N. R. Rimbey, J. A. Tanaka, D. T. Taylor, and J. D. Wulfhorst. 2014. Ranch Level Economic Impact Analysis for Public Lands: A Guide to Methods, Issues, and Applications. J. of Rangeland Applications 1:1-13. Available at: <a href="http://journals.lib.uidaho.edu/index.php/jra/index.">http://journals.lib.uidaho.edu/index.php/jra/index.</a> Accessed September 16, 2014.

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 10/01/2015

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 09/15/2015 - 09/18/2015
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2014 - 09/30/2015

Participants

Neil Rimbey, University of Idaho
Paul Lewin, University of Idaho
J.D. Wulfhorst, University of Idaho
Allen Torrell, New Mexico State University
Don Snyder, Utah State University (Advisor)
Tex Taylor, University of Wyoming
John Tanaka, University of Wyoming
Kristie Maczko, University of Wyoming
Tom Foulke, University of Wyoming (Chair)
Julie Pierce, Bureau of Land Management (Salt Lake City)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Business meeting minutes:

The meeting commenced at 8:30am on Wednesday, 16 September 2015, at the Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter, adjacent to the Newpark Resort. The first order of business was to elect officers. Lynn Huntsinger is the current chairperson, but was unable to attend since she is out of the country on sabbatical. Tom Foulke ran the meeting in her stead, and Julie Pierce coordinated refreshments and local arrangements. Kristie Maczko was voted in as Vice Chairman, to become chairman in 2016.

State reports for Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming were presented to the committee. Updates from the Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable were also shared as part of the Wyoming report. Discussion of these projects and the progress (See attached) for the committee continued for some time.

Julie Pierce highlighted research needs for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which is administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Her talk led into a series of presentations on papers to be potentially given at the Western Regional Science Association Conference during February 2016. WERA 1018 tentatively plans to meet during the conference as well. Tom Foulke shared logistics and deadlines in preparation for the WRSA Conference. The meeting adjourned at 5:00pm.

The next morning, 17 September 2015, we reconvened to continue with presentations of draft papers slated for submission to the WRSA conference. Presentations were shared by Neil Rimbey, Allen Torrell, Paul Lewin, Tex Taylor and Tom Foulke.

The afternoon session began with a visioning segment to brainstorm the future of WERA 1018. We decided on the next meeting date for the WERA, in conjunction with the WRSA conference, Feb. 14-18, 2016 in Waikoloa, Hawaii. Tom Foulke is coordinating with Rachel S. Franklin at WRSA to organize this meeting. There was also discussion of an extension publication to be assembled, containing the various papers submitted at the WRSA conference.

Other aspects of the business meeting focused on a need to review the current WERA 1018 objectives. The group must submit a new proposal by January 2017. Possible ideas for incorporation included sage grouse, and impacts on rural communities and rangelands. It is likely that John Tanaka will take over as the administrative advisor when Don Snyder retires. Potential new members were also brainstormed, and current members will continue to try to identify participants to invite.

The meeting adjourned about 5pm, with an overview of plans from Julie Pierce for the Friday, 18 September 2015 WERA 1018 tour of Antelope Island.

On Friday, 18 September 2015, Julie Pierce led a tour of Antelope Island, attended by Neil Rimbey, Tom Foulke, and Kristie Maczko. The group spent approximately 6 hours visiting a historic ranch site, bison management facilities, and an island museum and visitor center that highlighted the ecological and management history of the island. Several photos from the tour are attached.

Respectfully,

Submitted by: Thomas Foulke (Acting Chair, for Lynn Huntsinger) and Kristie Maczko (Vice-Chair),

University of Wyoming, Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics and University of Wyoming, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

Foulke@uwyo.edu kmaczko@uwyo.edu 23 October, 2015

Attachments: State reports from Idaho, New Mexico, California, Nevada, and Wyoming.

IDAHO State Report

WERA-1018, Fall 2015

Abstracts:

Claypool, C.K., J. Spencer, S. Menegatti Zoca, B. Shafii, W.J. Price, A. Ahmadzadeh, N.R. Rimbey, and J.C. Dalton. 2015. Distribution of detected estrus following 14-day CIDR and prostaglandin F2α treatment as a pre-synchronization strategy in dairy heifers. J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 98 (Abstract, Suppl. 2): 115.

Claypool, C.K., J. Spencer, S. Menegatti Zoca, B. Shafii, W.J. Price, A. Ahmadzadeh, N.R. Rimbey, and J. C. Dalton. 2015. Reproductive outcomes following presynchronization of dairy heifers with a 14-d CIDR and prostaglandin F2α. J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 98 (Abstract, Suppl. 2): 874.

Rimbey, N., Torell, L. Allen, Kane, Stephanie. 2015. Idaho private grazing lease arrangements. Presented at the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. February 1-5, 2015. Sacramento, CA. Available online at: http://rangelands.org/sacramento2015/2015-SRM-proceedings.pdf

Rimbey, N., Torell, L.A., Tanaka, J.A., Taylor, D.T., Ritten, J., Foulke, T.K. Ranch-level economic impacts of changing grazing management to protect Greater Sage-grouse. Presented at the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. February 1-5, 2015. Sacramento, CA. Available online at: http://rangelands.org/sacramento2015/2015-SRM-proceedings.pdf

Refereed publications:

Rimbey, Neil R., Tanaka, John A., Torell, L. Allen. 2015. Economic considerations of livestock grazing on public lands in the United States of America. Animal Frontiers Vol. 5, No. 4:32-35. Available online at:

https://www.animalsciencepublications.org/publications/af/pdfs/5/4/32

Bentley Brymer, A., Holbrook, J., Niemeyer, R., Suazo, A., Vierling, K., Rachlow, J., Link, T., and Wulfhorst, J.D. A social-ecological impact assessment for public land management: application of a conceptual and methodological framework. Under review with Ecology & Society.

