Cost-effectiveness of sagebrush restoration across the sagebrush biome, 30 years after two seeding treatment applications, and associated model data

This data release contains a formatted dataset with mean and standard deviation of effectiveness-cost ratios for aerial or drill seeding sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), at the cost estimate of 100, 1,000, and 5,000 acre treatments, and associated environmental conditions from across the sagebrush biome. With these data, we modeled the influence of environmental conditions on cost-effectiveness using generalized additive models. We also created maps for mean effectiveness-cost (EC) ratios at the cost estimate for a 5,000 acre treatment for either sagebrush cover (cEC) or recovery probability (pEC) 30 years following a hypothetical wildfire (relative to no treatment). We also provide maps for uncertainty in cost-effectiveness for each seeding treatment. Across the western United States, disturbances such as wildfire, drought, and invasive species have reduced and degraded the biome dominated by sagebrush. How to prioritize limited funds for restoration requires spatially-explicit information on both effectiveness and costs of potential treatments. Understanding mechanisms associated with cost-effectiveness across this vast landscape can also guide land use and improve restoration efficiency and effectiveness.

Files included in this data release: formatted_pixel_data_[state].csv – compiled and formatted datasets for effectiveness-cost ratios and associated environmental variables, by state (CA, CO, ID, MT, ND SD NE [combined], NVa, NVb, OR, UT, WA, WYa,and WYb). Two states (NV and WY) were split due to their file sizes.

We also provide rasters in separate child items:
cEC_mean_aerial_5k.tif – mean effectiveness-cost ratio of sagebrush cover from aerial seeding Artemisia spp. at the cost estimate for 5,000 acres
cEC_sd_aerial_5k.tif – error (standard deviation) in effectiveness-cost ratio of sagebrush cover from aerial seeding Artemisia spp. at the cost estimate for 5,000 acres
cEC_mean_drill_5k.tif – mean effectiveness-cost ratio of sagebrush cover from drill seeding Artemisia spp. at the cost estimate for 5,000 acres
cEC_sd_drill_5k.tif – error (standard deviation) in effectiveness-cost ratio of sagebrush cover from drill seeding Artemisia spp. at the cost estimate for 5,000 acres
pEC_mean_aerial_5k.tif – mean effectiveness-cost ratio of recovery probability from aerial seeding Artemisia spp. at the cost estimate for 5,000 acres
pEC_sd_aerial_5k.tif – error (standard deviation) in effectiveness-cost ratio of recovery probability from aerial seeding Artemisia spp. at the cost estimate for 5,000 acres
pEC_mean_drill_5k.tif – mean effectiveness-cost ratio of recovery probability from drill seeding Artemisia spp. at the cost estimate for 5,000 acres
pEC_sd_drill_5k.tif – error (standard deviation) in effectiveness-cost ratio of recovery probability from drill seeding Artemisia spp. at the cost estimate for 5,000 acres

Included with each .tif file is a service definition (.sd) file which is only viewable in ArcGIS Online (AGOL) (see Spatial Services on the child item page for tile service link).