Kevin Doherty

Biome-wide sagebrush core habitat and growth areas estimated from a threat-based conservation design

These data were compiled as a part of a landscape conservation design effort for the sagebrush biome, and are the result of applying a spatially explicit model that assessed geographic patterns in sagebrush ecological integrity and used these results to identify Core Sagebrush Areas (CSAs), Growth Opportunity Areas (GOAs), and Other Rangeland Areas (ORAs). Our overall objective in this study was to characterize geographic patterns in ecological integrity of sagebrush ecosystems. These data represent the estimated integrity of sagebrush ecosystems, estimated from a spatial model that assigns high integrity is areas with abundant big sagebrush and perennial grass/forb cover and with minimal annual grass/forb cover,...

Tags: Arizona, Botany, California, Climatology, Colorado, All tags... Ecology, Geography, Idaho, Information Sciences, Land Use Change, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Remote Sensing, South Dakota, USGS Science Data Catalog (SDC), Utah, Washington, Wildlife Biology, Wyoming, biogeography, biota, climate change, conservation, conservation design, core sagebrush areas, data release, ecological integrity, ecological processes, ecosystem resilience, environment, geographic patterns, growth areas, growth opportunity areas, habitats, human impacts, human modification, natural resource management, other rangeland areas, overlay, quantitative data, remediation, remote sensing, restoration, sagebrush biome, temporal scale, time series datasets, western United States, wildlife habitat, Fewer tags

Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) Breeding Habitat or Breeding Distribution Models, Thresholded at 0.65 - Clipped to Current Occupied Range (US FWS 2015) by Management Zone (MZ) -- All MZs

This data set represents modeled Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) Breeding Habitat or Breeding Distribution. Models, built with collaboration from WAFWA, are meant to be used as metrics for subsequent risk analyses and general GIS queries. Modeled data developed by US FWS Kevin Doherty et al. 2015. Model outputs clipped to Current Occupied Range (US FWS 2015). These data were thresholded at 0.65. Values of 1 represent probabilities >= 0.65, while values of 0 represent probabilities < 0.65. GRSG Breeding Habitat models built within Management Zones because wide variation exists in occupied habitats across the range, and risks to sage-grouse vary across Management Zones. Lek data assembled by WAFWA was used to develop...

Categories: Data; Types: Raster

Oil and gas development potential in the US Intermountain West

We created a probabilistic classification model using the nonparametric machine learning technique 'Random Forests' for oil and gas development potential from low (0) to high (1) across the western US. The six predictor variables used in the model were: geophysical data showing aeromagnetic, isostatic gravity, and Bouguer gravity anomalies, geology, topography and bedrock depth. Our binary response variable was geospatial point data on producing and non-producing oil and gas wells. Our estimates provide insights into the trajectory and eventual endpoint of oil and gas development, but the rate and exact location of development will be subject to additional factors not considered such as market demand, the capacity...

Tags: Energy, Greater sage grouse, USGS Science Data Catalog (SDC), Western United States, oil and gas potential

The sagebrush ecosystem spans over 175 million acres in the western United States, and is biologically, culturally, and economically significant to the country. Many disturbances including prolonged drought, pinyon-juniper encroachment, and cycles of invasive grasses and wildfire, pose significant threats to the resilience of the sagebrush biome. To conserve the sagebrush biome and promote community and economic sustainability, the Department of the Interior’s bureaus and offices are working together with many public and private partners to implement a “defend and grow the core” approach to conserve remaining intact sagebrush habitat and ecosystem functions, as well as restore other habitat types which are important...

Types: Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service; Tags: California, Colorado, Conservation, Ecology, Idaho, All tags... Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rangeland, Restoration, Sagebrush, USGS Science Data Catalog (SDC), Utah, Wyoming, biota, ecosystems, environment, natural resource management, terrestrial ecosystems, western United States, Fewer tags

Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) Breeding Habitat or Breeding Distribution Models - Clipped to Current Occupied Range (US FWS 2015) by Management Zone (MZ) -- All MZs

This data set represents modeled Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) Breeding Habitat or Breeding Distribution. Modeled data developed by US FWS Kevin Doherty et al. 2015. Model outputs clipped to Current Occupied Range (US FWS 2015). GRSG Breeding Habitat models built within Management Zones because wide variation exists in occupied habitats across the range, and risks to sage-grouse vary across Management Zones. Lek data assembled by WAFWA was used to develop the breeding habitat model. Detailed model outputs were reviewed by biologist from each state, including statistical tables of model fit and how predictions aligned with landscapes local biologist work in. A probabilistic model of occupied breeding habitat was developed...

Types: Citation; Tags: Breeding Distribution, Breeding Habitat, GRSG, Greater Sage-Grouse, MZ VII