FY2014 Annual Report...Rocky Mountains CESU Annual Report FY14 3 RM‐CESU PROJECTS ACTIVITY FOR FY2014 This year, the RM‐CESU facilitated 216 task agreements (TAs) obligating $22,423,521

FY2014AnnualReport

Rocky Mountains CESU Annual Report FY14

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CooperativeEcosystemStudiesUnits(CESU)Networkisanationalconsortiumoffederalagencies,academicinstitutions,andotherpartners,organizedaroundbiogeographicareas.TheCESUswereestablishedtoprovideresearch,technicalassistance,andeducationtofederalresourceandenvironmentalmanagers.TheRockyMountainsCooperativeEcosystemStudiesUnit(RM‐CESU)isoneof17unitsintheCESUNationalNetwork. TheRockyMountainsCooperativeEcosystemStudiesUnithasbeenoperatingforfifteenyears.In1999,theRM‐CESUwasoneoffourpilotCESUsestablishedthroughacompetitiveprocess.ItwasthenapartnershipoffourFederalagenciesand6universities.Thepartnershiphasgrowntodayto9Agenciesand20Non‐Federalmembers.MembersoftheRM‐CESUarethefollowing:

Mission

ThemissionoftheRockyMountainsCooperativeEcosystemStudiesUnitistoimproveanddisseminatetheknowledgebaseformanagingnaturalandculturalresourcesintherapidlychangingsocial,cultural,andenvironmentallandscapeoftheRockyMountainRegion,andtoextenditsexpertisetonationalissueswhereappropriate.

UniversityofMontana‐host1999

UniversityofIdaho1999

MontanaStateUniversity1999

SalishKootenaiCollege1999

UtahStateUniversity1999

WashingtonStateUniversity1999

UniversityofWyoming2002

ColoradoStateUniversity2004

UniversityofColoradoBoulder2002

UniversityofColoradoDenver2002

UniversityofNorthernColorado2006

UniversityofCalgary2007

MetropolitanStateUniversityofDenver

2011

LittleBigHornCollege2012

NorthwestCollege2013

UniversityofUtah2013

ChiefDullKnifeCollege2014

BlackfeetCommunityCollege2014

UniversityofWaterloo2014

WildlifeConservationSociety2014

USDI

BureauofLandManagement1999

BureauofReclamation2004

FishandWildlifeService2009

GeologicalSurvey1999

NationalParkService1999

USDA

ForestService1999

NaturalResourcesConservationService2004

DOD

USArmyCorpsofEngineer‐CivilWorks2008

OfficeofDeputyUnderSecretaryofDefense(InstallationsandEnvironment)2009


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RM‐CESUPROJECTSACTIVITYFORFY2014Thisyear,theRM‐CESUfacilitated216taskagreements(TAs)obligating$22,423,521 tonewprojects($9,725,488/135TAs)andaddingfundstoexistingprojects($12,698,033/81TAs).AcompletelistingofprojectsmaybefoundontheRM‐CESUProjectListforFY14onthewebsiteathttp://www.cfc.umt.edu/cesu/Projects/default.php(lookunderAnnualReports).RM‐CESUprojectsprovideneededresearch,technicalassistance,and/oreducationtoourFederalpartnersandcoverthefieldsofnaturalresources,culturalresources,socialsciences,andinterdisciplinaryfields.

Project Spotlight: Trans‐Beringia Muskoxen — Creation of Ecological Baselines in an Era of Arctic Warming

Function: Research Discipline: Natural Agency: National Park Service Funding: $106,549 [FY12‐14] PI: Joel Berger, University of Montana

