Raster layers of conservation prioritization solutions for Gunnison Sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) habitat in Colorado and Utah, USA

This data release includes a total of 45 solution rasters representing prioritization solutions for 4 conservation actions across 8 different spatial extents. These conservation problems include: habitat protection (2 versions: with and without pinyon jay density included), invasive annual grass (IAG) control (2 versions: high and low IAG starting cover versions), sagebrush planting, and wet meadow restoration, all with the goal to benefit Gunnison Sage-grouse (

Centrocercus minimus

, hereafter GUSG or sage-grouse) populations. Spatial extents include: rangewide and 7 satellite populations (Cerro Summit-Cimarron-Sims, Crawford, Dove Creek-Monticello, Gunnison Basin, Pinon Mesa, Poncha Pass, San Miguel). The full data release is structured with a child item for each spatial extent that contains all prioritization solution rasters for that extent.

These prioritization solutions were created using spatial conservation prioritization (SCP), integrating data on habitat suitability, vegetation, predicted change, and anthropogenic impacts while also incorporating economic and ecological costs associated with each action. Overall management priorities, conservation actions, and data inputs were developed using a co-production framework, with local managers and working groups engaging and providing feedback at several steps throughout the process. This data release is part of a larger SCP framework, Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET) that has used similar capabilities to produce prioritizations for conservation planning across Wyoming (Duchardt et al. 2021, Shyvers et al. 2025a, b) and northwest Colorado (Tarbox et al. 2025).

A public tool was created to view these prioritization solutions and summarized data inputs: https://fort.usgs.gov/preset.