Measurements of vegetation, soil, and disturbance following utility-scale solar energy development in the Mojave Desert, 2021-2023

These data were compiled to evaluate the impact of a utility-scale solar energy (Gemini Solar + Storage) development on ecosystem function in the Mojave Desert. Objectives of our study were to identify the short-term effects of construction on soils and vegetation across plant communities and soil types. These data represent a before-after control-impact study to evaluate the effects of utility-scale solar energy development on plant communities and soil ecosystem functioning in the Mojave Desert. These data were collected in the Mojave Desert, approximately 50 km northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) between 2021 and 2023. These data were collected by researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center using field observation and sampling protocols for the BLM. These data can be used for before-after control-impact evaluation of the construction of the Gemini solar facility on plant and soil variables.