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Travis W Nauman, Ph.D. (Former Employee)

Science and Products

Drill rig in the distance off a dirt road in a semi-aid system

Supporting energy and mineral development through successful reclamation

Federal lands of the US contain important reserves of oil, gas and other resources important for Unleashing American Energy (SO 3418). After development of these resources is complete, successfully reclaiming disturbed lands is a necessary step towards restoring wildlife habitat, forage production, and maintaining natural resources for future use. To improve reclamation outcomes on these lands and...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center
Supporting energy and mineral development through successful reclamation

Supporting energy and mineral development through successful reclamation

Federal lands of the US contain important reserves of oil, gas and other resources important for Unleashing American Energy (SO 3418). After development of these resources is complete, successfully reclaiming disturbed lands is a necessary step towards restoring wildlife habitat, forage production, and maintaining natural resources for future use. To improve reclamation outcomes on these lands and...
Learn More
A person looks out over a panorama of Canyonlands National Park, Utah

New Tools for Modern Land Management Decisions

In an era of rapid land use changes, 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 analytical frameworks...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center, Wildland Fire Science
New Tools for Modern Land Management Decisions

New Tools for Modern Land Management Decisions

In an era of rapid land use changes, 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 analytical frameworks...
Learn More
Dust samplers near Hanksville, Utah

Wind Erosion and Dust Emissions on the Colorado Plateau

Wind erosion of soils and dust emissions are a significant resource management challenge on the Colorado Plateau. Loss of topsoil and associated aeolian sediment (wind-driven sediment) movement can lead to reduced soil fertility as well as abrasion and burial of vegetation. Dust in the atmosphere poses a threat to human health, visual resources, and regional water supplies (due to interactions...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Southwest Biological Science Center
Wind Erosion and Dust Emissions on the Colorado Plateau

Wind Erosion and Dust Emissions on the Colorado Plateau

Wind erosion of soils and dust emissions are a significant resource management challenge on the Colorado Plateau. Loss of topsoil and associated aeolian sediment (wind-driven sediment) movement can lead to reduced soil fertility as well as abrasion and burial of vegetation. Dust in the atmosphere poses a threat to human health, visual resources, and regional water supplies (due to interactions...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 15

Predicted Ecological States of the Semiarid Warm Sandy and Loamy Uplands Ecological Site Group in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Based on Vegetation Functional Group Cover Data from 2021 Predicted Ecological States of the Semiarid Warm Sandy and Loamy Uplands Ecological Site Group in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Based on Vegetation Functional Group Cover Data from 2021

This dataset provides a predictive ecological state map for the Southwest Sandy and Loamy Uplands Ecological Site Group (ESG). We developed a machine learning approach to predict ecological states by training vegetation cover data from three remotely sensed datasets—Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP), Rangeland Condition Monitoring Assessment and Projection (RCMAP), and Landscape Cover...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

Dust mass and horizontal aeolian sediment flux data from a sampler network on the Colorado Plateau, USA Dust mass and horizontal aeolian sediment flux data from a sampler network on the Colorado Plateau, USA

These data were compiled to assess time series data of aeolian sediment collections across varying climates, vegetation cover, and land uses on the Colorado Plateau. The objectives of our study were to interpret aeolian erosion and deposition processes and measure horizontal sediment flux over the span of two decades amid rapidly changing climate conditions and multiple land use changes...
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Monthly normalized scaled surface wind friction velocity in the Uinta-Piceance Basin (UT, CO) for March to October from 2001 to 2016 Monthly normalized scaled surface wind friction velocity in the Uinta-Piceance Basin (UT, CO) for March to October from 2001 to 2016

These data were compiled to conduct a study on the effect of oil and gas development on dust emission potential in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The objectives of the study were to 1) assess the effect of oil and gas development on surface roughness, and 2) model the resultant effect of oil and gas development on sediment mass flux for a range of 10-m wind speeds and threshold wind...
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Aeolian mass flux data for the Colorado Plateau Aeolian mass flux data for the Colorado Plateau

These data were compiled to measure airborne horizontal mass flux of sediments moved by wind across soils, climates, vegetation types, and land uses on the Colorado Plateau. Objectives of our study were to quantify spatial and temporal patterns in wind erosion and further our understanding of how soil and site setting, climate, and land uses are controlling wind erosion and horizontal...
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

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 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