Other publications:

Lewin, Paul A., Neil R. Rimbey, Anna Brown, K. Scott Jensen, J.D. Wulfhorst. 2014. Regional Economic Impact Model of Owyhee County. Department of Ag. Econ. and Rural Soc. AEE #14-01. June, 2014. Available online at:

http://web.cals.uidaho.edu/idahoagbiz/files/2014/10/Regional-Economic-Impact-Model-of-Owyhee-County-V6.pdf

Rimbey, N., Torell, L.A., Tanaka, J.A., Taylor, D.T., Ritten, J., Foulke, T.K. Ranch-level economic impacts of changing grazing management to protect Greater Sage-grouse. Idaho Range Livestock Symposium Proceedings. April 7-9, 2015. Idaho Falls, Burley, Marsing, ID.

Rimbey, Neil. 2014. Idaho State Land grazing lease rates: Historical background. 2014. In: Cattlemen’s Corner Beef Newsletter. Marsing, ID. Available online at: http://extension.uidaho.edu/owyhee/files/2013/11/Beef-Newsletter-2014-November.pdf

Major programs:

1) Owyhee / 4 Co. project - 3 year study of socio-economic assessment for Owyhee County, Idaho. Partial replication of previous studies in late 1990s and 2002-3. Four components for contemporary version: 1) I/O model, 2) qualitative (buckaroo) assessment, 3) 4 SW County survey of general population, and 4) ranch-level analysis. In progress. Completed in 2016.

2) BLM BOSH EIS contribution. BLM EIS conducted for 1.5M acres in Owyhee County, ID. Focus on identification and prioritization of potential areas and methods for juniper encroachment management, primarily for wildland fuels reduction and Sage-Grouse habitat. UI IGERT Ph.D. "Sagebrush Team" designed and completed social-ecological impact assessment (SEIA) as a component within the EIS. Funding support from this from NSF, BLM Fire Mgt, ID Off. of Spec. Conserv., and UI Rangeland Center. BOSH = Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat. See: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/nepa_register/BOSH-juniper-removal.html

New Mexico

WERA1018 State Report

September 2015

Allen Torell

WERA-1018 Objectives:

Coordinate activities of land grant university scientists and federal land management agencies related to maintaining and enhancing the social-ecological resilience of rangelands.

To exchange information on current and future research activities related to social, economic, and ecological aspects of integrated rangeland management.

To investigate the ecological, social, and economic values of ecosystem services from rangeland ecosystem restoration.

To investigate social-ecological linkages of rural communities and economies to rangelands.

To provide information on social-ecological resilience to appropriate audiences.

Publications

Anderson, Dean M., Rick E. Estell, Alfredo L. Gonzalez, Andres F. Cibils, and L. Allen Torell. 2015. 'Criollo cattle: Heritage Genetics for Arid Landscapes', Rangelands, 37: 62-67.

Bruegger, Margaretta A, Leticia A Varelas, Larry D Howery, L. Allen Torell, Mitchell B Stephanson, and Derek W Bailey. 'Targeted Grazing in Southern Arizona: Using Cattle to Reduce Fine Fuel Loads', Rangeland Ecology and Management.

Rimbey, Neil R., John A. Tanaka, and L. Allen Torell. 2015. 'Economic considerations of livestock grazing on public lands in the United States of America', Animal Frontiers, 5: 32-35.

Jornada Experimental Range – Ecosystem Valuation

A joint research project with the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) to develop procedures and models that incorporate the structure of State-and-Transition models (STM) to economically value ecosystem services continues. STM’s are defined to include the probability that we will transition from one state to another, Conceptually, the probability of moving to a less desirable state or community phase increases with increased grazing pressure. Yet, how these probabilities change with the level of grazing is rarely known or estimated. Three blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) study sites located on the Plains of Eastern New Mexico were monitored for 35 years, providing the data required to estimate the probability of broom snakeweed transition to different levels of infestation (None/Light, Moderate, Heavy). Using the long-term monitoring data and logistic regression it was determined that the probability of snakeweed invasion increased with higher April temperatures, with increased rainfall during the second quarter, and when a heavy stand of the invasive weed was present the ear previous fall. A stochastic modeling analysis provides when the few instances where the effect of grazing on future productivity is incorporated into the model and management decision.

Managing risk of wildlife is a growing concern in the western U.S. Targeted grazing, or managing livestock grazing to achieve specific vegetation goals, is one possible tool to treat fuels. We conducted an experiment to test the efficacy of targeted cattle grazing to reduce fine-fuel loads in southeastern Arizona, and used a fire model to predict how this treatment would alter fire behavior. Fuel treatments resulting from targeted grazing shortened flame lengths in the fire model, suggesting that targeted grazing could reduce the potential cost of fighting fires in conditions similar to this study site.

California

State Report for WERA 1018

Submitted by Lynn Huntsinger, Sept. 22, 2015

WERA-1018 Objectives

1. Coordinate activities of land grant university scientists and federal land management agencies related to maintaining and enhancing the social-ecological resilience of rangelands.

2. Exchange information of current and future research activities related to social, economic, and ecological aspects of integrated rangeland managemen

3. Investigate the ecological, social, and economic values of ecosystem services from rangeland ecosystem restoration

4. Investigate social ecological linkages of rural communities and economies on rangelands.

5. Provide information on social-ecological resilience to appropriate audiences.

Relevant projects:

At Berkeley, an NSF-funded project (CHNS) on “sustaining wetlands in a working landscape” is completed, and publications are underway. The project illustrates a contribution by agriculture to wildlife habitat. The data from a statewide survey of forest and rangeland landowners conducted in 2008 was published in the Rangelands special issue for the 2015 Annual Meeting. The search for an Extension Research Specialist in Range Planning and Policy is underway. UC Davis completed its search for a rangeland management specialist as well beginning in Spring 2015, hiring Leslie Roche. California hosted the 2015 SRM meeting in Sacramento, with Huntsinger as program chair.