Joel Berger, the John J. Craighead Chair and Professor of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Montana, is leading a strong collaborative effort with Russian and American partners to establish baseline conditions for muskoxen in both the Chukotka and Alaskan Beringian landscapes. The projects goals are: 1) to gain insights about how climate and other factors affect population change and potential persistence in muskoxen, and 2) to establish ecological baselines. This will be achieved through comparative efforts to understand populations in Chukotka (e.g. Wrangel Island in Russia) and eastern Beringia (NPS units). Joel blogs about his research trip to Wrangel Island this past spring. Read his three blog posts here:

http://e360.yale.edu/digest/on_far‐flung_wrangel_island_a_scientist_sizes_up_muskoxen/4121/ http://e360.yale.edu/digest/studying_a_polar_menagerie_on_an_island_in_arctic_russia/4126/ http://e360.yale.edu/digest/russian‐american_collaboration_carries_on_in_key_arctic_ecosystem/4137/


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RM‐CESUActivitybyAgencyPartnersforFY2014

TrendsandObservations: EightofthenineAgenciesfacilitated

taskagreementsthroughtheCESUthisfiscalyear.NPS,bothintermsofnumberofprojectsand$amount,andDoD,intermsof$amount,arethebiggestusersoftheCESU.

RM‐CESUfacilitated$7millionincultural,socialandinterdisciplinaryprojectsinFY14.DoDalonefunded$2.1milliontowardsculturalresourceprojectsonmilitarylandsandNPSobligated$771,364onculturalprojectsinparks.

BLMincreaseditsusetotheCESUagreementthisyearintermsof$amount($715,302overFY13)tofacilitateprojectsrangingfrombiologicalweedcontrolresearchtoanarcheologicalinventoryoftheNezPerceNationalHistoricTrail.

AlthoughnumberofagreementsstayedsteadyforNPSinFY14,total$aredownoverFY13by$1.3million.

# of Task

Agreements

Total

Funding

RM‐CESU 216 $22,423,521

BLM 22 $ 1,025,820

BOR 2 $ 11,2491

DOD 30 $ 8,602,454

NPS 120 $ 9,869,388

NRCS 3 $318,394

USFWS 6 $608,830

USGS 25 $1,880,344

USACE‐CW 1 $5,800

USFS 0 $0


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RM‐CESUActivitybyNon‐FederalPartnersforFY2014SixteenofthetwentyRM‐CESUnon‐federalmembersreceivedatleastoneprojectthisyear.

Twoofthenewestmemberseachhadaprojectthisyear:UniversityofWaterloowithUSGS($20,000–identifyingpriorityareasforthepreservationandrestorationofsagegrouse)andtheWildlifeConservationSocietywithNPS($100,500–restoringandfacilitatingthestewardshipofwildlifeandhabitatsandimprovingthepublic’sunderstandingofprotectedareas).ColoradoStateUniversity(CSU)remainsthelargestuseroftheCESU.CSUreceived$16.2millionin91taskagreementswithBureauofManagement,DepartmentofDefense,NationalParkService,USFishandWildlifeServiceandGeologicalSurvey.CSU’sCenterforEnvironmentalManagementofMilitaryLands(CEMML)alonewastherecipientof$8.6millionin30taskagreementsfromtheDoD.CEMMLprovidesresearchandsustainablemanagementofnaturalandculturalresourcesonfederallands.


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Threeuniversitypartners,UniversityofColoradoBoulder,UniversityofMontana,andUniversityofWyoming,allreceivedoveramilliondollarsinprojectfunding.WashingtonStateUniversitysignificantlyincreaseditsRM‐CESUactivity(6TAs;$246,395)thisyear(0inFY13).TheNPSVisitorServicesProject(VSP)formerlyhousedattheUniversityofIdahoisnowlocatedintheSocialandEconomicSciencesResearchCenteratWashingtonStateUniversity.VSP’sprincipalinvestigator,LenaLe,hasfournewprojectsthisyearwithGeorgeWashingtonCarverNationalMonument,ChickamaugaandChattanoogaNationalMilitaryPark,FortMonroeNationalMonument,andKatmaiNationalPark.