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...
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Soil, geologic, geomorphic, climate, and vegetation data from long-term monitoring plots (2009 - 2018) in Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks, Utah, USA Soil, 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...
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Sagebrush recovery analyzed with a dynamic reference approach in southwestern Wyoming, USA 1985-2018 Sagebrush 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...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center

Soil family particle size class map for Colorado River Basin above Lake Mead Soil 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...
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Soil geomorphic unit and ecological site group maps for the rangelands of the Upper Colorado River Basin region Soil geomorphic unit and ecological site group maps for the rangelands of the Upper Colorado River Basin region

This data release includes maps characterizing soil geomorphic units (SGUs), climate zones, and ecological site groups that classify landscapes by ecological potential and behavior for use in land management in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) region. Soil geomorphic units were created by analysis and grouping of ecological sites (ESs), a more detailed local system of ecological...
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

Predictive soil property maps with prediction uncertainty at 30-meter resolution for the Colorado River Basin above Lake Mead Predictive soil property maps with prediction uncertainty at 30-meter resolution for the Colorado River Basin above Lake Mead

These data were compiled to demonstrate new predictive mapping approaches and provide comprehensive gridded 30 meter resolution soil property maps for the Colorado River Basin above Hoover Dam. Random forest models related environmental raster layers representing soil forming factors with field samples to render predictive maps that interpolate between sample locations. Maps represented...
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

Salinity yield modeling spatial data for the Upper Colorado River Basin, USA Salinity yield modeling spatial data for the Upper Colorado River Basin, USA

These data (vector and raster) were compiled for spatial modeling of salinity yield sources in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) and describe different scales of watersheds in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) for use in salinity yield modeling. Salinity yield refers to how much dissolved salts are picked up in surface waters that could be expected to be measured at the watershed...
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Predictive maps of 2D and 3D surface soil properties and associated uncertainty for the Upper Colorado River Basin, USA Predictive maps of 2D and 3D surface soil properties and associated uncertainty for the Upper Colorado River Basin, USA

The raster datasets in this data release are maps of soil surface properties that were used in analyzing different approaches for digital soil mapping. They include maps of soil pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic matter, and soil summed fine and very fine sand contents that were created using both 2D and 3D modeling strategies. For each property a map was created using both 2D and...
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center
Photo of USGS scientist Jessica Mikenas collects surface soil pH data on decommissioned well pad.
USGS scientist collects data on decommissioned well pad
USGS scientist collects data on decommissioned well pad
Photo of USGS scientist Jessica Mikenas collects surface soil pH data on decommissioned well pad.

USGS scientist collects data on decommissioned well pad

USGS scientist collects data on decommissioned well pad

USGS scientist Jessica Mikenas collects surface soil pH data on decommissioned well pad.

By
Southwest Biological Science Center, Communications and Publishing
Photo of USGS scientist Jessica Mikenas collects surface soil pH data on decommissioned well pad.

USGS scientist collects data on decommissioned well pad

USGS scientist collects data on decommissioned well pad

USGS scientist Jessica Mikenas collects surface soil pH data on decommissioned well pad.

By
Southwest Biological Science Center, Communications and Publishing
Filter Total Items: 24

Livestock removal increases plant cover across a heterogeneous dryland landscape on the Colorado Plateau Livestock removal increases plant cover across a heterogeneous dryland landscape on the Colorado Plateau

Livestock removal is increasingly used as a management option to mitigate the negative impacts of grazing-related disturbances on rangelands. Removal generally increases plant cover, but it is unclear when, where, and by how much plant and soil cover changes can be expected. On the Colorado Plateau, complex geology, topography, soils, and climate all interact to mediate the relationship...
Authors
Brandon McNellis, Anna Knight, Travis Nauman, Samuel Norton Chambers, C.W. Brungard, S.E. Fick, C.G. Livensperger, C.G. Borthwick, Michael Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center

Geologic, geomorphic, and edaphic underpinnings of dryland ecosystems: Colorado Plateau landscapes in a changing world Geologic, geomorphic, and edaphic underpinnings of dryland ecosystems: Colorado Plateau landscapes in a changing world

Drylands represent more than 41% of the global land surface and are at degradation risk due to land use and climate change. Developing strategies to mitigate degradation and restore drylands in the face of these threats requires an understanding of how drylands are shaped by not only soils and climate, but also geology and geomorphology. However, few studies have completed such a...
Authors
Michael Duniway, Christopher Benson, Travis Nauman, Anna Knight, John B. Bradford, Seth Munson, Dana Witwicki, Carolyn Livensperger, Matthew Van Scoyoc, Terry Fisk, David Thoma, Mark Miller
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

