An example of successful perennial grass establishment on a reclaimed oil and gas well pad site in the Book Cliffs, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, SBSC, USGS.
Mike Duniway, Ph.D.
Dr. Michael (Mike) Duniway is a soil scientist focused on soils and soil processes in dryland ecosystems and the interactions between environmental and land-use drivers, vegetation, soils, and geomorphology. His areas of focus include restoration, ecohydrology, effects of land-use (grazing, energy, and recreation), dust production, plant-soil feedbacks, and soil mapping and interpretations.
In his research and outreach activities, Dr. Duniway seeks to provide information for land managers and owners to facilitate sustainable land-use activities. He works closely with federal agency partners (Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, National Resource Conservation Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and others such as The Nature Conservancy's Canyonlands Research Center) in designing research studies, conducting technology transfer, and outreach activities. Some primary current research focuses include understanding the impacts of drought on Colorado Plateau landscapes, evaluating the recovery of oil and gas pads on the Colorado Plateau and opportunities for improved restoration practices, developing novel restoration techniques for highly disturbed lands using biological soil crusts and physical barriers, and basic research into the importance of soils for dryland ecosystem processes.
Professional Experience
2011-Present: Research Ecologist, USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, Moab, UT
2010-2011: Research Soil Scientist, US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Jornada, Las Cruces, NM
2006-2010: Research Soil Scientist (post doc), US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Jornada, Las Cruces, NM
2012-Present: Adjunct Faculty, Utah State University, Logan, UT
2007-Present: Adjunct Faculty, NM State University, Las Cruces, NM
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., 2006 — Agronomy (Soil Science), New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
B.S., 1994 — Environmental Resource Science, University of California, Davis, CA
Science and Products
Colorado Plateau Extreme Drought in Grassland Experiment (EDGE)
Chronic Drought Impacts on Colorado Plateau ecosystems (Rain-Out Experiment)
Oil and Gas Reclamation - About
Southwest Energy Exploration, Development, and Reclamation (SWEDR)
New Tools for Modern Land Management Decisions
Climate Adaptation Strategies for Arid Grasslands
Biological Soil Crust ("Biocrust") Science
Developing a Decision Support Framework for Prioritizing Pinyon Juniper Forest Treatments on the Colorado Plateau
Drought & Grazing Experiment: Understanding Impacts and Identifying Mitigation Strategies
Remote Sensing of Energy Development
Well Pad Reclamation and Research
Learning From the Past and Planning for the Future: Experience-Driven Insight Into Managing for Ecosystem Transformations Induced by Drought and Wildfire
Plant composition, shrub biomass, and soil biogeochemistry from an experimental drought treatment on the Colorado Plateau
Spatial data of oil and gas pads and access roads on the Colorado Plateau, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico
Vegetation and soil cover from 134 reclaimed oil and gas well pads and 583 AIM reference plots in the Southwestern United States
Geodatabase of oil and gas pads and roads within the Bureau of Land Management's Carlsbad Field Office administrative boundary, New Mexico
Vegetation cover, ground cover, plant mortality, and species abundance across an experimental drought treatment on the Colorado Plateau from 2010-2022
Maps of early season invasive grasses and hot spots in the Mojave Ecoregion from 2009-2020
Plant cover, climate, grazing disturbance, and soil class data from 1991-2020 compiled from remotely sensed data on two retired grazing allotments in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA
Meteorological measurements from five weather stations in Grand and San Juan Counties in southeastern Utah (ver. 2.0, April 2023)
Soil, geologic, geomorphic, climate, and vegetation data from long-term monitoring plots (2009 - 2018) in Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks, Utah, USA
Biocrust cover, vegetation, and climate data from a protected grassland within Canyonlands National Park, Utah (ver. 2.0, Sept. 2023)
Sagebrush recovery analyzed with a dynamic reference approach in southwestern Wyoming, USA 1985-2018
Soil family particle size class map for Colorado River Basin above Lake Mead
An example of successful perennial grass establishment on a reclaimed oil and gas well pad site in the Book Cliffs, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, SBSC, USGS.
An ecological site group map for the Upper Colorado River Basin that displays a quantitative soil-geomorphic framework in the Four Corners region, USA.
An ecological site group map for the Upper Colorado River Basin that displays a quantitative soil-geomorphic framework in the Four Corners region, USA.
Cathedral Valley, Capital Reef National Park, Utah. Photo by Chris Benson, USGS.
Cathedral Valley, Capital Reef National Park, Utah. Photo by Chris Benson, USGS.
A panorama of Cathedral Valley, Capital Reef National Park, Utah. Photo by Chris Benson, USGS, 2021.