The team at UC Davis, lead by Leslie Roche and Ken Tate, is preparing publications from the results of surveys of over 500 California ranchers from the CA Cattlemen’s mailing list (http://rangelandwatersheds.ucdavis.edu/main/projects/ranchersurvey.html); 2) semi-structured interviews of over 100 California ranchers, with follow-up field surveys on 30 ranches to measure on-the-ground outcomes of rangeland management and conservation practices (http://rangelandwatersheds.ucdavis.edu/main/CRSP.html); and 3) a long-term, stakeholder prescribed adaptive grazing strategy study.

A new grant, funded by the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, on “Managing California Rangelands for Multiple Ecosystem Services: Understanding Tradeoffs among Production and Conservation-Based Goals” is supporting this project and others.

Recent publications:

Briske, D.D., Ash, A.J., Derner, J.D. and L. Huntsinger. 2014. Commentary: A critical assessment of the policy endorsement for holistic management. Agricultural Systems 125: 50-53.

Huntsinger, L. in press for 2015. Interpreting rangeland degradation in the United States. Chapter in edited volume, Behnke, R. editor, Desertification: science, politics and public perception. (2015). Springer.

Ferranto, S., Huntsinger, L. and M. Kelly. 2014. Sustaining ecosystem services from private lands in California: the role of the landowner. Rangelands 36(5):44-51.

Huntsinger, L., and Bartolome, J.W. 2014. Cows? In California? : Rangelands and livestock in the Golden State. Rangelands 36(5): 4-10.

Hruska, T.V., Huntsinger, L. and J.L. Oviedo. in press. An accidental resource: the social ecological system framework applied to small wetlands in Sierran foothill oak woodlands. In: Standiford, R.B. and K. Purcell (eds). Proceedings of the Seventh California Oak Symposium: Managing Oak Woodlands in a Dynamic World, November 3-6, 2014, Visalia, CA. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PSW-GTR-XX.

Oviedo J.L., L. Huntsinger, P. Campos. in press. Landowner total income from oak woodland working landscapes in Spain and California. In: Standiford, R.B. and K. Purcell (eds). Proceedings of the Seventh California Oak Symposium: Managing Oak Woodlands in a Dynamic World, November 3-6, 2014, Visalia, CA. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PSW-GTR-XX.

Plieninger, Y., Bieling C., Fagerholm, N., Anja Byg, A., Hartel, T., Hurley, P., López-Santiago, C.A., Nagabhatla, N., Oteros-Rozas, E., Raymond, C.M., van der Horst, D., Huntsinger, L. 2015. The role of cultural ecosystem services in landscape management and planning. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 14:28-33.

Kachergis, K., J.D. Derner, L.M. Roche, K.W. Tate, V. Eviner, M. Lubell, B. Cutts. 2014. Increasing flexibility in rangeland management during drought. Ecosphere 5:art77.

Roche, L. M.; Cutts, B. B.; Derner, J. D.; et al. 2015. On-Ranch Grazing Strategies: Context for the Rotational Grazing Dilemma . Rangeland Ecology & Management 68 (3):248-256

Roche, Leslie M.; Schohr, Tracy K.; Derner, Justin D.; et al. 2015. Sustaining Working Rangelands: Insights from Rancher Decision Making Rangeland Ecology & Management 68(5): 383-389.

Spiegal, S., L. Huntsinger, P. Hopkinson, and J.W. Bartolome. in press for 2015. Range ecosystems. In: Zavaleta,E. and H. Mooney [eds]. Ecosystems of California. Berkeley, CA, USA: University of California Press.

Sulak, A. L. Huntsinger, and S. Kocher. 2015. The Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project: Cooperative Extension and university researchers collaborate. California Agriculture Jan-Feb 68(4): 117-124.

State of Nevada

WERA1018 State Report

September 2015

Thomas R. Harris

WERA-1018 Objectives:

Coordinate activities of land grant university scientists and federal land management agencies related to maintaining and enhancing the social-ecological resilience of rangelands.

To exchange information on current and future research activities related to social, economic, and ecological aspects of integrated rangeland management.

To investigate the ecological, social, and economic values of ecosystem services from rangeland ecosystem restoration.

To investigate social-ecological linkages of rural communities and economies to rangelands.

To provide information on social-ecological resilience to appropriate audiences.

University of Nevada, Reno work was under objective 4:

Developed book chapter outlining problems with using black box input-output models to derive economic impacts of resource restrictions.

Developed Society of Range Management conference paper in Sacramento using FLIP-SIM with the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M to investigate ranch level financial impacts of reduced grazing permits due to sage grouse habitat..

Updating representative Northeastern Nevada range cattle model with the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M. Also a Southern Nevada ranch is currently being developed.

Analysis of adoption rates by Nevada range cattle producers of the trichomonaisis vaccine. A rancher questionnaire has been developed and analyzed to derive the factors increasing adoption of the vaccine.

Publications:

Harris, Thomas R., Steven Deller, and Stephan Goetz. “Linkages of Agricultural Sector Models and Precautions”. Encyclopedia of Agriculture and Food Systems. Vol. 4. Ed. Neal Van Alfen, pp: 148-158, Elsevier Inc., August 2014.

Richardson, James, Brian Herbst, Thomas R. Harris, and Michael Helmar. “Economic Analysis of Management Options Following Closure of BLM Rangeland to Sage Grouse Habitat”, 68^th Annual Meeting of the Society of Range Management, Sacramento, California, February 2015.