Assessing vegetation recovery from energy development using a dynamic reference approach Assessing vegetation recovery from energy development using a dynamic reference approach

Ecologically relevant references are useful for evaluating ecosystem recovery, but references that are temporally static may be less useful when environmental conditions and disturbances are spatially and temporally heterogeneous. This challenge is particularly acute for ecosystems dominated by sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), where communities may require decades to recover from disturbance...
Authors
Adrian P. Monroe, Travis Nauman, Cameron Aldridge, Michael O’Donnell, Michael Duniway, Brian Cade, Daniel Manier, Patrick Anderson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center

Guiding principles for using satellite-derived maps in rangeland management Guiding principles for using satellite-derived maps in rangeland management

On the GroundRangeland management has entered a new era with the accessibility and advancement of satellite-derived maps.Maps provide a comprehensive view of rangelands in space and time, and challenge us to think critically about natural variability.Here, we advance the practice of using satellite-derived maps with four guiding principles designed to increase end user confidence and...
Authors
Brady Allred, Megan K Creutzburg, John Carlson, Christopher Cole, Colin M. Dovichin, Michael Duniway, Matthew Jones, Jeremy Maestas, David E. Naugle, Travis Nauman, Gregory Okin, Matthew Reeves, Matthew Rigge, Shannon L Savage, Dirac Twidwell, Daniel Uden, Bo Zhou
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Southwest Biological Science Center

A quantitative soil-geomorphic framework for developing and mapping ecological site groups A quantitative soil-geomorphic framework for developing and mapping ecological site groups

Land management decisions need context about how landscapes will respond to different circumstances or actions. As ecologists’ understanding of nonlinear ecological dynamics has evolved into state-and-transition models (STMs), they have put more emphasis on defining and mapping the soil, geomorphological, and climate parameters that mediate these dynamics. The US Department of...
Authors
Travis Nauman, Samuel Burch, Joel Humphries, Anna Knight, Michael Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

What determines the effectiveness of Pinyon-Juniper clearing treatments? Evidence from the remote sensing archive and counter-factual scenarios What determines the effectiveness of Pinyon-Juniper clearing treatments? Evidence from the remote sensing archive and counter-factual scenarios

In the intermountain western US, expansion of Pinyon (Pinus edulis) and Juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodlands (PJ) into grasslands and shrublands is a pervasive phenomenon, and an example of the global trend towards enhanced woody growth in drylands. Due to the perceived impacts of these expansions on ecosystem services related to biodiversity, hydrology, soil stability, fire prevention...
Authors
Stephen E. Fick, Travis Nauman, Colby Brungard, Michael Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

Sampling design workflows and tools to support adaptive monitoring and management Sampling design workflows and tools to support adaptive monitoring and management

On the Ground• Adaptive land management requires monitoring of resource conditions, which requires choices about where and when to monitor a landscape.• Designing a sampling design for a monitoring program can be broken down in to eight steps: identifying questions, defining objectives, selecting reporting units, deciding data collection methods, defining the sample frame, selecting an...
Authors
Nelson Stauffer, Michael Duniway, Jason Karl, Travis Nauman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Southwest Biological Science Center

Regional ensemble modeling reduces uncertainty for digital soil mapping Regional ensemble modeling reduces uncertainty for digital soil mapping

Recent country and continental-scale digital soil mapping efforts have used a single model to predict soil properties across large regions. However, different ecophysiographic regions within large-extent areas are likely to have different soil-landscape relationships so models built specifically for these regions may more accurately capture these relationships relative to a ‘global’...
Authors
Colby Brungard, Travis Nauman, Michael Duniway, Kari Veblen, Kyle Nehring, David White, Shawn Salley, Julius Anchang
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

Evaluating natural experiments in ecology: Using synthetic controls in assessments of remotely sensed land treatments Evaluating natural experiments in ecology: Using synthetic controls in assessments of remotely sensed land treatments

Many important ecological phenomena occur on large spatial scales and/or are unplanned and thus do not easily fit within analytical frameworks that rely on randomization, replication, and interspersed a priori controls for statistical comparison. Analyses of such large‐scale, natural experiments are common in the health and econometrics literature, where techniques have been developed to...
Authors
Stephen Fick, Travis Nauman, Colby Brungard, Michael Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