Smallest Task Agreement: $1,647 NPS/University of Wyoming; PI: Steve Smukto; GYCC Public Meeting

Planning

Largest Task Agreement: $ 2,239,600 DoD/Colorado State University; PI: Robert Brozka; Natural

Resources Ecosystem Management Activities at Pohakuloa Training Area and Keamoku Land Parcel

Management Area Activities for the U. S. Army

Mean: $108,852 (FY13: $107,519; FY10: $66,935) Median: $36,075 (FY13: $39,147; FY10: $30,000)

To learn more about all the projects receiving funding in FY14, view the Project Summary Sheets at

http://www.cfc.umt.edu/cesu/Projects/Agency_reports.php; click on “Agency” and then “Year”


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Forty‐fourprincipalinvestigatorsreceivingprojectfundsinFY14wereusingtheRM‐CESUagreementforthefirsttimeandcontributed$3,082,031toRM‐CESUtotals.

ColoradoStateUniversity(11):MichaelAntolin(Biology),RandallBoone(NaturalResourceEcologyLaboratory),JosephChamp(JournalismandTechnicalCommunication),ScottDenning(Education),PaulEvangelista(NaturalResourceEcologyLaboratory),LeeGrunau(ColoradoNaturalHeritageProgram),JayneJonas‐Bratten(Forest&RangelandStewardship),StephanieKampf(EcosystemScienceandSustainability),SunilKumar(NaturalResourceEcologyLaboratory),SusanSpackmanPanjabi(ColoradoNaturalHeritageProgram),LeroyPoff(Biology)UniversityofColoradoBoulder(10):JullianAllaz(GeologicalSciences),KatherineAnderson(ArcticandAlpineResearch),KristenCarpenter(AmericanIndianLawProgram),ThomasHauser(Engineering),FredLuiszer(EnvironmentalandGeologicalSciences),ChristyMcCain(NaturalHistoryMuseum),JohnPitlick(Geography),KeithPorter(StructuralEngineeringandStructuralMechanics),SethSpielman(Geography)UniversityofColoradoDenver(1):ApostolPanayotov(GeomaticsEngineering)MontanaStateUniversity(7):DennisAig(ScienceandNaturalHistoryFilmmaking),KevinAmende(Mechanical&IndustrialEngineering),EricBoyd(ThermalBiologyInstitute),LauraBurkle(Ecology),AndreaLitt(Ecology),DianeSmith(HistoryandPhilosophy)NorthwestCollege(1):ChrisFinley(Anthropology)UniversityofIdaho(1):PatrickWilson(NaturalResourcePolicy)UniversityofMontana(3):KelseyJensco(WatershedHydrology),AndrewLarson(ForestManagement),LibbyMetcalf(Parks,Tourism&RecreationManagement)UtahStateUniversity(3):HatimGeli(CivilandEnvironmentalEngineering),JimLutz(WildlandResources),DanielMacNulty(WildlandResources)UniversityofUtah(1):PhoebeMcNeally(Geography)UniversityofWaterloo(1):BradlyFedy(EnvironmentandResourceStudies)WildlifeConservationSociety(1):ShannonRobertsWashingtonStateUniversity(1):BrettOppegaard(CreativeMediaandDigitalCulture)UniversityofWyoming(3):NicholasGraff,SteveSmutko(CollaborativePractice),JohnTanaka

StudentParticipation:ThemajorityofallRM‐CESUproject(andnearly70%ofRM‐CESUNationalParkServiceprojects)havestudentparticipation.Studentparticipationincludesresearchworkbygraduateandundergraduatestudents,aswellasinternships,fieldschoolsandclassparticipationinprojects.


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Student Spotlight: From the Melting Ice: Assembling the Paleobiological Specimens from Ice Patches in the

Greater Yellowstone Area – Meghan J Forney – Montana State University

The Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (RM‐CESU) not only provides research opportunities

to university scholars but also to their students, giving them a unique chance to be a part of exciting research

as well as establish lasting connections to those in government agencies. The survey of Greater Yellowstone

Area ice patches, led by Dr. Craig M. Lee (Institute of Alpine and Arctic Research) and funded in part by RM‐

CESU, is one such project that has afforded this experience to students at Montana State University. Dr. Lee’s

archaeological survey of ice patches in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem identified numerous

paleobiological specimens, in addition to cultural artifacts, rapidly melting from the alpine ice. To date, most of

these have been macro‐specimens: either paleobotanical samples such as tree roots or branches (Figure 1) or

paleozoological samples consisting largely of faunal remains of bison and bighorn sheep. Such samples have

the potential to reveal much about the past environment of the Northern Rocky Mountains, including how the

alpine has been impacted by climate change in the past and understanding how Native Americans in the past

flourished in these areas now considered marginal for humans.