WERA-1018

Wyoming State Report

Submitted by

Tex Taylor, Tom Foulke, John Tanaka, John Ritten, and Kristie Maczko

Park City, Utah

September 16-18, 2015

Projects

Economic impact analysis of the coal industry in Wyoming for the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority (Objective 4).

Working with Converse County and the Wyoming BLM to develop a baseline database to monitor socioeconomic impacts of oil and gas development in Converse County (Objective 4).

Working with Arizona BLM to develop baseline socioeconomic profiles for three field offices in the Colorado River District (Objective 4).

Working with Wyoming County Commissioners Association to develop a template for county socioeconomic profiles in Wyoming (Objective 4).

Working with Louis Berger Group and BLM to evaluate the methodology for estimated the economic impacts of oil and gas development and production on Federal lands (Objective 4).

Working with Wyoming Governor’s Office to estimate the economic impact of Sage-Grouse management on Wyoming’s economy (Objective 4).

Economic impact analysis of the economic importance of sheep production in Wyoming and the potential impact on profitability of U.S. Department of Labor draft rules for foreign sheep herders holding H-2A Visas for Wyoming Woolgrowers Association (Objective 4).

Ongoing work with Booz, Allen, & Hamilton and BLM on Rock Springs RMP (Objective 4). This project is again on hold.

Publications

Godby, R., R. Coupal, D. Taylor, and T. Considine. 2015. The Impact of the Coal Economy on Wyoming. Prepared for Wyoming Infrastructure Authority. Center for Energy Economics and Public Policy, University of Wyoming.

Godby, R., R. Coupal, D. Taylor, and T. Considine. 2015. Potential Impacts of Wyoming Coal Production of EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Proposal. Electricity Journal, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tej.2015.004.

Taylor, D. and T. Foulke. 2015. BLM Kingman Field Office Baseline Socio-economic Report. Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wyoming.

Taylor, D. and T. Foulke. 2015. Socioeconomic Baseline Evaluation: Sublette County, Wyoming. Wyoming County Commissioners Association in cooperation with the University of Wyoming.

Taylor, D. and T. Foulke. 2015. Socioeconomic Baseline Evaluation: Fremont County, Wyoming. Wyoming County Commissioners Association in cooperation with the University of Wyoming.

Louis Berger. 2015. Technical Memorandum: Economic Impact Analysis of Oil and Gas Operations Literature Review: Final March 2015. Submitted to U.S. Bureau of Land Management, National Operating Center, Denver, Colorado.

Taylor, D., J. Ritten, B. Fuez, and R. Coupal. 2015. Economic Importance of Sheep Production in Wyoming. Submitted to Wyoming Wool Growers Association.

Rashford, Benjamin S., Thomas Foulke, David T. Taylor, and Jordan Steele. Collaboration Across Continents: Predator Compensation Policies in the U.S. and France. (Winner best article) in “Reflections”. University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, June, 2015.

Wyoming Mining Association, Foulke, Thomas and David T. Taylor (UW contributing authors). A Concise guide to Wyoming Coal: 2015. The Wyoming Coal Information Committee of the Wyoming Mining Association. Cheyenne, Wyoming. September, 2015.

Harlan, McKenzie (Kate), John Ritten, Benjamin Rashford, Kristi Cammack. “Valuation of Residual Feed Intake as a Selection Tool for Northeastern Wyoming Range Sheep Producers.” Presented at the Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economic Association / Canadian Agricultural Economics Society Joint Annual Meeting, June 30, 2015, Newport, RI. (Presented by Harlan).

Ritten, John, James Pritchett, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, Emily Kachergis, and Willow Hibbs. “A State-and-Transition Approach to Determine the Trade-Offs Associated with Livestock Production and other Ecosystem Services.” Presented at the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting, February 6, 2015, Sacramento, CA.

Extension Presentations:

Ritten, John. “Ongoing Sheep Research at the University of Wyoming.” Wyoming Wool Growers Midyear Membership Meeting. Panel Discussion. August 4, 2015.

Ritten, John. “Economics of Weed Control.” Wyoming Weed Management Association Annual Meeting, Casper, WY. January 21, 2015.

Ritten, John. “Raising vs. Buying Replacement Heifers.” Progressive Rancher Forum, Wyoming Stock Growers Winter Meeting, Casper, WY. December 1, 2014.

Ritten, John. “Replacement Heifer Development Considerations.” SE Wyoming Beef Production Convention, Torrington, WY. November 18, 2014.

Ritten, John. “Ag Leasing Overview.” University of Wyoming Extension In-Depth Training, Laramie, WY. November 5, 2014.

Ongoing items:

In progress academic publications:

Hamilton, Tucker, John Ritten, Christopher Bastian, Justin Derner, John Tanaka. “Economic Impacts of Increasing Seasonal Precipitation Variation on Cow-Calf Enterprises.” To be Submitted to Rangeland, Ecology, and Management.

Frisvold, George B., Louise E. Jackson, James G. Pritchett and John P. Ritten. “Potential Climate Change Impacts on Farming and Ranching in the Southwest United States.” Western Economics Forum. (In Progress)

Ritten, John, Emily Kachergis, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, James Pritchett. “A State and Transition Approach to determine Opportunity Costs of Providing Various Ecosystem Services.” Conservation Biology. (In Progress)

Also, Tucker Graduate, not sure if you want that in there though…

WERA 1018 Objectives

Coordinate activities of land grant university scientists and federal land management agencies related to maintaining and enhancing the social-ecological resilience of rangelands.

To exchange information on current and future research activities related to social, economic, and ecological aspects of integrated rangeland management.

To investigate the ecological, social, and economic values of ecosystem services from rangeland ecosystem restoration.

To investigate social-ecological linkages of rural communities and economies to rangelands.