A panorama of Cathedral Valley, Capital Reef National Park, Utah. Photo by Chris Benson, USGS, 2021.
A pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) using habitat with oil and gas development near Vernal, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, SBSC, USGS.
A pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) using habitat with oil and gas development near Vernal, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, SBSC, USGS.
A panoramic photo of the Colorado River Basin in Canyonlands National Park. Photo by Mike Duniway, Southwest Biological Science Center, USGS.
A panoramic photo of the Colorado River Basin in Canyonlands National Park. Photo by Mike Duniway, Southwest Biological Science Center, USGS.
Hydroseeding for reclamation at an oil and gas well pad in the Uinta Basin, Utah. Hydroseeding involves spraying seeds, water, mulch and sometimes other materials over a disturbed area. Photo by Rebecca Mann, SBSC, USGS.
Hydroseeding for reclamation at an oil and gas well pad in the Uinta Basin, Utah. Hydroseeding involves spraying seeds, water, mulch and sometimes other materials over a disturbed area. Photo by Rebecca Mann, SBSC, USGS.
A dynamic illustration of how pixel matching can be used for finding control points on a map of Shay Mesa, Utah, showing an area of pinyon-juniper clearing treatments. For more information, see the paper: What determines the effectiveness of Pinyon-Juniper clearing treatments?
A dynamic illustration of how pixel matching can be used for finding control points on a map of Shay Mesa, Utah, showing an area of pinyon-juniper clearing treatments. For more information, see the paper: What determines the effectiveness of Pinyon-Juniper clearing treatments?
A technician places a pin drop on a transect during oil and gas reclamation vegetation monitoring
linkA USGS technician places a pin drop on a transect during monitoring soil and vegetation outcomes on a reclaimed oil or gas pad near Grand Junction, Colorado. Photo by Mike Duniway, SBSC, USGS.
A technician places a pin drop on a transect during oil and gas reclamation vegetation monitoring
linkA USGS technician places a pin drop on a transect during monitoring soil and vegetation outcomes on a reclaimed oil or gas pad near Grand Junction, Colorado. Photo by Mike Duniway, SBSC, USGS.
A pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site near Farmington, New Mexico. Photo by Mike Duniway, USGS, SBSC.
A pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site near Farmington, New Mexico. Photo by Mike Duniway, USGS, SBSC.
30m resolution soil map for the Colorado River Basin, Four Corners region showing uncertainty in electrical connectivity.
30m resolution soil map for the Colorado River Basin, Four Corners region showing uncertainty in electrical connectivity.
A panoramic photo of Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, Southwest Biological Science Center, USGS.
A panoramic photo of Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, Southwest Biological Science Center, USGS.
Active oil and gas pad on Bureau of Land Management lands near Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
Active oil and gas pad on Bureau of Land Management lands near Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
USGS and US Forest Service staff installing dust monitoring equipment at a uranium mine near Grand Canyon National Park.
USGS and US Forest Service staff installing dust monitoring equipment at a uranium mine near Grand Canyon National Park.
Dry conditions at cattle water sources in western Colorado.
Dry conditions at cattle water sources in western Colorado.
Cattle walking across biological soil crusts in southeastern Utah.
Cattle walking across biological soil crusts in southeastern Utah.
Drilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Drilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Four-wheel drive enthusiasts during Jeep Safari in Moab Utah.
Four-wheel drive enthusiasts during Jeep Safari in Moab Utah.
Annotated bibliography of scientific research relevant to oil and gas reclamation best management practices in the western United States, published from 1969 through 2020
Establishing quantitative benchmarks for soil erosion and ecological monitoring, assessment, and management
The Landscape Data Commons: A system for standardizing, accessing, and applying large environmental datasets for agroecosystem research and management
Oil and gas reclamation—Operations, monitoring methods, and standards
Time, climate, and soil settings set the course for reclamation outcomes following dryland energy development
Biophysical factors control invasive annual grass hot spots in the Mojave Desert
Ecosystem resilience to invasion and drought: Insights after 24 years in a rare never-grazed grassland
Supporting the development and use of native plant materials for restoration on the Colorado Plateau (Fiscal Year 2022 Report)
Establishing big sagebrush seedlings on the Colorado Plateau
Synergistic soil, land use, and climate influences on wind erosion on the Colorado Plateau: Implications for management
Foraging behavior of Raramuri Criollo vs. Angus cattle grazing California Chaparral and Colorado Plateau shrublands
Droughting a megadrought: Ecological consequences of a decade of experimental drought atop aridification on the Colorado Plateau
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Informing Future Decision Making on Uranium Mining in Arizona: Science for Health and Environment
The USGS is conducting research at uranium-bearing breccia pipe deposits to address data gaps related to the potential effects of uranium exploration and mining activities on the Grand Canyon watershed, its people, wildlife, and water resources. Study locations are primarily on Federal lands with a few locations on Tribal lands, and include historic and active mines.
