The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is committed to using science-informed decision-making for the public lands and resources that it manages. Uses on these lands are varied, and decisions are complex. USGS and BLM are working together to identify specific needs for data, science, methods, and mitigation actions that can strengthen the science foundation for BLM planning and management decisions.
Background
BLM is committed to using science-informed decision making at every level and in every program of the agency to increase the science foundation, consistency, transparency, and defensibility of the agency’s decisions (Advancing Science in the BLM: An Implementation Strategy).
A key first question is ‘What are the current priority science needs for the agency?’ In essence, what gaps in the science information currently available to BLM planners and managers may be hindering their ability to make effective, scientifically sound resource management decisions?
Project goal
Our goal is to work together with BLM to conduct a structured, repeatable analysis of priority science needs for the agency based on multiple lines of evidence.
Types of science information needs
We’re focused on 4 types of science information that could strengthen the foundation for BLM planning and management decisions:
1. Quality data on the presence and condition of resources of concern.
2. Science about key resources (e.g., rare species, water quality) and proposed actions (e.g., energy development, recreation) that can help managers identify when an action is likely to impact a resource of concern.
3. Analysis methods for quantifying potential effects of different types of proposed actions on different types of resources.
4. Actions that are effective in avoiding, minimizing, or mitigating negative impacts of proposed actions on resources of concern.
Approach
We are examining multiple publicly available documents to provide a comprehensive assessment of potential science information needs, including BLM management decisions, BLM resource management plans, challenges to BLM planning and management decisions, BLM-authored science plans and strategies, and news media coverage of the BLM.
Anticipated benefit
Results can help BLM to be strategic in filling current science and data gaps that can support consistent, science-informed decision making across the agency. One focus is developing online, searchable summaries and syntheses of science on high priority topics such as greater sage-grouse and invasive annual grasses.
Science-Management Partnership
The USGS and BLM are working together as partners to coproduce this effort, with a goal of producing practical, actionable science that informs planning, policy, and management decisions on western lands (see Beier et. al 2017 for more information on coproduction).
Developing searchable annotated bibliographies for resource managers
Using public litigation records to identify priority science and data needs for the Bureau of Land Management
Exploring the Utility of Short Science Syntheses for Use in NEPA Analyses in the Bureau of Land Management
Understanding and fostering use of habitat models for rare plants in Bureau of Land Management planning and management decisions
Developing a step-by-step process for assessing cumulative effects in the Bureau of Land Management
Developing a toolkit for coproducing actionable science with the Bureau of Land Management
- Overview
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is committed to using science-informed decision-making for the public lands and resources that it manages. Uses on these lands are varied, and decisions are complex. USGS and BLM are working together to identify specific needs for data, science, methods, and mitigation actions that can strengthen the science foundation for BLM planning and management decisions.
Background
BLM is committed to using science-informed decision making at every level and in every program of the agency to increase the science foundation, consistency, transparency, and defensibility of the agency’s decisions (Advancing Science in the BLM: An Implementation Strategy).
A key first question is ‘What are the current priority science needs for the agency?’ In essence, what gaps in the science information currently available to BLM planners and managers may be hindering their ability to make effective, scientifically sound resource management decisions?
Project goal
Our goal is to work together with BLM to conduct a structured, repeatable analysis of priority science needs for the agency based on multiple lines of evidence.
Types of science information needs
We’re focused on 4 types of science information that could strengthen the foundation for BLM planning and management decisions:
1. Quality data on the presence and condition of resources of concern.
2. Science about key resources (e.g., rare species, water quality) and proposed actions (e.g., energy development, recreation) that can help managers identify when an action is likely to impact a resource of concern.
3. Analysis methods for quantifying potential effects of different types of proposed actions on different types of resources.
4. Actions that are effective in avoiding, minimizing, or mitigating negative impacts of proposed actions on resources of concern.
Approach
We are examining multiple publicly available documents to provide a comprehensive assessment of potential science information needs, including BLM management decisions, BLM resource management plans, challenges to BLM planning and management decisions, BLM-authored science plans and strategies, and news media coverage of the BLM.
Anticipated benefit
Results can help BLM to be strategic in filling current science and data gaps that can support consistent, science-informed decision making across the agency. One focus is developing online, searchable summaries and syntheses of science on high priority topics such as greater sage-grouse and invasive annual grasses.
Science-Management Partnership
The USGS and BLM are working together as partners to coproduce this effort, with a goal of producing practical, actionable science that informs planning, policy, and management decisions on western lands (see Beier et. al 2017 for more information on coproduction).
- Science
Developing searchable annotated bibliographies for resource managers
Resource management decisions need to be informed by up-to-date, quality science and data. However there is sometimes an overwhelming number of scientific publications for managers to consider in their decisions. This project provides concise summaries of recent, peer-reviewed science and data products about different resources and topics of management concern, integrated into a searchable tool.Using public litigation records to identify priority science and data needs for the Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages a large area of public lands in the western U.S. for multiple uses and values. Because some of these uses and values may conflict, the agency’s decisions can be controversial and are often challenged. We analyzed public legal records to help identify priority information needs that could strengthen science-based decision-making in the BLMExploring the Utility of Short Science Syntheses for Use in NEPA Analyses in the Bureau of Land Management
Use of scientific information is fundamental to understanding how proposed actions on public lands may impact the environment. However agencies often have limited time to compile and synthesize existing science on a topic. We are working with the Bureau of Land Management to explore the utility of short science syntheses for facilitating use of the best available science in public lands decisions.Understanding and fostering use of habitat models for rare plants in Bureau of Land Management planning and management decisions
The use of rare plant habitat models in public lands decisions can be hampered by factors such as a lack of understanding of or confidence in underlying data, a lack of access to models, and a lack of opportunity for model use in decisions. This project seeks to explore and suggest potential solutions to these challenges, facilitating greater use of habitat models in public lands decision-making.Developing a step-by-step process for assessing cumulative effects in the Bureau of Land Management
The National Environmental Policy Act requires federal agencies to assess potential impacts of proposed actions as part of their decision-making processes. Due to the complex nature of cumulative effects analyses, many are currently limited in nature. We are working with the Bureau of Land Management to develop a process that staff can use to strengthen cumulative effects analyses.Developing a toolkit for coproducing actionable science with the Bureau of Land Management
Coproduction is an approach to conducting science that focuses on scientists and resource managers working closely together to produce actionable products that are used to inform natural resource management decisions. This project will develop a toolkit to facilitate coproduction between the Bureau of Land Management and the USGS. - Publications