Because ice patch research has been largely conducted by archaeologists, paleobiological specimens have

taken a backseat to the recovery and analysis of artifacts. However, scientists are now beginning to reverse

this trend. The first step to correcting this has been the creation of a specimen catalog, which can be used to

generate a map that identifies sample locations. This map can not only help to direct future research but can

assist federal agencies in identifying areas that need active management in their jurisdictions. As more

scholars and federal agencies become aware of paleobiological samples at ice patches and their potential for

alpine paleoenvironmental reconstruction, we hope they will receive the same attention as ice patch artifacts

before they too are exposed to the elements from the melting ice and disappear.

Figure 1. An exposed tree root system

disintegrates as the ice patch that

preserved it retreats. (Photo by

Meghan J. Forney)

Meghan Forney is the recipient of the

2014 RM‐CESU Student Award (see

page 11)


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RM‐CESUACTIVITYFY10‐FY14Inlastfiveyearsofoperation,theRM‐CESUhasfacilitated1,100TaskAgreementsobligating104.3milliondollarstonon‐federalpartnersforprojectwork.Thereareapproximately400activeprojectsbetweenRM‐CESUagencyandnon‐federalpartners.

RM‐CESUHIGHLIGHTS&ACCOMPLISHMENTS

NewMembers(effectivedate2/20/2104):FromawidelyrespectedconservationorganizationtonotableCanadianuniversitytotwoMontanatribalcolleges.ThenewmembersofferuniqueadditionalpotentialtotheRM‐CESU.

BlackfeetCommunityCollege:http://bfcc.edu/ ChiefDullKnifeCollege:http://www.cdkc.edu/ UniversityofWaterloo:https://uwaterloo.ca/ WildlifeConservationSociety:http://www.wcs.org/

TwoRM‐CESUStudentsAwardedJerryO’NealFellowshipforResearchin

GlacierNationalParkTheJerryO’Nealfellowships,fundedthroughtheCrownoftheContinentResearchLearningCenteratGlacierNationalPark,wereannouncedforstudentworkinsummer2014.ThisstudentawardsupportsresearchinGlacierNationalPark,Grant‐KohrsRanchNationalHistoricSite,andLittleBighornBattlefieldNationalMonument.ThecompetitionisfacilitatedthroughtheRockyMountainsCESUandisopentostudentsatalltheRM‐CESUpartneruniversities.

Thisyear’sFellowshipawardeesare:


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WesleySarmento,M.Sc.Candidate–WildlifeBiology,UniversityofMontana:Parks,People,andPrey:DirectandIndirectEffectsonMountainGoatEcologyinGlacierNationalParkWesley’sstudywillhelpgainanunderstandingofhowmountaingoatsareaffectedbyroads,peopleandpredators,andadjacenttrails.Studygoalsinclude:i)assesshowgoatsuseroadsandadjacenttrails,ii)maptheintensityofinteractionswithpeople,andiii)developbaselinedataoneffectsofroads,adjacenttrailsandpeopleongoatdistributionandbehavior.KnowingmoreaboutthedirectandindirectconsequencesoftheinteractionsbetweengoatsandpeoplewillhelpparkmanagersplanformultipleusesalongtheGoing‐to‐the‐SunRoadinGlacierNP.