Colorado River Basin Projects
The Colorado River Basin Actionable and Strategic Integrated Science and Technology Team has created an interactive map of USGS projects to highlight the integrated science currently conducted within the Colorado River Basin. These projects are not all inclusive of the work conducted by the USGS within the CRB, but highlight the broad range of integrated science currently conducted.
Science and Products
- Science
Filter Total Items: 21
Colorado Plateau Extreme Drought in Grassland Experiment (EDGE)
In drylands, short-term extreme droughts can have profound ecosystem effects, depending on the timing (seasonality) of drought and the sensitivities of the dominant plants and plant functional types. Past work suggests that cool season drought may disproportionately impact regionally important grass and shrub species. In this study, we are examining the impacts of extreme seasonal drought on...Chronic Drought Impacts on Colorado Plateau ecosystems (Rain-Out Experiment)
In drylands, chronic reductions in water availability (press-drought) through reduced precipitation and increased temperatures may have profound ecosystem effects, depending on the sensitivities of the dominant plants and plant functional types. In this study, we are examining the impacts of moderate, but long-term chronic drought using a network of 40 drought shelters on the Colorado Plateau...Oil and Gas Reclamation - About
What is reclamation? Reclamation means to assist in the repair or recovery of highly disturbed or degraded ecosystems to benefit native plants and animals by setting sites on a trajectory towards functioning habitats and ecological communities that are similar to surrounding, naturally occurring environments. During this process, the impacts of oil and gas development are minimized.Southwest Energy Exploration, Development, and Reclamation (SWEDR)
Approximately 35% of the US and approximately 82% of DOI lands are “drylands” found throughout the western US. These lands contain oil, gas, oil shale, shale oil, and tar sand deposits and the exploration for and extraction of these resources has resulted in hundreds of thousands of operating and abandoned wells across the West. These arid and semi-arid lands have unique soil and plant communities...New Tools for Modern Land Management Decisions
In an era of rapid land use changes and shifting climates, it is imperative that land managers and policymakers have actionable and current information available for decision processes. In this work, we seek to meet these needs through new data products and decision support tools built on digital soil mapping, new vegetation cover maps, agency inventory and monitoring data sets, and cutting-edge...Climate Adaptation Strategies for Arid Grasslands
Helping National Parks in the 4-Corners region manage grasslands in a changing climate.Biological Soil Crust ("Biocrust") Science
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are commonly found on the soil surface in arid and semi-arid ecosystems (collectively called drylands). Biocrusts can consist of mosses, cyanobacteria, lichens, algae, and microfungi, and they strongly interact with the soil. These organisms or consortium of disparate organisms, depending on the specific biocrust, are important to the functioning of ecosystems...Developing a Decision Support Framework for Prioritizing Pinyon Juniper Forest Treatments on the Colorado Plateau
Across the western U.S., pinyon and juniper trees are expanding into sagebrush and grassland plant communities. This vegetation change has been perceived to have a significant impact on the economic value of these grasslands, which support activities such as livestock grazing and hunting, but expanding pinyon and juniper forests may also lead to increased risk of fire. Over the past several decadeDrought & Grazing Experiment: Understanding Impacts and Identifying Mitigation Strategies
Drylands (sometimes called ‘deserts’ or ‘arid and semi-arid' ecosystems) are defined by water scarcity. Understanding how land-use activities may effect dryland ecosystems and dryland ecological processes is a high priority for land conservation and management. Grazing by domestic livestock (typically cattle but also sheep and goats) is the most widespread land-use in drylands globally and a large...Remote Sensing of Energy Development
Oil and gas development across the western United States has increased substantially in recent decades, including within the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado Plateau is a high desert region of grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands and is home to a large number of world-renowned national and tribal parks and monuments (e.g., Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, and Mesa...Well Pad Reclamation and Research
Reclamation on lands impacted by energy development is complicated and extremely challenging in arid environments due to unstable soils, exotic species, and low and variable precipitation. The reclamation tactics employed by energy operators vary widely and outcomes can differ across plant communities and soil types. In order to address the knowledge gaps regarding how to successfully and...Learning From the Past and Planning for the Future: Experience-Driven Insight Into Managing for Ecosystem Transformations Induced by Drought and Wildfire
Drought and wildfire pose enormous threats to the integrity of natural resources that land managers are charged with protecting. Recent observations and modeling forecasts indicate that these stressors will likely produce catastrophic ecosystem transformations, or abrupt changes in the condition of plants, wildlife, and their habitats, in regions across the country in coming decades. In this p - Data
Filter Total Items: 31
Plant composition, shrub biomass, and soil biogeochemistry from an experimental drought treatment on the Colorado Plateau
These data were compiled for a study that investigated the effects of drought seasonality and plant community composition in a dryland ecosystem. In 2015 U.S. Geological Survey ecologists recorded vegetation and soil moisture data in 36 experimental plots which manipulated precipitation in two plant community types. The experiment consisted of three precipitation treatments: control (ambient preciSpatial data of oil and gas pads and access roads on the Colorado Plateau, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico
This data release contains spatial data on the location, number, size and extent of energy-related surface disturbances on the Colorado Plateau of Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico as of 2016. The database includes: 1) polygons of oil and gas pads generated from automated and manual classification of aerial imagery, and 2) polylines of roads derived from the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefile, sVegetation and soil cover from 134 reclaimed oil and gas well pads and 583 AIM reference plots in the Southwestern United States
These data were compiled to assess the recovery of vegetation on reclaimed oil and gas sites. Objective(s) of our study were to assess patterns in reclamation outcomes relative to 1) soil attributes, climate, and time since 39 reclamation and 2) plant and soil reference benchmarks. These data represent observations of vegetation and soil cover from 134 reclaimed oil and gas well pads and 583 AIM rGeodatabase of oil and gas pads and roads within the Bureau of Land Management's Carlsbad Field Office administrative boundary, New Mexico
This database contains spatial data on the location, number, size and extent of energy-related surface disturbances within the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Carlsbad Field Office (CFO) administrative area. The BLM administers over 2 million acres of surface estate and 3 million acres of mineral estate in the southeastern portion of New Mexico. The BLM requires a thorough and comprehensive reasVegetation cover, ground cover, plant mortality, and species abundance across an experimental drought treatment on the Colorado Plateau from 2010-2022
These data were compiled to assess the response of vegetation and biological soil crusts to drought in a semi-arid ecosystem on the Colorado Plateau near Moab, Utah. Objective(s) of our study were to explore how vegetation cover, soil conditions, and growing season nitrogen (N) availability are impacted by multifaceted drying climate conditions using data from a long-term precipitation reduction eMaps of early season invasive grasses and hot spots in the Mojave Ecoregion from 2009-2020
Maps of invasive annual grasses were created using multi-season Landsat imagery over a 12 years period (2009-2020), and validated using an extensive network of plot data. Annual maps were used to identify persistent and productive populations of invasive annual grass, called hot spots, across entire Mojave Desert ecoregion. The data provided include a 12 band raster geospatial data file (.tiff) thPlant cover, climate, grazing disturbance, and soil class data from 1991-2020 compiled from remotely sensed data on two retired grazing allotments in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA
These data were compiled for use by researchers and land managers in studies of post-grazing change in Capitol Reef National Park. The data were initially used for and are associated with the McNellis et al., 2023 (see Larger Work Citation). Objective(s) of our study were to study landscape change (specifically plant cover measured through remote sensing) through time in Capitol Reef National ParkMeteorological measurements from five weather stations in Grand and San Juan Counties in southeastern Utah (ver. 2.0, April 2023)
These data were compiled from six automated weather stations that together provide several points in the meteorological record across a latitudinal and elevational gradient in southeastern Utah. Recorded data from these weather stations are associated with several different studies. Meteorological data are important for quantifying short term weather events as well as longer term climate trends. SSoil, geologic, geomorphic, climate, and vegetation data from long-term monitoring plots (2009 - 2018) in Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks, Utah, USA
These data (all data tables for the data release) represent a suite of biotic and abiotic variables that characterized plant communities and the geologic, geomorphic, edaphic, climatic, and land use history context in which distinct plant communities occur. In 2009, the National Park Service's Inventory and Monitoring program for the Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) began measuring vegetatBiocrust cover, vegetation, and climate data from a protected grassland within Canyonlands National Park, Utah (ver. 2.0, Sept. 2023)
These tabular data were compiled for/to monitor vegetation and biocrust cover in a never grazed grassland located in Canyonlands National Park. An objective, or objectives, of our study was to document potential changes in biocrust and vegetation cover and species composition as related to changes in land use and climate change. These data represent a timeseries of long-term vegetation and biocrusSagebrush recovery analyzed with a dynamic reference approach in southwestern Wyoming, USA 1985-2018
Identifying ecologically relevant reference sites is important for evaluating ecosystem recovery, but the relevance of references that are temporally static is unclear in the context of vast landscapes with disturbance and environmental contexts varying over space and time. This question is pertinent for landscapes dominated by sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) which face a suite of threats from disturbaSoil family particle size class map for Colorado River Basin above Lake Mead
These data were compiled to support analysis of remote sensing data using the Disturbance Automated Reference Toolset (Nauman et al., 2017). The objective of our study was to assess results of pinyon and juniper land treatments. These data represent major soil types as defined primarily by soil texture and depth, but also geology, parent material, and geomorphology for relevant features that disti - Multimedia
An example of successful reclamation of a reclaimed oil or gas well pad site, UtahAn example of successful reclamation of a reclaimed oil or gas well pad site, Utah
An example of successful perennial grass establishment on a reclaimed oil and gas well pad site in the Book Cliffs, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, SBSC, USGS.
