Bureau Of Land Management Research Articles

A double-sampling approach to deriving training and validation data for remotely-sensed vegetation products

The need for large sample sizes to train, calibrate, and validate remote-sensing products has driven an emphasis towards rapid, and in many cases qualitative, field methods. Double-sampling is an option for calibrating less precise field measurements with data from a more precise method collected at a subset of sampling locations. While applicable to the creation of training and validation datasets for remote-sensing products, double-sampling has rarely been used in this context. Our objective was to compare vegetation indicators developed from a rapid qualitative (i.e. ocular estimation) field protocol with the quantitative field protocol used by the Bureau of Land Management’s Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) programme to determine whether double-sampling could be used to adjust the qualitative estimates to improve the relationship between rapidly collected field data and high-resolution satellite imagery. We used beta regression to establish the relationship between the quantitative and qualitative estimates of vegetation cover from 50 field sites in the Piceance Basin of northwestern Colorado, USA. Using the defined regression models for eight vegetation indicators we adjusted the qualitative estimates and compared the results, along with the original measurements, to 5 m-resolution RapidEye satellite imagery. We found good correlation between quantitative and ocular estimates for dominant site components such as shrub cover and bare ground, but low correlations for minor site components (e.g. annual grass cover) or indicators where observers were required to estimate over multiple life forms (e.g. total canopy cover). Using the beta-regression models to adjust the qualitative estimates with the quantitative data significantly improved correlation with the RapidEye imagery for most indicators. As a means of improving training data for remote-sensing projects, double-sampling should be used where a strong relationship exists between quantitative and qualitative field techniques. Accordingly, ocular techniques should be used only when they can generate reliable estimates of vegetation cover.

The Administrative Presidency and Public Lands Regulatory Change

DOI 10.1515/cjpp-2013-0045 Calif. J. Politics Policy 2014; 6(1): 103–125 Charles Davis* and Zachary Wurtzebach The Administrative Presidency and Public Lands Regulatory Change Abstract: This research focuses on the efforts taken by recent Presidents to alter the direction of several federal land policies administered by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service through rulemaking processes. Of par- ticular concern here are three programs – the hardrock mining program under BLM’s jurisdiction, the grazing program managed by both agencies, and the Forest Service’s handling of the roadless area policy. An examination of these regulations reveals far reaching differences when compared with earlier versions of these rules developed under President Clinton. From a substantive policy per- spective, all three regulations were designed to increase natural resource produc- tion under Bush while the rules initiated by Clinton and Obama placed greater emphasis on environmental conservation. Thus, Presidents will occasionally stretch the boundaries of statutory interpretation to maximize regulatory policy impact. However, this strategy is also accompanied by a degree of political risk since groups opposed to new rules may react by mounting legal challenges in the federal courts. Keywords: administrative presidency; natural resources; public lands; regulation. *Corresponding author: Charles Davis, Political Science, Colorado State University, B351 Clark Bldg, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA; and 6513 Fossil Crest, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA, e-mail: charles.davis@colostate.edu Zachary Wurtzebach: Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA 1 Introduction America’s federal lands covers over 700 million acres of mountains, prairies, rangelands, swamps, and deserts throughout the US. Much of the public land acreage is administered by two agencies, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) located within the US Department of Interior and the Forest Service (USFS) located within the US Department of Agriculture. Each agency has adopted