To provide information on social-ecological resilience to appropriate audiences

Related Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable Projects

Conduct a survey of public lands ranchers to capture the social and economic characteristics and assess federal policy change responses (Objectives 2, 3).

Conduct a survey of public lands ranchers to capture the ecosystem services they produce on public and private lands (Objective 3).

Conduct a survey of ranchers to understand their motives for participating in USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service practices related to grazing (Objectives 1, 2, 4).

Develop a Human Footprint model for wind energy development in southern Wyoming (Objective 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

Develop materials for ranchers to use in addressing endangered species management through Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (Objectives 1, 2, 3, 5).

Develop a model to assess the amount of red meat produced on rangelands in the 17 western conterminous states (Objectives 2, 3, 5).

Publications

Svejcar, T., C. Boyd, K. Davies, M. Madsen, J. Bates, R. Sheley, C. Marlow, D. Bohnert, M. Borman, R. Mata-Gonzalez, J. Buckhouse, T. Stringam, B. Perryman, S. Swanson, K. Tate, M. George, G. Ruyle, B. Roundy, C. Call, K. Jensen, K. Launchbaugh, A. Gearhart, L. Vermiere, J. Tanaka, J. Derner, G. Frasier, and K. Havstad. 2014. Western land managers will need all available tools for adapting to climate change, including grazing: a critique of Beschta et al. Environmental Management 53:1035-1038.

Torell, L.A., N.R. Rimbey, J.A. Tanaka, D.T. Taylor, and J.D. Wulfhorst. 2014. Ranch level economic impact analysis for public lands: a guide to methods, issues, and applications. Journal of Rangeland Applications 1:1-13.

Boyd, C.S., J.L. Beck, and J.A. Tanaka. 2014. Livestock grazing and sage-grouse habitat: impacts and opportunities. Journal of Rangeland Applications 1:58-77.

Tanaka, J.A., N.R. Rimbey, and L.A. Torell. 2014. Ranching economics and sage-grouse in the west: policy recommendations for rural development. National Agricultural & Rural Development Policy Center Policy Brief 19. 4 p.

Torell, L.A., N.R. Rimbey, J.A. Tanaka, D.T. Taylor, J.P. Ritten, and T.K. Foulke. 2014. Ranch-level economic impacts of altering grazing policies on federal land to protect the greater sage-grouse. University of Wyoming, New Mexico State University, University of Idaho, and the Western Rural Development Center. University of Wyoming Extension Bulletin B-1258. Available online at http://www.wyomingextension.org/publications/.

Maczko, K., Kreuter, U.P., W.E. Fox, J.A. Tanaka. 2015. A integrative conceptual framework for evaluating impacts of developing energy resources on rangelands. Poster presented at the 3^rd America’s Grasslands Conference, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Kreuter, U.P., W.E. Fox, J.A. Tanaka, K. Maczko. 2015. A integrative conceptual framework for evaluating impacts of developing energy resources on rangelands. 68^th Annual Meeting, Society for Range Management, 1-6 February, Sacramento, California

Maczko, K., Kreuter, U.P., W.E. Fox, J.A. Tanaka. 2014. A integrative conceptual framework for evaluating impacts of developing energy resources on rangelands. Poster presented at the 4^th Conference on Ecosystem Services, Crystal City, Virginia.

Tanaka, J.A., N.R. Rimbey, and L.A. Torell. 2014. Ranch-level economic impacts of altering grazing policies on federal land to protect the greater sage-grouse. National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation. Washington, DC. Abstract at https://nwllc.confex.com/nwllc/2014/webprogram/Paper1660.html.

Varelas, L.A., J.A. Tanaka, B. Rashford, and J. Ritten. 2014. Using the human footprint to measure ecological and socio-economic impacts of wind energy development. National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation. Washington, DC. Abstract at https://nwllc.confex.com/nwllc/2014/webprogram/Paper1664.html.

Maczko, K.A., L.A. Hidinger, C.R. Ellis, and J.A. Tanaka. 2015. Future directions of usable science for rangeland sustainability. Poster presented at the 70^th Annual Meeting, Soil and Water Conservation Society, Greensboro, NC.

Maczko, K.A., L.A. Hidinger, C.R. Ellis, and J.A. Tanaka. 2015. Future directions of usable science for rangeland sustainability. Poster presented at the 68^th Annual Meeting, Society for Range Management, 1-6 February, Sacramento, California.

Maczko, K.A., L.A. Hidinger, C.R. Ellis, and J.A. Tanaka. Future Directions of usable science for rangeland sustainability. Poster presentation at the National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation. Washington, DC. Abstract at https://nwllc.confex.com/nwllc/2014/webprogram/Paper1648.html

Maczko, K.A., L.A. Hidinger, C.R. Ellis, and J.A. Tanaka. 2014. Future directions of usable science for rangeland sustainability. Poster presented at the 99^th Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of America, Sacramento, California.

Varelas, L.A., J.A. Tanaka, and B.S. Rashford. 2014. Using the human footprint to measure ecological and socio-economic impacts of wind energy development. Poster presented at the 66^th Annual Meeting, Society for Range Management. Orlando, Florida.

Accomplishments

Short-term Outcomes: The primary benefit from this research is to inform policymakers regarding the effects of different policies on public land use.  Another short-term outcome is providing information to scientists of various fields regarding public land use. Outputs: Please see the summary of minutes for a detailed description of outputs. Activities: Please see the summary of minutes for a description of the activities pursued by scientists under this project.

Publications

Please find an extended list of publications in the summary of minutes report section.

Impact Statements

Illustrated the need for expanded management tools in the face of climate change.