An example of successful perennial grass establishment on a reclaimed oil and gas well pad site in the Book Cliffs, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, SBSC, USGS.
Ecological site group map for the Upper Colorado River BasinEcological site group map for the Upper Colorado River BasinAn ecological site group map for the Upper Colorado River Basin that displays a quantitative soil-geomorphic framework in the Four Corners region, USA.
An ecological site group map for the Upper Colorado River Basin that displays a quantitative soil-geomorphic framework in the Four Corners region, USA.
Cathedral Valley, Capital Reef National Park, UtahCathedral Valley, Capital Reef National Park, UtahCathedral Valley, Capital Reef National Park, Utah. Photo by Chris Benson, USGS.
Cathedral Valley, Capital Reef National Park, Utah. Photo by Chris Benson, USGS.
A panorama of Cathedral Valley, Capital Reef National Park, UtahA panorama of Cathedral Valley, Capital Reef National Park, UtahA panorama of Cathedral Valley, Capital Reef National Park, Utah. Photo by Chris Benson, USGS, 2021.
A panorama of Cathedral Valley, Capital Reef National Park, Utah. Photo by Chris Benson, USGS, 2021.
A pronghorn uses habitat with oil and gas development infrastructure, UtahA pronghorn uses habitat with oil and gas development infrastructure, UtahA pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) using habitat with oil and gas development near Vernal, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, SBSC, USGS.
A pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) using habitat with oil and gas development near Vernal, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, SBSC, USGS.
Canyonlands National Park panoramaA panoramic photo of the Colorado River Basin in Canyonlands National Park. Photo by Mike Duniway, Southwest Biological Science Center, USGS.
A panoramic photo of the Colorado River Basin in Canyonlands National Park. Photo by Mike Duniway, Southwest Biological Science Center, USGS.
Hydroseeding during oil and gas well pad reclamationHydroseeding during oil and gas well pad reclamationHydroseeding for reclamation at an oil and gas well pad in the Uinta Basin, Utah. Hydroseeding involves spraying seeds, water, mulch and sometimes other materials over a disturbed area. Photo by Rebecca Mann, SBSC, USGS.
Hydroseeding for reclamation at an oil and gas well pad in the Uinta Basin, Utah. Hydroseeding involves spraying seeds, water, mulch and sometimes other materials over a disturbed area. Photo by Rebecca Mann, SBSC, USGS.
A map of Shay Mesa, Utah, showing an area of pinyon-juniper clearing treatmentsA map of Shay Mesa, Utah, showing an area of pinyon-juniper clearing treatmentsA dynamic illustration of how pixel matching can be used for finding control points on a map of Shay Mesa, Utah, showing an area of pinyon-juniper clearing treatments. For more information, see the paper: What determines the effectiveness of Pinyon-Juniper clearing treatments?
A dynamic illustration of how pixel matching can be used for finding control points on a map of Shay Mesa, Utah, showing an area of pinyon-juniper clearing treatments. For more information, see the paper: What determines the effectiveness of Pinyon-Juniper clearing treatments?
A technician places a pin drop on a transect during oil and gas reclamation vegetation monitoringA technician places a pin drop on a transect during oil and gas reclamation vegetation monitoringA technician places a pin drop on a transect during oil and gas reclamation vegetation monitoring
linkA USGS technician places a pin drop on a transect during monitoring soil and vegetation outcomes on a reclaimed oil or gas pad near Grand Junction, Colorado. Photo by Mike Duniway, SBSC, USGS.
A technician places a pin drop on a transect during oil and gas reclamation vegetation monitoring
linkA USGS technician places a pin drop on a transect during monitoring soil and vegetation outcomes on a reclaimed oil or gas pad near Grand Junction, Colorado. Photo by Mike Duniway, SBSC, USGS.
A pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site in New MexicoA pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site in New MexicoA pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site near Farmington, New Mexico. Photo by Mike Duniway, USGS, SBSC.
A pumpjack on an active oil or gas drilling site near Farmington, New Mexico. Photo by Mike Duniway, USGS, SBSC.
30m resolution soil map for the Colorado River Basin, Four Corners region30m resolution soil map for the Colorado River Basin, Four Corners region30m resolution soil map for the Colorado River Basin, Four Corners region showing uncertainty in electrical connectivity.
30m resolution soil map for the Colorado River Basin, Four Corners region showing uncertainty in electrical connectivity.
Canyonlands National Park panoramaA panoramic photo of Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, Southwest Biological Science Center, USGS.
A panoramic photo of Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Photo by Mike Duniway, Southwest Biological Science Center, USGS.
Active oil and gas pad near Canyonlands National ParkActive oil and gas pad near Canyonlands National ParkActive oil and gas pad on Bureau of Land Management lands near Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
Active oil and gas pad on Bureau of Land Management lands near Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
USGS and US Forest Service staff installing dust monitoring equipmentUSGS and US Forest Service staff installing dust monitoring equipmentUSGS and US Forest Service staff installing dust monitoring equipment at a uranium mine near Grand Canyon National Park.
USGS and US Forest Service staff installing dust monitoring equipment at a uranium mine near Grand Canyon National Park.
Dry conditions at cattle water sources in western ColoradoDry conditions at cattle water sources in western ColoradoDry conditions at cattle water sources in western Colorado.
Dry conditions at cattle water sources in western Colorado.
Cattle walking across biological soil crusts in southeastern UtahCattle walking across biological soil crusts in southeastern UtahCattle walking across biological soil crusts in southeastern Utah.
Cattle walking across biological soil crusts in southeastern Utah.
Drilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, UtahDrilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, UtahDrilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Drilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Four-wheel drive enthusiasts during Jeep Safari in Moab UtahFour-wheel drive enthusiasts during Jeep Safari in Moab UtahFour-wheel drive enthusiasts during Jeep Safari in Moab Utah.
Four-wheel drive enthusiasts during Jeep Safari in Moab Utah.
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 101
Annotated bibliography of scientific research relevant to oil and gas reclamation best management practices in the western United States, published from 1969 through 2020
Integrating recent scientific knowledge into management decisions supports effective natural resource management and can lead to better resource outcomes. However, finding and accessing scientific knowledge can be time consuming and costly. To assist in this process, the U.S. Geological Survey has created a series of annotated bibliographies on topics of management concern for lands in the westernAuthorsRebecca K. Mann, Molly L. McCormick, Seth M. Munson, Hillary F. Cooper, Lee C. Bryant, Jared K. Swenson, Laura A. Johnston, Savannah L. Wilson, Michael C. DuniwayEstablishing quantitative benchmarks for soil erosion and ecological monitoring, assessment, and management
Soil erosion can have a multitude of negative impacts on agroecosystems and society and there remains an urgent need for tools to support its management. Quantitative benchmarks based on holistic understanding of erosion processes, ecosystem function, and land use objectives can be used with monitoring data and models to inform assessments and make objective and actionable decisions about erosionAuthorsNicholas P. Webb, Brandon L. Edwards, Alexandra Heller, Sarah E. McCord, Jeremy W. Schallner, Ronald S. Treminio, Brandi E. Wheeler, Nelson G. Stauffer, Sheri Spiegal, Michael C. Duniway, Alexander C.E. Traynor, Emily Kachergis, Carrie-Ann HoudeshellThe Landscape Data Commons: A system for standardizing, accessing, and applying large environmental datasets for agroecosystem research and management
Understanding where, when, and why agroecosystems are changing requires quality information about ecosystems that span land tenure, ecological processes, and spatial scales. Over the past two decades, land management agencies and research groups have adopted a suite of standardized methods for monitoring rangelands, which have been implemented at over 85,000 monitoring locations globally. However,AuthorsSarah E. McCord, Nicholas P. Webb, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Kristopher Bonefont, Joseph R. Brehm, Joel R. Brown, Ericha M. Courtright, Christopher Dietrich, Michael C. Duniway, Brandon L. Edwards, Christopher Fraser, Jeffrey E. Herrick, Anna C Knight, Loretta J Metz, Justin W. Van Zee, Craig E. TweedieOil and gas reclamation—Operations, monitoring methods, and standards