A hybrid approach for predictive soil property mapping using conventional soil survey data A hybrid approach for predictive soil property mapping using conventional soil survey data

Soil property maps are important for land management and earth systems modeling. A new hybrid point-disaggregation predictive soil property mapping strategy improved mapping in the Colorado River Basin, and can be applied to other areas with similar data (e.g. conterminous United States). This new approach increased sample size ~6-fold over past efforts. Random forests related...
Authors
Travis Nauman, Michael Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Southwest Biological Science Center

Digital mapping of ecological land units using a nationally scalable modeling framework Digital mapping of ecological land units using a nationally scalable modeling framework

Ecological site descriptions (ESDs) and associated state-and-transition models (STMs) provide a nationally consistent classification and information system for defining ecological land units for management applications in the United States. Current spatial representations of ESDs, however, occur via soil mapping and are therefore confined to the spatial resolution used to map soils...
Authors
Jonathan Maynard, Travis Nauman, Shawn Salley, Brandon Bestelmeyer, Michael Duniway, Curtis Talbot, Joel Brown
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

Salinity yield modeling of the Upper Colorado River Basin using 30-meter resolution soil maps and random forests Salinity yield modeling of the Upper Colorado River Basin using 30-meter resolution soil maps and random forests

Salinity loading in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) costs local economies upwards of $300 million US dollars annually. Salinity source models have generally included coarse spatial data to represent non‐agriculture sources. We developed new predictive soil property and cover maps at 30 m resolution to improve source representation in salinity modeling. Salinity loading erosion risk...
Authors
Travis Nauman, Christopher P. Ely, Matthew Miller, Michael Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, California Water Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Utah Water Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Nauman, T.W., Thompson, J.A., Teets, J., Dilliplane, T., Bell, J.W., Connolly, S.J., Liebermann, H.J., & Yoast, K. 2015. Pedoecological Modeling to Guide Forest Restoration using Ecological Site Descriptions. Soil Science Society of America Journal.
Nauman, T.W., J.T. Thompson, J. Teets, T. Dilliplane, J. Bell, S.J. Connolly, H.J. Liebermann, and K. Yoast. 2015. Ghosts of the forest: mapping pedomemory to guide forest restoration. Geoderma 147-148.
Nauman, T.W., Thompson, J.A., Rasmussen, C.R. 2014. Semi-Automated Disaggregation of a Conventional Soil Map using Knowledge Driven Data Mining and Random Forests in the Sonoran Desert, USA. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing.
Nauman, T.W. and Thompson, J.A., 2014. Semi-automated disaggregation of conventional soil maps using knowledge driven data mining and classification trees. Geoderma, 213(0): 385-399.
Helmick, J.L., Nauman, T.W. Thompson, J.A. Developing and assessing prediction intervals for soil property maps derived from legacy databases. GlobalSoilMap Conference, Orleans, France. 7 to 9 October 2013
Gwilliam, E. L., K. Raymond, S. Buckley, A. Hubbard, C. McIntyre, and T. Nauman. 2014. Streams monitoring at Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot national monuments: status report for water years 2009–2011. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/SODN/NRTR—2014/871. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Nauman, T., Thompson, J.A., Odgers, N. and Libohova, Z., 2012. Fuzzy Disaggregation of Conventional Soil Maps using Database Knowledge Extraction to Produce Soil Property Maps. In: B. Minasny, B. Malone and A. McBratney (Editors), Digital Soil Assessments and Beyond: 5th Global Workshop on Digital Soil Mapping, Sydney, Australia.
Thompson, J.A., Nauman, T., Odgers, N., Libohova, Z. and Hempel, J., 2012. Harmonization of Legacy Soil Maps in North America: Status, Trends, and Implications for Digital Soil Mapping Efforts. In: A. McBratney, B. Minasny and B. Malone (Editors), The 5th Global Workshop on Digital Soil Mapping. Digital Soil Assessments and Beyond, Sydney, Australia.
Nauman T. 2010. Erosion Assessment for Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/SODN/NRTR—2010/281. Natural Resource Program Center. Fort Collins, Colorado
Hubbard, J. A., C. L. McIntyre, S. E. Studd, T. Nauman, D. Angell, K. Beaupré, B. Vance, and M. K. Connor. 2012. Terrestrial vegetation and soils monitoring protocol and standard operating procedures: Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Desert networks, version 1.1. Natural Resource Report NPS/SODN/NRR—2012/509. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado

**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.

Science and Products

Drill rig in the distance off a dirt road in a semi-aid system

Supporting energy and mineral development through successful reclamation

Federal lands of the US contain important reserves of oil, gas and other resources important for Unleashing American Energy (SO 3418). After development of these resources is complete, successfully reclaiming disturbed lands is a necessary step towards restoring wildlife habitat, forage production, and maintaining natural resources for future use. To improve reclamation outcomes on these lands and...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center
Supporting energy and mineral development through successful reclamation

Supporting energy and mineral development through successful reclamation

Federal lands of the US contain important reserves of oil, gas and other resources important for Unleashing American Energy (SO 3418). After development of these resources is complete, successfully reclaiming disturbed lands is a necessary step towards restoring wildlife habitat, forage production, and maintaining natural resources for future use. To improve reclamation outcomes on these lands and...
Learn More
A person looks out over a panorama of Canyonlands National Park, Utah

New Tools for Modern Land Management Decisions

In an era of rapid land use changes, 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 analytical frameworks...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center, Wildland Fire Science
New Tools for Modern Land Management Decisions

New Tools for Modern Land Management Decisions

In an era of rapid land use changes, 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 analytical frameworks...
Learn More
Dust samplers near Hanksville, Utah

Wind Erosion and Dust Emissions on the Colorado Plateau

Wind erosion of soils and dust emissions are a significant resource management challenge on the Colorado Plateau. Loss of topsoil and associated aeolian sediment (wind-driven sediment) movement can lead to reduced soil fertility as well as abrasion and burial of vegetation. Dust in the atmosphere poses a threat to human health, visual resources, and regional water supplies (due to interactions...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Southwest Biological Science Center
Wind Erosion and Dust Emissions on the Colorado Plateau

Wind Erosion and Dust Emissions on the Colorado Plateau

Wind erosion of soils and dust emissions are a significant resource management challenge on the Colorado Plateau. Loss of topsoil and associated aeolian sediment (wind-driven sediment) movement can lead to reduced soil fertility as well as abrasion and burial of vegetation. Dust in the atmosphere poses a threat to human health, visual resources, and regional water supplies (due to interactions...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 15

Predicted Ecological States of the Semiarid Warm Sandy and Loamy Uplands Ecological Site Group in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Based on Vegetation Functional Group Cover Data from 2021 Predicted Ecological States of the Semiarid Warm Sandy and Loamy Uplands Ecological Site Group in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Based on Vegetation Functional Group Cover Data from 2021

This dataset provides a predictive ecological state map for the Southwest Sandy and Loamy Uplands Ecological Site Group (ESG). We developed a machine learning approach to predict ecological states by training vegetation cover data from three remotely sensed datasets—Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP), Rangeland Condition Monitoring Assessment and Projection (RCMAP), and Landscape Cover...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

Dust mass and horizontal aeolian sediment flux data from a sampler network on the Colorado Plateau, USA Dust mass and horizontal aeolian sediment flux data from a sampler network on the Colorado Plateau, USA

These data were compiled to assess time series data of aeolian sediment collections across varying climates, vegetation cover, and land uses on the Colorado Plateau. The objectives of our study were to interpret aeolian erosion and deposition processes and measure horizontal sediment flux over the span of two decades amid rapidly changing climate conditions and multiple land use changes...
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Monthly normalized scaled surface wind friction velocity in the Uinta-Piceance Basin (UT, CO) for March to October from 2001 to 2016 Monthly normalized scaled surface wind friction velocity in the Uinta-Piceance Basin (UT, CO) for March to October from 2001 to 2016

These data were compiled to conduct a study on the effect of oil and gas development on dust emission potential in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The objectives of the study were to 1) assess the effect of oil and gas development on surface roughness, and 2) model the resultant effect of oil and gas development on sediment mass flux for a range of 10-m wind speeds and threshold wind...
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Aeolian mass flux data for the Colorado Plateau Aeolian mass flux data for the Colorado Plateau

These data were compiled to measure airborne horizontal mass flux of sediments moved by wind across soils, climates, vegetation types, and land uses on the Colorado Plateau. Objectives of our study were to quantify spatial and temporal patterns in wind erosion and further our understanding of how soil and site setting, climate, and land uses are controlling wind erosion and horizontal...
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

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 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