The Political History of Hydraulic Fracturing’s Expansion Across the West

DOI 10.1515/cjpp-2013-0041 Calif. J. Politics Policy 2014; 6(1): 153–186 Robert E. Forbis Jr* The Political History of Hydraulic Fracturing’s Expansion Across the West Abstract: This article presents an historical-based analysis of how executive branch actions altered federal domestic energy policies and the effect of that shift on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) domestic energy policies and resource alloca- tions. The analysis is supported by interview data collected from among Department of Interior officials who served during the Bush-Cheney administration as well as BLM administrators located in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. The analy- sis and interviews were conducted at the close of President Bush’s tenure in office (2008–2009). The article includes an analysis of archival and government documents describing executive branch actions directing the BLM to favor the energy develop- ment industry’s use of the hydraulic fracturing development process. First, these events are presented chronologically to illustrate how a president and his executive appointees established changes to federal energy policies at the agency level that led to the reallocation of resources favoring domestic energy development. Second, an interpretive analysis of the interview data is presented as a means of validating the initial, document-based analysis. As the article concludes, documents as well as the voices of those most closely involved in the policymaking process confirm that executive branch actions shifted federal domestic energy policies, which then resulted in increased numbers and types of federal development projects using the hydraulic fracturing and directional drilling energy resource development process expanded rapidly across the states of the Rocky Mountain West. Keywords: Bureau of land management; energy policy; environmental policy; executive branch; ­hydraulic fracturing; subgovernment theory. *Corresponding author: Robert E. Forbis Jr, Texas Tech University, Political Science, P.O. Box 41015, Lubbock, TX 79409-1015, USA, Tel.: 806-742-4047, Fax: 806-742-0850, e-mail: robert.forbis@ttu.edu 1 T he Political Will-Power to Achieve a Domestic Policy Objective Prior to being sworn in President George W. Bush announced his first nomina- tion to oversee the federal energy-related administrative agencies. In December of

Monitoring of Livestock Grazing Effects on Bureau of Land Management Land

Public land management agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), are charged with managing rangelands throughout the western United States for multiple uses, such as livestock grazing and conservation of sensitive species and their habitats. Monitoring of condition and trends of these rangelands, particularly with respect to effects of livestock grazing, provides critical information for effective management of these multiuse landscapes. We therefore investigated the availability of livestock grazing-related quantitative monitoring data and qualitative region-specific Land Health Standards (LHS) data across BLM grazing allotments in the western United States. We then queried university and federal rangeland science experts about how best to prioritize rangeland monitoring activities. We found that the most commonly available monitoring data were permittee-reported livestock numbers and season-of-use data (71% of allotments) followed by repeat photo points (58%), estimates of forage utilization (52%), and, finally, quantitative vegetation measurements (37%). Of the 57% of allotments in which LHS had been evaluated as of 2007, the BLM indicated 15% had failed to meet LHS due to livestock grazing. A full complement of all types of monitoring data, however, existed for only 27% of those 15%. Our data inspections, as well as conversations with rangeland experts, indicated a need for greater emphasis on collection of grazing-related monitoring data, particularly ground cover. Prioritization of where monitoring activities should be focused, along with creation of regional monitoring teams, may help improve monitoring. Overall, increased emphasis on monitoring of BLM rangelands will require commitment at multiple institutional levels.

AN ECONOMIC MODEL DEMONSTRATING THE LONG-TERM COST BENEFITS OF INCORPORATING FERTILITY CONTROL INTO WILD HORSE (EQUUS CABALLUS) MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS ON PUBLIC LANDS IN THE UNITED STATES

In recent years, the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Management program costs have increased dramatically due to a rise in the number of animals removed from public lands coupled with significantly decreased adoption rates. To assist with development and implementation of effective, cost-containing management programs, a robust economic model to project the costs and optimize outcomes of various management scenarios was created. For example, preliminary demonstration model runs show that by gradually replacing "removal-only" programs with contraception-and-removal programs on one hypothetical Herd Management Area (HMA), the BLM could save about US$8 million over 12 years while maintaining an area target population of 874 horses. Because the BLM estimates that more than 38,000 wild horses roam on 179 HMAs in the United States, the use of this economic model could result in a cost-savings of tens of millions of dollars if applied broadly across all HMAs.