This publication provides broad guidance for surface management of oil and gas development with a focus on promoting successful reclamation. Successful reclamation depends on sound best management practices, clear standards and expectations, defensible monitoring for effectiveness, and management of production facilities to minimize surface disturbance. This publication provides specific guidelineAuthorsRandi C. Lupardus, Janna Simonsen, Gordon Toevs, Barbara Sterling, Zachary H. Bowen, Zoe Davidson, Steven E. Hanser, Emily Kachergis, Alexander Laurence-Traynor, Nika Lepak, Rebecca K. Mann, Aleta Nafus, David S. Pilliod, Michael C. DuniwayTime, climate, and soil settings set the course for reclamation outcomes following dryland energy development
Soil attributes, climate, and time since reclamation have important implications for oil and gas reclamation success on drylands. It is uncertain if reclaimed well pads, on highly degraded drylands, can successfully regain ecological function or meet indicator benchmarks for reclamation. Here, our goals were to assess patterns in reclamation outcomes relative to (1) soil attributes, climate, and tAuthorsRandi C. Lupardus, Aarin Sengsirirak, Keven Griffen, Anna C Knight, Brandon E McNellis, John B. Bradford, Seth M. Munson, Sasha C. Reed, Miguel L. Villarreal, Michael C. DuniwayBiophysical factors control invasive annual grass hot spots in the Mojave Desert
Invasive annual grasses can promote ecosystem state changes and habitat loss in the American Southwest. Non-native annual grasses such as Bromus spp. and Schismus spp. have invaded the Mojave Desert and degraded habitat through increased fire occurrence, severity, and shifting plant community composition. Thus, it is important to identify and characterize the areas where persistent invasion has ocAuthorsTanner Corless Smith, Tara B.B. Bishop, Michael C. Duniway, Miguel L. Villarreal, Anna C Knight, Seth M. Munson, Eric K. Waller, Ryan Jensen, Richard A. GillEcosystem resilience to invasion and drought: Insights after 24 years in a rare never-grazed grassland
Understanding the resilience of ecosystems globally is hampered by the complex and interacting drivers of change characteristic of the Anthropocene. This is true for drylands of the western US, where widespread alteration of disturbance regimes and spread of invasive non-native species occurred with westward expansion during the 1800s, including the introduction of domestic livestock and spread ofAuthorsMichael C. Duniway, Rebecca A Finger-Higgens, Erika L. Geiger, David L. Hoover, Alix Pfennigwerth, Anna C Knight, M. Van Scoyoc, Mark E. Miller, Jayne BelnapSupporting the development and use of native plant materials for restoration on the Colorado Plateau (Fiscal Year 2022 Report)
A primary focus of the Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program (CPNPP) is to identify and develop appropriate native plant materials (NPMs) for current and future restoration projects. Multiple efforts have characterized the myriad challenges inherent in providing appropriate seed resources to enable effective, widespread restoration and have identified a broad suite of research activities to providAuthorsRobert Massatti, Daniel E. Winkler, Sasha C. Reed, Michael C. Duniway, Seth M. Munson, John B. BradfordEstablishing big sagebrush seedlings on the Colorado Plateau
Factors such as soil type and precipitation vary across rangeland landscapes, and these factors affect restoration outcomes and ultimately mean that “one size fits all” management strategies are not effective across large, complex landscapes. Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is a foundational rangeland species that is important to wildlife habitat across the western U.S. On the Colorado PlateaAuthorsKari E. Veblen, Eric Thacker, Mark Larese-Casanova, Kyle C. Nehring, Michael C. Duniway, Colby C. BrungardSynergistic soil, land use, and climate influences on wind erosion on the Colorado Plateau: Implications for management
Two decades of drought in the southwestern USA are spurring concerns about increases in wind erosion, dust emissions, and associated impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, human health, and water supply. Different avenues of investigation into primary drivers of wind erosion and dust have yielded mixed results depending on the spatial and temporal sensitivity of the evidence. We monitored passive aeoAuthorsTravis W. Nauman, Seth M. Munson, Saroj Dhital, Nicholas P. Webb, Michael C. DuniwayForaging behavior of Raramuri Criollo vs. Angus cattle grazing California Chaparral and Colorado Plateau shrublands