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...
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Soil, geologic, geomorphic, climate, and vegetation data from long-term monitoring plots (2009 - 2018) in Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks, Utah, USA Soil, 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...
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Sagebrush recovery analyzed with a dynamic reference approach in southwestern Wyoming, USA 1985-2018 Sagebrush 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...
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center

Soil family particle size class map for Colorado River Basin above Lake Mead Soil 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...
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Soil geomorphic unit and ecological site group maps for the rangelands of the Upper Colorado River Basin region Soil geomorphic unit and ecological site group maps for the rangelands of the Upper Colorado River Basin region

This data release includes maps characterizing soil geomorphic units (SGUs), climate zones, and ecological site groups that classify landscapes by ecological potential and behavior for use in land management in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) region. Soil geomorphic units were created by analysis and grouping of ecological sites (ESs), a more detailed local system of ecological...
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

Predictive soil property maps with prediction uncertainty at 30-meter resolution for the Colorado River Basin above Lake Mead Predictive soil property maps with prediction uncertainty at 30-meter resolution for the Colorado River Basin above Lake Mead

These data were compiled to demonstrate new predictive mapping approaches and provide comprehensive gridded 30 meter resolution soil property maps for the Colorado River Basin above Hoover Dam. Random forest models related environmental raster layers representing soil forming factors with field samples to render predictive maps that interpolate between sample locations. Maps represented...
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

Salinity yield modeling spatial data for the Upper Colorado River Basin, USA Salinity yield modeling spatial data for the Upper Colorado River Basin, USA

These data (vector and raster) were compiled for spatial modeling of salinity yield sources in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) and describe different scales of watersheds in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) for use in salinity yield modeling. Salinity yield refers to how much dissolved salts are picked up in surface waters that could be expected to be measured at the watershed...
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Predictive maps of 2D and 3D surface soil properties and associated uncertainty for the Upper Colorado River Basin, USA Predictive maps of 2D and 3D surface soil properties and associated uncertainty for the Upper Colorado River Basin, USA

The raster datasets in this data release are maps of soil surface properties that were used in analyzing different approaches for digital soil mapping. They include maps of soil pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic matter, and soil summed fine and very fine sand contents that were created using both 2D and 3D modeling strategies. For each property a map was created using both 2D and...
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center
Photo of USGS scientist Jessica Mikenas collects surface soil pH data on decommissioned well pad.
USGS scientist collects data on decommissioned well pad
USGS scientist collects data on decommissioned well pad
Photo of USGS scientist Jessica Mikenas collects surface soil pH data on decommissioned well pad.

USGS scientist collects data on decommissioned well pad

USGS scientist collects data on decommissioned well pad

USGS scientist Jessica Mikenas collects surface soil pH data on decommissioned well pad.

By
Southwest Biological Science Center, Communications and Publishing
Photo of USGS scientist Jessica Mikenas collects surface soil pH data on decommissioned well pad.

USGS scientist collects data on decommissioned well pad

USGS scientist collects data on decommissioned well pad

USGS scientist Jessica Mikenas collects surface soil pH data on decommissioned well pad.

By
Southwest Biological Science Center, Communications and Publishing
Filter Total Items: 24

Livestock removal increases plant cover across a heterogeneous dryland landscape on the Colorado Plateau Livestock removal increases plant cover across a heterogeneous dryland landscape on the Colorado Plateau

Livestock removal is increasingly used as a management option to mitigate the negative impacts of grazing-related disturbances on rangelands. Removal generally increases plant cover, but it is unclear when, where, and by how much plant and soil cover changes can be expected. On the Colorado Plateau, complex geology, topography, soils, and climate all interact to mediate the relationship...
Authors
Brandon McNellis, Anna Knight, Travis Nauman, Samuel Norton Chambers, C.W. Brungard, S.E. Fick, C.G. Livensperger, C.G. Borthwick, Michael Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center

Geologic, geomorphic, and edaphic underpinnings of dryland ecosystems: Colorado Plateau landscapes in a changing world Geologic, geomorphic, and edaphic underpinnings of dryland ecosystems: Colorado Plateau landscapes in a changing world

Drylands represent more than 41% of the global land surface and are at degradation risk due to land use and climate change. Developing strategies to mitigate degradation and restore drylands in the face of these threats requires an understanding of how drylands are shaped by not only soils and climate, but also geology and geomorphology. However, few studies have completed such a...
Authors
Michael Duniway, Christopher Benson, Travis Nauman, Anna Knight, John B. Bradford, Seth Munson, Dana Witwicki, Carolyn Livensperger, Matthew Van Scoyoc, Terry Fisk, David Thoma, Mark Miller
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

