Well, all of a sudden the summer is coming to a close, and my internship soon will be too. I’ve continued to enjoy my position here in central Oregon as a range technician, trying out lots of different vegetation monitoring techniques and going out with other crews around the office to see what they do. Pictures might be able to adequately sum up most of what I’ve done this summer…..

I’ve been able to see sage-grouse hens and do habitat surveys,

figure out ways around private land to get to trend plots on BLM property,

learn about plants that I’ve never studied or seen before,

establish long term trend plots on sand dunes,

see tons of amazing wildlife, including bighorn sheep, wild horses, long nosed leopard lizards, robber flies, and golden eagles,

and of course I’ve learned to do all new kinds of paperwork in the office, which unfortunately I don’t have many pictures of.

Being a CLM intern this summer has also meant being lucky enough to be in the heart of the West with plenty of weekend time to explore. It has been so incredible to explore all over Oregon and California, seeing more National Parks and Forests than I ever have before, allowing me to camp and have a great time as well as learn even more about conservation and environmental programs. Crater Lake, Yosemite, and Lava Beds were just some of the places I got to visit this summer:

But most importantly, I’ve gotten to work with and for so many fantastic people this summer. Being around so many other great interns in Lakeview has been wonderful, and I’ve been fortunate enough to have supervisors that are as driven as they are down to earth and easy to talk to. I’ve learned so much about what the BLM does here in Oregon and how important ranching is for people here.  Getting this first-hand  understanding of the BLM and local people has made me realize how important it is to monitor the grasses and shrubs that I have been evaluating all summer.  Keeping these habitats healthy, looking for invasive species, and measuring shrub cover for valuable species all help to maintain the resources that we have and try and keep our use of the land sustainable.  I’m not sure how else I would have been able to learn so much about this area and the people who work here without this internship opportunity. I am sad to leave it, but excited to see what future opportunities it will bring me!

Signing out from Lakeview, Oregon,

Katie Laushman