SarahMoody,M.A.Candidate–EnvironmentalStudies,UniversityofMontana:CommunicatingtothePublic:ClimateChangeinGlacierNationalParkSarahwillproduce2‐3shortvideostoeducatethepubliconimpactsofclimatechangeonGlacierNationalPark.Potentialtopicsforthevideosinclude:howthemeltingglaciersaffectwatershedfunction,theeffectsofclimatechangeonselectedwildlifespecies,andhowtheParkServiceisrespondingtoclimatechangebyadaptingtheirmanagementactions.SarahwillusethevideostoshowcasethelandscapesofGlacierNP,andtodisseminatefactsaboutclimateimpacts.ThesevideoswillbeusedtocommunicatewiththepublicabouthowGlacierischangingandwhattheycandotomitigatetheeffectsofclimatechange.


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2014RM‐CESUStudentAwardTheRM‐CESUStudentAwardprogramwasestablishedin2007asawaytorecognizeoutstandingaccomplishmentsbystudentsinvolvedinRM‐CESUprojects.

Therecipientofthe2014StudentAwardisMeghanForney,MontanaStateUniversity.MeghanwasnominatedforthisawardbyDr.CraigLeeforherindependentundergraduateresearchproject“AssemblingPaleobiologicalMaterialsfromIcePatchesintheGreaterYellowstoneArea.”

Dr.Leewentoninhisletterofsupporttonote:

Meghanhadanaptitudeforworkingwiththeincrediblyfragileandrareorganicculturalartifactsandbiologicalspecimensexposedbymeltingicepatches.Sheworkeddiligentlytocataloguespecimens,createaphotoarchive,sampleboneandwoodforisotopicanalysis,andconstructartifactmounts,etc.ShethentooktheinitiativetoputthepaleobiologicalmaterialsfromtheYellowstoneCESUprojectinthecontextoficepatchdiscoveriesthroughouttheGreaterYellowstoneEcosystem(GYE).Thiswasasolidcontributiontoicepatchscience.Herproject,“AssemblingPaleobiologicalMaterialsfromIcePatchesintheGreaterYellowstoneArea,”speaksdirectlytothe“crossboundary”issueofmeltingsnowandiceintheGYE.Thesynergisticnatureoftheworkhelpsappriseresourcemanagersoftheconservationcrisisoccurringinthismulti‐jurisdictionalecosystem.

Meghan,nowagraduatestudentattheUniversityofOklahoma,presentedtheresultsofherprojectattheRM‐CESUManagersMeetinginSaltLakeCity.ShequiteimpressedboththeFederalmanagersanduniversityfacultyinattendancewithherpoise,knowledgeanddesiretocontinueworkinalpinearchaeology.

TheRM‐CESUWishesaFineRetirementtoKathyTonnessen,NPSNaturalResourcesResearchCoordinatorItiswithregretandthanksthatwesayfarewelltoDr.KathyTonnessen,NPSResearchCoordinatorwiththeRM‐CESU.Kathy,oneofthefirstagencyrepresentativesintheCESUNetwork,hasservedwiththeRM‐CESUattheUniversityofMontanasince2000.

KathyexcelledinservicetotheRockyMountainparksbysponsoringanannualRM‐CESUparksmeetingtoallowtheparkresourcemanagerstodiscussissuesofmutualinterestandtoallowusto“showcase”RM‐CESUuniversityprojectsinparks.

MeghanJ.Forney,inthefieldintheWashakieWildernessofShoshoneNationalForest,August2013.


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ShehasassistedmanyoftheRockyMountainparksinfindingthebestresearchandtechnicalassistancepartners,andindefiningtheirresearchneeds.ManagersintheRockyMountainsparksandthroughouttheNPSandacrosstheotheragencies,consistentlypraiseKathyandtheRM‐CESUfor“...beinganever‐willingsourceofadviceandcounselonresearchproject,potentialproviders,fundingstrategies,andmore...”

TheRM‐CESUhasbeenaleadersincetheinceptionoftheCESUideaandKathyhasbeenastrongcontributortoRM‐CESU’ssuccessandnationalrecognition.TheRM‐CESUwithKathy’sguidancehaspioneerednewapproachestocooperativework,includingjointmeetingswithotherCESUs,studentfellowshipandinternshipopportunities,andworkshopsaddressingkeyissuessuchwildernessstewardshipandclimatechange.ShehasalsoprovidedleadershipthroughparticipationinNationalCESUmeetingsandforumsandservedasthenationalprogramleadfortheNPSCESUsfrom2008‐10.DuringKathy’stenurewiththeRM‐CESU,ithasgrowntobethelargestCESUinthenationalsystem.

