Invasive annual plants such as red brome (Bromus rubens), cheatgrass (B. tectorum), and African mustard (Malcomia africana) can have profound impacts on dryland ecosystems. Potential impacts include the alteration of fuel loads and fire regimes, as well as the competitive displacement of native plant populations. Both of these impacts can significantly degrade habitat quality for wildlife and can have important socioeconomic consequences for human society. To design science-based strategies for mitigating these impacts, managers need information on the relative abundance of invasive plant populations over time and across complex landscapes characterized by multiple management jurisdictions, a range of urban and wildland settings, and diverse biophysical environments. These data consist of areas modeled as containing early season invasives (ESI) such as cheatgrass, red bromem, and African Mustard across Washington County, Utah for 2001 through 2010. Multi-season (spring and summer) satellite imagery (Landsat 5) were used to model the potential extent and distribution of these species. A mapping algorithm toolset, Detection of Early Season Invasives (DESI), which works in conjuction with the ENVI image analysis and processing software, was used throughout the process. Specifically, DESI compares spring and summer Landsat images and models the abundance of ESI as a function in seasonal differences in vegetation greeness.