Selecting livestock genetics adapted to arid environments, such as Criollo cattle, is one of several strategies recommended for decreasing the vulnerability to climate change of ranching in the southwestern USA. Our objective was to determine whether desirable foraging traits of Criollo cattle previously documented in the Chihuahuan Desert, held true in two of the most climate-vulnerable ecosystemAuthorsDanielle M. Duni, Matthew M. McIntosh, Shelemia Nyamuryekung’e, Andres F. Cibils, Michael C. Duniway, Richard E. Estell, Sheri A. Spiegal, Alfredo L. Gonzalez, Melakeneh G. Gedefaw, Matthew Redd, Robert Paulin, Caitriana M. Steele, Santiago A. Utsumi, Andres R. PereaDroughting a megadrought: Ecological consequences of a decade of experimental drought atop aridification on the Colorado Plateau
Global dryland vegetation communities will likely change as ongoing drought conditions shift regional climates towards a more arid future. Additional aridification of drylands can impact plant and ground cover, biogeochemical cycles, and plant-soil feedbacks, yet how and when these crucial ecosystem components will respond to drought intensification requires further investigation. Using a long-terAuthorsRebecca A Finger-Higgens, Tara Boyce Belnap Bishop, Jayne Belnap, Erika L. Geiger, Edmund E. Grote, David Hoover, Sasha C. Reed, Michael C. DuniwayNon-USGS Publications**
Browning, D.M., Duniway, M.C., Laliberte, A., and Rango, A., 2012, Hierarchical analysis of vegetation dynamics over 71 years: Soil-rainfall interactions in a Chihuahuan desert ecosystem: Ecological Applications, v. 22, p.909-926.Duniway, M., Karl, J., Schrader, S., Baquera, N., and Herrick, J., 2012, Rangeland and pasture monitoring: an approach to interpretation of high-resolution imagery focused on observer calibration for repeatability: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, v. 184, p. 3789-3804.Karl, J., Duniway, M.C., Nusser, S.M., Opsomer, J.D., and Unnasch, R.S., 2012, Using Very-Large-Scale Aerial Imagery for Rangeland Monitoring and Assessment: Some Statistical Considerations: Rangeland Ecology & Management, v. 65, p. 330-339.Karl, J.W., Duniway, M.C., and Schrader, T.S., 2012, A Technique for Estimating Rangeland Canopy-Gap Size Distributions From High-Resolution Digital Imagery: Rangeland Ecology & Management, v. 65, p. 196-207.Browning, D.M., and Duniway, M.C., 2011, Digital soil mapping in the absence of field training data: a case study using terrain attributes and semiautomated soil signature derivation to distinguish ecological potential: Applied and Environmental Soil Science.Duniway, M.C., and Herrick, J.E., 2011, Disentangling road network impacts: the need for a holistic approach: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, v. 66, p. 31A-36A.Peters, D.P.C., Lugo, A.E., Chapin, F.S., Pickett, S.T.A., Duniway, M.C., Rocha, A.V., Swanson, F.J., Laney, C., and Jones, J., 2011, Cross-system comparisons elucidate disturbance complexities and generalities: Ecosphere, v. 2, art. 81.Schrader, T.S., and Duniway, M.C., 2011, Image Interpreter Tool: An ArcGIS tool for estimating vegetation cover from high-resolution imagery: Rangelands, v. 33, p. 35-40.Duniway, M., Herrick, J., and Monger, H., 2010, Spatial and temporal variability of plant-available water in calcium carbonate-cemented soils and consequences for arid ecosystem resilience: Oecologia, v. 163, p. 215-226.Duniway, M.C., Bestelmeyer, B.T., and Tugel, A., 2010, Soil processes and properties that distinguish ecological sites and states: Rangelands, v. 32, p. 9-15.Duniway, M.C., Snyder, K.A., and Herrick, J.E., 2010, Spatial and temporal patterns of water availability in a grass–shrub ecotone and implications for grassland recovery in arid environments: Ecohydrology, v. 3, p. 55-67.Duniway, M.C., Herrick, J.E., and Monger, H.C., 2007, The high water-holding capacity of petrocalcic horizons: Soil Science Society of America Journal, v. 71, p. 812-819.Duniway, M.C., 2006, The functional role of petrocalcic horizons in desert ecosystems: spatial and temporal dynamics of plant water availability [Ph.D. Dissertation]: New Mexico State Univeristy, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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Informing Future Decision Making on Uranium Mining in Arizona: Science for Health and Environment
The USGS is conducting research at uranium-bearing breccia pipe deposits to address data gaps related to the potential effects of uranium exploration and mining activities on the Grand Canyon watershed, its people, wildlife, and water resources. Study locations are primarily on Federal lands with a few locations on Tribal lands, and include historic and active mines.
Colorado River Basin Projects
The Colorado River Basin Actionable and Strategic Integrated Science and Technology Team has created an interactive map of USGS projects to highlight the integrated science currently conducted within the Colorado River Basin. These projects are not all inclusive of the work conducted by the USGS within the CRB, but highlight the broad range of integrated science currently conducted.
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