Date of Annual Report: 08/23/2016

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 02/17/2016 - 02/17/2016
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2015 - 09/30/2016

Participants

Paul Lewin, University of Idaho
Tex Taylor, University of Wyoming
John Ritten, University of Wyoming
Kristie Maczko, University of Wyoming
Tom Foulke, University of Wyoming (Chair)
Julie Pierce, Bureau of Land Management (Salt Lake City)
Deevon Bailey, Utah State University (Advisor)

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting commenced at 10:30am on Tuesday, 16 February 2016, in Kona Room 4 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Kona, Hawaii. WERA-1018 met here in conjunction with the Western Regional Science Association meeting; meeting space was provided free of charge. Requirements for state reports was discussed by Dr. Bailey, who attended in an advisory capacity, in place of Don Snyder.

Brief reports for Idaho, Wyoming, and Bureau of Land Management were presented to the committee. Updates from the Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable were also shared as part of the Wyoming report. Discussion of these projects and the progress continued for some time.

Paul Lewin (Idaho) raised the idea of pursuing a research proposal through the AFRI program to evaluate regional economic impacts of sage grouse. Project elements potentially included state-level comparisons between Oregon and Idaho, mitigation strategies, interactions of sage grouse and wildlife, sociological effects of sage grouse and how communities respond (socially and economically) to sage grouse protection. The grant is up to $500,000.00, and must be submitted this Spring.

Julie continued her discussion, begun at our 2015 meeting, of research needs for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which is administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Other aspects of the business meeting focused on a need to review the current WERA 1018 objectives. The group must submit a new proposal by January 2017. Possible ideas for incorporation included sage grouse, and impacts on rural communities and rangelands. It is likely that John Tanaka will take over as the administrative advisor when Don Snyder retires. Potential new members were also brainstormed, and current members will continue to try to identify participants to invite.

We wrapped up the meeting with a discussion of location and timing for the 2017 WERA-1018 meeting. Idaho and Wyoming were the two top location choices, with options in Boise, Sun Valley/Ketchum, Jackson Hole and Cody (Note: this was later changed to Las Cruces, NM). Timing is proposed in late October/early November. The 2016 business meeting adjourned at 12:00pm.

The second component of the WERA1018 meeting was a series of presentations, given as an organized oral session during the Western Regional Science Association meeting. The session was organized and moderated by Tom Foulke. There was also discussion of an extension publication to be assembled, containing the various papers submitted at the WRSA conference.

Accomplishments

The group delivered an organized symposium at the Western Regional Science Association annual meeting.  Presented papers were A simplified history of grazing economics within the Bureau of Land Management, Julie A. SUHR PIERCE, U.S. Bureau Land Management, USA, Neil RIMBEY, Univ. Idaho, Moscow, USA, David T. TAYLOR, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA, John TANAKA, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA     Discussant: Paul LEWIN, Univ. Idaho, Moscow, USA A social and economic survey of public land ranchers, Kristie MACZKO, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA, Brianne LIND, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA, John TANAKA, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA     Discussant: Julie A. SUHR PIERCE, U.S. Bureau Land Management, USA Core- and periphery-community dynamics on the range: A replicated socioeconomic assessment in southwestern Idaho, Paul LEWIN, Univ. Idaho, Moscow, USA, Scott JENSEN, Univ. Idaho, Moscow, USA, Neil RIMBEY, Univ. Idaho, Moscow, USA, J.D. WULFHORST, Univ. Idaho, Moscow, USA     Discussant: David T. TAYLOR, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA Economic impacts of sage grouse management in Wyoming: The 9-Plan, David T. TAYLOR, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA, Thomas K. FOULKE, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA     Discussant: John RITTEN, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA Management implications of increasing seasonal precipitation and source of supplemental funds on SE Wyoming cattle producers John RITTEN, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA, Tucker HAMILTON, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA, Christopher BASTIAN, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA, Justin DERNER, United States Dept. Agriculture, USA, John TANAKA, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA     Discussant: Kristie MACZKO, Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, USA   Additionally, the group is exploring grant submissions on topics of mutual interest. Two ideas were discussed: economic impacts of sage-grouse management and research needs for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Publications

Rimbey, Neil R., Tanaka, John A., Torell, L. Allen. 2015. Economic considerations of livestock grazing on public lands in the United States of America.  Animal Frontiers Vol. 5, No. 4:32-35. Wulfhorst, J.D., N. Rimbey, S. Jensen, P. Lewin. 2016.  Social and Community Assessment for Owyhee County, Idaho. Department of Ag. Econ. and Rural Soc.  AEE #16-xx.  May. 2016.  Forthcoming. Spiegal, S., L. Huntsinger, P. Hopkinson, and J.W. Bartolome. 2016. Range ecosystems. In: H. Mooney and E. Zavaleta [eds]. Ecosystems of California. Berkeley, CA, USA: University of California Press. ISBN: 9780520278806 Huang, W., B. Bruemmer, and L. Huntsinger 2016. Incorporating measures of grassland productivity into efficiency estimates for livestock grazing on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in China. Ecological Economics 122:1-11. Bartolome, James W.; Huntsinger, Lynn. 2015. Oak policy and management in California: Spanish origins and future considerations. In: Standiford, Richard B.; Purcell, Kathryn L., tech. cords. Proceedings of the seventh California oak symposium: managing oak woodlands in a dynamic world. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-251. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 49-58. <a href="http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/49913">http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/49913</a> Maczko, Kristie, Diane Stott, Dennis Chessman, Jennifer Moore-Kucera, and Bianca Moebius-Clune. Managing Soil Health for Productivity and Profit.  Directions Magazine.  National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Spring 2016. Maczko, Kristie, Lori Hidinger, John Tanaka, and Chad Ellis.  2016. A Workshop on Future Directions of Usable Science for Rangeland Sustainability.  Rangelands 38:53-63. Tanaka, John, Kristie Maczko, Lori Hidinger, and Chad Ellis. 2016.  Usable Science for Sustainable Rangelands: Conclusion. Rangelands 38: 90-95

Impact Statements

Conducting a survey focused on motivations of conservation program participants.