Catalytic Pyrolysis of Pinyon–Juniper Using Red Mud and HZSM-5

Pinyon and juniper are invasive woody species in the western United States that occupy over 30 million hectares of land. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has embarked on harvesting these woody species to make room for range grasses for grazing. The major application of harvested pinyon–juniper (PJ) is low-value firewood. Thus, there is a need to develop new high value products from this woody biomass to reduce the cost of harvesting. We investigated the fractional catalytic pyrolysis of PJ using both HZSM-5 catalyst and red mud at 475 °C in a fluidized bed reactor at atmospheric pressure. Both the HZSM-5 and the red mud were effective catalysts for producing low-viscosity pyrolysis oils. Oils that were catalyzed with red mud had a lower viscosity (96 cP @40 °C) than oils that were catalyzed with HZSM-5 (213 cP @40 °C). In both cases, the yields of liquids ranged from 42 wt % to 49 wt %. The mechanisms of catalysis by the two catalysts were quite different. The HZSM-5 rejected oxygen mostly as carbon monoxide (CO) and produced lower amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2); in contrast, the red mud produced more CO2 and less CO. However, both catalysts produced similar amounts of water. The char/coke yields from both catalysts were similar but the total gas yields were slightly different. The higher heating value of the red mud catalyzed oil (HHV = 29.46 MJ/kg) was slightly higher than that catalyzed by HZSM-5 (HHV = 28.55 MJ/kg). Thus, red mud can be used to achieve similar catalytic pyrolysis results as HZSM-5 catalysts.

Opinions Toward Using Volunteers in Ecological Restoration: A Survey of Federal Land Managers

AbstractLand managers use a variety of labor sources to implement ecological restoration projects. Reasons why these land managers decide to use or not use volunteer labor are not well known; yet, this decision can significantly shape ensuing social, psychological, and ecological benefits. To better understand how land managers' opinions influence their intentions toward using volunteers, we surveyed ecological restoration project decision makers (n = 176) from three U.S. land management agencies (the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service) in Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming using stratified random cluster sampling. Employing the Theory of Planned Behavior, we measured factors that likely influence intention to use volunteers, including land managers' attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC). We used multiple regression analysis to understand the relationships among constructs, which indicated PBC was the strongest predictor of intention. Based upon intention to use volunteers, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed differences among land managers in terms of (1) their opinions about building community support and accomplishing more work, (2) the influence of supervisors, coworkers, and environmental groups, and (3) their perceived barriers due to a lack of trained volunteers and a lack of tasks safe for volunteers. Our results suggest environmental stewardship organizations and others that want to increase the use of ecological restoration volunteers should find ways to alleviate employees' perceived barriers, encourage supervisors to advocate for using volunteers, and when possible provide tangible information demonstrating how using volunteers can generate community support for a restoration project.

The Birth, Death, and Afterlife of the Wild Lands Policy: The Evolution of the Bureau of Land Management's Authority to Protect Wilderness Values

Since the passage of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) in 1976, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has had a troubled relationship with wild lands, the nation’s last remaining places with wilderness characteristics. While for twenty five years BLM recognized wilderness values as a resource it must balance and could stringently protect consistent with the multiple use mandate, in 2003 the agency largely disclaimed that interpretation, potentially imperiling future protection of wild lands yet undesignated as wilderness or wilderness study areas. Since then, the agency has made incremental – but potentially powerful – steps toward reclaiming a view of its authority that could afford more protection for yet-undesignated wild lands. Although BLM’s current policy does not authorize strong “default” protection for wild lands as before, it does direct the agency to survey and consider wild lands in all land plans and project approvals. This article traces the evolution of BLM’s interpretation of its duty and authority under FLPMA to manage lands with wilderness characteristics. The article concludes that, while over time BLM’s view of its responsibility toward yet-undesignated wilderness has narrowed, the recent controversial Wild Lands Policy and ensuing agency guidance re-acknowledge wilderness values as a legitimate FLPMA resource to be protected. It remains to be seen if and how the agency will use its reclaimed authority to meaningfully protect the nation’s remaining vulnerable wild lands.

New National Academy of Sciences Report: Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program: A Way Forward

Anew report from the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences nds that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) could implement constructive changes to its manage- ment of free-ranging horses and burros on federal public lands in the western United States. The report, Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program: A Way Forward,1 reviews the science underpinning BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program and identi es tools that already exist that could be used to better manage horses and burros on healthy ecosystems, enhance public engagement and con- dence, and make the program more nancially sustainable. DOI: 10.2458/azu_rangelands_v35i4_laney

Going Big

AbstractIn 2008, the Carlsbad Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) made a fundamental change in how they work with the energy industry in the Permian Basin of southeastern New Mexico, one of the nation's busiest “oil patches.” Through a collaborative effort that involved the Bureau of Land Management, the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Officer, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, and industry representatives, they developed and implemented the Permian Basin Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). This agreement allows energy development proponents to contribute funds to archaeological research in lieu of spending an equivalent amount of money on traditional archaeological field survey. The mitigation program governs how BLM addresses long-term damage and cumulative impacts to archaeological resources as new development proceeds in the Permian Basin MOA area. Now in its fifth year, the program has succeeded in key ways: industry has gained control over schedules and time, while archaeologists have gained control over where and how they do archaeology. Key lessons have been learned along the way: The funding mechanisms of the program work well, but doing archaeology through a collaborative working group takes a lot of time and energy.