Assessing vegetation recovery from energy development using a dynamic reference approach Assessing vegetation recovery from energy development using a dynamic reference approach

Ecologically relevant references are useful for evaluating ecosystem recovery, but references that are temporally static may be less useful when environmental conditions and disturbances are spatially and temporally heterogeneous. This challenge is particularly acute for ecosystems dominated by sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), where communities may require decades to recover from disturbance...
Authors
Adrian P. Monroe, Travis Nauman, Cameron Aldridge, Michael O’Donnell, Michael Duniway, Brian Cade, Daniel Manier, Patrick Anderson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center

Guiding principles for using satellite-derived maps in rangeland management Guiding principles for using satellite-derived maps in rangeland management

On the GroundRangeland management has entered a new era with the accessibility and advancement of satellite-derived maps.Maps provide a comprehensive view of rangelands in space and time, and challenge us to think critically about natural variability.Here, we advance the practice of using satellite-derived maps with four guiding principles designed to increase end user confidence and...
Authors
Brady Allred, Megan K Creutzburg, John Carlson, Christopher Cole, Colin M. Dovichin, Michael Duniway, Matthew Jones, Jeremy Maestas, David E. Naugle, Travis Nauman, Gregory Okin, Matthew Reeves, Matthew Rigge, Shannon L Savage, Dirac Twidwell, Daniel Uden, Bo Zhou
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Southwest Biological Science Center

A quantitative soil-geomorphic framework for developing and mapping ecological site groups A quantitative soil-geomorphic framework for developing and mapping ecological site groups

Land management decisions need context about how landscapes will respond to different circumstances or actions. As ecologists’ understanding of nonlinear ecological dynamics has evolved into state-and-transition models (STMs), they have put more emphasis on defining and mapping the soil, geomorphological, and climate parameters that mediate these dynamics. The US Department of...
Authors
Travis Nauman, Samuel Burch, Joel Humphries, Anna Knight, Michael Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

What determines the effectiveness of Pinyon-Juniper clearing treatments? Evidence from the remote sensing archive and counter-factual scenarios What determines the effectiveness of Pinyon-Juniper clearing treatments? Evidence from the remote sensing archive and counter-factual scenarios

In the intermountain western US, expansion of Pinyon (Pinus edulis) and Juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodlands (PJ) into grasslands and shrublands is a pervasive phenomenon, and an example of the global trend towards enhanced woody growth in drylands. Due to the perceived impacts of these expansions on ecosystem services related to biodiversity, hydrology, soil stability, fire prevention...
Authors
Stephen E. Fick, Travis Nauman, Colby Brungard, Michael Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

Sampling design workflows and tools to support adaptive monitoring and management Sampling design workflows and tools to support adaptive monitoring and management

On the Ground• Adaptive land management requires monitoring of resource conditions, which requires choices about where and when to monitor a landscape.• Designing a sampling design for a monitoring program can be broken down in to eight steps: identifying questions, defining objectives, selecting reporting units, deciding data collection methods, defining the sample frame, selecting an...
Authors
Nelson Stauffer, Michael Duniway, Jason Karl, Travis Nauman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Southwest Biological Science Center

Regional ensemble modeling reduces uncertainty for digital soil mapping Regional ensemble modeling reduces uncertainty for digital soil mapping

Recent country and continental-scale digital soil mapping efforts have used a single model to predict soil properties across large regions. However, different ecophysiographic regions within large-extent areas are likely to have different soil-landscape relationships so models built specifically for these regions may more accurately capture these relationships relative to a ‘global’...
Authors
Colby Brungard, Travis Nauman, Michael Duniway, Kari Veblen, Kyle Nehring, David White, Shawn Salley, Julius Anchang
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

Evaluating natural experiments in ecology: Using synthetic controls in assessments of remotely sensed land treatments Evaluating natural experiments in ecology: Using synthetic controls in assessments of remotely sensed land treatments

Many important ecological phenomena occur on large spatial scales and/or are unplanned and thus do not easily fit within analytical frameworks that rely on randomization, replication, and interspersed a priori controls for statistical comparison. Analyses of such large‐scale, natural experiments are common in the health and econometrics literature, where techniques have been developed to...
Authors
Stephen Fick, Travis Nauman, Colby Brungard, Michael Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