Date of Annual Report: 01/08/2018

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 11/02/2016 - 11/03/2016
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2016 - 09/30/2017

Participants

John Tanaka, University of Wyoming
Kristie Maczo, University of Wyoming
Lynn Huntsinger, University of California, Berkeley
JD Wulfhorst, University of Idaho
Allen Torell, New Mexico State University
Julie Suhr Pierce, BLM
Neil Rimbey, University of Idaho
John P. Ritten, University of Wyoming
Urs Kreuter, Texas A&M

Brief Summary of Minutes

WERA-1081 Objectives

Coordinate activities of land grant university scientists and federal land management agencies related to maintaining and enhancing the social-ecological resilience of rangelands.

Exchange information of current and future research activities related to social, economic, and ecological aspects of integrated rangeland management.

Investigate the ecological, social, and economic values of ecosystem services from rangeland ecosystem restoration

Investigate social ecological linkages of rural communities and economies on rangelands.

Provide information on social-ecological resilience to appropriate audiences.

Brief summary of minutes of annual meeting:

Nov. 2: Dr. Brandon Bestelmeyer at the Jornada Experimental Range has led the WERA-1018 group on a tour of the Jornada Experimental Range. We learned about vegetation change and resilience/STMs and restoration, the Criollo cattle program and livestock adaptations to aridity, and collaborative/translational science.

Nov. 3: State reports were given and we discussed the need to either rewrite 1018 or form a new group with broader participation. This group has become rather small. We reviewed the attached report on NIFA activities. Urs Krueter gave a presentation about a new Joint Fire Science Program grant to study, "Fighting Wildfire with Prescribed Burning in the Southern Great Plains: Social and Regulatory Barriers and Facilitators.” Others talked about the sage-grouse related work they were doing.

We discussed current sage-grouse efforts within the committee and considered proposing a W (research) committee surrounding this large scale, innovative conservation project. Wulfhorst, Rimbey, and Lewin have submitted proposals to NIFA on the sage grouse topic. Maczo and Tanaka reported on the possibility of some NRCS funding going to the Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable for related work. Tanaka and others discussed the work of W506, “Using Science-Based Solutions in Conservation of Threatened and Endangered Species: Sage-Grouse Case Study. After a long discussion we agreed that we would pursue either a new committee, a revision of this committee, or joining with another committee.

Accomplishments

The meeting helped to coordinate activities of land grant university scientists and federal land management agencies related to maintaining and enhancing the social-ecological resilience of rangelands. The potential listing of Sage Grouse as an endangered species is of widespread concern to ranchers, range professionals, and environmentalists, and collaborative approaches are sought.  WERA 1081 has produced data valuable to assessing the impacts of alternate scenarios for enhancing sagebrush habitat while fostering ecosystem and range industry sustainability.  WERA has provided an opportunity for information exchange and regional assessments of economic and policy impacts on a regional scale. Member research has contributed to helping understand the impacts of wind energy, water policy, mineral resource development, wild horse management, and utility provision, among other things, on the sustainability and resilience of social ecological systems on western rangelands. The group maintains a commitment to consistent productivity in academic and outreach publications, partly through exchange of information on current and future research activities related to social, economic, and ecological aspects of integrated rangeland management. The group has provided information on social-ecological resilience to a spectrum of audiences and members have served on numerous panels, boards, and committees targeting rangeland sustainability issues. Wulfhorst, Rimbey, and Lewin have submitted proposals to NIFA on the sage grouse topic. Maczo and Tanaka reported on the possibility of some NRCS funding going to the Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable for related work. Tanaka and others discussed the work of W506, “Using Science-Based Solutions in Conservation of Threatened and Endangered Species: Sage-Grouse Case Study. State reports include related activities.  In terms of milestones, this project is coming to the end of this cycle. Members will need to consider whether or not to continue this project or create new ones.  On thought is to join with WDC 40.

