Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU

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The goal of this project is to promote cooperation between the USGS and CESU Universities to evaluate spatial modeling of natural and cultural resources for a multitude of projects in the Mojave Desert. For example, this spatial modeling effort will be used to evaluate sensitive resources and increasing human impacts in Gold Butte Desert Wildlife Management Area in Lincoln County, Nevada. The purpose of these studies is to document cultural resources, habitat for sensitive species, and major vegetation communities in order to prepare an integrated management plan for Gold Butte. These studies will be critical in informing planning decisions regarding sensitive species management, recreation, law enforcement, travel management, and other programs in Gold Butte. This project will provide research, technical assistance and education to federal land managers and their partners to model potential habitat for a variety of sensitive species including plants, reptiles, and birds in the Mojave Desert. The modeling will require GIS information that is geospatially rectified portraying biological, physical, and social data layers. Quality assurance and control (QA/QC) will be an important part of preparing data layers for use in these analyses and for comparison with current work

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