The Nation's Largest Landlord: The Bureau of Land Management in the American West. By James R. Skillen. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2009. xvi + 297 pp. Illustrations, maps, appendices, notes, bibliography, and index. Cloth $39.95.

Previous articleNext article No AccessBOOK REVIEWSThe Nation's Largest Landlord: The Bureau of Land Management in the American West. By James R. Skillen. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2009. xvi + 297 pp. Illustrations, maps, appendices, notes, bibliography, and index. Cloth $39.95.James G. LewisJames G. Lewis Forest History Society Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Volume 18, Number 4October 2013 Published for the American Society for Environmental History and the Forest History Society Views: 2Total views on this site Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1093/envhis/emt090 Views: 2Total views on this site HistoryPublished online July 29, 2013 © 2013 The Author. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Life History and Demography ofAstragalus microcymbusBarneby (Fabaceae)

ABSTRACT Astragalus microcymbus (Fabaceae) is a rare forb endemic to Gunnison County, Colorado. For 17 years, Denver Botanic Gardens and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (Colorado State Office) have monitored four populations of this candidate species under the ESA in the South Beaver Creek Natural Area. Large, statistically significant population declines have been documented, as have prolonged dormancy, episodic fruit production, and herbivory. This study was initiated to learn about the life history of this rare species, determine the population trends, and examine management actions that will best support long-term survival of this species. Results indicate that while Astragalus microcymbus is declining in overall population size, it is following a large time scale cyclical pattern of growth and decline. Additional study is needed to fully understand the mechanisms driving mast seeding, prolonged dormancy, and population trends in this rare species.

Drilling on Publicly Owned Land

This article covers three recent court opinions dealing with drilling on state and federal land: two in Pennsylvania and one in California. In Minard Run Oil Co., v. U.S. Forest Service, a Third Circuit decision, private entities owned the subsurface rights, while the federal government owned and managed the surface rights. Belden & Blake v. DCNR, a PA Supreme Court decision, pitted the right of access by the owner of an oil and gas estate underlying a state park against the authority of a state agency to regulate and protect surface use. The article then contrasts those holdings with a recent California case, Center for Biological Diversity v. Bureau of Land Management, in which the government owned both the surface and the oil/gas in part of Central California’s Monterey Shale Formation.

Long-term effects of chaining treatments on vegetation structure in piñon–juniper woodlands of the Colorado Plateau

Over the last half-century a range of methods have been utilized to reduce trees and shrubs in order to reduce wildfire risk and promote herbaceous vegetation to support livestock and wildlife. We examined the long-term (20–40year) effects of past tree-reduction treatments on vegetation and ground cover in piñon–juniper woodlands, which is the third most extensive vegetation type in the continental United States. Tree-reduction treatments were conducted between 1963 and 1988 in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah by the US Bureau of Land Management and involved chaining followed by seeding to remove trees and often shrubs. Treatments were effective at increasing perennial grass cover and reducing tree cover over multiple decades. The increase in perennial grass cover was predominantly due to a nonnative species that was seeded, Agropyron cristatum (crested wheatgrass). Surface fuel loads were nearly twice as high in treated areas, likely changing fire behavior and increasing habitat complexity. Treated areas had higher bare mineral soil cover and lower biocrust cover, which may influence soil erosional processes. Interestingly, treated areas had significantly less Pinus edulis (piñon pine) recruitment compared to untreated areas, while there was no change in Juniperus osteosperma (Utah juniper) recruitment. These results indicate that treated areas may become more J. osteosperma dominated in the future due to increased establishment of J. osteosperma compared to P. edulis. Our results show that while treatments were effective at reducing tree cover and increasing herbaceous cover, there were long-term (40year) treatment effects on vegetation composition and ground cover that need to be taken under consideration when developing future management strategies.