Publications

Bentley Brymer, A., J. Holbrook, R. Nieymeyer, A. Suazo, J.D. Wulfhorst, K. Vierling, B. Newingham, T. Link, and J. Rachlow. 2016.  A social-ecological impact assessment for public lands management:  application of a conceptual and methodological framework.  Ecology & Society 21(3):9. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-08569-210309">http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-08569-210309</a>. Louis Berger.  2015.  Technical Memorandum: Economic Impact Analysis of Oil and Operations Literature Review – Final.  Submitted to U.S. Bureau of Land Management, National Operations Center, Denver Colorado. Louis Berger and Pinyon Environmental Inc.  2016.  Methods Technical Report: Oil and Gas Economic Impact Analysis – Final.  Submitted to U.S. Bureau of Land Management, National Operations Center, Denver Colorado. Louis Berger and Pinyon Environmental Inc.  2016.  Desk Guide: Oil and Gas Economic Impact Analysis – Final.  Submitted to U.S. Bureau of Land Management, National Operations Center, Denver Colorado. Brunson, M.W., Huntsinger, L., Kreuter, U., Ritten, J. 2016. Usable socio-economic science for rangelands.  2016.  Rangelands 38(2): 85-89. Davies, K., Gearhart, A., Vavra, M., Schultz, B.W., Rimbey, N. 2016. Longer term rest from grazing: A response to Jones & Carter. J. of Rangeland Applications. 3: 9-15. Available online at:  <a href="http://journals.lib.uidaho.edu/index.php/jra/article/view/23">http://journals.lib.uidaho.edu/index.php/jra/article/view/23</a> Foulke, Thomas and David T. Taylor (UW contributing authors). A Concise guide to Wyoming Coal: 2016. The Wyoming Coal Information Committee of the Wyoming Mining Association. Cheyenne, Wyoming. August, 2016. French, T., L. Livingston, B. Hall, L. Grosskopf, and J. Tilden.  2016.  A Park County Profile: Socioeconomics. Collaborative support from University of Wyoming Extension, Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, and Wyoming County Commissioners Association.   <a href="http://wyo-wcca.org/files/2014/6481/9603/Park2016_20Apr16.pdf">http://wyo-wcca.org/files/2014/6481/9603/Park2016_20Apr16.pdf</a>. Godby, R., D. Taylor, and R. Coupal.  2016.  An Assessment of Wyoming’s Competitiveness to Attract New Wind Development and the Potential Impact Such Development May Bring the State-Summary Report.  Center for Energy Economics and Public Policy, Department of Economics and Finance, University of Wyoming. Godby, R., D. Taylor, and R. Coupal.  2016.  An Assessment of Wyoming’s Competitiveness to Attract New Wind Development and the Potential Impact Such Development May Bring the State.  Center for Energy Economics and Public Policy, Department of Economics and Finance, University of Wyoming. Huntsinger, L. 2016. Stewarding rangeland landscapes: building social capital to restore natural capital. 2016. In: I. Casasús and G. Lombardi (eds), Mountain pastures and livestock farming facing uncertainty: environmental, technical, and socio-economic challenges. Series A: Mediterranean Seminars, 116: 315-327. Proceedings FAO-CIHEAM Mountain Pastures Network, Zaragosa, Spain, June 2016. ISBN: 2-85352-559-7. Huntsinger, L. The tragedy of the common narrative: Re-telling degradation in the American West. In:  Behnke, R.H. and Mortimore, M. (eds) The end of Desertification?: Disputing environmental change in the drylands Berlin: Springer Earth Systems Sciences, Springer-Verlag.  ISBN 978-3-642-16013-4 ISBN 978-3-642-16014-1 (eBook); DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-16014-1 Huntsinger, L., Plieninger, T., Pullido, F., Starrs, Paul. 2016.  Re: Eletter in response to Naudt’s et al. Europe’s forest management did not mitigate climate warming. Sceince 352(6273): 597-600.  March 2, 2016. [http://science.sciencemag.org/content/351/6273/597.e-letters] Jiménez, M.N., Fernández-Ondoño, E. , Ángeles Ripoll, M., Castro-Rodríguez, J.,  Huntsinger, L., Navarro, F.B. 2016. Stones and organic mulches improve Quercus ilex l. afforestation success under Mediterranean climatic conditions. Land Degrad. Develop. 27: 357–365. Lewin, P., S. Jensen, N. Rimbey, and J.D. Wulfhorst.  2016. “Core- and periphery-community dynamics on the range:  A replicated socio-economic assessment in southwestern Idaho”  Presentation at the 55th annual meeting of the Western Regional Science Association 55th Annual Meeting, Big Island, Hawaii (WERA-1018 Paper Session). Li, W.J., S. Talinbayi , L. Huntsinger. 2016. Comparing transhumance in Xinjiang, China and California, USA. In: I. Casasús and G. Lombardi (eds), Mountain pastures and livestock farming facing uncertainty: environmental, technical, and socio-economic challenges. Series A: Mediterranean Seminars, 116: 69-75. Proceedings FAO-CIHEAM Mountain Pastures Network, Zaragosa, Spain, June 2016. ISBN: 2-85352-559-7. Roche, Leslie M.; Schohr, Tracy K.; Derner, Justin D.; et al.2015.   Sustaining Working Rangelands: Insights from Rancher Decision Making.  Rangeland Ecology and Management 68 (5):383-389. Salaghe, Florina and Thomas R. Harris. “Nevada Ranchers Attitudes toward the Trichomoniasis Vaccine’. 58th Annual Conference Western Social science Association, Reno, Nevada, April 2016. Stoellinger, T. and D. Taylor.  2016.  A Report on the Economic Impact to Wyoming’s Economy From a Potential Listing of the Sage Grouse.  For the Office of Governor Matthew Mead.  University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Law, and Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. Stoellinger, T. and D. Taylor.  2016.  A Report on the Economic Impact to Wyoming’s Economy From a Potential Listing of the Sage Grouse. Wyoming Law Review (accepted). Taylor, D. and T. Foulke.  2016.  BLM Colorado River District Baseline Socio-economic Report.  Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wyoming (under review). Taylor, D. and B. Feuz. 2016.  Economic Importance of Sheep Production in Uinta County, WY.  For Uinta County Commissioners.  Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wyoming. Thompson, D., T. Becker, L. Allen, R. Price, and A. Clifford.  2015. A Fremont County Profile: Socioeconomics.  Collaborative support from University of Wyoming Extension, Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, and Wyoming County Commissioners Association.  <a href="http://wyo-wcca.org/~wcca/files/4414/4441/8462/Fremont2015_final.pdf">http://wyo-wcca.org/~wcca/files/4414/4441/8462/Fremont2015_final.pdf</a> Taylor, D. and T. Foulke.  2016.  Sublette County Related Hunting and Fishing Spending,2015.  2016.  For Wyoming Wildlife Federation.  Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics, University of Wyoming (accepted). Taylor, D. and T. Foulke.  2016.  Johnson County Related Hunting and Fishing Spending,2015.  2016.  For Wyoming Wildlife Federation.  Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics, University of Wyoming (accepted). Taylor, D. and T. Foulke.  2016.  Sweetwater County Related Hunting and Fishing Spending,2015.  2016.  For Sweetwater County Commissioners.  Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics, University of Wyoming. Wulfhorst, J.D., N. Rimbey, S. Jensen, and P. Lewin. 2016. Social and Community Assessment for Owyhee County. College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, Moscow, ID (November).

Impact Statements

Economic impact analysis of Forest Service’s High Uinta Wilderness Domestic Sheep EIS for Uinta County Commissioners.