Science Committee

The science committee is made up of a diverse group of scientists and individuals with a strong interest in science.  This group includes individuals from public land management agencies, University of Nevada Reno, Utah State University, other non profits affiliated with the Coalition including The Nature Conservancy and Coalition Board members who have a strong interest in research.  The science committee outlines baseline data requirements, is in the process of identifying what data has already been collected, and in what areas additional data should be collected to properly monitor projects affiliated with Coalition's mission. 

There are consequences of doing nothing in natural resource management.  What are they? 

ENLC scientists produced a white paper entitled "The Consequences of Doing Nothing", which discusses the history of the eastern Nevada landscape and how past management has brought us to this point.  Also discussed are the consequences of doing nothing, and the forecast is catastrophic given the ecological conditions and threats from invasive species.  This paper was published in Rangelands, The Society for Range Management this past year.

Recent Projects that involved the Science Committee.

The Efroymson Conference - This report was provided to the BLM by the Coalition's partner, The Nature Conservancy of Nevada, to highlight management needs for the Bureau of Land Management Ely District.  Report   

MEMORANDUM

DATE: 21 May, 2003

FROM: Louis Provencher, Director of Conservation Ecology, The Nature Conservancy

TO: Ely Efroymson Workshop Participants

RE: Addendum – Wild horse corrections for the “Antelope & North Spring Valleys, Steptoe Valley & Uplands, Newark Valley Extended Watershed, and Meadow Valley Wash & Uplands

Conservation Area Assessment Executive Summary”

BLM staff identified a few errors concerning wild horses in the Efroymson executive summary. Although these errors were minor and do not affect the results and conclusions of the summary, you will find below the page number of the error and new paragraph. The modified line is underlined or shown with the strike-through font for deletions.

p. 28

Feral livestock (wild horses and cattle) contribute to excessive herbivory and alteration of plant species composition. The existing herd management areas and plans have allowed the BLM to periodically gather wild horses in Meadow Valley, Newark, and Antelope. Wild horses are managed for only in a small part of Steptoe on Telegraph Peak and immediately south in the Egan Range. Because wild horses continually graze areas near water sources, they have a great impact on of native grasses and forbs, especially during the last three years of drought. Unlike domestic livestock, wild horses do not follow a rest-rotation system.

p. 31.

“Historic” pinyon-juniper ecological sites are occasionally grazed. Livestock, wild horses, and elk generally will not be found in these unproductive and usually steep areas. It was pointed out that livestock will resort to grazing woodlands when forage has been exhausted elsewhere. Livestock may also use the old trees for shade during the summer, thus causing heavier localized grazing. Wild horses also tend to use trees for escape and thermal and shade cover. Their heavy use of trees has proven to be very challenging during gathering. Given that grass production is low, we do not expect a long residence time in woodlands.

Page 34& 35 new

The problem of feral livestock, primarily wild horses, but also cattle, is described above; however, it impacts springs and creeks more so than other systems. For wild horses, springs and outflow creeks are their main sources of drinking water, which they use heavily during hot weather. These animals visit these areas frequently, and visitation rates and duration have increased during the current drought. Travel for forage becomes impossible because animals must return to those water sources that have not dried up. As a result, many wild horses have been observed to stay at springs while becoming weakened by starvation. This problem is more acute closer to the Mojave Desert in Meadow Valley. Also, wild horses tend to set up territories and may dominate springs and creeks thus keeping wildlife from accessing these areas during the hottest times of the year. Frequent prolonged visits have caused excessive trampling of spring sediments and vegetation, and modification of basin and creek channel morphology.

The growth of the introduced elk population has increased over-utilization and trampling of springs and creeks. The phenomenon is more prevalent in the northern areas, such as in the Red Hills of Antelope Valley. The existing elk management plan allows for the growth of the elk population up to the specified limit.

Two important non-native invasive species inhabit springs and outflow creeks: tamarisk and tall whitetop (Lepidium latifolium). Other non-natives, such as Canada thistle (Circium arvense), musk thistle (Carduus nutans), and Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens), are occasional in northern areas. Tamarisk is found in many, if not most springs of Meadow Valley as revealed by a recent BLM survey. Tamarisk is also found in more northern springs (e.g., Tippett Spring). The small seeds of this species can spread by wind over long distances and germinate at new sites. They dry up springs because they access deep water and have high evapotranspiration rates. The severity of spring water withdrawal by tamarisk is expected to increase with time as the numerous tamarisk saplings occupying the spring areas grow. The detection of tall whitetop has been on the increase from Meadow Valley to the Elko County boundary. Tall whitetop colonizes upper banks of creek and riparian corridors. It can rapidly dominate, and is known to replace native vegetation with time. Other than water-labeled herbicides and goat grazing, we do not know of other forms of control for tall whitetop.

The four assessment areas have extensive water diversions with many springs having diversions at the spring’s source. Alternative forms of spring management that allow for ecological integrity and water diversion lower downstream would diminish this source of stress (Sada et al. 2001).

Inappropriate grazing practices affect springs and their creeks similarly to wild horses and elk use. During hot weather, livestock will drink a large volume of water. The main difference between wild horses, elk, and livestock use is that the latter are easier to regulate by allotment management, alternative water supply devices, and fencing spring sources.

Page 43:

The alpine is a spatially limited conservation target above treeline. It consists of Ward Mountain in the Egan Range and a few other high peaks in the Schell Creek Range. This conservation targets was found to have the best viability (Table 6.1). The size is very good because it has not been converted to other land uses. The condition is good because, despite its remoteness, species composition has been affected by sheep and wild horse grazing. Road and trail access has created some habitat disturbance. Landscape context is good because, although wind and snow still shape the community, the historic loss of bighorn sheep and replacement by more abundant livestock and wild horses was perceived as an alteration of natural processes.

Page 49:

The introduction of fire-adapted invasives is a low level threat to winterfat communities (Table 4.4). However, this was not considered as important a threat as the invasion by opportunistic plants such as halogeton, which once established, exclude winterfat without some control treatment. Historical overuse (livestock overgrazing) on the western side of the Pancake Range has resulted in a condition which is only fair with reduced cover by the dominant winterfat. Current livestock management allows the winterfat range to improve; however, recovery to its earlier condition may require decades. Another concern is the year round presence of wild horses even considering a herd’s tendency to move seasonally. Winterfat is susceptible to continual grazing. All winterfat communities are showing affects of drought degrading condition and impeding recovery; however, east of the Pancake Range, it is the wild horses that are the more contributory source of stress.

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