Wild Lands Policy in the Twenty-First Century: What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been

The protection of federally owned wild lands, including but not limited to designated wilderness areas, has long been a cardinal element of the American character. For a variety of reasons, designating wild lands for protection under the Wilderness Act has proved difficult, increasingly so in recent years. Thus, attention has focused on undesignated wild lands, that is, unroaded areas managed by the principal federal land managers, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These areas can benefit from a kind of de facto protected status if they are Forest Service areas that have been inventoried for wilderness suitability and not released to multiple use or are wilderness study areas managed by BLM. In the last two decades, considerable controversy has surrounded roadless areas in both national forests and BLM lands because protecting their wild land characteristics may foreclose development, such as oil and gas leasing or timber harvesting. Recently, the courts have settled longstanding litigation by upholding roadless rule protection in the national forests. But BLM wild land protection has remained more unsettled, as Congress recently rejected a Wild Lands Policy adopted by the Obama Administration. Despite this political setback, current policy is to survey and consider wild lands in all BLM land plans and project approvals. This promised consideration, however, leaves the fate of such lands in the hands of local BLM officials and to the political vicissitudes of future administrations. This article traces the evolution of federal wild lands policy from its beginnings in the 1920s to the enactment of the Wilderness Act in 1964 and the Federal Land Management and Policy Act in 1976 to the longstanding dispute over the Forest Service's roadless rule to the present controversy over BLM wild lands policy. We maintain that, pending congressional decisions on wilderness status, the best way to protect wild lands in the 21st century is through administrative rule, as in the case of national forest lands. Such protection, however, will require at least acquiescence from Congress, which has not been evident in the case of BLM lands in recent years.

Trial by Fire: Improving Our Ability to Reduce Wildfire Impacts to Sage-Grouse and Sagebrush Ecosystems Through Accelerated Partner Collaboration

• Conservation partners across 11 western states are rallying in unprecedented fashion to reduce threats to sage-grouse and the sagebrush ecosystem they occupy. • Improvements made in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) wildfire policy are a tremendous step forward but the 2012 wildfire season is a harsh reminder that more action is needed to improve our effectiveness in reducing impacts to sage-grouse. • Challenges and opportunities presented here are intended to heighten awareness of the wildfire issue and to further accelerate a mutually agreed upon, spatially explicit path forward, so that all partners can quickly engage in its implementation.

Invasion Status of Terrestrial Mammals on Uninhabited Islands within the San Juan Archipelago, Washington

To assess potential impacts of native and invasive terrestrial mammals on near-shore marine ecosystems on islands within the San Juan archipelago, Washington, we surveyed for the presence or non-detection of predatory mammals on a subset of 14 uninhabited islands: 10 that are part of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, 3 that are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and 1 that is owned by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). We were unable to detect invasive terrestrial mammals on any of the 14 islands. We found native mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and voles (Microtus townsendi) on one island each, and native raccoons (Procyon lotor pacifica) on three islands. We speculate that the nearly ubiquitous presence of native river otters (Lontra canadensis) along with native predatory birds may be preventing immigrant invasive mammals (primarily house mice [Mus musculus] and rats [Rattus spp.]) from gaining a foot-hold on the islands. Inadequate habitat and/or island size and distance from larger islands and their source populations along with insufficient trap nights may also have contributed to the non-detection of small mammals on the islands we surveyed. For the best chance at keeping these islands free of invaders, we recommend future surveys using continuous measurement methods (e.g., track plates and monitoring blocks) for early detection of future invasions.