Thispastfall,KathywasrecognizedforherexceptionalcareeraccomplishmentsandcontributionswithaDepartmentoftheInterior’sSuperiorServiceAward.AsKathylooksback,themostrewardingaspectsofherjobwere“Workinginbeautifulandfunlocationstoprotectandpreservetheseareas.Thefactis,theaveragepersoncaresaboutourNationalParksandwantstheseresourcesprotected,andsopublicsupportistremendous.”

AlloftheRM‐CESUuniversitiesandfederalpartnerswerethebeneficiariesofKathy’sleadership,professionalismandenthusiasmfortheCESUconcept.WecelebrateKathyaccomplishmentsandwishherwellinherretirement.ShewillcontinuetoworkwithNPSunitsinherretirement,throughtheNPSEmeritus

KathyTonnessenretiredonMarch31,2014aftermorethan23yearswiththeNPS.KathywillmissworkingwithalltheRM‐CESUpartners,andwouldliketothanktheNPSfolkswhohavemadehercareerfunandrewarding.PhotobyBobBastasz


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ProgramandasanaffiliatefacultymemberatTheUniversityofMontana,CollegeofForestryandConservation.

NPSCulturalResourceSpecialist,Pei‐linYu,movesonBoiseStateUniversityDr.Pei‐LinYuservedastheRM‐CESUCulturalResourceSpecialistwiththeNationalParkServiceattheUniversityofMontanaforalmostfiveyears.ShetookanewpositiononthefacultyoftheDepartmentofAnthropology,BoiseStateUniversitybeginninginAugust2014.Pei‐LinisanarcheologistwhoservedtheparksoftheIntermountainRegionandbeyondingettingresearchandtechnicalassistancedonewithour

RM‐CESUpartneruniversitiesandcolleges.WhileattheRM‐CESUshewasmostinfluentialinputtingtogetheraconsortiumofresearchersandoutreachspecialistsfromtheUniversityofColoradoBoulder,UniversityofWyoming,SalishKootenaiCollege,andtwotribes(BlackfeetandCSKT)onaclimatechangeprojectinGlacierNationalPark.ShefacilitatedanumberofarcheologyfieldschoolsinparksoftheRockyMountains,includingfieldexperiencesfornativestudents.Inhernewpositionsheisenjoyingteachinglargearcheologysurveycoursesandspecializedgraduateseminars.Sheplanstostartfieldworkin2015onthearcheologyandanthropologyofpeoplesofTaiwan.ShewillcontinuetoworkwiththeRM‐CESUbyparticipatinginan“outreach”triptosomeofournewtribalcollegepartners.And,withanyluck,shemaybeabletoconvincethefolksatBoiseStateUniversitytojointheRM‐CESU.

RM‐CESUWelcomesNewNPSResearchCoordinatorandScienceAdvisorDr.BrendanMoynahanwillleadtheRM‐CESUfortheNationalParkServicefromtheUniversityofMontanabasedinMissoula,MT.BrendancomestousfromtheUSFWSNationalBisonRangeinMontanawhereheservedasasupervisorywildlifebiologist.PriortothatBrendanworkedfortheNPSastheI&MprogrammanagerfortheSoutheastAlaskaNetwork,andfortheBureauofLandManagement(BLM)asawildlifebiologistandPresidentialManagementFellow.Brendanholdsdegreesinpoliticalscience(environmentalpolicy)andecologyandreceivedhisPh.D.infishandwildlifebiologyfromtheUniversityofMontana.

Documents

FY2014 Annual Report...Rocky Mountains CESU Annual Report FY14 3 RM‐CESU PROJECTS ACTIVITY FOR FY2014 This year, the RM‐CESU facilitated 216 task agreements (TAs) obligating $22,423,521