A hybrid approach for predictive soil property mapping using conventional soil survey data A hybrid approach for predictive soil property mapping using conventional soil survey data

Soil property maps are important for land management and earth systems modeling. A new hybrid point-disaggregation predictive soil property mapping strategy improved mapping in the Colorado River Basin, and can be applied to other areas with similar data (e.g. conterminous United States). This new approach increased sample size ~6-fold over past efforts. Random forests related...
Authors
Travis Nauman, Michael Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Southwest Biological Science Center

Digital mapping of ecological land units using a nationally scalable modeling framework Digital mapping of ecological land units using a nationally scalable modeling framework

Ecological site descriptions (ESDs) and associated state-and-transition models (STMs) provide a nationally consistent classification and information system for defining ecological land units for management applications in the United States. Current spatial representations of ESDs, however, occur via soil mapping and are therefore confined to the spatial resolution used to map soils...
Authors
Jonathan Maynard, Travis Nauman, Shawn Salley, Brandon Bestelmeyer, Michael Duniway, Curtis Talbot, Joel Brown
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Southwest Biological Science Center

Salinity yield modeling of the Upper Colorado River Basin using 30-meter resolution soil maps and random forests Salinity yield modeling of the Upper Colorado River Basin using 30-meter resolution soil maps and random forests

Salinity loading in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) costs local economies upwards of $300 million US dollars annually. Salinity source models have generally included coarse spatial data to represent non‐agriculture sources. We developed new predictive soil property and cover maps at 30 m resolution to improve source representation in salinity modeling. Salinity loading erosion risk...
Authors
Travis Nauman, Christopher P. Ely, Matthew Miller, Michael Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, California Water Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Utah Water Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Nauman, T.W., Thompson, J.A., Teets, J., Dilliplane, T., Bell, J.W., Connolly, S.J., Liebermann, H.J., & Yoast, K. 2015. Pedoecological Modeling to Guide Forest Restoration using Ecological Site Descriptions. Soil Science Society of America Journal.
Nauman, T.W., J.T. Thompson, J. Teets, T. Dilliplane, J. Bell, S.J. Connolly, H.J. Liebermann, and K. Yoast. 2015. Ghosts of the forest: mapping pedomemory to guide forest restoration. Geoderma 147-148.
Nauman, T.W., Thompson, J.A., Rasmussen, C.R. 2014. Semi-Automated Disaggregation of a Conventional Soil Map using Knowledge Driven Data Mining and Random Forests in the Sonoran Desert, USA. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing.
Nauman, T.W. and Thompson, J.A., 2014. Semi-automated disaggregation of conventional soil maps using knowledge driven data mining and classification trees. Geoderma, 213(0): 385-399.
Helmick, J.L., Nauman, T.W. Thompson, J.A. Developing and assessing prediction intervals for soil property maps derived from legacy databases. GlobalSoilMap Conference, Orleans, France. 7 to 9 October 2013
Gwilliam, E. L., K. Raymond, S. Buckley, A. Hubbard, C. McIntyre, and T. Nauman. 2014. Streams monitoring at Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot national monuments: status report for water years 2009–2011. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/SODN/NRTR—2014/871. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Nauman, T., Thompson, J.A., Odgers, N. and Libohova, Z., 2012. Fuzzy Disaggregation of Conventional Soil Maps using Database Knowledge Extraction to Produce Soil Property Maps. In: B. Minasny, B. Malone and A. McBratney (Editors), Digital Soil Assessments and Beyond: 5th Global Workshop on Digital Soil Mapping, Sydney, Australia.
Thompson, J.A., Nauman, T., Odgers, N., Libohova, Z. and Hempel, J., 2012. Harmonization of Legacy Soil Maps in North America: Status, Trends, and Implications for Digital Soil Mapping Efforts. In: A. McBratney, B. Minasny and B. Malone (Editors), The 5th Global Workshop on Digital Soil Mapping. Digital Soil Assessments and Beyond, Sydney, Australia.
Nauman T. 2010. Erosion Assessment for Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/SODN/NRTR—2010/281. Natural Resource Program Center. Fort Collins, Colorado
Hubbard, J. A., C. L. McIntyre, S. E. Studd, T. Nauman, D. Angell, K. Beaupré, B. Vance, and M. K. Connor. 2012. Terrestrial vegetation and soils monitoring protocol and standard operating procedures: Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Desert networks, version 1.1. Natural Resource Report NPS/SODN/NRR—2012/509. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado

**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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