English

The Ute Ulay Mining complex, located approximately five miles west of Lake City, CO is an inactive Ag, Au, and Zn mining/milling operation that operated from the 1880's until the 1970's, and sporadically into the mid 1990's. During operation, milled tailings were pumped upstream from the mine/mill site in a sluice box and deposited into five tailings impoundments. The tailings impoundments comprised 13,000 yd 3 , on 6 acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Prior to reclamation, windblown tailings from the impoundments exposed the public to potentially harmful dust, the tailings from the lowest pond washed into Henson Creek during high flow, and Zn, Pb and Cd leached into groundwater through the unlined tailings ponds. The objective of the reclamation was to mitigate the risk of human exposure to air- borne dust, and to protect surface and groundwater sources from further contamination from the tailings impoundments. Reclamation of the mine and mill waste materials was completed using cementatious paste technology. All waste materials were screened and separated on-site, and the fine-grained waste materials were mixed with cement and water to form the paste. The repository was constructed using a layered design, with paste forming the base and cap, and coarse waste materials placed as a middle layer within the enclosing paste. Following repository completion, the site was graded, drainage channels were constructed, groundwater-monitoring wells were installed, and six acres were revegetated. Reclamation was completed in October, 2009, with maintenance in 2011. Following three growing seasons, the vegetation community is healthy, with minimal weedy species, and no noxious weeds. The surface water quality in Henson Creek indicates a slight reduction in Zn and Cd levels, and other metal concentrations in the groundwater have declined by over an order of magnitude.

Technology Focus: Hydraulic Fracturing (March 2013)

Technology Focus Whoever thought the “drilling process” of “fracking” would be making headlines? In a tour of hydraulic-fracturing operations, ironically in a fossil-fuel-powered vehicle, Yoko Ono was trying to draw attention to the horrors of the process. Of course, no one on the tour actually lived there, owns property there, or has a degree in hydrology, geology, or petroleum engineering. I also found out, after 30 years in the industry, that I am a driller, because every article I read describes hydraulic fracturing as a drilling process. Nothing against my drilling brethren, but I have prided myself over the years in being a completion engineer; and fracturing is just one part of the completion process. Who knows, maybe a prominent mainstream-media editor will read this editorial and realize that they have stated it wrong. Maybe they will read the papers and realize that there is a lot of research and smart technical work that goes into developing these unconventional resources and that no one in the industry would design a fracture to contaminate our groundwater (if they even could). It is sad but accurate that most people who are against hydraulic fracturing are speaking from emotion and fear. Recently, I went with a group of experts to Washington to speak to the Bureau of Land Management and the White House about the technical details of hydraulic fracturing and wellbore integrity. Except for a few within the bureau, most with whom we met and who will develop our energy policies do not understand hydraulic fracturing. They listened intently, told us they wanted to do the right thing for the country, and thanked us for coming to speak to them. But, just imagine how many people, both good and bad, come to talk to them about hydraulic fracturing. In a way, they are placed in the tough situation of “whom do I believe?” The United States desperately needs a coherent energy policy. As part of a national energy policy, more regulatory oversight will inevitably come. The best scenario for the energy industry is open-minded regulatory development that relies on existing knowledge from the industry. In years past, the industry largely automatically opposed regulations; instead, the industry should be helping shape regulations and ensuring that regulations are developed in coordination with industry input. Suggestions for how this can be accomplished include commenting on notices of proposed rulemaking, inviting regulators to industry conferences, and providing industry experts to regulatory bodies on a fellowship basis. The consequences of not influencing fracturing regulations are that regulations that eventually result may be harsher than necessary, unduly burdensome, more costly, and ultimately result in less oil and gas reserves for our country. Meanwhile, let us continue what we have accomplished. We are pulling the US nearer to energy independence, creating domestic jobs, and learning new techniques and practices. Let us stay open to new ideas and be safe while doing it. Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. SPE 152621 Case History of the Fayetteville Shale Completions by J. Harpel, Southwestern Energy, et al. SPE 152509 A New Approach for Numerical Modeling of Hydraulic-Fracturing Propagation in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs by R. Keshavarzi, Islamic Azad University, et al. SPE 155779 Hydraulic-Fracturing Design and Well-Production Results in the Eagle Ford Shale: One Operator’s Perspective by Lucas W. Bazan, Bazan Consulting, et al. SPE 162916 Comparison of Hydraulic-Fracturing Fluids in Multistage-Fracture-Stimulated Horizontal Wells in the Pembina Cardium Formation by Meghan Klein, Sproule Associates, et al.

Integrating Collaboration, Adaptive Management, and Scenario-Planning: Experiences at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

Caves, J. K., G. S. Bodner, K. Simms, L. A. Fisher, and T. Robertson. 2013. Integrating collaboration, adaptive management, and scenario-planning: experiences at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. Ecology and Society 18(3): 43. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-05749-180343